nationalobserver--2020-07-17--Racial justice suffers another blow from Trump

This story was originally published by HuffPost and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Amid a national movement for racial justice and a pandemic that ’ s disproportionately impacting communities of color , the Trump administration has finalized a sweeping overhaul of one of America ’ s most important environmental laws in order to fast-track infrastructure projects and cut the public out of the democratic review process .
The new rule changes how the federal government implements the National Environmental Policy Act , a 50-year-old law that safeguards air , water and land by requiring federal agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure projects .
President Donald Trump announced the final rollback during a visit to a UPS facility in Atlanta on Wednesday .
“ For decades the single biggest obstacle to building a modern transportation system has been the mountains and mountains of bureaucratic red tape in Washington , ” he said .
The Trump administration has painted the rollback , which the White House Council on Environmental Quality first proposed in January , as little more than an overdue effort to “ modernize ” the law , speed up lengthy permitting and ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics see it as yet another handout to polluting industries and an attack on environmental justice .
It is through the NEPA review process that communities ― often low-income and communities of color ― are able to have a voice and fight back against fossil fuel pipelines , power plants and highways that pose potential risks to communities , the environment and public health .
“ These watered-down rules would turn the whole purpose of the law on its head , giving a greater voice to the worst-polluting industries while shutting out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewest resources to defend themselves against pollution and other harms , ” Jamie Williams , president of The Wilderness Society , said in a statement .
The controversial measure ― the first major update to the law in more than four decades ― is meant to speed energy projects and other construction by limiting the number of projects that require in-depth environmental review and expediting the process for those that do .
It establishes strict two-year limits for completing reviews on major projects and a one-year deadline for smaller projects .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviews of their projects ― assessments that have historically been conducted by federal agencies and outside contractors .
Perhaps most significantly , federal agencies will no longer have to weigh a project ’ s vulnerability to climate change or its “ cumulative ” effects on global warming .
That means an agency could , for example , greenlight a massive oil pipeline or coal-fired power plant with little or no consideration for the global climate change that is already wreaking havoc around the world .
Between 2010 and 2019 , 119 climate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than $ 800 billion in damages , according to a federal report released in January .
“ Despite all of the bluster and noise , no one believes that sacrificing clean air and water will magically produce the funding necessary to build the infrastructure the United States so desperately needs , ” Christy Goldfuss , a former chair of the CEQ under President Barack Obama and current senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress , said in an email statement .
“ The gutting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people their simple right to have a say when pipelines are built next to their schools or coal mines are dug in their backyards .
Today ’ s final rule denies the reality of our climate crisis and the reality of our democracy.
” Environmental groups have promised to challenge the rule in court .
The new rule limits public input on infrastructure projects and allows federal agencies to ignore climate change when reviewing projects .
Earlier this month , a federal court ordered the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline ― one of several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― to shut down , citing the Army Corps of Engineers ’ failure to comply with safety requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act .
“ When it comes to NEPA , it is better to ask for permission than forgiveness : if you can build first and consider environmental consequences later , NEPA ’ s action-forcing purpose loses its bite , ” U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia wrote in his opinion .
Fossil fuel and other industry groups applauded Wednesday ’ s announcement , saying it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developers .
“ These reforms will help accelerate the nation ’ s economic recovery and advance energy infrastructure while continuing necessary environmental reviews , ” Mike Sommers , president of the American Petroleum Institute , the oil and gas industry ’ s leading lobbying group , said in a statement .

This story was originally published by HuffPost and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Amid a national movement for racial justice and a pandemic that’s disproportionately impacting communities of color, the Trump administration has finalized a sweeping overhaul of one of America’s most important environmental laws in order to fast-track infrastructure projects and cut the public out of the democratic review process. The new rule changes how the federal government implements the National Environmental Policy Act, a 50-year-old law that safeguards air, water and land by requiring federal agencies to conduct detailed environmental assessments of major infrastructure projects. President Donald Trump announced the final rollback during a visit to a UPS facility in Atlanta on Wednesday. “For decades the single biggest obstacle to building a modern transportation system has been the mountains and mountains of bureaucratic red tape in Washington,” he said. The Trump administration has painted the rollback, which the White House Council on Environmental Quality first proposed in January, as little more than an overdue effort to “modernize” the law, speed up lengthy permitting and ease regulatory burdens for American business. But critics see it as yet another handout to polluting industries and an attack on environmental justice.
It is through the NEPA review process that communities ― often low-income and communities of color ― are able to have a voice and fight back against fossil fuel pipelines, power plants and highways that pose potential risks to communities, the environment and public health. “These watered-down rules would turn the whole purpose of the law on its head, giving a greater voice to the worst-polluting industries while shutting out the communities with the most to lose and fewest resources to defend themselves against pollution and other harms,” Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society, said in a statement. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The controversial measure ― the first major update to the law in more than four decades ― is meant to speed energy projects and other construction by limiting the number of projects that require in-depth environmental review and expediting the process for those that do. It establishes strict two-year limits for completing reviews on major projects and a one-year deadline for smaller projects. It also gives companies greater power over the environmental reviews of their projects ― assessments that have historically been conducted by federal agencies and outside contractors.
Perhaps most significantly, federal agencies will no longer have to weigh a project’s vulnerability to climate change or its “cumulative” effects on global warming. That means an agency could, for example, greenlight a massive oil pipeline or coal-fired power plant with little or no consideration for the global climate change that is already wreaking havoc around the world. Between 2010 and 2019, 119 climate and weather disasters in the U.S. caused more than $800 billion in damages, according to a federal report released in January. The new rule limits public input on infrastructure projects and allows federal agencies to ignore climate change when reviewing projects. “Despite all of the bluster and noise, no one believes that sacrificing clean air and water will magically produce the funding necessary to build the infrastructure the United States so desperately needs,” Christy Goldfuss, a former chair of the CEQ under President Barack Obama and current senior vice president for energy and environment policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said in an email statement. “The gutting of this bedrock environmental law denies the American people their simple right to have a say when pipelines are built next to their schools or coal mines are dug in their backyards. Today’s final rule denies the reality of our climate crisis and the reality of our democracy.” Environmental groups have promised to challenge the rule in court. Earlier this month, a federal court ordered the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline ― one of several fossil fuel pipelines Trump has helped champion ― to shut down, citing the Army Corps of Engineers’ failure to comply with safety requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act. “When it comes to NEPA, it is better to ask for permission than forgiveness: if you can build first and consider environmental consequences later, NEPA’s action-forcing purpose loses its bite,” U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia wrote in his opinion.


nationalobserver--2020-07-19--Feds order supplies needed to inoculate Canadians when COVID-19 vaccine ready

