nationalobserver--2020-10-09--Byelections called now due to concern over future COVID-19 risks: Trudeau

The two federal byelections underway in Toronto will continue even as cases of COVID-19 soar in the city , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says .
Byelections for Toronto Centre and York Centre are set for Oct. 26 .
Green party Leader Annamie Paul , who is running in Toronto Centre , called on Trudeau Friday to suspend the byelections on the grounds that democracy and fairness to voters are in jeopardy as the city faces its highest-ever case totals of COVID-19 .
`` I 'm sure that any candidate running in either one of those byelections feels the same way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the conditions under which you can have a free , fair and , above all , safe election , '' Paul said .
Trudeau said he made the decision to call the votes now because he worried putting them off any longer could be even more dangerous .
`` We made a determination that moving forward quickly on these byelections was probably the safest thing to do , '' he said .
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• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American-style fascism , says Cornel West • Greens still feel ‘ hurt and confusion ’ over NDP attacks last election , says Paul He said by law he had to set the dates for both byelections within six months of the seats being vacated , which for both seats means by the end of February .
Former finance minister Bill Morneau resigned as Toronto Centre 's MP on Aug. 21 , and Liberal Michael Levitt stepped down as the MP for York Centre on Sept. 1 .
Toronto reported more than 300 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province imposed new restrictions on restaurants , bars , gyms and other public gatherings to try to force people to reduce their in-person activities and slow the spread of the virus .
Paul says there are low-income and racialized neighbourhoods in Toronto Centre that are among the hardest hit and asking people to participate in a byelection now is unwise and undemocratic .
She said people can not properly engage with potential candidates and may have to put themselves at risk to vote .
She said Trudeau 's decision not to call the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in danger and contradicts public health advice .
Under the Canada Elections Act , an election or byelection can be called off if holding it would be impractical due to `` flood , fire or other disaster . ''
The chief electoral officer can make a recommendation that an election be cancelled , but it is up to the prime minister and cabinet to make the call to do so .
`` We made a determination that moving forward quickly on these byelections was probably the safest thing to do , ” Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General would formally be the one to call off an election , on the advice of cabinet .
That power has never been used in Canada , though at the provincial level similar powers have been .
That includes most recently in Prince Edward Island , when the vote in one riding during the 2019 election was delayed several weeks after one of the candidates died in the middle of the campaign .
Deciding whether an election is impractical would be based on safety of voters and poll workers , how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be hard to get enough poll workers and polling places to run properly and how long the disruption could last .
If the election were called off it would have to be rescheduled within three months , which would mean by late January for the October votes .
A spokeswoman for Elections Canada chief Stéphane Perrault said Friday the agency is monitoring the situation and that he is in contact with public health and local returning officers in both ridings .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. @ @ @ @

The two federal byelections underway in Toronto will continue even as cases of COVID-19 soar in the city, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. Byelections for Toronto Centre and York Centre are set for Oct. 26. Green party Leader Annamie Paul, who is running in Toronto Centre, called on Trudeau Friday to suspend the byelections on the grounds that democracy and fairness to voters are in jeopardy as the city faces its highest-ever case totals of COVID-19. "I'm sure that any candidate running in either one of those byelections feels the same way I do, that these are just not the conditions under which you can have a free, fair and, above all, safe election," Paul said. Trudeau said he made the decision to call the votes now because he worried putting them off any longer could be even more dangerous. "We made a determination that moving forward quickly on these byelections was probably the safest thing to do," he said.
He said by law he had to set the dates for both byelections within six months of the seats being vacated, which for both seats means by the end of February. Former finance minister Bill Morneau resigned as Toronto Centre's MP on Aug. 21, and Liberal Michael Levitt stepped down as the MP for York Centre on Sept. 1. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Toronto reported more than 300 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, and the province imposed new restrictions on restaurants, bars, gyms and other public gatherings to try to force people to reduce their in-person activities and slow the spread of the virus.
Paul says there are low-income and racialized neighbourhoods in Toronto Centre that are among the hardest hit and asking people to participate in a byelection now is unwise and undemocratic. She said people cannot properly engage with potential candidates and may have to put themselves at risk to vote. "We made a determination that moving forward quickly on these byelections was probably the safest thing to do,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. She said Trudeau's decision not to call the byelections off for now is putting people in danger and contradicts public health advice. Under the Canada Elections Act, an election or byelection can be called off if holding it would be impractical due to "flood, fire or other disaster." The chief electoral officer can make a recommendation that an election be cancelled, but it is up to the prime minister and cabinet to make the call to do so. The Governor General would formally be the one to call off an election, on the advice of cabinet. That power has never been used in Canada, though at the provincial level similar powers have been. That includes most recently in Prince Edward Island, when the vote in one riding during the 2019 election was delayed several weeks after one of the candidates died in the middle of the campaign.
Deciding whether an election is impractical would be based on safety of voters and poll workers, how many people in a riding are affected, whether it would be hard to get enough poll workers and polling places to run properly and how long the disruption could last. If the election were called off it would have to be rescheduled within three months, which would mean by late January for the October votes. A spokeswoman for Elections Canada chief Stéphane Perrault said Friday the agency is monitoring the situation and that he is in contact with public health and local returning officers in both ridings.


nationalobserver--2020-10-09--Former top spy calls for royal commission on disinformation, fears rising intolerance

The former head of Canada 's spy agency is calling for an independent royal commission into deepening disinformation — a frightening trend he says risks polarizing the public and destabilizing our democracy .
Richard Fadden , former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service ( CSIS ) , called for the national commission in a public conversation with Canada 's National Observer on Thursday .
Placing responsibility for a disinformation probe with an independent public body would allay widespread public sentiment that governments should not be in the business of telling people what to read or media what to print @ @ @ @ @ @ @ royal commission would be able to scrutinize the issue , determine the depth of the problem and raise public awareness .
`` I know royal commissions are n't viewed with great favour these days , '' Fadden said .
`` But they do have the advantage ( of being ) independent .
They 're public , everybody has their say , they get a fair bit of media coverage , and even if their recommendations do n't find universal support , the fact they 've gone through this system of hearings ... You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Canadians are willing to give the government `` some leeway to deal with their access to information — and the quality of that information — during elections , '' Fadden added .
But outside of the election cycle , most people would not take kindly to direct government control over what information media is allowed to print or broadcast , he said .
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• All the elements are in place for American-style @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still feel ‘ hurt and confusion ’ over NDP attacks last election , says Paul `` I do believe that 's happened in other countries — I believe they are called authoritarian countries , '' he said .
Thursday 's event helped mark the fifth anniversary of Canada 's National Observer and was timed to its release of an in-depth report examining political disinformation in Canada titled Digital Fractures : Disinformation , Democracy and the Media .
Fadden said the report raises important questions about the media 's role in combating disinformation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have somebody who 's an expert in this general area , '' he said .
`` I do n't think , across the board , the media is doing that . ''
In his wide-ranging conversation with Linda Solomon Wood , editor-in-chief of Canada 's National Observer , Fadden said his greatest fear as an intelligence expert is the rise in extreme polarization and intolerance at the same time as dangerous , unstable imbalances deepen among global superpowers .
Those trends are worsened by widespread misinformation , particularly online , that government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he explained .
Disinformation threatens the very fabric of society , whether it is disseminated during or outside of election periods , Fadden said .
The damaging effects are the same , he added , regardless of whether the disinformation is being shared on extremist websites and social media pages , or driven covertly by foreign governments such as Russia or China .
In a conversation with Canada 's National Observer , former CSIS director Richard Fadden argued a royal commission would be able to scrutinize the issue of # disinformation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raise public awareness .
`` I do n't mean to exaggerate , but democracy is not going to work unless people are able to compromise , dialogue and talk .
It seems to me there 's rather less of that , '' Fadden said .
Fadden left his post as Canada 's CSIS director in 2013 and became the country 's deputy minister of national defence .
He served as national security adviser to prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper until his retirement four years ago .
Disinformation is fuelling the polarization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fadden said , and Canada is not immune .
He cited the 2017 Quebec mosque massacre , the 2014 Parliament Hill shootings and other high-profile incidents as alarming wake-up calls for the country .
The schisms are even more pronounced in the United States , he said .
`` Even within the U.S. , the Democrats and Republicans can barely speak to each other , '' Fadden explained .
`` Trump is so unpredictable that he might push the wrong policy button — I do n't mean the nuclear button — that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' CSIS and other world intelligence agencies have sounded the alarm about the rise of extreme far-right organizations , Fadden said , but the groups are difficult to track because they have excellent measures to cloak members ' communications and identities .
Canadians often downplay extremism here at home as the work of a `` couple nutbars , '' he said , possibly because they are n't fully aware of the scope of the problem .
Fadden said he wishes intelligence-gathering agencies in Canada were slightly more honest with the public about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disinformation and foreign interference .
As CSIS director , Fadden said he pushed for more transparency but was rebuffed .
`` It 's not one of our strong suits in Canada , '' he admitted .
`` We have a very strong ethos of not talking about national security issues . ''
Fadden believes discussing important threats poses no risk to national security so long as the information released publicly is broad and general .
When he headed CSIS , Fadden said he repeatedly warned Canadians about the undue influence of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency held concerns about foreign influence on several elected officials in Canada without naming a country behind the alleged influence .
However , a federal review by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians released last March named China directly , saying despite CSIS 's years of warnings , the government had acted too slowly , leaving Canada an “ attractive and permissive target ” for `` significant and sustained '' Chinese interference .
Fadden said when it comes to China , the government may have to get more involved in squelching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptance now in the West that China has an extraordinarily aggressive series of programs to collect information and to interfere in our societies , '' he said .
`` They 're very keen on simply driving wedges because anywhere you can cause a bit of chaos makes it easier for you to advance your policies … The government of Canada has been too tolerant of these sorts of things . ''
This interview is part of Conversations with Linda Solomon Wood , sponsored by Canada 's National Observer .
Conversations features topics around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change .
If you 'd like advanced notice about our fall lineup , subscribe here .
To see all of the interviews in the Conversations series on video , head over to our YouTube channel .

