Photo by Whitehorse Star
Premier Sandy Silver and Dr. Catherine Elliott
More COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted
The Yukon government and public health officials are speeding up their cautious approach to dropping health restrictions somewhat.
The Yukon government and public health officials are speeding up their cautious approach to dropping health restrictions somewhat.
“We’re in a good place right now,” Premier Sandy Silver said this morning at the weekly COVID-19 briefing. “Things are looking good.”
He said the trends are looking good in terms of the COVID-19 numbers, and that the Yukon may be moving past the Omicron peak.
According to numbers provided by Dr. Catherine Elliott, the acting chief medical officer of health, there are 61 active cases in the Yukon, with 12 new from Wednesday.
The test positivity rate is down to 26 per cent. It had previously peaked at about 40 per cent, so the new numbers are a substantial improvement. The rate is still well above the five per cent that Elliott has said would be ideal.
Silver announced an acceleration in lifting restrictions, including dropping the 10 p.m. closure curfew for bars and restaurants. Those businesses can resume normal hours tomorrow.
Silver said he was excited to share the details on relaxing those public health measures.
Silver quickly provided a summary of the changes coming into effect tomorrow.
Indoor organized gatherings will be limited to 50 per cent of venue capacity but the cap of 25 people will be lifted.
The same rules will apply to sports, leisure and recreation activities.
Movie buffs will be happy to hear that theatres will not be limited to the 50 per cent cap, along with personal services.
Many people will be glad to hear that spas and hot springs will be allowed to reopen, at 50 per cent capacity, as well as casinos and religious services.
Silver and Elliott said they hope that by early March, the only remaining restrictions will be the indoor masks requirement, the vaccine mandate for public employees, and vaccine certificates for designated sites and businesses.
Silver reiterated that while its vaccine mandate program for public workers is still intended to be temporary, it will continue to be in force for the foreseeable future.
He said it would be “big news” when it’s lifted, but there was no date under discussion.
“It’s something we talk about a lot.”
Elliott said while she is pleased with the progress the Yukon is making, “we’re not completely out of the storm yet.
“We’re gradually and sensibly reducing our risk.”
Silver added, “We’ve fared very well because of our approach.”
He was also asked about for his thoughts about the protests being seen in Ottawa and across Canada, including Whitehorse.
“I don’t know anyone who isn’t frustrated with (the pandemic) two years in,” he said.
However, Silver said he does not condone the actions of some of the protestors who have behaved aggressively.
He also didn’t quibble with the federal government’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act earlier this week, so long as military force isn’t used.
Silver said many other premiers agree the military should not be brought in to the situation.
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Comments (73)
Up 1 Down 4
Roy on Feb 23, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Tyranny! Great Reset! Trudeau will never let...
Oh wait...he just ended it. Just like he said he would when it was no longer needed.
After he sent a few thousand people packing. Largest protest ever? 60,000 people will come to Ottawa for Canada day celebrations - yet the Krosscountry Karen Konvoy could only muster a few hundred trucks and maybe 10,000 people at the highest, most optimistic count.
It's over. You gained literally nothing. You disrupted citizens lives and delayed truckers who needed to cross the border. And some defied the warnings and got themselves a criminal record out of it. Congrats - report back in a couple years on whether or not it was worth it. I doubt it.
But go ahead and cos-play as convoy members here every Saturday. Every week it looks more and more lame. Honk your impotent horns. 20-30 vehicles out of probably 20,000 in the city - the math checks out.
Up 1 Down 4
AdmiralA$$ on Feb 23, 2022 at 1:28 pm
LoL... I had to see if the thumbs are reading or real even. As you did state, one agreed, leaving 9. Sort of interested who thumbed my comment up? conscidering it was largely incorrect and showed poor reading skills. This place is indeed a funny place to watch and read what happens.
Up 9 Down 4
Groucho d'North on Feb 23, 2022 at 11:34 am
Hands up:
How many believe the Trudeau Liberal government does not lie?
Do they slant the truth to support their agenda?
Do they omit critical information important to the public good?
Do they fail to answer legitimate questions important to the public good?
Do they respect the rights of Canadians?
Are they becoming even more tyrannical?
Do you trust them?
Do they deserve to continue to be Canada's national government?
There is an old book (1945) about a pig named Napoleon which acurately captures Canada's current state of disillutionment. Napoleon is described as "not much of a talker" and has "a reputation for getting his own way"
Up 25 Down 8
Jeff Bikaboom on Feb 23, 2022 at 10:13 am
@Proud Yukoner
"Just remember, if there's 10 people in a room, and an anti-vaxer walks in, odds say they are the only one who thinks the way they do. Let that sink in. Odds also say that the other 9 wish you would just leave."
Thank you for sharing your intolerance. I have found that the minority is actually the intolerant ones. I would say that 19 out of 20 people are against mandates and feel it is a personal choice to take the shot. Strange, I know, the TV doesn't say this is the case.
