Details with meteorologist Tyler Hamilton.
HURON COUNTY – Huron County will host the annual Ontario West Coast Tourism Summit this year, virtually. The free, two-day event will concentrate on the tourism landscape pre- and post-COVID and rural tourism’s advantages. Tourism industry expert William Bakker of Destination Think will speak on Jan. 25 from 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Destination Think works with the most innovative tourism boards in the world, according to their website. They create vision, solve business challenges, and “execute brilliant, integrated campaigns.” His presentation will include tourism market trends focusing on the tourism landscape, pre-COVID, and post-COVID. Attendees will hear about destinations that are “re-imagining themselves with a goal of re-building, with both the economy and environment in mind,” according to a press release from Huron County. A facilitated breakout session will follow, which will focus on how Huron County’s tourism sector can work together towards a successful recovery from COVID-19. The second day of the summit will be held on Jan. 26, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. Director and Master Experience Crafter Chris Hughes, from BC Hughes, a tourism, management, and marketing company will share the advantages of rural tourism and how operators can use this advantage to match shifting tourism trends. Hughes will discuss the key elements needed to develop effective touring routes. He will also share how operators can adjust their own tourism experiences to become part of a regionally themed touring route. “The County remains dedicated to working collaboratively and supporting our vibrant tourism sector,” Warden Glen McNeil said in the press release. “Specifically, I want to thank the industry for the resiliency and innovation they have shown over the past year. Huron County tourism, and all of those that support it, are essential to the vitality of our county.” Cory Bilyea, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wingham Advance Times
The South Klondike Highway south of Carcross, Yukon, is still deemed impassable Friday morning after a series of avalanches earlier this week. A map on the 511 Yukon road report shows the closure extends from Carcross and south beyond the Yukon border. While crews have been working away to clear the road, Greg Eikland, western area supervisor with the Department of Highways and Public Works, says there's still a lot more snow to be dealt with as of Thursday before it can reopen. He says the avalanches are rated about a three on a one-to-five scale and can be around 15 feet high and between 40 to 100 feet wide. "A size three is [like] a very small car," he said adding it could take out a smaller building and bring down trees with it. So far, he says since there isn't any reported damage, though sometimes avalanches can cause problems for the guard rails on the road. Right now, crews are still working on digging through the snow. "We just target areas that are frequent avalanche zones," Eikland said. He explained that if the avalanches don't come down, when they should or if there is a lot of snow storage, such as large overhangs, then they'll do controlled snowbombing. "We'll actually close the road, bomb them and deal with snow that way," he said. "One particular [avalanche] that is a pretty active one, it didn't come down, so [we] threw some charges on that and brought it down." "So that just adds to the amount of work that we have to get everything cleaned up so we can open this road back up." More avalanches than usual Eikland says there can be up to about eight people working on the snow clearing. While the avalanches are only a little bigger that usual, he says it's an exceptional year in terms of how often they're tumbling. "It's just the frequency of them — they're coming down quite a bit," he said. "It's a good winter for snow for sure." He says, despite the border to Alaska being closed to all non-essential travel, it's still important that the highway is passable for fuel trucks and other traffic needing to get through. "We try and get a hole punched through so at least if we have to move some traffic for emergencies or what not we can all get them out," Eikland said. "Hopefully we can get that out as soon as we can … just keep keep plugging away at these avalanches and then we should be ready to open." It's hard to predict when the highway might open, but Eikland said on Thursday that the highway could open Friday afternoon or sometime on Saturday. 'Avalanches still possible out there' James Minifie, lead avalanche field technician for Avalanche Canada in Yukon, said Friday morning that people should stay aware of the fact that big storms have been creating sizeable avalanches. "People should continue to look for that pattern of storms coming, you know avalanche danger goes up during and shortly after the storm, and then kind of slowly comes down over the next few days." He said if people are heading out into inland areas they should build time into their day to account for varying conditions. "You might get surprised by avalanches in places that you wouldn't expect them, so, you know, really taking time to think hard about your route and using terrain wisely to ... reach your objective." "Avalanches are still possible out there, even though we've come into the moderate danger rating. You know just really thinking about the steepness of the slope," he said. He said people should also be aware of the quality of the snow, listen for "whompf" sounds, and watch for cracks. He said people in Yukon can get information on the Yukon avalanche website or the Avalanche Canada website. People should also post to the Mountain Information Network so they can track inland snow conditions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is looking at ways to strengthen the vetting process for the next governor general after his choice for the job — Julie Payette — resigned yesterday following reports she presided over a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall. Trudeau faced multiple questions from reporters today about the vetting process he followed in appointing Payette back in 2017, and the red flags raised by former employers about her behaviour. "Obviously the vetting process that was in place was followed, but obviously we're going to also look at ways we can strengthen and improve the vetting