nationalobserver--2020-05-25--Call for 'coercive control' law to help prevent abuse and events like N.S. mass shooting

The repeated threats and isolation a Nova Scotia mass shooter allegedly used against his spouse show why such cruelty should be a criminal offence in Canada , experts on domestic violence say .
Acquaintances and former neighbours have described the 51-year-old killer as a clever and manipulative millionaire who would threaten harm to his spouse 's family , control her money or cut off her means of escape by removing the tires from her car or blocking the driveway .
Carmen Gill , a professor at the University of New Brunswick , says if there 's a public inquiry into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate how a law similar to the United Kingdom 's 2015 `` coercive control '' offence may help prevent other abusers from escaping detection .
`` Coercive control is a horrible form of violence because it 's a way of controlling people and depriving them of their basic rights , '' the sociologist said in a telephone interview .
Wortman 's killings were preceded by a domestic assault against his spouse on the night of April 18 at one of his properties in Portapique , N.S .
After the woman escaped , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot and killed him at a service station on April 19 .
The woman has spoken to the police about her partner 's use of a replica police vehicle and his guns , but requests by The Canadian Press to speak to her directly have been declined by a family member .
However , neighbours and multiple police witnesses have said there were many forms of intimate partner abuse before the night of the rampage .
In court documents released last week , acquaintances told police they 'd witnessed `` abusive , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaviour by Wortman in the past , though details are blacked out .
In an April 20 interview with The Canadian Press , Portapique neighbour John Hudson , who knew Wortman for 18 years , described one of the gunman 's methods of isolating her .
He witnessed Wortman locking his partner out of their home to prevent her from gathering her belongings after an argument and then removing the tires from her vehicle and throwing them in a ditch .
Gill said this is the kind of isolation and intimidation that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Serious Crime Act passed in the United Kingdom .
How N.S .
mass shooting could bring law that makes abusers ' tactics a crime `` Someone who is controlling their spouses will take all kinds of tactics to minimize their ability to reach out , '' she said .
`` This was a disturbing situation which clearly shows he was isolating his partner . ''
Another former neighbour , Brenda Forbes , has told The Canadian Press that in the early 2000s , the spouse came to her front door saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was afraid to report the abuse to authorities because he said he would hurt her family .
`` She was afraid .
He had blocked her car so she could n't get out , '' she recalled .
Forbes said her neighbour had little financial security , as Wortman had encouraged her to leave her prior job and sell her car , while he provided a vehicle and employment .
Gill said a U.K.-style coercion law would allow acquaintances and colleagues to report exactly these patterns of threats and control .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down specific incidents of physical assault , allowing them to instead look for repeated actions abusers take to control their spouses over time , she added .
The sociologist recently submitted a paper to the federal Justice Department 's ombudsman for victims of crime on this potential legal reform .
It notes Criminal Code provisions prohibit specific abuse , such as criminal harassment , uttering threats , making indecent and harassing phone calls , trespassing at night , and mischief but says there is no offence that fully captures the ongoing , coercive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nova Scotia and other provinces allow for protection orders giving victims the right to stay in their home and use the family vehicle , and they may also restrain the abuser from having any direct contact with the victim , children or other family members .
`` This is an important support to victims , but it is not fully addressing the problem , '' Gill wrote .
The British law , first enacted in England and Wales , says coercion applies if the partner 's behaviour is repetitive and has `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they know or ought to have known it will .
A guideline by prosecution services outlines a number of examples of coercion , including isolating a person , monitoring their phones , depriving them of access to support services , threatening family members , and controlling their finances — all activities that Wortman was reported to have carried out .
By the end of 2018 , over 308 people had been convicted and sentenced under the law in the United Kingdom , 97 per cent of them male .
Heidi Illingworth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she 'd been thinking of recommending similar coercive control legislation prior to the killings in Nova Scotia .
She said the case , along with Gill 's research paper , is giving her further reason to make such a recommendation .
`` I 'm definitely in favour of bringing a piece of legislation forward that would amend our Criminal Code in Canada , because we can only really deal with physical ( intimate partner ) violence , '' she said during a telephone interview .
Statistics Canada compiles police reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-third of reports of violence — more than 99,000 cases — were intimate partner violence , with about 80 per cent of this violence committed against women .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24 , 2020 .

The repeated threats and isolation a Nova Scotia mass shooter allegedly used against his spouse show why such cruelty should be a criminal offence in Canada, experts on domestic violence say. Acquaintances and former neighbours have described the 51-year-old killer as a clever and manipulative millionaire who would threaten harm to his spouse's family, control her money or cut off her means of escape by removing the tires from her car or blocking the driveway. Carmen Gill, a professor at the University of New Brunswick, says if there's a public inquiry into the shooting, she expects it will demonstrate how a law similar to the United Kingdom's 2015 "coercive control" offence may help prevent other abusers from escaping detection. "Coercive control is a horrible form of violence because it's a way of controlling people and depriving them of their basic rights," the sociologist said in a telephone interview. Wortman's killings were preceded by a domestic assault against his spouse on the night of April 18 at one of his properties in Portapique, N.S. After the woman escaped, the 51-year-old denturist killed 22 victims before police shot and killed him at a service station on April 19.
The woman has spoken to the police about her partner's use of a replica police vehicle and his guns, but requests by The Canadian Press to speak to her directly have been declined by a family member. However, neighbours and multiple police witnesses have said there were many forms of intimate partner abuse before the night of the rampage. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In court documents released last week, acquaintances told police they'd witnessed "abusive," "controlling" and "manipulative" behaviour by Wortman in the past, though details are blacked out.
In an April 20 interview with The Canadian Press, Portapique neighbour John Hudson, who knew Wortman for 18 years, described one of the gunman's methods of isolating her. How N.S. mass shooting could bring law that makes abusers' tactics a crime He witnessed Wortman locking his partner out of their home to prevent her from gathering her belongings after an argument and then removing the tires from her vehicle and throwing them in a ditch. Gill said this is the kind of isolation and intimidation that would likely lead to prosecution under Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act passed in the United Kingdom. "Someone who is controlling their spouses will take all kinds of tactics to minimize their ability to reach out," she said. "This was a disturbing situation which clearly shows he was isolating his partner." Another former neighbour, Brenda Forbes, has told The Canadian Press that in the early 2000s, the spouse came to her front door saying Wortman had harmed her, but she was afraid to report the abuse to authorities because he said he would hurt her family.
"She was afraid. He had blocked her car so she couldn't get out," she recalled. Forbes said her neighbour had little financial security, as Wortman had encouraged her to leave her prior job and sell her car, while he provided a vehicle and employment. Gill said a U.K.-style coercion law would allow acquaintances and colleagues to report exactly these patterns of threats and control.


nationalobserver--2020-05-25--Ford says anyone who wants a COVID-19 test will be able to get one

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Sunday that anyone in the province can get tested for COVID-19 , regardless of whether they have symptoms , as cases continued to mount and officials criticized thousands of people who gathered in a Toronto park a day earier .
The premier said mass testing is the province 's best defence against the virus , adding that the only way for the province to reach its testing capacity of nearly 25,000 is for people to show up to provincial assessment centres .
Currenly , daily testing rates hover around 11,000 .
`` If you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 've been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 , even if you 're not showing symptoms , please go get a test , '' Ford said during a televised speech on Sunday .
`` You will not be turned away , you do n't need an appointment , just show up . ''
A spokeswoman for the Minister of Health later said in an email that the province does n't anticipate demand for tests outpacing supply , even with this directive .
The messaging is a marked change from earlier guidelines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only people displaying one or more symptoms of the novel coronavirus should be tested .
Ford also said a new detailed testing strategy targeting specific sectors will be unveiled next week .
The announcement comes as cases continue to mount in Ontario , with 460 confirmed cases reported on Sunday along with 25 deaths related to the virus .
The new cases account for a 1.8 per cent increase over the previous day .
The province now has 25,500 confirmed cases , which includes 19,477 that are marked as resolved and 2,073 where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health said it completed 11,383 tests over the previous 24 hours .
Premier says anyone who wants a COVID-19 test will be able to get one Meanwhile , the premier criticized Torontonians who flocked to a popular downtown park on Saturday after city officials said thousands of people at Trinity Bellwoods Park were flouting physical distancing rules .
`` I thought it was a rock concert in the beginning when I went out there , I was in shock , '' Ford said .
`` I get it , it 's a beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and have a great time ... but the images I saw , we just ca n't have that right now , it 's just too many people too close . ''
On Sunday , far fewer people were at the park , Toronto police said , noting that there were more cops and bylaw officers present to issue $ 1,000 tickets to those violating the rules .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24 , 2020 .