The former head of Canada's spy agency is calling for an independent royal commission into deepening disinformation — a frightening trend he says risks polarizing the public and destabilizing our democracy. Richard Fadden, former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), called for the national commission in a public conversation with Canada's National Observer on Thursday. Placing responsibility for a disinformation probe with an independent public body would allay widespread public sentiment that governments should not be in the business of telling people what to read or media what to print, Fadden said. He argued a royal commission would be able to scrutinize the issue, determine the depth of the problem and raise public awareness. Video of Former CSIS head Richard Fadden, "Information is the underpinning of democracy" Former CSIS director Richard Fadden talks with Linda Solomon Wood
"I know royal commissions aren't viewed with great favour these days," Fadden said. "But they do have the advantage (of being) independent. They're public, everybody has their say, they get a fair bit of media coverage, and even if their recommendations don't find universal support, the fact they've gone through this system of hearings ... You could get a bit of a groundswell." Canadians are willing to give the government "some leeway to deal with their access to information — and the quality of that information — during elections," Fadden added. But outside of the election cycle, most people would not take kindly to direct government control over what information media is allowed to print or broadcast, he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "I do believe that's happened in other countries — I believe they are called authoritarian countries," he said.
Thursday's event helped mark the fifth anniversary of Canada's National Observer and was timed to its release of an in-depth report examining political disinformation in Canada titled Digital Fractures: Disinformation, Democracy and the Media. In a conversation with Canada's National Observer, former CSIS director Richard Fadden argued a royal commission would be able to scrutinize the issue of #disinformation, determine the depth of the problem and raise public awareness. Fadden said the report raises important questions about the media's role in combating disinformation. "Every newsroom, however defined, should have somebody who's an expert in this general area," he said. "I don't think, across the board, the media is doing that." In his wide-ranging conversation with Linda Solomon Wood, editor-in-chief of Canada's National Observer, Fadden said his greatest fear as an intelligence expert is the rise in extreme polarization and intolerance at the same time as dangerous, unstable imbalances deepen among global superpowers. Those trends are worsened by widespread misinformation, particularly online, that government and media are currently unprepared to handle, he explained. Disinformation threatens the very fabric of society, whether it is disseminated during or outside of election periods, Fadden said. The damaging effects are the same, he added, regardless of whether the disinformation is being shared on extremist websites and social media pages, or driven covertly by foreign governments such as Russia or China.
"I don't mean to exaggerate, but democracy is not going to work unless people are able to compromise, dialogue and talk. It seems to me there's rather less of that," Fadden said. Fadden left his post as Canada's CSIS director in 2013 and became the country's deputy minister of national defence. He served as national security adviser to prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper until his retirement four years ago. Disinformation is fuelling the polarization that many Western societies are experiencing, Fadden said, and Canada is not immune. He cited the 2017 Quebec mosque massacre, the 2014 Parliament Hill shootings and other high-profile incidents as alarming wake-up calls for the country.


nationalobserver--2020-10-09--Youth in Ontario struggled to find work in September. And the work they do, just got shut down

Young people are struggling to regain jobs lost to COVID-19 much more than older workers , Statistics Canada data showed on Friday , just as the Ford government sharply restricted the industries where they make up larger chunks of the Ontario workforce .
As of midnight Saturday , restaurants and bars will no longer be allowed to serve food inside in Toronto and the neighbouring Peel region as well as Ottawa , where most of the province ’ s recent uptick in COVID-19 cases has occurred , the provincial government said .
Food courts in malls and gyms and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as will cinemas , live venues and casinos .
The closures will likely wipe out the tepid jobs recovery in retail and hospitality that happened when restrictions were eased over the summer .
These are jobs often done by younger people , and are generally lower-paying than many clerical and administrative jobs that can be performed remotely .
The monthly federal jobs data released on Friday showed that Canadian youth employment was still 10 per cent below where it was in February , despite 62,000 more young women and 66,000 more young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been much slower for younger people than others .
Young people had a harder time finding work in September , @ StatCan_eng showed on Friday , and in @ fordnation 's Ontario , they 'll now find it harder still with sharp COVID-19 curbs on their lines of work Some economists have started to warn of a K-shaped economic recovery , with some workers able to keep earning during social restrictions and others at risk of sickness or job loss with every spike in cases .
Ontario reported 939 new cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record highs , as it worked through a backlog of test results .
The province forced people who had been waiting in hours-long lines at testing centres to book appointments for COVID-19 tests starting earlier this week because it could not keep up with demand .
Youth in Ontario and Alberta and young Canadians of colour hit hardest The youth unemployment rate in Ontario was the second highest in the country , at 24.2 per cent for males and 21.7 per cent for females .
Only Alberta youth fared worse , with around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work there .
There were 99,000 fewer young people working in accommodation and food services in September compared to a year earlier , Statistics Canada said in the jobs data .
That is a 20 per cent decline from a year ago in an industry that typically accounts for one-fifth of youth employment .
Ontario ’ s modified Stage 2 restrictions will be in place for at least four weeks and reviewed for possible extension .
Overall , more than three-quarters of the jobs lost in Canada when the pandemic led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now been recovered , with the data showing a solid gain of 378,000 jobs in the month .
Schools reopened for most students by mid-September , and almost two-thirds of young Canadians were enrolled in school , a similar portion as last year , but under a very different mix of online and in-person classes .
The unemployment rate for non-white youth saw a bigger improvement , but remained higher than for white youth , at 24.7 per cent for Indigenous and visible minority youth and 15.4 per cent for white youth .

Young people are struggling to regain jobs lost to COVID-19 much more than older workers, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday, just as the Ford government sharply restricted the industries where they make up larger chunks of the Ontario workforce. As of midnight Saturday, restaurants and bars will no longer be allowed to serve food inside in Toronto and the neighbouring Peel region as well as Ottawa, where most of the province’s recent uptick in COVID-19 cases has occurred, the provincial government said. Food courts in malls and gyms and other indoor fitness centres will shut their doors, as will cinemas, live venues and casinos. Younger people were much more likely to be unemployed in September, national data shows. Source: Statistics Canada
The government’s chief medical officer sought to present the need for the closures as due to individuals breaking rules, while critics have complained that the Progressive Conservatives were too eager to boost the economy without spending enough to make it safe. “If everyone had adhered (to the public health guidance) ... these types of public health measures would not have been necessary,” Dr. David Williams said at a news conference. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The level of buck-passing and victim blaming from this government is infuriating! https://t.co/Ip2frwj6jL — GordPerks (@gordperks) October 9, 2020
The closures will likely wipe out the tepid jobs recovery in retail and hospitality that happened when restrictions were eased over the summer. Young people had a harder time finding work in September, @StatCan_eng showed on Friday, and in @fordnation's Ontario, they'll now find it harder still with sharp COVID-19 curbs on their lines of work These are jobs often done by younger people, and are generally lower-paying than many clerical and administrative jobs that can be performed remotely. The monthly federal jobs data released on Friday showed that Canadian youth employment was still 10 per cent below where it was in February, despite 62,000 more young women and 66,000 more young men working. The pace of recovery has been much slower for younger people than others. Some economists have started to warn of a K-shaped economic recovery, with some workers able to keep earning during social restrictions and others at risk of sickness or job loss with every spike in cases. Ontario reported 939 new cases on Friday and 797 on Thursday, both record highs, as it worked through a backlog of test results. The province forced people who had been waiting in hours-long lines at testing centres to book appointments for COVID-19 tests starting earlier this week because it could not keep up with demand.
Youth in Ontario and Alberta and young Canadians of colour hit hardest The youth unemployment rate in Ontario was the second highest in the country, at 24.2 per cent for males and 21.7 per cent for females. Only Alberta youth fared worse, with around a quarter of both young groups out of work there.


