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The Canadian Press

Health Canada approves AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine

OTTAWA — Health Canada decided Friday to authorize the AstraZeneca vaccine and the first half million doses of it will be shipped to Canada next week. The regulatory team reviewing COVID-19 vaccines said the one by AstraZeneca is both safe and effective and can be used immediately on people over the age of 18. “This is very encouraging news,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “It means more people vaccinated, and sooner.” AstraZeneca joins the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines on the list of those authorized in Canada. Clinical trials showed it to be less effective at preventing infection than the first two, but it is still keeping people from getting very sick or dying, said Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at Health Canada. Pfizer and Moderna both reported being 95 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19 infections in patients who received the vaccine, compared to those who received a placebo. AstraZeneca was 62 per cent effective. But Sharma said the “key numbers” to examine when looking at all the vaccines Canada has approved or is reviewing is whether they prevented serious illness and death. “If you look across all the clinical trials of the tens of thousands of people that were involved, the number of cases of people that died from COVID-19, that got vaccine was zero,” she said. “The number of people that were hospitalized because their COVID-19 disease was so severe was zero. The number of people that died because of an adverse event or an effect of the vaccine was zero.” It’s not entirely clear yet how provinces and territories will incorporate the AstraZeneca vaccine into their vaccination programs, but because it is can be shipped and stored in refrigerators instead of freezers, it is a more flexible option. Sharma said AstraZeneca’s review process included not only the clinical trial data submitted by the company but also evidence of how the vaccine has been working in the real world. Millions of people in more than 50 countries have now received the vaccine since it was first approved at the end of December. Canada anticipated getting enough vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to vaccinate three million people by the end of March, 14.5 million people by the end of June, and all 38 million Canadians by the end of September. The addition of AstraZeneca should quicken that pace. Canada is getting 24 million doses by September, and as many as one million by the end of March. That includes 20 million directly from AstraZeneca, and made in the United States, between April and September. Another 1.9 million doses made in South Korea and delivered via the vaccine sharing initiative known as COVAX are to come by the end of June, and the first 500,000 of those could be delivered in the next month. Procurement Minister Anita Anand also said a deal to get another two million doses from the Serum Institute of India was finalized Thursday. Verity Pharmaceuticals, which is facilitating the Serum Institute’s application in Canada, said Friday the first 500,000 will come next week, followed by one million in mid-April, and the rest in early May. AstraZeneca vaccines are to be given in two doses between four and 12 weeks apart. Sharma said there is some indication that waiting longer provokes a better response, but that data is not yet complete. There have been some concerns raised about the AstraZeneca vaccine in recent weeks, including how well it works against variants and whether there is enough data to show it works on older individuals. Several European countries, including Germany and France, limited AstraZeneca to people under the age of 65. Sharma said there were a limited number of people over 65 involved in the clinical trials, but that data, coupled with the real-world experience in the United Kingdom, shows strong evidence seniors are protected. “When we do the authorization, the question is, for somebody 65 years of age and older, with the benefits of getting the vaccine versus not getting the vaccine, would the benefits outweigh the risk,” she said. “And the answer to that was yes based on all the information that we have. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization will issue guidance for how best to use the vaccine in the next few days, said Sharma. Provinces can then determine how they will incorporate it into their planning. Canada’s vaccine program is shifting into a higher gear after a month-long slowdown in deliveries due to production issues for Pfizer and Moderna. More than 300,000 people were vaccinated in the last week, almost one-fifth of the total doses injected since the first vaccinations began Dec. 14. As of Friday afternoon about 700,000 people have received one dose and more than 500,000 are now fully vaccinated with two doses. The AstraZeneca vaccine works differently than the other two already in use in Canada. Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna use messenger RNA technology, using RNA encoded with the piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as the spike protein. The mRNA trains the body to fight off a COVID-19 infection. AstraZeneca is a viral vector vaccine, which takes a cold virus, modifies it so it can’t reproduce itself, and adds the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When injected, it too provokes the body to develop infection-fighting antibodies and cells to fight the virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was meeting Friday to decide whether to authorize the vaccine from Johnson and Johnson, and Sharma said Health Canada was expecting some final data on manufacturing from that company Friday. An approval for it could soon follow. A fifth vaccine from Novavax expects to report clinical trial data in April, paving the way for Health Canada to make a decision about it this spring. Those two vaccines would add another 62 million doses to Canada’s supply. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021. Mia Rabson and Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press
CBC

