Greyhound shuts down while feds look the other way: union says

(News Release)

TORONTO May 7, 2020— ATU Canada is responding to the recent announcement regarding the nation-wide shut down of Greyhound, stating that the Canadian government is responsible for the collapse of intercity buses in Canada, not the COVID-19 virus. Although the intercity bus service is a federally-regulated industry, the government has given the industry the cold shoulder during the pandemic. ATU Canada President, John Di Nino is calling out Liberals for their failure to act definitively to save the service.

“The shutdown of Greyhound Canada demonstrates that the Liberal government are abject failures when it comes to mass transit in this country,” said Di Nino. “When a federally regulated industry completely collapses under your watch, you are not fit for government. The Liberals have failed. Transit is a human right and vital for some of the most vulnerable people who rely on this service, many who have no alternative means of transportation.”

Over 400 employees are now out of work as a result of federal mismanagement of a vital economic sector.

New survey shows how COVID-19 has disrupted Canadian’s travel plans this summer

 PRESS RELEASE

Ottawa, ON. MAY 5^th, 2020 – The travel and tourism sector has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. A typical weekend in late March sees about 40,000 Americans enter Canada by land. On March 29 of this year, that number fell to only 531.

These survey findings, released today by The Conference Board of Canada, show how much the pandemic has disrupted Canadians’ travel plans this summer and into next year. More survey results are available here.

“Our survey shows that travellers are paying attention to government’s guidelines and are staying home,” says Todd Crawford, Associate Director, Economic Forecasting, from The Conference Board of Canada.  “When it comes to domestic travel, we expect travel intentions should return to somewhat normal in April 2021. Whereas, international travel should remain at below-normal levels until December 2021.”

Pandemic testing boosted in Canada as easing begins

   Canada column for Sunday, May 24/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Canadian government is helping the provinces boost efforts to test people for the COVID-19 virus and trace anyone who may have come into contact with it.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking a cautious approach to restart the economy as the number of new cases continued to increase in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.

   There are 83,000 cases of the virus with 6,500 deaths across Canada.

    Economic recovery efforts are moving ahead in Quebec and New Brunswick while Alberta’s public health restrictions are easing.

   Ontario is among the provinces deciding schools will remain closed for the rest of the current term and reopening some businesses.

   Federal support for testing and contact-tracing to isolate positive cases are essential to control the pandemic now and in the future, Trudeau said.

   The government has revised its earlier suggestion on wearing masks in public as health authorities are now urging their use.

   In other developments, Air Canada is offering customers whose flights were canceled due to the pandemic travel vouchers with no expiry date while those with refundable tickets can now receive a refund.

Canadians being discouraged not to go to their vacation homes due to virus threats

   Canada column for Sunday, May 17/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Many Canadians are at their summer “cottages” this holiday weekend despite warnings from health officials about spreading the COVID-19virus.

   They were asked to stay home on this three-day Victoria Day weekend that traditionally marks the unofficial start of summer.

   Many provincial and national parks have reopened to visitors for day use only, not including fishing, boating or camping.

   Cottage country mayors north of Toronto also concerned about day-trippers.

   “I know Ontarians are eager to enjoy the great outdoors,” said Premier Doug Ford, who went to his cottage on Easter Sunday to check on the plumbing.

   Those with vacation homes should travel with immediate family members only and take food and other necessities with them, he added.

   “We can’t restrict travel,” said Canmore Alberta Mayor John Borrowman near Banff National Park but urged cautions.

   The ban on cross-border non-essential travel between Canada and the United States remains in effect through June 21 at least.

   Canada has had about 75,000 confirmed COVID cases and 5,550 deaths.

Canada loses 3 million jobs in less than two months due to pandemic

   Canada column for Sunday, May 10/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   By Jim Fox

   The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of three million jobs in less than two months across Canada.

   Statistics Canada reported almost two million people lost their jobs in April on top of the one million in March.

   This pushed up the unemployment rate to its second-highest level on record at 13 percent from 7.8 percent in March.

   As of this weekend, there have been more than 66,000 cases of COVID, with 4,500 deaths.

   Concerning reopening the economy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said no one should be asked to work in unsafe conditions.

   Lifting restrictions will occur “very, very gradually” and transmission of the disease will be carefully monitored, he added.

   Trudeau is also pointing to the billions of dollars in aid to laid-off workers including $2,000 a month for those unable to find jobs while employers are offered wage subsidy funds to keep jobs.

Canada quickly moves to ban 'assault-style weapons' after killing of 22 in Nova Scotia

   Canada column for Sunday, May 3/20

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Less than two weeks after Canada’s most deadly shooting rampage, the government is taking aim at gun owners with an outright ban on assault weapons.

   Now banned are 1,500 models and versions of “assault-style firearms” that can no longer be legally used, sold or imported.

   This includes the AR-15 rifle and the Ruger Mini-14 that was used to kill 14 women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique university in 1989.

   “Every single Canadian wants to see less gun violence and safer communities,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

   The government was reacting to the rampage by denturist Gabriel Wortman who killed 22 people and wounded three with unlawful weapons from the U.S. and one from Canada in rural Nova Scotia on April 18.

   There is a two-year amnesty period to allow current owners to receive compensation for turning in designated firearms or keep them through a “grandfathering process.”

   Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief, said “these guns have no legitimate civilian purpose.”