Time for that provincial park visit you keep putting off Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get it delivered weekday mornings. It's fair to assume most of our summer vacations have been cancelled. So on Sunday, Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly announced the government is redirecting $30 million of its tourism budget, originally earmarked to entice foreign visitors, toward local travel . She's hoping restless Canadians will "rediscover your beautiful city and your region" by shopping locally, enjoying nearby restaurants and not travelling too far afield. It's uncertain where intercity travellers would stay, however; some hotels have already announced intentions to reopen at reduced capacity, but many accommodations and campgrounds remain closed. A report by Destination Canada back in April predicted tourism spending would drop by a third from what it saw in 2019. Endgame issues. About two months ago, Amir Attaran wrote a piece in Maclean’s asking what the COVID-19 endgame looks like. Now, he writes, Canada is pushing into an endgame too early, before we've achieved consistent contact tracing and widespread testing. Our progress on “bending the curve” is halting and unimpressive compared to Europe and Asia. Our testing is so broken down that it lags behind Rwanda’s and Ethiopia’s. Our epidemiological data is so inadequate that even if we wanted to conduct the endgame well, often we cannot. Places like Toronto and Quebec are reopening too soon, risking to sicken—and kill—people needlessly, while the Maritimes and Prairies are reopening too slowly, strangling the economy. Singh's strategy. In an interview on CTV's Question Period yesterday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh staked out his position on a few issues, most notably paid sick leave and funding for long-term care homes. When pressed on the details behind his paid sick leave plan (which Justin Trudeau endorsed last week), Singh suggested that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit be used to fund 10 days of universal sick leave in the short-term, while the government works with provinces independently to establish an employee-funded model after the pandemic is over. But lest you think Singh is getting to cozy with the Liberals, he also slammed Trudeau for not yet increasing funding to long-term care homes, which have suffered some of the most lethal outbreaks of COVID-19. Recent reports by military deployments to long-term care homes have exposed major cracks in the underfunded system, but Trudeau has yet to signal any direct support for the sector beyond saying, in his Friday press conference, that the government would "support the provinces as they work to regain control over seniors’ care in their jurisdiction." RIP. A brief former leader of the Bloc Québécois, Michel Gauthier, passed away Sunday at 70 from lung cancer. Gauthier led the Bloc from 1996 to 1997 before handing the reins over to Gilles Duceppe. Gauthier grew critical of the Bloc in his later years, joining the federal Conservatives in 2018 after spending a decade as a political columnist. In a statement, Gauthier's family said "Michel died in the arms of his wife and his two children." David vs. Goliath. That's how Maclean's Marie-Danielle Smith describes the uphill battles that Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, François-Philippe Champagne, has faced for decades, including his recent record-breaking repatriation marathon. But dealing with China may be his biggest challenge yet, and the relatively rookie minister has emerged as one of the most cunning Liberal ministers of his cabinet. But Champagne is nonetheless the guy in the room, or, more accurately, the guy on the smartphone, as Canada navigates a time of unprecedented global upheaval. There are plenty of Goliaths. The way Champagne handles them—from Canada’s troubled relationship with China to global economic uncertainty during the pandemic crisis—will have a material effect on Canada’s position in the world. Canada's relationship with China was exacerbated this week by the court ruling against Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. On a macro level, it's unclear what effect that decision will have on Canada's chances of winning Trudeau's long-desired seat on the UN Security Council. In an interview with Global's The West Block, Canada's ambassador to the UN, Marc-Andre Blanchard, shook off the suggestion that China will dissuade nations (especially in Africa, where China wields more influence and financing) from voting for Canada. It's equally possible that China's murky response to COVID-19 will bolster Canada's image as a leader in global health and diplomacy. The UN is scheduled to vote on June 17, but it will look a little different this year. The 193 member nations will cast secret ballots at a designated in-person venue during staggered timeslots. Information about the date and time will be mailed to member states 10 days before the first round of voting begins. That's all assuming the UN vote goes ahead on June 17 anyway. Numerous international events are being cancelled or postponed, and on Saturday, President Donald Trump added the upcoming G7 meeting at Camp David to that list. Hours earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would not attend the G7 meeting due to fears surrounding COVID-19, though Trump framed the decision differently: he wants to invite Russia, Australia, South Korea and India as permanent members. "I don't feel that, as a G7, it properly represents what's going on in the world. It's a very outdated group of countries," he told reporters. The idea of including those four 21st-century powers is not without merit, but it's no secret that all four are well positioned to keep tabs on China. Keystone can't catch a break. In another bit of American news that directly affects Canada, a U.S. appeals court rejected the Trump administration's request to revive a permit program that would allow the Keystone XL pipeline to get built. Such a permit would require minimal review for the construction of pipelines being built over streams and wetlands, provided they meet certain criteria. Environmental groups fought against the permits, which they say would leave companies unaccountable for any damage caused to the ecosystem. Bored much? Canadians are bored at home. And what are they doing to counteract this boredom? According to CBC pollster Éric Grenier, they're taking part in polls. Grenier contacted polling companies across the country and found double-digit increases in participation rates from Léger and Narrative Research, while Abacus Data confirmed that completion rates of online surveys have also increased. However, the president of Innovative Research Group noted that businesses, for obvious reasons, are harder to reach right now. All this might sound unsurprising, but it should also illuminate any surveys you happen to stumble across in the next few weeks. Define "lively". How are MPs handling a virtual Parliament? "It’s been better than nothing at all," Conservative MP Bob Zimmer tells the Hill Times, comparing the Zoom meetings to the highlights of a hockey game on TV, as opposed to watching a game in person. Constituents have told him that when they watch Question Period and the sittings online, they don't feel as engaged. Fair enough. That may be because heckling has declined, along with fewer politico theatrics for the camera. Conservative MP Scott Reid said the format "seems to be actually better," calling the debates more "lively." This newsletter writer supposes the feelings one has toward flamboyant theatrics and in-depth answers may alter one's definition of "lively." —Michael Fraiman | 
