3 people stranded on uninhabited Bahamas island for 33 days rescued

MEREDITH DELISO
·2 min read

Three people believed to be stranded on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas for over 30 days, surviving on conch shells and rats, were rescued Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Cuban nationals had been reportedly stranded on Anguilla Cay for 33 days, officials said.

PHOTO: On Feb. 9, 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued three Cuban nationals who had been stranded on Anguilla Cay in the Bahamas. (U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Twitter)
PHOTO: On Feb. 9, 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued three Cuban nationals who had been stranded on Anguilla Cay in the Bahamas. (U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Twitter)
PHOTO: Three people were believed to be stranded on Anguilla Cay for over 30 days, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Twitter)
PHOTO: Three people were believed to be stranded on Anguilla Cay for over 30 days, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Twitter)

A U.S. Coast Guard Clearwater helicopter hoisted the two men and woman off the island. The rescue took about 30 minutes, Mike Allert, the aircraft commander on the helicopter, told ABC News.

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The three were then brought to the Lower Keys Medical Center in Key West, Florida, with no reported injuries, officials said. They did show signs of dehydration and fatigue, Allert said, though he noted that their conditions were good considering how long they were stranded.

They were in dire straits due to a lack of fresh water on the island, Allert said.

PHOTO: A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew drops food, water and a radio during the Anguilla Cay rescue, Feb. 9, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Twitter)
PHOTO: A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew drops food, water and a radio during the Anguilla Cay rescue, Feb. 9, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Twitter)

Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast shared a video on social media of a Miami aircrew dropping food, water and a radio to the stranded people. Officials announced shortly before 6 p.m. ET that the rescue was successful.

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A Coast Guard crew spotted the three people during a routine patrol of the area on Monday, but the rescue was delayed until Tuesday due to the weather, Allert said.

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It is unclear how they ended up on the island, he said.

ABC News' Henderson Hewes and Rachel Katz contributed to this report.

3 people stranded on uninhabited Bahamas island for 33 days rescued originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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    A recently published study suggests that one of the world's most common pesticides may be contributing to the decline of one of its most-loved butterflies. University of Guelph researcher Ryan Norris conducted one of the first real-world studies on monarch butterflies and so-called neonic pesticides. He says the chemical seems to reduce the number of eggs that successfully hatch. "It's the first field evidence that neonics can have a negative impact on larval survival of monarchs," Norris said in an interview Wednesday. Monarchs undergo one of nature's most remarkable migrations, fluttering all the way from Canada to Mexico and back. But their numbers have declined more that 80 per cent over the last two decades and scientists are trying to find out why. Neonicotinoid pesticides are widely applied to common crops such as corn and often drift onto other plants, including milkweed, which monarchs depend on for nesting and food. Monarchs actually prefer milkweed growing alongside or within cultivated fields, Norris said. "We don't know why. But that's where they get hit the hardest (with neonics)." The research, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, involved Norris and his colleagues working with a farmer near Halton, Ont. The farmer planted one half of a small plot with corn seed that had only been treated with a fungicide and the other half with corn that had been coated with clothianidin, a common neonic. Milkweed was deliberately planted along with the corn to attract monarchs. Over two years, the scientists found that monarch eggs on the neonic plot had a three per cent less chance of successfully hatching. It sounds small, said Norris, but with the large number of eggs monarchs lay, it adds up to big numbers. "(That) could easily mean millions of larvae that are dying each year because of the neonics." Neonics are increasingly implicated in plummeting numbers of pollinators such as bees. The chemicals are banned in the European Union and in some U.S. states. In 2018, Health Canada proposed to tightly restrict the use of neonics, including a ban on all outdoor applications of clothianidin. It is currently re-evaluating that stance and is expected to announce an updated decision next spring. Millions of monarchs migrate each winter to a small area of mountaintop forest in central Mexico, where scientists estimate their population by measuring the area of trees turned orange by the clustering butterflies. That area has shrunk to just over two hectares, down 26 per cent from last year, says the Centre for Biological Diversity. Monarchs are considered a species of special concern in both Canada and Mexico. The black-and-orange butterflies face many threats other than pesticides, Norris said, but pesticides seem to be part of the problem. "This is yet another piece of evidence of how neonics can influence the biodiversity on our landscape," he said. "They are having a serious negative impact." Although monarchs aren't important pollinators, that's not the only measure of a species' value, Norris suggested. "Monarchs, in many people's minds, represent butterflies," he said. "When they think butterflies, they think monarchs. "They serve a really important role as a connection for people to butterflies and to nature." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2021. Bob Weber, The Canadian Press

  • Parents say kids who need one-on-one support being left behind in online learning

