nationalobserver--2020-05-07--COVID-19 news tsunami begs responsible journalism

“ The 2019-nCoV outbreak and response has been accompanied by a massive ‘ infodemic ’ - an over-abundance of information — some accurate and some not — that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it.
” In a pandemic , facts ( not alternate facts ) are essential to survival .
On March 9 , the French government issued a warning statement , fearing a run on straws , in response to doctored images circulating on Twitter which suggested cocaine kills the coronavirus .
Another story promoted ingestion of bleach as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rumour spread that people there were being used as guinea pigs to test a new COVID-19 vaccine .
The Nigerian magazine Punch advised men to shave their beards in order to avoid coronavirus , misusing CDC instructional images for applying face masks .
Other rumours suggested herbal remedies or a warm climate reduced risk of infection .
FOX News viewers have somehow gotten the idea a vaccine is just around the corner .
`` The primary drivers of panic are the density and nature of news media coverage and the uninformed opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first global 'infodemic . '
'' Perhaps the top conspiracy theory out there involves COVID-19 as a biological weapon either developed in the U.S. and stolen by China or escaped from a Chinese laboratory ( intentionally or otherwise ) .
Although a Pentagon investigation determined this theory to be wholly unfounded , the rumour has proven to be determinedly fact-resistant .
An April 18 FOX News story stated “ Bret Baier says officials ‘ 100 per cent convinced that China covered up quickly ’ after coronavirus outbreak.
” U.S. President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One would expect most people to readily identify these stories as utter nonsense .
However , governments and agencies like the WHO are expending valuable resources to combat fake news , resources which would be better spent elsewhere .
More impactful , however , is simply the overwhelming mass of 24-7 news coverage , much of which is sensationalistic .
Compare the words of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , “ Most people will have mild disease and get better without needing any special care , ” with the April 18 Global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada approach 1,500 ; 33,000 people diagnosed.
” The article began , “ Canada surpassed 33,000 cases of the novel coronavirus on Saturday as the prime minister announced the extension of the U.S. border closure and the military was deployed to long-term-care homes in Montreal .
The national death toll stood at 1,470 as of Saturday evening , with over half of the fatalities in Quebec.
” Buried further in was the information that more than 11,000 Canadians have recovered from COVID-19 .
“ If it bleeds , it leads.
” The public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dramatic headlines , conflicting information , fake news , talking heads and theatrical news anchors staring worriedly out into television-land , most imparting a similar doomsday spin on COVID-19 .
There is a public appetite for sensationalism .
A foundational element of good journalism , however , is factual reporting .

None of these annual deaths or previous pandemics had the global impact of COVID-19, which has shut down the developed world and resulted in worldwide mass hysteria. The primary drivers of panic are the density and nature of news media coverage and the uninformed opinion forums of social media. This is the first global “infodemic.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Early on, the WHO addressed the potential for damaging fake news: “Due to the high demand for timely and trustworthy information about 2019-nCoV, WHO technical risk communication and social media teams have been working closely to track and respond to myths and rumours. Through its headquarters in Geneva, its six regional offices and its partners, the Organization is working 24 hours a day to identify the most prevalent rumours that can potentially harm the public’s health, such as false prevention measures or cures. These myths are then refuted with evidence-based information. Country risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) is a critical public-health intervention in all countries.”
In a pandemic, facts (not alternate facts) are essential to survival. "The primary drivers of panic are the density and nature of news media coverage and the uninformed opinion forums of social media. This is the first global 'infodemic.'" Unfortunately, COVID-19 is myth-inspiring. On March 9, the French government issued a warning statement, fearing a run on straws, in response to doctored images circulating on Twitter which suggested cocaine kills the coronavirus. Another story promoted ingestion of bleach as a surefire cure. In Africa, a rumour spread that people there were being used as guinea pigs to test a new COVID-19 vaccine. The Nigerian magazine Punch advised men to shave their beards in order to avoid coronavirus, misusing CDC instructional images for applying face masks. Other rumours suggested herbal remedies or a warm climate reduced risk of infection. FOX News viewers have somehow gotten the idea a vaccine is just around the corner. Perhaps the top conspiracy theory out there involves COVID-19 as a biological weapon either developed in the U.S. and stolen by China or escaped from a Chinese laboratory (intentionally or otherwise). Although a Pentagon investigation determined this theory to be wholly unfounded, the rumour has proven to be determinedly fact-resistant. An April 18 FOX News story stated “Bret Baier says officials ‘100 per cent convinced that China covered up quickly’ after coronavirus outbreak.” U.S. President Donald Trump has warned China there would be consequences. One would expect most people to readily identify these stories as utter nonsense. However, governments and agencies like the WHO are expending valuable resources to combat fake news, resources which would be better spent elsewhere.
More impactful, however, is simply the overwhelming mass of 24-7 news coverage, much of which is sensationalistic. Compare the words of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “Most people will have mild disease and get better without needing any special care,” with the April 18 Global News headline, “Coronavirus deaths in Canada approach 1,500; 33,000 people diagnosed.” The article began, “Canada surpassed 33,000 cases of the novel coronavirus on Saturday as the prime minister announced the extension of the U.S. border closure and the military was deployed to long-term-care homes in Montreal. The national death toll stood at 1,470 as of Saturday evening, with over half of the fatalities in Quebec.” Buried further in was the information that more than 11,000 Canadians have recovered from COVID-19. “If it bleeds, it leads.” The public is confronted daily with a ceaseless deluge of dramatic headlines, conflicting information, fake news, talking heads and theatrical news anchors staring worriedly out into television-land, most imparting a similar doomsday spin on COVID-19. There is a public appetite for sensationalism.


nationalobserver--2020-05-08--Increased use of PPE during COVID-19 hasn't driven up garbage disposal in Toronto

As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through country after country , it leaves behind piles of discarded medical masks , gloves and gowns .
In Wuhan , China , where the virus originated , the local government had to build a new medical waste treatment plant to handle the sudden flood of potentially contaminated gear from hospitals .
And in France , one plant had to start running 24 hours per day .
But Ontario seems to have avoided that problem .
At a major network of hospitals in Toronto , the epicentre of Ontario ’ s outbreak , the overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up even though more personal protective equipment ( PPE ) is going into the trash , said Edward Rubinstein , director of environmental compliance , energy and sustainability at the University Health Network ( UHN ) .
“ A lot of our garbage is probably not happening these days , ” he said .
A large part of that is likely due to Ontario ’ s pause on elective surgeries , Rubenstein added .
In the U.S. , operating rooms tend to produce a third of overall hospital waste and two-thirds of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood and bodily fluids , according to the health-care sustainability organization Practice Greenhealth .
• Ontario 's purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say Hospitals like those in the University Health Network — which includes the Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals — are also doing more virtual care during the pandemic , which also lessens the strain on garbage disposal .
COVID-19 also hasn ’ t changed the way hospitals process medical waste — the Public Health Agency of Canada , for example , recommends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that means the discarded items are either incinerated or disinfected , then disposed of in a landfill .
“ You treat everything like it ’ s potentially infectious , Rubinstein said .
“ Even before COVID-19 … we don ’ t want to spread infections in the hospital.
” Stericycle Canada , a company that processes medical waste , says it has seen an increase in demand , but nothing that would interrupt its services .
“ There has also been some increase in biomedical waste generation due to pop-up sites for testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vice-president of government affairs and compliance at Stericycle , in an emailed statement .
“ However , we are also seeing declines in biomedical waste from non-critical or elective surgeries and the temporary closures of smaller health-care practices.
” COVID-19 is causing more discarded gloves and masks to end up in the trash .
But with so much of the province shut down , overall waste levels haven ’ t gone up in Toronto like they did in Wuhan and France .
Please dispose of masks , gloves , wipes , tissues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the garbage .
Remember to bag all garbage .
Only put waste bins out for collection when full and do not put out any unnecessary waste .
https : //t.co/suNmU9TebV pic.twitter.com/g2vwx6JWlK — City of Toronto ( @ cityoftoronto ) April 27 , 2020 Overall waste levels down during pandemic A similar phenomenon appears to be happening with household waste as well .
The City of Toronto — which manages waste collection for municipal facilities , most residences and some other small businesses or organizations like churches — has reported more garbage going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because more people are home .
But overall , it says , waste levels are 17 per cent lower compared to last year .
( The city doesn ’ t collect trash from hospitals or large institutions . )
“ One point to note is that collection from schools , city buildings , and small commercial businesses including restaurants is not taking place to the same extent at this time due to emergency measures put in place as part of the COVID-19 response , ” wrote Carlyle Khan , Toronto ’ s acting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , in an email .
Though Toronto is asking residents to bag up PPE and personal hygiene products when throwing them out at home , that ’ s a “ precaution , ” Khan added .
'Hopefully , this will inspire people to be a lot more innovative ' Rubenstein said COVID-19 has highlighted how much the medical system relies on single-use products , and the challenges that can come with that .
For months , face masks and other PPE have been in short supply and jurisdictions around the world are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their medical workers .
“ There ’ s always been a lot of single-use items in health care , ” he said .
“ COVID-19 has highlighted some of the supply-chain issues , especially when you ’ re relying on disposables.
” But that challenge also creates an opportunity for innovation , he said .
Researchers are now looking at how to sanitize and reuse N95 respirators , for example , which offer the most protection from the virus .
And once the pandemic is over , Rubenstein added , we will still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other environmental impacts .
“ Hopefully , this will inspire people to be a lot more innovative , ” he said .

