What’s New: In brief (July 12, 2005)

B.C. Ferries are continuing to experience trouble with vessels, as another ferry recently lost power last night while approaching a berth in the southern Gulf Islands. Before it docked at Sturdees Bay on Galliano, the Queen of Cumberland lost three of four engines, dropping anchor until engineers were able to restart engines and conduct tests.

According to Environment Canada, “normal” weather no longer exists, extreme weather from unusual cloudiness on the West Coast to heavy rain across the Prairies and oppressive heat in Southern Ontario and parts of Quebec define the new daily weather report. Environment Canada says weather conditions are detrimental to social and economical functioning. For example, fog is creating chaos for Nova Scotia tourism industry, forcing several closures of the airport in just one month. Environment Canada’s models are predicting hotter-than-normal weather right across the country for July and August. Extreme variability of weather is furthermore making forecasting very difficult.

Edmonton homeowners still battling with their insurance companies over damage from the July 11, 2004 hail storm, which caused $156 million in damages, have run out of time to make claims. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says about 12,000 claims have been processed. Louise Bremness, a spokesperson for the IBC, says most policyholders had a full year to settle with their insurers and, she adds, if claims are in limbo, they will have to go to court to try to keep their files open. The Alberta government expects to pay out just over $23 million to homeowners and businesses whose damage wasn’t covered by insurance and for damaged roads and sewers.