nationalobserver--2020-09-28--380 whales dead in worst mass stranding in Australia's history

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration About 380 pilot whales were confirmed dead in Tasmania ’ s west on Wednesday afternoon with rescuers fighting to save the remaining 30 that are still alive .
More than 450 long-finned pilot whales were caught on sandbanks and beaches inside Macquarie Harbour , with a rescue effort starting on Tuesday morning .
Some 50 whales have been rescued and coaxed back to the open ocean .
Rescuers were focused on 270 whales stranded near the town of Strahan , but on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10km away in the same harbour were discovered from a helicopter .
Officials later confirmed all had died .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax The stranding is likely one of the largest on record globally and is the worst in Australia ’ s history .
Nic Deka , the coordinator of the rescue from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service , said they were fighting to save the remaining 30 whales but focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the dead whales .
“ We will try and rescue as many of the remaining live animals as we can.
” Dr Kris Carlyon , a marine conservation program wildlife biologist , said on Wednesday that the addition of 200 whales made this current stranding the largest in Tasmania ’ s history .
Records show some 294 whales , also long-finned pilots , stranded at Stanley on Tasmania ’ s north-west in 1935 .
About 60 rescuers led by the Tasmanian government ’ s Marine Conservation Program entered the second day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area called Fraser Flats .
More than 450 long-finned pilot whales became stranded in harbour in Tasmania with rescuers managing to save about 50 About 25 whales were lifted off sandbanks and pulled by boat to open waters on Tuesday , but two had returned to the main stranded pod .
A further 25 were rescued on Wednesday .
Deka said the new group of 200 dead whales were in two bays between 7km to 10km south of the main rescue site .
They appear to have gone undetected and likely entered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
The harbour is about 35km long and about 8km wide .
Deka said : “ From the air , most appear to be dead.
” Asked why they hadn ’ t been seen before , he said : “ The water is a very dark tanin colour and maybe they stranded and then washed back in to the bay .
From the air they did not look to be in any condition for rescue.
” He said even if those 200 whales had been seen late Monday when the group to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely that it would have changed their strategy .
When the first 270 whales were discovered , about 90 were estimated to be already dead .
“ We would still have focused our efforts on Fraser Flats because they are the ones with the best chance of survival.
” On Tuesday , Deka told Guardian Australia that two methods were being considered .
Burying the whales in a landfill was one , or towing them out into open water and using ocean currents to keep them offshore was another .
“ We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the harbour because they will present a range of issues .
We are committed to retrieving and disposing.
” About 40 government staff and 20 volunteers , mostly from the harbour ’ s fish farming industry , are in chest-deep in water and manoeuvring large webbing under the whales and lifting them off the sand .
About 17 surf lifesavers with six inflatables and a jet rescue boat joined the efforts throughout Tuesday .
Tags are attached to the rescued whales to monitor them .
Pilot whales are very social and need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the main group that they don ’ t turn around and go back .
Deka said it was disappointing that two whales saved on Tuesday had returned to the stranding site , “ but the majority of the whales [ we saved ] are still out in deep water and are still swimming .
We have been more successful than not.
” Carlyon said : “ There ’ s nothing to indicate that this [ stranding ] is human caused .
This is a natural event and we know strandings have occurred before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record .
“ As far as being able to prevent this occurring , there ’ s little we can do.
” Even though Carlyon said the event was natural , there was a public expectation that the survivors should be helped .
Euthanising some animals was an option , he said , but it was not a simple practice and at this stage it was not being considered .
“ We think we have a chance with the animals that are still alive.
” Dr Karen Stockin , an associate professor at Massey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert on whale and dolphin strandings globally and is on an International Whaling Commission expert panel on the issue .
She said the Macquarie Harbour stranding was likely Australia ’ s largest ever .
“ It ’ s fair to say this will probably rank third or fourth globally [ in terms of the numbers of stranded animals ] .
” Long-finned pilot whales , which can live for up to 40 years , were notorious for large strandings , Stockin said , because of the way they stick together in tight social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their pods their entire lifetime , ” she said .
In a statement sent to the Guardian , Australia ’ s environment minister , Sussan Ley , said : “ It is heartbreaking to see these stranded whales in Tassie .
I want to thank the hard working rescuers and all the amazing volunteers on the ground.
” She said the Tasmanian government was leading the rescue , but the federal government had also offered support .

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration About 380 pilot whales were confirmed dead in Tasmania’s west on Wednesday afternoon with rescuers fighting to save the remaining 30 that are still alive. More than 450 long-finned pilot whales were caught on sandbanks and beaches inside Macquarie Harbour, with a rescue effort starting on Tuesday morning. Some 50 whales have been rescued and coaxed back to the open ocean. Rescuers were focused on 270 whales stranded near the town of Strahan, but on Wednesday morning a further 200 whales about 10km away in the same harbour were discovered from a helicopter. Officials later confirmed all had died.
The stranding is likely one of the largest on record globally and is the worst in Australia’s history. Nic Deka, the coordinator of the rescue from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, said they were fighting to save the remaining 30 whales but focus was now turning to retrieval and disposal of the dead whales. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “We will try and rescue as many of the remaining live animals as we can.”
Dr Kris Carlyon, a marine conservation program wildlife biologist, said on Wednesday that the addition of 200 whales made this current stranding the largest in Tasmania’s history. More than 450 long-finned pilot whales became stranded in harbour in Tasmania with rescuers managing to save about 50 Records show some 294 whales, also long-finned pilots, stranded at Stanley on Tasmania’s north-west in 1935. About 60 rescuers led by the Tasmanian government’s Marine Conservation Program entered the second day of the rescue on Wednesday focused on an area called Fraser Flats. About 25 whales were lifted off sandbanks and pulled by boat to open waters on Tuesday, but two had returned to the main stranded pod. A further 25 were rescued on Wednesday. Deka said the new group of 200 dead whales were in two bays between 7km to 10km south of the main rescue site.
They appear to have gone undetected and likely entered the harbour about the same time as the others. The harbour is about 35km long and about 8km wide. Deka said: “From the air, most appear to be dead.” Asked why they hadn’t been seen before, he said: “The water is a very dark tanin colour and maybe they stranded and then washed back in to the bay. From the air they did not look to be in any condition for rescue.”


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--WE Charity controversy prompts examination of group's overseas impact

The controversy around WE Charity in Canada is opening the door to a public discussion about whether WE — and groups like it — actually help the African communities where they operate .
Firoze Manji , the former Africa program director for Amnesty International , said one of the big problems with groups such as WE is that they are n't accountable to the people they claim to serve .
`` They are accountable to self-appointed boards , '' said Manji , who is originally from Kenya and is now a professor at Carleton University 's Institute of African Studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to fight poverty .
The problem with that proposition , although it sounds very good , is that they do n't deal with the causes of impoverishment . ''
On Sept. 9 , WE Charity said it would wind down its Canadian operations , but its for-profit affiliate , ME to WE , will remain active , as will WE Charity in the United States and the United Kingdom .
The charity 's programs in countries such as Kenya , Tanzania and Ecuador will continue `` as long as possible '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax The precise extent and impact of those overseas programs is not easy to discern .
It is clear from financial statements released by the organization and tax filings that WE 's soon-to-be-shuttered Canadian programs are by far the charity 's largest .
In 2019 , WE Charity Canada had total revenue of $ 65.9 million and expenses of just under $ 68.2 million .
In some years , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada than it sent to any country in Asia , Africa or Latin America or spent on domestic programming .
In the 2019 financial year , for example , U.S. tax filings show WE Charity U.S. spent US $ 7.6 million on domestic programs and US $ 18.8 million on `` grants and other assistance to foreign organizations '' — of which US $ 10.8 million went to WE Charity Canada .
In 2018 , WE Charity U.S. spent US $ 5.8 million on domestic programing with another US $ 6 million going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8.5 million went to Asia , Africa and Latin America .
WE Charity said the money was sent to the Canadian office to reimburse it for work done on programs that were delivered in the United States .
Staff in the organization 's Global Learning Centre in Toronto `` create learning curricula , organize and deliver digital programming , carry out program development , and conduct measurement and evaluation work for operations in both Canada and the U.S. , '' WE said in an emailed response to The Canadian Press .
Outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipient of money from WE Charity U.S .
The controversy around WE Charity in Canada is opening the door to a public discussion about whether WE — and groups like it — actually help the African communities where they operate .
WE did not make a representative available for an interview , but in an emailed response it included a quote attributed to the governor of Kenya 's Narok County .
`` I can confidently say that no NGO has done more to benefit Kenya than WE Charity , '' Samuel K. Tunai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a different impression .
Karuti Kanyinga , the director of the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi said he is n't familiar with WE Charity or Free the Children , the organization 's former name .
With more than 10,000 NGOs operating in Kenya , he said it 's `` difficult to keep track of what any of them is doing , except if it is involved in huge advocacy work or is one of the big ones with a lot of resources to impact change at the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear on a list of the 50 NGOs that spend the most on programs in Kenya , released in the 2018-19 annual report of Kenya 's Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board .
All NGOs operating in Kenya are required to submit reports to the board .
WE said allocations from its international program `` are deployed in several ways , often directly from Canada , such that the spending may not show up as coming from the charity in Kenya itself . ''
The organization said it also purchases medical supplies in Canada and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. tax filings for 2019 do n't show the purchase of medical supplies by the charity 's U.S. arm , while filings for 2018 , 2017 and 2016 show the purchase of medical supplies for Haiti , but not any other country .
That sort of information for WE Charity Canada is not publicly available .
Those same tax filings show WE having just one employee , contractor or agent in six of the seven countries outside North America where it has operations .
In the seventh , Ecuador , none is listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 200 employees at the time .
WE said it appoints a senior employee in each country to lead and oversee local operations , but it said the tax filings do n't tell the whole story .
`` To be clear , the team is not just a 'single employee ' in each country , but rather one formal representative is assigned per country to be responsible for oversight and working with local staff , '' it said .
Other Kenyans say WE — and its for-profit affiliate ME to WE — are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Celebrities to the country than for development work .
Grace Kerongo an editor at The Star , a national newspaper based in Nairobi said she only heard about WE — then known as Free the Children — because of the celebrities it brings to Kenya .
`` The impact of charitable activities is not that felt or known , besides what 's on their website , '' she said in an email .
One of WE 's focuses has been so-called voluntourism , a practice where people from countries like Canada — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
ME to WE , WE Charity 's for-profit affiliate , is an operator of voluntourism trips .
There have been calls in several African countries to ban the practice , which Rosebell Kagumire , a Ugandan writer and activist , said is based on racist stereotypes .
Unskilled young people who come to African countries thinking they can solve local problems are `` high on white supremacy , '' Kagumire said .
WE did n't answer specific questions about claims that voluntourism is racist , but it defended the practice .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering trips to developing communities can be done poorly , or provide a great benefit to both communities and travellers alike , '' the organization said .
`` When done properly and in partnership with communities , trips can be beneficial by providing organizational transparency , allowing for cultural immersion and by creating local jobs through tourism and hosting of travellers . ''
Kagumire maintains that voluntourism does n't help to address the larger systematic problems that have led to widespread poverty in Africa : `` It 's not like people ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you build it , what is the system that 's prevailing ? ''
Similar concerns to Kagumire 's have been raised in Canada .
In her 2017 master 's thesis , which analyzed the way ME to WE markets to Canadian youth , then University of Ottawa student Kelsey Buchmayer found that the organization reinforced negative stereotypes about the people in the countries where it organizes trips .
`` ME to WE 's brand of voluntourism positions ways of 'saving ' and 'helping ' people at the expense of more sophisticated development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term support , and capacity building , '' she wrote .
Without strong government policies around education and community mobilization , she added , `` the very nature of the 'development work ' completed by ME to WE is problematic and unlinked to development outcomes . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27 , 2020 .
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship .

The controversy around WE Charity in Canada is opening the door to a public discussion about whether WE — and groups like it — actually help the African communities where they operate. Firoze Manji, the former Africa program director for Amnesty International, said one of the big problems with groups such as WE is that they aren't accountable to the people they claim to serve. "They are accountable to self-appointed boards," said Manji, who is originally from Kenya and is now a professor at Carleton University's Institute of African Studies. "The mythology is that they are going to fight poverty. The problem with that proposition, although it sounds very good, is that they don't deal with the causes of impoverishment." On Sept. 9, WE Charity said it would wind down its Canadian operations, but its for-profit affiliate, ME to WE, will remain active, as will WE Charity in the United States and the United Kingdom. The charity's programs in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Ecuador will continue "as long as possible" the organization has said.
The precise extent and impact of those overseas programs is not easy to discern. It is clear from financial statements released by the organization and tax filings that WE's soon-to-be-shuttered Canadian programs are by far the charity's largest. In 2019, WE Charity Canada had total revenue of $65.9 million and expenses of just under $68.2 million. In some years, its U.S. arm has sent more money to Canada than it sent to any country in Asia, Africa or Latin America or spent on domestic programming. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In the 2019 financial year, for example, U.S. tax filings show WE Charity U.S. spent US$7.6 million on domestic programs and US$18.8 million on "grants and other assistance to foreign organizations" — of which US$10.8 million went to WE Charity Canada.
In 2018, WE Charity U.S. spent US$5.8 million on domestic programing with another US$6 million going to Canada. That year US$8.5 million went to Asia, Africa and Latin America. The controversy around WE Charity in Canada is opening the door to a public discussion about whether WE — and groups like it — actually help the African communities where they operate. WE Charity said the money was sent to the Canadian office to reimburse it for work done on programs that were delivered in the United States. Staff in the organization's Global Learning Centre in Toronto "create learning curricula, organize and deliver digital programming, carry out program development, and conduct measurement and evaluation work for operations in both Canada and the U.S.," WE said in an emailed response to The Canadian Press. Outside of North America, Kenya was the biggest recipient of money from WE Charity U.S. WE did not make a representative available for an interview, but in an emailed response it included a quote attributed to the governor of Kenya's Narok County. "I can confidently say that no NGO has done more to benefit Kenya than WE Charity," Samuel K. Tunai is quoted as saying. Other Kenyans have a different impression.
Karuti Kanyinga, the director of the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi said he isn't familiar with WE Charity or Free the Children, the organization's former name. With more than 10,000 NGOs operating in Kenya, he said it's "difficult to keep track of what any of them is doing, except if it is involved in huge advocacy work or is one of the big ones with a lot of resources to impact change at the national level." WE Charity doesn't appear on a list of the 50 NGOs that spend the most on programs in Kenya, released in the 2018-19 annual report of Kenya's Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board. All NGOs operating in Kenya are required to submit reports to the board.


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--Locked-up computer systems part of 'terrifying' ransomware scourge

A shadowy group of cyber criminals that attacked a prominent nursing organization and Canadian Tire store has successfully targeted other companies with clients in governments , health care , insurance and other sectors .
Posts on their NetWalker `` blog '' indicate the recent infiltration of cloud-services company Accreon and document company Xpertdoc , although only the College of Nurses of Ontario has publicly acknowledged being victimized .
Experts say NetWalker surfaced about a year ago but its attacks took off in March as the criminals exploited fears of COVID and people working remotely .
The ransomware , like similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phishing emails .
Such messages masquerade as genuine , prompting users to provide log-in information or inadvertently download malware .
Earlier ransomware attacks focused on encrypting a target 's files — putting them and even backups out of reach .
Increasingly , attackers also threaten to publish data stolen during their `` dwell time , '' the days or weeks spent inside an exploited network before encryption and detection .
The intruders promise to provide a decryption key and to destroy stolen records if the organization pays a ransom , often based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finances , by a given deadline .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax To underscore the extortion , NetWalker criminals publish tantalizing screen shots of information they have , such as personnel , financial , legal and health records .
`` The data in these cases is extremely sensitive , '' said Brett Callow , a Vancouver Island-based threat analyst with cyber-security firm , Emsisoft .
`` Lots of companies choose not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ( third-party ) organizations whose data have been compromised never find out . ''
In an interview , Richard Brossoit , CEO of Montreal-based Xpertdoc , said this month 's attack was a `` little terrifying '' at first .
Fortunately , he said , damage was limited and no confidential client or personal information was compromised , although some records might be permanently lost .
`` Once we were able to isolate the problem and knew it was minimal — that our customers were n't really affected at all — obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Brossoit said .
With new computers , his several dozen employees were back up and running within days , he said .
Still , Xpertdoc did hire specialists to deal with the cyber-criminals .
`` We were able to negotiate a very low ransom , '' Brossoit said .
`` They did n't ask too much and we were able to actually negotiate much lower than what they were asking . ''
A shadowy group of cyber criminals that attacked a prominent nursing organization and Canadian Tire store has successfully targeted other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care , insurance and other sectors .
Morneau Shapell , one of dozens of potential third-party victims , said it accepted Xpertdoc 's assurances no sensitive information had been compromised .
Accreon , which has until the first weekend in October to pay up , would not discuss its situation .
NetWalker did recently publish gigabytes of internal data from a Canadian Tire store in Kelowna , B.C .
In response to a query , Canadian Tire Corporation said store computers were hit and authorities were investigating .
`` This incident has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that process customer information or purchases , '' the company said , adding store employees were told their personal information had been compromised .
The nurses ' college , which angered members by taking more than a week to publicly admit the attack discovered Sept. 8 , did say it was getting back on its feet , although some services remained down .
`` We share our members ' distress and frustration that this has happened , '' college CEO Anne Coghlan said in a statement .
`` Members can rest assured that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identify any risk to individuals . ''
The consequences of ransomware can go beyond the financial and reputational .
This month , for example , a hospital in Duesseldorf , Germany , was unable to admit a patient for urgent treatment after an apparent cyber-attack crippled its IT system , authorities said .
The woman died .
Such attacks have become increasingly frequent .
Earlier victims in Canada include municipalities — among them Stratford and Wasaga Beach in Ontario and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen in B.C .
— health-care organizations and charities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of third-party data , have also become attractive targets .
This year , the University of California San Francisco paid US $ 1.14 million to regain access to its data .
The encrypted information , the school said , was `` important to some of the academic work we pursue as a university serving the public good . ''
Just how often victims pay — and how much — is hard to know .
One analysis by New Zealand-based Emsisoft , using available data , estimates ransomware losses for Canadian enterprises could run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
`` It 's really difficult to get accurate statistics , '' said David Masson , a director with cyber-security company Darktrace .
`` Those who pay wo n't be telling you .
If you do pay , you 're probably going to be attacked again because very quickly ... you 're going to get a reputation that you paid . ''
Those behind NetWalker appear to be Russian speaking .
They provide the malware for a cut to `` affiliates , '' who promise not to attack Russian or Russia-friendly targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sophisticated , '' Callow said .
`` These groups are using the exact same tools as nation-state actors .
In some cases , they may actually be nation-state actors . ''
Experts say up-to-date anti-virus software , segmenting networks and keeping separate backups are among critical protective measures .
In addition , Masson said knowing what is going on within a network is crucial , while Brossoit advised hiring specialists should an attack happen .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 27 , 2020 .

