The extension of the stay-at-home order in North Bay-Parry Sound appeared to have caused some division within the region as some officials support the move while others are opposed.
The province announced on Friday that Toronto, Peel Region, and North Bay-Parry Sound will not be rejoining the colour-coded reopening framework and remain shut down until March 8.
Despite having low case numbers, concerns over a variant of concern (VOC) linked to an outbreak at an apartment building in North Bay prompted the province to delay the reopening in that area in northern Ontario.
According to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, 38 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at an outbreak at the Skyline-Lancelot Apartments. Of those cases, 20 have tested positive for a coronavirus variant, including one confirmed to be the B.1.351 variant that originated in South Africa.
Speaking to CP24 Saturday morning, the mayor of North Bay said he supports Dr. Jim Chirico, the region’s medical officer of health and the decision to extend the stay-at-home order.
“He’s trying to stamp down the spread of the variant, and I support his steps and his recommendations. “If we allow this variant to spread, it can be devastating to our community as it would all other communities. So, it is the right steps to take to make sure that we control the VOC.”
With that said, McDonald admitted that many residents and local businesses are disappointed as many wanted to get life back to normal.
“We’re really concerned about our local businesses, and we’re trying to do everything we can for them. It really is a hardship. We do have businesses doing very well, but we have some businesses that are completely shut down. And we have some very limited, open,” the mayor said.
“This was a setback. And there’s no question our caseload is really really low. But we’re trying to explain it’s the VOC. That’s the concern, and that’s why we need to stay locked down.”
While McDonald agrees with the extension, the mayor of Parry Sound is not happy about the move.
In an interview with CP24 Saturday afternoon, Mayor Jamie McGarvey said that he is shocked with the decision, saying that he hoped the region would be moved back into the red-control category.
The mayor noted that the extension does not make sense, given that there are only five active cases in the Parry Sound District. According to data from the health unit, there are two cases of a variant of concern in the district.
“The issue seems to be in North Bay, which is an hour and a half from Parry Sound, and on a different corridor of traffic compared to this side of the district,” McGarvey said.
“Businesses are hurting. We’d like to get back open. People are quite willing to put in the proper protocol to make sure that customers are safe and that sort of thing.”
Before the Ontario government put the province in lockdown, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit was in the least-restrictive green-prevent zone.
The mayor said they have asked to split the health unit into areas so that some can reopen and move forward, but “they’re not willing to divide it up.”
“I will say that, yeah, they need to deal with those cases in North Bay. It is different over here in west Perry Sound, with the number of cases that that we’ve had,” McGarvey said.
“Everybody’s wondering why we’re still in lockdown over here. But it’s because we get lumped in with the overall health unit area.”
TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
