nationalobserver--2020-11-17--Thundersnow and high winds hit West Coast

Social media channels were lit up by people awestruck by the strange weather they were seeing and hearing .
The island ’ s east coast , from Campbell River south to Nanaimo , experienced heavy , wet flurries accompanied by peals of thunder and flashes of lightning Monday night .
Vancouver Island residents were shaken by thundersnow , a rare meteorological spectacle , in advance of a powerful wind storm that hit B.C.
’ s West Coast Tuesday .
“ It ’ s the season for thunderstorms in B.C .
on the coast , but it is very unusual to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with snow .
You do n't hear about that very often , ” Lundquist said .
It ’ s rare to see that mix of weather on B.C.
’ s West Coast , Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said Tuesday .
“ Even though it was a warm front , it was still really cold at the surface .
And it was close enough to zero that precipitation came down as snow.
” Soon after the wintry thunderstorm , high winds hit B.C.
’ s coast early Tuesday .
Trees and power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64,000 BC Hydro customers without power as winds gusting anywhere between 70 and 110 kilometres an hour hit the region , said Susie Rieder of BC Hydro at around 1 p.m. Tuesday .
The hardest-hit areas were the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast , which experienced 68 outages affecting more than 32,000 customers , and north Vancouver Island , which had 71 outages with more than 27,000 households affected by midday , according to BC Hydro outage maps .
Environment Canada has issued wind warnings saying the storm caused by the low-pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northwards across the Queen Charlotte Sound later in the afternoon , with winds gusting to a possible 110 km/h on exposed coastal areas before dying off .
BC Ferries cancelled multiple sailings on a number of routes for the first part of the day .
Following the snow on eastern Vancouver Island , warmer temperatures accompanied the wind and low-pressure front , said Lundquist .

Vancouver Island residents were shaken by thundersnow, a rare meteorological spectacle, in advance of a powerful wind storm that hit B.C.’s West Coast Tuesday. The island’s east coast, from Campbell River south to Nanaimo, experienced heavy, wet flurries accompanied by peals of thunder and flashes of lightning Monday night. Social media channels were lit up by people awestruck by the strange weather they were seeing and hearing. Thunder snow near Comox BC last night pic.twitter.com/sMsb6WBaXj — Haig Dickson Weather Specialist for Nanaimo BC (@nanaimoweather) November 17, 2020
Très rare orage de #neige la nuit dernière sur l'île de Vancouver, au niveau de la mer, comme ici à Campbell River, au passage d'une sacrée perturbation. #BCStorm
📷 Heather Wood. https://t.co/re0BBktk6d pic.twitter.com/5kvBkYgn5o — François Jobard (@Francois_Jobard) November 17, 2020 It’s rare to see that mix of weather on B.C.’s West Coast, Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said Tuesday. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “It’s the season for thunderstorms in B.C. on the coast, but it is very unusual to get them on a warm front and along with snow. You don't hear about that very often,” Lundquist said.
“Even though it was a warm front, it was still really cold at the surface. And it was close enough to zero that precipitation came down as snow.” Vancouver Island residents were shaken by thundersnow, a rare meteorological spectacle, in advance of a powerful wind storm that hit B.C.’s West Coast Tuesday. #BCstorm Soon after the wintry thunderstorm, high winds hit B.C.’s coast early Tuesday. Trees and power lines were downed, leaving at least 64,000 BC Hydro customers without power as winds gusting anywhere between 70 and 110 kilometres an hour hit the region, said Susie Rieder of BC Hydro at around 1 p.m. Tuesday. The hardest-hit areas were the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast, which experienced 68 outages affecting more than 32,000 customers, and north Vancouver Island, which had 71 outages with more than 27,000 households affected by midday, according to BC Hydro outage maps.
Strong winds hit #VancouverIsland and the South Coast this morning, leaving 53,000 customers without power. The hardest hit areas include #Courtenay, #SurreyBC and #MapleRidge. Full operational update: https://t.co/pijq9M2s0g #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/C0K22Vm2S6 — BC Hydro (@bchydro) November 17, 2020 Environment Canada has issued wind warnings saying the storm caused by the low-pressure system off north Vancouver Island will head northwards across the Queen Charlotte Sound later in the afternoon, with winds gusting to a possible 110 km/h on exposed coastal areas before dying off. BC Ferries cancelled multiple sailings on a number of routes for the first part of the day.


nationalobserver--2020-11-17--Ontario education minister hints at extending winter break as COVID-19 precaution

Stephen Lecce is again drip-feeding information to Ontario parents , teachers and schoolchildren about when classrooms might reopen after the winter break , saying that a cautious and flexible approach will help protect the safest schools in the country .
“ Expect to hear very soon , I think in the next week or two at the latest , ” the province ’ s education minister said when asked when parents ( and their employers ) might be able to plan their own time off work over the holidays .
Schools in the province are due to close on Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving little time between students potentially seeing more of their extended family during the break and going back to school .
Ontario , with a population of about 14.5 million people , currently has a seven-day average of more than 1,400 new cases a day .
With 1.5 million students currently in class , its school system has been reporting more than 100 cases a day in the last week and has around 640 active cases .
“ This province is uniquely positioned , in contrast to Quebec , for example , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection ( in schools ) , ” Lecce said , pointing out that Ontario is the only province to have mandated the wearing of masks inside classrooms .
Quebec ’ s government last week said it is considering extending its school holiday break by two weeks .
British Columbia , meanwhile , is looking at whether to start its break earlier .
Ontario education minister @ sflecce says the @ fordnation government is considering whether to extend schools ' winter break to protect classrooms that have managed to avoid high levels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about any consideration of cutting this semester short so children are out of school for longer before potentially seeing more extended family during the break .
Last week , the government said it was not looking at a shorter December , but Lecce said they ’ ll be listening to a wide array of medical advice on the overall situation this week .

Stephen Lecce is again drip-feeding information to Ontario parents, teachers and schoolchildren about when classrooms might reopen after the winter break, saying that a cautious and flexible approach will help protect the safest schools in the country.
“Expect to hear very soon, I think in the next week or two at the latest,” the province’s education minister said when asked when parents (and their employers) might be able to plan their own time off work over the holidays.
Schools in the province are due to close on Dec. 18 and reopen on Jan. 4, leaving little time between students potentially seeing more of their extended family during the break and going back to school.
Lecce argued on Tuesday that the number and source of COVID-19 cases in schools — which have been averaging around 100 new cases a day in the last week — show that the government’s much-maligned back-to-school strategy is working.
Keeping schools open safely is a key ingredient in protecting young people’s mental health and the economy’s ability to get as many people back into the workforce as possible following widespread shutdowns earlier this year and ongoing, fluctuating restrictions.


nationalobserver--2020-11-17--Second promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate stirs hope as Canada surpasses 300K cases

News of another promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate stirred hope Monday as Canada 's case count surpassed the 300,000 mark , with the two hardest-hit provinces continuing to report more than 1,000 daily new infections and a sudden spike in Nunavut triggering a two-week lockdown .
Moderna 's announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine appears to be 94.5 per cent effective , according to preliminary data , comes a week after a similar announcement from Pfizer .
Both American companies are among those that have signed agreements with Canada , and have asked Health Canada to review their products .
Federal Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Moderna amounts to `` a light at the end of the tunnel , '' echoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's comments last week regarding the Pfizer vaccine candidate .
But she said Canada is still months away from being able to distribute a vaccine , noting both drugs must still be approved for use in the country .
The federal government has deals to buy millions of doses of both if they are approved , she said .
• How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists The provinces and territories are also working out their distribution plans , Hajdu said .
`` We ’ ve still got a long way to go .
So I encourage everyone to continue to follow the public health measures that are keeping us safe , to reducing their gatherings , to making sure that they ’ re staying home when they ’ re sick and washing their hands and wearing a face mask , '' she said .
Ontario 's health minister , Christine Elliott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team preparing a plan for the distribution of a vaccine , including ethicists to ensure the immunization is doled out `` fairly and equitably and to the people that absolutely need it the most . ''
Calling it a `` top priority , '' Elliott said the province will be `` ready to go as soon as the vaccines are available . ''
Isaac Bogoch , an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto 's Temerty Faculty of Medicine , said that based on the data available , `` there is room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates .
But he said no one should be surprised if there are hiccups along the road , noting many questions remain unanswered , such as the drugs ' effectiveness in a real-world setting and how long immunity will last .
News of another promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate stirred hope as Canada 's case count surpassed the 300,000 mark .
# COVID19 # vaccine # Moderna # coronavirus Even once vaccines are available for distribution , it will take a long time for everyone to be immunized , and the daily case counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerating , Bogoch said .
`` Certainly there can be a lot of damage done between now and when vaccine programs are rolled up , '' he said .
`` So , we really hope that the provinces and municipal , political , and public health leaders take steps to protect people .
And I hope people take steps to protect themselves and their community , '' he said .
British Columbia reported almost 2,000 more cases of COVID-19 over three days on Monday , pushing the national case count past the 300,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than a month after hitting the 200,000-case mark ; Canada first reached 100,000 cases in June .
Nunavut , which had no infections until this month , ordered a two-week shutdown of non-essential businesses and schools as its tally rose to 18 cases .
The restrictions are set to begin Wednesday , and include closing child-care centres to all but the children of essential workers , and shuttering health centres except for emergency services .
Ontario and Quebec , the two provinces that account for the bulk of Canada 's COVID-19 case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections , respectively , on Monday as well as 10 and 25 more deaths .
In Manitoba , where 392 new cases and 10 additional deaths were logged Monday , the province 's chief public health officer warned that hospitals are near capacity .
Dr. Brent Roussin said it appears some people are n't understanding that they need to stay home , noting one COVID-19 case over the weekend had come in contact with 85 others .

