nationalobserver--2020-07-14--Cities need a rescue plan.  $10B proposed by the Federation of Cdn Municipalities is a good start.

The federal and provincial governments must roll out a powerful rescue plan for cities : the $ 10 billion emergency fund proposed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities would be a good start .
There is no financial or social recovery from COVID-19 without cities .
Cities are trying to help residents and small businesses by deferring tax deadlines , creating emergency grant programs and investing in stimulus projects .
Still , the ten largest cities in Canada face combined operating budget shortfalls in excess of $ 3 billion and growing .
Property taxes would have to rise by as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that gap .
It makes no sense to hit our residents with massive tax increases when so many are fighting for survival .
What ’ s equally destructive is to close the gap by laying off city staff and slashing services — that directly harms public health , and undermines the national economic recovery .
Municipalities also face unique and unfortunate fiscal challenges from this pandemic .
Cities are not legally permitted to run operating deficits , and costs incurred due to public health measures have ballooned for emergency shelters and cleaning measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues are falling through the floor .
Residential and business property taxes , user fees , transit fares and others have all been hammered .
`` The federal government has committed an estimated $ 146 billion to emergency support during the pandemic .
One critical sector of Canada ’ s economy has been bypassed : cities . ''
Right now , the options for cities are mostly limited to slashing services or drastically raising taxes .
Neither is the right answer .
Public health and our commitment to building safe and high-quality communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We , as Canadian municipal leaders , will do everything we can in the coming desperate months to preserve the critical front-line services essential to defeating the coronavirus and preserving healthy communities .
We can not succeed without strong , fast help from higher levels of government .
The rules need to change .
Now .
The federal and provincial governments must roll out a powerful rescue plan for cities : the $ 10 billion emergency fund proposed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities would be a good start .
Flexible , regionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Access to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program is imperative .
And the Bank of Canada , already buying federal , provincial and corporate bonds at near-zero interest rates , should offer the same for local governments .
Provinces also need to relax the restrictions on cities by waiving balanced-budget requirements and providing their own emergency aid for municipalities .
Requiring any government to balance its books during an economic downturn and health crisis is old-fashioned , ideological and self-destructive .
It ’ s a discredited and counter-productive policy , and still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ municipalities .
Canada ’ s cities are a vital link in stopping contagion and returning our communities to health .
Yet our capacity to do the job is becoming more difficult every day .
If cities cancel essential services and eliminate thousands of jobs , the risk of renewed waves of infection will be predictably elevated — and the current recession will turn into a depression .
Let ’ s move quickly to give cities the fiscal tools they need to help defeat this pandemic .

Christine Boyle, AaronPaquette, Mike Layton, Nrinder Nann, Maeva Vilain

The federal and provincial governments must roll out a powerful rescue plan for cities: the $10 billion emergency fund proposed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities would be a good start. There is no financial or social recovery from COVID-19 without cities. Cities are trying to help residents and small businesses by deferring tax deadlines, creating emergency grant programs and investing in stimulus projects. Still, the ten largest cities in Canada face combined operating budget shortfalls in excess of $3 billion and growing. Property taxes would have to rise by as much as 50 per cent to cover that gap. It makes no sense to hit our residents with massive tax increases when so many are fighting for survival. What’s equally destructive is to close the gap by laying off city staff and slashing services — that directly harms public health, and undermines the national economic recovery. The federal government has committed an estimated $146 billion to emergency support during the pandemic. One critical sector of Canada’s economy has been bypassed: cities. Canadian cities represent more than 80 per cent of our nation’s population, but only receive eight cents of every tax dollar. COVID-19 relief funds are no exception to this rule. Municipalities are ground zero for the COVID-19 recession. Our communities experience first-hand the catastrophe of closed businesses, evicted renters, mass unemployment and idled workplaces.
Additionally, some communities have been disproportionately impacted by the epidemic, including urban Indigenous communities, racialized communities, people experiencing homelessness and low-income residents. And it is municipalities that will ensure that the recovery from the pandemic addresses the needs of systemically vulnerable communities. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Seventy per cent of Canada’s GDP is created in metropolitan areas, and cities provide nearly all social programs. From job training programs to affordable housing, Canadian cities will execute the bulk of our recovery strategies.
"The federal government has committed an estimated $146 billion to emergency support during the pandemic. One critical sector of Canada’s economy has been bypassed: cities." Municipalities also face unique and unfortunate fiscal challenges from this pandemic. Cities are not legally permitted to run operating deficits, and costs incurred due to public health measures have ballooned for emergency shelters and cleaning measures. To make matters worse, municipal revenues are falling through the floor. Residential and business property taxes, user fees, transit fares and others have all been hammered. Right now, the options for cities are mostly limited to slashing services or drastically raising taxes. Neither is the right answer. Public health and our commitment to building safe and high-quality communities require us to maintain essential services.
We, as Canadian municipal leaders, will do everything we can in the coming desperate months to preserve the critical front-line services essential to defeating the coronavirus and preserving healthy communities. We cannot succeed without strong, fast help from higher levels of government. The rules need to change. Now. The federal and provincial governments must roll out a powerful rescue plan for cities: the $10 billion emergency fund proposed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities would be a good start. Flexible, regionally supported approaches to recovery should be prioritized. Access to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program is imperative. And the Bank of Canada, already buying federal, provincial and corporate bonds at near-zero interest rates, should offer the same for local governments.


