nationalobserver--2020-05-02--Northern neighbours dispute travel-ban exemption

“ The communities of La Ronge and Stony Rapids have been exempted from these particular orders and that is at the request of those community leaders , ” Moe said .
The town of La Ronge shares much of its infrastructure with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the northern village of Air Ronge .
The three geographically intertwined jurisdictions form what ’ s locally called the “ tri-community.
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The exemption for La Ronge came as unwelcome news to the neighbouring communities , which would like the new travel restrictions to remain in place for them .
Lac La Ronge Indian Band executive director Gladys Christiansen said they weren ’ t asked for their opinion on an issue that will impact their citizens .
Council election signs at an entrance to Lac La Ronge .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
“ We definitely would have liked to have been consulted beforehand , by both parties , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The communities are immediately adjacent to one another and we have many band members that reside in La Ronge.
” She said it ’ s important to come to an agreement between all three communities and La Ronge should have done that before making the decision to request an exemption from the province .
“ The order was just made and we don ’ t know the effect it will have on our community .
The truth is , and I ’ m not trying to put the government down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they know either , ” Ron Woytowich .
Lac La Ronge Indian Band declared an emergency measures bylaw on March 30 restricting access to thier territory as a precaution during the pandemic .
“ What we would like to see is no access at all for people who are non-residents .
I think by leaving it wide open , there ’ s more of a chance of COVID-19 getting into our community and that would be devastating if it did , ” she said .
Less than fifty people have reportedly been tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There have been no confirmed cases .
Air Ronge mayor Gordon Stomp agreed with Christiansen .
He wasn ’ t sure how many have been tested in Air Ronge , but said it ’ s nowhere near enough to make the decision to stay open while the rest of the north closes down .
Air Ronge borders La Ronge and Lac La Ronge .
Together the three communities are called the tri-community .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
“ We ’ re very fortunate right now because they say we have very few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been very little testing , ” Stomp said .
“ I think there should be some consideration for the number of people in our community and in the Lac La Ronge Indian Band that are not in favour of keeping it wide open .
Our request is for permanent residents only to be allowed in the community .
Meanwhile , ( La Ronge ) is wide open .
I think there 's not enough consideration for life compared to business and money . ''
The three communities share entry and exit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going north .
`` When you go to La Ronge you have to go through the First Nations community , then you go through Air Ronge , and then you go through another part of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band , and then you get to La Ronge , '' Stomp said .
The timing of the provincial announcement came as a surprise to some in La Ronge , too .
Even though they are the ones who requested the exemption .
Ron Woytowich , mayor of La Ronge , told National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement to come when it did and had been hoping for more dialogue with the province on how to proceed .
La Ronge mayor Ron Woytowich 's town council are under fire from two neighbouring communities after asking the province of Saskatchewan for an exemption from new travel restrictions in the northern administrative district .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
Woytowich told National Observer that he did not know that the town would be exempted from new northern travel restrictions , as per thier request , until the premier made his announcement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire from two neighbouring communities who say that they were not consulted by La Ronge about its request to the province for an exemption .
The La Ronge town council had sent a letter earlier in the week to the premier , asking that the province realign the boundaries identified in the public-health order so that it would not restrict travel “ into and out of areas like La Ronge.
” The letter also said the town would “ appreciate being consulted on any matter in advance that will have an impact on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have told us that in advance , ” Woytowich said shortly after a snap conference call with the neighbouring communities of Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band on Thursday .
Woytowich said the Town of La Ronge had expressed concerns , but hadn ’ t decided yet whether they wanted further restrictions for the community .
“ Quite frankly , we weren ’ t sure which way we were going ( regarding the restrictions ) , but we wanted more information before we made a decision .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excluded La Ronge , ” Woytowich said .
La Ronge council sent a letter to the premier requesting for public health lines to be redrawn and to spare them from new travel restrictions in the far north region .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
Moe said the province will provide businesses in northern communities with support and resources while also implementing the new restrictions to “ reduce the spread and flatten the curve in the north.
” “ Yesterday , the mayor of La Loche ( Robert St. Pierre ) and a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on travel in northern Saskatchewan .
Specifically requesting restrictions on non-essential travel between communities and that travel be prohibited , ” Moe said .
La Ronge wanted the government to consider differences between the northeast and northwest areas of the province before taking a position on travel restrictions .
Far north Saskatchewan used to contain three regional health authorities , but not anymore .
In 2017 the twelve former provincial health regions all came under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Health Authority , which sees the far north as one region .
Map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new travel restrictions cover all communities in the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District ( NSAD ) — except for La Ronge and Stony Rapids .
Graphic courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan .
The northwest provincial district of Athabasca is currently experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 centred around the northern village of La Loche , which has a population of about 2,800 .
One positive case involving a patient at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert was announced on Friday and an outbreak has been declared at the hospital .
Saskatchewan recorded 26 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the province ’ s total at more than 400 .
Most of the new cases are in the far north and north regions .
The La Loche area has more than half the provincial total of active cases , and two elders from the community have died .
La Ronge has a population just shy of 2,700 and is in the northeast district of Cumberland , which has yet to experience such a severe outbreak .
La Ronge , about 440 kilometres east of La Loche by road , is also a hub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area .
Saskatchewan recorded 26 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday , putting the province ’ s total at more than 400 .
Most of the new cases are in the far north and north regions .
Graphic courtesy of Government of Saskatchewan .
Cases and Risk of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan .
“ We are a different community .
We have the hospital , we have all the drug stores , we ’ ve got all the grocery stores , ” Woytowich said .
Woytowich said the town would have an official position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Because of what ’ s happened , that ’ s going to be on our agenda , and we want to come out with something either for or against , we just don ’ t know , ” he said .
Friday , Woytowich told National Observer that town council voted to keep the exemption for now .
They have called a special meeting at the council chambers on Sunday with the minister of government relations and will reconvene Wednesday to decide if they will continue to support the exemption from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just made and we don ’ t know the effect it will have on our community .
The truth is , and I ’ m not trying to put the government down because I don ’ t think that they know either , ” Woytowich said .