The federal government is ordering more than 75 million syringes , alcohol swabs and bandages so it can inoculate Canadians as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is ready .
Procurement Minister Anita Anand says Ottawa intends to stockpile enough vaccine supplies to give at least two doses to every Canadian whenever a vaccine is available .
There are almost two dozen vaccines in clinical trials around the world and at least 140 more in earlier stages of development , but most experts predict it will be well into 2021 before the first vaccines could be ready for wide use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first human COVID-19 vaccine trials July 13 and expects to have the initial results of its tests on 180 people by early fall .
Still , Anand says Canada wants to be ready and so has ordered 75.2 million each of syringes , alcohol swabs , bandages , and gauze pads , and 250,000 needle-disposal containers to be delivered no later than the end of October .
The contracts for the syringes are already in place but bids for the other supplies opened last week and will be accepted until the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition its multibillion-dollar medical supplies purchase program from pandemic panic buying to longer-term planning .
It is seeking a private company to take over the logistics of ordering , receiving , storing and distributing millions of face masks , respirators , surgical gowns and other personal protective equipment every month .
A request for bids for a logistics co-ordinator was posted July 16 .
The government wants a supplier that can procure or provide temperature-controlled warehouse space near Toronto and Hamilton airports , another near Montreal and a third in either British Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to handle 27,000 pallets of supplies each month , as well as 220 shipping containers from cargo ships , and another 400 cases of other goods .
The frenzied global purchasing of COVID-19 medical supplies has dominated Public Services and Procurement Canada for months now .
Once described by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as the `` wild west '' of buying supplies , enormous demand for masks , gowns , gloves and hand sanitizer to respond to the pandemic turned into a season of Survivor in which governments needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competing for the same goods .
The intensity of that process has relaxed slightly said Anand , but not enough that Canada is yet willing to disclose its international suppliers .
The federal government is ordering more than 75 million syringes , alcohol swabs and bandages so it can inoculate Canadians as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is ready .
`` We have to be careful not to put in jeopardy our supply chains , '' she said .
`` Where we believe the supply chain is still in jeopardy , in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a particular piece of PPE , it would not be prudent for us to reveal the names of suppliers as the competition is still very intense for that good . ''
Canada has ordered millions of masks , gowns , gloves and other supplies to be delivered into 2021 , and has accepted delivery of 99 planeloads of supplies to date .
In some cases , we did not need as much as we expected .
More than 40,000 ventilators have been ordered , but not as many COVID-19 patients have needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered and the others on the way will be stored by Ottawa in case they are needed in future waves of the virus .
An agreement between Ottawa and the provinces means 80 per cent of what Ottawa buys it will turn around and ship to the provincial governments when they need it .
The other 20 per cent is going into the `` National Emergency Strategic Stockpile , '' kept in a series of warehouses across Canada that store everything from medical supplies to temporary hospital cots and drugs to treat a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now asking for local warehouse owners in Ottawa to step up with space to expand the stockpile , which was found to be lacking last winter when Canada needed it most .
The country ' deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo said Friday some `` hard lessons '' have been learned about the stockpile and Canada 's dependence on international sources to supply it .
He said it was always believed that the national stockpile and the supplies provinces had would be enough for an immediate emergency and whatever else the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assumption proved very wrong when governments worldwide all needed the same things at the same time .
Before COVID-19 , Canada had little ability to make much of what was needed here at home .
`` We 've also learned that we ca n't in the future necessarily depend solely on global supply chains , we have to be more self sufficient , '' he said .
`` I certainly feel better , I think , about our situation , where we are now compared to let 's say back in January , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 per cent of the supplies Canada needs are now being sourced in Canada , including , for the first time , testing swabs and N95 masks .
Anand said one of the key lessons is the need to make sure orders of supplies are distributed before they expire .
Last year two million N95 masks kept in a warehouse in Regina were thrown out because they had expired .
Those could have been used before the pandemic rather than wasted .
Anand said there is work ongoing to co-ordinate the federal procurement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stockpile , and she said the same principle is being extended to other supplies , such as the vaccine equipment .
`` Rest assured if those syringes are not used for vaccine , they are able to be used in other circumstances , for example , to administer the flu shot , '' she said .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18 , 2020 .

The federal government is ordering more than 75 million syringes, alcohol swabs and bandages so it can inoculate Canadians as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is ready. Procurement Minister Anita Anand says Ottawa intends to stockpile enough vaccine supplies to give at least two doses to every Canadian whenever a vaccine is available. There are almost two dozen vaccines in clinical trials around the world and at least 140 more in earlier stages of development, but most experts predict it will be well into 2021 before the first vaccines could be ready for wide use. Quebec biopharmaceutical company Medicago began Canada's first human COVID-19 vaccine trials July 13 and expects to have the initial results of its tests on 180 people by early fall. Still, Anand says Canada wants to be ready and so has ordered 75.2 million each of syringes, alcohol swabs, bandages, and gauze pads, and 250,000 needle-disposal containers to be delivered no later than the end of October.
The contracts for the syringes are already in place but bids for the other supplies opened last week and will be accepted until the end of July. Ottawa is also looking to transition its multibillion-dollar medical supplies purchase program from pandemic panic buying to longer-term planning. It is seeking a private company to take over the logistics of ordering, receiving, storing and distributing millions of face masks, respirators, surgical gowns and other personal protective equipment every month. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions A request for bids for a logistics co-ordinator was posted July 16. The government wants a supplier that can procure or provide temperature-controlled warehouse space near Toronto and Hamilton airports, another near Montreal and a third in either British Columbia or Alberta. The winning bidder needs to be able to handle 27,000 pallets of supplies each month, as well as 220 shipping containers from cargo ships, and another 400 cases of other goods.
The frenzied global purchasing of COVID-19 medical supplies has dominated Public Services and Procurement Canada for months now. The federal government is ordering more than 75 million syringes, alcohol swabs and bandages so it can inoculate Canadians as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is ready. Once described by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as the "wild west" of buying supplies, enormous demand for masks, gowns, gloves and hand sanitizer to respond to the pandemic turned into a season of Survivor in which governments needed to outwit, outplay and outlast others competing for the same goods. The intensity of that process has relaxed slightly said Anand, but not enough that Canada is yet willing to disclose its international suppliers. "We have to be careful not to put in jeopardy our supply chains," she said. "Where we believe the supply chain is still in jeopardy, in other words there is still intense global demand for a particular piece of PPE, it would not be prudent for us to reveal the names of suppliers as the competition is still very intense for that good."
Canada has ordered millions of masks, gowns, gloves and other supplies to be delivered into 2021, and has accepted delivery of 99 planeloads of supplies to date. In some cases, we did not need as much as we expected. More than 40,000 ventilators have been ordered, but not as many COVID-19 patients have needed ventilators as predicted. The 367 already delivered and the others on the way will be stored by Ottawa in case they are needed in future waves of the virus. An agreement between Ottawa and the provinces means 80 per cent of what Ottawa buys it will turn around and ship to the provincial governments when they need it. The other 20 per cent is going into the "National Emergency Strategic Stockpile," kept in a series of warehouses across Canada that store everything from medical supplies to temporary hospital cots and drugs to treat a variety of infectious diseases.


nationalobserver--2020-07-19--Canadians reluctantly wearing masks despite rising fears of COVID-19 threat

As fears of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases increase , many Canadians are reluctantly donning masks to stop the spread of the virus .
This is according to a new Angus Reid poll which found only 55 per cent of Canadians are wearing masks regularly when they leave home .
The other 45 per cent either wear masks rarely or not at all .
Every province except for Alberta and Saskatchewan registered over 70 per cent support for mandatory masking laws — the former at 60 per cent and the latter with just 55 per cent support for the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason for not wearing a mask was that they forgot to bring one , while 74 per cent pointed to discomfort , lack of concern about catching COVID-19 , a perceived ineffectiveness of masks , or simply mimicking others not wearing them .
The poll also found that men were much less likely to wear masks than women , and a majority of women across all age brackets reported wearing one when they leave home .
This is despite the poll 's finding that national concern over the threat posed by COVID-19 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Premier Jason Kenney addressed the reluctance of some Albertans to wear a mask at a press briefing in Red Deer today , noting the potential for further economic damage if the province needs to go into lockdown again .
`` I hear people say that mask wearing is a globalist idea .
I will remind them that I was advocating mask use when the World Health Organization — a global organization — was recommending against it , '' Kenney said .
`` My pitch to those folks , if they 're upset about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more widespread suspensions of economic activity if we get a second outbreak . ''
A different poll on COVID-19 from Leger and the Association of Canadian Studies found a nearly 10 per cent increase in support for masking between June 26 and July 12 .
As fears of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases increase , many Canadians are reluctantly donning masks to stop the spread of the virus .
Across the country , the Leger poll found 67 per cent of Canadians support mandatory masking for all indoor public spaces , compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago .
Only 27 per cent were against the measure and six per cent were not sure .
On Saturday , Quebec became the first province to mandate masks inside public spaces across the region .
Similar orders had already been issued on the municipal level in various cities across Ontario , with Toronto enacting the order on July 7 .
And as the city prepares to enter the Stage 3 reopening phase , the Ontario Medical Association has asked the provincial government to keep indoor bars closed , saying it presents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` When people consume alcohol , inhibitions are lowered , making them much less likely to practice physical distancing , proper masking behaviours and good hand hygiene , '' OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill said .
A number of incidents in Toronto have highlighted the divide over masking and physical distancing rules , with some bar and restaurant owners bending public health bylaws in order to serve more customers or run illegal parties .
Earlier this week , the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario announced an investigation into popular King St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged on social in which dozens of patrons could be seen crammed into a semi-indoor space while celebrating a birthday .
The video , which also showed staff failing to wear masks , prompted outrage online .

