nationalobserver--2020-12-11--RCMP make more arrests in dispute over Indigenous lobster fishing in Nova Scotia

MIDDLE WEST PUBNICO , N.S .
— The Nova Scotia RCMP confirmed Friday the arrest of 21 people in recent weeks as they continue to investigate a violent confrontation at a lobster pound at the centre of a dispute over a self-regulated Indigenous fishery .
On the night of Oct. 13 , about 200 mostly non-Indigenous fishermen and their supporters converged on the facility in Middle West Pubnico , N.S.
, which was storing lobster caught outside of the federally regulated fishing season by members of the Sipekne ’ katik First Nation .
Photos posted on social media showed lobster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCMP said the large group had prevented employees from leaving the building , which was damaged by the crowd .
One suspect was later charged with arson after a van was set on fire outside the building .
The pound was burned to the ground early on Oct. 17 .
• Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
• What the provinces and territories have said about COVID-19 vaccine plans so far • Kovrig draws strength from books and exercise as 'two Michaels ' mark two jailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the constitutionally protected treaty right to fish where and when they want , based on a 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision that affirmed their right fish for a `` moderate livelihood . ''
However , non-Indigenous fishers have pointed to a second ruling from the court that says the fishery is subject to federal regulation to ensure conservation of the resource .
On Friday , the Mounties issued a brief statement with photos , saying they were seeking public ’ s help in identifying suspects who engaged in criminal activity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of them holding flashlights as they reach into a crate filled with lobster .
The RCMP say no charges have been laid since the 21 arrests were announced .
RCMP Sgt .
Andrew Joyce said the arrests were made some time between the confrontation in Middle West Pubnico and this week .
He said charges will be laid and more arrests are expected .
The vandalism at the lobster pound on Oct. 13 followed a similar incident five hours earlier at a lobster pound about 100 kilometres away in New Edinburgh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nova Scotia RCMP faced criticism earlier this year from Indigenous leaders who accused officers of standing by while two lobster pounds were vandalized and the catches were destroyed .
# NovaScotia # Mikmaq # treatyrights At the time , the RCMP faced criticism from Indigenous leaders who accused officers of standing by while the two pounds were vandalized and the lobster catches were destroyed .
The RCMP , however , argued that when a `` handful '' of officers were dispatched to deal with two angry mobs , the priority was `` preservation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A man was later arrested for allegedly assaulting Sipekne ’ katik Chief Mike Sack after a large crowd gathered at the New Edinburgh lobster pound on Oct. 14 .
On Nov. 14 , the RCMP announced that a 74-year-old Nova Scotia man from Digby County had been charged with two counts of assault , both unrelated to Sack ’ s case .
On Nov. 30 , the RCMP said an Indigenous band councillor had been charged with unsafe operation of a vessel following a Sept. 20 incident on St. Marys Bay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sept. 17 .
As well , a 26-year-old fisher from Yarmouth County was charged with the same offence in relation to an Oct. 12 incident on St. Marys Bay .
And a 42-year-old man was charged with disobeying an interim injunction prohibiting interference with the First Nation ’ s fishery .

MIDDLE WEST PUBNICO, N.S. — The Nova Scotia RCMP confirmed Friday the arrest of 21 people in recent weeks as they continue to investigate a violent confrontation at a lobster pound at the centre of a dispute over a self-regulated Indigenous fishery. On the night of Oct. 13, about 200 mostly non-Indigenous fishermen and their supporters converged on the facility in Middle West Pubnico, N.S., which was storing lobster caught outside of the federally regulated fishing season by members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation. Photos posted on social media showed lobster strewn about the facility, and the RCMP said the large group had prevented employees from leaving the building, which was damaged by the crowd. One suspect was later charged with arson after a van was set on fire outside the building. The pound was burned to the ground early on Oct. 17.
The First Nation says its people have the constitutionally protected treaty right to fish where and when they want, based on a 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision that affirmed their right fish for a "moderate livelihood." However, non-Indigenous fishers have pointed to a second ruling from the court that says the fishery is subject to federal regulation to ensure conservation of the resource. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions On Friday, the Mounties issued a brief statement with photos, saying they were seeking public’s help in identifying suspects who engaged in criminal activity. The grainy photos show several men, some of them holding flashlights as they reach into a crate filled with lobster.
The RCMP say no charges have been laid since the 21 arrests were announced. Nova Scotia RCMP faced criticism earlier this year from Indigenous leaders who accused officers of standing by while two lobster pounds were vandalized and the catches were destroyed. #NovaScotia #Mikmaq #treatyrights RCMP Sgt. Andrew Joyce said the arrests were made some time between the confrontation in Middle West Pubnico and this week. He said charges will be laid and more arrests are expected. The vandalism at the lobster pound on Oct. 13 followed a similar incident five hours earlier at a lobster pound about 100 kilometres away in New Edinburgh, N.S., which was also ransacked. At the time, the RCMP faced criticism from Indigenous leaders who accused officers of standing by while the two pounds were vandalized and the lobster catches were destroyed. The RCMP, however, argued that when a "handful" of officers were dispatched to deal with two angry mobs, the priority was "preservation of life" rather than making arrests.
A man was later arrested for allegedly assaulting Sipekne’katik Chief Mike Sack after a large crowd gathered at the New Edinburgh lobster pound on Oct. 14. On Nov. 14, the RCMP announced that a 74-year-old Nova Scotia man from Digby County had been charged with two counts of assault, both unrelated to Sack’s case. On Nov. 30, the RCMP said an Indigenous band councillor had been charged with unsafe operation of a vessel following a Sept. 20 incident on St. Marys Bay, where the self-regulated Indigenous lobster fishery opened on Sept. 17.


nationalobserver--2020-12-11--Crackdown on Indigenous land protests in 2020 infringes on liberties and activism: experts

Months after a group of Haudenosaunee people set up camp on a construction site near Caledonia , Ont.
, an provincial court granted Haldimand County an order permanently forbidding people from “ interfering ” with any public road .
A lawyer for the county argued that the injunction was the “ only remedy ” to keep roads open in the event of future blockades over disputed land .
“ I kind of jokingly -- but not jokingly – say , if you get a flat tire and are impeding traffic with that flat tire in any kind of way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Skyler Williams , a spokesman for the 1492 Land Back Lane camp , said in a recent phone interview .
The Haudenosaunee protesters argue the site of the housing development is on unceded land .
Williams and more than 30 others who call themselves `` land defenders '' refused to obey the court order and are now facing charges .
The county ’ s move to effectively ban protest indefinitely is part of a broader trend as governments at various levels crack down on Indigenous-led land protests .
Some provinces have introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberties and could have a chilling effect on future activism .
• What the provinces and territories have said about COVID-19 vaccine plans so far • Kovrig draws strength from books and exercise as 'two Michaels ' mark two jailed years • EU leaders talk all night and agree to reduce emissions After blockades in solidarity with Wetsu ’ we ’ ten hereditary leaders opposing a pipeline through their territory near Smithers , B.C.
, shut down railways and roads last winter , Alberta ’ s governing United Conservative Party introduced a bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” broadly defined to include highways , railways and pipelines .
The bill , which became law in June , carries fines up to $ 25,000 and six months in jail for each day of an alleged violation .
Manitoba ’ s Progressive Conservative government has said it plans to introduce similar legislation next year , with the fine print under wraps until then .
Shiri Pasternak , an associate professor of criminology and research director at Ryerson University ’ s Yellowhead Institute , said such laws appear to be “ risk mitigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support across Canada .
“ These bills are meant to , I think , head off these movements at the pass by issuing blanket criminalization of any kind of action actions or interventions to infrastructure , ” she said by phone .
Pasternak said she agrees with critics in Alberta ’ s legal community who argue the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act violates Charter rights .
It also has an amplified effect on Indigenous people who have special constitutional rights to the land , she said .
The law fits with Canada ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobility , Pasternak said , pointing to the pass system that required people to present documentation in order to leave reserves .
Crackdown on land protests in 2020 infringes on liberties , future activism : experts .
# 1492LandBackLane # Caledonia “ Now , you see what 's been the history and the legacy of Canadian colonialism being applied to the Canadian population more generally , ” she said .
Cara Zwibel with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said laws like Alberta ’ s that target Indigenous protesters show “ intolerance for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and stoke divisions between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous neighbours who aren ’ t informed about the history behind the conflicts .
There are ripple effects when governments target one group of people with such legislation , she added .
“ If one group does n't have the right to protest then no one really does , ” Zwibel said in an interview .
Zwibel said the non-profit may join a constitutional challenge of Alberta ’ s law filed by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees , depending on the outcome of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request that the claim be struck .
The statement of claim from the union filed in June argues that the Act “ will have a chilling effect on legitimate and peaceful protests , demonstrations , strikes and leafleting , activities essential to a healthy democracy.
” A statement from a spokesman for Alberta ’ s justice minister denied that the infrastructure law targets people by race , and said it does not restrict protected rights to freedom of expression and assembly .
“ Albertans understand the difference between legitimate protest and criminal acts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Blaise Boehmer ’ s statement said .
There is also a court challenge underway appealing the permanent injunction orders against the 1492 Land Back Lane camp in Ontario .
Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt said he does n't want to take away the right to protest , but he 's considering the `` rights of those that ca n't traverse across these streets , '' and people waiting to move into the housing development .
`` I 'd say that everybody has the right to protest , but when that line is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on those that are innocent , how far can you go , '' Hewitt said in an interview .
Pasternak said the Haldimand court challenge will likely be closely watched , saying a win for the protesters would create “ more legal uncertainty for infrastructure projects ” – in which case , a law like Alberta ’ s would offer governments and companies a shortcut around similar constitutional challenges .
The federal Liberals ’ recent move to bring the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People into law may also gives Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pasternak said , though the exact application of the law in Canada is still unclear .
Hayden King , executive director of the Yellowhead Institute , said the recent trend of “ disciplinary , oppressive response ” to land defence movements signals the end of a recent period of dialogue between Indigenous and Canadian governments , and it shows the limits of reconciliation in those relationships .
Despite increasingly “ draconian ” responses to conflicts over land in several provinces , King said that young Indigenous activists and leaders appear eager to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that these types of movements are going to continue on and they 're going to keep pushing , and it 's going to continue to open up space for dialogue , ” he said .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 10 , 2020 .

