nationalobserver--2020-07-02--'We see you and we hear you': O’Regan repeats his olive branch on Trans Mountain

Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O ’ Regan used the same phrase on Thursday to offer an olive branch to opponents of a government-owned oil pipeline that he did five months ago : “ We see you and we hear you.
” Both times , the minister was reacting to a favourable court ruling for the Trans Mountain pipeline and expansion project , which has been owned and operated by Canada ever since the Trudeau government bought it from a Texas energy company in 2018 .
On Thursday , Canada ’ s top court refused to hear an appeal from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coldwater Indian Band , fears that an oil spill would contaminate its drinking water source .
It said the decision would not end its fight , and it may be “ forced back to court ” to protect its aquifer .
“ To those who are disappointed with today ’ s SCC ( Supreme Court of Canada ) decision — we see you and we hear you , ” O ’ Regan said in a statement .
“ Canada will continue to engage with Indigenous groups at each step of the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in the spirit of partnership , to make sure we get this right.
” It was a similar sentiment to the one the minister expressed in February when the Federal Court of Appeal ruled the government ’ s second attempt at consulting with Indigenous peoples over the project was “ genuine.
” • B.C .
First Nations leaders want immediate end to open-net salmon farms “ I want to say clearly to those who are disappointed with today ’ s court decision , we see you and we hear you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada would “ continue to engage with you and your communities , ” he had added , and “ take every step that we can to ensure that this project moves forward in the right way.
” 'We are disappointed , but not surprised ' Coldwater , as well as Tsleil-Waututh Nation , Squamish Nation and Ts ’ elxwéyeqw Tribe , which had brought the legal challenge , disagreed with the February decision and asked the Supreme Court to hear the case .
Coldwater Chief Lee Spahan said then that he felt Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this decision.
” On Thursday , the Supreme Court dismissed that appeal , meaning that the earlier Federal Court of Appeal ruling stands , and Trans Mountain remains an approved project .
The court did not give any reason for its decision , which is the custom .
“ We are disappointed , but not surprised , ” Spahan said Thursday .
“ We knew the chances of the SCC granting leave were slim given the momentum of the project and the Federal Court ’ s finding that protection of our water can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we felt we had to use every tool available to us.
” The dismissal by the Supreme Court is the latest of several high-profile legal victories for the embattled pipeline project .
In January , the court dismissed a separate appeal that would have allowed the B.C .
government to regulate heavy oil flowing through its territory .
Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O ’ Regan used the same phrase on Thursday to offer an olive branch to opponents of a government-owned oil pipeline that he did five months ago : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you.
” As well , in March it said it wouldn ’ t hear challenges from several groups including Youth Stop TMX , which tried to argue that the government didn ’ t fully examine the impact that the fossil fuel project would have on their “ right to a healthy future.
” Canadian government scientists have concluded that global carbon pollution must be cut to “ near zero ” to limit the harsher impacts of the climate crisis , including more urban and coastal flooding , wildfires , threatened ecosystems and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has approved the oil pipeline project twice , first in November 2016 , and then again in June 2019 , after the Federal Court of Appeal had quashed its first approval .
A federal Crown corporation and its subsidiaries have been operating the existing pipeline , and proceeding with construction of the expansion project , which would roughly triple its capacity up to 890,000 barrels a day flowing from near Edmonton to a terminal in metro Vancouver .
'We may be forced back to court ' O ’ Regan said the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will “ generate revenue to help fund clean energy and climate change solutions.
” The government also says the construction is creating thousands of “ good , well-paying jobs.
” But First Nations still have concerns about the project .
Last month , Trans Mountain experienced an oil spill near a significant burial ground for Sumas First Nation , which is now calling for an independent investigation .
And this spring , Coldwater objected to the federal energy regulator ’ s handling of Trans Mountain oil pipeline hearings , saying its approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oral cross-examination in favour of written questions was unfair .
On Thursday , Spahan said Trans Mountain was “ refusing to complete ” a study of its aquifer and that O ’ Regan was “ failing to fulfil his obligations to us and ensure that our drinking water is protected for future generations .
”

Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan used the same phrase on Thursday to offer an olive branch to opponents of a government-owned oil pipeline that he did five months ago: “We see you and we hear you.” Both times, the minister was reacting to a favourable court ruling for the Trans Mountain pipeline and expansion project, which has been owned and operated by Canada ever since the Trudeau government bought it from a Texas energy company in 2018. On Thursday, Canada’s top court refused to hear an appeal from First Nations. One of those, the Coldwater Indian Band, fears that an oil spill would contaminate its drinking water source. It said the decision would not end its fight, and it may be “forced back to court” to protect its aquifer. “To those who are disappointed with today’s SCC (Supreme Court of Canada) decision — we see you and we hear you,” O’Regan said in a statement. “Canada will continue to engage with Indigenous groups at each step of the project in the months and years to come, and in the spirit of partnership, to make sure we get this right.” It was a similar sentiment to the one the minister expressed in February when the Federal Court of Appeal ruled the government’s second attempt at consulting with Indigenous peoples over the project was “genuine.”
“I want to say clearly to those who are disappointed with today’s court decision, we see you and we hear you,” he said at the time. Canada would “continue to engage with you and your communities,” he had added, and “take every step that we can to ensure that this project moves forward in the right way.” 'We are disappointed, but not surprised' Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Coldwater, as well as Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Squamish Nation and Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe, which had brought the legal challenge, disagreed with the February decision and asked the Supreme Court to hear the case. Coldwater Chief Lee Spahan said then that he felt Canada "had their minds set already on this decision.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Court dismissed that appeal, meaning that the earlier Federal Court of Appeal ruling stands, and Trans Mountain remains an approved project. The court did not give any reason for its decision, which is the custom. Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan used the same phrase on Thursday to offer an olive branch to opponents of a government-owned oil pipeline that he did five months ago: “we see you and we hear you.” “We are disappointed, but not surprised,” Spahan said Thursday. “We knew the chances of the SCC granting leave were slim given the momentum of the project and the Federal Court’s finding that protection of our water can still take place in future routing decisions, but we felt we had to use every tool available to us.” The dismissal by the Supreme Court is the latest of several high-profile legal victories for the embattled pipeline project. In January, the court dismissed a separate appeal that would have allowed the B.C. government to regulate heavy oil flowing through its territory. As well, in March it said it wouldn’t hear challenges from several groups including Youth Stop TMX, which tried to argue that the government didn’t fully examine the impact that the fossil fuel project would have on their “right to a healthy future.” Canadian government scientists have concluded that global carbon pollution must be cut to “near zero” to limit the harsher impacts of the climate crisis, including more urban and coastal flooding, wildfires, threatened ecosystems and a loss of fresh water.
The Trudeau government has approved the oil pipeline project twice, first in November 2016, and then again in June 2019, after the Federal Court of Appeal had quashed its first approval. A federal Crown corporation and its subsidiaries have been operating the existing pipeline, and proceeding with construction of the expansion project, which would roughly triple its capacity up to 890,000 barrels a day flowing from near Edmonton to a terminal in metro Vancouver.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Feds extending COVID-19 commercial rent-relief program

Federal and provincial governments have agreed to extend a commercial rent-relief program to help cover July costs for eligible small businesses .
The move comes with a few changes to the subsidy , as the COVID-19-related aid faces questions about whether it is delivering as expected .
The amended program had doled out $ 152 million in forgivable loans to landlords that had agreed to give rent breaks to more than 20,000 tenants as of June 21 .
It carries a budget of over $ 2.97 billion , based on the latest federal spending estimates on pandemic-related aid .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent help should run through to September at least , and that the program needs other changes to ease access .
• Kielburger says he `` misspoke '' when he said Trudeau 's office contacted WE about $ 900M program The business group continues to hear stories of small-business tenants are n't being helped because their landlords have not applied .
Landlords have to seek support from the program and agree to cut their tenants ' rents in exchange .
CFIB 's Alberta director Annie Dormuth said an extension to the fall would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trying to find their footing as public health restrictions are slowly rolled back .
Take up of the rent-relief program was slow at first , prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to publicly press landlords to apply for forgivable loans through the program .
Finance Minister Bill Morneau sounded more upbeat late last month when he said applications were rising thanks to provinces ' banning evictions during the ongoing pandemic .
Landlords that ca n't kick tenants out have more reason to seek financial assistance .
Still , over the last three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails from companies announcing closures , including some deciding to not renew their leases because it no longer makes financial sense to do so .
`` We 're going to see more of that .
We 're going to see more wind-ups and people might say , 'Oh well , small business does n't matter much , ' but it could be 10 jobs , it could be 20 jobs , it starts to snowball ... and that 's permanent . ''
Federal and provincial governments have agreed to extend a commercial rent-relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible small businesses .
She said part of the problem in the rent-relief program may be that asking landlords to shave down rents does n't address that they too have loans to pay off .
The program provides forgivable loans that cover half of rent for eligible small businesses , and also requires landlords to waive a further one-quarter of what they 'd otherwise be owed .
`` So they have financial institutions that are calling them to say , 'Where is this month 's mortgage payment ? '
'' Bartman said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there . ''
Among the changes included in the extension of the program is that insurance payments for missed rents and provincial rent supports wo n't be clawed back from the rent-support loans .
Previous amounts clawed back under the program will be returned to landlords that previously received loans through the program .
As well , those who qualified for loans by showing revenue declines of 70 per cent in April , May or June will qualify anew without being reassessed on whether their earnings have dropped by that much in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extra month should ensure small businesses and property owners `` are poised to rebound in the post-pandemic recovery . ''
The Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals said in its own statement Thursday that without the rent-relief program and others , many Canadian businesses would likely already be insolvent .
Board member David Lewis said he had n't heard of companies filing for bankruptcy because they could n't get access to the rent-relief program .
He cautioned that not everyone formally files .
`` There are vacant premises where the tenant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone , '' he said , talking about what he sees around his hometown of Edmonton .
`` Yes , the numbers ( of formal filings ) have gone down , yes these assistance programs have helped , but if they were struggling before , they 're going to struggle after . ''
He added that it 's too early to tell if the aid measures will mean companies come out in good positions once the crisis passes .
Dormuth from the CFIB said the situation is particularly acute at the moment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , optometrists and naturopaths , who have to meet safety requirements to reopen after months of little , if any , income .
Among the new costs they have to manage , along with rent , is personal protective equipment like surgical-grade masks that may not be readily available .
`` Not only are they recovering from a complete mandated closure of no revenues for a couple of months , now they 're coming to an office environment where things are just completely changed , '' Dormuth said .
It 's why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these companies access to provincial supply chains .
CFIB is also asking the federal government to release revised eligibility rules for a $ 45-billion federal wage subsidy program that has been extended through the summer .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2 , 2020 .

