COVID-19 deals St. Patrick's Day blow for a 2nd year

Pandemic restrictions are cutting deep for pubs, bars and restaurants on St. Patrick's Day, typically a big money-making day in the sector, for the second year in a row.

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  • Kelowna Mountie charged with assault in arrest caught on camera

    A Kelowna RCMP officer has been charged with assault after he was caught on camera repeatedly punching a man in the head during an impaired driving arrest last year. The charge against Const. Siggy Emmit-Steven Pietrzak was sworn on Wednesday in Kelowna Provincial Court, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service. An RCMP news release says he is currently suspended from duty with pay. Pietrzak became the subject of an internal investigation following the May 30, 2020, arrest of 30-year-old Tyler Russell in a Kelowna parking lot. According to RCMP, officers were responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle and when they arrived on scene, they found Russell inside intoxicated. Police allege he was unco-operative and clenched his fists as he struggled with the officers. Two videos of the arrest later surfaced showing an officer punching Russell in the head at least 10 times while two other RCMP officers restrained him. Russell claims he was bloodied, bruised and swollen after he was punched repeatedly by an RCMP officer during an arrest in May.(submitted by Bridge Law Corporation ) According to RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, the results of an internal investigation into the arrest were reviewed by another police agency before the file was forwarded to Crown prosecutors for charge approval. Russell has filed suit against Pietrzak, alleging the encounter left him with "serious injuries and consequences, including: post-traumatic stress disorder, diminished self-worth, depression, anxiety and loss of enjoyment of life," among other consequences. In his response to the claim, Pietrzak has said the punches were justified after he saw his fellow officers struggle to arrest Russell, who was "larger and stronger" than they were. None of the allegations in Russell's claim or Pietrzak's response have been proven in court. Pietrzak is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on the assault charge on May 3.

  • Police confirm woman found dead near Saint Andrews was resident missing since December

    The RCMP say a body found near Saint Andrews last weekend was that of a 68-year-old woman who disappeared in the area last December. Police don't believe foul play was a factor in her death. Wilhelmina (Wilma) Catherine Montgomery was reported missing on Dec. 8, 2020, after not being seen since around noon in Saint Andrews the day before. Her disappearance triggered a response from the Charlotte County Ground Search and Rescue team, which mobilized 20 searchers to look for her in the days after she was last seen. On Saturday, RCMP said the body of a woman was found by a kayaker on Navy Island, near Saint Andrews. "Even though this is not the outcome we were hoping for, we are glad to be able to bring closure to the family," said RCMP Sgt. Christopher Henderson.

  • With flagship electric car, Mercedes takes fight to Tesla

    Daimler AG on Thursday unveiled the electric "sibling" of its flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedan, taking the fight to market-leader Tesla Inc in the battle for market share as electric car sales take off. The EQS is the first in a family of Mercedes-Benz cars built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform built from the ground up. Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the European Union almost trebled to over 1 million vehicles last year, accounting for more than 10% of overall sales.

  • Breaking into Windsor-Essex housing market means paying $100K+ over asking amid industry boom

    Christiano Fontana paid more than $120,000 over the asking price for a home in Windsor, yet he considers himself one of the fortunate. "I got lucky," he told CBC News Wednesday. But he later followed that up with a laugh and said, "I don't know if you'd call me lucky or not, but I got one you know?" "Lucky" in this market typically means paying tens of thousands over asking price, as Fontana had to. It's a sign of this hot market, realtors told CBC News, that homes are routinely being listed well below what they're expected to sell for. From the price of home sales to permits for new builds, everything in Windsor-Essex's housing market is flying off the shelves — an increased demand that is making it harder for people to afford a home. Experts in Windsor's real estate market say the industry continues to hit new highs compared to last year, but with dwindling supply, prices keep rising. Fontana said the home he bought was listed at $299,000, but in the end he paid more than $420,000 for it and only beat out the other top offer by $4,000. Christiano Fontana is getting married this year and has been looking to buy a home. Though he paid way over the home's asking price, he says he's just happy that he at least got into the market.(Jacob Barker/CBC) "It's just the way it is," he said. "It's unfortunate ... I have a lot of friends, they don't have a choice but to rent and they will rent for the rest of their lives unless prices come down somewhat." In a virtual roundtable discussion with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on Wednesday, members of Ontario's and Windsor-Essex's real estate market, along with the city's planner and permit services chief talked about the growth the region has seen. "It's a very cruel game of musical chairs where you have more and more people circling fewer and fewer chairs, so as inventory goes down, you have more and more people that will engage in bidding wars, prices go up, there will be frustrated buyers," said Tim Hudak, chief executive officer of the Ontario Real Estate Association. According to information provided by the City of Windsor: The average price of a home in Windsor-Essex has increased by 25 per cent from February 2020. Every month since July 2020, the total number of houses sold has been outpacing the same month the previous year. New builds have increased from 360 in 2018 to 796 in 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, 108 permits were new apartment unit builds — a number not seen in Windsor for decades. In the last year, the city says it has issued 60 permits for new residential builds in the Zone 1 area, which is north of Tecumseh Road between Prince Road and Pillette Road. The city says this is an older area but one that would benefit from new residential builds. "The break neck speed of growth over the past 12 months is just staggering," said Dilkens. As for who's buying, the Ontario Real Estate Association says 40 per cent of the sales are from within Windsor, 25 per cent is first time buyers and four per cent of activity was from Greater Toronto Area buyers. Percentage of people moving to Windsor from elsewhere in the province.(Ontario Real Estate Association) Thousands on affordable housing waitlist During the roundtable, CBC News asked what measures are in place to make things affordable and what the government can do to help. Windsor's City Planner Thom Hunt said the affordability conversation is happening across the province, with talk of federal, provincial and municipal incentives for private developers to make a portion of their buildings affordable. But ideas such as rent control or changes to taxation were dismissed during the roundtable discussion. Some 5,400 people are currently on a wait list for affordable housing in the region, according to the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation. Sellers on Cloud 9 It's a seller's market, so those pitching up the For Sale sign, like Al Soultani, are doing a happy dance. Al Soultani and his family sold their home for $200,000 over asking. Soultani says the sale feels like he did 'win the lottery.'(Maggie Chen) Soultani's Windsor home sold for $200,000 over asking. "It does feel like winning the lottery," Soultani told CBC News. And he's not the only one on Cloud 9. Dean Cooper's home in Woodslee sold two weeks ago for a little more than $600,000, a price that was about $100,000 over what he listed it at. "It felt really great," Cooper told CBC News. "I would have never expected it to go that high but that's the part of this bidding war." Dean Cooper sold his Woodslee home for about $100,000 over the asking price.(Submitted by Dean Cooper) To get more people interested in the property, Cooper and his realtor employed a tactic now being used by many: low-ball the home's listing price. That's according to Damon Winney, president of the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors, and Goran Todorovic with Re/MAX Care Realty. But, according to the Real Estate Council of Ontario, even homes listed at their value are selling way above. "This is the absolutely best opportunity for them to sell their home," Todorovic said. Another way realtors are getting homeowners on the market is by calling them directly and telling them how much their property could sell for. As for Cooper, he said he's decided to invest the funds he made, downsize and move into an apartment in Leamington. "When retirement comes the decision will be a lot easier," he said.

