Fisheries groups opposing Nova Scotia mills proposed effluent treatment plant
HALIFAX – Opposition is mounting against a plan by a kraft pulp mill in Nova Scotia to pump treated waste into the Northumberland Strait, with a group of Maritime fisheries organizations saying the effluent could harm marine life.The group, which includes the Pictou Landing First Nation in Nova Scotia, said the proposal from Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corp. could see the release of up to 90 million litres of effluent per day into the strait, posing a threat to fish species and protected areas along the coastline.The other members of the group include the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board, the Maritime Fishermen’s Union, the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association and the New Brunswick Fisheries Association.Under provincial legislation, Northern Pulp has until 2020 to replace its current effluent treatment plant in Boat Harbour near Pictou, N.S. — a deadline the company has said will be tough to meet.The group said other options should be explored, such as a land-based effluent treatment facility. They said rigorous scientific research is needed to assess the impact.“The provincial government is asking us to take 100 per cent of the risk. Our concern is what is in the effluent. What’s going to do to our fishery? What’s the construction of the pipe going to do to our fishery?” said Ron Heighton, president of the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board.Local fishermen, Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq chiefs and Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan are among those who have voiced concerns about Northern Pulp’s plan, saying it could have unintended consequences for fisheries in the area.Kathy Cloutier, spokeswoman for Paper Excellence Canada, which owns Northern Pulp, said in an email statement that effluent has been flowing into the strait for 50 years, and the proposed drainage site is not far from the current one.“The new system will make it so that the treated effluent, in part due to planned in-mill improvements, will be of better quality with a smaller environmental footprint than what is currently in place,” Cloutier said.She said the company investigated its treatment options and determined it needed a drainage point to pump waste.“The bottom line is no pipe equals no mill,” she said.Cloutier added: “Scientific studies are being completed with rigour, and First Nations, community and stakeholder engagement is occurring throughout the study.”The mill in Abercrombie, N.S., announced plans for a new treatment plant in December and is to submit an environmental assessment to Nova Scotia’s Environment Department in July.According to the company’s plan, waste would be treated at a new facility near the mill using a system that would meet all federal environmental standards.The effluent would be carried by polyethylene pipe across Pictou Harbour and then released through six pipes into the strait.Nova Scotia’s deputy environment minister Frances Martin faced questions about the plan at a public accounts committee meeting last month. She said she made the decision to go with a Class 1 environmental assessment last June after Northern Pulp filed a project description with the department at the end of April.She said it was clear to her the project required a Class 1 assessment instead of the more lengthy Class 2 under provincial regulations. Martin said Class 2 assessments are used in cases of larger projects, such as the building of a petro-chemical plant or pulp mill.But Heighton said he would like to see a federal environmental assessment.“We need every bit of science so we can understand what’s going on,” said Heighton. “We cannot accept anything less.”— Follow (at)AlyThomson on Twitter.
