The National Hockey League regular season games begin today.  When it comes to hockey, arguably Canada’s favourite sport, the funny saying goes, “I went to see the fights and a hockey game broke out”.

Many ardently believe the deliberately hard checking and the fighting are a part of the game, but the concussions are costly. Jeremy Allingham is author of Major Misconduct: The Human Cost of Fighting in Hockey. The book looks at just three of the many former players whose lives have been torn apart by hockey fights.

Author and sports columnist Jeremy Allingham talks about the cost to players lives from fighting in hockeyEN_Interview_1-20191002-WIE10

Jeremy Allingham's book looks at the devastating personal effects of hockey fights on three former players. (Arsenal Pulp Press)

For many fans however, at all levels from the juniors up to the NHL, the thrill of watching bare knuckle brawls on the ice is as much a draw to the game as the skill of playing the game. Some sports writers and commentators even try to justify the violence.

A centre-ice fight escalated into a bench-clearing brawl between two university teams in February of this year. More than 20 suspensions were handed out by the Atlantic University Sports authority (AUS via CBC)

On the other side, people say if these fights occurred outside on the street, they’d be illegal, and there would be arrests and possibly even lawsuits.

Last month A Sasketchewan junior player deliberately rammed into the goalie causing the loss of several teeth and a consussion. Some spectators applauded the hit and subsequent brawl. Later the player showed no remorse in a profanity-laced video. He has been suspended for the season..SJHL-Hockey TV- Youtube)

The number of fights in the NHL is however decreasing slowly and efforts to further reduce the practice through stiffer rules, especially in the minor leagues are being instituted. However there is still a pervasive and lingering macho attitude prevalent that fighting is part of the game.

The Montreal Canadiens' Mike Brown and Florida Panthers' Shawn Thornton square off during a March game in Montreal. Thornton used to scan the roster of his team's next opponent for players he might have to fight, but in today's NHL that's no longer necessary. It's a new reality embraced by the 38-year-old one-time enforcer. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

Allingham’s book shows that the lingering effects of that can be devastating in later life, not only to players but to the family and friends around them. He says although fight numbers are declining, there are still far too many of them at all levels of the game.

Additional information

Canadian Press (via CBC): J.Siegel: Apr 6/19: NHL fight numbers decline

Canadian Press (via Info News.ca Penticton): Sep 30/19: player suspended for deliberate hit on goalie (Warning: foul language!)

NBC Sports: J.J. Regan: Jan 30/19: Unwritten rules and etiquette of fighting

Several celebrities are exhorting Canadians to make a vote date to encourage non-voters to cast their ballots. It’s a unique initiative launched by the non-profit VoteParty.ca.

The message is in a series of videos that will be shown in Cineplex movie theatres across the country between October 4 and 17, 2019. They target a potential 1.5 million viewers, particularly the young who are less likely to vote.

“The hope is that you’ll have three people, young people watching a movie and one of them is a voter and they turn to the other two and say ‘do you vote’ and they say ‘no’ and (the voter says) ‘okay, I’ll help you. Let’s go on a vote date.’ So that’s the idea, is to provoke this conversation of people asking each other whether they vote and when a voter finds a non-voter, helping them vote,” says Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Education Network and co-ordinator of VoteParty.ca.

The video exhorts moviegoers to make a date to help non-voters cast a ballot. (VoteParty.ca)

Young less likely to vote for many reasons

The turnout for young voters was seven per cent but went up to 12 per cent in the 2015 federal election which was won by Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. VoteParty.ca takes some of the credit having run a campaign to boost turnout then. 

That youth turnout was still lower than the 68 per cent general turnout. “Really it’s just because they (young voters) don’t have experience paying taxes, they don’t have kids in school, they don’t really realize how many different things that governments decide that determine how you live your life,” says Conacher. “Once they realize that as they get older they start to vote more.”

'If you don't show up...politicians really don't care'

General voter turnout is still lower than the 75 to 80 per cent that it was 25 years ago. Conacher says there may be several reasons. Sometimes people live in a riding with one strong candidate and they feel their own vote will not make a difference. But he notes that in the 2011 election, nine politicians won by fewer than 500 votes and another 19 candidates only won by 500-1,000 votes. “And a lot of those were surprises because swings happen,” he says. 

For those who say their votes have not made a difference in the past, Conacher counters, “If you don’t show up and vote, politicians really don’t care about your concerns because that’s how they get their jobs or lose their jobs. They care much more about voters than people who don’t vote.”

Duff Conacher talks about the national campaign to get more people, especially the young to vote.