Months after a group of Haudenosaunee people set up camp on a construction site near Caledonia, Ont., an provincial court granted Haldimand County an order permanently forbidding people from “interfering” with any public road. A lawyer for the county argued that the injunction was the “only remedy” to keep roads open in the event of future blockades over disputed land. “I kind of jokingly -- but not jokingly – say, if you get a flat tire and are impeding traffic with that flat tire in any kind of way, you are now breaching that injunction,” Skyler Williams, a spokesman for the 1492 Land Back Lane camp, said in a recent phone interview. The Haudenosaunee protesters argue the site of the housing development is on unceded land. Williams and more than 30 others who call themselves "land defenders" refused to obey the court order and are now facing charges. The county’s move to effectively ban protest indefinitely is part of a broader trend as governments at various levels crack down on Indigenous-led land protests. Some provinces have introduced legislation that experts warn infringes on civil liberties and could have a chilling effect on future activism.
After blockades in solidarity with Wetsu’we’ten hereditary leaders opposing a pipeline through their territory near Smithers, B.C., shut down railways and roads last winter, Alberta’s governing United Conservative Party introduced a bill outlawing disruptions to “critical infrastructure,” broadly defined to include highways, railways and pipelines. The bill, which became law in June, carries fines up to $25,000 and six months in jail for each day of an alleged violation. Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government has said it plans to introduce similar legislation next year, with the fine print under wraps until then. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Shiri Pasternak, an associate professor of criminology and research director at Ryerson University’s Yellowhead Institute, said such laws appear to be “risk mitigation measures” as land defence movements gain support across Canada.
“These bills are meant to, I think, head off these movements at the pass by issuing blanket criminalization of any kind of action actions or interventions to infrastructure,” she said by phone. Crackdown on land protests in 2020 infringes on liberties, future activism: experts. #1492LandBackLane #Caledonia Pasternak said she agrees with critics in Alberta’s legal community who argue the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act violates Charter rights. It also has an amplified effect on Indigenous people who have special constitutional rights to the land, she said. The law fits with Canada’s historic attempts to restrict Indigenous people's mobility, Pasternak said, pointing to the pass system that required people to present documentation in order to leave reserves. “Now, you see what's been the history and the legacy of Canadian colonialism being applied to the Canadian population more generally,” she said. Cara Zwibel with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said laws like Alberta’s that target Indigenous protesters show “intolerance for the fact that democracy can be messy,” and stoke divisions between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous neighbours who aren’t informed about the history behind the conflicts.
There are ripple effects when governments target one group of people with such legislation, she added. “If one group doesn't have the right to protest then no one really does,” Zwibel said in an interview. Zwibel said the non-profit may join a constitutional challenge of Alberta’s law filed by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, depending on the outcome of a January hearing on the government’s request that the claim be struck.


nationalobserver--2020-12-11--Provinces awash in second wave, concentrate on vaccine rollout plans

Canada 's initial rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine came into clearer focus Thursday as Ontario announced it would go ahead with its first immunizations on Tuesday , while high case counts continued to strain the health-care systems in several parts of the country .
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province will begin administering the shots in hospitals in Toronto and Ottawa , with health-care workers in long-term care and other high-risk setting first in line for immunization .
Ontario has made sure all the necessary security measures are in place to receive the doses from Pfizer , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is leading the province 's vaccine program , said 6,000 doses would arrive Monday and be split evenly between the Toronto and Ottawa hospitals .
A total of 90,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive in Ontario over the course of the month , to be rolled out to 13 hospitals , he said .
Ontario also expects to receive between 35,000 and 85,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna this month , assuming it is approved for use in Canada , he said .
Health Canada approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Federal officials have not given a timeline for the possible approval or distribution of the Moderna shot .
• EU leaders talk all night and agree to reduce emissions • Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
• What the provinces and territories have said about COVID-19 vaccine plans so far Hillier urged residents to be patient as they wait for their turn to be immunized .
`` We will do it , but it is going to be slow , there will be bumps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` And in the meantime while we 're rolling out the vaccination program , do n't forget the health measures that are absolutely crucial , '' he added .
Alberta has also announced it will start distributing the vaccine next week to front-line health workers and caregivers , with the first round set to be administered Wednesday .
The province has said its first 3,900 doses will go to intensive care unit doctors and nurses , respiratory therapists and long-term care workers .
Hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary will be the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial plans for immunization earlier this week , saying shots would begin to be administered at two long-term care homes as early as Monday , the day they are expected to arrive .
Health Minister Christian Dube has said some of the province 's 20 vaccine distribution sites are located in long-term care homes , which would allow immunizations to begin at those sites even though Pfizer has asked Canadian governments not to move the shipments until it 's confirmed they can be properly stored and handled .
Meanwhile , the two provinces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see high numbers of new infections Thursday , as each faced reports examining aspects of their response to the crisis .
Quebec , which reported 1,842 new COVID-19 cases and 33 new deaths linked to the novel coronavirus , faced scrutiny Thursday for how its long-term care system handled the first wave of the pandemic .
An ombudswoman 's report said Quebec 's long-term care system failed to ensure the safety and dignity of residents as the virus first spread last winter and spring .
In the report , Marie Rinfret said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge , with many homes lacking in personal protective equipment and some unable to provide basic care and services .
Ontario reported a record high of 1,983 new cases of the novel coronavirus , and 35 new deaths .
It said 515 of those cases are in Peel Region and 496 in Toronto - two hot spots that were placed under lockdown two weeks ago .
The provincial government released new data that showed the lockdowns have not been as effective at containing the spread of the virus as the more stringent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ontario 's chief medical officer of health , Dr. David Williams , attributed the discrepancy to the fact that people are ignoring guidelines to stay home except for essential activities .
Health officials also said the virus 's reproduction number is fluctuating around one , which means that Ontario is at a `` critical juncture '' where case rates may change quickly .
The projections released Thursday show increasing pressure on hospitals in the coming weeks as intensive care unit capacity continues to rise above 200 beds , past the threshold at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled .
Further west , Manitoba 's chief public health officer renewed his calls for residents to stick to their own household over the holidays as the province reported 292 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths .
Dr. Brent Roussin predicted another spike in cases if his advice is ignored .
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said all but two of those fatalities were seniors in long-term care homes .
The province also surpassed 40,000 cases of the virus since the pandemic started after adding another 723 infections on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the single digits on Thursday , with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick each recording four .
Newfoundland and Labrador reported one new case of COVID-19 , in the town of Harbour Breton , which has been on partial lockdown since two cases were announced there over the weekend .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10 , 2020 .

