Eastchester Firefighter makes his way through ice water to save a trapped dog! Video credit Eastchester Professional Firefighters-Local 916
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will leave Washington next Wednesday morning just before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration to begin his post-presidential life in Florida. Refusing to abide by tradition and participate in the ceremonial transfer of power, Trump will instead hold his own departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before his final flight aboard Air Force One. Officials are considering an elaborate send-off event reminiscent of the receptions he's received during state visits abroad, complete with a red carpet, colour guard, military band and even a 21-gun salute, according to a person familiar with the planning who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement. Trump will become only the fourth president in history to boycott his successor's inauguration. And while he has said he is now committed to a peaceful transition of power — after months of trying to delegitimize Biden's victory with baseless allegations of mass voter fraud and spurring on his supporters who stormed the Capitol — he has made clear he has no interest in making a show of it. He has not invited the Bidens to the White House for the traditional bread-breaking, nor has he spoken with Biden by phone. Vice-President Mike Pence has spoken with his successor, Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, calling her on Thursday to congratulate her and offer assistance, according to two people familiar with the call. Pence will be attending Biden's inauguration, a move Biden has welcomed. While Trump spends the final days of his presidency ensconced in the White House, more isolated than ever as he confronts the fallout from the Capitol riot, staffers are already heading out the door. Many have already departed, including those who resigned after the attack, while others have been busy packing up their offices and moving out personal belongings — souvenirs and taxidermy included. On Thursday, chief of staff Mark Meadows’ wife was caught on camera leaving with a dead, stuffed bird. And trade adviser Peter Navarro, who defended the president's effort to overturn the election, was photographed carrying out a giant photo of a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Staff are allowed to purchase the photographs, said White House spokesman Judd Deere.) Also spotted departing the West Wing: a bust of Abraham Lincoln. Stewart D. McLaurin, the president of the White House Historical Association, said he had reached out to the White House chief usher, who manages the building's artifacts with the White House curator, because of questions raised by the images. “Be reminded that staff have items of their own that they brought to the White House and can take those items home as they wish. Some items are on loan to staff and offices from other collections and will be returned to those collections,” he said in a statement. Earlier this week, reporters covering the president's departure from the South Lawn spotted staff taking boxes into the residence for packing up the first family's belongings. And on Friday the packing continued, with moving crates and boxes dotting the floor of the office suite where senior press aides work steps from the Oval Office in the West Wing. Walls in the hallways outside that once featured a rotating gallery of enlarged photographs of the president and first lady framed in gold suddenly were bare, with only the hooks that held the picture frames left hanging. Moving trucks pulled in and out of the driveway outside. While some people have been asked to stick around by the incoming administration, the White House has been reduced to a skeleton crew, with more scheduled to depart on Friday. That includes White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Come Monday, the press staff will be down to two. Trump will leave Washington with his future deeply uncertain, two weeks after his supporters sent lawmakers and congressional staffers scrambling for safety as they tried to halt the peaceful transition of power. While Trump was once expected to leave office as the most powerful voice in the Republican Party and the leading contender for its 2024 nomination, he has been shunned by much of the party over his response to the violence, which left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer. Trump is expected to be joined in Florida by a handful of aides as he mulls his future. ___ Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report. Jill Colvin And Darlene Superville, The Associated Press
Alongside Canada’s national flower, sport, symbol and bird, is a national animal that is often forgotten. Canada’s national horse, Le Cheval Canadien, is in danger of disappearing. An Uxbridge equestrian centre, however, is dedicated to the revival of this special breed. Hundreds of years ago, in about 1665, King Louis XIV of France began shipping mares and stallions, with bloodlines from the King’s Royal Stud, to Acadia and New France. These horses had great abilities to adapt to harsh climates (like Canada’s cold winters), rough terrains and were easily trained. They became known as the Canadian Horse, or Le Cheval Canadien. While the breed was well known to American colonists, it is rather rare today. After being used in the American Civil War and for breeding to diversify genetics in American stock, but its popularity in Canada waned. Despite this, however, and despite the fact that the horse was smaller in size and often thought of as the “Quebec pony,” the Canadian Horse was declared by the Parliament of Canada to be the National Horse of Canada in 1909. In 2018, Barb Malcom, owner and head coach of Churchill Chimes Equestrian Centre on Webb Rd., committed to doing her part to save the Canadian Horse. Alongside her riding school, Malcolm set up a sister company called Donalf Farms, specifically to breed the Canadian horses in an attempt to bring back the name and the breed. “I had worked as a professional for over 20 years and just happened to buy an unpapered Canadian gelding. He is one of the most darling horses I’ve ever had,” says Malcom. Very soon Malcom fell in love with the breed. “They are durable, willing, personable and versatile. I went from being a “crossbreed person” to being completely wowed by this purebred.” “It’s one thing for Canadians not to know Canada has a national horse, but for horse people not to know, it just shows how much the breed is in trouble,” says Malcom. If it weren’t for a pandemic, this year Malcom had plans to contact Heritage Canada and rally for government assistance in the fight for the Canadian Horse. “We would love to see federal support,” says Malcom. “It really is an altruistic endeavour, but they're worth it.” Malcolm dreams of one day having all the horses in her riding school be Canadian Horses. “They are so little known, but absolutely remarkable,” says Malcolm. For more information about the national horse of Canada, visit lechevalcanadien.com or find Malcom’s breeding farm at donalffarms.com Justyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Uxbridge Cosmos
