nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Don't  pressure Health Canada to approve rapid COVID-19 tests: Freeland

The federal government is `` lining up advance deals '' to buy rapid tests for COVID-19 so as soon as the technology is approved for use in Canada , it can be put to work , says Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland .
But Health Canada , which has to approve the tests , wo n't say anything about when that approval might come , and Freeland said it would be wrong for politicians to influence the process .
`` We are seeing interference and pressure on regulators around the world and I think we can all see the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach , '' she said .
`` So that will not be the approach our government takes . ''
The opposition Conservatives were less than impressed by her promise , pointing out that the government claimed in March that rapid testing was a top priority .
`` Half a year and half a trillion dollars later Canadian families still have to wait in line for hours , sometimes days , to get tested , '' said deputy Conservative leader Candice Bergen in the House of Commons Thursday .
• Courts can 'no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court hears in carbon tax case • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late She said many people ca n't afford to take days off work to wait for tests .
Online chat rooms and social media groups are awash in questions and complaints from Canadians struggling to get tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 .
Those who do get through a testing line are reporting waits of up to a week to get results because labs are so backed up .
Health Canada regulates both the sale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests or treatments for COVID-19 .
It has already approved nearly three dozen different tests to diagnose it , but all of them use either a swab from the back of the nose and throat , or a saliva sample , and have to be processed in a lab .
Once the test is run it takes several hours to get results but sending those results back to a patient usually takes more than a day .
Rapid tests can produce results in as little as five minutes , right in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sample or saliva sample is collected .
They are n't considered to be as accurate as the genetic tests , but several countries have approved them , including Japan and the United States .
Some Canadian epidemiologists argue they would be good as surveillance tools to get tests done quickly on people who have symptoms of COVID-19 or possible exposures to known cases .
If a rapid test comes up positive it can then be confirmed by the more reliable molecular version .
The federal government is `` lining up advance deals '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as the technology is approved for use in Canada , it can be put to work , says Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland .
At least 14 rapid devices are under review by Health Canada but the department 's spokesman says he can not comment on the status of the applications during the scientific assessment process .
The department does have an online list of devices for which it has received applications , including the name of the device , the manufacturer , and the type of test .
All are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their entries say Health Canada is awaiting more information .
One rapid test was approved in May but subsequently pulled back after field testing did n't go as hoped .
Last week Health Minister Patty Hajdu said regulators are n't yet confident the rapid tests are accurate enough to approve .
Freeland said Thursday she is keenly aware that getting people tested quickly , and having their potential contacts traced and tested quickly , is critical to keeping the pandemic in check .
`` I am pretty sure that I can say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more enthusiastic about the prospect of getting rapid tests in our country and no one who feels more urgently the need for them , '' Freeland said at a news conference Thursday morning .
`` We are lining up in advance deals to buy the technologies , the tests , the vaccines , the medicines that will support Canadians .
So the minute our regulators finish doing their very important work and get to the stage where they can say to us yes , this is safe and healthy for Canadians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to jump in and buy these medicines and technologies for our country . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24 , 2020 .

The federal government is "lining up advance deals" to buy rapid tests for COVID-19 so as soon as the technology is approved for use in Canada, it can be put to work, says Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. But Health Canada, which has to approve the tests, won't say anything about when that approval might come, and Freeland said it would be wrong for politicians to influence the process. "We are seeing interference and pressure on regulators around the world and I think we can all see the very dangerous consequences of that kind of an approach," she said. "So that will not be the approach our government takes." The opposition Conservatives were less than impressed by her promise, pointing out that the government claimed in March that rapid testing was a top priority. "Half a year and half a trillion dollars later Canadian families still have to wait in line for hours, sometimes days, to get tested," said deputy Conservative leader Candice Bergen in the House of Commons Thursday.
She said many people can't afford to take days off work to wait for tests. Online chat rooms and social media groups are awash in questions and complaints from Canadians struggling to get tested for the virus that causes COVID-19. Those who do get through a testing line are reporting waits of up to a week to get results because labs are so backed up. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Health Canada regulates both the sale and importation of any medical devices, tests or treatments for COVID-19. It has already approved nearly three dozen different tests to diagnose it, but all of them use either a swab from the back of the nose and throat, or a saliva sample, and have to be processed in a lab.
Once the test is run it takes several hours to get results but sending those results back to a patient usually takes more than a day. The federal government is "lining up advance deals" to buy rapid tests for COVID-19 so as soon as the technology is approved for use in Canada, it can be put to work, says Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Rapid tests can produce results in as little as five minutes, right in the same spot where the throat sample, blood sample or saliva sample is collected. They aren't considered to be as accurate as the genetic tests, but several countries have approved them, including Japan and the United States. Some Canadian epidemiologists argue they would be good as surveillance tools to get tests done quickly on people who have symptoms of COVID-19 or possible exposures to known cases. If a rapid test comes up positive it can then be confirmed by the more reliable molecular version. At least 14 rapid devices are under review by Health Canada but the department's spokesman says he cannot comment on the status of the applications during the scientific assessment process. The department does have an online list of devices for which it has received applications, including the name of the device, the manufacturer, and the type of test. All are show as "under review" or their entries say Health Canada is awaiting more information.
One rapid test was approved in May but subsequently pulled back after field testing didn't go as hoped. Last week Health Minister Patty Hajdu said regulators aren't yet confident the rapid tests are accurate enough to approve. Freeland said Thursday she is keenly aware that getting people tested quickly, and having their potential contacts traced and tested quickly, is critical to keeping the pandemic in check.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Sherlock Holmes has a rival, while VIFF has Toronto drug crime and Jimmy Carter’s musical friends

