Latest news with #GregorRobertson
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Robertson defends position on housing prices in question period
Canada's new Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson was pressed during question period in the House of Commons about his remarks on home prices, saying its 'not about reducing the value of an individual's home or a seniors' home.' He said the Liberal government was focusing on building more affordable housing and cutting the GST for first-time home buyers.
The Market Online
3 days ago
- Business
- The Market Online
Nvidia Results Tip TSX Futures Down
Canada's main stock index slipped in early trading Wednesday, easing off Tuesday's record high as investors hit pause ahead of fresh trade headlines and earnings from chip heavyweight Nvidia, set to report after the bell. Market Numbers (Futures) TSX :Down ( 0.40%) 26,163.91TSXV: Up (0.74%) 700.91DOW: Down (0.04%) 42,393.00NASDAQ: Up (0.15%) 21,492.00 FTSE: Down (0.13%) 8,767.00 In the Headlines: Canada is set to issue a record $628 billion in government debt this year, surpassing pandemic levels. The delay in the federal budget has investors uneasy about transparency and market impact. And, Canada's new Housing Minister Gregor Robertson says home prices don't need to fall to improve affordability. But experts warn that without a market correction, the dream of home ownership will stay out of reach for most Canadians. Currencies Update: (Futures) The Canadian dollar edged back 0.12% holding at $0.7222 US, sitting in the red to the Euro by 0.03% to $0.639, and Bitcoin erases 0.66% to $150,565.09 Commodities: (Futures) Natural Gas: Up (11.05%), 3.78WTI: Up (1.08%), 61.55Gold: Up (0.28%), 3,308.97 Copper: Up (0.91%) 6.07 To stay up-to-date on all of your market news head to Join the discussion: Find out what everybody's saying check out the rest of Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards. The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here
National Observer
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
These new MPs have climate backgrounds — will they deliver?
The House of Commons is back in session and more than 100 brand-new MPs are in Ottawa this week to kick off their careers on Parliament Hill. Some of these first-time members of Parliament (MP) have climate credentials, but whether they will move the needle on climate policy depends on what roles and responsibilities they are assigned in the federal government. Backbenchers tend to have limited influence. Some of these new MPs may be appointed to sit on federal committees, granting them power to amend proposed legislation and policies and study key issues. A seat at the cabinet table is the most powerful position they can achieve, and Vancouver's former 'green mayor' and first-time federal MP clinched a key role. Gregor Robertson, Liberals Gregor Robertson, MP for Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby, got a seat at Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet table as minister of housing, infrastructure and Pacific economic development. Robertson is new to the House of Commons, but not to politics. He served as mayor of Vancouver for 10 years and was also ambassador of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and did international climate diplomacy work with mayors and cities across the globe. He formerly worked for a green construction technology company called Nexii and was a BC NDP MLA between 2005 and 2008. Some newly-elected MPs have climate credentials but whether or not they will move the needle on climate policy depends on what roles and responsibilities they are assigned in Parliament. Housing and infrastructure are both key portfolios in the fight against climate change. It will be interesting to see how Robertson's climate commitments are translated into policy because of Carney's emphasis on building a lot of housing quickly, Kathryn Harrison, a professor at the University of British Columbia, said in a phone interview with Canada's National Observer. The building sector was responsible for about 12 per cent of Canada's national total of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, according to the federal government's early estimates published last December. Residential buildings created 55.76 megatonnes of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to Natural Resources Canada's data. That is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from burning nearly 24 billion gallons of gasoline. Decarbonizing buildings can prevent lots of emissions from entering the atmosphere, but failing to do so can lock in warming for decades to come. Patrick Bonin, Bloc Québécois Patrick Bonin. Submitted The people of Repentigny elected an environmental activist with the Bloc Québécois to replace the party's former environment critic Monique Pauzé, who did not run for reelection. Patrick Bonin is a long-time climate activist. He has worked on climate and environment issues for more than two decades, including 12 years as a Greenpeace Canada climate and energy campaigner. In Bonin's social media posts, he echoes party leader Yves-Francois Blanchet's rhetoric that the Bloc says 'no' to pipelines, and writes in French on social media site X that Carney and Poilievre are sticking their heads in the tar sands. Bonin is well-known and active in the Quebec climate activism communities and someone who Caroline Brouillette, executive director of Climate Action Network Canada, has 'worked very closely with,' she said in an interview with Canada's National Observer. 