nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Canada Post tests the waters for postal banking with pilot projects, funding for study

Canada Post has agreed to study how it could offer postal banking , including through setting up pilot projects at certain locations , as part of a new collaboration with a union representing rural postal workers .
The postal service and the union , the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association ( CPAA ) , both confirmed the agreement , which is laid out in a letter of understanding between the two entities that was obtained by National Observer .
Canada Post will allocate up to $ 500,000 to a committee that will look at how rural post offices in places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services such as money transfers or cashing government cheques .
As part of the study , it will set up `` proof-of-concept '' projects in `` select locations . ''
“ Particularly right now , with COVID-19 , we ’ re hearing of banks that are closing , ” said British Columbia and Yukon branch president Carolyn Elliott , in an interview .
“ There is concern that they won ’ t re-open when the pandemic restrictions ease .
That ’ s a big issue right now for a lot of communities.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key to adding social and economic viability to hundreds of rural communities that don ’ t have banks , but do have post offices .
But the Canadian Bankers Association , which represents dozens of banks , says there isn ’ t any public policy reason that would compel the federal government to get into the banking business .
There are currently over 800 bank branches across B.C.
, it noted .
Canada Post has agreed to study how it could offer postal banking , including through setting up test sites at certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collaboration with a union representing rural postal workers .
A House of Commons committee recommended against postal banking in 2016 , saying the postal service should instead `` focus on its core competencies . ''
A federal review of Canada Post in 2018 did not mention the issue , although it did say the postal service should be “ generating revenues ” that could support both current and future services .
Canada Post already does offer limited financial services like postal money orders through a partnership with MoneyGram , no bank account required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is dated Jan. 21 , 2020 , represents the first time it committed during the collective bargaining process with the union to examine the idea in greater detail , said Elliott .
“ I think getting this letter of understanding into the collective agreement is a huge step forward in the ( postal ) corporation acknowledging the possibility , ” she said .
The letter acknowledges that “ Canada Post operates the largest retail network in Canada , ” and that it needs to be financially self-sustaining , so it was important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue .
“ Therefore , the parties agree to work together to study potential financial services offerings , as well as test proof of concepts , including , but not limited to , financial remittances and government cheque cashing , ” reads the letter .
It says that by the end of April , Canada Post and the union would form a committee made up of two representatives from each side .
The committee would then have 18 months to review potential financial services that could be offered through CPAA ’ s rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a preliminary report by January 2021 .
`` During negotiations we agreed to consider financial services proof-of-concept projects in select locations through a joint committee , '' said Canada Post spokesperson Phil Legault .
“ Unfortunately , in these unprecedented times , the start of the committee ’ s work has been delayed .
Once details are available we will work with the CPAA to make them public.
” Canada Post “ will allocate up to five hundred thousand dollars to the committee in order to allow it to carry out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The money is expected to cover all costs associated with its work , including any contracted services .
'Lots of what is needed is already there ' Elliott said Canada Post offers good , year-round , well-paid jobs with benefits , and offering financial services would help further support rural postmasters , who can then pass on the benefits to community members .
“ The buildings are in place in rural Canada .
They have secure post office buildings .
There are employees in place .
There ’ s infrastructure in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post offices .
Lots of what is needed is already there , ” she said .
“ Our CPAA members have a proven record of providing reliable , responsible , professional , consistent service within their communities — and a lot of cases , they are the only federal presence in a community.
” The position of the banks has not changed .
A spokesperson for the Canadian Bankers Association told National Observer on Monday that the organization has “ nothing further to add on this issue ” since its comments made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canada Post Review Task Force .
At that time , it said there was “ no public policy objective or existing gap in the marketplace that would necessitate the Government of Canada entering into the business of retail banking through Canada Post.
” “ Some proponents of postal banking have asserted that banking services are inaccessible in Canada .
Contrary to these claims , banking is more accessible than ever , ” it wrote .
“ In fact , the number of branches in Canada has increased from 6,151 in 2010 to 6,348 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the number of branches had declined to 5,890 , the most recent year statistics from CBA are available .
That includes 806 branches in B.C .
in 2018 , down from a high of 828 branches in 2014 .
Meanwhile , while the committee did acknowledge that rural Canadians want better access to banking services , it said many rural locations are `` actually operated out of homes or small shacks '' which it said was `` not appropriate '' for banking .
It also said rural broadband internet access should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to access online banking , instead of Canada Post venturing into an area “ where it has limited expertise . ''

Canada Post has agreed to study how it could offer postal banking, including through setting up pilot projects at certain locations, as part of a new collaboration with a union representing rural postal workers. The postal service and the union, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), both confirmed the agreement, which is laid out in a letter of understanding between the two entities that was obtained by National Observer. Canada Post will allocate up to $500,000 to a committee that will look at how rural post offices in places like the B.C. islands could offer services such as money transfers or cashing government cheques. As part of the study, it will set up "proof-of-concept" projects in "select locations." The committee’s work has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said a spokesperson for Canada Post. The post office in Whaletown, on Cortes Island in B.C. in March 2020. The post office building is on a trailer for relocation after the land it was on was sold. CPAA photo
Concern banks won't re-open after pandemic The idea of postal banking, which existed in Canada until the late 1960s, is gaining traction again as banks move to close hundreds of branches and limit operating hours to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The issue is of particular concern in British Columbia, where 61 per cent of rural communities had no bank or credit union as of 2014, according to a CPAA study. The village of Fraser Lake, for example, recently got a credit union after spending six months where the nearest in-person banking centre was a 40-minute drive away.
“Particularly right now, with COVID-19, we’re hearing of banks that are closing,” said British Columbia and Yukon branch president Carolyn Elliott, in an interview. “There is concern that they won’t re-open when the pandemic restrictions ease. That’s a big issue right now for a lot of communities.” Canada Post has agreed to study how it could offer postal banking, including through setting up test sites at certain locations, as part of a new collaboration with a union representing rural postal workers. The CPAA says postal banking could be key to adding social and economic viability to hundreds of rural communities that don’t have banks, but do have post offices. But the Canadian Bankers Association, which represents dozens of banks, says there isn’t any public policy reason that would compel the federal government to get into the banking business. There are currently over 800 bank branches across B.C., it noted. A House of Commons committee recommended against postal banking in 2016, saying the postal service should instead "focus on its core competencies." A federal review of Canada Post in 2018 did not mention the issue, although it did say the postal service should be “generating revenues” that could support both current and future services.
Postal banking pilot projects in 'select locations' Canada Post already does offer limited financial services like postal money orders through a partnership with MoneyGram, no bank account required. But its agreement with CPAA, which is dated Jan. 21, 2020, represents the first time it committed during the collective bargaining process with the union to examine the idea in greater detail, said Elliott.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Canadian cleantech pushes to be part of COVID-19 recovery

