New RCMP units to protect ministers, top bureaucrats from threats of political violence | CBC News

The RCMP is preparing to offer close protection services to both senior federal ministers and public servants in response to the rising thre

CBC

The RCMP is preparing to offer close protection services to both senior federal ministers and public servants in response to the rising threat of political violence, sources say.

New RCMP units are expected to offer protection to up to 10 ministers or high-level bureaucrats at a time, according to information obtained by CBC News and Radio-Canada.

These new protection units are to be assigned on a case-by-case basis to ministers or officials based on risk assessments conducted by the RCMP.

While ministers have been clamouring for more protective services for years, the government's decision to include senior bureaucrats among the people the RCMP protects points to a growing level of alarm in official Ottawa over the threat of political violence. [...]

Pride flag torn in potential hate-based incident near Niagara

A Pride flag was found cut from a church’s flag pole and torn to shreds over the weekend near Niagara, and police say they are treating it a

Toronto

A Pride flag was found cut from a church’s flag pole and torn to shreds over the weekend near Niagara, and police say they are treating it as a potential hate-based incident.

Last Saturday, May 27, just before 10 p.m., police said, after reviewing video footage, five people walked into Trinity United Church on William Street near King Street in Lincoln, Ont.

Early in the investigation, police say they found the Canadian flag and Pride flag were both on the ground nearby the church’s flagpole. Upon further inspection, officers said they saw the rope to the flag post had been snipped and the Pride flag “ripped up.”

Officers say three of the five individuals were seen tampering with the flag pole and further analysis of the video footage is underway. [...]

Canada is first to require health warnings printed on individual cigarettes

Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind

CTVNews

Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind of measure aimed at reducing tobacco usage.

Details of the new regulations were announced on Wednesday, which was World No Tobacco Day. The regulations take effect on Aug. 1 and will be implemented through a phased approach over the next year, the federal government said.

“The requirement for a health warning directly on every cigarette is a world precedent setting measure that will reach every person who smokes with every puff,” stated Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in a news release.

“This innovative measure will be accompanied by enhanced warnings on the package exterior, and health messages on the package interior that are internationally unique. The new regulations deserve strong support.” [...]

N.S. raises fines for burning to $25,000 as wildfires burn out of control

Nova Scotia has raised fines for burning to $25,000 after eight illegally-lit fires were reported overnight as multiple wildfires continue t

Atlantic

Nova Scotia has raised fines for burning to $25,000 as multiple wildfires continue to burn out of control in the province.

Despite the premier’s pleas to Nova Scotians Tuesday to “for God’s sake, stop burning,” eight illegally-lit fires were reported overnight in Halifax.

“Eight more reckless people decided to burn,” Tim Houston said Wednesday afternoon.

“I do not know what they are thinking. I just don’t get it with what’s happening in this province right now.”

The premier said if fires continue to be reported despite the newly raised fine, up to $25,000 from $237.50, his government will “do what we need to do to increase that” fine. [...]

Former B.C. recovery staffer charged with sexual assault, 11 accusers come forward - BC | Globalnews.ca

Adam Haber reportedly worked at the Last Door Recovery Centre, while his accusers include former clients of the Westminster House Society.

Global News

A former contract employee at a New Westminster, B.C. drug and alcohol recovery centre has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, with 11 alleged victims now having come forward.

Adam Haber, 50, was arrested on Tuesday. The Vancouver man reportedly worked at the Last Door Recovery Centre, while his accusers include former clients of the Westminster House Society.

Some connected on social media, with one speaking to Global News anonymously in February.

“When I relapsed, he reached out and said he was going to help me and like get me groceries. He took me to a bar and got me drunk and it went downhill from there,” the woman said at the time. [...]

Canadian advocate wants more transparency from church after Manitoba priest arrested - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca

A Canadian advocate wants the Roman Catholic Church to do more, a day after Manitoba priest was arrested on several sexual assault charges.

CJOB

A Canadian advocate is demanding a zero-tolerance policy from the Catholic church a day after a Manitoba priest was arrested.

Gemma Hickey, founder of Advocates for Clergy Trauma Survivors (ACTS) in Canada, told 680 CJOB’s The Start that headlines like those coming out of Little Grand Rapids First Nation can hit survivors hard.

“Instantly I thought, ‘what a brave little girl’ — she got out of there, she went home, she told her mother, and her mother told the police.

“Our hearts go out to the victims… we’re thinking of that community right now and we’re going to continue to do what we can to ensure that stories like this get heard.” [...]

Manitoba boosts health care access with more than 72,300 additional procedures | Globalnews.ca

'Our government is healing health care and focusing on increasing capacity in the public system right here in Manitoba,' said Health Ministe

CJOB

The Manitoba government is boosting health care access with the addition of more than 72,300 diagnostic and surgical procedures, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced on Wednesday.

