#federal

via Financial Post:

(Bloomberg) — Avi Lewis, a documentary filmmaker and husband of author and activist Naomi Klein, has been elected leader of Canada’s left-wing New Democratic Party.

The NDP — once a key supporter of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government but now reduced to just six seats in the House of Commons — announced the results of its leadership race on Sunday in Winnipeg.

Lewis received 56% of the vote. Heather McPherson, an Edmonton-based member of Parliament, came in second place, with 29%.

Continue reading

Shutting down federal bee labs threatens bees, beekeepers and the US food system

America’s bees and beekeepers are losing a valuable ally just when they need its help most.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to soon close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, a 6,500-acre agricultural research station in Maryland that is home to the nation’s premier bee research and disease diagnosis hub, the Beltsville Bee Research Lab.

The closure comes at a critical moment for bees. In winter 2025, many beekeepers lost over half their operations as pesticide-resistant varroa mites spread, bringing deadly viruses. The losses have led to low honey production, and soaring fuel costs have made shipping bees cross-country for agricultural pollination increasingly expensive, further stressing the industry.