CTV National News for Monday, August 21, 2023

[ ??? ] >> Omar: TONIGHT, 60 BUILDINGS DECIMATED BY THE BRUTE FORCE OF WILDFIRES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. [ ??? ] [ Sirens ] THE DESTRUCTION ON THE GROUND AND THE ONGOING THREAT. >> IT WAS LIKE A WAR ZONE. IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING YOU’D WATCH ON A MOVIE. >> Omar: AND THE POTENTIAL

ROLE FOR AI IN FUTURE FIRE FIGHTS. >>> CALIFORNIA SOAKED AND SHAKEN BY TROPICAL STORM HILLARY. >> I GREW UP DOWN HERE IN PALM SPRINGS, I’VE NEVER SEEN IT SO BAD. >> A GIGANTIC MUDDY MESS. PLUS THE PRESSURE TO SOLVE THE HOUSING CRUNCH. >> IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE

IN THE NEXT SHORT-TERM HERE. >> Omar: THE IN-HOUSE POLITICAL TURMOIL AT THE FEDERAL CABINET RETREAT. [ ??? ] >> Announcer: “CTV NATIONAL NEWS” WITH OMAR SACHEDINA. >> Omar: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THE FLAMES DESTROYING BRITISH COLUMBIA’S SOUTHERN INTERIOR ARE CONTINUING TO CHEW THROUGH LARGE PARTS OF THE PROVINCE TONIGHT. EVEN FIREFIGHTERS NOW AMONG

THOSE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES. MORE THAN 27,000 PEOPLE ARE UNDER EVACUATION ORDER IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND 35,000 ON STAND-BY TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE. HAMPERING EFFORTS TO CONTAIN SPD ATVs. CTV’S VANESSA LEE WAS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE DEVASTATION TODAY IN BC’S SHUSWAP REGION AND STARTS US OFF.

>> Reporter: ON THE SMOKY SHORES OF SHUSWAP LAKE, THERE IS HEART BREAK. SOME HOMES ARE NO LONGER RECOGNIZABLE. NEVER HAVE FIRES IN THIS REGION AFFECT SOD MANY PEOPLE. AT LEAST 10,000 HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE OR ARE ON ALERT AND IT’S TOO SOON TO SAY WHEN THEY’LL BE ABLE TO RETURN.

>> IT’S VERY DYNAMIC. THIS FIRE IS NOWHERE NEAR UNDER CONTROL. IT’S OUT OF CONTROL. WE’RE EXPECTING WINDS AND WE’RE GOING TO SEE FIRE BEHAVIOR AGAIN TODAY. >> Reporter: FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BATTLE THE FLAMES FROM THE AIR BECAUSE OF THE THICK SMOKE. WHAT’S ALSO HINDERING RELIEF EFFORTS, CRITICAL GEAR HAS

REPEATEDLY BEEN STOLEN OR TAMPERED WITH. >> YOU’RE NOT HELPING IF YOU’RE MOVING FIREFIGHTER EQUIPMENT. >> Reporter: AFTER DAYS OF UNCERTAINTY, THE STRESS IS TAKING A TOLL. >> WE DID IT ALL PROPER. >> Reporter: THIS GROUP ORGANIZED A TRUCKLOAD OF SUPPLIES FOR THE CUT OFF COMMUNITY OF HELPINGINEOPLE AND WE’RE STOPPING THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: PEOPLE ARE NOT UNDER AN EVACUATION ORDER BUT NEARBY COMMUNITIES R IF THEY DECIDE TO LEAVE, THEY CAN’T GO BACK. EVEN WITHOUT POWER AND WATER, MANY ARE REFUSING TO LEAVE. >> HOW ARE YOU FEELING? >> ANXIOUS. YOU KNOW? WORRIED FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS. >> Reporter: AND SO FRIENDS AND STRANGERS LOADED UP THEIR

BOATS, RE-ING FUGUE TO LET ANYONE GO WITHOUT BASIC NECESSITIES. >> WE KNOW WE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT ON THE EDGE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT FIRST RESPONDERS WANT US TO DO WHICH IS TO STAY AWAY, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO NEED HELP. >> Reporter: EVEN IF IT COMES WITH A RISK.