nationalobserver--2020-10-10--Feds double pandemic aid for food banks

Feds double pandemic aid for food banks

The federal government doubled the amount of pandemic aid for Canada 's food banks on Friday .
Another $ 100 million is being added to the Emergency Food Security Fund so food banks , related agencies and Indigenous organizations can keep helping struggling Canadians put food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` They do remarkable work supporting vulnerable Canadians every day and that includes this Thanksgiving weekend , '' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday in Ottawa .
The money follows another $ 100 million that started that fund in April .
Lori Nikkel , CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money was hugely helpful but has long since been exhausted .
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`` The need continues to be incredible , '' said Nikkel .
The first phase of the program funded 1,800 projects , providing an estimated six million meals to two million Canadians .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be distributed among its network of more than 600 food banks and 3,000 food agencies , such as breakfast programs and community service agencies .
Most of the rest was shared between Community Food Centres Canada , Breakfast Club of Canada , the Salvation Army and Second Harvest , which connects surplus food from farmers , retailers , restaurants and food processors , with food banks and community agencies .
The financial turmoil the pandemic caused for families left one in seven Canadian homes without enough food to eat in May .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were considered food insecure in May .
Nikkel said the funds helped buy food , as well as pay for protective equipment and staff .
Many food bank volunteers are seniors , who had to stop volunteering because they are at high risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19 .
Trudeau participated in a virtual town hall with food-bank operators Thursday night , where he said he understands that as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach , food banks will be under more pressure to feed those who ca n't afford groceries , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes to get them .
In recent days , more than 1.3 million pounds of surplus turkey was shipped to food banks and agencies across Canada .
The federal government doubled the amount of pandemic aid for Canada 's food banks on Friday , October 9 , 2020 .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9 , 2020 .

The federal government doubled the amount of pandemic aid for Canada's food banks on Friday. Another $100 million is being added to the Emergency Food Security Fund so food banks, related agencies and Indigenous organizations can keep helping struggling Canadians put food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic. "They do remarkable work supporting vulnerable Canadians every day and that includes this Thanksgiving weekend," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday in Ottawa. The money follows another $100 million that started that fund in April. Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest in Toronto, said that money was hugely helpful but has long since been exhausted.
"The need continues to be incredible," said Nikkel. The first phase of the program funded 1,800 projects, providing an estimated six million meals to two million Canadians. Half went to Food Banks Canada to be distributed among its network of more than 600 food banks and 3,000 food agencies, such as breakfast programs and community service agencies. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Most of the rest was shared between Community Food Centres Canada, Breakfast Club of Canada, the Salvation Army and Second Harvest, which connects surplus food from farmers, retailers, restaurants and food processors, with food banks and community agencies.
The financial turmoil the pandemic caused for families left one in seven Canadian homes without enough food to eat in May. In homes with children, one in five were considered food insecure in May.


nationalobserver--2020-10-10--COVID-19 cases and deaths surge

COVID-19 cases and deaths surge

Canadians began the Thanksgiving long weekend amid a surging second wave that pushed public health officials to roll back some businesses and tighten COVID-19 measures in several hotspots .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Friday the nation was `` at a tipping point in this pandemic '' as he released new projections that suggested the death toll could reach 9,800 by end of next week without immediate efforts to curtail outings and gatherings .
`` Not only is the second wave underway , yesterday we hit the highest daily recorded cases — well above what we saw this spring , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency funds for food banks , groups serving vulnerable communities , and businesses that ca n't make rent .
`` I know this is discouraging , especially going into Thanksgiving weekend .
But remember this : when things were at their bleakest during the first wave , Canadians pulled together and flattened the curve . ''
As of Friday afternoon , there were 177,719 confirmed cases and 9,586 deaths in Canada .
New modelling suggested there could be as many as 197,830 cases by Oct. 17 , with cases rising most rapidly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All the elements are in place for American-style fascism , says Cornel West • What good is a single-use plastics ban if it does n't include water bottles ?
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Ontario notched yet another daily record with 939 new cases , 336 of them in Toronto , 150 in Peel Region and 126 in Ottawa .
But five new deaths and a worrying increase in hospitalizations to 225 from 192 patients brought in tighter restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ford closed gyms , movie theatres and casinos and banned indoor dining , and asked people to stay home as much as possible for at least 28 days .
`` All trends are going in the wrong direction .
Left unchecked , we risk worst-case scenarios first seen in Italy and New York City , '' said Ford , noting the number of contacts for every confirmed case has exploded , `` sometimes in the thousands . ''
`` Hospitalizations , and the number of people in intensive care have increased by 250 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ontario ICU , intensive care unit , admissions are predicted to more than triple in less than 30 days .
Our hospitals will be overwhelmed and we ca n't let this happen . ''
Next door in Quebec , more than 1,000 infections emerged for the seventh time in eight days .
Premier Francois Legault asked Quebecers to make sacrifices and avoid socializing over the long weekend as 433 more people landed in hospital — up eight patients from the day before , with 67 people in intensive care , one less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Thanksgiving long weekend amid a surging second wave that pushed public health officials to roll back some businesses and tighten COVID-19 measures in several hotspots .
Harsh warnings were also issued in New Brunswick , where surges in Moncton and Campbellton pushed each region into an orange alert level and forced the closures of gyms , cinemas , casinos , spas and barbers .
N.B .
public health officials reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 , including one involving a Campbellton high school that was temporarily closed for cleaning and contact tracing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also cancelled as 18 employees remained in isolation either because they had COVID-19 or were close contacts .
Trudeau urged Canadians to do everything they could to slow the virus in coming weeks , acknowledging that Thanksgiving would have to be a curtailed affair .
`` We are all committing together to do everything we can to slow the spread of the virus over the coming weeks , so that we can have a chance to get together in person at Christmas with our loved ones , '' Trudeau said in French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past week ending Oct. 8 reached 244 , according to a Canadian Press tally of daily statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada .
That is more than the total number of deaths in the previous five weeks combined , and the largest weekly death toll since June 18 reached 294 deaths .
The highest single week tally of deaths was the first seven days of May , with 1,198 deaths .
COVID-19 also continued to spike in Manitoba , where officials reported 84 new cases — 64 of them in Winnipeg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Winnipeg long-term care homes .
The capital city was put under tighter restrictions on Sept. 28 in a bid to stem the rising numbers .
Earlier Friday , Trudeau discussed a range of measures to boost the social safety net while also touting 378,000 jobs added in September when many Canadians were able to return to work as children returned to school .

