nationalobserver--2020-09-11--Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denies conflict of interest in WE scandal

“ Obviously the way it ended up working out was really unfortunate for everyone involved , ” Trudeau said .
Speaking to reporters in Sudbury , Ont.
, Trudeau said he was “ regretful ” that he didn ’ t recuse himself from the decision to outsource a $ 544-million student volunteer grant program to WE Charity .
He also sidestepped a question about whether his government is to blame for the charity ’ s decision , announced earlier this week , to shutter its Canadian operations .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied that he breached conflict of ethics rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As I ’ ve said , I regret not having recused myself from the beginning because of the perception involved .
But there was no conflict of interest here.
” Trudeau and former finance minister Bill Morneau , who resigned last month , are both being investigated by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner over the decision to award the contract to WE .
Trudeau ’ s wife , brother and mother had all accepted money from the organization for speaking fees and expenses , and Morneau ’ s daughter worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said he ’ d pay WE back for $ $ 41,000 of travel expenses for a trip he and his family took with the organization in 2017 .
On Wednesday , WE Charity announced it would wind down its Canadian programming and sell off its assets .
Founders Marc and Craig Keilburger will also step away from the charity , the organization said .
Several donors and sponsors cut ties with WE over the summer amid the political fallout of the program , which was cancelled in July .
“ COVID-19 significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charity said in a statement Wednesday .

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denied that he breached conflict of ethics rules in the WE scandal on Friday.
Speaking to reporters in Sudbury, Ont., Trudeau said he was “regretful” that he didn’t recuse himself from the decision to outsource a $544-million student volunteer grant program to WE Charity. He also sidestepped a question about whether his government is to blame for the charity’s decision, announced earlier this week, to shutter its Canadian operations.
“Obviously the way it ended up working out was really unfortunate for everyone involved,” Trudeau said.
“As I’ve said, I regret not having recused myself from the beginning because of the perception involved. But there was no conflict of interest here.”
Trudeau and former finance minister Bill Morneau, who resigned last month, are both being investigated by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner over the decision to award the contract to WE.


nationalobserver--2020-09-12--Indigenous vice-chief calls on correctional service commissioner to resign

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin is calling for accountability after a panel of experts assigned to look into the use of Structured Intervention Units ( SIUs ) , in Canadian prisons released a scathing report on 19 Aug. detailing how their work was obstructed , undermined and blocked by the Correctional Service of Canada ( CSC ) .
“ The panel has now disbanded and will not be able to complete its work to ensure safety for prisoners in Canada , ” said Beaudin , who worked as a justice of the peace for the Province of Saskatchewan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an advocate for incarcerated Indigenous youth .
SIUs are meant as a way to avoid solitary confinement and are implemented when an inmate is found to be a danger to themselves or others .
The panel was supposed to gauge their effectiveness .
Beaudin said they are essentially one and the same .
`` I ’ m dealing with people in prison that have been cut completely off from their families .
Literally cut right off .
They 're not even allowed to talk to them .
Their mothers can ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison .
They ’ re not allowed , '' Beaudin said .
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin with Vancouver Granville Independent MP Jody Wilson-Raybould .
Photo courtesy of CAP .
University of Toronto Criminologist Anthony Doob , who chaired the inquiry , said their work was thwarted by a lack of cooperation from the Correctional Service of Canada .
• End times for American democracy ?
An interview with Chris Hedges • Meet Marilyn James , a warrior and matriarch for the Sinixt Salish Peoples “ Very simply , this panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , ” Doob , wrote in an Aug. 19 memo attached to the report .
Doob said the CSC did not provide workable data to go by .
Beaudin pointed to the death of Curtis McKenzie , a 27-year-old member of Lac La Ronge Indian Band , who took his own life in March while in the custody of the Correctional Service of Canada at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert .
“ He suffered from ( having been ) in solitary confinement… We fought so hard trying to get some oversight and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following international law about torture , and obviously they ’ re not , ” Beaudin told Canada ’ s National Observer in an interview on Thursday .
“ It seems like once you are in the system you ’ re done .
You ’ re hidden in the system .
There ’ s no transparency , there ’ s no accountability for officials .
They can do whatever they want.
” Curtis McKenzie , a 27-year-old member of Lac La Ronge Indian Band , took his own life in March while in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert .
Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
Beaudin said McKenzie was one of many .
`` I ’ m dealing with people in prison that have been cut completely off from their families .
They 're not even allowed to talk to them .
Their mothers can ’ t even visit them when they ’ re in prison . ''
Kim Beaudin .
@ CongAboPeoples @ BillBlair @ CSC_SCC_en “ We have no oversight .
I ’ ve counted four people who died in prison as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of federal ( prison ) and two provincial ( prison ) in Saskatchewan ... That was just in the last month and a half , ” Beaudin said .
“ This is another way of silencing people .
These are the kinds of things that happen behind closed doors that we don ’ t hear about.
” Beaudin said the panel of experts appointed to investigate SIUs gave him hope that change was on the horizon .
“ It was a faint hope but that ’ s gone now.
” Beaudin pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who he said has responsibility within the public service for the actions of her department , and for implementing the policies set out by cabinet to lower the disproportionate rate of Indigenous people in federal prisons .
“ It ’ s time for her to step down .
That ’ s what I think .
She should step down because she ’ s clearly not doing her job ... She was given a mandate by Trudeau .
It ’ s clear that she ’ s not following that mandate , ” Beaudin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair to bring fresh blood to the CSC leadership .
Ideally someone with a background other than corrections , he said .
“ Somebody who has a different way of looking at things .
Who comes to it with a different lens .
Not bringing the stereotypes that they learned when they went through the system themselves , ” Beaudin said .
The CSC said Commissioner , Anne Kelly , personally met with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and has had ongoing correspondence with them this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo : CPAC footage .
Beaudin lambasted the CSC for what he called a `` failure to expedite releases of prisoners due to COVID-19 , and a failure to implement oversight promised in 2018 relating to suicide in prisons . ''
He said it 's time to reexamine the CSC 's spending priorities .
`` I know that after this pandemic passes they ’ re going to have to look at making cuts overall to Canada ’ s budget where they spend money and prioritize money '' Beaudin said .
`` Increasing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even be a priority .
It ’ s time that we defunded the Correctional Service of Canada '' Blair ’ s office said the government continues to value and support the SIU Implementation Advisory Panel ( IAP ) and intends to renew the appointments of the Chair and its members so that it may complete its work .
“ Minister Blair has spoken with the chair of the Implementation Advisory Panel , Dr. Anthony Doob about the Panel ‘ s serious concerns and has asked the Correctional Service of Canada to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work plan that will help ensure the Panel gets all the information it needs to complete its work in a timely manner , ” Blair ’ s Press Secretary Mary-Liz Power told Canada ’ s National Observer in a written statement .
Bill Blair is Minister of Public Safety and Liberal MP for the Ontario riding of Scarborough Southwest .
Blair is a former chief of the Toronto Police Service .
Photo : Twitter/ @ BillBlair .
The federal inmate population increased 1.2 per cent since 2010 , while the Indigenous inmate population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of Indigenous incarceration within provincial correctional facilities in Saskatchewan is 76 per cent and is 65 per cent at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary .
According to the most recent national data available from the annual report of the office of the correctional investigator ( 2018-2019 ) , “ Indigenous offenders are over-represented in the number of incidents of attempted suicide , accounting for 39 per cent of all such incidents in the last 10 years.
” The CSC said it is working to improve those numbers , but said it could not provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have died by suicide in their custody by press time .
“ We recognize that there is an overrepresentation of Indigenous offenders in our correctional institutions , which is a reflection of the disparities within our society that we must all work to fix — here at CSC as well as within our criminal justice system , '' CSC spokesperson Marie Pier Lécuyer told Canada ’ s National Observer in a written response .
“ Addressing this systemic issue takes time and we know there is more work to do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Black and other racialized offenders are afforded the same protections , dignity and treatment as others , consistent with the Canadian Human Rights Act , and CSC ’ s policies , ” Lécuyer said .
She said a critical component of addressing systemic racism at CSC lies in “ our ability to listen , learn and take action by working in partnership.
” On November 30 , 2019 , a new correctional model was introduced which eliminated administrative segregation , also known as solitary confinement .
“ CSC has been – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IAP to provide the data they requested , so they can complete their important work .
We are committed to providing the Panel with what it needs as we continue to work collaboratively with them , ” Lécuyer said .
The CSC said Commissioner , Anne Kelly , personally met with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and has had ongoing correspondence with them this Spring about ways to work together .
`` We have a positive relationship , '' Lécuyer said .
The Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert is a federally run institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide the number of Saskatchewan ’ s Indigenous people who have died by suicide in their custody by press time .
The CSC has promised to fulfill National Observer 's request for those numbers as soon as possible .
Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
Kelly said she reached out to the National Chief , Robert Bertrand , again after Canada 's National Oberver asked for comment on Friday .
`` There is great strength that comes from working collaboratively with Indigenous partners , both nationally and locally , and we benefit greatly from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief , Robert Bertrand , told Canada 's National Observer that solutions do n't lie in keeping Indigenous people locked up , but in working to lower that number .
He said the CSC has to find a way to `` bring fresh air '' to the discussion .
`` So many times , if an Indigenous person has a mental problem the answer ( from Canada ) was 'let 's throw them in jail . '
That 's not a solution , '' Bertrand said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates in Canada needs to go down and that he 's willing to work with the CSC to that end .
`` We are the perfect organization to sit down with the Corrections Service of Canada to find these solutions .
Let 's bring the percentage down of incarcerated Indigenous people ... Let 's change the system ... Let 's sit down and work cooperatively , '' Bertrand said .
Bertrand said what has happened to Curtis McKenzie and others while in CSC care is unacceptable .
`` Let 's go into these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their files to the light for the Canadian public . ''
If you are or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts , help is available at all hours .
Support can be found at the Canada Suicide Prevention Service website .
If you are in immediate danger , you can call 911 .
You can learn more about suicide prevention in the province at Saskatchewan.ca .

