Ontario reported another 4,456 cases of COVID-19 on Sunday — a new record in the province. The daily case count is also up from 3,813 cases on Saturday and 4,227 on Friday. The province is also reporting 21 additional deaths. New cases reported Sunday include 1,353 in Toronto, 860 in Peel Region, 444 in York Region, 329 in Durham Region, and 377 in Ottawa, according to health minister Christine Elliott. As of 8 p.m. on Saturday, 3,139,743 vaccine doses were administered. The seven-day average climbed again to 3,573 cases from 3,371 on Saturday. Nearly 600 patients in ICUs with COVID-related illness There are now 593 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) across the province with COVID-related illness as of Saturday, according to Anthony Dale, president of the Ontario Hospital Association. The number of patients grew by 77 on Friday and 61 on Saturday, Dale said. The latest OHA figure comes one day before the provincial order for hospitals to halt non-emergency surgeries comes into effect. A memo was sent to hospitals Thursday night telling them to postpone their non-emergency surgeries, effective Monday, everywhere but in northern Ontario. Pediatric specialty hospitals are excluded from the order. As a result of the first such postponement in March 2020, the province has a backlog of more than 245,000 procedures. "The impact of the third wave of the pandemic on scheduled surgeries and procedures will depend on the severity and duration of the current COVID-19 surge," a spokesperson for Ontario Health told CBC News via email. "These are very difficult and challenging times for all Ontarians," the spokesperson said. "We are monitoring continuously and will ramp up again as soon as safely possible." Bring out-of-province ICU nurses to help GTA, says Toronto critical care doctor Dr. Michael Warner, medical director of critical care at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, posted a video to Twitter on Saturday asking Ontario to lift jurisdictional barriers so that critical care nurses from across the country could be brought into the GTA to help. On paper, Warner said, Ontario has roughly 2,300 ICU beds. However, in practice, there are "far fewer" because the province doesn't have enough specially-trained ICU nurses to staff them. "Unfortunately, the situation is going to get much worse," he said. As of Sunday morning, SickKids Hospital now has five adult patients in its ICU with COVID-19 and the hospital's president and CEO, Dr. Ronald Cohn, said he expects up to two more adults by day's end. "I'm afraid it will get a little bit worse before it will get better," Cohn said on CBC's Rosemary Barton Live program. Cohn reassured listeners that SickKids has done careful modelling and that there will be "a very minimal impact on anything related to children's health care." He said the hospital is used to treating older teenagers with respiratory issues so "from a physiological point of view it's not that huge of a difference" to care for adults. I'm afraid it will get a little bit worse before it will get better - Dr. Ronald Cohn, SickKids Hospital However, Cohn said, the children's hospital has many neighbouring hospitals. "Whenever we feel like we need help… they're just a phone call away," he said. Critically ill patients can be moved to SickKids or to hospitals in Kingston and further afield, said Warner, but, "eventually we will run out of places to move patients because we won't have enough trained staff to care for them." Warner urged the province "to get ahead of this," saying a scenario in which places like Halifax are offering elective surgery while the Greater Toronto Area is in triage "just can't happen." The re-deployment of healthcare workers is "a real reality we may have to face," Cohn said, although that is not currently a concern for SickKids. Warner's proposal is "interesting for sure," Mélanie Gauthier, president and director of the eastern region for the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses, told CBC News on Sunday morning. "One of the main things that we have to understand is critical care nurses across the country are actually trained quite differently," said Gauthier, who, herself, works as a critical care nurse clinician with the Royal Victoria Hospital at the McGill University Health Centre. "I'm not saying that it's not possible, however, there are a lot of different aspects to it that we would have to consider," she said. ICU nurses are 'overburdened' and 'exhausted,' says association president It's important to recognize the toll more than a year of pandemic critical care has wrought on ICU nurses across the country, Gauthier said. While many strategies have been implemented to support them, she said the reality is that most of the responsibility for caring for critically ill patients falls to them. "It's a lot of responsibility," Gauthier said, adding that they're feeling "overburdened" and "it has taken a toll on them." Recognition for that work is nice, she said, but many have now gone more than a year with very little time for themselves and there is some concern about an "exodus of nurses" after the pandemic. "A lot of them have actually left during the pandemic just because of the emotional toll and the physical exhaustion," she said. If there was at least one thing that could help, Gauthier said it would be for the general public to continue to respect and abide by public health guidelines. "Take it seriously," she said. "It is quite discouraging for some nurses to see large gatherings in parks, especially with nicer weather." Percentage of ICU admissions for people aged 18-39 doubled nationwide January-March In a statement released Sunday afternoon, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam urged people that a "high degree of caution must be maintained until vaccination programs are further expanded." The country is seeing an increase in the number of adults under the age of 60 requiring hospital treatment for COVID-19, Tam said. In particular, she said, the number of adults between the ages of 40 to 59 who required ICU care and mechanical ventilation in March 2021 was on the rise. People between the ages of 18 and 39 made up 15 per cent of ICU admissions that same month, Tam said, double from just 7.4 per cent two months earlier, in January. "This is a reminder that serious illness can occur at any age," she said. "Evidence indicates that variants of concern can be associated with more severe illness and increased risk of death." Nearly 25,000 cases involving variants of concern have been reported nationwide as of April 8, per her statement. The vast majority are B.1.1.7 variants, which originated in the U.K. "A combination of strong and sustained community-based public health measures and strict adherence to individual precautions is crucial in order to suppress rapid epidemic growth," Tam said. Tam urged Canadians to: Maintain the greatest possible distance with other people Wear the best-fitting mask they have Aim for the fewest interactions with people Aim to interact with the fewest number of people
