News
Canada News Media for Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
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Here are the latest Canada News stories from:
TOP HEADLINES:
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to retire in March
It’s not time to change Toronto leadership: Ford
Worst January for home sales since 2009: CREA
Trudeau departs for meeting of Caribbean leaders
Ford won’t say who sent $150 stag and doe invites
No public funds used for Hockey Canada settlements
Priestman talks about turmoil in Canada camp
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NEW TOP STORIES SINCE THE LAST ADVISORY:
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to retire in March
RCMP-Lucki
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said Wednesday she has made the difficult decision to retire from the national police force next month. By Jim Bronskill. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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No public funds used for Hockey Canada settlements
HKO-Hockey-Canada-Audit
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — An audit commissioned by the federal government has found that Hockey Canada did not use public funds to settle sexual assault cases or pay for related legal fees. Wire: Sports, National. Photos: 1
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Quebec wants to hear QMJHL boss on abuse
HKO-Que-Junior-Abuse
Québec, Quebec, Canada — Premier François Legault says he expects Quebec Major Junior Hockey League officials will appear before a legislature committee over disturbing revelations of sexual assault and torture suffered by teenage hockey players. Wire: Sports, National. Photos: 1
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Roxham Road migrants being sent outside Quebec
Que-Roxham-Road
Montreal, Quebec, Canada — The Quebec government is welcoming a federal government move to send most of the asylum seekers who enter Canada through an irregular crossing in southern Quebec outside the province. By Jacob Serebrin. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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More engagement needed on assisted dying: report
Assisted-Dying
Ottawa, , — A parliamentary committee has made 23 recommendations on how to improve Canada’s assisted-dying regime. Wire: National.
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Crown admits Bourque sentence should be reduced
NB-Record-Sentence-Appeal
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada — Crown prosecutors say they recognize that a New Brunswick man who fatally shot three Mounties eight years ago may be eligible for parole in 25 years. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Canada faces fresh pressure on military spending
Cda-Nato
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — The head of the NATO military alliance threatened to raise the heat on Canada and other laggards on Wednesday as he called on member countries to adopt hard targets when it comes to military spending. By Lee Berthiaume. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Feds announce plans for Black justice strategy
Justice-Strategy
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Canada’s long-awaited Black justice strategy will be developed by a committee of community leaders. By David Fraser. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Man convicted in brutal murder gets day parole
Sask-Parole-Decision
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada — The family of a woman brutally murdered in Saskatoon more than 20 years ago say they are devastated the man convicted in her death has received day parole. Wire: National.
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Alberta NDP pitch health teams to reduce waits
Alta-NDP-Health
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, , — Alberta’s Opposition NDP is promising more access to a family doctor by creating health teams. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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B.C. expands old-growth logging deferrals
Old-Growth-BC
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada — The British Columbia government says it’s expanding the logging deferral of old-growth forests to 2.1 million hectares, while bringing in new innovations to better care for forests. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Quebec police dog couldn’t get fix on missing kids
Que-Girls-Killed-Inquest
Québec, Quebec, Canada — A provincial police dog handler who arrived at the scene of a car crash involving two young Quebec girls and their father in July 2020 says he had difficulty doing his job because the scene had been contaminated by first responders who’d already been searching. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Orca takes flight off Vancouver’s Stanley Park
Orcas-BC
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — A B.C. wildlife photographer looking for birds off the shores of Vancouver’s Stanley Park has instead captured an unforgettable image of a different animal in flight — an orca leaping from Burrard Inlet. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Snow geese killed on Richmond, B.C., roads
Geese-Dead-BC
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada — Migratory birds have become a traffic hazard in Richmond, B.C., and RCMP are warning drivers to take precautions. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Average rent up 10.7% since last year: report
Rental-Rates-Report
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — A new report says the average listed rent for all property types in Canada jumped by 10.7 per cent year-over-year in January, the ninth straight month of double-digit increases. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Shopify reports $623.6 million net loss in Q4
Shopify-Rslts
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Shopify Inc. recorded a loss of US$623.6 million in its most recent quarter as revenue increased by 26 per cent since last year. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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PREVIOUS TOP NEWS STORIES (UPDATED):
It’s not time to change Toronto leadership: Ford
Ont-Toronto-Mayor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — It would be a “disaster” for Toronto if Mayor John Tory followed through on his plan to resign and a “lefty” succeeded him, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday as he voiced support for the now scandal-plagued leader of the city. By Jordan Omstead and Sharif Hassan. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Worst January for home sales since 2009: CREA
CDA-Home-Sales
Home sales in Canada posted their worst start to the year since 2009 as January sales fell 37.1 per cent compared with the start of 2022 and prices continued to fall, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Wednesday.
