Before we jump in, can I just say that geoFence helps stop foreign state actors (FSA's) from accessing your information.
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Reuters
Republican donations surge despite corporate boycott after Capitol riots
Right after the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, dozens of U.S. companies announced they would halt political donations to the 147 Republican lawmakers who voted to overturn Donald Trump’s presidential election loss. Two months later, there is little sign that the corporate revolt has done any real damage to Republican fundraising. If anything, the biggest backers of Trump’s false election-fraud narrative - such as Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene - have been rewarded with a flood of grassroots donations, more than offsetting the loss of corporate money.
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Local Journalism Initiative
Agronomy site looks to new combine, drone to grow studies
A new combine and a new drone are among the items on the shopping list for a small-plot agriculture research site hoping to grow a bit bigger thanks to an influx of research money. The Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF) recently received $727,470 from the Western Grains Research Foundation, a non-profit research group funded by farmers and based in Saskatoon. IHARF is to use the money to buy processing and analytical equipment, field equipment, a tractor, a drone, weather stations, a plot-combine and a drying shed, according to a news release issued last week announcing the funding. Research manager Chris Holzapfel said the drone they’re eyeing can make thermal image readings from the air, capturing a fairly large area of land. It will allow IHARF members to deduce soil moisture conditions on the surface and at certain depths below ground, he explained. A potential example of applying that to regular farming practices would be in an irrigation-type operation. A thermal-scanning drone could tell the user if an irrigation piping system has sprung an underground water leak; cooler temperatures tend to mean extra moisture. “(The drone will) allow us to do a lot of in-season measurements … We’ve historically used hand-held sensors, measuring individual leaves” while walking through a plot, Holzapfel said. Another application would be checking a crop’s health: “If plants are dying off due to disease, that could have a different thermal signature,” than if they’re thriving. IHARF’s research plots sit on the east side of Indian Head, which is about an hour east of Regina. Depending on funds available and the season, team members will have between 2,000 and 3,000 plots operating in a single calendar year, executive manager Danny Petty said. Those plots are divided between 45 to 60 projects per year. One plot can be as small as 280 square feet; the maximum size for one plot is 490 square feet. One acre of farmland is equal to 43,560 square feet. Petty said after researchers draw conclusions from a given project, they’ll “host field days and seminars throughout the winter to pass on those results to farmers and agronomists … We typically have our main field day in the middle of July.” Holzapfel also listed some of the site’s past research findings. Agronomists there found pulse crops (like lentils or chick peas) have a tendency to absorb some nitrogen in the air around them; the plants convert it into ammonium gas, which they use as a kind of self-made fertilizer. It could allow producers to apply less fertilizer to their pulses, while possibly reducing nitrogen runoff into creeks and rivers. The most recent spring runoff report from the Water Security Agency (WSA), released at the beginning of March, shows varied moisture conditions through the province. The WSA forecasts some northern and central areas are to see near normal runoffs, like around Saskatoon. The report showed low moisture conditions for other parts of central and southern Saskatchewan. The WSA expects a stretch of area including North Battleford, Swift Current and Regina to have below normal runoff. It predicts southeastern areas to receive a well below normal runoff. [email protected] Evan Radford, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Regina Leader-Post, The Leader-Post
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Local Journalism Initiative
Concern and confusion over proposed 17-storey building in the Beach
A new development proposed for Queen Street East and Coxwell Avenue is too tall for the neighbourhood and will set an unwanted precedent, some Beach residents are saying. Residents are “concerned and confused” regarding a 17-storey development coming to 1631 Queen St. E.- despite guidelines that restrict height. Many who participated in the creation of the Queen Street East Urban Design Guidelines for the Beach in 2012 – guidelines that restricted building heights to maintain a district agreed-upon character – are wondering what to make of a new Housing Now mixed-use development. “We’re somewhere on the spectrum between concerned and confused,” Jeffrey Levitt said. “It was kind of surprising to see the city come out with this proposal.” Levitt was involved in developing the Queen Street East Urban Design Guidelines. He is supportive of the affordable housing initiative, stressing that is not the cause of concern among residents. The proposed height is the “elephant in the room,” he noted. The site is located southeast of Queen Street East and Coxwell Avenue, and falls within the Queen Street East Urban Design Guidelines which cover building heights along Queen Street East in the Beach from Coxwell to Nursewood Road. The current occupants of the site are the Beaches Employment and Social Services Centre and the Coxwell Toronto Early Childcare Centre, as well as a closed road allowance. The redevelopment aims to bring a mix of retail and residential areas, including affordable housing units via the city’s Housing Now initiative, as well as an expansion of the childcare centre. At a community meeting on Dec. 7, 2020, most residents in attendance expressed support for the affordable housing initiative and the other redevelopments on the site. The main concern since that meeting has been the 17-storey height of the residential units, which significantly exceeds the height limits established in 2012. “In the absence of an explanation from the city as to why they think these designs are appropriate we no longer know what to make of the guidelines, and we don’t know what the guidelines means for the next development on Queen Street East,” Levitt explained. In the designs shown then, the building frontage on Queen Street East would be just over six storeys while in the middle of the lot, and the 17-storeys would front Eastern Avenue. While not quite 17-storeys fronting Queen Street East, residents say it still sets a precedent for developers. “The main height for this proposal would be based on the Eastern Avenue frontage,” Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford said. “This site is quite large and not typical of other lots on Queen.” From Levitt’s understanding, the building will be eight storeys fronting Queen Street, 10 storeys in the middle, and 17 facing Eastern Avenue, exceeding the guidelines’ six-storey limit. The city’s agency, Housing Now, says an exception to the Queen Street East Urban Design Guidelines to exceed the height limit would support 25 per cent more affordable housing at the site. It adds this possibility for the site was raised when the guidelines were first developed in 2012. Levitt said the city has not addressed or adequately explained to residents why it’s “blowing through the height limit.” In a letter to Beach Metro News, residents Mary Campbell and Barbara Myrvold noted the exception seemed unnecessary. “The proponents should have done some research to find out that affordable housing units have been sprinkled through the Beach over the years,” they wrote. “These have not