We Still Have a Government, Right?: Canadian Politics 2020

I was thinking it was strange that afaict Trudeau has not made any comment at all about the assassination of Soleimani and resulting tensions in the Middle East. (Afaik, this fairly wishy-washy statement from the Foreign Affairs Minister is the only official comment I've seen reported?: https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canada-calls-for-restraint-in-iran-following-death-of-iranian-general-qassem-soleimani. Singh came out against it.) Then I started wondering if it might actually be a smart move to completely wait things out.

Keeping in mind that four of the passengers killed were from my university, so I am in no way taking any of this lightly, I'm really nervous about what Trudeau's active response to all of this will be.

don't really expect anything drastic from trudeau regarding this? i mean it's not really his mo and not much canada could do unilaterally in any case.

Isn't this something:
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/a-majority-of-canadians-want-prince-harry-to-become-governor-general?fbclid=IwAR2Rj6eNn7es_404GoZX56TbIfvdUfUCpQjSIQ7zZna2vDszhtaY0vd_MeQ

It would be a reversion to pre-1952 norms to have an actual British noble as GG.

Isn't this something:
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/a-majority-of-canadians-want-prince-harry-to-become-governor-general?fbclid=IwAR2Rj6eNn7es_404GoZX56TbIfvdUfUCpQjSIQ7zZna2vDszhtaY0vd_MeQ🕸

It would be a reversion to pre-1952 norms to have an actual British noble as GG.

As long as we don’t have to pay for their retinue...

I mean, we pay for every GG's housing and retinue but, yeah, it would be a bit obnoxious if the cost were to significantly increase bc we have an actual! Royal! in that position.

he seems underqualified to be governor general

Sorry, I meant that GG or no, Royals settling in Canada theoretically means we as taxpayers would have to pay for their security. Or so I gather.

good thing BC has that foreign property buyers tax

not that I support this idea in any way, but what qualifications are required to be governor general? All it seems to be is about participating in various ceremonies and dissolving parliament every once in a while. I'm sure he'd be fine.

xxp

I try to ignore hearing anything about these people, but wouldn't H becoming GG conflict with their desire to not be a Royal or do Royal-style things? Maybe I missed some nuance here

As far as I know, he hasn't expressed any interest in the job of GG. I'm not sure where this idea came from but I think it's just some weird hypothetical.

it's dumb and i hate it.

gg should be what it is. some non-partisan canadian prominent member of civil society like, you know, an astronaut or a figure from sports or culture

I actually thought Trudeau was pretty good on Flight 752 here (not that informative on the coastal gaslink pipeline): https://globalnews.ca/news/6404191/justin-trudeau-iran-plane-crash-2020/

“If there were no tensions, if there was no escalation recently in the region, those Canadians would be right now home with their families,” said Trudeau.

“This is something that happens when you have conflict and war. Innocents bear the brunt of it and it is a reminder why all of us need to work so hard on de-escalation, moving forward to reduce tensions and find a pathway that doesn’t involve further conflict and killing.”

Didn't hold back from both expressing that he would have preferred a heads-up wrt the assassination and that there are concerns about being able to trust the Iranian regime wrt investigating this.

Short of shrugging off our centuries-old American yoke and dealing with the ensuing fallout, I have no idea what Trudeau could do to make Canada look like less of a pushover on the world stage.

Surely the yoke was British before the mid-20th century?

Why not both? But yes, hyperbole got the better of me.

Not all heroes wear capes. pic.twitter.com/Z1qD2t0OL2

— Waylon, vicariously (@BannockHammock) January 15, 2020

I've never been to Vancouver and this is exactly how I picture it.

that is some excellent microphone use.

i see that guy around at after hours and stuff lol. has gone very viral in my east vancouver bubble

don't know that I'd be able to get that many words in, in such a short time

https://newrepublic.com/article/156214/colonizer-always-comes

Guess who was picked to build an extension to our disaster of a new LRT/subway in Ottawa: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/snc-lavalin-technical-evaluation-1.5438697?cmp=rss

SNC-Lavalin was awarded the $1.6-billion contract to extend Ottawa's north-south Trillium Line last March even though the team assembled to assess the bids reached a "unanimous consensus that the proposal should not be considered further in the evaluation process," according to documents released by the city Thursday night.

The SNC-Lavalin bid failed to include a signalling or train control system, had no plan for snow removal and, at one point, appeared to believe the trains that run on the Trillium Line were electric, not diesel...

On Oct. 3, the team concluded SNC-Lavalin's proposal "failed all four technical categories."

It sometimes seems like Ford is paying Watson to throw the next election to a hard-right populist.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.5443076/montreal-family-stranded-in-china-during-coronavirus-lockdown-seeks-help-from-canada-1.5443082

Not even picking up the phone is unfortunately par for the course, in my experience.

:(

USMCA ratification legislation tabled, with only the Bloc dissenting on the ways and means bill: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-government-nafta-implementation-bill-trump-1.5444947

Haven't seen anything in the mainstream press yet but this seems like it might shape up to be an odd story: https://pressprogress.ca/mysterious-group-uses-made-up-name-and-fake-mom-to-attack-teachers-in-canadas-biggest-newspapers/

FFS. 🤦‍♂️

See the Vaughan Working Families twitter account, thanking Lecce for the fight against teachers? Check out the photo they used.

That's dead NYC billionaire Matthew Mellon. Ironically, the Mellons spend millions to fight for more teacher engagement. 🙄#onpoli pic.twitter.com/vXVV3wY8Ba

— Stephen Punwasi (@StephenPunwasi) February 3, 2020

That's pathetically low.

I'm hearing a lot about this on Radio-Canada: https://www.google.com/amp/s/montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/legault-blasts-trudeau-for-federal-funding-granted-to-emsbs-bill-21-challenge/amp

Afaict, the EMSB is receiving funding through the Court Challenges Program, which, afaik, is a program that allows any group to receive funds for a charter rights court challenge. I'm not sure that Trudeau even has much to do with it? He did make a supportive statement at the least, though.

Major strike day for teachers in ON today I gather (albeit not at the schools where I worked).

Update on 'Vaughan Working Families':https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/9845588-ad-critical-of-teacher-unions-linked-to-lawyer-with-progressive-conservative-connections/?utm_source=facebook&source=yorkregion.com&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign&utm_campaign_id&utm_content&fbclid=iwar39lhi6hgn7nqjomtoni1aosighsdh1jm0ri2dlcle5xeksarylhnkd96m

Holy shit

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheers says the "protesters" need to check their "privilege" and let the rail system open again. #Wet'suwet'en. pic.twitter.com/dQKZ6IKouU

— APTN National News (@APTNNews) February 14, 2020

amazing.

inject it into my veins!

been out at actions most days for the last week so thank you, scheer for the added impetus to keep on going

So positive reports from the first day of negotiations with the hereditary chiefs?

Will admit I've been finding the Coastal Gaslink issue hard to fully get a handle on/take a position on, insofar as I can see why both the band leaders and the hereditary chiefs hold the positions they do. The BC govt's support for it is also interesting in light of their opposition to TransMountain.

I know many (maybe most) Canadian ILX people aren't big on Trudeau. Are you okay with him in charge of the coronavirus response? Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am. I think he'll at least take counsel from the right people, act on it, and spend whatever needs to be spent.

My one big international work trip this year is Montreal, so he better be on his game

I might just be lowering the bar and comparing him to Trump, but at the very least, I can't see him ever, under any circumstances, looking to Trump for the right response (even if he might pay lip service in public--there has to be a certain amount of coordination between the two countries).

I'm no expert but it mostly seems appropriate so far?

seems fine

Blockades come down in Quebec: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-kahnawake-blockade-1.5486733

I owe them another donation.

New ON Lib leader: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/03/07/ontario-liberals-new-leader/

I freely admit to remembering nothing about him from his cabinet days.

I said to a friend yesterday that when I try to get my mind around two weeks from now, I can't.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/trudeau-self-isolating-as-wife-sophie-awaits-result-of-covid-19-test-1.4850159

Legault just asked everyone who is arriving from abroad to self-isolate for 14 days. This will be me tomorrow.

This was posted 10 hours ago, but I just heard it now from CNN--I thought my FB wall would have been filled.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/sophie-gregoire-trudeau-tests-positive-for-covid-19-1.4850159

I feel like Canada is getting off easy so far. (knock on wood)

I was very glad my board closed schools. And wondering if that will extend past April 5. I've got jobs booked for three days in mid-April--I hope I don't face that decision.

I feel like we're just not there yet,give it a week.

BC has told people not to travel outside of Canada unless essential and events with over 250 people are verboten

Oh yeah and if you travel outside of Canada you have to self isolate for 14 days on return

i am at an all-inclusive in Cancun (we arrived last Friday). we go home to Montreal tomorrow, where we'll self-quarantine for 2 weeks. it all feels deeply uncanny. although the hotel's being diligent with handwashing and alcohol gel around the site, it's basically still paradise - sunsets, beaches, clean sheets. (all at a certain exploitative price - i know, i know, we had our reasons for trying this for the first time but i'll spare you them here.) knowing that we're returning to a terrified, shutdown Canada - and that we ourselves will be joining the shutdown, going from poolside lounging to self-imposed quarantine (with a 3-year-old to boot!) feels totally insane.

I was very glad my board closed schools.

I believe all public and Catholic schools in ON will be closed for two weeks after March Break?

Still deciding whether it will still be safe to go to Wire on Saturday.:(

thread title is newly relevant: https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2020/03/13/mps-to-discuss-suspending-parliament-in-covid-19-fight/#.XmuannJKiUl

xp I'm gonna skip it, I think.

I can spread more disease than the fleas
Which nibble away at your window display

I'm heading to the venue now to try to get a refund.xp

lol

Trudeau advises against international travel, calls for events of over 250 to be cancelled (until further notice, acc to the French report), bans boats and cruise ships of over 500 from docking until July 1; considering tightening the border and income support measures:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-covid-19-1.5496367
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1663604/trudeau-approche-commune-provinces-coronavirus-canada

fair enough.

Received e-mail today from both the orthotics and massage therapy clinics I patronize, and they were virtually identical about conditions whereby you should reschedule. Wonder if there was a provincial directive.

Lol @

Ottawa Public Health has become aware of a third confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ottawa. This third case is unrelated to the two previously announced cases.

The confirmed case is a woman in her 40s with recent travel history to England. The individual is currently in self-isolation at home with mild symptoms. Ottawa Public Health is still investigating details of this new confirmed case.

https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/novel-coronavirus.aspx?utm_source=OPH&utm_medium=Home_Page_Banner&utm_campaign=Coronavirus&utm_content=Home_Page_Banner_OPH#March-13-2020---Statement-from-Dr-Vera-Etches-Medical-Officer-of-Health-on-COVID-19-situation-in-Ottawa

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-pay-attention-trump-trudeaus-coronavirus-response-is-a-lesson-in/

"It’s an old cliché that the American republic was founded on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, while Canada’s founders preferred peace, order and good government. But at times such as this, the Canadian approach has its appeal."

