Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada

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Number of cases (blue) and number of deaths (orange) on a logarithmic scale.

This the following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

December 2019[edit]

On December 31, 2019 the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission in China, reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A novel coronavirus was eventually identified.

January 2020[edit]

January 1, 2020 the WHO set up the IMST (Incident Management Support Team) across all three levels of the organization: headquarters, regional headquarters and country level, putting the organization on an emergency footing for dealing with the outbreak.[1]

On January 7, 2020, when it appeared that there was a health crisis emerging in Wuhan, Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, was quoted advising Canadians: "There has been no evidence to date that this illness, whatever it's caused by, is spread easily from person to person; no health care workers caring for the patients have become ill; a positive sign.

January 13 a person in Thailand is the first patient outside of China is confirmed to have COVID.[1]

On January 17, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) indicated plans were in progress "to implement signage" in the Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver airports to raise awareness of the virus, and that there would be an additional health screening question added to the electronic kiosks for passengers arriving from central China. The agency noted the overall risk to Canadians was low and there were no direct flights from Wuhan to Canada. The CBSA said it would not be, at that time, implementing extra screening measures, but would "monitor the situation closely".[2][3]

On January 23, the federal Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu, said that five or six people were being monitored for signs of the virus.[4][5] That same day, Dr. Theresa Tam was a member of the WHO committee that broadcast that it was too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern. The following day in Wuhan China construction began on a new hospital to treat COVID patients that would take only 10 days to build and was widely reported around the world.[6]

On January 25, the first identified presumptive case in Canada was a male in his 50s who travelled between Wuhan and Guangzhou before returning to Toronto on January 22.[7][8] Canada issued a travel advisory against non-essential travel to China due to the outbreak, including a regional travel advisory to avoid all travel to the province of Hubei.[9] Federal health officials stated that the risk in Canada was low.[10] On January 26, Tam stated "There is no clear evidence that this virus is spread easily from person to person. The risk to Canadians remains low."[11] Final testing conducted at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba confirmed the presumptive case on January 27.[12] On January 27, Canada confirmed its first case. On January 29, Dr. Theresa Tam told Canadians that "It's going to be rare (COVID-19), but we are expecting cases."

On January 29, Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne announced that an aircraft would be sent to repatriate Canadians from the areas affected by the virus in China.[13]

On January 30, the WHO declared the coronavirus was a "public health emergency of international concern".[14]

February 2020[edit]

On February 1, the government's position remained that it would be discriminatory to exclude travellers from China, the politico-geographical source of the disease.[15][16]

On February 2, the Canadian Armed Forces announced that it planned to charter a plane to assist in the evacuation of Canadian nationals still in Wuhan once given authorization by China, intending to fly them to CFB Trenton for repatriation and medical screenings. Only those that had entered the country with a Canadian passport would be allowed to take this flight.[17] The first plane landed at CFB Trenton on February 7.[18] On February 21, a chartered flight of 131 Canadians who were quarantined aboard Diamond Princess after an outbreak on the cruise ship in Japan, and who all tested negative for the virus, were brought to CFB Trenton for additional screening before being transported by bus to the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ontario to be quarantined.[19]

On February 3, at a time when the US and Australia had excluded foreigners who travelled from China, Hajdu denounced "the spread of misinformation and fear across Canadian society" and called on the opposition to "not sensationalize the risk to Canadians",[15][16] while Tam endorsed the position by the World Health Organization, which "advises against any kind of travel and trade restrictions, saying that they are inappropriate and could actually cause more harm than good in terms of our global effort to contain" the disease.[15]

On February 10th, University of Regina psychology professor Dr. Gordon J. G. Asmundson and University of British Columbia psychiatry professor Dr. Steven Taylor coined the neologism ‘coronaphobia’ to refer to fear of COVID-19 and its psychological impacts.[20] In an editorial,[21] Asmundson and Taylor expanded on COVID-19-related mental health impacts by introducing the constructs of COVID Stress Syndrome[22][23] and ‘COVID Stress Disorder’.[21] Per Asmundson and Taylor’s definition, COVID Stress Syndrome centers around fears about contamination and the dangerousness of COVID-19, and also involves fears of socioeconomic consequences, xenophobic attitudes, traumatic stress, and compulsive checking and reassurance seeking symptoms.[22][23] COVID Stress Disorder involves high levels of COVID Stress symptoms and severe functional impairment resulting from these symptoms.[21] COVID Stress Disorder is proposed by Asmundson and Taylor as a distinct diagnostic category as COVID Stress symptoms and the associated impairment cannot be accounted for by existing mental disorder diagnoses.

