Latest news with #MacLennan
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘A long, hot summer': B.C.'s approval of PRGT pipeline sets stage for conflict, First Nations leader says
The British Columbia government gave a green light to an 800-kilometre natural gas pipeline on Thursday, paving the way for construction to start this summer — and setting the stage for what one First Nations leader warns could be a 'long, hot summer' of conflict. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline will carry gas from northeast B.C. to the proposed Ksi Lisims gas liquefaction and export facility on the northwest coast near the Alaska border, crossing more than 1,000 waterways, including major salmon-bearing rivers and tributaries. In a press release, the BC Environmental Assessment Office gave the project a 'substantially started' designation, locking in its original environmental approval indefinitely. That original approval — for the pipeline to end in Prince Rupert, B.C — was granted in 2014 and expired last November. The assessment office said enough construction occurred before the expiry date to earn it the designation, even though the pipeline's new route takes it to a different location. The decision to deem the pipeline substantially started was authored by Alex MacLennan, chief executive assessment officer and deputy energy minister. In a report outlining the reasons for the decision, MacLennan acknowledged that First Nations, including the Gitxsan Wilps, raised a range of concerns about the project, including the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and uncertainty about the pipeline's final route. The assessment office is currently considering two requests from the proponents to change the pipeline's route to serve the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility. 'Though I recognize that this provides some uncertainty regarding the final route of the project, the significant investment in, and pursuit of, the amendments indicate to me that PRGT Ltd. continues to invest in the project and is committed to the project being completed,' MacLennan wrote. 'As for concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions, this matter is not relevant to the substantial start determination.' The Nisg̱a'a Lisims Government and Texas-based Western LNG are partnering to build the pipeline, after buying it from Calgary-based TC Energy last year. (TC Energy is the company behind the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline , which saw protracted conflict during construction that led to more than 80 arrests of land defenders, observers and journalists.) While the Nisg̱a'a government has stated the project provides much-needed economic benefits to its citizens, other affected First Nations, including leaders in neighbouring Gitanyow and Gitxsan territories, have voiced their opposition and argue the PRGT pipeline will negatively impact lands and waters and populations of fish and wildlife. In a statement, Simooget (Chief) Watakhayetsxw Deborah Good said the decision 'isn't the end of the story.' Watakhayetsxw was one of the Gitanyow Chiefs who set up a blockade last August when pipeline construction started, barring any industry-related traffic from passing through. 'We'll continue to fight to protect our territory (Lax'yip) with all actions needed, in the courts and on the ground,' she said. 'From August to November 2024, we denied access for PRGT pipeline construction and we'll be continuing our efforts to ensure no construction happens on our territory,' she said. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said approving the pipeline directly contradicts the government's stated commitment to upholding Indigenous Rights, which was passed into law in 2019 with B.C.'s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. 'There are First Nations who have very loudly stated their opposition to this pipeline and they will continue to do so,' Phillip said in a statement. 'The Declaration Act and interim approach are being tossed out the window. This is not a government who believes in reconciliation and it could trigger a long, hot summer.' Naxginkw Tara Marsden, Wilp Sustainability Director with the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, questioned whether the project met criteria for the substantial start decision. While the definition of a substantial start is somewhat vague, the essence of the designation is an acknowledgement a project proponent has put in a significant amount of work to get a project going. The work done on the PRGT pipeline mainly consisted of clearing forest from a short section of the 800-kilometre route on Nisga'a lands. 'This decision makes a mockery of the true purpose and intent of what is considered to be a 'substantial start' for major infrastructure projects,' Naxginkw said in a statement. 'It leaves us asking, 'Why does the government have processes if it doesn't intend to follow them and continues to exclude concerns raised by impacted First Nations?' ' The pipeline and associated liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, Ksi Lisims LNG, are the subject of three lawsuits by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and groups, including a legal challenge launched by Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs. 'Our livelihoods depend on healthy and abundant sockeye from the Nass and Skeena rivers,' Naxginkw said. 'This pipeline would cut across some of the healthiest intact salmon watersheds left in B.C.' Naxginkw previously told The Narwhal the conflict over the pipeline is pitting nation against nation, which she said is a distraction from the real issue. 'We're stuck in this cycle of people only paying attention when it's that really heated, race-based conflict and the fact that this is nation to nation is even juicier,' she explained. 'But that's not the story — the story is the climate is going to kill us all.' Natural gas is mostly composed of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide for its short-term warming impact on the planet. At every step of the process of extracting the fossil fuel for energy production — including at wellheads, along the pipeline and during the liquefaction, shipping, regasification and combustion processes — adds more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, intensifying the effects of climate change. When built, the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline will be able to transport 3.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Michael MacLennan's Finales Celebrates the Art of the Last Number at Burlington's Drury Lane Theatre
