Looks like this conductor isn't crazy about a drone getting some up-close footage of his train. Watch out for the water canon!
WASHINGTON — Rep. Eric Swalwell, who served as a House manager in Donald Trump’s last impeachment, filed a lawsuit Friday against the former president, his son, lawyer and a Republican congressman whose actions he charges led to January’s insurrection. The California Democrat’s suit was filed Friday in federal court in Washington. It alleges a conspiracy to violate civil rights, along with negligence, inciting a riot and inflicting emotional distress. It follows a similar suit filed by Rep. Bennie Thompson last month in an attempt to hold the former president accountable in some way for his actions Jan. 6, following his Senate acquittal. Swalwell charges that Trump, his son Donald Jr., along with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, had made “false and incendiary allegations of fraud and theft, and in direct response to the Defendant’s express calls for violence at the rally, a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol.” The lawsuit spells out in detail how both Trumps, Giuliani and Brooks spread baseless claims of election fraud, both before and after the 2020 presidential election was declared and charges that they helped to spin up the thousands of rioters before they stormed the Capitol. Five people died as a result of the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer. Trump’s spokesman Jason Miller called Swalwell a “low-life” with “no credibility.” “Now, after failing miserably with two impeachment hoaxes,” Swalwell is attacking “our greatest President with yet another witch hunt,” Miller said. “It’s a disgrace that a compromised Member of Congress like Swalwell still sits on the House Intelligence Committee.” The lawsuit, through Trump’s own words, accuses the former president of inciting the riot, using much of the same playbook used by Swalwell and others during Trump’s impeachment trial — that his lies over the election results stirred supporters into the false belief the 2020 election had been stolen, that he egged the angry mob on through his rally speech and that he did nothing when faced with the images of throngs of his supporters smashing windows at the U.S. Capitol and sending lawmakers fleeing. “Those with knowledge claimed that during this moment of national horror, Trump was ‘delighted’ and was ‘confused about why other people on his team weren’t as excited as he was.’ Others described Trump as ‘borderline enthusiastic’ about the unfolding violence,” according to the suit. Unlike Thompson’s lawsuit — filed against Trump, Giuliani and some far-right extremist groups whose members are alleged to have participated in the insurrection — Swalwell’s did not specify whether he was filing in his personal capacity or official, which would require additional approvals from the House and involve House attorneys. Both lawsuits cite a federal civil rights law that was enacted to counter the Ku Klux Klan's intimidation of officials. Swalwell's attorney Philip Andonian praised Thompson’s lawsuit filed under a Reconstruction-era law called the Ku Klux Klan Act, and said they were behind it 100%, but also saw the need for this one, too. “We see ourselves as having a different angle to this, holding Trump accountable for the incitement, the disinformation,” he said. Presidents are historically afforded broad immunity from lawsuits for actions they take in their role as commander in chief. But the lawsuit, like the one by Thompson, was brought against Trump in his personal, not official, capacity. Swalwell also describes in detail being trapped in the House chamber with many other members of Congress as plainclothes Capitol Police officers barricaded the doors and tried to fend off the mob at gunpoint. “Fearing for their lives, the Plaintiff and others masked their identities as members of Congress, texted loved ones in case the worst happened, and took shelter throughout the Capitol complex,” the lawsuit reads. The lawsuit alleges that Brooks “conspired with the other Defendants to undermine the election results by alleging, without evidence, that the election had been rigged and by pressuring elected officials, courts, and ultimately Congress to reject the results.” It notes that he spoke at a rally supporting Trump at the Ellipse, near the White House, shortly before thousands of pro-Trump rioters made their way to the Capitol and overwhelmed police officers to shove their way inside the building. The suit seeks unspecified damages and Swalwell also wants a court to order all of the defendants to provide written notice to him a week before they plan to have a rally in Washington that would draw more than 50 people. “Unable to accept defeat, Donald Trump waged an all out war on a peaceful transition of power,” Swalwell said in a statement. “He lied to his followers again and again claiming the election was stolen from them, filed a mountain of frivolous lawsuits—nearly all of which failed, tried to intimidate election officials, and finally called upon his supporters to descend on Washington D.C. to ’stop the steal.” ___ Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. Colleen Long And Michael Balsamo, The Associated Press
An alleged gang member charged in connection to an incident on New Year’s Day where Onion Lake RCMP were shot at during a high-speed chase asked the court for time to save money for a lawyer. Melissa McAlpine, 32, told Lloydminster Provincial Court on March 3 that she needs to come up with $2,100 before a lawyer will represent her. “I was trying, I have a lawyer in mind,” said McAlpine who was appearing by phone. “I have to get $2,100 so I’m saving up like how to do that.” Judge Kim Young asked the Crown what its position was on the requested adjournment. “She is making progress so that’s good,” said the Crown who wasn’t opposed to the adjournment. The Crown added there are new charges of breach of curfew on Jan. 24 against McAlpine. In connection to the Jan. 1, 2021, incident, McAlpine is charged with discharging a firearm with intent to endanger life, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing there was a firearm, and assault of a police officer with a weapon. McAlpine, along with Glynnis Larene Chief, Twaine Derek Buffalo-Naistus, Tyler Ryan Wolfe, and Danny Lee Weeseekase, were arrested on Onion Lake Cree Nation Jan. 1, 2021. They allegedly shot at Onion Lake RCMP who were pursuing the SUV they were driving on Onion Lake Cree Nation. One of the occupants allegedly pointed a rifle out of a window and started shooting at the police. Police continued to pursue the SUV, which eventually stopped in front of the high school on Onion Lake. All five were arrested. Judge Kim Young granted McAlpine an adjournment until March 17 to “round up some money” and cautioned her to keep working on obtaining a lawyer. The charges against McAlpine haven’t been proven in court. RCMP say the occupants of the SUV were identified as street gang associates. North Battleford Provincial RCMP General Investigation Section took over the investigation. If you are associated with a gang and want to leave it, contact STR8 UP in northern Saskatchewan at 306-763-3001, STR8 UP in central Saskatchewan at 306-244-1771, or Regina Treaty Status Indian Services in southern Saskatchewan at 306-522-7494 to get assistance. If anyone has any information that could assist investigators, please contact Onion Lake RCMP at 306-344-5550. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitting a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com. Onion Lake Cree Nation borders the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and is located about 50 kilometres north of Lloydminster. ljoy@glaciermedia.ca Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Battlefords Regional News-Optimist
