Texas governor blames open border policy for surge

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says that a surge of migration to the U.S. from Mexico resulted in federal officials "scrambling" to find housing for unaccompanied children. (March 17)

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  • Hundreds defy Montreal's 8 p.m. curfew in violent, destructive protest

    MONTREAL — Hundreds of protesters set fires and smashed windows through a swath of downtown Montreal on Sunday in defiance of a newly adjusted curfew intended to stem surging COVID-19 case numbers in the city. Police responded with tear gas in a bid to control the crowd, who were purportedly protesting Quebec Premier Francois Legault's decision to roll the city-wide curfew back from 9:30 to 8 p.m. The move, previously replicated in other COVID-19 hot spots across the province, took effect in Montreal and nearby Laval on Sunday. The protest began in relative calm, with a mostly young crowd dancing to music from loudspeakers while lighting fireworks and chanting, "freedom for the young." But the festive atmosphere quickly turned violent as a few protesters lit a garbage fire in Montreal's Jacques Cartier Square, which was met with tear gas from riot police. Police soon rushed the crowd, prompting dozens of protesters to scatter and cause mayhem down the cobblestone streets of Montreal’s tourist district. They lit garbage fires at many intersections and seized projectiles from city streets, hurling them at nearby windows and shattering many. A spokeswoman for Montreal police said she couldn't offer any comment on the protests, describing them as an ongoing situation. She said that more information would become available as things stabilized and police on the scene could file their reports. Marwah Rizqy, a Liberal member of the provincial legislature that represents a Montreal riding, tweeted her disapproval of the protestors' actions. "Chanting freedom while ransacking windows of stores that are already just getting by. It’s disheartening / outrageous," Rizqy tweeted in French. A few protesters were still out on the streets at around 9:30 p.m. throwing glass, breaking city infrastructure and running from police. Sirens rang through the streets as firefighters put out the many small blazes lit along Old Montréal’s alleys and narrow roads. The curfew ostensibly at the heart of the protest was imposed to curb COVID-19 infection rates that have spiked in several regions in recent weeks. Quebec reported 1,535 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, as well as five additional deaths linked to the virus. Hospitalizations jumped by 25 to 608, with 139 patients in intensive care. Health Minister Christian Dube tweeted that the numbers are concerning given that 58 per cent of new cases involve people under the age of 40. "While vaccination accelerates, we must continue to adhere to the measures if we want to defeat this pandemic," Dube wrote. "Let's show solidarity." Legault said last week that he was imposing the health order in Montreal and Laval despite a relatively stable case count as a precaution, due to the heavy presence of more contagious virus variants. Residents in those regions who leave their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. without a good reason could face fines of over $1,000. Legault extended the curfew in Montreal and other red zones from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in mid-March, but said last week that the evolving COVID-19 situation gave him no choice but to reverse course. Legault previously placed Quebec City, Levis, Gatineau and several municipalities in Quebec's Beauce region under the earlier curfew. The government also closed schools and non-essential businesses in those areas, and Legault announced Thursday that the measures would be extended until at least April 18. The province also gave 59,447 doses of vaccine on Saturday, and has currently given a shot to just over 22 per cent of the population. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021 The Canadian Press

  • Maduro says Venezuela has secured funds to complete COVAX payment

    Venezuela has secured the funds to fully pay for coronavirus vaccines via the COVAX system, President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday, a day after a surprise announcement that the country had paid more than half the amount due. Maduro's government has for months said U.S. sanctions block it from paying the $120 million needed to obtain COVID-19 vaccines, but on Saturday said it had transferred $64 million to the Switzerland-based GAVI Vaccine Alliance. "We have already secured the rest to make 100% of the (payment) to the Covax system," Maduro said in a televised speech.

  • N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Variant first found in S. Africa confirmed in 2 cases