"The significant majority of Canadians support vaccine mandates."
No. Proof of this is the largest protest in Canadian history. I am fairly certain that the business owners who's livelihoods are ruined will not agree with you. Let me ask my wife who lost her job if she agrees with you. Let's ask the families of those that have had strokes and aneurysms if they agree with you. Let's ask the people who were forced to get the shot then got covid anyways if they agree with you.
I had the displeasure of being in Whitehorse on Saturday for the last few weeks. The convoy was interesting. Lots of old people, everyone smiling. It looked fun and very positive. There was however nut jobs that couldn't handle seeing it. I saw numerous people have full on breakdowns upon seeing it. They spewed vulgar profanities while giving the middle finger. There were road ragers almost causing accidents by driving on the wrong side of the road through busy intersections in an attempt to get around the convoy in a fit of rage. I suspect these people who are having mental breakdowns from the very sight of someone with a different opinion are the ones who want mandates. There weren't very many, but they sure put on a show. A suggestion to business owners: You should ask your employees to refrain from going outside to flip off and yell profanities at the public passing by.
We are all entitled to our own opinions. I am glad we live in a country where human rights are indeed inalienable and immutable so we can be protected from those who think they have a say in what we do with our own bodies. Our human rights are god given and cannot be taken away.
Proud Yukoner, you like facts. Please have a look at the facts from the Pfizer trial data that is being released. The clinical trial's benchmark was it's success to lower the risk of mild covid. They were not designed to show the prevention of serious illness, hospitalization, or death. Let that sink in. It was never effective, and this can't be changed by how many people in the room think it is.
Up 17 Down 2
AdmiralA$$ on Feb 23, 2022 at 10:03 am
Proud Yukoner, if there are 10 people in a room and 1 more walk in there is now 11 people in that room. Why did only 9 leave now?
Stay proud of your math skills my friend.
Up 28 Down 6
Yukoner '71 on Feb 23, 2022 at 6:41 am
Hey 'Proud Yukoner'. I am fully vaccinated because it was my choice to do so, I am not 'anti vax'. However any Canadian who chooses not to do so should have the unquestioned right to not take a vaccine to avoid the symptoms of what has now petered out into basically a seasonal flu. Also as a vaccinated person I am beyond sickened at what Trudeau has done with his power grab, people who donated $20, $50 or $100 to support their cause have now had their bank accounts frozen! Really, in Canada, my Canada this has happened?
If you are the worst drug dealer that doesn't happen, if you kill multiple people that doesn't happen, but you stand up against Trudeau and the Liberal government and their bank lackies ( yes I'm talking about you CIBC, TD, Scotiabank, RBC and BMO) instantly close your bank accounts? I abhor that something like that happening was even possible and I hate Trudeau and his government more than I ever thought possible before this happened. That low life says, 'We have to heal the divisions the truckers caused'. No Trudeau, it is you that's caused division and hatred like never seen before in my country.
Up 25 Down 2
North_of_60 on Feb 22, 2022 at 9:29 pm
If the most recent vote in Parliament represents a room of 100 Canadians, 55 want mandated tyranny, and 45 want freedom of choice. That's far from the 90 to 10 that some people would like you to "just remember".
Up 23 Down 3
North_of_60 on Feb 22, 2022 at 8:29 pm
If you have ever wondered whether you would have complied during 1930s Germany, now you know.
So does everyone else.
Up 24 Down 3
Groucho d'North on Feb 22, 2022 at 4:32 pm
@Proud Yukoner
I cannot speak for Mr. Butler on how he runs his newspaper, but I for one am extremely grateful the Yukon public has a forum such as this one to provide opinions that are important to our citizens. You probably noticed the publicly funded media outlet not only censors reader comments but they more often deny the opportunity to provide a comment at all. Kinda the same as a government leader who refuses to meet with or hear the opinons and views of others.
I read a lot of daily news outlets and I often find greater value in the reader comments than in the slanted and biased articles.
It's kinda like TV, if you don't like it- don't watch it, but don't try to prevent others from watching it if they want to.
"All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorships." GB Shaw
Up 21 Down 3
Apex Parasite on Feb 22, 2022 at 3:50 pm
@proud yukoner
Feel like you should reread what you just wrote "Just remember, if there's 10 people in a room, and an anti-vaxer walks in, odds say they are the only one who thinks the way they do. Let that sink in. Odds also say that the other 9 wish you would just leave."
Wow...so your view is that the non vaxxed individual in your example is unclean. Even though it has been clearly established that the vaxxed carry the virus around just as the unvaxxed do. 9 vaxxed people that would all be horrified were a non vaxxed person to walk into the room carrying the same bugs as they themselves may be carrying. Pretty sure there's a word for that, probably a couple.