On February 26, Hajdu recommended that citizens stockpile food and medication, noting that it was "good to be prepared because things can change quickly [in any emergency]."[24] The recommendation faced criticism from politicians: Manitoba health minister Cameron Friesen and Ontario health minister Christine Elliott both felt that there was no need for such aggressive stockpiling, while Friesen also felt that there needed to be more coordination between the federal and provincial levels in terms of information regarding the outbreak.[25][26] Conservative Party shadow minister Matt Jeneroux opined that the suggestion incited concern and was lacking in transparency. Health Canada's website recommended against such bulk purchases (as to not strain supply chains), and explained that having supplies on hand was to "ensure you do not need to leave your home at the peak of the outbreak or if you become ill."[26][27]

March 2020[edit]

A highway sign on the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto discouraging non-essential travel
Shelves void of meat in a Regina supermarket as a result of panic buying

On March 4, 2020, Trudeau announced his creation of the Cabinet Committee on the federal response to the coronavirus disease, chaired by Chrystia Freeland, "to limit the spread of the virus" and to protect "the health and safety of all Canadians".[28]

Hajdu announced on March 6 that the federal government would offer $27 million in funding to 47 research groups at 19 universities to develop means of managing the outbreak. Minister of Finance Bill Morneau stated that the next federal budget would include measures in response to the outbreak, including an increase to the risk adjustment provision.[29][30][31]

On March 8, Champagne stated that at the request of the U.S. government, Canada had chartered a EuroAtlantic passenger airplane to evacuate the 237 citizens that were still aboard the cruise ship Grand Princess. They were quarantined at CFB Trenton for two weeks when the plane landed on March 10.[32][33]

Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather announced on March 9 that he was undergoing self-isolation as a precautionary measure due to possible contact with a person at an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington.[34] The next day, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O'Regan stated that he was also in self-isolation while awaiting the results of a coronavirus test. He had seen a doctor regarding a "persistent" head cold, who recommended testing, but was "not aware of contacting anyone infected".[35] The test came back negative.[36]

On March 11, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $1 billion response fund, including $500 million to go to provinces and territories, a $50 million contribution to the World Health Organization and an additional $275 million to fund COVID-19 research in Canada.[37] Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Mélanie Joly stated that she had been discussing means of mitigating the outbreak's impact on the air travel industry.[38]

Also on March 11, the WHO declared the existence of a global pandemic.[14]

On March 12, after returning from a speaking engagement in London, England, Trudeau's wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau tested positive for COVID-19. She and the Prime Minister went into self-isolation.[39][40][41] The staff member is now thought to be Canada's first case of community transmission.[42]

On March 13, Trudeau announced that the federal government was preparing a stimulus package to address those affected by the pandemic.[43]

Also on March 13, Parliament agreed unanimously to shut its doors for five weeks (pursuant to Standing Order 28) because of COVID-19.[44]

On March 16, Trudeau announced that new entry restrictions would be implemented shortly after midnight ET on March 18, restricting entry into the country to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and their immediate families. The United States was excepted from this policy but on March 18 travellers from the United States were also banned in a mutual agreement with the US government (with exceptions in place for family members, for essential employees who commute across the border and for to ensure continued exchange of goods). Most international flights were routed to Canada's an arbitrary selection of four airports (YVR, YYC, YYZ, and YUL) in order "to enhance screening measures". Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne also announced that for citizens who are still abroad, the country would provide emergency loans of up to $5,000 to cover travel costs or basic needs until they are able to return.[45][46]

On March 24, 35 members of parliament met in order to discuss Bill C-13, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act. To maintain social distancing in the face of the highly contagious respiratory illness, only 35 of the 338 members of the House of Commons convened to debate the legislation.[47] The Commons agreed "to see the application of Standing Order 17 (sic) suspended for the current sitting to allow (its) members the practice of social distancing."[48]

Meanwhile, Dr. Theresa Tam was quoted as saying regarding Canadians' need to wear face masks: "most people haven't learned how to use masks" and "there is no need to use a mask for well people."[49]

On March 28, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau announced her full recovery and thanked her well-wishers via social media.[50][51]

The unemployment figures for the month of March were that the economy had shed 1,000,000 jobs, pushing the official jobless rate to 7.8 percent.[52]

April 2020[edit]

Vancouver, British Columbia during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 19.

