Monday, November 30, 2020

Victoria Viewpoints: Monday, November 30, 2020




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for    Monday, November 30, 2020 
   

Coronavirus response in BC




Turpel-Lafond Report into racism into BC health care system




Globe and Mail


CBC




Vancouver Sun





Victoria Times-Colonist




Victoria News



Global BC




Georgia Straight


The Tyee


Vancouver Courier


Miscellaneous





Ottawa Observations: Monday, November 30, 2020




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Monday, November 30, 2020


Canadians held in China / China tensions



The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)




The Finance Minister's Statement




Globe and Mail




CBC
    




Toronto Star





Toronto Sun





National Post




Maclean's

--

Global




Miscellaneous                            





At 46, Startling number of deaths brings home urgency for British Columbians to work to knock down rising curve of COVID-19




Even during a period of time such as the last month or so the where the daily accounts make for stark reading, the numbers related to COVID-19 from this weekend were shocking, the first of the review for the weekend the number of souls lost to the coronavirus 46, residents of this province who have passed away in just 72 hours.

The surge in passings coming from the province's Long Term Care facilities and other centres which have suffered some of the greatest tolls from the now near eleven month odyssey.

Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix had the duty of reporting the escalating numbers of concern as part of a briefing held this afternoon.

“Today, we are reporting on three 24-hour periods. From Nov. 27 to 28, we had 750 new cases. From Nov. 28 to 29, we had 731 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 596 new cases. 

We are also reporting 277 historical cases from the Fraser Health region, reconciling a data lag from earlier this month. This represents 2,354 new cases of COVID-19, including 10 epi-linked cases, for a total of 33,238 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 8,855 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 316 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 75 of whom are in intensive care. 

The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. “Currently, 10,139 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 23,111 people who tested positive have recovered. 

There have been 46 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 441 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Across the province, the 1,365 cases recorder over the weekend from Fraser Health continue to dominate the listings, elsewhere in BC the Health authorities reported the following: 368 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 58 in the Island Health region, 212 in the Interior Health region, 73 in the Northern Health region, bringing the total for the Northern Region to 845 cases since January.

One new case of COVID was reported for a person who resides outside of Canada. 

As the numbers continue to rise in all areas of the province, the two top public health officials reaffirmed the need for residents across BC to hold to the measures in place and continue to work to reverse the rising curve of coronavirus we have seen in recent months.

“For the many occasions and daily life activities that we would normally do together, we must stay apart. And despite how difficult this may be, most people in B.C. are doing the right thing. 

People have followed the orders and used the important layers of protection because it is a responsibility we have to each other and our fellow citizens, and is how we show we care. “If you are thinking that it may be okay for you to bend the rules, remember that COVID-19 is a serious, life-threatening illness. 

By choosing to make the exception for yourself, you are not only going against all that we are doing to slow this virus down and putting yourself at risk, but you are also endangering the lives of others. 

We are facing a significant storm surge, which is why, with the start of vaccine availability only a few short weeks away, it is so important for all of us to work together to keep our wall strong, to push back on COVID-19 united and together. 

Remember that you are not alone in your sacrifice; it is our collective effort that makes the difference and will see us through."




The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:


Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, those past advisories  can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

Ottawa Observations

Victoria Viewpoints 








 

Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor reaches new milestone

Work is nearing completion of the Fairview-Ridley Connector
(photo from PRPA)


Work on the highly anticipated Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor has reached a key milestone today, with the dedicated roadway to connect the Fairview Terminal with Ridley Island now 75 percent complete.

The project is considered one of the more important of recent projects in the region for the opportunity it will bring to remove a lot of the container truck traffic that flows through the downtown core. 

Something which PRPA President and CEO Shaun Stevenson made note of as part of his update today.

“The Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor is designed to get trucks off downtown streets, improve safety as we grow, and reduce the environmental impacts of trucking activities in Prince Rupert. We anticipate the changes will cut emissions for each truck trip by about 75 percent.” 


The Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor is a five kilometre road stretching along the southwestern edge of Kaien Island and will be restricted in use to only Port activities. 

In the update provided by the port, officials noted that:

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, crews from the Coast Tsimshian Northern Contractors Alliance, a local First Nations joint venture, have safely worked 24-hours a day on rotating shifts to build this critical piece of infrastructure. 

In addition to nearly completing dredging work, teams have placed rock along the full length of the road, with one third now at sub-grade elevation and ready for the paving structure. 

The project remains on track for completion in Q2 2021. 

The $115 million Connector Corridor project will be fully activated when DP World’s Fairview Terminal expansion is completed in 2022. This will enable container truck traffic to be rerouted away from public roads to the new Port Authority-owned route, which will reduce the journey from 20 kilometres to 5 kilometres.

(Video courtesy of Prince Rupert Port Authority)


The new roadway will also service what will be  an expanded footprint on Ridley Island with a number of projects about to come online south of Kaien Island.

As part of their notes on the status of the road, the Port observed as to how it will be a key element to some of that development.

The Connector Corridor is integral to the sustainable growth of Prince Rupert’s intermodal ecosystem, and will create new supply chain efficiencies through the development of logistics services, like the Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform and South Kaien Import Logistics Park. 

These projects will generate new jobs and economic advantages for local communities and First Nations, as well as reduce the impact of port operations on the environment. 


For further notes on Port development see our archive page here.

Former Recreation Director with City of Prince Rupert moves into Employment and training role with Gitxaala Nation


A few months ago David Geronazzo was walking around the Prince Rupert Civic Centre looking to move the city's return to normal use plans for the Recreation facilities forward, however as summer has moved into fall, Mr. Geronazzo has seemingly moved along as well.

With the Former Director of Recreation and Community Services now shifting roles and taking on the duties as the Director of Educating Training and Employment for the Gitxaala Nation.



His new focus that of assisting members of the Nation to transition towards many of the new employment opportunities that are arriving on the North Coast. 

The Gitxaala Nation has embarked a range of training programs and joint ventures which you can learn more about through their Facebook page and website.

Mr. Geronazzo joined the staff of the North Coast Indigenous Nation in October of this year after spending three years in the employ of the City of Prince Rupert; previously he had worked in the Recreation field in Burns Lake.

As for his previous job, the City posted the Director of Recreation and Community Services job opportunity to the City of Prince Rupert website in mid September.

So far, the City has not announced if they have found a successful applicant to fill the post, which would appear to have now been vacant for over two months.

For more notes on the City's employment themes see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.


School District staffers gain valuable insights from Friday's info sessions


Prince Rupert's Teachers and Educational assistants had a wealth of opportunities to gain insights on a number of themes on Friday, as SD52 hosted a range of workshops provided through the Learning Services Department.

With Friday listed as a Non-Instructional day for the students, the teachers and staff found much to take in as part of the ongoing learning that they were offered access to.

From new strategies in math, to evaluating Indigenous resources, sharing strategies on engaging students in reading and offer some guideposts towards resource material the day provided for a great learning experience for many of the SD52 staff members.

Some of the day was relayed through the School District 52 Twitter Feed which provided a glimpse into some of the day's activities for the local educators.



For more notes on Education across the Northwest see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Prince Rupert/Port Edward signatures missing from collective call from municipalities to Premier Horgan to remember Northern Communities


A coalition of municipal governments from across the province, but with a heavy input from Northern British Columbia have welcomed the new mandate for the NDP government of John Horgan, while at the same time urging him to remember the needs of northern and rural communities.

But while there are a range of familiar names included as signatories to the document, missing it seems is any contribution from the North Coast, with neither the Mayor of the City of Prince Rupert or that of the District of Port Edward included in the document.

