nationalobserver--2020-05-12--COVID-19 isolation threatening mental health of rural youth

Outreach workers are running errands or dropping off milkshakes , to get face time with vulnerable kids trapped at home during the pandemic .
Counsellors are conducting therapy sessions in parks to better gage a youth ’ s state of mind while still adhering to distancing protocols .
Youth workers are doing what they can to reach isolated children and teens living in the North Island region of Vancouver Island , B.C.
, and support their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We used to be able to have regular ( in-person ) check-ins with the kids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , ” said Stacy Folk , program manager for the Foundry youth services hub in Campbell River .
Folk said many youth and children are dealing with increased anxiety and stress due to the pandemic .
But for young people already dealing with mental health issues prior to COVID-19 , isolation protocols are exacerbating their struggle , she said .
• Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask • Like health care , housing is a right • Yes , oil is dead .
Just read the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has forced the Foundry ’ s group programs and counselling online , limiting the regular face-to-face contact with youth .
Rural youth , further isolated by geography , are doubly impacted by the isolation imposed by the health crisis , Folk said .
Teens from Quadra and Cortes islands , or the small communities of Sayward and Gold River are no longer coming into Campbell River for school , where they could get extra help , attention , food or attend Foundry programs , she said .
“ COVID-19 has impacted that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get in to get the community supports that were so essential to their mental wellness , ” Folk said .
Additionally , not all youth in more isolated communities have access to internet or cell service due to network limitations , off-grid living or poverty , Folk said .
“ It can be difficult when it ’ s a land line in their parents ' home , and maybe it ’ s not safe for them to speak because the parents are in the room , or not supportive of counselling or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It really exacerbates the safety risks for a lot of youth already dealing with those challenges.
” “ Young people need validation around the anxiety and the fear the pandemic brings up… because their whole life was turned upside down , ” Stacy Folk , Foundry Campbell River program manager , on COVID-19 's mental health impacts for children and teens .
Stacy Folk , program manager for Foundry Campbell River , says the youth services hub 's programming has moved online due to pandemic protocols .
Photo : courtesy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River , part of B.C ’ s Foundry network and operated by the John Howard Society of North Island , is a one-stop destination for youth to get services such as mental health and substance use counselling , sexual health care , youth and family conflict resolution , housing assistance , and LGBTQ2S+ youth support .
The B.C .
government allocated $ 5 million to expand online mental health supports during the pandemic .
That funding included making Foundry services available virtually across the province through voice , video and chat as of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the North Island can access some supports online or over the phone , such as primary health care from a nurse practitioner , that they wouldn ’ t have been able to in the past , Folk said .
Additionally , Foundry staff can connect and serve youth with access to internet and cell phones on platforms young people are adept at using , such as Instagram , Facebook , Zoom or the gaming app Discord , which is increasingly popular as it best mimics a real conversation , and doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added .
“ We need to be able to use all the different platforms because some parents aren ’ t supportive of their children attending a group , that youth could still attend by chatting on their phone , but it looks they are just playing a game , ” Folk said .
However , it doesn ’ t help kids , rural or otherwise , that don ’ t have phones or computers .
Folk said the government should step in to get both hardware and money for internet access into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need it .
“ If kids don ’ t have a mechanism to communicate online ( during the pandemic ) , their isolation and depression is even higher , and they ’ re even more at risk , ” Folk said .
The national Kids Help Phone , which got $ 7.5 million in extra relief funding from the federal government , has seen call volumes from young people shoot up .
Service volumes are up by 112 per cent compared to this time last year , and conversations specifically tied to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since March 12 , Kids Help Phone said Thursday .
But even prior to the pandemic , children and youth in B.C .
were facing significant mental health service gaps .
Estimates suggest 84,000 children and youth in BC have a diagnosed mental disorder , yet fewer than one-third of those children will receive the treatment they need .
Regionally , almost one in five North Island students reported they needed mental health services but had not used them , according to data from the McCreary Centre ’ s 2018 BC Adolescent Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all school districts in the North Vancouver Island Health service delivery area , including the Comox Valley , Campbell River , Vancouver Island West , and Vancouver Island North districts participated in the provincewide survey , which occurs every five years .
The local findings about students accessing mental health services reflected the provincial rates , said Annie Smith , executive director of McCreary Centre Society .
There were a number of issues youth outlined for not using supports , Smith said .
“ Kids at that age tend to think if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , ” Smith said .
That was compounded by a significant rise in youth reporting that they didn ’ t want parents to know about their mental health problems .
As well , youth from smaller or isolated communities may face transportation barriers or worry about the lack of anonymity .
“ They think everybody ’ s going to know…they know the people who work in the clinic , and that their auntie is going to find out about it , ” Smith said .
However , a positive outcome of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region 's students were more likely to turn to a family member for help than in the past , and the vast majority found it to be helpful , she said .
Annie Smith , executive director of McCreary Centre Society , said youth report they do n't access mental health supports because they hope their problems will resolve themselves .
Photo : courtesy of McCreary Centre .
But a grave concern was that one in five North Island students reported they had seriously considered suicide , Smith said .
Girls were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter of female students considering suicide , as opposed to 12 per cent of males .
“ We ’ ve seen higher ( student reported ) rates of things such as sexual abuse and bullying , ” Smith said .
“ And those things are definitely associated with feeling despair and hopelessness and linked to thinking about suicide.
” Girls overall are also much more likely to be victims of cyber-bullying , with one in five reporting online attacks versus one in 10 boys , Smith said .
Students , locally and provincially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of discrimination whether based on gender , race , disability or sexual orientation , Smith said .
LGTBQ2S+ youth across the board are particularly vulnerable to mental health struggles , Smith added .
“ It comes down to experiences with discrimination and bullying , ” she said .
“ Often LGBTQ2S+ youth feel less connected to family and feel less understood .
So they have less sense of belonging and safety , which really plays into that.
” Folk agreed , and noted some LGBTQ2S+ youth may be facing a heightened sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are stuck at home with family that don ’ t know about or accept their identity .
`` It can be hard to not be seen or be your authentic self , ” Folk said .
“ It ’ s important that these youth know they are not alone.
” Getting online to connect with the virtual LGBTQ2S+ community , chat online with peers or join online support groups like the one run by Foundry Campbell River can ease that sense of isolation , Folk said .
One key to help protect all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic is having someone they can trust and confide in , she said .
“ They need emotional connection , so that they know they are not alone , ” Folk said .
`` Young people need validation around the anxiety and the fear the pandemic brings up… because their whole life was turned upside down.
” Call 1-800-663-9122 to report instances of child abuse to the Ministry of Children and Family Development .
If a child is in immediate danger , call 911 .
For child and youth mental health supports @ @ @ @ @

Outreach workers are running errands or dropping off milkshakes, to get face time with vulnerable kids trapped at home during the pandemic. Counsellors are conducting therapy sessions in parks to better gauge a youth’s state of mind while still adhering to distancing protocols. Youth workers are doing what they can to reach isolated children and teens living in the North Island region of Vancouver Island, B.C., and support their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We used to be able to have regular (in-person) check-ins with the kids, but the communication is so much trickier now,” said Stacy Folk, program manager for the Foundry youth services hub in Campbell River. Folk said many youth and children are dealing with increased anxiety and stress due to the pandemic. But for young people already dealing with mental health issues prior to COVID-19, isolation protocols are exacerbating their struggle, she said.
The pandemic has forced the Foundry’s group programs and counselling online, limiting the regular face-to-face contact with youth. Rural youth, further isolated by geography, are doubly impacted by the isolation imposed by the health crisis, Folk said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Teens from Quadra and Cortes islands, or the small communities of Sayward and Gold River are no longer coming into Campbell River for school, where they could get extra help, attention, food or attend Foundry programs, she said.
“COVID-19 has impacted that even more, because rural youth are unable to get in to get the community supports that were so essential to their mental wellness,” Folk said. “Young people need validation around the anxiety and the fear the pandemic brings up… because their whole life was turned upside down,” Stacy Folk, Foundry Campbell River program manager, on COVID-19's mental health impacts for children and teens. Additionally, not all youth in more isolated communities have access to internet or cell service due to network limitations, off-grid living or poverty, Folk said. “It can be difficult when it’s a land line in their parents' home, and maybe it’s not safe for them to speak because the parents are in the room, or not supportive of counselling or these sorts of things,” she said. “It really exacerbates the safety risks for a lot of youth already dealing with those challenges.” Stacy Folk, program manager for Foundry Campbell River, says the youth services hub's programming has moved online due to pandemic protocols. Photo: courtesy of Foundry Campbell River. Foundry Campbell River, part of B.C’s Foundry network and operated by the John Howard Society of North Island, is a one-stop destination for youth to get services such as mental health and substance use counselling, sexual health care, youth and family conflict resolution, housing assistance, and LGBTQ2S+ youth support.
The B.C. government allocated $5 million to expand online mental health supports during the pandemic. That funding included making Foundry services available virtually across the province through voice, video and chat as of April 20. Now young people in the North Island can access some supports online or over the phone, such as primary health care from a nurse practitioner, that they wouldn’t have been able to in the past, Folk said. Additionally, Foundry staff can connect and serve youth with access to internet and cell phones on platforms young people are adept at using, such as Instagram, Facebook, Zoom or the gaming app Discord, which is increasingly popular as it best mimics a real conversation, and doesn’t require a phone number to use, she added.


