In the news today, Sept. 4

Five stories in the news for Tuesday, Sept. 4

———

MPS TO HAVE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE MEETING ON PIPELINE

Members of the natural resources committee are meeting this afternoon for an emergency session to discuss last week’s court decision to tear up federal approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. A federal court last week ruled consultation with Indigenous communities was not robust enough for the approval to be valid. The court also said the National Energy Board hadn’t properly considered the impact of an increase in oil tanker traffic off the coast of British Columbia that will result from an expanded pipeline. Today’s meeting comes at the request of the three Conservatives and one New Democrat MP who sit on the committee.

———

Young minds, big ideas: Elementary students learn about urban planning with 'Box City'

14h ago

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

SEX ASSAULT TRIAL FOR U.K. SAILORS TO BEGIN TODAY

A trial for two British sailors accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Nova Scotia military base is set to begin today in Halifax. Darren Smalley and Simon Radford are charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm and participating in a group sexual assault. The charges were laid following an alleged incident in barracks at 12 Wing Shearwater on April 10, 2015. The Crown had originally charged four men, but charges against two of the sailors have been dropped.

———

RISING OIL PRICE EXPECTED TO SPUR SPENDING

Rising oil prices that encouraged more spending by small and intermediate oil and gas companies in Western Canada in the first six months of 2018 are expected to lead drilling budgets to grow even further this fall. Producers say last week’s steady march by U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil prices to higher than US$70 per barrel will encourage some to open their wallets. CIBC says several producers have signalled increases in their 2018 capital budgets to match expected increases in cash flow in the second half, but the market has tended to punish them with lower valuations.

———

MISSING, EMACIATED KILLER WHALE FOUND ALIVE

An American whale research organization says an ailing killer whale has been found alive just hours after it was announced the young orca had been separated from her family pod. In a Facebook post yesterday, the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbour, Wash., said the female southern resident killer whale known as J50 was found mid-morning and the centre’s researchers were in the water with the animal. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which released a statement earlier in the day about the missing orca, said J50 was still very emaciated and that a team, including the Vancouver Aquarium’s chief veterinarian, was following the orca and planned to administer a second round of antibiotics via a dart, as well as a deworming medicine if possible.

———

FOO FIGHTERS RESCHEDULE SHOWS AFTER GROHL LOSES VOICE

The Foo Fighters have rescheduled shows in Edmonton and Calgary after their singer lost his voice. A news release from Rogers Place in Edmonton says that following a Foo Fighters performance Saturday at Safeco Field in Seattle, Dave Grohl suffered a loss of voice and is now on vocal rest. The band was scheduled to play Rogers Place tonight and at the Calgary Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday. The news release from Rogers Place says the band’s Concrete and Gold tour will resume Sept. 8 in Vancouver, and replacement shows for Edmonton and Calgary will happen next month.

———

ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— The 16-year-old charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a German tourist in southern Alberta is scheduled to appear in court in Cochrane. 

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks to supporters at a Liberal fundraising event in Surrey, B.C.

— Officials with a Manitoba Indigenous advocacy group will respond to a recent report that found sexual abuse and racism at hydro projects in the 1960s.

— The City of Vancouver goes to court in a bid to close dozens of marijuana retailers operating without business licenses.

— Lawyers appear in an Ottawa courtroom to provide an update on the Mark Norman breach of trust case. Norman was charged in March in the alleged disclosure of classified government information.

— The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario will outline its next steps regarding the provincial government’s repeal of the sexual education curriculum.

— Citizens challenging changes to the Quebec electoral map — supported by mayors and councillors from the west end of Montreal — announce a proposed reform of the Quebec Elections Act.

The Canadian Press