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 Thornhill said she wasn't given a specific reason why her suspension was revoked and she's asked her principal to seek an apology from school board officials.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
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.
Access to national early learning programs and child care have become an "economic imperative" and Canadians should expect a "significant" announcement in the forthcoming federal budget, said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc. "Access to safe early learning and child care, high-quality child care, we think is now an economic imperative," LeBlanc told CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton on Rosemary Barton Live. "It's one social program done properly that has a direct impact on the growth of the Canadian economy." LeBlanc said that rolling out a national child care and early learning program would be difficult because each of the provinces have different mixes of private and public child-care systems. Despite those challenges the government is determined to push the policy forward. "I think Canadians should expect our government to do something very significant in this area because it's critical for the rebuilding of the economy as well as the social fabric of the country," he said. "It, frankly, allows parents to participate in the workforce in a way that's not only good for the economy, but it's also good for families." LeBlanc also said that despite the challenges of rolling out and funding a universal basic income, the Liberal Party was also prepared to consider "any thoughtful policy proposition." "I have a number of my colleagues in caucus who have been working for, in some cases a number of years, on what a universal basic income might look like," he said. WATCH | Expect 'significant' investment in budget for child care, LeBlanc says: While LeBlanc said that a discussion around a universal basic income is a valuable one to have, the economic challenges of rolling out a policy that would cost an estimated $85 billion a year makes it a significant challenge. "That's exactly the challenge, and that's why it hasn't been [implemented]. If it was very easy, some previous governments would have done it," LeBlanc said, noting that he still felt it is "a policy that we think deserves a lot of consideration." Will Mark Carney run for Liberals? The intergovernmental affairs minister also commented on former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney's address to the Liberal convention in which he said he wanted to work to support the party. "I would hope Mr. Carney might, might consider running for the party. He obviously has a huge contribution to make to Canada, to the discussion, to the policy around fighting climate change," LeBlanc said. It was very significant when Carney agreed to speak at the Liberal convention, LeBlanc said, noting that while the former central banker was appointed by former prime minister Stephen Harper, he now appears to be fully in the Liberal camp. "He has an enormous contribution to make to public policy in the country," LeBlanc said. "And the fact that he's chosen to do it with the Liberal Party, I think says something very reassuring about the economic direction of our government."
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
Instead of isolating in a hotel room, Canadian visitors to Yukon can now apply to isolate on a trip in the backcountry. The Wilderness Tourism Association of Yukon (WTAY) came up with the idea after seeing the government approve alternative self-isolation plans for the mining industry and for outdoor outfitters last year. It was approved by Yukon health officials last month. "For the operators that choose to conduct business this summer, this is the way forward," Kalin Pallett, WTAY's president, told CBC's Elyn Jones on Yukon Morning. "There's no community contact at all, unless the trip is more than 14 days." Safety is paramount According to the Yukon government's website, outdoor tourism operators and Canadian clients can make alternative self-isolation plans. Companies have to apply for an exemption by completing an operation plan and submitting it for approval. "Canadian guests are intercepted at the airport by the operator and taken out to the backcountry, as expeditiously as possible," explained Pallett. If the trip is more than 14 days long, they're able to interact with the general public afterwards. "If it's less than 14 days, then they need to exit the Yukon as expeditiously as they arrived," he said. The association came up with a set of management practices for wilderness tourism operators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pallett said they include a step-by-step guide on how to greet guests and how to get them to the backcountry along an approved travel corridor, and what to do if a guide or client develops COVID-19 symptoms while on the trip. "We are Yukoners, we live here, we raise families here, keeping you safe is paramount. These guidelines do that," he said. Pallett said although WTAY has received blanket approval for all of the outdoor tourism operators who are part of its membership, each operator will need to submit its own operational plan to the government's COVID Response Unit. "I don't anticipate seeing visitors into the territory until probably mid to late June." 'From disastrous to surreal' Pallett said the alternative isolation plan isn't a solution for every outdoor tourism operator in the territory, but it does offer a lifeline to some. "I don't think I can possibly overstate how absolutely devastating [the pandemic] was. I mean, we've got businesses that haven't generated a revenue for well over a year now," he said. Neil Hartling, chair of Tourism Industry Association Yukon, told Yukon Morning that being able to isolate in the backcountry is "one tiny bit of helpful change." But he also noted it only applies to a small number of operators. "I would describe the situation right now as going from disastrous to surreal," Hartling said. Operators are struggling to retain staff as they pursue other lines of work, he said, and they're struggling to get insurance. "It's getting harder, not only expensive, but harder to get," he said. "Insurance wholesalers are moving out of what they would consider riskier markets completely, so there's fewer selling and rates are going up." Pallet believes isolating while on a trip is better than isolating in a hotel because it removes the temptation to violate public health orders by quickly grabbing a coffee or a souvenir somewhere. "They don't have that option, because they're not in town," he said. "So, if anything, I think it's actually keeping Yukoners safe."
