nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario’s stage two reopen — for now

The second stage of Ontario 's COVID-19 reopening will start on June 12 — but not in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area .
Stage two will allow bar and restaurant patios to reopen in much of the province .
Haircutting services can also resume , as long as there 's appropriate physical distancing .
But the restrictions wo n't be loosened everywhere .
Areas where COVID-19 cases remain clustered — the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area — will have to wait a while longer .
Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent are also not allowed to reopen yet , said Health Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep a close eye on regions near the border where people transporting essential goods continue to go in and out .
“ We need just a little more time , ” Premier Doug Ford said Monday .
“ I 'm confident the rest of the province will get to stage two very soon ...
Please , remain patient .
We will get there soon.
” In the meantime , the government will give weekly updates every Monday on regions that have not been allowed to reopen .
• I wonder who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defund police grow , but Toronto 's mayor not buying in One small comfort for those living in the Golden Horseshoe : the same day as stage two begins , the province will also lift gathering size restrictions no matter where you live .
As of June 12 , all Ontarians can gather in groups of up to 10 — rather than the current five — as long as they remain two metres apart from anyone from outside their household .
Stage two also allows a wide range of activities and services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in groups of up to 10 , shopping malls can open their doors , campgrounds and pools may reopen and places of worship in Ontario can hold in-person services as long as attendance is limited to 30 per cent capacity and attendees are physically distanced .
Spas may reopen , but not saunas or baths , and facial procedures are n't allowed .
Wine and fishing tours are OK to go ahead .
( A full list of what can reopen is available here . )
A map of the regions that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 12 .
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is not included , along with two areas near Canada 's border with the United States .
Courtesy Government of Ontario The province will release its plan for child care Tuesday to help parents who must now return to work , Ford said .
The government will also unveil details of summer camps , post-secondary education pilots to help students graduate , training centres and public transit in the days to come .
For weeks , Ford resisted calls to reopen areas of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Outbreaks of the virus are mostly centred in Toronto and its suburbs .
Alberta took a similar approach , reopening Calgary later than regions with fewer cases .
British Columbia initially considered opening some areas sooner but decided instead to open all at once .
After resisting calls for a regionally-based re-opening for weeks , Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced most of the province will enter stage two on June 12 .
Officials in Kingston , Ont.
, asked the premier to consider giving some regions flexibility in late April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of the virus .
But Ford rejected the idea even up until the end of May , when he admitted he was under pressure to pursue region-based reopening from within his Progressive Conservative caucus .
One concern , Ford said , was that people from regions that had n't reopened could easily travel to those where amenities are open and take the virus with them .
Stage two will not include a travel ban to mitigate that problem , Ford said Monday , adding that Ontarians are allowed to travel to visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced some early details of what stage three of reopening could eventually look like , if COVID-19 cases do n't begin to rebound in the weeks to come .
Opening up dine-in service at restaurants and bars is up for consideration .
So are movie theaters , some arts performances , indoor fitness facilities , water parks , amusement parks and horse racing events .
Events at large venues , such as concerts , nightclubs and sporting events with spectators will likely remain restricted for the foreseeable future , the province said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible .

The second stage of Ontario's COVID-19 reopening will start on June 12 — but not in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. Stage two will allow bar and restaurant patios to reopen in much of the province. Haircutting services can also resume, as long as there's appropriate physical distancing. But the restrictions won't be loosened everywhere. Areas where COVID-19 cases remain clustered — the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area — will have to wait a while longer. Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent are also not allowed to reopen yet, said Health Minister Christine Elliott, as the province wants to keep a close eye on regions near the border where people transporting essential goods continue to go in and out. “We need just a little more time,” Premier Doug Ford said Monday. “I'm confident the rest of the province will get to stage two very soon... Please, remain patient. We will get there soon.” In the meantime, the government will give weekly updates every Monday on regions that have not been allowed to reopen.
One small comfort for those living in the Golden Horseshoe: the same day as stage two begins, the province will also lift gathering size restrictions no matter where you live. As of June 12, all Ontarians can gather in groups of up to 10 — rather than the current five — as long as they remain two metres apart from anyone from outside their household. Stage two also allows a wide range of activities and services to go ahead: weddings can resume in groups of up to 10, shopping malls can open their doors, campgrounds and pools may reopen and places of worship in Ontario can hold in-person services as long as attendance is limited to 30 per cent capacity and attendees are physically distanced. Spas may reopen, but not saunas or baths, and facial procedures aren't allowed. Wine and fishing tours are OK to go ahead. (A full list of what can reopen is available here.) Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions A map of the regions that will be allowed to resume many services on June 12. The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is not included, along with two areas near Canada's border with the United States. Courtesy Government of Ontario
The province will release its plan for child care Tuesday to help parents who must now return to work, Ford said. The government will also unveil details of summer camps, post-secondary education pilots to help students graduate, training centres and public transit in the days to come. After resisting calls for a regionally-based re-opening for weeks, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced most of the province will enter stage two on June 12. For weeks, Ford resisted calls to reopen areas of the province that have been less stricken by COVID-19. Outbreaks of the virus are mostly centred in Toronto and its suburbs. Alberta took a similar approach, reopening Calgary later than regions with fewer cases. British Columbia initially considered opening some areas sooner but decided instead to open all at once. Officials in Kingston, Ont., asked the premier to consider giving some regions flexibility in late April, as the eastern Ontario city had few cases of the virus. But Ford rejected the idea even up until the end of May, when he admitted he was under pressure to pursue region-based reopening from within his Progressive Conservative caucus. One concern, Ford said, was that people from regions that hadn't reopened could easily travel to those where amenities are open and take the virus with them. Stage two will not include a travel ban to mitigate that problem, Ford said Monday, adding that Ontarians are allowed to travel to visit campgrounds and wineries.
“That's fine,” Ford said. The province also announced some early details of what stage three of reopening could eventually look like, if COVID-19 cases don't begin to rebound in the weeks to come. Opening up dine-in service at restaurants and bars is up for consideration. So are movie theaters, some arts performances, indoor fitness facilities, water parks, amusement parks and horse racing events.


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--Black Lives Matter demonstrations reach B.C.’s small communities

