'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alar
April Barton, Burlington Free Press
Mon, February 27, 2023
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Migrants passing into the U.S. by illegal means via Swanton, Vermont have escalated massively in recent months.
Between October and January, apprehensions and encounters at the Canadian border have jumped nearly 850% compared to the same four months a year ago, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Swanton sector.
During the month of January there were 367 encounters, more than the past 12 years of January totals combined, said Ryan Brissette in a press release for the Swanton border patrol.
The number of border patrol encounters in Swanton started to climb in July 2022. During the seven-month window through January 2023, there have been 2,070 instances of illegal crossings. In that same period, there were 258 the year prior and 225 the year before that.
Northern and Southern borders see uptick in rescues
The uptick is causing problems for officials, especially considering dangerously cold temperatures that have put border crossers' and border control agents' lives at risk. Brissette noted -4 degree temperatures and "life-saving aid" that was provided during encounters in Newport, Vermont, and Burke, New York.
More: Arizona will keep sending migrants where 'they actually need to go'
"It cannot be stressed enough: not only is it unlawful to circumvent legal means of entry into the United States, but it is extremely dangerous, particularly in adverse weather conditions, which our Swanton Sector has in incredible abundance," Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia said in a press release.
The southern border has also seen an increase in rescues, as the U.S. places a renewed emphasis on rescuing migrants and historically high numbers of immigrants seek asylum at U.S. borders.
The numbers at the southern border, the nation's busiest corridor, show a sharp increase in border rescues, according to data released this month from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency overseeing Border Patrol:
5,336 migrants rescued at southern border in fiscal year 2020.
12,857 migrants rescued at southern border in fiscal year 2021.
22,014 migrants rescued at southern border in fiscal year 2022, which ended in September.
In fiscal 2021, agents at the southern border tallied 568 migrant deaths, the highest ever recorded.
Most of the deaths (219) were attributed to "environmental exposure-heat" as people trek through blazing terrain in Arizona and Texas. Agents also counted 86 deaths as "water-related" as migrants try to cross canals or the swift-moving Rio Grande, which divides the U.S. and Mexico.
Immigration advocates and experts believe the border death toll is much higher, and the federal system for death data long failed to include many border deaths.
The Wall: ‘Mass disaster’ grows at the U.S.-Mexico border, but Washington doesn’t seem to care
Who is crossing the Vermont-Canadian border
There are no clear-cut answers as to why people are crossing as the circumstances differ for each person or group, said Steven Bansbach, a public affairs officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Many are being dropped off near the border by car and then proceeding across land on foot, he said.
Among the border crossers are family groups that include infants and children who are particularly vulnerable to the cold. Bansbach said many are crossing at night while cold and sleep deprived, all of which can be disorienting.
Border patrol usually detains, arrests and sends those apprehended back to where they came from, according to Bansbach.
Fact check: False claim that those in country illegally can become police officers in California
More: Rescues of asylum-seekers soar as Border Patrol ramps up efforts and more migrants arrive
Looking at the countries of origin of encounters involving the border patrol in Swanton, a vast majority are from Mexico. Among the 1,513 encounters from October through January, 945 originated from Mexico.
"They may be trying to find a path of least resistance to enter into the U.S.," Bansbach surmised. "And they may know there's a conundrum at the southwest border and so they may find that the northern border they may sneak across to have a better advantage."
The U.S.'s southern border has been a point of contention, from border walls, to the separation of children and parents, to immigrants being caught up in political brinkmanship being shipped from southern states to northern ones, in some cases dropped off on a political opponent's doorstep.
Follow April Barton at on Twitter @aprildbarton
Contributing: Rick Jervis, USA Today
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: U.S. Border Patrol in VT sees winter increase in illegal crossings
Saturday, March 04, 2023
ONTARIO
Doctors behind private surgical group defend 'new model of care'
Fri, March 3, 2023
A doctor studies images of a patient's knee replacement surgery at a private medical facility in Laval, Que. The orthopedic surgeons behind a private group performing similar procedures at the Riverside campus of The Ottawa Hospital on weekends is defending the partnership. (Louis-Marie Philidor/CBC - image credit)
The doctors behind a private corporation that's performing joint replacement surgeries at the Riverside campus of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) on Saturdays are defending the arrangement, which some critics view as another step toward the creeping privatization of Ontario's health-care system.
As CBC News reported this week, Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa Inc. (AOAO), a group led by eight Ottawa surgeons who all practise out of TOH, performed the first round of 10 surgeries at the Riverside on Feb. 25. AOAO was registered as a business in Ontario in December 2021.
As surgeons, we hear the distress, pain, and the limitations to the quality of life our patients are experiencing. - Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa Inc.
CBC News first became aware of the partnership in January, but the hospital did not confirm it until Feb. 16, when it announced it was "working with [AOAO] to increase capacity for orthopedic procedures, such as hip and knee replacements" at the Riverside, where operating rooms were "previously unused on weekends."
The arrangement is "in line with the Ontario government's plan to expand surgical capacity," according to the announcement.
Advocates and experts interviewed by CBC are viewing the partnership between TOH and AOAO in a different light, however. Some are asking why, since they rely on existing medical staff and hospital facilities, the surgeries aren't being performed under the existing public health-care structure.
"Why not use what you already have instead of taking this step toward privatization?" asked Rachel Muir, a registered nurse and the Ontario Nurses' Association's (ONA) bargaining unit president at TOH.
'The need to act is now'
According to a statement issued Thursday evening by TOH on behalf of AOAO, the surgeons' primary motivation in introducing this "new model of care" is relieving the existing backlog in access to orthopedic procedures that has left many patients waiting too long for surgery.
"This, combined with the growth expected in the future, means we need to find new solutions to ensure patients get the care they need. As surgeons, we hear the distress, pain, and the limitations to the quality of life our patients are experiencing. The need to act is now to respond to these patient concerns," according to the statement.
"Working with The Ottawa Hospital will allow us to strengthen access, quality, and service delivery for patients requiring orthopedic care across the region."
