nationalobserver--2020-04-23--Key COVID-19 testing chemical reaches Canada from China

Despite the fact two Canadian cargo planes returned empty of supplies from China , a New Brunswick biotech company has received its latest shipment of the key chemical that it says it needs to ramp up widescale COVID-19 testing .
The chemical reagent was among the supplies on four other cargo planes that managed to leave China fully loaded with medical supplies , including N95 respirators , surgical masks and gowns .
The reagent has been sent to Fredericton 's LuminUltra .
The ingredient needed in tests for COVID-19 has been in short supply in the highly competitive and strained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 's spread is a seen a key prerequisite for any decision to reduce the government-imposed lockdowns to control the pandemic .
`` The supply that we got in is roughly the equivalent of about six to nine months of production for one particular raw material for the 20-odd raw materials that go into what we 're making for the federal government , '' Pat Whalen , the company 's chief executive , said in an interview .
`` So , it 's a very important part of the puzzle , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that came over that 's going to enable us to deliver on that promise that we 've made to the government and the people of Canada . ''
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening Trudeau singled out the company in a briefing one week ago as a key partner in Canada 's bid to supply the provinces with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Whether it 's reagents or test kits , we are ensuring that Canada has the tools to fight this virus , '' the prime minister said on April 15 .
LuminUltra announced the same day that it would provide `` 500,000 urgently needed COVID-19 tests per week to the Canadian federal government for use across Canada . ''
China , meanwhile , said Wednesday it was `` inaccurate '' for Trudeau to say that two Canadian planes left China without the medical supplies they had been sent to pick up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The spokesman for China 's foreign ministry , Geng Shuang , said that Trudeau 's account that the planes faced restrictions on the amount of time they were allowed to wait on the ground was simply not true .
`` Supply lines and truck shipments to the airports are difficult and interrupted by checkpoints and quarantine measures .
For the most part , we 've been able to navigate through those and ensure that Canada has received the equipment that it needs , '' the prime minister said .
`` But these two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
One was a federal charter , the other was destined for a province the prime minister refused to name .
Geng offered a different version of events according to the translation of his remarks on his ministry 's website , which the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa also referred to when asked about the situation .
`` As to the incident involving two Canadian flights returning empty , we have checked with the competent department and found relevant reports to be inaccurate , '' said Geng .
`` Relevant airports and civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground time of chartered cargo planes . ''
Canada 's international purchases are coming largely from China and so the government has set up an `` end-to-end procurement approach to navigate the current , complex supply-chain environment , '' the office of Anita Anand , the public procurement minister , said in a statement to The Canadian Press on Wednesday .
Canada 's envoy in China , Dominic Barton , is relying on Bollore Canada and Deloitte Canada , and airlines like Air Canada and Cargojet to get these supplies back to Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this A-to-Z approach we now have flights regularly transiting from China to Canada with medical supplies , while we continue to ramp up domestic production capacity and as more Canadian suppliers come online , '' said the statement .
`` There is no question , we are operating in a hyper-competitive market , and while demand for these supplies continues to experience a surge , we are ensuring that Canada is equipped with the supplies needed as we face the COVID-19 crisis . ''
Whalen said his company usually gets reagent shipped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This week 's shipment arrived in Toronto on the weekend and was flown from there to Fredericton .
`` We 've been tracking this every step of the way , '' said Whalen .

Despite the fact two Canadian cargo planes returned empty of supplies from China, a New Brunswick biotech company has received its latest shipment of the key chemical that it says it needs to ramp up widescale COVID-19 testing. The chemical reagent was among the supplies on four other cargo planes that managed to leave China fully loaded with medical supplies, including N95 respirators, surgical masks and gowns. The reagent has been sent to Fredericton's LuminUltra. The ingredient needed in tests for COVID-19 has been in short supply in the highly competitive and strained global market. Widescale testing to determine COVID-19's spread is a seen a key prerequisite for any decision to reduce the government-imposed lockdowns to control the pandemic. "The supply that we got in is roughly the equivalent of about six to nine months of production for one particular raw material for the 20-odd raw materials that go into what we're making for the federal government," Pat Whalen, the company's chief executive, said in an interview. "So, it's a very important part of the puzzle, and it's a very significant quantity of product that came over that's going to enable us to deliver on that promise that we've made to the government and the people of Canada."
Trudeau singled out the company in a briefing one week ago as a key partner in Canada's bid to supply the provinces with the what it needs to conduct tests. "Whether it's reagents or test kits, we are ensuring that Canada has the tools to fight this virus," the prime minister said on April 15. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions LuminUltra announced the same day that it would provide "500,000 urgently needed COVID-19 tests per week to the Canadian federal government for use across Canada."
China, meanwhile, said Wednesday it was "inaccurate" for Trudeau to say that two Canadian planes left China without the medical supplies they had been sent to pick up, as he did earlier this week. Key COVID-19 testing chemical reaches Canada, amid China empty-plane denials The spokesman for China's foreign ministry, Geng Shuang, said that Trudeau's account that the planes faced restrictions on the amount of time they were allowed to wait on the ground was simply not true. "Supply lines and truck shipments to the airports are difficult and interrupted by checkpoints and quarantine measures. For the most part, we've been able to navigate through those and ensure that Canada has received the equipment that it needs," the prime minister said. "But these two airplanes were forced to take off empty." One was a federal charter, the other was destined for a province the prime minister refused to name. Geng offered a different version of events according to the translation of his remarks on his ministry's website, which the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa also referred to when asked about the situation.
"As to the incident involving two Canadian flights returning empty, we have checked with the competent department and found relevant reports to be inaccurate," said Geng. "Relevant airports and civil aviation authorities place no limit on the ground time of chartered cargo planes." Canada's international purchases are coming largely from China and so the government has set up an "end-to-end procurement approach to navigate the current, complex supply-chain environment," the office of Anita Anand, the public procurement minister, said in a statement to The Canadian Press on Wednesday. Canada's envoy in China, Dominic Barton, is relying on Bollore Canada and Deloitte Canada, and airlines like Air Canada and Cargojet to get these supplies back to Canada, the statement said.


nationalobserver--2020-04-23--Alberta public pension manager loses big in oilpatch investments

Alberta 's public pension manager has lost millions after investing in smaller energy companies at a time when the entire sector is in decline , an analysis has found .
The left-wing think tank Progress Alberta found that Alberta Investment Management Corp. , or AIMCo , has invested $ 1.1 billion from public service pensions in junior and intermediate oil and gas firms since 2016 .
Most of those companies lost value well before the COVID-19 crisis and oil supply war that has driven the commodity 's price to record lows .
At least one company has gone bankrupt despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pension dollars .
`` The vast majority of them were in really rough shape before the crisis , '' said Duncan Kinney , one of the authors of the think tank 's report released Wednesday .
AIMCo controls about $ 118 billion in 31 pension , endowment and government funds , including the Alberta heritage fund , a rainy-day account financed by oil and gas royalties .
It is intended to be run at arm's-length from the government .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and Canada needs to respond • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening The previous NDP government brought in a provision that stipulated a small portion of AIMCo 's funds be used to support new jobs , infrastructure and industry in the province .
The report says that of the $ 406 million invested under the Alberta Growth Mandate , nearly $ 270 million — two-thirds — went to the energy sector .
Of the 32 separate investments made under the NDP provision , five were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one in renewable energy .
The rest were in oil and gas and all have lost value .
One , Trident Exploration , went under last year despite a $ 60-million injection of pension funds .
Others have had to renegotiate their debt .
Others , such as Pieridae Energy , in which AIMCo has invested $ 120 million in debt and equity , are high-risk investments , says the report .
Many have large environmental liabilities that can no longer be shuffled off in bankruptcy due to a recent Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uebelein has previously acknowledged his funds are disproportionately invested in Alberta .
He has said local managers are able to find good investments where those outside the province ca n't , giving AIMCo what he called a `` home-field advantage . ''
Kinney disputes that .
He pointed out that AIMCo has consistently failed to meet targets for returns set by one of its largest clients , the Local Authorities Pension Plan for public employees of villages , towns , cities , hospitals , college and school boards .
Kinney also questions the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes there is legislation that gives politicians significant influence in AIMCo , unlike the Canada Pension Plan .
Recent laws introduced by the United Conservatives give the finance minister power to reassign portions of AIMCo 's portfolio to a manager of the government 's choice .
As well , pension funds under AIMCo 's control are no longer free to seek other management .
`` AIMCo is not a truly independent pension fund manager , '' Kinney said .
In an email , AIMCo spokesman Denes Nemeth disputed that .
`` AIMCo operates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial terms and with complete operational independence , in particular as it relates to investment decisions , and always in the best interests of clients . ''
Kinney noted that several of the companies that have received AIMCo investments are financial supporters of the UCP or of groups that support the party .

