One question remains: why did the resilient Mau Mau freedom fighters fail to maintain revolutionary action after independence?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading into the sitcom world with WandaVision, which will release on Disney Plus on Jan. 15, the weirdest but most creative way we’ve seen fan-favourite couple Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany).
Toronto-Dominion Bank has signed a deal to buy Wells Fargo's Canadian direct equipment finance business. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available. TD says the acquisition will grow its existing Canadian equipment financing business and expand its presence in core markets. Wells Fargo's Canadian direct equipment finance business is based in Mississauga, Ont., with regional offices across the country, including Montreal and Calgary. It provides loans and leases for commercial equipment and has $1.5 billion in assets and over 120 employees. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to regulatory and Competition Act approvals and clearance as well as other customary closing conditions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:TD) The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER — Power has been mostly restored in southern British Columbia affected by this week's powerful windstorm. An update from BC Hydro said lights were back on for 220,000 customers affected Tuesday and Wednesday on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Lower Mainland and the southern Interior. The Crown utility said electricity was flowing again for 97 per cent of its customers and was expected to be restored to the remainder by the end of Thursday. The utility said crews were travelling by barge to Gambier and Keats islands in Howe Sound to restore power there and its contractors were co-ordinating with FortisBC to handle remaining outages in the southern Interior. Hydro's website showed about 3,000 customers were still without power early Thursday, although the number was dropping quickly. Environment Canada posted wind warnings for Haida Gwaii, the central coast and northern Vancouver Island as another storm loomed. The weather office said gusts of up to 100 km/h were forecast for those regions throughout the day before easing and moving into the southern Interior by evening. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2021. The Canadian Press
ATHENS, Greece — Police have used tear gas to disperse crowds at a rally in Athens organized to protest plans to set up a state security division at university campuses. Mass gatherings are banned under current lockdown rules imposed because of the pandemic, but members and supporters of student and left-wing groups joined a rally Thursday near parliament in central Athens. Greece’s centre-right government scrapped a decades-old ban on police entering university grounds, arguing the measure had been frequently exploited to organize violent protests and even criminal activity. The government plans to set up a campus police division and limit entrance to university grounds to students, academic staff, employees and guests. Under the proposed changes, university entrance requirements will also be amended and time limits will be set for the completion of degree courses. Free access to university areas is seen by many Greeks as an important source of political dissent and which allowed resistance to be developed against authoritarian regimes in the past. The main left-wing opposition party, Syriza, is backing the education protests and has described the proposed reforms as undemocratic and aimed at making universities “sterile and unfree.” The Associated Press
For many years the name Dave Holinaty was almost synonymous with the Horizon School Board, most recently and the Wakaw Division and Unit Board prior to that. The elections held in November 2020 saw the end of an era that spanned 20 years. Dave Holinaty believed that it was crucial that the Board representatives be visible in the communities that they represented and did his best to do just that. If there was a season opener football game in Wakaw, he was there. If there was a fundraiser breakfast in Bruno, he was there. If there was a play or program in Cudworth, he was there. As long as he could make it, the schools knew that Mr. Holinaty would be there. He didn’t just put in an appearance at schools either. Dave regularly attended the School Community Council meetings and events in his district as well. Dave’s dedication to the community of Wakaw, the schools in Sub-Division 1, and indeed to all the children of the division is worthy of recognition. Dave was born and raised in the Wakaw area. His great-grandparents homesteaded in the Wakaw/Cudworth area and his grandparents continued to live in the area as well. Dave’s father Charles himself a teacher, initially farmed at Wakaw but when a teaching job presented itself at Sunlight School near Bruno, he took it and the family moved away from Wakaw. Charles brought the family back to Wakaw in 1953 when he was hired to teach here. Charles Holinaty retired in the early 1980’s after a 35 year teaching career. Dave took grade one and two at Sunlight and the remainder in Wakaw starting grade three in the two story brick school, to which the current museum was later attached to accommodate the growing number of students. After graduating high school, Dave attended the University of Saskatchewan and obtained his Bachelor of Education. What followed was a 32 year career as a teacher in both the public and separate school systems as well as in First Nations communities, usually teaching K-6 physical education among other things. Dave married Patricia Latos, his high school sweetheart, who had also become a teacher, and they had three children. Continuing the family tradition, one of their daughters is also a teacher. Once retired, Dave began his tenure as a school board member in 2000, at first elected to the Wakaw School Unit Board. In 2003, he served on the Wakaw School Division Board until the amalgamation of school divisions in 2005. With the formation of the Horizon School Division in 2005, Dave was once again elected to the Division Board and served as the elected representative of Sub-Division 1 until the election in November 2020 when he was defeated by Jenna Hale from Bruno. Besides being instrumental in the move to install AED’s in every school and having staff trained to use them, when asked what he is most grateful to have been able to accomplish as part of the Board he said it was being able to provide a variety of educational