Federal and provincial governments have agreed to extend a commercial rent-relief program to help cover July costs for eligible small businesses. The move comes with a few changes to the subsidy, as the COVID-19-related aid faces questions about whether it is delivering as expected. The amended program had doled out $152 million in forgivable loans to landlords that had agreed to give rent breaks to more than 20,000 tenants as of June 21. It carries a budget of over $2.97 billion, based on the latest federal spending estimates on pandemic-related aid. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the rent help should run through to September at least, and that the program needs other changes to ease access.
The business group continues to hear stories of small-business tenants aren't being helped because their landlords have not applied. Landlords have to seek support from the program and agree to cut their tenants' rents in exchange. CFIB's Alberta director Annie Dormuth said an extension to the fall would help companies still recovering from COVID-19 closures and trying to find their footing as public health restrictions are slowly rolled back. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Take up of the rent-relief program was slow at first, prompting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to publicly press landlords to apply for forgivable loans through the program.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau sounded more upbeat late last month when he said applications were rising thanks to provinces' banning evictions during the ongoing pandemic. Landlords that can't kick tenants out have more reason to seek financial assistance. Federal and provincial governments have agreed to extend a commercial rent-relief program to help cover July costs for eligible small businesses. Still, over the last three weeks, business consultant Jenifer Bartman has seen emails from companies announcing closures, including some deciding to not renew their leases because it no longer makes financial sense to do so. "We're going to see more of that. We're going to see more wind-ups and people might say, 'Oh well, small business doesn't matter much,' but it could be 10 jobs, it could be 20 jobs, it starts to snowball ... and that's permanent." She said part of the problem in the rent-relief program may be that asking landlords to shave down rents doesn't address that they too have loans to pay off. The program provides forgivable loans that cover half of rent for eligible small businesses, and also requires landlords to waive a further one-quarter of what they'd otherwise be owed.
"So they have financial institutions that are calling them to say, 'Where is this month's mortgage payment?'" Bartman said. "Perhaps part of the disconnect is there." Among the changes included in the extension of the program is that insurance payments for missed rents and provincial rent supports won't be clawed back from the rent-support loans. Previous amounts clawed back under the program will be returned to landlords that previously received loans through the program.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Nunavut reporting what may be territory's first COVID-19 case

Nunavut is reporting what may be its first case of COVID-19 .
Dr. Michael Patterson , the territory 's chief public health officer , announced Thursday a presumptive infection of a worker at the Mary River Mine on Baffin Island , 176 kilometres southwest of Pond Inlet .
He said the person recently travelled to Nunavut for a shift at the open pit iron mine run by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation .
The worker was not showing symptoms , but was tested as part of routine screening .
The person is doing well and is isolating from co-workers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not required to isolate when they travel into Nunavut , as they fly directly to the mine for their work rotations .
He would not reveal where the worker involved in the probable case is from .
Health Minister George Hickes said employees at the mine do not have contact with community members .
Nunavut is reporting what may be its first case of COVID-19 .
And he said it 's best for mine workers who are Nunavut residents to stay home .
`` There 's a lot of concern with having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back to the community .
So to my knowledge , all of the operating mines in Nunavut are still paying their Nunavut employees to not go to work right now out of fear of contamination of the community . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2 , 2020

Nunavut is reporting what may be its first case of COVID-19.
Dr. Michael Patterson, the territory's chief public health officer, announced Thursday a presumptive infection of a worker at the Mary River Mine on Baffin Island, 176 kilometres southwest of Pond Inlet.
He said the person recently travelled to Nunavut for a shift at the open pit iron mine run by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation. The worker was not showing symptoms, but was tested as part of routine screening. The person is doing well and is isolating from co-workers at the site.
The test is being sent to a laboratory for confirmation.
"We anticipate that these results will be available early next week," Patterson told a news conference. "Until then, this is being classified as a probable case of COVID-19 for Nunavut.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Military member arrested after truck rammed gate near Trudeau residence

A member of the Canadian Armed Forces has been arrested after someone rammed a truck through the gates of Rideau Hall and drove up the path toward the official residences that house Gov .
Gen. Julie Payette and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before being stopped by police .
The RCMP has not identified the man , who was arrested shortly after a vehicle broke through the gates around 6:40 a.m. local time Thursday .
The Mounties said in a statement that the truck was disabled on impact with the gate , which is known as Thomas Gate .
`` While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect , the RCMP National Division Emergency Response Team was also dispatched and arrived shortly after 7 a.m. , '' the RCMP said in a statement .
`` The armed suspect was apprehended shortly before 8:30 a.m. without any incident and he was brought into police custody for questioning .
As a precaution , the ( chemical , biological , radiological , nuclear and explosives response ) team was also deployed to search and secure the suspect 's vehicle . ''
The RCMP did not identify the individual arrested near Rideau Hall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of National Defence confirmed he is a member of the military .
The Mounties say charges are pending .
• Kielburger says he `` misspoke '' when he said Trudeau 's office contacted WE about $ 900M program `` The Canadian Armed Forces is collaborating closely with the RCMP , '' the Defence Department said in its statement Thursday .
`` As the RCMP is the lead investigative body for this matter , it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time . ''
The RCMP have not provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but have said that neither Payette nor Trudeau were present at the time .
The iconic Rideau Hall has long served as the home to Canada 's governors general .
Trudeau and his family have also lived in Rideau Cottage , which is located on the grounds of Rideau Hall , since he became prime minister .
The government is still working on whether to renovate 24 Sussex Dr. , where past prime ministers have lived .
''Thanks to the swift and diligent actions of our employees , the incident that unfolded earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall was quickly and safely resolved , '' said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bernadine Chapman , commanding officer of National Division .
The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General issued a statement Thursday to thank the RCMP and police for resolving the situation quickly .
`` All of our staff are safe , '' said the statement .
The statement also noted that Payette has only occasionally been at Rideau Hall during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` Given the number of staff required to support Her Excellency when she is on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic she has chosen to prioritize the health and safety of the employees of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General by only being there when Constitutional duties require , such as Royal Assent , '' the statement said .
`` Prior to the pandemic , the Governor General was living on the grounds of Rideau Hall . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2 , 2020 .

A member of the Canadian Armed Forces has been arrested after someone rammed a truck through the gates of Rideau Hall and drove up the path toward the official residences that house Gov. Gen. Julie Payette and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before being stopped by police.
The RCMP has not identified the man, who was arrested shortly after a vehicle broke through the gates around 6:40 a.m. local time Thursday. The Mounties said in a statement that the truck was disabled on impact with the gate, which is known as Thomas Gate.
"While an RCMP member began dialogue with the suspect, the RCMP National Division Emergency Response Team was also dispatched and arrived shortly after 7 a.m.," the RCMP said in a statement.
"The armed suspect was apprehended shortly before 8:30 a.m. without any incident and he was brought into police custody for questioning. As a precaution, the (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response) team was also deployed to search and secure the suspect's vehicle."
The RCMP did not identify the individual arrested near Rideau Hall, but both the police force and the Department of National Defence confirmed he is a member of the military. The Mounties say charges are pending.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Atlantic Canada to lift travel restrictions as regional "bubble" opens

