https://twitter.com/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-liberals-deal-sick-leave-1.5739658
Liberals, NDP reach deal on sick leave, avoiding immediate election
Singh says change will 'help millions of Canadians'
· CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2020 4:19 PM ET
Ahead of Wednesday's speech from the throne NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
said his party would need to see the Canada emergency response benefit
(CERB) extended and paid sick leave offered to every employee across the
country to ensure no Canadian has to go to work sick. (The Canadian Press)
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the Liberal government is willing to boost the number of people who can access sick days, clearing the way for New Democrats to support the throne speech and bypass an immediate fall election.
Singh said the agreement involves a change to the wording in Bill C-2 — the proposed legislation that would transition people from the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) to an employment insurance program with expanded eligibility, or to one of three new recovery benefits — to significantly expand the number of Canadians who would be able to access paid sick leave.
"If what we've agreed upon is reflected in the bill that's presented on Monday, if all the same elements are still there, then we will be able to support that bill and yes, we will be able to support the throne speech," said Singh during a news conference this evening.
The NDP's support for the throne speech would give the minority Liberals enough votes to pass it in the House of Commons and avoid a snap election.
NDP
Leader Jagmeet Singh has secured improved sick day provisions from the
Liberal government. He will now support the government on an upcoming
confidence vote, reducing the prospect of a snap election. 1:54
The details of the sick leave changes haven't been released yet, but Singh said the change "will help millions of Canadians."
"Today marks the first step in achieving the first ever, in the history of our country, federal paid sick leave for Canadian workers," he said
"It's a first step toward our ultimate goal of insuring all Canadian workers have paid sick leave now and forever."
Liberal House Leader Pablo Rodriquez tweeted this afternoon that a deal has been reached, but didn't offer any more details about the sick leave changes.
"We are entering the second wave and millions of Canadians are still struggling to make ends meet. We now have an agreement with the NDP on a bill that will deliver the help that Canadians need. It's by working together that we will get through this pandemic," he said.
The Conservatives said flatly they won't support the throne speech, while the Bloc Québécois said it won't support it unless the government boosts health care transfers to the provinces with no strings attached.
Canadians faced 'impossible choices:' Singh
That made the 24 New Democrats in the House the Liberals' best shot for securing enough votes to pass the confidence vote on the throne speech and avoid a snap election.
Ahead of Wednesday's speech from the throne, Singh said his party would need to see the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) extended and paid sick leave offered to every employee across the country to ensure no Canadian has to go to work sick.
Bill C-2 provides for a 10-day sick leave benefit — something the NDP had demanded — but on Thursday Singh said he still had concerns about how accessible the paid sick leave would be. He refused to explain in detail what he was asking for, saying that negotiations with the government are ongoing and those talks could affect the entire bill.
He said it's a priority for the NDP because too many people now face what he calls "impossible choices" between staying home or going to work when they're unwell.
"Many of them have to go into work because if they don't they're not going to get paid ... and they cannot pay their bills at the end of the month unless they go to work," he said in an interview of CBC's The House airing Saturday.
Trudeau had hinted earlier in the day that talks were ongoing with the NDP.
"I've heard reflections from the NDP that this should be a permanent feature of Canada's system going forward and I think that's certainly something we can have conversations about," he said.
"But we are very much focused on making sure that into this fall as cold season starts again that people have access to sick leave to be able to stay home and not risk going to work and infect people."
That’s “you and I will pay for it”...and I look forward to ensuring as many fellow Canadians are as supported as possible.
It beats the destitute poverty that is waiting around the corner for too many, especially if this second wave crap hits the fan.
Imo only the miserly miserable who are only self absorbed would balk at this concept.
There were 10435 Comments before I refreshed this page long past closing time on Sept 27th
The tally had gone down to 9863 Comments
5 hours later(6:30 pm AT) went down to 9817 Comments
5 hours later after the deletion of many of my comments the tally had climbed to
9839 Comments
High Noon on the 28th The tally stood at 9871 Comments
Now its over 5 hours later even though many more comments were posted the tally is now down to 9679 Comments N'esy Pas?
