nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Bleed the North fights period poverty, stigma by pushing for greater access to menstrual products

The COVID-19 pandemic made it harder for many to find and afford menstrual products .
It also gave Isabela Rittinger and scores of other volunteers in and around Toronto time to do something about it .
Rittinger , a first-year student at Queen ’ s University in Kingston stuck attending virtual classes from home in Pickering , jumped into the fray by creating an international chapter of a U.S.-based period movement in March .
By the summer , she and a group of others , including many students , had split off to create Bleed the North and declare Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , part of a campaign to fight menstrual stigma and period poverty , the inability to afford pads and tampons , which can cost between $ 75 and $ 150 a year .
The group , now numbering 80 people , has since collected and distributed more than 10,000 period products , in kits of 11 pads and 7 tampons , enough to cover a typical menstrual cycle .
It was all Rittinger could do to feel useful at a time of massive upheaval , and the community and team-building helped get her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced ?
“ I do n't know what I would have done with my time and how I would have faced the COVID lockdown if not for the people I had met at Bleed the North , ” she said in an interview .
“ Those few months at the beginning were really , really dire and it was just like , if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my time and my heart into I do n't know where I would be.
” Rittinger and Medic met in real life only once but have spent hours planning Canada 's first National Period Day over voice and video calls .
Photo supplied by Bleed the North Bleed the North started off collecting donated pads and tampons and delivering them to shelters and individuals in need in Durham Region outside Toronto , but has since eyed getting student trustees on school boards across Ontario to pitch for them to make period products freely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We hear all the time from menstruators afraid to go to the bathroom holding a pad or a tampon , ” said Mia Medic , who takes a lead on Bleed the North ’ s advocacy efforts .
“ That 's stigma , that 's period stigma.
” “ No one in school , no teacher , has ever told me to not be ashamed to have a period , ” she added , noting the group plans to create a sex education toolkit for teachers in the coming months and recalling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grades 5 and 6 .
She said it was important to get products into all bathrooms “ so every student who menstruates has access to products , ” pointing out that “ not all women menstruate and not all those who menstruate are women.
” Bleed the North has collected and distributed more than 10,000 period products since March as part of its effort to fight menstrual stigma and period poverty .
Independent of their efforts , Peel District School Board recently said it would provide free period products after a student trustee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation .
“ Even sparking conversations within school boards and within authority figures is super , super important , ” Medic said .
“ I would love to hear ( Education Minister ) Stephen Lecce talk about periods and talk about menstruation , even if we do n't get anywhere , just to hear people in power speak about it is a win for us , because it 's a start.
” One-third of the under-25s in a Plan Canada survey of 2,000 cisgender women conducted in early 2018 said they struggled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not include the specific experiences of trans men and non-binary menstruators . )
Those in Indigenous and rural communities suffer acutely from a lack of affordable access , with a box of tampons costing between $ 16 and $ 40 in rural Indigenous communities that Bleed the North is trying to reach .
“ I think one for us coming into 2021 is figuring out how we can support communities that we do n't necessarily live near because obviously a lot of us are young 17 , 18-year-olds who in their cars go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shelters , ” Rittinger said , noting it might make more sense to fundraise and e-transfer to remote shelters and other sources .
Bleed the North itself has largely subsisted on small individual donations of cash and goods to distribute , including a contactless drive-thru drop-off where it raised $ 500 .
A peer organization called Menstruation REDefined hosted a virtual art auction and sent them half the proceeds .
The federal government proposed to make federally regulated workplaces provide workers with free menstrual products in May last year , while in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NDP ’ s Bhutila Karpoche at around the same time to declare a provincial menstrual hygiene day has stalled at first reading .
British Columbia 's government issued a first-in-Canada ministerial order requiring all public schools to provide free menstrual products for students in school bathrooms last April .
Bleed the North ’ s monitoring of legislative efforts elsewhere show little to no movement .
The group said it has received interest from advocates on university campuses and other sites in other provinces ( it has a couple in Quebec already ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year .

The COVID-19 pandemic made it harder for many to find and afford menstrual products. It also gave Isabela Rittinger and scores of other volunteers in and around Toronto time to do something about it. Rittinger, a first-year student at Queen’s University in Kingston stuck attending virtual classes from home in Pickering, jumped into the fray by creating an international chapter of a U.S.-based period movement in March. By the summer, she and a group of others, including many students, had split off to create Bleed the North and declare Canada’s first ever National Period Day, part of a campaign to fight menstrual stigma and period poverty, the inability to afford pads and tampons, which can cost between $75 and $150 a year. The group, now numbering 80 people, has since collected and distributed more than 10,000 period products, in kits of 11 pads and 7 tampons, enough to cover a typical menstrual cycle. It was all Rittinger could do to feel useful at a time of massive upheaval, and the community and team-building helped get her through the worst of those early days.
“I don't know what I would have done with my time and how I would have faced the COVID lockdown if not for the people I had met at Bleed the North,” she said in an interview. “Those few months at the beginning were really, really dire and it was just like, if I didn't have this to pour all my time and my heart into I don't know where I would be.” Rittinger and Medic met in real life only once but have spent hours planning Canada's first National Period Day over voice and video calls. Photo supplied by Bleed the North Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Bleed the North started off collecting donated pads and tampons and delivering them to shelters and individuals in need in Durham Region outside Toronto, but has since eyed getting student trustees on school boards across Ontario to pitch for them to make period products freely available in all secondary school bathrooms.
“We hear all the time from menstruators afraid to go to the bathroom holding a pad or a tampon,” said Mia Medic, who takes a lead on Bleed the North’s advocacy efforts. “That's stigma, that's period stigma.” Bleed the North has collected and distributed more than 10,000 period products since March as part of its effort to fight menstrual stigma and period poverty. “No one in school, no teacher, has ever told me to not be ashamed to have a period,” she added, noting the group plans to create a sex education toolkit for teachers in the coming months and recalling her experience learning the biological basics in grades 5 and 6. She said it was important to get products into all bathrooms “so every student who menstruates has access to products,” pointing out that “not all women menstruate and not all those who menstruate are women.” Independent of their efforts, Peel District School Board recently said it would provide free period products after a student trustee push, but there is no provincewide legislation. “Even sparking conversations within school boards and within authority figures is super, super important,” Medic said. “I would love to hear (Education Minister) Stephen Lecce talk about periods and talk about menstruation, even if we don't get anywhere, just to hear people in power speak about it is a win for us, because it's a start.”
One-third of the under-25s in a Plan Canada survey of 2,000 cisgender women conducted in early 2018 said they struggled to afford menstrual products. (It did not include the specific experiences of trans men and non-binary menstruators.) Those in Indigenous and rural communities suffer acutely from a lack of affordable access, with a box of tampons costing between $16 and $40 in rural Indigenous communities that Bleed the North is trying to reach. “I think one for us coming into 2021 is figuring out how we can support communities that we don't necessarily live near because obviously a lot of us are young 17, 18-year-olds who in their cars go to different communities and drop off products to shelters,” Rittinger said, noting it might make more sense to fundraise and e-transfer to remote shelters and other sources.


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Youth need specialized support in B.C. overdose crisis, advocates say

