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The Canadian Press

Biden wants to go big, fast and alone on COVID relief

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden laid out the case Friday for moving fast and without Republicans, if necessary, to pass $1.9 trillion in coronavirus relief, armed with new signs of economic strain brought on by the continuing pandemic. The stakes for the county and economy were amplified on Friday morning, shortly after Senate Democrats cast a decisive vote to muscle the plan through the chamber without Republican support, a step toward final approval next month. January’s jobs report showed that hiring had stalled to a pace that could hinder a return to full employment for several years—with 406,000 people choosing to leave the labour force as deaths from the pandemic surged. “A lot of folks are losing hope,” Biden said in a speech at the White House. “I believe the American people are looking right now to their government for help, to do our job, to not let them down. So I’m going to act. I’m going to act fast. I’d like to be doing it with the support of Republicans … they’re just not willing to go as far as I think we have to go.” The speech solidified a shift from a president who entered the White House pledging bipartisanship, but also persuaded that going with the slimmed-down $618 billion Republican plan would prolong the economic pain of those who have suffered job losses because of a failure to stop the pandemic. His remarks came a few hours after the Senate early Friday approving a budgetary measure that would let Democrats pass the plan without Republicans. Vice-President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, her first. Senate Democrats applauded after Harris announced the 51-50 vote at around 5: 30 a.m. The action came after a grueling all-night session, where senators voted on amendments that could define the contours of the eventual COVID-19 aid bill. The budget now returns to the House, where it will likely be approved again Friday to reflect the changes made by the Senate. The measure can then work its way through committees so that additional relief can be finalized by mid-March, when extra unemployment assistance and other pandemic aid expires. It’s an aggressive timeline that will test the ability of the new administration and Congress to deliver. The push for stimulus comes amid new signs of a weakening U.S. economy. Employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, after cutting 227,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department said Friday. Restaurants, retailers, manufacturers and even the health care sector shed workers last month, meaning that private employers accounted for a meagre gain of 6,000 jobs last month. “At that rate, it’s going to take 10 years until we hit full employment,” Biden said at an Oval Office meeting with House Democrats earlier Friday. “That’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.” The unemployment rate fell to 6.3% from 6.7%, but there was a decline in the number of people who were either working or looking for a job in a sign that some people are dropping out of the labour force. The U.S. economy is 9.9 million jobs shy of its pre-pandemic level. Biden, who has been meeting with lawmakers in recent days to discuss the package, welcomed the leaders of House committees who will be assembling the bill under the budget process known as “reconciliation.” Biden also plans to make remarks Friday on the economy as he keeps up the pressure on Congress to “act big” on his relief package. Money for vaccine distributions, direct payments to households, school reopenings and business aid are at stake. The Senate passed an amendment 99-1 that would prevent the $1,400 in direct checks in Biden’s proposal from going to “upper-income taxpayers.” But the measure, led by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, is ultimately symbolic and nonbinding and does not specify at what level a person qualifies as upper income. The marathon Senate session brought test votes on several Democratic priorities, including a $15 minimum wage. The Senate by voice vote adopted an amendment from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, opposed to raising the wage during the pandemic. Ernst said a wage hike at this time would be “devastating” for small businesses. None of the amendments to the budget are binding on Democrats as they draft their COVID plan, but passage of a wage increase could prove difficult. Even if a $15 wage can get past procedural challenges in the final bill, passage will require the support from every Democrat in the 50-50 Senate, which could be a tall order. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a vocal proponent of the wage increase, vowed to press ahead. “We need to end the crisis of starvation wages,” he said. ___ Associated Press write Zeke Miller contributed to this report. Josh Boak, The Associated Press
CBC

Canada lost 213,000 jobs in January as lockdowns took a giant bite out of the job market

Canada’s economy lost 213,000 jobs in January, about five times more than what economists were expecting, as retail lockdowns forced more businesses to close their doors across the country. Statistics Canada reported Friday that the jobless rate ticked up 0.6 percentage points to 9.4 per cent. That’s the highest level since August. Overall employment also fell to its lowest level since that month. January’s drop means that overall, Canada now has 858,000 fewer jobs than it did in February of last year, before COVID-19 began. Another 529,000 people have managed to keep their job but are working less than they would normally because of the pandemic. The figure for January was about five times what a consensus of economists polled by Bloomberg were expecting, which was for a slight loss of just over 40,000 jobs. Almost all of the job losses came from Ontario and Quebec, which lost a combined 251,000 jobs — mostly in retail, accommodation and food services. That plunge was offset by slight job gains in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, while the jobs number held steady in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. The hospitality sector has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, and it is continuing to see job losses because customers have yet to return to hotels and other tourism-related industries. Kazi Tasmin worked for 20 years cleaning hotel rooms in downtown Toronto before she was laid off in the early days of the pandemic. Her employer kept her on the books for as long as possible under the government’s wage subsidy program, but once that ran out in the fall, she has been on employment insurance, which she says isn’t enough for her to cover her bills. Worse still, any paid work she can find reduces the amount she can get from EI “I appreciate the government’s effort, but … I don’t know how can we survive one more year,” she told CBC News in an interview. “This is very hard, honestly.” Leah Nord with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said the numbers show just how hard it is for many right now, and called them “unsurprisingly and unfortunately bleak.” “We simply cannot afford to be in a holding pattern until vaccines arrive. We need new strategies to manage the pandemic [because] the economic costs may very well damage Canada’s economy and structurally alter our labour market in ways that may not easily be repaired,” Nord said. In an interview with the CBC, Nord said rapid testing is needed for the economy to return to any sense of normalcy, both to allow businesses to operate, but also to allow workers to feel safe and protected when they go to work. WATCH | Why rapid testing is key to Canada’s recovery from COVID-19: Reasons for optimism Bank of Montreal economist Doug Porter said the numbers were dour at first blush, but he saw at least some reason for optimism below the surface. The number of hours worked actually increased a little, despite the job losses, because the vast majority of the lost jobs were part-time. And some sectors actually expanded, such as construction, which was buoyed by comparatively mild weather. But “since then, winter has made an appearance, and those gains could reverse in February,” he said. Ultimately, Porter took comfort in the fact that the job cuts were focused so much on one sector, and so much on just two provinces. “The fact that the job losses were so heavily focused on the restricted sectors in the two big provinces also means that the jobs could return quickly as restrictions ease.” Economist Brendon Bernard with online employment market Indeed.com said that developments since January are already looking more upbeat, as viral case counts are falling just about everywhere. “Meanwhile, after dipping to start the year, job postings on Indeed are trending back toward pre-crisis levels, suggesting a better outlook for job seekers. Throughout this crisis, the state of the job market has followed the path of the pandemic [and] all eyes are now on the vaccine rollout,” Bernard said.
CBC

