February 26, 2021, Health Canada approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use in Canada. Following the approval of this vaccine, Premier Doug Ford and Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist who sits on the province’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, spoke to media. Both Premier Ford and Dr. Bogoch were optimistic that Canada’s access … Read more
February 25, 2021, the Ontario government announced the Protecting Ontario Elections Act. If passed, this Act would help “guard against threats” to Ontario’s election process, including those caused as a result of long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Later today, Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Dr. … Read more
The motto of lives and livelihoods we have heard on repeat in the previous months was a good indication of how today’s budget would play out. Entitled “Protecting Lives and Livelihoods” the 2021 Alberta Budget delivered earlier today by Finance Minister Travis Toews emphasized the importance of getting Albertans past the COVID-19 pandemic and righting … Read more
https://vimeo.com/516797883 The BC Chamber of Commerce and Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ panel discussion on what to expect from the B.C. Government’s 2021 Budget and upcoming legislative session. When the legislature reconvenes in March, MLAs will continue to debate how best to protect British Columbians through the pandemic, create jobs and economic opportunities, and position our economy for … Read more
February 24, 2021, Premier Doug Ford announced an investment of $115 million to train up to 8,200 new personal support workers (PSWs) for jobs in the province’s long-term care and community care sectors. This investment is part of Ontario’s Long-Term Care Staffing Plan, which was announced in December with the objective of increasing daily direct … Read more
February 22, 2021, Premier Doug Ford, Solicitor General, Sylvia Jones, and Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues, Jill Dunlop, announced the introduction of the Combatting Human Trafficking Act. If passed, the new legislation will strengthen the ability of children’s aid societies and law enforcement to protect exploited children, support survivors in obtaining restraining orders, … Read more
February 19, 2021, the Ontario government announced its decision to extend the current regional shutdowns and stay-at-home orders for an additional two weeks in the public health units (PHUs) of Toronto, Peel, and North Bay-Parry Sound. As a result, these PHUs will remain subject to current shutdown measures until at least March 8th. York Region … Read more
February 18, 2021, Ontario announced an investment of $2.5 million in Facedrive Inc.’s wearable contact tracing technology (TraceSCAN). This technology alerts users within a workplace who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. TraceSCAN has already been deployed in pilot projects, including by Air Canada, LiUNA, and Waywayseecappo First … Read more
February 17, 2021, Toronto Mayor John Tory and Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, announced that the City of Toronto has asked the Ontario government to delay Toronto’s transition back to the COVID-19 Response Framework and remain subject to the current shutdown restrictions and stay-at-home order until at least March 9th. Dr. de … Read more
February 16, 2021 , Ontario MPPs returned to the legislature following the holiday break. The legislature is scheduled to sit for 13 weeks. Government House Leader Paul Calandra’s office issued a news release outlining legislative priorities for the upcoming session, which includes the delivery of a Budget by March 31st. The government also intends to … Read more