News of another promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate stirred hope Monday as Canada's case count surpassed the 300,000 mark, with the two hardest-hit provinces continuing to report more than 1,000 daily new infections and a sudden spike in Nunavut triggering a two-week lockdown. Moderna's announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine appears to be 94.5 per cent effective, according to preliminary data, comes a week after a similar announcement from Pfizer. Both American companies are among those that have signed agreements with Canada, and have asked Health Canada to review their products. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Monday the news from Moderna amounts to "a light at the end of the tunnel," echoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's comments last week regarding the Pfizer vaccine candidate. But she said Canada is still months away from being able to distribute a vaccine, noting both drugs must still be approved for use in the country. The federal government has deals to buy millions of doses of both if they are approved, she said.
The provinces and territories are also working out their distribution plans, Hajdu said. "We’ve still got a long way to go. So I encourage everyone to continue to follow the public health measures that are keeping us safe, to reducing their gatherings, to making sure that they’re staying home when they’re sick and washing their hands and wearing a face mask," she said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Ontario's health minister, Christine Elliott, said Monday the province has a team preparing a plan for the distribution of a vaccine, including ethicists to ensure the immunization is doled out "fairly and equitably and to the people that absolutely need it the most."
Calling it a "top priority," Elliott said the province will be "ready to go as soon as the vaccines are available." News of another promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate stirred hope as Canada's case count surpassed the 300,000 mark. #COVID19 #vaccine #Moderna #coronavirus Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, said that based on the data available, "there is room for cautious optimism" regarding both vaccine candidates. But he said no one should be surprised if there are hiccups along the road, noting many questions remain unanswered, such as the drugs' effectiveness in a real-world setting and how long immunity will last. Even once vaccines are available for distribution, it will take a long time for everyone to be immunized, and the daily case counts show the spread of the virus is accelerating, Bogoch said. "Certainly there can be a lot of damage done between now and when vaccine programs are rolled up," he said.
"So, we really hope that the provinces and municipal, political, and public health leaders take steps to protect people. And I hope people take steps to protect themselves and their community," he said. British Columbia reported almost 2,000 more cases of COVID-19 over three days on Monday, pushing the national case count past the 300,000 threshold. It reached the grim milestone less than a month after hitting the 200,000-case mark; Canada first reached 100,000 cases in June. Nunavut, which had no infections until this month, ordered a two-week shutdown of non-essential businesses and schools as its tally rose to 18 cases.


nationalobserver--2020-11-17--Manitoba reserve on lockdown after entire care home infected with COVID-19

Every resident of a long-term care home on a northern Manitoba reserve where the number of infections almost doubled in a day has tested positive for COVID-19 , says the Indigenous community 's leader .
All 28 seniors at the Rod McGillivary Memorial Care Home on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation have been infected and 17 of them are symptomatic , Onekanew ( Chief ) Christian Sinclair said Monday .
At least 17 staff members have also tested positive , and others are isolating and monitoring for symptoms , he said .
The dramatic increase in cases has forced the reserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to be put under lockdown .
There were 63 active cases on Sunday but that had jumped to 124 by Monday .
“ Our No .
1 goal is to stabilize and flatten that curve , ” said Sinclair , who added the First Nation is investigating how the virus was able to spread within the care home so quickly .
• How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community • It 's all in the family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists Opaskwayak leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and Sinclair said he is considering whether to ask for help from the military .
There ’ s significant pressure on the community ’ s front-line workers as health-care staff are pushed to the limit or are forced to isolate .
Opaskwayak Cree Nation provides health services to neighbouring First Nations also experiencing outbreaks .
Sinclair said he ’ s in talks with Indigenous leadership and the nearby town of The Pas to deal with pressures being put on the northern health-care system .
Northern Manitoba and its First Nations communities avoided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 in the spring .
Months went by without new infections in the region .
But as the second wave began to creep into Manitoba over recent months , it ’ s becoming clear the First Nations population has not been spared .
The entire province moved to red on its pandemic response scale last week after deadly outbreaks in care homes and a significant increase in infections .
There were a record-breaking 494 new cases Sunday .
Dr. Brent Roussin , chief provincial public health officer , warned Monday that hospitals across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resident in a northern Manitoba has tested positive for COVID-19 .
# Manitoba # Covid19 The Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response team has been sounding the alarm that Indigenous people are facing more severe health outcomes if they are infected and have a higher rate of hospitalization .
“ First Nations people are disproportionally impacted in new cases , active cases and those experiencing more severe outcomes , ” said Dr. Marcia Anderson during the response team ’ s weekly update on Friday .
The team 's numbers showed 18 First Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , seven in the last week alone .
Anderson said the median age of First Nations patients who die of COVID-19 is almost a full decade younger than that of non-Indigenous Manitobans .
“ Our need to act aggressively and act urgently is even beyond that for the rest of the population.
” Sinclair said Opaskwayak and neighbouring communities are working hard on contingency plans .
But if infections continue at the current rate , significant help will be needed quickly .
The community is already converting a veteran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
And it 's looking at doing the same in two schools .

Every resident of a long-term care home on a northern Manitoba reserve where the number of infections almost doubled in a day has tested positive for COVID-19, says the Indigenous community's leader. All 28 seniors at the Rod McGillivary Memorial Care Home on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation have been infected and 17 of them are symptomatic, Onekanew (Chief) Christian Sinclair said Monday. At least 17 staff members have also tested positive, and others are isolating and monitoring for symptoms, he said. The dramatic increase in cases has forced the reserve, about 520 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, to be put under lockdown. There were 63 active cases on Sunday but that had jumped to 124 by Monday. “Our No. 1 goal is to stabilize and flatten that curve,” said Sinclair, who added the First Nation is investigating how the virus was able to spread within the care home so quickly.
Opaskwayak leaders have had daily talks with the federal government and Sinclair said he is considering whether to ask for help from the military. There’s significant pressure on the community’s front-line workers as health-care staff are pushed to the limit or are forced to isolate. Opaskwayak Cree Nation provides health services to neighbouring First Nations also experiencing outbreaks. Sinclair said he’s in talks with Indigenous leadership and the nearby town of The Pas to deal with pressures being put on the northern health-care system. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Northern Manitoba and its First Nations communities avoided the brunt of the first wave of COVID-19 in the spring. Months went by without new infections in the region.
But as the second wave began to creep into Manitoba over recent months, it’s becoming clear the First Nations population has not been spared. Every resident in a northern Manitoba has tested positive for COVID-19. #Manitoba #Covid19 The entire province moved to red on its pandemic response scale last week after deadly outbreaks in care homes and a significant increase in infections. There were a record-breaking 494 new cases Sunday. Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, warned Monday that hospitals across the province were pushing capacity. The Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 Pandemic Response team has been sounding the alarm that Indigenous people are facing more severe health outcomes if they are infected and have a higher rate of hospitalization. “First Nations people are disproportionally impacted in new cases, active cases and those experiencing more severe outcomes,” said Dr. Marcia Anderson during the response team’s weekly update on Friday.
The team's numbers showed 18 First Nations people had died since the beginning of the pandemic, seven in the last week alone. Anderson said the median age of First Nations patients who die of COVID-19 is almost a full decade younger than that of non-Indigenous Manitobans. “Our need to act aggressively and act urgently is even beyond that for the rest of the population.” Sinclair said Opaskwayak and neighbouring communities are working hard on contingency plans. But if infections continue at the current rate, significant help will be needed quickly.


nationalobserver--2020-11-17--It's all in the family for Canada's most famous sibling activists