"I’m dealing with people in prison that have been cut completely off from their families. Literally cut right off. They're not even allowed to talk to them. Their mothers can’t even visit them when they’re in prison. They’re not allowed," Beaudin said.
SIUs are meant as a way to avoid solitary confinement and are implemented when an inmate is found to be a danger to themselves or others. The panel was supposed to gauge their effectiveness. Beaudin said they are essentially one and the same.
“The panel has now disbanded and will not be able to complete its work to ensure safety for prisoners in Canada,” said Beaudin, who worked as a justice of the peace for the Province of Saskatchewan for five years, and later as an advocate for incarcerated Indigenous youth.
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Vice-Chief Kim Beaudin is calling for accountability after a panel of experts assigned to look into the use of Structured Intervention Units (SIUs), in Canadian prisons released a scathing report on 19 Aug. detailing how their work was obstructed, undermined and blocked by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).
Beaudin pointed to the death of Curtis McKenzie, a 27-year-old member of Lac La Ronge Indian Band, who took his own life in March while in the custody of the Correctional Service of Canada at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert.
“Very simply, this panel has not been allowed to do its work,” Doob, wrote in an Aug. 19 memo attached to the report. Doob said the CSC did not provide workable data to go by.
University of Toronto Criminologist Anthony Doob, who chaired the inquiry, said their work was thwarted by a lack of cooperation from the Correctional Service of Canada.
“We have no oversight. I’ve counted four people who died in prison as a result of suicide alone. I believe two out of federal (prison) and two provincial (prison) in Saskatchewan ... That was just in the last month and a half,” Beaudin said.
Beaudin said McKenzie was one of many.
Curtis McKenzie, a 27-year-old member of Lac La Ronge Indian Band, took his own life in March while in the custody of the Correctional Service of Canada at Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert. Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.
“It seems like once you are in the system you’re done. You’re hidden in the system. There’s no transparency, there’s no accountability for officials. They can do whatever they want.”
“He suffered from (having been) in solitary confinement… We fought so hard trying to get some oversight and trying to make sure that Canada was following international law about torture, and obviously they’re not,” Beaudin told Canada’s National Observer in an interview on Thursday.
Beaudin said the panel of experts appointed to investigate SIUs gave him hope that change was on the horizon.
“This is another way of silencing people. These are the kinds of things that happen behind closed doors that we don’t hear about.”
Beaudin pointed the finger at CSC Commissioner Anne Kelly, who he said has responsibility within the public service for the actions of her department, and for implementing the policies set out by cabinet to lower the disproportionate rate of Indigenous people in federal prisons.
“It’s time for her to step down. That’s what I think. She should step down because she’s clearly not doing her job ... She was given a mandate by Trudeau. It’s clear that she’s not following that mandate,” Beaudin said.
Beaudin also called for Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair to bring fresh blood to the CSC leadership. Ideally someone with a background other than corrections, he said.
“Somebody who has a different way of looking at things. Who comes to it with a different lens. Not bringing the stereotypes that they learned when they went through the system themselves,” Beaudin said.
The CSC said Commissioner, Anne Kelly, personally met with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and has had ongoing correspondence with them this Spring about ways to work together. Photo: CPAC footage.
Beaudin lambasted the CSC for what he called a "failure to expedite releases of prisoners due to COVID-19, and a failure to implement oversight promised in 2018 relating to suicide in prisons."
He said it's time to reexamine the CSC's spending priorities.
"I know that after this pandemic passes they’re going to have to look at making cuts overall to Canada’s budget where they spend money and prioritize money" Beaudin said.
"Increasing a budget at Correctional Service of Canada shouldn’t even be a priority. It’s time that we defunded the Correctional Service of Canada"
Blair’s office said the government continues to value and support the SIU Implementation Advisory Panel (IAP) and intends to renew the appointments of the Chair and its members so that it may complete its work.
“Minister Blair has spoken with the chair of the Implementation Advisory Panel, Dr. Anthony Doob about the Panel‘s serious concerns and has asked the Correctional Service of Canada to work with the Chair to develop a work plan that will help ensure the Panel gets all the information it needs to complete its work in a timely manner,” Blair’s Press Secretary Mary-Liz Power told Canada’s National Observer in a written statement.
Power said the government has made commitments to expand programs to keep at-risk youth out of the criminal justice system, make drug treatment courts the default option for first-time non-violent offenders, and introduce legislation to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Bill Blair is Minister of Public Safety and Liberal MP for the Ontario riding of Scarborough Southwest. Blair is a former chief of the Toronto Police Service. Photo: Twitter/@BillBlair.
"The SIUs are supported with an investment of $448 million for new staff, infrastructure and mental healthcare. These investments will support enhanced assessment and early diagnosis of inmates at intake and throughout incarceration, enhanced mental health care, support for patient advocacy services and 24/7 health care at designated institutions," Power said.
The federal inmate population increased 1.2 per cent since 2010, while the Indigenous inmate population increased by 52.1 per cent.
The rate of Indigenous incarceration within provincial correctional facilities in Saskatchewan is 76 per cent and is 65 per cent at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.
According to the most recent national data available from the annual report of the office of the correctional investigator (2018-2019), “Indigenous offenders are over-represented in the number of incidents of attempted suicide, accounting for 39 per cent of all such incidents in the last 10 years.”
The CSC said it is working to improve those numbers, but said it could not provide the number of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous people who have died by suicide in their custody by press time.
“We recognize that there is an overrepresentation of Indigenous offenders in our correctional institutions, which is a reflection of the disparities within our society that we must all work to fix — here at CSC as well as within our criminal justice system," CSC spokesperson Marie Pier Lécuyer told Canada’s National Observer in a written response.
“Addressing this systemic issue takes time and we know there is more work to do. We are committed to ensuring that Indigenous, Black and other racialized offenders are afforded the same protections, dignity and treatment as others, consistent with the Canadian Human Rights Act, and CSC’s policies,” Lécuyer said.
She said a critical component of addressing systemic racism at CSC lies in “our ability to listen, learn and take action by working in partnership.”
On November 30, 2019, a new correctional model was introduced which eliminated administrative segregation, also known as solitary confinement.
“CSC has been – and continues to – actively work on the IAP to provide the data they requested, so they can complete their important work. We are committed to providing the Panel with what it needs as we continue to work collaboratively with them,” Lécuyer said.
The CSC said Commissioner, Anne Kelly, personally met with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and has had ongoing correspondence with them this Spring about ways to work together.
"We have a positive relationship," Lécuyer said.
The Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert is a federally run institution. The CSC said it could not provide the number of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous people who have died by suicide in their custody by press time. The CSC has promised to fulfill National Observer's request for those numbers as soon as possible. Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.
Kelly said she reached out to the National Chief, Robert Bertrand, again after Canada's National Observer asked for comment on Friday.
"There is great strength that comes from working collaboratively with Indigenous partners, both nationally and locally, and we benefit greatly from their knowledge and involvement," Lécuyer said.
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Chief, Robert Bertrand, told Canada's National Observer that solutions don't lie in keeping Indigenous people locked up, but in working to lower that number. He said the CSC has to find a way to "bring fresh air" to the discussion.
"So many times, if an Indigenous person has a mental problem the answer (from Canada) was 'let's throw them in jail.' That's not a solution," Bertrand said. Bertrand said the number of Indigenous inmates in Canada needs to go down and that he's willing to work with the CSC to that end.
"We are the perfect organization to sit down with the Corrections Service of Canada to find these solutions. Let's bring the percentage down of incarcerated Indigenous people... Let's change the system... Let's sit down and work cooperatively," Bertrand said.
Bertrand said what has happened to Curtis McKenzie and others while in CSC care is unacceptable.
"Let's go into these prisons, find these people and bring their files to the light for the Canadian public."
Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Local Journalism Initiative/Canada's National Observer
If you are or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, help is available at all hours. Support can be found at the Canada Suicide Prevention Service website. If you are in immediate danger, you can call 911.
You can learn more about suicide prevention in the province at Saskatchewan.ca.
Editor's note: This article was updated on September 12 to add statements from the office of Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair.