been high-rises; but instead, existing houses or new low-rise buildings were used. They were designed so that the dwellings blended with the neighbourhood.” They also raised concerns regarding the “height-setting precedent” for future buildings. Bradford is largely supportive of the initiative, and doesn’t believe it will change the neighbourhood’s character. “A proposal that exceeds the general six-storey recommendation won’t set a negative precedent for all of Queen Street,” he said. “Height and density has to make sense in context, and I certainly wouldn’t support 17-storeys anywhere along Queen Street.” Levitt and other residents believe more dialogue is needed with the city to completely understand why the planning decisions were made. Bradford has noted that there are more community consultation meetings to come, but since the Dec. 7 meeting, residents have been waiting for more answers. “We went into this process with some element of confidence in the guidelines,” said Levitt. “Coming out of this because of the lack of dialogue and justification for departure, then there’s less confidence.” “People aren’t confused if they have an explanation,” he added. “They’re usually confused when they don’t.” Ali Raza, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Beach Metro News
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The Canadian Press
CBC sitcom 'Kim's Convenience' to end with fifth-season finale in April
TORONTO — Stars of "Kim's Convenience" say they're "heartbroken" after news the hit Canadian sitcom is set to close up shop after its fifth season. The show's producers say the CBC series, which has earned a global following on Netflix, will come to an end on April 13 with the final episode of the current season. It's a full season shorter than what was planned in early 2020 when the comedy was renewed for two additional seasons at the CBC. The producers said the decision comes after the show's two co-creators, Ins Choi and Kevin White, confirmed at the end of production on season 5 that they were moving on to pursue other projects. "Given their departure from the series, we have come to the difficult conclusion that we cannot deliver another season of the same heart and quality that has made the show so special," the producers said in a statement Monday. "Kim's Convenience" stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Simu Liu and Andrea Bang as a Korean-Canadian family who run a corner store in Toronto. Lee stars as patriarch Appa, alongside Yoon as matriarch Umma. Liu plays their son, Jung, and Bang plays their daughter, Janet. "I’m heartbroken. I feel like my journey with Jung was cut short," Liu, star of Marvel's upcoming film "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," tweeted Monday. "I feel like you, the fans, deserved better. But I’m proud of all that we accomplished together in five seasons. Thanks for all your love and support. This isn’t goodbye, only #OKSeeYou." Lee, whose character was known for saying "OK, see you" as a farewell to customers, tweeted: "Heartbroken. More on this later." A representative for the show, responding to an interview request, said they "have nothing more to add beyond the statement at this time." "Kim’s Convenience" premiered on CBC in the fall of 2016 and is based on the award-winning Canadian play by Choi. It's won several Canadian Screen Awards, including best comedy. The series is produced by Ivan Fecan and co-created by Choi and White on behalf of Thunderbird Entertainment, in association with the Soulpepper Theatre Company. Executive producers are Fecan, Choi, White and Alexandra Raffe; Sandra Cunningham is supervising producer. The show was heralded for its storytelling, diversity and representation. Yoon called the five seasons they had "incredible." "Thanks and gratitude to all the incredible artists, crew, writers, producers and fans who have come together to tell this story and celebrate this family," she wrote on Twitter. Sally Catto, general manager of CBC's entertainment, factual and sports divisions, said the show has connected with audiences around the world. "While we are sad to say goodbye to this beloved and groundbreaking show, we are incredibly proud to have been part of its journey and understand the producers' creative decision to wrap up the show at this time," Catto said in the statement. Season 5 was filmed last fall under COVID-19 protocols in Toronto. Liu was in Australia shooting his role as Marvel's first big-screen Asian-American superhero in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" when the pandemic hit and couldn't get back to Toronto to shoot "Kim's Convenience" until near the end of production. "Without 'Kim's Convenience,' there's no way that I'm here today," Liu said in an interview when he first landed the Marvel role. "They've given me an incredible opportunity to hone my comic skills and comedic timing over the four seasons that I've been here. And it's never felt like a day of work." The final season dives deeper into the family dynamics, including the parents, who grapple with a health issue faced by Yoon's character. "It does make for some really compelling storylines and some heart," Lee said in a recent interview. "That's one of the big things that separates 'Kim's,' I think, from a lot of other sitcoms, is there is a tremendous amount of love and heart in it." - With files from Adina Bresge This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021. Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press
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Local Journalism Initiative
More adjournments in case against man accused of holding girl against her will at remote cabin
A lawyer representing a man charged with holding a girl captive against her will for four days asked the court for another adjournment. Defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle waived his client, Aaron Gardiner’s appearance in Meadow Lake Provincial Court March 8 and asked for more time to continue discussions with the Crown. Gardiner, 42, has been in custody 11 months on these charges. The Supreme Court ruled, in 2016, that court cases must be heard within 18 months in provincial court and 30 months in superior court. If they aren’t, the case could be thrown out of court. The COVID-19 pandemic has created delays and a backlog in Saskatchewan’s court system but it’s not the pandemic causing these delays but rather the defendant. Gardiner has gone through about five lawyers. He has either fired the lawyers or they have withdrawn from representing him. On March 1 Pfefferle asked for a week’s adjournment telling the court he is in discussions with the Crown about the possibility of running an abbreviated preliminary hearing for Gardiner. Gardiner wants a preliminary hearing and a trial in Court of Queen’s Bench with a judge and jury. OnMarch 8 Pefferle said the Crown may still just proceed by way of direct indictment, which means there wouldn’t be a preliminary hearing. Canada’s Criminal Code allows for a case to be sent directly to trial without a preliminary hearing through a direct indictment. Direct Indictment is only used in serious crimes and when it’s in the public interest. Prosecutor Andrew Clements didn’t object to the adjournment and Judge Michelle Baldwin adjourned the matter to March 15. Gardiner was arrested in April 2020 for allegedly holding a girl captive for four days at a remote cabin across from Île-à-la-Crosse Lake. A specialized RCMP tactical unit was flown to the isolated cabin by two military CH-146 Griffon helicopters to rescue her and arrest Gardiner. He was charged with unlawful confinement, assault, overcoming resistance, uttering threats, resisting arrest, possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose, use of a firearm in commission of an indictable offence, proceeds of crime, and possession for the purpose of trafficking. Three months after his arrest, police added more charges after more alleged victims came forward. [email protected] Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Battlefords Regional News-Optimist
