Trans Mountain pipeline ushers in new economic era for Fort McMurray

As the urban centre at the heart of Canada’s oilsands industry, Fort McMurray has seen more than its share of ups and downs. A decade and a half ago, the northern Alberta community was this country’s most famous boom town. High oil prices helped to drive unprecedented demand for the thick, viscous bitumen that lies … Read more

Federal, provincial politicians leave door open to foreign workers’ involvement in Honda deal

Parties to the massive Honda EV investment deal reached this week have tacitly acknowledged that foreign workers will be involved in setting up the proposed auto plants, while attempting to downplay an issue already seized upon by the federal Conservatives. In response to questions throughout the week, federal officials, their provincial counterparts and executives for the … Read more

This workshop in Trenton, Ont., builds many of the world’s dinosaurs

The team at Research Casting International in Trenton, Ontario is responsible for preparing and building many dinosaur skeletons that are on display in museums around the world. (Ideacom International Inc. ) Roberto Verdecchia is one of the directors of Secrets of the Jurassic Dinosaurs The next time you step into the Royal Ontario Museum, the … Read more

P.E.I. river otters caught on camera as their population grows

River otters are making a comeback in at least one corner of Prince Edward Island, according to a recent journal article, and as a result measures are now being taken to protect the popular, water-loving mammal.   The Kensington North Watersheds Association started tracking river otters with trail cameras in late 2019. They began monitoring … Read more

How Ron Sexsmith ended up singing with Leonard Cohen in an Indigo basement

Day 613:59Canadian music legend Ron Sexsmith looks back on a remarkable career with a 60th birthday concert at Massey Hall Canadian songwriting legend Ron Sexsmith has turned 60, and will be celebrating the milestone with a concert at Massey Hall Thursday. A favourite of legends like Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello, Sexsmith has headlined the iconic … Read more

Spider webs catch more than prey. They’re also jam-packed with animal DNA

As It Happens6:05Spider webs catch more than prey. They’re also jam-packed with animal DNA Josh Newton probably isn’t very popular with spiders. After all, the Australian scientist has a tendency to go around undoing their hard work.  “I liken it to when Princess Fiona in Shrek makes some cotton candy for Shrek from spider webs, where … Read more

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon announces 78 new appointments to Order of Canada

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada — a list that includes activists, authors, artists, Indigenous leaders and other accomplished Canadians. Simon’s office announced three new appointments of “companions” — the highest level of the Order of Canada — 15 officers, including one honorary officer, and 59 members. A number of journalists were … Read more

Is your new car on a storage compound? Inside Kia’s scheme to deliberately withhold deliveries

New Kia vehicles that have arrived from overseas are sitting on a storage lot in Wolverton, Ont., purposely locked up even though customers have been waiting months and months — some well over a year — to get their vehicles. The new cars are being withheld from Kia’s Ontario dealerships — and reportedly from many more … Read more

National pharmacare plan is in limbo as health minister calls pending deadline ‘arbitrary’

Health Minister Mark Holland signalled Tuesday the government is unlikely to meet the end-of-the-year deadline imposed by the NDP for passing pharmacare legislation — a condition of the supply-and-confidence agreement that was struck to keep the Liberals in power until 2025. Holland said talks are ongoing with NDP MP Don Davies, the party’s health critic, … Read more

Helium startups on the Prairies hope to keep domestic supplies afloat

To the untrained eye, the collection of pipes and structures rising out of the prairie 200 kilometres east of Calgary looks like any other natural gas processing plant in southern Alberta.  But the Steveville plant isn’t focused on extracting hydrocarbons. Instead, the prize it’s seeking deep underground is helium.  The element is most commonly associated with … Read more