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Sunday that anyone in the province can get tested for COVID-19, regardless of whether they have symptoms, as cases continued to mount and officials criticized thousands of people who gathered in a Toronto park a day earier.
The premier said mass testing is the province's best defence against the virus, adding that the only way for the province to reach its testing capacity of nearly 25,000 is for people to show up to provincial assessment centres. Currenly, daily testing rates hover around 11,000.
"If you are worried you have COVID-19, or that you've been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, even if you're not showing symptoms, please go get a test," Ford said during a televised speech on Sunday.
"You will not be turned away, you don't need an appointment, just show up."
A spokeswoman for the Minister of Health later said in an email that the province doesn't anticipate demand for tests outpacing supply, even with this directive.


nationalobserver--2020-05-25--The new world order is disorder

The new world order is disorder

If , like me , you grew up in the ’ 60s and ’ 70s , there were some things you could be sure of .
Russia was powerful and menacing .
China was mysterious , but “ red ” was definitely “ bad.
” Japan and Germany couldn ’ t be trusted .
Britain was tradition-bound and stolid , all “ keep calm and carry on.
” The United States saw itself as the world ’ s champion of freedom ( even while struggling to allow the descendants of its slaves to vote ) .
But now , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order that lasted decades has been replaced by a sweeping uncertainty .
It ’ s become a lot harder to predict how the world ’ s most powerful countries will pursue their economic interests , act on or ignore our challenges as a planet or deal with the plight of the world ’ s most destitute .
Military alliances seem less reliable , more negotiable .
This struck me as I was going through our latest Abacus Data polling , which highlights that Canadians don ’ t much like today ’ s leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the biggest economies and most militarized countries in the world .
And they ’ re not so keen on the United Kingdom ’ s Prime Minister Boris Johnson , either .
Russia might be economically weak today , but still seems to be malevolent .
The modern focus is on sowing division around the world , rather than building an empire , and hackers are the weapon of choice , rather than nukes .
But it ’ s hard to imagine a Russian leader in decades as unpopular in Canada as President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent like Putin ; 57 per cent don ’ t .
After the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and his “ America First ” agenda became dramatically clear , Canadians started to take a second look at China for a more globalist point of view about trade and climate and development issues .
Briefly , Canadians felt China was a better example of global leadership and more committed to peace around the world compared to Trump ’ s America .
But today , China ’ s leadership is broadly mistrusted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a negative view of President Xi Jinping ( 52 per cent ) as those registering a positive one ( five per cent ) .
In less than four years , Canadians have watched the U.S. transform dramatically , and worryingly .
The U.S. may have led the expansion of free trade , but has now decided its interests lie in protectionism .
Having built defence alliances to serve its needs , Trump publicly abuses his country ’ s partners and dismisses the value of collective security .
In the grip of a health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House occupant stumbles and preens and points fingers .
He doesn ’ t shock us as much anymore , but the realization so many Americans are tempted to give him another four years on the job does .
Three in four Canadians don ’ t like Trump — the first impression he made on Canadians stuck .
`` Canadians don ’ t much like today ’ s leadership in China , Russia or the U.S. — the biggest economies and most militarized countries in the world .
And they ’ re not so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Boris Johnson , either . ''
Millions of Canadians trace their roots to Great Britain .
Their monarch is our monarch , we share a parliamentary system and we share a lot of customs .
Up until recently , we might have thought we share a common instinct not to run with scissors when it comes to our political choices .
But Brexit took many Canadians by surprise , and Johnson ’ s election hasn ’ t done anything to calm the worry that the U.K. might be caught up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political choice .
Canadians are tepid to cool about Johnson : 18 per cent say they like him ; 27 per cent say they don ’ t .
Each of these findings is about individual leaders , not their countries as a whole .
But each of these key players in the world that affects Canada is pursuing policy directions ranging from unsettling to deeply worrying .
We can be excused for wondering if the whole idea of “ world order ” has become an anachronism — if the new normal is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form quickly and travel fast , anger brews by the hour and change seems appealing because people don ’ t think of what might be lost , but focus instead on what might feel good .
For any middle power such as Canada , these circumstances heighten anxiety and pose crucial questions .
Will trade agreements be honoured ?
Can we rely on military alliances ?
Do we need to worry more about our sovereignty in the North ?
Will international tribunals be able to resolve differences and disputes ?
Because of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply affected by the seemingly chronic disruption in the geopolitical landscape .
Our democratic compass is set on “ peace , order and good government , ” and it ’ s no accident — it ’ s a reflection of what we prize .
But from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to Johnson , Trump to Putin , Xi to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , the world seems hell-bent on disorder , or sometimes just hell-bound .
The pressures building up in the pandemic-afflicted world , coupled with the growing climate crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgent argument for a collective approach the likes of which we ’ ve never seen .
But the leaders in many of the countries that are vital to such an approach are running in the opposite direction .
Despite soaring unemployment , debt and health worries , Canadians are more likely to say the country is heading in the right direction than they were only a few months ago .
But asked about the rest of the world , they see more going wrong than going right .
Is there anything Canadians are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ?
To start with , 78 per cent would prefer to see Joe Biden in the White House next year .
There are very few political choices that find such widespread consensus .

If, like me, you grew up in the ’60s and ’70s, there were some things you could be sure of. Russia was powerful and menacing. China was mysterious, but “red” was definitely “bad.” Japan and Germany couldn’t be trusted. Britain was tradition-bound and stolid, all “keep calm and carry on.” The United States saw itself as the world’s champion of freedom (even while struggling to allow the descendants of its slaves to vote). But now, for many Canadians, a reliable postwar world order that lasted decades has been replaced by a sweeping uncertainty. It’s become a lot harder to predict how the world’s most powerful countries will pursue their economic interests, act on or ignore our challenges as a planet or deal with the plight of the world’s most destitute. Military alliances seem less reliable, more negotiable. This struck me as I was going through our latest Abacus Data polling, which highlights that Canadians don’t much like today’s leadership in China, Russia or the U.S. — the biggest economies and most militarized countries in the world. And they’re not so keen on the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, either. Russia might be economically weak today, but still seems to be malevolent. The modern focus is on sowing division around the world, rather than building an empire, and hackers are the weapon of choice, rather than nukes. But it’s hard to imagine a Russian leader in decades as unpopular in Canada as President Vladimir Putin is today. Only seven per cent like Putin; 57 per cent don’t.
After the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and his “America First” agenda became dramatically clear, Canadians started to take a second look at China for a more globalist point of view about trade and climate and development issues. Briefly, Canadians felt China was a better example of global leadership and more committed to peace around the world compared to Trump’s America. But today, China’s leadership is broadly mistrusted, with 10 times as many people registering a negative view of President Xi Jinping (52 per cent) as those registering a positive one (five per cent). Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions
"Canadians don’t much like today’s leadership in China, Russia or the U.S. — the biggest economies and most militarized countries in the world. And they’re not so keen on the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, either." In less than four years, Canadians have watched the U.S. transform dramatically, and worryingly. The U.S. may have led the expansion of free trade, but has now decided its interests lie in protectionism. Having built defence alliances to serve its needs, Trump publicly abuses his country’s partners and dismisses the value of collective security. In the grip of a health and economic crisis, the current White House occupant stumbles and preens and points fingers. He doesn’t shock us as much anymore, but the realization so many Americans are tempted to give him another four years on the job does. Three in four Canadians don’t like Trump — the first impression he made on Canadians stuck. Millions of Canadians trace their roots to Great Britain. Their monarch is our monarch, we share a parliamentary system and we share a lot of customs. Up until recently, we might have thought we share a common instinct not to run with scissors when it comes to our political choices. But Brexit took many Canadians by surprise, and Johnson’s election hasn’t done anything to calm the worry that the U.K. might be caught up in what seems like an epidemic of riskier political choice. Canadians are tepid to cool about Johnson: 18 per cent say they like him; 27 per cent say they don’t.
Each of these findings is about individual leaders, not their countries as a whole. But each of these key players in the world that affects Canada is pursuing policy directions ranging from unsettling to deeply worrying. We can be excused for wondering if the whole idea of “world order” has become an anachronism — if the new normal is a state of perpetual upheaval, as opinions form quickly and travel fast, anger brews by the hour and change seems appealing because people don’t think of what might be lost, but focus instead on what might feel good.


nationalobserver--2020-05-25--How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the public

