nationalobserver--2020-11-20--Crisis? What crisis? One of Canada’s largest landlords is having a profitable 2020

At the onset of the pandemic , the financial security of tenants quickly became a widespread concern .
As the fear of an avalanche of evictions grew , “ Keep Your Rent ” campaigns sparked around the globe , demanding that lives be put ahead of profits .
Public policy types like myself did what we do best : We argued for and against rent cancellation .
Martine August of the University of Waterloo added fuel to the debate , contending back in April that the financialized landlords she studies could easily absorb revenue losses .
Even then-U.S. presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There should be rent forgiveness and there should be mortgage forgiveness now in the middle of this crisis .
Forgiveness .
Not paid later , forgiveness . ''
CAPREIT is a real estate investment fund ( REIT ) that holds and manages real estate assets on behalf of individual investors who buy shares in the funds and earn dividends from its operations .
It owns 57,000 rental units in Canada — including 2,233 units acquired between February and September 2020 .
According to its third-quarter financial report , `` CAPREIT has maintained a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with over 99 per cent of rents collected year to date . ''
CAPREIT 's net rental revenue increased by 15 per cent from September 2019 to September 2020 .
Its net operating income — the sum of revenues minus operating costs ( not including capital costs ) — grew by 4.1 per cent .
Why should REITs and corporate landlords be made whole through COVID-19 , @ ricardo_tranjan asks , when so many other businesses are taking losses ?
CAPREIT 's average monthly rents on occupied units increased by three per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six times the rate of inflation for the period .
Halifax and Ottawa were hit hardest , with average rent increases of 4.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent , respectively .
Even where rent controls exist , landlords can increase the rents for vacated units by any amount .
In the first nine months of 2020 , CAPREIT increased rents in turnover suites by 8.8 per cent on average .
Meanwhile , on the expense side of CAPREIT 's balance sheet , the average interest rate on its mortgage — a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2.65 per cent .
This is a lucrative year by many standards , but even more so in a context where the Bank of Canada estimates the country ’ s economy will shrink by 5.5 per cent in 2020 .
CAPREIT is not unique .
Third-quarter financial reports from other REITs also show very positive performances ( e.g.
, Morguard , Killam , Minto , InterRent , Boardwalk ) .
But they are hoping for even better results .
The Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario ( FRPO ) — whose board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other REITs and large real estate investment firms — is asking the provincial government to subsidize its 2020 losses .
In its recent submission for the 2020 Ontario Budget , FRPO reported that `` seven per cent of families have been unable to pay their full rent since the pandemic started . ''
In the federation ’ s view , the industry should absorb only between 25 per cent and 33 per cent of this seven per cent loss ; the remaining should be split between governments and renters .
The federation also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources to weather losses .
If that ’ s the case , an alternative approach would be for the federation to dig into the deep pockets of its board of directors ’ members in lieu of trying to pass losses onto governments and families experiencing hardship .

At the onset of the pandemic, the financial security of tenants quickly became a widespread concern. As the fear of an avalanche of evictions grew, “Keep Your Rent” campaigns sparked around the globe, demanding that lives be put ahead of profits. Public policy types like myself did what we do best: We argued for and against rent cancellation. Martine August of the University of Waterloo added fuel to the debate, contending back in April that the financialized landlords she studies could easily absorb revenue losses. Even then-U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden joined the chorus: "There should be rent forgiveness and there should be mortgage forgiveness now in the middle of this crisis. Forgiveness. Not paid later, forgiveness." Fast-forward eight long months. Many businesses continue to open and close in response to necessary public health measures, but rent collection hasn't budged. Rents are due, in full, every month, pandemic or not. Temporary eviction bans protected people during the first wave of the pandemic. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provided much-needed income support, though at one point, 1.4 million unemployed Canadians were ineligible for benefits. And one province, B.C., provided temporary rental supplements to renters who lost income due to COVID-19.
These measures prevented the feared avalanche of evictions, but as we ride the second wave and stare at the winter ahead of us, eviction bans have been lifted, and tenants still risk losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic. But how are Canada's largest landlords doing? Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions CAPREIT, for one, is having a very lucrative year.
CAPREIT is a real estate investment fund (REIT) that holds and manages real estate assets on behalf of individual investors who buy shares in the funds and earn dividends from its operations. It owns 57,000 rental units in Canada — including 2,233 units acquired between February and September 2020. Why should REITs and corporate landlords be made whole through COVID-19, @ricardo_tranjan asks, when so many other businesses are taking losses? According to its third-quarter financial report, "CAPREIT has maintained a very high level of rent collection, with over 99 per cent of rents collected year to date." CAPREIT's net rental revenue increased by 15 per cent from September 2019 to September 2020. Its net operating income — the sum of revenues minus operating costs (not including capital costs) — grew by 4.1 per cent. CAPREIT's average monthly rents on occupied units increased by three per cent between September 2019 and September 2020 — six times the rate of inflation for the period. Halifax and Ottawa were hit hardest, with average rent increases of 4.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively. Even where rent controls exist, landlords can increase the rents for vacated units by any amount. In the first nine months of 2020, CAPREIT increased rents in turnover suites by 8.8 per cent on average.
Meanwhile, on the expense side of CAPREIT's balance sheet, the average interest rate on its mortgage — a major expense — declined from 2.93 per cent to 2.65 per cent. This is a lucrative year by many standards, but even more so in a context where the Bank of Canada estimates the country’s economy will shrink by 5.5 per cent in 2020. CAPREIT is not unique. Third-quarter financial reports from other REITs also show very positive performances (e.g., Morguard, Killam, Minto, InterRent, Boardwalk).


nationalobserver--2020-11-20--How Brampton youth are helping city council design the space they need

Young people in Brampton just need space .
So the city and its regional counterpart are pulling together almost $ 12 million and asking them to design it .
Through online workshops held this month and an ongoing questionnaire , the fast-growing city northwest of Toronto is collecting ideas about what two new youth hubs for 14- to 29-year-old residents should look like and be used for .
“ We definitely have a sandbox that we 're playing in , but we have a very large vision , ” project lead Yvonne Sinniah said of the development of a 12,000-square-foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to interact with it in a hub-and-spoke model .
It ’ ll take a bit of time , though — up to three years to deliver the main space and 18 months for the satellite one , with the design process to kick into gear over the winter .
• The province ’ s gambit : Alberta group touts hydrogen economy as ‘ step ’ to net-zero world The idea for the spaces springs from the new council ’ s “ root cause and upstream approach ” to address issues , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to solve the underlying reasons , said the councillor whose ward will host the main hub .
“ Many of them were saying to us that we need a place for young people to be , just to be , to be and to safely access services and supports that they need , ” Coun .
Rowena Santos said about the record number of deputations it received from young people and youth organizations .
Santos said she and other members of council have heard about a dire lack of social services for vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principal telling them earlier this year they were unable to get mental health support for a recently fostered student .
Coun .
Rowena Santos says young people in Brampton need a safe space to just be .
Photo supplied by City of Brampton Sinniah says the spaces — the main one will be next to Century Gardens Recreation Centre and the smaller one at South Fletcher ’ s Sportsplex — will need to be flexible to accommodate the different life stages covered by that age range .
Since asking them for their views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're hearing so much more , and it 's quite dynamic , and we 're allowing that to happen right now , because nothing is fixed in terms of design , ” Sinniah said .
Young people in # Brampton are helping the city design two new spaces for local youth as part of council 's approach to solving issues in the community by trying to address the underlying causes .
Those in high school are more likely to want after-school or evening programming , for example , while college and university students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , said Sinniah , who also heads the city ’ s COVID-19 Youth Support Task Force .
There are some 130,000 young people in Brampton out of a population of just under 600,000 at the 2016 census , making it one of the youngest cities in the country .
Almost three-quarters ( 73 per cent ) of Brampton residents identify as a `` visible minority . ''
The city , part of the Peel region that includes larger Mississauga to the south and the smaller town of Caledon to the north , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Many of its residents work in industrial settings , transportation , logistics and food processing and have been unable to work remotely .

