nationalobserver--2020-07-22--If Haida children can understand risk and respect, why not a sport-fishing lodge?

Haida matriarchs are occupying two ancient village sites to protect against the devastating impact a COVID-19 outbreak would have on Haida Gwaii .
Meanwhile , two luxury sport fishing lodges in the area have decided to open their doors to guests , following B.C .
regulations , but disregarding Haida law .
“ As a matrilineal society , the Gaandlee Guu Jaalang , 'daughters of the rivers , ' are the Haida women who have the responsibility to protect Haida Gwaii , ” stated a press release sent out by the group July 9 .
“ The Haida people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our traditional ways , and ensuring food security during this global pandemic.
” During a First Nations Forward Facebook live interview , spokesperson Adeana Young called the COVID-19 pandemic “ triggering ” for Indigenous communities who have survived devastating diseases that have decimated populations .
“ The smallpox epidemic was a sickness purposefully introduced to Haida villages to wipe the Haida people out , ” Young said on July 17 , just a day before the first confirmed COVID-19 case was announced on Haida Gwaii .
“ The risk of a COVID-19 outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a trigger for many people.
” Meanwhile , two luxury sport fishing lodges operating in Haida territories have decided to reopen to wealthy clients , putting Haida people at greater risk , Young said .
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Thousands of lives on hold as immigration system stalled out Despite ongoing debate about the decision and strategy to reopen business as usual , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lodge have both opened their doors and started hosting guests who are brought to the remote archipelago off the northwest coast of B.C .
by private helicopter or boat .
The Queen Charlotte Lodge is just 10 kilometres from one of the village sites occupied by the Haida .
The West Coast Fishing club is 45 nautical miles from the nearest community , only accessible by boat or air .
I cried when we sang songs for the Haida women who came in from camp today .
My heart hurts when I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All we want is to be respected .
We know how to take care of Haida Gwaii and have been doing so for 15,000+ years — 𝓈𝒿 ( @ skiljaadee ) July 20 , 2020 In an email response , Sarah Plank , communications director of B.C .
Ministry of Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation , said the decision to move into Phase 3 of B.C.
’ s restart plan was made with the guidance of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and the First Nations Health Authority .
“ The First Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Nations to support their response throughout the pandemic , ” Plank wrote .
“ We have had ongoing dialogue for a number of weeks with Nations on the north-central coast about their concerns.
” Plank noted a half-day session last Friday where senior health officials , “ including Dr. Henry , and community leaders from the Nations , came together to talk about solutions.
” “ We are a reciprocal people and when we are respected , we give respect back , ” Adeana Young said .
“ All we ask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haida Gwaii remains closed , no exceptions.
” # HaidaGwaii @ NatObserver # FirstNationsForward # COVID19 “ We agreed to continue to work collaboratively to build confidence and ensure protections for vulnerable community members as we move forward with the restart plan , ” Plank wrote .
“ For all of us , the safety of everyone is our top priority , and we continue to believe the best way forward is through dialogue.
” But for Young , amidst ongoing dialogue , decisions with serious consequences have already been made by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who would be most impacted by an outbreak .
A statement made by the West Coast Fishing Club on July 10 said the company is complying with all the orders and guidelines issued by the province , health authorities , and WorkSafeBC .
“ We have worked hard to eliminate all contact with the residents of Haida Gwaii and their communities through direct helicopter transportation from the mainland to our remote island and back , ” wrote club president Brian Legge .
“ This includes all emergency evacuation plans as Haida Gwaii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodate , and anything else would have dire effects on the community.
” While the two companies have promised to respect federal and provincial safety regulations , there has been no mention of respecting Haida law , Young said .
“ The Haida Nation has stated that during this pandemic that we will remain closed until it is safe to reopen .
We 're watching the world , we 're watching B.C.
, we 're watching how things roll out , ” Young explained .
“ Until we feel like it 's safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to .
And we 're just asking that these lodges respect Haida law.
” The Haida Hereditary Chiefs Council added its voice to the conversation in a public statement released yesterday , directed specifically towards the Queen Charlotte Lodge , which the council claims has chosen profit over life .
“ Since its arrival , the Queen Charlotte Lodge has treated this precious part of our homeland as little more than a playground for those who make money spoiling the Earth , ” the council wrote .
“ QCL has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its patrons when they claim to be co-operating with the Council of the Haida Nation in the face of COVID-19.
” Queen Charlotte Lodge did not reply to a request for comment in time for publication of this story .
Communities on Haida Gwaii have made great sacrifices during these past months Young 's husband , a commercial fisherman , has had to stay home this season , losing profit that would usually make him eligible for benefits .
Many fishermen , island businesses and families have suffered economic loss throughout this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not going to sacrifice lives for money , ” she said .
“ The lodges have said they put millions of dollars into the local economy , but we 're not talking about our economy , we 're talking about human safety and well-being .
We 're not negotiating a profit margin , we 're negotiating our identity , who we are as a people.
” Even the little ones understand the risk and have been taught to be respectful .
Adeana Young 's children have n't seen their friends or family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel around their homelands or visit their grandparents on Vancouver Island , but they understand the COVID-19 risk , she said .
Photo by Farah Nosh Haida cultural life has shifted entirely , as large groups could no longer gather for feasts , dancing and singing , and funeral ceremonies .
People who usually come home , stay away , out of love and respect for their people .
“ There are people who want to come home , people who would normally come home to harvest and help with food security in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to stay away and respect our wishes , ” Young said .
“ They are sacrificing their family time , sacrificing their winter harvest .
We have had funerals where people ca n't come home and pay respect to their loved ones .
We have had to learn to adapt.
” There are two hospitals on Haida Gwaii and each can bed up to 12 patients , Young explained .
But the beds are n't always empty , she said , and there are only two ventilators available .
“ We ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Inherent right to occupy our land On July 9 , following a number of community meetings , a group of matriarch-led Haida community members took the initiative to occupy their lands , set up a cabin , and harvest their traditional foods to help maintain food security .
The Haida Nation is a matrilineal society that holds its elder women in high esteem .
Each clan has a matriarch , and each clan has supported their elder women to come out to their villages .
When they are n't able , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , looking after their responsibilities .
“ They have set up a kitchen there .
They are eating the fish they catch every day .
They 're eating crabs and prawns , they 're out there harvesting our berries and preserving and jarring our foods for winter , ” Young explained .
“ Our communities have come together to make sure we 're taking care of each other.
” “ We are here , we never left , and we will continue to occupy our ancestral lands and waters.
” Video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haida wishes “ We are Haida people living off the land as we have since time immemorial .
Our presence goes deeper than the pockets of corporate operations that occur on our ancestral lands , ” Adeana Young said during a Facebook live interview on July 17 .
The presence of the sports fishing lodges in Haida territory has often been a place of tension , even before the coronavirus swept across the globe , Young said .
The gravity of this year 's global health pandemic has heightened the situation .
Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Coast Fishing Club as a chambermaid .
She witnessed first-hand how guests are given a catch quota , and if they catch their limit quickly , they stay out on the water and play with the fish .
“ It 's a high mortality rate for our fish .
They do n't survive when they 're played with , ” she said .
Playing with your food goes against Haida laws of reciprocity and respect passed on through supernatural stories that have taught and governed her , her family and her people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that these outsiders would respect our wishes and return the reciprocity we 've given to them , return the respect we 've given to them all these years , since they established themselves on our traditional territories , our traditional lands , ” Young said .
There are a number of other businesses on the remote island that have made the decision to remain closed , until communities decide that it 's safe to reopen .
Pandemics are not new to Indigenous peoples in so-called B.C.
, and the devastating impacts in Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect people 's lives during these uncertain times .
COVID-19 has highlighted ongoing personal , collective , national and international social and political issues , including questions around rights , title , and jurisdiction in Indigenous territories .
Many Indigenous communities , from the north to the south , have suffered the consequences of deadly diseases brought unintentionally or intentionally into their homes — it 's why nations like the Nuxalk , the Heiltsuk , and the Tla-o-qui-aht have asserted their right to remain closed to outsiders .
It 's why there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Navajo Nation ( where there has been over 422 COVID-19 deaths ) , and it 's why the Haida nation continues to do what is necessary to protect their people .
Haida people are respectful people , reasonable people , Young said as she closed off the conversation in the same even and calm voice she held throughout the hour .
“ We are a reciprocal people and when we are respected , we give respect back , ” Young said .
“ All we ask , is that our wishes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no exceptions .
”

