nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Thousands march in anti-racism, anti-police brutality rally in Montreal

Thousands hit Montreal streets again Sunday to speak out in turn against racism , systemic discrimination and police brutality , following other Canadian communities that held marches this weekend .
Participants from different communities and of all ages crowded into a downtown Montreal square to listen to a cross-section of activists , community leaders , sports personalities and politicians before snaking peacefully through downtown Montreal to Dorchester Square , chanting `` black lives matter '' and `` no justice , no peace '' among other slogans .
They took a symbolic knee during the march — the second Sunday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the release of a video showing a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man , George Floyd , for nearly nine minutes .
Floyd fell still and died , the officer 's knee still on his neck .
His death has sparked demonstrations denouncing racism , violence and police impunity right across the globe and well-attended events were held Saturday in several Canadian cities , including Toronto , St. John 's , Calgary and London , Ont .
• Calls to defund police grow , but Toronto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's managed forests have turned into super-emitters , and 2018 set a record • Inside Amazon with a fired whistleblower and former VP : Maren Costa and Tim Bray In Montreal , demonstrators called out Quebec Premier Francois Legault for his belief the province does n't have a systemic racism problem .
Legault acknowledged last week that discrimination does exist , but denied there was a `` system of discrimination '' and chalked it up to a small minority of people .
`` The major issue we have here in Montreal is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't have a systemic racism issue here , '' said Svetlana Chernienko , a mental health advocate .
`` So Mr. Legault , I 'm challenging you ... we do have an issue , black lives matter and we can not have all lives matter without black lives . ''
Chernienko , whose mother is Russian and father is Nigerian , is a mother of four .
She recounted her own experiences with random police checks and stops as a teen and a random stop while driving a luxury vehicle in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they leave the house — do n't wear sagging pants , do n't wear a hoodie or keep the hood down , and keep your hands out of your pockets when with police .
Thousands hit Montreal streets again on Sunday , June 7 , 2020 , to speak out in turn against racism , systemic discrimination and police brutality , following other Canadian communities that held marches this weekend .
`` We need to continue to communicate these issues , '' Chernienko said .
`` We need to keep it peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Former boxer Ali Nestor , a community leader and boxing trainer , said there 's little left to prove on systemic racism .
`` He ( Legault ) publicly denies it , but he is very aware of it , '' Nestor said .
`` He is an intelligent man , he knows very well that there is systemic racism that exists in Quebec . ''
Willy Tchuilen Ngatcha said he protested Sunday because for 12 years , he `` not able to breathe . ''
Ngatcha , who is black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and providing for his family because of discrimination , `` and I 'm here to scream it out loud . ''
`` I could be the next George Floyd .
I do n't want it to happen to me , it 's why I 'm here right now , '' he added .
`` I 'm calling on politicians to act now and go deeply inside and investigate what 's happening to us . ''
Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade weighed in on what she heard .
`` When we hear the stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need to say never again , '' said Anglade , who recently became the first black woman to lead a provincial party .
But to be convinced of this requires concrete actions and strong political positions on racism and discrimination , she added .
The mother of three said her only wish is that her children , like all Quebec children , are permitted to reach their full potential regardless of their skin colour .
`` Each time one of us falls , each time one of us lives a problem , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be concerned , '' Anglade said .
Federal Liberal cabinet minister Melanie Joly , and fellow Montreal Liberal MP Emmanuel Dubourg , who is of Haitian descent , also addressed the crowd .
`` Now is the time for change and we must stay strong and united , '' said Dubourg .
Montreal 's police chief Sylvain Caron had an offer to attend the rally rescinded on Saturday after organizers explained some participants and groups were opposed to his presence .
The force said on its social media page it respected that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep tabs on the march .
Demonstrations were also held in front of the Quebec 's national assembly building in the provincial capital as well as in Sherbrooke , east of Montreal .
A large crowd also gathered for a protest outside Mississauga , Ont .
's city hall and hundreds marched through the surrounding streets , carrying `` black lives matter , '' `` silence is violence '' and `` racism is the pandemic . ''
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and health authorities pleading people to keep a two-metre distance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sheer number of demonstrators , although the vast majority were however wearing masks or face shields .
Montreal police Const .
Manuel Couture said demonstrators left at about 2:30 p.m .
ET without any issues .
Many merchants on Ste-Catherine Street boarded up their windows as a preventative measure fearing a repeat of last week , when following the peaceful rally , looters and vandals got into confrontations with police .
There were thefts and damage , including some store windows being smashed .
Montreal police have said they considered the vandalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely peaceful protest and said some people took advantage of the protest to commit crimes .
On Saturday , they published the photos of those caught looting on store cameras in an attempt to make arrests .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7 , 2020 .
— with files from Roxanne Ocampo in Montreal .

Thousands hit Montreal streets again Sunday to speak out in turn against racism, systemic discrimination and police brutality, following other Canadian communities that held marches this weekend. Participants from different communities and of all ages crowded into a downtown Montreal square to listen to a cross-section of activists, community leaders, sports personalities and politicians before snaking peacefully through downtown Montreal to Dorchester Square, chanting "black lives matter" and "no justice, no peace" among other slogans. They took a symbolic knee during the march — the second Sunday in a row the city has hosted one since the release of a video showing a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a black man, George Floyd, for nearly nine minutes. Floyd fell still and died, the officer's knee still on his neck. His death has sparked demonstrations denouncing racism, violence and police impunity right across the globe and well-attended events were held Saturday in several Canadian cities, including Toronto, St. John's, Calgary and London, Ont.
In Montreal, demonstrators called out Quebec Premier Francois Legault for his belief the province doesn't have a systemic racism problem. Legault acknowledged last week that discrimination does exist, but denied there was a "system of discrimination" and chalked it up to a small minority of people. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "The major issue we have here in Montreal is that our premier seems to think that we don't have a systemic racism issue here," said Svetlana Chernienko, a mental health advocate.
"So Mr. Legault, I'm challenging you ... we do have an issue, black lives matter and we cannot have all lives matter without black lives." Thousands hit Montreal streets again on Sunday, June 7, 2020, to speak out in turn against racism, systemic discrimination and police brutality, following other Canadian communities that held marches this weekend. Chernienko, whose mother is Russian and father is Nigerian, is a mother of four. She recounted her own experiences with random police checks and stops as a teen and a random stop while driving a luxury vehicle in her 20s. She gives her children advice before they leave the house — don't wear sagging pants, don't wear a hoodie or keep the hood down, and keep your hands out of your pockets when with police. "We need to continue to communicate these issues," Chernienko said. "We need to keep it peaceful, but we need to get loud." Former boxer Ali Nestor, a community leader and boxing trainer, said there's little left to prove on systemic racism.
"He (Legault) publicly denies it, but he is very aware of it," Nestor said. "He is an intelligent man, he knows very well that there is systemic racism that exists in Quebec." Willy Tchuilen Ngatcha said he protested Sunday because for 12 years, he "not able to breathe." Ngatcha, who is black, said he has had difficulties working and providing for his family because of discrimination, "and I'm here to scream it out loud."


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--A look at how provinces plan to exit  from COVID-19 shutdown