opportunities for the students and keeping class sizes small. Children benefit greatly from having smaller class sizes, he said, because there is more chance for individual attention and assistance from the teacher. Children are the future he said in his campaign for the School Board and those are not just words to Dave. During his years as a teacher and as an elected representative on the School Board, Dave never let go of his belief that all children deserve to have their unique qualities recognized and to have their needs met in a safe nurturing environment. His goal was always to “help make learning special, safe and accountable.” Retirement brought Dave and Pat back to Wakaw, but it didn’t end their teaching experiences. Starting in the summer of 2004 and continuing until the fall of 2006, Dave and Pat taught English for six different sessions of six weeks each in Hong Kong. Then in the summers of 2007 and 2008 they were off again to teach English in Japan. When Dave wasn’t teaching in another country or busy with the school board he has also been heavily involved in the community. Dave served one term on Town Council and sat on the Board of Lakeview Pioneer Lodge as well as delivering Meals on Wheels. He continues to be a member of the Knights of Columbus in Prince Albert, St Theresa’s Parish here in Wakaw, the Wakaw Legion, and Club 99. In his spare time Dave still enjoys golfing and fishing as well as watching the Wakaw Warriors football and volleyball and of course spending time with family. Family is very important to Dave and Pat. Dave’s mother Barbara Holinaty, and Pat’s father Louis Latos, both in their mid-nineties, still live in Wakaw and two of Dave and Pat’s three children live in Saskatoon (the third is in Alberta). One granddaughter is a musician with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and a grandson is a member of the Saskatoon Fireside Singers and Dave makes sure he and Pat take in as many performances as possible. COVID-19 may have brought activities to a screeching halt in 2020 and beyond, but it can’t curtail the appreciation Wakaw and community have for the years of service and dedication Dave has given. Enjoy this new retirement Dave and hopefully 2021 will once again see the Wakaw Warriors taking to the field and the courts and you’ll again be able to enjoy some fine high school sports.Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Wakaw Recorder
The Windsor-Essex region reported 216 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday as a new provincial stay-at-home order took effect. Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), said there have been four additional deaths of seniors in the region. Within Windsor-Essex, about 2,800 people have active COVID-19 cases. There are 111 people in hospital — 18 of them are in ICU, and an additional 196 suspected cases are in hospital. Forty-six outbreaks are active in the region, an increase of one since Wednesday. They include 20 at long-term care and retirement homes. Ahmed said the health unit is on track to have all initial vaccinations complete at all homes by early next week. New stay-at-home order takes effect A second state of emergency over surging COVID-19 cases was declared by the Ontario government on Tuesday. An emergency alert was sent to cell phones after 10 a.m. on Thursday telling the public that the stay-at-home order is in effect. The order means that people are only permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons such as buying groceries, picking up prescriptions or daily exercise. There are many other exceptions, including an exemption for people experiencing homelessness. Ahmed said message from the province is loud and clear that they want people to stay home and work from home as much as possible, though employers will bear some responsibility for deciding who is essential. "We'll have to wait and see how it eventually plays out in terms of the mobility, in terms of people's desire to work from home versus the businesses' need to have them at work," he said. COVID-19 outbreaks in Windsor-Essex Since the pandemic began, there have been 10,494 COVID-19 cases recorded in Windsor-Essex and 241 deaths, according to WECHU. Two outbreaks are active at Windsor Regional Hospital's Ouellette campus, and Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario is also in outbreak. A new school outbreak was declared at Sandwich Secondary School, which has been closed since prior to the holiday break along with all others in the region. Queen Victoria Public School also remains in outbreak. Outbreaks are active at 21 workplaces: Four in Leamington's agricultural sector. Four in Kingsville's agricultural sector. Four in Windsor's health care and social assistance sector. One in Leamington's health care and social assistance sector. One in Lakeshore's health care and social assistance sector. One in Windsor's food and beverage service sector. One in a personal service setting in LaSalle. Three in public administration settings in Windsor. One in a retail setting in Essex. There are 20 active outbreaks at long-term care and retirement facilities: Richmond Terrace in Amherstburg with two staff cases Chartwell Royal Marquis, with one resident case and one staff case Harrow Woods Retirement Home, with five resident cases and one staff case Seasons Retirement Home in Amherstburg, with three staff cases Devonshire Retirement Residence in Windsor, with 17 resident cases and five staff cases Chartwell Royal Oak in Kingsville, with two staff cases. Rosewood Erie Glen in Leamington, with 30 resident cases and three staff cases Chateau Park in Windsor with four staff cases. Leamington Mennonite Home with six staff cases. Brouillette Manor in Tecumseh, with three staff cases. Augustine Villas in Kingsville, with 51 resident and 11 staff cases. Sunrise Assisted Living of Windsor, with 11 resident cases and eight staff cases. Huron Lodge in Windsor, with 43 resident cases and 25 staff cases. Sun Parlor Home in Leamington, with eight staff cases. Banwell Gardens Care Centre in Windsor, with 111 resident cases and 52 staff cases. The Shoreview at Riverside in Windsor, with 24 resident cases and 10 staff cases. Extendicare Tecumseh, with 82 resident cases and 55 staff cases. Berkshire Care Centre in Windsor, with 94 resident and 60 staff cases. The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, with 150 resident cases and 118 staff cases. Country Village in Woodslee, with three resident and three staff cases. Village of Aspen Lake in Tecumseh, with 53 resident cases and 25 staff cases.