How would one even tell once the masks are lifted? Maybe the unvaxxed should carry a mark or an article of clothing indicative of their unvaxxed (unclean) status. This might be easier than vaccine passports if the mark was some form of tattoo. That way you would be able to spot the unseen before they had a chance to contaminate you with the same bug you carry yourself. This would for sure alleviate your obvious paranoia to at least some degree.
Seems worth mentioning that it is pretty well established that the vaxxed are still getting covid, even triple vaxxed people are getting it and you know for sure they're not all getting it from the unvaxxed (dirty people). The vaxxed chances are allegedly less of becoming very sick or getting hospitalized but they are carrying it around like everyone else. A certain number of the vaxxed seem to think they have a super power...maybe a super privilege?
Amazing
Up 17 Down 3
joe on Feb 22, 2022 at 3:25 pm
@ proud yukoner...what would ever make you think that a significant majority of Yukoner's support vaccine mandates? You must be sitting somewhere in isolation. Of the supposedly 90% or so of people vaccinated many were coerced or forced into taking the vaccine. Those people and many who chose to vax voluntarily do not support mandates. We are in Canada and a significant majority of people support freedom of choice. And don't confuse vax vs unvax choice with mandates vs freedom of choice.
Up 11 Down 38
Proud Yukoner on Feb 22, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Honestly Whitehorse Star.. Are all of these comments representative of how you want your news outlet to be perceived? Nothing more than a site for the minority groups to spew their false truths and pat each other on the back while simultaneously trying to discredit well known facts?
Just so everyone is clear. The significant majority of Canadians support vaccine mandates. Support our healthcare system and support our local government.
Just because the few who don't have nothing but time on their hands to unlawfully occupy our capital or sit around and write comments on newspaper websites, or honk their horns and act like children, you are simply seeing overrepresentation of your minority point of views.
Just remember, if there's 10 people in a room, and an anti-vaxer walks in, odds say they are the only one who thinks the way they do. Let that sink in. Odds also say that the other 9 wish you would just leave.
Up 11 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Feb 22, 2022 at 12:09 pm
@Anonymous
Thanks for sharing the video clip of the frustrated reporter. I don't know where the confusion is coming from, you lay down with dogs - you get up with fleas.
Up 15 Down 1
Anonymous on Feb 21, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Gotcha bandit. I missed the part where you were quoting. Watch this video of the CBC reporter being called a liar to his face. This is what I meant about the Whitehorse star being wise to remain impartial, and to just give us the news without trying to shove an agenda down our throats under multiple layers of spin. They don't want to wind up like this guy having an existential crisis on live TV. It's since been scrubbed from Youtube as far as I can tell, but it's still on the guy's twitter:
https://twitter.com/glen_mcgregor/status/1495255149983506438
Warning: this link contains some rather colorful language.
Up 12 Down 0
drum on Feb 21, 2022 at 4:09 pm
Who is helping non government society's for the seniors in this town and Territory.
We have been closed down with no revenue to help. Just think about it - massive help financially for bars and restaurants. What about the groups that were shut down for seniors that rely on income from Activities - NGO's do not get money from the government to exist or survive.
Up 8 Down 1
Bandit on Feb 21, 2022 at 5:36 am
@Anonymous
You missed my point, I was quoting what "You Nailed It!" posted. Re-read my post and you may understand, I guess with all the thumbs down you weren't the only one that mis-understood my post.
Up 36 Down 12
Groucho d'North on Feb 20, 2022 at 3:07 pm
@Anonymous
Yes I am aware of how this takeover is advancing around the world and I'm glad others are seeing it too. Please tell others because you know the lap-dog media will only do as their master orders.
I have been watching the Parliamentary debate on the Emergencies Act and I have noticed many references to Canadian history to justify implementing a statute that provides government with extraordinary powers for managing the Canadian public. Those speaking in favour of this Act, point to situations like the FLQ crisis, 911 and similar events to justify having this new “tool” to use as determined. While they speak to the past, they fail to demonstrate they understand this new “tool” would be used for future situations that concern the government leadership. The protests are all over, so why are they pushing so hard to have this Act passed?
What could possibly be on the horizon that makes the Liberal government believe Canadians will rise up in defiance of the government? The Great Reset is supposed to commence following the COVID pandemic. Is Mr. Trudeau worried that Canadians may not embrace the Globalist agenda for absolute control? More to the point, is he prepared to force feed the New World Order down our throats with his new “tool” to ensure compliance? He has already displayed he can freeze bank accounts and influence the financial well-being of we citizens.
We are at the crossroads of history and too many have their unaware heads in the sand.