nationalobserver--2020-05-12--Wood pellets from clear-cut, old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral

Clear-cutting old-growth forests to produce wood pellets to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation would release more carbon into the atmosphere than it would save “ for many decades , ” according to a new scientific study .
The findings raise questions about the wood pellet industry ’ s claims that their product is “ carbon neutral ” and that switching from burning coal to burning pellets would reduce “ 100 per cent ” of greenhouse gas emissions .
Greenpeace Canada , which partially funded the study , said it has “ huge implications ” for Canadian policy .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FPAC ) , a group representing timber , pulp and paper producers , said the study is based on a “ hypothetical ” scenario that doesn ’ t represent the sector ’ s current practices and commitments , including to sustainable forest management and the low-carbon transition .
While it would ultimately help reduce carbon pollution in the atmosphere compared to continuing to use fossil fuels , the study says that , even under a best-case scenario where the forest is left to regenerate for a century , it would not reach the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 years .
Malcolm said this is because old-growth forests are a “ carbon-rich landscape ” that can ’ t be easily replaced .
“ When people think about forests and carbon , they tend to get fixated on the fact that , as trees grow , they absorb carbon out of the atmosphere .
So people get fixated with this idea of , ‘ Oh , we want to have lots of young , active , fast-growing trees , ’ ” he said .
“ You can ’ t forget about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , store a lot of carbon that ’ s not in the atmosphere .
You don ’ t want to liberate that carbon , you want to keep it in the landscape ... if you want to help the climate , you should n't be doing clear-cutting of unmanaged forests , or primary forests.
” Clear-cutting old-growth forests to produce wood pellets to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation would release more carbon into the atmosphere than it would save “ for many decades , ” according to a new scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of northern Ontario for their research , in the area around Lake Abitibi that straddles the Quebec border .
The research was funded by Greenpeace Canada and by a discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada .
“ I think this has huge implications for Canada in terms of policy with forestry , ” said Greenpeace Canada nature and food campaigner Reykia Fick .
“ What we need to be doing is moving towards focusing on disturbed forests , or already-harvested forests , and moving towards longer harvesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just illustrates the importance of these forests from a climate perspective , and the importance that we should be placing on protecting them.
” Undated photo supplied by Conservation North and Stand.earth that the groups say shows a logging truck entering a pellet plant in Prince George , B.C .
Dominick DellaSala Photo Questions sent to two directors at the Wood Pellet Association of Canada on May 8 concerning the study were not returned before publication .
In a statement sent May 10 , Robert Larocque , senior vice president of FPAC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scenario being evaluated in the study was “ hypothetical and atypical.
” He said an examination of a “ more real-world situation of a portfolio of wood products , ” instead of one that zeroed in on wood pellets , was “ strangely absent in the discussion.
” The forest products sector has a “ commitment to waste reduction and advancing a lower carbon economy , ” said Larocque , and he argued that “ most ” pellets produced in Canada are from “ wood waste , ” or leftover material from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ branches .
The industry uses “ what would otherwise be wood waste to make products we need like word pellets , toilet paper , medical masks and hospital gowns , sanitary wipes , and paper towels , ” he said .
Not all wood pellet manufacturing comes from waste , however .
The B.C .
government told National Observer on April 27 that timber harvesting has “ evolved '' and that the industry now sends logs not suitable for manufacturing due to age or fire damage to facilities such as pellet mills .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s managed forests — the areas used for logging , fire management and parkland , which represent about 65 per cent of Canada ’ s total forested area — the activities of the industry and the wood products harvested from them represent a carbon sink .
Environment and Climate Change Canada 's National Inventory Report , released last month , says the net balance of “ managed ” forest land amounted to 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide removed in 2018 , while emissions from wood products coming from managed forests was 125 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom line , said Malcolm , `` is that the standard way we harvest wood in the boreal forest in Canada is not a good idea if you 're trying to help the atmosphere . ''

Clear-cutting old-growth forests to produce wood pellets to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation would release more carbon into the atmosphere than it would save “for many decades,” according to a new scientific study. The findings raise questions about the wood pellet industry’s claims that their product is “carbon neutral” and that switching from burning coal to burning pellets would reduce “100 per cent” of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace Canada, which partially funded the study, said it has “huge implications” for Canadian policy. But the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), a group representing timber, pulp and paper producers, said the study is based on a “hypothetical” scenario that doesn’t represent the sector’s current practices and commitments, including to sustainable forest management and the low-carbon transition. 'Unlikely to be useful' in fighting climate change The manufacturing of wood pellets, made by compacting together wood material, has been embraced by B.C. Premier John Horgan as a way to create “good jobs” while turning "waste" into "clean, renewable electricity.” Pellets are one of several bioenergy sources being examined as fossil fuel alternatives. Canada is now the second-largest wood pellet exporter worldwide, and Vancouver is home to the third-largest global supplier.
In a study published April 11 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Climatic Change, Jay Malcolm and Paul Piascik from the University of Toronto and Bjart Holtsmark from Statistics Norway looked at the emissions of harvesting and processing timber, the pellet manufacturing process, transportation to a power plant and combustion for fuel, and measured it against other elements such as carbon savings from coal, forest regrowth and wildfires. The researchers found that clear-cutting undisturbed, or “primary” boreal forests for material to make wood pellets, in order to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation, is “unlikely to be useful in mitigating climate change in the near term” — and, in fact, would be likely to “exacerbate carbon dioxide emissions for many decades.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions While it would ultimately help reduce carbon pollution in the atmosphere compared to continuing to use fossil fuels, the study says that, even under a best-case scenario where the forest is left to regenerate for a century, it would not reach the point of carbon neutrality for more than 90 years.
Malcolm said this is because old-growth forests are a “carbon-rich landscape” that can’t be easily replaced. “When people think about forests and carbon, they tend to get fixated on the fact that, as trees grow, they absorb carbon out of the atmosphere. So people get fixated with this idea of, ‘Oh, we want to have lots of young, active, fast-growing trees,’” he said. Clear-cutting old-growth forests to produce wood pellets to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation would release more carbon into the atmosphere than it would save “for many decades,” according to a new scientific study. “You can’t forget about the fact that forests, as they are right now, store a lot of carbon that’s not in the atmosphere. You don’t want to liberate that carbon, you want to keep it in the landscape...if you want to help the climate, you shouldn't be doing clear-cutting of unmanaged forests, or primary forests.” The team studied a slice of northern Ontario for their research, in the area around Lake Abitibi that straddles the Quebec border. The research was funded by Greenpeace Canada and by a discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. “I think this has huge implications for Canada in terms of policy with forestry,” said Greenpeace Canada nature and food campaigner Reykia Fick. “What we need to be doing is moving towards focusing on disturbed forests, or already-harvested forests, and moving towards longer harvesting periods and lighter harvesting techniques. It just illustrates the importance of these forests from a climate perspective, and the importance that we should be placing on protecting them.”
Undated photo supplied by Conservation North and Stand.earth that the groups say shows a logging truck entering a pellet plant in Prince George, B.C. Dominick DellaSala Photo Industry calls study 'hypothetical and atypical' Questions sent to two directors at the Wood Pellet Association of Canada on May 8 concerning the study were not returned before publication.


nationalobserver--2020-05-12--Yes, oil is dead.  Just read the writing on the wall.

