Prilex POS attack group more active this year, report warns - IT World Canada

After a quiet 2021, the Prilex point-of-sale (POS) hacking group has become more active this year, releasing three new variants of its malware, infosec pros at retailers are being warned.

The alert comes in a background report on the group released this week by Kaspersky.

Its researchers say the latest versions of Prilex create fraudulent transactions using cryptograms generated by a victim’s access card during an in-store payment process, referred to by the malware authors as “GHOST transactions.”

The malware deals directly with the PIN pad hardware protocol of POS systems, doing real-time patching in target software, hooking operating system libraries, and messing with replies, communications and ports. In this way the group gets around transactions from credit cards protected with chip and PIN technology.

Victims are shoppers who enter PIN numbers when they use their payment cards. So far, Kaspersky told ITWorldCanada, it hasn’t seen any fraud that has happened when a customer paid by using the tap-and-pay capability of a near-field communication (NFC) enabled device.

“This is corroborated by a contact in the industry that told us they haven’t seen any frauds when using NFC,” said Fabio Assolini, head of Kaspersky’s Latin American Global Research and Analysis Team. “This is likely due to the way paying through NFC works, that is generating a single card number for each transaction.” But, she added, “it would not surprise us if they find a way to get around this limitation due to their knowledge of the payment systems.”

Prilex is modular, Kaspersky says, meaning adversaries can program it to work with any POS system they want, from anywhere.

In examples seen by Kaspersky, the Prilex malware was installed in POS systems as RAR SFX executables that extracted all required files to the malware directory and executed the installation scripts (VBS files). From the installed files Kaspersky researchers have seen, there are three modules used in campaigns: a backdoor, which is unchanged in the latest version except for the C2 servers used for communication; a stealer module; and an uploader module.

The stealer module is responsible for intercepting all communications between the point-of-sale software and the PIN pad used for reading the card during the transaction, says the report. Once it identifies a running transaction, the malware will intercept and modify the content of the transaction in order to be able to capture the card information and to request new EMV cryptograms to the victim’s card. These cryptograms are then used in the GHOST transactions.

In GHOST attacks performed by the newer versions of Prilex, new EMV cryptograms from payment card chips are requested after capturing the transaction. These cryptograms will then be used in a fraudulent transaction through one of the cybercrime tools.

Prilex is not a widespread type of malware, says Kaspkersy. It is highly targeted and is usually delivered through social engineering. For example, a target business may receive a call from a “technician” who insists that the company needs to update its POS software. The fake technician may visit the target in person or request that the victims install AnyDesk and provide remote access for the “technician” to install the malware.

To protect POS devices, Kaspersky says administrators should use a multi-layered solution, offering an optimal selection of protective layers to provide the best security level possible for devices of differing power and with different implementation scenarios. Solutions should be optimized to run with full functionality on the older versions of Windows as well on the newest Windows families.

According to the report, the Brazil-based group has been targeting automated teller machines (ATMs) and POS terminals since 2014. It is believed to have been behind one of the largest​​-ever attacks​​ on ATMs in 2016, when, during Carnival, 28,000 credit cards were cloned. Funds in more than 1,000 ATMs belonging to one Brazilian bank were drained.

The Prilex gang also claimed responsibility for the 2019 attack against a German bank which registered €1.5 million in losses.

Since 2016 the group has focused all its attacks on POS systems, evolving its malware over the years.

Adblock test (Why?)

Prilex POS attack group more active this year, report warns - IT World Canada
Read More

Proposed reg changes will get more nurses registered - CNO

On This Page

CNO now publishing applicant stats

Toronto, Ont. Sept. 29, 2022 - The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) protects the public through the promotion of safe nursing practice. This includes the registration of nurses with the knowledge, skill and judgment to practice safely in Ontario. CNO’s Council has unanimously approved proposed regulations to increase the number of nurses who can register in Ontario.

The Minister of Health directed CNO and its Council in August 2022 to register Internationally Educated Nurses as quickly as possible. CNO has worked closely with government to propose changes to modify Temporary Registration and Reinstatement regulations enabling the timelier registration of nurses.

“These significant regulatory actions will further expedite the registration of Internationally Educated Nurses in Ontario,” says Naomi Thick, CNO Council President. “As leaders in nursing regulation, Council is pleased that the proposed changes serve our purpose to protect the public.”

Now that CNO’s Council has approved these regulations, they will be submitted to government for review and approval. Only after government approval will the regulations take effect. More details about these changes will be available on our website in the coming days.

“We are resolutely committed to protecting the public by registering safe and competent nurses,” says Silvie Crawford, Executive Director and CEO of CNO. “The regulation changes proposed by Council today will allow CNO to build on an already successful year, where we are breaking records for nursing registrations in Ontario.

Along with this Council decision, CNO is pleased to share applicant statistics on our website. CNO is the accurate source of information about nursing statistics in Ontario. As part of our commitment to transparency, CNO will regularly report application statistics online to give the public, applicants and our partners in the health care system timely access to valuable information. These are in addition to the extensive registrant statistics already available.

We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with the Ministry and other system partners to explore longer-term strategies to respond to the growing demand for nurses. Check the News section of cno.org for regular updates as this develops.

For media inquiries please contact: media@cnomail.org 

Page last reviewed September 29, 2022

Adblock test (Why?)

Proposed reg changes will get more nurses registered - CNO
Read More

Nova Scotia premier asks Ottawa for more military support for Fiona cleanup - CBC.ca

Premier Tim Houston wants 1,000 members of the military working on the ground in Nova Scotia to help with the cleanup of the devastation post-tropical storm Fiona wreaked on the province last weekend.

Houston told reporters in Halifax on Thursday that his government has made a formal request for the federal government to deploy more troops. He said there are about 350 members of the military already helping with the cleanup.

"I am thankful to the federal government for that, but we need so much more," he said.

"We have incredible military resources stationed right here in this province, and I know that they would want to help. I know that they would drop everything to help."

With thousands of people still without power, Houston said the more people available to help clear trees and move and clean up debris, the faster the restoration process can be completed.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says he's made a formal ask to the federal government for more military support to help with storm cleanup. (CBC)

Speaking to CBC News on Thursday, National Defence Minister Anita Anand said her department would evaluate Houston's request for more assistance.

"The Canadian Armed Forces wants to continue to help in any way we possibly can, and that's something we'll consider doing."

Anand said the federal government has already approved a revised submission from Newfoundland and Labrador for further assistance. Military support will remain in the Atlantic region to help as long as it is required, she said.