Canada's initial rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine came into clearer focus Thursday as Ontario announced it would go ahead with its first immunizations on Tuesday, while high case counts continued to strain the health-care systems in several parts of the country. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province will begin administering the shots in hospitals in Toronto and Ottawa, with health-care workers in long-term care and other high-risk setting first in line for immunization. Ontario has made sure all the necessary security measures are in place to receive the doses from Pfizer, he said. Retired Gen. Rick Hillier, who is leading the province's vaccine program, said 6,000 doses would arrive Monday and be split evenly between the Toronto and Ottawa hospitals. A total of 90,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive in Ontario over the course of the month, to be rolled out to 13 hospitals, he said. Ontario also expects to receive between 35,000 and 85,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna this month, assuming it is approved for use in Canada, he said. Health Canada approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer on Wednesday. Federal officials have not given a timeline for the possible approval or distribution of the Moderna shot.
Hillier urged residents to be patient as they wait for their turn to be immunized. "We will do it, but it is going to be slow, there will be bumps in the road," he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "And in the meantime while we're rolling out the vaccination program, don't forget the health measures that are absolutely crucial," he added.
Alberta has also announced it will start distributing the vaccine next week to front-line health workers and caregivers, with the first round set to be administered Wednesday. Provinces awash in #SecondWave, sharpen focus of #vaccine rollout plans. #COVID19 #Moderna #Pfizer The province has said its first 3,900 doses will go to intensive care unit doctors and nurses, respiratory therapists and long-term care workers. Hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary will be the initial vaccination sites. Quebec also unveiled its initial plans for immunization earlier this week, saying shots would begin to be administered at two long-term care homes as early as Monday, the day they are expected to arrive. Health Minister Christian Dube has said some of the province's 20 vaccine distribution sites are located in long-term care homes, which would allow immunizations to begin at those sites even though Pfizer has asked Canadian governments not to move the shipments until it's confirmed they can be properly stored and handled. Meanwhile, the two provinces hardest hit by the pandemic continued to see high numbers of new infections Thursday, as each faced reports examining aspects of their response to the crisis.
Quebec, which reported 1,842 new COVID-19 cases and 33 new deaths linked to the novel coronavirus, faced scrutiny Thursday for how its long-term care system handled the first wave of the pandemic. An ombudswoman's report said Quebec's long-term care system failed to ensure the safety and dignity of residents as the virus first spread last winter and spring. In the report, Marie Rinfret said the system was disorganized and unprepared for the surge, with many homes lacking in personal protective equipment and some unable to provide basic care and services.


nationalobserver--2020-12-11--China affirms national security trial for Kovrig, Spavor who have spent two years in prison

China affirmed Thursday that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor will face a national security trial as Canada and its allies urged Beijing to release the pair , saying they were being arbitrarily imprisoned .
The two Canadian men — known in Canada and abroad as the `` two Michaels '' — marked two full years behind bars on Thursday , in separate Chinese prisons , on what Canada and dozens of its Western allies say are unfounded espionage charges .
China has faced accusations of so-called hostage diplomacy for acting in retaliation for the RCMP 's December 2018 arrest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a U.S. extradition warrant .
None of that criticism has fazed China , and that was crystal clear again on Thursday when the spokeswoman for its foreign ministry dismissed a suggestion that if Meng 's case were somehow resolved , Kovrig and Spavor could be released .
`` You are very concerned about when they can get back home .
So are we for Ms. Meng Wanzhou 's safe return .
Her case is of a completely different nature from the cases you mentioned , '' said Hua Chunying , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her ministry 's website .
• Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
• What the provinces and territories have said about COVID-19 vaccine plans so far • Kovrig draws strength from books and exercise as 'two Michaels ' mark two jailed years She said Meng 's case `` is a political one '' and `` the two Canadian citizens were arrested , prosecuted and will be tried for suspected crimes endangering China 's national security .
The entire process is completely in accordance with law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been guaranteed . ''
Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne said the last two years `` have been stolen from Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor '' as well as their families and loved ones .
`` These two Canadians are an absolute priority for our government , and we will continue to work tirelessly to secure their immediate release and to stand up for them as a government and as Canadians , '' the minister said in a statement .
`` We are grateful to the many countries around the world that have expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Mr .
Spavor . ''
The United States marked the day by calling on China to immediately release them .
`` We echo the calls from the Canadian government , the international community , and the families of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for these two men to be released immediately and returned home , '' said a statement from the acting American ambassador to Canada , Katherine Brucker .
# China affirms national security trial for # Kovrig , # Spavor after two years in prison .
# twomichaels # cdnpoli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud charges .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to U.S. president-elect Joe Biden about the `` two Michaels , '' fuelling speculation that the Americans might be considering withdrawing their case against Meng , which could pave the way to freedom for the two Canadian men .
Brucker 's statement made no mention of the Meng case .
`` I think we should keep all options open and using our relationship with international partners , diplomacy , working with the United States on this .
I think everything has to be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Singh also said he was n't going to criticize the Trudeau government 's handling of the case , saying the issue was complex and that he was n't prepared to reduce it to a matter of `` partisan posturing . ''
`` These are our Canadians that are in horrible conditions , '' said Singh .
`` I ca n't imagine what it 's like for the families , and for Mr. Spavor or Mr. Kovrig .
What they 're going through is very terrible . ''
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole reiterated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been weak and ineffective in dealing with China on Kovrig and Spavor .
`` So , to suggest that this has been handled well over the last two years is fantasy , '' O'Toole said Thursday .

China affirmed Thursday that Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor will face a national security trial as Canada and its allies urged Beijing to release the pair, saying they were being arbitrarily imprisoned. The two Canadian men — known in Canada and abroad as the "two Michaels" — marked two full years behind bars on Thursday, in separate Chinese prisons, on what Canada and dozens of its Western allies say are unfounded espionage charges. China has faced accusations of so-called hostage diplomacy for acting in retaliation for the RCMP's December 2018 arrest in Vancouver of Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition warrant. None of that criticism has fazed China, and that was crystal clear again on Thursday when the spokeswoman for its foreign ministry dismissed a suggestion that if Meng's case were somehow resolved, Kovrig and Spavor could be released. "You are very concerned about when they can get back home. So are we for Ms. Meng Wanzhou's safe return. Her case is of a completely different nature from the cases you mentioned," said Hua Chunying, according to an English translation of her remarks on her ministry's website.
She said Meng's case "is a political one" and "the two Canadian citizens were arrested, prosecuted and will be tried for suspected crimes endangering China's national security. The entire process is completely in accordance with law and the two Canadians' lawful rights have been guaranteed." Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne said the last two years "have been stolen from Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor" as well as their families and loved ones. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "These two Canadians are an absolute priority for our government, and we will continue to work tirelessly to secure their immediate release and to stand up for them as a government and as Canadians," the minister said in a statement.
"We are grateful to the many countries around the world that have expressed support for Canada and for Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor." #China affirms national security trial for #Kovrig, #Spavor after two years in prison. #twomichaels #cdnpoli The United States marked the day by calling on China to immediately release them. "We echo the calls from the Canadian government, the international community, and the families of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for these two men to be released immediately and returned home," said a statement from the acting American ambassador to Canada, Katherine Brucker. The U.S. wants to extradite Meng on fraud charges. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to U.S. president-elect Joe Biden about the "two Michaels," fuelling speculation that the Americans might be considering withdrawing their case against Meng, which could pave the way to freedom for the two Canadian men.
Brucker's statement made no mention of the Meng case. "I think we should keep all options open and using our relationship with international partners, diplomacy, working with the United States on this. I think everything has to be available," said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Singh also said he wasn't going to criticize the Trudeau government's handling of the case, saying the issue was complex and that he wasn't prepared to reduce it to a matter of "partisan posturing."


nationalobserver--2020-12-11--Commons passes assisted-dying bill after Conservatives end filibuster

