No flights from India for 30 days Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up here to get it delivered weekday mornings. For several days, the Trudeau government faced hard questions about why the flow of international flights arriving from global COVID-19 hotspots continued unabated. Liberals repeated, like a mantra, that science guided their decisions on border restrictions. Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault co-penned a letter asking the feds to reduce incoming flights. Erin O'Toole raised the alarm, too. Then the House of Commons unanimously called for a suspension of flights from hotspots. By 5 p.m., a gaggle of Liberal ministers announced a 30-day suspension of flights from India and Pakistan. The B.1617 variant wreaking havoc in India has already arrived in Canada, where B.C. officials are monitoring it closely. Quebec also confirmed a case, which prompted the Journal de Montreal newspaper to publish an inflammatory cover. Do flight suspensions work? Patricia Treble notes in Maclean's that 165 flights from Delhi since March 1 have carried COVID-positive passengers. Paris is second as the source of 68 flights, and the total global number in that time is 465. Air India Flight 187, which lands in Toronto this morning, has carried infected passengers almost every single day. But will a temporary stoppage make a difference? Treble spoke to infectious disease expert Isaac Bogoch, who said every border restriction has weaknesses—but Canada's overall approach has done a decent job. “I would remind people that the current system that we have in Canada, while clearly not 100 per cent perfect, is still probably preventing a significant number of infections from coming into the country. It’s a big buffer, but it’s just not a perfect buffer, and I think we have to keep that in mind. It’s probably helping a lot ... Could you improve upon it? Of course we can. If we improve upon it, does it come at a bigger cost? Of course it does.” The latest on Vance allegations: Maj. Kellie Brennan, who first came forward to Global News in February with allegations of sexual misconduct, testified at the Commons status of women committee last night. Brennan revealed that retired general Jonathan Vance told her he was "untouchable," and fathered two of her children. Vance has denied the allegations. The topic du jour: For Trudeau, yesterday was supposed to be about his government's ratcheted-up climate plan, which the PM presented at Joe Biden's Earth Day summit. Trudeau committed his country to 40-45 per cent emissions reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, which he called the "highest possible ambition in light of its current national circumstances"—i.e. the presence of emissions-belching oil sands. Those targets fall below many peer countries' climate goals. Biden's number is 50-52 per cent below 2005 levels. Sick leave, sorta: Doug Ford offered an apology to his province at an uncharacteristically emotional press conference, which he held virtually outside of his late mother's home where he was self-isolating. The premier said sorry for moving "too fast" last week when his government briefly granted new police powers and shuttered playgrounds. Angry, exhausted observers said Ford showed contrition for the wrong thing (though some gave him credit). The premier did announce a return to paid sick leave in the province, but added almost no detail to whatever will eventually end up in legislation. Environmental audits: The federal commissioner on the environment and sustainable development, Jerry DeMarco, published his first two audits since taking on the job earlier this year. DeMarco's team looked at federal progress on meeting the UN's 2030 sustainable development goals and Health Canada's ability to ensure natural health products were safe and accurately marketed to consumers. The verdict? Ottawa had no clear 2030 implementation plan, departments weren't coordinating their work and it wasn't always possible to track progress. As for Health Canada, the department fell short on ensuring manufacturing facilities were up to snuff, and didn't always respond when serious problems were raised with products on the market. Panama and paradise papers probes: NDP MP Taylor Bachrach asked Diane Lebouthillier, the revenue minister, for a rundown on all the work the feds have done to chase Canadian tax evaders identified in the high-profile Panama papers and paradise papers, millions of tax files leaked in 2016 and 2017. The Canada Revenue Agency is pursuing 210 audits and has already completed another 280, for which the agency has assessed $21 million in taxes and penalties. Nine taxpayers have also paid a combined $4.1 million in tax and court fines—and been sentenced to 24 years behind bars. Federal freezers: Tory MP Robert Kitchen placed a written question on the order paper that sought the number of freezers and fridges bought up by Ottawa for vaccine storage. Turns out that Public Services and Procurement Canada has purchased 600 freezers—389 of which can store the Pfizer shot—and 100 fridges at a cost of just over $8 million. Thursday photo fun: Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault riled up Conservatives with a compare-and-contrast tweet. On the left, Tory leader O'Toole jogging with an "I love oil and gas" T-shirt. On the right, Guilbeault out for a run with a "Climate change is real" alternative. The troll job caught the attention of former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who called for an apology. Michelle Rempel Garner was, er, a little more blunt. Candice Bergen swapped out the photos for a helicopter-riding O'Toole and a handcuffs-wearing Guilbeault. The shot: Trudeau will receive his first vaccine dose tomorrow. Health Minister Patty Hajdu, who's in her riding in Thunder Bay, Ont., will also get hers. —Nick Taylor-Vaisey | 