    Heather Langley says her nine-year-old daughter, Lucy, loves school so much, even the bus ride is a moment of unbridled joy for the Grade 3 student from Halifax. "From the moment that she is assisted to get on the bus, she's squealing with joy, ready to start her day," said Langley in an interview from her Clayton Park home. She said Lucy, who does not speak and needs constant one-on-one support, is a "little bit of a star" at Burton Ettinger Elementary School in Fairview, going class to class each day to greet the other children. But since the end of April, those classrooms have been empty. Lucy, like all kids across Nova Scotia, is expected to learn from home, over a computer screen, now that schools have closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'For my child, there is nothing' Premier Iain Rankin said last week he's heard from the minister and deputy minister of education that remote learning is "going well," but some parents of students who require additional supports at school say their children are falling between the cracks. "I would like the premier to know that they're not going well, they're not going at all," said Langley. "For my child, there is nothing. Lucy and children like her, I think have just disappeared from their classroom. They're not online. They can't be." Tracey Edwards, whose seven-year-old twins are on the autism spectrum, said instead of consulting the minister or department bureaucrats, Rankin should've talked to parents like her. "I'm at my wit's end," said Edwards. "It's not fair to my children that they are being left out." A good year, interrupted Up until now, Edwards said her children, Zoe and Zachary, have had a good school year. "This year has been absolutely wonderful," she said. "My daughter, Zoe, she will stand at [the] door and she will just go, 'Bus, bus, bus,' 10 or 15 minutes while we're waiting for that bus to come around." Zachary has become more independent and is excelling at school, said Edwards. "He still needs his help to keep him focused and stuff, but he's actually doing academic work, which is really nice to see," she said. Online learning not meeting needs But Edwards said neither child has been getting much out of at-home learning. "They come on and they sing a song with the kids. They show a video. We do a dance. We do some stretching. We read a poem, and then they're gone. And it's 30 minutes a day," she said. "With special needs [children], there is no online version of learning. I am sorry. There is just not." Likewise, Langley said Lucy can't do computer-based learning. "She's not a child that can sit quietly and amuse herself," said Langley. "If you put an iPad in front of her [or] a computer, she's more likely to throw it." Calls for N.S. to follow other provinces' lead The two mothers are calling on Nova Scotia to follow the example of the other Atlantic provinces and allow some students who need extra supports or care to return to class, even during lockdowns. "I think they have the time right now to vaccinate the EPAs [Educational Program Assistants], vaccinate the learning centre teachers so that they are protected," said Langley. "We would happily take daily rapid tests, whatever kind of test they asked us to, if that meant that Lucy could safely return." When schools were preparing to reopen last fall, the province said in its back-to-school plan it would continue to provide "excellent supports to students to support inclusive education." But the plan also stated that support would be virtual if schools closed again as a result of COVID-19. No plans to reopen schools yet The Halifax Regional Centre for Education said it has worked with families who are struggling with online learning to try to find accommodations, but reopening classrooms is not part of the plan. "We recognize that none of this replaces face-to-face time between learners and teachers/support staff," spokesperson Kelly Connors said in an email. "We know the best place for children is in school, but at this time, we all have to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19." Heather and Lucy at her daycare graduation ceremony.(Submitted by Heather Langley) When asked why Nova Scotia has adopted a different approach than some other provinces for students who require assistance to learn, a spokesperson for the Education Department would only say the decision to learn from home was made in consultation with Public Health. Dr. Robert Strang, the province's chief medical officer of health, said May 4 he expected online learning to last at least a few more weeks. "Getting kids back in school, in-school learning, has been one of our priorities throughout the whole pandemic, and it will be a priority as we start to look at when we can reopen things," he said at the time. "But it can only be done when we are in a position where we have low risk in communities, which then creates safe schools." MORE TOP STORIES

  • Alberta's oil producers feel recovery — but analysts aren't predicting a repeat of the last boom

