www.WeeklyVoice.com FRONTNATIO NPAGEAL Friday, August 21, 2020 | A-1 Canada’s Leading South Asian Newspaper - Tel: 905-795-0639 Friday, MayJune 7, 2, 2021 2017 www.WeeklyVoice.com VolVol 27, 23, No. No. 19 22 PM: 40025701 Restrictions Eased In Long Term Care Homes, page 7 China’s Tibet Infrastructure Push Worries India, page 8 Brampton Transit’s E-buses begin operations, page 13 Province Launches Mobile Vaccine Units In Hot Spot Workplaces With Boost In Supplies, Ontario Expects To Administer First Doses To 65 Per Cent Of Adults By May-End TORONTO — With the arrival in our efforts to get more people have been completed or are un- of increased vaccine deliver- in priority areas vaccinated as derway. ies from the federal government conveniently and as quickly as In partnership with Peel Pub- starting this week, the Ontario possible,” said Solicitor Gen- lic Health, Loblaw Companies, government is further expand- eral Sylvia Jones. “These mobile Walmart Canada, HelloFresh, ing its COVID-19 vaccine dis- units are designed to be rapidly Magna, Air Canada and Purolator tribution plan with the launch of deployed to a diversity of small Inc. are also setting up workplace mobile vaccine units for small to to medium-sized workplaces and vaccination clinics this month for medium-sized businesses in hot will help strengthen our capacity workers who cannot work from spot communities. These mobile to reach areas where the need is home. A workplace vaccination units will begin offering vaccina- greatest.” clinic will also be operationalized tions in Toronto, York and Peel at Starting May 7, an initial roll- at the Ontario Food Terminal, the select businesses that have em- out of up to five mobile units is largest wholesale fruit and pro- ployees who cannot work from planned with a possible expan- duce distribution centre in Cana- home and have a history or risk sion of up to 15 units once the da, starting May 10. of outbreaks. Each public health program is fully established. Each Peel Paramedics are playing a big role in getting COVID-19 “With a stable and reliable of unit will determine the small to mobile unit will be equipped with vaccine to people in the community. Pic: Peel Paramedics. supply of vaccines expected this medium-sized businesses where the necessary staff, vaccines month, our government is further mobile units will be deployed. and resources to immunize all In addition to the mobile units, companies such as Maple Lodge accelerating our vaccine rollout “The new mobile units for at- employees at the selected work- employer-led workplace vacci- Farms, Maple Leaf Foods and with a focus on individuals and risk businesses are another step places. nation clinics organized by large Amazon Canada in Peel Region Continued on page 2 India Experiencing A Ottawa Promises Action To COVID-19 Inferno Protect Canada’s Seniors OTTAWA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday high- lighted Budget 2021 measures that will raise benefits for seniors and put more money in their pockets, make sure those in long- term care live in safe and digni- fied conditions, and help them lead more healthy and indepen- dent lives. “The global COVID-19 pan- A US aircraft carrying an oxygen generating plant, over 2.8 lakh rapid demic has been devastating for testing kits and other medical supplies arrives in India (Photo: Indian Canada’s seniors, especially Ministry of External Affairs) those living in long-term care OTTAWA: Canada is sending International Development, an- homes. On top of this crisis, too ‘We will support our seniors” - Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime up to 25,000 vials of the antiviral nounced the emergency assis- many seniors are worried about Minister and Minister of Finance remdesivir (brand name Veklury) tance to India. their retirement savings running for seniors 75 and over as of July initiative will assist community- and up to 350 ventilators from The government is also provid- out and concerned about being 2022. It also proposes a one-time based organizations in provid- its National Emergency Strategic ing support through UNICEF’s able to live independently in their payment of $500 in August 2021 ing support to seniors – such as Stockpile to help respond to the response to the pandemic in India own homes. The Government of to OAS pensioners who will be matching seniors with volunteers critical situation across India. with the urgent provision of 1,450 Canada will learn the hard lessons 75 or over as of June 30, 2022. who can help with meal prepara- The CCOVID-19 pandemic has oxygen concentrators. The funds of this pandemic and take further Budget 2021 also intends to tions, home maintenance, daily surged in India with record num- for these operations come partly action to protect the health and ensure a high