The town of La Ronge shares much of its infrastructure with the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the northern village of Air Ronge. The three geographically intertwined jurisdictions form what’s locally called the “tri-community.”
“The communities of La Ronge and Stony Rapids have been exempted from these particular orders and that is at the request of those community leaders,” Moe said.
Northern residents must remain in their local communities and practise social distancing. Exceptions will be made only for critical trips like collecting groceries and going to medical appointments. The restrictions cover all communities in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD) — except for La Ronge and Stony Rapids.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band executive director Gladys Christiansen said they weren’t asked for their opinion on an issue that will impact their citizens.
The exemption for La Ronge came as unwelcome news to the neighbouring communities, which would like the new travel restrictions to remain in place for them.
“What we would like to see is no access at all for people who are non-residents. I think by leaving it wide open, there’s more of a chance of COVID-19 getting into our community and that would be devastating if it did,” she said.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band declared an emergency measures bylaw on March 30 restricting access to their territory as a precaution during the pandemic.
She said it’s important to come to an agreement between all three communities and La Ronge should have done that before making the decision to request an exemption from the province.
“The communities are immediately adjacent to one another and we have many band members that reside in La Ronge.”
“We definitely would have liked to have been consulted beforehand, by both parties, the province and the town,” Christiansen said.
Air Ronge borders La Ronge and Lac La Ronge. Together the three communities are called the tri-community. Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.
Air Ronge mayor Gordon Stomp agreed with Christiansen. He wasn’t sure how many have been tested in Air Ronge, but said it’s nowhere near enough to make the decision to stay open while the rest of the north closes down.
Less than fifty people have reportedly been tested for COVID-19 in Lac La Ronge. There have been no confirmed cases.
“We’re very fortunate right now because they say we have very few cases in our community, but there’s been very little testing,” Stomp said.
“I think there should be some consideration for the number of people in our community and in the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (who) are not in favour of keeping it wide open. Our request is for permanent residents only to be allowed in the community. Meanwhile, (La Ronge) is wide open. I think there's not enough consideration for life compared to business and money."
The three communities share entry and exit points where Highway 2 becomes Highway 102 going north.
"When you go to La Ronge you have to go through the First Nations community, then you go through Air Ronge, and then you go through another part of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and then you get to La Ronge," Stomp said.
The timing of the provincial announcement came as a surprise to some in La Ronge, too. Even though they are the ones who requested the exemption.
Ron Woytowich, mayor of La Ronge, told National Observer he wasn’t expecting the announcement to come when it did and had been hoping for more dialogue with the province on how to proceed.
La Ronge mayor Ron Woytowich's town council are under fire from two neighbouring communities after asking the province
for an exemption from new travel restrictions in the northern administrative district.
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.
Woytowich told National Observer that he did not know that the town would be exempted from new northern travel restrictions, as per their request, until the premier made his announcement. Now he and his council are under fire from two neighbouring communities who say that they were not consulted by La Ronge about its request to the province for an exemption.
The La Ronge town council had sent a letter earlier in the week to the premier, asking that the province realign the boundaries identified in the public-health order so that it would not restrict travel “into and out of areas like La Ronge.”
The letter also said the town would “appreciate being consulted on any matter in advance that will have an impact on our community.”
“I wish they would have told us that in advance,” Woytowich said shortly after a snap conference call with the neighbouring communities of Air Ronge and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band on Thursday.
Woytowich said the Town of La Ronge had expressed concerns, but hadn’t decided yet whether they wanted further restrictions for the community.
“Quite frankly, we weren’t sure which way we were going (regarding the restrictions), but we wanted more information before we made a decision. In the meantime … they made this order that excluded La Ronge,” Woytowich said.
La Ronge council sent a letter to the premier requesting public health lines to be redrawn and to spare them from
new travel restrictions in the far north region.
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.
Moe said the province will provide businesses in northern communities with support and resources while also implementing the new restrictions to “reduce the spread and flatten the curve in the north.”
“Yesterday, the mayor of La Loche (Robert St. Pierre) and a number of other northern leaders requested further restrictions on travel in northern Saskatchewan. Specifically requesting restrictions on non-essential travel between communities and that travel be prohibited,” Moe said.
La Ronge wanted the government to consider differences between the northeast and northwest areas of the province before taking a position on travel restrictions.
Far north Saskatchewan used to contain three regional health authorities, but not anymore. In 2017, the twelve former provincial health regions all came under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, which sees the far north as one region.
Map of the Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District. The new travel restrictions cover all communities in the
Northern Saskatchewan Administrative District (NSAD) — except for La Ronge and Stony Rapids.
Graphic courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan.
The northwest provincial district of Athabasca is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 centred around the northern village of La Loche, which has a population of about 2,800.
One positive case involving a patient at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert was announced on Friday. An outbreak has been declared at the hospital.
Saskatchewan recorded 26 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, putting the province’s total at more than 400. Most of the new cases are in the far north and north regions.
The La Loche area has more than half the provincial total of active cases, and two elders from the community have died.
La Ronge has a population just shy of 2,700 and is in the northeast district of Cumberland, which has yet to experience such a severe outbreak. La Ronge, about 440 kilometres east of La Loche by road, is also a hub for relief and prevention efforts in the area.
Cases and Risk of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. The province recorded 26 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, putting the
province’s total to more than 400. Most of the new cases are in the far north and north regions.
Graphic courtesy of Government of Saskatchewan.
“We are a different community. We have the hospital, we have all the drug stores, we’ve got all the grocery stores,” Woytowich said.
Woytowich said the town would have an official position after Thursday night’s budget meeting. “Because of what’s happened, that’s going to be on our agenda, and we want to come out with something either for or against, we just don’t know,” he said.
Last Friday, Woytowich told National Observer that town council voted to keep the exemption for now. They have called a special meeting at the council chambers on Sunday and will reconvene Wednesday to decide if they will continue to support the exemption from travel restrictions.
“The order was just made and we don’t know the effect it will have on our community. The truth is, and I’m not trying to put the government down because I don’t think that they know either,” Woytowich said.
Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Local Journalism Initiative


nationalobserver--2020-05-03--Imperial Oil reports $188M loss

Imperial Oil reports $188M loss

Imperial Oil Ltd. is slowing or deferring maintenance work throughout its operations as it tries to ensure employee safety in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak that has infected 83 workers at its Kearl oilsands mine in northern Alberta .
The Calgary-based company said Friday it will start a planned one-month maintenance shutdown of one of its two production trains at Kearl in a few days and extend it by an extra month to late June or early July to allow more distancing between workers .
The extension means production at Kearl will fall from the record average of 226,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and 238,000 bpd in March — to about 150,000 bpd in the second quarter , CEO Brad Corson told a conference call on Friday .
`` This allows us to progress at a more measured pace and greatly reduce the number of people we have working at site at any given time and without affecting the overall scope , '' he said .
`` It also allows us to complete the work at a time of likely low prices so we can have the asset fully up and running as and when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety and hunger for international students during COVID-19 • Did Ontario really need to call in the military for COVID-19 in long-term care ?
He said the company has also reduced the scope of maintenance at its Sarnia , Ont.
, refinery , will defer planned work at its Sarnia chemical plant and is postponing planned maintenance at its Nanicoke , Ont.
, and Strathcona ( Edmonton ) refineries until after this year .
Twenty-two of the Kearl workers stricken with the coronavirus have recovered and the others are being monitored or treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the project is continuing with enhanced physical distancing , cleaning and health screening , along with supplying face masks and moving fewer workers on transport airplanes and buses .
Kearl is owned by Imperial at 71 per cent and its parent company , ExxonMobil , with 29 per cent .
The record output at Kearl thanks to the introduction of supplemental ore crushers drove overall Imperial production to about 419,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first three months of 2020 , up from 388,000 boe/d in the same period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strathcona refinery helped take its overall processing total to 383,000 barrels per day , the same as a year ago .
Corson said demand for jet fuel and gasoline fell significantly in March , while diesel demand dropped by a more moderate amount , due to measures taken to limit the pandemic .
However , there are signs demand may be slowly recovering , he added .
Imperial reported a net loss of $ 188 million in the first quarter due to lower commodity prices and non-cash charges of $ 301 million , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a reduction in the value of its inventory as crude oil prices plunged in March and $ 20 million from a goodwill impairment .
It had a net profit of $ 293 million in the same quarter last year .
Fellow oilsands producers Husky Energy Inc. and Cenovus Energy Inc. both reported writedowns and losses earlier this week .
Imperial 's revenue and other income totalled $ 6.69 billion in the quarter , down from $ 7.98 billion in the first quarter of 2019 .
Imperial ’ s average realized bitumen price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first quarter of 2020 , compared to $ 48.85 per barrel in the first quarter of 2019 .
Crude-by-rail shipments averaged 97,000 bpd from its co-owned Edmonton rail terminal in the first quarter of 2020 , up from 53,000 bpd in the fourth quarter of 2019 .
Shipments by rail fell to about 10,000 bpd in April and are being phased out as pipeline space is freed up amid industry-wide production cutbacks due to current low oil prices , said Corson .
Analysts said Imperial beat their expectations on production and on cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profits from its refining and marketing sector .

