nationalobserver--2020-04-21--Shaming 'covidiots' won't protect communities from COVID-19

Citizens turning on each other — as we ’ re now seeing with social media posts that shame “ covidiots ” for sitting , standing or walking less than the prescribed two metres from one another .
It ’ s a story we ’ ve witnessed before , over and over , and it always ends badly .
I wrote about a similar phenomenon in 2011 , when the Stanley Cup hockey riots led to a rash of social media posts that identified alleged criminals ; within a few weeks , my warnings were borne out by some terrible miscarriages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the human and social costs of citizens reporting citizens via Twitter or Facebook .
For years , I was interviewed whenever some kind of offline riot produced an analogous online mob .
Every time , the social media mob that was initially bent on justice soon turned ugly .
Over the years , we got smarter about the dangers of using social media to report on other people ’ s misdeeds , and remembered the reasons we delegate law enforcement to government authority : when citizens turn on one another , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society depends .
Yet here we are again , making the same mistake , and taking on the job of public-health enforcement via public scolding or social media shaming .
We ’ re pointing fingers and shaking fists , even though it is at best unnecessary and at worst counterproductive when it comes to encouraging public-minded behaviours such as self-isolation and physical distancing : there is plenty of evidence showing rewards are at least as effective as punishment in driving collective action , and some researchers have found shame may actually inhibit prosocial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening • Essential or exception : Whose rights matter in a pandemic ?
So why are we taking on the role of distancing enforcers when we already have so much to do and so many sources of stress ?
Perhaps it feels like an intuitive extension of the public-health emphasis on that two-metre distance : when you ’ re making an enormous personal effort to adhere to distancing guidelines , it can feel incredibly frustrating to see other people who are apparently disregarding them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding up their end of the bargain — whether that ’ s by saying something as you walk by , or stopping to reprimand them , or just posting a photo to social media — might almost feel like a civic duty , a way of reinforcing the new social contract .
But the sad reality is this social contract is not one-size-fits-all .
It is a lot easier to self-isolate when you can afford to buy two weeks ’ worth of groceries at a time ( and have the fridge and freezer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you live in a 2,000-square-foot home ( rather than a 400-square-foot apartment ) ; when you are living with people you love and who treat you respectfully ( rather than with a partner or family member who struggles with addiction or is physically abusive ) ; and , perhaps most of all , when you have a secure source of income you can earn without leaving the house .
If you have all those privileges , it is absolutely your duty to excel in the competition of who is the most religious about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and your family don ’ t become an unnecessary vector of disease transmission or a drain on the health-care system .
Unfortunately , a great many people don ’ t have those privileges — and you can ’ t necessarily recognize who does or doesn ’ t just by looking at them .
That woman standing too close to her friend ?
She might be a grocery-store clerk who has spent all day having strangers breathe in her face , before heading home to a tiny apartment and an alcoholic , abusive husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may feel like a small additional risk after the dozens of people she ’ s stood next to all day , and it may be the conversation that ’ s helping her figure out how to leave her husband .
The cluster of teens sitting too close together at the park ?
Maybe they ’ re foster children from a group home where staff have largely stopped showing up , thanks to COVID-19 .
Maybe many of them experienced profound trauma before this crisis started , and now they ’ re experiencing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support in the middle of the public-health crisis .
Getting outside for some fresh air and exercise may be the healthiest thing they could be doing .
How about the elderly people sitting down together on a park bench in animated conversation ?
It might make you worry for their safety , but what is their safety like if they are each locked up and isolated for months at a time ?
We know that kind of isolation is all too common during ordinary times , and carries very real health risks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry on a conversation if they ’ re a full two metres apart , but sitting at opposite ends of a park bench outside is far , far safer than meeting up indoors , and quite possibly the outlet that keeps them from “ cheating ” with indoor visits .
It is a lot easier to self-isolate when you can afford to buy two weeks ’ worth of groceries at a time ; when you live in a 2,000-square-foot home ; when you have a secure source of income you can earn without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound like long-shot scenarios to you ; maybe the people you ’ re judging are people you know personally ; maybe they ’ re people you know so well you feel 100 per cent confident in your ability to judge their trade-offs between COVID-19 prevention , personal health and mental health , including the mental-health challenges that have arisen or resurfaced due to COVID-19 .
Maybe , at this moment of profound uncertainty and fear , you need to do something that makes the world feel just a little less uncertain , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under your personal control .
Or maybe you are just trying to do your part by making sure they are doing their part : after all , to slow the spread of COVID-19 , we need everyone to put in their very best effort at all times , because we ’ re all in this together .
That ’ s the part that really matters here : the idea that we ’ re all in this together .
It ’ s a principle that matters not only to the mechanics of slowing transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also to all the other consequences of this pandemic .
We ’ re all in this together because this is a massive public-health crisis that affects every single country around the world .
We ’ re all in this together because COVID-19 can infect anyone , rich or poor .
We ’ re all in this together because we suddenly realize we depend on the farmer and the paper-mill worker and the grocery-store clerk for fundamentals like food and toilet paper , which have never felt more precious , even for privileged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worry about putting food on the table .
We ’ re all in this together because if the economic consequences of COVID-19 lead to widespread joblessness with no social safety net , the consequences for physical health , mental health , homelessness , addiction and the long-run outcomes for children are going to be so profound , nobody will be untouched .
We ’ re all in this together because the only way to prepare for and cope with all of these challenges — and many more we ’ re only beginning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another , for both strangers and friends , in a way unprecedented in our lifetimes .
Publicly shaming our fellow citizens undercuts that logic .
It doesn ’ t matter whether you ’ re muttering under your breath when you pass a group of friends sitting too close together , stepping forward to reprimand a couple of strangers less than two metres apart , or posting photos or videos of people “ caught ” in proximity : any and all of that undermines the social bonds that are far more essential to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are sitting too close while they ’ re outside .
Time and again , we ’ ve seen that when citizens turn on one another , it tears our societies apart — just when we need each other the most .
What can you do instead , if you are worried your friends and neighbours aren ’ t doing their best ?
I have a few ideas : First , you can try even harder yourself .
I know , I know , it doesn ’ t feel fair : why should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs when other people are going on , apparently , as usual ?
Well , if you can do a little extra distancing , it can help make up for folks who are doing a little less .
You ’ ll make the shops and sidewalks a little less crowded for the people who can ’ t avoid them , and if that grocery worker or abused wife gets sick because they can ’ t stay home all the time , you ’ ve left an ICU bed open for them .
Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Talk about how hard it ’ s been to enact social distancing — and the way you ’ ve managed to make it sustainable for yourself and your family , both logistically and emotionally .
Use distancing tools that signal to other people how you ’ re being careful about distance ( I ’ ve used a two-metre length of yarn while walking with a friend , and have just acquired a more practical — and more visible — telescoping flagpole ) .
Instead of posting to social media about how other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job , post about what you ’ re doing yourself , so your strategies and determination can help inspire others .
Last but not least , share your enthusiasm for people who are modelling good behaviour , too .
Instead of shouting at people who are sitting too close , shout at people who you can see are making an effort .
When I go for a walk by the beach , as I do almost every day , I now shout my approval at two or three different groups in the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over there !
” I bellowed yesterday at four friends sitting on carefully spaced blankets .
They waved in gratitude and appreciation , and I got the warm , fuzzy feeling of a happy point of connection with a random stranger .
These acts of spontaneous appreciation are worth far more than uninvited judgment and shaming , and they ’ re effective at more than just encouraging careful physical distancing .
Every time we cross that barrier of conversation with a stranger , and every time we transcend our cultural inhibitions about connecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are laying down tracks for a new kind of society — the society I want to live in when this crisis ends .
It ’ s a society where people have formed new bonds of kindness and compassion , which have formed a net to catch those most affected by this crisis .
It ’ s a society where the instinct to look out for the herd has gone beyond just distancing and mask-wearing , and into every choice we make about where to shop , what to eat and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society where we have learned , once and for all , that we are all tied deeply and irrevocably together .