AUTHORITIES ARE PATROLLING THE WATERS TO ENSURE EVERYONE’S SAFETY. >> WE STAY OUT OF THE ZONES THAT ARE CHOSE. CLOSED. >> Reporter: WHAT’S DIFFICULT TO ESCAPE ARE THE DANGEROUS LEVELS OF SMOKE. THE AIR QUALITY HERE IS AMONG THE WORST IN THE WORLD, OMAR. >> Omar: SUCH A CHALLENGING SITUATION. VANESSA THANK YOU.

WE LEARNED TODAY 60 STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN THE FLAMES, 50 OF THOSE IN KELOWNA. AND AS CTV’S ALISSA THIBAULT TELLS US, CREWS STILL HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO ASSESS THE FULL SCOPE OF THE DAMAGE. >> Reporter: AROUND THE CLOCK, CREWS FROM ALL OVER THE PROVINCE ARE FACING THE FRONT LINE OF A

FIRE STILL BURNING. >> I SAW THE FIREFIGHTERS FROM THE NIGHT SHIFT COMING BACK AND THEY WERE BLACK. >> Reporter: AND NOW A CLEARER IDEA OF WHAT’S BEEN LOST. OFFICIALS SAY WEST KELOWNA AND WEST BANK FIRST NATION HAVE BEEN HIT HARD, AT LEAST 50 STRUCTURES EITHER COMPLETELY DESTROYED OR PARTIALLY DAMAGED.

FIVE HOMES LOST IN KELOWNA AND TWO TO THREE IN LAKE COUNTRY. FURTHER NORTH, ALONG THE LAKE, HOMES ALSO LOST IN TRADER’S COVE, UP TO LAKE OKANAGAN RESORT CONFORMITY IT’S EMOTIONAL YEAH. >> Reporter: TREVOR PETERS IS AMONG THOSE FIGURING OUT NEXT STEPS. HIS HOME NEAR OKANAGAN LAKE WAS BURNT TO THE GROUND.

>> I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M GOING TO BE OR GO NEXT. I LOST EVERYTHING AND TRYING TO PICK UP FROM THERE DAY TO DAY JUST ME AND HIM. >> Reporter: SOME RESIDENTS ALREADY KNOW THEIR HOME IS GONE BECAUSE THEY SAW IT GO UP IN FLAMES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. OTHERS ARE CONFIDENT THEIR

PROPERTY IS SAFE. THEY CAN STILL SEE HOME CAMERAS. BUT SO MUCH IS STILL UNKNOWN. ASSESSMENT CREWS ARE NOW ONLY BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE MOST DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS. >> BUT WE’RE MOVING INTO THE AREAS WHERE THE FIRE BURNED HOTTEST. I DESCRIBED IT AS A HURRICANE. TREES PUSHED OVER BY THEIR ROOTS.

>> Reporter: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN GO BACK. >> WE HEARD SOME PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT FRIDAY. SOME PEOPLE SAID THREE WEEKS. SOME PEOPLE SAY A COUPLE OF DAYS. >> Reporter: AND THERE COULD BE A TURNING POINT FOR FIRE CREWS.

RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST STARTING TONIGHT AND LASTING THROUGH UNTIL WEDNESDAY. ONCE THIS SMOKE FINALLY CLEARS, THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE WILL BECOME CLEARER. ALISSA THIBAULT, CTV NEWS, KELOWNA. >> Omar: THE FIRE FIGHT IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HAS SHIFTED FROM DEFENCE TO OFFENSE WITH A FOCUS ON PREVENTING ANY FURTHER SPREAD.

>> THE SMALL AMOUNT OF RAIN WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAS NOT STOPPED THESE FIRES. IT IS NOT SAFE TO RETURN TO ANY EVACUATED COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AT THIS TIME. >> Omar: 600 FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS MORE THAN 300 MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN

ARMED FORCES. MOST OF YELLOWKNIFE’S 20,000 PEOPLE HAVEMETRES AWAY. >>> THE BC PREMIER AND THE PRIME MINISTER POINTED THE FINGER AT META TODAY FOR MAKING THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS HARDER ESPECIALLY FOR EVACUEES WITH A BAN ON CANADIAN NEWS ON FACEBOOK. >> FACEBOOK’S PUTTING CORPORATE PROFITS AHEAD OF PEOPLE’S SAFETY. >> Omar: FACEBOOK SAYS PEOPLE