Imperial Oil Ltd. is slowing or deferring maintenance work throughout its operations as it tries to ensure employee safety in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak that has infected 83 workers at its Kearl oilsands mine in northern Alberta. The Calgary-based company said Friday it will start a planned one-month maintenance shutdown of one of its two production trains at Kearl in a few days and extend it by an extra month to late June or early July to allow more distancing between workers. The extension means production at Kearl will fall from the record average of 226,000 barrels per day in the first quarter — and 238,000 bpd in March — to about 150,000 bpd in the second quarter, CEO Brad Corson told a conference call on Friday. "This allows us to progress at a more measured pace and greatly reduce the number of people we have working at site at any given time and without affecting the overall scope," he said. "It also allows us to complete the work at a time of likely low prices so we can have the asset fully up and running as and when prices recover."
He said the company has also reduced the scope of maintenance at its Sarnia, Ont., refinery, will defer planned work at its Sarnia chemical plant and is postponing planned maintenance at its Nanicoke, Ont., and Strathcona (Edmonton) refineries until after this year. Twenty-two of the Kearl workers stricken with the coronavirus have recovered and the others are being monitored or treated as necessary, Corson said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Work at the project is continuing with enhanced physical distancing, cleaning and health screening, along with supplying face masks and moving fewer workers on transport airplanes and buses.
Kearl is owned by Imperial at 71 per cent and its parent company, ExxonMobil, with 29 per cent. Imperial Oil reports $188M loss as COVID-19 hits workers, slows work schedule The record output at Kearl thanks to the introduction of supplemental ore crushers drove overall Imperial production to about 419,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the first three months of 2020, up from 388,000 boe/d in the same period last year. Record throughput at its Strathcona refinery helped take its overall processing total to 383,000 barrels per day, the same as a year ago. Corson said demand for jet fuel and gasoline fell significantly in March, while diesel demand dropped by a more moderate amount, due to measures taken to limit the pandemic. However, there are signs demand may be slowly recovering, he added. Imperial reported a net loss of $188 million in the first quarter due to lower commodity prices and non-cash charges of $301 million, with $281 million of that due to a reduction in the value of its inventory as crude oil prices plunged in March and $20 million from a goodwill impairment.
It had a net profit of $293 million in the same quarter last year. Fellow oilsands producers Husky Energy Inc. and Cenovus Energy Inc. both reported writedowns and losses earlier this week. Imperial's revenue and other income totalled $6.69 billion in the quarter, down from $7.98 billion in the first quarter of 2019.


nationalobserver--2020-05-03--Canada takes baby steps towards reopening

Canada took further baby steps toward post-pandemic normalcy on Friday as Atlantic provinces began easing rigid restrictions imposed to curb the COVID-19 scourge , while Quebec 's death toll climbed past 2,000 as it set to ease its measures .
Elective surgeries and other non-urgent health-care services , including physiotherapy and optometry , restarted in Prince Edward Island , as did outdoor gatherings of up to five people from different households and non-contact outdoor recreational activities .
Nova Scotia reopened garden centres and nurseries , along with trails and provincial and municipal parks .
It also allowed single families to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already OK 'd interactions between two families , a return to school for post-secondary students , as well as golfing , fishing and hunting .
Quebec , with the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Canada , was set to reopen retail stores outside Montreal on Monday , despite reporting 163 new COVID fatalities going into the weekend .
The province also said it aimed to double testing — to 14,000 a day — by the end of next week .
Ontario , which reported 421 new cases and 39 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities , also said some workplaces and businesses can restart Monday .
Those include garden centres with curb-side pickup , lawn-care and landscaping services , and automatic car washes .
• Nerves , anxiety and hunger for international students during COVID-19 • Did Ontario really need to call in the military for COVID-19 in long-term care ?
`` Our patience is paying off , '' said Premier Doug Ford , who urged people to maintain physical distancing regardless .
`` We 're getting closer and closer to opening things up . ''
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hair salons among them — are also set to open their doors on Monday .
The stiff stay-home restrictions that have idled much of the economy have plunged the country into a recession , according to a new report by the C.D .
Howe Institute .
Still , federal and provincial governments have called for a gradual and phased approach to a return to normalcy informed by public health concerns .
When it comes to reopening schools and child-care centres , Canada 's top public health officer , Dr. Theresa Tam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crucial for protecting adults who work in them , even if the virus appears to be less dangerous for the youngsters themselves .
Tam has also warned about the risk coronavirus disease poses to Indigenous communities , which are considered vulnerable due to often overcrowded living conditions and a lack of health-care services .
To date , reserves have seen at least 129 cases and Inuit communities 16 .
Saskatchewan reported a jump of 26 cases , 19 of which were from in and around La Loche , a Dene village 600 kilometres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been doing to prevent COVID-19 from ripping through the communities was the subject of a standing committee on Friday , with members of Parliament putting cabinet ministers on the hot seat .
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller conceded the $ 15 million in emergency funding earmarked to help organizations that service Indigenous urban populations was not enough .
The Senate , meanwhile , passed legislation authorizing $ 9 billion worth of emergency financial support for students who ca n't find or are unable to work this summer due to the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under the new Canada Student Emergency Benefit , eligible students will receive $ 1,250 per month student benefit from May through August .
Those with dependents or permanent disabilities will receive $ 2,000 per month .
The contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus , which has now killed more than 3,220 people in Canada and 270,000 globally , is believed to have originated in China .
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Beijing withheld information about its epidemic from the World Health Organization and that the agency tried to cover up the initial outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory that the pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan , China .
In Ottawa , Beijing 's ambassador praised Canada 's `` cool-headed '' co-operation in battling the spread of the disease .
The United States , according to Ambassador Cong Peiwu , was `` smearing '' his country .
`` To shift the blame , some U.S. politicians try to launch a stigmatization campaign against China , '' the envoy said .
`` Attacking and discrediting other countries will not save the time and lives lost . ''
In other developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates under the public health emergency declared on March 18 .
So far , the province 's jails have been COVID-free but at least 285 federal prisoners , one of whom has died , and 82 guards have tested positive .
In Chatham-Kent , Ont.
, police said someone hacked an online meeting for a local charity this week and broadcast child pornography to 200 participants .
-With files from Canadian Press staff across the country .

Canada took further baby steps toward post-pandemic normalcy on Friday as Atlantic provinces began easing rigid restrictions imposed to curb the COVID-19 scourge, while Quebec's death toll climbed past 2,000 as it set to ease its measures. Elective surgeries and other non-urgent health-care services, including physiotherapy and optometry, restarted in Prince Edward Island, as did outdoor gatherings of up to five people from different households and non-contact outdoor recreational activities. Nova Scotia reopened garden centres and nurseries, along with trails and provincial and municipal parks. It also allowed single families to head to their cottages. New Brunswick had already OK'd interactions between two families, a return to school for post-secondary students, as well as golfing, fishing and hunting. Quebec, with the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Canada, was set to reopen retail stores outside Montreal on Monday, despite reporting 163 new COVID fatalities going into the weekend. The province also said it aimed to double testing — to 14,000 a day — by the end of next week. Ontario, which reported 421 new cases and 39 more deaths, most in long-term care facilities, also said some workplaces and businesses can restart Monday. Those include garden centres with curb-side pickup, lawn-care and landscaping services, and automatic car washes.
"Our patience is paying off," said Premier Doug Ford, who urged people to maintain physical distancing regardless. "We're getting closer and closer to opening things up." Many non-essential businesses in Manitoba — retail stores and hair salons among them — are also set to open their doors on Monday. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The stiff stay-home restrictions that have idled much of the economy have plunged the country into a recession, according to a new report by the C.D. Howe Institute. Still, federal and provincial governments have called for a gradual and phased approach to a return to normalcy informed by public health concerns.
When it comes to reopening schools and child-care centres, Canada's top public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said distancing restrictions and strict cleaning were crucial for protecting adults who work in them, even if the virus appears to be less dangerous for the youngsters themselves. Canada takes baby steps toward normalcy; Quebec passes 2,000 COVID deaths Tam has also warned about the risk coronavirus disease poses to Indigenous communities, which are considered vulnerable due to often overcrowded living conditions and a lack of health-care services. To date, reserves have seen at least 129 cases and Inuit communities 16. Saskatchewan reported a jump of 26 cases, 19 of which were from in and around La Loche, a Dene village 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. What the government has been doing to prevent COVID-19 from ripping through the communities was the subject of a standing committee on Friday, with members of Parliament putting cabinet ministers on the hot seat. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller conceded the $15 million in emergency funding earmarked to help organizations that service Indigenous urban populations was not enough. The Senate, meanwhile, passed legislation authorizing $9 billion worth of emergency financial support for students who can't find or are unable to work this summer due to the pandemic. The bill received royal assent shortly thereafter. Under the new Canada Student Emergency Benefit, eligible students will receive $1,250 per month student benefit from May through August. Those with dependents or permanent disabilities will receive $2,000 per month.
The contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has now killed more than 3,220 people in Canada and 270,000 globally, is believed to have originated in China. U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Beijing withheld information about its epidemic from the World Health Organization and that the agency tried to cover up the initial outbreak. Trump supporters have also pushed a conspiracy theory that the pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. In Ottawa, Beijing's ambassador praised Canada's "cool-headed" co-operation in battling the spread of the disease. The United States, according to Ambassador Cong Peiwu, was "smearing" his country.


