Here are the latest Canada News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops.
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TOP HEADLINES:
Sunwing issues apology after travel disruptions
Saskatchewan travel agents could lose thousands
Body found near Roxham Road crossing in Quebec
Scientists watch for COVID variants in plane waste
No charges a year after conversion therapy banned
IIHF prez optimistic about Hockey Canada’s future
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TOP NEWS STORIES:
Sunwing issues apology after travel disruptions
Sunwing-Apology
Sunwing has issued an apology to passengers left stranded after winter storms upended operations but says “most of our customers enjoyed their holidays with minimal disruption.” By Brett Bundale. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Saskatchewan travel agents could lose thousands
Sunwing-Flights-Sask
Kelly Klassen was driving to central Alberta with her family to visit her brother for the holidays when the emails started filling her inbox. By Colette Derworiz. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Body found near Roxham Road crossing in Quebec
Roxham-Road-Death
Montreal, , — A man’s body was found near an unofficial border crossing south of Montreal that is used by thousands of asylum seekers each year to cross into Canada from the United States, Quebec provincial police said Thursday. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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COVID test rules for Chinese flights take effect
Cda-China-COVID-Testing
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — Airline passengers leaving China, Hong Kong and Macau will have to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test when they enter Canada starting today. Wire: National. Photos: 1
See also:
Scientists watch for COVID variants in plane waste
Covid-Airplanes-Wastewater-Explainer
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — As Canadian public health officials question China’s transparency in sharing its COVID-19 surveillance information, scientists are stepping up airplane wastewater testing to try to get an early warning of potential new variants. By Nicole Ireland. Wire: Lifestyle.
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Family of Montreal man killed in jail seeks probe
Que-Inmate-Death
Montreal, Quebec, Canada — The family of a man who died after an altercation with guards at a Montreal jail while he was being unlawfully detained is demanding an inquiry. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Fundraising venues must be public: Elections Cda
Party-Fundraising
Ottawa, , — Elections Canada says registered political parties cannot avoid listing their cash-for-access event locations Wire: National. Photos: 1
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No charges a year after conversion therapy banned
Conversion-Therapy
Ottawa, , — Gemma Hickey says when they were in their teens, they went to a faith-based conversion therapy practitioner who had them pray and read literature to try to make them heterosexual. By David Fraser. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Will provinces keep up with demand for child care?
Child-Care
Ottawa, , — Nour Alideeb and her partner are trying to decide what to do with the hundreds of dollars they’re now saving on child care for their two-year-old son. By Nojoud Al Mallees. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Buyout of Jasper Park backcountry lodges welcomed
Jasper-Park-Buyouts
Environmental groups are welcoming Parks Canada’s buyout of two businesses in Jasper National Park’s Tonquin Valley, a scenic destination also used by vanishing caribou herds.
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N.B. man who killed three Mounties files appeal
NB-Record-Sentence-Appeal
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada — A New Brunswick man who fatally shot three Mounties in 2014 has applied to the province’s highest court to have his precedent-setting 75-year parole ineligibility period reduced to 25 years. Wire: Atlantic, National. Photos: 1
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N.S. chief notes ‘shock’ of Black woman’s arrest
NS-Racial-Stop
Halifax, , — Halifax’s police chief says he thinks a Black woman who was mistakenly surrounded by police cruisers and arrested late at night likely experienced a “shock.” Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 2
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Woman accused of faking deaths pleads not guilty
Sask-Missing-Woman-Child
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada — A woman accused of faking her death and that of her son before crossing the border into the United States has pleaded not guilty to the charges she faces in Canada. By Kelly Geraldine Malone. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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2 of 3 recent deaths in New Tecumseth homicides
Ont-Nottawasaga-Deaths
Ontario Provincial Police say two of three deaths following a house fire in the Town of New Tecumseth are now considered homicides. Wire: Ontario/Quebec.
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Three victims of fatal Hamilton fire identified
Ont-Hamilton-House-Fire
A Hamilton school says two students and their mother were among the four people who died in a house fire in the city last week. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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December home sales down 48% from last year: TRREB
Toronto-Home-Sales
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — The Greater Toronto Area capped off a tumultuous year with its ninth straight month of declining home prices and almost half the sales seen a year ago. By Tara Deschamps. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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CIBC agrees to settle overtime class-action case
CIBC-Overtime-Lawsuit
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — CIBC has agreed to pay a total of $153 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed more than a decade ago over the bank’s overtime policies, lawyers for the plaintiffs say. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Don’t neglect bonds for 2023, experts say
Money-Monitor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Bond portfolios took a beating in 2022 as interest rates climbed, but experts say investors shouldn’t neglect bonds this year as the Bank of Canada nears the end of its rate hike cycle. By Craig Wong. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Canada posts $41M trade deficit for November
StatCan-Trade
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Canada’s merchandise trade balance slipped into a small deficit in November as energy exports fell amid lower prices, Statistics Canada said Thursday. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Cosby doc spotlights role of community in healing
FILM-Case-Against-Cosby
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Though it may be called “The Case Against Cosby,” a new documentary soon to premiere on CBC TV focuses more on some of the women who came forward with allegations against the comedian — and what it takes for them to heal from lasting trauma. By Nicole Thompson. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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Hockey fans celebrate world junior championship
HKO-World-Juniors-Fans
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — Capping off a year that saw Hockey Canada mired in scandal over its handling of sexual assault allegations, the world junior hockey championship in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., opened last month under a cloud. By Lyndsay Armstrong. Wire: Atlantic, Sports. Photos: 1
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IIHF prez optimistic about Hockey Canada’s future
HKO-World-Juniors-IIHF
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif says Hockey Canada’s new board of directors should be given a chance to fix the scandal-plagued organization. By Joshua Clipperton. Wire: Sports. Photos: 1
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In The Rings: Plans underway for curling PA
CUR-In-The-Rings
A new quadrennial has done little to improve the often perplexing elite curling scene. A sport that still clings to amateur roots despite a growing shift to professional status seems stunted by a lack of unity among the various power brokers. By Gregory Strong. Wire: Sports. Photos: 1
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COMING LATER:
VANCOUVER — Renowned Hong Kong composer Joseph Koo has died in Vancouver. The Canadian Press will have a story.