I don't know if the federal or provincial government can do anything about this ridiculousness hoarding going on (they can during wartime, no?), but I hope that is somehow addressed.

"ridiculous"

Going to read that but I will note that at least one point in favour of the US response is that CDC has been mich better than Health Canada at providing information for high-risk populations.

*much

column feels like it's spiking the ball before the end zone

we need to be way more aggressive than we are currently

we share an open border with the a country of +300M that is straight up rawdogging the pandemic. so we have to respond more heavily relative to other countries

no one should be crossing the border unless they live or work here imo. saw some news story about a WA family ‘quarantining’ at whistler... jfc

https://www.vancourier.com/news/city-of-vancouver-has-no-plans-to-cancel-public-gatherings-over-coronavirus-outbreak-1.24096692

vancouver city hall seems to believe risk is low, idgi

yeah it’s really bizarre

i don't understand why nobody has put together that ppl are making a run on toilet paper because they're all working from home and now have to poop at home

Fuck Legault, but he's done a decent job so far by taking this more seriously than most.

is he gonna allow people who cover their faces onto public transit now

It's ok if you're not a public servant, they deserve to get infected anyway.

I was O_O at the number of kids who were telling me in the past week that they had plans to go to the US over March break. I'm sure they've changed plans but still.

Five cases in Ottawa now.

What I get from this is that they are only testing people who have both travelled (or been in contact with someone with COVID 19) AND who have symptoms: https://www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/novel-coronavirus.aspx?utm_source=OPH&utm_medium=Home_Page_Banner&utm_campaign=Coronavirus&utm_content=Home_Page_Banner_OPH

We may have no idea if Ottawans are passing it on to other Ottawans, I fear.

My friend’s theatre touring show was cancelled for some reason, so he has no income (& no chance of EI) until at least summertime. Which gave rise to this idea: what if the gov’t were to replace otherwise unemployable performing artists’ lost incomes during this time with the proviso that they are expected to use this new “free” time to create something? It’d be a small chunk of change in budget terms, but it would keep a lot of folks with poor hygiene off the streets & maybe some really skookum works would get created!

shakespeare wrote king lear on EI, I've been led to understand

my housemate was saying how servers get no money from EI because the money doesn't reflect tips

I check this page (crossed 6,000 deaths worldwide yesterday), and Canada has been holding at one death for weeks, now out of 252 cases. I have no idea if that's encouraging or just lagging numbers.

http://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

A bit of both.

Can’t help but wonder if the upswell in conservative sentiment here in ont will be quite tamped down by all this. I’m sure the xenophobia won’t, but I suspect a few people are suddenly reappraising the value of a functioning social safety net vs the taxes that were “bleeding them to death”. If there is any silver lining...

Ha, I didn't even realize that the PCs had gained a little ground in recent polls: http://ontario.338canada.com/polls.htm

Or maybe not - made the mistake of reading comments on CTV Trudeau speech and the same people opposing public money going to social programs are bitching that “the government” should compensate them for the inconvenience of cancelled travel plans because they did everything right and it’s unfair. Connection not made.

One thing I've been thinking, although I wouldn't mention it to the people I used to work with (and still do, occasionally--I'm sure many have reached this conclusion anyway), is that Ontario teachers will likely have to give in on anything pertaining to money in the current labour dispute. There just won't be any public support right now; sadly, the Ford government knows that, and they'll make sure to mention it at the first opportune moment.

Unfortunately I think you’re right. We have two kids in special ed (gifted) and it will be heartbreaking if their programming gets affected (because it’s been a night and day change for them) but obviously the circumstances are no longer ideal. Everyone is going to be hurting.

By money I meant salary-related; I'm kind of hoping they stand their ground on support- and class-size issues, but in the end they're money issues too, so you're probably right.

Nah, don't give in on support and class size issues after fighting it for this long. The semester is probably lost anyway.

Number of confirmed cases in Ottawa doubled since yesterday to 10.

All bars, swimming pools, spas, saunas, ski resorts, film theatres, arcades, gyms, zoos, libraries, museums, etc., about to close in Quebec.

Basically anything fun that would draw people out of isolation.

Trudeau tells CTV shutting the border isn't off the table and to LCN that it's out of the question.

Nah, don't give in on support and class size issues after fighting it for this long.

All things being equal, I'd agree. But as the economy crumbles, and parents lose jobs, I don't seem them being sympathetic to any kind of a holdout, no matter how negative the long-term effects or how directly concessions might impact their own kids. Even absent present circumstances, this was probably headed from 60/40 or 50/50 parental support to 100/0 parents being equally furious with both sides.

Two weeks ago, when I was at my old school picketing at recess, I said to another teacher that Ford would be wise to settle everything immediately, because very soon he'd have CD-19 to deal with on a large scale. As much of a lunkhead as he is, I think his natural political instincts were way ahead of me. Like the infamous Rahm Emanuel quote, "Never let a crisis go to waste"--unsettling, creepy, absolutely true--he (or people who advise him) was probably already looking down the road and seeing opportunity.

"don't see them"

Ha, I teach in schools on Thursdays and I would be more furious if it turns out that I lost days of work for nothing. If anything, I feel like this should emphasize the importance of manageable class sizes and student support? But, yeah, you may be right - disaster capitalism, etc.

Tim Hortons is closing in-store on Tuesday.

http://business.financialpost.com/news/retail-marketing/tim-hortons-to-close-dining-rooms-only-provide-take-out-drive-thru-and-delivery

As I told a friend yesterday (admittedly a function of my own daily routines), I have a feeling that the biggest vector in Canada wouldn't be kids or seniors or anybody or anything else--it would be Tim Hortons.

The thing that bothers me about not including the U.S. in the just-announced travel ban is not anti-American bias or panic or anything except that it's based on "daily consultation" with Trump. I hope, and assume, Trudeau remembers who he's dealing with.

not including the U.S.

I get that it's economically motivated but given how disastrous Trump's handling of the pandemic has been thus far, I wish Trudeau would grow a pair.

my initial thought on that was it was to prevent a panicked rush for the border from Canadians in the US, but I do share all your misgivings. I have family in four different US states and their situations all vary wildly, it is quite demoralizing

Canada has been holding at one death for weeks

Me, yesterday. BC has announced three more deaths at the care home where the first was.

http://globalnews.ca/news/6683559/bonnie-henry-health-adrian-dix-covid-update/?utm_source=site_banner

Knowing this was coming doesn't make it any less unsettling.

there’s no reason to not go straight to the most extreme measures now. follow Quebec on social distancing, close border except to residents returning home. we know we’re going to get there soon, and there’s exponential benefit to doing it sooner

Ford says don't close on St Paddy's Day; hours later, the Medical Officer of Health says "uh, please do":

https://nationalpost.com/news/ontario-government-moves-to-protect-workers-affected-by-covid-19

Headline probably better than article but: https://www.thebeaverton.com/2020/03/canada-announces-it-will-exclusively-import-covid-19-from-us/

Ford has declared a state of emergency in ON.

'Bout time. No St. Paddy's then, I assume.

This piece has a doctor hypothesizing a scenario where 30% of Ontario contracts the virus.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/corona-virus-covid-19-1.5499872

The Facebook group for my former school was talking about a family there that returned from Italy a couple of weeks ago. One teacher who was in touch with the mom said they were tested on Wednesday, Peel said they'd get back to them if there was a positive, and as of yesterday they hadn't heard anything. So the cautious feeling is that that's good news.

This is good, and the most obvious thing in the world (started reading online calls for it a few days ago):

http://barrie360.com/zehrs-in-barrie-orillia-offering-seniors-only-shopping-hours-during-covid-19-crisis/

Canada's had eight deaths now, and probably tomorrow we'll join the countries with more positive cases than the Diamond Princess (a completely artificial line it's hard not to notice when you check the worldometer page).

i wonder what Trump said to trudeau that made him leave the border open to americans... must've been an intense ultimatum

"if you close to US citizens, we shut off all trade"

is how i imagine it went

my school closed finally yesterday, moving to some half-baked online esl teaching along with every other school

Yeah, going to be a whole lot of badly ran bb collaborate sessions going on

Good guess at Trump's ultimatum. And if so, I'm not sure there's much Trudeau can do except (hope this doesn't sound naive) trust the screening process and hope that there aren't a whole lot of Americans wanting to come up here at this point anyway.

I'm happy whistler shut down, that was bringing in some insane washingtonians. idk, I can see why people are mad about trudeau's decisions, but it's all just shutting the barn door after the horse got out (in my extremely uninformed opinion)

I generally support him but do really wish Trudeau would stop the measured fair-speak and just fucking lead. Less suggesting, more telling. We know what he would rather do, but In an actual emergency it’s what people need.

Border's about to close after all. Not all commercial traffic will be affected, however.

Looks that way. Good.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-us-border-1.5501201

I’d expect a full nonessential retail closing comes next

Most obvious thing in the world:

http://www.macleans.ca/education/school-closures-due-to-coronavirus-may-last-longer-than-you-think/

They'll just move kids ahead a grade, not much choice. The long-term impact of that would be inversely proportional to grade level, I would think, with kids in K-3 affected the most. Once a kid can read, education can be more self-directed.

Should I stock up more wine? 🤔

Support measures for workers announced: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-unveils-82-billion-in-aid-tax-deferrals-for-coronavirus/

I keep checking the numbers, wondering if we're about to explode or not. Math and other countries and common sense probably say yes. We passed that artificial Diamond Princess caseload today; our cases per million is 19, which is still low, as are our deaths. I don't know if the next two weeks will be a good indicator or not.

I think you live in the same area I do, clemenza? (Georgetown) we have our first confirmed local case today. Knowing how interconnected and habitual this place is, could be in for a nasty cluster. I am no longer going to the stores until there’s no choice.

Also read just now that they are four days behind in giving the results, so the numbers are old, and it appears they have not been testing a lot of people they probably should have been under ideal circumstances (like actually having tests and lab capacity ready and clear instructions to follow).

Wow--not anymore, but I grew up in Georgetown. I'm in St. Marys now, halfway between London and Stratford. Even more interconnected and habitual, probably--6,000 people, many seniors. We've got one reported case, a 64-year-old who returned from Mexico (not sure if there were underlying conditions), but I could see it racing through this town.

They don’t know where this guy might have caught it, the 10th case in Halton, the case in that list to be classified as unknown vs travel related, so looks like we’ve potentially had community transmission right here for at least half a week.

Second death in Ontario from Halton.

http://www.halton.ca/The-Region/News/2020/Halton-Region-Public-Health-confirms-second-COVID

Hadn't even thought about it till I just got this e-mail, but one of the things that makes the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund so strong has been their investments (most famously in MLSE, owning about half at one point). I wasn't thinking about my pension and the market until reading the e-mail.

