nationalobserver--2020-09-21--B.C. headed to polls amid pandemic as NDP calls snap election

B.C .
Premier John Horgan confirmed the rumours and called a snap election this fall , even as the number of COVID-19 cases in the province is on the rise .
The NDP leader announced on Monday that the election will take place Oct. 24 , in the midst of the ongoing pandemic .
Horgan met Lt.-Gov .
Janet Austin and said she has granted his request to dissolve B.C ’ s legislative assembly .
Horgan acknowledged calling an election during the public health emergency is not ideal , but said he wants a mandate from voters to act decisively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premier heads a minority government with a support agreement in place with the BC Green Party .
• The government must invest more in tackling climate change • 'Stronger than I am : ’ The wedge issue that should n't have been That agreement is outdated with the departure of Andrew Weaver as leader of the BC Greens , and was not crafted to respond to the challenges the pandemic posed , Horgan recently said .
As the fall advances , challenges tied to the pandemic will continue to arise , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Horgan said .
“ We ’ re going to be heading into cold and flu season , ” said Horgan , adding the pandemic is going to have impacts well into foreseeable future .
“ But the challenge for us is , do we have a government that will be in a position to respond in November , December , January and February decisively in the interest of British Columbians , ” Horgan said .
“ I 'm not confident we have that today .
And that 's why I 'm asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next government by having an election.
” Horgan runs the danger of alienating voters with an election during the pandemic , as he tries to consolidate power and secure a majority government , said Hamish Telford , a University of the Fraser Valley political science professor .
“ He risks upsetting people by calling what they think is an unnecessary election , ” said Hamish Telford , political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley , on B.C .
Premier John Horgan 's decision to call a snap election during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling what they think is an unnecessary election , ” said Telford , adding the NDP is moving forward now to take advantage the current popularity they are enjoying in the polls .
“ People are rightly worried about their health , their jobs , the safety of their kids in school .
A lot of people do n't think there 's any need for an election now and will be ticked off.
” The NDP have to gain at minimum four additional seats in the upcoming election to secure the majority they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows weeks of speculation that Horgan , a little more than three years into his mandate , would call an early election .
A total of seven cabinet ministers have recently announced they weren ’ t seeking re-election .
B.C .
Transportation Minister and North Island MLA Claire Trevena has announced she wo n't be running in the election announced today for Oct. 24 .
File photo courtesy B.C .
government B.C .
Transportation Minister Claire Trevena is the latest cabinet member to announce they won ’ t be running in the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island , issued the announcement Sunday saying she was going to take on new challenges .
“ It has been a great privilege to be the representative of the North Island for 15 years and to have the trust of people across the constituency , ” Trevena said in a press release .
Other ministers who have announced they won ’ t seek re-election include : All signs pointing to a fall election were there , said Telford , noting the NDP government ’ s big rollout of its $ 1.5 billion recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the StrongerBC program , which smacks more of an election platform , Telford said , had already started emerging over the weekend .
Trevena herself has made a series of transportation announcements in recent weeks , including re-announcing the high profile SkyTrain extension along Vancouver ’ s Broadway corridor .
The NDP announced it was awarding the contract to deliver the SkyTrain extension at the beginning of September , highlighting its previous commitment to the $ 2.83-billion project funded by the province , along with the federal government and City of Vancouver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trevena outlined some recent successes in her riding , including securing a new hospital and public housing in Campbell River .
In her role as transportation minister , Trevena cited successes around transit , ride hailing and BC Ferries , a critical transportation network for the coastal communities in her riding .
“ We ’ ve put the public interest at the heart of the ferry system , ” Trevena said , adding the NDP has invested heavily in the public transit system .
“ We ’ ve developed an active transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars , and we ’ ve introduced the safest system for ride hailing on the continent , ” Trevena stated .
NDP candidates announcing their intentions to run in now-vacant ridings have begun .
Former MP and potential star candidate Nathan Cullen is one candidate who has announced they are seeking the nomination in Donaldson ’ s Stikine riding in B.C.
’ s northeast .
However , announcements about candidates seeking nominations in other vacant ridings have not taken place , including for Trevena ’ s North Island riding .
Developing story .
@ @ @ @

B.C. Premier John Horgan confirmed the rumours and called a snap election this fall, even as the number of COVID-19 cases in the province is on the rise. The NDP leader announced on Monday that the election will take place Oct. 24, in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. Horgan met Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin and said she has granted his request to dissolve B.C’s legislative assembly. Horgan acknowledged calling an election during the public health emergency is not ideal, but said he wants a mandate from voters to act decisively during the pandemic moving forward. The premier heads a minority government with a support agreement in place with the BC Green Party.
That agreement is outdated with the departure of Andrew Weaver as leader of the BC Greens, and was not crafted to respond to the challenges the pandemic posed, Horgan recently said. As the fall advances, challenges tied to the pandemic will continue to arise, and he wants to be prepared to meet them, Horgan said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “We’re going to be heading into cold and flu season,” said Horgan, adding the pandemic is going to have impacts well into foreseeable future.
“But the challenge for us is, do we have a government that will be in a position to respond in November, December, January and February decisively in the interest of British Columbians,” Horgan said. “He risks upsetting people by calling what they think is an unnecessary election,” said Hamish Telford, political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley, on B.C. Premier John Horgan's decision to call a snap election during the pandemic. “I'm not confident we have that today. And that's why I'm asking British Columbians to give confidence in the next government by having an election.” Horgan runs the danger of alienating voters with an election during the pandemic, as he tries to consolidate power and secure a majority government, said Hamish Telford, a University of the Fraser Valley political science professor. “He risks upsetting people by calling what they think is an unnecessary election,” said Telford, adding the NDP is moving forward now to take advantage the current popularity they are enjoying in the polls. “People are rightly worried about their health, their jobs, the safety of their kids in school. A lot of people don't think there's any need for an election now and will be ticked off.”
The NDP have to gain at minimum four additional seats in the upcoming election to secure the majority they want, Telford said. The announcement follows weeks of speculation that Horgan, a little more than three years into his mandate, would call an early election. A total of seven cabinet ministers have recently announced they weren’t seeking re-election.


nationalobserver--2020-09-21--Ottawa signs off on Doug Ford’s industrial carbon pricing plan, even though it’s ‘weaker’

The federal government has approved Ontario ’ s plan to charge industry for carbon pollution , even though it is “ clearly weaker ” than what Ottawa intended .
In a statement Monday , federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Premier Doug Ford ’ s program “ meets the minimum stringency requirements ” to replace Ottawa ’ s version and the government is “ required ” to sign off .
“ However , the proposed Ontario system is clearly weaker than the federal backstop system that it would be replacing , ” the statement said .
“ It is therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
” A federal government source speaking on background told Canada ’ s National Observer the Ford government had found a way to “ become creative ” in its interpretation of Ottawa ’ s minimum benchmark and “ game the system.
” • The government must invest more in tackling climate change • 'Stronger than I am : ’ The wedge issue that should n't have been “ This is not what we wanted , ” the source said , adding that the situation is “ disappointing.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t intended to drive to the lowest common denominator.
” The announcement amounts to a temporary ceasefire in the fight between Ontario and the federal government over the emissions reduction plan .
That disagreement is the subject of hearings that will go ahead at the Supreme Court of Canada this week , with Ontario , Alberta and Manitoba arguing that Ottawa doesn ’ t have the jurisdiction to impose carbon pricing .
( The federal Liberal government , meanwhile , says the need to reduce emissions and combat the climate crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal Liberals passed a law in 2018 to create a national price on carbon , to be imposed as a backstop if provinces lacked an adequate version of their own .
The federal plan includes a system for heavy industrial emitters , and a fuel tax — which has been opposed by Ford and other conservative politicians — that gives a rebate to consumers .
Ford cancelled Ontario ’ s previous cap-and-trade system for reducing carbon emissions in 2018 , meaning Ontario fell under the federal backstop .
Now , Ontario ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal one , but Ottawa ’ s fuel tax and rebate will remain in place pending the results of the Supreme Court case .
In a letter dated Sunday and provided to Canada ’ s National Observer , Wilkinson told his Ontario counterpart , Environment Minister Jeff Yurek , that the federal government plans to spend the coming months working on a plan to tighten the benchmark standards after 2022 .
`` The proposed Ontario system is clearly weaker than the federal backstop system that it would be replacing , ” federal Environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
# cdnpoli # onpoli In the letter , Wilkinson said despite promises from the Ontario government , federal modelling shows the province 's plan would “ achieve substantially fewer reductions ” than Ottawa ’ s system .
Wilkinson also said the level of emissions reduction that would happen under Ontario 's proposal is “ concerning.
” “ I would like our departmental officials to continue to work together in order to discuss design changes that would enable ( the Ontario plan ) to achieve greater emissions reductions , ” Wilkinson wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its part in reducing greenhouse gas pollution.
” Wilkinson letter to Yurek — Sept. 20 , 2020 by Emma McIntosh on Scribd The federal government delivered a similar message to New Brunswick Monday , approving its emissions proposal but calling it weaker than the federal backstop .
In a statement Monday , Yurek hailed the federal government ’ s decision as a victory .
The Ontario system would be phased in more gradually than the national one , saving businesses from an “ initial shock , ” he said .
“ This program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight climate change , as we work towards our 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris agreement , with economic growth as economies in Ontario and across Canada are struggling due to impacts of COVID-19 , ” the statement said .
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the provincial government ’ s plan lets polluters off the hook .
“ Doug Ford ’ s plan for big polluters barely made the grade and will not come close to meeting Ontario ’ s climate obligations , ” he said in a statement @

