Latest news with #G7summit
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
From outbreaks to mass casualty events, Alberta's health system preps for G7 summit
Social Sharing Alberta's health system is being prepared for a variety of scenarios, including disease outbreaks and mass casualty incidents, ahead of the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis later this month. According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), which has been planning for the event since last year, 150 health personnel will be deployed to various sites in Calgary and the Bow Corridor to support the high profile event. World leaders will gather in Kananaskis from June 15 to 17 and thousands of delegates, journalists and others are expected to descend upon the Calgary region. "AHS has robust emergency response plans in place for all hospital sites for scenarios such as mass casualty incidents, food-borne illness, protests, wildfires or extreme weather events," an AHS spokesperson said in an email. "These plans include co-ordinating with the provincial government, Health Canada, local law enforcement and other partners as appropriate." "It's a very large operation," said Dr. James Talbot, a former chief medical officer of health for Alberta, who is not involved in planning this event but understands the logistics of public health based on his years in the top job. In addition to security planning for an event of of this scale, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to prevent illness and injury and ensure the health system can respond quickly and appropriately if anything happens, said Talbot. "Getting all your ducks in a row, so that hopefully you don't have to use any of it — but if you do, that it goes seamlessly — is really a labour-intensive and time-intensive operation," said Talbot, whose tenure in the top job ended in 2015. He is now an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta's school of public health. Ensuring the health and safety of heads of state is a complicated process involving local, provincial, federal and international governments and agencies, according to Talbot. He expects ambulances, helicopters, hospitals and ICUs will likely be prepared and on standby. Doctors, nurses and other staff will be needed to work in emergency rooms, ICUs, labs and diagnostic testing. Equipment such as masks are likely being stockpiled along with a variety of drugs and blood supplies, he added. Some world leaders may bring along their own health and security personnel, Talbot said, and that can require a high degree of co-ordination. "For instance, the American president often travels with their own ICU staff, a portable operating room, their own diagnostic capacity and obviously might decide that they would prefer to have a president or member of the staff stabilized and then sent directly, as quickly as possible, to an American institution," said Talbot. "But that will not be true of all of the nations that participate." In the months leading up events such as this, many steps are taken to prevent health problems such as outbreaks of infectious diseases or food-borne illnesses, according to Talbot. That would include repeated water quality testing at the venues, ensuring catering services are hygienic and safe and staff are healthy, as well as inspections of mechanical HVAC systems to ensure they can handle air quality issues such as wildfire smoke, he said. According to AHS, the RCMP handles the summit's overall risk assessments, and the federal government is responsible for ensuring all arrangements for the event and all costs associated with protecting the health of heads of state. A federal government spokesperson said Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are working with all levels of government along with private sector partners on health and safety efforts. "Health Canada and PHAC are taking precautionary steps to be ready, if called upon by the Province of Alberta, to help respond to a range of incidents, including an infectious disease outbreak, weather related emergencies, or an event causing mass casualties at the summit site or elsewhere," the spokesperson said in an email. "Federal support available includes a highly trained team of medical professionals who would be the first medical responders on the scene in the event of any medical incident." A stockpile of personal protective equipment, biomedical equipment and pharmaceuticals is available to provinces if they run out or their supplies are not immediately available, the department said. Similar preparations were made for previous large events, including the G7 leaders' summit in Charlevoix, Que., in 2018. "It's really good to be prepared. It's really good to be thinking about this. But I would say everyone on the front lines is just hopeful nothing happens," said Dr. Paul Parks, past-president of the Alberta Medical Association. Parks, who is also an emergency room doctor in Medicine Hat, said hospitals are already under strain. "We don't have a lot of give in the system and it will have major impacts if we had to absorb something significant."
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ishiba Calls Trump to Talk Tariffs, Touts Deeper Understanding
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba initiated a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss tariffs, and said the two deepened their understanding. The 25-minute phone call took place less than a week after the previous one between the two, suggesting closer communication as they eye a trade agreement in time for their expected meeting in mid June when Group of Seven leaders gather for a summit in Canada. Ishiba said he could visit the US before the summit if needed.
NHK
26-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Japan eyes further tariff talks with US to reach agreement at G7
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has indicated that he plans to proceed with tariff negotiations with the United States, aiming to reach some kind of agreement with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of next month's G7 summit. Ishiba met with Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei, chief negotiator in the tariff talks, on Sunday. Akazawa had just returned to Japan after meeting senior officials in Washington, including US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The prime minister was briefed on what was discussed in the latest round of the bilateral negotiations. Earlier, Ishiba said that the Japanese delegation would continue discussions with its US counterpart with the upcoming G7 summit in mind. The meeting of G7 leaders is scheduled for mid-June in Canada. Ishiba also said that his government is considering promoting cooperation on the repair of US military vessels in Japan and on icebreakers used for navigation in the Arctic and other purposes. In the bilateral trade negotiations, Japan has proposed drawing up a plan to advance cooperation in the ship-building sector. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was absent from the latest round of talks. Akazawa said that the two countries had already agreed to have intensive discussions in mid-May or later. He added that he hopes they can hold talks at a time that is convenient for both sides. The government expects talks involving Akazawa and Bessent to take place as early as later this week.
Bloomberg
25-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Japan Signals Intent to Reach US Tariff Deal by G-7
Good morning. Japan is keen on reaching a US tariff deal by the G-7 summit next month. Nvidia plans a cheaper Blackwell AI chip for China, Reuters says. And Japan's travel industry wobbles as a viral manga prophecy sparks fears of an earthquake. Listen to the day's top stories. Japan's chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa indicated he aims to resolve tariff talks in time for a June meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit. The comments came after the US president's surprise announcement of a partnership between US Steel and Nippon Steel, details of which remain elusive.
NHK
25-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Japan PM Ishiba seeks US tariff agreement with G7 summit in mind
Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has indicated he will proceed with talks with the United States over tariff measures while seeking an agreement between leaders on the sidelines of next month's G7 summit. Ishiba exchanged opinions with senior shipbuilding officials in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture, on Sunday. Ishiba said, "I would appreciate it very much if we can discuss what is possible through Japan-US cooperation and what advantages can come from this." High-level negotiations between Japan and the US took place on Friday. Japan has already proposed using domestic shipbuilding expertise to repair US military vessels in Japan. Ishiba said: "The US is interested to see if US military vessels can be repaired in Japan. If possible, we are willing to offer support in this area." He also said his government will consider promoting cooperation regarding ice-breaking ships that travel in the Arctic Circle. Opposition party leaders gave their views on the issue. Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Noda Yoshihiko said, "The G7 is very important as it includes Canada and other countries that export automobiles to the US." Democratic Party for the People President Tamaki Yuichiro said he wants the government to hold the negotiations in a strategic manner to bring benefits to both countries. Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei returned to Japan on Sunday afternoon after the latest round of high-level negotiations with the US. Akazawa said both sides discussed various issues, such as trade expansion, non-tariff measures and economic security cooperation. He expressed hope to hold another round of talks as soon as possible with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was absent from the latest round. Akazawa says Japan and the US had already reached a consensus to hold intensive consultations in May or later. He says he wants to hold more talks with the US at a time convenient for both sides.