"Many of you will be wondering what impact recent market turmoil will have on your pension. It’s important to remember: long-term performance counts for pension plans, and your pension is part of a defined benefit plan. Unlike RRSPs or defined contribution plans, pensions paid under a defined benefit plan are based on a formula of service and salary, not on the fund’s value on the day a person retires. This means we’ll continue to pay pensions each month."

So that's good--not 100% reassuring ("long-term performance counts for pension plans" immediately makes me think about long-term implications), but close.

One of Canada's 12 deaths, a Milton man in his 50s; test results came in after he died.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/stay-home-urges-widow-of-51-year-old-ontario-man-who-died-of-covid-19-1.4860802

Yeah, why is our testing policy so stingy? We're still only afaik testing people who show symptoms AND have either travelled outside or were in contact with someone else who was diagnosed (acc to our stingy testing policy). Guy had an underlying condition. Seems like they could have tested when he came in the first time and possibly put him on oxygen or a drip then (idk not a doctor)? Do we just not have the testing capacity?

Posted today:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-testing-shortages-1.5503926

"So, why are tests being rationed? One major problem is a shortage of laboratory supplies."

So it sounds like the ultimate vicious circle, being played out everywhere; they're rationing for when things get worse, simultaneously ensuring that things get worse. I'm not blaming medical people, obviously.

Is there even a strong basis at this point for the idea that we're handling this much better than the US? Why is it so much easier for South Korea to be testing people?

At this point in time? Not really, no, unless you count the fact that our swifter response is bound to make a difference in the long run. Differences between provinces (and states) need to be accounted for as well.

I'm treating this right now as a general thread for Canadian-related coronavirus posts.

I keep wondering if my town's going to explode. Just right now, with two cases in a town of 6,000, that'd be ~330 per million, somewhere between Germany and Spain's rate. Things I think about:

Up until five or six days ago, everything here seemed to be going along as normal. A tiny bit of hoarding was the only change I detected.

The local man in the Stratford hospital is now in critical condition, and his wife has tested positive.

http://globalnews.ca/news/6698900/st-marys-man-covid-19-critical-condition/

He seemed to spend five days out and about after returning.

This is a town that's older, probably very conservative, seemingly removed from everything, and--in the little I could glean a week or two ago--probably was inclined to debunk the seriousness. The only mention I heard of it was two cashiers at the grocery saying it was not a big deal.

Even the one consoling thought I had--that you don't get large gatherings here--was quickly dispelled when I thought of one place I never go: the three or four churches in town.

And I'm not at all exempt from the risk of community spread. I supplied in a school on March 6 and March 11 where, as I've mentioned, a) there was a family that had just returned from Italy, and b) teachers were telling me a large number of kids had been absent the previous week. I initially thought it was parents keeping kids home; I don't think that anymore.

But I mean, swifter in terms of administering tests to a small sliver of the population?xp

When you put it that way…

Turns out Milton man was a friend of a friend. Also my one kid goes to a Milton school, and I’m actually not feeling 100% well, despite being pretty careful with myself these past few weeks. Just nagging stuff but it’s stressing me out. Does sound like you have community transmission happening out there too clemenza, stay safe.

Regarding the insufficient tests and the supply shortages, my theory is just that they were caught out underfunded, disorganized, and over reliant on supply manufacturing from other places that was taken for granted as secure or easily replaceable (not certain on that one, but since we manufacture so little here anymore that can be done more cheaply elsewhere it seems an obvious answer) compounded by a larger problem of skewed priorities because of the easy abundance of everything made it feel like “essentials” are almost optional. I’ve been quietly agonizing to anyone who would listen about the madness of outsourcing too much. Especially food. I’m honestly not sure whether to believe them when they reassure us there. So many farms here (in the prime canadian growing area for many things) turned to houses. Ugh, I’m just venting now.

Thanks, you too. I've been noticing every last thing the last two weeks--when I clear my throat, a little twinge in the back, everything--which is also around when I started preemptively taking Tylenol flu tablets once a day, and lemon-drink stuff with my tea every other night. Which is insane, I know. By "I'm not at all exempt from the risk of community spread," I actually meant as an asymptomatic carrier who could have passed it on to someone else. I keep thinking of those supply days back in Brampton, and also that I was more or less out and about normally until two weeks ago.

Right, same. I was aware and vigilantly watching the stats while doing so too, so I can’t help but feel the daily reports that there were only travel related cases here were misleading. They could have been very clear that those were the only cases getting tested at all, and there was no other monitoring in place to catch cases that were not. I’m not attributing it to malice, but it’s very disappointing.

Just spent a few minutes looking around for answers and while you can find a lot of references to shortages and fragile supply lines, rarely does it say exactly who actually makes all this stuff we suddenly need. So yeah, not us I guess, but can it be us? Do we have those manufacturing capabilities anywhere still? I’d like to see someone get on that.

The US and UK are taking measures to make companies start producing some of these things even if that is not what they usually do.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/trump-invoked-the-defense-production-act-heres-how-he-can-use-its-powers.html

https://fortune.com/2020/03/17/coronavirus-mask-hand-sanitizer-factory/

Anyway, if anyone needs info on applying for benefits: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/apply-emergency-benefits-1.5501977

Biggest one-day jump in Ontario, with March break people about to return (with difficulty? I don't know).

http://www.narcity.com/news/ca/on/covid-19-in-ontario-50-new-cases-on-friday-is-the-provinces-biggest-single-day-jump

Wow

Even if the US manufacturers a surplus of equipment, if the current crew is in charge, I’m not exactly confident providing them to us won’t be considered too unethical to use as leverage. When it comes to absolute essentials, our govt should probably be operating under the assumption that we *could* be on our own?

With the 4/5 day delay in processing, plus the time to become ill, then get assessed and tested, I’m estimating break related cases should only just begin to show up in the stats in 7-10 days.

On a lighter note, killer hornets are on their way.

http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-warns-of-likely-return-of-asian-giant-hornets-1.4861602?fbclid=IwAR2GcFFGkP4NVdcOq3V855V_UhwpA_5wLDRRwIg40dd8oJrWTl9SluuSrks

Yeah, no, my point was "if the US and UK can do it, why can't we?", not "the US and UK should be on the case soon".

Oh my apologies! :) I did misinterpret. Phew, If we all get through this, we should plan one hell of a Toronto reunion FAP. Those were good days!

No worries, probably wasn't clear. And that sounds fun: I'm not out that way that often but I could plan a trip.

http://globalnews.ca/news/6710957/etfo-ontario-tentative-agreement/?utm_source=notification/

Surprised and happy. I don't know what it means until I see the agreement, but maybe my original guess was right: that Ford finally decided he just wanted this out of the way right now.

Smaller class sizes and levels of employment might have suddenly seemed like a good thing to maintain?

Could very well be, assuming teachers held on that; both parties had lots of incentive right now to settle.

Canada's progression is starting to look like every other country's.

http://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/

Lecce added that the government is committed to maintaining class sizes and full-day kindergarten, investing in special education, and a "fair" increase in compensation.

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ontario-government-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-etfo-1.4862278

we need to kick it up a notch and issue shelter-in-place today. i went to the park in vancouver today and there were TWO groups of like two dozen people playing SOCCER. like full games across two fields

how is doug ford better at this than the NDP here: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/doug-ford-food-rent-coronavirus_ca_5e7510e9c5b6eab77947f493

ford and legault being proactive and pro-renter is giving me some serious cognitive dissonance

Sounds like Horwath is right that it should be guaranteed in law but, yeah, it's a good move. What are the BC NDP doing?

SAQs apparently closing after today, have to imagine LCBOs will soon follow

Only on Sundays afaik.

Otherwise their opening hours are now 12-6 and no more than 10 or 20 customers may enter at a time, depending on the size of the store.

oh I saw the news and thought it meant they were closing STARTING today, lol. I was thinking, how will QCers survive...

I was checking to see if there have been any more local cases and came across this, posted 17 hours ago:

http://www.kitchenertoday.com/coronavirus-covid-19-local-news/over-50-nurses-exposed-to-covid-19-at-st-marys-general-hospital-ona-2188064

I know that's the story everywhere right now. Still, extremely unsettling in a small town.

Yikes, yeah that doesn’t sound good. My takeaway from that is that pretty much all medical staff in hospitals are going to get exposed so whole hospital becomes a danger zone. No wonder they are warning of healthcare collapse - regular care can’t function alongside that. Understanding the new hospital builds in China now weren’t simply done for capacity.

^Yes.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/22/at-least-thirteen-toronto-doctors-nurses-longterm-care-workers-infected-with-covid-19.html

Good decision, although I suspect there's a lot of unnecessary (i.e., premature) attention to this. No way in the world those games go forward; Japan has been postponing a final decision in a whistling-past-the-graveyard kind of way, but cancellation/postponement has seemed like a foregone conclusion for at least two weeks.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/canadian-olympic-committee-tokyo-2020-ioc-1.5506291

Today we are calling for immediate help for all Canadians:

1) IMMEDIATE DIRECT HELP: Sending $2,000 with an additional $250 per child directly to all Canadians (Universal Basic Income)

2) FIRING FREEZE: Giving employers more than 75% in a wage subsidy to keep people employed

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) March 23, 2020

+409 cases in Quebec in 24h, mainly due to an increase in testing, which remains key.

That would explain why our nation numbers shot up in the last few minutes.

http://www.cp24.com/news/ford-announces-mandatory-closure-of-all-non-essential-businesses-1.4864007

I assume that leaves grocery stores and pharmacies? This is easier for me to say as a non-drinker, but I really hope he doesn't exempt LCBOs and beer stores.

And this, which was a foregone conclusion.

http://www.680news.com/2020/03/23/children-wont-be-returning-to-ontario-classrooms-april-6-due-to-coronavirus/

I never, ever thought I would say this, but initial stumbles aside, Ford appears to be handling this pretty well. He’s trying to be firm without being draconian, his actions are rational, and was even going out of his way to effusively praise the media for “doing a great job getting the message out there“. Upside down days!

'Shitty head of state does decent job after days/weeks of conspiracist dithering' is a thing now.

Tory has joined other cities.

http://globalnews.ca/news/6718926/coronavirus-mayor-tory-state-of-emergency-toronto/?fbclid=IwAR1O4B-9XfxLRuiq3G2EpOPPN2mOFgZKyt2SxNTS8zHcLx2vUaf5l2JdN48

I agree about Ford (and normally I'm as harsh on him as you can be). I'm not sure why--smart enough to listen, seeing the Trump debacle on TV every day, actually understanding the gravity of the situation, or what.

(Maybe "scared enough to listen" makes more sense.)

Having said all that, major misstep.

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/lcbo-beer-store-to-remain-open-amid-closure-of-all-non-essential-businesses-1.4864781

Posted in haste. I guess the consequences of not keeping liquor stores would be disastrous for anyone living with alcoholism. Everything's complicated.