It has been an interesting week .
On the morning of May 6 , I held a press conference in West Block before the weekly in-person session of Parliament opened .
I spoke about how virtual Parliament is working , and Green recommendations to make it work better .
When we got to questions , the first one was CBC ’ s Julie Van Dusen .
She asked about a possible bailout to Big Oil .
And I explained that the evidence was coming in thick and fast that oil ’ s day was done .
And she zeroed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dead ?
” “ Yes , ” I said , “ oil is dead.
” I went on , at length , about concerns for the people of Alberta .
I stressed the need to invest in Alberta and to diversify its economy .
Just the day before , the CFO of Royal Dutch Shell had told shareholders that the demand for oil “ might never come back.
” I didn ’ t think it should be a surprise that investing in the oilsands was not something our government should do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberals promised never to do in the 2015 election campaign .
It was something former prime minister Stephen Harper promised to stop in 2009 at the G20 summit in Cincinnati .
Still , the assumption from media seems to be that it is only a matter of time before the feds roll over and give Big Oil $ 20 billion .
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers is so used to calling the shots that it had the gall to ask for huge levels of financial bailout , plus weakened environmental protections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask • Like health care , housing is a right What seems to be ignored in the way in which we talk about such a bailout is that economists fear that bailing out Big Oil will worsen our chances of economic recovery post-COVID-19 .
And no one wants to point out it will worsen our chances for the survival of human civilization .
Within hours , and then for days , I have been attacked as though I had declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No surprise really .
Premier Jason Kenney attacked me as “ divisive.
” Heartlessly kicking Alberta when it was down .
Gerry Butts tweeted that I was being “ mean.
” Numerous Conservative politicians , including one MP , said my goal was to “ destroy Canada.
” And I avert my eyes from the invective on social media .
I was not making a prediction .
I was not expressing an opinion .
I was reading the writing on the wall .
Reporters defending the oilpatch , such as CTV ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said that the oil and gas sector is 11 per cent of Canada ’ s GDP .
Amazing .
The reality is that it is 5.6 per cent of GDP .
People claimed I was ignoring a workforce of 500,000 .
The workforce is large and important , but actually it is 169,000 .
And to the exaggerations , I must add that frequently repeated claim that the oil and gas sector results in around $ 8 billion annually in taxes .
The accurate figure is around $ 2 billion ( combined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //www.nrcan.gc.ca/science-data/data-analysis/energy-data-analysis/energy-facts/energy-and-economy/20062 So against an onslaught of oil and gas propaganda , I keep trying to get out the facts .
`` I was not making a prediction .
I was not expressing an opinion .
I was reading the writing on the wall . ''
Elizabeth May The International Energy Agency report this week was stunning .
The only energy commodity not being pummelled in the pandemic is renewable energy .
Sure , it would have done better if not for COVID-19 , but the market forces are clearly moving away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , oil and gas is plummeting .
And so are the prices for oil and gas .
The only energy product in demand is renewable energy , which will grow 5 per cent in 2020 to produce 30 per cent of the world ’ s electricity by year end .
More writing on the wall came from a massive study released by the Oxford Review of Economic Policy .
A team of economists , with lead authors Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Nicholas Stern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central banks and economic policy and energy analysts from G20 countries .
They took all the information they gathered , laid out against measurable indicators , to determine the strongest economic policy to avoid a deep post-pandemic depression .
Their prescription for post-pandemic recovery is to invest in renewable energy and retrofitting buildings to maximize energy efficiency .
Trying to support fossil fuels would be far less effective .
So maybe , oil is not dead .
Maybe , like Farm Boy in The Princess Bride , it is only mostly dead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But if we are in the business of working on miracles , let ’ s make them good ones : eliminate poverty , guarantee food security , ensure decent working conditions and fair wages for our front-line workers , re-localize our economy and rely on energy sources that won ’ t destroy our future .

It has been an interesting week. On the morning of May 6, I held a press conference in West Block before the weekly in-person session of Parliament opened. I spoke about how virtual Parliament is working, and Green recommendations to make it work better. When we got to questions, the first one was CBC’s Julie Van Dusen. She asked about a possible bailout to Big Oil. And I explained that the evidence was coming in thick and fast that oil’s day was done. And she zeroed in on: “Are you saying oil is dead?” “Yes,” I said, “oil is dead.” I went on, at length, about concerns for the people of Alberta. I stressed the need to invest in Alberta and to diversify its economy. Just the day before, the CFO of Royal Dutch Shell had told shareholders that the demand for oil “might never come back.” I didn’t think it should be a surprise that investing in the oilsands was not something our government should do. Of course, it is something the Liberals promised never to do in the 2015 election campaign. It was something former prime minister Stephen Harper promised to stop in 2009 at the G20 summit in Cincinnati. Still, the assumption from media seems to be that it is only a matter of time before the feds roll over and give Big Oil $20 billion. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers is so used to calling the shots that it had the gall to ask for huge levels of financial bailout, plus weakened environmental protections, and getting rid of Lobbying Act requirements.
What seems to be ignored in the way in which we talk about such a bailout is that economists fear that bailing out Big Oil will worsen our chances of economic recovery post-COVID-19. And no one wants to point out it will worsen our chances for the survival of human civilization. Within hours, and then for days, I have been attacked as though I had declared war on Alberta and its citizens. No surprise really. Premier Jason Kenney attacked me as “divisive.” Heartlessly kicking Alberta when it was down. Gerry Butts tweeted that I was being “mean.” Numerous Conservative politicians, including one MP, said my goal was to “destroy Canada.” And I avert my eyes from the invective on social media. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions I was not making a prediction. I was not expressing an opinion. I was reading the writing on the wall.
Reporters defending the oilpatch, such as CTV’s Molly Thomas on “Power Play,” said that the oil and gas sector is 11 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Amazing. The reality is that it is 5.6 per cent of GDP. "I was not making a prediction. I was not expressing an opinion. I was reading the writing on the wall." Elizabeth May People claimed I was ignoring a workforce of 500,000. The workforce is large and important, but actually it is 169,000. And to the exaggerations, I must add that frequently repeated claim that the oil and gas sector results in around $8 billion annually in taxes. The accurate figure is around $2 billion (combined federal and provincial revenues). https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/science-data/data-analysis/energy-data-analysis/energy-facts/energy-and-economy/20062 So against an onslaught of oil and gas propaganda, I keep trying to get out the facts. The International Energy Agency report this week was stunning. The only energy commodity not being pummelled in the pandemic is renewable energy. Sure, it would have done better if not for COVID-19, but the market forces are clearly moving away from fossil fuels. Global demand for coal, oil and gas is plummeting. And so are the prices for oil and gas. The only energy product in demand is renewable energy, which will grow 5 per cent in 2020 to produce 30 per cent of the world’s electricity by year end.
More writing on the wall came from a massive study released by the Oxford Review of Economic Policy. A team of economists, with lead authors Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and the former Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Nicholas Stern, interviewed more than 200 experts from central banks and economic policy and energy analysts from G20 countries. They took all the information they gathered, laid out against measurable indicators, to determine the strongest economic policy to avoid a deep post-pandemic depression. Their prescription for post-pandemic recovery is to invest in renewable energy and retrofitting buildings to maximize energy efficiency. Trying to support fossil fuels would be far less effective. So maybe, oil is not dead. Maybe, like Farm Boy in The Princess Bride, it is only mostly dead. Maybe Miracle Max can save it.


