TORONTO – Canada has now fully immunized 74.75 percent of the country’s eligible population. Here’s what else you need to know to start your day.
1. Evacuations from Kabul: As the Canadian military wraps up its mission at Kabul airport and the last Canadian flight is scheduled to depart on Thursday, the lifeline for thousands of Afghans with ties to Canada is receding.
2. Comments from Monsef: Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality said her mention of the Taliban as “our brothers” at a press conference Wednesday is a “cultural benchmark”, after receiving criticism for her choice of language.
3. Prevent blockages: Canadians must use all available public health tools, including masking, physical distance and testing, to avoid lockdowns and protect the unvaccinated as a fourth wave of COVID-19 grips the country, according to infectious disease experts.
4. Pandemic briefings: Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said the Public Health Agency of Canada can choose how it updates Canadians on the status of COVID-19 during the federal campaign, amid questions about the lack of meetings information on the pandemic since the election was called.
5. Truth tracker: Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s stance on health care privatization came into the spotlight after Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland’s video tweet was called “manipulated media” on Twitter. But where does he really stand on the issue?
One more thing…
Reusable cups: After more than a year of not allowing customers to use reusable mugs in their stores due to COVID-19 fears, Starbucks says they will accept them again.
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