Liberal MP says she regrets ‘distress’ caused to witnesses who left meeting in tears
OTTAWA (CP) – Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld fell short of an apology today after instigating a fracas that led two witnesses to storm out of a parliamentary committee hearing.
Vandenbeld only says that she deeply regrets the “distress that this meeting caused the witnesses” on Wednesday.
The MP had steered the rare summer meeting of the House of Commons status of women committee away from the planned topic of domestic violence, accusing Conservatives of putting together the agenda in haste.
Vandenbeld blamed Tories for politicizing the issue, then immediately moved to pivot the discussion towards abortion rights.
That came just moments after the committee heard detailed testimony about personal experiences of intimate partner abuse.
Advocates Cait Alexander and Megan Walker left the meeting in visible frustration as it descended into procedural chaos, and Alexander accused Vandenbeld of “abusive” conduct.
Jasper wildfire still out of control, hotter weather expected
By: Fakiha Baig
EDMONTON (CP) – A fire rampaging through Jasper National Park remained out of control Wednesday, while officials worked to restore power and water in the park’s townsite and to hash out a plan for vacationers to retrieve their stranded camping trailers.
“The wildfire is still very active,” Mike Ellis, Alberta’s public safety minister, told an online news conference.
Work continued on multiple fronts. Ellis said crews on the ground and in helicopters were battling flames, with air tankers on standby.
He said a plan was being formulated and should be ready in the next day or so to help people get the campers and trailers they were forced to abandon when everyone was ordered out of the park.
The stretch of Highway 16 through the park was soon set to reopen to heavy commercial traffic.
There was still no word on when people would be allowed to return. But the province and Parks Canada were working on a plan for residents to tour the town on buses when it’s considered safe, Ellis said.
Alberta Forestry Minister Todd Loewen said the firefighting is expected to become more challenging in the coming days as hotter, drier, windier weather is forecast.
PBO estimates capital gain tax change to bring in $17.4B in revenue over five years
OTTAWA (CP) – The parliamentary budget officer estimates the Liberals’ increase to the capital gains inclusion rate will bring in $17.4 billion in revenue over five years.
That’s two billion dollars less than the federal government projected in its spring budget.
The Liberal government proposed making two-thirds rather than one-half of capital gains — the profit made on the sale of assets — taxable.
The proposal was met with pushback from business groups as well as physicians who expect to be affected by the change.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended what is effectively a tax increase, arguing that it is about delivering generational fairness to young people who need the government to spend more on things like housing.
The increase to the inclusion rate came into effect on June 25, although legislation has yet to pass Parliament.
Labour leaders endorse NDP candidate, including the Conservative candidate’s manager
OTTAWA (CP) – More than a dozen labour leaders are endorsing the NDP candidate in an upcoming federal byelection in Winnipeg, including the business manager of the Conservative candidate’s own union.
The endorsements are part of the New Democrats’ efforts to maintain their stronghold in the riding of Elmwood-Transcona, where the parties are vying for support from union workers.
The Conservative candidate Colin Reynolds has campaigned on the idea that the NDP does not represent union workers like him.
The NDP candidate Leila Dance received endorsements today from the Canadian Labour Congress, Manitoba Federation of Labour, and the Winnipeg Labour Council.
Among those throwing their support behind the NDP is Dave McPhail, the business manager of the electrical worker union IBEW Local 2085, of which Reynolds says he is a proud member.
The Conservative party didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Judge gives instructions to jury in murder-conspiracy trial of Coutts protesters
By: Bill Graveland
LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. (CP) – Jurors deciding the fate of two men accused of conspiring to murder police at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing were urged by a judge Wednesday to block out background noise in the high-profile case.
Justice David Labrenz told jurors to focus on the evidence.
“Try and reach a just verdict,” Labrenz said in his final instructions in the Court of King’s Bench trial.
The jury was then sequestered to reach a verdict in the case of Anthony Olienick and Chris Carbert.
The men were arrested after police confiscated weapons and made arrests in shutting down the blockade in early 2022.
The barricade of vehicles at the Canada-U.S. border crossing choked off traffic for two weeks to protest COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.
It was one of many demonstrations at the time across the country, as rules aimed at restricting the spread of COVID-19 butted up against individual rights and freedoms.
Alberta meditation centre tent collapses in high winds, killing 1 and injuring dozens
BUSBY, ALTA. (CP) – One person died and dozens were injured after a large tent collapsed at a Buddhist monastery northwest of Edmonton during powerful winds.
RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said there were as many as 100 people in and around the tent at the Westlock Meditation Centre near Busby, Alta., on Wednesday afternoon.
“Ultimately, we hope to determine exactly what circumstances may have led to this,” he said Thursday.
“We do know, though, that extreme winds were a major contributing factor.”
Savinkoff said of those hurt, several were seriously injured and there were about 50 minor injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to broken bones.
Local RCMP were assisted by officers from nearby detachments, as well as ambulance and fire crews. Occupational Health and Safety investigators were also at the scene.
“We do have investigators that are on site. They’re going to be interviewing everybody there. So as you can imagine, that’s quite the large investigation,” Savinkoff said.
B.C. port union plans to hold strike vote while heading to court over CIRB decision
VANCOUVER (CP) – A union representing foremen at British Columbia’s ports says it is being forced to take an industry-wide strike vote after one employer refused to bargain about automation issues directly and it also wants the courts to weigh in.
A statement from Frank Morena, the local 514 president for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, says they repeatedly tried to negotiate with DP World Canada about automation, but the company refuses and instead hopes for government intervention on its behalf.
The statement says the union is going to court seeking a judicial review of the recent Canada Industrial Relations Board decision that determined the union can’t bargain with DP World alone, saying it doesn’t believe the board is correctly interpreting the law.
The statement says the union has “no interest in an industry-wide dispute as a result of just one employer that won’t bargain” on an issue critical to its members.
The B.C. Maritime Employers Association says in a statement that it’s disappointed with the union’s latest position.