She is author of some of the most provocative social commentary of this century so far : No Logo , The Shock Doctrine , This Changes Everything .
He is the behind-the-scenes policy analyst who championed a carbon tax and the groundbreaking Climate Justice Project and has just released a book of his own ; A Good War : Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency .
Naomi and Seth Klein are probably Canada ’ s most famous sibling activists , but you could say they are just following in the family business .
“ My grandfather was an artist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union at Walt Disney who led a very long and nasty strike just before the U.S. entered ( the Second World War ) , ” Seth says .
The strike was a success , the union was founded , but all the organizers were fired , including his grandfather .
• How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community • Women lead the climate movement .
Don ’ t leave them out of the green recovery “ After the war , Disney had them all named to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to joke that my sister and I can ’ t remember a time from the very youngest age that we didn ’ t hold these dissonant views ; that we really liked Walt Disney movies , but he was a bastard , ” Seth says with a wry laugh .
They grew up Canadian because their parents fled the United States in 1967 , shortly after their father , Michael , received his draft notice for the Vietnam War .
Portrait of the Klein family not long after they moved to Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in Montreal , their mother , Bonnie Sherr Klein , became a pioneering member of the National Film Board ’ s Studio D , the first publicly funded feminist film production unit in the world .
“ My parents always went to demonstrations .
Our family car trips were listening to music from the civil rights movement .
My mom was part of Studio D , so all of her friends were making films about political issues , like nuclear war and disability rights and environment , ” Naomi says in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a very political environment .
It was kind of like the air we breathed.
” Get to know them better : Seth and Naomi Klein , the brother and sister activist team pushing climate change consciousness in Canada .
# climatechange # climatecrisis # climatechangeemergency # reverseclimatechange @ NaomiAKlein @ SethDKlein Seth , two years Naomi ’ s senior , fell into activism early .
At age 14 , he and a group of friends founded a high school nuclear disarmament movement .
By the summer of 1986 , the Students Against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tour hosting youth rallies against the bomb .
“ He found out that there were these weapons out there that could wipe out humanity , and he just wasn ’ t able to live with that , ” Naomi says .
“ Most of us can live with incredible cognitive dissonance — we can know that we ’ re making the planet uninhabitable , we can know that there are nuclear weapons that could wipe us out , and just not think about it .
“ Seth didn ’ t have that ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out about the arms race , he was destroyed by it .
He couldn ’ t sleep until he figured out a way to do something about it.
” That ’ s not to say Naomi was apolitical .
At age 12 , she delivered a memorable speech at her bat mitzvah about racism in the Jewish community .
“ It caused a bit of a stir at my local synagogue , ” she says .
“ I was interested in the issues and I always wrote … but it wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became part of activism , but more as a writer.
” Distant during their high school years , it was a family crisis in 1987 that brought the brother and sister closer .
Seth was 19 and Naomi 17 when their mother suffered a debilitating stroke and nearly died .
“ That brought us together , ” Seth says .
“ A couple of years after that , Naomi ended up joining me at the University of Toronto.
” But Naomi didn ’ t just end up at U of T with Seth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her brother .
“ I don ’ t even think I applied anywhere but U of T. I just wanted him as an anchor in my life , ” she says .
“ Things were very uncertain with my mom , and I think I just wanted to be close to family.
” Seth and Naomi Klein as children .
Photo submitted by Seth Klein At university , Seth discovered a passion for economic and social justice , while Naomi delved into the campus press , rising to editor-in-chief of The Varsity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Free School , ” a series of informal seminars on the issues of the day .
Then another formative moment in their shared history occurred on Dec. 6 , 1989 , when a gunman walked into the École Polytechnique in Montreal and killed 14 women .
“ I heard it on the radio and I remember going down the hall to join her and couple of friends and getting them to turn on the radio , ” Seth recalls .
Naomi ended up hosting a Free School meeting on the shooting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That was the beginning , ” Seth says .
“ When Naomi started to get political , she always did it in a brave way.
” Political activist and author Naomi Klein at a book launch .
Photo submitted by Naomi Klein .
After university , Seth moved West where he was a founder of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition , among other social justice work , before becoming the founding director in British Columbia of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives , a progressive think tank .
By the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in climate justice , and in 2007 , launched the Climate Justice Project .
“ The problem is that once you ’ ve begun that work and you ’ re obliged to follow and read all the latest scientific evidence , you just become increasingly alarmed , ” he says .
Seth left the CCPA a year and half ago , seeking a change in tactics on the climate crisis .
“ I couldn ’ t keep doing what I was doing .
You look at our GHG emissions going back 20 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That chart , to me , is kind of a physical manifestation of Einstein ’ s definition of insanity : To keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result .
I felt a need to shift , ” he says .
That shift resulted in his new book , which was released in September .
Prior to writing his book , Seth edited several of Naomi ’ s , beginning with No Logo , published in 1999 , and followed by The Shock Doctrine ( 2007 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She has called him her “ secret weapon , ” telling Publisher ’ s Weekly that she “ would just call him at any time and demand a tutorial on monetary theory.
” Seth is effusive about his sister ’ s work .
“ Naomi is both a much better writer and much smarter .
You can put that in print , ” he says .
“ She ’ s a great storyteller .
Part of it is that she connects the dots in new ways and part of it is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she explains these things to people through story.
” Naomi , in turn , has praise for Seth ’ s book and his work on hers .
“ Seth has always been one of my first readers for all my books , ” she says .
“ He has been that for me for decades , and that ’ s why I ’ m so happy he ’ s written this book because I think he ’ s a brilliant mind and a very careful researcher.
” Climate activist Tzeporah Berman first met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends in Greece , but they didn ’ t meet again until Seth began work at the CCPA .
More recently , she approached him about working with her to engage cities on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative , which she chairs .
Seth is a “ radical pragmatist , ” she says .
Under his guidance , the CCPA worked to provide a road map to address climate change , she says .
“ He ’ s brilliant , he ’ s articulate , and yet he is almost egoless in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaches dialogue .
It ’ s never about Seth when you ’ re talking to Seth.
” As for Naomi , Berman says you can ’ t overstate Naomi Klein ’ s influence .
“ Naomi is a thought leader on climate change and climate justice issues internationally , ” she says .
“ You meet a lot of people in this work who are good writers or good speakers or good negotiators .
And then sometimes you meet people who live and breathe this work , who have a true passion and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would say both Seth and Naomi are that.
” It doesn ’ t seem to strike Seth or Naomi as unusual that the brother and sister would find themselves both in the trenches of the most urgent crisis facing the world today .
Naomi ’ s husband , Avi Lewis , and Seth ’ s wife , Christine Boyle , are also active in the movement .
“ I think there was an expectation early on , a bit of a sense of family legacy , ” Seth says .