Alberta's public pension manager has lost millions after investing in smaller energy companies at a time when the entire sector is in decline, an analysis has found. The left-wing think tank Progress Alberta found that Alberta Investment Management Corp., or AIMCo, has invested $1.1 billion from public service pensions in junior and intermediate oil and gas firms since 2016. Most of those companies lost value well before the COVID-19 crisis and oil supply war that has driven the commodity's price to record lows. At least one company has gone bankrupt despite the injection of tens of millions of pension dollars. "The vast majority of them were in really rough shape before the crisis," said Duncan Kinney, one of the authors of the think tank's report released Wednesday. AIMCo controls about $118 billion in 31 pension, endowment and government funds, including the Alberta heritage fund, a rainy-day account financed by oil and gas royalties. It is intended to be run at arm's-length from the government.
The previous NDP government brought in a provision that stipulated a small portion of AIMCo's funds be used to support new jobs, infrastructure and industry in the province. The report says that of the $406 million invested under the Alberta Growth Mandate, nearly $270 million — two-thirds — went to the energy sector. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Of the 32 separate investments made under the NDP provision, five were in real estate, one in agriculture and one in renewable energy. The rest were in oil and gas and all have lost value.
One, Trident Exploration, went under last year despite a $60-million injection of pension funds. Others have had to renegotiate their debt. Others, such as Pieridae Energy, in which AIMCo has invested $120 million in debt and equity, are high-risk investments, says the report. Analysis finds Alberta public pension manager loses big in oilpatch investments Many have large environmental liabilities that can no longer be shuffled off in bankruptcy due to a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling. AIMCo CEO Kevin Uebelein has previously acknowledged his funds are disproportionately invested in Alberta. He has said local managers are able to find good investments where those outside the province can't, giving AIMCo what he called a "home-field advantage." Kinney disputes that. He pointed out that AIMCo has consistently failed to meet targets for returns set by one of its largest clients, the Local Authorities Pension Plan for public employees of villages, towns, cities, hospitals, college and school boards.
Kinney also questions the agency's independence from government. He notes there is legislation that gives politicians significant influence in AIMCo, unlike the Canada Pension Plan. Recent laws introduced by the United Conservatives give the finance minister power to reassign portions of AIMCo's portfolio to a manager of the government's choice. As well, pension funds under AIMCo's control are no longer free to seek other management.


nationalobserver--2020-04-23--Spread of COVID-19 at Alberta meat plants no surprise

The rapid spread of COVID-19 at Canada 's meat-packing plants is n't a surprise , say union and health officials .
Fabian Murphy , president of the Agriculture Union , which represents federal meat inspectors , says recent safety measures put in place are positive .
But in a meat processing plant , it 's difficult to keep the virus in check if people are already sick .
`` If you 're in a meat plant with 2,000 other staff , you ca n't stay six feet away from folks at all times , '' Murphy says .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to the wash stations to clean up .
... You 're going to the locker room to don on or off your clothing and equipment .
And you 're going to the washroom .
So it 's impossible to maintain that social distancing . ''
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening The toll of COVID-19 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A shutdown of an Olymel plant in Quebec was followed by Harmony Foods near Calgary and a massive Cargill plant near High River , Alta .
Cases are continuing to rise at a JBS plant in Brooks , Alta.
, but that plant remains open .
Murphy says the only way to resolve an outbreak in a meat plant is to shut it down for 14 days to give employees a chance to self-isolate .
Many employees in these plants are foreign workers who send money home to their families .
He says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some to show up for work instead of calling in sick .
`` Unfortunately , we see that in a vulnerable population .
They need the extra money and they do n't have the option of not going to work . ''
Dr. Deena Hinshaw , Alberta 's chief medical health officer , says several measures were put in place at the Cargill plant to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus — distancing , Plexiglas-glass barriers and personal protective equipment .
`` But because there are so many people who go in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible that spread did occur before those protective measures were put into place , '' she told reporters earlier this week .
Preventive measures at Alberta meat plants came too late to stop outbreaks `` Many of the people who work there also live in large households .
Also many of them were carpooling to and from work . ''
She says a community approach to prevent spread after workers leave a plant are needed .
As of Thursday , 440 workers at the Cargill facility had tested positive for COVID-19 , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases linked to spread in the community .
At the Brooks plant , there have also been 96 cases of workers .
The death of a worker and of another person from the community are also being investigated to see if they were caused by the virus .
Hinshaw has said it 's likely that case numbers from the Cargill and JBS plants will continue to grow .
The president of United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 401 , which represents employees at the packing plants , says the employers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed the workers by not acting sooner .
`` This did n't have to happen , '' says Thomas Hesse .
`` The government 's job is to protect its citizens from large multimillion-dollar corporations and the government did n't do its job . ''
Hesse says the union has reached out to the families of the woman who died and other workers who are ill .
But it 's an uphill battle .

The rapid spread of COVID-19 at Canada's meat-packing plants isn't a surprise, say union and health officials. Fabian Murphy, president of the Agriculture Union, which represents federal meat inspectors, says recent safety measures put in place are positive. But in a meat processing plant, it's difficult to keep the virus in check if people are already sick. "If you're in a meat plant with 2,000 other staff, you can't stay six feet away from folks at all times," Murphy says. "You're going to the lunchroom. You're going to the wash stations to clean up. ... You're going to the locker room to don on or off your clothing and equipment. And you're going to the washroom. So it's impossible to maintain that social distancing."
The toll of COVID-19 on the meat-packing sector continues to grow. A shutdown of an Olymel plant in Quebec was followed by Harmony Foods near Calgary and a massive Cargill plant near High River, Alta. Cases are continuing to rise at a JBS plant in Brooks, Alta., but that plant remains open. Murphy says the only way to resolve an outbreak in a meat plant is to shut it down for 14 days to give employees a chance to self-isolate. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Many employees in these plants are foreign workers who send money home to their families. He says the fear of losing a paycheque motivates some to show up for work instead of calling in sick.
"Unfortunately, we see that in a vulnerable population. They need the extra money and they don't have the option of not going to work." Preventive measures at Alberta meat plants came too late to stop outbreaks Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical health officer, says several measures were put in place at the Cargill plant to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus — distancing, Plexiglas-glass barriers and personal protective equipment. "But because there are so many people who go in and out of these plants, it is possible that spread did occur before those protective measures were put into place," she told reporters earlier this week. "Many of the people who work there also live in large households. Also many of them were carpooling to and from work." She says a community approach to prevent spread after workers leave a plant are needed.
As of Thursday, 440 workers at the Cargill facility had tested positive for COVID-19, including one who died, with another 140 cases linked to spread in the community. At the Brooks plant, there have also been 96 cases of workers. The death of a worker and of another person from the community are also being investigated to see if they were caused by the virus. Hinshaw has said it's likely that case numbers from the Cargill and JBS plants will continue to grow.


nationalobserver--2020-04-23--Let this crisis teach us that we must be prepared for the next

As a nation , Canada can learn from this and do a better job of being prepared for the next shocks , especially the ones we know are coming from climate change : more severe floods , droughts , heat waves and hurricanes .
Preparedness is the kind of thing you often think about only when it ’ s too late .
Other more immediate priorities always seem to steal our attention .
But we are seeing up close what a difference advanced planning can make : It has been heartbreaking to see health-care workers scrambling to find protective gear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than a dollar .
As communities across Canada grapple with the deadly and damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic , we have a rare window right now into how important it is to be prepared for a crisis .
Taken early enough , these decisions can help prevent a crisis from escalating .
But getting people to understand a threat and change their behaviours means communicating complex information — which can be riddled with uncertainty — in clear , timely , and accurate ways .
Second , clear communication is essential .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 crisis , people need to make quick and informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones .
Many communities still need to better understand and analyze their risks and the investments they should be making .
A 2019 study about preparedness in Manitoba municipalities showed very few of them have brought climate change into their development plans .
First , we need to know what ’ s coming and what ’ s at stake .
We should act now to pull together accessible data and identify climate risk priorities across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hand , one we can use to accelerate efforts to prepare ourselves .
It also means being coordinated and integrated , making sure cities , provinces and the federal government have complementary messaging throughout the crisis .
Looking ahead to climate impacts , we should act now to link our disaster risk reduction community — government departments such as Public Safety Canada and humanitarian organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross — directly to the new Climate Services Centres being set up across the country to better communicate with Canadian communities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ This pandemic has made clear how important it is to continuously invest in protection against possible crisis scenarios .
We ’ ve seen how not replacing expired stockpiles of medical masks has proven dangerous .
There are various lists of priority infrastructure investments that Canada should address immediately to get prepared .
Some are small and can be done quickly at home , such as installing backwater valves in new home construction to help avoid basement flooding .
Some , like protections against sea water rise , are large enough to help with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed as we recover from COVID-19 .
At the very least , all infrastructure projects should continue to be subject to the federal climate lens .
Infrastructure investments should also include nature-based solutions , where sustainably managing our landscapes helps us prevent future damage .
Launching a massive effort to plant two billion trees or restore wetlands has the added benefit of replenishing the natural world that is so important to our physical and mental health in times of crisis .
Taking these steps requires collaboration .
The final critical lesson we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how important strong social networks are in times of stress .
Exchanging strategies for homeschooling , talking to loved ones in care homes , giving children a number to call if staying home is more dangerous than going to school — these have all been key to helping us do our part .
And social distancing has shown us how critical , even life-saving , reliable internet access is , reinforcing the need to address rural broadband issues and close the digital divide .
Networks can also be useful in advance of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be used to plan for one .
For years , city networks such as C40 have been sharing experiences and best practices for adapting to a hotter future .
International networks of developing countries hardest hit by climate change are using innovative peer learning to make sure they mount effective defenses .
Inspired by an example in Vanuatu shared through a global climate adaptation network , Madagascar set up a specific national committee to coordinate its planning .
And Grenada , informed by experiences in Albania , decided to involve the private sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate shocks .
We should be investing in these preventative networks and opportunities for shared learning across Canada now .
If there ’ s one thing to take away from the events of the last month , it is that sometimes , to avoid the worst , we need to act in ways that seem disproportionate to our current reality .
It may seem like the climate change emergency is too far off to worry about now , but it ’ s coming , and it can ’ t be avoided .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re learning now don ’ t go to waste .