CAN ACCESS CRISIS RESPONSE PAGES AND SAYS IT HAS WARN BIRTHDAY THE FALLOUT FROM THE GOVERNMENT’S ONLINE NEWS APP FOR MONTHS. THE MASSIVE FINANCIAL LOSSES OF THE WILDFIRES ARE GROWING DAILY AND THAT’S PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. HERE’S CTV’S HEATHER WRIGHT. >> Reporter: THE WORST WILDFIRE SEASON IN CANADIAN

HISTORY HAS FORCED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS FROM THEIR HOMES, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. AND IT COULD BE MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS BEFORE SOME ARE ABLE TO RETURN HOME. >> IT’S BEEN TORTURE REALLY. >> Reporter: JOHN INGRAM’S HOUSE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY SMOKE FROM THE HALIFAX FIRE IN

MAY WHICH DESTROYED MUCH OF HIS NEIGHBOURHOOD. WHILE HIS HOUSE IS STILL STANDING HE HAS YET TO RETURN HOME. UNHAPPY WITH HIS INSURANCE COMPANY WHO HE SAYS HAS OFFERED LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT HE CALLS A DEEP CLEANING. >> IT’S REALLY NOT SAFE. LIKE MY HOUSE IS COMPLETELY FULL OF SOOT.

MY ATTIC IS FULL OF SOOT. MY AIR EXCHANGER IS FULL OF SOOT. MY FLOORS, MY BEDS, MY WALLS, EVERYTHING IS FULL OF SOOT BUT IT’S NOT JUST THAT. IT’S EVERYTHING GETS INTO THE INSULATION AND THE DRYWALL. >> Reporter: WILDFIRE INSURANCE IS STANDARD WITH EVERY HOME INSURANCE POLICY WHICH OFTEN INCLUDES EXPENSES FOR MASS

EVACUATIONS ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE BUREAU OF CANADA. BUT CLIMATE CHANGE THEY SAY IS MAKING THOSE PREMIUMS MORE EXPENSIVE. >> INSURERS PRICE RISK AND THIS IS BECOMING A RISKIER PLACE TO INSURE. >> Reporter: WEATHER RELATED DAMAGES CAUSED MORE THAN $3 BILLION IN INSURED LOSSES IN CANADA IN 2022. THE THIRD COSTLIEST YEAR ON RECORD.

>> IT’S NO SURPRISE WE’RE SEEING PREMIUMS GO UP BY FIVE, 10, 15%. >> Reporter: IN THE UNITED STATES, SOME MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE SCALED DOWN OR HALTED THE SALE OF NEW POLICIES IN STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA HOPING TO AVOID COVERING SKYROCKETING LOSSES AS CLIMATE CHANGE FUELS MORE INTENSE DISASTERS.

BUT INDUSTRY EXPERTS DON’T BELIEVE A WHOLESALE CHANGE TO WILDFIRE INSURANCE IN CANADA IS LIKELY. >> BECAUSE THEY CAN’T PREDICT IT, THEY’RE NOT SAYING IT’S AN UNINSURABLE COST. THERE’S BEEN NO CHANGE ON THAT. COULD SOMETHING HAPPEN OVER TIME? ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE. BUT THERE’S BEEN NO INDICATION THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE ANY POLICY CHANGES.

>> Reporter: ANYONE MAKING A CLAIM IS ENCOURAGED TO START THE PROCESS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS THERE COULD BE DELAYS DUE TO THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HELP. % HEATHER WRIGHT, CTV NEWS, TORONTO. >> Omar: THE SCOPE OF THE DESTRUCTION LEFT BEHIND FROM TROPICAL STORM HILLARY WAS CLEARER TODAY.

THIS WAS THE FIRST STORM OF ITS KIND TO HIT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN 84 YEARS. CTV’S JOY MALBON REPORTS. >> Reporter: MANY CALIFORNIANS HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS SWAMPED, TROPICAL STORM HILLARY BROUGHT FLASH FLOODING. >> HOLY (BEEP). >> Reporter: TRIGGERING VIOLENT MUDSLIDES SENDING ROCK AND DEBRIS AND SAN BERNARDINO

FIREFIGHTERS RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. RESCUERS PLUCKING PEOPLE FROM THE SWOLLEN RIVERS AS ROADS AND HIGHWAYS BUCKLED. DRENCHING THE DESERT TURNING PARTS OF IT INTO RIVERS. >> I GREW UP DOWN HERE IN PALM SPRINGS. I’VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD. >> Reporter: TRAFFIC WAS BROUGHT TO A STAND STILL IN PALM SPRINGS.