Liberals enrich some COVID-19 benefits in new bill, urge all MPs to support it
New suite of benefits aims to help those who still can't find work or have seen their hours reduced
Kathleen Harris · CBC News · Posted: Sep 24, 2020 1:03 PM ET
3210 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Ross Gravelle
Yes yes in deed I was around when the oh so good Liberals devastaed health care under Martin
John Wayne
Canada deb t as of today 885,015,231,354.63
Keith Laughton
"Qualtrough stressed the "urgency" of getting the benefits to Canadians in need, and said she hopes MPs from all parties will swiftly pass the bill.
"I'll leave the House strategy to the experts on that, but I can assure you I'm doing my part, working with my colleagues across the aisle to make sure this is collaboratively brought forward and supported by everyone," she said.
I wonder if that collaboration will be like the Liberals March bill which tried to sideline parliament for 21 months?
Or maybe it would resemble the Liberal NDP agreement which limited the House of Commons for months.
Or would it be the Liberals introducing two different versions of the same bill in June, but not being willing to remain in the house for more than 15 minutes to discuss either?
As for the urgency, we know that the measures are less important than closing down House of Commons investigations into Mr Trudeau's most recent (at the time) ethical lapses.
Regards,
Why the Queen herself has twice delivered Canada's speech from the throne
Both of Queen Elizabeth's speeches marked key events in her reign, says a royal historian
Janet Davison · CBC News · Posted: Sep 27, 2020 4:00 AM ET
"In the United States of America, no matter what situation occurs, it is said there is always a tweet for every occasion when scrolling through President Trump’s social media platforms.
In the United Kingdom, no matter what situation occurs, there is usually a comment or gaffe made by the Duke of Edinburgh to match the occasion.
The current coronavirus outbreak is no exception, with a remark Prince Phillip made back in 1988 resurfacing.
32 years ago, the Queen’s husband spoke on the topic of reincarnation, and what he would come back as if such a thing existed.
He said: “In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, to contribute something to solving overpopulation.”
The Duke made the remarks when speaking to when speaking to German news agency Deutsche Press Agentur."
Methinks many folks can't help but wonder what the last words permitted to stand the test time after being published within this forum will say.Nobody can deny that the clock is ticking on the upcoming vote on the The Speech from the Throne and the fate of our "Just Democracy' is held in the hands of the lawyer Jagmeet Singh N'esy Pas?
Reply to @David Amos: You have just posted nothing Mr. Methinks.
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: None.
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Dislike the game, not the players.
Most folks would admit outright that they too would exploit any opportunity to forward their promised agenda “for the Canadian people”...or they would be speaking untruths.
Methinks I should inform you what the Privy Council will not. Our de facto Queen and her many counsel know that this is no game but a rather wicked circus in which all the clowns who swore an oath to the Crown must play their part I trust the the Bloc knows that Not withstanding the fact that la belle province never signed on to the Charter and its nonsense N'esy Pas?
I do not know you, nor am I familiar with your methods, political leanings, or motive in the end.
I would respectfully suggest you take your apparent knowledge of matter most know little to nothing about to higher levels as seems to be in your aforementioned litigations ongoing.
Further, imo if your posting here to garner supporters, I would suggest being less cryptic/accusatory and state plain facts that would be understood easily and draw straight lines minus the “conspiracy theory” flavour that is too much peddled here, and discounted as the musings of the more paranoid. Be well DA.
Need I say that I have had enough of your deception?
Shame on you and say hey to the RCMP who failed in their attempt to call me crazy in 2008
There’s no shame on me.
I actually meant be well.
I hope you find satisfaction in matters beyond this subject as it can bring about more than the healthy paranoia I was referring to swimming in the mire too long at any given time.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. There are twenty six others posting under two hundred pseudonyms on here CONflating all manner of stories to seek creation of chaos in our country, my home, Canada.
I am alone and I use no pseudonyms However methinks I should ask you 3 obvious questions N'esy Pas? Is that your real name? If not how many do you use? How many of your friends are within the number you mention?
It’s “n’est pas” man...come on!
