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im-in-charge-otoole-brushes-off-conservative-grassroots-vote-on-climate-change
CanadaMar 23, 2021

'I'm in charge': O'Toole brushes off Conservative grassroots vote on climate change

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says he's in charge. He's brushing off the idea that a weekend convention vote against a resolution that would have included the line "climate change is real" in the party's official policy document should colour opinions of his party. O'Toole is dismissing concerns that a vote by the party's grassroots on climate change should colour Canadians' opinion of his party. O'Toole says he and his caucus agree they need to take action to address climate change. Over the weekend, delegates to the Conservatives' policy convention voted against a resolution that would h
cases-of-covid-19-variants-on-the-rise-in-canada-fuelling-concerns-over-third-wave
CanadaMar 22, 2021

Cases of COVID-19 variants on the rise in Canada, fuelling concerns over third wave

Cases of COVID-19 variants are on the rise, with Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec reporting the highest numbers of the new, more contagious strains. Chief public health officer Doctor Theresa Tam says there have been more than 5,100 confirmed variant cases, the majority involving the strain first identified in the United Kingdom. The majority of those cases involve the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the United Kingdom, which Tam says is responsible for 638 of the 655 cases of variants confirmed since March 18. The growing number is prompting concerns of a third wave of the p
CanadaMar 22, 2021

Boushie's mother says RCMP watchdog report shows injustice in response to son's death

Debbie Baptiste says she was never going to let the RCMP's response to the 2016 shooting death of her son be swept under the rug. A police watchdog's report into the death of the 22 year old Indigenous man on a Saskatchewan farm determined officers treated Baptiste so insensitively when they notified her of his death that it amounted to discrimination. Colten Boushie died in August of 2016 when the SUV he was riding in went onto farmer Gerald Stanley's property near Biggar, Saskatchewan. A review of the RCMP response by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission found officers discriminat
beijing-silent-on-michael-kovrigs-trial
CanadaMar 22, 2021

Beijing silent on Michael Kovrig's trial

There is silence out of Beijing on what happened to Canadian Michael Kovrig when he was put on trial on spying charges. The day ended with no announcement about the status of the proceedings, which are being held behind closed doors. Canadian Embassy officials were barred from the courthouse, as they were on Friday for the trial of Michael Spavor. Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau says the government is deeply troubled by the total lack of transparency. He also thanked diplomats from 26 countries who turned up at the courthouse to show their solidarity with Canada. Marc Garneau on Twitter
government-is-putting-the-finishing-touches-on-an-agreement-that-will-see-the-us-send-1-5-million-doses-of-vaccine-to-canada-pm-trudeau
CanadaMar 19, 2021

Government is putting the finishing touches on an agreement that will see the US send 1.5 million doses of vaccine to Canada: PM Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is putting the finishing touches on an agreement that will see the US send 1.5 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada. The White House has confirmed the U-S will "loan" COVID-19 vaccine doses to Canada and Mexico. Counselor to the President and Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients says the vaccines will be the ones developed by AstraZeneca, which has not been approved for use in the US. Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the doses are expected to arrive by the end of the month. Trudeau also announced the Canadi
trudeau-denounces-lack-of-transparency-as-canadian-tried-in-china-on-spy-charges
CanadaMar 19, 2021

Trudeau denounces 'lack of transparency' as Canadian tried in China on spy charges

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced China's "lack of transparency" Friday following a brief trial for Michael Spavor, one of two Canadians detained by Beijing for more than two years. Canada said its consular officials were refused permission to attend the proceedings against Spavor, an entrepreneur with North Korea-related business, who is accused by China of stealing state secrets. Jim Nickel, the Canadian Embassy's deputy chief of mission, said he was told by Spavor's lawyer that the hearing ended at noon Friday after two hours. No verdict was announced. Nickel declined to give other d
trial-of-michael-spavor-in-china-ends-without-verdict
CanadaMar 19, 2021

Trial of Michael Spavor in China ends without verdict

A Chinese court says it will pronounce its sentence on detained Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor at a later date.Spavor's trial on charges of spying and illegally sending state secrets abroad lasted just two hours today and was conducted behind closed doors.Canadian consular officials were refused permission to attend. Ten diplomats from eight countries, including the US, Britain and Australia, stood on the street opposite the courthouse in Dandong, China.Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig is due to go on trial on Monday.The detention of the ``two Michaels'' is seen as retribution for
enough-doses-of-covid-19-should-arrive-in-the-country-so-that-every-adult-could-get-a-first-shot-before-canada-day-maj-gen-dany-fortin
CanadaMar 18, 2021