Here is what some of the provinces have announced so far : Provinces have been releasing plans for easing restrictions that were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 .
Outdoor games of tennis were allowed to resume , though players must bring their own equipment , and not share it .
During Level 4 some businesses such as law firms and other professional services were allowed to reopen along with regulated child-care centres , with some restrictions .
Travel within the province is also permitted , including to second homes , parks and campgrounds .
And 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person services that can be booked by appointment , including written tests , driver exams and identification photos .
Private health clinics , such as optometrists and dentists , can open , as well as medium-risk businesses such as clothing stores and hair salons .
The province enters `` Alert Level 3 '' today ( June 8 ) in its five stage reopening plan .
It means groups of up to 20 people are now permitted , as long as they observe physical distancing .
Up to 19 people are allowed on public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but only at 50 per cent capacity and they must ensure public health protocols are followed , including adequate distancing between campsites .
The gathering limit also applies to arts and culture activities such as theatre performances and dance recitals , faith gatherings , and sports and physical activity .
Businesses such as theatres , concerts , festivals and sporting activities also must adhere to the 10-person limit .
Physical distancing of two metres is still required , except among members of the same household or family `` bubble . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with exceptions for outdoor weddings and funeral services which can have 15 people .
On May 29 Premier Stephen McNeil announced a new gathering limit of 10 people , doubling the limit of five that was imposed in late March .
At Level 2 , businesses with performance spaces and gyms are to reopen and Level 1 would represent `` the new normal . ''
Municipal parks , golf courses and driving ranges as well as recreational hunting and fishing were also allowed to reopen in previous weeks .
Pet grooming services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered to ensure their employees have personal protective equipment .
Most businesses ordered shut in late March were allowed to reopen on June 5 , if they have a plan that follows physical distancing protocols .
The list of businesses includes bars and restaurant dining rooms , hair salons , barber shops , gyms and yoga studios , among others .
Licensed child-care centres and family daycare homes will also reopen across Nova Scotia on June 15 .
Provincial campgrounds are scheduled to open June 15 at reduced capacity to ensure a minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some health providers will also be able to reopen , including dentistry , optometry , chiropractic and physiotherapy offices .
Veterinary services will be allowed to operate along with some unregulated professions , such as massage therapy , podiatry and naturopathy .
McNeil earlier announced there would be no return to school this year .
However , the province has announced an exemption to allow some public celebrations for high school graduations .
Community organizations , businesses or municipalities are being allowed to hold celebrations to recognize graduates because of the loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules will apply .
The exemption will last from June 8 to June 30 .
Trails and provincial and municipal parks can reopen along with garden centres , nurseries and similar businesses , but playground equipment is still off limits .
Public beaches have reopened along with outdoor activities like archery , horseback riding , golf , paddling , boating and tennis , with the proviso that social distancing and hygiene be maintained .
Sportfishing is permitted and people can attend boating , yacht or sailing clubs for the purpose of preparing boats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now allowed , if people stay in their cars , park two metres apart and there are no interactions between people .
Prince Edward Island has extended its public health emergency until June 14 .
Premier Dennis King says people wanting to travel to seasonal residences must apply , and those will be put through a risk assessment before approval .
Seasonal residents will also be tested for COVID-19 before completing the two weeks they must spend in self-isolation after arriving in the province .
The province moved into the third phase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows such things as in-house dining at restaurants , small groups to participate in recreational and some sporting activities and libraries to reopen .
Phase three also allows gatherings of up to 15 people indoors and 20 people outdoors and the reopening of child-care centres .
As well , family and friends can visit residents at long-term care homes .
The visits require an appointment and must take place outdoors .
Under phase 2 , non-contact outdoor recreational activities were permitted , and retail businesses could reopen with physical distancing measures in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers , including physiotherapists , optometrists and chiropractors , resumed on May 1 .
New Brunswick moved to the `` yellow phase '' of its COVID-19 recovery plan on May 22 , allowing barbers and hair stylists to reopen as well as churches and fitness facilities .
Dental care , massage , chiropractors and other `` close contact '' businesses and services could also reopen .
But the Campbellton region , which extends from Whites Brook to the Belledune , had to take a step backwards to the `` orange '' level on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once again avoid contacts outside their two-household bubble .
Non-regulated health professionals and personal service businesses that opened May 22 also had to close again .
And people should only be travelling in and out of Zone 5 for essential reasons .
Restrictions in the yellow phase of the province 's recovery plan were lifted on June 5 .
The activities now allowed include outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people , indoor religious services of up to 50 people , low-contact team sports and the opening of a long list of facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , water parks , and yoga and dance studios .
Starting June 9 , people must wear face coverings in any building open to the general public .
Children under the age of two , children in daycare and people who can not wear face coverings for medical reasons are exempt from the requirement .
Licensed daycares started reopening May 19 .
Children do n't have to wear masks or maintain physical distancing but are being kept in small groups .
Anyone who has travelled outside of New Brunswick will not be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days .
Retail businesses , offices , restaurants , libraries , museums and seasonal campgrounds were earlier allowed to reopen providing they have clear plans for meeting public health guidelines .
The resumption of elective surgeries was also part phase two of the province 's reopening plan .
Phase one , which started on April 24 , allowed limited play on golf courses as well as fishing and hunting .
Post-secondary students could return if it was deemed safe by the school , and outdoor church services were again permitted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are two metres apart .
The final phase , which will probably come only after a vaccine is available , will include large gatherings .
Quebec began allowing outdoor gatherings with a maximum of 10 people from three families with social distancing in place on May 22 .
On May 25 some retail businesses reopened in the greater Montreal area .
Quebec reopened retail stores outside Montreal on May 11 .
Parks and pools can reopen across the province but are still be subject to physical distancing and other health measures Day camps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open as of June 22 , with physical distancing and other COVID-19 health measures in effect .
That means smaller groups of children and frequent handwashing .
Sleep-away summer camps wo n't be allowed to reopen until next year .
Sports teams can resume outdoor practices starting today ( June 8 ) , and matches can resume at the end of the month .
That includes baseball , soccer and any other sports that can be played outdoors .
But players will have to keep a safe distance between them .
Lottery terminals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 20 with sales moving to online only .
Quebec 's construction and manufacturing industries have resumed operations with limits on the number of employees who can work per shift .
Elementary schools and daycares outside Montreal reopened on May 11 , but high schools , junior colleges and universities will stay closed until September .
Elementary schools in the greater Montreal area will remain closed until late August .
Courthouses across the province were permitted to reopen on June 1 , with limited seating capacity and Plexiglas barriers protecting clerks and judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montreal and Joliette regions , as are cottage rentals .
Shopping malls , nail salons and other personal care centres are also reopening , but only outside Montreal .
Hairdressers , nail salons and other personal care businesses will be able to open in the Montreal area on June 15 .
Meanwhile , checkpoints set up to slow the spread of COVID-19 came down on May 18 in various parts of Quebec , including between Gatineau and Ottawa .
Ontario has extended its emergency orders until June 19 .
The orders include banning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continued closure of child care centres , bars and restaurants except for take-out and delivery , libraries except for curbside pick-up or delivery , and theatres .
Playgrounds , public pools and splash pads will also remain closed under the orders .
The province recently extended its state of emergency until June 30 .
Ontario began its first stage of reopening May 19 by lifting restrictions on surgeries .
Most retail stores with a street entrance were also allowed to reopen with physical distancing restrictions , and curbside pickup and delivery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ontario says the profession is in Stage 2 of its three-phase reopening plan .
Dentists had previously only been allowed to practice emergency or urgent care on patients in-person but can now offer other essential services with enhanced precautions .
All construction can resume , with limits also lifted on maintenance , repair and property management services , such as cleaning , painting and pool maintenance .
Golf courses can reopen though clubhouses can only open for washrooms and take-out food .
Marinas , boat clubs and public boat launches can also open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for trailers and RVs whose owners have a full season contract , and businesses that board animals .
Other businesses and services included in the stage one reopening include regular veterinary appointments , pet grooming , pet sitting and pet training ; libraries for pickup or deliveries ; and housekeepers and babysitters .
Drive-in movie theatres and batting cages reopened May 31 with physical distancing measures in effect .
Short-term rentals including lodges , cabins , cottages , homes and condominiums were allowed to resume operations on June 5 .
Backcountry campers returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stipulations .
No more than five people can occupy a single campsite , unless they live in the same household .
Provincial parks also expanded permission for picnics and off-leash pet areas .
Ontario schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year and this summer 's Honda Indy Toronto has been cancelled .
The Manitoba government has lifted its one-month limit on people 's prescription drug supplies , allowing people to again get prescriptions filled or refilled for 90 days .
Its health offices , including dentists , chiropractors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can reopen at half occupancy providing they ensure physical spacing .
Museums and libraries can reopen , but with occupancy limited to 50 per cent .
Playgrounds , golf courses and tennis courts have reopened as well , along with parks and campgrounds .
On May 22 the province began allowing groups of up to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors .
On June 1 , the province eased a ban on people visiting loved ones in personal care homes .
Homes can now offer outdoor visits with a maximum of two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screened upon arrival and must practice physical distancing .
Community centres and seniors ' clubs are also getting the go-ahead with limits on customer capacity and rules for physical distancing .
Bars , tattoo parlours , dine-in restaurants , fitness clubs and pools could reopen June 1 under limited capacity .
Elementary and high schools stopped in-class instruction in March and will not reopen this school year .
But they were allowed , as of June 1 , to offer tutoring or student assessments in small groups .
Some extracurricular sports and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges , some specific instruction such as labs and arts studios will be able to resume for up to 25 students and staff at a time .
Amateur sports and recreation programs , as well as bowling alleys , are on the list to resume operations .
A ban on non-essential travel to the province 's north was also eased starting June 1 .
Southern residents can now travel directly to cottages , campgrounds and parks , but are being told to avoid visiting northern communities .
Film productions can also resume , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd limits providing people stay in their vehicles .
Movie theatres and casinos must remain closed .
Concerts , professional sporting events and other large public gatherings wo n't be considered until at least September .
Manitoba has extended a province-wide state of emergency until mid-June , to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
The third phase of Saskatchewan 's reopening plan starts today ( June 8 ) .
The province is lifting a ban on non-essential travel in the north .
More businesses are also being allowed to open , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as nail salons and tattoo parlours , as well as gyms .
Restaurants and bars can open at half capacity , with physical distancing between tables .
And child-care centres can also open their doors to a maximum of 15 kids .
The province 's 10-person gathering limit also increases to 15 people indoors and to 30 people outside .
The province 's five-phase plan started May 11 with dentists , optometrists and other health professionals allowed to resume services .
Phase 1 also included reopened golf courses and campgrounds .
Phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and playgrounds opening , while in Phase 5 , the province would consider lifting restrictions on the size of public gatherings .
Alberta has completed the first phase of its economic relaunch .
Retail shops , restaurants , day cares , barber shops , hair salons , farmers markets and places of worship have reopened with some conditions .
Outdoor gatherings are currently limited to 50 people , and indoor gatherings to 15 .
The next phase is scheduled to begin June 19 with the reopening of stage and movie theatres , spas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massages .
Alberta allowed some scheduled , non-urgent surgeries to start on May 11 .
Service provided by dentists , physiotherapists and other medical professionals are also permitted .
Golf courses reopened May 2 , though pro shops and clubhouses remain shuttered .
The provincial government allowed a partial reopening of the B.C .
economy starting May 19 .
The reopening plans are contingent on organizations and businesses having plans that follow provincial guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19 .
Hotels , resorts and parks will follow in June .
Parents in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing their children to return to class on a part-time basis starting June 1 .
The government said its goal is for the return of full-time classes in September , if it 's safe .
Under the part-time plan , for kindergarten to Grade 5 , most students will go to school half time , while grades 6 to 12 will go about one day a week .
A mix of online and classroom post-secondary education is planned for September .
Conventions , large concerts , international tourism and professional sports with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume until either a vaccine is widely available , community immunity has been reached , or effective treatment can be provided for the disease .
The Northwest Territories announced on May 12 a three-phase reopening plan , but the government did n't say when it would be implemented .
The plan includes more gatherings and the possible reopening of some schools and businesses .
However , the territory 's borders remain closed indefinitely to non-residents and non-essential workers .
There are several requirements that must be met before any measures are relaxed : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread ; travel entry points in the territory are strong and secure ; risks are reduced from workers coming into the territory ; and expanded community testing is available .
Travel restrictions will be lifted between Yukon and B.C .
after July 1 under the second phase of the territory 's pandemic restart plan .
After that date , travellers between the province and territory will no longer be required to self-isolate for 14 days .
The territory says monitoring the status of neighbouring jurisdictions will determine if it 's safe to further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing pandemic restrictions since May 15 with dine-in restaurants , day cares and recreational centres reopening .
Territorial parks and campgrounds will open for the summer next week .
Two households of up to 10 people in total are currently able to interact with each other as part of a `` household bubble . ''
The territory 's reopening plan outlines five phases including a period after a vaccine is available .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8 , 2020

