Some of Western's brightest minds showcase their research projects
Jack Webb, LHRD student organizer and PhD Candidate at Schulich Medicine and Dentistry, alongside Nishfa Rizwan, Master of Public Health candidate at London Health Research Day. May 13, 2025. (Reta Ismail/CTV London)
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CTV News
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- CTV News
Piikani members pray for healing of Crowsnest Lake amid fish consumption advisory
A fish consumption advisory remains in effect for Crowsnest Lake. The Alberta government says this is due to selenium levels from old coal mines. Members of the Piikani Nation gathered at Crowsnest Lake in southwestern Alberta on Tuesday to pray for the body of water to heal following the issuing of a Fish Consumption Advisory. The advisory, posted to the My Wild Alberta website, says 105 fish from Crowsnest Lake were analyzed for mercury and trace metals in 2024, and a preliminary assessment of the results indicated consumption of brown trout, lake trout and mountain whitefish 'should be limited' due to selenium levels. 'The public should consider limiting consumption of these fish species from Crowsnest Lake at this time,' says the site. 'Further investigation is ongoing.' Speaking to CTV News on Tuesday, Piikani Nation member Harley Bastien said water is described as the 'veins and blood' of mother earth by Indigenous people. 'We are water,' Bastien said. 'Our bodies are water, and we are just trying to protect our bodies – not only for ourselves, but for seven generations ahead.' A new study from Alberta government scientist suggests old coal mines on the eastern slopes of the Rockies are leaching chemicals that are poisoning fish downstream. It also suggests any new coal developments could result in 'population collapse' of fish species in a nearby lake. 'We called on the water spirits that live in the water,' Bastien said. 'We prayed through them, we communicate with them, and in turn, they have they're own ways of communicating.' The new study measured selenium levels in fish from Crowsnest Lake, which is fed by creeks connected to Tent Mountain and Grassy Mountain – both former coal mine sites. In a statement, Evolve Power -- formerly Montem -- which owns Tent Mountain, said it is 'in compliance with all applicable provincial and federal regulatory requirements including those prescribed in the environmental protection and enhancement act approval. 'The Crowsnest River Valley contains multiple towns and is a major transportation corridor with significant agricultural and industrial activity, including quarrying by others, all of which may contribute to selenium levels being above naturally occurring levels.' Northback says the Crowsnest Lake issues are unrelated to its Grassy Mountain project. The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said in a statement to CTV News, 'If selenium is flagged as a concern through sampling, inspections, or an EPA notification, the AER can order the licensee to increase monitoring, control or halt water discharges, and implement a mitigation plan. 'Throughout a mine's entire life cycle, operators must demonstrate that any treated water they release meets the stringent limits set by both provincial and federal standards.' Landowners on the Eastern Slopes say if selenium is found in former mine sites, new exploration is only going to repeat itself. 'The government knew this and yet in all of their communications they've indicated there is little or no concern about selenium contamination from open pit coal mining,' said Mike Judd, who owns land near Beaver Mines. The AER told The Canadian Press that it has directed Evolve Power to submit a 'selenium management plan proposal' that targets reductions in selenium in mine-affected water. Evolve was to submit that plan by July 31 of last year, but the AER said it granted the company an extension to March 31, 2026. Those at the prayer ceremony say that's unacceptable. 'Water is everything to the Indigenous people,' said Bastien. CTV News reached out multiple times to the office of the minister of environment and protected areas for an interview but never received a response. - With files from Canadian Press
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Lower air quality poses risks for asthma patients
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Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Pet owners skip vet visits as affordability concerns grow, survey finds
Four days before Christina Lai's birthday, her eight-year-old Yorkshire Terrier became lethargic and withdrawn. After she rushed the dog to a clinic in Toronto, the vet confirmed symptoms of acute kidney failure. The dog passed away after three days of care, Ms. Lai said, a period that cost her $8,000. That was in addition to the nearly $30,000 she's spent on medication and surgeries for her second Yorkie. 'I work two jobs so that I can pay for these things,' said Ms. Lai, who juggles work in IT and as a realtor. While Ms. Lai has been able to afford the astronomical costs associated with pet care, she's the exception rather than the rule. Such expenses are becoming increasingly out of reach for Canadians, according to a Gallup and PetSmart Charities of Canada report published Wednesday. The study found that half of pet owners declined recommended veterinary care or skipped a vet visit in 2024, with the likelihood highest among owners aged 18 to 29. (The study surveyed 2,033 dog and cat owners across Canada between Nov. 28 and Dec. 31, 2024, with a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.) In this economy, can we even afford dogs and cats any more? Only 41 per cent of pet owners reported taking their pet to the vet last year and following through with recommended care. Among those who reported that they declined pet care, two-thirds said they did so because of financial barriers. Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada, said part of the problem is that pricey advanced treatments have become the first option offered by veterinarians. 'For [a] breed of dog very prone to blowing out their knees … you would give them pain management and you would have them rest, and they would heal,' she said. 'Now, the first option that's offered to most people for that injury is orthopedic surgery.' Only 28 per cent of pet owners who declined care because of cost were offered a more affordable option by their veterinarian, the survey found. Even fewer were offered payment plans. Among owners who declined vet care, 12 per cent reported that their pet's condition worsened or they died. Another issue was accessibility. Owners who travelled more than 10 kilometres to see a veterinarian were more likely to skip care. 'Many people cannot find a vet who is taking on new clients,' said Lia Laskaris, chief executive officer of Animal Alliance of Canada, an animal-rights advocacy group. For example, last year, residents of Regina temporarily lost access to overnight veterinary emergency services because of staffing issues, forcing people to drive 2½ hours to Saskatoon with severely ill or injured pets. The challenges facing today's pet owners have become a 'perfect storm' of rising costs, a surge in post-pandemic ownership and a strained veterinary workforce, said Stacy Murphy, a Registered Veterinary Technician at the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth. 'There was a huge influx of people who acquired new pets while they were at home,' Ms. Murphy said, referring to COVID-19 lockdowns. The boom in pet ownership hasn't corresponded to a rise in the number of professionals available to meet it. The veterinary field is facing a workforce crunch, with entry into vet schools remaining extremely competitive, even as demand soars and an older generation of vets retires, Ms. Murphy said. And while pet care costs have always been a barrier, the affordability gap has widened, she said. Rover's 2025 Cost of Dog Parenthood report, for example, found that veterinary office visits, preventative treatments and vaccinations for dogs have increased by up to 50 per cent in Canada. A dog's lifetime care costs range from $17,343 for a small breed to $53,935 for a large breed, according to the report. In addition to veterinary care, pet food costs have also soared, especially for prescription diets, said Lauralee Dorst, Toronto Humane Society's director of community animal welfare. 'Even many commercial brands are becoming out of reach for average families,' she said. Travis Dickie, 40, said the soaring cost of vet-prescribed specialty food for his family's two aging cats has led them to forego it entirely. 'It's double what we would have been paying a year and a half ago per bag,' said Mr. Dickie of Calgary. A cheaper brand 'seems to be doing the job,' he said, but 'I do feel a bit nervous.' Pet owners can save on some initial costs if they're adopted from a humane society. 'We adopt those animals out already vaccinated … already spayed or neutered, they're already microchipped, dewormed,' Ms. Murphy said. Her organization also runs affordable rabies and microchipping clinics two to three times a month, which are not income-based: 'You just have to be willing to drive to us.' According to Ms. Laskaris, some municipalities and shelters have programs to help residents by reducing or waiving the costs, such as The Farley Foundation, a charity helping low-income Ontario pet owners subsidize veterinary care.