    Two confirmed cases of the variant first detected in South Africa have been identified in New Brunswick. In a news release Monday, Public Health said the two cases were reported in the Saint John region, Zone 2. They are the first confirmed cases of that variant identified in New Brunswick, which until now has only seen cases of the variant first reported in the U.K. One of the cases is related to travel outside of Canada and the other is a contact of that travel case, the department said in the release. The variant is more transmissible and causes more serious outcomes than the original coronavirus. In an interview Monday, Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, said the risks to the New Brunswick population have never been higher than they are now. "We have never had this many hospitalizations and ICU admissions at one time," she said. There are currently 145 active cases in the province.(CBC News) 10 new cases reported Ten new cases have been reported, affecting two zones, in New Brunswick on Monday. The cases break down in this way: Moncton region, Zone 1, four cases: An individual 20 to 29 An individual 30 to 39 Two people 40 to 49 One of these cases is linked to travel and the other three are under investigation. Edmundston region, Zone 4, six cases: Two people 19 and under. An individual 20 to 29. An individual 30 to 39. An individual 50 to 59. An individual 60 to 69. Two of these cases are contacts of a previously confirmed cases and the other four are under investigation. The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 1,732. Since Sunday, 13 people have recovered for a total of 1,553 recoveries. There have been 33 deaths The number of active cases is 145. Eighteen patients are hospitalized, including 13 in an intensive care unit. A total of 268,096 tests have been conducted, including 737 since Sunday's report. The number of people who've received at least one dose of a vaccine is 136,494 — more than 20 per cent of those eligible. These doses include 625 administered since Sunday, according to the province's dashboard published Monday afternoon. A total of 136,494 New Brunswickers have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine so far.(CBC News) All new cases presumed to be variant cases Every new case of COVID-19 popping up now in the province is presumed to be a variant of the coronavirus, says New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health. Dr. Jennifer Russell said the variants are 30 to 70 per cent more contagious than the virus that dominated the first year of the pandemic and pose more of a threat to young people, causing severe symptoms. "Now we're seeing those serious outcomes in terms of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s needing hospitalization and ventilation." As of Monday afternoon, the variant first reported in the United Kingdom and the variant first detected in South Africa have both been found in New Brunswick, but Russell said she wouldn't be surprised if new cases were of the variant first reported Brazil. I won't feel completely reassured until everybody has that second dose on board by September. - Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick chief medical officer of health Russell is asking people to keep their guard up at least until the end of June. By then, everyone in New Brunswick should have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. She said the next two and a half months are critical for protecting against outbreaks. "We're just not there yet," she said. "I need everybody to dig deep and go hard for the next two and a half months at least." Russell said she will be cautious about lifting any kind of public health measures in the foreseeable future. "I won't feel completely reassured until everybody has that second dose on board by September." Edmundston deputy mayor begs residents to stay home Edmundston's deputy mayor is pleading with residents to stay home as the number of COVID-19 variant cases continues to climb in the region. Deputy Mayor Eric Marquis said it's frustrating to hear people are still going out, despite possible infection, exposing others to the virus. "It's hitting hard," Marquis said. "We all know somebody who is hit with COVID in our region right now." The Edmundston and Haut-Madawaska areas were placed under the province's tightest public health measures over the weekend. All non-essential businesses have been ordered to close and schools have moved to to virtual learning. This is the second time this year that the region has been placed under lockdown. Marquis said Public Health made the right decision. "People are realizing we don't have any choice." Edmundston Deputy Mayor Eric Marquis says residents are still heading out, despite possible exposure to COVID-19 variants. (Gary Moore/CBC News) Facing an influx of COVID-19 patients, the Edmundston Regional Hospital continues to be overwhelmed. New admissions are now being directed to the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton. Marquis said the situation has been grim and difficult on families. "Our hospital staff are stretched to their limit," he said. Five patients with COVID-19 are on ventilators at the Edmundston Regional Hospital.(Radio-Canada) Most of the patients are infected with the variant first reported in the U.K., with some as young as 25. Last week, a 38-year-old Saint-Basile man became the youngest person in the province to die from COVID-19. Vaccination clinics are now open in the Grand Falls and Saint-Quentin areas. Marquis expects another vaccine clinic to open in Edmundston on Friday. He said the pandemic has been making it difficult for businesses in the area to stay afloat, so the city is working with government to come up with a program to help them. "We see it as the answer to the crisis we're having right now." Next month's municipal election has also been postponed because of the lockdown. Elections New Brunswick will look at the length of the lockdown before deciding when to hold the election. Marquis urged residents to stay positive, saying the pandemic will eventually come to an end. "We're going to bounce back and have better days." How students are reacting to full-time classes being put on hold A Grade 11 student at Tantramar Regional High School in Sackville says he's relieved full-time classes did not resume on Monday. Over the weekend, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard announced a delay in return to full-time, in-person school on Monday as a precaution. "With COVID, it's the safest option," said student Bliss Behar. He said there can be up to 30 students inside a classroom at one time, making physical distancing difficult. He said the smaller class sizes make it easier to learn. At home, he's been learning to self-regulate and is making sure his assignments are completed on time. "That prepares us for university," Behar said. But the Sackville teen said he understands not everyone feels the same way. Although Mekedess Maillet understands the decision to postpone full-time classes, the Grade 11 was still disappointed. "It kind of feels like I'm losing some of my learning." said Maillet, who attends Bonar Law Memorial High School in Rexton. She wants classes to resume full-time so she's prepared for university. Maillet said some classes are harder than others, and having a break in between in-person days makes information sometimes more difficult to retain. "I already feel like maybe I don't know enough for university level. ... am I not as ahead as I would be?" Maillet said she and her friends miss attending classes in person, so it's hard to stay motivated without an end date in sight. "It's been a very roller-coaster of a year for school." Luc Bélanger, 38, of Saint-Basile in Zone 4 died of COVID-19 on Tuesday.(Bellavance Funeral Home/Radio-Canada) Stephanie Patterson, spokesperson for the Anglophone East School District, said the district communicated changes after the province made its announcement Saturday afternoon. "After going through this year, we're always prepared for something to pop out of the woodwork," said Patterson. She said teachers have been preparing for the full-time classes starting Monday. Now, they'll have to change back to online learning. "It's challenging for everybody to have to always switch on a dime," she said. Zoe Watson, superintendent of Anglophone South, also said a lot of work went into preparing for full-time classes this week. She said principals were changing operational plans, furniture was being put back into classrooms and teachers had adjusted seating plans. Transportation was also being adjusted to ensure physical distancing on school buses. "I appreciate it gets very confusing for families. … We always knew this was going to be a school year like no other." Premiers monitor Atlantic bubble possibility The bubble with all four Atlantic provinces is expected to open in one week's time, but the premiers and health officials are watching things day by day, says Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health. As of Sunday, there were 40 active cases of the virus reported in Nova Scotia. Ten active cases in Newfoundland, as of Saturday and six active cases were reported on Prince Edward Island as of Friday. "We're going to watch and wait and see how things unfold," she said. Possible flight exposures New Brunswick Public Health has has identified a positive case in a traveller who might've been infectious on two flights on March 10. Air Canada Flight 8906 – from Montreal to Moncton, departed at 7:10 p.m. Air Canada Flight 414 – from Toronto to Montreal, departed at 2:10 p.m. Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health, said many people are continuing to travel for various reasons. "We won't be able to keep cases of COVID-19 and the variants out of the province," she said. "They will keep arriving." She said it's possible people are making stops in major cities like Toronto to receive a test. If they receive a negative test, Russell, said those people come back to New Brunswick with a false sense of security and think they're self-isolating adequately. The presence of a more contagious variant has also changed the outook. "It's a very contagious variant." Although Russell said New Brunswick has adopted some of the tightest restrictions for getting into a province, Russell is encouraging everyone to stay put. "When we move, COVID moves," she said. "So the less travel the better." More possible exposures Edmundston area: April 9 between 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (160 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston) April 8 between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., April 7 between 6:30 a.m and 7:00 a.m., and April 6 between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. – Tim Hortons (262 Isidore-Boucher Blvd., St-Jacques) April 7 between after 6:00 p.m., April 6 after 6:00 p.m. – Epicerie Chez ti-Marc (256 Isidore-Boucher Blvd., St-Jacques) April 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and April 6 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – Dollarama (787 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., and April 6 between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. – NB Liquor, (575 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 7 between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – Jean Coutu (177 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 7 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – Subway (180 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston) April 7 between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – Atlantic Superstore (577 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 6 between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) March 26 to April 8 – Napa Auto Parts - (260 Canada St., Edmundston) March 20 to April 9, Atlantic Superstore (577 Victoria St., Edmundston) April 5 at 11 a.m. – Shoppers Drug Mart (160 Hébert Blvd., Edmundston) April 1 – Royal Bank (48 Saint-François St., Edmundston) March 31 between 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) March 30 between 12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) March 29 between 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m. – Scotiabank (75 Canada Rd., Edmundston) Moncton region: April 8 between 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – COSTCO Wholesale customer service (140 Granite Drive, Moncton) April 6 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. – YMCA Vaughan Harvey, (30 War Veterans Ave., Moncton) April 4 between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Moncton Wesleyan Church (945 St. George Blvd., Moncton) April 3 between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. – Kelseys Original Roadhouse (141 Trinity Dr., Moncton) April 1 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., April 3 between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 6 between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., April 8 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. – CF Champlain (477 Paul St., Dieppe) Fredericton region: March 31 – Murray's Irving Big Stop (198 Beardsley Rd., Beardsley) Saint John region: April 9 between 2:10 p.m. and 2:40 p.m., GAP Factory East Point, (15 Fashion Dr., Saint John) April 9 between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. – McAllister Place, 519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John April 8 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., – McAllister Place, 519 Westmorland Rd., Saint John April 8 between 1:15 p.m. and 2 p.m. – Service New Brunswick, 15 King Square North, Saint John April 1 between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – YMCA of Greater Saint John (191 Churchill Blvd., Saint John) What to do if you have a symptom People concerned they might have COVID-19 symptoms can take a self-assessment test online. Public Health says symptoms shown by people with COVID-19 have included: Fever above 38 C. New cough or worsening chronic cough. Sore throat. Runny nose. Headache. New onset of fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell. Difficulty breathing. In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes. People with one of those symptoms should: Stay at home. Call Tele-Care 811 or their doctor. Describe symptoms and travel history. Follow instructions.

  • German Catholics chafe against Vatican's same-sex marriage ruling

    Two days after he married his partner of many years, Anselm Bilgri, a former monk and prior at one of Germany's most famous monasteries, learned that the Vatican would not bless relationships like his. But the ruling in March by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Catholic Church's doctrinal watchdog, that priests could not bless same-sex unions has not been well received by one of the world's richest national churches. It dismayed many who had hoped Pope Francis would soften the hard line taken on sexual morality by John Paul II and his successor, Germany's Benedict XVI.