  • US Sen. Graham opposes Afghanistan troop pullout

    Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham says the president is making a mistake by announcing the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. (April 14)

  • 21 COVID-19 cases, some involving variants, tied to outdoor southwest Sask. event

    Twenty-one people are infected with COVID-19, including some cases involving coronavirus variants of concern, following an outdoor gathering in southwest Saskatchewan that's been declared an outbreak, health officials say. More testing is needed to verify which of the highly transmissible variants of concern is involved. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is also warning people of a heightened risk of infection from coronavirus variants because of several large outdoor gatherings in the southwest area of the province. The events "[failed] to comply with current public health measures," a Wednesday afternoon news release said, but the health authority did not provide any details about the event. "We do not comment about specific enforcement investigations," a spokesperson for the SHA said. The increased risk is present in Rosetown, Kindersley, Maple Creek, Swift Current, Davidson, Moose Jaw and surrounding areas, according to the health authority. Those communities fall under five different zones monitored by health officials. Of those, the South Central 2 zone, which includes Moose Jaw and 14 other communities, has the largest COVID-19 caseload by far. The zone has 149 active cases of COVID-19, including eight announced on Wednesday. (Government of Saskatchewan) The remaining communities fall under the Central West 1, Central West 2, South West 1 and South West 2 zones, which respectively reported 15, 14, 31 and 33 active cases on Wednesday. Under current health rules, private and public outdoor gatherings are capped at 10 people. The release reminded residents of those areas to, among other things, "limit gatherings and ensure gathering sizes do not exceed public health orders." Health Minister Paul Merriman said he was briefed on the situation but did not offer details. "We have to do our investigation," he said. "Like we do with any complaint or anything that is being investigated by our public health inspectors or the police, we want to do a … [complete] investigation on that." CBC News has reached out the RCMP for more detail.

  • Liberals' bill on Indigenous rights getting pushback from Conservatives, First Nations critics

    A key element of the Liberal government's reconciliation agenda is facing resistance from Conservatives in the House of Commons — and some First Nations critics on the outside. Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), is at the second reading stage and is being discussed this week by members of the standing committee on Indigenous and northern affairs. The proposed legislation aims to implement the UN declaration by ensuring federal laws respect Indigenous rights. Some First Nation critics say the bill doesn't go far enough and may end up restricting those rights. "It doesn't seem like Canada has really learned its lesson from Oka to Wet'suwet'en to the Mi'kmaq fishermen," said Grand Chief Joel Abram of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians. "Our first choice is to have it go back to the drawing board." Conflict over energy projects erupted across the country last year after the RCMP removed Wet'suwet'en members, who were demonstrating against the construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline, from their traditional territory. (Jesse Winter/VICE) UNDRIP affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to their language, culture, self-determination and traditional lands. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007. Canada's Conservative government voted against it at the time, citing concerns about natural resources and land use — but then endorsed it in 2010. In 2019, an NDP private member's bill to implement UNDRIP died on the order paper after Conservative senators — warning it could have unintended legal and economic consequences — slowed its progress. Last December, the Liberal government introduced a new form of the legislation. Fear of 'veto' persists Conservatives again are raising concerns — mainly over UNDRIP's requirement that governments seek "free, prior and informed consent" from Indigenous communities before pursuing any project that affects their rights and territory. "When a First Nation says no to a project, does that mean it's dead?" asked Jamie Schmale, Conservative Crown-Indigenous relations critic, at Tuesday's standing committee hearing on Bill C-15. "It leaves a lot of unanswered questions and potentially the courts to decide that definition." Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, legal counsel to the Assembly of First Nations, said those fears are misplaced. "Consent is not a veto over resource development," Turpel-Lafond said. Grand Chief Joel Abram of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians wants the proposed legislation to go back to the drawing board.(Derek Spalding/CBC) "What this is doing is saying we want to end the process of this very colonial approach to taking Indigenous peoples' lands, supporting projects and developments on those lands without their consent, engagement and involvement." Human rights at stake, ITK president says Turpel-Lafond said the language in the bill should be made clearer by, for example, replacing the word "discrimination" with "racism". She also said the bill has promise and aims to close a gap by reinforcing existing rights that haven't been respected. "The most important thing it does is it puts an obligation on Canada to conduct its policies and conduct its interactions with Indigenous peoples on the basis of recognizing Indigenous people have rights," Turpel-Lafond said. "Since as long as there's been a Canada, it's been doing it the opposite way, which is denying that Indigenous peoples have rights and ... a very high-conflict relationship. The bill is meant to shift that." In a statement to CBC News, Justice Minister David Lametti's office said the government remains open to any proposed improvements to the bill. "Our government has been clear in recognizing the realities of discrimination and racism that Indigenous peoples face in Canada, and we continue to work in partnership with Indigenous peoples to find and implement concrete solutions to address them," said the statement. WATCH: Inuit leader says government bill is a test of Indigenous rights Natan Obed is president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which co-developed the bill with the federal government. He told CBC News the legislation creates a new avenue for Indigenous people to seek justice in the courts. "This legislation really is a test on whether or not specific political parties or specific jurisdictions accept that Indigenous peoples have human rights," Obed said. "If governments are still in the place where they're fighting against Indigenous peoples rights, what they're really saying is that human rights apply to some of their constituency, but not all. I hope that political parties can understand that this is actually what is at stake here." 'You're going to see more conflict' Russ Diabo, a member of the Mohawks of Kahnawake and a policy analyst, went to Geneva in the 1980s and 1990s to develop the declaration with the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations. He said Canada's interpretation of UNDRIP doesn't advance the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples and allows the government to keep the upper hand under the law. "Bill C-15 is going to entrench all of that, the colonial status quo," Diabo said. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, legal counsel for the Assembly of First Nations, said claims that the bill might give Indigenous communities a veto over development projects are mistaken.(CBC) Diabo said the bill reinforces Canada's existing policies on modern treaties and self-government, which he believes are in breach of the UN declaration's standards. That, he said, will make it harder for Indigenous communities to block resource projects they don't want. "(UNDRIP) will be used domestically against land defenders and water protectors to say that they're acting outside of the law when they go and stop projects or activities that they feel are infringing or affecting their aboriginal treaty rights," Diabo said. "You're going to see more conflict." The provinces also could play spoiler and undermine the federal bill if they decline to pass their own laws on UNDRIP, since natural resources fall under their jurisdiction, Diabo said. "It doesn't deal with provincial jurisdiction and that's going to be the big problem." Half a dozen provinces already have asked the government to delay the bill over worries it could compromise natural resource projects. NDP Premier John Horgan's government in B.C. is the only one so far that has passed a provincial law implementing the declaration.

  • Jim Lester 2nd candidate to turn to courts after N.L. election loss

    Jim Lester lost the district of Mount Pearl North by 109 votes to Liberal Lucy Stoyles in the 2021 provincial election. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada) After losing his seat by 109 votes in last month's provincial election, PC candidate Jim Lester is turning to the courts in the hopes of having the results voided and a new election called in his former district, but he also wants a ruling on whether the vote adhered to Newfoundland and Labrador legislation. "It's very important to have faith in the outcome of elections," Lester told reporters on Wednesday. Liberal Lucy Stoyles won the district of Mount Pearl North with 2,428 votes, compared with 2,319 cast for Lester. Lester is representing himself in his controverted election application, which cost more than $600 to file in Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. He's asking the courts to examine whether the campaign process was "in line with what's constitutionally and legally accepted" under the province's Elections Act. Concerns with phone sign-up "One of the biggest concerns that I have … is the sign-up of voters by phone," Lester said. But, he said, he heard of other problems that plagued the 10-plus week campaign. He said a senior told him they repeatedly called Elections NL when their ballot didn't arrive, despite registering several weeks ahead of time. "What really affected our voters was the outbreak of the COVID virus," he added. He said a lot of his supporters are working families, people who had a lot of "stress factors" that affected their ability to sign up for mail-in ballots. None of Lester's accusations have been proven in court. NDP Leader Alison Coffin filed court papers on April 1 for a recount in the district of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi, where she lost her seat to Liberal John Abbott by 53 votes. NDP Leader Alison Coffin announced her court challenge of the election results in her former district on April 1.(Alison Coffin/Twitter) Less than two weeks after that, Coffin and another applicant, filed a separate legal action demanding last month's election results be thrown out and a new vote ordered. Alison Coffin and another applicant, a St. John's resident who claims he was denied the right to vote, jointly filed a court challenge Monday containing scathing accusations against Newfoundland and Labrador's elections agency, alleging widespread and illegal mishandling of the electoral process and demanding the province's Supreme Court void the election's outcome. The 45-page application argues that the process employed by Elections NL discriminated against voters on the basis of ethnicity, age or disability, disproportionately excluding people without access to the internet and people in Indigenous communities. NDP provincial president Kyle Rees clarified Monday afternoon the application will target the St. John's East-Quidi Vidi district. "We are specifically bringing evidence related to that district, but there's no reason why the lessons that we learn from this district … can't be applied broadly across the province," said Rees, adding that a judge could overturn results in all 40 districts based on this application 'We will challenge' election in legislature: PC Party In a statement released Wednesday, the PC Party said its executive met Monday for the first time since election results were announced March 27. Interim PC Leader David Brazil says his party will not challenge the results of the election in court but will focus instead on moving on. (Terry Roberts/CBC) While the party continued to take swipes at Premier Andrew Furey for calling an election when he did, accusing him of "gambling on a mid-winter election," the statement indicated the party won't pursue a legal challenge. "We do not believe that the people of the province want to see another election at this time.… We will challenge the 2021 election in the legislature," reads the statement. "Individuals may challenge the results of the election in court, and the court proceedings have begun in some cases. We will be keenly watching the ongoing legal challenges. However, we will not, as a party, be taking legal action at this time." The PCs and Furey have at least one thing in common, and that is a wish to modernize the Elections Act. "We will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again," said the PCs in a statement, echoing a comment Furey made on Monday. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

  • 25-year-old man charged after $3.5M in cocaine seized at Blue Water Bridge

    A 25-year-old man has been arrested and charged after $3.5 million in cocaine was seized at Blue Water Bridge. On March 31, a commercial truck driven by a man from Brampton, Ont. entered Canada at the bridge in Point Edward, Ont., Canada Border Services Agency said in a news release Wednesday. The truck was sent for a secondary examination, during which officers found 62 kilograms of cocaine. Canada Border Services Agency said officers arrested the driver and transferred him into the custody of Windsor detachment RCMP officers, who are performing an investigation. The suspect is charged with importation of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking. The man is expected to appear in Sarnia's Ontario Court of Justice on April 20. More from CBC Windsor

  • COVID-19 hospitalizations hit record high, as B.C. records 1,168 new cases and 6 more deaths

    There are now more patients in hospital with COVID-19 in B.C. than at any other point in the pandemic, health officials said Wednesday. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix put the number of patients hospitalized with the disease at 397, 120 of whom are in intensive care. Hospitalizations have risen by 20 per cent since last Wednesday, when there were 330 patients in hospital. The news comes as the province confirmed another 1,168 cases of the novel coronavirus and six more deaths on Wednesday. There are 9,821 active cases of the virus across B.C. The provincial death toll from the disease now stands at 1,521 people out of 114,870 confirmed cases to date. Public health is actively monitoring 16,304 people across the province who are in self-isolation because of COVID-19 exposure. At this point in the pandemic, about 9.9 per cent of all COVID-19 tests in B.C. are positive. In the Northern Health region, the positivity rate rises to 13.6 per cent. The test positivity rate is a metric that health officials use to measure community transmission. In the past, Henry has said anything over five per cent is concerning. So far, 1,190,832 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 87,820 second doses. A record 41,839 have received their shot within the last 24 hours. Adults 55 and up urged to book vaccine appointment B.C. is currently vaccinating all eligible adults in transmission hot spots like Whistler and Prince Rupert, while the provincewide age-based program rolls on. Everyone over the age of 55 is now eligible to receive a vaccine. "We strongly encourage everyone who is now eligible for a vaccine to arrange for your appointment today. This not only protects you but also provides greater protection to everyone around you," Henry and Dix said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed Wednesday night that vaccinations will begin this week for police officers, firefighters and teachers and school staff in the region. The health authority told CBC News in an email that immunizations will be offered first in areas "that are at increased risk as a result of recent COVID-19 transmission in their communities." The province on Monday announced dates for those aged 40 and older to register for their vaccine: Monday, April 12 — born 1966 or earlier (age 55+) Wednesday, April 14 — born 1971 or earlier (50+) Friday, April 16 — born 1976 or earlier (45+) Monday, April 19 — born 1981 or earlier (40+) Registering for a vaccine is not the same as booking the appointment to get your shot. Once registered, users receive a confirmation code, followed by an email, a text or a call telling them when they're eligible to use the code to make an appointment. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday during an interview on CBC's Daybreak South there will be 44 million doses of vaccine in the country by Canada Day — more than enough for everyone to receive a first dose. Also on Wednesday, Health Canada officials announced that following a safety review of the AstraZeneca vaccine, they believe there is only a "very low risk" of blood clotting associated with the product and it is safe to use. B.C. has paused use of the vaccine in anyone under the age of 55 following reports of a rare condition called vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) in younger people in Europe. In response to the Health Canada news on Wednesday, Henry and Dix said they were pleased. We've been following this closely, and we await the recommendations from the National Advisory Council on Immunization to determine how to best use this vaccine going forward to further enhance our protection," they said.

  • Calgary mom worries COVID-19 testing delays could lead to unnecessary spread

    As COVID-19 cases surge in Alberta, there are new concerns that testing delays could spark further spread of highly contagious variants of concern. Juliana Hagans has to wait almost a week to get her eight-year-old daughter tested for COVID-19 despite being deemed a close contact of a case in her Calgary elementary school. "As a parent, it's very concerning," she said. Hagans was notified in a letter from Alberta Health Services (AHS) on April 9 that her daughter was a close contact and was exposed in her classroom three days earlier. The letter states the exposure could be related to a variant of concern. According to Hagans, a second student has since tested positive and the parents of both children were notified that it was, indeed, a variant. But when she tried to book her daughter for a test through the AHS online booking portal, the earliest appointment was Thursday — nearly a week after the AHS notification and nine days after the potential exposure. "Are we doing the best we can is my biggest concern and question," she said. "Why is it that we're having to wait until Thursday when this variant of concern is supposedly such a big issue?" According to Alberta Health guidelines, when someone is deemed a close contact, that person must quarantine for 14 days, but their household members are not required to do so unless there is a positive test result. Hagans' two other children are still attending school, and she's worried either she or her husband could unknowingly spread the virus while they wait for the test. "There's just so many people that we come across … and that amount of time is concerning to me because if she is, in fact, positive, then the amount of people that would have been infected [during the wait] would be quite substantial." Hagans says her daughter recently developed symptoms, including a high fever, and she tried calling Health Link numerous times to move up the appointment, only to be repeatedly cut off due to high call volumes. And there are other Calgarians reporting similar delays. CBC was contacted by another individual who tried to book a test online Monday after developing a symptom but was unable to get an appointment until Friday. They were also unable to get through on Health Link. Dr. Craig Jenne is an associate professor of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary.(Jennifer Lee/CBC) 'Time and speed are really critical' The delays are a concern for Dr. Craig Jenne, associate professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary. According to Jenne, the wait times elevate the risk in the community because there is no requirement for family members to isolate until the close contact (in this case, Hagans' daughter) tests positive. "Time and speed are really critical," he said. "We are looking at a period of time where people should be isolating because they've been exposed to the variant.… They're out in the community, potentially spreading the virus — and this is probably one of the driving forces as to why we see so many variant cases in Alberta currently." Jenne says demand for COVID-19 testing is rising because case numbers are growing, and a recent policy change means close contacts are now offered testing twice. "These delays make it very difficult to get ahead of the viral growth and make it also very difficult to understand exactly where and when this is spreading." AHS ramps up testing AHS says it isn't aware of any appointment delays. It says Albertans should receive test results within 24 to 36 hours once testing is completed. In a statement emailed to CBC News, a spokesperson said there are no known issues with Health Link at this time. AHS acknowledges the growing demand for testing and says appointments are being ramped up. "Over the last few weeks, AHS Calgary Zone has been testing approximately 4,500 symptomatic individuals a day across eight testing sites. Demand for testing has been increasing, and even more appointments are being made available this week. Between 200 and 300 appointments are being added each day," the email said. The number of daily COVID-19 tests in the province peaked at over 23,000 during the height of the second wave in December. While Alberta has not reached those heights since then, the numbers are climbing, hitting 15,738 daily tests on Wednesday, after a significant drop in February.

  • New pathway to residency for 90,000 essential workers and graduates: Mendicino

    Ottawa is creating a new pathway to permanent residency for 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday. The new policy will grant permanent status to temporary workers and graduates who possess the skills and experience the country needs to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve an economic recovery, Mendicino said. "Canada's path to prosperity lies through immigration because newcomers ... will come and roll up their sleeves and contribute and give back in our health care sector and in many other vital areas of the economy," he said at a news conference. Mendicino said health care and other eligible essential workers must have at least one year of Canadian work experience to apply, while international graduates must have completed an eligible Canadian post-secondary program within the last four years. On May 6, the immigration department will start accepting up to 50,000 applications from health care and other essential workers and 40,000 applications from international students who graduated from a Canadian institution. Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said the new program will strengthen Canada's economic recovery by ensuring that everyone who wishes to participate in the labour force has the ability to do so. "Immigrants have long played a critical role in supporting Canadians' high standard of living and building vibrant communities," he said in a statement. "They fill labour market shortages, offset our aging population and broaden the tax base, thereby helping fund social and public services." Hyder said COVID-19-related restrictions have hit Canada's immigration system hard, significantly reducing the number of newcomers entering the country. The Immigration department said the new policy will help the government meet its goal to accept 401,000 new permanent residents this year. Mendicino said the jobs that are deemed essential are the same ones that people have sometimes labelled lower-skilled. "From caring for seniors to putting food on our tables, we now have a greater appreciation for the many skills and talents and supports that temporary workers are contributing right across our economy." Mendicino said he hopes Canadians will look back on this moment as a time when the country began to recognize the value of essential workers with an immigration policy that reflects appreciation for their roles. "What began as temporary changes to keep our economy going are now blossoming into a wider shift in how we see and treat immigration to Canada," he said. Leah Nord, a director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the new program, saying it's "an important step towards the inclusive pandemic recovery." She said in a statement that international students and temporary foreign workers are essential sources for talent pipelines for communities and industries across the country. "We have long been advocating for the government to facilitate pathways to permanent residency for temporary residents." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. ------ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press

  • N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Province will pay New Brunswickers who travel at home again this summer

    The Department of Tourism is offering to pay New Brunswickers to vacation at home again this summer as part of the province's COVID-19 recovery plan. The Explore NB Travel Incentive Program will be reoffered again this year, with a budget of $4.5 million, Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace announced Thursday as part of the department's budget estimates. The program, launched last summer and recently renewed for fall-winter travel, "has supported many tourism operators throughout the province by allowing them to stay open and generate revenue during the pandemic," Scott-Wallace said in a statement. No details about this summer's program have been released yet. The department's website says they will be shared "soon." Under the previous programs, residents could apply for a 20 per cent rebate on eligible expenses of up to $1,000 for travel within the province that included an overnight stay. Tourism Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace has said details about the renewed Explore NB travel rebate summer program will be announced 'soon.'(Submitted by Tammy Scott-Wallace) To further support the hotel sector and communities significantly impacted by COVID-19, the department will provide $200,000 to help bring meetings, conventions and sport tourism back to the province and invest $350,000 in the tourism regional fund to assist regions with their tourism plans as the province identifies next steps in local governance reform, she said. Funding has also been set aside to help the arts and culture sectors rebound post-COVID-19, said Wallace, calling the move "important" to government. "We want to ensure that creative New Brunswickers can continue to connect and inspire us when times are tough and as they improve." The plan includes: $300,000 for the arts and culture recovery and reactivation fund. Continuation of the Inspired by NB campaign to bring awareness of New Brunswick arts and cultural products through spending of $150,000. COVID-19 funding for the New Brunswick Museum and Kings Landing at $100,000 and $200,000 respectively, to help them with their recovery. An $85,000 increase in the New Brunswick Museum's operating budget. COVID update at 2:30 p.m. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard will provide an update on COVID-19 today. A live briefing will be held in Fredericton at 2:30 p.m. It will be live streamed here on CBC New Brunswick's website and and on its Facebook and Twitter pages. Sixteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported in New Brunswick on Wednesday, putting the total number of active cases at 141. Dr. Jennifer Russell and Health Minister Dorothy Shephard will address reporters in Fredericton on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.(Government of New Brunswick) Two of the cases were in the Saint John region, Zone 2, while the other 14 were in the Edmundston region, Zone 4. As of Wednesday 19 people are in hospital, 13 of whom are in intensive care. New Brunswick has had 1,752 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. There have been 33 COVID-related deaths and 1,577 recoveries. A total of 270,515 tests have been conducted, to date. More possible exposures Saint John region: March 29 and April 1, Guardian Drugs-Herring Cove Pharmacy (924 Rte. 774, Unit 2, Welshpool, Campobello Island) March 31, Service New Brunswick (73 Milltown Blvd., St. Stephen) March 31, Giant Tiger (210 King St., St. Stephen) March 31, Kent Building Supplies (188 King St., St. Stephen) March 31, Carman's Diner (164 King St., St. Stephen) Edmundston region: April 7, 8 and 9, Canada Post (4 Grondin St., Edmundston) April 8 and 9 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Fenêtre Unique (130 Rivière à la Truite Rd., Edmundston) April 8 and 9, National Bank, (111 de l'Église St., Edmundston) April 9 between 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (160 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston) April 8 between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., April 7 between 6:30 a.m and 7:00 a.m., and April 6 between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. – Tim Hortons (262 Isidore-Boucher Blvd., St-Jacques) April 7 between after 6:00 p.m., April 6 after 6:00 p.m. – Epicerie Chez ti-Marc (256 Isidore-Boucher Blvd., St-Jacques) April 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and April 6 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – Dollarama (787 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and April 6 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – NB Liquor, (575 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 7 between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – Jean Coutu (177 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 7 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Subway (180 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston) April 7 between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (577 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 6 between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) March 26 to April 8 – Napa Auto Parts - (260 Canada St., Edmundston) March 20 to April 9, Atlantic Superstore (577 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 5 at 11 a.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (160 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston) April 1 – Royal Bank (48 Saint-François St., Edmundston) March 31 between 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) March 30 between 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) March 29 between 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) Moncton region: April 8 between 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – COSTCO Wholesale customer service (140 Granite Drive, Moncton) April 6 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. – YMCA Vaughan Harvey, (30 War Veterans Ave., Moncton) April 4 between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Moncton Wesleyan Church (945 St. George Blvd., Moncton) April 3 between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – Kelseys Original Roadhouse (141 Trinity Dr., Moncton) April 1 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., April 3 between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 6 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 8 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – CF Champlain (477 Paul St., Dieppe) Fredericton region: March 31 – Murray's Irving Big Stop (198 Beardsley Rd., Beardsley) Saint John region: April 9 between 2:10 p.m. and 2:40 p.m., GAP Factory East Point, (15 Fashion Dr., Saint John) April 9 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. – McAllister Place, 519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John April 8 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., – McAllister Place, 519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John April 8 between 1:15 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Service New Brunswick, 15 King Square North, Saint John April 1 between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – YMCA of Greater Saint John (191 Churchill Blvd., Saint John) What to do if you have a symptom People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online. Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included: Fever above 38 C. New cough or worsening chronic cough. Sore throat. Runny nose. Headache. New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell. Difficulty breathing. In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes. People with one of those symptoms should: Stay at home. Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor. Describe symptoms and travel history. Follow instructions.

  • Surrey wedding host, restaurant owner, northern B.C. church fined for breaking COVID-19 orders

    Nearly $17,000 in fines have been handed out by RCMP in Surrey, B.C., in the last week to a growing number of people who police say are ignoring COVID-19 health orders. RCMP said in a statement that most of the fines were issued over large gatherings, including a $2,300 fine for the host of a wedding where 22 people attended against the provincial health officer's orders. Sgt. Tyler Wickware, with Surrey RCMP's COVID-19 Compliance and Enforcement Team, says officers have seen the number of people and businesses ignoring the health orders "creeping up." Mounties say the majority of the fines announced Wednesday stem from large gatherings, with officers going to five separate homes between April 7 and April 11 to issue fines. Other fines went to a restaurant owner who violated dining-in restrictions and to a man who refused to wear a mask inside a business. Wickware says the sunny weather can make it very inviting to gather with others, but public health orders remain in place limiting those gatherings, even outdoors. Fort St. John church fined RCMP in Fort St. John, B.C., have slapped the leader of a Mennonite church in the Peace Region with a $2,300 fine following an investigation into reports of a large indoor Easter Sunday service gathering. In a statement Wednesday, RCMP said a local media outlet provided police with a video allegedly showing more than 150 people coming out of the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Prespatou, B.C., on April 4. The town is located about 75 kilometres north of Fort St. John. The video shows the church, its parking lot full of vehicles, with people exiting the building not wearing personal protective masks, the statement said. The pastor was issued a violation ticket totalling $2,300, for organizing a non-compliant event contrary to Section 4(1) of the Emergency Program Act, RCMP said.

  • 'Wrong signal:' Federal ministers protest Saskatchewan's electric vehicle tax

    Two federal ministers are protesting Saskatchewan's plan to bring in a tax on electric vehicles. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra have outlined their concerns in a letter to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. In its most recent budget, Moe's government brought in a $150 yearly tax on electric vehicles. Saskatchewan has said the tax will ensure drivers of those vehicles pay their share to maintain roads, normally funded through gas taxes. But Wilkinson and Alghabra say the tax works against federal plans to increase the use of electric vehicles and reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. They point out the province holds many of the minerals used to build electric vehicles and encouraging their use is an economic opportunity for Saskatchewan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • Prosecutor: Missing student killed during 1996 rape attempt

    LOS ANGELES — The suspect in the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart killed her while trying rape her in his dorm room and his father helped hide the body, the San Luis Obispo County district attorney said Wednesday. District Attorney Dan Dow said prosecutors would seek to prove Paul Flores tried to sexually assault Smart by showing prior sex acts he engaged in and crimes they believe he committed in more recent years. Prosecutors filed a first-degree murder charge against Paul Flores, 44, and an accessory after murder charge against his father, Ruben Flores, 80, for helping him conceal Smart’s body, which has never been found. The two were arrested Tuesday after years of investigation and a search last month using ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs at the elder Flores' home that led to evidence connected to Smart’s death, authorities said. They didn't revealed what was found. Smart, 19, of Stockton, was last seen May 25, 1996, with Flores while returning to her dorm at California Polytechnic State University campus in San Luis Obispo after an off-campus party. She was inebriated at the time, and Flores, a fellow freshman, had offered to walk her home. Dow revealed that investigators think Flores killed Smart in his dorm room during the Memorial Day weekend when many students had left the campus. Investigators, who launched a renewed search Tuesday at his father’s property in nearby Arroyo Grande, believe they know where the body was buried but have not yet found it or disclosed the location. Paul and Ruben Flores are in jail and scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. A lawyer for Paul Flores declined to comment on the arrest or charges. Harold Mesick, a lawyer for Ruben Flores, told the Los Angeles Times his client is “absolutely innocent.” Paul Flores has remained mum through the years, invoking his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions before a grand jury and in a deposition for the lawsuit brought against him. Susan Flores, the mother of Paul and estranged wife of Ruben, broke years of public silence last month in an interview with KSBY-TV in which she said her family had no role in the death and her son had been a scapegoat. “They keep trying to find the answers with us and they keep failing because the answers are not here,” she said. “We have no responsibility for her disappearance and what happened to that young woman.” Susan Flores hung up the phone when contacted by The Associated Press on Tuesday. The criminal charges include a disclosure that prosecutors intend to admit evidence of prior sexual acts by Paul Flores. “These prior sexual acts include ... incidents described in the investigative reports and audio/video provided to defence, and other alleged incidents of abuse, which will be provided as they are obtained by the prosecution,” the document said. Dow said investigators have evidence Paul Flores continued to prey on women after Smart's death and the prosecutor appealed to any victims to come forward. Dow didn’t disclose what investigators found, but said Flores frequented bars around his home in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles area since 2005 and may have committed crimes there. He has a record of several convictions for driving under the influence. “We have evidence that we do believe there were other people not yet identified that have had some kind of a criminal act perpetrated on them by Mr. Flores,” Dow said. “We’re concerned about sexual assault.” Flores has been under suspicion from the earliest days of Smart's disappearance. He has gone from being a “person of interest” to a “suspect” to “the prime suspect” — and, now, defendant. Sheriff Ian Parkinson acknowledged Tuesday that early missteps by law enforcement, including a slow response to reports of Smart's disappearance, hampered the investigation. The revelation that the alleged crime scene was in Paul Flores' dorm room highlighted one of those failures. Smart was reported missing May 28, 1996, but no search began until two days later. Flores' room wasn't searched for another two weeks — after he had moved out for the summer. Smart’s family, who welcomed news of the arrest as a step toward bringing their daughter home, noted that “an indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years.” A renewed effort to investigate the case led to new witnesses coming forward and warrants that allowed investigators to intercept and monitor Paul Flores’ phone and text messages and search his own home, along with those of his mother, father and sister that turned up new evidence, Parkinson said. He declined to offer more details because search warrants are sealed. Investigators served over 40 search warrants at 16 locations over the years, collected nearly 200 new items of evidence and used modern DNA techniques to test more than three dozen older pieces of evidence. So much evidence was compiled that it would fill three terabytes on a computer hard drive, he said. Brian Melley, The Associated Press

  • Northern Pulp poised to submit revised plan for effluent treatment facility

    Northern Pulp intends to submit revised plans within a month for an effluent treatment facility at its mothballed paper mill in Nova Scotia's Pictou County, according to an affidavit filed this week in a B.C. court. The affidavit said the company — which is seeking protection from creditors — intends to share key details of the project with certain stakeholders by the end of April. Bruce Chapman, the mill's general manager, said Northern Pulp anticipates submitting a project description for an environmental assessment by May 13. It is unclear whether the new plan involves discharging treated effluent into the Northumberland Strait, a major source of controversy with its first proposal. However, the timeline references "detailed design engineering and ice scouring" to be completed by early next year. Ice scouring during winter in the strait is an issue for pipeline location. The company did not respond to a request for comment from CBC News. Plans for environmental assessment Northern Pulp's plans to pump treated effluent into the Northumberland Strait were still hung up in the provincial environmental assessment process when a January 2020 government deadline to close the existing treatment facility at Boat Harbour expired. With nowhere to treat nearly 75 million litres a day of effluent, the mill at Abercrombie Point closed, throwing 302 people out of work. Northern Pulp expects the new effluent treatment project will be classified as a "modification to existing infrastructure" and subject to a 50-day review — a timeline that can be extended at the discretion of the environment minister. The timeline expects environmental studies to be substantially completed by March 22, 2022, with an environmental assessment decision by June 29, 2022. Seeking another $6M to carry on The affidavit is in support of an application to extend creditor protection from the end of April to Oct. 31, 2021, and to draw down an additional $6 million from lenders, including its parent company, Paper Excellence, to continue restructuring. Court documents released last year show Northern Pulp owes creditors $309 million. Paper Excellence is owed $213 million and the province $84 million. In the affidavit, Northern Pulp said "meaningful progress" has been made in discussions with the province over the environmental assessment process. The company said it has revised its design and plans for the new treatment facility to include stakeholder concerns. 'It may be necessary to commence litigation' Several disputes with the province remain unresolved, including: An appeal of the 2020 ministerial order on how Northern Pulp was to manage the mill during the shutdown. Potential compensation over the Boat Harbour Act which closed the provincially owned facility 10 years before the lease with Northern Pulp was due to expire. Northern Pulp said it is committed to negotiating a mutually agreeable settlement with the provincial government. "Nonetheless, in the event that the petitioners and the province are unable to reach an agreement with respect to clarity in the environmental assessment process for the new replacement ETF [effluent treatment facility], or if the settlement discussions stall, it may be necessary to commence litigation to resolve disputes with the province relating to the passage of the Boat Harbour Act and the closure of the mill," the affidavit said. The decision to shut down the Boat Harbour facility was a commitment by the province to address concerns from the Pictou Landing First Nation, which had been an unwilling neighbour of the mill's waste treatment site for more than 50 years. The band also opposed the mill plan to pipe treated effluent into the Strait. Chief Andrea Paul said she has not been consulted on the revised project. "I don't know about their plan," she said in a brief email to CBC News. MORE TOP STORIES

  • Vancouver boaters told to exercise caution after injured whale spotted

    Whale researchers and conservationists are urging boaters in the waters off Vancouver to slow down and give adequate space to an injured humpback whale that's been seen in the area. Jessica Scott, a biologist with Ocean Wise Conservation Association, said the whale was spotted three days ago with a deep cut on its tail stock, the muscular part of the tail between the body and the fluke. She said the injury appears to be a strike wound likely caused by a vessel travelling at relatively low speed. The conservation group is reminding boaters to slow to below 7 knots when within 1,000 metres of the animal, and to give it a minimum of 100 metres space. Scott said humpbacks are particularly vulnerable to ship strikes because they exhibit random travel patterns, sometimes remain underwater for more than 15 minutes, and tend to feed at the water's surface. An injury to the tail stock of a humpback whale seen swimming in the waters off Vancouver's west side is noticeable in recent photographs.(Vanessa Prigollini) She said the injured humpback has been seen in the waters off the Point Grey neighbourhood since early April. On April 11, a crew member from a whale watching vessel photographed the animal with a deep laceration behind its dorsal fin. Humpbacks are listed as being "of special concern" under Canada's Species at Risk Act, even as they have made a comeback in the past five decades. Scott said the whale also appears to have scars associated with an entanglement with fishing gear. So far, researchers believe the animal can recover from its injury if people keep their distance. She pointed out boaters need to keep an eye out for signs of whale presence, such as blows, splashes, or aggregations of birds. Scott said the Department of Oceans and Fisheries is monitoring the whale but there are no plans to intervene. She urges people to download the Ocean Wise WhaleReport app to notify the organization of whale sightings, which can then be transmitted to large commercial vessels in the area.