Young people in Brampton just need space. So the city and its regional counterpart are pulling together almost $12 million and asking them to design it. Through online workshops held this month and an ongoing questionnaire, the fast-growing city northwest of Toronto is collecting ideas about what two new youth hubs for 14- to 29-year-old residents should look like and be used for. “We definitely have a sandbox that we're playing in, but we have a very large vision,” project lead Yvonne Sinniah said of the development of a 12,000-square-foot go-to space for youth and a smaller one to interact with it in a hub-and-spoke model. It’ll take a bit of time, though — up to three years to deliver the main space and 18 months for the satellite one, with the design process to kick into gear over the winter.
The idea for the spaces springs from the new council’s “root cause and upstream approach” to address issues, including gun and gang violence, by looking to solve the underlying reasons, said the councillor whose ward will host the main hub. “Many of them were saying to us that we need a place for young people to be, just to be, to be and to safely access services and supports that they need,” Coun. Rowena Santos said about the record number of deputations it received from young people and youth organizations. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Santos said she and other members of council have heard about a dire lack of social services for vulnerable young people, with one middle school principal telling them earlier this year they were unable to get mental health support for a recently fostered student.
Coun. Rowena Santos says young people in Brampton need a safe space to just be. Photo supplied by City of Brampton Sinniah says the spaces — the main one will be next to Century Gardens Recreation Centre and the smaller one at South Fletcher’s Sportsplex — will need to be flexible to accommodate the different life stages covered by that age range. Young people in #Brampton are helping the city design two new spaces for local youth as part of council's approach to solving issues in the community by trying to address the underlying causes. Since asking them for their views on the hub plan, “we're hearing so much more, and it's quite dynamic, and we're allowing that to happen right now, because nothing is fixed in terms of design,” Sinniah said. Those in high school are more likely to want after-school or evening programming, for example, while college and university students might want to use it during the day, said Sinniah, who also heads the city’s COVID-19 Youth Support Task Force. There are some 130,000 young people in Brampton out of a population of just under 600,000 at the 2016 census, making it one of the youngest cities in the country. Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of Brampton residents identify as a "visible minority."


nationalobserver--2020-11-20--‘Enough is enough’: RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki named in lawsuit over slow response to watchdog r

‘Enough is enough’: RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki named in lawsuit over slow response to watchdog report

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association ( BCCLA ) has taken the unprecedented step of filing a personal lawsuit against RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki over lengthy delays in the release of a report from the force 's civilian watchdog .
The Federal Court lawsuit stems from a 2014 complaint lodged by the BCCLA contending the RCMP spied on organizations and Indigenous nations opposed to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project .
It alleges the RCMP shared the information it collected with the National Energy Board and private oil companies .
As previously reported by Canada ’ s National Observer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grassroots environmental organizations had a chilling effect that left citizens afraid to speak out .
None of the allegations has been proven in court , and a statement of defence has yet to be filed .
As a result of the BCCLA complaint , the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission ( CRCC ) for the RCMP , an independent agency created by Parliament in 1988 , launched an investigation .
The CRCC completed its interim report in June 2017 and waited for the RCMP to respond .
• The province ’ s gambit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ step ’ to net-zero world The CRCC — and the BCCLA — are still waiting .
“ We are suing RCMP Commissioner Lucki personally , ” Paul Champ , legal counsel for the BCCLA , told Canada 's National Observer .
“ The primary court remedy we are seeking is personal in nature .
It is a court order directed at a specific public official to perform a certain statutory duty.
” The BCCLA ’ s lawsuit claims Lucki has breached her obligations under the RCMP Act , which states that an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be given “ as soon as feasible.
” The CRCC can not issue a final report without response from the RCMP , and by failing to respond , Lucki is also violating the BCCLA ’ s charter right to freedom of expression , the lawsuit alleges .
“ The RCMP commissioner broke several promises about when she would complete her review , ” said Champ , referring to multiple instances outlined in the court document where Lucki missed her own deadlines .
“ We also learned this year from the CRCC annual report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are waiting years to get a response to their complaints.
” In some cases , Champ said they involve very serious allegations of police abuse and excessive use of force .
“ We are hoping a strong judgment by the court on the delay in this case will compel the RCMP to treat public complaints with the seriousness and respect they deserve , ” said Paul Champ , legal counsel for the B.C .
Civil Liberties Association .
The CRCC annual report , published in June , was critical of the RCMP for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairperson Michelaine Lahaie expressed her “ dismay about the length of time that it takes for the commissioner to provide a response to commission interim reports , with the average length of time for a response now having risen to 17 months.
” In the report , the CRCC noted that in December 2019 , the commission and the RCMP signed their first operations memorandum of understanding ( MOU ) , imposing , among other things , “ timelines for the RCMP to respond to commission reports.
” Specifically , it states the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months .
However , there appears to be a loophole .
“ The MOU is not retroactive , ” Caroline Duval from RCMP media relations in Ottawa wrote in an email to Canada 's National Observer .
“ Therefore , the service standard does not apply to reports given to the RCMP before the MOU was signed.
” Nonetheless , Champ , on behalf of the BCCLA , sent a letter on June 23 to the RCMP complaining about response delays .
Another month and a half went by .
Then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter blaming the delayed response on “ the initial misdirection of your correspondence , coupled with workplace complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
” Lucki acknowledged the RCMP ’ s tardy response to the CRCC ’ s report in this matter “ has not been ideal.
” She further suggested the delay may have been due to the desire on the part of the commissioner and her staff to provide meaningful responses .
Lucki concluded her letter by stating she would try to provide the CRCC chairperson “ with my response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This still has not happened .
“ We are seeking a declaration that the RCMP commissioner breached the RCMP Act through this inexcusable delay , and also a declaration that the RCMP violated the BCCLA 's charter right to freedom of expression , ” said Champ .
“ The Supreme Court of Canada has held that a derivative right to the freedom of expression is the right to access government information to express those opinions .
It is clear there are systemic problems here , as the RCMP commissioner routinely disregards or ignores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As of last June , there were six CRCC interim reports that had been waiting over three years for a response from the RCMP commissioner .
A further 48 had been waiting over two years , with 64 waiting over one year and 56 under one year .
The RCMP informed Canada 's National Observer that the police force has developed a plan to prioritize outstanding CRCC interim reports .
Efforts are also underway to increase the number of personnel responsible for review and analysis .
“ We can tell you that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on track to provide our response to the CRCC by Nov. 21 , ” said Duval .
While the BCCLA is not seeking damages , it does appear to be adding pressure to Lucki by naming other actors in the application .
“ The application also names the attorney general of Canada on behalf of the RCMP , ” said Champ .
“ And we name the B.C .
solicitor general as an interested party , because the conduct allegedly took place within B.C.
” As for a remedy , the BCCLA is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a declaration that Lucki has breached her duties , a declaration that the BCCLA 's freedom of expression has been violated , a response to the interim report within 14 days , legal costs and “ such further and other relief as counsel may request and this Honourable Court may permit.
” “ If the commissioner doesn ’ t comply with a court order to respond within 14 days , she can be held in contempt of court and subject to fines and even imprisonment , ” said Champ .
“ So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BCCLA is looking at the bigger picture , with the court action designed to force change at the RCMP .
“ We are hoping a strong judgment by the court on the delay in this case will compel the RCMP to treat public complaints with the seriousness and respect they deserve , ” said Champ .
“ Many who are victims of police abuse are not in a position to challenge the RCMP delays in court .
But the BCCLA is .
Enough is enough.
” Feb. 6 , 2014 : The British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submits a complaint to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission ( CRCC ) , alleging that members of the RCMP had illegally monitored environmentalists and violated their constitutional rights .
August 2018 : The BCCLA is informed by the CRCC that the commission had sent a copy of the interim report to the RCMP commissioner on June 13 , 2017 , and had not received a response .
December 2019 : The CRCC and the RCMP conclude a memorandum of understanding ( MOU ) providing an express timeline that requires the RCMP commissioner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within six months .
June 23 , 2020 : Legal counsel for the BCCLA writes to the RCMP commissioner , citing her statutory duty to respond to the interim report and the MOU setting out a six-month timeline .
At this point , the BCCLA ’ s position was that the commissioner had already breached her duty under the RCMP Act to provide a written response to the CRCC “ as soon as feasible.
” Aug. 7 , 2020 : The RCMP commissioner responds to the legal counsel for the BCCLA .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time taken to respond “ has not been ideal.
” She further advises : “ I committed to the CRCC chairperson that I would try to provide her with my response to the interim report within 90 days.
” Oct. 13 , 2020 : The RCMP commissioner states : “ I fully intend to provide the CRCC chairperson my response to the interim report by Nov. 7 , 2020.
” The RCMP commissioner fails to fulfil this obligation .
Nov. 9 , 2020 : The BCCLA initiates legal action in Federal Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to force a response to the interim report .