Upheaval from massive Black Lives Matter demonstrations in cities across North America rippled across small communities in B.C.
, as they also rallied over the weekend to protest police violence and racism against Black people , Indigenous people and people of colour locally and nationally .
Hundreds of people in Campbell River ’ s Spirit Square took to their knees and bowed their heads in silence for eight minutes , 46 seconds .
The exact amount of time a Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd ’ s neck .
Following the silence , speakers got on stage to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call for justice and healing .
But Devon Charles did not .
Could not .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two reopen — for now “ It hurts too much , ” he said .
“ It ’ s very emotional and I think I would cry.
” He , his wife and young son attended the protest in their small city on Vancouver Island in solidarity with all Black people , Indigenous people and people of colour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens or by police , Charles said .
“ I would like people to recognize that we have experienced a lot of trauma , hardship , rejection and exclusion , ” he said .
He recalled an instance when he was detained in public in front of his child due to an assumption he was abusing him .
His son , two at the time , was having a meltdown because he ’ d spilled water on himself , Charles said .
“ He looked like he was coming to kill me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even ask what happened , ” Devon Charles on being detained in public by police in front of his son after the toddler was crying in public .
“ I had him outside and was cleaning up his clothes , ” Charles said .
The pair had been waiting outside the Campbell River hospital to pick up his wife from work .
Five minutes later , after his son had already calmed down and was sitting in their vehicle a police officer showed up .
“ He looked like he was coming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He handcuffed me and didn ’ t even ask what happened.
” Campbell River resident Devon Charles says police need more training in dealing with Black people and those from different cultures .
Photo : Rochelle Baker Police have little or zero training in dealing with Black people from different cultures , he said .
Something he personally would be willing to rectify .
“ I ’ m willing to educate police and be in a class talking about how people should be treated and our struggles , ” Charles said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We just want to be treated equally.
” Sisters Camisha and Lakeshia Jackson spoke to the crowd about their feelings and experience .
People assume that as a Black person her successes are due to assistance from a white person , Camisha said .
“ I put myself through school , ” she said .
“ I am so sick and tired of people undermining my own success by people by ( saying ) a Caucasian person was behind it , ” she added .
“ Nobody gave me my degree .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it all by myself.
” Sisters Camisha and Lakeshia Jackson address the crowd at the Black Lives Matter protest in Campbell River .
Photo : Rochelle Baker Lakeshia said she grew up in Campbell River , but her family originally hailed from Atlanta , Georgia .
“ And we ’ re struggling over there , ” she said .
Violence against Black people provoked a surge of emotions for her , but she was grateful for the community ’ s support .
“ I have so many thoughts and feelings .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ m scared , but I ’ m glad that you guys are all here to support me , ” she said .
“ And it would be doing a disservice to my ancestors to not get up here and thank every single one of you who came down here right now.
” First Nations leaders also took to the stage to express their solidarity as allies of the BLM movement and share their own experiences with racism .
Darren Blaney , Chief of the Homalco First Nation , spoke of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the casual , everyday discrimination First Nations people face .
“ How many times will they be stopped by police or followed by security ?
” Blaney asked .
Indigenous people suffer repeated interactions and contacts with police because they “ fit the description , ” he said .
“ Sometimes I ’ m not sure if it ’ s racism or helpfulness , ” Blaney observed wryly .
The death of George Floyd should be taken as a moment of awakening , a recognition that a larger system of discrimination is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blaney , who added he lost his language when he was forced to attend residential school as a child .
Darren Blaney , Chief of the Homalco Nation , said violence and racism against First Nations people is systemic .
Photo : Rochelle Baker .
When people look down at homeless people in the streets of Campbell River they are not recognizing them as victims of a long history of racism , Blaney said .
People need to see the connection to the trauma and pain residential schools have left in their wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of discrimination , Blaney said .
“ We shouldn ’ t have poor First Nations people .
We shouldn ’ t have homeless people…everybody deserves to have a home.
” Government needs to curb corporate greed and tax cuts , and shift its focus to preserving the environment and people , he added .
“ All these corporations are not accountable to anybody , or the environment or poor people.
” The crowd attending the protest was diverse , including babies , families , youth and seniors and allies from the LGBTQ2S+ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of hundreds of people attending the BLM protest in Campbell River to oppose racism against Black and First Nations people .
Photo : Rochelle Baker .
Many demonstrators arrived by ferry from neighbouring Quadra Island .
Quadra resident and long-time educator Jan Gladish said she was impressed and moved by the demonstration .
As a member of the Heiltsuk Nation and former principal of the school in the tiny north coastal community of Bella Bella , Gladish worries for the future of Indigenous youth and about the continued inaction around First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant progress has occurred for Indigenous people despite recommendations issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission or the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls , Gladish said .
“ I worry that those two big initiatives are gathering dust on shelves , and we are not doing what we need to do to raise awareness and actually do something that will make a difference in people ’ s lives , ” she said .
The MMIWG report marked its first anniversary last week , the same week Chantel Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation , was shot and killed by police in Nova Scotia during a wellness check , Gladish said .
“ For me it hits home , ” she said .
“ It ’ s indicative of just some of the things that happen .
It ’ s just like life doesn ’ t matter.
” “ I have nephews and nieces , and former students , and that ’ s the kind of world they are going out into , ” Gladish added .
“ And things have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes and dreams in a way that is inclusive of who they are .
”

But Devon Charles did not. Could not.
Following the silence, speakers got on stage to speak about their experiences with racism and to call for justice and healing.
Hundreds of people in Campbell River’s Spirit Square took to their knees and bowed their heads in silence for eight minutes, 46 seconds.
Upheaval from massive Black Lives Matter demonstrations in cities across North America rippled across small communities in B.C., as they also rallied over the weekend to protest police violence and racism against Black people, Indigenous people and people of colour locally and nationally.
He, his wife and young son attended the protest in their small city on Vancouver Island in solidarity with all Black people, Indigenous people and people of colour who experience racism, whether from ordinary citizens or by police, Charles said.
“It’s very emotional and I think I would cry.”
The pair had been waiting outside the Campbell River hospital to pick up his wife from work.
“I had him outside and was cleaning up his clothes,” Charles said.
His son, two at the time, was having a meltdown because he’d spilled water on himself, Charles said.
He recalled an instance when he was detained in public in front of his child due to an assumption he was abusing him.
“I would like people to recognize that we have experienced a lot of trauma, hardship, rejection and exclusion,” he said.
“He looked like he was coming to kill me,” Charles said. “He handcuffed me and didn’t even ask what happened.”
Five minutes later, after his son had already calmed down and was sitting in their vehicle a police officer showed up.
Police have little or zero training in dealing with Black people from different cultures, he said. Something he personally would be willing to rectify.
“I’m willing to educate police and be in a class talking about how people should be treated and our struggles,” Charles said.
“We don’t want much. We just want to be treated equally.”
Sisters Camisha and Lakeshia Jackson spoke to the crowd about their feelings and experience.
People assume that as a Black person her successes are due to assistance from a white person, Camisha said.
“I put myself through school,” she said. “I am so sick and tired of people undermining my own success by people by (saying) a Caucasian person was behind it,” she added.
“Nobody gave me my degree. Nobody started my businesses. I did it all by myself.”
Sisters Camisha and Lakeshia Jackson address the crowd at the Black Lives Matter protest in Campbell River. Photo: Rochelle Baker
Lakeshia said she grew up in Campbell River, but her family originally hailed from Atlanta, Georgia.
“And we’re struggling over there,” she said.
Violence against Black people provoked a surge of emotions for her, but she was grateful for the community’s support.
“I have so many thoughts and feelings. I’m mad, I’m sad and I’m scared, but I’m glad that you guys are all here to support me,” she said.
“And it would be doing a disservice to my ancestors to not get up here and thank every single one of you who came down here right now.”
First Nations leaders also took to the stage to express their solidarity as allies of the BLM movement and share their own experiences with racism.
Darren Blaney, Chief of the Homalco First Nation, spoke of the fears he has for his sons and the casual, everyday discrimination First Nations people face.
“How many times will they be stopped by police or followed by security?” Blaney asked.
Indigenous people suffer repeated interactions and contacts with police because they “fit the description,” he said.
“Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s racism or helpfulness,” Blaney observed wryly.
The death of George Floyd should be taken as a moment of awakening, a recognition that a larger system of discrimination is at play in all communities, said Blaney, who added he lost his language when he was forced to attend residential school as a child.
Darren Blaney, Chief of the Homalco Nation, said violence and racism against First Nations people is systemic. Photo: Rochelle Baker.
When people look down at homeless people in the streets of Campbell River they are not recognizing them as victims of a long history of racism, Blaney said.
People need to see the connection to the trauma and pain residential schools have left in their wake, he said.
Poverty is another form of discrimination, Blaney said.
“We shouldn’t have poor First Nations people. We shouldn’t have homeless people…everybody deserves to have a home.”
Government needs to curb corporate greed and tax cuts, and shift its focus to preserving the environment and people, he added.
“All these corporations are not accountable to anybody, or the environment or poor people.”
The crowd attending the protest was diverse, including babies, families, youth and seniors and allies from the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Donie Johnson, right, was one of hundreds of people attending the BLM protest in Campbell River to oppose racism against Black and First Nations people. Photo: Rochelle Baker.
Many demonstrators arrived by ferry from neighbouring Quadra Island.
Quadra resident and long-time educator Jan Gladish said she was impressed and moved by the demonstration.
As a member of the Heiltsuk Nation and former principal of the school in the tiny north coastal community of Bella Bella, Gladish worries for the future of Indigenous youth and about the continued inaction around First Nations issues.
Few concrete changes or significant progress has occurred for Indigenous people despite recommendations issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission or the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Gladish said.
“I worry that those two big initiatives are gathering dust on shelves, and we are not doing what we need to do to raise awareness and actually do something that will make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.
The MMIWG report marked its first anniversary last week, the same week Chantel Moore, a 26-year-old woman who was a member of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, was shot and killed by police in Nova Scotia during a wellness check, Gladish said.
“For me it hits home,” she said. “It’s indicative of just some of the things that happen. It’s just like life doesn’t matter.”
“I have nephews and nieces, and former students, and that’s the kind of world they are going out into,” Gladish added.
“And things have to change if they want to follow their hopes and dreams in a way that is inclusive of who they are.”
Rochelle Baker/Local Journalism Initiative/Canada’s National Observer


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--Two Alberta RCMP charged in shooting death of man in car

