CDN/US Covid-related political discussion

[mariomike]

I just know what friends still on the job tell me, read in the papers, and the SMEs "at the coal-face" on here.

This caught my eye. Doctors explain COVID-19 rationed care,

Paramedics may need to make decisions who they actually code, who they actually resuscitate on scene. The patient with the greatest chance of survival and years of survival is allocated the resource.

https://kmvt.com/2020/11/18/doctors-explain-what-rationed-care-would-look-like/

Nothing new about Field Trauma Triage ( FTT ). Straight out of the MCI handbook.

But, it's a whole new ball game out there for medical calls.

As far as the politics is concerned, I respect everyone's right to express their opinion on the internet. But, when it comes to medical advice, I go with the experts,

Epidemiologists call Ontario's new COVID-19 restrictions 'gibberish' and 'scientifically illiterate'
https://www.cp24.com/news/epidemiologists-call-ontario-s-new-covid-19-restrictions-gibberish-and-scientifically-illiterate-1.5177630
Public health experts are calling the tiered plan for dealing with COVID-19 shutdown in Ontario dangerous, "scientifically illiterate" and "dismaying," saying that the premier's new system will light an inferno rather than snuff out the pandemic.

 

[Brad Sallows]

There is more than one "coal face".  Suicides, family violence due to unemployment, critical or important health care intervention opportunities missed, etc.

 

[OldSolduer]

I just know what friends still on the job tell me, read in the papers, and the SMEs "at the coal-face" on here.

This caught my eye. Doctors explain COVID-19 rationed care,

Paramedics may need to make decisions who they actually code, who they actually resuscitate on scene. The patient with the greatest chance of survival and years of survival is allocated the resource.

https://kmvt.com/2020/11/18/doctors-explain-what-rationed-care-would-look-like/

Nothing new about Field Trauma Triage ( FTT ). Straight out of the MCI handbook.

But, it's a whole new ball game out there for medical calls.

As far as the politics is concerned, I respect everyone's right to express their opinion on the internet. But, when it comes to medical advice, I go with the experts,

I think - this is my opinion and feel free to slap me upside the head - that in North America ALL life is sacred and we MUST do everything in our power to prevent a death, no matter what the circumstances are. Its a laudable goal but unrealistic. We use resources on cases that have no hope of survival that could be used on someone who has a better chance of survival.
That's my opinion.

 

[daftandbarmy]

op:


Audit demanded after more than 800,000 ineligible people get CERB

A Conservative MP says Canada Revenue Agency has some explaining to do after more than 800,000 ineligible people got Canada emergency response benefit cheques.

CRA’s own records — filed in an inquiry of ministry tabled in the House of Commons — show 823,850 people who didn’t file a tax return in the past year received $2,000 monthly CERB cheques at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $1.7 billion, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

“I find it remarkable,” Conservative MP Kelly McCauley said.

“This is a huge amount. People were losing their homes and really needed help, but claims were made by others who were either ineligible or didn’t really need it. I want the government to do a proper, transparent audit of this. We just owe it to taxpayers.”

The federal government approved paying CERB to unemployed tax filers who made at least $5,000 in 2019.

The CRA didn’t explain how non-tax filers could have claimed the benefit.

The CERB program was first budgeted at $24 billion, but by the time it expired Oct. 3, payments exceeded $81 billion.

More than 14,000 people in the top income tax bracket — earning $210,371 or more in 2019 — filed for CERB, saying they were without income.

https://ottawacitizen.com/business/audit-demanded-after-more-than-800000-ineligible-people-get-cerb

 

[dapaterson]

Except that article has been debunked already.  An economist (PhD) from U Calgary has already ripped it to shreds.

https://deadfortaxreasons.wordpress.com/2020/11/19/no-800000-ineligible-canadians-did-not-receive-the-cerb/

 

[brihard]

And for those who won’t read the analysis, you didn’t have to have filed tax returns to be eligible for CERB. Plenty of people don’t file returns because they don’t have tax owing (ill advised as that may be). That doesn’t affect CERB eligibility. Many applicants for CERB applied through Service Canada, not CRA.