What’s more dangerous than COVID-19? Citizens turning on each other — as we’re now seeing with social media posts that shame “covidiots” for sitting, standing or walking less than the prescribed two metres from one another. It’s a story we’ve witnessed before, over and over, and it always ends badly. I wrote about a similar phenomenon in 2011, when the Stanley Cup hockey riots led to a rash of social media posts that identified alleged criminals; within a few weeks, my warnings were borne out by some terrible miscarriages of justice, and a dawning awareness of the human and social costs of citizens reporting citizens via Twitter or Facebook. For years, I was interviewed whenever some kind of offline riot produced an analogous online mob. Every time, the social media mob that was initially bent on justice soon turned ugly. Over the years, we got smarter about the dangers of using social media to report on other people’s misdeeds, and remembered the reasons we delegate law enforcement to government authority: when citizens turn on one another, it undercuts the bonds of trust on which society depends. Yet here we are again, making the same mistake, and taking on the job of public-health enforcement via public scolding or social media shaming. We’re pointing fingers and shaking fists, even though it is at best unnecessary and at worst counterproductive when it comes to encouraging public-minded behaviours such as self-isolation and physical distancing: there is plenty of evidence showing rewards are at least as effective as punishment in driving collective action, and some researchers have found shame may actually inhibit prosocial behaviour.
So why are we taking on the role of distancing enforcers when we already have so much to do and so many sources of stress? Perhaps it feels like an intuitive extension of the public-health emphasis on that two-metre distance: when you’re making an enormous personal effort to adhere to distancing guidelines, it can feel incredibly frustrating to see other people who are apparently disregarding them. Letting people know they’re not holding up their end of the bargain — whether that’s by saying something as you walk by, or stopping to reprimand them, or just posting a photo to social media — might almost feel like a civic duty, a way of reinforcing the new social contract. But the sad reality is this social contract is not one-size-fits-all. It is a lot easier to self-isolate when you can afford to buy two weeks’ worth of groceries at a time (and have the fridge and freezer space to store them); when you live in a 2,000-square-foot home (rather than a 400-square-foot apartment); when you are living with people you love and who treat you respectfully (rather than with a partner or family member who struggles with addiction or is physically abusive); and, perhaps most of all, when you have a secure source of income you can earn without leaving the house. If you have all those privileges, it is absolutely your duty to excel in the competition of who is the most religious about physical distancing, so you ensure you and your family don’t become an unnecessary vector of disease transmission or a drain on the health-care system. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Unfortunately, a great many people don’t have those privileges — and you can’t necessarily recognize who does or doesn’t just by looking at them.
That woman standing too close to her friend? She might be a grocery-store clerk who has spent all day having strangers breathe in her face, before heading home to a tiny apartment and an alcoholic, abusive husband. The conversation you’re seeing may feel like a small additional risk after the dozens of people she’s stood next to all day, and it may be the conversation that’s helping her figure out how to leave her husband. It is a lot easier to self-isolate when you can afford to buy two weeks’ worth of groceries at a time; when you live in a 2,000-square-foot home; when you have a secure source of income you can earn without leaving the house. The cluster of teens sitting too close together at the park? Maybe they’re foster children from a group home where staff have largely stopped showing up, thanks to COVID-19. Maybe many of them experienced profound trauma before this crisis started, and now they’re experiencing the additional trauma of abandonment and lack of support in the middle of the public-health crisis. Getting outside for some fresh air and exercise may be the healthiest thing they could be doing. How about the elderly people sitting down together on a park bench in animated conversation? It might make you worry for their safety, but what is their safety like if they are each locked up and isolated for months at a time? We know that kind of isolation is all too common during ordinary times, and carries very real health risks. Older people might not be able to carry on a conversation if they’re a full two metres apart, but sitting at opposite ends of a park bench outside is far, far safer than meeting up indoors, and quite possibly the outlet that keeps them from “cheating” with indoor visits. Maybe those all sound like long-shot scenarios to you; maybe the people you’re judging are people you know personally; maybe they’re people you know so well you feel 100 per cent confident in your ability to judge their trade-offs between COVID-19 prevention, personal health and mental health, including the mental-health challenges that have arisen or resurfaced due to COVID-19. Maybe, at this moment of profound uncertainty and fear, you need to do something that makes the world feel just a little less uncertain, a little more predictable, a little more under your personal control. Or maybe you are just trying to do your part by making sure they are doing their part: after all, to slow the spread of COVID-19, we need everyone to put in their very best effort at all times, because we’re all in this together.
That’s the part that really matters here: the idea that we’re all in this together. It’s a principle that matters not only to the mechanics of slowing transmission via physical distancing and social isolation, but also to all the other consequences of this pandemic. We’re all in this together because this is a massive public-health crisis that affects every single country around the world. We’re all in this together because COVID-19 can infect anyone, rich or poor. We’re all in this together because we suddenly realize we depend on the farmer and the paper-mill worker and the grocery-store clerk for fundamentals like food and toilet paper, which have never felt more precious, even for privileged people who’ve never had to worry about putting food on the table. We’re all in this together because if the economic consequences of COVID-19 lead to widespread joblessness with no social safety net, the consequences for physical health, mental health, homelessness, addiction and the long-run outcomes for children are going to be so profound, nobody will be untouched.


nationalobserver--2020-04-21--Some rural students flourishing amid COVID-19 class suspensions

Some COVID-19 restrictions could be eased as soon as May , if new cases and hospitalization rates continue to decline , provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Friday morning .
And that plan suits some parents in rural , remote island communities just fine , as their kids thrive outdoors in an unstructured learning environment .
There ’ s the possibility B.C .
students may be returning to classrooms , but it will be a slow process and school won ’ t look anything like it did in the past , according to the B.C .
government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only some children going to school at certain times .
None of the mingling that we used to have with kids getting together , '' Henry said .
For students across the province , returning to school will look different than it did previous to the pandemic .
But children of health-care workers need to get back to classrooms to allow their parents increased participation in the health sector , Henry said .
The provincial health officer didn ’ t commit to a timeline for when schools might open , much less to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , any return to classrooms will be partial and gradual to reflect the “ new normal ” in which there is continued need to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus , Henry said .
Like many parents on Cortes — a rural , remote island with a population of approximately 1,000 residents , located on the east coast of Vancouver Island — Auger has some experience with homeschooling .
“ It ’ s really brought the focus back to our family and our home , ” Auger said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations languages around the lunch table the other day , with Harvest , 7 , fully participating in the discussion , she said .
The kids no longer disappear out the door from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each school day , and it ’ s improved their quality of life and family interaction , she said .
“ If you wait for that teachable moment , you have their full attention , and we ’ re having amazing conversations , ” Auger said .
Learning for her children , Harvest and Sophia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has become more spontaneous and interest driven , she said .
Cortes Island , B.C.
, resident Odette Auger , a mother of three with two school-aged children , said despite some attendant difficulties , the class suspension is actually enriching her kids ’ education .
While the future of classroom instruction is still uncertain , some rural parents are finding the changes in education to be enriching and liberating for their kids and families .
`` As well as some hybrid , perhaps , of some children doing remote learning while others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to maintain those safe distances.
” She armed her son with a nature log and sent him outside to watch birds .
Auger makes good use of her natural environment and her large vegetable garden to teach and engage her kids .
“ We have always flirted with both school and home learning and each has its benefits , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve always loved home learning , and a lot of Cortes parents embrace that option . ''
“ I was so proud .
He sat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were eating , ” she said .
“ We discussed how he wants to think about that work , as science or art , and he came up with the concept of nature detective .
So , he ’ s out in the garden nature detecting.
” She supplements her son ’ s outdoor time with math activities and a new focus on spelling , but not in a regimented way , and subject to his energy and attention for the subject .
“ As soon as he ’ s losing focus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else , ” she said .
Auger ’ s 14-year-old daughter , Sophia , is isolated physically from her peers but takes part in a variety of online group activities with organizations involved with youth in connection to First Nations , environmental and gender equity issues .
Despite the benefits of unstructured learning , there are still some challenges associated with a lack of classes , Auger said .
Auger works from home and studies online for a combined average of 60 hours a week , and she now has to balance her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She often gets up at dawn to get her most important work done .
“ There ’ s been juggling for sure … so we have to prioritize.
” The children 's teachers have connected with the family , and a literacy package and links to online learning and literacy sites were provided to Harvest , Auger said .
Sophia ’ s teacher is providing some weekly assignments , running a blog and providing opportunities for learning assistance online or over the phone .
But structured online learning with specific goals at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being organized while classes are suspended .
The B.C .
Ministry of Education has stated that each school district and independent school authority should implement plans that respond to the individual needs of each community , classroom or student , and that there is no expectation that the pace or rigour of a typical school day will be duplicated at home .
Teachers are expected to provide continuity of learning that is reasonable and accounts for the unique circumstances and abilities of individual students in a home-learning environment .
This might include online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emailed or delivered from teachers to parents , according to the ministry , which also launched a website for parents and students with resources to support learning at home .
The B.C .
approach varies from other provinces , such as Alberta , which has outlined specific goals for districts and teachers who are expected to assign a specific number of hours of work per student each week , whether online , over the phone or through paper educational materials .
Albertan kindergarten to Grade 6 students will get five hours of work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 to 9 will get 10 hours , and Grades 10 to 12 will get approximately 18 hours of work .
For B.C .
's Campbell River School District ( SD72 ) , Superintendent Jeremy Morrow said one priority was to help students and their families weather the COVID-19 crisis .
“ We really didn ’ t want to create more complexity and anxiety for parents , ” Morrow said Friday .
“ Additionally we want to create more stability , but we also want to provide robust learning opportunities and to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that might look like.
” Teachers ' responses to student needs will vary according to the household , he said .
“ We ’ re talking about learning opportunities , not replicating what was going on in classes before they were suspended , ” Morrow said .
“ Some families are in crisis .
They may have lost work or lack internet connection .
There is a wide range of circumstances.
” Parents , overall , have been patient and supportive of SD72 ’ s efforts , he said .
“ For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive feedback from parents .
Most are aware of the difficulties of the situation , ” Morrow said .
Sarah Johnston , a Quadra Island , B.C.
, mother of three school-aged kids says she ’ s outright enjoying classes being suspended .
“ I think it ’ s amazing .
If I could , I ’ d keep it this way forever , ” Johnston said .
“ Self-isolation has actually calmed everyone down because there are no expectations about going here or there , or having to behave a certain way.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ child in Grade 4 who struggles with anxiety , oppositional behavior and establishing relationships in school .
“ He ’ s doing great right now .
He was doing well at school , but he ’ s not a fan of larger class activities , ” Johnston said .
Her son is thriving with the decrease in structured expectations and the fact he ’ s able to maintain his relationship with his educational assistant during home learning , she said .
Some parents in her Facebook support group for parents of children with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Johnston said .
But for others , it appears things have gotten even more difficult .
“ There seems to be a dichotomy of people , some parents are struggling without the normal supports , and others are finding their kids are a lot calmer , ” she said .
Johnston ’ s eldest daughter , who is in Grade 5 in the French Immersion Program , which is separate from SD72 , is getting very structured learning on an iPad that was sent home with her prior to spring break .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ each morning to outline activities and assign homework , and maintains virtual office hours to help students complete assignments .
The assignments and connections with teachers from SD72 are less regular .
But Johnston , who also has homeschooled her kids in the past , isn ’ t concerned , noting there are lots of online resources .
“ I ’ m not worrying about it at all , ” Johnston said , adding she ’ s come to a learning agreement with her kids .
“ We school for two hours … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audio books and whatever else we feel like , ” she said .
“ I want to find something they are excited about , so they ’ ll learn how to do it.
” Like Auger , Johnston is taking advantage of the benefits of rural living and plans to incorporate food production and the garden into their learning .
Her conversations with her children are also more advanced than they would be in school , she said .
Johnston and her children had a long conversation about genetics and species classification after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a hybrid offspring of a male lion and a female tiger .
`` We even discussed embryonic development and that ’ s a conversation with a seven , nine and 10-year-old , '' Johnston said .
But Johnston wonders how parents who are working , don ’ t have access to computers or the internet , or who are n't comfortable homeschooling their kids are going to adapt .
“ It will be interesting how the government manages that , ” she said .
Auger agreed there are some advantages educationally to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about families without those same benefits .
“ There are kids in basement suites ... and their family may be facing bigger struggles with addiction or just moving into survival mode , whether that ’ s here or in the city , ” she said .
“ But I get the feeling that ’ s one reason why our teachers really want to hear the kids ' voices over the phone right now .
”

