In the news today, Nov. 5

Six stories in the news for Monday, Nov. 5

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CASE OF ALLEGED SERIAL KILLER DUE IN ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT

The case of the man accused of killing eight men with ties to Toronto’s gay village is due in court today. Bruce McArthur is expected to make his first appearance in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice on eight charges of first-degree murder. Police arrested the 67-year-old self-employed landscaper last January, and last month McArthur was ordered to stand trial after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Several funerals for McArthur’s alleged victims took place last week after Toronto police released the remains of the men to their families.

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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

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

TRUDEAU LIBERALS TO UNVEIL ANTI-POVERTY LAW

The federal Liberals are set to enshrine into law a plan to lift more than two million people out of poverty. The government notified MPs before the weekend that it planned to introduce anti-poverty legislation as early as today that will, for the first time, set an official poverty line for the country. The government’s strategy sets reduction targets of 20 per cent from 2015 levels by 2020 and a 50 per cent drop by 2030. Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is expected to outline the new law to a group of anti-poverty activists.

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TRADE DEAL ANGER PUTS LIBERAL MP IN TOUGH SPOT

The newly struck North American trade agreement will let more American dairy products into Canada and, while it has yet to be ratified, it’s already putting at least one Liberal MP in an awkward spot. A couple of weeks ago at a rally in his Shefford, Que., riding Pierre Breton used some theatrics to offer support to farmers protesting his government’s trade policy. On a small stage in Granby, Que., Breton took a mouthful of American milk, then spat it on the ground in front of a cheering crowd of about 300 farmers.

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CUPW LAUNCHES NEW ROUND OF ROTATING STRIKES

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has launched a new round of rotating strikes in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador.  The walkouts began either last night or first thing this morning. Canada Post says the strikes have now impacted operations in more than 70 communities across the country causing backlogs that could delay mail delivery to its customers for several days. The two sides have been unable to reach new collective agreements for two bargaining units after 10 months of negotiations.

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OLYMPIANS TO TOUT CALGARY BID AT RALLY

A rally planned for today in favour of a Calgary bid for the 2026 Olympics will feature some familiar faces from the last time the city held the Games. British ski-jumper Michael Edwards — better known as Eddie the Eagle — and 1988 mascots Hidy and Howdy are to be at a downtown convention centre for the event. Canadian Olympians expected to attend include gold-medal sprinter Donovan Bailey and multi-medal-winning hockey player Cassie Campbell-Pascall. The rally comes a week before a plebiscite on whether Calgary should bid for the 2026 Games. 

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RESEARCHER WARNS CANADIAN LIFE EXPECTANCY COULD FALL LIKE IN U.S.

A paper published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests life expectancy in Canada could be threatened by the same factors that are causing it to fall in the United States. Jurgen Rehm of Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says life expectancy in the U.S. has begun to decline slightly, due mainly to so called “deaths of despair” resulting from drug overdoses, suicide, or alcohol abuse. And he suggests a similar trend is taking hold in Canada, though to a much lesser degree.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz gives a speech to the Canada-U.K. Chamber of Commerce in London.

— Matthew Vincent Raymond, accused of killing four people including two city police officers, is due back in Fredericton court.

— Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan hosts annual candlelight tribute for fallen soldiers.

— Ribbon-cutting ceremony in Toronto for HXouse, a program that supports artists and entrepreneurs in the arts, fashion, music industries.

— Franco-Canadian roundtable in Edmonton on the impact of climate change on the Arctic Ocean.

— Inauguration of new Vancouver mayor and councillors.

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The Canadian Press