Polar bear swims ring in 2015

CBC
B.C. city prevents owners from moving into new homes after realizing area's sewage system is at capacity
Several new homeowners in Campbell River, B.C., got a shock earlier this week when the city put a freeze on issuing new occupancy permits, after staff discovered the municipal sewage system in the Maryland neighborhood was already at capacity. The city said this affects 20 properties in various states of construction in the area — including one belonging to Aleda and Chris Staffanson, who said they were planning to move into their new home this coming weekend. Instead, they were told on Tuesday that they would not be given an occupancy permit, leaving the couple with nowhere to stay but the camper van in their backyard. Chris Staffanson said they bought a lot in the neighbourhood last year and had spent upwards of three-quarters of a million dollars on the property, including building their dream home. "It's utter incompetence," he said. "Surely to god the engineers could figure out how much sewage comes out of one house and how many houses are here and would have known this before they gave a building permit out. An eight-year-old kid could do that math." Unable to move into their home, the Staffansons will be living in a camper in their backyard.(Aleda Staffanson) City officials said it's not clear how the oversight happened. Deputy city manager Ron Neufeld said the municipality regularly upgrades their infrastructure, but there is only so much work they can do every year. "This area, which is at the southern extreme of our community, services one neighbourhood and so it was placed as a lower priority," he said. 'A ton of lost opportunity' The uncertainty over when homeowners can move in is also causing problems for those working on the properties, even though the city has given the green light for construction to continue as it tries to address the sewer issue. "If we have a lot that isn't already sold, who is going to buy it if we can't promise them occupancy?" said Bruce Calendar, who runs Big Island Construction and is working on several projects in the area. They include a planned 19-lot development whose future is now unclear, Calendar said. "There is a ton of lost opportunity up here. There is a 19-lot strata that has stopped development now," he said. The city is now working with an engineering firm to come up with possible solutions. But Neufeld said they won't know until next week what their options are, or a potential timeline for people like the Staffansons to move into their homes.
19 hours ago
CBC
Taseko lays off at least 40 workers at its Gibraltar Mine in B.C.'s central Interior
A major mining company near Williams Lake, B.C., is laying off dozens of workers and blaming the move on provincial red tape. Taseko Mines Limited — a Vancouver-based firm that owns the Gibraltar Mine located about 61 kilometres north of the Cariboo city — announced this week that at least 40 Gibraltar employees, including truck drivers and drill operators, will be laid off effective next Tuesday. Brian Battison, Taseko's vice-president of corporate affairs, says Gibraltar has no option but to lay off staff because it has failed to get permission from the B.C. government to restart operation of an existing pit that could have kept workers occupied. According to Taseko's website, the copper-molybdenum mine employs about 700 people, most of whom live in Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100 Mile House in B.C.'s central Interior. The company says Gibraltar paid workers $121 million of wages in 2019. Lengthy consultation Battison says Gibraltar notified the Ministry of Energy and Mines last year of its intention to restart its East Pit and subsequently filed a Notice of Departure, a paperwork required by the province whenever a company needs to change the mining activities it has planned. The ministry required an amendment to the company's mining permit for the pit to be restarted, he says, and that in turn required consultation with local communities. But Battison says no progress has happened since the consultation process began last May. "When deadlines are set by governments, when certain things are supposed to take place, those guidelines are never adhered to by governments. They extend [deadlines], but they seem to put off making a decision," he told CBC reporter Jenifer Norwell. "As a result, working people needlessly pay the price for government inaction," he added. "It's frustrating." Engaging stakeholders In a written statement to CBC News, Energy and Mines Minister Bruce Ralston says the province is still consulting with the Tsilhqot'in Nation and other stakeholders on Gibraltar's mining permit amendment. He says the consultation process has been extended to May 7. "Our government's priority is to ensure all voices are heard during the consultation process and that projects are processed in a fair and timely manner," Ralston wrote. In 2019, members of the Tsilhqot'in Nation launched legal action and roadlock against Taseko's mining activities around Teẑtan Biny, about 183 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, which they consider a sacred lake. Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb says the consultation process required by the province for amending Gibraltar Mine's permit is unnecessary.(Tina Lovgreen/CBC) Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb says the consultation process for Gibraltar's mine pit and the ensuing layoffs could have been prevented. "It's always the red tape and the bureaucracy that slows things down," Cobb said Thursday to Shelley Joyce, the host of CBC's Daybreak Kamloops. "The [provincial] government is spending millions of dollars trying to recover the economy, and then we turn around and let that paperwork lapse and cause layoffs." "It doesn't make sense," the mayor said.
13 hours ago
CBC
B.C. Parks contractor appeals for travel ban clarity after needlessly cancelling campers
A B.C. Parks manager is frustrated he needlessly cancelled upwards of 80 campsite reservations after the provincial government's confusing rollout of travel restrictions. On Tuesday, Premier John Horgan announced non-essential travel between health regions was off limits until the end of May to help curtail the spread of COVID-19. Tyson Solmonson, who manages the 35-campsite Kilby Provincial Park near Agassiz in the Fraser Health region, said after hearing the news he acted. All but one of the cancellations he processed were for campers living in the Vancouver coastal region. Then on Wednesday, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announced for the purposes of the travel ban, Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health would be considered a single region, meaning all those campsite cancellations were in vain. "The big problem is this comes at the expense of the public. They are the ones bearing the burden of this fiasco," said Solmonson. As a B.C. Parks contractor, Solmonson said he was just trying to do the right thing and abide by orders announced by Horgan and Dr. Bonnie Henry. He said other campsite managers have also been caught in the crosshairs of changing information. "We all just sort of fell in line and started cancelling reservations from outside of the health area region," he said. "It was pretty clear what Horgan and Henry said: don't leave your health region, there will be checkpoints, there will be things in place to stop you." In a statement, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, which oversees B.C. Parks, said it did not direct reservation cancellations. "The details on restricted travel are to be announced this week, at which time B.C. Parks will be in touch with reservation holders," it read. Solmonson said he's been trying to reinstate as many of the cancelled bookings as possible, but openings on the website were quickly snatched up leaving scorned campers livid. He believes the government needs to be more deliberate in the way it communicates with the public. "Be clear and don't walk something back," he said. "It's not the end of the day for me ... but it affects the public the most."
15 hours ago
Canadian Press Videos
Denmark revokes residency of some Syrian refugees RUN 0700GMT FRI 23 APR
Hundreds of people rallied this week in front of the Danish parliament in support of refugees after Denmark became the first European country to start revoking the residency permits of some Syrian refugees. (April 22)
8 hours ago
CBC
Mother of victim speaks out after her son's 'targeted' killing at Coquitlam park
The mother of Bailey McKinney, 20, who was gunned down in Town Centre Park in Coquitlam is urging young people to think of the consequences of their actions on other people's lives. At least 40 people including children and their parents were in the busy park when McKinney was shot around 6:30 p.m. on Monday during a game of pickup basketball and pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting is one of three fatal gun incidents in public places across the Lower Mainland in the last week. Lianne McKinney issued a desperate plea to police to catch whoever killed her son. "Find out who did this to Bailey and let them get put away for awhile." WATCH: Lianne McKinney who describes how her son had a great life and was turning his life around when he died Sgt. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said police are looking for anyone with information to come forward. "We believe this was a case of an individual being targeted for murder and not the park itself," said Jang on the day after the murder. Just days earlier, Harpreet Singh Dhaliwal who was known to police and linked to gangs was shot and killed on Saturday outside Cardero's restaurant on Vancouver's Coal Harbour at sunset. On Thursday morning, Todd Gouwenberg who had ties to the UN gang was shot dead outside the Langley Sports complex. There is a growing memorial of flowers, balloons, and messages for Bailey McKinney at Town Centre Park. "It's very cowardly. He was here unarmed playing basketball. For someone to come gun him down, it's not right." Not a 'cold-hearted' person McKinney said her son wasn't a cold-hearted person and described his descent into what she calls the wrong lifestyle about five years ago. "This kind of started at 15. You don't want to be 15. You want to be a man. You want to have some with power. Guess he found a group of people who made him feel powerful." McKinney said her son didn't get a chance to live his life and warned other young men going down the same road they are throwing their lives away whether they end up dead or in jail. She said he had started working with his father in construction recently and had been reconnecting with family before his death. McKinney said as a mother who lost a child, she has a simple message for others. "Come on kids, your parents love you. Don't do this to them. It is heartbreaking." She said she'd sought counselling to better deal with her son's situation, but added it's ultimately up the young person to make better choices. B.C.'s court registry indicates Bailey McKinney was to appear in court April 20 on charges related to assault, drug possession for the purposes of trafficking and firearms offences dating to September 2019.
