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

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.