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Ontario sees 195 new COVID-19 cases, 66% in people under 40 – CBC.ca

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Ontario reported an additional 195 cases of COVID-19 on Friday — the majority in people under 40 years old — as more parts of the province move into Stage 3 of the government’s reopening plan. 

Windsor-Essex alone confirmed 57 new cases and Ottawa 27, as well as another 31 in Toronto and 18 in Peel. 

With the exception of July 21, which saw 203 cases due to a reporting delay in Peel, it’s the most new cases on any single day since June 29. 

Health Minister Christine Elliott noted in a series of tweets this morning that 128 of the cases, or 66 per cent, are people under 40 years old.

Ontario has now confirmed 38,405 infections of the novel coronavirus since the outbreak began in late January. Of those, about 88.8 per cent are considered resolved by public health officials. Another 137 were marked resolved in today’s update. 

At a Friday afternoon news conference, Premier Doug Ford said the province is seeing numbers “fluctuate,” which is “concerning.”

Ford said most young people are acting responsibly, with a few exceptions.

“It’s not little Johnny I’m worried about, it’s little Johnny’s grandparents I’m worried about,” he said.

Seven more regions of Ontario formally entered Stage 3 of the province’s reopening plan at 12:01 a.m. today. Hamilton and Niagara are among them. Durham, York, Halton, Haldimand-Norfolk and Lambton are also now in Stage 3.

The easing of anti-COVID measures means indoor dining at a restaurant or drinking in a pub is allowed. Gyms and movie theatres are also allowed to reopen.

In all cases, physical distancing must be maintained among patrons.

Ford said Friday it was “great news” that more regions are moving to the next stage of reopening.

Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex, however, will remain in Stage 2 for the time being. Ford said many people were expecting an update on those regions heading into Stage 3 on Monday, but health officials have asked for more time to “analyze the numbers” in those areas.

“And I’ve always said, we can’t rush this,” Ford said, adding that an update will now come on Wednesday.

“I’m hopeful we’ll have some good news to share on Wednesday,” he said.

Hospitalizations dip slightly

The growing number of regions in Stage 3 comes as Ontario’s state of emergency — originally declared in mid-March — expired today.

After a steady rise in hospitalizations over the last five days, the number of patients in Ontario hospitals with confirmed cases of the illness dropped today, down to 141 from 156 — which had been the most since early July. 

Thirty-one patients are being treated in intensive care units, and 20 are on ventilators. 

LISTEN | Why is COVID-19 spreading among young people? 

COVID-19 cases are trending in the wrong direction in Ontario. The province has been calling out the 39-and-younger crowd for failing to physically distance, but others — including some epidemiologists — are blaming inconsistent public health messaging. Kate Mulligan, Director of Policy and Communications for the Alliance for Healthier Communities, tells us why. 7:13

The province’s official COVID-19 death toll grew by three, and is now 2,758. A CBC News count based on data provided directly by public health units, which avoids lag times in the provincial reporting system, puts the real current toll at 2,789 as of yesterday evening.

‘Stressful and concerning’ situation in Windsor-Essex

Windsor-Essex’s medical officer of health says that region now has the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in the province.

Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the region passed Toronto and Peel this week with 484 cases per 100,000 people, calling the situation “stressful and concerning.”

Ahmed explained the jump in cases can be attributed to outbreaks on local farms and increasing cases in the community likely due to reopening of the region weeks ago.

Hundreds of migrant workers in the region have tested positive for the virus over the past few months and two have died.

Ford also said the province is conferring with a constitutional lawyer to see if it can mandate testing of migrant workers on farms in the Windsor-Essex area.

“I would like to look into mandatory testing,” Ford said. “We can’t keep going this way.”

On Thursday, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said an on-farm testing effort had recently been paused after only 19 of 176 in the region participated.

Dr. David Williams said a new communications package has been created for farms and their workers as the testing restarts.

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Quick Quotes: What Liberal MPs have to say as the caucus debates Trudeau’s future

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OTTAWA – Here are some notable quotes from Liberal members of Parliament as they headed into a caucus meeting Wednesday where they are set to debate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

Comments made after the caucus meeting:

“The Liberal party is strong and united.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

———

“Justin Trudeau is reflecting and he’s standing strong and we’re standing strong as a Liberal party.”

“We as a party recognize that the real threat here is Pierre Poilievre and that’s what we’re fighting for.”

“Trudeau has made very clear that he feels he’s the right choice but he appreciates all of what is being said because he’s reflecting on what is being done across Canada. I respect his decision, whatever that may be.”