The federal government has approved Ontario’s plan to charge industry for carbon pollution, even though it is “clearly weaker” than what Ottawa intended. In a statement Monday, federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Premier Doug Ford’s program “meets the minimum stringency requirements” to replace Ottawa’s version and the government is “required” to sign off. “However, the proposed Ontario system is clearly weaker than the federal backstop system that it would be replacing,” the statement said. “It is therefore not consistent with a long-term climate plan aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” A federal government source speaking on background told Canada’s National Observer the Ford government had found a way to “become creative” in its interpretation of Ottawa’s minimum benchmark and “game the system.”
“This is not what we wanted,” the source said, adding that the situation is “disappointing.” “(The federal standard) wasn’t intended to drive to the lowest common denominator.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The announcement amounts to a temporary ceasefire in the fight between Ontario and the federal government over the emissions reduction plan. That disagreement is the subject of hearings that will go ahead at the Supreme Court of Canada this week, with Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba arguing that Ottawa doesn’t have the jurisdiction to impose carbon pricing. (The federal Liberal government, meanwhile, says the need to reduce emissions and combat the climate crisis is a national issue.)
The federal Liberals passed a law in 2018 to create a national price on carbon, to be imposed as a backstop if provinces lacked an adequate version of their own. The federal plan includes a system for heavy industrial emitters, and a fuel tax — which has been opposed by Ford and other conservative politicians — that gives a rebate to consumers. "The proposed Ontario system is clearly weaker than the federal backstop system that it would be replacing,” federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a statement. #cdnpoli #onpoli Ford cancelled Ontario’s previous cap-and-trade system for reducing carbon emissions in 2018, meaning Ontario fell under the federal backstop. Now, Ontario’s plan for industrial emitters can replace the federal one, but Ottawa’s fuel tax and rebate will remain in place pending the results of the Supreme Court case. In a letter dated Sunday and provided to Canada’s National Observer, Wilkinson told his Ontario counterpart, Environment Minister Jeff Yurek, that the federal government plans to spend the coming months working on a plan to tighten the benchmark standards after 2022. In the letter, Wilkinson said despite promises from the Ontario government, federal modelling shows the province's plan would “achieve substantially fewer reductions” than Ottawa’s system. Wilkinson also said the level of emissions reduction that would happen under Ontario's proposal is “concerning.” “I would like our departmental officials to continue to work together in order to discuss design changes that would enable (the Ontario plan) to achieve greater emissions reductions,” Wilkinson wrote.
“It is important that Ontario do its part in reducing greenhouse gas pollution.” Wilkinson letter to Yurek — Sept. 20, 2020 by Emma McIntosh on Scribd The federal government delivered a similar message to New Brunswick Monday, approving its emissions proposal but calling it weaker than the federal backstop.


nationalobserver--2020-09-21--Fires burn the west, as top Democrats stay quiet on the climate crisis

This article was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of Canada 's National Observer 's collaboration with Climate Desk .
With hundreds of thousands of Americans forced to evacuate their homes in the western US , Donald Trump hasn ’ t said a word about the wildfires blazing across multiple states in three weeks .
But some national Democratic leaders also have been slow to call attention to the fires in California , Oregon and Washington which have killed more than 20 , forced millions to breathe ash from orange-tinted skies that are blocking out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people flee their homes .
Climate activists say the tepid political response , particularly from the Democratic House speaker , Nancy Pelosi , is yet another sign that US politicians are far from ready to take concrete steps to deal with the realities of climate change , let alone write laws to stop burning fossil fuels in order to slow its effects .
• The government must invest more in tackling climate change • 'Stronger than I am : ’ The wedge issue that should n't have been Another four years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate movement , but even a Democratic-controlled government is not guaranteed to substantially address the crisis .
Last week , Pelosi barely mentioned the fires , which are ravaging her own home state of California , until Thursday , when she was asked about them on MSNBC and in a weekly press conference .
In a 17-minute update for reporters , she spoke of the fires – which are being made worse by human-induced climate change – just briefly before speaking at length about what she sees as Republicans ’ failed response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from wildfire smoke .
Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash When asked if Democrats would pursue major climate change legislation immediately if they win control of Congress and the White House , Pelosi gave a jumbled answer .
“ Well , we will have … we will have , obviously , hopefully , the Covid pandemic will have subsided – if there ’ s any thought that the Republicans in Congress will pay attention to science , ” she said .
“ Well , we will have … we will have , obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have subsided – if there ’ s any thought that the Republicans in # Congress will pay attention to science , ” Pelosi said “ Right now they ’ re in a place where they don ’ t believe in science and they don ’ t like governance .
So they don ’ t want any reason to have to govern , to call for standards to defeat the virus … but the virus , of course – in other words , to open up our schools and our economy – has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes , it will be an early part of the agenda.
” Pelosi added that climate change has long been her “ flagship issue ” , spoke of a 2005 energy law she helped pass , and noted House Democrats have drafted a climate report .
Pelosi ’ s spokesman , Henry Connelly , pointed to Pelosi ’ s comments about the wildfires and climate change in interviews and press conferences two weeks ago , on 26 and 27 August .
He said under her leadership the House had made it a priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was convening the heads of parliament of G7 nations this weekend on the climate crisis and economic and environmental justice .
However , Pelosi has previously mocked the Green New Deal – a progressive proposal for large-scale spending to fight inequity and the climate crisis simultaneously – calling it the “ green dream ” .
So has Dianne Feinstein , the senior Democratic senator for California , who last year told children who came to her office to ask her to commit to a Green New Deal that she disagreed with the plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to pay for it ” .
Feinstein , in a recent op-ed , linked the more intense fires to climate change and called for policy changes to help communities prepare for and fight fires .
But she did not write about any policies to halt rising emissions .
“ You look up at the sky and you wonder .
It ’ s not just the Republicans who are letting us down .
It ’ s the Democrats who aren ’ t fighting for a better climate future either , ” said Rebecca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder of New Deal Strategies .
“ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said that climate delaying is the same as climate denial .
And it ’ s hard not to see that point crystal clear on a morning like today.
” Joe Biden has a $ 2 trillion plan to try to virtually eliminate climate emissions by 2050 , but he reiterates frequently that he would not try to ban fracking – the process that has fueled a gas drilling boom in the US .
In doing so , he has earned the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden campaign understands that a full embrace of an aggressive climate change agenda could create problems for them in the upper midwest , ” said Dan Schnur , who served as an adviser to the former California governor Pete Wilson and Arizona senator John McCain .
“ Trump has shown no desire to talk about California beyond using it as a liberal punching bag to make his case to his conservative base.
” On Thursday , Biden ’ s campaign tweeted a video of the destruction and said : “ Make no mistake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we ’ re witnessing its devastating effects every single day .
“ We have to get President Trump out of the White House and treat this crisis like the existential threat that it is.
” Sabrina Singh , a spokeswoman for Kamala Harris , said Biden and Harris “ have been closely monitoring the wildfires raging across the state and highlighting the urgent need to address the threat of climate change ” .
Barack Obama also tweeted photos of a glowing , smoke-filled San Francisco and told followers to “ vote like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it does ” .
That ’ s compared to Trump , who has held 46 public events since 23 August where he could have addressed the wildfires but did not , according to a review by the group Climate Power 2020 .
Asked why he has not done so , the White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump was “ closely monitoring ” the fires and had sent federal funding and personnel to help states fight them .
Deere flagged a tweet noting Trump spoke with California ’ s governor , Gavin Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loss of life and reiterate the administration ’ s full support to help those on the frontlines of the fires ” .
The high-profile Democratic nods to the climate crisis are an improvement over just years ago , when the issue was barely touched upon in presidential debates .
Yet activists say it is not enough .
The planet is already 1C hotter than before industrialization .
It is on track to become at least 3C hotter .
The wildfire season is expanding , and climate-fueled drought is making the fires more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gulf coast communities .
Iowa and other midwest states are still reeling from a derecho .
“ It ’ s unfortunate , given that the speaker ’ s own district is being impacted by what ’ s going on right now , ” said Anthony Rogers-Wright , policy coordinator of the Climate Justice Alliance .
“ There are far too many in Democratic leadership who believe that climate change is a wedge issue .
When what it really is is an issue that if articulated correctly could bring everyone together.
” On Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coalition of grassroots groups , labor unions , Black , Brown and Indigenous leaders ” to back a congressional resolution aimed at “ creating nearly 16m good jobs , reviving our economy , and addressing the interlocking crises of climate change , racial injustice , public health , and economic inequity ” .
Without saying the words “ Green New Deal ” , the measure ’ s goals are closely aligned .
The resolution has sponsors from across the Democrat political spectrum : senators Chuck Schumer , Ed Markey , Cory Booker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haaland , Debbie Dingell , Donald McEachin , Sheila Jackson Lee , Raul Grijalva , Rosa DeLauro , Brendan Boyle , Barbara Lee , Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna .
In a virtual press conference on Thursday , the Democratic senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon spoke of the “ almost apocalyptic moment ” in his state .
He blamed an influx of “ dark money ” from the fossil fuel industry in political campaigns , saying their contributions brought the Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , to power .
“ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more intense disasters that are absolutely consistent with what happens when you have a warmer planet , ” Merkley said .
“ We have to now translate that into a determined , hopefully bipartisan , effort to have a bold , massive undertaking to address it .
”