Private health clinics, such as optometrists and dentists, can open, as well as medium-risk businesses such as clothing stores and hair salons.
The province enters "Alert Level 3" today (June 8) in its five stage reopening plan. It means groups of up to 20 people are now permitted, as long as they observe physical distancing. Up to 19 people are allowed on public transit.
Here is what some of the provinces have announced so far:
Provinces have been releasing plans for easing restrictions that were put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Outdoor games of tennis were allowed to resume, though players must bring their own equipment, and not share it.
During Level 4 some businesses such as law firms and other professional services were allowed to reopen along with regulated child-care centres, with some restrictions.
Travel within the province is also permitted, including to second homes, parks and campgrounds. And 11 government service centres will reopen to offer in-person services that can be booked by appointment, including written tests, driver exams and identification photos.
At Level 2, businesses with performance spaces and gyms are to reopen and Level 1 would represent "the new normal."
Municipal parks, golf courses and driving ranges as well as recreational hunting and fishing were also allowed to reopen in previous weeks.
Pet grooming services began operating May 25, with companies ordered to ensure their employees have personal protective equipment.
The gathering limit also applies to arts and culture activities such as theatre performances and dance recitals, faith gatherings, and sports and physical activity. Businesses such as theatres, concerts, festivals and sporting activities also must adhere to the 10-person limit.
Physical distancing of two metres is still required, except among members of the same household or family "bubble." The limit is the same indoors and outdoors, with exceptions for outdoor weddings and funeral services which can have 15 people.
On May 29 Premier Stephen McNeil announced a new gathering limit of 10 people, doubling the limit of five that was imposed in late March.
Private campgrounds can now reopen, but only at 50 per cent capacity and they must ensure public health protocols are followed, including adequate distancing between campsites.
Provincial campgrounds are scheduled to open June 15 at reduced capacity to ensure a minimum of six metres between individual sites.
Licensed child-care centres and family daycare homes will also reopen across Nova Scotia on June 15.
Most businesses ordered shut in late March were allowed to reopen on June 5, if they have a plan that follows physical distancing protocols. The list of businesses includes bars and restaurant dining rooms, hair salons, barber shops, gyms and yoga studios, among others.
Some health providers will also be able to reopen, including dentistry, optometry, chiropractic and physiotherapy offices. Veterinary services will be allowed to operate along with some unregulated professions, such as massage therapy, podiatry and naturopathy.
McNeil earlier announced there would be no return to school this year. However, the province has announced an exemption to allow some public celebrations for high school graduations. Community organizations, businesses or municipalities are being allowed to hold celebrations to recognize graduates because of the loss of traditional graduation ceremonies. Strict physical distancing rules will apply. The exemption will last from June 8 to June 30.
Trails and provincial and municipal parks can reopen along with garden centres, nurseries and similar businesses, but playground equipment is still off limits.
Public beaches have reopened along with outdoor activities like archery, horseback riding, golf, paddling, boating and tennis, with the proviso that social distancing and hygiene be maintained. Sportfishing is permitted and people can attend boating, yacht or sailing clubs for the purpose of preparing boats for use.
Drive-in religious services are now allowed, if people stay in their cars, park two metres apart and there are no interactions between people.
---
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island has extended its public health emergency until June 14.
Premier Dennis King says people wanting to travel to seasonal residences must apply, and those will be put through a risk assessment before approval. Seasonal residents will also be tested for COVID-19 before completing the two weeks they must spend in self-isolation after arriving in the province.
The province moved into the third phase of its reopening plan June 1, which allows such things as in-house dining at restaurants, small groups to participate in recreational and some sporting activities and libraries to reopen. Phase three also allows gatherings of up to 15 people indoors and 20 people outdoors and the reopening of child-care centres.
As well, family and friends can visit residents at long-term care homes. The visits require an appointment and must take place outdoors.
Under phase 2, non-contact outdoor recreational activities were permitted, and retail businesses could reopen with physical distancing measures in place.
Priority non-urgent surgeries and select health-service providers, including physiotherapists, optometrists and chiropractors, resumed on May 1.
The P.E.I legislature resumed May 26.
---
New Brunswick
New Brunswick moved to the "yellow phase" of its COVID-19 recovery plan on May 22, allowing barbers and hair stylists to reopen as well as churches and fitness facilities. Dental care, massage, chiropractors and other "close contact" businesses and services could also reopen.
But the Campbellton region, which extends from Whites Brook to the Belledune, had to take a step backwards to the "orange" level on May 27. Residents were told to once again avoid contacts outside their two-household bubble. Non-regulated health professionals and personal service businesses that opened May 22 also had to close again. And people should only be travelling in and out of Zone 5 for essential reasons.
Restrictions in the yellow phase of the province's recovery plan were lifted on June 5. The activities now allowed include outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people, indoor religious services of up to 50 people, low-contact team sports and the opening of a long list of facilities including swimming pools, gyms, rinks, water parks, and yoga and dance studios.
Starting June 9, people must wear face coverings in any building open to the general public. Children under the age of two, children in daycare and people who cannot wear face coverings for medical reasons are exempt from the requirement.
Licensed daycares started reopening May 19. Children don't have to wear masks or maintain physical distancing but are being kept in small groups.
Anyone who has travelled outside of New Brunswick will not be allowed to visit early learning and child-care facilities for 14 days.
Retail businesses, offices, restaurants, libraries, museums and seasonal campgrounds were earlier allowed to reopen providing they have clear plans for meeting public health guidelines. The resumption of elective surgeries was also part phase two of the province's reopening plan.
Phase one, which started on April 24, allowed limited play on golf courses as well as fishing and hunting. Post-secondary students could return if it was deemed safe by the school, and outdoor church services were again permitted, providing people remain in their vehicles and are two metres apart.
The final phase, which will probably come only after a vaccine is available, will include large gatherings.
---
Quebec
Quebec began allowing outdoor gatherings with a maximum of 10 people from three families with social distancing in place on May 22.
On May 25 some retail businesses reopened in the greater Montreal area. Quebec reopened retail stores outside Montreal on May 11.
Parks and pools can reopen across the province but are still be subject to physical distancing and other health measures
Day camps across the province will be allowed to open as of June 22, with physical distancing and other COVID-19 health measures in effect. That means smaller groups of children and frequent handwashing. Sleep-away summer camps won't be allowed to reopen until next year.
Sports teams can resume outdoor practices starting today (June 8), and matches can resume at the end of the month. That includes baseball, soccer and any other sports that can be played outdoors. But players will have to keep a safe distance between them.
Lottery terminals have reopened after being shut down on March 20 with sales moving to online only.
Quebec's construction and manufacturing industries have resumed operations with limits on the number of employees who can work per shift. Elementary schools and daycares outside Montreal reopened on May 11, but high schools, junior colleges and universities will stay closed until September.
Elementary schools in the greater Montreal area will remain closed until late August.
Courthouses across the province were permitted to reopen on June 1, with limited seating capacity and Plexiglas barriers protecting clerks and judges.
Camping is now allowed outside the Montreal and Joliette regions, as are cottage rentals.
