Canada: COVID-19 hospitalizations up 67 per cent in week as Omicron takes hold

The number of COVID-19 patients in Canadian hospitals climbed by 67 per cent over the past week, including a 9-per-cent increase in infected people in intensive care units, according to data compiled by The Globe and Mail. The highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 has swept across Canada in little over a month. Now, as

Bizarre legal theory making anti-vaccine movement more extreme, experts warn

Opposition to public health measures vaults Freemen-on-the-land ideology into public eye The anti-vaccine movement in Canada is becoming increasingly radicalized thanks to a bizarre legal theory spreading through its ranks, according to multiple experts. Last week, protesters entered a school in Salmon Arm, B.C., to “serve” school officials with what lawyers say are bogus legal documents. The documents are

Entire B.C. school district to go into lockdown after vaccine protesters enter 3 schools

A school district in B.C.’s southern Interior says all schools in its zone will be in lockdown mode on Monday, after COVID-19 vaccine protesters entered three schools on Friday and served a “notice of liability.” School District 83, which covers the North Okanagan and Shuswap regions, said protesters entered Ranchero Elementary, South Canoe Elementary and the Sullivan

Only 1% of British Columbia’s old growth forests remain, researchers find – Mongabay

Anti-logging protest becomes Canada’s biggest ever act of civil disobedience

At least 866 arrested since April, as police condemned for violence against protesters defending Vancouver Island’s ancient forests A string of protests against old-growth logging in western Canada have become the biggest act of civil disobedience in the country’s history, with the arrest of least 866 people since April. The bitter fight over the future of Vancouver

Trudeau campaign rally cancelled over security concerns amid protests

Dozens of angry protesters chant obscenities at leader’s Ontario event Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is vowing to meet “anger with compassion” after a campaign rally was cancelled amid protests. Trudeau was expected to address supporters Friday evening in Bolton, Ont., but the event was cancelled over security concerns. Dozens of angry protesters, who outnumbered Liberal supporters, gathered near the

Top epidemiologist resigns from Ontario’s COVID-19 science table, alleges withholding of ‘grim’ projections

Doctor says fall modelling not being shared in ‘transparent manner with the public’ One of Ontario’s most vocal epidemiologists has resigned from the province’s COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, alleging the group has delayed publication of its pandemic projections for the fall due to political interference — a charge the table has denied. Dr. David Fisman,

Police deploy pepper spray, 2 injured, as tensions escalate at Fairy Creek blockade

Opponents of old-growth logging on Vancouver Island are alleging RCMP used excessive force amid rising tensions near the disputed Fairy Creek watershed. The RCMP says one protester and one police officer were injured on Saturday while arrests were being made on a road leading into the area. A total of 33 people were arrested on Saturday. “Early

Canada reopens its border for vaccinated U.S. visitors

Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit on Monday while the United States is maintaining similar restrictions for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans. U.S. citizens and legal residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days

Western Canada declares fire emergency as evacuations climb

Canada’s western province of British Columbia declared a state of emergency Tuesday, with wildfires expected to grow even larger in the coming days due to high heat and winds. “We have reached a critical point,” said provincial public safety minister Mike Farnworth. “Based on the advice of emergency management and wildfire officials, and my briefing