-Alberta’s Auditor-General says the response to the pandemic in continuing-care facilities in the province showed improvements were definitely needed to protect residents of those centres.

Doug Wylie says there was a severe shortage of staff, outdated infrastructure and insufficient preparedness.

But on the flip-side, he says there was a lot of dedication, focus and care among workers and others trying to find solutions to problems.

There were more than 83-hundred cases of Covid in continuing care centre in Alberta during the first two waves and 1-thousand deaths.

Health Minister Jason Copping released the following statement after reading the response:

“I want to thank the auditor general for his recommendations on how we can strengthen the continuing care system and improve providing care to seniors.

“The Seniors Care in Long-term Care report examines the progress made by Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services on previous auditor general recommendations to improve the care that residents receive in long-term care, and it identifies new recommendations for action such as public reporting on performance measures and outcomes of the long-term care system.

“As outlined in my mandate letter from the Premier, improving care for seniors is a top priority and we will continue our efforts to make improvements in this area.

“The COVID-19 in Continuing Care Facilities report is a retrospective audit of the actions taken by the health system during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic from March to December 2020 and identifies recommended actions to strengthen pandemic and outbreak protocols in publicly funded continuing care homes.

“The report highlights the adaptability and resiliency of individuals and groups at all levels of the continuing care system to respond to changing circumstances through the pandemic. I want to thank everyone for their dedication and their incredible efforts during this unprecedented time.

“These improvements have relevance and provide benefits far beyond the COVID-19 response, including helping the continuing care system to be better prepared for future pandemics and other smaller communicable disease outbreaks such as seasonal influenza.

“Alberta’s government is already working to address the concerns listed in the report, like enhancing infection control measures. Budget 2023, if passed, would also provide for additional action on the recommendations from the auditor general’s report.

“The government has accepted all of the auditor general’s recommendations identified in both reports, and we are committed to undertaking this important work for the benefit of all Albertans.”

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-Ontario and PEI have signed agreements in principle with the feds when it comes to healthcare funding.

These are the bi-lateral agreements Ottawa is working on with each province, with a focus on primary care, mental health care and data sharing.

No deal yet with Alberta.

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-There’s going to be a review of homeless encampments across the country, and a federal housing advocate says those who force the take down of those camps, especially during the winter, are committing a serious violation of human rights.

Marie-Josee Houle is planning to talk to residents of those camps and housing experts before she makes recommendations to the Housing Minister.

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-Charges are pending following the arrest of three men in connection with a number of copper wire thefts at pipeline and gas plant yards this month.

Barrhead RCMP say thousands of dollars damage was done in each case.

Mounties were called to a pipeline yard early yesterday morning, a yard that had been previously hit by thieves.

Three suspects were arrested.

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-The feds and province are investing 14-million dollars into the construction of new affordable housing units in some Indigenous and Metis communities across Alberta.
The funding will go towards units in Edmonton, Fort Chipewyan, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie and the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement.
Ottawa and Alberta are splitting the funding 50-50.

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-The city of Grande Prairie is supposed to make a decision early next month on whether or not it’s going to set up its own police force instead of using the RCMP.
And the provincial government has already said it will be there with almost 10-million dollars to help if they do.
Mike Ellis is the Minister of Public Safety:

“A community-led police service reflects a deeper understanding of the geographical area, the people that live there, the issues that they are facing, who the community leaders are and what is happening on a daily basis.”

The money would be earmarked for vehicles, uniforms and equipment.
City council is supposed to make a ruling March 6th.

“This initial funding gives us confidence that the province will support the City of Grande Prairie should council decide on March 6 to proceed with a municipal police service model.”

Jackie Clayton, mayor, City of Grande Prairie

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-The ALERT team has charged a Ponoka man with sexual assault and trafficking, as police believe more than a dozen Edmonton women were forced into the sex trade.
Police got word last October that a man had been going after homeless women or those with addiction problems.
They say he would offer them drugs, food and a place to stay before taking advantage.
37 year old Christopher Becks is facing several charges and is due in court next month. (photo courtesy of ALERT)