nationalobserver--2020-05-03--Union tries to protect workers at Alberta meat plant with COVID-19 outbreak

A union is trying to halt the planned reopening of an Alberta beef-packing plant that has been the site of a major COVID-19 outbreak .
There have been 921 cases of the virus at the Cargill plant south of Calgary , which has 2,000 workers .
Cargill announced April 20 it was temporarily shutting down for two weeks .
It said earlier this week that one shift would resume work on Monday with bolstered safety measures .
Alberta chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw has said Alberta Health Services officials have done on-site inspections and have been assured the facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hunger for international students during COVID-19 • Did Ontario really need to call in the military for COVID-19 in long-term care ?
But Thomas Hesse with the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 401 says workers are scared and it has sought a stop-work order from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety .
The union has also filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Cargill and the Alberta government .
Hesse said the Labour Relations Board and OHS have the power to shut the plant down quickly , and both sides are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are they going to have the courage to do it ? ''
he said Friday .
`` We 're asking them to act urgently . ''
The union wants an independent , worker-centred investigation of both the Cargill plant in High River and the JBS Canada beef plant in Brooks , Alta.
, where there were 390 cases of COVID-19 as of Friday .
One worker from each plant has died .
Union trying to stop Alberta meat plant with COVID-19 outbreak from reopening `` The same people that were saying it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , '' Hesse said .
`` Would that be enough for you to risk your life ? ''
He said the union was not consulted about the reopening .
`` I have n't received a phone call , a text , an email , '' said Hesse .
`` I have n't had a five-minute meeting .
I have n't had a one-hour meeting with an OHS official , with an Alberta Health Services official — nobody . ''
Cargill said Wednesday it would limit access to the plant to no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one sitting in the front and one in the back .
It would also provide buses with protective barriers to reduce the need for carpooling .
Barriers have also been added in bathrooms and lockers have been reassigned to allow for enough spacing .
Cargill said it completed a deep cleaning during the closure .
`` We look forward to welcoming our employees back and are focused on our ongoing commitment to safety , '' Jon Nash , the North America leader for the U.S. company , said in a statement Wednesday .

A union is trying to halt the planned reopening of an Alberta beef-packing plant that has been the site of a major COVID-19 outbreak. There have been 921 cases of the virus at the Cargill plant south of Calgary, which has 2,000 workers. Cargill announced April 20 it was temporarily shutting down for two weeks. It said earlier this week that one shift would resume work on Monday with bolstered safety measures. Alberta chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw has said Alberta Health Services officials have done on-site inspections and have been assured the facility is safe.
But Thomas Hesse with the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 401 says workers are scared and it has sought a stop-work order from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. The union has also filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Cargill and the Alberta government. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Hesse said the Labour Relations Board and OHS have the power to shut the plant down quickly, and both sides are having discussions.
"The question is are they going to have the courage to do it?" he said Friday. "We're asking them to act urgently." Union trying to stop Alberta meat plant with COVID-19 outbreak from reopening The union wants an independent, worker-centred investigation of both the Cargill plant in High River and the JBS Canada beef plant in Brooks, Alta., where there were 390 cases of COVID-19 as of Friday. One worker from each plant has died. "The same people that were saying it was safe before are saying it's safe now," Hesse said. "Would that be enough for you to risk your life?" He said the union was not consulted about the reopening.
"I haven't received a phone call, a text, an email," said Hesse. "I haven't had a five-minute meeting. I haven't had a one-hour meeting with an OHS official, with an Alberta Health Services official — nobody." Cargill said Wednesday it would limit access to the plant to no more than two people per car, with one sitting in the front and one in the back. It would also provide buses with protective barriers to reduce the need for carpooling. Barriers have also been added in bathrooms and lockers have been reassigned to allow for enough spacing. Cargill said it completed a deep cleaning during the closure.


nationalobserver--2020-05-03--Worries over COVID-19 outbreaks in 23 First Nations

Federal officials say the next two weeks will be crucial in trying to determine the scope and severity of the spread of COVID-19 in First Nations communities .
Cases of the virus have begun to present within Indigenous communities across Canada , including the first case in Nunavut — something health officials have been bracing for with concern , given the many vulnerabilities that exist among Indigenous populations .
Dr. Tom Wong , chief medical officer of public health at Indigenous Services Canada , says it 's too early to determine the severity of these outbreaks and whether the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are closely monitoring the situations and have jumped into action where needed .
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller noted a particular concern over an outbreak in the Dene village of La Loche , about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon .
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Conservative MP Gary Vidal , who represents the northern Saskatchewan riding where the village is located , said his concern is personal .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These are families and kids that I coached in hockey and they 're all friends and connections , so this has become very personal for me suddenly , '' Vidal told Miller during a House of Commons committee meeting Friday .
He noted the outbreak includes the deaths of two elders living in a care facility and that there are now also active cases in the neighbouring First Nation communities of English River and Clearwater River Dene .
`` It 's too late for reactive measures , now is the time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Services Canada ) in northern Saskatchewan .
This has become a very dangerous situation , '' Vidal said .
Miller acknowledged he is `` very worried '' about this outbreak , and that his department has been working with the province and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority to ensure a co-ordinated effort .
Health Canada is mobilizing testing capacity , planning to ship personal protective equipment and sending in additional health professionals and medical officers .
As of April 30 , there were 131 active cases of COVID-19 in a total of 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are working closely with First Nations leaders , provinces and territories to help slow the spread of the virus .
Some of these outbreaks have been traced to workplaces .
This includes an outbreak of COVID-19 at a meat-packing plant in Alberta , which has been identified as the source of new cases in the nearby Stoney Nakoda First Nation , west of Calgary , Wong said .
Health officials are once again stressing the importance of physical distancing and handwashing , and will be watching closely over the next two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in cases on First Nations begin to curve downward , Wong said .
`` What we are hoping to not see is an exponential increase .
What we are hoping to see is a flattening of the curve , '' he said .
Meanwhile , Miller says the $ 15 million in COVID-19 emergency funding earmarked to help organizations that service Indigenous urban populations is not `` not enough . ''
Miller told the committee Friday his department received far more applications to this fund than the 94 proposals that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure additional funds to help the vulnerable populations that friendship centres and other urban Indigenous organizations work to support every day .
`` I will acknowledge that it is not enough and we are working more to serve these people in very vulnerable situations , and that 's work we will continue to do , '' Miller said .
Last month , the National Association of Friendship Centres said their facilities across the country have been on the front lines of the crisis and have been inundated with requests for help as their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been struggling to function without additional funds from the federal government as they work to meet an increased demand in services , the association said .