Everyone in Summerside, P.E.I., aged 14 to 29 urged to get tested for COVID-19

(CBC – image credit) Everyone from age 14 to 29 in the city of Summerside, P.E.I., is being urged to get tested immediately for COVID-19, whether or not they have any symptoms. The news came as Islanders got an update on a worrisome new cluster of three COVID-19 cases in the Summerside area from P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison. “We certainly have concerns about possible community spread in P.E.I., this is why we are focused on increased testing,” Morrison said Friday, during a rare second briefing for the day. “I am worried.” Morrison said Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside will be open for testing throughout the weekend. Officials hope not to disrupt school for the coming week, she said. Morrison asked 14- to 21-year-olds without symptoms to come to the school on Saturday; those born Jan. 1 to June 30 from between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.; those born July 1 to Dec. 31 between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Those 22 to 29 years old can go to on Sunday, following the same schedule. “Increased testing will allow us to know if COVID is circulating in the 14-to-29 age group,” Morrison said. Anyone with symptoms should immediately go for testing at Slemon Park or two new sites, prepared quickly Friday, at Harbourside Health Centre at 243 Heather Moyse Dr. and the Borden Testing Site at 20 Dickie Rd. in Borden-Carleton. All are open until 8 p.m. AT Friday. The site at Slemon Park will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and stay open until 4 p.m. Circuit-breaker being discussed Earlier Friday, Morrison listed three locations in Summerside as possible exposure sites, alerting those who had frequented them to take measures to protect themselves and others. She said introducing circuit-breaker measures similar to those put in place on P.E.I. before Christmas is always a possibility. The circuit-breaker put a temporary end to gatherings and sports, and closed gyms, libraries and restaurant dining rooms. It was also introduced in response to a cluster of cases for which the source was unknown. “We are discussing it and thinking about it,” she said, adding officials will review test results and information gleaned from contact tracing tonight to make that decision. Morrison promised an update on the situation Saturday. The symptoms of COVID-19 can include: Fever. Cough or worsening of a previous cough. Possible loss of taste and/or smell. Sore throat. New or worsening fatigue. Headache. Shortness of breath. Runny nose. More from CBC P.E.I.
Local Journalism Initiative

Charlottetown police say tear gas ensured safer outcome during inn drug raid

City police say they used tear gas to help to ensure a safer outcome during a drug raid at a Charlottetown inn on Feb. 25. “It’s becoming one of the best practices for this type of instance,” Charlottetown Police Services’ Deputy Chief Brad McConnell said in an interview on Friday, McConnell noted that tear gas was determined to be warranted in this ongoing drug investigation because police – which consisted of the city’s Priority Tactical Response Team – were aware there were weapons on site. Police were acting on a search warrant for the Inn on the Harbour on the corner of Hillsborough and Water streets. It resulted in two individuals residing there, a 27-year-old female and a 34-year-old male, being charged as well as drugs, cash and weapons being seized. The raid occurred over the noon hour, and police officers were on site for several hours afterward. Parts of the streets were blocked by emergency vehicles for a time, and some officers were armed and wearing gas masks. The tear gas was deployed into a single unit, but there was at least one other tenant in the building at the time. The tenant, who requested to remain anonymous, said she was asleep and had been woken up when the police entered the property. “When they came in, they rushed the place,” she said. “They meant serious business, they weren’t messing around.” She was unaffected by the tear gas, but she was scared, she said. “I was anxious to get out of there, I couldn’t leave,” she said. “I didn’t think that would have happened here.” Charlottetown police don’t often use tear gas, but because of the on-site weapon the Response Team determined it would be most effective in keeping the raid controlled and everyone involved safe, including the accused, McConnell said. “It forces the (accused) out of the residence, as opposed to exposing officers to increased risk going in.” As well, measures were taken to ensure other tenants in the building were not harmed, and there were paramedics on standby in the event of tear gas cross-exposure. McConnell credits the police officer’s proper training to ensure the raid was conducted safely, he said. “(And) to make sure it was intended for the people it was intended for,” he said. “The best possible outcome was the outcome.” No injuries were reported. Afterward, police posted a notice on the front door of the inn stating that tear gas had been used on the property and any chemical agent leftover was to be cleaned at the inn owner’s expense. The Guardian contacted the Inn at the Harbour, but the owner was unable to speak to the incident because they didn’t have much more information other than what was publicly available. Twitter.com/dnlbrown95 With files from Rafe Wright/Special to The Guardian Daniel Brown, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Guardian
The Canadian Press

Defence chief’s leave shows how seriously misconduct allegations are taken, PM says

OTTAWA — The fact Admiral Art McDonald stepped aside as Canada’s defence chief while misconduct allegations are investigated demonstrates how seriously such cases are taken, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. But Trudeau said Friday that more must be done to ensure workplaces are free of harassment and intimidation. “This is something that is extremely important. And it’s something we’ve taken strides on, both in our government and in the military. But there’s always more to do,” Trudeau said during a news briefing. “Because there is an ongoing review into this situation, and we’re ensuring that all the steps are properly taken, I won’t be commenting specifically on this process at this time.” Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said late Wednesday that McDonald had “voluntarily stepped aside” as chief of the defence staff while military police investigate unspecified allegations. He is on paid leave. McDonald took over as chief last month from Gen. Jonathan Vance, who is being investigated over allegations of inappropriate behaviour that became public following his retirement. Vance has denied any wrongdoing and McDonald has not commented. Canadian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre has been appointed acting chief of the defence staff. Trudeau said he wants anyone who has experienced sexual assault or other such abuse to know that “we will be there, to listen, to hear them, to work with them and to move forward through processes that will get to the right answers.” Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole said Friday that a Tory government would launch a service-wide independent investigation of sexual misconduct in the military. General officer promotions would be suspended during the probe, along with salary increases, O’Toole said. He also pledged that future complaints would be made to an independent body outside of the chain of command. Sexual harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces is an “ongoing and serious problem that must be addressed,” O’Toole added. “This unsafe culture must change.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021. —With a file from Christopher Reynolds Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
Local Journalism Initiative

