nationalobserver--2020-10-27--Feds provide $500M each in funding for rapid housing, projects

OTTAWA — Fifteen cities will share $ 500 million in federal funding so they can buy properties being sold because of the COVID-19 pandemic and use them to help keep people from becoming homeless .
Canada ’ s biggest city , Toronto , will get the largest slice of that funding pie with about $ 203 million , with funding also going to Vancouver , Montreal , Ottawa and Edmonton to help their housing providers find places for people in time for winter .
A further $ 500 million will be up for grabs for projects that will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials giving the green light for funding .
The money up for grabs is in high demand , with some cities already laying out buying strategies and prepping to apply for the project-based funding stream .
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said once those applications are in , cities will be telling the federal Liberals that both pots of money will need to be topped up .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
`` But the best way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two $ 500-million allocations quickly , which we intend to do , '' said Iveson , who chairs the big-city mayors group of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities .
The government considered the program for months as a way to keep people from falling into homelessness heading into the winter , with temporary shelter measures for the COVID-19 pandemic set to expire .
Some cities have rented hotel rooms to accommodate people while shelter capacity is reduced to allow for physical spacing , but they ’ re badly stretched financially .
Toronto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his city needed to pool the money with municipal funds as well as dollars from the private and non-profit sectors `` to get affordable housing built as quickly as possible in our city . ''
He added that work is underway on a 12-month investment plan to properly put the funding to work .
Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said cities have already identified properties to buy , or have plans for modular housing that can be built in a matter of months , leading him to say Tuesday that he expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built before the winter . ''
Hussen has previously said he hopes to have most of the money spent before March 2021 , when the federal fiscal year ends .
The figures the federal government provided Tuesday add details about the Liberals ’ plan to create or purchase 3,000 new # affordablehousing units across Canada .
Cities had estimated a need of about 12,000 units .
# cdnpoli The figures the federal government provided Tuesday add details about the Liberals ’ plan to create or purchase 3,000 new affordable housing units across Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 12,000 units .
`` The cold , wet weather is upon us .
Tent cities are occurring all throughout the country .
An allocation of 3,000 units will not even come close to addressing the homelessness crisis , '' NDP housing critic Jenny Kwan said in a statement .
What ’ s also needed is for provincial governments to provide cash for health and counselling services to keep people housed in the new units , said Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart .
The federal funding will cover purchase and construction costs , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units will have to come from provincial or municipal coffers .
At the moment , municipal coffers are already stretched from the pandemic .
Revenues dropped as recreational facilities sat unused and ridership diminished on transit systems , and costs increased for extra cleaning and emergency services .
The Liberals sent $ 2 billion to cities through a `` safe restart '' agreement with the provinces last month , and promised to match up to $ 2.3 billion more in provincial money for transit systems .
The money helps cities until the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at their budgets for 2021 with questions about how a second wave of COVID-19 may affect their bottom lines , Iveson said .
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Tuesday there were no immediate plans to provide more funding to cities , unless provinces made the case that more was needed to avoid service cuts .
`` You wouldn ’ t want a situation in the context of the pandemic that these services were less available or somehow were diminished at a time when people need the most , '' LeBlanc said @

OTTAWA — Fifteen cities will share $500 million in federal funding so they can buy properties being sold because of the COVID-19 pandemic and use them to help keep people from becoming homeless. Canada’s biggest city, Toronto, will get the largest slice of that funding pie with about $203 million, with funding also going to Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Edmonton to help their housing providers find places for people in time for winter. A further $500 million will be up for grabs for projects that will have to be completed within 12 months of federal officials giving the green light for funding. The money up for grabs is in high demand, with some cities already laying out buying strategies and prepping to apply for the project-based funding stream. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said once those applications are in, cities will be telling the federal Liberals that both pots of money will need to be topped up.
"But the best way to make that argument is to use up the two $500-million allocations quickly, which we intend to do," said Iveson, who chairs the big-city mayors group of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The government considered the program for months as a way to keep people from falling into homelessness heading into the winter, with temporary shelter measures for the COVID-19 pandemic set to expire. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Some cities have rented hotel rooms to accommodate people while shelter capacity is reduced to allow for physical spacing, but they’re badly stretched financially.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said in a statement his city needed to pool the money with municipal funds as well as dollars from the private and non-profit sectors "to get affordable housing built as quickly as possible in our city." He added that work is underway on a 12-month investment plan to properly put the funding to work. The figures the federal government provided Tuesday add details about the Liberals’ plan to create or purchase 3,000 new #affordablehousing units across Canada. Cities had estimated a need of about 12,000 units. #cdnpoli Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said cities have already identified properties to buy, or have plans for modular housing that can be built in a matter of months, leading him to say Tuesday that he expected to see "a lot of housing being built before the winter." Hussen has previously said he hopes to have most of the money spent before March 2021, when the federal fiscal year ends. The figures the federal government provided Tuesday add details about the Liberals’ plan to create or purchase 3,000 new affordable housing units across Canada. Cities had estimated a need of about 12,000 units. "The cold, wet weather is upon us. Tent cities are occurring all throughout the country. An allocation of 3,000 units will not even come close to addressing the homelessness crisis," NDP housing critic Jenny Kwan said in a statement.
What’s also needed is for provincial governments to provide cash for health and counselling services to keep people housed in the new units, said Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart. The federal funding will cover purchase and construction costs, but the dollars needed to operate the new units will have to come from provincial or municipal coffers. At the moment, municipal coffers are already stretched from the pandemic. Revenues dropped as recreational facilities sat unused and ridership diminished on transit systems, and costs increased for extra cleaning and emergency services.


nationalobserver--2020-10-27--America's election could impact immigration to Canada next year

OTTAWA — After four years of Canada positioning itself as a more welcoming destination than the U.S. for new immigrants , the upcoming presidential election could change that dynamic .
But as the Liberal government prepares to lay out its immigration targets for the coming year , the domestic discourse on the issue appears to be changing as well .
A new poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggests Canadians are feeling skittish about any planned increases to immigration next year , after months of low numbers of new arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Fifty-two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they want the levels to stay low for the next 12 months , a figure that can be pegged to the pandemic , said Jack Jedwab , the president of the Association for Canadian Studies .
`` When health authorities are telling you that one of the principal causes of the virus is migration — they ’ re not saying international migration , just people moving in general — and they are telling you not to go abroad , you ’ re going to conclude to some degree that immigration carries a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The survey polled 1,523 Canadians between Oct. 23 and Oct. 25 .
It can not be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not truly random .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
Border closures , civil servants working from home , flight cancellations and vanished job opportunities have all had an impact on the immigration system : estimates suggest that as of August , immigration levels were down 43.5 per cent versus last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome 341,000 newcomers in 2020 is out the window .
While the Liberal government has maintained a pro-immigration stance throughout and has begun easing restrictions on who is allowed into Canada , what the Liberals think immigration overall could look like next year will be clearer later this week .
Despite some Americans ’ `` If Trump wins , I ’ m moving to Canada '' line , the U.S. election might not affect the total numbers for new arrivals .
But it could affect the demographics of who arrives .
Upon assuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately moved to impose restrictions on immigration , and Canada ’ s messaging immediately went in the other direction .
The most public response was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ’ s # WelcomeRefugees tweet , posted after Trump ’ s first changes were announced .
The # USelection might not affect the total numbers for new arrivals to Canada — but it could affect the demographics of who arrives .
# Election2020 Meanwhile , Trump ’ s travel bans on certain countries , crackdowns on temporary visas issued to citizens of others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly skilled workers to get visas would go on to have a trickle-up-to-Canada effect .
How so became tragically clear earlier this year when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down just after taking off from Tehran .
Upwards of 130 people on the flight were headed to Canada .
With Iran on the U.S. blacklist , the Iranian diaspora in Canada had swelled .
The tech sector as well began actively promoting Canada as a place to move as the U.S. made it harder for skilled workers to get visas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ international real estate company CBRE concluded that Toronto had seen the biggest growth in technology jobs in the last five years , outpacing hot spots like Seattle and San Francisco .
Should Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden win the election , it ’ s expected that U.S. immigration policy will shift , said Andrew Griffiths , a former director general of citizenship and multiculturalism at the Immigration Department .
How far is hard to know : Trump made a lot of changes , he said .
`` It ’ s going to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one by one and make changes and there may not be political will to reverse them all , '' he said .
But there is one area where there could be a quick change .
Since 2017 , nearly 60,000 people have crossed into Canada from the U.S. at unofficial border points to seek asylum in Canada .
The reason is the Safe Third Country Agreement , which doesn ’ t allow for asylum claims at land border points , on the grounds that both countries are safe , and someone must ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country he or she reaches .
Canada has been trying to renegotiate , and if there ’ s a change in power , the dynamics of those talks could shift as well .
On the other hand , points out Griffiths , it could also result in the number of people seeking to cross into Canada that way declining markedly .
One `` push factor '' sending asylum-claimants north has been a U.S. crackdown on visa renewals by people from certain countries .
The political dynamic in the U.S. will always have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t exist at the same level in Canada , Griffith said .
If Trump loses , the more `` outrageous '' aspects of his approach might disappear , he said .
`` A Biden administration would reduce the strength of the Canadian advantage that we had in all our messaging , but it won ’ t completely eliminate it . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 27 , 2020

