NationTalk

The Daily Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Job vacancies, third quarter 2025

In the third quarter of 2025, job vacancies fell by 14,000 (-2.8%) to 492,500, following declines of 19,900 (-3.6%) in the first quarter of 2025 and 18,300 (-3.5%) in the second quarter.

Urban public transit, October 2025

In October, 142.6 million passenger trips were made on urban transit networks in Canada, down 3.6% from October 2024, representing 5.4 million fewer trips.

Amusement and recreation industry, 2024

In 2024, the operating revenue of businesses in the amusement and recreation subsector rose 8.2% from the previous year to $16.9 billion. This marked the fourth consecutive year of growth in operating revenue for this subsector. This upward trend has been driven by sustained demand for in-person recreational activities.

Canadian Community Health Survey: Combined data, 2023/2024

Combined data for the 2023 and 2024 reference years are now available from the Canadian Community Health Survey.

NT4

Trent researchers, First Nations Investigate ’Forever Chemicals’ in Freshwater, Food

December 15, 2025

New short film ‘Fish Forever’ features research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vital food sources and their effect on the health of people and communities

Forever chemicals are persistent, harmful substances found in everyday products and are rapidly accumulating in waterways and in the species that sustain local diets, cultures, and ecosystems.

A new short film, Fish Forever, documents a collaborative research project between Trent researchers and First Nations across Canada studying these ‘forever chemicals’, scientifically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Trent University researchers in the Trent School of the Environment and Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, Dr. Mary-Claire Buell, Dr. Barbara Moktthewenkwe Wall, Dr. Jean-Francois Koprivnjak, and Environmental & Life Sciences Ph.D. candidate Nathalie Kuria, are particularly examining how these chemicals appear in fish through the community-driven study.

Working alongside Dr. Viviane Yargeau at McGill University as well, the team analyzes fish harvested and shared by Indigenous partners. They’re building a clearer understanding of the presence of PFAS in land and water-based foods to provide guidance on safe consumption and deepen public awareness on PFAS and their effect on both environmental and human health.

“What’s concerning from an environmental health perspective is that PFAS persist in the environment and in your body for a very long time, allowing them to build up over time. People should have the right to avoid exposures to chemicals that may compromise long-term health, both for ourselves and our families, and for the health of the environments we depend on,” says Professor Buell.

Watch Fish Forever to learn more about the project and explore programs in the Trent School of the Environment and the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.

NT5

Historic agreement will strengthen forestry-sector stability on north Island

Dec. 15, 2025

ALERT BAY

Summary:

An agreement made under Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to advance reconciliation and support predictable, sustainable forestry operations on the north Island
‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation and B.C. will use the agreement to jointly establish Forest Landscape Plans and approve associated Forest Operations Plans within the area of Tree Farm Licence 37 that overlaps ‘Na̲mg̲is territory

‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation and the Province have signed a joint decision-making agreement that advances reconciliation by supporting predictable harvesting and sustainable forestry operations on the north Island.

“This agreement is a first of its kind, and it brings stability, certainty and jobs to the north Island,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “This is what coming together looks like. First Nations, industry, workers and communities at the same table, getting big things done. This agreement will move fibre, create more jobs, and give industry the stability and predictability it needs, while ensuring the ‘Na̲mg̲is have a meaningful role in stewarding their lands as we build a working forest together.”

‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation and the Province have approved a Section 7 joint decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) and Forest Range and Practices Act. This work affirms that ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation are partners in forestry decisions that directly affect their territory, community and future.

Supporting north Island communities

The agreement will enable the joint establishment of forest landscape plans (FLPs) and approval of associated Forest Operations Plans (FOPs) within the area of Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 37 that overlaps ‘Na̲mg̲is territory, located near Woss and Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island.

“The shared decision-making agreement recognizes our right to make forestry management decisions in our Territory, an important incremental recognition of our jurisdiction that fosters reconciliation” said Chief Victor Isaac, ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation. “The agreement implements the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by ensuring processes for obtaining our free, prior and informed consent for FLPs and FOPs. Our consent will ensure that ‘Na̲mg̲is forest values will be central to stewardship.”

Forest landscape planning is a new approach to how the Province manages forests in B.C., providing direction about where, when and how harvesting can occur within an area. The TFL 37 FLP will support sustainable forest management and economic opportunities for people in the region.