Two classrooms have been closed at Quaker Road Public School after Niagara Region Public Health reported Thursday another four individuals there have tested positive for COVID-19. That brings the case count to six for the Welland school at First Avenue. The two previous cases were announced on Monday and Tuesday. District School Board of Niagara said in a news release it would not disclose the the individuals who tested positive were students or staff. School boards in Niagara have a policy not to make that distinction; more information on the cases won’t be available until the provincial school-related COVID-19 database is updated. While an outbreak has not been declared, provincial guidelines indicate “an outbreak in a school is defined as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection.” On on Jan. 12 the province implemented new health and safety measures for schools. Among them, a requirement that school boards implement enhanced screening protocols and targeted testing. Carolyn LoConte, DSBN communications officer, confirmed the public health department is not recommending schoolwide asymptomatic testing be conducted at Quaker Road. “All of the enhanced safety measures that we have in place in our schools, with direction from Niagara Region Public Health and the Ministry of Education are in place at Quaker Road PS,” DSBN said in its release. “These include, but are not limited to, students remaining in their cohorts, enhanced cleaning of the affected areas, not permitting non-essential visitors, students and staff doing the daily health screening, and students wear their masks in grades 1 to 8.” Custodians will complete thorough cleaning of the school. A public health inspector and a public health nurse will then visit to conduct a comprehensive assessment. “Quaker Road Public School will continue to follow the preventative COVID-19 practices that schools have in place, such as wearing required PPE, physical distancing, maintaining hand hygiene and doing the daily health screening,” said DSBN. “As part of COVID-19 case management and infection control protocol, students and staff who had close contact with the individuals have been contacted and told by NRPH to stay home and self-isolate,” LoConte added. Sean Vanderklis is a Niagara-based reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach him via email: svanderklis@metroland.com Sean Vanderklis, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Niagara Falls Review
(ANNews) – On Feb. 23, the Siksika Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Alberta Health Services that commits to improving health services for Siksika members. The relationship agreement is aimed at understanding, addressing and preventing inequities in health services, policies and programs for nation members. “The MOU forges a strong relationship and partnership model between Alberta Health and Siksika Nation that will give the Nation increased control and access to quality health services, and an opportunity for government to explore innovative health services with a First Nation partner,” said the Siksika Nation is a press release. Tyler Shandro, Minsiter of Health stated, “By creating meaningful relationships and listening to our Indigenous partners, I am confident we can work collaboratively with Siksika Nation to ensure community members can access culturally appropriate health services where and when they need them, both on and off reserve.” The Memorandum, which is also known as a relationship agreement, is the first agreement in Alberta history to include the Blackfoot language. It is working to eliminate racism and bring positive, transformative change to the health care for Siksika. The agreement acknowledges Siksika Nations Elders’ Guiding principles, said the press release. The agreement includes commitments to:; "Pursue a lasting and cooperative relationship; Acknowledge that the status quo is not acceptable; Commit to bringing about positive and transformative change in healthcare and socioeconomic outcomes for Siksika." It also sets out to: "Reduce jurisdictional uncertainty; Address social and economic determinants of health; Eliminate systemic racism within the healthcare system in Alberta, where it exists, and ensure that Siksika members are provided culturally safe healthcare services." Nioksskaistamik, Chief Ouray Crowfoot, Siksika Nation, said that the “tremendous strength of Siksika Nation is its extensive and effective range of health services. This Relationship Agreement with Alberta Health will further empower Siksika Nation to deliver comprehensive programming and services that are holistic, community-based, and put the health and wellness needs of Siksikawa first. “Today’s signing represents an important step forward in Siksika Nation’s relationship with Alberta Health as we endeavour together towards equitable health outcomes.” “At all times, and particularly throughout the pandemic over the past year, Siksika has worked hard to make sure our people are taken care of, and also to take care of our neighbours. This has been a real priority for Siksika Nation: to be intentional about creating relationships that are of mutual benefit. This agreement we are signing today is one such example,” said Chief Crowfoot. As part of the relationship between the Siksika Nation, Elder Clement Leather gifted Minister Shandro with a Blackfoot name of great significance: Ksiistsikomipi’kssii (pronounced: KSIS-TSII-KO-MII-PIIK-SI), which means Thunderbird. “Around this time next month is when we hear first thunder,” said Elder Clement Leather. “This is when our spiritual people start preparing themselves for ceremony; first thunder is like a wakeup call for people to get ready for what’s to come.” Siksika Councilor, Kent Ayoungman provided context: “Our people have a strong kinship with the whole of our surroundings, with creation. In today’s ceremony, blessings are going to be asked for by the Elder; he is going to call on this special kinship to honour you with a name today. For our people this is very important, it is one of the highest honours a person can receive. Given your work alongside our people here in Siksika, this is why we have chosen to give you a Blackfoot name today.” Shandro, said he felt honoured to be gifted with his new Blackfoot Name. “It’s an amazing honour,” he said. “I didn’t know this was going to be happening today. I don’t have any words to describe it, but it is an incredible honour that I can’t put words to.” The Siksika Nation , a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy, is located one hour east of Calgary, Alberta. Jacob Cardinal is an LJI reporter for Alberta Native News. , Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News
Takedown NOTICE Please DO NOT USE story slugged LJI-Ont-South-Bruce-POW-NNW-letter headlined South Bruce responds to POW-NNW letter. This story has been killed by its news editor. Regards, Local Journalism Initiative AVIS d'annulation Prière de NE PAS PUBLIER l'article identifié LJI-Ont-South-Bruce-POW-NNW-letter et intitulé South Bruce responds to POW-NNW letter. Cet article a été annulé par le rédacteur en chef de la publication. Merci de votre collaboration, Initiative de journalisme local Cory Bilyea, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Wingham Advance Times