Up 23 Down 10
Anonymous on Feb 20, 2022 at 9:30 am
@Bandit
That wouldn't be an improvement. It would negatively impact site traffic because many would stop coming here if it became too heavily censored. Anonymity levels the playing field for debate while discouraging mud-slinging and character assassination. It denies you the ad hominem attack and forces you to engage with the actual discussion. Enabling anonymous comments is also beneficial to the star, because it lets them get a sense of where the wind is blowing in the minds of the community. The people in charge are playing it very smart, because once this all blows over and the truth about the vaccines becomes a matter of public record, they will be held in high regard for allowing those of us who opposed the mandates to have our voices be heard. The same can't be said of their colleagues at the CBC. You can post with your real name if you want to, but I prefer to let my arguments speak for themselves.
Up 6 Down 5
AdmiralA$$ on Feb 20, 2022 at 6:17 am
Momma Grizzly how much Danish do you speak?
Change your VPN to Danske and your medier vil være anderledes. It is amazing the difference. Most of my family comes from or currently lives there and it is not what that article portrayes.
Up 26 Down 11
Anonymous on Feb 19, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Hey Groucho,
It's not a lunatic fringe conspiracy theory, they've openly admitted it and announced it as their platform. The issue has now been raised in parliament and I hope that the conservative MPs continue their line of questioning (none of which will be answered by Prime Minister Just-in Time Delivery, but I digress). The issue is that the WEF is 'penetrating cabinets' and the result is that democracies are being turned into dictatorships.
Here is the quote from Klaus Schwab about our members of parliament:
https://twitter.com/JamesMelville/status/1488472558425063430
Here is the question regarding who those members are:
https://mobile.twitter.com/ScottLucian/status/1495052763264425988
Just look at the reaction from the speaker, he's one of them.
Up 12 Down 10
Groucho d'North on Feb 19, 2022 at 11:06 am
@Dean
Please don't give up! It only encourages the bastards.
Do not go gentle into their dark night...
Up 21 Down 40
unReal on Feb 19, 2022 at 10:25 am
Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over!"
Hey protesters: What are you conspiracy theorist going to protest about then?
Reminds me of the business man who asked the hippie what they would demonstrate about and the hippie answered: What you got?
(I hope to get at least 100 thumbs down as the protesters are such sensitive reactionists!)
Up 49 Down 16
Groucho d'North on Feb 19, 2022 at 10:13 am
We are prisoners in our own nation and lately I am thinking this is not all by accident. There are a number of conspiracy theories about our governments assuming greater control over the populace, but to be candid, I don't think they are smart enough to do this on their own. But you may recall our Prime Misery spoke that the COVID pandemic was an opportunity to launch the Great Reset, so I began to read about the Great Reset plan where "You will own nothing and you will be happy."
This is something no politician has or I suspect will campaign on for fear of prompting a mass revolt, but these changes have already begun.
I will not share my views on this, but I encourage everyone to read this Great Reset plan and form your own opinions of what our government leaders chat about when the microphones are off. I say again, we are frogs in a slowly warming pot.
https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/
Up 36 Down 11
Austin on Feb 19, 2022 at 8:06 am
@ Mr Facts
Thank you for your truthful and reliable facts. Being born in Canada and working 2 jobs for the last 31 years and working 37 years in total I guess I know now who is the minority. This country is getting worse. I cannot wait till retirement if I can retire with the price of gas, taxes and all. Thank you for your comments. They make me see what this Government is all about.
Up 10 Down 15
Mr Wrong Facts on Feb 18, 2022 at 4:37 pm
@Mr Facts : I see you don't know the difference between an immigrant and a Refugee. Pity
Up 10 Down 14
bonanzajoe on Feb 18, 2022 at 3:44 pm
You Nailed It! And what is your real name? And I see you got good passing marks on the Marxist indoctrination test.
Up 11 Down 10
bonanzajoe on Feb 18, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Patti Eyre, how do you know I don't do research comrade?
Up 3 Down 12
Yes Pfizer & Moderna need your help on Feb 18, 2022 at 3:36 pm
Actually they don’t test vaccines on “Momma grizzly.” They use ferrets and monkeys.
Up 5 Down 9
Melting point of Silver on Feb 18, 2022 at 3:34 pm
Is 961 degrees.
Up 48 Down 13
Mr Facts on Feb 18, 2022 at 2:51 pm
Here's some more facts for my fans. I guess this Emergency Order doesn't apply if you are native or an immigrant. I wish I was making this up, lol. Remember those railroad blockades?
"Exemption
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to
(a) a person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act;
(b) a person who has been recognized as a Convention refugee or a person in similar circumstances to those of a Convention refugee within the meaning of subsection 146(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations who is issued a permanent resident visa under subsection 139(1) of those regulations;
(c) a person who has been issued a temporary resident permit within the meaning of subsection 24(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and who seeks to enter Canada as a protected temporary resident under subsection 151.1(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations;
(d) a person who seeks to enter Canada for the purpose of making a claim for refugee protection;
(e) a protected person;
(f) a person or any person in a class of persons whose presence in Canada, as determined by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration or the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, is in the national interest."
https://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2022/2022-02-15-x1/html/sor-dors21-eng.html
Up 56 Down 13
Bob on Feb 18, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Roy
It's called Social Engineering; Carrot & stick approach; Hegelian dialectic.