Atlantic Canadians are closely eyeing travel requirements and coronavirus case numbers across the region as the four provinces prepare to open their borders to their neighbours Friday , an experiment that 's prompted excitement and anxiety among residents .
COVID-19 cases in the region have dwindled in recent weeks , and the four provinces have agreed to waive isolation requirements among the group to boost their economies and offer social support to residents .
While many tourism operators and those missing family and friends celebrated the news , others have criticized the bubble over fears that the virus will rebound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labrador to keep its borders closed has generated nearly 15,000 signatures this week .
`` Our province has been slowly healing and going back to normal , we want to keep it that way , '' the petition reads .
`` This is not the time . ''
• Kielburger says he `` misspoke '' when he said Trudeau 's office contacted WE about $ 900M program Dr. Janice Fitzgerald , chief medical officer of health , addressed fears that the province is moving too fast in a news conference this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents to trust in science .
Her Nova Scotian counterpart , Dr. Robert Strang , also shared a message to anxious residents in a statement on Thursday encouraging them to continue following health guidelines .
`` I know many people are still nervous about this virus .
Our visitors may be , too , '' Strang 's statement said .
`` We can make their visits a safe experience for everyone by being patient and kind , by practising good hand hygiene , distancing and by wearing a mask when you ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scotia , the most populous province in the region , has reported three new COVID-19 cases this week , two related to travel to the U.S. and the third involving a temporary worker who arrived from outside Canada .
Speaking after a cabinet meeting Thursday , Premier Stephen McNeil addressed concerns about the bubble , telling Nova Scotians the economic opportunity wo n't come at the expense of their health .
`` Our tourism sector needs this , and we need to try to make it work , but I want to reassure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spike of COVID , we will re-evaluate , '' McNeil said .
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald , chief medical officer of health , addressed fears that the province is moving too fast in a news conference this week , pointing to low case numbers while encouraging residents to trust in science .
St. John 's resident David Brake was in the process of planning a late-July trip to Prince Edward Island with his two children on the eve of the travel bubble 's opening .
While he would usually plan a vacation further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the travel bubble this year and visit a new province , scheduling a flight to Halifax , with plans to stop in New Brunswick on the way to the Island .
He said he 's confident that the trip will be safe for his family given the low coronavirus case numbers at the moment .
But he 's pondering how his holiday might be perceived by neighbours upon his return , with many Newfoundlanders still skeptical about whether it 's safe to venture off the island that has so far beaten back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not isolated because nobody asked me to , am I going to be a pariah for two weeks ?
Are my children going to be a pariah for two weeks ? ''
he wondered .
For those planning trips to another province , some identification and preventive measures will be required .
Adults travelling to Nova Scotia must show proof of residency in one of the four provinces in order to enter without having to isolate for 14 days .
Prince Edward Island is asking visitors to fill out a form with details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and planned arrival and departure dates for each person .
Marine Atlantic , a Crown corporation running ferry services between Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia , said it 's seen a spike in bookings , with 3,000 reservations booked in the first six days following the Atlantic bubble announcement .
A statement said the bump `` exhausted '' capacity , which had been limited to allow for proper distancing and adherence to public health measures .
The company will be slowly increasing passenger limits in coming weeks .
While tourism operators welcomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bubble wo n't bring in enough revenue for their businesses to survive .
Carol Alderdice , president of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick , said visitors from within the region wo n't be enough to help struggling businesses through the difficult year .
She said Atlantic Canadians typically account for just over 30 per cent of tourism visits in the province , and most operators are eager to see restrictions on entry eased for visitors from elsewhere in Canada , especially Ontario and Quebec .
`` It 's definitely not enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely not , '' Alderdice said from Fredericton .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2 , 2020 .

Atlantic Canadians are closely eyeing travel requirements and coronavirus case numbers across the region as the four provinces prepare to open their borders to their neighbours Friday, an experiment that's prompted excitement and anxiety among residents. COVID-19 cases in the region have dwindled in recent weeks, and the four provinces have agreed to waive isolation requirements among the group to boost their economies and offer social support to residents. While many tourism operators and those missing family and friends celebrated the news, others have criticized the bubble over fears that the virus will rebound. An online petition asking Newfoundland and Labrador to keep its borders closed has generated nearly 15,000 signatures this week. "Our province has been slowly healing and going back to normal, we want to keep it that way," the petition reads. "This is not the time."
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, chief medical officer of health, addressed fears that the province is moving too fast in a news conference this week, pointing to low case numbers while encouraging residents to trust in science. Her Nova Scotian counterpart, Dr. Robert Strang, also shared a message to anxious residents in a statement on Thursday encouraging them to continue following health guidelines. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "I know many people are still nervous about this virus. Our visitors may be, too," Strang's statement said. "We can make their visits a safe experience for everyone by being patient and kind, by practising good hand hygiene, distancing and by wearing a mask when you can't stay six feet apart."
Nova Scotia, the most populous province in the region, has reported three new COVID-19 cases this week, two related to travel to the U.S. and the third involving a temporary worker who arrived from outside Canada. Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, chief medical officer of health, addressed fears that the province is moving too fast in a news conference this week, pointing to low case numbers while encouraging residents to trust in science. Speaking after a cabinet meeting Thursday, Premier Stephen McNeil addressed concerns about the bubble, telling Nova Scotians the economic opportunity won't come at the expense of their health. "Our tourism sector needs this, and we need to try to make it work, but I want to reassure all of you that if we see a spike of COVID, we will re-evaluate," McNeil said. St. John's resident David Brake was in the process of planning a late-July trip to Prince Edward Island with his two children on the eve of the travel bubble's opening. While he would usually plan a vacation further afield, Brake decided to take advantage of the travel bubble this year and visit a new province, scheduling a flight to Halifax, with plans to stop in New Brunswick on the way to the Island.
He said he's confident that the trip will be safe for his family given the low coronavirus case numbers at the moment. But he's pondering how his holiday might be perceived by neighbours upon his return, with many Newfoundlanders still skeptical about whether it's safe to venture off the island that has so far beaten back the virus. "If I'm not isolated because nobody asked me to, am I going to be a pariah for two weeks? Are my children going to be a pariah for two weeks?" he wondered.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Ukraine will lead Flight PS752 compensation talks with Iran

Canada 's Foreign Affairs Department says Ukraine will lead negotiations with Iran over compensation for the families of victims of @ @ @ @ @ .
After first denying it , Iran admitted one of its air-defence batteries shot the @ @ @ @ @ in January , killing all 176 people on the plane .
Fifty-five Canadian citizens and @ @ @ @ @ , on the first leg of a trip from Iran to Canada via Kyiv , @ @ @ @ @ nationals of other countries returning to Canada as students and researchers after the December break @

Canada's Foreign Affairs Department says Ukraine will lead negotiations with Iran over compensation for the families of victims of the crash of Flight PS752.
After first denying it, Iran admitted one of its air-defence batteries shot the Ukraine International Airlines jet down in January, killing all 176 people on the plane.
Fifty-five Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents were aboard, on the first leg of a trip from Iran to Canada via Kyiv, Ukraine. Many more were nationals of other countries returning to Canada as students and researchers after the December break.
The federal government said Canada, Afghanistan, Sweden and the United Kingdom have agreed that Ukraine will be their spokesperson in talks over compensation.
The members of the International Co-ordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 settled on "a common approach to holding the Iranian regime accountable and signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation regarding negotiations on reparations by Iran, paving the way for state-to-state negotiations," Global Affairs Canada said.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Tories ask watchdog to review contracts between Ottawa, WE Charity

The federal Conservatives have asked Canada 's procurement watchdog to review the circumstances around several sole-sourced contracts between the Liberal government and WE Charity , including its administration of a $ 900-million federal program for students .
They sent a letter to federal procurement ombudsman Alexander Jeglic on Thursday as questions continue to surface around Ottawa 's decision to have the Toronto-based WE organization manage the Canada Student Service Grant .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been on the defensive since Ottawa revealed last week that WE had been chosen to administer the program , which will provide students with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs for volunteering for causes related to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The prime minister has faced allegations of cronyism and questions about a conflict of interest as Trudeau and his wife , Sophie Gregoire Trudeau , both have long-standing connections with the organization .
Trudeau has said WE will be paid only to cover its costs .
He has also said the non-partisan public service concluded the organization was the only group in Canada with the capacity to run the program and reach the many thousands of young people who might sign up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` misspoke '' when he said Trudeau 's office contacted WE about $ 900M program The Conservatives nonetheless referenced the prime minister 's ties to WE in asking Jeglic to investigate both the Canada Student Service Grant arrangement and five other sole-sourced contracts between the charity and Ottawa since March 2017 .
The amounts for those other contracts range from $ 13,000 to $ 40,000 , which means they were not required to be advertised for competitive bids , according to federal procurement rules .
The Tories write in their letter to Jeglic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of providing untendered and sole-sourced contracts to an organization with close personal ties to the prime minister , who is head of the government , is deeply concerning to many Canadians .
`` We felt it prudent to raise and give a full argument to the procurement ombudsperson that this is not a one-time variance , '' Conservative employment critic Dan Albas said Thursday .
The Conservatives earlier this week asked auditor general Karen Hogan to include an investigation into the circumstances around the decision to have WE manage the student grant program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ottawa 's COVID-19 relief spending .
`` Our government is committed to providing the best services to Canadians and doing so in an open , transparent , and accountable manner , '' responded Danielle Keenan , a spokeswoman for Youth Minister Bardish Chagger .
`` With respect to the Canada Student Services Grant , WE Charity was recommended by the public service and the contribution agreement followed federal government best practices . ''
The Conservatives nonetheless referenced the prime minister 's ties to WE in asking Jeglic to investigate both the Canada Student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contracts between the charity and Ottawa since March 2017 .
The letter to Jeglic follows emergence of a video earlier this week , obtained by The Canadian Press , that showed WE co-founder Marc Kielburger telling youth leaders last month the Prime Minister 's Office reached out to the organization about the student grant program one day after it was first announced on April 22 .
Kielburger , who founded WE with his brother Craig Kielburger more than 20 years ago , backtracked this week , saying he `` misspoke '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senior public servant the week of April 26 .
That was the week after Trudeau announced the program .
But WE has not answered follow-up questions about whether there was any contact between the organization and the PMO the week of April 20 , when the actual announcement was made .
Trudeau 's spokesman has said there was no contact `` to our knowledge . ''
The government has refused to provide details about the contract with WE .
It says it has allocated $ 19.5 million to cover administrative costs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5 million is for non-profits to provide volunteer jobs for students , including $ 300,000 for accessibility support .
NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus described the arrangement between the government and WE as a `` political boondoggle '' waiting to happen .
`` We do n't know if $ 20 million is the max they 're going to receive .
We do n't know if them hiring a whole bunch of people at WE is going to be an extension of the WE operation .
... How is this not going to @ @ @ @