A bill to expand access to medical assistance in dying was approved Thursday by the House of Commons after the Conservatives ended a days-long filibuster .
Bill C-7 passed by a vote of 212-107 , with the support of all but four Liberals — two of whom voted against and two of whom abstained — and all Bloc Québécois , New Democrat and Green MPs .
Nearly all Conservative MPs voted against the bill , including Leader Erin O'Toole .
Just 15 supported it and one abstained .
Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould also voted against the proposed changes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Liberals ' justice minister in 2016 .
The Senate , where opinion on the bill is deeply divided , now has just one week to deal with it before a court-imposed deadline of Dec. 18 .
• EU leaders talk all night and agree to reduce emissions • Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
• What the provinces and territories have said about COVID-19 vaccine plans so far The Conservatives spent four days putting up speaker after speaker to debate the bill at third reading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the justice committee 's report on the bill .
As a result , passage of the bill Thursday came almost two weeks later than the government had planned and it remains to be seen whether the Senate can whip the bill through all stages of its legislative process in just one week .
`` It certainly would have been better had this bill been there ( in the Senate ) earlier .
There 's absolutely no question about that and the Conservatives will have to answer for that , '' Justice Minister David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is difficult , I understand , but certainly not impossible . ''
Still , Lametti acknowledged he 's `` definitely worried '' that some Conservative senators will drag out proceedings in the upper house , just as their caucus colleagues did in the Commons .
And should the Senate amend the bill in any substantive way , Lametti conceded it 's `` a fair point '' that it would have to come back to the Commons where MPs would likely demand more lengthy debate .
The Commons is scheduled to break Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if necessary .
The upper house is not expected to begin second reading debate on the bill until Monday .
If senators vote to approve the bill in principle , it must then go to the Senate 's legal and constitutional affairs committee .
The committee last week conducted a pre-study of the bill , hearing from numerous witnesses , in a bid to help expedite the bill 's passage through the Senate .
But it may yet call more witnesses and must still give the bill clause-by-clause scrutiny and consider proposed amendments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and voted on again by senators in the chamber as a whole .
Some Conservative senators have echoed the concerns of their caucus colleagues in the Commons that the bill ignores the vehement opposition to the bill by disability rights groups , who fear it sends a message that life with a disability is not worth living .
But other senators , including some Conservatives , have argued the bill is unconstitutional because it is still too restrictive and , in particular , because it would expressly prohibit assisted dying for anyone suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill is intended to bring the law into compliance with a Quebec Superior Court ruling last fall , which struck down a provision allowing medical assistance in dying only to those whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable .
It would drop the near-death requirement but set out two sets of eligibility criteria , making it easier for those near death to receive an assisted death but setting up more restrictive conditions for those who are not .
If the bill is not passed by next Friday , Lametti warned it will create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are not near death will be allowed to receive an assisted death without any of the safeguards that Bill C-7 would have imposed .
As well , he said medical practitioners in the province will have no certainty as to whether they were acting legally in providing the procedure .
Moreover , he said all intolerably suffering Canadians who are near death would lose the benefit of the more relaxed rules proposed by the bill .
`` These kinds of voids are very serious and so I 'm very worried and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their shoulders to the wheel in good faith and let 's try to get this across the finish line . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10 , 2020 .

A bill to expand access to medical assistance in dying was approved Thursday by the House of Commons after the Conservatives ended a days-long filibuster. Bill C-7 passed by a vote of 212-107, with the support of all but four Liberals — two of whom voted against and two of whom abstained — and all Bloc Québécois, New Democrat and Green MPs. Nearly all Conservative MPs voted against the bill, including Leader Erin O'Toole. Just 15 supported it and one abstained. Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould also voted against the proposed changes to the current law, which she introduced as the Liberals' justice minister in 2016. The Senate, where opinion on the bill is deeply divided, now has just one week to deal with it before a court-imposed deadline of Dec. 18.
The Conservatives spent four days putting up speaker after speaker to debate the bill at third reading, after similarly dragging out debate on the justice committee's report on the bill. As a result, passage of the bill Thursday came almost two weeks later than the government had planned and it remains to be seen whether the Senate can whip the bill through all stages of its legislative process in just one week. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "It certainly would have been better had this bill been there (in the Senate) earlier. There's absolutely no question about that and the Conservatives will have to answer for that," Justice Minister David Lametti said after the vote.
"It is difficult, I understand, but certainly not impossible." Commons passes #AssistedDying bill after Conservatives end filibuster. #MAID #cdnpoli #cdnlegal Still, Lametti acknowledged he's "definitely worried" that some Conservative senators will drag out proceedings in the upper house, just as their caucus colleagues did in the Commons. And should the Senate amend the bill in any substantive way, Lametti conceded it's "a fair point" that it would have to come back to the Commons where MPs would likely demand more lengthy debate. The Commons is scheduled to break Friday until late January but could be recalled if necessary. The upper house is not expected to begin second reading debate on the bill until Monday. If senators vote to approve the bill in principle, it must then go to the Senate's legal and constitutional affairs committee.
The committee last week conducted a pre-study of the bill, hearing from numerous witnesses, in a bid to help expedite the bill's passage through the Senate. But it may yet call more witnesses and must still give the bill clause-by-clause scrutiny and consider proposed amendments. And then it must be debated and voted on again by senators in the chamber as a whole. Some Conservative senators have echoed the concerns of their caucus colleagues in the Commons that the bill ignores the vehement opposition to the bill by disability rights groups, who fear it sends a message that life with a disability is not worth living.


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--Minister McKenna on the anniversary of the Paris climate agreement

We had been negotiating in Paris for days .
One of the final sessions , in a chilly , charmless conference centre on the outskirts , went all night discussing markets and climate change .
When we broke at dawn , tired and hungry , we wondered whether our grand effort to address global warming would succeed .
It did .
On Dec. 12 , 2015 , 197 nations adopted the Paris climate agreement .
It was a watershed : the boldest , broadest commitment the world had ever made to ambitiously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the environment and climate change — less than a week on the job — I was honoured to lead the delegation representing Canada , helping to shape the agreement at a critical hour .
For me , the process was exhilarating and inspiring , carrying a stern warning , too .
Returning home , I knew that our government would have to pursue a vigorous agenda on climate change to honour our commitments .
We have .
And now , five years later , facing the ravages of the worst public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we apply from our response to public health to our response climate change ?
If we take the same approach to climate change that we are to COVID-19 — maintaining a sense of urgency , tightening our focus , listening to science , innovating relentlessly and collaborating across borders — I know one thing : we will beat climate change , as we are beating COVID-19 .
In recent days Canada has joined Britain and the United States in approving a vaccine .
This is a stunning development , which many thought impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the past , effective , safe vaccines have taken years to develop .
• Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
• Fraser River salmon get a boost as DFO announces $ 176M for fish ladder project • Provinces awash in second wave , concentrate on vaccine rollout plans This time , it took less than year .
We found a way .
We will on climate change , too .
No doubt the challenges posed by the pandemic and climate change are different .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life , the pandemic will pass , eventually .
It is a virus with a cure .
Climate change will remain .
It is a malaise with a cure — if we have the will to act .
In Canada , we are doing our part .
In the last five years , we put a price on pollution .
We committed $ 2 billion to plant two billion trees by 2030 .
We banned single-use plastics , made historic investments in the Oceans Protection Plan and legislated five-year climate reviews .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My successor , Jonathan Wilkinson , has introduced a far-reaching climate plan that will help Canada beat its 2030 climate target .
It ensures we continue pricing pollution while ensuring families receive more money back .
It recognizes that the cleanest economies are the fastest growing and positions Canada to thrive and prosper , while creating jobs and protecting the planet .
It invests $ 1.5 billion for green community buildings , including retrofits and new , net-zero builds , which itself builds on our government ’ s historic 12-year , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to long-term investments in cleaner public transit and active transportation — bringing more cycling and walking paths when people need to be outside in nature the most .
As minister of infrastructure and communities , we are funding projects across Canada to make our communities more resilient , inclusive and healthy .
Projects like the net-zero pool in Drayton Valley , Alta.
, and the biofuel production facility in Varennes , Que.
, that turns waste into fuel using cutting-edge Canadian technology .
Or purchasing electric school buses for P.E.I.
, reclaiming saltwater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island .
Infrastructure Canada has approved more than 700 projects , worth $ 1.2 billion , since March .
Tackling climate change is about good jobs , Canadian innovation , clean air and water , more inclusive communities and , most of all , a better future for our kids .
Weaning the global economy off fossil fuels is a monumental task , but we are seeing some progress .
Markets tell the tale .
Alberta ’ s new solar power facilities will provide electricity at rates cheaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs have dropped 70 per cent over the past decade .
In the same 10 years , the TSX Renewable Energy and Clean Technology Index is up 130 per cent and the TSX Energy Index , which is heavy on fossil fuels , is down 69 per cent .
The fight against climate change is at a tipping point .
The last decade was the hottest ever and everyone , everywhere , is feeling the effects of a warming climate in their communities .
Wildfires , hurricanes and drought have become more severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue if we don ’ t act now .
Young people are begging their governments to act .
They are right to be focused on their futures .
So are we .
Five years after the Paris climate agreement , imagine the future you want for you and your family .
With the same commitment we ’ ve brought to beating the pandemic , we will beat climate change , too .
Catherine McKenna , Canada ’ s minister of infrastructure and communities , was minister of the environment and climate change @ @ @ @ @

