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O’Toole faces caucus as he plots out subsequent steps on obligatory COVID-19 vaccinations

News — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 15:38:32 +0000

OTTAWA —
Conservative Chief Erin O’Toole faces his caucus as we speak to debate what to do about its place round obligatory vaccinations, and what which means for unvaccinated members.

The difficulty is prime of thoughts as an all-party committee determined final week that members of Parliament will must be double vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 or have a medical exemption to take their seat within the Home of Commons.

That places O’Toole in a difficult spot as he refuses to reveal what number of of his 118 members are absolutely vaccinated whereas he additionally opposes any return to a hybrid Parliament.

His personal caucus members really feel in another way concerning the challenge, and what Conservatives ought to do subsequent.

Alberta MP Ron Liepert says he has no downside telling folks he is double vaccinated and believes the difficulty has turn out to be a distraction.

“We do not have the posh of sitting right here as an opposition occasion arguing about whether or not you ought to be vaccinated or not,” he mentioned earlier than getting into Wednesday’s assembly.

“We must be doing what constituents ended up sending us right here to do, and that is to carry this Liberal authorities to account.”

British Columbia MP Mark Strahl says Conservatives have to be clear like they had been through the election marketing campaign once they opposed vaccine mandates and mentioned those that are unvaccinated ought to have the choice to take speedy assessments.

“I believe we must be very clear that we’re nonetheless against Justin Trudeau’s mandate with out cheap lodging for people who find themselves unable to be vaccinated. That must be very clear in every part that we are saying,” mentioned Strahl, including he has constituents who danger dropping their jobs due to such insurance policies.

Trudeau has mentioned folks with professional medical causes for being unvaccinated can be exempt from vaccine mandates for federally regulated staff and air and prepare travellers.

Alberta MP Glen Motz mentioned Wednesday he would not suppose it must be as much as the occasion chief to reveal private well being info. An evaluation by The Canadian Press reveals a minimum of 80 Conservative MPs report being vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, with two saying they cannot due to medical causes.

Among the many Conservatives who imagine in holding their vaccination standing non-public is newly elected Ontario consultant and former management contender Leslyn Lewis.

Lewis has been an outspoken critic of vaccine mandates and final week additionally posted on social media about vaccinating kids in opposition to COVID-19.

She mentioned dad and mom query doing so partly as a result of the photographs do not assure in opposition to transmission of the virus.

Public well being specialists say there may be overwhelming proof the immunizations forestall critical sickness, hospitalization and loss of life.

“The media and the ability construction count on me to take a seat behind the bus. I will not!” tweeted Lewis, who’s Black, after her message about vaccinating youngsters in opposition to COVID-19.

“They’ll attempt to paint me as a reckless lunatic as a way to lynch me into silence. I’ll at all times inform Canadians the reality, (and) no bully or threats will succeed in opposition to us!”

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 27, 2021.

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Vatican says Pope Francis prepared to go to Canada as Indigenous leaders search apology

News — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 13:30:58 +0000

The Vatican says Pope Francis is prepared to go to Canada, as Indigenous leaders name on him apologize for the Catholic Church’s position in residential colleges.

The Vatican says in an announcement that the Canadian Convention of Catholic Bishops invited Francis to journey to Canada, and that he indicated his “willingness” to take action at an undetermined date.

The event comes forward of a visit to the Vatican that First Nations, Metis and Inuit leaders plan to soak up December to fulfill with the Pope in hopes of securing an apology.

The 2015 last report from the Reality and Reconciliation Fee of Canada, which chronicled the abuses suffered by Indigenous kids at federally funded church-run residential colleges, requires a papal apology to be delivered in Canada.

These calls have grown louder over the previous yr after the invention of a whole lot of unmarked graves at former residential faculty websites by First Nations in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Criticism has additionally intensified as issues have been raised that the Catholic Church did not correctly compensate residential faculty survivors as agreed to underneath a landmark settlement.

