Northvolt, a Swedish battery manufacturing giant, confirmed today that it plans to build an electric vehicle battery plant east of Montreal, its first outside Europe. The first $7-billion phase would have annual cell manufacturing capacity of up to 30 gigawatt-hours and the plant is expected to create 3,000 jobs at full production. [node:read-more:link]
The federal government is trying to address growing concerns about generative artificial intelligence with a voluntary code of conduct for developers. Innovation, Science & Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne expects it to “build safety and trust as the technology spreads.” [node:read-more:link]
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and U.S. agencies have warned key industries about increasing malware attacks through auditing software developed by Texas-based Netwrix and used by the financial, insurance, healthcare and other sectors. [node:read-more:link]
Ottawa-based Global First Power has announced plans for the world’s first micro-modular reactor at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River, Ont. Expected to begin operating as a demonstration project in 2027, it is being designed to provide power for remote communities for 20 years, leaving “about one metre cubed” of radioactive waste. [node:read-more:link]
Canada must scale up deployment of domestic “clean technology” if it hopes to meet its 2030 emissions targets, according to a report released today by Deloitte Canada. “There's been incredible analysis and activity,” says DC partner Karen Hamberg, who advises on industrial-scale clean technology. “One piece that's always been missing is the degree to which made-in-Canada clean technology is going to be part of our solutions.” [node:read-more:link]
Brendan Miller, the Alberta lawyer representing a group of “Freedom Convoy” protestors before the Emergencies Act inquiry, is being sued for defamation over his claim that Brian Fox, a partner in a public relations firm carried a Nazi flag into the Ottawa blockade in February in an attempt to discredit the protestors. Miller tried to dismiss the suit November 24 as “intimidation” but Fox, who has received death threats, was not even in Ottawa when the alleged incident occurred. [node:read-more:link]
A $1.6-billion hydrogen plant is going ahead in Edmonton after the federal and Alberta governments agreed to contribute more than $460 million toward its construction. The Air Products Canada plant, described as the largest of its kind in the world, is designed to produce up to 100,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually when fully operational. [node:read-more:link]
Members of the European Parliament have voted overwhelmingly for draft legislation which would require all new portable devices such as telephones, tablets, peripherals, GPS devices and cameras to use a common USB-C charging cable. Individual national government are expected to grant approval October 24 before the measure, which would make Apple Inc. a global outlier with its proprietary Lightning cable, is signed into law. [node:read-more:link]
Users of iPhones, iPads, iMacs and some older iPods are being advised to update their operating systems after Apple disclosed two vulnerabilities which could give hackers “full admin access” to the devices. Issued last week, the disclosure evidently received little attention outside of technical publications and Apple explained only that the problem has been discovered by an anonymous researcher. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. administration announced today that it would not send diplomatic or other official representatives to the 2022 Winter Olympics which are scheduled Feb. 4-20 in China. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said it was a “clear message” that China’s human rights record meant that there could not be “business as usual.” [node:read-more:link]
University of Toronto theoretical physicist and professor Sajeev John has won this year’s Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering. The prize, which comes with key funding, recognizes his work since 1984 on trapping light, a technology which has been used in laser surgery and now is seen as having applications for improving solar power technology. [node:read-more:link]
Canada will become home to Moderna’s first foreign vaccine research and manufacturing facility within two years. The Massachusetts company confirmed today that it has signed an MoU with the federal government to set up the facility but location and financing details were not disclosed. [node:read-more:link]
A crowdfunded attempt to block the rollout of 5G mobile technology in Britain has been blocked by a judge. The group behind the case, who say the equipment emits harmful radiation, had raised more than £160,000, says it will continue to press for a judicial review despite its latest setback. [node:read-more:link]
Unisync Group has just been awarded the contract for managed uniform solutions for the Canadian Coast Guard. Initially estimated at $1.6 million per annum, the MCSC is for an initial term of three years with two two-year extension options. [node:read-more:link]
A business and environmental strategy designed to promote hydrogen as a renewable and low-carbon energy source has been rolled out by the B.C. government. Bruce Ralston, minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation, said July 6 that short-term goals include regional supply hubs and measures to increase the numbers of medium and heavy-duty vehicles powered by hydrogen. His department estimates the gas could reduce the province’s annual carbon emissions by 7.2 million tonnes by 2050. [node:read-more:link]
