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What really needs to be done is a $2000 dollar bi-weekly cheque for all low income Canadians to encourage them to stay home.

The fact is 2000 dollars is more than most people would make in 2 weeks working minimum wage but it does account for lost tips in the restaurant industry.

Some people may call me crazy but honestly small businesses and even medium ones cannot afford to pay staff while they are closed.

Yes it is practical to close the service industry but the affected employees need more than a break on their payments or tax credits. As I always say good intentions don't pay bills, money does.

A one time (or ongoing if the closures last) payment to help employees during a federal or provincial state of emergency would go a long way.

I myself am a concierge in a condominium making only 1800 a month however if I take time off because of Coronavirus I don't get paid.

I can't stay home even though I really should because despite the virus bills need to be paid.
 
smably said:
www.technologyreview.com

We’re not going back to normal

Social distancing is here to stay for much more than a few weeks. It will upend our way of life, in some ways forever.
www.technologyreview.com www.technologyreview.com

TL;DR -- things aren't going back to normal soon. Maybe ever.
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The one terrifying implication that might emerge out of this is the extension of the surveillance state under the guise of health concerns- especially if the powers-to-be want to prevent another economic crisis like this one. I can definitely see this happening first in China and perhaps Singapore (in a less intrusive manner).

The second terrifying issue is what happens to economic landscape after this crisis- are we going to be left with an economic landscape bereft of hundreds of thousands of small businesses? Not only cafes and restaurants, but the small, unlisted companies that might not even have a website. Are we going to see an economic consolidation by large corporations?

Heck, are these large corporations going to emerge out of this crisis seeking more automation? Robots can't get sick, after all.
 
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From link.

Canadians will have one extra month to file their taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency, the National Post has learned.​
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The announcement will be made tomorrow (Thursday) by federal ministers as part of a larger series of financial measures to assist Canadian individuals and governments through the COVID-19 pandemic.​
​
So instead of an April 30 filing deadline for the 2020 tax filing season, Canadians will have until June 1 to submit their income tax return to CRA. The deadline to pay off any outstanding balances interest-free will also be extended, this time to July 31.​
​
Businesses will also have more time to pay their taxes without paying any interest or penalties. The new deadline will be July 31 to pay any corporate taxes or make any scheduled instalment payments that would otherwise be due starting Wednesday.​
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Would like to confirm on the official government website. Not yet shown at time of posting.
 
PinkLucy said:
Who would want to be a tourist anywhere now?
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You would be surprised how many people are posting about how their bosses or colleagues are unconcerned about the virus, suggesting that it would be the best time to take vacations given the cheap airfare.

Northern Light said:
Lets take nothing away from any of that.

But lets not take the figures out of context either.
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I mean, those numbers are in line with how some alarmist (and I think politically motivated) "experts" predict UK's herd immunity strategy to evolve.
 
I don't endorse the following P.O.V..

I do put it forward for consideration, as I think its important to here from field experts, both those offering the prevailing view; and those w/dissenting opinions.

Its a column written by an Oakville based doctor, infectious disease specialist and microbiologist arguing that the current strategy is not workable and should be reconsidered.

nationalpost.com

Why draconian measures may not work: Two experts say we should prioritize those at risk from COVID-19 than to try to contain the uncontainable

Testing and tracking down contacts is ultimately futile for this virus, as it devotes enormous resources to finding cases that are largely mild and spontaneously re…
nationalpost.com nationalpost.com
 
Northern Light said:
I don't endorse the following P.O.V..

I do put it forward for consideration, as I think its important to here from field experts, both those offering the prevailing view; and those w/dissenting opinions.

Its a column written by an Oakville based doctor, infectious disease specialist and microbiologist arguing that the current strategy is not workable and should be reconsidered.

nationalpost.com

Why draconian measures may not work: Two experts say we should prioritize those at risk from COVID-19 than to try to contain the uncontainable

Testing and tracking down contacts is ultimately futile for this virus, as it devotes enormous resources to finding cases that are largely mild and spontaneously re…
nationalpost.com nationalpost.com
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UK did a U turn away from this strategy a few days ago. They made "protecting the vulnerable" sound so easy - but how, when you have a virus spreading rampantly among the general public (which even then, a large enough portion will require hospital/ICU care)? They are totally silent on that.

AoD
 
WislaHD said:
You would be surprised how many people are posting about how their bosses or colleagues are unconcerned about the virus, suggesting that it would be the best time to take vacations given the cheap airfare.
Click to expand...

I'm not surprised. I'm still having Airbnb guests checking in at my work.

I've been sending them on their way with limited contact but it amazes me why people still book these things.

I've had a few linger around my desk while they pull up their booking information. They called me rude when I asked them to leave my desk and sit down.

Oddly enough they kept trying to tell me to wait while they pulled up their information to which I replied it wasn't a suggestion that they move.

For the life of them they could not understand why I was asking them to sit 2 metres away.
 
Richard White said:
I'm not surprised. I'm still having Airbnb guests checking in at my work.

I've been sending them on their way with limited contact but it amazes me why people still book these things.

I've had a few linger around my desk while they pull up their booking information. They called me rude when I asked them to leave my desk and sit down.

Oddly enough they kept trying to tell me to wait while they pulled up their information to which I replied it wasn't a suggestion that they move.

For the life of them they could not understand why I was asking them to sit 2 metres away.
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Quite frankly the province should just completely ban the operation of AirBnB right now. No ifs, no buts. Seize company records and block the app if necessary. Check in at designated hotels or get lost.

AoD
 
AlvinofDiaspar said:
Quite frankly the province should just completely ban the operation of AirBnB right now. No ifs, no buts. Seize company records and block the app if necessary. Check in at designated hotels or get lost.

AoD
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My condo considered that but a temporary ban isn't allowed under the condo act even in a pandemic.

They would still need to change their condo declaration which requires an owners meeting.
 
Porter Airlines says it is suspending all flights across eastern Canada and the United States for at least the next two and a half months to support social distancing efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click to expand...
 
Watching PM's presser:

- New benefit to cover to those who don't qualify for EI, to pay comparable benefits to EI for up to 14 weeks.

- Total new investment 27B to Canadians directly, 55B in liquidity measures to support business.

- Total equal to 3% of GDP

- Wage subsidy to some businesses (not clearly on criteria yet) equal to 10% of payroll for 3 months.

- Canada Child Benefit to be temporarily boosted by up to $300 per child (per year), money to flow in May payment period.

- GST Credit to be boosted, $300 extra for each qualifying adult, and $150 per child, sounds like a one-time payment in May.

- 6 month interest-free moratorium student loan

- Boost to programs to house the homeless.

- Boost to Farm Credits

- Boost to Export Development Canada to support business

Detailed government news release here:

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses - Canada.ca

The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
www.canada.ca www.canada.ca
 
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