Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was tested for COVID-19; PM Justin Trudeau working from home.
EU, Canada say they weren’t informed ahead of time about U.S. travel ban.
1st known Canadian case of a child testing positive in Calgary.
Juno Awards, scheduled for Sunday in Saskatoon, have been cancelled.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, are in self-isolation as she awaits COVID-19 test results, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Thursday. Meanwhile, international fallout poured in over what is being characterized as a unilateral U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic after the country restricted travel from Europe.
“The doctor’s advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie’s results,” the statement read.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever, late [Wednesday] night,” the statement said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also announced he is self-isolating, though he is not currently exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms.
Also Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told CBC News Network that the U.S. did not notify Canada before announcing travel restrictions on Europe.
“This is absolutely something that we need to discuss with our friends and neighbours, and we will be doing that,” said Freeland.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that all European travel would be cut off, but U.S. officials later clarified that restrictions would apply only to most foreign citizens who have been in Europe’s passport-free travel zone at any point for 14 days prior to their arrival to the United States.
Trump initially caused confusion by incorrectly stating in his address that the ban would apply to cargo, which the White House later corrected.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office on Thursday. Trump said there was no time to give European officials a headsup about the administration’s surprising decision regarding travel from the continent. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)
Trump said he had excluded the U.K. from the curbs because it was doing a good job in tackling the coronavirus. He said he was unable to consult with European officials before implementing the restrictions because he had to move quickly.
“I don’t want people dying; that’s what I’m all about,” said Trump.
“I made a very tough decision last night, and a very tough decision a long time ago,” he said, referring to an earlier restriction on travel to and from China.
U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence told ABC News that the Trump administration is also requesting travellers returning to the U.S. from Europe “voluntarily quarantine” themselves for 14 days.
Here’s what’s happening in provinces with COVID-19 cases
As of midday Thursday, there were at least 137 presumptive and confirmed cases reported in Canada, with one death.
46 patients in B.C., including one death and four listed as recovered.
59 cases in Ontario, including five listed as recovered.
19 cases in Alberta.
9 cases in Quebec.
1 presumptive case in New Brunswick.
1 case in Manitoba.
1 case in Saskatchewan.
1 case among the Grand Princess passengers under quarantine at CFB Trenton, Ont.
In Calgary, a child who attended a daycare located in the building that houses Suncor’s headquarters tested positive for COVID-19. It is the first known Canadian case of a child testing positive for the virus.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan each announced their first presumptive cases on Thursday. The Manitoba case involved a woman who had travelled to the Philippines, while the Saskatchewan case involved a person who had been in Egypt.
Saskatchewan premier ends speculation, rules out spring election. Scott Moe says the government must remain focused on the ‘health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.’ Previous story: <a href=”https://t.co/SInkbylM5M”>https://t.co/SInkbylM5M</a> <a href=”https://t.co/htSK1yJthZ”>pic.twitter.com/htSK1yJthZ</a>
In Ontario, the province is updating its count of cases at 10:30 a.m. and 5: 30 p.m. ET daily, but regional health authorities have been providing their own updates throughout the day. As of midday Thursday, the province of Ontario reported 42 cases — including five that were counted as resolved. There were also reports of two cases in Kitchener-Waterloo area, as well as another in the Halton Region, Hamilton and Ottawa.
It was not immediately clear whether any of these had previously been counted in the provincial tally.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that everyone needs to work together to tackle COVID-19.
Speaking Thursday, he addressed the urgency of the outbreak, but also reiterated a call for increased health transfers to the provinces. He said in Ontario, officials are planning for “every single scenario possible.”
Ontario announced Wednesday that it has said aside $100 million as a contingency fund to deal with COVID-19.
How the Canadian government is responding
When asked how many people in Canada may become infected, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Wednesday that the evidence is still not firm. But she noted that current reports are “somewhere in the 30 to 70 per cent” range.
Canada’s chief public health officer is urging people to take precautions and make efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus, which WHO now describes as a pandemic.
Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, urged people to take control measures, including proper hand hygiene, staying home if sick and social distancing.
5/5 <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Socialdistancing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Socialdistancing</a> and other measures that public health officials are recommending now may seem extreme – but robust action now can help avert extreme pressure on our health system and across society. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlattenTheCurve?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#FlattenTheCurve</a>
The Public Health Agency of Canada, which has been assessing the risks associated with the outbreak, says the risk from the novel coronavirus to the general population in Canada is currently low, but that could change. PHAC says people who are over 65, have underlying medical issues or a compromised immune system face “an increased risk of more severe outcomes.”
Trudeau earlier announced a $1-billion fund to help fight COVID-19, with funding for a range of initiatives, including provincial health systems, procurement of essential equipment and protective gear, as well as research into the novel coronavirus.