We had been negotiating in Paris for days. One of the final sessions, in a chilly, charmless conference centre on the outskirts, went all night discussing markets and climate change. When we broke at dawn, tired and hungry, we wondered whether our grand effort to address global warming would succeed. It did. On Dec. 12, 2015, 197 nations adopted the Paris climate agreement. It was a watershed: the boldest, broadest commitment the world had ever made to ambitiously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the impacts of a changing climate. As minister of the environment and climate change — less than a week on the job — I was honoured to lead the delegation representing Canada, helping to shape the agreement at a critical hour. For me, the process was exhilarating and inspiring, carrying a stern warning, too. Returning home, I knew that our government would have to pursue a vigorous agenda on climate change to honour our commitments. We have. And now, five years later, facing the ravages of the worst public health crisis in a century, what can we apply from our response to public health to our response climate change? If we take the same approach to climate change that we are to COVID-19 — maintaining a sense of urgency, tightening our focus, listening to science, innovating relentlessly and collaborating across borders — I know one thing: we will beat climate change, as we are beating COVID-19. In recent days Canada has joined Britain and the United States in approving a vaccine. This is a stunning development, which many thought impossible when the pandemic erupted last winter. In the past, effective, safe vaccines have taken years to develop.
This time, it took less than year. We found a way. We will on climate change, too. No doubt the challenges posed by the pandemic and climate change are different. While both crises have caused an unimaginable loss of life, the pandemic will pass, eventually. It is a virus with a cure. Climate change will remain. It is a malaise with a cure — if we have the will to act. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In Canada, we are doing our part. In the last five years, we put a price on pollution. We committed $2 billion to plant two billion trees by 2030. We banned single-use plastics, made historic investments in the Oceans Protection Plan and legislated five-year climate reviews. We are spending billions in clean infrastructure.
My successor, Jonathan Wilkinson, has introduced a far-reaching climate plan that will help Canada beat its 2030 climate target. It ensures we continue pricing pollution while ensuring families receive more money back. It recognizes that the cleanest economies are the fastest growing and positions Canada to thrive and prosper, while creating jobs and protecting the planet. Five years after the Paris climate agreement, imagine the future you want for you and your family. With the same commitment we’ve brought to beating the pandemic, we will beat climate change, too, writes Minister @cathmckenna It invests $1.5 billion for green community buildings, including retrofits and new, net-zero builds, which itself builds on our government’s historic 12-year, $26.9-billion green infrastructure commitment. It commits to long-term investments in cleaner public transit and active transportation — bringing more cycling and walking paths when people need to be outside in nature the most. As minister of infrastructure and communities, we are funding projects across Canada to make our communities more resilient, inclusive and healthy. Projects like the net-zero pool in Drayton Valley, Alta., and the biofuel production facility in Varennes, Que., that turns waste into fuel using cutting-edge Canadian technology. Or purchasing electric school buses for P.E.I., reclaiming saltwater marshes in Nova Scotia and fighting floods in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Infrastructure Canada has approved more than 700 projects, worth $1.2 billion, since March. Tackling climate change is about good jobs, Canadian innovation, clean air and water, more inclusive communities and, most of all, a better future for our kids. Weaning the global economy off fossil fuels is a monumental task, but we are seeing some progress. Markets tell the tale. Alberta’s new solar power facilities will provide electricity at rates cheaper than natural gas, and wind power costs have dropped 70 per cent over the past decade. In the same 10 years, the TSX Renewable Energy and Clean Technology Index is up 130 per cent and the TSX Energy Index, which is heavy on fossil fuels, is down 69 per cent.


nationalobserver--2020-12-11--Tipping point? Experts say the Paris Agreement changed the climate on climate

Five years after it was passed , the Paris agreement may finally be changing the climate on climate change .
`` I 've always known we 're not going to act as soon as we could have , '' said Mark Jaccard , a widely consulted energy economist at Simon Fraser University .
`` I also know that when we do start to act , it 'll be very fast .
It 'll be one of those tipping points and it could be that we 're at one right now . ''
On Dec. 12 , 2015 , 196 countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a legally binding treaty to do what it took to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius and to create carbon-neutral economies by 2050 .
Progress on those promises has been spotty .
• Fraser River salmon get a boost as DFO announces $ 176M for fish ladder project • Provinces awash in second wave , concentrate on vaccine rollout plans • Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
The United Nations annual emissions gap report released this week points out that greenhouse gas emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels in 2019 .
Even with a seven per cent decline in emissions expected this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic , atmospheric concentrations are expected to rise .
The Liberal government has committed Canada to being carbon neutral by 2050 .
But it has released no plan for the three to four per cent annual cuts that it would take to get there .
Canada has never met any of its previous climate goals and is one of five G20 countries behind on its Paris commitments .
`` We have a much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Keith Stewart of Greenpeace .
`` A lot of the big forces in the world are starting to line up behind the transition . ''
More and more financial institutions — including , just this week , the $ 225-billion New York state pension fund — are divesting from fossil fuels or decarbonizing .
The UN says 126 countries , including China , have either adopted binding net-zero goals or are considering them .
The cost of renewable energy is plummeting — 90 per cent for solar power , says an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , including China — are putting end dates on the sale of gas-powered vehicles .
Five years after it was passed , the # ParisAgreement may finally be changing the climate on # ClimateChange # climateambitionsummit `` The effort is picking up speed , '' Jaccard said .
Without Paris , Canada would n't have achieved what it has , federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told an online webinar Thursday .
`` Canadians were really tired of inaction , '' he said .
`` The pan-Canadian framework was something that came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal Liberals have implemented a carbon tax , signed agreements to reduce methane releases , promised a clean-fuel standard to cut vehicle emissions , announced $ 1.5 billion in funding for electric buses and charging stations , and helped phase out coal-generated power .
`` The Trudeau government is the only federal government Canada 's had that is implementing the pricing and regulations that actually reduce emissions , '' Jaccard said .
`` We know that more ambition will be required . ''
More is needed than just a new set of targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the fossil fuel industry need help with the transition .
`` There 's a whole bunch of people who are going to be hurt badly if we do n't do this properly , '' he said .
`` The rest of the country is going to be supporting Alberta , Saskatchewan and Newfoundland . ''
Jaccard said some way may be needed to prevent countries that are n't limiting emissions from having a trade advantage .
Tariffs that penalize products from high-carbon jurisdictions are being discussed both at home and abroad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get any kind of collective action when there are easy rewards for cheating ?
You have to have penalty mechanisms . ''
Paris made a real difference and progress is out there , said Jaccard .
`` I react strongly to people who say it 's too late .
The evidence does n't support it .
`` It 's harder , which means we 've taken longer to act on it , but I always knew we would act . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11 , @ @

Five years after it was passed, the Paris agreement may finally be changing the climate on climate change. "I've always known we're not going to act as soon as we could have," said Mark Jaccard, a widely consulted energy economist at Simon Fraser University. "I also know that when we do start to act, it'll be very fast. It'll be one of those tipping points and it could be that we're at one right now." On Dec. 12, 2015, 196 countries met in Paris and put their signatures on a legally binding treaty to do what it took to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius and to create carbon-neutral economies by 2050. Progress on those promises has been spotty.
The United Nations annual emissions gap report released this week points out that greenhouse gas emissions have continued to grow and reached record levels in 2019. Even with a seven per cent decline in emissions expected this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, atmospheric concentrations are expected to rise. The Liberal government has committed Canada to being carbon neutral by 2050. But it has released no plan for the three to four per cent annual cuts that it would take to get there. Canada has never met any of its previous climate goals and is one of five G20 countries behind on its Paris commitments. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions And yet ...
"We have a much stronger climate movement that we did," said Keith Stewart of Greenpeace. "A lot of the big forces in the world are starting to line up behind the transition." Five years after it was passed, the #ParisAgreement may finally be changing the climate on #ClimateChange #climateambitionsummit More and more financial institutions — including, just this week, the $225-billion New York state pension fund — are divesting from fossil fuels or decarbonizing. The UN says 126 countries, including China, have either adopted binding net-zero goals or are considering them. The cost of renewable energy is plummeting — 90 per cent for solar power, says an Oxford University publication. Some countries — again, including China — are putting end dates on the sale of gas-powered vehicles. "The effort is picking up speed," Jaccard said. Without Paris, Canada wouldn't have achieved what it has, federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told an online webinar Thursday.
"Canadians were really tired of inaction," he said. "The pan-Canadian framework was something that came out of the Paris agreement." The federal Liberals have implemented a carbon tax, signed agreements to reduce methane releases, promised a clean-fuel standard to cut vehicle emissions, announced $1.5 billion in funding for electric buses and charging stations, and helped phase out coal-generated power. "The Trudeau government is the only federal government Canada's had that is implementing the pricing and regulations that actually reduce emissions," Jaccard said.