OTTAWA — After four years of Canada positioning itself as a more welcoming destination than the U.S. for new immigrants, the upcoming presidential election could change that dynamic. But as the Liberal government prepares to lay out its immigration targets for the coming year, the domestic discourse on the issue appears to be changing as well. A new poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggests Canadians are feeling skittish about any planned increases to immigration next year, after months of low numbers of new arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifty-two per cent of those polled this week say they want the levels to stay low for the next 12 months, a figure that can be pegged to the pandemic, said Jack Jedwab, the president of the Association for Canadian Studies.
"When health authorities are telling you that one of the principal causes of the virus is migration — they’re not saying international migration, just people moving in general — and they are telling you not to go abroad, you’re going to conclude to some degree that immigration carries a risk right now," said Jedwab. The survey polled 1,523 Canadians between Oct. 23 and Oct. 25. It cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not truly random.
Border closures, civil servants working from home, flight cancellations and vanished job opportunities have all had an impact on the immigration system: estimates suggest that as of August, immigration levels were down 43.5 per cent versus last year and the government’s plan to welcome 341,000 newcomers in 2020 is out the window. While the Liberal government has maintained a pro-immigration stance throughout and has begun easing restrictions on who is allowed into Canada, what the Liberals think immigration overall could look like next year will be clearer later this week. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Despite some Americans’ "If Trump wins, I’m moving to Canada" line, the U.S. election might not affect the total numbers for new arrivals.
But it could affect the demographics of who arrives. The #USelection might not affect the total numbers for new arrivals to Canada — but it could affect the demographics of who arrives. #Election2020 Upon assuming the presidency in 2017, Donald Trump immediately moved to impose restrictions on immigration, and Canada’s messaging immediately went in the other direction. The most public response was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s #WelcomeRefugees tweet, posted after Trump’s first changes were announced. Meanwhile, Trump’s travel bans on certain countries, crackdowns on temporary visas issued to citizens of others, and efforts to make it harder for highly skilled workers to get visas would go on to have a trickle-up-to-Canada effect. How so became tragically clear earlier this year when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down just after taking off from Tehran.
Upwards of 130 people on the flight were headed to Canada. With Iran on the U.S. blacklist, the Iranian diaspora in Canada had swelled.
The tech sector as well began actively promoting Canada as a place to move as the U.S. made it harder for skilled workers to get visas. A study earlier this year by the international real estate company CBRE concluded that Toronto had seen the biggest growth in technology jobs in the last five years, outpacing hot spots like Seattle and San Francisco. Should Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden win the election, it’s expected that U.S. immigration policy will shift, said Andrew Griffiths, a former director general of citizenship and multiculturalism at the Immigration Department.


nationalobserver--2020-10-27--Federal judge tosses youth climate case against Ottawa

The young climate activists challenging Ottawa ’ s climate policies will not get to lay out their case in Federal Court , a justice said on Tuesday , striking a blow to efforts to litigate for tougher action sought in massive street protests .
Justice Michael Manson rejected the 15 youths ’ legal challenge , agreeing with a government motion to strike , saying their claims that government climate policy had hurt them was too broad a question for the courts to consider .
The decision may have set the stage for another climate case to head to the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying they will appeal .
Ottawa is awaiting a separate decision from the country ’ s top court on whether it overstepped its jurisdictional authority by imposing a carbon price on provinces that do not have an adequate plan of their own to cap emissions .
But while that case argues Ottawa has gotten involved where it shouldn ’ t , the youth case says the feds have not done enough .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unquantifiable number of actions and inactions ” on the part of the government , effectively trying to subject Ottawa ’ s overall climate policy to charter review , Justice Manson wrote in the decision .
The youths ’ lawyers had argued at a pretrial hearing last month that Canada ’ s actions , particularly its support of the country ’ s fossil fuel industry , have breached their constitutional rights to life , liberty , security and equality before the law .
The case was argued by Tollefson Law Corporation and backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the David Suzuki Foundation , and they said they intend to appeal the decision .
“ It 's definitely disheartening and it 's pretty disappointing that the courts do n't see this as an opportunity to recognize how they 've been knowingly contributing to the climate emergency and impacting these young people 's lives and the lives of future generations , ” said Brendan Glauser , a spokesperson for the David Suzuki Foundation .
“ We know these kids are on the right side of history , and we know they deserve their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the appeal we go , ” he said in a phone interview .
Some of the youth plaintiffs and David Suzuki listen as Rebecca Hamilton of the Sustainabiliteens youth climate group speaks at a Vancouver rally on Oct. 25 , 2019 .
Photo supplied by the David Suzuki Foundation Mikaeel Mahmood , an 11-year-old plaintiff in the case , pointed out that the justice system was the only avenue available to him .
A federal judge has rejected the efforts of 15 young people to hold Ottawa to account for climate policies they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deciding their complaint is too broad and outside of the court 's remit .
“ As someone who ca n't vote , realizing that my only protection is not something that I can rely on is disappointing , ” he said in a statement .
Lawyers for the government had argued that the claims are “ political , ideological and policy-oriented ” and therefore not within the remit of the courts to judge .
Manson said the young people ’ s broad approach was problematic , since a constitutional review is designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But while he said it was not for the courts to decide whether Canada ’ s climate policy had breached the country ’ s charter , he left open the possibility of a court revisiting the public trust doctrine , an argument the federal government has a duty to protect natural resources , such as permafrost , for the benefit of the public .
Manson said there was little difference between climate policy decisions and other choices made by governments that courts have consistently recognized as falling outside their remit .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to illegal drug use and addiction , limits on how and where prostitution may be conducted and addressing physician-assisted death .
“ These are all important societal issues , the decisions in relation to which fall more appropriately on the legislative and executive branches of government , ” he wrote .
But Sophia Sidarous , another of the young plaintiffs , said the decision was a wake-up call to Canadian and Indigenous youth that “ Canada has tried to silence our voice in court and block our calls for climate justice .
”

The young climate activists challenging Ottawa’s climate policies will not get to lay out their case in Federal Court, a justice said on Tuesday, striking a blow to efforts to litigate for tougher action sought in massive street protests. Justice Michael Manson rejected the 15 youths’ legal challenge, agreeing with a government motion to strike, saying their claims that government climate policy had hurt them was too broad a question for the courts to consider. The decision may have set the stage for another climate case to head to the Supreme Court, with those backing the youth saying they will appeal. Ottawa is awaiting a separate decision from the country’s top court on whether it overstepped its jurisdictional authority by imposing a carbon price on provinces that do not have an adequate plan of their own to cap emissions. But while that case argues Ottawa has gotten involved where it shouldn’t, the youth case says the feds have not done enough.
The youths alleged “an overly broad and unquantifiable number of actions and inactions” on the part of the government, effectively trying to subject Ottawa’s overall climate policy to charter review, Justice Manson wrote in the decision. The youths’ lawyers had argued at a pretrial hearing last month that Canada’s actions, particularly its support of the country’s fossil fuel industry, have breached their constitutional rights to life, liberty, security and equality before the law. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The case was argued by Tollefson Law Corporation and backed by Our Children’s Trust and the David Suzuki Foundation, and they said they intend to appeal the decision.
“It's definitely disheartening and it's pretty disappointing that the courts don't see this as an opportunity to recognize how they've been knowingly contributing to the climate emergency and impacting these young people's lives and the lives of future generations,” said Brendan Glauser, a spokesperson for the David Suzuki Foundation. A federal judge has rejected the efforts of 15 young people to hold Ottawa to account for climate policies they say endanger them, with the justice deciding their complaint is too broad and outside of the court's remit. “We know these kids are on the right side of history, and we know they deserve their day in court, so on to the appeal we go,” he said in a phone interview. Some of the youth plaintiffs and David Suzuki listen as Rebecca Hamilton of the Sustainabiliteens youth climate group speaks at a Vancouver rally on Oct. 25, 2019. Photo supplied by the David Suzuki Foundation Mikaeel Mahmood, an 11-year-old plaintiff in the case, pointed out that the justice system was the only avenue available to him. “As someone who can't vote, realizing that my only protection is not something that I can rely on is disappointing,” he said in a statement.
Lawyers for the government had argued that the claims are “political, ideological and policy-oriented” and therefore not within the remit of the courts to judge. Manson said the young people’s broad approach was problematic, since a constitutional review is designed to look at specific laws and state actions. But while he said it was not for the courts to decide whether Canada’s climate policy had breached the country’s charter, he left open the possibility of a court revisiting the public trust doctrine, an argument the federal government has a duty to protect natural resources, such as permafrost, for the benefit of the public.