The federal Conservatives have asked Canada's procurement watchdog to review the circumstances around several sole-sourced contracts between the Liberal government and WE Charity, including its administration of a $900-million federal program for students. They sent a letter to federal procurement ombudsman Alexander Jeglic on Thursday as questions continue to surface around Ottawa's decision to have the Toronto-based WE organization manage the Canada Student Service Grant. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been on the defensive since Ottawa revealed last week that WE had been chosen to administer the program, which will provide students with up to $5,000 toward their education costs for volunteering for causes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The prime minister has faced allegations of cronyism and questions about a conflict of interest as Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, both have long-standing connections with the organization. Trudeau has said WE will be paid only to cover its costs. He has also said the non-partisan public service concluded the organization was the only group in Canada with the capacity to run the program and reach the many thousands of young people who might sign up for it.
The Conservatives nonetheless referenced the prime minister's ties to WE in asking Jeglic to investigate both the Canada Student Service Grant arrangement and five other sole-sourced contracts between the charity and Ottawa since March 2017. The amounts for those other contracts range from $13,000 to $40,000, which means they were not required to be advertised for competitive bids, according to federal procurement rules. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The Tories write in their letter to Jeglic that "the Liberal government's pattern of providing untendered and sole-sourced contracts to an organization with close personal ties to the prime minister, who is head of the government, is deeply concerning to many Canadians.
"We felt it prudent to raise and give a full argument to the procurement ombudsperson that this is not a one-time variance," Conservative employment critic Dan Albas said Thursday. The Conservatives nonetheless referenced the prime minister's ties to WE in asking Jeglic to investigate both the Canada Student Service Grant arrangement and five other sole-sourced contracts between the charity and Ottawa since March 2017. The Conservatives earlier this week asked auditor general Karen Hogan to include an investigation into the circumstances around the decision to have WE manage the student grant program as part of a broader look at Ottawa's COVID-19 relief spending. "Our government is committed to providing the best services to Canadians and doing so in an open, transparent, and accountable manner," responded Danielle Keenan, a spokeswoman for Youth Minister Bardish Chagger. "With respect to the Canada Student Services Grant, WE Charity was recommended by the public service and the contribution agreement followed federal government best practices." The letter to Jeglic follows emergence of a video earlier this week, obtained by The Canadian Press, that showed WE co-founder Marc Kielburger telling youth leaders last month the Prime Minister's Office reached out to the organization about the student grant program one day after it was first announced on April 22. Kielburger, who founded WE with his brother Craig Kielburger more than 20 years ago, backtracked this week, saying he "misspoke" and "contact came to WE Charity" from a senior public servant the week of April 26. That was the week after Trudeau announced the program.
But WE has not answered follow-up questions about whether there was any contact between the organization and the PMO the week of April 20, when the actual announcement was made. Trudeau's spokesman has said there was no contact "to our knowledge." The government has refused to provide details about the contract with WE. It says it has allocated $19.5 million to cover administrative costs for the grant program. Of that, $5 million is for non-profits to provide volunteer jobs for students, including $300,000 for accessibility support. NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus described the arrangement between the government and WE as a "political boondoggle" waiting to happen.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Hamilton as he was on Broadway, Mel Gibson back in a hurricane, and a semi-Canadian take on the Patt

Hamilton as he was on Broadway, Mel Gibson back in a hurricane, and a semi-Canadian take on the Patty Hearst story

A few movie theatres are back in action .
Cineplex has reopened eight , including in Burnaby , Langley , and Victoria .
And here in Vancouver , Scotiabank downtown .
Cinemark has New Westminster , Surrey and 11 others scattered around the province .
The films they ’ re showing tend to be ones that were there when the theatres closed back in March due to COVID-19 .
Who knew there was demand for Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel or Shania Twain in I Still Believe .
Most theatres have added older favourites like Jaws , The Goonies , Knives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grease listed somewhere .
The Rio opened Thursday night and has a well-curated lineup for the next couple of weeks , including Spike Lee ’ s Do the Right Thing , Jordan Peele ’ s Get Out , the brilliant Portrait of a Lady on Fire ... and yes , Jaws .
What is summer without it ?
HAMILTON : Three main reasons to see this .
One : Curiosity .
What is this Broadway sensation that we ’ ve heard so much about , that won 11 Tony Awards , a Grammy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of dollars to see in person ?
( If you could even get a ticket ) .
Here you get the entire show , filmed four years ago with the original cast .
Two : How does it translate to streaming this small on your TV set ?
Three : How good is its telling of history ?
There are raves out there on all three points , but my reaction is mixed .
There ’ s great energy and imaginative staging that would surely wow you if you were right there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear the audience reacting with wild enthusiasm after each song .
But you ’ ll be watching it at home from your couch .
The artistry comes through , though .
Lin-Manuel Miranda has mixed different musical styles ( hip-hop to pop , jazz and rhythm and blues ) to tell the story of one of the founding fathers of the United States .
Alexander Hamilton was a major contributor to its version of federalism , and therefore , the U.S. Constitution , and later the first National Bank , which shaped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff for a musical ) .
He was close to George Washington , argued with Thomas Jefferson , and died in a duel with Aaron Burr .
There ’ s hardly any dialogue ; the songs alone tell those stories .
And rousing they are , although some are so speedy , they ’ re hard to follow .
His various disputes aren ’ t all that clear , nor is his stand on slavery .
He gets off a couple of comments on it , but was likely much more opposed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is OK as Hamilton , and Phillipa Soo is sympathetic as his wife ( who he cheated on and who sings a poignant last song ) .
The rest of the cast is a fusion of Black , white and Latino actors , a modern innovation .
Renée Elise Goldsberry , as his sister-in-law , is a standout with a couple of powerful R & B songs .
The show is vibrant , even on the small screen .
There ’ s almost non-stop dancing , plus a few solos and intimate moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s because multiple cameras caught the show from several angles , and sharp editing took it beyond a mere archival film .
Not perfect , but a good show .
( Disney+ ) 3½ out of 5 FORCE OF NATURE : Mel Gibson is the biggest name here , but he ’ s almost a supporting player .
He ’ s a cranky old man who won ’ t leave his apartment building that the police are trying to evacuate during a category five hurricane in Puerto Rico .
And while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for something .
Two cops ( Emile Hirsch and Stephanie Cayo ) are the real stars , along with a doctor ( Kate Bosworth ) and the gang leader cheekily called John the Baptist .
Mel gets to rant and complain and do his fair share of shooting when the wind and the action really pick up .
He ’ s a former cop himself , knows police procedure and some local scuttlebutt better than the rookies who ’ ve come to help , and he uses his background to resist them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we find out what the thugs are after .
The real draw is the action , lots of it , with plenty of gunplay and yelling .
Once it starts , it rarely stops , like a movie from Thailand , although what it ’ s really trying to be is another Die Hard .
It doesn ’ t make it .
A few brief pauses give the characters time to tell their stories , and if they made more sense , the film might work .
As it is , excitement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a furious windstorm is what you get , and better be content with .
( Digital and on demand ) 2 out of 5 AMERICAN WOMAN : It ’ s an American story , but a Canadian film in almost every respect .
The director , the financing , the locations , and many of the actors are Canadian .
The novel is by Yale University creative writing teacher Susan Choi , who reimagines the Patty Hearst story .
Here called Pauline , she is said to be from a super-rich family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Vietnam War and adopted their cause enough to wield a machine gun during a robbery .
She and two others , who missed being killed in an FBI massacre , are hiding out in upstate New York and another radical is sent to tend to their needs so that they have time to write a book .
Sarah Gadon is the heiress ; John Gallagher Jr. is the still-firebrand , but abusive , guy among them ; and Hong Chau is Jenny , who comes to help and in the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played by Vancouver local David Cubitt .
Ellen Burstyn also appears in a supporting role .
The film is almost entirely made up of discussions and debates about the morality of , and the need for , protest against a bad war and any injustice .
“ Sometimes , the only way things change is if you force change , ” one says .
He also urges a Black grocery clerk to fight for his people .
More interesting is the film ’ s view of the heiress .
It subtly shifts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her class .
The film is well directed by Toronto native Semi Chellas , who has worked in a lot of American TV , including producing the series Mad Men .
But you ’ d better favour theoretical musings over action to enjoy it .
( Available to buy or rent , EST or VOD ) 3 out of 5 MY DARLING VIVIAN : If you saw the Ken Burns country music series , you might remember Rosanne Cash talk about her dad Johnny ’ s hit song I Walk the Line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay true to his wife Vivian , but “ It didn ’ t work out that way.
” Here ’ s the entire story as Rosanne and her sisters Kathy , Cindy and Tara remember it .
It ’ s both enlightening and highly emotional , but also satisfying because Vivian ’ s story is finally told .
June Carter , who Cash left her for , and got such an appealing representation in the movie about them , isn ’ t so nice in these memories .
Vivian , who came off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wronged .
She and Cash were married and wrote hundreds of letters while he was off in the air force .
The film draws on them for the title and to underline the love between them .
That faded when he became a star , moved the family to California and was off touring for long periods .
The girls were feeling abandoned and Vivian filed for divorce , hoping that would bring him back .
Instead , it went through , Johnny married June , and Vivian was excommunicated for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls tell these stories easily , like a writer of country songs , but clearly with tough emotional hurts .
And yet , in their telling , both Johnny and Vivian get scenes of redemption later on .
It ’ s a very good film with a strong storyline , deep feeling and lots of home movies and pictures to illustrate them .
( Streaming by viff.org in Vancouver and the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto ) 4 out of 5 MONEY MACHINE : Remember the mass shooting in Las Vegas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died and 413 were injured ?
In just a 10-minute barrage from a room in an MGM hotel on a country music festival below ?
Not surprising if you don ’ t remember it or only do vaguely .
It was the biggest assault like it by a single person in American history , but has slipped out of the discussion on gun violence .
This film brings it back , explains the public relations effort that made it slip away , and unearths the reasons why it happened in the first place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recollections of people who were there , interviews with people who knew the shooter ( including his brother ) , and uncomplimentary press conference video of the investigating sheriff .
But it ’ s the hotel , its casino and the Vegas gambling industry that gets the most blame .
The MO is fully explained .
Gamblers are “ pampered ” with cheap rooms and drinks and urged to keep playing what they win until inevitably they lose it .
Stephen Paddock was a regular .
That night , he won and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted revenge .
He had brought his guns up a service elevator where there was no security check .
Later , it was revealed the security cameras weren ’ t working , either .
The sheriff decided within minutes there was only one shooter , interviewed only some witnesses and issued a final report of only three pages .
The film cites real police failures during the incident that were covered up .
The city wanted the case to be closed , and the hotel , with the same goal , went so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a six-year-old girl , to forestall multiple lawsuits .
There ’ s much more in this powerful documentary by Ramsey Denison , who was born in Bellingham and made a previous film about Las Vegas and its lust for money .
It was better when the mobsters were still in charge , one person says .
“ The corruption came when the mob left.
” ( Steaming from virtual cinemas , none in Vancouver yet , but check here http : //www.theatricalathome.com for others , including two in Canada ) 3½ out of @