process for high-level appointments," he said outside his home at Rideau Cottage, not far from Rideau Hall. "We are looking right now at processes that can be strengthened as we move forward and we will have more to say on that as we make decisions." WATCH | Trudeau is asked why Payette wasn't thoroughly vetted before being appointed GG In an unprecedented move, Payette and her secretary, Assunta di Lorenzo, resigned Thursday after an outside workplace review of Rideau Hall probed allegations she had belittled, berated and publicly humiliated Rideau Hall staff. "Notwithstanding, in respect for the integrity of my vice-regal office and for the good of our country and of our democratic institutions, I have come to the conclusion that a new governor general should be appointed," the former astronaut wrote in her statement. A senior government source (speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly) said about 100 public servants took part in the outside review. The report concluded it was an overwhelmingly toxic and poisonous workplace and the two people at the very top, Payette and Di Lorenzo, were responsible for it, the source said. PM and Queen spoke today The source also said Payette received parts of the report that pertained to her on Monday and that the clerk of the Privy Council and Privy Council President Dominic LeBlanc had a tense conversation with her on Tuesday. Speaking from prepared remarks, Trudeau said he spoke to the Queen Friday morning and let her know Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner will fulfil the duties of the governor general — her representative in Canada — on a temporary basis. He said a recommendation on Payette's replacement is coming. Trudeau was asked repeatedly today about his decision to not use a selection committee in 2017, something his predecessor implemented. "We will continue to the look at the best way to select people for the vice regal appointments. It is an important role for Canadians and we'll look at how we can improve it," he said. WATCH Jagmeet Singh on Payette resignation Conservative House leader Gérard Deltell said this could have been avoided if Trudeau hadn't shunned the Harper-era committee. "This is all sad, but it's so Justin Trudeau's style," he said. "He thinks that he knows better than anybody else, than the special committee created by the Conservatives. But we were right at that time. We made the right decision, he did the wrong decision and unfortunately, today we paid a price for this mess." NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh suggested other parties be brought into the process of selecting the official 30th governor general. "The system is deeply problematic in that the federal government, whoever's in power, can choose who they want," he said Friday morning. "I think there would be a great benefit in having a better system...so that the selection is not just a government appointment, but it's something that is done in a manner that is more fair." Questions about annuity Payette will collect a six-figure annuity for the rest of her life, a tradition critics are calling into question given the report on the Rideau Hall workplace climate — a report LeBlanc said came to some "disturbing" and "worrisome" conclusions. Under the Governor General's Act, former vice-regals are entitled to a lifetime annuity — which, according to the 2020 Public Accounts, amounts to $149,484. They are also entitled to a lifetime expense program for office and travel expenses. Documents obtained by the National Post in 2018 show that each former governor general is allowed to claim up to $206,000 per year under the program, which has existed since 1979 and is based on the notion that governors general never truly retire. "This country has very clear rules and regulations and processes and procedures in place to follow in these cases of reporting expenses, or indeed on annuities for governor generals," Trudeau said Friday. "Those processes will be followed, but obviously we're always open to having discussions on changes that need to be made moving forward." A spokesperson for the NDP said that if there's a way to cancel Payette's annuity, New Democrats would support it since Payette failed to provide a harassment-free workplace for her workers. WATCH | Trudeau is asked about the annuity Julie Payette will receive after her resignation "With respect to the annuity, I think that Canadians, rightly so, are concerned that given this report and how horrible the workers were treated, that this doesn't sit well with people," said Singh. In a statement, the outspoken Canadian Taxpayers Federation called on the Liberal government to change the way former governors general are paid. "With the resignation of Julie Payette, now is the time for this government to ensure that taxpayers are not on the hook for the expense accounts of former governors general," said Aaron Wudrick, the advocacy group's director. "Two years ago, the prime minister said he would 'review' this program. Nothing has happened since. It's time to save taxpayers money by scrapping this outrageously wasteful program." In 2018, following reports that Adrienne Clarkson had billed more than $1 million in expenses since leaving the viceregal job, Trudeau called for more transparency. "These are people who've stepped up and offered tremendous service to this country but Canadians expect a certain level of transparency and accountability, and we're going to make sure we're moving forward in a thoughtful way," he said. A spokesperson for the Privy Council said the final cost of the Quintet Consulting review was $393,367.13, nearly four times higher than the original value of the contract. The original terms of reference of the contract did say the amount could change depending on how long the review took.
In a landmark verdict in one of the mining world's most high profile legal cases, a Swiss criminal court found Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz guilty of corruption and forgery on Friday and sentenced him to five years in jail with a sizeable fine. The ruling after a two-week trial is a blow for Steinmetz, a diamond trader, whose pursuit of the world's richest uptapped deposits of iron ore put him at the centre of a battle that has triggered probes and litigation around the world. Steinmetz said he would appeal the verdict, which also included a 50 million Swiss francs ($56.48 million) fine.