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Trudeau departs for meeting of Caribbean leaders
Trudeau-Bahamas
Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has arrived in the Bahamas where members of the Caribbean Community are gathering to discuss regional issues, including the deepening crisis in Haiti. By Marie-Danielle Smith. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Ford won’t say who sent $150 stag and doe invites
Ont-Ford-Stag
Brampton, Ontario, Canada — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is not divulging details of who sent invitations – including to developers – for his daughter’s $150-a-ticket stag and doe party, saying only that “the boys took care of that” when asked about the money that was raised. Wire: Ontario/Quebec.
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Priestman talks about turmoil in Canada camp
SOC-SheBelieves-Canada
Orlando, Florida, United States — Canada coach Bev Priestman, caught in the middle of a bitter labour dispute between Canada Soccer and its players, found herself talking about her future with the program Wednesday. By Neil Davidson. Wire: Sports. Photos: 1
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N.B. man loses family in Turkey earthquake
Cda-Turkey-Earthquake-NB
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada — Ahmed Hallaq’s mother was attending to her morning prayers in the family’s apartment in central Turkey last week when she saw the ceiling lamps start to sway. By Hina Alam. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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Feds expected to announce Black justice strategy
Justice-Strategy
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Justice Minister David Lametti’s office says he will announce today that the long-awaited Black justice strategy will be developed by a committee of community leaders. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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New liquor bottle labels a good idea: Bennett
Alcohol-Labels
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett says Canadians deserve to know how much alcohol is in a standard-sized drink, but she is not committing to mandate that companies put that information on their labels. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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3 international students killed in Toronto crash
Ont-International-Students-Crash
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — A Bangladeshi community organization is mourning the deaths of three international students killed in a highway crash in Toronto and is warning others to be aware that road conditions in Canada might differ from what they’re used to. By Fakiha Baig. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Why does the government keep deleting tweets?
Deleted-Tweets
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — When it comes to government information, there is no shortage of sensitive matters. As it turns out, a “fun fact” about ocean critters is on the list. By Stephanie Taylor. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Liberal MP concerned with language bill changes
Official-Languages
Ottawa, , — A Liberal member of Parliament says it would be difficult to support his government’s official languages bill because of changes the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois have made to it, which he believes could reduce English services in Quebec. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Uber launches audio recording feature in Canada
Uber-Audio
Uber Technologies Inc. is introducing a new feature in Canada today that gives riders and drivers the ability to record audio of their trips.
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Feds tighten research security policy
Research-Security
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — The federal government says it is tightening its policy on bankrolling research with foreign entities that might pose a risk to national security. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Percentage of newcomers becoming citizens declines
StatCan-Permanent-Residents
StatCan numbers reveal the percentage of permanent residents who become Canadians has plummeted over the past 20 years. By Christian Collington. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Mi’kmaq regalia to be repatriated to Nova Scotia
Mi’kmaq-Regalia-Returns
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — Mi’kmaq regalia kept in an Australian museum for more than 130 years will finally be returned to Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia. Wire: Atlantic.
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Dina Pugliese is leaving BT after 16 years
TV-Bt-Dina-Pugliese
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Breakfast Television co-host Dina Pugliese says she is leaving the show after 16 years in part due to the gruelling, early morning hours of the job. By Noel Ransome. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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Accused N.S. murderer motivated by greed: Crown
NS-Sandeson-Trial
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — A Crown prosecutor says William Sandeson was motivated by greed when the former medical student carried out a plan to kill another student during a drug deal. Wire: Atlantic.
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Date set for provincial byelection in Hamilton
Ont-Byelection
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called a byelection for next month to fill the Hamilton seat left vacant by former NDP leader Andrea Horwath. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Magna announces Ontario expansion, new facility
Ont-Magna
Brampton, Ontario, Canada — Magna is announcing it is putting more than $470 million into bolstering its Ontario operations, including an electric vehicle battery enclosure facility northwest of Toronto. Wire: Ontario/Quebec, Business.