'I'm really looking forward to having his voice in Parliament, especially now that the Bloc [Québécois] holds the balance of power after a campaign where they took very ambitious stances and were the voice of reason on pipelines,' Brouillette said. Bonin is perhaps one of the province's best-known activists, second only to Steven Guilbeault, she added. Eric St-Pierre, Liberals Eric St-Pierre. Submitted. Before Eric St-Pierre was elected MP for Honoré-Mercier, he spent nine years as executive director of the Trottier Family Foundation — one of Canada's most prominent funders of projects that support climate and environmental protection. (The Trottier Foundation is one of the many foundations who've collaborated with the Institute for Sustainability, Education and Action [I-SEA] and Canada's National Observer to produce the Climate Solutions Reporting Project. Canada's National Observer retains full editorial control.) Before he became executive director at the Trottier Foundation, which Brouillette described as 'the vanguard of Canadian climate philanthropy,' St-Pierre spent three years practising environmental, energy and Indigenous law. St-Pierre is best known for climate philanthropy, including co-founding an initiative to help cities scale-up climate solutions like making buildings more energy efficient and getting governments to match investments. Bruce Fanjoy, Liberals Bruce Fanjoy. X feed Bruce Fanjoy, an environmentalist who built a net-zero emissions home, ended Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's 20-year hold on the Carleton-area riding. Fanjoy beat Poilievre by 4,500 votes and shocked much of the political world. Fanjoy and his wife created a social media account for the house to showcase the benefits of building climate-friendly houses and advocate for sustainability. Fanjoy was a businessman before pursuing his dream of building a net-zero home. He hopes it gives people an example to follow and tailor to their own situations and needs, Fanjoy told Canada's National Observer in an interview in August 2023. At the time, he said the environment was part of what was driving him to try and unseat Poilievre, calling him 'a salesman' for the oil and gas industry. 'There's no scenario for a sustainable planet that involves pouring more and more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We have to change that,' he said. Shannon Miedema, Liberals Shannon Miedema at the Halifax Waterfront, March 2025. Photo by James Ingram Halifax's new MP, Shannon Miedema, spearheaded the City of Halifax's climate plan in her role as director of environment and climate change there. Halifax's climate plan, adopted in 2020, was embraced for its ambition and inclusion of a new Climate Action Tax (applied to residents' property bills) to help buy electric vehicles and buses, construct net-zero buildings and other projects. Miedema spent a total of 15 years working for the Halifax Regional Municipality in various environment, energy and climate-related roles. Up until she left to run for federal office, Miedema and her team were looking at new ways to use revenues from the Climate Action Tax to make infrastructure like roads more resilient to climate change. Will Greaves, Liberals Will Greaves (left) with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Photo by Naomi devine Victoria's new representative — Liberal MP Will Greaves — has some climate credentials. He unseated the NDP's environment and climate change critic Laurel Collins. Greaves is an associate professor at the University of Victoria with a focus on international relations, Arctic policies and climate change. 'Progressive voters, in particular, do really want assurances that climate won't be ignored or overlooked in the context of a campaign that has focused a lot on economic issues on the one hand, and I think questions of leadership and values on the other,' Greaves told Canada's National Observer in a phone interview before election day. Greaves sees part of his role as pushing the government to incorporate climate and emission considerations into all aspects of its work 'because that's what it takes to address this challenge.' Karim Bardeesy, Liberals Karim Bardeesy, the new MP for Taiaiako'n-Parkdale-High Park in Ontario, was involved in climate initiatives before running for election. Bardeesy spent five years on the Corporate Knights board (a Toronto-based media and research company focused on accelerating the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy.) The magazine reports primarily on climate change, sustainable investing and finance, and the intersection of business and climate. Before entering federal politics, Bardeesy was a policy and politics columnist, professor, ran for provincial office and served as a senior advisor to Ontario Premiers Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty. Anna Warwick Sears, Liberals Anna Warwick Sears, Liberal MP for Vernon–Lake Country–Monashee, has a long history working on water governance in BC. The Kelowna-area MP spent 18 years as executive director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board advocating for sustainable water management and all manner of water planning, science and policy.
