iPolitics By iPolitics. Published on May 6, 2021 5:58am Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino pictured in August, 2019. (Photo via Toronto Star)
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Good Thursday morning,
Ottawa acknowledges immigration concerns: Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said he will address concerns about the federal government’s new pathway to permanent residency, which launches today. It’s aimed at granting permanent residency to 90,000 temporary foreign workers and graduated international students. Migrant groups have criticized the plan for leaving out refugees and undocumented people.
Field studies continue for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project May 6, 2021, by Zlatan Hrvacevic
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is continuing field studies in May 2021 as part of ongoing environmental and technical work for the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project.
The project team is working to collect additional information requested by the federal minister of environment and climate change, conduct ongoing field studies, and consult with Indigenous groups and federal agencies, the port officials announced.
“We remain focused on providing our response to the information request by summer 2021, following which the Impact Assessment Agency will hold a public comment period on the response and draft conditions for the project, should it be approved,” the port said.
The deadline to vacate the premises was 10 am today, but the Park Board notes that a “small number” of tents and temporary shelters remain, and they are “continuing to work with the remaining people on other options.” It is unclear when these remaining campers will leave.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the City of Vancouver, Park Board, and the provincial government on the way forward to put an end to the encampment through the provision of indoor accommodations, and prevent future encampments.
Two temporary shelters at the former Army & Navy store at 15-27 West Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside and a city-owned warehouse building at 875 Terminal Avenue are now housing the individuals. Both shelters have a combined capacity of 120 beds.
The commercial and recreational salmon fishery will be closed in a portion of Swiftsure Bank from July 16 to Oct. 31, and in Juan de Fuca Strait from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. DFO is also enforcing a new closure for commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the southern Gulf Islands, where closures will be triggered by the first confirmed presence of southern resident killer whales in the area. Monitoring will begin in the area on June 1. If a southern resident killer whale sighting is confirmed, the fishery will be shut down and remain closed until Oct. 31, the department said. Distancing measures will also be enforced. For a second year, vessels will be prohibited from coming within 400 metres of any orca in coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet, including Barkley and Howe Sound. This is in effect year-round until May 31, 2022.
“We take so little of the [overall] catch, but they have to take a swing at somebody.” For the third year in a row, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has ordered fishery closures and strict regulations for whale watchers and other vessels to protect the critically endangered southern resident population of orcas, whose numbers remain low at 75 in three pods. The measures focus on the main threats to the orcas, aiming to protect access to chinook salmon stocks and limit acoustic and physical disturbances and contaminants. The commercial and recreational salmon fishery will be closed in portions of Swiftsure Bank from July 16 to Oct. 31, and in areas of the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. Retention of Chinook isn’t allowed between April and July for much of the south coast.