Canadians trapped in the coronavirus-affected region in Wuhan, China could be able to leave starting Thursday, but not all who registered are guaranteed a seat on the first flight out, according to Canadian officials.
Global Affairs Canada sent an email to Canadians in the region overnight saying a government-chartered flight is expected to leave Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in the early morning of Feb. 6.
“Due to demand and the restrictions associated with this flight, we cannot guarantee that everyone who is eligible for a seat will be able to board the plane,” notes the email, a copy of which was obtained by CBC.
“You should make plans for the eventuality that you are not able to board the plane.”
A government official cautioned that a departure time is not confirmed, as Canada is still awaiting final approvals for entering restricted air space from the Chinese government.
The plane we have chartered to assist those Canadians in <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wuhan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Wuhan</a> and <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HubeiProvince?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HubeiProvince</a> who wish to leave is currently on its way to <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hanoi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Hanoi</a> in Vietnam where it will be prepositioned for departure to China when final approvals are granted. <a href=”https://t.co/EehBS2LYeH”>pic.twitter.com/EehBS2LYeH</a>
Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced on Twitter Tuesday that the plane has departed for Hanoi, Vietnam, and will carry on to China from there when final approvals are granted.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stops to answer questions about the government’s plans to evacuate Canadians and others from Wuhan, China. 0:44
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said right now, a larger number of people have requested to be on the evacuation flight than there is space on the plane.
“That’s why we have already got an option on the second plane,” he said before a cabinet meeting Tuesday. “Though we’ve already seen the experience of the countries that sometimes people who want to come aren’t able to make it to the airport. So we’ll make a decision based on how full the plane is when we come back, whether or not we exercise the option of the second plane.”
On Monday, Champagne said there are 280 Canadian passport-holders and 24 others who want to board the chartered flight. He told reporters he will provide an update on the evacuation after the cabinet meeting.
Minister of Health Patty Hajdu discusses Canada’s plan to bring back Canadians stranded in China’s quarantine zone. Two Democratic strategists weigh in on the Iowa caucus and what tonight’s result could mean for the Democratic nomination. MPs debate the proposed Teck Frontier oil sands mine in Alberta. 1:33:50
His cabinet colleague, Health Minister Patty Hajdu, told CBC News Network’s Power & Politics on Monday the chartered plane can take about 250 people, including crew. A second chartered plane has been secured to transport people if it is required, she said.
Canadian officials said permanent residents of Canada with Canadian children will be allowed to leave Wuhan on a government-chartered flight.
Hajdu said China will only make an exception for non-citizens travelling with a Canadian minor who would otherwise be unaccompanied.
“In that case, China has agreed to allow a permanent resident or a Chinese citizen to travel with that child who is a Canadian,” she told Power & Politics host Vassy Kapelos.
Hajdu said China continues to take a hard line on other cases in an effort to contain the disease.
Travellers with symptoms of coronavirus will not be allowed to board the Canadian plane. Each person will only be allowed to bring one carry-on, according to the email.
Federal officials are now on the ground in Wuhan to co-ordinate the airlift. All staff taking part in the airlift will be wearing protective gear.
Quarantine in Trenton, Ont.
The federal government will absorb the costs of the airlift and quarantine for the passengers.
“This is what Canadians do. We help each other,” Hajdu said. “We’ve got 300 Canadians stuck in a quarantined city where life is becoming incredibly difficult, if not almost impossible, in some situations.”
Information about the coronavirus outbreak is spreading fast, but what do we actually know about the illness? CBC News medical contributor and family physician Dr. Peter Lin breaks down the facts about what it is, where it came from, how it spreads and what you can do to protect yourself. 5:10
The number of cases of the new coronavirus has climbed to more than 20,000 worldwide, with more than 400 deaths. There have been four cases in Canada to date — three in Ontario and one in British Columbia.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said developing a vaccine could take up to a year. For now, she said, the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is to restrict its transmission.
On Sunday, Global Affairs Canada announced that the Canadians to be evacuated from Hubei province where the outbreak originated, as well as government officials and air crew involved in the airlift, will be quarantined for two weeks at the Trenton, Ont., military base upon their arrival in Canada as a precaution.
The WHO has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency, but has praised China for its efforts to contain the virus.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