The strike was a success, the union was founded, but all the organizers were fired, including his grandfather.
“My grandfather was an artist and one of six guys who started the union at Walt Disney who led a very long and nasty strike just before the U.S. entered (the Second World War),” Seth says.
Naomi and Seth Klein are probably Canada’s most famous sibling activists, but you could say they are just following in the family business.
He is the behind-the-scenes policy analyst who championed a carbon tax and the groundbreaking Climate Justice Project and has just released a book of his own; A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency.
She is author of some of the most provocative social commentary of this century so far: No Logo, The Shock Doctrine, This Changes Everything.
They grew up Canadian because their parents fled the United States in 1967, shortly after their father, Michael, received his draft notice for the Vietnam War.
“After the war, Disney had them all named to the House Un-American Activities Committee. I like to joke that my sister and I can’t remember a time from the very youngest age that we didn’t hold these dissonant views; that we really liked Walt Disney movies, but he was a bastard,” Seth says with a wry laugh.
Seth, two years Naomi’s senior, fell into activism early. At age 14, he and a group of friends founded a high school nuclear disarmament movement. By the summer of 1986, the Students Against Global Extermination set out on a coast-to-coast tour hosting youth rallies against the bomb.
“We grew up in a very political environment. It was kind of like the air we breathed.”
“My parents always went to demonstrations. Our family car trips were listening to music from the civil rights movement. My mom was part of Studio D, so all of her friends were making films about political issues, like nuclear war and disability rights and environment,” Naomi says in a separate interview.
Growing up in Montreal, their mother, Bonnie Sherr Klein, became a pioneering member of the National Film Board’s Studio D , the first publicly funded feminist film production unit in the world.
That’s not to say Naomi was apolitical. At age 12, she delivered a memorable speech at her bat mitzvah about racism in the Jewish community.
“Seth didn’t have that ability as a kid. When he found out about the arms race, he was destroyed by it. He couldn’t sleep until he figured out a way to do something about it.”
“He found out that there were these weapons out there that could wipe out humanity, and he just wasn’t able to live with that,” Naomi says. “Most of us can live with incredible cognitive dissonance — we can know that we’re making the planet uninhabitable, we can know that there are nuclear weapons that could wipe us out, and just not think about it.
“It caused a bit of a stir at my local synagogue,” she says. “I was interested in the issues and I always wrote … but it wasn’t until I was in university that I became part of activism, but more as a writer.”
Distant during their high school years, it was a family crisis in 1987 that brought the brother and sister closer. Seth was 19 and Naomi 17 when their mother suffered a debilitating stroke and nearly died.
“That brought us together,” Seth says. “A couple of years after that, Naomi ended up joining me at the University of Toronto.”
But Naomi didn’t just end up at U of T with Seth. She went there to be closer to her brother.
“I don’t even think I applied anywhere but U of T. I just wanted him as an anchor in my life,” she says. “Things were very uncertain with my mom, and I think I just wanted to be close to family.”
Seth and Naomi Klein as children. Photo submitted by Seth Klein
At university, Seth discovered a passion for economic and social justice, while Naomi delved into the campus press, rising to editor-in-chief of The Varsity newspaper. Together, they founded the “Free School,” a series of informal seminars on the issues of the day.
Then another formative moment in their shared history occurred on Dec. 6, 1989, when a gunman walked into the École Polytechnique in Montreal and killed 14 women.
“I heard it on the radio and I remember going down the hall to join her and couple of friends and getting them to turn on the radio,” Seth recalls.
Naomi ended up hosting a Free School meeting on the shooting and writing about it in the student press.
“That was the beginning,” Seth says. “When Naomi started to get political, she always did it in a brave way.”
Political activist and author Naomi Klein at a book launch. Photo submitted by Naomi Klein.
After university, Seth moved West where he was a founder of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, among other social justice work, before becoming the founding director in British Columbia of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a progressive think tank. By the early 2000s, the CCPA was increasingly involved in climate justice, and in 2007, launched the Climate Justice Project.
“The problem is that once you’ve begun that work and you’re obliged to follow and read all the latest scientific evidence, you just become increasingly alarmed,” he says.
Seth left the CCPA a year and half ago, seeking a change in tactics on the climate crisis.
“I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. You look at our GHG emissions going back 20 years and it’s just flat. That chart, to me, is kind of a physical manifestation of Einstein’s definition of insanity: To keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. I felt a need to shift,” he says.
That shift resulted in his new book, which was released in September.
Prior to writing his book, Seth edited several of Naomi’s, beginning with No Logo, published in 1999, and followed by The Shock Doctrine (2007) and This Changes Everything (2014). She has called him her “secret weapon,” telling Publisher’s Weekly that she “would just call him at any time and demand a tutorial on monetary theory.”
Seth is effusive about his sister’s work.
“Naomi is both a much better writer and much smarter. You can put that in print,” he says.
“She’s a great storyteller. Part of it is that she connects the dots in new ways and part of it is that she’s an exceptional storyteller and she explains these things to people through story.”
Naomi, in turn, has praise for Seth’s book and his work on hers.
“Seth has always been one of my first readers for all my books,” she says. “He has been that for me for decades, and that’s why I’m so happy he’s written this book because I think he’s a brilliant mind and a very careful researcher.”
Climate activist Tzeporah Berman first met Seth 30 years ago while backpacking with friends in Greece, but they didn’t meet again until Seth began work at the CCPA. More recently, she approached him about working with her to engage cities on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, which she chairs.
Seth is a “radical pragmatist,” she says. Under his guidance, the CCPA worked to provide a road map to address climate change, she says.
“He’s brilliant, he’s articulate, and yet he is almost egoless in the gracious and compassionate way that he approaches dialogue. It’s never about Seth when you’re talking to Seth.”
As for Naomi, Berman says you can’t overstate Naomi Klein’s influence.
“Naomi is a thought leader on climate change and climate justice issues internationally,” she says.
“You meet a lot of people in this work who are good writers or good speakers or good negotiators. And then sometimes you meet people who live and breathe this work, who have a true passion and sense of purpose and dedication. I would say both Seth and Naomi are that.”
It doesn’t seem to strike Seth or Naomi as unusual that the brother and sister would find themselves both in the trenches of the most urgent crisis facing the world today. Naomi’s husband, Avi Lewis, and Seth’s wife, Christine Boyle, are also active in the movement.
“I think there was an expectation early on, a bit of a sense of family legacy,” Seth says.


nationalobserver--2020-11-18--How a new organic farming app is trying to weed out paperwork

Heather Stretch usually spends a few days each winter corralling paperwork that traces her produce from seed to sale to renew her farm ’ s organic certification .
Not this year .
The Victoria-based organic farmer has moved her paperwork to a new online program that helps diversified organic farmers track their farm and renew their certifications .
“ As the multiple years of farming pile on , it becomes a bit of a challenge to track your records , track your data year over year , ” she said .
“ So rather than having to remember , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my Google Drive and what things were Word documents or Excel files … and which things were still paper in my filing cabinet , ’ it ’ s nice just to log in and see that whole farm history.
” The program , iCertify , is part of a larger project by researchers at the University of British Columbia to create open-source farm management software for diversified organic producers .
Farm management software isn ’ t new , but it has mostly been developed for industrial farms .
That makes it useless for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of varieties over the course of a season , file piles of paperwork every winter — and don ’ t want to share their farm ’ s data with agri-business corporations .
• It 's all in the family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists • How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community “ There ’ s a lot of farm management tools out there for people who are growing 500 hectares of soybeans because there ’ s a lot of money in that ecosystem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager for LiteFarm , the farm management software developed by the UBC team .
The platform is currently in its beta phase and integrates iCertify , alongside other features .
“ When you ’ re growing 50 different types of produce on 20 different beds across a farm that has natural buffers and forest areas , it ’ s equally complex.
” Traditionally , farmers have worked this complexity armed with notebooks , spreadsheets and close observations carried over from year to year .
That approach is hard to fine-tune , with farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels , irrigation and other supports to sustainably maximize their yields .
It ’ s also made it hard to compare management practices , yields and sustainability between farms , Cussen said .
“ The fact ( that management practices are ) stuck in their heads and notebooks makes it very hard to study these and say what ’ s effective , which should be more widely adopted.
” Increasing food production isn ’ t the only benefit that can come from this kind of knowledge sharing .
For instance , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biodiversity , including pollinator populations , which are in steep decline .
With about 75 per cent of food crops needing pollination , developing and sharing effective farm management techniques that can support this wildlife will become increasingly important .
Blueberry fields need pollinators .
Planting a diversity of crops and natural features like hedgerows can help sustain their populations and yields .
Photo by Heather Stretch The data collected through the LiteFarm app can also help develop a more accurate picture of a region ’ s agricultural landscape .
The benefits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government datasets , explained Zia Mehrabi , research associate at UBC and the project ’ s lead investigator .
That can lead to policy decisions undermining sustainable small-scale farms , both in Canada and beyond .
“ ( We ’ re ) really trying to gather the information not only to help the farmers day to day , which is what the app does , but also more broadly think about the future and how we can build a better planet for our children , ” said @ ZiaMehrabi .
“ ( We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information not only to help the farmers day to day , which is what the app does , but also more broadly think about the future and how we can build a better planet for our children , ” he said .
Access to that day-to-day information is revolutionary , especially for organic farmers who need to follow stringent management protocols .
“ I think about a bubble over ( an organic farm ) , ” said Crystal Arsenault , administrator for the Islands Organic Producers Association , which is responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Anything that comes into that bubble or leaves that bubble , you have to record it.
” That means organic farmers record everything : The soil they used to germinate seeds , how much compost they put on the fields and how much they sold their produce for .
The paperwork is “ intense , ” said Arsenault — and required if farmers want to maintain their certification .
The LiteFarm app ’ s beta version lets farmers enter that data on their phones , where the iCertify program — which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — automatically fills in the standardized forms required to maintain organic certification .
Other functions on the app can map and graph this information to help farmers manage their fields more efficiently once it is officially launched .
“ It ’ s going to show profitability and , because it ’ s being designed to track that seed to sale for organic ( certification ) needs , you ’ re going to be able to break down that profitability … right down to a specific crop or a specific planting , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common across farm management software — including in digital products sold to farmers by large fertilizer , seed and pesticide companies .
These commercial platforms have raised concerns among advocates about farmers ’ privacy and autonomy , an issue Cussen said the LiteFarm team has addressed .
“ The data is owned by the farmers , they retain the right to see it at any point , they retain the right to revoke access to their data at any point , ” he said .
“ When we share it , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t share it with any commercial interests under any conditions , and , where necessary and appropriate , we anonymize the data.
” Small-scale diversified farms grow dozens of crops each year .
Keeping track of their profitability is tricky and an app might help , Crystal Arsenault said .
Photo by Heather Stretch For Cussen , the project is an opportunity to support a global community of farmers and researchers trying to feed us more sustainably .
“ One of the nice things about being an open-source project is that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use our software , ” he said .
“ At the end of the day , we want every farmer in the world that is interested in these practices , that is interested in building their knowledge , that is interested in sharing their knowledge , that is interested in running their farm more smoothly to have access to this application .
”

