Herbert Kickl claimed that children would play "not the slightest role" in spreading the virus.
TORONTO — A quarantine screening officer who allegedly demanded cash from a woman before sexually assaulting her at her home faces related charges, police said on Wednesday.The accused had been trained by the Public Health Agency of Canada as a designated screening officer under the Quarantine Act, Halton regional police said. According to a police statement, the accused was doing a quarantine compliance check at a home in Oakville, Ont., on Feb. 18."The accused informed the victim that they were in violation of the quarantine order and demanded that a fine be paid in cash," police alleged. "When the victim declined to pay, she was sexually assaulted by the accused."Police said they arrested a man they identified only as Hemant, 27, of Hamilton, on Tuesday. He has been charged with sexual assault and extortion. The Public Health Agency of Canada said it was "very disturbed" by the alleged events and was co-operating with investigators.Police refused to disclose the name of the security company that employs the man, but said he had been suspended.The Public Health Agency said it had awarded contracts last month to four companies to conduct in-person compliance visits. Agency spokesman Eric Morrissette said trained and designated screening officers working under these contracts began in-person compliance visits on Jan. 29 in Montreal and Toronto. The national rollout began on Feb. 15 he said. "Close to 30,000 compliance verification visits have been done so far," Morrissette said.Everyone entering Canada must isolate for 14 days. Designated screening officers visit quarantine locations to confirm people are where they said they would be on arrival in the country. Failure to comply can result in fines.However, screening officers are not police officers and have no authority to issue a ticket or arrest anyone. As a result, they should never be demanding payment during a quarantine-compliance check.To be designated, officers must be licensed security guards and have had a valid police background check. Training comprises online self-study courses related to the Quarantine Act and their duties and responsibilities. They must also pass an exam.The Public Health Agency listed the four companies under contract as the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, G4S Secure Solutions (Canada) Ltd., Garda Canada Security Corporation (GardaWorld), and Paladin Risk Solutions.The investigation announced Wednesday was prompted by a complaint from the alleged victim, said Const. Steve Elms, a police spokesman, who had no other details. Elms said the accused is on bail pending a court appearance March 23 and apparently goes only by one name.Police said other people might have been victimized and urged anyone who might have had a similar experience to contact their local police.Issues have previously arisen with quarantine guards. Last year, private security contractors at a quarantine hotel in Melbourne, Australia, were accused of sleeping with guests, the Herald Sun reported.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2021. Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press
À moins de 48 heures d’intervalle, les deux partis d’opposition ont fait connaître leur candidat dans le district Auteuil en vue des prochaines élections. Parti Laval – Équipe Michel Trottier y présentera Dayila Sassy tandis qu’Action Laval - Équipe Sonia Baudelot misera sur SeyLac Try pour tenter de ravir ce district que détient le Mouvement lavallois – Équipe Marc Demers depuis l’élection de Jocelyne Frédéric-Gauthier en 2013. Douzième candidate à rejoindre les rangs de l’opposition officielle, Dayila Sassy poursuit actuellement ses études au baccalauréat en informatique à l’Université Laval. Membre indépendante siégeant au sein du Comité consultatif jeunesse de la Ville de Laval, elle avait participé au programme de jumelage «Jeunes et relève municipale» de la Fédération québécoise des municipalités (FQM) en 2019. À titre bénévole, Mme Sassy s’est aussi impliquée auprès de la Fondation des maladies du cœur et de l’AVC de même que de l’Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal. En briguant les suffrages, elle souhaite promouvoir la place des femmes, des minorités ethniques et des jeunes dans les postes décisionnels. La nomination de SeyLac Try porte à onze le nombre de candidats confirmés sous la bannière d’Action Laval, incluant les quatre conseillers en poste qui solliciteront cet automne un renouvellement de mandat. Entrepreneure et courtière immobilière depuis 2004, Mme Try habite le quartier Auteuil depuis plus de 30 ans. Le parti dépeint cette mère de deux enfants comme une citoyenne «engagée localement [qui] milite activement pour le succès scolaire». Ayant immigré avec sa famille au Canada alors qu’elle était très jeune, cette Cambodgienne d’origine dit vouloir «redonner» à sa communauté en contribuant à faire de Laval «une ville harmonieuse et prospère». Stéphane St-Amour, Initiative de journalisme local, Courrier Laval
WASHINGTON — Jill Biden offers comforting advice to Kelly Clarkson, telling the singer and talk-show host as she goes through a divorce that things happen for the best and that life will eventually “look better.” The first lady — a divorcee herself — also reveals one thing she looks forward to when COVID-19 clears up and explains why women should take some time for themselves every day as she does. She spoke during an interview with Clarkson that is set to air nationally on Thursday. Clarkson recently brought her show to the White House for a socially distant conversation with Jill Biden in the East Room. NBC released interview excerpts Wednesday, including a clip of Jill Biden offering comforting words about carrying on after a relationship breakup. Citing her late mother's advice, she tells Clarkson things happen for a reason. She also says her divorce freed her to meet Joe Biden and have a family with him. “My mother always said to me things are going to look better, tomorrow,” Jill Biden said, encouraging Clarkson to “take one day at a time, and things will get better.” 'I look back on it now, and I think, you know, if I hadn’t gotten divorced, I never would have met Joe," she continued. “I wouldn’t have the beautiful family I have now. So I really think things happen for the best and I think, Kelly, over time, I don’t know how long it’s been for you, but I think, over time, you heal, and you’re going to be surprised and I can’t wait until that day comes for you.” Clarkson has spoken in other interviews about the pain of her public breakup. She filed for divorce last year from Brandon Blackstock after nearly seven years of marriage. They have two children. After marrying Joe Biden, Jill Biden helped raise his sons Beau and Hunter after their mother and baby sister died in a car crash in 1972. The couple later had a daughter, Ashley. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46. The Bidens also have six grandchildren. During her first solo television interview, Jill Biden also discussed her interest in education, military families, cancer research and healing the country. She also answered questions from members of the show's live, virtual audience. “Maybe go have a martini and some french fries,” she replied to one audience participant who asked about the one thing she would do when COVID-19 clears up. She also explained why she makes sure to exercise and take time out for herself. “I love to exercise. I run, I bike. It clears my head, so that’s really important to me and I think all women should have something, it doesn’t have to be exercise, although hopefully it would be," she said. “Just to take a moment for yourself.” “So I get up early, and that’s my time that I have for myself," Biden said. Darlene Superville, The Associated Press