When COVID-19 struck Canada , Morgan Solar was working on scaling up .
The Toronto-based solar technology company had planned to get its products out to market this year , run demonstrations and bring in sales in the second half of 2020 .
Instead , like many businesses , it ’ s had to lay off some staff and seek federal support as it rides out the pandemic .
“ I think we ’ re going to be able to qualify , ” said Morgan Solar CEO Mike Andrade .
But Andrade is hoping the company can do more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other clean technology leaders are pushing for the federal government to support the ‘ cleantech ’ sector for a green-driven recovery .
“ Getting the economy of the future going rather than propping up the economy of the past , that ’ s what we ’ re talking about right now , ” Andrade told Canada 's National Observer .
• The new world order is disorder • How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the public • Call for 'coercive control ' law to help prevent abuse and events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very likely Canada 's eventual economic recovery will include large injections of public money , much like the ones the federal government has already directed towards helping people and businesses survive the crisis .
And in the last few months , calls for that recovery to be green have been growing .
One group called Resilient Recovery — with 280 signatories representing more than 2,000 companies and organizations — has started a campaign .
There ’ s also an independent Task Force for a Resilient Recovery , a group of leaders in finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments to invest in a clean economy as we emerge from the pandemic ; and there 's 'Just Recovery , ' an informal group of 150 civil society organizations that has put out a list of principles for a sustainable recovery .
On Monday , Jim Balsillie — the former RIM co-founder , speaking as chair and co-founder of the Council of Canadian Innovators — brought the concept to the federal government ’ s Standing Committee on Industry , Science and Technology .
Though Canada ’ s recovery from the 2008 Great Recession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this one must be different , as the world has changed .
“ The COVID-19 crisis generates an ironic opportunity for Canada because it induced structural changes normally spread over years into a few months , which should compel our policymakers to update their strategies , ” he said .
“ We can use this moment to start building an innovative , sustainable , inclusive and resilient national economy.
” As Canada continues to battle COVID-19 , calls for a green recovery are growing .
No one knows exactly what shape a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are early signs that Ottawa is on board .
Several federal cabinet members are already working on the beginnings of a green stimulus , the government said earlier this spring .
Ellen McGregor , owner of Fielding Environmental ( left ) , and Morgan Solar CEO Mike Andrade are two cleantech leaders urging Canada to support green industry during COVID-19 .
( Supplied photos ) ‘ Which industries do we want to double down and invest in ?
’ Since widespread COVID-19 shutdowns took hold across Canada in March , the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid packages far various types of businesses There hasn ’ t been a package aimed specifically at cleantech — a broad sector that can include everything from renewable energies to waste recycling and energy-efficiency technology .
But the government did set aside $ 250 million for innovative startups , which could help some smaller cleantech companies , and larger companies may benefit from other measures such as wage subsidies and access to credit .
Morgan Solar has been able to access some of that help , as have many cleantech companies .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well , with oil and gas companies receiving $ 1.7 billion in federal stimulus funds to speed the cleanup of aging wells and $ 750 million to reduce methane emissions , an amount that ’ s orders of magnitude higher than the funds for innovative industries .
The help for innovative companies has been a good start , said Hamid Arabzadeh , the chairman , president and CEO of Ranovus , an Ottawa-based cleantech firm that works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from data centres that power the internet .
The key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that help continues as COVID-19 continues .
Ranovus is well-positioned to see strong business once COVID-19 is over , because the pandemic has forced many aspects of work and life online , Arabzadeh said .
But if it has to lay off its highly skilled staff or people start to leave because they feel it ’ s unstable , Ranovus loses an important asset , and Canada loses out on skilled workers and the opportunity to be at the forefront of an emerging industry , he added .
“ There are different ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company… look at the value of their intellectual property , ” he said .
“ We have to decide as a country , which industries do we want to double down and invest in ?
” Rockport Networks , another Ottawa-based company that works on reducing emissions from data centres , is in a similar situation .
“ It would be a body blow if we had to downsize our team , ” said Pamela Heneault , the company ’ s vice-president of public affairs .
COVID-19 has also revealed the dangers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Ellen McGregor , owner of Fielding Environmental , a Mississauga , Ont.-based chemical recycling company .
Ontario , for example , had trouble getting protective face masks for medical workers that are largely made outside the country .
Before COIVD-19 , “ there wasn ’ t a disciplined thought process in place that would fight for the right businesses to stay , ” she said .
We could run into the same issues with future industries , McGregor added .
Things such as energy efficiency , renewable power and new uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries shift towards lower-carbon policies , and if Canada doesn ’ t invest in its local cleantech now , we risk losing out to other nations , she said .
Andrade said the amount of money flowing to oil and gas shows that funding is available , at least .
But how much emphasis goes to cleantech and a green recovery is still an open question , he said .
“ It ’ s an idea whose time has come , ” Andrade said .
“ Now it ’ s time to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @

When COVID-19 struck Canada, Morgan Solar was working on scaling up. The Toronto-based solar technology company had planned to get its products out to market this year, run demonstrations and bring in sales in the second half of 2020. Instead, like many businesses, it’s had to lay off some staff and seek federal support as it rides out the pandemic. “I think we’re going to be able to qualify,” said Morgan Solar CEO Mike Andrade. But Andrade is hoping the company can do more than just survive COVID-19. Morgan Solar and other clean technology leaders are pushing for the federal government to support the ‘cleantech’ sector for a green-driven recovery. “Getting the economy of the future going rather than propping up the economy of the past, that’s what we’re talking about right now,” Andrade told Canada's National Observer.
It's very likely Canada's eventual economic recovery will include large injections of public money, much like the ones the federal government has already directed towards helping people and businesses survive the crisis. And in the last few months, calls for that recovery to be green have been growing. One group called Resilient Recovery — with 280 signatories representing more than 2,000 companies and organizations — has started a campaign. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions There’s also an independent Task Force for a Resilient Recovery, a group of leaders in finance, sustainability and policy who are urging governments to invest in a clean economy as we emerge from the pandemic; and there's 'Just Recovery,' an informal group of 150 civil society organizations that has put out a list of principles for a sustainable recovery.
On Monday, Jim Balsillie — the former RIM co-founder, speaking as chair and co-founder of the Council of Canadian Innovators — brought the concept to the federal government’s Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. As Canada continues to battle COVID-19, calls for a green recovery are growing. Though Canada’s recovery from the 2008 Great Recession was driven by oil, Balsillie said, this one must be different, as the world has changed. “The COVID-19 crisis generates an ironic opportunity for Canada because it induced structural changes normally spread over years into a few months, which should compel our policymakers to update their strategies,” he said. “We can use this moment to start building an innovative, sustainable, inclusive and resilient national economy.” No one knows exactly what shape a green recovery could take, but there are early signs that Ottawa is on board. Several federal cabinet members are already working on the beginnings of a green stimulus, the government said earlier this spring. Ellen McGregor, owner of Fielding Environmental (left), and Morgan Solar CEO Mike Andrade are two cleantech leaders urging Canada to support green industry during COVID-19. (Supplied photos)
‘Which industries do we want to double down and invest in?’ Since widespread COVID-19 shutdowns took hold across Canada in March, the federal government has rolled out a series of financial aid packages far various types of businesses There hasn’t been a package aimed specifically at cleantech — a broad sector that can include everything from renewable energies to waste recycling and energy-efficiency technology.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Better data will mean better COVID-19 employment recovery

The months of physical distancing are beginning to pay off .
Governments have begun to set in motion plans to reopen their economies .
While our collective attention must remain focused on the health and well-being of Canadians , it is undeniable that we are in the midst of a job crisis unlike any Canada has seen before .
Three million people have lost their jobs in two months , according to the Labour Force Survey for April .
That ’ s more job losses than the past three recessions combined , in a fraction of the time ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the high percentage of job losses from temporary layoffs gives us some hope of slowly returning to our previous jobs , we must confront the reality that Canada ’ s job market may never be the same again .
Many will not find their job waiting for them .
Some businesses will be forced to close their doors for good .
Entire sectors , such as tourism and hospitality , have been turned upside down .
There is no blueprint for employment recovery from COVID-19 .
Generally , governments have done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this crisis in a timely way .
These efforts must continue as the economic fallout unfolds in the weeks and months ahead .
Yet , as with past disruptions , we should remind ourselves that new opportunities will sprout from the ashes of economic turmoil .
Entirely new ways of doing business and working will generate jobs that did not exist before .
The demands of old jobs are already shifting in new and uncertain ways .
The road ahead will be bumpy , but we have a tremendous opportunity to plan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full and inclusive employment recovery .
• The new world order is disorder • How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the public • Call for 'coercive control ' law to help prevent abuse and events like N.S .
mass shooting As restrictions ease and people begin to re-enter the labour force , many will be looking for additional training to upskill and reskill .
How do we point them in the right direction to meet the new skills and other work requirements of our changed economy ?
First , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these new realities could be .
In this case , pinpointing with surgical precision what the near- and medium-term economic landscape of Canada will look like will not be helpful .
Too often our insights into the future assume a simple and single trajectory , leaving us unprepared for any deviation from the expected course .
A more effective solution is to provide more objective data and insights — quantitative and qualitative — with assumptions around different possible economic scenarios .
This will help prepare us for some level of uncertainty in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we need to develop a clearer picture of the skill requirements of these new job realities .
That means working harder to understand employers ’ needs and how these change .
Insightful data from machine learning and other data-mining techniques have opened new approaches to documenting the skill requirements of jobs , offering Canadians immense opportunities in emerging labour market trends .
Third , workers will need support evaluating how their existing skills can be adapted to new and different fields and what entirely new skills might be needed .
Schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary insights to help Canadians effectively transition back to meaningful employment .
This will be urgently needed to support workers most affected by this job crisis and position them to take part in its recovery .
How do we start thinking and planning for this now to give Canadians the best chance of recovery ?
Governments and policymakers must invest in ongoing , objective labour market research and data analysis to shed light on the new normal .
COVID-19 has exposed our vulnerabilities .
Three million people have lost their jobs in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses than the past three recessions combined .
There is no blueprint for employment recovery from COVID-19 .
Canadians must be able to access comprehensive , unbiased information and insights to ensure that their decisions are well-informed in pursuit of investment opportunities and jobs that align with their preferences , qualifications and skills .
The speed of change at which the labour market will shift in new directions presents an unprecedented challenge .
Canada ’ s current and future workforce needs more insightful data .
And the workforce needs that data soon to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current job crisis could balloon into a social crisis as well .

