nationalobserver--2020-08-24--Erin O'Toole built support in party's more right-wing camps

Among Erin O'Toole 's jobs in the military was navigating a Sea King helicopter over the skies of Canada , and now he takes on the challenge of journeying through political terrain as the new leader of the federal Conservative party .
O'Toole , 47 , grew up in a political home .
His father was a longtime member of the Ontario legislature , but after leaving the military where he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force , the younger O'Toole built a career outside of politics before jumping into the fray himself in a 2012 byelection .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built up his political profile , including as veterans affairs minister .
In the wake of the 2015 election that saw the Conservatives lose power , he decided to take a run at the top job when it became vacant after the resignation of Stephen Harper .
He finished third in the 2017 race , and it was his supporters who ultimately handed Andrew Scheer the victory that year .
Among the top finishers in that contest , O'Toole would go on to stand alone among those who remained close to Scheer going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to develop reactors in Sask .
and Ontario • As Ottawa agrees to land talks with Six Nations , Ford pledges to ‘ protect ’ police While Maxime Bernier , who placed second , quit and formed his own party , and fourth-place Brad Trost was forced to fight for a new nomination to run again as an MP , which he lost , O'Toole was rewarded with the plum post of foreign affairs critic .
He used it to keep building a brand , becoming a hawk on China policy and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aversion to what became known as `` cancel culture , '' a movement that broadly refers to historical or contemporary figures being shunned for their actions or opinions .
Taking that road helped O'Toole build the connections in the party 's more right-wing camps and he would spend this leadership campaign leaning on them .
For the campaign , he adopted an aggressive posture , riffing off U.S. President Donald Trump 's call to `` make America great again '' by adopting a pledge to `` take Canada back . ''
While at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away with the race in Alberta , an early stumble on energy policy that saw him promise to end fossil fuel subsidies , but then reverse his position , cost him some support .
But overall , his tone was a marked difference for a man who had been brought into cabinet in 2015 partially because he was known to be an affable and calm communicator who could smooth over strained relations with the veterans community .
Among Erin O'Toole 's jobs in the military was navigating a Sea King helicopter over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes on the challenge of journeying through political terrain as the new leader of the federal Conservative party .
He did n't entirely eschew presenting a gentler side , showcasing his wife and children often in campaign videos .
As COVID-19 forced so many operations to move digital , his daughter Mollie was trained up on how to work a video camera , while his son Jack helped him prepare for virtual meetings .
His children and his wife Rebecca , to whom he has been married for 20 years , joined him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his last messages in the campaign , O'Toole described the party to a family of sorts , comparing the leadership race to a long Thanksgiving dinner where disparate views were aired but the contenders would come together in the end .
He vowed to lead that cause in his speech Monday morning .
`` You put your faith in me to lead this historic party and I am honoured and humbled .
I promise you , I will not let you down . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published @ @ @ @ @

Among Erin O'Toole's jobs in the military was navigating a Sea King helicopter over the skies of Canada, and now he takes on the challenge of journeying through political terrain as the new leader of the federal Conservative party. O'Toole, 47, grew up in a political home. His father was a longtime member of the Ontario legislature, but after leaving the military where he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, the younger O'Toole built a career outside of politics before jumping into the fray himself in a 2012 byelection. For the next five years, he steadily built up his political profile, including as veterans affairs minister. In the wake of the 2015 election that saw the Conservatives lose power, he decided to take a run at the top job when it became vacant after the resignation of Stephen Harper. He finished third in the 2017 race, and it was his supporters who ultimately handed Andrew Scheer the victory that year. Among the top finishers in that contest, O'Toole would go on to stand alone among those who remained close to Scheer going forward.
While Maxime Bernier, who placed second, quit and formed his own party, and fourth-place Brad Trost was forced to fight for a new nomination to run again as an MP, which he lost, O'Toole was rewarded with the plum post of foreign affairs critic. He used it to keep building a brand, becoming a hawk on China policy and an early adopter of the right wing's aversion to what became known as "cancel culture," a movement that broadly refers to historical or contemporary figures being shunned for their actions or opinions. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Taking that road helped O'Toole build the connections in the party's more right-wing camps and he would spend this leadership campaign leaning on them.
For the campaign, he adopted an aggressive posture, riffing off U.S. President Donald Trump's call to "make America great again" by adopting a pledge to "take Canada back." Among Erin O'Toole's jobs in the military was navigating a Sea King helicopter over the skies of Canada, and now he takes on the challenge of journeying through political terrain as the new leader of the federal Conservative party. While at one point he was expected to run away with the race in Alberta, an early stumble on energy policy that saw him promise to end fossil fuel subsidies, but then reverse his position, cost him some support. But overall, his tone was a marked difference for a man who had been brought into cabinet in 2015 partially because he was known to be an affable and calm communicator who could smooth over strained relations with the veterans community. He didn't entirely eschew presenting a gentler side, showcasing his wife and children often in campaign videos. As COVID-19 forced so many operations to move digital, his daughter Mollie was trained up on how to work a video camera, while his son Jack helped him prepare for virtual meetings. His children and his wife Rebecca, to whom he has been married for 20 years, joined him for the results.
In one of his last messages in the campaign, O'Toole described the party to a family of sorts, comparing the leadership race to a long Thanksgiving dinner where disparate views were aired but the contenders would come together in the end. He vowed to lead that cause in his speech Monday morning. "You put your faith in me to lead this historic party and I am honoured and humbled. I promise you, I will not let you down."


nationalobserver--2020-08-24--Green Party leadership contenders seek to woo youth

Green Party contenders to the crown of Elizabeth May sought to woo the youth vote on Sunday as Canada 's federal Conservatives prepared to announce their new leader ahead of a possible snap election .
The choice was stark in a crowded field of nine Green Party of Canada candidates ; keep on the path of moderation that garnered three seats last time around ( the party 's best ever election result ) , or make a bold move to set itself apart from bigger parties that have embraced aspects of its founding environmentalism amid a climate emergency .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lascaris proposes the party shift to the left after a decade of centrist policies , saying he joined the party after concluding that the current economic system is a primary cause of climate inaction .
“ It ’ s an inhumane system , an extractive and unequal economic system that has concentrated unimaginable wealth in the hands of the few , ” he said , noting that as leader he would propose a 100 per cent tax on income over a certain , unspecified level .
Dmitri Lascaris says as leader of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the existing economic system that he says exacerabates cliamte inaction .
Photo via Lascaris 's campaign website Conversely , Andrew West argued the party had “ great policies ” and should present itself as a moderate option in order to make further electoral gains .
• Nuclear giants team up to develop reactors in Sask .
and Ontario • As Ottawa agrees to land talks with Six Nations , Ford pledges to ‘ protect ’ police “ I ’ ve been running on a moderate plan , one that prioritizes our great progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is fiscally responsible , ” West said , noting he wanted to leave future generations with an inhabitable planet while avoiding insurmountable debt .
Green Party of Canada leadership candidates Andrew West and Courtney Howard .
Photo via party 's website The candidates were responding to some of the more than 150 questions young people submitted to the party 's youth council , including about how each of them planned to rebuild the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The distance between the positions of Lascaris and West demonstrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it looks to replace May , who stepped down last November after 13 years at the helm .
Several other candidates called out the party for having ignored the voices of youth , who had taken to the streets in massive numbers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and should be natural allies of the environmentalist party .
Contenders to become the Green Party of Canada 's next leader sought to woo young party members as they also wrestled over the future direction of the party “ We have to recognize that for so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth , ” said Amita Kuttner , one of the younger candidates in the race .
“ It 's about being a party and a movement where youth are an integral part of everything , ” Kuttner said .
Amita Kuttner , one of the younger candidates for the leadership of Canada 's federal Green party .
Photo via Kuttner 's campaign website In an otherwise fairly collegial debate organised by the party 's youth council , Kuttner called out another candidate , David Merner , for having run a youth engagement program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm sorry David but I know that on your campaign people were hurt and people came away from it not wanting to be in politics anymore , ” said Kuttner , who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns .
Merner acknowledged the youth-run program had some problems and said the campaign has learned from the experience .
Candidate for the leadership of Canada 's federal Greens , David Merner .
Photo via Merner 's campaign website “ For me personally , being queer , being trans , being racialized , none of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , calling for the party to work harder to be inclusive .
“ I not only know the experience of being ignored and tokenised for being young , but the racism , misogyny , homophobia and transphobia that have all shown up in my face , ” they said .
“ This is why we fight.
” Annamie Paul said young people involved in her campaign complained of being ghettoised within the party and struggling to be heard .
“ Young people are leaders , and if you open the door even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rush in because they have a hunger and a stake in the future , ” she said , arguing that more diversity leads to more equitable policy .
Green Party of Canada leadership candidate Annamie Paul .
Photo via Paul 's campaign website “ If you have more women , more youth , more people of colour , more marginalised people at the table it 's much less likely that they get forgotten when you 're creating policy , ” she said .
Judy N Green suggested a mentorship program to better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the party .
She also called for free post-secondary tuition and student debt forgiveness , as well as support to help young people get involved in regenerative agriculture .
Judy N Green , Green Party of Canada leadership candidate .
Photo via Green 's campaign website Courtney Howard , a medical doctor , argued that companies get in the way of evidence-based policy and proposed a one-to-one ratio of nonprofits and corporations in federal lobbying .
Unsurprisingly , all the candidates agreed on the need for urgent action to confront the climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party 's push for a universal basic income as a way to tackle growing inequality .
Glen Murray , Ontario 's former environment minister , put more meats on the bones of that idea , saying he had a policy ready to go that would eliminate 80 per cent of Canadian poverty within three months .
Glen Murray , Green Party of Canada leadership candidate , at a march for climate action .
Photo via Murray 's campaign website Lascaris and Meryam Haddad meanwhile pushed beyond basic income , arguing that Ottawa should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would revive an old idea to build an east-to-west electricity grid , which he said would be the largest job creation project in Canadian history .
Meryam Hadded , in a stylised image from her campaign website .
People aged 14 years or older who wish to vote in the Green leadership contest have until Sept. 3 to become a member in good standing .
Online voting opens on Sept. 26 and closes Oct. 3 .
The Green Party debate comes as the Conservatives prepared to unveil the leader who will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resignation of Andrew Scheer in the wake of his 2019 defeat .
The next election could come sooner than the Greens ( and even the Conservatives ) might like , after the Liberal minority government prorogued Parliament earlier this month .
That means they will seek to reset their priorities and will need to win the confidence of the HOuse next month to avoid a snap election .
Kuttner implored young people to ignore anyone telling them to wait their turn or that they are not ready to get involved .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are burning our world , ” they said .
“ This is our movement , this is our party , and this is our moment .
”