As communities across Canada grapple with the deadly and damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a rare window right now into how important it is to be prepared for a crisis. Preparedness is the kind of thing you often think about only when it’s too late. Other more immediate priorities always seem to steal our attention. But we are seeing up close what a difference advanced planning can make: It has been heartbreaking to see health-care workers scrambling to find protective gear and equipment, including masks that cost less than a dollar. As a nation, Canada can learn from this and do a better job of being prepared for the next shocks, especially the ones we know are coming from climate change: more severe floods, droughts, heat waves and hurricanes. What types of advance planning matter most? First, we need to know what’s coming and what’s at stake. We should act now to pull together accessible data and identify climate risk priorities across the country so that we have a roadmap in hand, one we can use to accelerate efforts to prepare ourselves.
Many communities still need to better understand and analyze their risks and the investments they should be making. A 2019 study about preparedness in Manitoba municipalities showed very few of them have brought climate change into their development plans. Second, clear communication is essential. As we’ve seen during the COVID-19 crisis, people need to make quick and informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Taken early enough, these decisions can help prevent a crisis from escalating. But getting people to understand a threat and change their behaviours means communicating complex information — which can be riddled with uncertainty — in clear, timely, and accurate ways.
It also means being coordinated and integrated, making sure cities, provinces and the federal government have complementary messaging throughout the crisis. "As a nation, Canada can learn from this and do a better job of being prepared for the next shocks, especially the ones we know are coming from climate change: more severe floods, droughts, heat waves and hurricanes." Looking ahead to climate impacts, we should act now to link our disaster risk reduction community — government departments such as Public Safety Canada and humanitarian organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross — directly to the new Climate Services Centres being set up across the country to better communicate with Canadian communities. Third, we need to act. This pandemic has made clear how important it is to continuously invest in protection against possible crisis scenarios. We’ve seen how not replacing expired stockpiles of medical masks has proven dangerous. There are various lists of priority infrastructure investments that Canada should address immediately to get prepared. Some are small and can be done quickly at home, such as installing backwater valves in new home construction to help avoid basement flooding. Some, like protections against sea water rise, are large enough to help with the economic stimulus effort that will be needed as we recover from COVID-19. At the very least, all infrastructure projects should continue to be subject to the federal climate lens. Infrastructure investments should also include nature-based solutions, where sustainably managing our landscapes helps us prevent future damage. Launching a massive effort to plant two billion trees or restore wetlands has the added benefit of replenishing the natural world that is so important to our physical and mental health in times of crisis.
Taking these steps requires collaboration. The final critical lesson we have learned over the past few weeks is how important strong social networks are in times of stress. Exchanging strategies for homeschooling, talking to loved ones in care homes, giving children a number to call if staying home is more dangerous than going to school — these have all been key to helping us do our part. And social distancing has shown us how critical, even life-saving, reliable internet access is, reinforcing the need to address rural broadband issues and close the digital divide. Networks can also be useful in advance of a shock. In fact, they can be used to plan for one. For years, city networks such as C40 have been sharing experiences and best practices for adapting to a hotter future. International networks of developing countries hardest hit by climate change are using innovative peer learning to make sure they mount effective defenses. Inspired by an example in Vanuatu shared through a global climate adaptation network, Madagascar set up a specific national committee to coordinate its planning. And Grenada, informed by experiences in Albania, decided to involve the private sector and community organizations in their preparations for climate shocks. We should be investing in these preventative networks and opportunities for shared learning across Canada now.


nationalobserver--2020-04-22--COVID-19 puts the human right to water front and centre

The current coronavirus pandemic is greatly exacerbated by the global water crisis and adds urgency to the fight for the human right to water .
Even before COVID-19 struck , the United Nations called water scarcity “ the scourge of the earth.
” At current rates of depletion and pollution , by 2025 , two-thirds of the world ’ s people are likely to be living in water-stressed areas .
Every day , more than two billion people around the world are forced to drink contaminated water .
Diarrhea caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation kills a child under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the harm is not confined to the poor countries of the global South .
More than two million people in the United States lack running water and basic indoor plumbing , and a report by Food and Water Watch found that 15 million Americans had their water shut off in just one recent year due to an inability to pay mounting water bills .
However , the commitment to honour the human right to water is strongly undermined both by a lack of funds designated by governments and by the pollution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planet ’ s water sources .
All the human rights in the world will not provide clean water where there is none .
While we fight COVID-19 with all our strength , we urgently need to protect and restore watersheds and provide access to clean , public water for all .
The World Resources Institute estimates it would cost just one per cent of global GDP to invest in the infrastructure required to provide clean water for all by 2030 .
In Canada , safe water and sanitation in First Nations communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political agenda , as must laws and practices to protect the precious water heritage of the country .
Surely it must be a key goal of a post-pandemic world to urgently protect and restore watersheds and to ensure water justice to the half of the world that does not have it .
Let us not wait for another pandemic to address this travesty .
`` While we fight COVID-19 with all our strength , we urgently need to protect and restore watersheds and provide access to clean , public water for all .
@

The current coronavirus pandemic is greatly exacerbated by the global water crisis and adds urgency to the fight for the human right to water.
Even before COVID-19 struck, the United Nations called water scarcity “the scourge of the earth.” At current rates of depletion and pollution, by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s people are likely to be living in water-stressed areas. Every day, more than two billion people around the world are forced to drink contaminated water. Diarrhea caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation kills a child under five years old every two minutes.
And the harm is not confined to the poor countries of the global South. More than two million people in the United States lack running water and basic indoor plumbing, and a report by Food and Water Watch found that 15 million Americans had their water shut off in just one recent year due to an inability to pay mounting water bills.
Enter the pandemic. According to health experts, one of the most important things we can all do to stop the spread of the coronavirus is wash our hands often, and well, with soap and hot water and keep our surroundings clean. But more than half the global population lacks access to somewhere to wash with soap and warm water. Three quarters of households, as well as nearly half of health-care facilities in developing countries, lack access to clean water on site.
The charity WaterAid says that the coronavirus pandemic exposes the vulnerability of people without access to water and warns that we should be fearful of what is to come in Africa and parts of Asia with this double crisis. Eighty per cent of the seven million residents of Dharavi, Asia’s largest urban slum located in Mumbai, India, have no running water. Human rights groups report that 36 million people in Mexico do not have regular access to water. The people of the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, share one pit latrine with as many as 150 others.


nationalobserver--2020-04-23--1 in 5 people in NYC may have been infected with COVID-19, antibody study finds

