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

Before the mask thing came in in BC in November most people didnt wear masks in stores and even now next to nobody wears them outside. Yet our numbers have never been crazy.

Can never really understand why we're a comparative success story

Have LTC homes been better managed? They account for the majority of deaths in ON and QC. This seemed significant:

In Quebec, massive outbreaks in long term care facilities contributed to the province’s high case numbers and death rates, Buckeridge said. Policies like allowing staff to work at multiple facilities just facilitated the virus’ spread in vulnerable populations, he said, and it was allowed for a long time. B.C. issued an order in March to stop this, although it took some time for the practice to end.

In ON, privatization of LTC has been a disaster:
https://canadatrends.ca/news/84390/for-profit-long-term-care-homes-once-again-seeing-significantly-worse-outcomes-in-ontario-s-second-wave-star-analysis-finds
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/11/18/long-term-care-fiasco-a-warning-about-private-ownership.html

It just gets worse… again:

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1762250/soins-intensifs-debordement-covid-quebec-hopitaux-delestage-opatrny

Several QC hospitals are now at capacity and patients are being transferred to other regions. And this is on top of all the non-elective surgeries, cancer screenings, etc., that are being postponed. I maintain that re-opening schools is a huge mistake in light of our current circumstances. Kids themselves are not at risk, but if they do catch it, they pass it on to more vulnerable individuals, further burdening our already enfeebled health care system.

Ford's new modelling reportedly says Ontario ICUs will be beyond capacity by February.

The school call is so tough. I really believe the best solution is to move teachers up the priority list for vaccines. Obviously, front-line workers, seniors, and vulnerable groups first. Give it to grocery store employees next. After that, I think teachers should be among the next to get it. It's the risk now vs. long-term fallout, and they're both terrible options--I know kids are resilient, but I believe the fallout will be very real. I'm thinking back to a couple of students of mine who I still see when I supply: one who's in grade 5 now and can't read, and another with vision issues plus ESL and academic issues on top of that. They were just barely hanging on before this; online for the rest of the year, and I can't see them ever recovering. They'll hopefully find their place after they leave school, but the next few years will be hell.

I really believe the best solution is to move teachers up the priority list for vaccines.

It would have been a decent start, but Legault suggested that it won't happen before April or May.

If that's the timeline--I'm sure Ontario's the same--no, it won't make a difference.

As far as I know, this is Ontario's vaccine timeline. It mentions no priority status for teachers at all: https://files.ontario.ca/moh-covid-19-vaccine-distribution-implementation-plan-en-2020-12-11-v3.pdf

Some scary numbers in the Radio-Canada piece:

Samedi, l'Hôpital Anna-Laberge, de Châteauguay et celui du Suroît, à Valleyfield, ont annoncé l'interdiction des visites jusqu'à nouvel ordre, sauf exceptions. Le taux d'occupation des urgences de ces hôpitaux est de 141 %.

no priority status for teachers at all

Not surprised at all. Maybe I'm missing something--and I am admittedly biased--but to me it seems like the most obvious thing in the world if you want schools to stay open.

The schools being open as much and as long as low caseload can allow is an approach I still agree with. Aside from it being the best scenario for kids mental health, with the alternative being school at home, and problems with childcare, stats are starting to show how terrible this whole thing has been for working women. So many are dropping out of jobs to be there with the kids. And it’s worth noting how ironic it is that the most conservative types are complaining the loudest about restrictions, because it’s delivering them the biggest “win” for a return to traditional roles that many have had in their lifetimes. It is definitely an item of concern.

Vaccinating teachers wouldn't solve Parent A to Student A to Student B to Parent B transmission, but it would, presumably, eliminate the danger of Parent A to Student A to Teacher A to half the rest of the class and then back home.

Four more cases here--0-8 in the first 5 months, now 8-24 in 16 days. (Some have been cleared off; 11 active, I think.)

Yeah, teachers probably should be prioritized since the risk is coming because of the job. Families (like mine) can opt in based on knowing we can accept some risk but keep ourselves a closed circle that won’t pass further it to a vulnerable member, but the teacher is at the centre of all those circles combined and it makes sense to give them all protection possible.

