Fighting Climate Change by dramatically reducing the Carbon Dioxide put into the atmosphere

While there has been lots of talk about how to reduce carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere and how to meet our Kyoto targets, a group in Saskatchewan has been doing something about it. For this effort they received a 2006 Synergy Award in Winnipeg on Monday evening (see my blog note http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/10/innovation-paves-road-to-success-in.html.

With strong leadership from the Saskatchewan provincial government and from people like Malcolm Wilson, a major centre was established at the University of Regina. This centre is called the International Test Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture (ITC). The research team at ITC is headed by Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul. Malcolm Wilson, originally with the Saskatchewan provincial government and now with Energyinet played a pivotal role in the effort which now includes the University of Regina's Capture Technology Development Plant and SaskPower's Boundary Dam CO2 Capture Demonstration Plant in Estevan.

A very large source of the carbon dioxide which presently enters the atmosphere comes from plants which produce electric energy by burning fossil fuels. In Estevan. Saskatchewan there is a plant which uses coal to produce electricity. The techonlogy developed at ITC will capture the CO2 produced at this site and then use the CO2 nearby in the Weyburn oilfield. The CO2 is pumped underground and it dislodges residual oil and at the same time the CO2 is itself trapped underground where it will stay. The approach is a very effective way of capturing a large source of CO2 produced and then safely storing it undergound so it does not get into the atmosphere.

When I talked to Malcolm Wilson at the Synergy Awards dinner, he explained the effect of this techology is huge and that the impact of this technology alone could take Canada a long way toward meeting the Kyoto targets. But - how soon will it be fully operational - and how widespread can it be used? Watch out for more on this.

It is of particular interest to us in Manitoba that the initial leadership came in significant measure from the provincial government. Saskatchewan has developed the research base and the technology to attack one of its major sources of greenhouse gases. In Manitoba, one of our major and growing sources is greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced from agriculture (largely methane and nitrous oxide), and yet we have not mounted the research and development effort in our province to reduce GHGs coming from agriculture. For the last several years, I have been telling members of the Manitoba NDP government that they need to do this, but they have decided not to listen with the result that Manitoba's GHG production has been going up not down. That is one more reason why we need to change the government in Manitoba - to remove the NDP and to elect a Liberal government in our province.

Innovation paves the road to success in the new global economy - The 2006 Synergy Awards

Monday evening this week, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada held the Synergy Awards in Winnipeg. These awards recognize outstanding achievements in Canada which have resulted from people in Universities and in Industry working together. The winners of this years Synergy Awards were

1) Dr. Edwin Bourget of the University of Sherbrooke working with Dr. Maher Boulos of Tekna Plasma Systems. There are four states of matter - solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Plasmas are generally created at very high temperatures. Together Dr. Bourget and Boulos have developed what is called an induction plasma torch. This torch is used in advanced manufacturing processes in the microelectronics, cosmetics, energy and aerospace industries.

2) Dr. Yvon Savaria and Dr. Michel Meunier of Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, working with Dr. Yves Gagnon of LTRIM Technologies have used laser based technology to provide precise tuning of microelectronic circuits used in telecommunications, in video systems and instruments for making precise measurements.

3) Dr. Helen Burt of the University of British Columbia working with Dr. Bill Hunter of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals have developed a coronary stent (in essence a sustitute blood vessel for someone whose blood vessle is blocked or badly damaged) - used for treating people with coronary heart disease (those with angina and heart attacks). The stent has attached to it a drug called Paclitaxel which inhibits the growth of blood vessels (called angiogenesis) and thus prolongs the life of the stent by preventing growth of the blood vessel cells which will cause narrowing or blockage of the stent.

4) Dr. Suong Hoa of Concordia University has worked with Dr. Robert Fews of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada have developed composite materials for use in making the landing gear of aircraft and in wing-box panels for airplanes.

5) A wide variety of university and industry partners who make up the Agile All-Photonic Networks (AAPN) received their award for their joint efforts to develop ultra-fast communication networks (in essence highly advanced telephone and internet networks) in which optically activated devices are used to control routing, switching and clocking functions which are critical to the network. Dr. David Plant of McGill University played a critical role in starting and leading AAPN. Nortel has been the lead industry company.

6) Dr. Paitoon Tontiwachuthikul of the University of Regina and industry partner Malcolm Wilson of EnergyiNet working with a variety of other partners including SaskPower and EnCana have developed new techology to address climate change. For more see my blog note http://www.manitobaliberals.ca/2006/10/fighting-climate-change-by.html.

7) The IBM Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Toronto at the IBM Toronto Software Development Laboratory received an award for 16 years of intensive collaboration which has produced many new ideas, patents and prototypes. There are many university partners in Canada, though sadly for Manitoba, none of the Manitoba Universities are partners. Of particular note, the CAS has been very effective in training many graduate students.