Absolutely there are people receiving CERB who weren’t eligible. They had to take an ‘issue it now, reconcile later’ approach. But sure as hell not 800,000. The National Post (who have since removed the article entirely) fold to do due diligence on this story. They took an opposition MP’s claim at face value. Sloppy.

 

[MilEME09]

And for those who won’t read the analysis, you didn’t have to have filed tax returns to be eligible for CERB. Plenty of people don’t file returns because they don’t have tax owing (ill advised as that may be). That doesn’t affect CERB eligibility. Many applicants for CERB applied through Service Canada, not CRA.

Absolutely there are people receiving CERB who weren’t eligible. They had to take an ‘issue it now, reconcile later’ approach. But sure as hell not 800,000. The National Post (who have since removed the article entirely) fold to do due diligence on this story. They took an opposition MP’s claim at face value. Sloppy.

Very sloppy, id believe hundreds if not a few thousand might of slipped though, but not hundreds of thousands.

 

[Remius]

My brother in law being one of those likely.  He’s very much a conspiracy believer of the first order.  Thinks this Covid stuff is a hoax.  Will rant about Trudeau until the sun goes down.  But had no problem taking CERB.  Or any other handout he can. 

He’s in for a world of hurt when the gvt comes calling though.

 

[CBH99]

And for those who won’t read the analysis, you didn’t have to have filed tax returns to be eligible for CERB. Plenty of people don’t file returns because they don’t have tax owing (ill advised as that may be). That doesn’t affect CERB eligibility. Many applicants for CERB applied through Service Canada, not CRA.

Absolutely there are people receiving CERB who weren’t eligible. They had to take an ‘issue it now, reconcile later’ approach. But sure as hell not 800,000. The National Post (who have since removed the article entirely) fold to do due diligence on this story. They took an opposition MP’s claim at face value. Sloppy.

Wowa wowa wowa...

Your telling me a mainstream media source portrayed an opinion, or an assumption, as if it were verified fact!?

Pfffffttttt... 

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Wowa wowa wowa...

Your telling me a mainstream media source portrayed an opinion, or an assumption, as if it were verified fact!?

Pfffffttttt... 

I just spit my Monster drink on the screen.... :rofl:

 

[Cloud Cover]

My brother in law being one of those likely.  He’s very much a conspiracy believer of the first order.  Thinks this Covid stuff is a hoax.  Will rant about Trudeau until the sun goes down.  But had no problem taking CERB.  Or any other handout he can. 

He’s in for a world of hurt when the gvt comes calling though.

Yet the man that tried the most to keep that gravy train rolling as a permanent basic entitlement- Jagmeet Singh- is vilified the most by right wing conspiracy theorists with their hand out.

 

[kkwd]

Bamlanivimab was developed by Eli Lilly with the help of the Canadian company AbCellera.

Health Canada grants emergency-use authorization to Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody treatment

Lilly scientists developed the antibody in less than three months after it was discovered by AbCellera in a blood sample taken from one of the first U.S. patients who recovered from the virus.

Ricks added that the treatment will be available in Canada "soon."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/health-canada-grants-emergency-use-authorization-to-eli-lilly-s-covid-19-antibody-treatment-1.5199999

 

[kkwd]

Speaking of CERB. One woman took the advice of someone she met in a Timmy's parking lot and lost her provincial social assistance. Come get your free money they said. Seems all she needed was a SIN and a phone to get $2000. The provincial and federal governments have differing opinions on whether you can collect social assistance and CERB at the same time.

Saskatchewan and most Atlantic provinces decided to cut off provincial assistance or claw back payments dollar-for-dollar by the amount recipients got from CERB. Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec instituted partial clawbacks, while British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Yukon allowed people to keep both provincial and federal benefits.