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has taken the unprecedented step of filing a personal lawsuit against RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki over lengthy delays in the release of a report from the force's civilian watchdog. The Federal Court lawsuit stems from a 2014 complaint lodged by the BCCLA contending the RCMP spied on organizations and Indigenous nations opposed to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project. It alleges the RCMP shared the information it collected with the National Energy Board and private oil companies. As previously reported by Canada’s National Observer, the alleged infiltration by the RCMP into grassroots environmental organizations had a chilling effect that left citizens afraid to speak out. None of the allegations has been proven in court, and a statement of defence has yet to be filed. As a result of the BCCLA complaint, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) for the RCMP, an independent agency created by Parliament in 1988, launched an investigation. The CRCC completed its interim report in June 2017 and waited for the RCMP to respond.
The CRCC — and the BCCLA — are still waiting. “We are suing RCMP Commissioner Lucki personally,” Paul Champ, legal counsel for the BCCLA, told Canada's National Observer. “The primary court remedy we are seeking is personal in nature. It is a court order directed at a specific public official to perform a certain statutory duty.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The BCCLA’s lawsuit claims Lucki has breached her obligations under the RCMP Act, which states that an answer to the CRCC interim report should be given “as soon as feasible.”
The CRCC cannot issue a final report without response from the RCMP, and by failing to respond, Lucki is also violating the BCCLA’s charter right to freedom of expression, the lawsuit alleges. “We are hoping a strong judgment by the court on the delay in this case will compel the RCMP to treat public complaints with the seriousness and respect they deserve,” said Paul Champ, legal counsel for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. “The RCMP commissioner broke several promises about when she would complete her review,” said Champ, referring to multiple instances outlined in the court document where Lucki missed her own deadlines. “We also learned this year from the CRCC annual report that there are many other complainants who are waiting years to get a response to their complaints.” In some cases, Champ said they involve very serious allegations of police abuse and excessive use of force. The CRCC annual report, published in June, was critical of the RCMP for its overall slow response to complaints. Chairperson Michelaine Lahaie expressed her “dismay about the length of time that it takes for the commissioner to provide a response to commission interim reports, with the average length of time for a response now having risen to 17 months.” In the report, the CRCC noted that in December 2019, the commission and the RCMP signed their first operations memorandum of understanding (MOU), imposing, among other things, “timelines for the RCMP to respond to commission reports.”
Specifically, it states the RCMP must respond to commission reports within six months. However, there appears to be a loophole. “The MOU is not retroactive,” Caroline Duval from RCMP media relations in Ottawa wrote in an email to Canada's National Observer. “Therefore, the service standard does not apply to reports given to the RCMP before the MOU was signed.”


nationalobserver--2020-11-20--A clean energy strategy for Ontario?

A clean energy strategy for Ontario?

The Ontario government announced plans to develop a hydrogen economy Thursday , touting the fuel as a way to kick-start the province ’ s economic recovery from COVID-19 while lowering emissions .
The province is aiming to roll out its full hydrogen strategy in 2021 , Environment Minister Jeff Yurek said .
For now , the province has published a discussion paper to outline its ideas , opening it up for public feedback over the next two months .
“ Our government sees tremendous potential in this innovative energy source , ” Yurek said Thursday , speaking to a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canada .
The fuel could be used for vehicles like trucks and ships , but also for industrial applications .
It could also be blended into natural gas to help heat and power homes , the province said in a press release .
“ This moment in time presents us with opportunities to encourage emerging industries , including the clean technology sector , to help support a speedy economic recovery , while also helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions , ” Wheeler said .
“ Although some hydrogen uses may occur in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now to scale up technologies and bring down costs to support the province ’ s hydrogen potential.
” The Ford government has cancelled green energy programs and tried to halt partially built wind farms .
But now it ’ s announcing plans to reduce emissions through a new “ hydrogen economy '' as a way to boost the economy amid COVID-19 .
# onpoli Not all hydrogen , however , is created equal .
It can be produced using green energy sources like wind , solar and hydro , but it can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Sometimes , those emissions can be reduced by carbon capture and storage , a technique that buries them underground . )
In its announcement , the province touted a pilot project by pipeline company Enbridge that would blend low-carbon hydrogen with natural gas to supply energy to 3,600 customers in Markham , Ont.
, a Toronto suburb .
Hydrogen is a “ really promising technology , ” said Sarah Buchanan , clean economy program manager at the green non-profit Environmental Defence .
But the government could reduce emissions using cheaper and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ My concern would be , the way it ’ s being pitched right now , it provides a way to preserve the existing oil and gas industry and infrastructure , and to preserve large amounts of oil and gas being in the supply mix and still calling it clean , ” Buchanan said .
“ It helps trick us into thinking we can consume endlessly and it ’ ll be OK. ” The province ’ s discussion paper does not include estimates of how much hydrogen could reduce emissions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technologies .
Ontario ’ s environment plan included a pledge to reduce emissions to 30 per cent below what they were in 2005 by 2030 , a target the province is in danger of missing , auditor general Bonnie Lysyk said in a report released Wednesday .
When asked whether the province has plans to release such estimates , Wheeler said the government “ uses modelling to estimate emissions in Ontario ” and will “ continue to evaluate opportunities hydrogen represents ” as its strategy develops .
Buchanan said the province ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks at completely decarbonizing as a way to reduce emissions and combat the climate crisis .
But that isn ’ t in the discussion paper , which calls for stakeholders to weigh in on how the government could support a hydrogen market .
“ I think that ’ s a good idea .
I think they should do that , ” she said of the hydrogen plan .

The Ontario government announced plans to develop a hydrogen economy Thursday, touting the fuel as a way to kick-start the province’s economic recovery from COVID-19 while lowering emissions. The province is aiming to roll out its full hydrogen strategy in 2021, Environment Minister Jeff Yurek said. For now, the province has published a discussion paper to outline its ideas, opening it up for public feedback over the next two months. “Our government sees tremendous potential in this innovative energy source,” Yurek said Thursday, speaking to a virtual conference hosted by the Hydrogen Business Council of Canada. “Our government envisions a hydrogen economy that can create more local jobs and attract investment, while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions using low-carbon hydrogen, especially in the transportation sector.” The Progressive Conservative government’s decision to pursue clean energy comes at a time when jurisdictions around the world are outlining green stimulus packages as a way to help economies recover from the hit caused by COVID-19. The idea may be seen as a surprising change in direction for Premier Doug Ford, who has pledged to “tear up every wind turbine in this province,” cancelled over 700 renewable energy contracts days after taking office in 2018 and used economic recovery legislation over the summer to water down environmental rules.
“Ontario has and will continue to support other energy sectors and sources that can help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Environment Ministry spokesperson Gary Wheeler in an email, pointing to a 2019 proposal to increase the biofuel content in gasoline and an October investment in electric vehicle manufacturing. “We see further opportunity in the clean technology and hydrogen sectors, which we believe could be an important source of economic growth and job creation in our province, and country, over the long term.” Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions A growing number of jurisdictions are pursuing hydrogen, a colourless, odourless gas, as a low-carbon energy source. When it’s used, it doesn’t emit carbon or greenhouse gases — its only byproducts are heat and water.
The fuel could be used for vehicles like trucks and ships, but also for industrial applications. It could also be blended into natural gas to help heat and power homes, the province said in a press release. The Ford government has cancelled green energy programs and tried to halt partially built wind farms. But now it’s announcing plans to reduce emissions through a new “hydrogen economy" as a way to boost the economy amid COVID-19. #onpoli “This moment in time presents us with opportunities to encourage emerging industries, including the clean technology sector, to help support a speedy economic recovery, while also helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Wheeler said. “Although some hydrogen uses may occur in the longer term, certain actions are needed now to scale up technologies and bring down costs to support the province’s hydrogen potential.” Not all hydrogen, however, is created equal. It can be produced using green energy sources like wind, solar and hydro, but it can also be made using emissions-intensive natural gas. (Sometimes, those emissions can be reduced by carbon capture and storage, a technique that buries them underground.) In its announcement, the province touted a pilot project by pipeline company Enbridge that would blend low-carbon hydrogen with natural gas to supply energy to 3,600 customers in Markham, Ont., a Toronto suburb.
Hydrogen is a “really promising technology,” said Sarah Buchanan, clean economy program manager at the green non-profit Environmental Defence. But the government could reduce emissions using cheaper and more established technologies like vehicle electrification, she said. “My concern would be, the way it’s being pitched right now, it provides a way to preserve the existing oil and gas industry and infrastructure, and to preserve large amounts of oil and gas being in the supply mix and still calling it clean,” Buchanan said. “It helps trick us into thinking we can consume endlessly and it’ll be OK.”


nationalobserver--2020-11-20--Bill lays groundwork for possible court enforcement of climate law, says Amos