Nicole Beswitherick/CBC
According to the statement, AOAO is renting the operating rooms at the Riverside, but "has purchased its own equipment to perform these surgeries."
The statement does not specify how much AOAO is paying to rent the surgical space, nor what equipment it provides. AOAO later clarified that its surgeons provide "all instruments and equipment required to perform a hip or knee replacement," but uses the hospital's existing infrastructure such as operating room lights.
Anyone undergoing surgery is a registered TOH patient and "all services are billed through OHIP, as per standard practice," according to the statement, which describes the arrangement as "a cost-recovery model."
Surgical staff including registered nurses, registered practical nurses and clerical staff who volunteer to work the 10-hour Saturday shifts are being offered a per diem by AOAO that's roughly double what they'd earn for a regular eight-hour hospital shift, however they're responsible for their own insurance, CBC News has learned.
Minister defends partnership, applauds TOH
According to AOAO, the group includes 26 orthopedic surgeons. The Ontario Business Registry lists eight surgeons as "active directors."
CBC News has made numerous attempts to contact the surgeon listed as chair of the group, and on Thursday attempted to contact the other seven directors, all of whom practise out of TOH and most of whom are also affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Until Thursday's statement, the group had not commented publicly.
CBC News requested an interview Friday with the hospital's president and CEO Cameron Love, but was told he's unavailable.
A spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones also turned down an interview request on Friday. On Thursday, Jones's office issued a statement lauding TOH for "taking innovative action to eliminate the joint replacement surgical backlog and reduce patient wait times so more Ontarians can receive the care they need, closer to home."
In response to an access to information request from CBC News, the ministry said last month it had no records regarding the partnership between TOH and AOAO.
At Queen's Park on Thursday, Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden questioned Jones about the partnership.
"Will this government get public operating rooms fully up and running for everyone?" asked Harden, who characterized the arrangement to lease the publicly funded facilities to a private corporation as "selling them off or renting them out."
"I can tell you, there are some innovative models that are happening in the province of Ontario that are leading to successes," Jones replied. "It is a good news story, and we will continue to invest in those innovative models."
Craig Chivers/CBC
Use existing resources, surgeon urges
Dr. David Urbach, head of the department of surgery at Women's College Hospital in Toronto and professor of surgery and health policy, management and evaluation at the University of Toronto, agrees that Ontario's capacity to provide joint replacement surgeries is insufficient to meet the current demand.
"That is why many patients are suffering in pain waiting too long for surgery," said Urbach.
However, he believes that could be solved with proper funding and planning, and by introducing a centralized "single-entry" referral system for patients to avoid bottlenecks.
"There is no reason why additional surgeries could not be done in Ontario public hospitals," he said. "There are many operating rooms in Ontario hospitals that are unused — but could be used — due to lack of funding and staffing, especially nurses.
"From a business and quality of care perspective, it would be a much better strategy for Ontario to maximize delivery of surgery in our existing public hospitals."
The Toronto Star, quoting a retired Ministry of Health lawyer, reported on Thursday that under Section 4 of Ontario's Public Hospitals Act, no land, building or other premises belonging to a hospital can be sold, leased or mortgaged without the minister's approval.
On Thursday, the ministry told CBC that because the operating rooms belong to TOH, and the procedures provided in them are insured hospital services, the hospital does not require the minister's approval for uses such as the current partnership with AOAO.
Through TOH, CBC News has also asked AOAO whether it's charging a 50 per cent premium for weekend surgeries provided under OHIP as part of its "standard practice" mentioned earlier.
Fri, March 3, 2023
A doctor studies images of a patient's knee replacement surgery at a private medical facility in Laval, Que. The orthopedic surgeons behind a private group performing similar procedures at the Riverside campus of The Ottawa Hospital on weekends is defending the partnership. (Louis-Marie Philidor/CBC - image credit)
The doctors behind a private corporation that's performing joint replacement surgeries at the Riverside campus of The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) on Saturdays are defending the arrangement, which some critics view as another step toward the creeping privatization of Ontario's health-care system.
As CBC News reported this week, Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa Inc. (AOAO), a group led by eight Ottawa surgeons who all practise out of TOH, performed the first round of 10 surgeries at the Riverside on Feb. 25. AOAO was registered as a business in Ontario in December 2021.
As surgeons, we hear the distress, pain, and the limitations to the quality of life our patients are experiencing. - Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa Inc.
CBC News first became aware of the partnership in January, but the hospital did not confirm it until Feb. 16, when it announced it was "working with [AOAO] to increase capacity for orthopedic procedures, such as hip and knee replacements" at the Riverside, where operating rooms were "previously unused on weekends."
The arrangement is "in line with the Ontario government's plan to expand surgical capacity," according to the announcement.
Advocates and experts interviewed by CBC are viewing the partnership between TOH and AOAO in a different light, however. Some are asking why, since they rely on existing medical staff and hospital facilities, the surgeries aren't being performed under the existing public health-care structure.
"Why not use what you already have instead of taking this step toward privatization?" asked Rachel Muir, a registered nurse and the Ontario Nurses' Association's (ONA) bargaining unit president at TOH.
'The need to act is now'
According to a statement issued Thursday evening by TOH on behalf of AOAO, the surgeons' primary motivation in introducing this "new model of care" is relieving the existing backlog in access to orthopedic procedures that has left many patients waiting too long for surgery.
"This, combined with the growth expected in the future, means we need to find new solutions to ensure patients get the care they need. As surgeons, we hear the distress, pain, and the limitations to the quality of life our patients are experiencing. The need to act is now to respond to these patient concerns," according to the statement.
"Working with The Ottawa Hospital will allow us to strengthen access, quality, and service delivery for patients requiring orthopedic care across the region."
Nicole Beswitherick/CBC
According to the statement, AOAO is renting the operating rooms at the Riverside, but "has purchased its own equipment to perform these surgeries."
The statement does not specify how much AOAO is paying to rent the surgical space, nor what equipment it provides. AOAO later clarified that its surgeons provide "all instruments and equipment required to perform a hip or knee replacement," but uses the hospital's existing infrastructure such as operating room lights.