Les montagnes, l’air frais et les forêts laurentiennes attirent les amateurs de sports d’hiver dans les Pays d’en Haut depuis plus d’un siècle, faisant du tourisme le moteur économique de la région. Malgré la pandémie, le confinement et le couvre-feu, cette année ne fait pas exception. Bien au contraire! Discussion avec André Genest, préfet de la MRC des Pays-d’en-Haut. « Le gouvernement a demandé aux gens d’aller jouer dehors. Alors, je ne sais pas s’ils ont peur de la vice-première ministre ou s’ils sont dociles (rire), mais ils sont allés jouer dehors! », lance en boutade M. Genest, en référence à l’achalandage sans précédent des dernières semaines dans la MRC. Le préfet admet toutefois que le phénomène n’est pas unique aux Pays d’en Haut. Des collègues préfets lui ont rapporté des situations semblables ailleurs dans les Laurentides, et il est persuadé que c’est vrai pour l’ensemble du Québec. Les Québécois ont soif de plein air, et les Pays d’en Haut sont prêts à leur en offrir. « Nous sommes toujours contents de recevoir des excursionnistes, et nous sommes toujours un milieu accueillant », souligne M. Genest. L’achalandage élevé des dernières semaines a toutefois causé quelques inquiétudes chez les élus et les résidents de la région. À l’entrée des sentiers les plus populaires, les stationnements ont débordé, des rassemblements ont été aperçus et des citoyens ont été dérangés. Certaines municipalités ont même décidé de limiter l’accès à leurs infrastructures à leurs résidents seulement. M. Genest comprend la frustration de certains résidents, surtout que plusieurs sont venus s’installer dans les Pays d’en Haut pour les sports d’hiver, oui, mais aussi pour la quiétude. Mais pour le préfet, l’enjeu est plutôt de mieux répartir les usagers. Après tout, ce n’est pas la nature qui manque! « J’encouragerais les gens à découvrir des endroits moins populaires. » Il donne l’exemple du parc du Corridor aérobique, un ancien chemin de fer converti en parc linéaire, qui lie Morin-Heights à Amherst sur 58 km. Il mentionne aussi une nouvelle section de ski de fond entre Lac-des-Seize-Îles et Montcalm et des sentiers pour le biathlon à Wentworth-Nord. « Nos plateformes numériques montrent les endroits et les circuits disponibles. J’invite les gens à regarder ce qu’il y a à découvrir. Il y a des choses moins connues. Arrêtons d’aller toujours aux mêmes endroits et soyons imaginatifs! », soutient M. Genest. Les centres d’accueil peuvent aussi rediriger les excursionnistes vers des sentiers moins achalandés. Surtout, si vous arrivez quelque part et que le stationnement est plein, c’est signe que l’aventure vous attend ailleurs. Le préfet insiste que se stationner dans les rues avoisinantes peut gêner la circulation et les opérations de déneigement, voire compromettre la sécurité publique, si une ambulance ou des pompiers devaient passer pour porter assistance à un randonneur blessé ou en détresse. M. Genest encourage aussi tant les résidents et les villégiateurs que les visiteurs à varier les jours et les heures auxquels ils profitent du plein air. Les jours de semaine sont toujours moins achalandés, par exemple. « Je marche tous les matins à 6h, et je ne rencontre personne. Même à 7h ou 8h, il y a peu de monde. Il ne faut pas que tout le monde arrive en même temps à 10h ou à midi! Bon… si on marche à 6h il fait encore noir, mais à 7h, on peut profiter d’un magnifique lever de soleil! » Même si le nombre de cas actifs a diminué dans les Pays d’en Haut, le préfet indique qu’il faut demeurer prudents. Vous pouvez profiter des sentiers avec votre bulle familiale, mais pas avec un groupe d’amis, rappelle-t-il. « Et quand c’est plein, c’est plein! On ne veut pas revoir de situation comme cet été en Gaspésie. Généralement, les gens sont très respectueux, mais c’est sûr que les résidents ne veulent pas être envahis », prévient M. Genest.Simon Cordeau, Initiative de journalisme local, Journal Accès
Le gouvernement Legault a manifesté son intention d’encadrer plus strictement les produits de vapotage. L’objectif est de réduire l’attrait de la cigarette électronique auprès des jeunes. Mais des usagers croient que la nouvelle réglementation sera trop sévère. Parmi les mesures envisagées par le gouvernement, il y a de limiter le taux de nicotine et la grosseur des fioles de liquide, et d’interdire les saveurs et les arômes autres que le tabac. Pour Natasha Carvalho, intervenante en dépendance jeunesse au Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides, il s’agit d’une bonne initiative. « La cigarette électronique est un produit d’initiation au tabagisme. On ne peut pas travailler auprès des jeunes et ne pas se rendre compte que c’est un phénomène grandissant. » Les adolescents qui vapotent ont trois fois plus de risques de fumer la cigarette plus tard. Les liquides utilisés pour vapoter sont offerts dans une kyrielle de saveurs et d’arômes au Canada, de la barbe à papa au chocolat, en passant par le melon d’eau et la mangue. La vapoteuse elle-même, ou cigarette électronique, a aussi son propre attrait. Les modèles vont du petit format élégant et facile à dissimuler, au « Hummer » imposant qui affiche cadrans et statistiques. « C’est un véritable objet technologique! » Il y a aussi les « wax pen », qui permettent de vapoter des concentrés d’huile de cannabis, par exemple. « C’est très répandu et populaire chez les jeunes. La vapoteuse ne dégage pas d’odeur identifiable. On peut donc consommer du cannabis, au vu et au su des adultes surveillants », explique Mme Carvalho. Le principal risque pour les jeunes, selon l’intervenante, c’est qu’ils développent une dépendance au geste, au rituel de vapoter, qui est le même pour la cigarette. Le taux de nicotine contenu dans une fiole de liquide peut aussi être beaucoup plus élevé que dans un paquet de cigarettes, accélérant la dépendance. Quant à l’impact sur la santé physique, c’est plus compliqué. Peu de recherche a encore été faite, comme le phénomène est récent. Mais déjà, les usagers peuvent faire de la haute pression, ressentir de l’essoufflement et sont plus à risque de maladies cardio-vasculaires. « Même si ce n’est pas de la combustion, le liquide est chauffé. Ça peut libérer des contaminants, comme le nickel, l’étain, l’aluminium, le formaldéhyde… » Sans compter que certains produits disponibles sur Internet proviennent d’ailleurs