Heather Stretch usually spends a few days each winter corralling paperwork that traces her produce from seed to sale to renew her farm’s organic certification. Not this year. The Victoria-based organic farmer has moved her paperwork to a new online program that helps diversified organic farmers track their farm and renew their certifications. “As the multiple years of farming pile on, it becomes a bit of a challenge to track your records, track your data year over year,” she said. “So rather than having to remember, ‘Oh wait, what things were in my Google Drive and what things were Word documents or Excel files … and which things were still paper in my filing cabinet,’ it’s nice just to log in and see that whole farm history.” The program, iCertify, was created by Certified Organic Associations of B.C. (COABC) and it is a key feature that researchers at the University of British Columbia have integrated into a larger project to create open-source farm management software for diversified organic producers. Farm management software isn’t new, but it has mostly been developed for industrial farms. That makes it useless for farmers like Stretch, who track dozens of varieties over the course of a season, file piles of paperwork every winter — and don’t want to share their farm’s data with agri-business corporations.
“There’s a lot of farm management tools out there for people who are growing 500 hectares of soybeans because there’s a lot of money in that ecosystem,” said Kevin Cussen, product manager for LiteFarm, the farm management software developed by the UBC team. The platform is currently in its beta phase and integrates iCertify, the COABC program, alongside other features. “When you’re growing 50 different types of produce on 20 different beds across a farm that has natural buffers and forest areas, it’s equally complex.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Traditionally, farmers have worked this complexity armed with notebooks, spreadsheets and close observations carried over from year to year. That approach is hard to fine-tune, with farmers often guessing how to adjust soil nutrient levels, irrigation and other supports to sustainably maximize their yields. It’s also made it hard to compare management practices, yields and sustainability between farms, Cussen said.
“The fact (that management practices are) stuck in their heads and notebooks makes it very hard to study these and say what’s effective, which should be more widely adopted.” Increasing food production isn’t the only benefit that can come from this kind of knowledge sharing. For instance, there is evidence that more diverse farms help sustain biodiversity, including pollinator populations, which are in steep decline. With about 75 per cent of food crops needing pollination, developing and sharing effective farm management techniques that can support this wildlife will become increasingly important. “(We’re) really trying to gather the information not only to help the farmers day to day, which is what the app does, but also more broadly think about the future and how we can build a better planet for our children,” said @ZiaMehrabi. Blueberry fields need pollinators. Planting a diversity of crops and natural features like hedgerows can help sustain their populations and yields. Photo by Heather Stretch The data collected through the LiteFarm app can also help develop a more accurate picture of a region’s agricultural landscape. The benefits of extremely diverse farms are often overlooked in government datasets, explained Zia Mehrabi, research associate at UBC and the project’s lead investigator. That can lead to policy decisions undermining sustainable small-scale farms, both in Canada and beyond. “(We’re) really trying to gather the information not only to help the farmers day to day, which is what the app does, but also more broadly think about the future and how we can build a better planet for our children,” he said.
Access to that day-to-day information is revolutionary, especially for organic farmers who need to follow stringent management protocols. “I think about a bubble over (an organic farm),” said Crystal Arsenault, administrator for the Islands Organic Producers Association, which is responsible for certifying organic farms on Vancouver Island. “Anything that comes into that bubble or leaves that bubble, you have to record it.” That means organic farmers record everything: The soil they used to germinate seeds, how much compost they put on the fields and how much they sold their produce for. The paperwork is “intense,” said Arsenault — and required if farmers want to maintain their certification.


nationalobserver--2020-11-18--Climate activist Seth Klein’s call to arms to fight climate change

Climate activist Seth Klein has issued a call to arms to make peace with the planet .
In his new book , A Good War : Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency , Klein imparts an unflinching warning about where this country stands in the fight to curb catastrophic climate change , and offers a plan for the path ahead .
The situation is dire , says Klein , a policy analyst and founding director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in British Columbia .
But he finds hope for the future by looking to the past : Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War .
Canada 's National Observer spoke to Klein about the book , the big picture and the battle ahead .
• It 's all in the family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists • How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community Why the Second World War ?
The original book outline had a single chapter of lessons from World War II .
I have long found the war story intriguing , specifically around the question of the rapid economic retooling that occurred , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our head : Can we really do this at the speed and scale required ?
And in World War II , we did do that .
Who do you want to convince ?
The principal audience in my mind were progressive governments of different political stripes ( that ) purport to get it but aren ’ t practising a policy agenda that aligns with the science .
The book is an endeavour to encourage them to be more daring than we have seen to date and to practise politics that align with what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the book was also intended for a more general audience to basically ask the question : Who do you want to be ?
In the book , you liken the fossil fuel industry to war profiteers who did business with Nazi Germany .
You write : “ Just as the lead-up to war saw American corporate interests who advocated neutrality so that they could continue to do business with the Nazi regime , so too does the climate emergency face obstruction from corporations reluctant to give up their profits.
” Poster set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War : Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency .
Photo submitted by Seth Klein Have you given up on industry ’ s willing participation in the transformation that needs to take place ?
It depends what you mean by industry .
I really want , broadly speaking , business and industry participation just like we had it in World War II .
But when it comes to the fossil fuel industry , its days are numbered .
It has to be managed for wind down over the next 20 to 30 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisory groups struck in recent years have representatives from that sector .
I don ’ t think they should be there because , by having them there , what we are saying is we want a climate plan in which they can find comfort .
I ’ m saying any climate plan that isn ’ t making them deeply anxious at this late hour isn ’ t a plan worth having .
I am saying we should stop appeasing the fossil fuel industry .
The book was written prior to COVID-19 .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political and public resolve ?
It could go either way , like all historic moments .
The 1930s gave birth to both Nazism and the promise of the New Deal .
The bad news is that the pandemic has , for the near term , forced everything else off the front burner .
That ’ s frustrating , because the momentum for bold climate action was really building .
On the other hand , we ’ ve all been given a reminder of what it looks like when a government treats an emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to spend to win , create new economic institutions to get the job done , move to mandatory measures when necessary and communicate that it ’ s an emergency every day .
Why must some measures be mandatory ?
I think there are hundreds of thousands of people who want to do the right thing on climate .
The problem with a voluntary approach is a “ chump dynamic ” takes hold , which is when lots of people say , “ I want to do the right thing , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it and my neighbour doesn ’ t. ” And they ’ re right .
The benefit of having it be mandatory is you escape the chump dynamic , because everyone knows that everyone ’ s in .
What is the fossil fuel non-proliferation agreement and how are you involved ?
It ’ s a new global initiative modelled on the original nuclear non-proliferation treaty .
In the same way that mandatory measures domestically help individual households get over the “ chump dynamic , ” the fossil fuel treaty does that at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change now , if you ’ re a fossil fuel-producing country like Canada , is you know that we need to wind down the industries , but you ’ re afraid that if you wind down production , someone else will just occupy that space .
The fossil fuel treaty is a path out of that dilemma .
I ’ m just trying to find municipal governments around the world that will endorse the idea .
Where did you find hope in researching and writing the book ?
The situation is grave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to do this in time , but I still think there ’ s hope .
I find the story of how quickly we pivoted and the scale and the speed of what we did in World War II inspirational .
Those million-plus people who enlisted also didn ’ t know if they would succeed , and they did what they had to do anyway .
In the process , they surprised themselves , not just by the speed and scale of what they built , but by the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape of the country for the better .