Driving reconciliation and collaboration forward

Making Section 7 agreements with Indigenous governing bodies is part of the Province’s commitment to reconciliation. The agreements recognize and implement Indigenous jurisdiction as part of B.C.’s decision-making process
The agreement will help ensure transparency, stability and predictability for the forestry sector through consensus about where and how harvest activities will occur.
The Province announced on Oct. 3, 2025, the draft agreement was completed.
Neighbouring First Nations, industry, local governments, stakeholders and the public were invited to provide input from Oct. 3 until Nov. 2, 2025.
The Province and ‘Na̲mg̲is finalized the agreement after public engagement concluded.

Ensuring FLP completion

TFL 37 is held by Western Forest Products, which has been actively collaborating with ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation on the development of a forest landscape plan since 2021.
A draft of the FLP was shared for public review and input in spring 2024.
After addressing the feedback received, an updated draft was submitted to government in 2025.
The Section 7 joint decision-making agreement is a critical next step to jointly establish the FLP and approve associated FOP.

“Completing this agreement marks a major step forward in building a modern, collaborative planning approach for northern Vancouver Island firmly rooted in partnership with ‘Na̲mg̲is,” said Steven Hofer, president and CEO of Western Forest Products Inc. “Guided by transparency and ongoing engagement, this agreement enables timely approval and implementation of the Forest Landscape Plan and Forest Operations Plan for TFL 37 and moves toward what our sector needs to support reduced costs, strengthen economic resilience and deliver lasting benefits for communities as we navigate challenging times.”

The agreement between ‘Na̲mg̲is and the Province will enable long-term forest-management strategies to be implemented within the TFL that support First Nations and local community values.

Government is committed to ensuring diverse voices help shape the future of B.C.’s forests through the forest landscape planning process so B.C. forests are effectively managed for many values, such as old growth, biodiversity, climate resilience, watershed health, wildfire risk and economic opportunities.

Quotes:

Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

“Building and strengthening partnerships with First Nations moves us all forward to a brighter tomorrow. Through this agreement, the Province and ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation will partner together on decisions about forestry stewardship and economic sustainability and create more strength and stability in the community and throughout the region.”

James Furney, mayor of Port McNeill –

“I compliment the ‘Na̲mg̲is Nation and the B.C. Ministry of Forests for reaching this historic agreement. All the communities of the north Island will benefit from the certainty and stability that comes from joint decision-making. This is not only an important step in reconciliation, but in developing a process for prioritizing forests, and not merely a fibre supply.”

Peter Lister, executive director, Truck Loggers Association (TLA) –

“The TLA congratulates the ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation on successfully concluding a Section 7 agreement with the B.C. government. This agreement concludes years of hard work and negotiations between the ‘Na̲mg̲is First Nation, Western Forest Products and the B.C. government on the TFL 37 forest land plan. It is an important and necessary step toward creating stability and certainty for the land base, which supports harvesting contractors, good jobs and economic resilience in north Island communities.”

Learn More:

More information about the agreement is provided here: https://planninginpartnership.ca/p/669ea43a8e30fb003991ae6d/project-details
For information about Section 7 agreements, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/new-relationship/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples/making-decisions-together

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
250-380-8491

BACKGROUNDER

Facts about implementing Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) enables the Province and Indigenous governing bodies to enter into agreements in relation to statutory powers of decision.

Resulting agreements will set out the processes for joint or consent-based statutory decision-making, including dispute resolution, while clarifying roles and responsibilities of the Province and the Indigenous governing body.
The agreement has been developed in accordance with the Forest Statutes Amendment Act (2021), which introduced amendments to the Forest and Range Practices Act to enable the implementation of Section 7 Declaration Act agreements related to Forest Landscape Plans and Forest Operation Plans.
Fifteen forest landscape plans are underway, representing 42% of the area expected to have FLPs in the Province.
While working government-to-government with First Nations, each Forest Landscape Plan (FLP) will define an approach to support meaningful engagement with local communities, forest licensees and other interested parties to inform the development of the FLP, including understanding local values.

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
250-380-8491

NT5

Meegwetch to those who gave to the clothing drive

Mushkegowuk Council’s recent clothing drive is being hailed a success with full credit going to those community members who supported the effort and generously donated.

Nick Gunner, coordinator of Mushkegowuk’s Fire Keeper Patrol, said the number of donated items they received over the three-week campaign filled 20 large plastic bags.

The distribution of the clothing items is now being overseen by the Fire Keeper Patrol — a branch of Mushkegowuk Council which provides outreach for urban Indigenous members experiencing homelessness in Timmins.

From Nov. 17 to Dec. 5, donation bins were set up at two Mushkegowuk offices in Timmins.

“We got items such as boots, coats, we got some ski pants and blankets,” said Gunner. “We also got some other clothes like jeans and T-shirts which the clients also need.