As home sales in the province continue on a dizzying trajectory, the province's real estate watchdog and regulator are warning buyers to be wary of what they may be getting into. The Real Estate Council of B.C. (RECBC) and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate said that in the first three months of 2021, they have seen an increase in inquiries and complaints. Calls to the regulator were up 42 per cent over the previous year, while complaints, such as how offers were made and accepted, were double the number received in the same period in 2020. "Buying a home is one of life's biggest financial decisions. There are potential risks at the best of times, but with the added pressure and stress of the current market conditions, those risks are amplified," Micheal Noseworthy, superintendent of real estate, said in a statement. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says sales in the region have continued at a record-setting pace. Residential home sales covered by the board totalled 5,708 in March 2021, up 126.1 per cent from March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and up 53.2 per cent from February of this year. Rural and suburban areas have experienced the biggest spikes. For the past two weeks, Jay Park has been in the middle of the buying frenzy. He and his partner are trying to upgrade from their one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom condo or townhouse in Vancouver. "I wish we had done this a month or two ago," he said. A condo tower under construction is pictured in downtown Vancouver in February 2020.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck) Park put an offer on a $1-million condo, $4,000 above asking price. "To entice the [seller], we put in a subject-free offer, but it wasn't successful," he said. "They accepted $110,000 over asking price that was also subject-free." The hot market has led to bidding wars. Some would-be buyers have even lined up outside for days to try to get a jump on a property. Erin Seeley, the CEO of the council, is warning buyers to do their research and be aware of risks before making an offer. "It's really important that buyers have engaged with their lender before they're making offers so they know how to stay within a reasonable budget," she said. Seeley said some of the complaints the council has heard from buyers is that they weren't aware the seller has a right to take an early offer. "And the seller was really in the driver's seat about setting the pricing," she said. Demand continues to outstrip supply for housing in cities like Vancouver.(Rafferty Baker/CBC) Aaron Jasper, a Vancouver realtor, advises clients to avoid cash offers and to include finance clauses even if it may mean they lose a deal. "There's a lot of frustration among buyers, feeling pressure to take some risk," he said. "You're better to be delayed perhaps a year getting into the market as opposed to being completely financially ruined." Jasper also says realtors are limited in the advice they can give to clients on legal matters, home inspections, potential deficiencies with homes, and financing. 'Caught up in the craziness' Other tips from the council include seeking professional advice before making a subject-free offer or proceeding without a home inspection, and speaking to a professional to determine how market conditions may be affecting prices. Meantime, people like Jay Park say they are still keen to buy. Park has more viewings scheduled and is optimistic. "It's a very exciting time for us, but I also don't want to get caught up in the craziness and make a purchase that's above our means."
VANCOUVER — North Vancouver RCMP say a child has died after a skiing accident on a local mountain.Police say they were called to Mount Seymour at about 8 p.m. Saturday for reports of a seriously injured 12-year-old.Mounties say the child was injured during a ski accident, but did not specify the nature of the accident.Paramedics took the child to BC Children's Hospital where they were pronounced dead.The BC Coroners Service says it is investigating, and would not be able to provide further details at this time.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. Police previously reported that the child was 11-years-old. They have since reported that the child is 12.
