National News Briefs

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  • COVID-19 On The Rise – Ottawa officials are watching the city’s respiratory illness trends after the holidays. The weekly average level of coronavirus in Ottawa’s wastewater, as of Jan. 2, had been rising since the last week of November and is rising faster for the most recent week. (CBC)
  • 800+ Drivers Charged During Ride Campaign – More than 800 drivers in Ontario were charged with impaired driving offenses during the holiday festive RIDE campaign. The OPP says officers charged 812 drivers with a total of 1,258 impaired driving offences between Nov. 17 to Jan. 2. (CP24)
  • Alberta Man Receives Life Sentence – An Alberta farmer who shot and killed two Métis hunters after his father chased them down a public road has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 13 years. Court of King’s Bench Justice Eric Macklin said the farmer killed two innocent men doing no more than celebrating a successful day providing food to others. (Edmonton Journal)
  • House Speaker Vote Turns Chaotic – Republican Kevin McCarthy failed to win the House speakership on a 14th ballot late Friday, falling one vote short as tensions boiled over in a chaotic scene on the House floor. Fingers were pointed, words exchanged and one lawmaker was restrained as colleagues stared in disbelief. (The Star)

National News Briefs

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  • Home Sold Without Owners Knowledge – The owners of a Toronto home discovered that their property had been fraudulently listed and sold by two people pretending to be them while they were abroad on a business trip. The two people, who police are looking to identify, allegedly hired a real estate agent, sold the property and the new homeowners have taken possession of the property. (CP24)
  • Air Travel Industry Needs More Competition – New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says the holiday travel woes that left passengers stranded at airports show why the Canadian travel industry needs more competition. Singh said the lack of choice for passengers is also making flying less affordable. (CTV)
  • McCarthy Fails To Be U.S. House Speaker – For a third day, divided Republicans left the Speaker’s chair of the U.S. House empty Thursday, as party leader Kevin McCarthy failed and failed again to win enough votes to become the House Speaker. With his supporters and foes seemingly at a stalemate, feelings of both boredom and desperation seemed increasingly evident with no end in sight. (CBC)
  • Ukraine Rejects 36-Hour Ceasefire – Ukraine has dismissed an offer from Russia for a 36-hour ceasefire over Orthodox Christmas, saying there would be no truce until Russia withdraws its forces from occupied land. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia wants to use the truce as cover to stop Ukraine’s advances in Donbas and bring in more equipment.(Al Jazeera)

National News Briefs

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  • National Ribbon Skirt Day – Canada is marking the first National Ribbon Skirt Day on Wednesday – an event inspired by a young girl who was shamed for wearing one to school several years ago. The colourful garment is worn by Indigenous women at cultural events and as a show of pride. (Global News)
  • Funeral Held For OPP Officer – Hundreds attended OPP Const. Grzegorz Pierzchala’s funeral at an arena in his hometown of Barrie today. The officer was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 27 and was remembered at his funeral as a hero, a loving brother and a gifted athlete who embraced his Polish roots. (CBC).
  • Man Suspected Of Intentionally Driving Off Cliff – The driver of a car that plunged off a cliff in Northern California, seriously wounding two children and a second adult after the 250-foot drop, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse. (CP24)
  • Republicans Fail To Elect House Leader – Republican leader Kevin McCarthy failed again to win the U.S. House speakership on Wednesday in dramatic fourth-round voting, as the chamber plunged into Day Two of the new Congress. House Republicans’ inability to unify behind a Speaker candidate is preventing the chamber from beginning its legislative business. (CBC)

National News Briefs

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  • Canada Sets Immigration Record – Canada has set a new immigration record in 2022 with 430,000 new permanent residents coming to Canada. The previous record was set in 2021 when more than 405,000 newcomers came to Canada. (Toronto Star)
  • Chinese Government Critical Of Testing Requirements – The Chinese government criticized COVID-19 testing requirements imposed on passengers from China and is threatening countermeasures against the countries involved.  Canada this week joined a growing list of countries requiring travellers from China to take a COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight, as China battles a nationwide outbreak of the coronavirus. (CTV News)
  • Ransomware Operator Issues Apology – LockBit, a global ransomware operator, issued an apology and offered to unlock the data targeted in a ransomware attack on Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. This is believed to be the first time LockBit has issued an apology and offered to unlock the data. (CP24)
  • Freedom Convoy 2.0 Cancelled? – Freedom Convoy 2.0 is in jeopardy as organizers and supporters are divided over whether another event will take place in Ottawa and Winnipeg next month. James Bauder, a co-organizer of last February’s protest in Ottawa, said in a Facebook post he was cancelling “Freedom Convoy 2.0” for unspecified security reasons. (CBC.ca)

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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COVID-19 restrictions start on Sept 22

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Photo: Freerange Stock

Ontario to require proof of vaccination in select settings

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  • The Ontario government announced today that beginning September 22, 2021, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities.
  • The new regulations will help protect Ontarians against the Delta-driven fourth wave of COVID-19.
  • The new requirements will not apply to individuals seeking medical care, trips to the grocery store or outdoor settings.
  • Ontario will also introduce an enhanced digital vaccine receipt that features a QR code and can be kept on a phone to show that you’ve been vaccinated.
Photo: Pexels/Element5 Digital

U.S. to extend border restriction with Canada

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  • The United States is expected to extend its border restrictions with Canada for another 30 days as COVID-19 cases continue to increase south of the border.
  • An official announcement is expected tomorrow. 
  • Canada opened its border to fully vaccinated Americans Aug. 9.

Children turning 12 before end of 2021 eligible for 1st dose

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Federal election expected to be held on Sept 20

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  • Reuters is reporting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is planning a snap election for Sept. 20.
  • According to sources, Trudeau will make the announcement on Sunday.