As fears of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases increase, many Canadians are reluctantly donning masks to stop the spread of the virus. This is according to a new Angus Reid poll which found only 55 per cent of Canadians are wearing masks regularly when they leave home. The other 45 per cent either wear masks rarely or not at all. Every province except for Alberta and Saskatchewan registered over 70 per cent support for mandatory masking laws — the former at 60 per cent and the latter with just 55 per cent support for the measure. Only a quarter respondents said their reason for not wearing a mask was that they forgot to bring one, while 74 per cent pointed to discomfort, lack of concern about catching COVID-19, a perceived ineffectiveness of masks, or simply mimicking others not wearing them.
The poll also found that men were much less likely to wear masks than women, and a majority of women across all age brackets reported wearing one when they leave home. This is despite the poll's finding that national concern over the threat posed by COVID-19 is at its highest since April. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Alberta Premier Jason Kenney addressed the reluctance of some Albertans to wear a mask at a press briefing in Red Deer today, noting the potential for further economic damage if the province needs to go into lockdown again.
"I hear people say that mask wearing is a globalist idea. I will remind them that I was advocating mask use when the World Health Organization — a global organization — was recommending against it," Kenney said. As fears of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases increase, many Canadians are reluctantly donning masks to stop the spread of the virus. "My pitch to those folks, if they're upset about mask usage, the alternative will inevitably be more widespread suspensions of economic activity if we get a second outbreak." A different poll on COVID-19 from Leger and the Association of Canadian Studies found a nearly 10 per cent increase in support for masking between June 26 and July 12. Across the country, the Leger poll found 67 per cent of Canadians support mandatory masking for all indoor public spaces, compared to 58 per cent just over two weeks ago. Only 27 per cent were against the measure and six per cent were not sure.
On Saturday, Quebec became the first province to mandate masks inside public spaces across the region. Similar orders had already been issued on the municipal level in various cities across Ontario, with Toronto enacting the order on July 7. And as the city prepares to enter the Stage 3 reopening phase, the Ontario Medical Association has asked the provincial government to keep indoor bars closed, saying it presents "significant risk" for potential outbreaks.


nationalobserver--2020-07-19--Military issues new orders in effort to crackdown on 'hateful conduct'

The Canadian Armed Forces has issued new orders to military personnel as senior commanders seek to address allegations of having been soft on hate in the ranks .
The orders , which aim to take a harder line on `` hateful conduct , '' follow a rash of high-profile incidents in which the military was caught flatfooted as service members were publicly linked to hateful actions or groups .
`` The year before , it was more like a reaction kind of approach , '' acknowledged Maj.-Gen. Marc Gagne , who oversees strategy , plans and policy within the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were reacting to cases . ''
The new direction also comes as the military is actively working to recruit more women , visible minorities and Indigenous people to ensure it reflects Canadian society and is better able to operate in diverse theatres .
The new order aims to leave no doubt about what constitutes `` hateful conduct '' by banning anything — words , images or symbols — that encourages , justifies or promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups .
That includes discrimination based on nationality or ethnic background , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gender , sexual orientation , marital status or disability .
`` We were talking about different forms of misconduct : sexual misconduct , harassment , discrimination , '' Gagne said .
`` But 'hateful conduct ' was never clearly articulated .
... We broke new ground by developing this definition . ''
Troops are required to report any and all incidents while military commanders are expected to take action when incidents are brought to their attention .
All have been warned that they will be held to account if they do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track such incidents , based on the system created to monitor sexual misconduct in the ranks .
New training for troops and screening for recruits is being developed .
`` The idea is basically as soon as you join , it 's crystal-clear and we 're going to keep reinforcing through education and training as you move through the ranks and as you assume more responsibility , '' Gagne said .
Bernie Farber , chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network , described the new orders and definition as a positive and long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time will tell whether the military follows through in addressing hate in the ranks .
The Canadian Armed Forces has issued new orders to military personnel as senior commanders seek to address allegations of having been soft on hate in the ranks .
`` Right now , these are just words , '' he said .
`` They are good words ...
But too often in the past , when they investigated , it has really only resulted — to the best of our knowledge — in a slap on the wrist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian Armed Forces is they take meaningful actions . ''
The new approach follows a number of incidents in recent years in which the military has been accused of not doing enough to root out hate from the ranks .
Those incidents have ranged from sailors associated with the Proud Boys group disrupting a Mi'kmaq ceremony in Halifax in 2017 to the case of a Manitoba army reservist who was accused of being a recruiter for a neo-Nazi group .
Patrik Mathews is currently in custody in the U.S. with two other men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FBI have accused them of plotting to start a race war on behalf of The Base , a white-supremacist group .
Senior commanders also faced months of questions and criticism after a military intelligence report in 2018 identified 30 service members as belonging to hate groups or having otherwise made discriminatory or racist statements .
The Armed Forces eventually reported in November that 16 of those members had been warned , disciplined or ordered to take counselling but allowed to stay in uniform .
A number of other cases were described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes amid concerns about systemic racism within the military , RCMP and other government institutions .
Chief of defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance and Defence Department deputy minister Jody Thomas last month apologized for their slow response to questions about systemic racism .
Service members have been told that more detailed policies and orders on systemic racism are coming soon .
Gagne said the new orders are just the first step in a much longer effort to change attitudes within the Armed Forces and ensure the military is leading by example when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture , to change group dynamics , to change or modify perceptions and beliefs will take time , '' he said `` But we had to take action .
Somebody may think this is a one-off .
But those little one-offs could erode the institution . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19 , 2020 .

The Canadian Armed Forces has issued new orders to military personnel as senior commanders seek to address allegations of having been soft on hate in the ranks. The orders, which aim to take a harder line on "hateful conduct," follow a rash of high-profile incidents in which the military was caught flatfooted as service members were publicly linked to hateful actions or groups. "The year before, it was more like a reaction kind of approach," acknowledged Maj.-Gen. Marc Gagne, who oversees strategy, plans and policy within the chief of military personnel's office. "We were reacting to cases." The new direction also comes as the military is actively working to recruit more women, visible minorities and Indigenous people to ensure it reflects Canadian society and is better able to operate in diverse theatres. The new order aims to leave no doubt about what constitutes "hateful conduct" by banning anything — words, images or symbols — that encourages, justifies or promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups.
That includes discrimination based on nationality or ethnic background, race, colour, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or disability. "We were talking about different forms of misconduct: sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination," Gagne said. "But 'hateful conduct' was never clearly articulated. ... We broke new ground by developing this definition." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Troops are required to report any and all incidents while military commanders are expected to take action when incidents are brought to their attention. All have been warned that they will be held to account if they do not.
A database has also been created to track such incidents, based on the system created to monitor sexual misconduct in the ranks. New training for troops and screening for recruits is being developed. The Canadian Armed Forces has issued new orders to military personnel as senior commanders seek to address allegations of having been soft on hate in the ranks. "The idea is basically as soon as you join, it's crystal-clear and we're going to keep reinforcing through education and training as you move through the ranks and as you assume more responsibility," Gagne said. Bernie Farber, chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, described the new orders and definition as a positive and long overdue step. But he said only time will tell whether the military follows through in addressing hate in the ranks. "Right now, these are just words," he said. "They are good words ... But too often in the past, when they investigated, it has really only resulted — to the best of our knowledge — in a slap on the wrist. What we need to see from the Canadian Armed Forces is they take meaningful actions." The new approach follows a number of incidents in recent years in which the military has been accused of not doing enough to root out hate from the ranks.
Those incidents have ranged from sailors associated with the Proud Boys group disrupting a Mi'kmaq ceremony in Halifax in 2017 to the case of a Manitoba army reservist who was accused of being a recruiter for a neo-Nazi group. Patrik Mathews is currently in custody in the U.S. with two other men after disappearing from his home in Beausejour. The FBI have accused them of plotting to start a race war on behalf of The Base, a white-supremacist group. Senior commanders also faced months of questions and criticism after a military intelligence report in 2018 identified 30 service members as belonging to hate groups or having otherwise made discriminatory or racist statements.


nationalobserver--2020-07-19--COVID-19 cases spread to prairie Hutterite colonies,

