nationalobserver--2020-06-01--How renewable energy could emerge on top after the pandemic

This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360 and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit , renewable energy was growing steadily — but still not fast enough to meet the Paris Agreement ’ s carbon reduction goals , let alone to make the further strides needed to keep climate change from spiraling out of control .
Now , the virus-induced economic shock is likely to slow the expansion of wind , solar , and other clean power sources , at least temporarily , experts say .
But while lockdowns , social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put some new projects on ice , the underlying strengths of renewables remain strong , and analysts expect their economic advantage over volatile fossil fuels will only increase in the long term .
Whether the pandemic ultimately puts clean energy on a faster track than before , though , depends to a large extent on the choices political leaders make now , analysts say .
Which means 2020 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for renewables — and the world ’ s hopes of checking warming .
Leaders must seize the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they accelerate a shift toward wind and solar power , rather than propping up the fossil fuel economy , said Francesco La Camera , director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency , an intergovernmental body .
• Sandy Garossino on Meng Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump 's war on Twitter and chaos in America • Canada 's emissions rise , yet again .
Can we please adopt U.K .
Carbon Budget law now ?
Some 40 percent of wind and solar capacity that was scheduled for the rest of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing we have to be afraid of , ” he said , “ is that governments can be pushed by lobbyists to bail out sectors that belong to the past .
And this is the real danger.
” As shutdowns aimed at stemming the viral spread have caused global energy demand to plummet , renewable sources have accounted for an increased share of power generation .
That is in part because the low cost of solar and wind power means they are often dispatched to grids before other sources such as coal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand , for both electricity and transportation fuels , has also pushed oil and gas prices to historic lows , and left fossil fuel companies struggling to find storage space for huge gluts of product .
In the short term , however , analysts say that the global economic fallout from the pandemic will almost certainly also be a drag on the growth of renewables .
Stay-at-home orders halted production at factories making solar panels and wind turbine parts , and shipping delays have exacerbated supply problems .
Construction on some big arrays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced home solar companies to postpone rooftop installations and sales visits .
“ The industry needed installations to be speeding up rather than slowing down at this point ” for countries to bring carbon-cutting realities into line with their promises under the Paris Agreement , said Logan Goldie-Scot , head of clean power research at analysis firm BloombergNEF ( BNEF ) .
“ Anything that makes that gap bigger is hugely problematic from an emissions perspective.
” BNEF has scaled back its projections for 2020 installations by 12 percent for wind and 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it anticipated before the pandemic .
Renewables growth has been steady in recent years , and last fall , the International Energy Agency ( IEA ) predicted the world ’ s renewable power supply would grow by 50 percent over the next five years , adding new power generation equivalent to the entire existing electricity capacity of the United States .
“ The only thing we have to be afraid of , is that governments can be pushed by lobbyists to bail out sectors that belong to the past .
And this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency .
“ We were expecting a boom year ” in 2020 , said Heymi Bahar , the IEA ’ s senior renewables analyst .
“ So this becomes very bad timing.
” The bigger question , experts say , is what happens as countries reopen .
With cash tight , and economic troubles expected to keep energy demand below pre-Covid-19 levels , new wind and solar projects may find financing hard to come by .
Auctions in which companies bid to build such projects have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 percent of wind and solar capacity that was scheduled to be commissioned from April to the end of this year has been delayed , said Goldie-Scot .
“ That ’ s an immediate setback.
” Home solar took a bigger hit than utility-scale projects .
Those rooftop sales are likely to continue struggling , as the slowdown forces homeowners and small businesses to restrict spending on big-ticket items like solar arrays , even if , in the long run , they generate substantial savings .
Still , analysts agree the renewable energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lot has changed since the last global meltdown , the financial crisis of 2007-08 .
Technologies have matured and prices dropped , to the point where renewables in most cases provide cheaper energy than fossil fuels .
Battery storage , key to making clean power steady and reliable , is improving rapidly .
“ Renewable generation sources have become extraordinarily competitive from an economic standpoint , ” said Dan Shreve , head of global wind energy research at consulting firm Wood Mackenzie .
“ It ’ s a terrific story .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the near term ?
No , I don ’ t think so.
” “ Folks looking for a safe haven in a turbulent market may continue to turn to [ the renewables ] sector , ” says one analyst .
Indeed , with oil companies in a tailspin , clean energy ’ s steadiness also increases its appeal to investors , in Shreve ’ s view .
“ Folks looking for a safe haven in a very turbulent market may continue to turn to this sector , ” he said .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices may not be enough to undermine wind and solar .
While oil is central to transportation , it doesn ’ t play a direct role in power generation .
And its low price will mean drilling is scaled back .
Since natural gas — which does go up against wind and solar in electricity markets — often flows from the ground along with oil , its supply is likely to decline too , bringing its price back up .
“ Which means it won ’ t be competitive with renewables , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Program on Energy Security and Climate Change at the Council on Foreign Relations .
Indeed , Shreve said nuclear and coal-fired power plants faced far stiffer headwinds than renewables .
“ That ’ s been the case for the last five years .
It was expected to be the case for the next five years , regardless of the Covid crisis , ” he said .
Early retirements of such plants , particularly the ones for which finances were already in trouble , could pick up pace , he said .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electric cars .
That has less to do with low oil prices than with unemployment slowing sales for all cars , Jaffe said .
“ If you believe that people were going to have the next car they buy be an electric vehicle , if you delay by two or three years the next time they ’ re going to buy a new car , ” that will slow the transition , she said .
Fewer electric cars means less power demand , which hurts the renewables outlook .
But Jaffe said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrification in other ways , including a long-term increase in remote working , which would likely shift energy demand away from oil-based transportation needs , and toward residential use , which is more heavily electric .
In the bigger picture , what comes next depends on the virus , the economy , and the path governments decide to chart .
With vast amounts of stimulus money likely to be poured into economies around the world , clean power advocates say it ’ s a historic opportunity to speed the growth of a sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stemming climate change .
La Camera said the renewable energy sector ’ s big-picture strengths , and its resilience through the crisis so far , make him hopeful .
“ My impression is that we are going to have a future that will be more decarbonized than we could have imagined three months ago , ” he said .
“ And in the end , this health and economic crisis will push us to a cleaner path forward.
” Risks in the other direction include not just direct government support to oil firms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration ’ s decision to essentially suspend enforcement of air and water pollution rules , or to relax limits on mercury and other toxic power plant emissions .
Such moves save the industry vast sums it would otherwise have to spend reducing pollution , said Daniel Kammen , professor of energy at the University of California , Berkeley .
Even without a push to help fossil fuel companies , Covid-19 could bump climate change down the list of leaders ’ priorities .
For now , most governments are still focused on immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Longer-term measures will come next , and countries including South Korea and New Zealand are already talking about incorporating climate action into recovery plans .
The European Union may combine parts of its Green Deal — a plan for transforming nearly every sector of its economy to cut carbon and improve quality of life — with efforts to repair the pandemic ’ s damage .
In the U.S. , the fate of any ambitious renewables plan depends largely on whether President Trump is reelected in November .
For the most part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligns with their pre-coronavirus stance on climate action .
“ We think they are more likely in countries where there was already broad-based support , ” such as China and much of Europe , Goldie-Scot said .
What might green recovery efforts entail ?
Given clean power ’ s competitiveness , companies don ’ t really need direct subsidies anymore , experts say .
They would benefit from upgrades that make power grids smarter and more flexible , and therefore better able to utilize renewables .
Spending to expand electric vehicle charging networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say .
The U.S. and China both have year-end deadlines when important tax and price incentives for renewables expire .
Access to credit will also be crucial , Bahar said .
While it easily competes with fossil fuels on cost , “ the renewables industry just doesn ’ t have as deep pockets , ” added Kammen .
Policy changes matter , as well .
National , long-term carbon-cutting commitments would provide some certainty in frightening times .
In the shorter term , the U.S. and China both have year-end deadlines when important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those would help projects delayed by the pandemic , analysts say .
Green stimulus advocates say climate action is well-suited to creating jobs , and if done right can also help remedy the stark economic , social , and racial inequalities the virus has exposed so vividly , particularly in the U.S. A shift to cleaner energy promises health gains too .
Many have taken note of the better air quality lockdowns have brought , and Shreve said that could help people see the benefits of finding lasting ways to reduce fossil fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this crazy crisis is to have been able to walk outside in places that have been notorious for air pollution , and seeing clean skies , and having a dose of what could be , ” he said .
Kammen said he is hopeful the pandemic would ultimately speed the move to a cleaner economy .
“ Covid gives an opportunity for governments and companies to make that switch more strongly , ” said Kammen .
“ I don ’ t think this is going to be an easy goodbye , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the long goodbye to fossil fuels .
”