"open"

ford still somehow better than Horgan:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-19-bc-premier-john-horgan-update-march-23-1.5506942

"Missing from the action plan was a universal moratorium on rent payments during the crisis.

"A $1,000, conditional, one-time payment is not going to keep renters in their homes. They are at a risk of eviction and they are panicking," read a statement from the Vancouver Tenants' Union."

"Help for renters" is coming Wednesday?

Our national cases were almost three times our previous high today (after a drop on Sunday).

I'm sure that number will go up and up for the next two or three weeks at least. But I'm hopeful that, right now, today, the spread is invisibly slowing down because of measures taken (which won't show up for a while, plus throw in the increased testing that will ensure numbers go up).

But for all I know, that previous post will look tragically naive in three weeks.

initial stumbles aside, Ford appears to be handling this pretty well.

I said the same thing earlier today!

Wow, is this really true?:

In his press conference today, Premier Horgan made it clear that evictions already in progress will continue.

https://www.vancouvertenantsunion.ca/covidpress

I don't think he did make that clear...but he certainly didn't say that wasn't the case, so. They should probably make up their mind by April 1st!

Various models specific to Canada:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/technology/science/article-when-does-social-distancing-end-these-graphs-show-where-were-heading/

Up early for some reason...Just heard a long interview with Jenica Atwin, New Brunswick's Green Party MP. She was great--reading up on her, she was a sixth-place finisher at 2010's World Series of Poker!

She and others (I think I heard the number 32) are voting on a relief package today. (She just drove in from NB.) Sounded like there was some glitches to work out, but that that would't be nearly as much of an ordeal as what's going on next door.

She also said that she supports invoking the Emergencies Act, and that she thinks it'll be seriously considered in approximately a week. That's a tough one for any PM at any time, but, I would think, especially when your father's most infamous moment lurks in the background.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeTsQQ22Uwc

"Glitches" is not meant as a diminutive--I'm sure the points of contention affect many. I just mean that it sounded like they were negotiable, not immovable road blocks.

Or maybe not--passage now held up until at least tomorrow.

Watching the full clip of that legendary PET interview, one striking aspect is the way that both the PM and the CBC journalists actually engaged in intelligent protracted debate with each other on the issue, not something I feel like we see anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7_a2wa2dd4

It's an amazing six minutes. I have to laugh when the reporter says, "My choice is to live in a society that is free and democratic, which means you don't have people with guns running around in it. And one of the things I have to give up for that choice is the fact that people like you may be kidnapped." I mean, I know what he means, but if I'm Trudeau I'm thinking, "Gee, thanks."

1000+ cases in QC now.

Wait, this says 221 confirmed cases in QC, 1646 in the whole country: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html?topic=tilelink

It's not up to date, I'm afraid.

See: https://www.lapresse.ca/covid-19/202003/24/01-5266218-le-quebec-franchit-la-barre-des-1000-cas.php

Only four dead so far, all from the same retirement home I think.

Omg: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/situation-coronavirus-in-quebec/
xp

Is testing more extensive in Quebec? I highly doubt it but I'd love to see actual data on this, nation-wide.

"The significant increase in confirmed cases is explained by the fact that on March 22, 2020, cases tested positive by hospital laboratories are now considered confirmed. They no longer need validation by the Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec (LSPQ)."

Mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau request that no one cross the river unless absolutely necessary: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/03/24/les-maires-dottawa-et-de-gatineau-ne-veulent-plus-de-deplacements-interprovinciaux

(This is a very common crossing; I e.g. regularly jog across it when the weather permits.)

I just picked up a bunch of things at Long & McQuade since they will probably be indefinitely closed as of tomorrow. I called ahead of time and paid. When I got there, the store looked completely black. I had to call and stay in the car and open my trunk. The guy dropped the items in, shut it, and gave a thumbs-up indicating I could drive off.

Aid package stalled in Commons. Tories and NDP both say they agree with the income support measures but don't support the govt shoehorning additional powers for itself over Parliament, which sounds probably OTM: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parliament-covid19-emergency-funds-legislation-1.5507797

Wow, didn't know about this situation (15K Cdn citizens stranded in India): https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/india-lockdown-canadians-stranded-1.5508697

Trudeau simplifies the income support plan to a $2000/mo cheque for anyone who is missing work because of the crisis: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/trudeau-combines-emergency-covid-19-aid-benefit-for-canadians-1.4867539

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/25/canada-coronavirus-emergency-trudeau-148362

"But the drawn-out process was a strange hiccup in the frenetic pace of announcements from a government trying to navigate a crisis it never anticipated..."

As you can see from my posts yesterday, I didn't think it would take an extra day either. But still, compared to what you saw in the States, I'd say "hiccup" is more accurate that "drawn-out."

Yeah, seems decent.

At least one of our banks looks not to be much different than American banks circa 2008. (I'm with the CIBC.)

http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/royal-bank-of-canada-sued-by-reit-over-cmbs-margin-calls

Will freely admit that I don't understand most of the terms in that article very well. Finance not a strong suit. I will look them up, though.

I don't either. I'm just assuming that "margin calls" and "rock bottom prices" and "lawsuit" are a bad combination.

Just going to throw this out there in case it’s helpful to you guys too - M&M meats was a very low stress source for getting some frozen food today. They had what looked like normal stock, and if you do a click and collect order online before you go, they usually have it all ready in a box for pickup, so you can be in and out in just a couple of minutes. Beats lining up outside the big stores.

Not sure if there's one in Stratford or not, I'll check--thanks.

I rarely give Ford credit for anything, but here goes:

http://www.blogto.com/city/2020/03/doug-ford-tenants-toronto-dont-have-pay-rent-if-cant-afford-it/?fbclid=IwAR0sUemRuvo00DlayDPhcD_KlUyU2ioyTE9jOXggbY2t7Lhnig8L1S-vYK0

No surprise--and glad he's not pushing back against reality.

http://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/news/reality-you-re-likely-locked-down-until-summer-1.11184525

Yeah, good to announce it early enough.

We are seeking clarification on the details of the government’s plan.

Yeah, I'm curious about how this will work as well. It's a step in the right direction but idk how you would justify allowing someone to not pay rent at all and requiring someone who is slightly better off to pay their rent in full, or what grounds would be used to decide who gets away without paying. Either a simple freeze on rents/mortgages/property taxes or scaled income supports would seem to be simple and fair.

I'm guessing that station is Tory-leaning but this article also suggests a promising move: https://www.iheartradio.ca/newstalk-1010/news/disgusting-premier-announces-anti-price-gouging-order-1.11192211

This crisis may yet make a socialist out of Ford.

The explosion of American cases the past few days is stunning. It's so hard to compare us with them...where their testing is compared to ours, 1/10th the population, etc. If you look at the two daily bar graphs on worldometer, they're not the same, but they're not all that dissimilar.

anyone understand why they're militarizing the canada-US border?

I was joking with my wife yesterday about building a wall at the ON/NY border after the COVID explosion. The US sending troops to its border might actually be funnier.

I'm unclear on what the situation is. This, from 13h ago, says the troops are already there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3hn9pEvQqw

This, from 11h ago, says the admin decided against it: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-us-wont-post-troops-at-canadian-border-ottawa-says-it-strongly/

Most daily cases yet. We've sort of stabilized within a range the past few days (600-700), but if you just stay there, that doesn't seem like flattening the curve.

There's talk of quarantining all of Montreal.

Nice.

http://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2020/03/toronto-apartment-company-puts-other-landlords-shame-incredible-covid-19-supports/

769 deaths today (so far). Definitely not flattening.

In Canada? It says 59 here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html?topic=tilelink#a1 . Am I missing something?

Ugh, sorry--769 new cases, that's what I meant. The cases aren't flattening.

that was scary!

this story about the Alberta health minister is great stuff: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-minister-tyler-shandro-behaviour-vital-partners-1.5511288

I don’t think we can really expect it to flatten significantly until something like 3 weeks after most travellers returned because doubtless a ton didn’t isolate properly or are just going to get sick even in isolation, and will spike the stats. Probably will have a better idea a month from now. I’d guess there was also significant spread during the panic shopping phase, which seems to be easing, but that’s also a slowdown that’s going to take weeks to be seen in the stats.

Asked a friend about this a couple of days ago--it just disappeared from the news.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/sophie-trudeau-feeling-great-covid-19-1.5513731?fbclid=IwAR1ptDilNam95gsQUmDd2Gx5pGUP7gSVRWGFZhol510KnCyCakVgzCN-z9Y

Xp. The top doc here bonnie henry is far too sanguine and was talking about hoping new cases would start dropping in 10 to 14 days on wednesday. Really don't understand the rationale behind saying stuff like that when we've had issues with people not taking social distancing advice seriously

Interesting - Montreal police going to start fining people for not observing social distancing directives: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1689514/coronavirus-montreal-police-policiers-spvm-covid-19-pandemie-bilan

A bit o_O that citizens will be encouraged to contact the police or call 911 if they observe a violation.

Oh, Vancouver is already doing this?

don’t think so

OK, it's limited to orders issued under the state of emergency, which means only one so far concerning bars and restaurants: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5508543

Re: Vancouver

Almost 3,500 confirmed cases in Quebec. It’s too early to tell, but it does seem as though Legault wasn’t decisive enough.

Henceforth even grocery stores will be closed on Sundays.

ON has one more death than QC, though. Maybe QC is testing more?

Oh, no, QC is ahead. The federal page is not up-to-date.

Based on the numbers Legault provided during today's press conference, death rate in Quebec is currently around 0.7% – may it remain so.

Given that Legault was acting more decisively than any other leader in the country, I think it's wishful thinking to imagine that he should have known to make even stronger choices.

I blame the snowbirds who ignored instructions, went to weddings, etc.

That's fair, I'm just confused as to why BC's curve seems so much less aggressive seeing as that's where it started in Canada.

Didn't realize that Ontario's cases were so starkly in contrast to the notion that those over 60 are most at risk.

              Number	 Pct.
19 and under	 42	 2.5
20-64	       1,319	77.3
65 and over	343	20.1

http://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus#section-0

I don't think those over 60 are more at risk of contracting the virus than any other age group? I think they are more at risk in the sense that the virus is more likely to be fatal for them? I could be wrong.

That's my understanding as well.

Could just be a reflection of misrepresentation in testing? I mean, they were only testing those who travelled for a long time and I’d suspect 20-64 forms the majority of that group.

All makes sense. I think I should just hire someone for the next few months to make sense of all the data and graphs I encounter.

That's one thing that really aggravates my spouse: the demographic that was most likely to be tested was not the one that was most likely to be killed by the virus. xp

I saw a couple of things today that indicated they're fining in Toronto now for not social-distancing. That's good--frightening, but good.

When I was just out for the evening walk, the same police car, moving slowly passed me twice--it was pretty clearly out there monitoring. The second time I waved. I guess you're okay--for now--if you're alone.

