Unpublished Cafe

PUBLISHED: 17/10/2020
The need for rapid Covid testing is crucial to flattening this curve. When will they be available?

Ottawa and Toronto are coping with more lockdowns, and several areas in Quebec are in the same situation. The federal government has announced the purchase of almost 8 million rapid tests. It was aiming to conduct 200 thousand a day across the country, but currently we’re seeing about 70 thousand completed. The question for many is ‘why is it taking so long?’ for Health Canada to give approval.

What exactly is available now? What’s coming down the pipe? Will Canada have the lab capacity to meet the demand?

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GUESTS:
Dr Steven Newmaster - Genomics Professor at University of Guelph - https://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/newmaster

David Juncker - Professor & Chair of the Biomedical Engineer/Genome Centre at McGill University -https://www.mcgill.ca/bbme/david-juncker

Christine Neilson - CEO at Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science -https://www.csmls.org/About-Us/About-CSMLS/Staff.aspx

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REFERENCES:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/canada-approves-new-rapid-covid-19-test-for-use-in-coming-weeks-pm-1.5126678

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lockdown-rapid-testing-1.5758034

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/10/do-rapid-antigen-tests-have-accuracy-problem/616681/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ottawa-to-buy-nearly-eight-million-rapid-covid-19-tests-despite-lack/

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-test-and-testing-location-information?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8pD23cax7AIVEI_ICh3_ygd2EAMYASAAEgLh-PD_BwE

https://globalnews.ca/news/7369763/canada-rapid-coronavirus-tests/

https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/10/05/health-canada-needs-to-ramp-up-rapid-testing-for-covid-19-as-cases-rise-across-the-country-infectious-disease-experts-say.html

https://globalnews.ca/news/7381031/how-coronavirus-rapid-tests-will-help/

https://globalnews.ca/news/7341338/canada-coronavirus-testing-capacity/

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/09/30/news/ottawa-unveils-deal-buy-millions-rapid-covid-19-test-devices
https://financialpost.com/opinion/andrew-richter-the-rapid-need-for-rapid-response-tests

https://www.guelphtoday.com/following-up/guelph-company-close-to-bringing-15-minute-saliva-based-covid-test-to-market-2718836

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/health-canada-approves-id-now-1.5744768

https://healthydebate.ca/opinions/falling-behind-rapid-covid-testing

https://www.timescolonist.com/rapid-test-kit-recall-underscores-importance-of-canada-s-lab-technologists-1.24129744

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-press-newsalert-health-canada-green-lights-first-rapid-covid-19-tes

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-19-antigen-tests-1.5761718

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/rapid-tests-biomedical-engineer-detect-active-infectious-phase-1.5760649

https://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorials/2020/10/15/its-time-for-canada-to-ramp-up-rapid-testing-for-covid-19.html

https://aircanada.mediaroom.com/2020-10-01-Air-Canada-Finalizing-Initial-Order-for-Newly-Approved-COVID-19-Rapid-Testing-Kits-from-Abbott

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/opinion-make-mask-wearing-a-sign-of-personal-strength-not-weakness-lives-depend-on-it?fbclid=IwAR1SHGmozCXCMN2KSAQfLkqeRJy8t9hzfZUK_VzCfs7toSi6Rm34HTqfLdc

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lockdown-rapid-testing-1.5758034

https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/09/21/a-15-minute-covid-19-test-kit-was-recently-approved-in-the-us-why-is-canada-so-far-behind.html

PUBLISHED: 20/07/2020

Answers are few and far between for school boards getting ready to welcome students back in September. The Ontario Government has said it would announce more details this week to give boards the time to implement their plan. 72 of Ontario’s school boards are preparing plans for three possible scenarios — a full-time return to in-person learning, virtual classes for all, or a hybrid model that combines the two.

This will not be any routine return in September as distancing, hand washing, sanitzer will all be part of the “new” normal. Working in their favour is the fact that children have been less infected by the virus compared to other age groups. Many paediatric experts feel that it is crucial for young people to get back to school but doing it safely.