nationalobserver--2020-10-27--Trudeau says pandemic 'really sucks,' and that Christmas gatherings could be in jeopardy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the global COVID-19 pandemic `` really sucks , '' and could jeopardize large gatherings with friends and family over Christmas after a reined-in Thanksgiving .
Acknowledging frustrations around partial lockdowns and scrapped Halloween plans in some parts of the country , Trudeau said Tuesday that Canadians need to gird themselves for a `` tough winter ahead '' amid the second wave of the virus .
“ It ’ s frustrating to have to explain to your kids in many parts of the country , like here in Ottawa , that we ’ re not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s frustrating knowing that unless we ’ re really , really careful , there may not be the kinds of family gatherings we want to have at Christmas , '' Trudeau said at a news conference .
`` My six-year-old asked me a few weeks ago , ‘ Dad , is COVID-19 forever ?
’ I mean , he ’ s in Grade 1 , this was supposed to be his big year as a big boy , and they ’ re not even singing in his classroom . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow the advice of local health authorities , despite frustrations over conflicting information on Halloween as well as COVID-19 testing requirements for students .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
Dr. Theresa Tam , Canada 's chief public health officer , has suggested hockey sticks as a tool to hand out Halloween treats , while others are resorting to candy chutes or self-serve stations .
But the Ontario government has recommended against trick-or-treating in parts of the province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus resurgence .
Meanwhile school reopening plans sowed confusion about what symptoms in students demanded COVID-19 tests , triggering massive lineups at assessment centres and overwhelming laboratories where the tests are processed .
The mixed messaging threatens to chip away at trust in public health advice , said Tim Sly , an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University 's School of Public Health .
Dance studio 's in Ontario 's `` hot zones '' have been allowed to stay open , while gyms have been forced to shutter along with cinemas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted .
`` Quite honestly I don ’ t know why a distinction is made between those two , '' Sly said .
Trudeau said circumstances have changed since the spring , when little was known about the novel coronavirus and there was one main message : `` Everyone stay home . ''
`` We can be a little more targeted ( now ) .
But yeah , that means a little more complicated in our messages , '' he said Tuesday .
Trudeau 's remarks come as Canada verges on 10,000 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 827 new cases of COVID-19 today , and four new deaths due to the virus , pushing the total number of reported fatalities to 9,999 as of early Tuesday afternoon .
Quebec , where residents in its biggest cities will have to live with partial lockdowns for at least another four weeks , is reporting 963 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths linked to the coronavirus .
“ What we are living through is a horrific national tragedy , '' Trudeau said .
`` And we need to know that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trudeau sought to spur hope as winter looms , despite the sombre words .
“ We will get through this .
Vaccines are on the horizon .
Spring and summer will come and they will be better than this winter , '' he said .
But the current situation he summed up with a single verb .
“ This sucks .
It really , really does . ''

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the global COVID-19 pandemic "really sucks," and could jeopardize large gatherings with friends and family over Christmas after a reined-in Thanksgiving. Acknowledging frustrations around partial lockdowns and scrapped Halloween plans in some parts of the country, Trudeau said Tuesday that Canadians need to gird themselves for a "tough winter ahead" amid the second wave of the virus. “It’s frustrating to have to explain to your kids in many parts of the country, like here in Ottawa, that we’re not going to be trick-or-treating this weekend. And it’s frustrating knowing that unless we’re really, really careful, there may not be the kinds of family gatherings we want to have at Christmas," Trudeau said at a news conference. "My six-year-old asked me a few weeks ago, ‘Dad, is COVID-19 forever?’ I mean, he’s in Grade 1, this was supposed to be his big year as a big boy, and they’re not even singing in his classroom." The prime minister encouraged residents to continue to follow the advice of local health authorities, despite frustrations over conflicting information on Halloween as well as COVID-19 testing requirements for students.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, has suggested hockey sticks as a tool to hand out Halloween treats, while others are resorting to candy chutes or self-serve stations. But the Ontario government has recommended against trick-or-treating in parts of the province that have been hardest hit by the coronavirus resurgence. Meanwhile school reopening plans sowed confusion about what symptoms in students demanded COVID-19 tests, triggering massive lineups at assessment centres and overwhelming laboratories where the tests are processed. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The mixed messaging threatens to chip away at trust in public health advice, said Tim Sly, an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University's School of Public Health.
Dance studio's in Ontario's "hot zones" have been allowed to stay open, while gyms have been forced to shutter along with cinemas, casinos and performing arts venues, he noted. Holiday gatherings in jeopardy after Thanksgiving case surge. #Cdnpoli #christmas #COVID-19 "Quite honestly I don’t know why a distinction is made between those two," Sly said. Trudeau said circumstances have changed since the spring, when little was known about the novel coronavirus and there was one main message: "Everyone stay home." "We can be a little more targeted (now). But yeah, that means a little more complicated in our messages," he said Tuesday. Trudeau's remarks come as Canada verges on 10,000 deaths due to COVID-19.
Ontario is reporting 827 new cases of COVID-19 today, and four new deaths due to the virus, pushing the total number of reported fatalities to 9,999 as of early Tuesday afternoon. Quebec, where residents in its biggest cities will have to live with partial lockdowns for at least another four weeks, is reporting 963 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths linked to the coronavirus. “What we are living through is a horrific national tragedy," Trudeau said. "And we need to know that there are more tragedies to come."


nationalobserver--2020-10-27--Scott Moe and Saskatchewan Party win 4th straight majority

Scott Moe lead his Saskatchewan Party into rare territory Monday winning a fourth straight majority for the longest serving government in the country .
The centre-right party was elected or leading in more than 45 constituencies , comfortably more than 31 needed to control the 61-seat legislature .
There was no applause or crowds to welcome Moe , who made his victory speech after winning his first public mandate as premier .
Instead , he addressed supporters who gathered virtually , because of limits in place around the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ This has been an election like no other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , standing next to his wife , Krista .
“ It was challenging for all of the candidates and the campaign volunteers who had to find new ways to reach their voters and to reach them safely , '' he said .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
“ We ’ re humbled by the task that lies before us and we ’ re ready to go to work on your behalf , ” he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong economy , strong communities , strong families , and a strong Saskatchewan for everyone.
” Moe was re-elected in his rural riding of Rosthern-Shellbrook , while NDP Leader Ryan Meili was in a fight to retain his Saskatoon Meewasin seat against Rylund Hunter of the Saskatchewan Party .
Meili trailed by 83 votes by night 's end , with as many as 1,600 mail-in ballots to be counted in the coming days .
It 's possible all of Moe 's 17 cabinet ministers will hold onto their seats .
Only Advanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She led her Regina University seat by fewer than 200 votes with mail-in ballots to come .
`` I know it 's nerve-wracking waiting for just a few hours for those results , '' Moe said .
`` I ca n't imagine what it 's going to be like waiting for a couple of days . ''
Meili , a 45-year-old medical doctor , is trying to arrest a dubious trend .
The last two NDP leaders , Dwain Lingenfelter in 2011 and Cam Broten in 2016 , lost their seats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Saskatchewan Party into rare territory on Monday , winning a fourth straight majority for the longest serving government in the country .
“ It wasn ’ t enough this time , ” said Meili in his concession speech .
“ My message tonight is for those who voted for change , because there are thousands upon thousands of people across Saskatchewan who voted for change today .
“ This is not the end .
This is the beginning .
Do not give up , because in Saskatchewan we can do so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Moe and Meili spoke by phone about an hour after polls closed .
In his victory speech , Moe said he would govern for all residents , including those who did n't vote for him .
He spoke in particular to the three per cent of voters -- largely in rural areas -- who cast ballots for the Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan , which believes people should be allowed to vote on independence from Canada .
`` To those voters I want to say : I hear you .
And I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We share your frustrations , and we share many of your objectives .
We are not happy with the federal government either , '' Moe said .
`` There is no government in Canada that has advocated more strongly against a federally-imposed carbon tax than the government of Saskatchewan . ''
It was the third provincial election held during the COVID-19 pandemic and the third to see the incumbent party triumph .
Last month , Premier Blaine Higgs and the Progressive Conservatives in New Brunswick went from a minority to a majority government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same in British Columbia on Saturday .
At dissolution , the Saskatchewan Party held 46 seats to 13 for the NDP .
There were two vacancies .
The Saskatchewan Party has been in power since 2007 — currently the longest governing party in Canada — and is knocking on the door of historic political dominance .
The last party to lead Saskatchewan to a fourth term was the NDP in 2007 , although it needed coalition help in 1999 to do so .
The record still resides with Tommy Douglas and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the middle of the last century .
The pandemic shaped not only the central ballot question , but how people would cast their ballots .
Voters were asked to wear masks at polling stations .
More than 185,000 ballots were cast in five days of advance polls .
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise .
Earlier this month , the province halved to 15 the number of people allowed together at events in private households .
The campaign centred on starkly contrasting blueprints for how to steer the province , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 crisis and beyond .
Meili promised millions of dollars in increased spending for classrooms and to reduce health-care wait times , along with a $ 15-an-hour minimum wage and $ 25-a-day daycare .
The NDP wouldn ’ t promise a balanced budget in its first term and warned that the Saskatchewan Party would try to cut its way to better economic times .
Moe promised to balance the books by the 2024-2025 fiscal year , while keeping the economy going and creating jobs through tax and rebate incentives .
This report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 26 , 2020