The provincial health officer didn’t commit to a timeline for when schools might open, much less to all of B.C’s 634,000 students.
However, any return to classrooms will be partial and gradual to reflect the “new normal” in which there is continued need to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, Henry said.
Some COVID-19 restrictions could be eased as soon as May, if new cases and hospitalization rates continue to decline, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Friday morning.
And that plan suits some parents in rural, remote island communities just fine, as their kids thrive outdoors in an unstructured learning environment.
There’s the possibility B.C. students may be returning to classrooms, but it will be a slow process and school won’t look anything like it did in the past, according to the B.C. government.
“It may mean smaller classes, only some children going to school at certain times. None of the mingling that we used to have with kids getting together," Henry said.
For students across the province, returning to school will look different than it did previous to the pandemic.
But children of health-care workers need to get back to classrooms to allow their parents increased participation in the health sector, Henry said.
“If you wait for that teachable moment, you have their full attention, and we’re having amazing conversations,” Auger said.
Learning for her children, Harvest and Sophia, in Grades 1 and 9, has become more spontaneous and interest driven, she said.
Cortes Island, B.C., resident Odette Auger, a mother of three with two school-aged children, said despite some attendant difficulties, the class suspension is actually enriching her kids’ education.
While the future of classroom instruction is still uncertain, some rural parents are finding the changes in education to be enriching and liberating for their kids and families.
"As well as some hybrid, perhaps, of some children doing remote learning while others are in a classroom situation, and able to maintain those safe distances.”
“It’s really brought the focus back to our family and our home,” Auger said.
The family had a conversation about endangered First Nations languages around the lunch table the other day, with Harvest, 7, fully participating in the discussion, she said.
The kids no longer disappear out the door from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each school day, and it’s improved their quality of life and family interaction, she said.
Like many parents on Cortes — a rural, remote island with a population of approximately 1,000 residents, located on the east coast of Vancouver Island — Auger has some experience with homeschooling.
“We have always flirted with both school and home learning and each has its benefits,” she said. “I’ve always loved home learning, and a lot of Cortes parents embrace that option."
Auger makes good use of her natural environment and her large vegetable garden to teach and engage her kids.
She armed her son with a nature log and sent him outside to watch birds.
“I was so proud. He sat and drew a robin and observed what they were eating,” she said.
“We discussed how he wants to think about that work, as science or art, and he came up with the concept of nature detective. So, he’s out in the garden nature detecting.”
Harvest, in Grade 1, spends time as a "nature detective", painting what he sees in the garden and logging the behaviour of birds while his reguar school classes are suspended due to COVID-`19. Photo; Odette Auger.
She supplements her son’s outdoor time with math activities and a new focus on spelling, but not in a regimented way, and subject to his energy and attention for the subject.
“As soon as he’s losing focus, that’s when we start something else,” she said.
Auger’s 14-year-old daughter, Sophia, is isolated physically from her peers but takes part in a variety of online group activities with organizations involved with youth in connection to First Nations, environmental and gender equity issues.
Despite the benefits of unstructured learning, there are still some challenges associated with a lack of classes, Auger said.
Auger works from home and studies online for a combined average of 60 hours a week, and she now has to balance her internet access with her kids' learning. She often gets up at dawn to get her most important work done.
“There’s been juggling for sure … so we have to prioritize.”
The children's teachers have connected with the family, and a literacy package and links to online learning and literacy sites were provided to Harvest, Auger said.
Sophia’s teacher is providing some weekly assignments, running a blog and providing opportunities for learning assistance online or over the phone.
But structured online learning with specific goals at a provincial or district level is not being organized while classes are suspended.
The B.C. Ministry of Education has stated that each school district and independent school authority should implement plans that respond to the individual needs of each community, classroom or student, and that there is no expectation that the pace or rigour of a typical school day will be duplicated at home.
Teachers are expected to provide continuity of learning that is reasonable and accounts for the unique circumstances and abilities of individual students in a home-learning environment.
This might include online learning tools and/or resource packages or assignments emailed or delivered from teachers to parents, according to the ministry, which also launched a website for parents and students with resources to support learning at home.
The B.C. approach varies from other provinces, such as Alberta, which has outlined specific goals for districts and teachers who are expected to assign a specific number of hours of work per student each week, whether online, over the phone or through paper educational materials.
Albertan kindergarten to Grade 6 students will get five hours of work each week from teachers, while Grades 7 to 9 will get 10 hours, and Grades 10 to 12 will get approximately 18 hours of work.
For B.C.'s Campbell River School District (SD72), Superintendent Jeremy Morrow said one priority was to help students and their families weather the COVID-19 crisis.
“We really didn’t want to create more complexity and anxiety for parents,” Morrow said Friday.
“Additionally we want to create more stability, but we also want to provide robust learning opportunities and to allow teachers and families to communicate about what that might look like.”
Teachers' responses to student needs will vary according to the household, he said.
“We’re talking about learning opportunities, not replicating what was going on in classes before they were suspended,” Morrow said.
“Some families are in crisis. They may have lost work or lack internet connection. There is a wide range of circumstances.”
Parents, overall, have been patient and supportive of SD72’s efforts, he said.
“For the most part we’ve had really positive feedback from parents. Most are aware of the difficulties of the situation,” Morrow said.
Sarah Johnston, a Quadra Island, B.C., mother of three school-aged kids says she’s outright enjoying classes being suspended.
“I think it’s amazing. If I could, I’d keep it this way forever,” Johnston said.
“Self-isolation has actually calmed everyone down because there are no expectations about going here or there, or having to behave a certain way.”
Interest-driven learning has particularly benefitted her child in Grade 4 who struggles with anxiety, oppositional behavior and establishing relationships in school.
“He’s doing great right now. He was doing well at school, but he’s not a fan of larger class activities,” Johnston said.
Her son is thriving with the decrease in structured expectations and the fact he’s able to maintain his relationship with his educational assistant during home learning, she said.
Some parents in her Facebook support group for parents of children with learning challenges are feeling the same way, Johnston said.
But for others, it appears things have gotten even more difficult.
“There seems to be a dichotomy of people, some parents are struggling without the normal supports, and others are finding their kids are a lot calmer,” she said.
Johnston’s eldest daughter, who is in Grade 5 in the French Immersion Program, which is separate from SD72, is getting very structured learning on an iPad that was sent home with her prior to spring break.
The teacher meets the kids on Zoom each morning to outline activities and assign homework, and maintains virtual office hours to help students complete assignments.
Quadra Island student Ivy Johnston continues her French immersion learning online in the comfort of her bed with educational oversight from her cat during the suspension of regular classes due to COVID-19. Photo: Sarah Johnston.
The assignments and connections with teachers from SD72 are less regular.
But Johnston, who also has homeschooled her kids in the past, isn’t concerned, noting there are lots of online resources.
“I’m not worrying about it at all,” Johnston said, adding she’s come to a learning agreement with her kids.
“We school for two hours … and do some math, reading and audio books and whatever else we feel like,” she said.
“I want to find something they are excited about, so they’ll learn how to do it.”
Like Auger, Johnston is taking advantage of the benefits of rural living and plans to incorporate food production and the garden into their learning.
Her conversations with her children are also more advanced than they would be in school, she said.
Johnston and her children had a long conversation about genetics and species classification after the kids wanted to learn about ligers — a hybrid offspring of a male lion and a female tiger.
"We even discussed embryonic development and that’s a conversation with a seven, nine and 10-year-old," Johnston said.
But Johnston wonders how parents who are working, don’t have access to computers or the internet, or who aren't comfortable homeschooling their kids are going to adapt.
“It will be interesting how the government manages that,” she said.
Auger agreed there are some advantages educationally to having access to green spaces, and worried about families without those same benefits.
“There are kids in basement suites ... and their family may be facing bigger struggles with addiction or just moving into survival mode, whether that’s here or in the city,” she said.
“But I get the feeling that’s one reason why our teachers really want to hear the kids' voices over the phone right now.”
Rochelle Baker / Local Journalism Initiative