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--China's ambassador says Canada was 'disgraceful' accomplice of U.S. in Meng arrest

As Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor began their third year in Chinese prisons on Friday , the grievances between Canada and China deepened , dimming hope the two Canadian men would win freedom any time soon .
China 's ambassador to Canada said Canada acted as a `` disgraceful '' accomplice to the United States in arresting Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant .
Meng 's Dec. 1 , 2018 arrest at Vancouver 's airport , at the request of the U.S. Justice Department , was followed by China 's seizing Kovrig and Spavor nine days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Canada 's relations with its second-largest trading partner have since plunged to an all-time low , as the country found itself caught in the crossfire between China and the U.S .
In an interview Friday , China 's envoy to Canada , Cong Peiwu said Canada must release Meng , who he says is being arbitrarily and unjustly detained by Canada , or Canada-China relations wo n't be able to return to normal .
Cong said Canada is bearing the responsibility of being an `` accomplice '' in the American effort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meng , the daughter of the founder of China 's Huawei Technologies and the company 's chief financial officer , as it competes for its slice of the world market in delivering the next generation of 5G internet .
• Fraser River salmon get a boost as DFO announces $ 176M for fish ladder project • Provinces awash in second wave , concentrate on vaccine rollout plans • Liberals willing to hold political parties to account on privacy `` I once again point out that it is entirely out of the U.S. government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enterprises , and Canada played a very disgraceful role in this process .
This is , in every way , a grave political incident , '' said Cong .
`` So , we once again urge the U.S. side to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant and extradition request for Madame Meng and also urge the Canadian side to immediately release her so that she can return to China safely at an early date . ''
Cong suggested that even if Meng is released , there are no guarantees that Korvig and Spavor would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That scenario has been raised as a possibility because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to U.S. president-elect Joe Biden about Kovrig and Spavor , fuelling speculation that if the U.S. revisited the merits of the Meng case and withdrew the charges , she could go free in Canada , potentially placating China .
`` As we have repeatedly pointed out , '' said Cong , `` those cases are not connected as some here suggest . ''
China confirmed Thursday that Kovrig and Spavor would face national security trials , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when or how that legal proceeding would unfold .
As Michael # Kovrig and Michael # Spavor began their third year in Chinese prisons on Dec. 11 , 2020 , the grievances between # Canada and # China deepened , dimming hope the two Canadian men would win freedom any time soon .
# twomichaels # cdnpoli Trudeau shot back at China Friday , once again calling on the People 's Republic to release the Michaels .
`` They were arbitrarily detained in retaliation for Canada , living up to our rule of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaties with our closest ally .
And it is simply an example of coercive diplomacy , '' Trudeau said an outdoor event in Ottawa .
`` And I can say that we are also extremely well-supported by allies near and far , around the world , who have been consistently speaking up in defence of these two Canadians , both because they support Canada , but also because they , too , have real concerns about the way China has been using arbitrary detentions and coercive diplomacy to try and reach various ends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said he does n't want to play partisan politics with the case , Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole has regularly criticized Trudeau as weak and ineffective .
O'Toole has also called for Canada to impose so-called Magnitsky sanctions on top level Chinese officials .
The sanctions , named after the Russian whistleblower Sergey Magnitsky , target individuals who are seen to have violated human rights .
The sanctions can include travel bans and the seizure of assets .
`` This kind of sanction , it wo n't work , and it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomacy .
So that 's against the basic norms covering international relations , ” said Cong .
`` You can see it 's not China who is making the provocation , but rather , is some forces here who would like to be engaged in this kind of activity.
” Cong said Kovrig and Spavor are being treated well , like every prisoner who faces charges of violating China 's national security , something he said his country takes very seriously .
Asked if he had anything to offer to the concerned families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

As Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor began their third year in Chinese prisons on Friday, the grievances between Canada and China deepened, dimming hope the two Canadian men would win freedom any time soon. China's ambassador to Canada said Canada acted as a "disgraceful" accomplice to the United States in arresting Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant. Meng's Dec. 1, 2018 arrest at Vancouver's airport, at the request of the U.S. Justice Department, was followed by China's seizing Kovrig and Spavor nine days later and charging them with espionage-related offences. Canada's relations with its second-largest trading partner have since plunged to an all-time low, as the country found itself caught in the crossfire between China and the U.S. In an interview Friday, China's envoy to Canada, Cong Peiwu said Canada must release Meng, who he says is being arbitrarily and unjustly detained by Canada, or Canada-China relations won't be able to return to normal. Cong said Canada is bearing the responsibility of being an "accomplice" in the American effort to undermine China's high-tech prowess by targeting Meng, the daughter of the founder of China's Huawei Technologies and the company's chief financial officer, as it competes for its slice of the world market in delivering the next generation of 5G internet.
"I once again point out that it is entirely out of the U.S. government's political agenda to suppress Chinese high-tech enterprises, and Canada played a very disgraceful role in this process. This is, in every way, a grave political incident," said Cong. "So, we once again urge the U.S. side to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant and extradition request for Madame Meng and also urge the Canadian side to immediately release her so that she can return to China safely at an early date." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Cong suggested that even if Meng is released, there are no guarantees that Korvig and Spavor would be granted their own freedom in return.
That scenario has been raised as a possibility because Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to U.S. president-elect Joe Biden about Kovrig and Spavor, fuelling speculation that if the U.S. revisited the merits of the Meng case and withdrew the charges, she could go free in Canada, potentially placating China. As Michael #Kovrig and Michael #Spavor began their third year in Chinese prisons on Dec. 11, 2020, the grievances between #Canada and #China deepened, dimming hope the two Canadian men would win freedom any time soon. #twomichaels #cdnpoli "As we have repeatedly pointed out," said Cong, "those cases are not connected as some here suggest." China confirmed Thursday that Kovrig and Spavor would face national security trials, but Cong could provide no further details on when or how that legal proceeding would unfold. Trudeau shot back at China Friday, once again calling on the People's Republic to release the Michaels. "They were arbitrarily detained in retaliation for Canada, living up to our rule of law, living up to long-standing international treaties with our closest ally. And it is simply an example of coercive diplomacy," Trudeau said an outdoor event in Ottawa.
"And I can say that we are also extremely well-supported by allies near and far, around the world, who have been consistently speaking up in defence of these two Canadians, both because they support Canada, but also because they, too, have real concerns about the way China has been using arbitrary detentions and coercive diplomacy to try and reach various ends." While NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said he doesn't want to play partisan politics with the case, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole has regularly criticized Trudeau as weak and ineffective. O'Toole has also called for Canada to impose so-called Magnitsky sanctions on top level Chinese officials. The sanctions, named after the Russian whistleblower Sergey Magnitsky, target individuals who are seen to have violated human rights. The sanctions can include travel bans and the seizure of assets.


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--Grim COVID forecasts for the holidays in Canada

