‘We don’t need it’: Quebec premier tells Trudeau not to apply Emergencies Act in Quebec

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to invoke the Emergencies Act and give the government never-before-used powers to quash the ongoing convoy blockades.MPs will eventually — though not necessarily on Thursday — vote on the motion. If a vote on the motion fails, the state of emergency will be revoked.

LORAINE, Ohio - President Joe Biden on Thursday traveled to Ohio to highlight how the bipartisan infrastructure law will dedicate $1 billion toward a long-delayed cleanup and restoration program for "areas of concern" along the Great Lakes. Biden, who visited the northeastern Ohio city of Loraine on Lake Erie, announced how funding from the $1 trillion package will benefit the lakes — which hold about one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. Both the $1 billion boost and annual funding through an ongoing recovery program will help finish work on 22 sites designated 25 years ago as among the region's most degraded. "We’re investing like never, ever in history," the president said. The lakes provide drinking water for 40 million people and underpin the economy in eight Northeastern and Midwestern states and two Canadian provinces.

COVID-19 patients.Health officials say there are currently 1,902 people in hospital with COVID-19 after 120 patients were admitted in the past 24 hours and 213 were discharged.(2/2)86 105 tests rapides autodéclarés jusqu’à maintenant, dont 66 913 positifs : 584 déclarés pour la journée d’hier, dont 441 positifs. pic.twitter.com/2egwWW0qvS— Santé Québec (@sante_qc) February 17, 2022The province says 124 people are in intensive care, a decline of five from the day before.The health department is reporting 2,055 new COVID-19 infections that were identified using PCR testing, which is limited to high-risk groups, and says 9.8 per cent of tests analyzed Wednesday were positive.

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Wednesday night all eyes were on Ottawa as new measures were put in place to remove protesters from the capital. Earlier in the day, police were warning protesters they faced arrest, if they continued their occupation next to Parliament Hill.

KYIV, Ukraine - NATO allies accused Russia of misleading the world and disseminating "disinformation" by saying it was returning some troops to bases, charging that Moscow has instead added as many as 7,000 more troops near its tense border with Ukraine.With Western fears high that Russia is planning to invade, tensions also spiked Thursday along the line that separates Ukrainian forces from Russia-backed separatists in the country's east, with the parties accusing each other of intensive shelling.After a handful of positive signals from Russia that lowered the temperature in the crisis earlier in the week, the pendulum appeared to be swinging in the opposite direction again. With an estimated 150,000-plus troops massed near Ukraine, the Kremlin offered to keep pursuing diplomatic solutions — an overture the NATO chief welcomed, even as he and others warned that the U.S.-led alliance has still seen no sign of the military withdrawal that Moscow announced."We have seen the opposite of some of the statements.

trucker protesters as discussions on how best to implement them continue.The government published details late Tuesday on the requirements covering a wide range of the financial industry including banks, credit unions, insurance companies, portfolio managers and investment counselling services.The Canadian Bankers Association said in a statement Wednesday that, as with other financial service providers, banks will “need to diligently implement the required measures.”“Banks in Canada follow all applicable laws and regulations in carrying out their operations, in keeping with their commitment to protect the integrity of Canada’s financial system,” the association said.

the ongoing blockades in Ottawa and elsewhere, and some Canadians have been left scratching their heads about the impact it will have on their lives.Meanwhile, police are already notifying demonstrators in the downtown core that the new order will affect their blockade. In a pamphlet wedged into truck doorways and slapped under windshield wipers, police warned the blockaders that they “must leave the area now.”“The Federal Emergencies Act allows for the regulation or prohibition of travel to, from or within any specified area,” it warns.

ongoing convoy protests a “threat” to Canadian democracy in a letter justifying emergency powers to the country’s premiers.The letter, released by the federal government late Wednesday night, said fatigue and frustration with COVID-19 public health measures and vaccine mandates are “no longer the motivation of many of the (protest) participants and organizers.” Ottawa police issue new warning amid convoy blockade: ‘leave the area now’ “We are seeing activity that is a threat to our democracy and that is undermining the public’s trust in our institutions,” Trudeau wrote.“The Government of Canada believes firmly in the right to peaceful protest. But as we discussed, the activities taking place across the country have gone well beyond peaceful protest.”Trudeau declared a public order emergency on Monday, giving federal authorities exceptional powers aimed at bringing the convoy protests to an end after almost three weeks of unrest.