Stick: The Feds have just brought in the draconian Emergencies Act (EA) which was unnecessary & does not fit the Federal legal description that qualifies it for use. Once, any Gov't gives itself extra powers it is extremely difficult or impossible to get them to relinquish them. Freezing bank accounts of peaceful protestors is the precursor (introduced, by mid-2023) for the future digital currency (China's, Social Credit system & UN Carbon Tax credits) where anyone that speaks against the gov't, uses too many resources (gas, water, food, etc.), has legal issues; will be restricted in any of their daily activities, have their accounts frozen, etc.. Flatten the curve, for two weeks, has turned into two years & counting & they were desperate enough to use the latest mild viral infection called Omicron to justify extending their Emergency powers.
Carrot: After, the extreme measures. The Government releases some restrictions to make the gullible people think that they are being rewarded & whatever the government is doing is right.
Governments create "the Nanny state", thinks they are god & manipulate their citizens accordingly. This is where we are presently at & where we are headed to. The Agenda (21) 2030, WEF, Geo-Technocracy, etc. goal is already here!
Up 17 Down 29
Bandit on Feb 18, 2022 at 12:47 pm
@You Nailed It !
I'm not suggesting shutting down this site but introducing a requirement to register under a real name with proven identification sure would be an improvement!
Then how about you lead by example....
Up 13 Down 15
Patti Eyre on Feb 18, 2022 at 12:21 pm
@bjoe: you don't do honest research yourself, just tell the truth and shame the devil. you don't do any research at all, shame!
Up 65 Down 23
Austin on Feb 18, 2022 at 9:57 am
Oh thank you master should I get on both knees or one to kiss your feet? Blah Blah Blah all day friggin long. I have been vaccinated and still feel like crap 4 months later. How does it help. It doesnt stop you from getting covid. Also all the talk about the freedom convoy. I approved of the horn honking downtown and was confronted by Vaccination and mandate supporters (I just walked away)so like rasicm it works both ways. Don't think just because people support the convoy that they aren't Vaccinated. Don't be hypocritical and just give us the truth. Please Sandy and Dr Elliot. Quit dividing our country.
Up 11 Down 8
YUKONER on Feb 18, 2022 at 8:30 am
@Nathan Living
you truly are special
Up 52 Down 13
Hannah A on Feb 18, 2022 at 6:11 am
When will forced child masking end? There is no scientific justification.
Cloth and surgical masks are ineffective on children in a school setting.
Whitehorse adults will "perform" masking when walking into a restaurant, then remove the mask to enjoy their dinner and drinks. If it's an emergency that justifies 5 year olds to cover their faces for 7 hours, then adults should not be able to dine/drink maskless.
Vaccines are widely available for those who want them.
Focus on getting our vulnerable over 60 vaccinated.
An 88-year-old has 8,700 times the risk of death of an 8-year-old (which is near zero):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/covid-data/hospitalization-death-by-age.pdf
Up 66 Down 23
Adam Morrison on Feb 17, 2022 at 10:30 pm
"If you are okay with medical mandates, you are okay with tyranny and oppression.
Taking away people's livelihoods, refusing them medical care, kicking them off transplant lists, segregating them, withholding equal access to goods and services etc., is straight up oppression.
And don't give the old "choices have consequences" argument. This is coercion, not choice. But even if it was a free choice:
Do we not treat people with lung cancer if they are smokers? Do we not help someone who is having a heart attack if they are obese? Do we not treat a persons cavities if they eat too much sugar?
These are peoples rights and lives, weather you agree with their choices or not, we must stand up for them".
Up 47 Down 13
Rick riemer on Feb 17, 2022 at 8:37 pm
Sandy where has common sense went? Are you going to put road blocks up at the borders ? How many jurisdictions by March will have no mandates ? This is the time when most people who have seasonal jobs come back to work. With no restrictions where they have been, how are you going to police your restrictions ? I bet you will be dropping restrictions soon. Lol
Up 24 Down 60
You Nailed It! on Feb 17, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Just the facts, ma'am -- You are 100000% right!!! The comments and thumbs on this site are not representative of the people in our territory or our Country. It's become a hangout for the right wing nutbars!
That's not good because they applaud each other, give false reassurance and motivation to go further and to slander those with opposing views as with a gang mentality.
This type of a forum might serve as a breeding ground for dissent, for anti-social behavior and possibly for violence, similar to a Trump rally.
I'm not suggesting shutting down this site but introducing a requirement to register under a real name with proven identification sure would be an improvement!
Up 35 Down 11
DMZ on Feb 17, 2022 at 6:12 pm
I hope Silver isn't talking about some random protester in Whitehorse yelling at the woman who has been complaining for a week now about someone being mean to her when she counter-protested the trucks.
