NewsCBCSome high school students call on TDSB to scrap 'mentally and physically draining' quadmesters
Some secondary students in Canada's largest school board are calling for the elimination of quadmesters, saying the condensed schedules are leading to mental health issues and information overload for students. "I hate this quadmester model because I love learning, and this model totally strips us students of that," said Hannah Cohen, a Grade 11 student at Earl Haig Secondary School in North York. Cohen, a senior in the school's dance program, says quadmesters have been detrimental both academically and socially since they were implemented last year by the Ministry of Education to limit contact between students. She says they've also disrupted the balance between social life and education that she says comes with regular semesters. So when the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) announced on Wednesday that it would continue with quadmesters for secondary students for the 2021-2022 academic year, Cohen launched an online petition to fight it. "Learning in quadmesters is mentally and physically draining," reads the petition titled "TDSB Families Fight Back Against Quads," which has racked up nearly 1,800 signatures of support as of Friday night. "We are not able to properly learn and digest the information provided in our courses in such a brief period of time ... Students are not learning; we are just merely memorizing information," the petition says. This petition calls on the TDSB to adopt semesters for the upcoming school year. 'Learning at warp speed' The quadmester system splits the school year into four periods to allow smaller cohorts to attend class in person. Instead of four courses taken during two semesters, two courses are taken across four quadmesters. This means courses that used to be taught over the span of five months are now being taught in about nine weeks. "Teachers are basically blurting out information at us during our classes because they have so little time to get this information across to us," Cohen said. Monika Ferenczy, an education consultant based in Ottawa, calls it "learning at warp speed, because it really puts an enormous amount of pressure on the students to absorb a lot of content very quickly." Ferenczy says students are being taught one thing in the morning and are already being tested on it the following day. She says she has seen an increase in students with high anxiety and depression, and many others asking for modifications to timelines that can often not be accommodated. In response to students' concerns over the quadmester workload, a spokesperson for the TDSB says the amount of work isn't that different because a student is essentially learning two fewer courses at a time than in a typical academic semester. Jason Wong, left, and Hannah Cohen, right, are both seniors a Earl Haig Secondary School who are fighting against the return of quadmesters. They say the learning model negatively affects students' academic performance and mental health. (Submitted by Jason Wong/Hannah Cohen) But the essence of the quadmester system is to cram a bunch of information together at once, according to Jason Wong, who is in Grade 11 and is the student body president at Earl Heights Secondary School. "Let's assume we have two academic subjects at once — math and biology. That's a lot of work and time spent on those subjects. When we're working on that, we are working around the clock memorizing that material," Wong said. He says students are left racing to learn the material before they move on to a different subject, which is forcing many to stay up all night to cram, which subsequently affects students' sleep schedules and their mental health. Cohen and Wong, both of whom are students in the arts, say they also lack down time to practise their majors under this model. They add that mental health resources provided by the TDSB, such as links to access professional support services staff, fall short of what kids need. Cohen says she wants the impact that the quadmester has on students' mental health to be acknowledged and for the TDSB to move forward with a semester system next year. "We are not robots; we want our lives back," Wong added. Quadmesters 'not great' for some students, TDSB admits The TDSB says it acknowledges the quadmester model is not for everyone and that there is mixed reaction to it. "We realize for some, the quadmester model is not great, we know that. However, we're taking direction from the Ministry of Education," said TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird. He says the decision is about trying to keep people safe. Despite Ontario's vaccine supply ramping up and youths eligible to book a vaccine appointment by June, the ministry has required all school boards to limit schedules to two in-person classes, which for the TDSB, results in a quadmester model to limit student-to-student contacts. "We continue to explore ways to improve it," Bird said of the learning model. "Our hope, however, is that with vaccinations over the summer and those numbers hopefully going up, that we are going to be as close to normal as possible come September." Bird adds that it is important to note that the ministry says it will look into changing the model depending on how the pandemic evolves. "Given the unpredictability of what COVID-19 will look like in September...we need to be flexible," Bird said.
NewsCBCMissing UBC professor found dead on Salt Spring Island
RCMP on Salt Spring Island, B.C., say they have found the body of a University of British Columbia professor who had been missing since last Wednesday. Sinikka Gay Elliott left her home to run errands on Wednesday and had not been seen or heard from since. Police say they received a missing persons report at 2:15 p.m. the same day. On Saturday, police issued a written statement that said they had found her body. Although they are still investigating the details surrounding her death, they don't suspect foul play. RCMP thanked the more than 100 volunteers who helped search for Elliott. Overwhelming community response The search began Wednesday night and located Elliot's vehicle abandoned on Juniper Place Road at approximately 9:30 p.m. After an overwhelming response from the community looking to help in the search, police had asked the public to stand down. Elliot had been an associate professor with the sociology department at UBC since 2007. Guy Stecklov, head of the sociology department at UBC, previously told CBC News that her colleagues and students were all distressed by her disappearance.
NewsThe Canadian PressSuccess story Taiwan faces its worst outbreak in pandemic
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The island of Taiwan, which has had enviable success in containing COVID-19, imposed new restrictions in its capital city on Saturday as it battled its worst outbreak since the pandemic began. Authorities raised the alert level for Taipei, the capital, and the surrounding area of New Taipei city. The level 3 alert, which remains in effect for two weeks, requires people to wear a mask outdoors and limits indoor gatherings to five people and outdoor gatherings to 10 people. Health authorities said that 180 new locally spread cases had been confirmed, the majority in Taipei and New Taipei. That's more than the total of 164 cases previously confirmed for the entire pandemic period. The daily number of new cases rose steadily from single digits early this week to 29 before the triple-digit jump announced Saturday. “The epidemic is gaining intensity,” Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said, while noting that more cases are being identified as authorities hone in on hot zones. Movie theaters, museums, indoor swimming pools and amusement parks were among the places ordered closed under the level 3 alert, as were community colleges and senior citizen activity centers. Taiwan, a self-governing island of about 24 million people off China's east coast, has kept the coronavirus largely at bay. It has tallied 1,475 cases, mostly infected people who arrived from abroad, and 12 deaths. The total number of locally spread cases more than tripled in the past week to 344 from under 100 as of last weekend. The Associated Press
NewsCBCPopularity crumbles for Indian PM Modi as devastating COVID-19 surge continues
For a leader who has skirted political challenges and enjoyed widespread popularity over years in office, the devastating COVID-19 crisis hitting India may prove the most challenging yet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, analysts say. A deep, seething anger is palpable in many parts of the country that are struggling to contain the effects of a brutal second wave, and much of that ire is being directed at the government for failing to adequately prepare for a resurgence of the virus. Stories of Indians pleading on social media for oxygen supplies or antiviral drug treatments abound, as planes full of foreign aid keep touching down in an attempt to keep the country's struggling health-care system from collapsing. Baljeet Asthana was so upset after spending days trying to secure an ICU bed for her mother, who she said was slowly dying because of a lack of oxygen, that she recorded a video of herself outside a New Delhi hospital in early May. Asthana addressed herself directly to the prime minister, asking what she should do. "I would request Modi-ji and Kejriwal to let me know," she says into her phone's camera, referring also to Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal. She's polite and restrained but has a disquieting request for help. "If you cannot advise me, sir, then I would request you to legalize mercy killing in India. Because you have no idea what the common citizen of India is going through at the moment," she says, straight to the camera. "We are struggling, we are struggling to get basic things like oxygen, medicines, hospitals," Asthana continues steadily. "Let us die with dignity." Rural areas hit That anger is also spreading to more rural areas as they heave under the pressure of daily infection rates. India has posted more than 300,000 new infections every day for more than three weeks, and the country accounted for half of the cases reported globally last week, according to the World Health Organization. Experts believe the official record of cases and deaths is vastly underestimated. In Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, which has been hit particularly hard by the devastating second wave, there's scorn for the government's response. A man, his voice rising in anger outside a hospital in the city of Meerut after losing his niece to the virus, curses and rails against Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party for claiming to be a superpower. A man in Meerut yells and swears at a a video camera, decrying Modi's political party for failing to secure medical supplies such as oxygen. (Newslaundry/YouTube) "What kind of superpower can't even find oxygen for its people?" he asks, waving an oxygen mask in front of the camera documenting it for the investigative website Newslaundry. "As people are suffering, most certainly some of that suffering is translating into an anger against the political leadership," said Yamini Aiyar, president of the New Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Policy Research. 