12 hours ago
CBC
Ex-teacher who filmed students with spy pen, Ontario school board named in $200K civil suit
A former London, Ont., high school student has filed a $200,000 civil suit against her ex-teacher and the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), alleging he caused her psychological and emotional harm after he secretly filmed her chest at school without her knowledge or consent. Madison Woodburn was one of 27 teenagers who were filmed by Ryan Jarvis while he taught English at H.B. Beal Secondary School between 2010 and 2011. She was 14 and in Grade 9 when he used a camera hidden inside a pen to film parts of her body. "The videos focused on the plaintiff's upper body, including but not limited to her breasts," says the statement of claim filed Tuesday in a London court. "The plaintiff had no knowledge she was being videotaped, nor did she consent to the recordings being taken." The lawsuit has yet to be tested in court. 'Unusual interest' in female students The civil suit is the latest chapter in a precedent-setting Canadian legal case that saw Jarvis, whose teaching certification was revoked, become the first person in Canada to serve jail time on a voyeurism conviction. He was sentenced in August 2019 to six months in jail. Ryan Jarvis, shown in the 2011 H.B. Beal Secondary School yearbook during his time as a teacher, was sentenced to six months of jail time in 2019 for voyeurism.(Submitted) It took Woodburn eight years of legal battles that went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada to get justice, and now she hopes to take Jarvis to court again, along with his former employer, to hold them both to account for what she claims was a moral injury. "I think there's a lot of unfinished business," she told CBC News in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I think everyone turned a blind eye to the school board. I'm fighting for others who have been in similar situations." In doing what he did, the lawsuit claims, Jarvis abused his power and betrayed Woodburn's trust as an authority figure and the board, the lawsuit alleges, failed to protect her. It claims teachers, staff, parents, students and others all had concerns about Jarvis's behaviour when it came to young female students. Jarvis had an "unusual interest" in them, stood too close to them and spent too much time alone with them, the court filings said. He also had "difficulties with his sexuality" and faced "allegations of improper conduct in his previous posting." It's why the lawsuit claims the board knew Jarvis "had the propensity to engage in such deviant behaviours and that he was in fact engaging in such deviant behaviours." He also had little supervision, says Woodburn. She rarely did homework or tests in Jarvis's English class and he often showed films — obscure adaptations of Shakespeare that Woodburn said contained what she felt was an uncomfortable amount of nudity. "The whole class was weirded out by them," she said. Lawsuit alleges board failed in its response When school officials found out Jarvis had secretly taped his students for a sexual purpose, the lawsuit claims, they failed to offer any emotional support or professional counselling to his victims. Woodburn, shown at age 15. Soon after, she learned her English teacher had been secretly filming her.(Submitted by Madison Woodburn) Woodburn said that, after Jarvis was suspended, she came back to a school community that acted as if what the former teacher had done never happened. "It was almost like an unspoken rule. "There was no counselling. There was no assembly held. There was absolutely no talk of it." "There was nothing done for the students." she said. "I know I wasn't the only person struggling with that." "I started hating school. I could not trust a male teacher. It was so much to handle at the age of 14. "For two years after this, if a teacher clicked a pen, I would start to have an anxiety attack in class," said Woodburn. She also fought back feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, rage — all symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that lasted years, caused by what she saw as a betrayal by her former teacher and a school board who put him in a position of trust and responsibility while simultaneously failing to recognize his pattern of aberrant behaviour. 'Post-awareness conduct' taken into account "The board should be held responsible for that," said Woodburn. "Whether it be public school or secondary school, these kids are minors and they deal with a traumatic event, it shows the school, the people they work with and trust every day, isn't there for them." The civil suit alleges the school board failed to protect Woodburn from her ex-teacher's 'deviant behaviours' and didn't give her the appropriate counselling. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC) The case hinges on a concept of institutional accountability lawyers call "loco parentis," the idea that Jarvis and the school board had a duty of care for the then 14-year-old Woodburn akin to her own parents. Because of a ruling last year against the Trillium and Lakelands District School Board, courts no longer just look at what school boards knew before an incident; they must also look at how school officials reacted thereafter. "The law was so focused on what did you know before the acts took place," said Rob Talach, the lawyer representing Woodburn. "The courts in Ontario have now gone further and said 'we are also going to judge what you did after you found out.' "I think that's the focus of the failings here is the post-awareness conduct." CBC News reached out to Jarvis through a family member who lived at the address listed in the court filings, but he did not return the request for comment. The TVDSB was also contacted. A spokesperson said the school board doesn't comment on legal matters before the courts.
8 hours ago
The Canadian Press
'Jersey Shore' star arrested on domestic violence allegation
LOS ANGELES — “Jersey Shore” star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro was arrested Thursday for investigation of felony domestic violence, police said. Ortiz-Magro, 35, was arrested in the coastal Playa del Rey section of Los Angeles, LAPD Officer William Cooper said. Police said Ortiz-Magro was arrested on suspicion of violating a California law covering violence against intimate partners. No other details on the person were given. Ortiz-Magro's attorneys, Scott E. Leemon and Leonard Levine, said they have just learned of the new allegation and need time to investigate before they can comment. Ortiz-Magro was previously arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in 2019. Last year, he pleaded no contest to domestic battery and resisting arrest. He remains on probation from that case. The reality TV star appeared on MTV's original “Jersey Shore” from 2009 to 2012 and more recently on its sequel series, “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.” The Associated Press
2 hours ago
CBC
Woman broke tooth when stranger pushed her to the ground, West Vancouver police say
Police in West Vancouver are searching for a suspect after a stranger allegedly pushed a woman to the ground as she was walking alone at night last weekend. The 29-year-old woman was walking near the intersection of Nelson Avenue and Bay Street in Horseshoe Bay at about 8 p.m. on Sunday when an unknown man grabbed her from behind and pushed her down, according to a police press release. She broke a tooth and suffered cuts and scrapes in the fall. "This appears to have been a random assault, which we understand will be concerning to our community," Const. Kevin Goodmurphy said in the release. "Our investigators have been working diligently to identify the suspect in this incident, and to gather all available evidence." The suspect is described as about six feet tall and wearing a dark hoodie. Investigators believe that a man captured by surveillance cameras near the scene of the attack may have witnessed what happened, and they've released photos in an effort to reach him. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the West Vancouver Police Department at 604-925-7300 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Police have released surveillance images of a man they say might have witnessed an assault on a woman Sunday night in Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver.(West Vancouver Police Department)
12 hours ago
CBC
'My age group lost out': Regina residents 44+ frustrated over lack of vaccines