This story was originally published by Progress Report .
The case of Manitok Energy shows just how easy the Alberta Energy Regulator makes it for oil and gas executives to dump their environmental liabilities on the Alberta public .
When the oil and gas company Manitok Energy went out of business in 2018 , it sent tens of millions of dollars worth of environmental liabilities to the Orphan Well Association or OWA , the non-profit agency responsible for cleaning up the environmental messes left behind by bankrupt oil and gas companies .
Persist was formed late-February 2018 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The phone number listed for Persist is the same as the one provided for Manitok , which is out of service , as are the emails listed for each company .
According to the Orphan Well Association ’ s April 2020 inventory , Manitok has left behind 181 wells , 31 facilities and 282 pipelines .
Progress Alberta reached out to Manitok/Persist 's Mass Geremia for comment , but he did not respond to our questions before our publishing deadline .
Regan Boychuk , an independent researcher with the Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OWA as a recycling depot for their decommissioning costs while the owners move on .
This is essentially “ standard operating procedure ” in the industry , which he attributes to the AER being a captured regulator .
While it ’ s completely legitimate for a bankrupt company to sell off its assets to pay off creditors , it ’ s another matter when those assets are sold to a company owned by the same people says Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson .
`` It 's not supposed to be legal , '' Boychuk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a frustratingly common scheme .
Many Albertan farmers have seen companies like Manitok come in , run up huge bills , and then evaporate .
The public get left with the bill , the farmer gets stuck with a deteriorating oil well on their property that OWA may or may not get around to cleaning up , and next season the same people are back to do it again under a different corporate name .
There were multiple opportunities for the AER to shut Manitok 's own maneuver down .
The agreement between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2018 to add and remove various assets in the Carseland , Rockyford , Wayne and Wildcat Hills areas , and on March 29 , 2019 , to remove the Nisku Pipelines and Facilities in Wayne -- before the deal closed April 15 .
This second amendment removed three facilities and 17 pipelines from the deal , according to an appendix attached to the receivership report , which then became the responsibility of the Alberta Energy Regulator .
The receivership report says Manitok owes Kneehill County , where Wayne is located , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 and 2018 , plus an estimated $ 37,000 for 2019 , assuming the assessment for that year is the same as 2018 .
But the costs in foregone taxes pale in comparison to the millions the public spends decommissioning the orphan assets , says Boychuk .
He says it costs around $ 229,000 on average to plug and reclaim wells , with related pipelines and facilities doubling that cost .
Without knowing how many of the wells have been decommissioned already , Boychuk used $ 200,000 as a rough estimate of per-well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manitok 's orphan wells will have a clean-up cost in the realm of $ 72 million dollars .
On Jan. 31 , 2019 , the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that insolvent energy companies have an obligation to pay off their environmental liabilities before reimbursing creditors , dubbed the Redwater decision , a ruling supported by the AER and OWA .
“ The law ’ s on our side , ” says Boychuk .
“ We can hold these folks accountable , but we have the same dilemma we ’ ve always had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t take his gun out of his holster , he won ’ t hold this industry accountable and , as far as complaints go from citizens to the regulator , the door ’ s locked.
” The AER ’ s Directive 067 of December 2017 allows the regulator to revoke or restrict licence eligibility for oil and gas development .
“ Acquiring and holding a licence or approval for energy development in Alberta is a privilege , not a right , ” reads the directive ’ s preamble .
AER spokesperson Shawn Roth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners with Persist through a material change submission in June 2019 -- two months after the deal closed .
“ The AER conducted a review and found that the change did not pose an unreasonable risk to public safety or the environment , ” Roth wrote in an email to Progress Alberta .
Prior to this revelation , the AER made Persist “ purchase and perform abandonment and reclamation work on infrastructure that was not part of the original sales agreement ” to lessen the load on the OWA , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total of 942 wells , facilities and pipelines from Manitok .
Manitok , by contrast , has 494 wells , facilities and pipelines registered with the OWA .
“ These transactions reduced the amount of inventory sent to the OWA , ” said Roth .
“ No other parties expressed interest in the Manitok inventory.
” Barry Robinson , a Calgary-based lawyer with environmental law charity Ecojustice , says the issue is whether the unproductive assets the AER required Persist to purchase will ultimately end up with the OWA .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining properties that the trustee holds , which are non-productive , did the trustee get enough funds to do the cleanup on those , or are they going to end up in the orphan well program , ” Robinson said .
While it ’ s completely legitimate for a bankrupt company to sell off its assets to pay off creditors , it ’ s another matter when those assets are sold to a company owned by the same people , he said .
“ Why would they have allowed the transfer of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance that it was going to create enough income , enough value , to carry out the reclamation of the non-productive properties , ” said Robinson .
“ We don ’ t know that.
” Kneehill County ’ s top administrator says municipalities don ’ t have the resources to suss out shady transactions .
That is the AER ’ s role .
“ It ’ s outside our jurisdiction .
We just sort of have to deal with the hand we ’ re dealt , ” chief administrative officer Mike Haugen told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to information on the inner workings of the various energy companies operating on its land .
“ When assets switch company hands , we of course find that out for tax purposes , but we don ’ t have information on ownership or things like that , ” Haugen said .
The taxable value of energy-related assets depreciates as the facilities age , making it difficult to determine definitively how much tax revenue is being foregone in the long-term , he added .
“ Whether it ’ s one company or another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re still taxing it and getting income , ” said Haugen .
“ Our concern is more broad and shared by most Albertans — what ’ s going to happen to these orphan wells ?
Somebody ’ s paying for them to be decommissioned or taken care of .
That ’ s not the municipality , it ’ s the taxpayer through the Orphan Well Association.
” The federal government has announced $ 1 billion in bailout funds to assist Alberta in paying for abandoned well cleanup , but few details have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed .
If it 's the AER and the UCP making the call , these bad actors in the industry might not just get away with these dumping schemes -- they may get paid for them , too .

This story was originally published by Progress Report. The case of Manitok Energy shows just how easy the Alberta Energy Regulator makes it for oil and gas executives to dump their environmental liabilities on the Alberta public. When the oil and gas company Manitok Energy went out of business in 2018, it sent tens of millions of dollars worth of environmental liabilities to the Orphan Well Association or OWA, the non-profit agency responsible for cleaning up the environmental messes left behind by bankrupt oil and gas companies. But less than a year later, a new company with a different name but the same CEO was able to acquire all of Manitok's remaining non-orphan well assets--while dumping the liabilities on the rest of us--and all with the tacit blessing of the Alberta Energy Regulator or AER. And while the OWA is supposed to be industry funded it is now majority funded by public money due to recently receiving hundreds of millions of dollars worth of taxpayer dollars. Manitok Energy and its subsidiaries defaulted on their loan payments and went into receivership in February 2018, according to the most recent receivership report, which is dated Nov. 8, 2019. The receiver, in this case an accounting firm called Alvarez & Marsel Canada, is appointed to sell the remaining assets of the company in order to pay outstanding debt.
Persist was formed late-February 2018, according to the company’s Sedar profile. The phone number listed for Persist is the same as the one provided for Manitok, which is out of service, as are the emails listed for each company. According to the Orphan Well Association’s April 2020 inventory, Manitok has left behind 181 wells, 31 facilities and 282 pipelines. While it’s completely legitimate for a bankrupt company to sell off its assets to pay off creditors, it’s another matter when those assets are sold to a company owned by the same people says Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson. Progress Alberta reached out to Manitok/Persist's Mass Geremia for comment, but he did not respond to our questions before our publishing deadline. Regan Boychuk, an independent researcher with the Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project says broke energy companies are using the OWA as a recycling depot for their decommissioning costs while the owners move on. This is essentially “standard operating procedure” in the industry, which he attributes to the AER being a captured regulator. "It's not supposed to be legal," Boychuk told Progress Alberta. But it's a frustratingly common scheme. Many Albertan farmers have seen companies like Manitok come in, run up huge bills, and then evaporate. The public get left with the bill, the farmer gets stuck with a deteriorating oil well on their property that OWA may or may not get around to cleaning up, and next season the same people are back to do it again under a different corporate name. There were multiple opportunities for the AER to shut Manitok's own maneuver down. The agreement between Persist and Manitok was amended twice--in December 2018 to add and remove various assets in the Carseland, Rockyford, Wayne and Wildcat Hills areas, and on March 29, 2019, to remove the Nisku Pipelines and Facilities in Wayne--before the deal closed April 15.
This second amendment removed three facilities and 17 pipelines from the deal, according to an appendix attached to the receivership report, which then became the responsibility of the Alberta Energy Regulator. The receivership report says Manitok owes Kneehill County, where Wayne is located, about $66,000 in outstanding taxes for 2017 and 2018, plus an estimated $37,000 for 2019, assuming the assessment for that year is the same as 2018. But the costs in foregone taxes pale in comparison to the millions the public spends decommissioning the orphan assets, says Boychuk. He says it costs around $229,000 on average to plug and reclaim wells, with related pipelines and facilities doubling that cost.


nationalobserver--2020-05-25--Join us for our Conversation series this Thursday with Minister Catherine McKenna

How are the feds spending $ 3 billion to make buildings more pandemic-resistant ?
What will Canada ’ s communities @ @ @ @ @ Which MP had the hardest time getting their mic to work in virtual parliament meetings @ @ @ @ @ ‘ shovel-worthy ’ job ?
Join us on Zoom for our next Conversation series as @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Editor-in-Chief , Linda Solomon Wood speaks with Canada ’ s Minister of Infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ .
Become a subscriber today , and you ’ ll get special access to submit @ @ @ @ @ of time .
McKenna was elected the first female Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre @ @ @ @ @ and Climate Change in 2015 .
The former lawyer , UN negotiator , competitive swimmer @ @ @ @ @ will be our next guest this Thursday on our Conversation series .

Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Catherine McKenna has been called to an urgent Treasury Board meeting and has had to postpone her interview for our Conversation Series this Thursday.
Our Zoom series continues with prominent media commentator Sandy Garossino this Thursday, May 28th at 5pm PT / 8pm ET.
Garossino will join host Linda Solomon Wood to discuss hot topics including the international headline, the Meng Wanzhou decision, coming out of Vancouver Wednesday, whatever happened to former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and other issues she has covered for the National Observer.
Since 2015, Garossino has been at the core of National Observer’s editorial voice. Her op-eds don’t shy away from controversy. Her investigations uncover tough truths. And her articles on National Observer’s website have been read by millions.
Garossino described former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as “reduced to fabricating bitter recriminations against the media on a second-rate YouTube channel,” in her most recent commentary for the National Observer. And she described the Omar Khadr case as a ‘Canadian tragedy and failure of moral courage’. She's investigated Kenney’s War Room. And she's covered the Liberal’s climate plans.


nationalobserver--2020-05-25--Pandemic means a shift in tactics for social justice movement

The COVID-19 pandemic has made working on social justice campaigns more difficult , but also more necessary than ever , resulting in creative solutions and closer collaboration .
Young climate activists , their street protests stymied by the pandemic , are taking to the digital realm to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change has on Indigenous communities and environmental defenders around the world in an online campaign using the hashtag # defendthedefenders .
Meanwhile , a wide swath of Canadian civil society groups are making a concerted push for the country to create a 'Just Recovery , ' designed around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equitable and sustainable future , including the upholding of Indigenous rights .
The moves come as the global pandemic has made it clear that economies can be shifted quickly when urgent needs are identified .
“ Throughout the recovery process , Indigenous Peoples must be at the table , as should voices from all structurally oppressed communities , ” said Lindsey Bacigal in a statement .
Bacigal is communications director of Indigenous Climate Action , one of more than 150 groups involved in the Just Recovery push , which also includes labour unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new world order is disorder • How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the public The other principles of Just Recovery include a paramount focus on people ’ s health and well-being , a stronger safety net and direct relief , prioritizing the needs of workers and communities , and building resilience to face future crises .
The Just Recovery document has been signed by the Canadian Labour Congress , the Anglican Church of Canada , the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives , the Toronto Environmental Alliance , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( The full list of signatories is here . )
Like the Just Recovery alliance , the 'Defend the Defenders ' coalition is collaborating more closely in order to overcome the daunting challenges of lockdown and social distancing .
“ We ’ ve realized how we can work together as people from different countries to spotlight important issues because we were all forced online , because we couldn ’ t protest physically , we inevitably became more international , ” said Joel Lev-Tov , an 18-year-old student journalist and activist from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is affiliated with Polluters Out and Fridays for Future Digital , groups that , along with Extinction Rebellion , are in the early stages of an eight-week campaign to shine a spotlight on various regions of the world where Indigenous people and land defenders face persecution .
The groups calculate that Indigenous Peoples protect more than a fifth of the Earth ’ s surface and 80 per cent of its biodiversity , despite only accounting for 5 per cent of the global population .
Homero Gómez González , a Mexican environmental activist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some activists speculating his death was related to disputes over illegal logging .
Photo supplied by Defend the Defenders campaign Last week their focus was on Latin America , where Colombia and Brazil rank among the deadliest places in the world for people protesting against mining , agribusiness , logging and other activities .
For Aishwarya Puttur , a 14-year-old whose family recently moved back to the Greater Toronto Area after a stint following her father ’ s job to Saudi Arabia , that has meant helping produce a video about a coal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community in Brazil .
“ Through this campaign I have learned so much , I have talked to so many people across the globe about Indigenous rights , and this way we are able to bring light to these issues which normally people don ’ t know about , ” she said .
As we know , the climate crisis is becoming a greater and greater challenge for our generation .
So help the defenders out by joining our weekly actions to # DefendTheDefenders !
Listen to what they have to say !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : @ /the_green_gal ) pic.twitter.com/1JmmkpnnMg — FFF Digital ( @ fff_digital ) May 22 , 2020 The campaign , which this week is focused on sub-Saharan Africa , involves live streams and webinars , and organizers are encouraging participants to post on social media in the hopes it will pressure governments and corporations to better protect the rights of those protesting resource extraction and environmental degradation .

The COVID-19 pandemic has made working on social justice campaigns more difficult, but also more necessary than ever, resulting in creative solutions and closer collaboration. Young climate activists, their street protests stymied by the pandemic, are taking to the digital realm to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change has on Indigenous communities and environmental defenders around the world in an online campaign using the hashtag #defendthedefenders. Meanwhile, a wide swath of Canadian civil society groups are making a concerted push for the country to create a 'Just Recovery,' designed around six principles that would enable a more equitable and sustainable future, including the upholding of Indigenous rights. The moves come as the global pandemic has made it clear that economies can be shifted quickly when urgent needs are identified. “Throughout the recovery process, Indigenous Peoples must be at the table, as should voices from all structurally oppressed communities,” said Lindsey Bacigal in a statement. Bacigal is communications director of Indigenous Climate Action, one of more than 150 groups involved in the Just Recovery push, which also includes labour unions, student groups and churches.
The other principles of Just Recovery include a paramount focus on people’s health and well-being, a stronger safety net and direct relief, prioritizing the needs of workers and communities, and building resilience to face future crises. The Just Recovery document has been signed by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Toronto Environmental Alliance, the Canadian Federation of Students and many more. (The full list of signatories is here.) Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Like the Just Recovery alliance, the 'Defend the Defenders' coalition is collaborating more closely in order to overcome the daunting challenges of lockdown and social distancing.
“We’ve realized how we can work together as people from different countries to spotlight important issues because we were all forced online, because we couldn’t protest physically, we inevitably became more international,” said Joel Lev-Tov, an 18-year-old student journalist and activist from the suburbs outside Washington, D.C. Young climate activists, their street protests stymied by the pandemic, are taking to the digital realm to highlight the disproportionate impact climate change has on Indigenous communities and environmental defenders around the world. He is affiliated with Polluters Out and Fridays for Future Digital, groups that, along with Extinction Rebellion, are in the early stages of an eight-week campaign to shine a spotlight on various regions of the world where Indigenous people and land defenders face persecution. The groups calculate that Indigenous Peoples protect more than a fifth of the Earth’s surface and 80 per cent of its biodiversity, despite only accounting for 5 per cent of the global population. Homero Gómez González, a Mexican environmental activist, was killed earlier this year, with some activists speculating his death was related to disputes over illegal logging. Photo supplied by Defend the Defenders campaign Last week their focus was on Latin America, where Colombia and Brazil rank among the deadliest places in the world for people protesting against mining, agribusiness, logging and other activities.
For Aishwarya Puttur, a 14-year-old whose family recently moved back to the Greater Toronto Area after a stint following her father’s job to Saudi Arabia, that has meant helping produce a video about a coal mine being built next to an Indigenous community in Brazil. “Through this campaign I have learned so much, I have talked to so many people across the globe about Indigenous rights, and this way we are able to bring light to these issues which normally people don’t know about,” she said. As we know, the climate crisis is becoming a greater and greater challenge for our generation. So help the defenders out by joining our weekly actions to #DefendTheDefenders! Listen to what they have to say!
Video credit: Aishwarya Puttur (IG: @/the_green_gal) pic.twitter.com/1JmmkpnnMg — Fridays For Future Digital is closed (@fff_digital) May 22, 2020


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Discovery Islands housing projects provide security for seniors

