The STM has accepted the union’s decision to make bus travel free, boarding by the back doors only, so that the driver doesn’t have to be close to the passengers.
Arguably they should also make the metro free so people don’t have to touch the turnstiles, but I haven’t heard of this yet.
(Next: seize the means of production!)
In a piece about the bus doors, Metro also notes that the 747 bus kiosk at the airport is closed, and taxis can only transport one person at a time (it’s not clear whether Uber is held to the same standard). In the metro you can’t buy tickets or passes from the booth attendant, only the machine.
Quebec has delayed its tax deadline to June 1. This won’t count for much unless the feds follow suit, because the two returns are usually filled out in tandem, and if you organize your stuff for the feds you might as well do the same for the Quebec form.
Urgences-Santé is asking callers some questions about their COVID-19 status when taking 911 calls.
There will be updates later Tuesday from both Legault and Trudeau.
The only real point I can see in the tax deadline is, if you owe money to Quebec you will have longer to pay it back? Unless, as you say, the Federal deadline is also extended–which seems likely.
I’m guessing this is Quebec getting out ahead of the Feds (i.e., they expect the feds to do the same).
If Feds fall in line it means more time before the various tax preparers (H&R Block, independents, etc.) have to get in a room with people many times a day. While that can theoretically (usually) be done at a distance, these folks are very tactile and many of them want to see the papers and to do it in person, so the hope is this will have mostly blown over before they start doing that.
>The only real point I can see in the tax deadline is…
Another point would be that if you’re too sick to file, or tending to a sick relative, etc.
@Chris the point was that Quebec extending the deadline is pointless unless Canada follows suit as, generally, both provincial and federal income tax returns are filed at the same time.
The feds also made a similar announcement, yesterday:
https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/government-extends-tax-deadline-to-june-1-amidst-covid-19-outbreak
So it is no longer pointless. 🙂
Yes, everything Dhomas said 🙂
STM inspectors are mad they’re not considered an essential service which would give them access to the special daycares being set up for people in that category. But they’re not. Buses are now running under a new regime defined by the union – you board at the back and don’t pass by the driver or the ticket reader – so the work of the inspectors is, for the moment, pointless.
A collective letter to Le Devoir from a long list of lawyers says the response of the justice system to COVID-19 has been incoherent and inconsistent and is putting them and others at risk.
City hall is considering doing council deliberations online, but has not yet made a decision.
The crisis may kill off a lot of smaller businesses as they have to close or, even if they don’t, there’s no business coming in. There are a lot of doom-filled prognostications about the wider economy if you look around, but I’m not going to collect them here.
I think it and significant step that a government can show that working remotely is possible, particularly when typically one can point to a physical location where government work is done. IMO it would be a better show than what the feds did.
Regarding smaller businesses: This weekend my wife went to her favourite coffee shop and bought a gift certificate.
I’ve hired a theatre friend of mine to do some carpentry work.
One of my yoga teachers is taping videos of herself doing classes in her home and asking for donations.
There are ways to support our economy (read: each other) despite this global slowdown.
Kevin, those are nice ideas, but I can’t be the only person eyeing my bank balance and wondering how long I could manage to live on it if I had to. Right now, all I’m spending money on is food (and the occasional bottle of wine, you have to live).
Freelancers and others in forms of contract employment absolutely have to be careful but those in permanent jobs who are teleworking or even those who will be eligible for chomage should give some thought to gift certificates and otherwise spreading around the money they are getting, if possible, especially to smaller businesses and services. Basically, those who can, should.
Does anyone know for sure if HOME GYM training/massage therapy is legal? (I am asking not as someone who runs or uses one but for someone else who is going to a home gym trainer, eg, trainer has clients into the trainer’s home where they do exercises or get massages.)
>There are a lot of doom-filled prognostications about the wider economy
There sure is. Lots of great deals on the stock market if you have the extra cash and backbone. 🙂
Kate,
You certainly aren’t the only person keeping an eye on your bank account, but with this massive slowdown it’s all the more important for those who are working to make sure they spend some cash.
Covid oblige, and all that.
A Radio-Canada writer draws a vivid portrait of downtown neighbourhoods as everything closes down.
Feels bad to see these restaurants empty.
Since everything is empty, I’m gonna eat out here and there and try to support these small businesses.
I’ve been trying to do the same, at least for lunch, but it’s getting harder. A lot of places around me have gone takeout-only–which is understandable and probably for the best. Others have just shut completely for at least a couple of weeks, which worries me that most of their staff have no source of income.