The minister, who is originally from Nova Scotia, said she's never seen a storm like Fiona.

The provincial government announced on Thursday its latest storm relief program: a one-time $2,500 grant for registered small businesses forced to close for at least five days due to the storm. The program is expected to cost about $10 million, with application details to be released soon.

Support program applications open

The announcement comes on the same day applications opened for previously announced programs to support people who suffered food loss because they were without power, had to pay for tree or debris removal on their property, or were ordered to find another place to stay because of damage to their homes.

The total amount of support pledged by the province so far is about $50 million.

"Government's job is to help people when they need it the most," said Houston. "Now is that time in this province."

The premier said the government is looking at support programs for other sectors affected by the storm, including agriculture and forestry.

Agricultural industry 'hit very hard'

Nova Scotia's agriculture minister, Greg Morrow, said he's talking with his federal counterpart and ministers from the other Atlantic provinces to determine what is possible.

Morrow, who has been touring farms since Sunday, said the amount of damage he's witnessed is significant.

"The sector has been hit very hard," he told reporters.

"I've been very clear with the department: leave no stone unturned and make it happen quickly. We've got to get moving here. This can't wait."

Along with damage to structures, Morrow said another concern is a large loss of corn crop.

MORE TOP STORIES

Adblock test (Why?)

Nova Scotia premier asks Ottawa for more military support for Fiona cleanup - CBC.ca
Read More

Cheaper Now Can Be More Expensive Later What To Know About Curbers | News and Media - Government of Saskatchewan

Released on September 29, 2022

Due to the unusually low inventory and increased prices of vehicles, consumers may be considering alternative ways to purchase a vehicle. The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) reminds residents to double-check whom you are buying your vehicle from to avoid driving off in a lemon.

"Curbers" are unlicensed dealers who flip used vehicles for a profit. Since curbers are unlicensed, fewer legal protections are in place than when purchasing a vehicle from a licensed dealer. 

"Buying from a curber is risky. Curbers do not have a license to sell vehicles and regularly misrepresent the condition of the vehicle they are selling," Consumer Protection Executive Director Denny Huyghebaert said. "Often, curbers pose as a person selling a vehicle privately, but in truth, they have bought multiple vehicles from an auction or a salvage yard, cleaned them up, and made superficial repairs, before selling the vehicles without providing any history or disclosure to the consumer."

How can I spot a curber?

Buying from a curber is risky, and you have fewer legal protections compared to buying from a licensed dealer. 

Keep an eye out for these signs:

• Vehicle Registration: If the vehicle is not registered in the seller's name or has only been registered to their name for a short period of time, they may be a curber.
• Multiple listings: If you see multiple vehicles listed with the same phone number and no dealer name or dealer license number is contained in the listing, or the seller asks "which one" when you call about the ad, they may be a curber. 
• Suspiciously low price: Curbers entice buyers with below market prices.  
• No Pre-Sale Inspection: Curbers will often refuse to allow a vehicle inspection by the purchaser's mechanic. Be suspicious if the seller does not allow you to obtain a vehicle inspection.
• Meeting away from their home: Curbers may insist on meeting at coffee shops or mall parking lots to show you the vehicle and finalize the sale.
• High pressure and emotional sales tactics: Curbers pressure to close the sale quickly, or use a sob story to distract the purchaser with guilt and sympathy. 
• Cash sales only: Curbers may pressure to pay with cash and avoid providing a receipt or proof of purchase that includes their name and address.

Licensed dealers must:

• disclose the vehicle's history; 
• ensure the vehicle meets the minimum safety requirements to be driven, unless expressly disclosed;
• certify that the vehicle is free from liens, unless expressly disclosed;
• use a contract that has been filed for use; 
• be bonded; and
• have a locatable address.

If you purchased a vehicle from an unlicensed dealer, the FCAA may not be able to assist you. However, action may be taken to protect future purchasers. 

If you believe the person you purchased a vehicle from is operating as an unlicensed dealer (use the FCAA 411 public search) to see if they are licensed) or if you think you've spotted a curber, you can report them to us by email: consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca or by calling 887-880-5550.

To learn more about curbers, visit our website at https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/consumers/purchasing-goods-and-services/purchasing-and-repairing-a-vehicle/curbers.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Lana Guthrie
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5567
Email: lana.guthrie2@gov.sk.ca

Adblock test (Why?)

Cheaper Now Can Be More Expensive Later What To Know About Curbers | News and Media - Government of Saskatchewan
Read More

Province to Add More Seats for Veterinary Students | News and Media - Government of Saskatchewan

Released on September 29, 2022

The Government of Saskatchewan is taking decisive action to help address the growing need for veterinarians across the province, particularly for large animal and mixed animal veterinarians in rural Saskatchewan. In 2023-24, the province will increase the number of subsidized student seats from 20 to 25 at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

"This investment will see more Saskatchewan students receive a high-quality education in veterinary medicine, right here in Saskatchewan," Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. "We're grateful to have the WCVM right in our backyard to educate more students who will provide much needed veterinary services across the province."

In 2022-23, the Government of Saskatchewan will provide $11.9 million to the WCVM.  The new commitment to add seats will mean an investment of $539,000 in 2023-24, increasing annually to $2.2 million by 2026-27 when fully implemented over the four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

"Today's investment in additional student seats demonstrates our government's commitment to addressing the shortage of veterinarians across the province," Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "This initiative along with the expansion of the Saskatchewan Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists, will ensure that ranchers have access to the veterinary experts they need to provide the highest level of care for their animals."

The WCVM is an internationally-recognized centre for veterinary education, research and clinical expertise that's located on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus.

"I'm really excited for the future of veterinary medicine in Saskatchewan. I think this is a great opportunity for our province, especially with the shortage of veterinarians," said Jackson Goudy, second-year WCVM veterinary student from Stoughton, Saskatchewan, and president-elect of the Western Canadian Veterinary Students' Association. "This is a great way to increase the number of vets delivering animal health care in Saskatchewan."

"We welcome this commitment from our provincial partners that will help to address Western Canada's urgent need for more veterinarians in both rural and urban communities," WCVM Dean Dr. Gillian Muir said. "The province's support allows more students from Saskatchewan to achieve their dreams of a career in veterinary medicine. It's also a sound investment in protecting the health and wellness of all animals - from companion animals and wildlife to livestock that play a critical role in Canada's agriculture industry and the country's economy."