'We fell into policy complacency' Aiyar said it's well known that India spends far less than any other comparable economy on its health-care system — about one per cent of its GDP — and the country's health infrastructure is "creaking if not broken." And yet the Indian government didn't spend time strengthening it to prepare for a possible second wave of an unpredictable virus. "Rather we fell into the trap of assuming there was such a thing as Indian exceptionalism," Aiyar told CBC News. The first wave of the pandemic did not hit India as hard as public health experts had feared nor as hard as other countries. "We fell into policy complacency." Modi told a virtual summit of the World Economic Forum in January that India has beaten the virus and "saved humanity from a big disaster by containing corona effectively." Three months later, India was posting the world's highest infection numbers. Family members of Vijay Raju, who died from COVID-19, mourn before his cremation at a crematorium ground in Giddenahalli village on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, on May 13. This week, the country saw three consecutive days with 4,000 coronavirus deaths.(Samuel Rajkumar/Reuters) Aiyar said many Indians feel that the warning signs of a second wave were ignored and that Modi — who spent much of March and early April campaigning in crucial state elections and holding rallies in front of thousands of people — has been missing in action as the nation goes through a health crisis. "We're seeing a prime minister who is absent," Aiyar said. She said that's especially striking for a politician who has built his brand on mobilizing his supporters directly through non-traditional means, such as social media platforms, instead of going through media outlets and holding news conferences. (Modi has not held a news conference in his seven years in office.) "What we're seeing instead is a deep silence and I would go so far as to say a deep callousness on the part of our political leadership at a time of national crisis," Aiyar said. "His silence is something that I think has exaggerated the sense of anger and of betrayal." WATCH | Growing anger at Indian PM Modi as COVID-19 crisis continues: 'A war footing' On Friday, Modi told a virtual conference to farmers that his government was "on a war footing" trying to contain the virus. He mentioned the virus was spreading fast in rural areas. "All departments of the government, all resources, our armed forces, our scientists, everyone is working day and night to counter COVID together," he said. It was the first time he referred to the second wave's effects on India's countryside, where health-care services are not robust. Modi gestures as he speaks at a rally during the ongoing Phase 4 of West Bengal's assembly election on April 10. (Diptendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images) Modi hasn't given a televised address to the country since April 20, when he ruled out a nationwide lockdown such as the one he imposed when the virus first spread in March 2020, preferring localized containment strategies. He did call on Indians to take public health measures seriously and to show "discipline" to "win the battle against corona." But that speech took place mere days after he held a massive political rally in West Bengal, where his party was trying to win the state election, and he marvelled at how many people he could see in the crowd in front of him while infections were rising in the country. Modi was also criticized for not taking pains to discourage millions from descending on the holy city of Haridwar to take a dip in the Ganges River for the Kumbh Mela Hindu festival in March and April. Although he later urged the festival to end early, by then thousands had been confirmed infected. A man wearing a face mask takes a holy dip in the Ganges River during the ongoing religious Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar on April 12. Thousands of COVID-19 infections have been confirmed among those who attended. (Xavier Galiana/AFP/Getty Images) Consequences for a 'Teflon' leader? While the anecdotal evidence suggests there is deep anger on the streets of India, particularly in urban areas, official polling is still scarce. American data firm Morning Consult, which also tracks 12 other global leaders, released numbers that suggest Modi's popularity dipped sharply in April and is now at its lowest point in a year and a half. "Modi is really in uncharted political territory," said Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. "He has never been criticized so heavily by so many people as much as he is now," Kugelman said, noting how unusual such a position is for the politician he deems "a Teflon man." "Political challenges and political vulnerability, it doesn't stick to him. He manages to get over it." A woman mourns after seeing the body of her son who died due to the coronavirus disease, outside a mortuary of a COVID-19 hospital in New Delhi on May 12.(Adnan Abidi/Reuters) And Modi still remains the most popular world leader tracked by the polling firm, one point higher than Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and 29 points higher than Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as of May 11. Modi's current approval rating sits at 63 per cent, according to Morning Consult, with a disapproval rating of 31 per cent. That's a key sign that it's too early to tell if this current crisis will have a long-term effect on Modi. "His numbers are still fairly high," said Sadanand Dhume, a research fellow with the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute. "Around 65 per cent is still a pretty good approval rating for a democratically elected leader." But Dhume insisted that criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis is much harder for Modi and his government to skirt because the pain is so personal, and the evidence that the country is struggling is overwhelming. What matters, according to Dhume, is how long it takes for India to get a handle on its brutal second wave, as hospitals are still reporting shortages of crucial medical supplies and beds. Modi's brand has also been dented, along with his preferred image of a strong India. India has for more than a decade refused foreign aid, insisting that it is self-reliant, but that long-standing position from the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami has now been reversed. The country is watching planes land filled with international coronavirus relief supplies that local officials struggle to distribute to where it's most needed, while people take to social media to scrounge up life-saving oxygen. Workers prepare medical supplies to be sent to India at the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on May 9.(Abdel Hadi Ramahi/Reuters) There may be short-term political consequences for Modi and his BJP party, but the next general election is still three years away. Plenty of time for Modi and his advisers to focus on something else and for his popularity numbers to rebound, Dhume said. "They will do what they've already begun to do, they're going to change the subject," Dhume said. "They'll find something else to talk about, and they will hope that by the time the next general election rolls around, people will have forgotten the horrors of 2020 and 2021."
HealthCBCLangley-area man loses 2 metres of intestine after a blood clot following his AstraZeneca jab
A formerly healthy 43-year-old father from Langley — who is in hospital recovering from complications following a blood clot — is warning others to watch for signs of trouble after receiving an AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine. Shaun Mulldoon and his wife Tara say that doctors confirmed to them that he's a victim of the rare but dangerous syndrome linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. The clot in his abdomen will leave him with life-long effects after two metres of his small intestine was removed. Health officials said Thursday at a man in his 40s in the Fraser Health region is one of the two British Columbians known to be affected by the syndrome, but health authorities will not comment on individual cases. Shaun Mulldoon believes he wasn't adequately warned of the vaccine's risks or protected from them. The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine has been linked to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Symptoms include severe headache, pain, swollen limbs, nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath. Shaun Mulldoon, 43, had emergency surgery after developing a blood clot in his abdomen that he says is related to the AstraZeneca vaccine.(Shaun Mulldoon/Facebook) Speaking on her husband's behalf, Tara Mulldoon said they are not telling people to avoid AstraZeneca, just be informed and seek help promptly if they develop any health problems afterwards. "This is life changing for us," she said. "I feel like we have a long road ahead of us as far as his recovery goes. He's lost half of his small intestine." Her husband was vaccinated on April 22 and ended up in emergency surgery on May 9. She said that he initially felt nauseous but symptoms progressed to fever, headache and vomiting. Each time he felt ill he called his doctor or the HealthLinkBC line at 811 and was advised to stay home — even after going in to have a test for COVID-19 — which turned out to be negative. He finally went to emergency on May 8 after he began to vomit and pass blood. Mulldoon posted on social media that he wished he'd had more insight into the "worse case scenario." "Seventeen days after my vaccine [I] ended up going into emergency surgery to remove over six feet of my small intestine. I had a massive blood clot. Second surgery two days later to remove more. My surgeon told me it was very close." Tara Mulldoon said the ordeal has been difficult for the family which includes two school-aged children. "We are not anti-vaxxers. We just want people to take any adverse symptoms following the vaccine — please take it seriously," she said. Shaun Mulldoon is in hospital 17 days after his vaccination with life-threatening complications.(Shaun Mulldoon/Facebook) B.C pauses AstraZeneca for first shots "I mean there's chitter chatter about the risks of blood clots, but ... it was presented to us as being so so rare," said Mulldoon. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) says while the estimated risk of VITT is evolving — and varies from country to country — the rate in Cananda at the end of April is about one per 100,000 persons vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. B.C. followed Alberta and Ontario's lead and paused the use of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for first doses on May 12. Some experts say the VITT syndrome has not been well described to the public. This is no "run of the mill venous blood clot" in the leg after a long flight, according to Dr. David Fisman, a University of Toronto professor, epidemiologist and an infectious disease specialist with Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. Fisman said that in some people the vaccine activates clotting cells and can cause a syndrome that's difficult to treat. "It's sort of a devil and the deep blue sea clinical situation," said Fisman. Keeps a close watch Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that B.C. health officials are watching for incidence of the syndrome associated with AstraZeneca. "It's a very serious thing. Once you have antibodies to your platelets, they clump together. That can lead to very severe plugging of some of our important blood vessels. Yes, very challenging, very serious. It seems, though, that you're more likely to develop it the first time you're exposed to the vaccine," Henry said this week. "We're watching very carefully." Fisman believes that Canada may have initially missed signals about the rate of risk as AstraZeneca initially was given to older people so strokes caused by the vaccine may have gone undetected. He predicts — based on global trends — that adverse effects could potentially hit one in every 22,000 people who get the AstraZeneca jab — five times what was predicted.
