Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Wanted: Ideas to prepare for next major calamity

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Mar, 2021 06:20 PM
  • Wanted: Ideas to prepare for next major calamity

The federal government is looking beyond COVID-19 to prepare for the next large-scale calamity — be it another pandemic, a tsunami or cyberattack.

In a notice posted today, Defence Research and Development Canada seeks proposals for studies, technology trials and demonstrations to identify promising ideas to lessen the severity of potential catastrophes.

The agency, an arm of National Defence, is interested in ways of addressing "high impact, low frequency" events — disasters that don't happen often but have deep and long-lasting effects when they do occur.

The notice says these fall somewhere between relatively common events such as seasonal floods and highly improbably risks such as an asteroid hitting Earth.

They include a major earthquake, industrial disaster or large-scale terrorist attack but also unforeseen threats posed by adoption of new technologies.

The notice flags interest in two issues highlighted by COVID-19 — the desire for contactless and virtual services, and the need to bolster fragile supply chains, including the movement of goods across international borders.

MORE National ARTICLES

Ottawa funds development of B.C. geothermal field

Ottawa funds development of B.C. geothermal field
The money will be spent on the Clarke Lake field near the community of Fort Nelson, which is nearing depletion after nearly 60 years of production. That, combined with low natural gas prices, have reduced investment and employment from the resource.

Ottawa funds development of B.C. geothermal field

B.C. urged to protect at-risk old growth forests

B.C. urged to protect at-risk old growth forests
Just over 13 million hectares of old forests remain in B.C., according to provincial data. The report notes as much as 80 per cent of that land consists of smaller trees with lower commercial value.

B.C. urged to protect at-risk old growth forests

Jobless data shows strong B.C. economy: NDP

Jobless data shows strong B.C. economy: NDP
A statement from the Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ministry says employment has been created in B.C. in each of the last 10 months and the province has one of the strongest economies in Canada.

Jobless data shows strong B.C. economy: NDP

No known link for AstraZeneca vaccine and clots

No known link for AstraZeneca vaccine and clots
Dr. Supriya Sharma says Health Canada has a "really low threshold" for adverse events that could trigger a pause on the use of a vaccine and wouldn't hesitate to do so if something warranted it.

No known link for AstraZeneca vaccine and clots

Trudeau warns vaccine passport use could be unfair

Trudeau warns vaccine passport use could be unfair
"These are things that we have to take into account so that yes, we're looking to try and encourage everyone to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, but we're not discriminating and bringing in unfairness in the process at the same time," Trudeau said Friday at a press conference alongside health officials.

Trudeau warns vaccine passport use could be unfair

Economy surges in February, adds 259K jobs

Economy surges in February, adds 259K jobs
One year into the pandemic, Canada's job market is 599,100 jobs short of where it was in February of last year, or 3.1 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

Economy surges in February, adds 259K jobs