We have more details on just what the Emergencies Act, invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, will allow officials to do about truckers protests. Aaron McArthur has the latest.

As concerns over government overreach swirl for the now-invoked Emergencies Act, debates are set to ensue in Parliament on whether it is necessary. David Akin explains the new measures the government hopes will end the disruptive protests, and which political parties will be supporting or pushing back against them.

COVID-19.The preventive isolation policy had been criticized by family members who said their relatives’ health declined during the isolation period.Dr. Luc Boileau, Quebec’s interim public health director, told reporters Wednesday that residents will only have to isolate if they are in contact with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19 for more than 10 minutes without a mask.

Reuters, Fauci said U.S. states are facing tough choices in their efforts to balance the need to protect their citizens from infections and the growing fatigue with a pandemic that has dragged into its third year.

Quebec opposition parties call for end of COVID-19 state of emergency In another volatile question period, the leader of the Official Opposition lobbed stinging accusations.“The premier has forgotten what it means to govern in a democracy,” said Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade.“(The state of emergency) allows the premier to decide there will be a curfew without debate at the National Assembly, without the opinion of public health,” she continued.However, the government says it needs the state of emergency to uphold things it has already brought in by decree, like salary bonuses for nurses and mask mandates. Premier François Legault said the government intends to lift the state of emergency in a few weeks.

Quebec health experts stress COVID-19 booster shot still necessary despite vaccine passport removal The other puts in place a ban on outdoor cooking and consuming alcohol in parks and in public spaces that Marchand says will be revisited this summer.Quebec City police issued 170 tickets and made three arrests during protests in front of the legislature during the first weekend in February. 

The federal government’s move to invoke the Emergencies Act marks an attempt to cut off funds directed to the “Freedom Convoy,” including new cryptocurrency channels.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Quebec is expected to continue to decline over the next two weeks, a government health-care research institute projected Wednesday.By the end of the month, the number of people in Quebec hospitals with COVID-19 should drop by about 500, to 1,500 patients, according to the Institut national d’excellence en santé et services sociaux. There should be about half the number of intensive care patients by that time, or about 60, it added.“For all of Quebec, the projections suggest a slight decrease in new hospitalizations,” INESSS said in a news release, adding that it expected the number of new hospitalizations to reach around 90 per day within the next two weeks.The research institute said its projections should be interpreted with caution as it cannot forecast the effect of changes to COVID-19 restrictions. Quebec reopened gyms and spas on Monday, shortly after lifting restrictions on private gatherings and limits on the number of people who can dine together at restaurants.A separate health-care research institute said Wednesday that preliminary results from a vaccine study indicate three doses of COVID-19 vaccine offer more protection compared with two doses against severe and mild forms of the disease caused by the Omicron variant.“The effectiveness is highest against serious COVID-19 infections — those that lead to hospitalizations,” the Institut national de santé publique du Quebec said in a news release.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia health officials on Wednesday announced new COVID-19 response levels that will now tie the city’s mask and vaccine mandates to specific metrics. Under the new multi-tiered systems, city and health officials say they will stop enforcing certain mandates as COVID-19 metrics improve. Should the numbers worsen, officials say they will use the same system to determine when those mandates should be enforced again. Based on current metrics, officials announced on Wednesday that Philadelphia had reached a Masks Precautions Only level - meaning that the requirement to show proof of vaccination at indoor dining establishments that serve food for onsite consumption was dropped, effective immediately. Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health will focus on four key metrics to guide decisions on mandates and restrictions. The metrics include average new cases per day, number of hospitalizations, percent of tests reported as positive, and the rate of change of new cases. City officials say tying their response to these metrics will help the public understand why the city is enforcing specific mandates, as well as what needs to happen in order the enforcement to stop. Philadelphia’s COVID-19 website will be updated to included detailed breakdowns of the four key metrics.On Wednesday, Philadelphia health Commissioner Dr.