Canada's National Observer spoke to Klein about the book, the big picture and the battle ahead.
But he finds hope for the future by looking to the past: Canada’s mobilization for the Second World War.
The situation is dire, says Klein, a policy analyst and founding director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in British Columbia.
In his new book, A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency , Klein imparts an unflinching warning about where this country stands in the fight to curb catastrophic climate change, and offers a plan for the path ahead.
The original book outline had a single chapter of lessons from World War II. I have long found the war story intriguing, specifically around the question of the rapid economic retooling that occurred, because many of us have this question in our head: Can we really do this at the speed and scale required?
But the book was also intended for a more general audience to basically ask the question: Who do you want to be?
The principal audience in my mind were progressive governments of different political stripes (that) purport to get it but aren’t practising a policy agenda that aligns with the science. The book is an endeavour to encourage them to be more daring than we have seen to date and to practise politics that align with what the science says we must do.
And in World War II, we did do that.
In the book, you liken the fossil fuel industry to war profiteers who did business with Nazi Germany. You write: “Just as the lead-up to war saw American corporate interests who advocated neutrality so that they could continue to do business with the Nazi regime, so too does the climate emergency face obstruction from corporations reluctant to give up their profits.”
Have you given up on industry’s willing participation in the transformation that needs to take place?
It depends what you mean by industry. I really want, broadly speaking, business and industry participation just like we had it in World War II. But when it comes to the fossil fuel industry, its days are numbered. It has to be managed for wind down over the next 20 to 30 years.
Yet all the federal and provincial climate advisory groups struck in recent years have representatives from that sector. I don’t think they should be there because, by having them there, what we are saying is we want a climate plan in which they can find comfort. I’m saying any climate plan that isn’t making them deeply anxious at this late hour isn’t a plan worth having.
I am saying we should stop appeasing the fossil fuel industry.
The book was written prior to COVID-19. How do you think the pandemic will affect political and public resolve?
It could go either way, like all historic moments. The 1930s gave birth to both Nazism and the promise of the New Deal.
The bad news is that the pandemic has, for the near term, forced everything else off the front burner. That’s frustrating, because the momentum for bold climate action was really building.
On the other hand, we’ve all been given a reminder of what it looks like when a government treats an emergency as an emergency: Spend what you have to spend to win, create new economic institutions to get the job done, move to mandatory measures when necessary and communicate that it’s an emergency every day.
Why must some measures be mandatory?
I think there are hundreds of thousands of people who want to do the right thing on climate. The problem with a voluntary approach is a “chump dynamic” takes hold, which is when lots of people say, “I want to do the right thing, but it doesn’t mean anything if I do it and my neighbour doesn’t.” And they’re right.
The benefit of having it be mandatory is you escape the chump dynamic, because everyone knows that everyone’s in.
What is the fossil fuel non-proliferation agreement and how are you involved?
It’s a new global initiative modelled on the original nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
In the same way that mandatory measures domestically help individual households get over the “chump dynamic,” the fossil fuel treaty does that at an international level. One of the barriers to change now, if you’re a fossil fuel-producing country like Canada, is you know that we need to wind down the industries, but you’re afraid that if you wind down production, someone else will just occupy that space.
The fossil fuel treaty is a path out of that dilemma.
I’m just trying to find municipal governments around the world that will endorse the idea.
Where did you find hope in researching and writing the book?
The situation is grave and there is no guarantee that we’re going to do this in time, but I still think there’s hope. I find the story of how quickly we pivoted and the scale and the speed of what we did in World War II inspirational.
Those million-plus people who enlisted also didn’t know if they would succeed, and they did what they had to do anyway. In the process, they surprised themselves, not just by the speed and scale of what they built, but by the fact that they also changed the economic and social landscape of the country for the better.


nationalobserver--2020-11-18--To fight inequality and COVID-19, tax the ultra-rich

The federal government ’ s upcoming fall fiscal update will look like no other in Canadian history .
With an already record $ 343-billion deficit and significant promises still to fulfil from the Liberals ’ September throne speech , the cost of COVID-19 is mounting .
The growing deficit is not cause for alarm , nor austerity .
Record-low lending rates make this an ideal time for governments to help individuals and businesses survive the pandemic and recover .
The International Monetary Fund recently recommended advanced economies like Canada seize this moment and strengthen public investments to bolster confidence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as accessible child care and green jobs creation will help the recovery and lay the foundation for a more sustainable and inclusive economy post-crisis .
But the federal government will eventually have to deal with the pandemic ’ s unprecedented economic cost .
By making progressive changes to the tax system now , the Liberals can raise much-needed revenues while fulfilling the commitment in the throne speech to find new ways of taxing extreme inequality .
Tackle tax havens : The expansion of tax havens has further enabled Canada ’ s richest individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their wealth offshore , resulting in lost revenues for federal and provincial governments .
Use of tax havens costs Canada as much as $ 25 billion every year , according to the PBO .
While many smaller businesses are struggling just to survive under COVID-19 , large corporations such as Loblaw and mining giant Cameco are embroiled in billion-dollar court cases with the Canada Revenue Agency over their use of tax havens .
The federal government can also reduce these losses by requiring multinational corporations to publicly report taxes paid in each country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners , supporting reforms to international corporate tax rules and strengthening laws at home , including harsher penalties for those who engage in and facilitate offshore tax dodging .
These are just a few fair tax measures the federal government should introduce that would reduce inequalities , help pay for the costs of the crisis and rebuild a better economy in the recovery .
By making progressive changes to the tax system now , the Liberals can raise much-needed revenues while fulfilling the commitment in the throne speech to find new ways of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Erika Beauchesne is the communications co-ordinator with Canadians for Tax Fairness , a non-profit organization that advocates for progressive taxes to reduce inequality and strengthen the economy .

The federal government’s upcoming fall fiscal update will look like no other in Canadian history. With an already record $343-billion deficit and significant promises still to fulfil from the Liberals’ September throne speech, the cost of COVID-19 is mounting. The growing deficit is not cause for alarm, nor austerity. Record-low lending rates make this an ideal time for governments to help individuals and businesses survive the pandemic and recover. The International Monetary Fund recently recommended advanced economies like Canada seize this moment and strengthen public investments to bolster confidence and economic output. Investments in areas such as accessible child care and green jobs creation will help the recovery and lay the foundation for a more sustainable and inclusive economy post-crisis. But the federal government will eventually have to deal with the pandemic’s unprecedented economic cost. By making progressive changes to the tax system now, the Liberals can raise much-needed revenues while fulfilling the commitment in the throne speech to find new ways of taxing extreme inequality. A report by Canada’s parliamentary budget officer (PBO) found the top one per cent of Canadians own more than a quarter of all net wealth in the country. The pandemic has worsened this wealth gap. While many households struggled under COVID-19, Canada’s billionaires increased their wealth by $37 billion. The federal government should introduce new taxes targeting extreme wealth concentration and use the revenues to strengthen social safety nets and stimulate the economy. Fortunately, there are many tax measures that can accomplish both goals without raising taxes on average Canadians or stifling economic growth. Here are some of them:
Annual net wealth tax: Canada is the only G7 country without a wealth, inheritance or estate tax. This has allowed extreme wealth to accumulate at the top. Canada’s 100 billionaires own as much wealth as the 15 million least-wealthy Canadians. The NDP has proposed a wealth tax of one per cent on households with more than $20 million, which the PBO estimated could raise nearly $70 billion over the next decade, an average of $7 billion annually. While the NDP should be commended for the proposal, it could go much further. A modestly graduated wealth tax that climbs from one per cent on wealth over $10 million, two per cent on over $100 million and three per cent on over $1 billion could generate about three times that amount. Multiple polls have found strong majority support for a wealth tax in Canada across all age groups and political lines. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Tax capital income like other income: Ordinary Canadians are taxed on the full amount of their income from employment. Meanwhile, those with income from capital, including stock options, are only taxed on half the increased value of their investment income. This overwhelmingly benefits the top incomes and the wealthiest, costing the federal government tens of billions annually. Preferential tax rates on individual and corporate gains alone cost the federal government nearly $22 billion a year. By taxing investment income just like regular income, the government could raise billions in additional revenue while restoring greater equality to the tax system.


nationalobserver--2020-11-17--Keystone XL fits Biden agenda thanks to union jobs, Indigenous support, TC Energy exec says