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. None
4. None
I’m also sure both of us would not only “say hello” to our elected PM Trudeau, but we would also add our two cents worth speaking with him on all matter governing, and in a far more respectful way than seems to present here online and “bravely retreat able” without owning ones offensiveness.
With regards to my lawsuit against the Crown nobody can deny that Attorney General Peter MacKay answered my sad complaint wrongly while i was running in the election of the 42nd Parliament. Leblanc and his leader of the former 3rd Party Trudeau the Younger had no standing after the writ was dropped. They became just another two common dudes like me seeking a seat in the next parliament in order to defend our democracy from Harper et al N'esy Pas?
Lol...”n’esy pas” it is then...who knew?!?
As far as “coats” worn, I am voting for that which makes sense after all available data is in.
The LPC has left some things to be desired, no doubt, but near everyone agrees now is not the time to upend our federal govt. More than this, the LPC minority govt moves made to date in all things support through this pandemic are what has been required, regardless of party affiliation imo.
The next election will come, and at a time better suited to more stable times. Transparency has been playing out painfully and with more disclosed than has been in the past ( yes, more can be done in this).
Accountability will ultimately come at the voting kiosks. Trashing any party incognito and online when there is no election looming is shoddy politicking.
Those with better ideas should send them to their respective MP, and if they really need to share them on an internationally accessible news board, they ought to post it respectfully, as they, as we, are Canadians...and needn’t stoop so low imo anyway...n’esy pas? ( is that the right way to use that? :)
FYI I am about to email he and Katie and Erin and others your words and mine warts and all. Do tell do you work for Trudeau et al?
It sounds as if you have extended yourself personally in getting involved to better Canada.
Thank you for that.
The more I read and try to understand politics and politicians, the more difficult it is to respect the process and those involved.
I am very confident that all that is today is derived from a sordid history Of same type behaviours of lower integrity. I am also not surprised when considering humans being slave to the “seven deadly sins” of you will.
I hope more Canadians of upstanding character wade into governance, and are able to further untie us from the “powers” that manipulate all manner of policies, as just one thing that seems to limit true democracy here imo.
I think it’s a great idea communicating with them. I do not work for anyone in the LPC, but I would consider it an honour to do so personally. There is so much more that can be done to engage all Canadians, left, right and center...as all of their opinions matter, as long as they are devoid of gratuitous sniping that only closes doors and minds instead of opening them.
I disagree another election may be upon us soon in rather chaotic times IfTrump and O'Toole et al finally pay attention to my lawsuits, emails, blog Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Transparency has been playing out painfully and with more disclosed than has been in the past ( yes, more can be done in this).
"Accountability will ultimately come at the voting kiosks. Trashing any party incognito and online when there is no election looming is shoddy politicking."
I am not incognito i suggest that you finally Google Fundy Royal Debate and listen in
Those with better ideas should send them to their respective MP, and if they really need to share them on an internationally accessible news board, they ought to post it respectfully, as they, as we, are Canadians...and needn’t stoop so low imo anyway...n’esy pas? ( is that the right way to use that? :)
Methinks everybody knows I do N'esy Pas?
Sorry for the misunderstanding DA, my words were not directed to you personally. I am always inclined to post to all, more than just the one persons thread it may be in. It’s my fault end of day in this.
You are obviously taking time to do what you can, wherever that takes you, and us. You are also not seeming to be abusive or disrespectful to our elected or others on here so many of my words just do not apply to you...in this thread anyway right?! Lol...
Trust that Trump et al know that made it my business to prove that to be fact in many courts south of the 49th before I introduced myself to all Canadian Parliamentarians then came home to Fundy Royal and ran in the election of the 38th Parliament
"behaviours of lower integritY"
Perhaps if you truly carey about our purportedly profound "Just Democracy" find my Twitter account and click on the link found right after the words "Go Figure" in order to read an old file I labeled "Integrity Yea Right" in 2005 after I came screaming out of a Yankee jail where i was being illegally held under the charges of "Other" before George Bush "The Younger" got elected for his second term
if you find my legal and political troubles so comical methinks you should consider running for public office yourself N'esy Pas?