    When Alberta's oil sector was thriving a decade ago, thousands of workers beat a path to Fort McMurray, Alta., as companies pumped cash into ambitious growth plans. We know how that ended — with a painful six-year downturn that, at one point, saw oil prices turn negative. But as North American crude prices climb and rekindle talk of "booms" on the horizon, residents in northeast Alberta aren't bracing for the same rush. They are, however, looking forward to better days ahead for their community. "We're not getting surges of new people coming into the region," said Kevin Weidlich, chief executive of the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism. "Those that are here still have plenty of work to do." Following a string of tough years, stronger commodity prices, rising vaccinations and ongoing pipeline construction are fuelling hopes of a big rebound for Canada's oilpatch. In March, Alberta oil production reached a milestone high. What's more, some of the country's largest oil companies reported a big turnaround in profits during the first quarter of the year, including Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural Resources. Higher oil prices — sitting well above $60 US a barrel — are good news for oil companies striving to rebuild their balance sheets after the sector borrowed heavily to survive a long downturn. They could also help boost the provincial government's books as oil royalties rise. Versions of these bumper stickers praying for another oil boom have been seen on cars in Alberta for decades. (Mike Morrison/Twitter) Mike Holden, chief economist at the Business Council of Alberta, said if the North American benchmark oil price averages above $60 US a barrel for the year, it could add roughly $3 billion more to Alberta's bottom line than the government projected in February, when it budgeted for oil at $46 US a barrel. But even with improving forecasts, observers don't expect the oilpatch to return to the kind of capital spending, nor the hiring sprees seen before crude prices began their long, punishing slide in 2014. Some companies appear to be playing it safe after enduring a particularly treacherous period; and there are still a lot of opinions on how high oil prices will climb and how long they'll stay there. "High prices are good for the oilpatch," Holden said. "It's really a question of how long will this be sustained, whether it's a short-term blip or whether it continues on into 2022." But companies are also navigating a landscape that's changed a lot in a decade, from shareholder expectations to carbon policies to the outlook for fossil fuel demand. The pace of the energy transition overhangs much of the discussion. WATCH | Is carbon capture a solution for the oil industry and climate change? Not so long ago, oil companies could be expected to reinvest a good portion of their available cash back into future growth and new capital projects. It's also what shareholders expected. Now, shareholders are putting greater emphasis on profitability over growth, thus ensuring they get a return for their investment in an oil and gas company, such as in the form of a dividend. "Even with high oil prices, we're not going to see the same level of reinvestment into new capital projects because the whole mindset has changed in terms of providing real returns," said Jackie Forrest, executive director of the ARC Energy Research Institute, an energy research firm based in Calgary. "Therefore, not all that money is going to go into growth as it did in the past." ARC Energy Research Institute executive director Jackie Forrest, seen here in 2019, says though the oil industry is doing well, it's being cautious with its money. (Colleen Underwood/CBC) A recent ARC forecast estimated total revenues for the Canadian industry could climb to $137 billion in 2021, their highest level since 2014. After-tax cash flow could reach $70 billion. Of that $70 billion, ARC anticipates only a "fraction" will go to new capital projects. It expects about $7 billion reinvested in the oilsands and almost $17 billion directed to conventional oil and gas. "Despite the fact that the industry is doing really well, they're being very cautious with their money and not directing that to new projects or [capital expenditure] and things that would generate a bunch of jobs in the province that way," Forrest said. Still, she said the oilpatch is spending a lot of money — about $40 billion annually — on operating costs and maintenance, "and that is really significant." A pragmatic approach to higher oil prices is something Suncor CEO Mark Little emphasized in an interview with CBC News last week, even as the company beat analyst expectations by announcing net earnings of $821 million in the first three months of 2021, compared to a net loss of $3.5 billion in the same period last year. "Crude prices on a certain day can still change by five per cent, so we need to be cautious here that we don't get ahead of it," he said. Suncor also said it would stay the course with plans to cut its workforce. It said in October it would reduce total staff by 10 to 15 per cent, or as many as 1,930 jobs, over 18 months. Cenovus Energy, which recently merged with Husky Energy, said in a conference call with analysts on Friday that the bulk of profits will continue to be applied to its balance sheet as it aims to lower its net debt. "Things are looking up for the Canadian oil and gas sector," said Morgan Kwan, senior vice-president of strategy and analytics at Enverus, an energy data analytics firm. She believes this will lead to an "uptick" in capital spending, but not like the kind witnessed a few years ago. "The other thing to keep in mind is the industry has just become a lot more efficient at what we do — so we don't need as many workers or the same amount of activity to produce an equivalent barrel," Kwan said. A recent labour market forecast predicts the oil and gas workforce will contract this year, despite a slight increase in capital spending, followed by "modest" growth in 2022 and 2023. Raymond James analyst Jeremy McCrea anticipates there will be increases in capital spending should commodity prices stay at these levels. An increase in oilfield activity would help service companies and drillers, which are still feeling the economic hit of the pandemic. But McCrea doesn't expect a repeat of the pre-2014 boom, as oil companies also weigh worldwide initiatives aimed at growing renewable energy and curbing carbon emissions. "You're seeing a lot of these majors and junior companies really start to take the approach saying, 'You know, maybe we don't need to start working on having 20 years' worth of inventory; let's look at the stuff that we have now and try and be incredibly efficient with that and profitable,'" he said. "So you're not doing any more big growth initiatives." Oil rig floorhands work on a project south of Fort McMurray in this file photo. A recent labour market forecast predicts the oil and gas workforce will contract this year, despite a slight increase in capital spending, followed by 'modest' growth in 2022 and 2023. (Reuters) Indeed, oil and gas companies everywhere are peering into the future as they try to figure out the best path forward while governments step up efforts to combat climate change. Even oil super majors are talking about energy transition. It's a big change from the boom of the 2000s, when oilsands development was focused on building new megaprojects. For many Albertans, those days may seem like part of a distant era, even as oil prices strengthen. "It's a welcome reprieve from the situation we found ourselves in, and Alberta has been sorely in need of a good news story," said Holden of the Business Council of Alberta. But a repeat of the heydays of the last oil boom and those massive investments? "I don't think that's in the cards," Holden said.