Green Party contenders to the crown of Elizabeth May sought to woo the youth vote on Sunday as Canada's federal Conservatives prepared to announce their new leader ahead of a possible snap election. The choice was stark in a crowded field of nine Green Party of Canada candidates; keep on the path of moderation that garnered three seats last time around (the party's best ever election result), or make a bold move to set itself apart from bigger parties that have embraced aspects of its founding environmentalism amid a climate emergency. On one end of the spectrum, Dimitri Lascaris proposes the party shift to the left after a decade of centrist policies, saying he joined the party after concluding that the current economic system is a primary cause of climate inaction. “It’s an inhumane system, an extractive and unequal economic system that has concentrated unimaginable wealth in the hands of the few,” he said, noting that as leader he would propose a 100 per cent tax on income over a certain, unspecified level. Dmitri Lascaris says as leader of the Green Party of Canada he would challenge the existing economic system that he says exacerabates cliamte inaction. Photo via Lascaris's campaign website
Conversely, Andrew West argued the party had “great policies” and should present itself as a moderate option in order to make further electoral gains. “I’ve been running on a moderate plan, one that prioritizes our great progressive policies but frames them in a way that is fiscally responsible,” West said, noting he wanted to leave future generations with an inhabitable planet while avoiding insurmountable debt. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Green Party of Canada leadership candidates Andrew West and Courtney Howard. Photo via party's website
The candidates were responding to some of the more than 150 questions young people submitted to the party's youth council, including about how each of them planned to rebuild the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contenders to become the Green Party of Canada's next leader sought to woo young party members as they also wrestled over the future direction of the party The distance between the positions of Lascaris and West demonstrated a party at a turning point as it looks to replace May, who stepped down last November after 13 years at the helm. Sidelined youth Several other candidates called out the party for having ignored the voices of youth, who had taken to the streets in massive numbers prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and should be natural allies of the environmentalist party. “We have to recognize that for so long this party has been terrible to youth,” said Amita Kuttner, one of the younger candidates in the race. “It's about being a party and a movement where youth are an integral part of everything,” Kuttner said.
Amita Kuttner, one of the younger candidates for the leadership of Canada's federal Green party. Photo via Kuttner's campaign website In an otherwise fairly collegial debate organised by the party's youth council, Kuttner called out another candidate, David Merner, for having run a youth engagement program that estranged some participants. “I'm sorry David but I know that on your campaign people were hurt and people came away from it not wanting to be in politics anymore,” said Kuttner, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.


nationalobserver--2020-08-24--Erin O'Toole new Conservative leader

Erin O'Toole new Conservative leader

Conservative members sought stability Monday in choosing Erin O'Toole as leader after a campaign where he focused on keeping the party close to its `` true blue '' fundamentals .
O'Toole secured his victory in the leadership race after three rounds of counting .
The results had been expected Sunday night but were delayed into the early hours of Monday morning after problems opening the envelopes containing several thousand of the estimated 175,000 ballots sent in by mail .
`` To the millions of Canadians that are still up , that I 'm meeting tonight for the first time : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you 're going to be seeing and hearing a lot from me in the coming weeks and months , '' O'Toole said in his victory speech .
`` But I want you to know from the start that I am here to fight for you and your family . ''
• Nuclear giants team up to develop reactors in Sask .
and Ontario • As Ottawa agrees to land talks with Six Nations , Ford pledges to ‘ protect ’ police His victory over rival Peter MacKay could spell the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also likely to immediately raise questions about the future for progressive Conservatives in the party , who hoped that with MacKay , the party could finally move past the debates around social conservative issues .
In a message on social media , MacKay offered his congratulations to O'Toole after the hard-fought campaign .
`` It 's now time for our ( Conservative ) party and movement to come together , and to focus on what 's most important : ensuring our country gets moving in the right direction again , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would have found himself grappling with the surprise success of Leslyn Lewis , the Toronto lawyer who placed third in the contest , despite never holding office and entering the race as a near-total unknown to most , but not all .
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney , who had endorsed O'Toole , called Lewis a friend , and said her showing in the campaign remarkable .
`` Leslyn has broken through many barriers to become a significant voice in Canadian political life .
I hope and expect to see great things from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Twitter early Monday .
Conservative members sought stability on Monday , August 24 , 2020 , in choosing Erin O'Toole as leader after a campaign where he focused on keeping the party close to its `` true blue '' fundamentals .
Derek Sloan , who was also running with the support of social conservatives , placed fourth with 4,864 of the available points after the first round of counting .
O'Toole 's victory reflects a pitch he 'd made to both their supporters in the waning weeks of the race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make him their number 2 or number 3 choice .
His sell : with a seat in Parliament , and the political experience necessary for the job , he was the best choice to lead the party forward , but he would ensure their views would remain respected as well .
Bringing together the party 's various factions will be one of O'Toole 's challenges , and the results also showed some fault lines regionally .
In the first round , Lewis beat out both O'Toole and MacKay in Saskatchewan and placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflection of her ability to connect strongly with the grassroots there .
With none of the four candidates hailing from the West , all eyes had been on how the party 's western base would voice its concerns over the candidates and the campaigns in the vote .
O'Toole spoke to them , to voters in Quebec , and to all prospective Conservative voters in his speech Monday morning , saying that no matter a person 's race or religion , sexual orientation , how long they 've been in Canada , income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You are an important part of Canada and you have a home in the Conservative Party of Canada , '' he said .
O'Toole takes over the party — and the job of Official Opposition leader — exactly a month before the minority Liberal government will deliver a throne speech laying out a post-pandemic recovery plan .
The vote on the speech is a confidence motion and the Liberals have all but dared the Tories to try to bring them down .
The Liberals congratulated O'Toole but also warned him .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Canada that is healthier and safer , greener , more fair , and more competitive , and while we will have our differences , we hope the Conservative leader will join us in that work , '' party president Suzanne Cowan said in a statement .
`` We also hope Mr. O'Toole will reconsider continuing to push the same policies of Stephen Harper and Andrew Scheer that he also proposed in this leadership campaign .
They would take Canada backward by making harmful cuts to services that Canadians count on , weakening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back our work to fight climate change , and much more . ''
Much of the leadership race itself was shaped by the pandemic .
The vote was supposed to take place in June , but was pushed back and for a time , the campaign itself was paused .
A leadership convention , the kind filled with thousands of supporters , was jettisoned in favour of a hybrid in-person and virtual results reveal after an entirely mail-in ballot vote .
Those had to be returned by Friday .
While counting was underway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slicing envelopes malfunctioned , requiring several thousand ballots to be extracted and replicated by hand under the close eye of scrutineers .
It led to an excruciating wait for the candidates , their campaigns , and the party staff and volunteers .
MacKay passed the time doing push-ups in his hotel suite , O'Toole doing live Zoom chats with supporters .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24 , 2020 .