nationalobserver--2020-07-13--Trudeau apologizes for WE decisions

Trudeau apologizes for WE decisions

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for not recusing himself from the government 's decision to have WE Charity manage a $ 900-million student-aid program , saying his family 's longtime involvement with the organization should have kept him out of the discussions .
The surprise apology was an about-face for the prime minister after weeks of defending the sole-sourced contract with WE , and followed revelations the organization had paid his wife , brother and mother for appearing at different events over the years .
Opposition parties were unimpressed with the mea culpa and accused Trudeau of a pattern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only after being caught .
Trudeau sought to face the controversy head on during a news conference outside his Ottawa home on Monday , days after WE confirmed it had paid his wife , brother and mother a combined $ 283,400 , plus speaking-agency commissions , for a number of appearances at the organization 's events .
Trudeau 's mother Margaret was paid $ 250,000 for 28 speaking appearances at WE-related events between 2016 and 2020 while his brother Alexandre received $ 32,000 for eight events .
Trudeau 's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 .
• Rep. Adam Schiff could n't resist : `` We may all be moving to Canada soon '' • Are taxes going to have to go up in Canada ?
`` I made a mistake in not recusing myself immediately from the discussions given our family 's history and I 'm sincerely sorry for not having done that , '' Trudeau said in reference to his cabinet 's decision to award the contract to WE .
Trudeau said he was also sorry the delay in the Canada Student Services Grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdraw from administering the program would harm students looking for ways to help during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The program , first announced by Trudeau in April before details were provided on June 25 , was billed as a way for tens of thousands of students unable to find summer work to earn up to $ 5,000 toward their education costs if they volunteered the maximum 500 hours .
`` Young people who are facing a difficult time right now getting summer jobs , contributing to their communities , are going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those opportunities to serve , and that 's frustrating , '' he said .
Finance Minister Bill Morneau also apologized in a statement Monday after it was revealed he also did not recuse himself from cabinet 's discussions on the WE contract even though two of his daughters have been involved with the organization , including one who is employed there on a contract .
`` I did not recuse myself from the discussions on this topic and , given the fact that my daughter works for the organization in an unrelated branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to avoid any perception of conflict , '' Morneau said .
`` I apologize for not doing so and , moving forward , I will recuse myself from any future discussions related to WE . ''
The prime minister repeated his assertions that the federal public service recommended WE be enlisted to administer the program , in a contract he said was worth around $ 20 million to the organization .
`` It was the public service that made the recommendation independently and that reassured us , '' Trudeau said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , I should have gone a little further and I should have withdrawn myself completely from these discussions . ''
The federal ethics commissioner Mario Dion is investigating the prime minister for a potential conflict of interest over the WE deal — the third such probe of Trudeau since he became prime minister in October 2015 .
The first two saw Trudeau found to have violated the Conflict of Interest Act , once for accepting two family trips hosted by the Aga Khan and again last year for trying to influence then-justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SNC-Lavalin .
Opposition parties are also pushing for parliamentary committees to investigate the contract , with the Conservatives saying they want the prime minister to make a rare appearance before the House of Commons finance committee to answer questions .
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett , whose party has also asked the RCMP to investigate the WE contract , said Trudeau could prove that his apology was sincere .
`` If the prime minister does believe that what he did was wrong and he is sorry , we will see him appear at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We will see him present all of the documents , the actual contract that was awarded , we will not see him invoke cabinet confidence .
But short of that , it 's tough to believe him when he 's had the experience twice of being found guilty of breaking the Conflict of Interest Act . ''
Trudeau said he would look at any invitations and discuss them with his team .
NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus questioned why the government — and in particular Trudeau 's chief of staff Katie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect against potential conflicts of interest .
`` How is it possible that Katie Telford did n't think : 'You know , we need to have procedures in place to make sure the law is followed , ' '' Angus said .
`` That to me is a really disturbing question . ''
The Globe and Mail reported Monday that Telford and minister Seamus O'Regan helped WE raise money before the Liberals formed government in 2015 .
O'Regan was a television host at the time .
Advocacy group Democracy Watch on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expand his conflict-of-interest investigation to include members of Trudeau 's staff as well as senior government officials .
Trudeau sidestepped questions about whether he had known his family had received money from WE , saying it was `` not surprising '' but that he did not know the details .
The prime minister said he was particularly sorry that the affair has embroiled his mother , who has emerged as a mental-health advocate following her diagnosis with bipolar disorder in 2006 .
`` I did n't know the details of how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I should have and I deeply regret that , '' Trudeau said .
`` What I also deeply regret is the fact that I have brought my mother into this situation in a way that is really unfair to her . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13 , 2020 .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for not recusing himself from the government's decision to have WE Charity manage a $900-million student-aid program, saying his family's longtime involvement with the organization should have kept him out of the discussions. The surprise apology was an about-face for the prime minister after weeks of defending the sole-sourced contract with WE, and followed revelations the organization had paid his wife, brother and mother for appearing at different events over the years. Opposition parties were unimpressed with the mea culpa and accused Trudeau of a pattern of trying to apologize for ethical lapses only after being caught. Trudeau sought to face the controversy head on during a news conference outside his Ottawa home on Monday, days after WE confirmed it had paid his wife, brother and mother a combined $283,400, plus speaking-agency commissions, for a number of appearances at the organization's events. Trudeau's mother Margaret was paid $250,000 for 28 speaking appearances at WE-related events between 2016 and 2020 while his brother Alexandre received $32,000 for eight events. Trudeau's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau received $1,400 for a single appearance in 2012.
"I made a mistake in not recusing myself immediately from the discussions given our family's history and I'm sincerely sorry for not having done that," Trudeau said in reference to his cabinet's decision to award the contract to WE. Trudeau said he was also sorry the delay in the Canada Student Services Grant caused by WE's eventual decision to withdraw from administering the program would harm students looking for ways to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The program, first announced by Trudeau in April before details were provided on June 25, was billed as a way for tens of thousands of students unable to find summer work to earn up to $5,000 toward their education costs if they volunteered the maximum 500 hours.
"Young people who are facing a difficult time right now getting summer jobs, contributing to their communities, are going to have to wait a little longer before getting those opportunities to serve, and that's frustrating," he said. Finance Minister Bill Morneau also apologized in a statement Monday after it was revealed he also did not recuse himself from cabinet's discussions on the WE contract even though two of his daughters have been involved with the organization, including one who is employed there on a contract. "I did not recuse myself from the discussions on this topic and, given the fact that my daughter works for the organization in an unrelated branch, I now realize I should have in order to avoid any perception of conflict," Morneau said. "I apologize for not doing so and, moving forward, I will recuse myself from any future discussions related to WE." The prime minister repeated his assertions that the federal public service recommended WE be enlisted to administer the program, in a contract he said was worth around $20 million to the organization.
"It was the public service that made the recommendation independently and that reassured us," Trudeau said in French. "But as we see now, I should have gone a little further and I should have withdrawn myself completely from these discussions." The federal ethics commissioner Mario Dion is investigating the prime minister for a potential conflict of interest over the WE deal — the third such probe of Trudeau since he became prime minister in October 2015. The first two saw Trudeau found to have violated the Conflict of Interest Act, once for accepting two family trips hosted by the Aga Khan and again last year for trying to influence then-justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould over the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.


nationalobserver--2020-07-13--Federal wage subsidy to be extended until at least December

The federal government is for the second time extending its program to subsidize wages in companies hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic , this time until at least December .
But the government is being warned it may have to move the end date into 2021 .
The program is the heart of the Liberals ' promise to help Canadians get back to work , even if has to be at a slower pace , as the pandemic wanes .
Speaking outside his Ottawa residence , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the extension to give `` greater certainty and support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trudeau did n't say how the government will reshape the eligibility rules for the program that critics have said stop some employers from getting aid they need .
• Rep. Adam Schiff could n't resist : `` We may all be moving to Canada soon '' • Are taxes going to have to go up in Canada ?
He promised more details in the coming days .
While some companies are back open with restrictions easing , other parts of the economy are still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall or even the winter and will need help into next year , said Ross Laver , senior vice-president for strategy at the Business Council of Canada .
He pointed to airlines as one example where rehiring may be slow .
`` I do n't think anybody expects that those industries that have been really hard-hit , that everything is going to be fine by Dec. 31 , '' he said .
`` We need to bear in mind that some of them are going to need help for an extended period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously was to expire the first week of June but the Liberals announced an extension to the end of August in mid-May .
The federal government is for the second time extending its program to subsidize wages in companies hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic , this time until at least December .
The government has yet to share eligibility requirements for July .
Dan Kelly , president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business , said the extension would be welcomed by many small companies that have seen costs return faster than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for eligibility rules to understand how to qualify .
`` Not a single employer in Canada understands whether they qualify for the July wage subsidy and we 're in mid-July .
So they need to do an awful lot better , '' Kelly said .
`` It sounds great to have an announcement to extend the subsidy , but businesses in order to use it really need to understand whether they would qualify and what the rules of the game are . ''
The program covers 75 per cent of wages , up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for eligible companies and non-profits .
Companies must show a 30-per-cent drop in revenues , a cliff that may discourage companies from growing , lest they find themselves suddenly cut off from federal aid .
`` You do n't want people to think that you get over the threshold and then automatically lose '' the subsidy , said Hassan Yussuff , president of the Canadian Labour Congress .
Yussuff also said the extension would bring some stability to reopening phases , and likely bolster job gains seen over May and June .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hinted at changes to revenue-reduction thresholds when he spoke about reducing `` disincentives to growth '' in the program .
Kelly said the government could consider a graduated approach with smaller subsidies at lower levels of revenue loss , or dropping the requirement altogether , either of which would give employers the confidence to rehire faster , Kelly said .
The Liberals originally saw the wage subsidy as the key tool in helping cushion the economic blow from COVID-19 by helping workers stay tied to their employers so businesses could get back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace of spending on the program has been below expectations , with $ 18 billion paid to 252,370 companies as of July 6 .
Instead , the budget for the program dropped as more workers accessed the Canada Emergency Response Benefit ( CERB ) for people who lost their jobs or nearly all their hours .
The $ 500-a-week benefit had , as of July 5 , paid out almost $ 54.8 billion to 8.25 million people .
The budget for that program is now at $ 80 billion , but it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yussuff said the government needs to soon release details on how workers without jobs will transition to the employment insurance system , which was largely supplanted by the CERB .
The government 's fiscal and economic `` snapshot '' last week boosted the cost of the wage subsidy program to $ 82.3 billion from $ 45 billion , in a sign of impending changes .
Perrin Beatty , president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce , said changes to the wage subsidy `` must encourage Canadians to transition '' off the CERB , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to work . ''
The July 8 fiscal update noted that small employers make up the largest share of approved wage subsidy applications , with the largest numbers of employees covered in manufacturing , accommodation and food services .
The `` snapshot '' also said men may be `` slightly more likely '' to be covered than women although there are n't firm numbers to rely on .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13 , 2020 .

The federal government is for the second time extending its program to subsidize wages in companies hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, this time until at least December. But the government is being warned it may have to move the end date into 2021. The program is the heart of the Liberals' promise to help Canadians get back to work, even if has to be at a slower pace, as the pandemic wanes. Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the extension to give "greater certainty and support to businesses as we restart the economy." Trudeau didn't say how the government will reshape the eligibility rules for the program that critics have said stop some employers from getting aid they need.
He promised more details in the coming days. While some companies are back open with restrictions easing, other parts of the economy are still reeling from the effects of COVID-19. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Some sectors will only start up in the fall or even the winter and will need help into next year, said Ross Laver, senior vice-president for strategy at the Business Council of Canada. He pointed to airlines as one example where rehiring may be slow.
"I don't think anybody expects that those industries that have been really hard-hit, that everything is going to be fine by Dec. 31," he said. The federal government is for the second time extending its program to subsidize wages in companies hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, this time until at least December. "We need to bear in mind that some of them are going to need help for an extended period of time." The wage subsidy previously was to expire the first week of June but the Liberals announced an extension to the end of August in mid-May. The government has yet to share eligibility requirements for July. Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the extension would be welcomed by many small companies that have seen costs return faster than revenues.
He also pressed the need for eligibility rules to understand how to qualify. "Not a single employer in Canada understands whether they qualify for the July wage subsidy and we're in mid-July. So they need to do an awful lot better," Kelly said. "It sounds great to have an announcement to extend the subsidy, but businesses in order to use it really need to understand whether they would qualify and what the rules of the game are."