Anyone undergoing surgery is a registered TOH patient and "all services are billed through OHIP, as per standard practice," according to the statement, which describes the arrangement as "a cost-recovery model."
Surgical staff including registered nurses, registered practical nurses and clerical staff who volunteer to work the 10-hour Saturday shifts are being offered a per diem by AOAO that's roughly double what they'd earn for a regular eight-hour hospital shift, however they're responsible for their own insurance, CBC News has learned.
Minister defends partnership, applauds TOH
According to AOAO, the group includes 26 orthopedic surgeons. The Ontario Business Registry lists eight surgeons as "active directors."
CBC News has made numerous attempts to contact the surgeon listed as chair of the group, and on Thursday attempted to contact the other seven directors, all of whom practise out of TOH and most of whom are also affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Until Thursday's statement, the group had not commented publicly.
CBC News requested an interview Friday with the hospital's president and CEO Cameron Love, but was told he's unavailable.
A spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones also turned down an interview request on Friday. On Thursday, Jones's office issued a statement lauding TOH for "taking innovative action to eliminate the joint replacement surgical backlog and reduce patient wait times so more Ontarians can receive the care they need, closer to home."
In response to an access to information request from CBC News, the ministry said last month it had no records regarding the partnership between TOH and AOAO.
At Queen's Park on Thursday, Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden questioned Jones about the partnership.
"Will this government get public operating rooms fully up and running for everyone?" asked Harden, who characterized the arrangement to lease the publicly funded facilities to a private corporation as "selling them off or renting them out."
"I can tell you, there are some innovative models that are happening in the province of Ontario that are leading to successes," Jones replied. "It is a good news story, and we will continue to invest in those innovative models."
Craig Chivers/CBC
Use existing resources, surgeon urges
Dr. David Urbach, head of the department of surgery at Women's College Hospital in Toronto and professor of surgery and health policy, management and evaluation at the University of Toronto, agrees that Ontario's capacity to provide joint replacement surgeries is insufficient to meet the current demand.
"That is why many patients are suffering in pain waiting too long for surgery," said Urbach.
However, he believes that could be solved with proper funding and planning, and by introducing a centralized "single-entry" referral system for patients to avoid bottlenecks.
"There is no reason why additional surgeries could not be done in Ontario public hospitals," he said. "There are many operating rooms in Ontario hospitals that are unused — but could be used — due to lack of funding and staffing, especially nurses.
"From a business and quality of care perspective, it would be a much better strategy for Ontario to maximize delivery of surgery in our existing public hospitals."
The Toronto Star, quoting a retired Ministry of Health lawyer, reported on Thursday that under Section 4 of Ontario's Public Hospitals Act, no land, building or other premises belonging to a hospital can be sold, leased or mortgaged without the minister's approval.
On Thursday, the ministry told CBC that because the operating rooms belong to TOH, and the procedures provided in them are insured hospital services, the hospital does not require the minister's approval for uses such as the current partnership with AOAO.
Through TOH, CBC News has also asked AOAO whether it's charging a 50 per cent premium for weekend surgeries provided under OHIP as part of its "standard practice" mentioned earlier.
UK
Striking nurses need to shout to make this government listen
Rebecca Roncoroni
Fri, 3 March 2023
Striking nurses outside a hospital in Southampton. (Image: Newsquest)
I trained as a nurse in 1996 aged 29 with three young children and a husband who had been made redundant.
I received a basic bursary of around £5000 (equivalent to £12,008.23 today plus a top up to £7,600 (equivalent to 18,012.34 today) as I had three children and an unemployed husband.
There were no student loans. Under current circumstances there is no way that would have been possible.
We were seen as part of the service we were training to become part of. A little like a soldier in training (will they be paying student loans next?).
Read more: Letter urges bishop to pray for NHS in crisis
From the first placement onwards we worked long shifts, studied long hours, commuted, sometimes daily, to QA Hospital nursing school, and Portsmouth University, and were expected to follow the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Code of Conduct to the letter from the very beginning.
In our Professional Code of Conduct is was drummed into us that as nurses we were accountable practitioners, which meant that if we failed to put the patients health and safety first, we would be held liable and could be struck off and charged if necessary.
So, if a doctor made a mistake on a prescription and you gave the medication without checking the prescription and patient, you were equally culpable for any consequences. It gave nurses the power to say no to policies and procedures that go against the patients best interests and in theory protected them for doing so.
Nurses are not just striking because of poor pay. Of course that is part of it. People need to be able to live in a warm house, eat good food, wear comfy shoes, rest.
Read more: NHS strikers spotted outside Island hospital
But the huge demoralisation of being forced to work in conditions that are unsafe for patients puts nurses in a terrible position.
According to their professional code of conduct and, lets face it, their humanity, they must speak up and about what is happening within their wards. Because right now, the Professional Code of Conduct is being made a mockery of by this Government.
No nurse would choose to leave patients in pain, hungry, lonely, lying in urine, and overdue their medication.
Yet every single day they are forced to prioritise the most pressing tasks only a qualified nurse can do, knowing that there is inadequate staff to wash, feed, turn, reassure and tend the patients as they should be nursed.
It is soul destroying to work in a job that you have a true vocation for and be set up to fail in your duty every single day. You wonder if by carrying on, are you colluding with a cruel system, but if you leave what will happen to the patients?
Please support to the nurses when they talk about why they are striking. They are speaking for us all. They are representing a voice that needs amplifying to the point of deafening for the Government to start listening. We need to support them in order for them to support us. They are speaking the truth to power.
I support them with every fibre of my heart.
Striking nurses need to shout to make this government listen
Rebecca Roncoroni
Fri, 3 March 2023
Striking nurses outside a hospital in Southampton. (Image: Newsquest)
I trained as a nurse in 1996 aged 29 with three young children and a husband who had been made redundant.
I received a basic bursary of around £5000 (equivalent to £12,008.23 today plus a top up to £7,600 (equivalent to 18,012.34 today) as I had three children and an unemployed husband.
