Are you part of The Tyee's critical 1%?

Thanks for reading The Tyee today — we hope this article added to your day in some way. Our team of independent journalists takes pride in doing in-depth reporting and taking time to get it right.

We're able to focus our attention on publishing impactful journalism in the public interest, and publish it for free for all to read, because we have the support of Tyee Builders. Tyee Builders are readers who contribute a bit of money — at a level and frequency of their choice — to support our editorial budget.

This core of supporters — making up about 1 to 2 per cent of our daily readership — enables us to pay our writers, keep our articles free and open to all, and not bombard our readers with annoying ads while you try to read.

Instead of focusing on what kind of articles will attract the most advertising dollars, we can spend time devoted to researching and writing stories that our readers find most valuable and make the most positive impact in our region.

If you'd like to join thousands of readers who help make independent journalism possible, consider joining Tyee Builders. Thank you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders

Help us un-break journalism in Canada

You made it all the way through the article – I hope that means you liked it (or if not ‘liked’ it, gleaned some useful information from it). Tyee articles are known for being quite lengthy, so we appreciate when people spend some quality time with our work.

Listen, I’ll get to the point – the article you just read was made possible because our non-profit newsroom was able to pay a talented journalist to research and write it. And we can only afford to do that because of our business model, which relies on a certain percentage of our readers signing up for our paid membership program called Tyee Builders.

The traditional business model for journalism in Canada has been completely disrupted, and we’re witnessing a slow collapse as corporate newsrooms buy up distressed publications, lay people off, and suck the value out of them before declaring bankruptcy. And it doesn’t help that tech giant Meta has blocked Canadian news on their Facebook and Instagram platforms.

There is another way and we are carving the path.

Between 1 to 2 per cent of people who visit The Tyee contribute financially, but amazingly, that small percentage is enough to fund half of our overall budget. And it means we can operate without a paywall, too. 1 per cent of people giving means 99 per cent of people get access to quality, fact-based journalism from a talented team of journalists who live and work in B.C., Alberta, and across Canada. We think that’s pretty remarkable.

If you’re concerned about the way journalism is heading in Canada and you’d like to do something about it, consider joining Tyee Builders and contributing an amount that works for you.

— Jeanette Ageson, Publisher

Click here to Join Tyee Builders
Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
support us subscribe free
News
Coronavirus

The Real Reason Toilet Paper Is Scarce. And More Top Links

This is The Tyee’s Coronavirus Curated for April 6.

Tyee Staff 6 Apr 2020TheTyee.ca

960px version of Scream-Mask.jpg
Illustration for The Tyee by Christopher Cheung. The Scream via Wikipedia, public domain; mask image via Wikipedia, public domain.

We scour the web for you Monday through Friday in the early afternoon for the best pandemic-related articles, so check in daily. Please suggest your own links in the comments.

Cheer for…
LEADING WOMEN.

“Women are still underpaid and undervalued in Canadian medicine, but half of the provincial health officers leading their region's COVID-19 response plans, are women,” notes Tyee reporter Katie Hyslop.

Canada’s Chief Medical Officers Put Women’s Leadership in Spotlight
(Policy Options)

Scientists are trying to figure out…
WHAT’S UP WITH COVID-19 IMMUNITY?

“Scientists are grappling with a key question that will help determine how long COVID-19 is with us. Are people who have been infected immune? And if they are, how long will that last?” shares Tyee senior editor Paul Willcocks.

What Scientists Know About Immunity to the Novel Coronavirus
(Smithsonian Magazine)

As if designed for disaster…
THE SCARY FACTS ABOUT SENIOR HOMES.

“‘One can scarcely imagine a more nightmarish scenario than a novel virus spreading among a high-risk group such as seniors,’ writes André Picard. And care homes in Canada, understaffed by people treated as second-class workers, are a disaster in waiting,” shares Willcocks.

If You Can Get Your Relatives out of Seniors’ Homes, Try to Do So as Fast as You Can
(The Globe and Mail)

Not your grandparents’ pandemic…
BIG BROTHER MEETS BIG CRISIS.

“Privacy, be damned? The big digital platforms are using data on your location to help officials quantify the effects of social distancing measures,” notes Tyee health reporter Moira Wyton.

In Coronavirus Fight, Oft-criticized Facebook Data Aids US Cities, States
(Reuters)

Google Data Shines Light on whether Coronavirus Lockdowns Worldwide Are Working
(Reuters)

No, the coronavirus is not equal opportunity…
COVID-19 DISCRIMINATES BY RACE AND INCOME.

“We shouldn't expect much different here in Canada, where systemic racism is more invisible to white people, but very much present in our health-care system,” observes Tyee reporter Katie Hyslop.

How Racial Health Disparities Will Play Out in the Coronavirus Pandemic
(Slate)

Hyslop adds: “COVID-19 is harsher on seniors than any other age group, but in the American South, where the pre-existing conditions caused by poverty and racism — like diabetes, heart disease and cancer — run rampant, almost half of the deaths are people under 70.”

The Coronavirus’s Unique Threat to the South
(The Atlantic)

Unrolling why…
THE TP FRENZY IS A MYTH.

“Turns out we may not be surrounded by toilet paper hoarders after all,” muses Tyee’s Hyslop.

What Everyone’s Getting Wrong about the Toilet Paper Shortage
(Medium)

For these stuck honeymooners…
PARADISE IS PURGATORY.

Wyton: “Fascinating read. Paradise might be one of the worst places to be stuck right now. But they went there long after the pandemic’s dangers were known, and are now essentially holding all the staff hostage.”

They’re the Last Couple in Paradise. Eventually, It May Bankrupt Them.
(The New York Times)

Amidst a global emergency…
MEET THE OILY OPPORTUNISTS.

“Wondering what’s getting missed as COVID-19 dominates media coverage? The pushing through of a pipeline, for one,” notes Tyee reporter Amanda Follett Hosgood.

Big Oil Is Using the Coronavirus Pandemic to Push through the Keystone XL Pipeline
(The Guardian)

And here are some insights on…
SURVIVING STAYING AT HOME.

Moira Wyton shares the first two, Paul Willcocks the next two, and Tyee editor-in-chief Robyn Smith winds up with a reality check on parenting in the pandemic:

Larry David, Master of His Quarantine
(The New York Times)

Why Are My Dreams So Weird?
(Vice)

David Hockney Urges Us to Escape Lockdown through a Pencil
(The Guardian)

The Instagram Project Documenting the Everyday Drama of Life under Lockdown
(The Guardian)

Parents Are Not OK
(Medium)

Take care, be a good citizen, and keep checking in on The Tyee’s own coverage. We’re posting new stories throughout the day.

And if you haven’t subscribed to The Tyee’s free daily email, it’s easy to do, and a great way to keep up with our increased coverage. [Tyee]

Read more: Coronavirus

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Are You Concerned about AI?

Take this week's poll