Federal officials say the next two weeks will be crucial in trying to determine the scope and severity of the spread of COVID-19 in First Nations communities. Cases of the virus have begun to present within Indigenous communities across Canada, including the first case in Nunavut — something health officials have been bracing for with concern, given the many vulnerabilities that exist among Indigenous populations. Dr. Tom Wong, chief medical officer of public health at Indigenous Services Canada, says it's too early to determine the severity of these outbreaks and whether the situation will worsen. He said health officials are closely monitoring the situations and have jumped into action where needed. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller noted a particular concern over an outbreak in the Dene village of La Loche, about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
Conservative MP Gary Vidal, who represents the northern Saskatchewan riding where the village is located, said his concern is personal. "This is my hometown, this is my area. These are families and kids that I coached in hockey and they're all friends and connections, so this has become very personal for me suddenly," Vidal told Miller during a House of Commons committee meeting Friday. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions He noted the outbreak includes the deaths of two elders living in a care facility and that there are now also active cases in the neighbouring First Nation communities of English River and Clearwater River Dene.
"It's too late for reactive measures, now is the time for a major proactive response from (Indigenous Services Canada) in northern Saskatchewan. This has become a very dangerous situation," Vidal said. COVID-19 outbreaks in 23 First Nations prompting concerns Miller acknowledged he is "very worried" about this outbreak, and that his department has been working with the province and the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority to ensure a co-ordinated effort. Health Canada is mobilizing testing capacity, planning to ship personal protective equipment and sending in additional health professionals and medical officers. As of April 30, there were 131 active cases of COVID-19 in a total of 23 Indigenous communities across Canada, and federal officials are working closely with First Nations leaders, provinces and territories to help slow the spread of the virus. Some of these outbreaks have been traced to workplaces. This includes an outbreak of COVID-19 at a meat-packing plant in Alberta, which has been identified as the source of new cases in the nearby Stoney Nakoda First Nation, west of Calgary, Wong said. Health officials are once again stressing the importance of physical distancing and handwashing, and will be watching closely over the next two weeks in the hopes they see the current rise in cases on First Nations begin to curve downward, Wong said.
"What we are hoping to not see is an exponential increase. What we are hoping to see is a flattening of the curve," he said. Meanwhile, Miller says the $15 million in COVID-19 emergency funding earmarked to help organizations that service Indigenous urban populations is not "not enough." Miller told the committee Friday his department received far more applications to this fund than the 94 proposals that have been approved.


nationalobserver--2020-05-03--Meet Laurie Pushor, new head of the Alberta Energy Regulator

Like a sports coach coming off a disappointing season , the new head of the agency that regulates Alberta 's heavily challenged energy industry knows he 's got some work to do .
`` One ( goal ) is rebuilding confidence in the leadership internally , '' Laurie Pushor said in an interview .
`` Confidence in the public and government and the industry that we are a good team of people and that we 're doing our best and that we 're open to continuing to improve . ''
Do n't count Alberta out yet , said Pushor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil price wars , there 's still money to be made , he said .
`` If you look at recovery rates and the innovation that industry is applying to known reserves , not only might we not be presiding over an industry in decline , but you might see a bit of a renaissance in conventional production . ''
Rebuilding trust with First Nations is another priority for Pushor .
In his previous job as Saskatchewan 's deputy minister of energy and resources , he worked with a traditional knowledge-keeper , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regulator wants to rebuild confidence in leadership `` He is relentless in reminding me that it 's about relationships , '' said Pushor , who promises plenty of face-to-face time with Indigenous leaders .
`` If you 're not in a relationship , you 're not going to be able to move things forward .
We , as the regulator , need to be in a good relationship with First Nations . ''
Pushor wants the same kind of contact with landowner groups , who have often been critical of how industry uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 'll start with three or four of the larger groups out there that have organized .
I look forward to catching up and understanding their issues and seeing what can be done to move things ahead . ''
When it comes to cleaning up wells , Pushor acknowledges he 's got some work to do to grasp the legal ins and outs .
Critics have long pushed for a legislated timeline for dealing with old infrastructure and say that the province 's calculations on whether a well owner has the wherewithal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little time to dig into those issues .
`` The government 's the policymaker , '' he said .
`` They 're going to give us the framework they want us to operate in . ''
There 's an inevitable tension between business , environmental and public concerns , Pushor said .
`` That tension is real and it should be .
What makes a regulator effective is ensuring that tension is balanced . ''

Like a sports coach coming off a disappointing season, the new head of the agency that regulates Alberta's heavily challenged energy industry knows he's got some work to do. "One (goal) is rebuilding confidence in the leadership internally," Laurie Pushor said in an interview. "Confidence in the public and government and the industry that we are a good team of people and that we're doing our best and that we're open to continuing to improve." Pushor, two weeks into the job, replaces Jim Ellis as boss of the Alberta Energy Regulator. Ellis left last November after investigators found serious mismanagement, misuse of about $2.3 million and a "culture of fear" among whistleblowers. "Improvement will include continuing to strengthen transparency and continuing to strengthen accountability for our performance," Pushor promised.
That's not the only challenge he and the energy regulator face. There's an enormous backlog of abandoned and orphaned wells that will cost someone billions to clean up. There are difficult relationships between the regulator, First Nations and landowners. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions And there's the industry itself for which profits and reserves are declining.
Don't count Alberta out yet, said Pushor. Notwithstanding the uncertainties of COVID-19 and international oil price wars, there's still money to be made, he said. New head of Alberta Energy Regulator wants to rebuild confidence in leadership "If you look at recovery rates and the innovation that industry is applying to known reserves, not only might we not be presiding over an industry in decline, but you might see a bit of a renaissance in conventional production." Rebuilding trust with First Nations is another priority for Pushor. In his previous job as Saskatchewan's deputy minister of energy and resources, he worked with a traditional knowledge-keeper, he said. "He is relentless in reminding me that it's about relationships," said Pushor, who promises plenty of face-to-face time with Indigenous leaders. "If you're not in a relationship, you're not going to be able to move things forward. We, as the regulator, need to be in a good relationship with First Nations."
Pushor wants the same kind of contact with landowner groups, who have often been critical of how industry uses their land and treats them. "It'll start with three or four of the larger groups out there that have organized. I look forward to catching up and understanding their issues and seeing what can be done to move things ahead." When it comes to cleaning up wells, Pushor acknowledges he's got some work to do to grasp the legal ins and outs. Critics have long pushed for a legislated timeline for dealing with old infrastructure and say that the province's calculations on whether a well owner has the wherewithal for cleanup are antiquated.


