Between the lockdown and the cancellation of Pride, the Church and Wellesley community, endangered even before COVID-19, may not recover. LGBTQ2S performers, artists, servers, creators and other workers have been particularly hard hit. If our stores, cafes, restaurants and bars close permanently, we will lose an essential, life-saving network for LGBTQ2S youths, now and in the future. When I was a struggling teenager, bullied in school and often lonely, knowing the community was there was a lifeline for me, even if I was too young to go to bars and had to settle on a Starbucks coffee. I was lucky. For me, "it got better." But LGBTQ2S young people are still struggling, and we've seen an increase in hate crimes during the pandemic. Canada and Toronto in particular are recognized as a beacon for LGBTQ2S rights. Toronto Pride is rightfully known around the world, contributing millions to the local economy. Prime Minister, we appreciate that you have marched in the parade and shown your support. But every year, the village shrinks, with queer-opened businesses and venues closing and our once-vibrant community fading. Now is the time for action, before our neighbourhood disappears forever. Please, we need a Rainbow Emergency Fund now.

Paramedics in BC are not considered essential service. This is an outrage. Today PM Trudeau announced a wage increase. Please help our paramedics receive the support they deserve as they put their lives and loved ones on the line to perform daily an unrecognized essential service.

The oilsands have not stopped. Regulations for them should not stop. The Indigenous community has much of its water supply being put at risk. The Alberta Energy Regulator has relieved Imperial Oil, Syncrude, Suncor and Canadian Natural Resources of the responsibility to meet environmental monitoring conditions in their operating licences. This is devastating for the environment and for the people of Northern Alberta, especially the Indigenous community. There was no effort to consult the First Nations community is anyway. This is unacceptable.

Es importante para el país porque se podría regularizar el tipo de vida de esas personas que no cuentan con un SIN y un seguro médico en este país, una vez las personas ya regularizadas podrían trabajar y pagar impuestos en este país ya que necesita mucho trabajo y necesita mucho apoyo cuando todo esto de COVID-19 acabe, por favor ayúdenos somos muchos y necesitamos estar estables en un país tan grande y de tantas oportunidades.

Instagram is deleting sex positive pages. There are also multiple reports of instagram automatically making people unfollow accounts that are “controversial” and teach body and sex positivity. They do this without either users consent or knowledge. Instagram is infringing on freedom of speech of the users to post things that are within guidelines. It is targeting accounts run by women that focus on sex positivity and education. Instagram is making users unfollow these accounts without their consent or knowledge.

This vulnerable group moved from their foreign countries, most through the Federal Skilled Workers program, and have been surviving on finite savings to pay rent, buy food, afford transportation, medication, and other needs. Most were in the process of applying for jobs and attending job interviews when the pandemic occurred, and are now unable to find employment due to hiring freezes. They are unable to even return to their home countries consequent of border closures. The government to date has extended the CERB to include many, most recently 9Billion for students whose employment prospects have worsened.

As nicer weather is approaching many people in our city do not have adequate space near their homes to be outside safely. Many other cities around the world have taken the step of limiting car traffic to make more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement. “Closing roads means opening up our city. It gives our residents the opportunity to get outside and walk, bicycle, or run through their neighbourhoods and get around in a safer way.” Many of us in Toronto are having to walk in active car lanes in order to stay 6 feet apart from others. Cycling is an excellent way of staying physically distant but more safe spaces are needed for cyclists, especially children. Getting daily exercise shouldn't mean taking your life in your hands, even during a pandemic.

I would suggest this affects millions of Canadians. In a time where money is getting very tight for consumers and food is more important than making a loan payment the banks should be prevented from profiting from the disaster.

