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Written by Eric Michael Johnson Senior Writer, Digital News
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Good morning. Canada has landed near the bottom of a new environmental ranking among Western countries — more below on where it fell short. Plus, Montreal police are expanding their use of AI-powered surveillance tools, raising questions about privacy and transparency. And, what fossilized feces from more than 500 million years ago can tell us about the origins of modern ocean ecosystems.
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(Issei Kato/Reuters)
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Record rainfall in Japan kills leaves at least 8 dead
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Record rainfall in Japan stranded thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita airport on Friday, bringing floods to the surrounding area that disrupted transport, knocked out power to 20,000 homes and killed eight.
What's happening: More than 360 millimetres of rain fell in 24 hours in parts of Chiba prefecture, which adjoins the capital Tokyo, inundating roads and railways during one of Japan's busiest holiday weeks.
Why it matters: "This case was an extremely unusual situation," Chiba Gov. Toshihito Kumagai told reporters on Friday morning. "I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this."
– This section compiled by Andrew Davidson |
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THE LATEST
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- New Brunswick is reviewing how it sets the minimum wage, currently $15.90, and whether future increases should remain tied to inflation.
- IndyCar is racing in Markham, Ont., for the first time this weekend, on a new 3.5-kilometre, 12-turn street circuit.
- Communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan are marking the 150th anniversary of Treaty No. 6 with commemorations and cultural events in the week ahead.
- A 13-year-old Cape Breton, N.S., boy raised $21,000 for Make-A-Wish Canada with a hotdog stand and donations, far surpassing last year's $3,000.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Jean-François Bisson/CBC)
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Is Canada flunking climate? The picture isn't great, but there might be a way out
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Canada ranked second last among 22 Global West countries and 29th worldwide in a new environmental scorecard that tracks everything from emissions trends to habitat protection.
What's happening: The Environmental Performance Index, produced by researchers at Yale and Columbia universities, gave Canada 57.78 out of 100, below the Global West average of 64.74. Canada performed especially poorly on climate change, protected lands and fishing, and ranked 162nd for the risk pesticide pollution poses to biodiversity. Its strongest areas showed only modest gains, though researchers noted some improvement in emissions trends and habitat protection.
Why it matters: The ranking adds to a series of weak climate assessments for Canada and comes as federal climate policy is shifting. Prime Minister Mark Carney has ended the consumer carbon price and said emissions will rise, while more Canadian climate policies expired or exhausted their funding in 2025 than were introduced. One expert says Canada was once a climate leader but now needs a clearer strategy and new goals.
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Rollout of AI surveillance by Montreal police raises privacy concerns
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Montreal police are using AI-powered cameras and software to track vehicles and sift through video footage, prompting concerns about transparency and privacy.
What's happening: The police force confirmed it has used Genetec Cloudrunner cameras, which can identify licence plates and record details such as a vehicle's colour, make and model. The force is also using iMotion ROC AI software to search large amounts of surveillance footage, though it says facial recognition and biometric functions are not being used. Montreal awarded Genetec a one-year contract for four Cloudrunner units last fall.
Why it matters: Privacy advocates say the growing use of these tools requires stronger oversight and clearer public disclosure. An internal Montreal police privacy assessment acknowledged risks including innocent bystanders being drawn into investigations and potential discrimination. Police say access to the data is restricted to investigators and the technology is being used to target crimes including armed violence and vehicle theft, and that more cameras could be deployed as investigations require.
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