Shopping malls, nail salons and other personal care centres are also reopening, but only outside Montreal. Hairdressers, nail salons and other personal care businesses will be able to open in the Montreal area on June 15.
Meanwhile, checkpoints set up to slow the spread of COVID-19 came down on May 18 in various parts of Quebec, including between Gatineau and Ottawa.
---
Ontario
Ontario has extended its emergency orders until June 19.
The orders include banning gathering in groups larger than five and the continued closure of child care centres, bars and restaurants except for take-out and delivery, libraries except for curbside pick-up or delivery, and theatres. Playgrounds, public pools and splash pads will also remain closed under the orders.
The province recently extended its state of emergency until June 30.
Ontario began its first stage of reopening May 19 by lifting restrictions on surgeries. Most retail stores with a street entrance were also allowed to reopen with physical distancing restrictions, and curbside pickup and delivery.
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario says the profession is in Stage 2 of its three-phase reopening plan. Dentists had previously only been allowed to practice emergency or urgent care on patients in-person but can now offer other essential services with enhanced precautions.
All construction can resume, with limits also lifted on maintenance, repair and property management services, such as cleaning, painting and pool maintenance.
Golf courses can reopen though clubhouses can only open for washrooms and take-out food. Marinas, boat clubs and public boat launches can also open, as can private parks and campgrounds for trailers and RVs whose owners have a full season contract, and businesses that board animals.
Other businesses and services included in the stage one reopening include regular veterinary appointments, pet grooming, pet sitting and pet training; libraries for pickup or deliveries; and housekeepers and babysitters.
Drive-in movie theatres and batting cages reopened May 31 with physical distancing measures in effect.
Short-term rentals including lodges, cabins, cottages, homes and condominiums were allowed to resume operations on June 5.
Backcountry campers returned to provincial parks June 1 with certain stipulations. No more than five people can occupy a single campsite, unless they live in the same household. Provincial parks also expanded permission for picnics and off-leash pet areas.
Ontario schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year and this summer's Honda Indy Toronto has been cancelled.
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Manitoba
The Manitoba government has lifted its one-month limit on people's prescription drug supplies, allowing people to again get prescriptions filled or refilled for 90 days.
Its health offices, including dentists, chiropractors and physiotherapists can also reopen. Retail businesses can reopen at half occupancy providing they ensure physical spacing.
Museums and libraries can reopen, but with occupancy limited to 50 per cent.
Playgrounds, golf courses and tennis courts have reopened as well, along with parks and campgrounds.
On May 22 the province began allowing groups of up to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
On June 1, the province eased a ban on people visiting loved ones in personal care homes. Homes can now offer outdoor visits with a maximum of two guests per resident. Visitors will be screened upon arrival and must practice physical distancing.
Community centres and seniors' clubs are also getting the go-ahead with limits on customer capacity and rules for physical distancing.
Bars, tattoo parlours, dine-in restaurants, fitness clubs and pools could reopen June 1 under limited capacity.
Elementary and high schools stopped in-class instruction in March and will not reopen this school year. But they were allowed, as of June 1, to offer tutoring or student assessments in small groups. Some extracurricular sports and other activities can restart.
At universities and colleges, some specific instruction such as labs and arts studios will be able to resume for up to 25 students and staff at a time.
Amateur sports and recreation programs, as well as bowling alleys, are on the list to resume operations.
A ban on non-essential travel to the province's north was also eased starting June 1. Southern residents can now travel directly to cottages, campgrounds and parks, but are being told to avoid visiting northern communities.
Film productions can also resume, as well outdoor religious services with no crowd limits providing people stay in their vehicles.
Movie theatres and casinos must remain closed. Concerts, professional sporting events and other large public gatherings won't be considered until at least September.
Manitoba has extended a province-wide state of emergency until mid-June, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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Saskatchewan
The third phase of Saskatchewan's reopening plan starts today (June 8). The province is lifting a ban on non-essential travel in the north. More businesses are also being allowed to open, including places of worship, personal care services such as nail salons and tattoo parlours, as well as gyms. Restaurants and bars can open at half capacity, with physical distancing between tables. And child-care centres can also open their doors to a maximum of 15 kids.
The province's 10-person gathering limit also increases to 15 people indoors and to 30 people outside.
The province's five-phase plan started May 11 with dentists, optometrists and other health professionals allowed to resume services. Phase 1 also included reopened golf courses and campgrounds.
Phase 4 could see arenas, swimming pools and playgrounds opening, while in Phase 5, the province would consider lifting restrictions on the size of public gatherings.
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Alberta
Alberta has completed the first phase of its economic relaunch. Retail shops, restaurants, day cares, barber shops, hair salons, farmers markets and places of worship have reopened with some conditions.
Outdoor gatherings are currently limited to 50 people, and indoor gatherings to 15.
The next phase is scheduled to begin June 19 with the reopening of stage and movie theatres, spas and services like manicures, pedicures and massages.
Alberta allowed some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries to start on May 11.
Service provided by dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals are also permitted. Golf courses reopened May 2, though pro shops and clubhouses remain shuttered.
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British Columbia
The provincial government allowed a partial reopening of the B.C. economy starting May 19.
The reopening plans are contingent on organizations and businesses having plans that follow provincial guidelines to control the spread of COVID-19. Hotels, resorts and parks will follow in June.
Parents in B.C. were given the choice of allowing their children to return to class on a part-time basis starting June 1. The government said its goal is for the return of full-time classes in September, if it's safe.
Under the part-time plan, for kindergarten to Grade 5, most students will go to school half time, while grades 6 to 12 will go about one day a week. A mix of online and classroom post-secondary education is planned for September.
Conventions, large concerts, international tourism and professional sports with a live audience will not be allowed to resume until either a vaccine is widely available, community immunity has been reached, or effective treatment can be provided for the disease.
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Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories announced on May 12 a three-phase reopening plan, but the government didn't say when it would be implemented.
The plan includes more gatherings and the possible reopening of some schools and businesses. However, the territory's borders remain closed indefinitely to non-residents and non-essential workers.
There are several requirements that must be met before any measures are relaxed: there must be no evidence of community spread; travel entry points in the territory are strong and secure; risks are reduced from workers coming into the territory; and expanded community testing is available.
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Yukon
Travel restrictions will be lifted between Yukon and B.C. after July 1 under the second phase of the territory's pandemic restart plan.
After that date, travellers between the province and territory will no longer be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
The territory says monitoring the status of neighbouring jurisdictions will determine if it's safe to further lift restrictions.
Yukon has been gradually easing pandemic restrictions since May 15 with dine-in restaurants, day cares and recreational centres reopening.
Territorial parks and campgrounds will open for the summer next week.
Two households of up to 10 people in total are currently able to interact with each other as part of a "household bubble."
The territory's reopening plan outlines five phases including a period after a vaccine is available.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2020