The schools being open as much and as long as low caseload can allow is an approach I still agree with.

Me too, the key words being 'low caseload'. I think that ship has sailed in Quebec, less so elsewhere in Canada.

moving groups up and down priority won’t do much with the slow rollout horizon. we need to approve the AstraZeneca and Jansen vaccines asap

More grist for the mill:

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/emsb-unveils-air-purifiers-maintaining-they-will-slow-spread-of-covid-19

Even the BBC is talking about it: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55631198

So proud of my province rn.

I was out in the car when they interrupted programming for Ford's announcement. My most immediate reaction was "Can I still go for a walk?" If I interpret correctly, I can. That's good--that's really important to me, and pretty much all I ask. So a good thing.

Same for me.

I'm finding it a little difficult to figure out if this all semantics or if anything has actually changed. Ford is talking tough about big-box stores, but are there tangible differences I'm missing?

Props to Ford for taking action before it's too late. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

Agree, but they need to be clearer. Because I'm still not sure what changes on Thursday, except at the margins (i.e., younger grades have to be masked now--which, where I was supplying, they 100% were already).

ok sorry but what is "essential work" at this point

Perfect illustration of how all this really does seem like a lot of legerdemain. Non-essential curbside pickup is now restricted to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Huh? Was anybody doing curbside pickup outside those hours? The three things I can identify are 1) the primary-grade mask provision (which, as I say, is kind of needless); 2) a limit in outdoor gatherings of 5 (down from 10); and 3) Ford saying he'll really come down on big-box stores that don't follow the 50%-capacity rule.

That's great if that's true. Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be a lot here.

Am I understanding correctly that e.g. Long & McQuade can still offer curbside pickup but I would be violating the stay-at-home order and could get a fine if I went there to rent mics via curbside pickup? Unless I can make a case that it is essential?

Hadn't thought about that. Not sure they have either.

Went for my 9:00 walk, stopping into Tim Hortons (empty, double-masked) for a takeout coffee that I drink on the way back. I do this every night.

On Thursday, 1) I can still go for a walk (I think), 2) Tim Hortons will still be open for takeout (I think--even they weren't sure, but 3) if I combine the two, am I now making a non-essential trip and leaving myself open to being charged? As with Sund4r's question above, there are either incompatibilities or I'm not understanding.

will I get arrested if I go for a night jog

Double double jeopardy

Afaik, there is no curfew and leaving the house for exercise is OK so that one actually seems a little clearer.xp lol

Yes, I’m still sort of generous about his position and intentions here, simply vs what his conduct could have been, but omg... it’s super fucking stupid how contradictory and confusing these announcements still are! It isn’t clear, The actual rules not much different, but the only real takeaway today is that now they are moving towards enforcement vs suggestion.

Simon: I think the answer is no to that--Ford seemed adamant today that that was the difference in not imposing a curfew. But I don't know, maybe that question is trickier in Toronto than St. Marys (though the order is province-wide...).

So cringe

Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) Tweeted:
So @JustinTrudeau’s senior advisor just called for people to be thrown out a window to their death. Now, will the PM denounce this incitement to violence? Does this violate any kind of community standard for Twitter. https://t.co/BUhA7EUILY

our inept right really is a blessing

this was my favourite moronic andrew scheer bit

Omar Khadr is a convicted terrorist who murdered a medic and blinded another. He is not a victim, nor should he be portrayed in this way alongside real Canadian heroes. @googlecanada: fix this. pic.twitter.com/qywUGQihVb

— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) January 29, 2019

Apparently I don’t know how to properly embed a tweet. That one is hilarious. He should do comedy.

just copy/pasting the link works

I think he had to scroll through a few pages of photos to find khadr, as the arrows and other "canadian soldiers" indicate

Somewhat helpful:

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/questions-about-ontario-s-stay-at-home-order-answered-1.5264068

How will the government know who is out for legitimate reasons and who isn't?

The province said that residents will have a duty to identify themselves when a police officer has "reasonable and probable grounds" that there has been a breach of the orders made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Walking, running, A-OK.

New thread: Defenestrate Them All: Canadian Politics 2021