#personal injury across the border in alberta

[jyothsnarajan]

Understanding Legal Assistance for Dog Bite and Personal Injury Claims in Canada and the USA

Dog bite incidents can result in severe injuries and significant emotional trauma. Whether in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or across the border in the USA, it's essential to have the right legal support to claim compensation for injuries. Experienced dog bite attorneys in British Columbia play a vital role in helping victims seek justice by ensuring they receive appropriate compensation for their injuries.

Dog Bite Injury Claims in British Columbia

Victims of dog bite injuries in British Columbia have the right to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress. Expert dog bite compensation claims in British Columbia can be pursued with the help of skilled attorneys. Specialized dog bite injury attorneys in British Columbia offer legal guidance to navigate the complexities of these claims, ensuring that victims are adequately compensated for their pain and suffering.

Dog bite injury lawyers in British Columbia work diligently to hold negligent dog owners accountable, especially when proper care and control of the animal were lacking. These attorneys focus on establishing liability, ensuring that victims are compensated for their injuries.

Personal Injury Claims in Alberta

For individuals who experience personal injury across the border in Alberta, such as vehicle accidents or other forms of negligence, seeking legal help is essential. Victims can file a personal injury lawsuit in Alberta with the assistance of Canadian personal injury lawyers in Alberta who specialize in cross-border claims. They handle everything from initial consultation to negotiation and, if necessary, court proceedings, ensuring fair compensation is achieved.

Cross-Border Accident Claims in Saskatchewan

When it comes to vehicle accidents, Saskatchewan has its fair share of legal complexities. Cross-border truck accident lawyers in Saskatchewan provide critical support to victims involved in commercial vehicle accidents that occur across provincial or international borders. These lawyers have extensive experience dealing with the legal differences between provinces and countries.

Additionally, victims of motor vehicle accidents can seek compensation through motor vehicle accident attorneys in Saskatchewan or motor vehicle accident lawyers in Saskatchewan who specialize in injury claims. These legal professionals work to secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain caused by such accidents.

Dog Bite Injury Claims in the USA

For those dealing with dog bite injuries in the USA, navigating the legal landscape can be challenging. Specialized dog bite personal injury attorneys in the USA provide expertise in pursuing dog bite claims in the USA. These attorneys ensure that victims receive compensation for medical treatment, rehabilitation, and other related costs.

Additionally, dog bite claim lawyers in the USA and dog bite claim attorneys in the USA help victims through every step of the legal process. Whether representing victims in negotiations or litigation, these attorneys work to ensure a fair outcome.

Many law firms in the USA, such as dog bite injury law firms in the USA, focus solely on personal injury and dog bite cases, offering top-notch legal support. Their expertise in personal injury law makes them invaluable to victims seeking justice.

In conclusion, whether you're dealing with dog bite injuries in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or across the border in the USA, having skilled legal representation can make all the difference in securing fair compensation and justice for your injuries.

[scriptflorist]

Thanks again for answering about my shipping question. I am definitely having it go international. It unfortunately looks like my idea is no good afterall... unless one of the smugglers IS part of the transport crew? I suppose now I have to know if plants in transport are tamper proof inside all the packaging? I have to assume just a bag of soil/fertilizer has the same international inspection?

Hi again,

The way I see it your characters are going to have bigger trouble simply shipping soil across a border. With a plant attached to it, there is significant purpose to the soil. Without a plant attached it's just a bag of dirt and I can think of plenty reasons why other countries wouldn't want to have that imported. Not to mention that there is the question of whether or not the origin country will allow the export. See soil in general, but especially bio soil contains a lot of microscopic things that nobody knows are there till they are. When I worked as a florist we had a customer come in every now and then and complain about tiny white flies coming from their soil and I had to explain to them that sorry that's just how it is, they can try a new bag if they want to but there's always a risk just because it's bio soil and full of well, lot's of things too small for the human eye to see. (We did a refund if the customer wanted us to though, but refunds are another story.)

So, bags of soil… not so much a good idea. Plants? Maybe not the best idea but still doable. The way I see it is that if the cover story is foolproof and they can invest money in the right places they should be able to get the plants through customs and about anything. Airports man. Airports are strict, but that's a given I guess. Getting the plants in a truck across the border? If they have a permit that looks legit they should be good to go in most cases. I mean some large company or some rich person ordering a bunch of huge, expensive plants are not out of the ordinary, but then again each border control is different. And that's really what you would have to look into at this point. Border control and smuggling.

It would certainly help to have a smuggler with the transport crew, or really any step of the way. But there is no one for all solution to this because it all depends on the location the plants are coming from and the location the plants are going to.

- Mod Jana

The link I provided on the last ask shows the US policy on soil also:

Soil is strictly controlled under APHIS quarantine regulations 7 CFR 330 because it can readily provide a pathway for the introduction of a variety of dangerous organisms into the United States.

Importation of soil into the United States from foreign sources is prohibited, and movement within the continental U.S. is restricted unless authorized by APHIS under specific conditions, safeguards and controlled circumstances described in a permit and/or compliance agreement.

Foreign Soil Under 3 pounds A permit can be issued by the Permit Unit usually within 2 weeks if the applicant has requested an authorization for less than three pounds of soil (per shipment), and the soil can be heat sterilized by PPQ at ports with appropriate facilities.

Foreign Soil Over 3 pounds   Soil which cannot be treated at the port of entry may be authorized for movement to a facility approved in advance and authorized under a permit issued by PPQ. Specific safeguard provisions are described in the permit and also in a compliance agreement with the facility.

Canadian Soil Soil cannot enter the U.S. if from the following areas:

Alberta: A farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Fort Saskatchewan; and a farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Spruce Grove.

British Colombia: That portion of the municipality of Central Saanich on Vancouver Island, ease of the west Saanich Road.

Newfoundland and Labrador: The entire Island of Newfoundland.

Quebec: The municipality of Saint- Amble.

Soil from other parts of Canada imported into the U.S. is subject only to inspection and verification of the origin.

I could conceivably believe that a sealed container of soil (+ jewels) might be passed through if it was under the 3 pound limit and could be heat sterilized. But they’d probably still do a scan of the container. 

I think, for this story it comes down to either picking a spot in the chain of custody where there is an inside person, picking a spot to bribe to let things through even if they don’t pass, or picking a spot where there’s human error or negligence. Maybe the smugglers should have gotten caught but the customs agent checking that container of plants was up all night with a sick kid and is halfway to sick themselves and just managed to miss seeing that the papers were forgeries or missed seeing the weird lumps in the scan. There are ways to get around it, but smugglers probably don’t want to rely on chance and luck, so I think one of the first two would be more likely.