Meanwhile, two luxury sport fishing lodges operating in Haida territories have decided to reopen to wealthy clients, putting Haida people at greater risk, Young said.
“The smallpox epidemic was a sickness purposefully introduced to Haida villages to wipe the Haida people out,” Young said on July 17, just a day before the first confirmed COVID-19 case was announced on Haida Gwaii. “The risk of a COVID-19 outbreak on Haida Gwaii is devastating. This has been a trigger for many people.”
During a First Nations Forward Facebook live interview , spokesperson Adeana Young called the COVID-19 pandemic “triggering” for Indigenous communities who have survived devastating diseases that have decimated populations.
“As a matrilineal society, the Gaandlee Guu Jaalang, 'daughters of the rivers,' are the Haida women who have the responsibility to protect Haida Gwaii,” stated a press release sent out by the group July 9. “The Haida people are asserting our inherent rights, according to our traditional ways, and ensuring food security during this global pandemic.”
Haida matriarchs are occupying two ancient village sites to protect against the devastating impact a COVID-19 outbreak would have on Haida Gwaii. Meanwhile, two luxury sport fishing lodges in the area have decided to open their doors to guests, following B.C. regulations, but disregarding Haida law.
The Queen Charlotte Lodge is just 10 kilometres from one of the village sites occupied by the Haida. The West Coast Fishing club is 45 nautical miles from the nearest community, only accessible by boat or air.
Despite ongoing debate about the decision and strategy to reopen business as usual, West Coast Fishing Club and Queen Charlotte Lodge have both opened their doors and started hosting guests who are brought to the remote archipelago off the northwest coast of B.C. by private helicopter or boat.
But for Young, amidst ongoing dialogue, decisions with serious consequences have already been made by the companies and B.C., without consent by those who would be most impacted by an outbreak.
“We agreed to continue to work collaboratively to build confidence and ensure protections for vulnerable community members as we move forward with the restart plan,” Plank wrote. “For all of us, the safety of everyone is our top priority, and we continue to believe the best way forward is through dialogue.”
Plank noted a half-day session last Friday where senior health officials, “including Dr. Henry, and community leaders from the Nations, came together to talk about solutions.”
“The First Nations Health Authority has been engaging closely with First Nations to support their response throughout the pandemic,” Plank wrote. “We have had ongoing dialogue for a number of weeks with Nations on the north-central coast about their concerns.”
In an email response, Sarah Plank, communications director of B.C. Ministry of Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation, said the decision to move into Phase 3 of B.C.’s restart plan was made with the guidance of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and the First Nations Health Authority.
While the two companies have promised to respect federal and provincial safety regulations, there has been no mention of respecting Haida law, Young said.
“We have worked hard to eliminate all contact with the residents of Haida Gwaii and their communities through direct helicopter transportation from the mainland to our remote island and back,” wrote club president Brian Legge. “This includes all emergency evacuation plans as Haida Gwaii does not have the health-care infrastructure to accommodate, and anything else would have dire effects on the community.”
A statement made by the West Coast Fishing Club on July 10 said the company is complying with all the orders and guidelines issued by the province, health authorities, and WorkSafeBC.
“The Haida Nation has stated that during this pandemic that we will remain closed until it is safe to reopen. We're watching the world, we're watching B.C., we're watching how things roll out,” Young explained. “Until we feel like it's safe to open up again, we're not going to. And we're just asking that these lodges respect Haida law.”
The Haida Hereditary Chiefs Council added its voice to the conversation in a public statement released yesterday, directed specifically towards the Queen Charlotte Lodge, which the council claims has chosen profit over life.
“Since its arrival, the Queen Charlotte Lodge has treated this precious part of our homeland as little more than a playground for those who make money spoiling the Earth,” the council wrote. “QCL has been dishonest in its representations to the public and its patrons when they claim to be co-operating with the Council of the Haida Nation in the face of COVID-19.”
Queen Charlotte Lodge did not reply to a request for comment in time for publication of this story.
Communities on Haida Gwaii have made great sacrifices during these past months
Young's husband, a commercial fisherman, has had to stay home this season, losing profit that would usually make him eligible for benefits. Many fishermen, island businesses and families have suffered economic loss throughout this pandemic, Young said.
“He's not going to sacrifice lives for money,” she said. “The lodges have said they put millions of dollars into the local economy, but we're not talking about our economy, we're talking about human safety and well-being. We're not negotiating a profit margin, we're negotiating our identity, who we are as a people.”
Even the little ones understand the risk and have been taught to be respectful.
Adeana Young's children haven't seen their friends or family, they haven't been able to travel around their homelands or visit their grandparents on Vancouver Island, but they understand the COVID-19 risk, she said. Photo by Farah Nosh
Haida cultural life has shifted entirely, as large groups could no longer gather for feasts, dancing and singing, and funeral ceremonies. People who usually come home, stay away, out of love and respect for their people.
“There are people who want to come home, people who would normally come home to harvest and help with food security in their urban communities, but they have decided to stay away and respect our wishes,” Young said. “They are sacrificing their family time, sacrificing their winter harvest. We have had funerals where people can't come home and pay respect to their loved ones. We have had to learn to adapt.”
There are two hospitals on Haida Gwaii and each can bed up to 12 patients, Young explained. But the beds aren't always empty, she said, and there are only two ventilators available.
“We can't handle an outbreak,” she said.
Inherent right to occupy our land
On July 9, following a number of community meetings, a group of matriarch-led Haida community members took the initiative to occupy their lands, set up a cabin, and harvest their traditional foods to help maintain food security.
The Haida Nation is a matrilineal society that holds its elder women in high esteem. Each clan has a matriarch, and each clan has supported their elder women to come out to their villages. When they aren't able, the younger women go out and help them, looking after their responsibilities.
“They have set up a kitchen there. They are eating the fish they catch every day. They're eating crabs and prawns, they're out there harvesting our berries and preserving and jarring our foods for winter,” Young explained. “Our communities have come together to make sure we're taking care of each other.”
“We are here, we never left, and we will continue to occupy our ancestral lands and waters.”
Video of Adeana Young speaks about privilege and respecting Haida wishes
“We are Haida people living off the land as we have since time immemorial. Our presence goes deeper than the pockets of corporate operations that occur on our ancestral lands,” Adeana Young said during a Facebook live interview on July 17.
The presence of the sports fishing lodges in Haida territory has often been a place of tension, even before the coronavirus swept across the globe, Young said. The gravity of this year's global health pandemic has heightened the situation.
Ten years ago, Young worked at the West Coast Fishing Club as a chambermaid. She witnessed first-hand how guests are given a catch quota, and if they catch their limit quickly, they stay out on the water and play with the fish.
“It's a high mortality rate for our fish. They don't survive when they're played with,” she said.
Playing with your food goes against Haida laws of reciprocity and respect passed on through supernatural stories that have taught and governed her, her family and her people since time immemorial.
“We wish that these outsiders would respect our wishes and return the reciprocity we've given to them, return the respect we've given to them all these years, since they established themselves on our traditional territories, our traditional lands,” Young said.
There are a number of other businesses on the remote island that have made the decision to remain closed, until communities decide that it's safe to reopen.
Pandemics are not new to Indigenous peoples in so-called B.C., and the devastating impacts in Indigenous communities across the world heighten the responsibility to protect people's lives during these uncertain times.
COVID-19 has highlighted ongoing personal, collective, national and international social and political issues, including questions around rights, title, and jurisdiction in Indigenous territories.
Many Indigenous communities, from the north to the south, have suffered the consequences of deadly diseases brought unintentionally or intentionally into their homes — it's why nations like the Nuxalk, the Heiltsuk, and the Tla-o-qui-aht have asserted their right to remain closed to outsiders. It's why there has been public outcry against tourists visiting the Navajo Nation (where there has been over 422 COVID-19 deaths), and it's why the Haida nation continues to do what is necessary to protect their people.
Haida people are respectful people, reasonable people, Young said as she closed off the conversation in the same even and calm voice she held throughout the hour.
“We are a reciprocal people and when we are respected, we give respect back,” Young said. “All we ask, is that our wishes are respected. Haida Gwaii remains closed, no exceptions.”


nationalobserver--2020-07-21--Ford's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant' with the law, auditor general says