“We took them to our Fire Keepers’ office and that’s where they were sorted. When clients came in, we let them know we had winter clothing items and if somebody needed, for example, a new coat, we would provide them with one.”

Gunner said some of the clients would come in after learning about it through “word of mouth,” or when they dropped in for a coffee.

“We run a coffee program, so if clients came in for a coffee and if they needed an item, we would go through it for them and hand it out.”

Deputy Grand Chief Natasha Martin made the initial push and organized a team of Mushkegowuk staff members to launch this clothing drive.

“It was really overwhelming,” said Martin. “The people that I spoke to who wanted to give and when I would check the offices, the piles of clothes that were there were amazing.”

The need for this initiative was reinforced when the Mushkegowuk Council of Chiefs declared a state of emergency in Timmins due to high levels of homelessness and limited access to shelters within the city.

“This was so badly needed,” said Martin. “We don’t have funding at Mushkegowuk to provide clothing, so this was a really great initiative to supply warm clothing to people in need.”

She concluded by expressing her appreciation to those who supported the effort.

“A big heartfelt thank you to everybody who donated to this clothing drive.”

NT5

Assembly offers condolences to the family and friends of former Chief Shirley Clarke

December 15, 2025

Mi’kma’ki – The Maw-lukutijik Saqmaq (Assembly) extends condolences to the family and friends of Mi’kmaw Elder and former Chief of Glooscap First Nation, Shirley Clarke.

The daughter of the late Chief Joseph Peters, Glooscap, and granddaughter of the late Chief Louis Peters of Bear River First Nation, Shirley understood the role and responsibility of being a community leader very well.

“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we say nmultis to a strong and fearless leader, Chief Shirley Clarke,” said Chief Deborah Robinson, member of the Assembly. “It was truly an honour to work alongside her, and empowering to advocate for our Nation, together as Mi’kmaw women.”

Shirley served as Chief of Glooscap First Nation from 1995 to 2012 and remained a dedicated advocate for the Mi’kmaw Nation even after her time in office. Deeply committed to her community and her faith, Shirley was so proud to help establish the St. Joseph’s Chapel in her community.

“Chief Shirley had passion for all she did. Her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering dedication touched countless lives and inspired everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. We offer condolences and express our deepest sympathy to Chief Clarke’s family, many friends and community as we share in the celebration of her life and accomplishments,” said Chief Robinson.

NT5

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict Commends Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin Conference Examining Metis Claims in Ontario

(Toronto – Ont, Dec. 15, 2025) Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict has released the following statement following Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin’s (Un)Making of Metis Claims in Ontario conference held in Sault Ste. Marie on December 13-14, 2025:

The Chiefs of Ontario affirm our support for the (Un)Making of Metis Claims in Ontario conference held in Baawaating (Sault Ste. Marie). This landmark gathering brought together First Nations, Metis and non-Indigenous scholars, historians, knowledge holders and community members to critically examine historical claims of Metis communities in Ontario, an issue the Chiefs of Ontario have long emphasized requires careful, evidence-based research and meaningful engagement with First Nations.

“First Nations have an inherent right and responsibility to protect our territories, cultures, oral histories and legal traditions,” said Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict. “Conferences such as this create space for First Nation-led research, respectful dialogue, and the reaffirmation of our sovereignty and rights. Accurate history is essential to justice, and discussions about Indigenous identity, rights and territorial claims must be grounded in evidence and Indigenous knowledge systems.”

The Chiefs of Ontario acknowledge complexities of identity and culture, and support Indigenous peoples’ right to investigate, learn from, and teach their own histories. This conference contributes meaningfully to this work, and we commend the organizers and participants for fostering a respectful forum for dialogue on these critical issues.

“I stand with First Nations who are engaging in rigorous scholarship, guided by community oral histories and academic research, to clarify and protect the historical record of Indigenous presence and governance on the lands now known as the Ontario region,” said Ontario Regional Chief Benedict. “It is deeply concerning and unacceptable that First Nations Ancestors and relatives, including leaders within our traditional governance systems, are being appropriated and re-cast as “Metis” for the purpose of constructing so-called “Metis family lines”.”

The Chiefs of Ontario continue to call on governments and institutions to closely examine the extensive research and evidence presented by First Nations, in order to address false Metis claims in First Nations ancestral and Treaty territories.

Academic reports and resources can be found on the Chiefs of Ontario Rights Assertions webpage.