Newly tabled federal legislation would give the public the opportunity to seek court orders forcing governments to abide by their climate commitments , says a Liberal parliamentary secretary .
Will Amos , an environmental lawyer who is the MP for Pontiac and parliamentary secretary to the industry minister , told Canada ’ s National Observer on Thursday that Bill C-12 , the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act , lays significant legal groundwork .
“ There ’ s all sorts of accountability built in here that will be both political and judicial ... the opportunities to bring judicial review in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued Amos .
Conservative environment critic Dan Albas attacked the government for making “ new environmental commitments while failing to meet their previous climate promises , ” and NDP environment critic Laurel Collins called the bill “ a small step in the right direction ” but ultimately continuing a trend of “ putting off climate action.
” But Amos said the bill presented several opportunities for Canadian courts to hold the government accountable , if it becomes law .
The bill ’ s language is unambiguous , he suggested : It says the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targets , must establish emissions reduction plans and must table those in Parliament , for example , all connected with specific timelines .
While the bill gives the government the power to amend targets , it says Ottawa can only do so in a way that is “ consistent with the purpose ” of the legislation — namely , achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 .
Liberals say Bill C-12 lays significant legal groundwork to hold governments accountable for climate targets , but critics argue it does n't go far enough .
# cdnpoli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do is create a set of accountability norms that will put an exceptionally high degree of pressure on both the present and future federal administrations , ” he said .
“ The purpose here is to create both political and legal incentives to act.
” A 2025 target , and a ban on oil and gas execs Chief among critics ’ concerns was the fact that the legislation skips the year 2025 and starts at 2030 , despite operating on five-year intervals after that .
Asked by media on Thursday why the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandated target for 2025 , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded that Canada would be “ meeting and exceeding our 2030 targets.
” The bill “ lays out a framework of accountability and transparency , ” Trudeau said , that will ensure Canada reaches its net-zero goal “ in a way that gives Canadians confidence.
” West Coast Environmental Law staff lawyer Andrew Gage said the government should be prioritizing more immediate action by setting a 2025 target .
The group said the bill contains some “ key ingredients ” for helping avoid a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action may be too delayed .
The lack of a 2025 target was also a concern for the environmental law charity Ecojustice .
The group also said its initial reading of the bill was that the government was “ taking the climate emergency seriously ” and noted it was the first time a federal government introduced legislation to hold itself accountable for emissions .
The bill requires the environment minister to prepare a “ progress report ” for target years and an “ assessment report ” summarizing Canada ’ s greenhouse gas emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada has not achieved a target , the assessment report must then include “ the reasons why Canada failed , ” as well as a list of actions the government “ is taking , or will take ” to address the failure .
Keith Stewart , senior energy strategist at Greenpeace Canada , said the bill should include “ clear direction for ministers to achieve climate targets rather than simply explain why they failed.
” Bill C-12 orders the finance minister to prepare an annual report outlining what the public service has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities related to climate change , ” and to make that report public .
And it orders the federal environment commissioner to report on the government ’ s climate measures .
The bill would also establish a 15-member part-time “ advisory body ” with the mandate to provide the minister with advice on how to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 .
The government appoints the members of the advisory body and the minister can alter its terms of reference , but the minister must also publicly respond to its advice .
Amara Possian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called on the government to ban fossil fuel executives from the advisory panel , saying it was important to ensure that the fossil fuel industry doesn ’ t undermine the goals of the legislation .
“ The climate legislation that Justin Trudeau presented today could be the starting point for real climate action in Canada , ” said Possian .
“ The opposition parties the Liberals need to pass this bill have a historic opportunity to amend the bill and turn it into a made-in-Canada Green New Deal .
”

Newly tabled federal legislation would give the public the opportunity to seek court orders forcing governments to abide by their climate commitments, says a Liberal parliamentary secretary. Will Amos, an environmental lawyer who is the MP for Pontiac and parliamentary secretary to the industry minister, told Canada’s National Observer on Thursday that Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, lays significant legal groundwork. “There’s all sorts of accountability built in here that will be both political and judicial ... the opportunities to bring judicial review in the Federal Court would be legion,” argued Amos. Bill C-12, tabled Thursday morning, would require the federal government to set national carbon emissions targets for 2030 and beyond, eventually reaching net-zero in 2050, and draw up emissions reduction plans for achieving those targets, which would be made public. The bill was immediately met with heavy criticism from Green Party Leader Annamie Paul, who called it “a game of smoke and mirrors” at a press conference in Ottawa.
She pointed out that the bill gives the government up to nine months after the legislation comes into force to come up with a new 2030 target, one that the Liberals have been promising since 2019 would “exceed” Canada’s current one. That’s not good enough, said Paul, because Canada already committed under the Paris Agreement to increase its climate ambition as of this year, 2020. “This legislation makes it clear that we have no intention of increasing our targets within this year,” she said.
'Small step in the right direction' Canada has made several international commitments to reduce its carbon pollution since 1992, but has overshot each one. Liberals say Bill C-12 lays significant legal groundwork to hold governments accountable for climate targets, but critics argue it doesn't go far enough. #cdnpoli Conservative environment critic Dan Albas attacked the government for making “new environmental commitments while failing to meet their previous climate promises,” and NDP environment critic Laurel Collins called the bill “a small step in the right direction” but ultimately continuing a trend of “putting off climate action.” Amos said the bill's language is unambiguous: the minister "must" set national emissions targets, for example, and "must" establish emissions reduction plans that get tabled in Parliament. While the bill gives the government the power to amend targets, this must be done in a way that is “consistent with the purpose” of the legislation — namely, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. “What we’re trying to do is create a set of accountability norms that will put an exceptionally high degree of pressure on both the present and future federal administrations,” said Amos. “The purpose here is to create both political and legal incentives to act.”
A 2025 target, and a ban on oil and gas execs Chief among critics’ concerns was the fact that the legislation skips the year 2025 and starts at 2030, despite operating on five-year intervals after that. Asked by media on Thursday why the government was not subjecting itself to any legally mandated target for 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded that Canada would be “meeting and exceeding our 2030 targets.”


nationalobserver--2020-11-20--Movie reviews: Old Hollywood in 'Mank,' Depression-era desperation in 'Dreamland' and 'Star Wars' do

Movie reviews: Old Hollywood in 'Mank,' Depression-era desperation in 'Dreamland' and 'Star Wars' done in Lego

Again , there are signs the pandemic has helped little films get noticed — by keeping the big ones away .
Case in point : the Winnipeg-made I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight .
The film had a “ $ 0 marketing budget ” but got into theatres in 17 cities , in some for as long as seven , eight or 10 weeks .
On Tuesday , it debuts VOD and EST on several platforms , including Shaw , Telus and Cineplex .
Closer to us , there ’ s an even smaller film , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been streaming from viff.org , and still is .
My reviews today include more small films , but I 'll start with a big one .
MANK : This one is for movie fans who are fascinated with stories of old Hollywood .
Preferably with a cynical view , because you get a great deal of that here .
Officially , it recounts Herman J. Mankiewicz 's arduous screenwriting of Citizen Kane , the great film for which he and Orson Welles shared an Academy Award .
But there ’ s less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of a look around at the society and characters in Tinseltown of the 1930s .
There ’ s bossy Louis B. Mayer , raised in New Brunswick and head of MGM , powerful newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst , assorted studio folks and a flock of screenwriters churning out popular stories and , among them , Mank himself feeling conflicted about his role .
He ’ s laid up in bed with an injury as he dictates the script , but flashbacks take us around as he discovers what really goes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jester telling the truth with disdain .
David Fincher directed from a script his late father Jack wrote years ago but couldn ’ t get made .
Not in black and white , he was told .
David relishes that .
The entire film has the ambience and the look of a top-rank film from the 1930s and often emulates the particular style of Citizen Kane .
Film buffs will enjoy that , but the story is compelling , too , and the acting is terrific .
Gary Oldman disappears inside Mank ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davies , the Hearst protégé , and everyone in the large cast is believable .
Welles is hardly in it .
He shows up only a few times .
In effect , then , the film takes a position on the long controversy started by Pauline Kael over how much the script was really a joint effort .
It ’ s short of emotional involvement , though , so crowded is it with incidents and impressions , and Jack Fincher ’ s research .
Still , highly recommended .
( It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in three area theatres now — The Park , Park Royal and VanCity — where the documentary The Eyes of Orson Welles is also showing and streaming ) 4 out of 5 DREAMLAND : You might have seen the basic story before .
A bank robber in the dusty Depression-era U.S. allies with a lonely young man , and together they drive around as outlaws , pulling jobs and shooting back at cops chasing them .
Bonnie and Clyde ?
Sure , a version of them , with Margot Robbie as Allison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evans .
He finds her hiding out in his family ’ s barn , injured with a bullet in her leg ( which he removes for her ) and a story to tell .
No , she did not kill a young girl in her latest robbery .
Yes , she steals from banks , but only in retaliation for the foreclosure of her farm .
Eugene ’ s family farm is under threat , too .
There ’ s a big reward if he brings her in , but her story resonates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more primitive attraction , too , fed with some skinny-dipping and a very sexy shower .
So , he agrees to help get her to Mexico , except vehicles are hard to come by for someone as poor as he .
It ’ s a good story ; it ’ ll keep you glued and wondering .
Robbie is a good stand-in for a Bonnie type and Miles Joris-Peyrafitte has directed a handsome movie .
( On premium video on demand and digital starting Nov. 17 ) 3½ out of 5 THE LEGO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s great fun here for fans who know the films , and a bit of a curio for others .
Lego figures look and act like Star Wars characters from across the whole nine-film universe and maybe beyond .
A simple plot device sets that up .
Rey searches to better her ability to teach Jedi techniques , sails through a wormhole ( and back and forth through others ) and sees the entire history of the series .
So Luke aviates again through that channel , snow walkers reappear , Yoda pronounces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connects ” and yes , the Death Star explodes .
There are X-wing and lightsabre battles , two Darth Vaders at one point , and meta references that the fans will get , like the mocking one , “ Who cares about a trade dispute ?
” There ’ s also a Jar Jar Binks joke .
The animation is speedy and the action gets frenetic .
And I spotted two Star Wars veterans among the voice actors ( Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams ) and also two Canadians .
Toronto-born Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Devall , who spent years in the voiceover industry in Vancouver , is Emperor Palpatine .
He , with his evil cackling , is one of the highlights of this 45-minute romp .
An earlier special , 22 years ago , was despised by the fans .
Not so , this time .
( Streaming at Disney+ ) 3½ out of 5 THE LAST VERMEER : I had never heard of this story before , but it happened and it ’ s made a quite involving film .
Not often do you see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three times in just a few final minutes .
You do here , and how rapt you ’ ll be .
You won ’ t figure out whether Han van Meegeren , played by Guy Pearce , had been a Nazi collaborator in Holland during the Second World War or an opportunist who was cheating Hermann Goering by selling him a fake painting .
Danish actor Claes Bang plays an investigator with the Allied Provisional Government who tries to figure out what he really is .
It takes us through several well-written debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the meaning of art , and then a court case .
Han admits to selling a little-known Vermeer painting .
He had discovered a number that had never been identified before .
Pearce overplays him , effusively expressing his love of art — he paints himself — and his hate for fascism .
But how much is true ?
Bang , meanwhile , is hampered by an interfering justice ministry official and distracted by a dispute with his wife .
But director Dan Friedkin keeps the story on track and us guessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the film The Square for which he won an acting award as the head of an art museum .
He was also in The Burnt Orange Heresy , another recent art world film .
( International Village , 5th Avenue and a few suburban theatres ) 3 out of 5 SOUND OF METAL : The movies don ’ t often deal with this affliction — hearing loss — and this one does it most authentically .
That may be because the people involved have a connection .
The director , Darius Marder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a grandmother who went deaf and became an activist .
And Derek Cianfrance , who wrote the story and directed a short film of it , was a rock drummer who damaged his hearing .
So with innovative sound design , this film accurately duplicates the failing tones , the muffling and distortion heard by the central character , Ruben , and with a sharp script conveys his anguish .
He ’ s a drummer , too , played by British actor Riz Ahmed , pounding out raging beats behind the screaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooke .
As his hearing fades , he gets more and more hyper with worry ( he ’ s also an ex-addict ) and looks for a solution .
There ’ s no pill , a pharmacist says , and no cure , a doctor says .
The best answer is at a rural school for deaf children .
He ’ s told to adjust , learn sign language and accept silence because “ Being deaf is not a handicap .
Not something to fix.
” He ’ s impatient and does try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring on another sequence of distorted and garbled sound he has to get used to .
It also frays his relationship with his girlfriend .
This film is emotionally potent as it takes us along on his decline and looks for a way out .
Both Ahmed and Cooke deliver first-class acting , and look for the French actor Mathieu Amalric in a key role near the end .
It ’ s an American and Belgian film , all in English , but subtitled to better pass on its ideas to deaf people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theatres around B.C .
now and starting Dec. 5 at The Rio ) 4½ out of 5 18 TO PARTY : A little bit Breakfast Club and a lot like experiences many people have had , here ’ s an engrossing little film in which not much happens but a lot is talked about .
It ’ s the early ’ 80s , a punk rock gig is to happen in what looks like a warehouse and people are lined up .
Not the younger ones , though .
They may get in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but meanwhile , they have to wait separately at the back of the building .
That ’ s where we meet a wide spectrum of teens .
They sit , gossip , complain and even flirt a bit .
A couple of geeks talk technology .
A pair of freaks get snarky about Ronald Reagan .
One reads a newspaper and considers herself intellectually above the rest .
Another listens to music constantly .
Two girls recall that their friendship collapsed because one found the other was “ a loser.
” And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not as much of a type , insists he ’ s doing fine .
It ’ s a facade , though .
He ’ s been off school because he has been shaken by his brother ’ s suicide .
He ’ ll get a nosebleed later when a big , angry kid among them punches him .
Incidents follow incidents .
There are rumours about a suicide pact in town and about parents searching for UFOs .
It ’ s interesting to watch and the teens play their parts well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ?
At best , writer-director Jeff Roda has sent us a once-over group portrait .
( Streaming at VIFF CONNECT and starting Dec. 1 on a number of video on demand platforms ) 3 out of 5