Yukon’s off-road vehicle legislation on right path, say advocates

A variety of conservation, tourism and outdoor recreation groups in Yukon gathered at a roundtable meeting this week to offer their reactions to new limits on ATV use in Yukon. For the most part, reaction was positive. The Yukon government recently announced the creation of three zones where the use of off-road vehicles will be limited only to designated trails. They include two special protection areas and all alpine areas managed by the government that have an elevation of more than 1,400 metres, according to Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ranj Pillai. The alpine elevation alone represents about 18 per cent of the territory’s land surface, participants at Thursday’s roundtable heard from Don Reid, a biologist with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Whitehorse. Memo from 1981 calls for ‘urgent’ action Vern Peters is a member of the Trails Only Yukon steering committee and served as moderator. In introducing the panel discussion, he said the issue of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or off-road vehicles (ORVs), has been an issue for decades in Yukon. And he brought proof. Eliciting some laughter, Peters produced an old memo from Yukon’s Department of Environment, which told the government of the day that that “managing ORVs in our wilderness is an urgent issue which has to be dealt with quickly and effectively.” The memo was from 1981. “Since 1981 there have been 15 commission papers, reports and studies, seven studies and six consultations. After 39 years of missed opportunities, we finally have the first on-the-ground action to protect wildlife habitat and wilderness while ensuring the responsible use of ORVs in Yukon,” Peters said. Tour guides ‘want to be operating in a sustainable way’ says tourism association Neil Hartling of Tourism Industry Association Yukon said companies recognize the importance of protecting wildlife habitat. “We have operators who utilize ATVs on existing roads and trails. They want to be operating in a sustainable way. We welcome the regulations presented here,” he said. Randi Newton, conservation manager for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Yukon, said her organization welcomes the new regulations as well but added the society believes that wetlands should be better protected. “We know that many people use off-road vehicles for a host of reasons, from hunting to accessing the back country, hauling materials out to a cabin, or taking the grand kids out for a Sunday drive,” Newton said. “We also know that off-road vehicles can take a heavy toll on the land, especially in sensitive ecosystems like the alpine and wetlands.” Teena Dickson is a wilderness guide and also vice-president of the Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon. She operates Who What Where Tours in Whitehorse and spoke as an Indigenous tour operator and member of the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon. She said mitigating damage in the back country should be important to the wilderness tourism industry, as Yukon is often marketed as a pristine wilderness. That brings a responsibility to preserve it, she said. “Our wilderness and back country is changing. And ‘sustainable’ is a large word, but it’s a meaningful word that we all need to take seriously, if we’re are going to continue to operate,” Dickson said. A written message from the Yukon Outfitters Association has also expressed support for the new regulations, calling it a “reasonable balance.” Some concerns about policies, such as requiring insurance Eric Schroff, director of the Yukon Fish and Game Association, said his group generally supports the new measures, albeit with some concerns. One example is that the group supports identification measures like licence plates, but would not agree that insurance should be required for ATVs which do not travel on roads. “It’s a challenge, it really is. I think there’s been some great steps forward with this, saying that use will be permitted on existing trails and a commitment to map those trails and delineate where we can expect where motorized use can occur,” Schroff said. Schroff said some restrictions will bring “real and meaningful protection from cumulative damage to the alpine. By every standard, Yukoners have overwhelmingly supported this,” he said. Schroff emphasized the need for responsible use on trails. “On those trails, whether you have something that has 80 horsepower, or 20 horsepower, or a 500-watt electric mountain bike, damage can occur if used inappropriately,” he said. Don Reid of the Wildlife Conservation Society spoke of the issues caused by ATVs in the back country. One problem is noise, he said, especially at higher elevations. “There is very definitely an issue of noise disturbing animals and forcing them to move away from places where there is a lot of vehicle use and people moving around. And that is particularly a problem in alpine areas, because the visibility is so high and noise travels very well in those circumstances,” Reid said. “The second issue is the actual physical destruction of habitat. And that’s where this prescription of vehicles to follow only an existing set of trails will help a great deal. The proliferation of trails going everywhere can actually destroy a considerable amount of habitat.” The new regulations took effect Jan. 28.
The Canadian Press

U.S. trade deficit rises to 12-year high $679 billion

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit rose 17.7% last year to $679 billion, highest since 2008, as the coronavirus disrupted global commerce and confounded President Donald Trump’s attempts to rebalance America’s trade with the rest of the world. The gap between the value of the goods and services the United States sells abroad and what it buys climbed from $577 billion in 2019, the Commerce Department said Friday. Exports skidded 15.7% to $2.1 trillion, and imports fell 9.5% to $2.8 trillion. As president, Trump sought to narrow the gap by imposing taxes on imported goods on a scale unseen since the trade wars of the 1930s. The deficit narrowed slightly in 2019 but then ballooned last year as coronavirus restrictions hammered U.S. exports of services such as tourism and education. Services exports dropped 20.4% last year. Still, the U.S. ran a $237 billion surplus last year in services. But that was overwhelmed by a $916 billion deficit in trade in goods such as aircraft and auto parts. The politically sensitive deficit with China in the sale of goods fell 10% last year to $311 billion; Trump had imposed tariffs on $360 billion worth of Chinese imports to protest Beijing’s sharp-elbowed efforts to supplant Western dominance in technology, an effort that U.S. alleged included cybertheft. In the December, the trade deficit dropped to $66.6 billion, down 3.5% from November. Exports rose 3.4%, and imports increased 1.5%. Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press
CBC