Ottawa blockade that has kept the capital at a standstill for nearly three full weeks are calling the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act a scare tactic.Trucks, RVs and other vehicles with Canadian flags or banners with the word “freedom” in giant letters along their front grilles remain on Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill, with drivers saying they will stay put until all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions are lifted.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the act on Monday for the first time in Canadian history, with details of the regulations contained in cabinet orders published Tuesday night.Under the act, bringing children to the antigovernment blockades, participating in the protests directly, or bringing aid such as food or fuel to those involved could result in a fine of up to $5,000 or five years in prison Bringing children, food or fuel to convoy blockades prohibited under Emergencies Act Blockades are not allowed on Parliament Hill and surrounding streets, official residences, war monuments, airports, harbours, border crossings, piers, lighthouses, canals, interprovincial and international bridges, hospitals and COVID-19 vaccine clinics, trade corridors and infrastructure needed for the supply of utilities including power generation and transmission.The cabinet orders are now in effect but must all be confirmed by motions to be put to both the House of Commons and the Senate for a vote.The government could take until next week to table the motion invoking the act itself, but has only until Thursday to do so for the motions on the specific powers being enacted, which will remain in place for 30 days unless the government revokes them sooner.

As the Emergencies Act is invoked to stop the convoy protests in Ottawa, the federal government is aiming to cut off the movement’s financial resources.

COVID-19 as the province began phasing out its vaccine passport system Wednesday.The daily tally showed pandemic-related hospitalizations stood at 1,995, a drop of 57 compared with the previous day. This includes 129 patients in intensive care units, a decrease of three.Officials say 130 people were admitted to hospitals in the past 24-hour period, while 187 were discharged.The province reported 2,328 new novel coronavirus cases, but the number isn’t representative of the situation since only high-risk groups can access government-run screening clinics.On that note, 23,053 tests were administered Monday.

A covert operation conducted by an Edmonton security firm determined some protesters occupying the Coutts border had become so emboldened by the blockade’s success they discussed blocking cargo terminals at airports across the country in an ongoing attempt to force a change of government in Ottawa.

Ottawa is getting sweeping new powers after triggering the Emergencies Act to end Canada’s disruptive protests against COVID mandates.

MOSCOW - Russia said Wednesday it was returning more troops and weapons to bases, but NATO declared it saw no sign of a drawdown as fears that Moscow could invade Ukraine soon persisted.Russia has massed about 150,000 troops east, north and south of Ukraine, sparking Western concerns it was planning an attack. Moscow denies it has any such plans and this week said it was pulling back some forces and weapons, though it gave few details.

schools which have been conducting online classes, too, shifted to the physical mode today. "Making them adapt to a new atmosphere which is different from the familiar comforts of their homes will be our primary task. 

For the first time in Canadian history, Ottawa granted itself extraordinary powers. Invoking the Emergencies Act, Monday, in a move designed to choke off the money keeping protesters across the country fueled and fed. Aaron McArthur reports.

Bringing children to the antigovernment blockades that have immobilized downtown Ottawa and shuttered border crossings is among the activities that could net protesters a $5,000 fine or five years in prison while Canada is under the national Emergencies Act.

Canada is entering uncharted territory, as Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act. Abigail Bimman explains what that means, and how it could impact police and protesters.

COVID-19 vaccine passport system, the province’s health minister announced Tuesday.“We are withdrawing it gradually we learn to live with the virus,” Christian Dubé told reporters in Quebec City.The passport will no longer be used for big-box stores as well as the government-run liquor and cannabis stores starting Wednesday. Proof of vaccination will not be required to access places of worship as of Feb.

