PoliticsThe Canadian PressThey're baaack: Trump and allies still refuse election loss
WASHINGTON — Monday seemed like the end of President Donald Trump's relentless challenges to the election, after the federal government acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden was the “apparent winner” and Trump cleared the way for co-operation on a transition of power.But his baseless claims have a way of coming back. And back. And back.On Thursday, after a Thanksgiving evening conversation from the White House with troops stationed overseas, Trump abruptly pivoted to angrily alleging — still without any evidence — that “massive fraud” was behind his defeat.Speaking to news crews gathered to watch the traditional holiday conversation with the military, Trump denounced officials in battleground states he'd lost as “communists” and “enemies of the state.” Trump also announced he'd be travelling to Georgia to meet with what he said would be tens of thousands of supporters on Dec. 5, ahead of two runoffs there that will likely determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the Senate.The 2020 presidential race is turning into the zombie election that Trump just won’t let die. Despite dozens of legal and procedural setbacks, his campaign keeps filing new challenges that have little hope of succeeding and making fresh, unfounded claims of fraud.But that’s the point. Trump’s strategy, his allies concede in private, wasn’t to change the outcome, but to create a host of phantom claims about the 2020 presidential race that would infect the nation with doubt and keep his base loyal, even though the winner — Biden — was clear and there has been no evidence of mass voter fraud.“Zombies are dead people walking among the living — this litigation is the same thing,” said Franita Tolson, a professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. “In terms of litigation that could change the election, all these cases are basically dead men walking.”It's a strategy tolerated by many Republicans, most notably Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who are clinging to Trump as they face a test of retaining their own power in the form of two runoff elections in Georgia in January.“This really is our version of a polite coup d’etat,” said Thomas Mann, senior resident scholar at the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. “It could end quickly if the Republican Party acknowledged what was going on. But they cower in the face of Trump’s connection with the base.”A day after Trump said his administration should begin working with Biden's team, three more lawsuits were filed by allies attempting to stop the certification in two more battleground states. In Minnesota, a judge did not rule on the suit and the state certified the results for Biden. Another was filed in Wisconsin, which doesn't certify until Tuesday. Arizona Republicans filed a complaint over ballot inspection; the state certification is due Monday.And the campaign legal team said state lawmakers in Arizona and Michigan would hold meetings on the election “to provide confidence that all of the legal votes have been counted and the illegal votes have not been counted in the November 3rd election.”In Pennsylvania, where state Republican lawmakers met at Gettysburg on Wednesday to air grievances about the election, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani attended in person and Trump dialed in from the Oval Office.“We have all the evidence," Trump asserted. “All we need is to have some judge listen to it properly without having a political opinion.”But the strongest legal rebuke yet came from a conservative Republican judge in federal court in Pennsylvania, who on Saturday dismissed the Trump team's lawsuit seeking to throw out the results of the election. The judge admonished the Trump campaign in a scathing ruling about its lack of evidence. The campaign has appealed.Trump's allies have privately acknowledged their plan would never actually overturn the results, but rather might provide Trump an off-ramp for a loss he wasn't owning up to and an avenue to keep his base loyal for whatever he does next.“And then our governing and politics will be hellish, because he will continue doing what he’s doing from his private own perch,” Mann predicted.Emily Murphy, the top official at the General Services Administration, declared Biden the “apparent winner” Monday, a procedural yet critical step that allowed for the transition to begin in earnest. She made the determination after Trump's efforts to subvert the vote failed across battleground states. She cited “recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results.”Michigan certified Biden’s 154,000-count victory Monday, despite calls by Trump to the GOP members to block the vote to allow for an audit of ballots in Wayne County, where Trump claimed he was the victim of fraud. Biden crushed the president by more than 330,000 votes there.“The board’s duty today is very clear,” said Aaron Van Langevelde, the Republican vice chair. “We have a duty to certify this election based on these returns.”Still, the Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “simply a procedural step” and insisted it would fight on.Trump and his allies have brought at least four cases in Michigan that sought — unsuccessfully — to block certification of election results in part or all of the state.In Pennsylvania, after Gov. Tom Wolf certified Biden as the winner, an appeals court judge ordered state officials to halt any further steps toward certifying election results. The state has appealed to Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.In Arizona, just as lawyers for a woman in the Phoenix area dropped a case alleging that equipment was unable to record her ballot because she completed it with a county-issued Sharpie pen, Trump’s campaign filed its own lawsuit echoing some of the same complaints. As that suit was about to be dismissed, lawyers for the woman filed a new case reviving the claims and demanding that she be allowed to recast her ballot. All three of the cases have now been dismissed.“The legal process seems to be unfolding the way it’s supposed to, but the Trump campaign has made clear its desire to throw wrenches in the system wherever it can,” said Lisa Marshall Manheim, a professor at the University of Washington School of Law.___Richer reported from Boston. Associated Press writers Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix and Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed to this report.Colleen Long, Alanna Durkin Richer And Zeke Miller, The Associated Press
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
One class self-isolating: A positive COVID-19 case at a Shelburne school has been identified
One classroom at a Shelburne elementary school has been closed, with students being asked to self-isolate following a confirmed case of COVID-19. On Wednesday, Nov. 25, a notice was sent out by Centennial Hylands Elementary School principal, Tammy Fleming, providing information on the situation. “We will continue to work closely with Public Health and take their direction as they complete their investigation,” said Fleming. “All students and staff determined to be at high risk of exposure will be directed to isolate and recommended to be tested within their isolation period.” As of Thursday (Nov. 26), the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) has listed Centennial Hylands as being “open,” with one closed class confirmed. Measures have been taken to ensure the safety of all staff and students, and Public Health will perform a risk assessment if any other transmission is determined as a result of their investigation. “Custodial staff did a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the impacted areas of the school last … as part of our enhanced cleaning protocol,” explained Fleming. It is unknown as to whether or not the positive case was with a student or teacher, as the identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation. According to the UGDSB’s reporting page, Centennial Hylands is the only school in Dufferin County identified as having an active case of COVID-19. A letter was also sent out by Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) outlining what the health unit and school are doing to prevent further spread of the virus at Centennial Hylands and within the community. “Our building is safe and remains open to staff and students,” said Fleming. Currently, Dufferin County is in orange-level restrictions, with WDGPH confirming an additional 27 cases since their last update Nov. 24, bringing the number of cases within its boundaries to 1,290. The total active number of cases within the health unit’s area is at 155, with 18 active in Dufferin. Three people were hospitalized in WDGPH due to COVID-19. Any individuals with questions about the situation are directed to contact Public Health at 519-822-2715 ext. 7006.Tabitha Wells/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Orangeville Banner