ÉMILIE PELLETIER Initiative de journalisme local — Le Droit Au cours de la semaine, plus de 10 000 doses du vaccin contre la COVID-19 ont été administrées chaque jour en Ontario. Jeudi, 15 609 personnes ont roulé leur manche en Ontario pour recevoir le vaccin contre le coronavirus. En tout, 174 630 doses ont été distribuées. On compte actuellement 17 094 Ontariens pour qui la vaccination est maintenant complétée, ce qui signifie qu’ils ont reçu leurs deux doses nécessaires du vaccin. Près de 3000 nouveaux cas Au cours de la journée de jeudi, 2998 nouvelles infections à la COVID-19 ont été répertoriées en Ontario. Depuis le 25 janvier 2020, 231 308 cas du virus ont été enregistrés en province. La santé publique de l’Ontario déplore, dans son plus récent bilan, 100 décès liés au coronavirus. Toutefois, ce nombre anormalement élevé peut être en partie expliqué par une initiative de nettoyage de données au bureau de santé de Middlesex-London, qui a ajouté 46 décès survenus plus tôt durant la pandémie au rapport de la santé publique provinciale de vendredi. En tout, 5289 ont perdu la vie en raison de la COVID-19 en Ontario. Hospitalisations Actuellement, 1647 personnes atteintes de la COVID-19 sont hospitalisées en Ontario, dont 387 aux soins intensifs. Parmi ces patients, 280 nécessitent l’aide d’un respirateur pour rester en vie. Foyers de soins de longue durée En foyers de soins de longue durée (FSLD), 145 nouveaux cas du virus ont été dépistés jeudi chez les résidents, et 60 chez les membres du personnel. On déplore le décès de 22 résidents de ces établissements causés par la COVID-19, portant le bilan total des résidents de FSLD ayant perdu la vie à 3085 en Ontario. En tout, 10 employés de ces établissements sont décédés, dont deux ayant perdu la vie depuis le début de l’année 2021.Émilie Pelletier, journaliste, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Droit
COPENHAGEN — U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer confirmed Friday it will temporarily reduce deliveries to Europe of its COVID-19 vaccine while it upgrades production capacity to 2 billion doses per year. The EU Commission chief said she'd immediately called Pfizer's CEO. But in an indication the issue might go beyond Europe, Canada's government said it was also affected. Line Fedders, a spokeswoman for Pfizer Denmark, said that to meet the new 2 billion dose target Pfizer is upscaling production at its plant in Puurs, Belgium, which “presupposes adaptation of facilities and processes at the factory which requires new quality tests and approvals from the authorities.” “As a consequence, fewer doses will be available for European countries at the end of January and the beginning of February,” she said. “This temporary reduction will affect all European countries,” she said in a statement to The Associated Press. Germany’s Health Ministry said Friday Pfizer had informed the European Commission, which was responsible for ordering vaccines from the company, that it won’t be able to fulfil all of the promised deliveries in the coming three to four weeks. The ministry said German officials took note of the unexpected announcement by the Commission "with regret” because the company had made binding delivery commitments by mid-February. “The federal and state governments expect the EU Commission to provide clarity and certainty as soon as possible in negotiations with Pfizer about further deliveries and delivery dates,” the statement said. The Commission sealed the vaccine deals on behalf of all 27 member states, but is not responsible for the timetable and deliveries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had “immediately called the CEO of Pfizer.” “He reassured me that all guaranteed doses of the first quarter will be delivered in the first quarter. He is personally on the case on reducing the delay period and to make sure that they will catch up as soon as possible,” von der Leyen said. Earlier Friday Commission health policy spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said deliveries are made on the basis of purchase orders and specific contracts that are concluded between the member states and the companies. "The specificities of these arrangements are laid down in these purchase orders or contracts,” he said. The Commission has secured up to 600 million extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine that's produced in partnership with Germany's BioNTech. Pfizer’s Belgian plant supplies all shots delivered outside the United States, including Canada where procurement minister Anita Anand said Friday that the U.S. drug-maker is temporarily reducing deliveries because of issues with its European production lines. While the company said it still was able to deliver four million doses by the end of March, that is no longer guaranteed, she said. Canadian officials said the reduction means Canada’s vaccine shipments will be cut in half for the next month. The country has received just 380,000 doses of the vaccine so far and was supposed to get another 400,000 this month, and is expecting almost two million doses in February. Norwegian authorities also said Friday they had been notified by Pfizer about the reduction that will start next week as the company raises its annual dose target from the current 1.3 billion. “We had predicted 43,875 vaccine doses from Pfizer in week 3. Now it seems that we get 36,075 doses,” said Geir Bukholm, director of infection control at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. ”The stock we now have will be able to compensate for a reduction in the planned deliveries for a few weeks ahead if there is a need for this,” he said. In Finland, broadcaster YLE said the delay would cause domestic delivery problems at the end of January and the beginning of February. Danish officials expressed concern. “We are in a race with coronavirus and the new more contagious virus variant," Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said. "Therefore, we take the decline in deliveries very seriously.” Henrik Ullum, head of Statens Serum Institut, a government agency that maps the spread of the coronavirus in Denmark, said he expected the development to mean that "in the coming time we can vaccinate fewer than first assumed.” ___ Samuel Petrequin and Raf Casert in Brussels, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed. Jan M. Olsen, The Associated Press
“Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives” - that’s the motto for the week as Ontario hits another COVID-19 milestone, reaching more than 5,000 deaths from the virus. In light of this statistic, new measures that the province has announced gives local by-law officers more authority to ensure the public complies with the new measures, as well as authority to ticket and fine those who don’t. On Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the second state of emergency for the province, effective immediately, along with a mandatory stay-at-home order, commencing today (Thursday). These new restrictions require all Ontarians to stay at home unless going to grocery stores, pharmacies, or medical appointments. Further restrictions will be in place for workplaces. All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close by 8 p.m. Under the Reopening Ontario Act, both individuals and businesses that do not fall in line with these newly imposed measures could face fines and up to a year in jail, according to the Solicitor General. Uxbridge By-Law Services said Tuesday that enforcement of the measures continues to be a joint effort between municipal law enforcement officers, the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), the Region of Durham Health Department, and various government of Ontario provincial offences officers. Kristina Bergeron, manager of Uxbridge By-Law Services, said that enforcement will be conducted both proactively and complaint based. “If residents have observed a violation, they are asked to report the violation to the Durham Regional Police Service non-emergency number at 905-579-1520 or submit a complaint online at www.drps.ca under Online Services - Community Concerns. DRPS is the main point of contact for complaints, and matters deemed required to be addressed by municipal law enforcement will be dispensed to us through DRPS,” said Bergeron. On Tuesday, the province also shared new modeling data showing the infection curve set to take a steep rise in the next few weeks. With a positivity rate of more than five percent in all age groups, a survey by the government showed that only a third of the population is actually following Public Health guidelines in a manner that will help to end the pandemic. Dr. Matthew Anderson, president and CEO of Ontario Health, fears that Ontarians are not afraid as they were in the first wave of the virus. “When you’re a bit younger, you feel a bit immortal. But we’re not. And we are seeing trends where people who are younger are getting COVID, and while the mortality rate may not be as high, we can certainly see continued morbidity for those people. So there’s really no one who should consider themselves immune until they are vaccinated.” Over the past four weeks there has been a 72 per cent increase in hospitalizations and a 61 per cent increase in ICU patients. Half of the province’s hospitals have run out of capacity and can no longer take patients for emergencies such as traumas from accidents, heart attacks or emergency surgeries. This type of ICU occupancy can compromise care across the province. As of Monday evening, another eight cases of the UK variant, V117, were found in Ontario. Dr. Anderson said that if this new strain spreads through community transmission, Ontario residents can expect to see the case curve rise close to vertical by the end of January. By Tuesday evening, more than 133,000 doses of the COVID vaccine had been administered in Ontario, with over 6,000 Ontarians fully vaccinated with a second dose. “We have hope on the horizon, it’s in sight, it's in reach,” said Ford. To get ‘herd immunity’, experts say approximately 60 to 70 per cent of the population will need to be vaccinated. A group of North Durham doctors and medical administrative staff are working to get the vaccination serum into the Uxbridge community and say that once it is here, the community will be informed. Uxbridge currently has 14 active cases with only one of those being hospitalized. According to the Durham Region Public Health website, both Reachview Village and Uxbridge Cottage Hospital still have outbreak status. For more, visit durham.ca/covidcasesJustyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Uxbridge Cosmos
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped nine of her most trusted allies in the House to argue the case for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. The Democrats, all of whom are lawyers and many of whom have deep experience investigating the president, face the arduous task of convincing skeptical Senate Republicans to convict Trump. A single article of impeachment — for “incitement of insurrection” — was approved by the House on Wednesday, one week after a violent mob of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol. At the time, lawmakers were counting the votes that cemented Trump’s election defeat. As members of the House who were in the Capitol when it was attacked — several hiding under seats as rioters beat on the doors of the chamber — the Democrats are also witnesses to what they charge is a crime. So are the Senate jurors. “This is a case where the jurors were also victims, and so whether it was those who voted in the House last night or those in the Senate who will have to weigh in on this, you don’t have to tell anyone who was in the building twice what it was like to be terrorized,” said California Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the managers. It is unclear when the trial will start. Pelosi hasn’t yet said when she will send the article of impeachment to the Senate. It could be as soon as next week, on President-elect Joe Biden’s first day in office. The managers plan to argue at trial that Trump incited the riot, delaying the congressional certification of the electoral vote count by inciting an angry mob to harm members of Congress. Some of the rioters were recorded saying they wanted to find Pelosi and Vice-President Mike Pence, who presided over the count. Others had zip ties that could be used as handcuffs hanging on their clothes. “The American people witnessed that,” said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., one of the managers. “That amounts to high crimes and misdemeanours.” None of the impeachment managers argued the case in Trump’s first impeachment trial last year, when the Senate acquitted the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice. The House impeached Trump in 2019 after he pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate Biden’s family while withholding military aid to the country. Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, another manager, says the nine prosecutors plan to present a serious case and “finish the job” that the House started. A look at Pelosi’s prosecution team in Trump’s historic second impeachment: REP. JAMIE RASKIN, MARYLAND Pelosi appointed Raskin, a former constitutional law professor and prominent member of the House Judiciary Committee, as lead manager. In a week of dramatic events and stories, Raskin’s stands out: The day before the Capitol riots, Raskin buried his 25-year-old son, Tommy, after he killed himself on New Year’s Eve. “You would be hard pressed to find a more beloved figure in the Congress” than Raskin, says House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who was the lead manager during Trump’s first trial. He worked closely with Raskin on that impeachment investigation. “I know that part of what gives him strength to take on this burden that he now carries is knowing that this is something that would be enormously meaningful to his son.” REP. DIANA DEGETTE, COLORADO DeGette, who is serving her 13th term representing Denver, is a former civil rights attorney and one of Pelosi’s go-to allies. The speaker picked her to preside over the House during the first impeachment vote in 2019. DeGette said Pelosi trusted her to do it because she is “able to to control the passions on the floor.” She says she was surprised when Pelosi called to offer her the prosecutorial position but quickly accepted. “The monstrosity of this offence is not lost on anybody,” she says. REP. DAVID CICILLINE, RHODE ISLAND Cicilline, the former mayor of Providence and public defender, is in his sixth term in Congress and is a senior member of the Judiciary panel. He was heavily involved in Trump’s first impeachment and was one of three original authors of the article that the House approved on Wednesday. He and California Rep. Ted Lieu began writing the article together, in hiding, as the rioters were still ransacking the Capitol. He tweeted out a draft the next morning, writing that “I have prepared to remove the President from office following yesterday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol.” REP. JOAQUIN CASTRO, TEXAS Castro is a member of the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs panels, where he has been an outspoken critic of Trump's handling of Russia. He was a litigator in private practice before he was elected to the Texas legislature and came to Congress, where he is in his fifth term. Castro’s twin brother, Julian Castro, is the former mayor of San Antonio and served as former President Barack Obama’s secretary of housing and urban development. Julian Castro ran in the Democratic primary for president last year. REP. ERIC SWALWELL, CALIFORNIA Swalwell also serves on the Intelligence and Judiciary panels and was deeply involved in congressional probes of Trump’s Russian ties. A former prosecutor, he briefly ran for president in 2019. “The case that I think resonates the most with the American people and hopefully the Senate is that our American president incited our fellow citizens to attack our Capitol on a day where we were counting electoral votes, and that this was not a spontaneous call to action by the president at the rally,” Swalwell said. REP. TED LIEU, CALIFORNIA Lieu, who authored the article of impeachment with Cicilline and Raskin, is on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs panels. The Los Angeles-area lawmaker is a former active-duty officer in the U.S. Air Force and military prosecutor. “We cannot begin to heal the soul of this country without first delivering swift justice to all its enemies — foreign and domestic,” he said. DEL. STACEY PLASKETT, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Because she represents a U.S. territory, not a state, Plaskett does not have voting rights and was not able to cast a vote for impeachment. But she will bring her legal experience as a former district attorney in New York and senior counsel at the Justice Department — and as one of Raskin's former law students. “As an African American, as a woman, seeing individuals storming our most sacred place of democracy, wearing anti-Semitic, racist, neo-Nazi, white supremacy logos on their bodies and wreaking the most vile and hateful things left not just those people of colour who were in the room traumatized, but so many people of colour around this country," she said Friday. REP. JOE NEGUSE, COLORADO Neguse, in his second term, is a rising star in the Democratic caucus who was elected to Pelosi’s leadership team his freshman year in Congress. A former litigator, he sits on the House Judiciary Committee and consulted with Raskin, Cicilline and Lieu as they drafted the article the day of the attack. At 36, he will be the youngest impeachment manager in history, according to his office. “This armed mob did not storm the Capitol on any given day, they did so during the most solemn of proceedings that the United States Congress is engaged in,” Neguse said Thursday. “Clearly the attack was done to stop us from finishing our work.” REP. MADELEINE DEAN, PENNSYLVANIA Like Neguse, Dean was first elected when Democrats recaptured the House in 2018. She is also a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and is a former lawyer and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She says she hopes the prosecutors can convince the Senate and the American people “to mark this moment" with a conviction. “I think I bring to it just the simple fact that I’m a citizen, that I’m a mom and I’m a grandma," Dean said. "And I want my children, my grandchildren, to remember what we did here.” Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press
A cannabis store in Kanesatake went up in flames early last Friday morning, leaving nothing but the container’s carcass behind and a herbal smell lingering in the cold winter air. The Dank Bank, which had opened its door last November 21, was one of the latest additions of smoke shops in the community, located at the edge of Route 344. On January 8, First Nations Paramedics were called at 2:38 a.m. after the Kanesatake Emergency Response (ERU)’s Access Control Team (ACT) noticed smoke coming out of the roof. “There’s no more Dank Bank, no more store,” said the ERU spokesperson Robert Bonspiel. “It was cleared out. It’s a complete loss.” Along with St. Placide and Pointe-Calumet, Oka’s firefighters stayed until 8 a.m. fighting to put the fire down. It was later confirmed by the Surete du Quebec (SQ) that the fire was not criminal. While there was no one on-site when it happened, the director of Oka’s fire department Sylvain Johnson said that they were able to investigate the cause by cameras that were surrounding the shop. “The cause of the fire was electrical,” said Johnson, “so the possibility of a deliberate act was quickly brushed off.” Johnson also mentioned that they were thorough throughout the investigation as molotov cocktails were thrown at one of the Dank Bank’s owner’s car earlier in December. “We wanted to make sure that there was no connection, or that it would not start a small war on the territory,” said Johnson, adding that there has been a lot of competition between cannabis shops. For Mohawk Council of Kanesatake grand chief, Serge Otsi Simon, when it comes to fire in the community, there’s no coincidence. Simon said he doesn’t believe in the electrical cause. In the past 30 years, he said, the community has had more than 10 arsons, with the same number of attempted cases. “Arson has become a trend, an acceptable form of revenge,” said Simon. “It’s an expression of anger. There are homes and shops that people take years to build here, they put all their money into it and because they get into an argument with someone, it goes up in flames.” This incident undeniably goes without reminding of how last year also started for Kanesatake. Sharon Simons’s house was destroyed overnight after a suspicious fire broke out in January 2020. One of the latest also ravaged another person’s house last fall, but this time in the Domaine des Collines - a controversial development area in Oka’s village. However, the SQ and fire department both ruled out this one as suspicious. “If there’s no further investigation, I’m sure that they have their reason for not doing it,” said Bonspiel. virginie.ann.news@gmail.comVirginie Ann, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door