COVID-19 has spread to Hutterite colonies in all three Prairie provinces , with five new cases of the virus reported Friday in one Manitoba community .
The provincial government said the new infections are of a man and a woman in their 60s , a man and a woman in their 30s and a woman in her 20s .
It did not name the colony but said it is in the Interlake-Eastern health region , which covers a large area north and east of Winnipeg .
None of the five people is in hospital .
The Hutterian Safety Council — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first responders and educators — is working with public health officials to ensure their response is culturally sensitive .
The council said in a news release that positive cases were identified in Manitoba colonies as of Sunday .
The group said neither it , nor the government , are publicly identifying the colonies affected `` because this easily leads to unnecessary stigmatization . ''
Hutterites are Anabaptist religious groups who live communally in rural colonies across the Canadian and U.S. Prairies .
The safety council acknowledged in a news release that the Hutterite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regard to viral spread . ''
`` It has always been the expectation that , as Manitoba began reopening , cases of COVID-19 would appear in Hutterite communities .
Many communities diligently protected their most vulnerable citizens , and this continues , '' it said in a release .
`` The Hutterite way of life may be vulnerable to viruses , but it is also highly adaptable and our members are eager to care for the sick and prevent further spread . ''
COVID-19 has spread to Hutterite colonies in all three Prairie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus reported on Friday , July 17 , 2020 , in one Manitoba community .
In a message to Manitoba community members this week , the council urged them to co-operate with health officials and `` resist the temptation to hide cases or possible contacts . ''
It said colonies with confirmed cases should only permit essential travel .
`` There is no benefit in blaming or shaming people who test positive .
We are called to care for and support each other . ''
The council said there is no indication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a funeral held recently for three teens from the Spring Valley Hutterite Colony in southern Alberta who drowned last month .
The council said in a July 8 bulletin that `` multiple communities '' in Saskatchewan and Alberta have been `` severely hit '' by COVID-19 and that many cases were linked `` to a large funeral a few weeks ago . ''
It said that there was initial resistance to provincial authorities , but co-operation was improving .
Saskatchewan reported 42 new cases across the province Thursday , its highest daily total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the vast majority were in Hutterite colonies in the province 's southwest and west-central regions , but there were also some unrelated cases reported in those areas .
He said health officials are only visiting the colonies when invited , then going door-to-door to spread public health messages .
Colonies have been working hard throughout the pandemic to stem the spread of the virus , Livingstone added .
`` Like everywhere else , there have been small breakdowns . ''
Alberta Health spokesman Tom McMillan said affected colonies in that province are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Provincial health officials are also not disclosing how many community members have been tested positive .
`` As with any other community , Alberta Health Services works closely with both cases and contacts , as well as community leaders , to implement public health measures and stop further spread . ''
McMillan said members of colonies with even one case are being placed under 14-day isolation requirements in order to balance maintaining confidentiality and ensuring no one outside the community is put at risk .
`` It is critical that we avoid stigmatizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society , '' he said .
`` Cases continue to be identified in every region in the province and we ’ re all in this together . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17 , 2020

COVID-19 has spread to Hutterite colonies in all three Prairie provinces, with five new cases of the virus reported Friday in one Manitoba community. The provincial government said the new infections are of a man and a woman in their 60s, a man and a woman in their 30s and a woman in her 20s. It did not name the colony but said it is in the Interlake-Eastern health region, which covers a large area north and east of Winnipeg. None of the five people is in hospital. The Hutterian Safety Council — a volunteer group of spiritual leaders, first responders and educators — is working with public health officials to ensure their response is culturally sensitive.
The council said in a news release that positive cases were identified in Manitoba colonies as of Sunday. The group said neither it, nor the government, are publicly identifying the colonies affected "because this easily leads to unnecessary stigmatization." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Hutterites are Anabaptist religious groups who live communally in rural colonies across the Canadian and U.S. Prairies.
The safety council acknowledged in a news release that the Hutterite communal lifestyle "has certain vulnerabilities in regard to viral spread." COVID-19 has spread to Hutterite colonies in all three Prairie provinces, with five new cases of the virus reported on Friday, July 17, 2020, in one Manitoba community. "It has always been the expectation that, as Manitoba began reopening, cases of COVID-19 would appear in Hutterite communities. Many communities diligently protected their most vulnerable citizens, and this continues," it said in a release. "The Hutterite way of life may be vulnerable to viruses, but it is also highly adaptable and our members are eager to care for the sick and prevent further spread." In a message to Manitoba community members this week, the council urged them to co-operate with health officials and "resist the temptation to hide cases or possible contacts." It said colonies with confirmed cases should only permit essential travel.
"There is no benefit in blaming or shaming people who test positive. We are called to care for and support each other." The council said there is no indication that the Manitoba cases were linked to a funeral held recently for three teens from the Spring Valley Hutterite Colony in southern Alberta who drowned last month. The council said in a July 8 bulletin that "multiple communities" in Saskatchewan and Alberta have been "severely hit" by COVID-19 and that many cases were linked "to a large funeral a few weeks ago."


nationalobserver--2020-07-20--Facing anonymous sexual-misconduct claims a form of hell, BQ leader says

He called facing such allegations a form of hell and demanded the page where the allegation was posted retract it .
In a Sunday news conference on Parliament Hill , Blanchet said the claim that he tried to force himself on a woman in the washroom of a Montreal bar in 1999 , when he was a manager in the music business , does a disservice to real victims of sexual assault .
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says he 's incapable of the kind of sexual misconduct alleged against him in an anonymous Facebook post .
`` There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French .
`` I have no idea where this comes from .
I have no idea what the intention was behind these allegations . ''
He said the general circumstances described in the allegation , that Blanchet was out at particular bars with Quebec artists , are plausible but the details are false .
Blanchet had already denied the allegations categorically in a written statement , in which he urged anyone with a real complaint to take it to the police .
He said Sunday he wanted to speak directly to his friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs .
Those MPs are standing behind their leader .
All 31 members of the BQ caucus have their names on a statement issued Sunday .
`` We are convinced that the anonymous allegations made against him are false and we support him without hesitation , '' the statement says in French .

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says he's incapable of the kind of sexual misconduct alleged against him in an anonymous Facebook post.
In a Sunday news conference on Parliament Hill, Blanchet said the claim that he tried to force himself on a woman in the washroom of a Montreal bar in 1999, when he was a manager in the music business, does a disservice to real victims of sexual assault.
He called facing such allegations a form of hell and demanded the page where the allegation was posted retract it.
"There is no victim," he said in French. "I have no idea where this comes from. I have no idea what the intention was behind these allegations."
He said the general circumstances described in the allegation, that Blanchet was out at particular bars with Quebec artists, are plausible but the details are false.


nationalobserver--2020-07-20--Quebec's mandatory masks indoor rule now in effect

Quebec 's mandatory face-covering measure for indoor public places has largely been followed since it came into effect Saturday , but there has been some opposition to the COVID-19-related order from those who do n't want to wear one .
On Saturday , Quebec became the first province in Canada to bring about such a rule , which applies to people aged 12 and older .
Some cities have similar rules in place on their territory .
`` Assessment of the first day of compulsory wearing of the mask in closed public places : the vast majority of Quebecers respected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Sunday .
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and public health authorities urging people to don a face-covering amid concerns about a second wave of the virus , several anti-mask protests took place across the province .
Those included a march Saturday in St-Georges , in the Beauce region south of Quebec City , and several dozen people gathered in front of Legault 's Montreal office on Sunday .
• ‘ We feel like we 're held hostage ’ say diesel-dependent First Nations Videos have circulated online of people being ejected from stores after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one widely shared incident in Montreal where police officers physically tackled and removed a man from a Tim Hortons restaurant in the city 's east-end about on Saturday afternoon .
The man was charged with obstructing police work and released on a promise to appear .
Insp .
Andre Durocher declined to go into specifics , but said it appeared to be an isolated incident invovling someone who wanted to make a statement .
`` The case we saw yesterday was one , but there were many situations that did n't go that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One thing to keep in mind when our officers are asked to intervene regarding these cases , the initial intervention is always one of awareness to try to get people to follow common sense . ''
For now , businesses are expected to enforce the new rules and are subject to fines of between $ 400 and $ 6,000 if their customers are caught violating the directive .
Quebec 's mandatory face-covering measure for indoor public places has largely been followed since it came into effect on Sat.
, July 18 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the COVID-19-related order from those who do n't want to wear one .
Business groups have called on the government to shift those fines to consumers unwilling to abide by the rules .
Some of them protested in downtown Montreal on Sunday .
Antonio Pietroniro , 65 , said there was n't a chance he 'd wear a face covering and did n't think they were necessary .
`` Absolutely not .
I ’ d rather stay home , '' he said .
`` If it served a purpose , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really protecting against something . ''
`` I find it really excessive to tell a human being to deprive himself of his oxygen as much as possible when he must be free , '' Barriere said .
Meanwhile , Quebec continued to see a rise in the number of infections , reporting 166 confirmed cases Sunday , bringing the total number of cases to 57,466 .
The province also added one death for a total of 5,655 since the beginning of the pandemic .
The number of hospitalizations and intensive care cases both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several days of declines in both categories .

