News

Canada’s poor record predicting tornadoes must be improved to save lives: researchers

Published

1 month ago

August 6, 2024

MONTREAL – On July 24, Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the area around Lachute, Que., northwest of Montreal, urging people to take shelter. The warning was accurate: a tornado touched down outside Lachute about an hour after the alert. But three other twisters that day slipped past forecasters.

In the following days, the department confirmed that tornadoes had also formed on July 24 over the municipalities of Brossard and Boucherville, both located on Montreal’s South Shore, and west of Quebec City in Cap-Santé. None of those tornadoes was preceded by warnings from the department, which only issued extreme thunderstorm watches.

Predicting where tornadoes will form is difficult, and forecasters in Canada don’t have a stellar track record: between 2019 and 2021, only 23 per cent of tornadoes were preceded by a warning, a percentage that rose slightly to 35 per cent in 2022, according to the Northern Tornadoes Project, a research group at Western University in London, Ont.

When a suspected tornado strikes, researchers with the group head into the field to investigate and share their findings with the federal government. David Sills, executive director with the tornado project, says Environment Canada has recently improved its tornado alerting program, but he says the agency should be issuing more warnings — even if officials aren’t always accurate.

“The public loses trust when they get the warning after the damage has occurred or they don’t get any warning at all,” Sills said in a recent interview. “That’s when they really lose trust in the system.”

Sills says the department should train its forecasters to more quickly assess unpredictable weather patterns and to better use data generated from radar and satellite imagery for making predictions.

The federal government uses a variety of special alerts to inform the public about tornadoes. The most urgent are Alert Ready messages, which are sent directly to cellphones and disrupt television and radio broadcasts.

Over the past five years, the number of Alert Ready tornado warnings issued by the Environment Department has risen steeply. In 2019, 85 were issued and by 2023 the number jumped to 674, with 538 so far in 2024. In Quebec, there were just three tornado alerts in 2019 but that rose to 85 in 2023. There have been 41 so far this year.

The increase in warnings does not necessarily mean there has been more tornadoes. Members of the tornado project and officials at Environment Canada say the jump is due to better detection equipment and more investigators. And Sills says pressure brought by his group has led officials to broadcast more warnings, although he says they should be issuing even more.

“Sending warnings to cellphones has certainly saved lives,” Sills said.

In Quebec and Ontario in 2022, a derecho — a line of intense, fast-moving windstorms — was eventually blamed for 16 deaths, he said. “All of them were just people who couldn’t get out of the way fast enough.”

Alert Ready messages are automatically triggered for a tornado or severe thunderstorm with winds greater than 130 kilometres per hour or when at least 7 centimetres of hail is forecast.

Joanne St-Coeur, director of prediction services for Quebec and Ontario at Environment Canada, says “weaker tornadoes are more challenging to predict.”

St-Coeur says the agency invested in new radar equipment in 2023 and in updated training for meteorologists to better identify tornadoes and thunderstorms. As well, the department is experimenting with a tornado-predicting model widely used in the United States. Currently, the department divides the country’s territory into fixed geographic zones for issuing alerts, which means people living in a city may get a warning for a tornado touching down in a rural area far from where they are.

Instead, St-Coeur says the department wants to use a more flexible, polygon shape to set the boundaries for a tornado warning, which will make the alerts more precise. The department, she added, is also planning to roll out a colour-coded alert system by next year to more easily communicate levels of danger to the public for all severe weather events.

And while there may not be hard evidence that the number of tornadoes in Canada is increasing, Sills’s group is certainly busy. On Tuesday, a team from the Northern Tornadoes Project was scheduled to begin investigating potential tornado damage from the weekend in Quebec along the St. Lawrence River, including in the municipalities of Sorel-Tracy, Batiscan and St-Aimé-des-Lacs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2024.

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Business

You Can Minimize the Odds of Being Ghosted

Published

1 hour ago

September 9, 2024

Nick Kossovan

When job seekers complain about being ghosted—a form of silent rejection where candidates hear nothing after submitting an application or having been interviewed—I wonder if they’re unaware of the changes in social norms and mannerisms. Do they not know that social norms and the workplace are intertwined? Since the advent of social media, manners, courtesy, and empathy have significantly diminished.

If there’s one thing job seekers can be certain about, they’ll be ghosted multiple times throughout their job search. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say ghosting candidates has become a norm. It’s worth pointing out that companies don’t ghost candidates; the company’s employees ghost candidates. When the recruiter or hiring manager is of a generation that finds ghosting an acceptable way to terminate a relationship, romantic or otherwise, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when they ghost candidates.

Bad News: You can’t change or control other people’s behaviour.

