NDP urges government to recognize Palestinian statehood, sanction Israeli officials

OTTAWA – Some MPs are demanding more discipline from House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus after an exchange between two party leaders last week got so heated one MP thought it may actually come to physical blows.

In Question Period on Thursday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had a shouting match after Poilievre called Singh a phoney and a fraud for his refusal to vote to bring down the Liberal government.

The Conservatives insist Singh challenged Poilievre to a fight, while NDP House leader Peter Julian says Singh was merely standing up to bullying from the Tory leader.

All of it had Green Party Leader Elizabeth May fearing the two may start throwing punches.

May and Julian have both called on the Speaker to do more to rein in the antics that they say have degraded decorum in the House of Commons.

After the exchange last week, Fergus asked the MPs to respect the long-standing traditions of the House but did not ask anyone with withdraw their comments or apologize.

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

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

TORONTO – Five Western Hockey League teams — including four Canadian clubs — are vying to host the Memorial Cup in 2026.

The Canadian Hockey League announced Monday that the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Spokane Chiefs have all submitted formal bids to host the league’s championship tournament.

The teams will formally present their bid to a selection committee, which will evaluate the proposals based on business operations, local atmosphere/community engagement, event logistics, and hockey operations.

The winner is expected to be announced in December 2024.

Hosting guarantees a team a spot in the tournament, alongside the champions of the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

The 2025 Memorial Cup will be played in Rimouski, Que., from May 22 to June 1.

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

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday said “a woman can do anything a man can do … including being president of the United States,” as he welcomed the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League champions Gotham FC, the first time in the league’s 11-year history that a team has received a White House invite.

Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, is the Democratic nominee for president. He told the crowd representation at the highest levels matters.

“When fans watch you play, they also see the power of the example off the field as well,” Biden said. “It matters. You lead the way in providing sports medicine and healthcare focused on women.”

Gotham, the team from the New York and New Jersey area, won the 2023 NWSL championship last November with a 2-1 victory over Seattle Reign FC. It was the first trophy for the team—and it was just a year after they finished in last place. The trophy was displayed in the East Room as the team gathered on risers. The ceremony featured Gotham players, staff, ownership and NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, and a band played “We are the Champions”

“One thing is clear, this organization is no stranger to adversity,” Biden said. “In 2022 Gotham placed last in the entire league there and were doubts about turning things around, but you never gave up.”

Biden invited the kids in the room up on stage with the team for a photo after he accepted a team jersey from retired captain Ali Krieger.

The team is headed to the playoffs again following a 1-0 win over the Utah Royals on Sunday. Yazmeen Ryan scored in the third minute.

Biden said it looked like the team was headed for a second win and another trip back to the White House. “I won’t be president, but ask if I can come and listen,” he said.

A professional women’s soccer club was invited to the White House in 2010 but it was a different league, Women’s Professional Soccer – that preceded NWSL. The winning team, Sky Blue FC, was later rebranded as Gotham. Barack Obama was the president at the time.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.