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  • Who have provinces pegged to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks?

    As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have released details of who can expect to receive a shot in the coming weeks. Here's a list of their plans to date: Newfoundland and Labrador The province says it is in Phase 1 of its vaccine rollout. Health-care workers on the front lines of the pandemic, staff at long-term care homes, people of "advanced age" and adults in remote or isolated Indigenous communities have priority. Chief medical health officer Dr. Janice Fitzgerald has said Phase 2 will begin in April if vaccine supply remains steady. The second phase prioritizes adults over 60 years old, beginning with those over 80, as well as Indigenous adults, first responders, rotational workers and adults in marginalized populations, such as those experiencing homelessness. Adults between 16 and 59 years old will be vaccinated in the third phase of the rollout, and Fitzgerald has said she expects that to begin this summer. --- Nova Scotia Health officials began expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines on Feb. 22, opening community clinics for people aged 80 years and older. Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, has said the province's plan is to open another 10 clinics in March for 48,000 people who will be mailed a letter informing them how to book an appointment. Strang said the vaccination program will then expand to the next age group in descending order until everyone in the province is offered the chance to be immunized. The age groups will proceed in five-year blocks. Future community clinics are to be held March 8 in Halifax, New Minas, Sydney and Truro; March 15 in Antigonish, Halifax and Yarmouth; and March 22 in Amherst, Bridgewater and Dartmouth. The province began its vaccination campaign with residents of long-term care homes, those who work directly with patients, those who are 80 and older, and those who are at risk for other reasons including First Nations and African Nova Scotian communities. Nova Scotia plans to have vaccine available to at least 75 per cent of the population by the end of September 2021. --- Prince Edward Island The province says the first phase of its vaccination drive, currently slated to last until the end of March, targets residents and staff of long-term and community care, as well as health-care workers with direct patient contact at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure. Those 80 and older, adults in Indigenous communities, and truck drivers and other rotational workers are also included. The next phase, which is scheduled to begin in April, will target those above 70 and essential workers. The province intends to make the vaccine available to everyone in late summer and fall. --- New Brunswick The province is also focusing on vaccinating those living in long-term care homes, health-care workers with direct patient contact, adults in First Nations communities and older New Brunswickers in the first phase, which lasts until at least March. The next phase is scheduled to begin in the spring and includes residents and staff of communal settings, other health-care workers including pharmacists, first responders and critical infrastructure employees. The government website says once the vaccine supply is continuous and in large enough quantities, the entire population will be offered the shots. --- Quebec Quebec started vaccinating older seniors on Monday, after a first phase that focused largely on health-care workers, remote communities and long-term care. In Montreal, mass vaccine sites including the Olympic Stadium opened their doors to the public as the province began inoculating seniors who live in the hard-hit city. The government announced last week it would begin booking appointments for those aged 85 and up across the province, but that age limit has since dropped to 70 in some regions, including Montreal. The province says the vaccination of children and pregnant women will be determined based on future studies of vaccine safety and efficacy in those populations. --- Ontario The province began vaccinating people with the highest priority, including those in long-term care, high-risk retirement home residents, certain classes of health-care workers and people who live in congregate care settings. On Monday, several regions in Ontario moved ahead with their plans to vaccinate the general public, while others used their own systems to allow residents aged 80 and older to schedule appointments. The provincial government has said it aims to begin vaccinating Ontarians aged 80 and older starting the week of March 15, the same day it plans to launch its vaccine booking system, which will offer a service desk and online portal. It has said the vaccine rollout will look different in each of its 34 public health units. When asked about the lack of provincewide cohesion, Health Minister Christine Elliott said that public health units know their regions best and that's why they have been given responsibility to set the pace locally. --- Manitoba Manitoba is starting to vaccinate people in the general population. Appointments are now available for most people aged 94 and up, or 74 and up for First Nations people. Until now, vaccines have been directed to certain groups such as health-care workers and people in personal care homes. Health officials plan to reduce the age minimum, bit by bit, over the coming months. Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of the province's vaccine task force, has said inoculations could be open to all adults in the province by August if supplies are steady. --- Saskatchewan The province is still in the first phase of its vaccination rollout, which reserves doses for long-term care residents and staff, health-care workers at elevated risk of COVID-19 exposure, seniors over the age of 70 and anyone 50 or older living in a remote area. In all, nearly 400,000 doses are required to finish this stage. The next phase will be focused on vaccinating the general population by age. It hopes to begin its mass vaccination campaign by April, but there if there isn’t enough supply that could be pushed back to June. Saskatchewan will begin immunizing the general population in 10-year increments, starting with those 60 to 69. Also included in this age group will be people living in emergency shelters, individuals with intellectual disabilities in care homes and people who are medically vulnerable. Police, corrections staff and teachers are among the front-line workers not prioritized for early access to shots. The government says supply is scarce. --- Alberta Alberta is now offering vaccines to anyone born in 1946 or earlier, a group representing some 230,000 people. Appointments are being offered through an online portal and the 811 Health Link phone line. Shots are also being offered to this cohort at more than 100 pharmacies in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton starting in early March and the government has said there are also plans to include doctors’ offices. Health Minister Tyler Shandro has said all eligible seniors should have their first shots by the end of March. But he said Monday that the province will not give Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to anyone over the age of 65 after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization expressed concerned there is limited data on how well it will work in older populations. The first phase of the vaccine rollout also included anyone over 65 who lives in a First Nations or Metis community, various front-line health care workers, paramedics and emergency medical responders. Phase 2 of the rollout, to begin in April, is to start with those 65 and up, Indigenous people older than 50 and staff and residents of licensed supportive living seniors’ facilities not previously included. --- British Columbia British Columbia will extend the time between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines to four months so all adults could get their initial shot by the end of July. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says evidence from the province and around the world shows protection of at least 90 per cent from the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The province launched the second phase of its immunization campaign Monday and health authorities will begin contacting residents and staff of independent living centres, those living in seniors' supportive housing as well as homecare support clients and staff. Seniors aged 90 and up can call to make their appointment starting next Monday, followed a week later by those aged 85 and over, and a week after that by those 80 and up. Henry also says first responders and essential workers may be eligible to get vaccinated starting in April as the province also decides on a strategy for the newly authorized AstraZeneca vaccine. --- Nunavut The territory says it expects enough vaccines for 75 per cent of its population over the age of 18. After a COVID-19 vaccine is administered, patients will be tracked to ensure they are properly notified to receive their second dose. Nunavut's priority populations are being vaccinated first. They include residents of shelters, people ages 60 years and up, staff and inmates and correctional facilities, first responders and front-line health-care staff. --- Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories its priority groups — such as people over 60, front-line health workers and those living in remote communities — are being vaccinated The territory says it expects to vaccine the rest of its adult population starting this month. --- Yukon Yukon says it will receive enough vaccine to immunize 75 per cent of its adult population by the end of March. Priority for vaccinations has been given to residents and staff in long-term care homes, group homes and shelters, as well as health-care workers and personal support workers. People over the age of 80 who are not living in long-term care, and those living in rural and remote communities, including Indigenous Peoples, are also on the priority list for shots. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 2, 2021. The Canadian Press