As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps through country after country, it leaves behind piles of discarded medical masks, gloves and gowns. In Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, the local government had to build a new medical waste treatment plant to handle the sudden flood of potentially contaminated gear from hospitals. And in France, one plant had to start running 24 hours per day. But Ontario seems to have avoided that problem. At a major network of hospitals in Toronto, the epicentre of Ontario’s outbreak, the overall flow of garbage hasn’t gone up even though more personal protective equipment (PPE) is going into the trash, said Edward Rubinstein, director of environmental compliance, energy and sustainability at the University Health Network (UHN). “A lot of our garbage is probably not happening these days,” he said. A large part of that is likely due to Ontario’s pause on elective surgeries, Rubenstein added. In the U.S., operating rooms tend to produce a third of overall hospital waste and two-thirds of those facilities’ biohazardous waste, like human blood and bodily fluids, according to the health-care sustainability organization Practice Greenhealth.
Hospitals like those in the University Health Network — which includes the Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals — are also doing more virtual care during the pandemic, which also lessens the strain on garbage disposal. COVID-19 also hasn’t changed the way hospitals process medical waste — the Public Health Agency of Canada, for example, recommends “routine practices.” In Ontario, that means the discarded items are either incinerated or disinfected, then disposed of in a landfill. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “You treat everything like it’s potentially infectious, Rubinstein said. “Even before COVID-19 … we don’t want to spread infections in the hospital.”
Stericycle Canada, a company that processes medical waste, says it has seen an increase in demand, but nothing that would interrupt its services. COVID-19 is causing more discarded gloves and masks to end up in the trash. But with so much of the province shut down, overall waste levels haven’t gone up in Toronto like they did in Wuhan and France. “There has also been some increase in biomedical waste generation due to pop-up sites for testing and/or treatment,” wrote Selin Hoboy, vice-president of government affairs and compliance at Stericycle, in an emailed statement. “However, we are also seeing declines in biomedical waste from non-critical or elective surgeries and the temporary closures of smaller health-care practices.” Please dispose of masks, gloves, wipes, tissues, sanitary napkins and personal hygiene products in the garbage. Remember to bag all garbage. Only put waste bins out for collection when full and do not put out any unnecessary waste. https://t.co/suNmU9TebV pic.twitter.com/g2vwx6JWlK — City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) April 27, 2020
Overall waste levels down during pandemic A similar phenomenon appears to be happening with household waste as well.


nationalobserver--2020-05-07--Conservative campaigns weave tangled webs of allegations

With 10 days to go to sign up voters for the federal Conservative leadership race , all four contenders are intensifying efforts to shore up support .
Erin O'Toole and Peter MacKay appear locked in a fight for frontrunner status , with Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan rounding out the slate .
Candidates have to do a delicate two-step dance to win the race : first , sign up new members whose votes they can count on .
Then , convert others to rank them second on the preferential ballot the party uses .
For all four that means appealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it is the social conservatives backing Lewis and Sloan or beyond the old `` Red '' Tories seen as aligned with MacKay and O ’ Toole .
The delicate dance to assemble a winning coalition has sometimes been a comedy of errors , exposing the tangled nature of conservative politics in Canada .
• Ontario 's purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say It 's a web longtime Conservative Shelly Glover found herself caught up in this week .
The former Conservative cabinet minister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was among a handful of MPs who in 2012 supported efforts to widen legal protection for transgender rights .
Glover declared in March that she was backing MacKay .
But when MacKay 's leadership campaign put out an email to supporters last week calling that 2012 effort a `` bathroom bill '' — a label seen as highly derogatory , implying that predatory men will use transgender rights to enter women 's public washrooms — she was disappointed .
Glover made her concerns known over the weekend during a campaign call with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province she calls home .
An audio recording of her remarks was obtained by The Canadian Press .
`` I was participating with Peter MacKay 's leadership , and I have today withdrawn my support , '' she told participants in what sounded like a win for O'Toole .
But Glover said afterward she did n't actually break from MacKay .
She said she made O'Toole aware of that , and her decision to `` withdraw support '' for MacKay means she wo n't try to sign up new Conservatives to vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for leader .
`` It 's sad when I 'm trying to make sure the two men I respect know that I remain committed to always helping the LGBTQ community feel accepted and loved ... then some anonymous source interprets it differently to make trouble that does n't exist , '' Glover said in an email to The Canadian Press .
`` I strongly condemn the wording ( of the message from MacKay 's campaign ) and will not defend it .
Peter is a great leader and I do n't believe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' MacKay 's `` bathroom bill '' email came after the release of fundraising data by Elections Canada late last week , saying that in the first three months of 2020 , the MacKay campaign raised $ 1.045 million to O'Toole 's $ 785,000 .
But , O'Toole 's campaign argued , what of MacKay 's March 5 boast that he 'd raised $ 1 million already ?
If that were true , then he only brought in $ 40,000 in most of March , and therefore must be losing , his team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , suggesting the fundraising data actually put her in the No .
2 position for the balance of March .
Fully parsed , the Elections Canada data suggested about 80 per cent of MacKay 's $ 1 million was in the party 's hands as of March 5 , and the balance made its way to party coffers after .
Lewis tossed the ball back to MacKay , saying he had to justify his March 1 tweet .
Just as the fundraising numbers were released , the MacKay campaign invited supporters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` special announcement . ''
The telephone line was n't working properly , however , so the announcement was delayed , a statement from the campaign said that night .
But , staff and MacKay , were on the line at the appointed time and discussed the events of the day .
The Canadian Press had also dialled in to hear the scheduled announcement and was able to hear some , but not all , of the discussion .
MacKay grumbled about the O'Toole campaign 's spinning of the fundraising numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of detail .
The discussion shifted to how to respond , with one participant suggesting the MacKay campaign send O'Toole 's email back out marked up with a red slash across it , `` like a schoolteacher . ''
Though this decision was n't audible on the call , the route MacKay 's campaign ended up choosing was to send out an email accusing O'Toole of being a liar .
It hit email inboxes just as MacKay himself was telling supporters on the rescheduled evening call that he intended to take the high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also included that reference to the 2012 transgender-rights bill , apparently attacking O'Toole 's support for it .
MacKay has promised repeatedly he 'd be a staunch defender and promoter of LGBTQ rights .
His campaign later walked back the statement , saying he would support the 2012 bill now and would n't use that language again .
The reference had been included in the email `` in haste , '' the campaign said .
While all four candidates jockey for position , Ontario MP Scott Reid has pointed out that being someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the party 's use of a preferential ballot .
After Sloan asked whether Canada 's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam actually works for China amid the COVID-19 pandemic , the Conservative MPs from Ontario voted to threaten him with expulsion from their ranks — a move O'Toole opposed .
Reid used social media to lay out some of the politics at play .
If Sloan were booted out of the caucus , he 'd have to be out of the leadership race , Reid argued .
`` But since he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Answer : A finalist who ca n't capture the second-ballot support of Sloan voters benefits if there are no first-ballot Sloan votes , '' Reid wrote in a lengthy Twitter post .
`` Under the CPC 's preferential ballot system , the second-ballot preferences of Sloan supporters could determine who becomes our next leader .
Someone wants to get rid of him . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5 , 2020 .

