GOP leaders talk guns, filibuster, border security

Senate Republican leaders weighed in on gun reform legislation, the fight with Democrats over the filibuster and border security on Tuesday. (March 23)

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  • Nova Scotia student suspended after posting photo online says she's back in class

    AUBURN, N.S. — A Nova Scotia high school student says she's back in class after being suspended for bringing attention to someone wearing a shirt that she found offensive. In an interview Sunday, Kenzie Thornhill said she returned to West Kings District High School in Auburn, N.S., on Friday, following a conversation with the school's principal who told her the local school board had reversed its decision. The 17-year-old Grade 12 student says she was suspended last week after posting a photo online of someone wearing a shirt with lyrics on the back that mimicked the style of "Deck the Halls," with one line reading: “'tis the season to be rapey.” "Knowing people that are (sexual assault) victims, and not liking that at all, I did what pretty much any teen would do with social media and I posted it," said Thornhill. Thornhill said she had also shown the photo to a teacher and hall monitor and was told the issue would be handled. But although the photo only showed the shirt and not the student, said Thornhill, the school board suspended her for five days for violating school rules. She said they told her posting the photo on social media was a form of cyberbullying. "I was being punished for posting this photo, but the kid who did wear the shirt, however, was just told not to wear the shirt again," she said. Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education executive director Dave Jones would not discuss specific details citing privacy. In an emailed statement sent Friday, he said, "the school has revisited the decisions made in recent days related to discipline." Jones also said it was an opportunity to engage with students and to help them feel "safe and supported" and to feel they can report any incident within their school or its community. "Any language that promotes sexual violence is never acceptable or tolerated at our schools, and it was not acceptable in this instance," he said. Thornhill said she wasn't given a specific reason why her suspension was revoked and she's asked her principal to seek an apology from school board officials. "To be made public if that would be OK, but if they can't then just to me would be fine," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • Alberta COVID infection rates surge following the Easter holiday weekend

    (ANNews) – There is no doubt that Canada is currently is being hit by the third wave of COVID-19 as Alberta cases and hospitalizations have spiked in recent days. Variant cases continue to surge and are now the dominant strains of the virus — accounting for 45.5 per cent of total active cases. In order to combat this, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced earlier this week that the province would be regressing back to phase 1 of their re-opening plan: – Indoor dining at restaurants is forbidden, with delivery and pick-up service still continuing. – Indoor social gatherings are still banned and outdoor gatherings are now limited to 10 people only. – Retail store capacity has been lowered to 15 per cent. The full list of restrictions can be found on the Alberta Government website. The announcement is more polarizing as ever. Many health care experts have criticized the announcement, believing that the province should go back into a full lockdown. Dr. Shazma Mithani, an ER physician in Edmonton said, “All levels of government need to take action to prevent a higher peak in this third wave. What we are recommending today is an immediate lockdown, or circuit breaker. “We are asking that people only leave their homes for essential services, they only have contact with members of their own household or their cohort.” However, 17 United Conservative Party MLAs – part of the Alberta Government – have spoken out against the new restrictions. “We believe that yesterday’s announcement to move our province backwards, effectively abandoning the plan that Albertans had worked diligently over the past months to follow, is the wrong decision,” they said in a letter released on Wednesday April 7. Alberta Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief, Marlene Poitras, spoke on the rising number of COVID cases in the province. “The COVID-19 third wave is upon us across the country… Variant strains are now the dominant mode of transmission in the province — over 50% of new cases are now variants of concern. 86 cases of the variants were identified among First Nations.” “This is a very troubling and worrisome development,” continued the regional chief, who then emphasized that the new cases are outpacing Alberta’s ability to vaccinate. “It’s more important than ever that we follow the public health guidelines. The new strains are more contagious and more deadly, and we are seeing increased hospitalizations and severe outcomes in younger populations. “I, like all of you, am feeling COVID fatigue. I know we are tired and this has gone on for so long, but this truly is the pivotal point in our fight, where our actions as individuals will determine the path the virus takes. “In the short term, we need to continue to physically distance, sanitize, and practice good health measures. In the medium and long term, we need to vaccinate – please, get educated, and get vaccinated. The vaccines approved for use in Canada are safe and effective,” concluded Chief Poitras. On First Nations, as of April 8 Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is aware of: – 25,393 confirmed positive COVID-19 – 629 active cases – 1,146 hospitalizations – 24,468 recovered cases – 296 deaths Case numbers per region: – British Columbia: 2,870 – Alberta: 7,299 – Saskatchewan: 6,333 – Manitoba: 6,553 – Ontario: 1,676 – Quebec: 652 – Atlantic: 10 Jacob Cardinal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News

  • 1 dead, 3 injured following 2-vehicle collision in Brampton

    One person is dead and three others suffered minor injuries following a two-vehicle collision in Brampton Saturday night. Peel Regional Police say they were called to the area of Bartley Bull Parkway and Main Street, north of Steeles Avenue, just before 9:30 p.m. Police said an occupant of one of the vehicles sustained life-threatening injuries and was going to be transported to a trauma centre. However, that person died on scene, Peel police spokesperson Akhil Mooken said. A total of four people were in the two vehicles at the time of the crash. The Major Collision Bureau has taken over the investigation, police say, and there are road closures in the area as they investigate. Witnesses are asked to contact investigators if they have any information including dashcam footage of the incident.