LONDON — Prince Philip has been transferred from a specialist cardiac hospital to a private facility to continue his recovery after a heart procedure, Buckingham Palace said Friday. The palace said the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital on Wednesday. He was moved to King Edward VII's hospital on Friday and is “expected to remain in hospital for continuing treatment for a number of days,'' the palace said. Philip was admitted to the private London hospital on Feb. 16, where he was treated for an infection. On Monday he was transferred to the specialized cardiac care hospital. Philip’s illness is not believed to be related to the coronavirus. Both Philip and the monarch received COVID-19 vaccinations in January and chose to publicize the fact in order to encourage others to also take the vaccine. Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, retired in 2017 and rarely appears in public. Before his hospitalization, he had been isolating at Windsor Castle, west of London, with the queen. Although he enjoyed good health well into old age, Philip has had heart issues in the past. In 2011, he was rushed to a hospital by helicopter after suffering chest pains and was treated for a blocked coronary artery. The longest-serving royal consort in British history, Philip married the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947. He and the queen have four children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His illness comes as the royal family braces for the broadcast on Sunday of an interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Meghan and husband Prince Harry quit royal duties last year and moved to California, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. The Associated Press
Canada’s environment minister says he is reluctant to ask the public service to come up with a plan to achieve an emissions target in 2025, setting up a possible clash with opposition members over the government's climate bill. Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said he would rather his department work on implementing the initiatives contained in the federal government’s new climate plan that are designed to achieve their objectives by 2030. Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, would require the federal government to come up with national climate targets for the year 2030 and every five years thereafter, ultimately reaching net-zero carbon pollution by 2050. Prominent climate scientist Corinne Le Quéré, who chairs France’s High Council on Climate and is a member of the U.K.’s Climate Change Committee, as well as Canadian environmental lawyers and opposition members of Parliament have all called on the government to plan for a 2025 target instead of waiting for 2030, saying climate action can’t be delayed. NDP environment and climate change critic Laurel Collins, an environment committee member, said she would like to see a 2025 target, arguing that waiting until 2030 was “extremely problematic.” The Green Party has also released a plan that calls for “clear enforceable targets and timelines starting in 2025.” In comments to media following the Powering Past Coal Alliance Global Summit, Wilkinson said he was not ruling out adding 2025 as a target year, and that he was open to “a range of different amendments” to Bill C-12. But he said he felt the “underlying point of the 2025 request” was a “desire for more accountability” rather than a hard target. Along those lines, he said, he was open to setting new requirements, for example mandating progress reports. And he portrayed Canada’s push to cut emissions as centred around 2030, suggesting this was in line with global efforts. “What I would say to you is, the whole focus of the Paris Agreement was around 2030. Almost every country around the world has a 2030 target. The focus very much is on the kinds of infrastructure changes that are going to drive the kinds of reductions that we need to see by 2030, like building out electric vehicle infrastructure, like phasing out coal, all of which are around a 2030 timeline,” said Wilkinson. “And as you know, we just went through a large number of months of enormous work to put together a climate plan that is really focused on 2030 as the ultimate target. I’m not particularly interested in redirecting my civil servants in my department to go around and try to build a plan to 2025 after spending all of that time. I’d rather them work on implementing the initiatives that are going to allow us to make the changes.” The government’s $15-billion climate plan unveiled in December 2020, called A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, envisions the federal carbon pricing system reaching $170 per tonne in 2030. The Liberals claim the plan, which also involves energy retrofits, zero-emission vehicles, carbon capture and natural spaces, will exceed Canada’s Paris Agreement target of 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is aiming to announce a new "enhanced" 2030 target for Canada next month when the United States hosts the Leaders’ Climate Summit on April 22. In an interview, Collins said she was open to working with the government and the other parties to “create some structure” to foster accountability on emissions before the 2030 target. This could be in the form of “assessment reporting and transparent accounting,” she said. Asking the federal public service to come up with a plan to reach a climate target in 2025, however, was not an overly burdensome task, she argued. “The idea that this is somehow going to be a ton more work for the government doesn’t actually hold water. There are lots of ways that they could build in real accountability between now and 2030, and make sure that we have robust assessments of our progress,” said Collins. “I do not understand why, if we are setting a 2030 target, why we could not be transparent about where we expect to be in 2025 — it wouldn’t require more work. Let the public and the House of Commons know the roadmap of how we’re going to get there.” Other criticism of the bill has focused on whether the minister’s 14-member Net-Zero Advisory Body, which will provide advice on reaching net-zero emissions in 2050, will be sufficiently independent to be able to challenge the government on the effectiveness of its climate action. The body will draw “logistical, administrative, and policy support” from Environment and Climate Change Canada, according to its terms of reference, and Wilkinson will also be able to check in with members on their work and “refer lines of inquiry” to them. Le Quéré said it was critical that the body have its own budget, and capacity to do its own analysis. Wilkinson said the advisory body can rely on the independent, publicly funded Canadian Institute for Climate Choices to carry out research for them in addition to pulling from federal government resources. “The intent is that it will have dedicated resources that are drawn out of the department, but effectively it will have its own secretariat that will support it, and largely it alone,” he said. “Absolutely, the intent is that they will be working independently. The whole point of this is for them to be able to actually provide advice, and thoughtful independent advice, to myself, but also to future ministers of environment and climate change.” Carl Meyer / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer Carl Meyer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, National Observer