nationalobserver--2020-04-21--Canada’s deficit likely to grow as oil prices hover near zero

Plummeting oil prices are likely to punch a significant hole in Canada ’ s finances , worsening a deficit that ’ s already swelling in response to COVID-19 , Ottawa ’ s budget watchdog said Tuesday .
Every US $ 15 per barrel drop in the price of oil translates to a dent of roughly $ 3.5 billion in federal deficit , said Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux .
And with a flood of unwanted oil hitting the market at the same time as a drop in demand caused by the pandemic , prices for the commodity are spiralling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It will have significant negative impacts on the deficit , ” Giroux told National Observer .
“ That might be drowned in the overall fiscal picture , with COVID-19 and government response to the slowdown.
” Before COVID-19 , the federal government projected a deficit of C $ 28 billion .
But with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pouring cash into emergency response measures and financial aid for people and industry , Giroux said it could now hit $ 200 billion .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening • Bike couriers in Toronto risking illness to deliver 'junk food to rich people ' The interconnectedness of oil ’ s current spiral and the COVID-19 crisis make it difficult to determine exactly how much impact each factor has on the deficit .
But Giroux said it ’ s possible falling crude prices could contribute about $ 7 billion to $ 10 billion to the deficit .
The impact of the meltdown will be felt most harshly by Alberta , but will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newfoundland and Labrador , he added .
Canadians can take comfort from knowing that the federal government can afford to ride out the crisis , Giroux said , adding that Canada was in a better financial situation than other G7 countries prior to the pandemic .
“ We are among the countries that can afford it , ” he said .
What does negative oil mean , and how did it happen ?
When oil prices go negative , that means sellers are paying people to take their product away .
Every US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price of oil translates to a dent of roughly $ 3.5 billion in federal deficit , said Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux .
And right now , oil prices are spiraling .
That ’ s precisely what happened this week with the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate , which hit nearly negative US $ 40 on Monday before rebounding to about US $ 10 Tuesday .
( A benchmark is a reference point for various types of crude , which can vary in quality depending on where they come from . )
Oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Part of this was caused by a dramatic drop in demand for petroleum due to COVID-19 — fewer people are using cars , for example — but a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia made it worse as both countries flooded the market with excess supply .
“ There ’ s too much oil being produced for the level of demand , ” said Richard Masson , a former oilsands policy advisor to the Alberta government and an executive fellow at the University of Calgary ’ s School of Public Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have no place to put it…That problem is large , and it ’ s not going away until we start driving our cars again.
” Richard Masson , a former oilsands policy advisor to the Alberta government and an executive fellow at the University of Calgary ’ s School of Public Policy , says Alberta oil will likely hit negative prices in the next few weeks .
Photo courtesy Richard Masson Oil storage facilities have rapidly filled up with crude that no one wants to buy .
Some companies are even paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside major ports , simply to have somewhere to put the excess supply .
The price of oil is determined by futures contracts , which are agreements to buy and sell the commodity at a set amount at a certain point in the future .
These contracts are often sold and resold before the crude is actually delivered , but Tuesday is the deadline to finalize contracts for May .
And so buyers this week , struggling to find places to store their oil , rushed to dump their contracts for any price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying buyers to take the product away .
“ They have to sell , ” Masson said .
“ Those folks got caught because no one wants to buy.
” The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC+ ) has tried to prevent collapse by agreeing to cut production starting May 1 , hoping to artificially prop up crude prices .
But those measures haven ’ t worked so far , and some OPEC+ members were set to discuss next steps Tuesday .
Masson said Canadian oil will likely also go negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
The benchmark price for Canadian oil , Western Canadian Select , hovered above zero Tuesday , dipping briefing to US $ 0.13 per barrel before recovering to just below US $ 4 as markets closed .
The precipitous drop in crude prices will hit Canada ’ s coffers hard , with ripple effects across the economy .
But it will hurt most in Alberta , where the economy largely hinges on oil .
In February , Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tabled a budget that relied on prices of US $ 58 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s finances .
Now , that budget is essentially out the window .
In 2008-09 , the energy sector was there to support Canadians , as auto manufacturers got federal help .
Ottawa ’ s announcement last week was a good start , but Canada ’ s energy sector needs much more action to survive this unprecedented shock and protect hundreds of thousands of jobs pic.twitter.com/XLeRwCabJG — Jason Kenney ( @ jkenney ) April 21 , 2020 The federal government announced an aid package for the oil and gas industry Friday , offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including $ 1.7 billion to fund the cleanup of aging , risky ‘ orphan wells , ’ whose owners have gone bankrupt , and wells that are inactive .
But the industry is suffering , and was already in a weak position after years of low prices .
Calgary-based Husky Energy has cut about $ 1.7 billion from its 2020 budget since mid-March — and that ’ s just one company , Masson said .
Normally , large companies could borrow money to carry them through the pandemic , as oil prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the value of petroleum companies is often based on what their oil and gas reserves are worth .
Right now , that amount is plummeting , meaning banks could deny companies more loans and even demand they pay up on existing loans now , Masson said .
“ That can create a wave of problems , ” Masson said .
“ Way more orphan wells , people getting laid off all over the place.
” Kenney has asked the federal government to give companies more aid in the form of $ 15 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help them bridge the gap .
The federal government has said it ’ s working on additional help , but hasn ’ t released details .
Giroux said it ’ s important to understand that the drop in oil prices — and the rebounding effects on the economy — are temporary .
“ It ’ s not like the economy crumbled by itself , it ’ s akin to a natural disaster , ” Giroux said .
“ Things will get better once the pandemic is behind us .
The sad thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be.
” Editor 's Note : This story was updated at 7:28 p.m. to correct that the federal government 's aid funding to oil and gas companies was earmarked for both orphan wells and inactive ones .