OTTAWA — The commander of Canada's special forces says his soldiers supported a major military offensive last month that U.S. and Iraqi officials say killed dozens of Islamic State fighters. The two-week offensive codenamed Operation Ready Lion took place in a mountain range in northern Iraq and involved using Iraqi and coalition airstrikes to flush ISIL fighters from their tunnel complexes and bunkers. Those who fled were either captured or killed by Iraqi military snipers. The Canadian Armed Forces has been relatively quiet about what its roughly 200 special forces soldiers in Iraq have been doing in recent years. But in an exclusive interview with The Canadian Press, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dawe says his troops helped plan the operation and then helped with surveillance, resupplies and medical evacuations as it was underway. The federal government recently extended Canada's anti-ISIL mission, which first started in late 2014, currently includes hundreds of other troops in addition to the special forces soldiers until next March. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press
Former Toronto Raptors guard Norm Powell talks to Ian Hanomansing about his experiences being discriminated against by police, supporting the team after George Floyd’s killing and his connection to Toronto.
Ontario reported another 4,456 cases of COVID-19 on Sunday — a new record in the province. The daily case count is also up from 3,813 cases on Saturday and 4,227 on Friday. The province is also reporting 21 additional deaths. New cases reported Sunday include 1,353 in Toronto, 860 in Peel Region, 444 in York Region, 329 in Durham Region, and 377 in Ottawa, according to health minister Christine Elliott. As of 8 p.m. on Saturday, 3,139,743 vaccine doses were administered. The seven-day average climbed again to 3,573 cases from 3,371 on Saturday. Nearly 600 patients in ICUs with COVID-related illness There are now 593 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) across the province with COVID-related illness as of Saturday, according to Anthony Dale, president of the Ontario Hospital Association. The number of patients grew by 77 on Friday and 61 on Saturday, Dale said. The latest OHA figure comes one day before the provincial order for hospitals to halt non-emergency surgeries comes into effect. A memo was sent to hospitals Thursday night telling them to postpone their non-emergency surgeries, effective Monday, everywhere but in northern Ontario. Pediatric specialty hospitals are excluded from the order. As a result of the first such postponement in March 2020, the province has a backlog of more than 245,000 procedures. "The impact of the third wave of the pandemic on scheduled surgeries and procedures will depend on the severity and duration of the current COVID-19 surge," a spokesperson for Ontario Health told CBC News via email. "These are very difficult and challenging times for all Ontarians," the spokesperson said. "We are monitoring continuously and will ramp up again as soon as safely possible." Bring out-of-province ICU nurses to help GTA, says Toronto critical care doctor Dr. Michael Warner, medical director of critical care at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, posted a video to Twitter on Saturday asking Ontario to lift jurisdictional barriers so that critical care nurses from across the country could be brought into the GTA to help. On paper, Warner said, Ontario has roughly 2,300 ICU beds. However, in practice, there are "far fewer" because the province doesn't have enough specially-trained ICU nurses to staff them. "Unfortunately, the situation is going to get much worse," he said. As of Sunday morning, SickKids Hospital now has five adult patients in its ICU with COVID-19 and the hospital's president and CEO, Dr. Ronald Cohn, said he expects up to two more adults by day's end. "I'm afraid it will get a little bit worse before it will get better," Cohn said on CBC's Rosemary Barton Live program. Cohn reassured listeners that SickKids has done careful modelling and that there will be "a very minimal impact on anything related to children's health care." He said the hospital is used to treating older teenagers with respiratory issues so "from a physiological point of view it's not that huge of a difference" to care for adults. I'm afraid it will get a little bit worse before it will get better - Dr. Ronald Cohn, SickKids Hospital However, Cohn said, the children's hospital has many neighbouring hospitals. "Whenever we feel like we need help… they're just a phone call away," he said. Critically ill patients can be moved to SickKids or to hospitals in Kingston and further afield, said Warner, but, "eventually we will run out of places to move patients because we won't have enough trained staff to