NDP sees ‘opportunity’ to push Liberal government on Palestinian statehood

CHARLOTTETOWN – Public health officials in Prince Edward Island are investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness reported among 50 people who attended a shellfish festival over the weekend.

A department of health spokesperson says public health is working with the organizers of the PEI International Shellfish Festival in Charlottetown to determine the source of the illness.

About 50 people have so far reported symptoms after attending the festival.

The province has created a website for attendees to report if they have recently experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps or fever.

Anyone who is actively experiencing symptoms is encouraged to send an email to the chief public health office.

Organizers of the shellfish festival did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Canada’s grain farmers say a strike at Metro Vancouver terminals would cripple crop exports if it were allowed to take place.

The Grain Growers of Canada say in a statement that it is “deeply concerned” about a potential strike of grain workers in Metro Vancouver, since about 52 per cent of all Canadian-grown grain went to those terminals last year.

Grain farmers say a strike would “halt nearly 100,000 metric tonnes” of commodities arriving each day, potentially costing $35 million daily in lost exports.

The response comes after the union representing grain workers at terminals in Metro Vancouver said it has served their employer with a 72-hour strike notice.

The Grain Workers Union Local 333 says in a statement posted to Facebook that its strike will start at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association says affected operations include Viterra’s Cascadia and Pacific Terminals, Richardson International Terminal, Cargill Limited Terminal, G3 Terminal Vancouver and Alliance Grain Terminal, all located in Vancouver and North Vancouver.

“Grain farmers in the prairies rely heavily on the Port of Vancouver to handle and export the majority of the grain they grow,” the statement from the Grain Growers of Canada says. “Following last month’s rail work stoppages, this strike will have an equally devastating impact on grain farmers across the prairies who are in the midst of harvest.”

The group is also urging federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to “use all tools available” to prevent a work stoppage from coming to pass.

“Without intervention, Canada’s international trading reputation will continue to suffer, leading to the loss of key global markets and customers,” the Grain Growers’ statement says.

Grain Workers Union Local 333 says the union’s bargaining committee made the decision to issue a strike notice after the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association “invested very little effort” during negotiations last week.

The union says it’s now up to the employer to present a proposal for a new contract, and workers have provided a “comprehensive package” last Thursday with the association indicating the next day it had no counter offer.

It’s statement says the union’s shop committees will advise members of their picketing duties before the start of the strike Tuesday morning.

“You are required to leave the terminal at that time if you are working,” the statement says to workers.

“Your union will not bargain against itself,” the grain workers statement says. “We will await their proposal if, and when, it comes, and respond accordingly.”

A statement issued by the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association says it concluded conciliation with the union with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on Aug. 26.

It says it could not come to an agreement on a new contract and the union has been in a legal strike position since last Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Jim Mullin is stepping away from Football Canada to concentrate on his post with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

Mullin confirmed Monday that after six years as Football Canada’s president, he is resigning from the post. His decision came hours before the national governing body’s annual general meeting.

“I believe now I can leave the organization in the capable hands of executive director Kevin McDonald, board chairperson Peter Baxter and the staff,” said Mullin. “I wouldn’t have left unless the organization’s future had leaders who could steward it to a new professional function.

“We’re taking an organization from the kitchen table to the boardroom table.”

Mullin will remain as IFAF’s general secretary.

McDonald was named Football Canada’s full-time executive director in June, while Baxter became the organization’s chairperson in August.

Before joining Football Canada, McDonald spent nearly 20 years with the CFL in various positions, including its vice-president of football operations.

“Someone who has a lot of experience as a leader in the CFL is who I want on the ground operating the organization on a day-to-day basis,” Mullin said of McDonald. “I think he can take it to where it needs to be as one of the (national sports organizations) and as an Olympic NSO that stand with the best of them.”

Baxter served as Wilfrid Laurier University’s director of athletics and recreation for over 23 years before retiring in 2022.

He’ll be Football Canada’s president until bylaws are updated in October.

“Peter is someone with tremendous integrity who understands the challenges of governance in this space,” Mullin said. “He’ll be able to respond to the new landscapes that exist in sports in Canada with its various landmines and be able to diffuse them.”

Mullin’s decision comes three months after Canada captured a third straight and fourth overall gold medal at the IFAF world junior football championship in Edmonton. It was the first tournament staged in six years due to the global pandemic.

There were plenty of challenges in getting the event back on the field. Football Canada also had to add a second team to replace a country that withdrew.

“Quite frankly, many nations were skittish about jumping back into international tackle competition,” Mullin said. “It takes money, it takes extraordinary planning and it helps when you have partners like (executive director) Tim Enger and Football Alberta to put all of that planning into it.”

The organization navigated a coaching change ahead of the tournament, promoting Warren Craney to head coach of Canada 1. He replaced Steve Sumarah, who led the program to gold in 2018.

“There were many changes we needed to put through from a Football Canada side and identifying Warren Craney to take over turned out to be the right choice,” Mullin said. “I get to leave my final year with a world championship, which is pretty nice.”

Mullin spent eight years with Football Canada, two on its board and six as president. He was first elected to the position in 2019 before being voted in for a second term in 2022.

Mullin is the fourth person to serve multiple stints as president in Football Canada’s 142-year history. A big part of the job was trying to establish consensus on national matters within an organization that consists of multiple provincial bodies.

During his time with Football Canada and IFAF, Mullin also worked to get flag football into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The sport’s inclusion is big for football globally, he said.

Mullin also helped Football Canada modernize its operation, comply with the Canadian Sports Governance Code, establish a reserve fund and develop Indigenous football in the country.

“Something I did coming out of the gate when I was voted in was creating a larger tent for football in Canada,” he said. “It wasn’t just about the (provincial sports organizations), it was about the sport in general so bringing in a path for associate members was extremely important.

“Working with Indigenous leaders, over quite frankly a long period of time, to be there to help them get Indigenous Football Canada started and off the ground was very rewarding. Working with (president/CEO) Kevin Hart and then seeing him and his people deliver that and create something I believe that’s sustainable over the long-term is another culture change within the sport.”

However, Mullin admits he’ll leave Football Canada with a regret.

“The core regret is we had to be reactive during the pandemic and that really took us away from our plan,” he said. “At the same time, I wish the reforms we brought forward in the last 18 months were brought along a lot sooner because we’d be ahead on things.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.