The Vancouver International Film Festival has just announced an addition .
It ’ s the closing film and apparently only available to stream on the last day , Oct. 7 .
It ’ s called Delete History and is said to be an “ uproarious satire ” about our obsession with technology .
Or , as the notes put it , “ the dysfunctional digital age we ’ re living in.
” It ’ s from France and won a big award in Berlin .
Meanwhile , I ’ ve got a few more VIFF reviews today , after those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll have more on Tuesday and a look at some other new films out right now .
ENOLA HOLMES : Here ’ s a treat for these drab times and not at all the gimmick you might suspect at first glance .
Enola is the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes and quite a sleuth herself in a series of young adult novels that I hadn ’ t heard of before by Nancy Springer .
Enola ( played with endearing spunk and charm by Millie Bobby Brown ) is a very modern young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her .
She ’ s trained to be independent by her mother ( Helena Bonham Carter ) , who inadvertently kick-starts this story by disappearing .
Enola goes to find her and on a train ride meets young Lord Tewkesbury ( Louis Partridge ) , a runaway .
So now there are two people who have to be found .
All of London , including Sherlock ( Henry Cavill , looking like the Superman he has also been ) and his fastidious brother Mycroft ( Sam Claflin ) are looking for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them because she has met him and knows more .
She also gets wind of her mother ’ s participation in the women ’ s suffrage movement .
The script deftly balances family and political movements with rumours of conspiracy theories in this bright and entertaining movie .
A couple of British TV veterans are responsible , Jack Thorne for the script and Harry Bradbeer for direction .
His work includes episodes of the series Fleabag .
( Netflix ) 3½ out of 5 AKILLA ’ S ESCAPE : For many he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charles Officer is one of our most accomplished filmmakers in Canada .
He ’ s back with a dramatic feature , 12 years after his first one and a lot of TV , documentary and acting work in between .
This one puts a nifty modern spin on a familiar genre : the drug gangster crime thriller .
It ’ s absolutely up to date , set mostly in Toronto , but also in New York , as cannabis has become legal .
But there ’ s a “ firestorm ” developing over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown is ready to get out , but a complex history gets in the way .
The film tells it with realism and nuance .
Akilla was trained in crime by a father who was on the run from political turmoil in Jamaica .
( Officer is half Jamaican , though born in Toronto ) .
“ You have to decide which side you serve , ” dad tells him in one of many flashbacks and is described as “ the product of people torn apart by poverty and political violence.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became a drug courier , intercedes in a robbery at a dispensary and is ordered to retrieve the cash and “ the inventory ” that was stolen .
He ’ s also trying to protect a young hood he rescues from the gang because the boy seems to be on the same track that took him into crime .
The same actor ( Thamela Mpumlwana ) plays the kid and , in flashback , the young Akilla , thereby underlining the connection .
Rapper and actor Saul Williams is compelling as the adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tightly edited .
And recommended .
( Streaming by VIFF ) 3½ out of 5 JIMMY CARTER : ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT : Here ’ s a nice break from the usual seriousness of the festival ’ s films .
Although there ’ s a strong reason here to also think about another president , you know the guy currently in power , Trump will never get an admiring portrait like this .
Jimmy Carter ’ s story is told almost entirely through one sliver of his life , his love of music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it .
Carter talks and a few political types and a lot of stars talk about him , including Paul Simon , Bono and Nile Rogers , Roseanne Cash , Garth Brooks and most remarkably Bob Dylan .
Yes , he appears several times to praise him .
Carter was friends with Willie Nelson and the Allman Brothers and is seen singing with Dizzy Gillespie .
We see Aretha Franklin , Bonnie Bramlett , Mahalia Jackson , Jimmy Buffett and many more performing at the White House or at his election rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artists responded because , as Bono says it , he was “ the first world leader who knew all the words on my generation ’ s telegraph.
” The Shah of Iran , the hostage drama and Ronald Reagan ended that , but Mary Wharton ’ s zippy documentary does a very good job of recalling and portraying him as a decent man .
( VIFF CONNECT streaming ) 4 out of 5 THE LAST SHIFT : Here ’ s a small and low-key film that feels absolutely contemporary and manages to explore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s set in a small-town Michigan fast-food joint where drive-thru customers come for chicken and fish sandwiches .
Richard Jenkins plays the night manager about to retire after more than 38 years .
Shane Paul McGhie plays a young man just out of prison , on parole and bristling under the rules imposed on him .
All he did was deface a city monument .
The two compare their world views , trade attitudes , occasionally argue , and , in small ways , influence each other through this well-written and well-acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his work .
“ There ’ s an art to this shift , ” he says .
“ At $ 9 an hour ?
” the young man counters and rails about the corporate bosses who exploit them .
He also accuses Jenkins of profiting from his white advantage , but withdraws that when challenged .
At home , he ’ s an absent dad and in his past wrote political commentary for a school newspaper .
His radical analysis doesn ’ t move Jenkins , though , except to recall a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no resolution , just a temporary meet-up by two men of different generations and ideas .
Like real life .
( Fifth Avenue and Cineplex Coquitlam ) 3½ out of 5 TESLA : No not the car ; the man who gave his name to it ; the inventor and electricity theorist who fought Thomas Edison with his ideas , and won with some of them .
This is not a biography as such , but a sort of mosaic of scenes about him .
I didn ’ t find it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a lot missing and important matters not explained .
I ’ m usually in favour of imagination , but this film suffers from too much ; it hampers the storytelling .
I will admit it is bizarre enough to make the film quite fascinating .
It has a character in the late 1880s sitting at a table with her laptop telling us to Google Tesla to see what we can find .
She ’ s a part-time narrator for the film , the daughter of the banker J.P. Morgan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inventor , and maybe ( hinted only ) was something of a love interest .
She ’ s played by Eve Hewson opposite Ethan Hawke playing Tesla as introverted as he was known to be .
The biggest head scratcher is when Tesla steps to a microphone and sings Everybody Wants to Rule the World many years before the Tears for Fears hit .
Kyle MacLachlan is Edison and Jim Gaffigan is George Westinghouse in the battle over direct or alternating current .
Tesla ’ s ideas won , and the film goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does show him overreaching history by imagining something like today ’ s internet .
And his meeting with Sarah Bernhardt is surely fanciful .
( Available video on demand ) 2½ out of 5 VIOLATION : Film festivals often bring us the grunge , not just the award winners and the art .
Toronto calls it Midnight Madness , but there ’ s no late-night confinement when everything is streaming any time .
All that is to say : Be careful with this one .
It does a very good job of depicting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then an even better job of depicting revenge .
It builds simmering resentment and hurt , and when it really gets up to speed , becomes intense .
Oh , and there ’ s a bigger display of male nudity than we ’ re used to .
Madeleine Sims-Fewer plays the wronged woman .
( She ’ s also the co-director and co-writer with Dusty Mancinelli .
They ’ re Quebec filmmakers known for a number of artful shorts . )
The woman is on a visit with her husband to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) at a lakeside house .
A tough story unfolds about taking advantage , seen by her as rape and as just an interlude by a man .
“ We got carried away , ” he says .
She doesn ’ t buy that and after some nicely crafted ironic talk scenes , pays him back in full .
Flashbacks and visions splinter the film , probably to mirror her cracking disposition .
There ’ s blood , frequent buzzing by insects , a wolf with a dead rabbit and a bleak landscape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a recurring dream to add a touch of higher meaning and regret to the mayhem .
It ’ s a raw one .
( Streams at VIFF CONNECT ) 3 out of 5