nationalobserver--2020-07-13--Trudeau urges Trump to think twice

Trudeau urges Trump to think twice

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Donald Trump to think twice Monday before imposing new tariffs on Canadian aluminum , saying the sector is emerging from the pandemic-induced production stance that prompted the White House to consider such measures in the first place .
Trudeau , who said in a news conference he had spoken to the U.S. president earlier in the day , told him that with the North American economy getting back up to speed , Canada 's aluminum smelters would soon be back producing value-added specialty products for the American auto sector .
The spectre of new tariffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to shut down production and with their usual customers hamstrung by the impact of COVID-19 , were forced to make a more generic form of aluminum and ship it to warehouses in the United States .
That alarmed certain U.S. smelter owners and operators , who have been urging the U.S. trade representative 's office to slap fresh levies on imports from Canada .
The pandemic `` caused certain disruption in the aluminum sector that is starting to realign itself , given the economies are starting up again and manufacturing is getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call with Trump .
• Rep. Adam Schiff could n't resist : `` We may all be moving to Canada soon '' • Are taxes going to have to go up in Canada ?
`` I impressed upon him that it would be a shame to see tariffs come in between our two countries at a time where we 're celebrating NAFTA and at a time where we want our businesses and our manufacturers to get going as quickly as possible . ''
Canada has been on the outside looking in when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NAFTA 's successor , the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement , which took shape in 2017 and 2018 before a backdrop of steadily worsening relations between Trump and Trudeau .
While Trump welcomed Mexico 's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to a celebratory event at the White House last week , Trudeau kept his distance , citing the tariff dispute and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic among his reasons .
A readout from Monday 's call said the prime minister `` expressed regret '' for being unable to attend .
The U.S. trade representative reportedly gave Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ export restrictions — the very day the USMCA took effect .
That deadline has come and gone without a hint from either the White House or U.S. trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer about what happens next .
Trudeau said he and Trump also discussed the Canada-U.S. border , where non-essential travel has been curtailed since March in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The 30-day bilateral agreement to limit discretionary cross-border travel without restricting trade or essential workers has been extended three times and is now set to expire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , the public health crisis in the U.S. has exploded .
More than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases were identified over the weekend , particularly in southern states that reopened early , with Florida emerging as the new epicentre .
Canada has had 108,000 confirmed cases in total , compared with more than 3.3 million cases and 135,000 deaths in the U.S. to date .
Hospitals in major urban centres across the United States are again nearing capacity and health care workers face another critical shortage of personal protective equipment like masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain unequivocally opposed to reopening the border any time soon — a predictable symptom of the accelerating crisis in the U.S. , said Kathryn Friedman , a University at Buffalo law professor and Wilson Center global fellow .
But there could be other lingering foreign-policy irritants at play , she added .
`` I wonder if the United States had treated our dear neighbour , friend and ally a little bit better over the last three-and-a-half or so years , if the reaction would be as harsh , '' Friedman said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too bad , I do n't care if you want to open the border . '
'' Friedman is among several Canada-U.S. experts , border community leaders , northern state lawmakers and others who want to see a plan for when the time comes to lift the restrictions .
`` I think we have to have this conversation , '' she said .
`` I think we have to engage the right people now , so that when the border restrictions are eased , whenever that 's going to be , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's less a question of when and more a question of how , Friedman said — what sort of controls , testing and screening measures and other tools will need to be in place even after the emergency has passed .
`` I 'm more concerned that the climate will change , and some relevant government officials wo n't have given any thought to how this border opening is going to take place , '' she said .
`` We have to get our act together and really think more clearly about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of situations in the future , and really use science-based data — an evidence-based , science-based approach — to health screenings when it comes to border restrictions and border policies . ''
Trudeau demurred Monday when asked whether this time , Canada and the U.S. might negotiate a closure that lasts longer than the standard 30-day window .
`` We will be discussing with our American partners what the next steps should be , and I think this is a situation that is evolving rapidly and we need to keep responding to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13 , 2020 .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Donald Trump to think twice Monday before imposing new tariffs on Canadian aluminum, saying the sector is emerging from the pandemic-induced production stance that prompted the White House to consider such measures in the first place. Trudeau, who said in a news conference he had spoken to the U.S. president earlier in the day, told him that with the North American economy getting back up to speed, Canada's aluminum smelters would soon be back producing value-added specialty products for the American auto sector. The spectre of new tariffs emerged last month after Canadian producers, unable to shut down production and with their usual customers hamstrung by the impact of COVID-19, were forced to make a more generic form of aluminum and ship it to warehouses in the United States. That alarmed certain U.S. smelter owners and operators, who have been urging the U.S. trade representative's office to slap fresh levies on imports from Canada. The pandemic "caused certain disruption in the aluminum sector that is starting to realign itself, given the economies are starting up again and manufacturing is getting going," Trudeau said after his call with Trump.
"I impressed upon him that it would be a shame to see tariffs come in between our two countries at a time where we're celebrating NAFTA and at a time where we want our businesses and our manufacturers to get going as quickly as possible." Canada has been on the outside looking in when it comes to the coming into force of NAFTA's successor, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which took shape in 2017 and 2018 before a backdrop of steadily worsening relations between Trump and Trudeau. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions While Trump welcomed Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to a celebratory event at the White House last week, Trudeau kept his distance, citing the tariff dispute and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic among his reasons. A readout from Monday's call said the prime minister "expressed regret" for being unable to attend.
The U.S. trade representative reportedly gave Canada a deadline of July 1 to impose export restrictions — the very day the USMCA took effect. That deadline has come and gone without a hint from either the White House or U.S. trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer about what happens next. Trudeau said he and Trump also discussed the Canada-U.S. border, where non-essential travel has been curtailed since March in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. The 30-day bilateral agreement to limit discretionary cross-border travel without restricting trade or essential workers has been extended three times and is now set to expire July 21. Since the last extension, however, the public health crisis in the U.S. has exploded. More than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases were identified over the weekend, particularly in southern states that reopened early, with Florida emerging as the new epicentre. Canada has had 108,000 confirmed cases in total, compared with more than 3.3 million cases and 135,000 deaths in the U.S. to date. Hospitals in major urban centres across the United States are again nearing capacity and health care workers face another critical shortage of personal protective equipment like masks and respirators.
Recent polls suggest Canadians remain unequivocally opposed to reopening the border any time soon — a predictable symptom of the accelerating crisis in the U.S., said Kathryn Friedman, a University at Buffalo law professor and Wilson Center global fellow. But there could be other lingering foreign-policy irritants at play, she added. "I wonder if the United States had treated our dear neighbour, friend and ally a little bit better over the last three-and-a-half or so years, if the reaction would be as harsh," Friedman said. "Maybe people are just like, 'Well, too bad, I don't care if you want to open the border.'"


nationalobserver--2020-07-13--COVID-19 cases linked to private hotel parties in Kelowna

British Columbia 's health minister says several COVID-19 exposures in Kelowna serve as a reminder of the risks posed by private gatherings .
Adrian Dix said during a news conference Monday that warnings of possible exposures at a restaurant , spin studio , bed and breakfast and resort are believed to stem from `` private parties '' at the hotels .
Eight positive tests for the disease are linked to visits to downtown Kelowna and the city 's waterfront between June 25 and July 9 , said an email from Interior Health , the regional health authority .
`` When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this case it was primarily people in their 20s and 30s — the risks are considerably higher , '' Dix said .
The exposures follow the move to a new phase of reopening in B.C .
that allows for tourism within the province .
Although the accommodation industry was not ordered to close during the pandemic , many operators did so voluntarily but began welcoming guests again as part of the new phase .
• Rep. Adam Schiff could n't resist : `` We may all be moving to Canada soon '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go up in Canada ?
Infections in B.C .
inched up on Monday as health officials announced 62 new cases since Friday .
Two more people also died for a total of 189 deaths in B.C .
The new figures bring the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 3,115 , while 2,718 people have fully recovered from COVID-19 .
Interior Health also issued an isolation order for Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. in Oliver after two positive tests associated with the farm .
Public health officials are monitoring the situation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the farm , the government said in a news release .
The cases linked to Kelowna involved people who live in three regions of the province , including the Interior , Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health regions , said Dix .
He credited contact tracers with making the connections .
He said the tourism industry has done a good job of creating safe environments for guests , but it 's also up to guests to ensure they respect physical distancing guidelines and group size limitations .
British Columbia 's health minister says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reminder of the risks posed by private gatherings .
`` Whether it 's a trip or a party at home , the same risks and the same rules apply , '' Dix said .
If you 're gathering with friends and family , you should consider the increased risk that indoor locations pose and determine how many people can maintain a safe distance accordingly , he said .
`` We have got to live with COVID-19 for the next year so that means the responsibility is on all of us to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another . ''
Interior Health issued an exposure advisory for the resort and bed and breakfast on Friday and added the restaurant and spin studio in a statement on Sunday .
Visitors to the Boyce Gyro Beach Lodge on July 1 or the Discovery Bay Resort from July 1 to July 5 were advised to self-isolate and monitor themselves closely for symptoms .
The health authority is now urging visitors to Kelowna 's Cactus Club restaurant on Water Street between July 3 and July 6 , or the Pace Spin Studio on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 , 8 and 9 to self-monitor and get tested if COVID-19 symptoms appear .
The B.C .
Centre for Disease Control also warns that a case or cases were confirmed on an Air Canada flight from Kelowna to Vancouver on July 6 , but Dix could not say if that warning was linked .
Public health contact tracing is underway and the health authority said it 's reaching out directly to anyone who has been exposed , where possible .
Testing is recommended for anyone with novel coronavirus symptoms , including fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulty breathing , or a loss of taste or smell , said Interior Health .

