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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/world/canada/canada-reopens-but-little-returns-to-the-old-ways.html
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| Canada Reopens, but Little Returns to the Old Ways | Canada Reopens, but Little Returns to the Old Ways |
| (1 day later) | |
| At first it was just another of the petty annoyances that come with owning a car. While I was driving along a back road in southern Ontario, the rubber belt on the car’s engine that drives the generator and water pump snapped, setting off alarm chimes and a stern dashboard display warning to pull over. | At first it was just another of the petty annoyances that come with owning a car. While I was driving along a back road in southern Ontario, the rubber belt on the car’s engine that drives the generator and water pump snapped, setting off alarm chimes and a stern dashboard display warning to pull over. |
| But then I remembered that we are not in normal times. The auto club was still dispatching tow trucks. But, quite rightly, I wouldn’t be allowed to hitch a ride in its cab from a remote rural crossroads where I was stranded to someplace offering rental cars and hotels. | But then I remembered that we are not in normal times. The auto club was still dispatching tow trucks. But, quite rightly, I wouldn’t be allowed to hitch a ride in its cab from a remote rural crossroads where I was stranded to someplace offering rental cars and hotels. |
| Sorting out the situation would prove to be the first of many reminders that despite the ever-growing list of reopenings across Canada, much remains far from normal. | Sorting out the situation would prove to be the first of many reminders that despite the ever-growing list of reopenings across Canada, much remains far from normal. |
| There are considerable differences among provinces when it comes to what is now open. They don’t even agree on terminology. | There are considerable differences among provinces when it comes to what is now open. They don’t even agree on terminology. |
| British Columbia’s “restart plan” has four “levels.” To the east, Ontario has laid out three ”stages.” In Saskatchewan there are five reopening “phases” while Newfoundland offers five “alert levels.” | British Columbia’s “restart plan” has four “levels.” To the east, Ontario has laid out three ”stages.” In Saskatchewan there are five reopening “phases” while Newfoundland offers five “alert levels.” |
| There was further loosening of restrictions this week. British Columbia, which has been the most successful of the large provinces at controlling the outbreak, is now at its fullest degree of reopening until a vaccine becomes widely available. Among other things, its tourism industry will welcome visitors again. | There was further loosening of restrictions this week. British Columbia, which has been the most successful of the large provinces at controlling the outbreak, is now at its fullest degree of reopening until a vaccine becomes widely available. Among other things, its tourism industry will welcome visitors again. |
| Ontario expanded its reopenings throughout all of the province except for two communities near my hometown: Leamington and Kingsville. That lush farming area continues to deal with outbreaks among hundreds of migrant workers who developed Covid-19 after coming to Canada to work. Three have died. | Ontario expanded its reopenings throughout all of the province except for two communities near my hometown: Leamington and Kingsville. That lush farming area continues to deal with outbreaks among hundreds of migrant workers who developed Covid-19 after coming to Canada to work. Three have died. |
| John Horgan, the premier of British Columbia, was careful to add a cautionary note when he made his reopening announcement: “I think this can be an exciting summer for all of us, but be mindful: this is not regular programming.” | John Horgan, the premier of British Columbia, was careful to add a cautionary note when he made his reopening announcement: “I think this can be an exciting summer for all of us, but be mindful: this is not regular programming.” |
| Even before I discovered that the auto club would take my car away but not me, it was obvious that the new programming varies even within a province. One company operates all the service centers along Ontario’s expressways, for instance, but only a few of them, apparently following local rules, had employees turning away customers without masks. | Even before I discovered that the auto club would take my car away but not me, it was obvious that the new programming varies even within a province. One company operates all the service centers along Ontario’s expressways, for instance, but only a few of them, apparently following local rules, had employees turning away customers without masks. |
| I peered down at one beach on Lake Erie where several large groups had gathered, flagrantly breaking several rules. Twenty kilometers down the shore, another beach was completely empty and cordoned off like a accident site. The crowded beach has since been closed. | I peered down at one beach on Lake Erie where several large groups had gathered, flagrantly breaking several rules. Twenty kilometers down the shore, another beach was completely empty and cordoned off like a accident site. The crowded beach has since been closed. |
| In the grand scale of things related to the coronavirus, my breakdown complications were less than trivial. No one in my family or in my circle has become infected. I’m not out of work, facing a pay cut or struggling to keep a small business afloat. | In the grand scale of things related to the coronavirus, my breakdown complications were less than trivial. No one in my family or in my circle has become infected. I’m not out of work, facing a pay cut or struggling to keep a small business afloat. |
| And while I am traveling a bit on assignment again, if with restrictions, my work can be done without the risks facing people in health care or the exposure to large numbers of people that retail workers encounter every day. | And while I am traveling a bit on assignment again, if with restrictions, my work can be done without the risks facing people in health care or the exposure to large numbers of people that retail workers encounter every day. |