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The Chiefs of Ontario supports all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction, and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, X, Instagram, or LinkedIn @ChiefsOfOntario

Media Contact:
Isak Vaillancourt
Communications Manager
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: 416-819-8184

NT5

Government of Canada launches commercial fishery pilot to help control European Green Crab in Southwest New Brunswick

From: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

December 15, 2025

St. George, New Brunswick – The European Green Crab is an aquatic invasive species in Canada that upsets the balance of our marine ecosystems. In Southwest New Brunswick, European Green Crab negatively impacts native species and habitats like eel grass, dulse beds and shellfish, which are culturally, ecologically and economically important to the area. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) collaborates with harvesters, Indigenous communities and other partners to detect, monitor and limit the spread and damage of this aquatic invasive species.

As part of that collaboration, today the Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, announced the launch of a one-year commercial fishery pilot in Southwest New Brunswick to support the control of invasive European Green Crab. The fishery is anticipated to open in Spring 2026.

This commercial fishery pilot for European Green Crab will mitigate the negative impacts the species has on native ecosystems and shellfish fisheries, and will have clear licence conditions to minimize the risk of spread. The fishery will also provide economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and local harvesters. Harvested European Green Crab may have a variety of uses, including as bait in the lobster fishery.

Prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective way of managing aquatic invasive species. The potential costs and benefits of alternative management measures are carefully assessed and only considered for established populations of invasive species where eradication is no longer possible. In line with this approach, the commercial fishery pilot for European Green Crab reflects a balanced consideration of ecological, social and economic factors. In this case, the harvesting of this established species can provide economic opportunities through commercial fisheries, use as bait, incorporation into bioplastics, and soil enrichment products.

Quotes

“European Green Crab is a serious threat to local ecosystems and the shellfish fisheries that so many people rely on in Southwest New Brunswick. By opening this commercial fishery pilot, we are taking a practical step to reduce its presence and impact, while creating new economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and local harvesters. This is also welcome news for lobster harvesters, who will have access to an additional source of bait from harvested European Green Crab.”

The Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries

Quick facts

Harvesters in Southwest New Brunswick who, in 2025, held and actively fished a commercial licence for another species, were designated under a communal licence, or were verified by DFO as having historically harvested dulse, are eligible for the required licence to fish commercially for European Green Crab.
Those who would like to apply for a licence are invited to email: DFO.MARRMSWNB-SONBGRMAR.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Aquatic invasive species are freshwater or marine plants, animals, algae and micro-organisms introduced outside their natural or past distribution. They have significant negative impacts on the environment, economy, society and human health.
Important measures to prevent the spread of European Green Crab are outlined in the conditions of licence for this fishery to help protect our waters from further impacts of this aquatic invasive species.

Associated links

Contacts
Ira Khedkar
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries
Ira.Khedkar@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Media Relations, Maritimes Region
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
902-407-8439
Media.MaritimesRegion@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

NT5

GNWT releases responses to the 2022 After-Action Review Recommendations

December 15, 2025

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its formal response to the 2022 independent After-Action Review (AAR) of emergency response and recovery activities in relation to the flood in the Town of Hay River (HR) and Kátł’odeeche First Nation Reserve. These responses outline clear actions the GNWT will take to strengthen emergency preparedness and recovery from flooding for all flood risk communities across the Northwest Territories.

Media are invited to a briefing at 3:30pm today. Please RSVP to presssecretary@gov.nt.ca and a Teams link will be provided.

The 2022 AAR on spring flooding was both a review of the GNWT’s response to flooding in the Town of Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation Reserve, and a review of the recovery process. Both communities experienced significant long-term damage after the devastating floods in May 2022. The communities are still recovering, and it is expected that recovery will not be completed until 2027.

There were 38 recommendations issued in the 2022 AAR covering resource management, communications, training, preparedness, response, and recovery. Thirty-three of the recommendations were directed at the GNWT, while the remaining five were directed at community governments.

The GNWT has accepted, in whole or in part, 32 of the 33 recommendations. Work has already been done to implement most of the 2022 AAR recommendations, such as expanding the Incident Command System and Emergency Management training, creating an emergency management surge capacity protocol, and hiring Regional Emergency Management Coordinators. The GNWT will continue to use the 2022 AAR recommendations to inform emergency response and recovery activities.

Quote

“The 2022 floods in Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation Reserve were unprecedented. The time, effort, and complexity of the recovery have led to significant ongoing work for everyone involved. By implementing the actions laid out in the GNWT’s response to the 2022 After-Action Review, the GNWT ensures that we are stronger, have built greater capacity and resilience, and are better prepared in our response to the effects of climate change, which may increase the impact of natural disasters across the NWT.”