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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:
Downtown East Side fills shoulder to shoulder in memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people
LJI-BC-memorial-walk
Tuesday marked the 32nd year that the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside flooded with remembrance of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse peoples. Families from First Nations across Canada came to commemorate their missing and murdered loved ones. 750 words. PHOTO. Alexandra Mehl/Ha-Shilth-Sa
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Lawsuit alleges Manitoba inmate died after lashing out over racist joke, treatment
LJI-Man-Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed last week alleges multiple correctional officers at a Manitoba prison swarmed and attacked an Indigenous inmate until he was unconscious, and later died from his injuries, after he grew angry and lashed out because of a racist joke directed to him by one officer, and because of ongoing racist treatment. 700 words. Dave Baxter/Winnipeg Sun
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FROM AP:
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ONLY ON AP
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RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR-AP POLL — Support among the American public for providing Ukraine weaponry and direct economic assistance has softened as the Russian invasion nears a grim one-year milestone. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has 48% saying they favor the U.S. providing weapons to Ukraine. That’s down from 60% in May 2022. By Aamer Madhani and Emily Swanson. SENT: 1,130 words, photos.
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NEW
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Adds: OBIT-RAQUEL WELCH, GAETZ-INVESTIGATION, BUDGET-OUTLOOK, BIDEN-ELECTRIC VEHICLES, SEA TURTLE RELEASE, SOC-FRANCE-LE GRAET, MARSHALL-PLANE CRASH-RECOGNITION, MURDAUGH KILLINGS, MICHIGAN STATE SHOOTING, ISRAEL-PRISONER DEPORTATIONS, BKC-NEW MEXICO STATE-TURMOIL, DEATH IN POLICE CUSTODY—COLORADO, INDIANAPOLIS-OFFICER SUED
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TOP STORIES
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BUFFALO SUPERMARKET SHOOTING — A white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket was sentenced to life in prison without parole after relatives of his victims confronted him with the pain and rage caused by his racist attack. Anger briefly turned physical at Payton Gendron’s sentencing when he was charged by a man in the audience who was quickly restrained. By Carolyn Thompson. SENT: 930 words, photos, video.
BIDEN-EMPATHY — President Joe Biden often frames his public words and policies as aimed at easing the struggles of everyday Americans, speaking often of parents who strive to pay the bills and provide stability for their children. But a majority of voters believe he doesn’t care about people like them, nor do they trust his ability to manage a sprawling federal government that often moves at a sluggish pace. By Josh Boak. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-ECONOMIC IMPACT — One year after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the global economy is still enduring the consequences — crunched supplies of grain, fertilizer and energy along with more inflation and economic uncertainty in a world already contending with too much of both. By Business Writers Paul Wiseman and David McHugh. SENT: 1,240 words, photos.
REL-SERMONS-CHATGPT — Among sermon writers, there is fascination – and unease – over the fast-expanding abilities of artificial intelligence chatbots. For now, the consensus is this: Yes, they can write a passably competent sermon. But no, they can’t replicate the passion of actual preaching. By David Crary. SENT: 1,020 words, photos.
MED-OPIOID-CRISIS-NALOXONE — The overdose-reversing drug naloxone should be made available over the counter to aid the national response to the opioid crisis, U.S. health advisers said Wednesday. The nasal spray version, Narcan, is already available without a prescription in all 50 states. But switching it to over-the-counter status would allow it to be sold in vending machines, supermarkets and other locations. By Matthew Perrone. SENT: 850 words, photos.
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MORE ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
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RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR — Russian forces claimed some battlefield success as Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine labored to gain momentum almost a year after it began, while Ukraine said it needs another few months to stage its own offensive. The Russian Defense Ministry said its troops broke through two Ukrainian defensive lines in the eastern Luhansk region and pushed back Ukrainian troops some three kilometers (two miles), forcing them to leave behind equipment and bodies. SENT: 870 words, photos. WITH: RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR-EU SANCTIONS — EU seeks new Russia sanctions package, targets Iran’s drones. SENT: 295 words, photos.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-OLYMPICS — The presidents of the Ukrainian and Russian Olympic committees were once teammates at the 1992 Barcelona Games and won gold in fencing. With Russia at war with Ukraine, Vadym Guttsait tells the AP he wants nothing to do with his Russian counterpart. SENT: 840 words, photos.
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TRENDING
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OBIT-RAQUEL WELCH — Raquel Welch, whose emergence from the sea in a skimpy, furry bikini in the film “One Million Years B.C.” would propel her to international sex symbol status throughout the 1960s and ’70s, has died. She was 82. Welch died early Wednesday after a brief illness, according to her agent, Stephen LaManna of the talent agency Innovative Artists. SENT: 610 words, photos.