The months of physical distancing are beginning to pay off. Governments have begun to set in motion plans to reopen their economies. While our collective attention must remain focused on the health and well-being of Canadians, it is undeniable that we are in the midst of a job crisis unlike any Canada has seen before.
Three million people have lost their jobs in two months, according to the Labour Force Survey for April. That’s more job losses than the past three recessions combined, in a fraction of the time; and we’re likely not done yet.
While the high percentage of job losses from temporary layoffs gives us some hope of slowly returning to our previous jobs, we must confront the reality that Canada’s job market may never be the same again. Many will not find their job waiting for them. Some businesses will be forced to close their doors for good. Entire sectors, such as tourism and hospitality, have been turned upside down.
There is no blueprint for employment recovery from COVID-19. Generally, governments have done well in addressing the multi-faceted dimensions of this crisis in a timely way. These efforts must continue as the economic fallout unfolds in the weeks and months ahead.
Yet, as with past disruptions, we should remind ourselves that new opportunities will sprout from the ashes of economic turmoil. Entirely new ways of doing business and working will generate jobs that did not exist before. The demands of old jobs are already shifting in new and uncertain ways. The road ahead will be bumpy, but we have a tremendous opportunity to plan and think now about how to ensure a full and inclusive employment recovery.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Post-pandemic, we need to look at energy efficiency

Right now , in fact , there might not be a more compelling political proposition than investing in energy efficiency , especially since it taps into values every Canadian has in common .
After all , who wouldn ’ t want to protect the environment and save money in the process ?
An investment in energy efficiency will deliver robust environmental and economic returns , ones that will stimulate job creation in the trades and manufacturing sector while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping make homeowners and businesses more resilient .
As governments across the country start to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus will start shifting from containing COVID-19 to repairing the damage it ’ s done .
One area where they should be looking very hard is energy efficiency .
While there are meaningful opportunities at the industrial and commercial level , the easiest potential source of savings is at the household level — but most homeowners don ’ t know where to start looking .
That ’ s because Canada ’ s energy data is still , for the most part , stuck in a black box .
And if governments across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ best-in-class ” efficiency efforts for electricity , natural gas and refined petroleum products , those figures get even better — 79 megatonnes of emissions avoided , and nearly $ 600 billion in net economic activity .
In the process , we would add an estimated 118,000 jobs , and grow Canada ’ s GDP by one per cent .
Canadian households would save a combined $ 1.4 billion each year on energy costs , while businesses and institutions would save $ 3.2 billion .
According to a 2018 report prepared for Clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce our national greenhouse gas emissions by 52 megatonnes by 2030 — enough to get us 25 percent of the way to our Paris Accord targets .
In contrast , the Obama administration spent the better part of its time in office unlocking that box for consumers .
In 2014 , then-U.S. president Barack Obama launched an ambitious Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution , prepare communities for the impacts of climate change and create a lead on international efforts to address this global challenge .
The Climate Action Plan launched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Initiative , both intended to make open data more available to citizens , companies and innovators .
It also created something called the “ Green Button Initiative , ” which gave businesses and families secure access to their own energy-usage information .
We could do that here in Canada if we wanted to .
Thanks to developments in machine learning , and with the right access to data , you can now see the best ways to improve your home ’ s energy efficiency and find a curated list of the best energy-efficiency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or days ) .
Helping people access that information would mean higher home values , lower utility bills and less need to create or exploit new sources of energy .
It would also stimulate private-sector entrepreneurship and innovation , connect city and regional planners and support the ongoing effort to adapt to climate change and its challenges .
But we need provincial and federal governments to implement policies and practices that will make this data more readily available and accessible for everyone .
After all , you can ’ t manage what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , the measurement tools available to most Canadians aren ’ t good enough for the job at hand .
That only exacerbates the challenge associated with getting people to invest in projects and upgrades that take years to deliver a return .
Even at the best of times , most of us struggle with the idea of making a decision today in order to acquire a benefit in the future , and many would fail the so-called “ marshmallow test ” ( a 1972 social science experiment on delayed gratification by Walter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our homes are filled with marshmallows , in the form of inefficient appliances , drafty windows and unfinished attics — all areas where an investment today would yield major benefits down the road .
The more we ’ re able to see the total cost of ownership , the more likely we are to do things that defray and reduce it .
Now , it ’ s up to the government to give us the data that would better allow us to see that , as well as any incentives or financing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all , an investment in more robust energy-efficiency data would also be an investment in our cities and their ability to weather the next storm : climate change .
By giving citizens the information they need to make the improvements their homes would most benefit from , governments can help Canadian cities meet their net-zero targets and become even more powerful magnets for global talent and ideas .

As governments across the country start to allow people to emerge from lockdown, their focus will start shifting from containing COVID-19 to repairing the damage it’s done. One area where they should be looking very hard is energy efficiency. An investment in energy efficiency will deliver robust environmental and economic returns, ones that will stimulate job creation in the trades and manufacturing sector while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping make homeowners and businesses more resilient. Right now, in fact, there might not be a more compelling political proposition than investing in energy efficiency, especially since it taps into values every Canadian has in common. After all, who wouldn’t want to protect the environment and save money in the process? According to a 2018 report prepared for Clean Energy Canada, energy-efficiency measures could help reduce our national greenhouse gas emissions by 52 megatonnes by 2030 — enough to get us 25 percent of the way to our Paris Accord targets. In the process, we would add an estimated 118,000 jobs, and grow Canada’s GDP by one per cent. Canadian households would save a combined $1.4 billion each year on energy costs, while businesses and institutions would save $3.2 billion.
And if governments across the country got really ambitious, and adopted “best-in-class” efficiency efforts for electricity, natural gas and refined petroleum products, those figures get even better — 79 megatonnes of emissions avoided, and nearly $600 billion in net economic activity. There’s just one problem. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions While there are meaningful opportunities at the industrial and commercial level, the easiest potential source of savings is at the household level — but most homeowners don’t know where to start looking. That’s because Canada’s energy data is still, for the most part, stuck in a black box.
In contrast, the Obama administration spent the better part of its time in office unlocking that box for consumers. In 2014, then-U.S. president Barack Obama launched an ambitious Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution, prepare communities for the impacts of climate change and create a lead on international efforts to address this global challenge. An investment in more robust energy-efficiency data would also be an investment in our cities and their ability to weather the next storm: climate change. The Climate Action Plan launched the Energy Data Initiative and the Climate Data Initiative, both intended to make open data more available to citizens, companies and innovators. It also created something called the “Green Button Initiative,” which gave businesses and families secure access to their own energy-usage information. We could do that here in Canada if we wanted to. Thanks to developments in machine learning, and with the right access to data, you can now see the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and find a curated list of the best energy-efficiency upgrades in seconds rather than hours (or days). Helping people access that information would mean higher home values, lower utility bills and less need to create or exploit new sources of energy. It would also stimulate private-sector entrepreneurship and innovation, connect city and regional planners and support the ongoing effort to adapt to climate change and its challenges. But we need provincial and federal governments to implement policies and practices that will make this data more readily available and accessible for everyone. After all, you can’t manage what you can’t measure — and right now, the measurement tools available to most Canadians aren’t good enough for the job at hand.
That only exacerbates the challenge associated with getting people to invest in projects and upgrades that take years to deliver a return. Even at the best of times, most of us struggle with the idea of making a decision today in order to acquire a benefit in the future, and many would fail the so-called “marshmallow test” (a 1972 social science experiment on delayed gratification by Walter Mischel at Stanford University). But our homes are filled with marshmallows, in the form of inefficient appliances, drafty windows and unfinished attics — all areas where an investment today would yield major benefits down the road. The more we’re able to see the total cost of ownership, the more likely we are to do things that defray and reduce it. Now, it’s up to the government to give us the data that would better allow us to see that, as well as any incentives or financing that could nudge us toward action. Best of all, an investment in more robust energy-efficiency data would also be an investment in our cities and their ability to weather the next storm: climate change.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Northern Sask. plans for ‘very active’ fire season