This article was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. With hundreds of thousands of Americans forced to evacuate their homes in the western US, Donald Trump hasn’t said a word about the wildfires blazing across multiple states in three weeks. But some national Democratic leaders also have been slow to call attention to the fires in California, Oregon and Washington which have killed more than 20, forced millions to breathe ash from orange-tinted skies that are blocking out the sun, and seen hundreds of thousands of people flee their homes. Climate activists say the tepid political response, particularly from the Democratic House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is yet another sign that US politicians are far from ready to take concrete steps to deal with the realities of climate change, let alone write laws to stop burning fossil fuels in order to slow its effects.
Another four years of Trump in office would devastate the international climate movement, but even a Democratic-controlled government is not guaranteed to substantially address the crisis. Last week, Pelosi barely mentioned the fires, which are ravaging her own home state of California, until Thursday, when she was asked about them on MSNBC and in a weekly press conference. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In a 17-minute update for reporters, she spoke of the fires – which are being made worse by human-induced climate change – just briefly before speaking at length about what she sees as Republicans’ failed response to the coronavirus.
Haze in San Francisco from wildfire smoke. Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash When asked if Democrats would pursue major climate change legislation immediately if they win control of Congress and the White House, Pelosi gave a jumbled answer. “Well, we will have … we will have, obviously, hopefully, the #Covid pandemic will have subsided – if there’s any thought that the Republicans in #Congress will pay attention to science,” Pelosi said “Well, we will have … we will have, obviously, hopefully, the Covid pandemic will have subsided – if there’s any thought that the Republicans in Congress will pay attention to science,” she said. “Right now they’re in a place where they don’t believe in science and they don’t like governance. So they don’t want any reason to have to govern, to call for standards to defeat the virus … but the virus, of course – in other words, to open up our schools and our economy – has to be first and foremost. But yes, it will be an early part of the agenda.” Pelosi added that climate change has long been her “flagship issue”, spoke of a 2005 energy law she helped pass, and noted House Democrats have drafted a climate report.
Pelosi’s spokesman, Henry Connelly, pointed to Pelosi’s comments about the wildfires and climate change in interviews and press conferences two weeks ago, on 26 and 27 August. He said under her leadership the House had made it a priority to pass climate-focused legislation and noted she was convening the heads of parliament of G7 nations this weekend on the climate crisis and economic and environmental justice. However, Pelosi has previously mocked the Green New Deal – a progressive proposal for large-scale spending to fight inequity and the climate crisis simultaneously – calling it the “green dream”. So has Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democratic senator for California, who last year told children who came to her office to ask her to commit to a Green New Deal that she disagreed with the plan, including because there was “no way to pay for it”.


nationalobserver--2020-09-21--Climate change could cause a financial crisis, U.S. regulators are waking up to this

This article was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of Canada 's National Observer 's collaboration with Climate Desk .
For the first time in U.S. history , a federal regulatory agency has put out a report recognizing climate change as a major threat to the economy .
The report , which was commissioned by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ( CFTC ) and released on Wednesday , explains plainly that even if the world begins reducing emissions tomorrow , one only need to look around at the fires and floods plaguing the country to see that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has put the stability of the U.S. financial system at risk .
The report is the result of a vote the CFTC made a year ago , with unanimous support from its two Democratic and three Republican members , to put together a Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee tasked with examining climate risks and proposing solutions .
The commission convened a group of 34 experts from finance , academia , industry , and the public policy sector , including representatives from corporate giants like JP Morgan Chase , BP , and Cargill , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Fund and the Nature Conservancy .
“ For such a politically and sectorally diverse group to issue such a strong call for regulatory action is testament to just how serious a systemic financial threat climate change poses to U.S capital markets , and how concerned stakeholders from across the political spectrum are about it , ” said Mindy Lubber , the CEO of the sustainable investing nonprofit Ceres and a member of the subcommittee , in a statement .
• The government must invest more in tackling climate change • 'Stronger than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that should n't have been The report covers a lot of ground about different kinds of risk and the considerable amount of authority that U.S. financial regulators have to do something about it today , without new legislation passed by Congress .
Many of its conclusions echo the recommendations of similar reports put out in recent months , like Ceres ’ warning to U.S. regulators about climate change risks in June , and the two climate action plans put out by House and Senate Democrats this summer .
Physical risks like flooding are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic threats posed by climate change .
There are also socioeconomic risks — health impacts and lost productivity due to extreme heat , or declines in tourism when , for example , waters become overrun with algae .
Then there ’ s “ transition risk , ” the idea that companies that aren ’ t preparing for the transition to the carbon-neutral economy are setting themselves up to lose money because their assets could lose value rapidly .
One thing that the report says regulators can do today is improve the standards for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government and to investors , for example , by making it mandatory and requiring reporting of material risks over different time scales .
The report also recommends that U.S. regulators officially join several international initiatives that are tackling climate risk and doing the work of figuring out how to channel capital toward sustainable investments .
“ The United States has lagged behind other countries in protecting our financial system from climate change , ” said Leonardo Martinez-Diaz , an author of the report and the global director of the Sustainable Finance Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
But while there ’ s a lot that financial regulators can do without new laws , the authors have one key message for Congress : put a price on carbon .
In his foreword to the report , subcommittee chair Bob Litterman , a founding partner of the investment adviser Kepos Capital , puts it this way : climate change is a market failure .
Markets have failed to put a price on the “ negative externalities ” of fossil fuels , including the risks of adding greenhouse gases to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those risks are reflected in prices , governments have mostly done the opposite by subsidizing fossil fuels .
“ While there is an ongoing debate about the right price for emissions , what we do know is that inaction creates a large and growing liability , ” he wrote .
While there ’ s a lot that financial # regulators can do without new laws , the authors have one key message for # Congress : put a price on # carbon .
Another key recommendation in the report contradicts a current Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funds to make investment decisions based solely on financial considerations and limit their ability to consider environmental , social , and governance criteria .
The authors argue that regulators should “ confirm the appropriateness ” of considering climate change in these investments .
According to the New York Times , the authors do not expect President Trump ’ s administration to pay any attention to its findings but suggested that if Joe Biden is elected in November , the report could serve as a policy road map .
In the forward to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the essence , as we do not know exactly when certain climate tipping points could trigger catastrophe .
Comparing climate change to COVID-19 , he points to the death toll and the economic crisis the pandemic has brought .
“ Both are similar in one crucial dimension , ” he writes .
“ Science clearly indicates that the cost of delay in responding to the risk can be devastating .
”

