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Budget 2022: $500M in military aid to Ukraine, projects economic upheaval from war

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OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland referenced horrific allegations of Russian war crimes on Thursday as the federal Liberal government promised another $500 million in military aid as well as other financial assistance to Ukraine.

The promised new aid is contained in the Liberal government’s latest federal budget plan, which paints a gloomy picture for Canada’s economy should the war in Ukraine drag on, including even higher fuel prices and supply-chain problems.

Speaking in the House of Commons as she presented the budget plan, Freeland noted Canada and its allies have imposed severe sanctions against Moscow since the first Russian troops crossed into Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“But the mutilated people of Bucha, shot with their hands tied behind their backs, have shown us that is not enough,” Freeland added in reference to reports and images of Ukrainian civilians having been tortured and killed by Russian troops.

Freeland went on to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin and “his henchmen” of war crimes, and warned that the only way for Canada and other democracies to be safe is if “the Russian tyrant and his armies are entirely vanquished.”

“And that is what we’re counting on the brave people of Ukraine to do,” she said.

“Because they are fighting our fight — a fight for democracy — it is in our urgent national interest to ensure that they have the missiles and the money they need to win. And that is what this budget helps to provide.”

To that end, the budget commits $500 million in both lethal and non-lethal military aid this year, which is on top of the $90 million in anti-tank guns, sniper rifles, night-vision goggles, armoured vests and other military equipment already provided to Ukraine.

The promised new assistance follows assertions from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Anita Anand in recent weeks that Canada would send more weapons and other help to Ukraine.

However, it isn’t clear how the aid will be delivered. Trudeau and Anand have said they are looking at buying weapons on the open market, but a group of Ukrainian legislators asked Ottawa last week to provide money directly to Kyiv for the purpose.

Canada is also offering an additional $1 billion in loans to Kyiv through a special account managed by the International Monetary Fund to help the Ukrainian government weather the economic damage of the conflict, which has left whole cities in ruin.

Yet the budget plan suggests the Ukrainian economy isn’t the only one that has been affected by Russia’s invasion, and that the economic upheaval in Canada could get even worse if the war drags on.

In particular, the budget predicts “surging commodity prices, prolong supply-chain disruptions and more rapid monetary policy tightening” with a drawn-out conflict. “The result is weaker economic activity and temporarily stronger inflation,” it adds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2022.

 

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press

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RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

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EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

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RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

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VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

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