Forecasts are predicting a harsher than average fire season for Saskatchewan this year , as the province begins to reopen amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We ’ re expecting it to be very active , ” Keaton Cloud , acting fire chief at La Ronge Regional Fire Services , told National Observer on Monday .
“ From Manitoba all the way to B.C.
, we ’ re going to be well above average .
It does n't look too good , and that goes straight up until September . ''
 Map of Canada with forecasted severity ratings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ map shows the predicted conditions unadjusted for climatology .
Graphic courtesy of Natural Resources Canada .
Cloud said that although fires are currently below average in Saskatchewan , Natural Resources Canada projections show a dry year with high likelihood of forest fires until September .
• The new world order is disorder • Canada Post tests the waters for postal banking with pilot projects , funding for study • How to get away with dumping your orphan wells on the public “ Right now we ’ re below our normal call volume this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I expect it to go up , ” Cloud said .
The La Ronge Fire Hall .
Acting fire chief Keaton Cloud is reminding residents to e fire smart .
He predicts an active year with self-isolated residents as a potential mitigating factor for fires caused by humans .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
 There could be a silver lining to firefighting during COVID-19 .
Cloud said that social distancing measures put in place because of the pandemic could mean fewer man-made fires this season .
“ Normally , May is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but this May ’ s been a bit slow and I ’ m wondering if that ’ s because of the whole COVID-19 situation , ” Cloud said .
“ I think it will help things slightly just because people are taking precautions and staying inside .
They ’ re not really going out as much , so there ’ s fewer chances of someone flicking their smoke on the boardwalk or something like that , ” Cloud said .
There has been a slight increase in brush and grass fires in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said is normal .
A vacant residential building caught fire in Air Ronge on Sunday morning with no reported injuries .
“ If there ’ s a fire , their first priority is to the fire , so that ’ s a situation that might leave some of these communities having to find other resources to take over , ” Kelly Kwan , president of the Local Métis 40 in Turnor Lake .
Footage of Air Ronge Residential Fire on Sunday morning from Brandon White , Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Missinipi Broadcasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the northwest part of the province , where COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place , there are concerns around allocation of resources between fire departments and checkpoints set up to enforce travel restrictions in the area .
“ It ’ s supposed to be a pretty dry year , but we ’ ve lived through this before for many years and our people are pretty knowledgeable about how to prevent and stop fires , ” Kelly Kwan , president of the Local Métis 40 in Turnor Lake , told National Observer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centre , a grassroots group that is responsible for coordinating COVID-19 response and co-operation between communities in the northwest , are worried about the pandemic impacting fire response operations .
Incident commander Rick Laliberte in Beauval told National Observer earlier this month that he ’ s expecting fire management during ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions to be an issue .
The command centre includes representatives from the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan , First Nations and municipal governments .
Kwan echoed Laliberte ’ s concerns .
He said that while fire is not the top concern in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 could impact fire response in other northwest communities because of the lack of resources .
Kelly Kwan , president of the Local Métis 40 in Turnor Lake , told National Observer that communities in northwest Saskatchewan could face challenges in the event of a fire management situation due to thier lack of resources to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ I think it definitely could ( impact fire response ) because some of our communities ... have talked about using fire suppression ( to man their checkpoints ) because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He said that fire personnel currently helping out with checkpoints , security and other community safety planning for COVID-19 would have to leave to fight the flames .
“ If there ’ s a fire , their first priority is to the fire , so that ’ s a situation that might leave some of these communities having to find other resources to take over , ” Kwan said .
He said that the community of Turnor Lake is still more worried about COVID-19 than fires , though .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of here because of the fire and certain measures were put in place to get more training for our fire suppression crews and setting up fire guards and having an evacuation plan ready so those things are in place now , ” Kwan said .
The English fire near Fort a la Corne , northeast of Prince Albert , grew to roughly the size of Saskatoon last week , with travel warnings for the surrounding area , before it was brought under control .
As of Tuesday , English is the only active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Government of Saskatchewan ’ s wildfire management branch .
There have been 51 fires in the province so far this year , compared to the five-year average of 149 by this point in the year .
Information from the wildfire management shows the location of the Fort a la Corne English fire in the Prince Albert Fire Protection Area .
Graphic courtesy of the Government of Saskatchewan .
Steve Roberts , acting vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency ( SPSA ) does n't have as dire an outlook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said he 's expecting this year ’ s fire season will likely be average or above average but that these predictions have not been reflected on the ground so far .
“ We are anticipating that we will have an average to slightly above average fire season with the weather models , but so far we have n't seen that in actual fire occurrence , ” Roberts told National Observer in a teleconference with reporters last Wednesday .
He said the COVID-19 situation meant enacting some new safety measures for firefighters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to respond yet .
`` Our agency pro-actively put measures in place to ensure that our response crews and people working in this type of situation are going to meet the ( COVID-19 ) requirements , ” Roberts said .
“ For instance if they have to travel by helicopter where proximity is less than six feet they ’ ll have to be wearing masks .
We do self-monitoring with all of our crews.
” Dry conditions in the month of May usually equate to more forest fires .
This year a mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire rates low in the La Ronge area .
Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock .
Anybody who arrives on location as a contractor has to complete a questionnaire on their potential to have the virus before they ’ re allowed on the site .
“ Those protocols were already established before the fire season and so far we have n't seen any impacts to our actual delivery because of these COVID measures , ” Roberts said .
The La Ronge fire chief said , as with every season , to be smart about handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re putting your fires out properly .
You 're not leaving them unattended .
Get burn permits if you plan on doing something large .
Obviously no fireworks are allowed in the tri-community .
Just be fire smart and if you do it safely , you ’ ll be good to go for the summer , ” Cloud said .

Forecasts are predicting a harsher than average fire season for Saskatchewan this year, as the province begins to reopen amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re expecting it to be very active,” Keaton Cloud, acting fire chief at La Ronge Regional Fire Services, told National Observer on Monday. “From Manitoba all the way to B.C., we’re going to be well above average. It doesn't look too good, and that goes straight up until September."  Map of Canada with forecasted severity ratings for the month of June. This map shows the predicted conditions unadjusted for climatology. Graphic courtesy of Natural Resources Canada. Cloud said that although fires are currently below average in Saskatchewan, Natural Resources Canada projections show a dry year with high likelihood of forest fires until September.
“Right now we’re below our normal call volume this year, but with this fire season, I expect it to go up,” Cloud said. The La Ronge Fire Hall. Acting fire chief Keaton Cloud is reminding residents to e fire smart. He predicts an active year with self-isolated residents as a potential mitigating factor for fires caused by humans. Photograph by Michael Bramadat-Willcock.  Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions There could be a silver lining to firefighting during COVID-19. Cloud said that social distancing measures put in place because of the pandemic could mean fewer man-made fires this season.
“Normally, May is our busiest month for the call volume, but this May’s been a bit slow and I’m wondering if that’s because of the whole COVID-19 situation,” Cloud said. “If there’s a fire, their first priority is to the fire, so that’s a situation that might leave some of these communities having to find other resources to take over,” Kelly Kwan, president of the Local Métis 40 in Turnor Lake. “I think it will help things slightly just because people are taking precautions and staying inside. They’re not really going out as much, so there’s fewer chances of someone flicking their smoke on the boardwalk or something like that,” Cloud said. There has been a slight increase in brush and grass fires in the La Ronge area, which Cloud said is normal. A vacant residential building caught fire in Air Ronge on Sunday morning with no reported injuries. Video of Air Ronge Residential Fire - May 24 - 6AM Footage of a residential fire in Air Ronge on Sunday morning from Brandon White, Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Missinipi Broadcasting Corp. (MBC) in La Ronge.
In the northwest part of the province, where COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place, there are concerns around allocation of resources between fire departments and checkpoints set up to enforce travel restrictions in the area. “It’s supposed to be a pretty dry year, but we’ve lived through this before for many years and our people are pretty knowledgeable about how to prevent and stop fires,” Kelly Kwan, president of the Local Métis 40 in Turnor Lake, told National Observer. Leadership at the Northwest Incident Command Centre, a grassroots group that is responsible for coordinating COVID-19 response and co-operation between communities in the northwest, are worried about the pandemic impacting fire response operations.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--Military report finds gruesome conditions, abuse inside 5 Ontario long-term care homes