British Columbia's health minister says several COVID-19 exposures in Kelowna serve as a reminder of the risks posed by private gatherings. Adrian Dix said during a news conference Monday that warnings of possible exposures at a restaurant, spin studio, bed and breakfast and resort are believed to stem from "private parties" at the hotels. Eight positive tests for the disease are linked to visits to downtown Kelowna and the city's waterfront between June 25 and July 9, said an email from Interior Health, the regional health authority. "When people come together for private parties — in this case it was primarily people in their 20s and 30s — the risks are considerably higher," Dix said. The exposures follow the move to a new phase of reopening in B.C. that allows for tourism within the province. Although the accommodation industry was not ordered to close during the pandemic, many operators did so voluntarily but began welcoming guests again as part of the new phase.
Infections in B.C. inched up on Monday as health officials announced 62 new cases since Friday. Two more people also died for a total of 189 deaths in B.C. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The new figures bring the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 3,115, while 2,718 people have fully recovered from COVID-19.
Interior Health also issued an isolation order for Krazy Cherry Fruit Co. in Oliver after two positive tests associated with the farm. Public health officials are monitoring the situation and placed restrictions on those living and working on the farm, the government said in a news release. British Columbia's health minister says several COVID-19 exposures in Kelowna serve as a reminder of the risks posed by private gatherings. The cases linked to Kelowna involved people who live in three regions of the province, including the Interior, Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health regions, said Dix. He credited contact tracers with making the connections. He said the tourism industry has done a good job of creating safe environments for guests, but it's also up to guests to ensure they respect physical distancing guidelines and group size limitations. "Whether it's a trip or a party at home, the same risks and the same rules apply," Dix said. If you're gathering with friends and family, you should consider the increased risk that indoor locations pose and determine how many people can maintain a safe distance accordingly, he said.
"We have got to live with COVID-19 for the next year so that means the responsibility is on all of us to understand the risks and understand our responsibilities to one another." Interior Health issued an exposure advisory for the resort and bed and breakfast on Friday and added the restaurant and spin studio in a statement on Sunday. Visitors to the Boyce Gyro Beach Lodge on July 1 or the Discovery Bay Resort from July 1 to July 5 were advised to self-isolate and monitor themselves closely for symptoms.


nationalobserver--2020-07-13--Quebec man charged with advocating genocide

A Quebec man charged last December in connection with alleged online threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Muslims is @ @ @ @ @ The RCMP said 62-year-old Andre Audet of Boucherville , Que.
, will appear in court @ @ @ @ @ face charges of intimidating a justice system participant and advocating genocide .
Cpl .
Charles @ @ @ @ @ participant Audet is accused of intimidating is the prime minister .

A Quebec man charged last December in connection with alleged online threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Muslims is facing two new charges.
The RCMP said 62-year-old Andre Audet of Boucherville, Que., will appear in court south of Montreal today to face charges of intimidating a justice system participant and advocating genocide.
Cpl. Charles Poirier says the justice system participant Audet is accused of intimidating is the prime minister.
The RCMP says the investigation that began last year found about 100 online posts containing hate, threats or incitement to violence, allegedly made under various pseudonyms, against Muslims and the prime minister.
Audet was originally charged in December with incitement of hatred and wilful promotion of hatred.


nationalobserver--2020-07-14--Students asked to sign Covid-19 legal waiver before returning to school

A group of students , alumni and some staff at St. Francis Xavier University are pushing back against a legal waiver that students are required to sign if they want to return to classrooms in the fall amid a global pandemic .
The university in Antigonish , N.S.
, is offering a mix of digital and classroom instruction this fall , with 72 per cent of undergraduate course offerings being in person .
In June , the campus published a detailed plan that it said ensured the university would meet public health protocols to prevent spread of the disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ students a waiver they 're asked to sign before attending classes .
The legal document asks students to agree the college is n't liable for `` loss , damage , illness , sickness , expense or injury including death '' that students or their next of kin may suffer as a result of COVID-19 risks .
• Rep. Adam Schiff could n't resist : `` We may all be moving to Canada soon '' • Are taxes going to have to go up in Canada ?
The document 's liability release says no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event of `` negligence , breach of contract , or breach of any statutory or other duty of care , '' including the university failing to `` take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect '' the student from COVID-19 risks .
On Monday afternoon , a letter of protest signed by about 350 students , staff , alumni and local residents was sent to university president Andy Hakin calling for the waiver 's withdrawal and amendment .
It criticizes the administration for a lack of consultation with the students and a `` disregard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which normally has enrolment of about 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students .
Will Fraser , a 22-year-old history student at the school , said he began collecting signatures over the weekend , after he realized he felt deeply uncomfortable about signing the waiver .
`` I agree with some form of waiver .
We 're in a global pandemic , '' Fraser said in an interview .
`` However , what we should expect is that if the university is negligent and if it fails to follow its own policies , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
A group of students , alumni and some staff at St. Francis Xavier University are pushing back against a legal waiver that students are required to sign if they want to return to classrooms in the fall amid a global pandemic .
The president of St. Francis Xavier University Association of University Teachers says faculty have mixed reactions to the document .
`` Many recognize such a disclaimer is a legal necessity , and its content emphasizes the importance of everyone following the required protocols , '' wrote Martin van Bommel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statistics department .
`` Others are uncertain , apprehensive , or disappointed , as its content implies the university is not confident of taking all of the precautions necessary to safeguard students , staff , and members of the local community . ''
The president of the Students ' Union at St. Francis Xavier University says she 's heard a series of criticisms about the waiver , including from students with compromised immune systems .
Sarah Elliott said it came after a series of public consultations on the pandemic preparations , catching student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' Union was thrown off ... because up until the waiver came out , we had a strong relationship with consultation on the pandemic plans , so we were disappointed when we did n't see this waiver beforehand , '' she said .
Hakin said in an emailed statement Monday that a community effort will be required in order to have a successful return to campus .
`` In this instance , some members of our community are telling us that they are uncomfortable with our legal waiver , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to engage with our stakeholders , and will review this decision to ensure it presents the best way forward . ''
The university president had earlier distributed an email to the university community noting the waiver is part of the university 's overall approach to managing risks posed by the pandemic .

A group of students, alumni and some staff at St. Francis Xavier University are pushing back against a legal waiver that students are required to sign if they want to return to classrooms in the fall amid a global pandemic. The university in Antigonish, N.S., is offering a mix of digital and classroom instruction this fall, with 72 per cent of undergraduate course offerings being in person. In June, the campus published a detailed plan that it said ensured the university would meet public health protocols to prevent spread of the disease. However, last week the university emailed students a waiver they're asked to sign before attending classes. The legal document asks students to agree the college isn't liable for "loss, damage, illness, sickness, expense or injury including death" that students or their next of kin may suffer as a result of COVID-19 risks.
The document's liability release says no claim will be made even in the event of "negligence, breach of contract, or breach of any statutory or other duty of care," including the university failing to "take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect" the student from COVID-19 risks. On Monday afternoon, a letter of protest signed by about 350 students, staff, alumni and local residents was sent to university president Andy Hakin calling for the waiver's withdrawal and amendment. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions It criticizes the administration for a lack of consultation with the students and a "disregard for student voice" at the campus — which normally has enrolment of about 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Will Fraser, a 22-year-old history student at the school, said he began collecting signatures over the weekend, after he realized he felt deeply uncomfortable about signing the waiver. A group of students, alumni and some staff at St. Francis Xavier University are pushing back against a legal waiver that students are required to sign if they want to return to classrooms in the fall amid a global pandemic. "I agree with some form of waiver. We're in a global pandemic," Fraser said in an interview. "However, what we should expect is that if the university is negligent and if it fails to follow its own policies, then they should be held accountable for that." The president of St. Francis Xavier University Association of University Teachers says faculty have mixed reactions to the document. "Many recognize such a disclaimer is a legal necessity, and its content emphasizes the importance of everyone following the required protocols," wrote Martin van Bommel, a professor in the mathematics and statistics department.
"Others are uncertain, apprehensive, or disappointed, as its content implies the university is not confident of taking all of the precautions necessary to safeguard students, staff, and members of the local community." The president of the Students' Union at St. Francis Xavier University says she's heard a series of criticisms about the waiver, including from students with compromised immune systems. Sarah Elliott said it came after a series of public consultations on the pandemic preparations, catching student leaders off guard.