Six additional variants of concern – for a total of nine - have been identified in COVID-19 cases in the region, and this afternoon the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit shared that those cases are located in Northumberland County and City of Kawartha Lakes but were acquired outside the region. Dr. Ian Gemmill, acting medical officer of health, spoke to the topic and provided the latest numbers on Wednesday afternoon at his regularly-scheduled weekly press conference. At that time, he mentioned five additional variants of concern, but later in the afternoon an additional case had been added. “The situation with VOCs can change quickly,” he said in comments shared by the health unit an hour after the press conference. “In fact as of now, there are nine variants of concern (VOC) cases in the HKPR District Health Unit region. Seven are in Northumberland County, while two are in the City of Kawartha Lakes.” “The source of all of these VOCs are tied to contacts with others outside the HKPRDHU region,” he said. “The nine VOCs involve three clusters and a single case … and in all these situations, these local VOCs are well under control as the people involved are isolating and limiting their contacts.” In the meeting, Gemmill said he did not have at that time the information about where the cases are located, nor which strain has been identified. When it was noted by a reporter that people are concerned and want further information, Gemmill said: “We need to assume that coronavirus is everywhere,” he said. “We need to assume that the variants could pop up anywhere. So far, they've all had the acquisition outside of our area, which means it's not being transmitted in [the HKPR region]. I agree there's a public interest in knowing which county it's in, we'll get that for you, but I think that people need to behave as though they could be exposed to this at any point. I think that's a message I have to keep repeating, repeating, repeating, because it's so key to the preventative measures.” On Feb. 9, the region's first identified variant of concern was reported. That case was linked to a resident in Port Hope, and later at a Feb. 17 press conference, Gemmill said two of that resident's household contacts were also identified as having variant cases of COVID-19, noting that those cases had been isolating. "This is a controlled situation," said Gemmill at that time. "Since they've all been quarantined, I'm not worried particularly about these cases." Last week, the public health unit had not yet been informed through lab results of which variant of concern was identified in the Port Hope cases. Across Ontario, Gemmill said at the Feb. 17 press conference, the proportion of positive cases that are constituted by the variants of concern are rising, and that he was hearing "worrisome chatter" about it being identified in other parts of Ontario. "We have been affected, but in a very minor way, but this is becoming a big issue across the province of Ontario," he said. The variants are more transmissible than the original virus, and can amplify cases because of the ease in which it spreads, which has led to speculation about a potential third wave and lockdown to protect hospital capacity. "Anything is possible, but I'll be completely forthright with you, the way this variant is behaving, the one from the U.K. primarily, I'm not sure we're going to have control of it, so it could theoretically replace the original virus and become the dominant one, and then it's going to be a lot more difficult to control,” said Gemmill. As of the Feb. 24 HKPRD health unit update, Haliburton County has zero confirmed cases of COVID-19, with one current high-risk contact. City of Kawartha Lakes currently has 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 77 high-risk contacts, and Northumberland County has 20 current cases of COVID-19 and 71 high-risk contacts. “What is worrisome is the continuing spread of coronavirus variants across Ontario,” said Gemmill in Feb. 24 comments. “We are likely to see more of these VOCs in our region, so the need to take public health prevention measures continues to be important until more people are vaccinated.” Sue Tiffin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Minden Times
From hockey arenas to Montreal's Olympic Stadium, sites across Canada that are usually dedicated to sports, business or entertainment are being repurposed to serve the goal of mass vaccination. As provinces prepare to expand their vaccine rollouts to the general population in the coming days and weeks, here's a look at some notable landmarks that have been named as mass vaccination sites. Olympic Stadium, Montreal Built for the 1976 Olympics, Montreal's towering "Big O" has previously hosted the Expos baseball team and major sporting events such as the CONCACAF Champions League soccer final. It's known for holding major events, such as a concert by the Rolling Stones and a mass by Pope John Paul II, as well as for costly and embarrassing falling concrete and roof tears. In mid-February, the local health authority announced the atrium of the stadium would be repurposed as a mass vaccination clinic. Quebec is set to start vaccinating people 85 and older there next week. Canada's Wonderland, Vaughan, Ont. The theme park bills itself as "the country’s premier amusement park," featuring more than 200 attractions, including a 20-acre water park and 17 roller-coasters. The Yukon Striker, it boasts, is the world's fastest, longest and tallest dive coaster. Now, the site is also being eyed as a drive-thru vaccine clinic in the spring, according to public health officials. The City of Toronto is also preparing a number of mass vaccination sites, including the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Congress Centre and the Cloverdale Mall. Retired Gen. Rick Hillier, the head of the province's vaccine distribution task force, said Wednesday there would be enough sites to allow Ontarians to get the vaccine close to where they live. "Whether it's a Shoppers Drug Mart in Orleans, Ont., or whether it's a drive-thru vaccination clinic at Canada's Wonderland later on in the spring, when the weather improves a bit, or whether it's a hockey rink in York Region ... the ones closest to you will be the ones brought up (where) you will be able to reserve an appointment," he said. Keystone Centre, Brandon, Man. The Keystone Centre is home to the Brandon Wheat Kings junior hockey team and the Brandon Curling Club, as well as the as the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and special events, such as a now-postponed ZZ Top concert. In addition to the Keystone Centre, the province has announced other mass vaccination sites including the Thompson Regional Community Centre and the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. Canada Games Complex, Sydney, N.S. The venue at Cape Breton University was originally built for the 1987 Canada Winter Games. It is now listed as a recreational facility on the website of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The university announced in 2019 that some 500 solar panels would be installed on the roof of the complex in what it called the largest solar installation on Cape Breton Island. Other vaccine clinics in Nova Scotia include the IWK Health Centre, a major hospital in Halifax, and the New Minas Baptist Church. Other venues The government of British Columbia has not yet released the locations of its clinics but says they will take place in large spaces including school gymnasiums, arenas, convention halls, and community halls. In Nunavut, upcoming vaccination clinics are to be run out of schools and community halls. The government of Alberta has chosen not to publish the locations of its vaccine sites in order to try to avoid having people show up without appointments, according to a spokesman for Alberta Health Services. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2021. Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