Sixty-five people approximately took advantage of the pop-up mobile COVID-19 testing clinic that was held at the Wakaw Primary Health CEC on Thursday January 7, 2020 from 4-8 pm. There was no indication as to whether the SHA set up the clinic in response to the outbreak at Lakeview Pioneer Lodge, but with at least twenty-five staff members from the Lodge who are also community members, being potentially infectious it would seem a fairly safe assumption. With a couple of different procedure rooms designated for use as testing stations, people who wanted to be tested entered through the main doors, presented their Saskatchewan Health Card and then were directed to the station for testing. Once the test was completed, individuals then proceeded down the hallway to exit the building through the ambulance doors by the lab. Although the testing site did not open until 4 p.m., people began lining up well before then. By the time the doors were ready to open approximately ten people were already lined up, two metres apart, waiting to be tested. Those who responded to our questions expressed the desire to make sure that they did not have the virus and not know it, and many said that they had a family member who was at a higher risk of developing serious complications if they contracted the virus. While no one said the test was painful, a couple said they weren’t expecting the swab to be taken as high in their nose whereas a couple others said they were expecting the “brain-stabbing” others they knew had described. Everyone felt that it was a good idea to have the pop-up test site here especially right now, and some wished that testing was available here all the time. For privacy reasons of course, the SHA will not release information relating to whether or not any that were tested were positive for the virus, but for those who were tested they have the peace of mind of knowing their current COVID status.Carol Baldwin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Wakaw Recorder
Ontarians are ordered to stay-at-home except for essential trips starting today. That's on top of a state of emergency announced this week to combat the spread of COVID-19. Toronto streets were quiet but activity remained Thursday at parks and construction sites allowed to keep working.
The latest COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 10:30 a.m. The province of Ontario says there are 3,326 new cases of COVID-19 in the province and 62 more deaths linked to the virus. Health Minister Christine Elliott says 968 of those new cases are in Toronto, 572 in Peel Region and 357 in York Region. Vaccinations continue across Ontario with 14,237 doses administered since Wednesday's update. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 14, 2021. The Canadian Press
The Alberta Hospitality Association is demanding clear guidelines from the province regarding when and how businesses that are closed or restricted due to the pandemic can resume normal operations. In an open letter to the province, the industry group says the roughly 150,000 people who work in the sector have been struggling for too long and the current state of restrictions are unfair. "Without better communication, fact-based data, and a clear near-term reopening plan, we will continue to permanently lose businesses and jobs," the letter says. "This will have long term repercussions including mass unemployment and irreparable economic and cultural damage to our communities." Association president Ernie Tsu said the Alberta government has done an excellent job of keeping communications open and listening to the industry during the pandemic, but he said his members are now in a crisis. "Government officials and AHS must understand that our industry is now at a breaking point physically and more importantly mentally, and to be quite frank we are now having suicides come to light," he said. On Jan. 7, Premier Jason Kenney said the current provincial restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus would remain in place until at least Jan. 21 "given the fact that our case numbers, hospitalizations and positivity rate for testing remains high." 'No clear end in sight' The association says while it supported the temporary partial lockdown as it was enacted last month, "with no clear end in sight and a lack of supporting data, it is difficult justifying having some industries closed while others remain open," the open letter said. The group wants the government to allow restaurants to resume dine-in service with strong risk mitigation measures and to commit to no further shutdowns. "The restaurant industry cannot be unfairly targeted and villainized moving forward," the letter said. Association vice-president and Calgary restaurant owner Leslie Echino says hard numbers and clear targets are needed. "What's it going to take to enable us to reopen? Is it going to be the R-factor? Is it going to be hospitalizations? We need clear ways to understand when we're going to open," she said. "We all need targets. And I understand that it is scary out there for a lot of people, but we need to know what's going to happen and when. "We need to employ people. We pay taxes. We need to provide our staff. They're dealing with a lot of hardships. These are blue collar workers. I'm a blue collar worker. We don't have the ability or luxury to work from home." Echino also says hospitality businesses need one week's notice prior to re-opening to rehire staff and order inventory.