- NewsCBC
Halifax gifts shoppers 15 minutes of free parking for December
Curbside pickup is set to get easier and cheaper in the Halifax Regional Municipality just in time for the holiday shopping season.The city announced Thursday that the first 15 minutes of parking will be free at all its paid parking locations from Dec. 2 to 31. A news release said the initiative is meant to ease short-term pickups and loading and allow more flexibility for businesses and customers in light of COVID-19 restrictions.People will still have to use the parking meter or HotSpot app to enter the length of time they wish to park, but the first 15 minutes will be free. MORE TOP STORIES
- PoliticsInitiative de journalisme local
Vaccination : le premier ministre apporte des précisions
COVID-19. À l’occasion de sa conférence de presse du 26 novembre, François Legault a confirmé que les vaccins, quand ils seront disponibles, seront administrés en premier lieu aux résidents de CHSLD, aux travailleurs de la santé et aux personnes âgées. «L’espoir est là avec les vaccins qui s’en viennent. Mais entre temps, on doit continuer d’être prudents, surtout d'ici Noël. La bataille n'est pas finie», souligne le premier ministre du Québec. Tout en attendant des précisions sur le nombre de doses disponibles par le gouvernement fédéral, le gouvernement du Québec a désigné Jérôme Gagnon et Richard Massé, des spécialistes, pour mettre branle la campagne de vaccination qui pourrait s’amorcer dès janvier. Pour ce qui est rassemblement, François Legault invite les Québécois à la prudence en rappelant que l’idéal est de se confiner une semaine avant Noël. Stéphane Lévesque, Initiative de journalisme local, L'Hebdo Journal
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
Three Rivers should try King government's model for long-term plan, resident says
THREE RIVERS — Janice MacBeth wants a local, more diverse group of residents involved in setting up Three Rivers for the future. Having amalgamated in 2018, the municipality is still without an official plan outlining its long-term vision and its planning procedures across the region. In June, Three Rivers hired an Ontario-based firm to help put one together, and a survey went out to residents for their input this fall. This prompted MacBeth, a Three Rivers resident, to speak before council during a committee meeting Monday in Georgetown. She believes that council should partner with the community even more by issuing a committee specifically to help create the plan. "There's just so many factors that we need to consider," she said. "It's a one-hundred-year plan." As well, MacBeth suggests someone with experience in risk assessment is involved to weigh in on the pros and cons of potential developments. She had been a part of the committee that helped form Three Rivers leading up to amalgamation. That committee featured a group of community members from various backgrounds, and while she admits planning wasn't always easy, the different viewpoints made for a stronger outcome. "There was all these people who had different views, but we just meshed and worked together," she said. MacBeth also referenced the provincial government's council for recovery and growth as a model. It was formed this year in response to COVID-19 and features representatives in sectors such as business, education and arts working to create a 10-year response plan to the pandemic's impact. MacBeth argues that having more community voices directly involved in creating a road map for Three Rivers would be more beneficial than the survey alone. As well, she doesn't think that the Ontario firm, Fotenn Planning, would be able to adequately cater to the needs of the municipality. "How do they get the pulse of our region?" A few councillors found themselves agreeing with MacBeth's pitch. "I think we need help," Coun. Ronnie Nicholson said. Deputy Mayor Debbie Johnston suggested council get in touch with Fotenn before making any decisions on the matter to see if a resident-based committee might work within the firm's current operations. "(This) would be a great way to get the community involved in planning," Johnston said. Twitter.com/dnlbrown95Daniel Brown, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Guardian
PoliticsThe Canadian PressTrouble brewing ahead of start to Nova Scotia fall lobster season: Indigenous leader
HALIFAX — The Indigenous leader at the centre of a simmering dispute over Nova Scotia lobster said Thursday the recent seizure of lobster traps in St. Marys Bay by federal officials could lead to big trouble on the water.Chief Mike Sack of the Sipekne’katik First Nation says Indigenous fishers whose traps were taken last weekend and on Wednesday will replace them by taking the traps of commercial fishers when the fall season opens Monday in southwestern Nova Scotia — a huge event known as Dumping Day."Dumping Day is going to be about 400,000 traps that our people get to pick from to replenish our traps," Sack said in an interview, referring to the start of Canada's largest and most lucrative lobster fishery.The seizures by Fisheries Department officers have undermined negotiations with federal officials aimed at establishing a moderate livelihood fishery that will operate outside the federally regulated season, Sack said."I have zero respect for them," Sack said, adding that he had spoken by phone with federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan earlier in the day. "I told her what I thought and hung up. They need to leave our gear alone; they're infringing on our rights and it isn't going to end here. I called them out for their blatant lies … The minister doesn't even know what (her) officers are doing and visa-versa."About 500 traps were seized on the weekend and another 100 on Wednesday, a federal official said.Sack said band members had about 300 moderate livelihood traps in the bay on the weekend, in addition to traps used for the Indigenous food, social and ceremonial fishery, which can take place at any time. He said two other Indigenous bands, Bear River and Acadia, have also placed traps in the bay.The Sipekne’katik First Nation attracted national attention on Sept. 17 when it started a self-regulated lobster fishery on St. Marys Bay, three months before the federally regulated season was scheduled to open. Sack has said First Nations in the Maritimes and Quebec have never given up the right to fish, gather and hunt when and where they want, as spelled out in treaties signed with the Crown in the 1700s.The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed those treaty rights in a landmark decision in 1999, but the court also said Ottawa retained the right to regulate the fisheries for conservation purposes. In the last three months, several other Indigenous bands in Nova Scotia have started their own self-regulated lobster fishing enterprises.The non-Indigenous lobster industry has argued that the federal Fisheries Department should shut down those businesses because they are operating outside the federally regulated season and are threatening the conservation of lobster stocks.A spokesman for federal fisheries officers