WATER GUSHED LU A LAS VEGAS CASINO PARKING LOT AND IN SOME AREAS, HILLARY DROPPED A YEAR’S WORTH OF RAIN IN JUST A SINGLE DAY, KNOCKING OUT POWER TO THOUSANDS. AS IF THE TROPICAL DOWNPOUR WASN’T ENOUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS RAGING STORM… THE GROUND SHOOK. A 5.1 EARTHQUAKE RATTLING NERVES.

>> THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT SO FAR HAS REPORTED NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES IN THE CITY RESULTING FROM THE EARTHQUAKE. >> Reporter: SO FAR, L.A.’S MAYOR SAYS THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, JUST A WHOLE LOT OF MESS AND A WHOLE LOT OF MUD. >> I’M DIGGING THE TRUCK RIGHT NOW BECAUSE…

WE GOT STUCK. WE GOT STUCK. >> Reporter: AS THE WATER RECEDES AND CLEANUP BEGINS, OFFICIALS ARE STILL WARNING THOSE IN THE STORM ZONE TO BE CAUTIOUS. >> THERE’S BOULDERS IN THE BACKYARD. I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY GOT ON THAT SIDE OF THE GARAGE. THERE’S BOULDERS THE SIZE OF A VOLKSWAGEN SITTING OVER THERE.

SO STRANGE. >> Reporter: STRANGE INDEED. IN A YEAR OF CLIMATE EXTREMES COMING ON THE HEELS OF HILLARY, WARNINGS ARE ALREADY OUT FOR ANOTHER TROPICAL CYCLONE THREATENING TO SLAM INTO TEXAS TOMORROW. JOY MALBON, CTV NEWS, WASHINGTON. >> Omar: THE WEATHER DISASTERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER ARE DESTROYING HOMES, BUT THERE IS

AN ADDITIONAL HOUSING CRISIS IN CANADA WHERE TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN’T AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE. THE AFFORDABILITY DILEMMA SO MANY FACE IS NOW A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE PRIME MINISTER AND ONE HE’S TRYING TO ADDRESS AT A RETREAT IN PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. HERE’S CTV’S ANNIE BERGERON-OLIVER. >> YOU GUYS ARE MORE INTERESTING.

>> Reporter: THE HOUSING CRUNCH TOUCHES EVERY GENERATION. AND FOR THOSE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE IT’S A TOP ISSUE PUSHING HOUSING UP IN THE PRIORITY LIST AND THE LIBERALS DOWN IN THE POLES. >> Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau: DURING THIS CABINET RETREAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR EVERYONE.

TALK ABOUT HOW WE’RE GOING TO SOLVE SOME OF THE HOUSING CHALLENGES. >> Reporter: THE COST TO RENT OR BUY A HOME ARE SKYROCKETING DUE TO STRONG DEMAND AND A SHORTAGE FOR HOMES AND ACCORDING TO ONE STUDY, THERE ARE ONLY THREE CANADIAN CITIES WHERE SOMEONE LIVING ON MINIMUM WAGE CAN AFFORD A ONE BEDROOM

APARTMENT. >> LANDLORDS ARE ASKING FOR LIKE A LOT MORE KNOWN NOW. >> IT’S A BEDROOM IN A SHARED SPACE. $900. >> Reporter: TO FIX THAT MILLIONS OF NEW HOUSING UNITS NEED TO BE BUILT BUT WITH A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS THAT’S A CHALLENGE. >> WE HAVE FOLKS WELL PAST RETIREMENT HANGING IN THERE

BECAUSE THEY’RE SO BUSY. WE THINK IT’S SAD TODAY. IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE IN THE NEXT SHORT-TERM HERE. >> Reporter: AS THAT SHORTAGE GETS WORSE, SO WILL THE PRESSURE ON THE LIBERALS TO SOLVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THE CONSERVATIVES ARE EAGER TO TALK ABOUT. >> THE BIGGEST COST FOR HOUSING