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NewsThe Canadian PressA look at COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada on Saturday, May 15, 2021
The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 15, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 494,638 new vaccinations administered for a total of 17,734,225 doses given. Nationwide, 1,370,327 people or 3.6 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated. The provinces have administered doses at a rate of 46,793.043 per 100,000. There were no new vaccines delivered to the provinces and territories for a total of 20,355,204 doses delivered so far. The provinces and territories have used 87.12 per cent of their available vaccine supply. Please note that Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the territories typically do not report on a daily basis. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting 34,329 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 225,459 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 430.568 per 1,000. In the province, 1.88 per cent (9,870) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Newfoundland and Labrador for a total of 279,010 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 53 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 80.81 per cent of its available vaccine supply. P.E.I. is reporting 8,000 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 67,758 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 427.148 per 1,000. In the province, 7.20 per cent (11,429) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to P.E.I. for a total of 84,915 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 54 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 79.8 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Nova Scotia is reporting 58,592 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 415,570 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 425.833 per 1,000. In the province, 3.98 per cent (38,830) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Nova Scotia for a total of 498,490 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 51 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 83.37 per cent of its available vaccine supply. New Brunswick is reporting 44,577 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 338,127 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 433.474 per 1,000. In the province, 4.12 per cent (32,130) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to New Brunswick for a total of 415,935 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 53 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 81.29 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Quebec is reporting 112,925 new vaccinations administered for a total of 4,127,768 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 482.405 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Quebec for a total of 4,578,079 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 54 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 90.16 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Ontario is reporting 141,765 new vaccinations administered for a total of 6,771,128 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 460.964 per 1,000. In the province, 2.83 per cent (415,531) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Ontario for a total of 7,843,825 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 53 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 86.32 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Manitoba is reporting 19,849 new vaccinations administered for a total of 625,404 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 454.177 per 1,000. In the province, 5.80 per cent (79,898) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Manitoba for a total of 759,870 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 55 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 82.3 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Saskatchewan is reporting 7,930 new vaccinations administered for a total of 553,389 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 469.31 per 1,000. In the province, 4.05 per cent (47,758) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Saskatchewan for a total of 637,115 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 54 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 86.86 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Alberta is reporting 66,876 new vaccinations administered for a total of 2,086,589 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 474.004 per 1,000. In the province, 7.39 per cent (325,409) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Alberta for a total of 2,355,255 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 54 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 88.59 per cent of its available vaccine supply. British Columbia is reporting 115,947 new vaccinations administered for a total of 2,393,265 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 466.38 per 1,000. In the province, 2.43 per cent (124,880) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to British Columbia for a total of 2,740,590 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 53 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 87.33 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Yukon is reporting 382 new vaccinations administered for a total of 50,652 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 1,213.774 per 1,000. In the territory, 56.73 per cent (23,673) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Yukon for a total of 57,020 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 140 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 88.83 per cent of its available vaccine supply. The Northwest Territories are reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 49,811 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 1,103.992 per 1,000. In the territory, 49.87 per cent (22,501) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to the Northwest Territories for a total of 60,000 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 130 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 83.02 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Nunavut is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 29,305 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 756.727 per 1,000. In the territory, 33.26 per cent (12,879) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Nunavut for a total of 45,100 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 120 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 64.98 per cent of its available vaccine supply. *Notes on data: The figures are compiled by the COVID-19 Open Data Working Group based on the latest publicly available data and are subject to change. Note that some provinces report weekly, while others report same-day or figures from the previous day. Vaccine doses administered is not equivalent to the number of people inoculated as the approved vaccines require two doses per person. The vaccines are currently not being administered to children under 18 and those with certain health conditions. In some cases the number of doses administered may appear to exceed the number of doses distributed as some provinces have been drawing extra doses per vial. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published May 15, 2021. The Canadian Press
NewsReutersTwo main contenders sign up for Iran's presidential election
The June 18 election to succeed President Hassan Rouhani is seen as a test of the legitimacy of the country's clerical rulers who are hoping for a high turnout. But voter interest may be hit by rising discontent over an economy that has been crippled by U.S. sanctions reimposed after Washington exited a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers three years ago. Raisi is a 60-year-old mid-ranking cleric in Iran’s Shi’ite Muslim establishment.
HealthThe Canadian PressSurgery to prevent strokes in heart patients recommended worldwide: Canadian doctor
A simple surgery to remove unnecessary tissue in the heart could prevent strokes in patients with a common condition that requires them to take blood thinners, says the Canadian lead author of a study involving about 4,800 people in 27 countries. Dr. Richard Whitlock, a cardiac surgeon for Hamilton Health Sciences, said when blood being pumped through the heart pools in the left atrial appendage, it may form a clot that could escape and block the blood supply to the brain and raise the risk of a potentially fatal stroke. But Whitlock says getting rid of an appendage in the heart cuts that risk by 33 per cent for patients with atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by an irregular heart rhythm. The findings suggest a quick surgery, involving the removal of the appendage that's about as useless as the appendix, could be adopted around the world "immediately" through a change in practice for 15 per cent of heart surgery patients living with atrial fibrillation and taking blood thinners, Whitlock said. "This will open a new paradigm for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation," Whitlock said of the results of the McMaster University-led study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Saturday, when it was also presented at a conference of the American College of Cardiology. Whitlock said consenting patients undergoing cardiac surgery for other reasons were randomly selected for an additional operation to remove the left atrial appendage, and their results were compared with those who only took medicine. Blood thinners, which prevent clots, reduce the risk of stroke by up to 60 per cent. Whitlock said cutting out the appendage shrinks that risk by a further 33 per cent, adding those combined therapies will greatly benefit patients with atrial fibrillation, which is responsible for 25 per cent of ischemic strokes. The study began in 2012 and patients, with the average age of 71, were followed for a mean period of 3.8 years, he said. All the surgeons involved in the study across 27 countries — including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Russia, China and Brazil — are invited to events Whitlock is hosting on the findings, and a change in guidelines will be strongly recommended, he said. "We will have a significant effort at knowledge translation in terms of getting the word out there of this benefit. And surgeons, hopefully, across the world, can immediately shift practice and start managing the left atrial appendage in these patients undergoing heart surgery, who have atrial fibrillation." Whitlock said it's been suspected since the late 1940s that blood clots can form in the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation. Until now, however, he said there wasn't any definitive evidence to suggest the tissue could be removed to reduce the risk of stroke. Some surgeons have intermittently performed the procedure if they felt a patient already having heart surgery was not at high risk, he added. Patrice Lindsay, who directs change in health systems for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, said that while blood thinners have been the gold standard in preventing blood clots and strokes, the study paves the way for the procedure to be widely adopted for heart surgery patients with atrial fibrillation. As with other studies, the evidence will be reviewed and consultations with governments and experts would follow on ways to move the science into clinical practice, said Lindsay, a former cardiac nurse. "We would put out public information for patients and families to understand what it's all about and why it might be a good thing and who would be eligible," she said, adding development of guidelines and training of surgeons and nurses would also be part of the changes in health-care systems. "It takes a bit of time, but you can move fairly efficiently through that process." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2021. Camille Bains, The Canadian Press
NewsReutersVenezuela's Maduro says Citgo is key point in opposition dialogue
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the opposition's continued control of Venezuelan-owned U.S. refiner Citgo would be a key point in any eventual dialogue with opponents to resolve the country's longstanding political crisis. Maduro earlier this week said he was willing to sit down with opposition leader Juan Guaido with the involvement of the Norwegian government or other mediators, after Guaido floated the idea of the progressive relaxation of U.S. sanctions to incentivize the government to hold free and fair elections. In a state television address, Maduro said the first point of discussion in any dialogue would be for the opposition to "renounce the path of coups, interventionism and to call for invasions of our country."
