Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
Court ruling against auditor general on Laurentian documents disappointing, Ontario faculty assoc. Says
A group representing university faculty associations says it is disappointed by a court ruling that determined Laurentian University is not required to provide Ontario’s auditor general with privileged information as she conducts a value-for-money audit of the insolvent university. “It is vital that Laurentian University show some accountability and release these documents to the auditor general,” said the press release from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). “We need to understand what happened at Laurentian to make sure it doesn’t happen at any other university,” said Sue Wurtele, president of OCUFA. “These documents are important records that will shine a light on how things got so bad.” Following the Superior Court of Justice’s ruling, Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk told Sudbury.com she would appeal the decision.
Sudbury Student Services Consortium has already announced 17 bus cancellations
It was the first day back to in-person class for local JK-12 students on Monday, and Sudbury Student Services Consortium has already announced 17 school bus cancellations due to the impact of COVID-19. The consortium has announced the following COVID-19 cancellations: L012, L030, L103, L655, L823, N305, N406, N431, N459, N467. It has also announced that the following routes are cancelled during the week of Jan. 17 due to a driver shortage: L006, L011, L110, L801, L809, L811 & L866.
Sudbury’s Rebecca Johnston excited to lace up for her fourth Olympic Games
Sudbury hockey star Rebecca Johnston is returning to the Olympic ice rink for a fourth time, this time in Beijing. On Jan. 11 Hockey Canada released the new roster for the Winter Olympic games in Beijing for women’s hockey. Johnston, alongside fellow Olympic veteran Marie-Philip Poulin and 21 other women, will be representing Canada for the opening on Feb. 4. “It honestly never gets old to represent your country and be able to go to the Olympics,” Johnston told Sudbury.com in a phone interview. “When I found out it was an amazing feeling, and just a huge honour. And I'm just very proud to be able to represent Canada again.” The veteran forward and Olympic superstar has two gold medals and one silver medal under her belt. One of her favourite memories on the global stage being the fateful Sochi Olympics goal that scored her team a gold medal. “In the finals (of the Sochi Olympic hockey games), winning the way we did ... It was just a fairy-tale ending … it was incredible being part of that game and being able to win that in such dramatic fashion.”
Robert Steven Wright denied bail for a third time
Robert Steven Wright has been denied bail a third time. Superior Court Justice Patrick Boucher delivered his decision Monday morning. He dismissed the application, stating any material change in circumstances, as filed by Wright and his counsel, wasn’t sufficient. There is a publication ban in effect, so none of the evidence can be made public in this case. Wright, who is now 42 years old, is charged with second-degree murder in the 1998 stabbing death of Renee Sweeney. He has been in custody since he was arrested in December 2018. Wright’s lawyer, Michael Lacy, was seeking a bail review hearing, citing a material change in circumstances. A publication ban prevents any evidence from being discussed in the media. Boucher told the court he will be releasing a written document containing his reasons for dismissing the application by Jan. 18.
Health Canada approves Pfizer antiviral treatment
Health Canada has approved Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and the drug maker says some of it has already been delivered for use. The authorization posted to the Health Canada website Monday morning says the treatment can be used for adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are also at high risk of becoming more seriously ill. The drug review team at Health Canada says the risk-benefit analysis was "favourable" for adults in this category. Chief medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma says this is the first oral medication approved for COVID-19 that can be taken by patients at home. She said until now all authorized treatments were administered intravenously or by injection in a hospital. Paxlovid is a combination of two different drugs, that are to be given within five days of infection. Together the drugs showed to be almost 90 per cent effective at preventing hospitalization or death among higher risk patients with COVID-19.
Omicron wave may be peaking, but modelling shows COVID-19 hospitalizations to surge
Canada could be nearing the peak of the Omicron wave of COVID-19, but public health experts still expect the high number of cases to drive a surge in daily hospitalizations in coming weeks. New federal modelling released Friday shows the wave might be cresting — or just about to do so — but health experts won't know for sure for another week or so. "It's quite possible that in the next few days we will see that peak, at least in the number of cases," chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said at a news conference. Quebec had already pronounced the latest wave is cresting, and on Friday British Columbia's modelling suggested the province likely hit its peak this past weekend. In Ontario, the expert pandemic advisory group said the latest indications suggest COVID-19 hospitalizations could peak in the next few weeks, as test positivity has started to decline in the province. Nationally, this wave is expected to top out at between 170,000 and 300,000 actual daily cases and recede into February, based on available data.
Wind chill brings a risk of frostbite today
The wind chill has returned for another day, according to Environment Canada’s Tuesday forecast. Expect a high of -16 today under mainly sunny skies. The wind will be blowing at 15 km/h, so expect a wind chill of -30 this morning and -20 this afternoon. There is a risk of frostbite on exposed skin. There is snow in the forecast for tonight and a low of -17.