dans le monde, où la réglementation et les contrôles de qualité sont moindres. Selon Marlène-Lyane Richard, porte-parole de la Coalition des droits des vapoteurs du Québec (CDVQ), il ne faut pas oublier que la vapoteuse a également aidé bien des fumeurs à se sortir du tabagisme. Elle-même est parvenue à arrêter grâce à ça, alors qu’elle fumait depuis l’âge de 8 ans, en volant des cigarettes à ses parents. Elle a aujourd’hui 44 ans. « Avec la vape, ce n’est pas la même routine. La cigarette, quand elle est allumée, tu la fumes au complet. Avec la vapoteuse, tu peux prendre juste une ou deux poffs. On finit par délaisser le besoin d’inhaler. Ça va faire presque un an que j’ai arrêté. » Mme Richard est bien d’accord que les produits doivent être mieux encadrés et que les jeunes doivent être protégés. Mais elle croit que l’interdiction des saveurs et des arômes va trop loin. « 93 % des gens prennent de la saveur dans leur vapotage. C’est beaucoup! » Sa crainte, c’est que d’ex-fumeurs retombent dans la cigarette. « Il n’y a personne qui veut arrêter avec une saveur de tabac dans la bouche. » Bien que le vapotage représente des risques, Mme Richard soutient qu’ils sont moindres qu’avec la cigarette. « Dans les produits de vapotage, il y a 4 ingrédients, pas 60! Tous les produits nocifs de la cigarette ne sont pas là. C’est sûr que la toxicité est bien moindre avec le vapotage », affirme-t-elle. Certes, il existe d’autres solutions, comme la gomme et les patches, mais le vapotage offre une option de plus selon elle. Elle aimerait que ceux qui ont arrêté la cigarette grâce au vapotage, comme elle et d’autres, soient au moins entendus par le gouvernement avant que les nouvelles réglementations deviennent loi. « Il ne faut pas jeter le bébé avec l’eau du bain! »Simon Cordeau, Initiative de journalisme local, Journal Accès
THUNDER BAY — A Thunder Bay lawyer is facing charges of forcible confinement and assault related to an incident from August 2020. Court documents show Ronald Poirier, 70, and David Poirier, 36, each face charges stemming from an Aug. 28, 2020, incident. Ronald’s charges include forcible confinement and assault and David’s charges are assault, utter threats and breach of a release order. Ronald is a lawyer practicing in private in Thunder Bay. He is also retained as a federal crown agent through the Public Prosecution of Canada (PPSC). The federal agency confirmed this week they are aware of his charges currently before the courts. “The PPSC is aware of the situation and confirms that Mr. Poirier is one of its agents,” Nathalie Houle, a media relations advisor for the PPSC said in an email. “The PPSC has reassigned Mr. Poirier’s files at this time,” she said, adding the agency couldn’t comment any further on the case. There are currently no restrictions on his right to practice law, according to the Law Society of Ontario website. Both individuals are currently not in custody and are scheduled to appear in court next on March 8, according to court documents. Karen Edwards, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source
Kingston’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said he is confident that students and schools in the region are in a good position to safely resume in-class learning on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. “We [continue] to have one of the lowest rates of illness in the province,” Dr. Moore said on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. “Our rates are lower than many of the northern health units, whose schools opened right after the new year.” Kingston-area students have been out of class since Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. The Ministry of Education delayed their return to class following the winter break, originally scheduled for Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, as COVID-19 cases spiked across Ontario. Ontario has been under a Provincewide Shutdown since Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020 and a stay-at-home order since Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. Cases in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health region have steadily declined during that time, with only 10 active cases of COVID-19 currently confirmed in the region. Ontario parents were told a decision on whether students could return to in-person class on Monday would be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 20 2021. Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, drew negative social media attention when, late Wednesday afternoon, he tweeted an announcement about gas tax funding in Ontario’s York region, but made no indication of a decision on schools. His statement regarding the reopening of schools was eventually posted at 8 p.m., after the news had already been broken by national outlets who had received a copy. The statement revealed that seven eastern Ontario Public Health regions would be resuming online learning, and that virtual learning would continue elsewhere. Meanwhile, Dr. Moore said he had been anticipating that KFL&A Public Health region would get the green light. He said he had discussed the topic in his weekly conversation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario. “I was absolutely comfortable, given that our cases are four cases per 100 thousand per week, very comfortable to say that our schools are opening,” he said. Dr. Moore noted that students and staff will need to follow some additional Public Health measures when they return to in-class learning. “There’s mandatory masking now, even in the school yard, when you can’t physically distance,” he said. Previously children were allowed to play mask-free outdoors on school property. “Also, extra precautions to limit the number of high school students outdoors, congregating. That has to follow the Reopening Ontario Act: five or less are allowed to gather at any one time.” He reminded parents to send extra masks given the weather, as they can anticipate masks will get wet. “The masks don’t work well when wet,” he cautioned. “We’re confident that schools will continue to follow best practices. We’re sending out an information package to them that can be sent to parents, and working on a joint communication.” In the meantime, he asked that any students exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, and students who have travelled outside the region or had visitors from outside the region, get tested now. The COVID-19 assessment centre is open seven days per week, and results are typically returned in under 48 hours. “We’re ready, locally, and we’ve been in a very good position for the last 10 to 14 days. We’ll monitor the situation very closely,” he said. Samantha Butler-Hassan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, kingstonist.com