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--Canada’s rural residents face thousands in medical travel costs and a patchwork subsidy system

Rural residents across Canada often rack up thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses when travelling outside their community for healthcare .
The problem is compounded by a provincial assortment of subsidy programs that can cause regional disparities and hinder equal access to medical care across the country , said Dr. Maria Mathews .
“ It really the working poor that are affected , ” said Mathews , a researcher at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western University .
Most provinces and territories - except Alberta and New Brunswick - offer some program to subsidize the costs related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mathews .
The methods and benefits vary with some provinces providing discount programs to lower prices for lodging or transportation , vouchers for travel , or options for patients to recoup some of the costs later .
Programs that reimburse patients after the fact for expenses incurred can create obstacles to care for rural patients with lower incomes , she added .
“ There 's lots of evidence in Canada that sometimes those costs affect a patient 's decisions about their care , '' Dr. Maria Mathews , of Western University , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical travel can impact treatment choices .
But the terms and conditions of all the programs vary widely , and many rural patients don ’ t know they exist , said Mathews .
“ So if you ’ re in a rural community in Alberta , and you 're traveling for cancer care , there are no provincial subsidies available to you , ” she said .
“ But if you 're living in Newfoundland , and you 're aware of these programs , a substantial amount of your costs are covered.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that travel costs fall outside provisions of the Canada Health Act , said Mathews .
“ So whether or not there ’ s some sort of support for a rural patient is really up to individual provinces , ” she said .
None of the existing travel or cost subsidy programs aim to cover all the costs incurred by rural patients , Mathews said .
And all require patients to have referrals , keep documentation and receipts , and get approvals .
But many patients , particularly those facing long treatments for diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take advantage of any subsidy programs .
“ If you did n't know these policies , you probably would n't keep your receipts , ” said Mathews , adding ideally a healthcare provider would provide information about programs for rural patients .
“ But most often people aren ’ t prepared for it , and it ’ s really hard to get receipts and documents after the fact.
” Aside from the documentation , most patients , rural or urban , who have to deal with a long-term illness like are surprised by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mathews said .
But rural residents are more likely than city dwellers to make decisions around their cancer treatment choices based on extra costs related to travel , drugs or childcare , said Mathews .
Each province needs to define its priorities or strategies to defray financial costs for rural residents to access specialist services such as cancer care in urban areas , she said .
“ But somebody who is living in rural Alberta , will have to make choices about their care , based on some of those costs , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots of evidence in Canada that sometimes those costs affect a patient 's decisions about their care .
”

Rural residents across Canada often rack up thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses when travelling outside their community for healthcare. The problem is compounded by a provincial assortment of subsidy programs that can cause regional disparities and hinder equal access to medical care across the country, said Dr. Maria Mathews. “It really the working poor that are affected,” said Mathews, a researcher at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at Western University. The burden is highest for rural residents who have low incomes yet earn too much for financial assistance available to patients eligible for income support. “It’s folks working at Walmart who don't necessarily have a good employee benefit program, or where a $1,000 trip is a huge burden.”
Most provinces and territories - except Alberta and New Brunswick - offer some program to subsidize the costs related to rural residents travel costs, said Mathews. “There's lots of evidence in Canada that sometimes those costs affect a patient's decisions about their care," Maria Mathews, of Western University, on rural residents' out-of-pocket expenses for medical travel impacting treatment choices.@WesternU The methods and benefits vary with some provinces providing discount programs to lower prices for lodging or transportation, vouchers for travel, or options for patients to recoup some of the costs later. Programs that reimburse patients after the fact for expenses incurred can create obstacles to care for rural patients with lower incomes, she added. But the terms and conditions of all the programs vary widely, and many rural patients don’t know they exist, said Mathews. “So if you’re in a rural community in Alberta, and you're traveling for cancer care, there are no provincial subsidies available to you,” she said.
“But if you're living in Newfoundland, and you're aware of these programs, a substantial amount of your costs are covered.” The reason for the patchwork approach is that travel costs fall outside provisions of the Canada Health Act, said Mathews. “So whether or not there’s some sort of support for a rural patient is really up to individual provinces,” she said.


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--What's on your plate could make the difference in climate crisis

Food could be a key in slowing climate change — if we change everything from how it ’ s grown , to what rots in our fridges .
The path of food from farm to fork and beyond is responsible for between 21 and 37 per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide , a new report says .
The report , published last week by the UN Environment Program and three environmental organizations , found that transforming how we grow , eat and dispose of food could significantly reduce these emissions , but most countries have overlooked two key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diets .
Agriculture is Canada ’ s sixth-largest emitter of GHGs , with 87 per cent of these emissions going to crop and animal production in 2019 , according to Statistics Canada .
Household emissions accounted for roughly 19 per cent of the country ’ s total emissions in 2015 .
And the 35.5 million tonnes of food waste Canadians generate each year produce about 56.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent ( the standard measure for greenhouse gases ) , according to a 2019 report by Second Harvest , an organization advocating for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and land uses could reduce global emissions by 7.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent a year — enough to charge 918 million smartphones , according to the U.S. EPA .
Crop and animal production are the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases in Canada 's food system — but they are n't alone .
Food waste and diet changes could also significantly reduce emissions .
Graph by Statistics Canada .
And reducing food waste and changing diets could reduce emissions by another 1.8 gigatons a year , the report notes .
Combined , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of the global mitigation needed to keep global heating below 1.5 C , the number agreed upon in the 2015 Paris Agreement .
“ There are many aspects of the # foodsystem that are exacerbating # climatechange — and it ’ s somewhere we can do something to reduce # emissions.
” @ foodresilience But most countries aren ’ t taking these steps , according to the plans they submitted to the UN under the 2015 pact .
“ While many countries mention the agriculture sector in their ( emissions reductions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes , “ only 11 countries mention food loss in their ( plans ) and not one country makes reference to food waste.
” That includes Canada — at least for now .
The federal government has committed roughly $ 5.5 billion to emissions reductions programs in Canada ’ s agricultural sector , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada wrote in an email .
In contrast , only $ 184 million has been committed to reducing food waste .
Most of that funding will support the Food Policy for Canada , a plan to reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year .