(St. Marys doesn't have its own police--used to, I believe, but now there are one or two Stratford cops who work out of the municipal building on the main street.)

If this every moves to a literal stay-at-home order, I've got a decent-sized backyard and will get by, but that'd be tough.

Quebec testing most aggressively but also most indiscriminately (i think still the only province with drive thru testing?)

takes a long time for the distancing measures to kick in but im p confident Quebec’s will soon

BC testing is more targeted and had limited community transmission for most of the early stage

optimistic about both provinces’ chances

*the effect of social distancing on spread

We actually had drive-thru testing at one hospital temporarily until they opened a clinic for it at an arena.

which arena? Sorry i forget if u live in van or toronto

i heard they’re turning VCC into a hospital

I live in Ottawa, actually; no worries, it's forgettable. Brewer Arena.

I blame the snowbirds who ignored instructions, went to weddings, etc.

― sean gramophone, Monday, March 30, 2020 1:48 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

also la bise

^ A problem for Italy as well?

I never see that cheek-kissing business in Gatineau. Is it just a Montreal thing? Do I just hang out with too many dudes?

not just a montreal thing

It's definitely more common here than in the ROC but from a Latin European perspective it's a rare occurrence.

I know this hospital pretty well from when my dad was in there 25 years ago.

http://www.toronto.com/news-story/9921011-coronavirus-outbreak-declared-at-mississauga-s-credit-valley-hospital/

http://www.blogto.com/city/2020/04/list-essential-businesses-ontario-about-get-shorter/

Thermo summed up the original list perfectly on Facebook: "Congrats everyone in Ontario, your job is now an essential service. Now get back to work!"

(Again, I think Ford's been trying his best to do the right thing for at least the last three weeks.)

Mountainview seniors residence here in Gtown has several confirmed cases in a resident and staff members as of this evening. Very ominous after what happened in Bobcaygeon and other ones. Pretty sure I know people whose parents are in there.

I thought for a second you meant the one the one by the high school--both my mom and grandmother lived there at different times a decade ago. I'm trying to picture the one you're talking about but can't.

Why is it so hard to find information about this in English:

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1690442/justin-trudeau-pandemie-coronavirus-mesures-gouvernement-covid-19

I'm consistently baffled by the stark contrast between Radio Canada and the CBC in terms of reporting.

Left my house this morning for the first time in a week to do a frozen food run (we only have the small fridge freezer.) Still a very surprising amount of people going about their business out there.

I've been making delivery runs and Toronto transit is thankfully very sparse.

Wow, I have noticed that as well but... people should be hearing about this issue. (Masks that were meant to be shipped to Canada being possibly diverted and sold to a higher bidder before leaving China, with reports that Americans have already done this wrt France by paying triple the price on the airport.)2xp

Disgusting but I’m not shocked. That kind of thing is why we should still be concerned about the rest of the supposedly secure supply chain.

Over 1,300 new cases today, by far the most yet--usual explanations apply, I'm sure, but still eye-opening. I had to get some water for the Keurig today, was glad to see the pharmacy was asking if I had a prescription, and since I didn't, they went and got it for me. Didn't come close to anyone, in and out in a minute.

+900 cases over the past 24h in Quebec.

There are now 2,642 cases in Montreal alone.

If I understand this right, you are eligible for $2000/mo if you lost 100% of your uninsured employment/self-employed income but are not eligible for anything at all if you merely lost 80-90% of your self-employment income?: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html

There's yellow caution tape around the playground equipment at the bottom of my street, but this won't be happening here.

http://www.blogto.com/city/2020/04/toronto-eaton-centre-barricades/

yeah they put the tape around the playground in the park next to my house a few weeks ago, and this week they taped up the exercise bars too

never saw this story, it's hilarious: https://www.blogto.com/city/2019/06/toronto-illegal-weed-dispensaries-giant-cement-blocks/

Ha, what?

lol

Carol Arbour
Wow. Considering our current premier used to sell outta the park in Etobicoke, makes me think he's just jealous. What a waste of money and time.
Like · Reply · 25 · 42w

Some fucking allies we've got:

https://globalnews.ca/news/6772979/coronavirus-3m-n95-respirators-trump-canada/

Hm, were they asked or ordered? The difference seems significant.

Good question – I don't know. Hopefully more details are forthcoming.

It's excruciating watching the press conference right now where the doctors reveal projections for Ontario. They look as grim as could be as they introduce their models.

12,000 cases by the end of April; 3,000-15,000 deaths at the end of two years, if measures stay in place or even expand.

Just in ON?

Brace yourself--I misheard. That 12,500 figure is if stricter measures are taken. Under the current level of intervention, the model expects 80,000 Ontario cases by the end of April.

Looking at the US numbers, I wonder if it might actually be good for us to stop receiving supplies from them. Maybe Trump is just protecting us.

Heh, that's the kind of 7d chess I can get behind.

I don't know if it's new or if I just noticed it, but the worldometer site includes total tests on their global chart now. Canada's administered 317,972; that's 8,425 per million people, which seems...not bad compared to most of the countries near the top of the total-cases list: a little less than Italy and Germany, more than Spain, almost double the U.S.A., 3.5 times the U.K. (Who knows how accurate these numbers are.) Also, with 13,912 positives, that would mean about one out of every 20 people who get tested register positive. Seeing as only people with suspected symptoms are getting tested...everything seems so dire and grim right now, but that seems like a sliver of good news, unless I'm overlooking something, which I often do trying to make sense of all the statistics.

Yeah, that actually surprised me.

Third day in four (even on a Sunday) where we've had 1,500+ deaths.

total deaths is currently under 300

I continue to see that as a positive sign, but it seems so out line with most countries, I'm trying not to attach too much meaning to it. I remember feeling hopeful when our caseload seemed much smaller too, and that changed.

"out of line"

cases or deaths, clemenza?

yeah i was just responding to your presumed typo

That's now the second time I've done that--honestly, sorry. They should put me in charge of keeping everybody calm.

(The rest of what I said, though, applies; I've been encouraged by our low death total, puzzled by it, but trying not to read too much into it.)

I read an article earlier that said the backlog was pretty much cleared now. Someone on the labs side took initiative without actual authority early on and informally reached out to private labs like lifelabs, so they got some kind of cobbled together, cooperative system going now that’s mostly working. Stuff like that is giving me hope!

Trump's awfulness encroaches:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-coronavirus-monday-online-learning-starts-1.5523011

(misleading URL)

Oof, also questions being raised about a year's worth of N95 masks that were planned for delivery to Quebec this month: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1690961/masques-n95-3m-commande-quebec-compromise-washington-trump

Good to hear about the new production facility being approved, though.

Wu Tang Clan doing their part for the capital last week:

We got you @adammiron @ottawafoodbank. Just made a donation ourselves. Appreciate Canada holding us down all these years. To our Canadian brothers, @strombo, @solicitorct & @therealrussellp, can you spread the word for more donations? #fighthunger #ottawa https://t.co/dFWPqCuyww

— Wu Tang Clan (@WuTangClan) April 2, 2020

Far from perfect, but he continues to surprise me next to his role model.

http://www.timminstoday.com/around-ontario/covid-19-first-ontario-produced-masks-ready-for-use-premier-doug-ford-says-2235610

Yep, was hearing about that on the radio. It's good news. 21 deaths today is not, though.

Pretty funny.

Oh man. Trudeau says, on wearing masks, that his understanding is it can be helpful as it prevents you from "breathing or speaking moistly" on others.

"Ugh what a terrible image."

MOISTLY. Our prime Minister just said "moistly," folks.

More: https://t.co/gDsnZulB1L. pic.twitter.com/3ihklc7yvz

— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) April 7, 2020

(Trudeau, I mean, not the tweet.)

Also everyone in Canada knows that "moistly" refers to "sounding like David Usher".

Indeed.

Other Words from moist
moistly adverb

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moist

But yeah, not the most elegant way to phrase that thought.

OK, now that I watched the clip and see that "ugh, what a terrible image" was actually JT's own comment, I think it WAS the most elegant way to phrase that thought.

I can't really stand to listen to him when he's in formal address mode (as he is when not taking/answering questions). He sounds like he's selling me something over the phone.

Ha, he always just sounds like a drama teacher to me.

Ha, I watched the moistening live - he obviously had instant regret over that phrasing.

Had the CBC on for a couple of hours this morning, including Trudeau's daily briefing, instead of CNN. There is a definite difference in terms of how return-to-normal is being presented: here, that means August/September, in the States, June. As much as I might hate it, I'm glad the view here is August/September--which, admittedly, is a lot easier to say when you're retired and not worried about your job.

43 social distancing fines issued over the weekend just in Ottawa, incl $880 for sitting on a park bench. 26 fines in Gatineau.

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1691539/distanciation-sociale-parcs-amendes-ottawa-gatineau

Trudeau basically stated that 'this is the new normal' until a vaccine is developed. Grim but clear.

(xpost) Is the park-bench ordinance a municipal thing? I had considered taking a book with me in the next week or two and doing some outdoor reading on one of the benches around town, but I won't now.

Yes

Had the CBC on for a couple of hours this morning, including Trudeau's daily briefing, instead of CNN. There is a definite difference in terms of how return-to-normal is being presented: here, that means August/September, in the States, June

Interesting. In French, he said what pomenitul paraphrased and gave a possible timeline of 1-1.5 years.

I was drifting a bit...August/September seemed to come up, I thought, as a date for maybe not normal, but at least steps towards that (also in the CBC coverage after Trudeau spoke). Maybe I misheard, though. 18 months, wow.

I continue to check our daily cases.

http://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/

Hard really to read anything into that the last few days.

I guess political fallout was inevitable.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-19-government-documents-1.5528726

Eh, I can see why they would have been reluctant to adopt restrictions on civil liberties and privacy or to shut down economic life before there was clearer evidence of a crisis in Canada. Seems like the right approach tbh. I don't think the evidence really suggests that Canada has done worse than comparable countries.

Probably not, but still --

A March 10 department-drafted briefing note prepared for Health Minister Patty Hajdu ahead of question period said that, with just 12 cases being reported nationwide at that point, "the risk of spread of this virus within Canada remains low at this time." The note also said the public health system is "well-equipped to contain cases coming from abroad, limiting the spread in Canada."

-- is not appreciably different than Trump's response: basically, it's not bad now, so it won't be bad two weeks from now.

What would be your response to reports of 12 cases (not deaths) of a new flu-related strain in the country? I can't say exactly but I doubt I would have acted very differently.

Me personally? The same, because I'm not an expert in the field. But with everything you read lately about how many people in the field warned of the dangers of something like this happening, I would expect someone to step up and say "this is urgent." Now, getting the rest of the country to listen when there are still only 12 cases, that may well have been impossible. But if you let memos like that off the hook, then I think you have to let Trump off the hook too, because his excuse-making has been more or less the same.

