More positive COVID-19 cases at Maple Leaf plant in Manitoba: union - CTV News Winnipeg | Canada News Media
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More positive COVID-19 cases at Maple Leaf plant in Manitoba: union – CTV News Winnipeg

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WINNIPEG —
The union representing workers at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Brandon, Man., is calling for a shutdown after it says more workers at the plant have tested positive for COVID-19.

In an email to CTV News on Thursday morning, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 832 said they were made aware of three more positive cases of COVID-19 among employees late on Wednesday.

Jeff Traeger, the union president, would not say what area of the plant the employees worked, citing privacy reasons, but said they work in auxiliary departments in the facility, and are not involved in food production at the plant.

He added the most recent employees who tested positive last worked at the plant on August 1.

COVID CLUSTER IN BRANDON RELATED TO TRAVEL

On Thursday, Manitoba health officials said there is a cluster of COVID-19 cases currently in Brandon, but would not say if any cases in the cluster are connected to Maple Leaf Foods.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, said altogether there are 28 cases in the Brandon cluster – 18 of which were reported on Wednesday.

“Those aren’t community based transmission – that cluster actually started with a travel related case from out east,” Roussin said.

He said he did not have any information as to whether any of the cases in the cluster are connected to the cases at Maple Leaf Foods.

“The driving force behind that cluster is not a workplace.”

Still, Traeger said he is concerned about the number of positive tests increasing at the plant.

“That’s our biggest concern and our worst fear, is that you’d see a scenario similar to what was seen at the Cargill plant in Alberta, where there was a relatively small number of cases initially reported, which within a week grew to over 950, and resulted in community transmission of over 1,500 people,” he said. “That’s our biggest fear.”

The union is now calling on Maple Leaf to cease production at the plant until August 10 at the earliest, until they have additional results from outstanding tests among union members working at the plant, and the company can do a deep clean of the entire facility.

If more positive tests come back, the union wants the plant to be closed for two weeks.

UNION CALLS FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE PAID AMID SHUTDOWN

Traeger noted a closure would have an economic impact on the employees, with more than 2,000 people working at the plant, and is calling on the company to pay workers in full if the plant is shut down. He is also calling on the Health Minister to inspect the workplace to ensure it is safe for employees.

“The company for the record, is confident – we’re not, but they’re confident that these cases are a result of community transmission and they’ve been contained, so they have made the decision to continue operating the plant,” he said.

Traeger did praise Maple Leaf for the efforts they have made since the pandemic started to help employees. The company has put in Plexiglas separators on production lines and has put in floor markers to help control movement in the plant. The company has also staggered shifts of employees to help promote physical distancing.

“The company has been spending a fortune and trying very hard to protect workers,” he said. “The unfortunate thing is that those efforts have now not been successful.”

“We say the prudent thing to do is to shut down the plant, send everybody home with pay, and make sure that all of the test results come back so you can understand the scope of what you’re dealing with, and also do a complete deep-cleaning of the facility.”

MAPLE LEAF SAYS PLANT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE

In a statement Thursday morning, Maple Leaf confirmed the new positive tests.

“As a precaution, we have asked several other team members to self-quarantine,” the statement reads, adding they have informed other team members, the Canada Food Inspection Agency, and the union about the tests.

The company said after a ‘careful and detail review’ of the circumstances around the cases, they said it appears the employees contracted COVID-19 in the community.

The company said the plant will still operate.

“We will continue to operate our Brandon plant as long as we believe we can provide an environment that will protect the safety of our people while working,” the company said. “Given our daily health screening, temperature monitoring, social distancing and the personal protective equipment all team members wear while at work, we feel confident that our plant environment is safe.”

Traeger said discussions between the union and Maple Leaf are continuing.

During a media availability Thursday afternoon, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew and Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont both called for the plant to close.

“The two hotspots across North America have been processing plants and personal care homes – we have to take this incredibly seriously and I would rather err on the side of caution than take any risks,” Lamont said.

