Ottawa Observations: Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Wednesday,  August 5, 2020 


Canadians held in China / China tensions

The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Ottawa announces deals with international companies for COVID-19 vaccines
Feds sign agreements with Pfizer, Moderna for millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines
Canada signs deal to secure 'millions of doses' of promising COVID-19 vaccines
Ontario reports under 100 cases of COVID-19 for third straight day
Feds vaccine deals require scrutiny
Canadian government announces deal with two leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates
BC reports 47 cases of COVID-19, five days with no new deaths
3 screening officers at Vancouver International Airport test positive for coronavirus
BC urges feds to tighten up coronavirus measures for airlines
Public exposure at Surrey lounge, UK flight with confirmed case, and over 40 new cases

New COVID-19 cases climb in BC while deaths decline

BC asks for Ottawa's help accessing critical flight data during COVID-19


WE have a problem Boss

Trudeau's popularity has slipped since WE Charity scandal broke, poll finds

Expert bows out of WE Charity review, doesn't rule out future work with group      

WE controversy takes bite out of Trudeau, Liberal popularity: poll

Conservatives ask watchdog to investigate if WE's student grant application portal breached privacy laws

Nearly half of Canadians support election if Trudeau violated Conflict of Interest Act with WE scandal

                                                                             
Globe and Mail

Canada donating up to $5 million to assist in Beirut explosion response
Federal government agrees to explore 'wearable' COVID-19 device after concerns from Ontario construction union
Ottawa frees up $3.3 billion for provincial efforts to mitigate COVID-19 spread
Derek Sloan tries to be a Canadian Trump  - and that may be his downfall
BC parents decry 'logistical nightmare' of school cohorts of up to 120

Normal class sizes for returning elementary students smacks of wishful planning
Erin O'Toole edges past Conservative leadership rival Peter MacKay in fundraising


CBC

Government carves out $3B to help communities with pandemic infrastructure projects

COVID Alert App could result in some people being ID'd

A record number of companies have sought creditor protection under COVID-19 - and more are on the way

On oilsands, Alberta is still trying to fix yesterday's problems

Toronto Star

Fall plan for schools not perfect, but it's 'best in the country', says Premier Doug Ford

Erin O'Toole's team is going door to door with a photocopier. Here's why

Justin Trudeau promised action 'very soon' to tackle systemic racism. Seven weeks later, where is it?

Canada's Wonderland 'disappointed' it can't open until at least all of Ontario is in Stage 3

Toronto Sun

COVID-19 straining city's shelter system

The future of newspapers has its ever changing challenges

National Post

With school reopening weeks away, there is still plenty of homework to be done, teachers say
Would Europeans come to Canada's aid?
As CFL scrambles to save a 2020 season, the uncertainty of its business has been exposed
Political parties comparing election year highs to pandemic lows to justify getting wage subsidy
The heavy price for quiet skies above


Maclean's

How Canada became an environmental outlier
'As a First Nations MPP in Ontario ... I cannot deny my loneliness'

Out-of-office is the new office. Can the work-from-home boom last?


Global

'We are overwhelmed': International aid needed after Beirut explosion, Vancouver consul says

'We are stuck': After-school care an extra worry for BC parents amid COVID-19
Kids involved in 'scary incidents' near Vancouver homeless camp, councillor says
SFU students want return to pass/fail grades as online classes set to continue
Number ob homeless people in Metro Vancouver rose slightly in pre-pandemic count

Applications for $496M fish harvesters' aid program to open August 24

Miscellaneous                            
       

No Tourism Bailout without job protection for 50,000 Hotel workers, says union

Starving for Old Growth Forests 

There's Good News on Dementia. But it requires big changes to how we live

Vancouver sees slight decrease in homeless population