The Vancouver International Film Festival has just announced an addition. It’s the closing film and apparently only available to stream on the last day, Oct. 7. It’s called Delete History and is said to be an “uproarious satire” about our obsession with technology. Or, as the notes put it, “the dysfunctional digital age we’re living in.” It’s from France and won a big award in Berlin. Meanwhile, I’ve got a few more VIFF reviews today, after those I posted two days ago. I’ll have more on Tuesday and a look at some other new films out right now. Enola Holmes: 3½ stars (VIFF) Akilla’s Escape: 3½
(VIFF) Violation: 3 ENOLA HOLMES: Here’s a treat for these drab times and not at all the gimmick you might suspect at first glance. Enola is the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes and quite a sleuth herself in a series of young adult novels that I hadn’t heard of before by Nancy Springer. Enola (played with endearing spunk and charm by Millie Bobby Brown) is a very modern young woman for the time: no corsets for her. She’s trained to be independent by her mother (Helena Bonham Carter), who inadvertently kick-starts this story by disappearing. Enola goes to find her and on a train ride meets young Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), a runaway. So now there are two people who have to be found. Courtesy of Netflix All of London, including Sherlock (Henry Cavill, looking like the Superman he has also been) and his fastidious brother Mycroft (Sam Claflin) are looking for the young lord. Enola gets the better of them because she has met him and knows more. She also gets wind of her mother’s participation in the women’s suffrage movement. The script deftly balances family and political movements with rumours of conspiracy theories in this bright and entertaining movie. A couple of British TV veterans are responsible, Jack Thorne for the script and Harry Bradbeer for direction. His work includes episodes of the series Fleabag. (Netflix) 3½ out of 5 AKILLA’S ESCAPE: For many he’s under the radar, but Charles Officer is one of our most accomplished filmmakers in Canada. He’s back with a dramatic feature, 12 years after his first one and a lot of TV, documentary and acting work in between. This one puts a nifty modern spin on a familiar genre: the drug gangster crime thriller. It’s absolutely up to date, set mostly in Toronto, but also in New York, as cannabis has become legal. But there’s a “firestorm” developing over it. Violence is increasing and Akilla Brown is ready to get out, but a complex history gets in the way. The film tells it with realism and nuance.
Courtesy of VIFF Akilla was trained in crime by a father who was on the run from political turmoil in Jamaica. (Officer is half Jamaican, though born in Toronto). “You have to decide which side you serve,” dad tells him in one of many flashbacks and is described as “the product of people torn apart by poverty and political violence.” The script subtly explains itself. The son became a drug courier, intercedes in a robbery at a dispensary and is ordered to retrieve the cash and “the inventory” that was stolen. He’s also trying to protect a young hood he rescues from the gang because the boy seems to be on the same track that took him into crime. The same actor (Thamela Mpumlwana) plays the kid and, in flashback, the young Akilla, thereby underlining the connection. Rapper and actor Saul Williams is compelling as the adult Akilla. The film is taut and tightly edited. And recommended. (Streaming by VIFF) 3½ out of 5 JIMMY CARTER: ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT: Here’s a nice break from the usual seriousness of the festival’s films. Although there’s a strong reason here to also think about another president, you know the guy currently in power, Trump will never get an admiring portrait like this. Jimmy Carter’s story is told almost entirely through one sliver of his life, his love of music and his association with the people who make it. Carter talks and a few political types and a lot of stars talk about him, including Paul Simon, Bono and Nile Rogers, Roseanne Cash, Garth Brooks and most remarkably Bob Dylan. Yes, he appears several times to praise him.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Liberals to set five-year climate targets as highest priority this fall

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says he plans to move quickly this fall to set legislated targets to cut Canada 's greenhouse gas emissions that go even further than what has already been promised .
Wilkinson told The Canadian Press in an interview this week that COVID-19 is a priority but that Canada can not take its eye off the ball when it comes to climate change .
`` While COVID is certainly a threat to the health and safety of Canadians and to our economic recovery , the crisis that is climate change , if left unaddressed , will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , '' he said .
`` We need to elevate our level of ambition and our urgency with which we are addressing the carbon issue . ''
The Liberals promised during the 2019 election that they would be aiming to cut more greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 than was promised in the Paris climate accord , and will bring in a law to set five-year targets for curbing emissions all the way to 2050 , when the goal is to be at net zero .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in carbon tax case • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late That means Canada needs to curb its emissions drastically over three decades and ensure any greenhouse gases still being produced can be absorbed rather than remain in the atmosphere .
That legislation has never materialized , and plans for it got delayed by the pandemic .
So did many other facets of the Liberals ' environment platform , from promises to plant two billion new trees to bringing in new standards for cleaner-burning fuels .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new target or enforcement legislation would come , but he said this week it is on the top of his to-do list .
`` It is , from my perspective , the highest priority from a legislative perspective for me as the minister of environment and climate change , '' he said .
`` We fully intend to move ahead with that once the house is back in session .
I think you will see that certainly within the coming few months . ''
The government was to have the new targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting of the United Nations climate conference this fall , but the pandemic put that event off by a year .
The legislated targets are to be legally binding , though it is not clear how they would be enforced .
The United Kingdom has a similar type of law .
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says he plans to move quickly this fall to set legislated targets to cut Canada 's greenhouse gas emissions that go even further than what has already been promised .
Canada has set multiple targets for curbing emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never met a single one of them , including the one that said by 2020 , Canada would be emitting 17 per cent less than it was in 2005 .
The most recent national inventory report on greenhouse gas emissions , which is for 2018 , shows Canada emitted almost the same that year as it did in 2005 , and will most likely miss the 2020 target by more than 100 million tonnes , which is more than is emitted to heat and power the entire country .
It also missed its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 million tonnes .
With its current policies , Canada will miss the Paris target by more than 70 million tonnes in 2030 .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24 , 2020 .

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says he plans to move quickly this fall to set legislated targets to cut Canada's greenhouse gas emissions that go even further than what has already been promised. Wilkinson told The Canadian Press in an interview this week that COVID-19 is a priority but that Canada cannot take its eye off the ball when it comes to climate change. "While COVID is certainly a threat to the health and safety of Canadians and to our economic recovery, the crisis that is climate change, if left unaddressed, will have impacts that are even more significant than COVID-19," he said. "We need to elevate our level of ambition and our urgency with which we are addressing the carbon issue." The Liberals promised during the 2019 election that they would be aiming to cut more greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 than was promised in the Paris climate accord, and will bring in a law to set five-year targets for curbing emissions all the way to 2050, when the goal is to be at net zero.
That means Canada needs to curb its emissions drastically over three decades and ensure any greenhouse gases still being produced can be absorbed rather than remain in the atmosphere. That legislation has never materialized, and plans for it got delayed by the pandemic. So did many other facets of the Liberals' environment platform, from promises to plant two billion new trees to bringing in new standards for cleaner-burning fuels. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In the spring, Wilkinson was not sure when the new target or enforcement legislation would come, but he said this week it is on the top of his to-do list.
"It is, from my perspective, the highest priority from a legislative perspective for me as the minister of environment and climate change," he said. "We fully intend to move ahead with that once the house is back in session. I think you will see that certainly within the coming few months." Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says he plans to move quickly this fall to set legislated targets to cut Canada's greenhouse gas emissions that go even further than what has already been promised. The government was to have the new targets in place in time for the annual meeting of the United Nations climate conference this fall, but the pandemic put that event off by a year. The legislated targets are to be legally binding, though it is not clear how they would be enforced. The United Kingdom has a similar type of law. Canada has set multiple targets for curbing emissions over the last three decades and has never met a single one of them, including the one that said by 2020, Canada would be emitting 17 per cent less than it was in 2005. The most recent national inventory report on greenhouse gas emissions, which is for 2018, shows Canada emitted almost the same that year as it did in 2005, and will most likely miss the 2020 target by more than 100 million tonnes, which is more than is emitted to heat and power the entire country.


nationalobserver--2020-09-25--Trudeau reinstates COVID-19 updates as second wave worsens