Again, there are signs the pandemic has helped little films get noticed — by keeping the big ones away. Case in point: the Winnipeg-made I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight. The film had a “$0 marketing budget” but got into theatres in 17 cities, in some for as long as seven, eight or 10 weeks. On Tuesday, it debuts VOD and EST on several platforms, including Shaw, Telus and Cineplex.
David Fincher directed from a script his late father Jack wrote years ago but couldn’t get made. Not in black and white, he was told. David relishes that. The entire film has the ambience and the look of a top-rank film from the 1930s and often emulates the particular style of Citizen Kane. Film buffs will enjoy that, but the story is compelling, too, and the acting is terrific. Gary Oldman disappears inside Mank; Amanda Seyfried elevates the image of Marion Davies, the Hearst protégé, and everyone in the large cast is believable. Welles is hardly in it. He shows up only a few times. In effect, then, the film takes a position on the long controversy started by Pauline Kael over how much the script was really a joint effort.
MANK : This one is for movie fans who are fascinated with stories of old Hollywood. Preferably with a cynical view, because you get a great deal of that here. Officially, it recounts Herman J. Mankiewicz's arduous screenwriting of Citizen Kane, the great film for which he and Orson Welles shared an Academy Award. But there’s less of that creative work shown here and more of a look around at the society and characters in Tinseltown of the 1930s. There’s bossy Louis B. Mayer, raised in New Brunswick and head of MGM, powerful newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst, assorted studio folks and a flock of screenwriters churning out popular stories and, among them, Mank himself feeling conflicted about his role. He’s laid up in bed with an injury as he dictates the script, but flashbacks take us around as he discovers what really goes on. He’s like a court jester telling the truth with disdain.
DREAMLAND : You might have seen the basic story before. A bank robber in the dusty Depression-era U.S. allies with a lonely young man, and together they drive around as outlaws, pulling jobs and shooting back at cops chasing them. Bonnie and Clyde? Sure, a version of them, with Margot Robbie as Allison Wells and Finn Cole as 25-year-old Eugene Evans. He finds her hiding out in his family’s barn, injured with a bullet in her leg (which he removes for her) and a story to tell. No, she did not kill a young girl in her latest robbery. Yes, she steals from banks, but only in retaliation for the foreclosure of her farm.
It’s short of emotional involvement, though, so crowded is it with incidents and impressions, and Jack Fincher’s research. Still, highly recommended. (It’s on Netflix in a couple of weeks and in three area theatres now — The Park, Park Royal and VanCity — where the documentary The Eyes of Orson Welles is also showing and streaming) 4 out of 5
Eugene’s family farm is under threat, too. There’s a big reward if he brings her in, but her story resonates with him. There’s a more primitive attraction, too, fed with some skinny-dipping and a very sexy shower. So, he agrees to help get her to Mexico, except vehicles are hard to come by for someone as poor as he. It’s a good story; it’ll keep you glued and wondering. Robbie is a good stand-in for a Bonnie type and Miles Joris-Peyrafitte has directed a handsome movie. (On premium video on demand and digital starting Nov. 17) 3½ out of 5
THE LEGO STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL: There’s great fun here for fans who know the films, and a bit of a curio for others. Lego figures look and act like Star Wars characters from across the whole nine-film universe and maybe beyond. A simple plot device sets that up. Rey searches to better her ability to teach Jedi techniques, sails through a wormhole (and back and forth through others) and sees the entire history of the series. So Luke aviates again through that channel, snow walkers reappear, Yoda pronounces that “All living things the force connects” and yes, the Death Star explodes.
Courtesy of Disney+
There are X-wing and lightsabre battles, two Darth Vaders at one point, and meta references that the fans will get, like the mocking one, “Who cares about a trade dispute?” There’s also a Jar Jar Binks joke. The animation is speedy and the action gets frenetic. And I spotted two Star Wars veterans among the voice actors (Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams) and also two Canadians. Toronto-born Eric Bauza is Luke and Edmonton-to-L.A. transplant Trevor Devall, who spent years in the voiceover industry in Vancouver, is Emperor Palpatine. He, with his evil cackling, is one of the highlights of this 45-minute romp. An earlier special, 22 years ago, was despised by the fans. Not so, this time. (Streaming at Disney+) 3½ out of 5
THE LAST VERMEER: I had never heard of this story before, but it happened and it’s made a quite involving film. Not often do you see a mystery like this change its solution three times in just a few final minutes. You do here, and how rapt you’ll be. You won’t figure out whether Han van Meegeren, played by Guy Pearce, had been a Nazi collaborator in Holland during the Second World War or an opportunist who was cheating Hermann Goering by selling him a fake painting. Danish actor Claes Bang plays an investigator with the Allied Provisional Government who tries to figure out what he really is.
Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
It takes us through several well-written debates between the two and some long-winded pronouncements about the meaning of art, and then a court case. Han admits to selling a little-known Vermeer painting. He had discovered a number that had never been identified before. Pearce overplays him, effusively expressing his love of art — he paints himself — and his hate for fascism. But how much is true? Bang, meanwhile, is hampered by an interfering justice ministry official and distracted by a dispute with his wife. But director Dan Friedkin keeps the story on track and us guessing. Bang worked with him before, on the film The Square for which he won an acting award as the head of an art museum. He was also in The Burnt Orange Heresy, another recent art world film. (International Village, 5th Avenue and a few suburban theatres) 3 out of 5
SOUND OF METAL: The movies don’t often deal with this affliction — hearing loss — and this one does it most authentically. That may be because the people involved have a connection. The director, Darius Marder, and his co-writer brother Abraham, had a grandmother who went deaf and became an activist. And Derek Cianfrance, who wrote the story and directed a short film of it, was a rock drummer who damaged his hearing. So with innovative sound design, this film accurately duplicates the failing tones, the muffling and distortion heard by the central character, Ruben, and with a sharp script conveys his anguish.
Courtesy of Pacific Northwest Pictures
He’s a drummer, too, played by British actor Riz Ahmed, pounding out raging beats behind the screaming vocals of his partner played by Olivia Cooke. As his hearing fades, he gets more and more hyper with worry (he’s also an ex-addict) and looks for a solution. There’s no pill, a pharmacist says, and no cure, a doctor says. The best answer is at a rural school for deaf children. He’s told to adjust, learn sign language and accept silence because “Being deaf is not a handicap. Not something to fix.” He’s impatient and does try a fix: Cochlear implants, which bring on another sequence of distorted and garbled sound he has to get used to. It also frays his relationship with his girlfriend. This film is emotionally potent as it takes us along on his decline and looks for a way out. Both Ahmed and Cooke deliver first-class acting, and look for the French actor Mathieu Amalric in a key role near the end. It’s an American and Belgian film, all in English, but subtitled to better pass on its ideas to deaf people. (International Village and six other theatres around B.C. now and starting Dec. 5 at The Rio) 4 out of 5
18 TO PARTY: A little bit Breakfast Club and a lot like experiences many people have had, here’s an engrossing little film in which not much happens but a lot is talked about. It’s the early ’80s, a punk rock gig is to happen in what looks like a warehouse and people are lined up. Not the younger ones, though. They may get in, a security guard said so, but meanwhile, they have to wait separately at the back of the building. That’s where we meet a wide spectrum of teens. They sit, gossip, complain and even flirt a bit.
Courtesy of Asterion Pictures
A couple of geeks talk technology. A pair of freaks get snarky about Ronald Reagan. One reads a newspaper and considers herself intellectually above the rest. Another listens to music constantly. Two girls recall that their friendship collapsed because one found the other was “a loser.” And the most interesting of them, because he’s not as much of a type, insists he’s doing fine. It’s a facade, though. He’s been off school because he has been shaken by his brother’s suicide. He’ll get a nosebleed later when a big, angry kid among them punches him. Incidents follow incidents. There are rumours about a suicide pact in town and about parents searching for UFOs. It’s interesting to watch and the teens play their parts well, but what does it all amount to? At best, writer-director Jeff Roda has sent us a once-over group portrait. (Streaming at VIFF CONNECT and starting Dec. 1 on a number of video on demand platforms) 3 out of 5