confirmed Thursday that some of the traps that were recently seized were clearly identified moderate livelihood traps that complied with conservation rules.Todd Somerville, director of conservation and protection, said the status of the moderate livelihood fishery is still subject to talks with Ottawa, but said that officers consider the fishery to be an unlicensed, unregulated and illegal enterprise under the Fisheries Act."It's not our job to authorize or recognize the fishery," he said in an interview. "At the same time, we don't want to be deliberately disruptive to the negotiation process. We're trying to exercise a bit of due discretion." Somerville could not say how many moderate livelihood traps were removed from the bay, saying the focus was on removing untagged traps and gear that did not meet conservation rules. He confirmed that the number of recent removals was much larger than the other seizures made since the self-regulated fishery opened in September.Fisheries officers will be reaching out to the Indigenous communities to confirm the ownership of the moderate livelihood traps, he said. "We're very mindful and respectful of their rights and hope that a solution that is consistent with the legislation can be decided upon," he said. "We're trying to exercise our best judgment in some challenging situations."This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26. 2020.Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press
HealthThe Canadian PressVancouver council unanimously endorses drug decriminalization, seeks federal approval
VANCOUVER — Councillors in Vancouver have voted unanimously to ask the federal government to decriminalize possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.Mayor Kennedy Stewart put forward the motion earlier this month saying it is time to develop a "health-focused" approach to substance use and end the stigma against drug users.In a statement issued late Wednesday after the vote, Stewart thanked groups such as the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, which he says have pursued decriminalization for years.In the same process used to create its first supervised injection clinic almost two decades ago, city staff will now write to federal officials, including the ministers of health and justice, seeking an exemption from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.If approved, Stewart said the city will work with the police department, Vancouver Coastal Health, community groups and people who have lived experience with drug use to determine how decriminalization should be approved.The city's support for decriminalization came on the same day the BC Coroners Service issued a report documenting 162 illicit drug deaths across the province in October, amounting to five every day, including one daily in Vancouver.Stewart said Vancouver is ready to again lead the way on drug policy in order to save lives.“With more than 1,500 deaths in Vancouver since a provincial overdose emergency was declared in April 2016, and an estimated 329 overdose deaths in the city of Vancouver so far this year, 2020 is on track to be the worst year yet for overdoses and this new approach is urgently needed," he said in the statement.Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical health officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, has said decriminalization alone won't solve the drug crisis, but will complement expanded harm reduction and treatment services, including the province's safe supply program.The elimination of criminal consequences for possessing drugs for personal use also has the support of Premier John Horgan, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and the Vancouver Police Department.There's no indication how long the federal government might take to review Vancouver's plan once it is submitted, but Stewart has said federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu is a champion of harm reduction and has the authority to move quickly.Hajdu said in a statement the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the opioid crisis and Ottawa must redouble its efforts to save lives.She said federal officials have been working with Stewart and the B.C. government on options that respond to local and regional needs, guided in part by the recommendations of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, which also endorsed decriminalization of personal possession earlier this year. "We will review this request to address criminal penalties for simple possession of small amounts of controlled substances and will continue our work to get Canadians who use substances the support they need," Hajdu said in the statement.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2020.The Canadian Press
LifestyleThe Canadian PressHoliday trends to watch: Adult Play-Doh; stores that ship
NEW YORK — The pandemic is turning this into a holiday shopping season like no other.Toy companies are targeting stuck-at-home grown-ups with latte-smelling Play-Doh and Legos that turn into Warhols. Those who added a puppy to their family during the pandemic will see tons of gift options for their new furry friend. And with more people shopping online, stores are doing double duty as shipping centres to try to get gifts to doorsteps as fast as possible.Here’s what to expect:___TOYS FOR ADULTSKids aren’t the only ones who need some fun. Toy companies are targeting bored adults stuck at home during the pandemic. Need something to fidget during your next Zoom meeting? Hasbro has new mouldable Play-Doh varieties that smell like stuff grown-ups would recognize: lattes, fresh cut grass and smoked meats.Lego, meanwhile, wants adults to put on their headphones and “forget about the rest of the world” while turning the plastic pieces in their new kits into hangable art, like Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe portraits.Marissa DiBartolo, editor in chief of toy review site The Toy Insider, says she's seen more coloring books and challenging puzzles being designed with adults in mind.___FROM YOUTUBE TO THE TOY STOREThe canines on “Paw Patrol” better watch their tails. YouTube stars with millions of viewers are heading to the toy aisle, a place where TV cartoon characters used to rule.It’s all because kids are spending so much time watching YouTube instead of cable TV, says DiBartolo. That's made stars of the video-streaming site just as recognizable as those on Nickelodeon.Figurines of Blippi, a man who wears orange suspenders and hosts educational kid videos on YouTube, are being sold at Target and Amazon. At Walmart, toys featuring Ryan Kaji, a kid who reviews toys on his Ryan’s World YouTube channel, have been hot sellers. Toy company VTech is playing into the trend in another way, selling a KidiZoom Creator camera that comes with a green screen so kids can add special effects and pretend to be YouTube influencers themselves.And if you need another sign of just how big YouTube stars have become, a 42-foot-tall (13-meter-tall) balloon based on Kaji from Ryan’s World appeared Thursday in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, floating next to TV icons like SpongeBob and, yes, Chase from “Paw Patrol.”___STORES AS SHIPPING HUBSRetailers including Walmart and Best Buy that were already using their locations as hubs to ship e-commerce orders are now coming up with new strategies to get even faster. The moves come as they face a holiday crunch expected to tax shipping networks and likely result in delivery delays.Walmart this week launched a special program for the holidays. It has some of its online orders being fulfilled directly from stores using delivery services like Postmates and DoorDash instead of carriers like FedEx or UPS. The aim is to ensure customers will be able to get their orders quickly, even on the same day.Meanwhile, Best Buy says that 340 of its stores are being specially designated to handle a higher volume of online orders, though all its stores ship e-commerce packages. Its goal: to have the 340 stores ship more than 70% of its ship-from-store units during the holiday quarter.And then there are many small-to-medium sized businesses increasingly turning to operators of micro-warehouses — mini-shipping hubs that are located in urban areas — to help pack and delivery goods. Ben Jones is the CEO and founder of Ohi, which operates five micro-warehouses for various brands like sparkling tonic Olipop, or provides software for third parties at 115 locations for e-commerce fulfilment across the U.S. He says he’s seen more brands using his software because many aren't able to guarantee delivery by Christmas via standard shipping if items are ordered after the first week of December.