B.C.'s northernmost municipality hopes community ownership of forest can bring a community revival
(via CBC News)
No B.C. community has suffered larger decreases in property values this decade than Fort Nelson.
B.C.’s vaccination rate is too low to prevent diseases: officials
(via The Globe and Mail)
Certain pockets of British Columbia fall far short of the immunization coverage public health officials say ensures the best defence against serious diseases, and an outbreak across the border in Washington State should be a wake-up call.
Iceberg water theft took guts, stupidity according to Canadian Iceberg CEO
(via VOCM)
Canadian Iceberg, the company behind Iceberg Vodka says it was shocked after being hit by thieves who made away with 30,000 litres of iceberg water from their Port Union, NL, storage facility last weekend.
Sting performs at special event for Oshawa GM workers facing layoffs
(via CBC News)
Sting, 62, wrote The Last Ship's music and lyrics based on his own experiences growing up in an English shipbuilding town roiled by the collapse of its main industry. The former Police frontman stars in the production as a protest leader fighting to hold the community together by building one last ship.
Former UCP MLA goes to RCMP with mass voter fraud allegations in Kenney leadership race
(via National Post)
Former United Conservative Party MLA Prab Gill, who now sits as an independent, has asked the RCMP to investigate allegations of voter fraud in Jason Kenney’s 2017 UCP leadership victory.
Lottery winner in Jamaica claimed million-dollar prize wearing a 'Scream' mask
(via National Post)
Identified only as A. Campbell, he paid homage to the horror franchise Scream, which stars ... Neve Campbell.
Jill Abramson plagiarized my writing. So I interviewed her about it
(via Rolling Stone)
When journalist Jake Malooley talked to the former New York Times executive editor, she admitted only to minor mistakes — but her responses were revealing.
Ryan Adams dangled success. Women say they paid a price.
(via The New York Times)
Several women say singer-songwriter Ryan Adams offered to jumpstart their music careers, then pursued them sexually and in some cases retaliated when they spurned him. He denies the claims.
Trudeau faces critics inside and outside party as Wilson-Raybould scandal swirls
(via CTV News)
The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee say the situation is a step backwards in the walk towards reconciliation while National Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations says he is very concerned about the many unanswered questions around her departure from cabinet.
Mounties dial back warnings about dangers of fentanyl exposure for police
(via CBC News)
"Exposure to people handling the substance is not as high as we thought it was initially," Sgt. Luc Chicoine, the RCMP's national drug program co-ordinator, told CBC News.
Notley slams Kenney's minimum-wage cut proposals
(via Calgary Herald)
Premier Rachel Notley accused United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney on Tuesday of looking to make life harder for young minimum-wage workers and those in the service industry if he’s elected.
Saskatchewan carbon tax case heads to court — province argues it’s unconstitutional
(via Global News)
A panel of five judges is listening to arguments from both the Saskatchewan and federal governments as well as from 16 interveners on both sides of the dispute.
David Assman has cheeky response after being denied personalized licence plate
(via CTV News)
David Assman, pronounced Oss-man, wanted to put his last name on his licence plate. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) said no because it could be considered offensive when seen out of context. Assman added a decal to the back of his truck after SGI rejected his custom licence plate request
McGill University receives largest gift in Canadian history — $200M
(via Montreal Gazette)
John and Marcy McCall MacBain, who received scholarships during academic paths that helped pave their futures, give back in a big way.
Canada, the show
(via Maclean's Magazine)
Paul Wells: You thought this government was about family benefits and boil-water advisories? The Lavalin affair offers a glimpse of the real scene—maybe the real Canada.
Teenage journalists memorialize hundreds of gun-violence victims
(via Columbia Journalism Review)
The Trace trained and paid high-school reporters to research and write profiles of young gun-violence victims, using a dataset obtained from the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive. The project omits child and teen suicides, which total more than 900 in the past year.
Wilson-Raybould never raised concerns about handling of SNC-Lavalin case: Trudeau
(via iPolitics)
While repeatedly referring to his former minister as “Jody,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said her resignation is “not consistent” with conversations he had with her when he moved her from the attorney general post to veterans affairs minister in January, or more recently.
UBC introduces new policy after hockey player tweets about gender discrimination
(via CBC News)
Men given preferred evening games for playoffs, despite having a worse regular season record than women's team
RCMP says dismantled network laundered tens of millions in drug money
(via CTV News)
Supt. Martine Fontaine said the network used connections in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, the United States and China to launder money before returning it to drug-exporting countries, such as Colombia and Mexico. She said it had the capacity to handle tens of millions of dollars.
Ontario police free dozens of Mexican ‘modern day slaves'
(via The Globe and Mail)
The provincial police and the Barrie, Ont., city force said they launched an investigation into the alleged scam last year after receiving multiple tips from the public. They found that the alleged victims were lured to Canada believing they would be offered jobs and educational opportunities.