True that is why i already archived this tread with my blog and Tweeted about it before my words go "Poof" just like they usually do.
It sounds as if you have had to pay a heavy personal price in your attempts to change what has been or is. I am not fully familiar with you history but it also seems you have tried to become part of the machine of governance that has “offended” some...and that seems to be the best position to be in order to instigate real change.
I wish you luck and hope you can appeal to enough of the electorate in your offering of future platform that you can get in there and do what may be better for Canadians.
It’s very difficult reading/building consensus amongst any given populace...make wholesale change steeped in a history established is even more difficult, is it not?
Imo a point “proven” with words posted by one person may be worth the read, but a point tried, tested, and made true through elected application is more truly a proven point.
1. Keeps Trudeau in power.
2. Makes Singh relevant.
This will go on until Singh gets greedy and asks for 2 much or Trudeau doesn't keep his promises to Singh. As Trudeau has a hard time with promises I think that will end the bromance.
Three things actually
3. Expands a financial assistance program to help more Canadians survive horrendous employment/economic challenges that anyone would want provided to their nation in troubled times.
What’s the alternative, and your answer better not disregard one persons well being/life here?
My point was that Trudeau is artificially being kept in office by Singh. In the outside world what is being done is called blackmail. If Trudeau doesn't give Singh what he wants then he will vote against him.
I feel your frustration in seeing how the “system” actually works vs how we think it should.
Elected PM Trudeau is currently the Minority Govt leader of our nation circumnavigating the wild maze that is the world today. That is all. He will be replaced by the next and the next, just as his predecessors were. Too many are far too offended by any who may defend our PM elect...it seems over the top to me but whatever. I have always asked those who feel things are off to send their concerns to their MP in a respectful way and hope it may make a difference. I extend that suggestion to you as well, as I am not but one Canadian doing the same when I feel compelled, more than worrying about convincing bloggers here or getting upvotes or what have you.
ah
Since you have a vote, perhaps even an NDP MP, and certainly access to the NDP National Office....give them a call and in sure they’ll be more than happy to answer all your questions.
I know I intend to.
“... with the total volume of film and television production reaching a record $9.32 billion and generating a GDP of $12.8 billion for the Canadian economy.”
https://www.mpa-canada.org/what-we-do/driving-economic-growth/
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/Integrity-Yea-Right
This network is kinda quirky for that stuff I think.
https://www.mpa-canada.org/what-we-do/driving-economic-growth/
Amen
Then try to argue me
Why would anyone “argue you“? You’ve already broadcast that you care nothing about processes of democracy in Canada with you dismissive, disrespectful insults.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. There are twenty six others posting under two hundred pseudonyms on here CONflating all manner of stories to seek creation of chaos in our country, my home, Canada.
Unity and supportive measures to survive stronger should be our only pursuit. Get over yourself and think on this a bit. Stop making us look petty....please.
Thank god too...the dark oppressive austerity so readily crawled after by the opposition is NOT what is needed this year at all...no matter how many times offered.
David Amos
" Probably won't happen. There was 'info' last October, and JT is still PM. "
'Info' isn't the same as a full investigation.
"The "scandals" are Nothing."
Is that why Trudeau prorogued Parliament when he did, because the WE scandal was "nothing"?
"If there was any actual evidence, it would have come out already."
Yes, if Trudeau hadn't shut down Parliament to avoid any investigation. It will come out now, thankfully.
The deeper the ethics committee dig the more Liberal corruption will surface.
What?
When...where?
Announcer: ‘Could a wave of NDA’s hit parliament hill?
Tune-in tomorrow as the gripping saga “As the Shredder Turns” continues.”
Robert, the libs and ndp's have more votes than the conservatives, ergo they represent far more Canadians. All they can do is attack and make political hay out of every tiny issue. Too bad they couldn't be more constructive, pro-active, realistic, inclusive, diverse. Oh and btw, it's not MY party. I'm not a lib, con, ndp or green, do I really don't care about the party, as I care more about people.
Methinks it should be a small wonder I put my name on a ballot 7 times thus far N'esy Pas?