NEW YORK — The movie theatre was dead, they said. After ticket sales slumped in 2017 , due largely to the worst summer season in more than a decade, pundits far and wide predicted the hastening demise of moviegoing, an inevitable casualty to the rise of streaming.This year, the movies flipped the script.This weekend, as “Aquaman,” ”Bumblebee” and “Mary Poppins Returns” arrive in theatres, ticket sales will reach a new record for the year, passing the previous 2016 high of $11.4 billion. Driven in part by zeitgeist-grabbing cultural events like “Black Panther,” ”Crazy Rich Asians” and even documentaries like “Won’t You Be My Neighbour?” the box office is expected to end up around $11.8 billion for the year. The overall domestic gross is up nearly 9 per cent from last year; ticket sales are up about 6 per cent.And it’s not just in North America. Propelled by Chinese moviegoers, global ticket sales should, for the second time ever, exceed $40 billion. Saudi Arabia declared itself open for business to Hollywood, after more than 35 years without theatres. In the United Kingdom, cinemas are headed to their best year since 1971.“This year serves to confirm that the movie theatre business is strong and growing in the long term, even though it can be cyclical in the short term,” said John Fithian, president of the National Organization of Theater Owners, the trade organization known as NATO. “Last summer of 2017, when there just weren’t very many movies coming out that had any traction, we confronted the inevitable story about the impending death of the movie theatre business. And we said back then: It’s all about short-term product supply.”“We knew that once the movies came back, we would be fine,” said Fithian.Even in a year where “Star Wars” flopped, the hits have indeed returned, even if they’ve come from some predictable places. All of the year’s top 10 movies were either sequels, reboots or based on a comic book. Even this year’s Oscar front runner, “A Star Is Born” ($376.6 million worldwide and counting for Warner Bros.), is a remake. The top three films of the year — “Black Panther,” ”Avengers: Infinity War,” ”Incredibles 2″ — all come from market-leader Disney, which is also in the process of gobbling up 20th Century Fox.But there were some less likely hits, too. Mid-budgeted films like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” ”Halloween,” ”Creed II” and the year’s bestselling original movie, “A Quiet Place,” had a significant role in driving the record box office. For the first time ever, four documentaries — “RBG,” ”Free Solo,” ”Three Identical Strangers,” ”Won’t You Be My Neighbour” — each cleared $10 million. Surprise successes — a franchise-birthing “Spider-Man” spinoff (“Venom”), a well-reviewed “Transformers” movie (“Bumblebee”) — outnumbered the disappointments (“Skyscraper,” ”Robin Hood”).Above all, the movies were often in the centre of the cultural conversation, never more so than with the history-making “Black Panther,” which became the third-highest grossing domestic release ever ($700.1 million) not accounting for inflation.Hollywood executives say the year has demonstrated that 2017 was an aberration.“When the experts out there were talking about the end of theatrical moviegoing, I just didn’t buy that to begin with,” said Jim Orr, distribution chief for Universal Pictures, which had hits in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” ”The Grinch” and “Halloween.” ”It was just some scheduling moves that happened along with some movies that just underperformed. People want to go out. They want the social experience. They want to be in theatres. And we proved that exponentially this year.”The box-office rebound came in a year during which Netflix launched its most ambitious original movie slate, premiering some 70 new films. Though Netflix this fall relented to a degree by playing three of its films (“Roma,” ”The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” and “Bird Box”) exclusively in theatres before premiering on its streaming service, Netflix and exhibitors remain at odds over the benefits of the traditional theatrical window.Yet there is a growing sense that Netflix may not be public enemy No. 1 for movie theatres, after all. In 2018, Netflix has gained millions of subscribers, just as movie theatres have surged. Co-existence is possible. Last month, a NATO survey found that 33 per cent of moviegoers who see nine or more movies a year also spend 15 hours per week on streaming platforms.“We have maintained for years that streaming in the home is not taking away from the moviegoing experience,” said Fithian. “If anything, streaming in the home is damaging other forms of home entertainment. Cable television, for example. DVD sales, for example.”Streaming will only be more omnipresent in 2019, when Disney and Warner Bros. are set to debut their own Netflix-like services. But both studios remain resolutely devoted to exhibition and in releasing some of their biggest releases in traditional slow periods on the calendar. The year’s biggest movie, “Black Panther,” opened in February. Three of Warner Bros.’ top performers — “The Meg,” ”Crazy Rich Asians” and “The Nun” — benefited from the typically quiet dog-days of summer.