This article was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. For the first time in U.S. history, a federal regulatory agency has put out a report recognizing climate change as a major threat to the economy. The report , which was commissioned by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and released on Wednesday, explains plainly that even if the world begins reducing emissions tomorrow, one only need to look around at the fires and floods plaguing the country to see that the stockpile of CO2 in the atmosphere has put the stability of the U.S. financial system at risk. The report is the result of a vote the CFTC made a year ago, with unanimous support from its two Democratic and three Republican members, to put together a Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee tasked with examining climate risks and proposing solutions. The commission convened a group of 34 experts from finance, academia, industry, and the public policy sector, including representatives from corporate giants like JP Morgan Chase, BP, and Cargill, as well as environmental groups like the Environmental Defense Fund and the Nature Conservancy. “For such a politically and sectorally diverse group to issue such a strong call for regulatory action is testament to just how serious a systemic financial threat climate change poses to U.S capital markets, and how concerned stakeholders from across the political spectrum are about it,” said Mindy Lubber, the CEO of the sustainable investing nonprofit Ceres and a member of the subcommittee, in a statement.
The report covers a lot of ground about different kinds of risk and the considerable amount of authority that U.S. financial regulators have to do something about it today, without new legislation passed by Congress. Many of its conclusions echo the recommendations of similar reports put out in recent months, like Ceres’ warning to U.S. regulators about climate change risks in June, and the two climate action plans put out by House and Senate Democrats this summer. Physical risks like flooding are only part of the story of the economic threats posed by climate change. There are also socioeconomic risks — health impacts and lost productivity due to extreme heat, or declines in tourism when, for example, waters become overrun with algae. Then there’s “transition risk,” the idea that companies that aren’t preparing for the transition to the carbon-neutral economy are setting themselves up to lose money because their assets could lose value rapidly. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions One thing that the report says regulators can do today is improve the standards for companies to disclose their climate risks to the government and to investors, for example, by making it mandatory and requiring reporting of material risks over different time scales. The report also recommends that U.S. regulators officially join several international initiatives that are tackling climate risk and doing the work of figuring out how to channel capital toward sustainable investments.
“The United States has lagged behind other countries in protecting our financial system from climate change,” said Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, an author of the report and the global director of the Sustainable Finance Center at the World Resources Institute, in a statement. While there’s a lot that financial #regulators can do without new laws, the authors have one key message for #Congress: put a price on #carbon. But while there’s a lot that financial regulators can do without new laws, the authors have one key message for Congress: put a price on carbon. In his foreword to the report, subcommittee chair Bob Litterman, a founding partner of the investment adviser Kepos Capital, puts it this way: climate change is a market failure. Markets have failed to put a price on the “negative externalities” of fossil fuels, including the risks of adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Instead of ensuring that those risks are reflected in prices, governments have mostly done the opposite by subsidizing fossil fuels. “While there is an ongoing debate about the right price for emissions, what we do know is that inaction creates a large and growing liability,” he wrote. Another key recommendation in the report contradicts a current Trump administration proposal that would require retirement plan funds to make investment decisions based solely on financial considerations and limit their ability to consider environmental, social, and governance criteria. The authors argue that regulators should “confirm the appropriateness” of considering climate change in these investments. According to the New York Times, the authors do not expect President Trump’s administration to pay any attention to its findings but suggested that if Joe Biden is elected in November, the report could serve as a policy road map.


nationalobserver--2020-09-21--The government must invest more in tackling climate change

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck , Canadians were admirably quick to adopt massive behavioural and policy changes to protect themselves and help flatten the curve of infections .
Income support was rolled out for millions suddenly out of work , social distancing was implemented , streets were closed off to make room for pedestrians and , overnight , workplaces were transformed from physical to virtual .
Elected officials across Canada have , on balance , responded effectively to the pandemic and bolstered trust in science-based public health decisions .
Philanthropic foundations have also adjusted swiftly .
Collectively we provide more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annually and represent approximately $ 1.5 billion in assets .
Across Canada , we are supporting health-care institutions , housing and social services , poverty reduction , decent work , the arts , education , environmental action , tackling racial inequality and assisting a range of other community organizations in our COVID-19 emergency response efforts .
Just like governments , the priorities of foundations have , by necessity , shifted in the short term to target support for pandemic response efforts .
In addition , many foundations have made the decision to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the crisis .
• 'Stronger than I am : ’ The wedge issue that should n't have been • Conservative , Bloc leaders both test positive for COVID-19 , Quebec premier in isolation However , while responding to the clear and present challenges related to this pandemic , we also can not lose sight of the broader climate emergency .
Climate change remains the greatest threat to human health in history , and like COVID-19 , we must address it directly and vigorously before it spirals further out of control.Like COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economically disenfranchised communities .
As Canadians look to recover from the worst of the pandemic , we also have an opportunity to advance climate-related solutions that build up just industries and livelihoods , that generate green jobs as part of a low-carbon economy , that support well-being economies and protect workers ’ rights , eradicate poverty , distribute wealth equitably , and uphold human rights .
In order to `` build back better , '' these communities need to be at the front and centre of recovery programs .
As leaders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all levels to invest in short- and long-term recovery efforts that are green , clean , resilient , and just for all .
We only have one Earth and we only have one recovery : This is our chance to tackle climate change .
We believe that Canada ’ s recovery efforts should take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to align economic growth with climate action .
Canada must focus support on action that will move our country forward : housing retrofits that create good local jobs ; public transit ; electric vehicle infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in Canada ; investments in alternative fuels like green hydrogen and in our competitive clean tech sector ; and investments in Indigenous guardians programs , natural climate solutions and natural infrastructure projects that benefit diverse people , communities , biodiversity and the environment .
`` Climate change remains the greatest threat to human health in history , and like COVID-19 , we must address it directly and vigorously before it spirals further out of control . ''
As our political leaders plan Canada ’ s economic recovery , they should pay heed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health experts warning of the growing impacts of the climate crisis , just as they have done to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections .
The European Commission has heeded such advice and has clinched a historic green stimulus package that earmarks billions towards a green economic recovery .
Several countries , such as France and Germany , have also recently adopted ambitious green recovery packages that will create even more new green jobs .
Canada has an opportunity to lead in much the same way .
We only have one chance at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all levels of government to make this economic recovery one that not only will make us proud and prosperous in the short term , but will keep us healthy and safe for generations to come .

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Canadians were admirably quick to adopt massive behavioural and policy changes to protect themselves and help flatten the curve of infections. Income support was rolled out for millions suddenly out of work, social distancing was implemented, streets were closed off to make room for pedestrians and, overnight, workplaces were transformed from physical to virtual. Elected officials across Canada have, on balance, responded effectively to the pandemic and bolstered trust in science-based public health decisions. Philanthropic foundations have also adjusted swiftly. Collectively we provide more than $50 million in charitable grants annually and represent approximately $1.5 billion in assets. Across Canada, we are supporting health-care institutions, housing and social services, poverty reduction, decent work, the arts, education, environmental action, tackling racial inequality and assisting a range of other community organizations in our COVID-19 emergency response efforts. Just like governments, the priorities of foundations have, by necessity, shifted in the short term to target support for pandemic response efforts. In addition, many foundations have made the decision to increase their spending to support communities most affected by the crisis.
However, while responding to the clear and present challenges related to this pandemic, we also cannot lose sight of the broader climate emergency. Climate change remains the greatest threat to human health in history, and like COVID-19, we must address it directly and vigorously before it spirals further out of control.Like COVID-19, it disproportionately affects racialized, Indigenous, and economically disenfranchised communities. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions As Canadians look to recover from the worst of the pandemic, we also have an opportunity to advance climate-related solutions that build up just industries and livelihoods, that generate green jobs as part of a low-carbon economy, that support well-being economies and protect workers’ rights, eradicate poverty, distribute wealth equitably, and uphold human rights. In order to "build back better," these communities need to be at the front and centre of recovery programs.
As leaders of philanthropic foundations, we are asking governments of all levels to invest in short- and long-term recovery efforts that are green, clean, resilient, and just for all. "Climate change remains the greatest threat to human health in history, and like COVID-19, we must address it directly and vigorously before it spirals further out of control." We only have one Earth and we only have one recovery: This is our chance to tackle climate change. We believe that Canada’s recovery efforts should take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to align economic growth with climate action. Canada must focus support on action that will move our country forward: housing retrofits that create good local jobs; public transit; electric vehicle infrastructure, including electric buses that are built here in Canada; investments in alternative fuels like green hydrogen and in our competitive clean tech sector; and investments in Indigenous guardians programs, natural climate solutions and natural infrastructure projects that benefit diverse people, communities, biodiversity and the environment. As our political leaders plan Canada’s economic recovery, they should pay heed to the advice of scientists and public health experts warning of the growing impacts of the climate crisis, just as they have done to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections. The European Commission has heeded such advice and has clinched a historic green stimulus package that earmarks billions towards a green economic recovery. Several countries, such as France and Germany, have also recently adopted ambitious green recovery packages that will create even more new green jobs.
Canada has an opportunity to lead in much the same way. We only have one chance at this green recovery, and we urge all levels of government to make this economic recovery one that not only will make us proud and prosperous in the short term, but will keep us healthy and safe for generations to come.


nationalobserver--2020-09-22--Local abattoirs, essential to beef up local meat, can't keep up. So why aren't there more?