care for them." Warner urged the province "to get ahead of this," saying a scenario in which places like Halifax are offering elective surgery while the Greater Toronto Area is in triage "just can't happen." The re-deployment of healthcare workers is "a real reality we may have to face," Cohn said, although that is not currently a concern for SickKids. Warner's proposal is "interesting for sure," Mélanie Gauthier, president and director of the eastern region for the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses, told CBC News on Sunday morning. "One of the main things that we have to understand is critical care nurses across the country are actually trained quite differently," said Gauthier, who, herself, works as a critical care nurse clinician with the Royal Victoria Hospital at the McGill University Health Centre. "I'm not saying that it's not possible, however, there are a lot of different aspects to it that we would have to consider," she said. ICU nurses are 'overburdened' and 'exhausted,' says association president It's important to recognize the toll more than a year of pandemic critical care has wrought on ICU nurses across the country, Gauthier said. While many strategies have been implemented to support them, she said the reality is that most of the responsibility for caring for critically ill patients falls to them. "It's a lot of responsibility," Gauthier said, adding that they're feeling "overburdened" and "it has taken a toll on them." Recognition for that work is nice, she said, but many have now gone more than a year with very little time for themselves and there is some concern about an "exodus of nurses" after the pandemic. "A lot of them have actually left during the pandemic just because of the emotional toll and the physical exhaustion," she said. If there was at least one thing that could help, Gauthier said it would be for the general public to continue to respect and abide by public health guidelines. "Take it seriously," she said. "It is quite discouraging for some nurses to see large gatherings in parks, especially with nicer weather." Percentage of ICU admissions for people aged 18-39 doubled nationwide January-March In a statement released Sunday afternoon, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam urged people that a "high degree of caution must be maintained until vaccination programs are further expanded." The country is seeing an increase in the number of adults under the age of 60 requiring hospital treatment for COVID-19, Tam said. In particular, she said, the number of adults between the ages of 40 to 59 who required ICU care and mechanical ventilation in March 2021 was on the rise. People between the ages of 18 and 39 made up 15 per cent of ICU admissions that same month, Tam said, double from just 7.4 per cent two months earlier, in January. "This is a reminder that serious illness can occur at any age," she said. "Evidence indicates that variants of concern can be associated with more severe illness and increased risk of death." Nearly 25,000 cases involving variants of concern have been reported nationwide as of April 8, per her statement. The vast majority are B.1.1.7 variants, which originated in the U.K. "A combination of strong and sustained community-based public health measures and strict adherence to individual precautions is crucial in order to suppress rapid epidemic growth," Tam said. Tam urged Canadians to: Maintain the greatest possible distance with other people Wear the best-fitting mask they have Aim for the fewest interactions with people Aim to interact with the fewest number of people
Age eligibility for the drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Regina expanded again Sunday morning. The clinic was previously eligible to people from 52 to 54 years old. But as of 8:30 a.m. Sunday, 51-year-olds are also able to get their dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic, the Saskatchewan Health Authority says. The drive-thru site, located on the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. grounds, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and doses are administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone 55 or older can receive their immunization by booking an appointment online or by calling 1-833-727-5829. But anyone younger than 51 years old will not be vaccinated at this time, the SHA says. The expanded eligibility comes a day after Saskatchewan reported a new record of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in a single day. According to the Saskatchewan government, 12,615 doses were administered Saturday. More from CBC News:
A group of Indo-Canadian veterinarians offering low-cost services in British Columbia are, for the second time, at the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal with claims that their regulatory college discriminated against them. The group of four complainants allege that the College of Veterinarians of B.C. has engaged in disciplinary processes "which are harsh, disproportionate, unfounded, protracted, unfair and inconsistent with the Veterinarians Act." Dr. Bhupinder Johar, owner and principal veterinarian at the Haney Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge, is the lead complainant in the case. "That's what I want to feel like, that I am being treated at par like the other veterinarians," Johar said. "I don't say that they should favour me or favour my friends. I want a fair investigation." The lawyer for the group says the tribunal has accepted the complaint, which was filed in 2017, but the college has applied to have it dismissed. Previous case won in 2015 Johar was also one of the complainants in a similar B.C. Human Rights Tribunal case that a group of Indo-Canadian veterinarians fought and won in 2015. After more than a decade of legal wrangling, the tribunal concluded in that case that the vets had suffered systemic discrimination. In 2017, the college dropped a request for judicial review and apologized. "Having gone through that more than ten-year-long fight, we had a sigh of relief when we got some decision in our favour," Johar said. "But unfortunately, it made no difference with the college." Dr. Johar says he began offering low-cost services as soon as he was licensed to practice in Canada because so many people couldn't afford veterinary care.(Maryse Zeidler/CBC) The college declined to comment on the matter while it was still before the tribunal. In an email, interim registrar Jane Pritchard said that since the 2015 decision the college has implemented a discrimination policy, added public members to its committees and focused on diversity for council and committees, among other measures. 4 vets across southern B.C. Johar has filed the complaint along with Dr. Anil Sharma of the Tranquille Road Animal Hospital in Kamloops, Dr. Jasdeep Grewal with the Alpenlofts Veterinary Clinic in Squamish and Dr. Renu Sood with the Apollo Animal Hospital in Surrey. An amended complaint submitted to the tribunal in 2018 alleges the college was discriminatory in its pursuit of investigations against members of the group, didn't address complaints in a timely manner and didn't take proper procedural steps in relation to disciplinary action against the group. Specifically, the complaint addresses the work of the college's investigation committee, which deals with complaints against veterinarians in B.C. and decides which ones to pursue and refer to a hearing. It alleges that current and former members of the committee have expressed discriminatory views toward the Indo-Canadian vets offering low-cost services. 'Significant mental stress' One investigation against Johar outlined in the complaint was initiated in 2016 when he mailed coupons to prospective clients, which the college prohibited at the time. The complaint says other veterinarians who are not Indo-Canadian had also issued coupons, but the college's disciplinary committee had not pursued them. "The CVBC's lengthy pursuit of this file has caused Dr. Johar significant mental stress and feelings of being harassed," the complaint said. "The CVBC has provided no explanation as to why it is pursuing Dr. Johar and not others." Dr. Johar says the College of Veterinarians of B.C. failed to make changes to prevent systemic discrimination against Indo-Canadian vets who offer low-cost services.(Facebook/Haney Animal Hospital) The complaint notes that each disciplinary matter can cost a veterinarian tens of thousands of dollars to prepare for a hearing, which can result in fines, penalties and other costs. It also says the disciplinary actions often cause mental anguish and damage a veterinarian's reputation. In its response to the complaint, the college says it didn't investigate the other veterinarians for the same offences because by the time it was made aware of them the college was re-evaluating the prohibition on coupons. 'We helped them' Johar says he believes he and his colleagues were discriminated against not only because they are Indo-Canadian, but because their low-cost, high-volume business model undercut the services of established veterinarians they operated near. The choice to offer low-cost services was not just beneficial to business, he says; it filled a gap for many pet owners who couldn't otherwise afford basic services like spaying and neutering. Johar, who trained at the Punjab Agricultural Institute in India and spent four years completing equivalency exams when he moved to Canada in 1999, says it was clear to him that there was a gap in services that he could fill. "Many people did not have money. So we helped them," he said.
Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need. Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday. Looking to buy an N95-style mask? You'll want to read this As more dangerous variants of the coronavirus spread, many of us are looking to upgrade our masks. Some of the more popular options are the KN95 respirator, which meets the Chinese standard of 95 per cent filtration efficiency and the KF94, which meets the Korean standard of 94 per cent filtration efficiency. But we've learned not all masks labelled as such are as effective as advertised. We tested 14 KN95 and KF94 respirator brands purchased from Amazon and other big box stores to see how they fared. Read more If you see this logo on a respirator, it means it is not authorized, says Dr. Jay Park. (CBC) Vaccines may improve symptoms for some COVID-19 long-haulers: study Emerging research suggests vaccines may reduce symptoms for some suffering from what's now being called "long COVID," where health problems persist for months after the infectious stage of the illness has passed. A new study out of the U.K., which is still awaiting the peer review process, looked at a small group of such patients and found those who had received at least one dose of the vaccine had "a small overall improvement" in long COVID symptoms and a "decrease in worsening symptoms" when compared to the unvaccinated patients. Read more Emerging research suggests vaccines may reduce symptoms for people suffering from so-called long COVID, or lingering symptoms after a bout of COVID-19.(Evan Mitsui/CBC) Are cheaper eggs just as nutritious as organic or free-run options? Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the differences between the eggs being sold at your grocery store? You're in luck! Marketplace tested 14 different brands of eggs to see if there were nutritional differences between some of the cheapest eggs and some organic options. Read more WATCH | Conventional eggs are just as nutritious as some organic options: What else is going on? Shortage of N.B. health-care providers forces student to pay out of pocket to see gynecologist Professor says structural, attitudinal problems can lead to patients going undiagnosed and untreated for years. Facebook downplays 'old' breach exposing info on 533 million users 3.5 million Canadians believed to be included in social media data breach. It's not just Toronto and Vancouver — Canada's housing bubble has gone national Bully offers with no conditions are popping up in small real estate markets, too. These RH children's bath wraps are a flammability hazard Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and return them to RH to obtain a refund or credit of the purchase price. These Yardworks kids garden tools might be a chemical hazard Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and return them to any Canadian Tire store for a full refund. This week on Marketplace (CBC) From exposing the situation in long-term care homes, to fake online reviews, to tracking your recycling and killing the buzz on popular products such as UV disinfecting devices, we're counting down the top seven "sins" some companies and governments commit against consumers. Find out how not to fall for these top tricks and schemes tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 PM NT) on CBC-TV and CBC Gem. -David Common, Asha Tomlinson, Charlsie Agro and the Marketplace team Marketplace needs your help Got a gripe? Getting the run-around? Fighting the good fight? Tell us about it! You can get in touch with us with your story ideas and tips at marketplace@cbc.ca
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
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.
MONTREAL — One person was found dead and seven were taken to hospital after a five-alarm fire swept through a low-income seniors housing complex in Montreal Sunday morning. Antoine Ortuso of the Urgences-Sante ambulance service said the death was declared at the scene, but the cause had not yet been established. He says seven people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and other medical problems while five more were treated at the site. Urgences-Sante said it received a call at about 9:20 a.m. and sent five ambulances to the building southwest of the downtown core. The address of the building is listed on a Montreal government website as a 105-unit building that houses low-income seniors. Premier Francois Legault tweeted his condolences to the family of the victim, and added that the ministers in charge of seniors and of housing would work to find new homes for the residents. Dominique Anglade, the head of the provincial Liberal party and legislature member for the riding, also expressed sadness at the event. "This morning, a person died in the fire that raged in my riding," she wrote on Twitter. "My condolences to the loved ones but also to the residents who are especially shaken by what is happening." The fire department first tweeted about the blaze shortly after 9 a.m., asking people to avoid the area. Images from the scene showed firefighters using ladders to evacuate the residents from their balconies as smoke rose from the building. Firefighters posted again about three hours after the initial message to say the fire had been controlled. A spokeperson for Montreal police said the force would likely be called to investigate the death after the firefighters' work is complete, but as of early Sunday afternoon had not yet received the call. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021 Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has increased the indoor visiting restrictions at the long-term care facility in Goodsoil, Sask., due to increased COVID-19 exposure in the northern Saskatchewan village. The SHA warned the public Saturday that there was an increased exposure risk at the Bender Bar & Grill in Goodsoil on April 2. Anyone who visited the business that day must self-isolate and arrange a COVID-19 test, regardless of symptoms, the health authority says. In response to the increased risk COVID-19 in Goodsoil, located just over 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon, the SHA has tightened indoor visiting restrictions at the village's long-term care facility to Level 3 — end-of-life reasons only. People can visit indoors if a resident is in palliative care, or if they are in hospice care but are at high risk of losing their life, suffered a sudden shift in their condition or are unlikely to leave hospital. The health authority notes there may be other circumstances for indoor visitation. Under Level 3 conditions, one person may be designated as an essential support person to help with their resident's care, such as mobility and nutrition. But the facility's care team has to approve the designation. The new restrictions do not affect outdoor visitation at this time, the health authority says. More from CBC News:
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