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The Canadian Press
Royal Bank replaces Shopify as most valuable company as TSX hits intraday high
TORONTO — The Royal Bank of Canada replaced Shopify Inc. as the country's most valuable company as the technology sector faded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 76.82 points to 18,457.78. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 306.14 points at 31,802.44. The S&P 500 index was down 20.59 points at 3,821.35, while the Nasdaq composite was down 310.99 points at 12,609.16. The Canadian dollar traded for 78.99 cents US compared with 78.94 cents US on Friday. The April crude contract was down US$1.04 at US$65.05 per barrel and the April natural gas contract was down 3.7 cents at US$2.66 per mmBTU. The April gold contract was down $20.50 at US$1,678.00 an ounce and the May copper contract was up 1.75 cents at US$4.09 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X) The Canadian Press
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The Canadian Press
Chelsea retains 4th in EPL with home win over Everton
LONDON — Kai Havertz is finally making an impact at Chelsea and helping the pursuit of Champions League qualification. The Germany playmaker Havertz has struggled to convince since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the off-season for up to 70 million pounds (then $92 million). Havertz struggled under previous Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, suffering lasting effects from a coronavirus infection and battling for regular first-team action. But Havertz helped Chelsea to beat Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Monday and was unlucky not to have a goal to his name after starring in the false nine position. Havertz was unlucky not to be credited with Chelsea’s first goal, with Ben Godfrey’s deflection eventually confirmed as an own goal. The lively forward later saw a neat finish ruled out for handball before winning a penalty that Jorginho converted. “I’m very happy with his performance, no doubt about his quality his talent and also not about his character,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said. “He needs to adapt to the Premier League, he needs to be at a club where you play to win every game, where the highest standards are normal. That’s a normal process also for him to adapt to this mentality.” Chelsea’s mean-spirited defence under Tuchel continues to set new standards in west London. The German has now become the first manager to secure five clean sheets in his first five home league games. Chelsea boasts nine clean sheets in Tuchel’s 11 matches in charge, and only Maurizio Sarri with 12 games has enjoyed a longer unbeaten start to life at the club. It leaves Chelsea two points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham, which beat Leeds 2-0 in the other game on Monday. A year ago, West Ham was out of the relegation zone only on goal difference. Now the east London club is chasing European qualification. West Ham took the lead in the 21st minute with virtually its first attack. Jesse Lingard played a neat one-two with Said Benrahma and skipped into the area, where Luke Ayling clumsily brought him down. The Manchester United loanee’s penalty was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Ilan Meslier but he netted from the rebound. “Once that first goal came, we settled down and now we’re starting to learn to win ugly,” West Ham captain Declan Rice said. West Ham extended its lead when Craig Dawson arrived at the far post to head in Aaron Cresswell’s corner in the 28th. “We didn’t play the best, but we’re grinding out those results, we’ve got a real solidity about us and long may that continue,” Rice said. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
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Global News
3 mass vaccination sites opening in Toronto next week
The City of Toronto will be opening up three of its mass immunization clinics on March 17 due to an increase in COVID-19 vaccine supply. As Erica Vella reports, it’s happening two weeks earlier than anticipated.
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Local Journalism Initiative
Eastholme hits member communities with large increases
Powassan Mayor Peter McIsaac was “shocked” by the increases in the Eastholme Home for the Aged 2021 budget. The board is not only applying a 10 per cent levy increase to the 14 member municipalities, it's also announced a special one-time assessment of COVID-19 related costs. The total revenue in the budget for this year is $12,620,200. That includes the total municipal contribution of just more than $1.4 million from the 14 communities after the 10 per cent levy was added. It also includes the one-time pandemic special assessment of $128,200, of which $10,242 is Powassan's share. Powassan's total share is $122,906. That involves $112,664 as its annual contribution (which includes the 10 per cent hike) plus the additional $10,242 one-time special COVID assessment. McIsaac says the large budget increase is surprising because he says it's coming at a time when Eastholme already received just more than $1.5 million in COVID funding from the Ontario government. “It's hard for me to get my head around” the numbers, McIsaac said, referring to the overall 10 per cent increase plus the one-time COVID assessment at a time when the old age home received provincial pandemic money. “Do they really need the extra 10 per cent from all the municipalities?” he asked. “That's a lot of extra money.” Councillor Dave Britton, who is council's representative at Eastholme, explained the increases. Britton said one of the reasons is to cover phenomenal insurance rate spikes which he says are in the range of 30 to 40 per cent. In a letter to all the member municipalities, Eastholme says the insurance increases are the result of class action lawsuits being filed against insurers and member municipalities can expect insurance rates to keep rising. “I asked our MPP (Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli) for support because all long-term care homes like ours are going to see these increases,” Britton said. The one-time assessment was introduced to cover the insurance hikes because the letter to the municipalities states the COVID-19 money doesn't cover the rise in insurance. The special COVID rate applied to the communities is also to help offset the cost in rising raw food item prices, which range from five to 15 per cent. Britton said in this instance the costs are due to more packaging for the food. Britton said another added cost is that the Ontario government has mandated all old age homes must have third party oversight where that party provides rapid COVID testing to all people entering the facilities. He says in the case of Eastholme, it's contracted the services of a paramedic company to carry out the rapid tests. In addition, the employees will have to get regular testing and Britton said in the case of some staff, that rapid testing could be carried out three times a week on the same people. “That's a big chuck (of bills) we didn't have before,” Britton said. “I know it's a tough budget but it's been an exceptional tough year over there,” Britton said. “I think what we're bringing to the members is the best we can do in the situation we're facing. And I applaud the staff for their effort to get us to this point.” As for the overall annual levy increase, Eastholme says for the most part, that was to offset the loss of $90,600 it was no longer going to receive from the province for capital projects. Eastholme says infrastructure in its facility needs to be replaced because of their age and Britton cited the HVAC system as one piece of equipment that's coming to the end of its life. However, McIsaac still had a difficult time accepting the numbers. “I see light at the end of the COVID tunnel,” said the mayor. McIsaac said it's his understanding that all the residents at Eastholme have been vaccinated against COVID and that the employees will all be vaccinated over the next couple of weeks. “I'm hoping sometime in the next few weeks that COVID won't be a major concern at Eastholme as it was six months ago,” said McIsaac. In response, Britton repeated himself regarding the outside factors that increased the costs. Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the North Bay Nugget. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Rocco Frangione, Local Journalism Initiative, The North Bay Nugget