nationalobserver--2020-05-03--Public transit prepping for new normal in Canada

The gradual reopening of Canada 's economy will not mean business as usual for the country 's public transit agencies .
Despite the fact that a slowly growing number of workers will make their way back to the country 's buses , streetcars and subways as they return to workplaces shuttered by the COVID-19 pandemic , the systems that will help get them there say they anticipate maintaining measures that took effect while most of their riders were in lockdown .
Reduced service levels , limited seating and enhanced cleaning protocols will still be in place , several transit agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may come into play over time but declining to offer details .
`` COVID has changed everything for us , '' said Anne Marie Aikins , spokesman for Ontario regional transit provider Metrolinx that operates the heavily travelled GO Transit network .
`` That 's not going to disappear overnight . ''
Aikins said most of the more than 40 pandemic-related measures implemented since the beginning of the year will remain in effect .
Riders returning to Go Transit after their enforced hiatus will find their commutes looking different , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitizer dispensers on board and drivers seated behind protective shields .
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Several seats have been blocked off in the interest of both protecting Metrolinx staff and encouraging passengers to maintain the standard physical distancing barrier of two metres , she said .
Those commuters still making use of Go services have not struggled to find seats , Aikins said , noting ridership has plunged 90 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-March .
The decline meant Go was forced to scale back its services to 50 per cent of typical capacity , but Aikins said Metrolinx tailored remaining routes to align with hospital shift changes , grocery store hours and other scheduling constraints in play for the essential workers still making a daily commute .
The disparity between ridership and service levels , she said , means Go Transit has room to adjust to the gradual increase of traffic expected when Ontario 's economy begins to reopen in the coming weeks .
Similar conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission , according to spokesman Stuart Green .
The transit provider , which temporarily laid off 1,200 employees amid an 85 per cent drop in ridership , is still running between 70 to 80 per cent of its usual routes in a bid to accommodate essential workers and those reliant on public transit for crucial errands and medical visits .
Public transit prepping for new normal as cities and provinces start to reopen Green said those workers will start gradually returning as passengers find their way back onto public transit , but said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find ways of maintaining both operations and public safety .
`` It 's very much a balancing act , '' Green said .
`` It 's one of continuing to provide service for people who need it now and being able to accommodate people as they start coming back assuming that there may be certain requirements around physical distancing that we 'll have to keep in mind . ''
Some of those requirements were spelled out in guidelines released earlier this week by Ontario 's Health and Safety Association .
The recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely implemented at Metrolinx and the TTC , according to their respective spokespeople .
Ottawa 's transit provider , OCTranspo , issued a statement saying it would be guided by industry best practices .
`` OCTranspo will be ready to adapt the way we provide transit services to meet customer demand and will consult with public health officials as recovery plans evolve in order to provide a safe environment for our customers and employees , '' transit customer systems and planning director Pat Scrimgeour said , without providing further details .
Similar approaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose return to pre-pandemic norms seems more imminent .
Demands on local transit systems will likely increase in Alberta beginning as early as Monday when most health services in the province are allowed to resume .
Retailers and personal services will be allowed to start opening their doors 10 days later on May 14 .
In Winnipeg , where some businesses will reopen effective Monday , City Emergency Operation Centre Manager Jay Shaw said buses will continue to run on a reduced schedule , adding more vehicles if physical distancing is becoming too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Such concerns are on the minds of transit employees , according to the union representing TTC workers .
Carlos Santos , President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 , praised efforts to equip workers with protective equipment , redistribute seating and reconfigure vehicle boarding protocols in a bid to keep staff safe .
But he said more proactive steps will be needed to ensure employee health as transit operations gradually ramp up .
`` I think what they 're going to have to start doing is putting in markers at stations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have in other cities in the world that have started to reopen , '' Santos said .
International examples could serve Canada 's transit systems well in the months ahead , according to one industry observer .
Amer Shalaby , professor of transportation engineering at the University of Toronto , said countries further ahead in the COVID-19 recovery process have implemented a variety of measures to keep transit safe for all .
He said authorities in South Korea clean and sanitize mass transit vehicles up to five times a day .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government is developing a mobile app that will help manage crowds by allowing riders to make reservations on local buses and trains .
Such a system , he said , also allows services to be prioritized for essential workers and those without alternative means of transportation .
But regardless of how Canada 's transit operators proceed in the post-pandemic world , he said governments should be prepared to help keep them afloat .
`` Until a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 is found , transit agencies will have to run at very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low and revenues will be low , '' he said .
`` That difference really has to be covered by someone . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1 , 2020 .

The gradual reopening of Canada's economy will not mean business as usual for the country's public transit agencies. Despite the fact that a slowly growing number of workers will make their way back to the country's buses, streetcars and subways as they return to workplaces shuttered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the systems that will help get them there say they anticipate maintaining measures that took effect while most of their riders were in lockdown. Reduced service levels, limited seating and enhanced cleaning protocols will still be in place, several transit agencies said, acknowledging that even more steps may come into play over time but declining to offer details. "COVID has changed everything for us," said Anne Marie Aikins, spokesman for Ontario regional transit provider Metrolinx that operates the heavily travelled GO Transit network. "That's not going to disappear overnight." Aikins said most of the more than 40 pandemic-related measures implemented since the beginning of the year will remain in effect. Riders returning to Go Transit after their enforced hiatus will find their commutes looking different, she said, noting trains and buses now have hand sanitizer dispensers on board and drivers seated behind protective shields.
Several seats have been blocked off in the interest of both protecting Metrolinx staff and encouraging passengers to maintain the standard physical distancing barrier of two metres, she said. Those commuters still making use of Go services have not struggled to find seats, Aikins said, noting ridership has plunged 90 per cent since widespread shutdowns took effect in mid-March. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The decline meant Go was forced to scale back its services to 50 per cent of typical capacity, but Aikins said Metrolinx tailored remaining routes to align with hospital shift changes, grocery store hours and other scheduling constraints in play for the essential workers still making a daily commute.
The disparity between ridership and service levels, she said, means Go Transit has room to adjust to the gradual increase of traffic expected when Ontario's economy begins to reopen in the coming weeks. Public transit prepping for new normal as cities and provinces start to reopen Similar conversations are taking place at the Toronto Transit Commission, according to spokesman Stuart Green. The transit provider, which temporarily laid off 1,200 employees amid an 85 per cent drop in ridership, is still running between 70 to 80 per cent of its usual routes in a bid to accommodate essential workers and those reliant on public transit for crucial errands and medical visits. Green said those workers will start gradually returning as passengers find their way back onto public transit, but said several challenges remain as the TTC tries to find ways of maintaining both operations and public safety. "It's very much a balancing act," Green said. "It's one of continuing to provide service for people who need it now and being able to accommodate people as they start coming back assuming that there may be certain requirements around physical distancing that we'll have to keep in mind."
Some of those requirements were spelled out in guidelines released earlier this week by Ontario's Health and Safety Association. The recommendations pertaining to transit employers have already been largely implemented at Metrolinx and the TTC, according to their respective spokespeople. Ottawa's transit provider, OCTranspo, issued a statement saying it would be guided by industry best practices. "OCTranspo will be ready to adapt the way we provide transit services to meet customer demand and will consult with public health officials as recovery plans evolve in order to provide a safe environment for our customers and employees," transit customer systems and planning director Pat Scrimgeour said, without providing further details.


nationalobserver--2020-05-04--In the middle of a pandemic, renewables are taking over the grid

Pollution blocks solar radiation , and the fine particles spat out during combustion can settle on the surface of solar panels , reducing their efficiency .
Smog-free skies , along with a lucky combination of sunny days and cooler temperatures , which boost panel efficiency , have helped solar panels break records in the U.K. , Germany , and Spain this spring .
The trend points to the potential for a positive ( and hopeful ) feedback loop — as polluting energy sources are replaced by solar panels , those solar panels will be able to generate more energy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and industrial activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic has cleared the air in typically smog-choked cities all over the world , inspiring awe in residents who are seeing more blue skies and starry nights than ever before .
While the drop in pollution doesn ’ t necessarily mean we ’ re making progress in mitigating climate change , it ’ s now proving to be a boon for solar energy generation .
In Germany , a record that was set in March was broken again on April 20 , when solar generated 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while coal and nuclear power generated just 22 percent .
It ’ s actually not unusual to see solar generation records this time of year , when new panels installed in the winter get their first time to shine in the spring weather .
While the added capacity explains some of solar ’ s grid takeover , the drop in electricity demand right now due to the pandemic has also inflated its proportion in the total mix .
In the U.K. , record solar power generation also helped coal plants set a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The entire U.K. energy system ran with zero coal-fired power plant generation for more than 18 days , the longest streak in more than a century .
Britain has just four remaining coal plants , all of which are scheduled to close by 2025 .
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched renewable energy in myriad ways , and not all good .
In early March , it became clear that the virus was disrupting supply chains and financing , which will delay new solar and wind projects in the U.S. For the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t see increased growth in U.S. renewable energy capacity this year .
But even if growth is slower , a new report from the International Energy Agency released Thursday predicts that renewables will likely be the only energy sector to see any growth in demand this year , and that coal is set for the largest decline in demand since World War II .
While it ’ s still hard to say how the industry will emerge from the rubble of a massive recession — especially as efforts to help it domestically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new study by clean energy research firm BloombergNEF paints an optimistic picture that the renewable energy takeover will continue on a global scale .
The financial research firm found that utility-scale solar farms and onshore wind farms now offer the cheapest source of electricity for about two-thirds of the world ’ s population .
The study finds that falling costs , more efficient technology , and government support in some parts of the world have fostered larger renewable power plants , with the average wind farm now double the size it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant , the lower the cost of generation .
The price of electricity from onshore wind farms dropped 9 percent since mid-2019 , and solar electricity prices likewise declined 4 percent .

