York experts weigh in on provincial legislation that would block bike lanes, Ottawa's curbside pickup program, birth control for pigeons, and more
Professor Mark Winfield comments on Premier Doug Ford's supposed plans to introduce legislation that would block the construction of new bike lanes if it means losing a lane for cars, buses, trucks and other traffic. Experts say the message that this sends is harmful to progress on the climate crisis. "It looks like a lot of the consensus around climate action may be collapsing precisely at the moment when the impacts are becoming more and more apparent — as we're dealing with fires and floods and extreme weather and all the rest," Winfield tells Toronto Star. Professor Patricia Wood is also quoted, weighing in on the city's climate goals, which Toronto is not on track to meet with emissions trending up rather than down. "To have the province even float the idea of reducing the possibility to create space for active transportation by prioritizing private automobiles over bike lanes is a truly poisonous intervention in these discussions," says Wood.
Starting Sept. 30, Ottawa households can only put out three trash containers (whether bins or bags) each curbside pickup day, down from the previous limit of six. Special bags for extra items will come at a cost. Waste Wiki co-investigator Calvin Lakhan has followed cities as they transitioned and found the system "incredibly effective" at reducing household waste. "You have to limit what people can throw away… in order to incentivize recycling or reuse or waste reduction altogether," he tells CBC. "But there will be teething and growing pains." Lakhan says the shift "absolutely" leads to illegal dumping — something bylaw officers in Ottawa are preparing for.
You have to limit what people can throw away.
Lakhan speaking to CBC
Professor Gail Fraser weighs in on a pilot program in Toronto aimed at controlling the city’s pigeon population. In May 2022, four feeders were set up dispensing food laced with OvoControl, a non-lethal and humane technology that interferes with the ability of pigeon eggs to hatch. Fraser tells CityNews that it may be challenging to track the efficacy of the project without knowing whether the pigeons are eating enough of the food for OvoControl to work.
Professor Nick Mulé, director of the 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada Project, talks to 630 CHED about the first national survey on poverty in 2SLGBTQ+ communities. The survey is now open to eligible residents of Alberta. "Stigma and discrimination can make trying to make progress in one’s life that much more of a challenge," says Mulé.
Fall equinox on Sept. 22 marked the official end of summer for Ontario. For most kids, it ended after Labour Day; for meteorologists, meteorological summer ended Aug. 31. If Professor Elaina Hyde had it her way, she tells InsideHalton.com, she would extend summer to cross-quarter day, which happens at the midway points between equinoxes and solstices and falls on Halloween.
To see: The "Hearts of Freedom – Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees" (HOF) exhibition is on display at the main entrance of Osgoode Hall Law School Library until Oct. 14. Excalibur reported on the exhibition, interviewing HOF creator and curator Stephanie Stobbe. "The stories from the refugees who resettled in Canada between 1975 and 1985 were very moving and inspirational. They exude strength, courage, and resilience in escaping the violence and persecution to find a new home in Canada," says Stobbe. "We hope the visitors will find engaging photos with stories and interesting information that highlight the important immigration policies and programs, and the contributions of this first generation and their descendants."
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