Windsor Assembly Plant temporarily shutting down due to semiconductor shortage

Production will be temporarily shut down at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant due to a global shortage of semiconductors. The hiatus, which starts on Monday, will last three weeks, Stellantis confirmed. “We are working closely with our global supply chain network to manage the manufacturing impact caused by the global microchip shortage and will continue to make production adjustments as necessary,” LouAnn Gosselin, head of communications for Stellantis in Canada, said in an emailed statement. Unifor Local 444, which represents employees at the plant, said in a tweet Thursday evening that workers should take direction from their supervisors. When the plant is not in operation, workers are temporarily laid off. There are about 4,700 people employed at the facility. Stellantis is among several automakers halting or slowing down production due to a shortage of semiconductors, which are used in electronics. Industry officials say semiconductor companies diverted production to consumer electronics during the worst of the COVID-19 slowdown in auto sales last spring. Global automakers were forced to close plants to prevent the spread of the virus. But when automakers recovered, there weren’t enough of the chips available to meet demand. Far-reaching effects Employees at the Ford Motor Company Essex plant will also have two shifts idled on Monday due to the shortage. Tim Little, the vice-president of Unifor Local 200, says that while the impact hasn’t been quite as severe, he is still concerned. “We were surprised, it’s concerning … We’re not sure where it’s headed,” he said. “To know that Ford Motor Company is taking shifts out of the best-selling vehicle in North America and their most profitable line, is concerning, yeah.” Greg Layson, digital and mobile editor at Automotive News Canada, says the shortage shows how much a lack of supply of a component manufactured on the other side of the world can affect production in North America. He likens it to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in North America a year ago. “So now we’re in that same situation … We’re relying on someone overseas to make a part that is necessary for every vehicle that rolls off a line this day and age, and now we’re feeling the effects of that,” Layson said. While auto manufacturers jostle for priority among chip makers, the need for chips in the consumer electronics sector outweighs that of the automotive sector by 10 to 1, Layson estimates. He think the effects of the shortage will go beyond production jobs, as they support other jobs in the economy — including at car dealerships. “Your vehicle is now a rolling computer, so it needs these microchips to function,” he said. He says the best case scenario is that the shortage will be over by March.
CBC

Vote Compass: Economy is top issue for majority of voters in N.L. election

The economy is — by far — the top issue on the minds of Newfoundland and Labrador voters, with the provincial election now just over a week away, according to Vote Compass. People taking part in Vote Compass on cbc.ca were asked, without suggested prompts for answers, this question: “What issue is most important to you in this election?” Of 2,732 respondents who answered the question between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 55 per cent answered the economy or related issues, such as jobs, taxes or economic recovery. The next most popular answer, at 11 per cent, was health care, while the COVID-19 pandemic had seven per cent. Vote Compass found that particular types of voters are more inclined to focus on the economy. For instance, 64 per cent of male respondents picked the economy, while 40 per cent of women did. Women were more apt than men to choose other issues, including health care, COVID-19, labour issues and education, although the economy was still easily the No. 1 issue for women. There was also a difference among party lines. For instance, 73 per cent of voters who said they intended to support Progressive Conservative selected the economy as their top issue, while 56 per cent of likely Liberal voters felt the same way. Among likely New Democrats, the number was 33 per cent. Younger voters more interested in environment than older ones As well, voters’ interest in the issues varied by age. While at least 60 per cent of of respondents over 40 picked the economy, only 37 per cent of voters between 18 and 29 felt the same way. Youngest voters were far more likely to pick the environment, and related issues like climate change, at 16 per cent, while only three per cent of voters between 50 and 64 identified the environment as their primary concern. Vote Compass asks respondents for answers to 30 questions directly connected to the Feb. 13 election campaign, as well as their evaluations of the competence and trustworthiness of the major party leaders. Developed by Vox Pop Labs exclusively for CBC, Vote Compass is not a public opinion poll. WATCH | See Wednesday’s full televised leaders’ debate: “Similar to opinion polls, however, the data are a non-random sample from the population and have been weighted in order to approximate a representative sample,” the company said. “Vote Compass data have been weighted by gender, age, education, region and partisanship to ensure the sample’s composition reflects that of the actual population of Newfoundland and Labrador according to census data and other population estimates.” Vote Compass — which allows potential voters to see how their own feelings about issues align with various party platforms and perspectives — is still active until the election. CBC will release more results of respondents’ responses to questions on Monday. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Reuters

China’s latest weapon against Taiwan: the sand dredger

ON BOARD THE TAIWAN COAST GUARD SHIP PP-10062, East China Sea (Reuters) – Taiwanese coast guard commander Lin Chie-ming is on the frontline of a new type of warfare that China is waging against Taiwan. On a chilly morning in late January, Lin, clad in an orange uniform, stood on the rolling deck of his boat as it patrolled in choppy waters off the Taiwan-run Matsu Islands. The Chinese goal, Taiwanese officials say: pressure Taiwan by tying down the island democracy’s naval defenses and undermining the livelihoods of Matsu residents.
Local Journalism Initiative