“ I think it ’ s appalling .
I think it ’ s disgusting , what has happened , ” Premier Doug Ford said , looking visibly emotional .
When Canadian Armed Forces personnel entered five Ontario long-term care homes that had been struck by COVID-19 earlier this month , they found a litany of horrors and abuses , a disturbing military report made public Tuesday alleges .
Residents bullied , sedated and left alone for hours as they cried for help .
Here ’ s what you need to know about the report ’ s findings and what will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has launched an investigation into the situation at the homes , and criminal charges could be laid .
Fourteen military members working at homes in Ontario have tested positive with COVID-19 .
On Tuesday , Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called for the resignation of Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton , while health-care advocates criticized Ford ’ s government for allowing the situation to happen .
“ I believe we are talking about a situation that clearly is a reality associated with COVID-19 , but has also existed for quite some time.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocked .
I was disappointed .
I was angry , ” Trudeau said .
“ Reading this report was the hardest thing I ’ ve done as premier.
” Ford , who said the findings described a “ crisis situation , ” called for military assistance in the five homes on April 22 .
Roughly 250 Canadian Armed Forces members — including nurses , medics and general personnel — were deployed in early May .
The report details abuses inside five long-term care homes that have been among the hardest-hit by the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 77 deaths ) , Altamont in the Scarborough area of Toronto ( 52 deaths ) , Eatonville in the Etobicoke area of Toronto ( 42 deaths ) , Hawthorne in Toronto ’ s North York ( 43 deaths ) and Holland Christian in Brampton ( 11 deaths ) .
The report is based on what personnel saw during their first two weeks .
National Observer has not independently confirmed the allegations in the report , and none of the five long-term care homes responded to requests for comment , save Altamont .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sienna Senior Living , said it has already increased staffing levels and slowed the rate of new infections in its facility .
`` To deliver the level of care that our seniors deserve , the staffing challenges we face in the long-term care sector must be addressed , '' the statement said .
`` We are committed to working with the government , and our health system partners , to solve this urgent issue . ''
Though the Armed Forces were not originally tasked with writing a report , military brass decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Dated May 14 , the report was sent to the Ontario government Sunday .
All five homes faced staffing shortages and failed to meet basic standards of care for their patients .
In some cases , military personnel reported they were concerned that the homes would not be able to care for patients if they left ( Ford has requested an extension on the military help ) .
Ford also said he believes that similar problems likely exist at other long-term care homes in the province .
In a background briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation at the homes was stabilizing , though four of them had been asked to produce plans for how they would move forward .
Here ’ s a list of some of what the report found : • Patients with COVID-19 allowed to wander around the facility , potentially spreading the virus • Re-used a catheter that had been pulled out and left on the ground • “ Nearly a dozen incidents of bleeding fungal infections ” due to improper care of patients with catheters • A “ general culture of fear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Medication that had been expired for months , with residents likely “ getting expired medication for quite some time ” • Personal support workers ( PSWs ) “ afraid for their jobs ” if they were to give residents who soil their beds an extra towel or pad to soak up the material • COVID-19-positive patients living in the same room as ones who have tested negative • No training for new staff • Some staff had not seen their families in weeks • Patients who felt sad or scared , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sedated with narcotics • “ Aggressive behaviour ” that military personnel deemed “ abusive , ” including “ degrading an inappropriate comments ” and refusing to stop or slow down when patients complained of pain • Staff recorded incorrect information about patients ’ condition and changed reports after they ’ d been filed • Fans blowing in the hallways , which can further spread infections • “ Significant deterioration ” of cleaning standards , and equipment “ seldom ” seen being disinfected • Protocols that allowed for a “ near 100 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the overall facility • Patients were not changed quickly after soiling themselves , which led to “ skin breakdown ” • Patients got bed sores from not being turned • Patients crying for help for up to two hours before staff checked on them • Residents had not been bathed for weeks • Staff unsure of who had a ‘ do not resuscitate ’ order • A patient ’ s bottle for their feeding tube hadn ’ t been changed for so long that the contents were “ foul ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for three weeks longer than when it was meant to be changed • No crash cart in case of a heart attack • Residents sleeping on beds with no sheets • Little to no orientation for new staff • Nurses were “ pulled back ” once military personnel arrived , which made the situation even more challenging • Patients with soiled diapers left in their beds • Staff not sitting patients up before feeding them or giving them water , which raises the risk of choking • One patient who had been fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , as staff were unable to dislodge the food or revive them • A fractured hip that went unaddressed by staff • Nurses documenting assessments that appear not to have actually happened • Oxygen equipment that was not functional • No way for staff to report issues • Lack of communication internally , including cases that led to patients being moved into rooms that hadn ’ t been cleaned • Lack of training for new staff • “ No accountability ” for staff who failed to uphold basic care needs • Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day • Extremely severe bed sores , including some that had worn through to the bone • Residents not being moved or washed • A non-verbal resident wrote a “ disturbing ” letter alleging neglect and abuse from a PSW ( management handled it immediately , the report says ) • Incorrect records of what medications had been given • Military personnel brought their own food to ensure residents were fed • Staff not changing PPE while moving between areas with COVID-19 patients and other patients Whose fault is this ?
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the neglect and abuses documented in the military report .
He also repeatedly said he “ inherited ” a broken system , and vowed to “ move heaven and earth ” to fix it , no matter the cost .
Ontario ’ s long-term care system has been underfunded and has faced staffing shortages for decades .
Systemic issues came to light in 2019 , after an inquiry prompted by serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer , a long-term-care nurse who murdered eight elderly patients .
Advocates have been pushing for government action on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wettlaufer inquiry .
Now , COVID-19 has ravaged long-term care , spreading like wildfire to infect staff and vulnerable elderly patients who are especially susceptible to the virus .
On Tuesday , Fullerton said her ministry had been working to address issues raised in the Wettlaufer inquiry .
And Ford said he believed the Progressive Conservative government had done well to act when it did .
“ I don ’ t feel our government failed seniors , ” he said .
“ Matter of fact , we saved a lot of lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics said the Ford government worsened conditions in long-term care and contributed to the crisis .
Last month , CBC News revealed the Ford government largely stopped doing unannounced inspections of long-term-care homes .
The province continued conducting investigations done after complaints , but in those cases , the facility knows an inspector is coming .
Issues and complaints had been reported at several of the five homes in the military report , government officials told reporters in a background briefing .
The government also cut $ 34 million from its long-term care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NDP and health care groups have said the government did not act quickly enough to stop long-term care staff from working at multiple facilities and potentially spreading the virus .
The Ontario Health Coalition , which has raised issues with long-term care for years , said Tuesday that it was “ frustrated.
” “ Shortages of PPE and incompetent and negligent management are compounded by the leadership failure in our provincial government , ” said executive director Natalie Mehra in a statement .
“ Thousands of staff and residents alike have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff have died , yet we are still waiting for a coherent , coordinated plan from Ontario ’ s government to intervene actively in long-term care homes with outbreaks.
” The Ontario government also failed to take advantage of a pool of nurses available to work in long-term care before calling in the military , National Observer previously reported .
The Registered Nurses ' Association of Ontario had assembled lists of qualified staff that were ready to go into long-term care , and may have better suited to it than military personnel without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO of the RNAO , said in an interview Tuesday that she was aware of issues at one of the homes , Orchard Villa , more than a week before the military was called in .
No one was answering the phone when she called to ask about giving them nursing resources , she said .
( Orchard Villa did not respond to a request for a response . )
“ This could have been fixed before the military if the government would have listened to the RNAO , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted weeks before it did to bring extra help into long-term care .
“ It ’ s horrifying that it came to this and it ’ s horrifying that it took this long , ” she said .
“ There needs to be accountability.
” Others have pointed to issues with privately owned long-term care homes , where residents are far more likely to die of COVID-19 than they are at not-for-profit homes , the Toronto Star found .
Three of the largest operators in Ontario have paid out $ 1.5 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Star reported .
And three for-profit long-term care companies in Ontario have hired lobbyists with Conservative ties .
Four of the five homes examined in the military report were privately owned , but it ’ s not clear whether that played a role in what happened , Ontario officials said Tuesday .
What happens next ?
Ontario ’ s chief coroner is investigating one death at Orchard Villa .
And on Tuesday , Ford said the province had opened an investigation into the situation at the homes .
“ The results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police to look into any criminal charges , ” he said .
A week ago , Ford announced the province would hold an independent public commission in September to examine how COVID-19 had struck long-term care .
On Tuesday , critics renewed calls for that to be expanded to a public inquiry , which would give the government less control and influence over the process — and Ford said that idea is now on the table .
Grinspun said the government needs to make immediate changes to fix the problems at long-term care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the results of a commission or inquiry .
Fullerton said Tuesday that inspectors from the Ministry of Long-Term Care will immediately begin investigating all the incidents detailed in the reports .
When a reporter asked Ford Tuesday whether anyone in his government will have to resign as a result of the report ’ s findings , Ford did not directly answer the question .
At the outbreak ’ s peak , 190 long-term care homes in Ontario reported outbreaks of COVID-19 .
That number has since dropped to 150 .
Editor 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7:59 p.m. Eastern to include comments from Sienna Senior Living .