TODAY IS NOT LABOUR, NOT LUMBER, NOT LAND, AND NOT PROFITS. IT’S GOVERNMENT. THAT IS THE RECORD AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF TRUDEAU. >> Reporter: THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SPEED UP CONSTRUCTION WITH A NEW PLAN OFFERING MUNICIPALITIES WHO COMMIT IN WRITING TO ACHIEVING CERTAIN HOUSING TARGETS UP TO

$400 MILLION A YEAR OVER THREE YEARS. >> THESE TARGETS WILL BE AMBITION, BUT REALISTIC. FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM IN 2023, WE WANT TO ACHIEVE AT LEAST 110,000 NEW HOUSING STARTS. >> Reporter: BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL THE PROGRAM WORK? TWO YEARS AGO, MONTRÉAL INTRODUCED A BYLAW TO BRING MORE

SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS ON LINE. BUT INSTEAD OF BUILDING THEM, DEVELOPERS PAID FINES. >> OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CITY HAS GOT ABOUT $24 MILLION. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE FEDERAL HOUSING MINISTER SAYS THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO CONSIDER A POTENTIAL CAP ON INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OMAR TO HELP COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING TO FIND

PLACES FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO LIVE. >> Omar: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. JOINING US IS CTV CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT VASSY KAPELOS. BEHIND THE SCENES OF THIS CABINET RETREAT WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? IS THERE A SENSE THERE’S A PLAN TO TACKLE AFFORDABILITY OR FRUSTRATION INTERNALLY OF HOW MUCH THE ISSUE IS BEING PRIORITIZED.

>> Reporter: OMAR, I HAVE TO TELL YOU I’VE COVERED A LOT OF THESE RETREATS OVER THE LAST EIGHT OR SO YEARS AND YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FORTHCOMING MINISTERS AND THEIR STAFF WILL BE. BEHIND THE SCENES THEY’RE FRUSTRATED AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY WORRIED ABOUT GROUND THEY SEE, THEY HAVE CEDED TO IN

PARTICULAR THE CONSERVATIVES ON THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY AND EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISSUE OF HOUSING AND SO THESE MEETINGS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, THEY ARE LASER LIKE FOCUSED ON THAT. THEY’RE GOING TO HEAR TOMORROW ALL DAY FROM A SLEW OF EXPERTS ON HOUSING. THE PLAN IS TO COME UP WITH A

NEW PLAN, AN AGENDA THEY CAN PUT PASSPORT TO CANADIANS THAT SHOWS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ACTING AND ADDRESSING ON THE FRUSTRATION TRACES CANADIANS FEEL AROUND HOUSING. THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE THAT MESSAGE RESONATE WITH VOTERS. >> Omar: THIS IS QUITE A

CONTRAST FROM WHAT WE SAW IN 2015. THE LIBERALS WERE SEEN BY MUCH OF THE COUNTRY AS CHAMPIONS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS. WHY ARE THEY SO POLITICALLY VULNERABLE ON THE ISSUE NOW? >> Reporter: YEAH, IT’S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE IF YOU THINK BACK TO 20 SARK THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THAT RESONATED.

THEY CONVINCED CANADIANS THEY WOULD HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS AND WOULD HELP PEOPLE READY TO JOIN IT OR WANTING TO JOIN IT REALLY AND TO GIVE CREDIT TO THEM, THEY DID IN A NUMBER OF INSTANCES. THINK ABOUT CHILD CARE OR THE CANADA CHILD BENEFIT. BUT THE ISSUE OF HOUSING HAS

INCREASED IN PROMINENCE AND SO FAR SAVE LEFT A VACUUM FOR THE OPPOSITION TO FILL AT THEIR EXPENSE. >> Omar: SAUDI ARABIA AN BORDER GUARDS ARE BEING ACCUSED OF KILLING HUNDREDS OF ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. THE MIGRANTS HAD CROSSED ALONG SAUDI ARABIA’S BORDER WITH YEMEN. THE INCIDENTS ALLEGEDLY

OCCURRING OVER A 15 MONTH PERIOD DATING BACK TO MARCH 2022. >> THE BRITISH NURSE CONVICTED OF MURDERING SEVEN BABIES AND ATTEMPTING TO KILL ANOTHER SIX WILL SPEND HER LIFE IN PRISON. >> THERE WAS PREMEDITATION, CALCULATION, AND CUNNING IN YOUR ACTIONS. >> Omar: 33-YEAR-OLD LUCY LET BY INJECTED INFANTS WITH