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Local Journalism Initiative
Energy transition leading to small modular reactors, Part 1
Regina– On Feb. 26, Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Society Saskatchewan held a “dinnerless dinner” online, with its focus on the development of small modular reactors in this province. Three speakers addressed the online event, with Dean Reeve and Robin Woodward, speaking on “Transform Saskatchewan’s Stranded Assets – profit from the Climate Economy, and Howard Schearer speaking on “The Promise – Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Offer Saskatchewan. The event was moderated by Costa Maragos. Reeve is a retired utilities senior executive, formerly with TransGas, SaskEnergy and Atco while Woodward is the principal with RW Consulting, a Regina-based consulting firm focussed on alternative energy development, agriculture and municipal policy and growth. Shearer is chief executive with Hitachi Canada. He pointed out he was speaking on his behalf, not his company’s. (This story is broken into three parts.) Reeve said that energy transition is nothing new. Heating your home in the 1880s on the prairies was a lot different than today. “We can all agree it was a completely different world, 140 years ago from an energy perspective,” he said. “ In those 140 years we've experienced some fundamental energy transitions that have greatly impacted our daily lives. Our great-grandparents or our grandparents saw the transitions from wood and coal to electricity and propane and natural gas to energize their homes and their businesses, and of, course petroleum products for transportation purposes. And they greatly expanded their work productivity by moving from oxen and horses, to steam engines and then diesel-powered engines. These energy transitions occurred for many reasons, through innovation and new technology, and economic drivers making new energy choices more available, and more affordable. So while for current generations, energy transition is relatively new, for our ancestors, it was something they experienced and embraced, to really improve their human condition.” He said the energy transition occurring today is gaining so much attention because “how it improves the individual human condition is maybe not quite as evident as when propane or natural gas was available to remove the need for gathering wood or going to the coal bin for fuel, or how obvious the improvements were to productivity, when you move from the horse and oxen, to the steam engine and the diesel engine. This transition is being driven by an environmental need to reduce greenhouse gases and slow the pace of climate change.” He noted that windchills of –50 C in February make it “hard to drum up a very serious conversation about global warming.” Thus, many people wonder who energy transition will improve their daily human conditions and economic prospects, Reeve said, noting it often it becomes a heated and polarized conversation. “It's often expressed in terms of are you for or against fossil fuels? If you're for fossil fuels. you must deny the impact of greenhouse gases on climate change and not care about the environment. If you're for zero emissions and renewables, you must be against any kind of fossil fuel future, and our own prosperity. Like many things today these polarizing transpositions fail to recognize the realities and merits of both positions. Look at the reason example of Regina city council in the discussion of eliminating advertising on city-owned buildings by fossil fuel related companies. Talk about a polarizing conversation.” He pointed out almost 85 per cent of primary energy consumption in the world today comes from fossil fuels, which means almost all the energy growth since 1900 has been made up by fossil fuels. “I don’t see this as an either-or conversation. The world will need all these energy forms to meet its energy needs,” he said. But that doesn’t mean the energy mix won’t change. “If natural gas is a ‘bridge fuel,’ it’s going to be a very, very long bridge.” Reeve said. He pointed out the ultimate goal is to reduce emissions, not eliminate fuel choices. “The key energy transition is technology improvement and innovation. It's not about a single silver bullet solution. We must use the right energy for the right purpose right place, right time.” He said, “The solution to energy transition is a portfolio approach, no single fuel or technology will manage to replace the 85 per cent of world energy consumption satisfied by fossil fuels.” This includes improving energy efficiency. He pointed out that since the late 1980s, a typical home went from using 150 gigajoules for space and water heating to 100 gigajoules now. Additionally, distributed energy production and sharing are real options today. Reeve pointed out Lumsden uses solar panels to power its wastewater treatment plant. “The technology focus and advancements in carbon capture will also be important to reduce emissions from fossil fuels.” Hydrogen may be a solution for the energy needs of heavy-duty trucking, he said. Japan “is clearly moving towards an economy fueled by hydrogen,” he said. In Saskatchewan, there is the potential for small modular nuclear reactors forming part of the electrical generation mix. Reeve noted the possibility of growing trees as a way to deal with carbon pricing. “Industry energy producers, agriculture, communities, individuals and governments at all levels must avoid the trap of polarizing positions and must seek opportunities in this new energy dynamic,” Reeve said. “Just like many of our ancestors who came to this prairie land in the 1800s, we are all interested in how we can use this energy transition to improve the human condition of our families and our future generations.” In Part 2: Robin Woodward discusses growing trees, distributed energy, and the impact of $170 carbon taxes Brian Zinchuk, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, Estevan Mercury
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CBC
N.S. mass killer showed off his 'military' style gun, claiming it was for movie
In the months before he killed 22 people in the Nova Scotia mass shooting, the gunman showed a powerful rifle to others and made up a fanciful story about its purpose, witnesses say. Newly released court documents quote a former "work-related friend" of Gabriel Wortman telling police that near the end of December 2019 or early 2020, the killer opened the trunk of his car and "showed him a big military gun." The work associate, who said he'd known the killer for two decades, told police the gunman "brought the gun back from Maine and said that it had no firing pin and that it was for a movie he was going to be making." The gunman, who did not have a firearms licence, would go on to use illegally obtained guns with over-capacity magazines, including two semi-automatic rifles and two pistols, to commit his murders during a 13-hour rampage on April 18-19, 2020. Past summaries of interviews that police carried out to secure search warrants have said guns were obtained by the killer in the United States and that the 51-year-old denturist — who was shot dead by police on April 19 — smuggled the weapons across the border. Lisa Banfield, the gunman's common-law spouse, is also quoted as telling police that he "would show guns to people." According to an April 28, 