AUSTRIA-JANE FONDA-OPERA BALL — Jane Fonda said she accepted an Austrian building tycoon’s invitation to attend the Vienna Opera Ball because he offered to “pay me quite a bit of money.” SENT: 265 words, photos.
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILL-ARIZONA — Arizona officials anticipate “an extended closure” of a key highway through the state, a day after a deadly crash caused a hazardous material leak and forced evacuations. SENT: 585 words, photos.
TITANIC-RARE FOOTAGE — Never before publicly seen video of the 1986 dive through the wreckage of the Titanic will be released by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The more than 80 minutes of footage on the institution’s YouTube channel chronicles the remarkable achievements of the dive led by Robert Ballard. Ballard said Wednesday that he was struck by the sheer size of the vessel, as well as the shoes of those who perished. SENT: 790 words, photos, video. Unseen video set for release at 7:30 p.m. ET.
PERU-MACHU PICCHU — Peru’s culture ministry has announced that Machu Picchu, the Inca-era stone citadel nestled in its southeastern jungle, reopened after being closed nearly a month ago amid antigovernment protests. SENT: 185 words, photo.
UNIVERSAL-WAGE-HIKE — Universal Orlando plans to raise its starting hourly minimum wage by $2 to $17, becoming the wage leader among major theme parks in central Florida. SENT: 385 words, photo.
BKN-JORDAN-GIFT — Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan celebrated his 60th birthday Friday by making a $10 million donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. SENT: 205 words, photo.
BKN-ALL-STAR-ENTERTAINERS — Utah native and Grammy nominee Jewel, along with Post Malone and actor Vin Diesel, will be among the performers at this weekend’s NBA All-Star events in Salt Lake City. SENT: 220 words, photos.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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ELECTION 2024-HALEY — Republican Nikki Haley formally launched her 2024 presidential campaign, betting that her boundary-breaking career as a woman and person of color who governed in the heart of the South before representing the U.S. on the world stage can overcome entrenched support for her onetime boss, former President Donald Trump. SENT: 1,085 words, photos, video, audio. WITH: ELECTION 2024-HALEY-WHAT TO KNOW — What to know about Nikki Haley as she launches her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. SENT: 800 words, photos.
GAETZ-INVESTIGATION — Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Republican firebrand known for his strong support of former President Donald Trump, said Wednesday that the Justice Department has ended a sex trafficking case with no charges against him. SENT: 450 words, photo.
IRS-WERFEL — President Biden’s nominee to lead the Internal Revenue Service, Daniel Werfel, says that, if confirmed, he will commit to not increasing tax audits on businesses and households making less than $400,000 per year. SENT: 700 words, photos.
BIDEN — President Joe Biden on Wednesday said Republican policies would blow up the national debt by $3 trillion over 10 years, taking aim at GOP lawmakers who say their priority is a balancing the federal budget. SENT: 760 words, photos. WITH: BIDEN-ELECTRIC-VEHICLES — White House: Tesla to make some EV chargers available to all. SENT: 565 words, photos.
ELECTION 2024-PENCE — Former Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday he will challenge a subpoena by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election and will go all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. SENT: 360 words, photos.
HOMELESS-NATION’S CAPITAL — National Park Service employee sweep through a large homeless encampment three blocks from the White House, disposing of about 50 tents and warning people that those who resist are subject to arrest. The homeless and their advocates say the district hasn’t done enough to help them find housing. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 4 p.m.
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NATIONAL
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MICHIGAN STATE SHOOTING — When the texts began coming in about a shooter at Michigan State University, students ran. They found a place to hide. They locked and barricaded the doors. They turned out the lights. They are part of a generation that has grown up with active shooter drills. SENT: 550 words, photos.
POLICE-EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS-OREGON — Oregon lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require police officers to have at least two years of post-secondary education, amid a nationwide debate about the qualification and recruitment of officers following Tyre Nichols’ death. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.
RELIEF FUNDS-MEDICAL DEBT — An increasing number of U.S. local governmentsare developing plans to spend federal coronavirus pandemic relief funds to eliminate residents’ medical debt. SENT: 840 words, photos.
TRAIN DERAILMENT-OHIO — The Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment and the intentional burning of some of the hazardous chemicals on board has invited affected residents to a town hall meeting to discuss lingering questions. SENT: 400 words, photos.
AUSTIN-POWER-OUTAGES — Austin’s city manager was fired in the wake of outrage in the Texas capital over a slow and fumbled response to a winter storm power outage that left thousands of people without electricity for a week or longer. SENT: 450 words, photo.
