Latest news with #MACA
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
N.W.T. wants to use federal housing funds to demolish derelict homes
An N.W.T. deputy minister says the territorial government is hoping to use federal housing money to clear derelict homes from communities. The structures are falling into disrepair, and some contain dangerous materials like asbestos. Gary Brennan, the deputy minister of the N.W.T. department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), spoke at a territorial committee meeting with MLAs on Tuesday. He said the territory was granted $74 million from the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, but the funds are not allowed to be used for demolition of derelict houses. Brennan said that's something the territory hopes to change. Multiple community leaders say that demolishing derelict homes would help with the territory's housing crunch, by making space for new homes. However, clearing those buildings is more complicated than just getting funding. Working with the owners Bertha Rabesca Zoe, Behchokǫ's incoming chief, said her community has structures that are falling into disrepair. "If some of these homes could be cleared, sure there would be available lots for additional homes," she said. Rabesca Zoe said the lots and structures are privately owned and the community needs to work with those owners. Rabesca Zoe said Behchokǫ is also taking other initiatives to address its housing issues, including working on a subdivision for new homes. Derelict structures have also been a concern in Inuvik. This past spring the town council ended up buying up some lots and clearing them so that private developers could then purchase the lots to build new houses. Demolishing and replacing derelict homes is also something Fort Good Hope is looking at. "There is some houses there, structures standing there, that are old," said Collin Pierrot, chief of Fort Good Hope. Pierrot said the community government has reached out to the owners of some of the structures to ask if they would be interested in having them removed, but he said he hasn't received a response yet. Another issue Fort Good Hope faces with clearing these structures is the community's limited space in its landfill for waste, Pierrot said. There's been some talk of building a new landfill as the current one is overfull. Brennan, the deputy minister of MACA, said the department is working with the federal housing minister to allow Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund money to cover both the demolition and removal of the waste, so that small community landfills don't have to deal with these issues. "We have issues in all of our landfills and small communities. So derelict houses have to be not just demolished, but also shipped south," he said. "There is potential funding available if we can move the lines on that agreement." Brennan said the territory had received a "soft commitment" from a "prior minister" on this and that the federal government has indicated a willingness to send the matter back to the Treasury Board, a federal cabinet committee that considers government funding proposals. Funding intended for water infrastructure CBC News reached out to Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada for an interview about the issue. That request was not granted by deadline, but the department did provide an email with details on the funding. A spokesperson wrote that the funding agreement was meant for communities across the Northwest Territories to build or improve the critical infrastructure related to drinking water, wastewater, storm water, and solid waste — which will help them build more homes. That means the cost of demolishing homes to make way for new homes is not eligible for the funding, the department says. "Such demolition would not increase capacity of municipal water or waste-related infrastructure that the fund supports," the email reads. It says that while stand-alone projects wouldn't be eligible, the removal of housing waste could be if it were necessary in order to build a project that did meet the funding criteria, for example, removing derelict buildings that are preventing the construction of something like a drinking water system.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fenix Resources contracts MACA for Beebyn-W11 iron ore project in Australia
Fenix Resources has signed a mining contract with MACA, a subsidiary of Thiess Group, to develop the Beebyn-W11 iron ore mine in Western Australia's mid-west region. This contract includes drill and blast, mining, crushing and screening operations, with site mobilisation scheduled to commence in the June 2025 quarter. It supports the company's strategy to increase its production capacity to four million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2025. All necessary mining approvals for the project are in place, including the approval of the mining proposal by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Shipments from the new mine are due to begin during the September 2025 quarter, marking the launch of Fenix's third operating mine in the mid-west region. A key requirement for commencing production at the Beebyn-W11 project is the construction of a private haul road. The road will link the new mine to Fenix's existing operations at Iron Ridge and provide a direct connection to Fenix's port facilities in Geraldton. The construction of the haul road is set to begin this month, following the receipt of the Native Vegetation Clearing Permit. The Beebyn-W11 iron ore deposit has a total measured and indicated mineral resource estimate of 20.5 million tonnes (mt) at 61.3% iron. The definitive feasibility study completed in July 2024 underscores the project's potential for 'exceptional' returns over a seven-year mine life at a production rate of 1.5mtpa. In October 2023, Fenix secured exclusive rights to mine and export up to ten million dry tonnes of iron ore from Beebyn-W11 deposit. The deposit is part of the larger Sinosteel Midwest's Weld Range project and has a JORC ore reserve of 10mt at 62.2% iron. Fenix has also secured agreements with the Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation and entered into a Deed of Covenant under the Native Title and Heritage Sustainable Benefits Agreement with Sinosteel and the Wajarri Yamaji People. In February 2025, Fenix Resources signed an agreement to acquire CZR Resources through an off-market takeover bid. "Fenix Resources contracts MACA for Beebyn-W11 iron ore project in Australia" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump wants to deport some foreign students. These activists want to help
