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Court expected to hear city’s perspective of ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers’ trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

OTTAWA — The criminal trial of two “Freedom Convoy” organizers is expected to hear the city’s perspective on the controversial protest as Ottawa’s emergency manager takes the stand. Kim Ayotte oversaw the city’s bylaw enforcement, fire and paramedic services during last year’s demonstration, as well as the department that oversees special events.  Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are on trial to determine whether they committed mischief or counselled others to commit mischief, intimidation and other offences over the course of the protest. Protesters blocked city streets and residential neighbourhoods around Parliament Hill in a protest against COVID-19 public-health restrictions, and refused to leave for three weeks. Ayotte provided daily situation updates to then-Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and the rest of city council during the demonstration.Ottawa declared a state of emergency after the second weekend of the protest in what the mayor at the time call...

Liberal foreign aid looks to bolster feminism, cut red tape for charities: Hussen

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

OTTAWA — International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says he’s focused on speeding up aid funding while cementing the Trudeau government’s feminist approach to development abroad.In his first interview about taking on the role since he was sworn in July 26, Hussen said his mandate letter calls for a continued focus on Canada’s feminist international assistance policy, and to prioritize clearing bureaucratic hurdles that prevent that policy from fulling taking shape.“We know that when women and girls are included in society, those societies do better, that poverty comes down, gender-based violence comes down (and) economic development takes off,” he said.Hussen previously helmed the government’s housing and immigration portfolios. His new job focuses on managing a $6.5-billion budget for development aid such as building schools, as well as helping send out humanitarian funding in response to crises such as major earthquakes.The goal is to try c...

Climate, development, India top of mind as Trudeau travels to UN General Assembly

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to the UN General Assembly with the planet at a climate crossroads — and Canada facing an ever more fraught relationship with the world’s fastest-growing economy. The day before departing for New York, Trudeau rocked the House of Commons with “credible allegations” linking agents of India’s government to the deadly shooting this past June of a Sikh leader in Surrey, B.C. It’s a striking contextual backdrop for the week ahead at the United Nations, a place where aspirational visions of a prosperous and peaceful future often have to do battle with stark political realities. This year’s theme for what the international diplomatic corps calls “high-level week” at the UN is “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity” — two commodities that seem hard to come by these days. “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian so...

Saskatchewan judge to hear injunction application over school pronoun policy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

REGINA — A Saskatchewan judge is to hear an injunction application that seeks to halt the province’s policy affecting children who use different pronouns at school. Lawyers for UR Pride, an organization representing LGBTQ people in Regina, are to argue in favour of the injunction.The lawyers from Egale Canada and McCarthy Tétrault LLP say the policy violates two sections of the Charter, including equality rights and the right to security of the person.The policy requires children under 16 to receive parental consent if they want to go by a different name or pronoun at school.Premier Scott Moe has said his government remains committed to the policy, saying the province will do everything in its power to protect parental rights. Moe says to keep the policy in place, he would consider using the notwithstanding clause, a provision that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years.Lawyers for UR Pride have said the injunction application is meant to st...

Statistics Canada to release inflation figures for August this morning

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada will release its latest reading on inflation this morning.The agency will publish its consumer price index for August. Economists are forecasting inflation reaccelerated to around four per cent last month, reversing previous progress made as gasoline prices push inflation higher.Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to 2.8 per cent on an annualized basis in June, entering the Bank of Canada’s target range of one to three per cent for the first time since March 2021. However, the pace picked up in July to 3.3 per cent.The Bank of Canada kept its key interest target on hold at five per cent earlier this month, but noted it was ready to raise rates if needed.Bank of Canada deputy governor Sharon Kozicki is expected to deliver a speech at the University of Regina this afternoon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2023.The Canadian Press

Daily horoscope for September 19, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023:You are positive thinking, practical and down to earth. You care about appearances and make an effort. This year is highly successful for you. It’s your chance to reap the rewards of your past efforts. Expect a promotion, an award, kudos, acknowledgement and recognition. Bravo! You deserve this.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★Double-check details given to you by co-workers or other sources related to your work today. Likewise, be extra careful with the details related to your health, because both these areas are subject to confusion, deception and carelessness. Be alert. Make no hasty assumptions. Guard against impulses. Tonight: Check your finances.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Parents should be very clear about where their kids are and what they’re doing today, because children could be harmed by poisons, bad food or chemicals. Mean...

Citizens and organizations invited to express their views on Erasmus+ and shape the future of the programme

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

On 15 September, the Commission launched a public consultation to collect the views of citizens and organisations on Erasmus+, the EU's flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport.The public consultation will help the Commission gather information on the results of the novelties introduced in the current generation of the programme, such as European Universities, Centres of Vocational Excellence and Erasmus+ Teacher Academies. It will also give insights as to how the measures put in place to reinforce inclusion and to enhance simplification are progressing. Finally, it will aim at collecting citizens' and stakeholders' views on the programme's resilience and flexibility as well as its contribution to tackling societal challenges, and their suggestions on the future programme.Building on the call for evidence conducted in 2022, this public consultation will feed into the assessment of the Erasmus+ programme's overall performance which will revolve around five criteria...

Harriette Cole: A random man was staring in my window, and the police let him go

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I live on the ground floor of an apartment complex. It is in the city, but it is surrounded by a small garden and fence.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Her dress made me upset, and it didn’t even stick to my wedding theme Advice | Harriette Cole: How do I keep my employee from leaving? Advice | Harriette Cole: It was a bad moment on Zoom. How can I smooth things over? Advice | Harriette Cole: How can I get my co-workers to let me go out with them? Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m forgetting chunks of time, and my husband says it’s no big deal The other morning, I felt something weird and opened my eyes. Standing outside my window was a random man staring in at me. My bedroom is small. While there was a window between us, he was literally only about 10 feet away from me. I screamed, and he ran off.My sons went out to track him down as I called the police. My sons fou...

Miss Manners: We’d go to the wedding but we’re obviously on the bride’s B-list

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We request your advice on whether it is acceptable to issue (or to accept) wedding invitations after the first batch has gone out.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I unintentionally insulted a stranger in the store Advice | Dear Miss Manners: I was berated by the mothers of the rude sing-along girls Advice | Miss Manners: It was awkward to see her after this emotional episode Advice | Miss Manners: This newbie player is always holding up our game Advice | Miss Manners: I’m tired of being mistaken for a wife rather than an exec We received an invitation to a local wedding, and it is clear from the timing and information on the couple’s website that most invitations were sent much earlier. We would like to attend, but my wife is concerned that there is something unseemly about not being included in the initial invite list.I think it makes sense that we are backup guests....

Dear Abby: He never wants to see me again, but we may be thrown together

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I separated for four months. We have now reunited. However, his son “Ryan” told me he never wants to see me again.I wrote him a letter, expressed my remorse and invited him to visit but have received no response. Ryan shuns me now.My husband is going to invite him to visit, but I don’t know how I will deal with it. I do not want to be his hostess. What should I do?— BACK TOGETHER IN WEST VIRGINIADEAR BACK: If your husband invites Ryan to visit, and if Ryan agrees, put on a smile and become the most gracious hostess since Perle Mesta. (If you don’t know who she was, look her up.)Your husband may be able to mediate a resumption of harmonious family relations. If his son regarded your leaving as a personal rejection, your husband may be able to disabuse him of that idea and patch things up.DEAR ABBY: Would it be wrong to reach out to my biological mother for financial help?I was adopted when I was just 2 months old. I was lucky to...