Premiers wrapping up Council of the Federation summer meeting in Halifax
HALIFAX (CP) – Canada’s premiers are wrapping up the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation today.
The premiers of the 10 provinces and three territories have been in Halifax for their three-day gathering hosted by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston.
A statement from the premiers says key priorities that have been discussed include housing, affordability and skills training; strategic infrastructure; the future of energy; and emergency preparedness and response.
Several premiers have expressed frustration over what they say is a lack of teamwork from the federal government on important files.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a lack of collaboration has resulted in the doubling up of services like dental care and pharmacare.
British Columbia’s David Eby says he and his counterparts have called for years at federation get-togethers for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — calls that he says have, so far, gone unanswered.
Trudeau outlines details of $30B, 10-year fund for public transit
OTTAWA (CP) – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says applications are now open for a national transit fund that will include money for existing transit systems so they can expand, improve and modernize.
The $30-billion, 10-year Canada Public Transit Fund has been in the works for months and was in the recent federal budget.
That money will be divided into three categories: baseline funding for existing systems, metro-region agreements for Canada’s biggest cities, and funding for specific things like rural communities, Indigenous communities and active transportation.
The Liberals say this will complement the Housing Accelerator Fund by tying housing money to projects that are near public transit.
The plan includes eliminating mandatory minimum parking requirements for new construction and allowing high-density housing projects near transit.
The money isn’t set to flow for another two years but applications opened today for the baseline funding and the metro agreements.
Group in charge of Google’s $100M for news outlets lays out its governance model
By: Mickey Djuric
OTTAWA (CP) – The group Google asked to distribute $100 million to news outlets in Canada has publicly released its governance model, which it says focuses on sustainability, equity and innovation within the industry.
The Canadian Journalism Collective submitted plans to Canada’s broadcasting regulator this week outlining the structure of the board that will ultimately oversee the funds. That submission was made public on Wednesday.
The Canada Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requested the information as part of the public consultations to enforce the Online News Act, which compels tech companies to enter into agreements with news publishers for the use of their content.
The collective has had limited time to develop this novel framework under a law that is being closely watched by other countries that want to implement something similar, including the United States.
It will ultimately be up to the CRTC to determine if the collective’s plan meets its expectations. If the governance model is satisfactory, then the CRTC will grant Google an exemption from the law.
This is a pivotal step as the journalism industry comes together to ensure the money is distributed equally, regardless of the business model or self-interest of any individual media outlet.
Alberta, B.C. toast wine deal after tiff over taxing direct sales to consumers
By: Lisa Johnson
EDMONTON (CP) – The Alberta-British Columbia wine fight appears to be coming to an end.
The premiers of both provinces announced Tuesday a one-year deal to again allow Albertans to directly order wine from more than 300 B.C. wineries in exchange for the Alberta government getting its share of applicable taxes.
“The markup was not being collected, and we think you need to have fair treatment,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters in Halifax.
British Columbia Premier David Eby said he’s grateful for the deal.
He said the standoff with Alberta hit his province’s wine sector at the same time it was also being buffeted by the impacts of extreme weather. The B.C. industry has had two years of crop losses due to record-breaking heat and cold snaps.
The impasse began in January.
Husband sentenced to 16 years for killing, dismembering B.C. teacher Naomi Onotera
NEW WESTMINSTER (CP) – A man who admitted killing and dismembering his wife has been sentenced to 16 years in prison by a British Columbia Supreme Court judge.
Obnes Regis initially pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Langley teacher-librarian Naomi Onotera and committing indignity to her remains, but later pleaded guilty to both charges after his trial began in May.
The brief trial in New Westminster heard that Regis killed Onotera with a single punch to the head during an argument in the couple’s home.
The court heard that he then dismembered her body and disposed of her remains along the banks of the Fraser River in Fort Langley.
Regis told undercover officers about his crimes in December 2021, after Onotera was reported missing by family members that August.
He later repeated the confession to Mounties during an interrogation, adding that his then 18-month-old daughter had witnessed the assault and had accompanied him when he scattered his wife’s remains.
The sentence included 11 years for the manslaughter charge and five for indignity to the remains.