– Vince McKay, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs

Quick facts

33 of the 38 recommendations in the 2022 AAR were targeted at the GNWT, while the remaining five were for community governments.
The GNWT has accepted, in whole or in part, 32 of 33 recommendations from the 2022 AAR that were directed at the GNWT.
Recovery after the 2022 flood season is still ongoing and is not expected to be completed until 2027.
The GNWT has already implemented most of the 2022 AAR recommendations by expanding the Incident Command System and emergency management training for staff and elected officials, creating an emergency management surge capacity protocol and hiring Regional Emergency Management Coordinators
Improvements have already been undertaken to address most of the recommendations from the 2022 AAR in the updated NWT Emergency Plan, which was released in 2024.
The GNWT will continue to organize Community Emergency Plan workshops and tabletop exercises to support community governments in their emergency response preparation.

Boosting B.C.’s health emergency readiness, life-sciences jobs

Dec. 15, 2025

VANCOUVER –

Summary:

Government provides $33 million to support research infrastructure at Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub at the University of British Columbia
Aims to establish 100-day start-to-finish drug development for future pandemics, other urgent health challenges
Strengthens B.C.’s life-sciences sector through skills training, research and innovation, as part of B.C.’s Look West economic and jobs plan

As part of Look West’s goal to boost B.C.’s life-sciences and biomanufacturing capabilities and economic potential, the Province is enhancing B.C.’s and Canada’s readiness for future pandemics and ability to develop and manufacture treatments domestically, while creating new jobs.

“B.C. is home to the fastest-growing life-sciences sector in Canada, thanks to our world-class work force and business leaders,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “With unprecedented uncertainty and disregard for science and scientific expertise from our neighbours in the United States, it’s vital that we double down on investing in Canadian research and infrastructure that allow us to develop, test and commercialize life-saving technologies right here in B.C. It’s part of our Look West economic plan to drive growth and deliver innovative solutions at home and around the world.”

The Government of B.C. is providing $33 million for research equipment and facilities for Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH), a national initiative led by the University of British Columbia that aims to establish 100-day, start-to-finish drug development in B.C. for Canada. The investment supports three projects led by UBC researchers, and one led by researchers at Simon Fraser University (SFU).

Building on B.C.’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, this investment will bring cutting-edge research infrastructure for drug-development capabilities and training to British Columbia, which is critical to creating the next generation of B.C. life-sciences entrepreneurs and companies. The hub is expected to attract and train top talent and provide local businesses with more opportunities to collaborate with academia, expand their operations, innovate and compete on a global scale.

The announcement was made as UBC broke ground on a new building, The Edge, that will house the advanced therapeutics manufacturing facility (ATMF), one of four funded projects. Researchers and biotech start-ups will use the facility to develop, manufacture and commercialize treatments for a range of health conditions, from infectious diseases to cancer and autoimmune disorders.

“The ATMF will provide UBC students like me the unique opportunity to see our research through, from the first findings all the way to clinical-grade manufacturing, ensuring our ideas can grow right here in B.C. and help people in local communities,” said Dana Lao, a master’s student at the UBC faculty of medicine who is developing cell therapies that could improve bone-marrow-transplant outcomes and treat conditions like type-1 diabetes. “This hands-on training in biomanufacturing will prepare us to lead the future of B.C.’s life-sciences sector and to develop cutting-edge therapies for people here at home and across the globe.”

CIEBH is a consortium of more than 50 academic, industry, not-for-profit and health-system partners that aims to accelerate drug development through advanced research, talent development, biomanufacturing for clinical trials, and commercialization of treatments in Canada.

Supporting innovation

The Province’s $33-million investment leverages $140 million from the federal government and more than $22 million from other sources, bringing total funding for CIEBH projects to $195 million.

The provincial investment includes more than $22 million to help build the ATMF, the first of its kind in Western Canada. The 2,300-square-metre facility fills a critical gap in Canada’s ability to develop, test and manufacture life-saving medicines here at home.

The ATMF project is co-led by Megan Levings, professor of surgery and biomedical engineering at UBC, and Robert Holt, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at SFU, and professor of medical genetics at UBC.

“The ATMF will give researchers and biotech startups the ability to manufacture advanced, clinical-grade therapies right here in B.C., instead of sending promising discoveries out of the province,” Levings said. “That means keeping more Canadian science in Canada, powering up B.C.’s life-sciences sector with discoveries, skilled talent, new companies and jobs, while also accelerating translation from the lab to clinic so patients have access to life-saving treatments.”