Eventually , most B.C .
livestock is slaughtered into meat — but where ?
It ’ s a question that ’ s plagued farmers , ranchers , abattoir owners and B.C .
politicians for almost 20 years , most recently this month with the release of a policy intentions paper by the provincial ministry of agriculture .
A question the pandemic has dramatically thrown into focus .
“ There are a lot more ( people ) wanting to buy local , and it has put a strain on the meat processing sector unlike anything seen in the past , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the B.C .
Association of Abattoirs .
That vulnerability was laid bare by COVID-19 .
Last spring , hundreds of workers at JBS and Cargill plants in Alberta tested positive for the virus , forcing them to halt operations temporarily and sending shockwaves through Canada ’ s meat supply chain — including an ongoing spike in demand for local meat , Woodbury said .
“ ( Butchers and abattoirs ) are just overwhelmed , ” she said .
“ # JBS and # Cargill control the flow of # beef through # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the @ NFUcanada noted in an April policy brief .
“ Their three processing plants form a choke point… ( that is ) one of the weakest links in Canada ’ s food system.
” # COVID-19 # food More overwhelmed , that is , than usual .
B.C .
has seen a rapid decline in its meat processing capacity since a 2003 overhaul of the province ’ s abattoir regulations , in response to Canada ’ s BSE ( mad cow disease ) crisis .
The new regulations required provincially inspected abattoirs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to upgrade their facilities to meet new food safety and hygiene requirements on par with federally inspected plants such as the pandemic-struck Cargill and JBS plants .
These abattoirs are regulated under “ A ” and “ B ” licences and must have a provincial meat inspector check each animal for disease or mistreatment before and after slaughter .
There are no limits on the number of animals these abattoirs can process , and their products can be sold anywhere in the province .
Provincially-licenced abattoirs play a key role in supporting rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're also feed the relationships between farmers and ranchers , abattoir owners , butchers , and consumers that support agricultural cultures and economies .
Photo by Kathleen Gibson .
Some made the investment , but many abattoir owners left the industry , Woodbury said .
That left small-scale farmers in many parts of the province , particularly hard-to-access areas such as Haida Gwaii and Bella Coola , without the ability to slaughter and butcher their animals .
Those losses were devastating for rural communities , according to Abra Brynne , a food systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Folk .
“ With the change in meat inspection regulations , suddenly a practice that had been very common across our landscapes and communities for generations became an illegal activity .
And it wasn ’ t just about food security , it was also culture , it was the agricultural economy , it was diversified income streams , ” she said .
In response , the provincial Ministry of Agriculture created two additional licence categories , “ D ” and “ E , ” which allow on-farm slaughter operations and allow farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they can prove a class A or B facility isn ’ t easily accessible .
An inspector doesn ’ t need to be on-farm for the slaughter at abattoirs operating on these licences — but they can only sell within the farm ’ s regional district .
Class A and B abattoirs argued that the new licence categories undercut their already-battered industry , while undermining food safety , Woodbury said .
Meanwhile , proponents for D and E licences made the case that the new licence categories could best support farmers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humane meat than the most common alternative — grocery-store meat , likely processed at one of Canada ’ s three massive , federally inspected plants .
It ’ s an ongoing debate ; earlier this month , the B.C .
Ministry of Agriculture published an intentions paper to update the regulations , which has taken on a new urgency as COVID-19 swept through Canada ’ s large meat processing plants .
BC ranchers , abattoirs , local governments and health authorities !
Submit your feedback on the # BCAg intentions paper that contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural areas of the province .
# bcpolihttps : //t.co/UnbLZg5tVD pic.twitter.com/njhaTxMzVn — Lana Popham MLA ( @ lanapopham ) September 14 , 2020 “ It ’ s hard to argue with the fact the larger plants can achieve a lot more efficiencies , ” Brynne said .
Those efficiencies might be a problem — and not just because of a pandemic .
A 2008 report by the National Farmers Union tracked the transformation of Canada ’ s beef processing industry from the late 1980s , when an early version of the NAFTA agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a period that saw rapid consolidation within the meat processing industry in both Canada and the U.S. Companies such as Cargill and JBS started building the massive packing plants seen today — more profitable , thanks to economies of scale — and built their own feedlots .
That drove down cattle prices for farmers while increasing revenues for processing companies — and grocery chains , which didn ’ t necessarily pass on those lower costs to consumers , the report said .
Most beef purchased in Canadian supermarkets comes from three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multinational corporations , Cargill and JBS .
It 's an efficient system , but one that 's vulnerable to disruptions like COVID-19 .
Photo by Wilfredor/Wikimedia Commons .
“ They ’ re squeezing both consumers and farmers , ” said Tim Dowling , an Ontario cattle farmer and National Farmers Union representative .
“ When you get into a monopoly , ( the systems ) becomes less efficient because they use their power to move prices where they want to make more profit.
” That limits where many farmers can sell their animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the number of Canadian farms and new farmers entering the industry .
Dowling and Brynne both noted that larger plants also have questionable workplace safety and environmental track records that are increasingly pushing consumers toward local meat — and the smaller abattoirs that can supply it .
That ’ s where the potential updates to provincial abattoir regulations come in .
“ There are a range of ways to secure safe food , human animal handling , and the thriving of place-based meat systems , ” from licenced class A abattoirs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And each class of facility , she said , helps farmers and processors adapt to specific geographic and market pressures .
Still , new provincial regulations might be details in the larger challenge : Supplying British Columbians with enough local meat for their needs — and ensuring farmers and abattoirs stay in business .
“ We need to heavily invest in agriculture if we really want to move towards food security , ” Woodbury said .

Eventually, most B.C. livestock is slaughtered into meat — but where? It’s a question that’s plagued farmers, ranchers, abattoir owners and B.C. politicians for almost 20 years, most recently this month with the release of a policy intentions paper by the provincial ministry of agriculture. A question the pandemic has dramatically thrown into focus. “There are a lot more (people) wanting to buy local, and it has put a strain on the meat processing sector unlike anything seen in the past,” said Nova Woodbury, the executive director of the B.C. Association of Abattoirs. B.C. produces between 25 and 50 per cent of the beef, pork and lamb eaten in the province — about 44 million pounds. The remainder, excluding imports from abroad, likely comes from one of three abattoirs — two are in Alberta, one is in Ontario — that together process roughly 95 per cent of Canada’s beef (the pork industry is similarly concentrated) and supply most grocery stores in the country.
These factories, owned by the multinational meat processors Cargill and JBS, have the capacity to slaughter about 10,500 head of cattle a day — three times more than B.C.’s annual slaughtering capacity, Woodbury said. Over half the meat eaten in B.C. is imported, but the pandemic has significantly increased British Columbians' interest in local meat. That's kept farmers and local abattoirs busier than ever. Photo by Kathleen Gibson. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “JBS and Cargill control the flow of beef through Canada’s food system,” the National Farmers’ Union noted in an April policy brief. “Their three processing plants form a choke point ... (that is) one of the weakest links in Canada’s food system.”
That vulnerability was laid bare by COVID-19. “#JBS and #Cargill control the flow of #beef through #Canada’s #foodsystem,” the @NFUcanada noted in an April policy brief. “Their three processing plants form a choke point…(that is) one of the weakest links in Canada’s food system.” #COVID-19 #food Last spring, hundreds of workers at JBS and Cargill plants in Alberta tested positive for the virus, forcing them to halt operations temporarily and sending shockwaves through Canada’s meat supply chain — including an ongoing spike in demand for local meat, Woodbury said. “(Butchers and abattoirs) are just overwhelmed,” she said. More overwhelmed, that is, than usual. B.C. has seen a rapid decline in its meat processing capacity since a 2003 overhaul of the province’s abattoir regulations, in response to Canada’s BSE (mad cow disease) crisis.
The new regulations required provincially inspected abattoirs, then common throughout the province, to upgrade their facilities to meet new food safety and hygiene requirements on par with federally inspected plants such as the pandemic-struck Cargill and JBS plants. These abattoirs are regulated under “A” and “B” licences and must have a provincial meat inspector check each animal for disease or mistreatment before and after slaughter. There are no limits on the number of animals these abattoirs can process, and their products can be sold anywhere in the province. Provincially-licenced abattoirs play a key role in supporting rural food security in B.C., but they're also feed the relationships between farmers and ranchers, abattoir owners, butchers, and consumers that support agricultural cultures and economies. Photo by Kathleen Gibson.


nationalobserver--2020-09-22--The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