MURDAUGH KILLINGS — In an interview two months after Alex Murdaugh’s wife and son were killed, investigators zeroed in on inconsistencies in what Murdaugh told authorities about their deaths, according to the videotaped discussion played Wednesday at the disgraced South Carolina attorney’s double murder trial. SENT: 700 words, photos.
DEATH IN POLICE CUSTODY—COLORADO — The death of a man who was handcuffed after a mental health team responded to a call of him walking out into traffic last year has been ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday by lawyers for his family. SENT: 450 words.
INDIANAPOLIS-OFFICER SUED — A Black man is suing the city of Indianapolis, its police department and an officer who arrested him in 2021, alleging that the officer kicked him in the face while he was handcuffed. SENT: 400 words.
SEA TURTLE RELEASE — A loggerhead sea turtle named Rocky paused briefly on the sand Wednesday morning before slowly crawling into the Atlantic Ocean after spending six weeks rehabbing at Florida’s Loggerhead Marinelife Center. SENT: video, photos, 250 words.
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INTERNATIONAL
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ISRAEL-PRISONER DEPORTATIONS — Israel’s parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a law to strip Arabs convicted in nationalistic attacks of their Israeli citizenship or residency and deport them if they have accepted Palestinian Authority stipends. SENT: 600 words, photo.
BRITAIN-SCOTLAND-STURGEON — Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said she plans to step down after more than eight years in office, amid criticism of her drive to expand transgender rights and her strategy for achieving independence from the United Kingdom. SENT: 765 words, photos.
NORTH KOREA-KIM’S DAUGHTER — South Korea said that it’s still premature to determine whether the recently unveiled daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is being groomed as her father’s successor. SENT: 760 words, photos.
FRANCE PENSION-TENSION — Sparks are flying over French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age — not just in the streets, but in parliament too. The proposed pension reforms have unleashed the most turbulent debate in years in the National Assembly, with uncertainty looming over the final outcome. SENT: 795 words, photos.
INDIA-BBC — India’s tax officials searched BBC offices in India for a second straight day and questioned staff about the organization’s business operations in the country, staff members said. SENT: 820 words, photos.
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HEALTH & SCIENCE
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SCI-DOOMSDAY-GLACIER-MELT — A pencil-shaped robot is giving scientists their first look at the forces eating away at the Thwaites glacier in Antarctica. The glacier is nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier because it has such massive melt and sea rise potential. SENT: 905 words, photos.
ALBANIA-NEW AIRPORT-ECOSYSTEM — Environmentalists warn that a new, multimillion-dollar international airport near Albania’s coastal city of Vlora could cause irreparable damage to the fragile ecosystems of protected lagoons that host flamingos, pelicans and millions of other migratory birds. SENT: 610 words, photos.
OCEAN WARMING — The waters off New England, which are home to rare whales and most of the American lobster fishing industry, logged the second-warmest year on record last year. SENT: 510 words, photos.
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BUSINESS/ECONOMY
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks closed slightly higher on Wall Street after a report showed U.S. shoppers opened their wallets at stores last month by much more than expected. SENT: 790 words, photos.
RETAIL-SALES — America’s consumers rebounded last month from a weak holiday shopping season by boosting their spending at stores and restaurants at the fastest pace in nearly two years, underscoring the economy’s resilience amid higher prices and multiple interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. SENT: 630 words, photos.
BUDGET-OUTLOOK — The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that it expects the U.S. economy to stagnate this year with the unemployment rate jumping to 5.1% — a bleak outlook that was paired with a 10-year projection that publicly held U.S. debt would nearly double to $46.4 trillion in 2033. SENT: 450 words, photo.
BIDEN-ELECTRIC VEHICLES — Electric car giant Tesla will, for the first time, make some of its charging stations available to all U.S. electric vehicles by the end of next year, under a plan announced Wednesday by the White House. SENT: 850 words, photos.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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MEDIA-TRUST IN NEWS — Half of Americans in a recent survey indicated they believe national news organizations intend to mislead, misinform or persuade the public to adopt a particular point of view through their reporting. By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 500 words, photo.
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SPORTS
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BKC-NEW MEXICO STATE-TURMOIL — New Mexico State’s chancellor expressed his confidence in athletic director Mario Moccia on Wednesday, less than a week after the school’s most high-profile sports program — the men’s basketball team — was shut down for what the chancellor said was a culture of bad behavior, egregious violations of the student code of conduct and other “despicable acts.” SENT: 700 words, photos.