Shawanaga First Nation chief says next governor general should be Indigenous

The chief of the Shawanaga First Nation near Parry Sound said that right now is the ideal time for Canada to appoint its first-ever Indigenous governor general. Chief Wayne Pamajewon, who represents some 700 First Nation members, said that this is a tremendous opportunity for the federal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to show they are serious about reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous people. Chief Pamajewon said that having an Indigenous representative of the Queen in Canada might strike some as a bit odd, but he disagrees. He said people have to remember the contribution of Indigenous soldiers in both World Wars and their efforts in helping to protect the monarchy. “After all, we stood by her side in all wars affecting the country and the Queen and her country over there — and Europe,” Pamajewon said. Canada has been without a governor general since former astronaut Julie Payette resigned from the post on Jan. 21 amid blistering accusations of workplace harassment against her. The chief said that there are any number of reasons that she should be replaced with an Indigenous person. “Well we can’t do any worse that what we’ve had,” Chief Pamajewon quipped, adding, “It’s time we have someone way up at the top. I hope all the time for our people to get to top positions. I’m no different on this one.” He added that an Indigenous governor general could possibly help speed up action on the 94 recommendations that came out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) calls to action, issued in 2015. The chief said little has been done in more than five years to address the majority of those Indigenous issues. Chief Pamajewon said that Indigenous people are looking closely at how governments are taking steps to seriously make changes to better the lives of Canada’s Indigenous people. He added that he thinks an Indigenous governor general could help the cause. Chief Pamajewon said his first choice for an Indigenous person to hold the post would be highly respected, newly retired Sen. Murray Sinclair. Pamajewon said Sinclair has a wealth of experience in dealing with Indigenous issues, including as chair of the TRC. He added that position, coupled with his time as a senator, make him an ideal candidate for governor general. Sinclair, however, is not interested in the position. His office responded to the question in an email. “The Senator has been on the record saying that he does believe it is time Canada has an Indigenous GG, however he is quick to note that it will not be him,” stated Natasha Entwistle, Sinclair’s director of parliamentary affairs. Rebeka Tabobondung is a proud Indigenous advocate from the Wasauksing First Nation which borders Parry Sound. She too thinks it is high time that Canada consider appointing an Indigenous governor general. “Yes, I think our next governor general should be Indigenous. It shows the long relationship that Indigenous Peoples have with the Crown,” Tabobondung stated in an email. “An Indigenous person in that position will be a good bridge to connect important historical relationships in Canada as well as renew and bring light to shared Canadian issues and its ongoing project of reconciliation.” It is not entirely clear exactly when a new governor general will be named. John McFadden is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Indigenous issues for MuskokaRegion.com, ParrySound.com and Simcoe.com. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. John McFadden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Parry Sound North Star
The Canadian Press

New Mexico State Police say officer shot, killed on highway

DEMING, N.M. — A New Mexico State Police officer was fatally shot on a highway Thursday and authorities chased the attacker, killing him in a shootout, officials said. The officer who was killed has been identified as 28-year-old Darian Jarrott, reported KVIA-TV El Paso. Authorities also released the name of the attacker who was killed, 39-year-old Omar Felix Cueva. State Police said one of its officers was shot in Luna County between Las Cruces and Deming in a confrontation along Interstate 10 in southern New Mexico. They said multiple agencies then pursued the suspect’s vehicle to the Las Cruces area before there was an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was killed and a Las Cruces police officer was shot. The officer was taken to a hospital in El Paso with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Las Cruces police spokesman Danny Trujillo. State Police had said they had limited information and two separate shooting scenes 30 miles (48 kilometres) apart to investigate. The Las Cruces Police Department closed the interstate near the shooting scene and told drivers to use a different route until the investigation has been completed. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has ordered all flags at state buildings lowered to half-staff from Friday to Tuesday to honour the State Police officer killed in the line of duty. The Associated Press
The Canadian Press

Anchorage senior home opens to visitors after long lockdown

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — An Anchorage home for older adults has reopened its doors to family members and others eager to see the residents after a lockdown of 11 months. Anchorage Pioneer Home welcomed back visitors beginning Wednesday. The largest state-run assisted living facility closed to outsiders in March 2020 to protect its vulnerable residents from the coronavirus. The state operates six homes serving nearly 500 Alaska residents ages 60 and older in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Palmer, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. While some of the facilities have allowed visitors at points throughout the pandemic, high rates of community spread and several virus outbreaks among residents and staff kept the Anchorage home closed off until now. “We haven’t had anybody coming in unless it’s family in a hospice or end-of-life type of situation,” Anchorage Pioneer Home Administrator Rich Saville said. The decision to renew visitations followed a recent downward trend in coronavirus cases in the community, along with the vaccination of about 90% of current residents. About 50% of the home’s staff have been vaccinated, Saville said. Families before visits resumed relied on phone calls and video to stay connected. Residents had the option of leaving the building, but most did not, Saville said. “We’ve really tried to get our elders to stay in as much as possible. But of course they have free will and can leave,” Saville said. “Most of them have been super great about not going out.” Staff members were also affected by the difficult task of keeping people away from their loved ones for almost a year. “One of the consistent things I have said to people is, ‘I really have no idea what this is like for you, I can only imagine it’s got to be difficult,’ ” Saville said. “To see people come in to see their mom or dad, we feel like a weight’s been taken off our shoulders.” For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The Associated Press
The Canadian Press

