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Canadian Nathan Rourke to make fourth straight start for B.C. Lions

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Vernon Adam Jr. is back practising with the B.C. Lions but Canadian Nathan Rourke will remain the club’s starting quarterback.

Rourke will make a fourth straight start Friday night when B.C. (6-6) visits the Montreal Alouettes (10-1). Head coach Rick Campbell said this week he hopes Adams could dress for the game and possibly be ready to play, if needed.

Adams suffered a knee injury in B.C.’s 25-0 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 1. He started the Lions’ first eight games, leading the team to a 5-3 record.

B.C. re-signed Rourke last month after he was released by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Rourke was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2022 while with the Lions.

Adams practised with B.C.’s second-team offence this week.

Rourke completed 21-of-30 passes for 325 yards with three TDs and an interception in B.C.’s 38-12 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in Victoria on Saturday. He also ran three times for 29 yards and a touchdown as the Lions snapped a five-game losing streak.

Overall, Rourke, has completed 51-of-86 passes (59.3 per cent) for 695 yards with three TDs and four interceptions since his return. He has also rushed 11 times for 119 yards (10.7-yard average) and a touchdown.

Rourke and Co. face a tough challenge versus Montreal. The defending Grey Cup champions will not only be rested coming off a bye week but are also riding a five-game win streak.

Montreal is also 6-0 versus the West Division and 5-1 at home. B.C. is 2-2 against East Division teams but 2-5 on the road.

Montreal’s defence is ranked first overall in fewest offensive points allowed (18.7 per game), passing touchdowns (11) and offensive TDs (18) and second in offensive yards (339.6 per game) and passing yards (249.1).

Montreal is also second in offensive points scored (27.3 per game) and offensive TDs (32). The Alouettes also rarely beat themselves as they’re first in the CFL in fewest turnovers made (15), penalties (66) and yards penalized (608).

Montreal has already clinched an East Division playoff spot. B.C. remains in the thick of the race for first in the West Division, entering action tied atop the standings with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who’ve won four straight.

Pick: Montreal.

Toronto Argonauts versus Ottawa Redblacks (Saturday afternoon)

At Ottawa, the Redblacks (7-3-1) look to remain unbeaten at TD Place (5-0-1) and move five points ahead of third-place Toronto (6-5) in the East Division. The home team will play six of its remaining seven regular-season games versus Eastern clubs, including the Argos twice. Chad Kelly has posted consecutive 300-yard passing performances in his first two starts with the Double Blue but the visitors are 1-4 on the road and 1-3 within the conference.

Pick: Ottawa.

Saskatchewan Roughriders versus Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Saturday afternoon)

At Winnipeg, the Bombers (6-6) look to the sweep the home-and-home series. Zach Collaros is expected to start after being knocked out of last week’s 35-33 win following a hit from defensive tackle Miles Brown, who received a roughing-the-passer penalty. Trevor Harris threw for 368 yards and three TDs last week in a losing cause as Saskatchewan (5-6-1) has now lost three straight and is riding a six-game winless streak (0-5-1).

Pick: Winnipeg.

Calgary Stampeders versus Edmonton Elks (Saturday night)

At Edmonton, the Elks (4-8) can sweep this series following Monday’s 35-20 win. McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for a career-best 486 yards and three TDs, two going to Tevin Jones, who had five catches for 208 yards. Jake Maier had 297 passing yards and a TD for Calgary (4-7) but was also intercepted four times. He’s expected to start this contest ahead of Logan Bonner, who was four-of-six passing for 33 yards in limited action last week. The Stamps have lost three straight and are 0-5 away from McMahon Stadium.

Pick: Edmonton.

Last week: 2-2.

CP’s overall record: 29-23.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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RCMP investigating after three found dead in Lloydminster, Sask.

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LLOYDMINSTER, SASK. – RCMP are investigating the deaths of three people in Lloydminster, Sask.

They said in a news release Thursday that there is no risk to the public.

