nationalobserver--2020-05-05--Have Americans gone crazy?

Have Americans gone crazy?

Andy Borowitz is a humourist who writes short satirical “ fake news ” stories for The New Yorker .
When scrolling the magazine ’ s website , you often come across headlines for his pieces – “ Trump blames plummeting poll numbers on people paying attention when he talks ” or “ Trump advises states facing bankruptcy to borrow millions from their Dads ” – and momentarily your brain processes these as real news stories .
And then it sinks in that it ’ s just another one of Borowitz ’ s humourous send-ups .
But that second of believing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of watching the United States descend into a surreal state of madness , where reality and fiction ( and satire ) have blended into a crazy mélange that defies any precedent .
Sometimes it feels like we ’ re living through one of those 1970s dystopian sci-fi movies .
Indeed , here ’ s a real headline in the Washington Post from the other day ( and not from Andy Borowitz ) - “ Republican-led states signal they could strip workers ’ unemployment benefits if they don ’ t return to work.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security guard shot and killed at a Flint , Michigan discount store because he asked a shopper to wear a state-mandated face mask .
If it ’ s not President Donald Trump ’ s incoherent press conferences , where recently he seemed to suggest injecting disinfectant might cure you of COVID-19 , or his repeated claims the pandemic is under control while the body count mounts alarmingly , then it ’ s the far-right yahoos , some of them armed with assault rifles , storming the state capitols of Colorado , Arizona and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled .
Yahoos who have screamed at the brave nurses and doctors in their hospital garb who are counter-protesting ( which is akin to kicking your rescuer in the privates after they ’ ve just rushed into a burning building and pulled you to safety ) • Education , COVID and Quebec and why we shouldn ’ t open schools • Town reverses position , asks to be included in travel restrictions Margaret Atwood once wrote ( and I ’ m paraphrasing here ) that being Canadian and sharing a border with America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your face up against a window and watching a raucous party you ’ ve not been invited to ( but wish you had ) and feeling a mixture of superiority and envy .
Today , I don ’ t think a lot of Canadians are feeling envious of Americans or wish they live south of the border .
The closest in Canada we ’ ve come to such lunacy is Premier Jason Kenney flailing away ( in Trumpian fashion ) at phantom enemies as Alberta slides towards bankruptcy , having gone all-in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the U.S. , though , the madness has been pushed to the surface by COVID-19 , which has found a nation ill-prepared to cope with the virus , despite being a global superpower .
Now we 're confronted with images similar to ones conjured by Stephen King in his novel The Stand – stories from New York of unclaimed bodies being buried in mass graves , or of up to 60 rotting corpses being discovered in two unrefrigerated U-Haul trucks outside a Brooklyn funeral home .
Neighbours discovered the bodies because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlike previous crises ( 9/11 and the 2008-09 credit crisis come to mind ) , the political class has descended into partisan bickering .
The Republicans , naturally , are to blame , having done everything possible to exacerbate the pandemic by initially claiming it was a hoax , refusing to give states supplies and money they need , and demanding people return to work as soon as possible .
Trump realizes the only play he has to win re-election in November is a strong economy .
It ’ s clear he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return to their jobs before the pandemic is under control in the hopes the economy recovers in time for election day .
It 's time to let Americans get back to work !
# MakeLibertyWin # ReOpenAmerica pic.twitter.com/7mGSoQmKEm — Young Americans for Liberty ( @ YALiberty ) May 3 , 2020 But this lunacy was very predictable .
America has been rotting from the inside for a very long time .
Don ’ t take my word for it .
The journalist and author George Packer noted in a piece entitled “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in The Atlantic recently : “ when the virus came here , it found a country with serious underlying conditions , and it exploited them ruthlessly .
Chronic ills—a corrupt political class , a sclerotic bureaucracy , a heartless economy , a divided and distracted public—had gone untreated for years.
” And esteemed Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs recently told The New Yorker : “ Basically , American politics has become deeply corrupt over decades , and it became so corrupt that normal governance already collapsed many years ago .
Nobody here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a long time , and not because it couldn ’ t be .
It has been increasingly designed to fail .
Specifically , it ’ s been designed to respond to powerful lobbies that want deregulation or tax cuts or some special privileges rather than to function in a normal way… We ’ ve had widening inequalities and massive suffering.
” Due to this dysfunction , America is now ground zero for the pandemic .
Of the world ’ s 3.6 million known cases of COVID-19 ( with 251,000 deaths ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. , with 70,000 fatalities .
And this is only the first wave of the virus .
Madness is caused by many things .
But I would argue capitalism encourages mental illness .
And no other country has bound itself more tightly to a brutal , heartless form of capitalism than America .
So much so that , against all reason , it still doesn ’ t have a socialized health care system , which means 87 million Americans have no or inadquate medical coverage .
And many of those Americans being thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also losing their health insurance .
America has the world ’ s worst social safety net for an advanced Western country – hence California alone has 151,000 homeless ( which COVID-19 will likely devastate ) .
Capitalism breeds madness because it generates relentless stress .
The stress from competition to make money , the insecurity of never knowing whether your job , company or entire industry will collapse or be moved offshore .
In my profession , over the past 15 years , I ’ ve watched the Canadian media industry go from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decimated , with an estimated 12,000 positions wiped out over the past decade .
Blue-collar workers have it much worse : both Canada and the U.S. de-industrialized , with well-paying union jobs gone : only nine per cent of the American workers are now in manufacturing .
As a result , almost 80 per cent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck .
Stress from not making enough money is enormous .
In the U.S. , almost 40 per cent of Americans don ’ t have enough to cover an unexpected $ 400 expense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have paid sick leave .
The typical American worker now earns around ( US ) $ 44,500 a year – not much more than what they made in the 1970s , if adjusted for inflation .
In 2018 , 38.1 million Americans lived in poverty , while the wealthiest one percent control ( US ) $ 35 trillion .
Moreover , capitalism rewards sociopathic behaviour : Keely Muscatell , a neuroscientist at UCLA , found that wealthy people ’ s brains showed far less activity than the brains of poor people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
And Berkeley psychologists Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner ran several studies looking at whether social class ( as measured by wealth , occupational prestige , and education ) influences how much we care about the feelings of others .
Their research overwhelmingly shows the more money people had , the more of a selfish monster they are .
On top of that , the American entertainment industrial complex churns out TV shows , movies and “ news ” programs that ignores the reality of average workers lives , while beating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in unobtainable wealth – sidestepping the fact class mobility in the U.S. has reached a standstill .
Overall , long before COVID-19 arrived , Americans were living in growing despair .
In 2018 , more than 67,000 Americans died from drug overdoses – of which two thirds were caused by opioids .
The opioid crisis has been an epidemic of the white working class – the very people corporations long abandoned – who voted for Trump , hoping he could miraculously save them from their plight .
That too turned out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s message of draining the swamp in Washington was not .
The U.S. political system and both Republican and Democratic parties have been bought by corporations , billionaires and bankers .
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton received vast sums from Wall Street during their runs for the White House , while the Republican Party is a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch and Koch Industries .
All of this cash has , by design , ensured that Congress can ’ t govern any longer .
This was seen in Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence he ’ d conspired with a foreign power to meddle in this year ’ s election , the Senate refused to throw him out .
Forget meaningful legislation on anything important .
Hence , when COVID-19 arrived , the government was no longer functioning to properly confront the pandemic .
Imagine living in that kind of society ?
You would be driven mad too .

Andy Borowitz is a humourist who writes short satirical “fake news” stories for The New Yorker. When scrolling the magazine’s website, you often come across headlines for his pieces – “Trump blames plummeting poll numbers on people paying attention when he talks” or “Trump advises states facing bankruptcy to borrow millions from their Dads” – and momentarily your brain processes these as real news stories. And then it sinks in that it’s just another one of Borowitz’s humourous send-ups. But that second of believing the headline is real is a symptom of watching the United States descend into a surreal state of madness, where reality and fiction (and satire) have blended into a crazy mélange that defies any precedent. Sometimes it feels like we’re living through one of those 1970s dystopian sci-fi movies. Indeed, here’s a real headline in the Washington Post from the other day (and not from Andy Borowitz) - “Republican-led states signal they could strip workers’ unemployment benefits if they don’t return to work.” Or what about the story of a security guard shot and killed at a Flint, Michigan discount store because he asked a shopper to wear a state-mandated face mask. I mean, that’s madness. If it’s not President Donald Trump’s incoherent press conferences, where recently he seemed to suggest injecting disinfectant might cure you of COVID-19, or his repeated claims the pandemic is under control while the body count mounts alarmingly, then it’s the far-right yahoos, some of them armed with assault rifles, storming the state capitols of Colorado, Arizona and Michigan demanding that social distancing ordinances be cancelled. Yahoos who have screamed at the brave nurses and doctors in their hospital garb who are counter-protesting (which is akin to kicking your rescuer in the privates after they’ve just rushed into a burning building and pulled you to safety).
Margaret Atwood once wrote (and I’m paraphrasing here) that being Canadian and sharing a border with America often feels like you’re pressing your face up against a window and watching a raucous party you’ve not been invited to (but wish you had) and feeling a mixture of superiority and envy. Today, I don’t think a lot of Canadians are feeling envious of Americans or wish they live south of the border. The closest in Canada we’ve come to such lunacy is Premier Jason Kenney flailing away (in Trumpian fashion) at phantom enemies as Alberta slides towards bankruptcy, having gone all-in on a stranded asset no one wants. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In the U.S., though, the madness has been pushed to the surface by COVID-19, which has found a nation ill-prepared to cope with the virus, despite being a global superpower.
Now we're confronted with images similar to ones conjured by Stephen King in his novel The Stand – stories from New York of unclaimed bodies being buried in mass graves, or of up to 60 rotting corpses being discovered in two unrefrigerated U-Haul trucks outside a Brooklyn funeral home. Neighbours discovered the bodies because they could “smell death.”
Meanwhile, unlike previous crises (9/11 and the 2008-09 credit crisis come to mind), the political class has descended into partisan bickering. The Republicans, naturally, are to blame, having done everything possible to exacerbate the pandemic by initially claiming it was a hoax, refusing to give states supplies and money they need, and demanding people return to work as soon as possible.
Trump realizes the only play he has to win re-election in November is a strong economy. It’s clear he’ll risk voters lives and force them to return to their jobs before the pandemic is under control in the hopes the economy recovers in time for election day. It's time to let Americans get back to work!#MakeLibertyWin #ReOpenAmerica pic.twitter.com/7mGSoQmKEm — Young Americans for Liberty (@YALiberty) May 3, 2020
That’s madness.