  • New outbreak declared at Windsor-Essex school involves variant of concern

    A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at St. John Vianney Catholic Elementary School in Windsor. The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board made the announcement on Monday morning. In a news release, the board said public health officials made the declaration after receiving confirmation that of an additional case in one of two cohorts dismissed on April 6. The update has yet to be reflected on the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit's website as of Monday morning. "As per provincial direction, a school outbreak is declared if there are two or more cases in a school and if there is evidence that at least one case could have been infected in the school," the board said in a statement. According to the board's website, there are three cases of COVID-19 active within the school. The board said a COVID-19 variant of concern has been identified in the cohort. Those who may have been affected are being contacted by the health unit. The board said the rest of the school community is considered low risk and can continue attending as usual. Schools are currently on spring break. There are 22 active cases of COVID-19 within the Catholic board, its website shows. The public school board has seen 17 cases declared since the beginning of the month, according to its website. There are two other outbreaks active at other schools in the region — Centennial Central Public School and St. Peter Catholic School. Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health for the region, said Monday that Windsor-Essex is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases within schools, with many cohorts dismissed. "We are monitoring the cases in our schools to assess any changes in the local risk," he said at the health unit's daily briefing, adding that he'll provide an update if the risk changes or a switch to online learning becomes necessary.

  • Youth accused in hit-and-run death of Calgary officer still has no lawyer

    CALGARY — An 18-year-old-man charged as a young offender in the hit-and-run death of a Calgary police officer has asked for another court delay as he tries to find a lawyer.The accused is charged with first-degree murder in the New Year's Eve death of Sgt. Andrew Harnett, who had tried to pull over an SUV because its plates didn't match its registration.Police have said Harnett was dragged by the SUV before he fell and was hit by another car.The alleged driver of the SUV, who was 17 when he was charged, can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.He had a lawyer during a previous bail hearing and says he is close to hiring another lawyer for trial.The case was adjourned to April 26.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • Excited Puppy Totally Loses It When Owner Comes Home

    Yuki the Shiba Inu reacts in the most adorable way! Priceless!

  • Kanye agrees with Kim on joint custody in divorce response

    LOS ANGELES — Kanye West agrees with Kim Kardashian West that they should have joint custody of their four children and neither of them need spousal support, according to new divorce documents. West's attorneys filed his response Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court to Kardashian West's divorce filing seven weeks earlier, which began the process of ending their 6 1/2-year marriage. West's filing was virtually identical to Kardashian West's original petition, agreeing that the marriage should end over irreconcilable differences, and that the two should share custody of their children: North, age 7, Saint, age 5, Chicago, age 3, and Psalm, who turns 2 next month. And like Kardashian West's filing, West's asks that the court's right to award spousal support to either person be terminated. According to Kardashian West's Feb. 19 petition, the two have a pre-nuptial agreement, and under it they kept their property separate throughout their marriage. The divorce filings bring an impending end to one of the most followed celebrity unions in recent decades, between the 40-year-old reality TV superstar Kardashian West, and the 43-year-old rap and fashion mogul West. It was the first marriage for West and the third for Kardashian West, who has not asked the court to change her name back to just Kardashian, though she may still do so during the divorce process. The Associated Press

  • Ontario man believed to be 1st Canadian with COVID-destroyed lungs gets transplant

    TORONTO — Timothy Sauve was brushing his teeth one morning in December when he was hit by a dizzy spell that knocked him off his feet. The 61-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., didn't expect that to be the first sign of a COVID-19 infection. But within days he had developed a fever, experienced breathlessness in his sleep, and was rushed to hospital with a deteriorating condition that eventually required a double-lung transplant — believed to be the first done in Canada on a patient whose lungs were irreparably damaged by the virus. Sauve, a healthy, physically fit man before he contracted the virus, saw the infection wreak havoc on his lungs over his two-month stay in the intensive care units of two different Toronto area hospitals. While his lungs were scarred beyond repair, the virus didn't damage any of Sauve's other organs, making him a candidate for the rare procedure that saved his life. "Things were pretty bleak," Sauve said of his pre-transplant condition, fighting back tears during a phone interview from the University Health Network's Toronto Rehab Bickle Centre. "They told me my (lungs) weren't getting better and for me to make arrangements to say goodbye to my loved ones." After consulting with his family and doctors, Sauve was transferred from Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga to UHN's Toronto General Hospital, home to Canada's largest organ transplant program. A careful assessment at the Ajmera Transplant Centre determined he was physically strong enough to undergo a transplant in February. Dr. Marcelo Cypel, the surgical director at the transplant centre who led the team performing the operation, said Sauve was on "very high amounts of oxygen" when he met him, and scans of his lungs showed heavy amounts of scar tissue called pulmonary fibrosis. While he was only on a ventilator for a short amount of time during his transfer to the Toronto hospital from Mississauga, Sauve did need the advanced lung support therapy called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) — a machine that pumps and oxygenates the blood. Cypel said Sauve's lungs had shrunk during his infection, becoming stiff and resistant to air flow. "Lungs should be very light, like balloons — you can push air in very easily," Cypel said. "(Sauve's) were very similar actually to patients with chronic lung disease." While the surgery was a success, Cybel said transplants are not expected to become frequently used treatments for severe COVID cases. The procedure has only been done about "40 or 50" times worldwide, he said. Sauve's situation was unique in that the virus, aside from the irreversible damage it caused to his lungs, hadn't left the rest of his body in a weakened state, Cybel explained. Sauve had also cleared his COVID infection by the time he was assessed for a transplant, which was a main prerequisite before he could undergo surgery. As Sauve put it, "it would be a waste to give someone who wasn't healthy new lungs." Cybel says the rise of variants of concern that are causing severe disease in more younger patients may increase the number of transfer referrals going forward. UHN says its transplant program is currently evaluating three additional COVID patients for candidacy. Even though only a very "small subset" of people would qualify, "it is a very powerful, life-saving therapy for some specific patients," Cybel said. While Sauve is doing well in recovery now, he says the last few months had been a nightmare for his family. His entire household, including his common-law partner Julie Garcia, her 24-year-old son and her father, 80-year-old Juanito Teng, all tested positive for COVID around the same time Sauve became ill. Teng died in the ICU shortly after being admitted to hospital, in a room right next to Sauve's. The family doesn't know how members became infected or who got the virus first. Sauve, who had no prior comorbidities that put him at higher risk for infection or severe disease, says he hopes his story can resonate with anyone who thinks COVID-19 isn't that big a deal. "People don't realize what COVID does to people ... and sometimes they're putting their guard down," he said. "I thought that when I got the disease, I'd get over it." Sauve said the immediate aftermath of his surgery is a blur, with pain killers so strong they made him hallucinate — a normal reaction, his doctors told him. He also doesn't remember much from the day he found out he was getting his new lungs. "I just remember waiting," he said. "And the next thing I knew I was waking up from the operation — after the hallucinations wore off — and I realized I wasn't wearing an oxygen mask." Recovery time varies for patients after transplants, so Sauve isn't sure how long he'll need to stay at the rehab centre. But he doesn't want to rush things. "I want to leave here on my own two feet," he said. "I want to go home to my beautiful partner, Julie, but I don't want to need a walker. I'll stay here a little longer if I have to — it may take two months, three months, but my goal is to get back home." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2021. Melissa Couto Zuber, The Canadian Press

  • High school student speaks out about suspension after calling out rape-themed T-shirt