~*Mod Den*~

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import-information/permits

Disclaimer

This blog is intended as writing advice only. This blog and its mods are not responsible for accidents, injuries or other consequences of using this advice for real world situations or in any way that said advice was not intended.

[spiffyb]

Annabelle’s Totem

Deep in the Ya Ha Tinda, forests filled with firs and aspen trees are punctuated with fields of wild horses, Mustangs running free in the wind which shakes the tall, coarse grass.

           Annabelle gazed out the window of the cherry red pick-up truck, which was firmly closed to stop the dust getting in, as she drove along the dirt road to nowhere. Her GPS had cut out over a mile ago, and she wondered how she was going to find the ranch in the first place. Luckily, all the roads were in grid out West, which made things easier, and there was no traffic to speak of. But there were also no gas stations. The nearest one was in Sundre, so she just had to keep driving. She wasn’t lost yet.

           Finally, the trees cleared and a log cabin on a hill and a sizeable red barn, bordered by a wooden post-and-rail fence, appeared in the distance. Annabelle turned the truck into the driveway, putting it into park and climbing out to clumsily open the gate with a hand-carved sign inscribed ‘Lucky Diamond Ranch’. Sounds like the name of a Casino. After closing the gate, she pulled up right by the cabin, and looked around for signs of human life. The air was rich with the smell of horse hair, horse dung and silage.

           ‘Howdy,’ a lean man wearing a Stetson, worn-looking leather cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans and a blue plaid shirt swung one leg and the other over a fence and jumped down like an agile cat. ‘I’m Lenny.’

           Annabelle introduced herself, reluctantly shaking Lenny’s rather dirty outstretched hand. Lenny and his brother Bryn, who was really his half-brother, ran the ranch. Bryn happened to be a veterinarian, and was out on a farm call at the time. Something about a cow with a prolapsed uterus. Annabelle said she didn’t want to know.

           ‘You want anything? Coffee? Some Jack Daniels?’ Lenny offered. Annabelle had almost stepped in some horse apples.

           ‘Coffee, please.’ She followed Lenny inside the log cabin, which consisted mainly of one room, with paintings of country scenes and all manor of animal heads hanging on the walls. She took a mug of tar-like substance that smelled something like coffee in her hands, and thought better than to drink it. Lenny just smiled. He was handsome but, Annabelle thought, wasted on this solitary existence. What kind of man lives out in the boonies with his brother and other animals, anyway?

           After exchanging few words, Lenny lead Annabelle out to the paddock. The horses stood around, their coats gleaming in the bright Alberta sunlight, swishing their tails back and forth. One, a buckskin gelding, nuzzled Annabelle’s palm. ‘He likes you,’ Lenny said, ‘That one’s Joey.’

           Annabelle regarded the beast. He was around 15 hands high, probably a quarter horse and young, maybe three. ‘Is he broke?’

           ‘Yeah, he’s a fine animal,’ Lenny beamed, ‘Strong, though. Not suitable for beginner riders.’ He gestured to the gelding’s flank and powerful quarters.

           Annabelle rolled her eyes. ‘Can I take him out?’

           ‘What, all by yourself?’

           Annabelle said of course by herself. As a girl, she loved watching the show jumping at Spruce Meadows, and she had taken lessons in dressage as many years ago. Lenny shrugged and went to the barn to get a saddle. As he hoisted the leather saddle onto Joey’s gently curved back, fixing the girth in place, Annabelle noticed Lenny was smirking and shot him a questioning look.

           ‘Out here we call you folks “Coca-cola Cowboys”.’ Not funny. Annabelle found it about as amusing as she found the horn at the front of the saddle, and she unwillingly found herself imagining what sorts of injuries a person could sustain from that appendage. She said nothing while Lenny continued saddling her horse fluently. ‘Do you know how to neck-reign? No? Well, you can pony-reign if you need; most horses understand it.’ He gestured a neck-reign demonstration, which looked rather as though he were miming how to change gears in a stick-shift car. Annabelle drove automatic for a reason.

           Having mounted the horse with some elegance, Annabelle gathered the smooth, brown leather reigns in her right hand and sat straight with feigned confidence. Lenny told her to go straight across the field to the west of the ranch, and head along the well-worn path through the forest towards the Blue Mountain, said the ride took about an hour there and back.

           Commencing at a walk, Annabelle rode Joey through an open barb-wired gate into a lush green field, with hills and forests in the distance. She nudged him gently with her heels to guide him into a trot, but also squeezed him slightly with her legs, prompting Joey to burst into a gallop. His long, beige legs propelled them forwards with ease, as his hard, black hooves danced rhythmically across the field. He moved so smoothly, Annabelle felt like they were flying.

           After a while, Annabelle left the city behind and relaxed her shoulders. This expedition felt like the most natural thing in the world. For the first time in weeks, Annabelle forgot about Eric. She could have gone to a spa or done yoga in a comfortable studio with a hardwood floor and a vast window overlooking the mountains. Eschewing luxury, she opted to get as far away as possible, which the Ya Ha Tinda promised. In reality, she found herself in the middle of nowhere: the antithesis of glamour. She thought of Lenny, about how ridiculous he must have found this yahoo with her designer handbag and brand-new Levi’s.

They came into a clearing in the forest, where a large elk stood wearing a crown of great antlers. Annabelle didn’t see the elk, and neither did the horse at first, so she was unprepared when her mount leapt sideways with all four feet in the air.

           ‘Whoa, boy!’ the command came forth instinctively. ‘Whoa! I said “whoa”!’ Surprise became panic, as the horse kicked his hind legs towards the sky, bucking like a bronco at a rodeo. The rider flew into the air, and fell onto the forest floor like a bird shot out of the sky. The elk had already dashed into the woods. Annabelle picked up a small, smooth stone and threw it at the horse, who whinnied and took off down the trail. ‘Stupid animal!’