___GIFTS FOR THE POOCHMore people adopted puppies and kittens during the pandemic, and stores are pouncing to cash in. Petco is selling matching pyjamas for dogs and their humans with snow flakes and Christmas trees. And Chewy, the online pet store, is getting more personal, inscribing pets names into bandanas, bowls or beds.Consulting firm Deloitte expects half of shoppers to spend some of their money on pet treats and other supplies this holiday season.___FORGET ABOUT IMPULSE SHOPPINGIt’s not just frenzied crowds that will be absent this holiday season. So will impulse shopping — the practice of throwing in extra items like toys or bath balms as shoppers go in and out of the aisles.Typically, 25% of holiday shopping is based on impulse, according to Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor at NPD Group, a market research firm. This year, Cohen said he expects that figure to drop to about 10% as shoppers dramatically shift their buying online to avoid physical stores. And when they do go to stores, customers will be buying with a purpose, picking up things they need as they try to minimize exposure to COVID-19“Impulse shopping is the icing on the cake,“ Cohen said. “It is the difference between a successful profitable holiday and a ho hum holiday.” ___This story has been updated to correct that Petco is offering matching pyjamas for owners and dogs, not matching sweaters.Joseph Pisani And Anne D’Innocenzio, The Associated Press
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
Can a landowner refuse the help of fire crews?
November 19 -- This past Monday during the Cardston County council meeting, two local farmers attended the question-and-answer period with concerns about hefty bills from the county’s fire department’s. Randy Shaw had a fire in September due to a fallen power line, and Shawn Pitcher had a recent combine fire on his farm. Both individuals brought bills from their respective department which reflected large totals that the farmers felt were unfair. Both farmers say they had the fires under control by the time the department showed up and do not understand why the fire department took over and subsequently sent them such a hefty bill. The situation brings up the question of whether or not a landowner is allowed to refuse help from the fire department. Stewart said “45 minutes later the fire department shows up but there was nothing for them to do. According to the invoice they were there for 4 hours. We didn’t phone them, we didn’t ask for them, we didn’t need them”. Pitcher echoed this sentiment saying it was the neighbouring farmers that put out his fire, not the department, “all the farmers in the area have group text and during harvest time we are all in the field. The minute we see smoke we all text the group and go help each other. My fire was out before the firemen showed up”. The two farmers wondered why the county’s fire department needs to get involved when they arrive on scene of a fire that is under control. Many in their community have invested money into their own fire protection, and know which buildings, machinery, and goods are worth saving. Pitcher said that farmers in the area are not insuring items under $50,000 because the insurance premiums and deductibles are so high it isn’t worth it. They know which of their equipment and goods are worth saving and which to let burn. They aren’t able to send this bill on to an insurance company for reimbursement and don’t need the added cost of a fire bill after suffering the loss of accessory buildings or farm machinery. One of the local fire chief’s later explained to the Star that fire departments must ensure due diligence in extinguishing a fire in order to protect the third party, or neighbours, who could be affected if there are flare ups. Since 2009 the Fire Operations and Cost Recovery Bylaw has delineated the billing of fire operations. The County uses the amount on each tax bill to cover the fixed costs of each fire department, whereas the additional billing to the property owner covers the cost of the individual fire responses. There have been very few complaints since this time, and any landowner struggling to pay the bills have been able to approach council for extensions or reductions in cost instead of having the bill added to their property tax amount. The council did decide to waive the bills for Pitcher and Shaw while administration looks into the matter further to see if there is a new billing system that can be implemented that doesn’t put undue hardship on property owners. The current system was implemented to keep overall taxes down, but there have been some high bills, one close to $40,000, which feel unattainable for some residents. Citizens like Pitcher and Shaw would like to see this burden born by property taxes or would like to be allowed to refuse the fire department’s help when they feel the situation is under control. The province has delegated a lot of authority to fire departments and it is unlikely that refusing their help is an option.Elizabeth Thompson-Christensen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temple City Star
HealthCBCManitoba town's hospital closure inspires emotional tribute as staff shift to fight COVID-19 at care home
An emotional rally and vehicle procession was held in a rural Manitoba community Thursday as residents paid tribute to the last patients being transferred away from the town's hospital, which the health authority said would be closed temporarily."This is our community's way of showing we are in mourning," said Buffy Maxwell, who recorded the gathering in Grandview, Man. More than 50 vehicles lined up along the shoulders of roads around the Grandview Health Centre as the sun was rising early Thursday."The plan is to escort the remaining patients from the hospital to their new destination in a sign of respect for them and as a way to show the province that we care a lot and we want to help," Maxwell said. The event was hastily organized Wednesday evening, just hours after the Prairie Mountain Health authority announced in a post on its website that the hospital would be closing temporarily.On its website, Prairie Mountain Health said emergency response services will still be available during the closure, with patients being transported to the nearest open emergency department.The closure of the hospital is expected to last at least three weeks.Hospital staff reassignedThe decision was made to reassign hospital staff to the Grandview Personal Care Home to help fight a COVID-19 outbreak there.The care home as of Thursday is in the critical level on Manitoba's pandemic response scale after 11 residents and one staff member tested positive for COVID-19, according to Prairie Mountain Health Region.Some patients were moved to hospitals in other communities on Wednesday and four were left for Thursday's transfer.Grandview hospital has 18 beds, and there were eight patients in the hospital when it temporarily suspended hospital and emergency department services, the Prairie Mountain Health Region said.As the ambulances pulled away, vehicles rolled off the gravel shoulders and fell in behind — horns honking and hazard lights flashing in the early light. "It was overwhelming to see. Tears filled my eyes right away," said Maxwell.Although there was no school in the community on Thursday, a crowd of students gathered along the fence of the schoolyard and watched the motorcade pass."They stood there as if watching a funeral procession," said Maxwell. "And in many ways, that's how it feels. It's as if something died."Concern closure won't be temporaryA large part of the emotion stems from fear, Maxwell said.The community, midway between Dauphin and Roblin and about 290 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, is concerned the closure won't be a short-lived one, she said.The RCMP detachment in the community of about 1,480 people was closed in January and the emergency department at the health centre in Roblin was shut down in September.The closest hospital is in Dauphin, 45 kilometres east of Grandview."I'm fearful this is a way to somehow help their budget," Maxwell said. "This government has let us down. We feel helpless and don't know what to do."In an email to CBC Thursday afternoon, Prairie Mountain Health Region CEO Penny Gilson says the decision to temporarily close the hospital was not made lightly."Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) is taking these extraordinary measures in order to redeploy staffing resources to address an emerging critical need. "The care and safety of our clients, patients, residents and staff is our key priority when making resource decisions during this unprecedented time", Gilson said. She said patients that were in Grandview hospital were transferred to nearby facilities including Dauphin Regional Health Centre and Roblin Health Centre."This suspension of services at the Grandview Health Centre is a temporary measure while we support the Grandview PCH during this outbreak," she said.Maxwell underscored the importance of the personal care home receiving the help it requires.She said she has a great aunt in the home and is anxious about her health and the health of the other residents.\"Our hearts go out to all of them. They absolutely do need the support," she said."But I'm just not sure if closing the hospital was the right thing to do."WATCH | Grandview residents fight to keep their hospital open:
- Newseuronews Videos
Meet the scientists fighting misinformation and educating people about COVID vaccines
Team Halo is hoping to answer questions from those sceptical or hesitant about COVID vaccines. View on euronews
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
Canada supports the Mississauga Nation efforts to advance self-determination and reconciliation
The Mississauga Nation has received $120,000 this year through the Government of Canada’s Nation Rebuilding Program. The Mississauga Nation consists of six communities – Mississaugas of the New Credit, Mississaugas of Alderville, Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Mississauga First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, and Hiawatha First Nation. The Nation Rebuilding Program aims to foster a nation-to-nation, Inuit-Crown and government-to-government relations with Indigenous people across Canada. One of the objectives is increasing First Nations’ ability to take on more sectoral responsibility – with the ultimate objective being self-governance. Activities that would be supported by the Nation Rebuilding Program include community engagement and consultation, gatherings aimed at developing culturally appropriate governance structures and institutions, constitution development, and other initiatives that foster nationhood. Since 2018, Mississauga Nation has received $768,900 through the program. “Nation-building on a collective level is an immense exercise and is subject to a multi-year iterative process by our citizens,” said the Chiefs of The Mississauga Nation in a joint statement. “Rather than face cultural reclamation alone, and by working as one, as a Nation, our respective communities will emerge stronger and become more unified in our vision through our collective strength of governance. We are excited at the renewal of the Mississauga Nation, and the prospect of working together on issues of collective importance to our communities.”Mike McDonald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaultOnline.com
- ScienceLocal Journalism Initiative
Winter may stop farming, but it doesn't stop Niagara's farmers
Ever wonder what farmers get up to during the winter months between growing seasons? For flower growers like Fred Meyers of Meyers Farms in Niagara-on-the-Lake, it’s a busy time of year in the greenhouses, where business continues on unimpeded by the weather. Soon enough, they’ll be thinking about Easter. It’s the same story for most in the poultry sector, where chickens are housed in barns. Not much changes either for Dave Comfort, who raises sheep and cattle in Smithville, though he says mornings come much earlier in the winter. Cows are milked twice per day, and the roadway for milk trucks needs to be cleared of snow. Comfort ensures that the water for the animals isn’t freezing over and that newborns are kept warm. “It’s challenging all the time with livestock – throw winter into the equation and it becomes more challenging,” he said. “There are no snow days in livestock farming.” For cash croppers like Jeff Barlow of Barlow Farms, much of the year is dictated by weather. With December in view, Barlow still has corn to harvest from some of Niagara’s fields. A good freeze is the perfect time to combine corn – stalks are brittle, the field doesn’t get torn up and equipment doesn’t get mucked. After corn is harvested by late December, it’s put into grain bins for drying and storage. “We do three things in the winter; the most important is maintenance,” Barlow said. Most of the farm’s employees are full-time, so during winter they’re servicing every single piece of equipment. The next item on the to-do list is shipping out grain. After that, it’s hitting the fields to check on tile drainage, collect topographic map data for planning out planting and spread some clover as a cover crop. “I do a lot of planning in the winter time,” Barlow said. He needs to start thinking now about next year’s inputs, seeding, labour, training, logistics, upgrades, maintenance and marketing. “Right down to ordering T-shirts,” he said. Come spring, it’s full tilt ahead once again. At Hughes Vineyards in Vineland, Ed Hughes grows 25 acres of wine grapes. “Once harvest is done, which is usually no later than into the beginning of November, I start winterizing things,” he said. He services his equipment, winterizes irrigation and sprayers and repairs any damaged vineyard trellising. This year, he’ll also remove four rows of vines that are over-stressed from too many hard winters. Come the beginning of January, Hughes said he’ll be full steam ahead, pruning out in the field six days a week for the coming growing season. At Fenwick Berry Farm in the town of Pelham, they’ll be cleaning up around the farm until everything is buried in snow. “Planning is already well underway for next year around here,” said Dave Klyn-Hesselink, who owns the operation with his wife Christine. There's a long list to work through: ordering trees and containers, putting marketing plans into place and cleaning up migrant worker bunk housing for public health inspections over the winter. Right now they’re still packing up strawberry plants and doing some tillage. But what makes this year especially unique, said Klyn-Hesselink, is the mountain of COVID-19 paperwork. “The nature of the work changes, there’s less pressure and there’s definitely more family time,” he said, meaning work weeks go down to 35 hours from 60. By Christmas, the Klyn-Hesselinks aim to be done on the farm and fit in a week off before getting started again for the coming season. “Farming is a lifestyle … you gotta be a particular person to farm; you don't just turn it off, you’re always busy doing something on the farm,” he said.Jordan Snobelen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Niagara this Week
NewsLa Conversation CanadaConsommation : dans le Grand-Est, la crise a changé les habitudes des frontaliers
Un tiers des habitants de la région qui font régulièrement des achats à l’étranger déclarent que le premier confinement les a réorientés vers une consommation plus locale.
