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CanadaJan 10, 2022

COVID hospitalizations nearing or reaching record highs in several

COVID-19 cases are threatening to overwhelm hospitals in several parts of Canada, with hospitalizations nearing or reaching record highs in Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Former CEO of the University Health Network and Ontario deputy health minister Dr. Bob Bell says every Western country dealing with COVID's fast spreading Omicron variant has a stressed hospital system right now. But he says Canada will pursue lockdowns and restrictions sooner than places such as the United States because Canada has a lower tolerance for deaths from the virus. Meanwhile, students in British Columbia a
omicron-causes-enormous-caseload-but-severe-illness-not-rising-at-same-rate-dr-theresa-tam
CanadaJan 07, 2022

Omicron causes 'enormous' caseload, but severe illness not rising at same rate: Dr. Theresa Tam

Canada's chief public health officer says the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is causing an "enormous" volume of cases. In a news conference this morning, Dr. Theresa Tam said the average daily case count has increased 65 per cent from last week.Tam says testing capacity is challenged in many areas of the country, but public health officials continue to use other indicators to measure the progress of the virus. Dr. Theresa Tam said the new variant is now "predominating and widespread" in much of the country.Tam says the portion of laboratory tests coming back positive is estimated at 29 per cent,
ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-announces-he-has-become-a-father-of-a-baby-girl
CanadaJan 06, 2022

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announces he has become a father of a baby girl

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has announced that he and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world on Monday, a day after his own birthday. The NDP leader tweeted the news, saying their ``powerful little girl'' is basically his ``birthday present for life.'' Singh and his wife, fashion designer Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, were married in February 2018. Jagmeet Singh on Twitter: @gurkirankaur and I want to let you know that we welcomed the newest addition to our family on January 3rd, 2022. Our powerful little baby girl is basically my birthday present for life lol. Momma bear and baby are healthy and o
cineplex-temporarily-lays-off-nearly-5-000-part-time-employees
CanadaJan 06, 2022

Cineplex temporarily lays-off nearly 5,000 part-time employees

Cineplex says it has temporarily laid off nearly five-thousand part-time employees because of mandated closures of its Ontario movie theatres. New COVID-19 public health measures announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to tackle the surge of the Omicron variant resulted in the closure of 67 Cineplex theatres. A spokeswoman says Canada's largest movie chain will get its employees back to work as soon as the restrictions are lifted. The new restrictions also closed indoor concert venues, museums, galleries and other attractions. Indoor dining is also closed, and restaurants and bars must cease s
quebec-will-require-people-to-show-vaccine-passport-at-liquor-cannabis-stores
CanadaJan 06, 2022

Quebec will require people to show vaccine passport at liquor, cannabis stores

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube says he hopes to coerce unvaccinated people to get their first doses by bringing in new proof-of-vaccination rules at liquor and cannabis stores starting January 18th. Dube says more services will soon be added to the list for proof of vaccination requirements. He also says the health system is missing about 20-thousand workers who have been infected or exposed to the disease, and that the government is working with unions to find more staff to care for up to 2,500 COVID-19 patients. A provincial health-care research institute says that within two week
CanadaJan 06, 2022

Omicron variant pushing health-care system to brink and putting pressure on some police and transit services

Surging cases of COVID-19 driven by the rapidly transmissible Omicron variant are pushing the health-care system to the brink and putting pressure on some police and transit services. With 170 personnel booked off on leave related to COVID-19, the Winnipeg Police Service declared a state of emergency Wednesday and the Edmonton and Calgary police services warned of staffing challenges after a growing number of members tested positive or were in isolation. Ontario's GO Transit says a temporary reduction in train and bus service in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton regions is set to begin within d
air-transat-denies-boarding-to-passengers-from-sunwing-party-flight-to-mexico
CanadaJan 06, 2022

Air Transat denies boarding to passengers from Sunwing party flight to Mexico

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls videos of a party on a recent Sunwing Airlines flight from Montreal to Cancun, Mexico a ``slap in the face'' to those who have tried to stay safe. Air Transat says passengers who were partying maskless on a recent Sunwing flight from Montreal to Mexico are not allowed on its planes as they attempt to return to Canada. Video on social media showed people partying on the flight swigging vodka from the same bottle and vaping. Videos of the December 30th flight shared on social media appear to show passengers not wearing masks as they sang and danced in the ais
conservative-leader-says-the-liberals-have-shown-a-lack-of-leadership-on-rapid-testing
CanadaJan 05, 2022