  • Iran reports electrical 'incident' at Natanz nuclear plant

    Iran state media reported an electrical "incident" at the country's Natanz nuclear plant just hours after it inaugurated new devices to speed up the enrichment of uranium.View on euronews

  • Three banned from fishing, holding licences in Canada after overfishing violations

    NOOTKA, B.C. — Three people have been banned from fishing or holding a fishing licence anywhere in Canada after pleading guilty to overfishing on Vancouver Island in 2019.Nootka Sound RCMP investigated the trio in September of that year after reports the three were overfishing in the Gold River area.When police found the individuals, only one of the three had a valid fishing licence and the group had dozens of fish, including salmon, which were not properly recorded.Mounties seized the group's 30-foot fishing vessel and all equipment on board at the time, along with Chinook salmon, rock fish filets and ling cod filets.The three appeared in Provincial Court in Campbell River, B.C., this past February and pleaded guilty to violating the Fisheries Act.Greg Askey, a fishery officer and field supervisor with the Campbell River Fisheries Department Detachment, says in a statement that this was the most significant sport fish violation he's seen in more than 20 Years.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • COVID-19 vaccinations by postal code begin as Ontario targets hot spot neighbourhoods

    TORONTO — Efforts to expand Ontario's vaccine rollout to adults of all ages in certain long-standing hot spots drew massive lineups at one pop-up clinic on Saturday as those otherwise excluded from the province's immunization drive rushed to get their shots. Hundreds lined up for hours in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood, some with lawn chairs in tow, eager to get their first dose of vaccines that are still generally reserved for Ontarians of certain ages or occupations. Ema Golich waited roughly four hours before getting her shot, but that didn't soften her anticipation for a moment she'd been thinking about for months.“I feel good, I feel excited," said the 22-year-old student as she neared the front of the line."We've been in the pandemic for a year and it finally feels like it’s on its way out. This is one step toward going back to regular life."Fozia Chaudhary brought her daughter, who's still too young to get the vaccine, to the clinic because her husband had to work. She said timing was of the essence for her neighbourhood, which has been deemed a COVID-19 hot spot by health authorities.“This is a crowded area and I heard there’s so many people catching the virus," she said."So I decided if we have this opportunity to get the vaccine, why not? Why not get it today?”The clinic at Thorncliffe Park is an example of an approach the province is hoping to implement in several other hard-hit neighbourhoods.Ontario announced the plan this week, saying it will be sending mobile teams into postal codes where the virus is prevalent, offering shots to residents aged 18 and older in congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based centres and large workplaces. The areas will be selected based on patterns of transmission, illness and death from COVID-19.Officials have said the plan will take some time to fully launch, but experts say the approach is a good one that will help blunt the impact of the third wave that's sending younger people to the hospital, many of them workers in essential jobs like manufacturing."I think this intervention is one of the best things that we can do right now to change the trajectory," said Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease physician at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ont."It's not going to get us out of the third wave, but it's going to be something that can hopefully blunt some of the severity of it. At the same time, once we start to come out of it, it's going to be a robust protection in the coming months."Chakrabarti said lowering the eligible age range to 18 in hot spots is "vital" to breaking chains of transmission in neighbourhoods where workers often bring the virus home to their families, a pattern he says is especially pronounced during the third wave. It's likely that some people living outside the selected postal codes might try to "game the system" to receive a shot, Chakrabarti said, but there are mechanisms like asking for proof of address that would minimize some of that activity. Attendees at the Thorncliffe Park clinic were being asked to present their provincial health cards as proof of postal code. Even if some higher-income people become eligible through living within the postal code, the approach is still a good way to reach those most at risk, Chakrabarti said."Don't let perfect get in the way of good," he said. He also noted that it's the right move to make now, following the province's initial approach that prioritized long-term care residents, health-care workers and the oldest seniors — which he said has protected the vulnerable and kept health-care workers on the job."I think that was the right first step to do regardless of what's happening now," he said.Dr. Naheed Dosani, a palliative care physician and health justice advocate, said Friday that he also welcomed the shift to an "exposure-based approach" in vaccinations, calling it a good step to help protect workers as virus variants are sickening young people more severely. "We know that communities where essential workers are living, and particularly where racialized people in low income people live, these are the hardest-hit areas and these areas need to get prioritized for vaccination," he said."A postal code system is not perfect, in the sense that there is gentrification in almost every region that exists, but it's a framework for us to ensure we're targeting those who are hardest hit by COVID-19."It's not the only thing that should be done to protect workers, Dosani noted, pointing to other measures like paid sick leave, paid time off to get vaccinated and formal plans to bring shots directly to workplaces would further help those at risk of infection on the job. He also said a mobile approach would benefit homebound people who can't get to clinics, and involving family doctors more fully in the vaccine rollout plan would help improve access within hard-hit communities."Every step we can take to address health disparities in implementation of COVID-19 vaccine access will help a lot," Dosani said.A spokesman with the Islamic Society of Toronto, which helped organize the vaccine clinic in Thorncliffe Park, said a similar pop-up site Friday saw people line up hours before the first 200 doses were administered at Masjid Darussalam Thorncliffe Mosque."We have tents outside and with the infection rate so high here lots of people really want the vaccine," said Ilyas Mulla."It's good to have easy access and help the local community."This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2021. — with files from Liam Casey Denise Paglinawan and Holly McKenzie-Sutter, The Canadian Press

  • Fact or fiction: Debunking 4 common myths about ticks

    There is plenty of misinformation circulating about ticks and the diseases they may carry. Here are four myths debunked, along with tick facts to keep people safe when exploring the outdoors.