Methinks I mentioned circuses N'esy Pas?
https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/philip/prince-philips-deadly-virus-gaffe-139041/
Michael Garnett/CC/Flickr
n the United States of America, no matter what situation occurs, it is said there is always a tweet for every occasion when scrolling through President Trump’s social media platforms.
In the United Kingdom, no matter what situation occurs, there is usually a comment or gaffe made by the Duke of Edinburgh to match the occasion.
The current coronavirus outbreak is no exception, with a remark Prince Phillip made back in 1988 resurfacing.
32 years ago, the Queen’s husband spoke on the topic of reincarnation, and what he would come back as if such a thing existed.
He said: “In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, to contribute something to solving overpopulation.”
The Duke made the remarks when speaking to when speaking to German news agency Deutsche Press Agentur.
Prince Philip retired from all public duties in 2017, and now spends most of his time at Sandringham.
The Duke has made a number of gaffes during his many decades of public service. A few of his most controversial are copied below:
Scotland
Speaking to a Scottish driving instructor in 1995, Prince Philip asked: “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?”
Bangladesh
“So who’s on drugs here? He looks as if he’s on drugs” As he pointed to a 14-year-old member of a Bangladeshi youth club.
Nigeria
Speaking to the President of Nigeria in 2003, the Duke said: “You look like you’re ready for bed.” The President was wearing his national dress at the time.
Kenya
“You are a woman aren’t you?” after accepting a gift from a woman in Kenya back in 1984.
China
Probably the most famous gaffe the Queen’s husband has ever made. After speaking to a British student during a state visit to China on 1986, he said: “If you stay here much longer, you will go home with slitty eyes.”
Why the Queen herself has twice delivered Canada's speech from the throne
Both of Queen Elizabeth's speeches marked key events in her reign, says a royal historian
· CBC News · Posted: Sep 27, 2020 4:00 AM ET
Queen Elizabeth reads the throne speech in the Senate chambers on Oct. 18, 1977, officially opening the session of Parliament. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau sits to the right of the Queen. ( The Canadian Press)
Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis — curated this week by Eva Lam. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox.
Our CBC colleague and senior reporter Mark Gollom took a look this week at the two occasions in which Queen Elizabeth opened Parliament in Canada:
This week saw Gov. Gen. Julie Payette carry out one of her more significant parliamentary duties as the Queen's representative — opening up the new session of Canada's Parliament by delivering the speech from the throne.
It's referred to as such because, quite simply, the speech to outline the federal government's priorities for that session of Parliament is read from the throne, or seat, that is reserved in the Senate chamber for the Queen or her royal representative.
But there have been two occasions in which the Queen herself has sat in that seat and read the speech from the throne in Ottawa.
"Both of Queen Elizabeth II's speeches marked key events in her reign," said Toronto-based royal author and historian Carolyn Harris.
The first was on Oct. 14, 1957, and it marked the Queen's first visit to Canada as a reigning monarch and the first time the monarch opened Parliament in Canada.
The visit lasted four days, limited to Ottawa, and occurred during John Diefenbaker's first year in office as prime minister.
Prince Philip listens as the Queen reads the speech from the throne opening Parliament on Oct. 14, 1957. (The Canadian Press)
"Diefenbaker's government had only been elected in June of that year, so the visit was evidently arranged at short notice and was a coup for the minority Conservative government," said Michael Jackson, president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada.
Diefenbaker "held a deep respect for the monarchy," and he took "special care to ensure that this event be shared across the country," according to the Diefenbaker Canada Centre website.
"Television cameras appeared for the first time in the House of Commons and in the Senate as the CBC broadcast the speech nationwide," the website said.
The Queen began the speech noting that this marked "the first time the representatives of the people of Canada and their sovereign are here assembled on the occasion of the opening of Parliament."
"This is for all of us a moment to remember," the Queen said.
Canadian journalist and author June Callwood, writing for Maclean's about the royal visit to Canada, wrote that the Queen read the speech "in a bath of spotlights that brought the temperature of the room to [33 C]."