IN QUOTES: Expansion is a priority for Burk’s Falls Library board

The cosy library nestled behind the main street of Burk’s Falls is hoping to expand to a larger facility. At its Feb. 23 meeting, Armour council listened to the library’s chief executive officer Nieves Guijarro as she presented the 2021 library budget. After approving the budget, council asked Guijarro how the library was managing with its limited space. Here is the conversation in key quotes: “I’m assuming space is still an issue for you — you guys must be crowded in there if things were under normal circumstances,” asked Coun. Rod Ward. “We are actually enjoying the space because there’s nobody else around, but we know that as soon as we open those doors, we have an average of 25 people everyday coming in and out … so yes, it is pretty crowded. We can’t really do very much,” said Guijarro. “ … I know there was a plan to put you in the arena which basically went down the tubes when you didn’t get the grant but are there any plans for the library to move or get bigger?” asked John Theriault, clerk-treasurer and administrator. “There’s a very wonderful building on Main Street, which is where the Children’s Aid Society used to be and that would be the ideal building for the library. I can name you a hundred positive factors for us to move there,” said Guijarro. “The fact that we are beside the school; right on Main Street; plenty of parking space and it’s already accessible …” “It seems like now is the time to strike because of COVID, you have all the kids who don’t have good internet access — they need the library,” said Ward. “Internet is huge. You can see it in the parking lot of the library — there are people that are sitting out there using the internet,” said Guijarro. There are currently two grants that Burk’s Falls, Ryerson and Armour can apply for that could help with funding toward expansion of the library. Those two grants are the Investing in Canadian Infrastructure Project and the Trillium Grant, which has seen several libraries in Northern Ontario approved for funding. Sarah Cooke’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Sarah Cooke, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, muskokaregion.com
Local Journalism Initiative

Savour the flavours community has to offer with Auroralicious

If you have been looking for a new local restaurant to try but just don’t know where to start, Auroralicious will help take away some of that guess work. Auroralicious, presented by the Canadian Food & Wine Institute at The Armoury and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, will see many local restaurants come together between March 12 and March 28 offering prix fixe (fixed price) menus for new and returning customers, putting their best foot forward in showing all the flavours Aurora has to offer. Auroralicious was first proposed by the Canadian Food & Wine Institute (CFWI) as a way to not only promote area restaurants but underscore the importance of shopping – and dining – local. “The idea came from a member of our team who suggested we do a Winterlicious/Summerlicious event,” says CFWI’s Chelsea Brewster. “I thought it was a fantastic idea, but being in the situation we were all in, I didn’t think we could pull it off before Christmas. I reached out to the Town and to the Chamber to say we had this crazy idea… and they were totally on board with it. We did a kind of sit-down at Christmas to figure out what makes the most sense, pandemic aside, for the timing of the year. “We chose the March Break weekend to kick it off just to give people something to look forward to, to try and keep people as local as possible, and really bring the community together when we can’t travel at this point in time.” Although March Break was subsequently delayed until April, that hasn’t deterred participating restaurants from sticking to the plan and rolling out their fare next month. “This is an opportunity for people to try out some of these restaurants and some of their best fares at great prices and it is an opportunity to not cook for a couple of weeks and just enjoy a little culinary staycation,” says Sandra Ferri, President & CEO of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. “We want people who maybe haven’t tried [the restaurants] before to just see what we have to offer in Aurora and hopefully that will give restaurants the opportunity to gain new clients and give people the opportunity to savour the flavours of Aurora. “They should be going to explore Aurora looking for something they haven’t tried before and really giving them a try to see how well they like it.” Ms. Ferri says since the global pandemic took hold, she has made a concerted effort to try the many restaurants the community has to offer. Mayor Tom Mrakas has tried to do the same, often posting a selection of his take-out selections on various social media channels to support local business. Auroralicious is an extension of that sentiment. “This is something that we have said time and time again during this pandemic that this is an idea we can pull together as a community and help support our local businesses, especially our restaurants that have been shut down for a long time,” said Mayor Mrakas. “They have been struggling, so how can we do something that can help them? This was an incredible idea that was brought forward and something that we said we could do that would get excitement in the community and people would be able to get out and support local restaurants – and, in essence, our neighbours and our friends. “It is also about getting that sense of community pride and understanding that even once we get out of this pandemic it is going to be a great opportunity for us to continue to stay local and realize we don’t need to go outside of Aurora because we have everything here from a restaurant perspective. I think that is what people are going to start being aware of through this program and it will be a big success if that occurs.” For more on Auroralicious and a continually updated list of participating restaurants and prix fixe menus, visit exploreaurora.ca. Brock Weir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Auroran
The Canadian Press