With 10 days to go to sign up voters for the federal Conservative leadership race, all four contenders are intensifying efforts to shore up support. Erin O'Toole and Peter MacKay appear locked in a fight for frontrunner status, with Leslyn Lewis and Derek Sloan rounding out the slate. Candidates have to do a delicate two-step dance to win the race: first, sign up new members whose votes they can count on. Then, convert others to rank them second on the preferential ballot the party uses. For all four that means appealing to potential supporters beyond their bases, whether it is the social conservatives backing Lewis and Sloan or beyond the old "Red" Tories seen as aligned with MacKay and O’Toole. The delicate dance to assemble a winning coalition has sometimes been a comedy of errors, exposing the tangled nature of conservative politics in Canada.
It's a web longtime Conservative Shelly Glover found herself caught up in this week. The former Conservative cabinet minister, who left her Winnipeg seat in 2015, was among a handful of MPs who in 2012 supported efforts to widen legal protection for transgender rights. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Glover declared in March that she was backing MacKay.
But when MacKay's leadership campaign put out an email to supporters last week calling that 2012 effort a "bathroom bill" — a label seen as highly derogatory, implying that predatory men will use transgender rights to enter women's public washrooms — she was disappointed. Conservative campaigns weave tangled webs of allegations as race intensifies Glover made her concerns known over the weekend during a campaign call with O'Toole and conservatives in Manitoba, the province she calls home. An audio recording of her remarks was obtained by The Canadian Press. "I was participating with Peter MacKay's leadership, and I have today withdrawn my support," she told participants in what sounded like a win for O'Toole. But Glover said afterward she didn't actually break from MacKay. She said she made O'Toole aware of that, and her decision to "withdraw support" for MacKay means she won't try to sign up new Conservatives to vote for him. But she still backs him for leader.
"It's sad when I'm trying to make sure the two men I respect know that I remain committed to always helping the LGBTQ community feel accepted and loved ... then some anonymous source interprets it differently to make trouble that doesn't exist," Glover said in an email to The Canadian Press. "I strongly condemn the wording (of the message from MacKay's campaign) and will not defend it. Peter is a great leader and I don't believe he was involved in writing that release." MacKay's "bathroom bill" email came after the release of fundraising data by Elections Canada late last week, saying that in the first three months of 2020, the MacKay campaign raised $1.045 million to O'Toole's $785,000.


nationalobserver--2020-05-07--Tourism operators left to wrestle with B.C.'s COVID-19 reopening plan

B.C .
tourism operators being crushed by COVID-19 are hopeful but confused about how the critical summer season will unfold after the province unveiled its plan to reopen the economy on Wednesday .
Premier John Horgan announced B.C.
’ s phased action plan to lift some of its COVID-19 restrictions around the economy , schools and health services starting mid-May .
Horgan made clear that residents and visitors should continue to stay home and not travel from their communities during the upcoming May long weekend unless it was essential .
“ The best course of action is to stay closer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer , ” Horgan said .
Starting in June — if virus transmission rates stay low — campgrounds can open and tourism operators can offer services to visitors if they can stick to physical-distancing and safety protocols .
• Ontario 's purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say But Horgan also cautioned those thinking about visiting smaller , isolated resort communities .
“ But again , you also have to acknowledge and recognize the permanent residents in those communities may not have access to acute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus , ” he said .
Following the announcement , tourism operators said they are getting mixed messages , and are worried and unsure about how to proceed .
Lynden McMartin , Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce ( DICC ) president and general manager of Taku Resort on Quadra Island , said the sector needs more clarification from government .
“ It ’ s the announcement everybody has been waiting for , ” said McMartin .
“ But it ’ s a little cryptic.
” On the one hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it might be able to operate in June , but there are no timelines about lifting recommendations from BC Ferries or health authorities to avoid non-essential travel , McMartin said .
“ Those businesses aren ’ t going to be just flinging open the doors and say , come all and come everyone .
They are going to do it cautiously and follow guidelines , ” North Island MLA Claire Trevena on B.C .
tourism businesses during COVID-19 reopening .
“ It ’ s a contradictory statement .
We need further definition around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to look like , ” he said .
“ They are telling me to open in June , but telling people not to come here .
It ’ s difficult for me to know exactly what to do.
” The DICC was one of the groups that supported the Quadra community ’ s request that people avoid visiting the island during the COVID-19 crisis .
There hasn ’ t been time to consult with DICC members or make any decisions around maintaining or retracting the advisory since the government introduced its reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ d like to see a cautious return with visitors … where we maintain distancing , and steps like that , ” he said .
“ We do have an economy that has to get along somehow.
” The Discovery Islands off the east coast of Vancouver Island — like many of B.C.
’ s coastal destinations — are eco-tourism havens for boaters , kayakers , whale watchers , fishing enthusiasts , and campers during the summer months .
The region ’ s two most populous islands , Quadra and Cortes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents , can see population numbers double or triple during the high season , and tourism is vital for their economies .
Both communities have issued public statements asking visitors not to come to the islands during the COVID-19 crisis .
Carmen Amberson , general manager of Gowlland Harbour Resort on Quadra Island , says the government ’ s lack of clear direction around travel guidelines leaves her in a difficult position .
She doesn ’ t know whether to take bookings or how to determine who can or ca n't visit without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course of action is open to different interpretations by everybody , whether it ’ s resort operators , residents or visitors , she said .
“ I ’ m walking a very thin line between doing what ’ s best for the health of clients and the community , and still maintaining my business , and doing what ’ s right for everybody , ” Amberson said .
The lack of clarity about guests also makes it difficult to gauge what staffing levels Amberson might need moving forward .
She closed the resort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hires 45 people at the height of the season .
“ I can ’ t even begin to think about what staff to bring on right now , which breaks my heart , ” she said .
Anthony Everett , Tourism Vancouver Island president and CEO , said tourism operators across Vancouver Island and B.C .
are trying to sort out similar dilemmas .
Hotels and resorts were never actually ordered to close by the province and health authorities , but many did shut down in the spring due to uncertainty fed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everett , Tourism Vancouver Island president and CEO , said industry organizations like his will help the sector 's businesses and operators devise plans and protocols to open safely in June .
Photo : courtesy Tourism Vancouver Island .
Public health is still paramount , he said , but the tourism sector is facing ambiguity about how to proceed .
“ There are questions that are still not clear after the announcement ( Wednesday ) , and I hope in the days ahead , we ’ ll get some clarity , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vancouver Island will help operators plan and make the changes to meet COVID-19 ’ s distancing and public health protocols .
Each operator is also expected to devise an individual plan to protect the health of clients and staff and post it publicly , according to the province .
But even if tourist operators devise plans , they do n't guarantee them business , Everett said .
“ The question is : Who is coming ?
I don ’ t have the answer to that , ” he said .
Typically , American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B.C .
's tourism sector , but borders are unlikely to open soon , Everett noted .
“ My own view is that this will be a very slow and gradual return , and it will be focused on a hyper-local market.
” B.C .
's tourism sector generates $ 20.5 billion annually , and it contributed more to the province ’ s GDP than any other primary resource industry , according to 2018 data .
There are 19,329 tourism-related businesses and 161,500 people employed in the sector provincewide .
North Island MLA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourism sector in B.C .
will be gradual and follow public health guidelines .
File photo : Courtesy of the B.C .
government North Island MLA Claire Trevena said she understands the frustrations of the region ’ s tourism operators and how important its revenue and jobs are to local economies .
However , the reopening of the tourism sector has to be measured and adhere to public health guidelines , she said , adding outstanding questions are being examined .
“ We don ’ t have all the answers right now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find a safe way of operating.
” Visitors to the islands later this summer will still be expected to maintain coronavirus-distancing protocols and take precautions for residents ’ sake , Trevena said .
However , she ’ s also confident the region ’ s tourist operators will take steps to open responsibly and keep guests , staff and surrounding communities safe , she said .
“ Those businesses aren ’ t going to be just flinging open the doors and say , come all and come everyone .
They are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trevena said .
“ As Dr. ( Bonnie ) Henry says : Be kind … respect the fact that your neighbours aren ’ t going to be risking the health of the community .
At least , I hope that ’ s how our community would approach it .
”

B.C. tourism operators being crushed by COVID-19 are hopeful but confused about how the critical summer season will unfold after the province unveiled its plan to reopen the economy on Wednesday. Premier John Horgan announced B.C.’s phased action plan to lift some of its COVID-19 restrictions around the economy, schools and health services starting mid-May. Horgan made clear that residents and visitors should continue to stay home and not travel from their communities during the upcoming May long weekend unless it was essential. “The best course of action is to stay closer to home until we get further into the summer,” Horgan said. Starting in June — if virus transmission rates stay low — campgrounds can open and tourism operators can offer services to visitors if they can stick to physical-distancing and safety protocols.
But Horgan also cautioned those thinking about visiting smaller, isolated resort communities. “But again, you also have to acknowledge and recognize the permanent residents in those communities may not have access to acute care facilities and may be concerned about the spread of the virus,” he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Following the announcement, tourism operators said they are getting mixed messages, and are worried and unsure about how to proceed.
Lynden McMartin, Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce (DICC) president and general manager of Taku Resort on Quadra Island, said the sector needs more clarification from government. “Those businesses aren’t going to be just flinging open the doors and say, come all and come everyone. They are going to do it cautiously and follow guidelines,” North Island MLA Claire Trevena on B.C. tourism businesses during COVID-19 reopening. “It’s the announcement everybody has been waiting for,” said McMartin. “But it’s a little cryptic.” On the one hand, the tourist sector has been told it might be able to operate in June, but there are no timelines about lifting recommendations from BC Ferries or health authorities to avoid non-essential travel, McMartin said. “It’s a contradictory statement. We need further definition around essential travel and what it’s going to look like,” he said. “They are telling me to open in June, but telling people not to come here. It’s difficult for me to know exactly what to do.”
The DICC was one of the groups that supported the Quadra community’s request that people avoid visiting the island during the COVID-19 crisis. There hasn’t been time to consult with DICC members or make any decisions around maintaining or retracting the advisory since the government introduced its reopening plan, McMartin said. “Personally, I’d like to see a cautious return with visitors … where we maintain distancing, and steps like that,” he said.


