Across Canada a blend of optimism and caution is emerging as provinces and territories revise their strategies for riding out the latest wave of the pandemic.
In Saskatchewan where rising hospital admissions and staff shortages due to COVID-19 are a growing concern, the provincial health authority says it is looking at redeploying staff from other government departments to bolster the health-care system.
Next door in Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney says there are signs the province has “reached and surpassed” peak COVID-19 cases in the fifth wave. But he is still warning that hospitalizations — currently at record levels — will continue rising and put more pressure on an already overwhelmed health system.
In an effort to cope with that scenario the province says it will create new pandemic response units in Edmonton and Calgary.
More than 2,100 new COVID cases were reported in British Columbia Thursday as the province announced that 200-thousand COVID-19 test kits will be distributed among elementary and high schools to try to keep them open.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said this week that he’s confidant the latest COVID wave powered by the Omicron variant has now crested. However, Doctor Gerald Evan — one of Ontario’s COVID advisers — has warned that Ford is acting too soon with his plan to start easing health restrictions at the end of January.
Quebec’s Health Department reported a slight dip in COVID hospitalizations Thursday, its first since Dec. 16. But unlike Ontario, Premier Francois Legault said the situation in his province’s hospitals remains too fragile to start loosening restrictions that have kept gyms, bars and entertainment venues closed since December.
In Atlantic Canada there are glimmers of optimism, with Newfoundland and Labrador announcing that students in kindergarten to Grade 12 will head back to in-class learning on Tuesday, and Prince Edward Island reporting COVID-19 recoveries are currently outpacing new cases.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2022.
TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.
The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.
It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.
The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.
That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.
Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.