Jill Wenzel, 45, is a Regina resident who woke up Thursday morning feeling hopeful. She is now eligible to book an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, as the province opened up appointments to anyone aged 44 and over on Thursday. But when she logged online at 8:00 a.m. CST — when the province's booking system opened up — the City of Regina was not listed. "I thought by 8:01 I would have an appointment in Regina and everything would be wonderful," Wenzel said. "Well, there were appointments available in other communities but Regina wasn't even an option." Some people have booked appointments outside of Regina in order to get the shot. (Government of Saskatchewan) Saskatchewan's capital city, which is the province's hotspot for COVID-19 fuelled by variants of concern, did finally show up. But there were no appointments available. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said the demand for appointments outweighs the current available supply. The health authority added that additional appointments are expected to open up in Regina and Saskatoon but could no say when. More clinics will be added too as more vaccines arrive. The city's drive-thru clinic also remains closed. Wenzel is not eligible for a vaccine there because the SHA cut off the age at 46. "It's a very frustrating experience. I went to bed last night hopeful…I would have my appointment and feel a little better about it all, but it was anything but," Wenzel said. "My age group lost out." Vaccine clinics accepting patients outside of Regina Wenzel ended up booking a vaccine appointment at a clinic in Weyburn, something others are contemplating. "Regina residents are being asked not to leave the city, but I can tell you, as a 44 year old, some of the smaller communities around Regina with open appointments in the next few days are looking pretty tempting right now. I doubt I'm the only one," Twitter user Greg Bamford said Thursday. With a travel advisory in place for the Regina area, Wenzel doesn't think driving to Weyburn for a vaccine makes the most sense. Plus she would have to take time off work to drive over an hour. "The crappy part is I can't go back and look for appointment times [in Regina] because I already have one booked," Wenzel said. She said she doesn't know if she should cancel her appointment and try her luck again Wednesday, or if she should keep her appointment in Weyburn. Regina's mass drive-thru clinic located at Evraz Place remains closed due to a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines. The drive-thru had cut off eligible age groups at 46. (Submitted by Saskatchewan Health Authority) Calls to improve user experience "I'm concerned with it all because it's not working," Wenzel said, who is calling for better communication and a better booking system. "They need to monitor their system. I think sometimes they think the systems are foolproof. But you're not doing any of your beta testing with the average person, so it's a very frustrating experience." Aaron Genest, a manager with Siemens Digital Industries in Saskatoon, agreed the province needs a better system. "Public-facing health systems are some of the most critical pieces of software we build as a province. It's vital that usability be front and centre when considering how they will be deployed," Genest said in a statement. "It's frustrating that our online vaccine booking system has the challenges that it does and I hope that [the SHA] is working actively to improve the user experience as an increasing proportion of Saskatchewan becomes eligible for vaccination."
21 hours ago
CBC
Anxiety mounts as feds temporarily ban flights from India, Pakistan amid soaring COVID-19 case counts
As the federal government moves to ban flights from India and Pakistan amid surging rates of COVID-19 and the threat of additional variants of concern, there are worries about what the measure will mean for Canadians already abroad. Canada will ban direct flights from the two countries for a period of 30 days beginning Thursday night, officials announced at an Ottawa news conference. The ban will apply to both private and commercial air passenger flights. Passengers departing from either country to Canada via an indirect flight will need to test negative for the virus at their last point of departure. "I want to say that our hearts are with the citizens of India and Pakistan, and indeed the whole region during these incredible difficult times," Health Minister Patty Hajdu said. Earlier in the day, as anticipation about possible travel restrictions simmered, Jaskaran Sandhu, director of administration with the World Sikh Organization of Canada, told CBC News he hoped any limits on travel would include measures to bring home Canadians as quickly and safely as possible. The last time Canada moved to limit travel, he said, the process was "less than straightforward." Simran Bal, the daughter of a Indian store grocer in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood, expressed similar fears after an emergency that required her father to travel to India. "Now we're afraid that he might be stranded there ... because he's in the more remote area. We already have family that's already stranded there. They live in England and they're all of their flights have already been cancelled," Bal said. "The situation's just getting so dire." 'We're tremendously worried' It's not yet clear what the ban will mean for Canadians currently abroad in either country. The move comes a day after Quebec reported its first known case of the variant first identified in India, the B1617 strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The variant of concern was identified in a patient who had received a first dose of vaccine in January, but nevertheless became infected months later. British Columbia has also identified 39 instances of the variant. Late Wednesday, India reported 314,644 new COVID-19 cases over the previous 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University — the highest number of infections recorded in a single day in any country since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, several hospitals are reporting acute shortages of beds and medicine and are running on dangerously low levels of oxygen. The New Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered India to divert oxygen from industrial use to hospitals to save people's lives. "You can't have people die because there is no oxygen. Beg, borrow or steal, it is a national emergency," the judges said. "We're tremendously worried," Sandhu told CBC News. "We continue to see an Indian government under Modi that quite frankly has not stepped up to the plate to support locals, has not been taking this seriously. And the incompetence has been quite glaring as they continue to hold large political rallies in states that are holding state elections," Sandhu said. 'Whole families are getting infected by one traveller' That, as the situation in Ontario hospitals grows increasingly dire. Intensive care units across the province are dealing with a record number of patients, with doctors warning whole families are ending up in hospital while they themselves are at a breaking point. WATCH | 'It's just the endless queue of them': An emergency doctor describes a hospital overwhelmed "The next few weeks are going to be terrible," said Dr. Kashif Pirzada, an emergency care physician in North York, one of Toronto's COVID-19 hot spots. "Our system is going to be pushed far beyond what it was designed for." Pirzada spoke to CBC News a day after what he said was the toughest shift in his entire career, a day on which he saw approximately 20 patients in the span of just a few hours. "Whole families are getting infected by one traveler," he said. "It's just the endless queue of them coming in." All the while, Pirzada has had the heart-wrenching task of trying to answer his patients asking the question: "Am I going to be okay?" "And I can't honestly answer them honestly that they'll be fine. Because I have no idea. I tell them, we're going to do everything we can for you. We're gonna give you every medication we have. But we don't know." Buying time through cutting travel Shutting down travel will buy Canada time, says Pirzada. But right now, he says, travel return system is rife with loopholes. Many can pay a fine and leave the mandatory three-day hotel quarantine, and there's no enforced quarantine for those travelling on private planes or the land border, Pirzada said, adding the the list of exceptions for essential travelers is a long one. "The fear is, is that we're going to run into a variant that might even evade vaccines. So we need to slow down the spread of these things as much as possible," he said. "Otherwise, we start this pandemic all over again." Earlier Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford along with Quebec Premier Francois Legault, sent a joint letter to the Prime Minister requesting stricter measures including reducing incoming international flights and more protective actions at the Canada-U.S. land border. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, whose city has been hard hit by the pandemic's third wave, issued a blunter call on Twitter: "Close the airport" in reference to Pearson International — Canada's biggest and busiest airport. Peel's regional council echoed that sentiment in a unanimous request to Trudeau to suspend inter-provincial and international leisure travel to the airport — something Thursday's measure did not address. 'Not going to end until the world gets vaccinated' Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease physician and associate professor at McMaster University, told CBC News Thursday he believes beefing up Canada's quarantine measures for travelers might be a better approach than "playing whack-a-mole" in trying to decide what specific flights to ban. Regardless, both doctors say the situation in India is a grim reminder of just how crucial it is that people be vaccinated, not only in Canada but globally. "We can't assume that when we're protected, we're safe. Because until the whole world is safe, this will keep happening," said Pirzada. Chagla agrees. "This is not going to end until the world gets vaccinated."