nationalobserver--2020-05-12--Physician mothers on the front lines of a crisis

During my career as a staff physician , I have injected clot-busting drugs into veins faltering under heart attacks , kept septic patients alive on an IV and a prayer while waiting for rural helicopter transport , and faced down patients screaming profanities when I could not cure their physical and psychic pain — but my first steps as a mother were the hardest ones I have ever walked .
An unending march of breastfeeding , diapering and soothing , the months after my son was born were marked by my breathtaking love for him , profound sleep deprivation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his needs for one moment I would be less of a mother , and something awful might happen to this remarkable little one who was so dependent on me .
And yet here he is now five and a half years later , kind , thoughtful , beautiful and whole .
If one values control and competency , a novel , uncontrollable situation that threatens a bad outcome is a recipe for stress and self-doubt .
At the same time , it can also spur you to rise , confront and deploy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge .
Make no mistake : this potent combination of vigilance , grit , compassion , resilience and trust makes physician mothers some of the most effective leaders in our fight against the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change .
Vigilance and preparation are essential to being a skilled mother and acute-care physician .
When she began to realize what COVID-19 could mean for her remote community , Dr. Courtney Howard , a Yellowknife emergency doctor and mother of two girls , “ went down a deep Twitter and literature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next morning with a sense of impending doom — and ready to take action .
She responded the same way when she learned of the human health risks of climate change , first curling up in grief around her infant daughter , and eventually becoming board president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment in 2017 .
• Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask • Like health care , housing is a right • Yes , oil is dead .
Just read the writing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she described the flurry of intense activity over the following weeks “ as we prepared for what felt like it was about to be the clinical challenge of our lives.
” Howard was on shift when the Northwest Territories ’ first and only hospitalized COVID-19 patient arrived in the ER .
She remembers feeling tremendously grateful for the coordinated and skilled collaboration between public health , government and on-the-ground health-care providers that so far has resulted in only five detected cases in her territory .
And she is ready to take this gratitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against climate change .
Motherhood , especially when combined with the responsibilities of medical work , can also be an exercise in perseverance .
One evening last week , Dr. Monika Dutt couldn ’ t console her inexplicably upset eight-year-old son ; until then she had been pleased with how well he ’ d seemed to be handling the new restrictions on their lives .
As a single parent , distance runner , family physician in Cape Breton and medical officer of health , her plate is overflowing .
She admitted over email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her to stay patient and give her son the attention he needs .
And yet somehow , she manages to do it all despite logging long hours , saying , “ I work mostly at home and COVID-19 issues can come up at any time.
” Dutt said that environmental issues are integral to her work in northern , rural and smaller Canadian towns , where she has promoted public health policies needed to respond to climate change .
She also recognizes the importance of connecting to and preserving the natural world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time outdoors and try to decrease my carbon footprint through actions like bike commuting.
” And it seems Dutt knew one of the keys to her son ’ s happiness all along — when they finally found a day to steal away to the coastal sunshine and waves of Cape Breton , it was a joyful , restorative day for both of them .
Sometimes empathizing with the suffering you see in your own community can inspire you to make personal change .
In an interview , Dr. Han Sol Kang , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the strain and suffering of all those affected by the dead and dying [ and ] mental health problems from isolation ” during the pandemic .
`` Female physicians have never been in a more influential position to enact change — so let ’ s not waste this opportunity to help them . ''
She worried that her heart-attack patients were avoiding the ER until it was too late , and that many of her COVID-19 patients had been unable to stay home from the low-income factory jobs that infected them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger than ourselves is making us stop and give the planet a break.
” Moved to make the world healthier for her kindergartner , toddler and neighbours , Kang has been buying local , walking more for transportation , reducing her consumer mindset by making do with what she already has at home , and plans to grow her own vegetables even when the pandemic is over .
Research shows that building resilience and combatting the roots of eco-anxiety through lifestyle changes and activism can be effective treatments for it by empowering and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Natalie Cousineau works in a busy ER department in Barrie where she sees COVID-19 patients every shift .
She ’ s been careful to teach her kids , nine and 12 , the importance of doing their part for the environment and gets them outdoors nearly every day on the extensive protected trails near her home .
Over email , Cousineau told me that “ once I ’ m at work it ’ s easier to simply focus on what we do , ” but added , “ COVID-19 has changed everything … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my anxiety show , because I know how easily kids pick up on that.
” Though some of her colleagues are living apart from their families to avoid infecting them , she manages her own fears by staying in full protective gear during her entire work shift ( no risk of contamination from water or snacks ) and disinfecting everything she brings home .
Ultimately , the inspiration she draws from her colleagues , much like what sustains physicians in the climate movement , is what keeps her going : “ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mourned deaths and celebrated saves ...
I am in awe of their strength and dedication to helping others.
” Not surprisingly , Canadians have taken note of the bravery and dedication of our female doctors .
Public health officers such as Dr. Bonnie Henry , Dr. Deena Hinshaw , Dr. Kami Kandola and Dr. Theresa Tam are now folk heroes , inspiring T-shirts and sold-out shoe designs , fan clubs and murals on city streets .
Hinshaw , mother to two school-aged children , sparked a ramp-up in production and reissue of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it during a televised COVID-19 briefing .
A recent survey about the pandemic revealed that the public trusts health professionals like doctors and nurses almost twice as much as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .
And every evening at 7 p.m. , I am buoyed by the care of my community as my Vancouver street erupts into a cacophony of clanging pots , pans and applause for front-line workers .
Indeed , female physicians have never been in a more influential position to enact change — so let ’ s not waste this opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : let us continue to honour and support their essential work towards a healthier country .
To my fellow doctor moms : let us band together , centralize our message and communicate our priorities for recovery funds with our newly powerful voice , even as the pandemic competes for our attention .
Let us wield our trend-setting power when we choose active transport and plant-rich diets more often , and local vacations instead of air travel when the pandemic ends .
Let us call for more virtual conferencing and further investments in online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
Let us ensure that our richer nation continues to support those nations in greater economic need with wealth transfers .
And in our quest to decarbonize our country , let us care for workers in the oil sector who have buoyed our economy in the past by helping them transition to good jobs in a renewable-energy future .
Dr. Melissa Lem calls fellow female physicians and mothers to band together to make positive change .
Photo courtesy Melissa Lem So as another Mother ’ s Day passes , I think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front lines in cities and towns across this country .
I stand shoulder to shoulder with you as you hold your children and families , your patients and communities , up in your capable , loving arms .
The global battle against COVID-19 and climate change is a calling and a challenge that will take nothing less than our best — and I can ’ t imagine a better group of women to meet it with .

During my career as a staff physician, I have injected clot-busting drugs into veins faltering under heart attacks, kept septic patients alive on an IV and a prayer while waiting for rural helicopter transport, and faced down patients screaming profanities when I could not cure their physical and psychic pain — but my first steps as a mother were the hardest ones I have ever walked. An unending march of breastfeeding, diapering and soothing, the months after my son was born were marked by my breathtaking love for him, profound sleep deprivation and worry. That if I stopped thinking about his needs for one moment I would be less of a mother, and something awful might happen to this remarkable little one who was so dependent on me. And yet here he is now five and a half years later, kind, thoughtful, beautiful and whole. If one values control and competency, a novel, uncontrollable situation that threatens a bad outcome is a recipe for stress and self-doubt. At the same time, it can also spur you to rise, confront and deploy every skill you have to meet the challenge. Make no mistake: this potent combination of vigilance, grit, compassion, resilience and trust makes physician mothers some of the most effective leaders in our fight against the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Vigilance and preparation are essential to being a skilled mother and acute-care physician. When she began to realize what COVID-19 could mean for her remote community, Dr. Courtney Howard, a Yellowknife emergency doctor and mother of two girls, “went down a deep Twitter and literature review rabbit hole,” waking the next morning with a sense of impending doom — and ready to take action. She responded the same way when she learned of the human health risks of climate change, first curling up in grief around her infant daughter, and eventually becoming board president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment in 2017.
In an interview, she described the flurry of intense activity over the following weeks “as we prepared for what felt like it was about to be the clinical challenge of our lives.” Howard was on shift when the Northwest Territories’ first and only hospitalized COVID-19 patient arrived in the ER. She remembers feeling tremendously grateful for the coordinated and skilled collaboration between public health, government and on-the-ground health-care providers that so far has resulted in only five detected cases in her territory. And she is ready to take this gratitude and energy to her fierce advocacy efforts against climate change. Motherhood, especially when combined with the responsibilities of medical work, can also be an exercise in perseverance. One evening last week, Dr. Monika Dutt couldn’t console her inexplicably upset eight-year-old son; until then she had been pleased with how well he’d seemed to be handling the new restrictions on their lives. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions As a single parent, distance runner, family physician in Cape Breton and medical officer of health, her plate is overflowing. She admitted over email that this has made it difficult for her to stay patient and give her son the attention he needs. And yet somehow, she manages to do it all despite logging long hours, saying, “I work mostly at home and COVID-19 issues can come up at any time.”
Dutt said that environmental issues are integral to her work in northern, rural and smaller Canadian towns, where she has promoted public health policies needed to respond to climate change. "Female physicians have never been in a more influential position to enact change — so let’s not waste this opportunity to help them." She also recognizes the importance of connecting to and preserving the natural world, saying, “I spend a lot of time outdoors and try to decrease my carbon footprint through actions like bike commuting.” And it seems Dutt knew one of the keys to her son’s happiness all along — when they finally found a day to steal away to the coastal sunshine and waves of Cape Breton, it was a joyful, restorative day for both of them. Sometimes empathizing with the suffering you see in your own community can inspire you to make personal change. In an interview, Dr. Han Sol Kang, an emergency physician in Kitchener-Waterloo, lamented “the strain and suffering of all those affected by the dead and dying [and] mental health problems from isolation” during the pandemic. She worried that her heart-attack patients were avoiding the ER until it was too late, and that many of her COVID-19 patients had been unable to stay home from the low-income factory jobs that infected them. But she also marvelled that “something bigger than ourselves is making us stop and give the planet a break.” Moved to make the world healthier for her kindergartner, toddler and neighbours, Kang has been buying local, walking more for transportation, reducing her consumer mindset by making do with what she already has at home, and plans to grow her own vegetables even when the pandemic is over.
Research shows that building resilience and combatting the roots of eco-anxiety through lifestyle changes and activism can be effective treatments for it by empowering and connecting people to their communities. Dr. Natalie Cousineau works in a busy ER department in Barrie where she sees COVID-19 patients every shift. She’s been careful to teach her kids, nine and 12, the importance of doing their part for the environment and gets them outdoors nearly every day on the extensive protected trails near her home. Over email, Cousineau told me that “once I’m at work it’s easier to simply focus on what we do,” but added, “COVID-19 has changed everything … I've tried hard not to let my anxiety show, because I know how easily kids pick up on that.” Though some of her colleagues are living apart from their families to avoid infecting them, she manages her own fears by staying in full protective gear during her entire work shift (no risk of contamination from water or snacks) and disinfecting everything she brings home. Ultimately, the inspiration she draws from her colleagues, much like what sustains physicians in the climate movement, is what keeps her going: “We’ve laughed together, cried together, mourned deaths and celebrated saves ... I am in awe of their strength and dedication to helping others.”


nationalobserver--2020-05-12--Sask. suicide prevention plan needs teeth, says MLA

