SURREY, B.C. — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says the prime minister damaged the integrity of Canada’s immigration system when he tweeted two years ago that Canadians will welcome all those fleeing persecution, terror and war. “In terms of illegal immigration, we have seen this problem grow for the past few years. We all remember Justin…
Trudeau Promises to Stay Positive During Election
TORONTO — Justin Trudeau insists he’ll stay positive in the face of what he predicts will be a “negative, divisive” election year. Speaking at a Liberal fundraising breakfast at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York hotel, the prime minister said he plans to focus on bringing people together. He says that while scaring and dividing people might…
Toronto Airport Poses Serious Crash Risk
TORONTO — Air safety authorities say the runway setup at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport poses a serious risk of crashes. The Transportation Safety Board says there were 27 runway incursions between June 2012 and November 2017. Incursions occur when an aircraft finds itself on the wrong runway. The board says the incursions all involved aircraft…
Dizzying Weather Extremes a New Fact of Life
As Ottawa limps across the finish line of its snowiest January on record, cherry blossoms are blooming at the legislature in coastal Victoria, B.C. Millions of Canadians were hiding out this week under extreme cold warnings stretching across the map, even as some East Coast cities enjoyed moderate temperatures. According to experts, these co−existing extremes…
Timeline of Toronto Serial Killer
TORONTO — A timeline of key events in the case of Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur based on information released by police: September 2010 _ Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40, disappears from Toronto’s gay village. Dec. 29, 2010 _ Abdulbasir Faizi, 42, is reported missing to Peel Regional Police, west of Toronto. He was last seen in…
Heated Sidewalks in Canada? Why Not?
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — A winter−weary city councillor in St. John’s, N.L., is hoping to resurrect an idea that has been tried, tested and mostly abandoned in other Canadian cities: heated sidewalks. Sandy Hickman has asked city engineers to look at heating a small section of downtown sidewalk that’s already scheduled for repair work, as…
Some Indigenous Advocates Ambivalent on Land Acknowledgements
Canada’s growing embrace of Indigenous land acknowledgments appears to have left some First Nations advocates ambivalent about whether they are a form of reconciliation — or institutional hypocrisy. The remarks, recognizing the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories, have become increasingly ubiquitous at the start of school days, conferences, ceremonies, and other events.…
Recovery Continues for Quebec City Muslims
QUEBEC — Almost two years after being hit by seven bullets in Quebec City’s biggest mosque, Aymen Derbali says the nightmares have finally stopped. The 42−year−old was one of more than 50 people attending evening prayers when a shooter opened fire on Jan 29, 2017, killing six people and wounding several others including Derbali. He…
A List of Those Killed and Injured in the Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash
A sentencing hearing is to begin Monday for the driver of a transport truck involved in a deadly crash with the Humboldt Broncos hockey team bus. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm for killing 16 people and injuring 13 others on the Broncos bus…
US & Canadian Fighter Jets Scramble Towards Russian Jets
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — Military authorities say U.S. Air Force and Canadian fighter jets were scrambled to escort two Russian bombers that were travelling near the North American coastline. The North American Aerospace Defence Command says two F−22 and two CF−18 fighter jets identified two Russian Tu−160 Blackjack strategic bombers. The Russian planes…