One in five residents of New York City may have already been infected with COVID-19 , according to preliminary results from the first statewide antibody study .
An estimated 21.2 per cent of New York City residents tested positive for coronavirus antibodies in the ongoing study , suggesting they had the virus at some point and recovered , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Thursday .
Statewide , nearly 14 per cent of New Yorkers tested positive for the antibodies .
That adds up to an estimated 2.7 million infections statewide — more than 10 times the current number of confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically quantifies what we 've been seeing anecdotally and what we have known , '' Cuomo told reporters , `` but it puts numbers to it . ''
The study tested 3,000 people at grocery stores and other public locations in 19 counties to get a look at where and how widely the virus may have spread , and how many people may have already been infected .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening “ What we found so far is that the statewide number is 13.9 per cent tested positive for having the antibodies , ” Cuomo said .
“ They were infected three weeks ago , four weeks ago , five weeks ago , six weeks ago , but they had the virus , they developed the antibodies and they are now recovered.
” The tests were done as part of an aggressive effort by New York to track the spread of the virus — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struggled to complete in the face of supply shortages and limited access to diagnostic testing .
The results are preliminary , Cuomo cautioned , noting the study is based on a sample of people who were healthy enough to be “ out and about shopping.
” “ They were not people who were in their home , they were not people isolated , they were not people who were quarantined who you could argue probably had a lower rate of infection because they wouldn ’ t come out of the house , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will help New York ’ s response to the pandemic , which in just a few short weeks completely overwhelmed the state ’ s hospitals , emergency call centres , and other critical infrastructure .
The study will also help scientists get a better idea of how the virus spreads , who is most vulnerable , and how many people may have the virus without ever knowing it .
One in five NYC residents tested positive for # COVID19 antibodies , according to initial data from a statewide study that suggests infection with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than we knew .
What do COVID-19 antibody tests actually tell us ?
Scientists and government officials say widespread antibody testing will be a critical component in safely reopening the country , as it could provide an indicator of how many people have developed immunity to the virus .
While diagnostic tests can tell if someone is currently infected with COVID-19 , antibody tests can determine whether a person ’ s immune system has responded to the virus .
The hope is that people who have had COVID-19 may be immune to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 antibodies may grant at least partial , short-term immunity .
There are also projects underway to determine whether plasma from people who have the antibodies can be used to develop treatments for those with severe cases of COVID-19 .
However , there are questions about the accuracy of some antibody tests , and experts say there ’ s still a lot we don ’ t know about immunity to COVID-19 .
“ Among the many uncertainties that remain about COVID-19 is how the human immune system responds to infection and what that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch wrote in a recent column in the New York Times .
“ Immunity after any infection can range from lifelong and complete to nearly nonexistent.
” Most people will have an immune response after being infected with COVID-19 , Lipsitch said , but it ’ s not clear how much protection that provides or how long it lasts .
“ That response , it may be assumed , will offer some protection over the medium term — at least a year — and then its effectiveness might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month , officials from the World Health Organization ( WHO ) warned that not everyone who recovers from COVID-19 will have the antibodies to fight off a second infection .
“ With regards to recovery and then re-infection , I believe we do not have the answers to that .
That is an unknown , ” Dr. Mike Ryan , executive director of WHO 's emergencies program , said at an April 13 news conference .
There are also concerns that false positive results on antibody tests could make people believe they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re actually still susceptible .
That ’ s among the reasons why experts are cautioning against making major policy-related decisions based on preliminary studies of a virus that we didn ’ t even know about six months ago .
In New York — the epicentre of the pandemic — officials appear to be heeding those warnings .
“ We 've made progress , but the coronavirus is alive and well in New York City , ” Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote in a tweet Thursday .
“ We ’ re seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and losing hundreds of lives .
We 're very much still in the thick of this fight.
” Cuomo was more blunt in his assessment , warning : “ People will die if we get cocky about reopening .
”

One in five residents of New York City may have already been infected with COVID-19, according to preliminary results from the first statewide antibody study. An estimated 21.2 per cent of New York City residents tested positive for coronavirus antibodies in the ongoing study, suggesting they had the virus at some point and recovered, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday. Statewide, nearly 14 per cent of New Yorkers tested positive for the antibodies. That adds up to an estimated 2.7 million infections statewide — more than 10 times the current number of confirmed cases in New York. "This basically quantifies what we've been seeing anecdotally and what we have known," Cuomo told reporters, "but it puts numbers to it." The study tested 3,000 people at grocery stores and other public locations in 19 counties to get a look at where and how widely the virus may have spread, and how many people may have already been infected.
“What we found so far is that the statewide number is 13.9 per cent tested positive for having the antibodies,” Cuomo said. “They were infected three weeks ago, four weeks ago, five weeks ago, six weeks ago, but they had the virus, they developed the antibodies and they are now recovered.” The tests were done as part of an aggressive effort by New York to track the spread of the virus — a task that states around the country have struggled to complete in the face of supply shortages and limited access to diagnostic testing. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The results are preliminary, Cuomo cautioned, noting the study is based on a sample of people who were healthy enough to be “out and about shopping.”
“They were not people who were in their home, they were not people isolated, they were not people who were quarantined who you could argue probably had a lower rate of infection because they wouldn’t come out of the house,” he said. One in five NYC residents tested positive for #COVID19 antibodies, according to initial data from a statewide study that suggests infection with the virus may be far more common than we knew. Still, the findings will help New York’s response to the pandemic, which in just a few short weeks completely overwhelmed the state’s hospitals, emergency call centres, and other critical infrastructure. The study will also help scientists get a better idea of how the virus spreads, who is most vulnerable, and how many people may have the virus without ever knowing it. What do COVID-19 antibody tests actually tell us? Scientists and government officials say widespread antibody testing will be a critical component in safely reopening the country, as it could provide an indicator of how many people have developed immunity to the virus.
While diagnostic tests can tell if someone is currently infected with COVID-19, antibody tests can determine whether a person’s immune system has responded to the virus. The hope is that people who have had COVID-19 may be immune to it. Data from animal studies suggest that COVID-19 antibodies may grant at least partial, short-term immunity. There are also projects underway to determine whether plasma from people who have the antibodies can be used to develop treatments for those with severe cases of COVID-19. However, there are questions about the accuracy of some antibody tests, and experts say there’s still a lot we don’t know about immunity to COVID-19.


nationalobserver--2020-04-23--Ottawa to send military to help in Ontario nursing homes hit by COVID-19

The federal government has approved Ontario ’ s request to call in the military for help in nursing homes ravaged by COVID-19 .
Ontario is the second province to ask the military for help stopping the rapid spread of the virus in long-term care , following a similar request by Quebec .
Ontario hasn ’ t said which homes will get the help , but has said about 250 army personnel would be deployed to five of the hardest-hit facilities .
“ We have literally called in the troops and the cavalry is on its way , ” Premier Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 briefing .
On Wednesday , Ontario officials said Canadian Armed Forces teams of roughly 50 each would be led by nurses and contain medics and army personnel .
Ford didn ’ t specify what those teams would be doing Thursday , saying only that they would give “ support in any capacity they can.
” When Ford called for military help Wednesday , some questioned the decision — Doris Grinspun , CEO of the Registered Nurses ' Association of Ontario , told National Observer the province has plenty of nurses who could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in a better position to help than army medics , Grinspun said , but the RNAO wasn ’ t consulted before Ford called the army .
• Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond • Ontario may be at COVID-19 peak , but testing woes could stall reopening When asked about Grinspun 's comments Thursday , Ford said in response that “ we need more nurses . ''
“ If they contact us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home immediately , ” he added .
But while the premier called for urgent help for nursing homes , he also said he believes the province ’ s long-term care system is “ broken , ” at one point looking visibly emotional .
Later , his office confirmed that his mother-in-law , who lives in a long-term care facility with a COVID-19 outbreak , has tested positive for the virus .
“ We have to do a better job , ” Ford said at the briefing .
“ At the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ll make sure it gets fixed , but my No .
1 priority is to make sure the people get the help they need right now.
” COVID-19 is most deadly for seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions , making long-term care a dangerous place for the virus to spread .
Ontario ’ s official COVID-19 data shows 713 deaths from the virus ( local public health units are reporting numbers higher than 770 ) .
Of those 713 , the province said 516 were linked to long-term care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the troops and the cavalry is on its way , ” Premier Doug Ford said .
# onpoli # COVID19ON Nursing homes in Ontario have struggled with understaffing and underfunding issues that long predate the pandemic .
And earlier this month , the Progressive Conservative government came under fire after a CBC News investigation found it had largely stopped doing unannounced annual inspections of long-term care homes .
In recent weeks , the province has made moves to prevent workers in those facilities from spreading the virus to other homes , and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But critics have said the government was slow to act and left crucial loopholes .
Our government has approved Ontario 's request for support from @ CanadianForces personnel .
Long-term care is a unique vulnerability in this pandemic .
We will continue working together as Team Canada to defeat # COVID19 — Bill Blair ( @ BillBlair ) April 23 , 2020 On Thursday , Ford unveiled a plan for more COVID-19 testing for vulnerable people outside of long-term care .
The move applies to facilities serving people with developmental disabilities , shelters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trafficking , children 's residential settings , and residential facilities that support Indigenous people on and off reserve .
Non-essential visitors will be restricted and the province will step up its COVID-19 screening in those facilities , said Todd Smith , minister of Children , Community and Social Services .
The province is also looking at how it can help homeless shelters , where the virus can spread easily .
At Thursday ’ s briefing , Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott also poured cold water on the idea of opening up the province @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that health officials believe the outbreak is peaking in the community .
Ontario ’ s overall case numbers are still going up , Elliott said , and the province can ’ t reopen before they start going down .
“ We need to see those numbers go down before we start going into ... opening up parts of the economy and opening up parts of society , ” Elliott said .
“ It is something we are planning for already .
”