Ontario agrees to consider not taking over Toronto subway
(via The Globe and Mail )
For more than a year, the provincial Progressive Conservatives have pledged to take over ownership of the city’s subways, a controversial idea that they argue would let them amortize construction costs, allowing the quickest possible expansion of the system.
Gerry Rogers stepping down as NDP leader, not seeking re-election
(via CBC News)
Gerry Rogers said she will stay in the job until a new NDP leader can be selected, but will not be seeking re-election in a general election that is scheduled for this fall. She said she realizes this will put the party in a difficult position for the provincial election, adding, "I truly, truly regret that."
Netflix has saved every choice you’ve ever made in ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'
(via Motherboard)
A tech policy researcher used Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to request information about all of his choices from Netflix.
Jody Wilson-Raybould resigns from Trudeau cabinet amid SNC-Lavalin scandal
(via CTV News)
In her letter of resignation as Veterans Affairs Minister Wilson-Raybould said she has retained former Supreme Court judge Thomas Cromwell to provide advice about speaking publicly about the scandal, as she has been called on to do since the news broke last week.
Ethics commissioner to probe Prime Minister's Office over SNC-Lavalin scandal
(via CBC News)
The NDP asked Federal Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion to look into the matter after the Globe and Mail published a report last week that alleged the PMO wanted Wilson-Raybould to direct federal prosecutors to make a "deferred prosecution agreement" (DPA) — a deal akin to a plea bargain — to avoid taking SNC-Lavalin to trial on bribery and fraud charges.
Doug Ford fundraising letter accuses student unions of ‘crazy Marxist nonsense’
(via The Globe and Mail)
“The Student Choice Initiative isn’t about saving students money. It’s about breaking down the organizations that advocate for students’ interests. It’s unfortunate,” said Nour Alideeb, Ontario chair of the Canadian Federation of Students.
At least 5 Calgary schools locked down as police respond to swatting calls
(via Global News)
Police said the schools received various threats, including one suggesting there were explosives planted in the school. Another stated an armed person was coming to the school with the intention of carrying out a shooting of some kind.
RCMP arrest 19 in alleged international money laundering scheme
(via Global News)
The RCMP, working with the Canada Revenue Agency, began the probe dubbed “Collector” in 2016 and wrapped it up last spring before launching raids Monday at around 6 a.m. More than 300 RCMP officers in Ontario and Quebec took part in Monday’s operation, aided by officers from the Montreal, Laval and Toronto police forces.
Police seek public's help in ID'ing woman in video that shows her tossing chair off condo balcony
(via CBC News)
A video of a young woman throwing a chair off a balcony has led to online outrage over the possibility it caused an accident.
Playing probabilities: How data helped break a 35-year national championship drought
(via The Ubyssey)
Coach Kerry MacDonald brought something new to the UBC men's volleyball team: a winning formula.
Former finance minister, diplomat, university chancellor Michael Wilson dies
(via Ottawa Citizen)
Michael Wilson served for over a decade as the Progressive Conservative MP for the Toronto-area riding of Etobicoke Centre, including time as finance minister and minister of international trade under then prime minister Brian Mulroney.
Woman begins jail sentence for texting suicide conviction
(via Winnipeg Free Press)
Michelle Carter was sentenced to 15 months in jail in 2017 for her role in the death of Conrad Roy III, but the judge allowed her to remain free while she appealed in state court. Massachusetts' highest court upheld her conviction last week, saying her actions caused Roy's death.
B.C. legislature scandal: Exclusive first look at suspended officials' responses to Speaker's allegations
(via Vancouver Sun)
In detailed reports that deny any wrongdoing, the suspended clerk of the legislature, Craig James, and the suspended sergeant-at-arms, Gary Lenz, dismiss allegations that they misspent taxpayer money as inaccurate and unfair.
Canadian Diplomats Who Became Ill In Cuba Are Suing Ottawa
(via Huffington Post)
Global Affairs Canada acknowledges that nine adults and five children from diplomatic families have developed unusual illnesses.
$2 billion oil industry subsidy in the making as Trans Mountain files toll application
(via National Observer)
If the National Energy Board (NEB) approves the toll application Trans Mountain has filed with it, it will shift the burden for the roughly $3 billion Ottawa paid to buy the regulated assets onto Canadians, rather than into tolls charged to shippers where the recovery of these costs belongs.
Quebec City Muslim community ‘astonished and very upset’ by Alexandre Bissonnette’s sentence
(via Global News)
“I was disappointed and surprised,” said Aymen Derbali, who is now in a wheelchair after being hit by seven bullets the night of the shooting.
Jody Wilson-Raybould says she's bound by 'solicitor-client privilege,' won't comment on SNC-Lavalin scandal
(via CBC News)
"The easiest way out of this is just for the prime minister to say, 'Look Jody, there's some serious questions here and just tell the truth about our conversations and waive the privilege,'" Ottawa-based criminal lawyer Michael Spratt said in an interview.