As the death toll from illicit drug overdoses continues to mount unabated in B.C.
, advocates want more specialized services and harm reduction measures to help protect young people .
Another 162 fatalities occurred in October due to toxic drug supply , for a total of 1,386 deaths in 2020 , according to the BC Coroners Service 's most recent figures .
Of those killed this year by the overdose crisis , 19 per cent , or 269 deaths , were young people aged 29 years old or younger , with 14 of the dead under the age of 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kali Sedgemore , a youth outreach worker and peer harm reduction advocate in Vancouver , said the ongoing public health emergency is in its fifth year , and COVID-19 is only exacerbating the harms .
“ We don ’ t even have time to grieve because we know we will hear about another ( death ) the next day , ” Sedgemore said .
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug supply are being compounded as people following pandemic protocols use illicit drugs alone and as harm reduction services have been reduced , or wait times have increased at overdose prevention sites ( OPS ) during the pandemic , Sedgemore added .
Youth do not make up the largest number of fatalities , but all overdose deaths are largely unnecessary and preventable , Sedgemore said .
In 2020 , 70 per cent of those who have died from the toxic drug supply fall between the ages of 30 and 59 , and males @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths to date .
Most overdose fatalities involved people dying alone indoors .
One immediate way to reduce the harms from toxic illicit drugs to youth is to provide harm reduction and OPS services dedicated strictly to their demographic , Sedgemore said .
“ Youth are vulnerable to manipulation by adults , ” Sedgemore said , adding young people are at risk of being exploited sexually or for money or other reasons .
Specialized harm reduction services are already hard to come by in urban areas such as Vancouver but are even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sedgemore said , noting they originally came from a small community from the northern part of Vancouver Island .
As the death toll from illicit drug overdoses continues to mount unabated in B.C.
, advocates want more specialized services and harm reduction measures to help protect young people .
Plus , young people — especially those under the age of 18 — are often deterred from using harm reduction services or supplies by providers due to their age , or can come under increased scrutiny from staff at these locations , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth uncomfortable , Sedgemore said .
It ’ s also critical that medical professionals , social workers or other service providers don ’ t push youth into treatment before they are ready , Sedgemore stressed .
Doing so only puts youth at increased risk , forcing them to be more secretive about any illicit drug use and increasing the unwillingness to use harm reduction services or call emergency services in case of an overdose .
Research shows abstinence education , or the `` just say no to drugs '' approach , is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs , the associated risks and , if youth should choose to use them , how to do it safely , Sedgemore said .
However , there is also the need for more youth treatment beds and shorter wait-lists for youth seeking help , Sedgemore said , especially closer to their own communities .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s great sending a youth away from their own hometown and the people youth are used to seeing every day.
” The B.C .
government plans to double the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 who are struggling with substance use .
A total of 60 young people under the age of 24 lost their lives to fentanyl poisoning from toxic street drugs from January to June 2020 , according to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions .
The province committed $ 36 million to create another 123 treatment beds for young people , in addition to 20 beds recently established at a new youth facility in the Fraser Valley .
Prior to the recent announcements , B.C .
had 103 treatment beds for youth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader continuum of care the B.C .
government is planning for young people that will include culturally safe , youth-specific services in both rural and smaller city centres , the ministry stated .
Building on its network of youth-specific mental health and substance use services , the province will develop eight new Foundry centres , for a total of 19 youth hubs .
Foundry centres provide primary care , youth and family peer supports , walk-in counselling , mental health and substance use services and social services all under one roof .
Youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk Steve Ayers , program manager for the Foundry located in Campbell River on Vancouver Island , agreed that youth benefit from specialized services and being in charge of any decisions about their drug or alcohol use .
“ If a counsellor is going to really be impactful , they have to let the client drive the process of making changes around substance use , ” Ayers said .
“ The objective of substance use counselling is to help youth have a better life , and what are some concrete ways that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course , ” he said .
Many youth use substances to deal with trauma or anxiety , so alternate tools or strategies need to be developed to help young people deal with that suffering , he added .
It ’ s dangerous to assume youth overdoses due to illicit drugs are only a big-city problem , Ayers said .
“ It ’ s absolutely a misconception , ” he said , adding the issues that fuel youth substance use exist in every community across Canada .
However , youth generally don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illicit hard drugs as some other age demographics , especially in rural areas where supply might be limited , Ayers said .
“ If there ’ s no supply ( of illicit drugs ) kids will find other things to do to cope with what they are struggling with , ” he said .
However , kids and families in rural or remote communities such as the Discovery Islands or small communities across North Vancouver Island can face additional challenges or gaps in accessing supports , Ayers said .
Many Foundry services are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the challenges for youth living in more isolated communities who need support , especially with travel limitations due to the pandemic , he said .
The youth hub also works with schools to meet with students during class time for those who have to bus in and out of Campbell River .
Young people and their families just need to reach out and the Foundry will try to find a fix for any stumbling blocks to service , Ayers said .
“ We always seem to be able to find them and reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Unless they 're just not reaching out at all .
And honestly , those are the people that we ’ re scared for most .
”

As the death toll from illicit drug overdoses continues to mount unabated in B.C., advocates want more specialized services and harm reduction measures to help protect young people. Another 162 fatalities occurred in October due to toxic drug supply, for a total of 1,386 deaths in 2020, according to the BC Coroners Service's most recent figures. Of those killed this year by the overdose crisis, 19 per cent, or 269 deaths, were young people aged 29 years old or younger, with 14 of the dead under the age of 19, the coroners service figures show. Kali Sedgemore, a youth outreach worker and peer harm reduction advocate in Vancouver, said the ongoing public health emergency is in its fifth year, and COVID-19 is only exacerbating the harms. “We don’t even have time to grieve because we know we will hear about another (death) the next day,” Sedgemore said.
The dangers of the toxic illicit drug supply are being compounded as people following pandemic protocols use illicit drugs alone and as harm reduction services have been reduced, or wait times have increased at overdose prevention sites (OPS) during the pandemic, Sedgemore added. Youth do not make up the largest number of fatalities, but all overdose deaths are largely unnecessary and preventable, Sedgemore said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In 2020, 70 per cent of those who have died from the toxic drug supply fall between the ages of 30 and 59, and males account for 80 per cent of the deaths to date. Most overdose fatalities involved people dying alone indoors.
One immediate way to reduce the harms from toxic illicit drugs to youth is to provide harm reduction and OPS services dedicated strictly to their demographic, Sedgemore said. As the death toll from illicit drug overdoses continues to mount unabated in B.C., advocates want more specialized services and harm reduction measures to help protect young people. “Youth are vulnerable to manipulation by adults,” Sedgemore said, adding young people are at risk of being exploited sexually or for money or other reasons. Specialized harm reduction services are already hard to come by in urban areas such as Vancouver but are even more scarce in smaller communities and rural areas, Sedgemore said, noting they originally came from a small community from the northern part of Vancouver Island. Plus, young people — especially those under the age of 18 — are often deterred from using harm reduction services or supplies by providers due to their age, or can come under increased scrutiny from staff at these locations, they said. Both of these situations make youth uncomfortable, Sedgemore said.
It’s also critical that medical professionals, social workers or other service providers don’t push youth into treatment before they are ready, Sedgemore stressed. Doing so only puts youth at increased risk, forcing them to be more secretive about any illicit drug use and increasing the unwillingness to use harm reduction services or call emergency services in case of an overdose. Research shows abstinence education, or the "just say no to drugs" approach, is not as effective as talking openly about illicit drugs, the associated risks and, if youth should choose to use them, how to do it safely, Sedgemore said.


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--It's Groundhog Day — again — for freedom-of-information reform in Canada

Once upon a time , a government-in-waiting promised voters that , should it be elected , it would run the most open and transparent government in history .
Raise your hand if you ’ ve heard this story before .
Indeed , making commitments to trumpet transparency in government has become such a de rigueur comment these days , it ’ s actually more surprising when a politician , regardless of their political stripes , doesn ’ t raise it as an argument to support their candidacy for public office .
The bill became law on June 21 , 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the bill ’ s controversial provisions after amendments were suggested by the Senate , the message remained clear : Open government was a concept clearly defined in the eye of the beholder .
Fast-forward to 2020 .
In his opening remarks at the second Global Conference for Media Freedom on Nov. 16 , which Canada co-chaired , Prime Minister Trudeau said : “ Not only is press freedom a cornerstone of democracy — it ’ s a fundamental building block of strong , healthy societies .
When journalists can do their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reliable information — everyone does better.
” In front of the watchful eyes of the world , the prime minister , once again , decisively glossed over ( one of ) Canada ’ s dirtiest little secrets : We are not leaders when it comes to allowing citizens to freely access government information .
We are , sadly , laggards of epic proportions .
`` As the federal government spends billions of tax dollars to rightly support COVID-19 relief measures , the need for a system of accountability that supports the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more important , '' says @ Brent_T_Jolly # ATIP # cdnFOI According to 2018 data compiled by the Centre for Law and Democracy , Canada ranked 55th in its survey of global freedom-of-information rankings .
In these rankings , Canada was outpaced by nations such as Yemen , Pakistan and Uganda .
No matter how hard you try , you can ’ t just wish a problem of this scale into oblivion .
The very next day , in a moment of dramatic ( some may argue , tragic ) irony , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a scathing report , called Access at Issue : The need for leadership , that documented the failure of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP ) to respond to access-to-information requests .
The RCMP is far from the only federal government department or agency crumbling under pressure .
Recent reports have highlighted , for example , how completing public access-to-information requests has been de-prioritized by departments during the pandemic .
More informally , ask journalists and they ’ ll tell you the numbers revealed in the information commissioner ’ s report are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Canadians deserve bold and decisive actions , ” reads one sidebar in Access at Issue , quoting a statement issued by commissioner Caroline Maynard earlier this year .
So , as Canada ’ s entire access-to-information regime teeters on the precipice of no return , what exactly can be done ?
As you thumb through the pages of the information commissioner ’ s report , you ’ re presented with several constructive ideas that , from the initial input of a request to the output of documents , could bring about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of these ( or other ) proposed changes to ever come to fruition , something has to give .
The CAJ and its allies have been here before .
Many times over the past decades , we ’ ve heard genuine promises for reform only to witness empty activity .
Nevertheless , as the federal government spends billions of tax dollars to rightly support COVID-19 relief measures , the need for a system of accountability that supports the public ’ s right to know is all the more important .
Since taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of evidence-based decision-making .
Without question , the information commissioner ’ s report provides overwhelming evidence of how Canada ’ s access-to-information system is in immediate need of repair .
So if the evidence is there , when will we see decisions being made to reimagine how journalists , researchers and members of the public can request information from the federal government ?
Based on the message Trudeau sent out to the world at the global media freedom gabfest , the answer to that question appears to be : “ Practise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do.
” Brent Jolly is the national president of the Canadian Association of Journalists .

