Health Canada authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old

Today, Health Canada authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children 12 to 15 years of age. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Canada for use in children and marks a significant milestone in Canada’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Canada received an application to expand the indication of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine on April 16, 2021. The vaccine was initially authorized for use in people 16 years of age and older on December 9, 2020.

After completing a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the Department has determined that this vaccine is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 when used in children between 12 and 15 years of age.

Ontario government investing $900,000 to protect and restore environment

The Ontario government is supporting community projects that help protect and restore the environment by investing $900,000 in grant funding through the newly enhanced Ontario Community Environment Fund. Funding for the grant is supported by environmental penalties, which are being expanded to cover a broader ranger of regulated facilities and environmental violations. This money can be used to help communities improve the environment in areas impacted by pollution.

Funding is available for projects that:

• Increase environmental restoration and remediation to repair environmental harm, e.g. tree planting, habitat restoration.
• Build resilient communities and provide local solutions to environmental issues, e.g. wetland creation and installing rain gardens to reduce the risk of flooding.

The fund is open to conservation authorities, municipalities, First Nation and Métis communities, non-profit organizations, schools, colleges and universities.

The deadline to apply for an Ontario Community Environment Fund grant is 5 p.m. on June 23, 2021. Applications will be evaluated through a competitive process. Successful projects will be notified directly in summer 2021.

Welland seeks public engagement for cannabis land use review

The City of Welland is reviewing its current Zoning By-law requirements (PDF link) as they relate to cannabis operation purposes and ensure that the City’s policies are in line with current Provincial and Federal legislation and municipal best practices as per Council’s direction. The City is currently under a freeze on cannabis production, cultivation, and processing operations until December 17, 2021. Stakeholders are encouraged to visit YourChannel to provide feedback and share experiences with Cannabis Production Facilities.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) oppose motions calling for phase-out of gas-fired power generation

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) released a statement today in response to motions calling for the Government of Ontario to eliminate gas-fired electricity generation. The OCC and CME are urging the Ontario government not to phase out gas-fired electricity so that industry can adequately balance environmental and economic objectives in Ontario.

The OCC and CME firmly believe Ontario needs a well-balanced energy system. Electricity only accounts for about 3 percent of Ontario’s emissions, with the main sources being transportation, industry, and buildings. Currently, natural gas is the only resource capable of meeting peak demand periods year-round. New nuclear, renewable energy, energy storage, and other assets may all be part of the solution in the future. Until then, demand growth over the next decade will require flexible assets that can be readily deployed, particularly as the economy expands and nuclear generators undergo refurbishment. Replacing the more than 11,300 MW of transmission-connected gas-fired generators in Ontario by 2030 – or nearly a third of total installed supply capacity across the province – will cost in the tens of billions of dollars for businesses and residents.

Canadian Camber of Commerce demands travel restart strategy

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce wants Canadian governments to set out their plans for safely restarting travel, including for how health credentials will be used.

The Chamber outlined key elements that need to be included in any strategy, including clear metrics for targeted travel restrictions, coherent rules across all modes of transportation, and replacing broad quarantine measures with regulations based on a combination of testing, vaccination and other measures to protect public health.

The Chamber noted that the world is adopting new systems to document travelers’ health status, including digital vaccination certification. Canada needs to accelerate its efforts to catch up and to enable a speedy and safe resumption of economic activity.

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