The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 9:30 p.m. ET on Sunday April 11, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 205,920 new vaccinations administered for a total of 7,991,727 doses given. Nationwide, 797,265 people or 2.1 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated. The provinces have administered doses at a rate of 21,086.753 per 100,000. There were no new vaccines delivered to the provinces and territories for a total of 10,618,140 doses delivered so far. The provinces and territories have used 75.26 per cent of their available vaccine supply. Please note that Newfoundland and Labrador, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the territories typically do not report on a daily basis. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting 36,701 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 105,652 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 201.768 per 1,000. In the province, 1.85 per cent (9,674) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Newfoundland and Labrador for a total of 144,700 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 28 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 73.01 per cent of its available vaccine supply. P.E.I. is reporting 5,784 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 30,937 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 195.027 per 1,000. In the province, 5.20 per cent (8,241) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to P.E.I. for a total of 44,265 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 28 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 69.89 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Nova Scotia is reporting 26,945 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 138,348 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 141.765 per 1,000. In the province, 3.16 per cent (30,838) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Nova Scotia for a total of 264,790 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 27 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 52.25 per cent of its available vaccine supply. New Brunswick is reporting 30,913 new vaccinations administered over the past seven days for a total of 151,586 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 194.331 per 1,000. In the province, 2.02 per cent (15,771) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to New Brunswick for a total of 211,545 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 27 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 71.66 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Quebec is reporting 61,465 new vaccinations administered for a total of 1,890,476 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 220.936 per 1,000. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Quebec for a total of 2,429,695 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 28 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 77.81 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Ontario is reporting 94,794 new vaccinations administered for a total of 3,139,743 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 213.747 per 1,000. In the province, 2.27 per cent (333,150) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Ontario for a total of 4,028,725 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 27 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 77.93 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Manitoba is reporting 6,070 new vaccinations administered for a total of 279,145 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 202.719 per 1,000. In the province, 4.96 per cent (68,258) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Manitoba for a total of 409,470 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 30 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 68.17 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Saskatchewan is reporting 13,170 new vaccinations administered for a total of 282,065 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 239.21 per 1,000. In the province, 3.49 per cent (41,134) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Saskatchewan for a total of 331,985 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 28 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 84.96 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Alberta is reporting 28,941 new vaccinations administered for a total of 847,630 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 192.554 per 1,000. In the province, 3.71 per cent (163,532) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Alberta for a total of 1,208,955 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 27 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 70.11 per cent of its available vaccine supply. British Columbia is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 1,025,019 doses given. The province has administered doses at a rate of 199.747 per 1,000. In the province, 1.71 per cent (87,606) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to British Columbia for a total of 1,403,510 doses delivered so far. The province has received enough of the vaccine to give 27 per cent of its population a single dose. The province has used 73.03 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Yukon is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 39,687 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 951.02 per 1,000. In the territory, 36.77 per cent (15,343) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Yukon for a total of 51,400 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 120 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 77.21 per cent of its available vaccine supply. The Northwest Territories are reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 38,574 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 854.939 per 1,000. In the territory, 32.07 per cent (14,471) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to the Northwest Territories for a total of 51,600 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 110 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 74.76 per cent of its available vaccine supply. Nunavut is reporting zero new vaccinations administered for a total of 22,865 doses given. The territory has administered doses at a rate of 590.43 per 1,000. In the territory, 23.88 per cent (9,247) of the population has been fully vaccinated. There were zero new vaccines delivered to Nunavut for a total of 37,500 doses delivered so far. The territory has received enough of the vaccine to give 97 per cent of its population a single dose. The territory has used 60.97 per cent of its available vaccine supply. *Notes on data: The figures are compiled by the COVID-19 Open Data Working Group based on the latest publicly available data and are subject to change. Note that some provinces report weekly, while others report same-day or figures from the previous day. Vaccine doses administered is not equivalent to the number of people inoculated as the approved vaccines require two doses per person. The vaccines are currently not being administered to children under 18 and those with certain health conditions. In some cases the number of doses administered may appear to exceed the number of doses distributed as some provinces have been drawing extra doses per vial. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press
The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Sunday April 11, 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 11, 2021. The Canadian Press
