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

Huge jump in Canadian cases today--almost 800 after hovering around 300 for a week--that may be linked to this:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-covid-update-july-20-1.5655625

I really hope we're not walking right into what's happening next door. St. Marys is pretty much 100% masked now--a bylaw just took effect, although I don't think it's iron-clad enforceable (which doesn't really make sense to me). I've seen some moderately-sized backyard get-togethers--fewer than 10 people--but nothing crazy.

180 new cases in Quebec today compared to 100 or so last week. I’m hoping mandatory face masks in indoor public spaces, which came into effect over the weekend, will make a difference in the long run.

Allegations that Payette is an abusive boss: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/julie-payette-governor-general-harassment-allegations-1.5657397

She reportedly hates her job and always has.

What do y'all make of the stat I read today about BC: 189 Covid deaths in the province since the beginning of the year, and 728 opioid related deaths. Pretty shocking numbers tbh, really heartbreaking to read about.

(Also I'm not Canadian, just have many friends who are, particularly in Vancouver)

yeah covid basically hardly happened here and we shut down the province, but each month has more overdose deaths than the total COVID deaths, and the last two months have been record-breakers.

safe-supply is obviously necessary as soon as possible, would definitely make a dent in the death toll. can't see it happening though

(overdoses have peaked in part because due to COVID people aren't allowed visitors in their SRO rooms and are using alone more)

If memory serves, BC had the first recorded case in Canada yet it somehow managed to keep the situation under control, quite unlike Quebec (1/4 of the country’s population) which still accounts for half of all covid-19 cases and 2/3 of related deaths in Canada. That said, opioids appear to be a way bigger problem in BC (and Ontario) than they are in Quebec. I have no idea why.

xp

even if this doesn't lead to real change, I am glad to see it: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/22/canada-us-safe-third-country-agreement-federal-court

everything the URL promises:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7204384/coronavirus-glory-holes-sex/

We briefly talked about it in the outbreak thread, but it’s probably safer if we restrict it to consenting Canadians.

Could technically work cross-border, though.

Depends on what happens with the "safe third country" agreement am I right

:D

Yeah, I've worked in harm prevention before, so the reasons behind the skyrocketing opioid deaths are pretty obvious,.if remaining heartbreaking.

Re: opioids in Ontario and BC v. Quebec, I can only speak to BC, but it might have to do with west coast supply chains...the problem in California, Oregon, and Washington is also pretty bad.

Ah, that makes sense.

BQ leader Yves-François Blanchet (who was incidentally accused of sexual assault a couple of weeks ago as part of Quebec's second #metoo wave) is now calling, along with Andrew Scheer, for Trudeau and Morneau's resignation. Unlike Scheer, however, Blanchet says he's willing to present a motion of no confidence in September 'after conferring with the people of Quebec' (lol).

good luck with that

Hm, this could actually be really advantageous for the NDP if they play it right. They have enough seats to keep the Grits in power but, if they're (or they and the Greens are) the only party backing them, they could demand some significant policy concessions.

Those allegations are odd.

The We Charity was legit bad imo but, I mean, the deal was called off; doesn't seem worth toppling a govt over it at this point.

the second I see someone lay out a plausible, sensible plan of action for the NDP, the second I know they're gonna fuck it up.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/federally-backed-covid-alert-app-now-available-in-ontario-1.5046667

my buddy's assessment (a fellow tech writer):

For those with privacy concerns, the app descriptions and the app itself do a good job of explaining what data they collect and how it is collected. It seems to me like a good compromise.
For those without privacy concerns, I’d just get it. The app only becomes effective at high uptake levels.
If you want my professional opinion, A+ in-app technical writing please download to support technical writers.