  • Erin O'Toole says 'I didn't hide who I was' running for Conservative leader

    OTTAWA — Erin O'Toole assured Conservative supporters that he never hid who he was in his bid to secure the party leadership, telling a high-profile conference on Saturday that the "true blue" campaign he ran to secure the party helm does reflect his true colours. O'Toole fielded questions about his authenticity during an evening question-and-answer session that closed out a conference hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly the Manning Centre. He's being branded as "Liberal-lite" in some quarters, the same descriptor O'Toole once leveled at former rival and ex-parliamentarian Peter MacKay during last year's leadership race. O'Toole, who during the contest pitched himself to party members as a "real Conservative," said he finds those now making similar comments about him to be "humorous." He said he's been trying to grow the party's appeal to a wider swath of Canadians since assuming the party reins. O'Toole contended that bigger tent should include those who identify as Indigenous, working-class and LGBTQ if the party wants to ensure success in the next election. "I didn't hide who I was when I was running for leader," said O'Toole. "All of the things I ran on, I'm still running on now. I'm also, though, reaching out and trying to communicate our Conservative ideas to more people in new ways." O'Toole told conference attendees that Conservatives must fight an election on the issues of today rather than those of decades past. Those issues include his willingness to slash millions from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and modernize its mandate, as well as crack down on illegal rail blockades, positions he said help set him apart from Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The theme of Saturday's conference was "build back right," which played off Trudeau's oft-expressed wish to "build back better" when helping Canada's economy recover from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The think tank's annual convention — moved online in accordance with public health advice to avoid in-person gatherings — was billed as the largest networking event for both small-c and big-C conservatives to discuss current issues. Among them was how to expand the scope of the Conservative movement. Lilly Obina, a black woman who campaigned for different Conservative candidates and ran for a nomination in 2015, said one reason the party doesn't resonate with the black community is its messaging around cuts, which needs to be better explained. The senior project executive with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada told a panel that economics are important to the black community, who she said can feel targeted when the party talks about reducing the size of government. "We need to be able to empathize with what goes (on) in the black community," she said. "For example, when they say we are experiencing systemic racism, let's recognize that, let's be empathetic. You might not have solutions to everything, but at least just acknowledge that the problem exists." Tenzin Khangsar, who did cultural outreach for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney when he served as Immigration Minister under former prime minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government, said the party has had previous success with reaching newcomers despite the present-day challenges. The former candidate pointed to how a large number of their votes were captured under former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Harper, the latter of whom was aided by Kenney's efforts to build relationships with immigrant communities. "He was dubbed the minister of curry in a hurry for a reason," said Khangsar, citing how he would attend upwards of 15 community events in a weekend. "No one likes when it you're approached just during an election, that's very transactional." He suggested forging personal relationships is an important way to sway votes among new immigrants and ethnic-Canadians,, even more so than with non-ethnic residents. "Our playbook was very simple: We were very confident that most new Canadians were small-c conservatives. We just had to make them big-C Conservatives," Khangsar said. "And I would even add that applies to most Canadians." Harper was among those who appeared at Saturday's conference in a pre-taped panel discussion with former British prime minister David Cameron. Moderated by Senator Linda From, the centre's president said their talk couldn't be publicized beyond the conference because of a contract with the former leaders. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2021. Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version identified one delegate as Tenzin Khangdsar. His name is, in fact, Tenzin Khangsar.

  • German president: Buchenwald a reminder of Nazi 'barbarism'

    WEIMAR, Germany — Germany’s president on Sunday marked the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp by reminding his compatriots of the inconceivable atrocities the Nazis committed there during the Third Reich. “Communists and democrats, homosexuals and so-called asocials were incarcerated at Buchenwald. Jews, Sinti and Roma were brought here and murdered,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said during a speech in the nearby German town of Weimar, 76 years to the day after U.S. forces liberated the camp. “With its diversity of victims' groups, Buchenwald represents the entire barbarism of the Nazis, its aggressive nationalism to the outside, it's dictatorship on the inside, and a racist way of thinking,” Steinmeier said. “Buchenwald stands for racial fanaticism, torture, murder and elimination.” Holocaust survivors and their families weren't allowed to gather for anniversary observances this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Survivors from different parts of the world instead attended Sunday's memorial ceremony online. Large-scale commemorations for last year’s 75th anniversary were put on hold due to social distancing requirements. The Buchenwald concentration camp was established in 1937. More than 56,000 of the 280,000 inmates held at Buchenwald and its satellite camps were killed by the Nazis or died as a result of hunger, illness or medical experiments before the camp's liberation on April 11, 1945. “It was a dictatorship, a Nazi leadership that was responsible for the cruelest crimes and the genocide," Steinmeier said. “But it was human beings, Germans, who did this to other human beings.” After his speech in Weimar, Steinmeier went to the site of the former concentration camp, where he laid a wreath with yellow and red flowers for the victims. The Associated Press