The province of Saskatchewan announced a new suicide prevention plan on Friday , but critics are calling for more than that .
They say legislation is needed in order for suicide prevention to work in the province .
“ There is definitely a difference between a bill and a plan .
Unfortunately , they ’ ve announced that they ’ ve got a plan , instead of a bill with some law and with some legislation that ’ s given some teeth , ” Doyle Vermette , NDP MLA for Cumberland , told National Observer .
Vermette twice introduced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suicide-prevention strategy .
He said he has been to far too many funerals in his constituency for those who died by suicide .
He fears that more people are being impacted by mental health issues related to isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic , which brings added urgency to the need for suicide prevention measures in the north .
Hospitalization rates associated with self-inflicted injury per 100,000 population in 2017-2018 ( by age and sex ) .
Graphic source : Statistics Canada data .
Vermette has introduced two private member ’ s bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When the first timed out in 2019 , he introduced another one .
He said it ’ s good that the government is acknowledging that there is a problem by “ announcing something , ” but would like them to work toward legislation .
He is still calling for the adoption of the Bill that he introduced , called Bill 618 , the Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act .
• Yes , oil is dead .
Just read the writing on the wall .
• Pipeline projects , the pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wood pellets from clear-cut , old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral He believes that suicide-prevention legislation , as opposed to a plan , would be more effective because it would enable the government to monitor its success and would require that reports be filed and assessed .
Rural and Remote Health Minister Warren Kaeding released Pillars for Life : The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan on Friday , which outlines a collaborative approach to suicide prevention .
The new suicide-prevention plan states that it will coordinate activities to promote life and reduce risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Death rates of suicide per 100,000 population in 2016 ( by age and sex ) .
Graphic source : Statistics Canada data .
 “ Mental health continues to be a high priority for our government , our health system and our communities , ” Kaeding said in a written statement to the press .
“ This plan will guide activities specific to suicide prevention based on Saskatchewan ’ s context .
It was informed by careful consideration of approaches across the country and international best practice.
” “ When they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re crying out for help we ’ ve got to make sure that those supports and help are there for those young people or whoever is facing challenges with mental health , ” Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette .
The preamble to the plan notes that around 4,000 people die by suicide yearly in Canada .
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 29 in Canada .
In Saskatchewan , an average of 144 people die by suicide each year according to data from the Saskatchewan Coroners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death for people age 10 to 49 in northern Saskatchewan .
“ We ’ ve had so many suicides , so many young people , so many attempts .
We introduced a bill two years back and then we reintroduced it as Bill 618 recently , in 2019 , after the original died on the order paper , ” Vermette said .
“ Something has to change , and it has to be better so that we don ’ t lose one more life to suicide if we can prevent it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are there .
Let ’ s do all we can .
We owe this to our citizens throughout the province , ” Vermette said .
In her 2019 report , Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan , Judy Ferguson , highlighted areas for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to “ improve its processes to treat patients at risk of suicide in northwest Saskatchewan.
” Ferguson ’ s report noted that Saskatchewan has a “ significantly higher '' than average suicide rate among the provinces and that the rate of suicide has been consistently higher in northwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2018 , the average suicide rate ( per 100,000 ) was 27.9 in northwest Saskatchewan , compared to the provincial average of 18.7 .
The new provincial plan includes public awareness efforts aimed at northern Indigenous youth , and is intended to complement “ broader activities ” laid out in Saskatchewan ’ s Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan .
“ We want to make sure people know help is available for those who may be thinking about suicide , ” Kaeding said .
“ The Saskatchewan Health Authority and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We all recognize the need to do more.
” In March , Curtis McKenzie , a 27-year-old member of Lac La Ronge First Nation , took his own life while at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert .
The federal inmate population in Canada increased 1.2 per cent since 2010 , while the Indigenous inmate population increased by 52.1 per cent .
According to the most recent national data available from the annual report of the office of the correctional investigator ( 2018-2019 ) , Indigenous offenders are “ over-represented ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounting for 39 per cent of all such incidents in the last 10 years .
Vermette says that the scope of the problem makes it imperative that the plan be followed-up by provincewide legislation to stop suicide across Saskatchewan .
Doyle Vermette , NDP MLA for Cumberland , with Ryan Meili , leader of the Saskatchewan NDP and MLA for for Saskatoon Meewasin .
Photograph courtesy of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party .
“ I ’ ve been at many wakes , many funerals supporting families , doing what you can to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loss of their loved one , and you get to know so many of the families , and it ’ s been hard .
It ’ s been tough on ( Buckley Belanger MLA for Athabasca ) and myself as the northern MLAs , ” Vermette said .
He said that it ’ s important to make sure that resources are there when somebody reaches out for help , because otherwise it can be too late .
“ When they ’ re ready to talk to someone and they ’ re crying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make sure that those supports and help are there for those young people or whoever is facing challenges with mental health , ” Vermette said .
He echoed Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili ’ s call for the Saskatchewan Legislature to convene so that questions can be raised about the plan and so that legislation can be pursued .
“ We have legislation that we ’ ve put forward and we ’ re willing to work with the province .
We have a crisis going on with suicides and we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to work with them .
We don ’ t care who runs it .
I would work with them in any way to get this bill , ” Vermette said .
If you are or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts , help is available at all hours .
Support can be found at the Canada Suicide Prevention Service website .
If in immediate danger you can call 9-1-1 .

The Province of Saskatchewan announced a new suicide prevention plan on Friday, but critics are calling for more than that. They say legislation is needed in order for suicide prevention to work in the province. “There is definitely a difference between a bill and a plan. Unfortunately, they’ve announced that they’ve got a plan, instead of a bill with some law and with some legislation that’s given some teeth,” Doyle Vermette, NDP MLA for Cumberland, told Canada's National Observer. Vermette twice introduced a private member’s bill calling for a suicide prevention strategy. He said he has been to far too many funerals in his constituency for those who died by suicide. He fears that more people are being impacted by mental health issues related to isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brings added urgency to the need for suicide prevention measures in the north. Hospitalization rates associated with self-inflicted injury per 100,000 population in 2017-2018 (by age and sex). Graphic source: Statistics Canada data.
Vermette has introduced two private member’s bills asking the province to address the issue. When the first timed out in 2019, he introduced another one. He said it’s good that the government is acknowledging that there is a problem by “announcing something,” but would like them to work toward legislation. He is still calling for the adoption of the Bill that he introduced, called Bill 618, the Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act. He believes that suicide-prevention legislation, as opposed to a plan, would be more effective because it would enable the government to monitor its success and would require that reports be filed and assessed. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Rural and Remote Health Minister Warren Kaeding released Pillars for Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan on Friday, which outlines a collaborative approach to suicide prevention. The new suicide-prevention plan states that it will coordinate activities to promote life and reduce risk factors related to suicide in Saskatchewan.
Death rates of suicide per 100,000 population in 2016 (by age and sex). Graphic source: Statistics Canada data.  “Mental health continues to be a high priority for our government, our health system and our communities,” Kaeding said in a written statement to the press. “When they’re ready to talk to someone and they’re crying out for help we’ve got to make sure that those supports and help are there for those young people or whoever is facing challenges with mental health,” Cumberland MLA Doyle Vermette. “This plan will guide activities specific to suicide prevention based on Saskatchewan’s context. It was informed by careful consideration of approaches across the country and international best practice.” The preamble to the plan notes that around 4,000 people die by suicide yearly in Canada. Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 29 in Canada. In Saskatchewan, an average of 144 people die by suicide each year according to data from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people age 10 to 49 in northern Saskatchewan.
“We’ve had so many suicides, so many young people, so many attempts. We introduced a bill two years back and then we reintroduced it as Bill 618 recently, in 2019, after the original died on the order paper,” Vermette said. “Something has to change, and it has to be better so that we don’t lose one more life to suicide if we can prevent it, by making sure the resources and supports are there. Let’s do all we can. We owe this to our citizens throughout the province,” Vermette said. In her 2019 report, Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan, Judy Ferguson, highlighted areas for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to “improve its processes to treat patients at risk of suicide in northwest Saskatchewan.”


nationalobserver--2020-05-13--Feds to unveil details of $1 billion in regional aid for small businesses

The federal government will disclose details today of nearly $ 1 billion in emergency aid to be doled out to small businesses through its six regional economic development agencies .
The government announced several weeks ago the creation of a new Regional Relief and Recovery Fund but did not reveal much in the way of detail , apart from the overall amount of $ 962 million .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly are expected to fill in some of the blanks today , including how much money each of the six regional agencies — for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quebec and northern and southern Ontario — are to receive and what each plans to do with it .
Each agency is expected to take a somewhat different approach to its share of the fund , targeting small businesses most in need in each region .
Overall , the fund is to commit $ 675 million to support regional economies , businesses , organizations and communities and another $ 287 million to support the national network of community futures development corporations , which are to specifically target small businesses and rural communities across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dead .
Just read the writing on the wall .
• Wood pellets from clear-cut , old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral • Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask The fund is intended to cushion the financial blow experienced by businesses and organizations to allow them to continue their operations , including paying their employees , during the COVID-19 pandemic .
It is also intended to support projects by businesses , organizations and communities to prepare for a successful recovery .
The money , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on top of other measures the federal government has announced to help small businesses weather the pandemic , which has shut down non-essential businesses for almost two months .
Other measures include the 75 per cent wage subsidy , 75 per cent commercial rent relief , loan guarantees and interest-free loans of up to $ 40,000 .
Trudeau has faced opposition criticism that the various measures still leave out many businesses that do n't meet the eligibility rules .
He is likely to face more of that criticism today when a several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting of the House of Commons .
Feds to unveil details of $ 1 billion in regional aid for small businesses Following a lengthy question and answer session , the Commons is expected to debate and quickly approve legislation that will authorize the Dairy Commission of Canada to increase its borrowing capacity by $ 200 million .
The commission 's additional borrowing power is intended to help it support the cost of storing butter and cheese while the market for such products is severely reduced due to the pandemic , which has closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically purchase large volumes of dairy products .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13 , 2020 .