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GUESTS:

Joel Westheimer - University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at uOttawa

Marit Stiles - NDP MPP Davenport - Opposition Education critic

Liz Stuart - VP at Canadian Teachers Federation

Laura Gonzalez - 2nd Executive VP at OFHSA

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REFERENCES:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7210551/ontario-schools-funding-government-plan-coronavirus/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/health/cdc-coronavirus-school-guidelines-new/index.html

https://www.sickkids.ca/PDFs/About-SickKids/81407-COVID19-Recommendations-for-School-Reopening-SickKids.pdf

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-19-coronavirus-schools-reopen-1.5661252

https://nationalpost.com/news/covid-19-and-school-kids-there-will-be-transmission-experts-say-but-how-sick-will-they-get?fbclid=IwAR0ZeFhiidWfO5Uk0sKSNm7v3tb-uWgBAwL_4K84eIlMUnzaG_wsd7DG3f0

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ontario-liberals-call-for-1-000-new-classrooms-1-000-additional-educators-to-help-ottawa-students-return-to-class-1.5040187?fbclid=IwAR1Q0s9wwA1YzBh3l6c76tSFj_pK-rTC5q1KeecGLaLNtNaZAuGvIms_j3M

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-ndp-calls-on-province-to-boost-funding-for-school-reopening-1.5038206

https://www.tvo.org/article/back-to-school-part-3-a-union-president-on-reopening-safely

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ontario-schools-should-reopen-without-masks-strict-physical-distancing-says-expert-report

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-alberta-outlines-plan-for-return-to-school-this-fall/

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/live-at-3-p-m-province-to-detail-plan-for-school-classes-to-resume

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/public-board-gets-parental-feedback-in-school-reopening-plans

https://www.ctf-fce.ca/need-a-plan-to-reopen-schools-ask-the-teachers/

https://www.ctf-fce.ca/all-is-not-well-in-education/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-covid-19-school-return-class-september-coronavirus-1.5649529

PUBLISHED: 23/10/2020

Fear is coursing through long-term care homes in Canada as the country slips into the second wave of the pandemic. Will it be as fatal as the first wave?

During the first wave of Covid about 8 in 10 deaths from the virus were in long-term care. In late spring, the federal government called in the military to help with homes dealing with outbreaks and staff shortages. For many PSW’s and staff, they are the lowest paid yet face the most danger.

On top of that, there is little to no whistleblower protection for those workers so they can continue to work in unsafe conditions or take a chance on speaking up, and being fired. Earlier this year, the provinces were presented with recommendation. Now, soon to be debated at Queen’s Park, new legislation which would protect people and organizations from “making an honest effort” from legal action.

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GUESTS:

Allan Cuttler - President at Anti-Corruption and Accountability Canada -http://acacanada.ca/author/allan-cutler/

David Hutton -Senior Fellow at the Centre for Free Expression Whistleblowing Initiative at Ryerson University - https://cfe.ryerson.ca/people/david-hutton

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REFERENCES:

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/advocates-push-to-expand-whistleblower-protection-for-personal-support-workers-in-long-term-care-homes?fbclid=IwAR3Eyddn54ljEYy7RBhuQA0BEos57usCX631rFb4baOjGeh68GXbku-9s54

https://www.advantageontario.ca/oanhssdocs/Media_Centre/LTCHomesActCentralseeSiteNavigation/Staff_Reporting_Whistle-blowing_Protection_PandP.pdf

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/2020/09/12/front-line-workers-wont-speak-up-without-whistleblower-protection-union-leaders-say.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/ontario-patient-ombudsman-pandemic-1.5548991

https://www.patientombudsman.ca/Portals/0/documents/covid-19-report-en.pdf

https://www.cp24.com/news/we-must-prevent-what-happened-from-happening-again-patient-ombudsman-on-ltc-homes-1.5138063?cache=yes%3FclipId%3D373266%3Fot%3DAjaxLayout