nationalobserver--2020-05-05--These 10 steps will strengthen Canada's economy and climate

The current health crisis has proven disruptive for every Canadian industry .
For manufacturers , this disruption has been especially tough .
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters ( CME ) recently forecast an overall decline in output of 5.7 per cent this year , making 2020 the worst year for domestic manufacturers since the 2008-09 recession .
Although most expect growth to rebound next year , a slower global return to growth would hit Canadian manufacturers and exporters especially hard .
Yet while the forecasts are grim , Canadians have also borne witness during this pandemic to the critical role Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Global shortages of medical equipment have caused local manufacturers to pivot from making hockey supplies , education tools and plastic moulds to producing personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , ventilators and hand sanitizer to support the COVID-19 fight .
Guelph-based Danby has converted from manufacturing home appliances like refrigerators to making ventilators for Canadian hospitals .
CCM Hockey in Quebec is making PPE for medical professionals .
Craft distilleries from Nova Scotia to B.C .
are now famously churning out hand sanitizer .
Manufacturing goods in Canada can support our resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important role in supporting jobs , communities and our economy .
The same can be said for Canada ’ s homegrown clean technology manufacturers .
Once the COVID-19 crisis has passed , these homegrown manufacturers will once again be generating local jobs , building Canada ’ s resilience to climate change , and tapping into the fast-growing global markets for low-carbon and green solutions .
We want Canadian clean technology manufacturers to win this prize , and so governments should take steps today to support them .
But supporting a growing sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall trade policy turns protectionist .
• Education , COVID and Quebec and why we shouldn ’ t open schools • Town reverses position , asks to be included in travel restrictions As supply chain vulnerabilities are exposed and the value of self-reliance becomes clearer in a crisis , it is smart policy to support our domestic manufacturers .
The risk is that we do it in the wrong way : By pushing others away to reduce our exposure to crises .
In a lower-carbon , more digitized future , this would only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy will need access to the world market to thrive .
We can use this crisis as an opportunity to help ensure we grow the right way moving forward that will make us both safer and stronger .
“ Made-in-Canada ” : The good way and the bad way Countries are now more aware than ever of the vulnerability of global supply chains .
It is now painfully clear that most of what we buy comes from elsewhere , including the medical and protective equipment front-line workers desperately need .
Governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps to take to reduce the risks of this level of disruption occurring again .
From this discussion , notes Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne , two schools of thought have emerged that take their own lessons from the crisis .
The first is “ be better prepared.
” The second is “ be less open.
” The latter is based on the view that our open economy has increased our exposure to being affected by world events like pandemics and natural disasters .
The solution is therefore to become less open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and less on the world .
Protectionism is a bad idea in the best of times .
When the going gets tough , it offers even worse prospects .
This holds more truth in a low-carbon future .
One reason why is that Canada ’ s clean technology manufacturing sector , the backbone of our future prosperity in a cleaner economy , would be especially hard-hit .
The development of Canada ’ s clean technology industry will require greater economies of scale and more competition .
Economies of scale allow for manufacturers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and develops expertise in areas like solar panel , wind turbine and battery manufacturing .
Competition creates the push to make better products , which fuels innovation .
Zero-emission vehicle ( ZEV ) demand has grown exponentially with the rise of Tesla and BYD , pushing other auto manufacturers to design and build their own ZEVs , and increasing supply enough to allow governments to set ambitious , but realizable , ZEV-purchasing targets .
`` There is still an urgent need for policies to support the growth of Canadian manufacturers in a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and helps build Canadian clean-tech champions . ''
Becoming less open to trade makes it more difficult to take advantage of these forces and grow our clean-technology manufacturing sector .
Our domestic market is not large enough to help a high volume of companies reach the scale needed to achieve the benefits of learning by doing .
It is also not large enough to support the number of competitors needed to fuel the innovation required to build world-leading clean-technology companies .
Without access to world markets , Canada ’ s forecasted rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurting job creation and increasing the cost for Canadians to meet our climate targets while growing our economy .
Protectionism isn ’ t the answer to supporting domestic clean technology manufacturers .
However , there is still an urgent need for policies to support the growth of Canadian manufacturers in a way that maintains our access to world markets and helps build Canadian clean-tech champions .
Here are 10 recommendations for non-protectionist solutions the government can consider in the coming months to build a stronger foundation for a cleaner , safer economic future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean-technology manufacturing inputs .
A recent analysis by the Toronto Board of Trade identified that elimination of 29 tariffs on clean-technology inputs would save manufacturers tens of millions of dollars in compliance costs every year , along with the $ 37 million in tariffs they paid to import those inputs .
2 .
Identify internal trade barriers that impair the clean-tech sector .
There are obvious candidates .
One is a lack of a true national securities regulator .
Another is the many interprovincial barriers to trade .
This is an opportunity for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with provinces to align efficiency and regulatory standards , similar to work started by the Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table .
3 .
Make Canada the most attractive place to start and grow a clean-tech business .
The federal government should expand the use of investor tax credits and flow-through shares for clean-technology companies .
They should also lower the corporate tax rate by 50 per cent for zero-emission solutions manufacturers , as promised in the Liberal government ’ s 2019 election platform .
4 .
Ensure Canadians have the skills needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training is critical to ensure Canadian workers are the ones building a cleaner economy .
Skills training programs can be particularly helpful right now for one demographic : Women under 25 , who have been unemployed in this crisis at higher rates than any other demographic .
Programs to increase the number of women in the skilled trades , who made up only 14 per cent of apprenticeships in 2018 , should be prioritized .
5 .
Help large businesses adopt clean technologies .
The federal government should expand the use of Accelerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all firms making clean-technology investments .
This could also be coupled with a small tax credit for firms , to encourage even faster adoption of clean technologies .
6 .
Help SMEs adopt clean technologies .
The major barriers for small- to medium-sized companies to adopt clean technology is a lack of financing , and a lack of internal capacity to spend time applying for government programs that offer it .
The federal government should boost existing loan-guarantee programs to support adoption of clean-tech across sectors , and ensure funding is allocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , local electricity and natural gas utilities , and industry associations that can work directly with companies and entrepreneurs to get money where it is needed quickly .
7 .
Help consumers adopt clean technologies .
The use of income or purchase tax credits are great incentives to support clean technology adoption , and are already successfully used for ZEVs across Canada .
Creating federal tax credits for home-heat pumps , energy-efficiency retrofits and new energy-efficient appliances are all examples of smart extensions of successful policies .
8 .
Use government procurement to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level can be a powerful demand driver for domestically produced clean technology .
The federal government can give loans to support municipalities in electrifying their corporate and public transit vehicles , help provinces electrify school buses , and help local utilities invest to modernize their electricity grids .
The key will be pairing adoption measures with manufacturing incentives to ensure the high-quality clean tech used to decarbonize Canada is built by Canadian workers .
9 .
Set out a clear path for increasing the carbon price .
Carbon pricing helps grow the market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative impacts of climate change .
It also sends a long-term market signal that helps companies plan their future investments .
One of the best ways the federal government could support domestic clean-technology manufacturing is by laying out a path today for future carbon price increases that are currently set to stop at $ 50/tonne in 2022 .
This would offer price certainty for businesses to help them plan for the transition , and support a shift of investment and workers into sectors with more favourable long-term growth prospects .
10 .
Set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate policies .
The same is true for all other emission-reduction regulations : Companies can ’ t support a transition if they don ’ t know where the country is going or how fast it intends to get there .
Policy certainty around ZEVs has been supported with purchasing mandates that have helped businesses plan asset purchasing and stock turnover rates for corporate fleets .
Clearly laying out what will happen with regulations like fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles and methane standards for oil and gas would have similar effects , and would help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the market will be moving forward .
Canada ’ s future as a domestic clean-technology giant can not happen if we turn inward .
Protectionism hurts Canadian businesses and workers and slows the market forces that are necessary to help the country meet its climate targets .
For Canada to thrive in a low-carbon future , we must maintain both the spirit of community shown in this crisis and our dedication to an open world to benefit workers , communities and our shared low-carbon future .