By Andrew Hay and Julia Harte (Reuters) - President Donald Trump signed executive orders in January targeting foreigners who espoused hateful ideology and antisemitism, specifically international students involved in university pro-Palestinian protests. For activist groups ranging from Mothers Against College Antisemitism and the Chicago Jewish Alliance to the U.S. wings of Zionist organization Betar and the Shirion Collective surveillance network, the orders provided what they said was a long-awaited tool to help quash antisemitism on college campuses. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "If students are here on visas and they are harassing our kids, they should definitely be deported," MACA founder Elizabeth Rand said on Facebook on February 7, after posting a link to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tip line on January 21. Betar, labelled an extremist group by the Anti-Defamation League Jewish advocacy group, went further, saying it provided names of international students and faculty to the Trump administration for deportation. Betar did not provide evidence of such a list, but spokesperson Daniel Levy said of the promised deportations, "We are pleased this process has now begun." The U.S. Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. The orders have not yet had the impact of Trump's first-term travel ban when nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries were barred from the U.S., sparking chaos at airports before a federal court ruled it unconstitutional. But civil rights lawyers said the orders may violate constitutional rights to free speech, while Arab American groups have said they are prepared to challenge the policy in court. The executive orders and response to them showed a willingness among some Jewish activists to work with the Trump administration on a common cause. A few MACA members, however, said they were leaving the group as reporting on foreigners smacked of informing on Jews during World War Two, according to Facebook posts. Major Jewish American advocacy groups such as the ADL and American Jewish Committee welcomed Trump's orders, but stopped short of asking people to report foreign students to the government. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza led to months of pro-Palestinian protests that roiled U.S. college campuses. Civil rights groups documented a surge in hate crimes and incidents directed at Jews, Muslims, Arabs and other people of Middle Eastern descent. Online, Jewish American and pro-Israel groups doxed American and foreign students and faculty they accused of supporting Hamas, publishing their photos and personal information. Several pro-Palestinian groups used similar tactics to call out Israel's defenders. CAMPUS SPEECH Since Trump took office, the U.S. Justice Department announced plans to form a task force to fight antisemitism in schools and universities, while the Education Department said it was investigating five universities for alleged antisemitic harassment. The executive orders, meanwhile, singled out students and staff for potential deportation. The January 20 order called for enhanced vetting of foreign students from regions or nations with "security risks" to ensure those who "espouse hateful ideology" are not allowed in the country, or have visas cancelled. The January 29 order called for an inventory of alleged civil rights violations associated with pro-Palestinian campus protests, potentially leading to actions to remove "alien students and staff." Some civil rights groups have said the orders would likely face court challenges if acted upon. "The president should not be in the business of policing speech on college campuses," said Ben Wizner, a specialist in speech and privacy at the American Civil Liberties Union. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said a number of Palestinian students have had visas revoked since Trump entered office. The civil rights group provided Reuters screenshots of its email message to the State Department regarding a student from Gaza whose visa was cancelled this month, and an image of the revoked document. The Gazan student was not involved in campus protests and appeared to be targeted for her national origin, said ADC director Abed Ayoub. The ADC was among groups that warned Trump's January 20 order laid the groundwork for a reinstatement of his Muslim ban. A spokesperson said the group planned to sue the administration once the order was fully implemented. "It is happening, our students and our international students are being targeted," Ayoub said. Many pro-Palestinian protesters denied supporting Hamas or engaging in antisemitic acts, saying they were demonstrating against Israel's assault on Gaza, where health authorities say more than 47,000 people have been killed. The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting some 250 others. For the government to convict someone of materially assisting a foreign terrorist organization, it has to show actions such as wiring money, rather than just verbal support, said Alex Morey, vice president of campus advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Protest leaders at New York's Columbia University said pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations have been overwhelmingly organized and carried out by Americans. Foreign students studying there on visas are often not comfortable doing anything that would risk their enrollment or arrest, they said. (Reporting By Andrew Hay in New Mexico and Julia Harte in New York; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Rod Nickel)
Reuters
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump wants to deport some foreign students. These activists want to help
Feb 28 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump signed executive orders in January targeting foreigners who espoused hateful ideology and antisemitism, specifically international students involved in university pro-Palestinian protests. For activist groups ranging from Mothers Against College Antisemitism and the Chicago Jewish Alliance to the U.S. wings of Zionist organization Betar and the Shirion Collective surveillance network, the orders provided what they said was a long-awaited tool to help quash antisemitism on college campuses. "If students are here on visas and they are harassing our kids, they should definitely be deported," MACA founder Elizabeth Rand said on Facebook on February 7, after posting a link to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tip line on January 21. Betar, labelled an extremist group by the Anti-Defamation League Jewish advocacy group, went further, saying it provided names of international students and faculty to the Trump administration for deportation. Betar did not provide evidence of such a list, but spokesperson Daniel Levy said of the promised deportations, opens new tab, "We are pleased this process has now begun." The U.S. Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. The orders have not yet had the impact of Trump's first-term travel ban when nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries were barred from the U.S., sparking chaos at airports before a federal court ruled it unconstitutional. But civil rights lawyers said the orders may violate constitutional rights to free speech, while Arab American groups have said they are prepared to challenge the policy in court. The executive orders and response to them showed a willingness among some Jewish activists to work with the Trump administration on a common cause. A few MACA members, however, said they were leaving the group as reporting on foreigners smacked of informing on Jews during World War Two, according to Facebook posts. Major Jewish American advocacy groups such as the ADL and American Jewish Committee welcomed Trump's orders, but stopped short of asking people to report foreign students to the government. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza led to months of pro-Palestinian protests that roiled U.S. college campuses. Civil rights groups documented a surge in hate crimes and incidents directed at Jews, Muslims, Arabs and other people of Middle Eastern descent. Online, Jewish American and pro-Israel groups doxed American and foreign students and faculty they accused of supporting Hamas, publishing their photos and personal information. Several pro-Palestinian groups used similar tactics to call out Israel's defenders. CAMPUS SPEECH Since Trump took office, the U.S. Justice Department announced plans to form a task force to fight antisemitism in schools and universities, while the Education Department said it was investigating five universities for alleged antisemitic harassment. The executive orders, meanwhile, singled out students and staff for potential deportation. The January 20 order called for enhanced vetting of foreign students from regions or nations with "security risks" to ensure those who "espouse hateful ideology" are not allowed in the country, or have visas cancelled. The January 29 order called for an inventory of alleged civil rights violations associated with pro-Palestinian campus protests, potentially leading to actions to remove "alien students and staff." Some civil rights groups have said the orders would likely face court challenges if acted upon. "The president should not be in the business of policing speech on college campuses," said Ben Wizner, a specialist in speech and privacy at the American Civil Liberties Union. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said a number of Palestinian students have had visas revoked since Trump entered office. The civil rights group provided Reuters screenshots of its email message to the State Department regarding a student from Gaza whose visa was cancelled this month, and an image of the revoked document. The Gazan student was not involved in campus protests and appeared to be targeted for her national origin, said ADC director Abed Ayoub. The ADC was among groups that warned Trump's January 20 order laid the groundwork for a reinstatement of his Muslim ban. A spokesperson said the group planned to sue the administration once the order was fully implemented. "It is happening, our students and our international students are being targeted," Ayoub said. Many pro-Palestinian protesters denied supporting Hamas or engaging in antisemitic acts, saying they were demonstrating against Israel's assault on Gaza, where health authorities say more than 47,000 people have been killed. The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting some 250 others. For the government to convict someone of materially assisting a foreign terrorist organization, it has to show actions such as wiring money, rather than just verbal support, said Alex Morey, vice president of campus advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Protest leaders at New York's Columbia University said pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations have been overwhelmingly organized and carried out by Americans. Foreign students studying there on visas are often not comfortable doing anything that would risk their enrollment or arrest, they said.
CBC
28-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
N.W.T. MLAs call on territorial gov't to declare state of emergency in Norman Wells
N.W.T. MLAs are calling on the territorial government to declare a state of emergency in Norman Wells for humanitarian reasons. Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely brought the motion forward Thursday saying that rising food insecurity and heating costs, along with increasingly unreliable infrastructure for resupply, are making life and business in Norman Wells extremely difficult. The motion calls on the territory to recognize the town's state of emergency and communicate that to the federal government. It also calls on the government to develop a procedure for responding to any "humanitarian state of emergency" in the territory. The motion passed with all 10 present MLAs voting in favour, and the six present cabinet ministers abstaining. McNeely told the assembly that rising costs are forcing Norman Wells residents to foreclose their homes, that some are leaving the town for opportunity elsewhere, and that seniors living on low incomes can't afford the basics. "The community is in a state of fear," he said. It's all tied to low water levels on the Mackenzie River in recent years, grounding barges that would usually resupply the community and forcing fuel to be flown in — a costly alternative. When the town declared its own state of emergency last fall, councillors noted at the time that if the territory would also declare a state of emergency, it would afford the department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) more authority to offer support under the territory's Emergency Management Act. But MACA Minister Vince McKay said the challenges the town faces don't meet the territory's definition for emergency under the act, and that declaring a local state of emergency doesn't unlock federal or territorial funding. "A state of emergency applies only to situations where there is immediate threat to life or critical infrastructure," he said. Still, McKay says the government is committed to supporting Norman Wells and the Sahtu region, and is working to address both immediate relief and long-term planning. McKay pointed to supports the territory rolled out over the winter including a $150,000 donation to the Norman Wells food bank, doubling the home heating subsidy for seniors in Norman Wells, and a $1.8-million emergency fund for businesses, Indigenous and community governments in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta to offset transportation costs. McKay said the territory is also continuing work to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway to reduce reliance on seasonal transport. Norman Wells Mayor Frank Pope said he's proud of McNeely for continuing to advocate for the community and for canvassing support from other MLAs. Pope said the town is also facing the threat of Imperial Oil's departure, and the looming ripples that loss would create for work, transfer payments and taxes. Whether the town's challenges qualify as an emergency under the N.W.T. act, Pope says Norman Wells isn't giving up. The N.W.T. has 120 days to respond to Thursday's motion.