The films they’re showing tend to be ones that were there when the theatres closed back in March due to COVID-19. Who knew there was demand for Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel or Shania Twain in I Still Believe. Most theatres have added older favourites like Jaws, The Goonies, Knives Out and Jumanji. I even saw Grease listed somewhere.
The artistry comes through, though. Lin-Manuel Miranda has mixed different musical styles (hip-hop to pop, jazz and rhythm and blues) to tell the story of one of the founding fathers of the United States. Alexander Hamilton was a major contributor to its version of federalism, and therefore, the U.S. Constitution, and later the first National Bank, which shaped the whole U.S. financial system. (Unusual stuff for a musical). He was close to George Washington, argued with Thomas Jefferson, and died in a duel with Aaron Burr. There’s hardly any dialogue; the songs alone tell those stories. And rousing they are, although some are so speedy, they’re hard to follow. His various disputes aren’t all that clear, nor is his stand on slavery. He gets off a couple of comments on it, but was likely much more opposed.
HAMILTON : Three main reasons to see this. One: Curiosity. What is this Broadway sensation that we’ve heard so much about, that won 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy and a Pulitzer and would cost you hundreds of dollars to see in person? (If you could even get a ticket). Here you get the entire show, filmed four years ago with the original cast. Two: How does it translate to streaming this small on your TV set? Three: How good is its telling of history? There are raves out there on all three points, but my reaction is mixed. There’s great energy and imaginative staging that would surely wow you if you were right there in the theatre, and you do hear the audience reacting with wild enthusiasm after each song. But you’ll be watching it at home from your couch.
FORCE OF NATURE : Mel Gibson is the biggest name here, but he’s almost a supporting player. He’s a cranky old man who won’t leave his apartment building that the police are trying to evacuate during a category five hurricane in Puerto Rico. And while a gang of thugs invade the building looking for something. Two cops (Emile Hirsch and Stephanie Cayo) are the real stars, along with a doctor (Kate Bosworth) and the gang leader cheekily called John the Baptist. Mel gets to rant and complain and do his fair share of shooting when the wind and the action really pick up.
The cast is particularly strong. Miranda is OK as Hamilton, and Phillipa Soo is sympathetic as his wife (who he cheated on and who sings a poignant last song). The rest of the cast is a fusion of Black, white and Latino actors, a modern innovation. Renée Elise Goldsberry, as his sister-in-law, is a standout with a couple of powerful R&B songs. The show is vibrant, even on the small screen. There’s almost non-stop dancing, plus a few solos and intimate moments that play like a real movie. That’s because multiple cameras caught the show from several angles, and sharp editing took it beyond a mere archival film. Not perfect, but a good show. (Disney+) 3½ out of 5
Courtesy Lionsgate
He’s a former cop himself, knows police procedure and some local scuttlebutt better than the rookies who’ve come to help, and he uses his background to resist them. The plot is ridiculous, especially when we find out what the thugs are after. The real draw is the action, lots of it, with plenty of gunplay and yelling. Once it starts, it rarely stops, like a movie from Thailand, although what it’s really trying to be is another Die Hard. It doesn’t make it. A few brief pauses give the characters time to tell their stories, and if they made more sense, the film might work. As it is, excitement whipped up by director Michael Polish inside a furious windstorm is what you get, and better be content with. (Digital and on demand) 2 out of 5
AMERICAN WOMAN: It’s an American story, but a Canadian film in almost every respect. The director, the financing, the locations, and many of the actors are Canadian. The novel is by Yale University creative writing teacher Susan Choi, who reimagines the Patty Hearst story. Here called Pauline, she is said to be from a super-rich family, was kidnapped by a violent revolutionary group during the Vietnam War and adopted their cause enough to wield a machine gun during a robbery. She and two others, who missed being killed in an FBI massacre, are hiding out in upstate New York and another radical is sent to tend to their needs so that they have time to write a book.
Courtesy Elevation Pictures
Sarah Gadon is the heiress; John Gallagher Jr. is the still-firebrand, but abusive, guy among them; and Hong Chau is Jenny, who comes to help and in the film tells the story to an FBI agent played by Vancouver local David Cubitt. Ellen Burstyn also appears in a supporting role. The film is almost entirely made up of discussions and debates about the morality of, and the need for, protest against a bad war and any injustice. “Sometimes, the only way things change is if you force change,” one says. He also urges a Black grocery clerk to fight for his people. More interesting is the film’s view of the heiress. It subtly shifts to suggest she’s still a prisoner of her class. The film is well directed by Toronto native Semi Chellas, who has worked in a lot of American TV, including producing the series Mad Men. But you’d better favour theoretical musings over action to enjoy it. (Available to buy or rent, EST or VOD) 3 out of 5
MY DARLING VIVIAN: If you saw the Ken Burns country music series, you might remember Rosanne Cash talk about her dad Johnny’s hit song I Walk the Line, how it was a promise to stay true to his wife Vivian, but “It didn’t work out that way.” Here’s the entire story as Rosanne and her sisters Kathy, Cindy and Tara remember it. It’s both enlightening and highly emotional, but also satisfying because Vivian’s story is finally told. June Carter, who Cash left her for, and got such an appealing representation in the movie about them, isn’t so nice in these memories. Vivian, who came off as a shrew is decent here, and wronged.
Courtesy The Film Collaborative
She and Cash were married and wrote hundreds of letters while he was off in the air force. The film draws on them for the title and to underline the love between them. That faded when he became a star, moved the family to California and was off touring for long periods. The girls were feeling abandoned and Vivian filed for divorce, hoping that would bring him back. Instead, it went through, Johnny married June, and Vivian was excommunicated for a time by the Catholic Church. The girls tell these stories easily, like a writer of country songs, but clearly with tough emotional hurts. And yet, in their telling, both Johnny and Vivian get scenes of redemption later on. It’s a very good film with a strong storyline, deep feeling and lots of home movies and pictures to illustrate them. (Streaming by viff.org in Vancouver and the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto) 4 out of 5
MONEY MACHINE: Remember the mass shooting in Las Vegas three years ago? When 58 people died and 413 were injured? In just a 10-minute barrage from a room in an MGM hotel on a country music festival below? Not surprising if you don’t remember it or only do vaguely. It was the biggest assault like it by a single person in American history, but has slipped out of the discussion on gun violence. This film brings it back, explains the public relations effort that made it slip away, and unearths the reasons why it happened in the first place. It uses startling cellphone video, the recollections of people who were there, interviews with people who knew the shooter (including his brother), and uncomplimentary press conference video of the investigating sheriff. But it’s the hotel, its casino and the Vegas gambling industry that gets the most blame.
Courtesy Sin City Cinema
The MO is fully explained. Gamblers are “pampered” with cheap rooms and drinks and urged to keep playing what they win until inevitably they lose it. Stephen Paddock was a regular. That night, he won and then lost big, flipped out and wanted revenge. He had brought his guns up a service elevator where there was no security check. Later, it was revealed the security cameras weren’t working, either. The sheriff decided within minutes there was only one shooter, interviewed only some witnesses and issued a final report of only three pages. The film cites real police failures during the incident that were covered up. The city wanted the case to be closed, and the hotel, with the same goal, went so far as suing the victims, including a six-year-old girl, to forestall multiple lawsuits. There’s much more in this powerful documentary by Ramsey Denison, who was born in Bellingham and made a previous film about Las Vegas and its lust for money. It was better when the mobsters were still in charge, one person says. “The corruption came when the mob left.” (Steaming from virtual cinemas, none in Vancouver yet, but check here http://www.theatricalathome.com for others, including two in Canada) 3½ out of 5