           Annabelle started to shiver slightly, and she looked up at the sky, blue streaked through with crimson, lilac, flame orange and pink, like a painting of meadow flowers: Indian paintbrushes, fireweed and pale pink Alberta roses. She pulled her denim jacket around herself. It was still Spring and the nights could get cold. Having shaken off the shock of her little misadventure, she scrambled to her feet and walked slowly to the edge of the clearing, hoping to find the trail. Appraising the ground, she couldn’t make out any hoof prints. Deer, elk, and coyote prints all mixed together. If a horse had walked there, Annabelle didn’t know. Tears sprang from her eyes, running down her cheeks like the Red Deer river which roared in the distance, too far away for her to hear.

           Grasshoppers clicked their legs, chirping softly. A small bird, high in a Balsam tree sang chick-a-dee-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee-dee. Compared to the city, it was so quiet, but Annabelle hated the silence and every noise the forest made. When a coyote howled like a ghost, Annabelle thought it was a wolf, great and grey with menacing fangs. In the clearing, bushes decorated with bright red berries clustered around. Although her stomach growled, she dared not touch the berries for fear they were poisonous. What Annabelle didn’t know was that these fruits were named bearberries, and the grizzlies who feasted on them were somewhere in the mountains enclosing the Ya Ha Tinda’s Western perimeter. For a moment, Annabelle took her cell phone out of her pocket and laughed. That was useless out here. There was no way to call for help. If, in her panic, she cried out frantically for help, there’s no telling what creatures she would awaken. If she climbed up a tree, there’s no way she could get away from a mountain lion, with its sharp talons and unnatural speed.

           Stick to the trails and be back before dark.

           As the sun disappeared, the painted sky turned inky black, dusted with stars. Far from the city, you could see every star with clarity, and a group of stars gathered in the shape of a ladle. And at the tip of its handle was the North Star. And if Annabelle had known this, she could have found her way back through the thick forests, down the hill and across the grassy plain. But the forest was forbidding, a sea of trees standing still like totem poles.

           Annabelle turned around. Something rustled in the bushes, heading towards her. Two brown eyes peered at her from the dark forest. Suddenly the beast burst into the clearing.

           ‘Joey!’ Annabelle cried, startled. Moonlight revealed the familiar outline of a horse. The animal had appeared like a spirit from the forest, a shadow of the history of the Stony tribe who once wandered these plains and mountains. The western wind moved through the trees, gently tousling Annabelle’s auburn mane like waves on the sea. Surrounded by this wonderful wilderness, she paused and hesitated mounting on the horse. She was lost in a dream. While her feet were planted firmly on the ground, she stood on a higher plane. While the wilderness was filled with mystic, it managed to simplify life. Before, Annabelle had only imagined that such places still existed, untouched by the urban sprawl.  Joey lowered his head and strolled shamefully towards Annabelle, who hugged his neck, as he bent his neck towards her, hugging her back. Joey looked different somehow, Annabelle thought, almost human. His big brown eyes were filled with apology. ‘I’m sorry too, boy,’ Annabelle said, gently stroking his nose. Sliding one foot in the stirrup, Annabelle got back on her horse. For a moment, she remembered she was still lost with no idea how to get back to the house.

           As they traversed the woodland in search of the trail, Annabelle breathed in the scent of lodgepole pines, listening to the call of a barn owl asking who-who-who? She couldn’t see a darn thing. The odd Alberta rosebush pricked her legs, and when Joey walked too close to a poplar she felt its corrugated bark against her calves. The young horse ambled along cautiously, until they eventually reached the edge of the forest. The night sky illuminated the field; its reflection played on the waters of a lake, so that it was impossible to differentiate the Earth from the atmosphere. Under the starlight, Joey galloped in the direction of an artificial light glowing in the distance.

‘Annabelle’s Totem’ by Barbara (Wilson) Drury (c)

[jasonlawson0]

Infant in Vancouver hospital newborn care unit infected with COVID-19

VANCOUVER — More people are testing positive for COVID-19 in British Columbia, including a baby in a neo-natal intensive care unit in a Vancouver hospital.

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry called an unplanned news conference Friday to update the public on the number of new cases and steps being taken while she urged residents enjoy the summer with care.

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"We can socialize, and we need to socialize, we need to play safe and stay safe. Don't let COVID steal our summer."

The advice came following a report that 35 cases are now connected to COVID-19 exposures in the Kelowna area that Health Minister Adrian Dix had said were connected to private parties around Canada Day.

Henry said the parties in Kelowna were mostly done with the right intent, where the numbers were kept small, but it was different people every night, which made tracing a challenge.

Vancouver Coastal Health authorities are looking at how COVID-19 spread in the neo-natal intensive care unit at St. Paul's Hospital, where the baby tested positive for the virus, she said.

Henry said fewer than 10 people were exposed, and the baby was not showing signs of illness.

Health-care workers were also exposed, but she said she didn't know how many were involved.

Experts know that some infants can have more severe illness but even they recover quickly, Henry said.

She said the infants who were exposed at St. Paul's are isolating with their families.

Dr. Joan Robinson, a pediatric infectious-diseases specialist at the University of Alberta, said there is limited data on infants who test positive for COVID-19 because few babies in intensive care units have been infected.

"So, so far I would say we should be very optimistic that babies will be fine but there certainly have not been enough cases for us to know that for certain."

Providence Health, which operates the hospital, said in a statement Friday new protocols are in place requiring parents visiting their babies in the unit to wear a mask and sign a visitor log.

Henry said the hospital policy did not require families to wear masks around their baby.

The challenge in this situation was that the babies were in a common room where the bassinets were at least two metres apart but there were no barriers between them, she said.

"That meant that there was potential for people who were in the (unit) to be exposed," she said.

"So, that's why we're watching very carefully and the (neo-natal intensive care unit) has been closed. But I do believe it is a very low risk scenario for others."

There's also been an alert issued for potential exposure to COVID-19 the Sandman hotel on Davie Street in Vancouver between July 7 and July 16, she said.

Another case has been discovered in a worker from Alberta at the Site C dam project, although Henry says that person was isolated before having contact with other workers.

B.C. reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday for a total of 3,198.

There have been no new deaths and just over 2,800 people have fully recovered from their illness.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2020.

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[denisehil0]

Popeyes pilots chicken sandwich in Edmonton despite COVID-19 pandemic

Albertans will be the first in Canada to sample a fried chicken sandwich that became a social-media sensation with its U.S. debut last summer when Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen adds the menu item to stores in select cities in the province Wednesday.

The menu item generated long lines, supply shortages and — in one case — deadly violence south of the border, but the fried-chicken chain plans for a smoother Canadian launch.