The federal government has approved Ontario’s request to call in the military for help in nursing homes ravaged by COVID-19. Ontario is the second province to ask the military for help stopping the rapid spread of the virus in long-term care, following a similar request by Quebec. Ontario hasn’t said which homes will get the help, but has said about 250 army personnel would be deployed to five of the hardest-hit facilities. “We have literally called in the troops and the cavalry is on its way,” Premier Doug Ford told reporters Thursday at his daily COVID-19 briefing. On Wednesday, Ontario officials said Canadian Armed Forces teams of roughly 50 each would be led by nurses and contain medics and army personnel. Ford didn’t specify what those teams would be doing Thursday, saying only that they would give “support in any capacity they can.” When Ford called for military help Wednesday, some questioned the decision — Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, told National Observer the province has plenty of nurses who could still be deployed. Those workers would be in a better position to help than army medics, Grinspun said, but the RNAO wasn’t consulted before Ford called the army.
When asked about Grinspun's comments Thursday, Ford said in response that “we need more nurses." “If they contact us, they’ll be in a home immediately,” he added. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions But while the premier called for urgent help for nursing homes, he also said he believes the province’s long-term care system is “broken,” at one point looking visibly emotional. Later, his office confirmed that his mother-in-law, who lives in a long-term care facility with a COVID-19 outbreak, has tested positive for the virus.
“We have to do a better job,” Ford said at the briefing. “At the end of the day, the buck stops with me. We’ll make sure it gets fixed, but my No. 1 priority is to make sure the people get the help they need right now.” “We have literally called in the troops and the cavalry is on its way,” Premier Doug Ford said. #onpoli #COVID19ON COVID-19 is most deadly for seniors and people with pre-existing health conditions, making long-term care a dangerous place for the virus to spread. Ontario’s official COVID-19 data shows 713 deaths from the virus (local public health units are reporting numbers higher than 770). Of those 713, the province said 516 were linked to long-term care. Nursing homes in Ontario have struggled with understaffing and underfunding issues that long predate the pandemic. And earlier this month, the Progressive Conservative government came under fire after a CBC News investigation found it had largely stopped doing unannounced annual inspections of long-term care homes. In recent weeks, the province has made moves to prevent workers in those facilities from spreading the virus to other homes, and to give additional support to medical staff. But critics have said the government was slow to act and left crucial loopholes.
Our government has approved Ontario's request for support from @CanadianForces personnel. Long-term care is a unique vulnerability in this pandemic. We will continue working together as Team Canada to defeat #COVID19 — Bill Blair (@BillBlair) April 23, 2020


nationalobserver--2020-04-24--2020 Calgary Stampede cancelled in light of COVID-19 pandemic

It survived the Great Depression , the Second World War and a massive flood seven years ago , but the Calgary Stampede has become a casualty of COVID-19 .
The Calgary Stampede 's board of directors announced Thursday the cancellation of the world-famous exhibition and rodeo this year because of the novel coronavirus .
`` It 's hard but it 's the right thing to do , '' said Stampede president and board chairman Dana Peers .
`` As you can imagine , it 's very difficult to be here to share this announcement .
As a community celebration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our community , public health and safety front of mind . ''
The Stampede first started on an annual basis in 1923 .
• Ontario calls on military for help as COVID-19 ravages long-term care • Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond It had been held every year since then , including when Calgary and other communities in southern Alberta were devastated by flooding in 2013 .
The Stampede grounds were under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could go ahead .
`` I remember standing at this podium seven years ago and talking about how we only had two weeks — come hell or high water the Calgary Stampede would go on , '' said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi .
`` This is different .
This pandemic , this virus , this response is something that is impacting every single one of us in the world .
The Stampede was to run from July 3 to July 12 .
Officials were still hoping to pull off the event , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its staff in mid-March .
A team was working on the planning until the last minute .
That hope is now gone , said Peers .
'Very difficult : ' 2020 Calgary Stampede cancelled in light of COVID-19 pandemic `` With the best interest of the community in mind , the organization 's focus will now shift to fall , winter and spring events at Stampede Park , as well as planning for the 2021 Calgary Stampede , '' he said .
`` When it 's appropriate , we 'll gather together and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's been dubbed The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth attracts more than 100,000 people a day over its 10-day run , which includes a parade , a fair , a midway and a nightly rodeo , along with chuckwagon races .
One of the richest rodeos in the world , it offers $ 2 million in prize money .
Winners of the finals in bull riding , steer wrestling , tie-down roping , saddle bronc , bareback and barrel racing each earn a cheque for $ 100,000 , in addition to prize money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Three-time Stampede saddle bronc champion and reigning world champion Zeke Thurston of Big Valley , Alta.
, said the cancellation is disheartening .
`` I did n't think I 'd ever see the day when that would happen , '' Thurston said .
`` I feel terrible for everybody involved , the city , the revenue that will be lost in this .
`` If it 's the move they need to make , it 's probably the right one .
Everyone 's health is probably a bigger deal in the large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really sad about it . ''
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of many festivals and events across the country .

It survived the Great Depression, the Second World War and a massive flood seven years ago, but the Calgary Stampede has become a casualty of COVID-19. The Calgary Stampede's board of directors announced Thursday the cancellation of the world-famous exhibition and rodeo this year because of the novel coronavirus. "It's hard but it's the right thing to do," said Stampede president and board chairman Dana Peers. "As you can imagine, it's very difficult to be here to share this announcement. As a community celebration, the cancellation of our annual event comes with our community, public health and safety front of mind." The Stampede first started on an annual basis in 1923.
It had been held every year since then, including when Calgary and other communities in southern Alberta were devastated by flooding in 2013. The Stampede grounds were under water but frantic work was done so it could go ahead. "I remember standing at this podium seven years ago and talking about how we only had two weeks — come hell or high water the Calgary Stampede would go on," said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "This is different. This pandemic, this virus, this response is something that is impacting every single one of us in the world.
The Stampede was to run from July 3 to July 12. 'Very difficult:' 2020 Calgary Stampede cancelled in light of COVID-19 pandemic Officials were still hoping to pull off the event, despite laying off 80 per cent of its staff in mid-March. A team was working on the planning until the last minute. That hope is now gone, said Peers. "With the best interest of the community in mind, the organization's focus will now shift to fall, winter and spring events at Stampede Park, as well as planning for the 2021 Calgary Stampede," he said. "When it's appropriate, we'll gather together and celebrate again."
The show that's been dubbed The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth attracts more than 100,000 people a day over its 10-day run, which includes a parade, a fair, a midway and a nightly rodeo, along with chuckwagon races. One of the richest rodeos in the world, it offers $2 million in prize money. Winners of the finals in bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, bareback and barrel racing each earn a cheque for $100,000, in addition to prize money they've collected during the 10-day rodeo.


nationalobserver--2020-04-24--Feds expected to announce rent relief for businesses forced to shut down

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce today significant rent relief to help businesses that ca n't afford to pay their landlords at a time when their operations are shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The federal help is expected to be provided in partnership with the provinces and territories , which have jurisdiction over rents .
Small- and medium-sized businesses , most of them shuttered since mid-March , have been clamouring for relief as the May 1 deadline for their next rent payments looms .
Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly told the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was expecting an announcement as early as today .
Kelly said 70 per cent of the CFIB 's 30,000 members pay monthly rent for their business premises and , of those , 55 per cent report that they ca n't afford to pay their rent next month .
• Ontario calls on military for help as COVID-19 ravages long-term care • Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond Kelly said struggling businesses need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or deferral of rent payments .
He was hoping the federal government would pick up the tab for at least 75 per cent of the monthly rent owed by businesses that have been forced to close in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
He urged the government to make the rent relief `` broadly applicable '' to all small- and medium-sized businesses , without imposing a lot of cumbersome eligibility criteria that he predicted would cause some business owners to `` give up . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we have fighting chance of having the majority , not all , but the majority of our small business community make it across the emergency phase of this ( pandemic ) , '' he told the committee .
`` Remember , businesses have been ordered to shut down in order to protect society and it is deeply unfair that they would have to pick up the costs of keeping real estate open and paying those bills while they are essentially unable to earn an income . ''
Trudeau is also scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territorial premiers this afternoon , at which he is expected to raise another issue that is under provincial jurisdiction — the tragedy unfolding at under-staffed long-term care homes where more than half of Canada 's deaths from COVID-19 have occurred .
Feds to unveil rent relief for businesses forced to shut down during pandemic Trudeau last week promised the federal government would top up the wages of frontline workers in seniors ' facilities but said it would have to be done in consultation with the provinces .
The issue was discussed during last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there was no resolution since not all provinces are experiencing the same dire problems that are plaguing long-term care homes in Quebec and Ontario .
Since then , the situation has deteriorated , with the two largest provinces calling on the federal government to send in the military to help care for people in long-term care facilities .
At his daily briefing Thursday , a visibly upset Trudeau called the situation `` unacceptable . ''
`` We are failing our parents , our grandparents , our elders , the greatest generation who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care for them properly , '' he said .
`` In Canada we should n't have soldiers taking care of seniors .
Going forward in the weeks and months to come , we will all have to ask tough questions about how it came to this .
We will all have to do more to get through this terrible situation . ''
Trudeau is also expected to take part tonight in a virtual vigil for the 22 people massacred by a lone gunman masquerading as an RCMP officer in northern Nova Scotia last @ @