Once upon a time, a government-in-waiting promised voters that, should it be elected, it would run the most open and transparent government in history. Raise your hand if you’ve heard this story before. Indeed, making commitments to trumpet transparency in government has become such a de rigueur comment these days, it’s actually more surprising when a politician, regardless of their political stripes, doesn’t raise it as an argument to support their candidacy for public office. In 2015, after several years of information being tightly controlled by the federal government of former prime minister Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals picked up this well-worn playbook and ran with it. As part of its so-called “sunny ways” agenda, Trudeau campaigned on a platform that included comprehensive plans to modernize what many experts agreed at the time (and still do) to be a “broken” access-to-information system.
Five years later, the rhetoric from that campaign still stands in stark contrast to reality. In 2017, the Trudeau government introduced Bill C-58. But rather than serve as the first substantive reform to the Access to Information Act in more than 30 years, the proposed law would have, in many ways, strengthened the federal government’s stranglehold over information. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The bill proposed curbing the powers of the Office of the Information Commissioner and added ambiguous language that would have allowed government departments to arbitrarily deny requests. It was a proposal the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) decried.
The bill became law on June 21, 2019. While the Trudeau government walked back some of the bill’s controversial provisions after amendments were suggested by the Senate, the message remained clear: Open government was a concept clearly defined in the eye of the beholder. "As the federal government spends billions of tax dollars to rightly support COVID-19 relief measures, the need for a system of accountability that supports the public’s right to know is all the more important," says @Brent_T_Jolly #ATIP #cdnFOI Fast-forward to 2020. In his opening remarks at the second Global Conference for Media Freedom on Nov. 16, which Canada co-chaired, Prime Minister Trudeau said: “Not only is press freedom a cornerstone of democracy — it’s a fundamental building block of strong, healthy societies. When journalists can do their jobs, when citizens can get good, reliable information — everyone does better.” In front of the watchful eyes of the world, the prime minister, once again, decisively glossed over (one of) Canada’s dirtiest little secrets: We are not leaders when it comes to allowing citizens to freely access government information. We are, sadly, laggards of epic proportions. According to 2018 data compiled by the Centre for Law and Democracy, Canada ranked 55th in its survey of global freedom-of-information rankings. In these rankings, Canada was outpaced by nations such as Yemen, Pakistan and Uganda. No matter how hard you try, you can’t just wish a problem of this scale into oblivion.
The very next day, in a moment of dramatic (some may argue, tragic) irony, Canada’s aforementioned information commissioner released a scathing report, called Access at Issue: The need for leadership, that documented the failure of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to respond to access-to-information requests. The RCMP is far from the only federal government department or agency crumbling under pressure. Recent reports have highlighted, for example, how completing public access-to-information requests has been de-prioritized by departments during the pandemic. More informally, ask journalists and they’ll tell you the numbers revealed in the information commissioner’s report are the norm, rather than the exception.


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Liberals defend deals and distribution plan for COVID-19 vaccine

OTTAWA — The Liberals are pushing back against allegations from their political rivals that the federal government has failed Canadians on COVID−19 vaccines , noting Canada was one of the first countries to order doses from several foreign suppliers .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted last week that other countries with domestic vaccine production are likely to inoculate their citizens first before shipping doses to Canada , which prompted an outcry from the opposition parties .
The Conservatives have also accused the Liberals of having put too much faith in what was ultimately a failed partnership between the National Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a made−in−Canada vaccine .
The Liberal government confirmed in August the deal with CanSino Biologics had fallen apart , after the Chinese government blocked the shipment of doses for clinical trials in Canada .
The Tories are now pushing for parliamentary hearings into the arrangement .
On Tuesday , Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Canada was one of the first countries to sign a deal with U.S.−based pharmaceutical firm Moderna — and that the company has confirmed it will be one of the first to receive doses of its vaccine .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced ?
Anand decried what she described as “ misinformation ” around vaccines , noting that Moderna “ has stated publicly that Canada is at the head of the line for its vaccine doses.
” Canada signed a deal to purchase 56 million doses of vaccine from Moderna on July 24 , according to the government .
That was 18 days before the U.S. government reached its own agreement with the firm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union and Japan .
Canada was also the fourth country to finalize a deal with Pfizer after the U.S. , Britain and Japan , Anand added , again noting the company has confirmed the timeline .
And it was the first country without the ability to mass produce vaccines domestically to ink an agreement with AstraZeneca .
The three vaccines , along with another developed by Johnson & Johnson , are now being reviewed by Health Canada for approval .
The government is hoping distribution to Canadians will begin in the first quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine delivery and distribution has become a major question for the government , opposition parties and Canadians who have been struggling physically , financially and emotionally through nearly nine months of the pandemic .
Anand listed the numerous other measures to ensure Canada is ready to start immunizing people when the vaccines are approved , including the purchase of freezers to store doses and enlisting the military to help with logistics .
Canadians near the front of the line to receive # COVID-19 vaccines , says Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand .
# @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the vaccines will arrive , however , Anand replied : “ It is not possible to circle a single date on a calendar.
” She went on to suggest the question has become politicized , but that safety will trump any political considerations .
Opposition parties continued to demand more information from the government while repeating past allegations that the Liberals dragged their feet on vaccines .
`` There ’ s no question that other countries landed priority on vaccines ahead of Canada while Trudeau was dithering and spinning his wheels in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday .
The Conservatives also pushed to probe the deal with CanSino at the House of Commons industry committee .
The Tories want more information about a $ 44−million project to upgrade a National Research Council facility in Montreal as part of that arrangement , and how the deal with CanSino might have affected the timely procurement of vaccines from elsewhere .
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves−Francois Blanchet appeared to suggest the Liberals should have used emergency laws in the spring to taking existing technology from elsewhere and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with the intellectual property issue after the fact .
Governments across the country are also figuring out who will be immunized first .
Canada ’ s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said that according to what the science suggests about who is most at risk from COVID−19 , the initial round of vaccines should go to those in high−risk situations such as hospitals and care homes .
The next batch , she added , should be done by age , with the oldest at the front of the line .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ including whether he should be one of the first inoculated , saying he is “ going to trust experts to make the right determination of what the priority populations are.
” Meanwhile , the prime minister said the federal government is stepping up assistance in two northern communities that are struggling with COVID−19 .
The Canadian Red Cross is sending specialists to the predominantly Inuit community of Arviat in Nunavut , which has seen dozens of cases , while the Canadian Rangers are also being deployed to the Hatchet Lake First Nation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provinces reported thousands of new cases across the country on Tuesday , along with dozens of deaths .
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said restrictions on public gatherings and business openings in the province , where the daily rise in cases has levelled off after a spike last month , could remain into the winter as the health−care system continues to strain .
The province also said it handed out 100 tickets to people not following public health orders last week , after setting strict limits on public gatherings and require non−essential businesses to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented for all indoor , public spaces in Yukon as Premier Sandy Silver reported eight new cases in the territory over the past week .
That brings the total number to 47 since the start of the pandemic .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1 , 2020 .
—With files from Beth Leighton in Vancouver , Steve Lambert in Winnipeg , Mia Rabson in Ottawa and Kevin Bissett in Fredericton .

OTTAWA — The Liberals are pushing back against allegations from their political rivals that the federal government has failed Canadians on COVID−19 vaccines, noting Canada was one of the first countries to order doses from several foreign suppliers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted last week that other countries with domestic vaccine production are likely to inoculate their citizens first before shipping doses to Canada, which prompted an outcry from the opposition parties. The Conservatives have also accused the Liberals of having put too much faith in what was ultimately a failed partnership between the National Research Council and a Chinese company to develop a made−in−Canada vaccine. The Liberal government confirmed in August the deal with CanSino Biologics had fallen apart, after the Chinese government blocked the shipment of doses for clinical trials in Canada. The Tories are now pushing for parliamentary hearings into the arrangement. On Tuesday, Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand said Canada was one of the first countries to sign a deal with U.S.−based pharmaceutical firm Moderna — and that the company has confirmed it will be one of the first to receive doses of its vaccine.
Anand decried what she described as “misinformation” around vaccines, noting that Moderna “has stated publicly that Canada is at the head of the line for its vaccine doses.” Canada signed a deal to purchase 56 million doses of vaccine from Moderna on July 24, according to the government. That was 18 days before the U.S. government reached its own agreement with the firm, and months before Britain, the European Union and Japan. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canada was also the fourth country to finalize a deal with Pfizer after the U.S., Britain and Japan, Anand added, again noting the company has confirmed the timeline. And it was the first country without the ability to mass produce vaccines domestically to ink an agreement with AstraZeneca.
The three vaccines, along with another developed by Johnson & Johnson, are now being reviewed by Health Canada for approval. The government is hoping distribution to Canadians will begin in the first quarter of 2021. Canadians near the front of the line to receive #COVID-19 vaccines, says Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand. #vaccines #Canadians #COVID-19 The timing of any vaccine delivery and distribution has become a major question for the government, opposition parties and Canadians who have been struggling physically, financially and emotionally through nearly nine months of the pandemic. Anand listed the numerous other measures to ensure Canada is ready to start immunizing people when the vaccines are approved, including the purchase of freezers to store doses and enlisting the military to help with logistics. Asked exactly when the vaccines will arrive, however, Anand replied: “It is not possible to circle a single date on a calendar.” She went on to suggest the question has become politicized, but that safety will trump any political considerations. Opposition parties continued to demand more information from the government while repeating past allegations that the Liberals dragged their feet on vaccines.
"There’s no question that other countries landed priority on vaccines ahead of Canada while Trudeau was dithering and spinning his wheels in the middle of last summer," Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday. The Conservatives also pushed to probe the deal with CanSino at the House of Commons industry committee. The Tories want more information about a $44−million project to upgrade a National Research Council facility in Montreal as part of that arrangement, and how the deal with CanSino might have affected the timely procurement of vaccines from elsewhere.