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join Canada 's top public health officers today for their daily update on the worsening COVID-19 health crisis .
Trudeau is expected to have an announcement about his government 's ongoing efforts to protect Canadians and combat the potentially deadly novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
But he 's also expected to start joining chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy , Howard Njoo , more regularly at their daily briefings -- a sign of how serious the second wave of COVID-19 has already become .
During the first wave last spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home , Rideau Cottage , but those tailed off and finally stopped as the pandemic went into a bit of a lull over the summer .
The coronavirus is now back , with caseloads spiking dramatically in the four largest provinces over the past few weeks .
• Courts can 'no longer ignore ' First Nations laws , Supreme Court hears in carbon tax case • Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late In a televised address Wednesday , Trudeau warned Canada is `` on the brink of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the spring , '' when the country went into a nation-wide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
Trudeau 's government , meanwhile , is reverting to a practice used throughout the pandemic last spring to urgently fast-track emergency aid legislation through Parliament .
The government introduced Thursday legislation aimed at producing a more generous , flexible employment insurance system , along with the creation of three new temporary benefits to help those who 've lost their jobs or had their hours drastically reduced due to the pandemic .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are forced to take time off work because they are ill , forced to self-isolate or stay home to care for a dependent who is ill or in isolation .
The new regime ensures benefits of $ 500 a week -- the same as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit ( or CERB ) , which comes to an end Saturday .
The minority Liberal government had originally proposed payments of only $ 400 per week but upped the amount Thursday in an apparent bid to ensure NDP support for the throne speech .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's top public health officers today , September 25 , 2020 , for their daily update on the worsening COVID-19 health crisis .
The NDP had demanded that no one wind up getting less under the new regime than they were getting through the CERB , as well as a guarantee of paid sick leave .
The government is still negotiating details of the sick leave benefit with New Democrats but NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday he was optimistic they could be worked out to his satisfaction .
The next question becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill through Parliament .
Monday and Tuesday have been set aside for debating the bill in the House of Commons and the government is negotiating behind the scenes with opposition parties to win agreement to pass it swiftly .
Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said Thursday that the legislation is needed urgently .
Unanimous consent would be required to speed the bill through all legislative stages in a single day -- as was done for previous emergency aid bills .
But the government could still get it through within a matter of days with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition parties .
NDP support will likely prove crucial , both to getting the bill passed quickly and to the government 's ability to survive the eventual confidence vote on the throne speech .
The Conservatives have already said they 'll vote against the throne speech and the Bloc Quebecois will follow suit if Trudeau does n't immediately accede to their demand for a $ 28-billion infusion into the annual health transfer payment to the provinces .
Without the support of at least one of the main opposition parties , Trudeau 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the confidence vote , which could plunge the country into an election .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25 , 2020 .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join Canada's top public health officers today for their daily update on the worsening COVID-19 health crisis. Trudeau is expected to have an announcement about his government's ongoing efforts to protect Canadians and combat the potentially deadly novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But he's also expected to start joining chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy, Howard Njoo, more regularly at their daily briefings -- a sign of how serious the second wave of COVID-19 has already become. During the first wave last spring, Trudeau held daily news conferences outside his home, Rideau Cottage, but those tailed off and finally stopped as the pandemic went into a bit of a lull over the summer. The coronavirus is now back, with caseloads spiking dramatically in the four largest provinces over the past few weeks.
In a televised address Wednesday, Trudeau warned Canada is "on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring," when the country went into a nation-wide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. Trudeau's government, meanwhile, is reverting to a practice used throughout the pandemic last spring to urgently fast-track emergency aid legislation through Parliament. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The government introduced Thursday legislation aimed at producing a more generous, flexible employment insurance system, along with the creation of three new temporary benefits to help those who've lost their jobs or had their hours drastically reduced due to the pandemic.
The new benefits will also apply to those who are forced to take time off work because they are ill, forced to self-isolate or stay home to care for a dependent who is ill or in isolation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join Canada's top public health officers today, September 25, 2020, for their daily update on the worsening COVID-19 health crisis. The new regime ensures benefits of $500 a week -- the same as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (or CERB), which comes to an end Saturday. The minority Liberal government had originally proposed payments of only $400 per week but upped the amount Thursday in an apparent bid to ensure NDP support for the throne speech. The NDP had demanded that no one wind up getting less under the new regime than they were getting through the CERB, as well as a guarantee of paid sick leave. The government is still negotiating details of the sick leave benefit with New Democrats but NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday he was optimistic they could be worked out to his satisfaction.
The next question becomes how quickly the government can get the bill through Parliament. Monday and Tuesday have been set aside for debating the bill in the House of Commons and the government is negotiating behind the scenes with opposition parties to win agreement to pass it swiftly. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said Thursday that the legislation is needed urgently. Unanimous consent would be required to speed the bill through all legislative stages in a single day -- as was done for previous emergency aid bills. But the government could still get it through within a matter of days with the support of at least one of the opposition parties.


nationalobserver--2020-09-26--Wilkinson aims to be B.C. premier

Wilkinson aims to be B.C. premier

Former cabinet colleague Bill Bennett warns anyone verbally sparring with B.C .
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to be prepared .
`` It 's easy to fall into a trap when you 're arguing with Andrew , '' Bennett said in an interview .
`` Without knowing it you end up in a dead-end canyon , wondering how the heck you 're going to get out of it .
He 's a very logical person and he wo n't say anything more than he has to say . ''
The B.C .
election is Wilkinson ’ s first as party leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his predecessor was Christy Clark , whose magnetic personality was a draw , Bennett said .
`` He 's an unusual person to be in politics and he 's probably an unusual person to be running for premier of the province , '' said Bennett , who co-chaired Wilkinson 's leadership campaign after Clark resigned in 2017 following the Liberals ' defeat after 16 years in power .
But Bennett said there 's substance to Wilkinson , 63 , who attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and worked as a doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about three years in the 1980s before becoming a lawyer .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax `` He 's not charismatic .
He 's not Christy , he 's not Ralph Klein , '' Bennett said , referring to a former premier of Alberta .
`` He 's not colourful , but he 's very smart .
And he 's got a good heart .
He cares about people , I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who represented the riding of Kootenay East for 16 years and left politics in 2017 , said Wilkinson got into politics `` for the right reasons , '' not for a `` popularity contest . ''
Where flair sometimes fails him , fairness and a solid argument are among Wilkinson 's best qualities , Bennett said , adding the avid birder who grew up hunting with his father has learned to `` measure his words . ''
That 's after some of Wilkinson 's words have fallen flat .
In one instance this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words after characterizing an NDP throne speech proposal to give five paid work days to people leaving domestic violence as pay for people in a `` tough marriage '' during a radio interview .
Former cabinet colleague Bill Bennett warns anyone verbally sparring with B.C .
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to be prepared .
In a tweet shortly afterwards , Wilkinson said he used the `` wrong choice of words and I got it wrong .
Victims of domestic violence need their voices heard and our unwavering support , and I want everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Wilkinson , who represents the riding of Vancouver-Quilchena on the city 's west side , was criticized by the housing minister as being `` out of touch '' for saying in a budget speech last year that being a renter can be `` a wacky time of life , but it can be really enjoyable . ''
He later clarified his remarks , saying on Twitter that as a renter for 15 years and working a low-paying job he knows what `` it feels like to worry about making ends meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like to dream of a better situation , more choice and freedom in life . ''
He said in an interview that his main interest in becoming leader was to improve the lives of people through policies that spur the economy , including the creation of more daycare spaces and services for those who are addicted to illicit substances in a province where over 5,800 people have fatally overdosed since a public health emergency was declared in 2016 .
`` We 've said for two years now that we need to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Wilkinson said .
`` As someone who trained in medicine , I have some ideas about that and I 'll be rolling them out in the next week or so . ''
Wilkinson , who was born in Brisbane , Australia , said he had `` very humble beginnings '' in Kamloops , B.C.
, where his family immigrated in 1962 after his father accepted a job with the federal Agriculture Department as a scientist working on cattle parasites .
`` I grew up delivering newspapers as a kid and pumping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid my entire way through university with my own funds so I 've worked hard to get where I did and I 've been fortunate enough to have a successful life .
And I hope to bring those set of skills to this job . ''
Wilkinson was elected in 2013 and became technology minister and then minister of advanced education two years later before serving for a short time as attorney general prior to the 2017 election .
He cycles or runs daily and kayaks in the summer while cross-country and downhill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been married since 1993 to Barbara Grantham and the couple has three grown children in their 20s .