France has one of western Europe's highest rates of distrust in modern-day vaccines. On Unreported Europe we take a look at why, what anti-vaxxers have to say and what can bring sceptics rounds. View on euronews
LONDON — Four people-smugglers convicted of killing 39 people from Vietnam who died in the back of a container truck as it was shipped to England were sentenced Friday to between 13 and 27 years in prison. The victims, between the ages of 15 and 44, were found in October 2019 inside a refrigerated container that had travelled by ferry from Belgium to the eastern England port of Purfleet. The migrants had paid people-smugglers thousands of dollars to take them on risky journeys to what they hoped would be better lives abroad. Instead, judge Nigel Sweeney said, “all died in what must have been an excruciatingly painful death” by suffocation in the airtight container. The judge sentenced Romanian mechanic Gheorghe Nica, 43, described by prosecutors as the smuggling ringleader, to 27 years. Northern Irish truck driver Eamonn Harrison, 24, who drove the container to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, received an 18-year sentence. Trucker Maurice Robinson, 26, who picked the container up in England, was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison, while haulage company boss Ronan Hughes, 41, was jailed for 20 years. Nica and Harrison were convicted last month after a 10-week trial. Hughes and Robinson had pleaded guilty to people-smuggling and manslaughter. Three other members of the gang received shorter sentences. Prosecutors said all the suspects were part of a gang that charged about 13,000 pounds ($17,000) per person to transport migrants in trailers through the Channel Tunnel or by boat. Sweeney said it was “a sophisticated, long running, and profitable” criminal conspiracy. Jurors heard harrowing evidence about the final hours of the victims, who tried to call Vietnam’s emergency number to summon help as air in the container ran out. When they couldn't get a mobile phone signal, some recorded goodbye messages to their families. The trapped migrants — who included a bricklayer, a restaurant worker, a nail bar technician, a budding beautician and a university graduate — used a metal pole to try to punch through the roof of the refrigerated container, but only managed to dent it. Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Stoten, the senior investigating officer on the case, said the victims “left behind families, memories, and homes, in the pursuit of a false promise of something better.” “Instead they died, in an unimaginable way, because of the utter greed of these criminals,” he said. The Associated Press
Medicine Hat College education students have released their masterpiece. The students took to the virtual stage recently to present their showing of ‘The Show Must Go Online.’ The musical documents a drama teacher and her students, who put on a play virtually after the live, in-person showing is cancelled. Every year education students at the college put on a musical to teach them how to organize, practice, promote and put on a production. Many arts teachers end up directing plays and musicals once they start their career, and this is a way for college students to see how it works. “This is a good opportunity to show the community that there are still ways we can do the things we love, we just learn how to adapt to new situations. We’ve learned about time management, it’s given us confidence and strengthened our communication skills,” said student Kendra Lynn-Tripp. The show can be viewed online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dl0EhnYa20&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=WilliamLambsdown Mo Cranker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Medicine Hat News
BROCKTON – Lise Patry, of LXM Law LLP, did a presentation on the review of the municipal procurement policy. The objectives of the review were to reduce costs, streamline processes, comply with legal requirements, and ensure fair, transparent and competitive procurement policies. The review recommended updating policies, establishing a procedures manual, establishing templates, establishing standard contract terms and training for council and staff. The second part of Patry’s presentation involved reviewing e-bidding software, including one that’s currently available to Brockton – bids&tenders. It’s widely used by Ontario municipalities. The third part involved 2021 procurement policy highlights that reflect best practices outlined in the Collingwood Judicial Inquiry report – specifically, staff and council’s roles in procurement. As was discussed by council, staff and Patry, an updated and streamlined policy should result in more vendors bidding on projects, less staff time devoted to preparing documents, and some cost savings. The new policy would see the CAO be brought into the procurement process, while council provides oversight. Bylaws were passed later in the meeting to adopt the procurement policy and procedures review report, and to adopt a new purchasing and procurement policy. Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
A bevy of major U.S. earnings reports next week led by Apple, Microsoft and Facebook could help technology and growth stocks reassert their dominance after a recent run by banks, energy and other potential beneficiaries of an economic reopening. That shift has stalled in recent days as investors weighed lackluster outlooks from big banks and a blockbuster quarterly report from Netflix that lifted its shares by 17%. Next week's crop of fourth-quarter results - with about a quarter of the S&P 500 reporting - could help determine whether the resurgence in growth stocks will continue, potentially threatening the recent rally in value and cyclical shares, said Chuck Carlson, chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services.