2020, statement, Banfield told police that Wortman "showed her sister's boyfriend a gun at the warehouse and he also showed her brother Jimmy the handgun." Banfield's statement includes her account of how on the night of April 18 she and Wortman argued, and he went on to assault her before she managed to escape into the woods. She has told police that the killer also fired one of his guns around her. Banfield told police the killer confined her in a replica police vehicle with a divider between the front and back seats. "She was able to slide the window (of the divider) open and crawl through and escape before Gabriel Wortman returned," says the summary of her statement. "Wortman had a friend ... who had a firearms licence and Lisa believed that Gabriel would tell (name redacted) what kind of gun he wanted and (he) would get the gun," she's quoted as telling police in the edited statement about the killer's trips to Maine to acquire firearms. "Lisa Banfield said that Gabriel Wortman had told her how he would wrap firearms and place them in the tonneau cover in order to transport them back to Canada from the United States." A tonneau cover goes over the unoccupied rear compartment of a vehicle. RCMP block the path to Gabriel Wortman's property in Portapique, N.S., during a criminal investigation into the shootings. (Jonathan Villeneuve/Radio-Canada) A spokeswoman for the RCMP declined comment on whether police ever received a report from anyone about Wortman having illegal guns. The court documents also indicate that the gunman wasn't shy about showing others his replica RCMP police vehicle and lying about why he had it. A friend of one of the gunman's victims, Aaron Tuck, is quoted as telling police in a May 6, 2020 statement that he and Tuck saw an unmarked police car, with a decal package laid out on a table nearby, at a residence belonging to Wortman. The friend told police, "Wortman said that he was fixing up the car to use in parades." The work associate was also told by the gunman about his plans for a replica car. "He was getting his car all done up like a RCMP car and...(the witness) thought the car was for the movie too," he said in the April 27, 2020 statement. During his rampage, the killer drove a replica RCMP police vehicle as he carried out his killings and eluded police. MORE TOP STORIES
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Local Journalism Initiative
Haldimand-Norfolk’s top doctor leaving post
Haldimand-Norfolk will soon need a new chief medical officer of health. The health unit announced Friday that Dr. Shanker Nesathurai will leave his post May 21. Health unit spokesperson Matt Terry confirmed Nesathurai was leaving of his own accord but did not provide any reason for his departure. Nesathurai was appointed acting medical officer of health in Haldimand-Norfolk in October 2018. At the time, he headed the physical medicine and rehabilitation department at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, was medical director of an outpatient rehabilitation clinic at HHS, and was on the faculty at McMaster and Harvard Medical School. As the public face of Haldimand-Norfolk’s pandemic response, Nesathurai was active in managing outbreaks at long-term-care homes and area farms. During the large outbreak at Scotlynn Group’s Vittoria farm — which saw some 200 workers infected and led to the death of Juan López Chaparro of Mexico — Nesathurai personally visited each bunkhouse to examine workers and answer their questions. He enacted several controversial measures to control the virus, which included limiting bunkhouse occupancy for quarantining migrant workers and barring cottagers who live outside Haldimand-Norfolk from visiting their vacation properties. “I want to thank Dr. Nesathurai for his hard work and leadership through this incredibly difficult time,” said Norfolk County Mayor Kristal Chopp, who chairs the board of health. “His insight and guidance have been extremely valuable to the leadership of both Haldimand and Norfolk counties, and we wish him all the best.” Nesathurai leaves his post $160,000 richer thanks to a “top up” in overtime pay approved by the board of health after a closed session meeting on Feb. 25. The province recently gave health units funding to compensate medical officers of health and other senior managers for extra time spent managing the pandemic. In Haldimand-Norfolk, 10 managers split an additional $102,000 in provincial money. Terry said the health unit “has had discussions with the ministry of health, as well as adjacent health units, regarding support and next steps, and will update the community when details are available.” In a media release, Nesathurai credited his colleagues for their dedication. “I want to thank the public health staff who have worked tirelessly to keep the community safe,” he said. “The community is lucky to be served by a group of people so committed to advancing the cause of public health.” This is the third major departure from the health unit announced in recent weeks. General manager Marlene Miranda left her post last month to join the County of Brant, while Terry, who is director of communications for Norfolk County and the health unit, will soon head to Brock University to lead their communications team. Nesathurai’s announcement comes in the midst of Haldimand-Norfolk’s vaccine rollout and on the heels of news that the region will enter the orange-restrict category of the province’s COVID-19 response framework on Monday. Haldimand-Norfolk had been in the less stringent yellow category, but recent COVID-19 data prompted the ministry of health to put tighter controls in place. There were 37 active cases in the region on Friday. J.P. Antonacci, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator
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The Canadian Press
Bradley joins Brewers as Cain faces quadriceps issue
The Milwaukee Brewers believe they have room for more than one Gold Glove centre fielder in their outfield. Milwaukee finalized the $24 million, two-year contract with Jackie Bradley Jr., whose deal allows him to opt out after this season to become a free agent again. Bradley, who turns 31 on April 19, joins an outfield that already includes 2019 Gold Glove centre fielder Lorenzo Cain, 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich and Avisaíl García, giving the Brewers four experienced starters for three outfield spots. Bradley won an AL Gold Glove with Boston in 2018 and was a finalist for the award in 2014, 2016 and 2019. “I think we’ve just got a lot of great players here,” Bradley said Monday from the Brewers’ spring training camp in Phoenix. “I’m excited to be in the mix. The opportunity’s going to present itself. I don’t have to worry about making the lineup. I’m here to help the team win, and that’s my main focus.” The Brewers’ need for outfield depth has become more apparent the last few days. Cain is dealing with a quadriceps issue that has slowed his progress this spring training, potentially complicating his status for the start of the season. Cain had opted out of the 2020 season after playing just five games. “I’ll do everything possible to get ready,” Cain said. “I plan on being on the field opening day.” Cain, who turns 35 on April 13, called Bradley an “unbelievable defensive player who can swing the bat” and a welcome addition to the team. Cain didn’t express any concern that the addition of Bradley could affect his own job security. “It’s not a challenge to me,” Cain said. “I feel like I’ve shown what I can do, day in and day out, year in and year out, what I can do as far as centre field. If what I’ve done in the past is not enough, then what can I say?” Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said there should be plenty of at bats for all four outfielders, even if everyone stays healthy. “If we look at three outfield positions, conservatively there are 2,100 plate appearances,” Stearns said. “That’s a lot of playing time. That’s a lot of plate appearances. We want as good of players as possible to consume all of those. So now to hopefully be able to have four really, really good players consuming those 2,100 plate appearances, that puts us in a really good spot.” Stearns noted that Cain had some wisdom teeth removed before the start of camp that had shut him down for a week to 10 days. Cain said he later hurt his quadriceps while running the bases. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Cain wasn’t on the field last week and added that “he’s going to be slowed by this and we’re at a point where the schedule starts to get a little tight, but I think we still have time to be ready for the season.” “Look, this is part of what can be expected when you have a player who relies a great deal his lower body, who wasn’t in a competitive environment for a long time, so we knew we needed the spring and the entirety of the spring to get him going,” Stearns said. “Unfortunately we’ve lost a chunk of that at this point. We’ll see how the next couple of weeks go.” Cain remains optimistic about his chances of being ready for the April 1 opener. “As far as getting on the field and seeing live pitching, that’s the only setback I see,” Cain said. “I think I’ll get caught up to speed real quick. I’m doing everything possible to get back on this field as soon as possible. I think I’ll be ready to go.” If Cain is ready for the start of the season, the Brewers could face some interesting decisions as they try to divide playing time among these four experienced outfielders. “It’s not something I have to worry about,” Bradley said. “I’ll leave that up to Craig and the people who are running the show. I’m going to be focused on helping the team any way I possibly can, and wherever I’m playing, let’s go.” Milwaukee opened a roster spot by placing utilityman Tim Lopes on the 60-day injured list. Counsell said Lopes injured an oblique while swinging a bat in an exhibition game last week. ___ More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Steve Megargee, The Associated Press
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The Canadian Press
Georgia Senate passes bill to end no-excuse absentee voting
ATLANTA — Georgia’s state Senate narrowly passed a bill that would end no-excuse absentee voting Monday, as Republicans move to roll back voting access after record turnout led to Democratic victories in the state's presidential race and two U.S. Senate runoffs. The bill is likely headed to a Senate-House conference committee where the chambers will hash out their difference on the issue. That could mean significant changes before the two chambers vote again on whether to agree to a compromise bill. Senate Bill 241 would limit absentee voting to people 65 and older, those with a physical disability and people who will be out of town on Election Day — ending broad no-excuse absentee voting introduced by the Republican-led legislature in 2005. It would also require an ID for those who are able to vote absentee, among many other changes. The bill passed the state Senate 29-20 in a vote that fell along party lines. Bills must get at least 29 votes for a majority in the 56-member Senate. Several Republicans who could face tough reelection battles in quickly changing metro Atlanta districts didn't vote, including Sens. John Albers, Kay Kirkpatrick and Brian Strickland. Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who has denounced efforts to limit who can vote absentee, refused to preside over the debate. The bill is part of a flood of legislation introduced by Republicans across the country that would restrict voting access after President Joe Biden beat former President Donald Trump in November. Many of the proposals being floated target absentee voting after Trump repeatedly made false claims about fraud in mail voting. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan, the chief sponsor of the bill, said a surge in absentee ballots during the last election cycle caused a burden on county election offices. More than a million Georgians used the option in November as the coronavirus pandemic raged. “The increasing burden on local election offices and the increased cost to each of our counties has risen significantly,” Dugan said. "In recent years the number of mail-in absentee ballots has increased to the point where counties are in essence running three elections simultaneously.” Dugan said about 2.7 million Georgians would still be eligible to vote absentee under the specific excuses outlined in the bill. Democrats in the chamber said the bill is a direct reaction to Trump's lies about fraud and would disproportionately affect voters of colour. “The purpose of 241 and all of the vote-limiting bills that we have before us is to validate a lie,” Democratic Sen. Nikki Merritt said. "It is to prevent massive voter turnout from happening again, especially in minority communities, our new voters who are turning 18 and hard-working Georgians.” Democratic Sen. Lester Jackson said the bill harks back to Georgia's dark history of racist voting policies. “It smells like Jim Crow laws of the past. This smells like poll taxing. This smells like voter suppression," Jackson said. The chamber is also set to vote on a separate bill that would end automatic voter registration when a person gets a driver’s license, as well as several other voting measures. The votes come as a task force convened by Georgia’s secretary of state expressed concern that the legislation is being rushed. Members of the group formed by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger released a statement Monday saying “the legislative process is proceeding at a pace that does not allow full examination of all factors that must be considered.” “There is a need for responsible elections policymaking to be deliberate and evidence-based, not rushed,” the statement continues. “When we see proposals that properly balance voter access with integrity, we will voice support.” Twelve members of the task force signed off on the statement, which specifically noted that three other members were not included. Georgia's House has already passed a wide-ranging election bill backed by Republicans. The House bill would require a photo ID for absentee voting, limit the amount of time voters have to request an absentee ballot, restrict where ballot drop boxes could be located and when they could be accessed, and limit early voting hours on weekends. The latter provision has raised concerns among voting rights groups who say the proposal seems targeted at hampering Sunday voting — a popular day for Black churchgoers to vote in “souls to the polls” events. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has endorsed the idea of requiring a photo ID for absentee voting but has yet to back any specific proposals. Raffensperger says he favours ending no-excuse absentee voting as well as requiring an ID for mail voting. ___ AP writer Kate Brumback contributed to this report. Ben Nadler, The Associated Press
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Local Journalism Initiative
Thompson citizens share stories of inspirational girls, women for International Women's Day