Windsor police say 911 lines are being bombarded by people calling looking for information regarding the provincial stay-at-home order that came into effect Thursday. Since the stay-at-home order was announced Tuesday, Windsor police said they have received about 200 non-emergency and 911 calls related to COVID-19 and the new order. "Any call to 911 that is not an emergency can take precious seconds away from a person trying to get through on 911 for a true emergency, where seconds may count for them," police said in an emailed statement to CBC News. In a tweet on Friday morning, the police service said 911 is for emergencies only, and that information about COVID-19 can be obtained through dialling 211. Any COVID-related complaints can be made through 311. The OPP says the provincial communications centre in London is also seeing an increase in 911 calls about the new pandemic measures. The stay-at-home order that took effect overnight Thursday means that people are only permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons such as buying groceries, picking up prescriptions or daily exercise. The new measures have prompted questions about what exactly is illegal and how the new rules will be enforced across the province. Under the new order, officers can order people attending gatherings to go home, close any building where they believe an illegal event is taking place, and ask for the name and address of anyone they think is committing an offence. Charges can be laid through a ticket or summons to appear in court. The minimum fine for violating provincial gathering rules is $750. Windsor police said in a statement Thursday they will be monitoring compliance. The police service said community safety is the top priority, and officers will "strike a measured balance between enforcement and overall safety." "As part of a collaborative public health and provincial wide safety strategy, Windsor Police Service officers will continue to be monitoring compliance and will support this strategy, and any orders, with enforcement actions as necessary under the legislation." The police service hasn't provided detail on how their enforcement be conducted. But there is criticism among advocates that the new rules are too ambiguous and racialized residents could be disproportionately targeted. "It's a little dangerous and reckless to give police officers the power of determining whether or not someone's reasoning to leave their house is legitimate especially considering that we're in the middle of a pandemic," UWindsor student Fardova Kusow said in an interview Thursday.
Now that a stay-at-home order has been issued by the provincial government, it’s a good time to refresh the memory on what outdoor activities can be done, and what safety protocols must be observed. As the community slogs its way through this second wave of increasing COVID-19 cases, the Uxbridge trail system, tobogganing hills and local ponds are filling up with people. But Mayor Dave Barton opened this week’s council meeting by reminding the community of the importance of social distancing when enjoying outdoor winter fun. “If you get to the toboggan hill and there are lots of people there, go home for a while and come back later when there are fewer people,” said Barton in his remarks. The trails are also busy spaces. Snow shoeing, cross country skiing, biking and hiking is enticing many visitors. Just this past Saturday, at least 100 cars lined Conc. 7, just south of Uxbridge, at the Durham Regional Forest trail entrances. While the air circulation and wide open space is comforting, healthcare experts remind the public that maintaining distance is still necessary. Dr. Carlye Jensen, from the Uxbridge Health Centre, points out that, while outdoor transmission is low, it is not zero. “Getting outside is a great way to relieve the pressures of lockdown. We have beautiful trails and wonderful streets to walk along. Just remember that when you are on these trails it is still important to keep your distance from those not within your bubble.” Dr. Jensen also notes that the new variant of the COVID-19 virus appears to be more easily transmitted, and that it’s not the time to let guards - or face masks - down. Dr. Jensen advises, “If you can't be six feet apart, then turn your face away, wear a mask or step off the path to allow safe space between you and others.” During its announcement on Tuesday, the provincial government recommended that everyone wear masks both indoors and out as much as possible. Tuesday’s announcement also outlined that police officers and provincial offences officers now have the authority to disperse crowds of more than five people who appear to not be from the same household, and to shut down the relevant location. For more on the current shutdown, visit https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59922/ontario-declares-second-provincial-emergency-to-address-covid-19-crisis-and-save-livesJustyne Edgell, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Uxbridge Cosmos
PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says it is concerned about reports of poor and unprofessional treatment of two elderly First Nation patients at a Saskatchewan hospital. The organization says in a news release that it has received a number of calls about the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert. Vice Chief David Pratt says he was disturbed and alarmed to receive a complaint about an 88-year-old man who was receiving medical treatment in isolation. He says the man, who doesn't speak any English, wasn't given any support. Pratt says another elderly woman's family has complained about rude and unprofessional treatment by nurses. He says elderly patients need the help of translators and patient support services to help them understand what is happening to them and what type of care they are receiving. "These are our elders and they deserve the utmost respect and fair treatment by all doctors and staff," Chief Bobby Cameron said in the release Friday. "We are calling on the province to step in and help these families and do something about all of the complaints that come in regarding First Nations patients at this hospital." No one from the Saskatchewan Health Authority could immediately be reached for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2021. The Canadian Press