21 hours ago
CBC
B.C. Supreme Court judge rejects bid to send Coastal GasLink pipeline back for assessment
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has rejected a bid by the Office of the Wet'suwet'en to kill an extension of the environmental assessment certificate that gave the green light to a northern B.C. pipeline that was at the centre of countrywide protests. In a decision released this week, Justice Barbara Norell said B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) did not fail to consider harm the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline might cause because no new assessment of the project was ordered following the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Office of the Wet'suwet'en, a non-profit society governed by several hereditary chiefs, claimed the EAO had also failed to consider numerous instances of non-compliance with conditions attached to the original certificate when Coastal GasLink was given approval in 2014 to build the 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline. Norell disagreed, finding there was "ample evidence" in inspection reports considered by the EAO to support the conclusion that "non-compliances 'have been rectified, or are in the process of being rectified', and that CGL 'was prompt in responding to remediation orders.' " What the judicial review was 'not about' A spokesperson for the Office of the Wet'suwet'en said they plan to comment on the decision later Thursday or Friday. The EAO gave a five-year extension to the certificate for the pipeline's construction in October 2019 — a decision the hereditary chiefs claimed was unreasonable. Police take a protester into custody last year during potests related to the Coastal GasLink pipeline being built from Dawson Creek to Kitimat, B.C.(Chantelle Bellrichard/CBC) They asked the judge to quash the certificate and send it back to the executive director of the EAO for further consideration. The Coastal GasLink project has drawn national attention in recent years after several Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed the pipeline's route through disputed land in northwestern B.C. The hereditary chiefs have opposed Coastal GasLink's project, while five elected Wet'suwet'en band councils signed agreements with the company approving construction on their territories. In her ruling, Norell stressed that it was important to identify what the judicial review is "not about." "This review is not about what the [Office of the We'suwet'en] did or did not do in the consultation process for the extension application, nor about its objection to the project generally," the judge wrote. "The [Office of the We'suwet'en's] actions are not in issue. Nor is this review about the undeniable importance of the inquiry report in further understanding the harms and systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and other vulnerable populations." 'No findings with respect to the project' The inquiry into murdered and missing women and girls released its report in June 2019, five months before the EAO extended the certificate. The report specifically noted the "correlation between resource extraction projects and violence" against Indigenous women and girls and other vulnerable populations. The report said an increase in violence is "largely the result of the migration into camps of mostly non-Indigenous young men with high salaries and little to no stake in the host Indigenous community." Protestors stand outside the Justice Canada building in Ottawa Feb. 11, 2020. The protesters were showing solidarity with Wet'suwet'en First Nation. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press) In her ruling, Norell said the EAO had considered the report as a potential "new or changed effect" but she noted that commissions of inquiry do not impose "binding legal obligations on government, regulators or industry." "There is no dispute that the inquiry report and its calls for justice are matters of significant importance to our governments and the people of Canada. The inquiry report has contributed to the understanding of the systemic causes of this serious problem. The inquiry made recommendations to help end the violence," Norell wrote. "The findings in the inquiry report are relevant, but there are no findings with respect to the project." The judge said that an evaluation report of the project shared with the hereditary chiefs in September 2019 concluded that the concerns raised in the inquiry report had been addressed in the original application and in the development of a "socio-economic effects management plan" intended to mitigate wider problems associated with the project. Norell concluded that the Office of the Wet'suwet'en had "not established that the outcome of the decision is unreasonable or that there were fundamental flaws in the reasoning process."
19 hours ago
The Canadian Press
$18B Indigenous spending in Budget 2021 meant for short-term gaps: Miller
OTTAWA — Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the 2021 federal budget marks a historic level of investment in Indigenous communities, but he acknowledges much of this spending addresses systemic funding gaps and that longer-term, sustained spending will need to continue.The Liberal government plans to spend more than $18 billion over the next five years to narrow the socio-economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and to help these communities fight the COVID-19 pandemic.Additional amounts have also been earmarked in other departments that will go toward helping Indigenous communities, including $2.5 billion over five years for distinctions-based early learning and child care and $108.6 million over five years for First Nations policing. The budget also promises a three-year investment of $74.8 million to improve access to justice for First Nations people through the development of an Indigenous justice strategy, aimed at tackling systemic discrimination and over-representation in the criminal justice system.While the total spending earmarked for Canada's First Peoples in Budget 2021 may be an eye-popping number compared to previous budgets, Miller says it's important to remember this reflects long-standing funding shortfalls in First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities for basic things like clean water, access to local health care and First Nations policing.“The size of the investments, they didn't come without reflection,” Miller said in an interview with The Canadian Press.“My team put a tremendous amount of effort in trying to quantify the investments in infrastructure, for example, that we need to start closing the gap in the relatively short-term as part of the general effort of stimulus and touching on the themes in the budget, fighting COVID and getting out of it in a strong way.”Investments of $6 billion over five years are included in the budget are meant to be investments for "shovel-ready projects" over the next three to five years flagged as critical infrastructure by local chiefs and communities, Miller said.This includes $1.7 billion earmarked for operations and maintenance costs of community infrastructure in communities on reserve. Maintenance spending may not be “a headline grabber,” Miller said, but is important for communities to know the federal government will support the upkeep and preservation of critical assets in their communities, including equal pay for equal work. "A very important thing I kept hearing back from Indigenous communities was, 'Where will you be after March 2021?' knowing these assets need proper planning and support over the course of their lifespan," Miller said, pointing specifically to the decades-long battle to lift First Nations boil-water advisories.Meanwhile, Indigenous Services Canada will soon launch a strategy with Indigenous communities to get a clearer sense of their long-term plans and individual needs.This will be used to quantify and put a reliable dollar figure on the of longer-term federal investments needed to help lift Indigenous communities into a more equal standard of living as non-Indigenous ones, Miller said.In his mandate letter penned in December 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tasked Miller with co-developing distinctions-based community infrastructure plans for Indigenous communities and to move forward with addressing critical needs including housing, all-weather roads, high-speed internet, health facilities, treatment centres and schools in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities by 2030. “That will require sustained investments in infrastructure over the long term,” Miller said, adding that he firmly believes Trudeau is willing to invest both the political and financial capital into turning these spending promises into a reality.Many national Indigenous organizations and groups that represent First Nations, Inuit and Metis people voiced cautious optimism about the large sums dedicated toward their unique needs in Budget 2021 after its release on Monday.Miller said he hopes all Canadians will understand the large sums secured for Indigenous communities are not "discretionary in nature," but rather should be viewed through a lens of Canada making reparations for past wrongs and righting historic funding shortfalls."That's an educational element that escapes even most of us when we see very, very large (budget) numbers. A lot of them are meant to close gaps that are unacceptable," he said."These investments are continuous and will need to be continuous as we work with Indigenous communities to right historical wrongs and to invest in the future of Indigenous Peoples."This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2021. Teresa Wright, The Canadian Press
8 hours ago
The Canadian Press
COVID spike in Nova Scotia leads to month-long 'circuit breaker' lockdown for Halifax