    A high school student in the Annapolis Valley who was suspended after posting a photo of another student's "rapey" T-shirt says the whole ordeal has taught her the importance of speaking out. The shirt was printed with modified lyrics to the Christmas song Deck the Halls, including the line "'tis the season to be rapey." "People are saying, 'It's just a shirt.' Well, it's more than a shirt, and that's why this matters.… Rape is not OK," said 17-year-old Kenzie Thornhill, a student at West Kings District High School. "People are always gonna agree with you, and disagree, but it's time to make a change. It's time that we stop staying silent." 'Blew my mind' Thornhill said: "It just blew my mind. I think I did what any teen would do, I snapped the photo and posted it on social media," adding she made sure to frame it in a way that made it impossible to identify the person in the photo. Thornhill posted this photo to Snapchat, including a filter that shows the photo's location as West Kings District High School. She said she made sure the student was not identifiable in the photo.(Submitted by Kenzie Thornhill) She showed the picture to a teacher and hall monitor, who told her it would be dealt with. Thornhill said as far as she knows the student was not disciplined, but told not to wear the shirt to school again. Meanwhile, Thornhill received a five-day suspension. The suspension has since been revoked and Thornhill was back in school on Friday. She was told the discipline will be removed from her permanent record, but wasn't given an apology or an explanation. A statement posted on the Annapolis Valley Centre for Education's website confirmed the school had "revisited the decisions" related to discipline, but did not go into detail. "We are having positive dialogue with students and staff on the issue of sexual violence.… We want all students to feel safe and supported," the statement said. Thornhill said she's heard the school is taking steps to bring awareness to sexual violence, including having teachers read a letter to their classes. "It sucks this had to go viral and all this stuff had to happen for that to happen, but if there is some sort of action and awareness being spread, I'm very proud of the school and the school board for doing that," she said. Walkout in support Before the decision was reversed, Thornhill's suspension prompted about 100 students from the school to walk out of class on Thursday in a show of support. Students wore short skirts, spaghetti straps and other clothing that violated the dress code while holding up signs saying things like, "Enough is Enough" and "Rape is not a Joke." The event was covered by a number of local news outlets. Thornhill said about 100 students took part in the walkout.(Submitted by Kenzie Thornhill) Thornhill, who wasn't allowed on school grounds due to her suspension, cheered them on from across the street and said it was "amazing" and "overwhelming" to see. After all the media attention, Thornhill said her phone is "blowing up 24/7" with messages of support from peers and strangers, as well as personal stories from sexual assault survivors. "To have a stranger reach out to you and trust you with that sort of information, it's just amazing," she said. Not everyone agrees with Thornhill's actions. Some have been trying to poke holes in her story or twist her words, but Thornhill said they're "completely missing the point." 'A teachable moment' Linda MacDonald and Jeanne Sarsen, human rights activists and the co-founders of Persons Against Non-State Torture, called the ordeal a "missed opportunity" to have an open conversation with students about sexualized violence and why discussions around it are often silenced. "This is a teachable moment. We can transform this into a very powerful message to young people and the students. No student needs to be suspended," Sarsen told CBC's Mainstreet on Friday. During the walkout on Thursday, Thornhill cheered her classmates from across the street because she wasn't allowed on school grounds.(Submitted by Kenzie Thornhill) "With education, his thought process could change. But suspension and secrecy is not going to get us out of sexualized violence." Thornhill agrees this is a teachable moment, especially for the student who wore the T-shirt. "It's so much more than just that kid wearing this shirt. It's not his fault he wasn't educated or doesn't know why it's wrong to wear something like that," she said. "His life shouldn't be ruined for it, but what he did was wrong, and he needs to know that. He needs some type of consequence, but not harassment." MORE TOP STORIES

  • COVID-19 on P.E.I.: What's happening Monday, April 12

    P.E.I. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 on the Island Monday afternoon. University and college convocations are going ahead on P.E.I., but they'll still look different than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger weddings may be possible on P.E.I. this summer. Even as the Atlantic bubble is scheduled to bring down barriers in the Atlantic provinces in a little more than a week, many P.E.I. tourism operators are still trying to decide whether to open this season. Coffee shops in Charlottetown are delicately discouraging "computer campers" from taking up tables for hours at a time when space is at a premium. There will be no cruise ships visiting P.E.I. this year but Port Charlottetown is optimistic about 2022, with bookings in place for a record number of visitors. Some golf courses on P.E.I. opened last weekend, the earliest they have ever opened. Prince Edward Island has had 165 known cases of COVID-19. Seven are active. Elsewhere in the Atlantic region: Also in the news These Islanders are currently eligible for a vaccine People over 60. People over the age of 55 may book for an AstraZeneca vaccine at a pharmacy. People over the age of 55, with birthdays from January to April, may book at a public clinic. People providing health care services to the public — including optometrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists — and their support staff. Firefighters, police officers, power-line workers. Residents and staff of long-term care homes. Adults living in Indigenous communities. Residents and staff of shared living facilities. Truck drivers and other rotational workers. Further resources Reminder about symptoms The symptoms of COVID-19 can include: Fever. Cough or worsening of a previous cough. Possible loss of taste and/or smell. Sore throat. New or worsening fatigue. Headache. Shortness of breath. Runny nose. More from CBC P.E.I.

  • Former Inuvik resident claims RCMP downplayed her report of sexual assault

    A former Inuvik, N.W.T., resident says RCMP ignored or downplayed her allegations of childhood sexual assault. Angie Snow, now 30, says she was abused when she was nine years old. Born and raised in Inuvik, Snow first publicly shared her story on the Preacher Boys podcast with her husband, Norman Snow, earlier this year. The podcast focuses on alleged mental, physical and sexual abuse within the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement. On the podcast, she spoke about her time as a member of the First Bible Baptist Church in Inuvik. She said the assaults happened three times in her childhood home in Inuvik over about a year, although she admits that, decades later, the timeframe is fuzzy. "I knew it was weird because I froze up completely … But no [I didn't realize it was sexual assault]," Snow said. "When I tried to tell my mom, I obviously didn't do a good job. I didn't have any words to say what was happening." "As you get older, and older you start to realize oh my gosh, that did happen. And that was abuse." Eric Skwarczynski is host of the Preacher Boys podcast, which focuses on alleged mental, physical and sexual abuse within the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement.(Submitted by Eric Skwarczynski) Eric Skwarczynski, host of the Preacher Boys podcast, said most of the guests he speaks to live in the United States, where a statute of limitations can impact charges being able to be laid. "Victims do often wait to share their experience with anyone 10,15, 20 years down the road," said Skwarczynski. Reilly Featherstone is pastor for the First Bible Baptist Church in Inuvik. He said he had heard about Snow's allegations second-hand. He says whenever he hears about any sort of abuse allegations, he encourages the person to report the incident to RCMP. "It's the RCMP's job to do a thorough investigation on the matter," he said. Allegations reported to RCMP Snow says she reported the incidents and her alleged perpetrator to RCMP in Inuvik years after they occurred, when she was about 27 years old, after being contacted by someone who said they were a recent victim of her alleged attacker. "I got into the RCMP [detachment], sit down and they are like, 'So you want us to keep an eye on him, right?' and I'm like, 'No, I'm here to charge him,'" Snow said on the podcast. "That was something I was shocked over." Snow told CBC that it took a lot of mental work for her to get to the point of reporting the alleged incidents to the RCMP, and "getting over the hurdle of 'I'm going to ruin his life' … and 'he's a changed man.'" Whoever reviewed it just thought there was not enough evidence. - Angie Snow However, learning there may have been at least one more recent victim was her tipping point. She also said she wasn't the only one who came forward about the abuse she experienced. Her parents also gave statements to the RCMP, as well as Jessica Francis, a childhood friend who says she witnessed the assaults. CBC has reviewed email records to RCMP that show Snow shared contact details for Francis and her parents with RCMP. RCMP acknowledged receipt of the information and an officer wrote that all would be contacted. Snow not alone, but allegations too old Francis, who now lives in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., also alleges the person who abused Snow attempted to abuse her multiple times as well. She was the same age as Snow when the assaults happened and told CBC via Facebook Messenger that the perpetrator "didn't go as far with me as he did with Angie." Both Francis and Snow say they were about 9 years old when the alleged abuse happened, and that their alleged perpetrator was several years older. Despite both women and Snow's parents giving statements to RCMP about what happened, Snow says she was told they could not continue an investigation. I felt at least I tried, but then I also felt like, 'shoot, this is not good.' - Angie Snow "One [RCMP officer] showed up and just kind of told me there was nothing they could do," said Snow. "That whoever reviewed it just thought there was not enough evidence." She also said she was told that too much time had passed from when the alleged assaults had happened, even though Canada doesn't have a statute of limitations that imposes a time frame on reporting criminal sexual assault complaints. "I felt at least I tried, but then I also felt like, 'shoot, this is not good.' I did trust them … and took their word for it," she said. It was also hard for Francis to hear nothing would be done. "I was really disappointed," Francis said. "Especially because I had given my statement and told them my story and timeline thinking that something would be done but nothing happened. "I think it makes it very hard for people to come forward with reports of rape, assault or sexual harassment because it just shows how little is being done to bring justice for the victims and how easy it is for people to get away with these things." An RCMP truck in Inuvik, N.W.T. The police force says they are trying to improve their response to complaints of sexual assault. (David Thurton/CBC) Snow also remembered being taken aback when RCMP asked her to describe what she was wearing during her alleged assault when she was nine. "That was another shock," said Snow. "They need some kind of training and like sexual abuse, gaslighting, just everything like that you could think of like that deals with the brain psychology. I think that would have definitely made things different." Police 'actively trying to engage' complainant, say RCMP N.W.T. RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon wrote in an email that although she can't speak to specifics about Snow's file, she said an investigation was conducted after the allegations were reported, "including engagement and consultation with the office of Public Prosecution Service." She also said N.W.T. RCMP are proactively working to improve sexual assault investigations. "We have taken action to strengthen police training and awareness, investigative accountability, victim support and public education and communication." York-Condon said RCMP is looking to speak to Snow and "are actively trying to engage her." As of Thursday, Snow said she still hadn't been contacted by RCMP. Earlier this month, N.W.T. RCMP held a news conference addressing a review from a committee of advocates, justice officials, and police on how they handle sexual assault allegations. The review found that while officers generally showed victims respect, some misunderstood consent law, rape myths or included irrelevant personal opinions in their investigations. During that news conference, RCMP family violence coordinator Jesse Aubin said that officers undergo mandatory training about consent law and common rape myths, and that they are working on a sexual assault investigator course specific to the North. Two more reviews are scheduled this year: one in April, and another in the fall. If you have your own story that you'd like to share, email mackenzie.scott@cbc.ca

