Blair announces CFB Esquimalt military housing project, 480 single-occupancy rooms

ANTWERP, Belgium – Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the European Open tennis tournament with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) loss to Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday.

Auger-Aliassime fired 19 aces in the match, but struggled to stay consistent after a dominant first set.

Bautista Agut forced three errors from Auger Aliassime, including on the final two points, in the third-set tiebreaker to win the match in two hours 42 minutes.

The Spaniard evened his career record with Auger-Aliassime at 3-3.

Auger-Aliassime, seeded third in Antwerp, was coming off a three-set win over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on Wednesday that ended a four-match losing streak on the ATP Tour.

His record this season fell to 31-24.

While the world No. 21 has struggled on tour recently, he was perfect representing Canada in Davis Cup group stage play in September with three singles wins and a doubles victory.

Canada faces Germany in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Nov. 20 in Malaga, Spain. Auger-Aliassime withdrew from the team competition earlier this month and will be replaced by veteran Milos Raonic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

EDMONTON – Alberta is unveiling new regulations that will once again allow corporate and union donations in local elections.

The move by the United Conservative Party government reverses a ban brought in under the NDP.

The rules come under a bill that makes sweeping changes to municipal elections, which the province says will make them more transparent.

It passed debate in the legislature earlier this year and comes into effect later this month.

Alberta Municipalities has been a vocal critic of the changes, with president Tyler Gandam saying that opening the door to big donors puts local government’s “up for sale to the highest bidder.”

The legislation also allows local political parties and slates on the ballot beginning in 2025 — but only in the province’s two largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary.

Individuals, corporations or unions are capped at contributing $5,000 total to all local parties per jurisdiction per year.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

VANCOUVER – Environment Canada has issued several rainfall warnings for British Columbia, covering much of Vancouver Island and the coastal regions as the first atmospheric river of the season approaches.

It says heavy rain is expected to reach inland sections of the central coast that will intensify throughout the day before peaking this afternoon, bringing up to 70 millimetres.

The weather office says west and inland Vancouver Island will see rainfall amounts of about 100 millimetres, possibly more than 200 millimetres in mountainous terrain.

It says Metro Vancouver will also see up to 70 millimetres, and the Sea-to-Sky corridor may get up to 100 millimetres.

The atmospheric river will also roll over B.C.’s southern Interior with prolonged periods of heavy rain expected to persist through the weekend.

The expected rain has prompted flood watches by the River Forecast Centre for several rivers along the central and south coasts, Lower Fraser tributaries, waterways in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island.

Wind warnings have also been issued for exposed sections of Haida Gwaii, North and Central Coasts, and North Vancouver Island.

Environment Canada is also maintaining snow warnings along the B.C.-Yukon boundary that may bring up to 25 centimetres in some areas.

It says rapidly accumulating snow may make it difficult to drive, so it is asking travellers to be cautious while on the roads.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.