Latest news with #EnergyandClimateAction
Cision Canada
11-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada Invests in Renewable Energy, Carbon Capture and Grid Modernization in the Maritimes Français
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, July 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced close to $16 million in federal funding for energy projects in the Maritime provinces that will help deliver reliable, affordable clean energy in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick — driving innovation, powering economic growth and creating good jobs throughout Atlantic Canada. This investment will support key initiatives in the region, including: Modernizing electricity grids to deliver more reliable, affordable and clean power to Canadians; Advancing carbon capture and clean technologies to reduce emissions and bring more- affordable, low-risk Canadian energy to market; Expanding renewable energy capacity by advancing wind and solar power projects; and Supporting clean energy projects in Indigenous, rural and remote communities and advancing economic reconciliation. This funding is rooted in collaboration with provinces, offshore regulators, Indigenous partners, workers and industry to ensure that federal investments reflect Maritime strengths and priorities and deliver long-term prosperity. Through these investments, the Government of Canada is investing more in the people and businesses that will build the strongest economy in the G7. The projects announced today also underscore the government's commitment to lowering Canadians' energy bills, creating more reliable and clean power, growing job opportunities and fostering inclusive, respectful partnerships with Indigenous Peoples. Quotes "Our government's vision is clear: to make Canada a clean and conventional energy superpower. In collaboration with governments, Indigenous partners and the energy sector, we are investing in energy innovation to get more energy to market while tackling climate change." The Honourable Tim Hodgson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources "In P.E.I., and in our region, we are all working hard to reduce emissions, make life more affordable for residents and increase the reliability of our energy systems. We need to modernize our electricity distribution system to enhance efficiency and resiliency. This investment in Maritime Electric's grid modernization is a welcome next step in a more reliable and efficient electrical system in our province." The Honourable Gilles Arsenault Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, Prince Edward Island "For more than a century, Saint John Energy has been a trusted provider whose success has been driven by innovation and sustainability. As we work toward establishing a clean, diverse and secure energy future for all New Brunswickers, we welcome investments that can support the transition of our province's energy landscape." The Honourable René Legacy Minister of Energy, New Brunswick Quick Facts Minister Hodgson was joined by the Honourable Gilles Arsenault, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action for Prince Edward Island, for this announcement. The projects announced today support the goals of the Regional Energy and Resource Tables (Regional Tables) in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Associated Links Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
Cision Canada
11-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Ministers Hodgson and Arsenault to hold media availabilities in Charlottetown/ Français
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ - The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Gilles Arsenault, Prince Edward Island's Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, will hold a joint media availability to conclude the Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference (EMMC) in Charlottetown. Date: Friday, July 11, 2025 Time: 1:30 p.m. AT Later that afternoon, Minister Hodgson will make an announcement regarding energy investments for Atlantic Canada. He will be joined by Minister Arsenault and leaders from the Maritime energy sector. A media availability will follow. Date: Friday, July 11, 2025 All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing [email protected]. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
Cision Canada
09-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Media Advisory - Ministers Hodgson and Arsenault to hold media availabilities in Charlottetown Français
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ - The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Gilles Arsenault, Prince Edward Island's Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, will hold a joint media availability to conclude the Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference (EMMC) in Charlottetown. Date: Friday, July 11, 2025 Time: 1:30 p.m. AT Later that afternoon, Minister Hodgson will make an announcement regarding energy investments for Atlantic Canada. He will be joined by Minister Arsenault and leaders from the Maritime energy sector. A media availability will follow. Date: Friday, July 11, 2025 All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing [email protected]. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
The Advertiser
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Looking at you, pleading': reported spike in cruel kangaroo killing grass
Last week, Dianne Becker walked to her front verandah and saw a kangaroo. Usually, they would never be so close. "I could walk right up to it and it didn't even move," she said. "It just looked like it was a bit drunk." When the kangaroo did move, it fell over. It was showing symptoms of phalaris grass poisoning - or "the staggers" - a neurological disease characterised by head tremors and loss of coordination. The condition is caused by eating a common introduced pasture grass, and this year rescuers are seeing much more of it. The introduced grass species is found in all states and territories except the Northern Territory. Two Victorian wildlife rescue groups have reported a spike in the condition, while residents in the town of Axedale, where phalaris grass is endemic, locals say it's the worst they've ever seen. Ms Becker, who has lived in Longlea on the outskirts of Bendigo for 11 years, said it's the first time she's ever seen the condition, which is caused by toxins in young phalaris grass shoots. "To see them in that state falling over - it's like they're looking at you, pleading, 'help me', and there's nothing that can be done," she said. According to the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA), there is no known treatment for the disease in wildlife and severely affected animals are euthanised. The kangaroo Ms Becker saw was euthanised by a wildlife rescue worker, and since that incident she had seen at least one other animal with the condition. Down the road, Axedale woman Anne Buckingham said she had seen kangaroos with phalaris poisoning every day. She and her husband have euthanised some themselves. "My husband lived here in the 1990s and it's only been the last couple of years we've ever noticed this," she said. "We've now got to make sure that we don't let the dogs outside unless they're on a lead. "They will go chase the kangaroos and the kangaroos can't jump away from them." Ms Buckingham said she and her husband had discussed removing phalaris grass from their 30-acre property last year. "It would be a big expense to change the pasture and it wouldn't solve the problem unless everybody changed the pasture on all the other farms around," she said. Wildlife Victoria said they had encountered 289 cases of phalaris poisoning so far this year, already higher than reported cases in the past four years. Data provided by the organisation since 2022 shows a steady increase in reported cases, from 46 in 2022, up to 220 in 2024. "These incidents often increase during winter and periods of drought, as phalaris is a hardy grass that continues to thrive even when other grasses struggle to survive, forcing kangaroos to feed on it when food is scarce," a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said. A 2024 veterinary paper said low average rainfall in early autumn was a seasonal predictor for high numbers of phalaris poisoning the following winter. Leonie Sorrentino, from Melbourne-based group The Wildlife Rescuers, said they were seeing adult male roos with the condition, when they would usually see only young kangaroos. She said phalaris poisoning hotspots include the Plenty Gorge and Sunbury near Melbourne. The 2024 paper also said cases had been reported in Seymour, Dartmoor and Axedale. "The joeys actually eat it when mum's leaning over," Ms Sorrentino said. "It's really heartbreaking to go out there and you just see them and they're so confused." Dr Tian Chen, from the University of Melbourne's Veterinary School, agreed this winter had been particularly bad for cases of phalaris grass poisoning and suggested the late drought was partially responsible. According to Dr Chen, if the grass experiences drought during autumn, when it is sprouting, it produces more of the alkaloid toxins that are responsible for the condition. Farmers prevent phalaris poisoning in livestock by spraying pasture with cobalt or administering cobalt supplements, but Dr Chen said current evidence indicates this doesn't work for kangaroos. "There could be a lot of reasons for that, which is still open for future studies, but [kangaroos] are very different in terms of anatomy," he said. A DEECA spokesperson said any suspected cases of wildlife toxicity poisoning should be reported to your local vet, wildlife welfare organisation or to DEECA. "On public land across Victoria, DEECA partners with Traditional Owners and government agencies to target invasive weeds, including Phalaris aquatica, using a range of techniques including herbicide spraying, slashing and ecological burning," they said. Attempts were made to contact the Bendigo-based Wildlife Rescue Information Network. Last week, Dianne Becker walked to her front verandah and saw a kangaroo. Usually, they would never be so close. "I could walk right up to it and it didn't even move," she said. "It just looked like it was a bit drunk." When the kangaroo did move, it fell over. It was showing symptoms of phalaris grass poisoning - or "the staggers" - a neurological disease characterised by head tremors and loss of coordination. The condition is caused by eating a common introduced pasture grass, and this year rescuers are seeing much more of it. The introduced grass species is found in all states and territories except the Northern Territory. Two Victorian wildlife rescue groups have reported a spike in the condition, while residents in the town of Axedale, where phalaris grass is endemic, locals say it's the worst they've ever seen. Ms Becker, who has lived in Longlea on the outskirts of Bendigo for 11 years, said it's the first time she's ever seen the condition, which is caused by toxins in young phalaris grass shoots. "To see them in that state falling over - it's like they're looking at you, pleading, 'help me', and there's nothing that can be done," she said. According to the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA), there is no known treatment for the disease in wildlife and severely affected animals are euthanised. The kangaroo Ms Becker saw was euthanised by a wildlife rescue worker, and since that incident she had seen at least one other animal with the condition. Down the road, Axedale woman Anne Buckingham said she had seen kangaroos with phalaris poisoning every day. She and her husband have euthanised some themselves. "My husband lived here in the 1990s and it's only been the last couple of years we've ever noticed this," she said. "We've now got to make sure that we don't let the dogs outside unless they're on a lead. "They will go chase the kangaroos and the kangaroos can't jump away from them." Ms Buckingham said she and her husband had discussed removing phalaris grass from their 30-acre property last year. "It would be a big expense to change the pasture and it wouldn't solve the problem unless everybody changed the pasture on all the other farms around," she said. Wildlife Victoria said they had encountered 289 cases of phalaris poisoning so far this year, already higher than reported cases in the past four years. Data provided by the organisation since 2022 shows a steady increase in reported cases, from 46 in 2022, up to 220 in 2024. "These incidents often increase during winter and periods of drought, as phalaris is a hardy grass that continues to thrive even when other grasses struggle to survive, forcing kangaroos to feed on it when food is scarce," a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said. A 2024 veterinary paper said low average rainfall in early autumn was a seasonal predictor for high numbers of phalaris poisoning the following winter. Leonie Sorrentino, from Melbourne-based group The Wildlife Rescuers, said they were seeing adult male roos with the condition, when they would usually see only young kangaroos. She said phalaris poisoning hotspots include the Plenty Gorge and Sunbury near Melbourne. The 2024 paper also said cases had been reported in Seymour, Dartmoor and Axedale. "The joeys actually eat it when mum's leaning over," Ms Sorrentino said. "It's really heartbreaking to go out there and you just see them and they're so confused." Dr Tian Chen, from the University of Melbourne's Veterinary School, agreed this winter had been particularly bad for cases of phalaris grass poisoning and suggested the late drought was partially responsible. According to Dr Chen, if the grass experiences drought during autumn, when it is sprouting, it produces more of the alkaloid toxins that are responsible for the condition. Farmers prevent phalaris poisoning in livestock by spraying pasture with cobalt or administering cobalt supplements, but Dr Chen said current evidence indicates this doesn't work for kangaroos. "There could be a lot of reasons for that, which is still open for future studies, but [kangaroos] are very different in terms of anatomy," he said. A DEECA spokesperson said any suspected cases of wildlife toxicity poisoning should be reported to your local vet, wildlife welfare organisation or to DEECA. "On public land across Victoria, DEECA partners with Traditional Owners and government agencies to target invasive weeds, including Phalaris aquatica, using a range of techniques including herbicide spraying, slashing and ecological burning," they said. Attempts were made to contact the Bendigo-based Wildlife Rescue Information Network. Last week, Dianne Becker walked to her front verandah and saw a kangaroo. Usually, they would never be so close. "I could walk right up to it and it didn't even move," she said. "It just looked like it was a bit drunk." When the kangaroo did move, it fell over. It was showing symptoms of phalaris grass poisoning - or "the staggers" - a neurological disease characterised by head tremors and loss of coordination. The condition is caused by eating a common introduced pasture grass, and this year rescuers are seeing much more of it. The introduced grass species is found in all states and territories except the Northern Territory. Two Victorian wildlife rescue groups have reported a spike in the condition, while residents in the town of Axedale, where phalaris grass is endemic, locals say it's the worst they've ever seen. Ms Becker, who has lived in Longlea on the outskirts of Bendigo for 11 years, said it's the first time she's ever seen the condition, which is caused by toxins in young phalaris grass shoots. "To see them in that state falling over - it's like they're looking at you, pleading, 'help me', and there's nothing that can be done," she said. According to the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA), there is no known treatment for the disease in wildlife and severely affected animals are euthanised. The kangaroo Ms Becker saw was euthanised by a wildlife rescue worker, and since that incident she had seen at least one other animal with the condition. Down the road, Axedale woman Anne Buckingham said she had seen kangaroos with phalaris poisoning every day. She and her husband have euthanised some themselves. "My husband lived here in the 1990s and it's only been the last couple of years we've ever noticed this," she said. "We've now got to make sure that we don't let the dogs outside unless they're on a lead. "They will go chase the kangaroos and the kangaroos can't jump away from them." Ms Buckingham said she and her husband had discussed removing phalaris grass from their 30-acre property last year. "It would be a big expense to change the pasture and it wouldn't solve the problem unless everybody changed the pasture on all the other farms around," she said. Wildlife Victoria said they had encountered 289 cases of phalaris poisoning so far this year, already higher than reported cases in the past four years. Data provided by the organisation since 2022 shows a steady increase in reported cases, from 46 in 2022, up to 220 in 2024. "These incidents often increase during winter and periods of drought, as phalaris is a hardy grass that continues to thrive even when other grasses struggle to survive, forcing kangaroos to feed on it when food is scarce," a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said. A 2024 veterinary paper said low average rainfall in early autumn was a seasonal predictor for high numbers of phalaris poisoning the following winter. Leonie Sorrentino, from Melbourne-based group The Wildlife Rescuers, said they were seeing adult male roos with the condition, when they would usually see only young kangaroos. She said phalaris poisoning hotspots include the Plenty Gorge and Sunbury near Melbourne. The 2024 paper also said cases had been reported in Seymour, Dartmoor and Axedale. "The joeys actually eat it when mum's leaning over," Ms Sorrentino said. "It's really heartbreaking to go out there and you just see them and they're so confused." Dr Tian Chen, from the University of Melbourne's Veterinary School, agreed this winter had been particularly bad for cases of phalaris grass poisoning and suggested the late drought was partially responsible. According to Dr Chen, if the grass experiences drought during autumn, when it is sprouting, it produces more of the alkaloid toxins that are responsible for the condition. Farmers prevent phalaris poisoning in livestock by spraying pasture with cobalt or administering cobalt supplements, but Dr Chen said current evidence indicates this doesn't work for kangaroos. "There could be a lot of reasons for that, which is still open for future studies, but [kangaroos] are very different in terms of anatomy," he said. A DEECA spokesperson said any suspected cases of wildlife toxicity poisoning should be reported to your local vet, wildlife welfare organisation or to DEECA. "On public land across Victoria, DEECA partners with Traditional Owners and government agencies to target invasive weeds, including Phalaris aquatica, using a range of techniques including herbicide spraying, slashing and ecological burning," they said. Attempts were made to contact the Bendigo-based Wildlife Rescue Information Network. Last week, Dianne Becker walked to her front verandah and saw a kangaroo. Usually, they would never be so close. "I could walk right up to it and it didn't even move," she said. "It just looked like it was a bit drunk." When the kangaroo did move, it fell over. It was showing symptoms of phalaris grass poisoning - or "the staggers" - a neurological disease characterised by head tremors and loss of coordination. The condition is caused by eating a common introduced pasture grass, and this year rescuers are seeing much more of it. The introduced grass species is found in all states and territories except the Northern Territory. Two Victorian wildlife rescue groups have reported a spike in the condition, while residents in the town of Axedale, where phalaris grass is endemic, locals say it's the worst they've ever seen. Ms Becker, who has lived in Longlea on the outskirts of Bendigo for 11 years, said it's the first time she's ever seen the condition, which is caused by toxins in young phalaris grass shoots. "To see them in that state falling over - it's like they're looking at you, pleading, 'help me', and there's nothing that can be done," she said. According to the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA), there is no known treatment for the disease in wildlife and severely affected animals are euthanised. The kangaroo Ms Becker saw was euthanised by a wildlife rescue worker, and since that incident she had seen at least one other animal with the condition. Down the road, Axedale woman Anne Buckingham said she had seen kangaroos with phalaris poisoning every day. She and her husband have euthanised some themselves. "My husband lived here in the 1990s and it's only been the last couple of years we've ever noticed this," she said. "We've now got to make sure that we don't let the dogs outside unless they're on a lead. "They will go chase the kangaroos and the kangaroos can't jump away from them." Ms Buckingham said she and her husband had discussed removing phalaris grass from their 30-acre property last year. "It would be a big expense to change the pasture and it wouldn't solve the problem unless everybody changed the pasture on all the other farms around," she said. Wildlife Victoria said they had encountered 289 cases of phalaris poisoning so far this year, already higher than reported cases in the past four years. Data provided by the organisation since 2022 shows a steady increase in reported cases, from 46 in 2022, up to 220 in 2024. "These incidents often increase during winter and periods of drought, as phalaris is a hardy grass that continues to thrive even when other grasses struggle to survive, forcing kangaroos to feed on it when food is scarce," a Wildlife Victoria spokesperson said. A 2024 veterinary paper said low average rainfall in early autumn was a seasonal predictor for high numbers of phalaris poisoning the following winter. Leonie Sorrentino, from Melbourne-based group The Wildlife Rescuers, said they were seeing adult male roos with the condition, when they would usually see only young kangaroos. She said phalaris poisoning hotspots include the Plenty Gorge and Sunbury near Melbourne. The 2024 paper also said cases had been reported in Seymour, Dartmoor and Axedale. "The joeys actually eat it when mum's leaning over," Ms Sorrentino said. "It's really heartbreaking to go out there and you just see them and they're so confused." Dr Tian Chen, from the University of Melbourne's Veterinary School, agreed this winter had been particularly bad for cases of phalaris grass poisoning and suggested the late drought was partially responsible. According to Dr Chen, if the grass experiences drought during autumn, when it is sprouting, it produces more of the alkaloid toxins that are responsible for the condition. Farmers prevent phalaris poisoning in livestock by spraying pasture with cobalt or administering cobalt supplements, but Dr Chen said current evidence indicates this doesn't work for kangaroos. "There could be a lot of reasons for that, which is still open for future studies, but [kangaroos] are very different in terms of anatomy," he said. A DEECA spokesperson said any suspected cases of wildlife toxicity poisoning should be reported to your local vet, wildlife welfare organisation or to DEECA. "On public land across Victoria, DEECA partners with Traditional Owners and government agencies to target invasive weeds, including Phalaris aquatica, using a range of techniques including herbicide spraying, slashing and ecological burning," they said. Attempts were made to contact the Bendigo-based Wildlife Rescue Information Network.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
P.E.I. government reducing many of its energy efficiency rebates as of Monday
Prince Edward Islanders who invest in some energy efficiency measures will get lower rebates from the provincial government starting Monday, while amounts offered to help pay for insulation and window and door replacement will go up. The province announced the changes to its Net Zero and efficiencyPEI rebates on Thursday, after it paused accepting new applications for some programs earlier in the year. "We're trying to balance fiscal responsibility — staying within the budgets that we have in the division — while maximizing our return on investment," said Derek Ellis, the director of sustainability for the province's Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action. That means "moving some investments away from some of the poorer-performing programs from an energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions perspective and over to the higher-performing programs," he said. As a result, the amount of money Island homeowners will get for installing heat pumps, buying electric vehicles and putting in solar panels is set to decrease. The province will also pause new applications for free heat pumps, free insulation and free electric hot water heaters due to high demand, a news release said. The province measures the cost effectiveness of its programs based on dollar spent per ton of greenhouse gas emission elimination, as well as dollar per kilowatt hour saved, Ellis said. "We have a good idea of how [programs] perform over time and have made some changes in response to that," he said. Popular programs The province has seen a lot of uptake on its heat pump and solar panel rebates, Ellis said, adding that the province is happy to continue offering rebates to homeowners on those items, at a lower rate. The heat pump rebate for residential properties is set to decrease from $1,200 to $900 per unit, while the solar panel program will see a change in incentive rate and a rebate capped at $5,000 for solar panels installed on a home, compared to the prior $10,000 cap. People wanting solar panels who were previously approved by the province will get the old amount, while anyone who applied on or after Jan. 8, 2025, will get the new amount if they are deemed eligible. "Incentives and caps for commercial and agricultural clients will remain the same," the news release adds with regard to solar panels. "Rebates on energy-efficient equipment for business, community, commercial and industrial buildings [are] increasing, including air source heat pump rebate increasing from $600 to $900. Rebates are also increasing for selected lighting and for packaged terminal heat pumps." Rebates for the purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles have been popular, particularly in Charlottetown and Summerside, Ellis said. While the amount of those rebates are going down, annual registration of those vehicles will still be free. Ellis also said the province will not be making changes to its infrastructure plans to support EVs, citing projects underway to create more fast charging stations in communities across the Island. Some rebates the same or higher Some of the energy efficiency and rebate programs will continue unchanged, including the e-bike incentive, instant rebates on appliances, and the provincial subsidy for home energy audits. As well, the provincial news release says, there will be a "40 per cent increase in rebates for insulation for attics, walls, basements, headers, exposed floors, windows and doors, and air sealing." As for new home construction, the news release said, "incentives will be increased and re-aligned to match national building code tiers, so people will get more money back." Ellis said the province tries to stay in line with the latest trends and best practices to help Islanders minimize energy costs. "Where we can make life more affordable and also reduce energy and GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions, we will always make the case for that, and ultimately the decision-makers here in government will have the final say."