The Ford government was `` not compliant '' with the law by passing its omnibus economic recovery bill Tuesday without consulting the public on major environmental changes , auditor general Bonnie Lysyk said .
The government used its majority to pass the legislation , Bill 197 , on Tuesday night over the objections of opposition parties .
The omnibus bill makes sweeping changes to 20 pieces of legislation , including major rewrites of environmental law .
Under Ontario ’ s Environmental Bill of Rights , the Progressive Conservative government is required to post measures that impact the environment on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 days .
The government posted notices on the registry but did not hold consultations about Bill 197 , which was introduced in early July .
“ We did give ( the government ) a heads up indicating that we had concerns on Friday , ” Lysyk said in a phone interview with Canada ’ s National Observer .
“ We indicated that the bill , before it passes third reading , should be posted on the Environmental Registry ( for a full 30 day consultation ) .
” • Federal COVID-19 payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.7M Canadians • Thousands of lives on hold as immigration system stalled out • B.C .
would welcome talks with feds over basic income guarantee Green advocates have said measures in the bill amount to a rollback of environmental protections .
It includes a rewrite of environmental assessment rules — the government will now decide which projects get environmental assessments , rather than reviewing most public sector projects by default .
It also streamlines assessments for projects that do need them , and removes a mechanism that allows the public to ask the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a project .
The government has said it ’ s working on more regulations to decide which projects should get assessments , and to define what streamlined assessments would look like .
The bill also expands the government ’ s power to override the normal land planning process and potential opposition to projects through Ministerial Zoning Orders ( MZOs ) .
Premier Doug Ford has previously said the proposed rewrite would be used to speed up infrastructure projects that would help Ontario recover from the financial hit it has taken during COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dodge ( environmental assessments ) or anything , ” Ford told reporters when the legislation was first introduced .
Ontario NDP environment critic Ian Arthur wrote to the province 's auditor general to ask for an investigation into Bill 197 , which Arthur said may be a violation of the Environmental Bill of Rights .
# onpoli “ We ’ re going to make sure we strengthen them , but we ’ re going to do them quicker and smarter.
” The government previously told National Observer it included a measure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultation requirements under the Environmental Bill of Rights .
Lysyk said only the portion of the bill that deals with environmental assessments included that exception , not the one about MZOs .
And either way , the government still needs to consult the public , she said , adding that it would be “ precedent-setting ” to allow the government to retroactively give itself an exception to the rules .
“ It could undermine public confidence , ” she said .
NDP environment critic Ian Arthur said the legislative process doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use it .
“ You can ’ t embed a change that affects legislation being tabled in the legislation itself , ” he said .
Arthur said he hopes the bill will be challenged in court .
“ ( The Ford government is ) on a mission and it ’ s to run roughshod over environmental protections , and they ’ ll do that at any cost , ” Arthur said in a phone interview .
“ I certainly hope that they ’ re not allowed to do this without some sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schreiner said the legislation shows a `` total lack of respect '' for environmental oversight .
`` Bill 197 was a rush job that subverted the democratic process and bypassed public input , '' he said in a statement .
`` I hope the AG will hold them accountable . ''
Last October , an Ontario court found that Ford ’ s government broke the law when it axed the province ’ s cap-and-trade program without holding consultations in 2018 .
( The court didn ’ t compel the government to restore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Jeff Yurek , who is responsible for environmental assessments and Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark , who is responsible for MZOs , did not immediately reply to a request for comment .
Ontario NDP environment critic Ian Arthur questions Environment Minister Jeff Yurek at Queen 's Park on July 21 , 2020 about changes to environmental assessments .
Photo from Legislative Assembly of Ontario NDP MPP wrote to auditor general earlier Tuesday to ask for investigation In a letter to Lysyk earlier Tuesday , Arthur asked that she and Jerry Demarco , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment , review the government ’ s push to pass the environmental changes in the economic recovery bill .
Not only did the government not hold public consultations , he said , it was also using its majority to skip the committee stage and fast-track the bill .
Lysyk said late Tuesday that she had not yet received Arthur ’ s letter , but said her office is already done assessing the issue .
“ We already concluded on that , ” she said .
“ We will issue a report on compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights this fall .
And we ’ ll address it in that.
” During question period at Queen ’ s Park Tuesday , Arthur asked the government to withdraw the “ potentially illegal ” changes .
Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek fired back in response , saying the bill would modernize the province ’ s 50-year-old environmental assessment system and focus government efforts on higher-risk projects .
Though Yurek didn ’ t directly address the Environmental Bill of Rights , he pointed to provisions in the bill that would preserve treaty rights for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landfill projects .
“ I do n't know why the member is against those changes to environmental assessments , ” Yurek said .
“ I have yet to hear the member opposite or that opposition party come up with a plan for the environment for the province of Ontario .
All they say is , ‘ no , no , no.
’ ” Green and Liberal MPPs also flagged concerns about the bill .
Speaking by phone Tuesday night , Arthur said it ’ s “ in character ” for the government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environmental Bill of Rights .
“ They view any sort of environmental regulation as red tape , ” he said .
“ I think that this government is so sure of themselves and their view of what is right that there is very little consideration for what anyone brings to the table , be it the auditor general or the opposition .
”

The Ford government was "not compliant" with the law by passing its omnibus economic recovery bill Tuesday without consulting the public on major environmental changes, auditor general Bonnie Lysyk said. The government used its majority to pass the legislation, Bill 197, on Tuesday night over the objections of opposition parties. The omnibus bill makes sweeping changes to 20 pieces of legislation, including major rewrites of environmental law. Under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, the Progressive Conservative government is required to post measures that impact the environment on the Environmental Registry and consult the public for 30 days. The government posted notices on the registry but did not hold consultations about Bill 197, which was introduced in early July. “We did give (the government) a heads up indicating that we had concerns on Friday,” Lysyk said in a phone interview with Canada’s National Observer. “We indicated that the bill, before it passes third reading, should be posted on the Environmental Registry (for a full 30 day consultation).”
Green advocates have said measures in the bill amount to a rollback of environmental protections. It includes a rewrite of environmental assessment rules — the government will now decide which projects get environmental assessments, rather than reviewing most public sector projects by default. It also streamlines assessments for projects that do need them, and removes a mechanism that allows the public to ask the environment minister to require a full review of a project. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The government has said it’s working on more regulations to decide which projects should get assessments, and to define what streamlined assessments would look like.
The bill also expands the government’s power to override the normal land planning process and potential opposition to projects through Ministerial Zoning Orders (MZOs). Ontario NDP environment critic Ian Arthur wrote to the province's auditor general to ask for an investigation into Bill 197, which Arthur said may be a violation of the Environmental Bill of Rights. #onpoli Premier Doug Ford has previously said the proposed rewrite would be used to speed up infrastructure projects that would help Ontario recover from the financial hit it has taken during COVID-19. “We aren’t going to dodge (environmental assessments) or anything,” Ford told reporters when the legislation was first introduced. “We’re going to make sure we strengthen them, but we’re going to do them quicker and smarter.” The government previously told National Observer it included a measure in the bill to exempt it from public consultation requirements under the Environmental Bill of Rights.
Lysyk said only the portion of the bill that deals with environmental assessments included that exception, not the one about MZOs. And either way, the government still needs to consult the public, she said, adding that it would be “precedent-setting” to allow the government to retroactively give itself an exception to the rules. “It could undermine public confidence,” she said. NDP environment critic Ian Arthur said the legislative process doesn’t work the way government was attempting to use it.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--B.C. environmental group allege wolf cull permits break laws