Canadians began the Thanksgiving long weekend amid a surging second wave that pushed public health officials to roll back some businesses and tighten COVID-19 measures in several hotspots. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Friday the nation was "at a tipping point in this pandemic" as he released new projections that suggested the death toll could reach 9,800 by end of next week without immediate efforts to curtail outings and gatherings. "Not only is the second wave underway, yesterday we hit the highest daily recorded cases — well above what we saw this spring," Trudeau said as he also announced emergency funds for food banks, groups serving vulnerable communities, and businesses that can't make rent. "I know this is discouraging, especially going into Thanksgiving weekend. But remember this: when things were at their bleakest during the first wave, Canadians pulled together and flattened the curve." As of Friday afternoon, there were 177,719 confirmed cases and 9,586 deaths in Canada. New modelling suggested there could be as many as 197,830 cases by Oct. 17, with cases rising most rapidly in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.
Ontario notched yet another daily record with 939 new cases, 336 of them in Toronto, 150 in Peel Region and 126 in Ottawa. But five new deaths and a worrying increase in hospitalizations to 225 from 192 patients brought in tighter restrictions in the three hotspots. Premier Doug Ford closed gyms, movie theatres and casinos and banned indoor dining, and asked people to stay home as much as possible for at least 28 days. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "All trends are going in the wrong direction. Left unchecked, we risk worst-case scenarios first seen in Italy and New York City," said Ford, noting the number of contacts for every confirmed case has exploded, "sometimes in the thousands."
"Hospitalizations, and the number of people in intensive care have increased by 250 per cent. If current trends continue, Ontario ICU, intensive care unit, admissions are predicted to more than triple in less than 30 days. Our hospitals will be overwhelmed and we can't let this happen." Canadians began the Thanksgiving long weekend amid a surging second wave that pushed public health officials to roll back some businesses and tighten COVID-19 measures in several hotspots. Next door in Quebec, more than 1,000 infections emerged for the seventh time in eight days. Premier Francois Legault asked Quebecers to make sacrifices and avoid socializing over the long weekend as 433 more people landed in hospital — up eight patients from the day before, with 67 people in intensive care, one less than the day before. Harsh warnings were also issued in New Brunswick, where surges in Moncton and Campbellton pushed each region into an orange alert level and forced the closures of gyms, cinemas, casinos, spas and barbers. N.B. public health officials reported 13 new cases of COVID-19, including one involving a Campbellton high school that was temporarily closed for cleaning and contact tracing. Visits to the Campbellton Regional Hospital were also cancelled as 18 employees remained in isolation either because they had COVID-19 or were close contacts.
Trudeau urged Canadians to do everything they could to slow the virus in coming weeks, acknowledging that Thanksgiving would have to be a curtailed affair. "We are all committing together to do everything we can to slow the spread of the virus over the coming weeks, so that we can have a chance to get together in person at Christmas with our loved ones," Trudeau said in French. The number of deaths over the past week ending Oct. 8 reached 244, according to a Canadian Press tally of daily statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada.


Liberals revamp rent-relief

The Trudeau Liberals sought Friday to get ahead of growing economic concerns linked to rising COVID-19 case counts , vowing new and revamped business supports to keep workers on payrolls and maintain job gains threatened by the pandemic 's second wave .
The government plans to provide direct rent support to commercial tenants at a projected cost of $ 2.2 billion through the end of the year , rather than flowing the money through landlords who were not keen on a previous version of the program .
A wage subsidy program will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 6 billion over that time , and $ 11 billion more to a well-used loan program by providing an added $ 20,000 , half of which would be forgivable .
Even though many businesses have reopened , a number are not at full capacity while others worry about surviving a second wave .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government wants to help companies hang on , and keep their workers employed .
Job growth in Canada accelerated rather than slowed down last month , as the economy added 378,000 jobs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 720,000 of pre-pandemic levels , and dropping the unemployment rate to nine per cent .
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Still , there were 1.8 million Canadians unemployed in September , with about 1.5 million of them looking for work .
Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it included people who wanted a job , but did n't look for work , in its calculation .
The growth in overall job numbers for workers hit hardest by losses earlier this year , such as those in the service sector and visible minorities , are now at risk as local lockdowns loom , said Trevin Stratton , chief economist with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce .
Losses for those groups could further strain a K-shaped recovery , where some sectors of the economy and workers fare well , and others do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re entering this second wave , that 's where we 're seeing this split take place , '' Stratton said .
`` We can ’ t use a one-sized-fits-all policy response to this . ''
The government opted for targeted relief in this second wave to help companies most in need , said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland .
The rent-relief program , for example , will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible expenses for businesses , charities and non-profits on a sliding scale with income losses , with a top-up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would cover up to 90 per cent of costs .
The government plans to provide direct rent support to commercial tenants at a projected cost of $ 2.2 billion through the end of the year , rather than flowing the money through landlords who were not keen on a previous version of the program .
`` This is not for everyone .
Some businesses are able to work at full capacity despite COVID-19 and they are doing well and that 's great , '' Freeland said Friday .
`` This support is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted for those who need it most . ''
While NDP small business critic Gord Johns was pleased with the new program , he urged the government to backdate funding so tenants in arrears or steeped in debt could get relief their landlords had refused .
Dan Kelly , president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business , said it was critical for federal and provincial governments to immediately get the welcomed economic supports to affected firms with closures seemingly imminent .
Threatened by surging case counts are gains for restaurant workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September .
That is still 188,000 jobs shy of where it was in February before widespread closures of non-essential businesses .
With winter on its way , outdoor dining may be impractical in some cities , leaving fewer patrons at local bars , pubs and restaurants , even as Canadians are already planning on cutting spending in the area , Statistics Canada said .
`` One of the key questions is n't just what happens in areas like the restaurant industry , but whether the jitters that might show up there spread over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brendon Bernard , an economist with job-posting website Indeed.com .
There are also jitters over the state of the `` she-covery , '' which in September seemed to catch up with the `` he-covery '' as mothers and fathers had employment levels that matched what was recorded pre-pandemic as their children went back to school .
Statistics Canada noted a greater share of mothers than fathers worked less than half their usual hours in September , and a higher percentage of mothers than fathers reported working from home in the month , suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Trudeau Liberals sought Friday to get ahead of growing economic concerns linked to rising COVID-19 case counts, vowing new and revamped business supports to keep workers on payrolls and maintain job gains threatened by the pandemic's second wave. The government plans to provide direct rent support to commercial tenants at a projected cost of $2.2 billion through the end of the year, rather than flowing the money through landlords who were not keen on a previous version of the program. A wage subsidy program will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible costs through December, costing the treasury $6 billion over that time, and $11 billion more to a well-used loan program by providing an added $20,000, half of which would be forgivable. Even though many businesses have reopened, a number are not at full capacity while others worry about surviving a second wave. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government wants to help companies hang on, and keep their workers employed. Job growth in Canada accelerated rather than slowed down last month, as the economy added 378,000 jobs in September, bringing overall employment to within 720,000 of pre-pandemic levels, and dropping the unemployment rate to nine per cent.
Still, there were 1.8 million Canadians unemployed in September, with about 1.5 million of them looking for work. Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate would have been 11.9 per cent in September had it included people who wanted a job, but didn't look for work, in its calculation. The growth in overall job numbers for workers hit hardest by losses earlier this year, such as those in the service sector and visible minorities, are now at risk as local lockdowns loom, said Trevin Stratton, chief economist with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Losses for those groups could further strain a K-shaped recovery, where some sectors of the economy and workers fare well, and others do not.
"Now that we’re entering this second wave, that's where we're seeing this split take place," Stratton said. "We can’t use a one-sized-fits-all policy response to this." The government plans to provide direct rent support to commercial tenants at a projected cost of $2.2 billion through the end of the year, rather than flowing the money through landlords who were not keen on a previous version of the program. The government opted for targeted relief in this second wave to help companies most in need, said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. The rent-relief program, for example, will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible expenses for businesses, charities and non-profits on a sliding scale with income losses, with a top-up for those closed by public health orders that would cover up to 90 per cent of costs. "This is not for everyone. Some businesses are able to work at full capacity despite COVID-19 and they are doing well and that's great," Freeland said Friday. "This support is not designed for them. These measures are targeted for those who need it most."
While NDP small business critic Gord Johns was pleased with the new program, he urged the government to backdate funding so tenants in arrears or steeped in debt could get relief their landlords had refused. Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said it was critical for federal and provincial governments to immediately get the welcomed economic supports to affected firms with closures seemingly imminent. Threatened by surging case counts are gains for restaurant workers, whose industry saw a 72,000 increase in September. That is still 188,000 jobs shy of where it was in February before widespread closures of non-essential businesses.


nationalobserver--2020-10-13--These two tiny Canadian communities ditched single-use plastics long ago