Canada Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Canada Standard
Government of Canada invests in B.C. tech sector as Canada welcomes the world to Vancouver
On the eve of Web Summit Vancouver, PacifiCan investments showcase Canadian innovation and help position B.C. tech companies for global growth May 26, 2025 - Vancouver, British Columbia - PacifiCan British Columbia is driving Canada's innovation economy as one of the nation's fastest-growing tech powerhouses. With over 12,000 companies employing more than 182,000 highly skilled workers, B.C.'s tech sector punches well above its weight. PacifiCan is fueling B.C.'s dynamic tech ecosystem by championing homegrown innovation and advancing solutions that tackle real-world challenges. In 2023, PacifiCan announced a $9.9 million investment through Innovate BC to launch the Integrated Marketplace, which helps local companies test technologies in real-world environments. Over the past two years, this investment - alongside support provided by the Province of B.C. - has powered over 30 projects that drive innovation, AI adoption, and economic growth across British Columbia. Today, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), announced a new investment in the Integrated Marketplace of over $1.8 million to integrate AI innovation into two projects at local testbeds: At Vancouver International Airport, the investment will support the next phase of a project testing self-driving robotic pods designed to help travelers with mobility challenges move around the airport more easily. At the Provincial Health Services Authority, the funding will advance a project that uses AI to analyze digital images of tissue, facilitating the detection and identification of diseases through the digitization of pathology and other cancer diagnosis processes. This is the first investment announced through PacifiCan's Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. PacifiCan funding for the Integrated Marketplace is helping innovative businesses bring new technologies to market. It is also reducing the risk of adopting made-in-B.C. technologies while keeping intellectual property, talent, and economic benefits in Canada. This announcement comes as B.C. gets ready to host Web Summit Vancouver - the leading global technology conference that is putting a spotlight on Canada's vibrant innovation scene. PacifiCan is investing $6.6 million for Destination Vancouver to host Web Summit in Vancouver for the next three years. This event will provide a launch pad for local innovators, attract international investors and talent, and further strengthen B.C.'s reputation as a leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Government of Canada invests in B.C. tech sector as Canada welcomes the world to Vancouver
On the eve of Web Summit Vancouver, PacifiCan investments showcase Canadian innovation and help position B.C. tech companies for global growth VANCOUVER, BC, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - British Columbia is driving Canada's innovation economy as one of the nation's fastest-growing tech powerhouses. With over 12,000 companies employing more than 182,000 highly skilled workers, B.C.'s tech sector punches well above its weight. PacifiCan is fueling B.C.'s dynamic tech ecosystem by championing homegrown innovation and advancing solutions that tackle real-world challenges. In 2023, PacifiCan announced a $9.9 million investment through Innovate BC to launch the Integrated Marketplace, which helps local companies test technologies in real-world environments. Over the past two years, this investment – alongside support provided by the Province of B.C. – has powered over 30 projects that drive innovation, AI adoption, and economic growth across British Columbia. Today, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), announced a new investment in the Integrated Marketplace of over $1.8 million to integrate AI innovation into two projects at local testbeds: At Vancouver International Airport, the investment will support the next phase of a project testing self-driving robotic pods designed to help travelers with mobility challenges move around the airport more easily. At the Provincial Health Services Authority, the funding will advance a project that uses AI to analyze digital images of tissue, facilitating the detection and identification of diseases through the digitization of pathology and other cancer diagnosis processes. This is the first investment announced through PacifiCan's Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. PacifiCan funding for the Integrated Marketplace is helping innovative businesses bring new technologies to market. It is also reducing the risk of adopting made-in-B.C. technologies while keeping intellectual property, talent, and economic benefits in Canada. This announcement comes as B.C. gets ready to host Web Summit Vancouver – the leading global technology conference that is putting a spotlight on Canada's vibrant innovation scene. PacifiCan is investing $6.6 million for Destination Vancouver to host Web Summit in Vancouver for the next three years. This event will provide a launch pad for local innovators, attract international investors and talent, and further strengthen B.C.'s reputation as a leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship. Quotes "British Columbia's tech sector is a powerhouse, driving prosperity not only across the province, but across Canada. Together, we are creating one Canadian economy and positioning Canada at the forefront of tech nations." -The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada "Using AI to drive and accelerate productivity through robust investments in innovative companies is critical in this moment of crisis. With this investment, PacifiCan is unlocking the growth and security we need for the future of Canada, powering AI for scale, efficiency, and sovereignty. Bold and smart investments like this are required as we build a more resilient and competitive nation to meet this moment of urgency." -The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario "B.C. is home to a strong and collaborative technology ecosystem that is developing made-in-B.C. solutions to global challenges while creating good jobs and opportunities for people across the province. I'm excited to see more funding for the Integrated Marketplace through PacifiCan, and I look forward to seeing the innovative projects that will emerge from this and future investments to strengthen and diversify B.C.'s economy." -The Honourable Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, Province of B.C. "The Integrated Marketplace is a powerful example of how we can accelerate innovation, like AI technologies, and economic growth at the same time, and with this additional funding from PacifiCan we are enhancing two high-impact projects working to improve critical services for British Columbians and customers worldwide. By connecting B.C. companies with real-world adoption opportunities, we're helping them prove and refine their technologies while also delivering transformative solutions for some of our most important industries. This model not only strengthens our provincial economy but also creates a launchpad for these companies to access new markets and scale globally." -Peter Cowan, President and CEO of Innovate BC Quick Facts In May 2025, the Prime Minister of Canada's mandate letter for Ministry members highlighted AI as a key driver for economic growth, job creation, and government innovation to keep Canada competitive in a changing world. Vancouver is home to Canada's fastest-growing life sciences sector, the world's second-largest virtual and augmented reality cluster, and ranks first in North America for high-tech job growth. The Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative helps B.C. businesses bring new AI technologies to market and speed up AI adoption across the country. In October 2023, PacifiCan invested $9.9 million in Innovate BC to launch and expand the Integrated Marketplace. This initiative is also supported by the Government of B.C. through the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. In June 2024, PacifiCan invested $6.6 million in Destination Vancouver to host Web Summit in Vancouver over three years starting in May 2025. Over the past 10 years, PacifiCan and its predecessor, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), invested over $271 million directly in tech companies and $110 million in not-for-profit organizations that support the sector as a whole. Associated Links Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative Web Summit Vancouver Innovate BC Stay connected Follow PacifiCan on X and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