Duff Conacher talks about the national campaign to get more people, especially the young to vote.EN_Interview_2-20191001-WIE20

Video from VoteParty.ca

McDonald’s  with some 35,000 outlets around the world, has made a somewhat surprising announcement. Known as the world’s largest meat-based hamburger chain, they’ve joined the movement towards plant-based products with a plan to introduce its own “non-meat” burger in North America.

Also surprising is that the American-based chain with operations in 119 countries around the world has chosen Canada for the introduction in a pilot project.

Sylvain Charlebois (PhD) is a professor in Food Distribution and Policy, Senior Director Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University, Halifax.

Dalhousie University food marketing expert, professor Sylvain Charlebois talks about the significance of food giant McDonald's into the plant-based meat replacement marketEN_Interview_1-20191001-WIE10

McDonalds introduced its first non-meat burger years ago in North America but it wasn’t a success and was soon withdrawn.

It has however since then launched vegetarian and vegan burger/sandwich options in Europe.  It has offered a McVegan burger in Finland and Sweden for the past two years after partnering with the Norwegian special foods firm Orkla.  In April in Germany the chain began offering a vegan burger in partnership with Nestle which developed a plant based product after acquiring California’s Sweet Earth Foods.

Now, here in N. America, which is basically the home of meat “burgers”, and after a summer of promoting the virtues of its beef products, McDonalds will begin a pilot project with their PLT this week. With a play on their famous BLT burger (bacon, lettuce, tomato) the PLT stands for “plant, lettuce, tomato”.

The thought is that now, people generally have the impression that a plant-based food is both healthier and more environmentally friendly than meat.  Charlebois points out that neither of those beliefs have been proven, especially since the plant burgers require a lot of processing.

Introduced this week at 28 outlets in southern Ontario, it will sell at about the same price as one of their top meat burger products, the “quarter pounder”. By not lowering the price, the thought is they are testing the competitiveness of a plant burger against their popular meat burger.

The pilot also is in a region that includes both major urban, smaller urban and rural areas.

Charlebois notes that the McDonald’s plant burger is a Beyond Meat product the same company that supplies A&W restaurants.  He says if the McDonalds pilot is a success, it would be difficult for Beyond Meat to supply the potential demand.

The pilot will run until January after which the giant international food chain will analyse results.

additional information

Forbes: M Maynard: Sep 30/19: I drove to Canada to try the PLT

Global News: A.Sagan: Sep 30/19: McDonald’s launches Beyond Meat pilot in southern Ontario

Public opinion polls suggest Canadians may elect a minority government on October 21, 2019 and that could leave the Indigenous vote with “significant” influence in the new government. 

This is the opinion of Rebecca Major, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Windsor in Ontario.

“At least 16 ridings in Canada could be impacted by Indigenous voters… In a minority government that can hold significant weight,” she says. 

In the last election in 2015, there was a larger turnout of Indigenous voters and Major expects the turnout to be similar this time. 

Fifteen-year-old Autumn Peltier is one of several Indigenous people pressing environmental issues. On Sept. 28, 2019, she addressed a United Nations forum on water issues. (Richard Drew/The Associated Press)

Climate change is a top concern

One of their main issues of concern, says Major, is the climate.

“Especially people that I know that live in northern parts, they see climate change as a pressing issue as it affects...their livelihood such as fishing, hunting, trapping, traditional activities. So, climate is a very big issue.”

Major adds that employment and training are top of mind given the socio-economic gaps between Indigenous people and the rest of the population. Other issues include funding for housing, education and water infrastructure. 

Prof. Rebecca Major discusses Indigenous attitudes in the election campaign

ListenEN_Interview_4-20190930-WIE40

Attitudes are mixed

Attitudes are mixed given the differences in the experiences of the different communities. And there is deep division on some issues like the proposed pipeline to bring oil from production in the western province of Alberta to the Pacific coast. This would cross territory where, in some cases, there are outstanding land claims. In addition, some First Nations are in favour of the pipeline and others are opposed.

This election will see an increase in the number of Indigenous candidates. At the time of this posting, there are over 40. The public broadcaster, CBC, has posted a complete list with links to profiles.

Several of the parties have already made public their platforms as regards Indigenous concerns and more discussion is to come as we now cross the half-way point in the election campaign.

As people around the world demonstrate to--somehow--generate enough political pressure to--somehow--get the needed powers-that-be to find the force to hit the target-goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a new report from the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary suggests current strategies aimed at staving off climate change are not on track to work.

"Despite enthusiastic support for climate mitigation,” the report says, “there are many serious policy and engineering obstacles to greenhouse gas reductions by mid-century.”