Conservative members sought stability Monday in choosing Erin O'Toole as leader after a campaign where he focused on keeping the party close to its "true blue" fundamentals. O'Toole secured his victory in the leadership race after three rounds of counting. The results had been expected Sunday night but were delayed into the early hours of Monday morning after problems opening the envelopes containing several thousand of the estimated 175,000 ballots sent in by mail. "To the millions of Canadians that are still up, that I'm meeting tonight for the first time: Good morning. I'm Erin O'Toole, you're going to be seeing and hearing a lot from me in the coming weeks and months," O'Toole said in his victory speech. "But I want you to know from the start that I am here to fight for you and your family."
His victory over rival Peter MacKay could spell the end of MacKay's political career. It is also likely to immediately raise questions about the future for progressive Conservatives in the party, who hoped that with MacKay, the party could finally move past the debates around social conservative issues. In a message on social media, MacKay offered his congratulations to O'Toole after the hard-fought campaign. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "It's now time for our (Conservative) party and movement to come together, and to focus on what's most important: ensuring our country gets moving in the right direction again," he said.
Even if MacKay had won, he would have found himself grappling with the surprise success of Leslyn Lewis, the Toronto lawyer who placed third in the contest, despite never holding office and entering the race as a near-total unknown to most, but not all. Conservative members sought stability on Monday, August 24, 2020, in choosing Erin O'Toole as leader after a campaign where he focused on keeping the party close to its "true blue" fundamentals. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who had endorsed O'Toole, called Lewis a friend, and said her showing in the campaign remarkable. "Leslyn has broken through many barriers to become a significant voice in Canadian political life. I hope and expect to see great things from her in the future!" he wrote on Twitter early Monday. Derek Sloan, who was also running with the support of social conservatives, placed fourth with 4,864 of the available points after the first round of counting. O'Toole's victory reflects a pitch he'd made to both their supporters in the waning weeks of the race, asking them to use the ranked ballot to make him their number 2 or number 3 choice.
His sell: with a seat in Parliament, and the political experience necessary for the job, he was the best choice to lead the party forward, but he would ensure their views would remain respected as well. Bringing together the party's various factions will be one of O'Toole's challenges, and the results also showed some fault lines regionally. In the first round, Lewis beat out both O'Toole and MacKay in Saskatchewan and placed second to O'Toole in Alberta, a reflection of her ability to connect strongly with the grassroots there.


nationalobserver--2020-08-24--What you need to know about the legal showdown brewing between Ford and teachers

Here are some details on the various laws , regulations and bodies that could come into play in an ongoing @ @ @ @ @ Doug Ford 's government has done enough to protect teachers and students returning to the @ @ @ @ @ since March .
Ontario Labour Relations Board —This board is the quasi-judicial body tasked under @ @ @ @ @ adjudicating labour disputes in the province that do not require the attention of a court @ @ @ @ @ on disputes related to the Employment Standards Act , the Occupational Health and Safety Act @ @ @ @ @ Bargaining Act and other labour laws .
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act — This @ @ @ @ @ to a safe workplace and to refuse unsafe work .
Of particular relevance here , @ @ @ @ @ “ take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker .
@

Here are some details on the various laws, regulations and bodies that could come into play in an ongoing dispute over whether Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government has done enough to protect teachers and students returning to the classroom for the first time since March.
Ontario Labour Relations Board —This board is the quasi-judicial body tasked under the Labour Relations Act with adjudicating labour disputes in the province that do not require the attention of a court and judge. It rules on disputes related to the Employment Standards Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act and other labour laws.
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act — This act gives workers the right to a safe workplace and to refuse unsafe work. Of particular relevance here, it obliges an employer to “take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker.”
The unions argue that Ontario’s government is in breach of the law by failing to adequately limit class sizes, ensure a minimum standard of ventilation in schools, or enforce the use of masks for all students.
Ontario Human Rights Code — The code protects people from discrimination on the basis of a range of characteristics, including family status and disability. This could prove relevant if a school or board does not provide adequate accommodation to a teacher or other education worker who must stay home to care for a child or other dependant, or who is otherwise vulnerable due to an underlying health condition.


nationalobserver--2020-08-24--As back-to-school looms, what legal options do Ontario’s teachers have?

Teachers across Ontario are bracing for a return to school amid complaints that Premier Doug Ford 's government has provided inadequate funding and direction to ensure the health and safety of both staff and students .
Teachers ' unions took those collective concerns to a meeting with the province ’ s labour minister on Monday , arguing the Education Ministry was endangering education workers , and seeking a commitment the government do more to mitigate risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic .
If they are unsatisfied with Labour Minister Monte McNaughton ’ s response , the head of the Ontario @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) says his union stands ready to file a complaint with the province ’ s labour board .
“ It would be directed at the ministry in order to promote an overall solution , ” Harvey Bischof said in a phone interview ahead of the meeting , noting such a complaint would argue the ministry is failing to meet its obligations under the occupational health and safety act .
“ Directives are being issued to school boards , they 're dictating specific terms of how work is being conducted and therefore have put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
• Nuclear giants team up to develop reactors in Sask .
and Ontario OSSTF and other teachers ’ unions — the Elementary Teachers ’ Federation of Ontario ( ETFO ) , the Ontario English Catholic Teachers ’ Association ( OECTA ) , and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens ( AEFO ) — detailed their demands in an Aug. 13 letter to McNaughton and Stephen Lecce , the education minister .
Simone Ostrowski , an employment lawyer at Whitten & Lublin in Toronto , says that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not the only mechanism by which teachers and their unions could challenge the existing back-to-school plan and its local implementation .
“ For anything that is handed down by the ministry , that is provincewide or of more general application , that would probably be the smarter route , ” she said in an interview .
Simone Ostrowski , an employment lawyer , says several legal avenues exist for teachers and unions unhappy with Ontario 's back-to-school plans .
Photo supplied Liz Stuart , the president of OECTA , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all options for how to object to the government ’ s reopening plans , which clearly do not do everything possible to keep our schools or communities safe , ” but did not provide details on those options .
OSSTF ’ s Bischof also declined to speculate on other options his union might consider .
Other available options include the unions filing grievances on behalf of workers through the arbitration process established by their collective bargaining agreements , and individual teachers taking complaints to the province ’ s human rights tribunal , Ostrowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also decide to file for a judicial injunction , but that it would be an extreme and expensive option that , if unsuccessful , could see the applicants shouldering the government ’ s legal bill .
The ability for teachers to legally strike was taken off the table when they ratified their collective bargaining agreements in the early days of the pandemic response .
The human rights complaint option would likely only be viable , Ostrowski said , if individual teachers are unable to attend in-person classes and their school or board fails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including underlying health conditions .
“ It ’ s a harder bar to meet , ” Ostrowski said .
“ But that is very , very relevant now , especially with schools being closed or daycare being limited.
” “ If a teacher is n't available during the day because they have to watch their kids who can ’ t go to daycare , then I think the hope is that they 'll find time elsewhere in their schedule , ” she said .
“ That would be a way that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Listen I need accommodation for my condition in the form of not being required to go back to work in this manner , ’ ” she said .
Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said teachers are within their rights to decline to go back to the classroom for valid reasons but would need to otherwise provide value remotely .
It is largely unknown at this point how many teachers and how many students will decide to stay home in each of the more than 80 school boards across the province , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any discrepancy .