Quebec's mandatory face-covering measure for indoor public places has largely been followed since it came into effect Saturday, but there has been some opposition to the COVID-19-related order from those who don't want to wear one. On Saturday, Quebec became the first province in Canada to bring about such a rule, which applies to people aged 12 and older. Some cities have similar rules in place on their territory. "Assessment of the first day of compulsory wearing of the mask in closed public places: the vast majority of Quebecers respected the instructions," Premier Francois Legault tweeted Sunday. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and public health authorities urging people to don a face-covering amid concerns about a second wave of the virus, several anti-mask protests took place across the province. Those included a march Saturday in St-Georges, in the Beauce region south of Quebec City, and several dozen people gathered in front of Legault's Montreal office on Sunday.
Videos have circulated online of people being ejected from stores after refusing to wear a mask, including one widely shared incident in Montreal where police officers physically tackled and removed a man from a Tim Hortons restaurant in the city's east-end about on Saturday afternoon. The man was charged with obstructing police work and released on a promise to appear. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Insp. Andre Durocher declined to go into specifics, but said it appeared to be an isolated incident invovling someone who wanted to make a statement.
"The case we saw yesterday was one, but there were many situations that didn't go that far," Durocher said. Quebec's mandatory face-covering measure for indoor public places has largely been followed since it came into effect on Sat., July 18, 2020, but there has been some opposition to the COVID-19-related order from those who don't want to wear one. "One thing to keep in mind when our officers are asked to intervene regarding these cases, the initial intervention is always one of awareness to try to get people to follow common sense." For now, businesses are expected to enforce the new rules and are subject to fines of between $400 and $6,000 if their customers are caught violating the directive. Business groups have called on the government to shift those fines to consumers unwilling to abide by the rules. Some of them protested in downtown Montreal on Sunday.
Antonio Pietroniro, 65, said there wasn't a chance he'd wear a face covering and didn't think they were necessary. "Absolutely not. I’d rather stay home," he said. "If it served a purpose, I’d be wearing one if it was really protecting against something." Alexandre Barriere, 29, called the measure "excessive."


nationalobserver--2020-07-20--‘We feel like we're held hostage’ say diesel-dependent First Nations

The remote Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation lives “ in total paradise '' on the northeast Vancouver Island , Moon said , nestled by the glacial Gwa'yi River on the west shore of Kingcome Inlet — but the catch is they ’ ve been forced to boat or fly in `` dirty '' diesel fuel just to power their fridges , lights , heating and essential services .
Hereditary Chief Willie Moon ’ s remote coastal First Nation knows well what it means to be powerless .
The powerlessness Moon talks about is the electricity his First Nation needs — which most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades of Indian Act policies and bolstered by federal diesel subsidies .
“ Our diesel generator engines run 24/7 , so you can imagine the amount of pollution that goes into the air of our valley here , and the price can skyrocket at any time .
But it 's the only source of power that we have in our community.
” “ For us , we feel like we 're held hostage , ” Moon , the band 's elected chair , explained .
“ We had to put a generator in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundred metres from our band office — so it was pretty loud !
Without access to B.C.
’ s electric grid , the First Nation even tried to build a water turbine in the 1980s ; then a landslide took it out .
Reluctantly , the community was forced back onto diesel again .
“ We deal with power outages at least six times throughout the winter months , ” he said .
“ One of the more entertaining ones I think we 've experienced as a community was , a couple years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hallowe'en — it was an interesting night for sure.
” Regular outages , he quipped , have almost become a way of life remembered by generations of kids .
Most frightening were those during winter months , particularly for elders ’ safety , while others are remembered by community members with more bemusement .
On Swindle Island 50 km north of Bella Bella , Coun .
Isaiah Robinson — housing and public works manager for Kitasoo/Xai ’ xais First Nation — recounted years and years of power outages in all seasons .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battling decades of dependency on diesel .
In B.C.
, the federal government estimates 22 remote First Nations burn diesel as their main power source — nearly 80 per cent of remote Indigenous communities , a higher rate than for diesel-dependent non-Indigenous towns .
“ The only way you can get here is by boat or plane , ” he said .
“ You ca n't just drive into our community and say , ' I 'm here to fix your power supply . '
It does n't work that way.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s community is far from powerless .
They ’ re about to embark on a multi-million dollar hydroelectric project to forever get themselves off their noisy , polluting diesel generators , now located outside their village next to the derelict former turbine .
“ We struggle with power outages throughout the winter months — which is the absolute worst time to go without power , when we have the north wind blowing ( in addition to ) the elements.
” “ We are often maxing out the power load right now as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Councilor .
Roxanne Robinson .
“ And once winter rolls around and the temperatures drop , members turn to heaters , and we really feel the pressure .
Another year , the small old hydroelectric turbine ran out of water — in the middle of a rainforest .
So , on came the diesel generators again .
Asked why , in the 21st century , so many First Nations still must burn diesel for their basic everyday needs , B.C.
’ s Minister of Energy , Mines and Petroleum Resources said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high up-front costs of alternative power sources .
“ If you don ’ t have that money , it ’ s cheaper to bring in a diesel generator and haul in diesel every once in a while to keep it running , ” Bruce Ralston told Canada ’ s National Observer .
“ It ’ s really been a question of necessity if you want to have power for your community.
” That ’ s why his government announced a series of initiatives in First Nations community energy projects , like the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his government ’ s ambitions to “ decarbonize ” and electrify as much of the economy as it can , he explained .
“ The goal is to get rid of the diesel , and also to create some self-reliance for the communities , ” Ralston said .
“ Most of the communities are under Indigenous governance … ( Diesel ) is really the only alternative , because the capital funding to build a remote run-of-river hydroelectric project , let 's say , is a couple million .
The province 's remote community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that needed start-up funding .
On June 18 , the province announced $ 8 million towards major hydroelectric projects in Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation and Kitasoo/Xai ’ xais First Nation — the former constructing a 350 kW run-of-river station , and the latter an even larger 1.7 mW upgrade to its existing lake generating facility .
In total the projects will cost $ 25 million combined .
The money comes from the province ’ s Renewable Energy for Remote Communities program , and is a partnership with the province and Coast Funds , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Since we were placed onto small reserves , we always struggle , ” Kitasoo councillor Isaiah Robinson said .
“ We 'd kind of come to a halt in being able to build and expand within our community .
By having this modernization of their hydroelectric station , she said , “ We 'll be able to see some homes being built within the next few years.
” Brodie Guy , executive director of Coast Funds said the impacts of the two new hydro projects will be game-changing for the communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others in Indigenous communities ; Guy himself was once the Province of British Columbia ’ s liaison with the World Bank and other international development financiers .
“ Today , the impact of colonization includes the dependency on oil that was designed into how the reserve system has operated , ” Guy argued .
“ So energy sovereignty for these communities looks like finding a path away from that — and moving away from oil dependency that ’ s baked into the system in their villages.
” Other major projects underway in First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive solar facility in Haida Nation — the largest in B.C .
— a large industrial-scale wind farm by several nations in Cape Scott at the northern tip of Vancouver Island , and investments in still-nascent tidal and wave technology .
Today , the notion of “ energy sovereignty ” is increasingly being used to describe Indigenous pathways off the outside power grid .
“ It 's something that a lot of First Nations I 've worked with want to see , ” said Judith Sayers , president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : she ’ s on the board of Clean Energy BC , and was previously president of Upnit Power , which ran her Hupacasath First Nation ’ s own commercial-scale hydroelectric utility .
Sayers says having to ship and burn diesel is not the only problematic electrical issue for First Nations she works with ; many communities also struggle with intermittent , unreliable electricity from outside , difficulties flying in electricians or power grid engineers when repairs are needed , downed BC Hydro lines if they are connected to the grid , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention the risk of catastrophic fuel spills for boat-access-only communities — many of them on a notoriously stormy coastline — such as Heiltsuk Nation which suffered a 110,000-litre diesel spill after a U.S. boat hauling fuel for Alaskan seaside towns sunk in 2016 .
“ All you need is one spill , and how devastating that would be to a community , ” Sayers said .
“ We really , really want to see everybody getting off of diesel .
“ Trying to create your own power in your own community is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being able to control the power … If you had your own micro-grid and were producing your own power , you could easily fix your own lines and be back online in just a few hours.
” But the provincial government ’ s “ welcome ” funding measures for diesel-dependent remote reserves isn ’ t entirely a good story for Sayers and other energy sovereignty advocates .
“ It ’ s been positive they 're investing in helping remote First Nations build within their own communities , ” she said , “ but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the picture — we also really need economic development in many of our communities too , and electricity is one of the few things we can do in our territories to use our resources in ways that fit in with our values.
” But that vision has been set back , because at the same time the province is getting some reserves off diesel , Sayers said it ’ s also trying to take away the potential ability of First Nations to sell any excess power back into the electric grid — let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for economic development .
Not only did the B.C .
New Democrats scrap their BC Liberal predecessors ’ controversial independent power buy-back program , but a bill before the Legislature would end BC Hydro ’ s “ self-sufficiency ” rules in order to let it buy cheaper power from out-of-province .
“ I don ’ t understand this NDP government , ” she said .
“ We have a government that says it 's trying to build relationships and live up to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 've taken away whatever options we had to produce electricity for economic development purposes.
” Minister Ralston disputes that assessment , arguing that independent power agreements are “ a distinct issue ” from getting remote communities off diesel , and that his administration is simply trying to stave off BC Hydro ’ s billions in financial losses because it had been contractually obligated to buy back independent energy at rates “ far above market prices.
” Chief Willie Moon admits the small hydroelectric project his nation is building is nowhere near big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a massive first step for community members .
“ Especially right now with this pandemic , we 're gathering more and more of our traditional foods here in our valley and storing them , ” he said , “ because we do n't know how long this is going to go on for .
“ We have adapted to so much change … We ’ ve become dependent on that system ever since we brought in some of the luxury from the outside world , like fridges , to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agrees that new “ energy sovereignty ” is essential to ending decades of dependency .
And to that end , creating a self-sufficient electricity supply was a no-brainer — but how to do that had to be cautiously considered .
“ The decisions we 're making today are going to be felt 20 and 40 years down the road , ” she said .
“ So we have to be very careful when we 're moving forward in trying to progress our nation while making sure we 're lessening our footprint on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , we 're borrowing this land from our youth .
’ ’