NewsCBC33-year-old Nicole Paddy, killed in Saskatoon hit and run, was pregnant
The life of a pregnant woman was cut short after a fatal collision in Saskatoon earlier this week, friends and family of the victim say. Nicole Paddy, 33, was pregnant with her first child when she was struck Monday by a vehicle in the 3200 block of 33rd Street W., her obituary says. Officers were called to the scene at around 9:15 p.m. Monday for what the police service says was a hit and run. Emergency responders who arrived found Paddy, who had suffered severe injuries. Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to save her life. An online obituary said Paddy, who was known to family members by the nickname "Nikado," was pregnant at the time of her death. She loved her family and treated them with the "utmost respect," her obituary said. Reached by phone Saturday, her father said he was in a state of disbelief following his daughter's death, but declined further comment. A small funeral service with close friends and family was held for Paddy in her home community of the Thunderchild First Nation Friday. Skid marks and stained pavement mark the spot where the woman died.(Dan Zakreski/CBC) Ira Horse is a family friend who had known Paddy since she was a child and spoke at her funeral. She says the family is deep in mourning, as the violent death has been hard. "It's a big loss," she said. "Someone that's sickly, you can start to prepare yourself, but when you have a sudden loss like this, someone that's active, young, healthy, and to suffer a loss like this — it was a lot of damage to her." Horse said she remembers Paddy best as a happy kid with hair that was almost red and freckles. Even as they got older and talked less, Horse said she and Paddy always stopped to chat if they came across each other in Saskatoon. The recent funeral was difficult for everyone, said Horse. "They were a close family." A Saskatoon Police Service watch commander was unable to provide an update on the hit-and-run investigation Saturday. Horse and others mourning Paddy are calling for the person, or people, responsible to come forward. "Come back and own what you did," she said. "Think of it. You not only took one life, but two lives." People who live in the area previously told CBC News there were several witnesses to the incident, including children, noting a vehicle was seen speeding away from the collision. Anyone with information or video of the incident is asked to call Saskatoon police at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
NewsCBCB.C. couple stranded in RV as pandemic restrictions block arrival at their new home in Nova Scotia
A B.C. couple moving to Nova Scotia says they're sitting in limbo after their requests to enter their new home were denied due to COVID-19 restrictions. For Julia Park-Bendel, leaving Victoria, B.C. and heading to the Maritimes is a return to her roots. "It's been in the works for almost 30 years," she said. She quit her job. Her husband Robert Bendel retired after 34 years in the Navy. They sold their home on the Island, and the couple, along with their two dogs and a cat, were set to live in their cramped RV from April 26 until June 1. They were planning a three week journey to their new home in Nova Scotia with the goal of arriving by June 21. The Bendel's say they planned to live in their trailer from April 26 to June 21 but now they feel they could be stuck all summer long.(Robert Bendel) But halfway through May and with restrictions in Nova Scotia constantly changing, they say they're no longer sure when they'll be able to leave their crowded RV and enter their new home. "I think we've spent ... over $2,000 staying in trailer parks so far and we budgeted for that. But we didn't budget for staying another month, two, three ... we didn't budget for having to spend an indefinite period of time in our trailer," Park-Bendel said. But it's an indefinite period of time they're looking at right now. On Friday, a new travel application process for people trying to enter Nova Scotia came into effect. "There's a potential for no end in sight," Park-Bendel said. No entry The application process is required for anyone entering the province. No one can until it's reviewed and approved. "We are currently not allowing most people to move to Nova Scotia. The restriction will be in place until at least the end of May," was the emailed message from Nova Scotia's provincial exemptions team when the Bendels asked about their status. Premier Iain Rankin and Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Robert Strang hold a COVID-19 briefing on April 29, 2021.(Communications Nova Scotia) The email went on to say the province is considering exceptions for people who have a closing date on or before May 20. The Bendels closing date is May 31. "Given that your closing date is beyond the date noted above, we are unable to offer an exception at this time," the email read. What now? On Friday, Nova Scotia Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Robert Strang said people in the Bendels' situation should not apply right now. "We're not sure where we're going to end up in terms of what types of measures we're going to need to have when we get into the last week of May. We're asking people to hold off. We don't want to flood our exemptions process," he said. Park-Bendel says it doesn't seem fair. "They've changed their mind three times. I know it's a moving target, but, eventually, those of us who have bought property, we want an end date and a guarantee like, 'OK if you come, we will let you in,'" she said. On Friday, Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin said while people are appealing to him, he's not involved in granting exemptions. "Strict border control is an imperative piece to make sure we're not bringing in anymore cases while we're trying to control the cases we have now," Rankin said. The Bendels say they're worried about how long they'll have to live in a cramped RV with money running out.(Robert Bendel) But for Park-Bendel and her RV filled with family and the remaining possessions that haven't already been shipped to Nova Scotia, she says they may just have to risk it and head to the border anyway. "Are we going to be allowed in on the 21st? Are we going to be turned away and be camping in the bush for one month, two months, three months? What are they going to say? Until there's no cases, you're not coming in? We're hostages."
