Judge gives instructions to jury in murder-conspiracy trial of Coutts protesters

LONGUEUIL, Que. – A Montreal suburb began an operation on Tuesday to kill white-tailed deer in one of its local parks after years of legal battles with activists seeking to save the animals.

A spokesman for the City of Longueuil confirmed that Michel-Chartrand park is closed to the public while hunters armed with air rifles reduce the size of the herd.

“The city confirms that the deer overpopulation control operation is currently underway,” Raphaël Larocque-Cyr wrote in an email. “In order to ensure safety and ensure the smooth running of the operation, Michel-Chartrand Park is closed until further notice.”

The city just south of Montreal has been trying to carry out a cull since 2020, but it faced a strong backlash and legal challenges from animal rights groups over the fate of the deer. Earlier this month the administration said it had received a provincial environment department permit to proceed with the operation, the final step needed to begin the cull. The meat from the deer is expected to be distributed to community organizations.

The city has repeatedly said the population of white-tailed deer has grown far beyond what the space can support, damaging the park’s ecosystem and contributing to an increased risk of road accidents and Lyme disease. As well, city hall says the cull is needed to restore “ecological equilibrium” to the park as the number of white-tailed deer there has tripled in recent years — from 32 in 2017 to 114 as of this year. It has previously said the park can support around 15 deer.

Authorities said the number of deer found dead in the park has risen, from 28 in 2021 to 52 in 2023.

The announcement of the planned cull in 2020 led to a petition, protests, and even threats against the city’s then-mayor.

Animal rights activists lobbied for the city to relocate the excess deer to a refuge rather than killing them, but a veterinary ethics committee deemed the strategy unsafe for deer and humans alike. Other options, including sterilization or birth control, were also rejected.

Some groups challenged the plan in court, but their efforts were ultimately rejected last year by Quebec’s Court of Appeal, which found the city was within its rights to authorize the cull. Last year, city officials said they were hopeful the cull would be a one-time operation, and that they would be able to employ different methods to control the population once the herd is reduced to a manageable size.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his leadership of the Liberal party is not in danger, even as members of his caucus prepare to confront him Wednesday in the hopes of convincing him to step down.

He brushed off those concerns as he headed into his regular Tuesday meeting with cabinet ministers.

One by one, those ministers expressed their support for Trudeau as they spoke to reporters on their way into the meeting.

“Anybody who has ever bet against Justin Trudeau is sorry they made that bet the next day,” said Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault.

But while members of the cabinet have defended Trudeau staying on as leader, a number of Liberal MPs have signed onto a letter that aims to convince him to step aside before the next election.

It’s not clear how many members of Trudeau’s team of MPs plan to confront him, or exactly what their message will be. There is no way for the Liberal caucus to force Trudeau out, the decision about whether to stay or go will ultimately be up to the prime minister.

So far, Charlottetown MP Sean Casey is the only Liberal to publicly say that he has signed the letter.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who is also Trudeau’s personal friend, spoke out against MPs who hope to oust the leader.

“Any minute spent on this garbage is a minute that’s not spent on Pierre Poilievre and what he wants to do to this country,’ Miller told reporters.

Other ministers suggested a healthy debate within caucus was the best way to pull the team together.

“Any time there are voices of dissent we have to deal with them, we have to listen to them carefully,” Labour Minister Stephen MacKinnon said.

“We have to deal with them and present a unified face to Canadians.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

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Ottawa marked the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on Parliament Hill Tuesday, but for the family of the reservist who was killed that day the memory is still raw.

“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. It felt like it was yesterday,” said Ephraim Cirillo after a private family ceremony held at the National War Memorial.

His cousin, 24-year-old Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, was shot to death on Oct. 22, 2014, while he was guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the memorial. The gunman also shot at Cpl. Branden Stevenson, who was guarding the site with Cirillo that morning.

Ephraim Cirillo said Stevenson is one of his best friends.

“It was tough just knowing that my best friend was beside (Nathan) as well,” he said, adding that “it was nice to know that Nathan had Branden to comfort him in his final breaths.”

Politicians issued statements to mark the day, and are scheduled to hold a moment of silence in the House of Commons Tuesday afternoon.

Ephraim Cirillo said he wants people to remember Nathan’s bravery and love for his family.

“He was brave, he was a leader, he was an amazing human being … I wish he could still be here today,” he said.

Ephraim said he’s visited the memorial almost every year since the attack to honour Nathan and support his mother. The cousins were just one year and one day apart, and used to celebrate their birthdays together, he said.

After targeting Cirillo, the gunman made his way down the street to Parliament Hill and entered Centre Block, where he fired multiple shots before he was killed.

The attack happened in the Hall of Honour while Conservative and NDP MPs were gathered in surrounding committee rooms for their weekly caucus meetings. It forced then-prime minister Stephen Harper and MPs into lockdown for hours, and drew attention to security lapses on and around Parliament Hill.

Political leaders also marked the death of warrant officer Patrice Vincent, who was killed in a separate terrorist attack two days before the Parliament Hill shooting in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

“Today, our hearts are with their families and friends who still grieve the loss of their loved ones,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.

He said despite the terror and grief that Oct. 22 brought, he also remembers people coming together to protect and support one another.

“And above all, we all remember the service and the sacrifice of those who stood guard, and those who rushed toward danger to save lives,” he said.

“That is what we remember today, and what we must never forget.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also thanked those who rushed to help Cirillo and the first responders.

“Conservatives will always fight for freedom over fear and light over darkness,” he said. “May the memories of these two men rededicate us to this essential mission.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.