That week was the week I was glad Quebec seemed to be moving ahead of the federal govt in responding. I TAd a class on Thursday (12th) and it was all anyone could talk about, and the next day my uni cancelled classes over the weekend and the provincial govt extended that on Sunday. I can't remember the timelines in Italy and Iran, but if you were reading the news there was reason to assume it would be spread rapidly.

OTOH people are whining about the shutdown right now so...

That's actually not one of my issues with Trump's handling of the situation (and I also think even he or at least the US govt have done better than, say, Johnson, tbh). xp

And by March 10, even if we only had 12 cases, China had 80,000. If that had been a Jan. 10 or even Feb. 10 memo, that I could see.

Hm, Mar 10. That was when Ontario closed its schools as well. It was the right time for the provinces to respond, since they administer most of what is affected. I do think the feds were right to not invoke the Quarantine Act at that point - the bar should be high for emergency measures at the national level. Mar 13, only a few days after the memo, was when Trudeau advised against intl gatherings, called for large gatherings to be cancelled, banned large cruise ships from docking, and announced that border tightening and income support measures would be forthcoming. They should have possibly acted sooner with regards to things like co-ordinating the manufacture and supply of necessary testing and protective supplies, though - I think this is what concerns me most.

* intl travel

The last day for schools was March 13--I was in for a supply job on March 11.

I figure the school closing saved me from myself. I had three jobs lined up before the closure. They were for the first week of April, so by that time I likely would have passed even if schools had been open, but--turning down work is hard for me--if I had gotten a call for the week of March 16th, and maybe even the week of March 23rd, I likely would have taken a deep breath and gone in.

Yeah, I meant that was the week the upcoming closure was announced, sorry; same in ON and QC.

Legault is now saying that schools could reopen before the 4th of May. Doesn't seem very wise to me.

Accrued interest--awful.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/banks-charge-interest-on-interest-for-mortgage-payment-deferral-1.5529399

Deferred payments without interest would be the best, obviously, but probably too much to ask (or at least too much to expect). Deferred payments and interest--with the interest on a very long timetable--should be the minimum. Deferred payments with accrued interest is barely anything at all.

By "too much to expect" I mean because it's banks, and it's just not going to happen.

What's the exact rule re: hanging out in Ontario parks? I get the bench thing, but I was sitting distancedly with a (1) friend of mine *on the ground* at Tritinity Bellwoods and a cop made us get up and....walk around.

My understanding, at least in Ottawa, is that the police have a lot of latitude rn. Seems excessive to me, honestly. Closing down businesses and large gatherings makes sense. Prosecuting individuals over things that are of questionable risk anyway and asking citizens to snitch on their neighbours... we wouldn't accept that in response to a terrorist attack, I don't think. Why for a virus?

Emergency Response Benefit still a shitshow for gig workers. I wrote my MP (a Cabinet Minister) last week but never got a response. One school I work for on contract is encouraging everyone to have their pay held until benefits run out or this is over, which I will not do (although I might do the 14-day hold) but wtf that we are put in this position in the first place.

Isn't the rule that city parks are only open for 'walkthrough access'? I guess as long as you remain in motion, you're technically in the process of leaving the park.

I agree about the benches--silly, I think, unless you've got strangers sitting together. I went for a walk today and ended up walking through the Hall of Fame grounds, where, scattered around the baseball fields, there are benches everywhere. It was deserted for as far as I could see. It would have been nice to sit down for 10 minutes--would that have been a danger to anyone?

(And maybe, in fact, there isn't any such rule in St. Marys anyway.)

idk i kinda agree about the benches rule, hard surfaces and all

on your own blanket on the grass should be ok

I don't have an issue w the bench rule either

I get the sense that I might be the only one affected by this but this is definitely good: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/singh-calls-for-universal-access-to-cerb-1.4892157

A lot of people I know are not eligible for either cerb or ei but have lost a ton in earnings and are in a bit of financial trouble

Yep, good that Trudeau seems to be recognizing the flaws.

The outbreaks at long-term care facilities are really concerning and account for a sizable proportion of ON/QC cases aiui. Concerns being raised both about availability of protective gear and about how it is being used. Staff walked out of one Markham facility after an outbreak yesterday.

https://globalnews.ca/news/6804902/coronavirus-markham-home-staff-walkoff/
https://globalnews.ca/news/6801945/pinecrest-psw-coronavirus-covid-19/

I was born in St. Joe's.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/st-joseph-s-health-centre-reports-covid-19-outbreak-in-intensive-care-unit-1.5531209

(Isn't that somewhat alarmist use of the word "outbreak," though? Maybe that's all it takes, I don't know.)

I lived in the Junction area through much of the '80s and never got there even once, I'm sorry to say.

http://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2020/04/toronto-pizzeria-open-1957-announces-permanently-closing/

(More for a Toronto thread, I guess, but COVID-related.)

Weren't you asking about this earlier, Sund4r?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cerb-emergency-benefits-trudeau-1.5532767

Yes, this is an improvement but Singh's solution was better, honestly. Why limit it to people who are making under $1000/mo?

And if this really means a $2k transfer to anyone making under $1k, that means someone who makes $950/mo will have total income of $2950/mo while someone who makes $1050/mo will have total income of $1050/mo. Seems very badly designed if that is really the case. (The website still lists the old rules, though.)

Almost our highest caseload ever today, with still more today left, so I guess we haven't plateaued like I thought.

BC has gotten off so lightly thus far and we have plateaued, otoh anecdotally social distancing was being flouted quite widely during the long weekend so maybe we'll see some movement in a couple weeks. Downtown Eastside also hasnt had an outbreak yet,(theres been one reported case) and it will likely be a real disaster if it takes grip there

Why did you get the sense people weren't socially distancing over the long weekend? I thought the ferry traffic stories were overblown. Still, wish it had been a typically rainy April.

Really scared of a DTES outbreak.

parks seemed busy. the truth about the ferry crossings seems unclear but it seems to absolutely have been the case that people went on vacation for the weekend to places like tofino and the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver (some acquaintances of my gf's Instagram stories showed this kind of thing). I live in strathcona and on Monday walked to hastings-sunrise and back to get cat-litter and saw multiple multigenerational families (grandparents, kids, grandkids) hanging out in their yards.

Concrete good news:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-canada-surge-hospitals-icus-deaths-1.5533391

There's a warning about not being in the clear, but: "And every day that goes by, it's less and less likely we're going to get there." ("There" meaning overwhelmed hospitals.)

The trail I walk where I am is very stress-free. When people approach, one of the party's always side-steps onto the grass well in advance. I did see three small (2-3) groups of people sitting on benches or tables the other day, but I'll hope and assume they were families.

andrew scheer is such a fucking moron

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/parties-negotiate-terms-of-parliaments-return-1.5537696

Caught about 20 seconds of him speaking earlier today, and my first thought--shows how tuned in I am--was "I thought he stepped down."

the world is falling apart and his top priority is parliament holding in-person sessions

conservatives are such weeners

not exactly political, but today's shooting spree started within an hour's drive of where I live.

Awful. glad you’re ok

Yeah,really just horrendous beyond words.

I still find stories like this amazing.

http://www.livekindly.co/cargill-shuts-meatpacking-facility-covid-19/

350 people at a single plant.

(I shouldn't be surprised, I know--I'm sure they haven't had the option of staying home. It's the date I find jarring: April 20, not March 20.)

Was listening to a story about this on the radio today: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-at-least-two-canada-chartered-planes-return-from-china-without-medical/
It's probably a minor issue so far but things could be grim if this becomes more normal.

On a more superficial note, Justin Trudeau has to have one of the most distinctive speaking voices I think I've heard. I can identify that it's him within a few words in either official language, even if I just turned on the radio. Something idk mannered, heavily enunciated, and quasi-theatrical about it. I've seen someone say that he sounds like he has a slight accent in both languages, which might be it.

This seems odd; not sure I see how it is not a free speech issue: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-misinformation-disinformation-law-1.5532325y6

https://www.google.com/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/6835881/pandemic-misinformation-law-coronavirus-canada/amp/

Does that work better?

Ugh, wrong link!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-misinformation-disinformation-law-1.5532325

More cautious than outside pressure--good job.

http://thepostmillennial.com/doug-ford-predicts-victoria-day-for-lifting-restrictions

maybe don't link that site?

Don't know a thing about it--is the story not accurate?

Okay, I read up on them a bit. Anyway, here's more or less the same story from CTV--if anything, indicating even more caution.

http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ontario-premier-walks-back-suggestion-that-covid-19-restrictions-could-loosen-by-victoria-day-1.4906840

The disinformation problem is huge and complicated. In a lot of ways it should be deemed intolerable because it literally endangers others and our reasonable limits on speech come into play. Chaos comes when enough damage has already been done that the ones tasked with enforcing what’s reasonable can’t agree on what‘s true.

I take it the border saves Trump from any citizen's arrests?

The disinformation problem is huge and complicated. In a lot of ways it should be deemed intolerable because it literally endangers others and our reasonable limits on speech come into play. Chaos comes when enough damage has already been done that the ones tasked with enforcing what’s reasonable can’t agree on what‘s true.

I don't agree that the examples given in the article meet the standard of things it should be illegal to say. (My standard for this is pretty high and definitely higher than the SCC's tbf.) Anything that does would be covered under existing legislation, though, so I don't see a need for a new law.

I get what you’re saying, but at the same time I could give you the names of around ten people who now say they won’t be vaccinating their children and will sign a petition against 5G because of one “passionate and dedicated” (their words) mom in one of my local facebook groups. Just a personal anecdote, yes, but I’m running into this stuff everywhere. A relative *urgently* sends me batshit propaganda, anti Bill Gates type videos almost daily now, This person used to be ok. My ethical threshold has definitely been crossed, but when it needs to be put in legal terms, you are right. I don’t really know what the solution is.

I know a couple of people who sound like Justin Trudeau and even have similar delivery! They’re lifelong bilingual Montrealers - and each went to private high school and/or a small anglo university like Bishops!
xpost

Ugh to general parenting fb groups that don’t automatically banhammer antivax talk :/

I agree with you. Unfortunately a lot of people in them take foolish pride in being non judgemental.

This seems like a convincing enough argument against the 'herd immunity' idea that Legault seems to be pitching: https://www.sciencealert.com/why-herd-immunity-will-not-save-us-from-the-covid-19-pandemic

Some alternative perspectives are cited here, though: https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/coronavirus-legault-prepares-quebecers-for-idea-of-herd-immunity/

Doesn't seem to be working v well for Sweden, from what I gather?

'Herd immunity' is just code for 'we need to get the economy up and running again'. While I get that keeping things at a relative standstill isn't feasible in the long run, Legault's 180-degree turn doesn't inspire confidence at all. His back-to-school policy has me worried not so much for the kids as for their parents. And what about more traditional – often immigrant – low-income households that comprise several generations, including the elderly?

