nationalobserver--2020-11-27--First COVID-19 vaccine will likely be approved next month, Health Canada says

The first COVID-19 vaccine could be approved for use in Canada within two weeks , Health Canada 's chief medical adviser said Thursday .
The department 's medicine review team is currently reviewing three COVID-19 vaccines — one from Pfizer and BioNtech , a second from Moderna and a third from AstraZeneca .
Dr. Supriya Sharma said at a briefing to reporters in Ottawa that the Pfizer review is the most advanced of the three and that Health Canada is working alongside similar review teams in the United States and Europe .
`` We 're basically looking at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorization pathways that are available for public health emergencies , '' she said .
`` The way that the reviews are progressing is that we 're expecting to make a final decision on the vaccines around the same time as the ( U.S. Food and Drug Administration ) and the European Medicines Agency . ''
• 1 % of farmers own 70 % of the world 's farmland : report • The key to fighting future pandemics ?
Old-growth forests , says mushroom guru Paul Stamets • The glaring problem with Canada ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it The FDA is to meet Dec. 10 to decide on approving the Pfizer vaccine .
Pfizer is set to ship more than six million doses as soon as that happens .
Sharma was less definitive about when Canadians will start getting vaccinated .
She said it is possible the first doses could arrive before the end of December but seemed to think it more realistic for them to start shipping here in January .
Canada has a purchase deal to buy at least 20 million doses from Pfizer and the option to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four million are supposed to arrive between January and March .
A Pfizer spokeswoman told The Canadian Press Thursday there is no exact date yet for shipments to Canada , adding the timing will depend on when it gets approved .
`` We are working with urgency in collaboration with stakeholders , including Health Canada and public health decision makers , to bring our vaccine candidate to Canada in a timely manner , '' Christina Antoniou said .
Pfizer reported preliminary results from its clinical trials earlier this month , claiming their genetics-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first COVID-19 vaccine could be approved for use in Canada next month , Health Canada 's chief medical adviser said .
# COVID19 # vaccine # Canada # Pfizer # BioNtech # Moderna # AstraZeneca # cdnpoli Sharma said Health Canada typically assigns seven to 12 people to review a new vaccine for approval , and that those people will go through hundreds of thousands of pages of data .
It 's normally a process that takes more than 2,000 hours .
Sharma said they are dedicating even more people to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a top priority when it comes to deciding if the vaccine can be used in Canada .
`` We will only authorize a vaccine if its benefits outweigh its risks , '' said Sharma .
Pfizer is just one of seven vaccines Canada has a purchase agreement to get .
None of the vaccines have completed clinical trials yet and Health Canada would still need to approve all of them once they do .
Opposition MPs are growing weary of the lack of specific information the federal Liberals are providing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patty Hajdu with questions about it at a committee hearing in the House of Commons Thursday night , including about Canada 's own vaccine production capacity , details of the negotiations to get the Can-Sino vaccine from China which fell apart in the summer , and when Health Canada first learned the Pfizer vaccine needed specialty freezers to keep it at temperatures below -70C .
Hajdu dodged every question with talking points that referenced her pleasure at how many doses of vaccine Canadians will get and how there was a `` whole of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'Toole said sarcastically that he was certain Canadians would be thrilled to find they 'll get the most doses two years from now .
NDP health critic Don Davies was equally exasperated when he got no answer to when provinces are being asked to have their vaccine administration plans ready , or why Australia has a fully laid out vaccine rollout plan and Canada does not .
`` Perhaps if the minister is n't going to answer the questions she can do it succinctly , '' he suggested .

The first COVID-19 vaccine could be approved for use in Canada within two weeks, Health Canada's chief medical adviser said Thursday. The department's medicine review team is currently reviewing three COVID-19 vaccines — one from Pfizer and BioNtech, a second from Moderna and a third from AstraZeneca. Dr. Supriya Sharma said at a briefing to reporters in Ottawa that the Pfizer review is the most advanced of the three and that Health Canada is working alongside similar review teams in the United States and Europe. "We're basically looking at the same data packages. We have very similar authorization pathways that are available for public health emergencies," she said. "The way that the reviews are progressing is that we're expecting to make a final decision on the vaccines around the same time as the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and the European Medicines Agency."
The FDA is to meet Dec. 10 to decide on approving the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer is set to ship more than six million doses as soon as that happens. Sharma was less definitive about when Canadians will start getting vaccinated. She said it is possible the first doses could arrive before the end of December but seemed to think it more realistic for them to start shipping here in January. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Canada has a purchase deal to buy at least 20 million doses from Pfizer and the option to buy another 56 million. The first four million are supposed to arrive between January and March.
A Pfizer spokeswoman told The Canadian Press Thursday there is no exact date yet for shipments to Canada, adding the timing will depend on when it gets approved. The first COVID-19 vaccine could be approved for use in Canada next month, Health Canada's chief medical adviser said. #COVID19 #vaccine #Canada #Pfizer #BioNtech #Moderna #AstraZeneca #cdnpoli "We are working with urgency in collaboration with stakeholders, including Health Canada and public health decision makers, to bring our vaccine candidate to Canada in a timely manner," Christina Antoniou said. Pfizer reported preliminary results from its clinical trials earlier this month, claiming their genetics-based vaccine is 94.5 per cent effective. Sharma said Health Canada typically assigns seven to 12 people to review a new vaccine for approval, and that those people will go through hundreds of thousands of pages of data. It's normally a process that takes more than 2,000 hours. Sharma said they are dedicating even more people to the process for COVID-19, but said safety is a top priority when it comes to deciding if the vaccine can be used in Canada.
"We will only authorize a vaccine if its benefits outweigh its risks," said Sharma. Pfizer is just one of seven vaccines Canada has a purchase agreement to get. None of the vaccines have completed clinical trials yet and Health Canada would still need to approve all of them once they do. Opposition MPs are growing weary of the lack of specific information the federal Liberals are providing on the vaccine plan. They peppered Health Minister Patty Hajdu with questions about it at a committee hearing in the House of Commons Thursday night, including about Canada's own vaccine production capacity, details of the negotiations to get the Can-Sino vaccine from China which fell apart in the summer, and when Health Canada first learned the Pfizer vaccine needed specialty freezers to keep it at temperatures below -70C.


nationalobserver--2020-11-27--Assisted Dying conversations should be initiated by patients, not doctors: Qualtrough

Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough says health practitioners should not be allowed to discuss the issue of assisted dying until a patient asks about it — and she 's open to amending the law to make that clear .
Her comment is not likely to sit well with some health care practitioners who have argued that talking about all options available to patients is part of their duty to ensure informed consent .
Indeed , the Canadian Nurses Association has urged the government to specifically clarify in the law that medical practitioners can initiate discussions on assisted dying .
Qualtrough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate 's legal affairs committee , which is studying a bill that would expand access to medical assistance in dying ( MAID ) to people who are not already near-death .
She also told the committee she 's open to considering an amendment to the bill to impose a 12-month sunset clause on its proposed ban on individuals suffering solely from mental illnesses to seek an assisted death — an exclusion legal experts have said is unconstitutional .
• 1 % of farmers own 70 % of the world 's farmland : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemics ?
Old-growth forests , says mushroom guru Paul Stamets • The glaring problem with Canada ’ s solar sector and how to fix it Disability rights groups are strenuously opposed to Bill C-7 , which they contend tells people with disabilities that their lives are not worth living .
Conservative Senate Leader Don Plett raised the case of Roger Foley , a 45-year-old with a neurodegenerative condition that has left him hospitalized , unable to move or care for himself .
Foley told the House of Commons justice committee earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seek an assisted death when he asked for home care .
He has taken his allegation to court , arguing that his right to an `` assisted life '' has been violated .
Qualtrough told Plett she has `` grave concerns '' about what happened to Foley .
`` And I can tell you he 's not alone , '' she added .
She said she `` regularly '' hears from people who are `` appalled '' to discover that a family member with a disability has been offered what she called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Carla Qualtrough says health practitioners should not be allowed to discuss the issue of # AssistedDying until a patient asks .
# MAID # cdnpoli # cdnlegal `` I think that has to stop ...
It really speaks to the underlying systemic discrimination that we ca n't not talk about anymore in this country . ''
Qualtrough initially suggested that it 's up to colleges of physicians in each province to regulate the matter .
She also argued that the government — which is rushing to pass the bill by a court-imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have time to address all outstanding issues in the legislation .
But pushed by Plett to explain why the bill could n't be amended to specify that discussions on assisted dying must be `` patient-led , '' Qualtrough said she personally `` would certainly be open to considering that . ''
Earlier this week , the CEO of the nurses association , Michael Villeneuve , told the committee that the law should explicitly allow health practitioners to raise the issue with patients .
Villeneuve , a critical care nurse , said he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said doctors and nurses are reluctant to talk about such things .
`` But sometimes it frees up the conversation if a nurse or a doctor says , 'What do you think about this ?
Have you thought about your life ?
Have you thought about your dying ? '
'' he said .
`` The intent is not to coerce but rather to open up a conversation of options for a legal service . ''
Dr. Stefani Green , president of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are circumstances where a practitioner should raise the issue with a patient .
For instance , she said there are situations in which a patient is not aware of his or her eligibility for assisted dying .
`` One could argue that it is perhaps unprofessional not to lay all options on the table in such a situation , '' Green said .
`` It ’ s the same when you ’ re outlining chemotherapy options .
You must put all three of them on the table if they ’ re available , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a professor of law and medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax , said informing patients about all legal options available to them is `` a fundamental principle of Canadian consent law . ''
`` An amendment that would prohibit raising the issue would be a cruel amendment and it would fly in the face of well-established statutory and common law and professional standards , '' she said Thursday .
`` It would likely also chill discussions of MAID as clinicians may fear liability . ''
The NDP proposed an amendment at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that raising the issue with a patient would not be a criminal offence .
That amendment was rejected .
A number of senators on the legal affairs committee have raised objections to the bill 's proposed blanket ban on assisted dying for people suffering solely from mental illnesses .
They 've argued that it violates the charter guarantee of equal treatment under the law , regardless of physical or mental disability , and predicted it will be struck down by the courts .
Sen. Stan Kutcher , a psychiatrist who is a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qualtrough if the government would consider an amendment that would remove the exclusion , with the proviso that assisted dying for those suffering solely from mental illnesses would not be allowed for one year while guidelines are developed to regulate how the procedure could be provided to such individuals .
`` I think we would , '' Qualtrough told him .
`` Yeah , we want to make this law as good as it can be and we will consider whatever the Senate gives back to us very , very seriously . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first published Nov. 26 , 2020 .

Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough says health practitioners should not be allowed to discuss the issue of assisted dying until a patient asks about it — and she's open to amending the law to make that clear. Her comment is not likely to sit well with some health care practitioners who have argued that talking about all options available to patients is part of their duty to ensure informed consent. Indeed, the Canadian Nurses Association has urged the government to specifically clarify in the law that medical practitioners can initiate discussions on assisted dying. Qualtrough made the comment Thursday during testimony at the Senate's legal affairs committee, which is studying a bill that would expand access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) to people who are not already near-death. She also told the committee she's open to considering an amendment to the bill to impose a 12-month sunset clause on its proposed ban on individuals suffering solely from mental illnesses to seek an assisted death — an exclusion legal experts have said is unconstitutional.
Disability rights groups are strenuously opposed to Bill C-7, which they contend tells people with disabilities that their lives are not worth living. Conservative Senate Leader Don Plett raised the case of Roger Foley, a 45-year-old with a neurodegenerative condition that has left him hospitalized, unable to move or care for himself. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Foley told the House of Commons justice committee earlier this month that he was pressured by hospital staff to seek an assisted death when he asked for home care. He has taken his allegation to court, arguing that his right to an "assisted life" has been violated.
Qualtrough told Plett she has "grave concerns" about what happened to Foley. Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough says health practitioners should not be allowed to discuss the issue of #AssistedDying until a patient asks. #MAID #cdnpoli #cdnlegal "And I can tell you he's not alone," she added. She said she "regularly" hears from people who are "appalled" to discover that a family member with a disability has been offered what she called "unprovoked MAID." "I think that has to stop ... It really speaks to the underlying systemic discrimination that we can't not talk about anymore in this country." Qualtrough initially suggested that it's up to colleges of physicians in each province to regulate the matter. She also argued that the government — which is rushing to pass the bill by a court-imposed deadline of Dec. 18 — didn't have time to address all outstanding issues in the legislation.
But pushed by Plett to explain why the bill couldn't be amended to specify that discussions on assisted dying must be "patient-led," Qualtrough said she personally "would certainly be open to considering that." Earlier this week, the CEO of the nurses association, Michael Villeneuve, told the committee that the law should explicitly allow health practitioners to raise the issue with patients. Villeneuve, a critical care nurse, said he's never seen coercion. If anything, he said doctors and nurses are reluctant to talk about such things.


nationalobserver--2020-11-27--Canadian warship's passage through sensitive strait near China was monitored by top officials

Newly released documents have shed light on the secret government talks and debate that took place ahead of a Canadian warship 's passage through a sensitive waterway near China last year .
Those discussions included a private meeting between the top bureaucrats at the Department of National Defence and Global Affairs Canada , weeks before HMCS Ottawa sailed through the Taiwan Strait .
Defence officials were also told to keep quiet about the frigate 's trip in September 2019 , three months after Chinese fighter jets buzzed two other Canadian ships making the same voyage .
And they were ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department that supports the prime minister , in the loop as the Ottawa was making its way through the waterway .
The unusual level of attention from the highest levels of government laid out in the documents , obtained by The Canadian Press through access to information , underscores the sensitivities surrounding the trip .
• 1 % of farmers own 70 % of the world 's farmland : report • The key to fighting future pandemics ?
Old-growth forests , says mushroom guru Paul Stamets • The glaring problem with Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix it That is because while much of the world considers the 180-kilometre strait to be international waters , Beijing claims ownership of the strait separating mainland China from Taiwan .
Beijing , which regards the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a rogue province , has repeatedly condemned such passages by foreign warships from the U.S. , Canada and elsewhere as illegal .
HMCS Ottawa ended up sailing through the Taiwan Strait twice in early September .
Media reports at the time said the frigate was shadowed by the Chinese navy .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister Marta Morgan dated Aug. 7 , 2019 starts by saying the Defence Department was looking for a risk assessment for the Ottawa 's planned transit .
Defence Department deputy minister Jody Thomas `` has also requested a meeting with you on Aug. 12 to discuss this deployment , '' the memo adds .
While HMCS Ottawa was in the region at the time helping enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea , the memo noted that the frigate was due to make a port visit in Bangkok in mid-September .
Political eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a sensitive waterway near # China last year .
# HMCSOttawa # cdnpoli Defence officials have publicly stated that the decision to have the Ottawa sail through the strait was because the route was the fastest way for the frigate to reach Bangkok from its position near North Korea .
The memo backs that assertion , noting that going around Taiwan would add one or two days to the trip each way .
Yet it also says the navy 's presence in the South China Sea , of which the Taiwan Strait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian support for our closest partners and allies , regional security and the rules-based international order . ''
Global Affairs ultimately agreed to the Ottawa 's sailing through the strait , but called on defence officials to keep the trip quiet , in large part because of fears the trip would coincide with the federal election campaign .
`` Finally , GAC will ask DND to ensure that it keeps PCO informed as this naval deployment progresses , '' the memo adds .
Former Canadian ambassador to China David Mulroney described the discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Taiwan Strait as `` an illustration of smart and effective consultation producing the right decision . ''
`` It is tremendously important that China sees that , in addition to the United States , other serious countries like Canada will not be intimidated into surrendering the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan itself to China 's complete control , '' he said .
`` The RCN , working closely with Global Affairs , is promoting the national interest and asserting our sovereignty from the far side of the world . ''
This report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 27 , 2020 .