« S’il n’y avait pas de poutine, on serait obligés de fermer nos portes ! » C’est ce que lance d’emblée le propriétaire du Goofy Carl Bolduc pour expliquer le succès de cette entreprise familiale au cœur du paysage almatois depuis 41 ans. Malgré la pandémie, le restaurant ne cesse d’attirer la clientèle grâce à son mythique plat. Selon Carl Bolduc, le succès du Goofy repose sur trois éléments clés. « L’entreprise repose sur une famille impliquée, tenace et déterminée à réussir. Nos employés, eux sont, les piliers de notre organisation. Et bien sûr, il y a notre précieuse clientèle », explique-t-il. Certains d’entre eux sont des réguliers de longue date, qui sont au rendez-vous depuis les touts débuts. D’autres viennent d’un peu partout au Québec. Pour ces derniers, le Goofy est un passage obligé pendant leur séjour. Adaptation Toutefois, la pandémie a forcé l’entreprise à s’adapter, comme des milliers d’autres restaurants au pays. C’est que depuis 1979, le restaurant a toujours été ouvert 24 heures sur 24, sept jours sur sept. L’horaire a toujours été le même. « En mars dernier, il n’y avait plus de clients. C’était désert sur l’avenue du Pont. On a dû fermer pendant un mois. Avant la pandémie, ce n’était jamais arrivé, même pas pendant cinq minutes ou pour des rénovations! On est toujours restés ouverts. Le temps venu, on s’est rendu compte qu’on n’avait même pas de clés pour fermer, si bien qu’il a fallu mettre un surveillant de nuit le temps que le serrurier arrive », souligne Carl Bolduc. Il ajoute : « Si on n’avait pas la poutine, probablement qu’on fermerait. Présentement, on en sert entre 150 et 200 par jour. 85 % de nos commandes sont des poutines, et il y en a au moins une par facture ». 2021, année d’espoir Cependant, la formule à emporter et les poutines ne sont que des revenus d’appoints pour le Goofy. L’absence d’une salle à manger et le confinement représentent des pertes de 75 % pour l’entreprise. « Une autre de nos grosses forces est les menus du jour. Or, avec le télétravail, les gens sont beaucoup moins en ville qu’avant. Les gens ne sont plus dans les bureaux, ils sont chez eux », ajoute-t-il. Un gros contraste avec l’année 2019, qui fut la plus rentable dans l’histoire du Goofy. Malgré tout, Carl Bolduc assure qu’il n’a eu à procéder à aucune mise à pied, réaffectant une partie du personnel à du temps partiel. Il entrevoit la nouvelle année qui débute avec une bonne dose de positivisme. La construction d’une terrasse extérieure et l’ajoute de nouveaux mets au menu sont notamment prévues. De belles leçons d’humilité Carl Bolduc n’en revenait pas lorsqu’il a reçu une mise en demeure de nul autre que la Walt Disney Company, il y a trois ans. Le restaurant, qui arborait depuis toujours comme emblème le personnage Goofy, a passé bien près de devoir changer de nom. Heureusement pour l’entreprise, une entente à l’amiable a été signée avec l’entreprise américaine afin qu’elle conserve son appellation. Toutefois, elle a dû mettre une croix sur son image de marque. Mais pourquoi donc avoir choisi comme emblème un personnage de dessin animé? Carl Bolduc explique : « À l’époque, c’était la mode d’utiliser des personnages populaires de dessins animés comme nom de restaurant. Il n’y avait pas de problème. Avec internet, Walt Disney a été mise au courant du restaurant. Ils nous ont envoyé une mise en demeure, nous ordonnant d’enlever le nom et le logo ». Bien que l’image du personnage Goofy soit soumise aux droits d’auteurs, le nom ne l’était pas. Seul le restaurant almatois avait enregistré l’appellation au Québec. « On en est venus à une entente qui stipule que nous sommes les seuls qui ont le droit d’utiliser le nom Goofy au Québec. Ça a permis d’éviter des poursuites et des batailles judiciaires », ajoute-t-il. Saga Yves Bolduc En 2012, le restaurant a fait les manchettes, mais pour les mauvaises raisons. Il fut révélé au grand jour que le ministre de la Santé de l’époque, Yves Bolduc, était actionnaire du restaurant. « Lorsque mon frère s’est lancé en politique, on s’est fait traiter de malbouffe même si on a des menus du jour. On nous reprochait d’être près des écoles… Deux filles étaient même parties sans payer et avaient publié leur facture sur Facebook en affirmant faussement qu’on était subventionnés pas l’État et qu’elles avaient le droit de la faire. Je n’étais pas content de ça. J’ai décidé d’acheter toutes les parts afin que ce genre de choses n’arrivent plus », se souvient Carl Bolduc. Rumeurs Une rumeur voulant que le Goofy soit racheté par une autre chaîne de restauration s’est récemment répandue à Alma. Carl Bolduc tient toutefois à la démentir. Pas question de vendre. Pas pour l’instant du moins. Il prévoit prendre sa retraite d’ici cinq ans, mais la relève semble déjà établie, puisque sa mère, son fils, sa fille, son cousin et sa conjointe sont toujours présents derrière le comptoir du Goofy. La famille Bolduc entend mener la barque aussi loin que possible.Julien B. Gauthier, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Lac St-Jean
Four men were given long jail sentences on Friday for the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese men, women and children who suffocated to death in a stifling, airtight shipping container in October 2019 as they were being smuggled into Britain. The discovery of so many dead people - two as young as 15 - in the back of the truck on an industrial estate to the east of London shocked Britain and Vietnam. Judge Nigel Sweeney said they had suffered an "excruciating slow death" as he jailed seven men involved in the people smuggling gang for a total of 92 years at London's Old Bailey criminal court.