“Our government is healing health care and focusing on increasing capacity in the public system right here in Manitoba,” said Gordon.

“The Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force (DSRTF) continues to make important strides in immediate and long-term needs that build capacity for the future of the health-care system.

“We are listening to front-line health-care workers and implementing solutions directly from their recommendations and proposals to get Manitobans the care they need.” [...]

Doug Ford will attend York Pride parade amid flag controversy

Just days after the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) voted against flying the Pride flag, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will

Toronto

Just days after the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) voted against flying the Pride flag, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will march in the region’s pride parade.

Speaking in the legislature during question period, Ford said that school boards “have a responsibility to ensure each and every school in Ontario is a safe, inclusive place for all children.”

“I look forward again, for my third or fourth year, going down to the York Pride parade,” he said when asked what action his government would be taking to show support. “We are going to go down there, we are going to celebrate, we are going to have fun and that’s where I stand.”

Ford appeared to indicate that his attendance at York Pride is proof that Ontario celebrates its LGTBQ2S+ community.

On March 30, trustees with the YCDSB voted 6 – 4 against flying the rainbow flag outside its building in Aurora during June’s Pride Month. [...]

OPP officer who sexually assaulted and filmed unconscious woman could face 'exemplary' sentence | CBC News

An Ontario Provincial Police officer found guilty of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman while recording it on his mobile phone should

CBC

WARNING: This article contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer found guilty of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman while recording it on his mobile phone should be sentenced to five to seven years behind bars, the Crown told court on Wednesday.

The request by Crown attorney Peter Napier, made during a sentencing hearing in Brockville, Ont. for Const. Jason Redmond, is above the typical range of three to five years.

Redmond's lawyer Karin Stein suggested the lower end of the range — three years — was more appropriate.

Napier said the longer sentence was necessary given what he described as the "horrendous sexual assault" followed by a "litany of torment." [...]

Ford government pauses proposal to build housing on dwindling farmland | CBC News

Premier Doug Ford's government has pulled the brakes on a proposal that would allow more housing to be built on Ontario's dwindling farmland

CBC

Premier Doug Ford's government has hit the brakes on a proposal that would allow more housing to be built on Ontario's dwindling farmland.

Steve Clark, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said Wednesday that the government is not moving forward with the proposal that would have allowed the owners of agricultural land to carve out up to three housing lots on each farm parcel, a policy known as severance.

CBC News reported on Tuesday that under pressure from farmers, Ford's government was considering backing off from the proposal.

"We made a very clear decision as a government to not move forward with the severance policies," Clark told reporters at Queen's Park.

"We've extended the consultation period on the provincial policy statement just to make sure there's adequate time for ideas that don't involve severances." [...]

What Toronto mayoral candidates promise to do about homeless encampments | CBC News

Three Toronto candidates for mayor raised the issue of homeless encampments on Monday, saying more outreach, wraparound support and supporti

CBC

Toronto's homeless encampments took centre stage on the mayoral campaign trail on Monday, with candidate Mark Saunders vowing to clear them from public spaces.

Saunders, Ana Bailão and Brad Bradford put forward proposals for more outreach, support and housing, while three of the other top six candidates — Mitzie Hunter, Olivia Chow and Josh Matlow — took a stand on the issue at a debate last week. The six are among a total of 102 people vying to replace John Tory.

Toronto saw a sharp rise in the number of encampments during the COVID-19 pandemic, with unhoused people choosing to sleep in tents instead of staying in homeless shelters. To deal with the situation, council, under Tory, oversaw a handful of encampment clearings that, at times, turned violent.

Toronto's ombudsman, Kwame Addo, sharply criticized those park clearings, saying the city chose speed over fairness when it cleared the sites. Advocates condemned the clearings, saying the city lacked compassion. [...]

Former Ontario minister sues CSIS, unidentified leakers, reporters

A former Ontario cabinet minister is suing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and unidentified employees who he alleges leaked class

Toronto

A former Ontario cabinet minister is suing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and unidentified employees who he alleges leaked classified information with the intent of harming his reputation.

Michael Chan alleges the anonymous employees' actions were influenced by "a stereotypical type-casting of immigrants born in China as being somehow untrustworthy."

Chan, a former cabinet minister in the former Ontario Liberal government and now a deputy mayor in Markham, Ont., is also suing the Crown, the attorney general of Canada, the CSIS director, and two journalists who have written stories on Chan based on leaked classified information.

Chan says the stories inaccurately implicated him in allegations of election interference and he is seeking a total of $10 million in damages. [...]