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Arrest of Nunavut man knocked down by police vehicle door lawful: investigation

IQALUIT , Nunavut — An investigation by the Ottawa Police Service has determined that the arrest of a Nunavut man who was knocked down by an RCMP truck door was lawful .
A video posted on social media in June from Kinngait showed what appeared to be a Mountie knocking down an intoxicated man using the door of a police pickup truck .
Ottawa police investigators say they interviewed 10 witnesses in the South Baffin community of about 1,400 , including residents and RCMP officers .
Investigators also looked at third-party video of the arrest , went to the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Nunavut RCMP has an agreement with the Ottawa Police Service to review actions involving police .
Nunavut Mounties said at the time that they were notified about 11:30 p.m. on June 1 about `` an intoxicated male who was reported to be fighting with others . ''
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced ?
A video posted to Facebook by a Kinngait resident that night shows a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road .
The man gets up , stumbling , before an RCMP truck flashes its lights and starts to pull up next to him .
The video appears to show the officer driving the truck opening the driver ’ s side door , knocking the man to the ground , while the truck is still moving .
A news release Tuesday from the Ottawa Police Service said the investigation found that the officer `` did not intentionally strike the community member with the vehicle door . ''
`` The vehicle came to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track , the driver ’ s front tire went off the track , the vehicle dipped forward , and the opened driver ’ s door swung forward and struck the community member . ''
The release said investigators concluded that no criminal offence was committed `` as the applied force was unintentional . ''
`` Investigators also deemed that that was no evidence of dangerous operation of a conveyance or criminal negligence and further concluded that the arrest was lawful . ''
The Kinngait man in the video was not charged but was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was allegedly so severely beaten by his cellmate that he was flown to Iqaluit for medical treatment .
The Ottawa Police Service said the investigation found the officer `` did not intentionally strike the community member with the vehicle door . ''
# RCMP The RCMP officer was removed from the community after the video surfaced and placed on administrative leave .
In a separate release , the Nunavut RCMP said it will not comment further on what happened .
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP is also conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete yet .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1 , 2020 .
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship

IQALUIT, Nunavut — An investigation by the Ottawa Police Service has determined that the arrest of a Nunavut man who was knocked down by an RCMP truck door was lawful.
A video posted on social media in June from Kinngait showed what appeared to be a Mountie knocking down an intoxicated man using the door of a police pickup truck.
Ottawa police investigators say they interviewed 10 witnesses in the South Baffin community of about 1,400, including residents and RCMP officers. Investigators also looked at third-party video of the arrest, went to the scene and examined the police vehicle in question.
The Nunavut RCMP has an agreement with the Ottawa Police Service to review actions involving police.
Nunavut Mounties said at the time that they were notified about 11:30 p.m. on June 1 about "an intoxicated male who was reported to be fighting with others."


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--South Asians in Canada lend support to farmers’ protest in India

As hundreds of thousands of protesting farmers in India inch toward the capital of New Delhi , a rising number of South Asian Canadians are raising their voices to oppose violence levelled at the peaceful crowd .
Police armed with water cannons and batons have attacked the protesting farmers , who are marching to oppose new legislation that disadvantages small farmers in favour of large corporate landholders .
The plight of the protesters resonates with the South Asian diaspora in Canada .
More than a million South Asian immigrants live in Canada , and the total number of Canadians of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A lot of folks who are here in Canada have land back home or have immediate family that still resides back in Punjab , ” said Jaskaran Sandhu , former executive director of the World Sikh Organization who lives in Brampton , Ont .
South Asian Canadians , especially Sikhs , many of whom come from farming backgrounds , are posting concerns on Twitter and Instagram using the # StandWithFarmers hashtag , symbolizing a movement aimed at raising awareness of the violence carried out by the Indian state against farmers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced ?
Farmers and supporters holding signs kneel on the national highway outside New Delhi where hundreds of thousands protesters have gathered to challenge government reforms in their industry .
Image by Amaan Bali “ Everyone I know is talking about it .
It 's the biggest issue in the South Asian community right now .
We all know a farmer and have loved ones back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sandhu .
The three bills , which have already been passed by the Indian legislature , await Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s approval , which at this point is a foregone conclusion .
The reforms would deregulate the farming system , which comprises 15 per cent of the country ’ s $ 2.9-trillion economy .
They would allow larger private companies to control a segment of the economy that has been under government control for years .
Farmers who live off their lands as both a source of income and food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conglomerates that are able to buy more land and undercut their prices .
Additionally , rules around storage , pricing and sales of farm produce are changing .
Previously , the Indian government controlled the markets and often set prices to limit price-gouging .
The new rules would leave farmers competing in a free market against large-scale corporations .
Farmers will now be allowed to sell their products to private entities , which threatens India ’ s mandi system .
Similar to the old Canadian Wheat Board model , the mandi system is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government that gives guaranteed floor prices .
The Indian government has maintained it will continue the mandi system , but farmers fear if the bills are brought into law , it ’ s only a matter of time before the mandi system vanishes .
When it comes to the politics of another country , politicians often stay silent to maintain peaceful relations .
However , during a virtual event to celebrate Gurpurab , a day to celebrate the founder of Sikhism , Guru Nanak Dev Ji , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of protesting farmers in India inch toward the capital of New Delhi , a rising number of South Asian Canadians are raising their voices to oppose violence levelled at the peaceful crowd .
# farmersprotest “ I would be remiss if I didn ’ t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protest by farmers .
The situation is concerning , and we ’ re all very worried about families and friends .
I know that ’ s a reality for many of you , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trudeau went on to talk about the need to stand together .
“ Canada will always be there to defend the right to peaceful protests .
We believe in the importance of dialogue , that ’ s why we ’ ve reached out through multiple means directly to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns , ” he said .
Farmers protesting reform bills in India listen to sermons and speakers while holding flags representing the colours of the farmers union .
Image by Amaan Bali NDP MPP Gurratan Singh was among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Singh , a first-term provincial politician who represents Brampton East , which is home to a large Indian constituency , addressed the issue in Queen ’ s Park .
He called on his fellow politicians to stand with protesters and call out India ’ s treatment of its citizens .
“ Farmers are the backbone of our society , they feed cities and right now .
Farmers are under attack in India .
Folks in my riding are concerned about new laws that are passed by the Indian government , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh , who routinely speaks out against injustices perpetrated by the Indian government towards minority groups , also tweeted about the situation unfolding in India .
“ The violence perpetrated by the Indian govt against farmers peacefully protesting is appalling .
I stand in solidarity w/ the farmers from Punjab and across India — and , I call on the Indian govt to engage in peaceful dialogue rather than violence , ” wrote the NDP leader on his Twitter account .
Across the aisle , Liberal cabinet ministers Navdeep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have released statements addressing concerns raised by constituents who fear for their families and loved ones .
“ I ’ ve heard from many of my constituents in Mississauga-Malton expressing their concerns about the safety of their family and friends in the # FarmersProtest in India .
Peaceful protests are fundamental in any democracy , and I urge for the rights of the protesters to be respected , ” wrote Bains on his Twitter .
In his years as a political consultant , Sandhu said he ’ d never before seen a widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of united outcry from our political class speaks volumes to how important this is for folks living here , ” said Sandhu .
For the past few days , Sandhu has been following the situation on social media very closely , and getting direct information from family on the ground participating in the marches , many of whom are farmers by trade .
“ I have family that 's part of the marches , as a lot of folks do .
We get video clips from the march that are sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we 're really just watching this from the eyes of our family members , ” he said .
When he looks at his own bloodline , Sandhu said it 's “ farmers all the way down ” in his family , and that his family still owns land back in Punjab .
“ So , it 's something that is being personally felt in my home , ( and ) in homes across Canada , ” said Sandhu .
Farmers unions have long clashed with the government , but Sandhu notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most vociferous he has ever seen .
“ It ’ s surreal to watch in front of my own eyes to see a large-scale march of this historical sense happen and be captured through social media .
It is an incredible moment , ” said Sandhu .
While attempting to at one point to reach the centre of New Delhi to voice their concerns , protesters have now settled on the outskirts of the city and have blocked off the national highway .
Police have pushed back against the peaceful protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the farmers neared New Delhi .
Despite the police violence , protests have continued , with protesters continuing to walk past and , at times , around police barricades to reach their intended destination .
“ There 's a sense of inspiration and hope watching our brothers and sisters lift and bust through barricade after barricade as they march on New Delhi .
Those images have instilled a great sense of pride , ” said Sandhu .
Sandhu looks to the Black Lives Matter protests , which led to cutting of police budgets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and brought issues of anti-Black racism and police brutality to the minds of millions previously unaware of the issues .
When people turn out in to voice their displeasure with political policies , Sandhu admitted it ends up being large-scale showcases that have lasting effects .
“ We saw it with the Black Lives Matter movement .
You ’ re only going to be heard when you start marching and organizing at a grand level .
Farmers are doing that now .
They don ’ t want their rights to be infringed upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' march is likely far from over .
The government has invited protest leaders to speak with them , but farmers have said they ’ ve got food and supplies for the next six months if need be .
“ This is only the start of it .
More and more people are coming to join .
The world should be watching and drawing a lot of conclusions about how mass movements work to push society forward , ” he said .
Regardless of what happens over the next few days or weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadians will have their eyes on Punjab and are ready to stand next to farmers as they fight for their rights .