When sorrows come , they come not single spies , but in battalions .
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrived like the loss of a child in bombing raid .
A stabbing dagger of grief for which there is not a moment to spare .
For everyone who cares about democracy and freedom , the hour to defend it has arrived .
This is the moment for which the GOP , the NRA , corporate interests , and the evangelical Christian right have waited and prayed .
It is for the power that Ginsburg 's seat confers that McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most demonstrably corrupt and catastrophic presidency in American history .
• The government must invest more in tackling climate change • School ’ s back in Ontario , and COVID-19 cases keep rising • Climate change could cause a financial crisis , U.S. regulators are waking up to this This is the whole enchilada .
In politics , the opportunity for lasting dominance over the Supreme Court is the GOP 's best chance to block Democratic legislation over health care , abortion rights , marriage equality , immigration , gun and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax and climate change reforms .
Yet as a raw grab for power , the capture of Ginsburg 's seat is more menacing even than this .
It protects Donald Trump as he tightens the most overtly fascist grip on power that Americans have ever seen .
If Joe Biden wins the November election , Trump will contest that victory in a court packed with judges that he shopped for personally .
In a heartbeat , the last and final check on Trump 's power will evaporate .
There will be no end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tactics , but the harsh reality is that for democracy , this five alarm fire has jumped the barricades , with untold implications around the world .
Americans must steel themselves for an unprecedented challenge to democracy and the rule of law .
As JFK famously said , paraphrasing Dante , `` The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality '' .
`` The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrived like the loss of a child in bombing raid .
A stabbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a moment to spare . ''
# RBG Never in modern times has America faced a threat like the present .
Unthinkably , Joe McCarthy and George Wallace are , by comparison , strictly small potatoes .
Yet if the pandemic has taught us anything , it 's how quickly a community adapts to extreme conditions and accept them as normal , even while countless unseen souls suffer quiet despair alone .
It will take leadership , focus , courage and heart to defeat this threat .
It will take every lesson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her entire life .

When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions. The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrived like the loss of a child in bombing raid. A stabbing dagger of grief for which there is not a moment to spare. For everyone who cares about democracy and freedom, the hour to defend it has arrived. This is the moment for which the GOP, the NRA, corporate interests, and the evangelical Christian right have waited and prayed. It is for the power that Ginsburg's seat confers that McConnell blocked the Merrick Garland appointment and defended the most demonstrably corrupt and catastrophic presidency in American history.
This is the whole enchilada. In politics, the opportunity for lasting dominance over the Supreme Court is the GOP's best chance to block Democratic legislation over health care, abortion rights, marriage equality, immigration, gun and social media regulations, election finance reform, tax and climate change reforms. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Yet as a raw grab for power, the capture of Ginsburg's seat is more menacing even than this. It protects Donald Trump as he tightens the most overtly fascist grip on power that Americans have ever seen. If Joe Biden wins the November election, Trump will contest that victory in a court packed with judges that he shopped for personally.
In a heartbeat, the last and final check on Trump's power will evaporate. "The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrived like the loss of a child in bombing raid. A stabbing dagger of grief for which there is not a moment to spare." #RBG There will be no end of talk and speculation about Democratic strategies and tactics, but the harsh reality is that for democracy, this five alarm fire has jumped the barricades, with untold implications around the world. Americans must steel themselves for an unprecedented challenge to democracy and the rule of law. As JFK famously said, paraphrasing Dante, "The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality". Never in modern times has America faced a threat like the present. Unthinkably, Joe McCarthy and George Wallace are, by comparison, strictly small potatoes. Yet if the pandemic has taught us anything, it's how quickly a community adapts to extreme conditions and accepts them as normal, even while countless unseen souls suffer quiet despair alone.


nationalobserver--2020-09-22--Three First Nations file suit against Ford government over lack of consultation on forestry

Three northeastern Ontario First Nations have filed a suit against the Ford government , alleging the province failed to properly consult them on plans for managing forests in their traditional territories .
The suit , filed Aug. 31 by the Chapleau Cree , Missanabie Cree and Brunswick House First Nations , asks a judge to overturn the Progressive Conservative government ’ s decision to dictate how a wide swath of boreal forest will be used for the next decade without doing an environmental assessment .
The last environmental assessment of forests in Ontario happened in 1988 , the same year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consciousness .
“ Our efforts to engage with Ontario have not worked , and the current approach to forestry in Ontario is resulting in the death of the boreal forest by a thousand cuts , ” said Brunswick House First Nation Chief Cheryl St. Denis in a joint statement with all three nations .
“ Ontario must work hand in hand with us to stop the damage and create a new approach.
” The case , filed in Ontario Superior Court , revolves around the province ’ s plan to manage the Gordon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and James Bay , the mostly-spruce forest is five million acres , roughly four times the size of Prince Edward Island .
• The government must invest more in tackling climate change • School ’ s back in Ontario , and COVID-19 cases keep rising • Climate change could cause a financial crisis , U.S. regulators are waking up to this Sections of the forest are also subject to Treaty Nine , which covers most of what ’ s now known as Ontario , north of the height of land that divides the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Lakes watershed .
The nations who signed on agreed to verbal promises that they could continue to use their homelands as they always had — but the written agreement , penned in a language the nations did not know , said they were ceding land and rights .
Forests in Ontario are broken up into ‘ units , ’ each of which are governed by 10-year management plans designed under forestry law meant to keep logging practices sustainable .
In March , the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry finalized its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be used .
The Gordon Cosens Forest , highlighted by the red square , is located in what is now known as northeastern Ontario .
Map from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources In the 18 months before that decision , the nations say they “ expended great effort ” to negotiate with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry ( MNRF ) , including work on a customized approach to the consultation process .
“ After months of stalling , and less than two weeks prior to finalizing , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t be ready in time to guide the plan for Gordon Cosens Forest , the nations ’ court application said .
“ This means that this ( forest management plan ) and others will continue to be finalized and implemented by MNRF without meaningful consultation with the applicants , ” the filing said .
In response , the nations asked the province to conduct a full environmental assessment before finalizing the plan , using a legal mechanism that allows the public to ask Environment Minister Jeff Yurek to review certain decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that request , a decision the nations allege was unreasonable , made without proper evidence and constitutionally invalid .
“ Our efforts to engage with Ontario have not worked , and the current approach to forestry in Ontario is resulting in the death of the boreal forest by a thousand cuts , ” said Brunswick House First Nation Chief Cheryl St. Denis .
“ We are done with the confusion , ineffective processes and lip service , ” said Chapleau Cree First Nation Chief Keith Corston in the nations ’ statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us and we need results .
We only have one boreal forest and one homeland.
” The nations said they also have doubts that the plan for managing the forest will be effective , alleging that it fails to meet requirements around wildlife monitoring programs and quantifying the amount of carbon stored in a forest .
( Ontario ’ s former environmental commissioner also raised concerns about the province ’ s wildlife monitoring programs in 2011 and 2018 , calling them “ inadequate ” and “ in a state of abject failure.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forestry system is already complex and difficult to engage with , the filing said , calling the process “ multi-layered , highly technical and time consuming ” for nations seeking to have a say in how their traditional territories are used .
“ The First Nations must provide input within timelines that are unmanageable , and on the basis of information that is not readily digestible by anyone without specialized training in forestry , ’ the filing reads .
“ Chiefs and staff members are often unable to effectively assess or consult with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forestry plan ) elements will affect their treaty rights or the overall health of the boreal forest.
” The nations also said they ’ re concerned about use of the controversial herbicide glyphosate in the forest .
“ For many years we have tried to stop aerial herbicide spraying and other harmful forestry practices , but Ontario has not listened , ” Missanabie Cree First Nation Chief Jason Gauthier said in the statement .
“ We know there is a better way to manage the forests.
” The Ford government is currently facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , including three suits over changes to environmental assessments in its contentious COVID-19 economic recovery bill .
In the joint statement , the nations said the changes to environmental assessments in the bill weakened oversight , as did further changes made this summer to forestry rules .
“ The three First Nations have been forced to the Courts by the Province ’ s lack of action , ” the statement said .
“ The honour of the Crown is not upheld when forest management plans are approved over the objection of First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their voices heard.
” A hearing in the case is scheduled for March 9 , 2021 .