The 87-year-old lives in a secure , well-maintained cottage in a small seniors complex with reasonable rent and a beautiful garden and grounds .
Housing attributes that are exceptionally hard to find for seniors living and renting on Cortes , Butt said .
“ A lot of other people don ’ t have a permanent arrangement and might have to move off the island , ” he said .
“ While others are stuck with what the island offers … because there are no other options specifically for seniors.
” • The new world order is disorder • How to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the public • Call for 'coercive control ' law to help prevent abuse and events like N.S .
mass shooting Cortes Island , with approximately 1,000 permanent residents , is wedged between the B.C .
mainland and Vancouver Island .
The island ’ s rental market for seniors is tough due to limited stock , high rents , and a scarcity of permanent housing options , Butt said .
He has avoided the problem as he lives in the Cortes Island Seniors Society ( CISS ) Seniors Village of six cottages located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Landing .
Now other older residents on Cortes will also have the chance to live in secure , appropriate and affordable housing as CISS just broke ground on an expansion to the Seniors Village , said Sandra Wood , CISS project manager .
Last week the CISS put shovel to ground on a one million dollar project to build two additional cottages and one duplex to add four more housing units to the village , Wood said .
Sandra Wood , CISS project manager for the Seniors Village expansion said the four additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of 2020 .
Photo : courtesy of Sandra Wood .
“ It ’ s really exciting , ” said Wood .
“ It feels good to see all those years of planning result in action on the ground.
” “ I feel this is my home because it ’ s mine .
Other people have to cart their stuff around place to place , ” senior Douglas Butt about his rental unit at Cortes Island Seniors Village , which is expanding its stock of stable , affordable housing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago and there were always plans to expand , but there wasn ’ t enough funding , Wood said .
“ It ’ s happening now because BC Housing is really focused on creating more affordable rental housing at this time , ” Wood said , adding CISS also benefited from lots of local funding and other grants .
There is already a waiting list of 16 potential tenants for the four new units , Wood said .
Older adults make up a significant proportion of the population living on Cortes , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ranks , according to census data .
The median age on Cortes is 54 years old , significantly higher than B.C.
’ s median age of 43 .
Additionally , 28 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over , compared with the provincial rate of 18 per cent and 17 per cent nationally .
However , seniors who want to downsize from large rural properties , or those who have lost a partner but want to age in place on Cortes Island have few alternative housing choices , Wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a way for them to stay on the island rather than move away from friends and family , ” she said .
Many seniors struggle with the problem of temporary housing given most rentals are in recreational properties , said Wood .
“ Often homeowners return for holidays and winter tenants have to find alternate accommodations for the summer months , ” she said .
Seniors either stay with friends or family , travel or even have to resort to camping , Wood said .
Subsidized housing options are necessary because there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the isolated island , she added .
“ Basically , the cost of land is high and the rental income is low , so it doesn ’ t make sense for the private sector to finance rental housing , ” Wood said .
“ We also don ’ t have the zoning for multi-unit housing on the island which is largely zoned rural residential.
” Singles and young families face many of the same rental housing difficulties as seniors , noted Wood .
As a result , CISS along with community partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply for funding to create another community with 20 rental units for a mix of residents , including more seniors , said Wood The project , named Rainbow Ridge , will be located on land adjacent to the Seniors Village site and will hopefully be approved for funding by BC Housing by the end of 2020 .
The Seniors Village expansion is slated for completion by year ’ s end and with residents hopefully moving in by December or January , Wood said .
An illustration on the expansion of the Cortes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cortes Island Seniors Society ( CISS ) that started construction last week .
Photo : courtesy of CISS .
The seniors ’ complex is in a convenient location close to amenities in the village of Manson ’ s Landing and immediately next door to the island ’ s medical clinic , Butt said .
“ It ’ s very well located .
It ’ s close to the clinic , so they can carry us out if something serious happens , ” he observed His partner Valerie Robinson lives in a cottage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It allows Robinson ’ s sons , who live on and come to the island regularly , to visit her easily without having to travel a great distance off island , Butt said .
And he appreciates the sense of stability the Seniors Village housing has provided him .
“ I feel this is my home because it ’ s mine…other people have to cart their stuff around place to place , Butt said .
“ I ’ ve lived here now for six years .
I ’ ve been happy and comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face many of the same housing pressures as their peers on Cortes .
As a result , Quadra Island Seniors Housing Society ( QISHS ) is currently constructing a residential complex on the island , in Quathiaski Cove , to help meet older residents ' need for stable rental housing .
The project includes 15 apartment units for seniors with low to moderate incomes that need affordable housing but aren ’ t able to live fully independently , said Maureen McDowell , QISHS board president .
The Quadra Island Seniors Housing Society is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who want to stay on the island but construction of the project has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Photo courtesy of QISHS .
However , due to the coronavirus pandemic , the project has been delayed , McDowell said on Monday .
Tenants were originally slated to move in on June 1 , McDowell said , adding it ’ s not entirely clear when the project will be finished .
“ No new occupancy date has been set because there are so many unknowns.
” Due to COVID-19 ’ s distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dramatically slowed down , McDowell said .
BC Hydro has also experienced operational delays during the pandemic , so the seniors housing site is still not hooked up to power , and likely won ’ t be before sometime in June , she added .
As well , the installation of the site ’ s water system is also delayed until the end of June , she said .
However , the outdoor construction of the residences have been continuing on pace , she said .
Residents who were expecting to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the delay , said McDowell , adding she doesn ’ t believe anyone has been displaced from their current housing .
“ No one that we ’ re aware of , ” McDowell said .
“ Part of that has been due to the freeze on evictions ( during the pandemic ) , which has helped ensure people can stay where they are.
” “ And , most landlords here are very understanding and no one is in a hurry to try to attract new tenants with the COVID-19 scare.
” The construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted McDowell .
It allows the QISHS board to be able sort out and establish new measures that must in place to protect tenants and staff from COVID-19 once residence opens , she said .
“ In some ways , we ’ re grateful we have a bit of extra time to get our heads around the new protocols , especially given the residents are part of that vulnerable population , ” said McDowell .
“ You can ’ t be too prepared .
”

“While others are stuck with what the island offers … because there are no other options specifically for seniors.”
“A lot of other people don’t have a permanent arrangement and might have to move off the island,” he said.
Housing attributes that are exceptionally hard to find for seniors living and renting on Cortes, Butt said.
The 87-year-old lives in a secure, well-maintained cottage in a small seniors complex with reasonable rent and a beautiful garden and grounds.
He has avoided the problem as he lives in the Cortes Island Seniors Society (CISS) Seniors Village of six cottages located near the village of Manson’s Landing.
The island’s rental market for seniors is tough due to limited stock, high rents, and a scarcity of permanent housing options, Butt said.
Cortes Island, with approximately 1,000 permanent residents, is wedged between the B.C. mainland and Vancouver Island.
The original village complex was completed a decade ago and there were always plans to expand, but there wasn’t enough funding, Wood said.
“It’s really exciting,” said Wood. “It feels good to see all those years of planning result in action on the ground.”
Sandra Wood, CISS project co-ordinator for the Seniors Village expansion said the four additional affordable housing units will hopefully be completed by the end of 2020. Photo: courtesy of Sandra Wood.
Last week the CISS put shovel to ground on a one million dollar project to build two additional cottages and one duplex to add four more housing units to the village, Wood said.
Now other older residents on Cortes will also have the chance to live in secure, appropriate and affordable housing as CISS just broke ground on an expansion to the Seniors Village, said Sandra Wood, CISS project co-ordinator.
Older adults make up a significant proportion of the population living on Cortes, with many other residents who will soon join their ranks, according to census data.
There is already a waiting list of 16 potential tenants for the four new units, Wood said.
“It’s happening now because BC Housing is really focused on creating more affordable rental housing at this time,” Wood said, adding CISS also benefited from lots of local funding and other grants.
The median age on Cortes is 54 years old, significantly higher than B.C.’s median age of 43.
Additionally, 28 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over, compared with the provincial rate of 18 per cent and 17 per cent nationally.
However, seniors who want to downsize from large rural properties, or those who have lost a partner but want to age in place on Cortes Island have few alternative housing choices, Wood said.
“This rental option is a way for them to stay on the island rather than move away from friends and family,” she said.
Many seniors struggle with the problem of temporary housing given most rentals are in recreational properties, said Wood.
“Often homeowners return for holidays and winter tenants have to find alternate accommodations for the summer months,” she said.
Seniors either stay with friends or family, travel or even have to resort to camping, Wood said.
Subsidized housing options are necessary because there’s little incentive to develop rental housing on the isolated island, she added.
“Basically, the cost of land is high and the rental income is low, so it doesn’t make sense for the private sector to finance rental housing,” Wood said.
“We also don’t have the zoning for multi-unit housing on the island which is largely zoned rural residential.”
Singles and young families face many of the same rental housing difficulties as seniors, noted Wood.
As a result, CISS along with community partners are in the research and planning stage to apply for funding to create another community with 20 rental units for a mix of residents, including more seniors, said Wood. The project, named Rainbow Ridge, will be located on land adjacent to the Seniors Village site.
The Seniors Village expansion is slated for completion by year’s end and with residents hopefully moving in by December or January, Wood said.
The seniors’ complex is in a convenient location close to amenities in the village of Manson’s Landing and immediately next door to the island’s medical clinic, Butt said.
“It’s very well located. It’s close to the clinic, so they can carry us out if something serious happens,” he observed.
His partner Valerie Robinson lives in a cottage across the garden from his own.
It allows Robinson’s sons, who live on and come to the island regularly, to visit her easily without having to travel a great distance off island, Butt said.
And he appreciates the sense of stability the Seniors Village housing has provided him.
“I feel this is my home because it’s mine…other people have to cart their stuff around place to place, Butt said.
“I’ve lived here now for six years. I’ve been happy and comfortable here.”
Quadra Island seniors housing project delayed
Seniors on neighbouring Quadra Island face many of the same housing pressures as their peers on Cortes.
As a result, Quadra Island Seniors Housing Society (QISHS) is currently constructing a residential complex on the island, in Quathiaski Cove, to help meet older residents' need for stable rental housing.
The project includes 15 apartment units for seniors with low to moderate incomes that need affordable housing but aren’t able to live fully independently, said Maureen McDowell, QISHS board president.
The Quadra Island Seniors Housing Society is building a 15-unit residence for elderly residents who want to stay on the island but construction of the project has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of QISHS.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the project has been delayed, McDowell said on Monday.
Tenants were originally slated to move in on June 1, McDowell said, adding it’s not entirely clear when the project will be finished.
“No new occupancy date has been set because there are so many unknowns.”
Due to COVID-19’s distancing protocols, interior work in the residences was dramatically slowed down, McDowell said.
BC Hydro has also experienced operational delays during the pandemic, so the seniors housing site is still not hooked up to power, and likely won’t be before sometime in June, she added.
As well, the installation of the site’s water system is also delayed until the end of June, she said.
However, the outdoor construction of the residences have been continuing on pace, she said.
Residents who were expecting to move into the residences have been informed of the delay, said McDowell, adding she doesn’t believe anyone has been displaced from their current housing.
“No one that we’re aware of,” McDowell said. “Part of that has been due to the freeze on evictions (during the pandemic), which has helped ensure people can stay where they are.”
“And, most landlords here are very understanding and no one is in a hurry to try to attract new tenants with the COVID-19 scare.”
The construction delay did have one positive side, noted McDowell.
It allows the QISHS board to be able sort out and establish new measures that must in place to protect tenants and staff from COVID-19 once residence opens, she said.
“In some ways, we’re grateful we have a bit of extra time to get our heads around the new protocols, especially given the residents are part of that vulnerable population,” said McDowell. “You can’t be too prepared.”
Rochelle Baker/Local Journalism Initiative/Canada's National Observer