BRUCE COUNTY – The county’s corporate services committee took a closer look at development charges on Feb. 25 during a workshop called “development charges 101.” While some of the lower tier municipalities have development charges – Huron-Kinloss, South Bruce Peninsula, Kincardine and Saugeen Shores – this will be the first time for the county. The concept of development charges is based on the idea that growth should pay for growth – the alternative is having existing taxpayers carry the burden of growth. Development charges may be implemented to fund things that are outside what’s considered normal subdivision infrastructure, for example, roads, watermains and sewers. The idea is to keep the overall impact of growth to a minimum on existing taxpayers, said the consultants. However, existing taxpayers could pay part of the cost of growth, for example, if an arena were expanding from one ice pad to two. The general focus of the workshop was on what development charges can fund, and what they can’t. In September, a report on development charges was presented to the committee. A background study was included in the 2021-2025 budget and forecast. The consulting firm of Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. was retained to lead the study. This is the same firm that is conducting the growth study for the county, meaning consistent growth data would be used. The consultants will be presenting information on development charges at a number of meetings for council and members of the public. The first stakeholder meeting was held the afternoon of the presentation to the executive committee. A second such meeting is planned for June 10. A second council workshop is planned for July 8, time to be determined, followed by a third stakeholder meeting. A public meeting is planned for Sept. 9, 10 a.m. to noon, with the development charges bylaw to be passed at a later date. The consultants explained development charges are a fee charged by a municipality to recover growth costs. Growth costs are recovered to build new infrastructure supporting growth, pay down existing debt for past growth works, and avoid taxpayers paying for costs that serve growth. They don’t pay for operating costs or infrastructure renewal. That is paid for by taxes from new homes and businesses (assessment growth). As explained in the report to council, among the things development charges could fund are new buildings, expanded buildings and converted buildings. These are split into different classifications – residential, commercial, institutional and industrial. There is also an opportunity to make special fees or exemptions for some of the classifications or sub-classifications such as seniors special care facilities, affordable housing or wind turbines. The consultants said many municipalities exempt places of worship, although this may include only the part of the building actually used for worship and not halls rented out to the public. Other common exemptions include farm buildings, industrial development, downtowns, brownfields, hospitals and affordable housing. The consultants stressed it’s up to the county what they choose to exempt. One of the key topics covered in the workshop was legislation governing development charges, including new regulations and emerging issues. The county intends to implement development charges in a graduated manner, over time updating them. The development charges in the county will take into consideration a number of factors such as the business climate including housing demand, the pressures on the county and residents which may be leading to imbalances that can be addressed, in part, by development charges, and the development charges imposed by neighbouring counties. Committee members asked a number of questions including how bridges fit in to the system, whether its better to phase in the charges or implement them all at once, and exemptions. County Coun. Luke Charbonneau, mayor of Saugeen Shores, explained his municipality doesn’t have a lot of exemptions, having chosen to keep development charges as simple as possible. What they do have are “grants targeting certain types of development.” County Coun. Anne Eadie, mayor of Kincardine, said, “I look forward to the next steps.” Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
‘Anishinaabe’ has many English translations, mostly in reference to creation: a people ‘lowered to earth’ from the sky or born from spontaneous breath by the Creator. But there is another definition suggested by Indigenous scholars and knowledge keepers: the “Good Humans,” or “The People Who Live upon the Earth in the Right Way.” To live in the ‘right way,’ in a ‘good way,’ is tough enough when a person has all the support and knowledge they could ask for. To be committed to this life when you have been at the mercy of colonialism, fighting to hold onto knowledge, culture and identity, is another thing entirely. That’s why the community is thankful for its elders, pillars of culture and wisdom, like Elder Waasaanese (Alex Jacobs). Waasaanese (Wah-Sah-Neh-Seh) was born at Lake Penage on the Whitefish Lake First Nation Community. He is a teacher, trained social worker and one of the members of the Elder’s Council, part of the Indigenous Justice Division (IJD) of the Ministry of the Attorney General. The Elder’s Council are recent winners of the Law Foundation of Ontario’s Guthrie Award, recognizing exceptional people and groups working to increase access to justice. The council holds positions for up to 13 Indigenous Elders who are Knowledge Keepers of diverse First Nations background from across Ontario. The community elders work with the justice system and use their specialized knowledge to support the reclamation of Indigenous legal systems, justice for Indigenous people and work to guide the Ministry of the Attorney General and its staff to repair the relationships between Indigenous people and the Canadian justice system. “We work to ameliorate some of the situations we are confronted with,” said Waasaanese. “We’re trying to work in collaboration with the police forces, with the health department, with the educational department.” They also work with tribal police units. “There's a lot of them that become tribal police officers and yet know very little about their own culture, about the culture that they're trying to police,” said Waasaanese. Born in 1938, Waasaanese laughs when he says his role as elder largely came about through his family connections. “My most significant thing here is that I happen to be related to the majority of the community members here in this community,” he said. What signifies an elder, or someone ready to be an elder, is the kind of work they do, Waasaanese said, and whether they have tried to live in ‘a good way.’ “With the knowledge, study, and understanding of how to do specific ceremonies or cultural practices, and someone that the community looks to for these practices,” he said. But being an elder isn’t reserved for those who are ‘elderly’. “It could be someone as young as their early thirties,” said Waasaanese. “Or fifties even, someone that has gained all that knowledge from working with other elders — from their community and other communities — and practices that way of life.” Someone that lives their life “in a good way.” When a community member is asked to be an elder, they will begin to teach. “You’re able to pass teachings on to young people who come to seek advice from you, or have teaching circles and meet with adults too, to pass on that knowledge.” Elders commonly teach life skills, too. “What we refer to as the seven stages of life,” said Waasaanese. The teachings cover childhood, young adolescents up to young adulthood, and even include marriage teachings, and teachings regarding children and further teachings for older adults. “How to teach children to live in a good way their whole life,” said Waasaanese. He said it is the teachings he can share, “along with what they're being taught by other elders in their community and how they perceive things from other ceremonies done at other communities,” that are integral to the continuation of the culture. “These young people are the ones who will be our future young elders,” said Waasaanese. Waasaanese also said these young elders are the reason he continues his work on behalf of the Elders Council. “I am very, very proud of being a part of the Elders Council with the Indigenous justice division,” he said, “We have so much work that we’re doing, we need to constantly focus on our justice system. It's a system that has gone terribly