Reuters Vast deposits of rare earth minerals, crucial in making high-tech electronics products, have been found on the floor of the Pacific Ocean and can be readily extracted, Japanese scientists said on Monday. “The deposits have a heavy concentration of rare earths. Just one square kilometer (0.4 square mile) of deposits will be able to […]

By Terry Macalister, guardian.co.uk Britain’s richest man is planning a giant new opencast mine 300 miles inside the Arctic Circle in a bid to extract a potential $23bn (£14bn) worth of iron ore. The “mega-mine” – which includes a 150km railway line and two new ports – is believed to be the largest mineral extraction […]

Public comments are now being sought on a new report that recommends short- and long-term actions to protect B.C.’s species at risk. Developed by an independent, 10-member task force announced in the August, 2009 speech from the throne, members were chosen for their experience or expertise in a wide range of sectors, including environmental protection, […]

The following is a letter, by school district superintendent Jean Borsa, which was sent home with Castlegar students last week: Dear Parents/Guardians:                                                                       […]

The retiring baby boom generation and a declining population are creating a war for talent as businesses compete for employees, according to a new survey. Over half of Canadian employees (57 per cent) recognize this trend to have a direct impact on their careers, Randstad’s latest Global Workmonitor survey revealed. Chinese employees feel this most […]

Proponents are billing it as a service for tourists, but a watchdog group sees it as another attempt to develop the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort area through ‘the backdoor,’ and without due process.  “It” is a proposal to open commercial skiing operations at the former Camp Green site, on Farnham Glacier, just over the height-of-land […]

B.C. businesses now have access to a comprehensive guide that provides information on how to create a business environment that is safe and comfortable for seniors. Creating an Age-friendly Business in B.C. is a collaborative release between the Ministry of Health and the BC Chamber of Commerce. The guide is designed to help new and […]

By Suzanne Goldenberg, guardian.co.uk Sierra SunTower, the only commercial CSP tower facility in north America – just one sign of solar power’s coming of age in the US. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Two of America’s solar power executives are on a road show to make the case that the industry has grown up and is […]

Diesel fuel and heating oil will now require two per cent renewable content, the federal government announced this week in Saskatoon. Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent said the requirement will strengthen the market for renewable fuels, meaning an increased demand for feed stocks like canola, ensuring a stronger bottom line for farmers. The regulatory amendment […]

An attempt is underway to reverse a decline in honey bee colony populations. More than $244,000 in federal government money will be given to the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association to develop new strategies to help reverse the decline. The project aims to help beekeepers secure sustainable honey harvests and provide essential pollination services to the fruit […]