NewsCBCB.C. couple separated from son in India struggle to get answers on immigration delay
When Nupur and Ajay Soin got married in India in 2018, they pictured a perfect family life together in Maple Ridge, B.C. Instead, more than two years after they moved to the Metro Vancouver suburb, they are still waiting to reunite with Shaurrya, Nupur's 15-year-old son from a previous marriage. "I get overwhelmed," said Nupur, sitting in her yard with her husband and 16-month-old daughter nearby. "Not even a single day goes by when I don't cry because, I mean, I'm losing hope." Nupur moved to Maple Ridge, where Ajay had been living, shortly after they got married. At the time, wait times for permanent residency visas from India were about one year. Nupur already had a visitor visa and joined Ajay in B.C. Shaurrya stayed in New Delhi with Nupur's mother so he could finish the school year and join them once the newlyweds had settled in. Nupur and Shaurrya. Nupur says Shaurrya, who remains in India, is looking forward to moving to B.C.(Submitted by Nupur Soin) It's been two and a half years since they applied for Nupur and Shaurrya's permanent residency, and the Soins have no idea what is causing the delay. They were told by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) they were eligible. Their application still says "in process" when they check online. But despite advocacy from their local MP and multiple attempts to reach out to IRCC for answers, Ajay says they've heard nothing. Shaurrya is excited to move to B.C. and meet 16-month-old Atishi, Nupur says. In New Delhi, all of his schooling has been online and he barely leaves his room. She says she wishes she could continue to keep a close eye on him, as she as since he was a baby. Nupur is Shaurrya's sole custodian. She last saw the boy's father in 2007, when they divorced, and she has heard through mutual friends that he has died. 'Somebody needs to make this a priority' The couple's immigration lawyer, Alex Stojicevic, says this is a straightforward visa application that should have been rubber-stamped months ago. "This is a case where they should issue the visa and allow the child to come as soon as possible," he said. Health workers attend to COVID-19 patients at a makeshift hospital in New Delhi, India, on April 30. (The Associated Press) Stojicevic says the delay seems to be coming from the High Commission of Canada in India. He says the situation there has been made worse by how the pandemic is playing out in New Delhi and across the country, leaving the health-care system in crisis and thousands without treatment. "Really what needs to happen is somebody needs to make this a priority," he said. "If the Canadian staff in India can't do it, well, they have to do it from somewhere else." Family reunification prioritized IRCC did not respond to requests for comment. On its website, the department says Canada's "immigration policy and legislation have a long tradition of supporting family reunification." The family reunification program allows Canadians and recent immigrants like Ajay, who is a permanent resident, to sponsor family members like spouses, parents and dependent children. The sponsor remains financially responsible for the family members for at least three years, or until children are 22 years old. The program accounts for about a quarter of all immigrants to Canada, according to IRCC, but demand routinely outstrips demand. However, changes made in 2016 kept wait times at a steady average of 12 months, the site says. Ajay and Nupur were married in Delhi in October 2018. (Submitted by Ajay and Nupur Soin) 'Things are so scary' Nupur says she is worried sick about her son and mother in New Delhi. She has told them not to leave their home, and she orders everything for them online. The stress has been keeping her awake at night, to the point where her doctor prescribed anti-anxiety medication. "That's the only way I can sleep at night because things are so scary," she said. Ajay says he feels guilty about having brought Nupur to B.C. He had been living in Maple Ridge when they got married, working remotely as a designer for the software giant Cisco Systems. "When we got married, I thought, we're going to have to have a nice little family and a great place to live in," he said. "What I'm worried about is I put Nupur in a really tough spot." But also, Ajay says he's sad to be missing out on Shaurrya's "wonder years." The delay has caused him to question how welcome he and his family truly are in Canada. "This community, Maple Ridge, has really accepted us. We really like it here. But I sometimes I wonder if Canada has really accepted us as a family," he said. Nupur, Ajay and Shaurrya. Nupur is her son's sole custodian. (Submitted by Ajay and Nupur Soin)
CelebrityThe Canadian Press'Well, that's it.' 96-year-old DJ bids farewell in Hong Kong
HONG KONG (AP) — After more than seven decades in radio, a 96-year-old Hong Kong DJ bid farewell to his listeners Saturday with “Time to Say Goodbye,” sung by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. “Well that’s it. Thank you very much for tuning in, goodbye, thank you for coming,” Ray Cordeiro said in both English and Cantonese before signing off ahead of the 1 a.m. news. It was the coda to a radio career that began 72 years ago, and a more than 50-year run for his show “All the Way with Ray,” which started on public broadcaster RTHK in 1970. Along the way, he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Tony Bennett, the Beatles and Cliff Richard and nurtured rising Hong Kong pop stars such as Sam Hui. In 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged Cordeiro as “The World’s Most Durable DJ.” Affectionately called “Uncle Ray,” Cordeiro is known for his deep, calm voice, trademark flat cap, and easy listening repertoire. For his last show, he spun a variety of tunes from the the Carpenters, Perry Como and Louis Armstrong, among others. He was born in Hong Kong of Portuguese descent. “I think I’m the luckiest man in the world," he said in an interview with RTHK earlier this week. “To do what I want to do, to love what I want to love, and I don’t think I have any regrets.” Alice Fung, The Associated Press
BusinessThe Canadian Press'It was a going concern': Remaining bar and hotel in Alberta coal ghost town for sale
WAYNE, Alta. — Built during the First World War, it survived the Great Depression, the Second World War and the closure of coal mines in the 1950s. Now the historic Last Chance Saloon in the ghost town of Wayne in southern Alberta is up for sale. There are a century's worth of memories in the three-storey wooden hotel, including photos of the community in its heyday, mining equipment and three bullet holes — framed on one wall of the bar — dating back to the 1970s when a trigger-happy bartender wanted to encourage some patrons to pay their tab. The hotel, about 15 kilometres southeast of Drumheller, Alta., was built by the Rosedeer Coal Co. to house its workers and opened in 1913. The saloon was added a few years later so employees being paid in company scrip could buy a meal or a beer. "It originally was built for the coal miners when Wayne was starting to boom with 2,500 residents in the early 1920s. Now we're down to 29 residents and this is one of the few remaining structures from that time," explains current owner Dave Arsenault, who has to sell the hotel as part of a divorce settlement. "It was a going concern. There was more than one hotel out here. There were 12 coal mines and it was a bustling place. Of course, there's almost nothing left but there's lots of photos around depicting what it was like in the day. "That's really the charm of this place." The last working mine in the area, Sovereign Coal, closed in 1957. A University of Calgary history professor says many people don't realize how big an effect the coal industry had in early 20th-century Alberta. Georg Colpitts says the Drumheller area was one of the "ground centrals of early coal-mining" in the province. Many early explorers to Western Canada not only looked at the agricultural potential, but considered the vast amounts of coal that could be used to support the British Empire. "Wherever these individuals found large coal deposits it was factored into the thinking of London investors, to the colonial office. Coal was in the backdrop of a lot of the thinking of empiring." Colpitts said not only did the area have coal deposits, CN decided to develop a railhead. "Those were the two magic combinations to tap Drumheller into the international demand and supply of coal. It became the lifeblood of that valley and continued to be so up until about the '70s." The hotel is listed for $925,000. Arsenault says there's already been some interest from prospective buyers. "It's unfortunate because I think the timing is great for a nice rebound in the hospitality game, but I guess that's a selling feature, too," he says. "As far as I'm concerned, we're conducting business as usual. We've got weddings booked. We've got some groups coming in, lots of recurring old friends that have called and made reservations. Camping is open this year." WayneStock, a three-day annual music festival with acts on three stages in and around the saloon, posted a record attendance of about 2,000 in 2019, but has been cancelled since due to the pandemic. Some think the third floor of the hotel, which is locked up and used only for storage, is haunted. The hotel was featured in Season 3 of the Canadian ghost-hunting TV show, "The Other Side.'' It has also hit the big screen. The 1983 movie "Running Brave," starring Robby Benson, was filmed in part at the hotel as well as the 2000 martial arts western comedy "Shanghai Noon" which starred Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson and Lucy Liu. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2021. — By Bill Graveland in Calgary. Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter The Canadian Press
NewsCBCPrince Albert Mountie accused of murder 'indirectly' led officers to Braden Herman's body: police chief
The veteran Prince Albert RCMP officer accused in the death of Braden Herman "indirectly" provided the details needed to locate the 26-year-old's remains and later open a homicide investigation, according to the city's police chief. "It's because of the accused [Bernie Herman] we were led to his arrest shortly after the incident, and we were led to the deceased victim," Chief Jonathan Bergen told reporters Friday. Braden Herman's body was found early Tuesday evening in Prince Albert's Little Red River Park by police officers, Bergen said. He added the accused was taken into custody that night with reasonable cooperation, and within a couple of hours investigators had enough information to begin investigating the death as a homicide. Bernie Herman, a 32-year member of the RCMP, has been charged with first-degree murder. He's expected to make his second court appearance in Prince Albert on May 26. Investigating the victim and the accused's relationship The victim and the accused knew each other, but they weren't related. Braden's siblings have told CBC News the 53-year-old Mountie was known to them as having a personal and oftentimes controlling relationship with their brother. A photo of Bernie Herman taken after a traffic blitz in Prince Albert, Sask., in August 2020. Herman is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Braden Herman.(paNOW Staff) Bergen said nailing down the exact relationship between the two is among the specifics investigators are trying to determine. "It's pretty early in the investigation to draw any conclusions," Bergen said. Cellphones have been seized in the investigation, and a home and vehicle in the 3300 block of Dent Crescent in Prince Albert, Sask., have been cordoned off, as officers try to obtain a clearer picture of what might have led up to the death. An update with the inspector overseeing the case with the Prince Albert Police Service's criminal investigations division is expected next week. 2 independent observers appointed Two retired police officers — who don't have connections to the RCMP or the Prince Albert Police Service — have been appointed by the Ministry of Justice as independent investigative observers, Bergen said. "They have extensive backgrounds in investigating serious and major incidents, so we believe they have the experience and confidence to know what details to observe and look for — and to ensure this is a thorough, impartial investigation," the police chief explained. Braden's half-brother, Brett Herman, tells CBC News he's aware of the independent oversight, and it helps to put his mind at ease as the investigation rolls out. "I hope they find out everything about the case … but I guess we'll find out when we get the outcome," Brett said in a text message. With the independent oversight, Bergen said the Prince Albert Police Service will continue its investigation into the death, emphasizing he has full confidence in his officers' ability to look into the case objectively with the "highest of accountability."