8) Individual awards for graduate students were presented to Dragan Tubic of Laval University who received first prize for a very fast new approach to computer modeling of three dimensional surfaces to facilitate constuction of three dimensional models and prototypes. Runner up awards went to Elizabeth Gray of Brandon (see photo above) who discovered Theracin 17 a new toxin that has much potential to kill certain bacteria and to help in preserving foods and pehaps to treat certain antibiotic resistant infections. Also receiving a runner-up award was Lucien Junior Bergeron of the University of Sherbrooke for the development of a specific on/off adapter ribozyme - to allow specific on or off switching of particular cell functions. This approach has many potential applications including the treatment of diseases like HIV/AIDS, lymphoblastic leukemia, hepatitis C and Alzheimer's disease.

Time to ban phosphorus from cleaning products in Manitoba

Today Kevin Lamoureux and I joined research scientist Dr. Jennifer Lukovich at Organza Market in Osborne Village to announce my intention to bring forward a bill this fall in the Legislature that would ban the sale and use of dishwasher detergents that contain phosphorus (photo above). Organza is one of the locations in Manitoba that carries phosphate-free dishwasher detergent.

Phosphorus-loading into Manitoba's waterways is one of the leading contributors to our province's growing problem of excessive algal blooms in our lakes. Lake Winnipeg in particular is in desperate need of help - this summer saw some of the largest cases of algal blooms on record. Our country's fifth great lake is slowly dying and something needs to be done.

The fact is that phosphorus is no longer needed in our detergents. Household laundry detergent has been phosphate-free since the early 1970s when a national ban was implemented in Canada. Given the desperate state of Manitoba's lakes, banning the use of phosphorus in all automatic dishwasher detergents is an idea whose time has come.

Based on data from a study of Lake Champlain, it can be estimated that eliminating phosphorous from dishwasher detergent in Manitoba will reduce the annual phosphorous load into Lake Winnipeg by about 100 tonnes, and that this would be the single most cost effective step to reduce this much phosphorous.

The proposed ban on detergent phosphorus is just one of a list of recommendations coming out of Dr. Lukovich's excellent report on the state of Lake Winnipeg. The report is based on a Manitoba Liberal Party sponsored environmental forum held in March of this year to discuss the state of the lake, the state of science and research into the lake, and possible solutions to the algal bloom problem.

Climate change - Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Manitoba go up as Gary Doer and the NDP fail once again

Last week, a full analysis of the latest results of greenhouse gas emissions was presented. Manitoba's greenhouse gas emissions are now 11% greater than they were in 1990. This is an increase from 8% above 1990 levels in the last annual report.

Once again, Gary Doer leads in rhetoric, but fails to deliver in actual performance. It is a sad commentary on the ineffectiveness of the Gary Doer NDP. It is the same pattern in roads and in health care - lots of talk but little effective action.

Dr. Naranjan Dhalla

Saturday evening about 1300 people gathered at the Winnipeg Convention Centre to pay tribute to Dr. Naranjan Dhalla - an extraordinary cardiovascular scientist. In the photo above, I am with Dr. Dhalla and with Mohinder Dhillon, one of the organizers of the event.

I first got to know Dr. Dhalla well when I was at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba and responsible for the B.Sc. Med program. Dr. Dhalla was one of the researchers who put a major emphasis on training students in the B.Sc. Med program. Year after year, Dr. Dhalla guided medical students during a summer research program, providing exposure, training and experience in doing a research project.

In the years since, Dr. Dhalla moved to the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre and became director of the Institute for Cardiovascular Sciences. He has contributed, through his research, to much new understanding of the physiology of the heart and to the changes which occur in disease states. In recent years, Dr. Dhalla has teamed up with Dr. Bert Friesen in the development of a new drug with considerable potential to reduce the amount of injury and cell death in the heart at the time of a heart attack.

Congratulations Dr. Dhalla on receiving the well deserved recognition Saturday evening.

Community Living - Manitoba

At the Annual General Meeting of Community Living Manitoba, Val Surbey, President presented a President's Award to Community Living Manitoba's Inclusive Policies Working Group - for Leadership in Early Childhood. Also receiving an award was Detective Sargeant Robert Melnyk for his efforts to develop the first vulnerable persons protocol for the Winnipeg Police Service and for other activities to promote the human rights of those with disabilities. The President's Award for Leadership went to John Leggett. Congratulations to all the Award Winners.

Intensive French

At the Annual General Meeting of Canadian Parents for French, Dr. Claude Germaine of the University of Quebec in Montreal presented an update on the status of Intensive French. This is a program which began in the Maritimes and has now moved across the country. The objective is to provide a more intensive program that the usual "core" French program in schools. The results to date show that students in the Intensive French program are better able to speak and carry on a conversation in French than students who have only had core French. There are now three classrooms with Intensive French in Manitoba. Expect to hear more about this program in the future.

