From April 19 to May 1, 2020, over 100,000 postsecondary students participated in an online crowdsourcing data collection about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting their academic, labour market and financial situation. Statistics Canada would like to thank participants who took the time to answer these important questions during these uncertain times.

Today, Statistics Canada is releasing the initial results from this questionnaire. Readers should note that, unlike other surveys conducted by Statistics Canada, crowdsourcing data are not collected under a design using probability-based sampling. As a result, the findings reported below cannot be applied to the overall postsecondary student population in Canada, but rather only to those who participated in the questionnaire. However, the results provide a snapshot of the experiences of participating students and—given the large number of participants—offer valuable insights.

"It was looking run-down after 10 years of austerity. But the British health service’s performance in the pandemic has restored its mythic status to the nation. ... Britons have, after all, trusted in the N.H.S. since 1948, when it was created by a Labour government after World War II to forge a country that would eradicate the “five evils”: want, disease, squalor, ignorance and idleness. Paid for through general taxation and payroll deductions, treatment is delivered to all without money changing hands, with a few exceptions such as dentistry and medication charges."

"One of the first bills passed by the Ford government was Bill 47, which undid changes to workplace rights that had been introduced by the previous Liberal government. Bill 47 froze the minimum wage at $14 dollars an hour and cancelled the scheduled increase to $15 dollars. Many of the workers the government rightly calls heroes would have benefited from the increase. The legislation also stripped away the meagre two paid sick days brought in by the previous government and the eight unpaid emergency leave days that were also introduced. Under Bill 47, temporary, casual and part-time workers are no longer entitled to the same wage for doing the same job as permanent or directly hired colleagues, which hurts workers in the long-term care sector, where part-time and casual work are common."

Today marks the launch of the Progressive International, a global initiative with a mission to unite, organize and mobilize progressive forces around the world.

The events of the past two months have shone a spotlight on the underlying weaknesses of Canada’s crumbling welfare state. Many people in Canada are …

"Many experts believe Cuba has managed to control the outbreak better than many countries in the region due to its well-staffed preventive healthcare system, mobilization of activists to track cases, a centralized system that allows a better focus, and willingness to quarantine large numbers of people."

"UN has asked the government to investigate latest allegations of abuse against migrants crossing on Balkan route from Bosnia"

"Vergara and Rendón – who has admitted meeting Goudreau last year and paying him $50,000 in expenses – resigned from Guaidó’s team on Monday. In his first interview since the incident, Guaidó tried to put on a brave face, insisting his campaign continued. “What happened last weekend,” Guaidó said, “was regrettable.”"

CCLA and partners file legal case against the Correctional Service of Canada May 12, 2020  The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and its coalition partners have filed a constitutional challenge to the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in federal correctional institutions.