NewsCBCHow much more is Ottawa's LRT costing taxpayers?
In just a few weeks, it will be the fifth anniversary of the massive Rideau Street sinkhole that opened up above where the Confederation Line tunnel was being built. Most everyone in Ottawa will remember the shocking event in which, miraculously, no one was hurt, although a parked van and three lanes of traffic were swallowed whole. And yet in all this time, we have never once heard that the sinkhole cost the city tens of millions of dollars — until this week. The revelation that the city is suing its own insurance companies for more than $360 million due to costs it incurred due to the sinkhole was startling on many fronts, not least of which the fact that in the years since the sinkhole occurred, the city hasn't publicly said anything about the event having any long-term financial impact. Then there's the news that the city's insurers rejected its claim for the costs in December. And finally, the discovery that the consortium that built the Confederation Line, Rideau Transit Group (RTG), is blaming the city for the sinkhole. It's a complicated and expensive mess, and it all raises a bigger question: How many more millions did the LRT cost Ottawa taxpayers that the city hasn't told us about? According to court documents, it took Rideau Transit Group nine months to repair the damage done by the sinkhole.(Andrew Foote/CBC) Legal dispute explained First, let's dissect the lawsuit. News of it came through a confidential memo sent to council and first reported by the Ottawa Citizen, even though there's no good reason for information about the city filing a lawsuit in public court to be kept secret. It's a convoluted document, but here's what we can say for sure based on the memo to councillors, several publicly available court documents and background conversations with people familiar with the issue. As part of the Confederation Line construction, a project that has always been touted as costing $2.1 billion, RTG took out what's known as a builders' risk policy with a team of insurance companies led by Zurich Insurance. The policy covers RTG, but also the city and others working on the project against losses that might occur should something go wrong. The policy has a $700-million payout cap for any single event — such as a massive sinkhole. The insurance companies have paid out $45 million to RTG for sinkhole-related losses. But back in February 2019, RTG made an insurance claim of $235.7 million, arguing that the entire 15-month delay to complete the Confederation Line was due to sinkhole. The insurers disagreed. They contend that non-sinkhole related problems with the Alstom trains and station construction meant that the LRT wouldn't have been finished any earlier. They denied the entire claim, and RTG sued for $275,000 million. That court fight continues. This week, we find out that the city believes the "sinkhole event" cost it $131 million including $104.2 million for so-called "carrying costs," $3.3 million for delayed opening expenses and $22.8 million to pay consultants and employees. The city also made a claim for its costs to the insurers last August. Again, the insurance team denied the claim. This week, the city took its fight to court and will be asking that a judge deal with its suit at the same time as the RTG suit. But wait, there's more! RTG blames sinkhole on city Although the city is claiming losses of $131 million, the suit is for $361 million. The rest of the claim — $230 million — has to do with who will ultimately be found responsible for the sinkhole. In 2017, an engineering consultant's report commissioned by the city found it was "highly likely" that the sinkhole was caused by ground that was loosened during the LRT tunnel construction. But RTG has never agreed with that assessment, believing that the city is to blame — possibly due to poor construction in that area in the past that RTG could not have known about. In fact, that exact scenario had occurred earlier in the project. A report found that a much smaller sinkhole on Waller Street in 2014, at the eastern end of the tunnel, was caused by a "previously excavated construction pit" filled with "poor quality, uncompacted" material — hence, not RTG's fault, although it picked up the costs at the time. So to hedge its bets on getting compensated for its sinkhole-related losses, on top of suing the insurers, RTG has also made a claim against the city for $230 million under the LRT contract's dispute-resolution process, which is confidential. The city, in turn, is including that $230 million in its own lawsuit against the insurance companies in case Ottawa is found responsible for causing the sinkhole. Who's really to blame for the sinkhole? As we learned this week, that's still under dispute.(CBC) Many questions remain unanswered Many troubling questions remain from this week's news. After RTG handed the Confederation Line over to the city in August 2019, the city held back $59 million from its final payment. This money was supposed to cover the city's costs of the 15-month delay — everything from having to keep buses on the road, to driver overtime, to keeping the rail office open. It was understood that RTG might dispute this holding back of payment, but never did the city suggest taxpayers could be on the hook for hundreds of millions more due to the LRT delay. Why was the public not made aware of this possibility earlier? And how many more millions over $2.1 billion did the city actually shell out for the Confederation Line construction? On a final note, taxpayers were told over and over that the public-private-partnership or P3 format of the LRT contract meant that the private partners — RTG — would be taking all the risks if something went awry. It appears not to have worked out that way. At Tuesday's finance and economic development committee meeting, councillors will get to ask questions about this lawsuit. According to the agenda, that discussion will be behind closed doors, perhaps signalling some new surprises for taxpayers down the road.
NewsCBCB.C. restaurants tackle plastic waste as part of program aimed at reducing trash in oceans
Restaurants across B.C. are being encouraged to take a deep dive into their plastic waste as part of an Ocean Wise campaign aimed at reducing plastic in oceans. The program works individually with participating restaurants to quantify how much plastic is being used before identifying where the businesses can reduce, replace, re-use or recycle plastics. According to Ocean Wise, 11 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean each year. "The Ocean Wise Plastic Reduction Program isn't a one-size-fits-all solution," said Laura Hardman, plastic free oceans acting director. "We recognize that each business will be at a different point on their plastic-reduction journey, and we will work with restaurant partners to understand their plastic use, identify science-based solutions and set realistic targets." 11 restaurants participating so far Although program coordinators are still actively recruiting businesses to participate, 11 restaurants have signed up for the program so far, including Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub in Victoria. "We're learning as we go," chef Ali Ryan told All Points West host Kathryn Marlow. Hardman said that while most of the restaurants in the program do think about recycling, they had never measured their plastic waste before. "It's an old saying but what gets measured really gets done, and we know that there is a huge data gap when it comes to industrial, commercial and institution plastic use and waste," Hardman said. "We believe that closing this information gap is critical to tackling the problem of plastic pollution." Since May 1, staff at Spinnakers have been sorting plastic into specific bins, which Ryan later goes through and weighs. She then looks at how those numbers compare to the number of customers they've served. "After three days, plastic that comes out of a kitchen is quite smelly. It's been illuminating," she said. For example, she's tracking gloves, which are essential for the restaurant industry. Spinnakers goes through just over a quarter-pound of gloves each day. They're also going through about one pound of plastic food wrap a day. 6 pounds per day In total, Ryan said they've created about six pounds of plastic, on average, each day since the beginning of the project. And those numbers are at a limited capacity, as public health restrictions currently don't allow indoor dining. "If we're doing five or six pounds a day at a half capacity, think about that. Think about all the restaurants in Victoria, think about all the restaurants in Canada," Ryan said. "It's ridiculous. It's a very simple step we can take to educate ourselves on how much plastic all of us, not just restaurants, but we can do." Working on the project in three-day increments, as opposed to one big count, has been more digestible for Ryan, and she said it's been easier to make small changes. For example, rather than using so much plastic food wrap, she can purchase reusable food storage containers. Additionally, she said she's looking at buying fewer, but larger, bottles of canola oil to reduce the number of plastic containers coming from her kitchen. "Once we have that data, we can just sort of take a step back and say, OK, we can cut this in half with very, very little effort, because before we weren't really thinking about it," Ryan said. To hear Ali Ryan's interview on CBC's All Points West, click here:
NewsThe Canadian PressThe latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Saturday, May 15, 2021