  • 'You cannot claim any more:' Russia seeks bigger piece of Arctic Ocean seabed

    IQALUIT, Nunavut — Russia wants to stretch out imaginary lines on the ocean floor — and below it — and that has one northern security expert worried about consequences for other Arctic countries like Canada. Last week, Russia filed a submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend a claim to the Arctic Ocean seabed. The UN still has to review the submission but, if it's approved, Russia would have exclusive rights to resources in the seabed and below it, but not in the water. The new submission would push Russia's claim all the way up to Canada's exclusive economic zone, an area 200 nautical miles from the coastline, in which Canadians have sole rights to fish, drill and pursue other economic activities. Philip Steinberg, a political geography professor at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom, estimates Russia's submission expands its original claim by about 705,000 square kilometres. Robert Huebert, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said Russia's request gets as close to Canada's 200-mile limit as possible. "This is a maximalist submission. You cannot claim any more," said Huebert, an Arctic security and defence analyst with the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. Countries have sovereignty over their zones but can submit scientific evidence to the UN to claim control over the soil and subsoil of the extended continental shelf. Russia's amended submission overlaps with those from Canada and Denmark, but does not extend into the north of Alaska. "In effect, they’re claiming the entire Arctic Ocean as their continental shelf in regards to where their Arctic comes up against Canada’s and Denmark's." Huebert said. The claims from Canada, Denmark (on behalf of Greenland), and Russia already overlap at the North Pole, but the amended claim goes beyond that, Huebert said. "We haven’t seen a country before that’s extended over its neighbours. Here’s a situation where they’re claiming the entire Canadian and Danish continental shelf as part of their continental shelf." Huebert noted there have been recent reports of an increased Russian military presence on the Ukrainian border over the last two weeks. "If the Russians reinvigorate the conflict with Ukraine, that is going to spill into all of this." he said. “I don’t think anyone should assume that Russia will do anything less than pursue its maximum foreign policy interests." Whitney Lackenbauer, a professor at Trent University who specializes in circumpolar affairs, disagrees. "Russia is playing by the rules. And for those of us who are concerned about Russia’s flouting of the rules-based order, I actually take a great deal of comfort in seeing Russia go through the established process in this particular case," Lackenbauer said. He believes Russia's submission signals eventual talks between the three countries to determine the limits of their continental shelves. "Setting out to negotiate where the outermost limits would be was something that was always in the cards," Lackenbauer said. "I’m not worried about Russia’s actions as an Arctic coastal state seeking to determine the outermost limits of its extended continental shelf." Nor is he concerned about potential conflict, since Russia has submitted the required scientific evidence. "You can’t sit on a continental shelf and claim squatter’s rights to it." In a statement, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said Canada "remains firmly committed to exercising in full its sovereign rights in the Arctic" according to international law. The statement also said Russia's revised outer limit "does not establish new rights for Russia over the newly created overlap areas." It said Canada is studying Russia’s revised claim on its outer limits to prepare an appropriate response. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. ___ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship Emma Tranter, The Canadian Press

  • Grizzly bears prefer walking on gentle slopes at a leisurely pace like humans: study

    VANCOUVER — Grizzly bears seem to favour gently sloping or flat trails like those commonly used by people, which can affect land management practices in wild areas, says an expert who has written a paper on their travel patterns. One of the reasons people encounter bears while hiking could be because they prefer the same routes as humans, said Gordon Stenhouse, a researcher at the Alberta-based Foothills Research Institute. The study recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology could be used by resource-based industries in areas like forestry, oil and gas exploration, especially in Alberta, he said in an interview. "Grizzly bears alter their movement patterns and habitat use in response to a wide range of environmental cues, including seasonal food resources, human recreation — such as hiking, camping, hunting — livestock grazing and road use," the study says. The study was led by Anthony Carnahan, a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Stenhouse said the study can help understand what areas bears use, how fast they move, how best to conserve those places and avoid conflict with the animals. "Bears will make decisions on lots of factors and certainly, you know, the information shows that bears look for easy routes of travel, just like people do," he said. Changes to the landscape caused by humans raises questions about how bears are affected, he said. "For example, when we harvest the forests and bears walk through there, do they burn a lot more energy or less, or how do they travel?" To study the slopes favoured by bears and the energy expended, scientists at Washington State University’s Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center trained nine captive animals to walk on a treadmill at varying inclinations. The bears ranged in age from two to 15 years and weighed between 91 and 265 kilograms. Researchers measured the bears’ oxygen levels and counted the calories they consumed while walking on the treadmill for about six minutes. The preferred speed was about four kilometres per hour with a 10 per cent incline up or down. However, bears in the Yellowstone National Park fitted with GPS collars ambled at a comfortable rate of about two km/h. Stenhouse said changes in a bear's gait are related to how they forage for food. "Grizzly bears sleep from about midday till five in the morning and they wake up. Then they start moving and as they're moving, they're searching the environment, seeing what food they can find," he said. "They might find a patch of berries or some roots to dig up, and then they keep moving around their home range. Basically, they're feeding as they walk." They might have a burst of energy when they hunt a deer but there are not many of those moments, he added. The data helps understand the movement of grizzly bears, their use of landscape, the energy expended, and the nutrition they need, which is ultimately important for the long-term conservation of the species, he said. "It's probably not your normal thing to be putting a grizzly bear on a treadmill," Stenhouse said. "Some people might laugh and think it's funny, but the overall goal is to allow better management practices and ensure conservation." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. Hina Alam, The Canadian Press

  • 7 arrested at Mississauga demonstration in response to SIU clearing police in killing of Ejaz Choudry