Teachers across Ontario are bracing for a return to school amid complaints that Premier Doug Ford's government has provided inadequate funding and direction to ensure the health and safety of both staff and students. Teachers' unions took those collective concerns to a meeting with the province’s labour minister on Monday, arguing the Education Ministry was endangering education workers, and seeking a commitment the government do more to mitigate risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If they are unsatisfied with Labour Minister Monte McNaughton’s response, the head of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) says his union stands ready to file a complaint with the province’s labour board. “It would be directed at the ministry in order to promote an overall solution,” Harvey Bischof said in a phone interview ahead of the meeting, noting such a complaint would argue the ministry is failing to meet its obligations under the occupational health and safety act. “Directives are being issued to school boards, they're dictating specific terms of how work is being conducted and therefore have put themselves in the place of employers,” he said.
OSSTF and other teachers’ unions — the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA), and the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) — detailed their demands in an Aug. 13 letter to McNaughton and Stephen Lecce, the education minister. Simone Ostrowski, an employment lawyer at Whitten & Lublin in Toronto, says that is a promising route to seek redress, but not the only mechanism by which teachers and their unions could challenge the existing back-to-school plan and its local implementation. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “For anything that is handed down by the ministry, that is provincewide or of more general application, that would probably be the smarter route,” she said in an interview.
Simone Ostrowski, an employment lawyer, says several legal avenues exist for teachers and unions unhappy with Ontario's back-to-school plans. Photo supplied Liz Stuart, the president of OECTA, said in a statement that her union is “exploring all options for how to object to the government’s reopening plans, which clearly do not do everything possible to keep our schools or communities safe,” but did not provide details on those options. Education Minister Stephen Lecce has said teachers are within their rights to decline to go back to the classroom for valid reasons but would need to otherwise provide value remotely. OSSTF’s Bischof also declined to speculate on other options his union might consider. Other available options include the unions filing grievances on behalf of workers through the arbitration process established by their collective bargaining agreements, and individual teachers taking complaints to the province’s human rights tribunal, Ostrowski said. She said the unions could also decide to file for a judicial injunction, but that it would be an extreme and expensive option that, if unsuccessful, could see the applicants shouldering the government’s legal bill.
The ability for teachers to legally strike was taken off the table when they ratified their collective bargaining agreements in the early days of the pandemic response. The human rights complaint option would likely only be viable, Ostrowski said, if individual teachers are unable to attend in-person classes and their school or board fails to accommodate their family status or disability, including underlying health conditions. “It’s a harder bar to meet,” Ostrowski said. “But that is very, very relevant now, especially with schools being closed or daycare being limited.”


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--Not in our backyard: La Ronge shelter pending council vote

A council vote on Wednesday is set to determine the fate of a proposed homeless shelter in La Ronge , Sask.
, but outcry from local business owners on the town ’ s main drag has the mayor worried it won ’ t pass .
La Ronge Mayor Ron Woytowich told Canada ’ s National Observer on Monday that if a motion to rezone a building at the shelter 's new site isn ’ t approved , residents going through periods of homelessness could be without a place to stay as temperatures start to drop — and that could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before we ran the shelter , people froze to death .
During the middle of the winter , once we started opening , nobody froze… There is a real need for this , ” Woytowich said .
A man and his dog panhandle for cash .
File photo by Canadian Press .
Woytowich said the current shelter location is nowhere near up to code , is subject to frequent flooding and has become unusable .
• As back-to-school looms , what legal options do Ontario ’ s teachers have ?
He said repairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelter can not operate this winter at its current site .
“ There were 121 clients last year that used the shelter .
Some only used it once or twice , but we had 10 or 11 that used it over 40 times , ” Woytowich said .
Several businesses have voiced strong opposition to the idea of a new homeless shelter in their backyards because of the impact that they feel it could have on the image of their community .
One of those is Robertson ’ s Trading Post .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ronge has an image problem can only be considered a gross understatement .
A homeless shelter on La Ronge Avenue is exactly the wrong location for such a service… I strongly recommend that ( the ) mayor and council reject this application , ” Scott Robertson wrote in a letter to council .
Flooding at the shelter in La Longe in March and a homeless person 's items left outside the building .
Photographs by Michael Bramadat-Willcock Councillor Dallas Everest , who owns the local KFC , wrote in a joint letter with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property value .
“ That ( the ) Town of La Ronge has an image problem can only be considered a gross understatement .
A homeless shelter on La Ronge Avenue is exactly the wrong location for such a service , '' Scott Robertson .
“ I strongly feel that placing a shelter in a highly valued commercial and business district will potentially decrease property values , reduce sales for current businesses , and deter future development of retail space , ” Everest wrote .
`` Adding more social service organizations and offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current businesses and potential business developments . ''
Waterbase Inn owner David Yang , La Ronge RONA owner Garry Grant and Electric Waves owner Brent Pajunen also wrote in to voice their opposition to a new shelter in the downtown core .
`` We should be reshaping main street into what we envision for the future of our town .
Not permitting commercial property in the retail sector for temporary shelters , '' Pajunen wrote .
`` I 'm not saying that we should not be inclusive to people from all walks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place . ''
Out in the cold In 2016 , the body of a homeless woman named Tracey Nicole Bird , of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation , was found dead in a wooded area of La Ronge after temperatures dipped to –30 C. Bird 's death was one of many that galvanized debate over the quality of service for homeless people in the La Ronge community — a debate that remains ongoing .
A road into La Ronge , Sask .
March 17 , 2020 .
Winters in northern Saskatchewan can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Bramadat-Willcock “ We were averaging two homeless deaths a year until the shelter opened , ” Woytowich said .
“ That ’ s why it 's so important to keep this up and running.
” A handwritten coroner ’ s jury recommendation at the time had urged the Town of La Ronge and Mamawetan Churchill River health region to develop “ an overnight shelter for homeless and alcoholic individuals , who can be supervised under basic medical personnel .
To include an outreach program to educate on consequences and places of assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Site outreach program is a co-existent operation at the shelter that provides support programming to address mental health and addiction issues among the homeless .
Jackie Ballantyne , outreach program director at Scattered Site making sandwiches at the emergency shelter in March .
Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock “ We have the highest-risk population .
We are like Downtown Eastside Vancouver , we are like Main Street in Winnipeg , we are like in Toronto where the drag is , and we serve the entire northern population , ” Jackie Ballantyne , outreach program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s National Observer in March .
“ We are trying so damn hard to keep people safe and folks don ’ t understand that we need a space for folks .
A safe place and a decent place .
A place that does n't flood every spring and does n't fill with black mould , ” she said .
Councillor Jordan McPhail said he does n't think a new shelter downtown , nearby to where the current one is located , would change much in terms of how the downtown core looks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the services that are downtown .
Their current location is already in close proximity to a lot of the health services that typically go hand in hand with poverty and homelessness and addictions issues .
I am 100 per cent OK with having the shelter downtown and close to the services that these folks will need , ” McPhail said .
Jordan McPhail said it will be especially important to provide for the homeless this winter because of the pandemic .
Photo by Micheal Bramadat-Willcock .
McPhail said he expects a spike in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on non-urgent evictions put in place to help renters cope with the pandemic .
“ Going into COVID-19 , La Ronge had an issue .
We did see quite a few people living in poverty and the food bank numbers were high , ” McPhail said .
He said this winter is likely to be especially difficult .
Estimates from the Saskatchewan Landlord Association show tenants in the province were $ 30 million in arrears prior to the eviction ban lifting August 4 .
“ There are going to be evictions , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed their rent and they ’ ve had to make impossible decisions over the course of this pandemic .
Having a permanent place with a higher capacity is something that is important in these times , ” McPhail said .
“ We need to be going above and beyond as a municipality to support those that are in the most need right now.
” Medical clinic in La Ronge , Sask .
March 17 , 2020 .
The downtown location was selected for the homeless to be close to medical services .
Photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General spokesperson Marieka Andrew told Canada ’ s National Observer that the government is urging tenants and landlords to work together on the issue of overdue rent as evictions pick up again .
“ ORT ( Office of Residential Tenancies ) hearing officers will take into account all evidence submitted by either party in response to a claim , ” Andrew said .
Council approved the motion to consider rezoning the new shelter site at a previous meeting .
Public consultation is part of the next legal step ; if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process goes back to the drawing board and any new location would have to be approved again .
This week 's town council meeting happens at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and is open to the public .