Food could be a key in slowing climate change — if we change everything from how it’s grown, to what rots in our fridges.
The path of food from farm to fork and beyond is responsible for between 21 and 37 per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, a new report says.
The report, published last week by the UN Environment Program and three environmental organizations, found that transforming how we grow, eat and dispose of food could significantly reduce these emissions, but most countries have overlooked two key tactics: reducing food waste and changing diets.
“Food systems sit in a really interesting place,” said Sophia Murphy, a food systems and international economy expert with the International Institute for Sustainable Development.


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--The climate crisis could displace 1.2B people by 2050

This article was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of Canada 's National Observer 's collaboration with Climate Desk .
More than 1 billion people face being displaced within 30 years as the climate crisis and rapid population growth drive an increase in migration with “ huge impacts ” for both the developing and developed worlds , according to an analysis .
The Institute for Economics and Peace ( IEP ) , a thinktank that produces annual global terrorism and peace indexes , said 1.2 billion people lived in 31 countries that are not sufficiently resilient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing the highest number of threats , including water and food shortages and greater exposure to natural disasters , are also among the the world ’ s 40 least peaceful countries , the IEP ’ s first ecological threat register found .
• Meet Marilyn James , a warrior and matriarch for the Sinixt Salish Peoples Many of the countries most at risk from ecological threats , including Nigeria , Angola , Burkina Faso and Uganda , are also predicted to experience significant population increases , the report noted , further driving mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and political impacts , not just in the developing world , but also in the developed , as mass displacement will lead to larger refugee flows to the most developed countries , ” Steve Killelea , the institute ’ s founder , said .
“ Ecological threats pose serious challenges to global peace .
Over the next 30 years , lack of access to food and water will only increase without urgent global cooperation .
In the absence of action , civil unrest , riots and conflict will most likely increase.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data to assess 157 countries ’ exposure to eight ecological threats , then assesses their capacity to withstand them .
It found that 141 countries faced at least one ecological threat by 2050 , with sub-Saharan Africa , South Asia , the Middle East and North Africa the regions facing the largest number .
Some countries , such as India and China , are most threatened by water scarcity , it concluded , while others such as Pakistan , Iran , Kenya , Mozambique and Madagascar face a combination of threats and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Lack of resilience will lead to worsening food insecurity and competition over resources , increasing civil unrest and mass displacement , ” the report said .
“ This will have huge # social and # political impacts , not just in the developing world , but also in the developed , as mass displacement will lead to larger # refugee flows to the most developed countries , ” Steve Killelea , the institute 's founder , said .
It judged Pakistan to be the country with the largest number of people at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopia and Iran , adding that in such countries “ even small ecological threats and natural disasters could result in mass population displacement ” .
Wealthier , more developed regions in Europe and North America face fewer ecological threats and would be better able to cope with them , but most “ will not be immune from wider impacts ” .
The report said 16 countries , Sweden , Norway , Ireland , and Iceland , faced no threat .
The report said that the world had 60 % less fresh water available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while demand for food was predicted to rise by 50 % by 2050 and natural disasters were only likely to increase in frequency because of the climate crisis , meaning even some stable states would become vulnerable by 2050 .

This article was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. More than 1 billion people face being displaced within 30 years as the climate crisis and rapid population growth drive an increase in migration with “huge impacts” for both the developing and developed worlds, according to an analysis. The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a thinktank that produces annual global terrorism and peace indexes, said 1.2 billion people lived in 31 countries that are not sufficiently resilient to withstand ecological threats. Nineteen countries facing the highest number of threats, including water and food shortages and greater exposure to natural disasters, are also among the the world’s 40 least peaceful countries, the IEP’s first ecological threat register found.
Many of the countries most at risk from ecological threats, including Nigeria, Angola, Burkina Faso and Uganda, are also predicted to experience significant population increases, the report noted, further driving mass displacements. “This will have huge social and political impacts, not just in the developing world, but also in the developed, as mass displacement will lead to larger refugee flows to the most developed countries,” Steve Killelea, the institute’s founder, said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “Ecological threats pose serious challenges to global peace. Over the next 30 years, lack of access to food and water will only increase without urgent global cooperation. In the absence of action, civil unrest, riots and conflict will most likely increase.”
The study uses United Nations and other data to assess 157 countries’ exposure to eight ecological threats, then assesses their capacity to withstand them. It found that 141 countries faced at least one ecological threat by 2050, with sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa the regions facing the largest number. “This will have huge #social and #political impacts, not just in the developing world, but also in the developed, as mass displacement will lead to larger #refugee flows to the most developed countries,” Steve Killelea, the institute's founder, said. Some countries, such as India and China, are most threatened by water scarcity, it concluded, while others such as Pakistan, Iran, Kenya, Mozambique and Madagascar face a combination of threats and a growing incapacity to deal with them. “Lack of resilience will lead to worsening food insecurity and competition over resources, increasing civil unrest and mass displacement,” the report said. It judged Pakistan to be the country with the largest number of people at risk of mass migration, followed by Ethiopia and Iran, adding that in such countries “even small ecological threats and natural disasters could result in mass population displacement”. Wealthier, more developed regions in Europe and North America face fewer ecological threats and would be better able to cope with them, but most “will not be immune from wider impacts”. The report said 16 countries, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and Iceland, faced no threat.


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--York University rooming houses ‘more precarious’ during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is shaping student life in a housing development near York University ’ s main campus , and exposing other health risks connected to rooming houses .
Located in Ward 8 York West , the development , dubbed the Village , is made up of 800 single townhomes built between 2003 and 2008 .
Many have been converted by owners into multi-tenant rooming houses for students , according to the York Village Housing Association ( YVHA ) , a group based at the university .
In 2018 , students Andrew Van Norden and his co-founder , Nathi Mbuso @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connect renting residents to resources and support .
The organization is also compiling a student-sourced registry and reviews of rooming houses in the Village , and offers assistance with navigating landlord disputes and reporting health and safety violations .
According to the YVHA , “ More recently the Village has evolved to become an unregulated , unmonitored and unofficial alternative to living on residence at the university , ” it says on its website .
The houses can be “ extremely subdivided , ” Zamisa said , with anywhere between three to 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Google maps image of Village at York University .
Photo via Google Maps Zamisa terminated his lease in the Village — where he shared an 11-bedroom home with 11 other roommates — this month , and is heading back to Hamilton to live with his family .
“ COVID has made it a significantly more precarious living circumstance , ” said Nathi Mbuso Zamisa , a York University student and co-founder @ HousingYork He also stayed in Hamilton in the early months of the pandemic , as a health precaution .
COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as fraternities and intramural sports , Zamisa said .
In addition to poorly ventilated living spaces , including basements , the pandemic also exposed the health risks of living with multiple people .
“ That is your bubble .
But what that also creates is points of conflict , where people in your home are inviting other people in , ” he said , and where roommates may not be matching your “ efforts to sanitize and to make sure that everything 's clean.
” Deqa Nur , a social development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international development and African studies , said the lack of affordability and high rent points to a need for more subsidized housing .
The waiting list for subsidized housing through the city is at more than 100,000 people , Nur said , calling that figure “ just unbelievable.
” York Village was initially conceived as a subsidized housing complex for students , but was instead sold to a private developer before construction began in 2003 .
And the opportunity for homeowners to profit is steep .
Zamisa estimates that his former landlord at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 8,000 a month in rent .
A dip in student turnover due to a virtual fall semester could affect those margins this year .