CHICAGO — Amid the American flags and Trump 2020 posters at the U.S. Capitol during last week's insurrection were far more sinister symbols: A man walking the halls of Congress carrying a Confederate flag. Banners proclaiming white supremacy and anti-government extremism. A makeshift noose and gallows ominously erected outside. In many ways this hate-filled display was the culmination of many others over the past few years, including the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that gathered extremist factions from across the country under a single banner. “These displays of white supremacy are not new,” said Lecia Brooks, chief of staff of the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Now it’s just reached a fever pitch.” Extremist groups, including the pro-Trump, far-right, anti-government Oath Keepers and the Three Percenters, a loose anti-government network that's part of the militia movement, were among those descending on the halls of power on Jan. 6. The hateful imagery included an anti-Semitic “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt created years ago by white supremacists, who sold them on the now-defunct website Aryanwear, said Aryeh Tuchman, associate director for the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism. Also among the rioters were members of Groyper Army, a loose network of white nationalists, the white supremacist New Jersey European Heritage Association, and the far-right extremist Proud Boys, along with other known white supremacists, Tuchman said. While not all the anti-government groups were explicitly white supremacist, Tuchman said many support white supremacist beliefs. “Anyone who flies a Confederate flag, even if they claim it’s about heritage and not hate, we need to understand that it is a symbol of white supremacy,” Tuchman said. Brooks said it was also important to note the demographics of the riotous crowd, which was overwhelmingly white. Within that context, even more traditional symbols of American patriotism, like the American flag, or political preference, like Trump 2020 signs, served to give the symbols of hate a pass. “You can wrap yourself in the American flag and call yourself a patriot and say you’re acting on behalf of the country, that you’re serving to protect the country. … But what America were you standing up for?" she asked. “One that continues to support and advance white supremacy? Or one that welcomes and embraces a multiracial, inclusive democracy? That’s the difference.” The proliferation of white supremacist symbolism has a long history, with two clear peaks in the civil rights efforts following Reconstruction and during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Brooks said. Now, as the U.S. reckons with systemic racism following the police killing of George Floyd, she said Confederate symbols have been displayed more prominently, including at smaller-scale white supremacist rallies and by counterprotesters carrying Confederate flags at Black Lives Matter gatherings across the country. “This is a response, and it’s not a new response,” Brooks said. “Every time there is progress in asserting civil rights, there’s a backlash. Confederate iconography is a means to reassert white supremacy when it is thought to be threatened.” Confederate flags and white supremacist symbols were also present at the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville that turned deadly after a car mowed into counterprotesters. The rally, which left one counterprotester dead, brought several neo-Nazi, white supremacist and related groups together, much like the Capitol insurrection, Brooks said. “This merging of groups you see in Charlottesville and that you saw at the Capitol last week doesn’t usually happen,” she said. “But they’re desperate. They are convinced that they’re this grave minority that is being threatened and needs to stick together and rally under the moniker of hatred.” Karen Cox, a historian of the American South and Confederate symbols, said the phenomenon echoes the so-called “Lost Cause” mythology, the pseudo-historical ideology that the cause of the Confederacy during the Civil War was just and heroic — an assertion that lives on in the hearts of many who tote the Confederate flag today. She said for many extremists, including those present at the Capitol insurrection, President Donald Trump’s election loss has become a new “Lost Cause" of sorts. “This is their new ‘Lost Cause' and a continuation of the original ‘Lost Cause,'” she said. “They’ve lost, but they hold onto that (Confederate) flag to show that they still feel justified." “Same thing here. ‘We lost this election, but our cause was just.’ And as long as they still hold onto this ‘Lost Cause,' these symbols aren’t going away.” “We are 150 years after the Civil War and people are still waving that flag,” Cox added. “This has been here for so long, it’s going to take a long time to go away — if it can.” As rioters besieged Capitol Hill, demonstrations flared at statehouses across the country. An internal FBI bulletin has warned of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington D.C., in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. Brooks said she worries the rampage at the Capitol and proliferation of white supremacist symbols will encourage similar actions at state capitals. “The insurrection last week helped embolden and radicalize people in such a way that it’s going to be even more threatening," she said. "This risk of an insurrection like this happening again is hanging over us.” Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland was inside the Capitol building as the violent mob made its way inside. Raskin, who is Jewish, chairs the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in Congress and has sat through multiple hearings about the dangers of violent white supremacy. He said he was shocked by the “open manifestations of pro-racist and pro-Nazi ideology.” “This massive attack on the Capitol and invasion of the Congress would be shocking and criminal enough even if these people had no racist or anti-Semitic intent at all,” he said. “But when you add in the elements of violent white extremism, you can see how profoundly dangerous this is to the future of our country.” Tuchman said he is encouraged by the disgust many Americans have expressed and hopes it will make such symbols less publicly acceptable. But he said these images hold a power that may continue to menace the nation's democracy. “Images can encapsulate the beliefs of extremist movements,” he said. “They can popularize them. ... Symbols can be the entryway into extremism and radicalization.” — Fernando and Nasir are members of the Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team. Follow Fernando on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christinetfern. Follow Nasir on Twitter at https://twitter.com/noreensnasir. Christine Fernando And Noreen Nasir, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court says that when a person's car has been impounded and they file for bankruptcy, the car does not have to be immediately returned. In an opinion announced Thursday, Justice Samuel Alito wrote for a unanimous eight-justice court that “mere retention" of a debtor's property by a creditor does not violate the law. The case involved several people whose cars were impounded by the city of Chicago who then filed for bankruptcy and hoped to get their vehicles back. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote separately and singled out the situation of George Peake, whose 2007 Lincoln MKZ was impounded in 2018 for unpaid parking and red-light tickets. Sotomayor noted the “far too common” situation Peake found himself in. "Drivers in low-income communities across the country face similar vicious cycles," she wrote, where a driver is fined an amount he cannot pay and that creates a spiral of late fees to where the vehicle is impounded. Without reliable transportation to work, bankruptcy may follow. Sotomayor said that despite the court's ruling, bankruptcy courts are not powerless to facilitate the return of vehicles. And she said Congress could pass legislation that helps speed vehicles' return. Only eight justices participated in the case because it was argued in October, after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and before Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to the court. The case is City of Chicago v. Fulton, 19-357. The Associated Press
The Americanization of the Black experience had become so deeply rooted in me that I felt like I didn’t have a home within Blackness.
Renfrew – When Sherry-Lynn Shalla accepted the Renfrew Chamber of Commerce’s new award recognizing social inclusion in the workplace, she understood the importance of the moment. As the representative for McPhail Perkins, one of Renfrew's oldest independent businesses that can trace its roots back to 1883, Ms. Shalla said her company was honoured and proud to be selected as the inaugural winner of the award. Not only has the company benefitted from its employment culture, but more importantly she said the ability for their employee to be an active participant in the operations of the generational business is a testament to his desire to lead an independent life. Thomas McNulty, the young man hired in late 2019, said the opportunity to work both independently and alongside others is what prompted him to seek employment with the furniture store that has built its reputation on its commitment to showcasing quality furniture and taking value in its employees. "I was nervous when I came here for the interview because it was something I had never done before and it was my first time applying for a job, so I knew it was pretty important," he said. "But when I met with Sherry she made me feel okay and after a while I was not nervous at all and that really made me want to work here even more because she and the other staff are nice people and they made me feel welcome." Anyone who has ever walked by the storefront displays at McPhail Perkins will immediately take notice of the pristine state of the furniture on display and once inside, the high-end furniture pieces, including sofas, bedroom suites, dressers, tables and much more are free of any dust or a hint of dirt. Mr. McNulty smiles when that observation is made to him. "When I come into work at 10 o'clock in the morning, I start my day by carefully dusting and cleaning all the furniture and I take a lot of pride knowing that all the furniture is clean because that helps when customers come in to buy something” he said. "I also sweep all three floors and I like my job because even though customers come and go through the day and I will say hello to them, I actually get to work by myself and for me it is much better that way." When the Chamber of Commerce created the new award, there were specific requirements in the nomination process and most of the traits contained in the award are on full display by both employer and employee. One of the goals of the award is to highlight a company that seeks to create positive changes in the employment situation for persons with disabilities and recognizing the efforts of local employers. It only takes a few moments watching the interaction between Mr. McNulty and Ms. Shalla when it becomes apparent the working relationship is built on a strong desire to allow him to work independently and he takes great pride in his work. For Ms. Shalla, it reinforces her decision to hire him when she could have easily sought out an employee using traditional employment practices. "It is natural for some employers not to consider hiring a person with a disability because, quite honestly, they may have never even thought about pursuing that route," she said. "But for us, Thomas has been a perfect fit. He is reliable and we don't have to worry or wonder if he is going to show up for work because we know he will be here on time every week. If there was ever a time he was not able to work, it would have to be a pretty good reason because he is so committed to his work and for him, it is also a matter of pride to come here and start his tasks right away without us having to worry about it." Like thousands of other employees across Ontario, Mr. McNulty was ordered to stay home during the first province-wide shut down since last April as a result of the COVID pandemic. For most individuals, the forced shutdown was an inconvenience that was offset by various government aid programs and they adapted. However, for Mr. McNulty, an only child who was diagnosed with autism at an early age, the inability to come to work was a major disruption to his daily routine, and as anyone who has a family member with autism