Good morning. This is Hanna Lee.
Today, we'll look into why Algoma Steel announced the layoffs of 1,000 workers, despite receiving half a million dollars in loan guarantees from the federal and provincial governments. Then, Donald Trump is pitching his own Obamacare: Trumpcare. And finally, studies are suggesting that new shots may be making infant RSV a relic of the past.
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THE LATEST
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- The Trump administration has paused all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries. The official policy came as the president publicly berated Somalis in the U.S., calling them "garbage" and saying "we don't want them in our country."
- NATO foreign ministers will gather at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels to discuss alliance priorities and security issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- Here's the inside story of the $13-million Mercedes linked to Ryan Wedding and seized by the FBI.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it won't let its staff do media interviews for fear they will be subject to harassment or death threats.
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Algoma Steel is cutting 1,000 jobs. So why did it receive millions from the government?
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(Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press)
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When Ottawa announced $400 million in loan guarantees to Ontario's Algoma Steel, it said it was acting to protect Canadian steel jobs. The Ontario government said it'd kick in $100 million. Just over two months later, Algoma Steel made its own announcement: it was laying off 1,000 workers.
What's happening: Some industry experts suggested that in spite of the layoffs, the funding was still going to an important leading-edge technology that will drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And it also comes as the company battles punishing U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian steel. "The company is experiencing cash flow problems as a result of the tariffs, but they've still got all these expenses they're trying to cover in the short term," said Colin Mang, of McMaster University.
An opposing view: Bill Slater, head of United Steelworkers Local 2724, said the loans should have been tied to job guarantees. Indeed, the $500 million in loan guarantees was in addition to $420 million the company received in 2021. Much of that funding was meant to help it buy equipment to phase out coal-fired plants and transition to electric-arc furnace production, a cleaner technology. The only issue is that it's more efficient, meaning it requires fewer people to maintain it.
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As millions of Americans face pricier health insurance, is 'Trumpcare' the solution?
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(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press)
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Health insurance may get a whole lot more expensive for millions of Americans. That could be a thorn in the side of affordability-minded Donald Trump.
What's happening: The point of tension comes from two conflicting fundamentals underpinning Trump's U.S. presidency. He's promised to make life more affordable for Americans, but he's also been determined to tear away at any such measures created by his two Democratic predecessors. That hits its peak with the Affordable Care Act, established under Barack Obama, meant to cover those who don't have employer-paid health insurance and don't qualify for Medicare or Medicaid.
Why the ACA?: Joe Biden introduced enhanced tax credits in 2021 that brought down ACA premiums for about 24 million people. Those are due to expire on Dec. 31, resulting in the average premium more than doubling, by one analysis. Millions of Americans have been left with the prospect of giving up their health insurance altogether. The hope is that the Republican-controlled Congress agrees to some kind of extension. Trump's idea? "Trumpcare." The details are scarce, but from how he's described it so far, it's poised to deal a crippling blow to the ACA.
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New data shows RSV shots prevent 'most dangerous' respiratory infection for newborns
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(Heiko Becker/Reuters)
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Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common but potentially dangerous infection for babies. But new treatments may mean it's a thing of the past.
What's happening: There are now multiple ways to prevent severe RSV in newborns, including monoclonal antibody shots. The virus has stubbornly remained a threat far longer than many other respiratory diseases. Recent data has been promising. In Quebec, for example, more than half of the usual RSV-related hospitalizations and ICU admissions were prevented last season, after its universal infant antibody shot program began.
What's next: Access and uptake remain varied across Canada, as provincial approaches to rolling out the shot have differed. Meanwhile, in Ontario, the most reported reason for not giving the shot to an infant was a parent or caregiver declining it. However, some research shows preventing the virus could save the health-care system tens of millions. Babies under six months made up nearly half the estimated $66 million average annual cost of RSV hospitalizations, one study found.
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IN LIGHTER NEWS
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Is it illegal to spoil Christmas? Police in Ontario get complaints about anti-Santa signs
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(Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
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