Scott Moe lead his Saskatchewan Party into rare territory Monday winning a fourth straight majority for the longest serving government in the country. The centre-right party was elected or leading in more than 45 constituencies, comfortably more than 31 needed to control the 61-seat legislature. There was no applause or crowds to welcome Moe, who made his victory speech after winning his first public mandate as premier. Instead, he addressed supporters who gathered virtually, because of limits in place around the COVID-19 pandemic. “This has been an election like no other in our lifetimes,” the 47-year-old said, standing next to his wife, Krista. “It was challenging for all of the candidates and the campaign volunteers who had to find new ways to reach their voters and to reach them safely," he said.
“We’re humbled by the task that lies before us and we’re ready to go to work on your behalf,” he added. “We’re eager to build a strong economy, strong communities, strong families, and a strong Saskatchewan for everyone.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Moe was re-elected in his rural riding of Rosthern-Shellbrook, while NDP Leader Ryan Meili was in a fight to retain his Saskatoon Meewasin seat against Rylund Hunter of the Saskatchewan Party. Meili trailed by 83 votes by night's end, with as many as 1,600 mail-in ballots to be counted in the coming days.
It's possible all of Moe's 17 cabinet ministers will hold onto their seats. Only Advanced Education Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor was in jeopardy. She led her Regina University seat by fewer than 200 votes with mail-in ballots to come. Scott Moe led his Saskatchewan Party into rare territory on Monday, winning a fourth straight majority for the longest serving government in the country. "I know it's nerve-wracking waiting for just a few hours for those results," Moe said. "I can't imagine what it's going to be like waiting for a couple of days." Meili, a 45-year-old medical doctor, is trying to arrest a dubious trend. The last two NDP leaders, Dwain Lingenfelter in 2011 and Cam Broten in 2016, lost their seats in the general election. “It wasn’t enough this time,” said Meili in his concession speech. “My message tonight is for those who voted for change, because there are thousands upon thousands of people across Saskatchewan who voted for change today.
“This is not the end. This is the beginning. Do not give up, because in Saskatchewan we can do so much better than what we’ve seen.” Moe and Meili spoke by phone about an hour after polls closed. In his victory speech, Moe said he would govern for all residents, including those who didn't vote for him.


nationalobserver--2020-10-27--Liberals hold two Toronto ridings in byelections despite stiff challenges from Greens, Tories

The federal Liberals saw their share of the vote drop in two Toronto byelections Monday , a humbling result for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the first electoral test of his government 's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Liberals ultimately hung on to Toronto Centre , where broadcaster Marci Ien fended off a strong showing by newly minted Green party leader Annamie Paul .
They also hung on to York Centre , after a nerve-racking few hours in which the lead alternated repeatedly between the Liberals and the Conservatives before Ya'ara Saks finally pulled ahead by just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close for two ridings that had been considered longtime Liberal strongholds .
`` These results in two of the safest Liberal seats in the country show Canadians are losing faith in Justin Trudeau , '' Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole tweeted .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
During last fall 's general election , the Liberals took Toronto Centre with just over 57 per cent of the vote , York Centre with just over 50 per cent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent of the Toronto Centre vote — a precipitous 15-point drop from the result garnered last fall by former finance minister Bill Morneau , who resigned abruptly in August amid reports of tensions with Trudeau over massive spending on pandemic relief measures and the fallout from the WE Charity affair .
Paul , meanwhile , soared to a close second with almost 33 per cent of the vote — more than quadrupling the meagre seven per cent she won in Toronto Centre during the general election .
The NDP share of the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Conservative vote share was cut in half to less than six per cent .
Paul had urged Trudeau to postpone the byelections , arguing that it was unsafe to send voters to the polls in the midst of the second wave of the deadly coronavirus .
York Centre was left vacant last month by Liberal MP Michael Levitt 's resignation to become CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies .
Although long considered one of the safest Liberal seats in the country , York Centre fell to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it back in 2015 .
It turned into a cage match between the Liberals and Conservatives again Monday .
Liberals win two # Toronto byelections , despite stiff opposition from Greens and Tories .
# cdnpoli In the end , Saks , a Jewish activist and businesswoman , took almost 46 per cent of the vote for the Liberals , a drop of about four points from Levitt 's share .
Under Julius Tiangson , a businessman and activist in the riding 's sizeable Filipino community , the Conservative share of the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent .
The York Centre race would likely have been even more of a squeaker had it not been for the presence of one-time Conservative leadership runner-up Maxime Bernier , who ran in the riding for his breakaway Peoples Party of Canada .
He captured a little more than 600 votes , less than four per cent , most of it likely drawn away from his former party .
The NDP dropped four points in York Centre to less than six per cent of the vote , while the Greens dropped almost one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout was higher than average for byelections : 25.6 per cent in York Centre and 30.9 per cent in Toronto Centre .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26 , 2020 .

The federal Liberals saw their share of the vote drop in two Toronto byelections Monday, a humbling result for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the first electoral test of his government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Liberals ultimately hung on to Toronto Centre, where broadcaster Marci Ien fended off a strong showing by newly minted Green party leader Annamie Paul. They also hung on to York Centre, after a nerve-racking few hours in which the lead alternated repeatedly between the Liberals and the Conservatives before Ya'ara Saks finally pulled ahead by just over 700 votes. The results were surprisingly close for two ridings that had been considered longtime Liberal strongholds. "These results in two of the safest Liberal seats in the country show Canadians are losing faith in Justin Trudeau," Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole tweeted.
During last fall's general election, the Liberals took Toronto Centre with just over 57 per cent of the vote, York Centre with just over 50 per cent. On Monday, Ien took 42 per cent of the Toronto Centre vote — a precipitous 15-point drop from the result garnered last fall by former finance minister Bill Morneau, who resigned abruptly in August amid reports of tensions with Trudeau over massive spending on pandemic relief measures and the fallout from the WE Charity affair. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Paul, meanwhile, soared to a close second with almost 33 per cent of the vote — more than quadrupling the meagre seven per cent she won in Toronto Centre during the general election. The NDP share of the vote dropped five points to 17 per cent and the Conservative vote share was cut in half to less than six per cent.
Paul had urged Trudeau to postpone the byelections, arguing that it was unsafe to send voters to the polls in the midst of the second wave of the deadly coronavirus. Liberals win two #Toronto byelections, despite stiff opposition from Greens and Tories. #cdnpoli York Centre was left vacant last month by Liberal MP Michael Levitt's resignation to become CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. Although long considered one of the safest Liberal seats in the country, York Centre fell to the Conservatives in 2011 before Levitt wrested it back in 2015. It turned into a cage match between the Liberals and Conservatives again Monday. In the end, Saks, a Jewish activist and businesswoman, took almost 46 per cent of the vote for the Liberals, a drop of about four points from Levitt's share. Under Julius Tiangson, a businessman and activist in the riding's sizeable Filipino community, the Conservative share of the vote rose five points to almost 42 per cent. The York Centre race would likely have been even more of a squeaker had it not been for the presence of one-time Conservative leadership runner-up Maxime Bernier, who ran in the riding for his breakaway Peoples Party of Canada. He captured a little more than 600 votes, less than four per cent, most of it likely drawn away from his former party.


nationalobserver--2020-10-28--Oyster farmers getting battered as COVID-19 dries up restaurant market

Oyster farmers know grit can make for a good pearl .
But shellfish farmer Victor McLaggan ’ s tenacity is being tested as the pandemic continues to hobble the restaurant industry , the main source of his income .
McLaggan ’ s niche market is selling direct to high-end restaurants across Canada , ones with tide-to-table ethics that want to know exactly where their product is coming from .
But like most producers of smaller live oysters destined for the half shell , McLaggan says he ’ s taking a beating as COVID-19 protocols continue to force eateries to limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We bet heavily on the restaurants , ” said McLaggan , co-owner of Outlandish Shellfish Guild in the Discovery Islands .
• Biden not alone in warning of 'dark winter ' .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
“ And we have n't exactly been able to fill the void with another style of customer , ” he said .
The market for clam sales have not dropped as badly as oysters during the pandemic .
Photo courtesy of Outlandish Shellfish Shellfish aquaculture is a valuable contributor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oysters reign supreme in comparison to other bivalves , such as clams or mussels .
Oysters made up 80 per cent of B.C.
’ s farmed shellfish harvest in 2018 , or 7,200 tonnes , and accounted for 61 per cent ( almost $ 26 million ) of the wholesale value of all farmed shellfish in the province .
The situation for shellfish growers isn ’ t likely to get better before it gets worse .
B.C.
’ s provincial health officer , Dr. Bonnie Henry , has officially declared the province is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with Ontario and Quebec .
And on Monday , B.C .
reported a record 817 new cases over the weekend ’ s three-day reporting period , the highest since the start of the pandemic .
Restaurants , pubs and bars are struggling to generate enough revenue now that liquor sales in the venues must cease by 10 p.m. , and seating is limited because of physical distancing protocols .
Like most oyster producers , Victor McLaggan , co-owner of Outlandish Shellfish Guild , says he ’ s taking a beating as COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations or shut their doors altogether : “ We 're just trying to survive.
” “ Normally , we ’ d be shipping a couple of pallets to Toronto and to Montreal , but that ’ s non-existent right now.
” Many restaurants won ’ t place orders because they fear the quantities they need are too small , or they are reluctant to pay ahead of time for product when business is so uncertain , he said .
His monthly sales have dropped from about $ 100,000 to $ 20,000 , McLaggan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to survive , ” he said .
“ We 're trying to keep the pieces in place and be there when COVID-19 slows down , but we ’ ll have to figure a few things out , I guess.
” The company is squeaking by selling oysters and clams to seafood shops and a few restaurants on Vancouver Island that are still open beyond the summer season .
McLaggan also hopes to shift gears somewhat to develop some access to the export market or sell directly to local customers .
But the logistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering to local customers is tricky , especially when you have already had to winnow down your workforce , he said .
Larger producers and shellfish wholesalers have also taken a hit along with restaurants , said Sally Kew of Mac ’ s Oysters on Vancouver Island .
The U.S. market is the largest export market for B.C .
shellfish .
And the initial months of the pandemic saw a significant drop in volume headed down south , said Kew .
“ In the beginning , we could have probably taken the shipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ Everyone was slow , so naturally , so was the shellfish industry , as every other industry , ” Kew said .
But though sales are down from last year , orders have rebounded somewhat , she said .
The market for larger shucked oysters typically sold in plastic tubs in Canadian supermarkets was unaffected by the pandemic , Kew said .
“ We can ’ t meet the demand for shucked oysters , ” Kew said , adding the majority of farmers produce the smaller live oysters because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clam sales also took less of a hit than oysters in the shell because people feel comfortable taking home a bag and steaming them up , she said .
It 's hard to grow the retail market for live oysters in the shell , as people are not used to shucking them or cooking them .
Photo by David Todd McCarty on Unsplash However , the retail market is limited for oysters in the shell , she added .
“ When you go to a restaurant , they present them on a platter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ But I don ’ t think a lot of people want to get a knife and learn how to shuck an oyster at home .
The magic just isn ’ t there in the same way.
” McLaggan said folks might also be hesitant to put oysters into their regular rotation for meals just because they ’ re not accustomed to cooking them .
“ I think there needs to be more education about how great they are , ” he said .
“ When I take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the barbeque and dress it up a bit , they love it.
” Oysters also have the added benefit of a smaller ecological footprint in comparison to other types of farming , he said .
Shellfish farming doesn ’ t require a lot of energy input , and they filter their food directly from the ocean .
“ I ’ ve been a dairy farmer and a grain farmer , ” said McLaggan .
“ Now I ’ m oyster farming , and yes , it ’ s pretty friggin ’ green.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , McLaggan and Kew feel they can ’ t predict a market upturn any time soon .
“ After the second wave , no one is really sure what is going to happen , ” McLaggan said .
“ You know , we ’ re trying to get a feeling for it , but we still don ’ t have a complete plan .
”