Newly released documents have shed light on the secret government talks and debate that took place ahead of a Canadian warship's passage through a sensitive waterway near China last year. Those discussions included a private meeting between the top bureaucrats at the Department of National Defence and Global Affairs Canada, weeks before HMCS Ottawa sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Defence officials were also told to keep quiet about the frigate's trip in September 2019, three months after Chinese fighter jets buzzed two other Canadian ships making the same voyage. And they were ordered to keep the Privy Council Office, the department that supports the prime minister, in the loop as the Ottawa was making its way through the waterway. The unusual level of attention from the highest levels of government laid out in the documents, obtained by The Canadian Press through access to information, underscores the sensitivities surrounding the trip.
That is because while much of the world considers the 180-kilometre strait to be international waters, Beijing claims ownership of the strait separating mainland China from Taiwan. Beijing, which regards the self-ruled island of Taiwan as a rogue province, has repeatedly condemned such passages by foreign warships from the U.S., Canada and elsewhere as illegal. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions HMCS Ottawa ended up sailing through the Taiwan Strait twice in early September. Media reports at the time said the frigate was shadowed by the Chinese navy.
The heavily redacted memo to Global Affairs deputy minister Marta Morgan dated Aug. 7, 2019 starts by saying the Defence Department was looking for a risk assessment for the Ottawa's planned transit. Political eyes were on a Canadian warship's passage through a sensitive waterway near #China last year. #HMCSOttawa #cdnpoli Defence Department deputy minister Jody Thomas "has also requested a meeting with you on Aug. 12 to discuss this deployment," the memo adds. While HMCS Ottawa was in the region at the time helping enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea, the memo noted that the frigate was due to make a port visit in Bangkok in mid-September. Defence officials have publicly stated that the decision to have the Ottawa sail through the strait was because the route was the fastest way for the frigate to reach Bangkok from its position near North Korea. The memo backs that assertion, noting that going around Taiwan would add one or two days to the trip each way.
Yet it also says the navy's presence in the South China Sea, of which the Taiwan Strait is a part, "has demonstrated Canadian support for our closest partners and allies, regional security and the rules-based international order." Global Affairs ultimately agreed to the Ottawa's sailing through the strait, but called on defence officials to keep the trip quiet, in large part because of fears the trip would coincide with the federal election campaign. "Finally, GAC will ask DND to ensure that it keeps PCO informed as this naval deployment progresses," the memo adds.


nationalobserver--2020-11-28--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez battles with Jagmeet Singh

Jagmeet Singh committed a grisly slaying in front of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday night .
Fortunately , the victim was a video game character , not a human being .
The NDP leader squared off against the firebrand member of Congress in `` Among Us , '' a popular online multiplayer game , as a way to reach young people where they hang .
Between galactic missions carried out by stubby , spacesuit-clad avatars , Singh and Ocasio-Cortez extolled the importance of universal pharmacare , political civility , a living wage and rehabilitation over punishment .
`` Another world is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in so many places in the U.S. it exists , like , a three-hour drive away from people who are saying it ’ s impossible , '' said Ocasio-Cortez , referring to cheap health care and more generous employment insurance north of the border .
Legislators have an obligation to connect with younger Canadians struggling to cope with the pandemic , said Singh , who had challenged the U.S. representative over Twitter on Thursday .
• The key to fighting future pandemics ?
Old-growth forests , says mushroom guru Paul Stamets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s solar sector and how to fix it `` I think it ’ s a great way to reach out to young people who have been really hard-hit by COVID-19 , who often get blamed .
But they ’ re the ones that are working in the jobs that expose them — in service jobs , in retail jobs , in restaurants and bars , '' Singh said in a phone interview .
`` Also they ’ re the ones who lost their jobs because these are the sectors that have been impacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It ’ s really hard to physically distance when you don ’ t have a career settled and you ’ re still going to school or you haven ’ t found a partner . ''
Singh said he and AOC , as the congresswoman from New York is known , share progressive values on health care , economic equality and climate change , views that align with a growing slice of younger voters .
Ocasio-Cortez livestreamed her debut on `` Among Us '' last month in an effort to lure young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 election in the U.S. , attracting a staggering 439,000 viewers .
Friday 's matchup , which streamed on the online gaming site Twitch , started at 7 p.m. eastern time and continued past 10 p.m. Jagmeet Singh committed a grisly slaying in front of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday , November 2 , 2020 night .
Fortunately , the victim was a video game character , not a human being .
# AOC “ It ’ s going to be one of the most epic crossovers in Canadian politics , '' Singh said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modest 26,000 attendees .
A controversial standard-bearer for left-wing progressive politics , Ocasio-Cortez , 31 , was first elected to represent her New York City district in the House of Representatives in 2018 .
Since then , she has become one of the most familiar faces on Capitol Hill , part of a progressive wing of the Democratic party that includes former presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren .
`` Among Us '' pits a team of tiny astronauts trying to return to Earth against one of their own , a sneaky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to kill off other crew members before they can repair their ship and identify the impostor .
The Friday showdown — `` talking together , and figuring out who ’ s sus and who ’ s not '' — was Singh 's first interaction with Ocasio-Cortez outside of posts and direct messages on Twitter , he said .
`` If you think about the impostors as the ones that are at the very top exploiting the system or the ultra-wealthy who aren ’ t paying their fair share ... that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teammate also found symbolic significance in the mission .
`` Canadian members of Parliament and U.S. members of Congress venting each other into space .
What could go wrong ? ''
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Thursday in response to Singh 's invitation .
The match was n't all fun and games .
“ Are you for real ?
Jagmeet , you just killed her right in front of me , '' AOC said during gameplay .
`` He ’ s so good at this , it ’ s scary . ''
“ Are you trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked .
`` Thought there was solidarity here . ''
The congresswoman conceded she was `` impressed '' with his deceptive plea of innocence after he denied perpetrating the grisly act .
Periodically , Singh asked viewers to chime in with typed chants of `` YES '' to show their enthusiasm for policies such as a wealth tax or `` more youth supports , '' while Ocasio-Cortez lamented `` scaremongering around socialism '' in the U.S. and `` out-there '' Fox News coverage .
Ocasio-Cortez 's Oct. 20 livestream , which included fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most-viewed events in the nine-year history of Twitch , which has become a popular way for politicians to attract young supporters .
The record still belongs to a professional gamer who played the popular game `` Fortnite '' with Canadian superstar Drake , rapper Travis Scott and NFL wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster , with 628,000 viewers watching at the same time .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27 , 2020 .

Jagmeet Singh committed a grisly slaying in front of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday night. Fortunately, the victim was a video game character, not a human being. The NDP leader squared off against the firebrand member of Congress in "Among Us," a popular online multiplayer game, as a way to reach young people where they hang. Between galactic missions carried out by stubby, spacesuit-clad avatars, Singh and Ocasio-Cortez extolled the importance of universal pharmacare, political civility, a living wage and rehabilitation over punishment. "Another world is not only possible, but it exists. And in so many places in the U.S. it exists, like, a three-hour drive away from people who are saying it’s impossible," said Ocasio-Cortez, referring to cheap health care and more generous employment insurance north of the border. Legislators have an obligation to connect with younger Canadians struggling to cope with the pandemic, said Singh, who had challenged the U.S. representative over Twitter on Thursday.
"I think it’s a great way to reach out to young people who have been really hard-hit by COVID-19, who often get blamed. But they’re the ones that are working in the jobs that expose them — in service jobs, in retail jobs, in restaurants and bars," Singh said in a phone interview. "Also they’re the ones who lost their jobs because these are the sectors that have been impacted by the shutdown," he added. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "It’s really hard to physically distance when you don’t have a career settled and you’re still going to school or you haven’t found a partner."
Singh said he and AOC, as the congresswoman from New York is known, share progressive values on health care, economic equality and climate change, views that align with a growing slice of younger voters. Jagmeet Singh committed a grisly slaying in front of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday, November 2, 2020 night. Fortunately, the victim was a video game character, not a human being. #AOC Ocasio-Cortez livestreamed her debut on "Among Us" last month in an effort to lure young adults to the polls for the Nov. 3 election in the U.S., attracting a staggering 439,000 viewers. Friday's matchup, which streamed on the online gaming site Twitch, started at 7 p.m. eastern time and continued past 10 p.m. “It’s going to be one of the most epic crossovers in Canadian politics," Singh said hours earlier, despite drawing a more modest 26,000 attendees. A controversial standard-bearer for left-wing progressive politics, Ocasio-Cortez, 31, was first elected to represent her New York City district in the House of Representatives in 2018.
Since then, she has become one of the most familiar faces on Capitol Hill, part of a progressive wing of the Democratic party that includes former presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. "Among Us" pits a team of tiny astronauts trying to return to Earth against one of their own, a sneaky saboteur or "impostor" whose objective is to kill off other crew members before they can repair their ship and identify the impostor. The Friday showdown — "talking together, and figuring out who’s sus and who’s not" — was Singh's first interaction with Ocasio-Cortez outside of posts and direct messages on Twitter, he said.


nationalobserver--2020-11-28--Trudeau pledges $542M to Indigenous child-welfare

OTTAWA — The federal government is sending $ 542 million to Indigenous groups to help them set up welfare services for children and families , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday .
The Canadian government has been promising to transfer control over child and family services to Indigenous governing bodies so they don ’ t need to rely on outsiders to protect children in First Nations , Inuit and Métis communities .
In 2019 , Parliament passed a law to reform the system , requiring that children on reserves have access to services equal to those who live off reserves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peoples ’ constitutional right to self−government includes the right to run their own welfare agencies .
`` We are keeping our promise to give them the support they need to keep children within their families and their communities , so they can grow up surrounded by the strength of their culture to achieve their full potential , '' Trudeau said .
Child−protection agencies have often removed Indigenous children not just from their parents but out of their communities entirely when workers decide the kids aren ’ t safe — often because a lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options .
• The key to fighting future pandemics ?
Old-growth forests , says mushroom guru Paul Stamets • The glaring problem with Canada ’ s solar sector and how to fix it That ’ s broken up families and hurt children ’ s connections to their heritage .
Federal census figures say Indigenous children make up more than half the kids in foster care across the country , despite being fewer than eight per cent of the children in Canada .
`` Behind these devastating numbers , there are real children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Minister Marc Miller said Friday in a separate news conference .
The new money is for everything from research and expert advice to consultations on how those Indigenous governments will establish and run their own child and family services , as well as to support their negotiations with provincial and federal authorities .
Miller said this is an `` essential step to correct the errors of the past '' and will help unleash the potential of Indigenous young people who have been held back for generations .
This report by The Canadian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .

OTTAWA — The federal government is sending $542 million to Indigenous groups to help them set up welfare services for children and families, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.
The Canadian government has been promising to transfer control over child and family services to Indigenous governing bodies so they don’t need to rely on outsiders to protect children in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
In 2019, Parliament passed a law to reform the system, requiring that children on reserves have access to services equal to those who live off reserves. The legislation also recognize that Indigenous Peoples’ constitutional right to self−government includes the right to run their own welfare agencies.
"We are keeping our promise to give them the support they need to keep children within their families and their communities, so they can grow up surrounded by the strength of their culture to achieve their full potential," Trudeau said.
Child−protection agencies have often removed Indigenous children not just from their parents but out of their communities entirely when workers decide the kids aren’t safe — often because a lack of funding left them with few other options.


nationalobserver--2020-11-26--Corporations are devouring farmland

Corporations are devouring farmland

More than two-thirds of the world ’ s fields , ranches and orchards are owned by one per cent of its farmers , according to a report released Tuesday .
Land inequality — the concentrated ownership of land — is skyrocketing globally , including in Canada and the U.S.
It ’ s a trend driven by large-scale industrial farming and export-oriented agricultural policies with wide-ranging impacts on everything from food security to climate change .
“ Farms and farmland ( are ) being bought up by investors , and the reasons are obvious , ” said Kent Mullinix , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kwantlen Polytechnique University , who was not affiliated with the study .
“ People have to eat , so it ’ s a great investment.
” Concentrated land ownership is associated with a suite of problems , including deforestation , political and economic inequality and the degradation of rural food security , the report notes .
And while land inequality is an old problem — it was a key part of many colonial governments ’ policies — the authors note that since the 1980s , the problem has gotten worse .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were implemented that made it easier for financial institutions and global agri-businesses to purchase vast tracts of farmland for conversion into industrialized crop production .
This land was generally purchased from small- to mid-sized family farms growing a diversity of crops for local or regional consumption .
Replacing them were larger industrialized farms owned by vertically integrated companies invested from seed to sale in international commodity markets .
Over two-thirds of the world ’ s fields , ranches and orchards are owned by one per cent of its farmers , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ # LandInequality It ’ s a trend that accelerated after the 2008 financial crash , said Devlin Kuyek , senior researcher at GRAIN , an international non-profit supporting small farmers and social movements .
“ At that time , there was a food price spike globally , ” he said .
“ So ( the crisis and food prices ) generated a lot of interest from institutional investors who were looking for a hedge against the volatility of the stock market.
” Those investors , including several Canadian pension funds , started purchasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than most farmers , they didn ’ t struggle to find the land , despite policies in certain jurisdictions — including some Canadian provinces — that limit foreign farmland ownership .
It ’ s a practice that drives land consolidation , he explained .
“ Where there are small plots of land , ( the investment funds ) will look at places where they can aggregate that farmland and create a bigger farm … The idea is to create a big , consolidated , aggregated piece of farmland that they can have some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a profit.
” Meanwhile , smaller-scale farmers producing food for regional and local consumption often struggle to make ends meet because of high farmland prices and competition from global commodity markets .
It ’ s a pattern that is seen worldwide — including in B.C.
, explained Mullinix .
The province has a proliferation of small , diversified farms serving local markets , many of which struggle to afford farmland ( farmland prices in the province are also driven by real estate speculation , not only agri-businesses and investments from financial institutions ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and orchards producing food for Canada-wide and international markets — and not much in between .
“ The farms in the middle are the ones that are disappearing , ” he said .
Still , Kuyek said that Canadians have more leverage than they might think .
Canadian pension funds are some of the world ’ s largest farmland investors and sustained pressure from the people whose money they are managing can help change their practices .
“ We have an interest in understanding what ’ s going on with our money .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand industrial agriculture , kick communities off their lands , destroying the future of the planet , it ’ s not really a good investment that way , ” he said .

More than two-thirds of the world’s fields, ranches and orchards are owned by one per cent of its farmers, according to a report released Tuesday. Land inequality — the concentrated ownership of land — is skyrocketing globally, including in Canada and the U.S. It’s a trend driven by large-scale industrial farming and export-oriented agricultural policies with wide-ranging impacts on everything from food security to climate change. “Farms and farmland (are) being bought up by investors, and the reasons are obvious,” said Kent Mullinix, director of sustainable agriculture and food security at Kwantlen Polytechnique University, who was not affiliated with the study. “People have to eat, so it’s a great investment.” Those investments aren’t always obvious. Historically, land ownership analyses have excluded key pieces of information, such as the value of land and the degree of control a person or organization has over it, according to the report’s authors. For instance, many farms operate under contract to agri-food corporations, giving them control over production methods and market access without explicitly owning the farm. Investors are also purchasing farmland at increasingly high rates, pushing land prices beyond the value of the crops they can produce and exacerbating farmland consolidation.
Concentrated land ownership is associated with a suite of problems, including deforestation, political and economic inequality and the degradation of rural food security, the report notes. And while land inequality is an old problem — it was a key part of many colonial governments’ policies — the authors note that since the 1980s, the problem has gotten worse. Over two-thirds of the world’s fields, ranches and orchards are owned by one per cent of its farmers, according to a report released Tuesday by @landcoalition. #LandInequality That’s when national and international trade policies were implemented that made it easier for financial institutions and global agri-businesses to purchase vast tracts of farmland for conversion into industrialized crop production. This land was generally purchased from small- to mid-sized family farms growing a diversity of crops for local or regional consumption. Replacing them were larger industrialized farms owned by vertically integrated companies invested from seed to sale in international commodity markets. It’s a trend that accelerated after the 2008 financial crash, said Devlin Kuyek, senior researcher at GRAIN, an international non-profit supporting small farmers and social movements. “At that time, there was a food price spike globally,” he said. “So (the crisis and food prices) generated a lot of interest from institutional investors who were looking for a hedge against the volatility of the stock market.”
Those investors, including several Canadian pension funds, started purchasing farmland worldwide. And with deeper pockets than most farmers, they didn’t struggle to find the land, despite policies in certain jurisdictions — including some Canadian provinces — that limit foreign farmland ownership. It’s a practice that drives land consolidation, he explained. “Where there are small plots of land, (the investment funds) will look at places where they can aggregate that farmland and create a bigger farm … The idea is to create a big, consolidated, aggregated piece of farmland that they can have some revenue on and then eventually sell for a profit.” Meanwhile, smaller-scale farmers producing food for regional and local consumption often struggle to make ends meet because of high farmland prices and competition from global commodity markets. It’s a pattern that is seen worldwide — including in B.C., explained Mullinix.