Daniel 21:07 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
Wait. I’m not sure I understand: I can’t use the fare validation at the front of the bus (OK, makes sense), but I’m expected to have a valid fare? So I can’t use my 10-trip pass? Is the idea that I buy a single-ride ticket at a metro station, use the bus, and then just burn the ticket later? (Or, yes, have a monthly pass)
Brett 21:15 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
When are the rear door card readers supposed to be up and running?
Chris 21:16 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
And infrequent users, that pay cash, they do what now?
CE 22:21 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
Considering how often the card readers at the front of the buses are out of order, I doubt this will make much of a difference for fare collection.
Michael Black 22:49 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
Clearly you make sure you have exact change or a card loaded with tickets, so if anyone inspects you, you can say “I have the fair, nobody wanted it”
Or maybe you are supposed to buy a ticket, then rip it so you won’t be tempted to reuse it. But keep it till your trip is finished as proof you oaid.
I think really they haven’t thought this through.
The stm site doesn’t yet have anything about this, though a page about the virus.
One site said adaptive transit won’t take change, though I don’t know if that’ s reliable. Thiugh, I have nowhere to go with it, my hospital appointment for tomorrow is cancelled. Though if I was in bad shape they would have taken me.
Every time I’ve seen a 24 pass by these last two days in the afternoon, they’ve looked very empty.
Kate 00:16 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
Michael Black, this wasn’t the STM’s doing, although apparently they’ve given passive assent to it. So no, they did not think it through and aren’t publicizing it. It’s the union, which is protecting its drivers by separating them from the constant stream of passengers. There’s no barrier, but there’s now some distance, and they’re also asking that passengers not use that seat that’s right behind the driver’s seat.
And you really do not have to sweat it about fares. Really, at the moment, it is not an issue.
Buses have been empty. I’ve taken a couple of 55 buses over the last couple of days which were 1/3 to 1/2 full at times when they’d normally have been crowded.
But I won’t be taking any buses for awhile now. My day job has folded for the moment and I’ve been laid off, like thousands of others. It’s not work-from-home, it’s a formal layoff, although the company is hoping to resume operations once the crisis is over – whenever that turns out to be.
So if anyone has work for a freelance editor/graphic designer/blogger, you know where I can be found.
dwgs 09:43 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
Kate, I don’t know if this is helpful to you (or anyone else here) but…https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/financial-assistance/temporary-aid-for-workers-program/
Uatu 10:36 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
This morning the red gate doors at Bonaventure were open so maybe it is in effect? I just thought they were broken
Kate 11:04 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
Thank you, dwgs. I’m listening to PM Trudeau talking about financial support as well. But I can apply for EI starting tomorrow and will be doing so, although if I can pick up any contract work at the same time, it will all help.
Uatu, I hope the gate doors will be open generally. If the bus is to be free, so should the metro.
Tee Owe 16:42 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
A few days ago Luxembourg made all public transport free (except a couple of things like first class train, sleepers) – ok little Luxembourg but why not other places? If the goal is to get people out of their cars and the whole thing is subsidized anyway -?
Ian 17:52 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
Ironically for once it’s probably safer for public health if people drive instead of taking the bus or train – even taxis are only allowing one passenger.
Chris 11:21 on 2020-03-19 Permalink
Ian, I think you mean it’s probably safer for *individuals’* health to drive instead of taking transit. But for *public* health, you’d have to consider all the public, holistically, including things like pollution. Then, there are many counter-intuitive things than come into play. It’s long, but you might enjoy this read: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00210-0
Michael Black 12:03 on 2020-03-19 Permalink
I was going to say traffic seems down, at least yesterday about 3pm Sherbrooke had few cars. But today at 11am there were more cars, though maybe not as many as usual.
If people are staying home, traffic will be down.
Note that I’ve seen bits about ferries banning pedestrians, “you must be in a car”. Ian is right, that vubble is an advantage right now, if you fuss about these things.
Two kids were riding their bikes on a dead end, taking advantage of no school, and low traffic. But they seemed to be pushing spring a bit, even if the equinox arrived d today. (Apparently tge earlist in 134 years.)
Buses seem to be polluters these days, running empty. Even “free rides” don’t seem to lure people. Though, one stopped yesterday after the intersection (and the bus stop) making me wonder if it stopped in case I wanted a ride. A later bus seemed to wait at a stoo for longer, as if waiting to see if I wanted tge bus.
dhomas 14:29 on 2020-03-19 Permalink
@Chris: I think Ian was actually right, overall. People driving themselves is helping them keep distance between them and others (remember: social distancing!). Being in public transit puts you and others at risk of transmission, so overall harmful. I’m quite anti-car myself, and will avoid taking my own car when possible, but I think you’re pushing it a little far in this case.