A British Columbia environmental group has launched a legal petition alleging the provincial government 's wolf cull to save caribou is breaking federal and provincial laws .
Pacific Wild Alliance wants the B.C .
Supreme Court to declare that the province does n't have the authority to use a helicopter to hunt wolves under the Wildlife Act and Canadian Aviation Security Regulations .
The petition to the court , filed earlier this month , says it wants a judge to quash any permits issued for the wolf cull and to clarify the law as it applies to the killing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also concerns the legality of permits issued by the province for its wolf cull program , '' says the petition .
None of the claims have been tested in court .
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Ford disagrees after auditor general finds Bill 197 was 'not compliant ' with law A statement from the forest ministry says officials are aware of the lawsuit , but can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter is before the courts .
`` Our government 's approach to predator control is based on science and sound wildlife management principles , '' the statement said .
The petition says a helicopter is used to spot and track individual animals or a pack and a net gun is used to trap the wolf in order to attach a radio collar .
The collared wolf returns to its pack , revealing the location of other wolves , which are then shot using firearms from the helicopter , the petition says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government 's power to allow an aircraft to be used for hunting and the legality of permits issues by the province for the cull .
`` The specific purpose of ( the Wildlife Act ) is to prohibit the use of helicopters in three circumstances : ( 1 ) transporting hunters .
( 2 ) transporting game ; and ( 3 ) while on a hunting expedition , '' the petition says .
A British Columbia environmental group has launched a legal petition alleging the provincial government 's wolf cull to save caribou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The document also says Canadian Aviation Security Regulations prevent a person from having a loaded firearm on an aircraft — except under limited conditions and the prohibitions — apply to a helicopter pilot and crew under contract to conduct an aerial cull .
Ian McAllister , executive director of Pacific Wild Alliance , said in a statement Wednesday that the organization is `` fully prepared '' to challenge the B.C .
government in court .
`` Hundreds of wolves are being killed each year in the most horrific fashion , at taxpayer expense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's disheartening to learn that on top of our legal counsel finding grounds to prove this program is likely unlawful under B.C .
law , there 's also now confirmation from a renowned academic publication that culling is having no positive impact for caribou recovery . ''
A recent study by Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the universities of Alberta , British Columbia , and Victoria said the wolf kill in Western Canada has had `` no detectable effect '' on reversing the decline of endangered caribou populations .
The study was published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A British Columbia environmental group has launched a legal petition alleging the provincial government's wolf cull to save caribou is breaking federal and provincial laws. Pacific Wild Alliance wants the B.C. Supreme Court to declare that the province doesn't have the authority to use a helicopter to hunt wolves under the Wildlife Act and Canadian Aviation Security Regulations. The petition to the court, filed earlier this month, says it wants a judge to quash any permits issued for the wolf cull and to clarify the law as it applies to the killing of a vulnerable wolf population. "It also concerns the legality of permits issued by the province for its wolf cull program," says the petition. None of the claims have been tested in court.
A statement from the forest ministry says officials are aware of the lawsuit, but cannot comment further at this time as the matter is before the courts. "Our government's approach to predator control is based on science and sound wildlife management principles," the statement said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The petition says a helicopter is used to spot and track individual animals or a pack and a net gun is used to trap the wolf in order to attach a radio collar.
The collared wolf returns to its pack, revealing the location of other wolves, which are then shot using firearms from the helicopter, the petition says. A British Columbia environmental group has launched a legal petition alleging the provincial government's wolf cull to save caribou is breaking federal and provincial laws. It says the case is about the government's power to allow an aircraft to be used for hunting and the legality of permits issues by the province for the cull. "The specific purpose of (the Wildlife Act) is to prohibit the use of helicopters in three circumstances: (1) transporting hunters. (2) transporting game; and (3) while on a hunting expedition," the petition says. The document also says Canadian Aviation Security Regulations prevent a person from having a loaded firearm on an aircraft — except under limited conditions and the prohibitions — apply to a helicopter pilot and crew under contract to conduct an aerial cull. Ian McAllister, executive director of Pacific Wild Alliance, said in a statement Wednesday that the organization is "fully prepared" to challenge the B.C. government in court.
"Hundreds of wolves are being killed each year in the most horrific fashion, at taxpayer expense," he said. "It's disheartening to learn that on top of our legal counsel finding grounds to prove this program is likely unlawful under B.C. law, there's also now confirmation from a renowned academic publication that culling is having no positive impact for caribou recovery." A recent study by Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the universities of Alberta, British Columbia, and Victoria said the wolf kill in Western Canada has had "no detectable effect'' on reversing the decline of endangered caribou populations.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Ottawa reports $29M profit at Trans Mountain, critic says accounting flawed

A report that says the Trans Mountain pipeline system has earned net income of $ 29 million in the 19 months since it was purchased by Ottawa relies on faulty accounting , according to a vocal critic of the project .
The oil conduit running from Edmonton to the Vancouver area had operating revenues of $ 728 million , mainly from user tolls , since it was purchased in the fall of 2018 from Kinder Morgan Canada for about $ 4.4 billion , according to an online analysis from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer posted Wednesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Development Investment Corp. — which owns the pipeline on the government 's behalf — notes operating expenses of $ 366 million , financing costs of $ 223 million and a $ 172-million depletion and depreciation expense on the pipeline assets .
Those were offset in part by a $ 61-million tax recovery thanks to a decrease in Alberta 's corporate tax rate as well as lower income taxes for the period ended March 31 .
`` An increase in construction costs or changes in the price of oil could affect profitability but for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the pipeline seems to have been profitable , '' said Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux in an interview .
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Ford disagrees after auditor general finds Bill 197 was 'not compliant ' with law In a report last November , the Cleveland-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis charged that Trans Mountain is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government subsidies .
It listed the Alberta tax cut as a subsidy even though it applies to all businesses and said the project also benefits from lower-than-market interest rates given its high level of risk .
The Department of Finance , however , responded at the time that the government does not consider any part of its investment in the pipeline to be a subsidy .
`` This ( report ) is a very narrow focus and does not include the massive subsidies that have been offered to the project , direct and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyst Kathy Hipple on Wednesday .
In February , Trans Mountain announced a revised construction cost estimate for its expansion project , bumping it up by about 70 per cent from $ 7.4 billion to $ 12.6 billion .
In spite of the increased cost and the dramatic downturn in oil prices this year due to the pandemic fuelled economic downturn , the pipeline has not written down its goodwill , although oil producers have recognized billions in such writedowns , Hipple said .
A report that says the Trans Mountain pipeline system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in the 19 months since it was purchased by Ottawa relies on faulty accounting , according to a vocal critic of the project .
`` This is astonishing to me , '' she said .
But Giroux defended the numbers , noting that pipeline economics are different than oil production economics .
`` The issue of oil prices could affect future revenue but the tolls are being determined by the Canadian Energy Regulator so tolls are not as dependent on the price of oil itself , '' he said .
`` They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as Trans Mountain has secured contracts to fill the majority of its expanded capacity , revenues should not be too much at risk . ''
The PBO added the CDIC has revised the sensitivity analysis it uses to determine goodwill impairments .
It previously provided estimates for the impact of a 10 per cent increase in construction costs or a one-year delay in construction , along with higher interest rates .

A report that says the Trans Mountain pipeline system has earned net income of $29 million in the 19 months since it was purchased by Ottawa relies on faulty accounting, according to a vocal critic of the project. The oil conduit running from Edmonton to the Vancouver area had operating revenues of $728 million, mainly from user tolls, since it was purchased in the fall of 2018 from Kinder Morgan Canada for about $4.4 billion, according to an online analysis from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer posted Wednesday. The report, based on numbers from Canada Development Investment Corp. — which owns the pipeline on the government's behalf — notes operating expenses of $366 million, financing costs of $223 million and a $172-million depletion and depreciation expense on the pipeline assets. Those were offset in part by a $61-million tax recovery thanks to a decrease in Alberta's corporate tax rate as well as lower income taxes for the period ended March 31. "An increase in construction costs or changes in the price of oil could affect profitability but for the first months up to March 2020, the pipeline seems to have been profitable," said Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux in an interview.
In a report last November, the Cleveland-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis charged that Trans Mountain is receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden direct and indirect federal and provincial government subsidies. It listed the Alberta tax cut as a subsidy even though it applies to all businesses and said the project also benefits from lower-than-market interest rates given its high level of risk. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The Department of Finance, however, responded at the time that the government does not consider any part of its investment in the pipeline to be a subsidy.
"This (report) is a very narrow focus and does not include the massive subsidies that have been offered to the project, direct and indirect subsidies," said IEEFA financial analyst Kathy Hipple on Wednesday. A report that says the Trans Mountain pipeline system has earned net income of $29 million in the 19 months since it was purchased by Ottawa relies on faulty accounting, according to a vocal critic of the project. In February, Trans Mountain announced a revised construction cost estimate for its expansion project, bumping it up by about 70 per cent from $7.4 billion to $12.6 billion. In spite of the increased cost and the dramatic downturn in oil prices this year due to the pandemic fuelled economic downturn, the pipeline has not written down its goodwill, although oil producers have recognized billions in such writedowns, Hipple said. "This is astonishing to me," she said. But Giroux defended the numbers, noting that pipeline economics are different than oil production economics.
"The issue of oil prices could affect future revenue but the tolls are being determined by the Canadian Energy Regulator so tolls are not as dependent on the price of oil itself," he said. "They're dependent on the volume, so as long as Trans Mountain has secured contracts to fill the majority of its expanded capacity, revenues should not be too much at risk." The PBO added the CDIC has revised the sensitivity analysis it uses to determine goodwill impairments.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Crude oil exports by rail plunge as economic slump frees pipeline space

The Canada Energy Regulator says rail shipments of oil in May fell to a four-year low of about 58,000 barrels per day , down from 156,000 bpd in April and 351,000 bpd in March .
Canadian exports of crude oil by rail plunged by 63 per cent in May compared with April as North American fuel demand dropped due to measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic .
Rail transportation of crude oil is considered to be more expensive than shipping by pipeline so shippers tend to use it only when pipelines are full or if the destination market offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Canada .
Western Canadian producers shut down more than 800,000 barrels per day of oil production at times in the past few months to avoid selling at low prices , thus freeing up space on export pipelines .
In May , Enbridge Inc. reported that its Mainline oil export pipeline system , which is typically oversubscribed by shippers , transported 400,000 fewer barrels of oil per day in April than its average of 2.84 million bpd in the first quarter .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19 @ @ @

Canadian exports of crude oil by rail plunged by 63 per cent in May compared with April as North American fuel demand dropped due to measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Canada Energy Regulator says rail shipments of oil in May fell to a four-year low of about 58,000 barrels per day, down from 156,000 bpd in April and 351,000 bpd in March.
Shipments reached a record high of 412,000 bpd in February.
Rail transportation of crude oil is considered to be more expensive than shipping by pipeline so shippers tend to use it only when pipelines are full or if the destination market offers much higher prices than can be achieved in Canada.
Western Canadian producers shut down more than 800,000 barrels per day of oil production at times in the past few months to avoid selling at low prices, thus freeing up space on export pipelines.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Morneau faces resignation calls after repaying $41K in WE travel expenses