Montenegro overturns coup verdict for 2 Russians, 11 others

PODGORICA, Montenegro — A Montenegrin court on Friday overturned the convictions of two Russians and eleven others over an attempted coup against the pro-Western government in 2016, and ordered a retrial. The Appeals Court said the 2019 verdict was marred by violations of the criminal law and that a new trial should be held before different presiding judges. The ruling comes weeks after a government seeking closer ties with Slavic allies Serbia and Russia took over from a long-ruling pro-Western administration in the small Balkan state. Among those convicted of the thwarted coup were two top politicians of the now-ruling coalition. The verdict said the group organized by former Russian military intelligence operatives wanted to overthrow the government to prevent Montenegro’s accession into NATO. The previous Montenegrin administration led the country to independence from Serbia in 2006 and defied historic ally Moscow in 2017 to join NATO. The two Russian citizens were tried and sentenced in absentia in Montenegro to 15 and 12 years in prison. The remaining suspects received lesser sentences. Russia has denied involvement. It was not immediately clear when the new trial could start. Montenegro’s current government took over after narrowly winning a parliamentary election in August. The Associated Press
Initiative de journalisme local

Nutrinor lance une gamme complète de laits et de crèmes nordiques

Nutrinor lance une gamme complète de lait nordique, dont des crèmes, des produits sans lactose, du lait au chocolat, du lait fermenté et même du lait spécialisé pour les baristas, les artistes du café. La coopérative souhaite ainsi se démarquer de la compétition en mettant l’accent sur l’agriculture nordique, tout en mettant de l’avant une nouvelle démarche d’agriculture durable. En vous promenant dans la section des produits laitiers chez votre épicier, vous avez peut-être remarqué que l’image de marque de Nutrinor a changé au cours des derniers jours. En y regardant de plus près, vous verrez que la coopérative régionale a décidé de se concentrer sur le terroir de la région, avec la mention de lait nordique qui est désormais présente sur tous les produits. « On a fait un renouveau complet sur la marque complète de nos produits qui sont désormais dénommés laits nordiques Nutrinor sur tous nos emballages », explique Kelly Shipway, vice-présidente principale du domaine agroalimentaire chez Nutrinor. Pour arriver à ce changement, une équipe multidisciplinaire travaille sur la révision de l’image de marque depuis 18 mois. « Nous avons sondé plusieurs consommateurs de la région et de partout au Québec pour bien comprendre leurs besoins », ajoute cette dernière, précisant que la coopérative a opté pour une plus grande transparence pour se démarquer sur le marché. En plus du lait nordique biologique, qui est apparu sur les tablettes en 2014, toute la gamme de lait conventionnel est désormais vendue avec l’étiquette « lait nordique ». On retrouve aussi plusieurs crèmes « nordiques » à fouetter, pour le café ou pour la cuisson, ainsi que du lait au chocolat et du lait fermenté. Une nouvelle gamme, dénommée Nutripur, avec un bouchon hermétique, voit aussi le jour. De plus, Nutrinor affiche désormais un logo « Agriculture durable » sur plusieurs produits, ce qui dénote l’engagement de 75 producteurs laitiers de la région envers le Pacte d’Agriculture durable développé par Nutrinor. Cette démarche d’amélioration vise à mettre en place des pratiques plus durables, tout en étant économiquement profitable, socialement équitable et plus performante sur le plan environnemental, notamment en ce qui a trait au bien-être animal. Le logo « Vaches en liberté » apposé sur certains produits permet par ailleurs au consommateur de savoir que le lait est produit par des vaches libres dans l’étable, une technique que l’on appelle la stabulation libre, plutôt que d’être attachées la majorité du temps. Un autre lait nordique de spécialité vise pour sa part à séduire les amateurs de café. Dénommé Barista, ce lait à 3,8% de matières grasses aurait des « qualités moussantes exceptionnelles », une propriété recherchée par les artistes du café. La fin d’un brevet ouvre de nouvelles opportunités La coopérative Agropur détenait une licence de brevet sur la formulation du lait sans lactose au Québec, mais 20 ans après l’avoir obtenue, ce brevet est maintenant échu. Avec la fin de cette licence, Nutrinor, qui commercialisait un seul produit sans lactose, le Comp’lait à 2%, peut désormais mettre en marché une gamme complète de lait et de crème sans lactose à un prix compétitif, souligne Kelly Shipway. « C’est un des secteurs laitiers qui connaît la plus forte croissance », se réjouit-elle. Guillaume Roy, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Quotidien
Local Journalism Initiative

Contentious Happy Valley-Goose Bay road project being revisited

Almost a year after residents were informed of a proposed extension to Kelland Drive in Happy Valley-Goose Bay the buffer zone for the project is being revisited. The controversial project has spurred a petition, protests and at least one meeting that had to be cut short when things got heated. Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4 to finish business that didn’t get completed at the meeting the week before. That meeting was ended abruptly when Coun. Jackie Compton Hobbs introduced a motion to change the buffer zone for the project and an animated debate ensued over procedure. Numerous people took to social media about the meeting, with some expressing support for Compton Hobbs and others expressing concern over the lack of decorum in the meeting. This meeting was much more sedate, with Compton Hobbs getting unanimous support for her motion to have staff revisit a 30 metre contoured buffer zone along the project. “I’m glad that we could leave last week’s meeting and have some in-depth discussions,” she said in the meeting. “We’ve talked a lot about this over the last year, but I think we’re on the right track, in the right direction.” The buffer zone has been a point of contention for impacted residents, who say the road extension comes too close to their homes, impacts walking and snowmobile trails and would destroy greenspace. Council awarded the tenders for the project in the fall of 2020, which included a buffer zone that was as small as 14 metres in some part and as wide as 70 metres in others. Mayor Wally Andersen pointed that out in the meeting, that a uniform buffer zone size won’t benefit all, but said it was a good compromise and “would treat everyone equally.” Deputy Mayor Bert Pomeroy also spoke in favour of the motion, and said he was glad there was some resolution on the issue, which has seen council divided since it was first proposed. “It demonstrates to the community we can work together as a council,” he said. “We’re going to have our differences from time to time and that’s normal for an organization or group or board or body.” Evan Careen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Telegram
The Canadian Press

NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher has memoir out in June

NEW YORK — Hall of Fame coach and NFL analyst Bill Cowher has a book coming out in June that his publisher is calling “more than just a football story.” The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach, who led his team to a Super Bowl title at the end of the 2005 season, has a deal with Atria Books for the memoir “Heart and Steel.” Cowher, inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, will look back not just on his career, but on his private struggles. In 2010, he lost his wife and father within three months of each other. “As I went through the beginning of 2020 and I received the Hall of Fame honour, it allowed me to be reflective upon my football career,” Cowher said in a statement issued through Atria, a Simon and Schuster imprint. “When the pandemic hit, it was a great opportunity to write this book and reflect upon my life.” Cowher, 63, led the Steelers from 1992-2006 and besides the Super Bowl win helped guide the team to eight division titles and two conference championships. In his first year with Pittsburgh, he was named coach of the year by The Associated Press and by the Sporting News. Cowher is collaborating on “Heart and Steel” with Michael Holley, who has also worked on a memoir by Boston Red Sox David Ortiz and on books about the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots. The Associated Press
Local Journalism Initiative

Métis receive $15 million to develop jobs, training

The federal government announced a $15-million investment Thursday for Manitoba Métis. The purpose of the financial agreement is job creation and training. Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) president David Chartrand said land and capital investments would figure prominently, as would full attention to both rural and urban areas. “Buildings and lands are going to be fundamental. We’re definitely going to be looking at purchasing land, which will then create opportunities for capital development to occur,” Chartrand said. One plan is to build a hotel at 280 Fort St. in Winnipeg, which will create long-term, permanent jobs, Chartrand added. Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal, also a Manitoba Métis, made the funding announcement for Mélanie Joly, the minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada. He was joined by parliamentary secretary and Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid, as well as Winnipeg North MLA Kevin Lamoureux. “This partnership with the Manitoba Metis Federation is an important step forward in the shared path of reconciliation and toward a true government-to-government, nation-to-nation relationship,” Vandal stated. “This important initiative will deliver on promoting economic development, closing socio-economic inequalities and creating jobs for members of the Métis Nation in Manitoba. We will continue to work collaboratively with all partners to support and build back even better as we look beyond the pandemic.” Will Goodon, minister of housing and property management for the MMF, hosted the Zoom news conference. Chartrand said, keeping in mind the MMF purchased the flagship Bank of Montreal building at the corner of Portage and Main in Winnipeg, that Métis will have an important footprint in that area of the capital. “We will actually categorize all the jobs created with this investment. That’s something we do with the other investments we have,” he said. The MMF currently employs roughly 800 people in the provinces. “There’s not a doubt in my mind, hundreds more will be created,” said Chartrand. “For example, we’re going to be creating about 50 jobs. We’re actually building two greenhouses, professional facilities in Manitoba, which will be housing about 25 employed in each of the sites, term and full-time. We plan to plant two million trees, now, instead of one million trees.” Chartrand said that goes hand-in-hand with Canada’s vision to fight carbon. Other plans include building shelters, such as women’s shelters and addiction foundations. “All of these things are all going to interconnect themselves, so we’re looking for hundreds of jobs (to) be created.” As for training, Chartrand said traditional Métis economies have crumbled. He would like to bring some of those back to life. “If you look at the Métis homeland in Manitoba, we are rural and urban, with two different concepts of employment. We go to rural, most of the traditional economies are gone. There’s no factories coming there to replace these jobs,” he said. “My big concern as the leader is that we are going to create a welfare kind of concept into our communities if we don’t find economies to be driven in or bought in. So we’re looking at different opportunities that will utilize this capital.” Chartrand said he’d like to redevelop the fur trade. “We’re working right now with some co-ordination (with) colleagues from Toronto to Turkey, and other countries, to look at if we can get the fur market back because it’s part of what we still do today. But we get nothing for it,” he said. Similarly, commercial fisheries are underdeveloped, he said. “You look at the fishing, we believe that commercial fisheries … There’s only $62 million in sales. We believe should go to $300 to $400 million in sales,” said Chartrand. “Yet the majority of fishermen today are Métis. So we started looking at it from that concept. The opportunities are there. We just didn’t have the proper resources or tools to invest in and to hire the expertise around there to get these international agreements in place and get these processes. “Both urban and rural are two different concepts of trade that we will have to be investing in.” The funding, already flowing, is to 2023, and follows the Canada-Métis Nation Accord signed in 2017. The MMF is a signatory. Michèle LeTourneau, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Brandon Sun
Local Journalism Initiative

McDougall seeing continued increase of building permit activity

The value of building permits issued in McDougall for January 2021 compared to January 2020 is up by $1,128. According to a report given to McDougall’s council at its Feb. 3 meeting by chief building official Kim Dixon, the value of construction to the end of January 2021 is currently at $209,460 compared to $130,000 in 2020. Here is Dixon’s report summarized into five quotes: “We are slightly ahead of 2020 both in number of permits and value. January is usually a slower month for us anyways, but this is a snapshot of where we are,” said Dixon. “Building department activity remains busy with inquiries for future projects. Inspect requests remain very steady. I am continuing to issue building permits during the emergency order — it is the responsibility of the permit applicant or property owner to determine if the construction proposed qualifies as essential under the guidelines of the provincial order,” said Dixon. “We are busy working with Cloudpermit to customize our system to meet our needs with the goal of going live in February 2021,” he said. “For anybody listening, that will be a building program that will allow people to apply for building permits from wherever they want to do that, from their home, their cottage or even their designer on their behalf can apply. We’re looking forward to that type of system — it’s paperless and should cut down on a lot of travel expenses for our clients and it should help a lot with the transparency with our ratepayers on how their permits are coming along.” “All indications show that it’s (going to be busy) — the phones are ringing pretty steady and people are planning, so hopefully everything keeps moving — it’s good for everyone,” said Dixon. Council received the building permit report and Mayor Dale Robinson commented it looked like the building department was hitting the ground running again. Sarah Cooke’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Sarah Cooke, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Parry Sound North Star
Local Journalism Initiative