| But breakdown night was certainly abnormal. My wife, who was just under five hours away at our cottage, headed out to retrieve me. The tow truck would have to wait until she arrived, otherwise I’d be sitting in a ditch with my belongings. | But breakdown night was certainly abnormal. My wife, who was just under five hours away at our cottage, headed out to retrieve me. The tow truck would have to wait until she arrived, otherwise I’d be sitting in a ditch with my belongings. |
| I passed some time booking a hotel room in a nearby city only to find that a remarkable number of them were closed. | I passed some time booking a hotel room in a nearby city only to find that a remarkable number of them were closed. |
| A farmer passed by in a high-wheeled tractor used for spraying crops and then returned in a pickup truck to make sure I was fine. We agreed that I couldn’t go with him to his home and that nothing could be done for the car on the spot. | A farmer passed by in a high-wheeled tractor used for spraying crops and then returned in a pickup truck to make sure I was fine. We agreed that I couldn’t go with him to his home and that nothing could be done for the car on the spot. |
| Around midnight, when my wife arrived, the car’s battery was exhausted but not the biting insects. When we went to the hotel I had booked, we found that staying in a hotel, normally a routine part of my work life, had changed. | Around midnight, when my wife arrived, the car’s battery was exhausted but not the biting insects. When we went to the hotel I had booked, we found that staying in a hotel, normally a routine part of my work life, had changed. |
| Updated August 27, 2020 | |
| The bars and restaurants were dark. The parking garage under the large, high-rise structure suggested that there were only about half a dozen other guests. Most of its parking stalls were instead filled with pallets of new furniture and mattresses. Presumably the hotel is taking advantage of its extra high vacancy rate to refurbish rooms. | The bars and restaurants were dark. The parking garage under the large, high-rise structure suggested that there were only about half a dozen other guests. Most of its parking stalls were instead filled with pallets of new furniture and mattresses. Presumably the hotel is taking advantage of its extra high vacancy rate to refurbish rooms. |
| The next morning we learned that the car couldn’t be repaired until a part arrived in a couple of days. And my wife and I were heading in different directions. But renting a car, again another old routine, wasn’t easy. | The next morning we learned that the car couldn’t be repaired until a part arrived in a couple of days. And my wife and I were heading in different directions. But renting a car, again another old routine, wasn’t easy. |
| Even though travel remains well down from normal, most rental outlets were sold out. So it was surprising to pull into the lot of the agency that could offer a car to find it packed with vehicles. The manager explained that he couldn’t rent most of them. The fleet service company that handles their maintenance was closed, he said, and the grounded cars were past their oil change intervals. | Even though travel remains well down from normal, most rental outlets were sold out. So it was surprising to pull into the lot of the agency that could offer a car to find it packed with vehicles. The manager explained that he couldn’t rent most of them. The fleet service company that handles their maintenance was closed, he said, and the grounded cars were past their oil change intervals. |
| As summer goes on, the adjustments to routine will continue, and not just in Canada. Several of my colleagues have written an overview of how other countries plan to tweak reopening plans to keep the virus under control. | As summer goes on, the adjustments to routine will continue, and not just in Canada. Several of my colleagues have written an overview of how other countries plan to tweak reopening plans to keep the virus under control. |
| [Read: From China to Germany, the World Learns to Live With the Coronavirus] | [Read: From China to Germany, the World Learns to Live With the Coronavirus] |
| Reopenings don’t mean that the risk of infection has vanished. At least 18 infections have been linked to a nail salon in Kingston, Ontario. The Times has also looked into the wisdom of taking advantage of some resumed activities and how they have, or will, change. | Reopenings don’t mean that the risk of infection has vanished. At least 18 infections have been linked to a nail salon in Kingston, Ontario. The Times has also looked into the wisdom of taking advantage of some resumed activities and how they have, or will, change. |
| [Read: Is It Safe to Go Back to the Dentist?] | [Read: Is It Safe to Go Back to the Dentist?] |
| [Read: A Multibillion-Dollar Opportunity: Virus-Proofing the New Office] | [Read: A Multibillion-Dollar Opportunity: Virus-Proofing the New Office] |
| I retrieved my car late in the week and all seems fine. But just in case something goes wrong in the future, I’m tossing a can of insect repellent into it. | I retrieved my car late in the week and all seems fine. But just in case something goes wrong in the future, I’m tossing a can of insect repellent into it. |
| Ron Foxcroft, whose Hamilton, Ontario, company dominates the conventional sports whistle world, is promoting an electronic alternative at a time when a deep breath and a burst of air from referees no longer seems wise. | Ron Foxcroft, whose Hamilton, Ontario, company dominates the conventional sports whistle world, is promoting an electronic alternative at a time when a deep breath and a burst of air from referees no longer seems wise. |
| Charges of assaulting a police officer against Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta have been dropped. After viewing a video of his violent arrest, many people have concluded Mr. Adam was the real victim. | Charges of assaulting a police officer against Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta have been dropped. After viewing a video of his violent arrest, many people have concluded Mr. Adam was the real victim. |
| A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for the past 16 years. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten. | A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for the past 16 years. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten. |
| We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to nytcanada@nytimes.com. | We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to nytcanada@nytimes.com. |
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