nationalobserver--2020-11-29--Now Canada's Covid-19 numbers keep rising

Canada remains on a troubling path for new COVID-19 infections as case counts continue to mount , the country 's top doctor said Saturday .
The most recent infection rates indicate Canada is on track to hit as many as 10,000 new cases a day by next month , Dr. Theresa Tam said .
`` If we continue on the current pace , our longer range models continue to forecast significant increases in daily case counts and estimate that there could be up to 10,000 cases reported daily by mid-December , '' Tam said in a written statement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opportunity to act collectively together with public health authorities to bring the infection rate down to a safer trajectory . ''
Canada is currently recording caseloads at about half that level , with the most recent seven-day average standing at 5,335 between Nov. 20 and Nov. 26 .
• The glaring problem with Canada ’ s solar sector and how to fix it • Canada is losing the race to low-carbon prosperity Tam said Canada is also averaging 76 deaths a day and more than 2,100 people in hospital .
People 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest COVID-19 death rate , and there are now more and larger outbreaks in long-term care facilities , hospitals , group living settings , Indigenous communities and remote areas , she said .
`` Those developments are deeply concerning as they put countless Canadians at risk of life-threatening illness , cause serious disruptions to health services and present significant challenges for areas not adequately equipped to manage complex medical emergencies , '' Tam said .
Her assessment came as case counts continued to soar in numerous provinces .
Quebec set a new single-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the provincial death toll crossed the 7,000 threshold .
Alberta also broke its own record , reporting 1,731 new cases of the virus on Saturday .
It also counted five new deaths .
# Canada remains on a troubling path for new # COVID19 infections as case counts continue to mount , the country 's top doctor said on Saturday , November 28 , 2020 .
Ontario logged case numbers just shy of Friday 's one-day record as it reported 1,822 new diagnoses in the past 24 hours .
Case numbers also jumped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 487 new infections and 10 new deaths .
Among those who died was a boy under the age of 10 , officials said , though they offered no other details .
The province ordered the suspension of team sports earlier this week until Dec. 17 after confirmed COVID-19 cases among several minor and recreational hockey teams .
The Saskatchewan suspension applies to hockey and curling leagues and dance studios .
The Saskatchewan Health Authority posted notices Saturday of COVID-19 exposure risks at curling and recreation centres at Christopher Lake and Shellbrook .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two facilities last month must self-isolate for 14 days , the health authority said .
In British Columbia , Fraser Health announced the closure of an elementary school in Surrey after confirming 16 COVID-19 cases .
Newton Elementary School will close for two weeks , said Fraser Health .
B.C .
reported a daily record of 911 COVID-19 cases Friday .
The province will update its numbers Monday .
People must continue to practise physical distancing , frequent hand washing and staying home as much as possible , said a newly appointed member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabinet .
`` I just think it 's important for us to be thoughtful and caring , but at the same time it 's critical that people follow the rules because it 's vital to be able to keep our schools open and keep as many of our business open as possible , '' said Ravi Kahlon , whose ministry includes economic recovery .
Figures from New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador show more modest increases of four and two cases , respectively .
Prince Edward Island reported two new COVID-19 cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 19 .
There were 14 new cases in Nova Scotia and five COVID-19 cases in Nunavut .
Tam redoubled her calls for Canadians to heed public health advice , limit their social interactions and practice physical distancing in a bid to bring surging case counts under control .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28 , 2020 .

Canada remains on a troubling path for new COVID-19 infections as case counts continue to mount, the country's top doctor said Saturday. The most recent infection rates indicate Canada is on track to hit as many as 10,000 new cases a day by next month, Dr. Theresa Tam said. "If we continue on the current pace, our longer range models continue to forecast significant increases in daily case counts and estimate that there could be up to 10,000 cases reported daily by mid-December," Tam said in a written statement. "Right now, we have a window of opportunity to act collectively together with public health authorities to bring the infection rate down to a safer trajectory." Canada is currently recording caseloads at about half that level, with the most recent seven-day average standing at 5,335 between Nov. 20 and Nov. 26.
Tam said Canada is also averaging 76 deaths a day and more than 2,100 people in hospital. People 80 years and older are experiencing Canada's highest COVID-19 death rate, and there are now more and larger outbreaks in long-term care facilities, hospitals, group living settings, Indigenous communities and remote areas, she said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "Those developments are deeply concerning as they put countless Canadians at risk of life-threatening illness, cause serious disruptions to health services and present significant challenges for areas not adequately equipped to manage complex medical emergencies," Tam said.
Her assessment came as case counts continued to soar in numerous provinces. #Canada remains on a troubling path for new #COVID19 infections as case counts continue to mount, the country's top doctor said on Saturday, November 28, 2020. Quebec set a new single-day record with 1,480 new infections Saturday as the provincial death toll crossed the 7,000 threshold. Alberta also broke its own record, reporting 1,731 new cases of the virus on Saturday. It also counted five new deaths. Ontario logged case numbers just shy of Friday's one-day record as it reported 1,822 new diagnoses in the past 24 hours. Case numbers also jumped sharply in Manitoba, where officials recorded 487 new infections and 10 new deaths.
Among those who died was a boy under the age of 10, officials said, though they offered no other details. Saskatchewan reported 197 COVID-19 cases and one death Saturday. The province ordered the suspension of team sports earlier this week until Dec. 17 after confirmed COVID-19 cases among several minor and recreational hockey teams.


nationalobserver--2020-11-30--What Indigenous knowledge can teach us about resilience in a time of climate crisis

As part of a series highlighting the work of young people addressing the climate crisis , writer Patricia Lane interviews La'goot ( Spencer Greening ) , a PhD student in social sciences and humanities at Simon Fraser University .
The 1990s were personally tough for me .
Motivated by climate catastrophe science , I spent the decade immersed in various kinds of activism , trying — and by all accounts failing — to stem the tide .
Hardest of all , death and dementia came to my family .
As my awareness deepened about the growing divide between young and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had become a pretty constant companion .
I could choose to go further into the abyss of fear and loss , or choose the only thing stronger : love .
To choose love is to hope .
But I had forgotten how .
So I made a resolution — one that could last a year or even a decade if need be .
I chose to study hope .
Part of my journey is to seek out promising young people who are contending in evidence-based and impactful ways with the climate crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am grateful for Canada ’ s National Observer ’ s commitment to solutions journalism , which provides these determined , joyful and , yes , hopeful young people a voice .
La ’ goot ’ s ( Spencer Greening ) laughter is infectious .
Considering his mission is to protect one of Canada ’ s most vulnerable communities from a changing climate , one might think he would be a serious young man .
But his deep conviction that he is helping humanity learn resilience provides him a joyful foundation .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solar sector and how to fix it • Canadian warship 's passage through sensitive strait near China was monitored by top officials • Oilpatch unlikely to reduce pollution without more public money , bank report says In his PhD research , 32-year-old La ’ goot is telling the political and environmental story of one of his Gitga ’ at people ’ s cultural keystone places in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest , where his elders were born and raised .
La ’ goot ( Spencer Greening ) hiking in the mountains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ goot Explain how your work relates to the climate change conversation .
My people have been here for tens of thousands of years , and like every other Indigenous coastal community in B.C.
, we have ancient stories about how humans overcame rising sea levels and extreme environmental change by acquiring ecologically based scientific and spiritual knowledge .
They tell of mountain refuges and migrations from the B.C .
Interior forced by changing geopolitics .
They tell us how to survive the hardships that come with disruption .
While they do entertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge and stories are also an ancient-tested archive teaching us how to be resilient .
What are some lessons that might translate to settler culture ?
North American settlers carried an idea of “ wild ” land where the opportunity for extraction was endless .
Industrial society has “ managed ” the land so that in only 100 years it gives much less .
But over many millennia , our people learned ways of extracting that increase yield , biodiversity and resilience .
Learning to manage ecosystems to give more life requires give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indigenous stories ) tell us how to survive the hardships that come with disruption .
While they do entertain , as lasting stories do , Indigenous knowledge and stories are also an ancient-tested archive teaching us how to be resilient . ''
Consider our clam gardens .
Human-made rock walls work with tides to sift sands and flatten the area so instead of a beach , it becomes a steppe .
Clam production increases dramatically while putting more nutrients into the beaches and surrounding forests .
This feeds the entire ecosystem , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in turn each help maintain its health .
When we fish for salmon , we use fish traps or weirs , which allow selective harvesting based on the health of the salmon run .
We can also encourage super spawners , helping the strongest salmon genes to reproduce .
At the time of contact we harvested at least the same amount of salmon as industry does today .
But our harvest allowed for growth .
The latter has been a catalyst for a crashing species .
Indigenous people protect much of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen ?
Just as in a long and successful marriage , we have fine-tuned our relationship with our lands , water , air and the non-human beings that share our ecosystems with us , and learned the ebbs and flows .
It is an even stronger connection than a marriage because the relationship feeds us , gives us language , culture and spirit .
Over millennia , we have developed confidence that we will overcome challenges with each other .
Yes , you face fear and worry in times of a changing climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can overcome together .
We also know in advance what would be bad for this metaphorical marriage .
Open-pit bitumen mining or clear-cut old-growth logging are not possible when you feel forever connected to that ecosystem .
How exactly is your community threatened ?
Rising sea levels and changing water and air temperatures are major threats .
Tankers , pipelines , clear-cutting and mining both advance climate change and accelerate the degradation of the natural world , which is the foundation of our food , shelter , culture , language , spirit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is lost ?
But our ancestral teachings guide us .
I was really anxious when COVID-19 first arrived .
But when I called home , I got a beautiful answer : “ Things are good ; the men have all gone out harvesting for the community.
” Everyone understood that crisis requires ensuring community needs are met , and special attention is paid to caring for the elderly .
A much different response than individuals competing for toilet paper .
La'goot ( Spencer Greening ) at the University of Northern B.C.
, where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submitted by La ’ goot What advice would you give young people ?
Lean into the land for knowledge and wisdom .
I am grateful to be so connected to a healthy ecosystem .
But you do n't have to have my heritage to take advantage of this ancient idea .
Build a connection to some part of the natural world , understand how it can provide for you and how you can give back .
Consciously build a community .
Relationships will see you through .
What does support look like from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his home and sent to residential school .
He teaches me resilience by telling me how he survived as a fully dimensional human .
If you have lived a full life , you have most likely experienced hardship and change .
Tell your stories so we can all benefit .
It is one of the reasons I am joyful .
When I think about climate change , I feel fear .
But then I think about my elders and the generational knowledge they carry of resilience in the face of incredible adversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel hope .

