Active cases and staff shortages due to COVID-19 have forced the closure of a number classrooms in schools in Ottawa’s largest school board.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) had 54 active student cases of COVID-19 and 14 staff cases as of mid-morning Wednesday. There were active student cases at nine intermediate and secondary schools, and 23 at elementary schools.
OPH describes a school outbreak this way: two student or staff cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 within a specified class and a 14-day period where at least one case could have reasonably acquired the infection at school.
Teacher shortages
Hopewell Avenue Public School and Manor Park Public School are the only OCDSB schools that have been partially closed due to staff shortages Wednesday, the board says.
“Neither of those schools have been declared outbreaks. However, we have had a number of staff listed as high-risk contacts from positive cases and have had to self-isolate,” a school board spokesperson said in an email.
Manor Park was closed completely to in-person learning on Wednesday. A letter from the principal to parents said it was hoped the school would reopen Thursday, but the school board said it will now remain shut through Friday.
At Hopewell Avenue school, four classes were closed, effective Wednesday and through Monday.
An emailed letter to parents with students at Hopewell Avenue school said contact tracing was done through OPH to determine high-risk contacts, and all the students and staff members involved have been informed and are now self-isolating.
“There is no evidence to suggest that any of the confirmed cases at our school were transmitted at our school,” said the letter. “We have made every effort to replace staff members, but are unable to find sufficient replacement staff. For this reason, we must close a number of classes.
“We are working extremely hard to fill these positions with occasional teachers. Unfortunately, like other school boards, the OCDSB is facing a shortage of replacement staff.”
Teachers will be in touch for remote learning plans, the letter added.
OPH sent emails to parents and guardians of students at John McCrae Secondary School about a COVID-19 outbreak currently contained to Grade 10 classes.
“The end date of the outbreak has not been established, but the outbreak group(s) may be closed for two weeks or longer,” says the email.
Taking precautions
OPH said it will contact parents directly for further instructions if they or their children are identified as part of the outbreak group.
Parents and students who aren’t contacted by OPH don’t have to isolate or be tested. But it’s recommended that staff and students avoid visiting people who are older or have chronic illnesses for the duration of the outbreak.
Staff and students who aren’t part of the outbreak should self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 each day before arriving at school. If they’re experiencing symptoms (such as fever, sore throat or body aches), they’re advised to visit a COVID-19 assessment centre, care clinic or drive-thru.
Parents and guardians at other OCDSB schools have been sent emails identifying them as high-risk contacts. Parents have been told they shouldn’t send their children to school, unless advised otherwise by OPH, and to isolate.
The letter said even if children don’t exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, all members of the household must stay home for the duration of the students’ self-isolation period, except for essential reasons, such as:
Going to work, school or child care.
To get groceries.
For medical appointments and picking up prescriptions.
If symptoms develop, members of the household should get COVID-19 testing.
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.