A council vote on Wednesday is set to determine the fate of a proposed homeless shelter in La Ronge, Sask., but outcry from local business owners on the town’s main drag has the mayor worried it won’t pass. La Ronge Mayor Ron Woytowich told Canada’s National Observer on Monday that if a motion to approve a building at the shelter's new site isn’t passed, residents going through periods of homelessness could be without a place to stay as temperatures start to drop — and that could have deadly results. “Every other year before we ran the shelter, people froze to death. During the middle of the winter, once we started opening, nobody froze… There is a real need for this,” Woytowich said. A man and his dog panhandle for cash. File photo by Canadian Press. Woytowich said the current shelter location is nowhere near up to code, is subject to frequent flooding and has become unusable.
He said repairs would be too expensive and that the shelter cannot operate this winter at its current site. “There were 121 clients last year that used the shelter. Some only used it once or twice, but we had 10 or 11 that used it over 40 times,” Woytowich said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Several businesses have voiced strong opposition to the idea of a new homeless shelter in their backyards because of the impact that they feel it could have on the image of their community. One of those is Robertson’s Trading Post.
“That (the) Town of La Ronge has an image problem can only be considered a gross understatement. A homeless shelter on La Ronge Avenue is exactly the wrong location for such a service… I strongly recommend that (the) mayor and council reject this application,” Scott Robertson wrote in a letter to council. “That (the) Town of La Ronge has an image problem can only be considered a gross understatement. A homeless shelter on La Ronge Avenue is exactly the wrong location for such a service," Scott Robertson. Flooding at the shelter in La Longe in March and a homeless person's items left outside the building. Photographs by Michael Bramadat-Willcock Councillor Dallas Everest, who owned the local KFC until recently, wrote in a joint letter with his wife, Chamber of Commerce President Crystal Everest, that a shelter would decrease property value. “I strongly feel that placing a shelter in a highly valued commercial and business district will potentially decrease property values, reduce sales for current businesses, and deter future development of retail space,” Everest wrote. "Adding more social service organizations and offices on La Ronge Avenue will push out current businesses and potential business developments."
Waterbase Inn owner David Yang, La Ronge RONA owner Garry Grant and Electric Waves owner Brent Pajunen also wrote in to voice their opposition to a new shelter in the downtown core. "We should be reshaping main street into what we envision for the future of our town. Not permitting commercial property in the retail sector for temporary shelters," Pajunen wrote. "I'm not saying that we should not be inclusive to people from all walks of life. I'm saying there's a place."


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--Canada pans Iranian report on downing of PS752 as limited, selective

The Canadian government has dismissed a new Iranian report on the deadly shootdown of a civilian jetliner in January , saying it provides only `` limited and selected information '' — and that Tehran still has many questions to answer .
The new report on Ukraine International Airline Flight PS752 released over the weekend provides several new details about what happened on Jan. 8 , when two Iranian military missiles slammed into the plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran .
In particular , it says 19 seconds of data collected the plane 's flight-data recorders , also known as black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` immediately began taking actions required to control the aircraft '' after the first missile hit and before the second struck 25 seconds later .
Yet the report does not provide any information about the moments leading up to the missile attack , which Iran has said was an accident .
The crash killed all 176 people on board , including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents .
It also does n't explain why the missile was launched in the first place or why Iran 's airspace was open , given it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. forces in neighbouring Iraq only hours earlier .
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The ballistic missile attack was in response to an American drone strike that killed prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad the previous week .
Those are the key questions that Canada and the international community want answered above all else , federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement Monday .
`` We expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the missiles were launched in the first place and why the air space was open , '' the statement said .
`` These are the questions that Canada , Canadians and most importantly , the families of the innocent victims need answered . ''
The two ministers also noted the brief report only mentions what happened after the first missile struck the aircraft , but made no reference to the second missile .
The Transportation Safety Board , which had investigators in France for the downloading of the flight data last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receipt of the report while raising the same questions as the ministers .
The Canadian government has dismissed a new Iranian report on the deadly shootdown of a civilian jetliner in January , saying it provides only `` limited and selected information '' — and that Tehran still has many questions to answer .
A representative for Canadian families and loved ones killed in the crash expressed frustration on Monday that Ottawa has not taken a harder stance with Iran , which he accused of stonewalling efforts to find out the truth about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toronto-area dentist who lost his wife and daughter in the crash , said the federal government is `` cautiously and delicately maintaining the correct position , '' but that it should find ways to step up pressure on Tehran .
That includes calling out what Esmaeilion argued were clear breaches of Iran 's international obligations around investigating the crash and getting the RCMP more involved in efforts to hold those responsible to account .
International rules say Iran is to lead the investigation into the crash , and decides what gets released and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garneau and Champagne called on that country `` to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation , '' adding they expect Iran to live up to its international commitments .
Iran initially denied responsibility for the crash before admitting — in the face of mounting evidence and international pressure — the Boeing 737-800 went down after being hit by two Iranian missiles .
Canada , along with the other countries that lost citizens on Flight PS752 — Britain , Sweden , Afghanistan and Ukraine — signed an agreement July 2 promising to work together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victims ' families .
Iran 's civil aviation authority wrote in its report on the black boxes that so far `` there exists no voice or sign revealing the passenger cabin 's conditions . ''
What happened in the cabin , and in particular how long those who were inside it knew of their doomed fates , could play into any financial settlements , said Elaine Parker , a long-time executive with the Canadian Society of Air Safety Investigators .
`` The longer it is , the bigger the court settlements tend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That 's why there is the issue of them saying , 'We do n't know what was going on in the cabin . '
'' An Iranian report last month blamed a number of errors for what it suggested was an avoidable tragedy , starting with the surface-to-air missile battery that targeted the aircraft having been relocated and not properly reoriented .
Those manning the missile battery also could not communicate with their command centre , the report said .
They also misidentified the civilian flight as a threat and opened fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The report did not say why the Iranian military moved the air-defence system , but noted the Ukrainian flight had done nothing out of the ordinary up until the missile launch , with its transponder and other data being broadcast .
Parker , who has investigated air crashes for four decades , said the Iranian report seemed designed to push the point that the country has been as open as it possibly could .
She also questioned how much more information would be made public .
This report by The Canadian Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Canadian government has dismissed a new Iranian report on the deadly shootdown of a civilian jetliner in January, saying it provides only "limited and selected information" — and that Tehran still has many questions to answer. The new report on Ukraine International Airline Flight PS752 released over the weekend provides several new details about what happened on Jan. 8, when two Iranian military missiles slammed into the plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran. In particular, it says 19 seconds of data collected the plane's flight-data recorders, also known as black boxes, showed the three-member flight crew "immediately began taking actions required to control the aircraft" after the first missile hit and before the second struck 25 seconds later. Yet the report does not provide any information about the moments leading up to the missile attack, which Iran has said was an accident. The crash killed all 176 people on board, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. It also doesn't explain why the missile was launched in the first place or why Iran's airspace was open, given it had launched a ballistic missile attack against U.S. forces in neighbouring Iraq only hours earlier.
The ballistic missile attack was in response to an American drone strike that killed prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad the previous week. Those are the key questions that Canada and the international community want answered above all else, federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a statement Monday. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "We expect the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide an answer on important questions of why the missiles were launched in the first place and why the air space was open," the statement said.
"These are the questions that Canada, Canadians and most importantly, the families of the innocent victims need answered." The Canadian government has dismissed a new Iranian report on the deadly shootdown of a civilian jetliner in January, saying it provides only "limited and selected information" — and that Tehran still has many questions to answer. The two ministers also noted the brief report only mentions what happened after the first missile struck the aircraft, but made no reference to the second missile. The Transportation Safety Board, which had investigators in France for the downloading of the flight data last month, released a similar statement on Sunday confirming receipt of the report while raising the same questions as the ministers. A representative for Canadian families and loved ones killed in the crash expressed frustration on Monday that Ottawa has not taken a harder stance with Iran, which he accused of stonewalling efforts to find out the truth about Flight PS752. Hamed Esmaeilion, a Toronto-area dentist who lost his wife and daughter in the crash, said the federal government is "cautiously and delicately maintaining the correct position," but that it should find ways to step up pressure on Tehran.
That includes calling out what Esmaeilion argued were clear breaches of Iran's international obligations around investigating the crash and getting the RCMP more involved in efforts to hold those responsible to account. International rules say Iran is to lead the investigation into the crash, and decides what gets released and when. But in their statement, Garneau and Champagne called on that country "to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation," adding they expect Iran to live up to its international commitments. Iran initially denied responsibility for the crash before admitting — in the face of mounting evidence and international pressure — the Boeing 737-800 went down after being hit by two Iranian missiles.