Plummeting oil prices are likely to punch a significant hole in Canada’s finances, worsening a deficit that’s already swelling in response to COVID-19, Ottawa’s budget watchdog said Tuesday. Every US$15 per barrel drop in the price of oil translates to a dent of roughly $3.5 billion in federal deficit, said Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux. And with a flood of unwanted oil hitting the market at the same time as a drop in demand caused by the pandemic, prices for the commodity are spiralling, with U.S. oil hitting negative Monday. “It will have significant negative impacts on the deficit,” Giroux told National Observer. “That might be drowned in the overall fiscal picture, with COVID-19 and government response to the slowdown.” Before COVID-19, the federal government projected a deficit of C$28 billion. But with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pouring cash into emergency response measures and financial aid for people and industry, Giroux said it could now hit $200 billion.
The interconnectedness of oil’s current spiral and the COVID-19 crisis make it difficult to determine exactly how much impact each factor has on the deficit. But Giroux said it’s possible falling crude prices could contribute about $7 billion to $10 billion to the deficit. The impact of the meltdown will be felt most harshly by Alberta, but will also deliver damaging blows to Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, he added. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canadians can take comfort from knowing that the federal government can afford to ride out the crisis, Giroux said, adding that Canada was in a better financial situation than other G7 countries prior to the pandemic.
“We are among the countries that can afford it,” he said. Every US$15 per barrel drop in the price of oil translates to a dent of roughly $3.5 billion in federal deficit, said Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux. And right now, oil prices are spiraling. What does negative oil mean, and how did it happen? When oil prices go negative, that means sellers are paying people to take their product away. That’s precisely what happened this week with the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate, which hit nearly negative US$40 on Monday before rebounding to about US$10 Tuesday. (A benchmark is a reference point for various types of crude, which can vary in quality depending on where they come from.) Oil prices began to fall drastically last month. Part of this was caused by a dramatic drop in demand for petroleum due to COVID-19 — fewer people are using cars, for example — but a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia made it worse as both countries flooded the market with excess supply.
“There’s too much oil being produced for the level of demand,” said Richard Masson, a former oilsands policy advisor to the Alberta government and an executive fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. “People with physical oil find they have no place to put it…That problem is large, and it’s not going away until we start driving our cars again.” Richard Masson, a former oilsands policy advisor to the Alberta government and an executive fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, says Alberta oil will likely hit negative prices in the next few weeks. Photo courtesy Richard Masson


nationalobserver--2020-04-21--MPs won't be voting remotely any time soon, Speaker says

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota said Tuesday he ’ s not yet “ comfortable ” with remote voting technology , and doesn ’ t see it happening in the “ near future , ” as MPs scramble to come up with a way to hold virtual sittings during the coronavirus pandemic .
Rota , a Liberal member of Parliament from Northern Ontario who was elected Speaker of the House in December , first raised the issue of remote voting himself in comments to the Procedure and House Affairs committee , which met by video conference on April 21 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal for MPs , Rota said , if they were to start with more straightforward objectives such as establishing the ability of members to give a statement virtually , and then “ gradually expand ” the proceedings covered “ as far as remote voting , should circumstances require it and the House approve it.
” But pressed on the details by Conservative MP Eric Duncan , Rota sounded a note of caution .
“ Voting is something that we are not — I do n't see happening in the near future , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that requires some technology that , personally , I ’ m not that comfortable with yet.
” Rota said it would first require developing “ secure systems ” that can guarantee all 338 members of Parliament could vote confidently .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening • Bike couriers in Toronto risking illness to deliver 'junk food to rich people ' Allowing individual members to vote is at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliamentary system , Rota argued , and he expressed concern about any virtual configuration where only one or a handful of MPs speak for their colleagues .
“ We ’ ve seen it in other Parliaments around the world , where there is almost a proportional system , where one group , one party , will vote a certain way , and they have a representative who represents all their members , ” said Rota .
House of Commons Clerk Charles Robert appears at the Procedure and House Affairs committee on April 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Commons screenshot Defining what 'presence ' means in the Constitution The Procedure and House Affairs committee has been looking into how MPs can fulfil their duties virtually , after being asked this month by the House to examine the issue .
MPs are expected to provide a report by May 15 on the way forward .
On Monday , after a temporary adjournment of the House that was struck on March 13 expired , 37 MPs met in person in Ottawa and voted for a new plan going forward where they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hold additional “ virtual ” sittings .
The Conservatives had proposed additional in-person sittings but were outvoted by the Liberals , the NDP , the Bloc and the Greens .
House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says he ’ s not yet “ comfortable ” with remote voting technology , and doesn ’ t see it happening in the “ near future , ” as MPs scramble to come up with a way to hold virtual sittings The new virtual sittings will be conducted via a new body established by the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 Pandemic , ” that counts all 338 MPs as members .
This committee , set to meet next Tuesday , is expected to exercise oversight of the government by providing a virtual venue to question the prime minister and cabinet members on their ongoing coronavirus response .
But , to Rota ’ s point , not all 338 members are likely to virtually appear for this committee meeting , House of Commons Clerk Charles Robert predicted .
“ It will be far short of the entire membership of the House , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fresh committee as the body to conduct oversight , rather than the House itself , is that it is not subject to the most obvious legal constraint on Parliament operating virtually : the quorum requirement in section 48 of the Constitution .
The Constitution demands the “ presence ” of at least 20 MPs , including the Speaker , in order to hold a “ meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers.
” It also underlines how French and English are the official languages of Parliament and can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under section 133 , and sections 17 and 18 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms .
A committee meeting is not subject to the section 48 quorum requirement , so it avoids the constitutional hurdle .
As a result , Rota described the COVID-19 committee as fulfilling a “ quasi-parliamentary duty ” in the moment , while MPs continue to examine longer-term solutions .
Philippe Dufresne , law clerk and parliamentary counsel for the House of Commons , said that moving forward , the House could adopt new standing orders that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of the term “ presence , ” or it could also pass an amendment to the Constitution that specifies that a virtual presence is allowable for the purposes of counting quorum .
He said Canada ’ s courts have repeatedly affirmed that the House of Commons has flexibility in deciding how to manage its internal proceedings , and that the Constitution is seen as a “ living tree , ” so the House would likely not be stymied by legal concerns if it agreed to change how it conducts its business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for North Island—Powell River , said one of the challenges with her own riding is internet access .
House of Commons screenshot Between its March 13 temporary adjournment and the new plan reached on Monday , the House had met twice , on March 25 and again on April 11 , for emergency sessions to pass government legislation that enacted COVID-19 relief measures .
During this time , standing committees have been meeting virtually , with mixed results .
Some MPs have expressed dismay during committee meetings that the proper technology isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfaction , while others have portrayed it as merely kinks to be worked out over time .
Rota said he was “ keenly aware ” of the impact the pandemic was having on the ability of MPs to participate , noting that some members “ are not tech-savvy , let ’ s say ... it ’ s a small minority , but they have the same rights as everyone else , and those rights have to be respected.
” He suggested three “ guiding principles ” for any virtual parliamentary model : that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of members ; that there be simultaneous interpretation in English and French , with some facilitation as well for Indigenous languages ; and that the wide range of internet service available across the country does not hinder the ability of members to participate , particularly in rural areas .
On Monday , both NDP House Leader Peter Julian and Green Party parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May told National Observer they had confidence that the House can conduct proper oversight of the government virtually .
But MPs from all parties have also raised concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote areas to have their voices heard , particularly if they are not on stable or powerful enough internet connections .
NDP Whip Rachel Blaney , the MP for North Island—Powell River , said one of the challenges with her own riding is internet access .
She said it depends on where she is at any given time .
“ There are multiple airports in my riding , for example , that do not have good access to internet , ” she said .
Blaney asked Robert , the House clerk , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridings where there are concerns with internet access for MPs .
“ It certainly would make my constituents happy to have that officially on the record , ” she said .
Robert said it was his understanding that the House administration was looking into that issue .
“ I suppose once we collected the data , there would be no reason why we couldn ’ t share it , ” he said .
Blaney also asked why the House administration was considering Zoom , the videoconferencing service , rather than another service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ service ’ s ability to allow for multiple languages simultaneously , were factors in the decision .

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota said Tuesday he’s not yet “comfortable” with remote voting technology, and doesn’t see it happening in the “near future,” as MPs scramble to come up with a way to hold virtual sittings during the coronavirus pandemic. Rota, a Liberal member of Parliament from Northern Ontario who was elected Speaker of the House in December, first raised the issue of remote voting himself in comments to the Procedure and House Affairs committee, which met by video conference on April 21. Remote voting could be a possible long-term goal for MPs, Rota said, if they were to start with more straightforward objectives such as establishing the ability of members to give a statement virtually, and then “gradually expand” the proceedings covered “as far as remote voting, should circumstances require it and the House approve it.” But pressed on the details by Conservative MP Eric Duncan, Rota sounded a note of caution. “Voting is something that we are not — I don't see happening in the near future,” he said. “That’s something that requires some technology that, personally, I’m not that comfortable with yet.” Rota said it would first require developing “secure systems” that can guarantee all 338 members of Parliament could vote confidently.
Allowing individual members to vote is at the “heart” of Canada’s parliamentary system, Rota argued, and he expressed concern about any virtual configuration where only one or a handful of MPs speak for their colleagues. “We’ve seen it in other Parliaments around the world, where there is almost a proportional system, where one group, one party, will vote a certain way, and they have a representative who represents all their members,” said Rota. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions House of Commons Clerk Charles Robert appears at the Procedure and House Affairs committee on April 21, 2020 by video conference. House of Commons screenshot
Defining what 'presence' means in the Constitution The Procedure and House Affairs committee has been looking into how MPs can fulfil their duties virtually, after being asked this month by the House to examine the issue. MPs are expected to provide a report by May 15 on the way forward. House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says he’s not yet “comfortable” with remote voting technology, and doesn’t see it happening in the “near future,” as MPs scramble to come up with a way to hold virtual sittings On Monday, after a temporary adjournment of the House that was struck on March 13 expired, 37 MPs met in person in Ottawa and voted for a new plan going forward where they would meet once a week in person, and hold additional “virtual” sittings. The Conservatives had proposed additional in-person sittings but were outvoted by the Liberals, the NDP, the Bloc and the Greens. The new virtual sittings will be conducted via a new body established by the House called the “Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic,” that counts all 338 MPs as members. This committee, set to meet next Tuesday, is expected to exercise oversight of the government by providing a virtual venue to question the prime minister and cabinet members on their ongoing coronavirus response.
But, to Rota’s point, not all 338 members are likely to virtually appear for this committee meeting, House of Commons Clerk Charles Robert predicted. “It will be far short of the entire membership of the House,” he said. One advantage of using a fresh committee as the body to conduct oversight, rather than the House itself, is that it is not subject to the most obvious legal constraint on Parliament operating virtually: the quorum requirement in section 48 of the Constitution. The Constitution demands the “presence” of at least 20 MPs, including the Speaker, in order to hold a “meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers.” It also underlines how French and English are the official languages of Parliament and can be used by any person during debates, under section 133, and sections 17 and 18 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.