A Canadian trial planned for April was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, since widespread physical distancing precautions seemed out of step with long lines of hungry customers. Popeyes still expects to see high demand, but has implemented safety measures to keep customers and staff healthy while it tests the sandwich in the Edmonton area, before expanding to Ontario and then nationally.

“We’re confident in the measures we have in place,” said Rob Manuel, Popeyes Canada general manager.

When Popeyes launched the sandwich in August 2019, U.S. critics fawned over the fried chicken with pickles and sauce on a brioche bun creation. New Yorker food correspondent Helen Rosner wrote a piece headlined: “The Popeyes chicken sandwich is here to save America.”

Hordes flocked to the chain’s restaurants as reviews of what was dubbed “the sandwich” flooded social media. Some stores ran out of the in-demand product within days, prompting anger and even violence.

In September, police in Houston said a man pulled a gun at a Popeyes restaurant after learning they had sold out of the sandwich. When the manager repeated that they were out of stock, the man left and no one was injured.

On Nov. 4, 2019 — one day after Popeyes started selling the sandwich again — a man in Maryland allegedly stabbed to death a 28-year-old man who police said had been “methodically” cutting in line for the re-released chicken sandwiches for about 15 minutes before the suspect, who was later arrested and charged with murder, confronted him.

The sandwich supercharged Popeyes sales as the chain’s comparable sales, a key retail metric, grew more than 10 per cent in the U.S. for the quarter during which it sold the item as a limited-time summer offer, making it one of the chain’s best quarters in almost two decades.

Popeyes later released the famous menu item in Brazil, China and the Philippines, said Manuel, “so Canada was coming regardless of this” pandemic.

The company initially planned a simultaneous start in Ontario cities London and Windsor, along with Edmonton, but decided to wait. The chain’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Tim Hortons and Burger King, backed that choice.

“We made the conscious decision not to do this back in April because it didn’t … seem like the right thing to do at the time,” said Manuel.

Popeyes decided to limit the initial test to Edmonton, where it has eight restaurants in mostly suburban settings, as well as four others in nearby Red Deer, Grand Prairie, Lloydminster and Fort Saskatchewan.

It chose those cities, in part, because “Alberta is in a — I guess — a more advanced stage of the COVID recovery than some other places in the country,” Manuel said.

The province has allowed restaurant dining rooms to reopen with no capacity limit, but tables must be two-metres apart or separated with a barrier, and no more than six people can sit at one table.

In the province, people seem to feel more comfortable visiting restaurants, said Manuel.

Most of the company’s restaurants there also have drive-thrus, he noted, which would help with physical distancing.

Popeyes expects most people eager to try the sandwich will drive to these locations, which along with delivery options should limit lines outside the store.

Still, it placed physical distancing markers in and outside the restaurants to help manage any lines, he said. Other health and safety measures include staff wearing face masks and gloves, and installing acrylic screens.

Popeyes plans to expand the test to London and Windsor next, and is eyeing a national launch at its 218 restaurants across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. in the fall.

But that depends on a couple of things, Manuel said, including where the country is in terms of the coronavirus.

When London and Windsor enter the third stage of Ontario’s reopening plan, he said, Popeyes will have a better idea of a pilot timeline for those regions.

In Alberta, Popeyes also will offer a deluxe version of the chicken sandwich, which includes lettuce and tomato.

— With files from The Associated Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:QSR)

Aleksandra Sagan, The Canadian Press

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[tsw-story]

Chapter 13 - The Odd Couple

The night passed quickly. Eldrian, who was still resting up at the hospital, was left with a box of leftover food from the disastrous dinner that happened the previous day. His injuries were fortunately not severe and his recovery was moving properly. Outside, Deena was walking down the sidewalk. She was not only looking for a place to open up a portal door to her home, but also felt as if she needed some fresh air and quiet.

It was still the morning. She was returning from her visit, but now she wasn't certain what to do. She was once content with sitting, studying, and silence. Eldrian and Kevin entering her life made it difficult to think of anything other than the chaos they brought.

Down the sides of the road were smiling folks, and while she wasn't joining them in that regard, it was a comforting sight. Everybody and their dog—literally—was out enjoying the last bits of sun before winter took it over. While the little witch brought the curious gaze of pedestrians she passed, she was used to it. From head to toe her body was pale, even her hair, but it wouldn't be long until the city felt the same. Her hand held out with the palm raised up, and it was greeted by the melting of a single bit of snow that floated down from the sky.

Her numb serenity was broken by a child. She nearly jumped at his intrusion, but the small boy was holding a letter in his hand, and he tugged on her skirt to get her attention. He appeared filthy, wore clothes a size too big for him, and they were patched up in more places than one.

“Hello, miss. I'm looking for either Eldrian, or a short girl with white hair and a flat chest. Are you one of those? He said they'd be at the hospital. I don't see many other people with hair like that, so it'd be awfully great if I found you already.”

Aggravating description aside, she stared down at the child and muttered, “Who's asking?”

“I was asked to deliver this,” he said as he pushed forward the letter. “Take it, please.”

“Who's it from?”

“Wouldn't say, miss. He gave me some cash and told me he'd hit me if I didn't deliver it today.”

Her eyebrow raised inquisitively and she peeled open the top of the envelope. Inside was a slip of paper with a simple paragraph of writing. The chicken scratch proved difficult to read, and the paper itself was stained and torn around the edges. Her eyes scanned it over.

It read, “Eldrian. We have your little ginger friend. If you want him back, you'll come and get him before the sun sets tonight. You'll never see him again if you ignore this message. The address is written below.”

A cold bead of sweat rolled down her forehead and to the lid of her right eye. She rolled her palm across her face, and up through her hair as she squeezed the message into a crinkled mess beside her waist. She started to wonder.

Who wrote this, and why do they hate Eldrian? She realised she didn't know all that much about him, and he did already make enemies with her brothers. But he stood up for her. The worst part is that yesterday's encounter left him in no condition to battle again already. Perhaps she owed him still. She knew that if she told Eldrian, he'd run recklessly into danger and he'd end up in even worse shape. Though they hadn't spoken much, Kevin was becoming a friend too. Everything wasn't up to Eldrian.

She stood there in thought for such a lengthy time that the child had completely disappeared from view. It was soon after that she made up her mind. She would text Eldrian and ask for somebody's number.