wrong.” Waasaanese said it's important the media get the information “in a good way” about the work the Elders Council, and similar bodies, do. “In terms of restorative justice, we have two communities now, one in Brantford and one in Thunder Bay, who have a judicial court system run in the Indigenous court way,” he said. “We have elders that sit in on the courts and help to make the decisions or hand out the types of decisions for sentencing, depending on the severity of the offenses.” And this system is working. “One case in particular, the young man at the center of it was given a sentence of a year, and he was sent out of the community.” Not jailed, but exiled, one could say. “He was placed in another location north of the community and he had to stay there for that period of time,” said Waasaanese. “Nobody could visit him or anything, only the people that were there to make sure that he was healthy, well taken care of and cared for in a ‘good way’. When the year was up, he came out and he was a different man. A different person. And he has never offended again.” Of the similar cases that Waasaanese has watched take this route, only one of the 14 people reoffended. Waasaanese says that he also sees his role as an elder as simply “a person with an open heart,” and wisdom to give. “I have to open my heart to many things, trying to let them know that I'm not any different than they are as a young person,” he said. “I was where you are at one time, I tell them, and you're going to be where I am. At a time in the future, you're going to be in the same position that I am now and you're going to have to pass what you know, and what you went through on to your young ones.” He hopes to help his community continue to have open hearts. “My only wish is that I have time to teach what I want to teach.” Jenny Lamothe is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Sudbury.com. She covers the Black, immigrant and Francophone communities. Jenny Lamothe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Sudbury.com
Kerri Einarson and her two-time national champion Manitoba team are finally going to get their chance to wear the maple leaf at a world curling championship. After days of speculation Calgary would play host to the women's world curling championship after it was cancelled in early February, the World Curling Federation made it official on Friday when it announced the event would be played in Calgary, in the same bubble conditions used for the Scotties and this week's Brier. Watch and engage with CBC Sports' That Curling Show live every day of The Brier at 7:30 p.m. ET on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, as well as streamed live on CBC Gem and CBCSports.ca The event, originally scheduled to take place in late March in Switzerland, will begin Friday, April 30 with the championship game scheduled for Sunday, May 9. "This is a vitally important championship for Olympic qualification," World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness said in a release. "We are extremely grateful to Curling Canada and all our stakeholders for their willingness to work together, and at such short notice, to ensure that qualification for Beijing 2022 happens on the ice and in competition." WATCH | Val Sweeting looking forward to upcoming world championships: Fourteen teams will compete, with the top six finishers earning a spot for their countries in the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Specific teams that will compete are then determined in national playdowns. Along with Einarson's Canadian team, reigning champions Switzerland, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Russian Curling Federation team, Scotland, Sweden and the United States will take part. Einarson, who won her second Scotties title in a row by defeating Rachel Homan last Sunday, was a day away from competing at the world championship last March in Prince George, B.C., before the pandemic took over and the world shut down. Now the Gimli, Man., foursome has added motivation to not only represent Canada at this international competition but also understands the importance of finishing in the top six and securing a spot for Canada at the Olympics. The addition of the women's worlds brings to seven the number of bonspiels Calgary will host in a little more than two months. Along with the already played Scotties and this week's Brier, the national mixed curling championship starts March 18, followed by the men's world championship beginning in early April. That then leads into two Grand Slam of Curling events. A number of the women's teams competing in the world championship will already be in Calgary to compete in the Slams. "The protocols that have been in place for the early events in Calgary have proved successful in keeping athletes, officials and the host city safe, so we feel good about this plan carrying on successfully through to the end of the LGT world women's curling championship," Katherine Henderson, CEO of Curling Canada, said in a statement. "Our board of governors has been truly supportive of our plans from day one as we started down this road, and then as this late situation presented itself, they again stood behind us. It is a result of the positive relationships between our board and the World Curling Federation that we have been entrusted with this opportunity"
Canada added a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to its pandemic-fighting arsenal on Friday, approving Johnson & Johnson's product a week after it was authorized in the United States.That gives Canada four approved vaccines — Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna inoculations were approved in December and the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab was endorsed last week — and it adds flexibility to the country's plan to immunize the majority of its residents by September. The U.S.-based Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use on Feb. 27.Canada has already secured up to 38 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine through previous negotiations with the company, however it's not expected that any will flow to Canada until at least April.Here's what we know about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine:HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT? Johnson & Johnson announced promising results from its Phase 3 clinical trials at the end of January, suggesting its vaccine reduced severe COVID-19 disease by 85 per cent, and prevented 100 per cent of COVID-related hospitalization or death.The vaccine had a 72 per cent efficacy in preventing COVID infections after 28 days in the company's U.S. trials. The efficacy dropped to 66 per cent when averaging in results from other global trials, including a South African study that factored in more transmissible variants of the COVID virus.An FDA report last month said the vaccine was 64 per cent effective in preventing infection in South Africa about a month after the vaccines were administered. Pfizer and Moderna showed 95 per cent efficacy in their respective trials, but those were both tested against previous dominant strains of the virus and didn't account for the variants that have popped up since.Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca also had zero hospitalizations and deaths in their trials.The FDA report said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was similarly effective across age, race and people with comorbidities. The agency added that effectiveness appeared to be lower (42.3 per cent after one month) in people over 60 with comorbidities such as diabetes or heart disease.