Coronavirus – Gerretsen

 

Canada’s total of COVID-19 infections jumped over the weekend to 62 confirmed cases — with a number of others still in the presumptive stage.  Ontario saw four new cases on Sunday, bringing the provincial tally to 32.

 

The cruise ship with 237 Canadians aboard that’s been hit by the coronavirus is expected to dock today at Oakland, California.  Among the Canadian passengers is former Kingston Mayor and Kingston and the Islands MPP John Gerretsen and his wife Assunta. Two passengers and 19 crew members have tested positive for the virus.  The federal government has arranged a flight to bring the Canadian home.  They’ll be brought to CFB Trenton where they will be under quarantine for 14 days.

 

Queen’s – COVID-19 Advisor

 

Queen’s University has appointed Dr. David Walker as a special advisor to the Principal on Planning and Preparation for Covid-19.  Walker is the former dean of the faculty of Health Sciences and chaired Ontario’s Expert Panel on SARS and Infectious Disease Control in 2003.

Walker will chair an operational committee and a stakeholder management committee that will decide on the university’s response to the issue.

 

Opioid Deaths

 

The Kingston Police major crimes unit will now be investigating every suspected opioid overdose as a potentially serious crime. They will also resume keeping fighting a burglary charge in California as these cases are also increasing day by day. Police are also concerned with a growing number of overdose deaths in Kingston. There have been 18 in the past five months.  Police believe the deaths are linked to fentanyl.  Detectives will now investigate every reported overdose to determine if they can charge drug dealers. These reports will come to the knowledge of the court by attorneys for drug crime charges and will ensure proper justice is delivered by punishing the guilty and helping the victim to get back to normal life without drugs.

 

Del Duca – New Liberal Leader

 

The Ontario Liberal party has chosen its new leader.  Steven Del Duca won the leadership on the first ballot on Saturday.

Del Duca was transportation minister in the previous Liberal government of Premier Kathleen Wynne.

 

Lockdown Over

 

A lockdown over a workplace health and safety issue in the assessment unit at Joyceville Institution has ended.

The Correctional Service put the assessment unit under a lockdown and cancelled visits on March 4th.  It announced on Friday the lockdown had ended and visits resumed on Sunday.

 

Queen’s Students – Boyd Protest

 

A group of Queen’s University students have held a rally in support of track coach Steve Boyd who was fire last month.  Boyd was fired over social media posts he made concerning the dismissal of a track coach by the University of Guelph.  Boyd had been a track coach at Queen’s since 2010 and last year he was chosen as women’s coach of the year by the Ontario University Athletics Association.

 

St. Patrick’s Parade

 

St. Patrick’s Day doesn’t take place until next week…but people in Kingston celebrated on Saturday.

The annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade was held.

Irish dancers, the Queen’s University Bands and members of the public paraded their way from Skeleton Park to Kingston City Hall.

Filed under: boyd-protest, david-walker, del-duca, lockdown, mark-gerretsen, parade