Eddy Isaacs authored the University Calgary report. (youtube.com)

Among other things, the report recommends reforms to how emissions are counted so as not to jeopardize the Paris Agreement with “unrealistic and unhelpful conjecture”; impose a carbon tax on biofuels; spend more money on climate-change-resistant infrastructure; and increase reforestation and soil carbon enhancement.

The author of the report is Eddy Isaacs.

I spoke by phone with Isaacs on Friday.

ListenEN_Interview_4-20190927-WIE40

The IPCC special report on Oceans and cryosphere in a changing climate, adds yet another strong warning about what lies ahead.

Jake Rice (PhD),  Chief scientist emeritus at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was a contributing author for the IPCC special report

Jake Rice (PhD) contributor to IPCC special report discusses findings and implicationsEN_Interview_1-20190926-WIE10

The study looked at data from the 1970’s to the early twenty-teens to create a picture of what is happening and what is likely to happen under various scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions.

A visitor stands at a spot that in 1963 was under the ice of the Pasterze glacier as the glacier in its current state is seen behind on Aug. 13 near Heiligenblut am Grossglockner, Austria. The Pasterze, Austria's largest glacier, has lost over half its volume since 1850, and its tongue, shrinking in both width and depth, has retreated at least 2.6 kilometres. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The analysis of almost 7,000 scientific studies by over 100 scientists from 36 countries shows current effects, but also likely effects under continued emission levels, and reduced emission levels.

None are positive, but without rapid action to reduce emissions, warming could have extremely serious effects and no area of the world will be unaffected.

An expert in this field, Jake Rice says he was alarmed by the speed of the likely effects on the environment from global warming predicted, even under lesser emissions scenarios.

World temperature anomalies Aug 2019, shows most of the world warmer than average (NOAA)

Whether as individuals or national governments, he says that the question, “why should I do it, if I don’t get to benefit” should be a question no longer asked, as the negative consequences of inaction for children and grandchildren are clear. Warming and climate are global and he, like others, says it’s time for individuals and governments to no longer wait, and to take actions for the global good

Additional information-sources

Carbon Brief: sep 25/19: In depth Q&A on special report

Mongaybay: Sep 25/19: IPCC oceans and cryosphere rapidly changing

Future Earth: Sep 25/19: IPCC calls for urgent, coordinated action

NOAA: Global climate report Aug 2019

NRDC- statement on IPCC report

It's a program that grew out of a previous effort to help young people in danger of becoming involved with gang violence Calgary in 2015.

It's called ReDirect and it's one of many anti-radicalization programs that exist across Canada--part of a national effort and efforts by individual communities to prevent terrorist acts before before they start.

Gareth Joels - (Courtesy Calgary Police)

The people who work in ReDirect--police officers and social workers alike--are trying to make a difference by bringing troubled young people back from the edge--both for their sake and for society's.

ReDirect's co-ordinator is Sgt. Gareth Joels of the Calgary Police Service.

I spoke with him by phone at his office in Calgary.

ListenEN_Interview_4-20190926-WIE40

This latest report sends yet another strong warning signal to mankind about the state of the environment. This report specifically deals with oceans and the worlds glaciers and ice caps, or cryosphere and the changing climate.

It basically says everyone in the world will be affected but to avoid major and very serious problems, action should be taken now to reduce greenhouse gasses.

Boris Worm (PhD MSc) gives his assessment of the new study. He is a professor in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a renowned expert  in marine conservation biology and biodiversity science,

Renowned marine biologist professor Boris Worm (PhD) discusses the latest IPCC report on climate changeEN_Interview_1-20190925-WIE10

The IPCC special report involved over 100 scientists from 36 countries spent over two years referencing some 7,000 scientific studies on the world’s oceans and cryosphere in the development of this report.says the rapidly shrinking ice of glaciers and ice sheets will affect water supplies on one hand and contribute to severe concerns over sea-level rise.

“We will only be able to keep global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels if we effect unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society, including energy, land and ecosystems, urban and infrastructure as well as industry. The ambitious climate policies and emissions reductions required to deliver the Paris Agreement will also protect the ocean and cryosphere – and ultimately sustain all life on Earth,”  Debra Roberts, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.

The Athabaska glacier, Alberta shown in 1917, and again from the same viewpoint in 2011. Photo: A.O. Wheeler, Interprovincial Boundary Survey 1917. Mountain Legacy Project 2011

Professor Worm says that these factors will eventually have a direct effect on over 1.3 billion people around the world.

He notes that oceans are becoming more acidic and warmer both of which adversely affect marine plant and animal life. Also the surface is becoming less oxygenated, and currents carrying nutrients are changing, again making the oceans less productive in terms of the species humans increasingly depend upon.