nationalobserver--2020-07-15--B.C.'s budget surges to $12.5 billion deficit due to COVID-19 pandemic

British Columbia 's balanced budget has been shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic , with the province forecasting a deficit of $ 12.5 billion for 2020-21 .
Finance Minister Carole James said the numbers are staggering with job losses of 235,000 since February and a predicted GDP decline of 6.8 per cent by the end of this year .
`` We were preparing for economic moderation , we were well-equipped to be able to weather the challenges , '' James said at a news conference Tuesday .
`` What came next was unprecedented .
Mere weeks after Budget 2020 was tabled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government has provided $ 6.26 billion in financial aid to businesses and individuals .
Among the losses it anticipates this fiscal year because of the pandemic are close to $ 1 billion in personal income tax , $ 973 million in corporate income tax and $ 1.3 billion in provincial sales tax , James said .
• Here ’ s what Ontario ’ s stage 3 reopening will look like The projected GDP decline in 2020 would be the worst on record going back to the 1980s , although it is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2021 .
James said for context , B.C .
's real GDP has only declined twice in the past 40 years , falling by 2.4 per cent in 2009 and 6.4 per cent in 1982 .
`` As those numbers remind us , this could be the worst downturn experienced in our province recent history , '' she said .
B.C .
's restart plan is showing signs of hope for the economy as consumer confidence increases , she said .
The unemployment rate is slowly rebounding and fewer wildfires and floods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she warned that the province 's financial forecast could change depending on many risk factors , including the possibility of a second wave of infections , the possibility of a vaccine , as well as the success of relief measures and central bank policy .
Regardless of how B.C .
copes with the pandemic , James said its economy is also subject to the economic health of other jurisdictions , particularly those that buy from the province .
British Columbia 's balanced budget has been shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12.5 billion for 2020-21 .
James said it would n't help the economic recovery to pull back on spending , but the government will review every cent spent as it heads into the next budget year .
The B.C .
government has tabled legislation giving itself room for three years of deficits , which James said will be re-examined each year .
James said she believes people care about provincial deficits because they understand it 's taxpayer money , but they also understand the emergency the pandemic created .
She declined to predict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the many moving pieces at play .
`` There is no question that COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the economy of British Columbia and that 's not short term , '' she said .
The job losses have been widespread but some have been disproportionately affected , depending on a worker 's age , gender or which sector they work in , James said .
Young workers are among the hardest hit , with the unemployment rate rising sharply from 9.1 per cent in February to 29.1 per cent in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Women , who dominate the service industries and many of whom have also left jobs to care for family members , are another group more affected .
Their unemployment rate rose from 4.8 per cent in February to 13.4 per cent in June .
The hardest hit industries include wholesale and retail , accommodation and food services , construction , culture and recreation .
The overall unemployment rate of 13 per cent remains at its highest level since 1987 .
While the job losses in March and April were record breaking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen modest recovery as the economy started to reopen .
`` The projected numbers are staggering but they 're not without hope .
Things are getting better each and every day when we follow the provincial health officer 's advice , '' James said .
The NDP government 's fiscal update was met with calls for an economic recovery plan by its political opponents , with the Opposition B.C .
Liberals asking what happens when federal benefits like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit run out .
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson also suggested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People in every corner of B.C .
have had to adjust to a new normal and adapt their household budgets , so why is this government pretending it 's business as usual ? ''
he asked in a statement .
The Green party said the province should transition to a green economy by helping traditional industries become more sustainable , spending on training and building local businesses into the supply chain .
`` We can seize the once in a generation opportunity to strategically drive stimulus spending towards a future British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sustainable , just and inclusive economy for all , '' interim leader Adam Olsen said .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14 , 2020 .

British Columbia's balanced budget has been shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the province forecasting a deficit of $12.5 billion for 2020-21. Finance Minister Carole James said the numbers are staggering with job losses of 235,000 since February and a predicted GDP decline of 6.8 per cent by the end of this year. "We were preparing for economic moderation, we were well-equipped to be able to weather the challenges," James said at a news conference Tuesday. "What came next was unprecedented. Mere weeks after Budget 2020 was tabled, our entire world changed." The government has provided $6.26 billion in financial aid to businesses and individuals. Among the losses it anticipates this fiscal year because of the pandemic are close to $1 billion in personal income tax, $973 million in corporate income tax and $1.3 billion in provincial sales tax, James said.
The projected GDP decline in 2020 would be the worst on record going back to the 1980s, although it is also projected to increase by 3.1 per cent in 2021. James said for context, B.C.'s real GDP has only declined twice in the past 40 years, falling by 2.4 per cent in 2009 and 6.4 per cent in 1982. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "As those numbers remind us, this could be the worst downturn experienced in our province recent history," she said.
B.C.'s restart plan is showing signs of hope for the economy as consumer confidence increases, she said. The unemployment rate is slowly rebounding and fewer wildfires and floods have helped the bottom line. British Columbia's balanced budget has been shattered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the province forecasting a deficit of $12.5 billion for 2020-21. However, she warned that the province's financial forecast could change depending on many risk factors, including the possibility of a second wave of infections, the possibility of a vaccine, as well as the success of relief measures and central bank policy. Regardless of how B.C. copes with the pandemic, James said its economy is also subject to the economic health of other jurisdictions, particularly those that buy from the province. James said it wouldn't help the economic recovery to pull back on spending, but the government will review every cent spent as it heads into the next budget year. The B.C. government has tabled legislation giving itself room for three years of deficits, which James said will be re-examined each year.
James said she believes people care about provincial deficits because they understand it's taxpayer money, but they also understand the emergency the pandemic created. She declined to predict how long the recovery would take, given the many moving pieces at play. "There is no question that COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the economy of British Columbia and that's not short term," she said.


nationalobserver--2020-07-15--Wolf culls will not save endangered caribou in Western Canada: study

A government-sponsored wolf kill in Western Canada has had `` no detectable effect '' on reversing the decline of endangered caribou populations , a study says .
Scientists from Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the universities of Alberta , British Columbia , and Victoria found statistical flaws in an influential 2019 report supporting a wolf cull .
The new research published in the international journal Biodiversity and Conservation found that addressing potential threats from wolves did not slow the loss of mountain caribou in British Columbia and Alberta .
Instead , it says factors affecting population decline include loss of habitat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wolves and caribou have co-existed , interacting predators and prey , for millennia in western North America , said Chris Darimont , co-author on the study .
• Here ’ s what Ontario ’ s stage 3 reopening will look like But this balance began to tip around the middle of the 20th century when industrial clear-cut logging and oil and gas development took off , said Darimont , who is also a professor at the University of Victoria and science director for Raincoast Conservation Foundation .
The cleared land and roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelled large distances to search for vulnerable prey , he said .
`` Despite not preferring caribou , many on average killed more caribou simply because there are more wolves , '' he said .
Another factor affecting caribou population is the availability of lichen in old growth forests , which were cut for timber , Darimont said .
`` There is less food to eat , '' he said .
`` Industry has fundamentally changed these ecological landscapes and relationships between predator and prey — the road systems , the apparent competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the caribou themselves . ''
A government-sponsored wolf kill in Western Canada has had `` no detectable effect '' on reversing the decline of endangered caribou populations , a study says .
The logic behind wolf culls has been `` somewhat seductive and compelling , '' Darimont said .
If you take away most or all of the wolves , the caribou should do better , but data does not support that logic , he added .
The researchers found that culling wolves or putting pregnant caribou behind pens was no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is likely that the caribou population in some of those areas where wolf culls had taken place would have bounded back without that measure , he said .
The effects of the flawed 2019 study have had profound implications because the B.C .
government relied on it to expand its wolf cull program , killing 463 wolves over the winter of 2019/20 , the study says .
The authors pointed to one type of caribou found across Wells Gray Park and into B.C .
's Kootenay region that suffered the steepest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by wolves .
`` Caribou responses could be better explained by random chance than by any treatment applied to those populations , '' Darimont said .
While wolf populations are known to rebound , they are important to the environment and have a `` disproportionately large effect on the ecosystem , '' he said .
`` They deliver many values and processes to the environment they inhabit , and many of which end up benefiting human beings , so they have incredibly important effects in ecosystems . ''