Finance Minister Bill Morneau faced calls for his resignation Wednesday after revealing he had just repaid over $ 41,000 in travel charges to WE Charity — an organization MPs heard had multiple contacts with his office while the government planned its $ 900-million student-volunteer program .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also agreed to testify before the House of Commons finance committee probing the aborted agreement , a rare move for a prime minister .
So will his chief of staff , Katie Telford .
Trudeau 's office said exact times and dates for those appearances have yet to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already investigating Trudeau 's and Morneau 's role in giving the WE organization a contract to run the Canada Student Service Grant , which the government presented as a way to help students with education expenses as they faced a summer of unemployment in a COVID-19-stricken economy .
It would have paid the group about $ 43.5 million .
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Ford disagrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'not compliant ' with law Both have apologized for not recusing themselves from discussions because of their familial ties to the organization — Trudeau because of speaking fees paid to his brother , mother and wife , and Morneau because one of his daughters is nearing the end of a one-year contract in an administrative role .
Morneau began his appearance at the finance committee by saying he sent a cheque to the WE organization Wednesday to repay $ 41,366 in expenses the group covered for a trip he took to Ecuador in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian work .
Morneau said he always planned to personally cover those amounts , but WE never charged him , much to his surprise after poring through receipts ahead of his testimony .
It was n't appropriate to accept the expenses even unknowingly , Morneau said , adding he passed the information on to the ethics commissioner .
`` I 'm not making an excuse .
It was my mistake , '' Morneau told the committee .
Morneau began his appearance at the finance committee by saying he sent a cheque to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in expenses the group covered for a trip he took to Ecuador in summer 2017 to see some of its humanitarian work .
Cabinet ministers are forbidden to accept such a benefit , a lesson Trudeau learned after the ethics watchdog cited him for his family 's 2016 vacation to the Aga Khan 's private island .
Morneau was found in violation of rules in 2017 for failing to disclose to the ethics commissioner a private holding company that owned a villa in France .
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre told Morneau he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold your office '' as the Official Opposition called on the finance minister to step down .
`` It 's time for Bill Morneau to resign , '' Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told reporters on Parliament Hill .
`` You would have thought that he would be extra careful after already being found to have violated ( rules ) , but once again , we see a pattern from the Liberals that one set of rules for them , and one set of rules for everyone else . ''
The timeline of events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversy began April 5 when he had a conversation with Trudeau about how to help students whose summer-job and volunteer opportunities were vanishing due to the pandemic .
Two days later , WE was one of a dozen groups his office contacted to gauge challenges and possible program options .
WE sent a pitch to ministers on April 9 for a different , but related , youth program that would have cost between $ 6 million and $ 14 million .
Morneau said the same day he got a briefing about a potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience over the summer .
Trudeau told the House of Commons that pitch made its way to his office via the normal policy process , but was ultimately rejected .
By April 18 , WE was being discussed as an option as Morneau 's officials raised the idea of partnering with a non-profit , or for-profit group to administer the program .
Morneau said it was the first time he was involved in any talk about WE and the grant program .
A senior Finance Department official , Michelle Kovacevic , told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morneau 's office connected with WE to suss out its ability to deliver a volunteer program .
She told the committee that the records of the call note that `` WE Charity will re-work their 10-week summer program proposal to fully meet the policy objective of national service and increase their current placements of 8,000 to double . ''
Morneau approved going with an outside organization to run the volunteer program on April 21 , but no specific group was chosen .
The next day , Trudeau announced the broad parameters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch to the department now taking the lead : Employment and Social Development Canada .
Morneau spoke with WE co-founder Craig Kielburger on April 26 , but the minister said neither he nor Kielburger talked about the Canada Student Service Grant program .
On May 4 , Kovacevic said , WE sent a third proposal to ESDC , this time with more details and specific to the grant program .
( Kovacevic said she received it May 7 . )
The next day , Youth Minister Bardish Chagger went to a cabinet committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cabinet , including Trudeau and Morneau , approved handing the reins of the program to WE on May 22 .
The Liberals have said the non-partisan public service recommended WE , calling it the only organization able to launch a program as quickly and as broadly as the government wanted .
The opposition parties argue the timeline of events suggest the Liberals gave the charity the inside track on landing the program .
WE ultimately gave up the program at the start of the month as controversy swirled , along with criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and calling it volunteering .
Weeks later , the government is stumbling to roll out a pared-down version of the program .
Chagger told reporters officials are looking at multiple ways and programs to deliver the grants , but neither she nor ESDC provided a timeline for things to roll out .
Two groups representing thousands of post-secondary students called on the Liberals to abandon the troubled program and push its $ 912-million maximum budget to other student supports .
The Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pays students up to $ 5,000 toward education costs based on the number of hours they volunteer , wo n't provide the financial help students are looking for .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22 , 2020 .

Finance Minister Bill Morneau faced calls for his resignation Wednesday after revealing he had just repaid over $41,000 in travel charges to WE Charity — an organization MPs heard had multiple contacts with his office while the government planned its $900-million student-volunteer program. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also agreed to testify before the House of Commons finance committee probing the aborted agreement, a rare move for a prime minister. So will his chief of staff, Katie Telford. Trudeau's office said exact times and dates for those appearances have yet to be set. The federal ethics commissioner is already investigating Trudeau's and Morneau's role in giving the WE organization a contract to run the Canada Student Service Grant, which the government presented as a way to help students with education expenses as they faced a summer of unemployment in a COVID-19-stricken economy. It would have paid the group about $43.5 million.
Both have apologized for not recusing themselves from discussions because of their familial ties to the organization — Trudeau because of speaking fees paid to his brother, mother and wife, and Morneau because one of his daughters is nearing the end of a one-year contract in an administrative role. (Trudeau also faces a call to testify before the Commons ethics committee, which late Wednesday voted to seek copies of records for his and his family's speaking appearances dating back years and to call him to appear. Six opposition members outvoted five Liberals to have that committee start its own investigation.) Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Morneau began his appearance at the finance committee by saying he sent a cheque to the WE organization Wednesday to repay $41,366 in expenses the group covered for a trip he took to Ecuador in summer 2017 to see some of its humanitarian work.
Morneau said he always planned to personally cover those amounts, but WE never charged him, much to his surprise after poring through receipts ahead of his testimony. Morneau began his appearance at the finance committee by saying he sent a cheque to the WE organization Wednesday to repay $41,366 in expenses the group covered for a trip he took to Ecuador in summer 2017 to see some of its humanitarian work. It wasn't appropriate to accept the expenses even unknowingly, Morneau said, adding he passed the information on to the ethics commissioner. "I'm not making an excuse. It was my mistake," Morneau told the committee. Cabinet ministers are forbidden to accept such a benefit, a lesson Trudeau learned after the ethics watchdog cited him for his family's 2016 vacation to the Aga Khan's private island. Morneau was found in violation of rules in 2017 for failing to disclose to the ethics commissioner a private holding company that owned a villa in France.
Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre told Morneau he had "lost the moral authority to hold your office" as the Official Opposition called on the finance minister to step down. "It's time for Bill Morneau to resign," Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told reporters on Parliament Hill. "You would have thought that he would be extra careful after already being found to have violated (rules), but once again, we see a pattern from the Liberals that one set of rules for them, and one set of rules for everyone else."