  • Former reservist stripped of Order of Military Merit for wearing medals he was never awarded

    He served for more than three decades with the armed forces reserves and cadets. He was an honorary colonel of an air force wing and an honorary aide-de-camp to one of Quebec's lieutenant governors. Now, Jean-Charles Perreault has been stripped of one of the military's highest honours after it was discovered that he had been wearing civilian public service medals he had never been awarded. It is only the third time in the nearly 50-year history of the Order of Military Merit that a member has been expelled, said Derek Abma, spokesperson for the Department of National Defence. Lynne Santerre, manager of public affairs for the governor general's office, said medals can only be worn by those who have received them. "Captain (Retired) Jean-Charles Perreault's appointment to the Order of Military Merit was revoked on the grounds that he publicly wore medals which he had not been awarded, while serving as Honorary Colonel of 2 Wing Bagotville," she said. Jean-Charles Perreault (left) in an undated photo with Quebec Lt.-Gov. Michel Doyon. Perreault served as an aide-de-camp to one of Doyon's predecessors, former Quebec Lt.-Gov. Martial Asselin.(Photo provided by Stolen Valour Canada) Abma said Perreault was not authorized to wear the Canada Centennial Medal, the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, a second clasp on his Canadian Forces Decoration and a second bar on his Order of St. John Service Medal. Perreault is entitled to wear other medals, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal he was awarded in 2002. Unlike medals for operational military service overseas, the Centennial and Jubilee medals were awarded to civilians, as well as members of the military, for community service. 'It's finished' Reached by CBC News, Perreault said the act of expelling him from the order back in February was "disproportionate." "I don't want to know anything about the armed forces — it's finished," he said. "For me, the page is turned." Perreault said he was particularly disturbed by recent revelations of sexual misconduct at the highest levels of the Canadian Armed Forces and the way Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has handled it. "I'm ashamed to say today that I belonged to the Canadian Armed Forces for 32 years." The events that culminated in Perreault being tossed out of the Order of Military Merit began in 2018, when Perreault was honorary colonel of 2 Air Expeditionary Wing Headquarters in Bagotville, Quebec. Someone noticed the medals he was wearing and alerted Stolen Valour Canada, a group that works to expose those who falsely claim to have served in the military or wear medals they were not awarded. Stolen Valour alerted Rideau Hall and the Department of National Defence. In October 2019, the Order of Military Merit Advisory Council wrote a letter to the secretary of the Governor General asking them to review Perreault's appointment to the order. Former Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance chaired the advisory council that recommended Perreault's membership in the Order of Military Merit be reviewed. Vance is currently under investigation following allegations of sexual misconduct.(Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) At the time, the advisory council was chaired by former chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance, who is currently facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Rideau Hall also notified the Order of St. John — where Perreault holds the grade of officer — that he was wearing a second bar on that organization's service medal that he was not entitled to wear. Patricia Kearney, priory secretary for the Order of St. John, said Perreault was asked to stop wearing the second bar and he has since returned it to the Order. Perreault did not challenge his removal from the Order of Military Merit and has returned the insignia. Perreault said he has no plans to wear medals in the future. Asked about the Centennial medal, Perreault said that "there are things that unfortunately weren't done by [the late Sen. Cyrille Vaillancourt], because he forgot to put the name and all the rest." Asked why there is no record of him being awarded the Silver and Diamond Jubilee medals, Perreault said "there are different registries." In a statement issued to CBC News, Stolen Valour said that it is "hopeful that [Perreault] being struck from the Order and the resulting notoriety will have a deterrent effect on others who would choose to tarnish the dedication and devotion of those awarded the Order of Military Merit." Perreault isn't the only person who has faced consequences recently for wearing medals they weren't awarded. In a court martial proceeding Monday, Capt. Mark Osborne pleaded guilty, was reprimanded and fined $3,500 for wearing four medals when he served in Germany in 2019 that he had not been awarded. He also tried to get them added to his military record. Two of the medals — the Silver and Diamond Queen's Jubilee medals — were the same as those worn by Perreault. Osborne also wore the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal and the 125th Anniversary of Confederation Medal. Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca

  • U.K. study says expect more reactions from mixing Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines

    Preliminary results of an ongoing study in the United Kingdom suggest alternating the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines causes more frequent mild to moderate symptoms, but there are no other safety concerns from mixing those vaccines. However, researchers at the University of Oxford have not yet determined how a combination of shots would affect the immune system's response compared with sticking with the same COVID-19 vaccine for both the prime and booster shots. They say in a peer-reviewed letter published in The Lancet on Wednesday that an increase in short-term adverse reactions occurred after the Pfizer vaccine was followed four weeks later by AstraZeneca, or vice versa, as part of the study that began earlier this year. Chief investigator Matthew Snape, associate professor in pediatrics and vaccinology at Oxford, said initial data are being released to inform people about symptoms as several countries consider mixing vaccines. "The results from this study suggest that mixed dose schedules could result in an increase in work absences the day after immunization, and this is important to consider when planning immunization of health-care workers," Snape said in a EurekAlert! statement issued by the service, which provides science-related releases. Researchers also noted that while the study participants were aged 50 and over, it's possible that adverse reactions may be more prevalent in younger people, though they did not provide any details. Results on whether immune response to mixed doses would be affected are expected to be released by the Oxford team in the coming months. Snape said they've adapted the ongoing study to assess if early and regular use of acetaminophen in Tylenol, for example, reduced the frequency of fever and mild to moderate pain. The study recruited 830 people to evaluate four combinations of vaccination: a first dose of AstraZeneca followed by either a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine or another dose of AstraZeneca, or the Pfizer vaccine followed by a second shot of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer. Research was expanded last month for a new study with 1,050 volunteers who received either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine before randomly getting either the same vaccine for their second dose or the Moderna or Novavax vaccine. Horacio Bach, an infectious diseases expert at the University of British Columbia, said the small size of the initial study does not make it possible to know whether some people would get severe reactions from mixing the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. AstraZeneca, for example, was tested in about 32,000 people but rare blood clots were not detected until millions of people received the vaccine, which a national vaccine panel in Canada has suggested should be sidelined in favour of the "preferred" Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Bach said it's possible that knowing about an increase in adverse reactions from mixing vaccines could deter some people from getting a second dose, though symptoms following vaccination from even the seasonal flu shot vary widely. Three Canadians — in Alberta, New Brunswick and Quebec — have died from a rare blood clot associated with AstraZeneca. On Wednesday, even as the federal government announced it's expecting to receive hundreds of thousands of doses of the vaccine, Nova Scotia and Manitoba said they would limit its use to second doses after similar restrictions on Tuesday in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. Some of the provinces have used up their AstraZeneca supply. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said Wednesday the province is expecting to use some of its forthcoming supply of AstraZeneca for second doses and more doses had been distributed to pharmacies in the Island and Interior health regions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2021. Camille Bains, The Canadian Press

