Uncategorized
UK’s May sees Brexit deal soon as future ties text agreed
BRUSSELS — British Prime Minister Theresa May said Thursday that a good Brexit deal is within reach, after the European Union and her government agreed on a draft declaration outlining their future relations.
The 26-page text was agreed upon at a technical level by negotiators and endorsed Thursday by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, which is overseeing Brexit negotiations.
It paves the way for a weekend EU summit to rubber-stamp the deal.
“This is the right deal for the U.K.,” May said outside her Downing Street offices. “It delivers on the vote of the referendum. It brings back control of our borders, our money and our laws and it does so while protecting jobs, protecting our security and protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom.”
She said that British citizens “want a good deal that sets us on course for a brighter future. That deal is within our grasp and I am determined to deliver it.”
In a tweet earlier Thursday, EU Council President Donald Tusk — who is set to chair Sunday’s summit — confirmed that a draft political declaration on future ties “has been agreed at negotiators’ level and agreed in principle at political level.”
Tusk said he sent the draft to Britain’s 27 European partners and that it still requires “the endorsement of the leaders.”
EU heads of state and government are due to meet in Brussels on Sunday to approve the declaration and a separate divorce deal. May is set to return to Brussels on Saturday for more talks on the eve of the summit, including with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Representatives from all 28 EU countries are due to meet Friday to prepare for the summit, which is seen as a pivotal moment in the Brexit process.
May is facing widespread opposition in the British Parliament over the divorce agreement, which was agreed last week. That 585-page legal treaty deals with the terms of Britain’s departure, including what the country owes the EU.
Britain officially leaves the EU — the first country ever to do so — on March 29, 2019, but a withdrawal agreement needs to be sealed soon to leave enough time for the European Parliament and the U.K. parliament to endorse it.
As opposed to the withdrawal agreement, the draft declaration on future ties is a political, not a legal, text.
“This declaration establishes the parameters of an ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership across trade and economic
It also talks about the close ties that have been cemented after 45 years of Britain’s membership of the EU as well as “the sizes of the two economies and their geographic proximity, which have led to complex and integrated supply chains.”
It notes that the “parties envisage having a trading relationship on goods that is as close as possible, with a view to facilitating the ease of legitimate trade.”
The actual legal text will have to be negotiated after Brexit on March 29, and that could well be even more complicated than what has come so far.
In a speech in Berlin before Tusk’s announcement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined that “Britain should remain a partner, remain a friend.”
Though Britain “should have very close economic relations with us,” Merkel did underscore the difficulties that may arise in any attempt to keep services seamless.
“We have to say honestly that, in the services sector, we don’t have a great deal of experience with international free trade agreements,” she said.
“But we want to see that as a future relationship.”
The European Commission, which has supervised Brexit negotiations, refused to comment directly on the declaration.
But spokesman Margaritis Schinas did confirm that “work is continuing” to resolve differences between London and Madrid over Gibraltar, the tiny territory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula that was ceded to Britain in 1713 but is still claimed by Spain.
Last year’s EU guidelines on the Brexit negotiations effectively gave Spain veto powers over future relations between the bloc and the British overseas territory.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Tuesday that his government “cannot accept” Gibraltar’s future being determined by negotiations at the EU level.
May said Thursday that she has spoken with Sanchez and that she is “confident” there will be a resolution on Sunday “that delivers for the whole U.K. family, including Gibraltar.”
May was due to address lawmakers Thursday and also held talks with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year.
___
Gregory Katz and Danica Kirka in London and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
___
See the AP’s Brexit coverage at:https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
Lorne Cook, The Associated Press
Uncategorized
RCMP recruitment failure has Alberta advocacy group calling for Provincial Police Service
News release from Free Alberta Strategy (A Strong And Sovereign Alberta Within Canada)
“Make no mistake, we are paying for these services that we aren’t receiving. Alberta’s taxpayers are paying tens of millions of dollars for nearly 400 vacant RCMP officer positions – for boots that are not on the ground.”
A recent report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s independent Management Advisory Board had findings that are nothing short of alarming:
“Federal policing has now arrived at a critical juncture of its sustainability, which present risks for the national security and safety of Canada, its people, and its interests,” says the report.
After over a year of diligent study, the Board has been tirelessly firing off flares, signalling to all who will listen: the very foundation of our national public safety apparatus may be at risk of faltering.
