Pandemic rule breakers and hoping for a miracle: In The News for June 28

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of June 28 …

What we are watching in Canada …

SASKATOON, Sask., — Almost 30 per cent of respondents in a newly released Canada-wide survey admitted to breaking COVID-19 rules — and felt justified doing so. 

The survey by the Canadian Hub for Applied and Social Research at the University of Saskatchewan was done between June 1 and June 14. It asked 1,000 people about how closely they stuck to public health orders and where they were getting their information about the pandemic.

Some 29 per cent said they broke at least one COVID-19 restriction. The most common transgressions were around gathering limits and wearing masks.

But the survey also found that respondents were generally diligent about following isolation requirements and gave honest responses to COVID-19 screening questions. 

Saskatchewan Minister of Health Paul Merriman said he believes social media has played a major role in confusing people about public health measures meant to stem the spread of COVID-19.

“The issue that I saw during most of the restrictions that have been implemented since the fall was that there were lots of interpretations going around on social media and the rumour mill,” he said.

The survey found that 35 per cent of people were getting their COVID-19 news from social media — particularly Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — and 71 per cent were getting news by word of mouth. 

The greatest number of people — 88 per cent — were getting their news from online or TV news outlets, and 70 per cent also informed themselves through government websites. 

The survey also found that the pandemic has spurred some controversy and strife in close relationships. Twenty-two per cent of respondents reported a “falling out” with someone close to them over different views and opinions about the pandemic.

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Also this …

VANCOUVER — The temperature in a village in British Columbia’s southern Interior reached a scorching 46.1 C Sunday afternoon, marking a new all-time high recorded in Canada.

The reading from Environment Canada in Lytton showed the mercury surpassed the previous record of 45 C set in Saskatchewan in 1937.

A heat warning is in effect for most of Western Canada and the weather agency says numerous daily temperature records have been shattered across B.C. 

Some daily highs are forecast to top 40 C, but Environment Canada expects temperatures to begin cooling on Tuesday.

Sarah Henderson, the scientific director or environmental health at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control is encouraging people to watch for symptoms of overheating.

“If you’re out and you’re active and you’re feeing OK, you’re probably OK, but if you’re  out and you’re active and you’re beginning to feel too hot and a little woozy, then it’s really time to stop and cool down,” she said in a phone interview on Sunday. 

As temperatures climb, BC Hydro said a new record for peak hourly demand during the summer set Saturday could be broken again today. 

To points east, heat warnings are also in effect for southern Quebec, New Brunswick and southern Nova Scotia, while a special weather statement for southern Ontario warns of heat and humidity that will make the air feel about 40 degrees.

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And this …

OTTAWA — Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna has decided not to seek re-election.

She is to hold a news conference today to announce her decision to stand down in the next election, but an advance copy of her remarks was obtained Sunday by The Canadian Press. 

“When I got into politics now eight years ago, I made two simple promises to myself: always fight for what I believe in and leave when I had done what I got into politics to do,” the speech reads.

McKenna says she wants to spend more time with her three children and devote her professional energies to the fight against climate change.

“Like many Canadians, living through COVID-19 over a very long year made me step back and reflect on what matters to me most. And it’s two things: my kids and climate change.”

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s environment minister during his first mandate, McKenna stick-handled the introduction of the Liberal government’s national climate change action plan, which included imposing a price on carbon emissions.

She became a lightning rod for opposition to the climate plan, enduring misogynistic slurs and threats on social media and in graffiti scrawled on her constituency office. Police were called in to investigate last summer after someone yelled obscenities at one of McKenna’s staffers, video of which was posted to social media.

In the text of her remarks for today’s announcement, McKenna specifically addresses young girls who are thinking about whether politics is for them.

“Do it. And when you do it, don’t be afraid to run like a girl. I’ll be there cheering you on,” she says.

Meanwhile, McKenna’s surprise decision not to run again opens up some prime political real estate that could become a launching pad for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney should he decide to run for the Liberals in the next election.

