Canada’s chief public health officer said Sunday that the country is seeing more infections from coronavirus variants of concern, adding that now is a “crucial moment” to tamp down on the spread of COVID-19.
“In parts of Canada, variants of concern represent an increasingly high proportion of cases and are being associated with a greater number of outbreaks,” Dr. Theresa Tam said in a statement.
“If we can keep up with personal protective measures and limit our contacts for a final push to keep COVID-19 infection rates down as vaccine programs scale up, we can keep the path clear for vaccines to do their part.”
Tam said there have been 4,499 cases of coronavirus variants confirmed in Canada as of Thursday. Variants of concern are taking a particularly strong hold in Western Canada, with Regina seeing nearly all of its cases from the variants, prompting health officials to urge caution and warn that lockdowns may return.
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However, Tam noted that cases are down nationally and said she is encouraged by Canada’s vaccine numbers. More than 670,000 doses were administered in the past week, she said, out of more than 3.68 million overall.
“Each week, a new high is being set for the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, and we can expect more and greater benefits to come,” Tam said.
What’s happening across Canada
As of 6 p.m. on Sunday, Canada had reported 933,790 cases of COVID-19, with 35,009 cases considered active. A CBC News tally of deaths stood at 22,679.
The province says there is an elevated risk of COVID-19 in Regina due to community transmission of coronavirus variants. It recommends that Regina and area residents, particularly those over age 50, not increase their household bubbles to include the two to three households up to 10 people allowed under current regulations. They should consider remaining with their current household only, the province says.
WATCH | Officials urge caution as variants take hold in Western Canada:
The COVID-19 variants are taking hold in much of Western Canada with confirmed cases doubling in some provinces and Regina seeing nearly all its cases from the variants, prompting health officials to urge caution and warn that lockdowns may return. 1:32
Health Minister Christine Elliott says residents aged 75 and older will be able to book vaccination appointments online starting on Monday.
Starting March 22, Ontarians aged 75+ will be able to book vaccination appointments online at <a href=”https://t.co/pxlgLpkLxR”>https://t.co/pxlgLpkLxR</a> or call the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488. Please only access the booking tool or call for support if you’re eligible for an appointment. <a href=”https://t.co/aesDfsEj5a”>pic.twitter.com/aesDfsEj5a</a>
Starting on March 26, three of the province’s regions are set to move to the yellow alert level.
That means restrictions will loosen, bars can reopen and curfews will be cancelled in the Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands, the North Shore and Northern Quebec.
Nova Scotia reported six new cases, the highest daily number in two weeks. The province now has 21 known active cases.
In a news release, Premier Iain Rankin noted that Sunday is the last day of March break, and he urged teachers and children to remain vigilant.
“Please remember to keep doing what we have been doing so well all along,” he said. “Keep our social circles small, follow public health measures and get tested.”
WATCH | Atlantic bubble set for April reopening:
Four premiers have planned to reopen the Atlantic bubble in mid-April, allowing people to travel between Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, P.E.I. and New Brunswick without isolating. 1:56
New Brunswick added one new case on Sunday as the province announced a program to vaccinate high school teachers.
It’s expected that this week, 4,500 staff from high schools province-wide will receive a first dose at a clinic in one of 16 locations. Schools will be closed to students on the days that local clinics are being held to allow for high school staff to be vaccinated and plan for the full return to school.
Newfoundland and Labrador‘s active caseload remains at five after the province again saw no new infections on Sunday.
N.L. is moving into Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout, meaning those who are 70 and older can pre-register for their shot. The Department of Health said registration can be done online, but people will not receive a separate email confirmation after pre-registering.
What’s happening around the world
As of Sunday, more than 122.9 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide with 69.3 million cases listed as recovered, according to a tracking tool maintained by Johns Hopkins University. The global death toll stood at more than 2.7 million.
In Asia, India reported 43,846 new cases — its highest number of new infections in four months — amid a worrying surge that has prompted multiple states to return to some form of restrictions on public gathering.
A person is tested for COVID-19 at a long distance train station in Mumbai on Sunday. (Rafiq Maqbool/The Associated Press)
In Europe, Romania on Sunday recorded 1,334 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units — its highest number since the pandemic began.
In the Americas, Colombia became the first country in the region to receive a shipment of vaccines from the United Nations-backed COVAX initiative after more than a million doses of Chinese-developed Sinovac and AstraZeneca shots touched down in Bogota late Saturday.
In Africa, Guy Brice Parfait Kolélas, the leading opposition presidential candidate in Republic of Congo, was receiving oxygen at a private hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19, a family member said, casting Sunday’s election into doubt.
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TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