Enough doses of COVID-19 should arrive in the country so that every adult could get a first shot before Canada Day: Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin

Barring any issues, Major-General Dany Fortin says enough doses of COVID-19 should arrive in the country so that every adult could get a first shot before Canada Day. But due to the threat of vaccine production issues, the government's official line is that Canadians will be fully vaccinated by the end of September. And the calculations rely on the provinces continuing to delay second doses up to four months to get first doses to more people sooner. Health Canada anticipates a total of 36.5-million doses from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of Ind
irans-report-on-shootdown-of-flight-752-doesnt-explain-why-it-happened-tsb
CanadaMar 18, 2021

Iran's report on shootdown of Flight 752 doesn't explain why it happened: TSB

Transportation Safety Board chair Kathy Fox says Iran's civil aviation agency failed to answer key questions in its final report on the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet in January 2020. Kathy Fox says the final report on what happened to Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 fails to explain why the aircraft was shot down. Iran is blaming human error for the Revolutionary Guard firing two surface-to-air missiles at the jet shortly after it took off from Tehran. The TSB has questions about the missile operator's training, experience or proficiency. The final report from Iran's civil av

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CanadaSep 17, 2026

Canada Must Focus on Value-Added Products Instead of Raw Materials: EDC

Amid the federal government’s efforts to open up new markets, Export Development Canada (EDC) said in a report released Thursday that Canada needs to invest in processing raw materials domestically and turning them into higher-value products instead of exporting them in their raw form. EDC CEO Alison Nankivell said such investments could add nearly $100 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next decade. The report used yellow peas as an example. While exporting raw peas may generate about $30 per tonne, processing them into flour can raise the value to $300 per tonne. Turning them into products
16-arrested-in-abbotsford-retail-theft-operation-project-pumpkin-spice
BCSep 17, 2026

16 Arrested in Abbotsford Retail Theft Operation ‘Project Pumpkin Spice’

Abbotsford Police have arrested 16 people accused of shoplifting as part of Project Pumpkin Spice, a retail crime enforcement operation conducted on Sept. 11 as part of a nationwide campaign. According to police, 11 officers from the Abbotsford Police Department’s Street Outreach Response Team worked with 20 local businesses during the 10-hour operation. Sgt. Paul Walker said several of those arrested had previous criminal records and outstanding warrants. Police recovered more than $1,600 worth of stolen merchandise during the operation. A vehicle allegedly used in the offences was also sei
b-c-municipalities-urge-eby-to-hold-provincial-election-after-local-vote
BCSep 17, 2026

B.C. Municipalities Urge Eby to Hold Provincial Election After Local Vote

British Columbia’s political scene is heating up amid signals from Premier David Eby that an early provincial election could be called. Amid the uncertainty, Union of B.C. Municipalities president Cory Ramsay is calling for any potential mid-term provincial election to be held only after the municipal elections are completed. Ramsay noted that local elections are scheduled for Oct. 17, with campaigning beginning Sept. 19 across 188 communities. He warned that calling a provincial election during the municipal campaign could distract more than 3,500 local candidates and residents from key iss
police-take-major-action-in-burnaby-hospital-fire-case-after-six-year-investigation
BCSep 17, 2026

Police Take Major Action in Burnaby Hospital Fire Case After Six-Year Investigation

Police have charged a 29-year-old Alberta man in connection with a fire at Burnaby Hospital in 2020, following an investigation that lasted nearly six years. Burnaby RCMP said the B.C. Prosecution Service approved charges against Yu Yun Wang on September 8, including arson and endangering human life. The fire broke out on November 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the hospital’s mental health services wing. The blaze caused millions of dollars in damage, forced the emergency department to close and led to the evacuation of patients. Police said the suspect was identified in 2023 aft
AlbertaSep 17, 2026

Alberta Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Assaults on Vulnerable Women

An Alberta man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against vulnerable women at a rural property near Calgary. Richard Robert Mantha, 62, was convicted of six offences, including drugging one of his victims, in incidents that occurred between 2019 and 2023. He was also found guilty of uttering threats against another woman. The court heard that most of the victims worked in the sex trade. Justice Judith Shriar said Mantha showed “callous disrespect” when he laughed as one terrified victim fled his rural property, fearing for her life. Mantha received cre