The current health crisis has proven disruptive for every Canadian industry. For manufacturers, this disruption has been especially tough. Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) recently forecast an overall decline in output of 5.7 per cent this year, making 2020 the worst year for domestic manufacturers since the 2008-09 recession. Although most expect growth to rebound next year, a slower global return to growth would hit Canadian manufacturers and exporters especially hard. Yet while the forecasts are grim, Canadians have also borne witness during this pandemic to the critical role Canada’s manufacturers play in our economy. Global shortages of medical equipment have caused local manufacturers to pivot from making hockey supplies, education tools and plastic moulds to producing personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitizer to support the COVID-19 fight. Guelph-based Danby has converted from manufacturing home appliances like refrigerators to making ventilators for Canadian hospitals. CCM Hockey in Quebec is making PPE for medical professionals. Craft distilleries from Nova Scotia to B.C. are now famously churning out hand sanitizer. Manufacturing goods in Canada can support our resilience in times of crisis, and plays an important role in supporting jobs, communities and our economy. The same can be said for Canada’s homegrown clean technology manufacturers. Once the COVID-19 crisis has passed, these homegrown manufacturers will once again be generating local jobs, building Canada’s resilience to climate change, and tapping into the fast-growing global markets for low-carbon and green solutions. We want Canadian clean technology manufacturers to win this prize, and so governments should take steps today to support them. But supporting a growing sector may mean little if Canada’s overall trade policy turns protectionist.
As supply chain vulnerabilities are exposed and the value of self-reliance becomes clearer in a crisis, it is smart policy to support our domestic manufacturers. The risk is that we do it in the wrong way: By pushing others away to reduce our exposure to crises. In a lower-carbon, more digitized future, this would only hurt Canadian businesses and consumers. Canada’s economy will need access to the world market to thrive. We can use this crisis as an opportunity to help ensure we grow the right way moving forward that will make us both safer and stronger. “Made-in-Canada”: The good way and the bad way Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Countries are now more aware than ever of the vulnerability of global supply chains. It is now painfully clear that most of what we buy comes from elsewhere, including the medical and protective equipment front-line workers desperately need. Governments and companies have begun to consider what steps to take to reduce the risks of this level of disruption occurring again.
From this discussion, notes Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne, two schools of thought have emerged that take their own lessons from the crisis. The first is “be better prepared.” The second is “be less open.” The latter is based on the view that our open economy has increased our exposure to being affected by world events like pandemics and natural disasters. The solution is therefore to become less open; to rely more on domestic production and less on the world. "There is still an urgent need for policies to support the growth of Canadian manufacturers in a way that maintains our access to world markets and helps build Canadian clean-tech champions." Protectionism is a bad idea in the best of times. When the going gets tough, it offers even worse prospects. This holds more truth in a low-carbon future. One reason why is that Canada’s clean technology manufacturing sector, the backbone of our future prosperity in a cleaner economy, would be especially hard-hit. The development of Canada’s clean technology industry will require greater economies of scale and more competition. Economies of scale allow for manufacturers to learn by doing, which lowers prices and develops expertise in areas like solar panel, wind turbine and battery manufacturing. Competition creates the push to make better products, which fuels innovation. Zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) demand has grown exponentially with the rise of Tesla and BYD, pushing other auto manufacturers to design and build their own ZEVs, and increasing supply enough to allow governments to set ambitious, but realizable, ZEV-purchasing targets. Becoming less open to trade makes it more difficult to take advantage of these forces and grow our clean-technology manufacturing sector. Our domestic market is not large enough to help a high volume of companies reach the scale needed to achieve the benefits of learning by doing. It is also not large enough to support the number of competitors needed to fuel the innovation required to build world-leading clean-technology companies. Without access to world markets, Canada’s forecasted rate of investment in clean technology will slow, hurting job creation and increasing the cost for Canadians to meet our climate targets while growing our economy.
Making a stronger, cleaner economy Protectionism isn’t the answer to supporting domestic clean technology manufacturers. However, there is still an urgent need for policies to support the growth of Canadian manufacturers in a way that maintains our access to world markets and helps build Canadian clean-tech champions. Here are 10 recommendations for non-protectionist solutions the government can consider in the coming months to build a stronger foundation for a cleaner, safer economic future.


nationalobserver--2020-05-05--Doug Ford blames local public health officers for lagging COVID-19 testing

Ontario Premier Doug Ford blamed local health officers Tuesday for straggling COVID-19 testing numbers that could delay the province 's reopening plans , even as he hinted public parks may soon open .
On Monday , the premier celebrated hitting his government ’ s latest milestone of 16,000 tests per day , a mark it had struggled to meet since testing problems first emerged in March .
But the province fell back down to 10,654 tests per day on Tuesday .
“ There ’ s certain medical officers in certain jurisdictions… some just aren ’ t performing , ” Ford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ m calling them out right now .
You ’ ve got to pick up the pace… I ’ m not going to name them , you know you who are .
Pick your socks up and start doing testing.
” About half of the top officials at the province ’ s 34 public health units “ aren ’ t even putting the work in as far as I can see , ” Ford added .
“ We ’ ve got to hold these people accountable , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to get on the phone with them and find out what reason , what excuse , they ’ re going to give us for why they ’ re not testing.
” Ford ’ s government has repeatedly set COVID-19 testing goals and failed to meet them .
The premier 's remarks Tuesday about the testing hangups were a significant departure from statements he made on April 8 , when he took responsibility for the problem : “ The buck stops here .
I ’ m accountable and I have no problem being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams took a softer tone Tuesday , saying there are plenty of issues at play that could look like lack of will from the outside .
Some might be struggling to get testing supplies , while others have been working to get enough staff , Dr. Williams said .
“ We will talk to them , ” Dr. Williams said , referring to local health units where testing numbers have fallen behind .
“ We ’ re going to help them do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Dr. Williams said the province has the technical capacity to process up to 19,000 tests per day .
Ontario Premier Doug Ford previously took responsibility for the province 's COVID-19 testing issues on April 8 .
But on Tuesday , he said half of Ontario 's public health units need to `` pick your socks up and start doing testing.
” # onpoli As many as half of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic , but still capable of spreading the virus , global research shows .
It can be difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is spreading without a robust and widespread testing program , which experts say is crucial for any jurisdiction that wants to begin reopening .
In a statement , Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the blame should fall to Ford , not local officials , as the province controls funding for public health units .
“ It was shocking to hear Doug Ford throw public health leaders under the bus , ” the statement said .
Good communication between politicians , provincial health officials and local health units is crucial for tackling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Timothy Sly , an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University .
And this week , it has seemed that Ford ’ s messaging — both on the issue of public heath units , and on allowing cottagers to return to their seasonal properties — has contrasted with statements from Dr. Williams , who says the curve of COVID-19 cases has not begun a definite decline .
Differing messages from official to official can be confusing for the public , Sly added .
“ Mr .
Ford is trying to do the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ His public health officers are trying to do their right thing too… sometimes there ’ s a little discrepancy between them.
” Other provinces use different systems — in Alberta , for example , public health is administered by one centralized agency that is organized into five geographic zones .
On Tuesday , Ford said his government will be looking at moving to a different , likely more centralized model , once the pandemic is over .
“ It ’ s a lot easier to hold one person accountable than 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s government had previously been working on a review of public health units , but that review is now on hold due to the pandemic , Dr. Williams said .
The Progressive Conservative government had made retroactive cuts to public health units last year , but later reversed them .
And in January , the government shifted 30 per cent of the expense of public health programs to municipalities , though it also pledged to give extra funding for the first year to municipalities that were facing more than a 10 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The province used to provide either 75 or 100 per cent of funding for public health programs . )
Centralized public health systems are a more common approach in Canada than the one Ontario is currently using .
Such a system could make it easier to coordinate crisis response , Sly said .
“ That ’ s something for the post-mortem , once all this is done , ” he added .
Trinity-Bellwoods Park in Toronto , shown here in July 2017 , has been emptier than normal since the Ontario government barred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 .
But Premier Doug Ford hinted Tuesday that parks may be able to reopen in the coming weeks .
Photo by Amber Dawn Pullin/Flickr Parks could reopen before May long weekend On Tuesday , Ford also hinted that public parks that were shuttered as COVID-19 worsened may be able to reopen by the May long weekend .
The premier publicly mulled the idea Monday of allowing cottagers to go to their seasonal properties for Victoria Day , which is May 18 this year , if COVID-19 case numbers significantly decline .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question about what could be done for apartment dwellers who can ’ t access parks or afford a second home to escape to , Ford said Ontarians should be able to use public green spaces soon .
`` We 'll have some good announcements moving forward this week , ” the premier said .