The office of federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, who was in charge of CERB, said it's always been her position that clawing back provincial assistance is "unfair" and that provinces and territories should not penalize emergency income assistance recipients.

Qualtrough "has advocated strongly for provinces and territories to allow federal emergency COVID-19 income measures and benefits to complement provincial supports," spokesperson Marielle Hossack said in an email to CBC News.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/landlords-tenants-cerb-rent-1.5810230

 

[brihard]

The Ontario government has tapped former Chief of Defense Staff General Rick Hillier to lead a vaccine rollout task force.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-coronavirus-ontario-november-23-lockdown-1.5812425

 

[GR66]

The Ontario government has tapped former Chief of Defense Staff General Rick Hillier to lead a vaccine rollout task force.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-coronavirus-ontario-november-23-lockdown-1.5812425

Can't wait to get my "big honkin' needle"!

 

[Good2Golf]

I see what you did there. ;D

 

[daftandbarmy]

Here's a portent of things to come on a much, much larger scale:

Vancouver proposes tax hike as COVID-19 digs a $100-million revenue hole

But because of the financial challenges the pandemic has posed for residents and businesses, a statement says council has directed staff to prepare the budget with property tax increases of no more than five per cent.

The City of Vancouver says the COVID-19 pandemic has had a “significant impact” on its finances, including a projected $85 million drop in revenue and $13 million in additional costs.

But because of the financial challenges the pandemic has posed for residents and businesses, a statement says council has directed staff to prepare the budget with property tax increases of no more than five per cent.

The city says the increase would help cover the cost of normal programs and initiatives that have also faced additional operating costs.

The draft operating budget for 2021 is $1.6 billion, $17 million less than the original planned budget. The city warns that as the budget is less than previous years, some planned initiatives will need to be deferred.

The budget is scheduled to be presented to city council Dec. 1.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/vancouver-proposes-tax-hike-as-covid-19-digs-a-100-million-revenue-hole

 

[OceanBonfire]

The Trump administration had a chance to buy more vaccine doses and Pfizer and Moderna reject an invitation to attend a vaccine meeting at the White House. And an event that Biden isn't invited to nor details provided, says a lot about their "supercession":

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-business-coronavirus-pandemic-michael-pence-88fd7c59fd0af8669ed3cdafdf08881e

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN28H2S2

 

[LittleBlackDevil]

Here's a portent of things to come on a much, much larger scale:

Indeed, this seems to me that this is just the tip of the iceberg, in my view. It has been my position since March that the lockdowns have appeared to only take into account the medical experts concerns without looking at the bigger picture and all other concerns. Aside from economy, I've been unable to find good data on opioid deaths, but the news sites agree that they have "skyrocketed" -- would be interesting to see how the stack up against COVID deaths ... I suppose it's seen as peoples' own fault, but I have many clients who are addicts, they don't want to be addicts, and losing their jobs and being locked in their hopes was a perfect storm for them to relapse and overdose. I've had more clients die in 2020 than in the rest of my 15 year career as a criminal lawyer combined.

Then there is general decreased health (people not exercising, smoking and drinking more while locked down, due to stress and despair - cf. https://www.cbc.ca/news/public-health-annual-report-opioid-deaths-skyrocket-1.5780129). We will be reaping these consequences long after COVID itself is a distance memory. It feels like we have traded short term gain (few COVID deaths) for a lot of long-term pain. Passing the pain onto our children.

CERB did a good job of papering-over the devastating impact of the lockdowns, but government hand outs can only hide the economic problems for so long and will in the long run make them worse. For now things look okay, but in my view we and especially our children may be in for a rough ride.

Add on top of this crippling debt and tax burdens. Could make the potential of what COVID might have been without lockdown look like the better option in hindsight.

 

[Remius]

There are some out there that think the that the doom and gloom of mental health resulting from COVID may in fact be inflated somewhat.


https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/stress-relief/202011/criticism-covid-psychological-tsunami-it-may-be-inflated