Two RCMP officers have been charged in the shooting death of a 31-year-old man in northern Alberta almost two years ago .
Cpl .
Randy Stenger and Const .
Jessica Brown of the Whitecourt RCMP detachment were arrested Friday and were each charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death , the province 's police watchdog said Monday .
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team ( ASIRT ) said that Clayton Crawford died from multiple gunshot wounds inside a car after a confrontation with police on July 3 , 2018 .
Mounties had been investigating another shooting the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alta.
, about 65 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie .
ASIRT said the officers were looking for a witness or possible victim in that case , when they discovered a man sleeping in the driver 's seat of a vehicle parked at a rest stop near Whitecourt .
During the confrontation , the vehicle was `` put into motion '' and one officer fired a service pistol while the other discharged a carbine rifle , the agency said .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Golden Horseshoe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two reopen — for now `` The vehicle left the rest stop , crossed the highway and entered a ditch a short distance away , '' said a news release .
ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson told a news conference Monday that Crown prosecutors were consulted for their opinion and her team recently determined charges were warranted .
Hughson said it 's the first time in the Alberta agency 's history that a police-involved shooting resulting in a death has led to criminal charges against officers .
`` This is a new step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from , but it is setting new ground for ASIRT , for sure , '' she said .
Both officers have been released on an undertaking with court conditions , including a prohibition on possessing firearms .
They are to appear in Whitecourt provincial court July 14 .
Hughson added that she has been in contact with Crawford 's family .
Two RCMP officers have been charged in the shooting death of a 31-year-old man in northern Alberta almost two years ago .
`` They have been very patient , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be an understatement to say that they are still very devastated . ''
In Crawford 's online obituary , his family said he was a `` loving father and a hard-working man '' from Grande Prairie who was taken too soon .
They said his greatest joys in life were spending time with his daughter and the rest of his family .
No one from the family could be reached for comment Monday about the charges .
But Clinton Crawford said in a Facebook post in 2018 , which was had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` brother Clayton was wrongfully taken '' from them .
`` What we know at this point is that he was sleeping at a rest stop outside of Whitecourt , with his seat reclined , during the day sometime , '' his brother wrote .
`` Somehow from that point RCMP had what they call ' a confrontation ' and Clayton was shot many times while he was in the vehicle — unarmed , and upon 'confrontation ' — taking a nap . ''
He said Monday that both officers have been suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid .

Two RCMP officers have been charged in the shooting death of a 31-year-old man in northern Alberta almost two years ago. Cpl. Randy Stenger and Const. Jessica Brown of the Whitecourt RCMP detachment were arrested Friday and were each charged with one count of criminal negligence causing death, the province's police watchdog said Monday. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) said that Clayton Crawford died from multiple gunshot wounds inside a car after a confrontation with police on July 3, 2018. Mounties had been investigating another shooting the day before at a home in Valhalla Centre, Alta., about 65 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie. ASIRT said the officers were looking for a witness or possible victim in that case, when they discovered a man sleeping in the driver's seat of a vehicle parked at a rest stop near Whitecourt. During the confrontation, the vehicle was "put into motion" and one officer fired a service pistol while the other discharged a carbine rifle, the agency said.
"The vehicle left the rest stop, crossed the highway and entered a ditch a short distance away," said a news release. ASIRT executive director Susan Hughson told a news conference Monday that Crown prosecutors were consulted for their opinion and her team recently determined charges were warranted. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Hughson said it's the first time in the Alberta agency's history that a police-involved shooting resulting in a death has led to criminal charges against officers.
"This is a new step for ASIRT — not one we shirk from, but it is setting new ground for ASIRT, for sure," she said. Two RCMP officers have been charged in the shooting death of a 31-year-old man in northern Alberta almost two years ago. Both officers have been released on an undertaking with court conditions, including a prohibition on possessing firearms. They are to appear in Whitecourt provincial court July 14. Hughson added that she has been in contact with Crawford's family. "They have been very patient," she said. "I don't think it would be an understatement to say that they are still very devastated." In Crawford's online obituary, his family said he was a "loving father and a hard-working man" from Grande Prairie who was taken too soon.
They said his greatest joys in life were spending time with his daughter and the rest of his family. No one from the family could be reached for comment Monday about the charges. But Clinton Crawford said in a Facebook post in 2018, which was had been deleted by Monday afternoon, that his "brother Clayton was wrongfully taken" from them.


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--Alberta First Nations appeal suspension of oilpatch environmental monitoring

Three northern Alberta First Nations are asking to appeal the province 's suspension of environmental monitoring in the oilpatch because it `` fails to come close '' to being a reasonable decision .
Alberta 's Opposition leader called on Monday for the head of the province 's energy regulator to resign over the suspensions .
`` They should end ( Laurie ) Pushor 's contract , '' Rachel Notley said Monday .
`` We 've gone from having a world-class monitoring agency and we 've turned it into a backroom , deal-making agency in the course of just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation , the Fort McKay First Nation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have filed their request to the regulator 's internal review body .
The Alberta Energy Regulator made the decision earlier this spring to suspend monitoring in what it said was an attempt to keep workers and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two reopen — for now Companies no longer have to monitor fumes released by burning , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a potent greenhouse gas .
Surface water need no longer be tested , unless it escapes into the environment .
Most soil and groundwater monitoring is gone .
In-situ oilsands operations no longer have to conduct any wildlife monitoring or research .
Reclamation and wetland monitoring is also suspended .
Although some operations must resume Sept. 30 , most suspensions have no end date .
`` There was no consultation .
There was no notification of any kind , '' said Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree .
`` We were all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The appeal argues that the suspensions were made without any rationale linking specific activities to COVID-19 risks and despite work continuing at energy facilities .
It points out the hold on monitoring came as Alberta was starting to ease its lockdown and weeks after the province declared a state of emergency over the pandemic .
The appeal alleges the move was made at the urging of industry without any attempt to hear from anyone else involved .
Three northern Alberta First Nations are asking to appeal the province 's suspension of environmental monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come close '' to being a reasonable decision .
`` The long-term consequences of this disregard for the separation between the regulator and the regulated are highly troubling , '' says the appeal .
`` ( They are ) to allow proponents to effectively trigger AER decisions ... in a way that circumvents the AER ’ s application process ( and ) undermines the integrity of the entire statutory regime for energy development in the province . ''
A comment from the regulator was n't immediately available .
Notley said Pushor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous head left under a cloud of financial wrongdoing , is too close to the Premier Jason Kenney 's United Conservative government to be an independent regulator .
`` There 's no question that Pushor is an extension of Kenney 's UCP agenda .
They 're one and the same . ''
She said consulting with First Nations affected by a regulatory decision should be `` instinctive '' by now .
`` They walked through the looking glass into a world that 's 25 years old . ''
Lepine said First Nations still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the province will track environmental impacts during the suspension .
Monitoring is one of the conditions under which companies are granted access to the land , Lepine noted .

Three northern Alberta First Nations are asking to appeal the province's suspension of environmental monitoring in the oilpatch because it "fails to come close" to being a reasonable decision. Alberta's Opposition leader called on Monday for the head of the province's energy regulator to resign over the suspensions. "They should end (Laurie) Pushor's contract," Rachel Notley said Monday. "We've gone from having a world-class monitoring agency and we've turned it into a backroom, deal-making agency in the course of just a few months." The Mikisew Cree First Nation, the Fort McKay First Nation and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have filed their request to the regulator's internal review body. The Alberta Energy Regulator made the decision earlier this spring to suspend monitoring in what it said was an attempt to keep workers and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Companies no longer have to monitor fumes released by burning, or look for and repair leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Surface water need no longer be tested, unless it escapes into the environment. Most soil and groundwater monitoring is gone. In-situ oilsands operations no longer have to conduct any wildlife monitoring or research. Reclamation and wetland monitoring is also suspended. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Although some operations must resume Sept. 30, most suspensions have no end date.
"There was no consultation. There was no notification of any kind," said Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree. "We were all quite shocked and quite upset." Three northern Alberta First Nations are asking to appeal the province's suspension of environmental monitoring in the oilpatch because it "fails to come close" to being a reasonable decision. The appeal argues that the suspensions were made without any rationale linking specific activities to COVID-19 risks and despite work continuing at energy facilities. It points out the hold on monitoring came as Alberta was starting to ease its lockdown and weeks after the province declared a state of emergency over the pandemic. The appeal alleges the move was made at the urging of industry without any attempt to hear from anyone else involved. "The long-term consequences of this disregard for the separation between the regulator and the regulated are highly troubling," says the appeal. "(They are) to allow proponents to effectively trigger AER decisions ... in a way that circumvents the AER’s application process (and) undermines the integrity of the entire statutory regime for energy development in the province."
A comment from the regulator wasn't immediately available. Notley said Pushor, who took over the agency after its previous head left under a cloud of financial wrongdoing, is too close to the Premier Jason Kenney's United Conservative government to be an independent regulator. "There's no question that Pushor is an extension of Kenney's UCP agenda. They're one and the same."