***

A white door appeared directly in the center of a nearly vacant field far away from the city, like a cartoon, but an anthropomorphic rabbit didn't emerge when it opened—a witch did. She stepped out and the door vanished behind her. Today she wore a pair of jeans torn at the knees, and a black t-shirt sporting the logo of a band. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail. There was only one other nearby besides various animals lurking in the shrubs, and it was Daveon the druid.

Dressed in jet black pants, a blue shirt, and a thin, dark grey coat that was opened, the man stood silent as he slid away his phone to a pocket at his side. And as always, he was wearing a beanie, though that day it was blue.

“Where do you get new clothes if you're always out in the middle of nowhere?” asked Deena.

“Probably the same place you got the band in your hair that looks like a tiny bat.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know you don't trust me that much.”

“I don't trust dark magic. Witches. Warlocks. Often they end up allying with demons, and bringing them to Earth. Then people get hurt. That doesn't include the problems with voodoo and other shadowy practices.”

“Well, I don't talk bad about your magic,” Deena barked as she crossed her arms, averting her gaze. An awkward pause followed.

Daveon let out a quiet sigh. “Sorry. You came here to talk to me about something, and I'm just pushing you away. At least let me hear you out. I've just had bad experiences with warlocks, is all, so please. Tell me what you came here to tell me. I'll listen.”

The boy smiled, exposing his perfect, nearly reflective grin. She nearly had to cover her eyes at the blinding light coming from his handsome smile. But after a moment, she recovered enough to begin her explanation. She made things short, however, and simply handed him the letter she previously received from the young messenger.

“Kevin was taken? How? By who?” muttered Daveon.

“I don't know.”

“Where's Eldrian then?”

“He's... a little indisposed at the moment. That's why I came to you, Daveon. Maybe we can deal with this together so he doesn't need to.”

“That's awfully nice of you to suggest.”

“Don't get used to it.”

The druid laughed. “Fair enough. So, the address is here. Clearly this is a trap. Somebody wants to bait Eldrian to this abandoned warehouse. Typical. Then they attack him, and overwhelm him. So that means they think they have something that can beat him. So what could that possibly be?”

“Another wizard. Maybe two.”

“Or a spellbreaker.”

Deena shuddered. “Or both. We're both wizards. But if it is a spellbreaker, they're still ordinary people. They might have the power to counter a wizard's spells, but they have no spells of their own. We'll outnumber them. Maybe.”

The druid smiled again. “The place they chose. It's a distance away from other buildings, which means they don't want to draw a ton of attention. That also means it's on the border of the city. I have just the plan, Deena. It's going to be quick and destructive, so we'll flee as soon as we get Kevin.”

“I thought without Eldrian we'd be doing things carefully.”

“Subtlety has its place. I'll scout ahead before we do anything, so that I can make sure there aren't any hidden threats we don't know about. I may have only met you guys, but Eldrian risked his life to protect an ancient civilization, and Kevin seems to have a big heart as well.” Daveon gave her a coy look. “And you're kind for a witch.”

Deena scrunched her nose and rolled her eyes yet again. “So what exactly can you do? I know of druids, but I've yet to see you do something besides spar with Kevin. And don't say it's being pretty.”

“You think I'm pretty?”

“I didn't say that!”

Daveon sighed and scratched under his hat. “I can talk with animals, transform myself into a variety of them, and there's other things. I admit I don't often fight. Eldrian seems to be more of an expert on that, but apparently if I'm to befriend you all, I better learn.”

He clapped a palm to the back of his other hand, and held them both out to face the front of his hands forwards. A faded green aura began dancing around the flesh of his arms, and suddenly, a dark green and lengthy spike phased out of his palm before firing like a cannon ball off into a nearby boulder. Thorn Shot!

The tip stuck in. After a moment, it fizzled into a green mist.

Next, he crossed over his arms and raised his fingers like a falcon's talons. Vines sprung force around the large rock and enveloped it into a tight embrace of constricting green bands. The stone started to crack in places. Entangle!

“Is that all?” Deena asked with a smirk.

“I told you that subtlety has its place. I don't blow things up.”

“Let me try.”

With a hand like a demon's claw held outwards, a manifestation of dark energy began growing into a basketball-sized sphere hovering above her palm. It pulsed and crackled. Then, she hurled the attack, causing the ball of magic to crash against the vine-covered boulder. Shadow Ball!

The attack drifted to the side, but it still connected with the left edge of the rock. Half of it detonated into fragments, causing the vines to retreat and the top part of the boulder to eventually snap and crumble off to the ground with a thud.

Daveon deadpanned to her. “Was that a try to be subtle?”

“No. I just really wanted to break something today.”

“When this is all over, I have a special tea blend that should calm you down. But that attack was exactly what we need. If we bring them outside, my powers are more effective. You know, a shadow spell is hard to control, but it came pretty easily to you.”

“Practice, I guess.”

“Harnessing chaotic power is difficult. I guess for a lot of wizards, chaos is something to get used to.”

“So what were you doing exactly in Peru if you weren't fighting anything?”

“Being lethargic. I was hiding there. Countries like Canada and the United States are much more difficult for a wizard to live in. I was safe, relaxed... It was peaceful there.”

“And you came to Alberta anyway?”

“I guess I was tired of being bored. I had no purpose.”

“Maybe you'll find that purpose here.” She shrugged.

“Unclear. A wizard might be able to tap into reality and manipulate it, but we have the same power to find our place on Earth as a regular person. If anything, it's more difficult for us. What about you, Deena? Have any dreams or goals?”

“I don't know... I'm just trying to survive.”

“Staying alive is a perfectly reasonable goal.”

“We should leave as soon as possible.”

“I agree. Kevin shouldn't be left to suffer any longer.”

“They might have already cut off his toes.”

“That's not helpful.”

Her vacant stare moved slowly to stare into his eyes. “I was joking.”

Daveon returned the gaze, but stared with a blank confusion, as if he was struggling and failing to read her face.

“How am I supposed to tell if you're joking?” he asked. “You say everything the same. I need to buy a guide on understanding witches.”

“They sell them at the same place I bought my hair band.”

He let out a quiet, short laugh as he lowered his head to gaze at the long blades of grass between his feet. Daveon nodded. With hands in his pockets, he looked back up, moving his eyes to the cloudy sky. There was a chill in the air, but he wasn't bothered by the elements.

“By the sun, it looks to be approaching noon. Let's start acting.”

She nodded. The druid started marching forwards towards the city limits, and although they didn't walk close to one another, Deena felt more comfortable than she thought she would potentially going into battle with Daveon at her side. It was necessary, anyway. But this time, something she was forced to do led to something somewhat positive, and that was enough to fuel her courage towards what she might find waiting for them.