At the South Algonquin Business Association virtual event held Feb. 4 via Zoom, participants at the event were treated to some valuable information and advice from Kate Monk from Explorers’ Edge, Carolyn Barker-Brown from Community Futures, and Laurie Marcil from Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario, to navigate the uncertain spring tourism season due to the ongoing pandemic. Each presenter also explained the steps their organization had taken to help tourism businesses through COVID-19. SABA chair Gabriela Hairabedian and secretary Angela Pollak moderated the meeting, and thanked their guest presenters and everyone who was in attendance. Kate Monk, the senior director of strategy and communications with Explorers’ Edge was first to present. Explorers’ Edge is the tourism organization representing the region that encompasses Algonquin Park, the Almaquin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, Muskoka, Parry Sound and South Algonquin. Funded by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, it was founded in 2010 and is governed by a volunteer board of directors composed of tourism operators. Monk told them how Explorers Edge was helping tourism operators during both lockdowns, by getting information out to them, helping them make sense of it and constantly keeping in communication with them to help them address any issues and problems and motivating them to find new and creative ways to pivot their businesses to make money during COVID-19. To this end, they launched the Boxing Day resolution to motivate operators to push through the second lockdown and to persevere. Monk told everyone about their new website, The Great Canadian Wilderness just north of Toronto, www.thegreatcanadianwilderness.com, which will be their universal brand, while Explorers’ Edge will continue on as their business brand. The Cottage Country Spirit Package was launched to promote local travel and to move people around the region as part of a partnership between Destination Canada and the provinces. Destination Canada invested $30 million in this initiative and Explorers Edge got a share of this grant to promote hyper local tourism within the regions it serves. The program provides incentives with vouchers for permanent and seasonal residents to use at local businesses like restaurants, shops, attractions and overnight accommodations. Thousands of vouchers were distributed and spent at local businesses. “They literally saved some operations from closing their doors. Some paid the rent with it. This program proved to be very popular,” she says. Monk said the summer season was great for some of the tourism operators in South Algonquin, and that she feels domestic travel will probably only increase as time goes on with COVID-19, especially with the vast consumer audience the GTA provides. Their Howl at the Full Moon virtual event on Jan. 28 was a successful way to help participants relieve stress and to win prizes in the process. Fat Bike Fun Wheel promotion was a contest in partnership with various local radio stations, where callers could win prizes for revealing how they keep up their Cottage Country Spirit. package. Travellers to the region were given exposure to local artists and musicians through the Winter Arts Collective, which helps these artists to make ends meet during the cold weather months. The Campfire Comfort: Tales from Cottage County, where Explorers’ Edge staff or regional tourism operators tell stories unique to their region. This entertained people and whet travellers’ appetites for when travel is able to resume. More Zoom meetings based on different products like paddling, photography, food and ATVs are also on the horizon, according to Monk. Explorers’ Edge has also gone into the travel agency business, so they can advertise and sell travel packages to domestic (and eventually international) consumers and take that revenue, process it and return it to the tourism operators. So far, executive director James Murphy had taken and passed the Travel Industry Council of Ontario course, and she was going to be taking it shortly. Monk said they were also moving ahead with the social enterprise catalyst housing project. She said that the perception of tourism as employment is down 38 per cent, mainly because of housing and wages. So, she says there is a need to attract workers. To that end, they are working with Ryerson University and Georgian College to recruit people. Monk mentioned they were also working with Humber College graduate students to research why urban students don’t want to come and work in South Algonquin. Loneliness seems to be the prevalent reason uncovered so far, so Monk suggested the social scene in the region should be looked at. Another reason brought up was the lack of reliable and pervasive high-speed internet in the area, which not only would dissuade young people from coming up to South Algonquin, but would deter new businesses. This internet deficit also hampers the ability of existing businesses to use it to pivot their businesses during COVID-19 and also to apply online for programs and grants. “There’s a lot of foundational work still continuing. We are in a bit of a holding pattern but we’re trying to retain those audiences so we can get going really quickly when we have to,” she says. Next up was Carolyn Barker-Brown, loans officer and small business advisor with Community Futures Development Corporation of North and Central Hastings and South Algonquin, a community based non-profit organization. The Canadian government provides funding advice and support to a number of CFDCs across southern Ontario through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. They offer community economic planning and development, investment in local business and business development and counselling services. Through these efforts, these CFDCs help the province’s rural economies expand and prosper. Their website is www.community-futures.ca. Barker-Brown explained that her CFDC covered the area from Whitney, down to Madoc and Marmora and Tweed. They run the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, which is run the same way as the Canada Emergency Business Account, with the same guidelines. She explained many businesses weren’t able to get CEBA because their payroll wasn’t large enough, but they can get RRRF. Businesses can get loans up to $40,000, and if they repay 75 per cent of it by the end of 2022, the other 25 per cent will be forgiven. It is a zero per cent loan with no payment until Dec. 31, 2021. This loan will cover all expenses incurred from April 2020 to March 2021. The Local Initiative Program is an initiative they run to promote small scale projects by non-profits, municipalities and other groups to expand economic development efforts. The Rural Innovation Initiative Eastern Ontario, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy, retail makeovers and free workshops on a variety of topics are some of the other initiatives they offer. Barker-Brown stressed to her audience that Community Futures was flexible with their financing options and did a lot of work with seasonal businesses. “We will work with our clients to make sure that the financing solutions work for them,” she says. Laurie Marcil, the executive director of the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association presented last, providing a brief overview of her organization and its achievements. NOTO was founded back in 1929 by outdoor tourism operators to create an organized voice for the industry in northern Ontario, and to present its interests to all levels of government. In the years since, they have broadened their mandate to include the interests of all nature and outdoor tourism operators across Ontario. More information on NOTO and their overall mandate can be found at www.noto.ca. The first thing NOTO did when COVID-19 hit was to keep in contact with everyone in the industry to keep them apprised of the continuously evolving situation. This was done primarily through their free newsletter, and their publication, The Outfitter Magazine. According to Marcil, the outdoor tourism industry was the first to develop stringent health protocols, vetted by the WSPS, to govern the sector and how it’s run safely. This allowed NOTO to use that as a lobby tool to get government to allow them to reopen their businesses safely by showing the government they had these safeguards already in place. Marcil said they were able to get the government to make changes to some programs based on feedback from their industry. Some businesses in the outdoor tourism industry couldn’t apply to some of the programs because they had atypical payrolls, paying themselves with dividends. When NOTO pointed this out to government, they changed the application criteria. NOTO got the deadline extended for the RRRF from March 31 to June 30 and have made promising strides to get the payback date for the