A shadowy group of cyber criminals that attacked a prominent nursing organization and Canadian Tire store has successfully targeted other companies with clients in governments, health care, insurance and other sectors. Posts on their NetWalker "blog" indicate the recent infiltration of cloud-services company Accreon and document company Xpertdoc, although only the College of Nurses of Ontario has publicly acknowledged being victimized. Experts say NetWalker surfaced about a year ago but its attacks took off in March as the criminals exploited fears of COVID and people working remotely. The ransomware, like similar malware, often infiltrates computer networks via phishing emails. Such messages masquerade as genuine, prompting users to provide log-in information or inadvertently download malware. Earlier ransomware attacks focused on encrypting a target's files — putting them and even backups out of reach. Increasingly, attackers also threaten to publish data stolen during their "dwell time," the days or weeks spent inside an exploited network before encryption and detection. The intruders promise to provide a decryption key and to destroy stolen records if the organization pays a ransom, often based on what the attackers have learned about its finances, by a given deadline.
To underscore the extortion, NetWalker criminals publish tantalizing screen shots of information they have, such as personnel, financial, legal and health records. "The data in these cases is extremely sensitive," said Brett Callow, a Vancouver Island-based threat analyst with cyber-security firm, Emsisoft. "Lots of companies choose not to disclose these incidents, so the individuals and (third-party) organizations whose data have been compromised never find out." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In an interview, Richard Brossoit, CEO of Montreal-based Xpertdoc, said this month's attack was a "little terrifying" at first. Fortunately, he said, damage was limited and no confidential client or personal information was compromised, although some records might be permanently lost.
"Once we were able to isolate the problem and knew it was minimal — that our customers weren't really affected at all — obviously it was a very big relief," Brossoit said. A shadowy group of cyber criminals that attacked a prominent nursing organization and Canadian Tire store has successfully targeted other companies with clients in governments, health care, insurance and other sectors. With new computers, his several dozen employees were back up and running within days, he said. Still, Xpertdoc did hire specialists to deal with the cyber-criminals. "We were able to negotiate a very low ransom," Brossoit said. "They didn't ask too much and we were able to actually negotiate much lower than what they were asking." Morneau Shapell, one of dozens of potential third-party victims, said it accepted Xpertdoc's assurances no sensitive information had been compromised. Accreon, which has until the first weekend in October to pay up, would not discuss its situation.
NetWalker did recently publish gigabytes of internal data from a Canadian Tire store in Kelowna, B.C. In response to a query, Canadian Tire Corporation said store computers were hit and authorities were investigating. "This incident has not affected the Canadian Tire Corporation computer networks that process customer information or purchases," the company said, adding store employees were told their personal information had been compromised. The nurses' college, which angered members by taking more than a week to publicly admit the attack discovered Sept. 8, did say it was getting back on its feet, although some services remained down.


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--Americans scramble to adapt to daily reality of climate crisis

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Wildfire smoke had painted the sky orange last week when Sam , a Bay Area resident , plugged in his newest purchase : an air filter with a car adapter that would turn his minivan into an escape vehicle .
Sam ’ s daughter has an immune disorder , and with smoke from nearby fires making the air among the globe ’ s dirtiest , the family fled north for clearer skies .
Sam , who asked the Guardian to withhold his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s privacy , said the attempts to protect her vulnerable lungs cost several thousand dollars .
“ Just the fact that we have this option available to us makes us incredibly lucky , ” he said .
The family was not alone in spending significant amounts of money to mitigate the impacts of the wildfires that have raged across California this season .
People across the US west , including hundreds of miles away from the blazes , reported buying air purifiers for the first time to cope with the smoke that cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The most effective air purifiers can run $ 200 to $ 500 , and many sold out .
Others said they had run up their air conditioning bills or paid for gas and hotels to leave the area .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax When most people think of adaptation to the climate crisis , they think of governments building up infrastructure to protect property against rising seas or the agriculture industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different rain patterns .
But individuals are already adapting – whether they are buying air purifiers , installing air conditioning to fight the heat or spending big to evacuate ahead of intensifying hurricanes .
Americans around the country – if they have the resources – are dedicating more of their income to living with extreme weather fueled by climate change .
The most vulnerable are being left behind , in the absence of government aid .
In the western US , the climate crisis has doubled the area burned by wildfire from 1984 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the federal government ’ s climate assessment .
“ The area burned from 1916 to 2003 was more closely related to climate factors ” than forest management , the report said .
Cities across California have opened “ cleaner-air centers ” , where people who can ’ t afford purifiers or don ’ t have homes can escape the smoke for a few hours .
But they have been less frequented than in previous years because of concerns about Covid-19 .
Public spaces such as libraries have been closed , eliminating another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the means to filter the air in at least one room to create a place to get relief .
Some also advertised a cheaper solution – attaching a furnace filter to a box fan .
But filters quickly flew off the shelves .
Heat and wildfire smoke force residents to seek respite – and buy cooling systems and air purifiers , if they can afford them .
# climatechange “ It really is adaptation to this new normal , ” said Alberto Ayala , executive director of the Sacramento metropolitan air quality management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as adaptation to climate change is “ ahead of the policy conversation that needs to be had ” , Ayala said .
“ Are all these options equally effective ?
No , they ’ re not .
What are we going to do with those that can not afford it ?
Well , we should think about that.
” In the short term , wildfire smoke can worsen chronic lung and heart conditions .
It can trigger asthma attacks , heart attacks and strokes .
It can also weaken the body ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
The longer-term health effects of continuous smoke exposure are unknown but expected to be significant .
Researchers have linked even short-term exposures to air pollution – from factories , power plants and car exhaust – to an increase in premature deaths among the elderly .
“ The last time we got hit , it seemed to be an episode where there was a handful of days that were really , really bad , but we got some clearing out , ” Ayala said .
“ This time that hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been bad for a long time.
” Many parts of the west have had hazardous levels of air pollution for weeks .
At Stanford University , south of San Francisco , low-income graduate students said they were struggling to respond to the triple threat of the pandemic , heat , and dirty air .
Because of Covid-19 , many student researchers are working from home .
Some don ’ t have air conditioning or ventilation because California has historically been temperate .
But they also can ’ t open the windows because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gonzales , a PhD student who lives off campus , purchased an air purifier for $ 219 and asked the university to cover the expense through an emergency fund , but her request was denied .
“ I ’ m not rich by any means on my PhD stipend , but I figured my roommate and I would go in on this upfront cost because we just don ’ t know how long the fire season will be , ” Gonzales said .
At night , they shut the curtains to trap the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they work in front of a small fan that Gonzales moves from her bedroom to the living room .
“ Eventually it just gets so hot in here that you can ’ t focus any more – once it hits 3pm , 4pm , it was getting upper 90s inside , ” Gonzales said .
“ It ’ s truly an environmental justice issue happening at Stanford right underneath Stanford ’ s nose … Because who ’ s going to be most hard hit by more toxic air ?
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s also going to be poor grad students who can ’ t afford to buy a $ 200 or even $ 50 air purifier.
” A Stanford spokesperson said air purifiers were available upon request to students in university-provided housing .
Climate effects broadly are more likely to hurt people of color , both globally and within the US .
A huge body of research shows that air pollution hurts the poor and people of color the most .
Because of systemic racism , those vulnerable populations are more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to have chronic health conditions , and they are less likely to have adequate healthcare .
They are also less likely to have the financial means to purchase tools to help limit the dire effects of climate change , from wildfire smoke and heat to sea-level rise and flooding .
“ People are adapting everywhere , and everybody ’ s seeing the effects of a changing climate , ” said Kristie Ebi , a climate researcher and professor at the University of Washington ’ s Center for Health and the Global Environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change and trying to stem the crisiswere equally important .
“ The CO2 we have in the atmosphere right now will drive climate change for several more decades , so we have to mitigate , to reduce , the kinds of impacts we ’ re going to see in several decades , ” Ebi said .
“ But in the short term , people are dying and suffering now.
” Adaptation is necessary , but it ’ s also expensive and unavailable to many .
One analysis showed that about 40 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 400 for an unexpected expense .
A single evacuation could send them spiraling into debt .
“ There ’ s a potentially infinite number of ways you can adapt – by changing your wardrobe or your eating habits or all these kinds of things , ” said Amir Jina , an environmental economist at the University of Chicago .
“ But any of the really effective ones that we know of , like air conditioning or air filters , they ’ re going to cost money .
They ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some cases .
”