will attest, it is the constant of a routine that helps an autistic child navigate their daily functions. "I was a little lost when I was told I could not come to work," he said. "I don't drive and we were told to stay home to help stop the spread of the virus so I played a lot of video games and I really missed coming to work. But when Sherry told me after a while that the store would reopen again, I was so happy to be able to come back and get to cleaning all of the store again." Like any other first time employee, Mr. McNulty has a big smile on his face when he recalls opening up an envelope and seeing his first pay cheque. "It was so exciting to see my name and the money I earned by working here," he said. "I should remember to thank the people at OnTrac for helping me get ready for a job and they helped me come here for my interview. I really enjoy working here and I can tell people that I work and a few years ago after high school I wasn’t sure if I would actually have a job. But today I do and when I come to work I make sure to do what is asked and I make sure it is done right." Ms. Shalla said Mr. McNulty settled into his role quite easily and other staff and customers do not treat him any differently than anyone else. "Thomas is shy by nature and can sometimes get nervous when there are a lot of people or noise but he deals with it very well,” she said. “There are times when a customer will come in and go to him inquiring about our services and Thomas is quick to point them to our main desk, and he does so politely and with a smile and that is a great asset for us." When asked if he had any advice for a person with disabilities who is considering looking for a job, Mr. McNulty was quick to respond. "Don't be afraid to look for a job if it is something you want to do," he said. "I was nervous, but I also knew it would be okay no matter what happened and all you can do is take it one day at a time and just keep trying." Bruce McIntyre, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eganville Leader
U.N. food chief David Beasley on Thursday called for the United States to reverse its decision to designate Yemen's Houthis a foreign terrorist organization and called "the Gulf states, the Saudis to pick up the financial tab for the needs inside Yemen because the needs in other parts of the world are so great." With the designation, it's going to be catastrophic.
The Saskatchewan government says it will ask the province's ombudsperson to conduct an independent investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak at Regina's Parkside Extendicare home, where 43 infected residents have died. The announcement follows a call Thursday from the Saskatchewan NDP for the provincial auditor to probe the outbreak. "Our government agrees that the outbreak should be investigated by an independent office of the legislative assembly, but that such a review fits within the mandate of the provincial ombudsman," Everett Hindley, the minister in charge of seniors, said in a written statement. The formal request for the investigation, which will focus on "the outbreak and subsequent events," will be made in the coming days, Hindley said. "It is our expectation that Extendicare, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Ministry of Health fully comply with the provincial ombudsman's investigation, and we commit to releasing the investigation report following its conclusion," Hindley said. Saskatchewan NDP Leader Ryan Meili said on Twitter that the move fell short of his party's expectations. "We need a full public inquiry in the light of day, not another buried study," Meili tweeted. In a legislative committee meeting shortly preceding the government's announcement, Meili's party called on the provincial auditor to do a special investigation of the Parkside examining, among other things, staffing levels and the use of personal protective equipment at the home. Recommendations made by the ombudsperson are not binding but "are usually recognized as being fair and are implemented," according to the Ombudsman Saskatchewan website. Need for further accountability: Opposition Saskatchewan NDP MLA Aleana Young, who made the committee motion, said she was disappointed with the avenue of investigation chosen by the government. She said the auditor would have reported back to the all-party committee, making that process more accountable to the public. "For an investigation with the ombudsman, that's not necessarily the case," Young said. The ombudsman website states its reports go back to "anyone that may be adversely affected by our findings." "These are people who have who have worked and raised families," Young said of the 43 dead residents. "They paid taxes in Saskatchewan for 70 years. Nobody deserves to die potentially from neglect or things that could have been prevented." Two Extendicare employees have voiced concerns about the early steps Extendicare took to contain the outbreak. Barbara Cape, the president of SEIU West — a union representing thousands of Saskatchewan health workers — said on Twitter that it was important for staff and families to be a part of the investigation. "Glad that this will be released publicly," she wrote. 2 more deaths reported Wednesday Provincial health officials declared the outbreak at Parkside in late November. The home is operated by a private company, Extendicare, under a contract with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). At the height of the outbreak in early December, more than three-quarters of the home's original 200 inhabitants were infected, along with many staff who had to self-isolate at home. At that time, the SHA announced it was taking over day-to-day operations at Parkside. On Wednesday, the SHA confirmed it would remain in charge until Jan. 30 "to ensure there is time for a successful transition to Extendicare management at the home." As of Thursday, there were no known active cases of COVID-19 among the 154 remaining residents at the home. Extendicare did report that two more residents had died, however, including one person who had been infected with COVID-19 but more recently "was in hospital for non-COVID related reasons." That brings the outbreak's total death toll to 43. CBC Saskatchewan wants to hear how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted you. Share your story with our online questionnaire.