loan pushed back 12 to 18 months, as 2021 looks to be as dismal as 2020 was with COVID-19. Marcil said it also looks like government will allow businesses to forecast to Sept. 30 and have their fixed costs be applied for and covered under the RRRF funding. They are still waiting to hear on another initiative they took on to have the hardest hit businesses qualify for more forgiveness on the RRRF loans. Marcil said that NOTO was working on a recovery tool kit with resources to help outdoor tourism businesses. She mentioned that NOTO was behind using the available travel credits to promote provincial travel. “We have something that people want, the outdoors. And how do we help our operators get through this? Some of them never had to think of marketing, they had their clientele from the U.S. forever and now they have to think about it, and there’s a whole new educational piece we’re having to do to help them out,” she says. Marcil also spoke about the safe travel stamp, administered through the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, which she felt would be very helpful to businesses when the borders to reopen and travel resumes. “It’s something operators should be looking into if they haven’t already.” Michael Riley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Bancroft Times
Trout Creek has lost a popular and longtime volunteer firefighter with the passing of Ted Weiler. Powassan Mayor Peter McIsaac, who announced Weiler's death on his Facebook page, describes him as a “healthy, happy, active person. “It was definitely unexpected and shocking to the entire community,” says McIsaac, adding Weiler died Sunday morning of a heart attack. Weiler, 58, was retired from Ontario Power Generation, but McIsaac says he remained active in the community. In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, the former Powassan deputy mayor also served on the municipal emergency management committee. “I got to know Ted quite well,” McIsaac says. “Ted was a fantastic person to work with on council. You could disagree with him and have a good conversation. It was never personal. “Ted was the type of guy who looked at the facts, the science and did his homework. He came prepared to meetings.” But McIsaac says it wasn't all work with Weiler. At social gatherings, McIsaac says, “Ted was the guy who always had the guitar in his hands. “At any municipal function, there was Ted, singing,” he recalls. “He'll probably be missed the most just for that.” Kathie Hogan, Powassan's events coordinator at 250 Clark, also has fond memories of Weiler, adding he was a person who always gave. Hogan recalls one incident when he helped a friend with his vehicle all day “and then turned up to decorate the fire trucks in Trout Creek and go on a food bank collection run. “I saw him go out of his way on two occasions to give money to a worthy cause,” Hogan recalls. “There was absolutely no fanfare, no cameras, just a giving and generous man.” Hogan says regular visitors to the local farmers' market were sure to see Weiler singing and strumming his guitar. “His music was terrific and he will be sorely missed,” she says. Weiler had another trait people liked, which McIsaac says was his laugh. “If you were ever in a room with Ted, you always knew where he was because you'd hear his laugh,” he explains. “He had this booming laugh you heard no matter where you were in the room. You couldn't ask for a nicer person.” McIsaac says he was sorry Weiler decided not to seek re-election. “He chose to take a quieter life and retire, and you have to respect that,” he says. Weiler leaves behind a wife and daughter. Flags at the Trout Creek Fire Department and 250 Clark are flying at half mast. Funeral arrangements have yet to be made. Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the North Bay Nugget. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Rocco Frangione, Local Journalism Initiative, The North Bay Nugget
(Sofia Rodriguez/CBC - image credit) The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development says it will consider other solutions to a conundrum facing many essential workers if the province's COVID-19 outbreak isn't tamed soon. The St. John's metro region moved into "circuit breaker" restrictions on Feb. 10 amid an outbreak, which was followed two days later by the entire province moving back into an Alert Level 5 lockdown. That meant schools switched to online learning and essential workers were left scrambling to find a place for their kids to stay during the day. The solution proposed last week was to allow those children to attend child-care centres — but there is no obligation on the part of those centres to help the kids with their online schooling. "These child-care services can choose to do so if they believe they can accommodate it," reads a statement from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. "In some cases this may not be practical, as services may have children from various grades and from different schools." This left some essential workers with tough choices. One nurse who spoke to CBC News said she pulled her son out of daycare and switched to night shifts so she could help him with schoolwork during the day. She was worried about finding time to sleep. Child-care centres operators also recognize the situation is not ideal, and have expressed concern in letters to Education Minister Tom Osborne. Some suggested children would be better off if they could go to school and attend classes in person. "We all understand the essential workers' cries they have to work because we are ourselves are essential workers," reads one letter obtained by CBC News. "If they can safely come to child-care centres, why can't they safely go to school?" That potential solution poses its own set of problems. Teachers have been working from home since the province went to Alert Level 5, and are teaching classes using tools like Google Classroom. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development amended its policies to allow school-age children to attend child-care centres for the entire day. The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association declined comment for this story, but raised concerns two weeks ago about having teachers in classrooms and not working from home. The Association for Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador, meanwhile, says there are many logistical problems when it comes to running virtual classrooms at childcare centres. The biggest problem is that a centre could have as many as 15 school-age children at one time, and have one staff member left to handle their school schedules and troubleshoot technical problems. Other concerns include privacy issues, not having wireless internet access for guests, and not having quiet spaces for kids to do schoolwork. Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province's chief medical officer of health, is expected to provide an update on the circuit breaker on Friday. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
The Town of Holyrood has approved an asset management policy. “The Town of Town of Holyrood is committed to implementing its asset management program for a long-term, consistent framework of service delivery and infrastructure planning,” said councillor Jim Joy during the February 9, meeting of council. “It allows for a transparent, sustainable, and accountable process to demonstrate the legitimacy of decision making.” Mayor Kevin Costello echoed Joy’s statements, and congratulated Infrastructure & Public Works Director Robert Stacey. “This is a very worthwhile policy that we’re implementing here. As we’ve said before, Robert has done some phenomenal amount of work on it and it will definitely leave us in much better shape especially with out water system,” said Costello. He added the policy will help council plan for future capital works projects. The plan will encompass all assets owned and managed by the Town of Holyrood, including buildings , pumping stations and other infrastructure. Mark Squibb, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Shoreline News
A new report that looks at the human trafficking transportation corridors throughout the country also reveals that Canadian women are most commonly the victims.
PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — An inquiry investigating why a former soldier killed his family and himself in 2017 heard Wednesday from a psychologist who said she didn't detect warning signs about domestic violence when he began treatment in 2011. Wendy Rogers, a psychologist contracted by the military, said she would have picked up on indications Cpl. Lionel Desmond was prone to violence or abusive behaviour while he was being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. "He never spoke about his wife in a derogatory manner," she told the provincial fatality inquiry, adding that he did not have any suicidal or homicidal tendencies. "There was nothing that raised red flags for me." Desmond, a corporal who served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, had been diagnosed with PTSD in 2011 after a particularly intense seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2007. Rogers said she was shocked when she heard about the triple murder and Desmond's suicide on Jan. 3, 2017. "I could not have predicted it, especially his daughter," she said. "He loved that little girl." The psychologist said that in 2012, Desmond felt "distressed" about the fact his wife, Shanna, had texted him to ask for a divorce. Rogers, however, insisted he showed no anger toward his wife. "It was like an indifference," she told the inquiry, adding that this attitude was common among former combat soldiers with PTSD. Earlier in her testimony Wednesday, Rogers said Desmond was very depressed, spoke slowly and didn't show much emotion when they first met in December 2011 while he was posted to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick. She said she encouraged him to become more active, and she used prolonged exposure therapy, which teaches patients to make audio recordings about traumatic memories and then replay those recordings to help diminish their anxiety. The psychologist said Desmond talked about the revulsion he felt when he saw the partial remains of an enemy fighter in Afghanistan. "It was a very horrific sight," she testified. "It was one of the things that haunted him ... (But) his distress levels about the event decreased over time." Desmond responded well to therapy in 2011 and 2012, Rogers said, adding that he appeared ready to return to active duty by February 2013. She later learned, however, that her former patient had suffered a significant relapse in May 2013 when he was subjected to racist comments about his African Nova Scotian heritage while working at the base. Four months later, Desmond told Rogers he could not stop thinking about the incident. "It was causing him a lot of distress," she told the inquiry, adding that Desmond said he was so angry that he was worried he might hurt someone. Rogers also recalled that Desmond told her about how he was the target of racist comments as a boy growing up in Guysborough County in eastern Nova Scotia. He also talked about how Black youths from his neighbourhood would sometimes fight with white kids on Friday nights. "He would have been exposed to racial comments throughout his life," she said, adding that Desmond never said anything about experiencing racism while serving in Afghanistan. It was clear that the stress from the incident at the base had led to a relapse of symptoms, but Rogers said the setback appeared to have little to do with combat-related PTSD. The relapse prompted the military to reconsider Desmond's return to regular duty, and the process to have him medically released was set in motion, Rogers added. On May 13, 2015, a military medical official submitted a form stating Desmond's PTSD was "still active" and that he had "never achieved remission." The document said the soldier was facing several stressors, including his pending medical release, "marital strain with potential for divorce" and separation from his daughter. "Status not stable, continues to deteriorate, wants to improve, but struggles with same," the document said. Despite these pressures, Desmond displayed no indications of wanting to kill anyone or himself, the medical official concluded. Desmond was released from the military on June 26, 2015. As a veteran, he was recommended for continued treatment at the operational stress injury clinic in Fredericton and he was later told to take part in a six-month residential treatment program at Ste. Anne's Hospital in Montreal. The inquiry has heard that he left the program three months early and returned home to Upper Big Tracadie, N.S., in August 2016. Evidence presented to the inquiry has shown that Desmond received no therapeutic treatment during the four months before he bought a semi-automatic rifle on Jan. 3, 2017, and later that day fatally shot his 31-year-old wife, their 10-year-daughter, Aaliyah, and his 52-year-old mother, Brenda, before killing himself in the family's home. — By Michael MacDonald in Halifax. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2021. The Canadian Press
Nvidia Corp forecast better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter revenue on Wednesday, with its flagship gaming chips expected to remain in tight supply for the next several months. While Nvidia was long known for its gaming graphic chips, its aggressive push into artificial intelligence chips that handle tasks such as speech and image recognition in data centers has helped it become the most valuable semiconductor maker by market capitalization.
Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson said Wednesday there is an “opportunity” to work with the Biden administration on integrated vehicle emissions standards, rather than working “at odds” with the United States on issues of efficiency and zero-emissions technologies.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault has enlisted his environment minister to spearhead the fight against racism in the province, naming Benoit Charette to the newly created post on Wednesday. Charette added the responsibilities as part of a small cabinet shuffle announced in the provincial capital. One of the recommendations of a task force that Legault had convened last summer to look at racism in the province was the appointment of a minister to implement its anti-racism action plan. The 25 recommendations outlined in the final report released in December aim to tackle racial profiling and discrimination faced by minorities and Indigenous people in the province. Charette said he's given himself until the end of the current mandate in 2022 to see those measures implemented. "The fight against racism is first and foremost a question of human dignity," he said, calling Quebec one of the most welcoming and tolerant societies in the world. The Legault government has maintained that systemic racism does not exist in Quebec, and Charette echoed that Wednesday, saying what is most important is acting swiftly to fight racism. Charette noted the "system" in place includes the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the province's Human Rights Commission to protect against discrimination. Legault was asked Wednesday why the post didn't go to one of the Coalition Avenir Quebec members who sat on the task force, in particular co-chairs and cabinet ministers Lionel Carmant and Nadine Girault, both of whom are of Haitian origin. The premier said he spoke to Carmant and Girault and both have seen their workload increase in recent months. Carmant, the junior health minister, is in charge of reforming the youth protection system. Girault, the international relations minister, recently took on the immigration portfolio as well. Charette, 44, is white. His wife is of Haitian origin and they have three children. He rejected the notion that not coming from a visible minority means lacking credibility fighting racism. "In any case, whatever the reason, in my opinion, the colour of skin should not be an argument to disqualify someone," Charette said. He said he is no stranger to racism, having been refused an apartment, allegedly because of prejudice aimed at his wife. He recounted filing a human rights complaint that led to the landlord being sanctioned. "It is at times subtle, it is at times direct, but in all cases, it is very offensive. It is very hurtful," Charette said. Legault said he has confidence in Charette, who was responsible for dealing with cultural communities when the party was in opposition. "And Benoit, I've known for many years and I know it's a very important subject for him, so I think he's the best person to fight against racism," Legault said. Charette said he'll be meeting with leaders from different groups and communities in the coming days. Charette was given the environment portfolio in January 2019. Some environmental groups raised concerns his new responsibilities would mean less time for environment and climate change issues. Charette assured that wouldn't be the case, noting he has a dedicated staff. Legault also announced Wednesday that Lucie Lecours would be joining cabinet as junior economy minister. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2021. - By Sidhartha Banerjee in Montreal with files from Jocelyne Richer in Quebec City. The Canadian Press
The family of a 26-year-old First Nations man who died by suicide in Williams Lake, B.C. just hours after being released from RCMP custody is going public in the hopes it never happens to anyone else. Kenneth Seymour Michell of the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation in Pavilion was found dead behind a Williams Lake business in the 1100 block of Broadway Avenue South at 6 a.m. Jan. 14, 2021, after having strangled himself with his shoelace. His family and friends remain devastated and continue to grieve one month after burying him at Xaxli’p First Nation’s cemetery near Lillooet. “It’s crazy how many hearts he touched,” Michell’s aunt Georgina Lazore told Black Press Media from her home in Cornwall, Ont. Although Michell struggled with his mental well-being as well as drug and alcohol addiction which resulted in trouble with the law, he had amassed many friends and was close with his large family, even being a ring bearer at Lazore’s wedding. The young man who enjoyed hanging out with his friends, fishing, listening to music and travelling never stayed in one place for long. He found himself in Williams Lake where he was taken into police custody on Jan. 11 for outstanding warrants after RCMP were called to a Williams Lake residence in the 700 block of Midnight Drive regarding a suspicious person. The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO), which investigated the RCMP’s involvement into Mitchell’s sudden death, confirmed police were concerned for Michell’s welfare after he was arrested. Lazore said her nephew even used an officer’s phone to call his uncle when he was in distress because he knew no one in Williams Lake. The investigation found Crown Counsel also raised concerns during Michell’s Jan. 13 bail hearing and opposed his release. The court, however, chose not to detain Michell, who told police and others he was experiencing suicidal thoughts. According to the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), who are assisting the family in bringing forward their concerns, Michell was released on conditions and dropped off in Williams Lake in the middle of winter wearing only a sweater. A friend had attempted to pick him up from the courthouse but was told he would be transported to Kamloops, where he called home. Michell was found dead early the next morning. Less than two weeks after his death, the IIO concluded police actions/inactions “did not play any role” in Michell’s death, and that both police and Crown Counsel took positions that attempted to prevent it. FNLC is calling for further investigation including reprimands to the RCMP and judge involved in the case. BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee said the entire judicial system continues to harm First Nations people despite commitments to reform the justice and policing system, including support for the First Nations Justice Strategy a year ago. “The strategy included a commitment to training and education to reduce bias among frontline workers, RCMP and judges in the justice system,” Teegee stated in a news release Jan. 24. “Did this judge receive that training? And if so, what made (the judge) think Kenneth Michell should have been released without support? How did the RCMP and Sheriffs’ Office think it was OK to leave him in the cold, on the street miles from home?” Secretary-treasurer of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Kukpi7 Judy Wilson said Michell should be alive today. “Our people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and not brushed aside like Kenneth was,” Wilson said. “The officials involved must be removed, and the broken so-called justice system must be repaired to ensure that there is no space for the current widespread racism and discrimination toward Indigenous peoples.” Michell’s loss is even more painful for Lazore who believes his death was preventable. “It’s so hard,” she said. “It never should have happened.” Rebecca Dyok, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Williams Lake Tribune
OTTAWA — International Development Minister Karina Gould says the first injection of a COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana is a significant milestone for a new global vaccine-sharing program created to bring doses to low-income countries. But the NDP wants the House of Commons to censure the Canadian government for being the only G7 country to accept doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the program, known as COVAX, later this year. Some 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in the West African country of Ghana on Wednesday, months after the rollout of vaccines in Canada and the rest of the developed world, which has underscored the inequity COVAX was seeking to avoid. COVAX was founded last year with the backing of the World Health Organization to bring vaccines to countries that can't afford them, and rich countries that have invested heavily in the program, such as Canada, are entitled to doses for their own domestic use. NDP development critic Heather McPherson says Canada's decision to exercise its legal right to the COVAX doses highlights the fact the Liberal government has failed to guarantee enough of a domestic supply of vaccines. She says she will be pushing the Commons committee on foreign affairs and international development to allow her party's motion to be debated and voted on in the full Parliament. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2021. Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press