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Chantel Moore's family members seek answers about fatal police shooting

Ten family members of a 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was fatally shot by police in Edmundston , N.B.
, are travelling across the country from British Columbia to offer support to her mother and daughter , relatives said Sunday .
Amy Charlie , who grew up with Chantel Moore , said in an interview from Tofino , B.C.
, that it will be important for the family to gather in the days to come .
`` We grew up together .
I think I need to say a final goodbye to her , '' said the 20-year-old cousin , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to as Moore 's sister due to their close relationship .
She and her grandmother , Nora Martin — who will also be on the trip — say the family is also hoping to meet with investigators to find out more about what occurred .
Moore died Thursday when police arrived at her home in response to a request to check on her well-being , and police have alleged their officer encountered a woman with a knife making threats .
• Calls to defund police grow , but Toronto 's mayor not buying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned into super-emitters , and 2018 set a record • Inside Amazon with a fired whistleblower and former VP : Maren Costa and Tim Bray Charlie and her grandmother say they are seeking more complete information from officials on what occurred , `` We all want answers , '' said Charlie .
Martin is the sister of Moore 's biological grandmother but says she is considered a grandmother in their Tla-o-qui-aht culture .
She has said in earlier interviews with The Canadian Press that her family has endured previous trauma at the hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lasting change to break the pattern .
More than 50 years ago , Martin 's grandfather suffered a broken neck while in police custody , she said .
Another relative died 10 to 12 years ago while in police custody , she said .
There was an investigation and recommendations were made , but Martin says little has changed .
Ten family members of a 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was fatally shot by police in Edmundston , N.B.
, are travelling across the country from British Columbia to offer support to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , June 7 , 2020 .
She and her sister , Grace Frank , have said they doubt the police version of events as Moore was a petite woman who they say was not violent .
`` We have to know the circumstances .
We ca n't go with what the RCMP say .
We do n't believe that Chantel attacked him .
There 's no way in the world she would attack anybody , '' said Martin .
`` She had no mental health issues . ''
However , the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer support to their sister — Moore 's mother — and Moore 's five-year-old daughter .
Martin said the family expects they will meet Maliseet First Nation leaders after they arrive in Fredericton on Monday morning .
They are hoping to hold private , traditional ceremonies for Moore during a funeral and burial , once the coroner releases the body to the family .
`` We ca n't really do anything until we hear from the coroner , '' the grandmother added .
`` It 's very important .
We value our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We treat the family member who has passed on with much , much respect , '' she said .
Martin said later in the week it 's expected there will be a `` medicine walk , '' which she says is a healing ceremony , in honour of Moore .
Late last week , a coalition of Maliseet First Nations called for an independent probe of the New Brunswick justice system in light of Moore 's death .
The six chiefs in the Wolastoqey First Nation in New Brunswick issued a joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation in B.C .
to which Moore belonged .
It is signed by the chiefs of communities along the Saint John River Valley , including Tobique , St. Mary ’ s , Madawaska , Oromocto , Kingsclear and Woodstock First Nations .
Public Safety Minister Carl Urquhart said in an emailed statement that a probe has started through Quebec 's independent police investigation agency , known as the Bureau des enquetes independantes , along with a New Brunswick coroner 's investigation .
`` Decisions on next steps will be taken after the investigations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solicitor general .
It remains unclear what agency will recommend if a prosecution should proceed for the shooting , as the Bureau des enquetes independantes has stated its sole role is to produce a summary of the facts .
Their findings will be sent to the public prosecution service and the RCMP , said an email from a spokesman for Urquhart .
The Quebec agency has provided a brief statement , saying its investigation will determine if the information provided by police is accurate .
The City of Edmundston and the Edmundston Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further comment .
The union representing the 30 police officers and 11 dispatchers in the service said on Saturday in a release that it wished to offer sincere condolences to the family of Moore , calling the death `` a difficult and tragic situation for all the parties involved . ''
Relatives have said that Moore 's mother , Martha , had been raising Chantel 's daughter Gracie in New Brunswick , and Moore recently moved there to be with her mother and daughter and to go to college .
In Ottawa Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the family deserves answers , quickly .
`` It was a wellness check and someone died , '' he said .
`` I ca n't process that . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7 , 2020 .

Ten family members of a 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was fatally shot by police in Edmundston, N.B., are travelling across the country from British Columbia to offer support to her mother and daughter, relatives said Sunday. Amy Charlie, who grew up with Chantel Moore, said in an interview from Tofino, B.C., that it will be important for the family to gather in the days to come. "We grew up together. I think I need to say a final goodbye to her," said the 20-year-old cousin, adding that in Tla-o-qui-aht culture she is referred to as Moore's sister due to their close relationship. She and her grandmother, Nora Martin — who will also be on the trip — say the family is also hoping to meet with investigators to find out more about what occurred. Moore died Thursday when police arrived at her home in response to a request to check on her well-being, and police have alleged their officer encountered a woman with a knife making threats.
Charlie and her grandmother say they are seeking more complete information from officials on what occurred, "We all want answers," said Charlie. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Martin is the sister of Moore's biological grandmother but says she is considered a grandmother in their Tla-o-qui-aht culture.
She has said in earlier interviews with The Canadian Press that her family has endured previous trauma at the hands of police, and she is calling for lasting change to break the pattern. Ten family members of a 26-year-old Indigenous woman who was fatally shot by police in Edmundston, N.B., are travelling across the country from British Columbia to offer support to her mother and daughter, relatives said on Sunday, June 7, 2020. More than 50 years ago, Martin's grandfather suffered a broken neck while in police custody, she said. Another relative died 10 to 12 years ago while in police custody, she said. There was an investigation and recommendations were made, but Martin says little has changed. She and her sister, Grace Frank, have said they doubt the police version of events as Moore was a petite woman who they say was not violent. "We have to know the circumstances. We can't go with what the RCMP say. We don't believe that Chantel attacked him. There's no way in the world she would attack anybody," said Martin.
"She had no mental health issues." However, the primary focus of the journey will be to offer support to their sister — Moore's mother — and Moore's five-year-old daughter. Martin said the family expects they will meet Maliseet First Nation leaders after they arrive in Fredericton on Monday morning.


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--The latest COVID-19 numbers in Canada

The latest COVID-19 numbers in Canada

The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. on June 8 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ and presumptive cases in Canada .

The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. on June 8, 2020:
There are 95,699 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada.
_ Quebec: 52,849 confirmed (including 4,978 deaths, 18,714 resolved)
_ Ontario: 30,617 confirmed (including 2,426 deaths, 24,252 resolved)
_ Alberta: 7,138 confirmed (including 146 deaths, 6,656 resolved)


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Troops could be asked to testify in lawsuits against long-term care homes

Stephen Birman and Lucy Jackson of Toronto law firm Thomson Rogers are leading a proposed $ 20-million class-action lawsuit brought against the Altamonte Care Community on behalf of the Toronto home 's residents and their families .
The lawsuit against Altamonte and its parent company , Sienna Senior Living Inc. , alleges negligence and breach of duty over a lack of proper protocols and training as well as severe understaffing and a lack of proper equipment before and during the pandemic .
• Calls to defund police grow , but Toronto 's mayor not buying in • Canada 's managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 set a record • Inside Amazon with a fired whistleblower and former VP : Maren Costa and Tim Bray It is one of several court actions brought against long-term care facilities since COVID-19 first hit in earnest in March , ravaging many homes across the country .
Nursing home residents and staff account for the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths in Canada .
Birman and Jackson say the troops ' firsthand observations could be critical in proving their clients ' claims against the home , particularly as lockdowns imposed since March have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' families to get into the facility .
`` The military is in a position to provide very helpful evidence , '' Birman told The Canadian Press .
`` They came in as a third party , as an objective observer , and they saw and identified a horrendous and shocking situation that may never have come to the forefront to the extent that it has if not for their involvement . ''
The military report on Altamonte includes allegations most residents did not get receive their medication or proper meals and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ periods without being moved or washed .
There were also concerns about staff shortages and training .
Similar observations were made about the other four Ontario facilities , including bug infestations , aggressive feeding of residents and residents being left crying for hours The Quebec report was less critical , but did raise concerns about staff shortages .
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces working inside long-term care homes could find themselves testifying about the state of those facilities in relation to lawsuits against the institutions .
None of the allegations in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filed on June 1 , have been proven in court .
Birman and Jackson are now collecting information to bolster their case for getting the lawsuit certified as a class action , which involves talking to as many residents , family members , staff as well as military personnel as possible .
Military spokeswoman Lt. Stephany Lura said military personnel had the same obligation to report to their commanders whatever observations they had while working in the long-term care facilities , as they would with any other mission .
`` Like any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called upon as witnesses , '' she added .
`` This situation is no different .
Our members will receive all necessary support from the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces should it be needed . ''
While inviting service members to reach out to them , Birman and Jackson suggested service members could also be compelled to provide eyewitness accounts and other information through affidavits and other procedures .
`` I would think everybody who 's involved in this important matter would want to hear from the military when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts , '' Birman said .
`` We will do everything we can to gather their evidence so it forms part of the record in this case . ''
The military had more than 1,000 service members in 15 long-term care facilities in Quebec and almost 500 in five homes in Ontario last week .
While officials confirmed Sunday that operations at one of those Ontario homes , Orchard Villa in Pickering , had ended , the military appeared poised to deploy into another home in the city of Vaughan , north of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CAF is onsite at Woodbridge Vista today to do an onsite assessment , '' said Gillian Sloggett , spokeswoman for Ontario Minister of Long-term Care Merrilee Fullerton .