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce today significant rent relief to help businesses that can't afford to pay their landlords at a time when their operations are shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal help is expected to be provided in partnership with the provinces and territories, which have jurisdiction over rents. Small- and medium-sized businesses, most of them shuttered since mid-March, have been clamouring for relief as the May 1 deadline for their next rent payments looms. Canadian Federation of Independent Business president Dan Kelly told the House of Commons finance committee on Thursday that he was expecting an announcement as early as today. Kelly said 70 per cent of the CFIB's 30,000 members pay monthly rent for their business premises and, of those, 55 per cent report that they can't afford to pay their rent next month.
Kelly said struggling businesses need a non-repayable rent subsidy, not loans or deferral of rent payments. He was hoping the federal government would pick up the tab for at least 75 per cent of the monthly rent owed by businesses that have been forced to close in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions He urged the government to make the rent relief "broadly applicable" to all small- and medium-sized businesses, without imposing a lot of cumbersome eligibility criteria that he predicted would cause some business owners to "give up."
"If we do that, I think we have fighting chance of having the majority, not all, but the majority of our small business community make it across the emergency phase of this (pandemic)," he told the committee. Feds to unveil rent relief for businesses forced to shut down during pandemic "Remember, businesses have been ordered to shut down in order to protect society and it is deeply unfair that they would have to pick up the costs of keeping real estate open and paying those bills while they are essentially unable to earn an income." Trudeau is also scheduled to hold a conference call with provincial and territorial premiers this afternoon, at which he is expected to raise another issue that is under provincial jurisdiction — the tragedy unfolding at under-staffed long-term care homes where more than half of Canada's deaths from COVID-19 have occurred. Trudeau last week promised the federal government would top up the wages of frontline workers in seniors' facilities but said it would have to be done in consultation with the provinces. The issue was discussed during last week's first ministers' conference call but there was no resolution since not all provinces are experiencing the same dire problems that are plaguing long-term care homes in Quebec and Ontario. Since then, the situation has deteriorated, with the two largest provinces calling on the federal government to send in the military to help care for people in long-term care facilities.
At his daily briefing Thursday, a visibly upset Trudeau called the situation "unacceptable." "We are failing our parents, our grandparents, our elders, the greatest generation who built this country. We need to care for them properly," he said. "In Canada we shouldn't have soldiers taking care of seniors. Going forward in the weeks and months to come, we will all have to ask tough questions about how it came to this. We will all have to do more to get through this terrible situation."


nationalobserver--2020-04-24--BC gangs changing tactics with closed borders and COVID-19 impact

Gangs and organized crime groups in B.C .
are changing how they operate and run their illegal business due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic , police forces say .
Since physical distancing protocols were enacted more than a month ago , illicit drug prices across the province have gone up , the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said .
`` Their primary commodity is harder to obtain with borders being shut down , trade and movement of people and goods more regulated and scrutinized .
It 's resulted in a supply issue , '' said Sgt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ province 's anti-gang unit .
Police are also seeing drugs laced with more cutting agents because of the lack of supply , she added .
But there has n't been a noticeable increase in gang violence , such as drive-by shootings , with gang members more conspicuous with fewer people are on the streets , Winpenny said .
• Ontario calls on military for help as COVID-19 ravages long-term care • Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department has seen a similar scenario , but it has noticed a difference on the supply of illegal drugs .
`` The main proponent of how they get their finances , which is drugs , has n't slowed , '' said Sgt .
Aaron Roed .
`` The amount of drugs on the street , the cost of drugs on the street , has remained constant since before the pandemic . ''
Investigators are working to understand how Vancouver-based gangs are getting around locked down borders .
`` They 're still getting their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past , which we do n't believe they 've had , '' said Roed , adding police could n't speculate on how gangs were maintaining supplies .
Both Roed and Winpenny emphasized that police will have a clearer sense of how gangs have been affected once the pandemic ends and crime data becomes more available .
One expert said it 's difficult to assess all the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic , but it has prompted gangs to shift to other forms of drug dealing .
`` Getting drugs to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how conspicuous this sort of activity can be with fewer people and cars around , '' said Benoit Gomis , a researcher who focuses on organized crime and terrorism .
`` It 's forcing them to think of other retail distribution avenues including online sales and courier deliveries . ''
A rise in phishing scams as well as diversifying into selling essential goods , like personal protective equipment , will help gangs bring in revenue as drug trafficking routes become more restricted , said Gomis , a sessional lecturer at the Munk School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toronto and a research consultant at the University of Bath in the U.K. Winpenny said B.C .
's special enforcement unit fears a rise in the targeting of vulnerable groups , such as children and those who have lost their jobs , as the economic impact of the pandemic extends .
It 's a concern echoed by Antonio Nicaso , a professor at Queen 's University in Ontario who researchers organized crime and the mafia .
`` Loansharking is one of the easiest ways to make money , '' he said .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as extortion or sports gambling , Nicaso said many Canadian gangs are in a healthy financial position .
`` With a major crisis , they have an opportunity to take advantage .
They may take over failing businesses or lend money to their owners to prop them up , '' he said .
But Gomis believes the pandemic , and the impact it has had on organized crime groups , does offer policymakers a chance to change Canada 's approach to drug trafficking .

Gangs and organized crime groups in B.C. are changing how they operate and run their illegal business due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, police forces say. Since physical distancing protocols were enacted more than a month ago, illicit drug prices across the province have gone up, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said. "Their primary commodity is harder to obtain with borders being shut down, trade and movement of people and goods more regulated and scrutinized. It's resulted in a supply issue," said Sgt. Brenda Winpenny, a spokeswoman for the province's anti-gang unit. Police are also seeing drugs laced with more cutting agents because of the lack of supply, she added. But there hasn't been a noticeable increase in gang violence, such as drive-by shootings, with gang members more conspicuous with fewer people are on the streets, Winpenny said.
The Vancouver Police Department has seen a similar scenario, but it has noticed a difference on the supply of illegal drugs. "The main proponent of how they get their finances, which is drugs, hasn't slowed," said Sgt. Aaron Roed. "The amount of drugs on the street, the cost of drugs on the street, has remained constant since before the pandemic." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Investigators are working to understand how Vancouver-based gangs are getting around locked down borders.
"They're still getting their supply. Unless they had stockpiles in the past, which we don't believe they've had," said Roed, adding police couldn't speculate on how gangs were maintaining supplies. Gangs changing tactics as closed borders, COVID-19 deal impact Both Roed and Winpenny emphasized that police will have a clearer sense of how gangs have been affected once the pandemic ends and crime data becomes more available. One expert said it's difficult to assess all the short-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has prompted gangs to shift to other forms of drug dealing. "Getting drugs to the streets has been the biggest challenge given how conspicuous this sort of activity can be with fewer people and cars around," said Benoit Gomis, a researcher who focuses on organized crime and terrorism. "It's forcing them to think of other retail distribution avenues including online sales and courier deliveries."
A rise in phishing scams as well as diversifying into selling essential goods, like personal protective equipment, will help gangs bring in revenue as drug trafficking routes become more restricted, said Gomis, a sessional lecturer at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy in Toronto and a research consultant at the University of Bath in the U.K. Winpenny said B.C.'s special enforcement unit fears a rise in the targeting of vulnerable groups, such as children and those who have lost their jobs, as the economic impact of the pandemic extends. It's a concern echoed by Antonio Nicaso, a professor at Queen's University in Ontario who researchers organized crime and the mafia.


nationalobserver--2020-04-24--BC Attorney General rolling out First Nations justice strategy

