Roundup: A promise to fight back against federal action

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Another day, more record-breaking COVID cases in this country. In Ontario, new modelling suggests that if we don’t get this under control that we’ll be seeing 6,500 new cases a day by mid-December, which should terrify everyone. And Doug Ford? Well, he called the reports that he ignored public health advice “inaccurate,” and “one doctor’s opinion,” and insisted that he’s trying to find a “balance.” Because the needs of businesses outweigh human lives.

https://twitter.com/EmmMacfarlane/status/1326965295941099521

In Alberta, where the pandemic is starting to overwhelm a couple of hospitals, Jason Kenney was back in isolation for the second time after another close-call with a positive COVID case (which he tested negative for) – because he’s totally taking it seriously. Kenney decided to “toughen” measures, which means that he…reduced hours in restaurants and bars, stopped indoor sports, and limited weddings and funerals. Because he still refuses to do a proper lockdown to get infections under control, and he refuses to do anything to inconvenience businesses. Hell, he’s still telling people to go out to restaurants and bars – just not as late, which also has the added effect of ensuring more people will be in these establishments during the compressed hours, which would seem to increase the chances of infection rather than decrease it. After all, Alberta’s public health insisted that people should socialize in a “structured setting” (i.e. restaurant or bar) instead of at home, so they’re really taking it seriously.

As for those who still insist on calling on the federal government to enact emergency legislation, Ford stated yesterday in no uncertain terms that he would not stand for it, and warned that other premiers would also fight back because they want to guard their own jurisdiction. So yeah, unilateral federal action would not fly (not that it really could under the terms of the Emergencies Act anyway), and we’d simply wind up in court over it. In other words, stop waiting for Trudeau to act (because he can’t) and pressure the premiers instead to quit worrying about businesses – especially since they have the power to help them out – and worry instead about the hundreds of deaths that are happening every week.

Good reads:

  • Chrystia Freeland appeared before a Senate committee to defend the new business aid bill, and said they will quickly pass a second one to fix flaws in this one.
  • The government announced new immigration measures for Hong Kong residents, particularly for students and recent graduates, to make it easier to come to Canada.
  • Health Canada is reviewing a potential COVID treatment that may help in certain cases, until a vaccine is ready.
  • The RCMP’s Civilian Review and Complaints Commissioner says that the Force may have broken the law in doing surveillance on anti-fracking protesters in 2013.
  • Elections Canada has outlined enhanced measures they plan to take for mail-in ballots in the event of a federal election during the pandemic.
  • The deputy governor of the Bank of Canada warned that the economy could have permanent “scarring” from the pandemic if appropriate measures aren’t taken.
  • The Ethics Commissioner has sent a “letter of concern” to former Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi over her hiring her sister in her constituency office.
  • Refugee advocates are calling on the federal government to step up and accept more, but travel restrictions are an added barrier to resettlement.
  • Here is a lengthy read that delves into Erin O’Toole’s new electoral strategy, and the kinds of working-class voters that he is trying to target.
  • Conservative MP Derek Sloan is fundraising over his opposition to the bill to ban conversion therapy.
  • Former Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes is coming out with a book that details her disillusionment with politics within the Liberal party.
  • Calgary’s mayor has had to hire UCP-friendly lobbyists in order to ensure that MLAs get necessary information since they’re not taking his phone calls.
  • Heather Scoffield is encouraged that a Biden administration in the US will help propel Canada’s climate change goals now that there is less American foot-dragging.
  • Matt Gurney makes the excellent point that people being shocked to learn that Canada’s history is full of bad things is a reflection on how poorly we teach history.
  • Colby Cosh ridicules economists who are clutching their pearls about the economic impacts of people working from home.

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3 thoughts on “Roundup: A promise to fight back against federal action”

  1. Trudeau is being smart here. The con premiers have blood on their hands and will face the wrath of voters when the time comes. (Well, some anyway. Moe already had his election and the west keeps electing blue fence posts just to own the Libs.) O’Toole supports death by a thousand cuts privatization encroachment into healthcare, so he deserves to be tarred with the same blue brush as Ford just like Scheer was. Cons are useless and prioritize profit over people, yet consider themselves the “pro-life” party. It’s awful for the people who didn’t vote for them, but hopefully if Ford gets turfed, Del Duca can offer some kind of incentive for people stuck in the dead-end, science-denying boonies who want to move to civilization. The rest are Trumpsters too far gone down the rabbit hole and an active threat to the public health. They want to continue spiting others for “civil liberties”? They can do so on their own. By all means let the west separate and become the leper colony it already is. Let the Kenney Kovid Kultists freeze in the dark.

  2. A writer for the National Post wrote today that Trudeau has shown no leadership in the pandemic. This is a perfect example of how right wing press continue their mindless Trudeau hatred. Of course there would be examination of how the Feds have given billions to the provinces, whose responsibility it is to handle Covid affairs. Although criticized for it, Trudeau has provided Canadians with billions to take the sting out of the economic disaster the virus has wrought. Yet we have articles damning him and his government. shame on the rag Black built.

  3. Given all the fuckwit conservative provincial premiers, it used to be hard to decide which was the most moronically hidebound in ‘market rules’ ideology. Now it clearly emerges: Ford. He is killing us in order to favour to tiny folksy small business interests.

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