Canadian wildfire smoke causes ‘very unhealthy' conditions in American Midwest and reaches Europe
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the Midwest, where conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were rated 'very unhealthy' on Tuesday.
The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians in three provinces to flee their homes, and the smoke has even reached Europe.
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Getting the facts out on childhood vaccinations
Opinion As is the case with many instances involving polls, surveys and percentages, how one views this result is largely a matter of perception. Glass half-full, glass half-empty; that kind of thing. Many who read the survey released last week by the polling firm Angus Reid no doubt took encouragement from the revelation that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians support mandatory childhood vaccinations — a figure that likely reflects growing public unease at the recent rise in reported measles cases across the country. The poll, conducted online between May 20 and 24, found 69 per cent of the 1,700 people surveyed said proof of vaccination should be required for children to attend school or daycare. A similar survey last year showed 55 per cent in support of mandatory vaccination for kids attending school/daycare. Geoff Robins / The Canadian Press A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination. The increased support for a legislated vaccine requirement coincides, of course, with the sharp rise in reported measles cases — an increase attributed to declining vaccination rates and the loss of the so-called 'herd immunity' that had allowed the highly contagious disease to be largely eradicated after the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine was introduced in the early 1970s. In recent years, vaccine skepticism fuelled by online misinformation and widely debunked conspiracy theories — and accelerated by broader resistance to mandated vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic — has led to fewer parents seeking to have their children immunized against MMR. In 2023, vaccination rates in Canada were approximately 82 per cent for one dose and 76 per cent for the recommended two doses, significantly below the 95 per cent uptake required to maintain herd immunity. All of which helps to explain why in Canada, in 2025, there have been 2,755 new cases of measles (2,429 confirmed, 326 probable) reported as of May 24, spread across nine provincial/territorial jurisdictions — including Manitoba, which has recorded 76 cases (72 confirmed, four probable) this year. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The outbreak — which has been mirrored in other countries, including the U.S., where vaccine uptake has waned — is unnecessary and could have been prevented. The MMR vaccine is safe, effective and proven, and does not — contrary to the myriad falsehoods spread online by misinformed conspiracy theorists — have any connection to autism or other negative childhood afflictions. So the good news, such as it is, is that an increasing number of Canadians seem inclined to support a vaccination requirement for kids attending schools and daycares — close-quarters environments in which exposure to contagious diseases such as measles could easily trigger an outbreak. But the glass-half-empty view of the situation is that despite the alarming rise in measles cases, nearly one-third of the population remains opposed to mandatory vaccination. Proof of vaccination for kids to attend school/daycare (except for those with a valid exemption) is currently only required in Ontario and New Brunswick, and given the high rate of resistance to mandated vaccination, there's very little likelihood such a measure would be imposed in Manitoba or other regions currently without one. In this province, figures from 2023 showed nearly 80 per cent of children were vaccinated against MMR by age two and 65 per cent fully immunized by age seven, significantly lower than the national average. And in the Southern Health region, the epicentre of Manitoba's current outbreak, vaccination uptake among seven-year-olds is just 53 per cent. Clearly, the province must do a better job of communicating the risks and benefits to those in need of reliable, factual information. Recent public-opinion poll numbers may be encouraging, but when it comes to limiting the spread of measles in Manitoba, the glass is concerningly tilting toward empty.
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu has died at 68
LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, who served as the leader of the southern African nation from 2015-2021, died Thursday, his daughter said. He was 68. Lungu's daughter, Tasila Lungu-Mwansa, announced his death in a video posted on the official Facebook page of his political party, the Patriotic Front. She said he died in a hospital in South Africa after having been under 'medical supervision' in recent weeks. Lungu-Mwansa, who is a lawmaker, did not give a cause of death.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Soaring beef prices push summer staples out of reach for many Canadians, study shows
A new report from Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab says beef is quickly becoming a luxury item in Canada, with soaring prices changing the way many families approach summer barbecues. 'In Canada, beef is no longer just food—it's a financial decision." Sylvain Charlebois, the study's lead author, said. 'What was once a staple of the summer grill is now a luxury item, priced out of reach for many families.' The study points to steep price hikes since January. The cost of striploin is up 34.2 per cent, top sirloin has increased 33.7 per cent, and rib cuts have jumped nearly 12 per cent. Even pork ribs, chicken breasts and plant-based burgers have seen price increases of roughly six per cent. A shrinking cattle inventory is a key factor. Canada's beef cow population has dropped to its lowest level since 1989, with many producers exiting the industry amid volatility, according to the report. Other pressures include transportation costs, carbon pricing, labour expenses, and limited processing capacity. The report also raises concerns about a lack of regulatory scrutiny, noting that, unlike the U.S., Canadian authorities have not taken major action on possible price fixing in the beef sector. The result is Canadians are eating less beef, according to the study. Per capita consumption fell 7.1 per cent in 2023 and another 2.1 per cent this year. 'Consumers will continue to enjoy beef,' says Charlebois. 'But with moderation, and on occasions that justify the cost.'