nationalobserver--2020-05-07--What our best and brightest are pretty sure is happening with wildlife

Salamander Night is a time of cheap thrills for the naturalists of Nova Scotia , requiring only a flashlight on the first rainy evening in April over 9°C .
Under these conditions several of the province ’ s amphibians depart their wintering grounds for the ponds in which they ’ ll soon breed , and no species is more noteworthy in this short , seasonal migration than the Spotted salamander , who , about a decade ago , was caught breaking the rules of biology .
This unassuming salamander , it turns out , hosts photosynthetic algae in the cells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of having solar panels strapped to one ’ s back .
These algae produce oxygen and carbohydrates metabolized by the cell , and in return the cell provides a wealth of waste nitrogen - microbial miracle grow .
Such symbioses were thought to be impossible among vertebrates , equipped as we are with exceedingly hostile immune systems , primed to pounce on anything not recognized as “ self , ” which is a pretty useful trait during a pandemic .
Not only is the Spotted salamander special in this regard , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Night , which , this year , began April 13th in southern Nova Scotia .
It was declared over Facebook by retired ecologist and conservation biologist Sherman Boates , a veteran of both Acadia University and the Wildlife Division of Nova Scotia ’ s Department of Natural Resources , forcing enthusiasts into the darkness of rural Nova Scotia where their flashlights fell on these remarkable amphibians , exciting cellular algae with artificial photons .
Populations of the Spotted salamander have been on a steady decline for sometime now , said Sherman , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads where they ’ re routinely crushed .
In fact , cars pose a greater threat to this long lived salamander than any other , some individuals known to live 35 years , their reproductive potential dashed over the asphalt en masse .
But Salamander Night 2020 ( which actually lasts 7-10 days ) turned out differently .
Scanning the roads of rural Nova Scotia , as he has many years prior , Sherman encountered remarkably few fatalities .
• Ontario 's purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were run over , and we saw no cars , ” he said .
“ People aren ’ t going out as much , so there isn ’ t as much traffic density and wildlife isn ’ t being disturbed or killed nearly as often.
” For the first time , Sherman found clear evidence that the Spotted salamander , and in fact all species contending with the iron chariots of humanity , were going to have a very good year .
As Canadians spend an inordinate length of time indoors , satisfying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media , we ’ ve been inundated with heartening stories of wildlife flourishing in our widespread absence from roads , beaches and city streets , some faked , but many genuine , such as deer and coyotes finding the abandoned heart of some metropolis , or turtles laying their eggs in sands untrampled by tourists .
We can be certain that things are changing out there , even if the people best equipped to interpret those changes are relegated to their living rooms , left with only an educated guess .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trouble at this point , ” said Sherman Boates .
“ Hopefully scientists will get around to evaluating all this.
” `` As Canadians spend time indoors , satisfying our communicative impulses with heavy doses of social media , we ’ ve been inundated with heartening stories of wildlife flourishing in our widespread absence from roads , beaches and city streets . ''
Suzanne MacDonald is a psychology professor at York University who studies animal cognition , from the rabbits in her backyard all the way to Kenya , where she would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 , working with lions , elephants , hyenas and a suite of primates .
She ’ s dedicated her career to understanding how animals think , in order that we might better conserve and co-exist .
She has spent a great deal of time studying raccoons in the Greater Toronto Area and how they ’ ve adapted themselves to humanity .
For example , there are several major roads and highways through the city which raccoons will only attempt to cross between 4-5am , not because the species is strictly nocturnal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic finds its minimum .
Several species , in fact , have come to respect the comings and goings of humanity , like coyotes following train tracks into the city at night so as to avoid human eyes , or bunnies assaulting backwards when the owners are typically at work .
Suzanne MacDonald has spent a great deal of time studying raccoons in the Greater Toronto Area and how they ’ ve adapted themselves to humanity .
“ What this pandemic has brought home to me is how much we normally limit wildlife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All it takes is a few weeks of not filling roads and sidewalks for animals to go out and give life a shot.
” Photo credit : yorku.ca “ They get to know our routines , and that ’ s why this pandemic is fascinating because our routines have completely changed , ” she said .
“ There ’ s no traffic , so you ’ re probably going to see raccoons out in the middle of the day , because there ’ s no pressure on them to wait until we go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known to establish home ranges of about three square blocks , but during Toronto ’ s quiescence , and that of major cities across the country , Suzanne expects they will expand their territory , assuming home ranges similar in size to those they establish in the wild - about 20 square kilometres .
Instead of bumping against traffic and towering primates , they will instead bump into each other , setting off a series of turf wars .
“ If I had to speculate wildly , ” Suzanne said of city ecology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prey population of bunnies and rodents will go up , the predator population will go up , there might be a boom/bust cycle over the next few years as a result , and several animals will be venturing into areas they haven ’ t before.
” But not all species will benefit from the disappearance of human beings .
Some , she explains , are just too far gone .
“ I don ’ t want to be depressing , but turtles are pretty much whipped out anyways , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ left.
” Turtles , she said , illustrate best the threat posed to long-lived species by the ubiquity of motor vehicles , especially when the species in question prefers to lay its eggs in the loose dirt along roadsides .
The benefits of reduced traffic during Covid-19 will be too short-lived to make a difference for such slow-breeders , and will require longer-term solutions .
Just this April , construction of a turtle corridor was completed on Heart Lake Road in Brampton , Ontario , where many thousands of nesting turtles are killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turtles might be found in this and similar projects , if not in the temporary quiet of Covid-19 .
Of course MacDonald has yet to visit the new corridor , and will be unable to study its effectiveness until a break in the pandemic .
“ This is going to be the lost year , ” she said of wildlife research .
In the oceans of yore , baleen whales communicated over enormous distances using a range of low-frequency songs which carried quickly and clearly through the watery aether , in particular that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and loudest animal in all of natural history which , it ’ s been suggested , can converse over thousands of kilometres under natural conditions .
Trouble is , those natural conditions haven ’ t existed for many decades now .
By way of shipping traffic , seismic airguns searching for oil and gas , military sonar , fishing , even recreational boating , we have steadily increased the ambient noise of the world ’ s oceans .
It ’ s getting awfully loud down there , and the consequences are only now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dalhousie University , Halifax , has studied underwater acoustics since the early 1990s , beginning with the communicative clicks of Sperm whales , then transitioning to anthropogenic sound and its consequences for marine ecology .
“ It ’ s becoming more and more obvious that almost all ecosystem components , almost all marine life , is adapted to sound , ” she said , and that ’ s no coincidence .
Sound travels much faster and more efficiently underwater than it does in air , and the oceans of the world were murky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so eyesight has always come second in the arena of evolution .
Whether our contributions to underwater noise are sudden , such as with regular bursts of seismic testing , or drawn out , as with shipping traffic , all this extra noise “ smears ” out over great distances of ocean , causing a steady human roar which , it ’ s believed , drowns out the communication of wildlife , dramatically reducing the distances over which whales can communicate , and it has more pervasive impacts still .
Among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hearing structures of wildlife and cause developmental delays , behavioural change , decreased reproductive success , lessened immune responses , the deformation of embryos , displacement from habitat , reduced feeding and losses to the fishing industry .
It can also kill plankton , the foundation stone of marine ecology .
Lindy has compiled a list of species for whom the deleterious effects of noise pollution have been demonstrated , a list which , to date , includes 36 species of invertebrate , 66 species of fish and roughly 30 species of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things have gotten over the “ ancient ambient , ” as Lindy describes it , is a very difficult question to answer , because monitoring started relatively recently .
She uses 60-70 decibels as a rough baseline for natural ocean volume , a baseline which is easily exceeded along shipping lanes which can reach 180 decibels , and in the vicinity of seismic tests which surpass 170 decibels .
These are huge spikes , and it doesn ’ t take much to frustrate whale song .
“ They ’ re just not able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Lindy can ’ t be specific because she doesn ’ t have access to the data , but is confident underwater noise pollution has been tempered by Covid-19 and resulting reductions in human activity on the world ’ s oceans , and that in some form or another , marine ecology is enjoying a respite right now .
There is precedent .
Following the terrorist attack of September 11th , 2001 , there were worldwide reductions in shipping and air traffic , and an unwelcome opportunity for members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in underwater noise pollution in Canada ’ s Bay of Fundy , feeding ground of the critically endangered Northwest Atlantic Right whale .
What they observed was a 6-decibel decrease in ambient ocean volume and a corresponding drop in stress hormones from the feces of the aforementioned whales .
Their resulting peer-reviewed paper acknowledged that underwater noise pollution causes habitat displacement , behavioural changes and alterations in the intensity , frequency and intervals of whale calls , and that reductions in human noise seem to alleviate the chronic stress we ’ ve imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shipping traffic hasn ’ t stopped outright , and institutions like Canada ’ s Department of Fisheries and Oceans have yet to collect the fix hydrophones they employ across the Atlantic Coast and evaluate any change .
This work is expected to commence in fall .
David Barclay , however , of Dalhousie ’ s department of oceanography , has compiled extremely telling data from Canada ’ s Pacific Coast , where he and colleagues have remote access to acoustic monitoring stations maintained by Ocean Networks Canada .
Of the four stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strait of Georgia immediately outside the Port of Vancouver , and two were in deep water off the continental shelf .
“ We ’ ve shown that there has been a consistent drop in noise since January 1st , ” said David .
In the Strait of Georgia , from January to April , noise dropped a weekly average of 4-5 decibels - not dissimilar to the Bay of Fundy following 9/11 - and off the Pacific shelf , 3,000 metres underwater , ambient noise has dropped 1.5 decibels , all of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in exports and imports from the Port of Vancouver .
Barclay ’ s data is undergoing peer review with the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America .
It will have important implications for how underwater noise pollution can be managed for the sake of marine ecology , and illustrates clearly the dialing down of decibels during this pandemic .
“ What this pandemic has brought home to me is how much we normally limit wildlife movement , ” said Suzanne MacDonald .
“ All it takes is a few weeks of not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out and give life a shot.
” This is a sentiment shared by many in the conservation community , and by others admiring wildlife through locked windows around the globe .
Species of bird and mammal and amphibian and reptile have proven themselves remarkably quick on their feet when presented with the vacancies of civilization .
The research and conservation communities have been trapped indoors at a pivotal time , and until their non-essential designation is reevaluated , the true scope of change in the migratory and resident wildlife of Canada will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the moment , at least for some in tune with the needs of the planet , is the extent to which humanity is capable of reinvesting itself , the sort of social engineering which might ultimately be necessary to address both climate change and species extinction in days ahead , empowering us to bike instead of drive , avoid certain roads during breeding seasons , lessen shipping traffic and everything else previous dismissed as impossible .
The evening after he admired his first Spotted salamanders of the season , uncrushed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boates had exactly this revelation .
“ All you can say is that there ’ s amazing evidence human beings can change their behaviour if we have a good reason , ” he said .