  • Senate to debate COVID-19 bill this week after Democrats retreat on minimum wage

    The U.S. Senate will start debating President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday after Democrats backed down from an effort to raise the minimum wage to $15 as part of it. The backpedaling did not end hopes of addressing the minimum wage issue in Congress. Democrats and some Republicans have voiced support for the idea of raising the federal minimum wage, now at $7.25 an hour, for the first time since 2009, although they disagree on how much.

  • Un don de 10 000 $ pour la maison de répit Le Camélia

    La maison de répit Le Camélia est l’un des 12 récipiendaires canadiens d’une bourse de 10 000 $ offerte par la compagnie d’assurances Canada Vie. La Maison Le Camélia offre depuis huit ans un service de garde en milieu familial à une douzaine de personnes en perte d’autonomie ou vivant avec une déficience intellectuelle. Le don offert par Canada Vie dans le cadre de son programme Coup de pouce aux entreprises tombe à point nommé pour le Camélia de Trois-Rivières qui souffre d’un sous-financement chronique. Lucie Duval, propriétaire et directrice du Camélia, pousse un soupir de soulagement. Elle qui ne reçoit pas un centime du gouvernement, rien de Québec, ni du CIUSSS-MCQ, même en ces temps de pandémie. Et ça, elle ne l’encaisse pas. « J’ai parti une résidence pour ma fille et d’autres parents qui ne veulent pas placer leurs enfants dans le système de santé actuel. L’Agence de Santé me refuse d’être accréditée comme famille d’accueil. On a levé le nez sur moi à plusieurs reprises. Je l’ai partie sans aucune subvention de personne. C’est vraiment grave. J’ai des parents médecins qui m’ont confié leurs enfants, les intervenants sur le plancher du CIUSSS me réfèrent, mais la direction générale ne veut pas m’aider. Je leur ai dit que si je n’avais pas d’aide que j’allais fermer. Heureusement que Mme Grégoire (de Canada Vie) a cru en mon projet et a été sensible à ma cause. Ce n’est pas juste le coup de pouce, mais de savoir qu’il y a des gens qui croient en toi, à ton projet. Ça aussi on en a besoin », confie Lucie Duval. Le Camélia tourne tant bien que mal à pleine capacité et la maison refuse souvent des clients. Des parents de partout au Québec l’appellent à la recherche d’un endroit où placer leurs enfants. « Ce sont des gens épanouis, heureux. J’ai des employés en or. Sans eux je n’arriverais pas à tenir.» Lucie Duval n’a le temps de s’apitoyer sur son sort. Elle doit faire face aux urgences. Elle compte investir les 10 000 $ reçus dans la réfection de la toiture du Camélia et dans la création d’un site Web. Elle cherche à mieux faire connaître ses services, mais aussi, à mieux accompagner les parents qui ne savent plus où donner de la tête. «Je reçois régulièrement des demandes de coaching, de référencement. Souvent les parents sont laissés à eux-mêmes. J’ai des gens qui me contactent qui veulent ouvrir d’autres maisons comme la mienne. » La maison de répit Le Camélia a été nommée en l’honneur de la fille de Mme Duval, Camélia, qui vit avec une déficience intellectuelle associée à une épilepsie sévère. Camélia est née en France dans une maison bordée d’une haie de camélias. Elle est aujourd’hui âgée 25 ans. Quand on lui parle de campagne de collecte de fonds, Mme Duval affirme ne pas avoir le temps ni l’énergie de l’organiser, malgré les besoins. Le programme Coup de pouce aux entreprises de Canada Vie a été lancé en octobre dernier pour venir en aide aux petites entreprises qui n’ont jamais affronté autant d’adversité en cette période de pandémie. Boris Chassagne, Initiative de journalisme local, La Voix du Sud