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--As Ford government marks two years, climate controversy has taken a backseat to COVID-19

At the beginning of 2020 , things weren ’ t looking great for Ontario Premier Doug Ford .
His approval ratings had plummeted amid a cascade of cuts and axed environmental policies .
And in the 19 months since he took office , public priorities had shifted : A growing majority of voters were making climate action a priority , with analysts saying Ford didn ’ t have a chance at winning a second term unless he could present a meaningful climate plan .
But that was before COVID-19 .
Now , as Ford marks two years in office this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helm of Ontario ’ s response to the pandemic .
Despite several high-profile mistakes — an issue-plagued testing program and horrific conditions inside infected long-term care homes , for example — Ford has been widely praised for his handling of the crisis .
“ People are looking at Doug Ford today under the lens of COVID , and they like what they see , ” said Ihor Korbabicz , executive director of the polling firm Abacus Data .
“ All these other issues , like environmental policy and the economy… they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kielburger says he `` misspoke '' when he said Trudeau 's office contacted WE about $ 900M program The number of Ontarians who rate Ford positively doubled from 23 per cent in March to 46 per cent in May , an Abacus poll found .
Meanwhile , the number of people who rate him negatively plunged from 61 per cent to 25 per cent , respectively .
But that lift appears to be driven mainly by COVID-19 , Korbabicz said , which means the Ford government ’ s climate problem could resurface as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he added , is the Progressive Conservative government has accumulated a great deal of “ potentially-fleeting ” public trust .
“ Unless you go out and squander that , there ’ s a lot you can do with that political capital , ” Korbabicz said .
“ If ( Ford ) developed some sort of comprehensive climate policy , there would be a lot more goodwill from folks across the political spectrum who may have been more skeptical.
” Whether Ford will utilize that opportunity , however , is a different question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Environment Minister Jeff Yurek didn ’ t respond to questions from Canada ’ s National Observer about whether the government is rewriting its climate plan , which auditor general Bonnie Lysyk slammed for being “ not based on sound evidence.
” ( In December , Yurek said it was an evolving draft . )
At the beginning of 2020 , voters were increasingly turning away from the Ontario government ’ s lack of climate action .
But now , as Doug Ford marks two years as premier this week , COVID-19 has changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embraced science in tackling COVID-19 , an approach the government could easily apply to the climate crisis , said Sarah Buchanan , who manages the clean energy program at green non-profit Environmental Defence .
But in other ways , the province ’ s recent moves to suspend environmental accountability measures amid the pandemic and roll back endangered species protections are “ trickles of the same old Ford , ” she added .
“ I think what they need to remember is , particularly on climate , the old ways weren ’ t working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were getting a ton of pushback and people were angry… That ’ s not going to go away.
” Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek shakes hands with Ontario Premier Doug Ford as Yurek is sworn in at Queen 's Park in June 2019 .
File photo by Cole Burston Looking back on Ford ’ s first two years of ‘ cut , cut , cut ’ Ford campaigned on promises to axe Ontario ’ s existing climate policies and cut red tape in an effort to boost business .
And soon after taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variety of programs and weakening environmental legislation .
His government cancelled hundreds of clean energy projects , costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars .
It wound down conservation programs and weakened endangered species protections .
Ford cancelled the previous government ’ s climate plan , replacing it with one that critics said would do little to reduce Ontario ’ s climate impact .
( It ’ s made very little progress on the scant plan since publishing it , Buchanan said . )
The government also gutted the powers of Ontario ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold the government accountable .
Late last year , Yurek cancelled a partially built wind farm in eastern Ontario .
He was rebuked in May by Ontario Superior Court judges , who found his decision did not “ meet the requirements of transparency , justification and intelligibility.
” As COVID-19 took hold in Ontario , Ford ’ s government suspended environmental oversight requirements , even as green advocates warned that doing so could undermine public health efforts .
Higher levels of air pollution could cause higher rates of heart and lung disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from respiratory viruses like COVID-19 , critics said .
Reducing environmental protections was exactly what Ford promised on the campaign trail , said Andrea Olive , an associate professor of political science and geography at the University of Toronto Mississauga who studies conservation policy .
“ There are lots of conservatives who care about the environment .
Ford is definitely not that kind , ” she said .
“ I think the guy has been really frank about which values he supports… Everything he ’ s done has always really been around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic benefit.
” But at least up until COVID-19 , Ford ’ s actions on that file and others didn ’ t go over well with voters .
“ The PCs got into power and they didn ’ t have a great first year , ” Korbabicz said .
Ford ’ s popularity dropped .
Last June , a year after his election , he was booed at the Toronto Raptors ’ victory celebration in downtown Toronto .
By December 2019 , almost a quarter of those who voted PC had a negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking to reporters last Friday , Ford acknowledged that the past two years had been turbulent at times .
“ Anyone who says they don ’ t make mistakes or ( face ) bumps in the road would be lying to you , ” he said .
“ There ’ re always areas to grow into the position .
I think our government has , as a whole.
” Protesters took over the intersection of Yonge and Dundas streets in downtown Toronto on June 10 , 2019 as part of a demonstration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year was a pivotal one for the climate movement , with supporting rising in most of Canada for climate action .
File photo by Nick Iwanyshyn ‘ We ’ re hoping for the best and expecting the worst ’ What happens next will depend on dozens of factors , all of which are up in the air as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on .
Coronavirus has killed nearly 2,700 people in Ontario and has ground the province ’ s economy to a halt .
Over a million jobs have been lost .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID and the health and well-being of the people of Ontario , ” Ford said Friday .
It ’ s hard to know where the public is with environmental priorities right now , said Olive .
For one thing , Ontario is entering an unprecedented economic crisis — and when that happens , she added , voters are usually willing to sacrifice the environment for short-term financial gains .
Though Canadians and Ontarians voted mainly for parties with climate plans in the federal election , that was during a moment where Canada ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re starving to death , you don ’ t really care about carbon emissions , ” Olive said .
On the other hand , polling shows Ontarians do want their government to have a credible climate plan .
Once the COVID-19 crisis subsides , Ford ’ s newfound halo “ is going to wear off eventually , ” Korbabicz said .
“ ( Environmental policy ) matters a little less in the context of this crisis , but it does matter overall , ” he added .
The climate movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and racial justice issues that have come to the forefront amid COVID-19 , which could be helpful for building political coalitions in future elections , said Jessica Green , an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto who studies climate governance .
But it ’ s too early to know how the chips will fall , she added .
All that ’ s clear now , she added , is that the “ smooth sailing of a liberal democratic order is over , ” and Ontario will have to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These are the conditions under which we are most likely to see radical change , ” Green said .
“ Those changes could be good , or they could be bad.
” Environmental advocates are pushing for economic stimulus plans in Ontario and elsewhere to be used to boost climate measures and green technology .
Yurek ’ s office didn ’ t respond to questions about whether the government ’ s eventual economic restart plan will include green recovery measures , but based on Ford ’ s track record and the actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t seem particularly likely .
Ford ’ s conservative contemporary , Alberta Premier Jason Kenney , unveiled a recovery plan this week that leaned more on corporate tax cuts than clean technology .
Likewise , in Quebec , Premier François Legault proposed rolling back environmental reforms as a means of jumpstarting the economy .
“ We ’ re hoping for the best and expecting the worst , ” Buchanan said .
“ I think there ’ s been a permanent shift in how we see complex issues ( like climate ) .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how they act on that .
”