But Salamander Night 2020 (which actually lasts 7-10 days) turned out differently. Scanning the roads of rural Nova Scotia, as he has many years prior, Sherman encountered remarkably few fatalities.
Populations of the Spotted salamander have been on a steady decline for sometime now, said Sherman, because this local migration takes them across rural roads where they’re routinely crushed. In fact, cars pose a greater threat to this long lived salamander than any other, some individuals known to live 35 years, their reproductive potential dashed over the asphalt en masse.
Not only is the Spotted salamander special in this regard, it’s difficult to spot outside of Salamander Night, which, this year, began April 13 th in southern Nova Scotia. It was declared over Facebook by retired ecologist and conservation biologist Sherman Boates , a veteran of both Acadia University and the Wildlife Division of Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources, forcing enthusiasts into the darkness of rural Nova Scotia where their flashlights fell on these remarkable amphibians, exciting cellular algae with artificial photons .
This unassuming salamander, it turns out, hosts photosynthetic algae in the cells of its skin, the biological equivalent of having solar panels strapped to one’s back. These algae produce oxygen and carbohydrates metabolized by the cell, and in return the cell provides a wealth of waste nitrogen - microbial miracle grow. Such symbioses were thought to be impossible among vertebrates, equipped as we are with exceedingly hostile immune systems, primed to pounce on anything not recognized as “self,” which is a pretty useful trait during a pandemic.
Salamander Night is a time of cheap thrills for the naturalists of Nova Scotia, requiring only a flashlight on the first rainy evening in April over 9°C. Under these conditions several of the province’s amphibians depart their wintering grounds for the ponds in which they’ll soon breed, and no species is more noteworthy in this short, seasonal migration than the Spotted salamander, who, about a decade ago, was caught breaking the rules of biology.
For the first time, Sherman found clear evidence that the Spotted salamander, and in fact all species contending with the iron chariots of humanity, were going to have a very good year.
“Only a couple were run over, and we saw no cars,” he said. “People aren’t going out as much, so there isn’t as much traffic density and wildlife isn’t being disturbed or killed nearly as often.”
She has spent a great deal of time studying raccoons in the Greater Toronto Area and how they’ve adapted themselves to humanity. For example, there are several major roads and highways through the city which raccoons will only attempt to cross between 4-5am, not because the species is strictly nocturnal, but because that’s when traffic finds its minimum. Several species, in fact, have come to respect the comings and goings of humanity, like coyotes following train tracks into the city at night so as to avoid human eyes, or bunnies assaulting backwards when the owners are typically at work.
Suzanne MacDonald is a psychology professor at York University who studies animal cognition, from the rabbits in her backyard all the way to Kenya, where she would be right now if it weren’t for Covid-19, working with lions, elephants, hyenas and a suite of primates. She’s dedicated her career to understanding how animals think, in order that we might better conserve and co-exist.
“Finding evidence is going to be the trouble at this point,” said Sherman Boates. “Hopefully scientists will get around to evaluating all this.”
As Canadians spend an inordinate length of time indoors, satisfying our communicative impulses with heavy doses of social media, we’ve been inundated with heartening stories of wildlife flourishing in our widespread absence from roads, beaches and city streets, some faked, but many genuine, such as deer and coyotes finding the abandoned heart of some metropolis, or turtles laying their eggs in sands untrampled by tourists. We can be certain that things are changing out there, even if the people best equipped to interpret those changes are relegated to their living rooms, left with only an educated guess.
“They get to know our routines, and that’s why this pandemic is fascinating because our routines have completely changed,” she said. “There’s no traffic, so you’re probably going to see raccoons out in the middle of the day, because there’s no pressure on them to wait until we go to bed.”
Urban raccoons have been known to establish home ranges of about three square blocks, but during Toronto’s quiescence, and that of major cities across the country, Suzanne expects they will expand their territory, assuming home ranges similar in size to those they establish in the wild - about 20 square kilometres. Instead of bumping against traffic and towering primates, they will instead bump into each other, setting off a series of turf wars.
“If I had to speculate wildly,” Suzanne said of city ecology, “I’d say the prey population of bunnies and rodents will go up, the predator population will go up, there might be a boom/bust cycle over the next few years as a result, and several animals will be venturing into areas they haven’t before.”
But not all species will benefit from the disappearance of human beings. Some, she explains, are just too far gone.
“I don’t want to be depressing, but turtles are pretty much whipped out anyways,” she said. “There are so few of them left.”
Turtles, she said, illustrate best the threat posed to long-lived species by the ubiquity of motor vehicles, especially when the species in question prefers to lay its eggs in the loose dirt along roadsides. The benefits of reduced traffic during Covid-19 will be too short-lived to make a difference for such slow-breeders, and will require longer-term solutions.
Just this April, construction of a turtle corridor was completed on Heart Lake Road in Brampton, Ontario, where many thousands of nesting turtles are killed, devastating local populations. Hope for turtles might be found in this and similar projects, if not in the temporary quiet of Covid-19. Of course MacDonald has yet to visit the new corridor, and will be unable to study its effectiveness until a break in the pandemic.
“This is going to be the lost year,” she said of wildlife research.
Dialing Down the Decibels
In the oceans of yore, baleen whales communicated over enormous distances using a range of low-frequency songs which carried quickly and clearly through the watery aether, in particular that of the Blue whale, the largest and loudest animal in all of natural history which, it’s been suggested, can converse over thousands of kilometres under natural conditions. Trouble is, those natural conditions haven’t existed for many decades now.
By way of shipping traffic, seismic airguns searching for oil and gas, military sonar, fishing, even recreational boating, we have steadily increased the ambient noise of the world’s oceans. It’s getting awfully loud down there, and the consequences are only now dawning on us.
Lindy Weilgart of Dalhousie University, Halifax, has studied underwater acoustics since the early 1990s, beginning with the communicative clicks of Sperm whales, then transitioning to anthropogenic sound and its consequences for marine ecology.
“It’s becoming more and more obvious that almost all ecosystem components, almost all marine life, is adapted to sound,” she said, and that’s no coincidence.
Sound travels much faster and more efficiently underwater than it does in air, and the oceans of the world were murky even before the human enterprise complicated things, so eyesight has always come second in the arena of evolution. Whether our contributions to underwater noise are sudden, such as with regular bursts of seismic testing, or drawn out, as with shipping traffic, all this extra noise “smears” out over great distances of ocean, causing a steady human roar which, it’s believed, drowns out the communication of wildlife, dramatically reducing the distances over which whales can communicate, and it has more pervasive impacts still.
Among other things, underwater noise pollution can damage the hearing structures of wildlife and cause developmental delays, behavioural change, decreased reproductive success, lessened immune responses, the deformation of embryos, displacement from habitat, reduced feeding and losses to the fishing industry. It can also kill plankton, the foundation stone of marine ecology. Lindy has compiled a list of species for whom the deleterious effects of noise pollution have been demonstrated, a list which, to date, includes 36 species of invertebrate, 66 species of fish and roughly 30 species of marine mammal.
Exactly how much louder things have gotten over the “ancient ambient,” as Lindy describes it, is a very difficult question to answer, because monitoring started relatively recently. She uses 60-70 decibels as a rough baseline for natural ocean volume, a baseline which is easily exceeded along shipping lanes which can reach 180 decibels, and in the vicinity of seismic tests which surpass 170 decibels. These are huge spikes, and it doesn’t take much to frustrate whale song.
“They’re just not able to communicate like they used to,” she said.
Lindy can’t be specific because she doesn’t have access to the data, but is confident underwater noise pollution has been tempered by Covid-19 and resulting reductions in human activity on the world’s oceans, and that in some form or another, marine ecology is enjoying a respite right now.
There is precedent. Following the terrorist attack of September 11th, 2001, there were worldwide reductions in shipping and air traffic, and an unwelcome opportunity for members of the New England Aquarium to monitor drops in underwater noise pollution in Canada’s Bay of Fundy, feeding ground of the critically endangered Northwest Atlantic Right whale.
What they observed was a 6-decibel decrease in ambient ocean volume and a corresponding drop in stress hormones from the feces of the aforementioned whales. Their resulting peer-reviewed paper acknowledged that underwater noise pollution causes habitat displacement, behavioural changes and alterations in the intensity, frequency and intervals of whale calls, and that reductions in human noise seem to alleviate the chronic stress we’ve imposed on them.
But then as now, shipping traffic hasn’t stopped outright, and institutions like Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans have yet to collect the fix hydrophones they employ across the Atlantic Coast and evaluate any change. This work is expected to commence in fall.
David Barclay, however, of Dalhousie’s department of oceanography, has compiled extremely telling data from Canada’s Pacific Coast, where he and colleagues have remote access to acoustic monitoring stations maintained by Ocean Networks Canada. Of the four stations they consulted, two were in the Strait of Georgia immediately outside the Port of Vancouver, and two were in deep water off the continental shelf.
“We’ve shown that there has been a consistent drop in noise since January 1st,” said David.
In the Strait of Georgia, from January to April, noise dropped a weekly average of 4-5 decibels - not dissimilar to the Bay of Fundy following 9/11 - and off the Pacific shelf, 3,000 metres underwater, ambient noise has dropped 1.5 decibels, all of this corresponding with a 20 per cent drop in exports and imports from the Port of Vancouver.
Barclay’s data is undergoing peer review with the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. It will have important implications for how underwater noise pollution can be managed for the sake of marine ecology, and illustrates clearly the dialing down of decibels during this pandemic.
Lessons From A Difficult Time
“What this pandemic has brought home to me is how much we normally limit wildlife movement,” said Suzanne MacDonald. “All it takes is a few weeks of not filling roads and sidewalks for animals to go out and give life a shot.”
This is a sentiment shared by many in the conservation community, and by others admiring wildlife through locked windows around the globe. Species of bird and mammal and amphibian and reptile have proven themselves remarkably quick on their feet when presented with the vacancies of civilization.
The research and conservation communities have been trapped indoors at a pivotal time, and until their non-essential designation is reevaluated, the true scope of change in the migratory and resident wildlife of Canada will remain mostly obscure. The clearest lesson at the moment, at least for some in tune with the needs of the planet, is the extent to which humanity is capable of reinvesting itself, the sort of social engineering which might ultimately be necessary to address both climate change and species extinction in days ahead, empowering us to bike instead of drive, avoid certain roads during breeding seasons, lessen shipping traffic and everything else previous dismissed as impossible. The evening after he admired his first Spotted salamanders of the season, uncrushed by the tires of a restless humanity, Sherman Boates had exactly this revelation.
“All you can say is that there’s amazing evidence human beings can change their behaviour if we have a good reason,” he said.