On Wednesday evening, they said there was a heavy police presence around 50th Street and 47th Avenue as officers investigated an “unfolding incident.”

Mounties have not said how the people died, their ages or their genders.

Multiple media reports from the scene show yellow police tape blocking off a home, as well as an adjacent road and alleyway.

The city of Lloydminster straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.

Mounties said the three people were found on the Saskatchewan side of the city, but that the Alberta RCMP are investigating.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Sept. 12, 2024.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story; An earlier version said the three deceased were found on the Alberta side of Lloydminster.

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Three injured in Kingston, Ont., assault, police negotiating suspect’s surrender

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KINGSTON, Ont. – Police in Kingston, Ont., say three people have been sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a violent daytime assault.

Kingston police say officers have surrounded a suspect and were trying to negotiate his surrender as of 1 p.m.

Spokesperson Const. Anthony Colangeli says police received reports that the suspect may have been wielding an edged or blunt weapon, possibly both.

Colangeli says officers were called to the Integrated Care Hub around 10:40 a.m. after a report of a serious assault.

He says the three victims were all assaulted “in the vicinity,” of the drop-in health centre, not inside.

Police have closed Montreal Street between Railway Street and Hickson Avenue.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

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Government intervention in Air Canada talks a threat to competition: Transat CEO

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Demands for government intervention in Air Canada labour talks could negatively affect airline competition in Canada, the CEO of travel company Transat AT Inc. said.

“The extension of such an extraordinary intervention to Air Canada would be an undeniable competitive advantage to the detriment of other Canadian airlines,” Annick Guérard told analysts on an earnings conference call on Thursday.

“The time and urgency is now. It is time to restore healthy competition in Canada,” she added.

Air Canada has asked the federal government to be ready to intervene and request arbitration as early as this weekend to avoid disruptions.

Comments on the potential Air Canada pilot strike or lock out came as Transat reported third-quarter financial results.

Guérard recalled Transat’s labour negotiations with its flight attendants earlier this year, which the company said it handled without asking for government intervention.

The airline’s 2,100 flight attendants voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike mandate and twice rejected tentative deals before approving a new collective agreement in late February.

As the collective agreement for Air Transat pilots ends in June next year, Guérard anticipates similar pressure to increase overall wages as seen in Air Canada’s negotiations, but reckons it will come out “as a win, win, win deal.”

“The pilots are preparing on their side, we are preparing on our side and we’re confident that we’re going to come up with a reasonable deal,” she told analysts when asked about the upcoming negotiations.

The parent company of Air Transat reported it lost $39.9 million or $1.03 per diluted share in its quarter ended July 31. The result compared with a profit of $57.3 million or $1.49 per diluted share a year earlier.

Revenue totalled $736.2 million, down from $746.3 million in the same quarter last year.

On an adjusted basis, Transat says it lost $1.10 per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.10 per share a year earlier.

It attributed reduced revenues to lower airline unit revenues, competition, industry-wide overcapacity and economic uncertainty.

Air Transat is also among the airlines facing challenges related to the recall of Pratt & Whitney turbofan jet engines for inspection and repair.

The recall has so far grounded six aircraft, Guérard said on the call.

“We have agreed to financial compensation for grounded aircraft during the 2023-2024 period,” she said. “Alongside this financial compensation, Pratt & Whitney will provide us with two additional spare engines, which we intend to monetize through a sell and lease back transaction.”

Looking ahead, the CEO said she expects consumer demand to remain somewhat uncertain amid high interest rates.

“We are currently seeing ongoing pricing pressure extending into the winter season,” she added. Air Transat is not planning on adding additional aircraft next year but anticipates stability.

“(2025) for us will be much more stable than 2024 in terms of fleet movements and operation, and this will definitely have a positive effect on cost and customer satisfaction as well,” the CEO told analysts.

“We are more and more moving away from all the disruption that we had to go through early in 2024,” she added.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TRZ)

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