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Wildfire smoke had painted the sky orange last week when Sam, a Bay Area resident, plugged in his newest purchase: an air filter with a car adapter that would turn his minivan into an escape vehicle. Sam’s daughter has an immune disorder, and with smoke from nearby fires making the air among the globe’s dirtiest, the family fled north for clearer skies. Sam, who asked the Guardian to withhold his last name to respect his daughter’s privacy, said the attempts to protect her vulnerable lungs cost several thousand dollars. “Just the fact that we have this option available to us makes us incredibly lucky,” he said. The family was not alone in spending significant amounts of money to mitigate the impacts of the wildfires that have raged across California this season. People across the US west, including hundreds of miles away from the blazes, reported buying air purifiers for the first time to cope with the smoke that cast a hazy glow over multiple states. The most effective air purifiers can run $200 to $500, and many sold out. Others said they had run up their air conditioning bills or paid for gas and hotels to leave the area.
When most people think of adaptation to the climate crisis, they think of governments building up infrastructure to protect property against rising seas or the agriculture industry finding new ways of growing crops with different rain patterns. But individuals are already adapting – whether they are buying air purifiers, installing air conditioning to fight the heat or spending big to evacuate ahead of intensifying hurricanes. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Americans around the country – if they have the resources – are dedicating more of their income to living with extreme weather fueled by climate change. The most vulnerable are being left behind, in the absence of government aid.
In the western US, the climate crisis has doubled the area burned by wildfire from 1984 to 2015, according to research cited in the federal government’s climate assessment. “The area burned from 1916 to 2003 was more closely related to climate factors” than forest management, the report said. Heat and wildfire smoke force residents to seek respite – and buy cooling systems and air purifiers, if they can afford them. #climatechange Cities across California have opened “cleaner-air centers”, where people who can’t afford purifiers or don’t have homes can escape the smoke for a few hours. But they have been less frequented than in previous years because of concerns about Covid-19. Public spaces such as libraries have been closed, eliminating another respite. Health officials advised residents with the means to filter the air in at least one room to create a place to get relief. Some also advertised a cheaper solution – attaching a furnace filter to a box fan. But filters quickly flew off the shelves. “It really is adaptation to this new normal,” said Alberto Ayala, executive director of the Sacramento metropolitan air quality management district. The idea of air purifiers as adaptation to climate change is “ahead of the policy conversation that needs to be had”, Ayala said.
“Are all these options equally effective? No, they’re not. What are we going to do with those that cannot afford it? Well, we should think about that.” In the short term, wildfire smoke can worsen chronic lung and heart conditions. It can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes. It can also weaken the body’s ability to fight off illnesses like the coronavirus. The longer-term health effects of continuous smoke exposure are unknown but expected to be significant. Researchers have linked even short-term exposures to air pollution – from factories, power plants and car exhaust – to an increase in premature deaths among the elderly.


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--Parliament Hill security stepped up after reports of harassment

The security service charged with protecting Parliament Hill says it has stepped up its presence in the area following several recent reports of harassment against politicians and others .
The Parliamentary Protective Service said it would not comment on specifics for security reasons , but the federal NDP said it reported one such incident on Friday .
Video posted to social media shows Jagmeet Singh being followed down the street in front of Parliament Hill by a man who asks if the NDP leader wants to be arrested .
The man later tells Singh that the next time they see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a dance . ''
`` We reported the incident to the Parliamentary Protective Service , '' said NDP director of communications George Soule .
`` Beyond that , we have nothing more to add . ''
The protective service , which falls under the ambit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and provides security for Parliament Hill and the surrounding parliamentary precinct , said it was aware of the incident involving Singh and `` collaborating closely with its security partners . ''
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax `` The Parliamentary Protective Service continuously monitors threats , and we adjust our security posture on Parliament Hill and within the parliamentary precinct accordingly , '' it added in a statement Sunday .
`` As a result of recent incidents whereby parliamentarians and members of the press were harassed , the service has increased its presence and visibility around the precinct . ''
Canadian Anti-Hate Network chair Bernie Farber on Sunday blasted what he described as `` police inaction '' when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not the first time and it simply encourages racists and bullies , '' he said of the Singh video .
`` It has to stop .
Police must do their jobs . ''
Farber encouraged political leaders of all stripes `` to speak up when their colleagues from any part of the political spectrum are being targeted by bullies and racists . ''
The Singh incident followed another clip posted to social media that appears to show a man trying to conduct a `` citizen 's arrest '' on a Radio-Canada reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of Parliament Hill .
The security service charged with protecting Parliament Hill says it has stepped up its presence in the area following several recent reports of harassment against politicians and others .
Concern about the safety of Canadian politicians has been on the rise following a series of incidents in reason months .
According to data from the RCMP , first reported by the Toronto Star , there has been an increase in the number of threats made against the prime minister and cabinet when compared to last year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , protective policing opened 100 investigations into threats , while from January to July 2020 there were approximately 130 .
One headline incident saw a Canadian Army reservist from Manitoba arrested in July after a truck rammed through a gate at Rideau Hall , the traditional home of Canada 's governor general and where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family have been living since 2015 .
Correy Hurren faces 21 weapons charges as well as one of threatening the prime minister .
Police said several guns and an illegal magazine were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was peacefully arrested .
Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna last month called for more protection for Canadian parliamentarians and others from threatening behaviour after video of someone yelling obscenities at members of her staff in downtown Ottawa was posted on social media .
The Ottawa Police Service said it was launching an investigation into that incident .
McKenna on Friday condemned the actions of the man in the video of Singh , writing on Twitter : `` This is not OK. And it is not what Canadians stand for .
We are better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27 , 2020 .

The security service charged with protecting Parliament Hill says it has stepped up its presence in the area following several recent reports of harassment against politicians and others. The Parliamentary Protective Service said it would not comment on specifics for security reasons, but the federal NDP said it reported one such incident on Friday. Video posted to social media shows Jagmeet Singh being followed down the street in front of Parliament Hill by a man who asks if the NDP leader wants to be arrested. The man later tells Singh that the next time they see each other, the two will "have a dance." "We reported the incident to the Parliamentary Protective Service," said NDP director of communications George Soule. "Beyond that, we have nothing more to add." The protective service, which falls under the ambit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and provides security for Parliament Hill and the surrounding parliamentary precinct, said it was aware of the incident involving Singh and "collaborating closely with its security partners."
"The Parliamentary Protective Service continuously monitors threats, and we adjust our security posture on Parliament Hill and within the parliamentary precinct accordingly," it added in a statement Sunday. "As a result of recent incidents whereby parliamentarians and members of the press were harassed, the service has increased its presence and visibility around the precinct." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canadian Anti-Hate Network chair Bernie Farber on Sunday blasted what he described as "police inaction" when it comes to harassment against Canadian politicians.
"It's not the first time and it simply encourages racists and bullies," he said of the Singh video. "It has to stop. Police must do their jobs." The security service charged with protecting Parliament Hill says it has stepped up its presence in the area following several recent reports of harassment against politicians and others. Farber encouraged political leaders of all stripes "to speak up when their colleagues from any part of the political spectrum are being targeted by bullies and racists." The Singh incident followed another clip posted to social media that appears to show a man trying to conduct a "citizen's arrest" on a Radio-Canada reporter on Thursday on the same street in front of Parliament Hill. Concern about the safety of Canadian politicians has been on the rise following a series of incidents in reason months. According to data from the RCMP, first reported by the Toronto Star, there has been an increase in the number of threats made against the prime minister and cabinet when compared to last year.
The RCMP say from January to July 2019, protective policing opened 100 investigations into threats, while from January to July 2020 there were approximately 130. One headline incident saw a Canadian Army reservist from Manitoba arrested in July after a truck rammed through a gate at Rideau Hall, the traditional home of Canada's governor general and where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family have been living since 2015. Correy Hurren faces 21 weapons charges as well as one of threatening the prime minister. Police said several guns and an illegal magazine were found in Hurren’s truck after he was peacefully arrested.


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--Green Recovery 101: Governments and the manufacturing sector must work together