"Further expanding USask's capacity to train veterinarians will contribute to the sustainability of the profession and allow us to further enhance our leadership role in the veterinary sciences and in One Health," USask Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Airini said. "The increase in provincial funding is so appreciated, and will allow us to deliver essential veterinary medical education, advance interdisciplinary collaboration and research, and amplify our contributions to the health and wellness of western Canadian communities."

For more information about the Saskatchewan Loan Forgiveness for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists program, visit https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/student-loans/loan-forgiveness-for-veterinarians-and-veterinary-technologists.

For more information about the WCVM, visit https://wcvm.usask.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Briana Bolduc
Advanced Education
Regina
Phone: 306-533-6676
Email: Briana.bolduc@gov.sk.ca

Jamie Shanks
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5155
Email: jamie.shanks2@gov.sk.ca

Jeanette Neufeld
Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-291-9950
Email: jeanette.neufeld@usask.ca

Adblock test (Why?)

Province to Add More Seats for Veterinary Students | News and Media - Government of Saskatchewan
Read More

More than 700 military personnel now in Atlantic Canada as Fiona recovery drags on - CBC News

Defence Minister Anita Anand said Thursday there are now more than 700 Canadian Armed Forces personnel in Atlantic Canada to help with the fallout from Fiona, a post-tropical storm that caused widespread destruction in the region.

Six days after Fiona hit, tens of thousands of customers in the region are still without power as crews scramble to address ongoing outages. More than 100,000 customers in the Maritimes alone are still without power.

Power restoration is a top priority for CAF personnel, Anand said.

In Cape Breton, the military has established a command post at Sydney's Mayflower Mall to deploy troops as needed to clear fallen trees and other pieces of debris that have made some roads impassable. Military personnel are doing much the same in P.E.I.

Anand said Canadian Rangers have conducted more than 900 "wellness checks" in Port aux Basques and other communities along Newfoundland's coast that were pummeled by Fiona.

Soldiers bring water to a woman at her house on Newfoundland's southwest coast. (Submitted by Cpl. Braden Trudeau)

Asked by reporters why she didn't deploy more troops to the region sooner to help with recovery efforts, Anand said it's up to the provinces to tell Ottawa what they need.

"What we made sure to do was to have CAF members on hand to fill the tasks that were requested of us," she said.

"The provinces are identifying tasks and we are providing CAF to fill those tasks on an ongoing basis."

The region has seen a small surge of troops during the week as the scale of the damage became evident. There were just 300 CAF personnel in the region on Monday.

The Magdalen Islands, an archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the province of Quebec, were also damaged by Fiona.

So far, Quebec has not requested any federal assistance or CAF support to help with the cleanup.

As part of his ongoing tour of the storm-hit region, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit the Magdalen Islands Thursday to personally assess the damage there. He visited Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and P.E.I. earlier this week.

One pressing issue is the state of the ocean after so much debris was washed away by a violent storm surge. In Port aux Basques, downed homes are still floating offshore. Some fishermen lost their gear in the surge and it hasn't yet been recovered.

Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings, who represents this area of Newfoundland and Labrador in the Commons, said the province has asked for federal help to clean up the waters so fishermen and other boats can safely travel.

Heavy machinery clears up buildings and rubble in the harbour at Burnt Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

The restoration of the waterways is a priority. Port aux Basques is also the terminal for Marine Atlantic, the federal Crown corporation that ferries people between Newfoundland and Cape Breton.

According to government figures, the Canadian Coast Guard is already patrolling for sunken vessels in the region and 23 boats have been removed so far.

Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray said more than 180 of the 706 small craft harbours that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) operates were damaged by Fiona.

She said DFO is working with local harbour authorities to assess the damage and "chart a path to rebuilding."

Based on department surveys so far, 99 of the harbours are operational, five are out of commission and 20 will need further assessment.

"We expect the number of non-functional ports will increase as inspections are carried out. Harbours will need to be rebuilt to withstand these conditions," Murray said.

With so many fishermen sidelined by Fiona, Murray said her department will consider "any requests for season extensions" to allow harvesters to haul in fish and other seafood outside the normal DFO-mandated seasons.

Jamie King clears out the rubble and belongings from the washed-out foundation and basement of his house in Burnt Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Fiona left a trail of destruction across much of Atlantic Canada, stretching from Nova Scotia's eastern mainland to Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island and southwestern Newfoundland. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Farmers were also hit hard by Fiona, with crops wiped and out fields flattened. The storm touched down at an inopportune time for some farmers because apples and corn were just due to be harvested.

Ontario Liberal MP Francis Drouin, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of agriculture, said federal programs are available to agricultural operations that have sustained significant financial losses. 

Adblock test (Why?)

More than 700 military personnel now in Atlantic Canada as Fiona recovery drags on - CBC News
Read More

There's a New Kouign Amann Player on Mont-Royal — And More September Openings - Eater Montreal

PLATEAU — With the arrival of Le Palais Breton, Montrealers have one more spot to procure kouign amann, the round, buttery cake made of layers of laminated dough that hails from Brittany. (The city’s most iconic place for it, handily called Au Kouign Amann, is on Mont-Royal Avenue, just west of Saint-Denis.)

A representative for the new shop, also located on Mont-Royal (but further east, between Marquette and Fabre streets), tells Eater its chef, André Bionas, has 20 years of training in the tradition of Breton pastry-making. For now, his focus is on the aforementioned kouign amann, the far Breton (a custardy, flan-like cake), and gâteau Breton sablé (Brittany’s famed shortbread in oversized cake form), but the rep says the goal is to expand the offering to include other Breton-style pastries.

Le Palais Breton is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Wednesday through Sunday at 1574 Mont-Royal Avenue East.

SAINT-HENRI — 9 Tail Fox, a brand-new bistro serving “modern Korean” food, opened on September 21. For the hotly anticipated project, chef-owners Jongwook Lee and WonGoo Joun marry techniques gleaned from working at some of the city’s top restaurants with their Korean roots. The menu will evolve seasonally, but for now, it includes options like oysters with citrusy gochujang; dumplings filled with porcini, parmesan, and Asian chives; and lamb seasoned with gochugaru (Korean chili powder) and served alongside peach kimchi.

9 Tail Fox is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday, at 3401 Notre-Dame Street West.

OLD MONTREAL — Bar Pol is the latest place for a happy hour hang in Montreal’s historic centre. It replaces Hambar, the wine bar previously located on the ground floor of St. Paul Hotel, which overlooks Place d’Youville and McGill Street. Cocktails are the focus here, though beer, wine, and bubbly are also available. For food, expect a tapas menu featuring Quebec cheese, mackerel conservas, Serrano ham croquettes, and more. Designer Christina Planas revamped the space with marble tables, plaid upholstery, and a series of contemporary artworks for what the bar describes as a reinterpretation of “a traditional English club.”