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--U.S. border rules loosening to allow family reunifications

Canada 's ban on non-essential crossings of the U.S.-Canada border is being loosened slightly to allow some families to reunite @ @ @ @ @ announced Monday morning .
The revision means immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent @ @ @ @ @ , as long as they have no sign they might have COVID-19 and no reason @ @ @ @ @ caught it .
The border restrictions still require anyone entering the country from the United @ @ @ @ @ weeks to reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus .

Canada's ban on non-essential crossings of the U.S.-Canada border is being loosened slightly to allow some families to reunite, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday morning.
The revision means immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents will be allowed in, as long as they have no sign they might have COVID-19 and no reason to believe they might have caught it.
The border restrictions still require anyone entering the country from the United States to self-isolate for two weeks to reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus.
"If you don't follow these rules, you could face serious penalties," Trudeau warned.
The change applies at midnight Monday night in the Eastern time zone.


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--Climate-change activism needs a lesson in listening

Flossie Baker has been trained how to listen .
She was trying to learn about how lives are lived , what worries ordinary people , what brings meaning to a small island community very different from the place she lives in Vancouver .
Most of us in the environmental movement were raised to believe that reason will win the day .
It seems self-evident that if we want change , we simply have to help everyone else to see reason .
Like many of us , she has been convinced of the science for a long time .
Put bluntly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trajectory , human and other forms of life on this planet are in jeopardy .
But Flossie also understands the science : preserving old growth is essential to protecting watersheds , as a vital and highly efficient carbon sink , an unparalleled and irreplaceable biodiversity preserve , and as a means of decreasing the damage from a changing climate .
Tasked by the Sierra Club BC to assist its campaign to preserve old growth forests , she had accepted as a fundamental that we are losing the argument .
Although the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it has not yet galvanized decision makers to change direction .
When we climate-change activists say decision makers lack “ political will , ” we are admitting that we have not yet found those receptors .
Pollsters know this well .
They provide decision makers with words that will resonate with the challenges of everyday people .
Campaign slogans are chosen carefully after a lot of listening .
A social media post that goes viral can only do so because it finds “ receptive ” audiences .
However , we have by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health in its more basic dimensions : about the little girl having trouble breathing because her town ’ s air is polluted by wild fire smoke ; about rising cancer rates due to polluted air , soil , or fish ; about the horror of the cholera and typhoid that accompany flooding ; about the post-traumatic stress that haunts rural British Columbians after wildfires and flooding ; about the personal stories of mental and physical trauma associated with the repeated violence experienced by Indigenous Peoples trying , too often unsuccessfully , to isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic brought to them by colonialism .
Bread baskets , forests , watersheds and ocean fisheries are dying at catastrophic rates .
A changing climate has already killed millions of people .
Millions of others have seen their health and that of their children undermined by being rendered homeless .
All of these are both physical and mental health crises .
We talked about scientific consensus , doomsday scenarios and graphs shaped like hockey sticks .
Then we talked about polar bears .
We talked about disappearing icebergs and sea level rise .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ carefully avoided mentioning climate change when our communities flooded , accepting that our empathy was a more valuable gift than our teaching .
We are the products of an educational system that told us we would grow wise , effective and successful if we took advice from our teachers who were part of the long arc of scientific history .
Accordingly , having studied the science , read the books , changed our habits and had the nightmares which accompany an awareness of the stark realities , we concluded that it is our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world , it is true that some people are concerned about justice .
Indeed , in every union and faith community there are good people who devote considerable time and energy to actions based on increasing justice .
We are learning to recognize that solving both justice and environmental problems is necessary if we are to succeed with either .
Recently the climate movement has begun to understand that the same economic and political decision making that brought us rising global temperatures is also responsible for the widening gap between rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the institutionalizing of racism and the political and environmental tumult that leads to forced migration crises .
I spend a good deal of time hanging out with leaders in these groups and I can tell you that the effort is so widespread that it is rare to find a union or a faith community that does not have a justice , or even a climate justice , group .
All five of their members will show up at meetings and make the rest of us feel either more virtuous for welcoming them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty for not doing what they do .
But for the most part , feelings of virtuousness and guilt tend to inoculate people against behaviour change .
Unfortunately , the idea of “ climate justice ” left to itself is likely to remain an isolated concept with minimal viral effect and only in small groups .
Similarly , many of us are upset about the idea of continued logging of the last remaining old growth forests .
Some mourn the loss of beautiful magnificence .
Others seek to protect megafauna such as bears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kermode Bears or sea wolves .
Others note the relationship to a favourite human food : salmon .
Sometimes we worry about the loss of the biodiversity that these gigantic keystone beings foster .
And sometimes we argue that protecting water quality requires protecting old growth .
“ Old growth ” and “ water quality ” have both also entered the public imagination with most British Columbians in favour of their protection .
But neither have yet galvanized even our current crop of climate-change educated and sensitive political decision makers to achieve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Old growth ” and “ water quality ” seem likely to join climate justice ” as ideas unlikely to have a viral impact on behaviour .
Flossie wasn ’ t interested in teaching that day .
She was interested in listening .
She wanted to understand something very fundamental .
She knew the person she was speaking to was a beloved and admired leader who cared about her people as whole beings .
So she asked her what was keeping her awake at night .
“ COVID-19 , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of older people in her circle and they were worried about their own health .
They knew that this was a virus which is most harmful to the elderly .
But they were grandparents too , and they were worried about the mental stress and anguish felt by their adult kids as they struggled to home-school their children , support their lonely teens and get by on government subsidies which , although appreciated , were set at poverty levels .
They worried about the depression and anxiety they saw around them and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and grandchildren ’ s mental health .
Since the community leader was focused on health she stuck to that topic .
If the leader could do one thing to protect the health of the community as well as eliminate the virus , what would it be ?
The answer ?
“ Protect our drinking water.
” And when Flossie asked what would be needed to do that , she got a 20-minute , science-based explanation about the crucial relationship between watersheds , old growth forests , climate change and human health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of preserving old growth forests by explaining that they are important to protect human health .
This community leader taught Flossie about the importance of protecting human health by preserving old growth forests .
Climate activists have a lot to learn from listening to the conversations the entire world is having right now around health .
The most significant broad-based organizing meme we have ever had is the invitation being handed to us now to bring people together around this global threat to human health .
What would our world be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had the chief medical officer talking about the impact of the new policy , not on “ climate ” as an abstract concept , but on human health ?
What might it mean to our future as a species if this crisis galvanized us , and reminded us that we are part of a single , interdependent web ?
Indigenous Peoples , communities of colour and the poor have been aware that our health depends on our environment for a very long time .
The movement for environmental justice emerged from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only be described as sacrifice zones .
Poor and disenfranchised communities are forced to live with the toxic waste and associated negative health consequences resulting from the production of a product that would benefit others who can afford to acquire the skills to make it , consume it , and make the waste someone else ’ s problem And now climate change compounds the injustice .
In North America and around the world , communities of colour , women , Indigenous Peoples and people with low-incomes have been speaking out about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise , food insecurity and the resulting loss of land and culture as people are forced to move or adapt .
There is no justice in how those most affected by the consequences of climate change have contributed the least to creating the problem .
The stories about why we need climate justice are about land and language , community and culture .
They are about our connections across borders , and with the non-human world .
But we have too often failed to point out that , at their core they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us that when one group of people is vulnerable to the challenges of poverty and other adverse social conditions , we all are at greater risk .
We have seen governments moving rapidly to house homeless people for reasons of health , not justice .
If justice were the motivation , it would have happened decades ago .
Governments have moved because when people remain unhoused in a pandemic , we all are at higher risk of illness and even death .
Similarly , industry has stepped up to innovate .
Moreover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our hitherto relatively unfettered autonomy .
Governments , industry and society have shown us that if we can demonstrate that human health is at risk , they will stop at virtually nothing to protect people .
The vast majority of people have shown that if we are properly informed and well advised we will put our health first and even the health of strangers over “ business as usual ” .
Environmental justice leaders would be wise to stop talking first about old growth and clean water and climate change , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first about health and then listen to how people themselves make the connections to climate change , old growth and clean water .
That is why it is so sensible that the organizations coming together under the umbrella of the call for a “ Just Recovery ” have listed as their first priority : “ Health is the top priority for all people .
No exceptions.
” https : //www.fiveprinciples.org/ The climate change movement is learning to listen .
If we can learn to listen to people ’ s concerns about their health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first — and then about how action on climate is important to protect it — we may yet win .