Good News: You can take proactive steps to minimize—as with all human interactions, there are no guarantees—the chances of being ghosted.

Build a strong relationship. Focus on being likeable.

Understandably, hiring managers—recruiters less so since they won’t be working with the candidate—look to hire candidates they can envision getting along with; hence, most job seekers would significantly boost their chance of job search success by focusing more on being likable.

By likable, I mean being pleasant, respectful, and expressing genuine interest in the company and the role. I’ve yet to meet a hiring manager who hires candidates they don’t like. As I’ve mentioned in previous columns, likeability supersedes your skills and experience. Most job seekers don’t focus enough on being likeable.

The stronger the relationship (read: bond) you establish with the recruiter or hiring manager, the more likely they won’t ghost you. From your first interaction, focus on creating a rapport beyond just transactional communication.

Personalizing your correspondence can make a significant difference. Use the hiring manager’s name instead of a generic ‘To Whom It May Concern.’ Find commonalities such as place of birth, hobbies, schools attended, associations you belong to, favourite restaurants, and people you know.

Avoid appearing confrontational.

Anyone reading this can relate to the number one reason why people ghost: to avoid confrontation. Today, many people feel entitled, resulting in job seekers being frustrated and angry. You only need to scroll through LinkedIn posts and comments to see that bashing employers has become an unproductive trend. Hence, it’s likely that a candidate will become confrontational if told they don’t get the job.

Smile throughout your interview! Avoid appearing desperate! My best interviews have been those in which I was nonchalant; I was indifferent to whether or not I got the job. In addition to being a turn-off, showing signs of desperation will raise questions about how you’ll react if told you don’t get hired.

Lastly, tell your interviewer how much you enjoyed talking with them and that you look forward to hearing back.

“I really enjoyed our conversation, Khloe. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I look forward to hearing your hiring decision.”
“Either way, please call or email me to let me know about my application status.”

You’re more likely to receive a response by asking explicitly for communication.

Earn your interviewer’s respect.

People tend not to ghost someone they respect.

Respect must be earned, starting with one of life’s golden rules: Treat others how you want to be treated. In other words, give respect to get respect.

Throughout your job search, be professional and courteous. Respond promptly to emails and calls and thank people for their time. Approaching recruiters and hiring managers politely and professionally improves your chances of being treated similarly.

Ask for advice, not feedback.

Asking for advice encourages communication. As your interviewer is wrapping up the interview, mention that you’d welcome their advice. “Given your extensive background in project management, any advice you may have for me wanting to advance my career would be greatly appreciated.”

Why ask for advice and not feedback? The first problem with asking for feedback is it puts the other person on the spot. The second problem is feedback can lead to disagreement, hurt feelings, or defensiveness, a common reaction resulting in confrontation. On the other hand, asking for advice is asking for guidance and suggestions to achieve a better result. Essentially, you’re acknowledging the other person’s experience and massaging their ego. Do you know anyone who doesn’t like being asked for advice?

Send a thank you note.

Sending a thank you note expressing appreciation for the interview and the insights you gained reinforces your interest and keeps the lines of communication open. Conclude with a forward-looking statement, encouraging the recipient to respond.

“I look forward to hearing from you regarding the next steps.”
“I look forward to staying in touch.”

Job searching aside, direct, open, and honest communication—say what you mean, mean what you say—which I highly value, has become rare, which explains the prevalence of ghosting. When you’re ghosted, assume the company isn’t enthusiastic about hiring you. Silence may be golden in some things, but ghosting is not one of them.

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Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

News

Protesters get 6 1/2-year sentences for roles in Coutts border blockade

Published

1 hour ago

September 9, 2024

Anne Joseph

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Two men have been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for their roles in the blockade of the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta.

Anthony Olienick showed no emotion while Chris Carbert appeared glum and folded his arms, as the sentence was read out in Court of King’s Bench on Monday.

Neither are to serve their full sentences, as Justice David Labrenz gave them nearly four years credit for time they have already spent in custody.

Both were convicted of mischief and possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, while Olienick was also found guilty of possession of a pipe bomb.

A jury found them not guilty of the most serious charge they faced — conspiracy to murder police officers at the blockade.

The blockade halted traffic at the border crossing for two weeks in 2022 in a protest of COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandates.

The men were charged after RCMP found guns, ammunition and body armour in trailers near the blockade.

Labrenz said while the men believed their cause just, they can’t be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

“Both Olienick and Carbert used the blockade as a last stand against police,” the judge said in his sentencing decision.

“(They) knew they were actively participating in something that was illegal, but they didn’t care because they thought their cause had been worthy.”