Indeed, the strong lights, needed for a National Film Board documentary of the visit, blew all the fuses in the House of Commons just five minutes before the Queen's arrival, Callwood wrote.
"For four minutes and five seconds, there was total power failure. CBC technicians wept when power was restored, with 55 seconds to go," she wrote.
The Queen's second throne speech read in Canada came 20 years later, on Oct. 18, 1977, as part of her Silver Jubilee tour.
This was a five-day visit, again limited to Ottawa, but as Jackson notes, the government at the time may not have been as keen about the event as the Diefenbaker government.
It came during Pierre Trudeau's time in office, and, as Jackson wrote in his 2013 book The Crown and Canadian Federalism, some members of the prime minister's cabinet supported eliminating the monarchy.
The government "was reluctant" to celebrate the Queen's jubilee and "grudgingly, it arranged a short visit to Ottawa," Jackson wrote.
Still, in the opening passages of the throne speech, the Queen remarked how she had "greatly looked forward to being with you here in the Canadian Parliament in my Silver Jubilee year."
"Whenever I am in this wonderful country of Canada, with her vast resources and unlimited challenges, I feel thankful that Canadians have been so successful in establishing a vigorous democracy well suited to a proud and free people."
That was the last time the Queen has opened Parliament in the country, something that Robert Finch, dominion chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, finds regrettable.
"I think we have missed a few good opportunities over the years by not having the Queen deliver the speech from the throne more often," he said.
"The throne speech gives us one day where we are all reminded of the Crown's role in Parliament. To have had the Queen do it herself more often would have really helped drive home the reality that Canada is a constitutional monarchy and that she is the Queen of Canada."
Royal brothers don't always get along
Prince Albert (later King George VI), left, and Prince Edward (later King Edward VIII) circa 1900. Albert would find himself unexpectedly on the throne after his older brother's abdication in 1936. (Universal Images Group/Getty Images)
When word spread recently that a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, will be unveiled next year in a garden at Kensington Palace, some observers wondered if its installation on July 1 — which would have been her 60th birthday — will encourage some sort of rapprochement between her sons.
Much speculation has swirled about the nature of the relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry, particularly as their lives have taken them in different directions: William on the path expected of someone who is a direct heir to the throne, and Harry, farther down the line, finding a new life in California.
Whatever the exact nature of their relationship — and whether there is froideur, if not friction — it would hardly be the first time distance had developed between royal siblings who once were very close.
"When we look at history, often it's a challenge for royal siblings to all be in the same place … and as they grow older, often, the experience of heirs to the throne tends to diverge from that of younger royal children," said Harris.
Take, for example, King Edward VIII, who ruled from January to December 1936. Edward's younger brother Albert found himself unexpectedly on the throne as King George VI after his older brother abdicated in order to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson.
"His younger brothers looked up to him when they were young, but then the abdication crisis happens and that causes a lot of strain," said Harris.
Edward "was continuing to insist on the details of his income and whether [his wife] the Duchess of Windsor would be addressed as her royal highness … so certainly there's a great deal of strain between the two brothers," said Harris.
Go back a few generations, and everything was not all sunshine and light among all nine of Queen Victoria's children.
"The future Edward the Seventh and Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, were associated with much more partying and society life whereas it was actually the younger sons … seen by Queen Victoria herself, as being more responsible," said Harris.
Victoria leaned on her youngest son, Leopold, "as a kind of private secretary," Harris said, noting he was a hemophiliac and couldn't go into the military, a common occupation for royal men at the time.
"There's some evidence of jealousy, that for the future Edward the Seventh, he was heir to the throne, he would have expected to be in that role of assisting his mother with her state duties."
WATCH | Why biography of Harry and Meghan could add to deep royal wounds:
Harris sees some parallels among Victoria's nine children and William and Harry in how the siblings were close when they were young, particularly because they were living in the shadow of a parent's death.
Victoria's children "had lost their father, Prince Albert, and particularly the younger ones, growing up in this atmosphere of mourning brought them together."
But there was a sense that over time, Queen Victoria didn't treat them all equally.
