This week the coronavirus hit the valley. Although, to my knowledge, there hasn’t been any reported cases, there is a sense of panic in the air.
People shopping the stores bare of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and everything on sale. Others cancelling travel plans, as recommended by our government.
The resort I work at has cut everyone’s hours. This didn’t come as a surprise, as we cater to international travellers and Canadian tourists, most cancelling their reservations during the usual busy spring break.
The schools in the area have gone on spring break, scheduled for two weeks, still without official word, will undoubtedly be off at least two weeks longer.
It will be interesting how the virus plays out in the coming days and weeks. So far, in Canada, the issue has not become politicized. The information we are receiving from government officials has been consistent and unified.
My feeling is we may be entering a different time. That things are about to change for many people around the world and here in Canada.
Rex Murphy, of the National Post, pointed out in his recent column that coronavirus is doing everything the climate change movement has been advocating for several years. Emissions are down, including a whooping 25% in China, more than the entire green house emissions of Canada. Travel, another huge source of pollution, is down.
There has been plenty of news saying we must change for the sake of the environment, but to date very little has changed. Maybe this is where we take it seriously; where we realize we don’t need to travel and build second homes on the edge of every lake.
Now with that said, this is the way it will play out. The people, who consider themselves left leaning environmentalists with lots of money, who live in mansions or on the edge of the wetlands won’t miss a flight or change one iota.
The middle-class will become poorer and they will have to learn to live with less. They won’t be able to afford to pollute (read heat their homes).
The lower class, which Lisa and I are included, will have a lot less.
I don’t worry much about Lisa and I, we are used to having not much. Our last holiday was over thirty years ago. We are workers and the world will always need workers. We consigned ourselves long ago to working until we died. Not so bad or unfair considering most of our descendants also did this, why should we be any different?
However, to see many of my co-workers given the word their hours are cut and layoffs are inevitable was painful. They are low on the totem pole, regardless of what our government, left or right says, they are inconsequential, the bottom of the bottom.
They will have to come to work if they are sick.
Sure the government has plenty of relief policies in place, but not for housekeeping, and not for the poorest Canadians. A teacher or government worker will never miss a pay check, they may even come out ahead.
And so it goes.
Palliser Pass 
mountaincoward
Scary times ahead. I’m surprised you guys have got it already but that will have come from having a resort nearby I suppose.
“They won’t be able to afford to pollute (read heat their homes).” – if only governments and politicians realised that we do have to have heating and that most types are polluting but, without heat, we die!
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underswansea
What will happen is energy will become too expensive for the average citizen . It is already happening. A lot of people will be left behind but not the people who make the decisions, they have always thought everyone is just like them. Take care. Bob
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mountaincoward
It is already happening – my electric bill (my house, now it’s totally rural, is all-electric) is sky-high! 😮
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underswansea
It is also happening here, during winter, if we didn’t burn wood, electricity would take one third of my monthly pay check. And that is not to keep the house cold but just from freezing.
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mountaincoward
Yep – exactly what’s happening to me. Luckily I have the woodburner for the lounge – doesn’t help for the rest of the house though. And they want us to stop woodburning soon too!
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Jim R
We took the train from our home state of Iowa to Santa Fe New Mexico. Then rented a car to get around. There are rumblings of curtailing domestic travel. If the train is shut down we will just have to drive the rental car home, I guess.
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underswansea
Hi Jim, that sounds like a wonderful trip. I hope you post some photos. That will be a helluva drive back home if the trains stop running. All the best. Bob
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Jim R
photos will be coming.
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Angelilie
I really like your blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and a very interesting blog. I will come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon.
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underswansea
Thanks for stopping by. Take care, I will drop by your site. Bob
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larrymuffin
Here in PEI we only have 11 cases all related to Winter Travel and all are at home. Price of gas is now 0.71 Cents which is unbelievably low it was $1.16 just 8 days ago and we have not hit bottom yet some predict 0.60 cents a litre coming soon. Yes people are careful and doing the social distancing. The big problem is the tourist season ending before it started, fishing season may never start, the markets have vanished. Hotels are closed with staff layed off, schools closed indefinitely which is panicking parents who never wanted kids at home permanently not knowing what to do with them. Hoping you are well and your family is also in good health. Best Wishes to you.
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underswansea
Hi Larry, good to hear you are well. Fuel is also very low here, about 90¢. People are social distancing, however, regardless of pleas to stay home, we still have plenty of folks from Alberta flowing into the Valley. The problem is we don’t have the medical facilities to care for everyone if the shit really hits the fan. Lisa has been laid off, my hours have been cut, but I’m still working maintenance at a resort, inhabited by tourists that have come here to isolate (see above). I keep my distance and will not go into their units even if asked. We have about 8 cases in the Valley of about 5000. It was good to hear you were able to find a couple bottles of Prosecco for your birthday. Also your dessert sounded delicious. I have a jar of mincemeat put aside for a rainy day. Lisa asked if I want some tarts and I said, YA! Lisa and I are doing all kinds of things with our kids and grandkids on FaceTime (do you remember when the fax was a big deal?). All the best to you, Will and Nicky and Nora. Take care. Bob
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larrymuffin
Happy to hear you are all in good health. Stay safe.
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