A government-sponsored wolf kill in Western Canada has had "no detectable effect" on reversing the decline of endangered caribou populations, a study says. Scientists from Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the universities of Alberta, British Columbia, and Victoria found statistical flaws in an influential 2019 report supporting a wolf cull. The new research published in the international journal Biodiversity and Conservation found that addressing potential threats from wolves did not slow the loss of mountain caribou in British Columbia and Alberta. Instead, it says factors affecting population decline include loss of habitat to logging, snowpack variation and snowmobiling. Wolves and caribou have co-existed, interacting predators and prey, for millennia in western North America, said Chris Darimont, co-author on the study.
But this balance began to tip around the middle of the 20th century when industrial clear-cut logging and oil and gas development took off, said Darimont, who is also a professor at the University of Victoria and science director for Raincoast Conservation Foundation. The cleared land and roads made wolves more efficient predators where they travelled large distances to search for vulnerable prey, he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "Despite not preferring caribou, many on average killed more caribou simply because there are more wolves," he said.
Another factor affecting caribou population is the availability of lichen in old growth forests, which were cut for timber, Darimont said. A government-sponsored wolf kill in Western Canada has had "no detectable effect" on reversing the decline of endangered caribou populations, a study says. "There is less food to eat," he said. "Industry has fundamentally changed these ecological landscapes and relationships between predator and prey — the road systems, the apparent competition and then the decline in food supply for the caribou themselves." The logic behind wolf culls has been "somewhat seductive and compelling," Darimont said. If you take away most or all of the wolves, the caribou should do better, but data does not support that logic, he added.
The researchers found that culling wolves or putting pregnant caribou behind pens was no more effective than doing nothing, he said. It is likely that the caribou population in some of those areas where wolf culls had taken place would have bounded back without that measure, he said. The effects of the flawed 2019 study have had profound implications because the B.C. government relied on it to expand its wolf cull program, killing 463 wolves over the winter of 2019/20, the study says.


nationalobserver--2020-07-15--Bank of Canada set to release economic outlook today

The Bank of Canada will make its latest interest rate announcement today and update its outlook for the economy .
The central bank 's key interest rate has been at 0.25 per cent since March when it was dropped in response to the economic fallout from COVID-19 .
Governor Tiff Macklem has seemingly ruled out any further drops , adding that the central bank does n't plan to raise the rate until well into an economic recovery .
In his first speech as governor late last month , Macklem said the central bank expects to see growth in the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but warned of a `` prolonged and bumpy '' course to recovery .
The bank will outline what Macklem described as a `` central planning scenario '' for the economy and inflation , as well as related risks — such as local , but not national , lockdowns .
• Here ’ s what Ontario ’ s stage 3 reopening will look like The Bank of Canada said in April that it expected inflation to be close to zero in the second quarter .
The federal government 's economic `` snapshot '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent for this year , then rising back to two per cent in 2021 .
The reading was based on the average of forecasts from 13 private sector economists .
Statistics Canada data showed the consumer price index posted a year-over-year decline of 0.2 per cent in April followed by a drop of 0.4 per cent in May as lockdowns put a damper on consumer spending .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15 , 2020 .

The Bank of Canada will make its latest interest rate announcement today and update its outlook for the economy.
The central bank's key interest rate has been at 0.25 per cent since March when it was dropped in response to the economic fallout from COVID-19.
Governor Tiff Macklem has seemingly ruled out any further drops, adding that the central bank doesn't plan to raise the rate until well into an economic recovery.
In his first speech as governor late last month, Macklem said the central bank expects to see growth in the third quarter of this year as restrictions ease, but warned of a "prolonged and bumpy" course to recovery.
The bank will outline what Macklem described as a "central planning scenario" for the economy and inflation, as well as related risks — such as local, but not national, lockdowns.


nationalobserver--2020-07-15--Health authority sounds alarm as fatal overdoses surge among B.C. First Nations people

Indigenous people are being disproportionately impacted by the opioid overdose crisis during the pandemic , according to the First Nations Health Authority in B.C .
But the overdose crisis is not just a story about numbers , Dr. Shannon McDonald , FNHA acting chief medical officer , said in an interview with Canada 's National Observer on Monday .
The data reflect people ’ s suffering and pain , and systemic barriers to accessing the help they need , she stressed .
There were 89 deaths among First Nations people due to toxic , illicit drugs in B.C .
between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FNHA reported .
That is a 93-per-cent increase compared to the same period last year , which saw 46 First Nations people die from fatal overdoses .
Though First Nations people comprise 3.3 per cent of the B.C.
’ s overall population , they represent 16 per cent of all overdose deaths .
As the province struggles with the intersection of dual public health emergencies , First Nations people have died at 5.6 times the rate of other B.C .
residents , up from a rate of 3.8 in 2019 , FNHA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disturbing , ” McDonald said , adding that the spike in fatal overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic is the result of an increasingly toxic drug supply .
• Here ’ s what Ontario ’ s stage 3 reopening will look like Poisoned street drugs , combined with strong public messaging to encourage people to self-distance during the pandemic , compounded the dangers to and isolation of people who use substances , McDonald said .
Many who otherwise would have sought harm reduction services and community supports perhaps didn ’ t during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and died alone .
The data released by FNHA reflects what ’ s happening generally as B.C.
’ s opioid overdose public health emergency enters its fifth year — deaths have increased since March , coinciding with the start of the pandemic .
In May , 170 people died from illicit drugs , the highest monthly total ever recorded in the province .
The number of First Nations people dying indicates more needs to be done to support harm reduction , access to a safe supply of drugs and decriminalization of drug use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , systemic trauma that people suffer , and their inability to get reasonable and timely care for those issues , means often people turn to illicit substances as a way to self medicate.
” Dr. McDonald , FNHA But the numbers also reflect ongoing trauma and barriers First Nations people experience when accessing health supports , she added .
McDonald cited Grand Chief Doug Kelly , president of the Sto : lo Tribal Council and former chair of the First Nations Health Council to make her point .
“ He once famously said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drug problem , we have a pain problem , ’ ” McDonald said .
“ Intergenerational trauma , systemic trauma that people suffer , and their inability to get reasonable and timely care for those issues , means often people turn to illicit substances as a way to self medicate.
” An examination of the systemic racism in B.C.
’ s health-care system is starting to take place , McDonald said , referring to the province ’ s recent launch of an independent investigation after reports surfaced staff in various emergency rooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients arriving for care .
“ There are opportunities now to have conversations… to look at things like racism in emergency rooms , and how that impacts the care of First Nations people , ” McDonald said .
First Nations women using illicit drugs are particularly at risk from fatal overdoses , McDonald said .
First Nations women died from overdose at almost nine times the rate of other women in B.C .
in 2019 , FNHA data showed .
“ We know First Nations women are significantly more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” McDonald said .
“ We really need to understand the safety piece about how women access services , and whether or not they feel like they are risking their children , for example.
” Mothers worry if they seek medical help for a substance use disorder , and it goes on record , provincial authorities will seize their children , McDonald said .
“ We don ’ t want a mother avoiding care because she has that fear , ” she said .
“ We want to keep mom alive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ And then to also provide services to help mum to take care of the kids.
” Dignity , holistic care , non-judgement and cultural supports are key to creating trust with First Nations people struggling with substance use , McDonald said .
“ We know there is insufficient access to culturally safe mental health and addictions treatment , ” McDonald said .
“ We ’ ve been working really hard on expanding our First-Nation-Health-Authority-run treatment centres , providing funding for on-the-land treatment , and supporting cultural programs where people will feel safe.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of negative interactions with police , social workers or primary care providers , McDonald said .
“ People want to be greeted by name , treated with respect and asked about their wellness overall , not just about their drug use , ” she said .
“ It makes a huge difference for individuals when you compare that to a hospital which can be cold , sterile and uncomfortable , which makes it harder to connect with people.
” The First Nations overdose crisis is most acute in urban areas and work is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight city centres in B.C.
, including Victoria , Nanaimo and Campbell River within the Island Health region , FNHA stated .
But it all comes down to helping people address their pain , McDonald said .
“ We need to go back and look at those core foundational causes of chronic substance use to see if we can help people recover , ” she said .
“ Find healing , and find comfort in ways that don ’ t need a chemical assist .
”