Two tiny B.C .
island communities are well ahead of the curve when it comes to the federal government ’ s move to ban single-use plastics .
The Liberal government said Wednesday that plastic grocery store bags , straws , stir sticks , six-pack rings , cutlery and takeout food containers made from hard-to-recycle plastics will be phased out by the end of 2021 .
The move was a step towards the federal government ’ s goal to have zero plastic waste by 2030 .
The six items were targeted first because they ’ re readily found in the environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternatives exist , said federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson .
But most of the items on Ottawa ’ s plastic hit list are already pretty much non-existent on Quadra and Cortes islands , two small coastal communities wedged between Vancouver Island and the B.C .
mainland .
Businesses on Quadra abandoned single-use plastic bags close to a decade ago , and most use biodegradable or recyclable takeout products , said Susan Westren of Sierra Quadra , an environmental group on the island .
“ We ’ ve left everyone in the dust , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , ” said Westren , adding nobody mandated the move to reduce plastic waste on Quadra .
“ All it took was a small number of people to organize this , but in bigger centres , I guess that ’ s not possible.
” Westren and Sierra Quadra members Judy Leicester and Robyn Budd approached all the businesses on the island and held a community forum to get input on the proposed change .
Though there was a bit of initial reluctance from grocery stores , the businesses agreed to carry the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to bringing in the recyclable bags , Tru Value Foods stores made the switch to paper grocery bags as well .
“ We ’ ve left everyone in the dust , and we did it a long time ago , ” said Susan Westren , who worked to eliminate single-use plastics on B.C .
's Quadra Island prior to the federal government 's new ban .
Both consumers and businesses on the island adapted to the change readily , said Westren .
“ I think it ’ s because there 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island , and because we were so persuasive , ” she said .
Quadra restaurants were also prepared when there was a big shift to takeout food during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ I must say that the island has been pretty amazing in terms of using biodegradable takeout containers , coffee cups and those sort of things .
Except the lids , but they can be recycled , ” Westren said .
“ I think that is also unusual because they ’ ve been doing that for quite a long time as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that COVID-19 is with us , there ’ s been so much more ( container ) use.
” Quadra restaurant owner Dave Tolley said his business already meets the federal government 's future regulations banning single-use plastics .
Photo by Rochelle Baker Dave Tolley , co-owner of Café Aroma on Quadra , agreed the pandemic has driven up demand for single-use containers dramatically .
But Tolley figures he ’ s already in compliance with the future ban because he has biodegradable takeout products in place .
And he ’ s also constantly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite the added cost .
“ It ’ s a personal choice for us , ” he said , adding that as a consumer himself , he considers packaging when buying products .
“ I just don ’ t want something that ’ s not going to break down , ” Tolley said .
“ And as far as the cost , we 're always trying to find the best product , and then research how to make it more financially viable.
” Even selecting items for the café 's menu takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d need , he said .
Tolley agrees with the federal plastics ban which he believes will encourage manufacturing changes and better recycling systems , and adds it 's not an onerous change for most restaurants .
“ I 'm surprised ( the list ) was as limited as it was , ” Tolley said .
The long delay in implementing the plastic ban is probably because the government understands the huge financial hit the restaurant industry has experienced with the pandemic , Tolley added .
“ I mean , if your business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're just trying to save costs anywhere you can , keeping the doors open might be temporarily more important than paying extra for packaging , ” he said .
Eric Hargrave , general manager of Cortes Natural Food Co-op , said one of the co-op 's original goals was to reduce packaging .
The business constantly looks for ways to reduce waste — plastic or otherwise — in the store , bakery and café , he said .
The co-op doesn ’ t have single-use grocery bags , and other stores on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either , Hargrave said .
While the co-op makes great effort to find environmentally friendly packaging to replace plastic , truly green products — from the start of the production cycle to the end of use — are still scarce , he added .
The co-op relies on paper bags , cardboard boxes , glass jars , waxed paper and recyclable cutlery for most of its food items , but all of them have certain limitations , he added .
For example , the store did a trial run of containers made from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t come with a lid , Hargrave said .
The co-op also uses cups and takeout containers that are considered compostable , but that ’ s tricky on an island without an industrial facility , he said .
“ They don ’ t really work here because most people use their home composts , and those can ’ t go in there , ” he said .
Of the limited ecological packaging choices available , fewer still are affordable and accessible to businesses on a remote island , he added .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the takeaway market , the co-op is considering shifting to cutlery made from birch trees , said Hargrave .
But there ’ s always the problem of added cost , he noted .
“ We have talked about charging for packaging , if for no other reason to make people aware that there actually is a cost to it and discourage its use , ” he said .
Tolley said while he has been proactive about trying to curb single-use plastics , most consumers want businesses to take those steps .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more if they know the packaging is environmentally friendly , he said .
“ If we didn ’ t do it , I ’ m sure people on Quadra would call us out on it for sure , ” Tolley said .
Plus , the last thing a restaurant or store on the island wants to see is their plastic waste or cups littering the side of the roads or highways , he said .
“ That ’ s not the kind of marketing that any business needs .
”

Two tiny B.C. island communities are well ahead of the curve when it comes to the federal government’s move to ban single-use plastics. The Liberal government said Wednesday that plastic grocery store bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and takeout food containers made from hard-to-recycle plastics will be phased out by the end of 2021. The move was a step towards the federal government’s goal to have zero plastic waste by 2030. The six items were targeted first because they’re readily found in the environment and often not recycled, and available alternatives exist, said federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. But most of the items on Ottawa’s plastic hit list are already pretty much non-existent on Quadra and Cortes islands, two small coastal communities wedged between Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland.
Businesses on Quadra abandoned single-use plastic bags close to a decade ago, and most use biodegradable or recyclable takeout products, said Susan Westren of Sierra Quadra, an environmental group on the island. “We’ve left everyone in the dust, and we did it a long time ago,” said Westren, adding nobody mandated the move to reduce plastic waste on Quadra. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “All it took was a small number of people to organize this, but in bigger centres, I guess that’s not possible.”
Westren and Sierra Quadra members Judy Leicester and Robyn Budd approached all the businesses on the island and held a community forum to get input on the proposed change. “We’ve left everyone in the dust, and we did it a long time ago,” said Susan Westren, who worked to eliminate single-use plastics on B.C.'s Quadra Island prior to the federal government's new ban. Though there was a bit of initial reluctance from grocery stores, the businesses agreed to carry the reusable bags the group had designed. In addition to bringing in the recyclable bags, Tru Value Foods stores made the switch to paper grocery bags as well. Both consumers and businesses on the island adapted to the change readily, said Westren. “I think it’s because there's terrific social and environmental consciousness on this island, and because we were so persuasive,” she said.
Quadra restaurants were also prepared when there was a big shift to takeout food during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I must say that the island has been pretty amazing in terms of using biodegradable takeout containers, coffee cups and those sort of things. Except the lids, but they can be recycled,” Westren said. “I think that is also unusual because they’ve been doing that for quite a long time as well, and thank goodness, now that COVID-19 is with us, there’s been so much more (container) use.”


nationalobserver--2020-10-13--New technologies show potential for renewable energy job growth in Canada

There is lots of opportunity for Canada to secure good , high-paying domestic jobs in renewable energy by focusing on more cutting-edge technologies and bringing them to growing markets , the head of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada says .
Stewart Beck is the Vancouver-based foundation ’ s president and CEO and also a former diplomat who served as the high commissioner to India and consul general in Shanghai .
He said Canada can create new types of jobs in the sector by capitalizing on homegrown research in less-developed areas , such as hydrogen fuel cells , biofuels or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding the right partners and then being able to build that ability to take the technologies and bring them into a market that is growing rapidly .
That scale is going to have an impact on the work that ’ s going to be done here , ” Beck said in an interview .
Recent figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) show that the majority of employment in renewable energy is in Asian countries , which accounted for 63 per cent of all renewables jobs in 2019 .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like China , which represents 4.3 million of the world ’ s 11.5 million jobs in renewables .
China accounted for 93 per cent of global production of wafers , the semiconductor slices that go into a solar cell , IRENA said .
Chinese manufacturers have overcome a domestic slowdown of solar panel installations by ramping up exports to overseas markets , according to the agency .
By comparison , IRENA figures show Canada has 61,130 renewables jobs .
Half of these are in hydropower , where Canada stands out as one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In other sectors such as solar panels , there are just 4,261 jobs , although solar energy businesses in places like British Columbia are betting that their market is at a tipping point .
Beck said the economics of low-cost manufacturing hubs around the world is an inescapable reality , especially for established technologies like wind and solar power .
Asian companies have also built up strengths in terms of regional sales , he said .
But he cautioned against an all-out comparison between the number of jobs across different jurisdictions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolute number .
We should be thinking about the quality and types of jobs that end up coming into a Canadian environment.
” Beck pointed to Magna International Inc. as one example .
The Aurora , Ont.-based automotive parts supplier , one of the largest Canadian companies , is heavily active in Asia , employing 17,150 people in China , 2,575 in India , 250 in Thailand and 150 each in South Korea and Japan .
That growth has not diminished its overall employment base in Canada , argued Beck , but instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canadian jobs , ones that tend to be in administration , legal , accounting or other such work running the firm ’ s global network .
Beck also pointed to growth potential in hydrogen , biofuels and marine renewables , the latter being technologies that harness the kinetic and potential energy from tides , currents or waves in the ocean , or even the difference in salinity or temperature between two bodies of water .
There 's lots of opportunity for Canada to secure good , high-paying domestic jobs in renewable energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to growing markets , the head of @ AsiaPacificFdn says .
There are also opportunities in artificial intelligence and energy efficiency that could be applied in the renewables sector , he said .
Overall , Beck said it is unlikely that Canada will be growing jobs in renewables manufacturing to produce things like hydrogen fuel cells for export to Asia unless those are advanced manufacturing jobs .
The key for Canada , then , is connecting to growing markets “ in a way that makes the most sense for us , ” @ @ @