The stakes are high for the economic recovery , but it has never been higher for the Canadian manufacturing industry .
What the federal government does in the months following the long-awaited throne speech has the chance to either leapfrog or derail our producing sector .
The main focus needs to absolutely be on containing the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating the immediate brunt of its economic and social impact .
But as the federal and provincial governments look into the mid- and long-term , they need to realize that they will heavily rely on the manufacturing sector to pull a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has never been more important to align economic growth with goods produced .
The foundation of any economy stems from what a country consumes domestically and what it can competitively export to other markets .
The producing sector in a country as rich in natural resources as Canada is core to that foundation .
Investing wisely and sustainably in manufacturing would also trigger the much-needed recalibration to the service and financial sectors .
Manufacturing has , on average , higher job multipliers than other sectors mainly because once a production is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into or generate the creation of more wholesome supply chains .
For example , jobs in the mining and manufacturing sectors have on average a seven to 10 times multiplier effect on additional jobs created .
Logically , these supply chains will need services ( logistics , warehousing ) and these services will inevitably need supporting services ( housing , restaurants , banking , etc ) .
For this reason , it is vital that we get this right in the context of the “ big reset ” and set Canada back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has struggled in the past five years to engage constructively with the manufacturing sector .
It has juggled with its green agenda and the need to keep its traditional industries running at the same time .
In a way , the transition has been left to companies to manage on their own and at their own costs , “ supported ” only by stricter regulations and additional taxes .
Interestingly , in Germany , the traditional energy players are reinventing themselves precisely due to government support , with incentives and rewards for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no light switch for a transition .
It is a process that needs co-ordination and collaboration , despite the fast pace required , given the climate emergency .
The time is ripe to roll up the sleeves and come up with a viable transition together , and here are some examples how .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax The oil and gas sector is ready to play its part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative , transformational and adaptive workforces .
It is also the owner of some incredible infrastructure in the country — infrastructure that will become very valuable for an energy transformation .
If one thinks about hydrogen and what it needs to succeed as an energy fuel , this is infrastructure and accessibility .
Oil and gas companies have both .
Pipelines and gas stations , these will be key to get hydrogen to vehicles and other power sources .
Interestingly , the discussion about hydrogen has been simplified to a “ solve it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition .
Not so fast .
Traditional hydrogen production may yield clean fuel to burn , but its production footprint still has some ways to go before being considered carbon neutral .
Many companies , including BASF , have been looking for ways to minimize or completely neutralize emissions in hydrogen production .
Methane pyrolysis is one of the most promising technologies , and would enable the production of hydrogen emissions-free and with a byproduct of solid carbon , which has many applications , including energy storage .
This technology when coupled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas-based power grids would truly bring about one of the cleanest productions of fuel and energy globally .
We need early adopters of this technology to push it forward .
The same way the federal government signalled its support for retrofits addressing energy efficiency in buildings , so too will the energy sector need government support to make necessary adjustments to transition from its current operations .
We need tools that incentivize early adoption of new technologies and not measures that stifle investment decisions .
An example of this could be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost with forgivable loan structures and grants , where job creation and future tax revenue would compensate the initial government support .
As milestones are achieved , loans are forgiven .
Even more importantly , we do not have the luxury to wait for new companies to come and set up camp in Canada , we must work with current incumbents to accelerate their transition and protect the incredible workforce that already deploys in the market and the communities they service .
The social value that these companies create can not be underestimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As if Canada ’ s fortune would not be enough as a lead producer of clean hydrogen , Canada is in a wonderful position to shape the electrification of mobility globally .
With countries trying to catch up to China ’ s leading position in the battery space , it would be great to see Canada emerging as a strong player in this sector .
There are few countries , or maybe none , that could claim the ability to produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles within its own jurisdiction .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist in Canada .
This is not only a unique claim , but also speaks to sustainable and ethical sourcing of battery components .
To take advantage of this , there would need to be significant sectorial support to repurpose mines and finance heavy front-loaded investments in full-value chains .
This would represent a renaissance to a sector that has been slowly bleeding out of Canada .
Not only would the boom occur in the mining sector , but it would surely spill over into other related sectors , namely automotive .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embracing this multi-industry opportunity and being vocal about its intention to aggressively support these producing sectors .
The devil , of course , is in the details in a smart transition to the green recovery .
It is not a click-of-a-button exercise .
There is no easy fix .
But the opportunities are vast for Canada .
We need the government and the manufacturing sector working together to jointly set forth the path to a green economy .
The solution must not be taxing and regulating , but , instead , incentivizing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The devil , of course , is in the details in a smart transition to the green recovery .
It is not a click-of-a-button exercise .
There is no easy fix . ''
The laggards will need to follow or be left behind .
It is about smart regulation that leaves room for innovation to flourish and find new sustainable ways to produce .
Canada has all it needs to start the process , but it must take advantage of this crisis moment and pivot to measures that under normal circumstances would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now from the government into key manufacturing sectors would play a positive , domino effect for the development of industry clusters and subsequent investments that would grow organically .
Canadians should not overanalyze the throne speech .
Rather , they should focus and be critical about the actions that follow .
We are at a crossroads where social value and climate change need to play into how we address our future , even in the manufacturing sector .
The time is now to boost this change through broad collaboration between the sector and @ @ @ @ @ @

The stakes are high for the economic recovery, but it has never been higher for the Canadian manufacturing industry. What the federal government does in the months following the long-awaited throne speech has the chance to either leapfrog or derail our producing sector. The main focus needs to absolutely be on containing the COVID-19 pandemic and alleviating the immediate brunt of its economic and social impact. But as the federal and provincial governments look into the mid- and long-term, they need to realize that they will heavily rely on the manufacturing sector to pull a long-lasting recovery. In recent history, it has never been more important to align economic growth with goods produced. The foundation of any economy stems from what a country consumes domestically and what it can competitively export to other markets. The producing sector in a country as rich in natural resources as Canada is core to that foundation. Investing wisely and sustainably in manufacturing would also trigger the much-needed recalibration to the service and financial sectors. Manufacturing has, on average, higher job multipliers than other sectors mainly because once a production is set up competitively, it will either integrate into or generate the creation of more wholesome supply chains. For example, jobs in the mining and manufacturing sectors have on average a seven to 10 times multiplier effect on additional jobs created. Logically, these supply chains will need services (logistics, warehousing) and these services will inevitably need supporting services (housing, restaurants, banking, etc). For this reason, it is vital that we get this right in the context of the “big reset” and set Canada back to a sustainable growth path. The federal government has struggled in the past five years to engage constructively with the manufacturing sector. It has juggled with its green agenda and the need to keep its traditional industries running at the same time. In a way, the transition has been left to companies to manage on their own and at their own costs, “supported” only by stricter regulations and additional taxes. Interestingly, in Germany, the traditional energy players are reinventing themselves precisely due to government support, with incentives and rewards for first-movers and early-adopters of more sustainable technologies. There is no light switch for a transition. It is a process that needs co-ordination and collaboration, despite the fast pace required, given the climate emergency. The time is ripe to roll up the sleeves and come up with a viable transition together, and here are some examples how.
The oil and gas sector is ready to play its part. It harbours some of the most innovative, transformational and adaptive workforces. It is also the owner of some incredible infrastructure in the country — infrastructure that will become very valuable for an energy transformation. If one thinks about hydrogen and what it needs to succeed as an energy fuel, this is infrastructure and accessibility. Oil and gas companies have both. Pipelines and gas stations, these will be key to get hydrogen to vehicles and other power sources. Interestingly, the discussion about hydrogen has been simplified to a “solve it all” solution for a clean energy transition. Not so fast. Traditional hydrogen production may yield clean fuel to burn, but its production footprint still has some ways to go before being considered carbon neutral. Many companies, including BASF, have been looking for ways to minimize or completely neutralize emissions in hydrogen production. Methane pyrolysis is one of the most promising technologies, and would enable the production of hydrogen emissions-free and with a byproduct of solid carbon, which has many applications, including energy storage. This technology when coupled with Canada’s already clean renewable or natural gas-based power grids would truly bring about one of the cleanest productions of fuel and energy globally. We need early adopters of this technology to push it forward. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The same way the federal government signalled its support for retrofits addressing energy efficiency in buildings, so too will the energy sector need government support to make necessary adjustments to transition from its current operations. We need tools that incentivize early adoption of new technologies and not measures that stifle investment decisions. An example of this could be a financing mechanism that reduces the front-load investment cost with forgivable loan structures and grants, where job creation and future tax revenue would compensate the initial government support. As milestones are achieved, loans are forgiven. Even more importantly, we do not have the luxury to wait for new companies to come and set up camp in Canada, we must work with current incumbents to accelerate their transition and protect the incredible workforce that already deploys in the market and the communities they service. The social value that these companies create cannot be underestimated, especially under the current pandemic crisis.


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--Calgary hospital restricts visitors, postpones surgeries as COVID-19 infections increase

A Calgary hospital was postponing surgeries and restricting visitors Monday as the number of people infected in multiple COVID-19 outbreaks climbed .
Alberta Health Services said 26 patients and 27 workers at the Foothills Medical Centre had contracted the novel coronavirus .
Four patients had died .
Hospital medical director Dr. Peter Jamieson said outbreaks were affecting five areas .
It 's believed cases in cardiac and cardiac intensive care units are linked , but Jamieson said it 's not clear whether infections in surgical , transition and general medicine areas happened independently .
`` We 're working hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Friday , 136 workers were in isolation .
• Toronto school shut down over COVID-19 as Ontario reports 700 more cases • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • The COVID-19 pandemic is changing how students cheat – and get caught Visitors to the hospital are only allowed in end-of-life situations or if they have been approved as essential .
Jamieson said he hopes it only needs to be a short-term measure .
`` Family members and visitors are an important part of looking after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we do n't take this step lightly . ''
Jamieson added the hospital has n't noticed a downturn in the number of people coming to the emergency department , which remains open .
However , he knows that was an issue at the beginning of the pandemic , when patients put off getting necessary medical care because they were nervous about going to a hospital .
`` I would want people to know that if they need the emergency department , they should come and we 're here for you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was postponing surgeries and restricting visitors Monday , September 28 , 2020 , as the number of people infected in multiple COVID-19 outbreaks climbed .
Alberta Health Services has postponed 39 surgeries that were scheduled for Monday due to staff restrictions and a reduced number of in-patient beds at Foothills .
It said the procedures are being rescheduled as quickly as possible , most within the next week .
Foothills is the main southern Alberta centre for trauma , high-risk obstetrics and strokes , so Jamieson said there are no plans to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deena Hinshaw , Alberta 's chief medical officer , said aggressive contact tracing is underway and it 's likely more cases will be identified .
`` While of course the numbers are concerning , the information that I 've received indicates to me that there is a very capable outbreak team who 's doing a tremendous amount of work to prevent there from being any onward spread . ''
Hinshaw said she 's also concerned about an outbreak at the Millwoods Shepherd 's Care Centre in Edmonton , where there have been 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nurses of Alberta 's labour relations director wrote to the CEO of Alberta Health Services last week urging more support for workers forced to isolate due to workplace COVID-19 outbreaks .
Among other things , David Harrigan suggests in his letter to Dr. Verna Yiu that special paid pandemic leave , which was cancelled in July , be reinstated .
“ Regular employees are running through their sick leave banks and casual nurses don ’ t have access to sick leave , so they are losing income , '' Harrigan said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurses are feeling `` extremely misused and disrespected , '' and he 's concerned that they will feel pressure to report for work even if they are ill. Alberta reported 1,549 active cases in its Monday update , which is an increase of 52 from Friday .
There have also been four more deaths since then , bringing the total to 265 .
Sixty-three people are in hospital , including 15 in intensive care .
Hinshaw delivered her update Monday from home , where she is recovering from a sore throat .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but said she will stay home until her symptoms resolve .
`` I know that staying home is not easy and that many Albertans face difficult financial or other choices , '' she said .
`` Most of us have worked with sore throats or runny noses many , many times .
However , during COVID , that 's not a risk that I or anyone else should take . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28 , 2020

