RCI | English : Interviews

Pretty much every one of us has been there--though likely not to anything resembling this nth degree--so maybe that's why the plight of Leonard Mawora has touched so many.

Mawora, a 26-year-old accounting and finance student, was set to complete his final semester at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, beginning in the new year.

But first, he was heading home for Christmas in Zimbabwe--to see his mom and to help her mourn the loss of a family member.

The flight was last Sunday.

As he was packing for his trip on Saturday, Mawora realized he didn't have his passport.

And this is the spot where so many of us have been--no matter what the disappeared object.

The recipe for a horrible present are well known: panic followed by fear followed by hope followed by resignation.

Shake and repeat.

As he began frantically searching for his papers in his basement apartment, Mawora realized that--along with his Canadian study visa--his passport was in a duffel bag he had purchased for his trip home.

The problem was he had returned the bag to the store, a branch of the Winners chain.

He raced back to the store--four times on Saturday.

He was informed that the bag had been purchased and Winners had no way to track it.

"I am in a tight spot because in that passport was my study permit, there was my U.K. visa, my Canadian visa," he told CBC News' Jeremy Eaton, who published a story about Mawora on Tuesday.

Mawora, seen his St. John's apartment, remains--more than ever--something of a stranger in a stange land, but remains grateful for the concern and love strangers from across Canada have shown. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)

"So I am stuck. I can't even go anywhere."

Officials at Zimbabwe's Ottawa embassy told him they could get him emergency travel documents to get home, but without his Canadian visa, he would not be able to immediately return to Canada to resume his studies.

How long it would take to get his papers was anyone's guess.

In Zimbabwe wait times tend to be predicated on who one knows.

"There are other people who have been waiting for this passport for more than two years and they still haven't received this passport," he told Eaton.

His ordeal has touched the hearts of many Canadians, including Rick Mercer, the well-known actor, political satirist, author and television personality.

Mercer, a native of Newfoundland and Labrador, went to Twitter to share Mawora's story, including a link to Eaton's CBC News article.

If you are from Newfoundland & recently purchased a duffel bag from Winners please read. This man needs a social media Christmas miracle. Please share and make it happen. https://t.co/VuQtg0wfZO

— Rick Mercer (@rickmercer) 17 December 2019

I spoke by phone with Mawora Wednesday morning at his St. John's apartment.

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With files from CBC (Jeremy Eaton), Narcity (Colin Leggett)

A prominent green economy think tank is backing the federal government's promise to plant two billion trees over the the next 10 years to combat climate change, saying the plan is feasible.

A new study by the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa says planting the trees could reduce emissions between two and four million tonnes a year by 2030, and up to eight million tons a year by 2050 as the trees mature and absorb more carbon dioxide.

That could amount to about five per cent of the additional emissions Canada needs to cut in order to hit its Paris climate targets to reduce emissions by 2030 to be 70 per cent of what they were in 2005.

The study predicts the cost per tonne of carbon dioxide absorbed would range from $16 to $36, less than the $50 a tonne carbon tax that will be in place by 2022.

Saplings given away as part of Ecology Ottawa's tree giveaway program are pictured during an announcement on June 5, 2019 — World Environment Day — in Ottawa. More and more experts say supporting tree planting forestation projects is an accessible way for people to make a tangible, measurable difference in the fight against global warming. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

In the recent election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to spend $3 billion on land and water conservation projects--including planting two billion additional trees--before 2030.

"Two billion is a good start," Dave Sawyer--an environmental economist at the institute who, with Seton Stieber, co-wrote the study--told The Canadian Press's Mia Rabson.

Under the plan, the federal government would not plant the trees itself but fund others to do it.

"It's not a panacea to solve Canada's problem," Sawyer told Rabson. "But clearly there is something here and we can actually get a lot of carbon and a lot of co-benefits."

Rabson writes that even at four million tonnes a year by 2030, the impact on Canada's emissions would not be huge.

Canada is currently aiming to cut emissions from 716 million tonnes in 2017 (the most recent year for which data is available) to no more than 511 million tonnes by 2030.

Environmentalists say planting young trees is not only cheaper but gives trees a better chance to adapt to the surrounding climate. (Free Images)

That target is expected to increase next year.

