July, 2023
CBSA dog handler says she was ‘terrorized’ after fighting maternity leave rule
Union says there’s no fair way for officers to complain about management harassment For years, Danielle Getzie had her dream job. One of those all-consuming, nothing-else-matters-because-I’ve-made-it jobs. She was part of the Canada Border Services Agency’s selective dog handler program, tracking down contraband at the Vancouver airport with her drug-sniffing canine partner Nova. “I would have considered, and I did consider, not having a family for my job, because it was that important to me,” she said from her Vancouver home. “It was very well known that to be a female dogRead more
Northern lights, lightning combine in spectacular storm show over Melfort, Sask.
Weather on Wednesday created stunning view for spectators and aurora chasers Residents in the area of Melfort, Sask., had the chance to witness a breathtaking natural spectacle earlier this week when a storm brought together the northern lights and lightning in the sky. The weather on Wednesday created a stunning view for spectators and aurora chasers, including Tristan Wingert, who had set out to capture lightning photos but got an unexpected bonus near the city about 180 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. “After the storm moved away, the sky cleared, and the northernRead more
Hundreds allowed to return home near Kamloops, B.C., as evacuation order eases
Several evacuation alerts were also rescinded for homes near Cranbrook, including the airport An evacuation order covering hundreds of properties south of Kamloops, B.C., has been scaled back to an alert as crews make good progress containing a wildfire about 10 kilometres south of the city. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is allowing residents of 327 properties to return home, although they must be ready to leave again on short notice. The 26-square-kilometre Ross Moore Lake wildfire was sparked by lightning one week ago and forced the evacuation of properties fromRead more
Anand moving out of defence to new portfolio, 7 ministers leaving cabinet in upcoming shuffle: sources
Prime Minister Trudeau is set to shake up his cabinet this week Defence Minister Anita Anand will be moving to an economic portfolio in Wednesday’s shuffle, CBC News has learned — one of many major shakeups coming to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet. Sources with knowledge of the shuffle (who are not authorized to speak publicly about it) said seven ministers will be leaving cabinet, including Justice Minister David Lametti, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier. Ahead of the shuffle, four other ministers — three Toronto-areaRead more
Calgary clinic charging membership fees runs contrary to Canada Health Act: Health Canada
CBC News reported Monday that Calgary clinic was asking for nearly $5K a year for a 2-parent membership Health Canada says it has written to Alberta officials to inform them that the ability for patients “to purchase preferential access” at a Calgary clinic runs contrary to the Canada Health Act. “We are working collaboratively with the province of Alberta to ensure the clinic’s patients continue to receive medically necessary services free of patient charges,” the government department wrote in an email. On Monday, CBC News reported that a Calgary clinic had told its membersRead more
Day of ceremony planned ahead of dig for possible unmarked graves on Manitoba First Nation
Ground to be broken Tuesday on expected 4-week-long excavation under church WARNING: This story includes distressing details. Before the sun broke through the sky Monday morning, members of a Manitoba First Nation planned to start a month-long search in a good way. Spiritual advisers were to lead a pipe ceremony in Minegoziibe Anishinabe while a sacred fire was to be lit near where there may be graves of children who were forced to attend residential school. The sacred fire is expected to burn for the entirety of the estimated four-week-longRead more
Ottawa announces plan to phase out ‘inefficient’ fossil fuel subsidies
Environmental group says the plan still has loopholes Ottawa published its plan for eliminating inefficient fossil fuel subsidies today — making Canada the first country among wealthy, heavy-emitting nations to do so, according to the federal government. In 2009, the countries that make up the G20 publicly promised to “phase out and rationalize … inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” over the “medium term.” Such subsidies “encourage wasteful consumption, reduce our energy security, impede investment in clean energy sources and undermine efforts to deal with the threat of climate change,” said the G20 communique. Environment and Climate ChangeRead more
More storms could mean higher insurance premiums
Tornadoes likely covered as wind damage by most policies, says Insurance Bureau More frequent weather events in the national capital region will likely mean higher insurance premiums, but that’s an issue faced by communities coast to coast, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. In recent years, the Ottawa area’s been battered by a flurry of storms, including last year’s derecho, six tornados back in 2018, and now one in Barrhaven that ripped shingles from roofs and left windows shattered Thursday afternoon. “These natural disasters are becoming bigger and more expensive in termsRead more
ERs face worse wait-times this summer, as ‘waiting-room’ medicine gets creative
No easy answer to the ER crisis, doctors say, as they adapt to challenges Staying in the ER for hours or even days waiting for a hospital bed should be seen by Canadians as unacceptable, says an emergency physician. But Dr. Catherine Varner, who is also deputy editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, recently wrote an editorial warning that emergency departments across the country face record-setting wait times and closures this summer. “There have been times over the last two years where I’m standing in our waiting room with many patientsRead more
Classic Hollywood cop car for sale by Ontario man who spent 20 years restoring it
Gord Pease has driven his 1981 Plymouth Gran Fury to car shows across Canada and the U.S. When you think of classic cars, you might imagine a Corvette Stingray, a Mustang Fastback or Dodge Charger. But not Gord Pease. The car enthusiast from Woodstock, Ont., went all in for a black and white, 1981 Plymouth Gran Fury that was once an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cruiser. After two decades of logging thousands of kilometres driving it to car shows and festivals, Pease has put his beloved car up for sale. “It’s a very rare piece ofRead more