Ontario Premier Doug Ford blamed local health officers Tuesday for straggling COVID-19 testing numbers that could delay the province's reopening plans, even as he hinted public parks may soon open. On Monday, the premier celebrated hitting his government’s latest milestone of 16,000 tests per day, a mark it had struggled to meet since testing problems first emerged in March. But the province fell back down to 10,654 tests per day on Tuesday. “There’s certain medical officers in certain jurisdictions… some just aren’t performing,” Ford said in his daily briefing to reporters. “I’m calling them out right now. You’ve got to pick up the pace… I’m not going to name them, you know you who are. Pick your socks up and start doing testing.” About half of the top officials at the province’s 34 public health units “aren’t even putting the work in as far as I can see,” Ford added.
“We’ve got to hold these people accountable,” he said. “We’re going to have to get on the phone with them and find out what reason, what excuse, they’re going to give us for why they’re not testing.” Ford’s government has repeatedly set COVID-19 testing goals and failed to meet them. The premier's remarks Tuesday about the testing hangups were a significant departure from statements he made on April 8, when he took responsibility for the problem: “The buck stops here. I’m accountable and I have no problem being held accountable,” Ford said at the time. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams took a softer tone Tuesday, saying there are plenty of issues at play that could look like lack of will from the outside. Some might be struggling to get testing supplies, while others have been working to get enough staff, Dr. Williams said.
“We will talk to them,” Dr. Williams said, referring to local health units where testing numbers have fallen behind. Ontario Premier Doug Ford previously took responsibility for the province's COVID-19 testing issues on April 8. But on Tuesday, he said half of Ontario's public health units need to "pick your socks up and start doing testing.” #onpoli “We’re going to help them do whatever they need to do.” Last week, Dr. Williams said the province has the technical capacity to process up to 19,000 tests per day. As many as half of people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, but still capable of spreading the virus, global research shows. It can be difficult to get a clear picture of where the virus is spreading without a robust and widespread testing program, which experts say is crucial for any jurisdiction that wants to begin reopening. In a statement, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the blame should fall to Ford, not local officials, as the province controls funding for public health units.
“It was shocking to hear Doug Ford throw public health leaders under the bus,” the statement said. Good communication between politicians, provincial health officials and local health units is crucial for tackling a crisis such as COVID-19, said Timothy Sly, an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University. And this week, it has seemed that Ford’s messaging — both on the issue of public heath units, and on allowing cottagers to return to their seasonal properties — has contrasted with statements from Dr. Williams, who says the curve of COVID-19 cases has not begun a definite decline. Differing messages from official to official can be confusing for the public, Sly added.


nationalobserver--2020-05-05--Ontario calls for national strategy on contact tracing of COVID-19

Ontario 's premier is calling for a national strategy on contact tracing .
Doug Ford says he spoke with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday about the matter and planned to make the case to his provincial counterparts this week .
`` We need a national plan for contact tracing .
Right now each individual province is doing it , but we need a national plan , to work with the federal government and all the provinces , the 10 provinces and the three territories , '' said Ford .
`` It 's absolutely critical moving forward for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Katherine Cuplinskas , said the deputy prime minister agrees that a `` united approach '' to contact tracing `` will be key to a safe , prudent economic re-opening . ''
Thorough contact tracing is a labour intensive containment strategy in which each person diagnosed with COVID-19 is not only isolated but questioned about any behaviour that might have caused anyone in their social circle to also be infected .
Along with rigorous testing , it 's widely regarded as a key step to containing future waves or outbreaks as COVID-19 restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted by local public health authorities .
But the federal government has been trying to help strengthen the testing and tracing capacities of the provinces and territories .
Ontario 's medical officer of health , Dr. David Williams , said Monday there would be advantages to a national approach , but acknowledged it is a challenge .
`` The full package of the contact management and containment is more the challenging one , '' said Williams , referring to the process as akin to `` a full police investigation . ''
`` One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are we going to start opening up where we have inter-provincial travel again ?
Domestic flights et cetera ?
( In that case ) other provinces want to know : 'Do you have things to control in Ontario ?
We 'd like to know . '
Or , 'Do you have things to control in Manitoba , P.E.I.
, B.C.
? '
'' Ontario calls for a national strategy on contact tracing of COVID-19 cases This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4 , 2020 .

Ontario's premier is calling for a national strategy on contact tracing. Doug Ford says he spoke with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday about the matter and planned to make the case to his provincial counterparts this week. "We need a national plan for contact tracing. Right now each individual province is doing it, but we need a national plan, to work with the federal government and all the provinces, the 10 provinces and the three territories," said Ford. "It's absolutely critical moving forward for many reasons." A spokesperson for Freeland, Katherine Cuplinskas, said the deputy prime minister agrees that a "united approach" to contact tracing "will be key to a safe, prudent economic re-opening."
Thorough contact tracing is a labour intensive containment strategy in which each person diagnosed with COVID-19 is not only isolated but questioned about any behaviour that might have caused anyone in their social circle to also be infected. Along with rigorous testing, it's widely regarded as a key step to containing future waves or outbreaks as COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Contact tracing is primarily conducted by local public health authorities. But the federal government has been trying to help strengthen the testing and tracing capacities of the provinces and territories.


nationalobserver--2020-05-06--Hitting the reset button on the economy post-pandemic

No doubt , big business will lobby for lower taxes , relaxed regulation and less government intervention to prime the economic pump .
But low-tax , weak-regulation environments are what have put so many at risk in the first place .
This week , long-awaited news that community efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve appear to be working has prompted many to start thinking about “ restarting the economy.
” We ’ re not there yet , but we ’ re on the path , so it ’ s time to figure out how we will all safely return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater impact on workforce participation than child care , especially for women and low-income families .
As we all lost access to child care ( and schools ) , we acutely felt the impact on our ability to work .
At my organization , the impact was immediate : while we reduced our expectations of staff capacity to help people adapt , we still had many with children at home who had to work at reduced capacity or take paid leave due to lost child care .
The burden is disproportionately carried by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fathers at home at the same time .
The solution : ensure our new economy has high-quality , accessible , affordable child care for all .
Too much of our economy relies on cheap , insecure and sometimes unsafe labour — from grocery stores to package delivery to food production .
As the virus spread , it redefined what “ safe labour ” means , and revealed the precarious nature of work for those in the service sectors .
We also saw how the razor-thin margins of many businesses mean even a short-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take months for those businesses to rehire and rebuild , if they can come back at all .
There are a lot of potential solutions here , but at a minimum , it will require consumers to pay more of the real cost of goods and services , and for employers to provide safer environments and living wages .
This crisis has illustrated to many businesses they can have a more distributed workforce .
I ’ ve been working and leading distributed organizations for more than a decade .
At my previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with staff in five time zones .
The challenge is that going distributed can also end up offloading the costs and risks of the “ office ” onto employees .
Few employers cover the costs of at-home working , but they should .
And the regulations and tax structures that support home offices should be revisited to ensure companies don ’ t just offload their office costs onto workers .
As much of the planet has had to learn to work at home , we ’ ve had to rely on home internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have some of the highest mobile data rates on the planet .
Like heat and water , they ’ ve become essential utilities , but while the economy tanked , the telcos raised rates anyway .
If internet access becomes an essential service to access work opportunities , then we should expect our regulators to keep prices fair and affordable for every business and individual .
Our government institutions should be in partnership with business and the social sector , each one fulfilling different roles to create a resilient society .
Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often forget that essential role and treat government like a drag on the system , rather than a balance and a safety net .
We ’ ve seen a lot of fairweather capitalism in these past weeks , as those who usually criticize government for overreaching suddenly became “ crisis socialists , ” demanding costly interventions to save their businesses .
I ’ m glad governments stepped up to help , but I suspect memories will be short as we reach the end of the crisis .
Perhaps the right reset is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all three sectors , and ensure we fund government services adequately and consistently , in times of stability and in times of crisis .
There are big lessons this pandemic can teach us about the failings of our old economy , and even bigger calamities like climate change still on the horizon .
What we think of as normal is gone , and it isn ’ t coming back .
Let ’ s use this moment to reshape our future into something more fair and equitable — something that builds a better economy @ @ @

