When the dancing is no longer in the dark

Someone oughta alert Springsteen

Jun 17, 2021

COVID-free for the first time since March 26, 2020! 🎉 This is the first time the MSICU at Toronto General does not have any COVID patients. We are very grateful for the extraordinary MSICU team! #ThankYou

Toronto hospitals have increasingly good news to share about COVID-19 patient numbers fading away, as daily case counts are eclipsed by superlative vaccination statistics. With that comes wondering whether Ontario’s second step of reopening can be accelerated to match the indicators: Doug Ford promises to take it to the table.

It’s like a loonie for each mile

Insider News @InsiderNews

A millionaire Canadian couple who took a private jet to get COVID-19 vaccines meant for indigenous people were only fined $1,900

businessinsider.comA white millionaire Canadian couple who took a private jet to get COVID-19 vaccines meant for indigenous people were only fined $1,900First Nation members said they were hoping that Rodney and Ekaterina Baker would receive harsher penalties for their January stunt.

Pleading guilty to violating quarantine rules by flying to the Yukon for a vaccine resulted in just $2,300 in fines for millionaires Rodney and Ekaterina Baker, to the outrage of locals in Beaver Creek. But no money can help Canadians who got AstraZeneca get into Springsteen on Broadway, where summer ticket-buyer shots need to be FDA approved.

“First woman of colour, first Black person and first Jewish woman elected to lead a major federal party—it was never going to be a walk in the park.” Annamie Paul lashed back at fellow Greens who sought to dethrone her as party leader this week. But a motion was adopted for a non-confidence vote to be held as soon as July 20.

Time ticks on media legislation

An attempt to push Bill C-10 through with amendments from Liberals looking to bring the internet into the Broadcasting Act was slapped down by the speaker of the House. The debate also continues over amending the Copyright Act to force Big Tech payments to journalism, which newspapers have been trying to frame as an emergency:

Paula Simons @Paulatics

Tonight, I questioned witnesses Jamie Irving of @NewsMediaCanada and law prof @mgeist about Bill S-225, and, more specifically, about whether collecting royalties from Facebook or Google was a solution to Canada's new media woes. They had some interesting responses.

Simu Liu says he’s not trying to end anyone’s career. The most outspoken Kim’s Convenience star did a virtual chat for the Banff World Media Festival, in which he lamented how he “can’t write a post on Facebook without it being picked up by news outlets.” Banff also provided a stage for Netflix to plug its Canadian production plans.

Finally, this is not the next GG

Mack Lamoureux @MackLamoureux

There are thousands of QAnon folks following a woman who they believe to be the secret ruler of Canada. They're organizing rapidly and sending out hundreds of cease and desists. The woman, who claims to be Queen, is promising her subjects executions.

vice.comQAnons Are Harassing People At the Whim of a Woman They Say is Canada’s QueenA woman who claims she is the secret ruler of Canada has, thanks to QAnon influencers, thousands of followers, some of which are extremely active offline and harassing Canadians.