COVID-19 measures that are being held across the country.The Canadian Civil Liberties Association says it does not believe the “high and clear” threshold needed to invoke the act has been met, noting the law states it can only be used when a situation cannot be dealt with using any other law in the country.Executive director Noa Mendelsohn Aviv warns that normalizing emergency legislation “threatens our democracy and our civil liberties.”This is the first time the Emergencies Act has been invoked since it came into force in 1988, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said yesterday it is necessary to protect critical infrastructure such as borders and airports from the blockades, and create time-limited powers that do not already exist.

COVID-19 amid a downturn in hospital numbers Tuesday.The jump in fatalities comes one day after the province reported 17 deaths on Monday. It is the highest number of pandemic-related fatalities over the past week, which has a rolling seven-day average of about 30 deaths per day.Hospitalizations, meanwhile, stood at 2,052, a decrease of 43.

COLOMBO (News 1st) ; The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer states that the protection of Journalists and Activists play a fundamental role in ensuring a democratic society. In a tweet, she further stated that while their protection is vital to ensure freedom of expression, transparency and accountability. The silencing of critical voices, undermines public debate, freedom and the human rights of everyone. #Journalists & #activists play a fundamental role in ensuring a democratic society and their protection is vital to ensure freedom of expression, transparency and accountability.

Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act for 1st time to aid convoy blockade response Kenney referenced the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act, legislation that allows law enforcement to arrest and fine anyone impeding what is deemed critical economic infrastructure, including railways and highways.He said the legislation gives the province sanctions “that are quite similar to the court injunction obtained by Ontario” to break up a blockade on the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., over the weekend.Kenney said he is concerned invoking the Emergencies Act could have the potential to make things worse at the Coutts blockade.“I think at this point, for the federal government to reach in over top of us, without offering anything in particular, would frankly be unhelpful,” Kenney said.“I think we need to find ways to effectively enforce without escalating the situation.” RCMP arrest 13 people, seize weapons and ammunition near Coutts border blockade Kenney’s comments come after several arrests were made and more than a dozen long guns, handguns, ammunition and body armour were seized at the blockade. The premier described the group as a “militant cell” and said it’s why there has been “a relatively light touch on enforcement.”It’s the first time the Emergencies Act has been enacted in Canada, which Trudeau said would have a time and geographic limitation to areas impacted by the blockades and where law enforcement deems the expanded powers are needed.According to Trudeau, the expanded powers will give police more tools for enforcement and allow the RCMP to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial offences where it’s necessary.“The potential for violent acts I think remains.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is stepping up the fight to win his UCP looming leadership review. His chief of staff is stepping down to run a campaign to convince party members to keep Kenney.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the never-before-used Emergencies Act on Monday, amid ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions.

Interim Conservative Party Leader Candice Bergen reacted Monday evening to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoking the Emergencies Act to help put an end to the anti-COVID-19 mandates protests. “Conservatives want to see the end of the blockades, we want them ended peacefully and quickly and in a way that Canadians feel that they’ve been listened to, heard and respected by their prime minister.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney responds after 11 people were arrested and guns, ammunition and body armor were seized by RCMP at the Coutts border crossing protest.

Ontario to end COVID proof of vaccination March 1, mask mandate to remain in place Legault said he still needs approval from public health officials before loosening the requirement to show proof of vaccination.“We want to remove most of the measures, but we have to be careful because of the hospital situation,” he said.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to invoke emergency powers across all of Canada to quell the protests by demonstrators who have paralyzed Ottawa and blocked border crossings in anger over the country's COVID-19 restrictions, a senior government official said Monday.READ: Ambassador Bridge officially reopened after weekThe prime minister met virtually with the leaders of Canada's provinces and planned to address the nation late in the afternoon.In recent days, Trudeau rejected calls to use the military but otherwise said "all options are on the table" to end the protests, including invoking the Emergencies Act, which gives the government broad powers to restore order.The government official who confirmed Trudeau's plans gave no immediate details on precisely how Trudeau intends to use his emergency authority.