This week, long-awaited news that community efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve appear to be working has prompted many to start thinking about “restarting the economy.” We’re not there yet, but we’re on the path, so it’s time to figure out how we will all safely return to work. Let’s remember something important: the pre-pandemic economy failed us all in many ways. The coronavirus revealed, with terrible consequences, the inequities, weaknesses and wilful ignorance that had been built into the market. No doubt, big business will lobby for lower taxes, relaxed regulation and less government intervention to prime the economic pump. But low-tax, weak-regulation environments are what have put so many at risk in the first place. We should ignore the lobbyists, and try something different. Let’s imagine a reset, not a restart. Let’s learn from this moment and create the economy we want — one that serves everyone, makes our infrastructure resilient and promotes sustainable growth resistant to future shocks.
Universal child care No other service has a greater impact on workforce participation than child care, especially for women and low-income families. As we all lost access to child care (and schools), we acutely felt the impact on our ability to work. At my organization, the impact was immediate: while we reduced our expectations of staff capacity to help people adapt, we still had many with children at home who had to work at reduced capacity or take paid leave due to lost child care. The burden is disproportionately carried by women in our communities, even with fathers at home at the same time. The solution: ensure our new economy has high-quality, accessible, affordable child care for all. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Safe, secure work for all
Too much of our economy relies on cheap, insecure and sometimes unsafe labour — from grocery stores to package delivery to food production. As the virus spread, it redefined what “safe labour” means, and revealed the precarious nature of work for those in the service sectors. We also saw how the razor-thin margins of many businesses mean even a short-term shock can wipe them out. It will take months for those businesses to rehire and rebuild, if they can come back at all. There are a lot of potential solutions here, but at a minimum, it will require consumers to pay more of the real cost of goods and services, and for employers to provide safer environments and living wages. "No doubt, big business will lobby for lower taxes, relaxed regulation and less government intervention to prime the economic pump. But low-tax, weak-regulation environments are what have put so many at risk in the first place." Distributed work, distributed expenses This crisis has illustrated to many businesses they can have a more distributed workforce. I’ve been working and leading distributed organizations for more than a decade. At my previous organization, we went fully distributed, with staff in five time zones. The challenge is that going distributed can also end up offloading the costs and risks of the “office” onto employees. Few employers cover the costs of at-home working, but they should. And the regulations and tax structures that support home offices should be revisited to ensure companies don’t just offload their office costs onto workers. Internet as a utility As much of the planet has had to learn to work at home, we’ve had to rely on home internet and mobile connections more than ever. We have some of the highest mobile data rates on the planet. Like heat and water, they’ve become essential utilities, but while the economy tanked, the telcos raised rates anyway. If internet access becomes an essential service to access work opportunities, then we should expect our regulators to keep prices fair and affordable for every business and individual.


nationalobserver--2020-05-06--Time for governments to think outside the box on COVID-19 relief plans

Over the past few weeks , the three levels of government have taken the financial plight of Canadians seriously by introducing a number of measures ostensibly to ease the financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
These benefits take into consideration a broad range of subcategories : those who have lost income ; renters and homeowners ; families ; seniors ; students ; businesses ; and Canadians abroad .
The measures include suspension of some enforcement rights , subsidies , grants , loans , tax and utility bill deferrals , calls for mortgage relief from banks , and requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with auto insurance .
There is no doubt these are well-intentioned efforts , but as with everything , the devil is in the details .
First —assuming one qualifies for some of these programs — they come with significant administration challenges , resulting in long waits in delivery of the assistance or access .
This is compounded by technological problems caused by overload of government institutions and systems .
Second , some of these programs are vague requests from the government .
At some level , these mere directions have to turn into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context of banks and insurance companies that have been given too much discretion in whether they should assist and how .
Some have shown more understanding and have been more co-operative than others .
Third , there must be better co-ordination between municipal , provincial and federal governments on how these economic relief initiatives would , or should , work together .
In practice , there are too many gaps .
Fourth , a number of these efforts leave much uncertainty .
Many provinces have commendably assured tenants they can not be forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-payment .
For instance , Ontario has adjourned all landlord and tenant hearings to ensure there will be no evictions until after the pandemic .
Landlords , most of whom ( contrary to public perception ) are not big payers , are being left holding the bag , still having to cover maintenance , taxes , utilities and mortgage payments .
In the commercial context , there was even less clarity until last week when Ottawa announced an agreement in principle with the provinces to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for instance , it will be known as the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance ( OCECRA ) program .
The idea is for tenants and landlords to share the impact with assistance from the government .
The landlord and tenant would be expected to contribute 25 per cent each , with the provincial and federal governments coming up with the remaining 50 per cent .
As an illustration , a commercial tenant previously paying $ 1,000 monthly would pay only $ 250 , the governments will loan $ 500 and the landlord will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it appears as if the landlord is taking a $ 250 monthly hit .
To qualify ( among other things ) there must be a mortgage on the property and the money advanced under the program is being called a “ loan.
” “ The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April , May , and June , ” the federal government said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the small business tenants ’ rent by at least 75 per cent under a rent forgiveness agreement , which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place .
The small business tenant would cover the remainder , up to 25 per cent of the rent.
” `` There is no doubt COVID-19 projects are well-intentioned efforts , but as with everything , the devil is in the details . ''
Landlords have expressed concerns about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The governments have also called on banks to offer mortgage deferrals , but details are sketchy .
Given that it is left up to the individual banks , there is a great deal of uncertainty .
It is also highly unlikely that this loan deferral would be offered on investment properties , as opposed to owner-occupied properties .
Moreover , as many observers have pointed out , even if a deferral is granted , the borrower will face compound interest on the deferred portion , including on the deferred interest component .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source of potential help for businesses that is left wanting .
It offers a 75 per cent wage subsidy to businesses that have lost 30 per cent of their revenue , or 15 per cent of their revenue in March and who expect at least 30 per cent loss going forward , as a result of COVID-19 .
It is available for up to 12 weeks , retroactive to March 15 .
To qualify for this , the employee must be on payroll .
But what about the thousands of small family-run , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners , who are not on payroll ?
They earned their incomes from their business operations , but are not covered .
Why not ?
These individuals also do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit of $ 2,000 a month , because to qualify , the person must be without income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period .
Moreover , for subsequent benefit periods , they must expect to have no employment income .
This essentially means that they must shut down their business , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given that they still have expenses to cover .
In addition to reconsidering some of these programs , the government should also think outside the box and help Canadians help themselves .
Many have financial nest eggs in their Registered Retirement Savings Plans ( RRSPs ) .
If plan holders could withdraw these funds tax-free and without penalty during this crisis , it would benefit them and the economy without costing the government .
Existing rules only allow tax-free withdrawals under the Home Buyers ’ Plan and the Lifelong Learning Plan , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis withdrawal plan ” to the mix .

Over the past few weeks, the three levels of government have taken the financial plight of Canadians seriously by introducing a number of measures ostensibly to ease the financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These benefits take into consideration a broad range of subcategories: those who have lost income; renters and homeowners; families; seniors; students; businesses; and Canadians abroad. The measures include suspension of some enforcement rights, subsidies, grants, loans, tax and utility bill deferrals, calls for mortgage relief from banks, and requests to insurance companies to be more flexible with auto insurance. There is no doubt these are well-intentioned efforts, but as with everything, the devil is in the details. First —assuming one qualifies for some of these programs — they come with significant administration challenges, resulting in long waits in delivery of the assistance or access. This is compounded by technological problems caused by overload of government institutions and systems. Second, some of these programs are vague requests from the government. At some level, these mere directions have to turn into concrete orders, such as in the context of banks and insurance companies that have been given too much discretion in whether they should assist and how. Some have shown more understanding and have been more co-operative than others.
Third, there must be better co-ordination between municipal, provincial and federal governments on how these economic relief initiatives would, or should, work together. In practice, there are too many gaps. Fourth, a number of these efforts leave much uncertainty. Many provinces have commendably assured tenants they cannot be forced to pay rent or be evicted for non-payment. For instance, Ontario has adjourned all landlord and tenant hearings to ensure there will be no evictions until after the pandemic. Landlords, most of whom (contrary to public perception) are not big payers, are being left holding the bag, still having to cover maintenance, taxes, utilities and mortgage payments. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In the commercial context, there was even less clarity until last week when Ottawa announced an agreement in principle with the provinces to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program. In Ontario, for instance, it will be known as the Ontario-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (OCECRA) program. The idea is for tenants and landlords to share the impact with assistance from the government. The landlord and tenant would be expected to contribute 25 per cent each, with the provincial and federal governments coming up with the remaining 50 per cent.
As an illustration, a commercial tenant previously paying $1,000 monthly would pay only $250, the governments will loan $500 and the landlord will forgo $250. On the surface, it appears as if the landlord is taking a $250 monthly hit. To qualify (among other things) there must be a mortgage on the property and the money advanced under the program is being called a “loan.” "There is no doubt COVID-19 projects are well-intentioned efforts, but as with everything, the devil is in the details." “The program will provide forgivable loans to qualifying commercial property owners to cover 50 per cent of three monthly rent payments that are payable by eligible small business tenants who are experiencing financial hardship during April, May, and June,” the federal government said in a statement. “The loans will be forgiven if the mortgaged property owner agrees to reduce the small business tenants’ rent by at least 75 per cent under a rent forgiveness agreement, which will include a term not to evict the tenant while the agreement is in place. The small business tenant would cover the remainder, up to 25 per cent of the rent.” Landlords have expressed concerns about the qualification criteria and the administrative burden. The governments have also called on banks to offer mortgage deferrals, but details are sketchy. Given that it is left up to the individual banks, there is a great deal of uncertainty. It is also highly unlikely that this loan deferral would be offered on investment properties, as opposed to owner-occupied properties. Moreover, as many observers have pointed out, even if a deferral is granted, the borrower will face compound interest on the deferred portion, including on the deferred interest component.
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program is another source of potential help for businesses that is left wanting. It offers a 75 per cent wage subsidy to businesses that have lost 30 per cent of their revenue, or 15 per cent of their revenue in March and who expect at least 30 per cent loss going forward, as a result of COVID-19. It is available for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15. To qualify for this, the employee must be on payroll. But what about the thousands of small family-run, unincorporated businesses with family members, including owners, who are not on payroll? They earned their incomes from their business operations, but are not covered. Why not? These individuals also do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit of $2,000 a month, because to qualify, the person must be without income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. Moreover, for subsequent benefit periods, they must expect to have no employment income. This essentially means that they must shut down their business, which may not be advisable or even practical given that they still have expenses to cover.


nationalobserver--2020-05-06--How many lives will the coronavirus save?

