The Canadian government’s transportation department learned about the suspected Chinese spy balloon two days before it became headline news.
“On January 31, 2023, Transport Canada was made aware of the possible presence of a High Altitude Balloon over Western Canada,” a Transport Canada spokesperson told CTVNews.ca.
The same day, an Air Canada flight from Vancouver to Winnipeg reportedly encountered “a large balloon about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) above them with something hanging from it” while flying over southeastern B.C. The balloon crossed into neighbouring Idaho the same day.
“Transport Canada directed NAV CANADA, the private, not-for-profit corporation responsible for civil air navigation services in Canada, to issue a notice to airmen (NOTAM) that identified the hazard, the affected airspace, and advised aircraft to exercise caution,” the Transport Canada spokesperson explained in a March 2 email. “NOTAM records are maintained by NAV CANADA who is responsible for the collection, evaluation and dissemination of NOTAMs”
CTVNews.ca reached out to Nav Canada for a copy of the so-called NOTAM, but did not receive a reply.
The balloon made international headlines two days later on Feb. 2 as it flew over Montana, home to one of three U.S. nuclear missile silo sites, after U.S. and Canadian defence officials acknowledged its existence.
According to a report in Transport Canada’s online aviation incident database, defence personnel at Norad were notified following the Jan. 31 Air Canada sighting. Transport Canada routinely cautions that such “reports contain preliminary, unconfirmed data which can be subject to change.”
Sixty metres tall, manoeuvrable and with a payload the size of a jet airliner, the suspected Chinese spy balloon traversed North America before a U.S. fighter jet shot it down over the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4.
China has denied that the balloon was collecting intelligence.
MONTREAL – Quebec’s ombudsperson is warning that public services are becoming “dehumanized” in the province amid a rise in demand for them.
Marc-André Dowd released his annual report today, which highlights several examples of people receiving inadequate care across the health network in the 12 months leading to March 31.
One dying man who lived alone was denied help cleaning his cat’s litter box by his local health clinic, a service Dowd says should have been given for “humanitarian reasons.”
Dowd also describes staff at a long-term care home feeding residents “mechanically” and talking among each other — despite health ministry guidelines directing staff to maintain eye contact with residents.
The ombudsperson says his office received a record number of problems to investigate across the province’s public services — 24,867 compared with 22,053 last year.
He says his office investigated 13,358 cases between April 2023 and March of this year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Canada next week after a planned trip in July was cancelled amid political turmoil in France.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a statement today that Macron will be in Canada Wednesday and Thursday after the leaders attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Trudeau will welcome Macron in Ottawa on Wednesday, where they are expected to discuss collaboration on geopolitical issues including their ongoing support for Ukraine.
They are also expected to discuss ways to strengthen the response to emerging threats, such as disinformation.
In Montreal, Trudeau intends to show off the city’s artificial intelligence sector, while both countries reaffirm their commitment to work with counterparts on responsible use of AI.
The leaders will also discuss promoting the French language ahead of the Francophonie summit being held in France next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Health Canada has authorized Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against currently circulating variants of the virus.
The protein-based vaccine, called Nuvaxovid, has been reformulated to target the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron.
It will replace the previous version of the vaccine, which targeted the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron.
Health Canada recently asked provinces and territories to get rid of their older COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the most current vaccine will be used during this fall’s respiratory virus season.
Earlier this week, Health Canada approved Moderna’s updated mRNA COVID vaccine.
It is still reviewing Pfizer’s updated mRNA vaccine, with a decision expected soon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously described the Novavax vaccine as an mRNA shot.
