National

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Jan, 2021 06:29 PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he shares the frustrations of Canadians with those who've chosen to travel abroad over the holiday season. Trudeau says changes are coming to a new federal benefit that was intended to provide paid sick leave to those forced into quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure.

It’s a new year, but the pandemic isn’t over yet and we need to remain vigilant. Tune in now for my Tuesday update on the COVID-19 situation in Canada and what we’re doing to help you and your family get through this: https://t.co/SgPiqDCgtK
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 5, 2021

Concerns have emerged, however, that the payment of up to $1,000 is being claimed by people who are quarantining because they travelled outside the country.

Trudeau says the government never imagined or intended the benefit to be used for that purpose and stressed that nobody ought to be travelling for non-essential reasons.

The prime minister says he also shares people's impatience with the pace of vaccine rollouts. He says he intends to raise the issue with premiers of the provinces and territories at a meeting on Thursday to see where the federal government can help.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Prisoners transferred to the units are supposed to be allowed out of their cells for four hours each day, with two of those hours engaged in "meaningful human contact."

Blair pledges to address prison isolation concerns

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

In the 2016 presidential election, there were approximately 620,000 Americans in Canada who were eligible to cast ballots, though only around 32,000 did.

Andrew Scheer not voting in U.S. election

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

The report's authors say it is more evidence that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting visible minorities, who are more likely to live in overcrowded housing and work in jobs that put them more at risk of exposure to COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths hit racialized communities hardest: Stats Can

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

The shortcomings in EI, flagged for years by experts, have been exposed by the pandemic, including that not every worker is covered, nor can everyone who is covered get benefits when they need them.

EI commissioners: start review of safety net now

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that as of January 2019, an estimated 366 North Atlantic right whales remained in the ocean, down from the previous count of 412 in 2018. Oceana Canada campaign director Kim Elmslie said the decline is "a reality check."

Steep drop in right whale population raises fears

Innovation minister defends 'superclusters'

The B.C.-based Digital Technology supercluster invested recently in a machine-learning chest X-ray tool that helps doctors identify lung abnormalities.