The COVID-19 pandemic is shaping student life in a housing development near York University’s main campus, and exposing other health risks connected to rooming houses. Located in Ward 8 York West, the development, dubbed the Village, is made up of 800 single townhomes built between 2003 and 2008. Many have been converted by owners into multi-tenant rooming houses for students, according to the York Village Housing Association (YVHA), a group based at the university. In 2018, students Andrew Van Norden and his co-founder, Nathi Mbuso Zamisa, established the YVHA to help connect renting residents to resources and support. The organization is also compiling a student-sourced registry and reviews of rooming houses in the Village, and offers assistance with navigating landlord disputes and reporting health and safety violations. Nathi Mbuso Zamisa, co-founder of the York Village Housing Association. Photo via Nathi Mbuso Zamisa Van Norden began the club after moving six times in the Village in an 18-month span. So-called “fire evictions,” from fire-related safety inspections, are also commonplace.
In 2018, an 18-year-old international student was killed in a rooming house fire in Scarborough. “COVID has made it a significantly more precarious living circumstance,” said Zamisa, a fourth-year work, labour and environment student at York. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Rooming houses are not permitted in North York, where the university's Keele campus is located, or in East York or Scarborough. Yet Zamisa said the only inspections that seem to happen in the area are for fire violations.
According to the YVHA, “More recently the Village has evolved to become an unregulated, unmonitored and unofficial alternative to living on residence at the university,” it says on its website. “COVID has made it a significantly more precarious living circumstance,” said Nathi Mbuso Zamisa, a York University student and co-founder @HousingYork The houses can be “extremely subdivided,” Zamisa said, with anywhere between three to 16 rooms in a three-storey, single-family townhouse. Google maps image of Village at York University. Photo via Google Maps Zamisa terminated his lease in the Village — where he shared an 11-bedroom home with 11 other roommates — this month, and is heading back to Hamilton to live with his family. He also stayed in Hamilton in the early months of the pandemic, as a health precaution. COVID-19 erased any social life in the Village, such as fraternities and intramural sports, Zamisa said.
In addition to poorly ventilated living spaces, including basements, the pandemic also exposed the health risks of living with multiple people. “That is your bubble. But what that also creates is points of conflict, where people in your home are inviting other people in,” he said, and where roommates may not be matching your “efforts to sanitize and to make sure that everything's clean.” Deqa Nur, a social development worker and York University student. Photo via Deqa Nur


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--B.C. rural residents say travelling for health care can cost thousands

Quadra Island , B.C.
, resident Mike Windrim has logged a lot of miles and doled out a lot of money over the years to get the medical care he needs .
The 66-year-old was diagnosed 14 years ago with a bone marrow disease that affects the normal functioning of his internal organs .
So , like many other residents of rural and remote communities in B.C.
, he has to travel off island , and long distances for specialized care in urban centres .
In doing so , he figures he ’ s spent well upwards of $ 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hotels he had to cover for regular visits to Victoria or Vancouver .
“ Just a trip to the hospital down there in Victoria where you have to stay in hotel can cost you one thousand bucks easily , ” Windrim said .
• Meet Marilyn James , a warrior and matriarch for the Sinixt Salish Peoples “ It ’ s a lot of money , especially for someone on a lower income , ” said Windrim , who is on a federal disability pension .
He said he was lucky because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports and assistance for him and his family .
“ I would have been unable to afford a significant amount of the medical care I have received over the years , ” he said .
“ Without that care , my outcome would certainly have been different.
” Jude Kornelsen , of the Centre for Rural Health Research at the University of British Columbia , said a recent survey detailing how much money rural residents are spending in travel costs for medical care outside their communities was eye-opening .
Photo Evonne Tran .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ many challenges for health planners , but also for patients that have to access medical services , according to Jude Kornelsen , co-director of the Centre for Rural Health Research ( CRHR ) at the University of British Columbia .
“ I ’ d heard the stories , but to see the numbers on paper when people took account of their expenditures , it was eye-opening , ” Jude Kornelsen , UBC Centre for Rural Health Research , on costs B.C .
rural residents face travelling for health care .
But out-of-pocket expenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care is a hot button issue for rural or remote communities , Kornelsen said .
“ BC Emergency Health Services , which get really sick people where they need to go when they need to be there , is fantastic , ” Kornelsen said .
“ But the out-of-pocket spending was something that came up really clearly when we surveyed rural communities about their challenges.
” Rural B.C .
residents asked about the issue said they paid an average of $ 2,200 in out-of-pocket expenses for visits related to a single health condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seventy-eight per cent of rural residents surveyed reported difficulty in paying the costs associated with seeking medical care outside their community .
“ I ’ d heard the stories , but to see the numbers on paper when people took account of their expenditures , it was eye-opening , ” Kornelsen said .
“ Every person in a rural community will have a lot to say about out-of pocket costs and transportation because it affects , if not someone individually , then it will affect family members or neighbours who need care.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survey findings with rural stakeholders and patients and link them to the province to devise public support to access health care , she said .
Residents on neighbouring Cortes Island also face a two- or three-ferry journey and long drives for care , said Cortes regional director Noba Anderson .
Residents in rural areas certainly recognize they have to travel for care , but they have to face a trifecta of out-of-pocket expenses , lack of public transport and the stress of travelling long distances while unwell , Anderson said .
Those that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on friends or family to get off island , but with the pandemic that has gotten more difficult , she said .
“ I think the barriers to accessing health care ( for rural residents ) are much more complex than just money , ” Anderson said .
“ People who struggle with physical , financial or mental health disabilities , or lack transportation , that can make accessing care and services prohibitive , so people can suffer for a long time.
” A snapshot of data from a survey on the out-of-pocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelling outside their communities for medical care .
Photo by the Centre of Rural Health Research at the University of British Columbia Ed Staples , president of the B.C .
Rural Health Network , said the survey around out-of-pocket expenses makes it clear rural residents are facing obstacles getting the medical care they need .
“ It 's more than just a problem , ” he said .
“ It 's a situation where people just ca n't get the care because they ca n't afford to pay for the travel costs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever.
” He and his wife , both in their 70s , are in a lucky position to be able to absorb the extra costs of travelling for health care , Staples said .
But many other household budgets can not withstand unexpected expenses in the thousands of dollars , especially when someone is ill , he said .
And though the high costs associated with travelling for health care are provincewide , the remedies are inconsistent and vary community by community , Staples said .
Some small communities have volunteer transportation programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cities to house rural residents , he said .
There are also federal tax credits , and some travel subsidies provided by the provincial government , he added .
“ There are lots of piecemeal approaches to this problem , but what ’ s available depends where you live , ” Staples said .
“ And not everybody knows what ’ s available and that ’ s a big part of it.
” Windrim wholeheartedly agrees .
He ’ d known about and uses the B.C .
Travel Assistance Program ( TAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private transportation carriers such as bus companies and BC Ferries .
But it wasn ’ t until this year , when he started dialysis for kidney failure , that a social worker at the medical centre determined his income level made him eligible for financial support for his travel costs from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction .
“ Not until the ( staff ) asked me the right questions and did the legwork to get me hooked up to have my expenses paid.
” Windrim stressed that every person travelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should ask what supports are available and talk to social workers at the medical health facilities they are attending .
“ Because unless you have people like that going to bat for you , you 're going to pay for it yourself and not know , ” said Windrim , adding he didn ’ t know where to look for that information himself and it was n't readily available .
“ The government does n't advertise it .
It ’ s a real problem .
I went many years paying for it all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For many years , and that ’ s money I can ’ t get back .
”

Quadra Island, B.C., resident Mike Windrim has logged a lot of miles and doled out a lot of money over the years to get the medical care he needs. The 66-year-old was diagnosed 14 years ago with a bone marrow disease that affects the normal functioning of his internal organs. So, like many other residents of rural and remote communities in B.C., he has to travel off island, and long distances for specialized care in urban centres. In doing so, he figures he’s spent well upwards of $10,000 on gas alone, not including food and hotels he had to cover for regular visits to Victoria or Vancouver. “Just a trip to the hospital down there in Victoria where you have to stay in hotel can cost you one thousand bucks easily,” Windrim said.
“It’s a lot of money, especially for someone on a lower income,” said Windrim, who is on a federal disability pension. He said he was lucky because his community has stepped up with various supports and assistance for him and his family. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “I would have been unable to afford a significant amount of the medical care I have received over the years,” he said.
“Without that care, my outcome would certainly have been different.” “I’d heard the stories, but to see the numbers on paper when people took account of their expenditures, it was eye-opening,” Jude Kornelsen, UBC Centre for Rural Health Research, on costs B.C. rural residents face travelling for health care. Jude Kornelsen, of the Centre for Rural Health Research at the University of British Columbia, said a recent survey detailing how much money rural residents are spending in travel costs for medical care outside their communities was eye-opening. Photo Evonne Tran. Small population densities across large geographies create many challenges for health planners, but also for patients that have to access medical services, according to Jude Kornelsen, co-director of the Centre for Rural Health Research (CRHR) at the University of British Columbia. But out-of-pocket expenses tied to travelling long distances for health care is a hot button issue for rural or remote communities, Kornelsen said. “BC Emergency Health Services, which get really sick people where they need to go when they need to be there, is fantastic,” Kornelsen said.
“But the out-of-pocket spending was something that came up really clearly when we surveyed rural communities about their challenges.” Rural B.C. residents asked about the issue said they paid an average of $2,200 in out-of-pocket expenses for visits related to a single health condition, according to recent CRHR survey. Seventy-eight per cent of rural residents surveyed reported difficulty in paying the costs associated with seeking medical care outside their community. “I’d heard the stories, but to see the numbers on paper when people took account of their expenditures, it was eye-opening,” Kornelsen said.