Actor and director Michael MacLennan's working relationship with the Drury Lane Theatre has been long and productive. MacLennan, a versatile visionary and devotee of Canadian community theatre, has been involved in thirteen successful musicals at the Drury Lane theatre over the course of ten to twelve years. His first-ever collaboration with Drury Lane was The Secret Garden, based on the beloved novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, in 2008. In 2025, he was the director and choreographer of the wildly entertaining musical comedy A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, which premiered at the local theatre on May 9, 2025. MacLennan is eager to share his aspirations for his upcoming show, for which he is the director and choreographer yet again, as well as the mastermind. This is the aptly-named and anticipated Finales, set to be performed at the Drury Lane Theatre in the month of June. MacLennan's longtime love for Broadway theatre has inspired him to assemble a variety pack of what he considers to be the best final numbers in the musical show business. Theatregoers can look forward to favourite tunes such as 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' from Gypsy, 'I've Never Been in Love Before' from Guys and Dolls, and 'Don't Rain on My Parade' from Funny Girl. Do you also like Chicago, Waitress, La Cage Aux Folles, and The Witches of Eastwick? They'll be included too. The show will pay ample tribute to twenty-six different Broadway hit classics. MacLennan has agreed to speak out on what he thinks is necessary for a musical show to end well, and why he is ending Drury Lane Theatre's 2025 summer season in this way. Answers have been lightly edited for flow. In your opinion, what makes a solid musical finale? It's something that will entice the audience to come back after intermission at the end of Act One. At the end of Act Two, it's the way of wrapping up the entire story. I've always found finales intriguing because sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, depending on the show. So I've always been sort of fascinated by them. That's what gave me the idea of putting a show together that was strictly the finales of shows. Generally speaking, the finale is one of the more memorable numbers in the show. We have a lot of solos in our own shows. I think a lot of people don't realize that many of the finales in a lot of shows are solos. I think everyone thinks they're flashy, splashy dance numbers, but they're not always so. It was a lot of fun putting this production together and doing the research. I think I listened to about two hundred different finales in order to put this show together. You have to sort of mix it up between ballads, up-tempo, and solos. Duets and trios, too, things like that, to make it interesting. If it were all just one big splashy dance number after another, I think it would get a little bit boring for an audience. So I'm going for a more cohesive, complete evening. What is your overall vision for your finale show? To get it produced! That's always a difficult thing when you're putting together a show, you don't know whether or not there's going to be interest. I've been very lucky that two companies have been interested, so we're going to two different theatres. The first is Drury Lane here in Burlington, and the second is the Maja Prentice Theatre in Mississauga. It was originally going to be only three performances in Mississauga, but then Rick Mackenzie from Drury Lane approached me. That was when a door opened up to go to another location. Now people will see it, and some other theatre company might say, 'Hey, I think that would work in our space, I would be more than happy to bring it here as well!' You just never know. You never know if it is going to have legs and continue on. It was the initial impetus for me to do a few shows, but if it goes to more than two locations, I would be very open to going to other theatres. It's a perfect-sized show. It's ten people and it can fit onto a lot of different stages. Do you prefer a traditional theatre or a cabaret for staging a show? I don't have a preference. But one thing I like about Drury Lane is that it is a smaller space, and it forces you to be creative with your choreography. You also have to be creative with your sets. There is also the people. The people at Drury Lane are really kind,are and the volunteers are so dedicated to that company. The people there really make it a home. It's also a little easier to do because it is a smaller, more quaint space. But the people are dedicated to that. It's been around for at least forty-five years. It's a well-loved theatre in the Burlington area. What future projects do you have in mind after Finales closes at Drury Lane Theatre? I'm actually not returning to Drury Lane for their 2025/2026 season. I'm going to be doing the musical The Prom at two locations. I'm going to be in Georgetown with Georgetown Globe Productions this fall. I'm also going to be doing City Centre Musical Productions' production of The Prom. It's going to be a full year of The Prom. ——————————————————————————————— But, for now, it's time to end with a bang. Finales is set to premiere at Drury Lane Theatre on June 13, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. On June 14, 2025, there will be a matinee show at 2:00 p.m. and an evening show at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here. If you are based closer to Mississauga, you can buy tickets for the Maja Prentice Theatre's production here. The show will play at Maja on June 20 and 21, 2025.