nationalobserver--2020-04-22--Social gatherings and congregational prayers cancelled during Ramadan

This week is usually when kids in the Muslim community get excited about an annual trip to see the new moon that marks the start of Ramadan , says Cindy Jadayel , a member of the Mosque of Mercy in Ottawa .
But she says it 'll be one of many community events that will be cancelled during Ramadan this year .
The month of Ramadan — in which Muslims go without food or drink from sunrise to sunset every day — often features gatherings where families and friends break fast and pray together .
It 's set to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calendar , and will last until May 23 .
The moon sighting trip follows an early tradition where religious leaders would declare the start of the new month .
`` ( Kids ) get excited about it , '' said Jadayel , who works on the committee for the Mosque of Mercy .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening • Bike couriers in Toronto risking illness to deliver 'junk food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times when you drive out and you see something , that it 's a new month , '' she said , adding that there 's always a sense of suspense because it can often be too cloudy to clearly see the moon .
Those events , as well as nightly congregational prayers and community events at the mosque , will be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Not having the community aspect of Ramadan this year `` is going to be challenging , '' said Jadayel .
`` We have to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the home because we ca n't go out and celebrate with others . ''
Sallah Hamdani , a former president of the Islamic Society of St. Catharines , Ont.
, says Muslims will try and look on the bright side of the time alone this year .
`` You might not have to focus on hosting a dinner , '' said Hamdani , pointing out that it can be stressful for families to put together elaborate dinners at home while already dealing with a difficult fast .
`` Instead you can enjoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your immediate family and creating a new custom that you probably had not implemented previously . ''
Muslim communities across Canada have already seen sweeping changes as physical distancing rules came into affect last month .
Daily prayers and weekly sermons have been cancelled , as well as Arabic classes , day camps and Qur'an readings that are often hosted by mosques .
`` It was a shock , but since then we have almost all of our programs online , '' said Jadayel , who said they have hundreds of students studying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an online pre-recorded sermon that is posted every week .
She says congregants are also meeting on group calls to maintain a sense of community .
`` We 're meeting every week and we can feel that sense of gathering , it 's like we 're in the same room together . ''
In St. Catharines , Hamdani says one of the hardest events during physical distancing this year will be Eid al-Fitr , a multi-day holiday that celebrates the end of Ramadan .
`` Not being able to get together for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community than any other thing , '' said Hamdani .
`` Whether you are a practising Muslim or not , Eid is a day of joy and a day of getting together and remembering your family . ''

This week is usually when kids in the Muslim community get excited about an annual trip to see the new moon that marks the start of Ramadan, says Cindy Jadayel, a member of the Mosque of Mercy in Ottawa. But she says it'll be one of many community events that will be cancelled during Ramadan this year. The month of Ramadan — in which Muslims go without food or drink from sunrise to sunset every day — often features gatherings where families and friends break fast and pray together. It's set to start on Thursday based on the Islamic lunar calendar, and will last until May 23. The moon sighting trip follows an early tradition where religious leaders would declare the start of the new month. "(Kids) get excited about it," said Jadayel, who works on the committee for the Mosque of Mercy.
"There's times when you drive out and you see something, that it's a new month," she said, adding that there's always a sense of suspense because it can often be too cloudy to clearly see the moon. Those events, as well as nightly congregational prayers and community events at the mosque, will be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Not having the community aspect of Ramadan this year "is going to be challenging," said Jadayel.
"We have to work harder this year to have families happier in the home because we can't go out and celebrate with others." Social gatherings and congregational prayers cancelled during Ramadan Sallah Hamdani, a former president of the Islamic Society of St. Catharines, Ont., says Muslims will try and look on the bright side of the time alone this year. "You might not have to focus on hosting a dinner," said Hamdani, pointing out that it can be stressful for families to put together elaborate dinners at home while already dealing with a difficult fast. "Instead you can enjoy that dinner or breaking the fast with your immediate family and creating a new custom that you probably had not implemented previously." Muslim communities across Canada have already seen sweeping changes as physical distancing rules came into affect last month.
Daily prayers and weekly sermons have been cancelled, as well as Arabic classes, day camps and Qur'an readings that are often hosted by mosques. "It was a shock, but since then we have almost all of our programs online," said Jadayel, who said they have hundreds of students studying online in various classes, as well as an online pre-recorded sermon that is posted every week. She says congregants are also meeting on group calls to maintain a sense of community.


nationalobserver--2020-04-22--Feds pledge $350M to help charities as revenue drops

Canada 's charities are getting a $ 350-million injection of federal funding while they deal with growing revenue gaps related to COVID-19 , as the federal government considers a request for billions more to help community groups seeing a surge in demand for their services .
Much of the money will flow through three national groups — the United Way , the Red Cross and Community Foundations Canada — with a portion of funds going to small , independent organizations .
The money will be used for , among other things , training volunteers , transportation for vulnerable people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like tax-filing clinics for low-income earners so they can receive benefits .
Funding may also cover the cost of personal protective equipment for staff .
The move announced Tuesday is considered by many in the sector to be a good first step in helping charities and non-profits that have seen a severe drop in donations since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out , with donors hurting financially and the charities unable to hold fundraising events .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • Ontario may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woes could stall reopening • Bike couriers in Toronto risking illness to deliver 'junk food to rich people ' Dan Clement , chief executive of United Way Centraide Canada , said the money will support country 's most vulnerable who face a disproportionate impact from the crisis , while also helping the sector manage immediate issues .
The declines in funding , he said , point to a need for larger stabilization spending to help organizations remain active once the crisis passes .
Estimates from Imagine Canada , a charity that promotes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will decline between $ 4.2 billion and $ 6.3 billion , and that between 117,000 and 195,000 workers could be laid off depending on the length of the COVID-19 crisis .
Imagine Canada president Bruce MacDonald said the lack of cash reserves or collateral needed to land loans has put many organizations in a place where they are wondering whether they 'll be able to continue providing services .
What he and others say is still needed is a grant program to provide help to a wider number of charitable organizations , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving .
Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said he and Finance Minister Bill Morneau are looking over a multibillion-dollar ask for help from the sector as part of broader talks about what charities and non-profits need to manage through the crisis .
Feds pledge $ 350M to help charities plug holes in funding `` Our first priority was to move quickly to respond to the organizations that are serving the most vulnerable now in the context of COVID-19 , '' Hussen said in an interview .
`` I appreciate the need to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to make sure that it thrives and does n't collapse and comes out strong after COVID-19 is over . ''
As the Liberals announced funding for charities , federal officials offered up more details on the $ 73-billion wage subsidy program , including a warning that some employees once rehired may have to repay emergency benefit payments that have received during their layoff .
Online applications for the 75 per cent wage subsidy program open next week and officials expect to process 90 per cent of applications by the first week of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin flowing .
An online calculator is available so companies can see how much they can expect to receive .
The program pays a maximum of $ 847 per employee , per week , for up to 12 weeks with eligible businesses having to show either a 15 per cent decline in revenues for March , or a 30 per cent decline in April .
The Canada Revenue Agency has assigned some 3,000 auditors to review applications where the numbers do n't seem right compared to past payroll data , or for large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in annual gross sales in Canada .
Payments through the CERB reached $ 19.8 billion as of April 19 to more than six million people , from a program budgeted at $ 24 billion .
The $ 2,000-a-month benefit , paid out to a maximum of 16 weeks for workers continues to face criticism for people that it misses , including some students .
A group of 50 senators from different political and partisan backgrounds signed an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday , joining the federal New Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned into a universal benefit .
`` In the short-term , our focus must be on ensuring the CERB is available for all who need it , '' part of the letter reads .
`` When this immediate emergency has abated , we urge you to work with parliamentarians and others to use the lessons from the CERB experience and the entire COVID-19 crisis to craft social and economic reforms and develop a positive legacy for all Canadians . ''
While a minimum income means different things to different people , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an assortment of targeted benefits .
Last week , Morneau told the House of Commons finance committee the government believed the CERB should go to people who have lost their income , rather than turning into a minimum-income program .
`` We do n't think a universal benefit would be appropriate in this regard .
There are many , many people like you , '' he said , referring to NDP finance critic Peter Julian , `` and me that have not been impacted from an income standpoint as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts on those people who have been impacted and making sure we deal with those as best we can . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21 , 2020 .