As hundreds of thousands of protesting farmers in India inch toward the capital of New Delhi, a rising number of South Asian Canadians are raising their voices to oppose violence levelled at the peaceful crowd. Police armed with water cannons and batons have attacked the protesting farmers, who are marching to oppose new legislation that disadvantages small farmers in favour of large corporate landholders. The plight of the protesters resonates with the South Asian diaspora in Canada. More than a million South Asian immigrants live in Canada, and the total number of Canadians of South Asian descent is almost two million. “A lot of folks who are here in Canada have land back home or have immediate family that still resides back in Punjab,” said Jaskaran Sandhu, former executive director of the World Sikh Organization who lives in Brampton, Ont. “So, the implications of a farmers bill directly affects people living here.” South Asian Canadians, especially Sikhs, many of whom come from farming backgrounds, are posting concerns on Twitter and Instagram using the #StandWithFarmers hashtag, symbolizing a movement aimed at raising awareness of the violence carried out by the Indian state against farmers who are fighting the legislative reforms.
Farmers and supporters holding signs kneel on the national highway outside New Delhi where hundreds of thousands protesters have gathered to challenge government reforms in their industry. Image by Amaan Bali “Everyone I know is talking about it. It's the biggest issue in the South Asian community right now. We all know a farmer and have loved ones back home who will be affected,” said Sandhu. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The three bills, which have already been passed by the Indian legislature, await Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approval, which at this point is a foregone conclusion. The reforms would deregulate the farming system, which comprises 15 per cent of the country’s $2.9-trillion economy. They would allow larger private companies to control a segment of the economy that has been under government control for years. Farmers who live off their lands as both a source of income and food fear they cannot contend with major conglomerates that are able to buy more land and undercut their prices.
Additionally, rules around storage, pricing and sales of farm produce are changing. Previously, the Indian government controlled the markets and often set prices to limit price-gouging. The new rules would leave farmers competing in a free market against large-scale corporations. As hundreds of thousands of protesting farmers in India inch toward the capital of New Delhi, a rising number of South Asian Canadians are raising their voices to oppose violence levelled at the peaceful crowd. #farmersprotest Farmers will now be allowed to sell their products to private entities, which threatens India’s mandi system. Similar to the old Canadian Wheat Board model, the mandi system is a wholesale market controlled by the Indian government that gives guaranteed floor prices. The Indian government has maintained it will continue the mandi system, but farmers fear if the bills are brought into law, it’s only a matter of time before the mandi system vanishes. Canadian politicians speaking out When it comes to the politics of another country, politicians often stay silent to maintain peaceful relations. However, during a virtual event to celebrate Gurpurab, a day to celebrate the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the situation unfolding in India. “I would be remiss if I didn’t start also by recognizing the news coming out of India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning, and we’re all very worried about families and friends. I know that’s a reality for many of you,” Trudeau said over a Zoom call.
Trudeau went on to talk about the need to stand together. “Canada will always be there to defend the right to peaceful protests. We believe in the importance of dialogue, that’s why we’ve reached out through multiple means directly to the Indian authorities to highlight our concerns,” he said.
Farmers protesting reform bills in India listen to sermons and speakers while holding flags representing the colours of the farmers union. Image by Amaan Bali


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Quebec commission calls for a provincial director of youth protection to oversee system

A provincial commission looking into the protection of vulnerable children in Quebec recommended on Monday the appointment of a youth-protection director to oversee the entire provincial system .
The Laurent Commission released a preliminary report Monday after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its final report , initially due today , until April 2021 .
The proposed provincial director of youth protection would act as a `` guardian angel '' and would have a role similar to that of a deputy minister , providing some consistency in how cases are handled across the province .
The commission found that the proportion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts can vary from 30 per cent to 70 per cent from one region to another , suggesting the interpretation of the law needs to be clarified .
Having a director in place would mean they 'd be better able to act on the numerous recommendations expected in her report due next year , said Regine Laurent , a nurse and former union leader who is heading the commission .
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The commissioners recommend that the best interests of children should be at the heart of all interventions made by youth protection .
Laurent says that means the child must be talked to about their present situation and their future , and their rights must be respected .
The special commission was sparked by the 2019 death of a seven-year-old girl from Granby , Que.
, after she was found in critical condition in her family home , even though she had been the subject of reports to the youth protection department .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casting a wide net on the system and how users navigate it .
Among the recommendations outlined Monday was that youth protection do better in dealing with Black and Indigenous youth , with services better adapted to the realities of those communities .
Laurent deplored the over-representation of these families in the youth protection system .
She also had positive words for those in the network who are overworked and under tremendous pressure .
“ The workers are also in distress .
They believe that the conditions of practice do not allow them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right time and in line with needs , '' Laurent said .
A provincial commission looking into the protection of vulnerable # children in # Quebec has recommended a youth-protection director to oversee the child protection system .
# polqc # CommissionLaurent Hearings began in October 2019 , and the commission said it has heard from more than 300 witnesses .
The commission also held 42 “ regional forums ” where it heard from more than 2,000 citizens and other stakeholders from across Quebec .
In a statement , junior health minister Lionel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intends to act swiftly on the recommendation of a director .
`` The safety and well-being of every child is a top priority for the government , '' Carmant said .
`` The creation of a position of national director of youth protection is very interesting and goes in the direction of my reflection . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30 , 2020 .

A provincial commission looking into the protection of vulnerable children in Quebec recommended on Monday the appointment of a youth-protection director to oversee the entire provincial system.
The Laurent Commission released a preliminary report Monday after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its final report, initially due today, until April 2021.
The proposed provincial director of youth protection would act as a "guardian angel" and would have a role similar to that of a deputy minister, providing some consistency in how cases are handled across the province.
The commission found that the proportion of youth protection cases that are before the courts can vary from 30 per cent to 70 per cent from one region to another, suggesting the interpretation of the law needs to be clarified.
Having a director in place would mean they'd be better able to act on the numerous recommendations expected in her report due next year, said Regine Laurent, a nurse and former union leader who is heading the commission.


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Canadians not worried other nations will get COVID-19 vaccine first: poll

A new poll suggests most Canadians are n't currently worried that people in other countries might get a COVID-19 vaccine first .
Thirty-seven per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies say they are very concerned that Canada may not receive doses of a new COVID vaccine as early as the United States .
`` That 's not necessarily low , but I think most pundits would have expected this number to be much higher , '' said Léger executive vice-president Christian Bourque .
Meanwhile , 48 per cent say they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 10 per cent say they do n't care at all or are not planning to get vaccinated anyway .
Getting a vaccine before other countries does n't seem to be `` a major ( issue for the Liberal government ) , which is contrary to what we might have thought … when the prime minister actually said that we would not be the first ones to get doses , '' Bourque said .
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases going untraced ?
The amount of concern regarding getting a COVID-19 vaccine first varies along party lines , with 45 per cent of self-identified Conservative supporters saying they are very concerned that Canada may not receive doses of a new COVID vaccine at the same time as other countries .
Only 38 per cent of Liberal supporters say they are concerned .
`` The Conservative voters have the highest rate of people who say they 're very concerned about not getting ( a vaccine ) first , '' said Bourque .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a negative view or perspective on the Trudeau government , period . ''
Furthermore , with the likelihood of multiple vaccines arriving over a period of time , just 28 per cent of respondents said they will take the first vaccine they can get , while 45 per cent said they will wait for other vaccines to become available .
Forty-one per cent of respondents say they want the vaccine to be mandatory for all Canadians and 55 per cent say it should be given on a voluntary basis .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canadians want people entering Canada to be vaccinated against COVID-19 , with 83 per cent of respondents saying vaccines should be required .
Also , nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said employers should be able to demand that workers be vaccinated .
The poll suggests that 65 per cent of Canadians intend to take a COVID-19 vaccine when it 's approved by Health Canada and available for free while 17 per cent say they do n't intend to .
A new poll suggests most Canadians are n't currently worried that people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
# COVID19 # vaccine # cdnpoli `` That proportion used to be a bit higher , closer to 70 per cent in the spring .
Since then it 's gone down , '' said Bourque .
`` Over the past three months , when we 've actually asked the question again , it is fairly stable in the mid-60s . ''
`` It really seems that two thirds of us are kind of committed to this idea of getting the vaccine when it 's available . ''
The poll of 1,516 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29 and can not be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered random .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30 , 2020 This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship .

A new poll suggests most Canadians aren't currently worried that people in other countries might get a COVID-19 vaccine first. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies say they are very concerned that Canada may not receive doses of a new COVID vaccine as early as the United States. "That's not necessarily low, but I think most pundits would have expected this number to be much higher," said Léger executive vice-president Christian Bourque. Meanwhile, 48 per cent say they are not concerned about getting a vaccine first and 10 per cent say they don't care at all or are not planning to get vaccinated anyway. Getting a vaccine before other countries doesn't seem to be "a major (issue for the Liberal government), which is contrary to what we might have thought … when the prime minister actually said that we would not be the first ones to get doses," Bourque said.
The amount of concern regarding getting a COVID-19 vaccine first varies along party lines, with 45 per cent of self-identified Conservative supporters saying they are very concerned that Canada may not receive doses of a new COVID vaccine at the same time as other countries. Only 38 per cent of Liberal supporters say they are concerned. "The Conservative voters have the highest rate of people who say they're very concerned about not getting (a vaccine) first," said Bourque. "It's probably just because they tend to have a negative view or perspective on the Trudeau government, period." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Furthermore, with the likelihood of multiple vaccines arriving over a period of time, just 28 per cent of respondents said they will take the first vaccine they can get, while 45 per cent said they will wait for other vaccines to become available.
Forty-one per cent of respondents say they want the vaccine to be mandatory for all Canadians and 55 per cent say it should be given on a voluntary basis. A new poll suggests most Canadians aren't currently worried that people in other countries might get a COVID-19 vaccine first. #COVID19 #vaccine #cdnpoli But the poll suggests that the vast majority of Canadians want people entering Canada to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with 83 per cent of respondents saying vaccines should be required. Also, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said employers should be able to demand that workers be vaccinated. The poll suggests that 65 per cent of Canadians intend to take a COVID-19 vaccine when it's approved by Health Canada and available for free while 17 per cent say they don't intend to. "That proportion used to be a bit higher, closer to 70 per cent in the spring. Since then it's gone down," said Bourque. "Over the past three months, when we've actually asked the question again, it is fairly stable in the mid-60s." "It really seems that two thirds of us are kind of committed to this idea of getting the vaccine when it's available."
The poll of 1,516 adult Canadians in an online panel was conducted from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29 and cannot be assigned a margin of error because internet-based polls are not considered random. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30, 2020 ———


nationalobserver--2020-12-01--Nutrien calls on other fertilizer companies to support its agriculture climate change drive

Nutrien Ltd. is calling on other members of the fertilizer industry to join its fight against climate change as it launches an agriculture carbon program to drive improved environmental sustainability and boost profits for farmers .
The Saskatoon-based company said Monday it plans to use its role as the world ’ s largest provider of crop inputs and services to help growers plan , plant and track practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions , trap and store carbon and measure the resulting improvements .
It will then help farmers make money from their environmental efforts by facilitating the purchase and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offset their emissions and reduce carbon taxes .
`` We really wanted to make sure that this was a rallying cry for the industry .
We ca n't do it alone ... and we really need the agriculture industry now to step up to tackle climate change , '' said CEO Chuck Magro on an investor day webcast .
After years of study , Nutrien concluded the best way to encourage agriculture to help fight climate change is to create `` a carbon economy , '' where most of the resulting value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced ?
Nutrien will benefit indirectly by helping growers meet their carbon goals , he added .
`` It 's our people , our products , and our technology , that 's going to drive , I think , a lot of this success , so we will naturally benefit by supplying services , products , technology , using our platform , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new carbon program in certain regions across North America in 2021 and plans to later take it to South America and Australia .
In a video presentation on the webcast , Nutrien showed how farmers will be able to track their improvements in environmental sustainability through its Ag Solutions digital hub , an online program that also allows customers to consult with Nutrien advisers , order products and services and pay bills .
Products that could be used to earn credits include crop protection inputs , biologicals , micronutrients and slow-release fertilizers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planting cover crops would earn credits by sequestering carbon , said Mike Frank , executive vice-president and CEO of retail .
Agriculture accounts for about 10 per cent of Canada ’ s greenhouse gas emissions , said Shane Moffat of Greenpeace Canada , adding unabsorbed nitrogen fertilizer creates nitrous oxide which is far more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas .
# Nutrien Ltd. is calling on other members of the # fertilizer industry to join its fight against # ClimateChange as it launches an agriculture carbon program to drive improved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmers .
Nutrien should be committing to producing less nitrogen fertilizer if it really wants to slow global warming , he said .
`` Generally , Greenpeace considers offsets a distraction from the focus on polluters reducing their emissions , '' Moffat said .
`` In the case of Nutrien ’ s announcement , will this also be a distraction from the importance of shifting away from industrial and fertilizer-intensive agriculture towards organic farming ? ''
Demand for carbon credits has more than doubled since 2017 , Nutrien said , citing a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ecosystem Marketplace .
It says the global market for carbon offsets is expected to increase by 40 to 100 times by 2050 .
In 2019 , Nutrien became one of the first users of the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line , a project that collects carbon dioxide from its fertilizer plant northeast of Edmonton and other industries and transports it to mature oil and gas reservoirs for use in enhanced oil recovery and storage .

Nutrien Ltd. is calling on other members of the fertilizer industry to join its fight against climate change as it launches an agriculture carbon program to drive improved environmental sustainability and boost profits for farmers.
The Saskatoon-based company said Monday it plans to use its role as the world’s largest provider of crop inputs and services to help growers plan, plant and track practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, trap and store carbon and measure the resulting improvements.
It will then help farmers make money from their environmental efforts by facilitating the purchase and sale of carbon credits used by industries to offset their emissions and reduce carbon taxes.
"We really wanted to make sure that this was a rallying cry for the industry. We can't do it alone ... and we really need the agriculture industry now to step up to tackle climate change," said CEO Chuck Magro on an investor day webcast.
After years of study, Nutrien concluded the best way to encourage agriculture to help fight climate change is to create "a carbon economy," where most of the resulting value goes to the farmer, he said.


nationalobserver--2020-12-02--Confidence vote looms over feds spending plan as provinces seek more health-care cash

Provinces are criticizing the federal Liberals for failing to signal more help for health-care systems and strained provincial coffers in its new spending plans , setting up a potential showdown next week between the prime minister and premiers .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet Dec. 10 with the country 's premiers , who have been demanding a meeting since September to talk about the annual federal transfer payments to provinces and territories for health care .
The fiscal update released Monday , which proposed some $ 25 billion in new spending to top up and expand existing programs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries , did not detail a bump in health-care spending beyond increases planned before the COVID-19 pandemic .
Federal health transfers to provinces will rise to $ 43.1 billion next year from $ 41.9 billion this year , as part of a prearranged three per cent annual increase .
Provinces say the proposal still falls well short of what is needed to properly fund their systems , not including the added costs associated with COVID-19 .
• What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • TikTokers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Is Ontario 's back-to-school strategy working , or are COVID-19 cases going untraced ?
They want the federal government to boost its share of health-care funding by an extra $ 28 billion this year with annual increases of $ 4 billion thereafter .
`` The primary objective of the premiers is to see a structural change in how health care is funded , '' Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips said Tuesday in an interview .
`` And I think they 're going to be successful because it is the No .
1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , in the middle of a global pandemic , is making sure we have stable , long-term health-care funding . ''
The Liberals argue they 've sent plenty to the provinces for pandemic-related measures , totalling $ 24 billion to support health-care systems across the country .
On Tuesday , Trudeau said he planned to hear out the provinces about their needs during and after the pandemic , but would n't commit to added spending .
His Liberal government 's fall economic statement must first survive a confidence vote in the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary support would mean the minority government falls , which could plunge the country into a federal election .
Feds spending plan heads to confidence vote as provinces seek more health-care cash .
# COVID19 # cdnpoli `` I am reasonably confident that none of the opposition parties wants an election right now .
We certainly do n't want one , '' Trudeau told reporters outside his Ottawa residence .
`` We want to get these supports out to Canadians .
And there are certainly things in this fall economic statement that every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of helping Canadians . ''
Spending to date is putting the federal deficit on track to reach $ 381.6 billion this year , but the government 's math says it could close in on $ 400 billion if widespread lockdowns return in the coming weeks .
Pandemic-related spending has sent total federal transfers this year to $ 99.7 billion .
Next year , the amount falls to $ 82.1 billion , near where it was before the pandemic , based on figures in the fall economic statement .
Conservative finance critic Pierre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-pandemic has blown the margin now to increase transfers to lower levels of government .
`` There 's not a lot of room left for other commitments because of ( Trudeau 's ) irresponsible and insatiable appetite for spending other people 's money , '' Poilievre said .
Rebekah Young , Scotiabank 's director of fiscal and provincial economics , wrote in an analysis that one-off transfers to provinces were necessary under the circumstances , but there should be a structural shift in the long term to make the country 's finances sustainable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader than expenditure-shifting , as provinces have been reluctant to take up revenue capacity given up at the federal level in recent years , '' she wrote .
The Liberals are proposing extra help through a revised fiscal stabilization program that sends money to provinces facing a year-over-year decline in non-resource revenues .