Conservative Leader says the Liberals have shown a lack of leadership on rapid testing

Prime Minister Trudeau has reiterated that there are enough vaccine doses for every Canadian to get a booster. At his first COVID-19 update for 2022, Trudeau again called for people to get vaccinated. Trudeau also says rapid testing is part of the path through this latest wave of the pandemic. But Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says the Liberals have shown a lack of leadership on rapid testing. He said today's announcement of 140 million tests being distributed this month hasn't come soon enough and also accuses the Trudeau government of incentivizing lockdowns by offering financial sup
dr-theresa-tam-says-provinces-are-trying-to-pull-off-a-balancing-act-for-the-economy-by-shortening-the-isolation-period
CanadaJan 05, 2022

Dr. Theresa Tam says, provinces are trying to pull off a balancing act for the economy by shortening the isolation period

Canada's chief medical officer of health says she understands why some provinces have shortened the isolation period for COVID-19 infection. Over the holidays, Ontario and Quebec cut the length of isolation periods for infected people by half, to just five days. Dr. Theresa Tam says the provinces are trying to pull off a balancing act for the economy. Tam's deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo, says the federal public health agency is in discussions with provinces and the Centers for Disease Control in the United States about the ideal isolation period.

Just In

richmond-rcmp-warns-public-about-job-posters-written-in-simplified-chinese
BCAug 29, 2025

Richmond RCMP warns public about job posters written in Simplified Chinese

Richmond RCMP is warning the public about job advertisement posters targeted to the Chinese community. The posters are written in Simplified Chinese, and posted on various light posts throughout the City. The job posters advertise various types of employment such as vacation home house-sitter, care giver for the elderly, and tea leaves packager. The posters provide a brief description of the job, and a contact phone number. Investigators have reason to believe that these posters may be used to solicit personal information which may be used to identify potential scam targets. In one case, a vic
richmond-rcmp-reminds-drivers-to-slow-down-as-students-return-to-school
BCAug 29, 2025

Richmond RCMP reminds drivers to slow down as students return to school

As students head back to school this September, Richmond RCMP is reminding drivers and parents to take extra care on the roads. Richmond roads will be busier this September as many people return from summer holidays and children return to school. Drivers are reminded to allow extra travel time, reduce speed, and avoid distractions by leaving your phone alone while driving. Watch for children and multimodal road users, especially near schools, parks, and residential areas. According to ICBC data, three children are killed and 402 injured in crashes while walking or cycling in B.C. every year. 5
poilievre-wants-reasonable-self-defence-defined-in-criminal-code
CanadaAug 29, 2025

Poilievre wants 'reasonable' self-defence defined in Criminal Code

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants the government to amend the Criminal Code to say that the use of force is presumed to be reasonable to defend your home is someone breaks into it. He says if the government doesn't do this, his party will introduce a private member's bill aimed at making the change this fall during a press conference in Brampton, Ont.. This comes after a 44-year-old Lindsay, Ont. man was charged with assault in an altercation after a man with a crossbow allegedly broke into his apartment. The alleged intruder, a 41-year-old man also from Lindsay, was airlifted to hosp
fort-st-john-rcmp-arrest-two-males-and-execute-search-warrant-in-drug-investigation
BCAug 29, 2025

Fort St John RCMP arrest two males and execute search warrant in drug investigation

On August 15, 2025, the Fort St John RCMP Street Enforcement Team completed a drug trafficking investigation with the search of a hotel room near 93 Avenue and 100 Street in Fort St John, BC. The search followed the arrest of two males that day after they attempted to flee from Police in the parking lot of the hotel. The incident resulted in damage to police vehicles and the suspect vehicle. Inside the suspect vehicle, Police located drugs, currency and two loaded handguns; one of which had been converted to fire fully automatic. Police executed a search warrant on the room the males were sta
police-charge-18-year-old-man-after-three-people-stabbed-at-calgary-stampede
AlbertaAug 29, 2025

Police charge 18-year-old man after three people stabbed at Calgary Stampede

Police have charged a man with three counts of aggravated assault for stabbings at the Calgary Stampede last month. Police say they identified the 18-year-old following an extensive investigation that included witness interviews and camera footage. Officers executed a search warrant of the suspect's house and seized a folding knife and clothing they say believe are consistent with the stabbings. The man is scheduled to appear in court next week. Three males were stabbed in an area of the Stampede midway, including two 18-year-olds and one 15-year-old. Police have said all three