There is lots of opportunity for Canada to secure good, high-paying domestic jobs in renewable energy by focusing on more cutting-edge technologies and bringing them to growing markets, the head of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada says.
Stewart Beck is the Vancouver-based foundation’s president and CEO and also a former diplomat who served as the high commissioner to India and consul general in Shanghai. He said Canada can create new types of jobs in the sector by capitalizing on homegrown research in less-developed areas, such as hydrogen fuel cells, biofuels or marine energy.
“It’s finding the right partners and then being able to build that ability to take the technologies and bring them into a market that is growing rapidly. That scale is going to have an impact on the work that’s going to be done here,” Beck said in an interview.
Recent figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) show that the majority of employment in renewable energy is in Asian countries, which accounted for 63 per cent of all renewables jobs in 2019. These jobs are heavily concentrated in manufacturing centres like China, which represents 4.3 million of the world’s 11.5 million jobs in renewables.
China accounted for 93 per cent of global production of wafers, the semiconductor slices that go into a solar cell, IRENA said. Chinese manufacturers have overcome a domestic slowdown of solar panel installations by ramping up exports to overseas markets, according to the agency.


nationalobserver--2020-10-13--Pricing in climate risk could be a risk of its own

When sophisticated and responsible investors analyze climate-related financial risk , they consider two broad categories : how the transition of social preferences to climate solutions will affect their investment , including how government regulation will change growth opportunities or profitability ; and whether the physical impacts of climate change , such as increased storm volatility , will put their investment at risk .
Demands from investors that fund managers , banks and companies account for climate-related financial risks are finally coming to fruition , with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , the Big Four accounting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to publish decisive risk-disclosure guidelines .
While this is a valuable and constructive development , it raises new questions .
Investors claim consistent , verifiable data on climate risk is the missing piece to financing climate change mitigation and resilience .
But what if integrating climate risk into investment decisions creates a new paradox that shifts capital away from communities and investment areas that need it most ?
We are running out of time to reflect on the question .
Proper accounting for the first category , transition and regulatory risk , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentivize capital into green opportunities .
For example , sustainable consumer habits and a higher carbon price would diminish future financial returns in polluting industries — pricing in these transition and regulatory risks would show investors that high-emitting industries are not only immoral and unsustainable , but simply unprofitable .
When considering physical risk , however , the profitable decision does not neatly align with what is morally imperative .
Here is where we confront the potential pitfall of pricing in climate risk .
The public is increasingly learning of the physical hazards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are uncertain , others ( such as aggravated flooding in Quebec , Ontario and New Brunswick ) are unavoidable eventualities , and still others ( such as wildfires on North America ’ s West Coast and melting permafrost in the North ) are unavoidable present realities .
When investors reference integrating physical risk into their investment decisions , this is the type of information being taken into account .
When investors confront risk , they either decline to make an investment or demand a higher return as compensation .
Areas with greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged more when trying to get financing .
With the physical burdens of climate change varying substantially between regions , this risks intensifying inequalities and leaving imperilled areas unsupported .
If the communities and individuals who are most vulnerable to climate-related damage are unable to afford investment capital for adaptation and protection measures , their susceptibility and resulting cost of capital will only be compounded .
Climate change is affecting regions in materially different ways .
This creates a question of inequity at the individual , local and international level — compounding environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injustice .
For example , by pricing in the physical risks of climate change , a homeowner whose municipality ca n't afford flood-mitigation strategies may have higher insurance premiums than a homeowner in a higher tax bracket community whose municipality had the money to invest in preventive sewer remediation .
Similarly , a community with a greater risk of climate-related flooding may pay higher interest to borrow capital for new investments in protective infrastructure .
These two examples show how , in the absence of controlling measures , pricing in physical climate risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital .
Of course , there are proactive ways to instead leverage information on the inequality of climate risk for smart policy measures that ensure equal access to insurance and adaptation finance .
For example , the Flood Re scheme in the U.K. , a joint not-for-profit effort between government and the insurance industry , pools flood-related home insurance across the country ’ s differing income brackets and flood threats .

Investors claim consistent, verifiable data on climate risk is the missing piece to financing climate change mitigation and resilience. But what if integrating climate risk into investment decisions creates a new paradox that shifts capital away from communities and investment areas that need it most? We are running out of time to reflect on the question.
Demands from investors that fund managers, banks and companies account for climate-related financial risks are finally coming to fruition, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Big Four accounting firms and other leading standard-setting organizations competing to publish decisive risk-disclosure guidelines. While this is a valuable and constructive development, it raises new questions.
When sophisticated and responsible investors analyze climate-related financial risk, they consider two broad categories: how the transition of social preferences to climate solutions will affect their investment, including how government regulation will change growth opportunities or profitability; and whether the physical impacts of climate change, such as increased storm volatility, will put their investment at risk.
Proper accounting for the first category, transition and regulatory risk, is a purely positive development that will likely incentivize capital into green opportunities. For example, sustainable consumer habits and a higher carbon price would diminish future financial returns in polluting industries — pricing in these transition and regulatory risks would show investors that high-emitting industries are not only immoral and unsustainable, but simply unprofitable.
When considering physical risk, however, the profitable decision does not neatly align with what is morally imperative. Here is where we confront the potential pitfall of pricing in climate risk. The public is increasingly learning of the physical hazards expected from climate change. Some of these are uncertain, others (such as aggravated flooding in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick) are unavoidable eventualities, and still others (such as wildfires on North America’s West Coast and melting permafrost in the North) are unavoidable present realities. When investors reference integrating physical risk into their investment decisions, this is the type of information being taken into account.


nationalobserver--2020-10-13--Pandemic squeezing younger generation

Pandemic squeezing younger generation

Generation Squeeze ’ s Paul Kershaw wants Canada ’ s tax systems shifted to take more account of property value and other wealth , arguing that this is one way to make life more affordable for younger Canadians .
Kershaw admits it will be a tough sell to those being asked to contribute more , but argues “ generational inequity ” and the solidarity of the moment make it both necessary and possible .
Young people are again bracing to take the hardest hit from new public health restrictions shutting down or restricting the service work they often do in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that expose the age group 's specific economic vulnerability as the regions grapple with rising COVID-19 cases .
“ They 're unable to pay their rents or their mortgages if they got into homeownership , ” said Kershaw , who heads the advocacy group for younger people , calling for more affordable housing and child care .
“ We really need to think through during the pandemic how ... we adapt to the insecurity that comes disproportionately to renters , ” he said , pointing out that eviction halts in some provinces only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than interrupted mortgages .
Advocates have warned that Toronto renters are facing a “ bloodbath ” of evictions in the aftermath of the pandemic .
“ I think we really need to be worried about that dynamic going forward , ” Kershaw said .
Workers 25 and younger were already struggling more than older Canadians to regain jobs lost since the public health crisis first spiked the economy in March .
That underscores the degree to which socio-economic risk has shifted to younger Canadians over recent decades , Kershaw said .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors were particularly vulnerable economically , Kershaw said , with the highest rates of low income and poverty in the country .
The older generations who made up the workforce in the decades since the Second World War have gotten increasingly more comfortable as stock market returns mostly rise and bond-backed pension funds guarantee certain levels of income .
Meanwhile , younger people were already struggling to juggle rising debts and costs , along with stagnant incomes and the pandemic complicated matters even further .
Now their jobs — in retail , hospitality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to put them at risk of infection or will dry up when tighter restrictions are imposed , as they were in Ontario as of midnight Saturday .
Advocacy group @ GenSqueeze is calling for the tax system to account more for property value and other wealth , saying it could make life more affordable for younger Canadians .
“ The pandemic has us fighting on two fronts trying to stop the spread of a virus that requires physical distancing , ” said Kershaw , who is also the director of the master @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of British Columbia .
“ The virus is disproportionately harming our aging loved ones , ( while ) the physical distancing is in really important ways undermining the socio-economic determinants of health disproportionately for younger people , ” Kershaw said .
Paul Kershaw said the pandemic exposes generational inequity and shows what solidarity could achieve .
Photo supplied by Paul Kershaw That means COVID-19 's effects on younger people are harder to pinpoint .
While they can and do get seriously ill from the virus , more common challenges include increased stress and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other social settings , lost income and more insecurity related to finances and housing .
“ They 're at their career stages where they ’ re disproportionately doing service work , and it 's precisely those kinds of things that we are needing to close down when we think physical distancing is essential for stopping the spread of the virus.
” The latest Statistics Canada job numbers , released on Friday , showed that the pandemic , much like the 2008 economic recession that has stunted earnings for recent graduates ever since , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults trying to get a foothold in the economy , ” Kershaw said .
Kershaw does not endorse a universal livable income .
Gen Squeeze instead focuses mostly on the high costs of housing and child care , stagnant earnings and mounting debts ( including public debts like climate change ) , which it says are creating “ generational inequity.
” He says housing is “ at the epicentre of generational tensions ” in Canada .
Increases in average home prices have outpaced earnings growth for young people , he said , forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt to sustain a mortgage or keeping them tenants for longer , especially in urban areas .
The rising valuations also increase the net worth of those who owned that property earlier during the meteoric rise in prices in recent years , especially in and around Vancouver and Toronto .
Kershaw said he was somewhat hopeful in the prospect of progress being made in tackling these challenges , noting that people may have regained some of the faith society had in governments emerging from the Second World War .
“ We have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political stripes intervening in our economies and in our lives to address a significant threat , ” he said .
“ Something might be changing in this moment , ” he added .
“ There ’ s greater attention to the power imbalances that are existing in society and who 's doing really important work for us .
”