Premier League players have been banned by FIFA after breaking Covid regulations last year.Giovani Lo Celso, Christian Romero, Emiliano Martinez, and Emiliano Buendia have all been punished for their roles in Brazil and Argentina's World Cup qualification clash.The group had all dodged Brazil's Covid rules, which stated all arrivals must spend 14 days in quarantine after entering the country.However, the Premier League players all travelled from the hotel to the stadium with their national teammates.The resulting situation caused chaotic scenes when health officials stormed the pitch after six minutes to haul the players off for breaking the rules.FIFA released a statement: "After a thorough investigation of the various factual elements and in light of the applicable regulations."The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that the match should be replayed on a date and at a location to be decided by FIFA."In addition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has concluded that the abandonment of the match stemmed from several deficiencies of the parties involved towards their respective responsibilities and/or obligations in connection with the former."As such, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has also decided to suspend the Argentinian players Emiliano Buendía, Emiliano Martínez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero for two matches each for not complying with the FIFA Return to Football International Match Protocol." What do you think of the punishment? Let us know in the comments section Both countries FA's have also been fined due to their failure to maintain order and security.Argentina have been hit with a £160,000 fine, while Brazil were ordered to fork over £300,000.The two nations will also pay an additional £40,000 fine

Addressing a news conference Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed that military intervention on civilians should be avoided “at all costs.” This is why, he said, the solution is focused on police forces, enforcing existing laws and protecting public order are the ways to deal with the ongoing trucker protests and border blockades.

Why did USFDA postpone its decision?

Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Monday he will invoke emergency powers to support provinces in ending the blockades and public disorder that have gripped Ottawa for 18 days, Global News has confirmed.One national security source and one source that participated in a Monday morning Liberal national caucus meeting said the government is poised to invoke the act and that senior officials are preparing for an imminent announcement.Multiple sources have also told Global News federal officials are weighing options for the military to help law enforcement with logistics. But there is no plan at this time, according to the sources, to have the military help police in dealing with civilians or deploying into the streets.What exactly are the powers coming into play? Let’s take a look.First, a quick history recap: the Emergencies Act is not the War Measures Act.The War Measures Act was the controversial piece of legislation that Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, used back in 1970 during the October Crisis, which saw a series of terrorist attacks by a Quebec separatist group.The law allowed the federal government to suspend civil liberties, and it was in response to questions over how far Trudeau senior would go in suspending these liberties that he offered the infamous phrase: “Just watch me.”That law, however, was repealed and replaced in 1988.

‘Living with the virus’ in Quebec, experts recommend continued use of masks, vaccines and better ventilation Quebec issued 17,286 tests on Saturday, the latest day for which that information is available.Meanwhile, the results of 80,807 rapid tests have been declared by Quebecers to date. Of those results, more than 62,000 were positive.When it comes to immunization, 12,174 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given in the last 24 hours.

Racialized health-care workers claim systemic racism within Montreal health authority Bumba laments that more attention was paid to high rates of COVID-19 infection in Black communities than to the contribution of Black people in the health-care system.“When we look at the past, we see our ancestors had so many obstacles,” Bumba said in a recent interview, referring to colonialism and slavery. “But we also see that at a certain time, Black people did incredible things in health care, but we’re never recognized.”For Montrealer Jennifer Philogene, director of Quebec’s chapter for the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, the high proportion of Black women in health care can be explained by culture.

JAMMU :

After another weekend of protests across the country, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair tells ‘The West Block’ host Mercedes Stephenson that the blockades are hurting Canadians and need to stop.

the blockades that have snarled cross-border traffic and paralyzed the City of Ottawa.“Certainly,” responded Minister Bill Blair when asked Sunday if his government was prepared to invoke the Emergencies Act, rarely-used legislation that grants federal authorities exceptional powers to address national threats.“I want to assure you that we recognize the threat to Canada, to Canadians, to our livelihoods and to our prosperity that these protests represent. This isn’t about vaccines anymore.