HALIFAX — The rugged point of land upon which sits the Peggys Cove lighthouse will be getting a much-needed facelift this summer. Plans were announced today to build a large viewing platform to improve access to the site and, at times, prevent people from venturing onto the rocks when storms roll in. The $3.1-million deck is expected to be completed by the end of June. The wood and concrete structure will include steel guardrails that look like fishing nets. The lighthouse and nearby fishing village attracted more than 700,000 visitors in 2018. Nova Scotia is contributing $1.7 million to the project and the federal government is covering the rest of the bill. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2021. The Canadian Press
A month has passed since the first round of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in Canada, but Kanesatake’s turn has not yet come. While the federal government put Onkwehón:we communities among their priorities, Emergency Response Unit (ERU) spokesperson, Robert Bonspiel, said that the community hasn’t received a fixed date as to when the vaccination will begin. “We have been led to believe that the reason for the delay is because of the enviable position that Kanesatake finds itself to be in,” said Bonspiel. Bonspiel said that at the moment, the community still has zero active cases. In comparison, their neighbour’s sister community, Kahnawake, has more than 20 positive cases, where some members already received their first dose of the vaccine. “The ERU and the community, we are not reactionary, we are proactive,” said Bonspiel. “We are using a lot of common sense, things that are culturally appropriate to us. And so far, it’s working amazingly.” Julie Lemieux-Côté from the communication services of the Centre integre de sante et de services sociaux des Laurentides (CISSS), explained that the rollout of the vaccine follows priority groups, rather than the amount of cases. The groups were established by the Quebec government, putting at top of the priority list the vulnerable people living in residential and long-term care centres (CHSLD), health and social workers who have contact with COVID-19 patients, and then private seniors homes. As mentioned last week during one of Quebec’s press conferences, the province’s plan is to have 250,000 people from its priority groups vaccinated before February 8. “We are still at the first levels, then we will start the vaccination in remote communities,” said Lemieux-Côté. The CISSS is already in contact with the ERU to organize the logistics surrounding the vaccination campaign in the community. Lemieux-Côté assured that it would only be a matter of one or two weeks, depending on the delivery of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Although, health and social workers don’t have to wait for the vaccines to be delivered in the community to receive their first shot. The Quebec government sent invitations to schedule the administration at one of their two locations outside of the community, such as at Quartier Dix30 in Brossard. Yet, none of the Kanesatake Riverside Elders Home health workers, staff from the Health Centre, nor the First Nations Paramedics (FNP) received their invitation. “I’m considered a priority to the CISSS in comparison to the general population but not that high on the list,” said Riverside’s registered nurse team leader Sabrina Richard, explaining that they aren’t in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Richard believes that Kanesatake has been very lucky not to have been affected by COVID-19 like some other communities have. “Our time to get the vaccine will come and I hope that everyone considers getting it. It will not only protect you from serious complications, but it will also protect your loved ones,” said Richard. Even if the vaccine is not mandatory, Kanesatake grand chief Serge Otsi Simon hopes that community members will collaborate. For him, there’s no other alternative, saying that the community cannot keep going into lockdown. “Either you roll up your sleeve,” he said, “or you get out there and take the chance to die of this.” virginie.ann.news@gmail.com Virginie Ann, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eastern Door
Jeudi soir, le député du caucus progressiste-conservateur Roman Baber envoie une lettre au premier ministre Doug Ford pour lui demander de mettre fin au confinement. Vendredi matin, Doug Ford annonce que le député Roman Baber ne fait désormais plus partie du caucus progressiste-conservateur et qu’il ne peut plus se présenter sous ce parti lors de prochaines élections. Que s’est-il passé? «Le remède tue le patient. Les hôpitaux de l’Ontario et la capacité des unités de soins intensifs sont meilleurs que ces trois dernières années. J’écris en mon nom et celui de mes constituants de North York et plaide pour les millions de vies et existences ruinées par les restrictions de la santé publique de l’Ontario.» Ce sont les premières lignes de la lettre qu’a envoyée le député de York Centre Roman Baber à Doug Ford, jeudi soir, où il insiste que le confinement ne fonctionne pas et qu’il engendre une «avalanche de suicides, de surdoses, de banqueroutes, de divorces et un immense impact sur les enfants». Selon le député, la crise est largement limitée aux foyers de soins de longue durée (FSLD). «Avec tous les résidents des FSLD en “zones rouges” qui seront vaccinés d'ici le 21 janvier, l’Ontario devrait mettre fin au confinement et à son impact catastrophique sur les Ontariens.» « En propageant de la désinformation, il sape les efforts inlassables de nos travailleurs de la santé de première ligne en cette période critique [...]