A Calgary hospital was postponing surgeries and restricting visitors Monday as the number of people infected in multiple COVID-19 outbreaks climbed. Alberta Health Services said 26 patients and 27 workers at the Foothills Medical Centre had contracted the novel coronavirus. Four patients had died. Hospital medical director Dr. Peter Jamieson said outbreaks were affecting five areas. It's believed cases in cardiac and cardiac intensive care units are linked, but Jamieson said it's not clear whether infections in surgical, transition and general medicine areas happened independently. "We're working hard to sort it out," he said. As of Friday, 136 workers were in isolation.
Visitors to the hospital are only allowed in end-of-life situations or if they have been approved as essential. Jamieson said he hopes it only needs to be a short-term measure. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "Family members and visitors are an important part of looking after a patient and helping them get well, so we don't take this step lightly."
Jamieson added the hospital hasn't noticed a downturn in the number of people coming to the emergency department, which remains open. A Calgary hospital was postponing surgeries and restricting visitors Monday, September 28, 2020, as the number of people infected in multiple COVID-19 outbreaks climbed. However, he knows that was an issue at the beginning of the pandemic, when patients put off getting necessary medical care because they were nervous about going to a hospital. "I would want people to know that if they need the emergency department, they should come and we're here for you," Jamieson said. Alberta Health Services has postponed 39 surgeries that were scheduled for Monday due to staff restrictions and a reduced number of in-patient beds at Foothills. It said the procedures are being rescheduled as quickly as possible, most within the next week. Foothills is the main southern Alberta centre for trauma, high-risk obstetrics and strokes, so Jamieson said there are no plans to stop patient intakes at this time.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer, said aggressive contact tracing is underway and it's likely more cases will be identified. "While of course the numbers are concerning, the information that I've received indicates to me that there is a very capable outbreak team who's doing a tremendous amount of work to prevent there from being any onward spread." Hinshaw said she's also concerned about an outbreak at the Millwoods Shepherd's Care Centre in Edmonton, where there have been 19 cases and two deaths.


nationalobserver--2020-09-28--Toronto school shut down over COVID-19 as Ontario reports 700 more cases

As Ontario 's COVID-19 daily new case count hit a record high of 700 , outbreaks have erupted in two Toronto District elementary schools , forcing one to close .
Public health officials declared an outbreak at Mason Road Junior Public School in Scarborough in Toronto ’ s east end and asked for it to be shuttered until the end of the week , the Toronto District School Board announced late Sunday on Twitter .
That closure comes after two students at Glen Park Public School in North York tested positive for the virus and two elementary grade classes were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are 272 cases of COVID-19 in 224 of Ontario ’ s more than 4,800 schools , the government said on its website for tracking school and child care cases .
The rising number of cases in school settings is a significant challenge for a provincial government that has faced criticism for not spending enough to ensure adequate distancing in classrooms .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • The COVID-19 pandemic is changing how students cheat – and get caught • Doug Ford could win by losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There is an overwhelming societal benefit and imperative for Ontario to have our schools open for our kids , ” Stephen Lecce , the province ’ s education minister , told reporters on Monday .
“ The emphasis right now is to do whatever it takes to keep the schools open.
” Meanwhile , the province recorded its highest single-day tally of new cases on Monday , saying 700 people had tested positive .
Nonetheless , it moved ahead with a decision to reopen casinos at the start of this week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opposition NDP , laid the blame for the rising number of infections squarely with the provincial government .
`` The Ford government is doing the bare minimum to save a buck — and it ’ s not working , '' she said .
`` Numbers are rising , and we need a comprehensive plan to get in front of the wave , instead of Ford scrambling to chase it . ''
Provincial Liberal leader , Steven Del Duca , said the Ford government should be tightening restrictions to try to contain the growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling a second wave .
“ It ’ s time to listen to the health experts and take a regional approach to closing bars , restricting indoor dining and taking a hard look at non-essential gatherings , ” he said .
An outbreak in a @ tdsb elementary school in Scarborough led to its closure over the weekend , while Ontario record a fresh record for positive COVID-19 cases Toronto accounted for 344 of those 700 cases , Health Minister Christine Elliott said , with another 104 in Peel and 56 in York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to take a regional approach to any future school closures , but neither he , Premier Doug Ford , nor the province ’ s top government health official provided a clear answer Monday regarding what metrics would force such a move .
Elementary students and their parents have until 4pm on Wednesday to request a switch between the TDSB ’ s virtual school option and the classroom .

As Ontario's COVID-19 daily new case count hit a record high of 700, outbreaks have erupted in two Toronto District elementary schools, forcing one to close. Public health officials declared an outbreak at Mason Road Junior Public School in Scarborough in Toronto’s east end and asked for it to be shuttered until the end of the week, the Toronto District School Board announced late Sunday on Twitter. That closure comes after two students at Glen Park Public School in North York tested positive for the virus and two elementary grade classes were ordered into isolation last week. There are 272 cases of COVID-19 in 224 of Ontario’s more than 4,800 schools, the government said on its website for tracking school and child care cases. The rising number of cases in school settings is a significant challenge for a provincial government that has faced criticism for not spending enough to ensure adequate distancing in classrooms.
“There is an overwhelming societal benefit and imperative for Ontario to have our schools open for our kids,” Stephen Lecce, the province’s education minister, told reporters on Monday. “The emphasis right now is to do whatever it takes to keep the schools open.” Meanwhile, the province recorded its highest single-day tally of new cases on Monday, saying 700 people had tested positive. Nonetheless, it moved ahead with a decision to reopen casinos at the start of this week. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Andrea Horwath, the leader of the Opposition NDP, laid the blame for the rising number of infections squarely with the provincial government.
"The Ford government is doing the bare minimum to save a buck — and it’s not working," she said. "Numbers are rising, and we need a comprehensive plan to get in front of the wave, instead of Ford scrambling to chase it." An outbreak in a @tdsb elementary school in Scarborough led to its closure over the weekend, while Ontario record a fresh record for positive COVID-19 cases Provincial Liberal leader, Steven Del Duca, said the Ford government should be tightening restrictions to try to contain the growing number of daily cases that some are calling a second wave. “It’s time to listen to the health experts and take a regional approach to closing bars, restricting indoor dining and taking a hard look at non-essential gatherings,” he said. Toronto accounted for 344 of those 700 cases, Health Minister Christine Elliott said, with another 104 in Peel and 56 in York region. Lecce said it would be possible to take a regional approach to any future school closures, but neither he, Premier Doug Ford, nor the province’s top government health official provided a clear answer Monday regarding what metrics would force such a move.


nationalobserver--2020-09-29--Canada disappointed U.S. appealing WTO softwood ruling

International Trade Minister Mary Ng says it is extremely disappointing that the United States has decided to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against its softwood-lumber duties , particularly because the U.S. is making it impossible for that appeal to be heard .
In April 2017 the U.S. imposed duties averaging about 20 per cent on most Canadian softwood exports , alleging that Canada was both unfairly subsidizing its industry and then dumping wood into the U.S. at unfair prices .
The WTO ruled in August that the U.S. could not back up its claims , and the U.S. has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the U.S. decision to appeal is confusing since earlier this year the U.S. decided that the WTO appeal body did not need to exist .
Complaining that the WTO group has been making decisions beyond its jurisdiction , the U.S. has refused to appoint new members , leaving it without enough people to operate .
• Toronto school shut down over COVID-19 as Ontario reports 700 more cases • The COVID-19 pandemic is changing how students cheat – and get caught • Indigenous communities in Russia are begging Tesla not to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Boer , Canada 's permanent representative at the WTO , told a dispute-settlement meeting Monday that the U.S. refused an arbitration offer by Canada and its appeal to a body the U.S. has rendered defunct is compounding the unfairness of the duties .
`` An appeal , in the current circumstances , has the effect of denying Canada its right , under the dispute-settlement understanding , to prompt settlement of this dispute , '' he said , according to a written record of his statements .
De Boer says the U.S. has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duties from Canadian softwood producers since they were introduced in 2017 .
This is the fifth time the U.S. has gone after Canada 's softwood industry since 1982 .
In most of the previous disputes , Canada has won before international tribunals and the two countries reached joint settlements .
The most recent agreement expired in 2015 but the U.S. agreed not to do anything about it for at least one year .
The U.S. Lumber Coalition initiated a complaint less than a month after that moratorium ended , and the ensuing tariffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also fighting the tariffs through the North American Free Trade Agreement dispute process , which was in effect at the time the tariffs were imposed .
In April 2017 the U.S. imposed duties averaging about 20 per cent on most Canadian softwood exports , alleging that Canada was both unfairly subsidizing its industry and then dumping wood into the U.S. at unfair prices .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28 , 2020 .