TORONTO — Global trials examining the potential of blood thinners to treat moderately ill COVID-19 patients have proven so successful its Canadian investigators say clinicians should immediately start using them in standard care.Investigators at Toronto's University Health Network say interim results of clinical trials spanning five continents in more than 300 hospitals suggest full-dose blood thinners could significantly avoid severe cases that are now straining hospital ICUs.The study involved more than 1,300 moderately ill patients admitted to hospital, including some at UHN. Investigators say full doses of Heparin improved outcomes and decreased the need for life support.The full dose was also more effective than the lower dose typically administered to prevent blood clots in hospitalized patients.Critical care physician Ewan Goligher, co-chair of the therapeutic anticoagulation domain of the trial, says the findings could significantly transform care.“Having cared for so many severely ill COVID-19 patients and witnessed the suffering involved for patients and their loved ones, it is profoundly gratifying that together we have discovered a treatment that can prevent patients from becoming severely ill and improve their recovery,” Goligher, also a scientist with the University Health Network, said Friday in a release.Ryan Zarychanski, associate professor, hematologist and critical care physician at the University of Manitoba, said the findings were promising. "In a disease with a limited number of effective therapies, our results have the potential to define a new standard of care for moderately ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients around the world," Zarychanski said.Doctors noticed early in the pandemic that COVID-19 patients suffered an increased rate of blood clots and inflammation. This led to complications including lung failure, heart attack and stroke.Back in December, investigators found that giving full-dose blood thinners to critically ill ICU patients did not help, and was actually harmful.The trials are supported by international funding organizations including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the NIH National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute in the United States, the National Institute for Health Research in the United Kingdom, and the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021. The Canadian Press
La pandémie et la pénurie de main-d’œuvre ont eu raison d’un autre commerce de la région. La quincaillerie Tremblay-Laroche, établie depuis plus de 25 ans à Saint-Gédéon, ne rouvrira après avoir fermé ses portes le printemps dernier, faute de personnel. Le bâtiment situé au 223, rue de Quen, a été mis en vente. Le personnel restant et l’inventaire ont été transférés à la succursale de Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix, qui elle aussi vit des heures difficiles en ce qui a trait au personnel. « Malheureusement, on est obligé de fermer la succursale. Deux employés sont partis pendant la première vague de COVID le printemps dernier pour d’autres magasins et on n’a pas été capable de les remplacer », explique le propriétaire, Marc Tremblay. Pénurie de main-d’œuvre Marc Tremblay s’explique mal le fait que malgré un taux de chômage élevé, il soit si difficile de combler des postes aux deux succursales. En deux ans, même les ouvertures de poste pour le magasin de Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix n’ont pas pris preneurs. « On a de la misère à combler malgré le fait qu’on dise qu’il y a beaucoup de personnes qui ne travaillent pas. Je ne comprends pas grand-chose là-dedans. Avec toutes les annonces qu’on a faites, on n’est pas capable de combler les besoins. On a essayé de toutes les manières. On a fait des parutions Facebook et ici au magasin et on ne réussit pas… », déplore-t-il Année mouvementée L’été dernier, les Québécois se sont adonnés aux travaux de rénovation. L’équipe de plus en plus restreinte du groupe Tremblay-Laroche a été mise à rude épreuve. « L’équipe a dû mettre les bouchées doubles. Avec deux personnes en moins, ça paraît. On a comblé le stock de Métabetchouan avec l’inventaire du magasin de Saint-Gédéon. Ça n’a pas été une année rose », ajoute Marc Tremblay. Questionné à savoir si une lueur d’espoir régnait toujours pour le magasin de Saint-Gédéon, le propriétaire a affirmé qu’il concentrait dorénavant ses efforts sur le magasin de Métabetchouan-Lac-à-la-Croix. « On ne se fait pas d’illusions. On a mis le bâtiment à vendre », souligne-t-il. En novembre 2019, le groupe Tremblay-Laroche, alors affilié à BMR, avait quitté cette bannière pour joindre le groupe Castle en raison de désaccords. « BMR nous imposait des choses qu’on ne voulait pas. On ne se sentait plus chef dans notre propre magasin. Ils nous laissent acheter et faire ce qu’on veut », avait expliqué à l’époque Marc Tremblay. Plus d’un an plus tard, il se dit « très satisfait » de ce changement.Julien B. Gauthier, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Lac St-Jean
L'Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) a demandé de nommer une personne médiatrice afin d'en arriver à une entente sur leurs conditions de travail. Cette demande était destinée directement à Jean Boulet, ministre du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. «Après plus d'un an de négociation, force est de constater que l'équipe du gouvernement Legault n'a pas la marge de manœuvre pour améliorer les conditions de travail de nos membres afin d'enrayer la surcharge de travail et de favoriser l'attraction et la rétention de la main-d'œuvre», a déclaré Andrée Poirier présidente de l'APTS, par voie de communiqué. Elle espère que l'arrivée du médiateur poussera l'instance gouvernementale à débloquer le processus pour en arriver à «une entente satisfaisante pour l'ensemble des parties». Une première rencontre avec celui-ci devait d'ailleurs avoir lieu jeudi après-midi. Rappelons que l'APTS représente plus de 100 titres d'emploi dans tous les secteurs du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux. Plus tôt en décembre, les membres exécutifs lavallois avaient déjà tenu une mobilisation sous le thème du feu pour «indiquer au gouvernement que leurs membres sont littéralement brûlés». Avec un bilan de 21 087 personnes testées positives à la COVID-19, Laval a connu une hausse de 128 cas en 24 heures. Le total de décès augmente à 809 (+4) depuis le début de la pandémie. Le CISSS de Laval cumule également 18 805 guérisons, ce qui signifie qu’il y a désormais 1473 cas actifs confirmés (-87) sur le territoire lavallois. Parmi les personnes touchées, 88 sont hospitalisées, dont 27 aux soins intensifs. 