  • Canada set to receive 1M Pfizer-BioNTech doses, Moderna playing catch-up

    OTTAWA — The federal government is expecting Moderna to make good on a previously promised batch of 855,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses that were expected last week, but have yet to arrive.Those delayed doses along with a little more than one million shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine represent the extent of Canada’s expected vaccine deliveries this week, even as the number of new COVID-19 cases across Canada continues to surge.Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the military officer overseeing the federal government’s vaccination distribution effort, blamed the delay in Moderna’s planned delivery on a “backlog with quality assurance."“It's part of the manufacturing process, at the tail end of the manufacturing process, that they want to go through the proper quality assurance processes, and there's a backlog,” he said last week.Officials have indicated there could be a similar delay in the delivery of 1.2 million doses from Moderna next week.“It’s prudent planning on our part right now to bank on the last week of April,” Fortin said.In comparison, Pfizer-BioNTech has been consistently delivering more than 1 million shots to Canada each week for more than a month, a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.The Public Health Agency is not expecting any shots of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this week. Canada has also approved a vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson, but it is not clear when the first of those doses will be delivered.The rush to get vaccines into Canadians' arms has grown more urgent as Canada continues to see a massive spike in the number of new COVID-19 infections.Thousands of new cases were reported on Sunday, including a record 4,456 in Ontario alone. Dr. Theresa Tam, the country's chief public health officer, noted admissions to intensive care units surged 23 per cent last week compared to the one before and said the Canada is approaching the peak of the current pandemic wave. Tam said many of those getting sick are younger than in previous COVID-19 surges, which experts have blamed on virus variants that are spreading across the country.That has prompted some provinces to start looking at changes to how they are distributing their vaccines.More than 10 million doses had been distributed across Canada as of Sunday afternoon, according to covid19tracker.ca, with nearly 8 million having been administered.Almost 20 per cent of the population has received at least one shot.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2021. Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is corrected story. A previous version said Canada was only expecting one million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine to be delivered this week.

  • These 'hot spots' getting vaccine priority are less hard-hit by COVID-19 than Ontario average