The WHO issued this timely reminder today:

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/25/844939777/no-evidence-that-recovered-covid-19-patients-are-immune-who-says

'Herd immunity' is just code for 'we need to get the economy up and running again'.

It is also code for 'we don't think it will hurt us personally, just a bunch of people we don't care much about, especially weighed against our own security, comfort and convenience'. This approach should be a last resort, a backstop for if the search for a safe, effective vaccine completely fails.

Indeed. And it's especially problematic insofar as Quebec accounts for approximately half of all Covid-19 cases in Canada and 59% of deaths nationwide, despite being home to only 23% of the country's population.

WHO also issued this correction:

Earlier today we tweeted about a new WHO scientific brief on "immunity passports". The thread caused some concern & we would like to clarify:

We expect that most people who are infected with #COVID19 will develop an antibody response that will provide some level of protection. pic.twitter.com/AmxvQQLTjM

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 25, 2020

Swedish results seem mixed, but not disastrous:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52395866

The follow-up tweet seems significant:

What we don't yet know is the level of protection or how long it will last. We are working with scientists around the world to better understand the body's response to #COVID19 infection. So far, no studies have answered these important questions. pic.twitter.com/DisLjWCa4U

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 25, 2020

This also seems like a key passage from the BBC article:

Sweden, with a population of 10 million, remains amongst the top 20 in the world when it comes to the total number of cases, even though it mostly only tests those with severe symptoms. More widespread checks on key workers are now being introduced.
It has higher death rates in relation to its population size than anywhere else in Scandinavia.

Worldometer counts 217 deaths per million population in Sweden vs 65 in Canada fwiw. (The graphs that come with the BBC article seem misleading as they don't adjust for population size.) Do you see an upside being reported?

Anyway, it does seem that Legault is talking about something closer to a controlled, gradual, monitored easing of restrictions, which might make some sense?

More cases would be expected - that's the whole idea! But in terms of deaths, etc, the results seem equivocal. Nothing disastrous SO FAR. They're "worse off" than the rest of Scandinavia right now, but if their theory holds they'll be better off in the long run. (Obviously I have NO IDEA if their theory works.)

Montreal's "deaths per million" is 459, btw, and we're doing a (relatively) good job with social distancing, much stricter than Sweden. (Of course, most of our deaths are due to a disastrous, depressing long-term care home situation.)

BTW, I do not support this "herd immunity" thing - but after talking with a Swedish friend, I was surprised at how OK it seemed to be going.

Interesting points. It does seem that part of what might be helping in Sweden is that people are voluntarily physical distancing as it is. Probably relates to the thesis of this piece, that, even with the lifting of govt restrictions, economic behaviour will just not go back to 'normal' before we have a vaccine: https://thebulwark.com/we-cannot-reopen-america/

conventional wisdom seems to be accruing that "the virus can stay on hard surfaces" while true isn't the cause of any known transmission, it's all about HVAC and peopled trapped indoors with each other. so i expect the relaxing of distancing to be more about outdoor stuff than about resuming work in close closed spaces

herd immunity kicks in around 80%. a serology study found that NYC had 20% cases. so NYC would "only" have to have 3 more outbreaks of considerable size for it to kick in :-/

Haha, yeah, that was my issue earlier - I wasn't hearing about anyone catching Covid from sitting on a park bench.

http://www.blogto.com/city/2020/04/amount-covid-19-recoveries-ontario-now-outnumbers-active-cases/

Comparing this to national, American, and global figures:

Ontario - recovered, 7,087/active, 5,669
Canada - recovered, 17,916/active, 26,813
USA - recovered, 122,675/active, 816,474
World - recoverd, 900,334/active, 1,920,169

I'm sure there are many other things that need to be factored into that.

Ugh.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/04/27/one-in-5-canadians-think-its-not-safe-to-sit-beside-an-asian-person-on-the-bus-according-to-recent-poll.html

the attacks on asian-canadians are horrible, but that is a confusing poll:

"VANCOUVER—Just under half of Canadians have reservations about sitting next to a Chinese or Asian person on a bus if the person was not wearing a mask, according to an advocacy group.

One in five Canadians asked in a poll taken in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal don’t think it is safe at all and 24 per cent of respondents said they were uncertain about the idea, according to a poll conducted by the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice. The poll was conducted April 24 among 1,130 adults living in Canada’s three largest cities."

I don't think anybody wants to be sitting next to anyone else on the bus right now, no matter their race or masked-ness.

You're right, it's a poorly worded question, to say the least.

Did they ask about people of other races? Like, for me the answer is “it is not safe to sit on the bus next to a human who is not wearing a mask.” So if they only asked about Asians, it’s kind of a “when did you stop beating your wife” question.

yes that is the issue

It’s amazing to me how many Ontario conservatives have completely turned on Ford, who still seems to be acting with far more integrity and compassion than I would ever have imagined. They are full on insulting him and are demanding that he open things up immediately (check out his live feeds on fb to see it in action.) Apparently millions of people acting responsibly and accepting personal hardship to preserve an aging, vulnerable demographic (that also tends to vote right wing), somehow, somehow the conclusion is that it’s a left wing conspiracy...

I never would have predicted his caution in a million years. I do think he's dithering on schools, which I can't even understand politically--continuing to hedge angers both parents and teachers.

I've asked this before: what constitutes an outbreak?

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-s-sickkids-hospital-declares-covid-19-outbreak-1.4915861

"Outbreak" has always implied a large number to me--I don't know what that means exactly, but I don't think of two as an outbreak. I thought the word was CTV's, but it's actually in Sick Kids' original statement and tweet. Is "outbreak" not related to quantity, just the fact that someone has tested positive?

I thought the same as you but the Oxford dictionary that comes with my Mac does define it as "a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease: the outbreak of World War II" so maybe any appearance could be considered an outbreak?

Agree that Ford has been surprisingly decent on this overall. BC's doing a little more for people who are already on assistance by adding a $300 supplement to the regular transfer or not clawing back any of the CERB/EI from their payments. A little weird that landlords here are still able to issue eviction notices even though hearings and orders are suspended: seems like it mostly functions to intimidate tenants who are not fully informed on the current policy. Still, we don't have too much to complain about, especially from a global perspective.

just slightly better than borowitz, but makes a good point:

https://thebeaverton.com/2020/04/doug-ford-rattles-bars-on-cell-as-imposter-continues-to-competently-manage-covid-19-pandemic/

Just read in the local paper that their definition of outbreak is:

A COVID-19 outbreak is identified as one or more case(s) of a confirmed positive case(s) — either resident or employee — in an institution, retirement residence or long-term care home.

assault weapon ban announced: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-gun-control-measures-ban-1.5552131

Yeah but as long as mass shootings don’t cease forever and ever such laws are useless and tyrannical.

I'm going to have to avoid postmedia even more than usual for the next month I guess lol

obvs this won't say your postmedia types, but I do think it's smart to label these weapons military hardware--no one (well likely almost no one) is out advocating for the right to bear tanks

Some bears only back down when the barrel of a tank is aimed at them. You just don’t know what it’s like up north.

The ban will be enacted through regulations approved by an order-in-council from cabinet — not through legislation.

Does anyone know how "orders-in-council from cabinet" work? I'm really unclear on it; I'd be interested in reading up on it.

they're primary legislation made under the royal prerogative, not subject to legislative review. hardly used nowadays. sort of like an executive order in the US? I suppose the rationale is that we are in an emergency situation and parliament can't sit. my expectation would be for trudeau to put forward legislation in parliament once the it opens again.

and really the only people who are upset are people who weren't going to vote for him ever anyway?

Ah, thanks. Executive orders in the US make sense to me bc of the separation of the executive and legislative branches in that system. I don't know if I've heard of these before in ours but makes sense that they would be used in an emergency situation, if used at all; I can see why it could raise concerns that a minority govt, especially, could do this, although I don't think I have an issue with the content of this one.

the last time I remember one being used in the uk was this terrible decision by the labour government in the 00s to override a uk court decision to allow the expelled Chagos Islanders to return home (which also ended up being challenged in court, long and the short of it - the Chagos islanders were never allowed to return)

While I think the ban is a good thing and right, and am almost impressed that Trudeau had the guts to just get it done, the fact that it’s via what amounts to a loophole, exploitation of situation, is not going to up down well (despite the fact that his detractors would support an equivalent opposite reaction in a heartbeat). This issue is like a hydra and chopping off one head seems to just give it that much more power. Much in the way a lot of international citizens actively involve themselves in protesting or supporting American politics, this is going to amp up a shit storm of international meddling into our own. The gun peeps are very threatened by this stuff and won’t just let live.

The gun peeps ... won’t just let live.”

Always self described law followers, so justified, safe and compliant, that is until the law is tweaked to keep up with reality. No matter that it is supported by public opinion - NEW laws, they cannot abide.

The jump in cases yesterday was so large it's hard to ignore: 2,760, almost double the previous high. We're almost at 900,000 tests, and the overall infection rate is between 6.5-7.0%, which is up from 5.8% when I posted three weeks ago. So there's a rise in prevalence, too, not just testing.

In ON or Canada? Where did you find info on new cases from yesterday?

Canada:

http://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/

Ah, OK, thanks.

As I understand it, most if not all hospitals in On are not even close to being overwhelmed at the moment, if the goal was just to cope, we probably are at a point where full lock down starts having diminishing benefits and more detriments.

I think this at least partially explains that big "jump": https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-quebec-near-32-000-after-missing-april-data-found-1.4922826

If you subtract those 1,317 retroactive cases from yesterday, that would bring the total down to around 1,450, which is right in line with the past two weeks. So that would explain it--that's good.

"Computer error"?

This seems like a mistake:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-covid-19-end-lockdown-physical-distancing-regional-1.5545600

I know a phased-in loosening feels unfair, but in Perth County, where I am, you've got 35 positive tests (still two in St. Marys--not a single positive in three weeks); treating that the same as Toronto or Peel doesn't really make sense. I'm not saying we don't proceed cautiously here, but I can't see having an identical timetable across the province.

That's a little garbled...Should read "I know a flexible loosening feels unfair..."

yeah I have zero objection to opening up parts of Quebec before Montreal, though I do worry about travel between regions

That's the concern, and yeah, you're taking it on blind faith that people are going to confine themselves to their town/county. That's a strong argument against.

Good point. I saw a story yesterday that smartphone location data showed people traveling to Georgia when they lifted restrictions

I suppose I'm more in the middle than I thought I was. But I'm retired; from the point of view of local retailers, it must be maddening.

"If they loosen up restrictions in one area, guess where all the people from Toronto and the GTA are going, if they want to go have dinner? They're all going flock to Kingston, and I don't think that'd be very fair for that jurisdiction to have everyone coming in in one shot like that."

I'm really enjoying the mental image of hordes of Toronto families driving for 2.5h on the 401 to have dinner in Kingston.