Indigenous people are being disproportionately impacted by the opioid overdose crisis during the pandemic, according to the First Nations Health Authority in B.C. But the overdose crisis is not just a story about numbers, Dr. Shannon McDonald, FNHA acting chief medical officer, said in an interview with Canada's National Observer on Monday. The data reflect people’s suffering and pain, and systemic barriers to accessing the help they need, she stressed. There were 89 deaths among First Nations people due to toxic, illicit drugs in B.C. between January and May of this year, the FNHA reported. That is a 93-per-cent increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 46 First Nations people die from fatal overdoses. Though First Nations people comprise 3.3 per cent of the B.C.’s overall population, they represent 16 per cent of all overdose deaths. As the province struggles with the intersection of dual public health emergencies, First Nations people have died at 5.6 times the rate of other B.C. residents, up from a rate of 3.8 in 2019, FNHA stated.
“It’s very disturbing,” McDonald said, adding that the spike in fatal overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic is the result of an increasingly toxic drug supply. Poisoned street drugs, combined with strong public messaging to encourage people to self-distance during the pandemic, compounded the dangers to and isolation of people who use substances, McDonald said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Many who otherwise would have sought harm reduction services and community supports perhaps didn’t during the pandemic, or used drugs without a buddy and died alone.
The data released by FNHA reflects what’s happening generally as B.C.’s opioid overdose public health emergency enters its fifth year — deaths have increased since March, coinciding with the start of the pandemic. “Intergenerational trauma, systemic trauma that people suffer, and their inability to get reasonable and timely care for those issues, means often people turn to illicit substances as a way to self medicate.” Dr. McDonald, FNHA In May, 170 people died from illicit drugs, the highest monthly total ever recorded in the province. The number of First Nations people dying indicates more needs to be done to support harm reduction, access to a safe supply of drugs and decriminalization of drug use, McDonald said. But the numbers also reflect ongoing trauma and barriers First Nations people experience when accessing health supports, she added. McDonald cited Grand Chief Doug Kelly, president of the Sto:lo Tribal Council and former chair of the First Nations Health Council to make her point.
“He once famously said, ‘We don’t have a drug problem, we have a pain problem,’” McDonald said. “Intergenerational trauma, systemic trauma that people suffer, and their inability to get reasonable and timely care for those issues, means often people turn to illicit substances as a way to self medicate.” An examination of the systemic racism in B.C.’s health-care system is starting to take place, McDonald said, referring to the province’s recent launch of an independent investigation after reports surfaced staff in various emergency rooms were playing guessing games to pinpoint the blood-alcohol level of Indigenous patients arriving for care.


nationalobserver--2020-07-15--Doug Ford’s changes to environmental assessments explained

“ We aren ’ t going to dodge ( environmental assessments ) or anything , ” Ford told reporters last week , soon after the proposed changes were made public .
While the Progressive Conservative government said the changes are aimed at speeding up the approval process for small , environmentally insignificant projects , critics sounded alarms , saying the proposed legislation could undermine environmental oversight .
But the premier and his critics also have very different ideas about what ’ s wrong with environmental assessments .
Ford says they are too slow , driving away important business that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in that spirit , he said , the government is doing its best to remove barriers to speed the process up .
And on this much , Ford and green advocates agree : Ontario ’ s existing system is deeply flawed .
An environmental assessment is meant to find out if a project might have negative impacts on the surrounding environment .
They ’ re often pivotal , guiding governments and the public as the province decides whether key projects should proceed .
Ford cited the case of an unspecified company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project to Ohio instead .
( The premier ’ s office didn ’ t answer questions about the company and the project , and National Observer could not independently verify what Ford was referring to . )
“ We ’ re going to make sure we strengthen them , but we ’ re going to do them quicker and smarter.
” Here ’ s what @ fordnation and @ SteveClarkPC had to say today about proposed changes to how Ontario conducts environmental assessments , part of the omnibus economic recovery bill introduced today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition parties , the measures are likely to pass , as the governing Progressive Conservatives holds a majority .
“ We are proposing to update the almost 50-year-old environmental assessment program to support strong environmental oversight and a strong economy.
” “ Our government is proposing sensible , practical solutions that support both a healthy environment and a healthy economy , ” Wheeler said .
In an emailed statement , Ministry of the Environment , Conservation and Parks spokesperson Gary Wheeler said the government is trying to build crucial infrastructure projects faster to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the environment .
The office of Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek didn ’ t respond to requests for an interview from National Observer .
“ What causes a delay is proponents not wanting to spend the money to do the analysis on controversial pieces of the project.
” “ That to me is a red herring , ” said Laura Bowman , a staff lawyer with environmental law non-profit Ecojustice , referring to the premier ’ s argument .
Environmental law experts , meanwhile , say the system needs more oversight and support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have nothing to do with how the rules are written .
One of the largest proposed tweaks to the Environmental Assessment Act would fundamentally change how the law is applied , said Rick Lindgren , a staff lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Centre .
Instead of requiring assessments for public-sector projects by default ( private-sector projects are usually exempt ) as the regime is currently set up , the changes would mean projects only need a full assessment if designated by the minister .
The COVID-19 Recovery Act is 188 pages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing legislation .
Changes to the Environmental Assessment Act alone span 75 pages — many of the measures were laid out last year in a government discussion paper .
The government is working on a ‘ project list ’ to identify what will require an assessment .
It ’ s not clear what will be on it , but Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark has said the province will look to exempt projects with a low impact on the environment .
The lack of specificity in the proposed legislation means it could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out what ’ s on the list , Lindgren said .
The federal government underwent a similar process , which wasn ’ t exactly smooth , he added .
“ It becomes a wrestling match , ” he said .
“ Everyone wants to avoid environmental assessments like the plague.
” The Ontario government said it is aligning its process with Ottawa , and with several other provinces that have a similar system .
“ What we ’ re doing is nothing new , ” Wheeler said .
“ If the legislation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed in consultation with the public , Indigenous communities and stakeholders to ensure that projects that have the most impact to our environment will require an assessment , while exempting or streamlining low-impact projects , such as installing traffic lights , so they can proceed without unnecessary delay.
” Under the current rules , citizens have the right to ask the environment minister to require a project to undergo a full environmental assessment , even if it ’ s exempt or falls under a streamlined process .
Ford ’ s rewrite of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exception for situations that involve treaty rights .
“ If you ’ re just concerned this project is going to do something to the environment and there ’ s no treaty rights issue , forget it , ” Bowman said .
“ Big picture , the removal of the appeal right is definitely another attack on public participation on environmental decisions.
” Other changes in Ford ’ s proposed rewrite could be good , given a few adjustments , Lindgren said .
For instance , the changes would make environmental approvals expire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t use them — that ’ s a good step , Lindgren said , although CELA would prefer it be three years because of how quickly Ontario communities are changing .
Ford says overall , the changes could cut the time needed for environmental assessments in half .
Ecojustice 's Bowman said she thinks the proposed rewrite could make environmental assessments more contentious and slow things down even more .
Measures aimed at imposing deadlines for completing environmental assessments could lead to rush jobs that leave citizens in the dark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal through the courts , that could cause more delays , she added .
In response to questions about whether the changes could slow down the process , Wheeler said the government is “ committed to building a strong environmental assessment program.
” “ We are looking to find efficiencies in the ( environmental assessment ) process , eliminate duplication with other planning and approvals processes , while ensuring appropriate consultation occurs , and that the protection of the environment remains a priority , ” he said .
‘ Ontario is already way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t the first to critique the environmental assessment system .
Ontario auditor general Bonnie Lysyk has also called for the process to be modernized , writing in 2016 that several aspects of it are deeply flawed , but for very different reasons .
The fact that Ontario doesn ’ t automatically require environmental assessments for private-sector projects puts it out of step with many jurisdictions , Lysyk noted .
“ Impacts ( from private-sector projects like mines ) can be extensive and can affect Ontarians for many years , ” she wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 , 2015 , the government identified that it had a liability of $ 1.2 billion to clean up 47 contaminated sites that were caused by mining in Ontario over the years.
” Even government projects often don ’ t get full environmental assessments , Lysyk found .
The legislation leaves a lot for ministries to interpret , and other rules undermine it by exempting certain types of public projects .
Lysyk also flagged a series of other problems : delays by the Environment Ministry , lack of oversight for projects that fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public information , no consideration for the cumulative effects of several projects in one area and a lack of field inspections to confirm that projects go according to plan .
Over the years , successive governments have also moved more and more projects under the class environmental assessment system , which uses more self-assessments and is less intensive , Bowman said .
“ Ontario is already way behind everyone else , ” she said .
“ Not only do we have weak coverage to begin with… we also have exempted , weakened , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public sector assessments we 've been doing , over time.
” Environmental groups have raised concerns for years , said the Canadian Environmental Law Centre 's Lindgren .
They ’ ve also pushed for some older measures to be brought back — for example , citizen groups used to be able to apply for intervener funding from the government to hire their own experts and level the playing field , a mechanism that expired in the 1990s and was never renewed .
Ford ’ s reforms to environmental assessments don ’ t fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It goes in the opposite direction , ” he added .
Wheeler said that while intervener funding isn ’ t part of the proposed changes , the “ ministry will update the Consultation Codes of Practice and other guidance documents to ensure that expectations are clearly outlined to promote meaningful consultation with the public , Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders.
” As an example of what ’ s wrong with environmental assessments in Ontario , Wheeler pointed to Taggart Miller Environmental Services ’ Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre in Ottawa .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it received final approval in 2017 , Wheeler said .
( The company made a final decision on which site it would pursue in 2012 , the Ottawa Citizen reported at the time , and the company says it submitted the environmental assessment in 2015 . )
In that case , residents fought the project for years , demanding a health study over concerns that waste could leach into groundwater and harm local farmland .
The environmental assessment did n't address the citizens ' concerns directly .
Ideally , Bowman said , environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and can improve projects , preventing irreversible damage .
She pointed to the Duffin Creek sewage treatment facility in Pickering , Ont .
— citizen feedback led to key adjustments after an expansion of operations there .
“ Without assessment , citizens do n't know what projects are happening , ” she said .
“ They won ’ t know what the potential environmental impacts might be .
We won ’ t have the analysis we need to avoid costly mistakes .
”