As part of a series highlighting the work of young people addressing the climate crisis, writer Patricia Lane interviews La'goot (Spencer Greening), a PhD student in social sciences and humanities at Simon Fraser University. The 1990s were personally tough for me. Motivated by climate catastrophe science, I spent the decade immersed in various kinds of activism, trying — and by all accounts failing — to stem the tide. Hardest of all, death and dementia came to my family. As my awareness deepened about the growing divide between young and old and rich and poor, grief had become a pretty constant companion. I could choose to go further into the abyss of fear and loss, or choose the only thing stronger: love. To choose love is to hope. But I had forgotten how. So I made a resolution — one that could last a year or even a decade if need be. I chose to study hope. Part of my journey is to seek out promising young people who are contending in evidence-based and impactful ways with the climate crisis and engage them in conversations about hope. I am grateful for Canada’s National Observer’s commitment to solutions journalism, which provides these determined, joyful and, yes, hopeful young people a voice. La’goot’s (Spencer Greening) laughter is infectious. Considering his mission is to protect one of Canada’s most vulnerable communities from a changing climate, one might think he would be a serious young man. But his deep conviction that he is helping humanity learn resilience provides him a joyful foundation.
In his PhD research, 32-year-old La’goot is telling the political and environmental story of one of his Gitga’at people’s cultural keystone places in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, where his elders were born and raised. La’goot (Spencer Greening) hiking in the mountains of B.C. Photo submitted by La’goot Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Explain how your work relates to the climate change conversation.
My people have been here for tens of thousands of years, and like every other Indigenous coastal community in B.C., we have ancient stories about how humans overcame rising sea levels and extreme environmental change by acquiring ecologically based scientific and spiritual knowledge. They tell of mountain refuges and migrations from the B.C. Interior forced by changing geopolitics. They tell us how to survive the hardships that come with disruption. While they do entertain, as lasting stories do, Indigenous knowledge and stories are also an ancient-tested archive teaching us how to be resilient. "(Indigenous stories) tell us how to survive the hardships that come with disruption. While they do entertain, as lasting stories do, Indigenous knowledge and stories are also an ancient-tested archive teaching us how to be resilient." What are some lessons that might translate to settler culture? North American settlers carried an idea of “wild” land where the opportunity for extraction was endless. Industrial society has “managed” the land so that in only 100 years it gives much less. But over many millennia, our people learned ways of extracting that increase yield, biodiversity and resilience. Learning to manage ecosystems to give more life requires give as well as take. Consider our clam gardens. Human-made rock walls work with tides to sift sands and flatten the area so instead of a beach, it becomes a steppe. Clam production increases dramatically while putting more nutrients into the beaches and surrounding forests. This feeds the entire ecosystem, including birds, wolves and bears, which in turn each help maintain its health. When we fish for salmon, we use fish traps or weirs, which allow selective harvesting based on the health of the salmon run. We can also encourage super spawners, helping the strongest salmon genes to reproduce. At the time of contact we harvested at least the same amount of salmon as industry does today. But our harvest allowed for growth. The latter has been a catalyst for a crashing species.
Indigenous people protect much of the world’s biodiversity. How does that happen? Just as in a long and successful marriage, we have fine-tuned our relationship with our lands, water, air and the non-human beings that share our ecosystems with us, and learned the ebbs and flows. It is an even stronger connection than a marriage because the relationship feeds us, gives us language, culture and spirit. Over millennia, we have developed confidence that we will overcome challenges with each other. Yes, you face fear and worry in times of a changing climate, but you have faith that you can overcome together.


nationalobserver--2020-11-30--Federal government's largest polluter is Department of National Defence

The Department of National Defence was responsible for the lion ’ s share of the federal government ’ s own carbon pollution last year , according to newly released figures .
The government released an inventory of federal greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities and fleet operations as part of its updated “ greening government strategy.
” The inventory shows that the Defence Department , which supports Canada ’ s Navy , Army , Air Force and Special Forces , generated 543 kilotonnes ( kt ) of carbon dioxide emissions during 2019-20 .
DND itself says it is identifying energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at its military bases and airbases .
It expects to cut its pollution by 265 kt by 2030 and has a target for “ clean power at all bases and wings by 2025.
” The department has released a Defence Energy and Environment Strategy for the 2020-23 period , which calls for a $ 225-million investment this year in infrastructure to reduce its carbon footprint .
“ As the largest user of energy and the single-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the federal government , Defence has a key role to play in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ net-zero targets , ” the strategy states .
The Department of National Defence was responsible for the lion ’ s share of the federal government ’ s own carbon pollution last year , according to newly released figures .
Fully 90 per cent of federal greenhouse gas emissions came from facilities , as opposed to fleets of vehicles , in 2019-20 .
It ’ s no coincidence then that the three departments that all administer a large footprint of buildings and other infrastructure are also listed as the largest polluters .
DND , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20,000 buildings , which includes about 11,700 military housing units as well as about 18,000 projects like runways and roads , not to mention 2.1 million hectares of land .
Similarly , Public Services bills itself as the “ largest owner and manager of office space in the country.
” In addition to providing offices for 260,000 public servants , it is responsible for dams , docks and bridges across Canada .
Almost half , or 47 per cent , of federal carbon pollution was attributable to natural gas , which is often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said that stationary fuel combustion — the use of fossil fuels to heat facilities — was the source of 63 per cent of emissions , another indication that building heating is an issue .
The government ’ s strategy calls for its “ large energy-intensive buildings ” to be recommissioned with “ smart building technology.
” Smart thermostats , for example , automatically adjust temperature settings for best performance .

The Department of National Defence was responsible for the lion’s share of the federal government’s own carbon pollution last year, according to newly released figures. The government released an inventory of federal greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities and fleet operations as part of its updated “greening government strategy.” The inventory shows that the Defence Department, which supports Canada’s Navy, Army, Air Force and Special Forces, generated 543 kilotonnes (kt) of carbon dioxide emissions during 2019-20. The next largest contributor during this time period was Public Services and Procurement Canada, at 117 kt. Public Services is the department that manages federal property and also handles purchasing, accounting and pay services for the public service. At 116 kt, the third-largest contributor was Correctional Service Canada, which runs penitentiaries and other correctional institutions, as well as parole offices and mental health and healing centres.
Federal government graphic showing greenhouse gas emissions by organization. Treasury Board Secretariat screenshot The top six emitting organizations generated 82 per cent of all government emissions. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Treasury Board president Jean-Yves Duclos says the government is committed to cutting its own operational carbon pollution 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025.
DND itself says it is identifying energy efficiency improvements to its infrastructure and fleets at its military bases and airbases. It expects to cut its pollution by 265 kt by 2030 and has a target for “clean power at all bases and wings by 2025.” The Department of National Defence was responsible for the lion’s share of the federal government’s own carbon pollution last year, according to newly released figures. The department has released a Defence Energy and Environment Strategy for the 2020-23 period, which calls for a $225-million investment this year in infrastructure to reduce its carbon footprint. “As the largest user of energy and the single-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the federal government, Defence has a key role to play in helping the government of Canada reach its net-zero targets,” the strategy states. Heating buildings a major issue Fully 90 per cent of federal greenhouse gas emissions came from facilities, as opposed to fleets of vehicles, in 2019-20.
It’s no coincidence then that the three departments that all administer a large footprint of buildings and other infrastructure are also listed as the largest polluters. DND, for example, says it manages about 20,000 buildings, which includes about 11,700 military housing units as well as about 18,000 projects like runways and roads, not to mention 2.1 million hectares of land. Similarly, Public Services bills itself as the “largest owner and manager of office space in the country.” In addition to providing offices for 260,000 public servants, it is responsible for dams, docks and bridges across Canada.


nationalobserver--2020-11-30--Is Ontario's back-to-school strategy working, or are COVID-19 cases going untraced?

The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ontario ’ s schools is lower per capita than in the province ’ s general population and in the schools of neighbouring Quebec , the government says .
But is Ontario doing enough testing and contact tracing to stop possible spread of COVID-19 in schools ?
Stephen Lecce , the province ’ s education minister , has boasted in recent weeks that the Progressive Conservatives ’ back-to-school strategy is working , but epidemiological studies and experts suggest it ’ s difficult to make that claim without more testing .
A study from Alberta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that younger people infected with COVID-19 either show mild symptoms or none at all , meaning they could potentially be silently spreading the virus in schools and then taking it home .
“ I think to say schools are the safest place for kids in terms of this virus is not a statement that is backed by the evidence at this point , ” said Gabrielle Brankston , a PhD student at the University of Guelph who has been compiling data on COVID-19 in Canada .
Just under 36 per cent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 during a first test in Alberta did not have any symptoms associated with the virus , according to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal last Tuesday .
• The glaring problem with Canada ’ s solar sector and how to fix it • Canadian warship 's passage through sensitive strait near China was monitored by top officials • Oilpatch unlikely to reduce pollution without more public money , bank report says That proportion of asymptomatic cases among young people is much higher than the 15 to 20 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Dr. Nisha Thampi from the Children ’ s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and other medical experts who reviewed the findings .
The discrepancy may be due to Alberta ’ s strategy of testing close contacts of known cases since early April , the study noted , but probably still doesn ’ t capture all the asymptomatic transmission .
“ It is important to note that this is likely an underestimation of the true prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 ( COVID-19 ) infection , as those without symptoms are much less likely to seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors James King , Tara Whitten , Jeffrey Bakal and Finlay McAlister wrote in the study .
The Alberta research follows a massive contact tracing study of two states in India done by Princeton and other U.S. universities that warned in September children may be key spreaders of the virus .
Ontario recorded a record number of cases ( 1,855 ) on Friday as the province ’ s labs processed more than 58,000 tests the previous day , or nearly 10,000 more than the previous busiest day of the year .
Education Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Progressive Conservatives ’ back-to-school strategy is working , but epidemiological studies and experts suggest it ’ s difficult to make that claim without more testing .
There have been a total of 1,180 cases in Ontario schools reported in the last 14 days , the province says , while its overall count is just under 1,400 new cases each day on average over the last week .
( Around 1.5 million students are in Ontario classrooms currently , while the province has a population of about 14.5 million people . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 per cent ( or 671 of 4,828 sites ) have a reported case .
Public health officials say that ’ s not too bad .
“ Parents should have a fair bit of confidence in schools being as safe as possible , ” said Dr. Brent Moloughney , the associate medical officer of health at Ottawa Public Health , which fought off a sharp spike in cases in the capital in late September and early October .
He said that public health is aiming for constant improvement , though , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak , “ we need to be spending a bit more time trying to further break chains of transmission , and I think schools are one of those settings.
” Moloughney said that means upping testing in schools , with a focus on the highest-risk contacts of known cases .
“ Let 's get them tested , or more of them tested , and let ’ s see what that tells us so that can inform the next step , ” he said .
That ’ s exactly what the government just said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voluntary test campaign to reach asymptomatic students and staff where COVID-19 is running rampant , including in Toronto and Ottawa , so as to more easily track and prevent its spread in classes .
Tracing contacts of known cases has long been a challenge , but the University of Guelph ’ s Brankston said she and several peers responded to a call for volunteers to help with contact tracing early in the pandemic , but none had been called up for the labour-intensive task of trying to map transmission pathways .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do it , ” she said .
“ And I know several graduate students in epidemiology who ( volunteered and ) haven ’ t been called , ” she said .
“ There ’ s an untapped resource there.
” Marit Stiles , the Opposition NDP ’ s education critic , said the report out of Alberta adds to her party ’ s concerns about the Ontario government ’ s handle on COVID-19 transmission in schools .
“ It confirms the lack of confidence educators and parents have in Doug Ford and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect kids , teachers and staff and lessen the virus 's spread from schools to the wider community , ” she said .
Stiles said an NDP government would have capped class sizes and moved quickly to spend billions of dollars available to increase testing and improve contact tracing and screening in schools .
But while acknowledging the paucity of available data , other public health experts say Lecce is likely correct to assume low-level or modest transmission .
“ We simply are not seeing widespread outbreaks in schools , ” said Barry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health and preventive medicine residency program at the University of Toronto ’ s Dalla Lana School of Public Health .
“ There are many single cases , some with two cases , but if the numbers of students who have COVID-19 were much larger than we know of , we would actually be seeing more related morbidity and mortality inside and outside of the schools , ” he said .
Pakes advised against diverting recently approved rapid tests to schools , noting the high false positive rates in low-prevalence settings as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would really take away critical infrastructure and resources from other areas , ” he said .

The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ontario’s schools is lower per capita than in the province’s general population and in the schools of neighbouring Quebec, the government says. But is Ontario doing enough testing and contact tracing to stop possible spread of COVID-19 in schools? Stephen Lecce, the province’s education minister, has boasted in recent weeks that the Progressive Conservatives’ back-to-school strategy is working, but epidemiological studies and experts suggest it’s difficult to make that claim without more testing. A study from Alberta released last week added to mounting evidence that younger people infected with COVID-19 either show mild symptoms or none at all, meaning they could potentially be silently spreading the virus in schools and then taking it home. “I think to say schools are the safest place for kids in terms of this virus is not a statement that is backed by the evidence at this point,” said Gabrielle Brankston, a PhD student at the University of Guelph who has been compiling data on COVID-19 in Canada. Just under 36 per cent of the almost 2,000 young people who tested positive for COVID-19 during a first test in Alberta did not have any symptoms associated with the virus, according to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal last Tuesday.
That proportion of asymptomatic cases among young people is much higher than the 15 to 20 per cent range estimated in previous pediatric reviews, said Dr. Nisha Thampi from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and other medical experts who reviewed the findings. The discrepancy may be due to Alberta’s strategy of testing close contacts of known cases since early April, the study noted, but probably still doesn’t capture all the asymptomatic transmission. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “It is important to note that this is likely an underestimation of the true prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, as those without symptoms are much less likely to seek testing than those with symptoms,” authors James King, Tara Whitten, Jeffrey Bakal and Finlay McAlister wrote in the study.
The Alberta research follows a massive contact tracing study of two states in India done by Princeton and other U.S. universities that warned in September children may be key spreaders of the virus. Education Minister Stephen Lecce has boasted in recent weeks that the Progressive Conservatives’ back-to-school strategy is working, but epidemiological studies and experts suggest it’s difficult to make that claim without more testing. More testing coming to Ontario's schools Ontario recorded a record number of cases (1,855) on Friday as the province’s labs processed more than 58,000 tests the previous day, or nearly 10,000 more than the previous busiest day of the year. There have been a total of 1,180 cases in Ontario schools reported in the last 14 days, the province says, while its overall count is just under 1,400 new cases each day on average over the last week. (Around 1.5 million students are in Ontario classrooms currently, while the province has a population of about 14.5 million people.) Six Ontario schools are currently closed and 14 per cent (or 671 of 4,828 sites) have a reported case.
Public health officials say that’s not too bad. “Parents should have a fair bit of confidence in schools being as safe as possible,” said Dr. Brent Moloughney, the associate medical officer of health at Ottawa Public Health, which fought off a sharp spike in cases in the capital in late September and early October. He said that public health is aiming for constant improvement, though, and that with where we are now in the outbreak, “we need to be spending a bit more time trying to further break chains of transmission, and I think schools are one of those settings.”


nationalobserver--2020-11-30--The next act: Feds' fiscal update needs to reflect pandemic challenges ahead