  • Reopening plan for P.E.I. coming next week, premier says

    Islanders should learn more next week about the province's plans to reopen following the latest public health measures. The premier provided a few hints at what that plan may include during a meeting with business leaders in Charlottetown Wednesday. "We really want to give some kind of a blueprint for Islanders and Island businesses … to let them know what the summer could and should look like," Premier Dennis King said. "This time last year we rolled out the safe restart plan and our intention would be to [introduce] safe restart 2.0, essentially." There's so many factors that are in place. — Premier Dennis King This hinges on the hope that more people will get vaccinated, and that COVID-19 variants and the third wave elsewhere in Canada will be manageable. King said that plan, or blueprint, is expected to come by the middle or end of next week. Additionally, King said he hopes the Atlantic bubble can open sometime in the coming weeks. "We're really really hopeful that it's sometime in early June that we can begin that and also, you know, when it's safe to do so, to bring our seasonal residents and our family reunification streams back online," he said. "Hopeful, and planning, but there's so many factors that are in place here." The premier said it's still undetermined when P.E.I. would open to the rest of Canada. Could be 'more challenging summer' for some businesses Penny Walsh-McGuire, CEO with the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, said this plan is a priority for "all businesses and for families looking to reunite with those who aren't in the province." She said she hopes the plan has guidance for businesses during the summer months, especially those hardest hit by the pandemic. 'This could be a more challenging summer for businesses than even 2020, depending on what travel restrictions are in place,' said Penny Walsh-McGuire.(Kirk Pennell/CBC) Walsh-McGuire said government supports will need to continue into the summer. "We're very pleased to hear that the premier is lobbying for things like the continuation … of the Canadian emergency relief fund for wages and for rent," she said. "This could be a more challenging summer for businesses than even 2020, depending on what travel restrictions are in place." She said there is a lot of uncertainty heading into the summer and "any certainty that we can give businesses in terms of going forward will be really helpful." 'They need to know what to expect' Colin Younker, a member of the chamber who has businesses in Charlottetown, said it's been "a roller-coaster of a year" for businesses, and a reopening plan is critical for the summer. Colin Younker said this summer will likely look similar to last summer, and hopes government supports stay in place — especially for harder hit sectors. (Kirk Pennell/CBC) "They need to know what to expect, and how they can put their plans into motion," he said. "We look forward to seeing that and we're excited that that plan is in the works. We're hoping it'll be good news for Island business." Younker said this summer will likely look similar to last summer, and hopes government supports stay in place — especially for harder hit sectors. "It'll be very important for the survival of those businesses." More from CBC P.E.I.

  • B.C., Alberta among latest provinces to pause use of AstraZeneca vaccine for 1st dose

    Seven Canadian provinces have now paused the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for first doses, and some are questioning why Canada is due to accept more than 600,000 doses next week.

  • Canadian company says Manitoba isn't giving up on its vaccine, despite threat to leave country