Oyster farmers know grit can make for a good pearl. But shellfish farmer Victor McLaggan’s tenacity is being tested as the pandemic continues to hobble the restaurant industry, the main source of his income. McLaggan’s niche market is selling direct to high-end restaurants across Canada, ones with tide-to-table ethics that want to know exactly where their product is coming from. But like most producers of smaller live oysters destined for the half shell, McLaggan says he’s taking a beating as COVID-19 protocols continue to force eateries to limit operations or shut their doors altogether. “We bet heavily on the restaurants,” said McLaggan, co-owner of Outlandish Shellfish Guild in the Discovery Islands.
“And we haven't exactly been able to fill the void with another style of customer,” he said. The market for clam sales have not dropped as badly as oysters during the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Outlandish Shellfish Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Shellfish aquaculture is a valuable contributor to B.C.’s coastal economies, and oysters reign supreme in comparison to other bivalves, such as clams or mussels.
Oysters made up 80 per cent of B.C.’s farmed shellfish harvest in 2018, or 7,200 tonnes, and accounted for 61 per cent (almost $26 million) of the wholesale value of all farmed shellfish in the province. Like most oyster producers, Victor McLaggan, co-owner of Outlandish Shellfish Guild, says he’s taking a beating as COVID-19 protocols continue to force eateries to limit operations or shut their doors altogether: “We're just trying to survive.” The situation for shellfish growers isn’t likely to get better before it gets worse. B.C.’s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has officially declared the province is seeing its second wave of COVID-19, along with Ontario and Quebec. And on Monday, B.C. reported a record 817 new cases over the weekend’s three-day reporting period, the highest since the start of the pandemic. Restaurants, pubs and bars are struggling to generate enough revenue now that liquor sales in the venues must cease by 10 p.m., and seating is limited because of physical distancing protocols. “The restaurants keep closing,” McLaggan said. “Normally, we’d be shipping a couple of pallets to Toronto and to Montreal, but that’s non-existent right now.”
Many restaurants won’t place orders because they fear the quantities they need are too small, or they are reluctant to pay ahead of time for product when business is so uncertain, he said. His monthly sales have dropped from about $100,000 to $20,000, McLaggan said. “We're just trying to survive,” he said.


nationalobserver--2020-10-28--Transport Canada failed to follow up on dangerous goods violations: report

Transport Canada did not follow up on a number of violations made by companies transporting dangerous items like crude oil , according to the latest audit by Canada ’ s federal environment commissioner .
The report , tabled Tuesday in Parliament , showed that the department had still not addressed all the recommendations from a 2011 audit of the transportation of dangerous products , nine years later .
This included fixing the approval process for emergency response plans so that dangerous goods are not shipped without the department having a detailed view of what will happen if something goes wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held up , according to the report by Andrew Hayes , interim commissioner of the environment and sustainable development , because the department had not yet developed national firefighting criteria related to flammable liquids , which was recommended in the aftermath of the 2013 Lac-Mégantic rail disaster .
The findings are doubly critical given the two oil train derailments near Guernsey , Sask.
, in December 2019 and February 2020 , said Hayes , which led to a voluntary evacuation order and over a million litres of leaked crude .
• Biden not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Canada 's top physician paints bleak picture , too .
“ Transport Canada has more work to do to address problems with inspections and emergency plans that we raised almost a decade ago , ” Hayes said at a press conference in Ottawa .
“ Accidents can happen .
I can ’ t say that there won ’ t be another accident that has serious release of dangerous goods ... what I think is important at this point is for Transport Canada to complete the work that it needs to do.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audit ’ s conclusions and would work to improve its oversight for followup activities and update its procedures to assess emergency plans .
No followup for almost a third of violations examined Companies that handle or transport dangerous goods in Canada — everything from explosives and toxic or corrosive chemicals to flammable or radioactive material , crude oil and other petroleum products — are subject to federal inspections under Canada ’ s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act .
Almost 300 full-time Transport Canada staff carry out more than 5,000 of these inspections per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for violations like mislabelling , missing documentation , improper packaging or inadequate training for handlers .
Transport Canada did not follow up on a number of violations made by companies transporting dangerous items like crude oil , according to the latest audit by the federal environment commissioner .
# cdnpoli Uncovering these offences and enforcing compliance is key to protecting public safety , noted Hayes .
If dangerous items are not effectively contained or mislabelled , for example , they could be released into the environment , contaminating an area or injuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that transport certain goods “ representing a high risk to public safety ” are supposed to produce an “ emergency response assistance plan ” that the department then approves for use .
In 2011 , the commissioner found that the department had failed to follow up consistently to make sure companies were fixing the problems that inspectors had flagged , nor was it offering guidance on how to conduct followup activities .
Meanwhile , almost half of the emergency plans had not been granted final approval .
The department had given only an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or 49 per cent , of the 926 emergency plans submitted by regulated companies , the 2011 audit found .
New guidance documents , in the form of manuals and user guides , have since been developed or improved , according to Hayes ’ report .
But in a sample analysis of violations made in 2018-19 , the commissioner found that in 18 of 60 of them , or 30 per cent , “ Transport Canada did not verify that companies took corrective actions to return to compliance.
” In some cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , but in four of 10 such cases studied , Hayes said no followup had been done .
Hayes also found that the department had “ clarified requirements ” for the approval of emergency plans , and put in place new systems for staff to document their reviews of the plans .
But the government was not meeting its own deadlines to finalize the interim approvals , said the commissioner .
As of November 2019 , 194 of the department ’ s 923 plans , or 21 per cent , had interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 36 per cent , had been in interim mode for more than three years , and 22 had been stuck in interim for over a decade .
Transport Canada said it would “ strengthen the application of , and the supporting training on , oversight procedures for followup activities conducted by inspectors after they detect non-compliance by regulated entities.
” “ Management will ensure that inspectors are aware of updated procedures and are able to apply appropriate quality controls .
This is to be completed by spring 2021 , ” said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emergency plans required on-site visits or new criteria to verify , and that had yet to be carried out .
But the department committed to developing , by the end of the year , new “ tools ” to track investigations for emergency plans and said it would determine the criteria for flammable liquids by Jan. 1 , 2021 .