Pol is open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 355 McGill Street.

Bar Pol replaces Hambar in Old Montreal’s St. Paul Hotel

Pol

LITTLE ITALY — On September 15, coffee experts and brothers Simon-Pierre and Xavier-Bernard Caron (previously of Mile End mainstay Caffè In Gamba) unveiled a new project bearing their name. Caron & Frères takes over a locale on Bélanger Street that’s been a revolving door of sorts — in 2018, vegan restaurant Le Watson opened in the locale, and then in 2020, Southern California-style taqueria Le Mariachi took over. The brothers enlisted local design firm Ivy Studio to rework the space, La Presse reports. They’re carrying a solid selection of specialty coffee from local roasters ZAB, Traffic, Structure, and Yamabiko, among others.

Caron & Frères is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 26 Bélanger Street.

MILE END — Just over one year since opening their stellar NDG café-meets-wine bar Entre-Deux, owners Marc Flynn, Félix Poirier, and Alex Quintin have debuted a new project. Opened on September 6, Café Bravo is an unfussy coffee shop (with all the caffeinated standards and a pared-down sandwich menu). It’s located on the premises of Bravo Musique (formerly Dare to Care Records), run by Montreal musician Coeur de Pirate (Béatrice Martin), meaning customers can grab a vinyl or some merch while there.

Café Bravo is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Sunday, at 4577 St-Laurent Boulevard.

Did we miss a September 2022 opening? Send us a tip at montreal@eater.com.

3401 Notre-Dame St West, Montreal, Quebec H4C 1P3

4577 St Laurent Blvd, Montréal, Quebec H2T 1R2

26 Rue Bélanger, Montreal, Quebec H2S 1C8

1574 Mont-Royal Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H2J 1Z2

Adblock test (Why?)

There's a New Kouign Amann Player on Mont-Royal — And More September Openings - Eater Montreal
Read More

Toronto needs 15K more health-care workers to maintain current level of care, union says - CTV News Toronto

Roughly 15,000 healthcare workers and 500 paramedics must be hired this year alone to maintain current patient care and service levels at hospitals across the GTA, says a union representing frontline healthcare workers.

During a news conference on Tuesday afternoon outside Scarborough General Hospital’s emergency department members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gathered to call on the province to address the severe staffing shortages plaguing Ontario hospitals and putting immense stress on those who work in them.

“Many (hospitals) have closed their ERs and ICUs and other services temporarily. This is not normal or acceptable,” said long-time Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Dave Verch, the first vice-president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE.

He said across Ontario 46,000 hospital workers need to be immediately hired to ensure the level of patient care and service remain the same going forward.

“These numbers are based on existing vacancies, turnover rates, and to meet the pressures of population growth aging,” he said.

Verch said currently the hospital staff turnover rate in this province is almost at 15 per cent, which he said represents an “unsustainable loss of experienced healthcare workers” and is more than double pre-pandemic levels.

He also said that Premier Doug Ford’s assurances that this issue is being addressed in a timely manner “simply isn’t true.”

“This attrition weakens our health care system that has had the fewest staff to population than any province for decades,” Verch said.

“(CUPE) polling suggests that hospital’s workforce, which is exhausted and demoralized and without some significant changes, the exodus of staff will continue to accelerate. We went into this pandemic without adequate capacity and our hospital system is now struggling as staff leave and cannot be replaced.”

Verch said the province must have a comprehensive plan in place to “staff up our hospitals,” one that includes adequately paying workers so that the quality of care given to patients isn’t compromised.

He’s also calling for more mental health supports for hospital workers as well as a ban on agency nursing, which he said is “two to three times more expensive and often less flexible.”

“Using expensive agency staff while cutting nurses’ wages is just demoralizing,” Verch said, adding financial incentives must be put in place to discourage retirements and enhance hiring and retention.

Further, Verch said post-secondary spaces for healthcare disciplines must be significantly expanded, tuition waived, and additional financial incentives provided to study and practice in Ontario.

“Turning this crisis around is possible and a wellbeing of many Ontarians depends on it. We need to work together aggressively to solve this crisis,” he said.

Mike Merriman, unit chair of CUPE Local 416, which represents Toronto Paramedic Services, said medics in Toronto and across Ontario are also dealing with a “crisis” situation as on average one staff member from the city is resigning each week.

“Politicians and the managers of services will tell you that the situation, yes it is bad, but it's not dire, and that they're managing. Well, if rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic is managing, I guess they're managing,” he said.

Merriman went on to say that the situation paramedics, and in turn patients, are facing is “extremely dire.”

“I've been on this job for 32 years and I have never ever seen things as bad as they are right now. I have never seen patients, calls waiting, lined up in queues for hours upon hours and hours. In 32 years, I have never seen elderly patients that slip and fall on the ice and fracture a hip lie on that ice for hours in agony. I have never seen that in 32 years.”

Merriman noted that politicians often point the finger at delays in offloading patients but he said that is long-standing challenge paramedics have previously been able to deal with.

“We've managed, why? Because the services were staffed appropriately. They had surge capacity. Over decades of mismanagement and underfunding by municipalities and governments this system has eroded so much,” he said, noting that the average volume of calls to paramedics has increased by almost five per cent annually.

“Paramedics can not manage to keep up with the calls anymore. They're burning out in droves. They're leaving,” Merriman said.

“We're averaging a resignation of once a week. They're leaving to go to other services where the pace may be not quite as bad.”

Lastly, Merriman said he’s proud of his members for “stepping up in the face of such adversity and what they’re dealing with.”

But, he said they need some relief.

Meanwhile, in a statement provided to CTV News, the Ministry of Health said Ontarians would “continue to have access to the care they need when they need it.”

“Our (Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery) will support the healthcare system to address the urgent pressures of today while preparing for a potential winter surge so our province and economy can stay open,” spokesperson Bill Campbell wrote in an email.

“Once fully implemented, the next phase of the Plan to Stay Open will add up to 6,000 more health care workers to Ontario’s health workforce, will free up over 2,500 hospital beds so that care is there for those who need it, and will expand models of care that provide better, more appropriate care to avoid unnecessary visits to emergency departments.”

