Human rights tribunal: Maskless shoppers’ rights not violated
Alberta NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley is calling on the provincial government to introduce mandatory vaccine passports and forced-masking for Albertans.
In a news release September 2, Notley said that a vaccine passport system and forced-masking was required to “protect people, protect hospitals and protect the provincial economy.”
“Alberta’s NDP is calling for the introduction of simple, secure and scannable vaccine passports that would be required for entry to non-essential busses and mass gathering settings across the province.”
“The passport would feature a QR code – unique to each Albertan – that can be easily scannable at airports, sporting arenas concert venues, businesses and other settings to provide required proof of vaccination.”
Notley said that her party’s proposal would be similar to that in Ontario, which bars people from entering many establishments – public and private – without first providing a government-issued vaccine passport.
Kenney and his government have been adamant that they will not impose vaccine passports however.
“We’ve been very clear from the beginning that we will not facilitate or accept vaccine passports,” Kenney told reporters at his annual Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast.
Airdrie-East UCP MLA Angela Pitt went so far as to say that she would put forward legislation barring discrimination against those who have not been vaccinated.
In an email to a constituent in August, the MLA wrote, “I have proposed that we put forth legislation that prohibits discrimination based on private, personal health records.”
The NDP’s proposal also called for forced-masking in “essential settings, such as grocery stories”.
The UCP government lifted its COVID-19 restrictions on July 1, with Kenney pledging never to return to them.
“This is an important milestone and a great achievement, but we will not stop here. We will keep administering first and second doses [of vaccines] as quickly as possible so we’re not just open for summer, but open for good.”
But in a Western Standard exclusive, UCP MLAs said that the governing caucus was meeting today to discuss the return of restrictions, including forced-masking.
Two MLAs that spoke with the Western Standard on condition of anonymity said that the Priorities & Implementation Cabinet Committee (PICC) met August 1 to discuss potential measures to combat rising COVID-19 cases.
According to one of the sources, Health Minister Tyler Shandro presented PICC with three options: maintain Alberta’s reopening plan with no restrictions, reimplement forced-masking mandates with voluntary social gathering restrictions, and reimplement forced-masking mandates with mandatory social gathering restrictions.
The information provided by the UCP MLAs is based on their first hand knowledge and not yet proven.
Both MLAs told the Western Standard that PICC was sharply divided on the path forward and decided to put the matter to the government caucus at a meeting September 2 between 10:00 am MST and 1:00 pm MST.
The MLAs say that the meeting will take place at Calgary’s McDougall Centre and near or at the Alberta Legislative Assembly, connected by video conferencing.
The reintroduction of mandatory COVID-19 restrictions would come with considerable controversy for the UCP government after Alberta Premier Jason Kenney declared the province “Open for Summer” before the Calgary Stampede. The premier announced on June 18 that all restrictions in Alberta would be lifted as of July 1st and “our lives will get back to normal.”
Kenney was adamant that the lifting of restrictions were not temporary, but permanent.
Since then, several municipalities have begun to reimpose restrictions on their own, with Edmonton City Council reimposing forced-masking on August 30.
Both MLAs that spoke with the Western Standard said that reimposing restrictions would constitute a broken promise from Jason Kenney and reignite opposition to his leadership and the party, especially in rural Alberta.
“It would be madness. Just pure madness to backtrack” said one of the MLAs. “If he [Kenney] does this, it the insurrection is back on.”
Shhh, even more media subsidies are now closely guarded secrets
The feds are keeping mum on who received tens of millions of dollars in media subsidies.
Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault’s department refused to name publishers awarded nearly $61 million in pre-election “emergency relief,” says Blacklock’s Reporter.
The grants were to ensure readers receive “timely information they require from their government,” Guilbeault wrote in a letter to MPs.
“These measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to both a robust, diverse and sustainable news ecosystem and ensuring Canadians can receive the timely information they require from their government,” Guilbeault wrote in a July 21 letter to the Commons Heritage Committee.
The letter disclosed unnamed publishers received $60.8 million as “emergency support” through an existing heritage department program called Aid To Publishers.
The grants were in addition to annual subsidies already paid, including proceeds from a $595 million media bailout approved by Parliament in 2018.
“This final component helps address some of the gaps that have been identified by the industry,” the department said in a statement.
Staff would not answer repeated requests for names of publishers and the amounts they received under the ad hoc program called Emergency Support For Cultural Industries.
“The abrupt, unanticipated and destabilizing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has served to exacerbate financial pressures on the industry at a time when access to reliable news is perhaps more important than ever,” wrote Guilbeault.
The grants were intended for magazine and weekly newspaper publishers.
“We remain committed to supporting the long-term vitality of the sector,” wrote Guilbeault.
Periodicals in Canada are already heavily subsidized. Bayard Presse Canada Inc. of Toronto, publisher of children’s magazines like Chickadee, received $1.35 million on April 1. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, publisher of Ontario Out Of Doors, received $568,703. OP Media Group Ltd. of Vancouver, publisher of Pacific Yachting magazine, received $251,999. The Halifax publisher of Frank Magazine was paid $109,594.
Other subsidies included $1,473,363 to the publisher of Reader’s Digest, a total $1,354,619 for The Western Producer of Saskatoon, a total $1,166,408 to Maclean’s magazine, a total $1,073,549 to Canadian House & Home and $1,007,018 to Chatelaine magazine.
