Noon News Update for May 18th 2020

The Snowbirds were to perform an airshow over May Long Weekend / via Ian Gratton (CC BY-SA 2.0) — The Snowbirds were to perform an airshow over May Long Weekend / via Ian Gratton
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

NANAIMO—The death of a Canadian Snowbirds public affairs officer in a crash over Kamloops has cast a pall over a tour that was supposed to lift Canadian's spirits. Captain Jenn Casey, died after the Tudor Aircraft she was in crashed and burst into flames in the front yard of a house. She recently completed a Masters of Interisciplinary Studies at Royal Roads University. The jet's pilot was able to eject from the plane and land on a roof of a house near the crash site. Captain Richard MacDougall sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries. Witnesses say his jet was following another Snowbird when it veered upward, circled back toward the tarmac and spun into a nosedive. Some witnesses say they heard an explosion and saw two puffs of black smoke before it hit the ground. The aerobatic flying group was on the last leg of a cross country tour called "Operation Inspiration." It was meant to thank first responders and all Canadians for fighting COVID-19. The Snowbirds tour was supposed to fly over Nanaimo and Comox yesterday, after the Kamloops flight.

Provincial investigators are examining 24 potential cases of price gouging in BC. Last month, the Minister of Public Safety announced new powers for police, bylaw officers and other provincial inspectors to issue $2,000 dollar fines for violations of travel restrictions, health orders, along with price gouging and the reselling of medical supplies. Consumer Protection BC says it received more than 600 complaints about price gouging in the three weeks since. The overwhelming majority, more than 80 per cent, were unfounded. 19 complaints were resolved after voluntary compliance but fines are being considered in 24 other cases. So far, no fines have been levied.

The provincial health officer says she is pleased with what health inspectors are finding in random checks at food processing plants, despite recent outbreaks. Dr.Bonnie Henry says provincial Environmental Health Officers and federal food inspectors started what she calls "a blitz of inspections" after COVID-19 outbreaks at two lower mainland poultry processing plants last month. Henry says inspectors are reporting compliance, even in the case of a new outbreak last Friday, at a produce processing plant in Coquitlam. Three workers at The Oppenheimer Group plant have tested positive for COVID 19 so far. Henry notes that the plant has not been ordered closed because inspectors are satisfied all COVID-19 safety measures are in place and the health authority's contact tracing system has helped limit what could have been a large outbreak.

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Lisa Cordasco

Senior Reporter and News Director — Lisa is responsible for creating the station's first morning news current affairs show on CHLY. She is also deeply involved in training and mentoring student and citizen journalists who volunteer their time at the station. Before joining CHLY, Lisa spent 35 years in various roles at CBC Radio, from host to reporter. Her passion for journalism and radio has led her to Nanaimo, where she intends to provide CHLY listeners with news they can use, in an alternative radio environment. Her other not-so-secret passion is costuming for any occasion.

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