AIR,-INS LICENCE OR FORCE FED THEM MILK. TODAY SHE REFUSED TO BE IN COURT WHICH PROMPTED SOME TO CALL FOR A CHANGE TO THE LAW. >> I THINK IT COWARDLY PEOPLE WHO COMMIT SUCH HORRENDOUS CRIMES DO NOT FACE THEIR VICTIMS. >> Omar: THE RULING KNOWN TO BE THE MOST SEVERE POSSIBLE

UNDER UK LAWCTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT OF SPAIN’S SOCCER FEDERATION. HE CAME UNDER FIRE FOR KISSING A SPANISH PLAYER ON THE LIPS DURING THE MEDAL AND TROPHY CEREMONY. HE LATER A STATEMENT. [ Cheering ] AND OLIWA CARMONA, SPAIN’S ONLY GOAL SCORENER THE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN OVER ENGLAND THANKED FANS TODAY FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN THE

WAKE OF HER OWN PERSONAL LOSS. SHE LEARNED AFTER THE GAME THAT HER FATHER HAD PASSED AWAY. HE DIED BEFORE THE MATCH BUT HER FAMILY DECIDED TELL HER UNTILL THE GAME WAS OVER. >>> STILL AHEAD… A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO FIGHT WILDFIRES. [ ??? ]

>> Omar: WELL THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN THE WORST WILDFIRE SEASON IN CANADIAN HISTORY AND THERE’S MORE THAN A MONTH LEFT TO THE SUMMER. MORE THAN 15 MILLION HECTARES HAVE BEEN SWALLOWED UP BY THE FLAMES. THAT’S AN AREA ABOUT TWICE THE SIZE OF NEW BRUNSWICK. LET’S BRING IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST DAN RISKIN.

THERE’S SO MUCH MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION OUT THERE. HELP CLEAR IT UP FOR US. WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE WILDFIRES WE’VE BEEN SEEING THIS YEAR? >> YOU DON’T GET A FIRE UNLESS YOU HAVE A SPARK. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT SPARK REALLY DEPENDS ON TWO FACTORS.

ONE IS HOW MUCH FUEL THERE IS TO BURN AND THE SECOND IS WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE WHILE THE FIRE IS GOING? BOTH OF THOSE FACTORS ARE INFLUENCED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUEL SIDE OF THINGS, HOW MUCH OF THAT FOREST IS READY TO GO UP IN FLAMES.

THAT’S VERY DEPENDENT ON CLIMATE BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET WARMER TEMPERATURES, YOU DON’T GET AS MUCH SNOW IN THE WINTER. SO YOU START OFF YOUR SEASON WITH A LOT LESS WATER IN THE ECOSYSTEM. AND THEN YOU GET AN EARLIER SPRING, SO YOU HAVE MORE DAYS FOR ALL THAT WOOD TO DRY OUT AND

GET READY TO GO. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SUMMERS HAVE BEEN LIKE ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN CANADA THE LAST TWO, THREE YEARS, THEY’VE BEEN INCREDIBLY HOT AND DRY. IT’S NO WONDER THE WHOLE PLACE IS A TINDERBOX. THE OTHER PIECE IS THE WEATHER WHILE THE FIRE IS GOING. WHEN YOU HAVE HOT TEMPERATURES,

IT GIVES THE FIRE MORE STRENGTH. SO IN THE PAST THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COOL NIGHT TO DAMPEN THINGS AND KEPT THE FIRE FROM GETTING TOO BIG. WHEN IT STAYS HOT THROUGH THE NIGHT GET FIRES THAT KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING. CLIMATE CHANGE HAS A HUGE ROLE

TO PLAY OFF THE THE SPARK AFTER THE SPARK. >> Omar: IN TERMS OF AN ANALOGY TO HELP BREAK IT DOWN? >> I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IF I WERE IN A BOXING MATCH WITH SOMEBODY ON STEROIDS. YOU CAN’T SAY THEY LAND THAT PARTICULAR PUNCH BECAUSE OF SPEHROIDS. THEY MIGHT HAVE LAND THE THE

PUNCH ANYWAY. IF THEY WEREN’T ON STEROIDS, BUT I DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF SOMEONE ON STEROIDS BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE FOREST FIRES, PEOPLE SAY WELL THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT ONE NOT. I DON’T CARE. THERE’S MORE FIRES AND THE FIRES