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Liberals, NDP call for improvements for paid sick leave as Parliament debates sittings

How Parliament should function in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis remained unresolved Monday as the Conservatives dug in on their demand that the House of Commons resume normal operations with a reduced number of MPs in the chamber .
For much of the day , MPs debated a government motion to waive `` normal '' Commons sittings in favour of expanding the special COVID-19 committee that has acted as a stand-in for the chamber over the past month .
But Conservatives ran out the clock , including employing a procedural a manoeuvre that forced an hour-long debate and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations committee .
Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez eventually served notice that the government will move to cut off debate on the motion when the Commons resumes on Tuesday .
A spokesman for the NDP said New Democrats will support cutting off debate `` if it comes to that '' because they `` do n't want to let other parties delay our ability to move forward . ''
• The new world order is disorder • How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the public • Call for 'coercive control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events like N.S .
mass shooting Should debate be cut off , the government 's motion to expand the COVID-19 committee meetings to four days a week in a hybrid format — with a small number of MPs in the chamber and others participating virtually via two large screens set up on either side of the Speaker 's chair — would be put to a vote late Tuesday night .
If it passes , the Speaker 's office said the first hybrid committee meeting could then take place Wednesday .
The Liberal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will need the support of at least one of the main opposition parties to support the motion .
With the Conservatives demanding the resumption of Commons sittings and the Bloc Quebecois abstaining from the negotiations , that leaves the NDP .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took steps Monday to secure the backing of the NDP , promising to work with provinces to give workers paid sick leave and to provide more financial support for Canadians with disabilities to help them weather the pandemic .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called that a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed before federal New Democrats will agree to suspend full sittings of the House of Commons through the summer .
The back and forth came as the Commons resumed `` normal '' operations Monday , as the previous agreement on the COVID-19 committee format expired .
Liberals , NDP work on sick leave to secure deal on future of Parliament Shortly before debate started on the floor of the House of Commons , Singh laid out his conditions for supporting the Liberal motion by demanding real action on paid sick leave for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggling with the COVID-19 crisis .
During his daily news conference outside his home in Ottawa , Trudeau said it makes sense to support paid leave for all workers if they 're ill , so people who might be infected with the novel coronavirus do n't have to choose between going to work sick and not getting paid .
`` The government will continue discussions with the provinces without delay on ensuring that as we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic , every worker in Canada who needs it has access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , '' Trudeau said .
`` We 'll also consider other mechanisms for the longer term to support workers with sick leave . ''
Yet Singh said the promise fell short of the NDP 's demands .
`` We 've seen a positive announcement today by the prime minister , but it is not enough , '' Singh told the House of Commons .
`` We need to see the action as well .
And we are hopeful though that action will be coming . ''
The NDP leader had previously suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Response Benefit or employment insurance to deliver paid sick leave immediately and work with the provinces to secure two weeks of leave even after the pandemic is over .
The question now is how the two sides might bridge that difference — and if not , what other options might exist .
The Conservatives have said they want to do away with the special COVID-19 committee and bring back House of Commons sittings , albeit with no more than 50 MPs in the House at any one time .
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return in his address to the Commons , while Opposition House leader Candice Bergen laid out some of the key differences between a normal parliamentary session and the special committee , which she referred to as a `` fake Parliament . ''
Those include a lack of opposition days , private member 's motions and the ability to submit order paper questions , which is one of the key ways opposition parties have to get information from the government .
`` Although the special committee is one where questions can be asked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Bergen .
`` And there are many things that the Opposition can do when Parliament is actually sitting in order to try to get answers and to try to hold the government to account .
That is not going to be happening if this motion passes . ''
But the Liberals and NDP argue the Conservatives ' plan essentially disenfranchises the majority of Canadians , as MPs who live far from Ottawa or with potential health risks will face extreme difficulties attending in-person sessions .
However , all sides agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full virtual or hybrid Parliament right now that do not exist for committees — in particular on the issue of electronic voting for MPs .
Those limitations were highlighted in a report by a Commons committee earlier this month , including concerns about hacking when it comes to MP votes and procedural questions such as how to handle points of order and privilege .
The Liberals say that is why they have proposed expanding the current COVID-19 committee by adding an additional meeting per week and using a hybrid format that will allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or virtual attendance .
`` Under this motion , with a hybrid Parliament , there would be more time for questions , '' Rodriguez said .
`` There would be MPs in the House and there would be MPs via video conference regardless of the party .
And this would allow our democracy to function .
MPs would be able to ask questions because they were elected and not because they live close to Ottawa . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25 , 2020 .

How Parliament should function in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis remained unresolved Monday as the Conservatives dug in on their demand that the House of Commons resume normal operations with a reduced number of MPs in the chamber. For much of the day, MPs debated a government motion to waive "normal" Commons sittings in favour of expanding the special COVID-19 committee that has acted as a stand-in for the chamber over the past month. But Conservatives ran out the clock, including employing a procedural a manoeuvre that forced an hour-long debate and a vote on a report from the Canada-China relations committee. Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez eventually served notice that the government will move to cut off debate on the motion when the Commons resumes on Tuesday. A spokesman for the NDP said New Democrats will support cutting off debate "if it comes to that" because they "don't want to let other parties delay our ability to move forward."
Should debate be cut off, the government's motion to expand the COVID-19 committee meetings to four days a week in a hybrid format — with a small number of MPs in the chamber and others participating virtually via two large screens set up on either side of the Speaker's chair — would be put to a vote late Tuesday night. If it passes, the Speaker's office said the first hybrid committee meeting could then take place Wednesday. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The Liberal government holds only a minority of seats so it will need the support of at least one of the main opposition parties to support the motion. With the Conservatives demanding the resumption of Commons sittings and the Bloc Quebecois abstaining from the negotiations, that leaves the NDP.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took steps Monday to secure the backing of the NDP, promising to work with provinces to give workers paid sick leave and to provide more financial support for Canadians with disabilities to help them weather the pandemic. Liberals, NDP work on sick leave to secure deal on future of Parliament NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called that a good start, but said more action is needed before federal New Democrats will agree to suspend full sittings of the House of Commons through the summer. The back and forth came as the Commons resumed "normal" operations Monday, as the previous agreement on the COVID-19 committee format expired. Shortly before debate started on the floor of the House of Commons, Singh laid out his conditions for supporting the Liberal motion by demanding real action on paid sick leave for all Canadians and support for people with disabilities struggling with the COVID-19 crisis. During his daily news conference outside his home in Ottawa, Trudeau said it makes sense to support paid leave for all workers if they're ill, so people who might be infected with the novel coronavirus don't have to choose between going to work sick and not getting paid.
"The government will continue discussions with the provinces without delay on ensuring that as we enter the recovery phase of the pandemic, every worker in Canada who needs it has access to 10 days of paid sick leave a year," Trudeau said. "We'll also consider other mechanisms for the longer term to support workers with sick leave." Yet Singh said the promise fell short of the NDP's demands.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Half of Canadians believe governments are hiding something about COVID-19: poll

