Davie shipyard to expand operations south of the border to build icebreakers
MONTREAL (CP) – Quebec-based Davie shipbuilding plans to set up operations south of the border to help the United States build icebreakers.
A White House announcement on Monday says the shipbuilder is in talks to partner with an existing American shipyard.
The news follows a pact announced earlier this month under which Canada, the U.S. and Finland will collaborate to build polar icebreakers.
Davie landed a Canadian government contract worth $8.5 billion earlier this year to build seven icebreakers and two hybrid-powered ferries.
The company also recently purchased Finland’s Helsinki shipyard, which has built half the world’s icebreaker fleet.
The Quebec government contributed $110 million to that acquisition, on top of a $520-million injection to help Davie modernize its shipyard in Lévis, Que.
Woman rescued off B.C. glacier calls those who braved smoky conditions ‘superheroes’
By: Ashley Joannou
WEST KOOTENAY (CP) – Laurence Desjardins says the wind was loud enough to keep her awake through the night as white ash fell around the tent where she was camping with friends on a glacier in B.C.’s West Kootenay region.
They knew they had to leave as quickly as possible.
The group of four friends are home after an unexpected change in the wind allowed them to be pulled off the Macbeth Ice Fields, northeast of Kaslo, B.C., on Thursday, in what was a challenging helicopter rescue as wildfires burn in the region.
Desjardins said in an interview on Monday that the group of experienced hikers had planned a multiday trip and were given the OK that the roads were open.
Quebec government has only recouped about one-third of pandemic-era fines so far
By: Maura Forrest
MONTREAL (CP) – More than two years after Quebec lifted most of its COVID-era public health measures, the province has only recouped a little over one-third of the $68 million it issued in pandemic-related fines.
Quebec had some of the strictest public health measures in the country during the pandemic and was the only province to impose a curfew on its residents. Since the start of COVID-19 in 2020, authorities have issued nearly 44,000 tickets for violations of the provincial public health law, including gathering illegally, failing to wear a mask and breaking the curfew.
The vast majority of those tickets were handed out before the end of 2022 — most COVID restrictions were lifted in the spring of that year.
Two years on, however, the government is still working to get people to pay those fines. As of June 30, the government had recovered $25.2 million — about 37 per cent of the total. The average amount owed per ticket is about $1,500.
Rain and animal monitoring on minds of B.C., Alberta wildfire crews
British Columbia’s minister of emergency management is scheduled to give an update on the wildfire situation today as some areas in the province cool off while others flare.
Bowinn Ma and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston will be joined by staff from the province to give an overview of the wildfire trouble spots in B.C.
The BC Wildfire Service says recent rainfall and a return to more seasonable temperatures in many parts of the province have reduced fire behaviour on several “major incidents.”
In Alberta, Parks Canada officials want to ensure animals affected by the wildfires in Jasper National Park are alright.
One bear in particular has been fitted with a radio tracking collar, and has been followed since the blaze began last week.
Despite the loss of about a third of the Jasper townsite, including homes and buildings, as well as the sorrow over the destruction of a beloved piece of Canadian landscape, experts say animals know how to protect themselves in a wildfire.
Accused in Coutts blockade murder-conspiracy trial victim of lying RCMP, says lawyer
By: Bill Graveland
LETHBRIDGE (CP) – A lawyer for Anthony Olienick says he went to the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., to make a peaceful statement but was instead ensnared by flirting, lying female Mounties.
Marilyn Burns, in her closing argument to a jury in Lethbridge, Alta., on Tuesday, said Olienick was a victim of a “disastrous police investigation.”
Olienick and Chris Carbert are charged with conspiring to murder police after a cache of guns, body armour and ammunition was found in trailers at Coutts in early 2022.
More weapons, ammunition and pipe bombs were later found at Olienick’s home.
Jurors have been hearing evidence for seven weeks about the blockade, which tied up traffic at the busy Canada-U.S. border crossing to protest COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandates.
Conservative MP Karen Vecchio not seeking re-election, will finish out term
Conservative MP Karen Vecchio not seeking re-election, will finish out term
OTTAWA (CP) – Ontario Conservative MP Karen Vecchio says she will not be seeking re-election.
Vecchio made the announcement on 94.1 myFM, a radio station in St. Thomas, Ont.
She says she believes every politician has an expiry date, and she knows when it’s time for her to be at home.
Vecchio was first elected to represent Elgin-Middlesex-London in 2015, and she was a longtime chair of the House of Commons status of women committee, a role that ended in April.
Conservative party spokeswoman Sarah Fischer says Vecchio has been a dedicated member of the Tory caucus, and the party wishes her the best following the next election.
The party confirms Vecchio will remain in place as an MP until her term is up.
Some Liberal MPs were quick to sing her praises on Tuesday, lauding her willingness to collaborate across party lines.
64-year-old woman dead in Montreal apartment is city’s 21st homicide victim in 2024
MONTREAL (CP) – Montreal police say a woman found dead inside an apartment in the Lachine borough was the victim of a homicide.
The death of the 64-year-old is the 21st murder of the year on the territory served by the Montreal police.
Police discovered her body Monday evening.
Ambulance technicians confirmed the death not long after.
The major crimes unit of the force has taken over the investigation.
Const. Sabrina Gauthier says police have so far made no arrests.