Tasked by the Sierra Club BC to assist its campaign to preserve old growth forests, she had accepted as a fundamental that we are losing the argument.
Flossie Baker has been trained how to listen. She was trying to learn about how lives are lived, what worries ordinary people, what brings meaning to a small island community very different from the place she lives in Vancouver.
Most of us in the environmental movement were raised to believe that reason will win the day. It seems self-evident that if we want change, we simply have to help everyone else to see reason.
Like many of us, she has been convinced of the science for a long time. Put bluntly, if we continue on our current trajectory, human and other forms of life on this planet are in jeopardy.
But Flossie also understands the science: preserving old growth is essential to protecting watersheds, as a vital and highly efficient carbon sink, an unparalleled and irreplaceable biodiversity preserve, and as a means of decreasing the damage from a changing climate.
However, we have by and large failed to talk directly about health in its more basic dimensions: about the little girl having trouble breathing because her town’s air is polluted by wild fire smoke; about rising cancer rates due to polluted air, soil, or fish; about the horror of the cholera and typhoid that accompany flooding; about the post-traumatic stress that haunts rural British Columbians after wildfires and flooding; about the personal stories of mental and physical trauma associated with the repeated violence experienced by Indigenous Peoples trying, too often unsuccessfully, to isolate themselves from the virulence of yet another epidemic brought to them by colonialism.
Bread baskets, forests, watersheds and ocean fisheries are dying at catastrophic rates. A changing climate has already killed millions of people. Millions of others have seen their health and that of their children undermined by being rendered homeless. All of these are both physical and mental health crises.
We talked about scientific consensus, doomsday scenarios and graphs shaped like hockey sticks. Then we talked about polar bears. We talked about disappearing icebergs and sea level rise. Sometimes we talked about wildfires. We carefully avoided mentioning climate change when our communities flooded, accepting that our empathy was a more valuable gift than our teaching.
We are the products of an educational system that told us we would grow wise, effective and successful if we took advice from our teachers who were part of the long arc of scientific history. Accordingly, having studied the science, read the books, changed our habits and had the nightmares which accompany an awareness of the stark realities, we concluded that it is our job to teach.
Pollsters know this well. They provide decision makers with words that will resonate with the challenges of everyday people. Campaign slogans are chosen carefully after a lot of listening. A social media post that goes viral can only do so because it finds “receptive” audiences.
Although the idea of climate change is in the public imagination, it has not yet galvanized decision makers to change direction. When we climate-change activists say decision makers lack “political will,” we are admitting that we have not yet found those receptors.
Recently the climate movement has begun to understand that the same economic and political decision making that brought us rising global temperatures is also responsible for the widening gap between rich and poor, the divisions that allow for the institutionalizing of racism and the political and environmental tumult that leads to forced migration crises.
We are learning to recognize that solving both justice and environmental problems is necessary if we are to succeed with either.
In this part of the world, it is true that some people are concerned about justice. Indeed, in every union and faith community there are good people who devote considerable time and energy to actions based on increasing justice.
I spend a good deal of time hanging out with leaders in these groups and I can tell you that the effort is so widespread that it is rare to find a union or a faith community that does not have a justice, or even a climate justice, group. All five of their members will show up at meetings and make the rest of us feel either more virtuous for welcoming them to have their say, or more guilty for not doing what they do.
But for the most part, feelings of virtuousness and guilt tend to inoculate people against behaviour change. Unfortunately, the idea of “climate justice” left to itself is likely to remain an isolated concept with minimal viral effect and only in small groups.
Similarly, many of us are upset about the idea of continued logging of the last remaining old growth forests. Some mourn the loss of beautiful magnificence. Others seek to protect megafauna such as bears and cougars or unique animals such as Kermode Bears or sea wolves. Others note the relationship to a favourite human food: salmon.
Sometimes we worry about the loss of the biodiversity that these gigantic keystone beings foster. And sometimes we argue that protecting water quality requires protecting old growth. “Old growth” and “water quality” have both also entered the public imagination with most British Columbians in favour of their protection.
But neither have yet galvanized even our current crop of climate-change educated and sensitive political decision makers to achieve the dramatic and systemic changes that are needed. “Old growth” and “water quality” seem likely to join climate justice” as ideas unlikely to have a viral impact on behaviour.
Listening first
Flossie wasn’t interested in teaching that day. She was interested in listening.
She wanted to understand something very fundamental. She knew the person she was speaking to was a beloved and admired leader who cared about her people as whole beings.
So she asked her what was keeping her awake at night.
“COVID-19,” she said. The community leader had a lot of older people in her circle and they were worried about their own health. They knew that this was a virus which is most harmful to the elderly. But they were grandparents too, and they were worried about the mental stress and anguish felt by their adult kids as they struggled to home-school their children, support their lonely teens and get by on government subsidies which, although appreciated, were set at poverty levels. They worried about the depression and anxiety they saw around them and they worried about the long-term impact on their children and grandchildren’s mental health.
Flossie continued to listen.
Since the community leader was focused on health she stuck to that topic. If the leader could do one thing to protect the health of the community as well as eliminate the virus, what would it be? The answer? “Protect our drinking water.” And when Flossie asked what would be needed to do that, she got a 20-minute, science-based explanation about the crucial relationship between watersheds, old growth forests, climate change and human health.
Environmentalists try to talk to people about the importance of preserving old growth forests by explaining that they are important to protect human health. This community leader taught Flossie about the importance of protecting human health by preserving old growth forests.
Climate activists have a lot to learn from listening to the conversations the entire world is having right now around health.
The most significant broad-based organizing meme we have ever had is the invitation being handed to us now to bring people together around this global threat to human health.
What would our world be like if at every government briefing, we had the chief medical officer talking about the impact of the new policy, not on “climate” as an abstract concept, but on human health?
What might it mean to our future as a species if this crisis galvanized us, and reminded us that we are part of a single, interdependent web?
Indigenous Peoples, communities of colour and the poor have been aware that our health depends on our environment for a very long time. The movement for environmental justice emerged from the experience of those who live in what can only be described as sacrifice zones.
Poor and disenfranchised communities are forced to live with the toxic waste and associated negative health consequences resulting from the production of a product that would benefit others who can afford to acquire the skills to make it, consume it, and make the waste someone else’s problem
And now climate change compounds the injustice.
In North America and around the world, communities of colour, women, Indigenous Peoples and people with low-incomes have been speaking out about their enhanced vulnerability to floods, sea level rise, food insecurity and the resulting loss of land and culture as people are forced to move or adapt. There is no justice in how those most affected by the consequences of climate change have contributed the least to creating the problem.
The stories about why we need climate justice are about land and language, community and culture. They are about our connections across borders, and with the non-human world. But we have too often failed to point out that, at their core they are about human health.
COVID-19 has shown us that when one group of people is vulnerable to the challenges of poverty and other adverse social conditions, we all are at greater risk.
We have seen governments moving rapidly to house homeless people for reasons of health, not justice. If justice were the motivation, it would have happened decades ago.
Governments have moved because when people remain unhoused in a pandemic, we all are at higher risk of illness and even death. Similarly, industry has stepped up to innovate. Moreover, people have accepted unprecedented levels of constraint on our hitherto relatively unfettered autonomy.
Governments, industry and society have shown us that if we can demonstrate that human health is at risk, they will stop at virtually nothing to protect people.
The vast majority of people have shown that if we are properly informed and well advised we will put our health first and even the health of strangers over “business as usual”. Environmental justice leaders would be wise to stop talking first about old growth and clean water and climate change, and then about health, and instead talk first about health and then listen to how people themselves make the connections to climate change, old growth and clean water.
That is why it is so sensible that the organizations coming together under the umbrella of the call for a “Just Recovery” have listed as their first priority: “Health is the top priority for all people. No exceptions.” https://www.fiveprinciples.org/
The climate change movement is learning to listen. If we can learn to listen to people’s concerns about their health, and respond by talking about health first — and then about how action on climate is important to protect it — we may yet win.