    Manitoba's interest in a COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Calgary-based company hasn't waned, despite the developer threatening to move their operations overseas. Brad Sorenson, the CEO of Providence Therapeutics, said on Wednesday his office is in "constant communication" — at least twice a week — with officials from Manitoba, the only Canadian jurisdiction committing to purchase their vaccine so far. "If we had the same level of support federally that we're receiving in Manitoba, this would be a much different conversation," Sorenson said. He was speaking Wednesday, after Providence reported in a news release their Phase 1 human trial showed their vaccine was at least as effective as other mRNA vaccines, with no serious side effects. The status of Providence's deal with Manitoba has been questioned after Sorenson said last month his firm would pull out of Canada and take its product elsewhere. When asked if Manitoba's preliminary agreement with Providence was affected, Premier Brian Pallister said last week that no formal contract was signed, but "we've got other irons in the fire" to procure domestic vaccines. Roadblocks for Canadian vaccine developer The premier has been an staunch defender of Providence since February, when critics and opposition parties accused Pallister of banking on an untested, underfunded firm. It is expected Providence's vaccine will not be eligible for federal approval until 2022. Last month, Sorenson said he was fed up with federal and provincial governments since his calls for more substantial federal support went unanswered. "I'm moving on, that's where I'm at now. I've prostrated myself at the altar of government in Canada for a year and I've received nothing for it. I'm tired of begging and pleading," he told CBC News last month. In an interview Wednesday, Sorenson said a relocation of Providence's operations isn't certain, "but we are definitely looking at options." Regardless of where the company is headquartered, the vaccine would still be manufactured in Canada, he said. Emergent Biosolutions has a Winnipeg facility slated to manufacture the vaccine. The Manitoba government agreed in February to pay Providence $36 million for its vaccine. The parties settled on a non-refundable up-front payment of $7.2 million, but Sorenson said no money will be exchanged until a formal contract is signed. He wants to wait until Providence has more certainty surrounding its operations. "Under no circumstance am I going to enter into an agreement with Manitoba, the only government in Canada that's really stepped up and supported us, and put them at a disadvantage. That's not going to happen," Sorenson said. A medication vial is shown in this undated handout image provided by Providence Therapeutics. The company said its Phase 1 trial was successful and it is still hoping that Ottawa will provide financial support. (Providence Therapeutics/The Canadian Press) He's continually sought financial help from the federal government — including a $150 million ask through an open letter. So far, Ottawa has obtained all of Canada's COVID-19 vaccine supply internationally. More recently, Sorenson has asked Ottawa for 500 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be used in a comparator trial for Phase 2 of the clinical trial of Providence's vaccines. He said he's received no response after two months of inquiries. Providence will have to go to a different country for its trial if they don't get a response by Friday, he said. "We're not going to sit back and wait and have that control our fate. We've got a backup plan." He acknowledged Canada may have ordered enough vaccines for 2022 already, but "it would be unethical for me not to make vaccines that could save lives around the world if I have the ability to do so." Sorenson expects Canadians to require COVID-19 booster shots for at least a few years. A positive step for Providence is the results of the Phase 1 trail, which showed the vaccine has "strong virus neutralization capability" compared to other mRNA vaccines, Sorenson said. He is planning for the Phase 2 trial to start in June — in Canada, or elsewhere — and a Phase 3 trial after that. "I'm optimistic, I'm really excited to go head-to-head against Pfizer."

  • MPs issue conflicting reports on contentious First Nations fishery

    Canadian parliamentarians issued dissenting reports Thursday on implementing First Nations moderate livelihood fisheries in the Maritimes and Quebec. The fisheries and oceans committee report released by the Liberals makes 40 recommendations and supports positions taken by various sides in the contentious dispute: upholding the fisheries minister's ultimate authority to regulate the fishery while urging Ottawa to consider sharing management and decision-making with First Nations. It calls for greater consultation and co-operation between First Nations, commercial fishermen and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The report also calls on DFO to address "systemic racism" within the department and reform its enforcement arm, the conservation and protection branch, "to address systemic racism within their regulations and operational policies to provide protection for treaty right to harvest and sell fish." Moderate livelihood fisheries launched MPs held hearings after the Sipekne'katik band launched the first self-regulated lobster fishery in Nova Scotia last fall. The band said it would no longer wait for the federal government to authorize a moderate livelihood fishery, which was recognized — but not defined — by the Supreme of Canada in the 1999 Marshall decisions. What followed were sometimes violent protests by some commercial fishermen and their supporters who bitterly opposed commercial lobster harvesting when the federally mandated season was closed. Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jamie Battiste, a Mi'kmaw member of the committee who tabled the report, said the most important recommendations concern education about treaty rights. "The ones that I hope government takes into consideration is really the notions around creating more treaty education, more willingness to do what we can to address the systemic racism within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, but also the ability to create the capacity to safely and without fear of harm, to be a part of a moderate livelihood fisheries that is transparent and accountable to all, including their community members," he told CBC News. The dissenting reports Although all parties supported the right to a moderate livelihood fishery, the committee was not unanimous. Both the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois issued dissenting reports. The Conservatives consider moderate livelihood fishing a commercial enterprise and subject to the same regulations, including seasons, as all commercial fisheries, with enforcement and regulation unambiguously under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The Bloc called for co-management. The office of federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan issued a statement Thursday that said it had received the report that morning and "look forward to reviewing its recommendations closely." In March, Jordan said the department was prepared to issue moderate livelihood licences to bands this year but the fishery must take place within existing commercial seasons. Indigenous communities quickly rejected the approach. Committee does not define moderate livelihood The committee report tabled in Parliament does not define moderate livelihood nor does it weigh in on efforts by successive federal governments to respond to the Marshall decision. Those included spending hundreds of millions of dollars integrating First Nations into the commercial fishery through training and buying back commercial fishing licences. "Although DFO has initiated programs to bolster First Nation participation in commercial fisheries since the Marshall decisions, there is so far no consensus regarding whether the Mi'kmaq and the Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) treaty right to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood has been effectively and meaningfully implemented," the report said. The Supreme Court also found the fisheries minister has the authority to regulate for conservation and compelling public interest reasons. "In any agreement with First Nations, only the Minister can be the regulator and the regulatory authority if we are to comply with the Court," the report said. Surette report also issued At the height of protests in southwest Nova Scotia last fall, DFO appointed Université Sainte-Anne president Allister Surette as a "federal representative" to try and rebuild trust between Indigenous and commercial harvesters. In his final report, quietly released last week, Surette also calls for more dialogue and trust-building between the sides. But his assessment remains bleak. "These divergent interpretations and understandings of the court decisions and entrenched positions have resulted in much controversy, tensions, and disagreements amongst the parties involved. Hence, the difficulty in bringing all parties together," he said. MORE TOP STORIES