Provinces are criticizing the federal Liberals for failing to signal more help for health-care systems and strained provincial coffers in its new spending plans, setting up a potential showdown next week between the prime minister and premiers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet Dec. 10 with the country's premiers, who have been demanding a meeting since September to talk about the annual federal transfer payments to provinces and territories for health care. The fiscal update released Monday, which proposed some $25 billion in new spending to top up and expand existing programs and create new, targeted support for hard-hit industries, did not detail a bump in health-care spending beyond increases planned before the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal health transfers to provinces will rise to $43.1 billion next year from $41.9 billion this year, as part of a prearranged three per cent annual increase. Provinces say the proposal still falls well short of what is needed to properly fund their systems, not including the added costs associated with COVID-19.
They want the federal government to boost its share of health-care funding by an extra $28 billion this year with annual increases of $4 billion thereafter. "The primary objective of the premiers is to see a structural change in how health care is funded," Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips said Tuesday in an interview. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "And I think they're going to be successful because it is the No. 1 thing that Canadians are interested in right now, in the middle of a global pandemic, is making sure we have stable, long-term health-care funding."
The Liberals argue they've sent plenty to the provinces for pandemic-related measures, totalling $24 billion to support health-care systems across the country. Feds spending plan heads to confidence vote as provinces seek more health-care cash. #COVID19 #cdnpoli On Tuesday, Trudeau said he planned to hear out the provinces about their needs during and after the pandemic, but wouldn't commit to added spending. His Liberal government's fall economic statement must first survive a confidence vote in the House of Commons. Failure to gather the necessary support would mean the minority government falls, which could plunge the country into a federal election. "I am reasonably confident that none of the opposition parties wants an election right now. We certainly don't want one," Trudeau told reporters outside his Ottawa residence. "We want to get these supports out to Canadians. And there are certainly things in this fall economic statement that every party should be able to support in terms of helping Canadians."
Spending to date is putting the federal deficit on track to reach $381.6 billion this year, but the government's math says it could close in on $400 billion if widespread lockdowns return in the coming weeks. Pandemic-related spending has sent total federal transfers this year to $99.7 billion. Next year, the amount falls to $82.1 billion, near where it was before the pandemic, based on figures in the fall economic statement. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said the Liberals' spending binge pre-pandemic has blown the margin now to increase transfers to lower levels of government.


nationalobserver--2020-12-02--Jason Kenney's faith in personal responsibility is no match for Alberta's COVID-19 surge

Jason Kenney may be a practising Catholic , but over the last few months he has made it clear that he worships most enthusiastically at the altar of personal responsibility .
And while the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Alberta has alarmed doctors across the province , who recommended a series of decisive actions aimed at slowing its spread , that apparently didn ’ t shake Kenney ’ s faith .
During a Nov. 12 press conference at which his government announced a series of new ( and limited ) restrictions , Kenney reiterated his belief that Albertans could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — evidence to the contrary notwithstanding .
“ We are putting our faith in the good judgment of Albertans , ” the premier said , “ which is why these measures are voluntary right now.
” Albertans quickly proved that his faith was misplaced , and Kenney was forced to announce additional restrictions less than two weeks later .
But even then , Kenney made it clear that a “ just watch me ” moment wasn ’ t in the offing .
Even something like a mandatory mask mandate , which is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada , was apparently too much to ask .
During a Nov. 25 Facebook Live event , Kenney said : “ I think we continue to encourage mask wearing in crowded areas where people can not physically distance , in workplaces where it makes sense , particularly in areas of high transmission , but that we not create a condition where there ’ s a backlash.
” • TikTokers come to the rescue of Vancouver restaurants • What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis • Shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuels phase-out Kenney ’ s timid approach to the pandemic isn ’ t making life any easier for Alberta ’ s doctors and nurses , who have to deal with the surge in cases .
But it ’ s not great for his own political health , either .
Despite the fact that Canada ’ s other premiers haven ’ t exactly covered themselves in glory on this issue , Kenney continues to have — by far — the lowest approval ratings in the country when it comes to managing COVID-19 .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of Albertans were either “ very ” or “ somewhat ” dissatisfied with his government ’ s response .
And no wonder .
At a moment where the situation clearly calls for a show of political resolve , Albertans are getting the tedious moralizing of a frustrated but ineffectual parent .
Instead of imposing measures that might actually reduce the spread of the virus — from the suspension of indoor dining , bars and religious services to more effective work-from-home directives — Alberta ’ s government instead limited attendance at weddings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few hours early .
For Kenney , it ’ s apparently more important to honour his pre-existing ideological commitments than address the situation at hand : “ It ’ s no secret that I do not want to take an approach that restricts people ’ s fundamental rights and freedoms ( or ) their ability to gain a livelihood.
” Kenney is not alone here .
For conservative premiers across the country , and conservative politicians throughout North America , protecting the freedom to do business seems more important than preventing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Nov. 23 tweet , Ontario Premier Doug Ford noted that “ COVID fatigue is setting in on all of us , but we all have a part to play.
” That part ?
“ When holiday shopping , ” he continued , “ please shop locally through curbside pickup or online stores and support our restaurants by ordering takeout.
” `` Jason Kenney ’ s timid approach to the pandemic isn ’ t making life any easier for Alberta ’ s doctors and nurses , who have to deal with the surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
# COVID19 # cdnpoli The problem with that approach is that the virus doesn ’ t believe in personal responsibility , and its spread is an even bigger threat to people ’ s livelihoods than any short-term shutdown .
The province could have done more than hectoring Albertans and implementing cautious , limited restrictions .
And it could , and still can , use its balance sheet to support vulnerable businesses like restaurants and bars , and pay them to remain closed for the time that ’ s needed .
It can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal contact tracing app to work in Alberta , where it might begin to more effectively track the more than 80 per cent of cases whose origins can ’ t be identified right now .
And it can temporarily abandon its loyalty to an idea and ideology and instead do what ’ s required to protect citizens from the lethal consequences of an overburdened health-care system .
That seems unlikely , though , given the premier ’ s obvious unwillingness to abandon his ideological beliefs .
Even in announcing additional measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing it — and incorrectly suggested that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevented him from implementing a full lockdown .
That , he said , would “ be an unprecedented violation of fundamental constitutionally protected rights and freedoms.
” But it ’ s not just law professors and constitutional experts who disagree with Kenney here .
So does Pope Francis , who took aim in an op-ed for the New York Times at those protesting mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures .
“ It is all too easy for some to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , personal freedom — and turn it into an ideology , creating a prism through which they judge everything , ” he wrote .
Kenney may yet pay a political price for his unwillingness to deviate from his ideological beliefs on personal responsibility and government intervention .
But as the current numbers make brutally clear , hundreds of Albertans have already paid a much higher one .
And make no mistake : It didn ’ t have to be this way .

Jason Kenney may be a practising Catholic, but over the last few months he has made it clear that he worships most enthusiastically at the altar of personal responsibility. And while the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Alberta has alarmed doctors across the province, who recommended a series of decisive actions aimed at slowing its spread, that apparently didn’t shake Kenney’s faith. During a Nov. 12 press conference at which his government announced a series of new (and limited) restrictions, Kenney reiterated his belief that Albertans could be trusted to do the right thing — evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. “We are putting our faith in the good judgment of Albertans,” the premier said, “which is why these measures are voluntary right now.” Albertans quickly proved that his faith was misplaced, and Kenney was forced to announce additional restrictions less than two weeks later. But even then, Kenney made it clear that a “just watch me” moment wasn’t in the offing. Even something like a mandatory mask mandate, which is now in place in every other province in Canada, was apparently too much to ask. During a Nov. 25 Facebook Live event, Kenney said: “I think we continue to encourage mask wearing in crowded areas where people cannot physically distance, in workplaces where it makes sense, particularly in areas of high transmission, but that we not create a condition where there’s a backlash.”
Kenney’s timid approach to the pandemic isn’t making life any easier for Alberta’s doctors and nurses, who have to deal with the surge in cases. But it’s not great for his own political health, either. Despite the fact that Canada’s other premiers haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory on this issue, Kenney continues to have — by far — the lowest approval ratings in the country when it comes to managing COVID-19. According to a recent Leger poll, 59 per cent of Albertans were either “very” or “somewhat” dissatisfied with his government’s response. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions And no wonder. At a moment where the situation clearly calls for a show of political resolve, Albertans are getting the tedious moralizing of a frustrated but ineffectual parent. Instead of imposing measures that might actually reduce the spread of the virus — from the suspension of indoor dining, bars and religious services to more effective work-from-home directives — Alberta’s government instead limited attendance at weddings and funerals and asked bars to close a few hours early.
For Kenney, it’s apparently more important to honour his pre-existing ideological commitments than address the situation at hand: “It’s no secret that I do not want to take an approach that restricts people’s fundamental rights and freedoms (or) their ability to gain a livelihood.” "Jason Kenney’s timid approach to the pandemic isn’t making life any easier for Alberta’s doctors and nurses, who have to deal with the surge in cases," writes @maxfawcett. #COVID19 #cdnpoli Kenney is not alone here. For conservative premiers across the country, and conservative politicians throughout North America, protecting the freedom to do business seems more important than preventing the spread of a deadly virus. In a Nov. 23 tweet, Ontario Premier Doug Ford noted that “COVID fatigue is setting in on all of us, but we all have a part to play.” That part? “When holiday shopping,” he continued, “please shop locally through curbside pickup or online stores and support our restaurants by ordering takeout.” The problem with that approach is that the virus doesn’t believe in personal responsibility, and its spread is an even bigger threat to people’s livelihoods than any short-term shutdown. The province could have done more than hectoring Albertans and implementing cautious, limited restrictions. And it could, and still can, use its balance sheet to support vulnerable businesses like restaurants and bars, and pay them to remain closed for the time that’s needed. It can drop its hostility with Ottawa and allow the federal contact tracing app to work in Alberta, where it might begin to more effectively track the more than 80 per cent of cases whose origins can’t be identified right now. And it can temporarily abandon its loyalty to an idea and ideology and instead do what’s required to protect citizens from the lethal consequences of an overburdened health-care system.
That seems unlikely, though, given the premier’s obvious unwillingness to abandon his ideological beliefs. Even in announcing additional measures, he emphasized how uncomfortable he was in doing it — and incorrectly suggested that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevented him from implementing a full lockdown. That, he said, would “be an unprecedented violation of fundamental constitutionally protected rights and freedoms.” But it’s not just law professors and constitutional experts who disagree with Kenney here. So does Pope Francis, who took aim in an op-ed for the New York Times at those protesting mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures. “It is all too easy for some to take an idea — in this case, for example, personal freedom — and turn it into an ideology, creating a prism through which they judge everything,” he wrote.