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--Tenants rally demanding rent relief, extended eviction ban from Ford government

Tenants from across the Greater Toronto Area rallied outside Queen ’ s Park on Tuesday , calling on the Ford government to ban evictions and forced repayments for tenants unable to make rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Organizers and tenants from Toronto neighbourhoods including Parkdale , Scarborough , Jane and Finch , and East York wore masks and stood apart in an effort to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19 , which has hit their areas particularly hard both in terms of infections and job losses .
“ We want evictions and forced repayments for tenants that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 crisis to be taken off the table , ” said Bryan Doherty , one of the organizers of Keep Your Rent , a movement helping tenants push back against corporate landlords .
He argued that tenants leading the protests mostly live in apartment buildings owned by large corporations more able to take a financial hit than the tenants in their buildings .
“ These are far from the mom-and-pop landlords that everyone wants to talk about on the news , ” he added .
“ These are multi-million if not multi-billion dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over fist for the last decade and a half.
” • I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two reopen — for now • Black Lives Matter Movement Canada-founder Sandy Hudson on 'the perhaps wild notion that you haven ’ t considered before ' A panorama photograph of renters outside Ontario 's provincial legislature on June 9 , 2020 .
Photo via Keep Your Rent on Twitter .
Advocates warn that huge numbers of tenants who have fallen into arrears during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the risk of eviction once the provincial government lifts a moratorium on such proceedings at the Landlord and Tenant Board .
“ Despite the suspension of evictions , thousands of tenants have received threats from landlords to evict them once the courts reopen , ” Sam Nithiananthan of People ’ s Defence Toronto said in a statement .
Caryma S ’ ad , a lawyer who acts on behalf of both landlords and tenants and attended the rally , said the larger problem is Ontario has no limit on how much a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been vacated .
This makes tenants more desperate to hang on to the homes they live in and creates an incentive for landlords to push people out , she said .
“ The root of the problem has nothing to do with COVID , but everything to do with supply and demand , and how we treat housing as a commodity as opposed to an essential right , ” she said .
Tenants are banding together to call for a ban on evictions and rent forgivenness for residents unable to pay rent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks have deferred some 16 per cent of their mortgage books — backed by federal regulators treating the deferred mortgages as performing loans — neither Ottawa nor the Ford provincial government have offered any specific relief to residential tenants .
The Ford government did not respond to questions about what it is doing to limit evictions or avoid pushing vulnerable people into debt .
It is , however , pushing changes to tenancy law through the legislature that would make it easier for landlords to evict tenants if they are unable to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan .
A committee of the legislature will consider changes to Bill 184 later this month before it is brought back to the house for a final vote .
Doherty says the pushback from tenants learning to band together will continue in the face of landlords pressuring for payment from those who are struggling .
“ We will continue to organize , ” he said .
“ We are not going to be intimidated by N4s ( notices of eviction ) , people banging on doors and threats of eviction , security guards @ @ @ @

Tenants from across the Greater Toronto Area rallied outside Queen’s Park on Tuesday, calling on the Ford government to ban evictions and forced repayments for tenants unable to make rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers and tenants from Toronto neighbourhoods including Parkdale, Scarborough, Jane and Finch, and East York wore masks and stood apart in an effort to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19, which has hit their areas particularly hard both in terms of infections and job losses.
“We want evictions and forced repayments for tenants that have been unable to pay rent during the COVID-19 crisis to be taken off the table,” said Bryan Doherty, one of the organizers of Keep Your Rent, a movement helping tenants push back against corporate landlords.
He argued that tenants leading the protests mostly live in apartment buildings owned by large corporations more able to take a financial hit than the tenants in their buildings.
“These are far from the mom-and-pop landlords that everyone wants to talk about on the news,” he added. “These are multi-million if not multi-billion dollar corporations that have been making money hand over fist for the last decade and a half.”


nationalobserver--2020-06-09--Climate activists have a lot to learn from listening


nationalobserver--2020-06-10--Opposition parties not likely to support Trudeau's latest pandemic emergency bill

The non-partisan spirit that has allowed Parliament to swiftly pass emergency legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic seems likely to come to an abrupt end today .
And that could leave in limbo a number of promised measures , including benefits for disabled Canadians and expansion of the wage subsidy program to include seasonal workers and some additional businesses .
The Trudeau government 's latest bill — which would also impose penalties for fraudulently claiming the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — appears to have no support among the main opposition parties .
Without unanimous consent , the government will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after just a few hours of debate , as it has done with four previous pandemic-related bills .
The NDP is balking at the prospect of Canadians who fraudulently claim the $ 2,000-a-month CERB being fined or sent to jail — despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's assurances that the punishment is aimed at those who deliberately defraud the government , not those who make honest mistakes .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Black Lives Matter Movement Canada-founder Sandy Hudson on 'the perhaps wild notion that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two reopen — for now The Conservatives are holding out for a full resumption of House of Commons business .
And the Bloc Quebecois is demanding three conditions be met before it will support the bill : a fiscal update this month , a first ministers ' meeting before September on health care transfers to the provinces and a ban on political parties accessing the wage subsidy to avoid laying off staff .
Negotiations were continuing behind the scenes late Tuesday and were expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Liberal insiders conveyed less willingness to make concessions this time and concede an impasse is a distinct possibility .
The minority Liberals would be able to proceed with the bill with the support of just one opposition party but that would take days or weeks longer .
And even that seemed like a long-shot .
Government officials , speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly , said the government will , if necessary , find other ways to deliver on some of the measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although that could entail delays .
The non-partisan spirit that has allowed Parliament to swiftly pass emergency legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic seems likely to come to an abrupt end today , June 10 , 2020 .
In particular , they said the government will follow through on the promised one-time tax-free payment of up to $ 600 for Canadians with disabilities , announced by Trudeau last week .
The bill includes a provision to allow Revenue Canada to share information so that the benefit can be delivered to Canadians who are eligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said a different delivery mechanism can be found if necessary .
The bill also includes changes to the CERB in response to concerns that the benefit is discouraging people from returning to low-paying jobs .
People would be cut off if they fail to return to work when `` it is reasonable to do so '' and their employer has asked them to come back , or if they are able to work but decline a reasonable job offer .
As well , it would allow people to make claims for the CERB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current four weeks .
That is intended to help Canadians experiencing short-term job loss or having to take time off work to quarantine themselves or care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 .
It would also protect Canadians from penalties for missing deadlines in legal matters due to the pandemic .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10 , 2020 .

The non-partisan spirit that has allowed Parliament to swiftly pass emergency legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic seems likely to come to an abrupt end today. And that could leave in limbo a number of promised measures, including benefits for disabled Canadians and expansion of the wage subsidy program to include seasonal workers and some additional businesses. The Trudeau government's latest bill — which would also impose penalties for fraudulently claiming the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — appears to have no support among the main opposition parties. Without unanimous consent, the government will not be able to pass the bill this afternoon after just a few hours of debate, as it has done with four previous pandemic-related bills. The NDP is balking at the prospect of Canadians who fraudulently claim the $2,000-a-month CERB being fined or sent to jail — despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assurances that the punishment is aimed at those who deliberately defraud the government, not those who make honest mistakes.
The Conservatives are holding out for a full resumption of House of Commons business. And the Bloc Quebecois is demanding three conditions be met before it will support the bill: a fiscal update this month, a first ministers' meeting before September on health care transfers to the provinces and a ban on political parties accessing the wage subsidy to avoid laying off staff. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Negotiations were continuing behind the scenes late Tuesday and were expected to go down to the wire today.
But Liberal insiders conveyed less willingness to make concessions this time and concede an impasse is a distinct possibility. The non-partisan spirit that has allowed Parliament to swiftly pass emergency legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic seems likely to come to an abrupt end today, June 10, 2020. The minority Liberals would be able to proceed with the bill with the support of just one opposition party but that would take days or weeks longer. And even that seemed like a long-shot. Government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said the government will, if necessary, find other ways to deliver on some of the measures that are included in the bill, although that could entail delays. In particular, they said the government will follow through on the promised one-time tax-free payment of up to $600 for Canadians with disabilities, announced by Trudeau last week. The bill includes a provision to allow Revenue Canada to share information so that the benefit can be delivered to Canadians who are eligible for the disability tax credit. Officials said a different delivery mechanism can be found if necessary.
The bill also includes changes to the CERB in response to concerns that the benefit is discouraging people from returning to low-paying jobs. People would be cut off if they fail to return to work when "it is reasonable to do so" and their employer has asked them to come back, or if they are able to work but decline a reasonable job offer. As well, it would allow people to make claims for the CERB for a two-week period, rather than the current four weeks. That is intended to help Canadians experiencing short-term job loss or having to take time off work to quarantine themselves or care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19. It would also protect Canadians from penalties for missing deadlines in legal matters due to the pandemic.