The MOH rep went on to say that recently Minister of Health Syvia Jones wrote to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario asking them to go ahead with their proposal of adding a new group of “temporary” doctors to the College’s Registration Regulation.

Campbell said the Ministry “wants to know how many would-be nurses would benefit from these changes,” which would “support more nimble movement between provinces and territories.”

He also noted that they’re also interested in finding more ways to register internationally trained doctors, notably through the creation of a Practice Ready Assessment Program where doctors from other countries can receive a “fast track assessment” to determine whether they are ready to work as a physician in Ontario.

Further, the province said it is investing $42.5 million dollars over the next two years to “grow undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training in Ontario.”

“These investments will help recruit future health care workers and support improved care for underserved areas of the province. Increasing the number of doctors, nurses and personal support workers in Ontario is a key element of the government’s Plan to Stay Open,” Campbell said.

“This requires recruitment and retention of nurses and personal support workers, and investing in the students of today who will become the skilled health care professionals of tomorrow. Expanding medical education will result in more doctors serving in Ontario and better access and quality of care for hard‐working families across the province.”

Adblock test (Why?)

Toronto needs 15K more health-care workers to maintain current level of care, union says - CTV News Toronto
Read More

New ambulances, more paramedics announced for Edmonton, Calgary amid EMS strain - CBC.ca

Alberta Health Service has added five new ambulances and 20 more paramedics in Calgary and Edmonton respectively. 

AHS said in a statement Tuesday the additions are meant to help relieve pressure on EMS and improve access to emergency patient care amid the rising volume of emergency calls.

In May, the Alberta Medical Association said major pressures were being felt in the province's emergency departments.

Dr. Paul Parks, president of the Alberta Medical Associations' emergency medicine section, said any help is positive, but the province needs to fully review the challenges emergency staff are facing.

"It's demoralizing and frustrating that the system has gotten to the point where it's desperate and broken. We definitely need more help and whether 10 ambulances will come close to cutting it, I doubt it, but it's definitely a step in the right direction," Parks told CBC,

Mike Parker, president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, shared very similar sentiments, and called the announcement, "a drop in the bucket."

"The current government is asserting it has hired enough paramedics to staff these new ambulances, but they have said that before and the reality on the street is they haven't," Parker said in a statement.

AHS told CBC emergency calls have increased since the pandemic, something Parks said has put a major strain on emergency rooms and EMS.

"The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid concerns, and emergency calls related to people returning to normal activities are all contributing to the rise in calls. Staff illness and ongoing fatigue are also contributing to challenges in the EMS system," AHS spokesperson James Wood said in a statement.

In addition to the added staff and ambulances, AHS has also approved $12.2 million to implement a fatigue management project for EMS workers. 

The announcement is the latest in the province's initiative to improve EMS as part of the AHS 10-point plan outlined by the UCP at the beginning of the year.

In the spring of 2022, AHS EMS hired 40 new paramedics.  Parker says he has yet to see changes, and hopes continued efforts eventually relieve some of the burden. 

"They're trying to do some Band-Aid solutions. Until the government publicly says we've got to commit to making this a top priority to fix then unfortunately those big solutions won't happen," Parker said.

Adblock test (Why?)

New ambulances, more paramedics announced for Edmonton, Calgary amid EMS strain - CBC.ca
Read More

P.E.I. National Park dunes suffer 'extremely dramatic' erosion from Fiona - CBC.ca

The dunes in the Brackley Beach and Cavendish areas of P.E.I. National Park saw their worst damage in close to a century when Fiona hit Prince Edward Island on Saturday.

A Coastie picture of the dunes at Cavendish Beach before Fiona. (The Coastie Initiative)

A Coastie picture of the dunes at Cavendish Beach after Fiona. (The Coastie Initiative)

Scientists were able to get information quickly on the extent of the dune erosion thanks to the Coastie program, which allows visitors to the park to take photographs from a fixed location, giving accurate depictions of the erosion over time.

"What we're seeing is almost 10 metres, in some spots, of the dune having been eroded," said Chris Houser, a professor in the School of the Environment at the University of Windsor in Ontario.

"This is an extremely dramatic event. The amount of erosion, from my understanding, is reminiscent of a hurricane that passed through back in the 1930s."

A Coastie picture of the dunes at Brackley Beach before Fiona. (The Coastie Initiative)

A Coastie picture of the dunes at Brackley Beach after Fiona. (The Coastie Initiative)

Some of the sand was blown to the back of the dunes, said Houser, but much of it was clawed offshore as storm surge waves receded.

The storm's damage isn't over yet, he added. With no vegetation holding up the front part of the dune, in the near term more sand will collapse onto the beach and potentially be washed away.

Vulnerable from previous storms

Fiona brought a combination of strong winds, a storm surge that took the sea right to the foot of the dunes, and waves that were several metres high. The relatively long duration of the storm was also a factor.

Given the opportunity, said Houser, the dunes will recover.

"It's going to take a couple of years, and potentially up to a decade, for all that sediment that was lost into the near shore to make its way back to the beach and ultimately make its way back to the dune," he said.

"We've got a long recovery process ahead of us."

The dunes were more fragile than usual when Fiona hit, having not recovered from Dorian in 2019. There has also been less sea ice in recent years, which left the dunes more vulnerable to winter storms. When the ice is jammed up again the shore, the dunes are mostly protected from the erosive action of winter storm waves.

What people can do

It remains to be seen whether substantial amounts of sand were carried far enough offshore so that it won't eventually come back.

As wind and waves carry some sand back, marram grass will be the first plant to move in to hold it in place, because it is spread by rhizomes. Other species, which spread by seed, will take more time. In the meantime, the dunes overall will provide a smaller habitat for the creatures that rely on it — nesting birds and small mammals.

In the meantime, it will be more important than before to stay off the dunes. Beachgoers will also have to give the dunes the room to recover, by keeping clear of spaces where the dunes used to be.

Stay away from park for now

Meanwhile, P.E.I. National Park officials say some roadways in the park are closed and they are asking people to stay away from park sites.

The Gulfshore Parkway from Dalvay to Brackley is closed as crews assess the damage and begin to clear debris.

"[In] P.E.I. National Park between Dalvay and Brackley, there was significant coastal erosion in this area," said Jennifer Stewart, manager of external relations with Parks Canada on P.E.I.

"It's not safe to travel on the road, so for safety reasons it is closed and we do ask that visitors please refrain from coming to any Parks Canada-administered sites at this time, as it's just unsafe."

Some park infrastructure — including stairs and beach-access boardwalks — was either heavily damaged or entirely washed away by the storm.