This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360 and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, renewable energy was growing steadily — but still not fast enough to meet the Paris Agreement’s carbon reduction goals, let alone to make the further strides needed to keep climate change from spiraling out of control. Now, the virus-induced economic shock is likely to slow the expansion of wind, solar, and other clean power sources, at least temporarily, experts say. But while lockdowns, social distancing requirements, and financial uncertainties have put some new projects on ice, the underlying strengths of renewables remain strong, and analysts expect their economic advantage over volatile fossil fuels will only increase in the long term. Whether the pandemic ultimately puts clean energy on a faster track than before, though, depends to a large extent on the choices political leaders make now, analysts say. Which means 2020 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for renewables — and the world’s hopes of checking warming. Leaders must seize the opportunity to design economic recovery packages so they accelerate a shift toward wind and solar power, rather than propping up the fossil fuel economy, said Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, an intergovernmental body.
Some 40 percent of wind and solar capacity that was scheduled for the rest of 2020 has been delayed. “The only thing we have to be afraid of,” he said, “is that governments can be pushed by lobbyists to bail out sectors that belong to the past. And this is the real danger.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions As shutdowns aimed at stemming the viral spread have caused global energy demand to plummet, renewable sources have accounted for an increased share of power generation. That is in part because the low cost of solar and wind power means they are often dispatched to grids before other sources such as coal and nuclear power. The huge drop-off in demand, for both electricity and transportation fuels, has also pushed oil and gas prices to historic lows, and left fossil fuel companies struggling to find storage space for huge gluts of product.
In the short term, however, analysts say that the global economic fallout from the pandemic will almost certainly also be a drag on the growth of renewables. Stay-at-home orders halted production at factories making solar panels and wind turbine parts, and shipping delays have exacerbated supply problems. Construction on some big arrays stopped, and social distancing requirements have forced home solar companies to postpone rooftop installations and sales visits. “The only thing we have to be afraid of, is that governments can be pushed by lobbyists to bail out sectors that belong to the past. And this is the real danger.” Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency. “The industry needed installations to be speeding up rather than slowing down at this point” for countries to bring carbon-cutting realities into line with their promises under the Paris Agreement, said Logan Goldie-Scot, head of clean power research at analysis firm BloombergNEF (BNEF). “Anything that makes that gap bigger is hugely problematic from an emissions perspective.” BNEF has scaled back its projections for 2020 installations by 12 percent for wind and 8 percent for solar, compared to what it anticipated before the pandemic. Renewables growth has been steady in recent years, and last fall, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted the world’s renewable power supply would grow by 50 percent over the next five years, adding new power generation equivalent to the entire existing electricity capacity of the United States. “We were expecting a boom year” in 2020, said Heymi Bahar, the IEA’s senior renewables analyst. “So this becomes very bad timing.” The bigger question, experts say, is what happens as countries reopen. With cash tight, and economic troubles expected to keep energy demand below pre-Covid-19 levels, new wind and solar projects may find financing hard to come by.
Auctions in which companies bid to build such projects have been postponed. Altogether, more than 40 percent of wind and solar capacity that was scheduled to be commissioned from April to the end of this year has been delayed, said Goldie-Scot. “That’s an immediate setback.” Home solar took a bigger hit than utility-scale projects. Those rooftop sales are likely to continue struggling, as the slowdown forces homeowners and small businesses to restrict spending on big-ticket items like solar arrays, even if, in the long run, they generate substantial savings. Still, analysts agree the renewable energy sector’s fundamentals are strong. A lot has changed since the last global meltdown, the financial crisis of 2007-08. Technologies have matured and prices dropped, to the point where renewables in most cases provide cheaper energy than fossil fuels. Battery storage, key to making clean power steady and reliable, is improving rapidly.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Discovery Islands’ businesses taking baby steps to reopen

Businesses in B.C.
’ s small resort communities are trying to figure out how , or even if , to open shop as the province enters the next stage of its reopening plan June 1 .
Restaurants , pubs , businesses , resorts and marinas in the Discovery Islands off the west coast of B.C .
are tentatively taking the first steps in expanding services in their communities to locals and tourists alike .
The region ’ s two most populous islands , Quadra and Cortes — like many of the province ’ s coastal destinations — are eco-tourism havens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fishing enthusiasts and campers during the summer months .
But the islands ’ businesses have taken a beating as the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed tourism revenue and shuttered services .
Darryl Rose , co-owner of The Clove restaurant on Quadra Island , said he ’ s part of a loose coalition of businesses meeting online , working together on how best to move forward while protecting staff and customers .
• Sandy Garossino on Meng Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump 's war on Twitter and chaos in America • Canada 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we please adopt U.K .
Carbon Budget law now ?
Regardless of doing good trade in takeout , Rose still wants to open his restaurant again to diners , not only for his sake , but for his islander clientele as well .
Restaurants and pubs play an important role on the island , as there aren ’ t many other public social venues for people to gather in , he said .
“ I want to serve tables again , ” Rose said .
“ Serving folks at the door is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table and seeing different customers connect with one another , I miss that experience.
” Rose said he ’ s still not certain when he ’ ll actually open the doors to the restaurant .
“ Because right now , everything can change on a dime.
” Lynden McMartin , Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce president said businesses are eager to reopen , albeit slowly and carefully .
“ Serving folks at the door is one thing , but having conversations at the table and seeing different customers connect with one another , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner Darryl Rose on re-opening his doors to diners in the COVID-19 era .
Islanders are especially keen to have restaurants and pubs open again , McMartin said .
“ People are desperate , ” he said , noting not much is open other than a handful of places providing limited takeout service .
“ We all want to go out for a nice meal and a drink and have somebody else do the dishes , but it still might be a while before we can do that.
” The province has given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they can meet the new measures and protocols , but not all of them will , McMartin said .
Many restaurants on Quadra are tied to the island ’ s resorts , some of which have already announced their dining rooms won ’ t be opening at all this summer , he said .
Some resorts , such as April Point , aren ’ t planning to open their doors , period .
Finding labour this late in the season , coupled with increased cleaning costs and decreased revenue , may prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If you ’ ve got a 12-seat restaurant and you have to impose physical distancing … at some point , it ’ s just not worthwhile .
Rose acknowledged there is no guarantee reopening his restaurant will be profitable .
“ I don ’ t necessarily know I ’ ll make more money , ” he said .
“ It ’ s difficult to look at the financials because there are so many new factors — I don ’ t know how it ’ s going to play out.
” Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he is exploring the idea of expanding his patio space to be able to serve more customers outside .
Restaurants , pubs , breweries and wineries can now apply to temporarily expand patio space to be able to serve clients and still meet COVID-19 physical-distancing protocols , the provincial government announced last week .
B.C.
’ s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch has simplified the online process for establishments to temporarily expand patio areas until Oct. 31 .
The authorizations will only expand a business ’ s footprint , not its overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to follow local bylaws and get approval from local government .
McMartin , also general manger for Taku Resort and Marina on Quadra , said the resort has also scaled back operations for the summer .
While visitors can rent out the individual cabins , the washroom and shower facilities at the resort are closed to protect staff , he said , adding that will likely eliminate any transient boat traffic in the marina .
“ I don ’ t expect them because there ’ s not much for them to stay here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , general managers of Gorge Harbour Marina Resort , have reduced visitor capacity at the resort by 50 per cent but its restaurant is booming due to local demand .
Photo : Courtesy of Gorge Harbour .
Bill Dougan , general manager of Gorge Harbour Marina Resort on Cortes , has also scaled back operations by 50 per cent this season in order to ensure proper physical distancing .
Boaters and guests in RVs can book at the resort if they have their own bathing and toilet facilities , he said .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening hours for islanders and is offering visitors limited access , he said .
However , the resort has already opened the restaurant because local demand is so high .
“ We opened Wednesday this week for sit-down service inside and on the patio with new protocols in place and it ’ s been packed , ” Dougan said Friday .
“ It ’ s the only restaurant open , and there ’ s a lot of pent-up demand .
It ’ s 90 per cent islanders , ” he said .
Dougan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the summer , as Cortes gets more visitors from the Vancouver Island region .
Both Quadra and Cortes issued public advisories at in the initial stages of the pandemic , asking visitors to avoid non-essential travel to the islands to protect limited resources and services in the communities .
But neither island community has issued any further announcements after the government launched its reopening plan that sanctions regional tourism starting in June .
Dougan doesn ’ t expect pushback from locals opposed to visitors at the resort , given the measures undertaken and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ ve done a lot of communication during the crisis about how we ’ re operating , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve worked hard to make sure we have a good relationship with locals , and they trust us and it makes a difference.
” Rose also thinks locals are eager to have the restaurant open , and if he works to maintain safety , he likely won ’ t face local resistance .
“ I don ’ t think so , if we go about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The province , Vancouver Island region and Quadra did a good job of flattening the curve , he said .
“ We were right to lock everything down , and we all did everything right , ” Rose said .
“ But now , we just have to keep monitoring it , and go forward as best we can .
”