  • How youth are planting seeds for food security in Durham

    Trystan Lackner first got interested in urban food security way back in his senior year of high school after a supportive vice-principal helped him build a community garden in barren soil where portable classrooms had been removed. It ended up producing around eight or 10 grocery bags full of lettuce, potatoes, carrots and other produce that they donated to local volunteer group Feed The Need Durham. But it only lasted the year that Lackner and classmates he had brought along were there to sustain it. “It was a seed,” says Lackner, explaining he didn't have the experience or knowledge at the time to carry it forward. “The community garden was there, and then it wasn't, and there wasn't any communication of those ideas.” Fast-forward a few years and a degree in international development later, and Lackner is looking to make a more lasting impact. After six months of preparation, Lackner and colleagues hosted an online summit called "Does Your Meal Plan Cover Climate Change?" last month as part of Youth Challenge International’s Innovate MY Future program. “Our whole idea was to develop an educational summit for young people to become more aware, get involved, and connect with the experts within the field,” he says, about the Youth Roots Durham project. The hope is that more informed communities will build more resilience into the process by which they get fed, one that faced a sharp shock due to COVID-19 disrupting global supply chains, as well as ongoing threats to the same system from climate change. The summit included a weekend panel discussion of experts followed by networking, and workshops on the links between food and climate change, the benefits of moving from mass production of commodity crops, and how to get involved in pushing for more sustainable practices. One speaker at the summit was a local permaculture farmer, who grows multiple crops in proximity to each other for mutual benefit. The practice can reduce the need for pesticides and cut carbon emissions by limiting the need to transport food, Lackner explains. The information gathered in the course of the project is being prepared to be archived on a page of the Durham Food Policy Council’s website, ensuring that unlike his high school garden, Lackner’s legacy may live on. The region — which is suburban in its southern sections near Lake Ontario and more rural in its north towards the Lake Simcoe border — exports most of its produce in the form of commodity crops, such as soy and corn, Lackner says. He says that with demand for food to expand by roughly 70 per cent in coming decades as our global population approaches 10 billion people, innovative solutions applied locally will be key. “There is a very high possibility that you will see in the next decade or two, if we can innovate more with the greenhouses and produce more in warehouse settings, you can essentially urbanize and create factories of food within these large urban centres,” he says. In addition to these modern factory farms, Lackner wants to see more rooftop gardens and government policy that sets aside land to protect it from being developed other than as farmland. And for young people wondering what they can do, he says just dive in. “Get out there, get your hands dirty. Make that change that you want to see,” he says. “If you see something that no one else is doing or that's missing, don't wait for someone else to get that going, start it yourself and get involved. There is a way to do all that and connect with the experts and community partners.” Morgan Sharp, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, National Observer

  • Prince Harry: Split from royal life 'unbelievably tough'

    LOS ANGELES — Prince Harry says the process of separating from royal life has been very difficult for him and his wife, Meghan. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry invoked the memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, who had to find her way alone after she and Prince Charles divorced. “I’m just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side, because I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago,” Harry said, adding, “because it’s been unbelievably tough for the two of us.” “But at least we have each other,” Harry said, in a clip from the interview special, which is scheduled to air March 7 on CBS and the following day in Britain. Diana was shown in a photo holding toddler Harry as he made the comments. His mother died in 1997 of injuries suffered in a car crash. Harry and Meghan sat opposite Winfrey and side-by-side, holding hands during the interview that was conducted in a lush garden setting. The couple lives in Montecito, California, where they are neighbours of Winfrey. Meghan, who recently announced she is pregnant with the couple’s second child, wore an empire-style black dress with embroidery. Harry wore a light gray suit and white dress shirt, minus a tie. As Meghan Markle, the actor starred in the TV legal drama “Suits.” She married Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson at Windsor Castle in May 2018, and their son, Archie, was born a year later. The brief promotional clip was one of two of that aired Sunday during CBS’ news magazine “60 Minutes.” Winfrey’s questions and comment were predominant in the other clip, including her statement that, “You said some pretty shocking things here,” without an indication of what she was referring to. Meghan was not heard from in the clips. Harry and Meghan stepped away from full-time royal life in March 2020, unhappy at media scrutiny and the strictures of their roles. They cited what they described as the intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media toward the duchess, who is African American. It was agreed the situation would be reviewed after a year. On Friday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the couple will not be returning to royal duties and Harry will give up his honorary military titles — a decision that makes formal, and final, the couple’s split from the royal family. The pair, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, verified “they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family. “ A spokesperson for the couple hit back at suggestions that Meghan and Harry were not devoted to duty. “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the U.K. and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organizations they have represented regardless of official role,” the spokesperson said in a statement. Lynn Elber, The Associated Press