-With recordsdata from The Related Press

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 27, 2021

Mercury threat in fish ‘low’ amongst Indigenous and distant communities, examine finds

News — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 02:45:43 +0000

TORONTO —
Indigenous and distant communities that depend on fish for sustenance shouldn’t fear about mercury ranges of their meals as the advantages of consuming the meal outweigh the dangers, in keeping with a brand new examine.

The examine, printed just lately within the journal Environmental Analysis, examined 443 blood samples and 276 hair samples from residents throughout 9 communities within the Mackenzie Valley of the Northwest Territories and located that mercury publicity “could also be low even when it’s generally current in elevated ranges,” in keeping with a information launch.

The examine was a part of a broader “biomonitoring undertaking” to handle considerations inside these communities about probably dangerous containments inside their conventional meals sources, resembling fish.

“Beforehand, elevated ranges of mercury have been present in some fish species in some lakes and subsequently, communities needed to know if these sometimes-elevated ranges in fish additionally meant they have been elevated in individuals,” Sara Packull-McCormick, a PhD candidate on the College of Waterloo’s College of Public Well being Sciences, mentioned in a information launch.

“The excellent news is that usually, the publicity in communities we studied was low. It means the advantages of consuming these meals are likely to outweigh the dangers, which is necessary for these communities since fish consumption has dietary, cultural and financial advantages.”

In keeping with Well being Canada, mercury publicity is related to “impaired features of the central and peripheral nervous methods” and might result in a decreased IQ and delays in strolling and speaking amongst younger kids. Adults, in the meantime, can expertise character modifications, modifications in imaginative and prescient and reminiscence loss.

In 2017, the Canadian Well being Measures Survey (CHMS) reported that mercury ranges amongst Canadians have been “properly beneath” Canadian steerage, however the survey didn’t embody members from any of the Canadian territories or Indigenous individuals dwelling on reserves.

Brian Laird, a professor within the College of Public Well being Sciences and principal investigator of the examine, mentioned this newest analysis ought to assist these communities not included within the CHMS.

“This examine is necessary as a result of it gives these communities with the data they should assist information their decision-making,” he mentioned.

“Mercury can pose critical dangers to individuals’s well being, however these communities now have a baseline to see what modifications happen sooner or later, particularly making an allowance for these which may be attributable to local weather change.”

Ancestral stays of six people returned to Dokis First Nation by U.S. museum

News — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 02:06:00 +0000

TORONTO —
The ancestral stays of six people have been returned house to Dokis First Nation in Ontario by the Subject Museum in Chicago, Il., after being saved there for greater than a century.

In a press launch on the repatriation of the stays, Dokis First Nation stated that they’d labored intently with the museum for years in an effort to affirm the origins of the stays and facilitate a respectful return.

On Tuesday, a signing ceremony was held on the Subject Museum to formally switch the ancestral stays to the Dokis First Nation.

Julian Siggers, president of the Subject Museum, stated it was their “privilege to have welcomed representatives from the Dokis First Nation to the Subject Museum for the essential event of returning these ancestral stays to their descendant neighborhood.”

“We need to specific our appreciation to all of the fantastic workers, committees, and Board Members concerned on the Subject Museum,” stated Dokis Chief Gerry Duquette Jr. within the launch. “It was really an honour working with everybody, particularly Helen Robbins, to shut this chapter in our historical past. The repatriation of those stays will information their spirits house to peacefully be a part of their ancestors, and we’re proud to lastly have accomplished what my late Grandpa Leonard Dokis began so many moons in the past.”

Duqette and the neighborhood have been engaged on the “Lifeless Island Repatriation Challenge” for a number of years, working to convey ancestors house who have been taken from their graves on Lifeless Island.

Dokis First Nation and the Subject Museum found via collaborative analysis that the stays of the six people have been first faraway from their graves by anthropologist Thomas Proctor Corridor in 1891.