standard in long- errands, yard work, and transpor- ber of cases and huge mortality from the $230-million contribu- safety of Canadian seniors, while term care homes with $3 billion tation – and will allow them to rates being reported from many tion to the therapeutics pillar of also supporting a retirement that in funding over five years. The live independently in their homes states of India. Hospitals have the Access to COVID-19 Tools is free from financial worry and federal government will work for longer. been overwhelmed and there are (ACT) Accelerator, announced in provides a better quality of life,” collaboratively with provincial These measures build on the severe shortages of medical sup- December 2020. This support is an official statement said. and territorial partners to make work that the government has plies and oxygen as serious pa- in addition to Canada’s $10-mil- To give more than three million sure seniors in long-term care been doing over the past year, tients gasp for breath. lion support to the Canadian Red seniors greater financial secu- homes live in safe and dignified and since 2015, to support Ca- Marc Garneau, Minister of Cross Society, which is support- rity and put more money in their conditions. nadian seniors and help them Foreign Affairs, Harjit S. Sajjan, ing the Indian Red Cross Soci- pockets as they advance in their To support the independence of retire in dignity after a lifetime Minister of National Defence, ety’s procurement of essential retirement, Budget 2021 propos- seniors who live at home, Budget of hard work. The Government Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, supplies and medicines. es to increase the Old Age Secu- 2021 proposes to launch the Age of Canada will continue to take and tKarina Gould, Minister of Continued on page 10 rity (OAS) pension by 10 per cent Well at Home Initiative. This new Continued on page 2 Ontario Ban On Foreign Students Will Hit Indians TORONT,: Ontario has sought reported here in Ontario. It didn’t borders – land and air – they’re a valid study permit or a letter of a ban on the arrival of new inter- swim here, I can tell you that.” federal jurisdiction.” introduction that shows they were national students in the province. He added: “We will never get International students are at approved for a permit. Currently, students from India ahead of this virus if we can’t this time exempted from Cana- Responding to Ford’s request make up the majority of interna- keep these deadly new variants da’s COVID-19 travel rules. All during premier’s call, Prime Min- tional students studying in On- out of our country,” he said. “The students are required to provide ister Justin Trudeau said that his tario. government would do everything Premier Doug Ford said that to stop the spread of the virus. since 94 per cent of all new cases Trudeau said, “Premier Ford in Ontario are of new variant of has asked that we should sus- the virus and are coming from pend the arrival of international outside, he was urging the federal students and because at this time government to ban the arrival of Ontario is the only province mak- BROKER International students into the ing this request, we are happy to BROKER province to check the spread of work narrowly with them.” the virus. “Many provinces feel that The Premier said, “Not enough they’re doing a good job of man- REMAX REAL ESTATE CENTRE INC., BROKERAGE is being done to keep these dead- aging these students, and that ly variants out of Canada. Last they’re not a huge source of cas- week, the new Indian variant was Pearson airport. Photo by H W on Unsplash Continued on page 3 A-2 | Friday, May 7, 2021 NATIONAL www.WeeklyVoice.com THE WEEKLY VOICE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vaccine Bookings, Eligibility To Be Expanded Bala Menon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amb. Praveen Verma (Retd.) Dr. Nivedita Das Kundu Harj Chaggar Amitabh Saxena Graphic Design Tamarind Tree ACCOUNT MANAGERS Manu Ramachandran Maha Four nurses and three physicians have arrived via a Royal Canadian Air Force plane from Newfoundland and Labrador. Two ONLINE MARKETING physicians arrived last week and will be joining the group. These health care professionals are highly-skilled and bring extensive MANAGER experience in Emergency Departments and ICUs, as well as global humanitarian missions. They will be deployed to Osler’s ICU, ED Amitabh Saxena and general medicine areas to support patient care. Pictures: William Osler Health System LEGAL ADVISOR Continued from page 1 92 per cent of Ontario residents Dr. Keshav Agnihotri settings most at risk,” said Chris- aged 80 and over and 90 per cent tine Elliott, Deputy Premier and of residents aged 75 to 79 having ACCOUNTS Minister of Health. “Vaccines received at least one dose.