Citizens in the City of Thompson were able to share stories of inspirational girls and women through the Thompson YWCA’s She’s With Me campaign. The annual campaign allows the community to celebrate International Women’s Day by delivering surprise messages to female recipients on Monday. This year, the female recipients received a gift as well as a card with personalized messages written on it to show that they were appreciated by someone in the city. “For us at the YWCA, we love to celebrate and honour women and girls. We wanted to give the community a chance to tell us all the amazing things that the females in their lives have done or continue to do,” said Nina Cordell, Thompson YWCA women’s programs coordinator on Monday. Last year, YWCA hosted a “Laugh-ternoon” show featuring two female comedians to go along with the campaign. Due to COVID-19, the YWCA was not able hold a community gathering and therefore chose to provide a gift that would go along with the messages instead. Upon delivery, receivers were given a choice to pick one of the three gifts that were prepared by the YWCA. The three gifts recipients could choose from were a relaxation kit, a dream catcher kit or a painting kit. The relaxation kit consists of a journal, pen, facial mask, tea, a bath bomb and a manicure set. In the dream catcher kit, recipients will be given tools and materials such as beads, feathers, strings, a ring and glue to use. Recipients can expect a canvas, paint and paintbrushes in their painting kit. “The highlight of the whole campaign is that somebody will show up to your home or workplace and present you with this card saying that someone has thought about you and that you have inspired them,” said Cordell. For three weeks leading up to Monday, residents from Thompson had contacted the YWCA through phone, email and on Facebook to share their nominees on who they thought inspired them the most. Among the participants who nominated a female inspiration was a husband who used this opportunity to let his wife know she was appreciated. “He said that he has a hard time expressing how much he appreciated her on his own, so he thought that this campaign was perfect for him,” said Cordell. The Thompson YWCA has also launched two new education bursaries called the Footsteps Forward bursaries that will provide financial support to women and girls. Initially known as the Joan Johnston Award, the new bursaries will be inclusive of all women and girls living or studying in Northern Manitoba. Bursaries offered to Northern Manitoba females are the shorter-term training or programs bursary that does not require the applicant to be enrolled in a post-secondary institute and the post-secondary enrollment bursary which supports either full-or-part time students. The amount of bursaries provided to female students will be on a case-to-case basis depending on their household income. Currently, there is no limit as to how much a potential candidate can receive from the grant. To apply for either of the bursaries, interest students can now call 204-778-1209 or email [email protected] to set up an arrangement to receive an application. Nicole Wong is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Nicole Wong, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun
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The Canadian Press
Hosts of Vancouver parties are arrested and charged, say police
VANCOUVER — Two hosts of what police say were repeated parties in a condominium in Vancouver's West End have been arrested on allegations of violating public health orders. Vancouver police say officers used a search warrant when they went to the highrise and forced their way in on Saturday to arrest two men. The arrests came after 10 previous complaints to police about noise and parties. Sgt. Steve Addison says the hosts were taken to jail, while six guests were each issued $230 tickets for being at the gathering. The men now face charges of failing to comply with an order of the provincial health officer under the B.C. Public Health Act. The Emergency Program Act bans social gatherings of any size inside homes, but allows people who live alone to host two people with whom they regularly socialize. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021. The Canadian Press
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The Canadian Press
More jury pay, stricter time limits for lawsuits planned by Manitoba government
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is planning to increase pay for people on jury duty and set shorter time limits for civil litigation. Two bills now before the legislature propose several changes to the way the court system operates. One would ensure jurors are paid for their service from the start, by eliminating a rule that only provides pay starting on the 11th day of duty. The bill would also allow people with criminal convictions to serve on juries, as long as they were not convicted of an indictable or more serious offence. The second bill would reduce an array of time limits for different types of civil court action that currently run from two to 10 years. The proposed law would establish a two-year limit for most civil proceedings, with exceptions for some matters such as sexual assault. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021 The Canadian Press
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The Canadian Press
Wilfried Nancy named head coach of CF Montreal, team to start season in Florida
MONTREAL — After overhauling their name and look, CF Montreal have announced their latest adjustments — a new coach and a new temporary home. The club announced Monday that former assistant coach Wilfried Nancy has been promoted to the top job. He takes over from Thierry Henry, who resigned last month citing family reasons. "I'm not going to lie — soccer, football, it is my passion," Nancy told reporters Monday. "For me, this is a good step." Montreal also announced it will open the season playing home games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., because of border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nancy, a 43-year-old Frenchman, has been an assistant coach with the first team since 2016, and said he wants to build on what the group accomplished last season. Montreal finished the regular season with a 8-13-2, good for ninth spot in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference. The club — known as the Montreal Impact before a rebrand in January — made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, but was eliminated by the New England Revolution in the play-in round. The team established a style of play last year, Nancy said. “We will continue that style of play," he said. "We’re going to be a good team, proactive, dynamic and we will be able also to put produce on the opposition.” Working under Henry — formerly a marquee striker with Arsenal in the English Premier League — was an illuminating experience, Nancy said. “I worked with a champion," he said. "Thierry was a star as a player and I understood why he was a star,." Henry was a demanding coach who found it hard to accept that players would make mistakes, but he also set a strong example for the team, Nancy said. “For me, it was good to learn from Thierry about the desire to win and the desire to succeed," he said. "This is the first time that I can see that close to me.” CF Montreal announced on Feb. 25 that Henry was stepping down after a single season as the club's head coach. There was a lot of interest in the job from people across Europe and North America, sporting director Olivier Renard said. While he declined to say who else was considered, Renard added that the pandemic wasn't an obstacle in the hiring process. What set Nancy apart from other applicants was his determination and his familiarity with the club, Renard said. “I know his philosophy, I know what he wants to do for the club. And the club knows also what he makes the last 10 years of the club," he said. “It’s not only we gave him the chance, he deserved the chance also." While's Nancy's contract is for one year, Renard said in French that the new coach doesn't have a sword hanging over his head. Nancy said he understands the situation and is OK with it. "I have to do my job now as a coach to go forward," he said. Before joining the first team as an assistant coach, Nancy worked as a coach in the club's academy system. His experience developing young talent is part of what makes Nancy a good fit for the head coach role, Renard said. “One of the best qualities of Wil is his communication with young guys," he said. "We need that.” Assistant coaches Kwame Ampadu and Laurent Ciman, goalkeeper coach Remy Vercoutre and fitness coach Jules Gueguen will complete Nancy’s staff. The newly minted coach and his team opened training camp in Montreal last week, but will soon make the move to a warmer locale. The club announced Monday that it will begin its season in Florida, playing at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale and using Inter Miami CF's facilities for daily training. CF Montreal is set to move south on April 6 and plans to play two pre-season games in Florida before the MLS season begins on April 17. The club will have ample Canadian company in the Sunshine State. The Raptors, Blue Jays and Toronto FC are all playing in Florida due to border restrictions and the Canadian national men's soccer team also will play a home World Cup qualifying game in the state. The restrictions forced all three Canadian MLS teams to move south last season. Montreal finished out the year in Harrison, N.J., sharing a stadium with the New York Red Bulls. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021. The Canadian Press