- NewsThe Canadian Press
France resumes tax on tech giants, seeks deal with US
PARIS — France is resuming collection of a special tax on Big Tech companies like Amazon and Facebook despite the threat of U.S. retaliatory tariffs on French Champagne, cheese, handbags and other goods.The tax brought about 400 million euros to the French budget last year, but the government agreed to suspend it in 2020, in exchange for an American promise to drop the tariff threat pending talks on an international deal on taxing online companies.France was hoping that such an accord could be reached by the end of this year, rendering the French tax moot. But the Trump administration pulled out of the negotiations, led by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and no such deal is ready yet.So French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Thursday that France will again levy the tax. Speaking on a visit to Italy, he said: "We naturally hope that the Italian presidency of the G20 will provide the impetus to reach an agreement within the OECD, which could be supported by all European countries, concerning a fair tax on tech giants.”A Finance Ministry official said the French Treasury sent the 2020 tax bills to Amazon, Google and other companies affected by the measure last week, and they have to pay by the end of the year. The ministry expects the tax revenue to total a bit more than last year because big tech companies have had a good year amid the pandemic.France's trade minister told The Associated Press earlier this month that he hopes President-elect Joe Biden's administration rejoins discussions at the OECD for a global deal.Other European countries have imposed similar measures, which are aimed at forcing online giants to pay full taxes in the countries where they do business instead of in tax havens. U.S. officials have argued that the taxes unfairly target successful American companies, though France says its tax is aimed at all big tech companies that make money online.The Associated Press
- NewsCBC
Eskasoni woman dies after truck crashes into utility pole
A 24-year-old woman from Eskasoni, N.S., is dead and three others suffered serious injuries after an early morning single-vehicle crash on Thursday. In a news release, RCMP say they were called about an impaired driver in the community just after 1 a.m.While en route, they got another call about a pickup truck going into a ditch along Highway 216, where it struck a utility pole and knocked down power lines.Police say the truck matched the vehicle description in the initial report.The man who was driving and another man and a woman, who were passengers, were all sent to hospital with serious injuries.RCMP say the second woman was found dead at the scene near the rear of the truck. Police are investigating the crash.MORE TOP STORIES
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
Kainai Chief and Council election Nov. 26th
Council and Chief will be elected this Thursday November 26th with voting taking place between 9am and 7pm after a three week election period. Over 88 candidates ran in the council election from which only 12 will be selected through popular vote. Eight Tribal Members have submitted their name to be on the ballot for the one position of chief including incumbent chief Roy Fox. All current councillors are also running for re-election. The selection of chief and council on the Blood tribe happens every four years, on a different schedule than the municipalities in the province who will not be holding elections until fall 2021. Due to the global health situation, Indigenous Services Canada enacted new temporary regulations to allow Chief and Councils to extend their roles and duties for another six months with the potential to extend again after that period in order to reduce large gatherings where COVID19 can be transmitted. The Blood tribe decided to proceed with the election following improved safety precautions in order to reduce transmission. These measures include (but are not limited to) personal protective equipment for administration and election officers, strictly enforced physical distancing at designated polling stations, masks and gloves for voters entering building, allowance for the elderly and physically disabled to skin to the front of the voting line, regular sanitizing and disinfecting of all tables and voting compartments. The Blood Tribe voting locations include: Blackfoot Confederacy Office in Calgary Moses Lake Hall in Moses Lake Exhibition Pavilion (Saddle room) in Lethbridge Both the nonmination meeting on November 5th and the Advanced poll on November 19th were live-streamed for public viewing and are still available on the website bloodtribe.orgElizabeth Thompson-Christensen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temple City Star
- BusinessLocal Journalism Initiative
1% of farmers own 70% of the world's farmland: report
More than two-thirds of the world’s fields, ranches and orchards are owned by one per cent of its farmers, according to a report released Tuesday. Land inequality — the concentrated ownership of land — is skyrocketing globally, including in Canada and the U.S. It’s a trend driven by large-scale industrial farming and export-oriented agricultural policies with wide-ranging impacts on everything from food security to climate change. Those investments aren’t always obvious. Historically, land ownership analyses have excluded key pieces of information, such as the value of land and the degree of control a person or organization has over it, according to the report’s authors. For instance, many farms operate under contract to agri-food corporations, giving them control over production methods and market access without explicitly owning the farm. Investors are also purchasing farmland at increasingly high rates, pushing land prices beyond the value of the crops they can produce and exacerbating farmland consolidation. An analysis of these control mechanisms was included by the coalition of organizations behind the report — a novel technique, said Ward Anseeuw, co-author of the report and co-ordinator of the initiative. The additional data revealed that worldwide, land inequality is 41 per cent higher than previously reported through national agricultural censuses. “These findings radically alter our understanding of the extent and far-reaching consequences land inequality has, proving that not only is it a bigger problem than we thought, but it’s undermining the stability and development of sustainable societies,” he said in a statement. Concentrated land ownership is associated with a suite of problems, including deforestation, political and economic inequality and the degradation of rural food security, the report notes. And while land inequality is an old problem — it was a key part of many colonial governments’ policies — the authors note that since