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--Ford sees 'perfect storm' as schools open and COVID-19 cases top 300

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a “ perfect storm ” is brewing as back-to-school combines with the flu season and a possible second wave of COVID-19 .
Ontario recorded 313 new confirmed infections on Monday , its highest single-day count since early June .
After reaching a low of 33 in early August , numbers have been trending higher in recent weeks and have been above 200 per day since Sept. 12 .
“ This virus is still amongst us , ” Ford said during a news conference at the Queen ’ s Park provincial legislature Monday .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will the second wave be , and the answer to that question , it 's up to all of us.
” It was also the first day back at work at Queen ’ s Park since July 22 , meaning the opposition parties will be asking that question of the Progressive Conservatives a lot more directly now .
The spike in cases comes at a sensitive time for Ford and his education minister , Stephen Lecce , with around half a million young people in Toronto and neighbouring Peel ( which includes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies this week .
• What 's on your plate could make the difference in climate crisis Cases have already shown up in school communities , as well as at a post-secondary institution , although public health officials in London , Ont.
, say the five Western University students who tested positive on the weekend had not been on campus but had mingled in the city ’ s bars and restaurants .
Ford and Lecce have been sharply criticized for not spending enough money to ensure adequate physical distancing in classrooms , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at pre-pandemic sizes .
Schools and boards have since been collapsing grades together as they collate the intentions of parents to either send their children to school or enrol them in a virtual classroom , which must also be staffed by teachers and other education workers and management .
Lecce said the province has been seeing “ the migration of tens of thousands ( of students ) back and forth ” between registering for in-class or online instruction , and that boards have been consolidating classes to make up for the unknown numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to virtual or physical classrooms as per their own health requirements and the needs of their school and board .
The Toronto District School Board postponed the opening of its virtual school until Sept. 22 , citing the need for 200 more online classrooms ( and online teachers ) .
In a letter to parents it posted Monday the board , Canada 's largest with board with almost 250,000 students , said that since last Tuesday its virtual school expanded from around 66,000 students to more than 72,000 .
Back-to-school , flu season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a `` perfect storm '' @ fordnation says , as Ontario daily cases jump above 300 for first time in months Lecce was asked about teachers who were struggling to safely accommodate up to 33 students and responded by repeating the amounts the provincial government had spent or activated .
“ Boards are acting quickly on reducing classroom sizes , supported by provincial investment , ” he said .
“ Over $ 170 million unlocked , plus the original [ $ 30 million ] brings it to $ 200 million , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this province.
” Those unblocked funds Lecce is referring to are rainy day funds the province is forcing boards to spend to top up provincial efforts .
Monies from such contingency accounts are often set aside by boards for long-term projects such as major building renovations .
Ottawa has also provided a significant chunk of overall funding for a safe school re-opening , despite education falling under provincial jurisdiction .
Cases have been rising steadily over the last week or so , especially in and around Toronto ( as well as in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials in those regions have told him most cases have emerged from social gatherings , which he has described as backyard parties rather than at licensed establishments .
Both Ford and his health minister , Christine Elliott , warned of the second wave — but did not say that it has begun .
“ We have seen an increase in cases , obviously , in the last short while , and a disturbing significant increase today , ” Elliott said at the same news conference , which was sparsely attended in-person .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second wave or not , it certainly has our attention , and we are dealing with it , ” she said .
She said a second wave would be more difficult and complicated to deal with than the first one , because hospitals have less capacity since they 've taken in patients who were in long-term care facilities , and are now conducting the surgeries that were earlier postponed .
The Progressive Conservatives say they have clear plans to protect and support Ontario in this next phase of recovery that they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been preparing for three possible COVID-19 scenarios : small surges up and down , more intense peaks and valleys , and a sudden sharp jump in cases .

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a “perfect storm” is brewing as back-to-school combines with the flu season and a possible second wave of COVID-19. Ontario recorded 313 new confirmed infections on Monday, its highest single-day count since early June. After reaching a low of 33 in early August, numbers have been trending higher in recent weeks and have been above 200 per day since Sept. 12. “This virus is still amongst us,” Ford said during a news conference at the Queen’s Park provincial legislature Monday. “So the only question left is how bad will the second wave be, and the answer to that question, it's up to all of us.” It was also the first day back at work at Queen’s Park since July 22, meaning the opposition parties will be asking that question of the Progressive Conservatives a lot more directly now. The spike in cases comes at a sensitive time for Ford and his education minister, Stephen Lecce, with around half a million young people in Toronto and neighbouring Peel (which includes the cities of Mississauga and Brampton) restarting studies this week.
Cases have already shown up in school communities, as well as at a post-secondary institution, although public health officials in London, Ont., say the five Western University students who tested positive on the weekend had not been on campus but had mingled in the city’s bars and restaurants. Ford and Lecce have been sharply criticized for not spending enough money to ensure adequate physical distancing in classrooms, especially elementary classes, which they left static at pre-pandemic sizes. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Schools and boards have since been collapsing grades together as they collate the intentions of parents to either send their children to school or enrol them in a virtual classroom, which must also be staffed by teachers and other education workers and management.
Lecce said the province has been seeing “the migration of tens of thousands (of students) back and forth” between registering for in-class or online instruction, and that boards have been consolidating classes to make up for the unknown numbers. Back-to-school, flu season and a possible second wave of COVID-19 are a "perfect storm" @fordnation says, as Ontario daily cases jump above 300 for first time in months Teachers have also been getting assigned to virtual or physical classrooms as per their own health requirements and the needs of their school and board. The Toronto District School Board postponed the opening of its virtual school until Sept. 22, citing the need for 200 more online classrooms (and online teachers). In a letter to parents it posted Monday the board, Canada's largest with board with almost 250,000 students, said that since last Tuesday its virtual school expanded from around 66,000 students to more than 72,000. Lecce was asked about teachers who were struggling to safely accommodate up to 33 students and responded by repeating the amounts the provincial government had spent or activated. “Boards are acting quickly on reducing classroom sizes, supported by provincial investment,” he said. “Over $170 million unlocked, plus the original [$30 million] brings it to $200 million, that alone could hire upwards of 2,000 teachers in this province.”
Those unblocked funds Lecce is referring to are rainy day funds the province is forcing boards to spend to top up provincial efforts. Monies from such contingency accounts are often set aside by boards for long-term projects such as major building renovations. Ottawa has also provided a significant chunk of overall funding for a safe school re-opening, despite education falling under provincial jurisdiction. Cases have been rising steadily over the last week or so, especially in and around Toronto (as well as in Ottawa), and Ford said health officials in those regions have told him most cases have emerged from social gatherings, which he has described as backyard parties rather than at licensed establishments. Both Ford and his health minister, Christine Elliott, warned of the second wave — but did not say that it has begun.


nationalobserver--2020-09-14--Province ponders tying accountability to northern municipal funding