There were no student loans. Under current circumstances there is no way that would have been possible.
We were seen as part of the service we were training to become part of. A little like a soldier in training (will they be paying student loans next?).
Read more: Letter urges bishop to pray for NHS in crisis
From the first placement onwards we worked long shifts, studied long hours, commuted, sometimes daily, to QA Hospital nursing school, and Portsmouth University, and were expected to follow the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Code of Conduct to the letter from the very beginning.
In our Professional Code of Conduct is was drummed into us that as nurses we were accountable practitioners, which meant that if we failed to put the patients health and safety first, we would be held liable and could be struck off and charged if necessary.
So, if a doctor made a mistake on a prescription and you gave the medication without checking the prescription and patient, you were equally culpable for any consequences. It gave nurses the power to say no to policies and procedures that go against the patients best interests and in theory protected them for doing so.
Nurses are not just striking because of poor pay. Of course that is part of it. People need to be able to live in a warm house, eat good food, wear comfy shoes, rest.
Read more: NHS strikers spotted outside Island hospital
But the huge demoralisation of being forced to work in conditions that are unsafe for patients puts nurses in a terrible position.
According to their professional code of conduct and, lets face it, their humanity, they must speak up and about what is happening within their wards. Because right now, the Professional Code of Conduct is being made a mockery of by this Government.
No nurse would choose to leave patients in pain, hungry, lonely, lying in urine, and overdue their medication.
Yet every single day they are forced to prioritise the most pressing tasks only a qualified nurse can do, knowing that there is inadequate staff to wash, feed, turn, reassure and tend the patients as they should be nursed.
It is soul destroying to work in a job that you have a true vocation for and be set up to fail in your duty every single day. You wonder if by carrying on, are you colluding with a cruel system, but if you leave what will happen to the patients?
Please support to the nurses when they talk about why they are striking. They are speaking for us all. They are representing a voice that needs amplifying to the point of deafening for the Government to start listening. We need to support them in order for them to support us. They are speaking the truth to power.
I support them with every fibre of my heart.
B.C. firm retracts claim of licence to sell cocaine after prime minister and premier weigh in
Fri, March 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vancouver on Thursday. (CBC News - image credit)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is "as surprised as" British Columbia Premier David Eby after a firm announced it had received Health Canada licence amendments to produce and sell cocaine.
Trudeau said Friday the federal government was "working very quickly" with Adastra Labs of Langley, B.C., "to correct the misunderstanding" caused by the company's statement saying it was looking at commercializing cocaine as part of its business model.
He said Adastra did not have permission to sell cocaine on the "open market," while Health Canada said the firm could only sell to other licence holders, and its licence is for "scientific and medical purposes only."
"Health Canada has contacted the company to reiterate the very narrow parameters of their licence," the federal agency said in a written statement. "If the strict requirements are not being followed, Health Canada will not hesitate to take action, which may include revoking the licence."
On Friday afternoon, Adastra retracted its statements regarding the Health Canada approval.
"The Dealer's Licence issued to Adastra Labs does not permit Adastra Labs to sell coca leaf, psilocybin or cocaine to the general public," it said in a statement. "For cocaine, and under the Dealer's Licence, Adastra Labs is only permitted to sell to other licensed dealers who have cocaine listed on their licence."
This comes as a second B.C. company says it has a licence related to cocaine and MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
Victoria's Sunshine Earth Labs, a biosciences firm that "aims to bring a safer supply of drugs to the global market," says it obtained an amended Controlled Drug and Substances Dealer's Licence to include MDMA and cocaine last year.
However, like Adastra, its licence is for authorized medical and research purposes only, and it is not permitted to sell these drugs to the general public, according to Health Canada.
Canada not considering commercial cocaine: PM
In a written statement, Health Canada says it "thoroughly reviews applications" to ensure licensees follow all existing policies on public health and safety.
When asked how many other companies have received similar amendments to their licences, the agency said it does not share or publish the list of companies who have received licences, nor does it discuss the status of applications for licensing amendments due to safety, security and privacy reasons.
Trudeau said commercializing decriminalized cocaine "is not something that this government is looking at furthering."
"I was as surprised as the premier of British Columbia was to see that a company was talking about selling cocaine on the open market or commercializing it," he said, adding that Adastra's licence was "not a permission to sell it commercially or to provide it on an open market."
B.C.'s drug decriminalization policy went into effect at the end of January, allowing individuals 18 and over to possess up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA without criminal penalties.
The decriminalization is a three-year pilot project.
Licence not part of provincial plan: Eby
The public uproar began after B.C. Opposition leader Kevin Falcon raised the issue during question period at the provincial legislature on Thursday.
In response, Eby said he was "astonished" by the news, and the province had not been notified or consulted by Health Canada on the matter.
CBC News
"I think that Health Canada needs to have a serious look at what they are doing. I think they have to have a serious look at this company," Eby said.
Eby said Friday that he has spoken to the federal government and that he is "further disturbed" to hear from Health Canada that Adastra "significantly misrepresented the nature of the licence" in an irresponsible manner.
"I find it more than a little bit frustrating that Health Canada is not apparently in line with us in terms of the direction we're going," he said. "We need to work together on the toxic drug crisis and our response to it."
Eby said the licence "is not part of our provincial plan," referring to the ongoing effort to stem the overdose death rate, with an average of more than six people dying every day in B.C. last year.
For its part, Sunshine Labs said it "does not engage in promoting or launching safer supply initiatives" and defers the implementation of policy on decriminalized cocaine, opium and MDMA to experts.
But the company also said the elevated overdose death rate in B.C. coincides with public health officials' reports that the majority of deaths came from occasional, rather than chronic, users.
That means decriminalization may not be enough, Sunshine Labs' statement says, and points to some experts suggesting providing users with "an opportunity to purchase certified drugs with known levels of purity and quantity" as a way to prevent deaths.
"While this notion may be difficult for some to accept, it represents the rational next step," the statement said.
Fri, March 3, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Vancouver on Thursday. (CBC News - image credit)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is "as surprised as" British Columbia Premier David Eby after a firm announced it had received Health Canada licence amendments to produce and sell cocaine.