[jasonlawson0]

More people in B.C. testing positive for COVID-19, including infant

VANCOUVER — More people are testing positive for COVID-19 in British Columbia, including a baby in a neo-natal intensive care unit in a Vancouver hospital.

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry called an unplanned news conference Friday to update the public on the number of new cases and steps being taken while she urged residents enjoy the summer with care.

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"We can socialize, and we need to socialize, we need to play safe and stay safe. Don't let COVID steal our summer."

The advice came following a report that 35 cases are now connected to COVID-19 exposures in the Kelowna area that Health Minister Adrian Dix had said were connected to private parties around Canada Day.

Henry said the parties in Kelowna were mostly done with the right intent, where the numbers were kept small, but it was different people every night, which made tracing a challenge.

Vancouver Coastal Health authorities are looking at how COVID-19 spread in the neo-natal intensive care unit at St. Paul's Hospital, where the baby tested positive for the virus, she said.

Henry said fewer than 10 people were exposed, and the baby was not showing signs of illness.

Health-care workers were also exposed, but she said she didn't know how many were involved.

Experts know that some infants can have more severe illness but even they recover quickly, Henry said.

She said the infants who were exposed at St. Paul's are isolating with their families.

Dr. Joan Robinson, a pediatric infectious-diseases specialist at the University of Alberta, said there is limited data on infants who test positive for COVID-19 because few babies in intensive care units have been infected.

"So, so far I would say we should be very optimistic that babies will be fine but there certainly have not been enough cases for us to know that for certain."

Providence Health, which operates the hospital, said in a statement Friday new protocols are in place requiring parents visiting their babies in the unit to wear a mask and sign a visitor log.

Henry said the hospital policy did not require families to wear masks around their baby.

The challenge in this situation was that the babies were in a common room where the bassinets were at least two metres apart but there were no barriers between them, she said.

"That meant that there was potential for people who were in the (unit) to be exposed," she said.

"So, that's why we're watching very carefully and the (neo-natal intensive care unit) has been closed. But I do believe it is a very low risk scenario for others."

There's also been an alert issued for potential exposure to COVID-19 the Sandman hotel on Davie Street in Vancouver between July 7 and July 16, she said.

Another case has been discovered in a worker from Alberta at the Site C dam project, although Henry says that person was isolated before having contact with other workers.

B.C. reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday for a total of 3,198.

There have been no new deaths and just over 2,800 people have fully recovered from their illness.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2020.

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Trans Mountain says pipeline has restarted after spill in Abbotsford, B.C.

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Trans Mountain estimates as much as 1,195 barrels, or 190,000 litres, of light crude spilled from its pipeline pumping station in Abbotsford, B.C.

While an investigation is ongoing, the Crown-owned company said in a statement the cause of the spill appears to be related to a fitting on a one-inch, or 2.5-centimetre, piece of pipe.

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The statement said the pipeline restarted on Sunday afternoon, after all safety protocols were completed.

It said the spill was fully contained on Trans Mountain property, the free-standing oil has been recovered and it will be disposed of at an approved facility.

Sumas First Nation Chief Dalton Silver said the spill happened just south of a cultural and burial ground of great significance to their people.

He said in a statement Sunday that it's the fourth time in 15 years that there has been a spill from the pipeline on their land.

"Our main concern is for the clean-up of this spill and preventing further impacts to our territory. We need to have our monitors on the ground immediately."

Trans Mountain said the site has permanent air and groundwater monitoring in place there's no indication of a risk to the public or community.

"An Incident Command Post remains active and the company continues to work with local authorities, area Indigenous groups and regulators, including the Canada Energy Regulator, Transportation Safety Board and B.C. Ministry of Environment, in the oversight and cleanup of this incident," the company said in a statement.

A spokesman for Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O'Regan said the department is "monitoring the situation closely."

The pipeline was shut early Saturday when an alarm was received about the spill at the station in the B.C.'s Fraser Valley, not far from the U.S. border.

The pipeline moves about 300,000 barrels of crude a day between Alberta and B.C.'s waterfront terminal near Vancouver.

The federal government approved the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline last June that would see the crude capacity triple.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2020.

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Alberta licence plates become targets for COVID-19 fears in some B.C. towns

VICTORIA — Some British Columbia communities are urging residents to show kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic following media reports of confrontations and rudeness shown to people driving vehicles with out-of-province licence plates.

Revelstoke Mayor Gary Sulz is calling for residents to welcome one and all to his southeast B.C. mountain community after a local resident reportedly found an expletive-filled note on his vehicle, which bears Alberta licence plates, to return to the province.

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Sulz posted a message on Revelstoke's Facebook page encouraging residents to reach out and welcome everybody arriving in the community, whether through travel, employment or family matters.

The nearby community of Sicamous posted a message asking residents to stop looking at licence plates and start saying hello to people.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says there are many essential workers travelling across borders and many of the people driving vehicles with Alberta plates could be B.C. residents.

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Possible motivation and the street protests continue; In The News for June 8

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of June 8 …

—

What we are watching in Canada …

HALIFAX — More than seven weeks after a man disguised as a Mountie killed 22 people in rural Nova Scotia, the RCMP have finally hinted at what may have motivated one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history.

Last week, RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell told a briefing that a behavioural analysis of the killer determined he was an “injustice collector” — a term that is well known among criminologists.

Michael Arntfield, a professor and criminologist at Western University in London, Ont., says injustice collectors are disproportionately middle-aged males who have tabulated an inventory of every perceived slight over the course of their lives.

They can nurture grudges for years. They often feel cheated or disrespected by others, even though there may be no evidence to support those beliefs. And these negative thoughts often get stuck on an endless, self-fulfilling loop.

Witness statements, documents and police disclosures confirm the killer, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, displayed many of these traits — though not all the time.

Wortman killed 13 people in Portapique before slaying another nine people the following day in several communities in northern and central Nova Scotia. He was fatally shot by a Mountie at a gas station in Enfield, N.S.

In a police document used to obtain a search warrant, one witness described Wortman as a smart psychopath who had been abused as a boy and was paranoid about the COVID-19 pandemic.

—

Also this …

MONTREAL — Thousands hit Montreal streets again Sunday to speak out in turn against racism, systemic discrimination and police brutality, following other Canadian communities that held marches this weekend.