I set it up in like 30 seconds, no downside I can think of at all really

am I right in thinking that in order for this to be effective, you'll need to have your Bluetooth on at all times (or at least when you leave the house)?

that is my understanding

but yes from what I can see this seems significantly less privacy-infringing than using, say, Google Maps (I'm in QC so I haven't actually downloaded the app of course)

Right, I forgot to mention it's Ontario-only. IMO people should be pestering their respective provinces to use it as well

I've got Québécois friends who reject this 'federalist' app on principle. I'm sure they'd be on board with it if it were filled to the brim with sovereignist spyware.

lol

god I fuckin hate Quebec sometimes lol

also if you want to encounter the dumbest people alive read the comments on any article or post about the app. fuckin dark

Aw, come on, no reason to hate a whole province. More apps should be rejected on principle tbf.

Tbf the PQ is effectively deceased at this point so these people are nowhere near as ubiquitous as they used to be. He (they're a couple) balks at everything Trudeau says and does (because of PET, you see) and she follows suit (partly because she's from France and is dead set on becoming as performatively Québécois as possible). They probably think I'm tacitly contributing to the downfall of Quebec by upholding friendships with monolingual anglos (never mind that their standoffish attitude towards the French language frustrates me too, and I call them out on it). Typing this feels like 1995 all over again, but in reality it only comes up, like, a couple of times a year? Nobody is seriously passionate about this shit anymore – even the hardcore anti-separatists have softened up.

I mean, I do think Trudeau is strongly federalist. Hard to be hardcore anti something that doesn't have a strong presence anymore.

“A Quebecer is a Canadian and will remain so on my watch,” says Trudeau channeling his old man. #CanadaDebates2019

— Robert Benzie (@robertbenzie) October 8, 2019

Hah, tel père tel fils after all.

"The Finance Committee has already heard from witnesses who said that if the government had simply run the CSSG in-house and avoided WE’s impressive overhead costs, it could have paid the program’s entire cohort a proper minimum wage.": https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-trudeau-we-testimony-what-you-wanted-a-micromanager/

With friends like these…

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-president-trump-announces-10-per-cent-tariff-on-canadian-aluminum/

Does this mean we can keep hormone-pumped US milk out?

Fingers crossed…

I found this bit amusing:

Flavio Volpe, president of the industry group for Canadian auto parts manufacturers, said Mr. Trump is only hurting his own economy, because everyone from the U.S. military to the Ford Motor Co. relies on Canada’s aluminum.

“Say what you will about Nero, but at least he was a hell of a fiddler. This guy’s burning it all down without a soundtrack,” he said.

More on Julie Payette's GG angst: she has demanded a slew of renovations to Rideau Hall and still hasn't moved in: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rideau-hall-expenses-privacy-projects-1.5676088

This does suggest she might not have been the right fit for the job:

But Payette "wanted to come and go without anyone seeing her," said one source with knowledge of the project.

According to multiple sources, Payette doesn't like maintenance workers in her line of sight. Even RCMP paid to protect Payette are no longer allowed to stand directly outside her office door and must hide in a room down the hallway, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Only some select staff currently have access to the restricted area by her office

Sigh: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/anti-mask-march-montreal-aug-8-1.5679598

Yet another thing we have in common with Berlin. How cool is that?

Blanchet says he will table a motion of no-confidence if Trudeau, Morneau, and Telford don't resign: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberal-government-pandemic-spending-we-charity-1.5683173

NDP could have their moment!

if there was a new election I think we'd end up more or less the same?

Just installed the COVID app btw.
xp We probably would, yeah: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/poll-tracker/canada/ . I do still think they might not want an election and the NDP could work some advantage out of this if the Libs need their support. (They've been doing OK in terms of pressing for more generous emergency relief measures.)

I don't think trudeau is going anywhere anytime soon. I'd be surprised to even see them get knocked down to a minority.

I have been procrastinating about going through the process of becoming a citizen so this might mean I don't get to vote in the next federal election. on the other hand I live in the safest NDP riding in the country so no big loss

I'd be surprised to even see them get knocked down to a minority.

B-b-but they DO have a minority.

I keep forgetting because the other parties are so meek tbh