On April 2, Trudeau said that he foresaw the expiry of the COVID-19 crisis to occur only in July.[53]

On April 6, Trudeau introduced extra aid for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), saying "there are groups of people who aren't benefiting from [it] who probably should."[54][55]

Also on April 6, the CPHO of Canada advised the use of a "non-medical face mask when shopping or using public transit" because "A non-medical mask can reduce the chance of your respiratory droplets coming into contact with others or land[ing] on surfaces". Tam offered advice on how to use "a cotton shirt combined with rubber bands" to create a DIY non-medical face mask.[56]

On April 9, the federal government released modelling that, even with strong public health measures, showed between 11,000 and 22,000 deaths over the course of the pandemic, with that number being closer to 300,000 deaths if no measures had been taken.[57] Trudeau warned that "normality as it was before will not come back full-on until we get a vaccine for this", and that residents would "have to remain vigilant for at least a year."[58][59]

The same day, Trudeau sent a letter to the provincial and territorial premiers to consult about invoking the Emergencies Act.[60] While consultation with the provinces is a required step before the Act can be triggered, the Prime Minister's Office said there was no present plan to enact it and that doing so remained a last resort.[61][62] On a conference call between Trudeau and the premiers later that day, the premiers communicated their unanimous opposition to invoking the Act.[63][64]

On April 10, the RCMP disclosed it has been asked to enforce the Quarantine Act, 2005. Penalties for violations can include a fine of up to $750,000 and imprisonment for six months.[65] One reporter said that the RCMP "could enter homes to enforce Quarantine Act orders if Canadians don't self-isolate... [and] will do physical checks to enforce it."[66] It was reported that the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Medical Intelligence Cell (MEDINT) has submitted reports on the outbreak in Wuhan since January 2020.[67]

On April 11, Parliament re-convened to pass Bill C-14: COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, No. 2, and thereby adopt the CEWS. As with the previous siting on March 24, 35 MPs stood in for the full complement of 338 members due to the need for COVID-19 social distancing. Government briefing notes detailed "a bureaucracy reluctant to put inbound China passengers in mandatory quarantine or close borders to arrivals from other (COVID-19) hotspots." Yves-François Blanchet supported Trudeau when he "raised health and safety concerns over holding regular meetings (in order) to respect physical distancing".[68] All that was needed to debate and to pass the bill to spend $73 billion were five hours.[69]

On April 15, Trudeau warned against premature reopening of the economy, stating that "in order to get to that point, we need to continue doing what we are doing now for many more weeks".[70]

Anti-lockdown protest in Vancouver on April 26.

On April 20, Parliament's temporary suspension for five weeks expired[71] and it voted, over the objections of Andrew Scheer's Conservative Party of Canada, by a 22-15 margin to sit only once weekly on Wednesdays for as long as Trudeau can convince the nation that the coronavirus poses a grave health and safety risk.[72]

On April 28, it was revealed that "79 percent of all deaths in the country" were to that date connected with "long-term care and seniors' homes."[73][74]

On April 30, the Parliamentary Budget Officer warned that the Federal deficit for fiscal year 2020 could be in excess of $252 billion, as Canadians of every stripe rushed for the lifeboats.[75] Robyn Urback issued from her column in The Globe and Mail a blistering attack on Trudeau's Cabinet, entitled "Canadians have been gaslit on China".[76] Also on April 30, the City of Ottawa allowed the Muslims an exemption on the noise bylaw that allowed them to use modern loudspeaker technology to amplify a five-minute recording of their call to worship because of the blanket ban on freedom of assembly during the coronavirus crisis. This followed similar exemptions in Toronto and Mississauga.[77]

May 2020[edit]

Shelves void of disinfectant and sanitizer in a Canadian supermarket.

On May 1, 2020, royal assent was granted to Bill C-15, to implement the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), after a cursory one-day consideration by 35 MPs. It established a subsidy programme for secondary school graduates and post-secondary students.[78] Students who cannot find employment or are unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for CA$1,250 per month from May through August 2020.[79]

On May 1, it came to light that Shanker Nesathurai, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) for Haldimand County and Norfolk County both of which lie on the shores of Lake Erie, had issued an order under the provincial Health Protection and Promotion Act which reads:[80]

You are not permitted to occupy your secondary residence within [my jurisdiction], which includes a rented cottage, vacation home, beach house, chalet, and/or condominium... You are not permitted to allow anyone else to occupy your Secondary Residence within [my jurisdiction].