Participants from different communities and of all ages crowded into a downtown Montreal square to listen to a cross-section of activists, community leaders, sports personalities and politicians before snaking peacefully through downtown Montreal to Dorchester Square, chanting “black lives matter” and “no justice, no peace” among other slogans.

They took a symbolic knee during the march — the second Sunday in a row the city has hosted one since the release of a video showing a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, for nearly nine minutes.

Floyd fell still and died, the officer’s knee still on his neck.

His death has sparked demonstrations denouncing racism, violence and police impunity right across the globe and well-attended events were held Saturday in several Canadian cities, including Toronto, St. John’s, Calgary and London, Ont.

In Montreal, demonstrators called out Quebec Premier Francois Legault for his belief the province doesn’t have a systemic racism problem.

—

ICYMI (In case you missed it) …

Canada’s public safety minister says the government will be paying close attention to the independent inquiry into allegations of racism and police brutality brought forward by a First Nations chief, while another minister called the chief’s account “deeply troubling.”

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who is a former Toronto police chief, says in a tweet that the government is “deeply concerned” by the allegations, which were made Saturday by Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam.

Adam told a news conference that he was beaten by RCMP officers and that his wife was manhandled in March when police stopped him for an expired licence plate outside a casino in Fort McMurray.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, an independent body which investigates deaths or injuries involving police, said later that day that it will investigate the incident.

Adam is facing charges of resisting arrest and assaulting police, and RCMP say the officers needed to use force during the arrest.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says in a tweet that he’s spoken twice with Adam this weekend, and that he was disturbed by what the chief told him.

—

What we are watching in the U.S. …

Calls for deep police reforms gained momentum as leaders in the city where George Floyd died at the hands of an officer pushed to dismantle the entire department.

Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests demanding a reckoning with institutional racism that have sometimes resulted in clashes with police, but many officers took a less aggressive stance over the weekend when demonstrations were overwhelmingly peaceful.

Two weeks after Floyd, an out-of-work black bouncer, died after a white Minneapolis officer pressed a knee on his neck for several minutes, a majority of the Minneapolis City Council vowed to dismantle the 800-member agency.

The state of Minnesota has launched a civil rights investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department, and the first concrete changes came when the city agreed to ban chokeholds and neck restraints.

Protesters nationwide are demanding police reforms and a reckoning with institutional racism in response to Floyd’s death, and calls to “defund the police” have become rallying cries for many.

Cities imposed curfews as several protests last week were marred by spasms of arson, assaults and smash-and-grab raids on businesses. But U.S. protests in recent days have been overwhelmingly peaceful — and over the weekend, several police departments appeared to retreat from aggressive tactics.

On Sunday, Floyd’s body arrived in Texas for a third and final memorial service, said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo. A viewing is planned for today in Houston, followed by a service and burial Tuesday in suburban Pearland.

—

What we are watching around the world …

LONDON — Travellers to Britain are now being required to go into quarantine for two weeks — a sweeping measure meant to halt the further spread of COVID-19.

Starting Monday, all passengers will be asked to fill in a form detailing where they will self-isolate, with only a few exceptions. Those who fail to comply with the quarantine rules could be fined.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary says the quarantine will cause “untold devastation” for the country’s tourism industry — not just on the airlines.

He told the BBC that hotels, visitor attractions and restaurants will also be hurt, and thousands of jobs will be lost.

New Zealand, meanwhile, says it has eradicated the coronavirus from its shores after health officials reported that the final person known to have contracted an infection had recovered.

It’s been 17 days since the last new case was reported in New Zealand, and Monday also marked the first time since late February that there have been no active cases. Health officials caution that new cases could be imported into the country, which has closed its borders to everybody but citizens and residents, with some exceptions.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2020

The Canadian Press

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Wet'suwet'en elected chiefs call on Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister to resign

VANCOUVER — The elected leadership of several First Nations split over a natural gas pipeline in northern British Columbia are calling for the immediate resignation of Crown–Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett.

In a statement released Monday, four elected Wet'suwet'en chiefs say the process by which the province, the federal government and the nation's hereditary leaders arrived at a proposed memorandum of understanding on Wet'suwet'en rights and title is unacceptable.

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In addition to calling for Bennett's resignation, the elected chiefs are also asking the B.C. and federal governments to reject the current memorandum and begin the negotiation process again with full participation from elected leaders.

"We feel it is important to reiterate that we agree with the pursuit of negotiations for Wet'suwet'en Rights and Title, but we take issue with the improper consultation with respect to an MOU which would lead to negotiations," their statement says.

"This lack of proper consultation and secrecy means the governments are acting in bad faith contrary to the Honour of the Crown."

The Wet'suwet'en are governed by both a traditional hereditary chief system and elected band councils.

Five elected Wet'suwet'en councils have signed agreements with Coastal Gaslink, which has government approval for construction of the pipeline that would carry natural gas through Wet'suwet'en territory to Kitimat on the B.C. coast.

But hereditary house chiefs say the company has no authority to build the pipeline through their territory without their consent, and their opposition sparked demonstrations and blockades that shut down large parts of the national economy in February.

Elected chiefs Rosemarie Skin of Skin Tyee Nation, Dan George of Ts'ilh Kaz Koh First Nation, Maureen Luggi of Wet'suwet'en First Nation and Patricia Prince of Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band say elected council members were not permitted to see the draft memorandum until Thursday.

Details of the memorandum are sparse, but an agreement was reached on Feb. 29, and on April 29 the B.C. government said Wet'suwet'en clans had completed their review and given their support to sign it.

The memorandum has been framed as addressing land rights and title more broadly, rather than an agreement related to the pipeline.

The statement from the elected chiefs indicates the Office of the Wet'suwet'en, which is comprised of the nation's hereditary leadership, has invited the federal and provincial governments to sign the memorandum this coming Thursday.

They say their nations met virtually with hereditary leaders as well as with Minister Bennett and her provincial counterpart in B.C., Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser, to voice their concerns last week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2020.

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Reopening plans and Canadians’ anxiety on leaving home; In The News for May 12

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 12 …

—

COVID-19 in Canada ….

OTTAWA — Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Ottawa and Washington are working on plans to deal with an increase in cross-border traffic as states and provinces begin reopening.

There’s currently a Canada-U.S. ban on non-essential travel, which is set to next week.

British Columbia is allowing a partial reopening of its economy starting May 19, right after the Victoria Day long weekend.