    Seven people were arrested on Saturday at a demonstration in response to Ontario's police watchdog's ruling to not lay criminal charges against the officer who shot and killed Ejaz Choudry, a 62-year-old man with schizophrenia. Choudry's family and community members gathered in Mississauga around 1 p.m. outside his apartment building, at the intersection of Morning Star Drive and Goreway Drive, where he was killed while having a mental health crisis last summer. The demonstration happened days after the release of a report by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) into Choudry's death. "The SIU keeps letting the cops who do their jobs terribly off with no warning, no consequences, leaving families and communities reeling and with questions and then no answers," said Asher Hill, who was at the gathering. Ahead of the planned demonstration, Peel police in a tweet Saturday morning recognized people's right to peacefully protest. A few hours later, they tweeted that demonstrators were occupying the roadway of the intersection of Morning Star Drive and Goreway Drive. They encouraged drivers to use alternate routes. Choudry's family and community members gathered in Mississauga on Saturday around 1 p.m. outside his apartment building, at the intersection of Morning Star Drive and Goreway Drive, where he was killed while in crisis last summer. (Jessica Ng/CBC) At 4:30 p.m., protestors made it clear that they were going to move the demonstration onto the nearby train tracks, said Peel police spokesperson Akhil Mooken. In response, officers created a police safety line to prevent people from occupying the tracks. That's when some demonstrators tried to push their way through them, Mooken said. As a result, he said, seven demonstrators were arrested. As of Saturday night, charges were still pending. The demonstration was organized by the Malton People's Movement (MPM), a group that was formed in response to Choudry's death, to fight against police brutality and support families of those killed or injured by police. Advocacy group demands answers from Peel officials On Tuesday, SIU director Joseph Martino said that the Peel Regional Police officer who fired two bullets into Choudry's chest acted reasonably when he opened fire from the balcony of the man's locked apartment on June 20 of last year. Choudry's family had called a non-emergency line requesting medical assistance for him. They said he was in crisis and reportedly had a pocketknife, the SIU's report said. After an approximately three-hour encounter, Choudry was shot and killed by police after they found him wielding a large kitchen knife and shouted at him in English — a language his family has said he didn't properly understand — to drop the weapon, the report said. Ejaz Ahmed Choudry, a 62-year-old father of four with schizophrenia, was fatally shot by Peel Regional Police last June. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit says there will be no criminal charges in his death. (Submitted by Choudry family) Speaking to CBC News at the demonstration Saturday afternoon, MPM member Vijay Balasundaram said there have been too many incidents of police violence, and the group is taking to the streets until they get some kind of justice. "We have no choice," he said, pointing to other cases where the SIU has cleared police in fatal encounters involving people in crisis, such as Regis Korchinski-Paquet, D'Andre Campbell and Clive Mensah. "Enough is enough," Balasundaram said. "The community needs justice, the community needs accountability." He said rallies and protests like the one on Saturday have catalyzed instances of police reform, such as officers being made to wear body cameras while on duty and Peel police suspending a program that put uniformed officers in schools. The advocacy group is demanding that officials in Peel Region, such as Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, respond to their actions. They also want to know the name of the officer who killed Choudry, which was omitted in the SIU report. Police need more help in mental health response: officer Police spokesperson Mooken said because the SIU did not lay any charges, the officer has a reasonable right to privacy under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "As an organization, we do have to respect that," he told CBC News Saturday afternoon. Mooken said as a result of Choudry's death, Peel police started a pilot project where officers are trained with body cameras. He said they will begin using them while on duty later this month, but said they need more support in responding to people with mental health issues. "Police should not be the primary responders to a mental health crisis," he said. "We need to work to find an alternative solution to how we can support those that are suffering a mental health crisis and will continue to work with our partners and continue to advocate for them." Loss of hope in police force, SIU Sean Akan, another MPM member, says something more needs to be done when it comes to holding police accountable for their actions. "We have multiple Black men killed, we have brown men killed ... No matter what the context, everyone has the officers cleared," Akan said. "That's the most frustrating thing." He said he has lost hope in the police force and the SIU. Aruna Sharma was Choudry's neighbour for two decades and described him as being very nice and gentle. Aruna Sharma (bottom right) became visibly emotional when describing Choudry, her neighbour of two decades. She said she is angry at the SIU's decision to clear police in her friend's killing. (Jessica Ng/CBC) "He [had] some problems. It doesn't mean police can come and shoot him. And [the police officer] was not punished," she said, becoming visibly emotional in an interview with CBC News. Sharma said she is angry with the police watchdog's decision regarding the death of her friend.