There are thousands of trees down throughout the park, blocking roadways, trails and campsites.

Adblock test (Why?)

P.E.I. National Park dunes suffer 'extremely dramatic' erosion from Fiona - CBC.ca
Read More

Latest Eglinton Crosstown delay 'more trouble on trouble' for Little Jamaica, restaurant owner says - CBC.ca

The latest announcement that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT will be delayed by about a year means "more trouble on trouble" for businesses in the Little Jamaica area, one restaurant owner said.

Sheryl Bryan Phillips, who owns Judy's Island Grill — a small restaurant serving authentic Caribbean cuisine at 1720 Eglinton Ave. W. — said she learned about the latest delay from a construction worker who came to her shop for lunch.

"Next year? Are you kidding me?" was her reaction on hearing the bad news.

"We're struggling enough already with this LRT … and I just can imagine what's gonna happen to us small business on Eglinton," Bryan Phillips told CBC Radio's Metro Morning.

The 19-kilometre light rapid transit line scheduled to be up and running by the end of this year. A source with knowledge of the situation told CBC Toronto the soonest the line could open now is this time next year.

Sheryl Bryan Phillips' restaurant, Judy's Island Grill, in operation for more than seven years, bills itself as 'Bringing the Taste of the Island to you.' (Robert Krbavac/CBC)

In a statement on Metrolinx's website on Friday, president and CEO Phil Verster said the Eglinton Crosstown is delayed and will not be in operation this fall as expected. He did not provide a new date for the launch of the service.

"Unfortunately, while progress has been made, Crosslinx Transit Solutions have fallen behind schedule, are unable to finalize construction and testing, and therefore the system will not be operational on this timeline," Verster said in the statement.

The major issues causing the delay are primarily related to construction of underground stations, the source said, particularly at the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue stop. 

Businesses barely hanging on, Bryan Phillips says

Bryan Phillips' restaurant, in operation for more than seven years, bills itself as "Bringing the Taste of the Island to you." On its walls, there are photos of Bob Marley and retired Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. But spots like hers are struggling, she said, and after already strugling through two years of the COVID-19 pandemic are now facing another devastating blow. 

"We're [hanging] by a thread already with the pandemic. [We're] barely [hanging] on. When is this going to be over with and let people get back to their normal life?" she asked.

"We want to make plans but how can we plan in this kind of uncertainty? We're not sure, we don't know what's going to happen."

Bryan Phillips said Metrolinx should commit to a firm timeline as step one. 

This rendering shows the elevated section of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension running along the north side of Eglinton Avenue West before heading back underground east of Jane Street. (Metrolinx)

For now Bryan Phillips is "praying to God and hoping" that the restaurant makes it through one more year.

"We want to hold on for the community, but it's [a struggle,] she said.

Little Jamaica deserves compensation, MPP says

Meanwhile, NDP MPP Jill Andrew said the latest delay is "piling on the devastation for businesses in the Toronto-St. Paul's riding." 

"Black-owned businesses in Little Jamaica as well as other small business owners across midtown deserve better than constant and costly delays and disruptions," Andrew said in a statement on Friday. 

"Our community wants accountability and deserves a public report on the impact that this construction has had on our region, especially for those hardest-hit."

While noting that the Eglinton Crosstown was supposed to be open in September 2020, Andrew said "the never-ending delays prove that public-private partnerships are a scam that we shouldn't keep falling for."

She said that in light of this further disruption, the government should immediately pass her motion for the Little Jamaica & Midtown Small Business and Community Economic Health and Wellness Strategy. 

"This includes needs-based financial compensation for small businesses that continue to be impacted by the decade-long LRT construction, and mandated timely and transparent communication to the community from Metrolinx, the Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Small Businesses," Andrew said.

Last year Little Jamaica received a federal grant of $1 million to help it sustain Black-owned businesses.

The grant, from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, has enabled the opening of a satellite office of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), a non-profit charitable organization formed in 1983 that serves to address equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education and economic development. 

Adblock test (Why?)

Latest Eglinton Crosstown delay 'more trouble on trouble' for Little Jamaica, restaurant owner says - CBC.ca
Read More

Faster and more secure border control – D4FLY - Frontex

At the end of June, Frontex participated in the final demonstration of the D4FLY project, a research and innovation project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme. It focuses on enhancing the quality and efficiency of identity verification at border crossings by providing faster and more secure border control solutions.  

The demonstration day aimed to give an overview of the techniques developed in the D4FLY project for the improvement of border crossing and the verification processes. 

D4FLY has been exploring, developing, and validating new technologies to augment the current capabilities and capacities of border authorities in countering emerging threats in document and identity verification (e.g., forged documents, impostor fraud, morphed faces) at manual and highly automated border crossing points at land, air, and sea. 

The solutions were tested during two scenarios: one in an automated border post and the other, in a coach where border guards were verifying identities in a crowded confined space.

The demonstration participants pre-enrolled using a specifically designed kiosk and then passed through a biometric corridor. During the enrolment, the passport was scanned by the kiosk and different cameras captured biometric features (2D, 3D and thermal face, iris and somatotype features). Encrypted reference data was stored in a database. A smartphone was used as a “carrier of identity” while passing through the corridor. The sensors installed in the corridor area captured participant’s biometrics, compared them with those stored in the database and either confirmed or rejected the border crossing to a border guard carrying a tablet as border check equipment. 

Two types of masks and contact lenses with fake iris prints, and passport with a morphed photograph were successfully detected as fraud. 

Adblock test (Why?)

Faster and more secure border control – D4FLY - Frontex
Read More

Greater Sudbury sees 25% more collisions in 2022 than last year - CBC.ca

There have been 25 per cent more reported collisions in Greater Sudbury so far this year, compared to the same period last year.

In 2021, the city's Collision Reporting Centre counted 2,941 collisions from Jan. 1 to Sept. 18. For the same time period in 2022, 3,684 collisions were reported to the centre.

Joe Rocca, the city's acting director of infrastructure and capital planning, said he believes there have been more collisions this year because there are more cars on the road.

"We need to keep in mind that last year we were still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and there were restrictions for people working in the workplace," he said.

"So there was a reduction in traffic, especially at the beginning part of that year. If you have less vehicles on the road, you tend to have less collisions."

While there have been more collisions overall this year, only a small number have required a police response, due to serious injuries or death.

Greater Sudbury Police said that in 2021 the traffic management unit responded to 31 serious or fatal collisions. So far this year, they've responded to 12 collisions. 