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--Canadian producers cheer WTO decision on softwood lumber

Canadian lumber producers cheered the latest decision Monday from the World Trade Organization on Canada 's long-standing dispute with its largest trading partner over exports of softwood lumber — a finding the United States quickly denounced as unfair , biased and flawed .
The WTO dispute-resolution panel declared that the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission were wrong in 2017 when they imposed countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports , having concluded that Canada 's regulated forestry industry amounts to an unfair subsidy for Canadian producers .
In particular , the panel agreed with Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of errors in determining the benchmark Canadian timber prices it used to determine whether producers north of the border were paying adequate stumpage fees to the provinces .
`` For more than three years , our industry has paid billions of dollars in countervailing duties that ( Monday 's ) decision confirmed should never have been paid in the first place , '' B.C .
Lumber Trade Council president Susan Yurkovich said in a statement .
`` This report is a scathing indictment of the U.S. Department of Commerce 's subsidy findings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them . ''
• As back-to-school looms , what legal options do Ontario ’ s teachers have ?
U.S. trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer , long a vocal critic of the WTO 's dispute resolution system , had a different perspective .
`` This flawed report confirms what the United States has been saying for years : the WTO dispute settlement system is being used to shield non-market practices and harm U.S. interests , '' Lighthizer said in a statement of his own .
`` The panel 's findings would prevent the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada 's pervasive subsidies for its softwood lumber industry . ''
The 2017 flashpoint over countervailing duties was just the latest flare-up in a cross-border trade dispute that has raged between the two countries for nearly 40 years .
U.S. producers have long argued that Canada 's system of provincially regulating stumpage fees , which are paid to the Crown in exchange for the right to harvest timber , unfairly subsidizes an industry that is privately owned and operated in the U.S. , with pricing set by the competitive marketplace .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canadian lumber should be subject to countervailing duties .
`` Canada remains unequivocal : U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber are completely unwarranted and unfair , '' International Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement .
`` U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber must not persist .
They have caused unjustified harm to Canadian industry and U.S. consumers alike .
U.S. home builders rely on Canadian lumber , and the current record-high lumber prices are hurting the economic recovery in both countries . ''
Easier said than done , B.C .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` While this decision is a victory for B.C .
's lumber producers , immediate relief is unlikely , '' he said .
`` Our work continues until we bring an end to the unfair U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports . ''
The WTO report , which comes less than two months after the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement formally replaced the NAFTA trade deal , also follows the U.S. decision to restore 10 per cent national-security tariffs on exports of Canadian aluminum .
The U.S. has accused Canada of violating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aluminum tariffs lifted in 2018 .
Similarly to the aluminum sector , Canadian exports fill a critical role in the U.S. , where demand for lumber significantly outstrips domestically available supply .
`` For three decades , we have been saying that the U.S. trade remedy process is flawed .
Unfortunately , this is just the latest chapter in the ongoing attack on the Canadian lumber industry , '' Yurkovich said .

Canadian lumber producers cheered the latest decision Monday from the World Trade Organization on Canada's long-standing dispute with its largest trading partner over exports of softwood lumber — a finding the United States quickly denounced as unfair, biased and flawed. The WTO dispute-resolution panel declared that the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission were wrong in 2017 when they imposed countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports, having concluded that Canada's regulated forestry industry amounts to an unfair subsidy for Canadian producers. In particular, the panel agreed with Canada's argument that Commerce made a number of errors in determining the benchmark Canadian timber prices it used to determine whether producers north of the border were paying adequate stumpage fees to the provinces. "For more than three years, our industry has paid billions of dollars in countervailing duties that (Monday's) decision confirmed should never have been paid in the first place," B.C. Lumber Trade Council president Susan Yurkovich said in a statement. "This report is a scathing indictment of the U.S. Department of Commerce's subsidy findings and the biased process it followed in reaching them."
U.S. trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer, long a vocal critic of the WTO's dispute resolution system, had a different perspective. "This flawed report confirms what the United States has been saying for years: the WTO dispute settlement system is being used to shield non-market practices and harm U.S. interests," Lighthizer said in a statement of his own. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "The panel's findings would prevent the United States from taking legitimate action in response to Canada's pervasive subsidies for its softwood lumber industry."
The 2017 flashpoint over countervailing duties was just the latest flare-up in a cross-border trade dispute that has raged between the two countries for nearly 40 years. U.S. producers have long argued that Canada's system of provincially regulating stumpage fees, which are paid to the Crown in exchange for the right to harvest timber, unfairly subsidizes an industry that is privately owned and operated in the U.S., with pricing set by the competitive marketplace. As a result, the U.S. argues, imports of Canadian lumber should be subject to countervailing duties. "Canada remains unequivocal: U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber are completely unwarranted and unfair," International Trade Minister Mary Ng said in a statement. "U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber must not persist. They have caused unjustified harm to Canadian industry and U.S. consumers alike. U.S. home builders rely on Canadian lumber, and the current record-high lumber prices are hurting the economic recovery in both countries." Easier said than done, B.C. Premier John Horgan appeared to acknowledge Monday.
"While this decision is a victory for B.C.'s lumber producers, immediate relief is unlikely," he said. "Our work continues until we bring an end to the unfair U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports." The WTO report, which comes less than two months after the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement formally replaced the NAFTA trade deal, also follows the U.S. decision to restore 10 per cent national-security tariffs on exports of Canadian aluminum. The U.S. has accused Canada of violating the terms of the agreement that saw steel and aluminum tariffs lifted in 2018. Similarly to the aluminum sector, Canadian exports fill a critical role in the U.S., where demand for lumber significantly outstrips domestically available supply.


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--Bank of Canada asking public for input on inflation-rate target

The Bank of Canada is turning to the public for input on its inflation-rate target that underlies any changes to the central bank 's trend-setting interest rate .
The bank had already planned on a much broader consultation than what it did for previous reviews long before the COVID-19 pandemic struck Canada and forced a sharp decline in the national economy .
The crisis has increased the importance of a wider review , since spending patterns dramatically changed and led to a disconnect at times between official measures showing price declines and consumers experiencing higher costs .
The online survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this effect , and seeks ideas on approaches the central bank could take as it tries to keep prices stable .
The comfort zone the bank sets for its inflation target will help determine what happens to its key policy interest rate , which can affect the rates charged for mortgages and loans .
• As back-to-school looms , what legal options do Ontario ’ s teachers have ?
It 's been almost 30 years since the Bank of Canada first targeted an annual inflation rate of two per cent after watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970s and 1980s .
The central bank 's measures brought down inflation to the target zone by the end of 1995 , and the mandate has been renewed every five years since .
But as a result of the pandemic , the bank has warned that inflation readings are going to be low for this year and next .
Governor Tiff Macklem , who will speak at an event Thursday hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City , has said the central bank will maintain its key interest rate at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflation gets back into the Bank of Canada 's target range .
`` Really , there is a sense in which the inflation target is out the window for the time being because their concern is with economic activity in general ( and ) financial stability , '' said Stephen Williamson , the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Central Banking at Western University in London , Ont .
Williamson said there is no consensus on a perfect inflation target figure .
He said there is consensus on setting a low target so businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowing how much prices are expected to rise .
The Bank of Canada is turning to the public for input on its inflation-rate target that underlies any changes to the central bank 's trend-setting interest rate .
`` All that matters is that it 's going to be predictable , '' said Williamson , who once worked at the Bank of Canada , and more recently at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis .
The central bank may choose a different method altogether , given how the country 's inflation barometer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been shaken by a shift in consumer spending habits during the pandemic .
People are spending less on things that factor more into the inflation reading , like gasoline , and more on things that have a smaller effect on the index .
So the Bank of Canada has been looking at alternatives , including whether to set a dual target for inflation and employment , or an average inflation rate over a longer period than one year , or income growth .
Jeremy Kronick , associate director of research at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflation target has served the bank well for years , even if it could be improved on the margins .
He could n't see the Bank of Canada deviating wildly from that target , partially due to the economic unpredictability the pandemic has created .
`` I 'm just not sure that changing a mandate , and especially in a crisis , is really the right approach , '' Kronick said .
`` That speaks to a need to set a high bar for change .
The other thing about the inflation-targeting framework @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people . ''
The bank intends to publish a report in the coming months on what it learned from the consultations before renewing its inflation-control agreement with the federal government in 2021 .