China is stealing a march on Western drugmakers in the COVID-19 vaccine race in developing nations, with Indonesia and Turkey rolling out huge campaigns with a Chinese shot this week, Brazil due to follow soon, and even EU member Hungary signing up. Scientists in some Western countries say China has been too slow to publish trial data. Still, countries with hundreds of millions of people desperate for a vaccine think China's shots are good enough.
Malgré l’annonce officielle de sa démission l’hiver dernier, on a appris avec stupéfaction, mardi soir, que le maire Marc Demers n’a jamais quitté son poste au conseil d’administration (CA) de l’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM). L’information est sortie furtivement à la toute fin de l’assemblée du conseil municipal, échappant à l’attention des partis d’opposition. Ça s’est passé lors des échanges entourant l’avis de proposition de David De Cotis à l’effet d’instaurer la gratuité de la passe mensuelle d’autobus de la STL pour les jeunes lavallois de 12 ans et moins. Débattant de la proposition, le conseiller municipal et président de la Société de transport de Laval (STL), Éric Morasse, la jugeait «caduque» considérant que pareille mesure est enchâssée dans la refonte tarifaire adoptée lors de la dernière séance du CA de l’Autorité régionale, laquelle entrera progressivement en vigueur à compter du 1er juillet. «[C’est] un cheval de bataille de notre maire Marc Demers en tant que membre du comité exécutif de l’ARTM», a-t-il déclaré au sujet de la gratuité du transport collectif pour les moins de 12 ans. «Comme monsieur Morasse l’a expliqué, monsieur le maire a un siège sur le CA de l’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, [il] s’est déjà positionné en faveur de cette mesure», a renchéri le conseiller de Laval-les-Iles et membre associé du comité exécutif, Nicholas Borne, celui-là même que M. Demers avait identifié pour lui succéder en mars dernier. Par voie de communiqué le 9 mars 2020, le maire Demers annonçait qu’il avait remis sa démission à titre d’administrateur de l’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) au président du conseil d’administration, Pierre Shedleur. «Cette démission deviendra effective lorsqu’il sera remplacé au conseil par un autre membre élu de Laval», écrivait-on. La raison alors évoquée: Marc Demers souhaitait «se consacrer davantage aux intérêts de la population lavalloise». Il renonçait du coup aux émoluments de 20 000 $ par année attachés à cette fonction. Au cabinet du maire, on explique la volte-face de Marc Demers du fait que Laval aurait perdu son siège advenant sa démission. «Je vous confirme que M. Demers avait bel et bien l’intention de démissionner de sa fonction au conseil d’administration de l’ARTM, indique son porte-parole, Alexandre Banville, par courriel. Pour que Laval puisse toujours jouir d’une bonne représentation à cette instance, nous souhaitions proposer la candidature de M. Nicholas Borne». Précisons ici que le CA de l’ARTM est formé de 15 membres dont 8 sont désignés par la Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), nommément les 5 élus composant le conseil. «Malheureusement, la recommandation de la CMM était de refuser le remplacement de M. Demers par un élu autre que le maire de Laval […] Conséquemment, dans le plus grand intérêt de la population lavalloise, M. Demers est demeuré en poste.» À la CMM, on informe que le maire de Laval et les mairesses de Montréal et Longueuil sont nommés d’office au conseil de l’ARTM et qu’aucune délégation de pouvoir n’est autorisée. «Il n’est pas possible pour un maire de déléguer un élu de son équipe pour le représenter au conseil de l’ARTM, nous écrit Julie Brunet, conseillère en communication à la Direction générale de la CMM. Vous devez savoir que la Loi sur l’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain ne prévoit pas de mécanisme de remplacement temporaire de ses administrateurs». Une règle «archaïque» qui «fait preuve de bien peu d’empathie», estime le porte-parole du cabinet du maire de Laval. «Alors que M. Demers limite ses activités pour des raisons familiales et de santé, il n’est toujours pas possible de se faire remplacer, et ce, même temporairement et pour des raisons extraordinaires.» Information corroborée par le conseiller aux affaires publiques et relations média à l’Autorité régionale, Simon Charbonneau, qui souligne au passage que le conseil de l’ARTM tient ses séances à huis clos, tel que le prévoit sa loi constitutive. Jusqu’à mardi soir dernier, le chef de l’opposition officielle, Michel Trottier, prenait pour acquis que Nicholas Borne siégeait au conseil de l’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain à titre d’élu lavallois. «Question de transparence, la moindre des choses aurait été de corriger le tir», a commenté M. Trottier. Au cabinet du maire, on n’a pas jugé bon publier un nouveau communiqué pour informer que le maire demeurait en fonction. «Dans sa lettre de démission que vous relatiez avec justesse au printemps dernier, M. Demers indiquait qu’il souhaitait quitter aussitôt qu’un remplaçant lavallois serait désigné», fait valoir M. Banville. Cela dit, il ajoute que l’Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain n’est pas le «dossier le plus chaud à l’hôtel de ville», évoquant la crise sanitaire qui allait éclater peu de temps après. «Avec la pandémie, la relance économique et le soutien à nos milieux fragilisés, les premiers efforts de M. Demers et de son équipe sont orientés vers la population lavalloise et une digne représentation de cette dernière dans toutes les instances pertinentes», termine-t-il.Stéphane St-Amour, Initiative de journalisme local, Courrier Laval