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces working inside long-term care homes could find themselves testifying about the state of those facilities in relation to lawsuits against the institutions. The unusual scenario follows the deployment of hundreds of service members in April and May to more than two-dozen nursing homes in Ontario and Quebec hit hard by COVID-19. Damning military reports later said the troops found cases of abuse and negligence in the homes, including bug infestations, aggressive feeding of residents that caused choking, bleeding infections and residents left crying for help for hours. Stephen Birman and Lucy Jackson of Toronto law firm Thomson Rogers are leading a proposed $20-million class-action lawsuit brought against the Altamonte Care Community on behalf of the Toronto home's residents and their families. The lawsuit against Altamonte and its parent company, Sienna Senior Living Inc., alleges negligence and breach of duty over a lack of proper protocols and training as well as severe understaffing and a lack of proper equipment before and during the pandemic.
It is one of several court actions brought against long-term care facilities since COVID-19 first hit in earnest in March, ravaging many homes across the country. Nursing home residents and staff account for the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths in Canada. Birman and Jackson say the troops' firsthand observations could be critical in proving their clients' claims against the home, particularly as lockdowns imposed since March have made it difficult to impossible for residents' families to get into the facility. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "The military is in a position to provide very helpful evidence," Birman told The Canadian Press.
"They came in as a third party, as an objective observer, and they saw and identified a horrendous and shocking situation that may never have come to the forefront to the extent that it has if not for their involvement." Members of the Canadian Armed Forces working inside long-term care homes could find themselves testifying about the state of those facilities in relation to lawsuits against the institutions. The military report on Altamonte includes allegations most residents did not get receive their medication or proper meals and many had been left in bed for long periods without being moved or washed. There were also concerns about staff shortages and training. Similar observations were made about the other four Ontario facilities, including bug infestations, aggressive feeding of residents and residents being left crying for hours The Quebec report was less critical, but did raise concerns about staff shortages. None of the allegations in the reports or the proposed lawsuit, which was filed on June 1, have been proven in court. Birman and Jackson are now collecting information to bolster their case for getting the lawsuit certified as a class action, which involves talking to as many residents, family members, staff as well as military personnel as possible.
Military spokeswoman Lt. Stephany Lura said military personnel had the same obligation to report to their commanders whatever observations they had while working in the long-term care facilities, as they would with any other mission. "Like any other Canadian, CAF members may be called upon as witnesses," she added. "This situation is no different. Our members will receive all necessary support from the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces should it be needed." While inviting service members to reach out to them, Birman and Jackson suggested service members could also be compelled to provide eyewitness accounts and other information through affidavits and other procedures.


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Unionization likely at Vancouver care home with deadly COVID-19 outbreak

Care aides at the Lynn Valley Care Centre are looking to unionize in the wake of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the North Vancouver facility , signalling workers ’ appetites for better working conditions and compensation in the beleaguered sector .
The home suffered Canada ’ s first COVID-related fatality in March , with 20 residents eventually dying of the disease and more than 50 residents and two dozen staff infected before the outbreak was declared over in May .
The Hospital Employees ’ Union , which represents more than 15,000 care aides , submitted an application to represent workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board early this week .
A majority of staff had signed union cards , the HEU said in a news release , and a mail-in vote among 120 staff members will be administered by the board this week .
“ In the face of this unfolding tragedy , and despite the risks they faced , these workers showed courage , and a deep commitment to the care of their elderly residents at Lynn Valley , ” HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside said in the release .
• Calls to defund police grow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Canada 's managed forests have turned into super-emitters , and 2018 set a record • Inside Amazon with a fired whistleblower and former VP : Maren Costa and Tim Bray “ Now they are uniting together with HEU to advocate for safer working and caring conditions , and fair treatment from their employer.
” The HEU represents staff at nine other facilities in B.C .
operated by Pro Vita , the contractor that provides staff to privately-owned Lynn Valley .
It represented workers at Lynn Valley until 2007 .
BC Liberal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when care home owners changed contractors led to contract-flipping and decreased unionization in the sector .
In 2001 , the BC Liberal government introduced legislation allowing a number of long-term care operators to opt out of the existing master collective agreement .
The result today is contract “ fragmentation , ” said Whiteside , and disparate provisions across more than 80 separate agreements negotiated by HEU since 2001 .
The move towards unionization comes on the heels of a pandemic that has revealed serious problems in the province ’ s long-term care system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Care aides at the Lynn Valley Care Centre are looking to unionize in the wake of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the North Vancouver facility , signalling workers ’ appetites for better working conditions and compensation in the beleaguered sector .
Bethany Hastie , a labour expert and assistant professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia , said the pandemic could bring a new wave of union organizing .
“ It ’ s really shone a light on the kinds of essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think of as essential , ” Hastie said .
“ In that particular industry , that privatization seemed to be followed by a depression in wages and in benefits… and these people are taking care of the most vulnerable people in our society.
” The vast majority of B.C.
’ s 164 virus-related deaths have been residents of long-term care , as have around 80 per cent of deaths across Canada .
These deaths include one care aide in his 40s , who worked in two facilities to support his family and died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Early in the pandemic , provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry took over staffing at long-term care facilities across the province , offering some workers wage boosts and ensuring that each staff member only worked at one facility to limit potential transmission .
Many care aides had worked across facilities to get enough hours to make ends meet , and about two-thirds of aides in private facilities don ’ t make as much as those covered by the Provincial Master Agreement .
Changes to the provincial labour code in 2019 now prohibit contract-flipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review and reform of the sector after the pandemic subsides .
Hastie says these changes mean Lynn Valley could be the beginning of a wave of unionization among B.C .
care workers .

Care aides at the Lynn Valley Care Centre are looking to unionize in the wake of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the North Vancouver facility, signalling workers’ appetites for better working conditions and compensation in the beleaguered sector. The home suffered Canada’s first COVID-related fatality in March, with 20 residents eventually dying of the disease and more than 50 residents and two dozen staff infected before the outbreak was declared over in May. The Hospital Employees’ Union, which represents more than 15,000 care aides, submitted an application to represent workers at the facility to the Labour Relations Board early this week. A majority of staff had signed union cards, the HEU said in a news release, and a mail-in vote among 120 staff members will be administered by the board this week. “In the face of this unfolding tragedy, and despite the risks they faced, these workers showed courage, and a deep commitment to the care of their elderly residents at Lynn Valley,” HEU secretary-business manager Jennifer Whiteside said in the release.
“Now they are uniting together with HEU to advocate for safer working and caring conditions, and fair treatment from their employer.” The HEU represents staff at nine other facilities in B.C. operated by Pro Vita, the contractor that provides staff to privately-owned Lynn Valley. It represented workers at Lynn Valley until 2007. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions BC Liberal government changes in 2003 ending protection for employees when care home owners changed contractors led to contract-flipping and decreased unionization in the sector.
In 2001, the BC Liberal government introduced legislation allowing a number of long-term care operators to opt out of the existing master collective agreement. Care aides at the Lynn Valley Care Centre are looking to unionize in the wake of a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the North Vancouver facility, signalling workers’ appetites for better working conditions and compensation in the beleaguered sector. The result today is contract “fragmentation,” said Whiteside, and disparate provisions across more than 80 separate agreements negotiated by HEU since 2001. The move towards unionization comes on the heels of a pandemic that has revealed serious problems in the province’s long-term care system and left staff and residents vulnerable to the virus. Bethany Hastie, a labour expert and assistant professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, said the pandemic could bring a new wave of union organizing. “It’s really shone a light on the kinds of essential work that we maybe didn’t think of as essential,” Hastie said.
“In that particular industry, that privatization seemed to be followed by a depression in wages and in benefits… and these people are taking care of the most vulnerable people in our society.” The vast majority of B.C.’s 164 virus-related deaths have been residents of long-term care, as have around 80 per cent of deaths across Canada. These deaths include one care aide in his 40s, who worked in two facilities to support his family and died after contracting the virus at work.


