OTTAWA – New federal forecasts show in the months ahead we’re going to see an even bigger ramp up of COVID-19 vaccinations than first predicted.
Canada has now received 1.5-million doses. The latest numbers show that in the second quarter of this year — between April and June — Canada is due to received around 23-million doses from Pfizer and Moderna alone, which is five million more than first projected.
That figure could jump significantly if the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, or Novavax drugs are approved by Health Canada. The latest forecasts show that Canada could inoculate between 14.5- to 24.5 million people in the second quarter, equating to between 38 and 64 per cent of the population.
However, the figures are just estimates and do come with risks. Canada has already seen disruptions to its deliveries and these kinds of delays are always possible going forward.
On this chart, officials clarify the second line (the higher number). The best case scenario includes deliveries from the approved vaccines Pfizer & Moderna, and three shots that are pending approval, Astra Zeneca, Johnson and Johnson, and Novavax #cdnpoli
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin says work is underway with the provinces to prepare for this scale up.
“To ensure that they have capacity and capability to keep pace with increasing shipment size of authorized COVID-19 vaccines,” said Fortin.
He says Canada’s planning will now focus on these updated figures.
Fortin notes 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been delivered to the provinces and territories, however there have been delivery delays due to severe weather on the east coast.
To date, 1.33 million shots have been administered.
Canada has been criticized for its vaccine rollout pace compared to several other ally countries.
While Canada was among the first countries to approve vaccines for use, it has trailed some nations in its distribution per capita.
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The country’s top doctor, Dr. Theresa Tam, would not give an update on when Canadians can expect to receive word on the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which health officials have previously said was close.
“That’s part of the regulatory area that belongs to Health Canada and we must let the regulator do its job in terms of reviewing the data, because they’re there to ensure that we have all the checks and balances in terms of effectiveness and safety,” Tam told Breakfast Television Toronto on Thursday.
“I’ve heard that it’s ongoing, basically, and they’re working as fast as they can. And the data is evolving so I think that’s part of the reason as well. But I really support people letting the regulator do the best job possible,” added Tam.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has updated its priority populations for the next stage of vaccinations.
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NACI suggests provinces give priority to people in congregate living spaces and adults living in Indigenous communities.
“These individuals are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Adults in Indigenous communities, where infection can have disproportionate consequences,” Njoo said.
The committee has also updated its guidanceto include adults from racialized communities disproportionally affected by COVID-19, as well as all essential workers, in the second stage.
With concerns growing over a potential third wave related to variants quickly spreading through Canada, Tam says now is not the time for Canadians to let their guard down.
“And that’s why I’ve been messaging pretty widely in terms of keeping interactions to a minimum,” she said. “So I’ve been saying people should, as much as possible, have the fewest interactions, with the fewest people, for the shortest time, at the greatest distance.”
She warns a third wave is “a distinct possibility.”
VANCOUVER – West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. says it’s indefinitely curtailing its sawmill in Lake Butler, Fla., by the end of the month.
The Vancouver-based company says the decision is because of high fibre costs and soft lumber markets.
West Fraser says the curtailment will affect about 130 employees, though it will mitigate the impact by providing work opportunities at other locations.
The company says high fibre costs at Lake Butler and the current low-price commodity environment have made it difficult to operate the mill profitably.
It expects to take an impairment charge in the third quarter associated with the curtailment.
At the beginning of this year, West Fraser said it was closing a sawmill in Maxville, Fla., and indefinitely closing another in Huttig, Ark.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
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)