In his most sharply partisan speech in months, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Liberal policy convention delegates Saturday they must redouble their efforts to secure victory at the polls to prevent the "disconnected" Conservatives from governing. In a 20-minute virtual address to thousands of party members, Trudeau said Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole "can't quite grasp" the struggles that Canadians have endured over the last year during COVID-19. He suggested the Tories would have been less generous with relief programs and unreliable pandemic stewards had they been in power. While most pandemic programs unanimously passed the House of Commons, Trudeau claimed O'Toole would have cut the Canada emergency relief benefit (CERB) — "a lifeline for millions of people during the worst economic crisis in a century." He also accused the Conservatives of thinking young people are "lazy" and argued they would have left students in the lurch during the pandemic. The Conservatives supported the CERB program but O'Toole has said he worries such payments could endanger the country's work ethic. "Canadians do not want the CERB," O'Toole said in December. "They want the ability to get their lives back and to get back to work." PM accuses Conservatives of 'flirt[ing] with disinformation' Trudeau said O'Toole and the Conservative caucus have undermined public confidence in the government's vaccine procurement efforts while sowing doubt about the public health officials charged with leading Canada through the crisis. "How disconnected do you have to be to flirt with disinformation on public health and vaccines while a deadly virus takes loved ones, friends, and neighbours?" Trudeau said. The Tories have condemned the government's immunization campaign, which got off to a rocky start due to short supplies. For weeks, Canada was among the lowest-ranked western countries in terms of vaccine deployment. Trudeau said the promised vaccine "ramp up" is starting to bear fruit, with more than 10 million shots distributed nationwide to date and many more on the way. "Erin O'Toole's Conservatives gleefully told Canadians it might be years until they got their shot. The reality is very different," he said. 'Falsehoods and division' While he said the Liberal Party has been crafting "a real plan for the real problems" of a post-pandemic Canada, Trudeau accused the Conservatives of "offering falsehoods and division." He pilloried Conservative Party delegates who voted down a resolution at their policy convention last month to acknowledge that "climate change is real." "How disconnected do you have to be to refuse to admit climate change is real, even as people's basements flood and wildfires tear through communities?" Trudeau said. He encouraged Liberal activists to reach out to Conservative family members and friends who might be disillusioned by that party's stance on environmental issues. "Phone up a friend who has a different perspective, and maybe didn't vote for us in the past. Perhaps they're feeling disenchanted. Perhaps they're feeling left behind because they know climate change is real," Trudeau said. Criticism of the Conservative convention climate vote has been a recurring theme at this Liberal get-together. During a panel discussion on climate matters Friday, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson called the vote "astonishing" and said the Tories were "abandoning" workers who will be part of a green-friendly shift. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan said Tories have failed to meaningful address climate issues and have rather "stuck their head in the sand." Liberal MP Marci Ien, a co-host of the convention, said the Conservatives "refuse to admit [climate change is] even real." Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 6, 2020. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed the Conservative Party's stance on climate change issues Saturday.(Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press) While Conservative delegates narrowly voted down the "climate change is real" resolution, the party's policy book already mentions climate change and includes some environmental policy options for a future Tory-led government. O'Toole has promised to release a plan to drive down Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. He has said he'd repeal the Liberal government's carbon tax on consumers but supports levying a tax on large industrial emitters. With many polls indicating most Canadians still don't have a clear idea of who O'Toole is and what he stands for, Trudeau sought to brand him Saturday as a political opportunist who will say and do just about anything to get elected. He said O'Toole made promises during the Conservative leadership election that he's now abandoned as he pivots to the centre to attract more moderate voters. "He's already shown that he's willing to say different things to different people at different times if he thinks it will help him get ahead," Trudeau said. O'Toole has said repeatedly he is pro-choice, but Trudeau said the Tory leader's promise to allow free votes on conscience issues like abortion makes him a half-hearted defender of women's rights. Trudeau also claimed O'Toole's more laissez-faire approach to gun control threatens public safety. "He says he wants to make communities safer. But to get the support of the gun lobby, he promised to make assault weapons legal again," Trudeau said of O'Toole. Trudeau said the Liberal Party has made progress while in government, citing the Canada child benefit, increases to pension payments for seniors and the government's commitment to the environment as policy successes. But "there's still work to do," he said. Trudeau said his government would "have people's backs" as the country copes with a third wave of the pandemic, promising to continue rent subsidies for small businesses and payments for out-of-work Canadians. Earlier Saturday, Liberal convention delegates endorsed a universal basic income policy, a "green new deal" to hasten the transition to cleaner energy sources and new national standards for the country's long-term care homes, among other progressive policy options. Trudeau made no mention of those ideas in his speech but said party members are the "heart of our Liberal movement" and they will shape the actions of his government. "On the big things that are still ahead, just like on everything we've already done, I know I can count on you to remind us that better is always possible," he said.
One person is dead and three others suffered minor injuries following a two-vehicle collision in Brampton Saturday night. Peel Regional Police say they were called to the area of Bartley Bull Parkway and Main Street, north of Steeles Avenue, just before 9:30 p.m. Police said an occupant of one of the vehicles sustained life-threatening injuries and was going to be transported to a trauma centre. However, that person died on scene, Peel police spokesperson Akhil Mooken said. A total of four people were in the two vehicles at the time of the crash. The Major Collision Bureau has taken over the investigation, police say, and there are road closures in the area as they investigate. Witnesses are asked to contact investigators if they have any information including dashcam footage of the incident.
A British Columbia man charged with second degree murder and attempted murder in a high profile homicide has been acquitted. A British Columbia Supreme Court justice ruled investigators with the province's special homicide unit disregarded Canadian law when dealing with key pieces of evidence. As Jordan Armstrong reports, now there are questions about whether other criminal cases will get their day in court.
