Ship fire off Victoria shows Canada isn’t prepared for marine emergencies: TSB
VANCOUVER (CP) – The federal Transportation Safety Board says it’s concerned that gaps in Canada’s preparedness for marine emergencies could pose a risk to vessels, the environment, and the health and safety of the general public.
An investigation report into the cargo spill of more than 100 containers and a fire aboard the MV Zim Kingston in October 2021 says the incident “raised questions about the availability and capability of Canadian resources” in emergencies.
The report says that unlike the United States, Canada does not require prearranged plans for fire response or marine salvage, and the Canadian Coast Guard does not directly participate in putting out fires.
The Greek-owned container ship rolled and lost 109 containers overboard about 50 kilometres south of Ucluelet, B.C., spilling cargo along Vancouver Island’s beaches.
Around 36 hours later, while the vessel was anchored off Victoria, a fire broke out in a container that had a hazardous chemical, which later spread to other containers.
The safety board’s report says the federal government intends to create a single system to respond to all marine pollution incidents and Transport Canada is developing regulations to strengthen preparedness requirements for the industry, but that could take another four years.
Dry, hot spell to return to southern B.C. after rains, cooler weather dampen fires
VANCOUVER (CP) – Recent rains and cooler temperatures have knocked down wildfire activity in parts of British Columbia, especially in the north, but another hot and dry spell is expected to settle in across the southern Interior, officials said Tuesday.
Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said the weather has offered “much-needed relief” to communities and firefighting crews. Several evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted around the Antler and Shetland creek blazes, she said.
Still, she said wildfires are still threatening communities, particularly in the southeast, and the province, wildfire crews and emergency responders are doing “everything that they can do” to keep people safe. More than 10 search and rescue crews have been deployed to support evacuations in the past week, Ma said.
About 1,350 people are currently under evacuation orders, primarily in the central Kootenay region of southeastern B.C., Ma told a news conference.
A further 2,800 people have been told to be ready to leave on short notice.
Alberta’s Smith pushing to fast-track permits for rebuild of fire-ravaged Jasper
By: Jack Farrell
EDMONTON (CP) – Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will push the federal government and the Town of Jasper to fast-track the rebuild of the picturesque Rocky Mountain townsite.
Smith says her government is striking a committee of senior civil servants to work with Parks Canada and Jasper leaders to swap ideas, expedite development permits and collaborate on ways to restore Jasper as quickly as possible.
Jasper, a town of about 5,000, lost a third of its homes and businesses when a wildfire overwhelmed crews and torched the western portion of the municipality last week.
Fires forced the town’s population and about 20,000 visitors from Jasper National Park.
Those without homes were directed to go to evacuation centres in Edmonton, Calgary and Grande Prairie.
The fire in the town is out, but the blaze in the park remained out of control Tuesday.
Conservatives launch attack ads on NDP, calling leader ‘Sellout Singh’
OTTAWA (CP) – The Conservative party released two new ads this week attacking NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh as a “sellout,” blaming him for a national rise in crime, housing prices and costly living.
The ads question why Singh is keeping Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power at a time when his Liberal government is unpopular with Canadians.
The New Democrats signed a political pact with the Liberals in 2022 to secure their support on key votes, in exchange for progress on shared priorities like pharmacare and dental care.
The Conservative ads, which are running across the country, accuse Singh of maintaining the deal to secure his MP pension, which he will qualify for in October.
They also feature real photos of Singh wearing luxury brands and driving a luxury vehicle.
Singh’s principal secretary Anne McGrath says the attacks are personal and dishonest, and are an attempt by Conservatives to distract from what she says are their plans to cut federal health-care programs.
Liberal donations up, but Conservatives again outpace all parties on fundraising
OTTAWA (CP) – Liberals saw their donations rise in the second quarter of this year, showing the sole increase among federal parties, though Conservatives continue to dominate.
Elections Canada released parties’ financial returns for the period from April to June this year.
The Liberals raised nearly $3.8 million in the second quarter, an increase from the nearly $3.1 million raised in the first quarter.
Most of those donations came in before the Liberals’ stunning late-June byelection loss in a long-held Toronto riding, so its impact is unclear.
The Conservatives continue to bring in more money than all the other parties combined, though their fundraising fell from nearly $10.7 million during the first three months of the year to just over $9.8 million in the second quarter.
The New Democrats raised nearly $1.3 million in the second quarter, a decrease of about $55,000 from the previous quarter, while the Bloc Québécois raised just under $322,000, about $21,000 less.
More Listeria infections reported amid outbreak linked to plant-based milk recall
(CP) – The Public Health Agency of Canada is reporting six additional cases of listeriosis linked to a national recall of plant-based milk beverages.
The agency says a total of 18 cases have now been confirmed in four provinces, including 13 hospitalizations and two previously reported deaths.
There were 12 cases in Ontario, four in Quebec, and one each in Alberta and Nova Scotia.
Public health officials say those who became sick range in age from seven to 89, although the majority of them are over 50 and female.
The illness caused by the Listeria bacteria is linked to a recall of Silk brand almond milk, coconut milk, almond-coconut milk and oat milk, as well as Great Value brand almond milk.
Most of the affected products have best-before dates up to and including Oct. 4.
The Ontario health ministry confirmed earlier this month that two people in the province died amid the listeriosis outbreak, but did not provide any details.
Health experts have said that Listeria can make people sick up to two months after they eat or drink contaminated products, making it challenging to quickly pinpoint the source of contamination.
Two witnesses storm out of House committee in tears, decrying Liberal politicization
OTTAWA (CP) – Two witnesses stormed out of a parliamentary committee meeting today after Liberals tried to steer the planned discussion away from violence against women.
Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld was given the floor to ask questions shortly after witnesses began detailing graphic examples of domestic violence — but used that time to argue the committee should instead be discussing abortion rights.
Cait Alexander, who heads advocacy group End Violence Everywhere, had just shared her personal story of abuse suffered at the hands of an ex-boyfriend.
Alexander and advocate Megan Walker pushed back on Vandenbeld’s intervention, saying abortion was not on the agenda and politicization only fuels gender-based violence.
They both stormed out of the rare summer hearing during continued squabbling among MPs, whom Alexander accused of acting like children.
Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri apologized to Alexander’s mother on behalf of the committee, and was told that “sorry” isn’t good enough.
Amnesty International names Wet’suwet’en chief Canada’s fist prisoner of conscience
OTTAWA (CP) – Amnesty International is calling for the release of a First Nations chief who was convicted of criminal contempt, and is calling him Canada’s first prisoner of conscience.
Chief Dsta’hyl, who represents one of the clans within the Wet’suwet’en Nation, also goes by the name Adam Gagnon.
He was arrested in 2021 for breaching a court order not to impede construction of the Coastal GasLink liquefied natural gas pipeline, and is currently confined to house arrest.
Amnesty argues this amounts to unjust confinement of the chief and others who defend their land and rights during a climate emergency.
The group says the court order is unjust because it bans activities that should be protected under the Charter right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
This is the first time Amnesty International has recognized a prisoner of conscience within Canada, and it is seeking his “immediate and unconditional release.”