“For us, we feel like we're held hostage,” Moon, the band's elected chair, explained. “We had to put a generator in the village here, just a couple hundred metres from our band office — so it was pretty loud!"
Without access to B.C.’s electric grid, the First Nation even tried to build a water turbine in the 1980s; then a landslide took it out. Reluctantly, the community was forced back onto diesel again.
The remote Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation lives “in total paradise" across from northeast Vancouver Island, Moon said, nestled by the glacial Gwa'yi River on the west shore of Kingcome Inlet — but the catch is they’ve been forced to boat or fly in "dirty" diesel fuel just to power their fridges, lights, heating and essential services.
Hereditary Chief Willie Moon’s remote coastal First Nation knows well what it means to be powerless.
The powerlessness Moon talks about is the electricity his First Nation needs — which most Canadians take for granted — imposed by decades of Indian Act policies and bolstered by federal diesel subsidies.
“Our diesel generator engines run 24/7, so you can imagine the amount of pollution that goes into the air of our valley here, and the price can skyrocket at any time. But it's the only source of power that we have in our community.”
His community is far from the only one battling decades of dependency on diesel. In B.C., the federal government estimates 22 remote First Nations burn diesel as their main power source — nearly 80 per cent of remote Indigenous communities, a higher rate than for diesel-dependent non-Indigenous towns.
“The only way you can get here is by boat or plane,” he said. “You can't just drive into our community and say, 'I'm here to fix your power supply.' It doesn't work that way.”
But in every other respect, Moon’s community is far from powerless. They’re about to embark on a multi-million dollar hydroelectric project to forever get themselves off their noisy, polluting diesel generators, now located outside their village next to the derelict former turbine.
Regular outages, he quipped, have almost become a way of life remembered by generations of kids.
Most frightening were those during winter months, particularly for elders’ safety, while others are remembered by community members with more bemusement.
On Swindle Island 50 km north of Bella Bella, Coun. Isaiah Robinson — housing and public works manager for Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation — recounted years and years of power outages in all seasons.
“We deal with power outages at least six times throughout the winter months,” he said. “One of the more entertaining ones I think we've experienced as a community was, a couple years ago, the power went out on Hallowe'en — it was an interesting night for sure.”
Another year, the small old hydroelectric turbine ran out of water — in the middle of a rainforest. So, on came the diesel generators again.
“We are often maxing out the power load right now as it is,” explained Kitasoo’s Chief Councilor. Roxanne Robinson. “And once winter rolls around and the temperatures drop, members turn to heaters, and we really feel the pressure.
“We struggle with power outages throughout the winter months — which is the absolute worst time to go without power, when we have the north wind blowing (in addition to) the elements.”
Asked why, in the 21st century, so many First Nations still must burn diesel for their basic everyday needs, B.C.’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources said it’s unfortunate but understandable given the high up-front costs of alternative power sources.
“If you don’t have that money, it’s cheaper to bring in a diesel generator and haul in diesel every once in a while to keep it running,” Bruce Ralston told Canada’s National Observer. “It’s really been a question of necessity if you want to have power for your community.”
That’s why his government announced a series of initiatives in First Nations community energy projects, like the two Vancouver Island reserves, as part of his government’s ambitions to “decarbonize” and electrify as much of the economy as it can, he explained.
“The goal is to get rid of the diesel, and also to create some self-reliance for the communities,” Ralston said. “Most of the communities are under Indigenous governance … (Diesel) is really the only alternative, because the capital funding to build a remote run-of-river hydroelectric project, let's say, is a couple million.
The province's remote community power fund, he said, provides that needed start-up funding.
On June 18, the province announced $8 million towards major hydroelectric projects in Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation and Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation — the former constructing a 350 kW run-of-river station, and the latter an even larger 1.7 mW upgrade to its existing lake generating facility. In total the projects will cost $25 million combined.
The money comes from the province’s Renewable Energy for Remote Communities program, and is a partnership with the province and Coast Funds, an Indigenous-led conservation and economic development financing body.
“Since we were placed onto small reserves, we always struggle,” Kitasoo councillor Isaiah Robinson said. “We'd kind of come to a halt in being able to build and expand within our community.
By having this modernization of their hydroelectric station, she said, “We'll be able to see some homes being built within the next few years.”
A member of Kitasoo First Nation inspects the existing small-water turbine, helping to power the remote B.C. coastal Indigenous community. Photo supplied/Kitasoo First Nation
Brodie Guy, executive director of Coast Funds said the impacts of the two new hydro projects will be game-changing for the communities.
The organization also co-finances dozens of others in Indigenous communities; Guy himself was once the Province of British Columbia’s liaison with the World Bank and other international development financiers.
“Today, the impact of colonization includes the dependency on oil that was designed into how the reserve system has operated,” Guy argued. “So energy sovereignty for these communities looks like finding a path away from that — and moving away from oil dependency that’s baked into the system in their villages.”
Other major projects underway in First Nations up and down the coast include a massive solar facility in Haida Nation — the largest in B.C. — a large industrial-scale wind farm by several nations in Cape Scott at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, and investments in still-nascent tidal and wave technology.
Today, the notion of “energy sovereignty” is increasingly being used to describe Indigenous pathways off the outside power grid.
“It's something that a lot of First Nations I've worked with want to see,” said Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. The lawyer knows electricity well: she’s on the board of Clean Energy BC, and was previously president of Upnit Power, which ran her Hupacasath First Nation’s own commercial-scale hydroelectric utility.
Sayers says having to ship and burn diesel is not the only problematic electrical issue for First Nations she works with; many communities also struggle with intermittent, unreliable electricity from outside, difficulties flying in electricians or power grid engineers when repairs are needed, downed BC Hydro lines if they are connected to the grid, and exorbitant government energy bills.
Not to mention the risk of catastrophic fuel spills for boat-access-only communities — many of them on a notoriously stormy coastline — such as Heiltsuk Nation which suffered a 110,000-litre diesel spill after a U.S. boat hauling fuel for Alaskan seaside towns sunk in 2016.
“All you need is one spill, and how devastating that would be to a community,” Sayers said. “We really, really want to see everybody getting off of diesel.
“Trying to create your own power in your own community is important for our sovereignty as well as just being able to control the power … If you had your own micro-grid and were producing your own power, you could easily fix your own lines and be back online in just a few hours.”
But the provincial government’s “welcome” funding measures for diesel-dependent remote reserves isn’t entirely a good story for Sayers and other energy sovereignty advocates.
“It’s been positive they're investing in helping remote First Nations build within their own communities,” she said, “but that's only a small part of the picture — we also really need economic development in many of our communities too, and electricity is one of the few things we can do in our territories to use our resources in ways that fit in with our values.”
But that vision has been set back, because at the same time the province is getting some reserves off diesel, Sayers said it’s also trying to take away the potential ability of First Nations to sell any excess power back into the electric grid — let alone creating it at a scale big enough for economic development.
Not only did the B.C. New Democrats scrap their BC Liberal predecessors’ controversial independent power buy-back program, but a bill before the Legislature would end BC Hydro’s “self-sufficiency” rules in order to let it buy cheaper power from out-of-province.
“I don’t understand this NDP government,” she said. “We have a government that says it's trying to build relationships and live up to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but their actions say otherwise.
“They've taken away whatever options we had to produce electricity for economic development purposes.”
Minister Ralston disputes that assessment, arguing that independent power agreements are “a distinct issue” from getting remote communities off diesel, and that his administration is simply trying to stave off BC Hydro’s billions in financial losses because it had been contractually obligated to buy back independent energy at rates “far above market prices.”
Chief Willie Moon admits the small hydroelectric project his nation is building is nowhere near big enough to sell excess energy. But it’s a massive first step for community members.
“Especially right now with this pandemic, we're gathering more and more of our traditional foods here in our valley and storing them,” he said, “because we don't know how long this is going to go on for.
“We have adapted to so much change … We’ve become dependent on that system ever since we brought in some of the luxury from the outside world, like fridges, to keep our food.”
Pipes for water to power Kitasoo First Nation's hydroelectric system descend from the mountains of their territory. Photo supplied/Kitasoo First Nation
Chief Councillor Michelle Robinson agrees that new “energy sovereignty” is essential to ending decades of dependency. And to that end, creating a self-sufficient electricity supply was a no-brainer — but how to do that had to be cautiously considered.
“The decisions we're making today are going to be felt 20 and 40 years down the road,” she said. “So we have to be very careful when we're moving forward in trying to progress our nation while making sure we're lessening our footprint on the environment.
“The way we see it, we're borrowing this land from our youth.’’