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The Canadian Press
More sports books launching online casinos in the U.S.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Companies that are well-known for conducting online sports betting are branching out into the online casino business. The latest such deal was announced Monday when FanDuel and Boyd Gaming Corp. said they would launch online casino operations using an iconic gambling brand from years gone by. The companies will operate Stardust-themed online casinos in New Jersey and Pennsylvania later this year, pending regulatory approval in both states. FanDuel plans to rebrand its existing Betfair Casino in New Jersey under Boyd's Stardust brand, and will launch a Stardust online casino in Pennsylvania. A single Stardust Casino app will be available in both states. “For nearly 50 years, the Stardust was one of the most famous casinos on the Las Vegas Strip," said Keith Smith, president of Boyd Gaming. “And while the resort has been gone for more than a decade, the Stardust brand is still as well-known and popular as ever.” All the games that were available under Betfair will continue to be available under the new brand. The move was the latest among prominent online sports books to move into the online casino arena, an area of gambling that had been growing quickly even before the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic further boosted online winnings from customers unwilling to visit a casino in person. According to the American Gaming Association, DraftKings has online casinos in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan; William Hill has an online casino operation in Michigan, and PointsBet has plans for online casinos in New Jersey and Michigan. ___ Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
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The Canadian Press
Quebec to go against advice from national vaccine panel and give AstraZeneca to 65+
MONTREAL — Quebec said Monday it will administer the newly approved Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to seniors, despite Canada’s national vaccine expert panel recommending against its use for people over the age of 65. The province's vaccine expert committee is recommending that all approved vaccines be used immediately to prevent deaths and hospitalizations, the Health Department said in a news release, adding that the AstraZeneca vaccine "provides more flexibility in immunization efforts, especially for priority groups aged 70 to 79." The newly approved vaccine has numerous advantages, the Health Department said, including the fact it doesn't need to be kept frozen and can be used up to 48 hours after a vial is opened. "Its use will also be favoured for (patients) where mobile vaccination is an optimal strategy to reach them — at home, for example." Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization has said the AstraZeneca vaccine is not recommended for people aged 65 years and over because of insufficient data on its efficacy in older people, despite its approval by Health Canada for adults of all ages. There are no concerns that the vaccine is unsafe for use, but the NACI panel said the vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are preferred for people 65 years old and above "due to suggested superior efficacy.'' Quebec's immunization committee, however, recommended that in a scenario of limited vaccine availability, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be given to the highest priority groups, while it said AstraZeneca could be offered to those that come slightly lower on the list. The AstraZeneca vaccine "should not be routinely offered to people who present a very high risk of disease, complications and/or who would not respond well to any vaccine, including residents in (long-term care) and (private seniors homes), people with immunosuppression and the most exposed health workers," according to the committee's report released Monday. The report said the overall efficacy rate of the AstraZeneca vaccine was 62.5 per cent. Its efficacy was estimated at 43 per cent for those aged 65 years and over, "but very imprecise given the low number of participants in this group." The efficacy seemed "very high," however, when it came to preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths, the report said. Meanwhile, Quebec on Monday eased COVID-19 restrictions in five regions, including the capital, permitting residents to return to the gym and restaurant dining rooms for the first time in months. The government also pushed back the nighttime curfew from 8 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m. in Quebec City, Chaudiere-Appalaches, Estrie, Mauricie and Centre-du-Quebec, which were downgraded from "red" to "orange" under the province's pandemic-alert system. Premier Francois Legault has opted to maintain restrictions in Montreal and the surrounding regions because public health authorities fear a novel coronavirus variant will soon cause regional case numbers and hospitalizations to rise again. Francois Meunier, vice-president of public affairs for Quebec’s restaurant industry group, Association Restauration Quebec, said the reopening of restaurants in orange zones has given people hope of “being able to start living again a little.” He said demand appeared strong, with lines forming outside breakfast restaurants in Quebec City Monday morning. Meunier said many of his group's members have been scrambling to hire staff, adding that some won’t open for a few more days. He said capacity limits and the curfew will make it very difficult for restaurants to turn a profit, but he said most want to open anyway. “Right now, the goal isn’t so much profitability,” he said in an interview Monday. “The goal is improving the mental health of restaurant owners,” he said, adding that full closure is something that is “no longer possible, no longer livable.” Meunier says restaurants have a strict set of rules to follow, including mandatory reservations, collecting clients' contact information, checking addresses to ensure customers aren't from red zones, and limiting tables to a maximum of two adults and their minor children. He noted that about half the province’s restaurants remain closed because they are located in red zones, such as Montreal. On Monday, the province reported 579 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, none of which occurred in the past 24 hours. Hospitalizations remained relatively stable — down by two, to 590 — while the number of intensive care patients rose by one, to 108. Health Minister Christian Dube has said the province will step up the pace of vaccinations this week as more regions join Montreal in opening mass immunization clinics to the general public. Dube said Monday on Twitter Quebec would receive over 213,000 vaccine doses this week, including 113,000 of Oxford-AstraZeneca. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021. Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
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