Ocean acidification makes it more and more difficult for shellfish to create their shells, and for mussels to attach themselves to underwater structures. (Emily Carrinton-via CBC)

He says he personally has seen the effects of increasing storms on coastal erosion and infrastructure damage.

Professor Worm points out that the report is not all doom, saying it shows there is still a slim margin to reduce the greenhouse gasses that are driving climate change, but that mitigation must start now, not a few years from now.

Additional information

IPCC –press release

Thomson/Reuters: (via CBC): Sep 25.19: Flooded cities, vanishing sea life: IPCC report

Science News: C.Gramling:Sep24/19: IPCC report warns of bleak future

Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC): Sep 25/19: Comment on IPCC report

A couple of iconic Canadian cities--one on the Prairies, the other Down East--have taken a real beating from what is now called "severe weather" over the past several days.

How severe?

Let's begin in southern Manitoba, where over 50 millimetres of rain--laced with hail and thunder--began last Thursday and didn't stop until Saturday night, turning streets in towns and cities into rivers, flooding houses and playing havoc with farmers' crops.

Many roads in Winnipeg were flooded by Friday's downpour. (Submitted)

If nothing else, southern Manitoba proved it could take a punch.

The town of Zhorda got 144 millimetres of rain.

Other Manitoba communities--including Brandon, Marchand and Dominion City--got over 100 millimetres.

People in Winnipeg found themselves needing to be rescued from cars stranded in streets that flooded Friday morning as 45 millimetres of rain was recorded at the airport and 53 millimetres at The Forks during the storm.

This farm, 30 miles south of Brandon, was hit hard by the storm. (Bill Campbell)

Meanwhile, Prince Edward Islanders are recovering from a thunderstorm that dropped close to 50 millimetres from early morning to late afternoon on Tuesday.

Damage was kept to a minimum because city workers had cleared debris away from catch basins in anticipation of the storm so only a couple of downtown streets needed to be closed for a short time.

Canada, of course, has a long history of stories about what is now called severe weather.

The thunderstorm in Charlottetown Tuesday left this section of Queen Street under a lot of water. (Laura O'Connor/Twitter)

But maybe because a whole lot of people are more and more spooked by dire forecasts about the planet's future, every storm tends to appear just a bit more ominous and minds and fears can kick into overdrive at warp speed.

Frankly, I, too, am spooked, given the changes we keep seeing in the weather: a balmy Arctic, its edges slipping into the oceans as wildfires rage and temperatures on the Canadian Prairies prove colder than the North Pole.

For some perspective on the Manitoba and Prince Edward Island storms--and whether they are harbingers of the future--I spoke by phone with David Phillips, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s senior climatologist.

ListenEN_Interview_4-20190925-WIE40

Yesterday, world leaders gathered at the U.N. General Assembly's Climate Action Summit in New York.

It was begun with a blistering rebuke by young activist Greta Thunberg.  The Secretary-General then said it was time to hear concrete actions, not vague promises.

For more on was discussed, and where Canada stands on climate action, we spoke with by Robert McLeman (MSc, PhD) Associate Professor at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

Robert McLeman (PhD, MSc) discusses the UN Climate SummitEN_Interview_1-20190924-WIE10

The Action summit did hear from a few world leaders who mentioned their various proposals.

India has indicated it was shifting to renewable energy and will get rid of single use plastics. Germany says it is heading towards a goal of 90 per cent renewable energy, Ireland and some other countries say they plan to phase out internal combustion engines in vehicles in the next couple of decades. Other plans were heard as well.

The meeting came on the heels of the latest report from the World Meterological Organisation which  “highlights the urgent need for the development of concrete actions that halt the worst effects of climate change”.  It noted that the past five years were globally the hottest five years on record.

United in Science Report 2019 WMO, showing concerns about state of world climate

Because Canada is in the midst of a national general election, no leader was present. McLeman notes that promises made by outgoing Prime Minister Trudeau at the Paris Climate Accords, have not been kept. He goes on to say that various past Canadian leaders also made climate promises that weren’t kept either.

Although Canada is a very small polluter in global terms, McLeman points out that individually, on a per capita basis, Canadians are big contributors to greenhouse gases.

For those who choose to say there’s no point in reducing Canada’s small contribution when the handful of vastly larger polluters aren’t doing much, McLeman says, someone has to start the reduction and Canadians can start individually even if the national government is slow.

World Meteorological Organisation: United in Science report trailer



Additional information

United in Science: WMO : press release

United in Science: Report pdf