FBN-SUPER BOWL-CHIEFS-NATIVE AMERICANS — As the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs embark on a victory lap including a hometown parade Wednesday, Native Americans are bracing for the team’s mascot, fan “tomahawk chop” and other seemingly racist gestures to get a national spotlight yet again. SENT: 840 words, photos. With FBN-SUPER-BOWL-CHIEFS-PARADE — Fans lined up to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs’ second Super Bowl championship in two years. SENT: 640 words, photos; will be updated.
FBN-INSIDE-THE-NUMBERS — Big Super Bowl comebacks have gone from rarities to frequent occurrences thanks to Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady. Mahomes led Kansas City to its second Super Bowl title in four seasons when the Chiefs rallied from 10 points down at the half to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. The first championship for Mahomes also required a second-half rally against San Francisco in the 2019 season. Brady is the only other quarterback to engineer two double-digit comebacks in the Super Bowl, doing it in the 2014 and ’16 seasons. SENT: 905 words, photos.
SOC-FRANCE-LE GRAET — Noël Le Graët no longer has legitimacy to remain as French soccer federation president because his management style and behavior toward women are “incompatible with the exercise of his functions,” a government audit released Wednesday found. SENT: 550 words, photos.
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News
Grocery rebate coming in federal budget 2023
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The 2023 federal budget will include a one-time “grocery rebate” for Canadians with lower incomes who may be struggling with the rising cost of food, CTV News has confirmed.
According to sources, the new measure will be unveiled in Tuesday’s federal budget and will help nearly 11 million lower-income Canadians.
The new measure would see eligible couples with two children receive a payment of up to $467, a senior would receive $225, while a single person would receive $234 dollars.
The benefit will be rolled out through the GST rebate system, once a bill implementing it passes in the House of Commons, according to sources. This move is essentially re-upping and re-branding the recent GST rebate boost.
The amounts expected to be offered are exactly what the Liberals offered through last fall’s doubling of the GST credit, a boost that was estimated to cost $2.5 billion and got all-party backing. It’s not expected that there will be a requirement to spend the rebate on groceries.
According to Statistics Canada’s latest inflation report, food prices rose 11.4 per cent year-over-year in January, nearly double the rate of inflation of 5.9 per cent and up from 11 per cent the previous month.
The increased cost of food has been the focus of a parliamentary study that’s seen grocery CEOs, including Loblaw chairman and president Galen Weston, grilled over grocery profits.
“I’ve been talking with Canadians from coast, to coast, to coast over the past many months hearing directly concerns around affordability, around the high cost of food, of rent, of so many different things. That’s why a big part of the budget will be focused on measures to help Canadians in targeted ways,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Parliament Hill on Monday.
“Groceries will certainly be part of it but, there’s other things as well that we’re going to continue to do to be there for Canadians…I look forward to a great budget tomorrow.”
The NDP had been calling for the Liberals to double the GST tax credit. Reacting to the news, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said this measure “looks very much like… what we’ve been asking for, for a long time.”
Both Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland have been hinting for weeks that the 2023 budget would include targeted affordability measures to directly help those feeling the pinch of inflation the most.
“This support will be narrowly focused and fiscally responsible. The truth is, we can’t fully compensate every single Canadian for all of the effects of inflation or for elevated interest rates,” Freeland said last week in a pre-budget speech signalling her priorities. “To do so would only make inflation worse and force rates higher, for longer.”
On Monday afternoon, the finance minister took part in a long-standing tradition of picking out a new pair of shoes to wear on budget day.
This year, Freeland opted for a pair of black heels that were on sale at Canadian retailer Simons, from the store’s in-house brand. She placed them in a reusable tote bag after purchase.
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT IN BUDGET 2023?
With the economy expected to continue slowing in the months ahead, potentially leading to a recession, Freeland is facing calls for the massive fiscal document to include a plan to promote economic growth.
Amid Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes, inflation cooled to 5.2 per cent in February. That’s down from 5.9 per cent in January, after 40-year record highs over the summer, reaching 8.1 per cent in June.
“What Canadians want right now is for inflation to come down and for interest rates to fall. And that is one of our primary goals in this year’s budget: not to pour fuel on the fire of inflation,” Freeland said in her pre-budget positioning speech.
At the same time, she signalled the 2023 federal budget will still be prioritizing “two significant and necessary investments”: the $46.2 billion in new funding included in the $196 billion federal-provincial health-care funding deals, and new measures to boost Canada’s clean industrial economy.