Trudeau said Friday the federal government was "working very quickly" with Adastra Labs of Langley, B.C., "to correct the misunderstanding" caused by the company's statement saying it was looking at commercializing cocaine as part of its business model.
He said Adastra did not have permission to sell cocaine on the "open market," while Health Canada said the firm could only sell to other licence holders, and its licence is for "scientific and medical purposes only."
"Health Canada has contacted the company to reiterate the very narrow parameters of their licence," the federal agency said in a written statement. "If the strict requirements are not being followed, Health Canada will not hesitate to take action, which may include revoking the licence."
On Friday afternoon, Adastra retracted its statements regarding the Health Canada approval.
"The Dealer's Licence issued to Adastra Labs does not permit Adastra Labs to sell coca leaf, psilocybin or cocaine to the general public," it said in a statement. "For cocaine, and under the Dealer's Licence, Adastra Labs is only permitted to sell to other licensed dealers who have cocaine listed on their licence."
This comes as a second B.C. company says it has a licence related to cocaine and MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
Victoria's Sunshine Earth Labs, a biosciences firm that "aims to bring a safer supply of drugs to the global market," says it obtained an amended Controlled Drug and Substances Dealer's Licence to include MDMA and cocaine last year.
However, like Adastra, its licence is for authorized medical and research purposes only, and it is not permitted to sell these drugs to the general public, according to Health Canada.
Canada not considering commercial cocaine: PM
In a written statement, Health Canada says it "thoroughly reviews applications" to ensure licensees follow all existing policies on public health and safety.
When asked how many other companies have received similar amendments to their licences, the agency said it does not share or publish the list of companies who have received licences, nor does it discuss the status of applications for licensing amendments due to safety, security and privacy reasons.
Trudeau said commercializing decriminalized cocaine "is not something that this government is looking at furthering."
"I was as surprised as the premier of British Columbia was to see that a company was talking about selling cocaine on the open market or commercializing it," he said, adding that Adastra's licence was "not a permission to sell it commercially or to provide it on an open market."
B.C.'s drug decriminalization policy went into effect at the end of January, allowing individuals 18 and over to possess up to 2.5 grams of opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA without criminal penalties.
The decriminalization is a three-year pilot project.
Licence not part of provincial plan: Eby
The public uproar began after B.C. Opposition leader Kevin Falcon raised the issue during question period at the provincial legislature on Thursday.
In response, Eby said he was "astonished" by the news, and the province had not been notified or consulted by Health Canada on the matter.
CBC News
"I think that Health Canada needs to have a serious look at what they are doing. I think they have to have a serious look at this company," Eby said.
Eby said Friday that he has spoken to the federal government and that he is "further disturbed" to hear from Health Canada that Adastra "significantly misrepresented the nature of the licence" in an irresponsible manner.
"I find it more than a little bit frustrating that Health Canada is not apparently in line with us in terms of the direction we're going," he said. "We need to work together on the toxic drug crisis and our response to it."
Eby said the licence "is not part of our provincial plan," referring to the ongoing effort to stem the overdose death rate, with an average of more than six people dying every day in B.C. last year.
For its part, Sunshine Labs said it "does not engage in promoting or launching safer supply initiatives" and defers the implementation of policy on decriminalized cocaine, opium and MDMA to experts.
But the company also said the elevated overdose death rate in B.C. coincides with public health officials' reports that the majority of deaths came from occasional, rather than chronic, users.
That means decriminalization may not be enough, Sunshine Labs' statement says, and points to some experts suggesting providing users with "an opportunity to purchase certified drugs with known levels of purity and quantity" as a way to prevent deaths.
"While this notion may be difficult for some to accept, it represents the rational next step," the statement said.
Up to the gills in goldfish: Large invasive fish a problem in B.C. waters: expert
Fri, March 3, 2023
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A researcher says pet owners who dump their unwanted goldfish into British Columbia's waterways are putting native fish populations at risk.
Brian Heise, an associate professor in the department of natural resource sciences at Thompson Rivers University, says thousands of large, invasive goldfish — some as big as footballs — have multiplied in bodies of water around the province.
He says female goldfish can release 50,000 eggs at a time, three times a summer, they compete with native species for food and space, and carry diseases that can spread to other fish, including the salmon population.
Over the last decade, Heise says goldfish populations have spread from the Vancouver area to lakes in the northern and Interior parts of the province.
He says the province needs to continue funding an expensive practice called electrofishing where electric current is passed through the water to stun the fish, allowing them to be scooped out.
The researcher also says work needs to be done at pet stores so customers can return unwanted animals instead of dumping them.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press
Fri, March 3, 2023
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A researcher says pet owners who dump their unwanted goldfish into British Columbia's waterways are putting native fish populations at risk.
Brian Heise, an associate professor in the department of natural resource sciences at Thompson Rivers University, says thousands of large, invasive goldfish — some as big as footballs — have multiplied in bodies of water around the province.
He says female goldfish can release 50,000 eggs at a time, three times a summer, they compete with native species for food and space, and carry diseases that can spread to other fish, including the salmon population.
Over the last decade, Heise says goldfish populations have spread from the Vancouver area to lakes in the northern and Interior parts of the province.
He says the province needs to continue funding an expensive practice called electrofishing where electric current is passed through the water to stun the fish, allowing them to be scooped out.
The researcher also says work needs to be done at pet stores so customers can return unwanted animals instead of dumping them.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press
Province halts old-growth logging in at-risk owl territory another two years
Fri, March 3, 2023 at 2:31 p.m. MST·1 min read
VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says it's extending an old-growth logging ban for part of the Fraser Canyon for another two years to help with the recovery of the endangered spotted owl.
The province says deferring logging activity in two watersheds in the canyon is part of its plan to bring back a "sustained breeding population" of the owl.
The province says it has extended the suspension of old-growth logging activity in the Spuzzum and Utzilus watersheds until February 2025.