Half of Canadians believe they 're not getting the whole truth from their governments about COVID-19 , a new poll suggests , and some also believe conspiracy theories about where the novel coronavirus began .
The most recent survey from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found 50 per cent of respondents felt governments were deliberately withholding information about the pandemic of the novel coronavirus , which has killed thousands and ground the economy to a halt .
`` It 's staggering , in a period where I believe trust has never been as high , '' said Leger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked respondents about their satisfaction with the measures governments were putting in place to fight COVID-19 .
Sixty-eight per cent said they were satisfied with what their local government is doing , 74 per cent with the federal government 's actions and 78 per cent with their provincial government .
Bourque found those numbers quite high , considering the results suggest people also seem to believe they are not getting the full picture .
• The new world order is disorder • How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law to help prevent abuse and events like N.S .
mass shooting The misgivings were greatest in Quebec , where 60 per cent of those polled believe governments are keeping secrets about the virus .
The province is also home to nearly 48,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday , as well as just over 4,000 deaths — the highest number in Canada .
The poll asked questions of 1,510 adult Canadians selected from its online panel between May 22 and May 25 .
Because of the way participants were recruited , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a margin of error .
Respondents were also asked whether they agree with nine theories circulating online about the coronavirus and how , or why , it came to be .
`` It 's basically stuff that 's been sort of thrown around the Internet , '' Bourque said of the theories put forward in the poll .
`` It 's stuff we saw go by and we started to make a list . ''
Few of those polled — 15 per cent or less — believe stories that philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , that there 's a link between the pandemic and 5G networks , or that COVID-19 never existed in the first place .
Half of Canadians say governments are hiding something about COVID-19 : poll More than a third of people , however , believe the virus was created in a lab , or by the Chinese government .
Nineteen per cent of respondents also said they believed the number of deaths related to COVID-19 is exaggerated .
More than half of respondents agreed with at least one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency have been the `` watch words '' of the federal government 's response to the pandemic from the beginning , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during his daily briefing Monday .
`` But we recognize there 's always more to do in terms of openness and transparency and we will continue to demonstrate that with Canadians because we know fundamentally there is an issue of trust and confidence . ''
He said if Canadians trust that their government is being open and truthful , they 'll be more likely to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26 , 2020 .

Half of Canadians believe they're not getting the whole truth from their governments about COVID-19, a new poll suggests, and some also believe conspiracy theories about where the novel coronavirus began. The most recent survey from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies found 50 per cent of respondents felt governments were deliberately withholding information about the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, which has killed thousands and ground the economy to a halt. "It's staggering, in a period where I believe trust has never been as high," said Leger vice-president Christian Bourque. The poll also asked respondents about their satisfaction with the measures governments were putting in place to fight COVID-19. Sixty-eight per cent said they were satisfied with what their local government is doing, 74 per cent with the federal government's actions and 78 per cent with their provincial government. Bourque found those numbers quite high, considering the results suggest people also seem to believe they are not getting the full picture.
The misgivings were greatest in Quebec, where 60 per cent of those polled believe governments are keeping secrets about the virus. The province is also home to nearly 48,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday, as well as just over 4,000 deaths — the highest number in Canada. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The poll asked questions of 1,510 adult Canadians selected from its online panel between May 22 and May 25. Because of the way participants were recruited, the internet-based poll cannot be assigned a margin of error.
Respondents were also asked whether they agree with nine theories circulating online about the coronavirus and how, or why, it came to be. Half of Canadians say governments are hiding something about COVID-19: poll "It's basically stuff that's been sort of thrown around the Internet," Bourque said of the theories put forward in the poll. "It's stuff we saw go by and we started to make a list." Few of those polled — 15 per cent or less — believe stories that philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is responsible for the spread of the coronavirus, that there's a link between the pandemic and 5G networks, or that COVID-19 never existed in the first place. More than a third of people, however, believe the virus was created in a lab, or by the Chinese government. Nineteen per cent of respondents also said they believed the number of deaths related to COVID-19 is exaggerated. More than half of respondents agreed with at least one of the nine theories put forward.
Openness and transparency have been the "watch words" of the federal government's response to the pandemic from the beginning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during his daily briefing Monday. "But we recognize there's always more to do in terms of openness and transparency and we will continue to demonstrate that with Canadians because we know fundamentally there is an issue of trust and confidence." He said if Canadians trust that their government is being open and truthful, they'll be more likely to continue to follow public health advice to curb the spread of the virus.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Ontario delays allowing larger gatherings as COVID cases rise

