Rest of the world: "This vaccine isn't safe!"

Ontario: "...Well, it's paid for?"

The "rates" are misleading. In the States, almost 40% of the population has been fully vaccinated, so they're getting to the point where everyone who wants to be fully vaccinated, is. So of course a country where people are waiting for supply will have higher rates than one where they're just about done.

Social workers work full time too. They tend to be assigned to like 15 schools (so each board might have a dozen or so on payroll,) and there's enough work to go around.

They used to be able to. Removing the banking was one of the few concessions the government ever got. But the thing was, when teachers could bank sick days, teachers hardly ever got sick. They'd just bank years and years worth, then take them all just before they retire (essentially retiring a year early at full pay.) Now that they can't? You hear teachers say things like "I have seven sick days left, and I'm going to use them all."

If you think the salaries are bad, wait till you see the benefits.

Teachers get ten sick days at 100% pay with no burden of proof. If they need more than that, they can get short term disability, which is 5 1/2 months worth of school days... AT 90% PAY(!) After that, it's long term disability, which is significantly reduced pay, but the teacher can return for a few days before their short term disability expires, then go back on short term with a reset clock. It's not unheard of for teachers with late-stage cancer to keep that game going.

Might be good in the long run, but in the short term it's political suicide. Parents would need to find arrangements for their kids while everyone figures out how to hire (or rehire) teachers, and they'd blame Ford for that.

Sadly, politicians hardly ever put the interests of the people before the interests of their re-election.

Premier Ford repeated a statement he made earlier that education unions threatened a court injunction if schools reopened. Now, the unions deny the injunction threat

At that point Ford SHOULD have said, "Oh, no injunction? Schools are open Monday."

Tried claiming an exemption at the mall: they let you into the mall, but the stores inside the mall don't let you in.

Tried claiming an exemption at a restaurant, back when restaurants were open: Too bad. Not allowed to walk the 20 feet to your table.

Tried claiming an exemption at a bank: they told me that it was my own problem that I was refusing to wear a mask. Literally did not understand the difference between "won't" and "can't." My matured investment is still tied up there and my bank won't let me access it without coming in while wearing a mask.

Does one exist?

Pfizer and Moderna are the mRNA vaccines.

Astra-Zeneca and J&J are not.

He believes in freedom, which puts him one up on literally every Canadian politician, I guess.

VERY few places honour mask exemptions. The subway system does. Just about every store doesn't. You've got asthma? Tough shit. Wear a mask or you don't come in. Oh, you want to file a human rights complaint against us because we're discriminating against your medical condition? Go right ahead. The onus will be on you to prove it.

And why would they do that? Because cops go around to stores, and the fine is thousands of dollars if they find people in there maskless.

I guess the words "within a united Canada" didn't mean jack shit after all when Quebec can create a policy that's not in usison with the other provinces.

I believe the correct phrase is "pump and dump."

Personal integrity IS my goal.

At least the PPC allows for pro life positions.

So does the Conservative party. But if they don't back it up in their platform, that's meaningless.

I'm not looking for perfect. I'm looking for people who have a basic respect for human life. If a politician can't do that I couldn't care less what any of his other policies are.

Unfortunately we're living in a country where virtually no politician can do even that.

I've been asked to do polls several times. (People who still have landline phones get called way more than people who only have cellphones.) It's also possible that pollsters have called you, but they sound almost indistinguishable from telemarketers.

I still don't do polls though.

That's what happens when you shut everything down and threaten to keep it shut down until people are vaccinated.

I'd be terrible in politics. I can't control my mouth.

I'm still undecided on the People's Party. I normally vote Christian Heritage but this time around they're not running a candidate in my riding. I like a lot of their other policies but Bernier has said abortion isn't on the PPC platform. I can't in good conscience vote for someone who is okay with the status quo of taxpayer-funded abortions for any reason or no reason at all, at any point up to birth. If a party is okay with that, in my opinion they don't have the moral authority to lead.

I may end up having to officially refuse or spoil my ballot as a result.

Have you tried a VPN?

At least there's still the possibility it happens. Toronto has already cancelled all major summer festivals.

Another one? They already have one on the books (the one they used the notwithstanding clause to push through.)

Why do you think we're lagging behind the world in the vaccine rollout? He was planning on having our vaccines ALL from China, without realizing that China hates him over the Huawei exec thing. So China played along and then pulled delivery at the last minute, forcing him to scramble with all the other manufacturers. (Not that they work or anything.)

Is that the one Trudeau ordered and then China stopped delivery of?