Forests Minister Bruce Ralston says further extending the logging deferral in the more than 32,000-hectare area will support recovery efforts to increase the bird's population.
The province says there are only three of the birds known to live in the wild in B.C., two of which were released by a breeding facility in Langley in August last year.
Nathan Cullen, the minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says the logging deferrals are an "important component" of the government's plan to reintegrate the species into its natural habitat.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023
Fri, March 3, 2023 at 2:31 p.m. MST·1 min read
VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says it's extending an old-growth logging ban for part of the Fraser Canyon for another two years to help with the recovery of the endangered spotted owl.
The province says deferring logging activity in two watersheds in the canyon is part of its plan to bring back a "sustained breeding population" of the owl.
The province says it has extended the suspension of old-growth logging activity in the Spuzzum and Utzilus watersheds until February 2025.
Forests Minister Bruce Ralston says further extending the logging deferral in the more than 32,000-hectare area will support recovery efforts to increase the bird's population.
The province says there are only three of the birds known to live in the wild in B.C., two of which were released by a breeding facility in Langley in August last year.
Nathan Cullen, the minister of water, land and resource stewardship, says the logging deferrals are an "important component" of the government's plan to reintegrate the species into its natural habitat.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023
Trudeau says appointing Indigenous RCMP commissioner is an 'excellent idea'
Fri, March 3, 2023
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says having an Indigenous person serve as the next commissioner of the RCMP is "an excellent idea."
He made the comment in response to questions from reporters in Winnipeg today about a call from some First Nations leadership for the government to ensure the next top Mountie is Indigenous.
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is set to retire from her post this month, slightly before the end of her five-year term.
She was appointed in April 2018 and led the force during a chaotic few years that included the deadliest mass shooting in modern Canadian history, along with growing calls to defund the police and allegations of systemic racism in the force.
Trudeau says the next RCMP commissioner will be selected through an independent process and he did not commit to ensuring Lucki's successor is Indigenous.
He says bringing change to an institution like the RCMP "is not just about putting the right person at the top."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press
Fri, March 3, 2023
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says having an Indigenous person serve as the next commissioner of the RCMP is "an excellent idea."
He made the comment in response to questions from reporters in Winnipeg today about a call from some First Nations leadership for the government to ensure the next top Mountie is Indigenous.
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki is set to retire from her post this month, slightly before the end of her five-year term.
She was appointed in April 2018 and led the force during a chaotic few years that included the deadliest mass shooting in modern Canadian history, along with growing calls to defund the police and allegations of systemic racism in the force.
Trudeau says the next RCMP commissioner will be selected through an independent process and he did not commit to ensuring Lucki's successor is Indigenous.
He says bringing change to an institution like the RCMP "is not just about putting the right person at the top."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press
Manitoba to have average $10-a-day child care in April, three years ahead of schedule
Fri, March 3, 2023
WINNIPEG — Manitoba is to achieve $10-a-day child care by April 2, three years ahead of schedule for the federal Liberal government's national plan.
"Today is a great reminder of what we can do when we all work together," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday in Winnipeg.
Manitoba signed onto the national child-care plan in 2021. It saw Ottawa commit $1.2 billion to the province over five years.
Premier Heather Stefanson said hitting the milestone early is important for the future of Manitoba families. Those families are to pay a maximum of $10 a day for children age 12 and under at regulated non-profit child-care centres.
The province said that goes above and beyond the agreement with the federal government that required an average of $10 a day.
"We recognize that access to affordable and high-quality child care is essential for Manitobans to be able to participate in the workforce."
The Prime Minister's Office said it is capped at $10, and in some cases lower. However, for extended care and in some other scenarios the cap goes to $15. On average it works out to $10 a day.
Stefanson said families are to save thousands of dollars in child-care fees that will help pay for groceries and their children's futures.
She and Trudeau met with families before the announcement at a YMCA-YWCA in the city. Children chased each other in a playroom in the facility as their parents shared how the savings would affect their families.
One parent said the savings will allow them to put money toward diapers and formula.
While money was top of mind, one parent said she appreciated how easy the new deal is for busy families. Creating something that doesn't require parents to apply for the low rate is huge, she added.
Stefanson said since she became premier, she has prioritized collaboration with all levels of government.
The federal funds are also to be used to create 23,000 early learning and child-care spaces for kids age six and under by 2026.
Education Minister Wayne Ewasko said the province is also focusing on attracting and training childhood professionals to help meet that goal.
Manitoba's NDP Opposition said if the Progressive Conservatives don't move on creating more spaces, it will result in "chaos" for child-care centres and early childhood educators.
"The fact is, without real increases to operating funding for child care centres, child care will not improve," said Nahanni Fontaine, the NDP families critic.
The Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system has been key to the Liberal government's agenda. All 13 provinces have signed child-care agreements and a few have also achieved the $10-a-day child care ahead of schedule.
"By working together, Canada and Manitoba have achieved our shared goal of affordable child care," said Karina Gould, the federal families minister.
Later in the day, Trudeau paid a surprise visit to a group of about 20 health-care workers at the Grace Hospital. He brought the group treats from Tim Hortons and thanked them for their service.
Some of the workers told the prime minister that staffing shortages have led to long emergency room wait times.
"We're trying to work with the provinces to make sure you get more reinforcements," Trudeau told the group.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
Fri, March 3, 2023
WINNIPEG — Manitoba is to achieve $10-a-day child care by April 2, three years ahead of schedule for the federal Liberal government's national plan.
"Today is a great reminder of what we can do when we all work together," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday in Winnipeg.
Manitoba signed onto the national child-care plan in 2021. It saw Ottawa commit $1.2 billion to the province over five years.
Premier Heather Stefanson said hitting the milestone early is important for the future of Manitoba families. Those families are to pay a maximum of $10 a day for children age 12 and under at regulated non-profit child-care centres.
The province said that goes above and beyond the agreement with the federal government that required an average of $10 a day.
"We recognize that access to affordable and high-quality child care is essential for Manitobans to be able to participate in the workforce."