Former cabinet colleague Bill Bennett warns anyone verbally sparring with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to be prepared. "It's easy to fall into a trap when you're arguing with Andrew," Bennett said in an interview. "Without knowing it you end up in a dead-end canyon, wondering how the heck you're going to get out of it. He's a very logical person and he won't say anything more than he has to say." The B.C. election is Wilkinson’s first as party leader, and part of his challenge is that his predecessor was Christy Clark, whose magnetic personality was a draw, Bennett said. "He's an unusual person to be in politics and he's probably an unusual person to be running for premier of the province," said Bennett, who co-chaired Wilkinson's leadership campaign after Clark resigned in 2017 following the Liberals' defeat after 16 years in power. But Bennett said there's substance to Wilkinson, 63, who attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and worked as a doctor in three small B.C. communities for about three years in the 1980s before becoming a lawyer.
"He's not charismatic. He's not Christy, he's not Ralph Klein," Bennett said, referring to a former premier of Alberta. "He's not colourful, but he's very smart. And he's got a good heart. He cares about people, I can tell you that." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Bennett, who represented the riding of Kootenay East for 16 years and left politics in 2017, said Wilkinson got into politics "for the right reasons," not for a "popularity contest."
Where flair sometimes fails him, fairness and a solid argument are among Wilkinson's best qualities, Bennett said, adding the avid birder who grew up hunting with his father has learned to "measure his words." Former cabinet colleague Bill Bennett warns anyone verbally sparring with B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to be prepared. That's after some of Wilkinson's words have fallen flat. In one instance this year he apologized for his choice of words after characterizing an NDP throne speech proposal to give five paid work days to people leaving domestic violence as pay for people in a "tough marriage" during a radio interview. In a tweet shortly afterwards, Wilkinson said he used the "wrong choice of words and I got it wrong. Victims of domestic violence need their voices heard and our unwavering support, and I want everyone to know they have that with me." Wilkinson, who represents the riding of Vancouver-Quilchena on the city's west side, was criticized by the housing minister as being "out of touch" for saying in a budget speech last year that being a renter can be "a wacky time of life, but it can be really enjoyable."
He later clarified his remarks, saying on Twitter that as a renter for 15 years and working a low-paying job he knows what "it feels like to worry about making ends meet each month. I know what it feels like to dream of a better situation, more choice and freedom in life." He said in an interview that his main interest in becoming leader was to improve the lives of people through policies that spur the economy, including the creation of more daycare spaces and services for those who are addicted to illicit substances in a province where over 5,800 people have fatally overdosed since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. "We've said for two years now that we need to have a pathway to get people off drugs," Wilkinson said. "As someone who trained in medicine, I have some ideas about that and I'll be rolling them out in the next week or so."


nationalobserver--2020-09-26--Liberals reach deal with NDP

Liberals reach deal with NDP

The minority Liberal government has reached a deal with the New Democrats over legislation to support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic , securing the backing needed to survive a confidence vote on the throne speech .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh touted the deal as `` historic '' and said changes demanded by his party to Bill C-2 will ensure that millions of Canadians will be entitled to two weeks of paid sick leave , rather than just the thousands he claimed would have benefited under the government 's original proposal .
`` Today is a historic moment , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliament Hill late Friday .
`` Because this is the first time ever in the history of our country that we have a federal program now for paid sick leave … we believe this is a first step towards creating a permanent program that should be a part of our Canadian social safety net . ''
Singh declined to give details of the changes the NDP has won to the legislation until they are formally tabled in the House of Commons on Monday .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax But if they reflect the deal struck Friday , Singh said the NDP will support fast-tracking the bill through the Commons in `` one or two days '' and will also support the throne speech , which must be put to an eventual confidence vote .
The minority Liberals need the backing of at least one of the main opposition parties to avoid defeat on the confidence vote , which would plunge the country into an election just as a second wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government had already agreed earlier in the week to another key NDP demand : that Canadians who 've been left without jobs or fewer hours of work due to the pandemic will continue to receive $ 500 a week in benefits .
That is the same as they have been receiving under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which ends Saturday .
The government had originally proposed payments at $ 400 a week .
With the end of the CERB , which has been used by almost nine million Canadians to stay afloat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transitioning recipients back to a more robust , generous employment insurance regime .
For those who do n't qualify for EI , Bill C-2 will create a temporary new Canada Recovery Benefit as well as a sick leave benefit and another benefit for caregivers who are forced to stay home to care for a dependant who falls ill or is forced to self-isolate .
The minority Liberal government has reached a deal with the New Democrats over legislation to support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic , securing the backing needed to survive a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Applications for the recovery benefit are to open Oct. 11 and , for the other two benefits , on Oct. 4 .
To avoid leaving some Canadians in the lurch without any financial support , Singh acknowledged the urgent need to get the bill passed swiftly .
He blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the `` time crunch , '' nothing that he prorogued Parliament in August , preventing it from dealing with anything until after the new session opened this week .
Nevertheless , Singh said the NDP will support the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , bypassing the normal legislative process that can take months or even years .
`` We need to speed up the passage of this legislation so that it gets in place quickly and so that there 's not a break in support for families that need the support , '' he said .
The Liberals also cheered the deal .
`` We are entering the second wave and millions of Canadians are still struggling to make ends meet , '' government House leader Pablo Rodriguez said Friday on Twitter .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bill that will deliver the help that Canadians need .
It 's by working together that we will get through this pandemic . ''
The government has set aside Monday and Tuesday for debate on the bill .
Earlier Friday , the Conservatives attempted to win support for a motion calling for the Commons to sit on Sunday as well so that MPs could have more time to debate Bill C-2 .
While they agreed that Canadians need support , they argued that MPs also have a duty to scrutinize legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They did not get the unanimous consent needed to pass the motion .
The Conservatives have already said they will vote against the throne speech and the Bloc Québécois say they are leaning that way unless the Liberals meet demands from the provinces to add billions to annual federal health transfers by next week .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25 , 2020 .