“I think it’s appalling. I think it’s disgusting, what has happened,” Premier Doug Ford said, looking visibly emotional.
When Canadian Armed Forces personnel entered five Ontario long-term care homes that had been struck by COVID-19 earlier this month, they found a litany of horrors and abuses, a disturbing military report made public Tuesday alleges.
Residents bullied, sedated and left alone for hours as they cried for help.
On Tuesday, Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath called for the resignation of Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton, while health-care advocates criticized Ford’s government for allowing the situation to happen.
“I believe we are talking about a situation that clearly is a reality associated with COVID-19, but has also existed for quite some time.”
“I was sad. I was shocked. I was disappointed. I was angry,” Trudeau said.
“Reading this report was the hardest thing I’ve done as premier.”
Here’s what you need to know about the report’s findings and what will happen next.
Ford said the province has launched an investigation into the situation at the homes, and criminal charges could be laid. Fourteen military members working at homes in Ontario have tested positive with COVID-19.
A 'crisis situation' inside nursing homes
The report details abuses inside five long-term care homes that have been among the hardest-hit by the novel coronavirus: Orchard Villa in Pickering (77 deaths), Altamont in the Scarborough area of Toronto (52 deaths), Eatonville in the Etobicoke area of Toronto (42 deaths), Hawthorne in Toronto’s North York (43 deaths) and Holland Christian in Brampton (11 deaths).
Ford, who said the findings described a “crisis situation,” called for military assistance in the five homes on April 22. Roughly 250 Canadian Armed Forces members — including nurses, medics and general personnel — were deployed in early May.
The report is based on what personnel saw during their first two weeks. National Observer has not independently confirmed the allegations in the report, and none of the five long-term care homes responded to requests for comment, save Altamont.
In an emailed statement, Altamont's operator, Sienna Senior Living, said it has already increased staffing levels and slowed the rate of new infections in its facility.
"To deliver the level of care that our seniors deserve, the staffing challenges we face in the long-term care sector must be addressed," the statement said. "We are committed to working with the government, and our health system partners, to solve this urgent issue."
Though the Armed Forces were not originally tasked with writing a report, military brass decided it was necessary, Ontario officials said Tuesday. Dated May 14, the report was sent to the Ontario government Sunday.
All five homes faced staffing shortages and failed to meet basic standards of care for their patients. In some cases, military personnel reported they were concerned that the homes would not be able to care for patients if they left (Ford has requested an extension on the military help).
Ford also said he believes that similar problems likely exist at other long-term care homes in the province. In a background briefing for reporters, government officials said the situation at the homes was stabilizing, though four of them had been asked to produce plans for how they would move forward.
Here’s a list of some of what the report found:
Eatonville Care Centre in Etobicoke
Patients with COVID-19 allowed to wander around the facility, potentially spreading the virus
Faulty practices for using personal protective equipment (PPE)
Re-used a catheter that had been pulled out and left on the ground
“Nearly a dozen incidents of bleeding fungal infections” due to improper care of patients with catheters
A “general culture of fear to use supplies because they cost money”
Medication that had been expired for months, with residents likely “getting expired medication for quite some time”
Personal support workers (PSWs) “afraid for their jobs” if they were to give residents who soil their beds an extra towel or pad to soak up the material
COVID-19-positive patients living in the same room as ones who have tested negative
Internal communication problems and lack of information
No training for new staff
Some staff had not seen their families in weeks
Patients who felt sad or scared, but were not violent or agitated, were sedated with narcotics
“Aggressive behaviour” that military personnel deemed “abusive,” including “degrading an inappropriate comments” and refusing to stop or slow down when patients complained of pain
Staff recorded incorrect information about patients’ condition and changed reports after they’d been filed
Staff told residents’ families false information about their loved ones’ condition
Hawthorne Place Care Centre in North York
Fans blowing in the hallways, which can further spread infections
“Significant deterioration” of cleaning standards, and equipment “seldom” seen being disinfected
Protocols that allowed for a “near 100 per cent contamination rate” for equipment, patients and the overall facility
“Significant gross fecal contamination” in several patients’ rooms
Insect infestations, including cockroaches, ants and other unidentified bugs
Patients were not changed quickly after soiling themselves, which led to “skin breakdown”
Patients got bed sores from not being turned
“Forceful feeding” that caused audible choking
Patients crying for help for up to two hours before staff checked on them
Residents had not been bathed for weeks
Staff unsure of who had a ‘do not resuscitate’ order
Lack of documentation
A patient’s bottle for their feeding tube hadn’t been changed for so long that the contents were “foul” and “coagulated”
A catheter left in for three weeks longer than when it was meant to be changed
No crash cart in case of a heart attack
Residents sleeping on beds with no sheets
Little to no orientation for new staff
Staff “disappear” and leave their floor unattended
Nurses were “pulled back” once military personnel arrived, which made the situation even more challenging
“No shift handovers witnessed since arriving at site”
Fears about misuse of narcotics
Residents missing meals
Orchard Villa in Pickering
Cockroaches and flies
The smell of rotten food
“Inappropriate PPE use” by staff, including layering scarves under masks
Patients with soiled diapers left in their beds
Staff not sitting patients up before feeding them or giving them water, which raises the risk of choking
One patient who had been fed while lying on their back choked and died, as staff were unable to dislodge the food or revive them
Unsafe medication errors
A fractured hip that went unaddressed by staff
Nurses documenting assessments that appear not to have actually happened
Inadequate treatment of pain
Oxygen equipment that was not functional
Patients sleeping on bare mattresses
No way for staff to report issues
Lack of communication internally, including cases that led to patients being moved into rooms that hadn’t been cleaned
Lack of training for new staff
“No accountability” for staff who failed to uphold basic care needs
Altamont Care Community in Scarborough
Most residents were not receiving three meals per day
Extremely severe bed sores, including some that had worn through to the bone
Residents not being moved or washed
A non-verbal resident wrote a “disturbing” letter alleging neglect and abuse from a PSW (management handled it immediately, the report says)
Improper care for wounds
Dangerous medication errors
Incorrect records of what medications had been given
Lack of staff
Regular public arguments between staff that included “derogatory language”
Military personnel brought their own food to ensure residents were fed
Holland Christian Homes in Brampton
Staff not changing PPE while moving between areas with COVID-19 patients and other patients
No hand-washing between patients
Staff attempting to sterilize gloves with hand sanitizer
Failure to document medications
Staff left food in a patient’s mouth overnight
“Aggressive” repositioning of a patient
Staff not helping residents eat meals
Canadian Armed Forces personnel were deployed to Quebec long-term care homes in April, and to Ontario homes in early May. Photo from Canadian Armed Forces/Twitter
Whose fault is this?
On Tuesday, Ford said he took full responsibility for the neglect and abuses documented in the military report. He also repeatedly said he “inherited” a broken system, and vowed to “move heaven and earth” to fix it, no matter the cost.
Ontario’s long-term care system has been underfunded and has faced staffing shortages for decades. Systemic issues came to light in 2019, after an inquiry prompted by serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer, a long-term-care nurse who murdered eight elderly patients.
Advocates have been pushing for government action on the issues for years, even before the Wettlaufer inquiry. Now, COVID-19 has ravaged long-term care, spreading like wildfire to infect staff and vulnerable elderly patients who are especially susceptible to the virus.
On Tuesday, Fullerton said her ministry had been working to address issues raised in the Wettlaufer inquiry. And Ford said he believed the Progressive Conservative government had done well to act when it did.
“I don’t feel our government failed seniors,” he said. “Matter of fact, we saved a lot of lives by doing what we did.”
But critics said the Ford government worsened conditions in long-term care and contributed to the crisis.
Last month, CBC News revealed the Ford government largely stopped doing unannounced inspections of long-term-care homes. The province continued conducting investigations done after complaints, but in those cases, the facility knows an inspector is coming.
Issues and complaints had been reported at several of the five homes in the military report, government officials told reporters in a background briefing.
The government also cut $34 million from its long-term care budget last year, and the Ontario NDP and health care groups have said the government did not act quickly enough to stop long-term care staff from working at multiple facilities and potentially spreading the virus.
The Ontario Health Coalition, which has raised issues with long-term care for years, said Tuesday that it was “frustrated.”
“Shortages of PPE and incompetent and negligent management are compounded by the leadership failure in our provincial government,” said executive director Natalie Mehra in a statement.
“Thousands of staff and residents alike have been infected with COVID-19, almost 1,500 residents and staff have died, yet we are still waiting for a coherent, coordinated plan from Ontario’s government to intervene actively in long-term care homes with outbreaks.”
The Ontario government also failed to take advantage of a pool of nurses available to work in long-term care before calling in the military, National Observer previously reported. The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario had assembled lists of qualified staff that were ready to go into long-term care, and may have better suited to it than military personnel without nursing home experience.
Doris Grinspun, CEO of the RNAO, said in an interview Tuesday that she was aware of issues at one of the homes, Orchard Villa, more than a week before the military was called in. No one was answering the phone when she called to ask about giving them nursing resources, she said. (Orchard Villa did not respond to a request for a response.)
“This could have been fixed before the military if the government would have listened to the RNAO,” she said.
Grinspun also said the government should have acted weeks before it did to bring extra help into long-term care.
“It’s horrifying that it came to this and it’s horrifying that it took this long,” she said. “There needs to be accountability.”
Others have pointed to issues with privately owned long-term care homes, where residents are far more likely to die of COVID-19 than they are at not-for-profit homes, the Toronto Star found. Three of the largest operators in Ontario have paid out $1.5 billion in dividends to shareholders over the last decade, the Star reported. And three for-profit long-term care companies in Ontario have hired lobbyists with Conservative ties.
Four of the five homes examined in the military report were privately owned, but it’s not clear whether that played a role in what happened, Ontario officials said Tuesday.
What happens next?
Ontario’s chief coroner is investigating one death at Orchard Villa. And on Tuesday, Ford said the province had opened an investigation into the situation at the homes.
“The results of these investigations will be shared with police to look into any criminal charges,” he said.
A week ago, Ford announced the province would hold an independent public commission in September to examine how COVID-19 had struck long-term care. On Tuesday, critics renewed calls for that to be expanded to a public inquiry, which would give the government less control and influence over the process — and Ford said that idea is now on the table.
Grinspun said the government needs to make immediate changes to fix the problems at long-term care homes, and it cannot wait for the results of a commission or inquiry.
Fullerton said Tuesday that inspectors from the Ministry of Long-Term Care will immediately begin investigating all the incidents detailed in the reports.
When a reporter asked Ford Tuesday whether anyone in his government will have to resign as a result of the report’s findings, Ford did not directly answer the question.
At the outbreak’s peak, 190 long-term care homes in Ontario reported outbreaks of COVID-19. That number has since dropped to 150.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 7:59 p.m. Eastern to include comments from Sienna Senior Living.


