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National Observer
6 hours ago
- Politics
- National Observer
How to spot bad information this wildfire season
Wildfire smoke is seen on Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, B.C. on Friday, May 30, 2025. Photo by Nasuna Stuart-Ulin / The Canadian Press Wildfire season is here and if the last few years are any indication, Canadians will spend the summer sorting through a firestorm of disinformation. People searching for good information in times of crisis are up against a slew of broken systems. Social media algorithms promote misinformation and disinformation and bury official sources. Governments at different levels struggle to coordinate information release as quickly as rumours spread. Not every community has local news and there are fewer reporters and more news deserts. Imperfect information systems and the inherent chaos of a crisis allow well-intentioned but false information to spread, like people making false statements and observations about fire behaviour and what buildings have been destroyed. People's thirst for information during a crisis creates an information vacuum, and right-wing actors and groups are increasingly filling the empty space with conspiracies about arson, government control and environmental terrorism, as previously reported by Canada's National Observer. Different types of bad information The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security identifies three key types of bad information: Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Here are the differences. Misinformation: refers to false information that is not intended to cause harm Disinformation: refers to false information that is intended to manipulate, cause damage and guide people, organizations and countries in the wrong direction Malinformation: refers to information that stems from the truth but is often exaggerated in a way that misleads and causes potential harm Some bad information is easier to spot, like baseless claims that wildfires are caused by arson carried out by environmentalists and government actors, or even space lasers. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith fed the flames of disinformation last summer after the town of Jasper was largely destroyed by wildfires. Smith told talk show host Ryan Jespersen the province would bring in arson investigators when he asked about the role climate change played in the 2024 wildfire season. Climate change, driven primarily by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, is causing higher temperatures and drier conditions, which exacerbate the frequency and severity of wildfires. When trying to identify disinformation this wildfire season people should ask themselves 'Does this feel right? Is this coming from the right place? Does this seem pretty sensational?' said Kevin Skrepnek, BCWildfire's former head information officer Maxime Bernier, the far-right People's Party of Canada leader, went even further during 2023's record wildfire year, when he said it outright: 'I bet a good portion of the wildfires raging across the country were started by green terrorists who want to give their climate change campaign a little boost.' Practical tips Sorting through information on social media is no easy task, especially when politicians are participating in the disinformation, but there are some actions we can take to identify or at least remain skeptical about bad information. What to look out for When we are consuming information on different websites and social media platforms, there are some key questions we should ask ourselves, according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Does it provoke an emotional response? Does it make a bold statement on a controversial issue? Is it an extraordinary claim? Does it contain clickbait? Does it use small pieces of valid information that are exaggerated or distorted? Has it spread virally on unvetted or loosely vetted platforms? If the answer to some of these questions is 'yes' it doesn't automatically mean you're looking at false information, but you should investigate further before trusting it or sharing it. People should ask themselves, 'Does this feel right? Is this coming from the right place? Does this seem pretty sensational?' said Kevin Skrepnek, manager of community and emergency services at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and BC Wildfire's former head information officer. 'Is this a screenshot of something, or is this an actual link to something?' Sometimes, old photos are circulated and made to appear recent, so it's important to think critically about the account or individual that posted an image, what their claims are and whether it's possible to verify the source of the image. One way to get more information about an image is to do a reverse image search. Sometimes, a simple internet search of the topic at hand combined with the words 'fact check' will reveal whether someone has already verified or debunked the information you're unsure about. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security also recommends checking the spelling of website domains and social media handles, keeping an eye out for small typos that are used to make a site or social media account look like it belongs to an official or trusted organization. When conspiracies impact fire response The most outlandish, viral conspiracies may appear to be confined to the online sphere, but this disinformation can and does have serious impacts on the ground. In 2023, the BC Wildfire service and police were confronted by a so-called 'Convoy of Truth and Freedom,' attempting to gain access to a roadblock while authorities tried to evacuate people and fight the fires in North Shuswap. The agencies responding to fires are 'focused on pretty meat and potatoes stuff,' like trying to keep people safe, Skrepnek said — spending effort addressing 'Looney Tunes-level' theories makes it harder to get important information out. Skrepnek emphasized that some people, especially in his rural region, ignore evacuation orders and stay behind to tend to their livestock and livelihoods and he can't fault them for that. However, he said there is a much smaller — though growing — number of people driven by disinformation or distrust of government who resist wildfire evacuation orders on that basis. He said there were issues during the 2021 White Rock Lake fire, when people ignored an evacuation order or sneaked back in because, in their minds, the wildfire service either wasn't there or wasn't doing enough to defend the remaining properties. 'That created a whole issue where now you've got civilians running around within an evacuation order area trying to fight the fire themselves, getting in the way of the wildfire service in some situations,' Skrepnek said. Getting the right information is key and Skrepnek recommends identifying all the official information channels and bookmarking them so you know where to find updates when a crisis hits. 'If your local government or your First Nation or whatever it is, has a subscription-based alerting system, subscribe to that and know that that's always going to be the right info because it's coming direct from them,' he said. Skrepnek acknowledged this answer won't be satisfactory for some people, and government communications won't always be perfect, 'but that is going to be the best information that you can get.' Relying on information that has been verified by the press or various levels of government is all well and good, but for many remote, rural and Indigenous communities the reality is a lot of information — good and bad — circulates on Facebook pages. When getting info from social media is the only option People in remote First Nations communities primarily get their information from social media, said Amy Cardinal Christianson, an Indigenous fire specialist and co-author of two books, one of which is on First Nation wildfire evacuations. Some nations are doing a great job of using Facebook and YouTube livestreams for chiefs to give timely, accurate updates to the community, Christianson said. 'But lots of times, misinformation is being shared by us, right? By community members who are very concerned and want an answer for a situation, so they see something and immediately post it,' Christianson said. Skrepenk said one citizen-led Facebook group in his region did a good job using a Facebook page to amplify official wildfire information, but said this usually isn't the case, and people often end up sharing unverified information and causing confusion. Many people have good intentions but still contribute to the spread of inaccurate information, Christianson said. 'In the past, what we've seen is people will just post like, 'I heard that so and so's house burned,' or 'this burned,' or 'that burned,' or 'the fire is here now,' or 'the fire jumped the river,' and people immediately just get very upset about that.' Christianson said a good rule of thumb is not to share anything on Facebook or social media if it's not from an official source or you haven't been able to verify it because things can get 'wildly' out of control. However, 'official' sources might look different for remote communities, she added. 'Usually, there's a contingent of folks in every Indigenous nation that gets evacuated who stay behind, and a lot of that is to do like firefighting or infrastructure protection, to feed dogs or animals that are left behind in the community,' she said. 'Those people are often incredibly reliable sources of information for the community.' Critically, these people on the ground are able to dispel rumours and misinformation by confirming what structures have and haven't been affected or answering other questions, according to Christianson's work studying the 2011 evacuation of Whitefish Lake First Nation in Alberta. In this case, it's not always as simple as checking whether the government or firefighting agency has corroborated a report or claim because it's coming from individuals. But Christianson said there are still ways to help assess the reliability of the source, like asking whether they actually have a responsibility or role in the fire event and response. This can help indicate whether someone is a trustworthy source, she said. Christianson said most people can weed through the mess of online conspiracies blaming government arson and space lasers, but it does start to create a lack of trust, not just in institutions, but in each other. Times of crisis and big events like wildfires can unite communities, she said. 'People forget about differences that they might have and other things, because you're trying to achieve a common goal together, but the second you start throwing in all this disinformation about arson and who's starting fires and other things like that, it just really complicates the situation.' Natasha Bulowski / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer June 3rd 2025 Natasha Bulowski Journalist Keep reading Carney won't reveal spending plans, enraging critics — but some call it savvy By Arno Kopecky Analysis June 2nd 2025 Cold days are coming too late, cutting off northerners By Cloe Logan News June 2nd 2025 Doug Ford blinks on Bill 5, under fire from First Nations By Sonal Gupta News Energy Politics Urban Indigenous Communities in Ottawa May 28th 2025 Share this article Share on Bluesky Share on LinkedIn Comments