As the death toll from the global pandemic continues to increase , one question not being asked is : How many lives will the coronavirus save ?
The answer will provide the context we need to help avert an even greater loss of life from the coming climate crisis .
Global average temperatures are approaching the critical 1.5 C threshold above pre-industrial levels that many scientists predict will begin to trigger climate catastrophe .
This will lead to a growing number of deaths from drought-induced food and water shortages , heat waves beyond human tolerance , flooding , severe storms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is true the widespread availability of carbon-emitting fossil fuel energy has greatly improved living standards and life expectancies since the industrial revolution , global warming resulting from our carbon-based economies will soon cost more lives than the coronavirus ever will .
Every 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels results in approximately one future premature human death , according to Prof. Richard Parncutt in a paper published last October in the journal Frontiers in Psychology .
If we look at how COVID-19 is impacting three of the world ’ s largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant reductions in their carbon emissions .
Strict social-distancing measures imposed by governments in recent weeks have severely dampened global economic activity .
A positive consequence has been fewer fossil fuel emissions from manufacturing , power generation and transportation .
China ’ s carbon emissions , according to regional satellite data and industrial output , are estimated to have fallen by 18 per cent , or 250 million tonnes , between early February and mid-March compared to usual levels .
Annualized , this would be a reduction of more than 1.5 billion tonnes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are projected to be down by 400 million tonnes for the year due to declining power demands and a drop in manufacturing .
In the United States , where transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions , passenger traffic is down by 38 per cent compared to the same period last year .
Include reductions in other economic sectors and over the course of a year , the U.S. could see a decline of at least 500 million tonnes of carbon emissions .
If the carbon reductions in these three jurisdictions become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2.4 billion tonnes of emissions per year .
Add the coronavirus ’ s emission-stifling effects in other countries , and the world could see emission reductions of tens of billions of tonnes .
Using Parncutt ’ s ratio of 1,000 tonnes to one premature human death , a global emissions reduction of 20 billion tonnes will annually save 20 million lives .
`` Carbon-emitting fossil fuel energy has improved living standards and life expectancies , but global warming resulting from our carbon-based economies will soon cost cost more lives than the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insight into the scale of human suffering and death that likely awaits us if we return to the business-as-usual trajectory of economic growth of our carbon-driven economies .
Still , it would be ludicrous to suggest we keep our global economies shuttered to prevent future deaths .
But with economic output largely on hold until we get the virus under control , governments around the world now have a unique opportunity for stimulus spending that combines economic growth with acceleration toward a carbon-free economy .
Otherwise , emissions will come roaring back as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Following the 2008 financial crisis , emissions shot up five per cent above pre-crisis levels within two years after governments pumped billions of dollars into their economies .
Economic growth could just as effectively be stimulated with an approach that values the long-term human health outcomes of a carbon-free economy .
For example , financial relief to companies could have a requirement that some of the funds be used to improve energy efficiency or transition to renewable energy , thereby lowering their carbon footprints .
Now is the time to confront the dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carbon emissions to return to pre-coronavirus levels .
If the coronavirus itself is what finally gives us the push to accelerate our transition to a carbon-constrained economy , then it will have helped save millions of lives .

As the death toll from the global pandemic continues to increase, one question not being asked is: How many lives will the coronavirus save? The answer will provide the context we need to help avert an even greater loss of life from the coming climate crisis. Global average temperatures are approaching the critical 1.5 C threshold above pre-industrial levels that many scientists predict will begin to trigger climate catastrophe. This will lead to a growing number of deaths from drought-induced food and water shortages, heat waves beyond human tolerance, flooding, severe storms and new vector-borne diseases. While it is true the widespread availability of carbon-emitting fossil fuel energy has greatly improved living standards and life expectancies since the industrial revolution, global warming resulting from our carbon-based economies will soon cost more lives than the coronavirus ever will. Every 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels results in approximately one future premature human death, according to Prof. Richard Parncutt in a paper published last October in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. If we look at how COVID-19 is impacting three of the world’s largest polluting economies, we are already seeing significant reductions in their carbon emissions.
Strict social-distancing measures imposed by governments in recent weeks have severely dampened global economic activity. A positive consequence has been fewer fossil fuel emissions from manufacturing, power generation and transportation. China’s carbon emissions, according to regional satellite data and industrial output, are estimated to have fallen by 18 per cent, or 250 million tonnes, between early February and mid-March compared to usual levels. Annualized, this would be a reduction of more than 1.5 billion tonnes. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions In the European Union, emissions are projected to be down by 400 million tonnes for the year due to declining power demands and a drop in manufacturing.
In the United States, where transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions, passenger traffic is down by 38 per cent compared to the same period last year. Include reductions in other economic sectors and over the course of a year, the U.S. could see a decline of at least 500 million tonnes of carbon emissions. "Carbon-emitting fossil fuel energy has improved living standards and life expectancies, but global warming resulting from our carbon-based economies will soon cost cost more lives than the coronavirus ever will." If the carbon reductions in these three jurisdictions become permanent, the savings will total more than 2.4 billion tonnes of emissions per year. Add the coronavirus’s emission-stifling effects in other countries, and the world could see emission reductions of tens of billions of tonnes. Using Parncutt’s ratio of 1,000 tonnes to one premature human death, a global emissions reduction of 20 billion tonnes will annually save 20 million lives. These numbers provide insight into the scale of human suffering and death that likely awaits us if we return to the business-as-usual trajectory of economic growth of our carbon-driven economies. Still, it would be ludicrous to suggest we keep our global economies shuttered to prevent future deaths.
But with economic output largely on hold until we get the virus under control, governments around the world now have a unique opportunity for stimulus spending that combines economic growth with acceleration toward a carbon-free economy. Otherwise, emissions will come roaring back as we have seen in the past. Following the 2008 financial crisis, emissions shot up five per cent above pre-crisis levels within two years after governments pumped billions of dollars into their economies. Economic growth could just as effectively be stimulated with an approach that values the long-term human health outcomes of a carbon-free economy. For example, financial relief to companies could have a requirement that some of the funds be used to improve energy efficiency or transition to renewable energy, thereby lowering their carbon footprints.


nationalobserver--2020-05-06--Grocery store workers provide the essentials in isolated B.C. communities