the 1980s, the problem has gotten worse. That’s when national and international trade policies were implemented that made it easier for financial institutions and global agri-businesses to purchase vast tracts of farmland for conversion into industrialized crop production. This land was generally purchased from small- to mid-sized family farms growing a diversity of crops for local or regional consumption. Replacing them were larger industrialized farms owned by vertically integrated companies invested from seed to sale in international commodity markets. It’s a trend that accelerated after the 2008 financial crash, said Devlin Kuyek, senior researcher at GRAIN, an international non-profit supporting small farmers and social movements. Those investors, including several Canadian pension funds, started purchasing farmland worldwide. And with deeper pockets than most farmers, they didn’t struggle to find the land, despite policies in certain jurisdictions — including some Canadian provinces — that limit foreign farmland ownership. It’s a practice that drives land consolidation, he explained. Meanwhile, smaller-scale farmers producing food for regional and local consumption often struggle to make ends meet because of high farmland prices and competition from global commodity markets. It’s a pattern that is seen worldwide — including in B.C., explained Mullinix. The province has a proliferation of small, diversified farms serving local markets, many of which struggle to afford farmland (farmland prices in the province are also driven by real estate speculation, not only agri-businesses and investments from financial institutions). There are also several large ranches and orchards producing food for Canada-wide and international markets — and not much in between. Still, Kuyek said that Canadians have more leverage than they might think. Canadian pension funds are some of the world’s largest farmland investors and sustained pressure from the people whose money they are managing can help change their practices. “We have an interest in understanding what’s going on with our money. If the money is being used to expand industrial agriculture, kick communities off their lands, destroying the future of the planet, it’s not really a good investment that way,” he said. “But this is a new area for the pension funds, so putting pressure on them now, making them aware of the risks … it can sort of push them to hold back from stepping into that area of investment.” Marc Fawcett-Atkinson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, National Observer
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
Students go 'over and above' for Yo Mobile
École publique Renaissance students have come together to give back to the community. Students from Grade 7 to 12 donated 1,301 cups of soup, 180 cakes and a $100 gift card to The Yo Mobile. The non-profit’s founder Mario Dussault said he was very happy and the donation will help a lot. Through various classroom challenges and incentives in classrooms, the students collected the donations in less than a month, according to the school’s guidance counsellor Cindy Bergeron. “These students went over and above to make sure this was a success,” she said. “This is 100 per cent the kids that did it.” The school usually has a big fundraiser in May when the students play volleyball with the Timmins Police Service and paramedics. Although the event was cancelled because of the pandemic, the students still wanted to give back to the community, Bergeron said. "They had an impossible question on the radio every morning that they had to answer and they would get soups for that. And each classroom had different challenges, too," she said. "And one of the activities the kids used to do all the time is wear a hat on Fridays. And they would give $1 (or) bring a soup on Friday to be able to wear their hats." Grade 8 student Esmeralda Ofori-Agyepong said she used her first allowance, about $40, to donate to the cause. “I was saving up for something but I didn’t really know what else to do, so I decided that I wanted to be the biggest contributor in a class to help,” she said. “Whatever money I got, I started to give it … I feel better because I know people who might not have meals would have, at least, a full belly. And it’s better because we don’t have to have starving people and then it helps everybody.”Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TimminsToday.com
- NewsInitiative de journalisme local
Laval franchit les 11 000 cas de COVID-19 jusqu'ici
Le bilan lavallois est désormais de 540 cas actifs selon les données émises par le Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de Laval. Cela signifie que le territoire connait une baisse de 27 cas actifs par rapport à la veille. Le total de décès augmente à 725 depuis le début de la pandémie. 103 tests positifs ont été effectués dans les 24 dernières heures. Ainsi, depuis le mois de mars, 11 083 citoyens lavallois ont été affectés par le virus. Parmi les personnes touchées par la COVID-19, 28 sont présentement hospitalisées, dont 5 aux soins intensifs. 22 employés de l’organisation de santé sont toujours absents du travail en raison de la COVID-19. À l'exception de Vimont/Auteuil (+5), tous les secteurs lavallois ont connu une hausse supérieure à 10 cas par rapport à la veille. Chomedey est celui qui a été le plus touché avec 31 nouveaux cas. Au cours des deux dernières semaines, il est le deuxième secteur de l'île Jésus qui compte le plus de cas confirmé, tout juste derrière Pont-Viau/Renaud-Coursol/Laval-des-Rapides (+23). Ce dernier constate 234 personnes touchées et un taux d'infection de 294 cas par 100 000 habitants sur cette même période. De leur côté, Duvernay/Saint-François/Saint-Vincent-de-Paul et Fabreville-Est/Sainte-Rose ont ajouté 16 et 15 cas à leur total respectif. Sainte-Dorothée/Laval-Ouest/Laval-Les Îles/Fabreville-Ouest/Laval-sur-le-Lac compte quant à lui 13 nouvelles personnes touchées. *** Prendre note que tel qu’indiqué sur le site Web du CISSS de Laval, ces données par secteur incluent l’ensemble des cas des citoyens testés positifs à la COVID-19, qu’ils résident dans des milieux fermés ou ailleurs dans la communauté. Les milieux fermés incluent des milieux de vie comme les centres d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée (CHSLD), les résidences privées pour aînés (RPA), les ressources intermédiaires (RI), ainsi que les centres correctionnels. Les données présentées sont calculées en fonction du lieu de résidence. Le CISSS tarde à déterminer le foyer de 59 cas jusqu’ici.Nicholas Pereira, Initiative de journalisme local, Courrier Laval
- HealthInitiative de journalisme local
L’hiver, une saison très difficile pour les animaux errants