nationalobserver--2020-07-19--COVID-19 cases spread to prairie Hutterite colonies

COVID-19 has spread to Hutterite colonies in all three Prairie provinces , with five new cases of the virus reported Friday in one Manitoba community .
The provincial government said the new infections are of a man and a woman in their 60s , a man and a woman in their 30s and a woman in her 20s .
It did not name the colony but said it is in the Interlake-Eastern health region , which covers a large area north and east of Winnipeg .
None of the five people is in hospital .
The Hutterian Safety Council — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first responders and educators — is working with public health officials to ensure their response is culturally sensitive .
• ‘ We feel like we 're held hostage ’ say diesel-dependent First Nations The council said in a news release that positive cases were identified in Manitoba colonies as of Sunday .
The group said neither it , nor the government , are publicly identifying the colonies affected `` because this easily leads to unnecessary stigmatization . ''
Hutterites are Anabaptist religious groups who live communally in rural colonies across the Canadian and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a news release that the Hutterite communal lifestyle `` has certain vulnerabilities in regard to viral spread . ''
`` It has always been the expectation that , as Manitoba began reopening , cases of COVID-19 would appear in Hutterite communities .
Many communities diligently protected their most vulnerable citizens , and this continues , '' it said in a release .
`` The Hutterite way of life may be vulnerable to viruses , but it is also highly adaptable and our members are eager to care for the sick and prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Hutterite colonies in all three Prairie provinces , with five new cases of the virus reported on Friday , July 17 , 2020 , in one Manitoba community .
In a message to Manitoba community members this week , the council urged them to co-operate with health officials and `` resist the temptation to hide cases or possible contacts . ''
It said colonies with confirmed cases should only permit essential travel .
`` There is no benefit in blaming or shaming people who test positive .
We are called to care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The council said there is no indication that the Manitoba cases were linked to a funeral held recently for three teens from the Spring Valley Hutterite Colony in southern Alberta who drowned last month .
The council said in a July 8 bulletin that `` multiple communities '' in Saskatchewan and Alberta have been `` severely hit '' by COVID-19 and that many cases were linked `` to a large funeral a few weeks ago . ''
It said that there was initial resistance to provincial authorities , but co-operation was improving .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ province Thursday , its highest daily total .
Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone said the vast majority were in Hutterite colonies in the province 's southwest and west-central regions , but there were also some unrelated cases reported in those areas .
He said health officials are only visiting the colonies when invited , then going door-to-door to spread public health messages .
Colonies have been working hard throughout the pandemic to stem the spread of the virus , Livingstone added .
`` Like everywhere else , there have been small breakdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said affected colonies in that province are not being identified to protect confidentiality .
Provincial health officials are also not disclosing how many community members have been tested positive .
`` As with any other community , Alberta Health Services works closely with both cases and contacts , as well as community leaders , to implement public health measures and stop further spread . ''
McMillan said members of colonies with even one case are being placed under 14-day isolation requirements in order to balance maintaining confidentiality and ensuring no one outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is critical that we avoid stigmatizing any one group or part of our society , '' he said .
`` Cases continue to be identified in every region in the province and we ’ re all in this together . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17 , 2020


nationalobserver--2020-07-20--Lockdown fatigue, 'invincibility' causing more COVID-19 infections

More young people are being infected with COVID-19 , creating the potential for a severe outbreak , scientists warn .
They say the change in demographics could be attributed to lockdown fatigue , increased testing or feelings of invincibility .
Brett Snider , a water resources PhD student at the University of Guelph , first noticed a higher number of infections in the under 20 and 20-29 age groups in the Toronto and Peel regions in May .
Snider 's supervisor , Ed McBean , said he was puzzled by rising infections in the under 20 age group because daycares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we thought 'whoa ' .
The little ones do n't tend to get violently ill , but they will bring it home .
And if you have multiple generations or even visitors , you get that uptick as a result , '' said McBean , an engineering professor at the University of Guelph .
• ‘ We feel like we 're held hostage ’ say diesel-dependent First Nations While the numbers have stabilized in Peel and Toronto , McBean said there 's been an increase in infections in younger people in other parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical because once you start to get an uptick , it can explode very quickly , '' he said .
McBean said he 's especially worried about the increase in infections in the under-20 age group .
Children who may be sick do n't usually show symptoms and when they share a space or toys , they might spread the infection to others and then carry it home , he said .
`` If we start to see an increase in the younger age category there 's no doubt that it 'll eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it can have severe impacts on older populations . ''
McBean said his message for public health officials is to keep daycares and schools closed .
More young people are being infected with COVID-19 , creating the potential for a severe outbreak , scientists warn .
Data from British Columbia , Ontario , Alberta , Saskatchewan , Quebec , Manitoba , Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island show an increase in COVID-19 infections in the 20-29 age groups .
The figures also show more women are testing positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Agency of Canada show that during the second week of July , the largest proportion of new cases reported — 22 per cent of female cases and 28 per cent of male cases — was among the 20-29 age group .
Since the start of the pandemic , 14 per cent of female cases and 15 per cent of male cases have been up in that age group .
The younger age groups are now making up a higher percentage of positive tests , while older age groups are falling overall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of B.C .
's school of population and public health said the increase could be because it 's summer and fewer employment opportunities during the pandemic mean more time for young people to spend with friends .
Stephen Hoption Cann said when they get together in larger groups , young people can potentially spread the virus because they may not show symptoms or have a mild infection .
`` They have to be cautious in social gatherings , pubs and bars , '' he said .
`` You never really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person who might be infected so you have to be more cautious . ''
Dr. Barbara Yaffe , Toronto 's associate medical officer of health , said health officials have noticed the same trend , noting healthy people either do n't show symptoms , have very mild symptoms or they do n't know they have COVID-19 .
`` I think that contributes to potentially , some complacency , '' she said at a recent news briefing .
While young people may not see the infection as a `` big deal , '' they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they 're close with who has an underlying medical condition , Yaffe said .
B.C .
public health officials said early on many long-term care and assisted living facilities were hard hit and now most of the province 's new cases are in the broader community .
`` We are concerned about the increase in new cases in recent days as COVID-19 continues to silently circulate in our communities , '' B.C .
's health minister and provincial health officer said recently in a statement .
Another factor for consideration is a larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , a research associate at Simon Fraser University 's faculty of health sciences , said Canada had a higher proportion of women infected than other countries near the start of the pandemic .
Age and employment may be factors , she said .
Most residents of long-term care homes tend to be women , she noted .
Such homes were the first to be hit with COVID-19 in Canada , killing thousands of seniors .
Women also tend to make up a larger share of health-care workers who would have more interactions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of infection , Smith said .
McBean said the messaging to maintain safe social distancing and frequent handwashing , wear a mask and get together in small groups outdoors remains the best way to avoid infection .
Keeping the Canada-U.S. border closed for as long as possible would also help prevent external infections from coming into the community , he said .
McBean said provinces need to continue to follow strict protocols to keep the virus contained , and keep the R value below one .
The R value or reproduction rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will catch the disease from one infected person .
If R value is less than one , then the epidemic is being brought under control .
If R is greater than one , then the epidemic is growing .
`` We 're on a very fine line as it is right now in Ontario .
So , we just have to be very careful in that number does n't start to creep up again and be above one , '' McBean said .
McBean said provinces need to continue to follow strict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Basically , we 're doing pretty well , '' he said .
`` I mean this is a terribly infective virus and so easily transmitted .
It 's much worse than the others .
This one 's pretty bad . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first publish July 19 , 2020 .