The stays have been taken by Corridor on behalf of anthropologist Franz Boas to be proven in reveals on the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, a good held in Chicago to rejoice the 400-year anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in North America.

After the Exposition, the human stays grew to become a part of the museum’s collections, together with among the different components of the exhibit.

The Subject Museum has an obligation to repatriate human stays and cultural objects to Indigenous communities federally acknowledged within the U.S., as a result of a legislation that handed in 1990 on defending Indigenous gravesites. However the museum has additionally thought-about worldwide requests for repatriation since 1989.

‘What this group wants’: Pikangikum First Nation opens secure home for households in disaster

News — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 02:00:00 +0000

TORONTO —
A northern Ontario First Nation has opened up a brand new secure home designed to assist its residents heal from abusive and harmful conditions.

Pikangikum First Nation, a distant group about 230 kilometres north of Kenora, Ont., just lately opened the Pikangikum Neighborhood Secure Home, a multi-unit facility designed to assist these locally with nowhere else to go.

“We’re very excited to have a spot like this in our group to assist our members,” Jonah Strang, deputy chief of the Pikangikum First Nation, instructed CTVNews.ca.

“It ought to assist out the households that often have issues at residence.”

Pikangikum First Nation was as soon as often called having among the highest suicide charges on the planet.

In 2000, British sociologist Colin Samson stated the suicide price locally had gone “by the roof” after reaching an eight-year common of 213 suicides per 100,000 individuals. On the time, Samson proclaimed that Pikangikum First Nation possible had the very best suicide price on the planet.

Alcohol abuse stays a critical concern locally of about 4,000 residents and an absence of housing has led to fewer secure areas for individuals seeking to escape a probably harmful scenario.

“We’ve multi-generational households that stay inside one residence,” stated Vernon Kejick, a victims’ providers advocate in Pikangikum First Nation.

Kejick is essentially thought-about a key participant in seeing the challenge by and guaranteeing it’s accomplished.

“I felt that it was my function to carry a facility like this into this group,” he stated.

The brand new secure home can maintain as much as eight households and likewise accommodates a seven-suite lodge, which can assist present psychological well being employees with a spot to remain.

“It is so accommodating,” stated Jojo Alfonso, a trainer locally. “It is good. It is what this group wants.”

Constructing the secure home was no simple process and took a number of years to finish. The multi-million greenback challenge relied on ice roads to move tools and supplies into the group.

“It was a mad rush earlier than the winter highway went out to attempt to get the ability in,” Kejick stated.

MCM Architects Inc., designers of the secure home, stated the ability will “present secure and safe shelter, emotional aid and culturally applicable providers for people locally looking for to flee violence or abuse.”

“The Secure Home can be dedicated to helping victims of abuse; girls and their kids within the troublesome transition from an abusive and violent home atmosphere to a constructive, impartial, and non-violent life-style,” the corporate stated. “The power would primarily provide secure, short-term shelter with entry to help providers for ladies, kids, elders (and) LGBTQ who’re victims of the various aspects of household violence.”

Arrest made after experiences of photographs fired in Yukon city: RCMP

News — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 23:41:00 +0000

FARO, YUKON —
The incoming mayor of Faro, Yukon, says he can affirm there have been “a number of accidents” after the RCMP mentioned it was investigating experiences of photographs fired within the small neighborhood.

Jack Bowers didn’t say how many individuals had been injured however he mentioned there was an “lively capturing” within the city of 400 folks.

The RCMP say a “doable suspect” was recognized and an arrest made within the city, which is a couple of four-hour drive northeast of Whitehorse.

Police have lifted a shelter in place order however are warning residents to avoid a number of streets in the neighborhood.

They are saying there’s a important first responder and police presence within the city.

The order to shelter in place was posted on social media about 1 p.m. and was rescinded 90 minutes later.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 26, 2021.

Gatineau, Que. man going through prices in Ottawa in phony vaccine certificates scheme

News — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 21:27:00 +0000

OTTAWA —
Ottawa police say a Gatineau, Que. man is going through prices following an investigation into cast COVID-19 vaccine certificates.