Against a backdrop of a second wave of COVID-19 surging in Canada , Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland steps onto a new stage today , where she will reveal her first fiscal update following Bill Morneau ’ s resignation .
It ’ s expected the fall economic statement will update costs related to pandemic crisis spending as well as provide a look at economic projections past 2020-21 .
But just how much sticker shock are Canadians in for when they see updated deficit projections ?
The truth is , there ’ s not much suspense about what will be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side .
And while new programs with significant price tags have been announced since July –– like the changes to expand access to employment insurance ( EI ) and the new Canada Recovery Benefit ( CRB ) –– a good portion of the cost will be covered by overestimates made this summer , or is actually going to occur next fiscal year .
This fiscal update/mini budget is a chance to address the current crisis but also move into the rebuild phases of this pandemic .
If next spring holds the promise of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to use these emergency programs as prototypes for longer-term changes .
The federal government has already signalled that programs like the Canada Recovery Benefit and expanded EI will be temporary , but they should be made permanent , says @ DavidMacCdn .
# cdnpoli # COVID19 Beyond the “ safe restart ” transfer to the provinces and territories for priority areas such as child care , there have essentially been no longer-term plans despite a pledge in September ’ s throne speech to invest in a “ Canada-wide early learning and child-care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the plan for that investment so we can move quickly post-pandemic .
The federal government has already signalled that programs like the CRB and the expanded EI will be temporary , but they should be made permanent .
Why return to a system that failed to support so many workers , including low-wage and precariously employed gig workers , even before the pandemic hit ?
Covering gig workers and insecurely employed workers shouldn ’ t be only for pandemics .
If this pandemic has shown us anything , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system is in dire need of strong national standards .
New health and long-term care funding has flowed on an emergency basis through the safe restart transfers .
But why not use that as a starting point for LTC and health-care reform , instead of a one-time intervention ?
And the new Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit ( CRSB ) could become a trial run to lay the foundation for much-needed universal paid sick leave in Canada .
Employers should be bearing a portion of the cost of sick leave , which they aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the experience of a pandemic universal sick leave program could show what is needed when crafting a better plan for the long term .
The government acted quickly in the early days of the pandemic on fixes for programs like EI , which were ill-prepared to respond to a health , social and economic crisis of this scale .
But the pandemic is a preview of challenges ahead , not the final act .
The curtains should not close on things like better income supports and permanent paid sick leave .
The time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is left behind in the transition from crisis to recovery is now .
David Macdonald is a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives .

Against a backdrop of a second wave of COVID-19 surging in Canada, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland steps onto a new stage today, where she will reveal her first fiscal update following Bill Morneau’s resignation. It’s expected the fall economic statement will update costs related to pandemic crisis spending as well as provide a look at economic projections past 2020-21. But just how much sticker shock are Canadians in for when they see updated deficit projections? The truth is, there’s not much suspense about what will be in the update, at least on the deficit side. The feds projected a $343-billion deficit for 2021 during the July economic snapshot, a level of spending that hasn’t been seen since the Second World War. However, the summer snapshot tended to overestimate some program costs, meaning the new spending announced since July will be covered to some degree by those overestimates. The deficit we see Monday is unlikely to be much different.
The biggest overestimate was related to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which wasn’t taken up at nearly the rate the federal government anticipated. Cost estimates were roughly $14 billion higher than the most recent government estimates. The July snapshot also overestimated the cost of the Canada Emergency Business Account by $4.5 billion. The emergency program provides interest-free loans to small businesses and non-profits, of which 25 per cent would be forgiven under certain circumstances. Take-up rates suggest small businesses were reluctant to assume more debt, even if a portion was forgiven. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Sign-up for federal student and emergency commercial rent relief was also lower than expected, and disappointingly, provincial budgets also reveal lower take-up of the essential workers wage top-up.
The federal government has already signalled that programs like the Canada Recovery Benefit and expanded EI will be temporary, but they should be made permanent, says @DavidMacCdn. #cdnpoli #COVID19 And while new programs with significant price tags have been announced since July –– like the changes to expand access to employment insurance (EI) and the new Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) –– a good portion of the cost will be covered by overestimates made this summer, or is actually going to occur next fiscal year. This fiscal update/mini budget is a chance to address the current crisis but also move into the rebuild phases of this pandemic. If next spring holds the promise of an effective vaccine, it’s time to use these emergency programs as prototypes for longer-term changes. Beyond the “safe restart” transfer to the provinces and territories for priority areas such as child care, there have essentially been no longer-term plans despite a pledge in September’s throne speech to invest in a “Canada-wide early learning and child-care system.” Now’s the time to see the plan for that investment so we can move quickly post-pandemic. The federal government has already signalled that programs like the CRB and the expanded EI will be temporary, but they should be made permanent. Why return to a system that failed to support so many workers, including low-wage and precariously employed gig workers, even before the pandemic hit? Covering gig workers and insecurely employed workers shouldn’t be only for pandemics.
If this pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that our long-term care (LTC) system is in dire need of strong national standards. New health and long-term care funding has flowed on an emergency basis through the safe restart transfers. But why not use that as a starting point for LTC and health-care reform, instead of a one-time intervention? And the new Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) could become a trial run to lay the foundation for much-needed universal paid sick leave in Canada. Employers should be bearing a portion of the cost of sick leave, which they aren’t under the CRSB. But the experience of a pandemic universal sick leave program could show what is needed when crafting a better plan for the long term. The government acted quickly in the early days of the pandemic on fixes for programs like EI, which were ill-prepared to respond to a health, social and economic crisis of this scale. But the pandemic is a preview of challenges ahead, not the final act. The curtains should not close on things like better income supports and permanent paid sick leave. The time to make investments to ensure no one is left behind in the transition from crisis to recovery is now.


nationalobserver--2020-11-30--Economic growth can't happen until COVID-19 vaccines are ready and available

Monday ’ s fall fiscal update has analysts wondering if the federal government will be announcing stimulus measures to help a struggling economy rebound .
While the government needs to be making plans for that recovery , it is too soon to put those plans into action because the recovery can not begin until the public health crisis ends .
Recent weeks have been filled with hope that an economic recovery is over the next hill .
News of successful vaccine trials offers reasons for optimism to markets and those locked indoors that this may be coming soon .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the recovery be both green and inclusive .
However , as COVID-19 case numbers climb across Canada , it is important to remember the restart and recovery are further away than they seem .
Back in May , we argued that the coronavirus-ravaged economy was about to enter “ the climb ” : an extended period of ascents and descents before a recovery could start .
The trend line through the climb would look like a jagged mountain range , stretching at least until a vaccine was found .
It is unclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it is increasingly clear today that we are still in the middle of it .
A new proposed Canada Emergency Rent subsidy includes wage subsidies , rent support and partially forgivable credit lines for businesses until June 2021 .
The Bank of Canada ’ s quantitative easing has also provided large companies with the support needed to calm markets and maintain liquidity .
In advance of the fall fiscal update , the most important point to remember is that a recovery can not begin until the climb ends .
This only happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed .
Although the temptation to be seen taking bold action is strong , governments need to prioritize dealing with this crisis before attempting to rebuild .
If they stimulate the economy too soon , they risk causing another outbreak and deepening the length and severity of the downturn .
They need to understand that this crisis is ultimately caused by fears of the virus , and spending levels will only rebound when consumers have nothing to fear .
For now , governments must endure the peaks and valleys ahead as all alpinists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of the other , and commit all their energy to continuing the climb .
The economic decline will not end until people believe it is safe to resume their pre-COVID activities , say @ SP_Inst 's @ MikePMoffatt and @ johngmcnally .
Mike Moffatt is an assistant professor at the Ivey Business School at Western University and senior director at the Smart Prosperity Institute .
John McNally is a senior research associate at the Smart Prosperity Institute .

Monday’s fall fiscal update has analysts wondering if the federal government will be announcing stimulus measures to help a struggling economy rebound. While the government needs to be making plans for that recovery, it is too soon to put those plans into action because the recovery cannot begin until the public health crisis ends.
Recent weeks have been filled with hope that an economic recovery is over the next hill. News of successful vaccine trials offers reasons for optimism to markets and those locked indoors that this may be coming soon. When it comes, it makes economic sense that the recovery be both green and inclusive. However, as COVID-19 case numbers climb across Canada, it is important to remember the restart and recovery are further away than they seem.
Back in May, we argued that the coronavirus-ravaged economy was about to enter “the climb”: an extended period of ascents and descents before a recovery could start. The trend line through the climb would look like a jagged mountain range, stretching at least until a vaccine was found. It is unclear how long this climb would last, but it is increasingly clear today that we are still in the middle of it.
This description of a climb has spread in popularity. The International Monetary Fund, the governor of the Bank of Canada and former finance minister Bill Morneau have all argued that the economic climb we are in is rocky, uneven and long. All have issued words of caution around the need to balance fiscal supports with long-term economic health, focused on the need to ensure healthy competition and manage deficits.
This climb is due to the ongoing economic shock caused by the public health crisis. Large numbers of consumers are unwilling to go out and shop, unwilling to go to restaurants, unwilling to participate in big portions of the economy if doing so risks exposing themselves, or their loved ones, to a deadly disease. It is this fear for the safety of themselves and their loved ones, not lockdowns or other government actions, which is driving the current economic decline. That decline will not end until people believe it is safe to resume their pre-COVID activities.