International Trade Minister Mary Ng says it is extremely disappointing that the United States has decided to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against its softwood-lumber duties, particularly because the U.S. is making it impossible for that appeal to be heard.
In April 2017 the U.S. imposed duties averaging about 20 per cent on most Canadian softwood exports, alleging that Canada was both unfairly subsidizing its industry and then dumping wood into the U.S. at unfair prices.
The WTO ruled in August that the U.S. could not back up its claims, and the U.S. has now appealed that decision.
But Ng says the U.S. decision to appeal is confusing since earlier this year the U.S. decided that the WTO appeal body did not need to exist.
Complaining that the WTO group has been making decisions beyond its jurisdiction, the U.S. has refused to appoint new members, leaving it without enough people to operate.


nationalobserver--2020-09-29--Prominent people demand immediate halt to Site C over stability concerns

A former president of BC Hydro and a former federal fisheries minister are among 18 prominent Canadians urging the provincial government to halt work on a huge hydroelectric project in northeastern B.C .
The letter signed by former Hydro president Marc Eliesen , former fisheries minister David Anderson , Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C .
Indian Chiefs and others says construction of the Site C dam must stop while geotechnical problems are explored .
They say an independent team of experts should determine if the problems can be resolved and at what cost .
Further construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Fort St. John requires diversion of the waterway , which the letter argues could be a `` costly and potentially catastrophic mistake . ''
Those signing the letter urge Premier John Horgan to appoint an independent panel to assess geotechnical issues at Site C and to release those findings before making a decision about the future of the dam .
• Toronto school shut down over COVID-19 as Ontario reports 700 more cases • The COVID-19 pandemic is changing how students cheat – and get caught • Indigenous communities in Russia are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this major polluter At a provincial election campaign event , Horgan said diversion of the river was needed to meet the project 's timelines and to stay on budget .
`` BC Hydro has been working hard to make sure that we get the project in place as quickly as possible in a cost-effective way , '' he added .
The utility could not immediately be reached for comment .
In the letter , the group also says a panel should look at all construction costs so far , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's estimated the dam could cost $ 12 billion , almost double the original estimate , and the letter warns geotechnical issues `` will add immeasurably to the project 's ballooning costs . ''
Others who have signed the open letter to Horgan include broadcaster and environmentalist David Suzuki , Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nations , economists , academics , engineers and politicians .
A former president of BC Hydro and a former federal fisheries minister are among 18 prominent Canadians urging the provincial government to halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northeastern B.C .
BC Hydro reported to the B.C .
Utilities Commission in July that geological problems found late last year had created a `` project risk , '' requiring stability measures to be taken on the right bank of the dam .
Horgan previously called that report `` profoundly disappointing . ''
A former B.C .
deputy finance minister was appointed in early August and he is due to release a report in the coming weeks .
The letter says work on Site C must cease , in part because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Now is not the time to be digging an even deeper financial hole on a costly project that may , given proper independent scrutiny , be found to be so structurally unsound as to be too risky to complete , '' the letter states .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28 , 2020 .

A former president of BC Hydro and a former federal fisheries minister are among 18 prominent Canadians urging the provincial government to halt work on a huge hydroelectric project in northeastern B.C.
The letter signed by former Hydro president Marc Eliesen, former fisheries minister David Anderson, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and others says construction of the Site C dam must stop while geotechnical problems are explored.
They say an independent team of experts should determine if the problems can be resolved and at what cost.
Further construction of the dam across the Peace River near Fort St. John requires diversion of the waterway, which the letter argues could be a "costly and potentially catastrophic mistake."
Those signing the letter urge Premier John Horgan to appoint an independent panel to assess geotechnical issues at Site C and to release those findings before making a decision about the future of the dam.


nationalobserver--2020-09-29--Quebec raises COVID-19 alert levels in large cities, Ontario declares second wave

Quebec moved its most populous regions to a maximum alert-level on Monday and Ontario declared itself in the grips of a second COVID-19 wave as both provinces grappled with rising caseloads .
Premier Francois Legault said the greater Montreal and Quebec City areas , along with the Chaudiere-Appalaches region south of the provincial capital , will enter the red alert level on Oct. 1 .
For the next 28 days , bars , restaurant dining areas , cinemas and other venues in those regions will be closed , he said .
`` The situation has become critical , '' Legault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 750 new COVID-19 cases Monday .
`` The number of cases is rising .
If we do n't want our hospitals to be submerged and if we want to limit the number of deaths , we must act strongly right now . ''
The lockdowns do n't apply to the retail sector or to any other businesses , Legault said : `` We want to make sure mothers and fathers can still make a living . ''
Legault said schools will remain open , noting that about one per cent of the province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their schools .
If Quebecers follow the health directives , Legault added , he is optimistic that schools will not have to be shut .
• Toronto school shut down over COVID-19 as Ontario reports 700 more cases • The COVID-19 pandemic is changing how students cheat – and get caught • Indigenous communities in Russia are begging Tesla not to get its nickel from this major polluter Also in the three red zones , gatherings in private residences are no longer permitted .
Earlier Monday , Premier Doug Ford said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest daily increase since the start of the health crisis — were `` deeply concerning '' and warned this round of the pandemic could hit harder than the first .
`` We know that this wave will be more complicated , more complex , '' he said , again entreating residents to follow public health guidelines meant to help contain the spread of the virus .
The public 's willingness to follow those guidelines will determine if this is `` a wave or a tsunami , '' he said .
Most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa .
Big cities are also proving to be hot spots in Quebec , where new cases of COVID-19 have spiked in recent days .
Quebec moved its most populous regions to a maximum alert-level on Monday , September 28 , 2020 , and Ontario declared itself in the grips of a second COVID-19 wave as both provinces grappled with rising caseloads .
Aside from the 750 new COVID-19 cases reported Monday , health authorities reported one additional death linked to the virus .
On Sunday , Quebec @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its highest single-day jump in months .
Officials in both provinces have hinted at the possibility of additional restrictions in the areas experiencing a surge in cases , but suggested there would not be a return to the widespread lockdowns imposed earlier this year .
While Ford said Monday that `` everything is on the table '' when it comes to flattening this second curve , Ontario 's chief medical officer of health said the province would take a `` surgical '' approach in addressing mounting cases in a few regions .
Ontario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by COVID-19 , representing close to 80 per cent of all cases in Canada .
Case numbers have increased in other provinces as well .
Manitoba reported 39 new cases on Monday — 22 of them in Winnipeg , where masks became mandatory Monday .
In Yorkton , Sask.
, the RCMP detachment and a high school were temporarily closed because of positive cases , and three staff have tested positive at the city 's hospital .
Alberta 's largest hospital , Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary , was postponing surgeries and restricting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracted the virus .
Four patients there have died .
Meanwhile , the federal government 's efforts to fast-track its newest COVID-19 economic recovery package stirred outrage from the opposition , who argued the Liberals forced the issue by proroguing Parliament last month .
The proposed package would establish more flexibility to qualify for employment insurance and set up three new benefits for Canadians who wo n't qualify for EI but are still grappling with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic .

Quebec moved its most populous regions to a maximum alert-level on Monday and Ontario declared itself in the grips of a second COVID-19 wave as both provinces grappled with rising caseloads. Premier Francois Legault said the greater Montreal and Quebec City areas, along with the Chaudiere-Appalaches region south of the provincial capital, will enter the red alert level on Oct. 1. For the next 28 days, bars, restaurant dining areas, cinemas and other venues in those regions will be closed, he said. "The situation has become critical," Legault told reporters, as the province reported 750 new COVID-19 cases Monday. "The number of cases is rising. If we don't want our hospitals to be submerged and if we want to limit the number of deaths, we must act strongly right now." The lockdowns don't apply to the retail sector or to any other businesses, Legault said: "We want to make sure mothers and fathers can still make a living." Legault said schools will remain open, noting that about one per cent of the province's schoolchildren are at home after outbreaks in their schools. If Quebecers follow the health directives, Legault added, he is optimistic that schools will not have to be shut.
Also in the three red zones, gatherings in private residences are no longer permitted. Earlier Monday, Premier Doug Ford said the 700 new cases reported in Ontario — the highest daily increase since the start of the health crisis — were "deeply concerning" and warned this round of the pandemic could hit harder than the first. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "We know that this wave will be more complicated, more complex," he said, again entreating residents to follow public health guidelines meant to help contain the spread of the virus.
The public's willingness to follow those guidelines will determine if this is "a wave or a tsunami," he said. Quebec moved its most populous regions to a maximum alert-level on Monday, September 28, 2020, and Ontario declared itself in the grips of a second COVID-19 wave as both provinces grappled with rising caseloads. Most of the new cases in Ontario are in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa. Big cities are also proving to be hot spots in Quebec, where new cases of COVID-19 have spiked in recent days. Aside from the 750 new COVID-19 cases reported Monday, health authorities reported one additional death linked to the virus. On Sunday, Quebec recorded 896 new cases of COVID-19 — its highest single-day jump in months. Officials in both provinces have hinted at the possibility of additional restrictions in the areas experiencing a surge in cases, but suggested there would not be a return to the widespread lockdowns imposed earlier this year.
While Ford said Monday that "everything is on the table" when it comes to flattening this second curve, Ontario's chief medical officer of health said the province would take a "surgical" approach in addressing mounting cases in a few regions. Ontario and Quebec have been the hardest hit by COVID-19, representing close to 80 per cent of all cases in Canada. Case numbers have increased in other provinces as well. Manitoba reported 39 new cases on Monday — 22 of them in Winnipeg, where masks became mandatory Monday.