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS VACCINE?The potential ease of distribution offered by a one-and-done shot, and its ability to be stored in a regular fridge are among its biggest strengths.Vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca all require two doses.Johnson & Johnson's vaccine can be stored in a regular fridge for up to three months, the company says.Pfizer's vaccine initially required ultra-cold storage temperatures between -60 C and -80 C, though Health Canada said this week it could be stored in a regular freezer for up to 14 days. Moderna's vaccine can also be stored at regular freezer temperatures.WHAT KIND OF VACCINE TECHNOLOGY IS USED?Unlike the mRNA technology used in Pfizer and Moderna's products, Johnson & Johnson is a non-replicating viral vector vaccine similar to AstraZeneca's. That means it uses a different harmless virus as a vector, which can't copy itself, to give our cells the instructions they need to make the coronavirus's spike protein.The immune system recognizes the protein and makes antibodies, which then allow us to fend off attack from the same virus if exposed in the future.WERE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS NOTED?The FDA document said no specific safety concerns were identified in participants regardless of age, race and comorbidities. The FDA added the most common reported side effects were headache and fatigue, followed by muscle aches, nausea and fever.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2021. Melissa Couto Zuber, The Canadian Press
NEW YORK — One of the country's oldest cultural instititutions, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, is undergoing some of its biggest changes in more than a century. For the first time since 1908, the academy is expanding its core membership, from 250 artists in literature, music and art and architecture, to 300 by 2025. And this year's inductees, 33 of them, are the largest and most diverse group in recent memory. They range from U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo and author-journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates to jazz great Wynton Marsalis and visual artist Betye Saar, who at 94 is the oldest new inductee since Roger Angell was voted in at 94 in 2015. New members announced Friday also include poet Kevin Young, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture; former U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith; New Yorker theatre critic Hilton Als, pianist-composer Anthony Davis, visual artist Faith Ringgold and architect Walter Hood, whose work is currently featured in the Museum of Modern Art exhibit “Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America.” Spike Lee has been named an honorary member, along with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Korean composer Unsuk Chin and the Indian architect Balkrishna “B.V.” Doshi. “We're expanding the membership so that it is more clearly represenatative of this country,” says the academy's president, architect Billie Tsien. “Also, it's a matter of numbers. When the acadmey was first established the population it was much smaller. Now there are more people, and more kinds of people.” The May induction ceremony, when members usually gather at the academy’s beaux arts complex in Upper Manhattan, will be held virtually because of the coronavirus. The academy is an honorary society founded in 1898 and once so restrictive that for decades members were almost entirely white, Christian men. Traditions can be hard to break because current members vote for new ones — openings are created when a member dies — but the academy has become far more inclusive over the past 50 years, with Toni Morrison, Colson Whitehead, Carrie Mae Weems and Chinary Ung among those selected. Harjo, the first Native American to be appointed U.S. poet laureate, said she looked forward to having an influence on future academy choices. “There are so many incredible Native visual artists,” she told the AP, while also citing such authors as N. Scott Momaday and Leslie Marmon Silko. Tsien says a challenge for the academy is to acknowledge and improve upon its history, without breaking from it entirely. She cites the very word “academy” as “rooted in another time and another consciousness,” suggesting a kind of private club. But the academy will still call itself an academy, while working to make itself more accessible to artists and to the general public. Besides choosing members, the academy also gives dozens of prizes and grants each year, totalling more than $1 million. They include the William Howells Medal and other lifetime achievement honours, and the Charles Ives Awards, which include scholarships and fellowships for young composers. Over the past year, the academy has also provided financial help for artists who lost work because of the pandemic. “There are two missions for the academy,” Tsien says. “One of the missions is the recognition of people who have accomplished something important in the creative world. The second mission is the the support of young creative people. I see the two missions as equal.” s. Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
A former State Department aide in President Donald Trump's administration has been charged with participating in the deadly siege at the Capitol and assaulting officers who were trying to guard the building, court papers show. It’s the first known case to be brought against a Trump appointee in the Jan. 6 insurrection, which led to Trump's historic second impeachment. Federico Klein, who also worked for Trump's 2016 campaign, was seen wearing a “Make America Great Again" hat amid the throng of people in a tunnel trying to force their way into the Capitol on Jan. 6, the papers say. Klein pushed his way toward the doors, where, authorities say, “he physically and verbally engaged" with officers trying to keep the mob back. Klein was seen on camera violently shoving a riot shield into an officer and inciting the crowd as it tried to storm past the police line, shouting, “We need fresh people, we need fresh people,” according to the charging documents. As the mob struggled with police in the tunnel, Klein pushed the riot shield, which had been stolen from an officer, in between the Capitol doors, preventing police from closing them, authorities say. Eventually, an officer used chemical spray, forcing Klein to move somewhere else, officials say. Klein was arrested Thursday in Virginia and faces charges including obstructing Congress and assaulting officers using a dangerous weapon. He was in custody on Friday and couldn’t be reached for comment. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. A Trump spokesman said he had no comment. At least five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died as a result of the violence, and two other officers killed themselves after. More than 300 people have been charged with federal crimes. Klein became a staff assistant in the State Department shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2017, according to a financial disclosure report. He held a top secret security clearance that was renewed in 2019, according to the court papers. He resigned from his position on Jan. 19, the day before Joe Biden was sworn in as president, authorities said. One of Klein's State Department coworkers helped authorities identify him, officials said. A Department of State diplomatic security special agent interviewed by an FBI agent said that Klein worked in the Office of Brazilian and Southern Cone Affairs, according to the court papers. The Department of State official identified Klein in photos and video shown by the FBI, officials said. Alanna Durkin Richer, The Associated Press
As a single dose COVID-19 vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson product will be especially helpful for people who sometimes have difficulty accessing health care, says Dr. Lisa Bryski, a retired ER doctor in Winnipeg.