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to keep following public health orders heading into summer , as rising COVID-19 cases and high-profile misbehaviour in a Toronto park over the weekend threatened to derail Ontario 's reopening plans .
Canada 's most populous province , one of the hardest hit in the pandemic , had been contemplating letting more than one family to link up in so-called `` bubbles '' and allowing gatherings of more than five people .
But Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said Monday that the province 's top doctor is reluctant to loosen those rules yet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating groups that are too large , '' she said .
Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed frustration at the otherwise `` smart young people '' who crowded into Trinity Bellwoods Park in downtown Toronto on a warm , sunny Saturday .
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mass shooting `` It was like a rock concert without the band , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on display at Trinity Bellwoods was not a reason to reinstitute some of the restrictions already removed .
`` I 'm not going to punish the whole province because a group of people in Toronto ended up getting together , '' he said .
`` Like , 99.9 per cent of the people are phenomenal . ''
Ford encouraged anyone in the Trinity Bellwoods crowd to `` do us all a favour '' and get tested for the virus .
However , the province 's associate chief medical officer later said she recommends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and avoid coming into contact with high-risk people .
Ontario reported more than 400 new COVID-19 cases Monday for a fifth straight day , after posting daily growth numbers in the 200s and 300s earlier in the month .
It has now seen growth rates of between 1.5 and 1.9 per cent for 16 of the past 17 days .
Elliott said the rising numbers were likely due to Mother 's Day gatherings that flouted official guidelines .
Ford himself has admitted that two of his daughters who do n't live at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least six people .
The premier added officials will be keeping a sharp eye on the numbers and it 's too soon to say how they could play into Ontario 's future reopening plans .
`` Everything 's on the table , but we 're very cautious , '' he said .
`` As soon as we see these numbers climb a bit , you get a little gun shy . ''
In Ottawa , Trudeau said Canadians will have to keep adjusting their routines as the weather warms up .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to each community , '' he said .
`` That means the rules and public health recommendations you 're asked to follow may be different depending on where you live and that can be confusing . ''
But Trudeau said no matter where they live , everyone has the responsibility to try to stay two metres away from others , and wear a mask in public when physical distancing is n't possible .
Non-essential retail stores in Montreal opened Monday for the first time since March .
That was three weeks later than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lined up outside a downtown Zara clothing outlet were greeted by masked employees and a hand-sanitizing station .
Zuleyha Sen was shopping for her nearly eight-year-old son , who had outgrown his clothes .
Online orders have been delayed due to the pandemic .
`` I wo n't go in for a long time , I 'm just hoping to grab several things , '' she said .
Out West , in Calgary and the city of Brooks in southeastern Alberta , restaurants , bars , hair salons and barbershops that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening phase were also allowed to resume on Monday .
The delay in those cities was due to a high number of COVID-19 caseloads .
Meanwhile , Trudeau said he 'll push the provinces to give workers 10 days of paid sick leave a year — a measure the federal NDP has been urging to ensure no one has to choose between coming to work sick and losing income .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the move was a good first step , but he wants to see more action before his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House of Commons through the summer .
— with files from Allison Jones in Toronto , Morgan Lowrie in Montreal and Lee Berthiaume in Ottawa .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25 , 2020 .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to keep following public health orders heading into summer, as rising COVID-19 cases and high-profile misbehaviour in a Toronto park over the weekend threatened to derail Ontario's reopening plans. Canada's most populous province, one of the hardest hit in the pandemic, had been contemplating letting more than one family to link up in so-called "bubbles" and allowing gatherings of more than five people. But Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said Monday that the province's top doctor is reluctant to loosen those rules yet. "There is a concern with people creating groups that are too large," she said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed frustration at the otherwise "smart young people" who crowded into Trinity Bellwoods Park in downtown Toronto on a warm, sunny Saturday.
"It was like a rock concert without the band," he said Monday. But he said the recklessness on display at Trinity Bellwoods was not a reason to reinstitute some of the restrictions already removed. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "I'm not going to punish the whole province because a group of people in Toronto ended up getting together," he said. "Like, 99.9 per cent of the people are phenomenal."
Ford encouraged anyone in the Trinity Bellwoods crowd to "do us all a favour" and get tested for the virus. Ontario delays allowing bubble families, larger gatherings as COVID cases rise However, the province's associate chief medical officer later said she recommends they watch for symptoms for 14 days and avoid coming into contact with high-risk people. Ontario reported more than 400 new COVID-19 cases Monday for a fifth straight day, after posting daily growth numbers in the 200s and 300s earlier in the month. It has now seen growth rates of between 1.5 and 1.9 per cent for 16 of the past 17 days. Elliott said the rising numbers were likely due to Mother's Day gatherings that flouted official guidelines. Ford himself has admitted that two of his daughters who don't live at home visited that weekend in a group of at least six people. The premier added officials will be keeping a sharp eye on the numbers and it's too soon to say how they could play into Ontario's future reopening plans.
"Everything's on the table, but we're very cautious," he said. "As soon as we see these numbers climb a bit, you get a little gun shy." In Ottawa, Trudeau said Canadians will have to keep adjusting their routines as the weather warms up. "Our approach will have to be tailored to each community," he said.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Trudeau, Singh pressed on why federal parties asking for COVID-19 wage subsidy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced multiple questions Monday on why his party applied for a federal wage subsidy program for organizations facing economic hardship due to COVID-19 .
The Liberals , Conservatives , New Democrats and the Greens have all applied for the program , which sees the government cover up to 75 per cent of a worker 's salary , to a maximum of $ 847 a week per employee .
The program is meant for companies that have suffered major losses of revenue as a result of the pandemic , though it also covers non-profits and charities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ why his party needed to access that support , speaking only broadly about the aim of the program .
`` We know families across the country depend on the jobs that they do to pay groceries , pay for the rent .
That 's why we put in place a wage subsidy that is available to small businesses , large business , non-profits and charities to be able to support people who might otherwise be laid off , '' he said .
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mass shooting `` This is going to be an important part of the economy bouncing back . ''
To be eligible , a company or organization must have seen its revenues from January and February decline by 15 per cent in March or 30 per cent in April and May .
In the first three months of 2020 , the Conservatives raised around $ 3.8 million , the Liberals around $ 2.8 million and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were down from the last non-election year , and all three have said they 've dropped further since the COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down the country in mid- to late March .
At the same times , costs continue to be incurred .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday they did n't want their staff to lose their jobs .
`` It was a simple decision when we saw loss of revenue at the party level and workers potentially being laid off , losing their jobs and having to go onto other programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his party 's choice to apply for the program .
`` This is exactly what the wage subsidy is for , to ensure that workers remain connected to their jobs and we believe that 's important . ''
Singh said the NDP will be topping up their staff salaries so their paycheques remain unchanged .
The Conservatives have said they applied as well to account for the higher costs incurred by the switch to off-site work .
The party also has a leadership contest under way .
Three out of the four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Erin O'Toole — have spoken out against the decision by the party to apply for the subsidy program .
O'Toole has said if he wins , the party wo n't take the subsidy and will over time repay the amount collected .
Currently , the subsidy runs out on Aug. 29 .
The vote for Conservative leadership ends on Aug. 21 , with the winner expected to be announced a few days later .
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet , whose party did not apply , called the decision to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular , unacceptable .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced multiple questions Monday on why his party applied for a federal wage subsidy program for organizations facing economic hardship due to COVID-19. The Liberals, Conservatives, New Democrats and the Greens have all applied for the program, which sees the government cover up to 75 per cent of a worker's salary, to a maximum of $847 a week per employee. The program is meant for companies that have suffered major losses of revenue as a result of the pandemic, though it also covers non-profits and charities. Trudeau didn't answer repeated questions about why his party needed to access that support, speaking only broadly about the aim of the program. "We know families across the country depend on the jobs that they do to pay groceries, pay for the rent. That's why we put in place a wage subsidy that is available to small businesses, large business, non-profits and charities to be able to support people who might otherwise be laid off," he said.
"This is going to be an important part of the economy bouncing back." To be eligible, a company or organization must have seen its revenues from January and February decline by 15 per cent in March or 30 per cent in April and May. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In the first three months of 2020, the Conservatives raised around $3.8 million, the Liberals around $2.8 million and the NDP around $964,000.
The donations were down from the last non-election year, and all three have said they've dropped further since the COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down the country in mid- to late March. Trudeau, Singh pressed on parties' decisions to access COVID-19 wage subsidy At the same times, costs continue to be incurred. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Monday they didn't want their staff to lose their jobs. "It was a simple decision when we saw loss of revenue at the party level and workers potentially being laid off, losing their jobs and having to go onto other programs like the CERB," he said of his party's choice to apply for the program. "This is exactly what the wage subsidy is for, to ensure that workers remain connected to their jobs and we believe that's important."
Singh said the NDP will be topping up their staff salaries so their paycheques remain unchanged. The Conservatives have said they applied as well to account for the higher costs incurred by the switch to off-site work. The party also has a leadership contest under way.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Sonya Savage says gathering limits mean its a 'great time to be building a pipeline'

Alberta 's energy minister says it 's a good time to build a pipeline because public health restrictions limit protests against them .
Sonya Savage made the comment Friday on a podcast hosted by the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors .
She was asked about progress of the Trans Mountain Expansion project , which is under construction on its route between Edmonton and Vancouver .
`` Now is a great time to be building a pipeline because you ca n't have protests of more than 15 people , '' Savage said .
`` Let 's get it built .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawful protests , '' said Kavi Bal .
`` I would note that the limitations to public gatherings ... have benefited no one — including project proponents and any opposition groups . ''
Both Alberta and B.C .
have increased their limits to 50 people for outdoor gatherings .
Gathering limits make it a 'great time to be building a pipeline : ' Alberta minister Irfan Sabir , the Opposition New Democrat energy critic , called Savage 's comments more of the same for the government .
`` These comments do not come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The UCP have already used the pandemic as an excuse to suspend environmental monitoring .
When combined with the minister ’ s latest comments , this will harm the reputation of Alberta ’ s energy industry and inhibit our ability to attract investment and get our product to market . ''
The premier defended the right to protest in the case of a man recently arrested at the legislature as he was protesting against public health lockdown orders .
Kenney said at the time that he would modify such orders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right , as long as guidelines were being respected .
The government has less tolerance for civil disobedience .
In February , it introduced legislation imposing stiff fines and possible jail terms for protesters who damage or even interfere with the operation of a wide range of energy infrastructure — although such acts are already illegal .
The bill has passed and awaits royal assent to come into force .
A similar bill carrying increased trespassing punishments for animal rights protesters at agricultural facilities came into force in December .
This report by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 , 2020

Alberta's energy minister says it's a good time to build a pipeline because public health restrictions limit protests against them. Sonya Savage made the comment Friday on a podcast hosted by the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors. She was asked about progress of the Trans Mountain Expansion project, which is under construction on its route between Edmonton and Vancouver. "Now is a great time to be building a pipeline because you can't have protests of more than 15 people," Savage said. "Let's get it built." While the interviewer laughs, Savage does not. Unprompted, Savage goes on to suggest that the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic favours pipeline construction.
"People are not going to have tolerance and patience for protests that get in the way of people working," she said on the podcast, which was posted on the association's website. "People need jobs and those types of ideological protests that get in the way are not going to be tolerated by ordinary Canadians." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Savage's spokesman acknowledged in an email that she was on the podcast.
"We respect the right to lawful protests," said Kavi Bal. Gathering limits make it a 'great time to be building a pipeline:' Alberta minister "I would note that the limitations to public gatherings ... have benefited no one — including project proponents and any opposition groups." Both Alberta and B.C. have increased their limits to 50 people for outdoor gatherings. Irfan Sabir, the Opposition New Democrat energy critic, called Savage's comments more of the same for the government. "These comments do not come as a shock," he said.
"The UCP have already used the pandemic as an excuse to suspend environmental monitoring. When combined with the minister’s latest comments, this will harm the reputation of Alberta’s energy industry and inhibit our ability to attract investment and get our product to market." Jason Kenney's United Conservative government has a mixed record on protesters. The premier defended the right to protest in the case of a man recently arrested at the legislature as he was protesting against public health lockdown orders. Kenney said at the time that he would modify such orders to ensure they didn't interfere with that right, as long as guidelines were being respected.