Transport Canada did not follow up on a number of violations made by companies transporting dangerous items like crude oil, according to the latest audit by Canada’s federal environment commissioner. The report, tabled Tuesday in Parliament, showed that the department had still not addressed all the recommendations from a 2011 audit of the transportation of dangerous products, nine years later. This included fixing the approval process for emergency response plans so that dangerous goods are not shipped without the department having a detailed view of what will happen if something goes wrong. Some of those plans are being held up, according to the report by Andrew Hayes, interim commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, because the department had not yet developed national firefighting criteria related to flammable liquids, which was recommended in the aftermath of the 2013 Lac-Mégantic rail disaster. The findings are doubly critical given the two oil train derailments near Guernsey, Sask., in December 2019 and February 2020, said Hayes, which led to a voluntary evacuation order and over a million litres of leaked crude.
“Transport Canada has more work to do to address problems with inspections and emergency plans that we raised almost a decade ago,” Hayes said at a press conference in Ottawa. “Accidents can happen. I can’t say that there won’t be another accident that has serious release of dangerous goods ... what I think is important at this point is for Transport Canada to complete the work that it needs to do.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The department said it agreed with the audit’s conclusions and would work to improve its oversight for followup activities and update its procedures to assess emergency plans.
No followup for almost a third of violations examined Companies that handle or transport dangerous goods in Canada — everything from explosives and toxic or corrosive chemicals to flammable or radioactive material, crude oil and other petroleum products — are subject to federal inspections under Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act. Transport Canada did not follow up on a number of violations made by companies transporting dangerous items like crude oil, according to the latest audit by the federal environment commissioner. #cdnpoli Almost 300 full-time Transport Canada staff carry out more than 5,000 of these inspections per year, Hayes’ report says, looking for violations like mislabelling, missing documentation, improper packaging or inadequate training for handlers. Uncovering these offences and enforcing compliance is key to protecting public safety, noted Hayes. If dangerous items are not effectively contained or mislabelled, for example, they could be released into the environment, contaminating an area or injuring first responders. As well, firms that transport certain goods “representing a high risk to public safety” are supposed to produce an “emergency response assistance plan” that the department then approves for use.
In 2011, the commissioner found that the department had failed to follow up consistently to make sure companies were fixing the problems that inspectors had flagged, nor was it offering guidance on how to conduct followup activities. Meanwhile, almost half of the emergency plans had not been granted final approval. The department had given only an “interim” approval for almost half, or 49 per cent, of the 926 emergency plans submitted by regulated companies, the 2011 audit found. New guidance documents, in the form of manuals and user guides, have since been developed or improved, according to Hayes’ report.


nationalobserver--2020-10-28--How a Depression-era jobs program could help the U.S. tackle global warming

This article was originally published by Wired and appears here as part of Canada 's National Observer 's collaboration with Climate Desk .
In 1933 , with the country deep in the Great Depression , the United States government created the Civilian Conservation Corps , a work program that gave young men jobs transforming the American landscape .
They built trails and roads , fought fires and maintained critical infrastructure , among many , many other projects .
“ If we give them an opportunity to broaden their horizons , and at the same time restore America in some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what a great gift to the future , ” she says .
“ I do n't know a single person — including my own father , who worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a very young man — who was n't changed and elevated by that experience.
” Representatives from Biden ’ s campaign and Durbin ’ s office did not return requests for comment by press time .
But in a release announcing his bill last month , Durbin invoked the challenges of a pandemic year : “ America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this year we ’ ve seen how important and valuable they ’ ve been to countless Americans looking for a respite , ” he stated .
“ If we are to leave these natural gifts to the next generation , we have to take responsibility in protecting them.
” And it ’ s probably safe to say that the interest in resurrecting a venerable work program has something to do with the CCC being as American as periodic economic collapse .
Several U.S. officials have argued for a revival of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on climate-related jobs like wildfire management , revitalizing public green spaces and restoring wetlands and forests .
# climatechange “ The CCC was something that I think has that kind of broad support largely because of its historical precedence in the U.S. , ” says Paul .
“ We do n't have to look to Norway or Sweden or Finland to think , ‘ How are they doing this ?
’ We can just look back to U.S. history and see this wildly successful program.
” Whatever the iteration , a revival of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of environmental degradation and economic doom .
Simply put , the idea behind putting people back to work is to also get them to spend money again , juicing the economy by boosting aggregate demand , or the desire for goods and services .
“ If you actually take a broader definition of unemployment and count people who are making below a living wage , we 're talking about 25 per cent unemployment right now in the U.S. , for people that are either out of a job , have a job part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wages , ” says Paul .
“ We can actually put folks to work , provide them with not only a means to make a living , but also with an ability to contribute to their communities in ways that benefit not just them , but the community writ large — and in this case , the environment as well.
” Take California ’ s plight , for example .
This summer , five of the six biggest blazes in state history burned across the landscape .
In total this year , over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone up in flames , claiming 31 lives and 9,200 structures .
California ’ s flaming apocalypse is the spawn of two colliding factors .
One : climate change has made the landscape drier than ever , turning dead brush into tinder .
And two : decades of fire suppression — squelching wildfires quickly , before they grow too large — has led to a buildup of that kind of tinder .
In a healthy ecosystem , every so often a wildfire would come through and clear all that out .
But with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forested mountains of California , the state can ’ t afford to let wildfires burn and obliterate towns .
After the 1989 earthquake that rocked the Bay Area , California ’ s government bodies , companies and citizens have “ spent about $ 70 billion on earthquake retrofits for buildings .
And that earthquake itself only caused about $ 10 billion in damages , ” says Zeke Hausfather , a climate scientist and the director of climate and energy at the Breakthrough Institute , which advocates for climate action .
“ Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars in damages every single year for the last five years from wildfires in California .
And yet , we still have only spent less than $ 10 billion on effective forest management .
So the scale of our response is not really commensurate to the scale of the problem.
” Part of the solution is fuel management , which involves crews either mechanically clearing out brush with heavy equipment like tractors , or setting controlled burns .
But California doesn ’ t have the money or the people required to fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government manages 60 per cent of the state ’ s forests , anyway .
Private landowners interested in using controlled burns to clear brush can work with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , also known as CalFire , which runs a vegetation management program .
Under a plan signed in August , the U.S. Forest Service would work with the California Natural Resources Agency ( neither returned WIRED ’ s requests for comment ) to thin out a million acres of landscape a year by 2025 , double the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But popping up across the state is a glimpse at how a new CCC might help California in its struggle against wildfire fuels : prescribed burn associations , which aim to prevent out-of-control blazes by pre-treating the landscape .
About two years ago , Lenya N. Quinn-Davidson , area fire adviser for the University of California Co-operative Extension , co-founded the Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association .
The group ’ s experts craft prescribed burn plans for owners of private land , and local volunteers do the actual work .
The association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull 30 people to do a controlled burn .
“ It really is a social movement around prescribed fire , ” Quinn-Davidson says .
Since their founding , a dozen other similar groups have formed across California .
“ It 's a great grassroots , local model of people helping each other out , and getting the work done virtually for free , ” Quinn-Davidson adds .
These folks aren ’ t getting paid , but hell , they should .
These are the kinds of jobs a revamped CCC could fund and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for actual jobs , especially in rural areas , ” Quinn-Davidson says .
“ What an opportunity , if we could direct funding toward job creation around fuels and fire management .
That would make so much more sense.
” It ’ d make particularly good sense given the brutal economics of the pandemic .
The federal government works just fine running at a massive deficit — that ’ d be $ 3.1 trillion this year .
“ Local governments just do n't have the ability to deficit spend the way the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of the New College of Florida .
“ So we 're going to see some pretty massive cuts in the upcoming state budgets.
” Money from the feds could flow both to local initiatives like prescribed burn associations and to the U.S. Forest Service , which is sitting on a backlog of millions of acres in the West in need of management because the agency does n't have the money or people to actually do it .
A revived CCC could pour money into tackling a bevy of other environmental problems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for instance , benefits all Americans .
We urgently need to better prepare our coastlines for rising seas .
Restoring wetlands and forests would pull double duty , returning ecosystems to their former glory and creating carbon sinks : plant more trees and you can sequester more CO2 from the atmosphere .
Actually , in the case of wetlands , make that triple duty—healthy wetlands work as flood control during hurricanes , absorbing surges of water .
Biden ’ s plan , specifically , calls out the need for planting more trees within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which concrete jungles soak up the sun ’ s energy and release it slowly throughout the night , resulting in significantly higher temperatures than surrounding forested areas .
On a warmer planet , Americans will need all the help they can get to stay cool .
Reviving the CCC would also give the U.S. the opportunity to confront the wrongs of the original program .
“ I do n't want to shy away from the fact that the program does have a troubled history , ” says Paul .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many programs at the time , it was racially segregated.
” The program was male-only , too .
If the U.S. were to bring the CCC back , Paul adds , we ’ d need to “ make sure that we learn from those historic wrongs and make it in an equitable and accessible program for all .
”

