A timeline of Canadian COVID-19 developments
Jan. 25, 2020 Canada records first “presumptive positive” case in Ontario, a man in his 50s who fell ill after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started. Jan. 28, 2020 B.C. records its first case of the virus, and within a week, several more are confirmed, but all who had been […]
Auditor general says ‘too early’ to tell if request for audit on COVID-19 special warrants demands funding boost
With Parliament suspended until at least mid-April, oversight on one of the government’s new spending powers granted during the COVID-19 pandemic will fall squarely on the auditor general, whose office is facing resource constraints, to assess the feds’ use of its temporary authority. On March 13, the House unanimously agreed to suspend Parliament, passing a […]
Senate, Governor General approve COVID-19 bailout bill
The Senate passed the government’s financial bailout bill for the COVID-19 crisis without amendments on March 25, and the bill received royal assent early the same afternoon. A limited number of Senators met Wednesday morning to consider the emergency bill implementing the government’s now-$107-billion financial aid package for businesses and individuals affected by the crisis, […]
Here’s how AI can help, and is already helping, Canada fight COVID-19
The federal government has signed a contract with BlueDot, a Toronto-based digital health firm that was vaunted for its early identification of the COVID-19 outbreak, to track the spread of the virus, the latest tool in the artificial intelligence toolbox being deployed against the public health crisis. “The Government of Canada, through the Public Health […]
COVID-19 bailout bill passes after late-night negotiations on new government powers
Liberal and opposition MPs unanimously agreed to pass the government’s bailout bill through the House of Commons in the early hours of March 25, after more than 12 hours of last-minute negotiations over new powers for the government to act without parliamentary oversight. MPs struggled on March 24 to find a compromise on the Liberal […]
Release low-risk prisoners to prevent COVID-19 outbreak, say advocates calling for ‘immediate action’
Canada should be releasing low-risk inmates as part of the prison system’s response to COVID-19, say advocates who worry a strategy that doesn’t drop the vulnerable population’s numbers to facilitate better social distancing is unnecessarily risking lives. Keeping the estimated 14,000 inmates housed in close confines is a matter of “life and death” given the “terribly […]
Start date for new North American trade pact could be pushed back amid coronavirus pandemic, says NAFTA Council member
As the White House seeks to have the new North American trade deal in force by the beginning of June, a member of the government’s NAFTA advisory group says that timeline is unlikely to be met. Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff told The Hill Times that the group held a call earlier this month […]
Chief HR officer works to quell confusion, asks departments to identify, update ‘critical’ services lists
The federal government has offered up some clarity to departments and public service unions after confusion over what constitutes “critical” versus “essential” work arose following an initial directive to all public service departments to allow staff to work from home where possible. On March 13, President of the Treasury Board Jean-Yves Duclos (Québec, Que.) issued […]
Embassies in Ottawa offer ‘around the clock’ support in the new work-from-home reality
Embassies in Ottawa are shutting their doors, restricting hours, staffing 24-7 emergency lines, and co-ordinating flights for those stranded in Canada in what diplomats describe as “around-the-clock” support dealing with the demands of “unusual and unprecedented” times brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Ecuador Ambassador Diego Stacey said his consular officials are busy supporting […]
Construction work continues on Parliament Hill, with new precautions
Parliament is adjourned amid heightened self-isolation measures to try to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19’s spread, but construction work, including work related to the Centre Block building’s massive renovation, continues, albeit with some health and safety modifications. On March 12, all Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) staff, along with all employees working on current […]