HALIFAX — Atlantic Canada's largest city is going back into COVID-19 lockdown after Nova Scotia on Thursday reported its highest single-day case count since last spring. Premier Iain Rankin said month-long "circuit breaker" restrictions were necessary for Halifax and surrounding communities after 38 new infections were reported, bringing the number of active cases in the province to 111. Rankin said the new restrictions begin at 8 a.m. Friday and will remain in place until at least May 20. "Our case numbers are rising too rapidly," he told reporters. "Make no mistake, there is a lot at stake here." Thursday's case count was the highest since April 23, 2020, when health officials reported 55 infections. Officials have identified 102 cases since last Friday. Thirty-three of the new infections reported Thursday were identified in the Halifax area, where officials said there is community spread. The new restrictions limit outdoor and indoor gatherings to five people and prohibit large gatherings, including social events, festivals, sports and wedding receptions. People are asked not to travel into or out of the Halifax area unless it is absolutely necessary. Travel will be allowed for school, work, health care and legal requirements. Most schools and all childcare centres remain open, but several schools in the Dartmouth, N.S., area will close on Friday and students will move to at-home learning for the next two weeks. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said while public schools in the rest of the province will continue with in-person learning, masks will be mandatory for all students. Previously, masks were necessary for Grades 4 and up. Restaurants and licensed establishments in the Halifax area will close Friday for in-person dining and retail businesses and malls will be limited to operating at 25 per cent capacity. As well, no visitors or volunteers will be allowed inside long-term care facilities, except for designated care providers. "This situation scares me but I know we have the ability to regain control," Strang said. Officials said 19 of Thursday's cases in Halifax involved close contacts of previously reported infections, 10 were under investigation and four were related to foreign and domestic travel. All of the remaining cases in the province were related to travel. Nova Scotia's new travel rules went into effect Thursday morning, prohibiting non-essential travel into the province from anywhere in the country other than Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. The outbreak also led the province to cancel next month's women's world hockey championship set for Halifax and Truro, N.S. It is the second consecutive year that tournament has been cancelled because of the pandemic. On Thursday, Rankin said the tournament was "not essential." "I'm a hockey fan," he said. "I'm not happy with the decision but we have to put public safety first." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2021. Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
18 hours ago
The Canadian Press
P.E.I. getting more than 47,000 extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine in May and June
CHARLOTTETOWN — Prince Edward Island says it will receive double the number it expected of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in May and June. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Heather Morrison says the extra 47,430 doses will mean more people will get their first doses sooner and others won't have to wait as long for booster shots. She says health officials expect to be able to offer everyone a booster shot no later than 12 weeks after their first dose. Starting next week, people in their 40s can begin booking vaccination appointments on the Island. Morrison is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today, involving a person who arrived in the province from outside Atlantic Canada. There are now 12 active reported cases in the province. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2021. The Canadian Press
22 hours ago
Yahoo News Canada
The Oscars are this weekend: They'll look a lot different than they did last year
The Oscars are finally being handed out this weekend after being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions against gathering and travel.
17 hours ago
The Canadian Press
Alberta didn't consider impact of mountain coal mining on tourism: official
EDMONTON — Alberta revoked a long-standing policy that protected its mountains and foothills from open-pit coal mines without considering how that might affect its most popular tourist attraction, a government official has acknowledged. "There was no analysis around the implications of the coal policy on the 10-year tourism strategy," Kate White, deputy minister of jobs, economy and innovation, told a legislature committee this week in response to a question from NDP environment critic Marlin Schmidt. Alberta's 10-year tourism plan, announced in October 2019 by then-minister Tanya Fir, was to double the industry's revenue to $20 billion by 2030. A letter from Fir dated about the same time suggests the government was already planning to expand the province's coal industry. "I look to hearing from you on the progress of your project," Fir wrote to the head of Valory Resources, which plans an open-pit mine in the Rockies west of Red Deer, Alta. "Do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to help in the completion of your mining project." In May 2020, the United Conservative government quietly revoked a 44-year-old policy that had protected the eastern slopes and summits of the Rocky Mountains from coal mines. The change led to a rush of exploration leases. At least six companies secured dibs on tens of thousands of hectares along the mountains. The government reinstated the policy earlier this year and stopped new lease sales. But drilling and road-building on leases already sold is expected to continue this summer. Alberta's national parks are top tourism draws and are not threatened by mining. But parks officials are already concerned about the number of visitors to popular sites such as Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Tourism operators have been hoping to expand into areas such as Bighorn Country west of Rocky Mountain House. Municipal officials there have already expressed concern about how coal-mining could affect their tourism plans. "We have given no policy advice in (2019-20) with reference to coal policy," White told the committee. "The issue of coal development was not a prominent file for the department." In an interview Thursday, Schmidt pointed out Fir's ministry — then called Economic Development, Trade and Tourism — was in charge of the industry. "It seems to me a significant oversight," he said. "I would think developing coal mines in our most popular tourist areas might have some impacts. The fact the department didn't give that potential any serious thought is extremely concerning." Justin Brattinga, spokesman for current minister Doug Schweitzer, said the tourism strategy is being completely revised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The development of the strategy will require extensive consultation with the tourism industry, that will cover a range of topics, including Alberta’s world-leading resource extraction industries.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2021. — Follow @row1960 on Twitter Bob Weber, The Canadian Press
17 hours ago
CBC
St. John's might have been the sole bidder for the 2025 Canada Games — but it's still celebrating
Politicians, organizers and athletes in St. John's on Thursday celebrated the city's successful bid to host the 2025 Canada Summer Games, and the thousands of competitors and visitors expected to descend and pump in cash to the economy. The event, a marquee competition for young amateur athletes from every province and territory, is set for Aug. 2-24, 2025. It will welcome about 2,000 athletes and bring in 20,000 people, say organizers, numbers that seem unimaginable in light of Newfoundland and Labrador's current travel restrictions. "It's hard to believe when you think about where we are right now," said Premier Andrew Furey at the event inside the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre, with attendees physically distanced and masked, while others appeared virtually. One of those virtual participants — Lynn Blouin, the chair of the 2025 bid evaluation committee — commended the city's "remarkable" bid that found success despite the challenges of COVID-19. "In an unprecedented bid evaluation process, you have went above and beyond to showcase the wonders of your community," Blouin said in a pre-taped video message. In a nod to the city's unpredictable summer weather — a place where tuques never go astray, no matter the month — Blouin held up her mittened hands and said, "Je suis prêt" — I am ready. Multimillion-dollar event St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said it has an operating budget of $31.8 million, with a $13.4 capital budget. He couched those numbers with the city's estimated economic return of $100 million, far more than what came in during the city's hosting of the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier. "To put that in perspective, that's 10 Briers in two weeks. So that's a significant impact," Breen said. To pull off the games, funding from all three levels of government has been committed, including $16.25 million from the federal government. Without that cash, Furey said the event "would not be possible." The City of St. John's is pumping in more than $5 million, more than half that set aside for capital investments, including in venues like the King George V soccer field or St. Pat's Ball Park. Both those venues date back to the last time the city hosted the Canada Summer Games, in 1977, and Breen said they'll be used again this time around, along with others. A Newfoundland and Labrador-hosted Canada Games has been in the works for years; in 2015, the province swapped dates with Ontario, in order to buy more time to get the needed infrastructure up to speed. The St. John's bid — there were no other entrants — has had its share of criticism, including the concern that the infrastructure won't be ready in time. Breen focused on optimism Thursday, and said Canada Games facilities encourage athleticism. "These investments will create incredible economic activity, but they also leave important legacies," he said. Jennifer Boland, who competed on the track for Team Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2017 Canada Summer Games, says the experience was a memorable one.