91 employés de l’organisation de santé sont toujours absents du travail en raison de la COVID-19. 13 résidences privées pour aînés (RPA) de Laval et 5 CHSLD sont présentement touchés par la COVID-19. Voici la liste complète de celles-ci : Par ailleurs, les résidences Bégonias et Boulay ont été placées dans la catégorie des RPA en situation critique en raison du taux d’infection. Au Québec, le bilan est maintenant de 250 491 cas et 9361 décès. Au total, 1426 personnes sont toujours hospitalisées, dont 212 aux soins intensifs.Nicholas Pereira, Initiative de journalisme local, Courrier Laval
A land redesignation bylaw for a proposed solar farm in Wheatland County was rejected by Wheatland County council, but following a special meeting of council, the project will be considered again during the next council meeting at the latest. During the Jan. 12 regular county council meeting, council considered a motion to adopt second reading of a bylaw to redesignate 160 acres for a proposed 20.1-megawatt commercial solar facility located east of Strathmore. The redesignation was necessary because the lands are currently agricultural, but as per the county’s land use bylaw, solar developments must be sited on lands designated as “energy district,” a category added in 2019. However, the motion failed by a vote of 6-1, with Reeve Amber Link the only councillor to vote in favour of the motion. Despite the council’s ruling, its hands may ultimately be tied because of provincial law. Section 619 of the provincial Municipal Government Act (MGA) provides that any approval granted by the AUC prevails over any statutory plan or land use bylaw. It also establishes that when a municipality receives a land use bylaw amendment and the application is consistent with the AUC approval, the municipality must approve the application. The project received AUC approval on Sept. 25, 2020. Prior to the council meeting, a public hearing for the bylaw was held via teleconference, during which letters from several landowners opposed to the project were read. However, Section 619(4) of the MGA requires that the hearing not address matters already discussed during the AUC application review process, which included many of the issues brought forward. Several of the councillors said during the meeting that despite the constraints of the MGA, they intended to vote in opposition to the motion in principle. “They (AUC) claim they figured what public interest is, but I don’t think so,” said Tom Ikert, Division 4 Councillor. “We are asked to rubber stamp something that a bunch of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats say is fine – but this has been backdoored to us.” Despite voting in favour of the bylaw, Link spoke of the difficulty of that decision. “This is extremely frustrating, because to a huge extent, the jurisdiction of municipal government has been subjugated by Section 619 of the MGA,” she said during the meeting. The proponent, Dan Eaton, has appealed the county’s decision to the Municipal Governing Board (MGB), an independent board established under the MGA that makes decisions about land planning and assessment matters, according to his lawyer, Terri-Lee Oleniuk of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. These appeals are costly, with some municipalities paying upwards of $500,000 to participate in similar hearings, said Link. This includes legal costs and land use planning when required. Given Section 619 of the MGA and related past decisions, the likelihood the MGB would rule against the council’s decision is near certain. “I cannot find any legal precedent where we would have any hope in taking that route,” she said. “I’m not willing to throw tax dollars at a losing fight. I am willing to fight the province, but that has to be done through advocacy.” An MGA hearing looks to be avoided, because during a special meeting of council held on Jan. 19, the potential repercussions of defeating the land designation were discussed in a closed session, Link told the Times in an email. Two resolutions were passed during this closed session: council directed administration to prepare a direct control district for the project at the earliest possible date (no later than March 2) and bring a development permit application for consideration at the same meeting, and that administration request the applicant to provide a complete development permit application no later than Jan. 22. Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Strathmore Times
GREY-BRUCE – Although there are still 41 active cases of COVID-19 in Grey-Bruce, the number of new cases continues to drop from the post-holiday spike. As of Jan. 18, there had been five new cases in the previous 24 hours – one each in Owen Sound, Brockton, Grey Highlands, Hanover and West Grey. This brings the cumulative total to 653. There are 115 high risk contacts associated with active cases. Two people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. There are no outbreaks in Grey-Bruce. An outbreak with the Town of The Blue Mountains has been declared over. The first shipment of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, 200 doses, have been administered. People are being urged to follow the basic measures that brought down numbers during the first wave – wash hands frequently, watch your distance (ideally six feet) and wear a face covering correctly. Everyone should also avoid crowds and unnecessary travel as the provincial lockdown continues. Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