Rocca said it's possible that with fewer cars on the roads last year, speeding could have been a bigger problem due to less congestion.

"So then when they do get into a crash, the consequences of that become more serious," he said.

Speeding a major cause of crashes

Greater Sudbury Police Sgt. Blair Ramsay said speeding is the most common cause of serious crashes in the city.

"When we look at the overall causes of the collisions, definitely the common denominator is speed, Ramsay said.

But he added that impaired driving continues to be a problem.

In 2021, Greater Sudbury Police arrested and charged 338 impaired drivers – under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. So far this year, Ramsay said police have arrested and charged 198 impaired drivers.

Ramsay said police continue to have education campaigns to prevent speeding and impaired driving. 

The City of Greater Sudbury has six red light cameras that are active as of Sept. 21. Signs warn drivers when they are coming up. (Jonathan Migneault/CBC)

The city has also has a number of traffic calming initiatives in place to stop drivers from speeding.

Most recently, six red light cameras were activated at six busy intersections on Sept. 21. 

Rocca said the city has also installed safety bollards on 10 streets, which narrow roadways and force drivers to slow down if they don't want to risk hitting them.

He said the bollards have been found to reduce speeds by four to 10 kilometres per hour.

The city also has a pilot project where it has reduced the posted speed limit on some roadways.

Both Rocca and Ramsay said the issues around speeding in Greater Sudbury are the same as in other cities.

"When I talk with my peers around the north or across the province as a whole, they share similar concerns that we share," Rocca said.

"They're seeing an uptick in speeding on residential roadways. They're seeing the similar types of collision numbers that we're seeing."

Adblock test (Why?)

Greater Sudbury sees 25% more collisions in 2022 than last year - CBC.ca
Read More

Dining out will cost more; rising inflation: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet - CBC.ca

Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace has rounded up the consumer and health news you need.

Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday.

Dining out will soon cost more

Restaurants across Canada are saying their prices will be upped by more than seven per cent by the end of the year — in a bid to keep profits sustainable and offset the rising cost of food.

An annual report released by Foodservices Facts says the war in Ukraine and high energy costs are contributing to the high cost of food restaurant owners are experiencing.

The report follows a tough year for restaurants, when nearly 10,000 permanently closed their doors between April 2021 and July 2022 — in B.C. alone.

Mark von Schellwitz, the vice-president of Western Canada for Restaurants Canada, says restaurants still have some "incredible hurdles to overcome" in recovering from the pandemic and inflation.

"You are talking [substantial] increases in our food costs. When you look at dairy, it's up nearly 20 per cent. Beef, 16 per cent. Cooking oil, 20 per cent. There's been a lot of inflationary pressure … and our natural gas costs have gone up by about 22 per cent as well."

Von Schellwitz says about 85 per cent of restaurants in Western Canada went into additional debt to keep their doors open during the pandemic, and with the current labour shortages, restaurants are still struggling to rehire staff; trying to attract employees with increased wages. Read more.

Rising costs have driven up prices at 2001 Pizza in Vancouver, which used to sell slices for less than a dollar. Now the cheapest are $3.50. (Rafferty Baker/CBC)

'Crypto King' has $2M worth of luxury cars, assets seized

Two McLarens, two BMWs and a Lamborghini make up just a few of the $2 million worth of assets seized from a 23-year-old from Whitby, Ont., as his investors try to recoup millions of dollars they handed over to the self-described "Crypto King."

But so far, Aiden Pleterski's assets fall far short of what his investors claim they're owed.

Pleterski and his company, AP Private Equity Ltd., allegedly owe $35 million to investors in his cryptocurrency and foreign exchange investments company.

Creditors are currently working to unravel where at least $35 million provided to Pleterski ended up.

Aiden Pleterski, a 23-year-old self-described 'Crypto King,' is facing allegations that he took at least $35 million from investors in Ontario, only for that money to disappear. (TechTimes)

Pleterski owned 11 vehicles, was leasing four other luxury cars, flew on private jets and was paying $45,000 a month to rent a lakefront mansion in Burlington, Ont.

Diane Moore invested $60,000 she had earmarked for her grandchildren's education after meeting Pleterski through someone, she says, she'd known for years. Now she's out $50,000.

"The whole thing was based on trust," Moore said. "What Aiden has done, I think, is awful — and I don't know how he can live with himself."

Investors questioned Pleterski at length in the first creditors meeting — which ran more than five hours — in late August, according to the meeting's minutes. When asked why he continued to invest money when he knew he couldn't repay, Pleterski told the meeting he "was a 20-something-year-old kid."

Pleterski didn't respond to requests for comment for this story. Read more.

Inflation is cooling, but prices won't be dropping — here's why

The annual inflation rate came in at seven per cent in August, down from the four-decade high we saw in June.

But even the most optimistic scenarios forecast prices will continue to climb, even as inflation comes back under control. "It's more that price increases will be slower rather than prices will be falling," said BMO's senior economist Benjamin Reitzes.

• Are you and your family feeling the impacts of inflation? Perhaps you can no longer afford the essentials you used to buy or notice you're getting a lot less for the same price. Marketplace is looking for families and individuals interested in sharing their stories. Email us at: marketplace@cbc.ca

"Some prices will probably pull back, like we've seen gasoline prices come down," he said. "But others are just at a new higher plateau and they'll just be rising at a slower pace and that's what slower inflation is."

Some of the biggest drivers of inflation like oil, shipping and the price of key grains are coming back down to earth, but the cost of food and services are continuing to push higher.

With another interest rate hike expected, some Canadians already pinched by higher prices could be further squeezed by increased debt payments. Read more.

While Canada's inflation rate cooled to seven per cent in August, it doesn't mean the prices of goods are coming down any time soon. (Shutterstock/Stefan Malloch)

Health-care system facing 'collapse,' CMA head warns

Dr. Alika Lafontaine, the new president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), is warning that without an injection of cash and a plan to increase the number of health-care professionals, Canada's health-care system will collapse.

He pointed out the recent emergency room closures in Ottawa, southwestern Ontario and Quebec, and lengthy wait times as examples of problems that are undermining the long-standing Canadian promise of timely access to care for all who need it.

"We've been saying for a while that we're concerned about collapse. And in some places, collapse has already happened," Lafontaine said.

"All of these things are not normal things for Canadians to experience so we are at a critical point right now. If you can't access services, that literally does mean collapse."

Lafontaine has a few suggestions, like changing from provincial-based physicians' licences to a national, streamlined process. 