Canada's charities are getting a $350-million injection of federal funding while they deal with growing revenue gaps related to COVID-19, as the federal government considers a request for billions more to help community groups seeing a surge in demand for their services. Much of the money will flow through three national groups — the United Way, the Red Cross and Community Foundations Canada — with a portion of funds going to small, independent organizations. The money will be used for, among other things, training volunteers, transportation for vulnerable people and home delivery of groceries and other services like tax-filing clinics for low-income earners so they can receive benefits. Funding may also cover the cost of personal protective equipment for staff. The move announced Tuesday is considered by many in the sector to be a good first step in helping charities and non-profits that have seen a severe drop in donations since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, with donors hurting financially and the charities unable to hold fundraising events.
Dan Clement, chief executive of United Way Centraide Canada, said the money will support country's most vulnerable who face a disproportionate impact from the crisis, while also helping the sector manage immediate issues. The declines in funding, he said, point to a need for larger stabilization spending to help organizations remain active once the crisis passes. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Estimates from Imagine Canada, a charity that promotes the work other charities do, suggest donations will decline between $4.2 billion and $6.3 billion, and that between 117,000 and 195,000 workers could be laid off depending on the length of the COVID-19 crisis.
Imagine Canada president Bruce MacDonald said the lack of cash reserves or collateral needed to land loans has put many organizations in a place where they are wondering whether they'll be able to continue providing services. Feds pledge $350M to help charities plug holes in funding What he and others say is still needed is a grant program to provide help to a wider number of charitable organizations, and a donor incentive program to help prod giving. Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said he and Finance Minister Bill Morneau are looking over a multibillion-dollar ask for help from the sector as part of broader talks about what charities and non-profits need to manage through the crisis. "Our first priority was to move quickly to respond to the organizations that are serving the most vulnerable now in the context of COVID-19," Hussen said in an interview. "I appreciate the need to protect the entire sector to keep it resilient, to make sure that it thrives and doesn't collapse and comes out strong after COVID-19 is over."
As the Liberals announced funding for charities, federal officials offered up more details on the $73-billion wage subsidy program, including a warning that some employees once rehired may have to repay emergency benefit payments that have received during their layoff. Online applications for the 75 per cent wage subsidy program open next week and officials expect to process 90 per cent of applications by the first week of May, at which point payments will begin flowing. An online calculator is available so companies can see how much they can expect to receive.


nationalobserver--2020-04-22--Let’s flatten the curve on climate change

I normally celebrate Earth Day by planting trees , picking up litter and taking part in a big public action .
Not this year , as most of us shelter indoors .
But perhaps a somber , personal reflection is exactly what we need for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day .
Physical distancing has forced a personal reality check for many of us , as we think about what really matters in life and the balance we might have lost along the way .
Some are thinking about their fast-paced , high-carbon lifestyles , especially as wildlife returns to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening • Bike couriers in Toronto risking illness to deliver 'junk food to rich people ' And as we start to plan for the reopening of our economy , we should think about what will sustain us in the future and what is best left in the past .
The truth is that the pre-covid economy was in need of a reboot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had shocked us into action - not the pleas from scientists nor the shocking wildfires in Australia .
Now we are at a crossroads that was forced upon us by the pandemic .
It ’ s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to jumpstart the economy that we want - a bridge to a more hopeful , sustainable and prosperous future .
The federal government made a good start by announcing funding for the clean-up of abandoned oil wells last week .
`` The truth is that the pre-covid economy was in need of a reboot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clean energy already employs 300,000 Canadians and is projected to grow at four times the Canadian average by 2030 .
An aggressive shift towards energy efficiency and retrofits would create hundreds of thousands more jobs , while making us less dependent on the plummeting price of oil .
We could help people with loans to insulate their homes and install solar panels on their roofs , while offering grants and tax breaks to the entrepreneurs developing clean technologies .
We can once again make Ontario a manufacturing hub by turning our attention to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise .
A recent study showed that with a robust electric vehicle strategy , Canada could create 1.1 million jobs by 2040 and add $ 150 billion to the economy .
We have many of the rare earth metals in Ontario ’ s North needed to produce EV and storage batteries .
They can be sustainably mined creating an Ontario supply chain to electrify transportation .
And let ’ s install chargers across our provincial highways to get us ready for this electric vehicle revolution .
We can also make our communities more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitable , from harsh droughts and rising flood waters .
One of the cheapest and easiest solutions is tree planting , which buffers the impacts of extreme weather .
Canada ’ s goal of planting 2 billion trees in 10 years is nice , but last year Ethiopia planted 350 million trees in a single day .
Let ’ s also use this pandemic to make our food system less vulnerable to the next shock .
Family farmers who grow our fruits and vegetables should have access to financial support to stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to preserve their harvest .
We should upgrade our grain storage infrastructure to prepare for the next emergency .
And we should invest in technologies to convert some of our food and agricultural waste into renewable energy and bio-based products .
The point is that the billions we spend today should make good economic sense - not just tomorrow , but in 2050 .
Certainly there will be a big temptation to go in the other direction .
The fossil fuel industry is already asking for a rollback of pollution controls to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while various provinces are halting environmental regulations .
But a race to the bottom would be a mistake .
The recovery can not be about finding the cheapest , most convenient or short-sighted way to resurrect the old economy .
We have all the motivation needed to choose a smarter path .
And if this pandemic has taught us anything , it ’ s that when we take a threat seriously and listen to experts , we have the ability to rapidly change our behaviour .
Our collective resolve and solidarity are flattening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , let ’ s commit to also flattening the curve on climate change .

I normally celebrate Earth Day by planting trees, picking up litter and taking part in a big public action. Not this year, as most of us shelter indoors. But perhaps a somber, personal reflection is exactly what we need for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Physical distancing has forced a personal reality check for many of us, as we think about what really matters in life and the balance we might have lost along the way. Some are thinking about their fast-paced, high-carbon lifestyles, especially as wildlife returns to places that have been vacated by big crowds.
And as we start to plan for the reopening of our economy, we should think about what will sustain us in the future and what is best left in the past. The truth is that the pre-covid economy was in need of a reboot to tackle the climate crisis. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But nothing had shocked us into action - not the pleas from scientists nor the shocking wildfires in Australia.
Now we are at a crossroads that was forced upon us by the pandemic. "The truth is that the pre-covid economy was in need of a reboot to tackle the climate crisis." It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to jumpstart the economy that we want - a bridge to a more hopeful, sustainable and prosperous future. The federal government made a good start by announcing funding for the clean-up of abandoned oil wells last week. Now let’s go further. Clean energy already employs 300,000 Canadians and is projected to grow at four times the Canadian average by 2030.
An aggressive shift towards energy efficiency and retrofits would create hundreds of thousands more jobs, while making us less dependent on the plummeting price of oil. We could help people with loans to insulate their homes and install solar panels on their roofs, while offering grants and tax breaks to the entrepreneurs developing clean technologies. We can once again make Ontario a manufacturing hub by turning our attention to the low-carbon sectors that are on the rise.


nationalobserver--2020-04-22--Urban Indigenous left behind by Ottawa's COVID-19 response

Canada 's urban Indigenous population is being left behind by the federal response to the COVID-19 crisis , according to the The National Association of Friendship Centres .
Friendship centres across the country have been on the front lines of the crisis and have been inundated with requests for help as their communities struggle to cope , the association told the House of Commons health committee Tuesday .
Workers and volunteers have been cooking and delivering food and traditional medicines , responding to a rising number of calls about sexual and family violence , and helping people address their medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee .
On top of that usual work , they ’ re being asked to deliver services to Indigenous community members on behalf of non-Indigenous agencies and to lead task forces to address the needs of urban Indigenous Peoples .
All the while , she said they 're struggling to function without additional funds from the federal government to provide all those services .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness to deliver 'junk food to rich people ' The federal government pledged $ 305 million to help First Nations , Inuit and Metis communities , with $ 15 million set aside for organizations providing services to those living off reserves or in urban centres .
Conservative MP Gary Vidal told the committee that , while more than half of Indigenous Peoples in Canada do not live on reserves , the organizations that serve them received only five per cent of the funds .
Christopher Sheppard-Buote , president of the friendship centres association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrespectful . ''
`` The fact that there was a structure that was that under-funded and competitive ... to me , it was disrespectful , '' Sheppard-Buote said .
While there was no deadline or application for Indigenous communities looking to access government funds , community organizations in urban settings had to put together a proposal by April 13 .
Sheppard-Buote said the application process and tight deadline put undue burden on organizations who are already struggling to serve their communities .
He said some community organizations simply do n't have the capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 relief funding at all .
The money also does n't cover all the needs across Canada , he said .
`` It 's not enough money .
Period . ''
The National Association of Friendship Centres was notified Monday it would receive $ 3.7 million , which will be distributed to its more than 100 member centres .
`` We certainly appreciate the support but we know these funds will not last long , '' said Formsma .
Sheppard-Buote told the committee that there is a misconception that because people live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , but inequalities persist .
While he believes there needs to be special consideration for remote , northern communities and people living on reserves , public policy also needs to acknowledge urban Indigenous populations .