The Edge Gallery - Christian Worthington

Friday evening, I dropped by for the opening of The Edge Gallery at 611 Main Street. On display, Christian Worthington has a series of sharply done portraits - well worth a visit.

Congratulations to Richard Walls and his efforts in opening The Edge Gallery. Richard is making a huge effort to revitalize this area.

Death by a thousand cuts - the Doer government plan for health care in Wawanesa

In Wawanesa, Manitoba the sign post which used to have an H on it to indicate hospital is still standing, but the H has been removed. Indeed it was removed several months ago. It is one of the cuts that step by step are reducing the health services provided in Wawanesa.

Approximately two years ago, there was a large rally at the Manitoba Legislature. Many people from Wawanesa and area travelled to Winnipeg to raise concerns about what was happening in their community.

Well things are still going down hill in Wawanesa. And the Assiniboine Regional Health Authority (ARHA) still has not made clear what its plans are for Wawanesa, let alone for other parts of the ARHA. A check on the ARHA web site (www.assininboine-rha.ca) confirms they have no strategic plan for the RHA. In contrast, a check on the web site of the North Eastman Regional Health Authority (www.neha.mb.ca) shows that they at least have a strategic plan with some goals and some outcomes listed.

One of the stories I heard about the current situation in Wawanesa is this. If you need emergency care, you may be directed to travel (or taken by ambulance) 24 kilometers east to Glenboro and then about 28 kilometers south to Baldur. If you are too sick for the facilities in Baldur, or need care only available in Brandon, you then must travel 28 kilometers back to Glenboro, then 24 kilometers back to Wawanesa, and then 56 kilometers north-east to Brandon. Surely there should be some way to make an assessment (even if it is over the phone) to decide that care is needed in Brandon, and go straight to Brandon instead of travelling 52 kilometers in the other direction first.

It is hard to know exactly why the ARHA has been so derelict in failing to produce a plan for the future of health care in Wawanesa and in the rest of the ARHA. Local Conservative MLA Leanne Rowat was a former Board Member of the South West Regional Health Authority (the precursor to the ARHA). It would appear that not only is the NDP government letting the people of Wawanesa down, but Leanne Rowat is not doing a good enough job as an opposition MLA to get after the government and the ARHA sufficiently so that they get their act together. With neither the NDP nor the Tories doing their jobs, it is time to get a Liberal government in Manitoba.

The Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park

South of Shilo, on the way to Wawanesa is the Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Park. It is an important historic site, for it was from here that Norman Criddle operated the first Entomological Laboratory on the Canadian Prairies starting in 1912. From this area, thanks to Norman Criddle, a large number of insects were collected and among this collection were many insects identified for the first time.

An improved understanding of insects, both their harmful and beneficial effects, has been very important to agriculture in western Canada. This site, with its historic importance deserves to be well kept up, and to provide for visitors an understanding of the insects of the region as well as the history of the Criddle/Vane family.

Unfortunately, in this respect the stewardship of the Provincial government under both the Tories and the NDP has left much to be desired. The site was purchased by the Provincial Government in 1974, but it took until 2004 for it to be designated a Provincial Heritage Park. The deficiencies of the 32 year stewardship by the provincial government of this site are evident in the condition of the Criddle home. Fortunately, there is an active local committee which has been working hard and which is to be congratulated for their efforts. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, the home and the site will be restored and there will be improved historical displays (there are some now) present.

A tribute to Private David Byers, Corporal Shane Keating and Corporal Keith Morley

Friday in Shilo, Manitoba I attended the memorial service to honour Corporal Shane Keating, Corporal Keith Morley and Private David Byers. All three were members of the Second Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. All three died recently while serving in Afghanistan - trying to improve peace and security in Afghanistan.

My condolences to family and friends of these three soldiers.

"Roads are important: I just want somewhere to go." - Robert Metcalfe and the Prairie Theatre Exchange

Thursday evening, at the Prairie Theatre Exchange, was the opening night for the play Apple by Vern Thiessen. It is a well acted and sometimes intense play about a woman, Evelyn, who develops breast cancer and a love triangle that develops about the same time as she is diagnosed.

Before the play started, Director Robert Metcalfe talked to the audience about support for the arts - and specifically support from the Winnipeg Arts Council. He talked about the municipal election going on at the moment, and he urged those in attendance to speak to candidates for the positions of Mayor or Councillor to urge support for the Winnipeg Arts Council. Prairie Theatre Exchanges funding through the Winnipeg Arts Council was reduced last year - and as Robert Metcalfe said "Roads are important: I just want somewhere to go."

I have talked a lot about problems with roads on this blog recently. It is indeed important we have provincial and municipal governments which look after roads well. But attracting and keeping young people in Manitoba, and making Manitoba a vibrant province, depends on having strong cultural activities as well as good job opportunities (and support for cultural activities creates job opportunities too).