  • Biden inauguration priest resigns California university post

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden has resigned his position as president of Santa Clara University in Northern California, college officials said, after an investigation found he engaged in inappropriate, alcohol-fueled conversations with graduate students. The Rev. Kevin O’Brien, at the direction of Jesuit officials, has begun a therapeutic outpatient program to address personal issues, including alcohol and stress counseling. He had been president of Santa Clara University since July 2019 and was placed on leave in March. The university announced O'Brien's departure in a statement to the campus community on Wednesday that included messages from acting President Lisa Kloppenberg and board of trustees Chair John M. Sobrato. O'Brien had notified the board of his resignation Sunday and the trustees accepted it the next day. The private Jesuit institution in the Silicon Valley, founded in 1851 as the first Jesuit university in the West, is ranked as one of the top 25 schools for undergraduate teaching nationwide. California Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown are among its alumni. O’Brien has known the Bidens for about 15 years; they met when he was serving at Georgetown University, another Jesuit college. O'Brien gave the service at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, one of the most prominent Catholic churches in Washington, in January for Biden, who is the nation’s second Catholic president, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, their families and elected officials before the inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. He also presided over services for Biden’s inaugurations as vice president. “This is a challenging time for Santa Clara, but Fr. O’Brien has shown both generosity and freedom in wanting to do what is best for the university,” said the Rev. Scott Santarosa, head of the Jesuits West Province that conducted the investigation, in a statement. “With care for the faculty, staff, students and entire Santa Clara community, he has decided to step down.” Sobrato's statement said the investigation found that O'Brien “engaged in behaviors, consisting primarily of conversations, during a series of informal dinners with Jesuit graduate students that were inconsistent with established Jesuit protocols and boundaries.” The dinners involved alcohol, Sobrato wrote, but no inappropriate behavior was discovered outside of these events. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, on Wednesday called for the Jesuits to broaden the investigation to other places O'Brien previously worked, including Georgetown University, to see if other students would come forward. “SNAP is alarmed with the limited amount of information that has been provided about the case and wants to see the probe expanded,” the statement said. The Associated Press

  • 600 new cases of COVID-19 and 1 more death recorded, as B.C. hits vaccination milestone

    More than 50 per cent of eligible British Columbians have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, officials announced Wednesday, as 600 new cases of the disease and one more death were recorded. Over 2,162,023 people in B.C. have now received a shot, and 2.5 million people have registered for the vaccination program, the provincial government announced in a statement. "COVID-19 has turned our lives upside down, but this milestone gives us hope of better days ahead. We have to keep going. We need all British Columbians to help make sure as many people as possible get their shots," Premier John Horgan said in a news release. In a separate written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced that B.C. is now halting first dose shots with AstraZeneca because of limited availability, with the remaining supply held for second doses. All previously booked pharmacy appointments will go ahead, but no new bookings will be accepted. Henry and Dix said there are currently 5,887 active cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus in B.C. A total of 423 people are in hospital, with 141 in intensive care. Overall hospitalizations have fallen by close to 13 per cent since a week ago, when there were 485 people in hospital with COVID-19. The provincial death toll from the disease is now 1,625 lives lost out of 137,223 confirmed cases. In all, 2,277,318 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 115,295 second doses. Health officials are currently awaiting the results of studies looking at the effectiveness of interchanging different types of vaccines for first and second doses. "No matter what your vaccine or when you may receive it, everyone will receive their second dose within 16 weeks of their first vaccine to maximize the protection for ourselves and those around us," Henry and Dix said. "Our province has ample vaccine supply with more arriving each week. Now, it is your turn to step forward and get protected with your COVID-19 vaccine." Community-level data released Also on Wednesday, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control released the first of its promised new weekly reports on community level data from across the province. The report shows a wide variation in rates of vaccination, daily cases and test positivity. The Fraser Valley continues to represent the highest rate of new cases reported each day, topping out at an average of more than 40 daily cases per 100,000 residents in some parts of Surrey. Those same neighbourhoods have seen more than 20 per cent of tests come back positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, in some parts of the province — including the Central Coast, Telegraph Creek and the southern Gulf Islands — more than 80 per cent of people over the age of 18 have received their first dose of a vaccine. Earlier this week, the provincial government announced yet another extension of the state of emergency related to the pandemic, which will remain in place until at least May 25. The provincial government also announced this week it is going to start giving all workers in the province up to three days of paid sick leave if they have to miss work due to COVID-19. For employers without an existing sick-leave program, the government has promised to reimburse up to $200 a day for each absent worker. "This means workers won't lose pay when they feel unwell, hard-hit businesses will get the support they need and, together, we will stop the spread of this virus," said Labour Minister Harry Bains. Get a shot and stay home Currently, anyone 18 and older in British Columbia can register for their vaccination if they have not already done so. This can be done online through the "Get Vaccinated" portal, by calling 1-833-838-2323, or in person at any Service B.C. location. People who are pregnant, front-line workers and residents of areas identified as COVID-19 hot-spots are also being prioritized. Travel restrictions remain in place as B.C. health officials race to vaccinate residents against the virus. Non-essential travel is not permitted between three regional zones, defined by health authority boundaries, until after the May long weekend. Violators can face a fine of $575.