The minority Liberal government has reached a deal with the New Democrats over legislation to support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing the backing needed to survive a confidence vote on the throne speech. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh touted the deal as "historic" and said changes demanded by his party to Bill C-2 will ensure that millions of Canadians will be entitled to two weeks of paid sick leave, rather than just the thousands he claimed would have benefited under the government's original proposal. "Today is a historic moment," he told a hastily called news conference on Parliament Hill late Friday. "Because this is the first time ever in the history of our country that we have a federal program now for paid sick leave … we believe this is a first step towards creating a permanent program that should be a part of our Canadian social safety net." Singh declined to give details of the changes the NDP has won to the legislation until they are formally tabled in the House of Commons on Monday.
But if they reflect the deal struck Friday, Singh said the NDP will support fast-tracking the bill through the Commons in "one or two days" and will also support the throne speech, which must be put to an eventual confidence vote. The minority Liberals need the backing of at least one of the main opposition parties to avoid defeat on the confidence vote, which would plunge the country into an election just as a second wave of COVID-19 is surging across the country. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The government had already agreed earlier in the week to another key NDP demand: that Canadians who've been left without jobs or fewer hours of work due to the pandemic will continue to receive $500 a week in benefits.
That is the same as they have been receiving under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which ends Saturday. The government had originally proposed payments at $400 a week. The minority Liberal government has reached a deal with the New Democrats over legislation to support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, securing the backing needed to survive a confidence vote on the throne speech. With the end of the CERB, which has been used by almost nine million Canadians to stay afloat during the pandemic, the government is transitioning recipients back to a more robust, generous employment insurance regime. For those who don't qualify for EI, Bill C-2 will create a temporary new Canada Recovery Benefit as well as a sick leave benefit and another benefit for caregivers who are forced to stay home to care for a dependant who falls ill or is forced to self-isolate. Applications for the recovery benefit are to open Oct. 11 and, for the other two benefits, on Oct. 4. To avoid leaving some Canadians in the lurch without any financial support, Singh acknowledged the urgent need to get the bill passed swiftly.
He blamed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the "time crunch," nothing that he prorogued Parliament in August, preventing it from dealing with anything until after the new session opened this week. Nevertheless, Singh said the NDP will support the government in getting the bill passed quickly next week, bypassing the normal legislative process that can take months or even years. "We need to speed up the passage of this legislation so that it gets in place quickly and so that there's not a break in support for families that need the support," he said.


nationalobserver--2020-09-26--Ottawa gives $320M to help Newfoundland and Labrador fossil fuel industry

Premier Andrew Furey told reporters the province is creating an oil and gas sector recovery task force .
The Canadian @ @ @ @ @ million to Newfoundland and Labrador 's struggling offshore oil and gas industry .
Furey said @ @ @ @ @ on supporting the industry and on figuring out how to best spend the $ 320 @ @ @ @ @ Energy said Friday in a news release the money is `` a first step , @ @ @ @ @ n't keep its $ 2.2 billion West White Rose project moving .
Husky is looking @ @ @ @ @ project and announced earlier this month it was reviewing its operations in the province .
@ @ @ @ @ Press was first published Sept. 25 , 2020 .

The Canadian government is giving $320 million to Newfoundland and Labrador's struggling offshore oil and gas industry.
Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan made the funding announcement Friday at a news conference in St. John’s.
Premier Andrew Furey told reporters the province is creating an oil and gas sector recovery task force.
Furey said the task force will focus on supporting the industry and on figuring out how to best spend the $320 million from Ottawa.
Husky Energy said Friday in a news release the money is "a first step," but that it won't keep its $2.2 billion West White Rose project moving.


nationalobserver--2020-09-26--Manitoba makes masks mandatory for Winnipeg

Manitoba 's chief public health officer is making masks mandatory in indoor public spaces in Winnipeg as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in the city .
Dr. Brent Roussin announced Friday that Winnipeg and most surrounding municipalities have been moved up to a Code Orange classification in the province 's pandemic response system .
The move will also restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10 people .
It comes after he shared concerns over an increasing number of new infections where people attended a slew of bars , restaurants and pubs .
`` The more contacts each of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Roussin said .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax `` We need to ensure we are making careful choices about who we are spending time with , the nature of that time , as well as the amount of people.
” In one instance a person who was symptomatic went to multiple bars and ended up with more than 36 contacts that had to be traced .
Manitoba had some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country for months but they began to rise last month .
Winnipeg saw a significant increase in cases over the last few weeks .
Friday there were 54 new cases of the virus in the province — 44 were in the Winnipeg health region .
`` I am very pleased today to see the province leading on this , '' Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said .
Masks became mandatory in city facilities and on Winnipeg public transit at the end of August .
Bowman had previously spoken about a need for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officer is making masks mandatory in indoor public spaces in Winnipeg as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in the city .
`` I ’ m asking Winnipeggers to embrace this challenge , '' Bowman said .
The mask mandate for Winnipeg comes into effect on Monday but the mayor urged people to start wearing them immediately .
Health officials said the restrictions will be in place for at least a month .
Public health officials are consulting with the restaurant industry and further restrictions could be coming , Roussin added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be open but people must wear a mask when they are n't seated at a table eating or drinking .
Roussin said rules for schools will not be affected .
There have been positive cases in schools since students returned to classes earlier this month .
The largest outbreak includes a cluster of 28 cases at John Pritchard School in Winnipeg 's northeast .
There have been 1,764 COVID-19 cases in Manitoba and 487 are currently active .
Thirteen people are in hospital and six are in intensive care .
Nineteen people @ @ @

Manitoba's chief public health officer is making masks mandatory in indoor public spaces in Winnipeg as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in the city. Dr. Brent Roussin announced Friday that Winnipeg and most surrounding municipalities have been moved up to a Code Orange classification in the province's pandemic response system. The move will also restrict indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10 people. It comes after he shared concerns over an increasing number of new infections where people attended a slew of bars, restaurants and pubs. "The more contacts each of us has puts each of us at risk," Roussin said.
"We need to ensure we are making careful choices about who we are spending time with, the nature of that time, as well as the amount of people.” In one instance a person who was symptomatic went to multiple bars and ended up with more than 36 contacts that had to be traced. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Manitoba had some of the lowest numbers of COVID-19 cases in the country for months but they began to rise last month. Winnipeg saw a significant increase in cases over the last few weeks.
Friday there were 54 new cases of the virus in the province — 44 were in the Winnipeg health region. Manitoba's chief public health officer is making masks mandatory in indoor public spaces in Winnipeg as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in the city. "I am very pleased today to see the province leading on this," Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said. Masks became mandatory in city facilities and on Winnipeg public transit at the end of August. Bowman had previously spoken about a need for a province-wide mask mandate. "I’m asking Winnipeggers to embrace this challenge," Bowman said. The mask mandate for Winnipeg comes into effect on Monday but the mayor urged people to start wearing them immediately. Health officials said the restrictions will be in place for at least a month.
Public health officials are consulting with the restaurant industry and further restrictions could be coming, Roussin added. For now, restaurants and bars can be open but people must wear a mask when they aren't seated at a table eating or drinking. Roussin said rules for schools will not be affected. There have been positive cases in schools since students returned to classes earlier this month. The largest outbreak includes a cluster of 28 cases at John Pritchard School in Winnipeg's northeast.


nationalobserver--2020-09-26--The sad story of Covid 'green recovery'

The sad story of Covid 'green recovery'