NOOTKA, B.C. — Three people have been banned from fishing or holding a fishing licence anywhere in Canada after pleading guilty to overfishing on Vancouver Island in 2019.Nootka Sound RCMP investigated the trio in September of that year after reports the three were overfishing in the Gold River area.When police found the individuals, only one of the three had a valid fishing licence and the group had dozens of fish, including salmon, which were not properly recorded.Mounties seized the group's 30-foot fishing vessel and all equipment on board at the time, along with Chinook salmon, rock fish filets and ling cod filets.The three appeared in Provincial Court in Campbell River, B.C., this past February and pleaded guilty to violating the Fisheries Act.Greg Askey, a fishery officer and field supervisor with the Campbell River Fisheries Department Detachment, says in a statement that this was the most significant sport fish violation he's seen in more than 20 Years.This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press
AUBURN, N.S. — A Nova Scotia high school student says she's back in class after being suspended for bringing attention to someone wearing a shirt that she found offensive. In an interview Sunday, Kenzie Thornhill said she returned to West Kings District High School in Auburn, N.S., on Friday, following a conversation with the school's principal who told her the local school board had reversed its decision. The 17-year-old Grade 12 student says she was suspended last week after posting a photo online of someone wearing a shirt with lyrics on the back that mimicked the style of "Deck the Halls," with one line reading: “'tis the season to be rapey.” "Knowing people that are (sexual assault) victims, and not liking that at all, I did what pretty much any teen would do with social media and I posted it," said Thornhill. Thornhill said she had also shown the photo to a teacher and hall monitor and was told the issue would be handled. But although the photo only showed the shirt and not the student, said Thornhill, the school board suspended her for five days for violating school rules. She said they told her posting the photo on social media was a form of cyberbullying. "I was being punished for posting this photo, but the kid who did wear the shirt, however, was just told not to wear the shirt again," she said. Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education executive director Dave Jones would not discuss specific details citing privacy. In an emailed statement sent Friday, he said, "the school has revisited the decisions made in recent days related to discipline." Jones also said it was an opportunity to engage with students and to help them feel "safe and supported" and to feel they can report any incident within their school or its community. "Any language that promotes sexual violence is never acceptable or tolerated at our schools, and it was not acceptable in this instance," he said. Thornhill said she wasn't given a specific reason why her suspension was revoked and she's asked her principal to seek an apology from school board officials. "To be made public if that would be OK, but if they can't then just to me would be fine," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. The Canadian Press
Saskatchewan's Health Minister says pharmacists in the province could be administering vaccines as soon as April 19, depending on supply. "We were allocating a specific amount and we'll increase that week over week until we can get the pharmacists up to full speed," Paul Merriman told reporters on Saturday. Currently, people 55 and older in Saskatchewan can book an appointment online for a vaccine, or go to a drive-thru or walk-in clinic. That excludes Regina's drive-thru vaccination site, which is open only to people ages 52 to 54, and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, where those 50 and older can book an appointment. Merriman said the pharmacists will be administering the Moderna vaccine. However, the supply of that vaccine isn't stable right now. Merriman said due to delays in shipments outside the Saskatchewan Health Authority's control, about 30,000 appointments have had to be rebooked in the past three weeks. He said engaging pharmacists to deliver shots will help move more vaccines out. "We've been working with the Pharmacy Association [of Saskatchewan] for weeks," Merriman said. "I've been told they're doing their training right now on the vaccine process, administering the data into that and how it's going to go."
FREDERICTON — A continuing outbreak of COVID-19 in northwestern New Brunswick has prompted health officials to place much of the region under full lockdown as of midnight Sunday. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell said the move is necessary after 15 of 19 new cases announced Saturday were identified in the Edmundston-Grand Falls area. Russell also announced one new COVID-19 related death — a person in their 70s in the Edmundston area. The death was the 33rd in the province since the onset of the pandemic. "New variants of COVID-19 have changed the course of this pandemic," Russell told reporters. "We must now assume that these new variants are here with us to stay. Going forward Public Health will be assuming that all positive COVID-19 cases in New Brunswick are on of the highly infectious variants of concern." She said the new variants are placing a strain on the health care system in the Edmundston area and are starting to effect other regions of the province that are accepting patient transfers as a result. The variant found thus far has been that first identified in the U.K. known as B.1.1.7. Russell said the province is dealing with as many as 16 confirmed cases of community transmission where officials can't trace the origin of an infection to an existing confirmed case. "Community transmission prior to the U.K. variant arriving was concerning but community transmission with the U.K. variant is much more concerning," she said. Russell said Saturday's other confirmed cases include two in the Fredericton area, one in the Moncton region and one in the Saint John area. The province currently has 149 active cases. Under the lockdown, people in the Edmundston region must stay home in order to limit contacts with others in the community and all non-essential businesses must close. While Edmundston and the Upper Madawaska region go under full lockdown, Grand Falls and other nearby communities will remain in the red phase of restrictions, while Kedgwick and Saint-Quentin will continue in the yellow phase. The province also announced that it was delaying its decision to resume full-time in-person learning for all high schools in the province on Monday. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said the precaution is deemed necessary for the time being and will be revisited during the week of April 26. "We need to be quite confident that we are not going to be contributing to the problem and this gives us more time to watch the cases," said Shephard. "If we don't have more cases then we can have more confidence going back (to school)." Meanwhile, two positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at Ecole Saint-Jacques, in Saint-Jacques on Friday and officials said the Halte Scolaire Saint-Jacques — a child-care facility located within the school — would also be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Ecole Saint-Jacques is also scheduled to move to virtual learning on Monday and Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2021. By Keith Doucette in Halifax The Canadian Press
Seven people were arrested on Saturday at a demonstration in response to Ontario's police watchdog's ruling to not lay criminal charges against the officer who shot and killed Ejaz Choudry, a 62-year-old man with schizophrenia. Choudry's family and community members gathered in Mississauga around 1 p.m. outside his apartment building, at the intersection of Morning Star Drive and Goreway Drive, where he was killed while having a mental health crisis last summer. The demonstration happened days after the release of a report by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) into Choudry's death. "The SIU keeps letting the cops who do their jobs terribly off with no warning, no consequences, leaving families and communities reeling and with questions and then no answers," said Asher Hill, who was at the gathering. Ahead of the planned demonstration, Peel police in a tweet Saturday morning recognized people's right to peacefully protest. A few hours later, they tweeted that demonstrators were occupying the roadway of the intersection of Morning Star Drive and Goreway Drive. They encouraged drivers to use alternate routes. Choudry's family and community members gathered in Mississauga on Saturday around 1 p.m. outside his apartment building, at the intersection of Morning Star Drive and Goreway Drive, where he was killed while in crisis last summer. (Jessica Ng/CBC) At 4:30 p.m., protestors made it clear that they were going to move the demonstration onto the nearby train tracks, said Peel police spokesperson Akhil Mooken. In response, officers created a police safety line to prevent people from occupying the tracks. That's when some demonstrators tried to push their way through them, Mooken said. As a result, he said, seven demonstrators were arrested. As of Saturday night, charges were still pending. The demonstration was organized by the Malton People's Movement (MPM), a group that was formed in response to Choudry's death, to fight against police brutality and support families of those killed or injured by police. Advocacy group demands answers from Peel officials On Tuesday, SIU director Joseph Martino said that the Peel Regional Police officer who fired two bullets into Choudry's chest acted reasonably when he opened fire from the balcony of the man's locked apartment on June 20 of last year. Choudry's family had called a non-emergency line requesting medical assistance for him. They said he was in crisis and reportedly had a pocketknife, the SIU's report said. After an approximately three-hour encounter, Choudry was shot and killed by police after they found him wielding a large kitchen knife and shouted at him in English — a language his family has said he didn't properly understand — to drop the weapon, the report said. Ejaz Ahmed Choudry, a 62-year-old father of four with schizophrenia, was fatally shot by Peel Regional Police last June. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit says there will be no criminal charges in his death. (Submitted by Choudry family) Speaking to CBC News at the demonstration Saturday afternoon, MPM member Vijay Balasundaram said there have been too many incidents of police violence, and the group is taking to the streets until they get some kind of justice. "We have no choice," he said, pointing to other cases where the SIU has cleared police in fatal encounters involving people in crisis, such as Regis Korchinski-Paquet, D'Andre Campbell and Clive Mensah. "Enough is enough," Balasundaram said. "The community needs justice, the community needs accountability." He said rallies and protests like the one on Saturday have catalyzed instances of police reform, such as officers being made to wear body cameras while on duty and Peel police suspending a program that put uniformed officers in schools. The advocacy group is demanding that officials in Peel Region, such as Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, respond to their actions. They also want to know the name of the officer who killed Choudry, which was omitted in the SIU report. Police need more help in mental health response: officer Police spokesperson Mooken said because the SIU did not lay any charges, the officer has a reasonable right to privacy under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "As an organization, we do have to respect that," he told CBC News Saturday afternoon. Mooken said as a result of Choudry's death, Peel police started a pilot project where officers are trained with body cameras. He said they will begin using them while on duty later this month, but said they need more support in responding to people with mental health issues. "Police should not be the primary responders to a mental health crisis," he said. "We need to work to find an alternative solution to how we can support those that are suffering a mental health crisis and will continue to work with our partners and continue to advocate for them." Loss of hope in police force, SIU Sean Akan, another MPM member, says something more needs to be done when it comes to holding police accountable for their actions. "We have multiple Black men killed, we have brown men killed ... No matter what the context, everyone has the officers cleared," Akan said. "That's the most frustrating thing." He said he has lost hope in the police force and the SIU. Aruna Sharma was Choudry's neighbour for two decades and described him as being very nice and gentle. Aruna Sharma (bottom right) became visibly emotional when describing Choudry, her neighbour of two decades. She said she is angry at the SIU's decision to clear police in her friend's killing. (Jessica Ng/CBC) "He [had] some problems. It doesn't mean police can come and shoot him. And [the police officer] was not punished," she said, becoming visibly emotional in an interview with CBC News. Sharma said she is angry with the police watchdog's decision regarding the death of her friend.
IQALUIT, Nunavut — Russia wants to stretch out imaginary lines on the ocean floor — and below it — and that has one northern security expert worried about consequences for other Arctic countries like Canada. Last week, Russia filed a submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend a claim to the Arctic Ocean seabed. The UN still has to review the submission but, if it's approved, Russia would have exclusive rights to resources in the seabed and below it, but not in the water. The new submission would push Russia's claim all the way up to Canada's exclusive economic zone, an area 200 nautical miles from the coastline, in which Canadians have sole rights to fish, drill and pursue other economic activities. Philip Steinberg, a political geography professor at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom, estimates Russia's submission expands its original claim by about 705,000 square kilometres. Robert Huebert, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said Russia's request gets as close to Canada's 200-mile limit as possible. "This is a maximalist submission. You cannot claim any more," said Huebert, an Arctic security and defence analyst with the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. Countries have sovereignty over their zones but can submit scientific evidence to the UN to claim control over the soil and subsoil of the extended continental shelf. Russia's amended submission overlaps with those from Canada and Denmark, but does not extend into the north of Alaska. "In effect, they’re claiming the entire Arctic Ocean as their continental shelf in regards to where their Arctic comes up against Canada’s and Denmark's." Huebert said. The claims from Canada, Denmark (on behalf of Greenland), and Russia already overlap at the North Pole, but the amended claim goes beyond that, Huebert said. "We haven’t seen a country before that’s extended over its neighbours. Here’s a situation where they’re claiming the entire Canadian and Danish continental shelf as part of their continental shelf." Huebert noted there have been recent reports of an increased Russian military presence on the Ukrainian border over the last two weeks. "If the Russians reinvigorate the conflict with Ukraine, that is going to spill into all of this." he said. “I don’t think anyone should assume that Russia will do anything less than pursue its maximum foreign policy interests." Whitney Lackenbauer, a professor at Trent University who specializes in circumpolar affairs, disagrees. "Russia is playing by the rules. And for those of us who are concerned about Russia’s flouting of the rules-based order, I actually take a great deal of comfort in seeing Russia go through the established process in this particular case," Lackenbauer said. He believes Russia's submission signals eventual talks between the three countries to determine the limits of their continental shelves. "Setting out to negotiate where the outermost limits would be was something that was always in the cards," Lackenbauer said. "I’m not worried about Russia’s actions as an Arctic coastal state seeking to determine the outermost limits of its extended continental shelf." Nor is he concerned about potential conflict, since Russia has submitted the required scientific evidence. "You can’t sit on a continental shelf and claim squatter’s rights to it." In a statement, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said Canada "remains firmly committed to exercising in full its sovereign rights in the Arctic" according to international law. The statement also said Russia's revised outer limit "does not establish new rights for Russia over the newly created overlap areas." It said Canada is studying Russia’s revised claim on its outer limits to prepare an appropriate response. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. ___ This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship Emma Tranter, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Erin O'Toole assured Conservative supporters that he never hid who he was in his bid to secure the party leadership, telling a high-profile conference on Saturday that the "true blue" campaign he ran to secure the party helm does reflect his true colours. O'Toole fielded questions about his authenticity during an evening question-and-answer session that closed out a conference hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly the Manning Centre. He's being branded as "Liberal-lite" in some quarters, the same descriptor O'Toole once leveled at former rival and ex-parliamentarian Peter MacKay during last year's leadership race. O'Toole, who during the contest pitched himself to party members as a "real Conservative," said he finds those now making similar comments about him to be "humorous." He said he's been trying to grow the party's appeal to a wider swath of Canadians since assuming the party reins. O'Toole contended that bigger tent should include those who identify as Indigenous, working-class and LGBTQ if the party wants to ensure success in the next election. "I didn't hide who I was when I was running for leader," said O'Toole. "All of the things I ran on, I'm still running on now. I'm also, though, reaching out and trying to communicate our Conservative ideas to more people in new ways." O'Toole told conference attendees that Conservatives must fight an election on the issues of today rather than those of decades past. Those issues include his willingness to slash millions from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and modernize its mandate, as well as crack down on illegal rail blockades, positions he said help set him apart from Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The theme of Saturday's conference was "build back right," which played off Trudeau's oft-expressed wish to "build back better" when helping Canada's economy recover from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The think tank's annual convention — moved online in accordance with public health advice to avoid in-person gatherings — was billed as the largest networking event for both small-c and big-C conservatives to discuss current issues. Among them was how to expand the scope of the Conservative movement. Lilly Obina, a black woman who campaigned for different Conservative candidates and ran for a nomination in 2015, said one reason the party doesn't resonate with the black community is its messaging around cuts, which needs to be better explained. The senior project executive with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada told a panel that economics are important to the black community, who she said can feel targeted when the party talks about reducing the size of government. "We need to be able to empathize with what goes (on) in the black community," she said. "For example, when they say we are experiencing systemic racism, let's recognize that, let's be empathetic. You might not have solutions to everything, but at least just acknowledge that the problem exists." Tenzin Khangsar, who did cultural outreach for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney when he served as Immigration Minister under former prime minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government, said the party has had previous success with reaching newcomers despite the present-day challenges. The former candidate pointed to how a large number of their votes were captured under former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Harper, the latter of whom was aided by Kenney's efforts to build relationships with immigrant communities. "He was dubbed the minister of curry in a hurry for a reason," said Khangsar, citing how he would attend upwards of 15 community events in a weekend. "No one likes when it you're approached just during an election, that's very transactional." He suggested forging personal relationships is an important way to sway votes among new immigrants and ethnic-Canadians,, even more so than with non-ethnic residents. "Our playbook was very simple: We were very confident that most new Canadians were small-c conservatives. We just had to make them big-C Conservatives," Khangsar said. "And I would even add that applies to most Canadians." Harper was among those who appeared at Saturday's conference in a pre-taped panel discussion with former British prime minister David Cameron. Moderated by Senator Linda From, the centre's president said their talk couldn't be publicized beyond the conference because of a contract with the former leaders. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2021. Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version identified one delegate as Tenzin Khangdsar. His name is, in fact, Tenzin Khangsar.