The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 15, 2021. There are 1,318,399 confirmed cases in Canada. _ Canada: 1,318,399 confirmed cases (73,420 active, 1,220,110 resolved, 24,869 deaths).*The total case count includes 13 confirmed cases among repatriated travellers. There were 5,987 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 193.18 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 45,233 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 6,462. There were 44 new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 340 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 49. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.13 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 65.44 per 100,000 people. There have been 33,260,624 tests completed. _ Newfoundland and Labrador: 1,179 confirmed cases (90 active, 1,083 resolved, six deaths). There were six new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 17.24 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 52 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is seven. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 1.15 per 100,000 people. There have been 253,188 tests completed. _ Prince Edward Island: 190 confirmed cases (nine active, 181 resolved, zero deaths). There were two new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 5.64 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of four new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is one. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 152,547 tests completed. _ Nova Scotia: 4,524 confirmed cases (1,537 active, 2,915 resolved, 72 deaths). There were 117 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 156.94 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 933 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 133. There was one new reported death Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of two new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is zero. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.03 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 7.35 per 100,000 people. There have been 700,729 tests completed. _ New Brunswick: 2,045 confirmed cases (117 active, 1,887 resolved, 41 deaths). There were five new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 14.97 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 57 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is eight. There were zero new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there has been one new reported death. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is zero. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.02 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 5.25 per 100,000 people. There have been 319,739 tests completed. _ Quebec: 361,820 confirmed cases (7,653 active, 343,142 resolved, 11,025 deaths). There were 838 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 89.25 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 5,604 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 801. There were eight new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 51 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is seven. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.08 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 128.58 per 100,000 people. There have been 8,771,778 tests completed. _ Ontario: 504,533 confirmed cases (28,069 active, 468,033 resolved, 8,431 deaths). There were 2,362 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 190.5 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 18,310 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 2,616. There were 26 new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 195 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 28. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.19 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 57.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 14,499,910 tests completed. _ Manitoba: 44,189 confirmed cases (4,163 active, 39,024 resolved, 1,002 deaths). There were 491 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 301.83 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 3,252 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 465. There were zero new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 15 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.16 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 72.65 per 100,000 people. There have been 734,904 tests completed. _ Saskatchewan: 44,159 confirmed cases (2,075 active, 41,569 resolved, 515 deaths). There were 227 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 176.04 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 1,464 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 209. There were two new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 13 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.16 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 43.69 per 100,000 people. There have been 811,303 tests completed. _ Alberta: 216,626 confirmed cases (23,873 active, 190,616 resolved, 2,137 deaths). There were 1,433 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 539.88 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 11,511 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,644. There were five new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 31 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is four. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.1 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 48.33 per 100,000 people. There have been 4,364,960 tests completed. _ British Columbia: 138,304 confirmed cases (5,717 active, 130,953 resolved, 1,634 deaths). There were 494 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 111.06 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 3,963 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 566. There were two new reported deaths Friday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 32 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is five. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 31.74 per 100,000 people. There have been 2,607,123 tests completed. _ Yukon: 84 confirmed cases (one active, 81 resolved, two deaths). There were zero new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 2.38 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of two new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 4.76 per 100,000 people. There have been 9,129 tests completed. _ Northwest Territories: 115 confirmed cases (38 active, 77 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 84.14 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 16 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is two. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 21,427 tests completed. _ Nunavut: 618 confirmed cases (78 active, 536 resolved, four deaths). There were 12 new cases Friday. The rate of active cases is 198.21 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 65 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is nine. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 10.16 per 100,000 people. There have been 13,811 tests completed. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published May 15, 2021. The Canadian Press
NewsCBC'Extreme drought' is threatening parts of the Prairies, says Agriculture Canada
Manitoba farmer Chuck Fossay has never seen his fields this dry. As he scoops up a handful of black top soil, it runs through his fingers like sand. "It's just bone dry. And there's nothing there to support the seed and the crop to grow," he said. Farming near Starbuck, Man., about 20 minutes west of Winnipeg, Fossay is trying to get his canola into the ground. He's planting a little deeper this year, hoping to find moisture so the seeds can germinate and start growing. He hopes that with some well-timed rain, he can still salvage a near-average crop but with conditions this dry, he said it's likely compromised before it's even planted. Despite drought conditions, Chuck Fossay is still trying to get a crop into the ground.(Jaison Empson/CBC) "Dry is dry and nothing grows without water. That's just a fact of life. You need water to live. And if you don't have enough water, nothing grows," Fossay said. "If we don't get a rain, a nice, general soaking rain probably the next two weeks, we're probably talking a crop failure out here in Manitoba." 'Extreme drought' It will take more than just one day of rain. An abnormally dry fall is being followed by one the driest springs in recent memory. On this Canadian Drought Monitor map, red areas depict extreme drought conditions in Manitoba and Saskatchewan as of April 30, 2021.(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada considers southwestern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan to be under "extreme drought" conditions, while most of the rest of Prairies are also considered to be experiencing moderate drought. "Parts of it are close to record dry conditions when you look at soil moisture, that's less than 40 per cent of normal," said John Pomeroy, a Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change. He works out of the University of Saskatchewan's lab in Canmore, Alta. While droughts are part of the agricultural cycle, Pomeroy said what is unusual this year is the scope of the dryness, extending "from Vancouver Island to southern Quebec, down into the United States, into California, right into Mexico ... it's enormous." Economic impacts Also enormous is the potential impact on Canada's economy. If these conditions persist, it won't just be farmers hit hard. For consumers, it can mean higher grocery prices. Water is also a critical resource in the resource and energy sectors; potash mining, oil production and hydroelectricity rely on it. "Back about 20 years ago, there were four years where there was a $10-billion hit to the western Canadian economy from drought and 41,000 jobs lost in Saskatchewan alone. So there's an impact," Pomeroy said "It's like losing the automotive industry out of southern Ontario." Dave Sauchyn is a senior research scientist at the University of Regina's Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative. He says a major rainfall lasting days could be a billion-dollar storm, replenishing soil moisture and salvaging the growing season this year. (Dave Sauchyn/Submitted to CBC) Drought and dry conditions can also threaten the water supply as rivers dry up and lake levels drop. "There's a lot of small communities, rural communities that have a less than reliable water supply. So they might get their water, for example, from a shallow well, they might get their water from a reservoir and those water supplies are being depleted," said Dave Sauchyn, a professor and researcher with the University of Regina's Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative. He helped write a report on climate change impacts and approaches to adaptation. Already, one community in southern Manitoba has started restricting water use, asking residents to cut their consumption by 25 per cent. The province has also put a ban on campfires and access to back country trails in drought-affected areas, activities that have been extremely popular during the pandemic. Near the Ontario border, a forest fire has already cause damage in Manitoba's Whiteshell Provincial Park. But for those who rely on Mother Nature for their livelihoods, the stakes are high. 'Cattle cannot survive without water' Close to the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, Bill Campbell is worried about his own farm, but he's also hearing concerns from farmers across the province as president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, an advocacy group based in Winnipeg. Bill Campbell is a cattle farmer and president of the Keystone Agricultural Producers. He worries the dry conditions mean he won't be able to grow grass for his cattle, and the dugouts and rivers they drink from will run dry.(Jaison Empson/CBC News) "We always say that April showers bring May flowers. Well, it also brings me grass," Campbell said as he watched his cattle graze on grass that is brittle and dry. "It becomes a major concern when we have limited forage reserves like bales in the yard or silage left over. And once you run out of that reserves, what do you do? You send them to pasture for a limited amount of time and they eat all that's there." Looking at the Souris River on his land, Campbell points out rocks that should be covered with a metre of water that are now exposed. "We rely on retention ponds, dugouts, springs, creeks, various water streams and a lot of them are dry and cattle will not survive without water," he said.