nationalobserver--2020-11-20--Ottawa wants to hear your ideas on how to tackle food waste

Each year , about half of Canada ’ s food supply goes to waste .
Fields of produce are plowed under due to cancelled orders ; tomatoes destined for pasta sauce fall off conveyor belts and never make it to store shelves .
That might be about to change .
On Thursday , Marie-Claude Bibeau , federal minister of agriculture and agri-food , announced a national competition for projects to reduce the country ’ s food waste .
The program , a first step of a national food waste reduction plan , will fund novel projects to reduce waste throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a problem that extends well beyond household compost bins .
Roughly 35.5 million tonnes of food is wasted in Canada each year , generating about 56.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent , according to a 2019 report by Second Harvest , a non-profit that redistributes food that would otherwise be wasted to food banks and charities .
More than half this waste is created before food hits grocery store shelves .
“ Reducing food waste is necessary for so many reasons : It can help save consumers money , improve food security , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions , ” said Bibeau in a written statement .
“ We actually do have a pretty solid understanding of where that food loss and waste is across the supply chain , ” said Lori Nikkel , CEO of Second Harvest .
Nikkel hopes the $ 10.8-million competition announced Thursday will act as a spark for action on the issue .
• The province ’ s gambit : Alberta group touts hydrogen economy as ‘ step ’ to net-zero world “ Having the knowledge and then actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different things , ” she said .
The contest is open to everyone , from businesses to governments to individuals .
Proposals to the contest will go through several rounds of evaluation , with two finalists awarded $ 1.5 million each to implement their plan .
Efforts to reduce , divert and repurpose wasted food so it remains on the market would be well-suited , Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada explained in a statement .
Reducing # FoodWaste is necessary for so many reasons : ➡saves you money ➡reduces our GHG emissions ➡makes food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the food sector Today , we 're launching a # challenge to tackle the $ 50 billion of avoidable food waste in 🇨🇦 .
pic.twitter.com/4Ls5HDSGKY — Marie-Claude Bibeau ( @ mclaudebibeau ) November 19 , 2020 That approach — focused on reducing waste throughout the supply chain instead of redistributing it to charities — has some observers cautiously optimistic that critiques of previous food waste reduction efforts are being heard .
“ The problem with ( many programs ) is that ( they ) just reinforce the idea that food waste and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to food insecurity , ” said Graham Riches , professor of social work at the University of British Columbia .
He pointed to the federal government ’ s recent $ 50-million Surplus Food Rescue Fund as an example .
“ Food waste ... is a symptom of a dysfunctional industrial food system … but it ’ s being presented as an answer to poverty and food insecurity ... a function of the capitalist market ( and ) broken social safety nets , ” says UBC professor Graham Riches .
The program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food that was stranded by the pandemic-related food service and hospitality shutdown to food banks across Canada .
The approach dealt in part with the immediate crisis : About 5.8 million kilograms of food was stranded when the pandemic hit , and in May , Statistics Canada reported that over 1.5 million more people had become food insecure since 2018 , and one in seven Canadians had n't had enough food during the previous month .
Yet while it dealt with the immediate crisis , Riches said the program didn ’ t challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies focused on redistributing excess food produced by the industrial food system to food banks and charities .
It ’ s a problematic approach , he explained “ Food waste is a product , is a symptom of a dysfunctional industrial food system … but it ’ s being presented as an answer to poverty and food insecurity , which is a function of the capitalist market , but also broken social safety nets.
” That ’ s because food insecurity arises out of social and economic inequality , he explained .
Fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that people have enough money to buy their own food and don ’ t need to rely on food banks at all .
Food waste and food insecurity are symptoms of a broken system , says Graham Riches , professor of social work at UBC .
Photo provided by Graham Riches “ People need money in their pockets to get by , ” he said .
“ They don ’ t actually need handouts , food handouts , which do nothing for the economy other than subsidizing low wages and subsidizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste is a separate issue that requires changing how food is grown , processed , transported and sold , an approach that could be reflected in the contest announced this week .
“ I think it ’ s a very good thing that the federal government is developing this national food waste reduction challenge , ” he said .
“ You ’ ve got to reframe what you ’ re doing about … the industrial food system and how it produces food from the farm to the table and the various stages that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people ’ s mouths .
”

Each year, about half of Canada’s food supply goes to waste. Fields of produce are plowed under due to cancelled orders; tomatoes destined for pasta sauce fall off conveyor belts and never make it to store shelves. That might be about to change. On Thursday, Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, announced a national competition for projects to reduce the country’s food waste. The program, a first step of a national food waste reduction plan, will fund novel projects to reduce waste throughout the supply chain. It’s a problem that extends well beyond household compost bins. Roughly 35.5 million tonnes of food is wasted in Canada each year, generating about 56.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to a 2019 report by Second Harvest, a non-profit that redistributes food that would otherwise be wasted to food banks and charities. More than half this waste is created before food hits grocery store shelves. “Reducing food waste is necessary for so many reasons: It can help save consumers money, improve food security, support efficiency in the agriculture and food sector and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bibeau in a written statement. “We actually do have a pretty solid understanding of where that food loss and waste is across the supply chain,” said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.
Nikkel hopes the $10.8-million competition announced Thursday will act as a spark for action on the issue. “Having the knowledge and then actually doing something about it … are two different things,” she said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The contest is open to everyone, from businesses to governments to individuals. Proposals to the contest will go through several rounds of evaluation, with two finalists awarded $1.5 million each to implement their plan. Efforts to reduce, divert and repurpose wasted food so it remains on the market would be well-suited, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada explained in a statement.
Reducing #FoodWaste is necessary for so many reasons:
➡saves you money
➡reduces our GHG emissions
➡makes food available to those in need
➡improves efficiency in the food sector
Today, we're launching a #challenge to tackle the $50 billion of avoidable food waste in 🇨🇦. pic.twitter.com/4Ls5HDSGKY — Marie-Claude Bibeau (@mclaudebibeau) November 19, 2020 That approach — focused on reducing waste throughout the supply chain instead of redistributing it to charities — has some observers cautiously optimistic that critiques of previous food waste reduction efforts are being heard. “Food waste ... is a symptom of a dysfunctional industrial food system … but it’s being presented as an answer to poverty and food insecurity ... a function of the capitalist market (and) broken social safety nets,” says UBC professor Graham Riches. “The problem with (many programs) is that (they) just reinforce the idea that food waste and food banks and charity are an effective response to food insecurity,” said Graham Riches, professor of social work at the University of British Columbia. He pointed to the federal government’s recent $50-million Surplus Food Rescue Fund as an example. The program, which was announced in August, redistributes food that was stranded by the pandemic-related food service and hospitality shutdown to food banks across Canada. The approach dealt in part with the immediate crisis: About 5.8 million kilograms of food was stranded when the pandemic hit, and in May, Statistics Canada reported that over 1.5 million more people had become food insecure since 2018, and one in seven Canadians hadn't had enough food during the previous month. Yet while it dealt with the immediate crisis, Riches said the program didn’t challenge long-standing and more problematic patterns in government policies focused on redistributing excess food produced by the industrial food system to food banks and charities. It’s a problematic approach, he explained
“Food waste is a product, is a symptom of a dysfunctional industrial food system … but it’s being presented as an answer to poverty and food insecurity, which is a function of the capitalist market, but also broken social safety nets.” That’s because food insecurity arises out of social and economic inequality, he explained. Fully addressing it means overhauling income support systems to ensure that people have enough money to buy their own food and don’t need to rely on food banks at all. Food waste and food insecurity are symptoms of a broken system, says Graham Riches, professor of social work at UBC. Photo provided by Graham Riches