TORONTO — Efforts to expand Ontario's vaccine rollout to adults of all ages in certain long-standing hot spots drew massive lineups at one pop-up clinic on Saturday as those otherwise excluded from the province's immunization drive rushed to get their shots. Hundreds lined up for hours in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood, some with lawn chairs in tow, eager to get their first dose of vaccines that are still generally reserved for Ontarians of certain ages or occupations. Ema Golich waited roughly four hours before getting her shot, but that didn't soften her anticipation for a moment she'd been thinking about for months.“I feel good, I feel excited," said the 22-year-old student as she neared the front of the line."We've been in the pandemic for a year and it finally feels like it’s on its way out. This is one step toward going back to regular life."Fozia Chaudhary brought her daughter, who's still too young to get the vaccine, to the clinic because her husband had to work. She said timing was of the essence for her neighbourhood, which has been deemed a COVID-19 hot spot by health authorities.“This is a crowded area and I heard there’s so many people catching the virus," she said."So I decided if we have this opportunity to get the vaccine, why not? Why not get it today?”The clinic at Thorncliffe Park is an example of an approach the province is hoping to implement in several other hard-hit neighbourhoods.Ontario announced the plan this week, saying it will be sending mobile teams into postal codes where the virus is prevalent, offering shots to residents aged 18 and older in congregate settings, residential buildings, faith-based centres and large workplaces. The areas will be selected based on patterns of transmission, illness and death from COVID-19.Officials have said the plan will take some time to fully launch, but experts say the approach is a good one that will help blunt the impact of the third wave that's sending younger people to the hospital, many of them workers in essential jobs like manufacturing."I think this intervention is one of the best things that we can do right now to change the trajectory," said Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious disease physician at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ont."It's not going to get us out of the third wave, but it's going to be something that can hopefully blunt some of the severity of it. At the same time, once we start to come out of it, it's going to be a robust protection in the coming months."Chakrabarti said lowering the eligible age range to 18 in hot spots is "vital" to breaking chains of transmission in neighbourhoods where workers often bring the virus home to their families, a pattern he says is especially pronounced during the third wave. It's likely that some people living outside the selected postal codes might try to "game the system" to receive a shot, Chakrabarti said, but there are mechanisms like asking for proof of address that would minimize some of that activity. Attendees at the Thorncliffe Park clinic were being asked to present their provincial health cards as proof of postal code. Even if some higher-income people become eligible through living within the postal code, the approach is still a good way to reach those most at risk, Chakrabarti said."Don't let perfect get in the way of good," he said. He also noted that it's the right move to make now, following the province's initial approach that prioritized long-term care residents, health-care workers and the oldest seniors — which he said has protected the vulnerable and kept health-care workers on the job."I think that was the right first step to do regardless of what's happening now," he said.Dr. Naheed Dosani, a palliative care physician and health justice advocate, said Friday that he also welcomed the shift to an "exposure-based approach" in vaccinations, calling it a good step to help protect workers as virus variants are sickening young people more severely. "We know that communities where essential workers are living, and particularly where racialized people in low income people live, these are the hardest-hit areas and these areas need to get prioritized for vaccination," he said."A postal code system is not perfect, in the sense that there is gentrification in almost every region that exists, but it's a framework for us to ensure we're targeting those who are hardest hit by COVID-19."It's not the only thing that should be done to protect workers, Dosani noted, pointing to other measures like paid sick leave, paid time off to get vaccinated and formal plans to bring shots directly to workplaces would further help those at risk of infection on the job. He also said a mobile approach would benefit homebound people who can't get to clinics, and involving family doctors more fully in the vaccine rollout plan would help improve access within hard-hit communities."Every step we can take to address health disparities in implementation of COVID-19 vaccine access will help a lot," Dosani said.A spokesman with the Islamic Society of Toronto, which helped organize the vaccine clinic in Thorncliffe Park, said a similar pop-up site Friday saw people line up hours before the first 200 doses were administered at Masjid Darussalam Thorncliffe Mosque."We have tents outside and with the infection rate so high here lots of people really want the vaccine," said Ilyas Mulla."It's good to have easy access and help the local community."This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2021. — with files from Liam Casey Denise Paglinawan and Holly McKenzie-Sutter, The Canadian Press
Maxine Koskie says when she heard she wouldn't be getting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as planned, she broke down and cried. The Regina resident is waiting for surgery and required a vaccine for the procedure — one she's been waiting for since last October. She made an appointment online for vaccinations for her and her husband at the Evraz Place immunization site in Regina, which, based on previous Saskatchewan Health Authority information, she believed was offering the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. But just before she was set to receive the shot, the nurse informed Koskie she and her husband would be getting the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine instead. "It was a complete surprise to both of us," she said. "They're acting more like a dictatorship, because they're taking away the freedom of choice," she said. "I made the conscious choice to go for a Pfizer vaccine and that was not an option for me." Koskie says she ended up receiving the shot out of necessity, but the experience left her feeling let down by the government. 'It's been very underhanded' Premier Scott Moe and Health Minister Paul Merriman need to be transparent with the people of Saskatchewan, she says. "My concern is that it's been very underhanded," she said, adding the experience left her feeling appalled. "I was so upset with the disrespect." The Saskatchewan Health Authority announced "vaccine delivery changes" in an online notice on Friday. "The SHA has re-allocated the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the Regina mass immunization sites at the International Trade Centre and the University of Regina to allow for the administration of Pfizer vaccines through the drive-thru starting Friday, while vaccine supply is available," the health authority said online. One of the province's first mass vaccination clinics at the International Trade Centre at Regina's Evraz Place. One Regina resident is fuming after only discovering at her appointment that she wasn't getting the brand of vaccine she expected.(Matt Duguid/CBC) Koskie thinks patients should be notified directly about any changes to their appointment or vaccine plan before they arrive for their appointments. She says she wasn't alone in her anger and frustration, as others around them also expressed concern when they were informed of the change. "They need to be honest and when they change things on the spur of the moment, they need to get that information out to the public that it is going to affect." Efficacy concerns She said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was her shot of choice because she feels it provides better protection. AstraZeneca has said its vaccine had a 76 per cent efficacy rate at preventing symptomatic illness — compared with rates of about 95 per cent for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and about 67 per cent for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which was the fourth and latest approved by Health Canada. As well, data from one small trial suggested the AstraZeneca vaccine did not protect against mild to moderate illness from the B1351 variant of the coronavirus, which was first identified in South Africa. However, Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada's chief medical adviser, told CBC in a February interview that "Where it matters the most, against severe disease, hospitalization and death … [AstraZeneca] seems to be quite effective against the variant." Sharma also said laboratory tests and real-world evidence suggest the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine seems to be "quite effective" against the B117 variant, which was first identified in the United Kingdom. The clinical trials of both Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech were completed before the variants of concern took off worldwide. 