It’s the latter that government officials have signalled will get some attention in tomorrow’s budget, with several news outlets reporting there will be sizable—30 per cent, according to Reuters— new clean technology-focused tax credits to generate growth in the electrical vehicle supply chain and in critical mineral extraction and processing.
The November 2022 fall economic update had telegraphed that these kinds of credits and investments were ahead.
“Tomorrow…we’re bringing forward a budget that is focused on affordability and supporting Canadians… and creating great jobs for the middle class in a clean and growing economy. Those are the focuses that we’ve been laser focused on over the past many years,” Trudeau said in the House of Commons on Monday, fresh off of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit, where the green economy was a central piece of discussion.
Canada’s clear focus on the clean transition comes in part out of a need for these sectors to remain competitive in the face of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which offers billions of dollars in energy incentives south of the border.
The Canadian Press has also reported that Tuesday’s budget will include an increase to the withdrawal limit for a registered education savings plan (RESP) from $5,000 to $8,000; and a plan to go after hidden or unexpected consumer fees known as “junk fees” that inflate the overall cost of a product or service.
Finance Canada officials, who for some time have been parsing the stacks of pre-budget submissions from various industries and sectors, will also have to factor in the Liberals’ commitments to the New Democrats, with key planks of the two-party confidence deal due to come to fruition this year.
“We still want to see confirmation of the dental care expansion to include seniors, people living with disabilities and kids 18 and under. We really want this budget to save money for people, and that’s something really important for us,” Singh said.
With this budget, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the federal government to lower taxes, end “inflationary” spending, match new spending with savings, and improve housing affordability.
“He wants to take away everybody’s money, centralize it in his own hands, and promise that it will trickle down through his mighty bureaucracy… And there will maybe be a few little drops that get down to the people who actually earned it in the first place,” Poilievre levelled at the prime minister during Monday’s question period. “Will he cap government spending and put an end to the inflationary deficits, tomorrow?”
The fall economic statement issued in November 2022 projected the federal deficit at $36.4 billion in 2022-23, down from the $52.8 billion forecast in the April 2022 federal budget. Freeland also forecasted that federal coffers could be back to balance by 2027-28.
The 2023 federal budget is coming just ahead of a two-week break in the House of Commons, allowing Liberal MPs to then descend on their ridings to promote it to their constituents before coming back to the capital to work on getting the budget implementation legislation passed through the minority Parliament.
With files from CTV News’ Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos, and CTVNews.ca’s Michael Lee and Spencer Van Dyk




News
Canada and the U.S. ready to ‘take on China’ on defence, trade: ambassador
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Ottawa and Washington are prepared to “take on China” when it comes protecting defence and trade interests, but there remains work to do to catch up to Beijing’s lead on critical minerals development, the U.S. ambassador to Canada says.
In an interview Sunday with The West Block‘s host Mercedes Stephenson, David Cohen said if the two allies continued to work together and build on their successes, they will end up “being stronger and really moving the needle in 2023 and the years ahead.”
“There is no light between the two countries as to the importance of taking on China, competing against them more effectively, calling them out when they adopt non-rules based trade practices,” Cohen said.
“You sort of can’t leave the overall impression of the visit without realizing that Canada and the United States together are prepared to take on China when China needs to be taken on, to protect ourselves from a defence and a commercial capacity.”
His comments echoed those from Joe Biden, who wrapped up his first visit to Canada as the U.S. president this week.
During his two-day official visit, Biden held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and on Friday addressed the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, saying the North American neighbours will “write the future together.”
China was among a range of issues that were on the table for the two leaders, as both U.S. and Canada are looking to become less reliant on Beijing for trade.
Cohen said China has a “big head start” in some areas, particularly the critical minerals sector, but there is a sense of urgency to take “one bite at a time” and catch up.
As part of that push, the two countries have launched a one-year task to accelerate cooperation on critical clean energy opportunities and supply chains.
A joint statement from Trudeau and Biden also stressed their commitment to competing “effectively with China on a level playing field.”
“Canada and the United States acknowledge the serious long-term challenge to the international order posed by the People’s Republic of China, including disruptive actions such as economic coercion, non-market policies and practices, and human rights abuses,” the statement released Friday said.
Tensions between Canada and China have escalated in recent weeks over allegations of foreign interference in recent federal elections.
“There are a lot of things that has been going on below the water level for many, many years by China in terms of influencing, interfering and meddling in Canadian affairs,” said Cheuk Kwan, co-chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China.
The meddling has not been limited to federal politics, but also threatened school board trustees, municipal mayors and councilors to the provincial government, Kwan said on The West Block.