  • Le Conseil de la MRC réfléchit à son rôle

    Depuis un an, la MRC a amorcé une réflexion face aux actions qu’il est possible de poser dans le milieu municipal afin d’accompagner les collectivités pour améliorer la qualité de vie des citoyens et notamment la desserte en services de proximité. Ces services, explique la MRC, peuvent être municipaux, gouvernementaux ou encore marchands. Dans le contexte où une épicerie-station-service annonce sa fermeture dans une municipalité, la question revient de l’avant. « En ce moment, la MRC accompagne les municipalités dans leur rôle et responsabilités municipales, en tout respect des champs de compétences des municipalités et villes. Notre vision est à l’effet que chaque milieu est important et que les citoyens et citoyennes de chacune des municipalités ont droit à toute notre attention et qu’ils ont aussi droit à des milieux de vie de qualité. Nous souhaitons poursuivre le travail d’accompagnement, en sachant que les élus locaux sont les mieux placés pour bien connaître et comprendre les besoins de leur population » fait savoir la Préfète de la MRC de Témiscamingue, madame Claire Bolduc. Des services municipaux peuvent être déployés La réorganisation logistique et l’offre des services est assujetti au contexte et aux besoins des municipalités. « Nous sommes conscients que des services municipaux variés peuvent être déployés, et l’exemple récent de la municipalité de Fugèreville, qui reprend l’église au centre du village et la transforme en bâtiment public multi-usage est très inspirant. Ou encore une municipalité qui acquiert un local et qui en fait la location pour assurer des services à sa population, comme le font Fabre avec la clinique médicale, ou encore Moffet avec le marché public » indique madame Bolduc. « Nous sommes également conscients que les services gouvernementaux peuvent difficilement être dans tous les milieux, mais que le territoire doit pouvoir bénéficier de ces services » ajoute la Préfète. Des moyens financiers disponibles Quant aux services marchands, selon la Préfète, chaque milieu doit pouvoir bénéficier de quelques-uns de ces services. Mais il est relativement complexe pour une municipalité de s’inscrire dans des services marchands directement. Ce sont donc des appuis distincts fait auprès d’organismes qui peuvent se mettre en place, comme des coopératives par exemple, comme on le voit à Rémigny, à Laforce ou à St-Eugène. « En ce moment, la MRC dispose de quelques moyens financiers afin de soutenir le travail des municipalités et villes dans la réalisation de projets dans leurs milieux. C’est le Conseil de la MRC qui détermine les conditions d’utilisation de ces sommes, et ce, à chaque année » précise-t-elle. Obtenir du financement ? La MRC de Témiscamingue souhaite que chaque municipalité ou Ville dispose de facilités ou de moyens pour répondre aux besoins de la population dans la mesure de projets possibles et réalisables. L’objectif visé est que chaque milieu puisse prendre en main son développement, avec un appui de tout le territoire. « En ce sens, nous bénéficions en ce moment d’une enveloppe du Fonds Région-Ruralité qui comporte deux volets pouvant être utiles aux municipalités. Le Volet 2 permet aux municipalités et aux OBNL de déposer des projets et d’obtenir du financement pour réaliser un projet de développement ou de service, alors que le volet 4, qui s’adresse de façon particulière aux municipalités en voie de revitalisation, vise à initier et à soutenir une démarche active d’orientation et de développement » fait savoir Claire Bolduc. Comprendre les besoins des clients Le plus grand défi, pour les services marchands, souligne la Préfète, demeure de pouvoir répondre à tous les besoins exprimés alors que les moyens demeurent limités. Il nous faut donc faire preuve de beaucoup de créativité. « On a vu au cours de la pandémie, la très grande importance des services marchands et des commerces de proximité dans nos milieux, c’est un engouement qu’on ne doit pas oublier, et cela implique plusieurs points. D’abord, comprendre les besoins des clients et trouver comment y répondre au mieux et simplement. Ensuite être en mesure de fidéliser ces clients et de faciliter l’accès aux commerces. Enfin, il est toujours difficile de compétitionner certaines grandes chaînes, tant sur l’offre de produits que sur le prix… certains aident plus que d’autres les petits commerces, mais cela demeure un enjeu poursuit-elle. « Un autre enjeu, continuel, est de favoriser la diversité des offres dans chacun des milieux et de faire en sorte que chaque proposition de service soit complémentaire avec les autres et qu’aucune ne vienne nuire à une autre offre. On cherche, ce faisant, à créer une belle et bonne cohésion du territoire » conclut-elle » conclu-t-elle. Moulay Hicham Mouatadid, Initiative de journalisme local, Reflet Témiscamien (Le)

  • ESPN re-signs Rece Davis as 'College GameDay' host

    ESPN has re-signed Rece Davis to a multiyear contract that will keep him in place as host of the network’s popular Saturday college football pregame show. The network announced the deal Monday. Davis, 55, is entering his seventh year as host of ESPN’s “College GameDay.” He told The Associated Press this new deal will take him through his 10th season leading the show that includes Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Lee Corso. "I believe I have the best job in sports television, but when you’ve been doing anything for a while there comes a period of evaluation, I guess, to see whether there are things you would like to pursue,” Davis said. “And for me I still very much wanted to host ‘College GameDay’ and to still have the opportunity to host some significant events along with that from time to time. Fortunately for me our place was able to provide all of those things.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the network. Davis will also continue to host ”College GameDay” for basketball, along with the network’s coverage of the NFL draft on ABC and the men’s Final Four. Davis is also set to host ESPN's coverage of the UEFA European Football Championship this summer. He will still to do some play-by-play for college football and basketball games. “The professionalism, energy and knowledge he brings to every show and every assignment is first-class as one of the best in the business," ESPN senior vice-president of production Lee Fitting said in a statement. Davis declined to say if he was pursued by other networks, but he said negotiations with ESPN moved expeditiously. “ESPN, and my long relationship with them, sort of had what I feel like my strong suits are but also opportunities to do some things to continue to grow as well," Davis said. The basketball version of “GameDay” began in 2005 with Davis as the host. He took over as host of the college football road show in 2015, replacing Chris Fowler. Fowler left “GameDay” to concentrate on calling games and become ESPN's lead college football play-by-play announcer. Davis said he enjoys calling games and might consider making a similar transition later in his career. “I feel like I've really built my career on hosting,” Davis said. “I hate the phrase tee-up the analyst. Anybody can do that. A good host is prepared for the conversation and knows where the lines are. He added: “My first priority is ‘GameDay.’ I still get a rush every time. I like being at the command centre of big events." “College GameDay” had a very different vibe last year as the coronavirus pandemic forced the show to be held on location but without fans. The threat of COVID-19 led to Corso, 85, doing the show from his home in Florida. “College GameDay” faced competition for the first time the last two seasons from Fox's “Big Noon Kickoff," but ESPN's show has remained on top in terms of viewership. “The best way to do it is to take care of your business and not be fixated on what someone else does and to be be confident and thorough in the direction you've tried to go into to,” Davis said. “If you start trying to react to someone else, that's more detrimental than helpful in my opinion. ”We still want to be regarded as the ultimate destination and if you turn away from our show, you're going to miss something." ___ Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/ ___ More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Ralph D. Russo, The Associated Press