ARE WORSE AND IT’S VERY CLEARLY BECAUSE THE CLIMATES IS CHANGING. >> Omar: YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TREND ANDS AS THIS IS ALL HAPPENING IT’S — WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT? >> WELL, THIS IS KIND OF EXCITING. AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS

FUTURE, WE’RE SORT OF MARRIED TO WHERE WE’VE GOTTEN OURSELVES AND HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK. WE’RE PLAYING WHACK-A-MOLE WITH THE FIRES. THE POWER OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO TAKE TONS OF DATA FROM SATELLITES, SENSORS ON THE GROUND IS TO COME UP WITH PLANS TO GO OUT AND FIGHT THE

FIRES IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE OR EVEN PREDICT WHERE THE FIRES ARE GOING TO BE TOMORROW. SO WE DO HAVE TOOLS AVAILABLE. WE DON’T SO RESIGN OUR TELEPHONES TO OUT OF CONTROL FIRES BUT IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK, IT’S GOING TO TAKE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND WE HAVE TO

THROW EVERYTHING WE HAVE AT THIS AND THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS PREVENT MORE CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MORE WE DO TO PREVENT CLIMATE CHANGE, WE CAN STOP THIS FROM GETTING WORSE THAN IT IS. >> Omar: A HUGE TASK AHEAD AND CRITICAL AND URGENT. THANKS SO MUCH. APPRECIATE T. >> THANK YOU.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, SEARCHING FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS. THE CARGO SHIP WITH THE WIND IN ITS SAILS. >> Omar: A MAJOR SHIPPING COMPANY IS TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY OF THE PAST TO DEAL WITH A PRESENT DAY CRISIS. HERE’S CTV’S JOHN VENNAVALLY-RAO. >> Reporter: AS THE WORLD KEEPS GETTING HOTTER, ONE OF THE

MANY INDUSTRIES FEELING THE HEAT, GLOBAL SHIPPING W SO MANY MASSIVE VESSELS CRISSCROSSING OCEANS AND BURNING FOSSIL FUELS. WORLDWIDE, ACCOUNTING FOR MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF PERCENT OF CO2 EMISSIONS BUT THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THIS BULK CARRIER IS MAKING WAVES IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT’S PARTIALLY PROPELLED FORWARD USING GIANT

SAILS, HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE WIND. >> IT’S A BACK TO THE FUTURE IF YOU LIKE. >> Reporter: THE SHIP RECENTLY LEFT CHINA FOR BRAZIL. OUTFITTED WITH A PAIR OF RIGID STRUCTURES CALLED WIND WINGS. 12 STOREYS TALL THEY’RE MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL AS WIND TURBINES AND COULD/FUEL CONSUMPTION MORE THAN 30%

SHRINKING THE SHIP’S CARBON FOOTPRINT. >> EACH OF THESE WIND WICKS IS SAVING ONE AND A HALF TONS OF FUEL A DAY. >> Reporter: THE SAILS WERE DESIGNED BY A BRITISH COMPANY THAT CAN FOLD DOWN IN PORT OR IN ROUGH WEATHER AND COULD HELP THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY MEET A PLEDGE

TO GO NET ZERO BY 2050. WIND POWERED SHIPS OF COURSE RULED THE WAVES FOR CENTURIES BEFORE THE SWITCH TO STEAM AND DIESEL. OTHER CARGO COMPANIES ARE ALSO TRYING OUT HARD SAILS, AND EVEN GIANT KITES TO HELP PULL SHIPS ALONG. >> BULK CARRIERS AND TANKERS, WE CAN SEE LARGE PORTION OF NEW

BUILDS WITH A NUMBER OF RETROFITS IN THE COMING YEARS FITTED WITH WIND TECHNOLOGY OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER. >> Reporter: AN INDUSTRY TRYING TO SET SAIL TOWARDS A CLEANER FUTURE. JOHN VENNAVALLY-RAO, CTV NEWS, TORONTO. >> Omar: FASCINATING. THAT’S A SNAPSHOT OF THIS MONDAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. [ ??? ] [ ??? ]

More than 27,000 people are under evacuation order in British Columbia, with 35,000 standing by; California deals with flooding aftermath.

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