British Columbia’s Site C dam to cost $16 billion, delayed until 2025

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s Site C hydroelectric dam has risen in cost by over $5 billion and been delayed by a year, bringing the price tag of the megaproject to $16 billion and stretching the completion date to 2025. Premier John Horgan said Friday the project is halfway complete and the skyrocketing expenses and construction setbacks are due to geotechnical issues, COVID-19 and other cost and schedule pressures. He told a news conference that the project was beset with challenges when it was started by the previous provincial government, but it must be completed for the power needs of future generations and to keep B.C.’s rates among the lowest in North America. Horgan also said that cancelling the project now would mean laying off 4,500 workers and a sunk cost of $10 billion. The province said that the average ratepayer would face a 26 per cent increase on their bills over the next 10 years if Site C was scrapped. “I believe we’ve made the right decision,” Horgan said. “We will not put the jobs at risk. We will not shock people’s hydro bills.” The province said continuing with the project means the costs will be recovered through rates over the 70-year lifespan of the dam. After the project is operational, the average ratepayer will face about a three per cent increase above previous forecasts based on a $10.7-billion project cost. It said that COVID-19 and geotechnical issues represent about half of the more than $5 billion in additional costs, but did not elaborate on the other factors or provide a detailed breakdown, citing commercial interests. Horgan’s announcement comes weeks after a former deputy finance minister completed his report on the status of the northeastern B.C. dam and submitted the study for cabinet consideration. The review was ordered last July after Crown-owned BC Hydro reported concerns about risks and delays, and the province says it has accepted all 17 of Peter Milburn’s recommendations, including a strengthened project assurance board. The government also released a report by two independent experts that found changes to the foundation to address geotechnical issues on the project’s right bank will ensure Site C meets safety standards. Horgan also announced new leadership at BC Hydro as Doug Allen — who has held top positions at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and TransLink. He replaces Ken Peterson as chairman of the board. The premier said in December 2017 that the NDP government would reluctantly support completion of the dam across the Peace River just west of Fort St. John, but he would never have started the project commissioned by the previous B.C. Liberal government. At that time, the sunk cost would have been $4 billion. Horgan said he understands that there are a significant number of B.C. residents who have never been supportive of the project and they are not going to be any happier today than they were in 2017. “I don’t have the luxury of fretting over the past. I have an obligation to focus on the future,” he said Friday. “I believe this is in the best interests of British Columbians. “The costs going forward are going to be less than the costs behind us.” Environmental and Indigenous groups opposed to the project swiftly voiced their disapproval on Friday. B.C. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau said she was disappointed in the government’s decision, but not surprised. It is unfortunate that it didn’t cancel the project in 2017 and put resources into developing clean energy infrastructure in communities, she said. “Instead we are now looking at this mega-dam that will cost $16 billion and potentially more,” she said. “It will be producing energy at five, six, eight times the cost that they’ll be able to sell it at. This is an astonishingly terrible business case in any circumstance.” The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said in a statement that the province’s continued commitment to the project violated its promise to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “The Site C dam has never had the free, prior and informed consent of all impacted First Nations, and proceeding with the project is a clear infringement of the treaty rights of the West Moberly (First Nations),” said Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, secretary-treasurer. The West Moberly First Nations, which holds traditional territories in the area of the dam, said the government’s decision was made without any attempt to consult First Nations, downstream residents or the general public. “We are not at all convinced that this project is safe. The premier’s decision has grave consequences for West Moberly and other First Nations. His government had a constitutional duty to consult us. That’s the law,” said Chief Roland Willson. Wilderness Committee campaigner Joe Foy said the “irresponsible” project has gone ahead with little regard for Indigenous rights, irreplaceable farmland, the environmental impact on the Peace River Valley, the economics of the project — or any common sense whatsoever. “Premier Horgan should put this dam out of its misery now. It’s time to walk away from Site C.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021. Laura Dhillon Kane, The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the cost overrun was $6 billion.
The Canadian Press

Veteran TFC midfielder Jonathan Osorio looks to take it to the next level this season