Planting billions of trees has been backed by climate change campaigners such as activist Greta Thunberg and American clean-tech leader Elon Musk.

According to a new analysis by ecologist Thomas Crowther and colleagues at ETH Zurich, a Swiss university, there is enough room in the world’s existing parks, forests, and abandoned land to plant 1.2 trillion additional trees, which would have the CO2 storage capacity to cancel out a decade of carbon dioxide emissions,

Sawyer says Canada does, indeed, have room to plant two billion new trees.

I spoke by phone Tuesday with Sawyer in Ottawa.

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With files from CP (Mia Rabson), CBC, Global,

Smart speakers with their voice assistants are becoming more and more common, and many might find their way under a Christmas tree this year. But for all the assistance and helpful information they may provide, they could also be gathering lots of private and personal information and data about you, your family, and even guests. Where that personal information ends up and what it might be used for is also a big concern.

I spoke with Jordan Pearson in Toronto. He is a Senior Editor at Motherboard, a tech news site from VICE Media.

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The smart speakers are also microphones that pick up your conversations. They’re supposed to be activated only by “wake” words, but as Pearson notes , they’re not perfect and can be recording things you may not want them to. He says people haveto realise they are always ”on”.

Jordan Pearson, tech expert for Vice Media (Vice)

Of course even when operating as desired they’re still collecting data on your habits,  and all kinds of other data. Where that information ends up is also a concern. He notes that police have requested smart phone conversations.

Also, these are American companies which is also a concern because while they operate in our country they may not be subject to the same degree of scrutiny.

There is now a wide variety of smart speakers on the market along with several voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and so on. (Reuters Peter Hobson, Beck Diefenbach,Stephen Lam, Harman Kardon)

He points out these devices are designed to collect as much information as possible as the default setting and there is always the question of trust in these companies. He noted that the case in Europe- where someone requested to see the data a company had gathered on them....and they were sent someone else's file.

Christmas, a time for parties, and guests. The head of Google says when inviting people to your home you should advise them that you have the device which some would classify as "surveillance" (via CBC)

Pearson says people should try to read the terms of use agreement when buying these devices, or any similar internet connected electronic data gathering device, although he notes these “contracts” seem deliberately long and confusing. One thing to do is to become familiar with the privacy settings on the device and set them to your level of comfort with data gathering.

Of course, because they’re not perfect, unless you physically turn them off, they’re always “on” and listening.

additional information

BBC: L. Kelion: Oct 15/19: Google chief: I'd disclose smart speakers before guests enter my home

CBC: Jun 14/19: Smart home security could have real impacts on privacy, racial profiling

Bloomberg Business Week: Carr/Day/Frier/Gurman: Dec 10/19: Silicon Valley Is Listening to Your Most Intimate Moments

Washington Post: A. Chiu: Dec 12/19: She installed a ring camera in her childrens room for ‘peace of mind’ A hacker accessed it and harassed her 8-year-old daughter.

Verge: N. Statt: Dec 20/18 Amazon sent 1,700 Alexa voice recordings to the wrong user following data request

Following the actions of China internationally and in respect of the diplomatic and trade dispute still ongoing with this country, Canada will strike an all party committee to study and  recommend policy regarding dealings with China.

Colin Robertson is a former consular diplomat with Chinese experience and currently Vice-President at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, an independent, non-partisan research institute related to foreign policy

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Many political analysts in the recent past have suggested that Canada take a harder line against China. While internationally China has been criticised over its human rights abuses and such things as occupation of the South China Sea, relations with Canada have become particularly frosty.

Colin Robertson, VP- Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and foremer Canadian consul in Hong Kong. (supplied)

This comes mostly from Canada’s detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on an extradition request from the United States.

China responded by arresting two Canadians on what were widely viewed as being vague charges and simple retribution and suddenly upping the charges of two other Canadians arrested for alleged drug offence to that of a death penalty.

Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou seen in front of one of her Vancouver mansions on Sept 25, 2019. She is being held under house arrest. Two Canadians were imprisoned in China in near torture conditions with limited consular access on alleged espionage charges (Darryl Dyck-CP)

The opposition Conservative party has long pushed the Liberal government to take a harder line and last week in a vote in the House of Commons, they were supported by members of the other opposition parties in a request for an all-party committee to study China policy and make recommendations to the government. Conservative foreign affairs critic Erin O’Toole tabled a motion to “appoint a special committee with the mandate to conduct hearings to examine and review all aspects of the Canada-China relationship including, but not limited to consular, economic, legal, security and diplomatic relations.”