  • C-K moves to Orange; new vaccine approved

    Chatham-Kent restaurants, gaming establishments, cinemas, performing art venues and gyms are able to receive an intake of 50 clients after the provincial government moved the municipality to the Orange Zone. On Friday the Ontario government, in consultation with its chief medical officer of health, announced it was moving nine public health regions to new levels in the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework. The change came into effect Monday morning. During the past two weeks, with the Fairfield Park long-term care home outbreak under control, new cases have significantly decreased, prompting the zone change. The move into Orange means Chatham-Kent saw a weekly incidence rate of 25 to 39.9 new cases per 100,000 residents. On Friday, four recoveries and four new cases of COVID-19 were reported, keeping the active total at 17 cases. Limits for organized public events and gatherings in staffed businesses and facilities, where physical distancing can be maintained, has increased to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. Religious ceremonies and weddings can continue to see an indoor occupancy of 30 per cent of a room’s capacity. Fitness or exercise classes can only have a maximum of 10 people and must take place in a separate room. New vaccine on the block Health Canada also announced on Friday that it gave the green light to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which has an efficacy rate of 62 per cent from 15 days after the second dose was given to the study’s participants. It was authorized for use in individuals 18 years of age and older. "Today's approval of AZO by Health Canada represents a major addition to the armamentarium in the fight against COVID-19. I am very pleased," said Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health. The vaccine will be produced in Ontario and India. The Ontario-produced AstraZeneca vaccine will have 500,000 doses quicker. “There’s been no update in terms of when Chatham-Kent will receive this particular vaccine, but Health Canada produced a statement saying that it will begin being distributed in April,” Colby said. Colby added that the provincial projections for its vaccination schedule are based on only Moderna and Pfizer availability, with more being added, projections will need to be updated. His original timeline for Chatham-Kent was to have the population inoculated by September and to date things have been going on schedule. Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Chatham Voice

  • Girl dies after being caned during 'exorcism' in Sri Lanka

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Police in Sri Lanka said Monday they have arrested two people in connection with the death of a 9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten during a ritual they believed would drive away an evil spirit. The two suspects — the woman performing the exorcism and the girl's mother — appeared in court on Monday to hear charges over the girl's death, which occurred over the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about 40 kilometres (25 miles) northeast of the capital, Colombo. The court ordered the suspects detained until March 12. According to police spokesperson Ajith Rohana, the mother believed her daughter had been possessed by a demon and took her to the home of the exorcist so a ritual could be performed to drive the spirit away. Rohana said the exorcist first put oil on the girl and then began to repeatedly hit her with a cane. When the girl lost consciousness, she was taken to a hospital, where she died. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday. The woman who performed the ritual on the girl was known in the area for offering such services in recent months and police were investigating whether anyone else had been abused, Rohana said. Rohana urged the public to be careful about such services as the girl was not the first to die during such a ritual. Bharatha Mallawarachi, The Associated Press

  • Deal reached to get California children back in classrooms

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders have reached an agreement aimed at getting most public schoolchildren back in classrooms by the end of March. Under the deal announced Monday, school districts could get up to $6.6 billion if they reopen classrooms by March 31. To get the money, schools must return to in-person instruction at least through second grade. However, districts in counties with coronavirus case numbers low enough within a specific classification level must return to in-person instruction for all elementary school grades, plus one grade each in middle and high school. The proposal does not require staff and students to be vaccinated. Districts are not required to have agreements with teachers’ unions. Adam Beam, The Associated Press