Residents of Simon Place and Ryan’s Road were likely glad to hear the Town of Spaniard’s Bay will be putting money towards addressing flooding concerns in their area. “Because of the complexity of the issue, we needed engineers to help us come up with a resolution,” said Mayor Paul Brazil during the February 9 meeting of council. The engineering firm in question is Progressive Engineering, which sent the town a proposal with a staged estimate totalling up to $20,950 concerning the flooding concerns on Simon Place and Ryan’s Road. Councillor Eric Jewer moved to approve Progressive Engineering to proceed in accordance with the proposal. Council voted unanimously to approve the motion. Mark Squibb, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Shoreline News
(Friends of the Foundry - image credit) A coalition of professionals and community members is releasing its vision for a historic Toronto property the Ontario government is seeking to demolish. The century-old buildings at the Dominion Wheel and Foundries site sit on a provincially-owned parcel of land that is being sold and redeveloped as a mixed-use housing development. Demolition began in January but was halted after residents won a temporary court injunction. A hearing on the matter set for this Friday has now been postponed to allow consultations between the province, the City of Toronto and the local community. CBC Toronto revealed this week that the Doug Ford government approved a private sale of the land, located on Eastern Avenue in the West Don Lands, but will not release the identity of the purchaser. The community group Friends of the Foundry, together with several architects, urban designers, and affordable housing experts, released a proposal on Wednesday that they say would create hundreds of residential units, community space, retail, all while preserving the site's two most important historic buildings. "This concept has been guided by development principles that are anchored in the historical context of the Foundry and builds on what has become a well-loved neighbourhood with a distinctive sense of place," Shirley Blumberg of KPMB Architects said in a statement from community group Friends of the Foundry. The group seeks to retain the site's most important historical building's, known as the Foundry and the Machine Shop. The above rendering shows the proposed 'Foundry Lane' public area. The exploratory concept for the site was developed by Blumberg and Bruno Weber, also of KPMB, urban designer Ken Greenberg, DTAH architect Joe Lobko, George Brown College's Luigi Ferrara, and housing experts Sean Gadon and Mark Guslits. The plan would deliver approximately 688,400 square feet of gross floor area and create 870 residential units. A minimum 30 per cent would be affordable housing. The plan also includes approximately 120,000 square feet of community and retail space. In line with the province's plan for the site, the group's proposal includes three new residential towers. But it also retains the historic Foundry and Machine Shop buildings, described by Greenberg in a virtual presentation on Wednesday as "handsome and robust historic industrial structures" that contribute "to our cultural memory" and enhance "the unique identity of the city and the neighbourhood." Demolition required for site cleanup, province says The Ford government has maintained that the land is contaminated and the buildings must be demolished in order for environmental remediation to begin. The Dominion Foundry site hit the headlines in January when the province began demolishing one of the buildings over the objections of local community groups. In its presentation Wednesday, the group pushed back, citing other examples of Toronto heritage buildings that have been maintained during environmental cleanup, including residential sites such as the Wychwood Barns. Architect Joe Lobko said the two buildings are too special to let go. "Just throwing it away on some blithe assumption that you need to [demolish it for] environmental remediation, that really needs to be challenged," he said during the presentation. As for the sale of the land, responding to CBC Toronto's story on Monday, Premier Doug Ford said the identity of the purchaser can't be released until its finalized. "The deal has not been signed yet. It's not done," Ford told reporters Monday. "Once that deal is signed, we'd be more than happy to be transparent."
A school board in Thunder Bay, Ont., has asked public health authorities to order a suspension of in-person learning after several COVID-19 outbreaks have forced hundreds of students to self-isolate. The Lakehead District School Board urged the health unit to mandate virtual learning for at least two weeks starting March 1. Schools have had to dismiss classes repeatedly because of COVID-19 cases, which is affecting students' learning, said board chairwoman Ellen Chambers. “What we don’t want to have is (students) coming back to school and there’s another outbreak, so we have a back-and-forth and a back-and-forth," she said in an interview Wednesday. Currently, 576 students and 55 staff with the board are self-isolating, and that has created a shortage in teachers and support staff, including bus drivers, said Chambers. "We've run out of supply teachers to cover the elementary classes," she said. "It's just unsustainable." The school board, which has 26 elementary schools and four secondary schools, currently has four schools that are already teaching all classes virtually because of COVID-19 cases. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit did not immediately respond to request for comment. Health Minister Christine Elliott said this week that the province is closely watching the situation in Thunder Bay. She said the province’s chief medical officer will review data and cabinet will decide later in the week whether the region should be locked down or move to another category of the pandemic restrictions framework. In another northern Ontario region, public health officials dismissed students and staff from two Sudbury, Ont., schools on Wednesday following five confirmed cases of COVID-19. All five cases have been identified by Public Health Sudbury and Districts as variants of concern. Schools across Ontario were moved entirely online at the beginning of January as part of a provincial lockdown. The government then gradually reopened schools for in-person learning, starting first with those in northern Ontario and rural areas. The last schools to return to in-person learning -- in Toronto, Peel Region and York Region -- did so last week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2021. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Denise Paglinawan, The Canadian Press