'Safe and effective': health ministry In a statement sent to CBC, Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health said vaccine availability is dependent on numerous factors, including the increasing presence of coronavirus variants of concern in the Regina area. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization guidelines suggest the AstraZeneca vaccine should be used only for people older than 55. But the presence and transmission of variants of concern in Regina has required the province to "accelerate the vaccination program" for those under 55, the health ministry said. "All vaccines approved by Health Canada are safe and effective at preventing the most serious forms of COVID-19 illness and death. All residents have been asked to take the vaccine that is available to them," the ministry said. "If those receiving the vaccine have concerns regarding a certain brand of vaccine due to their medical history, they should speak to their primary care physician or a public health nurse directly prior to their appointment." The ministry also said patients are informed about the brand of vaccine they will receive, noting they are free to refuse the vaccine if they have concerns. However, Koskie says she thinks the government is "not accepting responsibility or ownership" for the fact people may be caught off guard when they're told they'll be receiving a different vaccine once they're at an appointment. "They're in a position where they have no choice," she said. She's already made a call to the ministry on the issue, and now plans to file a formal written complaint. 'Any vaccine is a good vaccine': health minister Health Minister Paul Merriman addressed questions about vaccines on Saturday, following a rare weekend sitting of the legislature. He said a "very minimal" number of people out of the thousands who have booked appointments at Evraz Place have refused a vaccine because they didn't want to take a specific brand. "Any vaccine is a good vaccine, unless there are very certain circumstances where a doctor or a health-care provider has recommended you don't do that," he said, noting people can rebook later if they're concerned about the type of vaccine offered to them. He says the province is not in a position to "pick and choose" when it comes to vaccines, and pointed out Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab has already received the AstraZeneca shot. Merriman said the province will work to accommodate people who are unable to get a certain vaccine due to medical conditions outlined by a doctor, encouraging them to call into the province's vaccine line at 1-833-727-5829 beforehand. But he said there are no plans moving forward for the government to inform members of the public about which vaccines will become available to them, as supply fluctuates. "There will be, to my knowledge, no advance warning of what you are getting," he said. "People assume that they're getting one vaccine or not, but any vaccine is a good vaccine right now."
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea. Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defence Delfin Lorenzana while Austin was flying from Washington to Israel to begin an international trip. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Austin and Lorenzana discussed the situation in the South China Sea and the recent massing of Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef, which has drawn criticism from Manila. China has said its vessels are there for fishing. In their phone call, Austin proposed to Lorenzana several measures to deepen defenceco-operation, including by “enhancing situational awareness of threats in the South China Sea,” Kirby said. He did not elaborate. Kirby said earlier this week that the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group, as well as the amphibious ship USS Makin Island, are operating in the South China Sea. The U.S. has no military forces based permanently in the Philippines but sometimes rotates forces to the country under the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement. The recent gathering of Chinese vessels near the Philippines is among moves the United States has criticized as efforts by Beijing to intimidate smaller nations in the region. Robert Burns, The Associated Press
OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau is winding up a three-day Liberal convention with a partisan speech that reads like the launch of an election campaign. The prime minister has insisted he has no interest in calling an election in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. But his closing speech to the convention is all about positioning his party as the only one with "real solutions to real problems" while portraying the Conservatives as disconnected and the Bloc Quebecois as a party that is all talk and no action. He avoids any direct mention of the NDP and Greens altogether. Trudeau urges Liberal rank and file to reach out to a neighbour who planted a blue, orange or green sign on their lawns during the 2019 campaign, tell them about the Liberal plan for surviving the pandemic and reviving the economy and listen to what more they think needs to be done. Trudeau's Liberals hold only a minority of seats in the House of Commons so they could be defeated or choose to trigger an election at any time. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 10, 2021. Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
(ANNews) – Two First Nations located in Southern Alberta — the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Stoney Nakoda Nation —have taken the provincial government to court following Alberta's entry into the casino and gaming industry. During the pandemic, Alberta created a provincially-run online gaming site known as, “Play Alberta.” This website allows adult Albertans to play virtual slots and table-style games on their devices. It launched in October and is currently the only regulated online gaming site in the province. Tsuut’ina and Stoney Nakoda believe that the gaming website is an overstep of authority for the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulator (AGLC) and the provincial government. The application for judicial review has alleged that the AGLC exceeded their authority by becoming an operator and vendor of casino and gaming activities. The First Nations believe that because the AGLC is operating the website, it contravenes the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act as an arbitrary use of power and as a direct conflict of interest for the regulator. The application also says that the AGLC either issued itself a casino licence to operate PlayAlberta.ca — which would violate regulations under the Act — or is illegally operating a casino without a licence. Tsuut’ina Nation councillor and CEO of Tsuu t’ina Nation Gaming, Brent Dodginghorse said, “We’ve had excellent relationships and operating partnerships with previous governments, and all levels of AGLC. “The decision by this government now to break that understanding and begin a business competing against private companies has significantly damaged that relationship in many ways. They have said ‘thank you for helping establish the gaming sector in Alberta, but we’ll take it over from here.” Meanwhile, the AGLC said that they created an advisory committee made up of unnamed representatives from Alberta’s gaming industry “to support the relationship with existing venues.” This was done to make sure the website’s earnings complemented land-based venues. However, due to the current pandemic restrictions, all casinos are closed for business. Meaning the AGLC and the Alberta government have essentially created a situation where they are the only gaming provider in the province. Which can otherwise be understood as a government-backed monopoly. “The province has closed casinos for a prolonged period of time, which also ensures that they are the only option available for those who want to play casino games,” said Dodginghorse. “We have taken the business risk of building