  • The latest numbers on COVID-19 in Canada for Saturday, April 10, 2021

    The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday April 10, 2021. There are 1,052,539 confirmed cases in Canada. Canada: 1,052,539 confirmed cases (70,619 active, 958,633 resolved, 23,287 deaths).*The total case count includes 13 confirmed cases among repatriated travellers. There were 7,262 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 185.81 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 50,881 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 7,269. There were 38 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 237 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 34. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 61.27 per 100,000 people. There have been 28,875,724 tests completed. Newfoundland and Labrador: 1,029 confirmed cases (14 active, 1,009 resolved, six deaths). There were four new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 2.68 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of nine new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is one. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 1.15 per 100,000 people. There have been 226,346 tests completed. Prince Edward Island: 162 confirmed cases (six active, 156 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 3.76 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of two new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 130,175 tests completed. Nova Scotia: 1,764 confirmed cases (43 active, 1,655 resolved, 66 deaths). There were eight new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 4.39 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 32 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is five. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 6.74 per 100,000 people. There have been 446,506 tests completed. New Brunswick: 1,713 confirmed cases (149 active, 1,531 resolved, 33 deaths). There were 19 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 19.07 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 72 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 10. There was one new reported death Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of three new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is zero. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.05 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 4.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 274,425 tests completed. Quebec: 324,848 confirmed cases (12,371 active, 301,740 resolved, 10,737 deaths). There were 1,754 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 144.28 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 9,890 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,413. There were 13 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 53 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is eight. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 125.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 7,494,471 tests completed. Ontario: 382,152 confirmed cases (30,999 active, 343,622 resolved, 7,531 deaths). There were 3,813 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 210.39 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 23,594 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 3,371. There were 19 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 103 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 15. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.1 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 51.11 per 100,000 people. There have been 12,879,408 tests completed. Manitoba: 35,104 confirmed cases (1,259 active, 32,896 resolved, 949 deaths). There were 135 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 91.28 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 752 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 107. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 11 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.11 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 68.8 per 100,000 people. There have been 608,766 tests completed. Saskatchewan: 35,983 confirmed cases (2,381 active, 33,149 resolved, 453 deaths). There were 236 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 202.01 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 1,660 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 237. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 17 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.21 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 38.43 per 100,000 people. There have been 696,057 tests completed. Alberta: 159,719 confirmed cases (13,687 active, 144,020 resolved, 2,012 deaths). There were 1,293 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 309.53 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 8,360 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,194. There were five new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 18 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is three. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.06 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 45.5 per 100,000 people. There have been 3,809,874 tests completed. British Columbia: 109,540 confirmed cases (9,709 active, 98,336 resolved, 1,495 deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 188.61 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 6,509 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 930. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 32 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is five. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 29.04 per 100,000 people. There have been 2,274,469 tests completed. Yukon: 74 confirmed cases (zero active, 73 resolved, one deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of zero new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 2.38 per 100,000 people. There have been 8,647 tests completed. Northwest Territories: 43 confirmed cases (one active, 42 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 2.21 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of one new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 16,498 tests completed. Nunavut: 395 confirmed cases (zero active, 391 resolved, four deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of zero new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 10.16 per 100,000 people. There have been 10,006 tests completed. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published April 10, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • RCMP investigate child's death at motel in Duncan, B.C.

    Police on Vancouver Island and the BC Coroners Service are investigating the death of a six-year-old child at a motel in Duncan Friday night. RCMP say officers and first responders were called to the motel for a report of an unresponsive child shortly after 9 p.m. PT The child was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Police say the North Cowichan Duncan General Investigation Section is leading the investigation, with support from the Forensic Identification Section and front-line officers. 'It's heartbreaking' The BC Coroners Service is also conducting a separate investigation, RCMP said. On Saturday, officers could be seen collecting evidence at the Falcon Nest Motel. The motel's manager, Valma Sampson, said a family had been in the suite. "It's heartbreaking," Sampson said, adding that she herself has a five-year-old. "It's a sad situation." RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said victim services have been supporting the family.

  • US-Philippines officials discuss concerns over China's ships

    Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea. Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defence Delfin Lorenzana while Austin was flying from Washington to Israel to begin an international trip. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Austin and Lorenzana discussed the situation in the South China Sea and the recent massing of Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef, which has drawn criticism from Manila. China has said its vessels are there for fishing. In their phone call, Austin proposed to Lorenzana several measures to deepen defenceco-operation, including by “enhancing situational awareness of threats in the South China Sea,” Kirby said. He did not elaborate. Kirby said earlier this week that the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group, as well as the amphibious ship USS Makin Island, are operating in the South China Sea. The U.S. has no military forces based permanently in the Philippines but sometimes rotates forces to the country under the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement. The recent gathering of Chinese vessels near the Philippines is among moves the United States has criticized as efforts by Beijing to intimidate smaller nations in the region. Robert Burns, The Associated Press

  • Bouquet-bearing public honours Philip, ignoring COVID warning

    LONDON — British authorities have implored people to stay away from royal palaces as they mourn the death of Prince Philip in this time of COVID-19, but they keep coming. Not just to honour him, but to support Queen Elizabeth II, who lost her husband of 73 years. The mix included children, seniors, Sikhs and the children of African immigrants. A cross-section of British society and admirers from abroad descended on Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle on Saturday. They laid bouquets at the gates, offered prayers or just paused for a moment of reflection as they remembered a man who dedicated much of his life to public service. Mourners talked about Philip’s work with some 780 charities and organizations, particularly his Duke of Edinburgh Award, which seeks to build confidence and resilience in young people. But they also recalled his role as the consummate royal consort, supporting the queen at thousands of public engagements and state visits. “We had a really hard year all of us and there’s people uniting in a very special moment,'' said Carolina Przeniewska, originally from Poland, who came to Buckingham Place with her 5-year-old daughter Grace. “So I wanted her to see it and I wanted to pay respect.” At Buckingham Palace, the queen’s London residence, well-wishers braved a chilly, gray day to line up and snake their way past the black iron gates, where tourists normally wait to watch the changing of the guard. People were allowed to approach the gates one at a time to lay their tributes as police tried to control the crowd amid Britain's coronavirus restrictions. The crowd was smaller at Windsor Castle, west of the capital, where a steady stream of mourners quietly approached the gates to leave bright spring bouquets on a strip of lawn. People want to show their respect for both Philip and the queen, who turns 95 this month and will celebrate 70 years on the throne next year, said Nick Bullen, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of True Royalty TV. “If the queen wasn’t already loved enough, this is just going to move it to another level now,’’ Bullen said. “This is a woman who’s going to bury her husband and then in a matter of days later be celebrating her birthday and stepping into her platinum jubilee year. … So I think people will just be rallying around the queen as much as they will the Duke of Edinburgh.” Philip, the son of a Greek prince, and the future queen first met as teenagers. They were married in 1947 when she was 21 and he was a 26-year-old naval officer. Elizabeth became queen when her father died in 1952. At her coronation, Philip swore to be his wife’s “liege man of life and limb” and settled into a life of supporting the monarch. Philip retired from public life in 2017. At the time, he had conducted more than 22,000 public engagements on his own, given 5,496 speeches and made 637 solo trips abroad, in addition to countless more appearances by the queen’s side. “He was a hero to me because he was the man I could look up to,” Nurtr Omar, a 20-year-old who was born in Somalia and now lives in Britain, said outside Buckingham Palace. “He showed me what I can achieve with my life, whether you are royal or not. You need to make hard work to achieve what you want to.” The floral tributes grew throughout the day, even after the Royal Family on Friday asked people not to visit royal residences to pay their respects due to public health concerns. Instead of flowers, the family asked people to consider making donations to charity. But for Windsor resident Billy Dohil, the day was about history. He took his children to the castle so they could be part of it. “As they grow up, we’ll remember this,” Dohil, 39, said. “We’ll remember the royal family and (it) will be part of their life. So we wanted to come here to pay our respects. My oldest son — five years old — wanted to bring some flowers and just put it down himself.’’ ___ Associated Press Writers James Brooks and Tom Rayner contributed. ___ For AP’s full coverage of the death of Prince Philip go to https://apnews.com/hub/prince-philip Danica Kirka, The Associated Press