  • Recruter à l’étranger : Un casse-tête pour combler les besoins de main d'œuvre

    Gérer le processus d’immigration pour garantir un processus de recrutement sans difficultés est une mission de plus en plus complexe et très bureaucratique. Malgré ces démarches, les entreprises dans les régions et notamment au Témiscamingue n’ont pas le choix que de devoir s’armer de patience afin d’aller cherches les employés dans les domaines en demande. À la conquête des soudeurs Confrontée à une pénurie de main d'œuvre, l'entreprise Témisko n’avait pas le choix que d’aller commencer les démarches nécessaires à la recherche des employés qui leur manque. « Principalement, nous allons recruter des postes des soudeurs. Afin de combler ses postes nous faisons appel aux services des firmes spécialisées » explique la directrice des ressources humaines chez Témisko, madame Caroline Renaud. Un manque de bouchers dans la région Chez Provigo, les gestionnaires ont été parfois obligé de réduire les heures d’ouverture de certains départements et service, et surtout d’offrir moins de variété pour les clients faute de manque de la main-d’œuvre. « J’ai essayé de chercher les profils qui nous manque dans notre magasin depuis plusieurs années, mais je n’ai reçu aucun CV qui répond à nos besoins et attentes pour les postes en demande. Ce sont surtout les bouchers et des employés dans le département de la charcuterie dont nous avons plus le besoin » précise le directeur de Provigo à Ville-Marie, monsieur Denis Nolet. « J’ai engagé une firme pour me trouver cinq candidats pour les cinq postes qui me manquent, à temps plein, après entrevues j’ai engagé les cinq » a-t-il ajouté. Recruter localement ! Devant l’incapacité d’embaucher des travailleurs de la région, l’entreprise témiscamienne Témisko à dû faire le choix d’aller recruter à l’international. « On est parti chercher des travailleurs étrangers qui demeurent déjà au Canada, qui ont perdu leurs emplois à cause de la COVID-19. Pour nous c’était beaucoup plus rapide d’aller recruter ces gens-là puisqu’on parle d’un délai d’un mois pour pouvoir faire le transfert. Mais face à la pénurie nous étions obligés d’aller chercher au-delà de nos frontière » souligne la directrice des ressources humaines. Pleins de défis à surmonter Les travailleurs étrangers, que Témisko recrute, viennent principalement de trois pays différents, à savoir la Colombie, le Costa-Rica et le Nicaragua. « Afin de pouvoir les faire venir, il faut passer par une démarche administrative très longue et un processus de paperasse complexe et compliqué » poursuit-elle. « Au-delà de la phase administrative, la pénurie des logements, surtout en cette période de l’année, est un autre défi à surmonter et à gérer. Notre réalité est bien différente des travailleurs qui viennent pour des périodes saisonnières. Les notre viennent avec leurs familles et don ils ont besoin de plus d’espace et des logement adaptés aux familles et non à des personnes pouvons vivre seules et temporairement » ajoute Caroline Renaud. Ce n’est pas toujours positif… « Si y a une chose que je peux affirmer, hors de tout doute, c’est que nous avons fait le processus dans les règles de l’art. Aucun détail n’a été négligé. Nous avons eu un an pour nous préparer. Nous avons choisi de faire affaire avec une firme externes pour le recrutement, un processus qui devait être clé en main. Si j’ai un conseil à donner : Si tu n’es pas prêt à mettre autant d’effort que le consultant que tu engages, ne te lance pas dans l’aventure » exprime la Vice-Présidente et Directrice des ventes-soumissions (propriétaire) chez Cardinal, madame Karie Bernèche. À la suite d’un concours de circonstances et d’obligations familiales le candidat est reparti après un mois. Comme on dit ici, l’histoire s’est terminée en queue de poisson. Dommage quand on passe aux sommes qui ont été investies dans le processus mais surtout au temps que nous avons mis sur ce dossier » fait-elle savoir. Un suivi rigoureux Les firmes intermédiaires entre les employeurs et les employés ont généralement une mission très bien définie afin de compléter leur processus de recrutement. Chaque firme a ses stratégies, la nature de sa mission et ses valeurs. « Le suivi je le fais par moi-même, de la recherche du logement à l’arrivé des employés. La firme avec qui nous faisons affaire se limite beaucoup plus à ce qui est administratif » conclu Caroline Renaud. Moulay Hicham Mouatadid, Initiative de journalisme local, Reflet Témiscamien (Le)

  • US men's soccer to play Jamaica on March 25 in Austria

    CHICAGO — The U.S. men’s soccer team will play 47th-ranked Jamaica on March 25 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the first of two exhibitions with the full player pool in Europe on FIFA international fixture dates. The Americans had previously scheduled a March 28 match against Northern Ireland in Belfast. The Jamaica game was announced Monday by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The matches will be just the third and fourth in 16 months with the full player pool, a schedule caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The 22nd-ranked U.S. tied 0-0 at Wales on Nov. 12, followed four days later by a 6-2 win over Panama at Wiener Neustadt. The U.S. is preparing for a June 3 match against Honduras in a semifinal of the CONCACAF Nations League followed by a championship or third-place game on June 6 against Mexico or Costa Rica. The CONCACAF Gold Cup starts July 10 and includes first-round matches against Canada, Martinique and either Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala or Guyana. Exhibitions also are planned for May 30 and June 9. The delayed start of World Cup qualifying from Aug. 30 to Sept. 8 includes a match at El Salvador or Trinidad and Tobago, a home game that could be against Canada or Haiti, and a road game at Honduras. October includes home qualifiers against Jamaica and Costa Rica around a road qualifier at Guatemala or Panama, and November has a home qualifier against Mexico and a road qualifier at Jamaica. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press

  • UN experts urge independent probe into Navalny's poisoning

    MOSCOW — Two top United Nations human rights experts urged an international probe into the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and called Monday for his immediate release from prison. Agnès Callamard, the Special U.N. Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Irene Khan, the Special U.N. Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said Navalny’s poisoning was intended to “send a clear, sinister warning that this would be the fate of anyone who would criticize and oppose the government.” “Given the inadequate response of the domestic authorities, the use of prohibited chemical weapons, and the apparent pattern of attempted targeted killings, we believe that an international investigation should be carried out as a matter of urgency in order to establish the facts and clarify all the circumstances concerning Mr. Navalny’s poisoning," they said in a statement. Navalny, the most prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell sick on Aug. 20 during a domestic flight in Russia and was flown while still in a coma to Berlin for treatment two days later. Labs in Germany, France and Sweden, and tests by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, established that he was exposed to a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent. Russian authorities have denied any involvement in the poisoning. In December, Navalny released the recording of a phone call he said he made to a man he described as an alleged member of a group of officers of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, who purportedly poisoned him in August and then tried to cover it up. The FSB dismissed the recording as a fake. Callamard and Khan on Monday published their official letter sent to the Russian authorities in December and noted that “the availability of Novichok and the expertise required in handling it and in developing a novel form such as that found in Mr. Navalny’s samples could only be found within and amongst state actors.” The experts emphasized in the letter that Navalny “was under intensive government surveillance at the time of the attempted killing, making it unlikely that any third party could have administered such a banned chemical without the knowledge of the Russian authorities.” Navalny was arrested on Jan. 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from the nerve agent poisoning. The arrest triggered massive protests, to which the Russian authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown. Last month, Navalny was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany. The sentence stems from a 2014 embezzlement conviction that Navalny has rejected as fabricated — and which the European Court of Human Rights has ruled to be unlawful. Last week, Navalny was sent to serve his prison sentence to a prison outside Moscow despite the ECHR's demand for his release, which cited concerns for his safety. Russian officials have dismissed demands from the United States and the European Union to free Navalny and stop the crackdown on his supporters. Mikhail Galperin, Russia's deputy justice minister, charged Monday that Moscow has contested the ECHR's ruling demanding Navalny's release in a letter sent to the Strasbourg-based court. Meanwhile, the UN rights experts noted that an international probe into Navalny's poisoning is “especially critical” now when he is in prison. They called for his immediate release and reminded Russia that it's “responsible for the care and protection of Mr. Navalny in prison and that it shall be held responsible for any harm that may befall him.” Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press