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Seeking to explain Nova Scotia shootings: shooter an "injustice collector"

More than seven weeks after a man disguised as a Mountie killed 22 people in rural Nova Scotia , the RCMP have finally hinted at what may have motivated one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history .
Last week , RCMP Supt .
Darren Campbell told a briefing that a behavioural analysis of the killer determined he was an `` injustice collector '' — a term that is well known among criminologists .
But what does that description really mean ?
And what does it tell us about the 51-year-old denture-fitter responsible for so much carnage and mayhem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing the world , '' says Tracy Vaillancourt , Canada Research Chair in Children 's Mental Health and Violence Prevention at the University of Ottawa .
The term was coined by Mary Ellen O'Toole , a former FBI profiler who is now a director of the forensic science department at George Mason University in Virginia .
• Calls to defund police grow , but Toronto 's mayor not buying in • Canada 's managed forests have turned into super-emitters , and 2018 set a record • Inside Amazon with a fired whistleblower and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bray Michael Arntfield , a professor and criminologist at Western University in London , Ont.
, says injustice collectors are disproportionately middle-aged males who have tabulated an inventory of every perceived slight over the course of their lives .
`` Injustice collectors have a negative or adversarial interpretation of every encounter , '' he says .
`` It 's their default setting .
They can nurture grudges for years .
They often feel cheated or disrespected by others , even though there may be no evidence to support those beliefs .
And these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endless , self-fulfilling loop .
`` It creates a threat-sensitive brain that is always looking for evidence to confirm the world is against them , '' says Vaillancourt , a professor who specializes in the study of violence .
`` It builds up to be an internal narrative of : 'These people are jerks .
These people are bad .
They deserve what they get . '
They become desensitized to the suffering of their victims . ''
More than seven weeks after a man disguised as a Mountie killed 22 people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally hinted at what may have motivated one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history .
Witness statements , documents and police disclosures confirm the killer , Gabriel Wortman , displayed many of these traits — though not all the time .
According to court records , his relationship with an uncle soured in July 2015 after Wortman lost a legal battle involving a shared property in Portapique , N.S.
, the tiny community where he started his homicidal rampage on the night of April 18 .
Longtime neighbour John Hudson says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his uncle 's former home that night , even though he had moved away years ago .
Among Wortman 's first victims was 49-year-old teacher Lisa McCully , who had purchased the uncle 's former home .
`` It did n't have anything to do with Lisa , '' Hudson speculated in an interview in April .
`` He did n't have her in mind .
He was thinking of the problems he had with his uncle . ''
Hudson also recalled how Wortman was particularly perturbed about stonework on a neighbour 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his own home .
`` He would tell me , 'They 've just disgraced that place . '
He thought they were copying him .
He did worry about those things . ''
Arntfield , a workplace violence consultant and former police detective , says the focus on petty grievances is consistent with injustice collecting .
`` Over the course of their lifetime , this reaches critical mass , and some act out , '' he says .
Wortman killed 13 people in Portapique before slaying another nine people the following day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nova Scotia .
He was fatally shot by a Mountie at a gas station in Enfield , N.S .
The RCMP said the killer 's victims fall into one of three categories .
`` Some recipients of his wrath of violence were targeted for perceived injustices of the past , others were reactive targets of his rage and others were random targets , '' Campbell told an RCMP briefing last Thursday .
Vaillancourt says anger rumination can sometimes be linked to growing up in a hostile environment , though that is not always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to obtain a search warrant , one witness described Wortman as a smart psychopath who had been abused as a boy and was paranoid about the COVID-19 pandemic .
However , even though Wortman routinely had run-ins with neighbours , police and others in authority , those types of interactions are not reliable predictors for violent behaviour , Vaillancourt says .
`` There 's a lot of people who are injustice collectors , '' she says .
`` Your next-door neighbour might be one .
You 're mom might be one .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ view the world this way and do n't go on a shooting rampage . ''
Still , Wortman 's history of domestic violence was well known among some of his neighbours , and police have confirmed the killings started shortly after he assaulted his long-term common law wife , who survived the attack .
Intimate partner violence is a strong indicator that an individual is more likely to be violent towards others .
Arntfield , who works with the Canadian Association of Threat Assessment Professionals , says experts can use actuarial tools to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees .
These tools , which include the MOSAIC threat-assessment system in the U.S. , are also used by politicians and other public officials to determine the threat posed by people sending threatening correspondence .
One key trait is the use of pseudo-legal language .
Other clues include obsessions with police or the military and access to firearms , both of which applied to Wortman .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8 , 2020 .

More than seven weeks after a man disguised as a Mountie killed 22 people in rural Nova Scotia, the RCMP have finally hinted at what may have motivated one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history. Last week, RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell told a briefing that a behavioural analysis of the killer determined he was an "injustice collector" — a term that is well known among criminologists. But what does that description really mean? And what does it tell us about the 51-year-old denture-fitter responsible for so much carnage and mayhem? "It's a way of seeing the world," says Tracy Vaillancourt, Canada Research Chair in Children's Mental Health and Violence Prevention at the University of Ottawa. The term was coined by Mary Ellen O'Toole, a former FBI profiler who is now a director of the forensic science department at George Mason University in Virginia.
Michael Arntfield, a professor and criminologist at Western University in London, Ont., says injustice collectors are disproportionately middle-aged males who have tabulated an inventory of every perceived slight over the course of their lives. "Injustice collectors have a negative or adversarial interpretation of every encounter," he says. "It's their default setting. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions They can nurture grudges for years. They often feel cheated or disrespected by others, even though there may be no evidence to support those beliefs. And these negative thoughts often get stuck on an endless, self-fulfilling loop.
Vaillancourt prefers the term "anger rumination." More than seven weeks after a man disguised as a Mountie killed 22 people in rural Nova Scotia, the RCMP have finally hinted at what may have motivated one of the worst mass killings in Canadian history. "It creates a threat-sensitive brain that is always looking for evidence to confirm the world is against them," says Vaillancourt, a professor who specializes in the study of violence. "It builds up to be an internal narrative of: 'These people are jerks. These people are bad. They deserve what they get.' They become desensitized to the suffering of their victims." Witness statements, documents and police disclosures confirm the killer, Gabriel Wortman, displayed many of these traits — though not all the time. According to court records, his relationship with an uncle soured in July 2015 after Wortman lost a legal battle involving a shared property in Portapique, N.S., the tiny community where he started his homicidal rampage on the night of April 18.
Longtime neighbour John Hudson says the killer made a point of burning his uncle's former home that night, even though he had moved away years ago. Among Wortman's first victims was 49-year-old teacher Lisa McCully, who had purchased the uncle's former home. "It didn't have anything to do with Lisa," Hudson speculated in an interview in April. "He didn't have her in mind. He was thinking of the problems he had with his uncle." Hudson also recalled how Wortman was particularly perturbed about stonework on a neighbour's log home, which resembled the style of his own home.


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Toronto police chief stepping down, city council to debate defunding police

The chief of Toronto police unexpectedly announced he will step down at the end of next month , just hours after a city councillor launched an effort to cut the force ’ s budget by 10 per cent amid widespread protests across North America against police brutality .
While Chief Mark Saunders gave no indication he was leaving under pressure , his exit creates an absence at the top of the Toronto Police Service as it and other forces face increasingly strident calls for some of their budgets to be allocated elsewhere .
Saunders said the emergence of young protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for violence against marginalized communities was an opportunity for dialogue .
“ What I liked about the protest is we ’ ve got our young engaged , ” he said at a news conference on Monday , noting in the past adults would often speak on their behalf .
“ Now they ’ re coming to the table , this is a fantastic opportunity for all of us , ” he said .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defund police grow , but Toronto 's mayor not buying in Saunders , one of the first Black chiefs of a Canadian police force , said he would step down on July 31 — eight months before his contract was up — but that he would remain engaged in the challenge of reducing violent crime within Black communities .
“ I see a lot of young Black boys getting killed by young Black boys , ” he said .
“ Law enforcement deals with those symptoms and I want to help find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had been in the top job for five years , said he informed Mayor John Tory and the police board of his decision early last week .
Meanwhile , city councillor Josh Matlow is proposing that a tenth of the force ’ s $ 1 billion-plus budget be shifted to community investments that would “ enhance resiliency in marginalized communities '' , including community-led alternatives to policing and the criminal justice system , anti-racism education , affordable housing and tenant rights , food security and skills training .
“ We recognize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety will not be solved by the police , ” he said .
“ Too many people are unable to access the life-saving resources they need to thrive , while growing affordability , mental health and addictions crises are having massive health and safety impacts.
” The move follows a pledge from a majority of Minneapolis ’ city council to dismantle that city ’ s police force and replace it with an alternative model in the wake of the death of George Floyd .
Toronto 's police chief says he will step down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a city councillor is proposing a 10 per cent cut to the force 's 2021 budget .
But Toronto ’ s mayor is instead focused on getting more officers wearing body cameras , and more police training and community outreach , and Matlow acknowledged the motion is unlikely to succeed .
“ The truth in Toronto is that , as it stands now , it ’ ll be challenging to even get 10 per cent approved at council , given that we have a mayor and majority who still haven ’ t committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tweet .
“ We need to get this door open and need your help , ” he added .
“ Please email the mayor and your councillor .
”

