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first-doses-of-paxlovid-reach-canada-more-coming-in-february-and-march
CanadaJan 17, 2022

First doses of Paxlovid reach Canada, more coming in February and March

Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19, Paxlovid, has received Health Canada approval. It’s a combination of two different drugs, to be taken together twice a day for five days. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the first doses are already here with more to come in March. He says the provinces and territories have been given preliminary information on deliveries, which will be done on a per capita basis.Canadian doctors have been anxious to get their hands on the medication as the Omicron wave is spreading so quickly. Canada bought one-million courses of the treatment for delivery thi
health-canada-approves-pfizer-antiviral
CanadaJan 17, 2022

Health Canada approves Pfizer antiviral

Health Canada has approved Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19. The authorization posted to the Health Canada website this morning says the treatment is greenlighted for adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are also at high risk of becoming more seriously ill. Health Canada did not authorize it for use on teenagers. It is also not authorized for use on patients who are already hospitalized because of COVID-19.Paxlovid is a treatment that uses a combination of drugs to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from replicating once it has infected a patient.Clinical trials sho
CanadaJan 14, 2022

Federal modelling shows COVID-19 hospitalizations to surge

New modelling by the federal government suggests daily hospitalizations will surge in the coming weeks, driven by extremely high levels of transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Though the rate of people who are hospitalized with Omicron is lower compared to the Delta variant, the forecast shows new daily hospital admissions will far exceed previous historical peaks due to the sheer number of cases. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam released the new modelling today, which suggests the current wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant will peak this month at between 1
ottawa-to-go-ahead-with-trucker-vaccine-mandate-after-stating-it-would-scrap-it
CanadaJan 14, 2022

Ottawa to go ahead with trucker vaccine mandate after stating it would scrap it

The federal government says a statement from the Canada Border Services Agency that said Canadian truckers would be exempt from a new COVID-19 vaccination requirement was provided in error. Federal officials say today the vaccine mandate for truckers crossing into Canada from the United States will come into effect this Saturday as planned. There was no explanation for the incorrect information emailed to media more than 20-hours earlier. The federal Conservatives, as well as trade groups representing oil, manufacturing and export companies, had called on Ottawa this week to postpone the Janu
otoole-says-he-opposes-quebecs-plan-to-tax-and-target-the-unvaccinated
CanadaJan 13, 2022

O'Toole says he opposes Quebec's plan to 'tax and target' the unvaccinated

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says while he respects provincial jurisdiction, he opposes Quebec's plan ``to tax and target'' those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19. The Tory leader made his position known on Premier Francois Legault's proposal during a Facebook Live today. Earlier in the week Legault announced adults living the province who are unvaccinated and don't have a medical exemption could expect to start paying a ``significant'' financial penalty. The premier said the measure was needed because around half of the patients in intensive care are unvaccinated even those only abo
health-canada-7-to-10-days-from-decision-on-pfizer-antiviral-drug
CanadaJan 13, 2022

Health Canada 7 to 10 days from decision on Pfizer antiviral drug

Health Canada's chief medical adviser says a decision on Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is expected in seven to 10 days.But Supriya Sharma says the department reached out to Pfizer asking for shipments of the drug before approval, using regulations that allow medications approved elsewhere to be used in Canada when there is an urgent health need.Sharma says the company said no because it didn't have any supply to send.Canada has a contract to buy one million doses of Paxlovid but Pfizer spokeswoman Christina Antoniou says information on shipments to Canada won't be provided until H
unvaccinated-canadian-truckers-will-not-have-to-quarantine-when-crossing-border-csba
CanadaJan 13, 2022

Unvaccinated Canadian truckers will not have to quarantine when crossing border: CSBA

Only days before Canadian truck drivers were required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to get into the country or face quarantine, the federal government is backing away from the vaccine mandate. The new rule will still take effect for American truckers starting this weekend, with drivers being turned away at the border unless they've been inoculated. But a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency told The Canadian Press late Wednesday that unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers, or those who have had only one dose, will not have to quarantine. The head of the Canadian Trucking Allia
trudeau-says-too-early-to-comment-on-quebecs-plan-to-make-unvaccinated-pay-penalty
CanadaJan 12, 2022