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Few countries are living up to their promises of a “ green recovery ” from the coronavirus crisis , with hundreds of billions of dollars likely to be spent on economic rescue packages that increase greenhouse gas emissions , research has found .
The US is planning nearly $ 3tn in spending with few environmental safeguards attached , and little money going to low-carbon efforts , while rolling back regulations that protect nature and the environment .
Of the total US stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 39bn is going towards green projects , according to the analysis .
Among the world ’ s 20 biggest economies , only the UK , Germany and France as individual countries , and the EU as a whole , are planning for a green recovery in which the benefits to the climate and nature outweigh the negative impacts , according to an analysis , entitled the Greenness of Stimulus Index , by Vivid Economics as part of the Finance for Biodiversity initiative .
The EU is leading on a green recovery with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which allocates 37 % of funding to green initiatives that improve energy efficiency , reduce dependence on fossil fuels and invest in preserving and restoring nature .
All loans and grants will also come with green strings attached , in the form of binding environmental requirements .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax South Korea is outperforming many of its rivals by spending about $ 52bn , equivalent to about 15 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including support for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel , over the next five years .
Yet even that positive impact is likely to be outweighed by the government ’ s spending on high-carbon industries , according to the analysis .
Separate analysis by Climate Action Tracker , also released on Wednesday , confirmed the EU ’ s leadership and the green stimulus from South Korea , and raised warnings over the US .
Niklas Höhne , of NewClimate Institute , a partner to Climate Action Tracker , said : “ Unfortunately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is governments using the pandemic recovery to roll back climate legislation and bail out the fossil fuel industry.
” This was particularly evident in the US , he said , but also happening in Brazil , Mexico , Australia , South Africa , Indonesia , Russia and Saudi Arabia .
The UK announced £3bn to be spent on energy efficiency improvements , particularly home insulation , in the next year , but was criticised by green campaigners for failing to grasp other opportunities for low-carbon infrastructure , from electric vehicles to building out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question is over the role of China , which has given mixed signals on a green recovery .
Over the past six months , the country has made plans for an increase in coal-fired power generation , to widespread concern among supporters of the Paris agreement .
However , on Tuesday , at the UN general assembly , China ’ s president , Xi Jinping , committed the country to ensuring emissions peak and start to fall before the end of this decade , and are reduced to net zero by 2060 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ few environmental safeguards attached Such an effort would require sizeable green investment starting quickly , and would imply limits to the construction of new coal-fired power plants .
China has yet to detail its plans following Xi ’ s announcement .
Climate Action Tracker said China ’ s goals would reduce global temperature rises by between 0.2C and 0.3C .
“ This is the most important announcement on global climate policy in at least the last five years , ” said Hohne .
Mateo Salazar , the lead author of the Greenness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Economics , said one of China ’ s main attempts to boost the economy after the coronavirus shock had been to hasten coal power permits , which would lock the Chinese economy into higher emissions for decades to come .
“ This new goal is a vital and welcome course correction , ” he said .
“ The next step will be urgent signalling in China ’ s Covid-19 stimulus that it will not support a wave of new coal power plants , instead directing recovery funds into measures that cut carbon emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficiency and electric vehicle infrastructure , and attaching green conditions to any airline and automotive bailouts.
” More than $ 12tn is being poured into the global economy by G20 governments , but of this only about $ 3.7tn is going into environmentally sensitive areas such as agriculture , energy and transport , according to the analysis .

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration Few countries are living up to their promises of a “green recovery” from the coronavirus crisis, with hundreds of billions of dollars likely to be spent on economic rescue packages that increase greenhouse gas emissions, research has found. The US is planning nearly $3tn in spending with few environmental safeguards attached, and little money going to low-carbon efforts, while rolling back regulations that protect nature and the environment. Of the total US stimulus of about $2.98tn, only about $39bn is going towards green projects, according to the analysis. Among the world’s 20 biggest economies, only the UK, Germany and France as individual countries, and the EU as a whole, are planning for a green recovery in which the benefits to the climate and nature outweigh the negative impacts, according to an analysis, entitled the Greenness of Stimulus Index, by Vivid Economics as part of the Finance for Biodiversity initiative. The EU is leading on a green recovery with a €750bn package announced in June, which allocates 37% of funding to green initiatives that improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and invest in preserving and restoring nature. All loans and grants will also come with green strings attached, in the form of binding environmental requirements.
South Korea is outperforming many of its rivals by spending about $52bn, equivalent to about 15% of its recovery package, on green funding, including support for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel, over the next five years. Yet even that positive impact is likely to be outweighed by the government’s spending on high-carbon industries, according to the analysis. Separate analysis by Climate Action Tracker, also released on Wednesday, confirmed the EU’s leadership and the green stimulus from South Korea, and raised warnings over the US. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Niklas Höhne, of NewClimate Institute, a partner to Climate Action Tracker, said: “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing more of is governments using the pandemic recovery to roll back climate legislation and bail out the fossil fuel industry.”
This was particularly evident in the US, he said, but also happening in Brazil, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, Indonesia, Russia and Saudi Arabia. US planning $3tn in spending with few environmental safeguards attached The UK announced £3bn to be spent on energy efficiency improvements, particularly home insulation, in the next year, but was criticised by green campaigners for failing to grasp other opportunities for low-carbon infrastructure, from electric vehicles to building out broadband to rural areas. One major question is over the role of China, which has given mixed signals on a green recovery. Over the past six months, the country has made plans for an increase in coal-fired power generation, to widespread concern among supporters of the Paris agreement. However, on Tuesday, at the UN general assembly, China’s president, Xi Jinping, committed the country to ensuring emissions peak and start to fall before the end of this decade, and are reduced to net zero by 2060. Such an effort would require sizeable green investment starting quickly, and would imply limits to the construction of new coal-fired power plants. China has yet to detail its plans following Xi’s announcement. Climate Action Tracker said China’s goals would reduce global temperature rises by between 0.2C and 0.3C.
“This is the most important announcement on global climate policy in at least the last five years,” said Hohne. Mateo Salazar, the lead author of the Greenness of Stimulus Index, and analyst at Vivid Economics, said one of China’s main attempts to boost the economy after the coronavirus shock had been to hasten coal power permits, which would lock the Chinese economy into higher emissions for decades to come. “This new goal is a vital and welcome course correction,” he said. “The next step will be urgent signalling in China’s Covid-19 stimulus that it will not support a wave of new coal power plants, instead directing recovery funds into measures that cut carbon emissions, such as renewable power, energy efficiency and electric vehicle infrastructure, and attaching green conditions to any airline and automotive bailouts.”