Three northeastern Ontario First Nations have filed a suit against the Ford government, alleging the province failed to properly consult them on plans for managing forests in their traditional territories. The suit, filed Aug. 31 by the Chapleau Cree, Missanabie Cree and Brunswick House First Nations, asks a judge to overturn the Progressive Conservative government’s decision to dictate how a wide swath of boreal forest will be used for the next decade without doing an environmental assessment. The last environmental assessment of forests in Ontario happened in 1988, the same year the idea of climate change entered public consciousness. “Our efforts to engage with Ontario have not worked, and the current approach to forestry in Ontario is resulting in the death of the boreal forest by a thousand cuts,” said Brunswick House First Nation Chief Cheryl St. Denis in a joint statement with all three nations. “Ontario must work hand in hand with us to stop the damage and create a new approach.” The case, filed in Ontario Superior Court, revolves around the province’s plan to manage the Gordon Cosens Forest. Located between Lake Superior and James Bay, the mostly-spruce forest is five million acres, roughly four times the size of Prince Edward Island.
Sections of the forest are also subject to Treaty Nine, which covers most of what’s now known as Ontario, north of the height of land that divides the waters draining into James Bay from the Great Lakes watershed. The nations who signed on agreed to verbal promises that they could continue to use their homelands as they always had — but the written agreement, penned in a language the nations did not know, said they were ceding land and rights. Forests in Ontario are broken up into ‘units,’ each of which are governed by 10-year management plans designed under forestry law meant to keep logging practices sustainable. In March, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry finalized its 2020-2030 plan for how Gordon Corsens Forest will be used. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The Gordon Cosens Forest, highlighted by the red square, is located in what is now known as northeastern Ontario. Map from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
In the 18 months before that decision, the nations say they “expended great effort” to negotiate with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), including work on a customized approach to the consultation process. “After months of stalling, and less than two weeks prior to finalizing,” the ministry told the nations the consultation plan wouldn’t be ready in time to guide the plan for Gordon Cosens Forest, the nations’ court application said. “Our efforts to engage with Ontario have not worked, and the current approach to forestry in Ontario is resulting in the death of the boreal forest by a thousand cuts,” said Brunswick House First Nation Chief Cheryl St. Denis. “This means that this (forest management plan) and others will continue to be finalized and implemented by MNRF without meaningful consultation with the applicants,” the filing said. In response, the nations asked the province to conduct a full environmental assessment before finalizing the plan, using a legal mechanism that allows the public to ask Environment Minister Jeff Yurek to review certain decisions. In May, the government denied that request, a decision the nations allege was unreasonable, made without proper evidence and constitutionally invalid. “We are done with the confusion, ineffective processes and lip service,” said Chapleau Cree First Nation Chief Keith Corston in the nations’ statement. “We need Ontario to collaborate closely with us and we need results. We only have one boreal forest and one homeland.”
‘Ontario has not listened’ The nations said they also have doubts that the plan for managing the forest will be effective, alleging that it fails to meet requirements around wildlife monitoring programs and quantifying the amount of carbon stored in a forest. (Ontario’s former environmental commissioner also raised concerns about the province’s wildlife monitoring programs in 2011 and 2018, calling them “inadequate” and “in a state of abject failure.”) Beyond that, Ontario’s forestry system is already complex and difficult to engage with, the filing said, calling the process “multi-layered, highly technical and time consuming” for nations seeking to have a say in how their traditional territories are used.


nationalobserver--2020-09-22--Horgan says election will create stability, opposition calls it 'politics at its worst'

B.C .
Premier John Horgan called a snap fall election on Monday , a move widely determined to be taking a bet he can gain a majority government despite the risk it could alienate voters by taking them to the polls during the pandemic .
Reaction from B.C.
’ s opposition parties to the writ being dropped was scathing .
Calling the move cynical , BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said Horgan was putting politics before people by calling an election during the pandemic .
“ For no good reason whatsoever , we 're now being forced into a general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except the NDP , ” Wilkinson said Monday .
The NDP also passed legislation providing for fixed election dates , the next slated for October 2021 , he added .
• School ’ s back in Ontario , and COVID-19 cases keep rising • The government must invest more in tackling climate change • Three First Nations file suit against Ford government over lack of consultation on forestry “ And now ( Horgan ) has torn it all to shreds for his own personal interest , ” Wilkinson said .
The NDP leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , with advance polls starting seven days prior .
Horgan is hoping to capitalize on his current popularity due to his handling of the pandemic , said Hamish Telford , a University of the Fraser Valley political science professor .
“ I think the principal reason for holding the election now is that they are riding very high in the polls , ” Telford said Monday .
Hamish Telford , a political science professor of the University of the Fraser Valley , said NDP Leader John Horgan is banking on his current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming election .
Photo : courtesy UFV Horgan was ranked the country ’ s most popular premier with an approval rating of 69 per cent , according to a poll released Monday by Maru/Blue Canada Inc. “ For no good reason whatsoever , we 're now being forced into a general election that nobody in British Columbia wants except the NDP , ” said BC Liberal Party leader Andrew Wilkinson after NDP leader John Horgan calls an early election .
# BCpoli The NDP leader said he struggled with the decision to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to stability and certainty for the next government dealing with the pandemic in the coming year .
“ We can either delay that decision and create uncertainty and instability over the next 12 months ... or we can do what I believe is always the right thing and ask British Columbians what they think.
” The public has been broadly supportive of the B.C .
government ’ s handing of the pandemic , particularly in the early months of the public health emergency , Telford said .
However , as winter approaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deepen , Horgan ’ s popularity will likely begin to slide , Telford said “ From here on in , things are going to get more difficult , ” he said .
This month , B.C .
has been recording some of the highest daily case numbers since the start of the pandemic , and flu season is around the corner , Telford added .
“ So , I think Horgan wants to go now , rather than later , ” he said .
Plus , the NDP leader might be anticipating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal election next year , Telford added .
The premier had led a minority government with a support agreement in place with the BC Green Party .
But to obtain a majority , the NDP must win at least four additional seats above the 41 seats they have now , Telford said .
Sonia Furstenau , newly minted B.C .
Green Party leader , said she met with NDP leader John Horgan to tell him the party was willing to continue working with NDP minority government .
Photo : B.C .
Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonia Furstenau , new to her role as of last week , said Horgan was putting his political fortune ahead of the health and safety of British Columbians .
Premier Horgan has a stable government , said Furstenau , in a statement Monday .
“ I met with him on Friday and made it clear that we were willing to continue to work together in the best interest of British Columbians , ” Furstenau said .
“ For the next month , his ministers will be on the campaign trail instead of working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic , which as we know changes daily.
” “ This is politics at its worst , ” she added .
Wilkinson put it down to misplaced politics saying people are worried about their jobs , kids and health due to the pandemic and that it was a time for stability , not politics .
“ We ’ ve all got to wonder about the current premier , who has an ironclad deal with the Green Party to govern for another 13 months , ” Wilkinson said .
Horgan ’ s move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority government entails considerable risk , Telford said .
“ The risk is that the gamble wo n't pay off , ” Telford said .
“ Yes , he 's riding very high in the polls , but when I look at the election map , it ’ s difficult to see where the NDP can pick up seats that gets it to a majority.
” Though it 's seeking increased stability , the NDP might end up with another minority government , but this time without the guaranteed cooperation of the Greens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacts will be more significant , Telford added .
“ It could precipitate something of a political crisis , ” he said .
B.C .
recorded 366 new COVID-19 cases over the previous three days , Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported on Monday afternoon .
Henry acknowledged the election announcement , but stated the province ’ s pandemic response would continue uninterrupted .
She and deputy health minister Stephen Brown will continue to be in close contact with Adrian Dix , health minister previous to the election call , and Carole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the election , acting as caretaker for government affairs during the election campaign , said Henry .
This will ensure ongoing management of any issues arising due to the pandemic , she added .
Work has also been done with Elections BC throughout the pandemic to prepare for safe elections , Henry said .
“ The guidelines that we 've come up with include how political parties and their candidates need to keep themselves , their staff and volunteers , and their community safe during the campaign , ” Henry said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ election process to ensure everybody remains safe , she added .
Henry said she plans to meet with B.C .
Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman Tuesday to provide the public with more details about the COVID-19 safety election plan .

B.C. Premier John Horgan called a snap fall election on Monday, a move widely determined to be taking a bet he can gain a majority government despite the risk it could alienate voters by taking them to the polls during the pandemic. Reaction from B.C.’s opposition parties to the writ being dropped was scathing. Calling the move cynical, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said Horgan was putting politics before people by calling an election during the pandemic. “For no good reason whatsoever, we're now being forced into a general election that nobody in British Columbia wants except the NDP,” Wilkinson said Monday. The NDP also passed legislation providing for fixed election dates, the next slated for October 2021, he added.
“And now (Horgan) has torn it all to shreds for his own personal interest,” Wilkinson said. The NDP leader announced the election will take place Oct. 24, with advance polls starting seven days prior. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Horgan is hoping to capitalize on his current popularity due to his handling of the pandemic, said Hamish Telford, a University of the Fraser Valley political science professor.
“I think the principal reason for holding the election now is that they are riding very high in the polls,” Telford said Monday. “For no good reason whatsoever, we're now being forced into a general election that nobody in British Columbia wants except the NDP,” said BC Liberal Party leader Andrew Wilkinson after NDP leader John Horgan calls an early election. #BCpoli Hamish Telford, a political science professor of the University of the Fraser Valley, said NDP Leader John Horgan is banking on his current popularity to gain a majority government in upcoming election. Photo: courtesy UFV Horgan was ranked the country’s most popular premier with an approval rating of 69 per cent, according to a poll released Monday by Maru/Blue Canada Inc. The NDP leader said he struggled with the decision to hold an election, but emphasized it would lead to stability and certainty for the next government dealing with the pandemic in the coming year. “We can either delay that decision and create uncertainty and instability over the next 12 months ... or we can do what I believe is always the right thing and ask British Columbians what they think.”
The public has been broadly supportive of the B.C. government’s handing of the pandemic, particularly in the early months of the public health emergency, Telford said. However, as winter approaches and the health crisis and economic repercussions deepen, Horgan’s popularity will likely begin to slide, Telford said “From here on in, things are going to get more difficult,” he said.