Additional CIEBH projects

The remaining provincial funding for CIEBH projects includes:

$3.45 million to equip the facilities of AVENGER project, helping researchers at UBC and SFU develop a flexible vaccine library that can be adapted to fight future pandemics and diseases. The lead researchers are Pieter Cullis and Anna Blakney.
$6.87 million to equip the facilities for the PROGENITER project and support teams at UBC and SFU to use advanced imaging and AI to create ready-to-use antibody treatments for viruses like COVID-19 and bird flu. The lead researcher is Sriram Subramaniam.
$423,000 for SFU’s Bridge Research Consortium, which brings together experts from across Canada to study how to build public trust in vaccines and immune-supporting innovations.

Each of the projects include skills-training components that will help strengthen B.C.’s life-sciences and biomanufacturing workforce.

“Health care is expected to create nearly 200,000 job openings over the next decade, and this investment helps make sure people in B.C. are ready to fill them,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By developing and producing new medicines right here at home, we can get treatments to patients faster, be better prepared for future health emergencies and create good jobs for people in our communities. This is about building a stronger, safer and healthier future for everyone in British Columbia.”

More funding for research projects

Funding for the CIEBH projects is part of the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), the Province’s primary source for capital investment in research infrastructure.

The Province is also providing an additional $15.3 million to support 71 other research projects at UBC and UBC Okanagan in areas including life sciences, clean tech, natural resources and agrifoods.

This work is part of the Province’s Look West plan for jobs and industry, which outlines B.C.’s vision to deliver jobs and opportunities by strengthening the workforce to develop a more independent economy. This includes delivering major projects quicker, diversifying markets and growing targeted sectors, such as technology, aerospace, marine, AI and quantum, life sciences, agriculture and construction innovation.

Quick Facts:

The BCKDF, established in 1998, is the B.C. government’s primary investment in research infrastructure in the province.
Since 2017, the BCKDF has awarded almost $300 million for 541 projects.
Funding is available for research equipment and facilities at public post-secondary institutions and their affiliated research hospitals and non-profit organizations.

Learn More:

To learn more about the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/technology-innovation/bckdf
To learn more about B.C.’s Life Science and Biomanufacturing Strategy visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/initiatives-plans-strategies/technology-industry/life-sciences-biomanufacturing/bc_life_sciences_biomanufacturing_strategy_final_april_2023.pdf
To read more about the Look West: Jobs and Prosperity for a Stronger B.C. and Canada strategy, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/LookWest
Learn about the other ways the Province is building a stronger B.C. economy here: https://gov.bc.ca/StrongEconomy
Learn about the historic investment in skills training: https://news.gov.bc.ca/33029
To learn more about the CIEBH, visit: https://immunoengineeringhub.ca/
To learn more about UBC research, visit: https://research.ubc.ca
To learn more about SFU research, visit:  https://www.sfu.ca/research

Two backgrounders follow.

Contacts:
Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Media Relations
250-880-5179

Brett Goldhawk
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
778-952-7858

Will Henderson
Simon Fraser University
604-368-2532

BACKGROUNDER 1

What people are saying about expanded life-sciences, drug-development funding

Benoit-Antoine Bacon, president and vice-chancellor, UBC –

“This important investment in Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub builds on UBC’s global strength in life sciences and ensures that health-research breakthroughs made in B.C. can be developed, manufactured, and delivered to improve lives here and around the world. UBC is grateful to the Government of British Columbia for its partnership and critical support of research and innovation infrastructure. The funded projects, spanning fields from life sciences and clean tech to artificial intelligence and natural resources, will strengthen B.C.’s leadership in discovery and talent development across disciplines.”

Joy Johnson, president and vice-chancellor, Simon Fraser University –

“SFU is proud to contribute to made-in-B.C. innovations and the province’s growing life-sciences sector through Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub. We are committed to research for real impact and making a difference for B.C. through collaboration with academia, industry and community partners as we strive to help create healthier, more resilient communities in B.C. and beyond.”

Kelley Lee, professor, Canada Research chair Tier I in Global Health Governance –

“The Bridge Research Consortium is grateful to receive this generous funding to support social innovation that brings together diverse perspectives spanning science, industry, government and communities, including vital work that strengthens public understanding and equitable access to vaccines.”

Wendy Hurlburt, president and CEO, Life Sciences British Columbia –

“This investment strengthens B.C.’s position as a global life-sciences leader and reinforces our capacity to innovate, manufacture and deliver health solutions here at home. The CIEBH is an important investment for our province, supporting health security, driving economic growth and developing a skilled workforce that creates high-value jobs for British Columbians.”

Lesley Cormack, principal and deputy vice-chancellor, UBC Okanagan –

“From projects in critical minerals to affordable housing, health and beyond, these investments in research infrastructure at UBC Okanagan are essential to strengthening innovation in the B.C. Interior and supporting economic growth and diversification in this region of the province. I want to reiterate our gratitude to the government of B.C. for its crucial support and investments through the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund.”