VAUGHAN, Ont. — Recipe Unlimited Corp. saw system sales fall more than 30 per cent in its most recent quarter as the pandemic continued to cause dining room closures and seating restrictions at its restaurant chains across Canada.The Vaughan, Ont.-based company says system sales in its fourth quarter totalled $611.3 million, down 31.8 per cent from $895.8 in the same quarter the previous yearFrank Hennessey, CEO of the restaurant conglomerate, says Recipe Unlimited was impacted by mandated full closures or severely restricted capacity constraints due to COVID-19.Still, the company, which operates brands like Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, St-Hubert and The Keg, saw off-premise system sales for the 13 weeks ended Dec. 27, 2020 of $150.4 million, a 66.6 per cent increase compared to $90.3 million in the same period of 2019. Recipe Unlimited says its fourth-quarter revenues were $210.9 million, down from $327 million in the same quarter of 2019.Adjusted net earnings for the quarter were $16.1 million or 28 cents per diluted share, down from $44.8 million or 77 cents the year before. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2021.Companies in this story: (TSX:RECP) The Canadian Press
Between now and the end of the year, 10 Burk's Falls and area residents will be recognized as local champions as the village embarks on a monthly program that recognizes the kindest people in the region. Recreation coordinator Lacey Stevens says there are people making a difference by doing things for other residents of the village in a COVID environment. In a report to council, Stevens says it's time these people are recognized as Local Champions. Stevens says examples of acts of kindness can be something as simple as helping someone cross a street, dropping by for a window visit to brighten someone's day or clearing a neighbour's driveway. Each month the person who is named a Local Champion will receive a gift bag containing $100 in products that Stevens says will be bought from local merchants and are items people may need during these tough times. Beginning this month, residents can visit the municipal website or Facebook page where they can nominate a Local Champion, explaining what the individual did to deserve recognition. Staff and perhaps councillors will review the nominees and select a worthy recipient each month. Stevens says the program will showcase how fantastic Burk's Falls residents can be and create community pride. The plan is to also create a monthly video that highlights what that month's Local Champion did. The video will be posted online. The total cost for the program is $1,000 and council is expected to fund it through the provincial COVID-19 relief fund the Ontario government created last year. The idea isn't new and municipal Clerk Nicky Kunkel told council she happened to see another community doing just that. “I thought it was a fantastic way to celebrate,” Kunkel told council. Kunkel says the village has been hearing stories like people doing grocery shopping for others who can't get out because of the pandemic. She adds buying the items to fill the gift bags from local merchants also helps the business out a little. Mayor Cathy Still called the initiative “a heck of a good idea”. “We need something to lift our spirits around here. Everyone is getting downtrodden.” Still expects the program to be well received, just like an unrelated initiative was by East Parry Sound Community Support Services (EPSCSS). A few weeks ago EPSCSS created COVID-19 relief kits that vulnerable people could use in a pinch. Still says Burk's Falls was allocated 10 kits and the mayor was one of the village members who delivered them to people the municipality knew would be able to use the items. “They were so appreciative and I had one lady crying,” Still said. “They were very grateful.” Among the items in the Local Champion gift bags will be food, clothing, cleaning supplies and everyday necessities. Residents of Armour and Ryerson are also encouraged to take part in the act of kindness program. Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the North Bay Nugget. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Rocco Frangione, Local Journalism Initiative, The North Bay Nugget
PARIS — First, France's president suggested that the AstraZeneca vaccine was “quasi-ineffective” in protecting older people from COVID-19. Now, Emmanuel Macron's government is begging people to take it. Germany finds itself in a similar situation. Berlin shifted gears on its cautious policy this week after an independent vaccine panel said the AstraZeneca shots should be used in people over 65. Top German officials on Friday argued against “vaccine shopping” and urged people to take whatever potential protection they’re offered. Mixed messaging has left many people in both countries confused or distrustful of governmental guidance on the AstraZeneca jab. Meanwhile, Europe's infections are rebounding and other people around the continent and the world are clamouring for access to any COVID-19 vaccine they can get. European governments' initial hesitancy around AstraZeneca's vaccine was based on limited data on whether it works on those over 65. But new data on its effectiveness — and pressure to accelerate the EU’s slow vaccine rollout and utilize unused AstraZeneca doses — prompted health authorities in multiple European countries this week to reverse course and allow its use for all ages. In France, all those who work with the sick or elderly have been eligible for weeks to get the AstraZeneca vaccine — but only 30% have taken it so far. Some have argued they want a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine instead, which are currently only available in France to the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions. So French Health Minister Olivier Veran was sending a letter Friday to all health workers urging them to get vaccinated. And if that doesn't work, he said he could convene a special ethics committee to weigh requiring them to do so. “Clearly that (30%) is not enough,” Veran told a news conference Thursday night. While paying homage to health workers, he said: “When you are a medical professional, it is your responsibility to protect ... yourself and your patients." At his side, a family doctor echoed the plea. “I appeal to my colleagues: Please come and get vaccinated," said Dr. Marie-Laure Alby, noting that her patients are eager to get any vaccine. The head of Germany’s disease control agency on Friday urged people to get vaccinated when given the opportunity. The comments from Robert Koch Institute President Lothar Wieler came amid reports that many in the country have declined the AstraZeneca shot over concerns it may not work as well as others. “If you are offered a vaccine, please get yourself vaccinated. They are safe and effective,” Wieler said, adding that getting large numbers of people inoculated is “the way out of the pandemic.” The vaccine made by British-Swedish company AstraZeneca is one of three authorized for use in the 27-nation European Union, though it has not yet received the green light from U.S. regulators. EU countries are also administering the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines — and French nurse Michele Freret said she’d prefer one of those. “If they vaccinate us with AstraZeneca and it is not as effective as Pfizer or others, then we will get COVID and there will be no medical staff to care for the people I care for,” she told The Associated Press. She's concerned about the virus — “I constantly test myself” — and the doctors and nurses who have lost their lives fighting it. But she said she and some colleagues feel the government is trying to get rid of extra AstraZeneca vaccines by foisting them on medical staff. France, which at more than 87,000 dead has among the highest coronavirus tolls in Europe, had as of Tuesday used only 25% of the 1.6 million AstraZeneca vaccines it has received. Restrictive rules and a rush of deliveries left Germany sitting on a stockpile of more than 2 million AstraZeneca doses this week. France's skeptics often repeat a comment last month by Macron, when he told reporters: “The real problem on AstraZeneca is that it doesn’t work the way we were expecting it to ... today everything points to thinking it is quasi-ineffective on people older than 65.” Hours after he spoke, the European Medicines Agency approved the vaccine's use for all ages, but the damage to its image had been done. Some also cite confusing early data on AstraZeneca's effectiveness, or question whether it works against new virus variants. The company is working on a new version to respond to evolving variants. The European efforts to rehabilitate the vaccine's reputation come as new infections rose 9% across the continent in the past week, halting six weeks of decline. ___ Rising contributed from Berlin. ___ Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Angela Charlton And Dave Rising, The Associated Press