Members of the community have gathered together to raise funds for one local resident in need to support. 16-year-old Sam Spiteri was born with Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy and scoliosis. He has recently undergone surgery at Sick Kids hospital to ease pain he endures in his lower limbs, hips and back. Fortunately, Sam was able to make it home for Christmas and the holidays, but now the Spiteri family are dealing with his long-term care at home, along with therapy costs. A Go Fund Me donation page has been organized by members of the Spiteri family in order get help from the community to help Sam. The fundraiser states, “funds raised will be used towards remodeling his bedroom and washroom to be fully accessible. Further funds will be used for at home OT, PT and massage not covered by OHIP.” Ward 5 Regional Councillor Annette Groves has been advocates for Sam and his family for the past decade and continues to support the family by encouraging the Caledon community to participate in fundraising. “I met Sam and his family about 10 years ago when I received a call from his mother regarding their concern with the Town of Caledon trying to take his pony away,” said Groves. “I received a call recently from his father regarding the surgery Sam had and they needed to raise funds for his therapy.” Sam had pony that was used to help strengthen his legs, but due to complaints from local neighbours, the Town attempted to take the pony away. With the help of Councillor Groves, the pony was able to continue helping Sam. Councillor Groves has once again dedicated herself to helping Sam, now with donations. “I reached out to some of corporate citizens and when I explained to them what Sam needed…they didn’t hesitate. We still [need] to raise money for him because we are about $10,000 short,” said Groves. “Sam’s parents also had to purchase a van with a lift to be able to transport him to and from therapy and other places.” Through the help of community members, Councillor Groves raised $11,000 to donate to help with Sam’s therapy and other needs he has. But due to the costly expenses of therapy, the family is in need of $25,000 in total. The Go Fund Me page has over $9,000 raised for the family but is still in need of more support. Councillor Groves is encouraging members of the community to help the Spiteri family by making donations, no matter what amount, to help with the therapy expenses as well as living at home care expenses. To help Sam and his family, visit gofundme.com and look up Sam’s Home for Christmas Fund to make a donation.Alyssa Parkhill, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Caledon Citizen
WASHINGTON — The Constitution says the chief justice is to preside at the impeachment trial of a president. But what about an ex-president? Like so much else about the Constitution, the answer is subject to interpretation. If President Donald Trump’s trial begins after Jan. 20, it’s not clear whether Chief Justice John Roberts would make his way to the Senate chamber as he did last year for Trump’s first trial. Impeachment scholars, law professors and political scientists offer differing views. The choices appear to be Roberts, Kamala Harris, who by then will be vice-president, or Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who will be the Senate’s president pro tem once the Democrats gain control of the Senate. The issue is “unsettled, completely without precedent, and unspecific in existing Senate rules and precedents,” Princeton University political scientist Keith Whittington wrote in an email. One reason that the Constitution specifies the chief justice to run the president’s trial is that the person who otherwise presides over the Senate is the vice-president — the very person who would assume the presidency if the chief executive is convicted. That’s a bit unseemly. But if the stakes are changed and the sitting vice-president no longer stands to get the top job, why not have Harris, who by then will have taken over for Mike Pence, preside? Whittington said he thinks that could happen, “as with the impeachment of any officer other than the president.” But he said he “can imagine that the Senate might go the other way and treat a former president the same as a sitting president.” University of Texas law professor Steven Vladeck said the chief justice is the better choice. The House on Wednesday impeached the president, not the former president, Vladeck wrote on Twitter. “Indeed, if Trump resigned (or his term ended) mid-trial, it would be more than a little odd for the Chief Justice to give way to the Vice-President. The question should be whether the impeached officer was President at the time of impeachment. Here, he was, so Roberts presides,” Vladeck wrote. Another factor in favour of Roberts is that “a trial of a President (even a former President) is a momentous event and having the Chief Justice preside seems more congruent with, or more fitting of, the occasion,” Georgia State University law professor Neil Kinkopf wrote in an email. If it’s not Roberts or Harris, who may wish to avoid the appearance of a conflict that presiding over Trump’s trial might inflame, the next choice would be Leahy, the senior Democrat in the Senate, Norm Eisen said on CNN. Eisen was a legal adviser to Democrats during Trump’s first impeachment. Mark Sherman, The Associated Press