Generation Squeeze’s Paul Kershaw wants Canada’s tax systems shifted to take more account of property value and other wealth, arguing that this is one way to make life more affordable for younger Canadians. Kershaw admits it will be a tough sell to those being asked to contribute more, but argues “generational inequity” and the solidarity of the moment make it both necessary and possible. Young people are again bracing to take the hardest hit from new public health restrictions shutting down or restricting the service work they often do in the Toronto area and Ottawa, developments that expose the age group's specific economic vulnerability as the regions grapple with rising COVID-19 cases. “They're unable to pay their rents or their mortgages if they got into homeownership,” said Kershaw, who heads the advocacy group for younger people, calling for more affordable housing and child care. “We really need to think through during the pandemic how ... we adapt to the insecurity that comes disproportionately to renters,” he said, pointing out that eviction halts in some provinces only postpone missing rent payments and that hurts more than interrupted mortgages.
Advocates have warned that Toronto renters are facing a “bloodbath” of evictions in the aftermath of the pandemic. “I think we really need to be worried about that dynamic going forward,” Kershaw said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Workers 25 and younger were already struggling more than older Canadians to regain jobs lost since the public health crisis first spiked the economy in March. That underscores the degree to which socio-economic risk has shifted to younger Canadians over recent decades, Kershaw said.
When his mother was a young woman, seniors were particularly vulnerable economically, Kershaw said, with the highest rates of low income and poverty in the country. The older generations who made up the workforce in the decades since the Second World War have gotten increasingly more comfortable as stock market returns mostly rise and bond-backed pension funds guarantee certain levels of income. Advocacy group @GenSqueeze is calling for the tax system to account more for property value and other wealth, saying it could make life more affordable for younger Canadians. Meanwhile, younger people were already struggling to juggle rising debts and costs, along with stagnant incomes and the pandemic complicated matters even further. Now their jobs — in retail, hospitality and other service-based industries — are more likely to put them at risk of infection or will dry up when tighter restrictions are imposed, as they were in Ontario as of midnight Saturday. “The pandemic has us fighting on two fronts trying to stop the spread of a virus that requires physical distancing,” said Kershaw, who is also the director of the master of public health program at the University of British Columbia. “The virus is disproportionately harming our aging loved ones, (while) the physical distancing is in really important ways undermining the socio-economic determinants of health disproportionately for younger people,” Kershaw said.
Paul Kershaw said the pandemic exposes generational inequity and shows what solidarity could achieve. Photo supplied by Paul Kershaw That means COVID-19's effects on younger people are harder to pinpoint. While they can and do get seriously ill from the virus, more common challenges include increased stress and anxiety, reduced access to school and other social settings, lost income and more insecurity related to finances and housing. “They're at their career stages where they’re disproportionately doing service work, and it's precisely those kinds of things that we are needing to close down when we think physical distancing is essential for stopping the spread of the virus.”


nationalobserver--2020-10-13--Feds tell California growers to test their lettuce for E. coli — or keep it

Unprecedented federal import restrictions on romaine lettuce and salad mixes from California ’ s Salinas Valley point to problems in the U.S. agricultural system that supplies British Columbians with more than half their fresh vegetables , Canadian food safety researchers say .
Companies that import lettuce must now prove each shipment has been tested for E. coli , or was grown outside of California 's Santa Clara , Santa Cruz , San Benito and Monterey counties .
The directive will remain force until Dec. 31 , to cover the harvest season for California lettuce producers .
Lawrence Goodridge , director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safety at the University of Guelph , says repeated outbreaks of E. coli contamination from American farms precipitated the move .
There have been at least four outbreaks associated with romaine lettuce alone since 2016 , Goodridge said .
Investigations by American and Canadian authorities have also pinpointed the region as the source of several past E. coli outbreaks .
“ The problem is nobody quite knows how the lettuce is becoming contaminated , ” said Goodridge .
“ It could be the irrigation water , wild animals could run through the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to trace.
” Canada imported 183,300 tonnes of lettuce from the United States last year , and 64 per cent of that was from California .
The remainder came from Arizona , Ohio and Florida .
Between June 2019 and July 2020 , more than 50,000 shipments of the vegetable crossed the border .
Lettuce is not the only vegetable that ’ s mostly imported to Canada outside the summer months .
In 2018 , about $ 2 million worth of vegetables flowed north , everything from kohlrabi to kale .
Like lettuce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other southwestern states .
More than half the vegetables eaten in Vancouver came from abroad in 2018 , with the majority arriving from the U.S. Graph by Davies Transportation Consulting with data from Statistics Canada “ ( The Salinas Valley ) is well known to have problems because it is ringed with concentrated animal feeding operations at the top of the valley , ” said Goodridge .
“ Think of it like a cereal bowl .
In the bottom is the valley , nice fertile soil , and they ’ re growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just lettuce .
And at the top — the ring of the bowl — are all these concentrated animal feeding operations.
” That means manure from animal farms housing hundreds or thousands of cattle , hogs and chickens flows downhill , gathering in the bottom of the valley and likely contaminating surface water and groundwater .
This the same untreated water that ’ s then used to irrigate the hectares of lettuce and other vegetables growing in the valley bottom .
“ The current temporary import requirements , implemented on Oct. 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the repetitive outbreaks linked to California romaine lettuce over the past four years , ” the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in an emailed statement .
The decision has received a tepid reception from American lettuce producers .
“ The problem is nobody quite knows how the lettuce is becoming contaminated , ” said @ SafeFoodCanuck .
“ It could be the irrigation water , wild animals could run through the field and defecate .
It ’ s hard to trace.
” # foodsafety “ Our producers will do their best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement ) in an effort to continue shipping romaine lettuce to our valued trade partners in Canada , ” the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement ( LGMA ) , an association of shippers and handlers who adhere to shared food safety measures and are responsible for about 90 per cent of the leafy greens grown in the U.S. , said in a written statement .
“ However , this may not be feasible due to limited laboratory capacity .
More importantly , product testing has not proven to be a reliable indicator of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for in-field testing instead of the post-harvest tests the Canadian government requires .
It also said that recently implemented measures are sufficient to protect consumers .
That ’ s not enough , said Keith Warriner , a food security professor at the University of Guelph .
The key change implemented by the LGMA is testing water to ensure it meets the “ recreational standard ” — clean enough for swimming — which isn ’ t equivalent to food-grade cleanliness .
Nor does post-harvest cleaning do much , Goodridge and Warriner agreed .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Goodridge said .
“ You ’ ve got to think that these are big processing operations ( that ) could be receiving lettuce from many different fields all over the place .
If you have one batch that ’ s contaminated , but you ’ re running other batches through ( the same cleaning line ) at the same time , they can all get contaminated.
” Tracing a leaf of contaminated lettuce from a Canadian consumer ’ s plate back to individual farms is impossible , he said , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks before someone gets sick from the lettuce .
Nor is the federal government ’ s approach perfect .
Lettuce from other parts of the U.S. could also be contaminated , especially if water standards for processing and irrigation aren ’ t any higher .
And testing is n't very accurate because it only captures a minute snapshot of the total lettuce shipment , Goodridge said .
A better approach would be to push the industry to implement system-wide changes that would address the problems at their source , such as treating all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with the issue .
Starting today , a NEW temporary # FoodSafety requirement aimed at further protecting Canadians by preventing the import into Canada of contaminated romaine lettuce 🥬 from # California now applies .
https : //t.co/4wkJddCTZQ pic.twitter.com/rYFrEw0o6h — Canadian Food Inspection Agency ( @ InspectionCan ) October 7 , 2020 These are largely regulatory matters Canada can ’ t control , since water and growing standards fall under U.S. jurisdiction .
Still , the economic pressure exerted by an import ban could help push the industry to implement changes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have regulation , ” said Goodridge .
“ But , ultimately , it ’ s when the industry takes food safety seriously , as opposed to seeing it as a necessary evil , ( that ) we will really begin to address these ongoing outbreaks .
”