The chief of Toronto police unexpectedly announced he will step down at the end of next month, just hours after a city councillor launched an effort to cut the force’s budget by 10 per cent amid widespread protests across North America against police brutality. While Chief Mark Saunders gave no indication he was leaving under pressure, his exit creates an absence at the top of the Toronto Police Service as it and other forces face increasingly strident calls for some of their budgets to be allocated elsewhere. Saunders said the emergence of young protesters calling for police to be held accountable for violence against marginalized communities was an opportunity for dialogue. “What I liked about the protest is we’ve got our young engaged,” he said at a news conference on Monday, noting in the past adults would often speak on their behalf. “Now they’re coming to the table, this is a fantastic opportunity for all of us,” he said.
Saunders, one of the first Black chiefs of a Canadian police force, said he would step down on July 31 — eight months before his contract was up — but that he would remain engaged in the challenge of reducing violent crime within Black communities. “I see a lot of young Black boys getting killed by young Black boys,” he said. “Law enforcement deals with those symptoms and I want to help find the cure for the disease.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Saunders, who had been in the top job for five years, said he informed Mayor John Tory and the police board of his decision early last week.
Meanwhile, city councillor Josh Matlow is proposing that a tenth of the force’s $1 billion-plus budget be shifted to community investments that would “enhance resiliency in marginalized communities", including community-led alternatives to policing and the criminal justice system, anti-racism education, affordable housing and tenant rights, food security and skills training. Toronto's police chief says he will step down at the end of July, while a city councillor is proposing a 10 per cent cut to the force's 2021 budget. “We recognize that many of the impediments to community safety will not be solved by the police,” he said. “Too many people are unable to access the life-saving resources they need to thrive, while growing affordability, mental health and addictions crises are having massive health and safety impacts.” The move follows a pledge from a majority of Minneapolis’ city council to dismantle that city’s police force and replace it with an alternative model in the wake of the death of George Floyd. But Toronto’s mayor is instead focused on getting more officers wearing body cameras, and more police training and community outreach, and Matlow acknowledged the motion is unlikely to succeed. “The truth in Toronto is that, as it stands now, it’ll be challenging to even get 10 per cent approved at council, given that we have a mayor and majority who still haven’t committed their support,” Matlow said in a tweet.


nationalobserver--2020-06-08--Two deaths announced as Sask. reopens northwest

The province of Saskatchewan is lifting travel restrictions in the northwest region as the third stage of its reopening plan takes effect .
“ I would encourage everyone who is feeling well and is not immunocompromised to think about going out to your local gym or your local restaurant … and to continue to support those local businesses that are already open and already give back so much to our community , '' Premier Scott Moe said in his June 4 COVID-19 update .
“ This is how our economy will recover and this is how we will bring back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is encouraging residents to support local businesses as they start to reopen while continuing to abide by social distancing guidelines .
Photograph courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan .
Businesses and services that can reopen in this phase of the province ’ s plan include places of worship , restaurants , gyms , child-care facilities and personal care services that did not reopen in the second phase .
• I wonder who will march with Indigenous Peoples ?
• Golden Horseshoe not included in Ontario ’ s stage two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defund police grow , but Toronto 's mayor not buying in The Northern Saskatchewan Administration District ( NSAD ) remained under stricter travel restrictions while the rest of the province began to reopen .
Travel restrictions were lifted in the northeast on May 19 , leaving the northwest region alone closed to traffic , with many communities still under lockdown .
Notably , the northern village of La Loche is now allowed to go forward with the first and second phases of its reopening plan as well .
The northwest remains behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although travel restrictions are being lifted the region is not moving forward fully into phase three .
The virus spread into northwest Saskatchewan in part from workers travelling between the Alberta oilsands and communities such as La Loche .
An outbreak in a long-term care facility had turned the community into an epicenter for the virus in the northwest .
On June 8 the province announced that two residents of the Far North region who tested positive for COVID-19 have died , bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported in the province bringing the total reported number of cases up to 654 .
Seventeen of those are considered active .
Two hundred and sixty of the total cases are from the Far North region , with the deadly health-care facility outbreak in La Loche no longer considered active .
On June 8 two additional deaths were reported in the Far North region bringing the total number of death in the province to 13 .
The Northern Saskatchewan Administration District ( NSAD ) roughly corresponds to the Far North region on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divided in two when the province reopened the eastern area , even while travel restrictions for the western area remained in place .
Graphic courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan .
“ Of course everybody needs to continue to follow all of the good physical distancing practices that have allowed us to control the spread of COVID-19 .
But if you are able to do so , please go out and support a local business , ” Moe said .
“ Over the past few weeks together we have proven that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time .
We can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we can reopen our economy safely , ” Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe .
“ Over the past few weeks together we have proven that we can do both of these things at the same time .
We can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we can reopen our economy safely.
” Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said it ’ s important to continue to follow social distancing guidelines as economic and recreational activities start again .
“ I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new normal and this new normal will continue for the foreseeable future until there ’ s a vaccine , ” Shahab said .
The province promised to ensure increased access and availability of child-care spaces for working parents as stage three takes effect .
Starting on Monday , June 8 , employees returning to work in the third phase of reopening will be offered access to “ school-based child-care facilities.
” The eight-person limit on children per designated space in provincial care facilities is going up to 15 .
As of June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were received for 1,030 school-based child-care centre spaces , out of an available 2,170 spaces , which shows that they are operating at under 50 per cent capacity .
Dr. Shahab said that he hopes people will continue to follow social distancing guidelines while out in public .
“ I strongly encourage people to read the guidelines themselves and understand what they are , so that we don ’ t create a challenge in terms of not complying , ” Shahab said .
Travel restrictions imposed by Indigenous communities are at their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Indigenous community in the region should check to see if there is a no-visitors rule or restricted access before doing so .

The province of Saskatchewan is lifting travel restrictions in the northwest region as the third stage of its reopening plan takes effect. “I would encourage everyone who is feeling well and is not immunocompromised to think about going out to your local gym or your local restaurant … and to continue to support those local businesses that are already open and already give back so much to our community," Premier Scott Moe said in his June 4 COVID-19 update. “This is how our economy will recover and this is how we will bring back our jobs,” Moe said. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is encouraging residents to support local businesses as they start to reopen while continuing to abide by social distancing guidelines. Photograph courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan. Businesses and services that can reopen in this phase of the province’s plan include places of worship, restaurants, gyms, child-care facilities and personal care services that did not reopen in the second phase.
The Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD) remained under stricter travel restrictions while the rest of the province began to reopen. Travel restrictions were lifted in the northeast on May 19, leaving the northwest region alone closed to traffic, with many communities still under lockdown. Notably, the northern village of La Loche is now allowed to go forward with the first and second phases of its reopening plan as well. The northwest remains behind the rest of the province's schedule. Although travel restrictions are being lifted the region is not moving forward fully into phase three. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The virus spread into northwest Saskatchewan in part from workers travelling between the Alberta oilsands and communities such as La Loche. An outbreak in a long-term care facility had turned the community into an epicenter for the virus in the northwest.
On June 8 the province announced that two residents of the Far North region who tested positive for COVID-19 have died, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 13. Four new cases of the virus were reported in the province bringing the total reported number of cases up to 654. Seventeen of those are considered active. Two hundred and sixty of the total cases are from the Far North region, with the deadly health-care facility outbreak in La Loche no longer considered active. “Over the past few weeks together we have proven that we can do both of these things at the same time. We can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we can reopen our economy safely,” Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe. On June 8 two additional deaths were reported in the Far North region bringing the total number of death in the province to 13. The Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD) roughly corresponds to the Far North region on health authority maps. The region was divided in two when the province reopened the eastern area, even while travel restrictions for the western area remained in place. Graphic courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan. “Of course everybody needs to continue to follow all of the good physical distancing practices that have allowed us to control the spread of COVID-19. But if you are able to do so, please go out and support a local business,” Moe said. “Over the past few weeks together we have proven that we can do both of these things at the same time. We can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we can reopen our economy safely.” Chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said it’s important to continue to follow social distancing guidelines as economic and recreational activities start again.
“I want to reinforce that it is going forward in a new normal and this new normal will continue for the foreseeable future until there’s a vaccine,” Shahab said. The province promised to ensure increased access and availability of child-care spaces for working parents as stage three takes effect. Starting on Monday, June 8, employees returning to work in the third phase of reopening will be offered access to “school-based child-care facilities.” The eight-person limit on children per designated space in provincial care facilities is going up to 15.