“There were some really good movies that were spread out through the year,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. distribution chief. “That’s the real takeaway: Make good movies, people will come.”But disruption is still at the door. Subscription services remade the moviegoing experience, led by the swift rise and fall of MoviePass, which took credit for the box-office revival before its inexpensive pricing structure proved unsustainable. MoviePass ran out of cash, repeatedly revamped its business model and descended into chaos, lawsuits and even a fraud investigation.The box office still chugged along (Fithian calls MoviePass’ impact “overblown”) and other subscription services (notably one by AMC , the world’s largest chain) entered the fray.Other threats to the movie theatre loom. When Disney’s acquisition of Fox is made official, there will be one less major studio in Hollywood. Further consolidation is expected, something Fithian grants “poses a challenge” for exhibitors that depend on a steady supply of movies. But he pointed to others that have picked up the slack: STX, Annapurna, A24, Bleecker St., Amazon and Apple, which last month partnered with A24 for a slate of films.Whether 2019 will continue the box-office trend or see a repeat of last year will come down, as it always does, to the movies. Analysts are bullish, predicting another record-setting year thanks to a Disney-heavy lineup including sure-fire blockbusters “Avengers: Endgame,” ”Captain Marvel,” ”Frozen 2″ and “Star Wars: Episode IX.”“On paper, that year is going to make this year look like small potatoes,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore.Of course, similar predictions were made for 2017, too. That’s the problem with movie scripts. They can always be rewritten.___AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.___Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAPJake Coyle, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A watchdog group is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka violated federal conflict-of-interest law by her key role in promoting an Opportunity Zone tax break program from which she could potentially benefit.The complaint from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington follows an Associated Press investigation last month. The AP found that, as White House aides, Trump and her husband Jared Kushner both backed the Opportunity Zones program, which could financially benefit the couple.Kushner owns a $25 million to $50 million stake in Cadre, a real estate platform has announced plans to invest in several cities under the Opportunity Zones program.The CREW complaint says that, under the law, Kushner’s financial interests are considered of value to Ivanka Trump.Stephen Braun, The Associated Press
“During the holiday season, giving back is often top of mind. We are so thankful for the ongoing investment and generosity of PETRONAS Canada and our athletes as they continue to invest in helping local kids get better and better through the Classroom Champions program.”Canadian Olympic skeleton racer, Mirela Rahneva, is paired with four elementary schools in Fort St. John and Hudson’s Hope to virtually mentor students and to inspire them in areas like goal setting, perseverance, teamwork and giving back to the community.Over the past six years, Classroom Champions has mentored over 35,000 students across North America. Athletes use video lessons, live video chats and social media to develop social-emotional skills through Classroom Champions’ Scaled Mentorship program which makes a measurable difference with students, teachers, classrooms and mentors.For more information on this program, you can visit classroomchampions.org FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Classrooms from across Fort St. John are teaming up with elite athletes for the Classroom Champions Program.Classroom Championships, in partnership with PETRONAS Canada, is dedicated to partnering with teachers to connect low socio-economic students with world-class athlete mentors to support students in academic, social and emotional learning.Steve Mesler, Olympic Gold Medalist and Co-Founder & CEO of Classroom Champions, says he is grateful for the continued support from PETRONAS Canada and the athletes in providing this program to local school children.
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The snowfall warning issued Friday for the B.C. Peace and Pine Pass remains in place, but has also been expanded into Alberta and Fort Nelson.Fort St. John and the rest of the B.C. Peace is expected to see heavy snow today with total amounts ranging from 10 to 15 cm.A low-pressure system will cross the region today. Heavy snow is expected to develop early this morning. The wind will gust up to 60km/h Saturday afternoon causing temperatures to feel more like minus 26. Fort Nelson is expected to receive 5 cm today as the heavy amounts remain to the south. The snow will ease this afternoon as the low moves into Alberta.The Pine Pass could see up to 25 cm of snow.Before you head out on area highways, visit www.drivebc.ca or 511.alberta.ca for current road conditions and highway cameras.For more information on weather warnings where you live, click here.
Chennai: The Madras High Court Wednesday upheld the Election Commission’s decision cancelling the election in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore Lok Sabha constituency.A bench of justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad dismissed petitions filed by AIADMK-led alliance candidate in the constituency, A C Shanmugham, and an Independent, K Sugumar, seeking to set aside the order cancelling the election which was slated for Thursday. The EC had on Tuesday cancelled the polls in Vellore — one of the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state — over allegations of excess use of money power. President Ram Nath Kovind had rescinded the notification to hold election to the seat based on an EC recommendation after “black money” worth Rs 11.53 crore, allegedly linked to DMK candidate Kathir Anand, was seized by the Income Tax Department on the intervening night of March 29-30. When the petitions were taken up for urgent hearing, the counsel for the EC submitted a report in a sealed cover to the court. Citing a Supreme Court verdict in its order, the bench said, “Legislatures are no Prophets, but pragmatic. Hence, comprehensive provisions have been made in Art 324 of the Constitution to take care of surprise situations.” The bench also said the EC, which has the power to issue notification for conducting polls, also has the power to recommend cancellation if it has arrived at the view that it is necessary to countermand it. The EC, after going through various reports of the Income Tax Authorities, Special Observers for Expenditure had come to the conclusion that there was enough material to cancel the election, it said. The commission informed the court that the cash was packed in covers with names and slips with details of whom it was to be paid to, the bench noted. Senior counsel Satish Parasaran, appearing for Shanmugham, contended the cancellation of the election due to seizure of cash allegedly linked to the DMK candidate was illegal, arbitrary and disproportionate. Referring to Section 8A of the Representation of the People Act, he argued appropriate remedy in cases of corrupt practices was disqualification of the concerned candidate and not countermanding the election as a whole in the constituency. The legislature in its wisdom had envisaged countermanding or adjournment of elections only in such cases as law and order violations and natural disasters and not in cases of corrupt practices, he added. The Union Law Ministry, which issued the order, and the President, who rescinded the notification, have no such powers after the announcement of the elections, Parasaran contended.
TRIPOLI- Libyan militias including two groups from the western city of Zintan have withdrawn from the capital in response to public pressure nearly a week after deadly violence, they said Thursday.The Al-Qaaqa Brigade said it had handed back to the authorities a site it had occupied and pulled out of the city with its weapons and vehicles, including tanks.Brigade commander Othman Mligta, a civilian, told AFP members of the group include military-registered border guards. “They are leaving from here and will head for their posts on the southern frontier,” he said.Another Zintan-based group, the Sawaek Brigade which is one of the most heavily armed units that battled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, also said it was pulling out.It said it was leaving the premises of a Kadhafi-founded organisation that it had occupied since rebels advanced into the capital in August 2011.On Tuesday, the government announced plans to remove militias from Tripoli and eventually integrate them into the security forces, after a weekend of deadly clashes between militiamen and residents.Prime Minister Ali Zeidan attended Thursday’s pullout by the Sawaek Brigade, and thanked the groups for complying with the government announcement.“The decision to evacuate armed groups from the capital will apply to all factions without exception,” he said.The Misrata militia, which was at the heart of the weekend violence in which 46 people died and some 500 were wounded, had already started pulling out of Tripoli on Monday at the behest of community leaders in their coastal city.Former rebels helped topple and kill Kadhafi in 2011, but have since banded into militias carving their own fiefdoms, each with its own ideology and regional allegiance.The unrest, the deadliest in Tripoli since the uprising, erupted on Friday when demonstrators protesting against militias in the Gharghour neighbourhood were fired upon from villas occupied by the Misrata fighters, who killed several of them.Rival militiamen then swept in, sparking clashes that continued until Saturday.The Misrata brigade saw some of the heaviest fighting during the uprising against Kadhafi, when their city was besieged by regime forces.But many such groups have rejected government calls to lay down their arms or integrate into the armed forces, triggering the frustration of Libyans who once hailed them as heroes for toppling Kadhafi.An Islamist militia that had run a prison facility at Tripoli’s Mitiga airbase also announced it was leaving the site.