Businesses in B.C.’s small resort communities are trying to figure out how, or even if, to open shop as the province enters the next stage of its reopening plan June 1. Restaurants, pubs, businesses, resorts and marinas in the Discovery Islands off the west coast of B.C. are tentatively taking the first steps in expanding services in their communities to locals and tourists alike. The region’s two most populous islands, Quadra and Cortes — like many of the province’s coastal destinations — are eco-tourism havens for boaters, kayakers, whale-watchers, fishing enthusiasts and campers during the summer months. But the islands’ businesses have taken a beating as the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed tourism revenue and shuttered services. Darryl Rose, co-owner of The Clove restaurant on Quadra Island, said he’s part of a loose coalition of businesses meeting online, working together on how best to move forward while protecting staff and customers.
Regardless of doing good trade in takeout, Rose still wants to open his restaurant again to diners, not only for his sake, but for his islander clientele as well. Restaurants and pubs play an important role on the island, as there aren’t many other public social venues for people to gather in, he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “I want to serve tables again,” Rose said. “Serving folks at the door is one thing, but having conversations at the table and seeing different customers connect with one another, I miss that experience.”
Rose said he’s still not certain when he’ll actually open the doors to the restaurant. “Serving folks at the door is one thing, but having conversations at the table and seeing different customers connect with one another, I miss that experience,” restaurant owner Darryl Rose on re-opening his doors to diners in the COVID-19 era. “Because right now, everything can change on a dime.” Lynden McMartin, Discovery Islands Chamber of Commerce president said businesses are eager to reopen, albeit slowly and carefully. Islanders are especially keen to have restaurants and pubs open again, McMartin said. “People are desperate,” he said, noting not much is open other than a handful of places providing limited takeout service.
“We all want to go out for a nice meal and a drink and have somebody else do the dishes, but it still might be a while before we can do that.” The province has given the green light for businesses to open if they can meet the new measures and protocols, but not all of them will, McMartin said. Many restaurants on Quadra are tied to the island’s resorts, some of which have already announced their dining rooms won’t be opening at all this summer, he said.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--How to rebuild after the economic pain from COVID-19? Study Cuba

The dramatic economic contractions inflicted on economies around the world by COVID-19 — plummeting GDPs , swelling unemployment and burgeoning deficits — are causing consternation everywhere .
But this is not without precedent .
Cuba went through a similar sudden economic shock in 1991 , when the Soviet Union , Cuba ’ s dominant trade partner , was formally dissolved by Mikhail Gorbachev after a decade of dissent and democratic reform .
Almost overnight there was a massive withdrawal of support for the Cuban economy through dissolution of the economic organization underlying the Soviet Union .
Whatever one believes about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the response of his government was to embrace science and intelligent and pragmatic policies for recovery .
With significant moral , technical and financial support from sympathetic experts around the world , Cuba became a leader in urban agriculture , organic growing and low-carbon public transport , while maintaining pre-existing free and universal post-secondary education and health care .
Canada and Mexico alone kept diplomatic relations with Cuba .
It took five years before other governments supported the Cuban recovery .
The success of the Cuban response to its cataclysmic loss of economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapse of its fossil fuel supply — has much to teach the world today .
`` Cuba responded to a sudden contraction of its economy by leaning on science , and by massively changing behaviour .
Cuba generated models that we can adopt — if we choose to . ''
Digital communication has mushroomed .
The movement of people and services around the world has exploded .
The influence of international accords has broadened .
Cultural mixing has expanded exponentially .
All the old prejudices — around race , language , sex and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — are daily being challenged .
Education for all , a basic income for all , human rights for all — these concepts are no longer pie-in-the-sky ideas , but transformative principles being evaluated and increasingly enacted around the world .
We face profound threats too , resulting from our collective conduct .
We have created the climate crisis , the massive problem of solid and chemical pollution , astonishing material inequality between individuals and within nations , the blight of species extinction and habitat loss ( clearly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pernicious over consumption of natural resources , driven by a corporate-dominated network of transported goods .
There are more of us on planet Earth than ever before , consuming and wasting the equivalent of just under two planet ’ s worth of resources every year — mostly in wealthy nations such as Canada .
Today ’ s solutions can ’ t come from isolated ingenuity in this sector or that , or from enlightened local policies in a few corners of the world .
They can only come from all of us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in fundamental ways .
Cuba responded to a sudden contraction of its economy by leaning on science , and by massively changing behaviour .
Cuba generated models that we can adopt — if we choose to .
We also can make big changes , but not from geopolitical pressure .
We seek something far more fundamental : ensuring that future generations have a secure and satisfying future .
COVID-19 has given us a taste of a quieter , cleaner , more collaborative world , where relationships , curiosity , imagination and creativity are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and satisfaction .
We have to change , because the planet ’ s ecosystems are groaning under our ever more oppressive daily practices .

The dramatic economic contractions inflicted on economies around the world by COVID-19 — plummeting GDPs, swelling unemployment and burgeoning deficits — are causing consternation everywhere. But this is not without precedent. Cuba went through a similar sudden economic shock in 1991, when the Soviet Union, Cuba’s dominant trade partner, was formally dissolved by Mikhail Gorbachev after a decade of dissent and democratic reform. Almost overnight there was a massive withdrawal of support for the Cuban economy through dissolution of the economic organization underlying the Soviet Union. And Cuba handled it very well. Under the agreement, which Fidel Castro signed on to in 1972, the Soviets — locked in the Cold War with the U.S. — bought Cuban sugar at inflated prices and sold back fossil fuels and more at bargain-basement discounts.
Then it all collapsed. Within months, the Cuban economy contracted by nearly 35 per cent, as exports and imports declined by an astonishing 80 per cent — even worse than in most COVID-19-inflicted countries today. Food rationing was imposed, oil and gas severely restricted. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Cuba also faced an ongoing U.S. trade embargo that began in the early 1960s (it is still in place today, although with dwindling support).
Whatever one believes about Fidel Castro and his authoritarian regime, the response of his government was to embrace science and intelligent and pragmatic policies for recovery. With significant moral, technical and financial support from sympathetic experts around the world, Cuba became a leader in urban agriculture, organic growing and low-carbon public transport, while maintaining pre-existing free and universal post-secondary education and health care. "Cuba responded to a sudden contraction of its economy by leaning on science, and by massively changing behaviour. Cuba generated models that we can adopt — if we choose to." Canada and Mexico alone kept diplomatic relations with Cuba. It took five years before other governments supported the Cuban recovery. The success of the Cuban response to its cataclysmic loss of economic security — and in particular the overnight collapse of its fossil fuel supply — has much to teach the world today. Today’s world is much altered. Digital communication has mushroomed. The movement of people and services around the world has exploded. The influence of international accords has broadened. Cultural mixing has expanded exponentially. All the old prejudices — around race, language, sex and sexual orientation, age, social station — are daily being challenged. Education for all, a basic income for all, human rights for all — these concepts are no longer pie-in-the-sky ideas, but transformative principles being evaluated and increasingly enacted around the world.
We face profound threats too, resulting from our collective conduct. We have created the climate crisis, the massive problem of solid and chemical pollution, astonishing material inequality between individuals and within nations, the blight of species extinction and habitat loss (clearly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic) and worst of all, the pernicious over consumption of natural resources, driven by a corporate-dominated network of transported goods. There are more of us on planet Earth than ever before, consuming and wasting the equivalent of just under two planet’s worth of resources every year — mostly in wealthy nations such as Canada. Today’s solutions can’t come from isolated ingenuity in this sector or that, or from enlightened local policies in a few corners of the world. They can only come from all of us, together, changing our manner of living in fundamental ways.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Activism gives Muslim youth a way to connect amid pandemic social isolating

As the COVID-19 pandemic response first developed in Canada in March , I found myself , like many others , wondering what the mental health blowbacks would be from necessary physical distancing and social isolation .
In my work as the national youth director for the Muslim Association of Canada ( MAC ) , I have come to know that youth are uniquely and significantly affected by the crisis , in terms of their mental wellness , in a myriad of ways .
Youth are at a particular stage of development where socialization is of pressing importance .
Being out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports , community centres and mentorship opportunities has meant that many youth are falling behind in their school work and are lacking important support that they may need .
Youth who did not previously struggle with mental health issues are now exhibiting a number of symptoms which indicate how intensely stressful and challenging this unprecedented period truly is .
These issues are a problem for all youth , but disproportionately affect Muslim youth who , in addition to all the above stressors , also carry the burden of losing the limited spaces of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Islamic community centres closed , many who have developed a strong sense of their Canadian-Muslim identities in these spaces are now wondering just where they can fit in at all .
• Sandy Garossino on Meng Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump 's war on Twitter and chaos in America • Canada 's emissions rise , yet again .
Can we please adopt U.K .
Carbon Budget law now ?
These young people need to have ways of developing resilience and a sense of belonging in times of isolation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ collective meaning-making ) is essential for vulnerable youth , especially in marginalized communities .
Youth have always been an intrinsic part of the nationwide MAC community , with programs servicing thousands of youth in all major cities from Montreal to Vancouver .
The question with COVID-19 was : How do we keep youth engaged , and especially , as a way to mitigate the mental health impacts of the pandemic ?
At first , MAC responded with online virtual programs for learning , spirituality , dialogue and other youth-driven activities such as workout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it soon became clear that youth also needed somewhere to take ownership and actively contribute in order to feel like they belong , even from a distance .
With the economic impact of the pandemic devastating families , MAC opted to prioritize the hunger crisis and maximize the benefit by putting MAC Youth in charge of our nationwide MAC Give Foodshare program .
Youth preparing food packages to distribute to people in need during COVID-19 pandemic .
Photo courtesy Muslim Association of Canada .
The results have been stunning .
`` Youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health issues are now exhibiting a number of symptoms which indicate how intensely stressful and challenging this unprecedented period truly is . ''
Youth as young as 14 years old have spent their free time during the pandemic using their creativity to contribute everything from graphic design work and social media posts to tapping into existing donor bases to spread the word on the program and fund it .
As a result , more than 5,000 families in nine cities across Canada have been provided hot meals or grocery staple packages on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
Building on the success of the existing MAC networks , youth have fundraised a staggering quarter of a million dollars and connected with shelters and other relevant organizations to build more than 30 partnerships to ensure that the people who need it most are those we get fed , no questions asked .
It was also a youth initiative to further use the program to support local small businesses who might be struggling .
This kind of engagement is astounding , especially considering the pandemic and the unusual situation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — normally a highly spiritual and community-driven month — at home .
In fact , these converging factors , according to statistics compiled from Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline , have led to a significant increase in youth reaching out for mental health support .
Activism not only gives youth a much-needed sense of belonging , it also keeps them active and in touch with mentors and friends who can help nourish their mental well-being .
At a time when many youth are understandably struggling with the additional challenges brought on by COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the principles that are foundational to our faith : compassion , humanity and service .
In the meantime , they too are nourished by the program through a shared sense of purpose — something which every youth organization can and should promote .
Youth getting packages of food ready to deliver to people in need during COVID-19 pandemic .
Photo courtesy Muslim Association of Canada .