The project which was put together by the organization Resource Works notes how resource-reliant communities are calling on the Premier to remember how natural resources hold the key to economic recovery during the ongoing issues of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter which was signed by Terrace Mayor Carole Leclerc, and Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth from the Northwest has five key points to make, asking Mr. Horgan and his new cabinet to take the following actions:

Move quickly to enable shovel-ready projects to proceed; 

Send the right messages to international investors to ensure that B.C.’s most resilient industries can succeed in uncertain global investment conditions; 

Recognize in your economic planning the unique advantage of globally carbon-competitive exports from B.C.’s resource-based industries; 

Put workers and communities first as your government delivers on its campaign commitments; 

Ensure that any new regulations affecting the ability to deliver on the first four pillars during the pandemic recovery period are considered carefully.

The full letter was published in the Vancouver Sun on November 20th, with the Mayors that participated in the Dear John letter, noting how as resource supporting communities they will work with the NDP government to achieve some shared ambitions.

While you bring together your new cabinet to take on major challenges like the pandemic recovery, presenting an effective response to climate change and the important work of First Nations reconciliation, we, as the mayors of resource-supporting communities around the province, want you to be assured that you will have our support in the work that is ahead. 

 We welcome the opportunity to share with you and your colleagues our thoughts on how the voices of resource communities can be heard around the cabinet table and in your re-elected government’s mandate.

You can review the full text of the letter here.

The letter is part of a public awareness campaign launched by Resources Works, which includes a public petition for residents of all communities in the province to deliver a message to the new government as they prepare to take on their first full term as a majority government.

You can learn more about the petition and sign on if you wish here.

Further notes on what Resource Works is all about can be reviewed here.

Last week, Premier Horgan introduced the team that will shepherd his plans through the Legilsature, you can review who made the cut and what job they have been assigned here.

Of those named to their posts on Thursday, the themes of the Resource Works/Northern Mayors project should be of some note for Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen.

Mr. Cullen was assigned the post of Minister of State for Land and Natural Resource Operations, which will put him in frequent contact with many of those who signed the document earlier this month.

More notes on the Provincial government and its work out of Victoria can be found here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Public asked to avoid City Hall if possible and use online options; that as City of Prince Rupert ramps up COVID measures

The City of Prince Rupert has added to its ongoing advice when it comes to its response to COVID-19, posting a message on the Civic Facebook page on Friday that has asked the public to avoid arriving at City Hall if at all possible and to use the online options that are available.

In light of the continued spread of COVID-19 and Provincial Orders in place, now more than ever we are asking residents and customers to consider their online or call-in options for payments. There are a number of simple ways to avoid coming to City Hall.

The new measures and requests from City Hall come following the expansion of a number of Provincial Orders earlier this month, as the province looks to try and knock down the current rising curve of COVID-19 infection in the province.

A quest that so far is proving daunting, with increases in all areas of the province including areas of the Northern Health Authority region.

The last update from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control was revealed mid November,  noting that as of the end of October indicated that the Prince Rupert area had seen just five confirmed cases of COVID since January.

If they follow with their past practice, the next update from the BC CDC is expected to be released sometime in early to mid December.

The Full statement related to the latest steps for City Hall measures is as follows.


The request for a lot more social distance comes just ahead of what is normally a two-week Civic shutdown, with the City reducing all of their activity and access to staff for the community over the Christmas and New Years Holiday period.

While they haven't outlined what those dates are yet, last year the City closed its doors on December 23rd and re-opened on January 2.

You can find updates from the City through the website and Facebook page.

For more notes on civic themes see our City Council Discussion archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Victoria Viewpoints: Saturday/Sunday, November 28 & 29, 2020




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for   Saturday, November 28 7 29, 2020 
   

Coronavirus response in BC




Globe and Mail

--

CBC



Vancouver Sun




Victoria Times-Colonist



Victoria News



Global BC




Georgia Straight




The Tyee






Vancouver Courier

--

Miscellaneous





Ottawa Observations: Saturday/Sunday, November 28 & 29, 2020




Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Federal scene for  Saturday/Sunday, November 28 & 29, 2020


Canadians held in China / China tensions




The Global Coronavirus (COVID-19)



Globe and Mail




CBC
    


Toronto Star



Toronto Sun


National Post



Maclean's

--

Global



Miscellaneous