Corona on a damp Tuesday
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.
Bert 08:30 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
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.
Kevin 10:14 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
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.
Kate 12:49 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
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).
JaneyB 14:11 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
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.
jeather 16:21 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
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.)
Chris 18:57 on 2020-03-17 Permalink
>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. 🙂
Kevin 09:46 on 2020-03-18 Permalink
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.