The Bank of Canada is turning to the public for input on its inflation-rate target that underlies any changes to the central bank's trend-setting interest rate. The bank had already planned on a much broader consultation than what it did for previous reviews long before the COVID-19 pandemic struck Canada and forced a sharp decline in the national economy. The crisis has increased the importance of a wider review, since spending patterns dramatically changed and led to a disconnect at times between official measures showing price declines and consumers experiencing higher costs. The online survey aims to provide a more accurate snapshot of this effect, and seeks ideas on approaches the central bank could take as it tries to keep prices stable. The comfort zone the bank sets for its inflation target will help determine what happens to its key policy interest rate, which can affect the rates charged for mortgages and loans.
It's been almost 30 years since the Bank of Canada first targeted an annual inflation rate of two per cent after watching the figure run hot through the late 1970s and 1980s. The central bank's measures brought down inflation to the target zone by the end of 1995, and the mandate has been renewed every five years since. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But as a result of the pandemic, the bank has warned that inflation readings are going to be low for this year and next.
Governor Tiff Macklem, who will speak at an event Thursday hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, has said the central bank will maintain its key interest rate at the lower limit of 0.25 per cent until inflation gets back into the Bank of Canada's target range. The Bank of Canada is turning to the public for input on its inflation-rate target that underlies any changes to the central bank's trend-setting interest rate. "Really, there is a sense in which the inflation target is out the window for the time being because their concern is with economic activity in general (and) financial stability," said Stephen Williamson, the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Central Banking at Western University in London, Ont. Williamson said there is no consensus on a perfect inflation target figure. He said there is consensus on setting a low target so businesses and households can plan for the future knowing how much prices are expected to rise. "All that matters is that it's going to be predictable," said Williamson, who once worked at the Bank of Canada, and more recently at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The central bank may choose a different method altogether, given how the country's inflation barometer, known as the consumer price index, has been shaken by a shift in consumer spending habits during the pandemic.
People are spending less on things that factor more into the inflation reading, like gasoline, and more on things that have a smaller effect on the index. So the Bank of Canada has been looking at alternatives, including whether to set a dual target for inflation and employment, or an average inflation rate over a longer period than one year, or income growth. Jeremy Kronick, associate director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute, said the inflation target has served the bank well for years, even if it could be improved on the margins.


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--O'Toole moving quickly to put stamp on federal Conservative party

It took Erin O'Toole less than 12 hours to go from winning the Conservative leadership race early Monday to taking his seat behind the boss 's desk in the Official Opposition office , moving swiftly to begin building a team to guide his party in the months ahead .
O'Toole 's first order of business was setting in motion staffing changes .
That is likely to involve bringing in some of his campaign team to oversee operations and strategy on Parliament Hill , while others take up senior roles within the party .
Next , turning to his 121-member Conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll have around him on the front benches in the House of Commons this fall .
By midday , O'Toole had already spoken to his main rival in Parliament , a call both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's office and O'Toole 's described as cordial and covered topics both personal and political , including western alienation .
According to a statement from O'Toole , the party wants to see a plan in Trudeau 's upcoming throne speech to directly address the issue .
That the Tories would advocate for more action from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask by Alberta MPs during the leadership campaign .
• As back-to-school looms , what legal options do Ontario ’ s teachers have ?
O'Toole did not speak to the media Monday , but will hold a news conference Tuesday to outline some of his plans .
Picking his team in the Commons will be a delicate task .
He will need to ensure his rivals ' supporters still feel welcome , but also give prominence to those who backed him during the often acrimonious campaign .
Party members overall delivered a solid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately handing him 57 per cent of the vote , after three rounds of counting that stretched into the early hours of Monday morning .
Peter MacKay finished second with 43 per cent , a blow to many on his campaign team who had paraded around the Ottawa hotel that was their headquarters Sunday , boasting of their get-out-the-vote efforts .
`` I feel we ran a valiant and high-road campaign , '' MacKay , who returned to Toronto Monday , said in a post on social media .
`` It was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we hoped for .
I now get to focus on family and future forms of a public service . ''
The announcement of the winner was delayed by technical problems Sunday , as thousands of ballots had to be replicated by hand after the counting machine partially shredded them .
Conservative party spokesman Cory Hann said the party will review the issue as part of their election post-mortem .
Hann said part of the hours-long delay was also due to COVID-19 restrictions , as the party could n't send in more volunteers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine errors .
Hann said he did not expect any of the campaigns to say it was an unfair process .
There was quickly a campaign , however , to try and take jabs at O'Toole , though not one launched by his rivals in this race .
Conservative MP Maxime Bernier , who finished second in the 2017 race , when O'Toole finished third , was the one who came out swinging as he sought to recruit disaffected Tories into his own political party .
Bernier accused O'Toole of wearing a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign and warned that he is really `` Liberal-lite , '' offering a political home in his People 's Party of Canada for those who wanted a different approach .
Bernier broke from caucus after his 2017 loss and efforts by former leader Andrew Scheer to keep him onside failed .
O'Toole , on the other hand , was kept close by Scheer and handed the plum foreign affairs portfolio .
Though MacKay is n't in caucus himself , O'Toole will need to extend an olive branch to those who supported him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ O'Toole in 2017 threw their lot in with MacKay this time around .
Whether O'Toole will reward or shun them remains an open question .
There are also the MPs who remained neutral , including Alberta MP Michelle Rempel Garner and Ottawa MP Pierre Poilievre , both beloved by many of the rank-and-file party members .
O'Toole needs to find a spot for everyone , said Garry Keller , who worked with Rona Ambrose when she was interim leader of the party .
`` Idle hands are not helping whoever wins the leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place for Leslyn Lewis , the first Black woman to ever run for leadership of the party , and whose climb from political newcomer to a third-place finish cemented the power of social conservatives in the party .
On the second ballot , she even won the popular vote .
Lewis had the express support of seven MPs in caucus , but there are others who have previously aligned with social conservative causes who did remain on the sidelines , including Alberta 's Rachael Harder .
Lewis declined an interview Monday .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party no matter what in the next election .
On the flip side , Keller said , O'Toole will have to figure out what to do with Derek Sloan , who finished last out of the four leadership candidates .
The rookie MP was nearly kicked out of caucus during the campaign after a furor around remarks he made about chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam .
He 's also been crudely outspoken on issues around abortion and LGBTQ conversion therapy .
O'Toole was one of Sloan 's lone supporters during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He 's also promised to respect and listen to the voices of everyone in the party , no matter their political leanings .
Sloan 's campaign team did not respond to a request for comment Monday .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24 , 2020 .

It took Erin O'Toole less than 12 hours to go from winning the Conservative leadership race early Monday to taking his seat behind the boss's desk in the Official Opposition office, moving swiftly to begin building a team to guide his party in the months ahead. O'Toole's first order of business was setting in motion staffing changes. That is likely to involve bringing in some of his campaign team to oversee operations and strategy on Parliament Hill, while others take up senior roles within the party. Next, turning to his 121-member Conservative caucus to pull together the team he'll have around him on the front benches in the House of Commons this fall. By midday, O'Toole had already spoken to his main rival in Parliament, a call both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office and O'Toole's described as cordial and covered topics both personal and political, including western alienation. According to a statement from O'Toole, the party wants to see a plan in Trudeau's upcoming throne speech to directly address the issue. That the Tories would advocate for more action from the Liberals on that front was a key ask by Alberta MPs during the leadership campaign.
O'Toole did not speak to the media Monday, but will hold a news conference Tuesday to outline some of his plans. Picking his team in the Commons will be a delicate task. He will need to ensure his rivals' supporters still feel welcome, but also give prominence to those who backed him during the often acrimonious campaign. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Party members overall delivered a solid victory to O'Toole in the race, ultimately handing him 57 per cent of the vote, after three rounds of counting that stretched into the early hours of Monday morning.
Peter MacKay finished second with 43 per cent, a blow to many on his campaign team who had paraded around the Ottawa hotel that was their headquarters Sunday, boasting of their get-out-the-vote efforts. "I feel we ran a valiant and high-road campaign," MacKay, who returned to Toronto Monday, said in a post on social media. "It was an amazing experience, though not the result we hoped for. I now get to focus on family and future forms of a public service." The announcement of the winner was delayed by technical problems Sunday, as thousands of ballots had to be replicated by hand after the counting machine partially shredded them. Conservative party spokesman Cory Hann said the party will review the issue as part of their election post-mortem.
Hann said part of the hours-long delay was also due to COVID-19 restrictions, as the party couldn't send in more volunteers and scrutineers to handle the ballots after the machine errors. Hann said he did not expect any of the campaigns to say it was an unfair process. There was quickly a campaign, however, to try and take jabs at O'Toole, though not one launched by his rivals in this race.