What’s happening in the rest of the world
The European Union lashed out at Trump’s “unilateral” travel decision, saying that the illness does not respect borders.
“The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,” EU Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.
“The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires co-operation rather than unilateral action.”
They rejected Trump’s suggestion that Europe is not doing enough to combat COVID-19, saying the 27-nation bloc “is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.”
WATCH | Doctors answer your questions about COVID-19:
Infectious disease experts and a doctor specializing in the elderly answer your questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. 9:03
British scientists are not recommending the government introduce a U.S.-style travel ban to stop the spread of coronavirus, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday.
As the virus spreads, more European countries are adopting drastic measures. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Thursday that child-care centres, schools and universities are being closed until March 29, with the employed advised to work from home if possible.
In Italy, the epicentre of Europe’s coronavirus outbreak, roughly 23 per cent of the population is over 65. In France, medical units are common in assisted living facilities for those over 60 who need daily nursing care.
Travellers wait for registration and a health check at the border between Austria and Italy. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced his country is turning away people arriving from Italy, except those with a doctor’s certificate, in a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images)
Most people have only mild or moderate symptoms from the novel coronavirus, such as fever and cough, but symptoms can be severe, including pneumonia, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. The vast majority of people recover from the virus, but 126,000 people have been infected worldwide, with 4,600 dead, most of them in China. More than 68,000 people have recovered.
Meanwhile, the U.S. army decided to cut down the number of troops taking part in The Defender-Europe 2020 war games that have been planned across Europe over the next six months because of the virus. No details on numbers were provided; the exercises were set to involve around 20,000 American personnel.
In Washington, Congress said it would shut the Capitol, House and Senate office buildings to the public as of 5 p.m. ET Thursday until April 1 in reaction to the coronavirus. Only lawmakers, staff, journalists and visitors with official business will be permitted to enter the buildings.
For the second straight day, lawmakers were asking hard questions of top-ranked health officials about American preparedness to handle any significant increase in infections.
Anthony Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, gave a sobering update.
“The system is not really geared to what we need right now.… That is a failing. Let’s admit it,” Fauci said. “The idea of anybody getting it easily, the way people in other countries are doing it, we’re not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes. But we’re not.”
The Democratic debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders scheduled for Phoenix on Sunday is being moved to Washington, D.C.
Here’s what’s happening in business
Another alarming slide on Wall Street also began Thursday, triggering a brief, automatic shutdown in trading for the second time this week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down about 1,800 points, or nearly eight per cent at midmorning, while the broader S&P 500 was off 6.2 per cent.
Traders work on the floor at the opening bell of the Dow Industrial Average at the New York Stock Exchange. Markets took a beating Thursday, amid global concern about the growing coronavirus outbreak and oil prices. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images)
Canada’s main stock index plunged more than 1,000 points. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index fell 1,309.13 points, to 12,960.96.
Princess Cruises announced early Thursday that its 18 cruise ships will not sail for two months, for trips departing March 12 to May 10. Voyages currently underway and originally scheduled to extend past March 17 will be “ended at the most convenient location for guests, factoring in operational requirements,” the company said.
The European Central Bank said it would buy up 120 billion euros ($186B Cdn) more in bonds, money that is newly created and injected into the financial system. It is also providing cheap loans to banks to ensure their liquidity.
Here’s what’s happening in the world of sports
The NBA suspended its season Wednesday night “until further notice” after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus. The NBA said in a statement the league would “use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The Utah Jazz hosted the Toronto Raptors on Monday. The Raptors said on Thursday morning that members of the organization have been tested for the virus.
“Our players, coaches and travelling staff have all been advised to go into self-isolation for 14 days, which means minimizing contact in accordance with public health guidelines,” the organization said. “Our team doctors remain in communication with infection control specialists and public health authorities, and we will continue to abide by their advice.”
The NHL was expected to provide another update at 1 p.m. ET today.
“Given the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, clubs are advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today,” the league said.
Empty seats are shown at the Amway Center on Thursday, home of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. The NBA has suspended its season ‘until further notice’ after a Utah Jazz player tested positive Wednesday for the coronavirus. (Stephen M. Dowell /Orlando Sentinel via AP)
The ATP announced it was suspending the men’s professional tennis tour for six weeks, and Major League Soccer is taking a 30-day break.
Speculation continues to mount about the status of the Summer Olympics in Japan, scheduled to begin July 24. The International Olympic Committee said Thursday it is continuing to monitor the situation..
” … with 19 weeks before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the many measures being taken now by authorities all around the world give us confidence and keep us fully committed to delivering Olympic Games that can bring the world together in peace,” the statement read.
Here’s what’s happening in arts and culture
Junos organizers announced that the 49th edition of the celebration, honouring the best in the Canadian music industry and scheduled for Sunday, is off.
