Canada’s top court found the Quebec Court of Appeal was wrong to reduce the fine imposed on Richard Vallières, one of the men responsible for the theft and trafficking of 9,500 barrels of syrup from a Quebec warehouse a decade ago.Maple syrup cans are seen at a sugar shack in Oka, Quebec. The Supreme Court…
Politics
The Canadian Live Music Association released a report on Wednesday outlining some of the systemic barriers faced by workers who are Indigenous, Black or people of colour.A crowd attends a music festival on July 29, 2017. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)An industry group is calling on Canada to “close the gap” in racial representation in…
- Politics
Victim of intimate partner assault by B.C. lawyer calls 3-month suspension a ‘slap on the wrist’
by Sue JonesA West Vancouver lawyer who admitted to beating up his then-girlfriend while also representing her in divorce proceedings has been suspended from practice for three months.Lawyer Michael Murph Ranspot has been suspended from practice for three months and ordered to pay more than $12,000 in costs. (Black Press Media)A West Vancouver lawyer who admitted to…
- Politics
Controversial royal trip renews questions about monarchy’s future — including in Canada
by Sue JonesA recent royal tour intensified a spotlight on Britain’s colonial history, renewing questions about how much longer Commonwealth countries — including Canada — will have a monarch as their head of state.A plane carrying Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, arrives at Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport last Thursday. The royal couple’s week-long trip saw them…
A Florida man will stand trial in Minnesota this summer on human smuggling charges following his January arrest after authorities just across the Canadian border found four migrants who had frozen to death during a blizzard, according to federal court documents filed Wednesday.Steve Shand is accused of human smuggling after seven people were picked up…
The RCMP has introduced training and policies to rid its ranks of bias, but without tracking allegations it’s hard to know if it’s actually working, according to a new report from the national police force’s watchdog.The head of the RCMP has agreed to make changes to the force’s ‘bias-free policing model.’ (Valerie Zink/Reuters)The RCMP has…
- Politics
Tourism operators in northwestern Ontario hope for a bounce-back this summer, but hurdles remain
by Sue JonesNorthwestern Ontario’s beleaguered remote tourism operators say they’re hoping for a good season after two years of economic devastation brought on by border closures. But many are also hampered by rising costs, delayed provincial recovery funding and vaccine requirements that U.S. customers may be unwilling to follow.Wayne Clark and wife Karla own Clark’s Resorts and…
- Politics
B.C.’s funding system ‘broken’ for Indigenous children in provincial care: report
by Sue JonesBritish Columbia’s child and youth representative says trying to follow the money trail when it comes to ministry funding for the welfare of Indigenous children in provincial care revealed a “jarring” lack of data transparency.British Columbia’s representative for children and youth is calling on the government to urgently fix what she says is a ‘broken’…
The federal government will table its next annual budget on Thursday, April 7.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland confirmed the release date of the budget in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)The federal government will table its next annual budget on Thursday, April 7 at 4 p.m.…
- Politics
20 arrested, $70M in drugs seized after years-long international investigation: RCMP
by Sue JonesA multi-year police investigation that originated in Manitoba has led to the arrests of 20 people, including a full-patch Hells Angels member, who RCMP say were working for an international drug and weapons trafficking operation.RCMP say officers from multiple police agencies seized more than $70 million worth of illicit drugs as part of an investigation…