. » — Doug Ford Le lendemain matin, quelques heures à peine après avoir reçu la lettre du député, Doug Ford publie une déclaration: «En vigueur immédiatement, M. Baber ne siégera plus en tant que membre du caucus progressiste-conservateur et n’aura plus l’autorisation de se présenter aux élections en tant que membre du parti.» «Propos irresponsables» Le premier ministre souligne être le premier à reconnaître «l’impact dévastateur» de la COVID-19 sur la population. «Toutefois, en tant que premier ministre, ma priorité numéro un est la santé et la sécurité de tous les Ontariens. Nous devons respecter les conseils et les recommandations des experts en santé publique et du médecin hygiéniste en chef de l’Ontario.» Doug Ford juge ses propos irresponsables. «En propageant de la désinformation, il sape les efforts inlassables de nos travailleurs de la santé de première ligne en cette période critique, et il met les gens à risque. Je ne mettrai pas en péril la vie d’un seul Ontarien en ignorant les conseils de la santé publique.» Roman Baber est le président du comité permanent de la justice. Ce titre devrait lui être retiré dès la reprise des travaux parlementaires, prévue le 16 février. Dès lors, le député siégera en tant qu’élu indépendant et se joindra aux autres députés exclus par le premier ministre, soit Randy Hillier, Belinda Karahalios et Jim Wilson. Excuses demandées Plusieurs affirmations incluses dans la lettre de M. Baber s’avèrent non véridiques. Le bureau de la ministre de la Santé Christine Elliott a envoyé, en réaction à la lettre de Roman Baber, une série de quatre pages où il fait une vérification des faits allégués par le député et corrige même une erreur d’orthographe. Dans son courriel, le ministère de la Santé demande des excuses de la part de M. Baber «à chaque membre de la famille, travailleur de première ligne et partenaire de soins de santé, qui continuent tous de faire face aux effets dévastateurs de la COVID-19 chaque jour». L’Association canadienne pour la santé mentale (ACSM) a publié un communiqué de presse où elle affirme que le député Baber a «mal interprété» les statistiques de l’ACSM à propos de l’augmentation des suicides au cours de la pandémie. L’Association affirme appuyer «sans équivoque» les mesures sanitaires de la province.Émilie Pelletier, journaliste, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Droit
Some Oakville residents have been told to seek shelter in their basements amid what police are calling an "active situation" with at least two people barricaded inside a home. According to tweets from Halton police issued Friday afternoon, Lakeshore Road West is closed from 4th Line to Birch Hill Lane for an ongoing investigation. Police say they first received a call just before 1:20 p.m. reporting possible gunfire in the area. On Twitter, investigators said the ongoing situation is contained to a residence on Lakeshore Road West, and originally involved "at least two" people barricaded inside. Police later said one person is now out of the home, but at least one person remains inside. Crisis negotiators have been in contact with the person inside the home and there are no reported injuries, police said. "Our crisis negotiators will be working to resolve this safely," police said on Twitter. Ryan Anderson, media relations officer with Halton Regional Police, says as of Friday evening, the situation is still ongoing. "It is our goal, our ultimate goal, to bring them out safely without anybody being injured," he said. Anderson could not say whether it was a hostage situation or if the person remaining in the home resided there or explain the relationship between the two people. Police are concerned for the safety of the individual inside, as well as those who live nearby. "We have reason to believe there may have been gas released in the home, so utilities have been cut off to the home," Anderson said. As a result, approximately nine residences have been notified and evacuated accordingly. Investigators say there is a "heavy police presence in the area," including officers, the tactical rescue unit, and police dogs. Appleby College was also in a hold and secure, but that has since been lifted. However, students boarding there will continue to remain indoors, according to the school's Twitter feed Police are asking people to avoid the area.
When Bay Roberts’ director of tourism and economic development, Ron Delaney, opened his email inbox one day this past November, probably the last thing he expected to see was a message from Digital Government and Services NL alleging non-complaint signage along the highway entrance into Bay Roberts — especially seeing as the signs have been standing there for over a decade. “All of a sudden, all of the signs that lead into our Town via LT Stick Drive are non-complaint, or, as they say, illegal,” said Delaney. “Which I find puzzling, which would be one word for it, for the simple fact that, because up by the TCH we’ve been adhering to their policies for a number of years, but as you come down through the main area leading into LT Stick, I’m going to venture to say that for 15 years we’ve had signs there. Right from the Summer Games, which is in partnership with the provincial government, right down to tourism, and our ‘Why Litter?’ campaign, which started around 12 or 14 years ago. And now, all of a sudden they want us to take them down, and they’re only giving us 30 days to take them down.” His recommendation was to send a letter back looking for policy clarifications. Delaney also wondered if there were other communities suddenly finding themselves dealing with a similar issue. “Our signs are very neat and respectful and help our business community and let people know what’s going on within our community,” he said. Councillor Dean Franey recommended asking MHA Pam Parsons to have a look at the situation, and shared some of the sentiments expressed by Delaney. “It’s kind of annoying, actually, because for the Summer Games one, for example, the reason (being given for taking it down) is ‘this business is not tourism related.’ The Summer Games is a provincial government sanctioned event, awarded by the provincial government, and now a provincial government department is saying you can’t advertise a provincial government sanctioned event,” said Franey. Deputy Mayor Walter Yetman said it should be pointed out to the department that Bay Roberts is a municipal government, not a business, as stated in the letter. Councillor Frank Deering said he felt the request was more about applying to have the signs registered, than having them taken down. “I hope it’s as simple as that, but to give us only 30 days after having them up for 14 years is a little bit silly in my mind,” said Delaney. “Especially at this time of year, when we don’t have a lot of staff on to go deal with the issue. We’re not not going to do it; it just seems awful funny that it’s coming at this time in November when we’re getting into the winter season when we have most of our staff laid off.” He noted that one of the signs dates back to before 2007. So far as he knew, there was no change of policy that would suddenly make the signs non-complacent. “I’m thinking it’s more of a change of staff more than anything. It just seems funny to give us such a tight timeline of 30 days after 14 years,” he said. The letter, which had requested that the town submit design applications for the signs, was dated November 16, which would means the signs would have had to be removed within a month of that date. “I would submit the applications and afterwards phone the MHA,” said Mayor Philip Wood, suggesting a plan that was quickly voted on and approved by council. Several other councillors noted their dislike at the use of the word ‘illegal’ being used to describe the signs.Mark Squibb, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Shoreline News
Herbert Kickl claimed that children would play "not the slightest role" in spreading the virus.View on euronews