(Josee Basque/Radio Canada) Furey urged people to look beyond the pandemic circumstances toward a hope for "a new normal" at the Games's athletic offerings. "Particularly to our athletes, if the pandemic has dampened your spirit, let this be what reignites your spirit and passion for your sport," he said. "We will get through this, and you will have an amazing opportunity to shine in your chosen sport, as your province and country cheers you on." Canada Games alumni formed part of the city's successful bid, and spoke Thursday of their past fond memories and formative experiences. "It was in Winnipeg where I broke the 100-metre provincial record that i had been chasing after for four years. That was quite possibly the highlight of my athletic career," said Jennifer Boland, a member of Team Newfoundland and Labrador in 2017. "Those Games were critical in my development as not only an athlete but better yet as a person." Along with the 1977 Games, Newfoundland and Labrador has also hosted one winter Canada Games, in 1999 in Corner Brook. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
21 hours ago
The Canadian Press
In Romania, 'modern slaves' burn noxious trash for a living
VIDRA, Romania — In the trash-strewn slums of Sintesti, less than 10 miles from Romania’s capital, Mihai Bratu scrapes a dangerous living for his Roma family amid the foul reek of burning plastic that cloys the air day and night. Like many in this community, for him illegally setting fire to whatever he can find that contains metal — from computers to tires to electrical cables — seems like his only means of survival. “We’re selling it to people who buy metal, we are poor people … we have to work hard for a week or two to get one kilogram of metal,” 34-year-old Bratu, perched on an old wooden cart, told The Associated Press. “We are struggling to feed our kids ... The rich people have the villas, look at the rich people’s palaces.” You don't have to look far. The main road that runs through Sintesti, a largely Roma village in the Vidra commune, is lined with ornate, semi-constructed villas and dotted with shiny SUVs. Behind lurk the parts where Bratu and his young children live, a social black hole with no sanitation or running water. The two worlds are strongly connected. For Octavian Berceanu, the new head of Romania’s National Environmental Guard, the government environmental protection agency, the pollution from the fires that burn here almost ceaselessly, in breach of environmental laws, was so bad that he started regular raids in the community — where he says “mafia structures” lord it over “modern slaves.” “This is a kind of slavery, because the people living here have no opportunity for school, to get a job in the city, which is very close, they don’t have infrastructure like an official power grid, water, roads — and that is destroying their perspective on life,” Berceanu told The Associated Press during a police-escorted tour in April. The slums of Sintesti, like Roma communities elsewhere, have long been ignored by authorities. They're made up of makeshift homes, where unofficially rigged electricity cables hug the ground and run over a sea of trash. “For too many years, they were allowed in some way to do this dirty job," Berceanu said. "Nobody came here in the past ... to see what's happening.” But on top of the considerable social ills, according to the environment chief, the fires can significantly hike pollution in Bucharest, potentially by as much as 20-30%, at times pushing air quality to dangerous levels. “The smoke particulates are taken by the wind 10 miles, it’s like rain over Bucharest and it’s destroying the quality of the air in the capital. It’s one hundred times more dangerous than wood-fire particles — there are a lot of toxic components,” Berceanu said. “If the local authorities are not applying the law, of course people — whatever their ethnic origin — are encouraged to continue doing what they are doing,” said Gelu Duminica, a sociologist and executive director of the Impreuna Agency, a Roma-focused non-governmental organization. Focusing on pollution from the Roma community, Duminica says, instead of on big industry or the more than 1 million cars in the densely populated capital of 2 million, is “scapegoating” and part of a political “branding campaign.” “Everywhere in the world, the poorest are exploiting the marginal resources in order to survive. We have a chain of causes: low education, low infrastructure, low development … a lot of things are low,” Duminica said “The rich Roma are controlling the poor Roma, but the rich Roma are controlled by others. If you look at who is leading and who is controlling things, it’s more than likely you'll have huge surprises. Let’s not treat it as an ethnic issue," he said. The Council of Europe estimates that 1.85 million Roma live in the country of more than 19 million, and face many challenges. A 2016 human rights report published by the European Commission, said that “systematic societal discrimination against Roma" affected their access to adequate education, housing, health care, and employment. In January this year, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis promulgated a law making anti-Roma hate crimes — verbal or physical — punishable by up to 10 years in prison. In the future, Berceanu the environment chief hopes surveillance drones with pollution sensors and infrared cameras can help paint a clearer picture of how the networks operate. “We’re working against organized crime and it’s very hard,” he said. “If we solve this problem here, very close to Bucharest, we can solve any kind of problem similar to this all around the country.” For local resident Floria, who refused to give a surname but said she was 40-something, a lack of official documents, education, and options leave her and her community with no alternatives. “We don’t want to do this. Why don’t they give us jobs like (communist dictator Nicolae) Ceausescu used to, they would come with buses, with cars, and take us to town to work,” she told The Associated Press. “Gypsies are seen as the worst people no matter where we go or what we do.” Mihai Bratu blames local authorities for the plight of his community, for the lack of roads, the lack of action. “The mayor doesn’t help us!” he exclaims, as a small boy shifts building materials from Bratu's horse cart to the muddy yard next door. “What do we have? What can we have? Some little house? — whatever God granted us.” Stephen McGrath, The Associated Press
22 hours ago
The Canadian Press
California public schools see 'sharp decline' in enrolment
SAN FRANCISCO — California public schools have experienced a sharp decline in enrolment this year as the pandemic forced millions into online school, according to data made public Thursday. The drop came as the state's school districts dawdled in bringing children back to the classroom, making California one of the slowest in the country to reopen schools. The California Department of Education data shows that the number of students at K-12 schools dropped by more than 160,000 this academic year, most of them at the K-6 level, to a total of 6 million. The drop is by far the biggest decline in years and represents the clearest picture yet of the pandemic’s devastating toll on California public schools. “The annual snapshot of fall enrolment shows a sharp one-year decline as the state and nation grappled with a deadly pandemic that disrupted all aspects of public education,” the education department said in a statement. The exodus was led by white students who account for just 22% of California’s public school population but represent about half of the departing students for the 2020-21 school year, which could increase disparities in California’s public education system. California has the most students of all states in the U.S. and the overall student body has hovered at about 6.2 million in recent years. In previous years, the number of students fell by about 20,000 to 30,000 annually, led by declining birth rates, and that rate was expected to continue. When the pandemic hit and Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered public schools to close in March 2020, no one expected the closures would last as long as they did. Most of California’s public schools started this academic year with distance learning and many continued that method into the spring. In-person classes started resuming this month in the state’s largest urban school districts. Among the concerned parents who switched to private school was Aurora Guel, a San Diego County mother who said distance learning sent her high school senior into a downward spiral. “She became really depressed with all the isolation that started when school closed,” said Guel. Her 18-year-old daughter’s grades had dropped to the point she was failing three classes; she lost motivation to apply for college and wouldn’t leave her room, even for dinner with the family. “We needed to do something to get her out of this deep hole she had fallen into," Guel said. After transferring to a private Catholic school in October, the teen's spirits and her grades are up. She has a college acceptance and is looking forward to her prom, a milestone that many public schools have scrapped. “She's doing so much better now," her mother said. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond called the numbers concerning but said officials are optimistic that enrolment will rebound as more schools reopen to in-person learning. He said officials are working with schools and families to understand why so many families left and how to bring them back. The public school exodus happened nationwide. There is no national data available on the 2020-2021 enrolment decline but an analysis from 33 states by the Chalkbeat non-profit news organization covering education and The Associated Press published in December showed that public K-12 enrolment in the fall had dropped by about 500,000 students compared to the previous school year. California’s 2020-2021 enrolment declined 2.6% from the previous school year, driven by a combination of factors. Fewer California parents enrolled their children in kindergarten, which accounts for a decline of 61,000 students and the largest drop in enrolment. That could indicate that parents either held off sending their children to kindergarten or enrolled them in private schools, which saw an overall enrolment increase of 20,000, or 4%, from the previous year. The data also indicate that homeschooling surged in the fall, the CDE said. Some of California's biggest urban districts had the largest declines. Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest in the state, experienced an enrolment decline of almost 22,000, or 4%, to 575,000, the CDE said. The data released Thursday was collected from all of the state's school districts in October, and education officials say it is too soon to know if the trend has continued since then. Year-end figures won’t be known for months but the data help illustrate how the pandemic upended public schools and has prompted concerns about funding for California’s 1,000 school districts, which is tied to headcounts. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal calls for schools not to be penalized for enrolment declines, but education advocates are seeking extra money for low-income students, English learners and foster kids. “Any changes in enrolment will have impacts on funding and equity,” said Christopher Nellum, interim executive director for The Education Trust-West, an education equity advocacy group. “It’s just going to exacerbate the problems that already existed.” Nellum said schools will need to think strategically about how to engage Black and brown students, who were more likely to spend the year in distance learning than their white peers who moved to private schools or other learning options. Those families, who were disproportionately hit by the virus, have also been more hesitant to return their children to classrooms as they reopen. Schools will also need to find ways to convince private school defectors to return, he said. For parents like Jonathan Alloy of San Francisco, that will be a lost cause. Alloy kept his 8- and 10-year-old children in a distance learning “pod” as classrooms stayed closed but recently decided to abandon the school district and the city. Alloy said he lost faith in the city's school district, which has been embroiled in scandals, infighting and lawsuits, including one launched by the city attorney for the district's failure to reopen schools more quickly. San Francisco still no timetable for returning middle and high school students to classrooms. Because of that combined with San Francisco’s high cost of living and more expensive private school tuition, Alloy is moving to Connecticut, closer to his wife's family. “To leave is just crushing,” he said. Jocelyn Gecker, The Associated Press
20 hours ago
CBC
Sask. to reopen care homes to visitors, under certain conditions, starting April 29
The Saskatchewan government says it will reopen care homes to visitors, but only under certain conditions, starting a week from now. Beginning on April 29, residents will be able to receive two family members at a time indoors, provided at least 90 per cent of residents at that home are fully vaccinated. Three weeks must have also elapsed since second doses were administered at the home. Up to four visitors per resident will be allowed to visit outdoors. The province said nothing about thresholds for visitation being tied to vaccine uptake among care home workers or about requirements for visitors to be fully vaccinated, though visitors will have to follow all public health rules, including mandatory masks. As of Wednesday, 79 per cent of Saskatchewan health-care workers, including but not limited to staff at care homes, had received their first dose, while 47 per cent had received two doses. As of April 16 — the last time the province released such data — the vast majority of care home residents had been vaccinated. (Government of Saskatchewan) Health officials say they would now include health-care workers in their reporting of vaccination uptake among the general population. Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, has said some outbreaks have happened in care homes where not all workers got vaccinated. Dozens of homes already qualify The province announced the visitation changes — eagerly anticipated by families ever since homes were locked down in mid-November amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic — on Thursday afternoon, shortly before a news conference hosted by Everett Hindley, the province's minister in charge of issues affecting seniors. "This is by far the number one question and the number one phone call and letter and email that I have heard and had come into my office," Hindley said. "No, we can't fill up Mosaic Stadium just yet. But some of us can go see mom on Mother's Day." Hindley says 43 of Saskatchewan's long-term care homes already qualify for visitation. "Many more will qualify in the coming days," he said. Long-term care homes are regulated and inspected by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and so the SHA will decide when such homes are eligible to ease visitor restrictions, according to a release. Privately operated personal care homes, which are regulated by the Ministry of Health, "are responsible for aligning themselves with the same operational policies as the SHA and must be able to verify that they meet the requirements," according to the release. Ryan Meili, the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, echoed Hindley in saying it's been hard for families to be separated for so long. Visitation was severely restricted beginning on Nov. 19. But Meili says some key things need to happen. "I would want to make sure that all of the staff working there and anyone who's on a list to go and visit is fully vaccinated, because the last thing we want, especially as we see growth in new variants, is to get back to what we saw this winter," he said, referring to the second wave and its deadly impact on Saskatchewan care homes. Deaths in care homes continued to rise in early 2021 Hindley's appearance came the day after the Saskatchewan NDP grilled him in the legislative assembly about the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the privately operated but publicly supported Parkside Extendicare home in Regina. Matt Love, Opposition critic for issues affecting seniors, also cited new figures on COVID-19 deaths in care homes that Hindley recently provided in an after-hours committee. The new figures showed a continued rise in deaths among long-term care and personal-care home residents from late January and to mid-April, a period in which such residents were prioritized for early vaccination against COVID-19. In total, the number of deaths increased to 146 from 90. As of Jan. 27, the breakdown of deaths stood as follows: Affiliate Special Care Homes (Private Non-Profit): 27. Contract Special Care Homes (Private For-Profit): 39. Personal Care Homes (Private): 7. Saskatchewan Health Authority Care Homes (Public): 17. As Hindley reported, and as Love underscored Wednesday, as of April 12 the cumulative death figures had increased as follows: Affiliate Special Care Homes (Private Non-Profit): 48. Contract Special Care Homes (Private For-Profit): 44. Personal Care Homes (Private): 23. Saskatchewan Health Authority Care Homes (Public): 31. Love says many deaths took place at Parkside Extendicare, pointed to the facility's outdated use of four-person bedrooms, and called on the Saskatchewan government to end its "deadly relationship" with the company. The Saskatchewan Health Authority contracts Extendicare to operate Parkside and four other care homes in the province. WATCH | Love grills seniors minister on care home deaths Extendicare has already confirmed it will no longer house people four to a room. "We share in the sadness of our community over the devastating toll COVID-19 has taken on Extendicare Parkside and other long-term care homes across the country," company spokesperson Laura Gallant said. "Extendicare continues to believe seniors' care, and the support it receives, must be modernized to meet to needs of residents. This includes increased staffing levels and buildings that are built to modern standards to keep residents safe." The company also called for a "sustainable funding model" with the Saskatchewan government. 'An old style of doing things' Hindley said the number of deaths at Parkside is of "grave concern," but added he does not want to step on the toes of Saskatchewan's ombudsman, who is conducting an investigation into the Parkside outbreak. "She hasn't reached out to me personally as the minister," Hindley said of the ombudsman. "I don't believe she's reached out to my office." Hindley says no new care homes built in the province since 2007 have featured four-person bedrooms. "That's an old style of doing things," he said. Saskatchewan's oldest seniors have been the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to updated statistics released Thursday, just under half of all COVID-19 deaths in the province, 234, have been among people aged 80 and over. (Government of Saskatchewan)
21 hours ago