The creation of union jobs and support by Indigenous investors will help convince U.S. president-elect Joe Biden that the Keystone XL pipeline fits into his `` Build Back Better '' agenda , an executive with proponent TC Energy Corp. said Tuesday .
The Calgary-based company said it is forging ahead with construction of the pipeline designed to transport up to 830,000 barrels per day of oil from Alberta to Nebraska despite Biden 's election campaign vow to rip up the presidential permit that allows it to move oil across the border .
`` We 've looked at the incoming Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the steps that we 've already taken with Keystone XL , we believe , have positioned it very favourably , particularly as we bring jobs to the economy next year , a key platform for the U.S. government as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic , '' Bevin Wirzba , president of liquids pipelines , said during on a webcast from the Calgary-based company 's investor day .
In October , TC Energy announced the awarding of more than US $ 1.6 billion worth of contracts to six American unionized contractors to execute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 7,000 union jobs in 2021 .
It also said it would create a US $ 10-million clean energy training fund .
• It 's all in the family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists • How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community On Tuesday , it announced a deal to allow Natural Law Energy , which represents four First Nations in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan , to invest up to $ 1 billion in Keystone XL , an agreement that is similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indigenous groups , Wirzba said .
The company has constructed about 200 kilometres of pipeline since the project was approved last March , including the border crossing , and has begun construction of 17 pump stations in the states it traverses and Alberta , he reported .
The company plans to ramp up construction in the first quarter of 2021 to take the construction workforce from about 3,000 now to as many as 15,000 people , CEO Russ Girling said .
In response to a question , he said the cancellation of Keystone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has more growth investment options than it has the cash flow capacity to pursue .
TC Energy approved spending US $ 8 billion to complete Keystone XL earlier this year after the Alberta government agreed to invest about US $ 1.1 billion ( C $ 1.5 billion ) as equity and guarantee a US $ 4.2-billion project loan .
The Natural Law Energy investment depends on the group securing financing and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 , TC Energy said .
The agreement also allows the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pipeline .
`` We 've looked at the incoming Biden administration 's Build Back Better plan and the steps that we 've already taken with # KeystoneXL , we believe , have positioned it very favourably , '' a TC Energy executive said Tuesday .
The five First Nations include the Nekaneet First Nation in Saskatchewan and the Ermineskin Cree Nation , Montana First Nation , Louis Bull Tribe and Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta .
On the webcast , meanwhile , the incoming CEO said the company will adjust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's transition to more renewable energy sources but its conservative business strategy wo n't change on his watch .
Chief operating officer Francois Poirier , who is also president for power and storage and Mexican operations , said investors should n't expect big changes when he takes over as CEO from retiring leader Girling at the end of 2020 .
`` Looking forward , reliable , abundant , low-cost energy will be critical as people around the globe seek to enhance their standard of living .
The real challenge will be to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental impacts including climate change , '' he said on the webcast .
Earlier this month , rival Enbridge Inc. , the operator of the largest crude oil pipeline network in North America , announced it would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity to net zero by 2050 and reduce emission intensity by 35 per cent by 2030 compared with 2018 .
Poirier said TC Energy wants to have a concrete emissions reduction plan in place to go along with its aspirational goal and will be working on that before making public its @ @ @ @ @ @

The creation of union jobs and support by Indigenous investors will help convince U.S. president-elect Joe Biden that the Keystone XL pipeline fits into his "Build Back Better" agenda, an executive with proponent TC Energy Corp. said Tuesday. The Calgary-based company said it is forging ahead with construction of the pipeline designed to transport up to 830,000 barrels per day of oil from Alberta to Nebraska despite Biden's election campaign vow to rip up the presidential permit that allows it to move oil across the border. "We've looked at the incoming Biden administration's Build Back Better plan and the steps that we've already taken with Keystone XL, we believe, have positioned it very favourably, particularly as we bring jobs to the economy next year, a key platform for the U.S. government as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," Bevin Wirzba, president of liquids pipelines, said during on a webcast from the Calgary-based company's investor day. In October, TC Energy announced the awarding of more than US$1.6 billion worth of contracts to six American unionized contractors to execute pipeline construction across three states, supporting more than 7,000 union jobs in 2021. It also said it would create a US$10-million clean energy training fund.
On Tuesday, it announced a deal to allow Natural Law Energy, which represents four First Nations in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan, to invest up to $1 billion in Keystone XL, an agreement that is similar to potential deals being negotiated with American Indigenous groups, Wirzba said. The company has constructed about 200 kilometres of pipeline since the project was approved last March, including the border crossing, and has begun construction of 17 pump stations in the states it traverses and Alberta, he reported. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The company plans to ramp up construction in the first quarter of 2021 to take the construction workforce from about 3,000 now to as many as 15,000 people, CEO Russ Girling said.
In response to a question, he said the cancellation of Keystone XL would not hurt the company because it has more growth investment options than it has the cash flow capacity to pursue. "We've looked at the incoming Biden administration's Build Back Better plan and the steps that we've already taken with #KeystoneXL, we believe, have positioned it very favourably," a TC Energy executive said Tuesday. TC Energy approved spending US$8 billion to complete Keystone XL earlier this year after the Alberta government agreed to invest about US$1.1 billion (C$1.5 billion) as equity and guarantee a US$4.2-billion project loan. The Natural Law Energy investment depends on the group securing financing and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, TC Energy said. The agreement also allows the group to pursue interests in future projects related to the pipeline. The five First Nations include the Nekaneet First Nation in Saskatchewan and the Ermineskin Cree Nation, Montana First Nation, Louis Bull Tribe and Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta. On the webcast, meanwhile, the incoming CEO said the company will adjust to pursue opportunities presented by the world's transition to more renewable energy sources but its conservative business strategy won't change on his watch.
Chief operating officer Francois Poirier, who is also president for power and storage and Mexican operations, said investors shouldn't expect big changes when he takes over as CEO from retiring leader Girling at the end of 2020. "Looking forward, reliable, abundant, low-cost energy will be critical as people around the globe seek to enhance their standard of living. The real challenge will be to meet that need while prudently managing the associated environmental impacts including climate change," he said on the webcast. Earlier this month, rival Enbridge Inc., the operator of the largest crude oil pipeline network in North America, announced it would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity to net zero by 2050 and reduce emission intensity by 35 per cent by 2030 compared with 2018.


nationalobserver--2020-11-18--Critics condemn Ford’s environmental record after blistering auditor general reports

After Ontario ’ s auditor general released a blistering set of reports Wednesday on the state of the environment , opposition parties slammed the provincial government ’ s failure to act on the file .
“ The government is ignoring the law , ” said Ontario NDP climate critic Peter Tabuns , calling the reports a “ very disturbing picture.
” “ I would be embarrassed to be any government and receive the kind of rebuke this government received from the auditor general , ” said Ontario Green party Leader Mike Schreiner .
“ You would expect everyone , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to follow the laws , ” Lysyk said Wednesday , calling the government ’ s failure to do so “ concerning.
” Speaking to reporters , Yurek blamed many of the problems Lysyk flagged on previous governments .
“ There 's quite a bit of systemic issues within the Ministry of the Environment , Conservation and Parks and , you know , that stems ( from ) years , possibly decades of things not changing , ” he said .
“ And , you know , we 're going to take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out , and over the next year , work to fix those systemic issues.
” While opposition parties slammed the Ford government 's environmental record in the wake of four blistering auditor general reports Wednesday , Environment Minister Jeff Yurek said he was “ proud ” of his ministry ’ s work .
# onpoli The @ OntarioAuditor has said that there are NO targets for : - Conserving water ; - Decreasing hazardous and toxic substances in products ; - Improving the water quality of lakes ; - Protecting and recovering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track what you don ’ t measure .
# Onpoli https : //t.co/QQNmF4f27j — Lucille Collard ( @ LucilleCollard ) November 18 , 2020 Liberal MPP John Fraser , the party ’ s caucus leader , said Yurek ’ s statement was “ weak ” and “ untruthful.
” The Ford government ripped up the previous Liberal government ’ s environmental plan , he said .
“ The auditor general told us what we already knew : that the government does not have a plan for the environment , ” he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy leader , former environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe , said in a statement that the government is attempting to “ undermine and destroy everything that protects the natural systems on which our lives depend.
” “ I ’ m frightened , ” the statement said .
“ You should be too.
” INBOX : Dianne Saxe , the environmental commissioner the Ford government legislated out of a job and now Green Party of Ontario deputy leader , reacts to today 's Auditor General reports .
pic.twitter.com/ytE5UKP5wZ — John Michael McGrath ( @ jm_mcgrath @ @ @ @ @