TORONTO — Entering his ninth season with Toronto FC, Jonathan Osorio said his off-season goals were not much different than in the past.Prepare for what’s ahead. And be ready for anything.Words to live by during a global pandemic.Despite COVID-19, Osorio was able to stick to his off-season routine. With regular testing, those in Toronto were able to use the club’s training ground regularly.Just 28, Osorio ranks first in all-time appearances for TFC with 263 outings in all competitions. He has grown from the local boy from Brampton to one of the team leaders, a veteran who has captained both club and country.He’s looking to take his game to the next level this season.”I’m very committed every off-season to try and get better,” Osorio said Friday. “I tried to get better in every way possible, especially trying to maintain my fitness. And I had that camp in early January with Canada which was helpful for me to get going.” Each off-season, he focuses on improving or adding something. He says it shows in the versatility of his game.”I take pride in being a total footballer, in the sense that you can rely on me anywhere you play me. Whatever the team needs to win, I can do it. So this year it’s about doing the same thing but doing it at a more efficient rate.”He says it’s also about stepping up to being one of the team’s key contributors.Osorio and Toronto have been in camp since Feb. 17, granted an early start on pre-season thanks to the upcoming Canadian Championship final against Forge FC.The MLS regular season kicks off April 17 with Toronto planning to take up residence in the U.S. again because of pandemic-related travel restrictions. TFC finished out the 2020 campaign playing out of East Hartford, Conn. This season it looks like Florida beckons, with the hope the team may be able to return to Toronto later in the season.Osorio will miss home given being able to see family and friends daily allows players to detach from football. “It’s a refreshing feeling,” he said.But he says the club is prepared to become road warriors again.”That’s the mentality here. Whatever it is that we have to go through, we go through and we go through together. The mindset is winning everything no matter what comes in the way.” Captain Michael Bradley has already made it clear that no one at the club will use the difficulties facing Canadian teams as an excuse.Osorio said the time spent in Hartford was tough. “But when we lost, I don’t remember anybody saying ‘Oh, it’s because we weren’t at home.’ No, we lost because on that day we couldn’t get it done. And it’s the same this year.”The TFC roster has not changed much.Veteran defender Laurent Ciman is now an assistant coach with CF Montreal and loanee fullback Tony Gallacher has returned to Liverpool. The club’s search for a third designated player continues with Pablo Piatti no longer in the picture.The major change is the man in charge with Chris Armas taking over from Greg Vanney, who is now running the Los Angeles Galaxy.Osorio says he is enjoying the new regime.”Sometimes in football or anywhere, change is good,” he said. “It’s been a very good first week. A very intense, hard-working first week of pre-season. Guys are excited and full of energy. And the coach is instilling that in us. His energy is contagious. He seems very committed and excited to be working here. And we feed off that as players.”As for Vanney’s departure, Osorio said everyone understood what he wanted — professionally and for his family. “It made sense,” he said.He says new leadership can be “a breath of fresh air.”Armas has said he wants his team to be dangerous on and off the ball, pressing the opposition to make mistakes. As a result, Osorio says the 2021 side will look a little different on the field.”I wouldn’t say a totally different way of playing but definitely a little bit more dangerous side, I guess,” he said. “I think that point of being dangerous without the ball as well is going to be something that’s maybe a little bit different that in the past in the way we defend and the intensity and everything. And with the ball, the way we attack, will be a little bit different as well.”But there’s a lot of things that Chris wants to keep about the team that the team has had and what has made us successful. But he wants to just add a different dynamic now and instil a little bit of his philosophy.”Teams facing TFC will have to “prepare for a lot of different problems,” he added. “It’s going to be very hard to beat us, I think.”Toronto (13-5-5) finished second overall in the league last season but faded in the stretch run and was beaten by expansion Nashville SC in the first round of the playoffs.—Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021 Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
Local Journalism Initiative

Community mourning loss of Curve Lake First Nation’s Murray Whetung, 99

Murray Whetung has passed on to the spirit world his Curve Lake First Nation family has confirmed. Whetung, 99, was a Second World War veteran, a father, grandpa, husband and friend. He died early Friday morning (Feb. 26). “My grandfather was the happiest and most generous person I have ever met. He brought laughter wherever he went,” said Curve Lake First Nation Chief Emily Whetung. “Our family will miss him everyday.” Chief Whetung added her grandfather had so many great qualities that it was very hard not to be enlightened when around him. Whetung once said that his wife ‘Cobe’ was the love of his life. They had 13 children. “I’ve had a good life. We had fun when we were young. Then I was given Cobe, a very special woman. We had many children together, but I was lost when she left me,” said Whetung in a past interview that was published in a biography written in 2000 titled Of Memories and Memoirs Chronicles Parts of Whetung’s Life. Whetung, 99, spent three years as an army signalman. According to Whetung’s family, Murray attended every Remembrance Day ceremony and was equally involved in the community. Whetung enlisted into the Canadian military in August 1942. He served for three years before returning to his Curve Lake First Nation home in November 1945. It was perfect timing to go out hunting and harvesting with his friends. Whetung received many awards and accolades for his years of service. Peterborough-area MPP Dave Smith had recently introduced the Murray Whetung Community Service Award to the provincial legislature. The bill, if passed, would honour not only his service and contributions to the community, but also that of all First Nation veterans who voluntarily gave years of their lives in service to Canada. Whetung was one of the more than 7,000 First Nation men and women who volunteered during the First and Second World Wars. Many of these First Nation members found themselves stripped of their status because they were off reserve for more than four years while fighting for their country overseas, according to Smith’s website. Despite this injustice, many continued to recognize the value in continuously giving back to their community. Smith took to his FaceBook page to offer his condolences to the Whetung family on Friday. “My heart goes out to my friend Chief Whetung, her father Lorenzo and all of the Whetung family. Our greater community has lost a true jewel that can never be replaced,” wrote MPP Smith. He also said not only will Curve Lake feel the loss of Murray, but the greater community as a whole. “It’s a sad day. Murray was the type of man who looked out for his community, he left a great legacy,” said MPP Smith. He added the status of the Bill is still ongoing and is now with the Ministry of Heritage Sports, tourism and Cultural Industries. “We can do this and have his legacy live on.” Natalie Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Peterborough This Week
CBC