Contacts:

Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Media Relations
250-880-5179

Brett Goldhawk
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
778-952-7858

Will Henderson
Simon Fraser University
604-368-2532

BACKGROUNDER 2

Additional UBC research projects supported by the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund

Total UBC funding: $13,694,497

A platform for integrative analysis of single-cell genomics data to study tissue biology and diseases
$125,000 (researcher: Jiarui Ding)
Hydrogel-based adhesive artificial mucosa (HAAM): a novel versatile platform for cancer therapy and prevention
$150,000 (researcher: Zu-hua Gao)
Laboratory for Experimental Evolution of Pathogens (LEEP)
$405,000 (researcher: Kayla King)
Quantum Computation and Networks with Spins
$560,000 (researcher: Joseph Salfi)
Plant Diversity, Adaptation and Bioengineering (PDAB) lab
$200,000 (researcher: Marco Todesco)
Stormwater infrastructure for treatment of emerging trace organic contaminants
$118,109 (researcher: Rachel Scholes)
Microbial and Chemical Contaminant Removal in Decentralised Water Treatment Systems
$125,652 (researcher: Sara Beck)
Development of the spinal cord injury connectomics laboratory
$150,000 (researcher: Brett Hilton)
Dissecting the genomic impact of transposable element with the High-throughput Genome Conflict Lab
$180,000 (researcher: Kevin Wei)
Building a Decentralized Future with Foundation Models: Continual Learning and Monitoring at the Edge
$375,000 (researcher: Xiaoxiao Li)
Coastal Wetland Ecology and Restoration
$144,579 (researcher: Alex Moore)
Facility for the study of People-Predator-Prey Interactions (P3I)
$150,000 (researcher: Kaitlyn Gaynor)
Transforming Heart Failure: Integrated Network Redesigned for Improved Outcomes (TOHFINO): An AI-Empowered Paradigm
$400,000 (researcher: Teresa S.M. Tsang)
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves: A New Window to the Extreme Universe
$750,000 (researcher: Ingrid Stairs)
Indigenous Relationships with Land and Ecosystem Health
$125,000 (researcher: Warren Cardinal-McTeague)
Encouraging Peers’ Social Inclusion of Children with ADHD
$36,361 (researcher: Amori Mikami)
Mechanisms of viral replication organelle biogenesis
$294,713 (researcher: Selena Sagan)
Psychology, Health, and Sexuality Laboratory (PHaSe Lab)
$103,640 (researcher: Katrina Bouchard)
Overcoming Therapy Resistance in Leukemia
$700,000 (researcher: Aly Karsan)
Tissue microprocessing platform: Technologies to unravel heterogeneous interactions in Cancer
$380,000 (researcher: Govind Kaigala)
Computational Sensorimotor Learning (CSL) Lab
$102,518 (researcher: Hyosub Kim)
Functional Food Colloids Laboratory
$147,884 (researcher: Vassilis Kontogiorgos)
Advanced RNA Translatome Profiling Facility to Identify Therapeutic Targets and Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer (ART-PC)
$120,376 (researcher: Syam Somasekharan)
Single cell analysis of chromosomal instability in cancer using machine learning
$147,374 (researcher: Adi Steif)
Advancing Redox Flow Battery Technology and Electrochemical Carbon Capture: A Parallel Development Approach
$150,000 (researcher: Kiana Amini)
Identifying Disease Drivers of Lethal Brain Cancer
$150,000 (researcher: Carol Chen)
Microscopy Suite for High-Throughput and High-Resolution Analysis of Microbe-Interfacing Nanomaterials
$320,000 (researcher: Joel Finbloom)
Advancing DNA-based Nanoswitches Using Single Molecule Fluorescence Methods: Towards Precision Detection and Delivery
$150,000 (researcher: Amani Hariri)
An Autonomous Robotic Platform for Process Chemical Manufacturing and Development
$400,000 (researcher: Jason Hein)
Preparation and Characterization of Advanced Materials for Optoelectronics
$146,000 (researcher: Zachary Hudson)
Safe cooperation and co-existence for multi-agent robotic systems
$144,264 (researcher: Dominic Liao-McPherson)
Nutrition and Microbiome Precision (N&M Precision) Health Lab
$150,000 (researcher: Genelle Lunken)
Implantable smart biomaterials and sensors
$136,912 (researcher: Dena Shahriari)
Enhancing Reproductive Population Health Research Through Novel Database Development: Building Big Data Infrastructure
$150,000 (researcher: Laura Schummers)
Engineering Solar-Driven Industrial Chemical Processes for the Net Zero Economy
