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What are we reading? March 24, 2022

Each week, BIV staff will share with you some of the interesting stories we have found from around the web. Mark Falkenberg, deputy managing editor B.C.
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Each week, BIV staff will share with you some of the interesting stories we have found from around the web.

Mark Falkenberg, deputy managing editor

B.C. decided years ago to stay on permanent daylight time and scrap the twice-a-year resetting of clocks – when its U.S. neighbours get around to doing the same. Now that the U.S. Senate has voted to do just that by the end of 2023, we can look forward to, among other things, mornings that stay dark until around 9 a.m. in the dead of winter. – CBC

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/daylight-saving-time-permanent-us-senate-british-columbia-1.6387153

This country’s maple syrup industry has been associated forever with Eastern Canada, but a producer on Vancouver Island has shown that B.C. might have a sweet future in the business  – Global

https://globalnews.ca/news/8679887/this-is-bc-maple-syrup-vancouver-island/

Glen Korstrom, reporter

If you want a stark reminder of how much times have changed for gay people, read this story about the Canadian government’s intensive 1964 interrogation of gay diplomat John Watkins, causing a heart-attack death. 

Newly obtained documents link former Prime Minister Lester Pearson to the case’s planning, conduct and cover-up. – Globe and Mail 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-the-untold-story-of-how-lester-pearson-influenced-the-dubious-spy/

Many may have missed the news that MIssissippi last month became the 37th state to legalize medical cannabis. As a conservative state, its decisive 2020 referendum supporting cannabis reform was significant in showing that there is bi-partisan support across the nation for liberalized cannabis laws. 

This article explains how other Southern U.S. states have much to gain from legalizing cannabis, as the region is an agricultural hub. It also has a history of producing the arguably more addictive, intoxicating plant tobacco. – Rolling Stone

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/legal-cannabis-could-revive-southern-economies-1324531/

Countries are opening up, and travel lovers like me are still watching with trepidation. 

This story gives an account of what hopefully is a short-lived reality when travelling to the Indonesian island of Bali. 

Good news is that arrival appears straightforward in how there are multiple lines, including one for a PCR test on arrival. Bad news is that when the number of planes arriving in a day exceeds the initial three on opening day in early March, line-ups are likely to get very long. – News.com.au

https://www.news.com.au/travel/destinations/asia/bali/bali-reopens-to-australians-as-denpasar-international-airport-implements-strict-covid-controls/news-story/5e7a2bcfdd10b3c2788e80ce8391835b

Nelson Bennett, reporter

In response to the war in Ukraine and crumbling relations with Russia, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase is pushing the Biden administration to adopt a “Marshall Plan” for energy. The Marshall Plan was implemented after the Second World War to help European nations devastated by war recover and rebuild their economies. According to Axios, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has lobbied President Joe Biden to adopt a similar plan for Europe to address energy security. – Axios

https://www.axios.com/scoop-jamie-dimon-pushes-biden-for-domestic-energy-marshall-plan-088e5f2b-ac99-42d7-800d-1f88865c82eb.html

As threat of war involving NATO countries in Europe escalates, the Trudeau government is feeling pressure to increase defence spending. But is Canada’s military really underfunded? Compared to Australia, the answer is yes. Despite a bigger population, Canada spends just $23 billion on defence compared to Australia’s $44 billion – just 1.4% of its GDP compared to Australia’s 1.9%. The Global Firepower Index shows Canada has less firepower than Australia: fewer fighter jets, and no attack helicopters, whereas Australia has 22 attack helicopters. And while it has roughly the same number of frigates-destroyers, it has fewer submarines. – Global Firepower Index

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-comparison-detail.php?country1=canada&country2=australia