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Trudeau must look into complaints Governor General mistreated staff, Singh says

Allegations that Gov .
Gen. Julie Payette mistreated staff members prompted calls for investigations of varying stripes on Wednesday , with one expert suggesting the matter should be dealt with quietly to preserve the integrity of the office .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to investigate the matter , while one Liberal cabinet minister said it was the job of Rideau Hall to probe the complaints .
Meanwhile , Philippe Lagasse , an expert of Westminster-style democracy , said it was in the interest of the country for Trudeau and Payette 's offices to resolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more damage to the institution of the Governor General .
`` Everybody 's best option right now is to try to deal with the issue decisively but discreetly , '' said Lagasse , of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University .
`` You do n't want to turn this into a confrontation between the prime minister and the Governor General , nor do you want to be in a situation where the prime minister feels that he either needs to pressure the Governor General to resign or ultimately advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should n't get there . ''
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Ford disagrees after auditor general finds Bill 197 was 'not compliant ' with law The controversy erupted after a CBC News report that quoted anonymous sources as saying Payette has created a toxic environment at Rideau Hall .
The CBC reported Tuesday that Payette had yelled at , belittled and publicly humiliated employees , reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quit .
Workplaces need to be safe , and employees must feel they are heard when they raise concerns , said Singh .
`` I 'm not being prescriptive about what the prime minister must do exactly .
But there is no question there is an obligation , a responsibility of the prime minister in this case , with the Governor General and the complaints that we 've seen , to do something , to follow up with those complaints , '' he said .
`` People should be able to feel safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's always a struggle for people , '' Singh added .
`` There needs to be some manner for someone independently to assess the complaints . ''
Singh pressed Trudeau on the matter in the House of Commons but the prime minister did not specifically address it .
Allegations that Gov .
Gen. Julie Payette mistreated staff members prompted calls for investigations of varying stripes on Wednesday , with one expert suggesting the matter should be dealt with quietly to preserve the integrity of the office .
`` Every Canadian has the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free from harassment and that is extremely important , '' Trudeau said .
`` That 's why we moved forward on June 22 with announcements on strengthening the oversight in federally regulated agencies and environments , including the public service . ''
Earlier Wednesday , Trudeau did not take questions as he entered the Commons .
The Prime Minister 's Office declined Tuesday to answer questions about the report but said every Canadian has the right to work in a healthy , respectful and safe environment .
Lagasse said as long as new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other parties do n't pile on , the matter could be resolved without doing damage to the governor general 's office .
But if the office is undermined , that would have ramifications if Payette were called upon to decide a dispute on who should form a government in a continuing minority parliament scenario .
If the Trudeau government were defeated in a confidence motion and the prime minister asked Payette to call an election but the opposition wanted to form a government , it would be a reasonable for Payette to side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than six months since the last election , said Lagasse .
`` So , let 's just imagine that in the subsequent election , the Conservatives had more seats , but the Liberals chose to stay in power , '' he added .
`` If there 's any sense that somehow she 's been placed in a position where she has to side with the current prime minister or anything to that effect , any perception of that would make her decision more difficult . ''
Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her previous portfolio at Canadian Heritage , said she was surprised by the allegations , and she clung to the government 's line that all workplaces should be harassment-free .
`` I value the work of the Governor General , and that 's Julie Payette , '' Joly said .
`` Rideau Hall needs to look into this very , very carefully … Rideau Hall needs to address the issue and my understanding is that they went out with a statement today . ''
The CBC reported that Payette 's secretary sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday promising to improve the working environment .
That followed a public statement Tuesday , which said Rideau Hall strongly believes in the importance of a healthy workplace , adding the CBC story stands in stark contrast to the reality of working at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General .
`` We deeply regret this reporting , which is in stark contrast to the reality of working at the OSGG , and obscures the important work done by our dedicated staff in honouring , representing , and showcasing Canadians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rideau Hall said it has `` stringent internal processes for our employees to voice concerns '' through its human resources department , an independent ombudsman , and its `` excellent relationships '' with the unions that represent employees .
`` Since the beginning of the mandate , no formal complaint regarding harassment has been made through any of these channels , '' the statement said .
Rideau Hall said it has a lower turnover compared with other departments , and that one of the benefits of being in the public service is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The statement said that is `` something that is personally encouraged by the Governor General , who believes that career growth and opportunity are vitally important . ''
Adam Vaughan , a Toronto Liberal MP , said a thorough investigation needs to take place but he said it was `` tricky one '' to decide who should lead it .
`` The allegations are serious , and they deserve a serious response and a serious investigation . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22 , 2020 .

Allegations that Gov. Gen. Julie Payette mistreated staff members prompted calls for investigations of varying stripes on Wednesday, with one expert suggesting the matter should be dealt with quietly to preserve the integrity of the office. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to investigate the matter, while one Liberal cabinet minister said it was the job of Rideau Hall to probe the complaints. Meanwhile, Philippe Lagasse, an expert of Westminster-style democracy, said it was in the interest of the country for Trudeau and Payette's offices to resolve the matter behind closed doors to prevent more damage to the institution of the Governor General. "Everybody's best option right now is to try to deal with the issue decisively but discreetly," said Lagasse, of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. "You don't want to turn this into a confrontation between the prime minister and the Governor General, nor do you want to be in a situation where the prime minister feels that he either needs to pressure the Governor General to resign or ultimately advise the Queen to dismiss her. It shouldn't get there."
The controversy erupted after a CBC News report that quoted anonymous sources as saying Payette has created a toxic environment at Rideau Hall. The CBC reported Tuesday that Payette had yelled at, belittled and publicly humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Workplaces need to be safe, and employees must feel they are heard when they raise concerns, said Singh.
"I'm not being prescriptive about what the prime minister must do exactly. But there is no question there is an obligation, a responsibility of the prime minister in this case, with the Governor General and the complaints that we've seen, to do something, to follow up with those complaints," he said. Allegations that Gov. Gen. Julie Payette mistreated staff members prompted calls for investigations of varying stripes on Wednesday, with one expert suggesting the matter should be dealt with quietly to preserve the integrity of the office. "People should be able to feel safe to come forward. I think that's always a struggle for people," Singh added. "There needs to be some manner for someone independently to assess the complaints." Singh pressed Trudeau on the matter in the House of Commons but the prime minister did not specifically address it. "Every Canadian has the right to a safe, secure workspace, free from harassment and that is extremely important," Trudeau said. "That's why we moved forward on June 22 with announcements on strengthening the oversight in federally regulated agencies and environments, including the public service."
Earlier Wednesday, Trudeau did not take questions as he entered the Commons. The Prime Minister's Office declined Tuesday to answer questions about the report but said every Canadian has the right to work in a healthy, respectful and safe environment. Lagasse said as long as new allegations don't surface against Payette and other parties don't pile on, the matter could be resolved without doing damage to the governor general's office. But if the office is undermined, that would have ramifications if Payette were called upon to decide a dispute on who should form a government in a continuing minority parliament scenario.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Saskatchewan breaks daily record of COVID-19 cases Wednesday with 60

Premier Scott Moe and chief medical officer Saqib Shahab reported 60 new cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan on Wednesday , marking the highest one-day total in cases to date .
Moe said most of these cases have been due to an ongoing outbreak impacting Hutterite communities in southwest and west-central Saskatchewan .
“ This large number of cases was the result of the aggressive testing and the contact tracing that the Saskatchewan Health Authority has been doing in a number of Hutterite communities in the province , ” Moe said .
Scott Moe , premier of Saskatchewan , and Saqib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrive to a COVID-19 news update at the Legislative Building in Regina in March .
Photograph by The Canadian Press/Michael Bell .
Of the 60 cases reported Wednesday , 48 are from colonies in the southwest and west-central regions .
Forty-three of those are in a single communal living setting in the rural municipality of Lawtonia , southwest of Regina .
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 197 was 'not compliant ' with law Moe said at the briefing that a successful response to outbreaks in the south of the province will look a lot like it did for northern Saskatchewan , where active cases have dropped .
Moe and Shahab told Canada ’ s National Observer the community engagement in northern Saskatchewan that led to a decrease in cases shows how it can be done successfully in the south .
The La Ronge Health Centre serves the town , surrounding communities and the larger northern region .
In June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 73 million toward new facilities in Grenfell and La Ronge .
The new facility in La Ronge will have 80 beds for long-term care .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
Moe pointed to a significant drop in cases in northern communities such as La Loche , which was the epicentre of an outbreak and reported last week that there are no more active cases in the community .
He said his government ’ s success in controlling the spread of the virus has been due to ensuring public access to good health information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saskatchewan people on following all of the safety guidelines that have been put forward.
” “ That is precisely how the community of La Loche and its neighbouring communities were able to get their outbreak under control , and that is how we ’ ll get this latest outbreak under control , ” Moe said .
Premier Moe said to follow public health guidelines , “ That is precisely how the community of La Loche and its neighbouring communities were able to get their outbreak under control , and that is how we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control.
” Montreal Lake Cree Nation , between Prince Albert and La Ronge , declared a “ total lockdown ” on July 10 .
The lockdown is set to lift Friday .
Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority medical health officer Nnamdi Ndubuka issued a precautionary health advisory Friday following a confirmed case of COVID-19 at Montreal Lake .
The community is under `` total lockdown '' until Friday .
Photograph courtesy of the Saskatchewan Medical Association/Nnamdi Ndubuka .
“ I would just applaud the leadership in Montreal Lake because … they had taken very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community on the public health recommendations and they had very swiftly moved to limiting travel in and out of that community , ” Moe said .
Shahab said that many smaller northern communities have been successful in dealing with the pandemic because of community support .
“ Public health and the community should support you and your family members in terms of if you and your family members have to isolate ( that ) your needs are being met , ” he said .
“ Many northern and small communities have done that… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose to seek that support .
That ’ s really helped sporadic cases … from becoming bigger outbreaks.
” Kennedy McKenzie with Christopher Merasty delivering COVID-19 relief items at the Churchill Community High School in La Ronge .
Merasty founded a men 's support group called Men of the North .
The group raised relief funds and delivered supplies around the community to help them weather the pandemic while self-isolating .
Photograph courtesy of Christopher Merasty .
Shahab noted that the south and east-central regions of the province had reported no cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now suddenly are seeing an increase .
He called it a “ reminder for all of us that anywhere in Saskatchewan , the basic principles apply.
” He said that following public health guidelines is the best way to prevent cases from becoming outbreaks .
The 60 new cases announced Wednesday put the total case count for Saskatchewan at 1,030 .
Fifty of the new cases are in the south , four in Saskatoon , three in central , two in the far north and one in the north .
The 60 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count for Saskatchewan at 1,030 .
Fifty of the new cases are in the south , four in Saskatoon , three in central , two in the far north and one in the north .
Photograph courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan .
Moe and Shahab made the point that communities where outbreaks happen shouldn ’ t be stigmatized and that testing positive for coronavirus isn ’ t something to be ashamed of .
“ No one should feel concerned when they seek testing that they ’ ll get stigmatized or they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s no one ’ s fault , so people should feel comfortable to seek testing wherever you live and then isolate if you ’ re symptomatic right away , even before you get tested , ” Shahab said .
Moe said his government is taking a collaborative approach to mitigating the outbreak in the southern parts of the province and particularly in Hutterite communities .
“ We always work with the local leadership on whatever challenge we may be faced with . ''
COVID-19 testing is now available to anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not .
A referral for testing can be made by contacting HealthLine 811 .
General inquiries can be directed to [ email protected ] .
The most up-to-date version of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan can be found on the government ’ s website at www.saskatchewan.ca/re-open .