nationalobserver--2020-09-29--VIFF films about a classy first job, bad vibes between father and son and recalling Oka crisis

MY SALINGER YEAR : Here ’ s another cheerful one to fight the blues .
It ’ s similar to The Devil Wears Prada , but set in the world of book publishing .
It ’ s not as involving because the story is simpler , but you ’ ll be absorbed anyway as Margaret Qualley faces off against Sigourney Weaver .
They ’ re at a literary agency in New York .
Weaver plays the imperious boss and Margaret is the new hire put in charge of opening the many letters that arrive for the biggest client : J.D @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make sure they never get to “ Jerry , ” as he ’ s called , and to reply to them with non-committal form letters .
The story is real , taken from a memoir by Joanna Rakoff .
The boss and Joanna tangle gently over her ambitions ( she hides that she wants to write , too ) , accepts that she ’ s just a “ secretary , ” but then takes a call from Jerry .
He ’ s pleasant and encouraging , and she goes along to enable him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The film cleverly keeps him out of view from us ( behind pillars and such ) and away from her .
Meanwhile , she succumbs to some of the moving messages she reads in the letters to him .
And she switches boyfriends .
But avoids the bigger thoughts : business versus creativity , the art of writing , and fame and celebrity .
It ’ s thin , but fun , and is likely to appeal to aspiring writers .
It was directed in Quebec by Philippe Falardeau .
( VIFF Connect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Viggo Mortensen ’ s debut as a director is an experience .
It ’ s engrossing and emotional , with very good acting performances and filmmaking , but also a bit tiring because it repeats too much .
Careful , because what it repeats is an ongoing rant by an old racist father , played with super impact by Lance Henriksen .
“ You voted for that negro , ” he says , referring to Obama , in one of his milder comments .
Many of the others are absolutely virulent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son , played by Mortensen , happens to be one and dutifully absorbs the slurs and deals with the flashes of dementia they come with .
The film tries to understand how the old man came to be so bitter .
It smoothly weaves in flashbacks to show son , dad and family , at a couple of different ages .
They work a farm , go hunting , argue about smoking in the house and tracking in dirt .
Traditional , but brittle , family life .
Dad is already a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his dad .
The marriage breaks up and he gets worse .
That progression isn ’ t detailed enough .
Mortensen , who also wrote it , says it is fiction , though he put some memories of his own childhood into the film .
It ’ ll resonate with many , even though the father-son break is hard to take and there ’ s little in the way of a resolution .
It was filmed mostly just outside of Toronto and except for the two leads , and Laura Linney in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian .
Terry Chen of Vancouver plays the son ’ s husband and David Cronenberg has fun as a proctologist .
( Streams at VIFF Connect and be sure to stay for the discussion that follows with the two stars and three other actors . )
3½ out of 5 BEANS : Small title , very strong film .
This is a personally experienced representation of the Oka crisis that paralyzed part of Quebec 30 years ago .
A town wanted to expand a golf course .
The Mohawk community nearby said not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a burial site .
Before it ended , there were blockades , bridges closed , the military called in and hate expressed on both sides .
Tracey Deer , who co-wrote and directed the film , was there as a 12-year-old .
The film expresses the initial puzzlement she felt and gets across the fear and anger she developed .
The key scene for her was riding in her mother ’ s car as irate locals threw rocks at the vehicle .
The hate she saw that day stuck with her .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , but not a scene like that .
The film has real impact by showing ordinary people caught up in the event .
Kiawentiio , a Mohawk actor known for the CBC TV series Anne with an E , plays Tekahentahkhwa , which for convenience became Beans .
She ’ s an amiable daughter , but cautioned to “ toughen up.
” The crisis does that for her , and associating with a trio of more edgy teens brings out the outrage she feels .
They go on some nighttime sneaks through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , throw firecrackers at soldiers in the dark .
The film is terrific in using archival footage from the time to give the context , both political ( Bourassa and all ) and the feelings ( mostly negative ) of ordinary people .
( VIFF Connect ) 4 out of 5 BROTHER , I CRY : Here ’ s a story about the ravages of drug addiction that feels absolutely authentic .
I ’ ve heard stories just like it , including in the Vancouver Indigenous community where this is set .
Justin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on parole , working as a house painter ( a job he loses because of coming in late once too often ) , and drawn back into the drug world .
He started when he was 13 because it made him feel like he didn ’ t have a care in the world .
His girlfriend is pregnant .
The baby is likely to be born addicted .
He has to borrow money from his mom .
His dad berates her for always treating him like a child .
He ’ s estranged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning him into the police in the first place .
One character tells another to stop excusing him .
“ He ’ s been changing for years .
He ’ s an addict .
They don ’ t change .
”

Here are five new reviews of films at the Vancouver International Film Festival. One is very good; several are close. Two are debuts by filmmakers with great promise. All are easily available through the VIFF site. My Salinger Year: 3 stars Falling: 3½ Beans: 4 Brother, I Cry: 3½
Merkel — Anatomy of a Crisis: 2½ Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions MY SALINGER YEAR: Here’s another cheerful one to fight the blues. It’s similar to The Devil Wears Prada, but set in the world of book publishing. It’s not as involving because the story is simpler, but you’ll be absorbed anyway as Margaret Qualley faces off against Sigourney Weaver. They’re at a literary agency in New York. Weaver plays the imperious boss and Margaret is the new hire put in charge of opening the many letters that arrive for the biggest client: J.D. Salinger. Her job is to make sure they never get to “Jerry,” as he’s called, and to reply to them with non-committal form letters. The story is real, taken from a memoir by Joanna Rakoff.
Courtesy of VIFF The boss and Joanna tangle gently over her ambitions (she hides that she wants to write, too), accepts that she’s just a “secretary,” but then takes a call from Jerry. He’s pleasant and encouraging, and she goes along to enable him to meet a publisher in Washington. The film cleverly keeps him out of view from us (behind pillars and such) and away from her. Meanwhile, she succumbs to some of the moving messages she reads in the letters to him. And she switches boyfriends. But avoids the bigger thoughts: business versus creativity, the art of writing, and fame and celebrity. It’s thin, but fun, and is likely to appeal to aspiring writers. It was directed in Quebec by Philippe Falardeau. (VIFF Connect streaming) 3 out of 5 FALLING: Viggo Mortensen’s debut as a director is an experience. It’s engrossing and emotional, with very good acting performances and filmmaking, but also a bit tiring because it repeats too much. Careful, because what it repeats is an ongoing rant by an old racist father, played with super impact by Lance Henriksen. “You voted for that negro,” he says, referring to Obama, in one of his milder comments. Many of the others are absolutely virulent, particularly his rants about gays. His son, played by Mortensen, happens to be one and dutifully absorbs the slurs and deals with the flashes of dementia they come with. Courtesy of VIFF The film tries to understand how the old man came to be so bitter. It smoothly weaves in flashbacks to show son, dad and family, at a couple of different ages. They work a farm, go hunting, argue about smoking in the house and tracking in dirt. Traditional, but brittle, family life. Dad is already a bit aggressive and surly and blames it partially on his dad. The marriage breaks up and he gets worse. That progression isn’t detailed enough. Mortensen, who also wrote it, says it is fiction, though he put some memories of his own childhood into the film. It’ll resonate with many, even though the father-son break is hard to take and there’s little in the way of a resolution. It was filmed mostly just outside of Toronto and except for the two leads, and Laura Linney in a brief role, the actors are Canadian. Terry Chen of Vancouver plays the son’s husband and David Cronenberg has fun as a proctologist. (Streams at VIFF Connect and be sure to stay for the discussion that follows with the two stars and three other actors.) 3½ out of 5
BEANS: Small title, very strong film. This is a personally experienced representation of the Oka crisis that paralyzed part of Quebec 30 years ago. A town wanted to expand a golf course. The Mohawk community nearby said not on sacred ground; it’s a burial site. Before it ended, there were blockades, bridges closed, the military called in and hate expressed on both sides. Tracey Deer, who co-wrote and directed the film, was there as a 12-year-old. The film expresses the initial puzzlement she felt and gets across the fear and anger she developed. The key scene for her was riding in her mother’s car as irate locals threw rocks at the vehicle. The hate she saw that day stuck with her. I’ve seen news footage of the crisis, but not a scene like that. Courtesy of VIFF The film has real impact by showing ordinary people caught up in the event. Kiawentiio, a Mohawk actor known for the CBC TV series Anne with an E, plays Tekahentahkhwa, which for convenience became Beans. She’s an amiable daughter, but cautioned to “toughen up.” The crisis does that for her, and associating with a trio of more edgy teens brings out the outrage she feels. They go on some nighttime sneaks through the woods and, in one scene, throw firecrackers at soldiers in the dark. The film is terrific in using archival footage from the time to give the context, both political (Bourassa and all) and the feelings (mostly negative) of ordinary people. (VIFF Connect) 4 out of 5