Les citoyens de Saint-Gédéon auront leur centre multifonctionnel dans l’Église Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue en 2023, a annoncé le maire Émile Hudon. Les travaux, évalués à 1,8 M$ débuteront à l’hiver 2022 pour la modernisation et l’agrandissement du bâtiment construit en 1897. La Grandmontoise pourra accueillir jusqu’à 300 personnes assises et permettra la tenue d’une foule d’activités, comme des festivals, du théâtre d’été, des cours, des formations, des réceptions et des réunions. Une nouvelle section d’une superficie de 2423 pi² sera annexée à la partie nord de l’édifice, pour y accueillir une cuisine, un bar, les toilettes, des accès indépendants ainsi que des espaces de rangement. Quant aux messes, elles continueront d’être données dans la sacristie, avec une capacité de 20 à 25 personnes. Une remise à neuf de la plomberie, du système de chauffage et de l’électricité, de même que l’intégration d’un système de climatisation et ventilation, est prévue. La municipalité entend également préserver et mettre en valeur l’architecture et le patrimoine de l’église, soit l’enveloppe extérieure, le clocher, la fresque murale, les vitraux et l’orgue. Bâtiment en santé Si la municipalité a pu aller de l’avant dans ce projet, c’est notamment en raison de la bonne santé du bâtiment. Un scénario de démolition aurait coûté au moins 600 000 $ à la municipalité et n’aurait pas été admissible aux subventions. « On a fait faire un bilan de l’église et celle-ci est en parfaite santé. On a fait vérifier par une firme spécialisée si elle contenait de l’amiante, mais il n’y en avait pas. On constate que la Fabrique a toujours bien entretenu ce bâtiment. La population était prête à la reprendre et on ne voulait pas qu’elle tombe dans l’oubli comme dans d’autres municipalités », explique le maire Émile Hudon, qui étudie le projet depuis 2017. Le conseil ira en règlement d’emprunt pour obtenir 725 000 $ afin de financer le projet et les intérêts. Des pourparlers sont en cours afin d’obtenir 900 000 $ du Conseil du patrimoine religieux du Québec. Une campagne de sociofinancement avec un objectif de 225 000 $ sera également lancée prochainement. Vocation touristique Selon le maire, le projet contribuera à alimenter la vocation touristique de la municipalité. « Nous n’avions pas encore de salle de cette envergure à Saint-Gédéon. Avec la vocation touristique de la municipalité, l’été, ce serait fantastique si on avait, par exemple, un théâtre d’été et des spectacles pour attirer les touristes et les inciter à rester plus longtemps », conclut-il. Julien B. Gauthier, Initiative de journalisme local, Le Lac St-Jean
Results from an online survey indicate widespread unhappiness over the decision to hold a provincial election prior to mass vaccination in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as overwhelming disapproval of Elections NL's handling of the entire process. Following the election's postponement due to last month's COVID-19 outbreak and a return to Alert Level 5, CBC's Vote Compass asked voters five questions to gauge their sentiments on the unprecedented pandemic election. Half of the 841 people surveyed said they strongly agreed the entire process should have waited until most people had been vaccinated. Another 18 per cent chose "somewhat agree," with the two categories combined representing 68 per cent of respondents. Liberal Leader Andrew Furey has stood by his decision to call the winter election, a move heavily criticized throughout the campaign, even prior to the outbreak, by opposition parties. That partisanship was reflected in the survey: when results are broken down along party lines, only 11 per cent of Liberal voters strongly agree the election should have waited, compared with 77 per cent of Progressive Conservatives and 63 per cent of NDP voters. Sixty-one per cent of all people surveyed thought adults over the age of 65 should have been vaccinated prior to heading to the polls. Updates to the province's widescale vaccine rollout have only come in the last week, as supply problems have dogged the entire country's ability to receive shipments since the start of 2021. Satisfaction with Elections NL, headed by chief electoral officer Bruce Chaulk, was low among survey respondents.(Paul Daly/The Canadian Press) Elections NL disapproval, integrity concerns The majority of people surveyed also weren't happy with how the entire election has proceeded — a process still underway, as Elections NL says it could be April before the results are known. Ninety-two per cent of PC voters, 80 per cent of NDP and 47 per cent of Liberals said in the survey they either disapproved or strongly disapproved of Elections NL's management thus far. Carrying out the election hit the rocks as COVID-19 cases surged in the week preceding the Feb. 13 election day, with Elections NL staff resigning en masse out of pandemic fears or because they were in self-isolation. Alongside that, confusion ensued as to whether chief electoral officer Bruce Chaulk or the chief medical officer of health had the authority to delay in-person voting. It was only after the confirmation that the contagious B117 variant was driving the outbreak and the entire province was moved into Alert Level 5 — on the evening before election day — that Chaulk announced the entire election would be held by mail-in ballot. The mailing process has since been dogged by extensions, adjustments and concerns, such as a lack of translation of ballots into Indigenous languages. The survey indicates mixed results for how people felt about the election's integrity. Fifty-six per cent of respondents overall felt either "not confident at all" or "not very confident" in its integrity. But breaking down respondents by party suggests distinct partisanship: 75 per cent of Liberals surveyed were either "very" or "somewhat" confident in the election, compared with 22 per cent of PCs and 30 per cent of NDP voters. That pattern leans into the three main party's leadership stances. While Furey has said the Liberals will accept the election's outcome as legitimate, PC Leader Ches Crosbie has said a legal challenge to results is "almost inevitable." NDP Leader Allison Coffin has voiced concerns about voters disenfranchised through the process. The election is on track for a record-low turnout of 51 per cent, if all mailed ballots are returned by the Mar. 12 deadline. Online polls don't have the same margin of error as traditional polls do, but Vox Pop Labs, the company that ran the survey, said a comparative sample of 841 people would have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The survey was conducted between Feb. 24 and March 2. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government says it should be able to get a first dose of COVID-19 vaccines to all eligible people in the province this spring — months ahead of the original prediction.Officials say it is because the province has changed strategies and is delaying second doses in order to get more first doses done more quickly.Johanu Botha, a member of the provincial vaccine task force, says much depends on the flow of vaccine supplies from the federal government.He says all first doses should be done sometime between mid-May and the end of June.Recent studies have shown that first doses are more effective than originally believed, and many provinces have decided to delay second doses as a result.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2021 The Canadian Press