BusinessCBCGTA brokers, buyers call for more transparency in real estate bidding process
Grace Choi started shopping for a home in Toronto in January when she and her husband found out they were expecting a baby. For months, the couple put in competitive offers but were outbid over and over again. "I didn't realize how psychological the bidding process is," Choi said. "It was a lot more mind games than I thought that was going to be." Choi said they made unsuccessful offers on six properties, with little or no idea of how much the competing offers were — and from whom. She said the lack of transparency in the traditional bidding process soured her experience. "You're blind bidding against people," she said. "You don't know their price range, and you make all these assumptions about the other buyers and you're always second guessing yourself. You're like, 'Did I do enough?'" Blind bidding leaves buyers in the dark A high demand for property, paired with a lack of supply are contributing to these gruelling bidding wars, experts say. In most cases, home sellers opt for the closed-bidding process, also known as "blind bidding" — where buyers make an offer but aren't officially allowed to know the details of other competing offers. Philip Kocev, a broker and partner at iPro Realty, said he's seeing more and more buyers fed up with the traditional process and losing out on multiple properties, because they don't know where they stand compared to other competing buyers. "That's leading to a lot of distrust in the process and in the industry," he said, adding that almost all of their listings end up in some kind of multiple-offer scenario — if not a full-out bidding war. More transparent process needed, broker says That's why his brokerage is advocating for agents to be allowed to disclose the top offer, including the terms of agreement, such as closing dates and conditions, to competing buyers, something that realtors are restricted from doing right now. "[It gives] the other buyers an opportunity to either beat that offer or walk away from the table," Kocev said. Another option is the open-bidding process — a method that is popular in Australia — where buyers stand out front a property and openly bid through an auction. All offers are on the table for everyone to see and the process provides complete transparency. Popular in Australia, the auction process is where buyers stand in front of a property and openly bid. All offers are on the table for everyone to see, providing complete transparency. (CBC) Tim Hudak, the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), says sellers in the province can opt for the auction process but it's not a popular choice. "This very private personal information, like how much you can afford to pay, how much you're going to have to borrow — not every buyer wants to sell that kind of personal information," Hudak told CBC Toronto. 'We should give people a choice,' OREA says Hudak said the OREA is in favour of more transparency, but cautioned against mandating any one system, such as the open-bidding auction process. "We believe we should give people a choice," he said. "Fundamentally, buyers and sellers should decide if they want the traditional offer process, [or] do they want to have an open option." He also said the open system wouldn't cool down the market. Instead, it could result in "auction fever" that could drive up property prices. "That fever catches on and it can drive to higher prices at the end of the day," Hudak said. Kocev, the broker at iPro Realty, said what his brokerage is advocating for isn't an open system but merely a tweak to the already existing process. "We wouldn't be disclosing any of the personal details of buyers or who they are. It would simply be the seller being able to, through their agent, report back to the other buyers what that top offer is. So privacy would be maintained," Kocev said. "It will have buyers leaving the table feeling like it was more fair." After five months, Choi finally found a home for her growing family, but if she were to do it again, she said she would opt for a more open and transparent process. "If we knew what we were going up against from the beginning, it would save a lot of stress on our end."
NewsReutersBodies of COVID-19 victims among those dumped in India's Ganges -gov't document
Bodies of COVID-19 victims have been found dumped in some Indian rivers, a state government letter seen by Reuters says, in the first official acknowledgement of the alarming practice, which it said may stem from poverty and fear of the disease in remote areas. Images of corpses drifting down the Ganges river, which is considered holy in Hinduism, have shocked the country, reeling under the world's worst surge in COVID-19 cases. Although media reports have linked the increase in the number of bodies found floating in the river and its tributaries in recent days to the pandemic, India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, home to 240 million people, has until now not publicly revealed the cause of the deaths.
HealthThe Canadian PressFamily doctors say they can answer vaccine questions, after Trudeau recommends them
Several family doctors and physician associations across Canada say they welcome questions from anyone concerned about second doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca or any other COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Eben Strydom, a generalist in Melfort, Sask., said he's happy to answer the call recommended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau if it means giving his patients confidence in the vaccines. "This is our ticket out of the pandemic so it is critically important," Strydom said. "If it means you're going to take it or not, you should speak to your doctor." Trudeau said this week his own doctor recommended he get a second dose of AstraZeneca when it's his turn, adding that he knows scientists are also studying the effectiveness of mixing and matching vaccines. Health Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and provincial health officials make recommendations about how and when Canadians can get vaccinated, Trudeau added. "I certainly encourage all Canadians to talk to their doctors." More than two million Canadians got AstraZeneca for their first jab. Since then, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan said they would reserve remaining doses for second shots due to limited supply. Ontario paused its use over concerns about rare blood clots. Keir Johnson, a spokesperson for Manitoba Doctors, said physicians are keeping up with the new evidence and shifting recommendations but it's understandable why the pauses and shifting eligibility could create concern for the public. The association has a campaign encouraging anyone with concerns to speak with a doctor and in most cases members report that patients feel more confident after that conversation, Johnson said. "Because physicians are a trusted voice, they're often able to reassure people to help them understand the current benefits and risks," he said. That said, there has not been any deluge of new questions since Trudeau's recommendation, he added. Dr. Noah Ivers, a family doctor at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, said the pandemic has prompted some doctors to engage with their patients in new ways. He and some colleagues have started holding virtual town halls to address common questions. A town hall on COVID-19 vaccines attracted about 1,000 participants who could type in questions and upvote the most popular ones. "It's gone so well, I started to wonder why we didn't do it before," he said. On an individual basis, family doctors also have the benefit of knowing a patient's health history. If an individual has had a recent kidney transplant, for example, a physician may recommend a shorter gap between doses than for a totally healthy individual, he said. Generally speaking, he said he tells his patients the same thing he tells his parents, whose first jab was AstraZeneca. "We are in no rush to figure this out and we're waiting for information," Ivers said, adding the recommended gap between doses means there's plenty of time for more research on mixing of manufacturers and blood clot risks. Of course, not everyone has access to a family doctor. The Liberals' own 2019 platform promised to make sure every Canadian has access to a family doctor or primary health-care team, noting nearly five million Canadians don't have access. Ivers said vaccine hesitancy is another reason why governments should be making access to a family doctor a priority. "I think this is one in a million reasons why you really need to get connected to a primary care professional," he said. "It's time to write a letter to your MP and MPP about how important primary care is," he said. Dr. Matthew Chow, president of Doctors of BC, said like Ivers, other doctors are finding new ways to interact and share information widely with their patients. The South Asian COVID Task Force — a volunteer organization made up of physicians, researchers and others — has chapters across the country. They are sharing culturally appropriate communications about COVID-19 in multiple South Asian languages, he said. Doctors understand the pandemic has been tough on the public in many ways and keeping track of shifting evidence is one of them, he said. However, family doctors are evidence-based practitioners who take their information and best guidance from federal authorities such as Health Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, who in turn are monitoring international evidence, he said. "We can be confident those recommendations will be safe," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2021. Amy Smart, The Canadian Press
NewsCBCCity considers grant for new Porsche dealership in Vanier
Ottawa's finance and economic development committee will consider a $2.9-million city grant next week for a future luxury car dealership in the Vanier area, under a program aimed at stimulating local businesses on Montreal Road. Mrak Holdings Inc., also known as Mark Motors, plans to replace the Audi and Alfa Romeo/Maserati dealerships across from Notre Dame Cemetery with a new, two-storey Porsche building that city staff describe in a report as "world-class." The new building would face the busy corner of Montreal Road and St. Laurent Boulevard. It's projected to cost $17 million to build, with the owners paying $1.7 million to the City of Ottawa for development fees and building permits. After it's constructed, the owners' property taxes would soar from $25,625 per year to $355,620. The city targeted Vanier for a community improvement plan in 2019. That designation, a tool allowed by the provincial government, allows the city to offer grants of up to 75 per cent of the increase in property taxes as an incentive to get owners to upgrade their properties and boost business. Mrak Holdings would be eligible for a grant of up to $2,910,171 over 10 years, and its application goes before the finance committee Tuesday for approval. 'Flagship' facility Montreal Road in Vanier is currently undergoing a major $64-million reconstruction. The hydro lines have been buried, and its water mains, sewers and road are being replaced. "The new facility will represent an important gateway to the Quartier Vanier shopping district and showcase the city's newly upgraded streetscape," wrote city staff in their report, adding the project will create jobs. The executive director of the Quartier Vanier business improvement area, meanwhile, says it might not seem ideal to have a car dealership on a main street, but the building will be "beautiful" and a "flagship". Nathalie Carrier said the Mrak family owns the dealerships that have been in that location for years, and they've been great community and business leaders. "We're happy to have them," she said Montreal Road isn't the only part of the city deemed eligible for community improvement grants. The City of Ottawa has also targeted Bells Corners in the west, St. Joseph Boulevard in Orléans, and has a community improvement plan for the wider Orléans area aimed at luring big employers.
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WHO urges rich countries to delay child COVID vaccinations and donate doses
The WHO Director-General warned on Friday that the second year of the pandemic could be deadlier than the first and said vaccinating at-risk groups worldwide should be the priority.View on euronews