To be honest, I find people going out and waving placards like "wearing a mask isn't that hard" offensive (though I keep it to myself in public, thank you). We've been doing things their way for two years. It's like watching the 1 percent protesting that they pay too much in taxes. And appropriating the courthouse for their "yay, Covid" demonstration is just obnoxious.
That doesn't mean I like the truck convoys outside the Yukon (the ones in Whitehorse are harmless). No protest needs $20 million or whatever it is they raised, or to set up a city within a city, closing down businesses, and then make demands that a democratically elected government step down.
Up 26 Down 52
Vaccinated Momma Grizzly on Feb 17, 2022 at 6:08 pm
As this article below states, Denmark lifted all covid restrictions in February and has seen a marked increase in cases, hospitalizations and deaths since. They currently have rates considerably higher than than the peaks of other European countries.
A few things to consider:
- "By ending mitigation measures prematurely, Denmark has brought a resurgence of infection, hospitalization and death upon itself — and anyone who follows in the country’s footsteps risks doing the same." Is that something we really want for Canada and Yukon?
- "How much risk — how many hospitalizations and deaths — is a society ultimately willing to tolerate in exchange for no more rules?|" This is not about "you" but about our society and community as a whole. Kids under 5 can't be vaccinated yet. Why aren't we talking about their rights?
- "Will [right-leaning conservative] leaders acknowledge that new variants — variants such as BA.2, but perhaps even more transmissible, and possibly more virulent — could emerge? Will they recognize that immunity tends to wane over time?" How willing will they be to toggle restrictions on and off over the next 5-10 years as new variants emerge and need to managed to support the overall health of the public? or will they be too worried about pandering to the vocal few "freedom (for me, its not about you)!" fighters bravely honking around town?
The reality is covid will be here for a while. We need to figure out a way to live with it WHILE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, which likely means masks and mandates.
In a conversation with someone who survived the war in Bosnia, what is happening now in Canada is very different from the loss of freedoms that people had during the Sarajevo siege. We can still go to the store, restaurant, trail, etc. etc. In Sarajevo neighbours were shooting neighbours with sniper rifles. People were terrified for their lives. THAT is a loss of freedom. We are being inconvenienced, yes, but still have vast degrees more freedoms than people in many countries. Come on Yukoners, let's work together for the benefit of everyone, wear our masks, get vaccinated, and be kind to one another.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/in-warning-to-us-covid-rates-soar-after-denmark-lifts-all-restrictions-183342093.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIWtYBCQ26MNMUd5vQePOlP7-rh9R8idgs8Lw1uyZ7Y6Bk8cPObiHZ4uH0LQpnxU5d07cJByITRdu2HU8HE8pfwIXS5Hgt1R_vUMiHoDZYb3J6x7j8Zh9k4ul3irUun5g26da3zYF0DFJCcQ00RJqX82lpBdNB9-YYY9sJ_H14yW
Up 19 Down 18
Yukoner on Feb 17, 2022 at 5:07 pm
@bonanzajoe fine then they can stay this way. With schools and kids activities being on and off for the last two years no reasons churches should be any different. Churches should get no special treatment, it is an indoor gathering and should be subject to the exact same rules as anyone else. The way Churches are treated with a white glove in this country is ridiculous; start paying taxes and follow the rules just like everyone else.
Up 13 Down 3
melba on Feb 17, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Really glad to see this! I am also glad that they did not push the changes out two weeks but are implementing them almost immediately.
Up 21 Down 14
bonanzajoe on Feb 17, 2022 at 4:08 pm
Nathan Living on Feb 17. Well, here's one that disagrees with you. First you talk about how important it is for the government to be legislating laws to take away the people's freedoms, than you tell us about our democratic rights. Which is it dude, you can't have both.
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bonanzajoe on Feb 17, 2022 at 4:02 pm
Jeff Bikaboom: Yeah, and how many people go to theatres and church these days anyway? So, by giving them more freedom, Silver, Elliot and the Libs think they are doing the public a great service. See you all on election day, when we the people have the power over you tyrants.
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bonanzajoe on Feb 17, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Sarah Davison: You are totally right. If this is the sorts of things that can be done by the Emergency Act, then, it's time to scrap the act. it does not belong in a democratic free State.
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bonanzajoe on Feb 17, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Yukon Liberal: You really should get a special award for "Useful Idiot".
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bonanzajoe on Feb 17, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Yukoner on Feb 17, 2022. You gotta be nuts. The Churches have been closed down for 2 years. Where were you throughout this?
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bonanzajoe on Feb 17, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Silver said he does not condone the actions of some of the protestors who have behaved aggressively. This is a blatant lie. Silvers is taking the lies from the tax funded. Liberal sponsored CBC and other left wing media. Those truckers were peaceful throughout the protest. It was Trudeau's blue shirts that were behaving aggressively. Like roughing up and brutally arresting an innocent sickly old man who's only crime was honking his car horn and giving the thumbs up to the truckers. And those agitators - who I honestly believe were sent in by the PMO's office - who put up a confederate and swastika flag and others things to make the truckers look bad. So, Silver, instead of lying to the people you are supposed to serve, do some honest research like many of us are doing.