nationalobserver--2020-12-02--TikTokers come to the rescue of Vancouver restaurants

“ These restaurants that are reaching out to me , they have websites , they have Instagram , but very few of them have TikTok , ” Coleman says .
TikTok is still a new enough social media platform that businesses haven ’ t yet fully embraced it , she says , but influencers have .
“ And they ’ re taking full advantage of that , ” says Coleman , who is an Instagram and TikTok food blogger and a full-time instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology , where she teaches social media marketing for business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses as well as widespread layoffs affecting the food and beverage industry as a whole .
According to a Restaurants Canada survey , Canada ’ s April food service sales were the lowest in more than two decades .
However , when restaurants reopened for business , owners began to turn to influencers to help attract new customers both for in-house and takeout dining .
“ I think that the potential is limitless , ” says Sophia Hu , a Vancouver digital creator who goes by the username sopheats on TikTok and Instagram @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As more restaurants see the power , the impact and the reach of social media as a new way , new-age marketing , they 're going to be using food bloggers and content creators all the time.
” Hu says restaurants will favour influencer marketing over conventional methods because it ’ s more personable , engaging and authentic .
“ We are real people and we actually love food .
We go to the restaurants and we try it .
I engage ( with ) my audience like they 're my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genuinely what I love , ” she says .
Content creator Ceci , who has around 10,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram and goes by the username purplearchives , says restaurants in Vancouver have adapted well to this style of marketing .
After the initial lockdown was lifted and restaurants shifted to a takeout program , she saw they needed help with promotion .
Restaurants tried to lure influencers by sending them food packages to taste and review , she explains .
“ I think the ones that were able to cultivate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do quite well , ” she says .
In provinces like B.C.
, where restaurants remain open to in-house dining , restaurateurs have invited influencers and food bloggers to visit , which sends a message they are open for business and operating safely .
Influencer marketing is also a relatively low-cost option for business owners with funding constraints .
While many food bloggers don ’ t get paid for their promotions and reviews , they do get to taste the food for free and make content for their audience .
For Coleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on TikTok , it is also an opportunity to build her brand .
Promotional videos are an opportunity for content creators to raise awareness around issues and businesses they want to support , she says .
To keep her reviews fair , Ceci is upfront with restaurants when they invite her in to talk about their food .
“ I 'm going to write what I think about your food .
If I do n't like it , I just post about it , ” she says .
“ But I do usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's really bad.
” Although all three content creators began their journey on Instagram , their audiences are now shifting to TikTok .
“ There ’ s a place for everything on TikTok , ” says Coleman , who has almost 40,000 followers on TikTok and around 4,300 on Instagram .
What has made the platform so popular in the past few months ?
Both Coleman and Ceci attribute TikTok ’ s wider reach to its share feature .
“ If I 'm on TikTok , and I see a video , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share that video to my Instagram Stories effortlessly , ” Coleman says .
The application allows users , including restaurants , to send videos across platforms such as Instagram , WhatsApp , Facebook , Twitter , email , Snapchat and Messenger .
It also allows them to save the video and react to it by making duets .
Hu transitioned to TikTok when she realized she could repurpose content she had already secured for her Instagram and use it to engage in a different way .
“ It 's fast and it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that unlike Instagram , TikTok does not require high-definition photos or footage .

“These restaurants that are reaching out to me, they have websites, they have Instagram, but very few of them have TikTok,” Coleman says.
TikTok is still a new enough social media platform that businesses haven’t yet fully embraced it, she says, but influencers have.
“And they’re taking full advantage of that,” says Coleman, who is an Instagram and TikTok food blogger and a full-time instructor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where she teaches social media marketing for business.
The pandemic led to the shutdown of businesses as well as widespread layoffs affecting the food and beverage industry as a whole. According to a Restaurants Canada survey, Canada’s April food service sales were the lowest in more than two decades.
However, when restaurants reopened for business, owners began to turn to influencers to help attract new customers both for in-house and takeout dining.
“I think that the potential is limitless,” says Sophia Hu, a Vancouver digital creator who goes by the username sopheats on TikTok and Instagram and has more than 21,000 followers combined.
Digital creator Sophia Hu at Rice Burger Vancouver trying the restaurant's Asian-inspired burgers, which feature buns made of rice, along with kimchi fries, jumbo tempura and fully loaded rice bowls. Photo by Johnathan Tam, provided by Sophia Hu
“As more restaurants see the power, the impact and the reach of social media as a new way, new-age marketing, they're going to be using food bloggers and content creators all the time.”
Hu says restaurants will favour influencer marketing over conventional methods because it’s more personable, engaging and authentic.
“We are real people and we actually love food. We go to the restaurants and we try it. I engage (with) my audience like they're my friends. And I'm just sharing genuinely what I love,” she says.
Self-heating ramen bowls are available for takeout at Poke Bar Canada and heat up with steam over seven to 10 minutes, warming the contents inside the bowl. Photo by Sophia Hu A sashimi platter from Japanese restaurant Kanae Yakiniku, whose menu includes yakiniku (grilled meat), premium quality sashimi and sushi. Photo by Sophia Hu
Content creator Ceci, who has around 10,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram and goes by the username purplechives, says restaurants in Vancouver have adapted well to this style of marketing.
After the initial lockdown was lifted and restaurants shifted to a takeout program, she saw they needed help with promotion.
Restaurants tried to lure influencers by sending them food packages to taste and review, she explains.
“I think the ones that were able to cultivate a good relationship with influencers have been able to do quite well,” she says.
In provinces like B.C., where restaurants remain open to in-house dining, restaurateurs have invited influencers and food bloggers to visit, which sends a message they are open for business and operating safely.
Influencer marketing is also a relatively low-cost option for business owners with funding constraints. While many food bloggers don’t get paid for their promotions and reviews, they do get to taste the food for free and make content for their audience.
For Coleman, who goes by the username findbex on TikTok, it is also an opportunity to build her brand.
Promotional videos are an opportunity for content creators to raise awareness around issues and businesses they want to support, she says.
To keep her reviews fair, Ceci is upfront with restaurants when they invite her in to talk about their food.
“I'm going to write what I think about your food. If I don't like it, I just post about it,” she says. “But I do usually give them feedback, first, if it's really bad.”
The special Bánh Mì Trio from the Banh Mi Tres Bon restaurant contains three mini sandwiches: jambon, poulet and xíu mại, all of which feature French baguettes with house-made egg sauce, cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon, jalapeños, Sriracha and cilantro. Photo shot by Sophia Hu
Although all three content creators began their journey on Instagram, their audiences are now shifting to TikTok.
“There’s a place for everything on TikTok,” says Coleman, who has almost 40,000 followers on TikTok and around 4,300 on Instagram.
What has made the platform so popular in the past few months? Both Coleman and Ceci attribute TikTok’s wider reach to its share feature.
“If I'm on TikTok, and I see a video, and I like that, I can share that video to my Instagram Stories effortlessly,” Coleman says.
The application allows users, including restaurants, to send videos across platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, email, Snapchat and Messenger. It also allows them to save the video and react to it by making duets.
Hu transitioned to TikTok when she realized she could repurpose content she had already secured for her Instagram and use it to engage in a different way.
“It's fast and it's also casual,” she says, adding that unlike Instagram, TikTok does not require high-definition photos or footage.