This story was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration
The reduction in driving, flying, and industrial activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic has cleared the air in typically smog-choked cities all over the world, inspiring awe in residents who are seeing more blue skies and starry nights than ever before. While the drop in pollution doesn’t necessarily mean we’re making progress in mitigating climate change, it’s now proving to be a boon for solar energy generation.
Pollution blocks solar radiation, and the fine particles spat out during combustion can settle on the surface of solar panels, reducing their efficiency. Smog-free skies, along with a lucky combination of sunny days and cooler temperatures, which boost panel efficiency, have helped solar panels break records in the U.K., Germany, and Spain this spring. The trend points to the potential for a positive (and hopeful) feedback loop — as polluting energy sources are replaced by solar panels, those solar panels will be able to generate more energy.
In Germany, a record that was set in March was broken again on April 20, when solar generated 40 percent of the country’s electricity, while coal and nuclear power generated just 22 percent. It’s actually not unusual to see solar generation records this time of year, when new panels installed in the winter get their first time to shine in the spring weather. While the added capacity explains some of solar’s grid takeover, the drop in electricity demand right now due to the pandemic has also inflated its proportion in the total mix.
In the U.K., record solar power generation also helped coal plants set a major record, but the opposite kind. The entire U.K. energy system ran with zero coal-fired power plant generation for more than 18 days, the longest streak in more than a century. Britain has just four remaining coal plants, all of which are scheduled to close by 2025.


nationalobserver--2020-05-04--Lawsuits over COVID-19 in nursing homes to question standard of care

As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada 's nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits , some legal experts say the cases will turn on what 's considered reasonable care during a pandemic .
The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions , which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks , experts say .
While nursing homes ca n't be blamed for the pandemic , they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths , said Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton , Ont .
facility for seniors .
`` A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly .
So I think what will happen is ... we 're going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances , '' he said .
`` The interesting question will be , what is the standard of care during a pandemic ? ''
• Did Ontario really need to call in the military for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries , the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent , Smitiuch said .
The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors ' homes , particularly in Canada 's two largest provinces , causing a large proportion of the country 's more than 3,000 deaths .
Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis , with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus .
In Quebec , the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province 's hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee .
A Toronto law firm , meanwhile , has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes .
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread , avoidable illness and death during the pandemic .
Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera , a privately owned nursing home company .
None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court .
Scott Stanley , a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver , said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths .
`` If the theory is , well , workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus — that 's a theory , but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected , '' he said .
It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards , particularly when suing governments , since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created , Stanley said .
Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits , although there is a `` very live debate '' over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights , he said .
Such laws are generally `` very unpopular '' politically , he said .
Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful , plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal , he said .
`` People are not compensated for the loss of companionship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older person that 's deceased , '' he said .
`` You 're basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you .
And most older people are not in a position where they 're providing economic benefits ... so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing . ''
In truly egregious cases , a nursing home could face punitive damages , which are meant to deter certain conduct , said Smitiuch , the Toronto lawyer .
Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It would be something that would be valuable for the future , because no doubt we 'll be facing something like this sometime in the future , '' he said .
Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors ' homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 2 , 2020 .

As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada's nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what's considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can't be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. "A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is...we're going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances," he said. "The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?"
The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors' homes, particularly in Canada's two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country's more than 3,000 deaths. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities.
However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus. Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province's hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province's failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company.
None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths.


nationalobserver--2020-05-04--Jeff Bezos says ordering groceries online is better for the planet, is he right?

This story was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration The coronavirus pandemic has transformed how Americans get our food .
We ’ re no longer going to restaurants ; we ’ re limiting our trips to the grocery store .
Many of us are , for the first time , ordering groceries online .
That ’ s causing huge spikes in demand on e-commerce sites like Amazon , which has moved quickly to expand its grocery delivery services and transform Whole Foods Markets into fulfillment centers for online orders .
But if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the economy during a crisis makes you uncomfortable , Jeff Bezos would like to offer a reframe : Actually , buying your groceries online is better for the planet .
That , at least , is the striking claim made in Bezos ’ annual letter to Amazon shareholders , which the e-commerce behemoth ’ s CEO released last month .
In a section on Amazon ’ s climate impact , Bezos asserts that shopping online is “ inherently ” more efficient , from a carbon emissions perspective , than going to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Amazon that found that ordering Whole Foods groceries online reduces the carbon emissions associated with every item in a grocery basket by 43 percent compared with driving to Whole Foods .
So , should you give up your last real reason to enter public spaces and start one-click ordering those potatoes ?
• Did Ontario really need to call in the military for COVID-19 in long-term care ?
Not necessarily .
Even though Amazon has yet to publicly release the study in question ( we ’ ve asked ) , several experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ordering online often reduces the carbon footprint of grocery shopping .
But the word average is key .
This finding doesn ’ t scale down to the individual level neatly , and the way you get your food might be very climate-friendly already , no matter what the Amazon man says .
What ’ s more , when it comes to the climate impact of our food choices , what we eat is far more important than how we get it .
And there are other ethical considerations at play here beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Shelie Miller , a sustainability researcher at the University of Michigan who has studied the environmental impact of different forms of grocery shopping , when researchers compare shopping online to shopping at a brick-and-mortar outlet , what they ’ re mainly talking about is the so-called “ last-mile problem.
” For groceries , the last-mile problem refers to how food makes that final leg in its journey from farm to table , whether it ’ s coming from Trader Joe ’ s or an Amazon warehouse .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can occur , especially if you ’ re hopping in your SUV and driving 5 miles to pick up ingredients for dinner .
In that case , it might be more efficient for a delivery truck to drop off the ingredients for you , especially if that truck is already making dozens of other trips in your neighborhood .
“ If you are a person in a single household and you drive to the store and drive back , that is an entire car that is dedicated to a round trip to and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While a delivery truck is likely to have higher carbon emissions per mile compared with your personal car , “ the miles associated with that grocery cart are much smaller because you have lots of groceries on a single truck , ” Miller said .
Food that comes straight from a distribution hub also avoids all of the carbon emissions associated with the grocery store itself .
Michael Webber , a professor of energy resources at the University of Texas , Austin , notes that grocery stores tend to be “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s because their operators have to create a comfortable 72 degree F environment for shoppers to walk around in while simultaneously keeping perishable food items at a much chillier 38 degrees F. “ If you go to a warehouse , it ’ s much more efficient because there ’ s no customers to make comfortable , ” Webber said .
“ Your workers can wear insulated overalls .
So you refrigerate the whole thing and it ’ s more efficient.
” Grocery stores also add another step in the supply chain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional food waste , another huge climate problem .
Jeff Bezos says ordering groceries online is better for the planet .
Is he right ?
It ’ s for all of these reasons that , while Miller hasn ’ t seen the study Bezos references in his shareholder letter , she thinks that its conclusion that online grocery shopping delivers carbon savings over driving to the store “ make sense.
” So does Anne Goodchild , a supply chain and transportation logistics researcher at the University of Washington .
The 43 percent emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said , is “ certainly not outside the range of outcomes we ’ ve seen in our studies ” that looked at the transportation and logistics of grocery delivery .
Webber had a slightly more cautious take .
“ It depends , ” he said .
Indeed , while Amazon can tout the benefits of online grocery shopping all it wants , that doesn ’ t mean getting an Amazon Fresh box delivered to your doorstep is the most eco-friendly choice you can make .
If you ’ re already walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the grocery store , getting your eggs and milk dropped off via a truck will likely cause their last-mile emissions to rise .
Switching to online shopping might also change your shopping behavior in ways that make it worse for the environment .
Perhaps , instead of getting all of your groceries in one carefully planned shopping outing , you start placing lots of smaller orders online , resulting in more truck trips .
Or perhaps your online ordering isn ’ t replacing your personal grocery store trips at all , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge one , ” Webber said .
“ Is this a replacement or an alternative ?
While we ’ re quarantined it looks like a replacement , ” but that might not continue to be the case as lockdown restrictions start to ease .
“ Amazon has all kinds of data about their own operations , ” Goodchild said .
“ What they don ’ t know is how people behave .
So it ’ s all based on assumptions.
” It ’ s also important to bear in mind that how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our doorstep has a much smaller climate impact than the types of food we ’ re eating .
In a recent study comparing the environmental impact of meals prepared from Blue Apron meal kits with those same meals made from grocery store ingredients , Miller and her colleagues found that food production was responsible for more than 65 percent of a meal ’ s total carbon footprint .
Raising cattle , for instance , requires significant land and resources , which , along with the animals ’ methane burps , contribute to beef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ types of meat and dairy products also tend to have a high carbon footprint , because they take more energy and resources to produce compared with fruits and vegetables .
Compared with food production , Miller ’ s study found that last-mile emissions , meanwhile , averaged just 4 percent of the carbon footprint for meal kit meals , and 11 percent for grocery store meals .
“ Transportation and logistics associated with the last mile are a pretty small overall contribution to the total environmental impact of food , ” Miller said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon could have arrived at a 43 percent carbon savings for online delivery , she said , is if the company was only looking at transportation and logistics and not at food production ( as was the case in the other studies Goodchild cites ) .
There are also bigger picture considerations about how the rise in online shopping we ’ re witnessing due to coronavirus will impact our food system in the long term .
Emily Broad Leib , director of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ right direction to go ” from a public health standpoint right now , she worries this trend will make it even harder for smaller retailers and family farms to compete .
Broad Leib notes that in nearly every state where low-income families can purchase groceries online with food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) , Amazon and Walmart are the only approved retailers .
“ A lot more people are already or will be on SNAP in the coming months , ” Broad Leib said , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program in January , the most recent available data .
“ We ’ re putting a huge thumb on the scale for big retailers.
” Whether that allows retail giants to consolidate control over the grocery industry in the wake of the pandemic remains to be seen .
But all of our individual food choices in this moment will help determine that , and it ’ s worth seriously considering if we want to live in a world where Amazon dominates yet another sector of consumer spending , particularly given the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontline workers and its decision to fire dissenting voices who ’ ve spoken up about safety concerns and climate change .
It ’ s possible the pandemic will herald a major change in how we get food .
What that change looks like ought to depend on more than which company currently has the most efficient delivery system .