What about all the Montrealers who are going to swarm the dining establishments of Shawinigan?? Legault isn't thinking.

xpost More concern about the number of Ottawans driving for a day trip to Kingston, including dinner in a sitdown restaurant before heading back to our locked-down city. It'd odd that Kingston would actually want to risk that situation, esp when the Muskoka area clearly does not.

Yeah, I thought the Premier's phrasing was funny but you're right that there could be a credible risk there.

You might be surprised how far some city goers would travel just to shop or do “stuff”. If rural opens first, my money would be on places like Wasaga, Prince Edward County, and Grand Bend being more problematic than Kingston, but all are far from Toronto, and anything along major routes is going to get busy. Even as is, with lack of public toilets basically the only thing limiting travel, I’ve been kinda shocked by others from my town that are routinely driving to Costco in Guelph and beyond just for something to do.

Haha, OK, fair enough. Of late, I hardly go anywhere (even pre-quarantine) but I can see it.

Speaking of which: https://globalnews.ca/news/6919518/coronavirus-doug-ford-cottage/?fbclid=IwAR097zyIhpPJ02wy5_NQHN9gUesNL6EJ84jIEQ9mUg7f6f2y3QgQdvM8Tkg

By contrast, this guy had no choice but to resign: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/05/uk-coronavirus-adviser-prof-neil-ferguson-resigns-after-breaking-lockdown-rules

and they were both just checking the plumbing

It’s like when Zac and I tell the kids that there will be no more treats so late at night, put them to bed, then we bust out a bottle of wine and a pack of butter tarts.

As baldy hypocritical as this is, I find myself not particularly bothered by it, wholly because he continues to proceed cautiously as premier. (I was questioning him yesterday for moving too cautiously, but I'd rather he err on that side.)

Haha Trudeau did this too?: https://www.google.com/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/6815936/coronavirus-justin-trudeau-andrew-scheer-easter-travel/amp/

I had to laugh when "Doug Ford admits daughters visited his home on the weekend" came up on last night's CBC news ticker; that would have sounded so weird as a scandal a few months ago.

This story got by rather low key last week. Good! But also lol.

https://globalnews.ca/news/6911676/ontario-licence-plate-redesign-2/

Ha, those new plates were ridiculously illegible whenever I saw one in the wild.

Now even The Guardian has an article about how awful the situation is in Montreal:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/coronavirus-montreal-canada-hit-hard

Do think the ethical implications of only those with means being able to stay safe should be cause for some re-evaluation of blanket self isolation measures. Now that most lower risk populations have isolated enough to reduce the chance of being transmitters, it seems wrong to have another group of people continue to take on the risk for them. In terms of procuring essentials at least.

It was the Victoria Day long weekend here--tomorrow is a major step towards reopening across Ontario. Not restaurants or schools or gyms, but I think any store is okay for curbside now; not sure if there is a loosening of in-store restrictions for some stores also. The daily cases look pretty good for the last couple of weeks, but who knows.

yeah lots of ppl sharing that article, but imo it's not all the policy response. i feel like montreal just got dealt a tough hand, blasted on multiple fronts by (i) late spring break (ii) proximity to NY (iii) snowbirds in NY/FL all coming home (iv) more travel from Europe. seems like Legault went all-in on lockdown an social distancing and i also give him props for backing down on re-opening schools given the numbers weren't right. the nursings homes stuff is awful; my friend's grandmother died of covid in one in Monteal Nord, after every single person on her floor got it. sad too because due to lack of centralized quarantine options even after everyone else had tested positive she had no choice but to stay there and wait to get it

No surprise, but the right call. (Still think the delay served no purpose, unless they sincerely thought they had a chance to resume.)

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/i-m-just-not-going-to-risk-it-ontario-students-will-not-return-to-school-until-september-1.4944536

I don't know what they do in September. Cutting class sizes is close to impossible, because they just had a big labour dispute over that. They can continue online, but I doubt anybody would be happy with that. In any event, that's what they have to focus their attention on immediately, rather than pointlessly going back in June.

Here in BC they are reopening in June, but students will attend on a part-time optional basis. I don't understand how it can be safe for teachers, and some parents will be pressured to return to work by employers: https://globalnews.ca/news/6959148/keep-schools-closed-bc-petition-coronavirus/

The optional June opening will help a lot of parents, I sympathize with and get that. But, as you say, it puts teachers in harm's way, and as to what will actually be accomplished--it's hard enough getting grade-school kids to learn in June in a normal year--not much, I'd say, from personal experience. (My June program my last few years before retirement: "Look, just do these couple of things that I need for your report card, then we'll go outside or watch a movie.")

How practical do you think it might be for them to continue putting all the core assignments and materials into the online system alongside regular instruction in September? If it’s not a logistical nightmare, I can see that helping things continue as seamlessly as possible if students are expected to temporarily drop out of the class whenever a member of their household falls ill. (That’s not policy yet afaik but would make sense)

They'll probably need to do both, yeah. I'm a little removed from it all now, so I don't know how much online participation teachers are getting, either because of accessibility or apathy. I'm sure it varies from place to place and board to board. I do have a feeling that any teacher who had been contemplating pre-COVID working beyond their early retirement date will be getting out immediately (some may even take a pension hit and get out before their eligible date).

I sometimes forget this actually affects me too. I'll have to decide whether I go back to supplying in the fall. I don't need to do it, but I love going back to my old school, and the extra money's great. I'm heavily leaning in the direction of yes, but I'll have to see where things are at then.

Hoping Ford follows through on being the bastard he's threatening to be.

http://www.narcity.com/news/ca/on/ontario-landlords-are-greedy-by-not-wanting-to-give-up-25-of-their-rent-says-ford

The bit that mystifies me is who do those guys think is going to lease their units if their current tenants go under? Commercial properties are bound to become a half vacant wasteland very soon, even in a good case scenario.

ok who's been converting Ford to Maoism

Not that I'll ever be able to afford a house, but:

https://thinkpol.ca/2020/05/19/canada-looking-to-increase-minimum-mortgage-payments-5-10-covid-19-sends-history-household-debt-levels-even-higher/

I was recently thinking I may be able to but yeah I'm not going to be able to afford a downpayment that's 10% of the value of an apartment in Vancouver

We are so thankful now that we bought ten years ago when the market was down, and we bought small. Even so we worry! I have no idea how people who got in high and big are going to manage. I think affordable rentals are finally expected to open up some though, if there’s a silver lining.

Just 10 cases in Halton Hills, where I grew up.

http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/9991867-halton-reports-no-new-covid-19-cases-as-recoveries-climb-in-burlington-oakville-and-milton/

This continues to astound me: there were two cases in St. Marys right at the beginning, around March 12; two months later, according to the local paper today, there hasn't been a single case added.

Semi-pointless update, but I’m noticing a willful return to normal here. The mom sphere is polling each other on whether it’s ok to let their 12 year olds bike to their friends’ houses and the consensus is yes. Saw several neighbours down the street crossing the street to another backyard with booze, so that’s happening too. People are openly complaining about not being able to take small children into garden centres and newly opened stores too (mama bears offended by seeing kids listed on the same line as pets in “no x pls” signs.)

Also took a peek through my fingers at the vitriol soaked conservative relatives online presence and they seem to have no problem simultaneously bitching about planes still landing while also declaring the virus not dangerous enough to have ever required a lockdown.

mama bears offended by seeing kids listed on the same line as pets in “no x pls” signs

This reminded me of my favourite exchange in Albert Brooks' Lost in America, just after Julie Hagerty loses all their money.

Hagerty: "Why are you treating me like an animal?"
Brooks: "I'll explain it to you later."

lol yeah I should add that it was also a *self described* mama “bear” objecting to the implication that her child could be in any way like an animal. I feel truly bad for the retail workers having to deal with such a gauntlet of entitlement.

This isn’t good.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pandemic-covid-coronavirus-canadian-forces-long-term-care-1.5578948

Wu Tang's collaboration with Jim Watson continues: https://exclaim.ca/music/article/wu-tang_clan_and_the_city_of_ottawa_are_building_a_better_tomorrow

Posts on Trinity Bellwoods Park--packed--have shown up on my FB feed four or five times today. I'm just so far removed from that, thankfully.

http://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/05/23/trinity-bellwoods-packed-coronavirus/

I mean, a lineup of four people outside Canadian Tire yesterday--spaced six feet apart--is about the most shocking thing I've seen here all week.

over two weeks without a new positive in Newfoundland. It is very strange watching places reopen quicker than us. We've just been lucky.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nloH_akwNWc&feature=youtu.be

Probably inevitable:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid19-ontario-gta-coronavirus-new-infections-1.5584693

That's a hard call I wouldn't want to have to make. I wouldn't want tell a store owner where I am--maybe somebody on the verge of going under--that you can't reopen for another month even though there are only two cases in your town. Neither would I want to tell a store owner in Toronto--maybe somebody on the verge of going under--that we're letting the rest of the province reopen, but you've got to stay closed for another month.

Not sure why Canada had such a dramatic spike in deaths yesterday--maybe a delay in reporting? Doesn't really jibe with the fairly consistent decline in cases.

http://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/

completely not shocked by the toronto numbers. I've been all over the city these last few weeks and some areas/hoods are just not bothering with distancing at all now that it's nice out. (my harebrained theory is the arrival of warm weather, especially so long delayed and following a period of quarantine, sets off good feelings that are easy for the brain to mistake as the end of danger.)

maybe a delay in reporting?

Here in Quebec, yes, they added 165 non-tallied deaths that occurred between mid-April and mid-May.

Yeah, in Quebec things are still looking up day by day - we'll see in a week or two what effect the opening up/summer hjiinks/protests have had, though.

I know Trudeau has to walk a tightrope with Trump, but this is disappointing--you can't duck criticism right now.

http://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/george-floyd-protests-06-02-20/h_a127cd3ad18fbe85f37c10d0e30efbbd

Unless he is actually going to do something, I don't really know what 'criticism' would accomplish in itself? Is the idea that he should take leadership to influence more of the global community? Something to be said for turning the focus to racism in Canada itself, although he did so in the vaguest way.

That second part was good, but I just think there's a line where you speak up, consequences or realpolitik or whatever regardless. I think I'm pretty forgiving in most instances, but this is on the other side of that line for me. Or in another words, I don't think it matters if nothing concrete is accomplished.

I actually watched the clip here.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-trump-george-floyd-1.5594918

Watching it, the pause is so wildly exaggerated, I think something clear is conveyed, a reminder that I'm dealing with an infantile powderkeg here and I have to watch my words carefully. So maybe I was a little quick to condemn there.

that's some primo Canadian passive aggressiveness right there

His body language there is my favourite 21s of video.

Incidentally, an American colleague once told me that the deadpan 'Canadian pause' was something she had to get used to.

All that theatrical training paid off in spades.

It got on Cuomo's show tonight, where they basically commended him for finding a way to convey how speechless everyone is. So in the end, I guess it worked.