Norfolk County Council was told that in order to remove the CMOH would require a two-thirds vote from Council along with approval from the provincial government.[80]

On May 4, Trudeau discouraged Canadians from displaying complacency due to the lifting of economic restrictions by provinces, emphasizing that it was "extremely important" for citizens to continue practicing social distancing and personal hygiene to prevent the spread, and not go out "unless you absolutely have to". He explained that although the country was on a "positive trajectory", "we are not out of the woods, however, and it requires us to continue to remain attentive and vigilant and following the instructions set out by our public health officials."[81]

On May 5, it came to light that the mayor of Huron-Kinloss township by Lake Huron in March 2020 ordered water service to seasonal properties shut off. Carling Township ordered its boat launch facility to remain closed, thus preventing access to anyone who needs it, including seasonal residents. Cottage-country mayors pleaded with the government of Ontario to legislate or somehow else to accept responsibility for their fate. In a memo circulated to his subordinate medical officers of health, Dr. David Williams was frightened by the advice of CMOH Nesathurai and said that[82]

My current recommendation is to not prohibit access to secondary residences through legal order, but to continue to provide communications that discourage their use.

Premier Doug Ford weighed in and said that he would not take responsibility:

You have to give a little leniency. If you put down the hammer and say you just aren't coming, well, people aren't going to listen. Be prepared, people are coming up on May 24.

Also on May 5, the Canadian red meat industry was granted access to federal COVID emergency subsidies.[83]

On May 6, columnist Rex Murphy voiced criticism of what he called the "Liberal Government at the Bottom of the Cottage Doorsteps" (LGBCD). The LGBCD bestowed $850 million to an "international fund to research COVID-19." He questioned why this sum and not another, and pointed out that "Canada has top scientists and physicians itself". Murphy described this new form of government, in which such questions are avoided, as[84]

a pure dream of a government, one without opposition, free to gush money wherever it wishes, in whatever amounts it chooses, to whomever it favours. All executed during what is called a "morning briefing." Which consists of its leader (Justin Trudeau) appearing, alone, making announcements of huge amounts of money to be fired off in all directions, to an attentive and dutiful press gallery, all under a plastic or canvas tent in front of Rideau Cottage, on the grounds of the Governor General’s residence.

It came to light on May 8 that 60 percent of COVID-19 fatalities were in Quebec, which has around 20 percent of the nation's population. Montreal was called "the epicentre of the pandemic in Canada."[85] Also on May 8 the Quebec government was unhappy with the federal CESB programme, because the $1,250-per-month-per-capita subsidy would hinder the ability of the province to attract student labour to the province's farms, in the absence of foreign agricultural workers who cannot travel to Quebec because the international frontiers have been closed by the federal government.[85]

On May 11, Trudeau, Morneau and Bains in a press conference said that "a bridge financing facility for large employers that need help to get through the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus." One stated goal was "to avoid bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms wherever possible... Companies that use the lending facility will have to commit to respect collective bargaining agreements, protecting workers’ pensions, and support national climate goals. Rules on access to the money will place limits on dividends, share buy-backs and executive pay."[86][87] The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) will only target companies with annual revenues in excess of $300 million.[87]

It came to light on May 11 that problems at an oil sands plant in Kearl Lake, Alberta caused more than 100 COVID-19 illnesses across four provinces. Kearl Lake has more than 1,400 workers. The oil sands sector was declared an essential service by the Alberta government so that fly-in fly-out camps like Kearl Lake have continued to operate during the pandemic. Workers come from afar, typically for two week non-stop shifts. On April 15, Alberta Health Services declared an outbreak with three cases of the illness. On April 16, there were 12 cases. On May 8, the number of cases exceeded 100, including 23 located in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia because the shift work allows interprovincial commuters to thrive. "At least three went back to the community of La Loche in Saskatchewan's remote north. More than 130 people have since been infected with the contagion in the Dene village of 2,800 people, about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Two have died." Two-week self-isolation policies were erected on April 19 by the away provinces.[88]

On May 12, Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux raised the possibility that the federal debt "will hit $1 trillion because of pandemic relief spending." Giroux said it was possible that pandemic programs could cost "more than what the entire federal government spent last year on everything", roughly $338 billion.[89] Also on May 12, it was announced by Minister of International Development Karina Gould that $600 million would be contributed by the taxpayer to GAVI, "a vaccine alliance that improves vaccine access for vulnerable children around the world."[90]