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- Japan Today
Thousands evacuated in 3 provinces as Canadian wildfires threaten air quality in some U.S. states
Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/The Canadian Press via AP) More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. 'Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,' Saskatchewan's Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. 'As smoke levels increase, health risks increase.' Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. 'The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north,' Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached 'unhealthy' levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow page. 'We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week,' said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned at least 100 acres (40 hectares) as of Sunday, prompting road closures and some evacuations, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The agency said in a news release that at least one structure was burned, but did not provide additional details about the damage. Strong gusty winds of 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kph) and steep terrain were making it difficult for firefighters battling the fire, which ignited Saturday. Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Winnipeg opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. Manitoba's Indigenous leaders said Saturday at a news conference that hotel rooms in the cities where evacuees are arriving are full, and they called on the government to direct hotel owners to give evacuees priority. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said it was one of the largest evacuations in the province since the 1990s. 'It's really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired,' Wilson said at a news conference. Canada's wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. Associated Press reporter Julie Walker contributed from New York. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions Across 3 States Told to Close Windows, Limit Outside Activity
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of residents in Texas, Minnesota, and Michigan are under air quality alerts this weekend as authorities warn of unhealthy levels of ozone and fine particle pollution. Why It Matters The alerts come as wildfires are burning across Canada, creating harmful conditions and affecting air quality. Smoke and airborne pollutants can be especially hazardous for individuals with respiratory conditions. So far this year, wildfires have scorched over 1.58 million acres in Canada—roughly 40 percent above the 10-year average for this time of year, CNN reported. Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/The Canadian Press/AP What To Know The air quality issues affecting these three states stem from a combination of factors. In Texas, high temperatures and stagnant atmospheric conditions have created an environment conducive to ozone buildup. In Minnesota and Michigan, strong northerly winds are carrying smoke from the Canadian wildfires, impacting air quality across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Residents in affected areas are advised to check air quality forecasts, limit outdoor activities, avoid exercising outside during peak pollution hours, and use air conditioning systems to keep indoor air clean. Health officials warn that these alerts may extend into the following week if weather conditions persist. Minnesota In Minnesota, the entire state is under an Air Quality Alert issued by the state's Pollution Control Agency. It remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2. Smoke from massive wildfires burning in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, has been pushed south by northerly winds, blanketing Minnesota in a dense haze. The Air Quality Index is expected to reach the orange and red categories, indicating unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups and the general population in northern parts of the state. The heaviest concentrations of smoke are predicted for Saturday afternoon, with temporary clearing overnight before more smoke returns on Sunday and Monday. Health officials advise residents, particularly children, seniors, and those with asthma or heart disease, to stay indoors, limit exertion, and avoid opening windows. Running air conditioners with high-efficiency filters is also recommended to help reduce indoor pollution. Michigan In Michigan, the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared an Air Quality Advisory that will remain in effect through 6 a.m. Saturday. The advisory covers a wide area stretching from Grand Rapids and Lansing to Detroit and the Upper Peninsula. Fine particulate levels from wildfire smoke have reached the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, prompting warnings to limit strenuous outdoor activity and keep windows closed. Health officials in Michigan are urging residents to watch for symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing, especially among vulnerable populations like children, older adults, and those with heart or lung conditions. Residents are also encouraged to use air conditioning systems equipped with MERV-13 or higher-rated filters to help maintain cleaner indoor air. Texas The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued Ozone Action Days for the El Paso area, the Dallas-Fort Worth region, and the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area. These alerts run from 6 a.