Manitoba First Nations leadership requested earlier last year that a Cuban team of medical specialists in treating pandemics be allowed to come to isolated communities there to buttress sporadic health coverage. That request was quickly and publicly rejected by Deputy Prime Minister Freeland. This rejection by Canada came as the U.S. government issued a warning to countries not to accept Covid-19 professional medical help from Cuba. Canada needs to stand up now and publicly recognize the remarkable role that the small country of Cuba is playing internationally by contributing some 54 teams of trained doctors, nurses and technicians (an estimated 4,000 medical personnel) to the global fight against Covid-19 in 40 countries on four continents. This petition asks that the Canadian government move quickly to invite a Cuban health team to combat the resurgence of COVID-19 over the coming months of 2021, and that our government officially recognize Cuba's medical internationalism at the United Nations. PS: Canadian academic John Kirk, backed by eminent Canadians and several national organizations, has submitted a Nomination for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for the international work being done during COVID-19 by the Cuban Health Teams. For more information on the Nomination initiative see 'Campaign web site' below.

The COVID-19 crisis means that more people than ever are relying on support from the government to help us pay rent, and keep food on the table. But most people in Ontario who receive social assistance aren’t eligible for the new $2000 a month Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) — they’re expected to get by on as little as $650 a month. This is important so that homeless ODSP and OW clients have a shot at renting somewhere to live at average market rent since affordable, subsidized, rent geared to income housing is unavailable at this time and may be unavailable for the next 10 to 20 years due to a huge waiting list and zero vacancies. Clients need to eat as well as pay rent and since clients would still have to dip into their Basic Needs Allowances to cover rent because even doubling the Shelter Allowance still won't cover all of the rent at today's prices. Needed meds and other things not covered by the MSN forms have to be paid for out if Basic Needs and some of these items are very expensive, like medical cannabis, so along with needing healthy food a huge increase is called for here as well.

We are living in a world where our government attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19 by suspending Charter freedoms of association, religion and peaceful assembly, and the rights to mobility, liberty and security of the person. Alberta residents share the following concerns with the Justice Centre and its litigators: The Justice Centre’s concerns regarding Bill 10: 1. It provides sweeping and extraordinary powers to any...single politician [to] write, create, implement and enforce any new law, simply through ministerial order, without the new law being discussed, scrutinized, debated or approved by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. 2. There is no clear limitation as to how long [the] restrictions and new laws can continue. 3. The new law can be made retroactive to the time when the public health emergency was declared. 4. The maximum penalty for contravening the Public Health Act from $2,000 to $100,000 (1st offence) and from $5,000 to $500,000 (2nd offence). Jay Cameron’s, Litigation Manager for the Justice Centre, concerns with Bill 10: 1. “Albertans have a constitutional right to have their elected representatives involved in the making of new laws, especially the making of laws which dramatically infringe on their own civil liberties.” 2. “This concentration of power in one individual, without meaningful accountability, opens the door for widespread abuse of civilians.” John Carpay, President of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms has stated that, “Under our Constitution, Canada’s federal and provincial governments can take steps to try to control an unmanageable spread of Covid-19. But any restrictions on Charter rights and freedoms must be proportionate, rooted in the proper context... and balanced against the profound destruction to Canada’s economy and social fabric, and all of the suffering that government measures now inflict on Canadians.” Carpay has also described the repercussions of our government’s decisions as such, “Inflicting unemployment on millions of Canadians, as governments are now doing, means that less money will be available to run our healthcare systems, leading to more deaths in the long run. Rising unemployment and bankruptcies, with millions of Canadians suffering a massive loss of income, will lead to mental and physical health problems, more suicides and more domestic violence. Social isolation means depriving Canadians of healthy social interactions, likewise resulting in more mental and physical health problems, and resultant deaths.” Carpay ultimately stated, “that the ‘just trust us’ [approach] will not satisfy a court if a federal, provincial or municipal restriction is challenged for violating Charter rights and freedoms. Rather, the Charter places the onus on the government to demonstrate a justification for its violations of rights and freedoms.”

Retraité de 72 ans et citoyen actif, j'avais réintégré le marché du travail à temps partiel. Depuis la décision de Monsieur Legault, je me sens exclu de la société. Êtes-vous plusieurs à penser comme moi? Notre pays n'a-t-il pas besoin de personnes de 70 ans expérimentées et de bonne volonté ? Le plus nous aurons de signatures, plus la demande adressée à Monsieur Legault de modifier l'âge à 75 ans aura de poids.