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FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s new Liberal cabinet will be composed of 19 ministers, including premier-designate Susan Holt, who led her party to a convincing majority victory over the Progressive Conservatives in last month’s election.

Holt released the names of her new ministers on Friday, a day before her team will be sworn into office during a ceremony led by Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy at the legislature in Fredericton.

Aside from becoming premier, the bilingual Holt will also become minister of official languages.

“Our team is ready to get to work,” Holt said in a news release, adding that much of the hard work ahead of her government involves health care, housing, and education.

René Legacy, first elected in 2020 and who has held executive roles with financial co-operative Caisses populaires acadiennes — now called UNI — will become deputy premier and finance minister. Newly elected John Dornan, former head of Horizon Health Network, will serve in the health portfolio.

Rob McKee, member of the legislature since 2018 and a practising lawyer from Moncton, will be the new justice minister and attorney general. Newly elected Claire Johnson, a former professor, activist and spokesperson for homelessness, mental health and addictions, has been named education minister.

And Francine Landry, member for Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston, will become the first francophone female Speaker of the legislative assembly.

“This diverse mix of experienced and new legislators make up an extremely strong caucus and cabinet ready to serve New Brunswickers, focused on better health care, affordability and good government,” Holt said.

The Liberal Party won 31 of the 49-seat legislature on Oct. 21, tossing out a Progressive Conservative government that had held office since 2018. The Tories won 16 seats, and the Greens won two.

Holt, who is the province’s first female premier, is a former business advocate and public servant. A relative newcomer to the province’s political scene, Holt won the party’s leadership race in 2022 and was elected to the province’s legislature in an April 2023 byelection.

During the campaign, the Liberals made more than 100 promises, including rent control, increased access to health services, and more housing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

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EDMONTON – Alberta’s top court has dismissed a Crown appeal of the sentence handed to an Ontario truck driver convicted in the 2011 death of a woman found in an Edmonton hotel bathtub.

Cindy Gladue, a 36-year-old Métis and Cree woman, bled to death in the tub in 2011.

A jury found Bradley Barton not guilty in 2015 of first-degree murder, but the Alberta Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial.

He was then convicted of manslaughter and handed a 12 1/2-year sentence.

The Crown argued that sentence was “demonstrably unfit” and recommended 18 to 20 years, saying Gladue’s vulnerability as an Indigenous woman and the sexual nature of the offence should have been given more weight.

Three Appeal Court justices unanimously ruled the sentence was not so inadequate that it would justify interference.

“The panel recognizes that no sentence imposed will adequately address the pain inflicted on Ms. Gladue’s family and community,” the judges wrote in the decision published Friday.

“We recognize, too, that the legal proceedings have endured for more than a decade. With the disposition of this appeal, we hope that some measure of peace and healing can begin.”

In August, the Supreme Court declined to hear Barton’s appeal of his conviction.

Barton’s initial acquittal sparked rallies and calls for justice for Indigenous women across the country.

There was outrage because Gladue was repeatedly referred to as a “native” and a “prostitute” during the trial. Her vaginal tissue was also presented as evidence.

Court heard Barton, from Mississauga, Ont., hired Gladue for two nights of sex and she suffered a severe wound to her vagina.

Barton testified the sex was consensual and he was shocked when he woke the next morning to find her dead in the tub.

The Crown argued Barton performed a sex act on Gladue while she was passed out, causing the wound. Prosecutors said he dumped her in the tub and left her to bleed to death.

A jury in the second trial in 2021 convicted Barton of manslaughter.

Barton’s bid for a third trial was dismissed in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

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TORONTO – Magna International Inc. cut its guidance for its full year after seeing its sales decrease last quarter amid a global production slump of light vehicles.

In its outlook, the Ontario-based auto parts company said Friday it now expects total sales for 2024 between US$42.2 billion and US$43.2 billion, compared with earlier expectations for between US$42.5 billion and US$44.1 billion

The projections came as Magna, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, reported net income attributable to the company of US$484 million for its third quarter, up from US$394 million a year earlier.

It said the profit amounted to US$1.68 per diluted share for the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with US$1.37 per diluted share a year earlier.

But on an adjusted basis, Magna said it earned US$1.28 per diluted share, down from an adjusted profit of US$1.46 per diluted share a year earlier.

Sales for the quarter totalled US$10.28 billion, down from US$10.69 billion in the same quarter last year.

Magna chief executive Swamy Kotagiri said sales in the quarter were negatively affected by softer than anticipated light vehicle production in North America and Europe, in particular, amid a four per cent decrease globally.

While overall North American production fell six per cent in the quarter, production by Magna’s Detroit-based customers declined 12 per cent.

Light vehicle production in China also fell six per cent, while Europe saw a two per cent decrease.

The company said sales were also hurt by the end of production of certain programs, as well as divestitures, offset in part by the launch of new programs and customer price increases.

The company, which reduced its expectations for light vehicle production around the world, also said it now expects adjusted net income attributable to Magna of US$1.45 billion to US$1.55 billion for 2024, down from earlier guidance for between US$1.5 billion and US$1.7 billion.

“We are responding to the volatile operating environment and are focused on margin expansion, free cash flow generation and increasing return of capital,” Kotagiri told analysts on a conference call Friday to discuss its results.

Chief financial officer Patrick McCann also cautioned that the third quarter “does tend to be a low production period.”

Edward Jones analyst Jeff Windau said that despite constrained production hurting sales, primarily due to supply chain disruptions and labour strikes, Magna’s future growth opportunities look strong.

He highlighted the company’s products supporting the development of electric and autonomous vehicles, such as sensors and software that help Magna typically earn more money per vehicle “given the increased content of technology added.”

“While volatility could remain in the near term, we believe growth will resume as depleted car inventories will take time to be replaced,” Windau said in a note.

“Magna is a supplier to top auto manufacturers and should benefit from increasing production.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2024.

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