Halifax Shipyard extends shutdown after COVID-19 case, all workers to be tested

(Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press – image credit) Irving’s Halifax Shipyard has shut down temporarily while Public Health investigates a positive COVID-19 case among the employees and arranges testing for some 1,600 workers. The company announced the positive case Thursday and initially said it would close the assembly and module halls for cleaning before reopening for the second shift the following day. On Friday, however, the shutdown was extended to the entire shipyard while Public Health investigates. Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, told CBC News the length of the closure is indeterminate. “It depends,” he said. “We’re investigating around that case.” Tom Ormsby, a spokesperson for Irving, said later in the day the shutdown will remain in place at least until Sunday. “A decision on third shift Sunday night/Monday morning will be made no later than 8 p.m. Sunday,” he said in an email. “Employees at the Bluenose Building, Marine Fabricators and Woodside Industries are to continue to report for work as normal.” After Irving learned of the positive case among one of its workers Thursday, the other members of the 15-person crew were told to self-isolate and schedule COVID-19 tests. Irving said it also sent home all employees in the assembly and module halls as a precaution. Testing coming for all employees During Friday’s COVID-19 briefing, Premier Iain Rankin thanked the company for its co-operation. Irving Shipbuilding is in the middle of a multibillion-dollar project for the Canadian navy. “Irving is doing what Nova Scotia businesses do — it’s stepping up for the collective public good,” said Rankin. The premier said the company is working with Public Health on a plan to test all of its employees at the shipyard, something that won’t be simple given the size of the workforce is comparable to that of a small town. Some of the approximately 1,600 people who work at the site don’t live in the immediate Halifax area, said Strang. “To do that volume of people, the most logical thing is to bring it — testing — into that large worksite,” he said during the briefing. “It’s by far the biggest worksite of anywhere in the province.” Irving said in a news release that a pop-up testing site has been established at the shipyard for employees. Initial testing is expected to take place Saturday and Sunday, with the focus on priority roles, production and production support. Different workplaces, different approaches Thursday’s case was the first reported at the shipyard. In a statement Thursday, the company said it’s taken a number of steps since last year to keep employees safe during the pandemic, including daily temperature checks, medical questionnaires and increased hygiene requirements. Work procedures have also been changed to minimize or eliminate the need for two-person tasks. The approach being taken at the shipyard is different than the one the government took in December with a poultry plant in the Annapolis Valley. Eden Valley Poultry was ordered to shut down for two weeks while all 450 employees were tested after four workers tested positive for COVID-19 in two days. The plant was eventually allowed to reopen sooner, but with a reduced crew. Strang said Friday the difference is the poultry plant was experiencing an outbreak. “Right now, we have a single case. Irving has been very co-operative,” he said. “Whether we have to go further than that, well, what happens with the ongoing investigation and the testing in the few days ahead will tell us that.” MORE TOP STORIES
Reuters

U.S. regulators probe Robinhood over trading curbs

Retail brokerage Robinhood said on Friday U.S. regulators were looking into its temporary trading curbs on so-called meme stocks earlier this year as shares of companies like GameStop Corp soared during a social media-fueled short-squeeze. The brokerage, whose trading app surged in popularity over the past year, also said in a regulatory filing https://bit.ly/3kpGAUb detailing the probes that it set aside $26.6 million for a potential settlement around trading outages in March 2020, as well as its options trading policies. Menlo Park, California-based Robinhood was at the heart of a mania that gripped retail investors in late January following calls on Reddit thread WallStreetBets to trade certain stocks that were being heavily shorted by hedge funds.
The Canadian Press

Health officials in Prince Edward Island concerned about new COVID-19 cluster

CHARLOTTETOWN — A cluster of COVID-19 infections in Prince Edward Island whose origin hasn’t been identified is concerning health officials, who called on Friday for any close contacts of those cases to isolate and get tested. The cluster of three cases in Summerside, P.E.I., about 60 kilometres west of Charlottetown, involves three men in their 20s. It was first reported Thursday.”These cases are close contacts of each other and have mild symptoms; they are now self-isolating,” chief medical officer of health Dr. Heather Morrison told reporters Friday.”Our investigation of the three cases is still ongoing,” she added. “At this point these cases have not been linked to travel.” Morrison said 61 close contacts have been identified and efforts are being made to contact all of them.”Anyone in the Summerside area with any COVID-19 symptoms should be tested,” Morrison said. She issued a list of locations, including a gym and pizza restaurant, where exposures could have occurred. Morrison said it’s concerning that officials haven’t identified the source of the cluster. “We certainly have concerns about possible community spread in P.E.I. and this is why we are focused on increased testing,” Morrison said. “We are always more concerned when we don’t have a link to travel and we don’t have a source of the infection,” she said. “We will learn more in the hours and days ahead.”As a precautionary measure, the government is offering COVID-19 testing for all people in Summerside over the weekend who are between the ages of 14 and 29, even if they have no symptoms of the disease.”Increased testing will tell us if COVID-19 is circulating in the 14-to-29-year-old age group in the Summerside area,” Morrison said.She reported one new case on the Island Friday, involving a woman in her 20s. Morrison said the case does not appear to be directly linked to other cases announced this week. There are now seven active known cases of COVID-19 on Prince Edward Island.On Wednesday, Morrison reported that two women in Charlottetown had tested positive. Those cases, she said, were related to travel within Atlantic Canada. She said Friday one of the two women has been charged with two infractions under the Public Health Act.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021.— By Kevin Bissett in Fredericton. The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press

Alberta and its physicians move to end ugly feud over fees with new tentative deal