“So this is something that I think we should be aware that, we’re not … barking up the wrong tree,” he said.
“We should be looking at what’s underneath that iceberg and really get a feel and understanding of perhaps the danger of such China’s meddling in our affairs.”
Another hot button issue has been the detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who spent more 1,000 days in a Chinese prison over espionage charges.
Both were invited to a dinner in honour of the Biden’s visit Friday night and received a standing ovation in the House of Commons Friday, where they watched Biden’s address.
Biden lauded Canada for leading a coalition of nearly 70 countries endorsing the declaration against arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations in his speech.
“Our citizens are not bargaining chips, they’re not diplomatic leverage,” said Biden. “They’re human beings with lives and families that must be respected. And I’m very glad to see the two Michaels are safely back to their family.”




News
Tuesday’s budget to include grocery rebate for lower income Canadians: source
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The federal budget, set for Tuesday, will include a grocery rebate measure aimed at lower income Canadians to help address the affordability crisis, particularly to mitigate the rising cost of food, CBC News has learned.
A senior government official familiar with the budget, but not authorized to speak publicly before the budget is rolled out, told CBC News that the overall cost of the measure is “north of $2 billion” and will benefit 11 million households. It will be facilitated through the GST credit, aimed at lower income families.
“It’s being called a grocery rebate,” said the source, but noted the rebate amount will not be based on a person’s grocery expenditures, nor will the government require that the one-time payment be spent on groceries.
“It’s a targeted measure that won’t add fuel to the inflation fire,” said the source.
The source explained that a single person with no children could get a one-time payment of up to $234, while a couple with two children could receive up to $467 and a senior citizen about $225. The timing of these payments will depend on how quickly the government can get the legislation to implement the budget passed.
Tuesday’s budget will have other affordability measures as well. CBC News can confirm that the government plans to crack down on so-called junk fees for consumers, first reported by Canadian Press. Junk fees are hidden or unexpected consumer charges that are tacked on to the initial price of a product or service, ultimately inflating the total cost.
Ottawa will have to work with various regulatory agencies and the provinces and territories to eliminate junk fees. Sectors that might be affected by the crackdown include phone and internet providers and large event ticket sellers.
The federal budget will also include an increase to the limit on what students can withdraw from their registered education savings plan (RESP) for post-secondary education. Right now, the limit on the education assistance payment (EAP), which is the investment earnings and government grant portions of the RESP, is $5,000. The federal government plans to increase that to $8,000, to reflect the rising cost of college and university.
There is no limit on the post secondary education (PSE) withdrawals, which are the contributions made by the subscriber.
Investments in clean industrial economy
Other affordability measures are also expected in the budget and money has been set aside for pay for recent health-care deals made with the provinces and territories.
A key plank of the budget will also be investments in the clean industrial economy, spurred in part by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which will pump hundreds of billions of dollars into clean energy in that country.
CBC News can also confirm a Reuters report that the budget will include a tax credit for clean tech manufacturing worth 30 per cent of capital investment costs in manufacturing equipment.
The government source used the critical mineral sector as an example of where the government wants to accelerate production. The tax credit would provide an incentive to mine and process critical minerals, with the recognition that there is a growing demand for them in the U.S., particularly for the electric vehicle market.
The source said that the new tax credit is one of the bigger tax measures that will be part of a comprehensive package the Liberal government will bring in to match or complement what the U.S. is doing with its Inflation Reduction Act.
The budget will also provide greater detail about two tax credits first proposed in last November’s fall economic statement. The Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit and the Clean Tech Investment Tax Credit will take shape in this budget. Companies that invest in those areas and do so in a way that boosts pay for workers will benefit the most, said the source.
“There are similar positive incentives for unionized workers in the U.S.’s IRA. We mirror that in some ways,” said the source, adding that the government has been consulting organized labour over the last two months to ensure budget measures are not “designed in isolation.”
In fact, the new tax credits will be worth more to employers if their workers are paid more, said the source.
The source would not specify whether there’s a projection for a balanced budget.
The fall economic statement projected a balanced budget by 2028 — the first time the Liberal government had projected a balanced budget since it was first elected in 2015.
But economic growth is significantly weaker now.
“Expect to see the fiscal picture adjusted, not because of expenditures, but because nominal GDP growth is hugely different from a year ago,” said the source.
The slow growth might also impact the debt-to-GDP ratio, a key fiscal anchor for the government that has relied on a downward trajectory of the ratio to reassure Canadians that deficit spending is not out of control.




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