Also on May 12, Health Canada issued a press release with the announcement that the CCITF serological test would be administered to one million Canadians over the next two years. The government has selected DiaSorin to manufacture the tests.[91]

On May 13, it was disclosed that while in the quarantine system imposed by the government of British Columbia on international arrivals, eight farm workers out of 1,500 had tested positive for COVID-19 disease. The province started allowing imported farmhands in April and is the only province to implement mandatory quarantine. Ontario has had dozens of cases with imported farmhands. In the west, "if the new arrivals have no symptoms when they land, they are sent to hotels near Vancouver International Airport. The province is paying for the rooms, food service and worker support costs during the 14-day self-isolation period. During that time, employers are responsible for paying their temporary foreign workers for a minimum 30 hours a week, at the hourly rate that they would make while working. As well, farm operators are required to demonstrate proof of an infection control plan with the Ministry of Agriculture. So far, 219 farms have submitted health plans online, and 133 inspections have been completed to make sure farms are safely equipped and organized to manage COVID-19 risks."[92]

On May 14, the Globe and Mail Editorial Board endorsed restrictive measures on international travellers patterned on those implemented in the HKSAR.[93] while the Lufthansa Group announced it would resume flights between Toronto and Frankfurt as of June 3,[94] as part of its resumption of global business.[95] Also on May 14, Sean Fine observed that Section 6 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms enshrines mobility rights, such as "the right to enter, remain in and leave the country; citizens and permanent residents may move to, pursue work and reside anywhere in the country."[96]

On May 15, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer told a press conference that the Conservative caucus wanted Parliament to resume sitting as normal on May 25 and desired to withhold their consent to the 35-day rolling adjournment that prevents the regular operation of Parliament. Scheer observed that "Elected members of Parliament come here to be a voice for their constituents." Because all-party consent is required to suspend the animation of Parliament, it will need to resume sitting.[97][98]

On May 19 it came to light during a press conference with Trudeau and Tam that the 20th week of 2020 versus the same figures in 2019 saw a drop of 88 percent in land border crossers, and a 98 percent drop in international air travel.[99] The following day CPHO Tam reversed her decision from March on the wearing of masks and began asking Canadians to start wearing masks.

On May 20, a resident of Nova Scotia who was barred from attending her mother's funeral in Newfoundland gave notice to the province of her intent to sue in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court because she felt that her rights under Section 6 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms had been violated, and that provinces cannot enforce bans because they have no enumerated powers to do so.[100]

On May 21, it came to light that the Canadian Armed Forces, who had been tasked previously in Operation LASER with care for the senior citizens in the Long-Term Care Facilities of Ontario and Quebec had potentially been victimised by a COVID-19 SSEV. The disease affected 25 soldiers as of this date, but neither the CAF nor the DND would divulge details.[101]

On May 22, Minister of Health Patty Hajdu interrupted a line of questions to the CPHO from an opposition MP because he was probing why the National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS) had been underfunded while Canadians showered hundreds of times more money abroad. In 2006, Dr Theresa Tam, who was later to become the CPHO, was a lead author for the CPIP document. The 2006 report advises that there be a 16-week stockpile of medical supplies in the NESS to cover two pandemic waves.[102]

On May 25, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence Anita Vandenbeld disclosed to the third sitting of the resumed 43rd Canadian Parliament that 36 soldiers from Operation LASER had been infected with COVID-19 disease. Vandenbeld corrected for the record Cheryl Gallant who had been under the mistaken impression that only 28 soldiers (12 positives in Ontario and 16 in Quebec) had been infected.[103] Also on that day, Doug Ford announced that Ontario had a heat map of the outbreak locations, and that Brampton, north Etobicoke, Scarborough, Peel Region, Windsor and Essex County were "lighting up like Christmas trees". It was disclosed that Toronto-area public health units account for 65% of cases in Ontario. [104]

The next day, it was disclosed that the Ontario OpLASER LTCFs suffered in human resources from a form of disrepair, decay and dilapidation. The DND chose this day to release a letter by Brigadier-General CJJ Mialkowski dated May 14 in which he reported the unvarnished truth as he and his soldiers found it. The five Ontario OpLASER LCTFs were:[105]

June 2020[edit]