Police mentioned in a information launch that the “in depth and complicated” investigation started in September and concerned the road crime part, different models, and different legislation enforcement companies. On Monday, a 27-year-old man was arrested.

In an interview with CTV Information, Ottawa police Det. Shaun Wahbeh with the organized fraud unit mentioned police have been advised {that a} man was offering false Quebec vaccine certificates for Ontario residents and false Ontario certificates for Quebec residents.

“The primary we heard about it was in September, so we began our investigation and we did discover proof {that a} male was promoting these certificates,” Wahbeh mentioned.

Police mentioned the investigation is ongoing and additional prices may very well be laid, together with towards the consumers.

“We at the moment are actively in search of individuals who bought the certificates,” Wahbeh mentioned. “In the event you bought them after which introduced them to the ministry or confirmed your employer, you are accountable for prison prices.”

It’s unclear how lots of the certificates have been bought.

The discharge ended with a reminder that promoting, buying, utilizing or knowingly accepting false COVID-19 vaccination credentials is a criminal offense.

“For anyone who thinks it is okay to purchase these, you would be opening your self up for prison investigation, lack of employment—there are such a lot of repercussions that come from it,” Wahbeh mentioned. “So, for those who purchased it and also you introduced it to the ministry or to your employer, and we’ve got proof, we are going to cost you.”

Pierre Patry is going through prices of uttering a cast doc, forgery, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, in addition to prices referring to the possession and laundering of the proceeds of crime and in addition a drug possession for the needs of trafficking cost.

Patry is due in courtroom at a later date.

Canada’s medical doctors name on new well being minister to deal with ‘well being workforce disaster’

News — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 21:21:48 +0000

TORONTO —
Following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cupboard shuffle and the addition of a brand new cupboard position to deal with psychological well being, the Canadian Medical Affiliation (CMA) is asking on the brand new well being ministers to deal with the ‘well being workforce disaster’ attributable to pandemic burnout and stress.

In a press release Tuesday, the group outlined what number of health-care staff have left their jobs or are stretched skinny as a result of steady stress of coping with COVID-19.

“The pandemic has merely highlighted and exacerbated what we already knew: our well being care system wants focus and a spotlight,” the CMA said.

“There are not any fast fixes, and this disaster has escalated past what any province or territory can handle on their very own. The CMA seems to the federal authorities for pressing management and funding within the built-in, pan-Canadian well being workforce planning mandatory to make sure a robust and sustainable well being workforce.”

The brand new cupboard was unveiled Tuesday morning in what turned out to be a dramatic shakeup, with solely seven ministers unchanged of their position.

After 19 months serving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Patty Hajdu is not the minister of well being, and has been shifted to minister of Indigenous providers. Assuming her position is former Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos, with Carolyn Bennett taking on as affiliate minister of well being.

Bennett, who was a household doctor, has one other position as nicely, having been tapped to tackle the model new place of minister of psychological well being and addictions.

The CMA mentioned of their assertion that they applauded the inclusion of a minister of psychological well being, and hoped that Bennett would help in addressing the problems going through health-care staff.

“Well being care staff are burned out, exhausted and demoralized, all of which is exacerbated by the growing scarcity of well being human sources,” the assertion mentioned. “It’s important to put money into well being employee well-being. Many well being staff have handled excessive working circumstances all through the pandemic and the toll it has taken will probably be long-lasting.”

The assertion referred to as for the federal authorities to help in making certain that there’s the infrastructure mandatory to permit Canadians well timed entry to health-care suppliers whereas additionally making certain that health-care staff themselves are being supported.

“The variety of Canadians with out entry to a household doctor or care group is at a document excessive, inflicting trickle-down results all through the well being system and hinders sufferers’ capacity to obtain well timed care,” the assertion added.

The CMA additionally urged the federal government to stay as much as election guarantees relating to bettering well being care, and to create a “nation-wide anti-racism plan” to assist tackle structural inequities.

