In the 100 days since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, governments across Canada were quick to act, adjusting the activities of legislatures. In the early stages, unprecedented levels of cooperation – across both aisles and jurisdictions – defined the emergency response. But as the pandemic has
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The coronavirus pandemic has thrown into relief a range of health, social, and economic challenges for municipalities in the Greater Toronto region. These challenges – such as lack of affordable housing, income inequality, the need to spur economic development, and the impact of climate change – all
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The week of June 15th was to be the last sitting week for the House of Commons before summer. However, COVID-19 forced Parliament to quickly reinvent itself to deal with pandemic related priorities. Parties put aside their own interests to support the healthcare and finance measures required
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The Ford government has announced the details of stage two of its framework to reopening the economy, which introduces a regional approach, given some parts of the GTA still account for over 70 per cent of new COVID-19 cases. Regions which remain in stage one include the
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the federal government is offering $14 billion to the provinces and territories as part of a safe restart agreement. The offer is a federal contribution to support the safe re-opening of the Canadian economy over the next six to eight
Read more →As financial pressure increases on provinces and municipalities across Canada from a massive decline on revenues due to COVID-19, the traditional debate about “who pays for what” is top of mind for governments at all levels. Prime Minister Trudeau and Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna announced that the
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There is an old American folk song by Woody Guthrie called “Jolly Banker.” In it, Guthrie (a noted union activist) depicts a helpful banker with a constant smile who is there for families in need with loans for furniture, lines of credit, and deferred mortgages. Over the course of
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Long-term care facilities, especially those in Ontario and Quebec, have been hard-hit by outbreaks of COVID-19. Premiers Ford and Legault specifically requested the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) medical teams in April to help manage the outbreak in some long-term care facilities. A report written
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Ontario Cancels Schools, Feds Extend and Expand Benefit Programs As provinces and the federal government seek to re-open economies, government programs are being amended and extended to better target the needs of all Canadians. Yet at the same time, other decisions made by governments for public health
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Ontarians recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Holland. Of course, that liberation started months before on the beaches of Normandy with the largest seaborne invasion in history. In a stroke of dumb luck, Axis commander Erwin Rommel was absent from the front lines that day. German intelligence
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