Bertha Jeffery , owner of the Cortes Market grocery store , is unequivocal about how critical her staff is in serving the store ’ s small island community during the COVID-19 pandemic .
But her niece and store manager , Wendy Lotnick , in particular , is why Cortes Island , B.C.
, residents can still buy the groceries they need at the market in Manson ’ s Landing on a daily basis , Jeffery said .
“ I couldn ’ t do it alone … I ’ m not as healthy as I used to be and can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ But her commitment is above and beyond .
Most people wouldn ’ t go that extra step to make the sacrifices she ’ s making.
” Lotnick , 54 , concedes the hours are long .
She ’ s been working alongside Jeffery for nine hours a day , seven days a week since mid-March .
“ It ’ s hard .
But you ’ re doing what you have to , ” Lotnick said .
“ But , we ’ re just getting to the point where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week.
” Extra work and worry are part and parcel of the pandemic , but for Lotnick , the most difficult thing about being an essential worker is living apart from her family , to protect their health .
“ I ’ m living with Bertha , ” Lotnick said .
“ I don ’ t want to risk bringing something home to them.
” Both her husband and father-in-law fall into the high-risk category should they get COVID-19 , and her one-year-old grandson Linus also lives in her home .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go home and play and cuddle the grandbaby , ” Lotnick said .
“ But without me helping Bertha at the store , we wouldn ’ t be able to keep it open and help the community . ''
“ My mom won ’ t let me near her now .
I totally understand it , but it makes me sad because we ’ re really close , and we ’ re huggers , ” Quadra Island grocery store worker Emma Arps on the drawbacks of working during the COVID-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lotnick stressed .
“ Because my family is also part of that community , ” she said .
Sandwiched between Vancouver Island and the mainland of B.C.
, Cortes is a tiny community of approximately 1,000 permanent residents with the only access to the island being plane , boat or ferry from neighbouring Quadra Island .
Cortes boasts four small stores that serve the island ’ s three village centres .
The island ’ s grocery stores play an outsize role in the lives of Cortes residents , Jeffery said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not actually part of the ( grocery ) business itself , ” she said .
Islanders often phone up stores for updates on ferry delays or power outages , or use the stores to organize community initiatives or fundraisers , and as informal depots to pick up and drop off items for friends or neighbours .
“ We are like a community centre in a way , ” Jeffery says of the market .
“ It ’ s a social place .
When people are lonely , they come to the store to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing protocols , that social connection still happens to some extent , she said .
“ They still gather around the picnic table outside , we ’ ve just asked them to sit six feet apart.
” Eric Hargrave , general manager at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op , concurs , saying at the beginning of the pandemic , people got in and out with their groceries or utilized the store 's delivery services to a greater degree .
But customers are starting to shop in person at the store again , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly transactional , but less over time , ” Hargrave said .
“ Some people are starting to hang around outside and talk again.
” The Co-op ’ s essential workers have ensured residents don ’ t have to travel off-island to get food during the pandemic , Hargrave said “ We ’ re really lucky ( staff ) decided to stay , otherwise we ’ d be closed , ” he said .
Prior to the pandemic , many Cortes residents would make the two-ferry journey into Campbell River on Vancouver Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with BC Ferries and provincial health authorities asking people to restrict non-essential travel , more residents have been buying locally .
“ Our business is up 30 per cent compared to last year , ” Hargrave said .
Eric Hargrave , general manager at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op , says the store 's staff are dedicated to serving their community and keeping the enterprise open during the pandemic .
Photo : Courtesy of Cortes Co-op .
The Co-op has boosted staff wages in recognition of their service during the crisis , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that made a difference for staff to continue working .
“ I think it ’ s their commitment and service to the community , ” he said .
“ The extra pay helps , but it ’ s not enough to justify staying.
” Hargrave said one of the greatest difficulties staff face working at the Co-op during the pandemic is customers who aren ’ t willing to follow new health protocols at store .
“ We have daily interactions with people who don ’ t know , or don ’ t care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And that ’ s a lot harder to deal with than any fear of the virus itself.
” Rob Pain , manager of the Quathiaski Cove Tru Value grocery store on Quadra Island , said staff has also faced some complaints from customers about new COVID-19 measures .
“ There hasn ’ t been anything too serious , but a few people have voiced their displeasure about things like waiting in lines outside , ” Pain said .
But other people are leaving donations for staff , which are contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recognition of its workers , Pain added .
“ Lots of customers are grateful .
And I ’ m very appreciative of staff ’ s efforts , ” Pain said .
“ We ’ ve been through quite a bit together , as we navigate this new experience.
” Tru Value Foods employees Emma Arps and Lena Nielsen actually applied to work at the Quadra Island Quathiaski Cove store at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Photo : Rochelle Baker Some Tru Value employees actually applied for work at the Q @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
Emma Arps , 21 , said she hasn ’ t found working at the grocery store during the crisis too alarming or difficult .
“ But I didn ’ t know what it was like before the pandemic , so I didn ’ t know anything different and didn ’ t have to adjust to anything new , ” Arps said .
Customers , overall have been good to her , she said .
“ But occasionally we get people in who think ( the safety protocols ) are all nonsense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The hardest part is not being able to have close contact with her mom , who is also an essential worker for BC Ferries .
“ My mom won ’ t let me near her now , ” Arps said .
“ I totally understand it , but it makes me sad because we ’ re really close , and we ’ re huggers.
” Lena Nielsen , 52 , who works in the hospitality industry , took on the job when she realized the upcoming summer tourist season was collapsing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she could get government benefits , and opted to work instead .
“ I decided I would probably be much happier working and helping out , ” Nielsen said .
She felt stressed about possibly getting sick in the early weeks of the pandemic , but less so now .
“ But things have settled down and there ’ s not as many cases as people predicted on the island , ” she said .
“ So I ’ m feeling more comfortable.
” She recognizes the public is generally thankful that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But , she has some misgivings and thinks society ’ s gratitude might not be enough when it involves colleagues who had no option but to work .
“ For me it was a choice , so I really enjoy the appreciation , ” Nielsen said .
“ But being thanked for something you literally had to do survive can be a hard pill to swallow .
”

Lotnick, 54, concedes the hours are long. She’s been working alongside Jeffery for nine hours a day, seven days a week since mid-March.
“But her commitment is above and beyond. Most people wouldn’t go that extra step to make the sacrifices she’s making.”
“I couldn’t do it alone … I’m not as healthy as I used to be and can’t stand for a long time,” she said.
But her niece and store manager, Wendy Lotnick, in particular, is why Cortes Island, B.C., residents can still buy the groceries they need at the market in Manson’s Landing on a daily basis, Jeffery said.
Bertha Jeffery, owner of the Cortes Market grocery store, is unequivocal about how critical her staff is in serving the store’s small island community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m living with Bertha,” Lotnick said. “I don’t want to risk bringing something home to them.”
Extra work and worry are part and parcel of the pandemic, but for Lotnick, the most difficult thing about being an essential worker is living apart from her family, to protect their health.
“It’s hard. But you’re doing what you have to,” Lotnick said. “But, we’re just getting to the point where we both might get one day off a week.”
But the sacrifices are worth it, Lotnick stressed. “Because my family is also part of that community,” she said.
“But without me helping Bertha at the store, we wouldn’t be able to keep it open and help the community."
“The biggest thing is not being able to go home and play and cuddle the grandbaby,” Lotnick said.
Both her husband and father-in-law fall into the high-risk category should they get COVID-19, and her one-year-old grandson Linus also lives in her home.
The island’s grocery stores play an outsize role in the lives of Cortes residents, Jeffery said.
Cortes boasts four small stores that serve the island’s three village centres.
Sandwiched between Vancouver Island and the mainland of B.C., Cortes is a tiny community of approximately 1,000 permanent residents with the only access to the island being plane, boat or ferry from neighbouring Quadra Island.
“We offer a lot of services that are not actually part of the (grocery) business itself,” she said.
Islanders often phone up stores for updates on ferry delays or power outages, or use the stores to organize community initiatives or fundraisers, and as informal depots to pick up and drop off items for friends or neighbours.
“We are like a community centre in a way,” Jeffery says of the market. “It’s a social place. When people are lonely, they come to the store to talk to people.”
Despite the pandemic distancing protocols, that social connection still happens to some extent, she said.
“They still gather around the picnic table outside, we’ve just asked them to sit six feet apart.”
Eric Hargrave, general manager at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op, concurs, saying at the beginning of the pandemic, people got in and out with their groceries or utilized the store's delivery services to a greater degree.
But customers are starting to shop in person at the store again, he said.
“It’s still mostly transactional, but less over time,” Hargrave said. “Some people are starting to hang around outside and talk again.”
The Co-op’s essential workers have ensured residents don’t have to travel off-island to get food during the pandemic, Hargrave said
“We’re really lucky (staff) decided to stay, otherwise we’d be closed,” he said.
Prior to the pandemic, many Cortes residents would make the two-ferry journey into Campbell River on Vancouver Island to do a big shop.
But with BC Ferries and provincial health authorities asking people to restrict non-essential travel, more residents have been buying locally.
“Our business is up 30 per cent compared to last year,” Hargrave said.
Eric Hargrave, general manager at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op, says the store's staff are dedicated to serving their community and keeping the enterprise open during the pandemic. Photo: Courtesy of Cortes Co-op.
The Co-op has boosted staff wages in recognition of their service during the crisis, although Hargrave said he doesn’t believe that made a difference for staff to continue working.
“I think it’s their commitment and service to the community,” he said.
“The extra pay helps, but it’s not enough to justify staying.”
Hargrave said one of the greatest difficulties staff face working at the Co-op during the pandemic is customers who aren’t willing to follow new health protocols at store.
“We have daily interactions with people who don’t know, or don’t care about the regulations,” Hargrave said. “And that’s a lot harder to deal with than any fear of the virus itself.”
Quadra Island stores
Rob Pain, manager of the Quathiaski Cove Tru Value grocery store on Quadra Island, said staff has also faced some complaints from customers about new COVID-19 measures.
“There hasn’t been anything too serious, but a few people have voiced their displeasure about things like waiting in lines outside,” Pain said.
But other people are leaving donations for staff, which are contributed to the weekly lunches Tru Value is hosting in recognition of its workers, Pain added.
“Lots of customers are grateful. And I’m very appreciative of staff’s efforts,” Pain said. “We’ve been through quite a bit together, as we navigate this new experience.”
Tru Value Foods employees Emma Arps and Lena Nielsen actually applied to work at the Quadra Island Quathiaski Cove store at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Rochelle Baker
Some Tru Value employees actually applied for work at the Q Cove store as the pandemic was ramping up.
Emma Arps, 21, said she hasn’t found working at the grocery store during the crisis too alarming or difficult.
“But I didn’t know what it was like before the pandemic, so I didn’t know anything different and didn’t have to adjust to anything new,” Arps said.
Customers, overall have been good to her, she said.
“But occasionally we get people in who think (the safety protocols) are all nonsense, but they still keep their distance.”
The hardest part is not being able to have close contact with her mom, who is also an essential worker for BC Ferries.
“My mom won’t let me near her now,” Arps said. “I totally understand it, but it makes me sad because we’re really close, and we’re huggers.”
Lena Nielsen, 52, who works in the hospitality industry, took on the job when she realized the upcoming summer tourist season was collapsing.
She didn’t fully explore if she could get government benefits, and opted to work instead.
“I decided I would probably be much happier working and helping out,” Nielsen said.
She felt stressed about possibly getting sick in the early weeks of the pandemic, but less so now.
“But things have settled down and there’s not as many cases as people predicted on the island,” she said. “So I’m feeling more comfortable.”
She recognizes the public is generally thankful that she and her colleagues are still at work. But, she has some misgivings and thinks society’s gratitude might not be enough when it involves colleagues who had no option but to work.
“For me it was a choice, so I really enjoy the appreciation,” Nielsen said. “But being thanked for something you literally had to do survive can be a hard pill to swallow.”
Rochelle Baker/Local Journalism Initiative/Canada's National Observer


nationalobserver--2020-05-06--B.C. hopeful COVID-19 restrictions will mean fewer human-caused wildfires