  • First Nations sue Alberta for alleged conflict of interest in the casino industry

    (ANNews) – Two First Nations located in Southern Alberta — the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Stoney Nakoda Nation —have taken the provincial government to court following Alberta's entry into the casino and gaming industry. During the pandemic, Alberta created a provincially-run online gaming site known as, “Play Alberta.” This website allows adult Albertans to play virtual slots and table-style games on their devices. It launched in October and is currently the only regulated online gaming site in the province. Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda believe that the gaming website is an overstep of authority for the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulator (AGLC) and the provincial government. The application for judicial review has alleged that the AGLC exceeded their authority by becoming an operator and vendor of casino and gaming activities. The First Nations believe that because the AGLC is operating the website, it contravenes the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act as an arbitrary use of power and as a direct conflict of interest for the regulator. The application also says that the AGLC either issued itself a casino licence to operate PlayAlberta.ca — which would violate regulations under the Act — or is illegally operating a casino without a licence. Tsuut’ina Nation councillor and CEO of Tsuu t’ina Nation Gaming, Brent Dodginghorse said, “We’ve had excellent relationships and operating partnerships with previous governments, and all levels of AGLC. “The decision by this government now to break that understanding and begin a business competing against private companies has significantly damaged that relationship in many ways. They have said ‘thank you for helping establish the gaming sector in Alberta, but we’ll take it over from here.” Meanwhile, the AGLC said that they created an advisory committee made up of unnamed representatives from Alberta’s gaming industry “to support the relationship with existing venues.” This was done to make sure the website’s earnings complemented land-based venues. However, due to the current pandemic restrictions, all casinos are closed for business. Meaning the AGLC and the Alberta government have essentially created a situation where they are the only gaming provider in the province. Which can otherwise be understood as a government-backed monopoly. “The province has closed casinos for a prolonged period of time, which also ensures that they are the only option available for those who want to play casino games,” said Dodginghorse. “We have taken the business risk of building and operating a casino and agreed to share revenue with the province. It is in bad faith for the province to do anything with online revenue other than allocate to existing casinos.” Play Alberta’s expected earnings for the 2021 fiscal year is $3.74 million. Tsuut’t’ina Chief, Roy Whitney, said, “Together we have tried to raise our concerns with the provincial government. Unfortunately, those concerns have been ignored as our casinos remain closed during this pandemic. “This action is important to all Albertans that rely upon charity dollars through casino revenues. By entering online gaming, this government is taking away charity dollars — dollars that charities rely on. For us, these charity dollars are used to support our health, education, housing and social programs.” What Chief Whitney is referring to is the First Nation Development Fund. Essentially, funds made by the five First Nation owned-and-operated casinos in Alberta are distributed to each and every First Nation in the province — there are 48. These funds are used to operate the Nations. So, what happens when the casinos remain close and the government help money runs out? The conspiratorial minority in me says that the province is probably trying to force Nations to sell off land in order to survive since a large portion of funding hasn’t/isn’t coming in. Meanwhile, the city-living academic in me says that the UCP provincial government is just greedy and taking advantage of a “found” opportunity. But probably both are true. Jacob Cardinal is an LJI reporter for Alberta Native News. Jacob Cardinal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News

  • These bison heads watched over Calgary for 16 years. As they go for auction, the sculptor shares their story

