The number of medically-assisted deaths in Canada rose by more than 25 per cent in 2019 and made up two per cent of all Canadian deaths last year, Health Canada’s first annual report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada found.

Different rules

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for so many wrongdoings of late. He’s “sorry” about blackface; he’s “sorry” about SNC-Lavalin; he’s “sorry” about the conflict of interest with WE Charity — involving payments to three of his family members, exceeding a total of $300,000, in exchange for public relations appearances for the charity. This preceded Ottawa’s granting WE a nearly one-billion-dollar contract they then cancelled. Mr. Trudeau operates by different rules.

Call to action

Re: Migrant’s death hits community hard (June 28):

First, I am deeply grateful to Fr. Peter Ciallella who has tirelessly supported and advocated for the rights of foreign migrant workers in his community.

York Regional Police are investigating an act of vandalism to statues outside of St. Patrick’s Parish in Markham, Ont.

The Catholic Register continued a prosperous awards season on July 2, picking up four first-place awards among the 22 honours it received at the Catholic Press Association awards.

Well done, Knights

Kudos  to the Knights of Columbus of Holy Cross Parish in Burnaby, B.C., for going ahead with their bicycle drive, Bicycles for Humanity, despite three partners suddenly pulling out, citing differences of opinion on LGBTQ issues. The Knights collect donated bikes and ship them in large containers to Africa where the poor can use them as inexpensive modes of transportation.

The Catholic Register earned 14 awards June 26 at an online ceremony honouring excellence in Christian journalism in Canada.

It’s unclear exactly what Ontario classrooms are going to look like in the fall with the realities of COVID-19, but one certainty for school boards is an extra $736 million in funding from the province.