The Liberals had argued there was no need for such a committee as any such issues or policy reviews could be handled by the Commons foreign affairs committee. They opposed the motion but lost 148 to 171 in the first vote for the newly re-elected government.

Subi Reef, part of the Spratly chain of islets in the South China Sea, is seen in May 2015. China has been building up miltary reef bases in the sea to bolster its territorial claim to the area, which has been rejected by the U.N.and condemned internationally especially by countries in the region. (courtesy of the U.S. NAVY)

The committee will consist of six Liberals, four Conservatives, one Bloc Quebecois and one New Democrat. The committee would also have power to order Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne and Dominic Barton, Canada’s ambassador to China, to appear as witnesses if necessary.

Additional information

Globe and Mail: R. Fife: Dec 10/19: Opposition parties vote to create China committee, handing Liberals first defeat of minority Parliament

Global News: Lao/Connelly: Dec 19/19: Parliament passes Conservative motion to create committee on Canada-China relations

PostMedia: J. Ivison: Dec 10/19: OpEd: John Ivison: Lost vote over special committee on China an embarrassment for Liberals

Ottawa Citizen: T Glavin: Dec 11/19 OpEd: Canadian politicians are finally taking on China – at least some of them are

It's pretty much conventional wisdom that an afternoon nap is good for you--a credo that a lot of people around the world have lived by for years.

A new study published in September of Swiss adults aged 35 to 75 found that the occasional nap--once or twice a week--appears to cut in half people's risk of heart attack, strokes and heart disease, compared with folks who never nap.

However!

Researchers also found more frequent napping provided no additional benefit.

Some studies are finding that either too much or too little sleep can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke. (CBC)

So much for the number of naps, at least for now.

What about duration?

A study published last week in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology suggests that people who nap more than 90 minutes are 25 per cent more likely to have a stroke.

Say What?

(The study found that people who took naps lasting from 31 minutes to one hour were no more likely to have a stroke than people who took naps lasting from one to 30 minutes.)

The study of Chinese participants, who were 62-years-old on average, also found that people who sleep nine or more hours per night are 23 percent more likely to later have a stroke than people who sleep seven to less than eight hours per night.

(People who sleep less than seven hours per night or between eight and less than nine hours per night were no more likely to have a stroke than those who slept from seven to less than eight hours per night.)

Research will, of course, continue, but these studies may indicate that sleep duration and nap frequency may serve as triggers for strokes, which 15 million people around the world suffer every year.

Six million of those people die; another five million suffer serious disabilities.

Sleep expert Atul Khullar says for adults naps over 90 minutes are not good. (CBC)

Researchers have long debated the health benefits of napping and the debates are bound to continue.

Dr. Atul Khullar is medical director of the Northern Alberta Sleep Clinic and an Associate Clinical Professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta who has long studied naps and their effects.

The latest studies appear to confirm something he has said for a number of years: for older adults, naps of over 90 minutes are not good.

"Excessive naps of 90 minutes, or a couple of hours, almost is a biological emergency," he told CBC News in 2016.

"The body is not supposed to be doing that."

For some perspective on what the latest studies may--or may not--mean, I spoke with him by phone Monday during a break at his clinic in Edmonton.

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With files from CBC (Kas Roussy) Science Daily, US News and Word Report, Science Daily

Transport Minister Marc Garneau was at Ottawa International Airport today to remind travellers that a new set of airline travel regulations take effect on Sunday.

It was a redux of last July when Garneau announced passenger-rights rules that required airlines to compensate and respond to tarmac delays, denied boardings and lost or damaged luggage.

The last phase of the Air Passenger Protection Regulations kick in Sunday, providing compensation for flight delays and cancellations. (Mike Cassese/Reuters)

The rules that take effect Sunday will require airlines to seat parents beside or near their children at no extra cost, and compensate flyers for delays and cancellations within an airline's control.

The payouts will be based on how long a passenger is delayed before arriving at their final destination could amount to $1,000 if the flight in stalled more than nine hours.