As the COVID-19 pandemic response first developed in Canada in March, I found myself, like many others, wondering what the mental health blowbacks would be from necessary physical distancing and social isolation. In my work as the national youth director for the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), I have come to know that youth are uniquely and significantly affected by the crisis, in terms of their mental wellness, in a myriad of ways. Youth are at a particular stage of development where socialization is of pressing importance. Being out of school and disconnected from friends, sports, community centres and mentorship opportunities has meant that many youth are falling behind in their school work and are lacking important support that they may need. Youth who did not previously struggle with mental health issues are now exhibiting a number of symptoms which indicate how intensely stressful and challenging this unprecedented period truly is. These issues are a problem for all youth, but disproportionately affect Muslim youth who, in addition to all the above stressors, also carry the burden of losing the limited spaces of belonging they had overall. With mosques and Islamic community centres closed, many who have developed a strong sense of their Canadian-Muslim identities in these spaces are now wondering just where they can fit in at all.
These young people need to have ways of developing resilience and a sense of belonging in times of isolation. Researchers point to how belonging (or collective meaning-making) is essential for vulnerable youth, especially in marginalized communities. Youth have always been an intrinsic part of the nationwide MAC community, with programs servicing thousands of youth in all major cities from Montreal to Vancouver. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The question with COVID-19 was: How do we keep youth engaged, and especially, as a way to mitigate the mental health impacts of the pandemic?
At first, MAC responded with online virtual programs for learning, spirituality, dialogue and other youth-driven activities such as workout sessions and video game competitions. However, it soon became clear that youth also needed somewhere to take ownership and actively contribute in order to feel like they belong, even from a distance. "Youth who did not previously struggle with mental health issues are now exhibiting a number of symptoms which indicate how intensely stressful and challenging this unprecedented period truly is." With the economic impact of the pandemic devastating families, MAC opted to prioritize the hunger crisis and maximize the benefit by putting MAC Youth in charge of our nationwide MAC Give Foodshare program. Youth preparing food packages to distribute to people in need during COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy Muslim Association of Canada. The results have been stunning. Youth as young as 14 years old have spent their free time during the pandemic using their creativity to contribute everything from graphic design work and social media posts to tapping into existing donor bases to spread the word on the program and fund it. As a result, more than 5,000 families in nine cities across Canada have been provided hot meals or grocery staple packages on a rotating weekly basis since the beginning of the pandemic.
Building on the success of the existing MAC networks, youth have fundraised a staggering quarter of a million dollars and connected with shelters and other relevant organizations to build more than 30 partnerships to ensure that the people who need it most are those we get fed, no questions asked. It was also a youth initiative to further use the program to support local small businesses who might be struggling. This kind of engagement is astounding, especially considering the pandemic and the unusual situation of having to celebrate the month of Ramadan — normally a highly spiritual and community-driven month — at home. In fact, these converging factors, according to statistics compiled from Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline, have led to a significant increase in youth reaching out for mental health support.


nationalobserver--2020-05-31--US lets corporations delay paying environmental fines amid pandemic

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Ten corporations that agreed to a total of $ 56m in civil penalties for allegedly breaking environmental laws are not being required to make payments under a pause granted by the US government during the Covid-19 pandemic .
The companies polluted air and water , including in communities already vulnerable to toxic pollution like East Chicago , Indiana , according to legal proceedings .
They signed settlements with the government agreeing to pay fines without admitting liability but the justice department last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extensions in letters which were obtained by the government watchdog group Accountable.US via public records requests .
Denver-based oil and gas company K P Kauffman allegedly violated air pollution laws , emitting volatile organic compounds that form smog in the Denver-Julesburg Basin , an area that wasn ’ t meeting smog standards .
The company settled and agreed to pay $ 1m in eight installments over four years , but it has not been required to pay its second installment because of the freeze .
The company did not respond to requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump 's war on Twitter and chaos in America • Canada 's emissions rise , yet again .
Can we please adopt U.K .
Carbon Budget law now ?
KP Kauffman spent $ 200,000 lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) in 2019 and the beginning of 2020 , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
In 2016 , the company hosted a meeting between oil industry executives and president Donald Trump , although the company ’ s CEO Kevin P Kauffman , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chris Saeger , director of strategic initiatives at Accountable.US , said : “ This is exactly the time to make sure support is flowing to the federal , state and local governments that need a hand with responding to the coronavirus crisis and with the environmental problems that these special interests have caused.
” “ When we ’ re facing a public health crisis that causes respiratory problems , this is a time to be holding companies to a higher standard of air quality , not a lower one.
” The companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before 1 June , although they have the option to do so and at least two companies told the Guardian they made payments despite the extension .
The EPA would not respond to inquiries about its policy and or say which companies paid penalties .
The justice department on 14 April sent letters to the affected companies , offering to temporarily suspend collection of the payments , following the EPA ’ s announcement in March that it would ease some enforcement requirements .
The justice department said the suspension was meant to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Covid-19 ) pandemic ” .
One company , Virginia power provider Dominion Energy , settled and agreed to pay $ 1.4m for allegedly releasing 27.5m gallons of water from a coal ash impoundment that seeped into groundwater along the shore of the James River .
Coal ash contains dangerous pollutants , including mercury , cadmium and arsenic , which can cause widespread environmental damage .
The company said it plans to pay the settlement penalty once it is finalized .
Dominion has a number of ties to high-ranking Trump officials , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Patrick Traylor , who had Dominion has a client .
Attorney general William Barr has served on the company ’ s board of directors and received more than $ 500,000 from Dominion .
Another alleged violator , one of the world ’ s largest steel companies , ArcelorMittal , decided to pay the $ 5m penalty it agreed to for air quality issues at steel plants in East Chicago , Indiana ; Burns Harbor , Indiana ; and Cleveland , Ohio , according to a spokesman .
ArcelorMittal ’ s chief executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders in India in February and also was one of about 20 executives to dine with Trump in Davos at the World Economic Forum in January .
Trump ’ s commerce secretary Wilbur Ross was previously on the company ’ s board of directors .
The oil and gas company BP Products North America said it also paid the $ 8m penalty it agreed to for alleged air pollution problems at an oil refinery in Whiting , Indiana , on the south-western shore of Lake Michigan .
BP was accused of emitting too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to asthma and heart attacks .
The justice department ’ s assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski represented BP in the past .
BP employees have given $ 85,000 to Trump campaign groups .
A spokeswoman said BP employees in the US are free to give money to the political campaigns of their choice .