McKenna has held Ottawa Centre, a riding that encompasses Parliament Hill, since 2015.

Carney has not committed to running but promised in April, during his political debut at the Liberal party’s virtual convention, to do whatever he can to support the party.

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What we are watching in the U.S. …

SURFSIDE, Fla. — At least four Canadians from three different families remain unaccounted for after the deadly collapse of a Miami-area condo building, the federal government said Sunday as the official death toll in the incident rose to nine. 

Global Affairs Canada said the Canadians are among the 156 people still missing after the Champlain Towers South came crashing down last Thursday in Surfside, Fla.

“Canadian consular officials in Miami are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information,” Ciara Trudeau, a spokeswoman for Global Affairs wrote in an email. “Canadian consular officials are also in contact with the affected families.” 

Global Affairs Canada offered no additional details, citing the privacy act.

The news came as rescue efforts continued at the wreckage of the 12-story tower north of Miami. Authorities and loved ones expressed fears that the death toll, which climbed after more bodies were discovered on Sunday, could rise much higher.

“We were able to recover four additional bodies in the rubble as well as additional human remains,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a morning press conference. “As of today, one victim passed away in the hospital, and we’ve recovered eight … victims on site.”

The remains are being sent to the medical examiner, and authorities are gathering DNA samples from family members to aid in identification.

Miami-Dade Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said his department is continuing to conduct a search and rescue operation and has no plans to give up the search for survivors. 

“Hope, that’s what I’m focusing on,” he said. 

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What we are watching in the rest of the world …

BEIJING — The Chinese government says it has turned on the first two generating units of the world’s second-biggest hydroelectric dam. 

The Baihetan Dam on the Jinsha River in southwestern China is part of official efforts to curb fossil fuel demand by building more hydropower capacity at a time when dams have fallen out of favor in other countries due to environmental complaints. 

The announcement comes ahead of the ruling Communist Party’s celebration this week of the official 100th anniversary of its 1921 founding. 

Plans call for the Baihetan Dam to have 16 million kilowatts of generating capacity. 

That will be second in size behind the Three Gorges Dam, opened in 2003 on the Yangtze, with 22.5 million kilowatts.

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In Sports …

TAMPA, Fla. — The Montreal Canadiens were the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup back in 1993.

Now they have the chance to end the nation’s lengthy NHL championship drought.

The Canadiens take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

Montreal is looking to add to its impressive list of playoff upset victims. The Habs came from 3-1 down in their opening-round series against Toronto to stun the Maple Leafs in seven games, then swept the Winnipeg Jets and downed the favoured Vegas Golden Knights in six games.

The Lightning will represent the Canadiens’ toughest test in their quest for their 25th Stanley Cup.

The Lightning are the defending Cup champions with a deep team and an elite goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy to match up against Montreal superstar Carey Price.

The first two games are in Tampa, Fla., before switching to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday.

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ICYMI …

OTTAWA — The Jewish Federation of Ottawa says beloved Ottawa Rabbi Reuven Bulka has died at the age of 77.

He died Sunday morning in New York City where he had moved to spend time with his five children after being diagnosed with advanced stage pancreatic and liver cancer in January.

Bulka was the rabbi, and then rabbi emeritus, at Ottawa’s Congregation Machzikei Hadas for more than 50 years, but his constant presence at the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa helped earn him the nickname “Canada’s Rabbi.”

On June 3, federal legislation creating Kindness Week in the third week of February each year was given royal assent.

The bill was inspired by Bulka’s own Kindness Week, created in Ottawa 14 years ago to celebrate and foster community acts of kindness.

Bulka’s funeral will be livestreamed from New York at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Tributes immediately flooded social media for the rabbi, who championed causes like organ and blood donation and spearheaded many events aimed at promoting tolerance and understanding among people of different faiths.

“My heart aches this morning over the passing of Rabbi Reuven Bulka,” tweeted Sen. Jim Munson, the initial sponsor of the Kindness Week legislation.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2021

The Canadian Press