nationalobserver--2020-06-10--B.C., Ontario shipyards team up for multibillion-dollar icebreaker contract

Canada 's cutthroat shipbuilding industry saw a surprise alliance Tuesday as two competing yards announced plans to team up to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard .
The surprise agreement between Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver and Ontario-based Heddle Shipyards is a type of co-operation rarely seen within Canada , where shipyards often fight tooth and nail against each other for work .
The two companies , along with Quebec-based shipbuilder Chantier Davie , had each expressed interest earlier this year in competing for the contract to build the CCGS John G. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guard 's flagship once it is finished But the pair now say they believe they can be stronger together , with Seaspan leading the charge for the polar-icebreaker contract and Heddle offering to help it build modules and other components should the Vancouver yard win .
`` With today 's announcement , Seaspan is partnering with a Canadian-owned and -operated shipyard to deliver economic and social benefits to Ontario and the polar icebreaker to the Canadian Coast Guard , '' Seaspan CEO Mark Lamarre told The Canadian Press .
• I wonder who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter Movement Canada-founder Sandy Hudson on 'the perhaps wild notion that you haven ’ t considered before' • Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two reopen — for now `` If Seaspan is awarded the polar , Heddle will fabricate modules in its three Ontario shipyards , which will create and sustain predictable long-term work for Heddle in Hamilton , St. Catharines and Thunder Bay . ''
The Diefenbaker was originally supposed to have been built by Seaspan along with several other coast guard ships and two naval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of two shipyards in the federal government 's national shipbuilding strategy in 2011 .
Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax was the other yard and is currently building a fleet of Arctic patrol ships and the Royal Canadian Navy 's next generation of warships , which will replace Canada 's frigates .
But the federal Liberal government took the icebreaker away last year when it reshuffled the shipbuilding program and later asked yards across Canada to explain how and why they should get the contract .
The Diefenbaker was first announced by Stephen Harper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was awarded to Seaspan in 2011 , the cost was pegged at $ 720 million — later increased to $ 1.3 billion — with delivery expected by 2017 .
But scheduling conflicts , technical problems and other issues scuttled the timeline and budget before Ottawa lifted the ship from Seaspan 's order book .
The government has not said when it will award a contract while the cost of the ship is under review .
Canada 's cutthroat shipbuilding industry saw a surprise alliance on Tuesday , June 9 , 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team up to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard .
The heavy icebreaker it is slated to replace , the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent , is more than 50 years old .
Quebec 's Davie shipyard is expected to be the main challenger for the contract after it was the only shipyard to qualify during the reshuffle to build six smaller coast guard icebreakers in what Heddle at the time alleged was a fixed selection process .
Heddle launched a trade tribunal case against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but abandoned it after the government invoked a controversial national-security exception that prevents such investigations by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal .
Neither Lamarre nor Heddle president Shaun Padulo would directly comment on Davie as they announced their partnership .
`` What happened in the past happened in the past , '' Padulo said .
`` We just wanted some support and help to become part of the national shipbuilding strategy .
It would seem with the relationship we 're developing with Seaspan , that is becoming possible . ''
But Seaspan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been pulled from its order book and replaced with 16 smaller ships last August , with Lamarre saying the yard invested millions in equipment and infrastructure needed to build the icebreaker .
`` We believe we won this work in 2011 , '' he said .
`` There 's disappointment that comes along with operating under one assumption and having that change .
We invested in a facility that was meant to build the entire package , including the polar . ''
Following news of the deal between Seaspan and Heddle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipyard 's chances of winning the Diefenbaker contract after being the only company shortlisted to build six other icebreakers for the coast guard .
`` Davie is the only Canadian shipbuilder able to build the polar icebreaker on time and at a reasonable cost , '' Boisvert said .
`` As Canada 's national icebreaker centre , we look forward to putting our experience to work and building the polar icebreaker . ''

Canada's cutthroat shipbuilding industry saw a surprise alliance Tuesday as two competing yards announced plans to team up to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard. The surprise agreement between Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver and Ontario-based Heddle Shipyards is a type of co-operation rarely seen within Canada, where shipyards often fight tooth and nail against each other for work. The two companies, along with Quebec-based shipbuilder Chantier Davie, had each expressed interest earlier this year in competing for the contract to build the CCGS John G. Diefenbaker, which will become the coast guard's flagship once it is finished But the pair now say they believe they can be stronger together, with Seaspan leading the charge for the polar-icebreaker contract and Heddle offering to help it build modules and other components should the Vancouver yard win. "With today's announcement, Seaspan is partnering with a Canadian-owned and -operated shipyard to deliver economic and social benefits to Ontario and the polar icebreaker to the Canadian Coast Guard," Seaspan CEO Mark Lamarre told The Canadian Press.
"If Seaspan is awarded the polar, Heddle will fabricate modules in its three Ontario shipyards, which will create and sustain predictable long-term work for Heddle in Hamilton, St. Catharines and Thunder Bay." The Diefenbaker was originally supposed to have been built by Seaspan along with several other coast guard ships and two naval support ships after Seaspan was selected as one of two shipyards in the federal government's national shipbuilding strategy in 2011. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax was the other yard and is currently building a fleet of Arctic patrol ships and the Royal Canadian Navy's next generation of warships, which will replace Canada's frigates.
But the federal Liberal government took the icebreaker away last year when it reshuffled the shipbuilding program and later asked yards across Canada to explain how and why they should get the contract. Canada's cutthroat shipbuilding industry saw a surprise alliance on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, as two competing yards announced plans to team up to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard. The Diefenbaker was first announced by Stephen Harper's Conservative government in 2008. When it was awarded to Seaspan in 2011, the cost was pegged at $720 million — later increased to $1.3 billion — with delivery expected by 2017. But scheduling conflicts, technical problems and other issues scuttled the timeline and budget before Ottawa lifted the ship from Seaspan's order book. The government has not said when it will award a contract while the cost of the ship is under review. The heavy icebreaker it is slated to replace, the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, is more than 50 years old. Quebec's Davie shipyard is expected to be the main challenger for the contract after it was the only shipyard to qualify during the reshuffle to build six smaller coast guard icebreakers in what Heddle at the time alleged was a fixed selection process.
Heddle launched a trade tribunal case against the government to that effect last year, but abandoned it after the government invoked a controversial national-security exception that prevents such investigations by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal. Neither Lamarre nor Heddle president Shaun Padulo would directly comment on Davie as they announced their partnership. "What happened in the past happened in the past," Padulo said. "We just wanted some support and help to become part of the national shipbuilding strategy. It would seem with the relationship we're developing with Seaspan, that is becoming possible."


nationalobserver--2020-06-10--'Almost complete loss' of early salmon runs at Fraser River slide last year