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Ten corporations that agreed to a total of $56m in civil penalties for allegedly breaking environmental laws are not being required to make payments under a pause granted by the US government during the Covid-19 pandemic. The companies polluted air and water, including in communities already vulnerable to toxic pollution like East Chicago, Indiana, according to legal proceedings. They signed settlements with the government agreeing to pay fines without admitting liability but the justice department last month advised most of the companies of extensions in letters which were obtained by the government watchdog group Accountable.US via public records requests. Denver-based oil and gas company K P Kauffman allegedly violated air pollution laws, emitting volatile organic compounds that form smog in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, an area that wasn’t meeting smog standards. The company settled and agreed to pay $1m in eight installments over four years, but it has not been required to pay its second installment because of the freeze. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
KP Kauffman spent $200,000 lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019 and the beginning of 2020, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. In 2016, the company hosted a meeting between oil industry executives and president Donald Trump, although the company’s CEO Kevin P Kauffman, a major GOP donor, did not attend. Chris Saeger, director of strategic initiatives at Accountable.US, said: “This is exactly the time to make sure support is flowing to the federal, state and local governments that need a hand with responding to the coronavirus crisis and with the environmental problems that these special interests have caused.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “When we’re facing a public health crisis that causes respiratory problems, this is a time to be holding companies to a higher standard of air quality, not a lower one.”
The companies will not be required to pay penalties before 1 June, although they have the option to do so and at least two companies told the Guardian they made payments despite the extension. The EPA would not respond to inquiries about its policy and or say which companies paid penalties. US lets corporations delay paying environmental fines amid pandemic The justice department on 14 April sent letters to the affected companies, offering to temporarily suspend collection of the payments, following the EPA’s announcement in March that it would ease some enforcement requirements. The justice department said the suspension was meant to “mitigate the financial impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic”. One company, Virginia power provider Dominion Energy, settled and agreed to pay $1.4m for allegedly releasing 27.5m gallons of water from a coal ash impoundment that seeped into groundwater along the shore of the James River. Coal ash contains dangerous pollutants, including mercury, cadmium and arsenic, which can cause widespread environmental damage. The company said it plans to pay the settlement penalty once it is finalized. Dominion has a number of ties to high-ranking Trump officials, including EPA’s former top enforcement official, Patrick Traylor, who had Dominion has a client. Attorney general William Barr has served on the company’s board of directors and received more than $500,000 from Dominion. Another alleged violator, one of the world’s largest steel companies, ArcelorMittal, decided to pay the $5m penalty it agreed to for air quality issues at steel plants in East Chicago, Indiana; Burns Harbor, Indiana; and Cleveland, Ohio, according to a spokesman.
ArcelorMittal’s chief executive was at a Trump roundtable of business leaders in India in February and also was one of about 20 executives to dine with Trump in Davos at the World Economic Forum in January. Trump’s commerce secretary Wilbur Ross was previously on the company’s board of directors. The oil and gas company BP Products North America said it also paid the $8m penalty it agreed to for alleged air pollution problems at an oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana, on the south-western shore of Lake Michigan. BP was accused of emitting too much particle pollution, which is linked to asthma and heart attacks. The justice department’s assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski represented BP in the past. BP employees have given $85,000 to Trump campaign groups.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Canada’s National Observer takes home two CAJ awards

Canada ’ s National Observer landed two prizes at the annual awards ceremony for the Canadian Association of Journalists on Saturday night .
National Observer took home wins in the data journalism and human rights reporting categories .
McIntosh , then a reporter for the Star Calgary and De Souza , then managing editor of the National Observer , investigated the failure of authorities to alert the town of Fort McKay for nearly 12 hours following a leak of toxins released by the petrochemicals , which could pose possible long-term health risks to residents .
Acknowledging the award , McIntosh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments , including the Alberta government , are rolling back environmental protections , I think this story is more important than ever .
We found the environmental protections in place were not enough to protect the rights of people living nearby the oilsands .
Now , thanks to COVID-19 , those already scant protections have been diminished .
I hope this reminds governments they need to be doing more and better . ''
The story was part of a larger media collaborative series called Price of Oil .
McIntosh said : `` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts of media organizations working together .
It would not have come to light the way that it did if either Mike De Souza or I had worked on our own . ''
McIntosh applauded the whistleblowers who made this story possible .

Canada’s National Observer landed two prizes at the annual awards ceremony for the Canadian Association of Journalists on Saturday night. National Observer took home wins in the data journalism and human rights reporting categories.
Human rights award
National Observer reporter Emma McIntosh and now Global News reporter Mike De Souza won the human rights reporting award for coverage of the oilsands plant leak in Fort McKay, Alta.
McIntosh, then a reporter for the Star Calgary and De Souza, then managing editor of the National Observer, investigated the failure of authorities to alert the town of Fort McKay for nearly 12 hours following a leak of toxins released by the petrochemicals, which could pose possible long-term health risks to residents.
Acknowledging the award, McIntosh said: "At a time when governments, including the Alberta government, are rolling back environmental protections, I think this story is more important than ever. We found the environmental protections in place were not enough to protect the rights of people living nearby the oilsands. Now, thanks to COVID-19, those already scant protections have been diminished. I hope this reminds governments they need to be doing more and better."


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Canadians protest George Floyd killing and racism in Canada in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver

A Montreal anti-racism protest demanding justice for a black Minnesota man who died following a police intervention last week degenerated into clashes between police and some demonstrators on Sunday night .
The # MontrealProtest was peaceful for hours until some trouble making white people decided to take advantage of the situation .
pic.twitter.com/82sJ0tjv4t — Redgee ( @ RedgeeXVII ) June 1 , 2020 The march had snaked its way through downtown Montreal on Sunday afternoon without incident , but Montreal police declared the gathering illegal about three hours after it began when they say projectiles were thrown at officers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His death has sparked nightly protests in major U.S. cities .
The Montreal rally was a solidarity gathering with American anti-racism activists , but organizers say it is also an opportunity to express their own anger at the treatment of racialized people in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada .
Some of the names invoked included names of black men killed during Montreal police interventions in recent years .
`` It 's important for everyone to be here today so that we can have a lot of voices to say the George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Marie-Livia Beauge , one of the event organizers in Montreal .
`` It 's important for everyone to be here today so that we can have a lot of voices to say the George Floyd event is not a singular event , '' said Marie-Livia Beauge , one of the event organizers .
`` It keeps happening and it 's happening here in Montreal so to be here together is to show solidarity and denounce the injustice . ''
The gathering drew Montrealers of all stripes and backgrounds , holding posters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives matter '' and `` I ca n't breathe '' — what Floyd was caught on video saying .
They took a knee in unison several times in solidarity with the movement .
But when Montreal police called on protesters to disperse , some refused .
Leah Blain , 20 , chose to continue demonstrating and was part of a group trying to reach police headquarters when she was met with pepper spray .
`` We were just standing here , we were showing our support and this is what happens , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , so if you support them , you 're against us , '' she said .
On Sunday evening , Steve Haboucha was clearing broken glass from the frame around the front window of his Koodo Mobile store on Montreal 's Ste Catherine Street .
Security video from his store , he said , shows a stream of people entering the cell phone shop and leaving with accessories over a 30-minute period .
About ten police officers were there , standing over broken glass , keeping guard outside .
Haboucha said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' of stores that suffered the same fate along the route the protesters took .
A few kilometres west on the same downtown street , the loud pops of cracking glass echoed through the neighbourhood , preceding a group of people who turned their destruction onto seemingly random targets .
On one corner , a group used a metal construction sign and its steel stand to smash the front glass of a payday loan branch .
All along Ste Catherine , people smashed windows and looted stores , while trying to evade police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a social worker and community organizer , called out Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante , who earlier Sunday had condemned `` violence , racism and systemic discrimination '' in a series of tweets .
`` In fighting this , we need to ensure our movements are not co-opted to stifle our anger with their kind word and simultaneous inaction , '' Mousseau said .
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , organizers repeatedly told people to spread out , trying to find a spot where a two-metre distance could be maintained .
Despite a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squirting hand sanitizer , the numbers attending made distancing impossible .
The location adjacent to Montreal police headquarters was packed , with police closely guarding the building that houses their brass .
Dr. Horacio Arruda , Quebec 's director of public health , told Radio-Canada on Sunday evening that he recognized the importance of the cause but urged hand washing and for anyone exhibiting symptoms to let health authorities know they attended the protest .
Around the start of the demonstration , Montreal police took the unusual step of issuing a tweet saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd .
`` Both the action taken and the inaction of the witnesses present go against the values of our organization , '' the force tweeted calling on for a peaceful demonstration .
`` We respect the rights and the need of everyone to speak out against this violence and will be by your side to ensure your safety , '' the police said .
The Montreal rally followed one in Toronto on Saturday , which remained peaceful .
Some of the thousands of people marching in Toronto pic.twitter.com/PkOZX7qFwk — Lorenda Reddekopp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 So too did Sunday 's rally in Vancouver , where thousands gathered outside the city 's art gallery , waving signs and chanting their support of the Black Lives Matter movement and Floyd .
Tristan Miura , who held up a skateboard painted with the words `` injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere , '' said he hopes Vancouver will reflect on the protesters ' message .
`` Vancouver has always been quite liberal and very open about what they feel is wrong in the community , '' said Miura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a whole , is taking this time to reflect on past issues and preventing further issues from occurring . ''
Others hoped it would spark a larger reaction in Canada .
`` I hope this is just the start , '' said Chance Lovett .
`` I hope this is just the beginning of a larger conversation and a larger movement . ''
Vancouver police said there have been no arrests during the event .
Vancouver police now estimate around 3,500 people have gathered around the art gallery .
Speakers continue to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been closed @ cbcnewsbc pic.twitter.com/sKVO2KEcwO — Cory Correia ( @ CoryCorreia ) June 1 , 2020 This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31 , 2020 .
— with files by Nick Wells in Vancouver .
Media embeds added to the story by Canada 's National Observer .
New York City , May 29 , 2020 , protestors in streets clash with police On the morning of June 1 , former president Barack Obama provided words of encouragement to young activists .
I wrote out some thoughts on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point to bring about real change––and pulled together some resources to help young activists sustain the momentum by channeling their energy into concrete action .
https : //t.co/jEczrOeFdv — Barack Obama ( @ BarackObama ) June 1 , 2020

Sidhartha Banerjee, Giuseppe Valiante, National Observer

A Montreal anti-racism protest demanding justice for a black Minnesota man who died following a police intervention last week degenerated into clashes between police and some demonstrators on Sunday night. The #MontrealProtest was peaceful for hours until some trouble making white people decided to take advantage of the situation. pic.twitter.com/82sJ0tjv4t — Redgee (@RedgeeXVII) June 1, 2020 The march had snaked its way through downtown Montreal on Sunday afternoon without incident, but Montreal police declared the gathering illegal about three hours after it began when they say projectiles were thrown at officers who responded with pepper spray and tear gas. https://twitter.com/besnosj/status/1267276986667470849 Tensions flared after the formal rally had concluded and some demonstrators made their way back to the starting point, in the shadow of Montreal police headquarters downtown.
Windows were smashed, fires were set and the situation slid into a game of cat-and-mouse between pockets of protesters and police trying to disperse them. Demonstrators had gathered to denounce racist violence and police impunity — both in the U.S. and at home in Montreal. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions George Floyd died in Minneapolis on Monday after pleading for air while a white police officer pressed a knee on his neck.
His death has sparked nightly protests in major U.S. cities. "It's important for everyone to be here today so that we can have a lot of voices to say the George Floyd event is not a singular event," said Marie-Livia Beauge, one of the event organizers in Montreal. The Montreal rally was a solidarity gathering with American anti-racism activists, but organizers say it is also an opportunity to express their own anger at the treatment of racialized people in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. Some of the names invoked included names of black men killed during Montreal police interventions in recent years. "It's important for everyone to be here today so that we can have a lot of voices to say the George Floyd event is not a singular event," said Marie-Livia Beauge, one of the event organizers. "It keeps happening and it's happening here in Montreal so to be here together is to show solidarity and denounce the injustice." The gathering drew Montrealers of all stripes and backgrounds, holding posters with slogans. Protesters chanted "Black lives matter" and "I can't breathe" — what Floyd was caught on video saying.
They took a knee in unison several times in solidarity with the movement. But when Montreal police called on protesters to disperse, some refused. Leah Blain, 20, chose to continue demonstrating and was part of a group trying to reach police headquarters when she was met with pepper spray.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Minimum wage goes up today in B.C.

Minimum wage goes up today in B.C.

British Columbia 's lowest paid workers get a pay increase Monday with a scheduled minimum wage hike at a crucial time for small businesses as they look for ways to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The increase is part of the government 's pledge to implement a $ 15 per hour minimum wage by next year after a decade of no increases from 2001 to 2011 .
The minimum wage jumps by 75 cents to $ 14.60 an hour on Monday .
Labour Minister Harry Bains said the government understands the pressures facing employers during the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're all going through some very challenging times , no doubt about it , '' he said in a recent interview .
• How to rebuild after the economic pain from COVID-19 ?
Study Cuba • Sandy Garossino on Meng Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump 's war on Twitter and chaos in America Bains said the B.C .
government 's $ 5 billion pandemic plan includes tax breaks and tax deferrals for businesses , and a $ 1.5 billion economic recovery fund .
He said the federal government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Now , as much as ever , I think B.C .
's lowest paid workers also need support , '' said Bains .
`` It 's not fair to ask them to delay their wage increase . ''
But Prof. Andrey Pavlov at Simon Fraser University 's Beedie school of business said the government should forgo the minimum wage increase and allow market forces to determine rates of pay .
The pressures of the pandemic should be viewed as an opportunity to explore economic initiatives that do n't involve regulated minimum wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 've never been a fan of minimum wage increases because I believe wages should grow on their own through economic growth , '' said Pavlov .
The minimum wage increase during a period when many businesses are struggling to survive the pandemic could be the final blow that results in them closing , putting people out of work , he said .
Minimum wage goes up June 1 in B.C .
as businesses face COVID-19 challenges `` Now , most businesses are thinking of shutting down or moving or restructuring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on top , it could be just the catalyst that pushes many businesses over the edge , '' Pavlov said .
Iglika Ivanova , a senior economist at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in B.C.
, said the province is an expensive place to live and life has become more difficult for low-wage workers because many have been laid off .
She said most people earning the minimum wage were not able to work from home .
`` Many lost their jobs during the lockdown phase of the pandemic , and now we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them will be called back and I think it 's important that they actually earn decent wages , '' Ivanova said .
`` We 've known for a long time that the minimum wage was too low in B.C . ''
Statistics Canada reported B.C .
's unemployment rate in April increased to 11.5 per cent , with almost 400,000 lost jobs since March .
B.C .
has eased some restrictions , allowing restaurants , hair salons and dentist offices to reopen but with physical distancing rules in place , businesses have taken @ @ @ @ @

British Columbia's lowest paid workers get a pay increase Monday with a scheduled minimum wage hike at a crucial time for small businesses as they look for ways to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase is part of the government's pledge to implement a $15 per hour minimum wage by next year after a decade of no increases from 2001 to 2011. The minimum wage jumps by 75 cents to $14.60 an hour on Monday. Labour Minister Harry Bains said the government understands the pressures facing employers during the pandemic, but workers are also struggling. "We're all going through some very challenging times, no doubt about it," he said in a recent interview.
Bains said the B.C. government's $5 billion pandemic plan includes tax breaks and tax deferrals for businesses, and a $1.5 billion economic recovery fund. He said the federal government has also introduced wage subsidies for employers. "Now, as much as ever, I think B.C.'s lowest paid workers also need support," said Bains. "It's not fair to ask them to delay their wage increase." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But Prof. Andrey Pavlov at Simon Fraser University's Beedie school of business said the government should forgo the minimum wage increase and allow market forces to determine rates of pay.
The pressures of the pandemic should be viewed as an opportunity to explore economic initiatives that don't involve regulated minimum wages and government subsidies, he said. Minimum wage goes up June 1 in B.C. as businesses face COVID-19 challenges "I've never been a fan of minimum wage increases because I believe wages should grow on their own through economic growth," said Pavlov. The minimum wage increase during a period when many businesses are struggling to survive the pandemic could be the final blow that results in them closing, putting people out of work, he said. "Now, most businesses are thinking of shutting down or moving or restructuring in very substantial ways and you add that on top, it could be just the catalyst that pushes many businesses over the edge," Pavlov said. Iglika Ivanova, a senior economist at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in B.C., said the province is an expensive place to live and life has become more difficult for low-wage workers because many have been laid off.
She said most people earning the minimum wage were not able to work from home. "Many lost their jobs during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, and now we're starting to reopen a number of them will be called back and I think it's important that they actually earn decent wages," Ivanova said. "We've known for a long time that the minimum wage was too low in B.C." Statistics Canada reported B.C.'s unemployment rate in April increased to 11.5 per cent, with almost 400,000 lost jobs since March.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Trudeau acknowledges 'anti-black racism' exists in Canada

America 's anger , frustration and discord boiled over in Minnesota 's Twin Cities and spread across the country Friday at a remarkable moment in the history of the United States , sparked by the collision of racial injustice , freedom of expression and the worst public health crisis of the last 100 years .
After more than two months of pandemic-induced , self-imposed exile , protesters in Minneapolis — some wearing face masks not to conceal their identities , but to ward off COVID-19 — laid waste to city streets after the police killing Monday of George Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight final minutes of life were spent begging for mercy , a white police officer kneeling on his neck .
The rage appeared contagious .
As evening gave way to night on the East Coast and an 8 p.m. curfew approached in Minneapolis , multitudes of protesters massed in various cities in a show of solidarity .
In Atlanta , violence erupted ; protesters set fire to a police cruiser , pelted officers with bottles and smashed patrol car windows with pieces of barricade .
In Washington , D.C. , people gathered outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while in New York City , demonstrators rained plastic water bottles down on police , who responded with blasts of pepper spray .
• How to rebuild after the economic pain from COVID-19 ?
Study Cuba • Sandy Garossino on Meng Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump 's war on Twitter and chaos in America • Canada 's emissions rise , yet again .
Can we please adopt U.K .
Carbon Budget law now ?
But the flashpoint was Minneapolis , where a police station was among the structures that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the premises of Precinct 3 , which was subsequently overrun by protesters .
Early Friday , CNN reporter Omar Jimenez , who is black , was arrested on live television and led away in handcuffs , as were members of his crew .
All of them were released a short time later following an abject apology from Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz , who characterized the arrest as a mistake .
By early afternoon , Derek Chauvin , the officer who is seen on cellphone video pressing Floyd 's neck to the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of third-degree murder and manslaughter , prosecutors said .
Activists vowed to keep up their fight until all four officers involved were in police custody .
All of it prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , unbidden , to do something he rarely does : comment publicly on another country 's domestic affairs .
`` Anti-black racism , racism , is real ; it 's in the United States , but it 's also in Canada , '' Trudeau said Friday as he wrapped up his daily briefing outside his home at Rideau Cottage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the term `` anti-black racism , '' a specific phrase that black communities have long advocated for in order to distinguish the express injustices black people face in Canada and around the world from other forms of discrimination .
Trudeau acknowledges 'anti-black racism ' in U.S. , with 'work to do in Canada ' `` We need as a society to stand together , to stand up against discrimination , to be there for each other in respect , but also understand that we have work to do as well in Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work forward on , '' Trudeau said .
`` I call on all Canadians — whether it 's anti-black racism or anti-Asian racism or racism discrimination of any type , to stand together in solidarity , to be there for each other and know just how deeply people are being affected by what we see on the news these past few days . ''
Racial unrest , often sparked by deadly police action against black Americans , is nothing new in the U.S .
But in a polarized country near the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term , its economy now plumbing Great Depression depths in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed more than 100,000 lives , the conflict feels like a new low-water mark .
It 's not just Minneapolis .
Earlier in the week , protesters in New York City defied pandemic-related bans on public gatherings , while demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Denver and downtown Columbus , Ohio .
Demonstrators also took to the streets in Los Angeles and Memphis , Tenn. And in Louisville , Ky. , police confirmed at least seven people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded justice for Breonna Taylor , a black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March .
`` This is a moment where we do n't feel like we 're sort of northern Americans , that we 're kind of like the Americans , because this comes from a place that does not compute for us , and that we do n't share , '' said Chris Sands , a Canada-U.S. scholar and head of the Canada Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center .
`` Moments like this are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way in which they set us apart . ''
Trump drove that point home overnight when he promised a hard line against the `` thugs '' who were wreaking havoc — `` when the looting starts , the shooting starts , '' he tweeted .
Twitter responded with the unprecedented step of censoring the president of the United States , blocking — but not deleting — a tweet the social media platform said was `` glorifying violence . ''
Later Friday , what was billed as a news conference in the Rose Garden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on China , Hong Kong and the World Health Organization , refusing to answer questions or acknowledge the unfolding crisis in Minnesota .
He later explained that the tweet was n't meant as a threat , but rather that people get killed when looting takes place .
And he said he spoke to Floyd 's family and offered his sorrow for their loss .
`` That was just a horrible thing to witness and to watch ...
It certainly looked like there was no excuse for it , '' Trump said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of the protesters in Minneapolis were taking action `` for the right reason '' and `` out of sorrow , '' he added , while those who engaged in wanton violence and destruction of property `` did a great disservice '' to the country .
Walz called his state 's response to the violence an `` abject failure '' and promised to ensure destruction in the streets does not distract from the ultimate goal of those protesting peacefully : swift justice for the officers involved in Floyd 's death .
`` Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fire is still smouldering in our streets .
The ashes are symbolic of decades and generations of pain , of anguish unheard , '' he said .
`` Generations of pain is manifesting itself in front of the world — and the world is watching . ''
Canadians could be forgiven for thinking that the election of Barack Obama in 2007 was going to usher in a new period of racial peace in the U.S. , Sands said — and for wondering now where it all went wrong .
`` There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new era , in a very positive way .
And for a variety of reasons , that did n't seem to coalesce , '' he said .
`` Now all of a sudden you 're like , 'Well , wait a minute , what happened ? '
So I think that that is also part of it , too .
Maybe we should be grateful that Canadians often hope for the best in America .
We do have a good side . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ files from The Associated Press

America's anger, frustration and discord boiled over in Minnesota's Twin Cities and spread across the country Friday at a remarkable moment in the history of the United States, sparked by the collision of racial injustice, freedom of expression and the worst public health crisis of the last 100 years. After more than two months of pandemic-induced, self-imposed exile, protesters in Minneapolis — some wearing face masks not to conceal their identities, but to ward off COVID-19 — laid waste to city streets after the police killing Monday of George Floyd, an unarmed black man. His torturous eight final minutes of life were spent begging for mercy, a white police officer kneeling on his neck. The rage appeared contagious. As evening gave way to night on the East Coast and an 8 p.m. curfew approached in Minneapolis, multitudes of protesters massed in various cities in a show of solidarity. In Atlanta, violence erupted; protesters set fire to a police cruiser, pelted officers with bottles and smashed patrol car windows with pieces of barricade. In Washington, D.C., people gathered outside the White House to register their anger, while in New York City, demonstrators rained plastic water bottles down on police, who responded with blasts of pepper spray.
But the flashpoint was Minneapolis, where a police station was among the structures that went up in flames after staff abandoned the premises of Precinct 3, which was subsequently overrun by protesters. Early Friday, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, who is black, was arrested on live television and led away in handcuffs, as were members of his crew. All of them were released a short time later following an abject apology from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who characterized the arrest as a mistake. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions By early afternoon, Derek Chauvin, the officer who is seen on cellphone video pressing Floyd's neck to the ground, was himself arrested and facing charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter, prosecutors said. Activists vowed to keep up their fight until all four officers involved were in police custody.
All of it prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, unbidden, to do something he rarely does: comment publicly on another country's domestic affairs. Trudeau acknowledges 'anti-black racism' in U.S., with 'work to do in Canada' "Anti-black racism, racism, is real; it's in the United States, but it's also in Canada," Trudeau said Friday as he wrapped up his daily briefing outside his home at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. More than once he used the term "anti-black racism," a specific phrase that black communities have long advocated for in order to distinguish the express injustices black people face in Canada and around the world from other forms of discrimination. "We need as a society to stand together, to stand up against discrimination, to be there for each other in respect, but also understand that we have work to do as well in Canada in our systems that we need to work forward on," Trudeau said. "I call on all Canadians — whether it's anti-black racism or anti-Asian racism or racism discrimination of any type, to stand together in solidarity, to be there for each other and know just how deeply people are being affected by what we see on the news these past few days."
Racial unrest, often sparked by deadly police action against black Americans, is nothing new in the U.S. But in a polarized country near the end of Donald Trump's fractious and controversial first term, its economy now plumbing Great Depression depths in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed more than 100,000 lives, the conflict feels like a new low-water mark. It's not just Minneapolis. Earlier in the week, protesters in New York City defied pandemic-related bans on public gatherings, while demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Denver and downtown Columbus, Ohio. Demonstrators also took to the streets in Los Angeles and Memphis, Tenn. And in Louisville, Ky., police confirmed at least seven people had been shot Thursday night as protesters demanded justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March.


nationalobserver--2020-06-01--Environment Canada pollution inspections down sharply since 2015

Environment Canada has been doing fewer inspections , investigations and prosecutions over the last five years to enforce a law protecting people from toxic chemicals and air pollution .
According to figures provided last month in response to a written question submitted in the House of Commons , the department investigated 43 companies for violations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act in 2015-16 .
There were 22 prosecutions and convictions .
In each of the last two fiscal years , however , the department investigated 12 companies .
One was prosecuted and convicted .
`` It definitely raises a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NDP MP Laurel Collins , the critic for environment and climate change who posed the question .
`` It 's wild that there was only one investigation that led to a prosecution in 2018 and 2019 , '' she said .
`` I think most Canadians would be surprised to hear that .
I do n't think anyone thinks there is only one company violating . ''
• How to rebuild after the economic pain from COVID-19 ?
Study Cuba • Sandy Garossino on Meng Wanzhou , Huawei , Joe Scarborough , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America The Canadian Environmental Protection Act ( CEPA ) governs how Canada manages toxic chemicals and air pollution .
In February , Collins submitted the order paper question , which is what MPs use when they want a more detailed answer from the government than is usually possible during the daily oral question period in the House of Commons .
She was seeking an update to a 2018 report on CEPA enforcement from the federal environment commissioner .
That report called out Environment Canada for disproportionately focusing on dry cleaners and the fluid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perchloroethylene — even though it was not more toxic than other substances investigators were supposed to be monitoring .
Collins says she was disheartened to find that enforcement has fallen `` dramatically . ''
Asked to explain the drop in investigations under the act , a spokesperson for Environment Canada said only that investigations can be complex and take many years to complete .
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson would not comment because enforcement is an arm's-length process that must remain outside the political realm , according to spokeswoman Moira Kelly .
Investigations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2015 The data provided to Collins does not mirror the numbers the department publishes in its annual report on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act .
The response to Collins looked at investigations by the number of companies involved .
The annual report reflected the number of investigations for each regulation under the act .
Some companies are investigated under more than one regulation .
Those annual reports do show the number of total inspections the department is doing has also dropped substantially , from 3,898 in 2015-16 , to 1,608 in 2018-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on a national registry of environmental offenders .
Some of the most recent cases involved selling products with volatile organic compounds above legal limits , chemical leaks and spills from electrical transformers , selling toxic chemicals to companies without making sure they had proper storage facilities available , and improperly disposing seafood waste in the ocean .
Muhannad Malas , the toxics program manager at Environmental Defence , an advocacy organization , said the Liberal government tries to bill itself as having the `` gold standard '' of environmental protections but there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` When you start digging into the numbers here you find that the government is not taking it seriously , '' he said .
The Liberals formed government in the fall of 2015 and were re-elected , with a minority mandate , in October 2019 .
The government is also well behind schedule in reforming the Canadian Environmental Protection Act .
The law has to be reviewed every five years .
The last review began in 2016 and was completed by the House of Commons environment committee in June 2017 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including a suggestion to consider enshrining the right to a healthy environment in the law , mandatory labels for hazardous materials in a product , and better data collection on those products .
Malas said he was encouraged when strengthening the law was one of the items in Wilkinson 's mandate letter last fall .
He is worried the COVID-19 pandemic , which has delayed numerous other environmental promises including better fuel standards and a single-use plastics ban , will also push back CEPA reform .