“This isn’t necessarily just about the workers in the plant, as important as those people are,” said Kinew. “If the situation there gets worse, it could potentially pose a threat to the broader community.”

“If there is an outbreak underway there, the province should be taking much more decisive action.”

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Imperial to cut prices in NWT community after low river prevented resupply by barges

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NORMAN WELLS, N.W.T. – Imperial Oil says it will temporarily reduce its fuel prices in a Northwest Territories community that has seen costs skyrocket due to low water on the Mackenzie River forcing the cancellation of the summer barge resupply season.

Imperial says in a Facebook post it will cut the air transportation portion that’s included in its wholesale price in Norman Wells for diesel fuel, or heating oil, from $3.38 per litre to $1.69 per litre, starting Tuesday.

The air transportation increase, it further states, will be implemented over a longer period.

It says Imperial is closely monitoring how much fuel needs to be airlifted to the Norman Wells area to prevent runouts until the winter road season begins and supplies can be replenished.

Gasoline and heating fuel prices approached $5 a litre at the start of this month.

Norman Wells’ town council declared a local emergency on humanitarian grounds last week as some of its 700 residents said they were facing monthly fuel bills coming to more than $5,000.

“The wholesale price increase that Imperial has applied is strictly to cover the air transportation costs. There is no Imperial profit margin included on the wholesale price. Imperial does not set prices at the retail level,” Imperial’s statement on Monday said.

The statement further said Imperial is working closely with the Northwest Territories government on ways to help residents in the near term.

“Imperial Oil’s decision to lower the price of home heating fuel offers immediate relief to residents facing financial pressures. This step reflects a swift response by Imperial Oil to discussions with the GNWT and will help ease short-term financial burdens on residents,” Caroline Wawzonek, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Infrastructure, said in a news release Monday.

Wawzonek also noted the Territories government has supported the community with implementation of a fund supporting businesses and communities impacted by barge cancellations. She said there have also been increases to the Senior Home Heating Subsidy in Norman Wells, and continued support for heating costs for eligible Income Assistance recipients.

Additionally, she said the government has donated $150,000 to the Norman Wells food bank.

In its declaration of a state of emergency, the town said the mayor and council recognized the recent hike in fuel prices has strained household budgets, raised transportation costs, and affected local businesses.

It added that for the next three months, water and sewer service fees will be waived for all residents and businesses.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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U.S. vote has Canadian business leaders worried about protectionist policies: KPMG

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TORONTO – A new report says many Canadian business leaders are worried about economic uncertainties related to the looming U.S. election.

The survey by KPMG in Canada of 735 small- and medium-sized businesses says 87 per cent fear the Canadian economy could become “collateral damage” from American protectionist policies that lead to less favourable trade deals and increased tariffs

It says that due to those concerns, 85 per cent of business leaders in Canada polled are reviewing their business strategies to prepare for a change in leadership.

The concerns are primarily being felt by larger Canadian companies and sectors that are highly integrated with the U.S. economy, such as manufacturing, automotive, transportation and warehousing, energy and natural resources, as well as technology, media and telecommunications.

Shaira Nanji, a KPMG Law partner in its tax practice, says the prospect of further changes to economic and trade policies in the U.S. means some Canadian firms will need to look for ways to mitigate added costs and take advantage of potential trade relief provisions to remain competitive.

Both presidential candidates have campaigned on protectionist policies that could cause uncertainty for Canadian trade, and whoever takes the White House will be in charge during the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2026.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

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Thomson Reuters acquires AI accounting assistant developer Materia

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TORONTO – Thomson Reuters Corp. says it has acquired Materia, a U.S.-based startup developing an artificial intelligence-powered assistant for the tax, audit and accounting profession.

Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Thomson Reuters says the deal is part of its plan to provide AI tools to the professions it serves.

Materia was founded in 2022.

The company’s AI assistant helps accountants by automating and improving research and workflows.

Thomson Reuters Ventures was an early investor in Materia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TRI)

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