En prévision de l’hiver, il est important de penser à nos compagnons à quatre pattes. Nos animaux de compagnie passeront l’hiver au chaud, dans le confort de leur foyer, avec leur petite famille. D’autres, moins chanceux, devront chercher à survivre aux ardeurs de la saison froide. Il s’agit pour eux d’une situation très difficile. Il existe, dans les Basses-Laurentides un bon nombre d’organismes et de refuges pour animaux. Comme ses homologues, le Centre animal Nouveau départ, sis dans le secteur de Saint-Augustin, à Mirabel, se donne pour mission de venir en aide aux animaux errants, dont un certain nombre de chats sans foyer. La propriétaire, Giselle Anaya, offre des cours d’éducation canine, des corrections de troubles de comportement animal, des évaluations et consultations. Elle est également conseillère en placement et en adoption, ayant comme «protégés» des minous trouvés à l’extérieur. Ceux-ci sont alors capturés, puis vus par des professionnels en santé animale, pour finalement prendre le chemin de foyers d’adoption. Des familles d’accueil leur permettent de récupérer et de socialiser, avant d’être affichés pour leur adoption. En effet, aux dires du site de Mondou, les chats sont loin d’être aptes à traverser sans séquelles nos hivers québécois. «L’âge et la condition de santé d’un animal influencent sa capacité à combattre le froid, mentionne-t-on. La surpopulation féline est d’ailleurs une problématique bien connue, et ce phénomène augmente le stress et les risques de batailles lors d’une saison où la nourriture est de moins en moins accessible. Ils doivent donc lutter au quotidien pour trouver de la nourriture, sans quoi, leur chance de survie est réduite dramatiquement.» Famille d’accueil et adoption La première étape afin d’aider un chat errant devrait être une adoption responsable et une stérilisation. Pour supporter une cause noble, il est toujours possible de devenir famille d’accueil bénévole pour un refuge. Vous garderez l’animal un certain temps, dépendamment de sa réhabilitation. Puis, il sera possible pour vous de l’adopter officiellement, si la situation, à la maison, convient à l’humain et à l’animal. Les refuges des Basses-Laurentides recherchent assurément des familles bénévoles. Du moins, c’est le cas du Centre animal Nouveau Départ et il n’est pas nécessaire de débourser quoi que ce soit. Le centre vous offre tout ce qu’il faut pour vous occuper de votre compagnon temporairement (litière, nourriture, médicament au besoin, jouets, etc.). Pour plus d’informations, il suffit de visiter le site officiel de ce refuge de Mirabel, au [www.animalnouveaudepart.com]. Traverser l’hiver Le meilleur moyen de sauver un animal est donc de l’adopter, mais aussi de contacter un refuge ou un organisme responsable. Ceux-ci seront en mesure de le supporter convenablement. Il aura assurément droit à une «deuxième vie». Or, ce n’est pas facile pour les minous qui n’ont d’autres choix que de rester dehors et lutter pour leur survie. Par les temps froids, il est loisible de construire un abri, de lui offrir de la nourriture et de l’eau, du moins, en attendant l’arrivée de responsables qui pourront le capturer et en prendre soin. Cependant, mentionnons que certaines villes et municipalités interdisent ces gestes afin d’attirer les chats errants en nombre important. Il suffit donc de s’informer pour agir en toute légalité. Attention à la voiture! Sans-abri pour se protéger, certains chats seraient tentés par la chaleur dégagée par votre voiture. Avant de démarrer, il est conseillé de cogner sur le capot ou de klaxonner afin que l’animal réfugié ait le temps de sortir pour éviter d’être blessé. En somme, si vous apercevez un animal désorienté, égaré ou affaibli, ne le laissez pas seul et communiquez avec un refuge ou un organisme mandaté par votre ville. Cela permettra de sauver une vie.Nicolas Parent, Initiative de journalisme local, L'Éveil
- NewsLocal Journalism Initiative
More support needed for Scarborough to fight COVID-19, MPP says
Scarborough Southwest NDP MPP Doly Begum is demanding more provincial support for Scarborough’s battle with COVID-19 after it was revealed the community had a 14 per cent positivity rate. A report in the Toronto Star on Nov. 17 revealed that Scarborough Health Network has the highest number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the GTA. It included outbreaks in schools and long-term care homes. In response, Begum has demanded the province immediately commit to more testing, more contact tracing, paid sick days, and personal protective equipment. “Kids are getting sick in crowded classrooms. Seniors are dying in long-term care homes again. What else does Premier Ford need to see before he sends help to Scarborough?” Begum said. As Scarborough, along with Toronto and Peel is in lockdown, Begum said help is needed more than ever. With businesses closing down, long lines at food banks, evictions, and more, she added that the province needs to spend its $9 billion of allocated funds for COVID-19 on communities like Scarborough. Almost a week later on Nov. 25, the Auditor General of Ontario Bonnie Lysyk released a report that indicated “the province’s response was lacking” and was responsible for a relatively slower pandemic response. The report pointed to “outdated provincial emergency plans, insufficient staff, and significant changeover in leadership at Ontario’s Provincial Management Office, as well as systemic issues such as the lack of lab surge capacity and outdated IT systems” as causes for a slow and flawed response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also revealed the Ford government paid $1.6 million to develop a command structure for its pandemic response that did little to help, and that testing, managing cases, and contact tracing weren’t being done quickly enough to limit the spread. “It’s mind-boggling how they’ve mismanaged this whole situation and now we know why,” Begum said of the provincial government. As of Nov. 26, Scarborough continues to have among the highest rates of positive cases in the City of Toronto. In the last 21 days, Begum’s riding alone has had almost 500 cases.Ali Raza, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Beach Metro News
- NewsCanadian Press Videos
Quebec will be ready to begin vaccinating against COVID-19 on Jan. 1 premier says
Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Health Minister Christian Dube said the province will be ready to begin vaccinating people against COVID-19 on Jan. 1 and outlined how the vaccination campaign will work.
- NewsGlobal News
Coronavirus: Canadian health official expects COVID-19 vaccine in early 2021, says initial supply ‘will be limited’
Canada’s deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo discussed on Thursday the seven COVID-19 vaccine candidates that have been secured for purchase by the Canadian government, saying they expect certain vaccines to become available “in early 2021.” Njoo added the initial supply of the vaccines “will be limited.”