    Ontario is giving priority access to COVID-19 vaccines to some neighbourhoods that have been far less affected by the pandemic than other areas not designated as hot spots, data analysis by CBC News reveals. Five postal code zones declared as hot spots have rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalization and death that are actually below the provincial averages, according to data compiled by ICES, a research institute focused on health issues in Ontario. The designation of hot spot gives people in those areas higher priority for vaccinations, despite their lower-than-average pandemic burden. More than 175,000 people live in the five postal codes zones, four of them in ridings represented by Progressive Conservative MPPs. CBC's review of the data identified seven postal code zones that have felt a greater impact from COVID-19 as measured by the province's official criteria, yet are not classed as hot spots. All are located in ridings held by the opposition parties. The findings raise questions about why certain neighbourhoods are being given preferential access to vaccines even though they have experienced less impact from COVID-19 than many other parts of of the province. The provincial government last Tuesday released a list of 114 postal code zones designated as hot spots, and announced the start of targeted vaccinations in those areas for people aged 50 and up. The next day, Premier Doug Ford announced that all adults in those hotspots would be eligible to get vaccinated immediately. More than 4.2 million people live in the hotspots, according to 2016 census data. There's concern that by giving the hot spot designation to too large a swathe of the population, the province risks diverting vaccination resources away from the areas and people that need them most. "If you're not able to ensure that there's a more targeted approach and that there's actually mobilization out to people, those who we are trying to reach, who we know are in neighbourhoods on fire, will continue to be at risk," said Dr. Andrew Boozary, director of University Health Network's social medicine program. "You've got some people within a postal code that are relatively well inoculated from COVID because of their job status, income, living arrangements," Boozary said in an interview Sunday. "They're not the ones who are at risk of spreading it or ultimately the ones who are at the highest risk of hospitalization or death." The Ford government has set a target of vaccinating 40 per cent of Ontario's population against COVID-19 by the time the current stay-at-home order expires in early May. (Grant Linton/CBC) Both the NDP and Liberals questioned the province's list of hot spots at Queen's Park Monday. "Can the premier explain to Ontarians how these four postal codes were selected despite not meeting criteria to be deemed a hot spot?" Liberal MPP John Fraser asked. In response, Health Minister Christine Elliott defended the list and said the areas were strictly determined based on expert medical advice. "Any suggestion that any postal codes were selected for any reason other than that the fact they were hot spots and experiencing high rates of transmission is really beneath you," Elliott said. "These communities were identified based not only on high rates of COVID-19, but also outbreak data, research and analysis conducted by Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, low testing rates and sociodemographic barriers that may result in vaccine hesitancy," said Elliott's press secretary, Alexandra Hilkene, in a statement Monday. The Ministry of Health's official document on vaccine prioritization says the communities to be designated as hot spots are those where data show "historic and ongoing high rates of COVID-19, death and severe illness (e.g. hospitalization)." The data from ICES shows that 95 per cent of the postal codes designated as hot spots have reported at least 2.2 cases of COVID-19 per 100 people and at least 0.95 hospitalizations and deaths per 1,000 people. However, the five postal codes with the questionable designations as hotspots reach neither of those benchmarks. Here's a closer look at each of the postal code zones in question. L6C Markham This part of Markham, north and east of Buttonville Airport, is home to around 51,000 people. It has the lowest cumulative rate of COVID-19 cases among all the hotspots: just 1.24 per cent of its population has had a confirmed case since the pandemic began. More than 200 postal code zones not designated as hotspots report higher infection rates. Its death and hospitalization rate is 0.57 per 1,000 people, which is roughly one-tenth of the rate of the M3N postal code, the hard-hit Jane and Finch neighbourhood in northwest Toronto. L4B Richmond Hill Just west of L6C, on the other side of Highway 404, is a postal code zone that covers the southeastern corner of Richmond Hill, with a population of around 36,000. Just 1.4 per cent of its population has had a confirmed case of COVID-19, and its death and hospitalization rate is 0.66 per 1,000 people, well below the provincial average. L4B did report a higher-than-average positivity rate for COVID-19 tests (10.55 per cent) in the most recent week for which the data is available. However, the government has not indicated that a high test positivity rate alone would qualify a location to be labelled a hotspot. The provincial government has designated these 114 postal code zones for priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations. (Ministry of Health) K2V Kanata This area is located south of The Queensway, along Terry Fox Drive. The latest census figures show just 2,435 people living in K2V, making it one of Ottawa's least-populated postal code zones. The area is largely light industrial and home to several large employers, including Honeywell Aerospace, Lockeed Martin Canada and a Ford Motor Company office, as well as outlets of Costco and Home Depot. The data show that K2V has the lowest hospitalization and death rate among the 114 designated hotspots, at just 0.35 per 1,000. That's lower than the rate in some 300 postal code zones not designated as hotspots. M5V Toronto Condo towers make up the bulk of this postal code zone centred around Spadina Avenue, between Queen Street and the Toronto waterfront. The average income of a person living in this neighbourhood is about 50 per cent higher than the Ontario average, according to Statistics Canada data. While there have been a large number of infections reported in this densely-populated part of the city, the infection rate (1.96 per cent) is less than the Ontario average (2.5 per cent). The hospitalization and death rate is also well below average, likely a function of the neighbourhood's generally young demographic. Health-care worker Thi Nguyen administers the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to a patient at a COVID-19 clinic in Ottawa. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) L6E Markham This area north of 16th Ave and east of McCowan Road covers the neighbourhoods of Wismer and Greensborough. Its case rate (1.85 per cent) and its rate of hospitalizations and deaths (0.88 per 1,000 people) are below those of dozens of postal code zones that do not have the hot spot designation and the priority access to vaccinations that comes with it. Hamilton hotspots left out Despite its ranking as the fifth-most-affected public health unit in Ontario (in terms of COVID-19 cases per population), only two postal code zones in Hamilton — L8W and L9C — were designated as hot spots, making just 12 per cent of its population eligible for priority vaccination access. In York Region, more than 600,000 people live in postal code zones designated as hot spots, roughly half of the population. Last week, after the province announced the postal codes getting prioritized for vaccinations, Hamilton's medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson publicly called on the government to add three more of the city's neighbourhoods to the list. The government did not comply. Richardson took matters into her own hands and declared Hamilton's north end (L8L), the Stinson neighbourhood (L8N) and part of Ancaster (L9K) as places where all residents aged 50 and up would eligible to be vaccinated at city clinics on the weekend. People lined up outside this sports centre in Richmond Hill on March 1, the first day of mass vaccinations against COVID-19 for residents of York Region. More than 600,000 people in York Region live in postal code zones designated as hot spots, giving roughly half of its population priority access to vaccine. (Evan Mitsui/CBC) Ottawa selective within hot spots The province designated three Ottawa postal codes — K1T, K1V and K2V — as hot spots. Ottawa's medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches is signalling that not everyone who happens to live within these postal codes will get priority access to COVID-19 vaccines "These are large geographic areas that have more advantaged and less advantaged populations within them," Etches said in a statement Friday. Etches said Ottawa would create pop-up vaccination clinics in the hot spots, but only in a few high-priority neighbourhoods within two of the three postal code zones,and none in K2V. Meanwhile, some politicians in Ottawa and the surrounding area are calling on the province to expand the number of COVID-19 hot spots in the hopes of improving vaccine access to people living in hard-hit areas. The neighbourhoods in Ontario worst-hit by COVID-19 are showing far lower vaccination rates compared with wealthier areas where the virus has had little impact, according to research by ICES. In all designated hot spots across Ontario, only those aged 50 and up can make vaccination appointments through the provincial booking system right now. For those younger than 50, the government indicated that access will be through pop-up clinics and mobile vaccination teams, starting in Toronto and Peel.

  • Saskatchewan needs to vaccinate much faster to reach its mid-May goal of a needle in every adult's arm

    Saskatchewan has set an ambitious timeline for getting its adult population vaccinated. On Wednesday, the province's chief medical health officer predicted that by mid-May all willing and able residents in the province aged 18 and older could have access to their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. But an analysis by CBC News shows the province will have to substantially speed up its efforts if it wants a chance of meeting its goal and avoiding a high-profile misstep for a government that has touted vaccines as the only way out of the pandemic. Last week the province averaged 9,681 vaccine doses per day. To get a dose in every adult's arm, Saskatchewan would need to more than double that. That goal may be already out of reach. Population challenges As of July 2020, StatsCanada estimated that there were 905,623 adults in the province. As of Sunday, 240,931 adults in Saskatchewan had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That would leave about 664,692 adults yet to be vaccinated. The province has averaged 5,508 jabs a day since March 5. Even with the rate increasing to more than 8,000 per day during the week of March 29 to April 4, it is still nowhere near the pace needed to meet its rapidly approaching target. As of Monday, there are only 33 days until May 15. To vaccinate every adult in that period, the province will need to complete more than 20,000 jabs a day. So far, the most people Saskatchewan has vaccinated in one day is 13,170, on April 11. Every day the government doesn't reach the necessary daily average, it means more must be vaccinated in the days to come. How many will be vaccinated? Is the province capable of scaling up its vaccination efforts? It's not clear. The Saskatchewan government would not provide answers to any of the questions CBC News asked for this story. Instead, all inquiries were directed to a news conference on vaccines from April 7. None of the questions were addressed in that news conference. Meeting the goal will, paradoxically, be helped by vaccine hesitancy. It's very unlikely that every person in the province will be willing to get vaccinated. Saskatchewan would not provide any information on how many people it has predicted will oppose vaccinations. Health Minister Paul Merriman has insisted that everyone get inoculated. "That's the very best way to protect yourself and those around you and that is the way to the end of this pandemic. In fact, it's the only way to the end of this pandemic," said Merriman at a provincial update on Wednesday. According to the World Health Organization, the percentage of a population that needs to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity varies with each disease. Health Canada's chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma previously told the House of Commons health committee in February that vaccination rates will likely need to be high in order to counter the emergence of COVID-19 variants. "With the emergence of variants and because they are more transmissible, I think a lot of people are adjusting those numbers up toward more like 85 per cent, or even potentially 90 per cent, coverage to achieve herd immunity," she said. "Certainly it's a moving target, because, as we know, the virus and its transmissibility and how contagious it is is changing." Even if the province is hoping to inoculate 85 per cent of the adult population, it must ramp up efforts on an extraordinary scale. Rapid vaccinations, but high case counts On a per capita basis, Saskatchewan ranks highly among the provinces in two significant categories. It is the top province in Canada for vaccinations per capita. As of Monday, the province had vaccinated 23,947 per 100,000 people in the province. "We are leading the country. We are getting as many shots into people as soon as we possibly can, and that's the way through this," Merriman told media on Thursday. But Saskatchewan is also among the top provinces in known COVID-19 cases per capita — third in both active and total cases per capita. Premier Scott Moe has resisted calls to implement stricter province-wide COVID-19 restrictions. The province is in a race to vaccinate as quickly as possible. And the clock on the province's self-imposed deadline is ticking.

