An Ontario judge has rejected prosecutors' final attempt to have a text message sent by a former world junior hockey player admitted as evidence in the sexual assault trial of five of his ex-teammates. In the text, Brett Howden describes to another then-teammate seeing one of the accused, Dillon Dube, slap the complainant on the buttocks "so hard" that it looked like it hurt. Prosecutors sought to have it admitted as a principled exception to hearsay, a mechanism through which hearsay — statements made outside court that lawyers raise to try to prove their contents are true — can be admitt

Police in Edmonton say a motorcycle rider died while trying to pass a car on the city's western outskirts on Saturday evening. Police say the Harley-Davidson was travelling north on Winterburn Road, but while attempting to pass an Acura, the car slowed and made a left-hand turn. The motorcycle collided with the driver's side of the car, sending the 26-year-old and his bike into the northwest ditch. Police say speed is believed to have been a factor in the collision.

The driver of a B-M-W has died after police in Edmonton say the vehicle lost control and smashed into a tree. Police say it happened around 3:15 a-m yesterday on 142 Street near 90 Avenue. The driver was the only person in the vehicle and was declared dead at the scene. Police say speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will touch down in Ottawa today to kick off an historic royal tour. The trip marks the royals' first visit to Canada since the King's coronation two years ago. When they land this afternoon, the royals will travel to Lansdowne Park, a large events venue in the heart of the nation's capital, to meet with community members. The King and Queen will then head to Rideau Hall to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Governor General Mary Simon, who acts as the representative of the Crown in Canada. Carney has asked the King to read the speech from the throne on T

The Canada Revenue Agency is cutting up to 280 permanent employees in response to fiscal constraints. The workforce changes will impact branches across the CRA but the reductions will mainly impact employees in the National Capital Region. Commissioner Bob Hamilton and deputy commissioner Jean-François Fortin say in a message to staff today that executive positions are also being impacted by the reductions. The message says the CRA is taking steps to meet required government savings after examining its operating budget over the last two years. Earlier this month, the Union of Taxation Employe

Canada's new energy minister walked into the lion's den in Calgary and spoke to oil and gas executives about Ottawa's plans to turn the country into an energy superpower. Tim Hodgson told a Calgary Chamber of Commerce event that it's time for a reset and major projects need to get done in a more timely matter. He says the federal government will have a single body in charge of approving all major projects in two years. He says it's time for Canada and the energy sector to get some quick wins. The minister was planning to meet with his Alberta counterpart, Brian Jean, later in the day and sat

An Alberta man is facing charges after investigators allege he was involved in the livestreamed sexual assault of a toddler in Vietnam. The 55-year-old Edmonton man was arrested last week following an investigation by Canadian, American and Vietnamese law enforcement. The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams, or ALERT, says it relates to a video of a livestream depicting the sexual assault of a child between the ages of two and three. International authorities found the child and the offender in Vietnam and allege the Edmonton man remotely directed the abuse. He has been charged with se

Canada Post union calls for halt to overtime as deadline passes with no agreement The union representing about 55,000 Canada Post employees has called for a countrywide halt to overtime work, saying its negotiators will continue to review the latest contract offers from the mail carrier. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said late Thursday that members were being told to refuse any work beyond eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week. Canada Post issued its own statement in response to the overtime ban, saying there are no rotating strikes or national work stoppages as of now, and post

A late night stabbing incident occurred in Surrey’s Ocean Park area. Police said that at approximately 12:30 a.m., the victim approached a White Rock RCMP member in the area of 140 Street and 16 Avenue and reported that he had been attacked by unknown suspects near 128 Street and 16 Avenue. Police said the victim had a serious but non-life-threatening wound to his hand. However, he was taken to hospital for treatment. The attack is being investigated by the RCMP’s Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit. The victim’s identity has not been released at this time. Anyone with informati