nationalobserver--2020-05-08--Doug Ford went against COVID-19 health advice to visit his cottage

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he went against COVID-19 guidelines and his own public statements to visit his cottage on Easter Sunday because he had to check the property 's plumbing .
Ford said on April 8 that he would n't visit his Muskoka property over the holiday weekend and asked Ontarians to do the same .
But days later on April 12 , he took an early drive north alone , spending less than an hour at the cottage and not making any stops there or back , the premier 's office confirmed Friday .
`` Any criticism toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
News of the cottage visit was first reported by the National Post on Thursday night .
Although the premier did n't apologize Friday , he did say he was concerned because the Muskoka property 's plumbing had an issue a few years ago that made a `` terrible mess '' and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage .
`` My team told me I got the morning off , '' he said .
`` It was the first time I 'd had off in two months ...
I was back before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say On April 8 , Ford urged cottagers not to visit their seasonal properties to avoid spreading the virus to small communities with fewer medical resources .
`` There 's no one that loves my cottage more than I do , but I 'm not going to my cottage , '' he said .
On Monday , however , Ford publicly mulled the idea of relaxing that advice before the Victoria Day weekend , saying it 's difficult to ask cottagers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home .
The province 's chief medical officer of health , Dr. David Williams , has advised people to avoid non-essential travel , including to cottages , but has n't made the guidance mandatory .
After a phone call with cottage-country mayors Wednesday , Ford walked back his previous statements and asked the public to stay home and avoid their cottages .
If anyone must go , they should bring their own supplies and continue to practise physical distancing , he added .
`` My message to people is , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and check on things , bring your own supplies and just follow the rules , ” Ford said Thursday .
`` There will be plenty of long weekends to come . ''
Ford said Friday that he probably wo n't return to his cottage for several months .
`` I wo n't have time , '' he said .

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he went against COVID-19 guidelines and his own public statements to visit his cottage on Easter Sunday because he had to check the property's plumbing.
Ford said on April 8 that he wouldn't visit his Muskoka property over the holiday weekend and asked Ontarians to do the same. But days later on April 12, he took an early drive north alone, spending less than an hour at the cottage and not making any stops there or back, the premier's office confirmed Friday.
"Any criticism toward me is fair," Ford said.
News of the cottage visit was first reported by the National Post on Thursday night. Although the premier didn't apologize Friday, he did say he was concerned because the Muskoka property's plumbing had an issue a few years ago that made a "terrible mess" and caused thousands of dollars worth of damage.
"My team told me I got the morning off," he said. "It was the first time I'd had off in two months ... I was back before noon."


nationalobserver--2020-05-08--Youth unemployment rate spikes amid pandemic

More likely to have a precarious grip on retail and hospitality jobs , young people were hit hard by layoffs in April , according to employment data released by Statistics Canada on Friday , as the COVID-19 pandemic largely kept shops , bars and restaurants closed .
Some 480,000 people between 15 and 24 years old lost their jobs last month , according to the data , with roughly 260,000 of those losses in part-time employment .
That takes the total number of young people put out of work since the pandemic forced the closure of large swaths of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth unemployment rate jumped to 27.2 per cent in April , from 16.8 per cent in March , while student unemployment was even higher , which the statistics agency said was “ signalling that many could face difficulties in continuing to pay for their studies.
” The federal government last month announced a relief package for post-secondary students , many of whom were ineligible for a broader aid program launched earlier .
It has also adapted its summer jobs program to try to get more young people into jobs providing essential services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say Among non-student youth , a little more than half were employed in April , down from three-quarters in February .
Young people who have retained their jobs since COVID-19 hit have seen a sharp reduction in the number of hours worked , with a quarter reporting having lost all or most of their usual working hours .
ACCES Employment , which typically serves some 35,000 job seekers a year in the Greater Toronto Area , has seen an increased need for its programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allison Pond , chief executive of the non-profit employment agency .
But she noted jobs are starting to become available in certain areas , with employers in the retail , food services , supply chain and home hardware and garden sectors now actively hiring .
“ The pandemic has been especially tough for young people , and we 've seen an increase in demand for our services , ” Pond said .
“ We 're hopeful that , as more of the economy reopens , we can help as many as possible get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are working with a number of employers that are still actively hiring for different roles.
” Overall , almost two million people lost their jobs last month , with Ontario accounting for 717,000 of the 1.5 million full-time jobs gone and 379,000 of the 520,000 part-time positions lost .
Young people bore the brunt of Canadian job losses in April , as they lost their precarious grip on jobs in retail and hospitality , employment data released by Statistics Canada on Friday showed .
While young people accounted for almost a quarter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they make up only 12 per cent of the labour force .
“ It ’ s not surprising that youth have been hit particularly hard , because of their concentration in retail , food and accommodations and restaurant industries , and also the general inexperience of youth tends to make them more vulnerable , ” said Andrew Agopsowicz , a senior economist at the Royal Bank of Canada .
He said that , as the country begins to slowly open up , there are several factors at play in whether younger workers return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are probably easier to rehire because they generally don ’ t cost as much , but then , they may not have the same employment relationships , so maybe they won ’ t be the first people in line to come back.
” On the other hand , younger people may be more willing to look further afield for job opportunities , Agopsowicz said .
“ On some level , youth might be more mobile , so they have less investment in a particular company or industry and will be able to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ There might be some more flexibility there , but whether that turns into a lot of extra employment remains to be seen .
”