  • Dolly Parton sends greetings to P.E.I. as Island joins free book program

    Country superstar Dolly Parton sent her thanks to P.E.I. last week for joining her Imagination Library charity. The program provides free monthly books for children up to the age of five. "I was just over the moon when I heard Prince Edward Island now has a provincial-wide Imagination Library program," Parton said in a video posted to Facebook on Friday. "My thanks goes to Senator [Diane] Griffin for joining us in Nashville to hear me talk about my Imagination Library program." She also thanked Premier Dennis King and former education minister Brad Trivers for providing funding for the program, as well as the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance and Rotary Club. The Imagination Library partners with publishers and postal services to provide monthly delivery of books for $50 a year per child. Those costs are covered locally. The program launched by the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance in October and the 2,000 spaces were quickly fully subscribed. The province stepped in with funding for another 1,000 children. There are about 7,000 children under five on P.E.I. The P.E.I. Literacy Alliance has set a goal to register every one of them. More from CBC P.E.I.

  • What you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for April 12

    THE LATEST: Health officials announced 3,289 cases of COVID-19 and 18 new deaths over the last three days. The provincial death toll from the disease is at 1,513. There are currently 9,937 active COVID-19 cases in B.C. So far, 1,112,101 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. There are 368 patients are in hospital, including 121 people in critical care. Health officials announced 3,289 cases of COVID-19 and 18 new deaths over the last three days. A three-week "circuit breaker" was implemented on March 29, putting in place sweeping new restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group fitness activities and worship services. Since that time, the province has announced several record-breaking single-day case counts and has seen a rise in hospitalizations. As of Monday, Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced there were 368 patients in hospital, including 121 people in critical care. The number of patients in critical care with the disease has risen to a record high. Vaccination registration expanding The province has announced dates for those aged 40 and older to register for their vaccine: Monday, April 12 — born 1966 or earlier (55+) Wednesday, April 14 — born 1971 or earlier (50+) Friday, April 16 — born 1976 or earlier (45+) Monday, April 19 — born 1981 or earlier (40+) Registering for a vaccine is not the same as booking the appointment to get your shot. Once registered, users receive a confirmation code. They then wait for an email, text or call telling them they are eligible and can then book their vaccine appointment using that code. A man wears a protective face mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as he walks past a billboard in Vancouver. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press) Indigenous people 18 or older and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable can also now register to book their vaccine appointment through B.C.'s new Get Vaccinated system. The province is also continuing to vaccinate people between the ages of 55 and 65 with the AstraZeneca vaccine in local pharmacies throughout the province. Vaccine registration There are three ways to register for vaccinations: By phone through the provincial phone line at 1-833-838-2323. In person at any Service B.C. location. Health Minister Adrian Dix said on Saturday that vaccine doses would also be set aside to vaccinate people in communities where there were outbreaks. Whistler jabs On Sunday, Vancouver Coastal Health announced that all adults who live and work in Whistler, B.C., will be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday. The health authority says it's launching the two-week vaccination program because of increasing transmission of the virus in the ski resort community. It says there were 1,505 confirmed cases of COVID-19 recorded in Whistler between Jan. 1 and April 5, which is the highest rate of COVID-19 of any local health area in the province. Cypress Mountain on Vancouver's North Shore announced Sunday was its last day of operations for the ski season, marking an early closure. The resort said it made the decision based on the rapid spread of more contagious coronavrius variants in the region, despite good snow conditions that could have allowed for an extended season. People waiting to get on a lift at Whistler Blackcomb in January 2021.(Submitted) On March 30, Whistler Blackcomb decided not to reopen for the tail end of the ski season following a provincial health order that closed the hills until April 19. On Friday, the province said there are currently 4,111 cases of COVID-19 that are confirmed variants of concern in B.C. Of the total cases, 105 are active and the remaining people have recovered. Read more: What's happening elsewhere in Canada As of Sunday, Canada had reported 1,060,157 cases of COVID-19, with 73,447 cases considered active. A total of 23,315 people have died of the disease. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Common symptoms include: Fever. Cough. Tiredness. Shortness of breath. Loss of taste or smell. Headache. But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia. What should I do if I feel sick? Use the B.C. Centre for Disease Control's COVID-19 self-assessment tool. Testing is recommended for anyone with symptoms of cold or flu, even if they're mild. People with severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, difficulty waking up or other extreme symptoms should call 911. What can I do to protect myself? Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Keep them clean. Keep at least two metres away from people outside your bubble. Keep your distance from people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Wear a mask in indoor public spaces. More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website.

  • Ranger unit failed to deal with extremist members, says army investigation report