The Prime Minister's Office said it is capped at $10, and in some cases lower. However, for extended care and in some other scenarios the cap goes to $15. On average it works out to $10 a day.
Stefanson said families are to save thousands of dollars in child-care fees that will help pay for groceries and their children's futures.
She and Trudeau met with families before the announcement at a YMCA-YWCA in the city. Children chased each other in a playroom in the facility as their parents shared how the savings would affect their families.
One parent said the savings will allow them to put money toward diapers and formula.
While money was top of mind, one parent said she appreciated how easy the new deal is for busy families. Creating something that doesn't require parents to apply for the low rate is huge, she added.
Stefanson said since she became premier, she has prioritized collaboration with all levels of government.
The federal funds are also to be used to create 23,000 early learning and child-care spaces for kids age six and under by 2026.
Education Minister Wayne Ewasko said the province is also focusing on attracting and training childhood professionals to help meet that goal.
Manitoba's NDP Opposition said if the Progressive Conservatives don't move on creating more spaces, it will result in "chaos" for child-care centres and early childhood educators.
"The fact is, without real increases to operating funding for child care centres, child care will not improve," said Nahanni Fontaine, the NDP families critic.
The Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system has been key to the Liberal government's agenda. All 13 provinces have signed child-care agreements and a few have also achieved the $10-a-day child care ahead of schedule.
"By working together, Canada and Manitoba have achieved our shared goal of affordable child care," said Karina Gould, the federal families minister.
Later in the day, Trudeau paid a surprise visit to a group of about 20 health-care workers at the Grace Hospital. He brought the group treats from Tim Hortons and thanked them for their service.
Some of the workers told the prime minister that staffing shortages have led to long emergency room wait times.
"We're trying to work with the provinces to make sure you get more reinforcements," Trudeau told the group.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
Community groups merge to better ‘hold Manitoba Hydro accountable’
Fri, March 3, 2023
Two grassroots organizations have joined forces and say they will now work to keep Manitoba Hydro accountable to the public, the environment, and communities directly affected by the actions of the Crown Corporation.
The Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition (MEJC) and the Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance of Hydro-Impacted Communities said they have formed the Manitoba Hydro Accountability Board (HAB), an organization they say will work to “hold Manitoba Hydro accountable to the public.”
Both MEJC and the Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance say they have concerns about the way Hydro currently operates in Manitoba, and believe because of their own goals and mandates as organizations, that the newly-appointed board should have a say in decisions made by Hydro.
“Sitting on the HAB are Elders and knowledge keepers, hydro-impacted community members, scientists, lawyers, activists, students, and youth,” HAB said in its media release.
“This team provides a unified community voice offering support and advice to ensure a responsible, sustainable and accountable MB Hydro.”
MEJC currently operates as a community-led alliance of volunteers living in Manitoba “committed to climate action and climate justice.”
The organization also says they are also committed to “confronting and addressing the harms that colonization has caused and is still causing,” to Indigenous people and communities in this province, and to “supporting the demands of the Land Back movement.”
And for more than seven years, the Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance of Hydro-Impacted Communities has been working in Manitoba to document and evaluate the impacts of Hydro on First Nation communities, land, water, and livelihoods, with the goal of increasing awareness of the impacts of hydroelectric projects and “fostering social and environmental change.”
Both organizations say they united to form HAB because of a number of concerns regarding Hydro, including what they say is a “lack of accountability” to the public, and to those affected communities.
“The current MB Hydro board does not provide sufficient oversight or accountability to the Crown Corporation,” said Lisa Bellemare, who has been appointed as chair of the board of HAB.
“Their members are appointed by provincial politicians behind closed doors, and their own decision-making process is not transparent or publicly accountable.
“MB Hydro has free reign to build questionable projects using public funds.”
The group also said that Hydro could be doing more to combat climate change and to be more accountable to Indigenous communities that are affected by Hydro’s actions and decisions.
“The HAB debunks MB Hydro’s misrepresentation as a green utility operating for the consumer,” Bellemare said.
In an email, Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Bruce Owen rejected any notion that Hydro has not been accountable to the public.
“To suggest Manitoba Hydro is not accountable to those we serve is simply untrue,” Owen said.
In the email, Owen listed recent and upcoming events which he said prove Hydro is working to communicate with Manitobans.
“As it happens, our annual public meeting is March 14. The meeting will include a question-and-answer session with members of our executive team,” Owen said. “We’re also in the early stages of our 2023-24 & 2024-25 General Rate Application at the Public Utilities Board. Public hearing dates are scheduled to begin May 15.
“Lastly, Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Jay Grewal appeared before the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations on Jan. 12.”
HAB said that although MEJC and Wa Ni Ska Tan helped create HAB, the board and its members will operate as an independent entity and “welcome further networking and partnership opportunities.”
— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
Dave Baxter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun
Fri, March 3, 2023
Two grassroots organizations have joined forces and say they will now work to keep Manitoba Hydro accountable to the public, the environment, and communities directly affected by the actions of the Crown Corporation.
The Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition (MEJC) and the Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance of Hydro-Impacted Communities said they have formed the Manitoba Hydro Accountability Board (HAB), an organization they say will work to “hold Manitoba Hydro accountable to the public.”
Both MEJC and the Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance say they have concerns about the way Hydro currently operates in Manitoba, and believe because of their own goals and mandates as organizations, that the newly-appointed board should have a say in decisions made by Hydro.
“Sitting on the HAB are Elders and knowledge keepers, hydro-impacted community members, scientists, lawyers, activists, students, and youth,” HAB said in its media release.
“This team provides a unified community voice offering support and advice to ensure a responsible, sustainable and accountable MB Hydro.”
MEJC currently operates as a community-led alliance of volunteers living in Manitoba “committed to climate action and climate justice.”
The organization also says they are also committed to “confronting and addressing the harms that colonization has caused and is still causing,” to Indigenous people and communities in this province, and to “supporting the demands of the Land Back movement.”
And for more than seven years, the Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance of Hydro-Impacted Communities has been working in Manitoba to document and evaluate the impacts of Hydro on First Nation communities, land, water, and livelihoods, with the goal of increasing awareness of the impacts of hydroelectric projects and “fostering social and environmental change.”