Early runs of Stuart sockeye and chinook salmon were devastated last year because they could n't make it past a massive landslide on British Columbia 's Fraser River , government officials said Tuesday .
The officials with Fisheries and Oceans Canada told a Commons committee that 99 per cent of early Stuart and 89 per cent of early chinook salmon were lost .
Rebecca Reid , the department 's regional director for the Pacific region , said salmon survival improved later in the summer when work started to transport fish past the slide , helping them reach their spawning grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journey inland is already high and it 's hard to say what exactly causes their deaths , Eric Taylor , a zoology professor and fish expert at the University of British Columbia , said in an interview .
But he said it 's clear that the landslide near Big Bar is the culprit behind last year 's elevated mortality rate .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Black Lives Matter Movement Canada-founder Sandy Hudson on 'the perhaps wild notion that you haven ’ t considered before' • Golden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage two reopen — for now It 's believed the massive landslide north of Lillooet occurred in late October or early November 2018 , but it was n't discovered until last June after fish had already begun arriving .
Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan told the committee the volume of the slide was equivalent to a building 33 storeys high by 17 storeys wide .
About 60,000 fish were helped over the slide last year , she said , while 220,000 made it past on their own once water volume dropped .
Jordan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed arriving this year .
Plans are in place to significantly increase the number of fish that survive and reach spawning grounds this year including using a pneumatic fish pump — a so-called salmon cannon — and building a series of boulders to create a fish ladder .
`` The ultimate goal would be to clear it enough so that it 's a natural passageway for the fish , so that it 's not something that we have to continually monitor or maintain , '' Jordan said .
Early runs of Stuart sockeye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they could n't make it past a massive landslide on British Columbia 's Fraser River , government officials said on Tuesday , June 9 , 2020 .
`` But in the meantime , we are making sure that there are measures in place to get the fish through . ''
Jordan said another small slide of about two cubic metres happened last month while no workers were present , an indication of the dangerous terrain at the remote site .
The committee heard that Fisheries and Oceans is also exploring how hatcheries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the landslide .
That means some salmon would be captured and their offspring reared before being reintroduced into the wild .
`` We know that there 's going to be a poor state for many of the upper Fraser River salmon , so we 're looking at emergency conservation enhancement measures , including the hatchery component , '' said Jordan .
A holding facility went into operation last week , she said , although she acknowledged concerns that large-scale use of hatcheries could affect the genetic diversity of wild salmon stocks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents Courtenay-Alberni on Vancouver Island , told the committee that B.C .
needs a bigger financial commitment from Ottawa through a joint salmon restoration and innovation fund .
The fund is worth up to $ 142.85 million over five years until the end of March 2024 , and Reid said the total value of applications under the program has so far been $ 340 million .
`` Clearly , this program is n't adequate to service the needs of coastal people , '' said Johns .
`` One thing that there is consensus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments , recreation fishers , commercial , is that we need more money ( for ) restoration and habitat protection . ''
Johns said there are thousands of volunteers who want to help , but they need resources .
Mobilizing such a workforce could be part of B.C .
's COVID-19 pandemic recovery plans while helping to save an iconic coastal species , he added .
The Big Bar landslide is the latest threat to the survival of wild salmon , said Taylor , along with climate change , lost habitat and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Big Bar is just one of the most recent incidents that are harming Pacific salmon that are already in a vulnerable position . ''
The landslide show the importance of implementing other measures to restore wild salmon runs to ensure their long-term survival , said Taylor .
`` The failure to list Pacific salmon under the Species at Risk Act now has even more seriousness because we ca n't control these things like rock slides . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9 , 2020 .

Early runs of Stuart sockeye and chinook salmon were devastated last year because they couldn't make it past a massive landslide on British Columbia's Fraser River, government officials said Tuesday. The officials with Fisheries and Oceans Canada told a Commons committee that 99 per cent of early Stuart and 89 per cent of early chinook salmon were lost. Rebecca Reid, the department's regional director for the Pacific region, said salmon survival improved later in the summer when work started to transport fish past the slide, helping them reach their spawning grounds. Mortality during the salmon's long journey inland is already high and it's hard to say what exactly causes their deaths, Eric Taylor, a zoology professor and fish expert at the University of British Columbia, said in an interview. But he said it's clear that the landslide near Big Bar is the culprit behind last year's elevated mortality rate.
It's believed the massive landslide north of Lillooet occurred in late October or early November 2018, but it wasn't discovered until last June after fish had already begun arriving. Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan told the committee the volume of the slide was equivalent to a building 33 storeys high by 17 storeys wide. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions About 60,000 fish were helped over the slide last year, she said, while 220,000 made it past on their own once water volume dropped.
Jordan said so far just two chinook have been observed arriving this year. Early runs of Stuart sockeye and chinook salmon were devastated last year because they couldn't make it past a massive landslide on British Columbia's Fraser River, government officials said on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Plans are in place to significantly increase the number of fish that survive and reach spawning grounds this year including using a pneumatic fish pump — a so-called salmon cannon — and building a series of boulders to create a fish ladder. "The ultimate goal would be to clear it enough so that it's a natural passageway for the fish, so that it's not something that we have to continually monitor or maintain," Jordan said. "But in the meantime, we are making sure that there are measures in place to get the fish through." Jordan said another small slide of about two cubic metres happened last month while no workers were present, an indication of the dangerous terrain at the remote site.
The committee heard that Fisheries and Oceans is also exploring how hatcheries could be used to restore runs affected by the landslide. That means some salmon would be captured and their offspring reared before being reintroduced into the wild. "We know that there's going to be a poor state for many of the upper Fraser River salmon, so we're looking at emergency conservation enhancement measures, including the hatchery component," said Jordan. A holding facility went into operation last week, she said, although she acknowledged concerns that large-scale use of hatcheries could affect the genetic diversity of wild salmon stocks.


nationalobserver--2020-06-10--Alberta leaping forward to reopen economy on Friday

After taking a small step toward reopening its economy last month , Alberta is embarking on a giant leap forward .
Premier Jason Kenney says everything from gyms and arenas to spas , movie theatres , libraries , pools and sports activities are being given a green light as of Friday .
More people will be allowed to book campsites and sit in restaurants at the same time .
Fifty people will be allowed to gather indoors and up to 100 will be able to congregate outside .
Kenney said Alberta has continued to flatten the COVID-19 curve .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in hospital and five of those in intensive care .
There have been 149 deaths .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Black Lives Matter Movement Canada-founder Sandy Hudson on 'the perhaps wild notion that you haven ’ t considered before' • Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two reopen — for now `` We 're effectively containing the virus as best as possible , '' Kenney said Tuesday .
`` The total number of active cases and hospitalizations has continued to decline even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has increased . ''
Most of the services allowed to restart were not scheduled to resume until June 19 .
Others , such as gyms and arenas , were not expected to open until an unspecified date after that .
Alberta began easing restrictions May 14 , when hair salons , barber shops , retailers and restaurants were allowed to open their doors as long as they followed public health restrictions and maintained physical distancing .
There was a one-week delay in Calgary and Brooks due to concerns about comparatively higher case numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all parts of the province .
Among the other activities allowed to go ahead are casinos and bingo halls , community halls , instrumental concerts , massage , acupuncture and reflexology , artificial tanning and summer schools .
After taking a small step toward reopening its economy last month , Alberta is embarking on a giant leap forward .
The 50 per cent capacity for campgrounds is being lifted .
All sites are to open for reservations by the end of the month .
There will be no cap on people attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance and practise proper hand-washing and other hygiene protocols .
Restaurants will be able to open at full capacity , but no more than six people will be allowed per table .
Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes have been cancelled for the remainder of the current year , but are to resume in September .
Major festivals and sporting events remain banned , as do nightclubs and amusement parks .
Vocal concerts are not being allowed , given that singing carries a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission .
Dr. Deena Hinshaw , chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though flat case numbers have allowed the province to push up more easing of restrictions , `` we need to remain vigilant . ''
Kenney emphasized that all of the renewed activities will have to be accompanied by proper physical distancing and other public health protocols .
Alberta says it is among the world leaders in per-capita testing .
To find and reduce future outbreaks , people can now be tested for COVID-19 even if they are asymptomatic .
`` Even if you do not have symptoms , please get tested as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hinshaw .

After taking a small step toward reopening its economy last month, Alberta is embarking on a giant leap forward. Premier Jason Kenney says everything from gyms and arenas to spas, movie theatres, libraries, pools and sports activities are being given a green light as of Friday. More people will be allowed to book campsites and sit in restaurants at the same time. Fifty people will be allowed to gather indoors and up to 100 will be able to congregate outside. Kenney said Alberta has continued to flatten the COVID-19 curve. There are 355 active cases, with 44 people in hospital and five of those in intensive care. There have been 149 deaths.
"We're effectively containing the virus as best as possible," Kenney said Tuesday. "The total number of active cases and hospitalizations has continued to decline even as the reopening has expanded and testing has increased." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Most of the services allowed to restart were not scheduled to resume until June 19. Others, such as gyms and arenas, were not expected to open until an unspecified date after that.
Alberta began easing restrictions May 14, when hair salons, barber shops, retailers and restaurants were allowed to open their doors as long as they followed public health restrictions and maintained physical distancing. After taking a small step toward reopening its economy last month, Alberta is embarking on a giant leap forward. There was a one-week delay in Calgary and Brooks due to concerns about comparatively higher case numbers. The Phase 2 reopening Friday applies to all parts of the province. Among the other activities allowed to go ahead are casinos and bingo halls, community halls, instrumental concerts, massage, acupuncture and reflexology, artificial tanning and summer schools. The 50 per cent capacity for campgrounds is being lifted. All sites are to open for reservations by the end of the month. There will be no cap on people attending worship services as long as they physically distance and practise proper hand-washing and other hygiene protocols.
Restaurants will be able to open at full capacity, but no more than six people will be allowed per table. Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes have been cancelled for the remainder of the current year, but are to resume in September. Major festivals and sporting events remain banned, as do nightclubs and amusement parks. Vocal concerts are not being allowed, given that singing carries a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission.