How to make an extremely tasty & versatile super sauce

This is a sauce that makes even vegan greens taste savory & delicious. Works with all greens, veggie in general & is even awesome with fish or tofu!

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  • New 'statement to police' card for Indigenous people released in Alberta

    An Edmonton non-profit has created a new wallet-sized card to help Indigenous people know their rights if stopped by police in Alberta. The statement to police card created by the Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) provides a list of people's rights and a paragraph that can be read to police. It also lists the organization's contact information. Staff say the card is to help Indigenous people invoke their rights. "This is basically to help, especially in interactions with the police where it's potentially a crisis, or you get flustered or caught off guard, to just have what you need to say there, so police also know that there are responsibilities on both sides," said Daena Crosby, director of legal education, media and research with NCSA. "We tried to make it as easy as possible." The NCSA offered a slightly different version of the card previously, and the new iteration of the free card was started shortly after the provincial government banned the practice of carding by police last November and imposed new rules on street checks. "This is an NCSA-specific project so it is focused on Indigenous communities themselves but with Black Lives Matter and the conviction yesterday for George Floyd's murder, this information is paramount to all people, all Canadians. Everyone has the right to know what their legal rights are," said Crosby. "It's just getting access to that information that's a challenge and having the tools the people need to be able to keep themselves alert to what their rights are and also safe in those interactions as well." Daena Crosby, director of legal education, media and research with Native Counselling Services of Alberta, holds up the printed card with the statement to police that can be read.(CBC News) Carding is "disproportionately targeting Indigenous and Black communities in Alberta," NCSA said in a news release. "NCSA recognizes that the solutions to systemic racism go well beyond this card. However, this is one small step in the right direction." Carding refers to arbitrary stops by police and asking members of the public for their personal information, even if there is no suspicion of wrongdoing. Ajay Juneja, a criminal defence lawyer in Edmonton, said the card will help people know their rights. "This is particularly important for [Indigenous people] and the majority of clients serviced by Native Counselling Services because they're disproportionately targeted by the police, subject to street checks and carding," he said. "I think this card will go a long way assisting people in knowing when they have the right to not identify themselves and to walk away." In the first six months of 2020, Edmonton police conducted 3,591 street checks. (CBC) A 2017 CBC News investigation found that in 2016, Indigenous women were nearly 10 times as likely to be street checked as white women. The same year, Indigenous people were six times more likely than white people to be stopped by Edmonton police. Black people were almost five times as likely as white people to be stopped, data showed. Carding was banned by the provincial government last year but street checks, when police say there is a specific reason to stop and question a member of the public, continue. Edmonton Police Service staff worked with NCSA to develop the card, according to the NCSA press release. "We see the value in this card as an opportunity to provide that knowledge and mutual understanding between individuals and officers regarding their rights and responsibilities … we hope it removes any feelings of fear or uncertainty while also allowing room to build on relationships with the communities our members serve," EPS Deputy Chief Alan Murphy said in a statement. Crosby said the goal now is to circulate the free cards, which can be downloaded online, to as many Indigenous communities in Alberta as possible. "The more people who know, the better."

  • Premier Moe says Ontario anti-mask protester should stay out of Saskatchewan

    Premier Scott Moe had strong words Wednesday for an Ontario anti-masker who is slated to make two appearances in Saskatchewan this weekend — including one in a community recently touched by a nearby party-turned-superspreader. "I don't think this is any time for someone to be travelling halfway across the country to come in and to advocate for Saskatchewan people to be not wearing masks, not following public health orders, and doing it in an area where we have just had the very first few cases of what be proved to be a quite a bit more of a challenging virus," Moe said. The premier was referring to Chris Saccoccia, who also identifies himself as "Chris Sky." Saccoccia has rallied against health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. A "Calgary Freedom Walk" video dated April 17 and posted on Saccoccia's website shows him leading a crowd of dozens of unmasked people in a chant of, "Just say No!" According to Saccoccia's website and Twitter feed, his "freedom convoy" is set to arrive in Maple Creek, Sask., on Saturday. Maple Creek is about 476 kilometres southwest of Regina. An Easter weekend "recreational party" in the Maple Creek area went "way over" the current outdoor gathering limit and featured "minimal" adherence to public health rules, according to Health Minister Paul Merriman. According to Global News, more than 100 people attended that party and the ensuing outbreak involves the UK variant. As of Friday, 40 cases of COVID-19 were tied to the event. Moe said he couldn't say whether the highly transmissible P1 variant associated with Brazil is specifically tied to that outbreak, but noted that five cases of the P1 variant were just reported in the southwest region (under which Maple Creek falls) on Tuesday. Holding a mass gathering in the area would be "highly inappropriate," Moe said. "He's going to Maple Creek?" Ryan Meili, the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, asked incredulously when told of Sky's planned stop. "When we have P1 variants showing up in the southwest of the province? Where we had a major outbreak after a party? "What an idiot. He should stay the hell away from Saskatchewan." CBC News has reached out to Saccoccia for comment. The health zone that includes Maple Creek and 26 other communities in southwest Saskatchewan reported 64 active cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, nearly double the caseload from a week before. (Guy Quenneville/CBC) Regina is also listed as a stop on Saccoccia's tour. The capital city has faced the brunt of Saskatchewan's coronavirus variant of concern cases in recent weeks, as well as a surge in infected ICU patients. Health officials are strongly recommending against travel in and out of the city. "The City of Regina continues to call on everyone to respect all provincial public health measures currently in place, including the recommendation [against] travel," the city said in an emailed statement to CBC News. Chris Saccoccia's 'freedom convoy' poster touts upcoming stop in Maple Creek and Regina. (Chris Sky) Maple Creek mayor alerts RCMP Michelle McKenzie, the mayor of Maple Creek, said the town learned Tuesday afternoon of Saccoccia's upcoming weekend stop and alerted the RCMP to inform them of a possible large gathering. "They will be monitoring for non compliance," she said. CBC News has reached out to the Saskatchewan RCMP for comment. One Facebook post spreading the word about Saccoccia's event encouraged people from the nearby communities of Fox Valley, Consul, Richmound, Tompkins, Piapot, Medicine Hat and Swift Current to attend. "It is a high concern. It's very unfortunate," McKenzie said. 'We respect peaceful protests': mayor McKenzie said that as a leader, she has to walk a fine line when it come to events like those hosted by Saccoccia. "We want to make sure the Town of Maple Creek supports freedom of speech and respects each individual's rights and opinions. We also respect peaceful protests as it's the right of Canadian citizens," she said. "However, at this time, we do not encourage mass gatherings due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in our community and the variants of concern." If anyone is thinking of attending Saccoccia's event, they should "keep it lawful" and stay home if they're feeling unwell, McKenzie said. Chris Saccoccia, seen here during a protest against mandatory mask measures on Toronto's TTC, was fined $1,000 last fall for contravening the federal Quarantine Act. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) All public and private outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people under Saskatchewan's current public health order. "Those public health orders are in place for a reason This is what can happen if they're not followed," McKenzie said.

  • Grizzly victim knew risks of living with bears, friends say

    BILLINGS, Mont. — Grizzly bears are part of life in the gateway communities around Yellowstone National Park, and backcountry snowmobile guide Charles “Carl” Mock knew well the risks that come with working, hiking and fishing among the fear-inspiring carnivores, his friends said. Mock was killed after being mauled by a 400-plus pound (181-plus kilogram) male grizzly while fishing alone at a favourite spot on Montana's Madison River, where it spills out of the park and into forested land that bears wander in search of food. The bear had a moose carcass stashed nearby and wildlife officials say it likely attacked Mock to defend the food. The grizzly was shot after charging at a group of seven game wardens and bear specialists who returned the next day. Bear spray residue found on Mock's clothing suggested he tried to ward off last week's attack using a canister of the Mace-like deterrent, considered an essential item in the backcountry. He usually carried a pistol, too, but wasn't on the day he was killed just a few miles north of the small town of West Yellowstone where he lived, according to two friends. While some on social media questioned the inherent perils of such a lifestyle in the wake of Mock's death, those who knew him said he accepted the risk as a trade-off for time spent in a wilderness teeming with elk, deer, wolves and other wildlife. “People don't understand that for us who live here, that's what we do every day,” said Scott Riley, who said he fished, hunted, hiked and kayaked numerous times with Mock over the past decade. West Yellowstone has just over 900 full time residents but gets throngs of summer tourists at one of the main entrances to the park. “We had a bear in town two nights after Carl was mauled. It's not like we're just running around in the forest tempting them. They are everywhere," said Riley, who manages a snowmobile dealership in West Yellowstone. Mock, 40, managed to call 911 following the mauling and was found by rescuers propped against a tree with the cannister of bear spray in one hand, his father, Chuck Mock, told the Billing Gazette. His other hand had been “chomped off” as he tried to protect himself. One of the animal's teeth punctured his skull and Mock died two days later in an Idaho hospital after undergoing extensive surgery. The Yellowstone region that spans portions of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming has more than 700 bears. Fatal attacks on humans are rare but have increased in recent decades as the grizzly population grew and more people moved into rural areas near bear habitat. Since 2010, grizzlies in the Yellowstone region killed eight people including Mock. The last fatality around West Yellowstone that town Mayor Jerry Johnson could recall happened in 1983, when a 600-pound (272-kilogram) bear dragged a Wisconsin man from his tent and killed at the Rainbow Point campground north of town. Grizzlies are protected under federal law outside Alaska. Members of the region’s congressional delegation have introduced legislation to lift protections and allow grizzly hunting. Mock had been “in awe” of Yellowstone from a young age, according to his father, and moved from Idaho to West Yellowstone about 10 years ago. For the past five years he worked as a guide for a snowmobile touring company owned by Johnson. He was known for being helpful to friends and his love of outdoor adventure, Johnson said. A community memorial service for Mock, is scheduled for Saturday at West Yellowstone's Union Pacific Dining Lodge. His relatives will hold a private funeral, Johnson said. Riley said he and Mock came upon bears in the wild numerous times. Sometimes a grizzly would make a bluff charge, running at Riley and Mock but always backing down before last week's attack. “I've held my bear spray 100 times but never had to use it,” Riley said. “What happened to Carl could happen to anybody that walks into these forests at any given time ... I would say if the forest kills me, the forest kills me." Matthew Brown, The Associated Press

  • Cannabis production bylaws in Niagara – by municipality

    On Oct. 17, 2018, the province of Ontario legalized the regulated sale of recreational use cannabis by private, licensed retailers. Since then, however, different regions and municipalities have been working through their own legalities to regulate the cultivation and production of cannabis. When it comes to recreational use, municipalities follow the legal guidelines as outlined by the federal government: You must be 19 or older to purchase cannabis or related products; you can legally possess up to 150 grams of cannabis products in varying forms; and all Canadians are limited to four cannabis plants per household. Also, distributing cannabis products to anyone under the age of 18 or driving while under the influence are both strictly prohibited. Different municipalities have different breakdowns for cultivation, production and processing practices that can vary per city or town. Here’s the latest breakdown for the Niagara region. NIAGARA FALLS In June 2019, the City of Niagara Falls passed an interim control bylaw (ICB) that prohibited the production, processing or cultivation of cannabis and was set to expire on June 22, 2020, but in June it was extended to September 2020, then later it was extended for another year. As a result, final regulations have yet to be passed later this year. WEST LINCOLN In 2019, the Township of West Lincoln passed a bylaw that permitted the production of cannabis under specific regulations. This bylaw from West Lincoln comes as an amendment to a 2017 bylaw that initially only had regulations exclusively for medical marijuana growing facilities. LINCOLN Lincoln passed an interim control bylaw that was lifted in 2020 when a zoning bylaw was passed, along with an official plan, however a licensing system is still in the works. In April 2021 the town passed a nuisance bylaw after concern from residents about already existing cannabis facilities. NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE Much like with the other municipalities, Niagara on-the-Lake initially passed an ICB in 2019 to allow time for a review and the time was extended into 2020. On July 15, 2020 council passed a zoning bylaw, allowing cannabis production facilities to operate under specific circumstances. PELHAM The Town of Pelham had enacted an ICB two days before the federal legalization of cannabis. This ICB was extended into 2019, then again into 2020. In July 2020, the town passed an official zoning plan, indicating the proper regulation required for cannabis production. PORT COLBORNE Like other municipalities, Port Colborne also enacted an ICB that saw the freeze of marijuana production to figure out regulation of production and processing. After a 2019 extension on the initial ICB, in January of 2020, the city implemented new bylaws that included an allowance for outdoor growing. WELLAND Welland council waited over a year after legalization before enacting an ICB. Originally enacted in December of 2019 for one year, the city voted in favour of another year-long freeze in December 2020. WAINFLEET Wainfleet adopted its bylaw in March of 2019. Like the other municipalities, it called for a freeze for a year of all cannabis facilities. In 2020, the town forwarded that freeze until November. In November, the freeze was pushed to March 2021. The township has not yet responded to Niagara This Week’s inquiries about more recent updates. ST. CATHARINES St. Catharines waited until February 2020 before implementing an ICB, which, much like the other municipalities, put cannabis production on hold for a year. In January of 2021, the ICB was extended to February 2022. THOROLD Initially, Thorold’s official plan was amended in 2019 to only permit licensed marijuana production facilities in the designated rural industrial zone. However the city’s new zoning bylaw, put into effect March 16, includes provisions around indoor licensed marijuana production facilities that are not limited to medical use. As of right now, these production facilities are only permitted in the rural industrial zone in Thorold. FORT ERIE In February 2020, Fort Erie voted down an ICB and temporarily reverted to operating under its 2014 medical marijuana bylaw. After some discussion between council and residents in early 2021, the town is expected to finalize a decision later in the year. Moosa Imran, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Grimsby Lincoln News

  • Ontario calls wild pigs 'ecological trainwreck.' Now it wants a plan to keep them out

    Wildlife officials in Ontario are drafting a new strategy to keep wild pigs from establishing themselves in the province, to prevent what officials have referred to as an "ecological train wreck." The province published its proposal on Wednesday, asking hunters, trappers and other outdoor enthusiasts for their input into how to deal with a potential porcine invasion, should it arrive. "Based on experiences from other jurisdictions, it is clear that the least costly and most effective approach for managing wild pigs is to act early," the Ontario government website said. The proposal seeks to add wild pigs, along with 12 other invasive species, to the Ontario Invasive Species Act, giving authorities more means at their disposal to eradicate the wily and elusive animals. The new regulations would also ban the release of pigs into the wild. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is drafting protocols in the event a pig escapes from a farm or transport truck, so it can be notified immediately, and the animal can be recaptured or dispatched as soon as possible. Sask. expert says Ontario on right track Ontario's announcement Wednesday follows the introduction of a wild pig protocol this spring by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) to help hunters, trappers and outdoor enthusiasts properly identify the animals and report their locations to the MNRF. A wild pig spotted at the side of the road near Alderville First Nation, north of Cobourg, Ont.(Inaturalist.org) "Once they become established, it's virtually unheard of to get rid of them. If they become widespread in a place like Ontario, there's virtually no chance of eradication," said Ryan Brook, a wild pig expert and an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan. "We've missed that window in Saskatchewan. I think Ontario is in a good position to get on it. If I were grading this as a project, I would give them an A-plus for effort." Brook and his team have been studying wild pigs in Canada for 11 years. He said there is so far no evidence of any established populations in Ontario, and the province is doing the right thing by showing leadership on the issue and acting early. "I would argue they are the worst invasive large mammal on the planet. They have an amazing ability to reproduce," he said. "A small problem can turn into a massive out-of-control problem very quickly." "They can be very large. They're very dangerous to people. They have razor-sharp tusks. They can be aggressive and they're highly mobile, and they're incredibly smart. So all those characteristics and the fact that they will eat literally almost anything means they will be very successful." React 'as soon as you find pigs' Brook said wild pigs were introduced to Saskatchewan many years ago when a tractor-trailer carrying a load of domestic wild boar across the province crashed. The 11 animals on board escaped and only seven were recovered. "There was four that went into a park and they turned into well over 100 animals in a few years," he said. Brook said Saskatchewan has tried a number of methods to eradicate wild pigs without success, including traps and highly trained ground teams who quickly go into an area and physically remove the pigs. In his studies of wild pigs, Brook has travelled to other jurisdictions, including the United States, to see how other places have handled the problem, and in all of them, he's seen only one common thread for dealing with the animal effectively. "You need really good leadership that's going to make tough decisions. You need to be monitoring very hard, and as soon as you find pigs, you have to react." 'Active surveilliance' needed for eradication Brook said that, more than any other province, Ontario is showing solid leadership on the wild pig issue and is embracing a science-based approach. Researchers net a wild pig in Saskatchewan. The animal's legs are put in handcuff-like restraints and they are blindfolded while biologists examine and collar them.(Submitted by Ryan Brook) "I think eradication is on the table, but it will still take major effort, especially through active surveillance," said Brook. He said most jurisdictions rely on passive surveillance, by encouraging hunters, trappers and anglers to report pig sightings to a tip line. Ontario just recently added wild pigs to the list of animals that can be reported to its invasive species tip line. But Brook said finding wild pigs is more complicated than just sitting by the phone. The more proactive we are and aggressive we are in searching out those pigs, the better. - Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan, wild pig expert "'We'll wait and you call us,' that's useful, but we've found in our research here in the Prairies that you probably only get one to three per cent of actual pig sightings from that. The overwhelming majority of pig sightings we have is by putting out trail cameras or going out and knocking on doors." Brook said pigs are nocturnal, elusive and often hide in thick cover, making underground burrows or nesting among cattails in wetlands, spruce trees in forests and building what he calls "pigloos" in the winter. "They tunnel into snowbanks and make almost like an igloo," he said, noting he's fitted pigs with radio collars, and even with the aid of satellites and a helicopter, still wasn't able to spot them with his own eyes. "They're very hard to find," said Brook. "I don't think we should pretend this is easy. The more proactive we are and aggressive we are in searching out those pigs, the better."

  • Alberta teachers and education minister swap accusations of politicizing curriculum

    EDMONTON — Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says the group representing Alberta teachers is playing politics with a proposed new kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum and isn’t sincere about real bridge-building. The Alberta Teachers' Association has publicly stated the proposed learning plan is “fatally flawed, and teachers, academics and curriculum experts should work on a revised version." “I have the utmost respect for teachers, and the work that they do, and the professionalism that they have,” LaGrange said when asked about the association Wednesday. “I want them to weigh in on the curriculum," she said. "The union for teachers appears to want to make it more political. I really don’t want to go down that path. I prefer to work collaboratively. “The fact they have not reached out to me or my department since the curriculum has come out to set up a meeting, to have a discussion, speaks volumes to me.” LaGrange’s spokeswoman, Nicole Sparrow, in a subsequent statement, said the minister’s door remains open. “Alberta’s government will continue to work with the education system, including the teachers' union, to gather all feedback to make this the best curriculum possible,” said Sparrow. “It is clear that the union is more interested in political theatre than actually providing feedback.” Teachers president Jason Schilling lobbed the accusation right back. “We need to have the whole curriculum redesign process depoliticized. In fact, I would like to see politicians get out of the way and let’s go back to the way we used to do curriculum redesign,” Schilling said in an interview. Schilling said LaGrange cancelled a memorandum of understanding in late 2019 that had put teachers and other experts at the centre of the curriculum review. Teachers have fought for a place at the table ever since, he said. “The association has essentially been shut out,” said Schilling. “The minister is very well aware of the fact I have concerns about the curriculum, that I want to make sure that teachers are involved, (so) that we can get this right.” The result has been a high-profile back-and-forth word fight. The teachers association says it was shut out of the curriculum consultation. LaGrange counters that 100 teachers were involved. Schilling has said it was 100 teachers for two days who had to sign non-disclosure agreements. The ATA has said 91 per cent of teachers in an in-house survey are against the curriculum. LaGrange has dismissed the survey sample she says was less than seven per cent as minuscule. Sarah Hoffman, the NDP Opposition's education critic, said LaGrange and the United Conservative government need to meaningfully work with teachers who have the expertise and front-line experience on what works and what doesn’t. “The minister is picking massive fights and trying to discredit teaching professionals who work to make sure students learn quality information to set them up for success,” said Hoffman. The draft is to be piloted in select schools this fall and fully implemented in September 2022. To date, almost 30 of Alberta’s 63 school boards, including the public school boards in Edmonton and Calgary as well as francophone school boards, say they won’t teach it. It’s been the subject of fierce debate since being outlined by LaGrange in late March. Advocates defend it as a common-sense approach that includes basic concepts, such as multiplication tables, along with real-life skills for the information age, including how to budget and computer code. The ATA and other critics say the plan is not developmentally appropriate for young kids, is jammed with random facts, and too loosely structured with concepts well over students' heads. They say it pushes Eurocentric history while giving short shrift to francophone and Indigenous cultures and perspectives. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2021. Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press

  • 'Completely offensive' COVID-response protest at Regina hospital sparks outrage from Opposition, premier

    A small group of protesters that has frequently been stationed outside the legislature in Regina, as well as the immunization centre in the city, are now at Regina General Hospital. The presence of the group — who are protesting a range of COVID-19 pandemic responses — at the hospital has created outrage, amidst record-high COVID-19 cases in ICUs. On Wednesday, 34 COVID-19 patients were in intensive care in Regina. All four of Wednesday's reported deaths from the illness were from the Regina zone. Protesters carried signs and blared loud music outside the hospital on Wednesday. One of the protesters' messages greeting those entering and exiting the Regina General Hospital. (Nichole Huck/CBC) Premier Scott Moe and Opposition NDP Leader Ryan Meili did not mince words when addressing the group. Meili revealed that his father is in the ICU at the Regina hospital with a non-COVID related illness. "What does it feel like if you're leaving the hospital, visiting a loved one in the ICU, and then you go out and see these idiots with signs saying COVID isn't real?" Meili said. "It's completely offensive, ridiculous. It shouldn't happen. And these people need to get a life." WATCH | A look at some of the signs posted outside Regina General Hospital Moe said the group should take their concerns to the legislature, not where health-care workers and families are supporting those in need. Hospital staff are working as hard as they can to save lives, with high numbers in the hospital's ICU, the premier said. Both Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Premier Scott Moe condemned protesters outside Regina General Hospital Wednesday. (CBC) He called the protesters "highly inappropriate." "We have people working in our ICU and in that hospital environment that are working as hard as they've ever worked in their careers," Moe said. "And they're doing it … [for] those same families that are crossing through those same front doors," he said. "They're doing it because of their loved ones that are in there. And I know that they can relate to their own loved ones and their own family members."

  • Demand 'through the roof' for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after age limit drops, pharmacist says

    A Toronto pharmacist says demand for the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is "through the roof" after the Ontario government lowered the minimum age limit for the shot from 55 to 40. Kyro Maseh, owner and manager of Lawlor Pharmasave, said demand has been extremely high since the change took effect on Tuesday. On that day, public health units in Ontario administered a new single-day high of 136,695 doses of vaccines, according to the provincial health ministry. "In addition to the age being lowered, I feel that people are a bit more educated on the risks involved and they understand that it's really minute and insignificant. Yes, very, very high demand," Maseh said on Wednesday. Other provinces, namely B.C., Alberta and Manitoba, have also lowered their age limits to 40- plus after the federal government said Sunday eligibility for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine could be expanded to any adult over the age of 18. Maseh was worried that his doses were going to expire on the weekend because the 55-plus age group was not making appointments, but everything changed after the age was lowered. On Tuesday, he allowed front-line workers to get their first dose without an appointment, vaccinating about 84 essential workers who walked in that day. He said his vaccine supply will be depleted by the end of Wednesday after he will have vaccinated about 60 people. He doesn't know when he will get more supply. "The majority have been under 55," Maseh said. Lawlor Pharmasave has made a video to mark its 1,000th dose. Maseh said the pharmacy felt it was a cause for celebration that 1,000 people will not end up in intensive care units due to COVID-19. Pharmacist Kyro Maseh prepares a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at his pharmacy in Toronto on Tuesday. Toronto pharmacies began administering the vaccine to people born in 1981 and up on Tuesday.(Evan Mitsui/CBC) "We've been getting a lot of phone calls. We've been getting a lot of emails, Twitter messages, carrier pigeons, you name it. But we're using our booking systems," he added. "And some people are angry at the fact that we only have 50 or 60 doses in stock today. But just be patient, be patient, we will get to you as soon as we can." 'No hesitancy here, that's for sure' The uptick in the number of vaccinations is being marked across social media, under the hashtag #GenXZeneca, as 40 to 55 year olds embrace the opportunity to get their first dose. According to Twitter posts, lots of people in this age group seem to be heeding the call to get vaccinated, despite concerns about the possibility of rare blood clots. WATCH | CBC's Angelina King reports on why Generation X is embracing AstraZeneca: Betsy Hilton, 42, a consultant in Toronto, said her friends immediately texted each other when they learned they were eligible. She said she thinks people in her generation were willing to wait their turn if they weren't essential workers or in any high-risk categories. "And then suddenly it just was our turn. And that was really exciting," she said. "No hesitancy here, that's for sure." Hilton said there has been "this incredible mobilization of people in our generation so excited to get vaccinated and to do their part. And I think we're all here for it and we're all coming together." She said it's been a busy and stressful year for 40-somethings and the vaccine is a way to get back to life before the pandemic. "We're at a really interesting stage of life and a challenging stage of life. Many of us have kids, many of us have aging parents. And it's been a really worrying time for us," she said. "The opportunity to get vaccinated, the opportunity to get back to being together again and get back to some semblance of normal life and mostly to get back to a place where we're not worried all the time, I think has been a huge sort of rallying point for this generation." 'We know what risk is and this is not it' Hilton said getting the AstraZeneca vaccine is an acceptable risk. "This is safe. Science is good," she said. "We know what risk looks like and this is not it." She said being comfortable around technology has helped 40-somethings book their spots. "If you've ever tried to register for swimming lessons in through the city, we know how to get online and try to get those spots. Everyone jumped on board." Stephanie Bolton, 44, posted this photo of herself on Twitter after she got the first dose of AstraZeneca on April 20. She said in a tweet: 'Got my AZ vaccine yesterday. So glad to be part of a cohort that is fearless and doing the right thing for the country. I took AZ so someone who's hesitant can pick a vaccine. We got your backs, Boomers!'(Submitted by Stephanie Bolton) Stephanie Bolton, 44, a teacher in York Region, agreed, saying it's a matter of weighing the risk versus reward. People aged 40 to 55 are enthusiastic about getting vaccinated and have embraced AstraZeneca, she said. "It's been kind of held up in the 55 plus age category, where they were more nervous. They were kind of hoping for Moderna or Pfizer. But we were just like: 'Give us a vaccine!'" Association says vaccine hesitancy declining steadily Jack Jedwab, president of the Association for Canadian Studies, a non-profit organization that has been tracking the pandemic's social and economic impacts, said the percentage of people who are vaccine hesitant in Canada has been steadily declining across all age groups. There was a higher rate of hesitation a few months ago, he said. Part of the decline is due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, which has increased collective anxiety, he added. That in turn has increased a sense of urgency to get vaccinated. Ontario, B.C., Alberta and Manitoba have lowered their age limits for the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to 40 plus after the federal government said on Sunday that the provinces and territories were free to expand eligibility for it to any adult over the age of 18.(Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images) A survey done by the association last week shows that about 80 per cent of Canadians, a record number, are willing to get vaccinated. People in the upper age groups, 55 and older, are the least hesitant, while people in the lower age groups, 35 and younger, are the most hesitant. About 12 per cent say no to the vaccine, while about eight per cent say they don't know if they will get vaccinated. As for people in the 40 to 55 age group, he said: "As we get closer to bringing that age group into the proverbial mix with respect to their eligibility for vaccination, the hesitation seems to decline even further, because there's been a bit of a snowball effect. "As more and more people have gotten vaccinated, more and more people have been put at ease about their concerns with respect to either side effects or long-term effects of vaccination."

  • Nova Scotia COVID-19 cases climb as pace of vaccinations also increases

    HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's COVID-19 case count continued to climb Wednesday as the province announced 25 new infections one day after banning non-essential travel from most of the rest of Canada. The province has identified 64 cases since last Friday and now has a total of 79 active infections. The steady rise prompted Premier Iain Rankin to step in and cancel next month's women's world hockey championship slated for Halifax and Truro. It is the second year in a row the pandemic has scuttled the tournament. The move came a day after chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang defended the event as not posing a significant health risk to Nova Scotians. "I sincerely regret the short notice, but the rapidly changing environment dictates this decision in the interest of the safety of Nova Scotians and participants," Rankin said in a statement. Nineteen of Wednesday's cases were identified in the Halifax area, with four related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada, nine close contacts of previously reported cases, and six under investigation. One of the cases under investigation is a staff member at the Ocean View Continuing Care Centre in Eastern Passage, where all residents are being isolated and cared for in their rooms as a precaution and the facility is closed to visitors and designated caregivers. An investigation was also being conducted into a case connected to Joseph Giles Elementary school in Dartmouth. Officials said the school would remain closed to students who would learn from home until Tuesday while cleaning takes place. Officials said three of the other cases were in the northern zone with one related to international travel and two under investigation. The remaining three were in the eastern zone, all linked to domestic travel outside Atlantic Canada. "We are seeing a concerning rise in cases," chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said in a news release. Strang reiterated that health officials are seeing early signs of community spread in and around Halifax. "We're asking residents of these areas to closely follow public health measures and go get tested for COVID-19," he said. The heightened concern comes as new figures indicate Nova Scotia's COVID-19 vaccination program has picked up its pace after an admitted slow start. Tracey Barbrick, the associate deputy minister for Nova Scotia's vaccine strategy, said in an interview Wednesday the province administered 14,742 doses on Tuesday — the highest one-day total since the start of the campaign. Barbrick said 23.6 per cent of people who are eligible for a shot had received at least one dose, just below the national average of about 25 per cent. "As of yesterday us and New Brunswick were tied with vaccinating at the fastest rate in the country," she said. But Nova Scotia is still roughly one week behind other provinces because it held back about 25,000 doses for booster shots before changing its strategy to a four-month interval between first and second doses. Barbrick said the province also took time to develop a centralized booking system which meant it was "a little later out of the gate." She said a recent increase in supply of vaccine allowed the province to move from administering 11,000 doses the week of March 14 to an expected 65,000 doses this week. And despite an interruption in the supply of the Moderna vaccine, Rankin has said the province remains on track to reach its goal of giving all Nova Scotians who want vaccine at least one shot by the end of June. Barbrick said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had been the only supply with any relative certainty, and it's expected continued shipments of that vaccine would help the province reach its end-of-June target. "Right now with Pfizer alone we are darn close," said Barbrick. "If we get a little bit more of something else it might mean we can move even quicker." As of Wednesday, the province had also administered about half of its Oxford-AstraZeneca allotment of 60,000 vaccine doses for people aged 55-64. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2021. Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press

  • Israel intensifying air war in Syria against Iranian encroachment

    Israel has dramatically expanded air strikes on suspected Iranian missile and weapons production centres in Syria to repel what it sees as a stealthy military encroachment by its regional arch-enemy, Western and regional intelligence sources say. Capitalising on a longtime alliance with Syria, Iran is moving parts of its advanced missile and arms industry into pre-existing underground compounds to develop a sophisticated arsenal within range of Israeli population centres, according to Israeli and Western intelligence sources and Syrian defectors. Israel tolerated the entry of thousands of Iranian militia fighters from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan into Syria to fight alongside President Bashar al-Assad against insurgents seeking to topple his authoritarian family rule.

  • Border guards in Windsor seeing 'a lot more hostility' from Canadians

    The union representing border guards in Windsor says they've seen a "disturbing" rise in aggression from Canadian travellers. "It's making the job much harder during an already stressful situation," Ken Turner, the president of Customs and Immigration Union Local 18, said on Windsor Morning on Thursday. Turner said a certain level of conflict comes with the territory of being a Canada Border Services Agency officer, but in the past, this has been largely in dealing with criminal activity or travellers denied entry to the country. Amid quarantine requirements and ever-changing rules, guards are seeing a lot more belligerence from Canadians, he said. "We're getting a lot more hostility from Canadian residents," he said. CIU Local 18 President Ken Turner, shown with MP Brian Masse.(Dale Molnar/CBC) Crossings between Canada and the U.S. have been limited to essential travellers for more than a year as the COVID-19 pandemic batters both sides of the border. The shutdown was recently extended to May 21. The federal government has implemented COVID-19 testing for incoming travellers, and is requiring them to present a recent negative test, as well as a plan for how they will complete a 14-day quarantine. Those who don't take a test or have a suitable plan may be directed to a quarantine facility. The stress that border officers are facing isn't unique to Windsor. It's happening at crossings across the country, Turner said. One officer in Niagara told CBC Toronto that they're seeing more and more people who are upset, refusing to quarantine and take COVID-19 tests. "We're taking a lot of abuse at the border right now," said the officer, whom CBC News agreed not to identify. Local border guards to get vaccinated The union represents 540 staff in Windsor, 300 who are on the front lines. Up until this point, they've been doing their jobs without COVID-19 vaccinations, aside from a few who may have qualified for other reasons, Turner said. But that changed on Wednesday, when vaccine registration was opened for local border workers. Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 cases among border officers have been "in the double digits," though Turner said it's only been a few cases at a time. "If we had a massive outbreak, it would have had serious repercussions for the local economy [and] supply chain," he said.

  • Search continues for MUN student, 21, who fell off rocks at Flatrock

    The search continues for a 21-year-old man who went into the ocean in Flatrock Wednesday night. (Ted Dillon/CBC) More details are emerging as the extensive search continues in Flatrock for a St. John's student who fell off rocks Wednesday evening. The man, a 21-year-old Memorial University student, ended up in the water. As the sea and air search continues Thursday, the young man's parents and friends are at the scene, seemingly shocked by what has happened. A spokesperson from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is expected to speak with reporters early Thursday afternoon. A helicopter from 103 Search and Rescue Squadron in Gander, a Canadian Coast Guard ship from St. John's as well as Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers spent Wednesday night searching the area, after police were alerted to the missing person. Officers arrived in the Flatrock area around 8:15 p.m., according to an RNC report, with the Cormorant helicopter arriving shortly afterward. They scoured the coastline and waters, at times using flares to illuminate the area. Just after 2 a.m., police announced on Twitter they had scaled back their search efforts, focused on the water and shoreline, until daylight. The Rovers Search and Rescue mobile command centre was set up Thursday morning.(Jonny Hodder/CBC) By daybreak, both a Canadian Coast guard vessel and Zodiac were present at the scene, with a command centre from the Rovers Search and Rescue from Paradise also set up. Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Mother relieved in-person school to resume in small town Sask. after challenges with remote learning

    A Saskatchewan mother is relieved after hearing her children will be back to in-person learning on Monday. Brooklyn Karnes-Herbst is working full-time in Regina, her husband is working full-time as a subcontractor and four of their five children are doing remote learning in their community of Pangman, Sask. Pangman is about 90 kilometres south of Regina. It's a busy time for the blended family. Most of the children — who are aged three, eight, eight, 10 and 10 — are forced to learn on tablets because the family doesn't have the means to buy laptops for each of them. "It's tough because you want to be as positive as you can for them. But when you're also not really feeling the positivity and when the teachers are showing their frustrations, it's really hard," Karnes-Herbst said. Karnes-Herbst said it's important they take precautions and stay safe, but they need to balance that with the mental health and quality of learning for students. She said she's relieved the South East Cornerstone School Division is letting some classrooms return to in-person learning with precautions on April 26. Learning on tablets, iPhone, with slow Internet Karnes-Herbst currently works from home two days a week and her grandmother watches the children on the other days. Internet access and connectivity is tough in the small town. "Now, when you get everyone from that area, phone calls are dropping. People can't connect," she said. "The links for their Teams conversations don't come through." It's honestly making sure that they don't feel at fault because none of this is their fault. - Brooklyn Karnes-Herbst Karnes-Herbst said it's been incredibly tough on the teachers as well, because they're trying to organize tests or assignments yet children's internet connections cut out. She said she's working to help her children understand it's OK if technology fails. "It is what it is," she said. "It's honestly making sure that they don't feel at fault because none of this is their fault." No masks at home but less learning: Children "It's kind of just even more stressful than at school," Carter Karnes, aged 10, said of learning at home. When the school closed, Carter and his brother Nixon, also 10, were told to take their textbooks home but not much else. Karnes-Herbst said the boys weren't told there was a positive case within the school. "I was like, what? Why are we doing remote learning? Because everybody was here at school today. The kindergarten's, every single person in their classes were there," Nixon said. Nixon Karnes has to currently learn on a tablet in Brooklyn Karnes-Herbst bedroom so that he doesn't have many distractions around. (Google Meet) Nixon works on a laptop and Carter on a tablet, both in Brooklyn's bedroom. Blake, eight, is at the kitchen counter with an iPhone 6 and Parker, also eight, at the breakfast nook on a tablet. The two couldn't be close together due to feedback from being in the same meeting. "It's a little bit of both, easy and hard," Parker said. Meanwhile, Blake said he likes that he doesn't need to wear a mask when at home, but both he and Parker agreed they learn more in school. Carter, Parker and Blake all mentioned they miss their friends. Blake Herbst had to learn for some time on an iPhone because the family didn't have the means to buy a new laptop. (Google Meet) Karnes-Herbst said her older boys are feeling overwhelmed also because of the amount of homework that comes with remote learning. Karnes-Herbst said the average person doesn't know how tough this is. "We've never received anything from the school board asking us if we would be willing to have our children still attend," she said. "We understand that we're taking that risk simply because their mental status and their learning abilities are so much more in-person than on the Internet." Karnes-Herbst 's children school has about 60 students in Kindergarten to Grade 12. It has its first positive case in early April during the entire pandemic. "So to clump us in with Weyburn and Estevan is really unfortunate because as a small community, we've had very little cases within even the community," Karnes-Herbst said. "So now you've taken everything away from my kids, including school." Karnes-Herbst said the importance of schools shows how teachers need to be vaccinated sooner. On Tuesday, the provincial government announced teachers could start booking appointments to be vaccinated late next week. "Their education is huge and it's on the line right now and that's not fair to these kids."

  • 31-year-old Grand Bay-Westfield woman 'will be deeply missed'

    The desperate search for a young Grand Bay-Westfield woman has come to a tragic end. A body discovered in Martinon over the weekend has been identified as a 31-year-old woman reported missing from the town in February, Saint John police announced in a news release Wednesday. The release does not name the woman, but Andrea Limkilde, 31, was last seen on Feb. 5 on River Valley Drive — less than a minute drive from the Martinon area. She was reported missing to the local RCMP on Feb. 9, prompting numerous searches, which involved the RCMP dog and air services, as well as ground search and rescue crews, and hundreds of community volunteers. An autopsy was conducted to confirm the identification of the body discovered by a hiker in neighbouring Saint John Police Force's jurisdiction on Saturday around 3:30 p.m., said spokesperson Jim Hennessy. Foul play is not suspected, said Hennessy. The investigation is complete and the cause of death is not being released, he said. Family members could not immediately be reached for comment, but in an obituary, they announced her "sad passing" with "broken hearts." "Andrea had a loving heart and would help anyone," it says. "She had a strong religious faith" and "will be deeply missed by everyone." Hundreds of people searched for Andrea Limkilde, who was found dead by a hiker on Saturday.(Fundy Funeral Home) An older sister, Heather Limkilde, posted a quote on Facebook Wednesday morning. "As your sister please always remember … I loved you yesterday. I love you still. I always have. I always will." Her other older sister, Laura Limkilde, posted a photo of the three of them together, surrounded by red and pink hearts. The family has been very active on social media over the past two months, regularly posting photos of Limkilde and repeatedly pleading for the public's help with the case. "Someone knows something," her mother, Mary Allen Limkilde, posted on Facebook on March 25. "We need answers. Our hearts are broken," she wrote. On March 30, Heather Limkilde urged anyone with information to "reach out." "Our family needs some peace and closure," she wrote. "We are living a never-ending nightmare in this torture bubble." Condolences to family, friends The Saint John Police Force "extends its condolences to the woman's family and friends at this very difficult time," said Hennessy. RCMP Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh, who is in charge of the detachment in Grand Bay-Westfield, said members' "thoughts go out to the [woman's] family and her friends as well. "It's certainly not the outcome that anyone was hoping for," she told CBC. "We were certainly hoping to find her" alive. A funeral service for Limkilde will be held at Fundy Funeral Home chapel on Monday at 10 a.m. People who plan to attend are asked to call. The service will also be live streamed.(RCMP) Earlier in the day, the RCMP had issued a news release, saying the local missing woman had been located deceased, but they did not name her. The case has had a big impact on the small community, said Rogers-Marsh. "From the beginning, we had several leads and tips that we followed up on," she said. Some people created missing person flyers, which were posted throughout Grand Bay-Westfield and Saint John. And a community-organized search over Easter weekend covered a large area near Blueberry Hill and left the family overwhelmed by the turnout. "The RCMP would like to thank members of the community, partner agencies and specialized policing services for their assistance during the search for the missing woman," the release said. Limkilde was last seen at about 2 p.m. at the Scholten's gas station. Security video later obtained by RCMP showed she used the crosswalk on River Valley Drive between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., and turned onto Station Road. Police had asked anyone who saw her walking on River Valley Drive, the walking trail, around the Epworth Park area or getting into a vehicle to contact them. The family asks donations in memory of Limkilde be made to the SPCA Animal Rescue in Saint John or the Sophia Recovery Centre, a non-residential centre providing continuing care for women in recovery from addiction, according to the obituary.

  • Returning students, seasonal workers can get vaccinated while isolating, says Yukon's top doc

    Students and seasonal workers who have returned to Yukon and are self-isolating won't have to wait to be vaccinated against COVID-19, says Yukon's chief medical officer. In his weekly news conference on Wednesday, Dr. Brendan Hanley said health officials have figured out a way to allow those in mandatory self-isolation to get a shot. Right now, most people arriving in Yukon are required to self-isolate for 14 days. Hanley said on Wednesday that returning students or seasonal workers will be allowed to leave isolation "for a short period of time" to attend a vaccination clinic. Before their shot, however, they'll be tested. Only those who test negative will then get a shot, he said. They'll then have to go back into self-isolation for the remainder of the 14-day period. "This is certainly not a get-out-of-self-isolation-early card," Hanley said. He also said health officials are now recommending that anybody sharing accommodation with someone in self-isolation should also be isolating. However, they are not required to do so by Yukon's Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA). "We know it is hard to keep apart unless completely separated," Hanley said, explaining his new recommendation. "And with the spread of variants, we need to be extra-cautious." Watch Wednesday's news conference here: 2 active cases 'close to recovery' Also on Wednesday, health officials announced one new case reported in Yukon, but said the person was never infectious in the territory. The affected person is an adult and the case is associated with international travel, according to a news release. The person tested positive on return to Canada, and completed self-isolation before arriving in Yukon. Officials say the person is now recovered, and there were no exposures in the territory. The case is the territory's 78th. Yukon's 77th case of COVID-19 was announced on Monday. Officials said the affected person is an adult in rural Yukon, and the case was connected to travel within Canada. An exposure notice was also issued for a restaurant in Watson Lake. On Wednesday, Hanley said that person was now recovered. Two other cases, in Whitehorse, were announced last week and health officials said they involved the P1 variant of concern. Hanley said on Wednesday that those people are "close to recovery." The territory's online vaccine tracker, updated Monday, says 71 per cent of eligible Yukoners had received their first shot of the Moderna vaccine, and 59 per cent had received their second shot. Vaccination rates in Yukon are 'moving up and that's great. And I think we just need to keep that upward movement going,' said Hanley.(Steve Silva/CBC) Hanley said Yukon is doing relatively well, but is still at risk of importing variants of concern. He says the territory is not immune to what's happening elsewhere in Canada. "It is hard to predict the next few weeks, but waves do come to an end and vaccine uptake is really starting to take off in the rest of Canada. And that is good news for us." He said younger adults in Yukon still lag when it comes to getting vaccinated — though the numbers are still climbing, he said. "It's moving up and that's great. And I think we just need to keep that upward movement going," he said. "If we can continue to get our younger people up to the same levels as our older citizens, we will be well-positioned to have great summer where we can ease up on many of our current restrictions." He would not say what restrictions might be eased, or when. Asked about the N.W.T.'s announcement on Wednesday that it was changing self-isolation requirements for vaccinated adults, Hanley said he was happy to see changes being made "where they can be," but would not say whether Yukon would make similar changes.

  • Iran provides Yemen's Houthis 'lethal' support, U.S. official says

    NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iran's support for Yemen's Houthi movement is "quite significant and it's lethal," U.S. special envoy on Yemen Tim Lenderking said on Wednesday, as he called a battle for Yemen's gas-rich Marib region the single biggest threat to peace efforts. Lenderking told U.S. lawmakers that Iran supports the Houthis in several ways including through training, providing lethal support and helping them "fine tune" their drone and missile programs.

  • Trudeau on why flights continue to arrive every day in Canada amid concerns about COVID-19 outbreak

    Global News reporter Richard Zussman asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau why his government is not stopping international flights from India from arriving in Vancouver, as the country deals with concerning mutations of COVID-19. Zussman asks Trudeau why flights from the U.K. were suspended last December and not flights from other countries of concern.

  • B.C. records 862 new cases of COVID-19 and 7 more deaths

    B.C. health officials announced 862 new cases of COVID-19 and seven more deaths on Wednesday. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said there are 8,906 active cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus in B.C. A total of 483 people are in hospital, 164 of whom are in intensive care. The new case numbers show B.C.'s rolling caseload average is on a downward trend, but hospitalizations — which typically lag behind spikes and dips in new cases — are up from last Wednesday. At that time, 397 people were in hospital, with 120 in intensive care. The provincial death toll from the disease is now 1,546. That includes, for the first time in B.C., a person in their 20s who has died of COVID-19. "This case, as in all cases of young people who pass away, is particularly tragic," Dix told reporters Wednesday. Few details have been released about the case, but according to a situation report from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, the person died sometime between April 3 and 10. Public health is actively monitoring 13,135 people across the province who are self-isolating after being exposed to COVID-19. On Tuesday, Northern Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Dawson Creek and District Hospital in the medical inpatient unit, after two patients tested positive for the virus. The provincial statement Wednesday said "there is no new update on the variants of concern." However, the health ministry confirmed that as of April 4, there had been 39 cases of the B1617 variant in B.C. — a variant first identified in India, where COVID-19 is now surging. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is now calling B1617 a variant of interest, and more information about its presence in the province will be available later this week. So far, 1,456,946 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, with 88,335 of those being second doses. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) said in a statement transmission in Whistler, a long-running hot spot, has dropped by more than half compared to last week. The authority identified 72 new cases this week after confirming 179 last week. VCH said Wednesday it will be running an additional vaccination clinic day in Whistler on April 28 for those who missed or were unable to attend the one-week clinic last week. Incoming travel restrictions Earlier this week, Premier John Horgan announced Solicitor General Mike Farnworth would be drafting orders for strict new travel measures that will come into effect Friday and last until after the May long weekend. Those orders, Horgan said Monday, are intended to stop people leaving their health authorities for non-essential reasons. There will be random audits of travellers to make sure people are in compliance. Full details on the official rules will be announced Friday, including a clearer definition of what constitutes "essential travel" and what penalties might be in store for those who break the rules. In the meantime, Farnworth provided a piece of further clarity on Wednesday for two neighbouring health authorities: The minister said Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health will be considered a single region under the new orders. B.C. Premier John Horgan is pictured on March 18. The province announced Monday new travel restrictions are being drafted in B.C. to come into effect this Friday.(Mike McArthur/CBC) He told reporters the restrictions will be most focused on catching people travelling for recreation, with roadblocks set up around BC Ferries' terminals as well the area of Highway 1 where people leave the Lower Mainland en route to the Interior. The province has also asked the tourism industry to reject bookings from people travelling outside their local areas. Restrictions banning indoor dining and adult fitness activities at gyms have been extended for another five weeks. Who is eligible for vaccination? As of Wednesday, British Columbians born in 1991 or earlier can register online, by phone or in-person at a Service B.C. office. Once registered, individuals will be contacted when it is their time to book an appointment. People born in 1981 or earlier are eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine now through pharmacies and, in some hard-hit areas, special clinics. Officials have released a list of 13 community health service areas that have seen the highest COVID-19 case rates, which will be given top priority through the clinics. Eligibility for those clinics is based on postal code. People who wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine through a pharmacy need to book their shot with the pharmacy itself. The province provides a list of participating pharmacies online. Pharmacies have limited supplies of the vaccine. Also on Wednesday, the Abbotsford School District informed teachers and staff they are now eligible to receive the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, with priority being given to those employees who work directly with students.

  • COVID-19 'variant of interest' from India being monitored in Canada

    Canada looking at a COVID-19 "variant of interest" out of India as Canadians continue to work through the third wave of the pandemic.

  • B.C. judge grants Meng Wanzhou's request to delay extradition hearings

    VANCOUVER — A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has granted Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's request to delay the final leg in her extradition hearings, days before they were set to begin. Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes said Wednesday she will deliver reasons for her decision in writing in the next week or so and a date to resume proceedings will be determined April 28. The hearings were scheduled to begin Monday, but Meng's lawyers said they needed more time to review documents related to the case obtained through a Hong Kong court. They asked Holmes to adjourn proceedings until Aug. 3, a delay they argued would also allow time for the third wave of COVID-19 infections to subside. Lawyer Richard Peck has said he believes the new documents will contain evidence supporting their argument that the United States misled Canadian officials in describing the allegations against Meng. The legal team was set to launch that argument Monday in support of a stay of proceedings before moving into arguments for the extradition hearing, the final step in the case. “What we request is a reasonable time in which to assess the documents and determine their likely admissibility,” Peck said. Lawyers for Canada's attorney general had argued there is no justification to delay proceedings in the high-profile case, especially given the public interest. There's no basis to believe the documents will be relevant, they argued, while accusing Meng's team of trying to turn the extradition hearing into a trial. After 2 1/2 years of legal proceedings, “and mere days from reaching the finish line, the applicant asks this court to take a several month pause. Her request should be denied,” the Crown said in a written response. Meng was arrested at Vancouver's airport in 2018 at the request of the United States to face fraud charges related to America's sanctions against Iran. Both she and Huawei deny the allegations. The arrest fractured Canada-China relations and the subsequent detention in China of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, is widely seen as retaliation. Meng is accused of lying to HSBC about Huawei's control of subsidiary Skycom during a presentation in 2013, putting the bank at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. While Meng's Canadian lawyers have not yet seen most of the documents from HSBC and their contents are unclear, Peck said it's believed they will shed light on what the bank knew about the relationship between the companies and how much it relied on Meng's 2013 presentation. A teleconference next week with both legal teams will determine a new date for the hearing, which Holmes said should be on or around Aug. 3. Any new applications arising from the documents should be made before then, she said. Meng's team has said they anticipate applying to admit new evidence in the extradition case after reviewing the documents. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2021. Amy Smart, The Canadian Press