This is doubly problematic because, as you well know, the RCMP is also responsible for boots-on-the-ground policing in large parts of the country, including many rural and remote areas – including in Alberta.
Rural crime has been a longstanding issue in Alberta, and social disorder continues to make headlines nightly.
Alberta Minister of Public Safety, Mike Ellis, took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his opinion:
“The independent report finds the RCMP has struggled in recent years to recruit and retain regular members, a problem that’s particularly acute in federal policing. This is not about the hard-working men and women on the frontline: they are doing everything they can. The reality is the RCMP do not have enough officers to police communities in Canada effectively.”
Ellis has been ahead of this story for months now.
In March, Ellis stated that:
“… on average, Alberta has an RCMP officer vacancy rate of 20 per cent. This means that Alberta is only being served by 1,522 of the 1,911 RCMP officers that the federal government has authorized for Alberta.”
“Make no mistake, we are paying for these services that we aren’t receiving. Alberta’s taxpayers are paying tens of millions of dollars for nearly 400 vacant RCMP officer positions – for boots that are not on the ground.”
The consequences of this capacity crisis are far-reaching.
Not only does it jeopardize the safety of Albertans, but it also undermines the credibility of Canada’s federal police force on the international stage.
With limited resources and personnel, the RCMP’s ability to address pressing national and global security concerns is severely compromised.
The Management Advisory Board, created in 2019 by the federal government to provide external advice to the RCMP commissioner, set up a task force in the fall of 2022 to study the federal policing program.
Overall, the report says budget and personnel shortfalls have left the RCMP “operationally limited,” restricting the number of cases it can take on annually.
Here are some more highlights from the report:
“Canada and its people have already begun to see the repercussions of the federal policing program being stretched thin.”
“Federal policing’s overall eroding capacity may have implications for the credibility of Canada’s federal police force and its investigations on the international stage.”
“Ultimately, this may influence Canada’s overall approach and standing in international politics, including its ability to advance global priorities.”
Clearly, we cannot afford to wait any longer.
Municipalities can ease the burden on our national security services by establishing municipal policing.
Several cities in Alberta already have their own police authorities, and the provincial government is providing funding for others interested in exploring this option.
Grande Prairie is already in the process of establishing their own municipal police service.
No word on how many other municipalities have taken the government up on their offer.
Unfortunately, President of Alberta Municipalities Tyler Gandam (also Mayor of Wetaskiwin) is featured prominently on the National Police Federation’s “Keep Alberta RCMP” website.
Interestingly, the Keep Alberta RCMP website doesn’t mention the fact that the advisory board even exists.
It doesn’t mention the report.
The notion that our federal policing infrastructure teeters on the brink of instability while Gandam appears to be asleep at the wheel, is deeply disconcerting.
The safety and security of Albertans must remain our top priority.
We cannot afford to wait any longer.
The time has come for the province to take swift and decisive measures to bolster policing capabilities in Alberta.
It’s time for Alberta to seriously consider the establishment of an Alberta Provincial Police Service.
It has been one of the core tenets of the Free Alberta Strategy.
If you agree, please reach out to your municipality and ask them to take steps to protect your community.
Together, we can keep Alberta safe.
Regards,
The Free Alberta Strategy Team
P.S. We’re hoping you’ll consider contributing to our cause. Your generous donation helps us make a positive impact in our community. No need to worry about any hold-ups or threats here. We’re just passionate about making a difference, and your support goes a long way in helping us achieve our goals.
Eavor announces it’s the #1 geothermal energy startup company in the world – January 2024
Alberta is creating Canada’s first geothermal test site to advance drilling innovation, reduce emissions and create jobs.
Geothermal energy uses naturally occurring heat within the earth to heat water and buildings and generate power, with few emissions or environmental impacts. Alberta has vast pockets of heat below ground, making the province Canada’s geothermal leader, but testing and developing new technologies can be a barrier for many companies. Unlike the United States, Japan and other countries, Canada does not currently have an open-access test site to help spur innovation.
Alberta is taking the first steps to create a new Alberta Drilling Accelerator. This groundbreaking facility would be the first of its kind in Canada, establishing Alberta as a global hub for geothermal technology. This will drive new innovations in geothermal and other clean energy projects that can reduce emissions and power communities around the world.