With COVID-19 restrictions limiting people ’ s movement and behaviour , the normally large impact of human activity on wildfires in British Columbia is a wild card this year , say federal and provincial analysts .
Human activity — anything from careless campers dropping cigarettes to industrial accidents , sparks flying from trains , or car crashes — is responsible for about slightly more than half of all wildfires nationwide , and about 40 per cent in B.C .
On Monday , the provincial government concluded that the hugely destructive 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire was caused by a type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ materials , '' which includes cigarettes , matches , cigars and pipes .
But this year the impact may be harder to measure , said Northern Forestry Centre fire research analyst Richard Carr .
B.C .
has banned most “ open burning ” activity across the province as of April 16 , including industrial and backyard burns , slash burns , fireworks and sky lanterns .
The government said it did this both to lower demands on firefighting resources , and to reduce the impact that wildfire smoke has on air quality during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed all provincial parks , and banned camping and the use of off-road vehicles in the Koocanusa Recreation Strategy Area near Cranbrook .
Monthly wildfire severity forecasts for June , July , August and September , released May 1 , show elevated risk across a large portion of the country .
The red areas represent areas deemed to possess a `` well-above average '' forecast severity .
Natural Resources Canada screenshots Carr said he expected the changes to typical human activity to influence the department ’ s seasonal wildfire forecast , released May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of B.C .
is expected to be at “ well above average ” severity for wildfires in June , due to warmer temperatures and less precipitation .
“ With COVID-19 , most provinces are restricting open burning and recreational vehicle use in the forest .
So that might affect the number of human-caused fires , ” Carr said .
“ Definitely this year , with a possible change in human activity , we might have a possible change in fire numbers and area burned.
” With COVID-19 restrictions limiting people ’ s movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of human activity on wildfires in British Columbia is a wild card this year , say federal and provincial analysts .
The federal forecast shows that roughly half the province will fall to “ above average ” risk levels for July , but return to the most severe level in August .
Southern B.C .
is predicted to remain at the most severe risk through September .
B.C .
is already experiencing its wildfire season , with more than 100 fires having occurred so far , according to the B.C .
Wildfire Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were six active fires .
This early fire activity has been partly due to a high pressure area in the eastern Pacific blocking moisture from entering the province for several weeks in April , leading to drier than normal conditions , Carr said .
The province experienced its longest dry streak in decades early last month , but this weather pattern then flipped , bringing rain to B.C .
in spectacular fashion later in April .
B.C .
Wildfire Service fire information officer Erika Berg told National Observer that the spring has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels have “ largely been normal as well.
” She said the service was “ actually anticipating an increase in relative humidity , ” which is visible in terms of green grass and budding fruits and flowers , she said .
Those are “ positive signs of not-too-dry fuel , ” said Berg , meaning the forest would have greater resilience against fires .
Open burning activities , like the fire shown here , have been prohibited in the province .
B.C .
Wildfire Service Facebook photo Other than human activity , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is the predominant cause of fires in northern B.C .
and the country ’ s northwest , according to Carr .
Berg said typically 60 per cent of fires in B.C .
are lightning-caused , although last season the ratio was skewed as there were not significant lighting events .
The B.C .
government released an app for Android and Apple ( iOS ) on Tuesday that has an option for British Columbians to get information about wildfire activity within a 50-kilometre radius of their location .
The app , called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feature where users can report a fire using their coordinates to the provincial reporting centre , as well as a provincewide interactive wildfire map , and other useful data .
“ We ’ re just hoping that the public can be as responsible as possible in these trying times , to keep not only our communities safe , our forests safe , but also our B.C .
wildfire staff safe — those are the first responders , ” Berg said .
“ They don ’ t want to be out there if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

With COVID-19 restrictions limiting people’s movement and behaviour, the normally large impact of human activity on wildfires in British Columbia is a wild card this year, say federal and provincial analysts. Human activity — anything from careless campers dropping cigarettes to industrial accidents, sparks flying from trains, or car crashes — is responsible for about slightly more than half of all wildfires nationwide, and about 40 per cent in B.C. On Monday, the provincial government concluded that the hugely destructive 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire was caused by a type of human activity — specifically, "smoking materials," which includes cigarettes, matches, cigars and pipes. But this year the impact may be harder to measure, said Northern Forestry Centre fire research analyst Richard Carr. B.C. has banned most “open burning” activity across the province as of April 16, including industrial and backyard burns, slash burns, fireworks and sky lanterns.
The government said it did this both to lower demands on firefighting resources, and to reduce the impact that wildfire smoke has on air quality during the coronavirus pandemic. The province also closed all provincial parks, and banned camping and the use of off-road vehicles in the Koocanusa Recreation Strategy Area near Cranbrook. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Monthly wildfire severity forecasts for June, July, August and September, released May 1, show elevated risk across a large portion of the country. The red areas represent areas deemed to possess a "well-above average" forecast severity. Natural Resources Canada screenshots
Carr said he expected the changes to typical human activity to influence the department’s seasonal wildfire forecast, released May 1, which showed that almost all of B.C. is expected to be at “well above average” severity for wildfires in June, due to warmer temperatures and less precipitation. With COVID-19 restrictions limiting people’s movement and behaviour, the normally large impact of human activity on wildfires in British Columbia is a wild card this year, say federal and provincial analysts. “With COVID-19, most provinces are restricting open burning and recreational vehicle use in the forest. So that might affect the number of human-caused fires,” Carr said. “Definitely this year, with a possible change in human activity, we might have a possible change in fire numbers and area burned.” The federal forecast shows that roughly half the province will fall to “above average” risk levels for July, but return to the most severe level in August. Southern B.C. is predicted to remain at the most severe risk through September. B.C. is already experiencing its wildfire season, with more than 100 fires having occurred so far, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were six active fires.
This early fire activity has been partly due to a high pressure area in the eastern Pacific blocking moisture from entering the province for several weeks in April, leading to drier than normal conditions, Carr said. The province experienced its longest dry streak in decades early last month, but this weather pattern then flipped, bringing rain to B.C. in spectacular fashion later in April. B.C. Wildfire Service fire information officer Erika Berg told National Observer that the spring has been “fairly normal,” and snowpack levels have “largely been normal as well.”


nationalobserver--2020-05-06--Michener Award honours 'Tainted Water' investigation

‘ Tainted Water ’ has been nominated for Canada ’ s most prestigious honour recognizing public service journalism , the @ @ @ @ @ time when the media ranks are shrinking , Canada ’ s National Observer continues to @ @ @ @ @ matters of public policy .
Sometimes , we do this through partnerships and collaborations such @ @ @ @ @ ’ series .
Canada 's National Observer participated in the investigation along with students and @ @ @ @ @ and journalists from six news organizations tested tap water in hundreds of homes across the @ @ @ @ @ filed more than 700 freedom-of-information requests to governments .
The tests and information requests unveiled @ @ @ @ @ local drinking water — and resulted in promises to replace aging infrastructure and more stringent @ @ @ @ @ coordinated by Concordia University 's Institute for Investigative Journalism .
Stories such as ‘ Is @ @ @ @ @ safe ?
’ brought to light instances of dangerously high lead levels across the country @

‘Tainted Water’ has been nominated for Canada’s most prestigious honour recognizing public service journalism, the Michener Award. At a time when the media ranks are shrinking, Canada’s National Observer continues to take deep dives into crucial matters of public policy. Sometimes, we do this through partnerships and collaborations such as the ‘Tainted Water’ series.
Canada's National Observer participated in the investigation along with students and faculty from nine post-secondary institutions and journalists from six news organizations. The group tested tap water in hundreds of homes across the country, and in total filed more than 700 freedom-of-information requests to governments. The tests and information requests unveiled high levels of lead in local drinking water — and resulted in promises to replace aging infrastructure and more stringent testing. The project was coordinated by Concordia University's Institute for Investigative Journalism.
Stories such as ‘Is Canada’s tap water safe?’ brought to light instances of dangerously high lead levels across the country.
"It was a great honour to witness everyone across the country coming together to work on this project," said Institute director Patti Sonntag.
"Students and faculty and journalists at news organizations put in countless hours in the public service. Hundreds of citizen scientists volunteered to test their tap water, a team of leading researchers from Canada and the US analyzed the results, and government workers explained how policy played out on the ground. I've been told that this was the largest collaboration among journalism schools in history. Canadians are world leaders at collaborating."