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-Canada’s Defence Minister says Canada is building up its defence in the Arctic, especially as the military says it’s intercepted a number of possible surveillance objects over the past few weeks.
Minister Anita Anand they want to modernize NORAD and continental defence over the next few years.
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-The Kinsmen and Kinettes of St. Albert were busy handing out kindness in the form of grocery gift cards this past Saturday.
Members were staked out at four different grocery stores in the city, and they say they got a range of reactions.
People who’ve been having trouble making ends meet and paying for groceries were incredibly grateful.
Others thanked the members for it, but as they were currently able to pay for their food, they gave the cards back and asked them to help others who were truly in need.
And yet others told the clerks to give their’s to the local food bank.
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-Today is “National Chili Day”, as FoodBanks Alberta is taking part in a program called “Together At The Table.”
They’ve teamed up with City Market to provide a free chili meal to seniors living at Pioneer Place in downtown Edmonton.
A report from last year shows that more than 10-percent of people needing a food bank’s help are seniors, and it’s even higher in rural communities.
The same report says many seniors are reluctant to reach out for help, because they always think someone else could use it more than them.
Albertans are encouraged to make a chili dinner tonight and to purchase a 10-dollar chili pack at any Independent Grocer or City Market across the province for those in need.
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-Even though economists are predicting a slow-down in food inflation by the end of this year, a lot of people are wondering what they can do right now.
A new study says more people are using coupons.
But where do you find them?
There’s an app called “Flipp”, which puts local flyers and coupons together online, so you can see what kind of deals can be found at the stores in your neighbourhood.
Just head to flipp.com.
Some users say they’ve saved between 20 and 50 dollars a week by using it.
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-Edmontonians living in houses have had to separate their garbage from their food scraps and recycling for a while now.
Those living in condos and apartments will soon have to do the same, as city council has passed a bylaw on it.
That program extension is supposed to get underway this fall.

In addition to the enabling changes to apartment and condo collection, the new bylaw gives all residents more flexibility in the liners they use in food scraps containers. The City initially required that any plastic bags used in food scraps carts be BPI/BNQ-certified compostable. However, in practice, compostable plastics do not fully break down in most City and regional industrial processing facilities and, as a result, are removed from the organics stream during processing. Instead, residents can now use any paper or plastic bag as a liner.

In terms of environmental impact, the best approach is to avoid the use of any bags or lining. This also makes the City’s composting process more efficient and reduces costs. If residents prefer to line their food scraps containers or carts, a paper bag or newspaper are the next best options, followed by compostable bags or new or reused plastic bags.

Since the Edmonton Cart Rollout in 2021, residents have adapted well: almost 90 per cent of residents say they are familiar with waste sorting, and 98 per cent are setting out their carts correctly.

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-The Prime Minister spent part of yesterday meeting with farmers in Quebec.
Justin Trudeau told members of the Farmers’ Association in that province that his government is trying to figure out how they can provide “targeted aid” to producers struggling with inflation.
One dairy and grain farmer told him that his costs have jumped by 40-percent.
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-As we continue spending time in the deep freeze this week in Canada, thousands of people have been hit by a massive winter storm across the U-S.
That blizzard had dropped tons of snow, some rain and high winds on several states, including Arizona and New Mexico.
Schools have been shut down, planes have been grounded, and thousands of homes and businesses don’t have power right now.
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-Today marks the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The U-N General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution to condemn that move, as they call on Russia to end the war.

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-In the meantime, there’s supposed to be a “Stand With Ukraine” event at the Leg tomorrow evening.
Organizers say a number of speakers will be featured, victims of the war will be honoured, and a map of Ukraine will be laid out on the ground with candles outlining that shape.
If you’re going, you’re asked to bring a small candle to place inside the map.

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On February 24 and in the weeks that follow, faculty, staff, and students at the University of Alberta will hold several events to mark one year since the war in Ukraine began:February 24Walk of Solidarity: Hosted by Ukrainian Students Society, begins at 4:30 pm in the student lounge near the main floor entrance to Arts and Convocation Hall (MAP)Students, staff and scholars will gather for a rally to reflect, then will walk to the Legislature grounds for a community candlelight vigil at 6 pm hosted by the Ukrainian Canadian CongressKasya Jaddock, president of the Ukrainian Students Society and Dr. Serge Cipko, with Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) and Disrupted Ukrainian Scholars and Students (DUSS) initiative will be available for interviews.March 1Vigil and Day of Solidarity with Ukraine: all day at St. Joseph’s College, 11325 89 Ave NWIn collaboration with the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, this event begins with a prayer service for peace at 11 am, personal and academic insights and reflections throughout the day, and ends with a candlelight vigil at 6 pmMarch 3Understanding Ukraine One Year after Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion: Online, 12 pmDiscussions exploring the international community’s changing attitudes toward Ukraine in the areas of scholarship and academic, culture, religion, media, and mass information.Presenters include: Natalia Khanenko-Friesen, Volodymyr Kravchenko, Marko Stech, Frank Sysyn, and Oleksandr PankieievMarch 7CIUS Annual Shevchenko Lecture with Alexander Vindman: 7 pm, in Telus Centre, Room 150 Vindman, a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and a former White House National Security Council Director for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Russia, will provide analysis of the roots of the war and its geopolitical context, including the implications for the next decade(s).

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– Catholic Social Services (CSS) is responding to as many as 60 calls each day from Ukrainians who are arriving in Alberta.

To meet the growing demand for its settlement services, CSS is asking Albertans to help the agency raise $100,000 for its Refugee Relief Fund. This money will be used to provide emergency accommodations, meals, winter clothing, transportation, and school supplies for the Ukrainian clients and refugees CSS serves.

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