Trudeau says too early to comment on Quebec's plan to make unvaccinated pay penalty

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he needs to see more details before taking a stance on Quebec's plan to levy a financial penalty against people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Trudeau told reporters today in Ottawa he wants to see how the Quebec proposal balances people's rights with the state's goal of protecting them from the disease. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Tuesday he planned to make the unvaccinated pay a ``significant'' financial penalty. Legault said people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 occupy a disproportionate number of hospital beds and should be re
trudeau-warns-of-more-russia-sanctions-amid-moscow-military-build-up-near-ukraine
CanadaJan 12, 2022

Trudeau warns of more Russia sanctions amid Moscow military build up near Ukraine

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Russia may face further Western sanctions as a consequence of its military build up on the Ukrainian border. And Trudeau strongly suggests today that Canada will renew its modest commitment of 200 Canadian Forces personnel to a NATO training mission in Ukraine, amid rising tensions between the West and Russia. The Ukrainian government has been waiting on Canada to publicly renew the commitment, set to expire at the end of March, as part of show of NATO solidarity toward Russia at a time of rising tensions. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his ca

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liberal-minister-signals-possible-further-mp-defections-as-government-nears-majority
CanadaDec 15, 2025

Liberal minister signals possible further MP defections as government nears majority

A federal cabinet minister says the governing Liberals are hearing increased interest from opposition MPs following a recent high-profile defection that has brought the government to the brink of a majority in the House of Commons. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told reporters Tuesday that he has received “lots of inquiries” when asked whether additional MPs are considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal caucus. His comments come days after Ontario MP Michael Ma left the Conservative Party to sit with the Liberals. Ma’s move has left the Liberals one seat short of a majority, a shif
b-c-braces-for-more-flooding-as-heavy-rain-forecast-across-fraser-valley-and-vancouver-island
BCDec 15, 2025

B.C. braces for more flooding as heavy rain forecast across Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island

The B.C. government is warning that heavy rain expected across parts of the province could lead to additional flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities say the Sumas and Chilliwack Rivers remain under flood warnings, though rainfall is anticipated to be less severe than last week’s storms that caused extensive flooding in Abbotsford. Environment Canada has issued "high impact" rainfall warnings for the Fraser and Skagit valleys, with some areas expected to receive up to 80 millimetres of rain, particularly in higher elevations. Officials cautioned that the situation is unpredictable and that
three-children-die-from-flu-related-complications-in-ottawa-eastern-ontario-as-cases-surge
CanadaDec 15, 2025

Three children die from flu-related complications in Ottawa, eastern Ontario as cases surge

Public health officials in Ottawa and eastern Ontario say three children have died from complications linked to influenza over the past two weeks, underscoring growing concerns as flu activity rises sharply across the province. Medical officers of health for Ottawa and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit say the children were between the ages of five and nine. Officials describe the recent deaths as rare but serious, noting that influenza can lead to severe illness, particularly among young children. Health units report a rapid and significant increase in Influenza A activity across Ontario, with
b-c-police-watchdog-investigates-fatal-collision-involving-surrey-police-vehicle
BCDec 15, 2025

B.C. police watchdog investigates fatal collision involving Surrey police vehicle

British Columbia’s police oversight agency has launched an investigation after a woman was struck and killed by a Surrey police vehicle late Sunday night. Surrey Police Service says the incident occurred at a busy intersection near 152 Street and 64 Avenue, an area that serves as a major commuter route for residents travelling through the city and into Metro Vancouver. Despite immediate medical assistance from first responders, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the woman’s identity, and further details about the circumstances leading up to the collis
IndiaDec 15, 2025

Bomb Threat Emails Sent to Around 11 Schools in Jalandhar, Police Launch Investigation

Authorities in Punjab are investigating bomb threat emails sent to approximately 11 schools in Jalandhar, prompting temporary closures and heightened security measures across the city. The threats were received by email early Monday morning, according to district officials. The incident comes just days after similar bomb threats were reported at several schools in Amritsar, raising concerns among parents, educators, and local authorities about student safety. In Jalandhar, school administrations alerted police after receiving the emails, leading to immediate search operations on school premise