Welcome to the Canadian world

  • Specific Maintenance Needs for Airbnb or Short Term Vacation Rentals

    Specific Maintenance Needs for Airbnb or Short Term Vacation Rentals

  • Intense rainfall expected across Eastern Canada

    Intense rainfall expected across Eastern Canada

  • Gas prices surge in western Canada: causes and implications

    Gas prices surge in western Canada: causes and implications

  • Gloucester-Southgate: Ottawa's Hot Spot for Vehicle Thefts in 2024

    Gloucester-Southgate: Ottawa's Hot Spot for Vehicle Thefts in 2024

  • Google’s reversal on third-party cookies: what it means for privacy and advertising

    Google’s reversal on third-party cookies: what it means for privacy and advertising

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Lifestyle & Fashion

  • The role of artificial intelligence in education: Revolutionizing the classroom

    The role of artificial intelligence in education: Revolutionizing the classroom Artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced a rapid rise in popularity over the last two years, reshaping industries and daily life. One area where AI's influence is expected to be transformative is education. Since the introduction of AI tools like ChatGPT in 2022, experts have highlighted both the immense potential and challenges of integrating AI into classrooms. With concerns about the misuse of AI and its impact on traditional learning methods, educators and policymakers are now focused on how to incorporate Read More
  • What is the Best Escape Room in Calgary?

    What is the Best Escape Room in Calgary? Calgary offers a variety of escape rooms, but one stands out above the rest: Escape Hour; this is an exciting game that I believe people will love to play, especially those who like challenging games. It has many types of themed rooms and very captivating games. Thus, Escape Hour can be called the leader among adventure rooms in the city. And this is good news for those who have already been through escape rooms and those who have not done Read More
  • The impact of screen time on toddler language development: what parents need to know

    The impact of screen time on toddler language development: what parents need to know The sight of a young child deeply engrossed in a handheld device is increasingly common in today’s digital age. While these moments might provide parents with a brief respite, recent research raises concerns about the long-term effects of excessive screen time on a child's language development. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics highlights the correlation between the amount of time toddlers spend on electronic devices and a noticeable decline in their language skills. This article delves into the study’s findings, Read More
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Health & Beauty

  • The impact of chronic stress on physical and mental health

    The impact of chronic stress on physical and mental health Stress is an inevitable part of life, whether it’s the frustration of a morning traffic jam, the pressure of a looming deadline at work, or the emotional toll of caring for aging parents. While short-term stress can sometimes be beneficial, motivating us to meet challenges and adapt to new situations, chronic stress can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health. Research has shown that long-term stress can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Read More
  • Understanding memory and aging: how to maintain cognitive function in later life

    Understanding memory and aging: how to maintain cognitive function in later life Aging brings with it a host of changes, both physical and cognitive. One of the most widely recognized aspects of aging is its impact on memory. As we grow older, many of us notice that our ability to recall information isn't as sharp as it once was. But what exactly happens to memory as we age, and how can we work to maintain our cognitive function? Understanding these questions is essential for anyone looking to keep their mind sharp well Read More
  • Understanding the global mpox health emergency: what you need to know

    Understanding the global mpox health emergency: what you need to know The declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern has raised alarms globally, coming on the heels of the ongoing vigilance against COVID-19. On August 14, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), made the announcement. This declaration signals the need for a coordinated international response, particularly to address the surge of mpox cases in the Congo and other African nations. While governments are now urged to enhance their efforts in Read More
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Cars & Tech

  • Google’s reversal on third-party cookies: what it means for privacy and advertising

    Google’s reversal on third-party cookies: what it means for privacy and advertising After years of pledging to phase out third-party cookies, Google announced on Monday that it will continue to support them in its Chrome browser. This significant shift follows mounting concerns from advertisers, who rely heavily on cookies for tracking and personalizing ads. Google’s decision has sparked mixed reactions from various stakeholders, including regulators, privacy advocates, and the digital advertising community. Read More
  • Toronto's battle against climate change - learning from floods

    Toronto's battle against climate change - learning from floods Almost 11 years ago, on July 8, 2013, Toronto experienced a deluge of rain that caused widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and power outages. The city received over a month's worth of rain in just a few hours. Roads turned into rivers, subway entrances became waterfalls, and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) was submerged as the Don River overflowed. This event left nearly 300,000 residents without power and stranded a GO Transit commuter train with 1,400 passengers. Fast forward to 11 Read More
  • Edmonton Doctor set to be first Canadian woman to become a commercial astronaut

    Edmonton Doctor set to be first Canadian woman to become a commercial astronaut In a landmark for Canadian space travel, Edmonton's Dr. Shawna Pandya is poised to become the first Canadian woman to embark on a commercial space flight. Dr. Pandya's upcoming mission not only represents a personal achievement but also marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of space travel. Read More
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Food & Travel

Paper Excellence retains FSC certification amidst controversy

Paper Excellence, a major player in the Canadian forestry industry, has successfully retained its sustainability certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This decision comes after an extensive review of the company's connections to the controversial Indonesian conglomerate, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). Despite the FSC's findings, environmental NGOs and legal experts have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the assessment process.

Allegations of ties to app

The controversy began when Greenpeace and the Indonesian environmental NGO Auriga Nusantara petitioned the FSC in November to revoke Paper Excellence's certification. This petition followed an investigation by CBC News and other media outlets that suggested Paper Excellence had close operational and ownership ties to APP. APP, known for its history of rainforest destruction, lost its own FSC certification in 2007.

According to the investigation, Paper Excellence had been coordinating business decisions and sharing resources with APP until at least a few years ago. These allegations were backed by both the media reports and independent research by the environmental groups.

Fsc's controversial review process

The FSC's decision to retain Paper Excellence's certification hinged on a "corporate group review" conducted by McMillan LLP, a law firm frequently employed by Paper Excellence. This choice has sparked significant controversy. Greenpeace Canada’s program director, Shawn - Patrick Stensil, expressed shock that the FSC would hire a firm with such close ties to Paper Excellence, arguing this undermines the credibility of the review.

The FSC defended its decision, stating that a conflict of interest check was conducted before hiring McMillan LLP, and no conflicts were found. McMillan's CEO, Tim Murphy, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the firm adhered to all professional conduct rules and that no conflict existed.

Criticism from environmental groups and experts

Environmental groups were not convinced by the FSC's assurances. Auriga Nusantara's chairman, Timer Manurung, criticized the FSC for not disclosing the data used in the review, suggesting the analysis lacked comprehensive data. The FSC cited confidentiality and a non - disclosure agreement with Paper Excellence as reasons for withholding this information. Greenpeace's Stensil pointed out that the evidence used in the review was limited to public and corporate records, as well as documents provided by Paper Excellence. He argued that these sources were unlikely to reveal the true extent of control exercised by APP over Paper Excellence.

Legal ethics experts also weighed in, questioning the FSC's decision to hire McMillan LLP. Christina Bellon, a philosophy professor with expertise in ethics, highlighted the financial conflict of interest inherent in hiring a firm's own lawyers for such an assessment. Allan Hutchinson, a law professor and legal ethics author, agreed, noting that the review could not be considered independent given the circumstances.

Source: CBC.CA