For them the pandemic is a wake-up call, an opportunity to change course on rural development. Importantly, they are not alone in using — exploiting, some might say — the current pandemic to pursue personal agendas. In times of crisis such as we are facing now, special-interest advocates see an opening for their agendas. On “quiet streets,” Toronto has converted 32 streets during the COVID-19 pandemic to give pedestrians and cyclist space to spread out. On decarceration of prisons, advocates who have long argued that Canadian prisons are overcrowded have stepped up their campaigns to see more prisoners released.

Source: thestar June 17, 2020 18:56 UTC