Unprecedented federal import restrictions on romaine lettuce and salad mixes from California’s Salinas Valley point to problems in the U.S. agricultural system that supplies British Columbians with more than half their fresh vegetables, Canadian food safety researchers say. Companies that import lettuce must now prove each shipment has been tested for E. coli, or was grown outside of California's Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties. The directive will remain in force until Dec. 31, to cover the harvest season for California lettuce producers. Lawrence Goodridge, director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety at the University of Guelph, says repeated outbreaks of E. coli contamination from American farms precipitated the move. There have been at least four outbreaks associated with romaine lettuce alone since 2016, Goodridge said. Investigations by American and Canadian authorities have also pinpointed the region as the source of several past E. coli outbreaks. “The problem is nobody quite knows how the lettuce is becoming contaminated,” said Goodridge. “It could be the irrigation water, wild animals could run through the field and defecate. It’s hard to trace.” Canada imported 183,300 tonnes of lettuce from the United States last year, and 64 per cent of that was from California. The remainder came from Arizona, Ohio and Florida. Between June 2019 and July 2020, more than 50,000 shipments of the vegetable crossed the border.
Lettuce is not the only vegetable that’s mostly imported to Canada outside the summer months. In 2018, about $2 million worth of vegetables flowed north, everything from kohlrabi to kale. Like lettuce, the majority was grown in California or other southwestern states. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions
Cattle are pastured on the hillsides surrounding the Salinas valley. That means manure can be washed downhill, gather in the bottom of the valley and possibly contaminate surface water and groundwater. This water is used to irrigate the hectares of lettuce and other vegetables growing in the valley bottom. “The problem is nobody quite knows how the lettuce is becoming contaminated,” said @SafeFoodCanuck. “It could be the irrigation water, wild animals could run through the field and defecate. It’s hard to trace.” #foodsafety “The current temporary import requirements, implemented on Oct. 7, (are) a preventative measure due to the repetitive outbreaks linked to California romaine lettuce over the past four years,” the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in an emailed statement. The decision has received a tepid reception from American lettuce producers. “Our producers will do their best to comply (with the new testing requirement) in an effort to continue shipping romaine lettuce to our valued trade partners in Canada,” the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA), an association of shippers and handlers who adhere to shared food safety measures and are responsible for about 90 per cent of the leafy greens grown in the U.S., said in a written statement. “However, this may not be feasible due to limited laboratory capacity. More importantly, product testing has not proven to be a reliable indicator of product safety.”
The organization is advocating for in-field testing instead of the post-harvest tests the Canadian government requires. It also said that recently implemented measures are sufficient to protect consumers. The changes implemented by the LGMA classify irrigation water into categories depending on where it comes from, and how it will be used. Water used for overhead irrigation exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “recreational standard” — clean enough for swimming. Water used for ground level or buried irrigation systems can fall below that standard. However, that’s not enough, said Keith Warriner, a food security professor at the University of Guelph. He would like to see the water tested more frequently, similar to the weekly or daily water testing requirements many states require for water to meet their recreational standard - an unfair comparison said the LGMA.


nationalobserver--2020-10-13--China must stop using COVID-19 as an 'excuse' to bar visits to two Michaels: Tory critic

China can no longer credibly use the `` excuse '' of COVID-19 to continue keeping Canadian diplomats from visiting Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor , the Conservative foreign affairs critic says .
Conservative MP Michael Chong also says this past week ’ s virtual consular visits to Kovrig and Spavor should have happened much sooner .
`` COVID-19 is an excuse that does n't hold water , '' Chong said in an interview Sunday .
`` The economy in China has largely reopened , '' he added .
`` A direct in-person visit should have already taken place a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Kovrig and Spavor have been in prison in China since December 2018 in what is widely seen as retaliation for Canada arresting Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant .
• New technologies show potential for renewable energy job growth in Canada Dominic Barton , Canada 's ambassador to China , had internet-based visits with Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday .
It was the first contact Canadian diplomats have had with the two men since in-person visits in mid-January .
The Chinese government has said it ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concerns around COVID-19 .
The federal government has been pushing China since the spring for an alternative form of access in order to check on the welfare of the two men .
`` There was absolutely no reason that virtual access could n't have been offered by China even during the height of the pandemic , and no justification for denying in-person visits after China emerged from lockdown during the summer , '' said David Mulroney , a former Canadian ambassador to China .
`` This is simply more cruel treatment by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be grateful even for even a half-hearted effort on their part .
We should n't fall into that trap . ''
Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne pressed for virtual access in his own in-person meeting with his Chinese counterpart , Wang Yi , when the two crossed paths in Rome in August .
Tory foreign affairs critic says stop using COVID-19 to stop Canadian diplomats visiting the two Michaels .
# COVID-19 # cndpoli Up until January , Canadian diplomats had been able to visit the two men approximately once a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government 's handling of relations with China , saying its approach has lacked coherence , and that Canada should impose targeted sanctions on the people responsible for the imprisonment of the two men .
But Chong said he is seeing signs of the government taking a firmer stand against China recently with tougher rhetoric this past week from Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Bob Rae , Canada ’ s ambassador to the United Nations .
`` I think the Liberal government 's finally responding to the pressure that the Conservatives have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sajjan accused China of engaging in `` hostage diplomacy '' in an online panel discussion , while Rae ripped into his Chinese counterpart in a meeting of the UN General Assembly on Friday for saying that Canada was bullying the People 's Republic .
Rae said Meng was living under `` house arrest '' while Spavor and Kovrig “ have been living in terrible conditions , without consular access , without any humane treatment whatsoever . ''
`` This is something which we shall never forget , '' Rae added .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insulting my country or insulting anyone is going to help in resolving the situation , you 're sadly mistaken . ''
Champagne , too , has ramped up his public criticism of China 's human rights record on a number of issues : Beijing 's crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong and the forced detention Uighur Muslims in the country 's Xinjiang province .

China can no longer credibly use the "excuse" of COVID-19 to continue keeping Canadian diplomats from visiting Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the Conservative foreign affairs critic says. Conservative MP Michael Chong also says this past week’s virtual consular visits to Kovrig and Spavor should have happened much sooner. "COVID-19 is an excuse that doesn't hold water," Chong said in an interview Sunday. "The economy in China has largely reopened," he added. "A direct in-person visit should have already taken place a long time ago with appropriate social distancing." Kovrig and Spavor have been in prison in China since December 2018 in what is widely seen as retaliation for Canada arresting Chinese high-tech executive Meng Wanzhou on an American extradition warrant.
Dominic Barton, Canada's ambassador to China, had internet-based visits with Spavor on Friday and Kovrig on Saturday. It was the first contact Canadian diplomats have had with the two men since in-person visits in mid-January. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The Chinese government has said it can't allow in-person visits to prisons because of concerns around COVID-19. The federal government has been pushing China since the spring for an alternative form of access in order to check on the welfare of the two men.
"There was absolutely no reason that virtual access couldn't have been offered by China even during the height of the pandemic, and no justification for denying in-person visits after China emerged from lockdown during the summer," said David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China. Tory foreign affairs critic says stop using COVID-19 to stop Canadian diplomats visiting the two Michaels. #COVID-19 #cndpoli "This is simply more cruel treatment by China, with the expectation that we will be grateful even for even a half-hearted effort on their part. We shouldn't fall into that trap." Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne pressed for virtual access in his own in-person meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, when the two crossed paths in Rome in August. Up until January, Canadian diplomats had been able to visit the two men approximately once a month. Chong reiterated past Conservative criticism of the government's handling of relations with China, saying its approach has lacked coherence, and that Canada should impose targeted sanctions on the people responsible for the imprisonment of the two men.
But Chong said he is seeing signs of the government taking a firmer stand against China recently with tougher rhetoric this past week from Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations. "I think the Liberal government's finally responding to the pressure that the Conservatives have been putting on then," said Chong. Sajjan accused China of engaging in "hostage diplomacy" in an online panel discussion, while Rae ripped into his Chinese counterpart in a meeting of the UN General Assembly on Friday for saying that Canada was bullying the People's Republic.