"She had more confidence [in] some of her children's advice or abilities than others, and so that created some strain within Queen Victoria's extended family," said Harris.
Kate documents Britons' lives under lockdown
The final selections have been unveiled for Kate Middleton's Hold Still photography project, which aims to capture life in the U.K. during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project, which the Duchess of Cambridge launched in May in collaboration with London's National Portrait Gallery, invited people of all ages to submit a photo focused on three core themes: Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal and Acts of Kindness. From over 31,000 submissions, a panel of five judges, including Kate, selected 100 portraits to be featured in a digital exhibition.
"The images present a unique record of our shared and individual experiences during this extraordinary period of history, conveying humour and grief, creativity and kindness, tragedy and hope," read a message on the Kensington Royal Instagram account announcing the final 100 portraits on Sept. 14.
In the weeks after the project launched, Kate was spotted leaving encouraging messages underneath Instagram posts of people who submitted photos using the hashtags #HoldStill and #HoldStill2020, per Cosmopolitan.
On an image of a health-care worker in full uniform, Kate commented, "Thank you so much for sharing your story and for all the amazing work you continue to do at this difficult time," signing off with a "C," for Catherine. On another image of a young child blowing on a dandelion, Kate wrote, "A perfect example of Hold Still … the chance to re-engage and value the simple things around us."
The final selections for the project reveal the breadth of Britons' experiences during the pandemic. One shows a five-year-old boy with leukemia receiving chemotherapy at home during lockdown. Another shows a woman at a Black Lives Matter protest at the U.S. Embassy in London holding a sign reading, "Be on the right side of history."
Others show physically distanced kisses and exhausted health-care workers. Each image comes with text from the entrants themselves revealing the story behind the picture.
The Queen, with whom Kate shared a number of the portraits ahead of the exhibition's debut, has also released a congratulatory statement on the project, saying, "The Duchess of Cambridge and I were inspired to see how the photographs have captured the resilience of the British people at such a challenging time."
Royals in Canada
Queen Elizabeth is scrupulous about staying out of the politics of the day, and one visit to Canada made that abundantly clear. Her 1984 trip to mark the bicentennials of Ontario and New Brunswick, along with the sesquicentennial of Toronto, was delayed by two months to avoid a federal election.
When she and Prince Philip arrived in Moncton on Sept. 24, they were greeted by a prime minister only just settling into his new job. Brian Mulroney, fresh off the Progressive Conservatives' landslide victory, welcomed the royal couple and was with them at several points during the visit.
Often asked to oversee official openings, the Queen had the chance to do that at two high-profile places: the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Science North in Sudbury.
The 13-day visit also came shortly after the birth of her third grandson, Prince Harry. His arrival, The Canadian Press reported at the time, was recognized by the Province of Ontario with the gift of a natural willow bassinet that was presented to Buckingham Palace officials.
Royally quotable
"The borderless climate, biodiversity and health crises are all symptoms of a planet that has been pushed beyond its planetary boundaries. Without swift and immediate action at an unprecedented pace and scale, we will miss the window of opportunity to reset for a green-blue recovery and a more sustainable and inclusive future. In other words, the global pandemic is a wake-up call we simply cannot ignore."
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Prince Charles, in a virtual keynote speech to launch Climate Week NYC 2020 this week. A longtime advocate for the environment, the prince called for a military-style response akin to the U.S. Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe.
Royal reads
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With Barbados declaring its intention to remove the Queen as head of state, some residents of the English Berkshire town of Reading — home to one of the largest Barbadian diasporas outside of Barbados — explain why they believe "the time is right." [The Guardian]
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated Harry's 36th birthday on Sept. 15 by donating $130,000 to CAMFED, a charity that supports girls' education in Africa. [Vanity Fair]
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Activist Gloria Steinem revealed in an Access Hollywood interview that she and Meghan Markle cold-called U.S. voters to encourage them to vote in November's presidential election. [Harper's Bazaar]
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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, had her likeness captured in a clay bust during a live-streamed sculpture session. She was promoting the U.K.'s Vision Foundation and their work for blind and partially sighted people, a cause with which she has a personal connection. [Vanity Fair]
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