EDMONTON — The Alberta government and its 11,000 physicians have taken a first step toward resolving an ugly, fractious year-long dispute over fees and working conditions. Health Minister Tyler Shandro and Dr. Paul Boucher, the head of the Alberta Medical Association, say they have reached a tentative deal on a new master agreement. Boucher declined to provide specifics, saying he first wants to let members discuss and ratify the deal and that it will work within the government’s “budget imperatives.” Alberta’s physicians collectively receive $5 billion a year, and the Alberta budget will see that figure rise slightly to $5.3 billion over the next three years. A year ago, Shandro unilaterally cancelled the master agreement with the AMA and began imposing new rules on fees and visits, saying physician costs were rising too high year over year and were not sustainable. That led some doctors to withdraw services, the AMA launched a lawsuit and Shandro was criticized for fighting with doctors in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2021. The Canadian Press
Local Journalism Initiative

Bryan Adams gives shout out to North Shore hospital

Bryan Adams publicly thanked staff at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver for its care of the singer, photographer, philanthropist’s mom, Jane Adams Clark. One of Canada’s most famous rockers, Adams shared a selfie of himself and his mom at the hospital in a social media post thanking the “incredible staff” for being so kind. “Thank you for sharing your kind comments @bryanadams – we’re sending your mum our warmest wishes for a speedy recovery,” the @lghfoundation posted. Adams moved to North Vancouver in 1974 with his family, where he attended Argyle Secondary School just three years after he picked up his first guitar. Adams Clark is a poet and painter who lives in North Vancouver. Do you have something to add to this story or something else we should report on? Email: [email protected] Zoë Ducklow, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, North Island Gazette
CBC

Following fire, Chez-Nous hopes to get residents home this summer

(Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC – image credit) The co-op that runs the Chez-Nous community care home in Wellington, P.E.I., is hopeful they will be able to get people back into the residence this summer. A fire on Jan. 18 forced the 47 residents out of the home. Co-op president Marcel Richard said he believes repairs will be completed in about four months, which would put residents back in the home around the end of June. The night of the fire the residents found temporary shelter at Mill River Resort. Last week most of the residents were moved into a new temporary home at Andrews of Summerside. “I’ve been there a couple of times since Friday, probably three times actually, and like have talked to different ones and they all seem very happy, very much settling in,” said Richard. Richard said Andrews is more suitable as housing for the residents, because it is designed for people needing their level of care. More from CBC P.E.I.
Local Journalism Initiative

Gélinas bill would force health-care workers to report abuse of vulnerable adults

So if you went to visit your grandpa in a senior’s home and he had a black eye, you might want to know what happened. Caregivers might think it was from family members. Family members might suspect it was from caregivers. Currently, there is very little protection for the victims in that situation. It would be different if vulnerable adults in the health-care system had the same level of protection as vulnerable children. That’s the reason Sudbury MPP France Gélinas has introduced a private member’s bill that will make it mandatory for regulated health professionals to report any situation where an adult has suffered abuse, neglect or mistreatment. Gélinas introduced Bill 253 — Support for Adults in Need of Assistance Act, 2021 — to the Ontario legislature this week where it received full support of the house in the first reading. The bill will need full approval for second and third readings before it would become law in Ontario. Speaking at a news conference held at Queen’s Park on Feb. 25, Gélinas explained highlighted the fact Ontario has laws to protect children from suspected abuse, but not one to protect adults in care. “Every health-care professional in Ontario has a duty to report suspicion of abuse of children. Bill 253, Support for Adults in Need of Assistance, will extend the regulated health professional’s duty to report to vulnerable adults,” said Gélinas. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen how important oversight is to the well being of vulnerable people,” she said. Gélinas added that Bill 253 will provide the oversight and protection for vulnerable adults. During the news conference Gélinas provided an example, which she said was unfortunately a true case. “A nurse was giving someone a bath. She noticed that his back was covered with burns from cigarette butts. The nurse now would have not only the requirement to report, but a clear path for reporting, which did not exist, still does not exist,” said Gélinas. “It creates a requirement that regulated health professionals make a report if they have reasonable suspicion that anyone over the age of 16 is being abused or neglected,” she added. Bill 253 would also require the creation of review teams to examine each case and recommend action for each person who needs protection. The review teams would have time deadlines and the power for investigators to enter premises to gather evidence. The new bill would also mandate the gathering of data and publication of investigation results every six months. Gélinas spoke about the progress of the bill and said although there was unanimous support for the first reading on Tuesday, that doesn’t mean the bill will automatically be approved. “The process to go through second and third reading is a process that unfortunately, as a member of the opposition is kind of slow, so I cannot give you a timeline.” Gélinas is also the official health care critic for the opposition. She said it is now up to the government to decide what committee will examine the bill and whether it will be sent back to the house for continued support. That information is not normally shared with opposition MPPs. That said, Gélinas said she is told that not a week goes by that a health-care professional becomes aware of an adult in the system that is somehow being abused or neglected. In many of these cases Gélinas said police are brought in to investigate, but the support system for the victim usually falls flat. She said this has been made worse with the pandemic. Sudbury.com asked Gélinas if she would like to see the bill pass before the next election, scheduled for June 2022. “Absolutely. This is something I would like. We are scheduled to sit at Queen’s Park until the beginning of June. I would like this process to be done before we rise in June. There is no reason to drag this on,” said Gélinas. “I cannot think of anyone who would not want to give support to vulnerable adults that are being neglected or abused. I hope that there will be support on all sides of the house. But I cannot control this, so I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” she said. Len Gillis is a Local Journalism Reporter at Sudbury.com, assigned to covering health care issues in Northeastern Ontario. Len Gillis, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sudbury.com
CBC