“All these other issues, like environmental policy and the economy… they’re kind of falling in importance.”
“People are looking at Doug Ford today under the lens of COVID, and they like what they see,” said Ihor Korbabicz, executive director of the polling firm Abacus Data.
But that was before COVID-19. Now, as Ford marks two years in office this week, the premier is at the helm of Ontario’s response to the pandemic. Despite several high-profile mistakes — an issue-plagued testing program and horrific conditions inside infected long-term care homes, for example — Ford has been widely praised for his handling of the crisis.
His approval ratings had plummeted amid a cascade of cuts and axed environmental policies. And in the 19 months since he took office, public priorities had shifted: A growing majority of voters were making climate action a priority, with analysts saying Ford didn’t have a chance at winning a second term unless he could present a meaningful climate plan.
At the beginning of 2020, things weren’t looking great for Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“Unless you go out and squander that, there’s a lot you can do with that political capital,” Korbabicz said.
But that lift appears to be driven mainly by COVID-19, Korbabicz said, which means the Ford government’s climate problem could resurface as the crisis subsides. The difference now, he added, is the Progressive Conservative government has accumulated a great deal of “potentially-fleeting” public trust.
The number of Ontarians who rate Ford positively doubled from 23 per cent in March to 46 per cent in May, an Abacus poll found. Meanwhile, the number of people who rate him negatively plunged from 61 per cent to 25 per cent, respectively.
“I think what they need to remember is, particularly on climate, the old ways weren’t working,” she said. “They were getting a ton of pushback and people were angry… That’s not going to go away.”
The PCs have embraced science in tackling COVID-19, an approach the government could easily apply to the climate crisis, said Sarah Buchanan, who manages the clean energy program at green non-profit Environmental Defence. But in other ways, the province’s recent moves to suspend environmental accountability measures amid the pandemic and roll back endangered species protections are “trickles of the same old Ford,” she added.
A spokesperson for Ford’s Environment Minister Jeff Yurek didn’t respond to questions from Canada’s National Observer about whether the government is rewriting its climate plan, which auditor general Bonnie Lysyk slammed for being “not based on sound evidence.” (In December, Yurek said it was an evolving draft.)
Whether Ford will utilize that opportunity, however, is a different question.
“If (Ford) developed some sort of comprehensive climate policy, there would be a lot more goodwill from folks across the political spectrum who may have been more skeptical.”
Ford campaigned on promises to axe Ontario’s existing climate policies and cut red tape in an effort to boost business.
And soon after taking office, Ford started slashing a wide variety of programs and weakening environmental legislation.
His government cancelled hundreds of clean energy projects, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. It wound down conservation programs and weakened endangered species protections.
Ford cancelled the previous government’s climate plan, replacing it with one that critics said would do little to reduce Ontario’s climate impact. (It’s made very little progress on the scant plan since publishing it, Buchanan said.)
The government also gutted the powers of Ontario’s environmental commissioner, a watchdog meant to hold the government accountable.
Late last year, Yurek cancelled a partially built wind farm in eastern Ontario. He was rebuked in May by Ontario Superior Court judges, who found his decision did not “meet the requirements of transparency, justification and intelligibility.”
As COVID-19 took hold in Ontario, Ford’s government suspended environmental oversight requirements, even as green advocates warned that doing so could undermine public health efforts. Higher levels of air pollution could cause higher rates of heart and lung disease that put the public at higher risk from respiratory viruses like COVID-19, critics said.
Reducing environmental protections was exactly what Ford promised on the campaign trail, said Andrea Olive, an associate professor of political science and geography at the University of Toronto Mississauga who studies conservation policy.
“There are lots of conservatives who care about the environment. Ford is definitely not that kind,” she said.
“I think the guy has been really frank about which values he supports… Everything he’s done has always really been around the economy and around jobs and around short-term economic benefit.”
But at least up until COVID-19, Ford’s actions on that file and others didn’t go over well with voters.
“The PCs got into power and they didn’t have a great first year,” Korbabicz said.
Ford’s popularity dropped. Last June, a year after his election, he was booed at the Toronto Raptors’ victory celebration in downtown Toronto. By December 2019, almost a quarter of those who voted PC had a negative impression of the premier, Abacus found.
Speaking to reporters last Friday, Ford acknowledged that the past two years had been turbulent at times.
“Anyone who says they don’t make mistakes or (face) bumps in the road would be lying to you,” he said.
“There’re always areas to grow into the position. I think our government has, as a whole.”
Protesters took over the intersection of Yonge and Dundas streets in downtown Toronto on June 10, 2019 as part of a demonstration to declare a climate crisis. Last year was a pivotal one for the climate movement, with supporting rising in most of Canada for climate action. File photo by Nick Iwanyshyn
‘We’re hoping for the best and expecting the worst’
What happens next will depend on dozens of factors, all of which are up in the air as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on.
Coronavirus has killed nearly 2,700 people in Ontario and has ground the province’s economy to a halt. Over a million jobs have been lost.
“My main focus right now ... is COVID and the health and well-being of the people of Ontario,” Ford said Friday.
It’s hard to know where the public is with environmental priorities right now, said Olive. For one thing, Ontario is entering an unprecedented economic crisis — and when that happens, she added, voters are usually willing to sacrifice the environment for short-term financial gains. Though Canadians and Ontarians voted mainly for parties with climate plans in the federal election, that was during a moment where Canada’s economy was relatively strong.
“If you’re starving to death, you don’t really care about carbon emissions,” Olive said.
On the other hand, polling shows Ontarians do want their government to have a credible climate plan. Once the COVID-19 crisis subsides, Ford’s newfound halo “is going to wear off eventually,” Korbabicz said.
“(Environmental policy) matters a little less in the context of this crisis, but it does matter overall,” he added.
The climate movement has started to align with income inequality and racial justice issues that have come to the forefront amid COVID-19, which could be helpful for building political coalitions in future elections, said Jessica Green, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto who studies climate governance.
But it’s too early to know how the chips will fall, she added. All that’s clear now, she added, is that the “smooth sailing of a liberal democratic order is over,” and Ontario will have to make tough choices in the days ahead.
“These are the conditions under which we are most likely to see radical change,” Green said. “Those changes could be good, or they could be bad.”
Environmental advocates are pushing for economic stimulus plans in Ontario and elsewhere to be used to boost climate measures and green technology. Yurek’s office didn’t respond to questions about whether the government’s eventual economic restart plan will include green recovery measures, but based on Ford’s track record and the actions of his peers, it doesn’t seem particularly likely.
Ford’s conservative contemporary, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, unveiled a recovery plan this week that leaned more on corporate tax cuts than clean technology. Likewise, in Quebec, Premier François Legault proposed rolling back environmental reforms as a means of jumpstarting the economy.
“We’re hoping for the best and expecting the worst,” Buchanan said.
“I think there’s been a permanent shift in how we see complex issues (like climate). But I think it depends on the government and how they act on that.”


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Ontario’s incoming tenant law toughened further in committee

The Ford government amended its new tenancy law this week in a move the Opposition NDP says will make it even easier for landlords to evict tenants hit by job loss or other pandemic-related troubles .
The amendments added to Bill 184 at the standing committee on social policy on Thursday include one that says all applications filed but not yet heard by the province ’ s Landlord and Tenant Board ( LTB ) will proceed under the terms of the proposed legislation .
Premier Doug Ford has placed a temporary moratorium on eviction hearings at the board , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenants groups are bracing for a wave of evictions once the pause is lifted .
Another amendment forces tenants to engage in an alternative dispute resolution process outside the board ’ s hearing process , the details of which have not been made public .
The NDP says the changes will make it easier for landlords to bully tenants into signing bad repayment plans during the pandemic and then evict them without a hearing .
• 'We see you and we hear you ' : O ’ Regan repeats his olive branch on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights to make evictions faster and easier during a global pandemic , ” said Suze Morrison , the NDP ’ s critic for tenant rights .
“ They added amendments that make the bill retroactive to the beginning of the pandemic , which is only going to further hurt tenants who , through no fault of their own , have been unable to pay their rent.
” The original wording of the bill meant it would only apply once it had been proclaimed into law .
But it had already contained language that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including by putting anyone unable to stick to a rent arrears repayment plan at risk of immediate eviction .
That will be particularly pertinent should the COVID-19 pandemic flare up again and push people back out of work after having agreed to a repayment plan , the NDP ’ s Morrison said .
“ They then have no ability , no right , to go back to the board and renegotiate a different agreement or make their case .
The landlord can go straight to the sheriff and have them evicted , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has amended its proposed tenancy law , which critics had already warned would hurt tenants , by making some of its provisions effective as of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic The provincial government ’ s declaration of an emergency on March 17 led to the shutdown of large swathes of the economy , putting hundreds of thousands of people out of work .
Young people , who are overrepresented in service and retail jobs and also more likely to rent their accommodation , have been particularly hard hit by the shutdown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenancy law that critics say hurt renters , including requiring written notice if they plan to raise issues of persistent disrepair during an eviction .
The NDP had sought to add amendments to ban COVID-related evictions , further increasing penalties for various types of bad faith evictions , and to implement rent control on housing that becomes vacant .
All were either denied debate or voted down by the PC-controlled committee .
The bill could now be returned to the legislature for a third reading as early as next week , where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass it into law .
A government spokesperson said the bill improves protections for tenants by increasing penalties for bad faith evictions and makes it easier to resolve disputes .
The amendments “ will provide administrative certainty for the LTB , support the board ’ s recovery plans , and encourage landlords to enter repayment agreements with tenants for rent arrears accumulated during COVID-19 — rather than evicting tenants , ” said Julie O ’ Driscoll , a spokesperson for Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark .
She said alternative dispute resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Quebec , Manitoba , and Nova Scotia .
Mike Schreiner , the leader of the Green Party , also said the bill would make life harder for renters .