On June 18, 2020, Canada reached 100,000 coronavirus cases,[106] a little over three months since the suspension of Parliament for the same reason. A CBC News tally of reported deaths from COVID-19 on the same date was 8,348.[107]

On June 24, Fitch Ratings Inc., a bond ratings agency, downgraded Canada's credit rating from triple-A to double-A-plus. The government had sported a triple-A credit rating with Fitch since the Martin government.[108]

On June 25, former Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada Michael Wernick predicted that the one of the side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic would be the shrinkage of the number of paid civil servants of Canada. He drew analogies to the debt problem in the 1980s which led "to a 1995 austerity budget that saw 45,000 public service jobs slashed, the elimination of 73 federal agencies, a 21 percent reduction in foreign aid and the privatization of Canadian National Railways." Wernick said that:[109]

One of the consequences of all this work from home experience is that ministers will figure out it really doesn't matter where those public servants are, they can be brought together for work teams and projects... The federal service, it will be smaller, it will be less concentrated in Ottawa.

On June 28, it was remarked in light of the March 18 COVID-19 closure of the Canada-US border,[15] that the CBSA was practiced at separating common-law couples who could provide no documentary evidence (e.g. housing rental contracts or mortgage documents) of their joint residence. David Poon, a 34 year old medical doctor from Regina, was one of the victims of this policy and started the 1,600-strong organization Advocacy for Family Reunification at the Canadian Border because[110]

As the world gets more scary and more difficult, the one thing they wish is to embrace their partner.

July 2020[edit]

The western provinces reported a surge in cases around the middle of July. Ontario reported 203 new cases in one day, Quebec reported 180 new cases in 24 hours, Alberta reported 368 new cases over the weekend, and Saskatchewan reported 120 in a previous week.[111]

August 2020[edit]

An employee at The Brass Rail strip club in Toronto tested positive for COVID-19 after working on four days, potentially exposing about 550 people to the illness.[112]

On August 26, a 72 year-old New Zealand mariner named Peter Smith was threatened by Transport Canada as his Kiwi Roa sailed through the Northwest Passage, because the government "prohibited pleasure craft from operating in Arctic waters" from June 1 "to better protect Arctic communities" from COVID-19. Smith opined that the bureaucracy is "out of control and gone mad."[113]

September 2020[edit]

In early September, federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau remarked that airline passengers face a $1000 penalty fine if they refuse to wear a mask. The penalty was imposed in separate incidents (in June then July) on the first two passengers in September in order for others to reflect on the punished behaviour.[114][115][116] Face coverings have been mandatory on flights since April 20.[115] "Federal transport officials" were charged with issuing the fines "under the federal order".[117] The same week, WestJet announced a new policy that include a 12-month long ban for passengers who ignored aircrew instructions to don masks.[115] The PHAC stated that 378 domestic and 595 international flights between March 2 and August 24 had travellers on board who may have had the disease during their trip.[116]

On September 7, Hajdu ordered an "independent review" of the "early warning system" after media reports in July documented how the Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN), formerly a PHAC subgroup, was deemed by a senior bureaucrat to be unnecessary, and the specially trained doctors and epidemiologists at GPHIN were reassigned to other tasks before May 24, 2019, when a "department edict that all such alerts had to be approved by senior managers inside PHAC" was issued under Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor. The changes led to inarticulateness "particularly in situations where foreign governments were trying to hide or play down the event." Some GPHIN scientists were concerned that there were "layers of department officials who lacked a sufficient background in science". The COVID-19 pandemic served to focus the mind of Hajdu, as well as the notice that on July 30 the Auditor General of Canada had started an investigation into the affair.[118]

On September 8, 2020, the Mayor of Longueil Sylvie Parent tested positive for COVID-19.[119]

On September 16 it came to light in a news story on the life of Liz Uihlein (the owner of Uline) that under Order-in-Council #2020-0524, "four cabinet members — Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair, Minister of Health Patty Hajdu and Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino and Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam" or members of their departments have the power to issue exemptions on quarantine restrictions for international travellers. The CBSA, which lies under the authority of Blair, issued the exemption that triggered the news story. Because Parliament was prorogued Blair only issued a tweet and it was unlikely that his CBSA staff member had been disciplined.[120]

On September 18, 2020, Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole tested positive for COVID-19, after a staffer in his office tested positive.[121] The same day, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet also tested positive.[122]

On September 23, in a speech from the throne, Prime Minister Trudeau declared Canada was experiencing its second wave of COVID-19.[123]