"We need to rethink the idea that we can carry on with 13 separate health systems that don't collaborate with each other at a really deep level," he said.

And, of course, cash is king.

"We definitely do need more resources in the system to move forward. But what's important is where those resources go," he said, adding past federal efforts to specifically earmark money for mental health or home care for the elderly have been successful.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has suggested more money will flow to provincial coffers in the coming months — but he has said it won't be a blank cheque. Read more.

A sign indicating the estimated wait time at the emergency department of Toronto's Humber River Hospital is pictured on April 26. (Alex Lupul/CBC)

What else is going on?

There's a $16 million class-action case in Edmonton over a deadly E.coli outbreak.
One person died and 42 others became ill after eating tainted pork products in 2018.

Canada Jetlines is the newest airline to try to take on the giants. 
The self-described, value-focused leisure carrier only flies between Calgary and Toronto, for now, but has plans for expansion. 

U.S. company Otterbox is halting shipments to Quebec until they can beef up their français.
The move follows the introduction of the new law that, requires French-language "support across all sales and marketing touch points."

Marketplace needs your help

Think you've negotiated the best cellphone bill in Canada? Or maybe you have the highest cellphone bill in the country. Marketplace wants to hear your cellphone woes. Email us at: marketplace@cbc.ca

Catch up on past episodes of Marketplace on CBC Gem.

Adblock test (Why?)

Dining out will cost more; rising inflation: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet - CBC.ca
Read More

Clock ticking for Ukraine, Russia as winter approaching makes battle more complicated - Global News

The onset of autumnal weather, with rains making fields too muddy for tanks, is beginning to cloud Ukraine‘s efforts to take back more Russian-held territory before winter freezes the battlefields, a Washington-based think tank said Sunday.

Russia, meanwhile, pressed on with its call-up of hundreds of thousands of men to throw into the seven-month war, seeking to reverse its recent losses. Without control of the skies over Ukraine, Russia is also making increasing use of suicide drones, with more strikes reported Sunday in the Black Sea port city of Odesa.

The Russian mobilization — its first such call-up since World War II — is sparking protests in Russia, with fresh demonstrations Sunday. In Dagestan, one of Russia’s poorer regions in the North Caucasus, police fired warning shots to try to disperse more than 100 people who blocked a highway while protesting the call-up, Russian media reported.

Read more: Russia’s nuclear threats require world to stand strong with Ukraine: envoy

Read More

• Russia’s nuclear threats require world to stand strong with Ukraine: envoy

It is also opening splits in Europe about whether fighting-age Russian men fleeing in droves should be welcomed or turned away.

For Ukrainian and Russian military planners, the clock is ticking, with the approach of winter expected to make fighting more complicated. Already, rainy weather is bringing muddy conditions that are starting to limit the mobility of tanks and other heavy weaponry, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

But the think tank said Ukrainian forces are still gaining ground in their counteroffensive, launched in late August, that has spectacularly rolled back the Russian occupation across large areas of the northeast and which also prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new drive for reinforcements.

The partial mobilization has triggered an exodus of men seeking to avoid the draft — and sharp differences of opinion in Europe in recent days about how to deal with them.

Lithuania, a European Union member-country that borders Kaliningrad, a Russian Baltic Sea exclave, said it won’t grant them asylum. “Russians should stay and fight. Against Putin,” Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tweeted.

His counterpart in Latvia, also an EU member and bordering Russia, said the exodus poses “considerable security risks” for the 27-nation bloc and that those fleeing can’t be considered conscientious objectors against the invasion.

Many “were fine with killing Ukrainians, they did not protest then,” the Latvian foreign minister, Edgars Rinkevics, tweeted. He added that they have “plenty of countries outside EU to go.”

Trending Stories

• School board aware of possible protests over Oakville teacher’s attire as dress code under review

• Buckingham Palace reveals first public glimpse of queen’s final resting place

1:10 U.S. won’t recognize results of Russian referendums in occupied areas, White House says

U.S. won’t recognize results of Russian referendums in occupied areas, White House says

Finland also said it intends to “significantly restrict” entry to Russians entering the EU through its border with Russia. A Finnish opposition leader, Petteri Orpo, also said fleeing Russian military reservists are an “obvious” security risk and “we must put our national security first.”

Officials in other EU nations, however, say Europe has a duty to help, and fear that turning away Russians could play into Putin’s hands, feeding his narrative that the West has always hated Russians and that the war is being waged to safeguard their country against Western hostility.

“Closing our frontiers would fit neither with our values nor our interests,” a 40-strong group of senators in France said in a statement. They urged the EU to grant refugee status to Russians fleeing mobilization and said turning them away would be “a mistake by Europe in the war of communication and influence that is playing out.”

The mobilization is also running hand-in-hand with Kremlin-orchestrated votes in four occupied regions of Ukraine that could pave the way for their imminent annexation by Russia.

Ukraine and its Western allies say the referendums in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south and the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions have no legal force. The votes are set to wrap up Tuesday but are being dismissed in Ukraine and the West as a sham, with footage showing armed Russian troops going door to door to pressure Ukrainians into voting.

Ukraine’s Reintegration Ministry said Russia has brought people from Belarus, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, Syria, Togo, Uruguay and Venezuela to act as supposed outside observers. The ministry warned that they “will be punished,” without specifying how.

Read more: India stays neutral on Russia’s war on Ukraine, lays out plan for G 20 term at UN

In cities across Russia, police have arrested hundreds of protesters against the mobilization order. Women opposed to the call-up protested Sunday in the Siberian city of Yakutsk. Videos shared by local media showed a crowd of a few hundred people, mostly women, holding hands and marching in a circle around a group of police. Police later dragged some away or forced them into police vans. News website SakhaDay said the women chanted pacifist slogans and songs.

At least 2,000 people have been arrested in recent days for similar demonstrations around the country. Many of those taken away immediately received call-up summons.

Other Russians are reporting for duty. Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu have said the order applies to reservists who recently served or have special skills, but almost every man is considered a reservist until age 65 and Putin’s decree kept the door open for a broader call-up.

The Kremlin said its initial aim is to add about 300,000 troops to its forces in Ukraine, struggling with equipment losses, mounting casualties and weakening morale. The mobilization marks a sharp shift from Putin’s previous efforts to portray the war as a limited military operation that wouldn’t interfere with most Russians’ lives.

© 2022 The Canadian Press

Adblock test (Why?)

Clock ticking for Ukraine, Russia as winter approaching makes battle more complicated - Global News
Read More