Sparked in good measure by the disproportionate number of Indigenous people in B.C .
's jails and prisons , an ambitious plan to create a separate justice system for First Nations is in the works .
Unveiled earlier this month , the First Nations Justice Strategy is the `` first strategy for Indigenous people that is actually written by Indigenous people , '' B.C .
Attorney General David Eby said during an interview with the Citizen while in Prince George this week .
Produced over the course of two years , it sets out a wide-ranging course of actions aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in custody by giving First Nations significantly-greater control over how disputes are handled and offenders are treated .
In 2017-18 , Indigenous adults and youth accounted for roughly 30 per cent of B.C .
's in-custody population , up from about 20 per cent a decade before , while making up just six per cent of the province 's population .
`` The way that the system is going is not sustainable , '' Eby said .
`` We ca n't just keep locking up more and more Indigenous people and hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're not , they 're getting worse .
• Ontario calls on military for help as COVID-19 ravages long-term care • Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond `` This is a way to try to do things differently and respond to that crisis that we face and hopefully provide some support for these communities to try and turn themselves around . ''
Key among the strategy 's actions is a call to advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and institutions '' and falling from that , development of First Nations courts .
There are six Indigenous courts in B.C.
, including one in Prince George that is held in provincial court once a month .
While they are more culturally-appropriate than the mainstream version , the strategy effectively calls for a separately-run system of courts where First Nations laws and jurisdictions are applied through First Nations courts .
If that sounds dramatic , said Eby , one need look no further than Washington State to see a example of what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a very developed justice system that is run by and for Indigenous people in that state , '' he said .
`` People of a particular Tribe , as is the American terminology , can opt into their own justice systems that are run by their own Tribe .
`` They are n't more lenient but they are more responsive to cultural realities .
So they 're going to have someone judging them who is a member of their own Tribe , a member of their own community , and for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Other actions in the strategy include increasing the number of so-called Gladue writers in the spirit of the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision on R v Gladue .
It requires judges to consider an Indigenous offender 's background in crafting a sentence and that , in turn , often requires a report written by someone trained in compiling them .
It also calls for increasing the representation of Indigenous people on the other side of the justice system in the form of judges and Crown prosecutors .
Just five of B.C @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indigenous and of the roughly 460 prosecutors in B.C.
, no more than five identify as First Nations .
For those serving sentences , expanding culturally-based programs at correctional centres is also a goal , as is developing a network of corrections alternatives within First Nations .
B.C .
Corrections is also working with some First Nations to develop the supports to successfully reintegrate members back into their communities once they have been released from custody .
Next steps include establishment of three Indigenous Justice Centres to provide `` wrap-around '' services related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what will be offered will differ between communities and depend on what services are already in place , `` but for starters , it 'll be a lawyer , a legal worker , advocates to support people who are involved in the justice system . ''
The communities where they will be set up are to be announced before the fiscal year ends but `` Prince George would be a totally appropriate location , '' Eby said .
Many of the goals in the strategy have been described as aspirational and are contingent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plate .
However , Eby said Ottawa has place a big priority on the issue and during a recent meeting B.C .
's strategy was presented to federal and provincial justice ministers .

Sparked in good measure by the disproportionate number of Indigenous people in B.C.'s jails and prisons, an ambitious plan to create a separate justice system for First Nations is in the works. Unveiled earlier this month, the First Nations Justice Strategy is the "first strategy for Indigenous people that is actually written by Indigenous people," B.C. Attorney General David Eby said during an interview with the Citizen while in Prince George this week. Produced over the course of two years, it sets out a wide-ranging course of actions aimed at reducing the number of Indigenous people in custody by giving First Nations significantly-greater control over how disputes are handled and offenders are treated. In 2017-18, Indigenous adults and youth accounted for roughly 30 per cent of B.C.'s in-custody population, up from about 20 per cent a decade before, while making up just six per cent of the province's population. "The way that the system is going is not sustainable," Eby said. "We can't just keep locking up more and more Indigenous people and hope that things are going to change because they're not, they're getting worse.
"This is a way to try to do things differently and respond to that crisis that we face and hopefully provide some support for these communities to try and turn themselves around." Key among the strategy's actions is a call to advance First Nations "self-determination of justice systems and institutions" and falling from that, development of First Nations courts. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions There are six Indigenous courts in B.C., including one in Prince George that is held in provincial court once a month. While they are more culturally-appropriate than the mainstream version, the strategy effectively calls for a separately-run system of courts where First Nations laws and jurisdictions are applied through First Nations courts.
If that sounds dramatic, said Eby, one need look no further than Washington State to see a example of what the strategy is talking about. Attorney General rolling out First Nations justice strategy "They have a very developed justice system that is run by and for Indigenous people in that state," he said. "People of a particular Tribe, as is the American terminology, can opt into their own justice systems that are run by their own Tribe. "They aren't more lenient but they are more responsive to cultural realities. So they're going to have someone judging them who is a member of their own Tribe, a member of their own community, and for some people that makes a significant difference." Other actions in the strategy include increasing the number of so-called Gladue writers in the spirit of the 1999 Supreme Court of Canada decision on R v Gladue. It requires judges to consider an Indigenous offender's background in crafting a sentence and that, in turn, often requires a report written by someone trained in compiling them. It also calls for increasing the representation of Indigenous people on the other side of the justice system in the form of judges and Crown prosecutors. Just five of B.C.'s 150 provincial court judges are Indigenous and of the roughly 460 prosecutors in B.C., no more than five identify as First Nations.
For those serving sentences, expanding culturally-based programs at correctional centres is also a goal, as is developing a network of corrections alternatives within First Nations. B.C. Corrections is also working with some First Nations to develop the supports to successfully reintegrate members back into their communities once they have been released from custody. Next steps include establishment of three Indigenous Justice Centres to provide "wrap-around" services related to legal help and support. Exactly what will be offered will differ between communities and depend on what services are already in place, "but for starters, it'll be a lawyer, a legal worker, advocates to support people who are involved in the justice system." The communities where they will be set up are to be announced before the fiscal year ends but "Prince George would be a totally appropriate location," Eby said.


nationalobserver--2020-04-24--Feds pour $1.1B into COVID-19 vaccine development, tracking of cases

While the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future would be ideal , other solutions to the pandemic it has caused might appear first , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in announcing more than $ 1 billion for medical research and testing to battle the virus .
The federal government also created a task force Thursday to oversee blood-test surveys to see how widely the virus has spread in Canada and provide reliable estimates of immunity and vulnerabilities among Canadians .
The new cash builds on $ 275 million in research funding the Liberals announced in March at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new money is aimed at funding vaccine development and clinical trials , including $ 600 million over two years through a federal innovation fund .
Smaller amounts will support scientific efforts to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 and a project led by Genome Canada to track the virus , its different strains and how it makes people ill in different ways .
• Ontario calls on military for help as COVID-19 ravages long-term care • Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada needs to respond `` A vaccine , obviously , arriving soon would be the best solution , '' Trudeau told a news briefing outside his Ottawa residence .
But he said it may be a long while before a vaccine emerges , and there are discussions about treatments for COVID-19 that might also be effective .
`` I mean , we 've been waiting for and looking for and searching for a vaccine for AIDS for decades now and it still has n't come .
But there are treatments that mean quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been massively improved , '' Trudeau said .
`` There are different ways of moving through .
We will take the best ways we possibly can as we move forward . ''
The new COVID-19 immunity task force will operate under the direction of a group that includes Theresa Tam , the country 's chief medical officer , and Mona Nemer , the chief federal science adviser .
`` They 'll be looking at key questions like how many people beyond those we 've already tested have had COVID-19 , whether you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if so , how long that lasts , '' Trudeau said .
The government expects at least one million Canadians will be tested over two years as part of the study .
The current standard testing checks for the presence of the virus now , but immunity testing identifies antibodies that reveal who has been exposed to the virus previously , Nemer told a briefing Thursday .
Together , the two will provide a better picture of the overall number of people who have been infected .
Data will help with everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determining which public health measures are most effective .
`` The better we understand this virus , its spread and its impact on different people , the better we can fight it and eventually defeat it , '' Trudeau said .
About 20,000 Canadians are being tested daily to see if they have COVID-19 , almost double the number earlier this month .
But testing must accelerate even further before Canadians can begin resuming their usual activities , the prime minister said .
The various initiatives outlined Thursday are about empowering scientists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Innovation , Science and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains .
`` Science is a fundamental component to beating COVID-19 and in order for us to move ahead we need to search for and develop therapeutics and vaccines and we need to have the capacity to manufacture them in Canada as well , '' he said in an interview .
`` This made-in-Canada solution and this mobilization effort is very much focused on the health crisis , but also going to benefit Canada in the medium and long-term as well . ''
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published April 23 , 2020 .