This article was originally published by Wired and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. In 1933, with the country deep in the Great Depression, the United States government created the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work program that gave young men jobs transforming the American landscape. They built trails and roads, fought fires and maintained critical infrastructure, among many, many other projects. “The CCC was absolutely massive,” says environmental economist Mark Paul of the New College of Florida. At its peak, it employed half a million workers — over its nine-year lifetime, the total figure was three million, about five per cent of the U.S. male population at the time. “So it's really a kind of hallmark program in American history that provided youth with economic opportunity while bringing them close to nature,” he continues. In 2020, we face massive unemployment and a host of environmental problems that need fixing: wildfires in the West, flood-prone areas along the Gulf of Mexico, all manner of dams on the verge of collapse. Nearly a century after the original CCC came into being, some folks argue it’s time to bring it back.
So say Americans themselves: recent polling shows that 80 per cent of Democrats and 74 per cent of Republicans favour a return of the CCC. Joe Biden has proposed something akin to the CCC if elected: the Civilian Climate Corps. Workers would manage forests, restore ecosystems and even remove invasive species. In September, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin introduced the RENEW Conservation Corps Act, which would spend US$55.8 billion over five years to put a million Americans back to work, doing things like wildlife surveys and monitoring water quality. And last year, Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur introduced the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act, which has yet to pass the House but proposes rehabilitating environments and updating trails and facilities throughout the country’s natural spaces. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Kaptur sees some participants as working in their local communities, while others up for travel might move around the United States.
“If we give them an opportunity to broaden their horizons, and at the same time restore America in some of its hidden corners and neglected places, what a great gift to the future,” she says. “I don't know a single person — including my own father, who worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a very young man — who wasn't changed and elevated by that experience.” Several U.S. officials have argued for a revival of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps with a focus on climate-related jobs like wildfire management, revitalizing public green spaces and restoring wetlands and forests. #climatechange Representatives from Biden’s campaign and Durbin’s office did not return requests for comment by press time. But in a release announcing his bill last month, Durbin invoked the challenges of a pandemic year: “America’s outdoor spaces have provided recreation for generations, and this year we’ve seen how important and valuable they’ve been to countless Americans looking for a respite,” he stated. “If we are to leave these natural gifts to the next generation, we have to take responsibility in protecting them.” And it’s probably safe to say that the interest in resurrecting a venerable work program has something to do with the CCC being as American as periodic economic collapse. “The CCC was something that I think has that kind of broad support largely because of its historical precedence in the U.S.,” says Paul. “We don't have to look to Norway or Sweden or Finland to think, ‘How are they doing this?’ We can just look back to U.S. history and see this wildly successful program.” Whatever the iteration, a revival of the CCC would simultaneously tackle the problems of environmental degradation and economic doom. Simply put, the idea behind putting people back to work is to also get them to spend money again, juicing the economy by boosting aggregate demand, or the desire for goods and services.
“If you actually take a broader definition of unemployment and count people who are making below a living wage, we're talking about 25 per cent unemployment right now in the U.S., for people that are either out of a job, have a job part time, or are getting paid poverty-level wages,” says Paul. “We can actually put folks to work, provide them with not only a means to make a living, but also with an ability to contribute to their communities in ways that benefit not just them, but the community writ large — and in this case, the environment as well.” Take California’s plight, for example. This summer, five of the six biggest blazes in state history burned across the landscape. In total this year, over four million acres across the state have gone up in flames, claiming 31 lives and 9,200 structures. California’s flaming apocalypse is the spawn of two colliding factors. One: climate change has made the landscape drier than ever, turning dead brush into tinder. And two: decades of fire suppression — squelching wildfires quickly, before they grow too large — has led to a buildup of that kind of tinder. In a healthy ecosystem, every so often a wildfire would come through and clear all that out. But with more and more people living in the forested mountains of California, the state can’t afford to let wildfires burn and obliterate towns.


nationalobserver--2020-10-28--Donald Trump has few friends left in Canada. What happens if he wins?

“ I think he ’ s a marketing genius , ” Ford said of Trump in an interview with CityNews .
“ They need a change down in the U.S. ” The year was 2016 .
The United States election would happen in a few weeks , and Doug Ford — who was still two years away from becoming Ontario premier — was expressing his unwavering support for Donald Trump , who would soon become president .
This is the fifth of a series of stories Emma McIntosh is writing as part of National Observer 's special coverage of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , third and fourth stories here .
Trump ’ s loss of one of his staunchest Canadian allies is indicative of a larger problem : Tensions between the U.S. and Canada are higher than they ’ ve been in recent memory as Trump sheds friends , at home and abroad .
“ I still can ’ t get over it , ” Ford said this month , recalling the incident in a discussion at the Ryerson Democracy Forum .
Not so anymore .
In April , Trump temporarily halted shipments of N95 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — some of the masks , which are vital protective equipment for medical workers amid COVID-19 , had been bound for Ontario .
Trump has never been popular in Canada , but Ford was among the president ’ s most publicly ardent fans north of the border .
As recently as February , a month before COVID-19 would shut down Ontario and upend nearly every aspect of our lives , Ford said he “ loved listening to the president.
” “ In a time like this , the perception isn ’ t that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada ) is on fire , but that the U.S. is on fire .
And because Canadians are so close , it worries them , ” he said , comparing it to living next door to a couple in the midst of a messy divorce .
It makes sense that this would matter to Canadians — our country is economically and culturally entangled with the U.S. , our nearest neighbour , main trading partner and closest ally , said Christopher Sands , the director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even though most functions of the U.S.-Canada relationship are working just fine , it ’ s anxiety-inducing to see leaders of the two countries clashing , he added .
“ This is an election in the middle of a pandemic , and obviously that ’ s changing the way many , many people vote , ” said Mary Snow , a polling analyst at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut , which runs a major public opinion survey institute .
Another four years of Trump likely would not improve that tension , experts told Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polls show the president ’ s path to re-election is narrowing , it is still possible .
“ I ’ ve tracked the outlook on various American presidents going back to the early ’ 90s , and Trump has by far got the lowest approval rating ( by Canadians ) of any American president , ” said Frank Graves , president of the Canadian polling firm EKOS Research .
Businesses have complained that the tension — mainly caused by the tariff threats , but also contentious trade negotiations — has left them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not just about the medical gear .
Trump has threatened Canada with tariffs and called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “ weak ” and “ very dishonest , ” with one of his advisers even saying there is a “ special place in hell ” for Trudeau .
At times , the frustration has gone both ways : Trudeau was caught on a hot mic last year having a laugh at Trump ’ s expense , a gaffe for which the prime minister did not apologize .
Polling shows that Canadians overwhelmingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. presidential election , 72 per cent would support Democratic nominee and former vice-president Joe Biden , a Léger/338Canada poll released last month found .
( Just 14 per cent would vote for Trump and another 14 per cent are undecided , according to the survey , which does not include an estimated margin of error . )
Trump 's popularity is stronger in Alberta , but even there , Biden has twice as much support as Trump , the poll found .
Thirty-two per cent of Albertan respondents in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 68 per cent said they ’ d select Biden .
In an EKOS survey done in June , 79 per cent of Canadians said they felt worried that the U.S. is “ on the verge of chaos , ” and that this could have a negative impact on Canada .
( The poll had a margin of error of 4.3 per cent , 19 times out of 20 . )
“ This is new territory , ” Graves said , adding that Canadians ’ views of Trump worsened as America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ ( Trump ) was already held in low esteem and that low esteem descended even further as people witnessed the most powerful , technologically advanced society on the planet end up completely screwing up.
” In the same poll , 72 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they felt the U.S. would have a better chance of recovering from COVID-19 if the election resulted in a change of power .
Ford is not the only one to express frustration about Trump ’ s behaviour this year .
Trudeau made international headlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 seconds when asked what he thought about Trump ’ s decision to use tear gas on people protesting racial inequity to make way for a photo op .
“ We all watch in horror and consternation what ’ s going on in the United States , ” Trudeau said , dodging the question .
Canadian politicians rarely condemn Trump ’ s actions directly , so it was surprising that federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh spoke more explicitly that day .
“ What President Trump is doing is reprehensible .
What President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is divisive , it is wrong , ” Singh said .
“ Politicians have their finger in the wind , and they see that Trump is losing popularity , ” said Nelson Wiseman , a political science professor at the University of Toronto .
“ What do you gain by associating with a loser ?
” Though the polls currently favour Biden , Trump still has a chance at victory .
The president ’ s odds currently sit at around 44.2 per cent , while Biden ’ s are 52.8 per cent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tracker , which aggregates polls to determine the overall picture of the race .
Campaigns are now tightly focusing their attention on possible tipping-point states like Pennsylvania , which Trump won in 2016 and Biden is hoping to flip back to the Democrats .
A tipping-point state is the first one that gives a winning candidate their 270th electoral college vote , bringing them to the threshold they must surpass to win the White House .
( Learn more about the U.S. electoral system here . )
Polling has consistently shown Biden up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Snow .
“ The race has been fairly stable since the beginning of September , ” she said .
Debates are often a turning point in presidential campaigns , but the presidential debate gave Biden a slight bump that appeared to have evaporated by the second debate last week , Snow added .
In a poll taken in the days before the second debate , which happened Oct. 22 , Biden was in a far stronger position in Pennsylvania than previous Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was in 2016 , Snow said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” especially when likely voters were surveyed on his response to COVID-19 , but you never know what will happen on election day .
“ What happened in Pennsylvania in 2016 , exit polls showed that late deciders broke for Donald Trump and that helped him win , ” Snow said .
“ It was a tight , very tight race in the end.
” Quinnipiac hasn ’ t yet released any polls taken after the second debate , so Snow said it isn ’ t yet clear how the events of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influenced the race .
Notably , Biden said at the debate he would transition the U.S. away from fossil fuels , a statement the president quickly seized on — natural gas fracking is a big industry in Pennsylvania .
It ’ s unclear whether the statement actually hurt Biden .
Surveys by other pollsters have indicated the debate didn ’ t substantially change either candidate ’ s odds .
Pollsters are accounting for mail-in voting , which record numbers of Americans have chosen to use this fall amid COVID-19 , said Snow .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not be tallied on election night , she said .
“ If it ’ s close , it could take a while , ” she said .
Video of Trudeau silent for 21 seconds after question about Trump 's response to protesters ‘ The next four years are going to suck ’ The prospect of a Trump re-election might be worrying for Canadians who have seen Trump ’ s relationship with our country become far more tumultuous than we ’ re used to , Sands said .
But there are also reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though we feel like the relationship is visibly suffering , most functions of it are still running just fine .
Example : With the N95 incident that angered Ford , the masks eventually made it across the border .
“ The safeguards that were there to prevent stupidity , they kicked in , ” Sands said .
A Biden presidency wouldn ’ t automatically solve the problems that have arisen on both sides of the border since 2016 .
“ The bad news is , the next four years are going to suck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll get better , but it ’ s going to be a bumpy ride.
” It ’ s unclear whether Democrats will be able to take control of both houses of Congress .
If they don ’ t , a Biden administration would have a difficult time passing legislation .
The confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has the potential to shift the judiciary to the right for decades to come .
And even if he loses , Trump and the social divisions he brought to the surface in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sands said .
“ I think it could be just as frustrating for Canadians , because Biden could say the right things but not be able to do them , ” Sands said .
“ ( If he wins , Biden ) is going to have a hard time keeping the country together because Trump is going to be stoking everything … He ’ s going to be on the radio , Twitter , TV , every day.
” Canadians should also remember that as much as the 2016 election revealed fractures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also surfaced similar , albeit less prominent , problems here , Canadian pollster Frank Graves said .
Our politics have also become more polarized , and a change of hands at the White House won ’ t solve that .
“ We tend to think we ’ re somehow immune to this , ” Graves said .