More young people are being infected with COVID-19, creating the potential for a severe outbreak, scientists warn. They say the change in demographics could be attributed to lockdown fatigue, increased testing or feelings of invincibility. Brett Snider, a water resources PhD student at the University of Guelph, first noticed a higher number of infections in the under 20 and 20-29 age groups in the Toronto and Peel regions in May. Snider's supervisor, Ed McBean, said he was puzzled by rising infections in the under 20 age group because daycares and schools were closed. "And we thought 'whoa'. The little ones don't tend to get violently ill, but they will bring it home. And if you have multiple generations or even visitors, you get that uptick as a result," said McBean, an engineering professor at the University of Guelph.
While the numbers have stabilized in Peel and Toronto, McBean said there's been an increase in infections in younger people in other parts of the country. "That's critical because once you start to get an uptick, it can explode very quickly," he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions McBean said he's especially worried about the increase in infections in the under-20 age group.
Children who may be sick don't usually show symptoms and when they share a space or toys, they might spread the infection to others and then carry it home, he said. More young people are being infected with COVID-19, creating the potential for a severe outbreak, scientists warn. "If we start to see an increase in the younger age category there's no doubt that it'll eventually spread from the parent to the grandparent, and it can have severe impacts on older populations." McBean said his message for public health officials is to keep daycares and schools closed. Data from British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island show an increase in COVID-19 infections in the 20-29 age groups. The figures also show more women are testing positive for COVID-19. Numbers from the Public Health Agency of Canada show that during the second week of July, the largest proportion of new cases reported — 22 per cent of female cases and 28 per cent of male cases — was among the 20-29 age group.
Since the start of the pandemic, 14 per cent of female cases and 15 per cent of male cases have been up in that age group. The younger age groups are now making up a higher percentage of positive tests, while older age groups are falling overall, the data show. A clinical professor at the University of B.C.'s school of population and public health said the increase could be because it's summer and fewer employment opportunities during the pandemic mean more time for young people to spend with friends.


nationalobserver--2020-07-20--Liberals promise not to abandon child-care

The federal minister in charge of the government 's child-care agenda says the Liberals wo n't abandon the sector once urgent , pandemic-related funding runs out before the end of the economic fallout from COVID-19 .
The Liberals promised the provinces and territories $ 625 million over the next six to eight months , which at the most would go to the end of the federal fiscal year .
That money is on top of some $ 400 million for provinces and territories this fiscal year as part of a 10-year child-care agreement that began paying out two years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some at a reduced capacity under public health guidelines — the provision of child care is being tied to getting many parents back on the job , especially mothers , whose job losses have been worse and gains slower than fathers .
In an interview , Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said the Liberals had a high ambition for the sector , and reiterated the government would follow through on a campaign pledge to create 250,000 before- and after-school spaces .
• ‘ We feel like we 're held hostage ’ say diesel-dependent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look to do something more in the next fiscal year .
`` This is a very important sector .
It 's a priority for our government , '' Hussen said .
`` There is simply no viable recovery without a strong child-care sector .
That tells you that this is a sector that we will stand by and support all the way , beyond the ( next ) eight months . ''
Hussen was in the Toronto area Monday to tout a planned increase to the value of the Canada Child Benefit that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yearly benefit will now be $ 6,765 for each child five and under , and $ 5,708 for each child age six to 17 .
The Liberals had originally planned to increase the value of the benefit to inflation beginning this week , but moved up plans two years ago under a sunny economy that was seeing regular job growth .
Now , things are much different .
The federal minister in charge of the government 's child-care agenda says the Liberals wo n't abandon the sector once urgent , pandemic-related funding runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallout from COVID-19 .
The country is still trying to regain roughly half of the nearly three million jobs lost over March and April .
A recovery to pre-pandemic levels could take two years or more based on the central bank 's outlook that could change if , for instance , there 's a harsh second wave or the quick emergence of a vaccine .
Along with steeper job losses than men , a report from RBC last week noted `` an alarming trend '' of women falling out of the labour force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opted not to go looking for new work — at a higher rate than men .
The report said child-care policies will be `` crucial to keeping women engaged in the workforce '' in the near-term .
Hussen said the funding in the `` safe restart '' agreement matches what provinces , territories and child-care experts pitched to help the sector manage the immediate costs of COVID-19 .
He added the pandemic money will be aimed at helping daycares pay for protective gear , cleaning supplies and extra space needed to reopen safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked out .
What the government has been hearing is a need to work out spending beyond the end of the federal fiscal year so a recovery does n't falter by parents being unable to work due to a lack of child care .
In a report to be released Tuesday , the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives puts some figures on the request .
The report calls for a doubling in federal funding to $ 2.5 billion for the restart , which would also include money for Indigenous communities .
Beyond that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the next fiscal year , increasing by $ 2 billion annually , which would be a faster pace than what the Liberals have planned for their 10-year , $ 7 billion child-care deal .
`` We need a clear plan to address the lack of child care and the difficulties faced by schools , '' NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in the House of Commons .
`` The federal government has to step up with funding to support both of those things . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first @ @ @ @ @ @

The federal minister in charge of the government's child-care agenda says the Liberals won't abandon the sector once urgent, pandemic-related funding runs out before the end of the economic fallout from COVID-19. The Liberals promised the provinces and territories $625 million over the next six to eight months, which at the most would go to the end of the federal fiscal year. That money is on top of some $400 million for provinces and territories this fiscal year as part of a 10-year child-care agreement that began paying out two years ago. As daycares continue to reopen — some at a reduced capacity under public health guidelines — the provision of child care is being tied to getting many parents back on the job, especially mothers, whose job losses have been worse and gains slower than fathers. In an interview, Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said the Liberals had a high ambition for the sector, and reiterated the government would follow through on a campaign pledge to create 250,000 before- and after-school spaces.
He suggested the Liberals might look to do something more in the next fiscal year. "This is a very important sector. It's a priority for our government," Hussen said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "There is simply no viable recovery without a strong child-care sector. That tells you that this is a sector that we will stand by and support all the way, beyond the (next) eight months."
Hussen was in the Toronto area Monday to tout a planned increase to the value of the Canada Child Benefit that kicks in this month. The maximum yearly benefit will now be $6,765 for each child five and under, and $5,708 for each child age six to 17. The federal minister in charge of the government's child-care agenda says the Liberals won't abandon the sector once urgent, pandemic-related funding runs out before the end of the economic fallout from COVID-19. The Liberals had originally planned to increase the value of the benefit to inflation beginning this week, but moved up plans two years ago under a sunny economy that was seeing regular job growth. Now, things are much different. The country is still trying to regain roughly half of the nearly three million jobs lost over March and April. A recovery to pre-pandemic levels could take two years or more based on the central bank's outlook that could change if, for instance, there's a harsh second wave or the quick emergence of a vaccine. Along with steeper job losses than men, a report from RBC last week noted "an alarming trend" of women falling out of the labour force — meaning they lost their jobs and opted not to go looking for new work — at a higher rate than men. The report said child-care policies will be "crucial to keeping women engaged in the workforce" in the near-term.
Hussen said the funding in the "safe restart" agreement matches what provinces, territories and child-care experts pitched to help the sector manage the immediate costs of COVID-19. He added the pandemic money will be aimed at helping daycares pay for protective gear, cleaning supplies and extra space needed to reopen safely, although exact details are still being worked out. What the government has been hearing is a need to work out spending beyond the end of the federal fiscal year so a recovery doesn't falter by parents being unable to work due to a lack of child care.