More likely to have a precarious grip on retail and hospitality jobs, young people were hit hard by layoffs in April, according to employment data released by Statistics Canada on Friday, as the COVID-19 pandemic largely kept shops, bars and restaurants closed. Some 480,000 people between 15 and 24 years old lost their jobs last month, according to the data, with roughly 260,000 of those losses in part-time employment. That takes the total number of young people put out of work since the pandemic forced the closure of large swaths of public life in mid-March to 873,000. The youth unemployment rate jumped to 27.2 per cent in April, from 16.8 per cent in March, while student unemployment was even higher, which the statistics agency said was “signalling that many could face difficulties in continuing to pay for their studies.” The federal government last month announced a relief package for post-secondary students, many of whom were ineligible for a broader aid program launched earlier. It has also adapted its summer jobs program to try to get more young people into jobs providing essential services.
Among non-student youth, a little more than half were employed in April, down from three-quarters in February. Young people who have retained their jobs since COVID-19 hit have seen a sharp reduction in the number of hours worked, with a quarter reporting having lost all or most of their usual working hours. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions ACCES Employment, which typically serves some 35,000 job seekers a year in the Greater Toronto Area, has seen an increased need for its programs and services since the pandemic, said Allison Pond, chief executive of the non-profit employment agency.
But she noted jobs are starting to become available in certain areas, with employers in the retail, food services, supply chain and home hardware and garden sectors now actively hiring. Young people bore the brunt of Canadian job losses in April, as they lost their precarious grip on jobs in retail and hospitality, employment data released by Statistics Canada on Friday showed. “The pandemic has been especially tough for young people, and we've seen an increase in demand for our services,” Pond said. “We're hopeful that, as more of the economy reopens, we can help as many as possible get back into the job market. We are working with a number of employers that are still actively hiring for different roles.” Overall, almost two million people lost their jobs last month, with Ontario accounting for 717,000 of the 1.5 million full-time jobs gone and 379,000 of the 520,000 part-time positions lost. While young people accounted for almost a quarter of the job losses across the country, they make up only 12 per cent of the labour force. “It’s not surprising that youth have been hit particularly hard, because of their concentration in retail, food and accommodations and restaurant industries, and also the general inexperience of youth tends to make them more vulnerable,” said Andrew Agopsowicz, a senior economist at the Royal Bank of Canada.
He said that, as the country begins to slowly open up, there are several factors at play in whether younger workers return to their old jobs. “Youth are probably easier to rehire because they generally don’t cost as much, but then, they may not have the same employment relationships, so maybe they won’t be the first people in line to come back.” On the other hand, younger people may be more willing to look further afield for job opportunities, Agopsowicz said.


nationalobserver--2020-05-08--Canadians trust in government at higher level since pandemic began

An annual survey looking at who Canadians trust most suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has given Canadians almost absolute trust in doctors , while trust in corporate leaders and the media has plummeted to all-time lows .
The Proof Strategies CanTrust Index is usually completed in January but when Canada went into a countrywide lockdown to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus , the public relations firm decided to ask some of the same questions again in early May .
In January , the survey found 76 per cent of Canadians trusted doctors , and 70 per cent trusted scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , the online survey of 1,000 people saw trust in doctors shoot up to 87 per cent and trust in scientists to 82 per cent .
The polling industry 's professional body , the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association , says online surveys can not be assigned a margin of error as they are not random and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole population .
Proof CEO Bruce MacLellan said Canadians have long put a lot of faith in doctors and scientists but he was surprised to see how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit Canada .
• Ontario 's purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say `` Trust for doctors and scientists was leading all other places in our trust survey but now it 's really gone into the trust stratosphere , if you will , in terms of how highly trusted these individuals have become , '' MacLellan said .
`` It 's truly remarkable .
We have not seen that level of trust in any individual , organization or institution at all in our past research .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is happening to them every day right now , during a very stressful time in which the pandemic is overriding almost every part of our lives .
Gov .
Gen. Julie Payette , a former astronaut and engineer , has made promoting science one of the hallmarks of her time at Rideau Hall .
In a virtual conversation Thursday with Mona Nemer , Canada 's chief science adviser , Payette extolled the role science was playing in the pandemic , including by convincing Canadians that in the absence of a vaccine or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the best way to save lives .
`` So I think that everything we have done so far , this battle has been so far won by science and I think we 're going to get out of it through science and I hope that as we move forward we 're going to remember this and we 're going to use all these science brains and all the capacity we have in the country , '' Payette said .
The Proof index showed governments have also benefited from a bump in confidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveyed expressing trust in government in January , and 40 per cent in early May .
MacLellan said that is likely because as the pandemic marched in , Canadians realized maybe more than ever how much they were going to rely on government to get through it .
`` They see the pandemic as an issue that is going to require government to solve , '' he said .
`` This is the moment for the government . ''
Canadians trust doctors , scientists and government more since pandemic began Small businesses , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bounce upwards in trust .
Trust in the media , CEOs and teachers , on the other hand , has fallen .
The news media had been enjoying a comeback of confidence in January , with 44 per cent of those surveyed trusting media , up from 40 a year earlier .
But in the midst of the pandemic , trust in media has plummeted to just 33 per cent , its lowest level recorded by Proof since it began the trust index in 2016 .
CEOs similarly saw trust fall to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent , down from 38 per cent in January and 55 per cent two years ago .
Educators remain among the more trusted in our society , at 59 per cent , but that was down from 65 per cent in January .
MacLellan said many parents , faced with schooling their kids at home and with school systems not all well-equipped to support that , may be feeling less confidence in educators as a result .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7 , 2020 .

An annual survey looking at who Canadians trust most suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has given Canadians almost absolute trust in doctors, while trust in corporate leaders and the media has plummeted to all-time lows. The Proof Strategies CanTrust Index is usually completed in January but when Canada went into a countrywide lockdown to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the public relations firm decided to ask some of the same questions again in early May. In January, the survey found 76 per cent of Canadians trusted doctors, and 70 per cent trusted scientists. When repeated May 1 and May 2, the online survey of 1,000 people saw trust in doctors shoot up to 87 per cent and trust in scientists to 82 per cent. The polling industry's professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error as they are not random and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole population. Proof CEO Bruce MacLellan said Canadians have long put a lot of faith in doctors and scientists but he was surprised to see how much that has increased since COVID-19 began to hit Canada.
"Trust for doctors and scientists was leading all other places in our trust survey but now it's really gone into the trust stratosphere, if you will, in terms of how highly trusted these individuals have become," MacLellan said. "It's truly remarkable. We have not seen that level of trust in any individual, organization or institution at all in our past research." He said Canadians see doctors explaining what is happening to them every day right now, during a very stressful time in which the pandemic is overriding almost every part of our lives. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, a former astronaut and engineer, has made promoting science one of the hallmarks of her time at Rideau Hall. In a virtual conversation Thursday with Mona Nemer, Canada's chief science adviser, Payette extolled the role science was playing in the pandemic, including by convincing Canadians that in the absence of a vaccine or good treatments for COVID-19, staying home is the best way to save lives.
"So I think that everything we have done so far, this battle has been so far won by science and I think we're going to get out of it through science and I hope that as we move forward we're going to remember this and we're going to use all these science brains and all the capacity we have in the country," Payette said. Canadians trust doctors, scientists and government more since pandemic began The Proof index showed governments have also benefited from a bump in confidence, with 33 per cent of those surveyed expressing trust in government in January, and 40 per cent in early May. MacLellan said that is likely because as the pandemic marched in, Canadians realized maybe more than ever how much they were going to rely on government to get through it. "They see the pandemic as an issue that is going to require government to solve," he said. "This is the moment for the government." Small businesses, non-profit organizations and charities, all saw a bounce upwards in trust. Trust in the media, CEOs and teachers, on the other hand, has fallen.
The news media had been enjoying a comeback of confidence in January, with 44 per cent of those surveyed trusting media, up from 40 a year earlier. But in the midst of the pandemic, trust in media has plummeted to just 33 per cent, its lowest level recorded by Proof since it began the trust index in 2016. CEOs similarly saw trust fall to an all-time low of just 30 per cent, down from 38 per cent in January and 55 per cent two years ago. Educators remain among the more trusted in our society, at 59 per cent, but that was down from 65 per cent in January. MacLellan said many parents, faced with schooling their kids at home and with school systems not all well-equipped to support that, may be feeling less confidence in educators as a result.