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Participants take a dip into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

Participants run into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

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A participant dressed as a zombie walks out of the water after running into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

Participants run into English Bay during the 95th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver, British Columbia

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

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Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

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Swimmer with the South End Rowing Club exits the water at the Aquatic Park after finishing the annual

Participants take part in Courage Polar Bear Dip at Coronation Park in Oakville

Swimmer with the Dolphin Club swims in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island during the annual New Year's Day swim to Aquatic Park in San Francisco

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Swimmer with the Dolphin Club leaps into San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island during the annual New Year's Day swim to Aquatic Park in San Francisco

Swimmers with the Dolphin Club wait for the signal to jump into San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island during the annual New Year's Day swim to Aquatic Park in San Francisco

Swimmers in fancy dress laugh as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry, Scotland

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Swimmers in fancy dress splash as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry, Scotland

Swimmers in fancy dress kiss as they participate in the New Year's Day Loony Dook swim at South Queensferry

People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

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People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains, northern France

People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

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People wearing costumes participate in a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains

Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin Seals) ice swimmers club walk out of the water after they took a dip in Lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin Seals) ice swimmers club pose for the media as they take a dip in Lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

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Members of the Berliner Seehunde (Berlin Seals) ice swimmers club take a dip in Lake Orankesee during their traditional New Year swimming event in Berlin

Competitors prepare to take part in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in London

Competitors climb out of the water after taking part in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in London

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Members of the ice swimming club "Berliner Seehunde" (Berlin Seals) sing as they take a dip in the Orankesee lake in Berlin as part of their traditional Christmas ice swimming session

A competitor reacts after competing in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in London

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