Conservatives work to lay Michigan’s Line 5 pipeline dispute at Trudeau’s feet

Lawmakers from Canada’s federal opposition Conservative Party have embarked on a campaign to place a legal and environmental dispute in Michigan over the Line 5 oil pipeline at the feet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Several Conservative MPs have been sharing an image on social media that warns of an impending “Liberal pipeline failure” if the Line 5 pipeline, running through the environmentally sensitive Straits of Mackinac, is shut down — a decision that was taken months ago by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and that Enbridge is currently challenging in U.S. federal court. The Calgary-based energy company is seeking an injunction to stop the state from revoking the pipeline’s 1953 easement, which Whitmer said she did after the company “refused to take action” to protect the Great Lakes, and “repeatedly violated” the terms of the easement by “ignoring structural problems” with its aging, dented pipeline. While this legal drama is playing out, Conservatives are also urging their followers to sign a petition that calls on Trudeau to “appeal” to U.S. President Joe Biden to “intervene” in the pipeline dispute in order to “prevent” Whitmer from following through with her decision. Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole also wrote an op-ed in the National Post accusing the Liberals of being “silent” on the matter and suggesting the pipeline was not a “priority” for the prime minister. On Thursday, his party called for a special House of Commons committee that would address Line 5, among other Canada-U.S. issues. Trudeau, however, has said in Parliament that the federal government and Canada’s ambassador in Washington have been advocating for Line 5 to U.S. officials. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also revealed Feb. 3 he has spoken with U.S. Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the pipeline. “Line 5 is a vital source of fuel for homes and businesses on both sides of the border,” said Trudeau on Feb. 3. “That is something we have argued strongly, and will continue to argue strongly, with members of the U.S. administration. Our ongoing engagement with the Biden administration and with partners in the United States on this and many issues continues to be on the front burner.” Whitmer said she was ending the easement because Enbridge was imposing an “unacceptable risk of a catastrophic oil spill” in the Great Lakes. The pipeline lies exposed at the bottom of a “busy shipping channel” in the straits, she said, “vulnerable to anchor strikes, similar dangerous impacts, and the inherent risks of pipeline operations.” A 2018 study by Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center said a worst-case oil spill would affect over 643 kilometres of shoreline, releasing up to 58,000 barrels of crude oil into the Great Lakes and putting dozens of species and thousands of acres at risk. A 2016 University of Michigan study showed a majority of open water on Lake Huron and 15 per cent of open water in Lake Michigan could be affected. Critics also point to a history of actions by Enbridge to fortify the dual pipes that run along the bottom of the straits, including using anchor supports to hold the pipes in place. They note incidents that the pipes have faced, like being dented by an anchor in 2018, and argue the 67-year-old pipeline has outlived its lifespan. Green Party Leader Annamie Paul said she had no reason to doubt the results of the research that informed Whitmer’s decision. “We know that the line is very old, we know it has begun to deteriorate, we know that it’s dented in places, we know it would be catastrophic if there was a major oil spill with that line, so I am sure she has taken all of that into account,” Paul said. Enbridge has insisted that the worst-case oil spill scenario is “extraordinarily unlikely to happen” and has touted its safety measures, including regular inspections of the pipeline and 24-hour monitoring of the straits crossing. The company is also moving forward with building what it considers a “safer” tunnel under the straits to house the pipeline. “The Great Lakes Tunnel will encase a replacement section of Line 5 well below the lakebed, eliminating the risk of an anchor strike and virtually eliminating the potential of any (oil) release from Line 5 into the straits,” said Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy. There has not yet been a court date set for the case, Duffy said Feb. 2. “We would prefer to meet and come to a resolution, and we continue to offer to meet with the state to resolve any differences,” he said. O’Toole declined to answer questions for this story through his director of communications. Paul said Canada was at a crossroads in many respects, and needs to be planning for a green recovery. She said she hoped the Conservatives and all other parties join the Greens in preparing for a sustainable future that “leaves no one behind.” “In that we join the United States and its new president, President Biden, and his commitment to moving towards a green recovery. We join the 27 countries of the European Union, and many of our international peers who have decided that the future is green, the future is in clean tech and renewables, and the investments we should be making are investments in those sectors — rather than in sectors that are in an irreversible decline,” she said. “That is something we do on behalf of people in Canada, and in particular, those workers out in the oilpatch, and in provinces that are particularly impacted by the decline in that sector.” Line 5 carries Western Canadian oil to Ontario, where it supplies refineries that produce gasoline and other fossil fuels, and feeds another pipeline that heads to Quebec. Conservatives are warning of “fuel shortages,” “higher fuel prices” and job losses linked to the industry if Line 5 closes; “6,500 good-paying jobs in Sarnia, Ontario are on the line,” O’Toole wrote in his op-ed. It is unclear to what extent this will materialize. Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has suggested the number of potential job losses in his city would be closer to 3,000, but he has also said he can’t estimate how many jobs would actually be lost if alternative sources like rail and trucks were used. That is what Imperial Oil, which runs a Sarnia refinery, is looking at doing, according to a report in the Globe and Mail. The energy company has already laid out plans to obtain crude oil through other pipelines, or by moving it on ships or by rail. Paul said she understood the implications for Canada, but it was a “false choice” for politicians of any stripe to portray the Line 5 pipeline battle as a choice between jobs and the environment. “There are those who benefit from creating those false, binary choices. We know that we protect ourselves the best, that we create more jobs, if we protect our environment as well — and we know that we cannot survive without a healthy environment.” Carl Meyer / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer Carl Meyer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, National Observer
CBC