and operating a casino and agreed to share revenue with the province. It is in bad faith for the province to do anything with online revenue other than allocate to existing casinos.” Play Alberta’s expected earnings for the 2021 fiscal year is $3.74 million. Tsuut’t’ina Chief, Roy Whitney, said, “Together we have tried to raise our concerns with the provincial government. Unfortunately, those concerns have been ignored as our casinos remain closed during this pandemic. “This action is important to all Albertans that rely upon charity dollars through casino revenues. By entering online gaming, this government is taking away charity dollars — dollars that charities rely on. For us, these charity dollars are used to support our health, education, housing and social programs.” What Chief Whitney is referring to is the First Nation Development Fund. Essentially, funds made by the five First Nation owned-and-operated casinos in Alberta are distributed to each and every First Nation in the province — there are 48. These funds are used to operate the Nations. So, what happens when the casinos remain close and the government help money runs out? The conspiratorial minority in me says that the province is probably trying to force Nations to sell off land in order to survive since a large portion of funding hasn’t/isn’t coming in. Meanwhile, the city-living academic in me says that the UCP provincial government is just greedy and taking advantage of a “found” opportunity. But probably both are true. Jacob Cardinal is an LJI reporter for Alberta Native News. Jacob Cardinal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Alberta Native News
The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday April 10, 2021. There are 1,052,539 confirmed cases in Canada. Canada: 1,052,539 confirmed cases (70,619 active, 958,633 resolved, 23,287 deaths).*The total case count includes 13 confirmed cases among repatriated travellers. There were 7,262 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 185.81 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 50,881 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 7,269. There were 38 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 237 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 34. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 61.27 per 100,000 people. There have been 28,875,724 tests completed. Newfoundland and Labrador: 1,029 confirmed cases (14 active, 1,009 resolved, six deaths). There were four new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 2.68 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of nine new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is one. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 1.15 per 100,000 people. There have been 226,346 tests completed. Prince Edward Island: 162 confirmed cases (six active, 156 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 3.76 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of two new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 130,175 tests completed. Nova Scotia: 1,764 confirmed cases (43 active, 1,655 resolved, 66 deaths). There were eight new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 4.39 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 32 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is five. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 6.74 per 100,000 people. There have been 446,506 tests completed. New Brunswick: 1,713 confirmed cases (149 active, 1,531 resolved, 33 deaths). There were 19 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 19.07 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 72 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 10. There was one new reported death Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of three new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is zero. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.05 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 4.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 274,425 tests completed. Quebec: 324,848 confirmed cases (12,371 active, 301,740 resolved, 10,737 deaths). There were 1,754 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 144.28 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 9,890 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,413. There were 13 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 53 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is eight. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 125.22 per 100,000 people. There have been 7,494,471 tests completed. Ontario: 382,152 confirmed cases (30,999 active, 343,622 resolved, 7,531 deaths). There were 3,813 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 210.39 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 23,594 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 3,371. There were 19 new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 103 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is 15. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.1 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 51.11 per 100,000 people. There have been 12,879,408 tests completed. Manitoba: 35,104 confirmed cases (1,259 active, 32,896 resolved, 949 deaths). There were 135 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 91.28 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 752 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 107. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 11 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.11 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 68.8 per 100,000 people. There have been 608,766 tests completed. Saskatchewan: 35,983 confirmed cases (2,381 active, 33,149 resolved, 453 deaths). There were 236 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 202.01 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 1,660 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 237. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 17 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is two. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.21 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 38.43 per 100,000 people. There have been 696,057 tests completed. Alberta: 159,719 confirmed cases (13,687 active, 144,020 resolved, 2,012 deaths). There were 1,293 new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 309.53 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 8,360 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 1,194. There were five new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 18 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is three. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.06 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 45.5 per 100,000 people. There have been 3,809,874 tests completed. British Columbia: 109,540 confirmed cases (9,709 active, 98,336 resolved, 1,495 deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 188.61 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of 6,509 new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 930. There were zero new reported deaths Saturday. Over the past seven days there have been a total of 32 new reported deaths. The seven-day rolling average of new reported deaths is five. The seven-day rolling average of the death rate is 0.09 per 100,000 people. The overall death rate is 29.04 per 100,000 people. There have been 2,274,469 tests completed. Yukon: 74 confirmed cases (zero active, 73 resolved, one deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of zero new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 2.38 per 100,000 people. There have been 8,647 tests completed. Northwest Territories: 43 confirmed cases (one active, 42 resolved, zero deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. The rate of active cases is 2.21 per 100,000 people. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of one new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is zero per 100,000 people. There have been 16,498 tests completed. Nunavut: 395 confirmed cases (zero active, 391 resolved, four deaths). There were zero new cases Saturday. Over the past seven days, there have been a total of zero new cases. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is zero. There have been no deaths reported over the past week. The overall death rate is 10.16 per 100,000 people. There have been 10,006 tests completed. This report was automatically generated by The Canadian Press Digital Data Desk and was first published April 10, 2021. The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER — Grizzly bears seem to favour gently sloping or flat trails like those commonly used by people, which can affect land management practices in wild areas, says an expert who has written a paper on their travel patterns. One of the reasons people encounter bears while hiking could be because they prefer the same routes as humans, said Gordon Stenhouse, a researcher at the Alberta-based Foothills Research Institute. The study recently published in the Journal of Experimental Biology could be used by resource-based industries in areas like forestry, oil and gas exploration, especially in Alberta, he said in an interview. "Grizzly bears alter their movement patterns and habitat use in response to a wide range of environmental cues, including seasonal food resources, human recreation — such as hiking, camping, hunting — livestock grazing and road use," the study says. The study was led by Anthony Carnahan, a doctoral candidate at Washington State University. Stenhouse said the study can help understand what areas bears use, how fast they move, how best to conserve those places and avoid conflict with the animals. "Bears will make decisions on lots of factors and certainly, you know, the information shows that bears look for easy routes of travel, just like people do," he said. Changes to the landscape caused by humans raises questions about how bears are affected, he said. "For example, when we harvest the forests and bears walk through there, do they burn a lot more energy or less, or how do they travel?" To study the slopes favoured by bears and the energy expended, scientists at Washington State University’s Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center trained nine captive animals to walk on a treadmill at varying inclinations. The bears ranged in age from two to 15 years and weighed between 91 and 265 kilograms. Researchers measured the bears’ oxygen levels and counted the calories they consumed while walking on the treadmill for about six minutes. The preferred speed was about four kilometres per hour with a 10 per cent incline up or down. However, bears in the Yellowstone National Park fitted with GPS collars ambled at a comfortable rate of about two km/h. Stenhouse said changes in a bear's gait are related to how they forage for food. "Grizzly bears sleep from about midday till five in the morning and they wake up. Then they start moving and as they're moving, they're searching the environment, seeing what food they can find," he said. "They might find a patch of berries or some roots to dig up, and then they keep moving around their home range. Basically, they're feeding as they walk." They might have a burst of energy when they hunt a deer but there are not many of those moments, he added. The data helps understand the movement of grizzly bears, their use of landscape, the energy expended, and the nutrition they need, which is ultimately important for the long-term conservation of the species, he said. "It's probably not your normal thing to be putting a grizzly bear on a treadmill," Stenhouse said. "Some people might laugh and think it's funny, but the overall goal is to allow better management practices and ensure conservation." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2021. Hina Alam, The Canadian Press
When Al Stinson learned concrete bison heads from Calgary's Centre Street Bridge were up for auction, he figured prospective buyers might want to know a bit more about the heads' provenance. They weren't sculpted by James L. Thompson, a stonemason who crafted the original heads when the bridge was first built in 1916. And, he thought buyers might want to know that the heads likely weigh hundreds of pounds less than auctioneer's estimations — "I thought, well, if somebody is contemplating bidding on them, you know, [an estimated one-tonne weight is] a little bit of a deterrent," Stinson said. Stinson would know; he made them. Before the Calgary landmark was restored in 1983, Stinson — who had studied for a few years at what was then Calgary's Alberta College of Art and Design before teaching figure sculpture in England — was hired to recast the crumbling heads. "The guy who hired me asked me what I charge, and I was pretty naive and I said $2,000 ($4,600 in 2020). So that was eight of them, so like $250 a-piece," he said. Stinson said he would sit outside of the bison paddock at the Calgary Zoo, snapping photos of the bull bison while working on a small clay maquette to take back to his studio. "He was quite cooperative, hanging about as I fed him grass through the fence," he said. Using that small figure, he made a life-sized clay model before casting the heads using rubber molds and a type of polymer concrete. The inside was styrofoam core, to help reduce the weight, with pieces of rebar to help with installation. All-in-all, it was about four months of full-time work. When the bridge restoration was unveiled, there was no big fanfare for Stinson's work, which he said was fine by him. "My oldest daughter … I just remember carrying her down to see when they were installed," he said. "I've enjoyed being kind of anonymous." Stinson's sculptures remained on the bridge until 1999 when they were replaced with new recreations. But a piece of his work remains — he had added arcs, to the concrete panel behind his heads, to accommodate the bisons' humps. That change survived the restoration. Correcting the record Looking back at articles from the time, Stinson's preference to keep a low profile is apparent. In Feb. 5, 1983, the Calgary Herald published an article about how the aging bridge and bison heads required serious repair. It states the original sculptor's identity was "lost over time" but that a new, unnamed sculptor, would be patching up the old heads, not completely remaking them. The front page of the Herald on Aug. 17, 1983, features the installation of the eight new bison heads — with credit to the engineering team of Roy Lappin, Terrence Smith and Kevin Donohue mounting the art — but no mention of the new artist. And an Oct. 7 article from the same year describes the $50,000 bridge repair project but credits all of the sculptures to James L. Thompson's original work — next to an uncaptioned photo of one of Stinson's new bison heads. Proceeds from the auction of Al Stinson's bison sculptures will go toward Heritage Calgary's plaque program, which recognizes historic properties in the city.(Submitted by Levis Online Auctions) A letter to the editor, appearing on page A6 a few weeks later, notes that the paper neglected to credit Stinson as the sculptor. "Let's give some recognition to Al — and artists like him — whose contributions are as important as those by the engineers and city planners in making our concrete cities attractive and pleasing," wrote Leslie Robinson in the 1983 letter. Stinson said he kept copies of those articles. "I never contacted them at that time to straighten up their facts," he said with a laugh. But now, decades later, he's correcting the record. CBC has updated its first story on the bison head auction to credit Stinson as the artist. The 70-year-old is still sculpting and has recently taken up painting. The bison heads aren't the only pieces of his public work Calgarians might recognize. He has six installations at the Calgary airport in front of the ticket counters of cyclists, mountain climbers Georgia Englehard and Edward Feuz in 1932, a canoer, snowboarder and tobogganers. In the international departure zone, you'll find his depiction of children flying kites — based on his daughter, her friend and kitten. While much of his work depicts people, he said bison were a wonderful subject — "they run with such relentless rolling energy, like an avalanche." It remains to be seen where Stinson's bison will end up. Private appointments can be booked through Levis Online Auctions to view the Centre Street bison at an undisclosed city location. Bids can be made online, with the auction set to close on April 18.
Police on Vancouver Island and the BC Coroners Service are investigating the death of a six-year-old child at a motel in Duncan Friday night. RCMP say officers and first responders were called to the motel for a report of an unresponsive child shortly after 9 p.m. PT The child was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Police say the North Cowichan Duncan General Investigation Section is leading the investigation, with support from the Forensic Identification Section and front-line officers. 'It's heartbreaking' The BC Coroners Service is also conducting a separate investigation, RCMP said. On Saturday, officers could be seen collecting evidence at the Falcon Nest Motel. The motel's manager, Valma Sampson, said a family had been in the suite. "It's heartbreaking," Sampson said, adding that she herself has a five-year-old. "It's a sad situation." RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said victim services have been supporting the family.