To kick-start the project, the Alberta government is investing $750,000 to conduct a feasibility study led by Calgary-based Eavor Technologies and other stakeholders. The study is the first step in assessing the proposed facility. It will include identifying a site, business planning, research on the governance model, an economic impact analysis and stakeholder engagement that will lay the groundwork for the initial planning stages of the project.
“Alberta has been a global energy leader for more than a century, renowned for our skilled workforce, innovation and one of the largest oil and gas reserves on the planet. The proposed Alberta Drilling Accelerator presents enormous potential to help our province lead the next wave of energy projects here at home and around the world that reduce emissions, create jobs and enhance energy security.”
The Alberta Drilling Accelerator would help companies test out and develop new geothermal drilling techniques or technologies to reduce emissions and drive growth across the clean energy sector. It would be an open-access, technology-agnostic drilling test facility capable of drilling in challenging environments, including deep depths, high temperatures and different rock types.
The accelerator also would help speed up the development of carbon capture, utilization and storage; helium; critical minerals; and other clean technologies and commodities that rely on Alberta’s drilling sector. All of this helps attract investment and bring new technologies to scale in Canada.
“With cumulative geothermal investment poised to reach $1 trillion by 2050, a geothermal arms race is very much underway to commercialize novel drilling techniques that accelerate geothermal development – exhibited by testing facilities in the United States, China and Iceland. As Canada’s first geothermal test bed, the Alberta Drilling Accelerator will help bring geothermal technologies to scale, supporting companies like Eavor. We commend the Government of Alberta for this bold initiative.”
“We are proud to witness Eavor, a CDL-Rockies alumni company, create new opportunities for innovators like themselves to advance the adoption of energy transition technologies like geothermal. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator will further solidify Alberta’s position as a leader in the global sustainable energy landscape.”
If the feasibility study shows the facility is economically and environmentally viable, and if the project is approved by the Alberta government, the facility will start taking shape at the selected site and drilling could start as early as 2025.
“Canada is home to the most advanced drilling technology in the world. Not only do our members support the responsible development of oil and gas, but we are integral in the extraction of new energy resources like geothermal and critical minerals. Our workers are at the epicentre of Canada’s energy transformation. Our people, technology and processes are leading the way towards a more diverse energy future. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator is a government-enabled policy approach to expand Alberta’s drilling capacity and reach its full potential as the world’s most diverse and technologically advanced producer and exporter of sustainable energy and critical minerals.”
“The Alberta Drilling Accelerator is a testament to Alberta’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Leveraging our oil and gas sector expertise, Alberta is poised to become the global leader in developing new geothermal technologies that will play an integral role in reducing emissions while supporting job creation.”
Quick facts
- The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors estimates that one active drilling rig, whether drilling for natural gas or geothermal, creates approximately 220 direct and indirect jobs and
$1 million in tax revenue. - In 2019, Eavor received $2 million in provincial funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta and Alberta Innovates for the world’s first closed-loop geothermal system.
Related information
Medical Elites’ Disgrace Over Ivermectin
Farming group accuses Canadian gov’t of trying to blame agriculture for ‘climate change’
Proposed changes to Canada’s Competition Act could kneecap our already faltering economy
Does Scottish gov’t turmoil signal the end of the ‘green’ agenda’s stranglehold on Europe?
Official Temperature Data Aren’t ‘Data’ and Shouldn’t Be Used to Restrict Freedom
Getting Real About Justin’s Real Estate Economy. It Won’t Last
Economic progress stalling for Canada and other G7 countries
-
COVID-1916 hours agoCOVID Lab Leak: Over four later, EcoHealth Alliance funding is finally suspended
-
Alberta2 days agoPharmacist-led clinics improve access to health care: Lessons from Alberta
-
Alberta1 day ago30 million contraband cigarettes valued at $25 million dollars seized in Alberta
-
Canadian Energy Centre1 day agoTrans Mountain completion shows victory of good faith Indigenous consultation
-
COVID-191 day agoHealthcare workers obtain partial win against Bonnie Henry in BC Supreme Court
-
COVID-191 day agoElon Musk-backed doctor critical of COVID response vows appeal after court sides with medical board
-
Health1 day agoSouth Korean president declares low birth rate a ‘national emergency,’ plans new ministry to address it
-
Health1 day agoUK pediatrician who led review of child ‘transitions’ says US medical groups ‘misleading the public’