Amid three million unemployed, digital minister extols benefits of departmental cooperation, rapid rollout of online benefit-finder tool
For Canadians with eyes cast on the federal government for financial assistance in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple departments came together in recent weeks in an unprecedented, rapid display of cooperation to launch an online benefit-finder tool designed to quickly connect those in need to existing aid. According to Statistics Canada’s May 8 Labour Force […]
‘Piecemeal reforms have not saved the lives of Black people’: anti-racism, police brutality protests raise visibility, urgency of long-overdue reforms, say activists, some Parliamentarians
The scenes of solidarity expressed on the streets, where tens of thousands of people across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, have been marching for several days with their fellow Black compatriots, point to a growing recognition that it’s time to go beyond long-overdue “piecemeal reforms,” says an activist and some Parliamentarians. Robyn Maynard, author of […]
A more strategic approach to IP key to long-term recovery
TORONTO—In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of personal protective equipment, ventilators, and related medical supplies, it has become commonplace to hear calls to reshore the manufacturing of these and far more items. As the global surge in demand for such products creates opportunities for new domestic suppliers, we should welcome this […]
Post-secondary institutions need further funding boost from feds
The federal government recently announced two important moves to help Canada’s post-secondary institutions through the COVID-19 pandemic. Ottawa unveiled $450-million in funding to Canada’s academic research community and made a major change to the study-and-work visas, which will allow international students to enrol in online courses while abroad in the fall and still be eligible […]
Environment is not an externality; it’s the core of human economy
Relegated to a mere “externality” of our globalized economy for decades, nature has made a stark eruption to remind us of its importance on this yearly World Environment Day. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented abrupt interruption of globalized human activity directly linked to our ill-treatment of nature. Greater human encroachment on natural habitats increases […]
Feds extend mandatory face-covering rule to flight workers, weeks after requiring passengers
Flight crews and airport workers will soon be required to wear face coverings, the federal government says, a measure that was already in place for passengers since last month. Transport Minister Marc Garneau (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount, Que.) announced the new measure aimed at curbing the virus’ spread at the government’s daily briefing on Wednesday. The change comes […]
No one can be left behind in public-health pandemic response
Living through a pandemic has meant making significant changes in our lives in a very short period of time. We’re all doing our best to get through this. Even as places begin the uncertain process of re-opening, we know that physical-distancing measures are helping to slow the spread of COVID-19, saving many lives and helping […]
Air Canada could learn from other resilient airlines before claiming bankruptcy
This is a defining moment. The world is in the midst of a real transition. Post pandemic, everything, from lifestyle to economy, will be totally different. Yet, one thing is certain; some sectors will see exponential growth, while others may find it difficult to sustain themselves. The airline industry is one such sector, passing through […]
Pandemic makes delayed MMIWG action plan more urgent, say Senators, advocates
Indigenous politicians and organizations say rather than justify the government’s delay, the COVID-19 pandemic has created more urgency for it to finish the action plan on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. An action plan was the first among 231 calls for justice in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and […]
House suspension deal offers ‘insufficient’ scrutiny of feds’ spending amid COVID, say politicos
The Liberal-NDP agreement to extend Parliament’s suspension of regular sittings and limit debate over an $87-billion spending bill is skirting scrutiny and “completely insufficient,” argue politicos, with at least one Grit MP frustrated by the move. The suspension will remain until Sept. 21, with four formal sittings through the summer. Meanwhile, the Special Committee on […]