Environment Canada has been doing fewer inspections, investigations and prosecutions over the last five years to enforce a law protecting people from toxic chemicals and air pollution. According to figures provided last month in response to a written question submitted in the House of Commons, the department investigated 43 companies for violations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act in 2015-16. There were 22 prosecutions and convictions. In each of the last two fiscal years, however, the department investigated 12 companies. One was prosecuted and convicted. "It definitely raises a lot of questions and concerns," said NDP MP Laurel Collins, the critic for environment and climate change who posed the question. "It's wild that there was only one investigation that led to a prosecution in 2018 and 2019," she said. "I think most Canadians would be surprised to hear that. I don't think anyone thinks there is only one company violating."
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) governs how Canada manages toxic chemicals and air pollution. In February, Collins submitted the order paper question, which is what MPs use when they want a more detailed answer from the government than is usually possible during the daily oral question period in the House of Commons. She was seeking an update to a 2018 report on CEPA enforcement from the federal environment commissioner. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions That report called out Environment Canada for disproportionately focusing on dry cleaners and the fluid they use for cleaning — known as perchloroethylene — even though it was not more toxic than other substances investigators were supposed to be monitoring.
Collins says she was disheartened to find that enforcement has fallen "dramatically." Investigations, prosecutions for polluting in Canada down sharply since 2015 Asked to explain the drop in investigations under the act, a spokesperson for Environment Canada said only that investigations can be complex and take many years to complete. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson would not comment because enforcement is an arm's-length process that must remain outside the political realm, according to spokeswoman Moira Kelly. The data provided to Collins does not mirror the numbers the department publishes in its annual report on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The response to Collins looked at investigations by the number of companies involved. The annual report reflected the number of investigations for each regulation under the act. Some companies are investigated under more than one regulation. Those annual reports do show the number of total inspections the department is doing has also dropped substantially, from 3,898 in 2015-16, to 1,608 in 2018-19.
Companies that have been convicted end up on a national registry of environmental offenders. Some of the most recent cases involved selling products with volatile organic compounds above legal limits, chemical leaks and spills from electrical transformers, selling toxic chemicals to companies without making sure they had proper storage facilities available, and improperly disposing seafood waste in the ocean. Muhannad Malas, the toxics program manager at Environmental Defence, an advocacy organization, said the Liberal government tries to bill itself as having the "gold standard" of environmental protections but there is just not very much enforcement happening. "When you start digging into the numbers here you find that the government is not taking it seriously," he said.


nationalobserver--2020-06-02--Trudeau to speed $2.2 billion in funding for strapped cities

The federal government is rushing out $ 2.2 billion in anticipated infrastructure funding to Canada 's cities that municipal leaders say might help with a short-term cash crunch , but does little to fill the budget hole COVID-19 has created .
Normally , funding through the federal gas-tax fund is split between a summer payment and a second instalment later in the year , but the Liberals plan to send all the money this month .
Municipalities have seen steep losses throughout the pandemic as fewer people pay for transit or parking , and recreation centres stay closed without paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.5-billion shortfall this fiscal year , while the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has estimated the need nationally at between $ 10 billion and $ 15 billion , depending on the severity and duration of the shutdown .
FCM president Bill Karstens said the $ 2.2 billion may help some cities with immediate cash flow issues , but noted the money is n't new , has already been accounted for in municipal budgets and does n't address the stark choices local leaders face .
• How to rebuild after the economic pain from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd killing and racism in Canada in Montreal , Toronto and Vancouver `` There are municipalities that have certainly indicated to us that , in terms of actual cash flow , they only have another month or so , '' he said .
`` The only true sustainable solution is for the federal government to show leadership , as I believe they want to , but they need the provinces to engage . ''
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was blunt about the funding , suggesting it does n't address the key issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money . ''
Ford said he was willing to help , but the federal government needed to step up as well .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the fast-track spending was a first step as he holds talks with provinces , which have jurisdiction over municipalities .
`` There is a range of services offered by cities that are at danger of disappearing , '' Trudeau said .
`` That 's why we 're doing what we can unilaterally and advancing the money forward , but we need to work with the provinces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of the few mechanisms the federal government has to flow money directly to cities instead of having to move it through provinces .
Last year , the Liberals doubled funding to $ 4.4 billion as an end-around on provinces they said were holding up project approvals and slowing down the oft-criticized flow of federal construction dollars .
Trudeau promises to speed $ 2.2 billion in funding for strapped cities However , the money can only be used for capital spending , not operational costs , which is where shortfalls lie .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government to help cities with operating funding to `` avoid deep cuts to the services Canadians rely on . ''
While local tax increases should be on the table , the current crisis shows the need for a rethink in how cities are funded and raise revenues , said Mitch Kosny , associate director of Ryerson University 's urban planning school .
`` There may be some interesting willingness for provincial and federal ( governments ) and even the bigger cities to sit down and talk about where we go , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity . ''
Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said the federal government needed to see municipalities go ahead with planned projects , citing as an example the need to boost transit capacity as Canadians head back to work .
She said bumping up spending is `` an example of how we see infrastructure is critical to the restart of the economy . ''
Federal infrastructure spending is traditionally seen as a way to stimulate an economic recovery , but experts have noted the unique challenges this crisis has created .
The Liberals have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child care to help women who have been disproportionately affected by job losses .
`` While it would be helpful to stimulate the economy , I 'm not convinced that it ( infrastructure spending ) would be the best way to stimulate the economy because it 's not the sector that was affected the most , '' parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux told a Commons committee last week .
`` In my humble opinion as a taxpayer , stimulating sectors that have been most deeply affected by COVID-19 might be a better way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberals say spending under their $ 186-billion infrastructure program has created some 52,000 projects , although Giroux said he only has information to account for about 33,000 .

The federal government is rushing out $2.2 billion in anticipated infrastructure funding to Canada's cities that municipal leaders say might help with a short-term cash crunch, but does little to fill the budget hole COVID-19 has created. Normally, funding through the federal gas-tax fund is split between a summer payment and a second instalment later in the year, but the Liberals plan to send all the money this month. Municipalities have seen steep losses throughout the pandemic as fewer people pay for transit or parking, and recreation centres stay closed without paid programming. Toronto alone is facing a $1.5-billion shortfall this fiscal year, while the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has estimated the need nationally at between $10 billion and $15 billion, depending on the severity and duration of the shutdown. FCM president Bill Karstens said the $2.2 billion may help some cities with immediate cash flow issues, but noted the money isn't new, has already been accounted for in municipal budgets and doesn't address the stark choices local leaders face.
"There are municipalities that have certainly indicated to us that, in terms of actual cash flow, they only have another month or so," he said. "The only true sustainable solution is for the federal government to show leadership, as I believe they want to, but they need the provinces to engage." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Ontario Premier Doug Ford was blunt about the funding, suggesting it doesn't address the key issue for cities: "We need more money." Ford said he was willing to help, but the federal government needed to step up as well.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the fast-track spending was a first step as he holds talks with provinces, which have jurisdiction over municipalities. Trudeau promises to speed $2.2 billion in funding for strapped cities "There is a range of services offered by cities that are at danger of disappearing," Trudeau said. "That's why we're doing what we can unilaterally and advancing the money forward, but we need to work with the provinces on this." The gas-tax fund is one of the few mechanisms the federal government has to flow money directly to cities instead of having to move it through provinces. Last year, the Liberals doubled funding to $4.4 billion as an end-around on provinces they said were holding up project approvals and slowing down the oft-criticized flow of federal construction dollars. However, the money can only be used for capital spending, not operational costs, which is where shortfalls lie. NDP infrastructure critic Taylor Bachrach called on the government to help cities with operating funding to "avoid deep cuts to the services Canadians rely on." While local tax increases should be on the table, the current crisis shows the need for a rethink in how cities are funded and raise revenues, said Mitch Kosny, associate director of Ryerson University's urban planning school.
"There may be some interesting willingness for provincial and federal (governments) and even the bigger cities to sit down and talk about where we go," Kosny said. "That's the opportunity." Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said the federal government needed to see municipalities go ahead with planned projects, citing as an example the need to boost transit capacity as Canadians head back to work. She said bumping up spending is "an example of how we see infrastructure is critical to the restart of the economy."