nationalobserver--2020-11-19--Manitoba announces tougher COVID-19 restrictions as Doug Ford hints at new measures in Ontario

Manitoba has further toughened restrictions meant to stem the spread of COVID-19 as Ontario ’ s premier hinted at `` tough '' new measures ahead .
Manitoba , which has the highest per capita infection rate in Canada , announced it ’ s tightening the rules for social gatherings and shopping .
`` COVID-19 case numbers are very concerning , to put it mildly , '' Premier Brian Pallister said Thursday as the province reported 475 new infections and eight deaths .
`` They continue to cause significant strain on our health-care system . ''
Over the past five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 tests have come back positive .
• The province ’ s gambit : Alberta group touts hydrogen economy as ‘ step ’ to net-zero world Starting Friday , people will no longer be allowed to have visitors in their home unless they are providing supports such as child care , tutoring and health services .
Anyone who lives alone can have one visitor over to socialize .
Stores can only sell essential items inside and must close off sections that offer non-essential goods such as consumer electronics .
Capacity in big-box stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of capacity or 250 people , whichever is less .
Ontario is expected to announce new restrictions for hard-hit areas in Toronto and surrounding regions on Friday , but Premier Doug Ford had no details on Thursday when his cabinet was set to discuss recommendations from public health officials .
`` As it ’ s looking , these measures — they will have to be tough in the hardest-hit areas , '' he said .
`` We ’ re seeing concerning trends .
Our hospital ICUs are in jeopardy .
Our long-term care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some difficult but necessary decisions to make . ''
Ontario had 1,210 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday , along with 28 new deaths from the virus .
There are 526 in hospital , including 88 on ventilators .
`` We ’ re seeing concerning trends .
Our hospital ICUs are in jeopardy .
Our long-term care homes are at risk .
We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make , '' Ontario Premier Doug Ford said .
# COVID19 There are 150 COVID-19 patients in intensive care , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s medical advisers have said that ’ s the threshold at which hospitals would need to cancel surgeries .
Quebec , meanwhile , recorded 1,207 positive tests in its update Thursday .
There were 34 new deaths , including seven in the past 24 hours .
There are 651 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in that province , along with 101 in intensive care .
Premier Francois Legault is to hold a news conference late Thursday afternoon alongside provincial health and education ministers .
Legault has said he would soon unveil rules around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the school winter break will be extended .
In the North , Nunavut , which recorded its first COVID-19 case less than two weeks ago , reported four new infections for a total of 74 .
The territory started a two-week lockdown Wednesday of non-essential businesses , schools and other services .
Yukon , which has 26 confirmed cases , is re-imposing a two-week isolation period for most people entering the territory starting Friday .
Meanwhile , the Canadian leading a United Nations road map for COVID-19 recovery said much human progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that now is the time to make lasting changes .
The road map outlines 25 research priorities having to do with health , social protection , economic recovery , macroeconomic responses , multilateral collaboration and social cohesion .
`` This pandemic has been a grand revealer of the many challenges that our world faced before the pandemic , and of course , we ’ re going to face afterwards , '' said Steven Hoffman , the scientific director of the Institute of Population and Public Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been pushed into poverty in 2020 , 90 per cent of students were out of school at some point and that rates of domestic violence have increased by 30 per cent in some countries .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19 , 2020 .

Manitoba has further toughened restrictions meant to stem the spread of COVID-19 as Ontario’s premier hinted at "tough" new measures ahead. Manitoba, which has the highest per capita infection rate in Canada, announced it’s tightening the rules for social gatherings and shopping. "COVID-19 case numbers are very concerning, to put it mildly," Premier Brian Pallister said Thursday as the province reported 475 new infections and eight deaths. "They continue to cause significant strain on our health-care system." Over the past five days in Manitoba, 14 per cent of COVID-19 tests have come back positive.
Starting Friday, people will no longer be allowed to have visitors in their home unless they are providing supports such as child care, tutoring and health services. Anyone who lives alone can have one visitor over to socialize. Stores can only sell essential items inside and must close off sections that offer non-essential goods such as consumer electronics. Capacity in big-box stores will be limited to 25 per cent of capacity or 250 people, whichever is less. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Ontario is expected to announce new restrictions for hard-hit areas in Toronto and surrounding regions on Friday, but Premier Doug Ford had no details on Thursday when his cabinet was set to discuss recommendations from public health officials.
"As it’s looking, these measures — they will have to be tough in the hardest-hit areas," he said. "We’re seeing concerning trends. Our hospital ICUs are in jeopardy. Our long-term care homes are at risk. We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. #COVID19 "We’re seeing concerning trends. Our hospital ICUs are in jeopardy. Our long-term care homes are at risk. We have some difficult but necessary decisions to make." Ontario had 1,210 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, along with 28 new deaths from the virus. There are 526 in hospital, including 88 on ventilators. There are 150 COVID-19 patients in intensive care, according to the Ontario Hospital Association. The Ontario government’s medical advisers have said that’s the threshold at which hospitals would need to cancel surgeries. Quebec, meanwhile, recorded 1,207 positive tests in its update Thursday. There were 34 new deaths, including seven in the past 24 hours.
There are 651 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in that province, along with 101 in intensive care. Premier Francois Legault is to hold a news conference late Thursday afternoon alongside provincial health and education ministers. Legault has said he would soon unveil rules around holiday gatherings and announce a decision on whether the school winter break will be extended.


nationalobserver--2020-11-19--Ensure federal privacy law applies to political parties, digital rights group says

A not-for-profit group that promotes public awareness of digital rights says the Trudeau government has missed an opportunity to ensure political parties come under federal privacy law .
Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains introduced a bill this week aimed at giving Canadians greater control over their data and promising penalties for companies that run afoul of the rules .
But it did not heed long-standing calls from privacy and accountability advocates who want federal law governing personal information to explicitly apply to political parties .
Information about prospective voters is helpful to political parties for everything from door-to-door canvassing to shaping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and detailed databases , there are new concerns about how parties use such information to track and target people .
• The province ’ s gambit : Alberta group touts hydrogen economy as ‘ step ’ to net-zero world Bill Hearn , a lawyer for the Centre for Digital Rights , established by businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie , says the omission of political parties from the new Liberal bill is disappointing .
`` They 're missing a huge opportunity to do what most Canadians want , '' he said .
Hearn also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to federal privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien about the issue .
People are surprised when they find out political parties are n't explicitly covered by the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act ( PIPEDA ) , the privacy law that applies to the private sector , said Dickson , a former member of the Alberta legislature who has also served as Saskatchewan 's information and privacy commissioner .
`` I think that Canadians have this expectation that when they deal with political parties — just as they have with banks and car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be respected and their personal information will be protected , '' Dickson said in an interview .
The digital rights centre is pushing for revision of PIPEDA to apply expressly to political parties , constituency associations , candidates and candidate nomination contestants .
A not-for-profit group that promotes public awareness of digital rights says the Trudeau government has missed an opportunity to ensure political parties come under federal privacy law .
# cdnpoli # DigitalPrivacy # DigitalCharter Even now , the centre argues , the federal parties use and disclose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for purposes a reasonable person would consider contrary to their respective privacy policies , a violation of the requirement under the privacy law that people give meaningful consent for what happens to their data .
The digital-rights centre plans to go to court if Therrien decides he lacks authority to investigate Dickson 's complaint .
Hearn expects a decision from Therrien soon .
The centre has also filed complaints with the federal competition bureau , the B.C .
information and privacy commissioner , the federal telecommunications regulator and Canada 's elections commissioner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ privacy law , John Power , a spokesman for Bains , noted the government is still reviewing the Privacy Act , which applies to government agencies and federally regulated companies such as banks and air carriers .
However , he did not respond when asked if it is the minister 's view that the Privacy Act , not PIPEDA , would be the appropriate statute to cover political parties .
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19 , 2020 .