Ford cited the case of an unspecified company that he said took a $500-million project to Ohio instead. (The premier’s office didn’t answer questions about the company and the project, and National Observer could not independently verify what Ford was referring to.)
“We’re going to make sure we strengthen them, but we’re going to do them quicker and smarter.”
“We aren’t going to dodge (environmental assessments) or anything,” Ford told reporters last week, soon after the proposed changes were made public.
While the Progressive Conservative government said the changes are aimed at speeding up the approval process for small, environmentally insignificant projects, critics sounded alarms, saying the proposed legislation could undermine environmental oversight.
But the premier and his critics also have very different ideas about what’s wrong with environmental assessments. Ford says they are too slow, driving away important business that’s crucial as we recover from COVID-19. And in that spirit, he said, the government is doing its best to remove barriers to speed the process up.
And on this much, Ford and green advocates agree: Ontario’s existing system is deeply flawed.
An environmental assessment is meant to find out if a project might have negative impacts on the surrounding environment. They’re often pivotal, guiding governments and the public as the province decides whether key projects should proceed.
In an emailed statement, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks spokesperson Gary Wheeler said the government is trying to build crucial infrastructure projects faster to boost the economy, but still protect the environment.
The office of Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek didn’t respond to requests for an interview from National Observer.
“What causes a delay is proponents not wanting to spend the money to do the analysis on controversial pieces of the project.”
“That to me is a red herring,” said Laura Bowman, a staff lawyer with environmental law non-profit Ecojustice, referring to the premier’s argument.
Environmental law experts, meanwhile, say the system needs more oversight and support, and is slow for reasons that have nothing to do with how the rules are written.
Despite criticism from opposition parties , the measures are likely to pass, as the governing Progressive Conservatives holds a majority.
“We are proposing to update the almost 50-year-old environmental assessment program to support strong environmental oversight and a strong economy.”
“Our government is proposing sensible, practical solutions that support both a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” Wheeler said.
Here’s what @fordnation and @SteveClarkPC had to say today about proposed changes to how Ontario conducts environmental assessments, part of the omnibus economic recovery bill introduced today. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/vb9Qk8w3QG — Emma McIntosh (vacation mode) (@EmmaMci) July 8, 2020
How environmental assessments are changing
The COVID-19 Recovery Act is 188 pages, and would alter 20 different pieces of existing legislation. Changes to the Environmental Assessment Act alone span 75 pages — many of the measures were laid out last year in a government discussion paper.
One of the largest proposed tweaks to the Environmental Assessment Act would fundamentally change how the law is applied, said Rick Lindgren, a staff lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Centre. Instead of requiring assessments for public-sector projects by default (private-sector projects are usually exempt) as the regime is currently set up, the changes would mean projects only need a full assessment if designated by the minister.
“That’s a big, big rollback,” Lindgren said.
The government is working on a ‘project list’ to identify what will require an assessment. It’s not clear what will be on it, but Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark has said the province will look to exempt projects with a low impact on the environment.
The lack of specificity in the proposed legislation means it could be a lengthy and contentious process to figure out what’s on the list, Lindgren said. The federal government underwent a similar process, which wasn’t exactly smooth, he added.
“It becomes a wrestling match,” he said. “Everyone wants to avoid environmental assessments like the plague.”
The Ontario government said it is aligning its process with Ottawa, and with several other provinces that have a similar system.
“What we’re doing is nothing new,” Wheeler said.
“If the legislation is passed, the project list will be developed in consultation with the public, Indigenous communities and stakeholders to ensure that projects that have the most impact to our environment will require an assessment, while exempting or streamlining low-impact projects, such as installing traffic lights, so they can proceed without unnecessary delay.”
Under the current rules, citizens have the right to ask the environment minister to require a project to undergo a full environmental assessment, even if it’s exempt or falls under a streamlined process. Ford’s rewrite of the law would remove that mechanism, with an exception for situations that involve treaty rights.
“If you’re just concerned this project is going to do something to the environment and there’s no treaty rights issue, forget it,” Bowman said. “Big picture, the removal of the appeal right is definitely another attack on public participation on environmental decisions.”
Other changes in Ford’s proposed rewrite could be good, given a few adjustments, Lindgren said. For instance, the changes would make environmental approvals expire after 10 years if the project proponents don’t use them — that’s a good step, Lindgren said, although CELA would prefer it be three years because of how quickly Ontario communities are changing.
Ford says overall, the changes could cut the time needed for environmental assessments in half.
Ecojustice's Bowman said she thinks the proposed rewrite could make environmental assessments more contentious and slow things down even more.
Measures aimed at imposing deadlines for completing environmental assessments could lead to rush jobs that leave citizens in the dark, Bowman said. And citizens can only appeal through the courts, that could cause more delays, she added.
In response to questions about whether the changes could slow down the process, Wheeler said the government is “committed to building a strong environmental assessment program.”
“We are looking to find efficiencies in the (environmental assessment) process, eliminate duplication with other planning and approvals processes, while ensuring appropriate consultation occurs, and that the protection of the environment remains a priority,” he said.
We’re modernizing Ontario’s environmental assessment program to help build critical infrastructure faster, while keeping strong environmental protections.
Learn how these proposed changes will restart jobs & create opportunities for people & businesses: https://t.co/0siJtYfFwj pic.twitter.com/LpQadLGRO8 — Jeff Yurek (@JeffYurekRetMPP) July 9, 2020
‘Ontario is already way behind everyone else’
Ford isn’t the first to critique the environmental assessment system. Ontario auditor general Bonnie Lysyk has also called for the process to be modernized, writing in 2016 that several aspects of it are deeply flawed, but for very different reasons.
The fact that Ontario doesn’t automatically require environmental assessments for private-sector projects puts it out of step with many jurisdictions, Lysyk noted.
“Impacts (from private-sector projects like mines) can be extensive and can affect Ontarians for many years,” she wrote. “For example, as of March 31, 2015, the government identified that it had a liability of $1.2 billion to clean up 47 contaminated sites that were caused by mining in Ontario over the years.”
Even government projects often don’t get full environmental assessments, Lysyk found. The legislation leaves a lot for ministries to interpret, and other rules undermine it by exempting certain types of public projects.
Lysyk also flagged a series of other problems: delays by the Environment Ministry, lack of oversight for projects that fall under a streamlined assessment system, little public information, no consideration for the cumulative effects of several projects in one area and a lack of field inspections to confirm that projects go according to plan.
Over the years, successive governments have also moved more and more projects under the class environmental assessment system, which uses more self-assessments and is less intensive, Bowman said.
“Ontario is already way behind everyone else,” she said.
“Not only do we have weak coverage to begin with… we also have exempted, weakened, undermined and streamlined a large number of public sector assessments we've been doing, over time.”
Environmental groups have raised concerns for years, said the Canadian Environmental Law Centre's Lindgren. They’ve also pushed for some older measures to be brought back — for example, citizen groups used to be able to apply for intervener funding from the government to hire their own experts and level the playing field, a mechanism that expired in the 1990s and was never renewed.
Ford’s reforms to environmental assessments don’t fix any of those problems, Lindgren said.
“It goes in the opposite direction,” he added.
Wheeler said that while intervener funding isn’t part of the proposed changes, the “ministry will update the Consultation Codes of Practice and other guidance documents to ensure that expectations are clearly outlined to promote meaningful consultation with the public, Indigenous Peoples and stakeholders.”
As an example of what’s wrong with environmental assessments in Ontario, Wheeler pointed to Taggart Miller Environmental Services’ Capital Region Resource Recovery Centre in Ottawa. Its environmental assessment process began in 2010; it received final approval in 2017, Wheeler said. (The company made a final decision on which site it would pursue in 2012, the Ottawa Citizen reported at the time, and the company says it submitted the environmental assessment in 2015.)
In that case, residents fought the project for years, demanding a health study over concerns that waste could leach into groundwater and harm local farmland. The environmental assessment didn't address the citizens' concerns directly.
Ideally, Bowman said, environmental assessments give more information to the public and can improve projects, preventing irreversible damage. She pointed to the Duffin Creek sewage treatment facility in Pickering, Ont. — citizen feedback led to key adjustments after an expansion of operations there.
“Without assessment, citizens don't know what projects are happening,” she said. “They won’t know what the potential environmental impacts might be. We won’t have the analysis we need to avoid costly mistakes.”