Canada's urban Indigenous population is being left behind by the federal response to the COVID-19 crisis, according to the The National Association of Friendship Centres. Friendship centres across the country have been on the front lines of the crisis and have been inundated with requests for help as their communities struggle to cope, the association told the House of Commons health committee Tuesday. Workers and volunteers have been cooking and delivering food and traditional medicines, responding to a rising number of calls about sexual and family violence, and helping people address their medical needs, executive director Jocelyn Formsma told the committee. On top of that usual work, they’re being asked to deliver services to Indigenous community members on behalf of non-Indigenous agencies and to lead task forces to address the needs of urban Indigenous Peoples. All the while, she said they're struggling to function without additional funds from the federal government to provide all those services.
The federal government pledged $305 million to help First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities, with $15 million set aside for organizations providing services to those living off reserves or in urban centres. Conservative MP Gary Vidal told the committee that, while more than half of Indigenous Peoples in Canada do not live on reserves, the organizations that serve them received only five per cent of the funds. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Christopher Sheppard-Buote, president of the friendship centres association, called the government's approach "disrespectful."
"The fact that there was a structure that was that under-funded and competitive ... to me, it was disrespectful," Sheppard-Buote said. Urban Indigenous left behind by Ottawa's COVID-19 response: friendship centres While there was no deadline or application for Indigenous communities looking to access government funds, community organizations in urban settings had to put together a proposal by April 13. Sheppard-Buote said the application process and tight deadline put undue burden on organizations who are already struggling to serve their communities. He said some community organizations simply don't have the capacity, and are therefore disqualified from any COVID-19 relief funding at all. The money also doesn't cover all the needs across Canada, he said. "It's not enough money. Period."
The National Association of Friendship Centres was notified Monday it would receive $3.7 million, which will be distributed to its more than 100 member centres. "We certainly appreciate the support but we know these funds will not last long," said Formsma. Sheppard-Buote told the committee that there is a misconception that because people live in a city things must be better for them, but inequalities persist.


nationalobserver--2020-04-22--What does reaching the COVID-19 peak mean?

The latest round of government projections related to the COVID-19 pandemic includes an increasingly common phrase — reaching the peak .
But what exactly does that mean ?
Some experts weigh in : What does it mean to reach a peak in a pandemic ?
Infectious disease and statistical modelling specialists say to reach the peak in a pandemic curve means that the number of new cases has begun to level off rather than continuing on a sharp upward trajectory .
Such a scenario is playing out this week in Ontario , where public health officials said the province was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the broader community despite registering some sharp single-day spikes in the number of new cases .
The peak has not yet arrived in the province 's long-term care system , where roughly half of all cases and deaths have occurred .
`` Peaks are not a single day , '' said Steini Brown , dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto , as he presented the province 's latest projections on Monday .
`` They 're not a nice single sort of spike .
They can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be prolonged for a period of time , particularly given public health interventions . ''
Brown said pandemic curves are usually symmetrical in nature — a sharp increase of cases is followed by the plateau or peak , which then gives way to a decline in new diagnoses .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening • Bike couriers in Toronto risking illness to deliver 'junk food to rich people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening ?
While Ontario may be experiencing the peak of community transmission right now , several provinces are already ahead of the game .
Public health officials in British Columbia said last week that they had succeeded in flattening the curve , meaning they 're past the peak of new COVID-19 cases .
Provinces and territories such as Manitoba , Saskatchewan and the Yukon are posting single-digit increases each day , while New Brunswick , Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have gone several days in a row without any new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officer , Dr. Theresa Tam , has said the national curve is bending but has yet to flatten .
Those figures are still fuelled by data out of Quebec and Ontario , the epicentres of the national outbreak .
The premier of Quebec , which has recorded more than 20,100 of Canada 's roughly 38,000 cases , has said the peak has lightly been reached outside of the province 's hard-hit long-term care homes .
This is all good news , right ?
Yes and no .
Dr. Isaac Bogoch , infectious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Hospital , says it 's very encouraging to see the rate of new infections begin to level off .
But he says peak times also promise to place the maximum strain on the health-care system , as cases continue to mount at a pace not seen during earlier stages of the outbreak .
Jianhong Wu , distinguished research professor of mathematics at York University , said other risks come with pandemic peaks .
What does 'reaching the peak ' in the COVID-19 pandemic mean ?
`` At these times , the level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The number of cases is not necessarily the number of infections . ''
Wu noted that disparity is even more evident in parts of the country with lower testing levels , noting those provinces with higher capacity will also uncover more cases .
During a peak period , he said , Canadians stand a higher chance of contracting the virus .
Does this mean normal life can resume soon ?
No .
Both Wu and Bogoch said physical distancing measures are more important than ever during peak times in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decline as expected .
`` Imagine you 're in a car and you put your foot on the gas and are driving faster and faster , '' Bogoch said .
`` When you get onto the highway and you 're going 100 kilometres an hour , that 's not the time to open the door and jump out of the car .
You have to actually slow down . ''
What are the most useful stats to keep an eye on ?
The many facts and figures presented in government briefings are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 , according to both Bogoch and Wu .
But for a member of the public wanting only to focus on the highlights , they agree tracking the growth rate of cases over time should provide an adequate snapshot .
Both caution against focusing on single-day stats and suggest looking at the overall trend to see if cases are climbing , peaking or declining over time .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22 , 2020 .

The latest round of government projections related to the COVID-19 pandemic includes an increasingly common phrase — reaching the peak. But what exactly does that mean? Some experts weigh in: What does it mean to reach a peak in a pandemic? Infectious disease and statistical modelling specialists say to reach the peak in a pandemic curve means that the number of new cases has begun to level off rather than continuing on a sharp upward trajectory. Such a scenario is playing out this week in Ontario, where public health officials said the province was experiencing the peak of the outbreak in the broader community despite registering some sharp single-day spikes in the number of new cases. The peak has not yet arrived in the province's long-term care system, where roughly half of all cases and deaths have occurred. "Peaks are not a single day," said Steini Brown, dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, as he presented the province's latest projections on Monday. "They're not a nice single sort of spike. They can be a little bit bumpy, they can be prolonged for a period of time, particularly given public health interventions." Brown said pandemic curves are usually symmetrical in nature — a sharp increase of cases is followed by the plateau or peak, which then gives way to a decline in new diagnoses.
Where in Canada is that actually happening? While Ontario may be experiencing the peak of community transmission right now, several provinces are already ahead of the game. Public health officials in British Columbia said last week that they had succeeded in flattening the curve, meaning they're past the peak of new COVID-19 cases. Provinces and territories such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Yukon are posting single-digit increases each day, while New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have gone several days in a row without any new cases at all. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, has said the national curve is bending but has yet to flatten. Those figures are still fuelled by data out of Quebec and Ontario, the epicentres of the national outbreak. The premier of Quebec, which has recorded more than 20,100 of Canada's roughly 38,000 cases, has said the peak has lightly been reached outside of the province's hard-hit long-term care homes.
This is all good news, right? What does 'reaching the peak' in the COVID-19 pandemic mean? Yes and no. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases physician and scientist with the Toronto General Hospital, says it's very encouraging to see the rate of new infections begin to level off. But he says peak times also promise to place the maximum strain on the health-care system, as cases continue to mount at a pace not seen during earlier stages of the outbreak. Jianhong Wu, distinguished research professor of mathematics at York University, said other risks come with pandemic peaks. "At these times, the level of infections is highest," he said. "The number of cases is not necessarily the number of infections." Wu noted that disparity is even more evident in parts of the country with lower testing levels, noting those provinces with higher capacity will also uncover more cases.
During a peak period, he said, Canadians stand a higher chance of contracting the virus. Does this mean normal life can resume soon? No. Both Wu and Bogoch said physical distancing measures are more important than ever during peak times in order to ensure the number of cases begins to decline as expected.