Saskatchewan is considering new requirements for northern municipalities to receive provincial funding , as residents are raising concerns over a lack of financial accountability .
At least three municipalities are behind deadline to make their finances publicly available going into local elections .
Residents say this leaves northerners unable to make informed decisions at the ballot box .
Access to information advocate D'Arcy Hande ( right ) with Tracy Merasty of Sandy Bay , Fred Pederson of Prince Albert and Crystal Frenette of Shellbrook who all signed an Aug. 13 letter to Lori Carr .
Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementing eligibility conditions for northern municipal revenue sharing ( MRS ) grants following a series of inquiries by a group dedicated to information access and accountability in the north .
Access to information advocate D ’ Arcy Hande , along with eight concerned citizens , sent a letter to Lori Carr , Saskatchewan ’ s Minister of Government Relations , on Aug. 13 , arguing that late financial statements from northern municipalities will put upcoming local elections in jeopardy .
• What 's on your plate could make the difference in climate crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to hold their municipal governments financially accountable .
The La Ronge town council made a move for greater transparency this month when it elected to broadcast council meetings on Access Now TV .
Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
“ Those financial statements have not even been produced , much less actually released .
Your Ministry was to have received those financial statements by July 1st , ” Hande said in the letter .
Hande said that while the release of financial statements to the public is required by law from all municipalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not happened in at least three cases .
Hande questioned the fact that northern municipalities may receive provincial grants without fully accounting for funds previously received .
Carr ’ s deputy minister , Greg Miller , said in a written response that the ministry is looking at implementing eligibility requirements for northern MRS grants .
“ My concern is that the people of northern Saskatchewan aren ’ t going to the polls in many cases with all the facts known , '' D'Arcy Hande .
# munipoli # skpoli “ The ministry recognizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mechanism to encourage and promote legislative compliance and good governance , ” Miller wrote .
The ministry said the grants are currently provided on an unconditional basis , with amounts determined by the costs faced by these municipalities when delivering core municipal services .
But Hande said the province already has the power to enforce municipal accountability .
“ I think it ’ s being very disingenuous to indicate that somehow the provincial legislation precludes the minister ’ s intervention , ” Hande told Canada ’ s National Observer on Friday .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of accountability at the municipal governance level in northern Saskatchewan , ” and that action needs to be taken by the province before elections start .
He said Minister Carr has oversight over the Northern Municipal Trust account , which handles the grants .
“ The province does have the responsibility for oversight in municipal governments not just in northern Saskatchewan , but all over the province , ” Hande said .
Hande said the province is taking a “ step in the right direction ” by looking at imposing eligibility requirements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to making that happen .
He said changes would need to be enforced quickly .
“ My concern is that the people of northern Saskatchewan aren ’ t going to the polls in many cases with all the facts known .
I hope the candidates for municipal councils are taking this idea of financial accountability seriously because we know there are lots of abuses in the north .
”

Saskatchewan is considering new requirements for northern municipalities to receive provincial funding, as residents are raising concerns over a lack of financial accountability. At least three municipalities are behind deadline to make their finances publicly available going into local elections. Residents say this leaves northerners unable to make informed decisions at the ballot box. Access to information advocate D'Arcy Hande (right) with Tracy Merasty of Sandy Bay, Fred Pederson of Prince Albert and Crystal Frenette of Shellbrook who all signed an Aug. 13 letter to Lori Carr. Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock. The province said it is looking at implementing eligibility conditions for northern municipal revenue sharing (MRS) grants following a series of inquiries by a group dedicated to information access and accountability in the north. Access to information advocate D’Arcy Hande, along with eight concerned citizens, sent a letter to Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Government Relations, on Aug. 13, arguing that late financial statements from northern municipalities will put upcoming local elections in jeopardy.
They say residents won’t be able to hold their municipal governments financially accountable. The La Ronge town council made a move for greater transparency this month when it elected to broadcast council meetings on Access Now TV. Photo by Michael Bramadat-Willcock. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions “Those financial statements have not even been produced, much less actually released. Your Ministry was to have received those financial statements by July 1st,” Hande said in the letter.
Hande said that while the release of financial statements to the public is required by law from all municipalities as of Sept. 1, that has not happened in at least three cases. “My concern is that the people of northern Saskatchewan aren’t going to the polls in many cases with all the facts known," D'Arcy Hande. #munipoli #skpoli Hande questioned the fact that northern municipalities may receive provincial grants without fully accounting for funds previously received. Carr’s deputy minister, Greg Miller, said in a written response that the ministry is looking at implementing eligibility requirements for northern MRS grants. “The ministry recognizes that grant eligibility requirements can provide a mechanism to encourage and promote legislative compliance and good governance,” Miller wrote. The ministry said the grants are currently provided on an unconditional basis, with amounts determined by the costs faced by these municipalities when delivering core municipal services.
But Hande said the province already has the power to enforce municipal accountability. “I think it’s being very disingenuous to indicate that somehow the provincial legislation precludes the minister’s intervention,” Hande told Canada’s National Observer on Friday. He said there is a “total lack of accountability at the municipal governance level in northern Saskatchewan,” and that action needs to be taken by the province before elections start.


nationalobserver--2020-09-15--With just over a month to the election, Trump bans offshore drilling in three Republican states

Something weird happened at a Trump campaign appearance in Jupiter , Florida , on Tuesday .
President Trump — long-time antagonist of environmental regulations and big-time proponent of oil and gas development — announced a decade-long ban on offshore drilling off the coasts of Florida , Georgia , and South Carolina .
“ This protects your beautiful Gulf and your beautiful ocean , and it will for a long time to come , ” Trump said in a speech in Jupiter touting his environmental record .
He signed a presidential memorandum extending a moratorium on leasing drilling rights off Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban to a portion of the Atlantic Ocean that stretches between Florida and South Carolina .
( The area has not been leased out to oil companies yet . )
The decision caught environmentalists and oil industry lobbyists off guard .
“ It ’ s a complete ambush , ” one industry official told Politico .
“ Nobody knows where this came from.
” So , what gives ?
The president has been consistent in his support of offshore drilling pretty much since his first year in office .
He made no secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed by President Barack Obama in 2016 to protect the Arctic and Atlantic seas from drilling .
In 2017 , Trump directed the Department of the Interior , which oversees offshore drilling leases , to assess new sales of drilling rights in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans .
The following year , the Interior Department came out with a draft plan that would have paved the way for offshore drilling leases in 90 percent of U.S. coastal waterways .
That proposal faced pushback from states whose economies rely on tourism and fishing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , Rick Scott , said he opposed the plan .
So did the governors of other states like New Jersey , Washington , and California .
The Trump administration let Florida opt out of the plan , handing Scott a win as he prepared to do battle against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson for a Senate seat that year .
( Scott won by a narrow margin . )
The other states weren ’ t granted a reprieve .
It doesn ’ t take a genius to connect the dots between what happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s surprise announcement on Tuesday .
Trump ’ s new moratorium on offshore drilling appears to solely apply to states led by Republicans .

This article was originally published by Grist and appears here as part of Canada's National Observer's collaboration with Climate Desk. Something weird happened at a Trump campaign appearance in Jupiter, Florida, on Tuesday. President Trump — long-time antagonist of environmental regulations and big-time proponent of oil and gas development — announced a decade-long ban on offshore drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. “This protects your beautiful Gulf and your beautiful ocean, and it will for a long time to come,” Trump said in a speech in Jupiter touting his environmental record. He signed a presidential memorandum extending a moratorium on leasing drilling rights off Florida’s Gulf Coast and expanded that ban to a portion of the Atlantic Ocean that stretches between Florida and South Carolina. (The area has not been leased out to oil companies yet.) The decision caught environmentalists and oil industry lobbyists off guard. “It’s a complete ambush,” one industry official told Politico. “Nobody knows where this came from.”
What’s more, Florida and Georgia are key swing states in the upcoming general election. Trump and Joe Biden are neck and neck in Florida in recent polls. Whichever candidate wins that state gets its large stack of 29 electoral votes. South Carolina isn’t as tight of a race, but one of its Republican senators, Lindsey Graham, is close with Trump and reportedly helped craft the new moratorium. The decision caught #environmentalists and oil industry #lobbyists off guard. “It’s a complete ambush,” one industry official told Politico. “Nobody knows where this came from.” States with Democratic governors weren’t as lucky. North Carolina and Virginia, which also have significant resources buried off their coasts, weren’t included in Trump’s moratorium. Trump recently accused North Carolina’s governor, Democrat Roy Cooper, of using the coronavirus pandemic to hurt his reelection effort. Trump’s memorandum could be challenged in court, but there’s reason to believe it will stand the test of time. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to undo Obama’s 2016 offshore drilling ban in the Arctic, federal courts have upheld Obama’s memorandum so far. Still, green groups aren’t convinced that Trump is acting in good faith. “If this was more than an election year ploy for Trump, we’d have seen a permanent ban on offshore drilling in his first four years,” the League of Conservation Voters said in a statement. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is also suspicious. “Just months ago, Donald Trump was planning to allow oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida,” the former vice president said in a tweet. “Now, with 56 days until the election, he conveniently says that he changed his mind. Unbelievable.”