After Ontario’s auditor general released a blistering set of reports Wednesday on the state of the environment, opposition parties slammed the provincial government’s failure to act on the file. “The government is ignoring the law,” said Ontario NDP climate critic Peter Tabuns, calling the reports a “very disturbing picture.” “I would be embarrassed to be any government and receive the kind of rebuke this government received from the auditor general,” said Ontario Green party Leader Mike Schreiner. But in response to a question from Tabuns in question period Wednesday, Environment Minister Jeff Yurek said he was “proud” of his government’s work on the environment. Later, speaking to reporters, he insisted the government had fulfilled its legal duty to uphold Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, even though the auditor general found the Environment Ministry had failed to do so with nine of 16 metrics included in the audit.
“We have met all our legislative requirements,” Yurek said. The reports by auditor general Bonnie Lysyk and Jerry DeMarco, the environmental commissioner and assistant auditor, outlined a scathing laundry list of failures by Premier Doug Ford's government to protect Ontario’s environment. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions According to the reports, not only is the government not following environmental laws — and in one case, shielded hundreds of proposals from public scrutiny by citing COVID-19 — it is also not collecting enough data to know if endangered species are being protected, Ontario Parks is lacking scientists and the province is at risk of missing its 2030 emissions reduction targets. Ontario is failing to conserve protected lands, inappropriately opening up wilderness areas for resource extraction and allowing logging in Algonquin Provincial Park, the reports noted.
“You would expect everyone, when there’s laws in a province, to follow the laws,” Lysyk said Wednesday, calling the government’s failure to do so “concerning.” While opposition parties slammed the Ford government's environmental record in the wake of four blistering auditor general reports Wednesday, Environment Minister Jeff Yurek said he was “proud” of his ministry’s work. #onpoli Speaking to reporters, Yurek blamed many of the problems Lysyk flagged on previous governments, echoing a concern she raised in the reports. He also said the government had done its best amid COVID-19. “There's quite a bit of systemic issues within the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and, you know, that stems (from) years, possibly decades of things not changing,” he said. “And, you know, we're going to take a look at those issues that she's pointed out, and over the next year, work to fix those systemic issues.” The @OntarioAuditor has said that there are NO targets for:
- Conserving water;
- Decreasing hazardous and toxic substances in products;
- Improving the water quality of lakes;
- Protecting and recovering endangered species.
You can’t track what you don’t measure. #Onpoli https://t.co/QQNmF4f27j — Lucille Collard (@LucilleCollard) November 18, 2020 Liberal MPP John Fraser, the party’s caucus leader, said Yurek’s statement was “weak” and “untruthful.” The Ford government ripped up the previous Liberal government’s environmental plan, he said.
“The auditor general told us what we already knew: that the government does not have a plan for the environment,” he added. The Ontario Green party’s new deputy leader, former environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe, said in a statement that the government is attempting to “undermine and destroy everything that protects the natural systems on which our lives depend.” “I’m frightened,” the statement said. “You should be too.”


nationalobserver--2020-11-18--Ottawa's small nuclear reactor plan delayed as protesters decry push for new facilities

TORONTO — Canadians will have to wait a little while longer to see the federal government ’ s plan for the development of small nuclear reactors , seen by proponents as critical to the country ’ s fight against global warming .
Speaking at the opening of a two-day virtual international conference on Wednesday , the parliamentary secretary to the minister of natural resources said the plan will lay out key actions regarding the reactors .
Its launch , Paul Lefebvre said , would come in the next few weeks .
`` We ’ re still putting the finishing touches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The action plan is too important to be rushed . ''
Small modular reactors — SMRs — are smaller in size and energy output than traditional nuclear power units , and more flexible in their deployment .
While conventional reactors produce around 800 megawatts of power , SMRs can deliver up to 300 megawatts .
Proponents consider them ideal as both part of the regular electricity grid as well as for use in remote locations , including industrial sites and isolated northern communities .
They could also play a role in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • It 's all in the family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists • How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community `` SMRs will allow us to take a bold step of meeting our goal of net-zero ( emissions ) by 2050 while creating good , middle class jobs and strengthening our competitive advantage , '' said Lefebvre .
Natural Resources Minister Seamus O ’ Regan had been scheduled to speak at the conference but did not due to a family emergency .
Industry critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s expected SMR announcement .
They called on Ottawa to halt its plans to fund the experimental technology .
While nuclear power generation produces no greenhouse gas emissions , a major problem facing the industry is its growing mound of radioactive waste .
This week , the government embarked on a round of consultations about what do with the dangerous material .
Dozens of groups , including the NDP , Bloc Québécois , Green party and some Indigenous organizations , oppose the plan for developing small modular reactors .
They want the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more in renewable energy and energy efficiency .
`` We have options that are cheaper and safer and will be available quicker , '' Richard Cannings , the NDP natural resources critic , said in a statement .
Paul Lefebvre , parliamentary secretary to the minister of natural resources , said the government 's plan for the development of small nuclear reactors would come in the next few weeks .
Lefebvre , however , said the global market for SMRs is expected to be worth between $ 150 billion and $ 300 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world ’ s largest producers of uranium , Canada has to be part of the wave both for economic and environmental reasons , he said .
`` There ’ s a growing demand for smaller , simpler and affordable nuclear technology energy , '' Lefebvre said .
Joe McBrearty , head of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories , told the conference the company had signed a host agreement this week with Ottawa-based Global First Power for a demonstration SMR at its Chalk River campus in eastern Ontario .
A demonstration reactor will allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s overall viability , he said .
`` When talking about deploying a new technology like an SMR , building a demonstration unit is vital to the success of that process , '' McBrearty said .
`` Most importantly , it allows the public to see the reactor , to kick the tires so to speak , and to have confidence in the safety of its operation . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18 , 2020 .

TORONTO — Canadians will have to wait a little while longer to see the federal government’s plan for the development of small nuclear reactors, seen by proponents as critical to the country’s fight against global warming.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day virtual international conference on Wednesday, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of natural resources said the plan will lay out key actions regarding the reactors. Its launch, Paul Lefebvre said, would come in the next few weeks.
"We’re still putting the finishing touches on it," Lefebvre said. "The action plan is too important to be rushed."
Small modular reactors — SMRs — are smaller in size and energy output than traditional nuclear power units, and more flexible in their deployment. While conventional reactors produce around 800 megawatts of power, SMRs can deliver up to 300 megawatts.
Proponents consider them ideal as both part of the regular electricity grid as well as for use in remote locations, including industrial sites and isolated northern communities. They could also play a role in the production of hydrogen and local heating.


nationalobserver--2020-11-18--Feds' nuclear-waste strategy review aims to find solutions for Canada's toxic waste

The federal government has launched a new initiative aimed at finding long-term solutions for the growing quantity of radioactive waste produced by Canada 's nuclear reactors .
To that end , the government wants members of the industry , the general public and Indigenous people to weigh in on the topic and potential solutions that have so far proven elusive .
In a letter last week , Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan calls on the federally mandated Nuclear Waste Management Organization to lead the consultation process .
`` Over the coming months the government of Canada will be taking steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to how we manage radioactive waste , '' O'Regan wrote .
`` While the strategy must be defined by waste producers and owners who have the best understanding of their wastes and their priorities , it too must be informed by dialogue with stakeholders and Canadians . ''
For decades , producers have stored their nuclear waste , which can remain toxic for thousands of years , in interim , above-ground facilities , usually at the reactor sites .
The industry and governments have spent years working to come up with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in the family for Canada 's most famous sibling activists • How one Indigenous farmer in the north is improving food security in his community The new initiative follows a failed attempt by Ontario Power Generation to build a multibillion-dollar underground storage bunker for low- and intermediate nuclear waste at the Bruce nuclear power plant near Kincardine , Ont.
, close to the shore of Lake Huron .
Although opposed by myriad communities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border , the project ultimately foundered on opposition from local Indigenous residents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ repository to handle high-level nuclear waste — essentially spent fuel bundles — is still in play .
So far , the waste organization has narrowed its search to two sites , one in the vicinity of the Bruce power plant , and the other near Ignace in northern Ontario .
Despite assurances that repositories are a safe and effective long-term disposal solution , critics have long argued that burying the waste would pose a centuries-long potential threat to groundwater , the environment and human health .
Some have pressed for reusing or recycling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technologically challenging .
The new initiative aims to review Canada 's current storage practices and come up with long-term options that are feasible , safe , environmentally sound and in line with best international practices .
O'Regan said the new strategy dialogue should not detract from the waste organization 's current mandate related to the long-term management of used nuclear fuel .
`` That mandate is clear and your progress to date is commendable , '' he said .
The federal government has launched a new initiative aimed at finding long-term solutions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Canada 's nuclear reactors .
# NuclearWaste # RadioactiveWaste # cdnpoli In response to O'Regan 's letter , Laurie Swami , head of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization , wrote the agency was pleased to be involved .
`` We look forward to lending our expertise to make informed and practical recommendations to the Canadian government on a more comprehensive radioactive waste management strategy.
, '' Swami said .
`` An integrated strategy will ensure the material continues to be managed in accordance with international best practice over the longer-term . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2002 .
It comprises nuclear electricity producers , including Ontario Power Generation , N.B .
Power and Hydro-Quebec .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17 , 2020 .

The federal government has launched a new initiative aimed at finding long-term solutions for the growing quantity of radioactive waste produced by Canada's nuclear reactors.
To that end, the government wants members of the industry, the general public and Indigenous people to weigh in on the topic and potential solutions that have so far proven elusive.
In a letter last week, Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan calls on the federally mandated Nuclear Waste Management Organization to lead the consultation process.
"Over the coming months the government of Canada will be taking steps to review and modernize Canada’s approach to how we manage radioactive waste," O'Regan wrote. "While the strategy must be defined by waste producers and owners who have the best understanding of their wastes and their priorities, it too must be informed by dialogue with stakeholders and Canadians."
For decades, producers have stored their nuclear waste, which can remain toxic for thousands of years, in interim, above-ground facilities, usually at the reactor sites. The industry and governments have spent years working to come up with a permanent disposal solution.