The federal government will disclose details today of nearly $1 billion in emergency aid to be doled out to small businesses through its six regional economic development agencies.
The government announced several weeks ago the creation of a new Regional Relief and Recovery Fund but did not reveal much in the way of detail, apart from the overall amount of $962 million.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly are expected to fill in some of the blanks today, including how much money each of the six regional agencies — for the West, North, Atlantic, Quebec and northern and southern Ontario — are to receive and what each plans to do with it.
Each agency is expected to take a somewhat different approach to its share of the fund, targeting small businesses most in need in each region.
Overall, the fund is to commit $675 million to support regional economies, businesses, organizations and communities and another $287 million to support the national network of community futures development corporations, which are to specifically target small businesses and rural communities across the country.


nationalobserver--2020-05-13--Teck CEO defends strategy as investors criticize performance

The CEO of Teck Resources Ltd. defended his company 's growth strategy on Tuesday as dissident shareholders criticized what they called `` underperforming '' investments in coal and oilsands .
`` Our strategy is very straight forward , '' said CEO Don Lindsay in a webcast speech at the online Bank of America Securities Global Metals , Mining and Steel conference .
`` Teck is implementing a copper growth strategy financed by the strong cash flows from steel-making coal and zinc .
We are focused on rebalancing our portfolio to ultimately make our copper business bigger than our coal business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double our copper production on a consolidated basis . ''
Construction of the US $ 5.2-billion Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 copper mine expansion in Chile is gradually returning to normal after the project was halted due to measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic , Lindsay said .
It is expected to open in 2022 .
• Yes , oil is dead .
Just read the writing on the wall .
• Wood pellets from clear-cut , old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral • Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bright because of its use in electric vehicles , clean power plants and transmission lines , along with its antimicrobial properties that are attracting attention during the COVID-19 pandemic , he added .
American investment firm Impala Asset Management released on its website this week excerpts from a letter to Teck 's board criticizing the company 's performance in the 15 years Lindsay has been in charge .
The criticisms are similar to those reportedly made by Tribeca Investment Partners earlier this month .
Impala charges destruction of more than $ 12 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of B.C .
coal mines , its investment in the recently cancelled Frontier oilsands mine , other oilsands investments and the expansion of the Neptune terminals on the West Coast .
Teck 's shares closed Tuesday at $ 12.12 .
Its 52-week high of $ 30.81 was set last June .
Lindsay said Teck 's current woes are caused by historically low prices for its products , including coal , zinc , copper and oilsands bitumen .
`` Our operating margins have fallen dramatically over the past 12 months due to commodity price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear , '' he said .
`` But the underlying strength and longevity of the world-class assets in our portfolio has not changed and it represents significant upside potential once we emerge from this period . ''
He reiterated a commitment to consider selling Teck 's minority stake in the Fort Hills oilsands mine in northern Alberta if the value of the project is not reflected in its share price .
In an email response to the investor criticism , Teck spokesman Chris Stannell pointed out shareholders voted 98 per cent in favour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently and the board chairman has indicated full support for company management .
Teck is primarily controlled by the Keevil family through its dual-class shares system .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12 , 2020 .

The CEO of Teck Resources Ltd. defended his company's growth strategy on Tuesday as dissident shareholders criticized what they called "underperforming" investments in coal and oilsands.
"Our strategy is very straight forward," said CEO Don Lindsay in a webcast speech at the online Bank of America Securities Global Metals, Mining and Steel conference.
"Teck is implementing a copper growth strategy financed by the strong cash flows from steel-making coal and zinc. We are focused on rebalancing our portfolio to ultimately make our copper business bigger than our coal business, beginning with QB2, which will double our copper production on a consolidated basis."
Construction of the US$5.2-billion Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 copper mine expansion in Chile is gradually returning to normal after the project was halted due to measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic, Lindsay said.
It is expected to open in 2022.


nationalobserver--2020-05-13--Neighbour reported mass shooter's domestic violence, weapons to RCMP

A former neighbour of the gunman behind last month 's mass shooting in Nova Scotia says she reported his domestic violence and cache of firearms to the RCMP years ago and ended up leaving the community herself due to fears of his violence .
Brenda Forbes said that in the summer of 2013 , she told police about reports that Gabriel Wortman had held down and beaten his common law spouse behind one of the properties he owned in Portapique , a coastal community west of Truro .
Domestic violence is being examined as a key aspect of the mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rampage began on the night of April 18 after the gunman argued with his common law spouse and restrained and beat her before she managed to escape into the woods .
He went on to kill 22 people and burn a number of homes before police shot and killed him outside a gas station in Enfield , N.S .
Forbes said her first awareness of Wortman 's domestic violence was shortly after he moved to Portapique in the early 2000s , when his partner came to her door and asked for help .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just read the writing on the wall .
• Wood pellets from clear-cut , old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral • Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask `` She ran to my house and said Gabriel was beating on her and she had to get away .
She was afraid , '' said the 62-year-old veteran of the Canadian Forces .
Forbes said she encouraged her neighbour to seek help but recalled that she was frightened of her partner and of repercussions of going to police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family .
She said that in 2013 she learned Wortman had been seen hitting his partner behind one of his properties .
`` He had her on the ground , was strangling her ... .
He was beating on her , '' she said of the account she heard , saying there were three male witnesses .
`` On that incident , I called the RCMP and I told them what happened , and I said he has a bunch of illegal weapons , and I know because he showed them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has since moved outside the province .
She said that in response to her complaint the RCMP interviewed her while she was working at a cadet camp in Debert , N.S.
, and she retold the story .
She said she encouraged one of the three witnesses to give his account to police , but he refused , saying he feared violence from Wortman .
Forbes , who first told her story to the Halifax Examiner , said it upset her that police seemed unable to take firmer action on her complaint .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ RCMP , because ( the partner ) would not put in a complaint , as she was scared to death , they basically said , 'There 's not much we can do .
We can monitor him but there 's not much else we can do , ' `` she said .
The Canadian Press emailed the RCMP about the prior report of domestic abuse , but a spokesperson was n't immediately available for comment .
RCMP Supt .
Darren Campbell said during a news conference last month that investigators `` have spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us about prior assaults ; those are all things that we are dealing with right now . ''
He has also said that investigators are speaking to the former common law spouse to gain a better understanding of previous incidents .
However , Forbes said she felt at the time the incident should have been more thoroughly investigated .
`` If you tell them that he may have illegal weapons , should you not go and check it out ? ''
she asked .
Her husband , who also served in the Canadian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's weapons cache .
`` He knew I had weapons , being in the military , so he was always one of those guys who had to show others that whatever they had , he had something better , '' George Forbes said .
Wortman showed him firearms , including pistols and a rifle , in the garage , he said .
`` We reported that to the police also , '' he said .
Police have said the gunman did n't have a licence for his weapons .
Brenda Forbes said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RCMP 's Truro detachment , Wortman became more aggressive towards her .
George Forbes recalled him coming to the front door and threatening his wife .
Brenda Forbes said Wortman would drive around their house and park outside the door .
`` I was scared .
...
Even though I 'm military and I know how to use a weapon , that man scared the crap out of me , '' she said .
She said she and her husband left the area in 2014 out of growing fear and discomfort over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a founder of Persons Against Non-State Torture , said in an interview that advocates who are trying to reduce violence against women have long seen a connection between hatred of women and mass shootings .
The Truro-based nurse is among the signatories of a recent statement that called for a deeper look at the role misogyny played in the April 18-19 killings .
`` There 's definitely an element of male violence against women in this crime , '' she said .
`` Our main request is an independent public inquiry with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if male violence against women were considered more seriously in the criminal justice system , it could avoid tragedies such as the one that occurred in Nova Scotia .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12 , 2020 .