N.W.T. COVID-19 patient in critical condition, health authorities say

(Shutterstock – image credit) A Northwest Territories worker who caught COVID-19 while employed at the Gahcho Kué mine is in critical condition, health authorities confirmed Friday. The man was medevaced to Edmonton Wednesday after developing complications related to COVID-19, a spokesperson for the chief public health officer confirmed. “We won’t be providing further details per patient confidentially,” the statement reads. “This situation provides a stark reminder that we must continue to take this pandemic seriously.” The territory has seen four people total hospitalized for complications related to COVID-19, with three connected to the Gahcho Kué mine. All but one have recovered. Health authorities declared an outbreak at the mine Feb. 3 and hundreds of workers have been forced to self-isolate as potential contacts. There have been 19 cases of COVID-19 confirmed as a result of the outbreak. The mine suspended operations Feb. 6, but is now planning to restart them. Health authorities monitoring for new variants Health officials also confirmed that they are working with a lab outside the territory to confirm if new variants of COVID-19 have been detected in the territory. Emerging mutations of the coronavirus have been demonstrated, in some cases, to be more infectious or more resistant to vaccines. On Friday, a spokesperson for the chief public health officer confirmed that none of the new variants had been detected in the N.W.T. so far. But writing Feb. 3, Mike Westwick, a spokesperson for the chief public health officer, said their presence would not necessarily mean a change in public health guidelines. “Before making that kind of decision, we would assess whether isolation had successfully contained the variant or not,” Westwick wrote. “From there, we would assess the scope, location, and public risks presented by behaviours.” “It could also depend on the community in which it emerged and the health capacity of said community and region.” Westwick did say the territory would consider strengthening some of its measures, including ones around gatherings or masks, if new variants were detected, but that mandatory quarantines for travellers remain the best defence.
The Canadian Press

Doctors urge Alberta to hold off on easing COVID-19 restrictions next week

EDMONTON — A group of health professionals is urging the Alberta government not to ease COVID-19 restrictions next week and to instead toughen measures for bars, restaurants and pubs. The plea comes from two doctors who co-chair the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association’s pandemic committee. Dr. Noel Gibney and Dr. James Talbot say in a statement that new daily active cases have stopped decreasing and that new, more transmissible variants of the virus may cause rapid increases. They also say many bars, restaurants and pubs are not following the existing rules and that it will be months before all at-risk Albertans are vaccinated. The Alberta government could as soon as Monday ease restrictions on retail businesses, banquet halls, community halls, conference centres, hotels, indoor fitness and children’s sport and performance. activities. The province’s chief medical officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, has said that while hospitalizations are down, the next reopening phase is not a done deal because the test positivity rate and number of new people infected by each case are rising. This report by The Canadian Press was first published February 26, 2021. The Canadian Press
Local Journalism Initiative

Tiny approves 1% blended tax increase for 2021

The last of the four North Simcoe municipalities finalized its tax rate Friday. Tiny Township council voted in favour of a budget that presented a 1% blended (municipal, county, and education) tax rate. The municipal tax hike for 2021 is at 2.42%, whereas the county and education taxes have been held at zero per cent. The net operating budget for Tiny sits at $11,265,968, a $457,368 increase from last year. The net capital projects budget sits at $1,630,615. The gross capital budget was calculated at $5,852,666, but a major part of it was covered with the help of grants and reserve funds. Some changes attributing to the increase in the net operating budget came from corporate insurance premium increase of 21%, a new human resources staff position for the remainder of 2021, and 1% cost of living increase for wages and benefits, the council part of which was added to a student bursary program. Tiny’s various reserves continue to look healthy, with an increase in reserves, reserve funds and obligatory reserve funds estimated to be $693,099 or a 6.9% increase from 2020. Another $900,000 from surplus land sales has replenished the parkland and capital reserves. Policing costs are scheduled to decrease by 1.2% from 2020 based on the estimate received from the Municipal Policing Bureau. There were also reductions in public administration and fleet maintenance budgets. Some capital expenditures include: Replacement of a tanker truck in the fire department at $223,413, installation of two more parking machines at a cost of $21,000, signage and road improvements along with some parks projects. Councillors unanimously voted for the new tax rate and also indicated that staff should take another look at the budget process for 2022. “We had identified a couple of opportunities for the 2022 budget deliberations,” said Coun. Tony Mintoff. “One was that council agreed that for the next budget prep, council would provide staff direction prior to the draft budget. I would like to emulate what Midland council has done where they request presentations from all boards, committees and organizations.” The township’s newly inaugurated chief administrative officer said he would be happy to take a look at how the process can be changed. “I would like the opportunity to review the process of how the budget is put together here and what the timelines are,” said Robert Lamb. “I think there might be some steps we should be looking at doing so that council plays a role earlier. We could either have a separate motion or have deeper discussion with my senior management and bring forward a suggestion to council about the 2022 procedure.” Mehreen Shahid, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, OrilliaMatters.com