An $817,081 grant was paid April 1 to Ontario Farmer. Subsidies worth $720,241 were given to Canadian Geographic magazine, and $570,794 to Toronto Life.
The Catholic Register received $503,475 in subsidies, separate from $346,369 given to The B.C. Catholic, a periodical published by the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Cottage Life received $407,457. Fashion magazine was awarded $379,662.
The Western Standard does not receive, nor does it seek, any government bailout money.
Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard
mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
Peoples Jewellers owner bought for US$1.4B in deal that could bring Kay Jewellers to Canada
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Share this Story: Peoples Jewellers owner bought for US$1.4B in deal that could bring Kay Jewellers to Canada
Peoples Jewellers owner bought for US$1.4B in deal that could bring Kay Jewellers to Canada Two of the U.S.' biggest diamond sellers — including the owner of Canada’s Peoples Jewellers and Mappins — have agreed to a multi-million dollar marriage of convenience
Article content Two of the U.S.’ biggest diamond sellers — including the owner of Canada’s Peoples Jewellers and Mappins — have agreed to a multi-million dollar marriage of convenience.
Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content Signet Jewelers Ltd.’s acquisition of Zale Corporation, a deal valued at US$1.4-billion including debt, is the latest sign of industry consolidation as chains and mom-and-pop shops increasingly battle online upstarts for customers. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Peoples Jewellers owner bought for US$1.4B in deal that could bring Kay Jewellers to Canada Back to video The top two U.S. mid-priced jewellers announced Wednesday they have entered into an agreement in which Signet will acquire all of its smaller rival’s issued and outstanding stock at US$21 in cash per share, a 41% premium over the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange a day earlier. With this acquisition Signet, the largest specialty retailer in the U.S. and the U.K., boosts its store locations from 1,900 to 3,600 and becomes the leading trinket retailer in Canada, said Mike Barnes, the chief executive and director of Signet Jewelers.
Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content “We are not only number one in the U.S. and the U.K.; this acquisition will also make our newly combined company number one in Canada as well and it will allow us to continue building a platform for potential future geographic expansion,” he said during a conference call Wednesday. Investors seemed to like the pairing as Zale stock rose more than 40% to close at $20.92 on the New York Stock Exchange — impressive given that it hovered as low as $3.80 last March. Signet’s stock rose 18% Wednesday. The combined company will generate approximately US$6-billion in sales and more than $700-million in EBITDA, and will have nearly 30,000 associates, Mr. Barnes said. With Signet’s jewellery brands Kay and Jared, which are leaders in the mid-priced and the upper-mid-priced segments, the addition of Zale’s equally mall-friendly brands “will help us maximize our midmarket success,” he said.
Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content The new company is also expected to see $100-million in synergies by the third year of operation, in large part due to stronger buying power and cost improvements, Signet executives said on the conference call. The Zale brand will operate as a separate standalone division within Signet, led by Zale’s chief executive Theo Killion. This acquisition, subject to shareholder approval, would cap what has been a tumultuous run over the years for Zale, and Peoples Jewellery. Peoples was founded in Toronto 1919 by the Gerstein family, which grew the business over the following decades into a chain of jewellery stores with as many as 280 locations by the 1980s. In 1986, Peoples teamed up with Switzerland’s Swarovski International to swing the junk-bond financed US$650-million purchase of Zale, which at the time was a firm more than five times its size. In 1989, the company later bought Gordon Jewelry Corp for US$311-million.
Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content But after recession hit in the early 1990s, combined with high interest payments, Zale was pushed to the brink, filing for bankruptcy in 1992. In 1993, Peoples followed it down. In an odd twist, by 1999, a stronger, financially-healthier Zale bought Peoples Jewellery for US$115-million. Many years later, consolidation in the jewellery industry at all price points continues, said David Wu, luxury goods analyst at Telsey Advisory Group in New York. Hamilton, Bermuda-based Signet had previously discussed buying Zale but those talks ended in 2006 after Zale’s board decided to stay independent, according to Bloomberg. After Zale saw slumping sales in recent years, it embarked on a multi-year restructuring which is “starting to bear fruit”, said Mr. Wu, drawing a suitor.
Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content Zale Corp.’s holiday sales results showed overall comparable store sales up 2%, with Zales’ branded stores up 4.4% and Peoples performing strongly at 2%. Mappins, however, saw sales drop more than 6%. In both Canada and the U.S., this sector of retail remains fragmented with independent retailers and mom-and-pop stores competing with the jewellery giants, but consolidation is increasing as chains look to benefit from economies of scale. “Consolidation has been happening, but at a very slow pace,” Mr. Wu. said. “This acquisition does speed up the pace.” The U.S. jewellery industry is also consolidating as stores face online challengers such as Blue Nile Inc., Ken Gassman, president of the Jewelry Industry Research Institute, told Bloomberg. Mr. Wu said the deal potentially allows to roll out its brands north of the border and providing Zale with access to “best in class” management. “It really gives Signet an entry way into the Canadian market,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Signet uses some of the real estate it currently has in Canada and potentially convert some of the underperforming Mappins stores into potentially a Kay store or a Jared store…. which I think would be very well-received.” With files from Bloomberg
Share this article in your social network
Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
The Logic In-depth reporting on the innovation economy from The Logic, brought to you in partnership with the Financial Post.
Financial Post Top Stories Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Financial Post Top Stories will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again