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--Trudeau considered best to manage pandemic and revive economy, survey suggests

A new survey suggests Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's Liberals are well placed if they end up losing a confidence @ @ @ @ @ as the party best able to care for Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic and to @ @ @ @ @ its feet .
Respondents to the online survey , conducted by Leger and the Association @ @ @ @ @ split about the prospect of a federal election this fall , with 42 per cent @ @ @ @ @ 38 per cent in favour .
But if there were an election today , 38 @ @ @ @ @ said they 'd support the Liberals , compared to 30 per cent for the Conservatives @ @ @ @ @ the NDP and six per cent for the Greens ; the Bloc Quebecois were at @ @ @ @ @ , virtually tied with the Liberals at 32 per cent .

A new survey suggests Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals are well placed if they end up losing a confidence vote this fall, seen as the party best able to care for Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic and to get the economy back on its feet.
Respondents to the online survey, conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, were split about the prospect of a federal election this fall, with 42 per cent opposed to the idea and 38 per cent in favour.
But if there were an election today, 38 per cent of decided voters said they'd support the Liberals, compared to 30 per cent for the Conservatives, 18 per cent for the NDP and six per cent for the Greens; the Bloc Quebecois were at 33 per cent in Quebec, virtually tied with the Liberals at 32 per cent.
When asked specifically which party would earn their vote should Erin O'Toole be at the helm of the Conservatives, Liberal support actually bumped up one point while Conservative support dropped to 27 per cent.
Respondents rated Trudeau as the most decisive, intelligent, caring and charismatic leader on offer and the best leader to get the economy back on track, manage the pandemic-induced, super-sized deficit, care for Canadians and keep them safe from a second wave of the pandemic.


nationalobserver--2020-08-25--Trudeau confidence vote means NDP holds all the cards — and a chance to ditch TMX for good

Listening to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announce his plans to prorogue Parliament and return with a new agenda for the country , it was clear that he expects to win the NDP over to support his government .
Using phrases such as “ build back better ” and “ green recovery ” Trudeau signalled a progressive turn .
And , like his 2015 election platform , an agenda that puts issues at the core of the NDP on the table .
This means that for the next few weeks , Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have a serious chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To do this , they need to put Canada ’ s climate ambition squarely on the bargaining table .
For that , they need to broach two big , connected issues .
The first is that both building back better from COVID-19 and tackling the climate crisis will require a massive economic transformation in Canada .
To achieve this kind of made-in-Canada Green New Deal requires a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and massive government investment .
Both of which are caught up in the second issue — the Trans Mountain pipeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trans Mountain , the climate crisis has only worsened .
We ’ ve seen record-breaking high temperatures stack on top of one another , extreme weather events become the norm and long-warned-of feedback loops speed up warming beyond what most scientists had predicted .
On the scientific side , we ’ ve seen numerous reports , the IPCC 1.5 C report most notably , tell us that while we have a chance to meet this crisis , doing so requires a rapid transition away from fossil fuels .
Basically , we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to do some creative carbon math to try and rationalize Trans Mountain when they bought it , that math has been quickly made irrelevant by a rapidly warming world .
• As back-to-school looms , what legal options do Ontario ’ s teachers have ?
And that ’ s only part of the problem .
Since its purchase , the cost of Trans Mountain to the public has also skyrocketed .
Earlier this year , then-finance minister Bill Morneau revealed that the cost of the pipeline had more than doubled from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was before COVID-19 brought inevitable delays and disruption to the project , and a potentially higher price tag .
This is a problem because , at the end of the day , Canada ’ s COVID-19 recovery plan is going to have to be a choice .
Either our government will choose to prioritize people and our planet , investing in things such as green jobs , Indigenous rights , and public health and education .
Or , Justin Trudeau will choose to do what we ’ ve seen him do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before backing policies that maintain the status quo .
Trans Mountain is a microcosm of this choice .
Either we spend billions of dollars helping people and communities weather the storm of COVID-19 and the coming recession , or we spend that money on a climate-wrecking pipeline .
In the last election , the NDP said they would be the party that held Trudeau ’ s feet to the fire .
And , giving credit where credit is due , they have done so throughout this pandemic , winning concessions from the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But right now , the NDP have a massive opportunity to do more than just win a few concessions .
By putting Trans Mountain on the negotiating table , and drawing a bright line between a truly Just Recovery and a plan that continues to serve the interests a wealthy elite , they can help shift Canada onto a path that gives us the greatest chance of not only tackling this global health crisis , but the social , economic and climate crises we face .
Of course , convincing Justin Trudeau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen overnight .
But if the NDP brings the pipeline into their negotiations with Trudeau , it will force a national conversation about Canada ’ s post-pandemic priorities .
`` Trans Mountain is a microcosm of this choice .
Either we spend billions of dollars helping people and communities weather the storm of COVID-19 and the coming recession , or we spend that money on a climate-wrecking pipeline . ''
This is critical , since as we saw back in February when the cost of Trans Mountain rose , support for the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the midst of a global pandemic , the public may be even less supportive of throwing billions at a pipeline instead of spending that money keeping our children , teachers and front-line workers safe .
This kind of scrutiny will only be possible with a political reckoning .
And this kind of reckoning is exactly what the NDP have a chance to create , with Justin Trudeau counting on their vote of confidence in September .
With everyday people being crushed under the weight of the economic , climate and social health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford to let this opportunity slip by .

Listening to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announce his plans to prorogue Parliament and return with a new agenda for the country, it was clear that he expects to win the NDP over to support his government. Using phrases such as “build back better” and “green recovery” Trudeau signalled a progressive turn. And, like his 2015 election platform, an agenda that puts issues at the core of the NDP on the table. This means that for the next few weeks, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have a serious chance to impact Canadian politics for the better. To do this, they need to put Canada’s climate ambition squarely on the bargaining table. For that, they need to broach two big, connected issues. The first is that both building back better from COVID-19 and tackling the climate crisis will require a massive economic transformation in Canada. To achieve this kind of made-in-Canada Green New Deal requires a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and massive government investment. Both of which are caught up in the second issue — the Trans Mountain pipeline. In the time since Trudeau bought Trans Mountain, the climate crisis has only worsened. We’ve seen record-breaking high temperatures stack on top of one another, extreme weather events become the norm and long-warned-of feedback loops speed up warming beyond what most scientists had predicted. On the scientific side, we’ve seen numerous reports, the IPCC 1.5 C report most notably, tell us that while we have a chance to meet this crisis, doing so requires a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
Basically, we’ve learned that even if the Trudeau government was able to do some creative carbon math to try and rationalize Trans Mountain when they bought it, that math has been quickly made irrelevant by a rapidly warming world.
And that’s only part of the problem. Since its purchase, the cost of Trans Mountain to the public has also skyrocketed. Earlier this year, then-finance minister Bill Morneau revealed that the cost of the pipeline had more than doubled from $5.4 billion to $12.6 billion. That was before COVID-19 brought inevitable delays and disruption to the project, and a potentially higher price tag. This is a problem because, at the end of the day, Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan is going to have to be a choice. Either our government will choose to prioritize people and our planet, investing in things such as green jobs, Indigenous rights, and public health and education. Or, Justin Trudeau will choose to do what we’ve seen him do countless times before, signal progressive action before backing policies that maintain the status quo. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Trans Mountain is a microcosm of this choice. Either we spend billions of dollars helping people and communities weather the storm of COVID-19 and the coming recession, or we spend that money on a climate-wrecking pipeline.