Not so anymore. In April, Trump temporarily halted shipments of N95 respirators to Canada. Ford was furious — some of the masks, which are vital protective equipment for medical workers amid COVID-19, had been bound for Ontario.
Trump has never been popular in Canada, but Ford was among the president’s most publicly ardent fans north of the border. As recently as February, a month before COVID-19 would shut down Ontario and upend nearly every aspect of our lives, Ford said he “loved listening to the president.”
“I think he’s a marketing genius,” Ford said of Trump in an interview with CityNews . “They need a change down in the U.S.”
The year was 2016. The United States election would happen in a few weeks, and Doug Ford — who was still two years away from becoming Ontario premier — was expressing his unwavering support for Donald Trump , who would soon become president.
This is the fifth of a series of stories Emma McIntosh is writing as part of National Observer's special coverage of the U.S. election . Read the first , second , third , fourth and sixth stories here.
Trump’s loss of one of his staunchest Canadian allies is indicative of a larger problem: Tensions between the U.S. and Canada are higher than they’ve been in recent memory as Trump sheds friends, at home and abroad .
“I still can’t get over it,” Ford said this month, recalling the incident in a discussion at the Ryerson Democracy Forum.
Another four years of Trump likely would not improve that tension, experts told Canada’s National Observer. And although polls show the president’s path to re-election is narrowing, it is still possible.
“I’ve tracked the outlook on various American presidents going back to the early ’90s, and Trump has by far got the lowest approval rating (by Canadians) of any American president,” said Frank Graves , president of the Canadian polling firm EKOS Research.
Businesses have complained that the tension — mainly caused by the tariff threats, but also contentious trade negotiations — has left them to contend with an uncertain environment .
It’s not just about the medical gear. Trump has threatened Canada with tariffs and called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “weak” and “very dishonest,” with one of his advisers even saying there is a “ special place in hell ” for Trudeau. At times, the frustration has gone both ways: Trudeau was caught on a hot mic last year having a laugh at Trump’s expense, a gaffe for which the prime minister did not apologize.
It makes sense that this would matter to Canadians — our country is economically and culturally entangled with the U.S., our nearest neighbour, main trading partner and closest ally, said Christopher Sands, the director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. Even though most functions of the U.S.-Canada relationship are working just fine, it’s anxiety-inducing to see leaders of the two countries clashing, he added.
“This is an election in the middle of a pandemic, and obviously that’s changing the way many, many people vote,” said Mary Snow , a polling analyst at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, which runs a major public opinion survey institute.
“In a time like this, the perception isn’t that the relationship (between the U.S. and Canada) is on fire, but that the U.S. is on fire. And because Canadians are so close, it worries them,” he said, comparing it to living next door to a couple in the midst of a messy divorce.
“You’re just like, ‘Oh, gosh. I hope they’re OK, and I hope this stops soon.’”
‘This is new territory’
Polling shows that Canadians overwhelmingly dislike Trump. If Canucks could vote in the U.S. presidential election, 72 per cent would support Democratic nominee and former vice-president Joe Biden, a Léger/338Canada poll released last month found. (Just 14 per cent would vote for Trump and another 14 per cent are undecided, according to the survey, which does not include an estimated margin of error.)
Trump's popularity is stronger in Alberta, but even there, Biden has twice as much support as Trump, the poll found. Thirty-two per cent of Albertan respondents in the survey said they would choose the president, and 68 per cent said they’d select Biden.
In an EKOS survey done in June, 79 per cent of Canadians said they felt worried that the U.S. is “on the verge of chaos,” and that this could have a negative impact on Canada. (The poll had a margin of error of 4.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.)
“This is new territory,” Graves said, adding that Canadians’ views of Trump worsened as America’s COVID-19 problem raged out of control.
“(Trump) was already held in low esteem and that low esteem descended even further as people witnessed the most powerful, technologically advanced society on the planet end up completely screwing up.”
In the same poll, 72 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they felt the U.S. would have a better chance of recovering from COVID-19 if the election resulted in a change of power.
Ford is not the only one to express frustration about Trump’s behaviour this year. Trudeau made international headlines in June after he fell silent for 21 seconds when asked what he thought about Trump’s decision to use tear gas on people protesting racial inequity to make way for a photo op.
“We all watch in horror and consternation what’s going on in the United States,” Trudeau said, dodging the question.
Canadian politicians rarely condemn Trump’s actions directly, so it was surprising that federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh spoke more explicitly that day. “What President Trump is doing is reprehensible. What President Trump is doing is inflaming hatred, it is divisive, it is wrong,” Singh said.
“Politicians have their finger in the wind, and they see that Trump is losing popularity,” said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. “What do you gain by associating with a loser?”
Though the polls currently favour Biden, Trump still has a chance at victory. The president’s odds currently sit at around 44.2 per cent, while Biden’s are 52.8 per cent, according to CBC’s Presidential Poll Tracker, which aggregates polls to determine the overall picture of the race.
Campaigns are now tightly focusing their attention on possible tipping-point states like Pennsylvania, which Trump won in 2016 and Biden is hoping to flip back to the Democrats. A tipping-point state is the first one that gives a winning candidate their 270th electoral college vote, bringing them to the threshold they must surpass to win the White House. (Learn more about the U.S. electoral system here.)
Polling has consistently shown Biden up by roughly eight points in Pennsylvania, said Snow.
“The race has been fairly stable since the beginning of September,” she said.
Debates are often a turning point in presidential campaigns, but the presidential debate gave Biden a slight bump that appeared to have evaporated by the second debate last week, Snow added.
In a poll taken in the days before the second debate, which happened Oct. 22, Biden was in a far stronger position in Pennsylvania than previous Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was in 2016, Snow said. Trump’s numbers are “underwater,” especially when likely voters were surveyed on his response to COVID-19, but you never know what will happen on election day.
“What happened in Pennsylvania in 2016, exit polls showed that late deciders broke for Donald Trump and that helped him win,” Snow said. “It was a tight, very tight race in the end.”
Quinnipiac hasn’t yet released any polls taken after the second debate, so Snow said it isn’t yet clear how the events of that night may have influenced or not influenced the race. Notably, Biden said at the debate he would transition the U.S. away from fossil fuels, a statement the president quickly seized on — natural gas fracking is a big industry in Pennsylvania.
It’s unclear whether the statement actually hurt Biden. Surveys by other pollsters have indicated the debate didn’t substantially change either candidate’s odds.
Pollsters are accounting for mail-in voting, which record numbers of Americans have chosen to use this fall amid COVID-19, said Snow. Depending on what happens, those votes may not be tallied on election night, she said.
“If it’s close, it could take a while,” she said.
Video of Trudeau silent for 21 seconds after question about Trump's response to protesters
‘The next four years are going to suck’
The prospect of a Trump re-election might be worrying for Canadians who have seen Trump’s relationship with our country become far more tumultuous than we’re used to, Sands said. But there are also reasons to feel reassured, he added.
Though we feel like the relationship is visibly suffering, most functions of it are still running just fine. Example: With the N95 incident that angered Ford, the masks eventually made it across the border.
“The safeguards that were there to prevent stupidity, they kicked in,” Sands said.
A Biden presidency wouldn’t automatically solve the problems that have arisen on both sides of the border since 2016.
“The bad news is, the next four years are going to suck,” Sands said. “It’ll get better, but it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
It’s unclear whether Democrats will be able to take control of both houses of Congress. If they don’t, a Biden administration would have a difficult time passing legislation. The confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has the potential to shift the judiciary to the right for decades to come. And even if he loses, Trump and the social divisions he brought to the surface in the U.S. aren’t going away, Sands said.
“I think it could be just as frustrating for Canadians, because Biden could say the right things but not be able to do them,” Sands said. “(If he wins, Biden) is going to have a hard time keeping the country together because Trump is going to be stoking everything … He’s going to be on the radio, Twitter, TV, every day.”
Canadians should also remember that as much as the 2016 election revealed fractures in America’s social fabric, it also surfaced similar, albeit less prominent, problems here, Canadian pollster Frank Graves said. Our politics have also become more polarized, and a change of hands at the White House won’t solve that.
“We tend to think we’re somehow immune to this,” Graves said.
“We’re not.”