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Last week I found an interactive map on the Globe and Mail website that provides a big-picture look at the number of confirmed H1N1 hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths by province/territory and for Canada as a whole. Today, I found another great resource courtesy of the National Post.
The image illustrates how H1N1 vaccines in Canada originate from GlaxoSmithKline, the sole provider of H1N1 vaccines in Canada, and ultimately reach the general population. The image also indicates the eligibility groups province by province and provides up-to-date information on the roll-out so far.
Here is a summary of the content provided:
British Columbia:
- 1.16 million doses received.
- Over 900,000 injections thus far.
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A negative-stained image of the swine flu virus.
While searching the web for accurate information regarding the number of Canadians impacted by the Swine Flu, I came across a fantastic interactive map on The Globe and Mail site. The map provides a big-picture look at the number of confirmed hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths by province/territory and for Canada as a whole. Although the size of the rings surrounding each providence can be misleading, the facts are not. Here are some of the figures they’ve gathered:
Deaths per million people:
All of Canada: 2.76
Newfoundland and Labrador: 0.00
Prince Edward Island: 0.00
Nova Scotia: 1.07
New Brunswick: 0.00
Quebec: 3.48
Ontario: 2.09
Manitoba: 5.79
Saskatchewan: 4.92
Alberta: 3.35
British Columbia: 2.74
Yukon: 0.00
Northwest Territories: 0.00
Nunavut: 31.85
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On February 5th, I commented on Obama’s plan to impose a $500,000 salary cap on U.S. executives who were holding onto taxpayer dollars for dear life.
Seven months later Obama has made bold moves in the right direction. Today the Treasury department ordered seven corporations, which have yet to repay their bailout money, to cut executive salaries and bonuses in half. The top 25 highest paid executives will have a $500,000 salary cap imposed on them and will see their perks capped at $25,000. The seven companies affected are: Bank of America Corp., American International Group Inc., Citigroup Inc., General Motors, GMAC, Chrysler and Chrysler Financial.
The Federal Reserve also weighed in, suggesting the monitoring of pay packages at thousands of banks to ensure salaries do not continue spiraling out of control.
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In case you missed it, here is Stephen Harper’s performance of The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Harper came on stage at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre on Saturday to sing the tune with Ma and Ottawa band Herringbone during a gala held to support the next generation of Canadian musicians.
In a move many are calling a breakthrough in the negotiation process between Israel and Hamas, Israel released 20 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a short video of Gilad Schalit. The video shows Schalit holding a Palestinian newspaper dated September 14th and provides proof that he is indeed alive. All 20 released prisoners were females, most of whom were charged for attempted murder and who were nearing the end of the prison sentence. The deal paves the way for further negotiations between the two sides. Hamas is demanding the release of 1000 prisoners in exchange for Schalit. The released video can be seen below.
Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the man convicted of murdering 270 people by planting a bomb on Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, has been released from jail in Scotland on “compassionate grounds.” The 57 year old is suffering from prostate cancer and doctors estimate he has just 3 months left to survive. In an attempt to explain the out of the ordinary release, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill cited compassionate grounds, stating that Megrahi was being released so he could “[go] home to die.” “Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion available,” MacAskill said.
Arriving in his homeland of Libya, Megrahi received a heroes welcome with a large crowd gathered waving flags, throwing flowers and honking horns at the military airport in Tripoli.
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Since its inception in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Canada’s anti-terrorism laws will take effect for the first time. On Thursday, Mohammad Momin Khawaja will be sentenced after being convicted last fall of five counts of facilitating and financing terrorism. For the full story, click here
Should Medicinal Marijuana Smokers Have the Freedom to Smoke Where They Choose?
A restaurant owner is facing a discrimination complaint after he asked his customer, a medicinal marijuana smoker, not to smoke outside his business. Ted Kindos, owner of Gator Ted’s Tap and Grill in Burlington, Ontario is involved in one of three medicinal marijuana-related cases working its way through the human rights complaints process in Ontario.
His case brings up the issue of where medicinal marijuana smokers are permitted to smoke. Currently, those who hold medicinal marijuana permits (2,800 Canadians) are not given any strict requirements for how or where they are able to smoke. Such details are not governed by federal regulations but permit holders are expected to use common sense, according to the federal government. Should our government be so lax in its regulations regarding where marijuana can be smoked? Seems to me like the government is asking begging for problems.
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President Barack Obama & Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Speaking About Executive Compensation
Although Obama’s term as president is only in its infancy, he’s already impressed me in many ways. First was his ability to quickly put together an extensive stimulus plan (which took far too long for Canada to do) and then his plan to close Guantanamo Bay within a year. Now, it’s his idea to impose a salary cap for many U.S. business executives.
Obama’s plan is to place a $500,000 salary cap on executives at troubled U.S. financial institutions that accept federal bailout funds. And it’s a brilliant idea.
Here’s an excerpt from Obama’s announcement:
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