nationalobserver--2020-05-08--Feds expand endangered southern resident killer whale protections

Expanded protections for endangered southern resident killer whales off British Columbia 's coast focus on contaminants , noise , physical disturbances and accessibility of chinook salmon , the orca 's primary prey .
The actions announced by several government departments Thursday include a ban on tourist or whale watching vessels with over 12 passengers until the end of June , a measure aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 .
Areas of the Juan de Fuca Strait and Southern Gulf Islands will be closed for recreational and commercial salmon fisheries , with specific dates announced in June , the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being asked to voluntarily stop fishing within 1,000 metres of orcas in B.C .
waters .
Interim sanctuary zones established last year for the whales off Pender and Saturna islands will be back up from June 1 to the end of November , a month longer than 2019 .
• Ontario 's purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say Fisheries and Oceans says the population of the southern residents has fluctuated between 70 and 99 whales since 1976 , and their small population size and lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orcas is `` facing imminent threats to their survival and recovery . ''
Andrew Trites , the director of the marine mammal research unit at the University of British Columbia , said the orcas are in real trouble .
`` Particularly with having so few births , having so few females in the population , having had a couple males dominate breeding , and then just all the added pressures put on the environment , '' said Trites , pointing to ocean noise , dwindling fish stocks and the warming ocean .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the exceptions of emergency and Indigenous vessels , while boats are also prohibited from coming within 400 metres of any killer whale starting June 1 , the federal government said .
There is an exception to that rule in place for whale watching and tourism companies that receive federal authorization , allowing them to view all whales except southern residents from 200 metres .
Vessels are also asked to reduce their speed within 1,000 metres of a whale and turn engines to neutral if a whale is within 400 metres , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year-round .
Officially , there are 73 southern residents , but the Centre for Whale Research in Washington state said the most prolific male is missing and presumed deceased .
The federal government said a technical working group has identified and compiled guidelines for key contaminants affecting whales and their prey .
Terry Beech , a Burnaby MP and parliamentary secretary for the minister of fisheries , said the government has taken unprecedented steps to protect the southern resident population over four years .
`` We 've shown how far we 're willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures that we can continue to take to protect this iconic species , all options are certainly on the table . ''
Beech said more decisions about the chinook fishery will be made in the coming weeks .
Trites said it 's good to see the government take steps to create more favourable conditions for the endangered orcas .
The orcas have n't been seen in the Salish Sea the way they once were , he said .
`` It 's not clear if the whales have seen the memo of all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place to make things better for them , '' he quipped .
The whales ' range extends south to California , and Trites said all jurisdictions must take action to ensure their survival .
`` So much attention is focused on just the Salish Sea .
It 's like trying to save migratory birds by only protecting the bird feeder in your backyard . ''
He said it 's not clear why southern residents are faring worse than their northern cousins , whose range extends from waters in B.C .
to southeastern Alaska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the population , may be getting `` first dibs '' on salmon returning to the ocean from coastal B.C.
, said Trites , adding the southern residents ' habitat is also more industrialized .
With fewer vessels and noise in the water due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Trites said there 's some hope that scientists will be able to observe a change in behaviour and gain insight into what 's been affecting the whales .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7 , 2020 .

Expanded protections for endangered southern resident killer whales off British Columbia's coast focus on contaminants, noise, physical disturbances and accessibility of chinook salmon, the orca's primary prey. The actions announced by several government departments Thursday include a ban on tourist or whale watching vessels with over 12 passengers until the end of June, a measure aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. Areas of the Juan de Fuca Strait and Southern Gulf Islands will be closed for recreational and commercial salmon fisheries, with specific dates announced in June, the federal government said. All fish harvesters are being asked to voluntarily stop fishing within 1,000 metres of orcas in B.C. waters. Interim sanctuary zones established last year for the whales off Pender and Saturna islands will be back up from June 1 to the end of November, a month longer than 2019.
Fisheries and Oceans says the population of the southern residents has fluctuated between 70 and 99 whales since 1976, and their small population size and lack of calves means the unique family of orcas is "facing imminent threats to their survival and recovery." Andrew Trites, the director of the marine mammal research unit at the University of British Columbia, said the orcas are in real trouble. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "Particularly with having so few births, having so few females in the population, having had a couple males dominate breeding, and then just all the added pressures put on the environment," said Trites, pointing to ocean noise, dwindling fish stocks and the warming ocean.
No vessels will be permitted in sanctuary areas with the exceptions of emergency and Indigenous vessels, while boats are also prohibited from coming within 400 metres of any killer whale starting June 1, the federal government said. Ottawa adds to protections for endangered southern resident killer whales There is an exception to that rule in place for whale watching and tourism companies that receive federal authorization, allowing them to view all whales except southern residents from 200 metres. Vessels are also asked to reduce their speed within 1,000 metres of a whale and turn engines to neutral if a whale is within 400 metres, a measure the government said is in place year-round. Officially, there are 73 southern residents, but the Centre for Whale Research in Washington state said the most prolific male is missing and presumed deceased. The federal government said a technical working group has identified and compiled guidelines for key contaminants affecting whales and their prey.
Terry Beech, a Burnaby MP and parliamentary secretary for the minister of fisheries, said the government has taken unprecedented steps to protect the southern resident population over four years. "We've shown how far we're willing to go, and if there are measures that we can continue to take to protect this iconic species, all options are certainly on the table." Beech said more decisions about the chinook fishery will be made in the coming weeks.


nationalobserver--2020-05-08--Adequacy of federal emergency aid measures to be tested by jobless numbers

The adequacy of federal emergency benefits to help Canadians weather the COVID-19 crisis is bound to come under scrutiny today as the country gets the first real glimpse of the economic devastation wrought by the pandemic .
Statistics Canada is to release the jobless numbers for April — the first full month in which the economy was virtually shut down while all but essential workers stayed home to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that causes COVID-19 .
One million were thrown out of work in March — a record-breaking jobs loss that saw the unemployment rate shoot up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that was before the full force of the pandemic was felt in Canada .
Non-essential businesses only began to shut down in mid-March and are only now taking the tentative , first steps towards re-opening .
The Trudeau government has shovelled some $ 150 billion into benefits to help cushion the blow , including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit , a 75 per cent wage subsidy , commercial rent relief and a host of targeted measures to help particularly hard hit individuals and sectors , including students , farmers , artists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase of natural gas plants will cost ratepayers and the environment , critics say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to use today 's daily briefing on the pandemic responding to the calamitous jobless numbers and highlight all the ways the federal government has tried to help .
But the numbers are sure to provide fodder to opposition parties and other critics who 've long contended that the various emergency aid programs fall short of what 's needed and have left some Canadians and businesses out in the cold .
The government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with multiple adjustments to the eligibility criteria for the benefits and additional , targeted measures .
Trudeau has promised more to financial support to come .
On Wednesday , Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos did not rule out extending the $ 35-billion Canada Emergency Response Benefit beyond the initial four-months duration .
He said 7.5 million Canadians have so far received financial support from the program , which provides $ 2,000 a month for up to four months for those who 've lost their jobs due to the pandemic .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some 1.4 million unemployed Canadians are not receiving the benefit — either because they have n't worked sufficient hours or earned sufficient income to qualify .
Duclos can expect to be grilled on that when he testifies later today before the House of Commons government operations committee .
Adequacy of federal emergency aid measures to be tested by jobless numbers Critics have also said owner-operators of small businesses , who pay themselves and family members out of dividends , ca n't access the wage subsidy .
And many small- and medium-sized businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access interest-free loan programs .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8 , 2020 .

The adequacy of federal emergency benefits to help Canadians weather the COVID-19 crisis is bound to come under scrutiny today as the country gets the first real glimpse of the economic devastation wrought by the pandemic.
Statistics Canada is to release the jobless numbers for April — the first full month in which the economy was virtually shut down while all but essential workers stayed home to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that causes COVID-19.
One million were thrown out of work in March — a record-breaking jobs loss that saw the unemployment rate shoot up 2.2 points to 7.8 per cent — and that was before the full force of the pandemic was felt in Canada.
Non-essential businesses only began to shut down in mid-March and are only now taking the tentative, first steps towards re-opening.
The Trudeau government has shovelled some $150 billion into benefits to help cushion the blow, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, a 75 per cent wage subsidy, commercial rent relief and a host of targeted measures to help particularly hard hit individuals and sectors, including students, farmers, artists and front-line essential workers.