In the news today: Ottawa to miss daycare deadline, Atlantic measles vax rate low

Winnipeg Free Press

09-07-2025

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…
Ottawa to miss deadline for $10 child care: report
Ottawa is expected to miss its 2026 deadline to implement $10-a-day child care services across the country, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said in a new report published on Wednesday.
The analysis concluded that just six provinces and territories are meeting that fee target now.
David Macdonald, an economist with the centre, said even though fees have dropped significantly everywhere, the federal government is unlikely to meet its self-imposed deadline.
'It's almost certain that even after the 2026 deadline passes, many parents in five provinces will be paying more than $10 a day for child care,' Macdonald said.
'That being said, the fee drops for parents so far have been staggering in Ontario, Alberta and Nunavut, as these jurisdictions had let fees get far too high before the federal program.'
Palestinian envoy says Canada shifting its tone
The Palestinian ambassador to Canada says she feels Ottawa is on the brink of officially recognizing statehood for her people, as she also takes note of tougher language from Canada on Israel's actions in Gaza.
'Accountability means everything to the Palestinian people. That's all we are looking for,' said Mona Abuamara, who is at the end of her four-year term as the chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada.
'Canada could have done better and must do better.'
Abuamara said Canada's approach to the situation in the Palestinian territories in recent years has amounted to supporting Israel 'without budging' while funding small projects such as police training and development work.
'Basically, (it was to) be managed under that occupation,' she said. 'But what we were looking for from Canada is to help us get rid of that occupation instead, so we could make our own money.'
Data show low vaccination rates in Maritimes
At least three out of the four Atlantic provinces have released data revealing their measles vaccination rates in children are below levels recommended by scientists to prevent the disease from spreading.
In Nova Scotia, the provincial government told The Canadian Press that about 23 per cent of children were not fully vaccinated for measles in 2024.
Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick say about 10 per cent of children were not fully vaccinated for the disease.
Newfoundland and Labrador did not respond to requests for information on vaccination rates for measles.
Russia fires a record 728 drones and 13 missiles at Ukraine
Russia fired a record 728 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine overnight, as well as 13 missiles, the Ukrainian air force said Wednesday, in the latest escalation amid mounting Russian aerial and ground attacks in the more than three-year war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the city of Lutsk, which lies in Ukraine's northwest along the border with Poland and Belarus, was the hardest hit, though 10 other regions were also struck.
Lutsk is home to airfields used by the Ukrainian army. Cargo planes and fighter jets routinely fly over the city. No casualties were immediately reported, as emergency crews continued to assess the damage.
Russia has recently sought to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences by launching massive aerial assaults, including adding more decoy drones to its attacks. Russia launched its previous largest aerial assault late in the night of July 4 into the following day, with the biggest prior to that occurring less than a week earlier.
Edmonton makes magpie official city bird
Nita Jalkanen says she checks on the avian neighbours that fly into her Edmonton backyard to drink from her bird bath nearly every day with her dog Ariel.
'I talk to them. I say, 'Good morning or good afternoon, Mr. Magpie' and they feel safe so there's no squawking,' said the 59-year-old in an interview.
'They'll come and approach (Ariel) and play. They'll chase each other around the tree … like they are playing tag.
'They've obviously formed a friendship with my dog and with me.'
She said, despite many locals being divided on their opinions of magpies, Jalkanen said the ones that visit her from their nest sitting on a tree down the boulevard brighten up her days.
'They make me happy because they're so happy,' she said.
Rising demand pushes Purdys into first grocer
Purdys Chocolatier says the buy Canadian movement has generated so much demand for its products that it decided to sell them outside its own stores for the first time in its 118-year-old history.
Kriston Dean, the Vancouver-based confectionary company's vice-president of marketing and sales, says as soon as tariff tensions emerged, shoppers' interest in the brand was piqued.
The brand's website traffic jumped more than 200 per cent, and searches about whether it is Canadian popped by a whopping 300 per cent.
When Easter rolled around, the spiking interest translated into a 25 per cent increase in new customers compared with the year before.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025