  • $550,000 granted to Sault Ste. Marie for affordable housing

    On Friday, it was announced that $550,000 will be provided to Sault Ste Marie by the Ontario Government and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services. These funds will help create affordable housing for Indigenous women and children. They are aimed at supporting women fleeing domestic violence, women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness during COVID. According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women are over 3 times more likely to be a victim of domestic violence then non-Indigenous women. Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services is using the funding to purchase four three-bedroom houses, which will serve as single-family homes. These homes are in close proximity to schools, parks and nearby public transit. "It is critically important to ensure Indigenous women and their children fleeing domestic violence have access to safe housing," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs. "In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 and the new variants, we need to provide vulnerable people immediate access to housing so they can stay home, stay safe, and save lives." Domestic violence has increased significantly during COVID, as many are stuck isolating in unsafe situations. This makes it difficult to get away from the abuser when your reasons to leave the house are few and far between. According to the United Nations, projections show that for every three months a lockdown continues, an additional 15 million women are expected to be affected by violence. This grant is only a starting point for the City of Sault Ste. Marie when addressing domestic violence in the pandemic. Additional resources for domestic violence in Algoma:Children's Aid Society of AlgomaSexual Assault Care CentreNimkii Naabkawagan Family Crisis ShelterNogdawindamin Family and Community ServicesWomen in Crisis Josie Fiegehen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, SaultOnline.com

  • Stages et emplois : Un nombre record d’employeurs

    La cinquième édition du salon "stages et emplois" 2021, qui s'est tenue virtuellement, a rassemblé un nombre record d'employeurs. Plusieurs chercheuses et chercheurs de stages et d’emplois de niveaux collégial et universitaire ont profité de cent kiosques virtuels d’entreprises et d’organismes lors du Salon stages et emplois. 1 046 clavardages en une seule journée Les employeurs et les organismes avaient l’occasion d’afficher un nombre illimité de postes permanents, d’offres de stages, d’offres d’emploi à temps partiel et d’été. Ils avaient également la chance de positionner leur marque employeur, de même que des photos, vidéos et coordonnées. « 100 employeurs ont participé au Salon virtuel. Ils ont affiché 500 offres de stages ou d'emplois, pour un total de 870 postes disponibles. Le Salon virtuel a attiré 380 visiteurs uniques, dont 205 provenant du Cégep et 175 de l'UQAT » fait savoir la directrice des Affaires étudiantes et des communications chez Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, madame Kathleen Slobodian. « Au total, 13 040 pages ont été visités (kiosques virtuels et offres d'emplois) sur les 10 jours. Il y a eu 833 clics pour postuler sur une offre d'emploi ou de stage et 1 046 clavardages en une seule journée » poursuit-elle. Une pénurie de main-d’œuvre Le directeur général du collège, monsieur Sylvain Blais, a exprimé sa joie quant à la possibilité pour la relève profiter d’une activité d’une telle envergure malgré la crise sanitaire actuelle. « La région connaît toujours une pénurie de main-d’œuvre importante dans plusieurs domaines où nous offrons une formation de grande qualité, reconnue ici comme ailleurs » a-t-il déclaré. Le Salon virtuel était accessible sur les navigateurs Google Chrome, Firefox et Edge et les chercheuses et chercheurs d’emploi avaient la possibilité d’y accéder via leur ordinateur, tablette ou téléphone intelligent. Pour des questions de sécurité des données, le Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, précise que les données virtuelles sont hébergées au Canada, et, bien sûr, à l’intérieur de serveurs sécuritaires. Une satisfaction atteinte Les organisateurs étaient très satisfaits du déroulement de cette nouvelle édition du salon "stages et emplois" 2021. « Nous avions 100 places disponibles et elles ont toutes été comblées. L'activité s'autofinance à 100 %. Nous pouvons observer que les étudiants ont navigué sur la plateforme virtuelle, ils ont posé leur candidature sur les offres disponibles. Les résultats du sondage de satisfaction aux employeurs et aux étudiants n'étant pas encore compilés, il est difficile de se prononcer sur l'atteinte des objectifs et sur les améliorations à apporter » souligne la directrice des Affaires étudiantes et des communications chez Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue. « Est-ce que l'événement a répondu aux attentes des employeurs et aux besoins des étudiants? C'est ce que nous saurons prochainement, car c'est la satisfaction des participants qui fait le succès de cette édition virtuelle. Nous espérons pouvoir revenir à un Salon en présentiel en 2022 ou de moins, à une formule hybride » a-t-elle conclu. Moulay Hicham Mouatadid, Initiative de journalisme local, Reflet Témiscamien (Le)

  • Is Canada’s vaccine rollout working? Doctor answers our COVID-19 questions

    Infectious diseases expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch checks in with The Morning Show to answers the latest coronavirus questions.