Premier Scott Moe and chief medical officer Saqib Shahab reported 60 new cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan on Wednesday, marking the highest one-day total in cases to date. Moe said most of these cases have been due to an ongoing outbreak impacting Hutterite communities in southwest and west-central Saskatchewan. “This large number of cases was the result of the aggressive testing and the contact tracing that the Saskatchewan Health Authority has been doing in a number of Hutterite communities in the province,” Moe said. Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, and Saqib Shahab, chief medical health officer, arrive to a COVID-19 news update at the Legislative Building in Regina in March. Photograph by The Canadian Press/Michael Bell. Of the 60 cases reported Wednesday, 48 are from colonies in the southwest and west-central regions. Forty-three of those are in a single communal living setting in the rural municipality of Lawtonia, southwest of Regina.
Moe said at the briefing that a successful response to outbreaks in the south of the province will look a lot like it did for northern Saskatchewan, where active cases have dropped. Moe and Shahab told Canada’s National Observer the community engagement in northern Saskatchewan that led to a decrease in cases shows how it can be done successfully in the south. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The La Ronge Health Centre serves the town, surrounding communities and the larger northern region. In June, the Saskatchewan Government dedicated around $73 million toward new facilities in Grenfell and La Ronge. The new facility in La Ronge will have 80 beds for long-term care. Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.
Moe pointed to a significant drop in cases in northern communities such as La Loche, which was the epicentre of an outbreak and reported last week that there are no more active cases in the community. Premier Moe said to follow public health guidelines, “That is precisely how the community of La Loche and its neighbouring communities were able to get their outbreak under control, and that is how we’ll get this latest outbreak under control.” He said his government’s success in controlling the spread of the virus has been due to ensuring public access to good health information and the “goodwill and compliance of Saskatchewan people on following all of the safety guidelines that have been put forward.” “That is precisely how the community of La Loche and its neighbouring communities were able to get their outbreak under control, and that is how we’ll get this latest outbreak under control,” Moe said. Montreal Lake Cree Nation, between Prince Albert and La Ronge, declared a “total lockdown” on July 10. The lockdown is set to lift Friday. Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority medical health officer Nnamdi Ndubuka issued a precautionary health advisory Friday following a confirmed case of COVID-19 at Montreal Lake. The community is under "total lockdown" until Friday. Photograph courtesy of the Saskatchewan Medical Association/Nnamdi Ndubuka.
“I would just applaud the leadership in Montreal Lake because … they had taken very swift action with respect to educating the community on the public health recommendations and they had very swiftly moved to limiting travel in and out of that community,” Moe said. Shahab said that many smaller northern communities have been successful in dealing with the pandemic because of community support. “Public health and the community should support you and your family members in terms of if you and your family members have to isolate (that) your needs are being met,” he said.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Youth parliament raises voice for children’s rights

Roman Wolfli wants to raise the voices of those too young to vote so they can still be heard by politicians , and the 13-year-old from Calgary is working hard to make that happen .
He was one of three young MCs for last month ’ s inaugural session of the Young Canadians ’ Parliament , where around 75 young people from across the country got together in small groups to discuss mental health and how to handle the pandemic before presenting their ideas to federal MPs , including Families , Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen .
Wolfli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering a career in politics .
“ Right now , my goal is just to make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up , ” he said .
“ What I do later , we ’ ll see .
I ’ m not sure.
” The parliament is a government-backed effort to help children learn about their specific rights ( as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ) and to advocate on their own behalf about decisions that affect them .
• Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Ford disagrees after auditor general finds Bill 197 was 'not compliant ' with law Eleven-year-old Camila King of Toronto shared her group 's thoughts on the COVID-19 crisis with Families , Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen .
Photo supplied Camila King from Toronto also attended the virtual event and was selected to share her breakout group ’ s ideas with the minister .
“ I was worried at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I kept thinking , ‘ What if I mess up ?
’ But I pushed that away and said , ‘ It 's important for kids to be heard and I should do this , ’ ” the 11-year old said .
King said her own ideas about how to make life more bearable for kids during the pandemic included installing hand sanitizing stations in playgrounds and providing kid-sized gloves , and teaching younger kids how to make space bubbles to maintain social distance .
There ’ s no minimum age for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first session had an eight-year-old participant — but no one 18 or older is invited .
“ Younger children who have strong opinions and want to be engaged were being excluded from important decisions that affect them , ” said Sara Austin , the executive director of Children First Canada , whose youth ambassadors and advisory council helped design and develop the concept and lead its execution .
A youth parliament run by @ children1stca is giving civically engaged children who are too young to vote a way to speak directly to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sara Austin , executive director of Children First Canada , discusses the youth parliament on a video call with National Observer on July 22 , 2020 .
Wolfli has been working with Children First Canada for several years already , invited to attend a summit in Ottawa in late 2017 that led to the creation of a Canadian Children ’ s Charter a year later .
He ’ s particularly concerned about the mental health struggles of youth and said he hoped hearing directly from children would give politicians the impetus to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When a child tells you what they ’ ve seen in their community or what they know to be true , that is such a powerful and important tool in achieving change in these fields , ” Wolfli told National Observer this week .
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and youth , Children First Canada says , and Canada is ranked in the top five countries for the highest child suicide rates globally .
Wolfli said youth mental health challenges stem from a broad variety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It speaks to a sense , and , of course , I ca n't speak to what actually mental illness is like , but from my perspective , it speaks to a sense of hopelessness , ” he said .
“ There are so many issues ; so much food insecurity and poverty and abuse , and bullying .
Bullying is a big one.
” “ It ’ s a testament to how serious the other problems are and how serious they are in combination , ” he said .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was due to jump on a training call to learn how to facilitate the parliament ’ s second session , which is taking place Thursday and will focus on the environment — in both the larger biosphere sense and the more personal version .
The group plans to hold a national virtual forum every month in the lead-up to National Child Day on Nov. 20 , with topics to include the need for a national children ’ s commissioner , inequity , the top 10 threats to childhood in Canada , and anti-Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the plan for the parliament had been in the works well before the pandemic , but that funding from Canadian Heritage was expedited to develop the online version .
The parliament delivered a long list of recommendations to the politicians who attended the first session , which also included health minister Patty Hajdu ’ s parliamentary secretary and MPs from the NDP and Conservatives .
Hussen ’ s office said his focus during the first session was on the importance of youth leadership and how to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensures how our government can provide and ensure children have the best mental and physical support they need , ” spokesperson Jessica Eritou said .