In a September 30 clampdown, Quebec gave police the legal powers "to enter homes quickly to stop gatherings during COVID-19". Police officers "will be able to obtain warrants faster through a new, virtual system that was established in collaboration with the Crown... Normally the process for obtaining a warrant can take a day or two, but that won't work when police want to break up parties that very same evening," said premier Legault. Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault said "We had to give the police the means to intervene." She said that the right to peaceful protest "without masks cannot be tolerated" and she is not ruling out using force to disperse protests if needed. "Eventually, we will cross that bridge when we get there," she said.[124]

October 2020[edit]

It was reported on October 4 that an African man who had somehow bypassed the 14-day quarantine on international travellers and travelled onwards from Toronto to Halifax and thence to Deer Lake, Newfoundland had then died of COVID-19. Health officials decided to raise the alarm and request that passengers on the final leg of his flight "self-monitor for symptoms".[125]

On October 19, Canadians were reassured by Jason Kenney that so-called "COVID concentration camps" were limited to international travellers who had no special status which would allow them to bypass the camps, and that "No [Canadian] government is going to engage in mandatory quarantine of [Canadian] people."[126]

On October 19, Air Transat announced the closure of its Vancouver base and laid off half of its remaining flight attendants. Prior to the pandemic, the airline had employed 2,000 flight attendants. As of November, it planned to employ 117 flight attendants.[127]

On October 20, hundreds of aviation workers descended on Parliament Hill to protest the unilateral closure of the airline industry in Canada. They had been without a paycheck since March 2020 and had formed a Facebook group with 11,000 members, in order to do an end-run around their union staffers who toe Jagmeet Singh's line. Transportation minister Marc Garneau was invited to the rally but could not be bothered to attend. The collaterally damaged were displeased and angry. Dwane Mightley "said it's been 'painful' and 'devastating' to live off the wage subsidy which covers his family's childcare." Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc told CTV News that the government is discussing taking a stake in major Canadian airlines to help save them. Lyne Gaboury said: "I've never been this scared in my life."[128]

On October 21, the federal government unilaterally declared an opposition-day motion a matter of confidence, and thus brought new Parliamentary precedent.[129] The NDP helped the government survive.[129] Andrew Coyne later opined lividly under the headline The Liberal government is making a mockery of Canada’s parliamentary democracy that "It is because the government has gone to quite extraordinary lengths - censoring documents, proroguing Parliament, filibustering committees, now threatening dissolution - to prevent MPs from doing their jobs" over the WE scandal.[130]

On October 22, the European Union (EU) cancelled the covid travel corridor that allowed Canadians to enter the European territory without quarantine lockdown.[131] In June 2020, Canada had been privileged as one of 14 countries that were favoured by the EU.[132] The reversal of status was caused by the resurgence in coronavirus cases that Canada began to experience in late October.[131]

Also on October 22, the government of Alberta announced a COVID testing policy (that somehow sidestepped the federal Quarantine Act) would as of November 2 apply to international travellers who "agree to stay in Alberta for 14 days, wear a mask in public, provide daily symptom updates to health officials and avoid visiting places with vulnerable groups. They must also take a second test at a pharmacy six or seven days after arriving."[133]

On October 23, apparel retailer Le Chateau, which had 123 locations across Canada and employed 1,400 people, announced it was filing for CCAA protection and blamed coronavirus. In quarter 2 of 2020 it experienced a drop in trade volume of 68 percent compared with the same period in 2019. The newswriter noted that Aldo and Reitman's had gone into receivership earlier in 2020 due to coronavirus.[134] It was noted that the chain had been in operation for six decades, and that the chain depended on "shopping malls, which have been particularly hard hit by restrictions [imposed by government fiat] during the pandemic." At its peak, the chain had had 243 locations across the country.[135]

Also on October 23, while Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital declared a coronavirus outbreak in its surgical unit,[136] the Federal cabinet was discussing the details of yet another airline bailout, which included "low interest loans and rollbacks of airport fee increases to help [them] cope with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic... Air Canada cancelled 30 domestic routes in June, and WestJet Airlines Ltd cut 80 percent of its flights to the Atlantic provinces" earlier in the month of October. Canadian airlines had employed more than 50,000 people before the pandemic occurred. This number does not include the tens of thousands of Canadians who have jobs indirectly related to the sector, for example at the national air traffic controller Nav Canada, which when faced by the COVID revenue shortfall had increased its fees on the backs of the reduced number of passengers. The cabinet had discussed nationalising the carriers.[137]

November 2020[edit]

On November 6, Nunavut confirmed its first case in Sanikiluaq.[138]

On 10 November, as Manitoba went under lockdown, Trudeau "urged premiers and mayors across the country not to loosen restrictions for the sake of the economy and suggested localized shutdowns are needed in areas seeing a surge in cases", saying

I would hope that no leader in our country is easing public-health vigilance because they feel pressure not to shut down businesses or slow down our economy.

