Canada ‘ill-prepared’ for potential coronavirus second wave, says Senate committee
Canada is “ill-prepared” for the anticipated second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of the vulnerabilities exposed at its peak still unaddressed, according to a new Senate committee report. The Senate Social Affairs and Science Committee’s interim report released Thursday highlighted numerous areas in which governments have much groundwork left to cover in mitigating […]
Unfazed by the deficit hawks, Morneau uses ‘snapshot’ to preview environmental, social justice priorities
OTTAWA—Finance Minister Bill Morneau delivered the bill for the federal government’s COVID-19 response, including a $343-billion deficit, but brushed aside demands for a blueprint to rein in the huge debt caused by the pandemic. Morneau’s 168-page fiscal release, which was more like a family album than a snapshot, will disappoint some Canadians because it was […]
Feds’ fiscal snapshot puts deficit at more than $340-billion, with promise of an update in fall
Finance Minister Bill Morneau unveiled a plan on Wednesday for managing the unprecedented levels of spending aimed at buffering the economic shock of the pandemic, projecting a deficit of more than $300-billion and promising another update in the fall. In a 168-page document released as much of the country is steadily adjusting to the new […]
Poor data, deficiencies in case management to blame for slow pace in enforcing deportation orders, says auditor general
A federal audit into deportation proceedings released Wednesday says that Canada’s border patrol agency failed to enforce orders for a majority of individuals who had been flagged by the system for “removal.” The auditor general attributed poor data quality, deficiencies in case management, and lack of follow through on investigating “wanted cases”—individuals with deportation orders […]
The great escape: Vol de Nuit and the summer of our discontent
Sometimes, during the first two decades of this Jeremy Bentham-meets-Elmore Leonard century, I’ve feared that reality has spoiled me for fiction. That living in a world in which technology, corruption, industrialized, “post-truth” bollocks and the tactical obliteration of ethical boundaries have conspired to produce narratives, dialogue, and plot twists so monstrously absurd that only Kafka […]
StatsCan to share monthly death data, says official
Statistics Canada plans to share figures monthly on the number of deaths across the country, a move that speeds up the routine process and which could provide more insight into the pandemic, a House committee heard Tuesday. Jeff Latimer, director general and strategic adviser for health data with Statistics Canada, told the House Health Committee […]
Government spending tops $392-billion, and counting, for 2020-21
The federal government has topped $392-billion in approved spending for the current fiscal year, with two appropriation periods still remaining that will raise that total higher. Parliamentarians approved $6-billion in new spending by the government for this year when they passed the appropriations Bill C-19 last month. The bill aligned with parts of the supplementary […]
Effective handling of COVID-19 pushes Liberals into majority territory; Conservatives must ready an alternative vision, say pollsters
Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are in majority territory in public opinion polls chiefly because of their effective management of COVID-19, but opposition parties that have been relegated to the sidelines during the pandemic should get ready to make themselves relevant in the coming months by offering a clear alternative vision for Canada’s future and how to […]
Lack of privacy oversight could hurt buy-in for COVID contact-tracing app, say critics
As a new national app to help trace the contacts of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 prepares for a test rollout in Ontario, opposition MPs say it hasn’t been sufficiently scrutinized by the federal and provincial privacy commissioners and that Canada’s privacy laws don’t provide enough protection for users, which could lead to […]
The chief medical officers have taught us many things—including how to communicate
Canada’s chief medical officers (CMOs) have been celebrated in the media and online. They have dominated the spotlight and elbowed out politicians, celebrities, and professional athletes. Among the many important lessons that we can learn from them is the importance of authenticity. They have built trust and support in the good, old fashioned way—they’ve earned […]