A former neighbour of the gunman behind last month's mass shooting in Nova Scotia says she reported his domestic violence and cache of firearms to the RCMP years ago and ended up leaving the community herself due to fears of his violence. Brenda Forbes said that in the summer of 2013, she told police about reports that Gabriel Wortman had held down and beaten his common law spouse behind one of the properties he owned in Portapique, a coastal community west of Truro. Domestic violence is being examined as a key aspect of the mass shooting, as police have said the rampage began on the night of April 18 after the gunman argued with his common law spouse and restrained and beat her before she managed to escape into the woods. He went on to kill 22 people and burn a number of homes before police shot and killed him outside a gas station in Enfield, N.S. Forbes said her first awareness of Wortman's domestic violence was shortly after he moved to Portapique in the early 2000s, when his partner came to her door and asked for help.
"She ran to my house and said Gabriel was beating on her and she had to get away. She was afraid," said the 62-year-old veteran of the Canadian Forces. Forbes said she encouraged her neighbour to seek help but recalled that she was frightened of her partner and of repercussions of going to police due to threats he'd made against her family. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions She said that in 2013 she learned Wortman had been seen hitting his partner behind one of his properties.
"He had her on the ground, was strangling her .... He was beating on her," she said of the account she heard, saying there were three male witnesses. Neighbour reported mass shooter's domestic violence, weapons to police "On that incident, I called the RCMP and I told them what happened, and I said he has a bunch of illegal weapons, and I know because he showed them to us," said Forbes, who has since moved outside the province. She said that in response to her complaint the RCMP interviewed her while she was working at a cadet camp in Debert, N.S., and she retold the story. She said she encouraged one of the three witnesses to give his account to police, but he refused, saying he feared violence from Wortman. Forbes, who first told her story to the Halifax Examiner, said it upset her that police seemed unable to take firmer action on her complaint. "From what I got from the RCMP, because (the partner) would not put in a complaint, as she was scared to death, they basically said, 'There's not much we can do. We can monitor him but there's not much else we can do,' " she said.
The Canadian Press emailed the RCMP about the prior report of domestic abuse, but a spokesperson wasn't immediately available for comment. RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell said during a news conference last month that investigators "have spoken to witnesses who have provided information to us about prior assaults; those are all things that we are dealing with right now." He has also said that investigators are speaking to the former common law spouse to gain a better understanding of previous incidents.


nationalobserver--2020-05-13--Youth-focused charities face funding shortfall amid COVID-19 crisis

The Go Green Youth Centre typically runs after-school and weekend programs by and for young people living in densely populated highrise apartments in Toronto ’ s east end .
Already reeling from cuts by the Progressive Conservative provincial government to funding for youth programs , the charity is now also going without the fees it usually collects from groups that pay to use its field to play cricket in the evenings .
Its full-day summer camp may not go ahead due to safety and social distancing concerns , and Go Green is scrambling to come up with alternative activities it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 500 children it normally serves .
“ I ’ d love to be able to pay for watercolour pencils and a few paint brushes and maybe a couple of canvases , a sketch pad , ” said Lisa Grogan-Green , Go Green ’ s co-chair .
“ But we need a budget for that , we don ’ t have the money for that.
” Young clients and staff at Go Green Youth Centre 's summer camp in 2019 .
Photos by Loukas Theodoropoulos Go Green is just one of hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its programming going as the lockdown hampers both their ability to deliver services and to fundraise .
• Yes , oil is dead .
Just read the writing on the wall .
• Wood pellets from clear-cut , old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral • Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask Imagine Canada , an advocacy group that represents some 170,000 charities , says COVID-19 and the resulting societal restrictions have so far hurt them much more than the Great Recession of the late 2000s did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,500 charities they surveyed in mid-to-late April said their revenue had fallen since the pandemic hit , with an average reduction in incoming funds of 31 per cent .
That compares to fewer than one-third reporting less revenue during the 2008/09 economic downturn and average declines below one per cent .
'More work to be done ' Imagine Canada wants some $ 10 billion in federal funding for Canada ’ s charities and non-profits to get through the pandemic intact .
Charities that serve children and young people are working hard to adapt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with reduced revenue .
They 're looking to Ottawa for help .
It calculates Ottawa has so far delivered roughly $ 3 billion of that via its wage subsidy program and another $ 1 billion via interventions helping charities working on mental health and food security or running women ’ s shelters , among other urgent priorities .
“ We ’ re still working to try to get a grant program to help those organizations that still have costs beyond staff that , given the complete collapse of the revenue base , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall into those targeted areas , ” said Bruce MacDonald , Imagine Canada ’ s chief executive .
“ There ’ s still work to be done.
” One such organization with a high degree of fixed costs is the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada , which manages some 700 locations of various sizes on a $ 200 million annual budget .
While it has seen many of its corporate backers switch to providing funding to help them deliver food aid or virtual programming , its executive director is worried that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re concerned about when it comes to charitable giving is longer-term support to ensure clubs can open their doors again , ” Owen Charters said .
“ It ’ s definitely not as sexy to fund the things that clubs still have costs for like insurance and overhead costs , maintenance , mortgage or rent payments.
” The organization usually gets about a quarter of its funds from fundraising events such as golf tournaments and galas , many of which have been postponed or cancelled .
“ If you ’ re an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gala in April , that ’ s destroyed revenue that ’ s not coming back , it might not be until the fall that you can start fundraising again , ” Imagine Canada ’ s MacDonald said .
Another quarter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada ’ s funding comes from summer programs for which it can charge fees .
“ If our clubs can ’ t open up in the summer that ’ s a big loss of revenue that ’ s going to hit them from September onwards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been growing , with Charters noting that the executive director of one club in east Scarborough had recently told him requests for food aid have grown by 50 per cent each week since the lockdowns began .
Charters noted that charities , unlike businesses that can start generating revenue as soon as they are able to start operating again , often have more lumpy sources of financial support .
“ The problem for charities is that demand goes up when times are tough , more needs are placed on a charity , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and supply goes down in terms of donors ’ capacity to support that increased demand , ” he said .
Imagine Canada ’ s MacDonald warned that without more support , many charities that have already cut staff or reduced their working hours may not be able to pick back up again .
“ We are fully expecting that as minimal cash reserves run out and the wage subsidy ends , that it is likely that more organizations will shut down , ” he said .

The Go Green Youth Centre typically runs after-school and weekend programs by and for young people living in densely populated highrise apartments in Toronto’s east end. Already reeling from cuts by the Progressive Conservative provincial government to funding for youth programs, the charity is now also going without the fees it usually collects from groups that pay to use its field to play cricket in the evenings. Its full-day summer camp may not go ahead due to safety and social distancing concerns, and Go Green is scrambling to come up with alternative activities it can deliver virtually to help entertain the roughly 500 children it normally serves. “I’d love to be able to pay for watercolour pencils and a few paint brushes and maybe a couple of canvases, a sketch pad,” said Lisa Grogan-Green, Go Green’s co-chair. “But we need a budget for that, we don’t have the money for that.” Young clients and staff at Go Green Youth Centre's summer camp in 2019. Photos by Loukas Theodoropoulos
Go Green is just one of hundreds of charitable organizations across Canada struggling to keep its programming going as the lockdown hampers both their ability to deliver services and to fundraise. Imagine Canada, an advocacy group that represents some 170,000 charities, says COVID-19 and the resulting societal restrictions have so far hurt them much more than the Great Recession of the late 2000s did. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions More than two-thirds of the almost 1,500 charities they surveyed in mid-to-late April said their revenue had fallen since the pandemic hit, with an average reduction in incoming funds of 31 per cent.
That compares to fewer than one-third reporting less revenue during the 2008/09 economic downturn and average declines below one per cent. Charities that serve children and young people are working hard to adapt their programming amid the lockdown while also dealing with reduced revenue. They're looking to Ottawa for help. 'More work to be done' Imagine Canada wants some $10 billion in federal funding for Canada’s charities and non-profits to get through the pandemic intact. It calculates Ottawa has so far delivered roughly $3 billion of that via its wage subsidy program and another $1 billion via interventions helping charities working on mental health and food security or running women’s shelters, among other urgent priorities. “We’re still working to try to get a grant program to help those organizations that still have costs beyond staff that, given the complete collapse of the revenue base, are problematic and don’t necessarily fall into those targeted areas,” said Bruce MacDonald, Imagine Canada’s chief executive.
“There’s still work to be done.” One such organization with a high degree of fixed costs is the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, which manages some 700 locations of various sizes on a $200 million annual budget. While it has seen many of its corporate backers switch to providing funding to help them deliver food aid or virtual programming, its executive director is worried that it may not last.