Alberta Premier Kenney ignored that advice and relied largely on voluntary measures while he argued that such restrictions represent "massive" infringements of people's rights that do more harm than good. Toronto Mayor John Tory and Medical Officer of Health Eileen de Villa continued a highly discriminatory ban on indoor dining at restaurants and bars,[139] while big-box retailers remained open.[140][141] Ontario Premier Ford approved of the Toronto policy,[139] while on 25 November Ontario Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk said the provincial response was "disorganized and inconsistent".[140] One Toronto restaurateur refused to bow to the order and was arrested on 26 November when the authorities locked him out of his business.[140] The owner faced no fewer than 13 charges, including some criminal ones.[142] He was released on $50,000 bail, and told reporters that "one of his bail conditions is to not use his social media accounts while questioning being in custody for 30 hours."[143] Tory's spokesman said "This is an integrated and coordinated effort with the city, municipal licensing and standards, Toronto Public Health and the police to protect the public, we are in a pandemic this is an emergency."[142] A columnist observed that "We don't want a barbecue guy with a backwards ball cap making health policy" and that government subsidy programmes were designed to offset the cost to business owners and cost to the unemployed restaurant workers not to mention the inconvenience to the frustrated would-be restaurant-goers so the restaurant owner should be happy.[140] The restaurant owner's GoFundMe legal aid pool had reached $150,000 by the next day.[144] A lifestyle editor from the Huffington Post said that "White privilege" had been "in action".[145] A lawyer opined that the owner had become an "international champion of small business - albeit a dangerous one" because his "defiance was extremely polarizing". The owner "will easily be found to have failed to comply with the province’s Reopening Ontario Act, which allows for damages of up to $500,000 for directors and officers for breaches of the Act."[141]

During the last week of November, the CBC made public certain leaked audio recordings of COVID-19 strategy meetings at the Alberta Emergency Operations Centre that had occurred during summer 2020 between Premier Kenney and his Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw. Why the CBC chose this time in particular to expose the recordings was unknown.[146]

On 23 November, a report said that the Atlantic Bubble was burst under pressure from increasing COVID-19 sightings.[147]

It came to light on 28 November that the Alberta government had collected statistics that showed that "76.3 per cent of people who had died of COVID-19 in the province" or 367 of 481 "were dealing with three or more underlying conditions," and that "only 2.3% of deaths - 11 people - were otherwise healthy persons, dying without any underlying conditions. And those 11 include people who were very advanced in age."[148]

On the same day it was reported that COVID-19 had killed to date 11,856 people in Canada, and that in the "first wave" that occurred in spring 2020, 94% of COVID-19 deaths in Canada had occurred in people 65 years of age or older. In Canada, "patients in grave conditions are kept unconscious" and the heart-lung bypass system (or cardiopulmonary bypass) that is used for this purpose is known in the medical field as "extracorporeal life support". In situations of resource limitation, doctors tend to give this preferential treatment to youth.[149] In Calgary, one man spent 25 days in a coma on a ventilator.[150]

On 29 November, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Health Minister Patty Hajdu extended the ban on international travellers who had non-essential purposes. The rules were first imposed in March, and were to be extended until 21 January 2021 "for travellers entering Canada from a country other than the United States. Among the rules is a requirement for anyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days upon entry into Canada."[151]

On 29 November, three Fraser Valley churches defied an order to "suspend in-person religious gatherings" from BC Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry. The RCMP fined one church in Langley $2,300. The police were called into the Riverside Calvary Chapel "after municipal bylaw officers reported a service was under way." The other churches were in Chilliwack. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver J. Michael Miller has observed that not one of his 78 parishes has been the location of a community outbreak of the virus, and said that "In light of this record within the Archdiocese, it is puzzling to say the least to comprehend why our facilities can be used - and we are delighted that they are - for meetings such as Alcoholics Anonymous in the basement, while not even limited worship can take place upstairs in the church."[152]

See also[edit]

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External links[edit]

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