MADRID — The Spanish region of Catalonia is postponing regional elections planned for Feb. 14 until May 30 because of a strong surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. The new date was agreed on by the region’s parliamentary parties Friday and formally announced later by the regional government. It says the change will give authorities more time to bring the virus spread under control and people a better chance to vote. The virus incidence rate in Catalonia on Thursday was at 561 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is high but still below Spain's national average of 575. The region has imposed strict movement restrictions between towns and non-essential stores can only open Monday to Friday. Critics of the date change say pro-independence governing parties in Catalonia hope it might weaken the electoral impact of highly popular Spanish Socialist Health Minister Salvador Illa, who recently announced his candidacy. Polls suggest Illa could upset the balance of power in the region. Separatist parties currently control the Catalan government. The separatist movement, which is supported by roughly half the region's 7.5 million residents, wants to create a republic for the wealthy northeast corner of Spain. The region’s political situation is still heavily dominated by the jailing in 2019 of nine political figures for their role in a secession push two years earlier. Catalonia has been operating without a president since former leader Quim Torra was barred from public office last year for disobeying the country’s electoral law in 2019 — when he displayed banners in a public building calling for the imprisoned separatists to be released. The Associated Press
Le Syndicat des employés municipaux de Mirabel, affilié à la CSN, dénonce l’entêtement de la Ville à ne pas prioriser le télétravail partout où c’est possible de le faire, tel que le recommande le gouvernement du Québec depuis décembre dernier. Il accuse le fait que des employés sont obligés de se présenter sur leur lieu de travail, sous peine de voir leur salaire coupé, alors que du télétravail pourrait «aisément» être effectué. Selon le site du gouvernement du Québec, en lien avec la pandémie de COVID-19, le télétravail est obligatoire pour tous les employés, et ce, jusqu’au 7 février inclusivement. Seules les personnes qui doivent réaliser des activités jugées «prioritaires» par les ministères et les organismes publics ont droit de se retrouver au sein de leur milieu de travail. Par prioritaire, on veut dire des tâches qui ne peuvent être réalisées en télétravail. Or, selon le Syndicat des employés municipaux de Mirabel, la direction exige une plus grande présence au bureau malgré le fait que celle-ci ne soit pas justifiée vu la nature du travail à accomplir. «Pourquoi obliger des employés à se présenter au travail alors que leur présence n’est absolument pas nécessaire pour assurer les services aux citoyens?», de s’interroger Anabel Millette, présidente du Syndicat, rappelant que Mirabel est située dans une zone rouge qui s’étend jusqu’à Mont-Tremblant. Pas une première L’organisation syndicale avance même que certains employés ont été mis à pied au lieu d’être redirigés vers le télétravail. «Alors que plus de 2 000 cas par jour sont répertoriés, Mirabel devrait faire preuve de rigueur et de sens des responsabilités. Ce n’est pas le temps de tenter de contourner les recommandations, mais bien de donner l’exemple et de participer à l’effort collectif pour qu’enfin nous puissions espérer un retour à la normale», de poursuivre la présidente, Mme Millette. Ce n’est pas la première fois que le Syndicat observe une problématique en lien avec la pandémie et le milieu de travail. Au printemps dernier, lors de la première vague, des représentants ont dû «intervenir» pour que les édifices municipaux se conforment aux directives de la Santé publique. Mme Millette ajoute d’ailleurs que si la Ville ne se conforme pas aux directives gouvernementales, le Syndicat en informera la Direction de santé publique. Votre hebdomadaire a joint la Ville de Mirabel afin d’obtenir une réaction de la part de responsables. Par courriel, la directrice du Service des communications, Caroline Thibault, affirme que «la Ville de Mirabel respecte les consignes de la Santé publique et celles de la CNESST concernant le télétravail et l’ensemble des mesures sanitaires».Nicolas Parent, Initiative de journalisme local, L'Éveil
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida man was arrested Friday and charged with trying to organize an armed response to pro-President Donald Trump protesters expected at the state capitol on Sunday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. Daniel Baker of Tallahassee was using social media to recruit people in a plot to create a circle around protesters and trap them in the Capitol, according to an affidavit filed by an FBI agent. The court document describes a series of threats of violence and a prediction of civil war. Baker is described as anti-Trump, anti-government, anti-white supremacists and anti-police. "Extremists intent on violence from either end of the political and social spectrums must be stopped, and they will be stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe in a news release. Baker was kicked out of the Army in 2007 after going AWOL before being deployed to Iraq. The affidavit said Baker was then homeless and largely unemployed for the following nine years, most of the time in Tallahassee. “REMEMBER THAT THE COPS WONT PROTECT US BECAUSE THE COPS AND KLAN GO HAND IN HAND!" Baker wrote on a Facebook event page he created, according to the affidavit. “If you are afraid to die fighting the enemy, then stay in bed and live. Call all of your friends and Rise Up!” The Associated Press
FORT FRANCES, ONT., — A 30-year-old man in Fort Frances is facing a series of break and enter related charges. On Jan. 11, shortly after 8 a.m., Rainy River Ontario Provincial Police responded to a break and enter at a local business on First Street East in Fort Frances, according to a police news release. As a result, Thomas Atkinson, 30, of Fort Frances was charged with break and enter, theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of heroin. A day later, on Jan. 12, police responded again to a break and enter report at a pharmacy in Fort Frances shortly after 2 p.m. As a result, Atkinson was charged with break and enter, theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime. On Jan. 13, police attended a break and enter at two separate pharmacies in Fort Frances. Atkinson was taken into custody and charged with two counts of break and enter and two counts of possession of property obtained by crime. Police say the investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information regarding the break and enters is urged to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Karen Edwards, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source