STV News
01-05-2025
- STV News
Carer struck off for posting Snapchat of vulnerable person on toilet
A carer has been struck off the register for sending a picture of a vulnerable person on the toilet on Snapchat. Cara MacLennan was employed as a carer in Fortrose in February 2024 when the incident occurred. A report from Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said MacLennan took a photograph of herself in her work uniform, holding up her fingers in a 'v' sign, alongside a vulnerable service user in their nightwear in the toilet without their consent. MacLennan captioned the image 'can't see me ha ha ha' and 'doesn't know anything I'm doing' before sharing it with at least one person on Snapchat. SSSC said the picture was later posted by a third person on a public Facebook page which caused concern to the public. A report from the watchdog said MacLennan's behaviour placed the resident at risk of 'emotional harm' and was an 'abuse of trust'. She was later found to have failed to disclose she had been dismissed from her previous role while applying to be a care assistant in July, 2024. She also failed to disclose she was the subject of an ongoing investigation by the SSSC. The watchdog said her actions were 'dishonest' and that she demonstrated a lack of integrity by not disclosing she was subject to the investigation. Following the investigation, SSSC removed MacLennan from the register saying the order was 'the most appropriate sanction'. 'The misconduct causes significant concerns about your core values as a social care worker entrusted to care and support vulnerable people,' the report read. Speaking on the ruling, SSSC said a suspension order would not sufficiently protect service users. The report concluded: 'The SSSC considers a Removal Order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Cruel carer took Snapchat of vulnerable pensioner on toilet – then it went viral
Cara MacLennan, 20, was removed from her role at Eilean Dubh Care Home in Fortrose in Scotland after taking a photo of a vulnerable pensioner A cruel carer who took a photo of a vulnerable pensioner sitting on a toilet in only their pyjamas has been struck off. Cara MacLennan hid to take the photo and held up a "v" sign with her fingers during a shift at Eilean Dubh Care Home in Fortrose in the Highlands in Scotland in February last year. The 20-year-old posted the image on Snapchat alongside a caption which read "can't see me ha ha ha" and "doesn't know what I'm doing". A friend shared the image on Facebook which went viral and led to MacLennan's removal from the profession when the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) amounted her behaviour to "abuse". Daily Record reports the ruling stated: 'You have taken a selfie photograph of a resident and thereafter added derogatory remarks about her, before sending this to a friend via a social media platform. Your behaviour of sending the photograph had consequences, whereby these were posted by a third person on a public Facebook page which caused concern to the public in general. 'The first incident took place within the workplace, where you were expected to care for the resident in an appropriate manner, thus your behaviour placed the resident at the risk of emotional harm. Your behaviour therefore amounts to an abuse of trust and showed a level of disregard for the Codes of Practice and amounted to abuse of a vulnerable resident.' The panel further heard MacLennan lied on a care assistant job application. The brazen carer told her new employer she had left her previous role because she had been "offered a new job". She had, however, been sacked. MacLennan also failed to mention she was under investigation by the SSSC for the incident. The panel ruling continued: 'You were dismissed from your employment and failed to disclose the reason for this dismissal which shows a level of dishonesty and concealment. You also demonstrated a lack of integrity by not disclosing that you were subject to a SSSC investigation.' Her behaviour was described as 'extremely serious' and 'fundamentally incompatible with continuing registration'. MacLennan was banned from working in social care indefinitely. The panel added: 'The SSSC considers a Removal Order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession.' This comes after a nurse was struck off after an inquiry found she had falsified records by booking fake appointments with patients so she could clock off early. Nina Groves was found to be impaired by "reason of misconduct" by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. While working at Clee Medical Centre (CMC) in Cleethorpes, a hearing was told she had meddled with booking systems and lied about patient appointments in order to leave herself with extra free time and given out prescriptions of highly addictive, controlled medication, putting patients "at risk of harm".
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Daily Record
Cruel carer who took Snapchat of vulnerable OAP on toilet struck off
A cruel Scots carer who mocked a vulnerable OAP after taking a photo of them on the toilet in their pyjamas has been struck off. Cara MacLennan, 20, posed beside the pensioner and held up a "v" sign with her fingers during a shift at Eilean Dubh Care Home in Fortrose in February last year. MacLennan, from Fortrose in the Highlands, posted the photo on Snapchat alongside the caption "can't see me ha ha ha" and "doesn't know what I'm doing". Her friend then shared the image onto Facebook , where it went viral. MacLennan was removed from the profession after the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) amounted her behaviour to "abuse". The ruling , which was published on Monday, stated: 'You have taken a selfie photograph of a resident and thereafter added derogatory remarks about her, before sending this to a friend via a social media platform. 'Your behaviour of sending the photograph had consequences, whereby these were posted by a third person on a public Facebook page which caused concern to the public in general. 'The first incident took place within the workplace, where you were expected to care for the resident in an appropriate manner, thus your behaviour placed the resident at the risk of emotional harm. 'Your behaviour therefore amounts to an abuse of trust and showed a level of disregard for the Codes of Practice and amounted to abuse of a vulnerable resident .' The panel further heard that MacLennan lied on a care assistant job application. The brazen carer told her new employer she had left her previous role because she had been "offered a new job". She had, however, been sacked. MacLennan also failed to mention she was under investigation by the SSSC for the incident. The panel ruling continued: 'You were dismissed from your employment and failed to disclose the reason for this dismissal which shows a level of dishonesty and concealment. You also demonstrated a lack of integrity by not disclosing that you were subject to a SSSC investigation.' Her behaviour was described as 'extremely serious' and 'fundamentally incompatible with continuing registration'. MacLennan was banned from working in social care indefinitely. The Panel added: 'The SSSC considers a Removal Order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession.'