While the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future would be ideal, other solutions to the pandemic it has caused might appear first, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in announcing more than $1 billion for medical research and testing to battle the virus. The federal government also created a task force Thursday to oversee blood-test surveys to see how widely the virus has spread in Canada and provide reliable estimates of immunity and vulnerabilities among Canadians. The new cash builds on $275 million in research funding the Liberals announced in March at the outset of the pandemic. Most of the new money is aimed at funding vaccine development and clinical trials, including $600 million over two years through a federal innovation fund. Smaller amounts will support scientific efforts to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 and a project led by Genome Canada to track the virus, its different strains and how it makes people ill in different ways.
"A vaccine, obviously, arriving soon would be the best solution," Trudeau told a news briefing outside his Ottawa residence. But he said it may be a long while before a vaccine emerges, and there are discussions about treatments for COVID-19 that might also be effective. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions "I mean, we've been waiting for and looking for and searching for a vaccine for AIDS for decades now and it still hasn't come. But there are treatments that mean quality of life for people with HIV have been massively improved," Trudeau said.
"There are different ways of moving through. We will take the best ways we possibly can as we move forward." Feds pour $1.1B into COVID-19 vaccine development, tracking of cases The new COVID-19 immunity task force will operate under the direction of a group that includes Theresa Tam, the country's chief medical officer, and Mona Nemer, the chief federal science adviser. "They'll be looking at key questions like how many people beyond those we've already tested have had COVID-19, whether you're immune once you've had it and, if so, how long that lasts," Trudeau said. The government expects at least one million Canadians will be tested over two years as part of the study. The current standard testing checks for the presence of the virus now, but immunity testing identifies antibodies that reveal who has been exposed to the virus previously, Nemer told a briefing Thursday. Together, the two will provide a better picture of the overall number of people who have been infected.
Data will help with everything from rollouts of a potential vaccine to determining which public health measures are most effective. "The better we understand this virus, its spread and its impact on different people, the better we can fight it and eventually defeat it," Trudeau said. About 20,000 Canadians are being tested daily to see if they have COVID-19, almost double the number earlier this month. But testing must accelerate even further before Canadians can begin resuming their usual activities, the prime minister said.


nationalobserver--2020-04-24--New COVID-19 survey stats may not reflect elder islanders state of mind

Seniors are the most likely age group to be extremely worried about their health and social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic , according to a new Statistics Canada survey But the older residents on Quadra and Cortes , rural islands located off B.C.
’ s west coast may be bucking that trend .
A total of 200,000 people took part in the federal agency ’ s first voluntary online questionnaire about how COVID-19 is affecting their lives .
The goal of the crowdsourcing project is to generate timely , relevant information about the pandemic policy-makers can use in decision making , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while senior survey participants were most concerned about their health during the crisis , younger participants were more concerned about the social and economic consequences of COVID-19 .
• Ontario calls on military for help as COVID-19 ravages long-term care • Canada ’ s murky bailout deal for oil and gas will cost us all • COVID-19 is creating a food crisis and Canada needs to respond However , regardless of age , at least 80 per cent of participants in all age groups reported being very or extremely anxious about overloading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of participants reported they were worried about vulnerable people 's health .
More specifically , 60 per cent of seniors participating in the survey reported they are very or extremely concerned about their own health .
Quadra Island senior Jim Ludgate , 77 , said while he follows self-isolation COVID-19 protocols , he ’ s not overly worried about his health .
“ I ’ m careful but not concerned , ” Ludgate said , adding he ’ s generally healthy and has no significant underlying conditions that put him at greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes sure to eat well and exercise .
He and his wife avoid leaving their house to limit their exposure to the virus .
“ I go out once a month for a seniors shop in Campbell River , and once a week for perishables on the island , ” he said.
“ And that involves wearing a mask , washing my hands and that sort of thing.
” `` I have the impression that people just don ’ t want to make a fuss .
Maybe it also has something to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island , ” Cortes Island senior Carina Verhoeve , on her peers state of mind around COVID-19 '' He notes there is access to medical help or services on the island if he needs it .
But , he is philosophical about the risks of the virus .
“ My faith is another aspect of it .
I ’ m trusting in God ’ s provision for me , whether it comes for me or not , ” Ludgate said .
“ Although , God ’ s provision isn ’ t always what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Ludgate make up a significant portion of the population living on Quadra and neighbouring Cortes Island .
And many other residents on the isles are on the cusp of joining their ranks , according to census data .
The median age on Quadra Island is close to 57 years old , significantly higher than B.C.
’ s median age of 43 .
Additionally , close to 29 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over , compared with the provincial rate of 18 per cent and 17 per cent nationally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar with the median age being nearly 54 years old and 28 per cent of the population falling the into seniors category .
Carina Verhoeve , co-ordinator of the Seniors Helping Seniors ( SHS ) group on Cortes Island , says her feeling is also that older residents in the community are being careful but aren ’ t overly apprehensive .
“ The seniors I ’ ve been in touch with are being very cautious , but I have the impression that people just don ’ t want to make a fuss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also has something to do with the resilience of people on the island.
” As for seniors that might be more vulnerable or isolated , the support systems are still at play during the crisis , she said “ I have my antenna out …and we deal with them now , as we did before ( the pandemic ) , ” Verhoeve said .
And some seniors on the island , even prior to the pandemic , like the solitude of rural living , she observed .
Karen Kobayashi , sociology professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria , concurred that seniors living in rural areas might weather the health crisis more easily , particularly around COVID-19 ’ s self-isolation measures .
University of Victoria sociology professor and researcher Karen Kobayashi says rural seniors might be better prepared to deal with COVID-19 's self-isolation measures .
Photo courtesy of UVic .
“ I think it ’ s very true .
It ’ s been shown in research that people who choose to live in areas with fewer resources demonstrate a kind of resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have , ” Kobayashi said .
“ They are just a more hearty persona or character.
” Also , those who choose to live in rural areas often state they prefer nature to people , and so wouldn ’ t be as negatively impacted by COVID-19 ’ s self-isolation measures , she observed .
“ There ’ s a different cultural context , people who have lived in rural areas are more likely to have lived that way for many years .
However , Kobayashi noted it ’ s no surprise that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are likely to feel very anxious about coronavirus impacting their health , given they are most at risk .
In fact , the number of seniors feeling that way is likely to be higher than six out of 10 , as suggested by the Statistics Canada survey , Kobayashi said .
The crowdsourcing survey was voluntary and facilitated over the Internet , email and social media , she added .
“ This is a select sample of older adults who have access to Internet resources , ” she said .
Vulnerable older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees or living in highly remote areas are less likely to have access to the Internet and are likely underrepresented , she added .
“ People who live in very precarious circumstances… they are the voices that would have greater concerns , because they don ’ t have the same access to health care services , ” Kobayashi said .
Maureen McDowell , board president of Quadra Circle that serves island seniors , says the group 's clients do n't seem extremely concerned about COVID-19 impacting their health unless they have serious health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maureen McDowell , board president of Quadra Circle Community Connections Circle , which provides services to island seniors , said the group hasn ’ t seen a large jump in demand from clients .
“ People have been relatively calm , we haven ’ t had anxious phone calls or a push for services , ” the 72-year-old said .
Most seniors involved with Quadra Circle take measures to protect themselves from the virus , but don ’ t seem overly worried unless they have another health condition , she said .
Quadra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and phone trees to give people the opportunity to socialize after group activities were cancelled , but there haven ’ t been many takers , said McDowell .
“ I don ’ t know if that ’ s due to our rural environment .
But , I think people have yards and gardens and ways of getting outside and amusing themselves , ” she said .
“ Certainly they are missing the social activities… but doing that online might be too big a leap for them technology wise.
” Ludgate , who attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed he ’ s able but not interested in socializing online .
“ Generally , I am social .
I do miss being more socially involved , but I don ’ t worry about it , ” he said .
“ This thing will end .
”

Seniors are the most likely age group to be extremely worried about their health and social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Statistics Canada survey But the older residents on Quadra and Cortes, rural islands located off B.C.’s west coast may be bucking that trend. A total of 200,000 people took part in the federal agency’s first voluntary online questionnaire about how COVID-19 is affecting their lives. The goal of the crowdsourcing project is to generate timely, relevant information about the pandemic policy-makers can use in decision making, Statistics Canada stated Thursday. Generally, while senior survey participants were most concerned about their health during the crisis, younger participants were more concerned about the social and economic consequences of COVID-19.
However, regardless of age, at least 80 per cent of participants in all age groups reported being very or extremely anxious about overloading the health system. Additionally, the vast majority of participants reported they were worried about vulnerable people's health. More specifically, 60 per cent of seniors participating in the survey reported they are very or extremely concerned about their own health. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Quadra Island senior Jim Ludgate, 77, said while he follows self-isolation COVID-19 protocols, he’s not overly worried about his health.
“I’m careful but not concerned,” Ludgate said, adding he’s generally healthy and has no significant underlying conditions that put him at greater risk to COVID-19. "I have the impression that people just don’t want to make a fuss. Maybe it also has something to do with the resilience of people on the island,” Cortes Island senior Carina Verhoeve, on her peers state of mind around COVID-19" Ludgate says he makes sure to eat well and exercise. He and his wife avoid leaving their house to limit their exposure to the virus. “I go out once a month for a seniors shop in Campbell River, and once a week for perishables on the island,” he said.“And that involves wearing a mask, washing my hands and that sort of thing.” He notes there is access to medical help or services on the island if he needs it. But, he is philosophical about the risks of the virus. “My faith is another aspect of it. I’m trusting in God’s provision for me, whether it comes for me or not,” Ludgate said.
“Although, God’s provision isn’t always what I would choose for myself.” Seniors like Ludgate make up a significant portion of the population living on Quadra and neighbouring Cortes Island. And many other residents on the isles are on the cusp of joining their ranks, according to census data. The median age on Quadra Island is close to 57 years old, significantly higher than B.C.’s median age of 43. Additionally, close to 29 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over, compared with the provincial rate of 18 per cent and 17 per cent nationally.