$147,214 (researcher: Alexandra Tavasoli)
Synthesis, Simulation, and Validation of an Advanced Macro-Mini Robotic System
$128,914 (researcher: Kefei Wen)
Advanced Raman and optical imaging platforms for agrifood safety and sustainability
$150,000 (researcher: Tianxi Yang)
Hardware and Storage for Natural Language Processing Research with Large Language Models
$116,459 (researcher: Vered Shwartz)
Multispecies Archaeology Laboratory (MSAL)
$150,000 (researcher: Aleksa Alaica)
Stable isotope laboratory for carbon cycle and climate research
$400,000 (researcher: Hal Bradbury)
High-resolution, low-irradiation in vivo micro-CT scanner
$200,000 (researcher: Daniel Graf)
Developing laminated engineered wood products using recycled wood
$150,000 (researcher: Minghao Li)
Multi-omic Analysis of Treatment Resistance and Cancer Heterogeneity (MATCH)
$600,000 (researcher: Marco Marra)
Immune Suppression-Free Xenotransplantation
$137,398 (researcher: Graziano Oldani)
Tackling Antibiotic Resistance Generation and Establishing Test Surveillance for TB (TARGETS for TB)
$320,000 (researcher: Jim Sun)
Facility for Neurology Fluid Biomarker Innovation
$300,000 (researcher: Cheryl Wellington)
Establishing the Fire Resilience and Wood Ignition Safety Evaluation (FIREWISE) Laboratory
$151,422 (researcher: Felix Wiesner)
Computational social science at SLIME-Lab
$27,464 (researcher: Jian Zhu)
Deciphering the mechanisms of organelle-specific lipid homeostasis
$300,000 (researcher: Arun John Peter)
The role of GPCRs in Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology
$139,955 (researcher: Khlaed Abdelrahman)
Relational Restoration After Climate Event Unit
$136,102 (researcher: Jennifer Grenz)
Advanced infrastructure for studying greenhouse gas cycling in under-represented Arctic-boreal ecosystems
$150,000 (researcher: McKenzie Kuhn)
Enzyme Evolution for Food, Fuel, and Feedstock
$160,000 (researcher: Jaya Joshi)
High-Performance Computing Infrastructure for Exoplanet Discovery and Demographics
$88,000 (researcher: Michelle Kunimoto)
Cumulative effects of Climate Change, Anthropogenic and Natural Disturbances on forest Ecosystem Services (CCCANDiES)
$139,510 (researcher: Gregory Paradis)
The Lipid Nanoparticle-Enabled Gene Delivery (LEGenD) lab: A frontier for next generation nanomedicine
$353,668 (researcher: Miffy Hok Yan Cheng)
Foundational Infrastructure for Marine Robotics
$149,623 (researcher: Adrien Dejardins)
Infrastructure for innovative building materials and systems toward zero carbon buildings
$150,000 (researcher: Haibo Feng)
Fire Fungi Ecology & Genetics Lab
$150,000 (researcher: Monika Fischer)
Functional Impact of Variants in Diabetes
$265,251 (researcher: Nicole Krentz)
Electrification of chemical manufacturing and separations
$176,834 (researcher: Eric Lees)
Environmental Oncogenomics
$150,000 (researcher: Emilia Lim)
An Integrative Approach towards Understanding Intelligence: Bridging the ‘Seeing’ versus ‘Thinking’ Divide
$318,301 (researcher: Joan Danielle Ongchoco)

Total UBC Okanagan funding: $1,680,370

Wild Animal Microbiomes & Stress (WAMS)
$133,230 (researcher: Laura Grieneisen)
A core technology to improve EDI in collaborative environments
$150,000 (researcher: Gema Rodriguez-Perez)
From nano to tectonic: A center for nanogeology research
$700,768 (researcher: Renelle Dubosq)
Digital Integration for Robotic Fabrication in Construction (DIRFIC) to facilitate rapid affordable housing in Canada
$113,041 (researcher: Qian Chen)
The Translational Acute Brain Injury Laboratory
$247,568 (researcher: Ryan Hoiland)
Real time assessment of metabolism in distinct human cell types across the health-disease continuum
$145,149 (researcher: Muhammad Hashim Islam)
Data-driven control for safety-critical applications
$79,842 (researcher: Klaske van Heusden)
Development of river survey capability for assessment of fluxes of sediment and organic carbon across watersheds
$110,772 (researcher: Alessandro Ielpi)

Contacts:

Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth
Media Relations
250-880-5179

Brett Goldhawk
Faculty of Medicine
University of British Columbia
778-952-7858

Will Henderson
Simon Fraser University
604-368-2532

NT5

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