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Nell Fenwick on Feb 17, 2022 at 3:26 pm
Chicken Little and Marie Antoinette--off with their heads! Just kidding, Star, but the Deadly Duo have coerced Yukoners to submit to lethal mRNA shots and now believe they've done us a favor by allowing bars and restaurants to stay open past 10 pm. "... Every secret is told, every crime is punished, every virtue rewarded, every wrong redressed, in silence and certainty."
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Isolated on Feb 17, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Vaccination mandates are looking worse and worse as this drags on.
Would love to hear the need to segregate society be defended by some of this science they keep referencing.
The vaccines do not prevent spread or infection so the only defensible position is the risk of hospitalization and that's such a nuanced conversation that no mandate could ever contend with all the variables involved. So let's lift the blanket mandates and let people make health decisions for themselves.
Masking in public fine whatever, but health records to access exercise facilities is asinine.
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Nathan Living on Feb 17, 2022 at 2:40 pm
This measures are welcome and they have nothing to do with the freedom protests.
Sarah Davidson and others should look at how well our medical professionals have protected us.
If people are unhappy with the government then why not vote out the current governments territorally and federally, That is your democratic right.
I can see how some people do not want to be vaccinated and it's awkward for governments to accommodate those individuals when fighting a pandemic.
Instead of votes down I would prefer succinct comments from people who disagree with me.
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Apex Parasite on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:47 pm
If anything was eased it should have been the mandate and the passports which are part and parcel of directly affecting peoples lives in a negative way. But way to pick that low hanging fruit which most people have chosen to ignore of late anyway.
Max table 6, only two families at a table, no mingling lololol....impossible to enforce and people know that but was still good for a laugh.
Wanna stop looking like you're two lines behind the play? Stop pointless announcements like this and get to the gettin boys and girls. Stop taking peoples jobs when it's been made very clear the vaxxed carry the virus as freely as the unvaxxed, maybe the vaxxed won't run as high a risk of serious sickness but they pack it around like everyone else. Stop creating a class system with the passports which clearly delineate the "clean" from the "unclean" when really they are the same as far as transmissibility.
"But people are dying!!" Yes, thankfully. It's the way it's supposed to work in a general sense. You want real problems? Come up with a solution wherein nobody dies of anything ever....now you have real problems. Death is a part of life and it comes in a variety of flavours. If you could save every life....would you? Just some? How do you decide? For most species on the planet the circle of life prevails. It's only the humans that try to exclude themselves from that reality.
Because we are the Apex Parasites....we take what we want from the planet in resources and give nothing back but garbage and we want to save every life we can on every front because "human life is sacred". We need to get over ourselves.
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Daphne on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:46 pm
They are losing some of the emergency restrictions because they don’t want to give out any more lockdown money from the Government if they loosen just a few restrictions we are not in lockdown any more even if people lost their job and are out of work .
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Jeff Bikaboom on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:42 pm
"the only remaining restrictions will be the indoor masks requirement, the vaccine mandate for public employees, and vaccine certificates for designated sites and businesses"
Oh so just the three biggest, most oppressive restrictions. Just the ones the whole country is outraged about. Just the most discriminatory ones with biggest human rights violations.
The Yukon better hold on to these restrictions while the federal government fast tracks the labour code regulations requiring vaccinations for all federal employees and federally regulated industries. Then the Yukon can follow suit and make them permanent here.
"Movie buffs will be happy to hear that theatres will not be limited to the 50 per cent cap, along with personal services. "
No one cares.
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DL on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:38 pm
Keeping the vax mandates in place, when it's now proven that the covid vax don't stop transmission, is proof that Silver and Elliott and all these puppet Libs are into prolonging the deception for as long as they can. Shame on you.
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Rod on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:30 pm
What a joke!
But did we expect anything less from Sandy!
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Sarah Davison on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:30 pm
Chrystia Freeland is mincing about the public airwaves, flipping her hair and clicking her heels while she freezes the bank account and crypto wallets of her political enemies. She claims that what she's doing is all compliant with the Canadian Charter, which of course it is not. The Canadian charter very specifically protects all Canadians against forcible search and seizure, just as many other Constitutional protections uphold Canadians' right to the due process Freeland is busily denying them as she steals their bank assets and their livelihoods.
With these actions over the past week, Trudeau and Freeland have done more to blow up this country than any protestor ever could. They are resorting to the worst sorts of abuse of authority, blatantly manipulating legislation intended for use only at a time of all-out war or invasion in order to target their political enemies.