nationalobserver--2020-05-26--10 benefits you get as a National Observer subscriber

The top-10 benefits you get when you buy a subscription to National Observer .
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nationalobserver--2020-05-27--Federal deficit likely at $260 billion due to COVID-19

Parliament 's spending watchdog says the estimated deficit for the year has likely risen to about $ 260 billion , leaving the government with little fiscal firepower to stimulate an economic rebound .
Budget officer Yves Giroux previously estimated the federal deficit at $ 252.1 billion this fiscal year on account of a sharp increase in spending on emergency aid and a subsequent drop in economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Speaking to the Senate finance committee Tuesday , Giroux said the government has added about $ 7.6 billion in spending since his last report , pushing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that level of spending is n't sustainable for more than a few years .
He said emergency aid would have to eventually sunset `` otherwise we 'll be looking at a level of taxation that 's not been seen for generations in this country . ''
Federal finances could be helped by an economic recovery that would lower the deficit , which Giroux said is feasible alongside balanced , or close to balanced , budgets .
• Canada Post tests the waters for postal banking with pilot projects , funding for study • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get the economy to lift-off speed , as Giroux has said , will require stimulus spending because of the number of businesses already saying they wo n't survive the pandemic .
`` It 's quite clear right now that there will be some need for stimulus measures .
We just do n't know their magnitude , their scope and which sectors … will need more particular assistance , '' Giroux told the committee .
Spending would have to be very targeted because , he said , `` there 's not that much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficits . ''
Federal spending to date has topped $ 151.7 billion , with $ 40.33 billion going to 8.21 million people through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit .
There is $ 5.7 billion more flowing through a wage subsidy program , according to the most recent figures posted online .
The federal New Democrats have used the $ 2,000-a-month CERB as an example of why the country should move to a basic income program .
Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz in a recent interview suggested a CERB-like measure could help the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future , particularly with little room for the bank 's monetary policy to help .
`` If there 's a lesson to be learned , it is that some of the elasticity of those fiscal policies is very attractive , '' Poloz told the same committee Tuesday , `` like an automatic fiscal stabilizer that could be relied upon in future episodes that would be worth developing more deeply . ''
Federal deficit likely now at $ 260 billion due to COVID-19 , PBO says Giroux said a basic income program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , often in lieu of myriad targeted benefits — could have lessened the need for the CERB , though not the wage subsidy .
The last time the PBO looked at basic income , it estimated the federal cost at between $ 76 billion and $ 86 billion annually .
Giroux said his office will provide an updated cost for the concept in the coming weeks .
A basic income would make some federal programs redundant , leading to some savings , but Giroux said early analysis suggests the net cost to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank has not put a firm number on its economic outlook , providing a best- and worst-case scenario for the foreseeable future , citing uncertainty about the course of the pandemic .
Poloz told the committee he believes the best-case scenario is still within reach .
He said pent-up demand would play into a `` robust recovery , '' even if some sectors like travel face financial difficulties .
Giroux said the federal government could easily provide the same kind of best- and worst-case scenarios so Canadians would have an idea about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Liberals to table a fiscal update .

Parliament's spending watchdog says the estimated deficit for the year has likely risen to about $260 billion, leaving the government with little fiscal firepower to stimulate an economic rebound. Budget officer Yves Giroux previously estimated the federal deficit at $252.1 billion this fiscal year on account of a sharp increase in spending on emergency aid and a subsequent drop in economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to the Senate finance committee Tuesday, Giroux said the government has added about $7.6 billion in spending since his last report, pushing the potential deficit ever deeper. Giroux said that level of spending isn't sustainable for more than a few years. He said emergency aid would have to eventually sunset "otherwise we'll be looking at a level of taxation that's not been seen for generations in this country." Federal finances could be helped by an economic recovery that would lower the deficit, which Giroux said is feasible alongside balanced, or close to balanced, budgets.
But to get the economy to lift-off speed, as Giroux has said, will require stimulus spending because of the number of businesses already saying they won't survive the pandemic. "It's quite clear right now that there will be some need for stimulus measures. We just don't know their magnitude, their scope and which sectors … will need more particular assistance," Giroux told the committee. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Spending would have to be very targeted because, he said, "there's not that much firepower left without incurring significant, structural deficits."
Federal spending to date has topped $151.7 billion, with $40.33 billion going to 8.21 million people through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. There is $5.7 billion more flowing through a wage subsidy program, according to the most recent figures posted online. Federal deficit likely now at $260 billion due to COVID-19, PBO says The federal New Democrats have used the $2,000-a-month CERB as an example of why the country should move to a basic income program. Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz in a recent interview suggested a CERB-like measure could help the country more easily respond to economic shocks in the future, particularly with little room for the bank's monetary policy to help. "If there's a lesson to be learned, it is that some of the elasticity of those fiscal policies is very attractive," Poloz told the same committee Tuesday, "like an automatic fiscal stabilizer that could be relied upon in future episodes that would be worth developing more deeply." Giroux said a basic income program — generally a no-strings-attached transfer to citizens, often in lieu of myriad targeted benefits — could have lessened the need for the CERB, though not the wage subsidy. The last time the PBO looked at basic income, it estimated the federal cost at between $76 billion and $86 billion annually.
Giroux said his office will provide an updated cost for the concept in the coming weeks. A basic income would make some federal programs redundant, leading to some savings, but Giroux said early analysis suggests the net cost to be in the billions of dollars. The bank has not put a firm number on its economic outlook, providing a best- and worst-case scenario for the foreseeable future, citing uncertainty about the course of the pandemic. Poloz told the committee he believes the best-case scenario is still within reach. He said pent-up demand would play into a "robust recovery," even if some sectors like travel face financial difficulties.


nationalobserver--2020-05-27--'Pointing out the obvious': Alberta energy minister stands behind her comments

Alberta 's energy minister is n't backing away from her comments that COVID-19 's public health rules and economic fears favour pipeline construction .
`` I do n't think anybody should be surprised that Alberta is pro-pipeline , '' Sonya Savage said Tuesday in an interview .
On Friday , Savage spoke on a podcast held by an industry group .
Both the Independent newspaper and the BBC in the United Kingdom published her remarks , as did Fox News in the United States .
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg also put them on her Twitter feed .
`` At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once , '' she wrote .
`` Unfortunately this ( is ) how large parts of the world are run . ''
Savage was backed by Alberta government house leader and Environment Minister Jason Nixon .
'Pointing out the obvious : ' Alberta stands by energy minister 's comments `` She was quite rightly just pointing out the obvious that at this moment , because of COVID , there is probably less people taking the opportunity to go out and protest pipelines , '' Nixon said Tuesday .
The Alberta energy industry 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world 's largest investment funds have restricted their activity in the province because of environmental concerns .
In February , Teck Resources pulled out of a multibillion-dollar oilsands project because of what it said was a regulatory environment unable to reconcile resource development and climate concerns .
Savage 's remarks do n't help , said Duane Bratt , political scientist at Calgary 's Mount Royal University .
`` This is going to contribute to it , '' he said .
Still , the comments are consistent with everything Jason Kenney 's United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bratt .
`` They want to fight with environmental groups .
They want to fight with investors pulling out .
`` It 's a very narrow interest .
It 's an appeal to people in Alberta that want somebody fighting for them .
I did n't think ( when it began ) that this type of approach would work , but they 're going ahead with it . ''
The Opposition NDP 's energy critic , Irfan Sabir , also suggested that Savage 's comments , combined with the province suspending environmental monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder to attract international investors to the industry .