However, not everything is sweetness and light in the world of air transportation as the holiday season fast approaches.

As Transport Minister Marc Garneau (seen in April) reminded Canadians of new passenger rules set to take effect Sunday, a poll suggested about half of Canadians had never heard about them. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

Garneau's Friday reminder comes the same week he urged the country's flagship carrier, Air Canada, to resolve problems with its new reservation system, which is frustrating and angering would-be travellers.

Air Canada issued a statement that said it is undergoing "temporary issues" after replacing its aging booking system.

The carrier said there have been some cases of customers encountering "technical issues and longer wait times" as the airline's agents adapt to the new reservation system.

Meanwhile, a Canadian Press story published today says new polling suggests many people boarding flights this holiday season don't know about the Liberal government's new regime outlining air passengers' rights.

The Canadian Automobile Association-commissioned poll found that just over half of respondents said they hadn't heard or read anything about the rules aiming to protect flyers caught in travel nightmares.

When the first batch of regulations were announced in July, passenger rights advocate Gabor Lukacs warned that too many loop holes in the regulations would lead to too many problems.

Consumer advocate Gabor Lukacs is seen in 2017 photo. (CBC)

In September the CBC's Sophia Harris reported that the Canadian Transportation Agency had received 147 passenger complaints concerning denied boarding issues after the new rules went into effect on July 15. 

If Lukacs was unhappy with the rules in July, he is is equally concerned now.

I spoke with him today by phone in Halifax.

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Wtih files from CBC, CTV, CP, RCi, Government of Canada

A new report from the National Farmers Union says that combining new technologies with old-fashioned mixed farming methods would be an effective weapon in the battle against human-driven climate change, as well go a long way toward saving the farming industry itself.

Agriculture generates about eight per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions and the report suggests ways those emissions could be cut in half by 2050.

The study, which follows the NFU's national convention last month in Winnipeg (above), also links growing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture with changes that have seen the industry get bigger, more expensive and open to fewer and fewer people.

Noting that farm debt has doubled since 2000, the report says expensive fertilizers and other inputs must be used more efficiently, adding that biofuels and electrification would cut emissions and costs, as would on-farm power generation and more efficient use of farm outputs (milking, harvesting and shearing, for example), aided by technology.

"If regenerative agriculture exists, it is likely found in mixed-farming systems that utilize natural nutrient cycles, diverse animal and plant mixes and best-possible grazing methods to restore soils, raise carbon levels, protect water, enhance biodiversity and support sustainable livelihoods," the report says.

NFU President Katie Ward (above), who raises about 100 head of sheep on a farm near Ottawa, says keeping inputs to a minimum and tilling the soil as little as possible would reduce emissions and leave more revenues for farmers, letting them make a living on smaller holdings.

"The climate crisis and the farm crisis share many of the same causes," she told Bob Weber of The Canadian Press.

I spoke by phone with Ward earlier today at her farm.

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With files from CP (Bob Weber), CBC, NFU

By making genetic research so much easier, the recent technology known as CRISPR has allowed scientists an enormous advantage in research into so many areas.

Unfortunately there’s a downside which raises serious ethical questions.

Françoise Baylis (CM, ONS, PhD, FRSC, FCAHS), is a research professor at Dalhousie University Halifax who has written on the subject.

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The concern with gene-editing is with experiments into modification of human DNA, which could lead in theory to changing of the human genome forever. It could in theory enable creating “designer babies”. Indeed it’s been just over a year since the first genome edited babies were created by a Chinese scientist. A Russian researcher has since announced plans to carry out similar human gene editing experiments.  Other Chinese experiments involve putting human genes into monkeys. All of these, and other potential experiments, have raised the concern of the scientific world that some of its members are going beyond ethical concerns of science.

Research professor Francoise Baylis at Dalhousie University, Halifax

RCI: Apr 16/19: Controversial experiment: Chinese add human gene to monkey brains (interview)

While some experts have expressed concern about state manipulation to create specific characteristics, Professor Baylis suggests that designer babies could result in greater class divide. This would be due to the expense making such technology accessible to the upper echelons and entrenching elite advantage, and thus privilege, in their DNA.

However she says these experiments have resulted in governments and the scientific community coming out with regulations and recommendations to slow down or halt such research until such time as serious ethical discussions take place to establish limits on what should be done and how.