He added, “The law does not allow people to take the law into their own hands.

“Both men bear a high degree of moral culpability.”

Olienick and Carbert have been in custody since they were arrested in February 2022.

Prior to sentencing, they were given a chance to address the court.

Carbert declined, but Olienick said he is a better man as a result of his time in custody.

“It has given me time to indulge in God’s work,” he said, reading from a prepared statement.

“I will continue to help others.”

Olienick was given six years for possession for the firearms conviction, a concurrent six-month sentence for mischief and an additional six months for possession of a pipe bomb.

Carbert was given 6 1/2 years for the firearms offence and a concurrent six-month term for mischief.

The Crown had argued the two men should serve nine-year prison sentences.

“Mr. Carbert and Mr. Olienick believed they were at war. They were prepared to die for their cause. The very real risk is that a firefight would have occurred,” Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston told the sentencing hearing in August.

“It sounds like something we hope doesn’t happen in our country. But the reality is it did, and it happened in southern Alberta.”

Defence lawyers for the two had urged the judge to sentence the men to time already served.

Two other protesters charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the blockade pleaded guilty earlier this year to lesser charges.

Christopher Lysak was sentenced to three years for possession of a restricted firearm in an unauthorized place. Jerry Morin was sentenced to 3 1/2 years for conspiracy to traffic firearms.

Those sentences amounted to time the men had already served.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2024.

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Economy

Mark Carney to lead Liberal economic task force ahead of next election

Published

4 hours ago

September 9, 2024

Anne Joseph

NANAIMO, B.C. – Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney will chair a Liberal task force on economic growth, the party announced Monday as Liberal MPs meet to strategize for the upcoming election year.

Long touted as a possible leadership successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Carney was already scheduled to address caucus as part of the retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., this week.

The Liberals say he will help shape the party’s policies for the next election, and will report to Trudeau and the Liberal platform committee.

“As chair of the Leader’s Task Force on Economic Growth, Mark’s unique ideas and perspectives will play a vital role in shaping the next steps in our plan to continue to grow our economy and strengthen the middle class, and to urgently seize new opportunities for Canadian jobs and prosperity in a fast-changing world,” Trudeau said in a statement Monday.

Trudeau is expected to address Liberal members of Parliament later this week. It will be the first time he faces them as a group since MPs left Ottawa in the spring.

Still stinging from a devastating byelection loss earlier this summer, the caucus is now also reeling from news that its national campaign director has resigned and the party can no longer count on the NDP to stave off an early election.

Last week, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh ended his agreement with Trudeau to have the New Democrats support the government on key votes in exchange for movement on priorities such as dental care.

All of this comes as the Liberals remain well behind the Conservatives in the polls despite efforts to refocus on issues like housing and affordability.

Some Liberal MPs hope to hear more about how Trudeau plans to win Canadians back when he addresses his team this week.

Carney appears to be part of that plan, attempting to bring some economic heft to a government that has struggled to resonate with voters who are struggling with inflation and soaring housing costs.

Trudeau said several weeks ago that he has long tried to coax Carney to join his government. The economist and former investment banker spent five years as the governor of the Bank of Canada during the last Conservative government before hopping across the pond to head up the Bank of England for seven years.

Carney is just one of a host of names suggested as possible successors to Trudeau, who has insisted he will lead the party into the next election despite simmering calls for him to step aside.

Those calls reached a new intensity earlier this summer when the Conservatives won a longtime Liberal stronghold in a major byelection upset in Toronto—St. Paul’s.

But Trudeau held fast to his decision to stay and rejected calls to convene his entire caucus over the summer to respond to their concerns about their collective prospects.

The prime minister has spoken with Liberal MPs one-on-one over the last few months and attended several regional meetings ahead of the Nanaimo retreat, including Ontario and Quebec, which together account for 70 per cent of the caucus.

While several Liberals who don’t feel comfortable speaking publicly say the meetings were positive, the party leader has mainly held to his message that he is simply focused on “delivering for Canadians.”

Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer was in Nanaimo ahead of the meeting to express his scorn for the Liberal strategy session, and for Carney’s involvement.

“It doesn’t matter what happens in this retreat, doesn’t matter what kinds of (communications) exercise they go through, or what kind of speculation they all entertain about who might lead them in the next election,” said Scheer, who called a small press conference on the Nanaimo harbourfront Monday.

“It’s the same failed Liberal policies causing the same hardships for Canadians.”

He said Carney and Trudeau are “basically the same people,” and that Carney has supported Liberal policies, including the carbon tax.

The three-day retreat is expected to include breakout meetings for the Indigenous, rural and women’s caucuses before the full group convenes later this week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2024.

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