Alberta's energy minister isn't backing away from her comments that COVID-19's public health rules and economic fears favour pipeline construction. "I don't think anybody should be surprised that Alberta is pro-pipeline," Sonya Savage said Tuesday in an interview. On Friday, Savage spoke on a podcast held by an industry group. "Now is a great time to be building a pipeline, because you can't have protests of more than 15 people," the energy minister said. "Let's get it built." In the podcast, Savage goes on to say that economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic will trump other concerns. She echoed those remarks Tuesday in reference to rail blockades earlier this year held to protest the Coastal GasLink pipeline expansion.
"Coming out of this situation we need jobs," she said. "Albertans want to get back to work and they're not going to have a lot of tolerance for illegal blockades and civil insurrection. Civil insurrection is not going to be tolerated." Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Savage's original comments made worldwide headlines.
Both the Independent newspaper and the BBC in the United Kingdom published her remarks, as did Fox News in the United States. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg also put them on her Twitter feed. 'Pointing out the obvious:' Alberta stands by energy minister's comments "At least we are seeing some honesty for once," she wrote. "Unfortunately this (is) how large parts of the world are run." Savage was backed by Alberta government house leader and Environment Minister Jason Nixon. "She was quite rightly just pointing out the obvious that at this moment, because of COVID, there is probably less people taking the opportunity to go out and protest pipelines," Nixon said Tuesday. Premier Jason Kenney declined to comment.
The Alberta energy industry's reputation faces increasing pressure. Some of the world's largest investment funds have restricted their activity in the province because of environmental concerns. In February, Teck Resources pulled out of a multibillion-dollar oilsands project because of what it said was a regulatory environment unable to reconcile resource development and climate concerns. Savage's remarks don't help, said Duane Bratt, political scientist at Calgary's Mount Royal University. "This is going to contribute to it," he said.


nationalobserver--2020-05-27--Canadian producers to boost production as oil prices rise

Western Canadian producers are moving to restore some oil production as crude prices rise with demand thanks to the gradual opening of the world economy and OPEC and Russian output cuts .
But analysts say companies hit hard by low crude prices so far this year are being cautious and will choke back oil output again if recent higher prices prove unstable .
`` Everything is moving in the right direction to continue to see oil prices recover , '' said analyst Phil Skolnick of Eight Capital on Tuesday .
Oil producers are indicating that they are bringing back online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of announced volume curtailments in Canada , he said .
`` If prices stay where they are , I would n't be surprised to see that number start to come down , '' said Skolnick .
About 300,000 bpd of oil production cuts ca n't be immediately brought back , though , he said .
That 's because they are due to project maintenance shutdowns , some of which were scheduled sooner because of low oil prices and some that are expected to take longer than usual because of physical distancing measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates in Canada are beating expectations this month as fuel demand grows with the number of drivers taking to the roads , pointed out analyst Matt Murphy of Tudor Pickering Holt & Co. `` There 's a rise off the bottom of incremental demand for gasoline , for example , so it incentivizes these refiners to run a little bit harder , '' he said .
`` Western Canada and Ontario have both seen pretty healthy bounces off the bottom . ''
Refineries in Western Canada are running at about 73 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May but well ahead of expectations , he said , while the Ontario market has dropped back to about 70 per cent , equal to last year 's levels , after posting higher output earlier in the month .
The price of June contract Western Canadian Select bitumen blend oil is averaging about US $ 29.35 per barrel , up from the 2020 low of US $ 11.25 per barrel for May 's contract , according to NE2 , a physical oil brokerage and derivatives exchange with operations in Calgary and Houston .

Western Canadian producers are moving to restore some oil production as crude prices rise with demand thanks to the gradual opening of the world economy and OPEC and Russian output cuts. But analysts say companies hit hard by low crude prices so far this year are being cautious and will choke back oil output again if recent higher prices prove unstable. "Everything is moving in the right direction to continue to see oil prices recover," said analyst Phil Skolnick of Eight Capital on Tuesday. "As long as nobody cheats on their (production) cuts and we continue to see states opening up, provinces in Canada opening up, other jurisdictions around the world opening up, it's more tailwind to the price." Oil's recent rebound is being linked to signs that demand for fuel is growing in China and North America as lockdowns imposed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic are gradually lifted.
Meanwhile, the world supply of oil is falling thanks to production cuts agreed upon by OPEC and Russia as well as voluntary cuts by producers in Canada and the United States. Benchmark U.S. oil prices have settled above US$33 per barrel in the past week, up from less than US$13 a month ago. At one point in April, the price fell to a negative level for the first time. Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions Prices remain about 45 per cent lower than they were at the start of the year, however, which means individual operators are making project-by-project production decisions as the profitability of their particular operations remain razor thin, said Skolnick.
Oil producers are indicating that they are bringing back online some of the 875,000 barrels a day of announced volume curtailments in Canada, he said. Higher prices encourage Canadian producers to boost oil production "If prices stay where they are, I wouldn't be surprised to see that number start to come down," said Skolnick. About 300,000 bpd of oil production cuts can't be immediately brought back, though, he said. That's because they are due to project maintenance shutdowns, some of which were scheduled sooner because of low oil prices and some that are expected to take longer than usual because of physical distancing measures to avoid spreading the coronavirus. Refinery utilization rates in Canada are beating expectations this month as fuel demand grows with the number of drivers taking to the roads, pointed out analyst Matt Murphy of Tudor Pickering Holt & Co.
"There's a rise off the bottom of incremental demand for gasoline, for example, so it incentivizes these refiners to run a little bit harder," he said. "Western Canada and Ontario have both seen pretty healthy bounces off the bottom." Refineries in Western Canada are running at about 73 per cent of capacity, down from earlier in May but well ahead of expectations, he said, while the Ontario market has dropped back to about 70 per cent, equal to last year's levels, after posting higher output earlier in the month.


nationalobserver--2020-05-27--Stephen Harper's power dissolves

Stephen Harper's power dissolves

Last weekend , social media exhumed clips from a 2018 Stephen Harper interview with Dennis Prager , in which he bemoaned the absence of a Fox News network in Canada and blamed his 2015 defeat on leftist media outlets that coordinated their election coverage to censor his party ’ s message .
It was a depressingly small performance , even for a Twitter thumbnail .
Behold Stephen Harper , the powerhouse victor of three back-to-back elections , all won with the self-same news outlets and journalists .
Here ’ s a man who dominated this country for almost a decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama , Angela Merkel and other historic figures , now reduced to fabricating bitter recriminations against the media on a second-rate YouTube channel .
Ever since Canada ’ s Sun News Network went belly up , he said , all our remaining news networks are the equivalent of MSNBC .
`` They would not cover cover my announcements .
They would not cover any gaffe of my opponent , they scrubbed it out ...
They would not run any ad that showed footage depicting my opponent in an unfavourable light ... We literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' # cdnpoli ( 2018 ) pic.twitter.com/J06NQy9fac And quite a way to reward his endorsement by almost every print newspaper in the country .
The whole video is worth a watch , especially from the vantage point of 2020 .
While mercifully eschewing America ’ s extreme right wing , Harper misread almost every world leader , and ultimately his own country .
Merkel , he said , would never recover public confidence after opening Germany ’ s borders during the refugee crisis .
Today she sits at almost 80 per cent support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic .
Harper expressed luke-warm support for Vladimir Putin ’ s closest ally in Europe , Viktor Orban , who last month granted himself indefinite authoritarian rule over Hungary .
He praised Benjamin Netanyahu , who advised him that censorship is “ the only way the left can win ( is to ) shout you down , drown you out… You lose when they edit you entirely out .
When they make sure you don ’ t get a share of voice at all.
” Today , Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stemming in part from his alleged attempts to manipulate media coverage .
And incredibly about Donald Trump , Harper said : “ You can ’ t find an anti-black or anti-Jewish statement Donald Trump has ever made in his life.
” This , after Charlottesville , birtherism , the Central Park Five , Elijah Cummings , Colin Kaepernick , “ s**thole countries ” and countless other examples .
The strongman theme is impossible to ignore .

Pity party It was a depressingly small performance, even for a Twitter thumbnail. Last weekend, social media exhumed clips from a 2018 Stephen Harper interview with Dennis Prager, in which he bemoaned the absence of a Fox News network in Canada and blamed his 2015 defeat on leftist media outlets that coordinated their election coverage to censor his party’s message. https://twitter.com/punditclass/status/1264308570276761600 Ever since Canada’s Sun News Network went belly up, he said, all our remaining news networks are the equivalent of MSNBC.
Behold Stephen Harper, the powerhouse victor of three back-to-back elections, all won with the self-same news outlets and journalists. Here’s a man who dominated this country for almost a decade, strode the world stage with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and other historic figures, now reduced to fabricating bitter recriminations against the media on a second-rate YouTube channel. Who knew Stephen Harper’s shadow across Canadian history would be so short? Billion-dollar land deals in Ontario raise corruption suspicions The front pages of three Canadian newspapers during the 2015 federal election campaign.
And quite a way to reward his endorsement by almost every print newspaper in the country. "Did Harper really carve out an inspiring new vision for 21st century Canadian Conservatism, or did he simply dominate through fear?" The whole video is worth a watch, especially from the vantage point of 2020. While mercifully eschewing America’s extreme right wing, Harper misread almost every world leader, and ultimately his own country. Merkel, he said, would never recover public confidence after opening Germany’s borders during the refugee crisis. Today she sits at almost 80 per cent support, having successfully led Germany and Europe through Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. Harper expressed luke-warm support for Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe, Viktor Orban, who last month granted himself indefinite authoritarian rule over Hungary. He praised Benjamin Netanyahu, who advised him that censorship is “the only way the left can win (is to) shout you down, drown you out… You lose when they edit you entirely out. When they make sure you don’t get a share of voice at all.”
Today, Netanyahu is on trial for bribery and corruption, stemming in part from his alleged attempts to manipulate media coverage. And incredibly about Donald Trump, Harper said: “You can’t find an anti-black or anti-Jewish statement Donald Trump has ever made in his life.” This, after Charlottesville, birtherism, the Central Park Five, Elijah Cummings, Colin Kaepernick, “s**thole countries” and countless other examples. The strongman theme is impossible to ignore.