Charles Sousa, MP for Mississauga—Lakeshore

———

“We had some open and frank discussions. People are relentlessly focused on serving Canadians and win the next election. This was really a rallying call to win the next election.”

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, MP for Saint Maurice—Champlain

———

“I don’t know how many people spoke, well over 50 I’m sure. They came at this from all angles and now (we’ve) got to go back and process this.

“We’re on a good path.

“It was very respectful. You know, caucus has always had the ability to get into some tough conversations. We did it again today and it went extremely well. Where we land? Who knows? You know we have to go and really process this stuff. But one thing that is absolutely, you know, fundamental is that we are united in the fact that we cannot let that creature from the Conservative party run the country. He would ruin things that people greatly value.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

Comments from before the caucus meeting:

“There’s a — what would you call it? Some palace drama going on right now. And that takes us away from the number 1 job, which is focusing on Canadians and focusing on the important policies but also on showing the really clear contrast between our government, our party and Pierre Poilievre.”

Randy Boissonnault, Employment Minister, MP for Edmonton Centre

———

“We’re going to go in there and we’re going to have an excellent discussion and we are going to emerge united.”

Treasury Board President and Transport Minister Anita Anand, MP for Oakville

———

“I think caucus is nervous because of the polling that has been constantly going down in favour of Liberals, and there’s a lot of people who do want to run again. I’m not running again, although I already told the prime minister that. But there are people there that want to run again and they’re nervous because of what polls are saying.”

“He has to start listening.”

Ken McDonald, MP for Avalon

———

“We’re going to have a good caucus meeting. MPs should be free to air their perspectives, I’m sure they will, and we’ll come out of it united.”

Peter Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre

———

“I have to read the room. There’s all sorts of wheels within wheels turning right now. I’m just going to go in there, I’m going to make my mind a blank and just soak it all in.”

“I’m not going to say anything about (the prime minister) until I have my say in there.”

Ken Hardie, MP for Fleetwood—Port Kells

———

“I wish there was a mechanism for it, yes,” he said, responding to whether he wanted a secret ballot vote in caucus to determine Trudeau’s leadership.

Sean Casey, MP for Charlottetown

———

“The prime minister will always be on my posters and he is welcome in Winnipeg North any time.”

Kevin Lamoureux, MP for Winnipeg North

———

“Absolutely I support the prime minister.”

Yvonne Jones, MP for Labrador

———

“When you look divided, you look weak.”

Judy Sgro, MP for Humber River—Black Creek

———

“I think Pierre Poilievre is absolutely beatable, he’s ripe for the picking with the right vision, the right leadership and the right direction for our party. The Liberal party is an institution in this country. It’s bigger than one person, one leader, and it’s incumbent on us as elected officials to make sure we put the best foot forward.”

Wayne Long, MP for Saint John—Rothesay

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.



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With Liberal election win, First Nations in N.B. look forward to improved relations

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FREDERICTON – Chief Allan Polchies says he is excited about New Brunswick’s new Liberal provincial government.

Polchies, of St. Mary’s First Nation, says he looks forward to meaningful dialogue with premier-designate Susan Holt after years of tense relations with the outgoing Progressive Conservatives under Blaine Higgs.

He is one of six Wolastoqey Nation chiefs who have filed a land claim for a significant part of the province, arguing treaty rights have not been respected by corporations and governments, both of which have exploited the land for hundreds of years.

The December 2021 court challenge has been a sore point between Indigenous Peoples and the Higgs’s government.

Eight Mi’kmaw communities are also asserting Aboriginal title to land in the province, and they say they hope to work with Holt and her team on “advancing issues that are important to our communities.”

Holt’s campaign didn’t give details on the Liberal government’s position on the Indigenous claims, but she has said she wants to rebuild trust between the province and First Nations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Abdelrazik tells of despair when Ottawa denied him passport to return home from Sudan

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OTTAWA – Abousfian Abdelrazik told a court today about the roller-coaster of emotions he experienced during the tense days of early 2009 when he awaited the green light to return to Canada from Sudan.

The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik settled in Montreal as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in 1995.

During a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother, he was arrested, imprisoned and questioned about suspected terrorist connections.

Abdelrazik says he was tortured during two periods of detention by the Sudanese intelligence agency.

He is suing the federal government, claiming officials arranged for his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention by Sudanese authorities and actively obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years.

In March 2009, he made arrangements to fly home to Canada and asked Ottawa to issue him an emergency passport, but his hopes were dashed — at least temporarily — when the request was turned down.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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