Roman Wolfli wants to raise the voices of those too young to vote so they can still be heard by politicians, and the 13-year-old from Calgary is working hard to make that happen. He was one of three young MCs for last month’s inaugural session of the Young Canadians’ Parliament, where around 75 young people from across the country got together in small groups to discuss mental health and how to handle the pandemic before presenting their ideas to federal MPs, including Families, Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen. Wolfli drips charm when asked if he is considering a career in politics. “Right now, my goal is just to make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up,” he said. “What I do later, we’ll see. I’m not sure.” The parliament is a government-backed effort to help children learn about their specific rights (as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) and to advocate on their own behalf about decisions that affect them.
Eleven-year-old Camila King of Toronto shared her group's thoughts on the COVID-19 crisis with Families, Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen. Photo supplied Camila King from Toronto also attended the virtual event and was selected to share her breakout group’s ideas with the minister. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “I was worried at first. It was kind of scary because I kept thinking, ‘What if I mess up?’ But I pushed that away and said, ‘It's important for kids to be heard and I should do this,’” the 11-year old said.
King said her own ideas about how to make life more bearable for kids during the pandemic included installing hand sanitizing stations in playgrounds and providing kid-sized gloves, and teaching younger kids how to make space bubbles to maintain social distance. “When a child tells you what they’ve seen in their community or what they know to be true, that is such a powerful and important tool in achieving change in these fields.” There’s no minimum age for involvement in the youth parliament — the first session had an eight-year-old participant — but no one 18 or older is invited. “Younger children who have strong opinions and want to be engaged were being excluded from important decisions that affect them,” said Sara Austin, the executive director of Children First Canada, whose youth ambassadors and advisory council helped design and develop the concept and lead its execution. Sara Austin, executive director of Children First Canada, discusses the youth parliament on a video call with National Observer on July 22, 2020. Wolfli has been working with Children First Canada for several years already, invited to attend a summit in Ottawa in late 2017 that led to the creation of a Canadian Children’s Charter a year later.
Mental health a focus He’s particularly concerned about the mental health struggles of youth and said he hoped hearing directly from children would give politicians the impetus to take action that would lower youth suicide rates. “When a child tells you what they’ve seen in their community or what they know to be true, that is such a powerful and important tool in achieving change in these fields,” Wolfli told National Observer this week.


nationalobserver--2020-07-23--Ford government says Ontario school reopening details coming next week

The Ford government will unveil detailed plans , protocols and more investments to ensure the safe return of students to Ontario ’ s schools next week , the province ’ s education minister said Thursday , despite telling school boards they had until Aug. 4 to weigh in .
The government has faced months of complaints from parents and teachers left largely in the dark about what school will look like in September in light of the risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Parents of school-age children in Ontario have struggled to balance working from home ( if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for months , with recent reopening moves adding to the number of parents torn between returning to their jobs and looking after their children .
“ We intend to announce a plan for the safe resumption to class that will be equipped with strong health and safety measures in short order , ” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said .
“ We are finalizing those plans with the chief medical officer of health , and we 'll share more details about that plan , that protocol , and those investments next week.
” Lecce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing reality of the pandemic meant the province had to maintain flexibility in terms of how to deliver the 2020-21 school year ’ s curriculum , but that they wanted to see students in class full-time if it is safe to do so .
• Federal COVID-19 payment for people living with disabilities could reach 1.7M Canadians • Ford 's COVID-19 economic recovery bill was 'not compliant ' with the law , auditor general says • Ford disagrees after auditor general finds Bill 197 was 'not compliant ' with law When the education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain shut for the rest of the school year , he said the province would make its plans for reopening school public before the end of the school year .
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce speaks at an event on July 23 , 2020 , while Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown ( left ) and Premier Doug Ford look on .
Photo : Media pool screenshot But the government last month put the onus on individual school boards to fill in the province ’ s broad back-to-school outline , asking them to come up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning , and a hybrid model while leaving many questions unanswered .
The province ’ s school boards have been asked to submit their final reopening plans to the ministry by Aug. 4 .
“ I don ’ t understand , ” tweeted Toronto District School Board ( TDSB ) trustee Shelley Laskin .
“ Our recommendations are not due until August 4 ?
” Not only is it not new funding , where is the list of what is being funded ?
So frustrating ... @ tdsb , like all other boards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority from a Board perspective ... https : //t.co/U3EiZp4Jg5 — Shelley Laskin ( @ shelleylaskin ) July 23 , 2020 The education minister 's comments came at an event to announce the allocation of $ 500 million in infrastructure funding this year to build 30 new schools , expand 15 existing schools and create nearly 900 new affordable child-care spaces in schools , part of a 10-year , $ 12-billion infrastructure spending plan .
Ontario 's parents and teachers will next week find out more about the plans ( and the funding to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and @ sflecce have made for schools to reopen in September .
The government expects the spending to create 25,000 more student spaces by 2023 .
Lecce said more than 330 school and child-care projects are in either the planning or construction stage currently , with 90 expected to open in September .
“ The investments we make today will set our students down the path to lifelong success , ” Ford said at the event in Brampton , a fast-growing city outside Toronto that will get two new schools from the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been set aside and was not new , echoing education advocacy group , Fix Our Schools , which said the funding was inadequate for the state of school disrepair .
“ There is a $ 16.3-billion repair backlog in Ontario schools , ” the group tweeted .
“ Leaking roofs , windows that do n't open , broken HVAC systems , broken elevators , lead in drinking water , missing washroom doors , not enough sinks .
Not items you want to see outstanding during a pandemic.
” While the government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has provided scant guidance regarding the amount of money that would be made available to deliver on them .
In a planning document released last week , the TDSB said it would need to hire nearly 2,500 more teachers at a cost of almost $ 250 million if elementary students return to class for five full days a week in cohorts of 15 with one teacher delivering their entire curriculum .
But the Progressive Conservatives is offering less , leading critics worry that a lack of funding to deal with the pandemic will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
The TDSB is getting $ 55 million more in funding than it received last year , for example , with $ 23 million allocated to more teachers .
The Halton District School Board ( HDSB ) last week wrote to Lecce seeking enough money for a 15-student daily attendance , in-person model for kindergarten through grade 6 , and for a withdrawal of the hybrid option for those grades .
The board argued there are not enough childcare spaces in Halton to deliver that option , and that mixing students from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection .
“ While Ford and Lecce say they want students back at school five days a week in September , they are showing no willingness to commit to any additional funding to school boards for the resources needed to keep our students and staff safe from COVID-19 , ” Harvey Bischof , the president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers ’ Federation , said on Twitter just ahead of the Thursday announcement .
Lecce said some funds had already been released , including $ 10 million to hire more social workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health fallout from the pandemic , and $ 15 million for technology to buy 37,000 devices .

The Ford government will unveil detailed plans, protocols and more investments to ensure the safe return of students to Ontario’s schools next week, the province’s education minister said Thursday, despite telling school boards they had until Aug. 4 to weigh in. The government has faced months of complaints from parents and teachers left largely in the dark about what school will look like in September in light of the risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of school-age children in Ontario have struggled to balance working from home (if they kept their jobs) and child care for months, with recent reopening moves adding to the number of parents torn between returning to their jobs and looking after their children. “We intend to announce a plan for the safe resumption to class that will be equipped with strong health and safety measures in short order,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said. “We are finalizing those plans with the chief medical officer of health, and we'll share more details about that plan, that protocol, and those investments next week.” Lecce and Premier Doug Ford both said the changing reality of the pandemic meant the province had to maintain flexibility in terms of how to deliver the 2020-21 school year’s curriculum, but that they wanted to see students in class full-time if it is safe to do so.
When the education minister announced in May that schools would remain shut for the rest of the school year, he said the province would make its plans for reopening school public before the end of the school year. Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce speaks at an event on July 23, 2020, while Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown (left) and Premier Doug Ford look on. Photo: Media pool screenshot Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But the government last month put the onus on individual school boards to fill in the province’s broad back-to-school outline, asking them to come up with plans for full-day classes, fully-remote learning, and a hybrid model while leaving many questions unanswered.
The province’s school boards have been asked to submit their final reopening plans to the ministry by Aug. 4. Ontario's parents and teachers will next week find out more about the plans (and the funding to make it happen) that @fordnation and @sflecce have made for schools to reopen in September. “I don’t understand,” tweeted Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustee Shelley Laskin. “Our recommendations are not due until August 4?” Not only is it not new funding, where is the list of what is being funded? So frustrating... @tdsb, like all other boards can only ask for 10 projects in priority from a Board perspective... https://t.co/U3EiZp4Jg5 — Shelley Laskin (@shelleylaskin) July 23, 2020 Not new funds The education minister's comments came at an event to announce the allocation of $500 million in infrastructure funding this year to build 30 new schools, expand 15 existing schools and create nearly 900 new affordable child-care spaces in schools, part of a 10-year, $12-billion infrastructure spending plan.
The government expects the spending to create 25,000 more student spaces by 2023. Lecce said more than 330 school and child-care projects are in either the planning or construction stage currently, with 90 expected to open in September. “The investments we make today will set our students down the path to lifelong success,” Ford said at the event in Brampton, a fast-growing city outside Toronto that will get two new schools from the deal. But Laskin said the funding had already been set aside and was not new, echoing education advocacy group, Fix Our Schools, which said the funding was inadequate for the state of school disrepair.