“We are devastated to cancel this national celebration of music, but at this time of global uncertainty, the health, safety and well-being of all Canadians must stand at the forefront of any decisions that impact our communities,” organizers said in a statement.
As Trump was speaking on Wednesday night, Tom Hanks and his wife, actress-singer Rita Wilson, revealed they have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hanks said the couple are in Australia on a movie shoot and will be “tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.”
WINNIPEG – Some 250 coloured tacks pepper a large-scale world map among bookshelves at Whodunit Mystery Bookstore.
Estonia, Finland, Japan and even Fenwick, Ont., have pins representing places outside Winnipeg where someone has ordered a page-turner from the independent bookstore that specializes in mystery and crime fiction novels.
For 30 years, the store has been offering fans of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes a place to get lost in whodunits both old and new.
Jack and Wendy Bumsted bought the shop in the Crescentwood neighbourhood in 2007 from another pair of mystery lovers.
The married couple had been longtime customers of the store. Wendy Bumsted grew up reading Perry Mason novels while her husband was a historian with vast knowledge of the crime fiction genre.
At the time, Jack Bumsted was retiring from teaching at the University of Manitoba when he was looking for his next venture.
“The bookstore came up and we bought it, I think, within a week,” Wendy Bumsted said in an interview.
“It never didn’t seem like a good idea.”
In the years since the Bumsteds took ownership, the family has witnessed the decline in mail-order books, the introduction of online retailers, a relocation to a new space next to the original, a pandemic and the death of beloved co-owner Jack Bumsted in 2020.
But with all the changes that come with owning a small business, customers continue to trust their next mystery fix will come from one of the shelves at Whodunit.
Many still request to be called about books from specific authors, or want to be notified if a new book follows their favourite format. Some arrive at the shop like clockwork each week hoping to get suggestions from Wendy Bumsted or her son on the next big hit.
“She has really excellent instincts on what we should be getting and what we should be promoting,” Micheal Bumsted said of his mother.
Wendy Bumsted suggested the store stock “Thursday Murder Club,” the debut novel from British television host Richard Osman, before it became a bestseller. They ordered more copies than other bookstores in Canada knowing it had the potential to be a hit, said Michael Bumsted.
The store houses more than 18,000 new and used novels. That’s not including the boxes of books that sit in Wendy Bumsted’s tiny office, or the packages that take up space on some of the only available seating there, waiting to be added to the inventory.
Just as the genre has evolved, so has the Bumsteds’ willingness to welcome other subjects on their shelves — despite some pushback from loyal customers and initially the Bumsted patriarch.
For years, Jack Bumsted refused to sell anything outside the crime fiction genre, including his own published books. Instead, he would send potential buyers to another store, but would offer to sign the books if they came back with them.
Wendy Bumsted said that eventually changed in his later years.
Now, about 15 per cent of the store’s stock is of other genres, such as romance or children’s books.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to look at expanding their selection, as some customers turned to buying books through the store’s website, which is set up to allow purchasers to get anything from the publishers the Bumsteds have contracts with.
In 2019, the store sold fewer than 100 books online. That number jumped to more than 3,000 in 2020, as retailers had to deal with pandemic lockdowns.
After years of running a successful mail-order business, the store was able to quickly adapt when it had to temporarily shut its doors, said Michael Bumsted.
“We were not a store…that had to figure out how to get books to people when they weren’t here.”
He added being a community bookstore with a niche has helped the family stay in business when other retailers have struggled. Part of that has included building lasting relationships.
“Some people have put it in their wills that their books will come to us,” said Wendy Bumsted.
Some of those collections have included tips on traveling through Asia in the early 2000s or the history of Australian cricket.
Micheal Bumsted said they’ve had to learn to be patient with selling some of these more obscure titles, but eventually the time comes for them to find a new home.
“One of the great things about physical books is that they can be there for you when you are ready for them.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 15, 2024.
MONTREAL – Canada’s labour minister is praising both Air Canada and the union representing about 5,200 of its pilots for averting a work stoppage that would have disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Steven MacKinnon’s comments came in a statement shared to social media shortly after Canada’s largest air carrier announced it had reached a tentative labour deal with the Air Line Pilots Association.
MacKinnon thanked both sides and federal mediators, saying the airline and its pilots approached negotiations with “seriousness and a resolve to get a deal.”
The tentative agreement averts a strike or lockout that could have begun as early as Wednesday for Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, with flight cancellations expected before then.
The airline now says flights will continue as normal while union members vote on the tentative four-year contract.
Air Canada had called on the federal government to intervene in the dispute, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that would only happen if it became clear no negotiated agreement was possible.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.