  • US spending on construction projects rises 1.7% in January

    SILVER SPRING, Md. — Spending on U.S. construction projects rose 1.7% in January as new home building continues to lift the sector. Last month's increase followed small revised gains in December and November. Spending on residential construction rose 2.5% in January, with single family home projects up 3%, the Commerce Department reported Monday. Despite an economy that’s been battered for nearly a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, historically low interest rates and city dwellers seeking more space in the suburbs and beyond has boosted home sales. Last week, the Commerce Department reported that sales of new homes jumped 4.3% in January, and are 19.3% higher than they were last year at this time. In a separate report, the government reported that applications for building permits, which typically signal activity ahead, spiked 10.4% in January. Spending on government projects, which has been constrained by tight state and local budgets in the wake of the pandemic, rose 1.7%. Non-residential construction was up 0.4% after months of declines, but is still down 10% from January of last year. The category that accounts for hotels also ticked up 0.7% but is still down a whopping 22.7% from the same time last year as the travel and leisure sector has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. Total spending on construction in January was $1.52 billion, 5.8% higher than January 2020. Matt Ott, The Associated Press

  • Une nouvelle école primaire planifiée à Val-David

    En vertu d’une décision du gouvernement de François Legault couvrant tout le Québec, la municipalité de Val-David, comme d’autres municipalités, doit offrir un terrain au Centre de services scolaires des Laurentides (CSSL), pour l’édification d’une école primaire. La municipalité compte présentement sur deux écoles publiques : soit Sainte-Marie (SM, 9 classes) et Saint-Jean-Baptiste (SJB, 15 classes). Deux écoles publiques des-servent une population d’un peu plus de 5 000 personnes. Les maisons d’enseignement accueillent 515 élèves : soit 323 élèves habitant à Val-David et 192 qui proviennent des environs (source : CSSL). Les projections démographiques, présentées lors de la réunion virtuelle du 23 janvier dernier, font passer la population de Val-David à 6 500 en 2035, soit un gain de 30 %. Cette augmentation, reflétée au niveau de la clientèle scolaire, ferait passer de 323 à 420 le nombre d’élèves de Val-David. « Nous aurons besoin de 19 classes, en 2035. L’ajout de 24 classes répond à un besoin régional, que le CSSL doit combler. Les plans sont de fermer la petite école de 9 classes (SM). On se retrouverait alors avec 15 classes (SJB) et 24 classes (possible-ment à la Sapinière), pour un total de 39 classes. Avec ce total, les deux écoles vont pouvoir accueillir entre 850 et 900 élèves », a exprimé l’ancien maire Pierre Lapointe. La mairesse Kathy Poulin a préféré déboulonner les appréhensions. « Le projet d’école est confirmé. En fait, il est en cours depuis 2017. Le terrain visé correspond à la vision (école de nouvelle génération, intégrée dans son milieu et dans son environnement, construite en bois, etc.). Ces qualités ont permis de faire bonifier l’enveloppe monétaire reçue à 30 millions de dollars. L’école occuperait seulement une portion du terrain de la Sapinière », a-t-elle spécifié. L’ex-élu Lapointe se questionne à savoir si une nouvelle école de 24 classes à Val-David est nécessaire. « Poser la question, c’est y répondre. Non seulement ça ne répond pas à un besoin de notre village, mais les dégâts sont à venir. 1) Financier: déjà les avocats sont dans le dossier (La Sapinière). (…) Exproprier un commerce existant, cela coûte très cher. Ce que Val-David devra payer, c’est beaucoup plus que la valeur marchande du terrain. 2) Construire une école dans un cul-de-sac, c’est une aberration en termes de sécurité publique. (…) 3) Il faut une étude d’impact sur la circulation automobile dans un petit village. Le résultat quotidien sera désastreux : Val-David va être bloqué par la circulation automobile », a-t-il prédit. Pour sa part, la mairesse Poulin a décrit le projet de la manière suivante. « La nouvelle école devra respecter le cadre règlementaire de la ville. Nous avons des besoins pour une bibliothèque, un local d’informatique et pour des intervenants. L’école Sainte-Marie ne répond plus aux critères. Plutôt que d’envoyer nos enfants ailleurs, aussi bien faire ça chez nous. » « De même, la circulation fait partie de la planification. Une rue sera aménagée et un rond-point est prévu. On mise aussi sur le transport actif. Il ne faut pas exagérer : ce sera à l’échelle du village. Pas une gigantesque école secondaire de 200 classes. » Ève Ménard, Initiative de journalisme local, Journal Accès

  • This year's Nobel Peace Prize draws hundreds of nominees

    Some 329 nominations have been received for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, likely reflecting the profusion of pressing human rights issues around the world, the secretary of the committee which awards the prize said on Monday. "It is the third highest ever total number," Norwegian Nobel Committee Secretary Olav Njoelstad told Reuters. "It reflects a lot of international interest in the Nobel Peace Prize," he said.

  • Marvell to supply chips for Facebook-backed 5G effort

    In the past, telecommunications gear tended to come from a handful of major players such as Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei Technologies Ltd, who supplied everything from software to run the networks to gear for radio towers, along with custom chips inside the gear. But companies like Facebook, the social networking giant that maintains a business focused on improving internet infrastructure, have pushed for what are called open radio-access networks, which are made up of software and hardware designs that can be mixed and matched and are sometimes free to use. Facebook has focused on developing software for the open networks while partnering with hardware companies to come up with designs for hardware.