Canada is over. Any country that denies you the right to free political expression, that refuses to guarantee the security of your bank account, that allows politicians to abuse their authority and deliberately misuse governing legislation for their own political ends while refusing to respect basic constitutional protections, is a country in name only.
Local newspapers and journalists watching these events unfold should tread carefully and start a daily journal, imho.
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Oh Matthew on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Your constant outrage can't be healthy. And we'll see what happens with the suit about Charter violations, am betting it will be tossed, as it should be.
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joe on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Get rid of the vaccine passport. It's over.
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Just the facts, ma'am on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:11 pm
1. A new poll shows two-thirds of Canadians support PMJT’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act and believe it’s time to clear out the trucking protestors in Ottawa.
2. Comments on this site run contrary to the above at a rate of about 12 to 1.
3. This site is therefore badly skewed against the national average at a rate of about 25 to 1.
4. Most anti-Liberals on this site also oppose vaccines and support those truckers.
5. Conclusion: this site is a haven for like-minded, fringe right, closed-minded deplorables.
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Yukon Liberal on Feb 17, 2022 at 1:02 pm
Wow, I think it is a shame to loosen any restrictions while there is above 0 people sick. I think we should be in mandatory 2 week lock down with no contacts until this plague resolves itself. Can't believe we are looking at giving into the deplorable protesters.
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Al on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:46 pm
There we have it - blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... Same tune, over and over again, just a different day, commonly referred to "SSDD" (same s--t different day)- a quote from Stephen King from the Deer Hunter.
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JustSayin' on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:44 pm
@Matthew
You believed Silver? He is the same person who said we would get all our Carbon tax back. ROFL
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Sarcasm on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:44 pm
Let's just keep moving the goal posts.
I yield too, you win Silver and Elliott. I am so happy we have such fine educated individuals who follow the science and make decisions based on the science.
The science I read stated this, "herd immunity stems from the effects of individual immunity scaled to the level of the population. It refers to the indirect protection from infection conferred to susceptible individuals when a sufficiently large proportion of IMMUNE individuals exist in a population." Does that mean one should not be able to transmit COVID-19, but you can if you are vaccinated or unvaccinated.? I am so confused because the science you say does not follow this science.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7236739/
I am going to draw a picture with my crayons of a heart and in the heart I will put Silver and Elliot's name because they are fantastic!
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Sarah Davison on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Ridiculous.
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Matthew on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:13 pm
BULL! This is not easing any restrictions.. many sections of the charter still crossed out.. what happened to herd immunity? Was it just a lie all along!? Why aren't liars held accountable!?
https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/goal-is-to-immunize-75-per-cent-of-yukon-adults
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Richard Smith on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:11 pm
..."by early March, the only remaining restrictions will be the indoor mask requirement, the vaccine mandate for public employees, and vaccine certificates for designated sites and businesses".
Do you think Yukoners are stupid Silver and Elliott?
The above covid requirements to remain are still major restrictions at a time when covid is largely irrelevant.
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Roy on Feb 17, 2022 at 12:10 pm
This makes no sense
We were told repeatedly that these restrictions were never going away. That this was the start of the New World order. The great reset. Courtesy of JT and Gates and Soros.
Why just yesterday Jeff B was commenting in here on how the restrictions won’t be lifted.
Yet here we are. The omicron wave has passed and restrictions are easing across the country in areas lead by liberals and conservatives. Jason Kenney is locking up the militants and removing the trucks blocking the border. Liberal lead provinces are loosening restrictions. Mandates are being removed.
So many of you cried tyranny. Once covid is gone you will need a new hobby. A new fantasy of oppression to be selfish about.
For the minority of people that lost their jobs - just remember choices have consequences. You made the choice for yourself knowing the consequences. Don’t be simultaneously proud of your choice and complain about its consequences.
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At home in the Yukon on Feb 17, 2022 at 11:57 am
I appreciate the new freedom. However, I oppose the vaccination mandate for government employees. It offers very little value and feels more like bullying and scapegoating to me. I am fully vaccinated. I have been supportive of the restrictions we have faced. But when people have sincerely held beliefs, religious or not, those beliefs need to be respected. Our society is not built on mandatory uniformity.
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Yukoner on Feb 17, 2022 at 11:47 am
Again special treatment for faith based services above sport and recreation or restaurants. Just because religion is some peoples way to mental well-being doesn't mean it's all. Ridiculous that churches are still pandered to after all the harm they have done and really if you want to talk about a group most likely to be affected by Covid it's church goers.
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Dean on Feb 17, 2022 at 11:47 am
I think I'm ready...to throw in the towel. Just become a full slave to the state. They win. Their operation has really worked perfectly. So, come and get me...put me in jail. Do whatever you think is necessary or right for me in every single way. You win.
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Fringe Minority with Unacceptable Views on Feb 17, 2022 at 11:44 am
The main limits that divide are exactly what you are keeping in place. This announcement is garbage and your excitement is pathetic. Can’t wait for the next election.