A not-for-profit group that promotes public awareness of digital rights says the Trudeau government has missed an opportunity to ensure political parties come under federal privacy law. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains introduced a bill this week aimed at giving Canadians greater control over their data and promising penalties for companies that run afoul of the rules. But it did not heed long-standing calls from privacy and accountability advocates who want federal law governing personal information to explicitly apply to political parties. Information about prospective voters is helpful to political parties for everything from door-to-door canvassing to shaping platforms. In the age of algorithms and detailed databases, there are new concerns about how parties use such information to track and target people.
Bill Hearn, a lawyer for the Centre for Digital Rights, established by businessman and philanthropist Jim Balsillie, says the omission of political parties from the new Liberal bill is disappointing. "They're missing a huge opportunity to do what most Canadians want," he said. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Hearn also represents Gary Dickson, who has complained to federal privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien about the issue.
People are surprised when they find out political parties aren't explicitly covered by the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), the privacy law that applies to the private sector, said Dickson, a former member of the Alberta legislature who has also served as Saskatchewan's information and privacy commissioner. A not-for-profit group that promotes public awareness of digital rights says the Trudeau government has missed an opportunity to ensure political parties come under federal privacy law. #cdnpoli #DigitalPrivacy #DigitalCharter "I think that Canadians have this expectation that when they deal with political parties — just as they have with banks and car dealerships and pharmacies — that their privacy is going to be respected and their personal information will be protected," Dickson said in an interview. The digital rights centre is pushing for revision of PIPEDA to apply expressly to political parties, constituency associations, candidates and candidate nomination contestants. Even now, the centre argues, the federal parties use and disclose the personal information they collect from Canadians for purposes a reasonable person would consider contrary to their respective privacy policies, a violation of the requirement under the privacy law that people give meaningful consent for what happens to their data. The digital-rights centre plans to go to court if Therrien decides he lacks authority to investigate Dickson's complaint. Hearn expects a decision from Therrien soon.
The centre has also filed complaints with the federal competition bureau, the B.C. information and privacy commissioner, the federal telecommunications regulator and Canada's elections commissioner. When queried about political parties and federal privacy law, John Power, a spokesman for Bains, noted the government is still reviewing the Privacy Act, which applies to government agencies and federally regulated companies such as banks and air carriers. However, he did not respond when asked if it is the minister's view that the Privacy Act, not PIPEDA, would be the appropriate statute to cover political parties.


nationalobserver--2020-11-19--Canada-Britain trade negotiations in final stages as year-end tariff deadline looms

Canada and Britain say they are in the final stages of negotiating a new trade deal before a Dec. 31 deadline .
That would prevent Canadian products from seafood to steaks and autos from being slapped with new tariffs when Britain leaves the European Union .
The spokeswoman for Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is hard at work on an interim agreement with Britain to replace the pact with the European Union that currently covers trade between the two countries .
`` We understand that time is short .
That 's why Canada is at the table , working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure continuity , predictability and stability for Canadian businesses , exporters , and workers , '' Youmy Han said in a statement to The Canadian Press .
`` A deal is within reach and we continue to work with the U.K. to move this forward . ''
• The province ’ s gambit : Alberta group touts hydrogen economy as ‘ step ’ to net-zero world Britain 's decision to leave the EU after its Brexit referendum means that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement , or CETA , will no longer apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year .
Han said Canada is seeking `` a transitional agreement based on CETA as an interim measure once the Brexit period ends '' but that government negotiators wo n't finalize anything `` that is n't the best deal possible for Canadians . ''
A spokesman for Britain 's international trade department said it is committed to `` seeking to secure a continuity trade deal with Canada before the end of the ( Brexit ) transition period , and trade talks are at an advanced stage and progressing well . ''
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationship between the two countries and `` will provide stability for British exporters and act as a stepping-stone to a deeper trading relationship with Canada in the future , '' said the British statement .
Trevor Kennedy , the policy director of the Business Council of Canada , said Britain remains a key European trading partner for Canada , and if a new deal is n't reached Canadian firms will lose out on the market access they secured under CETA .
Japan and South Korea have already rolled over their old EU trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Zealand and the U.S. are working on new agreements , Kennedy told the House of Commons trade committee this week .
# Canada and # Britain say they are in the final stages of negotiating a new trade deal before a Dec. 31 deadline .
# cdnpoli # TradeDeal # Brexit `` Some of these talks appear to be advanced and if ( they ) are in place without a transitional deal for Canada , it could result in Canadian firms losing their market share and first-mover advantage that we secured under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international policy director for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce , said that without a new bilateral deal tariffs of at least 10 per cent on Canadian exports such as lobster , beef and autos would kick in on Jan. 1 , 2021 .
`` The short answer is that Brexit matters for Canadian businesses , '' Agnew told the trade committee .
Canada 's trade negotiators have amassed vast experience meeting tight deadlines and overcoming late-breaking obstacles in landing trade deals other than CETA .
Canada risked being frozen out of a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Mexico reached their own agreement , forcing Canada to scramble .
Canada also engaged in some tough 11th-hour talks with Japan and others in 2018 to finalize the 11-country Pacific Rim deal known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership .
That negotiation was thrown into flux after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2017 , which left Canada and the 10 remaining countries to find a way to repair their pact without the world 's largest economy as a member .
Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its trade negotiation work to EU officials in Brussels .
The British have had to build a new trade department since the country voted in its June 2016 referendum to leave the EU .
Britain formally left at the end of January but the two parties have lived under an 11-month transition period , which for Canada has meant CETA continued to apply to its trade relations with Britain .
In the meantime , Britain has been forced to negotiate a series of new trade agreements with the EU and others , under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Verheul , Canada 's chief trade negotiator , told the Commons trade committee in early November that talks with Britain ramped up this past summer .
`` We think we 're fairly close to the finish line , but we 're not quite there , '' Verheul said .
`` As you can imagine , in any kind of trade negotiation , the most difficult parts are the ones you deal with at the very end . ''
Canada 's approach was to import as much of the existing CETA pact as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` A lot of the issues were very easy , but there are a handful of issues where we do have to have actual negotiations to reach a landing zone , '' Verheul said .
Verheul said one sticking point was working out the specific levels of market access for various Canadian products .
Another revolved around `` issues related to temporary entry of business people for business purposes . ''
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19 , 2020 .

Canada and Britain say they are in the final stages of negotiating a new trade deal before a Dec. 31 deadline. That would prevent Canadian products from seafood to steaks and autos from being slapped with new tariffs when Britain leaves the European Union. The spokeswoman for Trade Minister Mary Ng says Canada is hard at work on an interim agreement with Britain to replace the pact with the European Union that currently covers trade between the two countries. "We understand that time is short. That's why Canada is at the table, working hard to get a good agreement to ensure continuity, predictability and stability for Canadian businesses, exporters, and workers," Youmy Han said in a statement to The Canadian Press. "A deal is within reach and we continue to work with the U.K. to move this forward."
Britain's decision to leave the EU after its Brexit referendum means that the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, will no longer apply to the country at the end of the year. Han said Canada is seeking "a transitional agreement based on CETA as an interim measure once the Brexit period ends" but that government negotiators won't finalize anything "that isn't the best deal possible for Canadians." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions A spokesman for Britain's international trade department said it is committed to "seeking to secure a continuity trade deal with Canada before the end of the (Brexit) transition period, and trade talks are at an advanced stage and progressing well."
A deal would protect the $33-billion trading relationship between the two countries and "will provide stability for British exporters and act as a stepping-stone to a deeper trading relationship with Canada in the future," said the British statement. #Canada and #Britain say they are in the final stages of negotiating a new trade deal before a Dec. 31 deadline. #cdnpoli #TradeDeal #Brexit Trevor Kennedy, the policy director of the Business Council of Canada, said Britain remains a key European trading partner for Canada, and if a new deal isn't reached Canadian firms will lose out on the market access they secured under CETA. Japan and South Korea have already rolled over their old EU trade deals with Britain, while Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. are working on new agreements, Kennedy told the House of Commons trade committee this week. "Some of these talks appear to be advanced and if (they) are in place without a transitional deal for Canada, it could result in Canadian firms losing their market share and first-mover advantage that we secured under CETA." Mark Agnew, the international policy director for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said that without a new bilateral deal tariffs of at least 10 per cent on Canadian exports such as lobster, beef and autos would kick in on Jan. 1, 2021.
"The short answer is that Brexit matters for Canadian businesses," Agnew told the trade committee. Canada's trade negotiators have amassed vast experience meeting tight deadlines and overcoming late-breaking obstacles in landing trade deals other than CETA. Canada risked being frozen out of a new North American trade pact in 2019 after the U.S. and Mexico reached their own agreement, forcing Canada to scramble. Canada also engaged in some tough 11th-hour talks with Japan and others in 2018 to finalize the 11-country Pacific Rim deal known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. That negotiation was thrown into flux after President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2017, which left Canada and the 10 remaining countries to find a way to repair their pact without the world's largest economy as a member.