At their Asset Management and Waste Management committee meeting on Feb. 17, South Algonquin Township discussed their upcoming 2021 Capital Projects. Public Works Superintendent Dave Gatley took the committee, chaired by Councillor Joe Florent, through the list of projects the public works department has budgeted to get completed this year and the estimated cost to the township. After being given the floor by Florent, Gatley called up the list of proposed capital projects that his public works department would be doing or having some involvement with in 2021. He began by talking about the purchase of the Asset Management software, which would cost an estimated $20,000 and the Main Street signage, which Gatley believed would be limited to brushing or doing some layout for the signs, which would cost around $15,970. Gatley went on to tell the committee about the purchase of dry hydrants for the fire department, with an estimated cost of $60,000. Dry hydrants are permanently installed in lakes and streams, and this non pressurized hydrant system give firefighters a ready source of water to fight fires in rural areas. At the meeting, he didn’t know where they were going to be located but when they do know, he said there will have to be some design work done. “Last time, I reached out to a consultant that gave an aerial image for the installed hydrants and then I went to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for permits and then public works went and installed them. It went really well. I assume that process would start again,” he says. Next up, Gatley talked about transportation services, which are scheduled for replacement or an upgrade in the township’s Asset Management Plan. The rehabilitation of the Airy Pedestrian Bridge, which the Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (a manual that dictates the procedures and requirements for inspecting bridges) estimated would cost $49,000, will be part of a larger project if the township gets a COVID-19 related grant they applied for, according to Gatley. Holly Hayes, the clerk and treasurer, when asked about this, had not heard anything about it yet, but had received confirmation that the township’s application had been received. She suspected it would be announced around the time the Ontario budget is revealed. The McRae Hay Lake Road is due for a replacement of its surface and drainage components, estimated to cost $940,000. Gatley said he’d had a look at it and it’s 4.7 kilometres to resurface. “It looks like the asphalt numbers will be on the high side this year from what I’ve been hearing back. Approximately $600,000 is for paving alone, about $200,000 in gravel and some contingencies and considerations for drainage improvements. One of the things that came up in discussions with staff was the condition of the culvert at the causeway where there was the wash out in 2012. I did make some contingency allowances if we have to get in and change that pipe,” he says. However, he also indicated that the cost of doing that repair would lend itself more to being part of the Road Needs Study and looking at financing it over time, or even looking into a grant to cover it. The engineering drawings for Hay Creek Road were estimated to cost around $15,000, and Gatley said he had some quotations on that and that they were coming in within the estimated cost so far. Under the umbrella of additional projects for 2021, Gatley provided information on the Annual Road and Drainage Improvements Program, and said that of the $60,000 available from 2020, $50,000 would carry over into this year, as they didn’t do a lot with it last year. The Road Needs Study was estimated to cost $16,000; the traffic counts will cost approximately $11,000 and an estimated $7,500 will go toward the sign inventory. Gatley said of the quotes he had gotten in on these items, all were coming in within the budgeted amounts. Next, Gatley spoke about the need to replace the outhouse facilities at Galeairy Lake Park, which will cost an estimated $40,000. “We’ve upped the budget on the washrooms based on the tenders we received. I do think we can take advantage of the redesign we talked about last year and going to block and using subcontractors. The tank has been built and it’s sitting in the precast yard so it accounts for about $8,000 of that [$40,000 estimated cost]. I think if we did go with the architectural block route we talked about, we’d come in under budget. If push comes to shove, that budget would allow us to go to tender and at least get that project completed,” he says. Public bench acquisition and installation at various locations around the township will run around $6,200, while new picnic tables for the township’s parks will cost an estimated $5,000. Gatley says they’ll be ordering them shortly and putting them together as the weather improves. Both the Whitney Library and the Lester Smith Building really need their asphalt shingles replaced this year, at an estimated cost of $11,000 and $30,000 respectively. Gatley then turned the committee’s attention to the list of vehicles and equipment that public works uses that are due for replacement or an upgrade. The loader, which was way overdue for replacement, is still performing well and its maintenance costs are low at $2,300 per year. Gatley recommended doing a little more work to the bucket this year but did not think it needed to be replaced immediately. The cost to replace it would be $300,000. The tandem truck, which was replaced last year, has been invaluable this year with COVID-19 restrictions in order to keep the public works staff separated a bit, according to Gatley. He also thought it was great in that it had improved service and response times, and its maintenance costs were stabilizing for its age and were pegged at $31,300 per year. The replacement cost for it would also be $300,000. The single axel truck has already been replaced at a cost of $75,000, and the township is just waiting for delivery, expected to be in the Fall of 2021. While the old truck is still performing, its maintenance costs are becoming a bit high, at $15,600 every year. The pickup truck was due to be replaced in 2019 but it is still holding its own and its maintenance costs are acceptable, according to Gatley, at $4,100 per year. Its replacement cost would be $40,000. There was also a proposed new acquisition brought up by Gatley, which he brought back to the table from two years ago. It was a 2,600-gallon slide in water tanker with an estimated cost of $30,000. “It could be used in the tandem truck to help us with our sand sweeping operations. Since we had to get rid of the old Airy Township fire truck that we used to use, we’ve been having to rent a water truck, which is costing us between $3,500 and $4,000 a season,” he says. Availability is also hit and miss on those rental water trucks, and Gatley says that he took the proposed water tank purchase out of the budget last year because there were none available at that time. “However, they are telling me that there would be one available for the springtime for our sand sweeping operations. So, I’ve put that back on the list for consideration,” he says. Gatley concluded his presentation and Florent thanked him. He asked if there were any questions. Councillor Richard Shalla had a question about the Main Street signage and its cost. Gatley and Hayes clarified that the cost was not part of the public works budget, although they’d be doing the work. Shalla also had a question about the culvert that Gatley had mentioned earlier that needed to be replaced. He asked if putting in a liner to fix the pipe would be feasible instead of replacing the whole thing. Gatley said he hadn’t looked at it closely enough yet to make that determination but he admitted that a liner would be preferable to having to dig up and replace the entire culvert. He said he’d be looking into it. Mayor Jane Dumas suggested to Gatley that the building inspector should have a look at the gazebo at Galaiery Lake Dam, as it was in bad shape. He agreed and said it could be done under park maintenance, although he didn’t have any repair numbers yet. Gatley brought up a final matter; a streetlight replacement on Paradise Road, which had been pending for five years. “I heard back and I’ve got the numbers. It looks to be a reasonable cost to do it, and could be done under road improvements,” he says. Hayes then interjected, bringing up what she called the “elephant in the room;” the nearly $1 million projected cost to redo McRae Hay Lake Road. “We should look at getting a grant, as without that or something else, we’d be looking at a 36 per cent tax increase to do it. I think council needs to have that discussion about either prioritizing it or looking at getting a grant or doing the project in stages where it will take a couple of years,” she says. Florent suggested tabling it for 2021 at least and looking into getting a grant to cover at least some of the cost. “Maybe we could look at doing some spot improvements like culvert replacement and things like that, and investigating fixing the culvert where the washout occurred back years ago. We should keep our eyes and ears open for a grant, as that cost is prohibitive. If we can get it paid for by the government, at least in part, instead of us, that’d be better,” he says. Everyone on the committee agreed with that assessment and resolved to look into procuring a government grant for the McRae Hay Lake Road rehabilitation. With that consensus, they moved on to other business. Michael Riley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Bancroft Times