The mayor of the provincial capital says the city wants to lend some support by spicing up the downtown core.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said Monday the recipe for a successful restaurant recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic could involve adding outdoor patios, parking lots, sidewalks and even streets to allow for physical distancing.

Vancouver’s council is also preparing to debate the issue today.

Ontario, one of the provinces hardest hit by COVID-19, is expected to extend its state of emergency to June 2, as retail stores were allowed to partly reopen.

The provincial legislature will sit today, while also holding question period again.

—

Also this …

OTTAWA — As restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 persist, a new survey suggests more than half of Canadians find it stressful to venture out in public.

In a web survey conducted by polling firm Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, 57 per cent of respondents said leaving their home for a public space caused anxiety.

While the figures were relatively consistent across the country, they reached a high of 64 per cent in Ontario and a low of 48 per cent in Alberta.

In comparison, 64 per cent of American respondents said they found it somewhat or very stressful to go out in public during the pandemic.

The survey was conducted May 8 to 11 among 1,526 Canadians and 1,004 Americans, 18 or older, who were randomly recruited from an online panel.

—

COVID-19 in the U.S. …

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is insisting that his administration has “met the moment” and “prevailed” on coronavirus testing.

The president’s latest assertions come as governors across the country continue to call on the federal government to do more to boost the testing supply to meet the requirements needed to begin “reopening” the nation.

The White House itself has become a potent symbol of the risk facing Americans everywhere by belatedly ordering everyone who enters the West Wing to wear a mask.

That directive comes after two aides tested positive for COVID-19 late last week.

 Trump himself continues to appear in public without a mask, as he did during his news conference Monday.

—

COVID-19 around the world …

ATHENS — Across Europe and beyond, parliaments have had to adapt their operations to stop the new coronavirus spreading through the corridors of power.

Social distancing, online debates, masks, plexiglass, hazard tape — each country’s legislature has adopted its own measures.

A plexiglass barrier has been installed around the speaker’s podium in Greece and Britain’s House of Commons now features hazard tape and red “no sitting” signs.

Italy’s prime minister was heckled for removing his mask to speak.

Lebanon moved its entire parliamentary session into a cavernous theatre, and in Spain, a cleaner disinfecting the speakers’ microphone gained sudden online celebrity status.

—

COVID-19 in sports …

MANCHESTER, England — Abandoning the English Premier League season prematurely was discussed by clubs as a potential option on Monday even as the government cleared a path to resuming the competition in June if there is no new spike in coronavirus infections.

While spectators will not be allowed into stadiums for some time, the British government embraced the return of professional sports in contrast to rulings by French and Dutch authorities who have banned any events until September.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that restoring some sports “could provide a much-needed boost to national morale” after being shut down as Britain went into lockdown in March.

But the fate of the Premier League is in doubt partly because clubs cannot all agree on the plan, advanced by police, to play only in neutral stadiums. The opposition is led by relegation-threatened clubs who discovered on Monday that their final placings could be determined without playing another game.

“It was the first time we discussed curtailment,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said after a conference call with clubs. “It’s still our aim to finish the season but it’s important to discuss all the options with our clubs.”

No conclusions were reached on whether that would involve finalizing the league standings based on a points-per-game formula as the French league did before declaring Paris Saint-Germain champion.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2020

The Canadian Press

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United States increasingly concerned over pollution from B.C. mines

The U.S. government is increasingly concerned with pollution from British Columbia mines following new research that shows contaminants in a river south of the border came from Canada.

In a letter obtained by The Canadian Press, the Environmental Protection Agency is demanding the provincial government hand over data explaining why Teck Resources coal mines in southern B.C are being allowed to exceed guidelines for a toxic heavy metal.

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"The EPA ... finds it unacceptable that the province has accepted (a treatment plan) that will allow seasonal exceedances of water quality objectives into the future," says the Feb. 4 letter to B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman.

"An independent review could help facilitate U.S. stakeholder confidence in this new approach."

Contamination from Teck's mines in the rivers of the Elk River watershed is a long-standing problem. Coal mining releases selenium, an element which in large amounts is toxic to wildlife and humans.

Reports on selenium concentrations in area waterways show levels up to four times B.C.'s maximum for drinking water. Monitoring stations near the mines have reported levels 50 times what's recommended for aquatic health.

Teck's own research recently reported the near-disappearance of rare cutthroat trout from a 60-kilometre stretch of the Fording River downstream from the company's four mines.

That water flows into the cross-border Koocanusa Reservoir. The reservoir drains into the Kootenai River, which flows about 200 kilometres across Montana and Idaho.

Research by the U.S. Geological Survey found selenium in that stretch of the Kootenai, but none in its American tributaries.

"The Kootenai River downstream of the Libby Dam is being affected by the Elk Valley mines," says the EPA letter. "The study provides validated information that is concerning to U.S. agencies and our state and tribal partners."

Agency spokesman Richard Mylott said the U.S. is also worried about a new provincially approved water treatment process.

"The effectiveness of this new technology ... has not been demonstrated at the geographic scale and multi-decade time scale needed to abate pollution from Elk River coal mines," he said in an email.

The U.S., he said, wants to judge for itself.

"(The agency) ... concluded it would be important to have U.S. mine remediation technical experts independently review the likely effectiveness of this technology."

In a written response, B.C. environment spokesman Jeremy Uppenborn said the province "is working with the U.S. EPA and Teck to provide the requested information."

A Teck spokesman has said the company plans to spend more than $1 billion by 2024 to clean up its effluent. Doug Brown said selenium levels should start to drop by the end of this year.

Some scientists say there are similar concerns about other British Columbia mining developments. Several projects are being considered for the province's northwest — including the KSM copper/gold mine, which would dig one of the largest holes and build one of the highest dams on Earth.

In a recent letter in the journal Science, 22 Canadian and U.S. researchers warned that when it comes to mitigation, mining in Canada often overpromises and underdelivers. Peer review and transparent reporting are the exception, they wrote.

"Canada's and B.C.'s environmental assessments have been criticized as being weak," said Jonathon Moore, a signatory and professor at Simon Fraser University.

"They have been widely criticized as being ineffective and not properly accounting for risk."

It's time to reconsider how economic reward is evaluated against environmental risk, Moore said.

"We want those scales rebalanced and the way to rebalance that is through peer-reviewed science and processes that are inclusive and incorporate cross-border policies."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2020

— Follow @row1960 on Twitter

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