nationalobserver--2020-05-13--Post pandemic the arts will need our support

Our lives have changed in so many ways during the extraordinary times of the COVID-19 pandemic .
We all applaud the bravery and dedication of essential workers in our health system , food chain , deliveries , safety , and more .
Meanwhile , we have stayed at home and not seen extended family members and friends .
How have we managed the physical isolation and social distancing ?
Have you been watching movies , reading books , listening to or making music , or learning how to draw and paint ?
Artists have generously given their creative gifts through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s technologies , we are the beneficiaries .
I laud artists and arts organizations of all disciplines for sustaining us in these hard times .
They have enriched our souls and provided for our mental health .
They supported us with a vigil for Nova Scotia ’ s tragedy .
They rallied the nation with Stronger Together in aid of Canada ’ s food banks .
Music is a powerful conduit for all our emotions , and I thank all who have shared , and are sharing , their talents .
Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key to the fabric of society , in good times and hard times , especially for our mental and physical health .
Throughout history , creators have given hope , dreams , insights , and portrayed their times and places .
Arts and cultural industries are Canada ’ s third-largest employer , but the situation for artists is precarious .
They are the largest proportion of Canada ’ s working poor living below the poverty line .
During the pandemic ’ s early stages , artists and arts organizations honestly shared their concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with a working group of senators .
Their candour helped define the emergency assistance programs for the sector , a necessary , basic sustenance .
• Yes , oil is dead .
Just read the writing on the wall .
• Wood pellets from clear-cut , old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral • Pipeline projects , the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask Provinces and territories are now outlining their plans to reopen following agreed guidelines .
Early in May , Manitoba ’ s art galleries and museums were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respecting the rules of social distancing , frequent hand washing , wearing of masks in certain circumstances , and constant cleaning of surfaces and public washrooms .
Some people are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to re-engage socially , at work and in leisure .
Others are concerned about our readiness , a second wave of the virus , or even another shutdown .
As we build new post-isolation normalcy , artists and our cultural sector will assuredly continue their significant contributions to our well-being .
We must ensure that they can again take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The cancellations of theatre , dance and music seasons , summer festivals and the shuttering of galleries and museums have had disastrous financial implications .
Other serious challenges include the safety of audiences as we restart .
How do audiences and presenters rise above the fear of entering public spaces ?
We must assess the specific challenges to ensure audiences have the confidence to partake in creative events .
We must also ensure that artists can reclaim their careers and reschedule their cancelled performances and exhibitions at home and internationally .
Having worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , I remain committed to doing all I can to ensure the arts ’ platform is sound and solid so life can reach a positive “ new normalcy.
” As I have from the outset , I continue to seek ideas , defined needs , and potential opportunities , so going forward , we can assure that this essential element of contemporary society is healthy .
My late husband ’ s mantra was , “ We are all better off when we are all better off.
” Let ’ s ensure our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are better off so every aspect of our communities will also be better off .
Television , movies , advertising , innovation , mental health , business , education , and tourism are all dependent on the creative sector .
Having worked in the arts for 50 years this month , I remain committed to doing all I can to ensure the arts ’ platform is sound and solid so life can reach a positive “ new normalcy .
”

Our lives have changed in so many ways during the extraordinary times of the COVID-19 pandemic. We all applaud the bravery and dedication of essential workers in our health system, food chain, deliveries, safety, and more. Meanwhile, we have stayed at home and not seen extended family members and friends.
How have we managed the physical isolation and social distancing? Have you been watching movies, reading books, listening to or making music, or learning how to draw and paint? Artists have generously given their creative gifts through many digital platforms. Thanks to today’s technologies, we are the beneficiaries.
I laud artists and arts organizations of all disciplines for sustaining us in these hard times. They have enriched our souls and provided for our mental health. They supported us with a vigil for Nova Scotia’s tragedy. They rallied the nation with Stronger Together in aid of Canada’s food banks. Music is a powerful conduit for all our emotions, and I thank all who have shared, and are sharing, their talents.
Canada’s artists and arts organizations are key to the fabric of society, in good times and hard times, especially for our mental and physical health. Throughout history, creators have given hope, dreams, insights, and portrayed their times and places. Arts and cultural industries are Canada’s third-largest employer, but the situation for artists is precarious. They are the largest proportion of Canada’s working poor living below the poverty line.
During the pandemic’s early stages, artists and arts organizations honestly shared their concerns, issues and creative initiatives with me and with a working group of senators. Their candour helped define the emergency assistance programs for the sector, a necessary, basic sustenance.


nationalobserver--2020-05-13--B.C. prosecutor ‘stands behind’ decision against charges in political donors probe

The B.C .
special prosecutor who reviewed police data surrounding the province ’ s political donor controversy says he stands behind his conclusion that there was not enough evidence for charges , after an ethics advocacy group called on him to reverse course .
David Butcher ’ s statement May 11 that there was “ no prospect of any conviction ” stemming from an RCMP investigation into political donations in the province , was based on a “ thorough review of the evidence collected by the police , '' an official from the BC Prosecution Service told National Observer Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch had called on Butcher to reverse his decision , arguing he had “ exaggerated ” the RCMP 's own conclusions about its investigation into the torrent of political donations , under what was then one of the loosest regimes in Canada , portrayed at the time as a `` wild west ” culture .
Butcher was appointed as special prosecutor on March 29 , 2017 , in order to provide legal advice to the RCMP related to its probe of potential contraventions of the BC Election Act .
He was also expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any report to Crown counsel recommending charges , if the Mounties said there were grounds to believe a crime had been committed .
The @ BCProsecution special prosecutor who reviewed police data surrounding the province ’ s political donor controversy says he stands behind his decision to end the matter , after @ DemocracyWatchr called on him to reverse course : The RCMP never submitted any report for consideration of charges , Butcher said .
Instead , it gave him a “ concluding report ” in August 2019 that the special prosecutor quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Butcher , the Mounties had told him in that report that there was “ no substantial likelihood of conviction for any of the violations of the Election Act that were examined.
” “ Where violations have occurred , ” the RCMP added in its report , the police had determined it was “ not in the public interest to pursue a prosecution , as the cost of doing so would be disproportionate to the value of the donations under investigation.
” Butcher noted in his statement that the approval for charges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and that it is in the public interest to proceed with prosecution.
” He said he had determined that “ the conclusion of the police is correct , ” that there was “ insufficient evidence available ” to meet the standard for pursuing charges in the case .
DWatch calls on BC Special Prosecutor to reverse decision not to prosecute lobbyists donation scandal https : //t.co/O1GEdtodlW # bcpoli # bcleg — Democracy Watch ( @ DemocracyWatchr ) May 12 , 2020 But Democracy Watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to pursue prosecutions , and a lack of any “ substantial likelihood ” of conviction , should not have been portrayed by Butcher as there being “ no prospect ” of conviction entirely .
“ Mr .
Butcher exaggerates what the RCMP reported to say , ” asserted the group .
“ Many people are prosecuted in Canada without full , clear evidence , including many who have stolen less than the cost of prosecuting them .
They are prosecuted in part to send the message to the public that you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away with it.
” During its investigation , the RCMP examined lobbyists and corporations named in media reports , but discovered that “ evidence of criminality was difficult to gather , ” according to Butcher 's summary , because of flaws in regulatory accounting .
Many of the lobbyists had “ quickly filed corrections with Elections BC , ” the RCMP indicated , and employees who police interviewed “ expressed a lack of knowledge ” of the rules and “ explained , reasonably , that the breaches of the Act were inadvertent.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed campaign finance reform legislation that came into force Nov. 30 , 2017 .
The changes limited who can make donations , created penalties and capped contributions at around $ 1,200 per year , adjusted by inflation .
`` Until late 2017 , '' Butcher acknowledged , `` B.C .
had some of the least restrictive rules in the western world . ''

The B.C. special prosecutor who reviewed police data surrounding the province’s political donor controversy says he stands behind his conclusion that there was not enough evidence for charges, after an ethics advocacy group called on him to reverse course. David Butcher’s statement May 11 that there was “no prospect of any conviction” stemming from an RCMP investigation into political donations in the province, was based on a “thorough review of the evidence collected by the police," an official from the BC Prosecution Service told National Observer Tuesday on behalf of the prosecutor. Democracy Watch had called on Butcher to reverse his decision, arguing he had “exaggerated” the RCMP's own conclusions about its investigation into the torrent of political donations, under what was then one of the loosest regimes in Canada, portrayed at the time as a "wild west” culture. “The message Mr. Butcher’s decision not to prosecute sends is that you can break the law in B.C. and get away with it, if you are part of the province’s political and legal elite,” reads a statement from the advocacy group. Butcher, however, “stands behind his determination in this case” and “will not be reversing his opinion on the sufficiency of the evidence in this case,” confirmed BC Prosecution Service communications counsel Dan McLaughlin.
“As the matter is now concluded neither he, nor the BC Prosecution Service, will have any further comment,” McLaughlin added. http://twitter.com/BCProsecution/status/1259952407754108928
RCMP never submitted report considering charges Butcher was appointed as special prosecutor on March 29, 2017, in order to provide legal advice to the RCMP related to its probe of potential contraventions of the BC Election Act. The @BCProsecution special prosecutor who reviewed police data surrounding the province’s political donor controversy says he stands behind his decision to end the matter, after @DemocracyWatchr called on him to reverse course: He was also expected to carry out an independent assessment of any report to Crown counsel recommending charges, if the Mounties said there were grounds to believe a crime had been committed. The RCMP never submitted any report for consideration of charges, Butcher said. Instead, it gave him a “concluding report” in August 2019 that the special prosecutor quoted from in his Monday statement.
According to Butcher, the Mounties had told him in that report that there was “no substantial likelihood of conviction for any of the violations of the Election Act that were examined.” “Where violations have occurred,” the RCMP added in its report, the police had determined it was “not in the public interest to pursue a prosecution, as the cost of doing so would be disproportionate to the value of the donations under investigation.” Butcher noted in his statement that the approval for charges to be laid requires Crown counsel be “satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and that it is in the public interest to proceed with prosecution.”