  • New Brunswick says 14 of 16 new COVID-19 cases in hard-hit Edmundston area

    FREDERICTON — A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the Edmundston, N.B., region Wednesday brought New Brunswick's active case count to 141 — the highest in Atlantic Canada and a main reason the regional travel bubble isn't reopening this month. Health officials in the province reported 16 new cases — 14 of which were identified in the Edmundston area, in the northwest of the province, which was placed under lockdown last weekend. The outbreak is a primary reason the region's premiers decided Tuesday to delay the reopening of the Atlantic travel bubble to May 3 from April 19. It's also why Nova Scotia is reimposing restrictions for travellers from New Brunswick. Beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, all visitors to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick will have to self-isolate for 14 days. In Charlottetown, the city's chamber of commerce issued a statement Wednesday expressing disappointment with the delay in reopening the bubble, which will allow residents of the region to travel freely between the four provinces without the need to isolate for 14 days. Chamber CEO Penny Walsh-McGuire said while the growing case counts in New Brunswick are "of concern," the chamber is urging the governments of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to consider a phased approach to reopening. "This could include solutions to allow for safe travel between the three provinces until such time that the situation in New Brunswick changes," Walsh-McGuire said. New Brunswick health officials said 11 of the 14 new cases in Edmundston and upper Madawaska involve contacts of a previously reported infection, while the three others were under investigation. The two remaining cases were in the Saint John region. Health officials said 19 patients were hospitalized with the disease, including 13 in intensive care. In Newfoundland and Labrador, officials reported three new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and ruled out community transmission in the western region of the province. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said all three cases are linked to travel. She said public health was still working to identify the source of a cluster of cases in the western region but added that recent mass testing efforts had ruled out community transmission. The province has 14 active reported cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 and a total of 42 active cases. Health officials identified one case in the Halifax area related to international travel and one in the eastern zone related to domestic travel outside Atlantic Canada. Officials added that 18 previously reported cases have been identified as the B.1.1.7 mutation first identified in the United Kingdom. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said in a news release the number of cases being identified as variants is growing. "It's important to understand that most of these cases are related to travel," Strang said. To date, Nova Scotia has identified 41 cases of the U.K. variant and 10 cases of the B.1.3.5.1 mutation first identified in South Africa. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2021. — With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax and Sarah Smellie in St. John's. The Canadian Press

  • Alberta government, Stampede optimistic outdoor events will go forward this summer

    Amidst a backdrop of increased restrictions and cases of COVID-19 variants, the provincial government is optimistic that outdoor festivals and events such as the Calgary Stampede will go ahead this summer. Over 300 members of Alberta's live events industry joined Doug Schweitzer, the minister of jobs, economy and innovation, for a virtual town hall on Tuesday to discuss the outlook for the province's social calendar in the coming months. According to Schweitzer, the Alberta government is heading into its second pandemic summer in consultation with event organizers and stakeholders in the hopes of going ahead with outdoor festivals safely. "When it comes to outdoor events in summer, we want to make sure that we have outdoor events happening in Alberta, people engaging with each other," Schweitzer said. "As we get into May and probably early June, you're going to start to see those health measures continue to be reduced to the point where, the premier's been very clear, he wants us to try and have a Stampede this year." 'Best and safest' Stampede coming in July, officials say On April 6, the Alberta government reintroduced stricter health measures to counter a surge of COVID-19 variant cases. But Kenney said at a press conference on April 10 that once vaccines outstrip the variants, "we absolutely can get back to normal this summer." "I believe we're going to have a Calgary Stampede, we're going to have outdoor events," Kenney said. For its part, Calgary Stampede officials told CBC News in a statement Wednesday that it is planning to go forward. "We are committed to hosting the best and safest Stampede, July 9 to 18, and continue to work with various levels of government and health officials on specific safety measures," the statement said. "We expect to be able to share more details as we get closer to July." The Calgary Folk Fest, pictured here in 2016, is usually held in late July at Prince's Island Park.(Rachel Maclean/CBC) Other stakeholders like Sara Leishman, the executive director of the Calgary Folk Festival, told CBC News they are engaging in "in-depth, ongoing conversations with the city and the province around the ever-changing COVID-19 situation." "We remain cautiously optimistic and adaptable so are in the process of planning ways to safely bring live music back, in a very modified way, to Prince's Island Park this summer," Leishman said. Modelling and consultations Schweitzer said the province is looking to countries that are further along in their vaccination efforts — such as the United States and Israel — to see how their reopenings have unfolded amidst vaccine distribution. That has included their handling of live events and the reopening of sports venues. To make live events happen, Minister Doug Schweitzer says the province is looking to countries that are further along in their vaccination efforts, such as the United States and Israel. (Todd Korol/The Canadian Press) "We're finding the provincial and the municipal governments to be very supportive and very collaborative," Cindy McLeod, the producer and artistic director of the Calgary Blues Festival, told CBC News. "Because we are in the business of presenting large events safely, we're finding that they're not just sending directives, but they're actually asking for suggestions and ideas." 'Safety is uppermost in our minds' Event organizers have created templates for safe events that included protocols such as masking and distancing that were then taken to a medical officer who helped to tweak it, McLeod said. Those templates were presented to the government and Alberta Health Services, who were very receptive, she said. The festival will look different, but ultimately McLeod said the plan is to go ahead with something small that can be ramped up to become larger. "Safety is uppermost in our minds. We are reassured by not just the government — we're also collaborating with medical officers and public health doctors," she said. However, McLeod said that ultimately what happens will hinge on the vaccine. Dr. Jia Hu, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary who presented at the town hall, agreed. Complicating matters further are the variants that are now the dominant strains in Alberta that Schweitzer said made him hesitant to "over-promise" normalcy. And for these same reasons, infectious disease specialist Craig Jenne told CBC News that live events are still not a guarantee. 'Still too early to know' "Unfortunately … it's still too early to know exactly what to expect, and that's because there are a couple things that are still changing that are really going to influence what happens," Jenne said. Vaccine supply and rollout are certainly factors, but according to Jenne, uptake is also becoming an issue. Signs of vaccine hesitancy are increasing. The other side of the equation is the virus itself is changing, Jenne said. The variants have different properties that have to also be taken into account. Still, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said Tuesday that there is a path forward. "If we have high-enough uptake of vaccines; if we can build a strong-enough wall of protection, and if we are able to turn our cases and our hospitalization numbers down, I believe that it's possible we could have large events this summer," she said.