This story was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration The coronavirus pandemic has transformed how Americans get our food. We’re no longer going to restaurants; we’re limiting our trips to the grocery store. Many of us are, for the first time, ordering groceries online. That’s causing huge spikes in demand on e-commerce sites like Amazon, which has moved quickly to expand its grocery delivery services and transform Whole Foods Markets into fulfillment centers for online orders. But if Amazon consolidating control over yet another sector of the economy during a crisis makes you uncomfortable, Jeff Bezos would like to offer a reframe: Actually, buying your groceries online is better for the planet. That, at least, is the striking claim made in Bezos’ annual letter to Amazon shareholders, which the e-commerce behemoth’s CEO released last month. In a section on Amazon’s climate impact, Bezos asserts that shopping online is “inherently” more efficient, from a carbon emissions perspective, than going to the store. He references a study conducted by Amazon that found that ordering Whole Foods groceries online reduces the carbon emissions associated with every item in a grocery basket by 43 percent compared with driving to Whole Foods. So, should you give up your last real reason to enter public spaces and start one-click ordering those potatoes?
Not necessarily. Even though Amazon has yet to publicly release the study in question (we’ve asked), several experts Grist spoke with said that on average, ordering online often reduces the carbon footprint of grocery shopping. But the word average is key. This finding doesn’t scale down to the individual level neatly, and the way you get your food might be very climate-friendly already, no matter what the Amazon man says. What’s more, when it comes to the climate impact of our food choices, what we eat is far more important than how we get it. And there are other ethical considerations at play here beyond the carbon footprint of your meal. According to Shelie Miller, a sustainability researcher at the University of Michigan who has studied the environmental impact of different forms of grocery shopping, when researchers compare shopping online to shopping at a brick-and-mortar outlet, what they’re mainly talking about is the so-called “last-mile problem.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions For groceries, the last-mile problem refers to how food makes that final leg in its journey from farm to table, whether it’s coming from Trader Joe’s or an Amazon warehouse. It’s a step where a lot of carbon emissions can occur, especially if you’re hopping in your SUV and driving 5 miles to pick up ingredients for dinner. In that case, it might be more efficient for a delivery truck to drop off the ingredients for you, especially if that truck is already making dozens of other trips in your neighborhood.
“If you are a person in a single household and you drive to the store and drive back, that is an entire car that is dedicated to a round trip to and from the store,” Miller said. While a delivery truck is likely to have higher carbon emissions per mile compared with your personal car, “the miles associated with that grocery cart are much smaller because you have lots of groceries on a single truck,” Miller said. Jeff Bezos says ordering groceries online is better for the planet. Is he right? Food that comes straight from a distribution hub also avoids all of the carbon emissions associated with the grocery store itself. Michael Webber, a professor of energy resources at the University of Texas, Austin, notes that grocery stores tend to be “very energy intensive” compared with warehouses. That’s because their operators have to create a comfortable 72 degree F environment for shoppers to walk around in while simultaneously keeping perishable food items at a much chillier 38 degrees F. “If you go to a warehouse, it’s much more efficient because there’s no customers to make comfortable,” Webber said. “Your workers can wear insulated overalls. So you refrigerate the whole thing and it’s more efficient.” Grocery stores also add another step in the supply chain from farm to consumer that results in additional food waste, another huge climate problem. It’s for all of these reasons that, while Miller hasn’t seen the study Bezos references in his shareholder letter, she thinks that its conclusion that online grocery shopping delivers carbon savings over driving to the store “make sense.” So does Anne Goodchild, a supply chain and transportation logistics researcher at the University of Washington. The 43 percent emissions reductions figure quoted in the shareholder letter, she said, is “certainly not outside the range of outcomes we’ve seen in our studies” that looked at the transportation and logistics of grocery delivery. Webber had a slightly more cautious take. “It depends,” he said.
Indeed, while Amazon can tout the benefits of online grocery shopping all it wants, that doesn’t mean getting an Amazon Fresh box delivered to your doorstep is the most eco-friendly choice you can make. If you’re already walking, biking, or driving a Tesla to the grocery store, getting your eggs and milk dropped off via a truck will likely cause their last-mile emissions to rise. Switching to online shopping might also change your shopping behavior in ways that make it worse for the environment. Perhaps, instead of getting all of your groceries in one carefully planned shopping outing, you start placing lots of smaller orders online, resulting in more truck trips. Or perhaps your online ordering isn’t replacing your personal grocery store trips at all, but merely supplementing them. “This is a huge one,” Webber said. “Is this a replacement or an alternative? While we’re quarantined it looks like a replacement,” but that might not continue to be the case as lockdown restrictions start to ease. “Amazon has all kinds of data about their own operations,” Goodchild said. “What they don’t know is how people behave. So it’s all based on assumptions.”