“We rely on the federal government to translate welcome election commitments into actuality as quickly as doable to see a $6 billion funding to assist tackle backlogs, $9 billion to enhance long-term care, and $3 billion to extend entry to very important major care suppliers,” the assertion mentioned.

Certainly one of Duclos’ first duties as he steps into the brand new position will probably be negotiating with provinces and territories who’ve demanded the federal authorities tackle a higher share of the associated fee for delivering well being care.

The Liberals’ platform additionally promised a brand new federal switch of $4.5 billion over 5 years to provinces and territories to develop free and accessible psychological well being providers.

With recordsdata from the Canadian Press

Underground gasoline spill discovered subsequent to Iqaluit’s water therapy plant

News — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 20:53:47 +0000

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT —
The Metropolis of Iqaluit says an outdated underground spill is probably going accountable for gasoline that’s contaminating the group’s faucet water.

Metropolis officers stated in a information launch Tuesday that they discovered indicators of a historic spill subsequent to the water therapy plant in an inaccessible gap within the floor.

The capital metropolis’s water has been undrinkable even when boiled since Oct. 12 when traces of gasoline have been discovered within the plant.

The town of about 8,000 individuals has been beneath a state of emergency since then and hundreds of bottles of water have been flown in.

Testing is now being accomplished to substantiate the spill is the supply of the contamination.

The town stated it has reported the spill to the Nunavut authorities and employed an expert agency to scrub it up. A website remediation plan can also be underway.

There may be nonetheless no timeline for when metropolis residents will be capable of drink their faucet water once more.

The Canadian Armed Forces arrived in Iqaluit final weekend to assist with the continued emergency.

The navy has stated it should arrange reverse osmosis water purification models within the metropolis however remains to be within the technique of testing water at proposed websites.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 26, 2021.

Canada launches pilot program to just accept North Korean refugees

News — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 18:36:07 +0000

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA —
A Toronto-based human rights group says it’s launching a personal sponsorship program to resettle North Korean refugees in Canada, which can develop into the third nation after South Korea and the U.S. to just accept North Koreans.

Sean Chung, government director of HanVoice, mentioned Tuesday the pilot program created in partnership with Canada’s authorities goals to convey 5 North Korean refugee households from Thailand to Canada throughout the subsequent two years.

Thailand is a significant transit nation for North Korean refugees as a result of it doesn’t ship them again to North Korea or China. China, North Korea’s important ally, has been continuously accused of cracking down on North Korean escapees and forcibly returning them regardless of the chance of torture and imprisonment.

Among the many candidates in Thailand, Canada will prioritize the households of North Korean girls who’ve survived or are liable to sexual and gender-based violence, Chung mentioned.

Canadians who volunteer as sponsors can be requested to help the households for 12 months or till they develop into self-sufficient. The sponsorship interval might be prolonged to a most of 36 months in distinctive circumstances, HanVoice mentioned in a press release.

The Canadian Embassy in Seoul did not instantly reply to requests for remark.

“From placing up the cash to sponsor the households, to selecting them up on the airport, to serving to register their youngsters for college, the group can be concerned each step of the best way,” mentioned Chung, who known as this system “uniquely Canadian.”

“For North Korean escapees, the vast majority of whom are girls and who’ve undergone traumatic experiences in transit, it is a new protected pathway and a recent new begin.”

Tens of 1000’s of North Koreans are believed to be dwelling in hiding in China. About 34,000 different North Koreans have fled to South Korea, the place they’ll obtain citizenship and different advantages beneath a legislation that considers North Korea a part of its territory.

The U.S. has admitted a a lot smaller variety of North Korean refugees because the adoption of the North Korea Human Rights Act in 2004.

Chung mentioned North Korean escapees have been unable to entry Canada’s refugee system, though some have migrated to Canada, Western Europe and Australia after initially settling in South Korea.

——

Related Press author Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report.