Both organizations say they united to form HAB because of a number of concerns regarding Hydro, including what they say is a “lack of accountability” to the public, and to those affected communities.
“The current MB Hydro board does not provide sufficient oversight or accountability to the Crown Corporation,” said Lisa Bellemare, who has been appointed as chair of the board of HAB.
“Their members are appointed by provincial politicians behind closed doors, and their own decision-making process is not transparent or publicly accountable.
“MB Hydro has free reign to build questionable projects using public funds.”
The group also said that Hydro could be doing more to combat climate change and to be more accountable to Indigenous communities that are affected by Hydro’s actions and decisions.
“The HAB debunks MB Hydro’s misrepresentation as a green utility operating for the consumer,” Bellemare said.
In an email, Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Bruce Owen rejected any notion that Hydro has not been accountable to the public.
“To suggest Manitoba Hydro is not accountable to those we serve is simply untrue,” Owen said.
In the email, Owen listed recent and upcoming events which he said prove Hydro is working to communicate with Manitobans.
“As it happens, our annual public meeting is March 14. The meeting will include a question-and-answer session with members of our executive team,” Owen said. “We’re also in the early stages of our 2023-24 & 2024-25 General Rate Application at the Public Utilities Board. Public hearing dates are scheduled to begin May 15.
“Lastly, Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Jay Grewal appeared before the Standing Committee on Crown Corporations on Jan. 12.”
HAB said that although MEJC and Wa Ni Ska Tan helped create HAB, the board and its members will operate as an independent entity and “welcome further networking and partnership opportunities.”
— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
Dave Baxter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Sun
Two former employees of Algerian Consulate in Montreal sue for workplace harassment
Fri, March 3, 2023
MONTREAL — Two former cleaning employees of the Algerian Consulate in Montreal are suing the government of Algeria and its Foreign Affairs Department for about $450,000 in damages and unpaid wages.
Marisa Amaya, 65, and Elida Rivera Lopez, 70, say their experience working at the consulate has left them "psychologically and emotionally broken."
"My mental health got so bad that at one point, I thought about jumping in front of a metro …. My psychologist told me I was burned out," Amaya said in an interview on Friday alongside Rivera Lopez.
The two women are accusing Algerian Consul General Noureddine Meriem and his wife of abuse of power and of humiliating and harassing them on the job.
Amaya was hired in 2008, and Rivera Lopez in 2014. The women said that they were responsible for cleaning not only the consulate in downtown Montreal but also Meriem's personal residence, located in another part of the city.
"All I did was cry. I did not want to eat. I did not want to do anything. I would come into their home and greet him, and he would look away and ignore me," Rivera Lopez said.
The women filed separate lawsuits in August, describing the consulate as a "toxic" work environment that led both of them to take sick leave in 2021. The lawsuits state that the women were victims of "psychological violence" and "vexatious behaviour" within the Algerian Consulate.
"This sick leave and the deterioration of the plaintiff's mental health were directly caused by the toxic working conditions, humiliation and abuse of power suffered by the plaintiff, of which she was a victim of the Consul General of Algeria in Montreal and his wife."
The lawsuits, however, don't include specific details of the alleged harassment and humiliation that Amaya and Rivera Lopez claim to have suffered working at the consulate.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
In a written statement, the consulate on Friday said, "We would like to categorically deny the unfounded and defamatory allegations made by the two complainants against our institution."
"The Consulate General accords a great importance to the well-being of its employees. We all work in a climate of respect for the rights and dignity of everyone, as some thirty employees working in our institution can testify," the consulate said.
The women said Friday that the lawyer they hired to file the lawsuit dropped them as clients earlier in the week after they went public with their allegations to Le Journal de Montréal newspaper. The women say they are looking for a new lawyer and continuing their lawsuits.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
—
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Marisela Amador, The Canadian Press
Fri, March 3, 2023
MONTREAL — Two former cleaning employees of the Algerian Consulate in Montreal are suing the government of Algeria and its Foreign Affairs Department for about $450,000 in damages and unpaid wages.
Marisa Amaya, 65, and Elida Rivera Lopez, 70, say their experience working at the consulate has left them "psychologically and emotionally broken."
"My mental health got so bad that at one point, I thought about jumping in front of a metro …. My psychologist told me I was burned out," Amaya said in an interview on Friday alongside Rivera Lopez.
The two women are accusing Algerian Consul General Noureddine Meriem and his wife of abuse of power and of humiliating and harassing them on the job.
Amaya was hired in 2008, and Rivera Lopez in 2014. The women said that they were responsible for cleaning not only the consulate in downtown Montreal but also Meriem's personal residence, located in another part of the city.
"All I did was cry. I did not want to eat. I did not want to do anything. I would come into their home and greet him, and he would look away and ignore me," Rivera Lopez said.
The women filed separate lawsuits in August, describing the consulate as a "toxic" work environment that led both of them to take sick leave in 2021. The lawsuits state that the women were victims of "psychological violence" and "vexatious behaviour" within the Algerian Consulate.
"This sick leave and the deterioration of the plaintiff's mental health were directly caused by the toxic working conditions, humiliation and abuse of power suffered by the plaintiff, of which she was a victim of the Consul General of Algeria in Montreal and his wife."
The lawsuits, however, don't include specific details of the alleged harassment and humiliation that Amaya and Rivera Lopez claim to have suffered working at the consulate.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
In a written statement, the consulate on Friday said, "We would like to categorically deny the unfounded and defamatory allegations made by the two complainants against our institution."
"The Consulate General accords a great importance to the well-being of its employees. We all work in a climate of respect for the rights and dignity of everyone, as some thirty employees working in our institution can testify," the consulate said.
The women said Friday that the lawyer they hired to file the lawsuit dropped them as clients earlier in the week after they went public with their allegations to Le Journal de Montréal newspaper. The women say they are looking for a new lawyer and continuing their lawsuits.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2023.
—
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Marisela Amador, The Canadian Press
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)