nationalobserver--2020-09-15--As CERB winds down, calls for universal basic income intensify

The idea of a universal basic income , a system through which everyone is guaranteed to receive a base level of money periodically , is quickly gaining traction in Canada as the federal government looks for ways to tackle the economic downturn left in the wake of mandatory pandemic shut-downs .
Implementing a universal basic income would mean that every Canadian , regardless of whether or not they have a job , would receive enough money to cover the basic cost of living .
Politicians and activists alike have been urgently discussing the need for a basic income as Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to an end .
CERB provided Canadians who were put out of work because of the pandemic with $ 2000 every four weeks .
But as the financial aid is slowly being phased out , many Canadians are still struggling to find their way back into employment and worried about staying afloat .
CERB showed that the government was capable of running a financial aid program at the federal level , and was able to adapt quickly , adjusting the program or enacting new ones to address groups such as pregnant people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially eligible for CERB .
“ The learning was great , ” Regehr said .
“ The learning from that , I think is something that we really need to use to take forward.
” And moving forward , Regehr said , means implementing a program that includes everyone .
When it comes to the question of whether a program like that is even feasible , especially given Canada ’ s current economic downturn , Regehr says the answer lies in existing programs such as the Canada Child Benefit , a program that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
Is it time to seriously consider a Universal Basic Income program in Canada ?
# cdnpoli “ One of the best examples comes from a study that looks at the impact of the Canada Child Benefit , ” Regehr said .
“ This recent enhancement shows that it contributes to GDP , it contributes to revenue and it contributes to job creation — it 's exactly the kind of thing you want.
” The study Regehr is referring to was published by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis in September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the program and found that CCB gave families more purchasing power and generated economic activity that was “ almost twice the size of the CCB payments themselves ” while also alleviating issues of child poverty and food insecurity .
The concept has also been put in motion through a pilot project in Ontario .
The Ontario Basic Income Pilot project was launched in April 2018 , with a select number of participants in certain regions of the province .
It was shut down in March 2019 , when Doug Ford took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research project that helps less than four thousand people is not the answer and provides no hope to the nearly two million Ontarians who are trapped in the cycle of poverty , ” said Lisa MacLeod , Ontario ’ s former minister of children , community and social services in a statement announcing the program ’ s closure .
Researchers from Ryerson University and McMaster University who studied the effects of the program found that participants had seen improvements to their health and job prospects .
“ In this sense , the pilot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded the study .
Regehr says there ’ s evidence from countless basic income programs that show it can help stimulate the economy .
“ It ’ s an alternative to allowing your population to deteriorate , ” she said .
“ People are the economy , you need to be able to allow them to be in the economy.
” So what would a basic income program look like in Canada ?
Regehr says there are two models of how universal basic income programs can work .
The most common version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would get a cheque from the government periodically .
However , Regehr suggests that the Canadian government look into existing systems and build a basic income program on top of processes that have already been proven to work .
Regehr proposes a kind of program where the level of financial aid is scaled down depending on how much income the person brings in .
“ Universal is like the way we consider universal health care , ” she said .
“ You get the care when you need it.
” What Canada will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what level of government the program should be implemented .
Again , Regehr pointed to existing systems , such as provincial-federal shared agreements put in place for child benefit programs , where funds are provided by the provinces but administered at the federal level through the Canada Revenue Agency .
Supporting a basic guaranteed income program would also require some level of tax reform , she added .
“ With that better tax fairness , then you can deliver a basic income that actually makes society better for everybody.
” Researchers from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the merits of a universal basic income , and found that the federal government would have to figure out complex details before they could move forward with a program .
They include considering whether payments will be made out to individuals or families , when they would be given out , how they would be taxed and how the existing tax system would have to adapt to finance the program .
“ Taking a basic income seriously as an option means having an evidence-based discourse about how one would both design and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Simple claims about the simplicity of a basic income on one side and simplistic characterizations of what proponents of a basic income are setting out on the other side do not move us toward the goal of building on what has been both revealed and achieved in this crisis to create a more just society.
” Trudeau delivers his throne speech on Sept. 23 ; whether he will move toward a universal basic income program remains to be seen , but activists and politicians alike are urging the government to make @ @ @

The idea of a universal basic income, a system through which everyone is guaranteed to receive a base level of money periodically, is quickly gaining traction in Canada as the federal government looks for ways to tackle the economic downturn left in the wake of mandatory pandemic shut-downs. Implementing a universal basic income would mean that every Canadian, regardless of whether or not they have a job, would receive enough money to cover the basic cost of living. Politicians and activists alike have been urgently discussing the need for a basic income as Canada's Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) comes to an end. CERB provided Canadians who were put out of work because of the pandemic with $2000 every four weeks. But as the financial aid is slowly being phased out, many Canadians are still struggling to find their way back into employment and worried about staying afloat. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been pressured to make universal basic income policy a top priority as the throne speech, where he is expected to lay out a federal agenda, quickly approaches. While the idea of a guaranteed income has been touted as unfeasible by some economic critics, Sheila Regehr, chair at Basic Income Canada Network, a non-profit that advocates for universal basic income, says that financial programs put in place during the pandemic prove that the government is capable of making it happen.
“They found ways of getting money to people fast, on the ground, at a point when they really needed it,” said Regehr, attesting to programs such as CERB. When CERB was first launched in April, Statistics Canada reported that nearly 6.7 million Canadians had applied. That number has slowly declined as businesses have been reopening. But many Canadians still remain out of work as the federal government looks toward transitioning people out of the program and into employment insurance, which Trudeau’s government is in the process of revamping. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions While CERB isn’t comparable to a basic guaranteed income program, because it isn’t universal, Regehr said the program has laid down groundwork for running a universal basic income policy.
CERB showed that the government was capable of running a financial aid program at the federal level, and was able to adapt quickly, adjusting the program or enacting new ones to address groups such as pregnant people and students, who weren’t initially eligible for CERB. Is it time to seriously consider a Universal Basic Income program in Canada? #cdnpoli “The learning was great,” Regehr said. “The learning from that, I think is something that we really need to use to take forward.” And moving forward, Regehr said, means implementing a program that includes everyone. When it comes to the question of whether a program like that is even feasible, especially given Canada’s current economic downturn, Regehr says the answer lies in existing programs such as the Canada Child Benefit, a program that was enhanced by Trudeau’s government in 2016. “One of the best examples comes from a study that looks at the impact of the Canada Child Benefit,” Regehr said. “This recent enhancement shows that it contributes to GDP, it contributes to revenue and it contributes to job creation — it's exactly the kind of thing you want.” The study Regehr is referring to was published by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis in September 2019. It surveyed the economic impacts of the program and found that CCB gave families more purchasing power and generated economic activity that was “almost twice the size of the CCB payments themselves” while also alleviating issues of child poverty and food insecurity.
The concept has also been put in motion through a pilot project in Ontario. The Ontario Basic Income Pilot project was launched in April 2018, with a select number of participants in certain regions of the province. It was shut down in March 2019, when Doug Ford took over the premiership of Ontario. “A research project that helps less than four thousand people is not the answer and provides no hope to the nearly two million Ontarians who are trapped in the cycle of poverty,” said Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s former minister of children, community and social services in a statement announcing the program’s closure.