    A troubled Canadian military reserve unit failed to promptly address hateful conduct by two of its members who were associating with far-right extremist organizations, according to a military investigation report obtained by CBC News. It also found that the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (4CRPG) failed to be proactive in dealing with unit members associating with extremist organizations. CBC News obtained a two-page summary of the army investigation's findings and methodology, prepared for the chief of the defence staff, the deputy minister of defence and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. CBC News has independently verified the report as authentic. The report says the presence of far-right sympathizers in the western-based Ranger group was modest; the investigation concluded it could only identify two members of the unit who had been associated with extremist organizations. The names of those two members were blacked-out in the version of the report viewed by CBC News. The summary report is dated Nov. 27, 2020 The investigation was launched last year after CBC News revealed that Eric Myggland, a member of 4CRPG, had openly posted support online for two far-right groups — the Soldiers of Odin and the Three Percent survivalist militia movement. Members of the Three Percent movement were among those arrested in the wake of January's attack on the Capitol building in Washington D.C. Myggland's posts included one that referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a "treasonous bastard" and others that expressed support for gun rights and were highly critical of the Liberal government's firearms legislation. Myggland's ex-wife was also a member of 4CRPG. She acknowledged in an email exchange with CBC News last year that she briefly supported her ex-husband in his association with the two groups but quit them after seeing racist activity. The summary of the army's investigation makes no reference to Master Cpl. Corey Hurren, the member of 4CRPG who was sentenced recently to six years in prison after he crashed his truck into the gates of Rideau Hall in July with loaded firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition. According to an agreed statement of facts read out in court, Hurren wanted to arrest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the federal government's COVID-19 restrictions and its ban on assault-style firearms. Hurren, who served in Manitoba, was known to have subscribed to QAnon-based conspiracy theories. Corey Hurren, who rammed his truck into the gates of Rideau Hall last summer, was also a member of 4CRPG.(Corey Hurren/LinkedIn) In mid-December, Sajjan announced the creation of a four-member advisory panel to investigate incidents involving hate or racism in the Canadian military and to examine "systemic discrimination, unconscious bias (and) white supremacy." "The uncomfortable truth is that racism and discrimination exist in this country and the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) recognize that they are not exempt," Sajjan said in a media statement. A few days after he received the report, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan set up an advisory panel on hateful conduct in the Canadian military.(Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) He pointed to the recently assembled anti-racism advisory panel, saying it will help the military decide "what more can be done to eliminate these views" from the ranks. While he didn't address the report's findings specifically, Sajjan said the Armed Forces "has already taken a number of steps to ensure greater engagement and oversight over the Canadian Rangers to ensure that all understand their obligations in upholding the values of the Canadian Armed Forces." The summary report obtained by CBC criticizes the way 4CRPG handled the threat of far-right extremism in its ranks and makes several recommendations. 'Vulnerable' patrols "4CRPG must initiate UDI's (unit disciplinary investigations) when allegations of Hateful Conduct incidents are brought to their attention," the authors of the report wrote, pointing out that the unit's leadership did not promptly address the two cases identified by the investigation. The report also called for better training. "Formal training must be provided to 4CRPG Staff and Canadian Rangers with regard to the Hateful Conduct Policies and Directives and be a priority for Patrols identified as vulnerable," the report says. "Control measures must be put in place to ensure all Canadian Rangers understand their obligations with regard to Hateful Conduct Policies and Directives." The report does not define what could make a patrol "vulnerable". While the unit informed its members about the Canadian Armed Forces' Hateful Conduct policy in an e-mail in July 2020, it needs to go further and develop "a set of socially and culturally relevant vignettes to complement the existing Army Hateful Conduct training package," the report said. No 'hands on' system for weapons verification The report's criticisms of 4CRPG's leadership are sharper. The report found the unit conducted no formal training in the military's Code of Values and Ethics and had no formal promotion program for diversity and inclusion. It concluded there was no system in place for "hands on/eyes on" weapons verification by patrol commanders and said that patrol commanders were unable to find standard operating procedures. The unit's administrators "are woefully lacking in up to date procedures and processes" and membership is "at a critically low level in both BC Coy [company] RI [Ranger Instructor] staff and all three COY ORs [Company Orderly Rooms]." The investigation found one case of 4CRPG ordering "administrative/disciplinary measures related to an ethical incident." The report does not reveal the nature of the "ethical incident" or make any recommendations related to it. In January, the military announced that Lt.-Col. Russ Meades, who had led 4CRPG for several years, would be replaced in June. Myggland was ordered released by the army, but as of the end of March his release status remained unclear. Although contacted multiple times by CBC News, Myggland has declined to answer questions. He did say in an email last fall that he believed the media coverage of his case had been biased. Myggland did speak to his hometown publication, The Rocky Mountain Goat. In that interview he insisted that he had done nothing wrong, that he is not racist, that he left the two organizations after unsuccessfully trying to change them and was not being given credit for his years of community service. A spokesperson for the Department of National Defence said hateful conduct erodes unit cohesion and esprit de corps, and diminishes the military's standing in Canadian society. "All aspects of the Summary Investigation into allegations of hateful conduct within 4CRPG are complete," said Dan LeBouthillier in a media statement. "The findings have been accepted by the Canadian Army and the Canadian Armed Forces, while the Canadian Army is in the process of planning and implementation of the Summary Investigation report's recommendations." Barbara Perry, director of Ontario Tech University’s Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, questions why the summary report doesn't indicate the investigation looked at the social media accounts of 4CRPG Rangers.(CBC) Barbara Perry, director of Ontario Tech University's Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, said she wonders why the summary investigation report talks about conducting interviews but makes no reference to going through 4CRPG members' social media accounts. "If they didn't look at social media, I would be shocked," she said. "And I would say that's not a fulsome investigation, given that this is where the movement lives ... online. "You have to have a sense of where people are engaging, where your members are engaging with these groups. That would have been a starting point for me." Perry, whose group has been hired by DND to work on hateful conduct and right wing extremism in the Canadian Armed Forces, said she was also surprised by the investigation's conclusion that only two members of 4CRPG had associated with extremist organizations. "I'm hearing informally from other sources that there were a lot of folks engaged, whether it was formally engaged with groups or sympathetic or engaged online," she said. "Sometimes it's passive consumers rather than contributors." Elizabeth Thompson can be reached at elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca Murray Brewster can be reached at murray.brewster@cbc.ca

  • Vancouver to temporarily close streets alongside 3 schools to encourage active transportation

    The City of Vancouver will be closing the streets in front of three elementary schools starting Monday to encourage parents to use active transportation to pick up and drop off their children. One street running alongside each of Hastings, Lord Roberts and Van Horne elementary schools will be closed for 30 to 45 minutes during peak pick-up and drop-off times. During that time, no motor vehicles will be allowed to enter or exit the affected block. The pilot starts Monday and will be in place until May 7. The city chose streets that allow nearby residents to still access their homes. It also has ensured reserved parking or designated pick-up and drop-off spots for parents or students with disabilities. 'We're really excited' Ian Rowe, chair of the Lord Roberts parent advisory council, says he and most parents were glad the city was trying something new to discourage driving. "School congestion, traffic and safety has been an issue every single year," Rowe said. "And so we're really excited." The pilot wasn't most parents' preferred option, Rowe says, in large part because it requires parent volunteers twice a day, every day, for it to work. The City of Vancouver is piloting a new program to encourage active transportation for parents picking up and dropping off their children at school. (City of Vancouver) Rowe says parents at the West End elementary school wanted permanent infrastructure changes instead, like continuing the separated bike lane along Comox Street in front of the school in order to make cycling a safer option. A few parents objected to the pilot, Rowe says, but the parent advisory council has been working with them to encourage use of the other two streets that flank the school where vehicular traffic will still be allowed. "We're always going to have parents who need to drive," Rowe said. Health researcher Mariana Brussoni previously told CBC News that parents face many challenges trying to get their kids to school by foot or bike — including busy schedules, multiple drop-offs and schools that are too far away. School streets around the world Less than 25 per cent of students across B.C. use active transportation to get to school, according to a written statement from the Ministry of Transportation last year. According to the city's webpage for the pilot, so-called school streets are popular in several places around the world and they have been shown to create a safer environment for children, improve air quality and encourage active transportation. In London, England, nearly 350 school streets have been implemented. The city says 81 per cent of parents there were supportive of the measures, which reduced nitrogen dioxide air pollution by 23 per cent. As a result, 18 per cent of parents reported driving less. The city says school streets were also implemented in Toronto and Edinburgh.

  • Nanaimo residents asked for input on how city should manage short-term rental properties

    People living in Nanaimo, B.C., have the opportunity to have a say in how vacation rentals are managed in a survey launched by the municipality. With the number of short-term rentals increasing, the City of Nanaimo wants feedback on both landlords' and renters' experiences with vacation rentals. Since 2017, the number of short-term rentals has increased from 416 to 549, Mayor Leonard Krog said. "That's why the city is looking at the potential bylaw that is out there for public discussion and comment," Krog said on CBC's The Early Edition. "Is it having a negative impact on the rental situation generally?" The survey asks residents to comment on proposed bylaw changes, which include allowing short-term rentals in all zones; allowing short-term rental of an entire home provided the rental operator lives in the home the majority of the year; and requiring a business license for short-term rentals. The City of Vancouver introduced similar regulations in 2018 after Airbnb listings came under scrutiny for their potential role in taking rental housing off the market. According to a municipal new release, Nanaimo's rental vacancy rate of one per cent is well below the five per cent threshold indicator of a healthy rental housing market. Krog says the bylaw changes are an attempt to strike a balance between keeping neighbourhoods affordable while still allowing homeowners some vacation rental opportunities that can help pay for a mortgage. "I mean, right now, you could be turning over somebody every night in a nice, quiet suburban neighborhood; strangers coming into the neighborhood constantly," said Krog. "In other cases, you've got people looking for, say, 30 or 60 days. The impact on traffic, the impact on the neighbour — all of those things are what we're looking at." The mayor says the municipality will likely end up requiring short-term rental operators to be licensed and pay the municipal and regional district taxes, which contribute to tourism advertising. "If you're going to be part of the tourism game … you should pay to play, so to speak," Krog said. While the hospitality industry is currently in a lull due to the pandemic, Krog says it's important to think about how the city wants to manage vacation rentals before demand picks up again. The surveys are available online on the city's public engagement website until May 10.