Minnesota Police Officer Arrested:
A police officer seen on video kneeling on a black man’s neck for eight minutes as he pleaded he couldn’t breathe has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The arrest of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd follows three nights of increasing violence in Minneapolis.
County Attorney Mike Freeman says the investigation is ongoing with regards to three other former officers involved in the arrest.
COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health is reporting seven new COVID-19 cases Friday, but no new deaths.
1,937 cases have been confirmed since the first case was reported in the Capital back in March. 240 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported.
Approximately 80 per cent of infected patients have recovered.
COVID-19 Ontario:
Ontario has 344 new confirmed cases Friday, and 41 more deaths.
That brings the provincial total to 27,210 cases, which is an increase of 1.3 per cent over Thursday. It includes 2,230 deaths and 20,983 cases that have been resolved.
Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford says that increased data coming from a new testing strategy unveiled Friday has prompted him to consider a regional approach to reopening.
Ford has been asked on multiple occasions about the idea and has said it wasn’t on the table, but now he says he’s asking health officials to show him what a regional approach would look like.
Two-thirds of Ontario’s cases are in the Greater Toronto Area.
COVID-19 Quebec:
Quebec is reporting 61 additional COVID-19 deaths Friday, bringing the provincial total to 4,363.
There were 530 new cases of the virus confirmed in the past 24 hours for a total of 50,232 since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, Quebec’s education department says a total of 41 students and teachers have tested positive since elementary schools outside the Montreal area opened on May 11.
More COVID Funding For First Nations:
The federal government is going to spend another $650,000,000 to help First Nations pay for supplies, medical care and services to deal with the pandemic.
That’s in addition to $305,000,000 previously announced.
Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says the threat of a second wave is very real, and Indigenous communities will be just as vulnerable to it as they were to the first outbreak.
Physical Distancing Circles Added to Mooney’s Bay Park Areas:
The City of Ottawa is following cities like New York, San Francisco, and Toronto, in making it easier for residents to practice physical distancing in a popular park.
The city has painted circles on the grass in park areas at Mooney’s Bay, to keep those looking to enjoy some fresh air a safe distance apart.
It’s not clear if a similar approach will be taken at other popular parks in the city.
NCC Extends Parkway Closure Pilot Project:
The Sir John A MacDonald and Sir George Etienne Cartier Parkway will remain an option for maintaining physical distancing while walking, running, or cycling.
The National Capital Commission has extended a pilot project that has seen stretches of both parkways closed to all but emergency vehicles on weekends between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.
The NCC is also asking those who have taken advantage of the closures to fill out a survey on its website.
Confederation Line Closure Starts Sunday:
A reminder that a full, temporary closure of the Confederation Line starts on Sunday.
The line will be shut down for maintenance, upgrades, and testing, re-opening on Thursday, June 4.
R1 replacement buses will serve all line one stations during the closure.