nationalobserver--2020-09-22--Young Canadians eye basic income, climate action in throne speech

Young people are eager for word that universal basic income and an ambitiously green recovery are on the agenda when the Liberal government unveils its reworked COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan .
“ We need it to be visionary , ” said Catherine Abreu , the executive director of Climate Action Network Canada , about the throne speech coming Wednesday .
“ Young people want to hear about how we are going to move from a society where the unequal distribution of wealth and resources is increasing ” to one that is more equitable , she said .
The speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , will lay out the policy plans of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's minority government as it launches a new parliamentary session .
Post-secondary students are feeling particularly left behind by Ottawa after the $ 900 million earmarked to pay them for summer volunteer work seemingly evaporated amid the WE scandal , said charity consultant Vivian Lee .
“ From the university and college students ’ perspective , they ’ re just in a state of flux and there 's no end in sight , so from Trudeau ’ s speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they ’ re going to help this demographic of disenfranchised youth , ” she said .
• School ’ s back in Ontario , and COVID-19 cases keep rising • The government must invest more in tackling climate change • Three First Nations file suit against Ford government over lack of consultation on forestry Lee said she hopes the speech includes plans for an ongoing minimum payment known as universal basic income ( UBI ) to replace expiring emergency benefits , a concept which has been gathering supporters recently .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implement UBI now , ” she said .
“ But then you have to ask the question fiscally , where is the money coming from.
” Canada projected a $ 343 billion budget deficit earlier this year , its largest since the Second World War , including more than $ 212 billion in direct COVID-19 support .
Lee said she ’ d support raising taxes , including by introducing a seventh bracket at the top of the scale that taxes annual income of over $ 7 million at 70 per cent , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A recent poll conducted by Abacus Data for the Broadbent Institute showed more than half of Canadians across age , geography and political affiliation want the speech to feature bold new ideas from the feds for improving people ’ s lives and dealing with climate change .
Abreu and Climate Action Network Canada along with several major Canadian environmental groups backed the International Institute for Sustainable Development ’ s ‘ Green Strings ’ report from June that set out the conditions they ’ d like to see attached to future stimulus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Liberal government 's throne speech for talk of an ambition clean recovery agenda and steps to reduce income inequality , advocates say It said the recovery should attach seven green conditions to government stimulus and recovery efforts , including that industry receiving assistance commits to a zero-emission transition and disclosure of climate risk and a prohibition on share buybacks and dividend payouts .
But the recent rise in COVID-19 cases may have blunted the sharp point Trudeau had planned to put on a green recovery plan , Reuters reported last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ include pledges to expand unemployment benefits and provide federal money for child care , as well as some pro-environmental elements such as a retrofit program to make buildings more energy-efficient , the news agency reported , citing unnamed government sources .

Young people are eager for word that universal basic income and an ambitiously green recovery are on the agenda when the Liberal government unveils its reworked COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan.
“We need it to be visionary,” said Catherine Abreu, the executive director of Climate Action Network Canada, about the throne speech coming Wednesday. “Young people want to hear about how we are going to move from a society where the unequal distribution of wealth and resources is increasing” to one that is more equitable, she said.
The speech, to be delivered by the governor general on Wednesday, will lay out the policy plans of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government as it launches a new parliamentary session.
Post-secondary students are feeling particularly left behind by Ottawa after the $900 million earmarked to pay them for summer volunteer work seemingly evaporated amid the WE scandal, said charity consultant Vivian Lee.
“From the university and college students’ perspective, they’re just in a state of flux and there's no end in sight, so from Trudeau’s speech it would be helpful to outline transparently how they’re going to help this demographic of disenfranchised youth,” she said.


nationalobserver--2020-09-22--First case of COVID-19 at Saskatchewan uranium mill

Orano Canada confirmed on Sunday that an employee at the McClean Lake uranium mill in northern Saskatchewan has tested positive for COVID-19 .
The news comes shortly after the mill restarted production mid-month , following a temporary shutdown in March because of the pandemic .
“ The health and safety of our employees is our highest priority , ” said Jim Corman , Orano Canada president and CEO .
“ While we regret having to share this news , McClean Lake has prepared for this circumstance .
We were able to isolate the appropriate people and get them tested as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is where ore from Cameco Corporation ’ s Cigar Lake mine is processed .
Cameco and Orano announced the reopenings in July , with plans to restart production around Sept. 16 .
• School ’ s back in Ontario , and COVID-19 cases keep rising • The government must invest more in tackling climate change • Three First Nations file suit against Ford government over lack of consultation on forestry The company said this week the infected employee is in isolation at the mill camp and that the source of the infection was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that prior to arriving at the site , the employee was not aware of contact that occurred with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19 .
Orano says it is following the guidance of the Northern Population Health Unit 's Medical Health Officers and that case investigation , contact tracing and testing have been initiated through public health .
Three close contacts of the employee who tested positive have been identified and are isolating at the site .
Underground tunnels at Cigar Lake mine are reinforced with concrete .
Photograph : Courtesy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , mounting concerns in northern communities were followed by lockdowns , checkpoints and limitations to travel within northern Saskatchewan .
“ While we regret having to share this news , McClean Lake has prepared for this circumstance .
We were able to isolate the appropriate people and get them tested as soon as possible , ” Orano Canada President and CEO Jim Corman .
# COVID19SK @ oranocanada Cameco and Orano chose to shutter operations to avoid the risks associated with employees flying in and out of remote work camps while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also come from remote , vulnerable communities that are especially concerned about keeping the virus out .
“ These realities would greatly compound the problems a COVID-19 outbreak would present , so we need to take every precaution to ensure we don ’ t inadvertently become a point of transmission into these communities , ” Cameco spokesperson Jeff Hryhoriw told Canada 's National Observer in March .
About 50 per cent of the roughly 320 employees and another 240 contractors at Cigar Lake are from communities in northern Saskatchewan .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closure , while the workforce at Orano ’ s McClean Lake mill was reduced from 160 to 50 .
Market price for uranium skyrocketed due to the lack of supply resulting from the production slowdown .
“ While health and safety are the primary considerations for the timing of our Cigar Lake mine restart decision , there were also commercial considerations , including market-related factors and the impact on our cost structure , ” Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel said in July .
Orano said that while the company will not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the course of the past months , they are aiming for 4.7-million kilograms of packaged production in 2020 .

Orano Canada confirmed on Sunday that an employee at the McClean Lake uranium mill in northern Saskatchewan has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes shortly after the mill restarted production mid-month, following a temporary shutdown in March because of the pandemic. “The health and safety of our employees is our highest priority,” said Jim Corman, Orano Canada president and CEO. “While we regret having to share this news, McClean Lake has prepared for this circumstance. We were able to isolate the appropriate people and get them tested as soon as possible.” McClean Lake mill is where ore from Cameco Corporation’s Cigar Lake mine is processed. Cameco and Orano announced the reopenings in July, with plans to restart production around Sept. 16.
The company said this week the infected employee is in isolation at the mill camp and that the source of the infection was outside the work environment. The company said that prior to arriving at the site, the employee was not aware of contact that occurred with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Orano says it is following the guidance of the Northern Population Health Unit's Medical Health Officers and that case investigation, contact tracing and testing have been initiated through public health.
Three close contacts of the employee who tested positive have been identified and are isolating at the site. “While we regret having to share this news, McClean Lake has prepared for this circumstance. We were able to isolate the appropriate people and get them tested as soon as possible,” Orano Canada President and CEO Jim Corman. #COVID19SK @oranocanada Health and economics Underground tunnels at Cigar Lake mine are reinforced with concrete. Photograph: Courtesy of Cameco. As COVID-19 hit early this year, mounting concerns in northern communities were followed by lockdowns, checkpoints and limitations to travel within northern Saskatchewan.
Cameco and Orano chose to shutter operations to avoid the risks associated with employees flying in and out of remote work camps while living in close quarters. Many employees also come from remote, vulnerable communities that are especially concerned about keeping the virus out. “These realities would greatly compound the problems a COVID-19 outbreak would present, so we need to take every precaution to ensure we don’t inadvertently become a point of transmission into these communities,” Cameco spokesperson Jeff Hryhoriw told Canada's National Observer in March. About 50 per cent of the roughly 320 employees and another 240 contractors at Cigar Lake are from communities in northern Saskatchewan.