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday for El Paso and Dallas-Fort Worth, and throughout Saturday for the Houston area. Cities such as Downtown El Paso, West El Paso, Upper Valley, Socorro, and Fort Bliss are affected. Residents are urged to reduce activities that produce ozone, such as unnecessary vehicle trips, idling, and outdoor burning. High ozone levels are especially dangerous for children, older adults, and those with existing respiratory or heart conditions, potentially causing throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said, in an advisory shared with Newsweek: "Most of the time, the smoke will be high-flying and dim the sun, leading to vivid sunrises and sunsets and causing a hazy appearance to the sky overhead. "However, there will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality. That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday: "I am in close contact with [Saskatchewan] @PremierScottMoe as his province responds to the growing wildfire situation. My government stands ready to mobilize federal support wherever needed. "Saskatchewan, as you fight these wildfires and keep people safe, you have our full support." What Happens Next Residents can stay updated through the National Weather Service and the EPA's AirNow websites, as well as through local state agency websites.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
BCE to build large network of AI data centres
Published May 28, 2025 • 3 minute read A Bell store in Montreal on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Photo by Nasuna Stuart-Ulin / Bloomberg BCE Inc., Canada's largest telecom company by revenue, will set up a network of artificial intelligence data centres across the country, mirroring the aggressive AI infrastructure build-out happening in the U.S. and abroad. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Bell Canada plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to build data centres in six Canadian cities, said Chief Executive Officer Mirko Bibic in an interview. The first site, in Kamloops, B.C., is expected to come online in June, with U.S.-based AI chip startup Groq as an anchor tenant. Other facilities are planned in the province, as well as in Manitoba and Quebec in the coming years, Bell said. Once completed, the company expects the project — called Bell AI Fabric — to have 500 megawatts of capacity, a sizable amount to support AI applications, though far less than the multi-gigawatt facilities under development in the U.S., Middle East and Asia. Groq will be the exclusive inference partner for the new Canadian data centre network, said Jonathan Ross, the startup's founder and CEO. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A growing number of countries are working to expand their homegrown AI networks and capabilities, a push called sovereign AI. This month, Saudi Arabia — also a Groq partner — and the United Arab Emirates announced plans to work with U.S. tech firms, including Nvidia and OpenAI, on local AI infrastructure. The moves are fueled by surging demand for computing resources to run models, as well as by a desire for AI systems customized to meet local needs and languages. 'We want to make sure that when you're talking about cloud and AI that in our country we have the capabilities operated and managed by Canadians,' Bibic said. 'We don't want Canada to be turned off. Should there be any geopolitical tensions, we want to make sure we continue to have access to the technology that's required to power the Canadian economy.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Though Canadian researchers like Geoff Hinton and Yoshua Bengio pioneered many of the breakthroughs underpinning the current artificial intelligence boom, the country has lagged in the push to commercialize the technology, Bibic said. 'It's a classic Canadian thing,' he said. 'We always lead on the research and innovation side and then in terms of scaling up and commercializing, we are always a little behind.' BCE isn't the only Canadian firm trying to better position the country for the AI era. Telus Corp., another large telecom provider, said this week that it's investing more than $70 billion over the next five years to expand and enhance its network infrastructure and operations across Canada. Part of that is a bid to support data centres, or what Telus calls 'sovereign AI factories.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada's push toward more local AI data centres also taps into growing demand for inference, or the process of running an AI model after it's been trained. While data centres focused on training AI can be placed almost anywhere with enough land, the location matters much more for inference as it's all about speed. 'Sovereign has been a big part of our business,' said Groq's Ross, whose company focuses on chips for inference. Groq now has more than 1.6 million developers who use its services, Ross said, with the option to select an AI model and a data centre location to process their queries. Currently, Groq's drop-down menu offers a choice of two U.S. locations or the Middle East. Once the Kamloops site is operational, he said, Canada will be added to the list. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs News Canada
