In Quebec — the province hardest-hit by the virus — 216 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, and health officials said one more person had died, bringing the province’s total death toll to 5,770.
So far, health authorities in Quebec have administered 1,721,867 tests, and 55,871 have recovered after contracting COVID-19.
Ontario health officials did not release any new data on the holiday Monday, but 158 new cases reported on Sunday brought the province’s case count to 43,161.
A total of 2,813 people have died from COVID-19 in Ontario, and 3,126,408 have been tested for the virus.
Since the pandemic began, 38,958 have recovered after falling ill.
3:10 Canada still determining percentage of COVID-19 vaccinations needed to be effective on wider scale: Tam
Canada still determining percentage of COVID-19 vaccinations needed to be effective on wider scale: Tam
Manitoba saw 15 new infections on Monday, bringing the provincial total to 1,338.
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However, health officials said no one else had died.
More than 81,300 tests have been conducted in Nova Scotia and 1,017 have recovered from infections.
Neither New Brunswick or Newfoundland and Labrador reported a new case of the novel coronavirus, and health officials in each province said no additional deaths had occurred.
In New Brunswick, 64,188 tests have been administered, and 187 people have recovered after becoming infected with the virus.
Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labrador health officials have tested 33,483 people for the virus. 265 of the province’s cases are considered to be resolved.
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Prince Edward Island reported four new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the province’s total case load to 51.
Forty-four people have recovered after contracting the virus in PEI.
Neither British Columbia or Alberta released any new COVID-19 data on Monday.
2:18 Coronavirus: Tam says young people comprise a ‘majority’ of new cases
Coronavirus: Tam says young people comprise a ‘majority’ of new cases
But the latest data released in British Columbia on Friday said the province has seen 6,077 cases of the virus since the pandemic began, and 211 deaths.
Officials in British Columbia have conducted more than 386,100 tests and 4,706 cases are considered to be recovered.
In Alberta, numbers released Friday said the province has seen 4,474 cases of the virus so far.
There have also been 242 deaths related to COVID-19 in the province.
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More than 1,005,000 tests have been conducted and 12,799 people have recovered from the virus in Alberta.
Cause for concern
In a statement on Monday, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said the slow but steady increase in COVID-19 cases is cause for concern.
Tam said the average daily number of people testing positive over the last week is 545 — a 25 per cent increase over the previous week which saw a daily average of 435, and 390 a week before that.
That number increased every day over the last week prompting Tam to remind Canadians not to get complacent about their risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.
The territories
None of the territories released new COVID-19 data on the holiday Monday.
But according to the latest numbers released on Friday, all five of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Northwest Territories were considered to be resolved.
The territory has conducted 4,012 tests for the virus.
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2:44 Coronavirus: 23 COVID-19 cases linked to GTA wedding events
Coronavirus: 23 COVID-19 cases linked to GTA wedding events
In Yukon, all 15 of the cases of the virus previously detected have been resolved.
More than 2,700 people in the territory have been tested for the virus.
Nunavut has not yet confirmed a single case of COVID-19.
Global cases top 27 million
The number of novel coronavirus cases have now topped 27 million, according to a tally from John’s Hopkins University.
As of 7 p.m. ET, there were a total of 27,235,839 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide.
JASPER, ALTA. – The Alberta government has announced 250 units of interim housing for Jasper, Alta., residents displaced by a wildfire this summer.
Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon says the housing will cost the province $112 million, and the units will be rented at or near market rates.
The July wildfire destroyed one-third of the tourist town’s structures, including more than 800 units of housing.
Nixon says it’s still being determined how many of the interim housing units will be single occupancy and how many will be designed for families.
Mayor Richard Ireland says the need for housing was already an issue before the fire, but these units will help Jasper residents recover from the disaster.
Nixon says units are expected to be available in January.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
OTTAWA – A federal public inquiry into foreign interference is grappling with how to define its central issue as it begins the final week of hearings in Ottawa.
The inquiry will hear from expert panels this week on disinformation, national security and how to ensure electoral integrity.
This morning, experts talked about the challenge in differentiating between legitimate diplomatic efforts and more nefarious interference attempts.
This panel also includes the challenge of how to regulate efforts to interfere in elections without infringing on the rights to free expression.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue is tasked with examining efforts of foreign states like China, India and Russia to interfere in the last two federal elections and in Canada’s democracy.
A final report, which will make recommendations on how to ensure electoral integrity and strengthen democratic institutions, is due by the end of the year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024
SHERBROOKE, Que. – National Revenue Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau will run for mayor of Sherbrooke, Que., in the municipal elections slated for next fall.
The Liberal MP for the Quebec riding of Compton-Stanstead confirmed Monday morning that she will complete her current term in Ottawa, but will not seek re-election.
Bibeau, who has been national revenue minister since July 2023, was first elected in 2015 and has since spent time as minister of agriculture, international development and la Francophonie.
Bibeau said her campaign has not officially begun and she will continue to focus on her work as an MP, but she plans to run as an independent candidate to replace outgoing Mayor Évelyne Beaudin, who has already confirmed she will not seek re-election.
Quebec’s municipal elections are scheduled for Nov. 2, 2025, while the next federal election must take place no later than Oct. 20, though the minority Liberal government could fall before then.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to shuffle his cabinet soon to replace Bibeau and three other ministers who have informed him they don’t plan to run in the next election.
Bibeau’s spouse, Bernard Sévigny, was mayor of Sherbrooke from 2009 to 2017.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