Joe Loutchan, Yukon’s beloved ‘fiddler on the loose,’ has died

Joe Loutchan, a Manitoba-born fiddler who became a local legend in Yukon playing a long-standing weekly gig at a Whitehorse bar, has died. He was 82. Loutchan’s family confirmed his death on Thursday. Besides his regular Thursday night gig at the 98 Hotel in Whitehorse, Loutchan often served as a kind of musical ambassador for the territory. He rosined up his bow in Mexico, the United States and across Canada, including on Parliament Hill. He’s played for a prime minister, and a governor general, when they visited Whitehorse years ago. A short biography about Loutchan on Facebook tells about his early life in Manitoba, and how he became a musician. It says his father bought him his first fiddle for $10 at a second-hand store when Loutchan was 14 years old. His family was living in Winnipeg and Loutchan soon had a band playing weekend dances around the city. He then began travelling further afield, throughout Manitoba with a bluegrass band. Eventually, Loutchan hungered for a new scene. Speaking to CBC-TV in the 1990s, he recalled how he was lured North by the mountains. “I had never seen anything bigger than a gopher hill ’til I was about 27 years old. Went out, finally left Manitoba, saw the mountains — that did it, right there on the spot I said, ‘I want to go hunting, I want to go live in the mountains,'” he recalled. “So, back in 1963, I guess it was, decided to come up and give it a whirl.” He came to Yukon and never left. He was soon playing regular gigs — Red River Jig was a perennial favourite — and winning local fiddling contests. He made several records with the CBC and was dubbed Yukon’s “fiddler on the loose.” “You get going, and things are coming to you, bang — you’re doing things like you’ve never done before,” he told CBC-TV in the 1990s, describing what it’s like to lose himself in his playing. “That’s when you have to be into it. If you stop for even a split second, even just to blow a fart, you’ve lost it.” In 2018, Loutchan celebrated his 80th birthday with a celebratory show on stage at the 98 Hotel in Whitehorse. Speaking to CBC at the celebration, he was asked how it felt to be called a “living legend.” “To me, it’s just a normal life, I don’t think much different than anybody else. To them it’s a legend, to me it’s just a day’s work,” he said. When the birthday cake came out, the interview was wrapped up so Loutchan could go enjoy a piece. “I don’t need cake, but I’m going to go have a beer,” he said.
Local Journalism Initiative

Northern Ontario First Nations leaders are rolling up their sleeves first to battle COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

First Nations in Northern Ontario are enlisting trusted leaders to be among the first to get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as its being delivered to remote communities, some of which are experiencing low participation because of vaccine hesitancy. Ontario NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa said he was invited by the leadership from Muskrat Dam to attend their first vaccination clinic earlier this week after low sign-up numbers. Mr. Mamakwa, who represents the Kiiwetinoong riding, told The Globe and Mail that he was reluctant at first, worried about the optics after the outrage over a B.C. couple who chartered a plane to a remote community in the Yukon to get vaccinated. “When I spoke to the chief about it, he said ‘yours is different, we have a letter for you that invites you,’ ” said Mr. Mamakwa, persuaded it was the right thing to do. Chief Gordon Beardy of Muskrat Dam says it’s up to leadership to be role models when community members are in doubt. He said members hear “a lot of false information” that the vaccine isn’t safe. Chief Beardy was also the first in his band council to get vaccinated, followed by other council members, elders and Mr. Mamakwa. “For [Mr. Mamakwa] to be there as our member of parliament it shows solidarity with us,” Chief Beardy said in a phone interview. Mr. Mamakwa, whose home community is Kingfisher Lake, is a former health director for Nishnawbe Aski Nation, an organization representing 49 First Nations in Northern Ontario. He’s become a trusted and respected leader in the region, familiar with the customs and ways of life in the north. Mr. Mamakwa has received a second request to attend a vaccination clinic in another remote community in his constituency next week. As someone who’s already received his first dose, he will attend to show support.“ People will trust that and, you know, it’s part of our culture to take the lead,” he said. Chief Beardy says an initial community survey indicated that about 66 per cent of adults would get vaccinated. The vaccination clinics in the region are headed by Ornge, an air ambulance and medical transportation service, in what is called Operation Remote Immunity. Within three days, Chief Beardy says they reached their target of vaccinating 85 per cent of 195 eligible community members. Over the next couple of months, a total of 31 communities are set to receive both doses of the Moderna vaccine in an area that hasn’t seen the number of cases and outbreaks that communities in Northern Manitoba have experienced. In fact, Muskrat Dam hasn’t reported a single COVID-19 case and there have been only 46 cases reported in all 31 communities. The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, which is providing COVID-19 public-health management for some of the 31 communities, says the goal is to vaccinate 80 per cent in each community to achieve herd immunity. Preliminary numbers show uptake has been as low as 17 per cent in one community. However, a statement from the Kashechewan chief and council said that their vaccination efforts were successful and that 731 doses were administered over three days to 73 per cent of their adult population. Mr. Mamakwa says that while he believes the small number of COVID-19 cases among First Nations in Northern Ontario has contributed to hesitancy, he notes that there’s a slew of misinformation and conspiracy theories. And that’s not all. “We have to understand that [First Nations] have negative experiences in health care,” he said. He added adding that people face language and cultural barriers when they have to leave their communities to access health care, as well as dealing with historical traumas from experiences such as residential schools. Chief Beardy said the vaccination teams were professional and receptive to their customs and ways of life. Upon arriving to the community, the vaccines and medical team administering them were given a blessing and prayer by local leaders and elders. Ornge public-relations officer Joshua McNamara says that as of Feb. 3, their teams had administered a total of 2,228 doses in the region. Dr. Homer Tien, President and CEO of Ornge, previously told The Globe that approximately 16,000 doses had been allocated for Operation Remote Immunity. Willow Fiddler, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Globe and Mail