  • P.E.I. daycare closed over worker's positive COVID-19 test

    P.E.I. health officials say Leaps and Bounds Childcare Centre in Charlottetown has shut down after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. About 40 children and eight staff will have to be tested and self-isolate, as well as close relatives of the children. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said she received the call about the case just before she was about to start her regular weekly briefing for the public and the media. That briefing was effectively cancelled, and instead Morrison and Premier Dennis King devoted the briefing to talking about the new case. "This is very difficult news for anyone to hear," said King, given the disruption to so many families' lives. King and Morrison emphasized that the news was new to them as well, having reached them only this morning. The Leaps and Bounds Childcare Centre, located at 20 Hemlock Crt. in Charlottetown, is the site of a COVID-19 exposure.(Kirk Pennell/CBC) "The source of this case is likely travel-related, from what we understand at this time," said Morrison. She said the worker was a contact of someone who had been out of the province. The daycare worker who tested positive is in their 20s. Morrison said it is too early to say whether initial measures will be able to contain a possible outbreak. "We'll know more after we test the contacts and the children," she said. "This case does remind people that they should not go to work if they are not feeling well." Part of the contact tracing investigation will be looking into whether there was cohorting at the daycare or mixing between different age groups, said Morrison. That will be part of determining who at the daycare would be considered close contacts, but she said they are not waiting for that information before acting. "Get everyone home, keep them isolated until we get the negative tests back on the children and the staff," she said. "At this point in time, as it is so early on in the investigation, because it is always about risk assessment, but we are wanting to err on the side of caution." Hope to have tests back Thursday evening or Friday morning The province sent out a release late Thursday afternoon saying parents have been advised to have children tested and members of the household to self-isolate until results are back. Household members only needed to get tested Thursday if they are experiencing symptoms. In an interview with CBC News: Compass, Morrison said "everyone is being tested this afternoon" and she hopes to have results on those tests back either Thursday evening or early Friday morning. "Of course as soon as we do, we'll let people know," she said. "We'll be contacting any positive cases directly." Resource for affected families Experience in other parts of the world suggests that the spread of coronavirus happens less often between children, said Morrison, and that may work in the province's favour in terms of avoiding an outbreak. The province is pulling together a dedicated resource for the people and families involved, said King. He said the families would get assistance in self-isolating, and be directed to support programs already in place should they need to be away from work because of this exposure. Later Thursday, the province's Facebook page posted a link to the COVID-19 Special Leave Fund site, with the phone number 1-866-222-1751. King said no new restrictions are being considered at this point in light of this case but did not rule out future measures. P.E.I. has had 188 cases of COVID-19, with seven currently considered active. There have been no deaths on the Island, though two people had to be hospitalized. More from CBC P.E.I.

  • 'He died for nothing': Paramedic's family take province to court after ambulance was too late to save him

    The family of a paramedic who died after waiting too long for an ambulance is taking the province's Health Ministry to court, and it's hoping legal action will force them to finally address the need for better emergency services in Lévis, Que. Hugo St-Onge died in 2017 after going into cardiac arrest. He was 24 years old. It took 20 minutes for the ambulance to show up — twice as long as the North American standard for response time. The lack of ambulance services in the municipality located just south of Quebec City has been well documented. A month before he died, St-Onge was among those who signed an open letter denouncing the lack of ambulance coverage in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. "He died for nothing," said the 24-year-old's parents, Johanne Lapointe and Bruno St-Onge, in an interview with Radio-Canada. They say more than three years after his death, they still have difficulty sleeping, waking up in the middle of night thinking about their son. Ambulance resources in the area so thin that after paramedics showed up to a home last May, they were dispatched to another call deemed more urgent and left before checking on the woman who needed assistance. She died later that night, also of cardiac arrest. Johanne Lapointe and Bruno St-Onge say they still have difficulty sleeping, more than three years after their son's death. (Radio-Canada) In regards to St-Onge's death, the coroner's report last July found that there were three ambulances in the area when the 24-year-old was in distress. They were all busy. The closest available team was 13 kilometres away in a nearby town. Since that report, the province's Health Ministry has managed to add a total of 16 extra service hours in Lévis. Ambulance workers in the area say they 160 extra service hours — ten times more what the ministry has added. St-Onge's family is suing the Health Ministry, the regional health board for Chaudière-Appalaches and the 911 call centre for $520,000. Both the ministry and the health board have declined to comment. St-Onge's parents feel they must continue advocating for better ambulance services in Lévis, given that their son spoke out about that same issue prior to his death. "For Hugo, for the family, we feel like we have to push forward," Lapointe said. "When Hugo died, everyone in the family was shattered. Today, we pick up the pieces, we put the pieces together as best we can."