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LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE STORIES:
The LJI is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is delivered on the CP wire in the “Y” or spare news category, or you can register to access it at https://lji-ijl.ca. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited by The Canadian Press. Please credit stories to the reporter, their media outlet and the Local Journalism Initiative. Questions should be directed to LJI supervising editor Amy Logan at amy.logan@thecanadianpress.com. Below is a sample of the dozens of stories moved daily:
Rally to be held in support of prisoners as Kingston-area guard faces trial
LJI-ON-RALLY-FOR-PRISONERS-NAPANEE
A demonstration is planned outside of Napanee Superior Court on Thursday morning as a correctional services officer faces trial for a 2012 assault. The inmate, Christophe Lewis, was finally able to retrieve video of the incident with help from legal counsel and community support in 2021. 700 words. Owen Fullerton/YGK News
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Winnipegger pounding the streets to try to identify ‘Buffalo Woman’
LJI-MBA-buffalo woman
For weeks, Darryl Contois has been out on the cold streets of Winnipeg working to put a face and a name to a woman police believe fell victim to an alleged serial killer, and hoping to bring some closure to a grieving family. 650 words. PHOTO. Dave Baxter/Winnipeg Sun
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Canada’s top CEOs make 243 times more than the average worker: report
LJI-ON-CANADAS-TOP-CEOS-MAKE-243-TIMES
The average pay of Canada’s top 100 CEOs hit an all-time high in 2021, making the wage gap between CEOs and workers bigger than it’s ever been, according to a new report. 850 words. Natasha Bulowski/Canada’s National Observer
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.
Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.
Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.
He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.
The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.
Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.
He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.
George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.
Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.
In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.
St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
ON DECK
Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
CALGARY – Mired in their first four-game losing skid in 20 years, the Calgary Stampeders are going back to Jake Maier at quarterback on Saturday after he was benched for a game.
It won’t be an easy assignment.
Visiting McMahon Stadium are the Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Alouettes (10-2) who own the CFL’s best record. The Stampeders (4-8) have fallen to last in the Western Conference.
“Six games is plenty of time, but also it is just six games,” said Maier. “We’ve got to be able to get on the right track.”
Calgary is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
“I do still believe in this team,” said Stampeders’ head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. “I want to see improvement, though. I want to see guys on a weekly basis elevating their game, and we haven’t been doing that.”
Maier is one of the guys under the microscope. Two weeks ago, the second-year starter threw four interceptions in a 35-20 home loss to the Edmonton Elks.
After his replacement, rookie Logan Bonner, threw five picks in last week’s 37-16 loss to the Elks in Edmonton, the football is back in Maier’s hands.
“Any time you fail or something doesn’t go your way in life, does it stink in the moment? Yeah. But then the days go on and you learn things about yourself and you learn how to prepare a little bit better,” said Maier. “It makes you mentally tougher.”
Dickenson wants to see his quarterback making better decisions with the football.
“Things are going to happen, interceptions will happen, but try to take calculated risks, rather than just putting the ball up there and hoping that we catch it,” said Dickenson.
A former quarterback himself, he knows the importance of that vital position.
“You cannot win without good quarterback play,” Dickenson said. “You’ve got to be able to make some plays — off-schedule plays, move-around plays, plays that break down, plays that aren’t designed perfectly, but somehow you found the right guy, and then those big throws where you’re taking that hit.”
But it’s going to take a team effort, and that includes the club’s receiving corp.
“We always have to band together because we need everything to go right for our receivers to get the ball,” said Nik Lewis, the Stampeders’ receivers coach. “The running back has to pick up the blitz, the o-line has to block, the quarterback has to make the right reads, and then give us a catchable ball.”
Lewis brings a unique perspective to this season’s frustrations as he was a 22-year-old rookie in Calgary in 2004 when the Stamps went 4-14 under coach Matt Dunigan. They turned it around the next season and haven’t missed the playoffs since.”
“Thinking back and just looking at it, there’s just got to be an ultimate belief that you can get it done. Look at Montreal, they were 6-7 last year and they’ve gone 18-2 since then,” said Lewis.
Montreal is also looking to rebound from a 37-23 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. But for head coach Jason Maas, he says his team’s mindset doesn’t change, regardless of what happened the previous week.
“Last year when we went through a four-game losing streak, you couldn’t tell if we were on a four-game winning streak or a four-game losing streak by the way the guys were in the building, the way we prepared, the type of work ethic we have,” said Maas. “All our standards are set, so that’s all we focus on.”
While they may have already clinched a playoff spot, Alouettes’ quarterback Cody Fajardo says this closing stretch remains critical because they want to finish the season strong, just like last year when they won their final five regular-season games before ultimately winning the Grey Cup.
“It doesn’t matter about what you do at the beginning of the year,” said Fajardo. “All that matters is how you end the year and how well you’re playing going into the playoffs so that’s what these games are about.”
The Alouettes’ are kicking off a three-game road stretch, one Fajardo looks forward to.
“You understand what kind of team you have when you play on the road because it’s us versus the world mentality and you can feel everybody against you,” said Fajardo. “Plus, I always tend to find more joy in silencing thousands of people than bringing thousands of people to their feet.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