When it comes to plant-based alternatives, Canadians have never had so many options — and nowhere is that choice more abundantly clear than in the milk section of the dairy aisle.
To meet growing demand, companies are investing in new products and technology to keep up with consumer tastes and differentiate themselves from all the other players on the shelf.
“The product mix has just expanded so fast,” said Liza Amlani, co-founder of the Retail Strategy Group.
She said younger generations in particular are driving growth in the plant-based market as they are consuming less dairy and meat.
Commercial sales of dairy milk have been weakening for years, according to research firm Mintel, likely in part because of the rise of plant-based alternatives — even though many Canadians still drink dairy.
The No. 1 reason people opt for plant-based milk is because they see it as healthier than dairy, said Joel Gregoire, Mintel’s associate director for food and drink.
“Plant-based milk, the one thing about it — it’s not new. It’s been around for quite some time. It’s pretty established,” said Gregoire.
Because of that, it serves as an “entry point” for many consumers interested in plant-based alternatives to animal products, he said.
Plant-based milk consumption is expected to continue growing in the coming years, according to Mintel research, with more options available than ever and more consumers opting for a diet that includes both dairy and non-dairy milk.
A 2023 report by Ernst & Young for Protein Industries Canada projected that the plant-based dairy market will reach US$51.3 billion in 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 9.5 per cent.
Because of this growth opportunity, even well-established dairy or plant-based companies are stepping up their game.
It’s been more than three decades since Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.-based Natura first launched a line of soy beverages. Over the years, the company has rolled out new products to meet rising demand, and earlier this year launched a line of oat beverages that it says are the only ones with a stamp of approval from Celiac Canada.
Competition is tough, said owner and founder Nick Feldman — especially from large American brands, which have the money to ensure their products hit shelves across the country.
Natura has kept growing, though, with a focus on using organic ingredients and localized production from raw materials.
“We’re maybe not appealing to the mass market, but we’re appealing to the natural consumer, to the organic consumer,” Feldman said.
Amlani said brands are increasingly advertising the simplicity of their ingredient lists. She’s also noticing more companies offering different kinds of products, such as coffee creamers.
Companies are also looking to stand out through eye-catching packaging and marketing, added Amlani, and by competing on price.
Besides all the companies competing for shelf space, there are many different kinds of plant-based milk consumers can choose from, such as almond, soy, oat, rice, hazelnut, macadamia, pea, coconut and hemp.
However, one alternative in particular has enjoyed a recent, rapid ascendance in popularity.
“I would say oat is the big up-and-coming product,” said Feldman.
Mintel’s report found the share of Canadians who say they buy oat milk has quadrupled between 2019 and 2023 (though almond is still the most popular).
“There seems to be a very nice marriage of coffee and oat milk,” said Feldman. “The flavour combination is excellent, better than any other non-dairy alternative.”
The beverage’s surge in popularity in cafés is a big part of why it’s ascending so quickly, said Gregoire — its texture and ability to froth makes it a good alternative for lattes and cappuccinos.
It’s also a good example of companies making a strong “use case” for yet another new entrant in a competitive market, he said.
Amid the long-standing brands and new entrants, there’s another — perhaps unexpected — group of players that has been increasingly investing in plant-based milk alternatives: dairy companies.
For example, Danone has owned the Silk and So Delicious brands since an acquisition in 2014, and long-standing U.S. dairy company HP Hood LLC launched Planet Oat in 2018.
Lactalis Canada also recently converted its facility in Sudbury, Ont., to manufacture its new plant-based Enjoy! brand, with beverages made from oats, almonds and hazelnuts.
“As an organization, we obviously follow consumer trends, and have seen the amount of interest in plant-based products, particularly fluid beverages,” said Mark Taylor, president and CEO of Lactalis Canada, whose parent company Lactalis is the largest dairy products company in the world.
The facility was a milk processing plant for six decades, until Lactalis Canada began renovating it in 2022. It now manufactures not only the new brand, but also the company’s existing Sensational Soy brand, and is the company’s first dedicated plant-based facility.
“We’re predominantly a dairy company, and we’ll always predominantly be a dairy company, but we see these products as complementary,” said Taylor.
It makes sense that major dairy companies want to get in on plant-based milk, said Gregoire. The dairy business is large — a “cash cow,” if you will — but not really growing, while plant-based products are seeing a boom.
“If I’m looking for avenues of growth, I don’t want to be left behind,” he said.
Gregoire said there’s a potential for consumers to get confused with so many options, which is why it’s so important for brands to find a way to differentiate themselves, whether it’s with taste, health, or how well the drink froths for a latte.
Competition in a more crowded market is challenging, but Taylor believes it results in better products for consumers.
“It keeps you sharp, and it forces you to be really good at what you’re doing. It drives innovation,” he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.