F Baylis on the ethical questions involving CRISPR technology and gene editing of the human genome , Harvard University Press

She says the human genome belongs to “all of us” and any single or small group of scientists shouldn’t be altering it on their own.

“As a direct consequence of increasingly audacious moves by some scientists to engineer future generations, important decisions must now be made —decisions that will set a new course for science, society, and humanity. May these decisions be inclusive and consensual. May they be characterized by wisdom and benevolence. And, may we never lose sight of our responsibilities to ‘us all.’”  F Baylis:’ Altered Inheritance: CRISPR and the Ethics of Human Genome Editing’ F Baylis:’ Altered Inheritance: CRISPR and the Ethics of Human Genome Editing

Fortunately some action has been taken.  The WHO has convened a multi-disciplinary Expert Advisory Committee on Human Genome Editing to “examine the scientific, ethical, social and legal challenges associated with human genome editing (both somatic and germ cell). Professor Baylis is a member of the group which met for the first time this spring.

She lauds those countries that have established regulations regarding such research but notes there is always the chance of “rogue” scientists.

She also notes that scientists are usually very concerned about recognition by their peers and being shunned for having crossed established ethical lines is something they would very likely avoid

Additional information

The Conversation: F Baylis: Dec 10/19: A year after the first CRISPR babies, stricter regulations are now in place

Dalhousie U: (YouTube): F Baylis speech (32min)

It’s known officially as CUSMA- the Canada, US, Mexico Agreement, although it’s still often referred to as NAFTA, or NAFTA 2.0 (North American Free Trade Agreement)

It’s been a long time in negotiation, almost there with agreements and signing, then  new amendments worked out and finally an agreement.

So as a major international deal, what’s good and not so good after so long and often contentious negotiation.

Michael Manjuris (BAScMBA, PEng) is professor and chair global management studies at Ryerson University

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This deal had its origins back in the late 1980’s with the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement signed in 1989.  This evolved into NAFTA with the addition of Mexico in 1994.

U.S. President Donald Trump, centre and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto show off signatures while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau applauds at the USMCA signing ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina Nov. 30, 2018. Mexico's economy minister, Ildelfonso Guajardo, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland are behind them. It seemed there was a deal, but not quite as revisions were demanded, (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The trade deals have been contentious since they were first proposed, and although the leaders involved insist they are all beneficial for all parties, many critics disagree.

RCI: Dec 10/19: Canada, US, Mexico sign “infinitely better” revised free trade deal

Nonetheless, professor Manjuris gives this latest deal a “B” grade. Given the competing demands of the three parties, he says Canadian negotiators did a fair job of protecting Canadian interests especially given the volatile politics of the U.S under the current administration.

As it was in the past, he says some industries and businesses may find it tough going during the period of transition, once the deal has been ratified by the three governments, but now that terms have at least been agreed to, he says they will have a much clearer guide as to the rules going forward.

A new report examining racism in Canada has been published, confirming what a lot of people already knew from first-hand experience.

The report, based on a survey by Environics Institute for Survey Research was publicly released today.

It finds that one in five Canadians experiences discrimination regularly, or from time to time.

The survey found that just under 40 per cent of racist incidents reported took place on the street.

An equal number of incidents took place in the workplace.

Environics says the race relations survey is the first of its kind in Canada to examine Canadians' experiences, attitudes and perceptions at the national level.

Lead researcher Keith Neuman told CBC News' Mark Gollom on Monday that "one of the unexpected results was a significant proportion of Canadians across all racial groups acknowledged that racism is a reality in Canada."

Neuman added that "a significant proportion of white respondents" agreed.

"I think it is notable, maybe a bit surprising, because there's this notion that non-racialized Canadians don't think there's a problem," Neuman told Gollom.

The survey found that discrimination can take many forms in day-to-day experiences, involving subtle slights or insults, such as being treated as being not as smart or mistaken for someone who serves others.

One person well acquainted with the ill-effects of racism is Montreal community activist and McGill law student, Balarama Holness.

Last year, Holness was instrumental in collecting over 22,000 signatures, obligating the City of Montreal to hold public consultations on systemic racism and discrimination.

I spoke with him Tuesday about the Environics report.

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With files from CBC News (Mark Gollom)