The Ford government amended its new tenancy law this week in a move the Opposition NDP says will make it even easier for landlords to evict tenants hit by job loss or other pandemic-related troubles. The amendments added to Bill 184 at the standing committee on social policy on Thursday include one that says all applications filed but not yet heard by the province’s Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) will proceed under the terms of the proposed legislation. Premier Doug Ford has placed a temporary moratorium on eviction hearings at the board, but has not offered rent relief, and tenants groups are bracing for a wave of evictions once the pause is lifted. Another amendment forces tenants to engage in an alternative dispute resolution process outside the board’s hearing process, the details of which have not been made public. The NDP says the changes will make it easier for landlords to bully tenants into signing bad repayment plans during the pandemic and then evict them without a hearing.
“The Conservatives trampled tenant rights to make evictions faster and easier during a global pandemic,” said Suze Morrison, the NDP’s critic for tenant rights. “They added amendments that make the bill retroactive to the beginning of the pandemic, which is only going to further hurt tenants who, through no fault of their own, have been unable to pay their rent.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The original wording of the bill meant it would only apply once it had been proclaimed into law.
But it had already contained language that critics say weakened protections for tenants, including by putting anyone unable to stick to a rent arrears repayment plan at risk of immediate eviction. Ontario's Ford government has amended its proposed tenancy law, which critics had already warned would hurt tenants, by making some of its provisions effective as of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic That will be particularly pertinent should the COVID-19 pandemic flare up again and push people back out of work after having agreed to a repayment plan, the NDP’s Morrison said. “They then have no ability, no right, to go back to the board and renegotiate a different agreement or make their case. The landlord can go straight to the sheriff and have them evicted,” she said. The provincial government’s declaration of an emergency on March 17 led to the shutdown of large swathes of the economy, putting hundreds of thousands of people out of work. Young people, who are overrepresented in service and retail jobs and also more likely to rent their accommodation, have been particularly hard hit by the shutdown.
The bill had already included changes to tenancy law that critics say hurt renters, including requiring written notice if they plan to raise issues of persistent disrepair during an eviction. The NDP had sought to add amendments to ban COVID-related evictions, further increasing penalties for various types of bad faith evictions, and to implement rent control on housing that becomes vacant. All were either denied debate or voted down by the PC-controlled committee. The bill could now be returned to the legislature for a third reading as early as next week, where the Progressive Conservative majority would be expected to pass it into law.


nationalobserver--2020-07-03--Man who rammed gate near Trudeau residence to face multiple charges

A Manitoba man is facing 22 criminal charges after allegedly ramming his truck through a pedestrian gate at Rideau Hall Thursday and has been remanded in custody until July 17 .
Corey Hurren , a 46-year-old member of the military and businessman , made his first court appearance by teleconference Friday afternoon , about 30 hours after the RCMP say he was arrested less than 200 metres from the front door of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's current residence .
The RCMP said Friday Hurren had several weapons on him , including at least one gun .
They said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall for 13 minutes early Thursday morning before police saw him .
The Mounties then spoke with him for more than an hour and a half before he was arrested .
Hurren faces 22 charges , including one for uttering threats .
The rest are all weapons charges , including two counts for possession of a restricted or prohibited gun , four counts for careless use , storage or handling of a firearm and four counts for possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose .
At the brief court appearance , which happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic , Hurren sounded calm as he said his full name and date of birth .
He also confirmed to the judge he understood the proceedings .
• 'We see you and we hear you ' : O ’ Regan repeats his olive branch on Trans Mountain His lawyer , Michael Davies , asked for the case to be adjourned until July 17 .
Assistant Crown Attorney Meaghan Cunningham said the Crown opposes releasing Hurren and agreed to the adjournment .
Neither Trudeau nor his family were at their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gov .
Gen. Julie Payette , whose residence is usually at Rideau Hall , was also not there at the time .
Trudeau said Friday this is the kind of event nobody wants to happen , but was thankful it was resolved without anybody getting hurt .
In a statement , the Canadian Armed Forces said Hurren is a master corporal in the 4th Ranger Patrol Group , a reservist temporarily on full-time duty during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` He was not , however , part of any CAF military task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he travelled to Ottawa of his own accord without the knowledge of his chain of command , '' the statement says , adding his Ranger rifle has been in the military 's hands throughout .
The Forces will review Hurren 's status once the RCMP 's investigation and legal proceedings are finished , the statement says , and his actions may be subject to military discipline as well .
A Manitoba man is facing 22 criminal charges after allegedly ramming his truck through a pedestrian gate at Rideau Hall on Thursday , July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remanded in custody until July 17 .
Deputy RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the incident led to immediate security changes at Rideau Hall , but noted the RCMP never discuss the security that protects either the Governor General or the prime minister .
`` I am very proud of all our people and our partners who moved fast and acted decisively to contain this threat , '' Duheme said .
He said as far as the Mounties know , Hurren was acting alone , had `` several weapons '' on him including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and was not known to the RCMP before the incident .
Duheme would n't go into a motive , what brought the man to the national capital , or what he did just before smashing through the public entrance to the sprawling property .
That 's all part of the ongoing investigation , Duheme said .
He did provide a minute-by-minute account of the incident , that began at 6:29 a.m. local time Thursday , when Hurren allegedly drove his truck through the Thomas Gate — a secondary entrance near the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to admit a vehicle but typically used by pedestrians .
The truck got about 120 metres along a footpath before it became disabled .
The man in the truck ran up the path , carrying what looked like a rifle , to Rideau Hall 's rose garden , hiding there for three minutes before making his way to the greenhouses that are attached to the back of the Governor General 's residence .
A short path leads from the back of the greenhouses through a stand of trees to Rideau Cottage , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived since his election in 2015 while the government decides what to do with 24 Sussex Drive .
That has been the official residence of past prime ministers but is now in need of major repairs .
Staff from the National Capital Commission , which manages the property , noticed the abandoned vehicle shortly after it was left there , and notified the commissionaires providing site security .
Around 6:40 a.m. , commissionaires allegedly spotted the man on the path , gun in hand .
The man was then spotted separately by RCMP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that time a lockdown of the entire site was ordered .
RCMP confirmed they had visual contact of the suspect at 6:43 a.m. , and after officers took cover for their own safety , they began speaking to him .
The suspect did not respond for eight minutes , when he finally gave the officers his name and a conversation began .
That conversation continued for an hour and 42 minutes before the man was taken into custody at 8:29 a.m. Duheme said when Mounties first saw the man they could have easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked for a safe spot to speak with him .
The conversation went well , he said , meaning there was no need to do something more dramatic .
`` I can not emphasize enough how effective our members were in being vigilant , reacting quickly and using successful de-escalation techniques to resolve this highly volatile incident swiftly and without injury to anyone , '' Duheme said .
The constable who dealt with the man was in a safe spot , he said , and did n't need to rush .
`` Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , is always based on the environment and the threat cues that are being posed .
It 's got nothing to do with ethnicity , it 's to do with the environment that we 're in , the threat that we have , the analysis that the officer is making , the subject 's behaviour and whatnot , the environment that 's around us for tactical cover .
There 's a multiple factor , '' Duheme said .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3 , 2020 .

A Manitoba man is facing 22 criminal charges after allegedly ramming his truck through a pedestrian gate at Rideau Hall Thursday and has been remanded in custody until July 17. Corey Hurren, a 46-year-old member of the military and businessman, made his first court appearance by teleconference Friday afternoon, about 30 hours after the RCMP say he was arrested less than 200 metres from the front door of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's current residence. The RCMP said Friday Hurren had several weapons on him, including at least one gun. They said he was loose on the grounds of Rideau Hall for 13 minutes early Thursday morning before police saw him. The Mounties then spoke with him for more than an hour and a half before he was arrested. Hurren faces 22 charges, including one for uttering threats. The rest are all weapons charges, including two counts for possession of a restricted or prohibited gun, four counts for careless use, storage or handling of a firearm and four counts for possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose. At the brief court appearance, which happened by phone due to limited in-person court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurren sounded calm as he said his full name and date of birth. He also confirmed to the judge he understood the proceedings.
His lawyer, Michael Davies, asked for the case to be adjourned until July 17. Assistant Crown Attorney Meaghan Cunningham said the Crown opposes releasing Hurren and agreed to the adjournment. Neither Trudeau nor his family were at their Rideau Cottage home when the incident occurred. Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, whose residence is usually at Rideau Hall, was also not there at the time. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Trudeau said Friday this is the kind of event nobody wants to happen, but was thankful it was resolved without anybody getting hurt.
In a statement, the Canadian Armed Forces said Hurren is a master corporal in the 4th Ranger Patrol Group, a reservist temporarily on full-time duty during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Manitoba man is facing 22 criminal charges after allegedly ramming his truck through a pedestrian gate at Rideau Hall on Thursday, July 2, 2020, and has been remanded in custody until July 17. "He was not, however, part of any CAF military task at the time of his arrest; he travelled to Ottawa of his own accord without the knowledge of his chain of command," the statement says, adding his Ranger rifle has been in the military's hands throughout. The Forces will review Hurren's status once the RCMP's investigation and legal proceedings are finished, the statement says, and his actions may be subject to military discipline as well. Deputy RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the incident led to immediate security changes at Rideau Hall, but noted the RCMP never discuss the security that protects either the Governor General or the prime minister. "I am very proud of all our people and our partners who moved fast and acted decisively to contain this threat," Duheme said.
He said as far as the Mounties know, Hurren was acting alone, had "several weapons" on him including a gun Duheme later described as a rifle, and was not known to the RCMP before the incident. Duheme wouldn't go into a motive, what brought the man to the national capital, or what he did just before smashing through the public entrance to the sprawling property. That's all part of the ongoing investigation, Duheme said. He did provide a minute-by-minute account of the incident, that began at 6:29 a.m. local time Thursday, when Hurren allegedly drove his truck through the Thomas Gate — a secondary entrance near the main gate to the grounds, wide enough to admit a vehicle but typically used by pedestrians. The truck got about 120 metres along a footpath before it became disabled.