Authorities are cautioning Canadians against getting swept up in the excitement of the approaching COVID-19 vaccine rollout , insisting that dropping our guards could have deadly consequences as federal forecasts predict the outbreak 's death toll could hit nearly 15,000 come Christmas Day .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is preparing to launch the largest immunization campaign in Canadian history after this week 's approval of the Pfizer vaccine , with health officials signalling they 're also making plans to distribute a second vaccine that 's currently under regulatory review .
But Trudeau warned that the darkest days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as several provinces report record COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations this week , and the government 's new modelling predicts that Canada could see as many as 12,000 new infections per day by January .
`` A vaccine in a week or in a month wo n't help you if you get COVID-19 today , '' Trudeau told reporters on Friday .
`` My message to Canadians is simple : Hold tight , and do n't give up .
We know how to make it through long , cold winters .
And we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
• Liberals willing to hold political parties to account on privacy • Could tidal power be the missing piece to the green energy puzzle ?
• Fraser River salmon get a boost as DFO announces $ 176M for fish ladder project Trudeau confirmed that Canada and the United States have agreed to extend the closure of the border to non-essential travel until at least Jan. 21 .
Dr. Theresa Tam , Canada 's chief public health officer , echoed Trudeau 's calls for continued vigilance as she presented updated modelling on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim milestones this holiday season .
The analysis suggests that Canada 's caseload will climb by at least 90,000 new infections by Christmas Day , and that number could go as high as 135,000 .
She implored Canadians to continue to limit their contacts as officials at all levels of government work through the complexities of implementing a nation-wide vaccine program .
Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the Pfizer vaccine doses headed to Canada are set to be divvied up among provinces and territories on a per capita basis .
Ottawa is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations people living on reserve , where health care is a federal responsibility .
`` A # vaccine in a week or in a month wo n't help you if you get COVID-19 today , '' Trudeau told reporters on Friday , December 11 , 2020 .
# COVID19 # Christmas # Pfizer # cdnpoli However Metis , First Nations and Inuit living in urban areas , for instance , will be considered part of the provincial population , she said .
This is `` very concerning '' for National Chief Perry Bellegarde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tweeted that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure Indigenous people are vaccinated regardless of whether they live on a reserve .
Meanwhile , Yukon and Nunavut have indicated they would prefer to skip out on the first Pfizer vaccine shipment , suggesting the doses may be too fragile to deliver to remote communities .
Tam said they will make up for that gap by allotting the territories a larger share of the Moderna vaccine , which is already part of the federal distribution plan in anticipation of Health Canada approval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said all large provinces need to strengthen their COVID-19 responses `` now '' as the spread of the virus continues along a `` rapid growth trajectory . ''
`` Knowing access to safe and effective vaccines for all Canadians is within sight might lead some to think COVID-19 is no longer problem , '' Tam told reporters .
`` But the reality is very different . ''
Infections continue to climb in the six provinces west of the Atlantic region , with rates rising precipitously Alberta , Saskatchewan and Manitoba , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the past week , an average of 2,900 patients with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals on any given day , including 565 people in intensive care .
Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo said the outbreak has pushed health-care facilities in some parts of the country to the point of being `` completely overloaded , '' forcing some to postpone important medical procedures .
In Manitoba , where stricter measures appear to have at least slowed the spread of the virus according to Tam , the death rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than nine times since Thanksgiving , said the province 's chief provincial public health officer .
Dr. Brent Roussin reported 447 more infections and 14 deaths linked to the virus on Friday .
Canada 's two most populous provinces expanded lockdown measures as they ramped up for a vaccine rollout next week .
Ontario announced plans to move the COVID-19 hot spots of Windsor-Essex and York Region into lockdown on Monday , while increasing pandemic restrictions for five other jurisdictions .
The province also expects to receive 6,000 doses of Pfizer 's COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to administer them to approximately 2,500 health-care workers in Toronto and Ottawa on Tuesday .
An additional 90,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive later this month and are to be provided to 14 hospitals in COVID-19 hot spot regions .
The province also expects to receive between 30,000 and 85,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine by the new year , said retired gen. Rick Hiller , who is leading Ontario 's vaccine task force .
Ontario is reporting 1,848 new cases of COVID-19 , and 45 new deaths due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quebec learned it 's moving into the highest alert level on Friday as the province reported 1,713 new infections and 53 more deaths related to the virus .
Rising cases in areas of the Laurentians , including the popular resort towns of Mont-Tremblant and St-Sauveur , will join the red zone on Monday , closing many public venues and forbidding private gatherings .
Workers and residents at two long-term care homes in Montreal and Quebec City are also readying themselves to receive the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 on Friday and 18 new deaths , bringing its death total to 684 .
The province says 684 people are in hospital , including 123 in intensive care .
Alberta continues to have the highest rate of new daily cases in the country .
In Saskatchewan , officials reported 246 new cases of COVID-19 .
The Ministry of Health says 133 people are in hospital , and 27 people receiving intensive care .
The province 's average for daily cases sits at 282 .
British Columbia had 737 new cases , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth .
Another 11 people died , for a total of 598 since the pandemic began , most of those coming in the second wave of COVID-19 .
A new community outbreak forced the closure of the Regent Christian Academy .
Fraser Health said the private school would close until after the winter break after 30 cases of COVID-19 were detected .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11 , 2020 .

Authorities are cautioning Canadians against getting swept up in the excitement of the approaching COVID-19 vaccine rollout, insisting that dropping our guards could have deadly consequences as federal forecasts predict the outbreak's death toll could hit nearly 15,000 come Christmas Day. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is preparing to launch the largest immunization campaign in Canadian history after this week's approval of the Pfizer vaccine, with health officials signalling they're also making plans to distribute a second vaccine that's currently under regulatory review. But Trudeau warned that the darkest days of the outbreak may still lie ahead as several provinces report record COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations this week, and the government's new modelling predicts that Canada could see as many as 12,000 new infections per day by January. "A vaccine in a week or in a month won't help you if you get COVID-19 today," Trudeau told reporters on Friday. "My message to Canadians is simple: Hold tight, and don't give up. We know how to make it through long, cold winters. And we're going to do that once again."
Trudeau confirmed that Canada and the United States have agreed to extend the closure of the border to non-essential travel until at least Jan. 21. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, echoed Trudeau's calls for continued vigilance as she presented updated modelling on Friday portending that Canada could mark several grim milestones this holiday season. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The analysis suggests that Canada's caseload will climb by at least 90,000 new infections by Christmas Day, and that number could go as high as 135,000.
She implored Canadians to continue to limit their contacts as officials at all levels of government work through the complexities of implementing a nation-wide vaccine program. "A #vaccine in a week or in a month won't help you if you get COVID-19 today," Trudeau told reporters on Friday, December 11, 2020. #COVID19 #Christmas #Pfizer #cdnpoli Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the Pfizer vaccine doses headed to Canada are set to be divvied up among provinces and territories on a per capita basis. Ottawa is setting aside additional vaccine doses for First Nations people living on reserve, where health care is a federal responsibility. However Metis, First Nations and Inuit living in urban areas, for instance, will be considered part of the provincial population, she said. This is "very concerning" for National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations, who tweeted that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure Indigenous people are vaccinated regardless of whether they live on a reserve.
Meanwhile, Yukon and Nunavut have indicated they would prefer to skip out on the first Pfizer vaccine shipment, suggesting the doses may be too fragile to deliver to remote communities. Tam said they will make up for that gap by allotting the territories a larger share of the Moderna vaccine, which is already part of the federal distribution plan in anticipation of Health Canada approval. But in their update, federal officials said all large provinces need to strengthen their COVID-19 responses "now" as the spread of the virus continues along a "rapid growth trajectory."


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--Did CSIS spies break the law?

Did CSIS spies break the law?

A newly released watchdog report says Canada 's spy agency may have broken the law by using peoples ' digital @ @ @ @ @ .
The report , tabled in Parliament late this afternoon , says the Canadian Security @ @ @ @ @ the data pinpointing physical locations risked breaching Section 8 of the charter , which protects @ @ @ @ @ .
The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency 's report found CSIS lacked the policies @ @ @ @ @ sought legal advice to avoid unlawful use of the data .

A newly released watchdog report says Canada's spy agency may have broken the law by using peoples' digital geolocation data without a warrant.
The report, tabled in Parliament late this afternoon, says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service's use of the data pinpointing physical locations risked breaching Section 8 of the charter, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency's report found CSIS lacked the policies or procedures to ensure it sought legal advice to avoid unlawful use of the data.
It reveals the review agency submitted a report in March to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair describing the possible unlawful activity.
The agency must refer to the relevant minister any national security or intelligence activity that might not be in compliance with the law, and the minister must then forward the report to the attorney general.


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--Nightmare on COVID Street

Nightmare on COVID Street

Alberta , seeking to heal with hard-edged humour , has launched a COVID-19 advertising campaign starring a fashion-challenged , hard-partying , virus-headed Freddy Kruegeresque super-spreader .
The eggnog-slurping social-distance violator is the centrepiece of the $ 2-million campaign to remind Albertans how stealthy and fast the virus can spread at social gatherings .
Dr. Deena Hinshaw , Alberta 's chief medical officer of health , said the goal is to find a way to reach those 20 to 39 .
“ We are continuing the serious and fact-based ( ad ) campaigns .
Those have not stopped , ” Hinshaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was important to add an additional tool to communicate more effectively to groups that may not have been taking our message as seriously — and to use humour , actually , to help them take the message more seriously.
” • Fraser River salmon get a boost as DFO announces $ 176M for fish ladder project • Provinces awash in second wave , concentrate on vaccine rollout plans • Liberals willing to hold political parties to account on privacy It ’ s part of a larger social awareness and information campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The star is a man with an oversized grey head , like the novel coronavirus , spiked with red fuzz and sporting menacing eyes and a leering smile of pointy , misshapen teeth .
In one ad , the dubbed Mr. Covidhead , with a beer gut and Hawaiian shirt , arrives to dangerously dance , hug and spread the night away at a house party .
In another , he is a dweeby uncle in an ugly Christmas sweater , hanging out with kids and grandparents and making sure he gets his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed around the festive table .
Hinshaw stressed that no one was put at risk in the making of the dangerously happy-huggy videos .
“ These ads were filmed last month under strict protocols to protect the safety of everyone present , ” she Hinshaw .
Nightmare on COVID Street : Virus-headed party provocateur stars in new # Alberta ads .
# COVID19 # Christmas # Covidhead “ The cast and crew were required to follow strict protocols , including screening , off-camera masking and distancing at all times when the camera wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures this week that sharply reduce or close businesses and shutter libraries , recreation centres and casinos to try to reduce soaring cases of COVID-19 .
Social gatherings of any size indoors and out are banned .
Outdoor skaters , skiers , walkers and runners must follow health orders to keep two metres apart .
The restrictions run through the new year .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11 , 2020 .