    When Al Stinson learned concrete bison heads from Calgary's Centre Street Bridge were up for auction, he figured prospective buyers might want to know a bit more about the heads' provenance. They weren't sculpted by James L. Thompson, a stonemason who crafted the original heads when the bridge was first built in 1916. And, he thought buyers might want to know that the heads likely weigh hundreds of pounds less than auctioneer's estimations — "I thought, well, if somebody is contemplating bidding on them, you know, [an estimated one-tonne weight is] a little bit of a deterrent," Stinson said. Stinson would know; he made them. Before the Calgary landmark was restored in 1983, Stinson — who had studied for a few years at what was then Calgary's Alberta College of Art and Design before teaching figure sculpture in England — was hired to recast the crumbling heads. "The guy who hired me asked me what I charge, and I was pretty naive and I said $2,000 ($4,600 in 2020). So that was eight of them, so like $250 a-piece," he said. Stinson said he would sit outside of the bison paddock at the Calgary Zoo, snapping photos of the bull bison while working on a small clay maquette to take back to his studio. "He was quite cooperative, hanging about as I fed him grass through the fence," he said. Using that small figure, he made a life-sized clay model before casting the heads using rubber molds and a type of polymer concrete. The inside was styrofoam core, to help reduce the weight, with pieces of rebar to help with installation. All-in-all, it was about four months of full-time work. When the bridge restoration was unveiled, there was no big fanfare for Stinson's work, which he said was fine by him. "My oldest daughter … I just remember carrying her down to see when they were installed," he said. "I've enjoyed being kind of anonymous." Stinson's sculptures remained on the bridge until 1999 when they were replaced with new recreations. But a piece of his work remains — he had added arcs, to the concrete panel behind his heads, to accommodate the bisons' humps. That change survived the restoration. Correcting the record Looking back at articles from the time, Stinson's preference to keep a low profile is apparent. In Feb. 5, 1983, the Calgary Herald published an article about how the aging bridge and bison heads required serious repair. It states the original sculptor's identity was "lost over time" but that a new, unnamed sculptor, would be patching up the old heads, not completely remaking them. The front page of the Herald on Aug. 17, 1983, features the installation of the eight new bison heads — with credit to the engineering team of Roy Lappin, Terrence Smith and Kevin Donohue mounting the art — but no mention of the new artist. And an Oct. 7 article from the same year describes the $50,000 bridge repair project but credits all of the sculptures to James L. Thompson's original work — next to an uncaptioned photo of one of Stinson's new bison heads. Proceeds from the auction of Al Stinson's bison sculptures will go toward Heritage Calgary's plaque program, which recognizes historic properties in the city.(Submitted by Levis Online Auctions) A letter to the editor, appearing on page A6 a few weeks later, notes that the paper neglected to credit Stinson as the sculptor. "Let's give some recognition to Al — and artists like him — whose contributions are as important as those by the engineers and city planners in making our concrete cities attractive and pleasing," wrote Leslie Robinson in the 1983 letter. Stinson said he kept copies of those articles. "I never contacted them at that time to straighten up their facts," he said with a laugh. But now, decades later, he's correcting the record. CBC has updated its first story on the bison head auction to credit Stinson as the artist. The 70-year-old is still sculpting and has recently taken up painting. The bison heads aren't the only pieces of his public work Calgarians might recognize. He has six installations at the Calgary airport in front of the ticket counters of cyclists, mountain climbers Georgia Englehard and Edward Feuz in 1932, a canoer, snowboarder and tobogganers. In the international departure zone, you'll find his depiction of children flying kites — based on his daughter, her friend and kitten. While much of his work depicts people, he said bison were a wonderful subject — "they run with such relentless rolling energy, like an avalanche." It remains to be seen where Stinson's bison will end up. Private appointments can be booked through Levis Online Auctions to view the Centre Street bison at an undisclosed city location. Bids can be made online, with the auction set to close on April 18.

  • Sask. man fighting to get another patient's drug overdose removed from his health record

    Kevin Robinson has never overdosed on drugs, but he's had to spend the last three months proving it. "This has been really, really frustrating," the Saskatoon business owner said. Robinson, who has Crohn's disease, had some medical tests done in early January. Later that month, he logged on to his electronic health account to check the results. "I noticed it said the night before I was in St. Paul's Hospital emergency at 1:30 in the morning. I was like 'Well, that's weird,'" Robinson said. Robinson never went to the St. Paul's Emergency ward. His wife told him to call someone and clear things up. Robinson sent a series of emails to hospital and health authority officials. Then he got another surprise — a $325 invoice for the ambulance ride he didn't take. On the invoice, it states the patient suffered an overdose. "So now, I realize I've really got to get this off my record. If I ended up in emergency for any reason, it's going to show I had an overdose, which I did not," he said. "I have Crohn's. If I end up in emergency, how they treat me could be different." As he was dealing with the ambulance bill, the eHealth people, the St. Paul's Hospital staff and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, he learned a bit more of the story. Robinson was told a man had been rushed to St. Paul's Hospital after suffering a drug overdose. The patient didn't have identification, and appears to have given paramedics a name that sounded like Kevin Robinson. The man also gave a similar birth date. Robinson said he was passed around to various agencies, and some questioned his story. He offered to take a drug test or bring his wife to their office to testify that he was home in bed on the night in question. Officials eventually promised to have the overdose deleted from his record, but nothing happened. After several weeks of waiting, Robinson enlisted the help of a lawyer but nothing changed. Last Thursday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and eHealth Saskatchewan issued a joint written statement to CBC News. They apologized for the inconvenience. "This situation appears upon initial review to have identified an issue with inaccurate information being inputted into the source registration system," stated the response. It's unclear why more research wasn't done before entering the overdose into Robinson's electronic file. Friday, less that 24 hours later, Robinson called CBC News to say that the overdose has been removed from his record, and he's hoping this is the end of his "ordeal." But Saturday he called again to say it's only been removed from his personal account — he spoke with his specialist and it's still showing up on the doctor's computer. Robinson said his journey is not over. "Are you kidding?" Robinson said. "Just the lack of help or urgency to resolve this from the people I've talked to in health care has been really frustrating."

  • Canada's Telesat takes on Musk and Bezos in space race to provide fast broadband

    Canada's Telesat is racing to launch a low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to provide high-speed global broadband from space, pitting the satellite communications firm founded in 1969 against two trailblazing billionaires, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Musk, the Tesla Inc CEO who was only a year old when Telesat launched its first satellite, is putting the so-called Starlink LEO into orbit with his company SpaceX, and Amazon.com Inc, which Bezos founded, is planning a LEO called Project Kuiper.