Trudeau stresses vigilance

Quebeckers were urged to stop socializing , Ontarians were barred from late-night pub-hopping , and the entire country was sternly warned of `` critical '' containment measures required in coming weeks as soaring COVID-19 case counts edged past 150,000 on Friday .
The escalating pandemic drew repeated pleas for vigilance from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam in a joint press conference that also outlined a deal with AstraZeneca , which would guarantee up to 20 million doses of an experimental vaccine .
With cases surging in Ontario and Quebec hot-spots , Trudeau implored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stressing that `` what we do now , will be critical for the weeks and months to come . ''
This was a repeated refrain across the country as political and public health officials took pains to tell the public it was time to scale back parties , dinners out , group activities and other individual actions they said were key factors in an alarming spike in transmission .
In Quebec , Health Minister Christian Dube told residents to a `` make a special effort '' to limit contact with other people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to contain spread and save hospitals from increased burden .
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion could be at least two months late • Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax `` I insist on this , '' said Dube , nevertheless saying he had no problem with people dining in small numbers , within their bubble .
`` We 're asking you ( for ) a month of effort to break the second wave . ''
Dube called it a `` 28-day challenge '' to flatten the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's daily tally to 637 new cases , bringing the total number in the province to 70,307 .
There have been 5,814 deaths in Quebec .
In Ontario , Premier Doug Ford said bars and restaurants must now close by midnight , with alcohol service to stop at 11 p.m. , but that takeout and delivery will be permitted to continue into the wee hours .
All strip clubs will also close , he said , while explaining that the new restrictions strike a balance between public health needs and the province 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ontario and Quebec hot-spots , Trudeau implored the public to adhere to public health guidelines , stressing that `` what we do now , will be critical for the weeks and months to come . ''
`` I do n't think it 's a huge ask if they can stop serving drinks at 11 o'clock and close their establishments at 12 o'clock , '' he said during his daily media briefing .
The measures were not good enough for NDP Leader Andrea Horwath , who criticized the Ford government for failing to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second wave strategy . ''
Ontario reported 409 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death -- about half of the new cases in Toronto and 65 per cent of them in people younger than 40 .
The total number of cases in Ontario stood at 48,905 , including 2,837 deaths .
Elsewhere , Alberta reported 17,190 confirmed cases , while British Columbia stood at 8,543 confirmed .
COVID-19 cases jumped in Manitoba , too , where masks will be mandatory in Winnipeg 's indoor spaces starting Monday .
Officials also limited indoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 new cases emerged in the province -- 44 of them in the capital region .
COVID-19 cases reached about 150,140 nationwide , with caseloads spiking dramatically in the four largest provinces over the past few weeks .
In the joint televised press conference with Trudeau , Tam said Canadians still have a chance to keep the epidemic from escalating , “ if we all act together now.
” '' Local public health authorities can not do this alone .
Each of us must take action to protect ourselves , our loved ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite the sombre warnings , Trudeau offered assurances that Ottawa has taken steps to secure a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as one proves viable .
The latest deal is the sixth such arrangement to ensure Canadians have access to crucial supply .
Trudeau also addressed urgent calls to make more COVID-19 testing options available , stating `` there are a number of rapid tests in the process of being evaluated by Health Canada , and they will be made available as quickly as possible . ''
Tam added that Health Canada was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tools including point-of-care devices and serological tests but suggested that work was hindered by a lack of clinical data from the companies seeking approvals .
`` There was really little data submitted to the regulator , and you need basic , minimal clinical information .
And so we 're also looking at how do we help in the assessment of those types of tests , '' said Tam .
`` The whole thing has to work in real life , if you like , but I think we 'll be providing more information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evolve . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25 , 2020 .

Quebeckers were urged to stop socializing, Ontarians were barred from late-night pub-hopping, and the entire country was sternly warned of "critical" containment measures required in coming weeks as soaring COVID-19 case counts edged past 150,000 on Friday. The escalating pandemic drew repeated pleas for vigilance from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam in a joint press conference that also outlined a deal with AstraZeneca, which would guarantee up to 20 million doses of an experimental vaccine. With cases surging in Ontario and Quebec hot-spots, Trudeau implored the public to adhere to public health guidelines, stressing that "what we do now, will be critical for the weeks and months to come." This was a repeated refrain across the country as political and public health officials took pains to tell the public it was time to scale back parties, dinners out, group activities and other individual actions they said were key factors in an alarming spike in transmission. In Quebec, Health Minister Christian Dube told residents to a "make a special effort" to limit contact with other people for at least 28 days in order to contain spread and save hospitals from increased burden.
"I insist on this," said Dube, nevertheless saying he had no problem with people dining in small numbers, within their bubble. "We're asking you (for) a month of effort to break the second wave." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Dube called it a "28-day challenge" to flatten the curve, which on Friday pushed Quebec's daily tally to 637 new cases, bringing the total number in the province to 70,307.
There have been 5,814 deaths in Quebec. With cases surging in Ontario and Quebec hot-spots, Trudeau implored the public to adhere to public health guidelines, stressing that "what we do now, will be critical for the weeks and months to come." In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford said bars and restaurants must now close by midnight, with alcohol service to stop at 11 p.m., but that takeout and delivery will be permitted to continue into the wee hours. All strip clubs will also close, he said, while explaining that the new restrictions strike a balance between public health needs and the province's financial future. "I don't think it's a huge ask if they can stop serving drinks at 11 o'clock and close their establishments at 12 o'clock," he said during his daily media briefing. The measures were not good enough for NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who criticized the Ford government for failing to provide "a proper, comprehensive and effective second wave strategy."
Ontario reported 409 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death -- about half of the new cases in Toronto and 65 per cent of them in people younger than 40. The total number of cases in Ontario stood at 48,905, including 2,837 deaths. Elsewhere, Alberta reported 17,190 confirmed cases, while British Columbia stood at 8,543 confirmed.


nationalobserver--2020-09-26--PM Trudeau 'disappointed' by RCMP treatment of Sikh officers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is disappointed that Sikh RCMP officers have been removed from front line policing during the pandemic because their religiously mandated facial hair makes it difficult to properly wear a face covering .
The World Sikh Organization of Canada says officers have been placed on desk duty for almost six months , as the RCMP found the N100 mask does not seal with facial hair .
The organization says no attempt has been made to accommodate Sikh officers with other protective coverings that would work with beards .
Trudeau said Friday that health and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applied in workplaces across the country .
`` But I was very disappointed to hear of this issue with the RCMP , '' he added .
`` Because I do know that many other police forces and other organizations have figured out ways of upholding health and safety standards without needing to create discrimination against certain individuals because of their religion . ''
The presence of diverse Canadians in police forces is extremely important for all Canadians , Trudeau said .
`` It is something that I certainly hope the RCMP rectifies quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first place . ''
The RCMP had no immediate comment Friday .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is disappointed that Sikh RCMP officers have been removed from front line policing during the pandemic because their religiously mandated facial hair makes it difficult to properly wear a face covering.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada says officers have been placed on desk duty for almost six months, as the RCMP found the N100 mask does not seal with facial hair.
The organization says no attempt has been made to accommodate Sikh officers with other protective coverings that would work with beards.
Trudeau said Friday that health and safety regulations are extremely important and must be applied in workplaces across the country.
"But I was very disappointed to hear of this issue with the RCMP," he added. "Because I do know that many other police forces and other organizations have figured out ways of upholding health and safety standards without needing to create discrimination against certain individuals because of their religion."
The presence of diverse Canadians in police forces is extremely important for all Canadians, Trudeau said.
"It is something that I certainly hope the RCMP rectifies quickly, and it shouldn't have happened in the first place."
The RCMP had no immediate comment Friday.
Mary-Liz Power, a spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, the cabinet member responsible for the RCMP, said the minister's office had raised the matter with the Mounties and expected a resolution as quickly as possible.
“All officers must be given equal opportunity to serve their community while practising their faith. They must not experience discrimination based on religion," Power said.
"It is essential for the RCMP to provide necessary personal protective equipment in a timely manner for Sikh officers."