Alberta, seeking to heal with hard-edged humour, has launched a COVID-19 advertising campaign starring a fashion-challenged, hard-partying, virus-headed Freddy Kruegeresque super-spreader.
The eggnog-slurping social-distance violator is the centrepiece of the $2-million campaign to remind Albertans how stealthy and fast the virus can spread at social gatherings.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, said the goal is to find a way to reach those 20 to 39.
“We are continuing the serious and fact-based (ad) campaigns. Those have not stopped,” Hinshaw said Friday.
“But we felt that it was important to add an additional tool to communicate more effectively to groups that may not have been taking our message as seriously — and to use humour, actually, to help them take the message more seriously.”


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--NWT sees first cases of COVID-19 in weeks

The Northwest Territories says five new cases of COVID-19 have been found in Yellowknife , the first in the territory @ @ @ @ @ government earlier this week asked anyone isolating in Yellowknife since Nov. 30 to get tested @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus were detected in the city 's wastewater .
Chief public health officer , Dr. @ @ @ @ @ five cases in 24 hours is a positive development and helps to make sure the @ @ @ @ @ contained .

The Northwest Territories says five new cases of COVID-19 have been found in Yellowknife, the first in the territory in two weeks.
The government earlier this week asked anyone isolating in Yellowknife since Nov. 30 to get tested after traces of the novel coronavirus were detected in the city's wastewater.
Chief public health officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, says locating five cases in 24 hours is a positive development and helps to make sure the risk of community transmission is contained.
The N.W.T. has also announced it will receive the Moderna vaccine in the first three months of next year.
It says it expects to receive 51,000 doses, enough to vaccinate 75 per cent of the territory's roughly 45,000 residents.


nationalobserver--2020-12-12--Liberals willing to hold political parties to account on privacy

A leading expert on personal-information law says the Trudeau government is unwilling to hold political parties to the same level of accountability it is demanding of other organizations in its current revamp of the federal privacy regime .
Teresa Scassa , a law professor at the University of Ottawa , says the Liberals are imposing significant new obligations on many organizations but `` they 're simply not willing to hold themselves '' and other parties to account as political entities .
The Justice Department recently issued a discussion paper on revising the Privacy Act , which regulates the federal public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of personal data .
The launch of a public consultation follows the tabling of a government bill by Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains that would give people more control over their information in the digital age , with potentially stiff fines for companies that flout the rules .
However , neither initiative addresses calls from the privacy commissioner and accountability advocates who want federal laws governing personal information to apply to political parties .
• Fraser River salmon get a boost as DFO announces $ 176M for fish ladder project • Provinces awash in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans • Minister McKenna on the anniversary of the Paris climate agreement Information about prospective voters is helpful to political parties for everything from door-to-door canvassing to crafting platforms , and there are new concerns about how parties use such information to track and target people in the era of algorithms and vast databases .
Scassa says the government could ensure federal parties abide by provisions that would require them , for example , to obtain consent to use personal information , report data breaches when they happen and erase personal details upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot that you could put in there that would dramatically improve the protection of individuals ' privacy , when it comes to political parties , '' Scassa said .
`` They seem completely unwilling to do so .
It 's a very significant problem . ''
It might be necessary to include exceptions in the law around how parties communicate with voters or espouse their ideas , she concedes .
But basic fair-information principles can apply , `` especially since the kind of information that political parties are now starting to collect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the case , and some of them are in engaging in much more sophisticated profiling of people and so on , '' Scassa added .
Others calling for explicit application of privacy law to parties include privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien and the Centre for Digital Rights , established by businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie .
Liberals 'completely unwilling ' to hold political parties to account on privacy .
# cdnpoli # DigitalPrivacy # DigitalCharter Justice Department spokesman Ian McLeod said the Privacy Act applies to federal government institutions and federal public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private organizations , `` they would not be captured by the act 's scope . ''
Asked about the possible inclusion of political parties in federal privacy law governing private-sector organizations , Bains spokesman John Power noted the 2018 Elections Modernization Act created requirements for political parties to protect Canadians ' personal information .
Parties are now required to have `` a publicly available , easily understandable policy '' for the protection of personal information , a document that must be submitted to Elections Canada , he said .
Scassa said these provisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` A requirement to have a privacy policy without more , without proper accountability and proper safeguards , it 's just not good enough . ''
The discussion paper on overhauling the Privacy Act says the government faces the dilemma of updating a decades-old law so that Canadians can benefit from the many promises of the digital environment , while respecting modern expectations about how their information should be used , managed and protected .
Among the changes it proposes : — Give federal agencies greater flexibility to use and disclose personal information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removing personal identifiers ; — Spell out rights related to public awareness of interactions with automated decision-making systems , such as artificial intelligence tools ; — Give the privacy commissioner greater powers to more effectively address complaints and expand the range of matters for which individuals can seek legal remedies .
Definitions of what the government considers to be personal information and publicly available information , particularly in the context of the online world and social media , would be welcome in a revised law , said Tim McSorley , national co-ordinator of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McSorley would also like to see a rights-based approach to management of personal information , saying it would amount to a profound change by placing privacy rights on a footing with other fundamental guarantees .
In addition , he flags elements of the discussion paper that suggest police and spy agencies could be exempted from certain requirements , given the secret nature of their investigations .
`` We could have the strongest possible rules in the Privacy Act , but if it 's full of exceptions for national security and law enforcement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to protect people 's privacy and their information . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12 , 2020 .

A leading expert on personal-information law says the Trudeau government is unwilling to hold political parties to the same level of accountability it is demanding of other organizations in its current revamp of the federal privacy regime. Teresa Scassa, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, says the Liberals are imposing significant new obligations on many organizations but "they're simply not willing to hold themselves" and other parties to account as political entities. The Justice Department recently issued a discussion paper on revising the Privacy Act, which regulates the federal public sector's collection, use and disclosure of personal data. The launch of a public consultation follows the tabling of a government bill by Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains that would give people more control over their information in the digital age, with potentially stiff fines for companies that flout the rules. However, neither initiative addresses calls from the privacy commissioner and accountability advocates who want federal laws governing personal information to apply to political parties.
Information about prospective voters is helpful to political parties for everything from door-to-door canvassing to crafting platforms, and there are new concerns about how parties use such information to track and target people in the era of algorithms and vast databases. Scassa says the government could ensure federal parties abide by provisions that would require them, for example, to obtain consent to use personal information, report data breaches when they happen and erase personal details upon someone's request. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "There's a lot that you could put in there that would dramatically improve the protection of individuals' privacy, when it comes to political parties," Scassa said. "They seem completely unwilling to do so. It's a very significant problem."
It might be necessary to include exceptions in the law around how parties communicate with voters or espouse their ideas, she concedes. Liberals 'completely unwilling' to hold political parties to account on privacy. #cdnpoli #DigitalPrivacy #DigitalCharter But basic fair-information principles can apply, "especially since the kind of information that political parties are now starting to collect and use goes way beyond what used to be the case, and some of them are in engaging in much more sophisticated profiling of people and so on," Scassa added. Others calling for explicit application of privacy law to parties include privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien and the Centre for Digital Rights, established by businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie. Justice Department spokesman Ian McLeod said the Privacy Act applies to federal government institutions and federal public bodies, and since political parties are private organizations, "they would not be captured by the act's scope." Asked about the possible inclusion of political parties in federal privacy law governing private-sector organizations, Bains spokesman John Power noted the 2018 Elections Modernization Act created requirements for political parties to protect Canadians' personal information.
Parties are now required to have "a publicly available, easily understandable policy" for the protection of personal information, a document that must be submitted to Elections Canada, he said. Scassa said these provisions fall short of what's needed. "A requirement to have a privacy policy without more, without proper accountability and proper safeguards, it's just not good enough."