Birth control for pigeons the latest strategy to reduce Vancouver SkyTrain delays
(via The Star Vancouver)
Studies have shown that the OvoControl feeder can reduce local pigeon populations by 50 to 90 per cent, according to TransLink. The feeders have been used successfully in other countries for over a decade, Dubois said, but only recently approved by Health Canada.
Minister Lisa MacLeod says she stands ‘unapologetically’ by autism funding changes
(via Global News)
On Wednesday, the government announced changes aimed at clearing a wait list of 23,000 children by, in part, giving funding for treatment directly to families instead of regional service providers.
Court rules out Hunter Valley coalmine on climate change grounds
(via The Guardian)
Judge rejects Rocky Hill mine near Gloucester, NSW, because of its impact on the town and ‘dire consequences’ of increasing emissions
Calls ramp up for decriminalized hard drugs as B.C. breaks overdose death annual record
(via Global News)
“Families and communities across the province are losing friends, neighbours and loved ones to illicit overdoses at an alarming rate,” B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said. “The illicit drug supply is unpredictable and unmanageable, and fentanyl is now implicated in 86 per cent of overdose deaths.”
B.C. group hopes commercial seal hunt gets green light
(via CBC News)
The Pacific Balance Pinnipeds Society (PBPS) has submitted the plan to Fisheries and Ocean Canada and the two parties will be discussing the fine details of how a hunt would work — things like harvesting, transport, processing and marketing.
Trudeau under fire over claim he pressured justice minister to intervene in SNC-Lavalin fraud case
(via CBC News)
Company facing charges of fraud and corruption in connection with payments to Libyan officials
Officer implicated in 2016 McArthur arrest says he’s being made ‘fall guy’ for Toronto police errors on serial killings
(via Toronto Star)
Sgt. Paul Gauthier is alleged to have conducted a negligent investigation into a 2016 report that McArthur attempted to strangle a man inside his van during a sexual encounter. McArthur was arrested, but let go with no charges.
Doug Ford's Ontario is proposing to stop tracking carbon pollution from the fuel sold by oil and gas companies
(via National Observer)
The government is looking to remove mandatory reporting and verification for the emissions from fuel sold by Ontario oil and gas companies — although the reporting of direct emissions would still be mandatory, including emissions produced by refining facilities and pipelines. Under these changes, industry would not have to report on emissions coming from "the consumption of the fuels they supply or distribute."
After outcry, Edmonton councillor won’t use public money to fund Executive MBA
(via Global News)
After posting about the MBA program Jan. 11, the Ward 3 councillor said Thursday he had decided to “voluntarily reimburse the City of Edmonton” for two-thirds of the program – about $45,000 – even though “no policies were violated.”
ATA cancels controversial guest scheduled to speak at Calgary Teachers’ Convention
(via Global News)
“After reviewing concerns shared about Andy Evans speaking at Calgary Teachers’ Convention, I have consulted with @CCTCA organizers and we will be cancelling AARC’s session. I sincerely regret the impact this has had on survivors, victims and their supporters,” the union’s president Greg Jeffery said in a tweet.
Police called to bingo game brawl at long-term care home
(via CTV News)
Provincial police say they were called after an argument over seating between a 79-year-old woman and 86-year-old woman escalated into a physical altercation.
Special needs students told to stay home, miss school
(via Times Colonist)
Advocates say students with disabilities in districts across B.C. are prevented from attending school full time — a problem they say has been going on for years.
Thief takes off with UBC engineering team's $5K electric bike project
(via CBC News)
"At this point, we would just like it back, no questions asked," said ThunderBikes captain Bhargav Thoom, a third-year mechanical engineering student. "We just want to continue to work on what we're passionate about."
UCP denounces racist letter sent to Edmonton mosque after party logo used
(via Edmonton Journal)
An anti-racism advocacy group is calling on the United Conservative Party to condemn Islamaphobia after an Edmonton mosque received a hateful letter that included the political party’s logo.
Top-secret committee to study foreign meddling, military use of Canadians' info
(via CTV News)
The high-level oversight body was created in 2017, and mirrors similar committees set up in the other "Five Eyes" alliance countries. Members include MPs and Senators, who must have the highest level, or “top secret” security clearance.
Potential guidelines for Student Choice Initiative revealed
(via The Varsity)
Documents outline essential versus non-essential fees, enforcement mechanisms, timeline for implementation.
Two people dead in shooting at popular Winnipeg restaurant
(via Global News)
Police were called to the popular late night hang out around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. “Shots came from inside the restaurant,” Const. Rob Carver told Global News. “We had a number of units respond.”
Police raid recreational pot stores on Mohawk land
(via Ottawa Citizen)
Police simultaneously descended on Wild Flower Cannabis Dispensary and AK420 with search warrants in the early afternoon on Tuesday. They seized quantities of cannabis buds, accessories, and even seized quantities of a cannabis resin known commonly as shatter.
Pope admits clerical abuse of nuns including sexual slavery
(via BBC News)
Pope Francis has admitted that clerics have sexually abused nuns, and in one case they were kept as sex slaves.