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/ontario-government-memos-coronavirus-nursing-homes_ca_5f8897cfc5b6c5eccffe9022?fbclid=IwAR3Fkh4qw8KXraBRckbU5qwGjH6j7iWcwjosJJxnNzUSH5WGxTLYx4xPnrM

https://www.ombudsmandespatients.ca/Portals/0/documents/covid-19-report-en.pdf

https://www.cp24.com/news/we-must-prevent-what-happened-from-happening-again-patient-ombudsman-on-ltc-homes-1.5138063?cache=xpnlaaqyei

http://catalogue.iugm.qc.ca/GEIDEFile/ontario.PDF?Archive=194321391250&File=Ontario

https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/opinion-story/9999409-who-is-going-to-protect-our-seniors-in-long-term-care-/

https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ndp-mpp-gretzky-tables-motion-urges-ford-create-covid-19-essential-caregiver-strategy

https://globalnews.ca/news/7408668/ontario-covid-19-liability-protection/?fbclid=IwAR1YHG2PeTZsZfR22w-UaOWpKX593iYqR401FKt6fmtN92zwyrfJHBVPUPQ

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/patient-ombudsman-long-term-care-covid-19-report-1.5754251

https://rsc-src.ca/sites/default/files/LTC%20PB%20%2B%20ES_EN.pdf

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-liability-protection-legislation-ontario-1.5769801

https://www.rankandfile.ca/ford-government-moving-ahead-with-home-care-privatization-bill/

https://www.ohscanada.com/features/in-defence-of-whistleblowers/

https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/news/pivot-magazine/2020-04-27-canada-protecting-whistleblowers

PUBLISHED: 14/08/2020

Just when you think relations couldn’t get any worse between Canada and China...they do.

Last week, China ramped up the pressure on Canada by sentencing two Canadians to the death penalty. The bizarre part was they had already been convicted and sentenced to incarceration. Then it all changed. This relationship has been skidding into the ditch since Huawei Executive Meng Wangzhou was arrested in B.C. to be extradited to the U.S. Shortly after that, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were arrested on the accusation of espionage although nothing has been proven. Over 500 days in captivity and counting.

What is it going to take to thaw relations between the two countries or does Canada pivot away from dealing with China? Canada had been looking to China for increased trade. Whether that will happen is still in limbo.

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GUESTS:

Elliot Tepper - Distinguished Fellow Norman Patterson School of International Affairs - https://carleton.ca/linr/elliot-tepper/

Margaret McCuaig-Johnson - Asia Pacific Foundation and The China Institute University of Alberta - https://www.ualberta.ca/china-institute/about/people/senior-fellows/margaret-mccuaig-johnston.html

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REFERENCES:

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2020/05/21/Canada-China-Save-Relationship/

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/glavin-so-much-for-the-promised-new-framework-in-canada-china-relations

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-06-24/Impact-of-China-Canada-relations-on-Canadian-economy-RAmj2EnWwg/index.html

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/daphne-bramham-with-china-threatening-whats-next-for-canada-china-relations-following-meng-decision

https://globalnews.ca/news/7056639/china-canada-us-relationship/

https://peacediplomacy.org/2020/05/24/panel-discussion-the-future-of-canada-china-relations/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2020-06-23/canadas-trudeau-must-toughen-stance-with-china-ex-diplomats-say

https://financialpost.com/news/economy/why-strained-china-canada-relations-will-strengthen-nafta

https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/the-meng-wanzhou-case-speaks-to-chinas-diplomatic-paranoia/

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/margaret-mccuaig-johnston-just-when-we-thought-canada-china-relations-could-not-get-worse

https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2019/11/23/a-friend-of-china-no-more-why-a-longtime-canadian-ally-has-become-one-of-beijings-fierce-critics.html

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-crucial-china-opportunity-ahead-of-us/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-53700474

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3096307/china-sentences-another-canadian-death-drug-trafficking