Pope apologizes to First Nations
It’s a historic day for Canada’s Indigenous, Metis and Inuit People’s.
In their final audience with Pope Francis, the Pontiff apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system.
In his statement the Pope said “I want to say to you with all my heart, I am very sorry.” Pope Francis says he will also travel to Canada although no date has been set. In the late 1800’s residential schools were set up by the Canadian government and most were run by the Catholic Church.
The intent was to remove Indigenous children from their families and replace their culture with Christian beliefs.
Attendance at the schools was mandatory.
Over the years thousands of children were abused and at least 4,000 deaths have been recorded but records are incomplete and missing.
In recent months, thousands of unmarked graves have been found at the sites of the former schools.
The last residential school closed in 1997.
Living with the virus
Ontario has no plans to reintroduce restrictions, despite a rising sixth wave of COVID-19 infections.
Health Minister Christine Elliott says the government plans to “stay the course” unless different advice is received from the province’s chief medical officer of health, Doctor Kieran Moore.
Several public health officials are telling Ontarians they should keep wearing face masks in public indoor settings to slow the spread of the more-contagious sub-variant of the Omicron strain.
Elliott says our province has the hospital capacity to deal with any increase in caseloads adding a high proportion of the population is now vaccinated, and anti-virals are now available to treat patients.
The minister adds we have to learn to live with the virus and continue with the re-opening of the economy.
All remaining health restrictions are to be removed by the end of this month.
Changes to COVID-19 travel mandates
As of today, vaccinated Canadians no longer have to supply the results of a COVID-19 test when they return from abroad.
However, you’ll still be required to wear a mask in public settings for at least two weeks, even if you’re fully vaccinated.
And you’ll still have to upload your contact information and vaccination proof through the Arrive-Can app.
Those who are not completely vaccinated against COVID-19 will still have to provide evidence of a negative test….and isolate for two weeks.
Foreign travellers who are not vaccinated are still being refused entry.
Russia-Ukraine Report
Ukraine’s president says difficult battles are yet to come, as Russia redeploys its forces in Ukraine.
Volodomir Zelensky says Ukrainian soldiers continue making progress in offensives north and east of the capital of Kyiv but adds Russia is building up its forces in eastern regions now held by Russian-backed separatists.
Reports from the besieged southern port city of Mariupol say efforts to open a humanitarian corridor failed yesterday, with Russian troops seizing relief supplies sent to the city.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law drafting almost 134-thousand men into the army.
Western military experts say it’s a sign that the Russians have suffered far more casualties than they’re admitting, and have no plans to ease their military operations.