Sep/10	Aug/10	Jul/10	Jun/10	May/10	Apr/10	Mar/10	Feb/10	Jan/10
Dec/09	Nov/09	Oct/09	Sep/09	Aug/09	Jul/09	Jun/09	May/09	Apr/09	Mar/09	Feb/09	Jan/09
Dec/08	Nov/08	Oct/08	Sep/08	Aug/08	Jul/08	Jun/08	May/08	Apr/08	Mar/08	Feb/08	Jan/08
Dec/07	Nov/07	Oct/07	Sep/07	Aug/07	Jul/07	Jun/07	May/07	Apr/07	Mar/07	Feb/07	Jan/07
Dec/06	Nov/06	Oct/06	Sep/06	Aug/06	Jul/06	Jun/06	May/06	Apr/06	Mar/06	Feb/06	Jan/06
Dec/05	Nov/05	Oct/05	Sep/05	Aug/05	Jul/05	Jun/05	May/05	Apr/05	Mar/05	Feb/05	Jan/05

New HIV-AIDS drug approved for Canadian market	30/11/07
Fatal Canadian-U.S. pipeline fire spikes oil prices	29/11/07
Police seeking wider eavesdropping powers	28/11/07
Senator calls for moratorium on RCMP Taser use	27/11/07
Saskatchewan defeats Winnipeg to win Grey Cup	26/11/07
All passengers from sunken ship now in Chile	25/11/07
California fires force thousands to evacuate	24/11/07
Opposition MPs take up Montana death row case	23/11/07
Saying no to Iraq war was victory, Chretien says	22/11/07
Taser manufacturer wants role in review process	21/11/07
Officer charged with helping B.C. prisoner escape	20/11/07
Heart attack patient delayed at U.S.-Canada border	19/11/07
Loonie, others bearing brunt of currency crisis: IMF	18/11/07
More than 1,700 dead from Bangladesh cyclone	17/11/07
Simple grain offers health benefits to diabetics	16/11/07
Tasered man was lost, seeking help, mother says	15/11/07
Leafs centre expresses regret over nude photos	14/11/07
Tory support dips after new Schreiber allegations	13/11/07
Inquiry to cover work of disgraced pathologist	12/11/07
Group urges U.S. to re-open UFO investigations	11/11/07
'Vimy' unites soldiers from across generations	10/11/07
Lavigne fights back against Perez Hilton's insults	09/11/07
Canada slips in world rankings on gender equality	08/11/07
Girl born with eight limbs has successful surgery	07/11/07
Loonie surpasses US$1.08 in overseas trading	06/11/07
Hollywood writers begin strike as talks fail	05/11/07
Dutch weighing Afghan 'responsibilities': minister	04/11/07
Runaway U.S. teacher and teen found in Mexico	03/11/07
Jobless rate sends loonie to new record high	02/11/07
Excess body fat raises cancer risk: expert panel	01/11/07

New HIV-AIDS drug approved for Canadian market Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Nov. 30  2007  08:25  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 30th, 2007 TORONTO -- Health Canada has granted licence approval for a new HIV-AIDS drug, the first in a promising new class of medications. Drug maker Merck Frosst says it has been given permission to bring Isentress to the
Canadian market for treatment of HIV-positive people whose viruses are resistant to multiple other HIV drugs. AIDS expert Dr. Mark Wainberg says there is tremendous optimism about the drug in the community of HIV patients, doctors and researchers. The drug's generic name is raltegravir. It is the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors to hit the global AIDS drug market; another drug, eltegravir, is in development by Gilead Sciences Inc. of Foster City, CA. New classes of AIDS drugs are critical because viruses can develop resistance to existing classes of drugs over time. Raltegravir works by blocking an enzyme called integrase that the virus needs in order to be able to insert its DNA into the host cell's chromosome. "The amount of virus in the blood stream goes down much faster with this drug than with other drugs,'' says Wainberg, a professor at McGill University who practises at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital. "I think it is a drug that has the potential to do so much good. You know, there are even things we hope we can do with it that we don't want to talk about (yet).'' Health Canada licensed the drug for use in combination with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in "treatment-experienced'' adult patients who show evidence of viral replication and drug resistance. The release from the company says the marketing authorization comes with conditions, pending the results of studies to verify the drug's clinical benefit. Merck Frosst says a notice of compliance _ essentially a licence to market _ with conditions signals "the promising nature of the clinical evidence in patients with this serious disease and the need for further follow up to verify the clinical benefits.'' Clinical trials have shown that raltegravir, in combination with other antiretroviral drugs, was effective at reducing viral load and increasing CD4 cell counts, the two most widely accepted measures of efficacy against HIV/AIDS. The drug was given a priority review by the Food and Drug Administration, which announced on Oct. 16 that it had approved the drug for use in the U.S. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
=======================
Fatal Canadian-U.S. pipeline fire spikes oil prices Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Nov. 29  2007  09:14  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 29th, 2007 An explosion on a major Canadian-U.S. crude-oil pipeline has killed two maintenance workers and caused oil prices to spike more than US$3 Thursday. Two Enbridge employees were performing scheduled maintenance on an underground pipeline when fumes escaped, igniting the blaze. The Enbridge Energy Partners' pipeline ignited at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday about five kilometres southeast of Enbridge's Clearbrook, Minnesota terminal, a company statement said.	Flames and smoke are seen following an oil pipeline explosion that killed two workers in Clearbrook, Minn. (Grand Forks Herald / Eric Hylden)
The exact cause of the explosion has yet to be confirmed. Denise Hamsher, a spokeswoman for Enbridge Energy, told Canada AM on Thursday that the site has been secured and fire crews expect the blaze to be contained shortly. Hamsher said two of the unaffected, smaller pipelines resumed operations after 3:00 a.m. on Thursday. The two other pipelines will be shut down indefinitely. "At the time of the incident, all of our four pipelines that exit Clearbrook were shut down, so our entire system in the U.S. serving the Midwest and Eastern Canada was shut down temporarily," she said. Workers had successfully replaced a segment of pipe, but when the pipeline was restarted "a fitting on the area was released," Hamsher said. "A spray of oil occurred and that spray ignited and the people in the trench were overcome," she said. No other injuries were reported, but local residents were evacuated due to billowing black smoke that filled the area. "On behalf of Enbridge, I would like express our deepest sympathy and concern for all those affected by this incident," Richard Bird, executive vice-president of liquids pipelines, said in a statement after the deaths were confirmed. "Enbridge staff members are in contact with the families of the victims to offer assistance." The pipeline, which is the world's longest liquid petroleum pipeline, shuttled crude oil from Saskatchewan into the U.S. Midwest. The crude oil is used to make several kinds of fuel, such as gasoline and home heating oil. The explosion and fire led to a spike in oil prices Thursday. Crude prices for January delivery climbed as high as US$95.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe before slipping back. "This junction where these four lines come in, they supply the oil to Cushing, Oklahoma, which is where crude futures are actually priced," BNN's Michael Kane told Canada AM on Thursday. Kane said the explosion caused the Cushing inventory to fall to 152.3 million barrels -- the lowest stock pile since October 2005. Enbridge, based in Calgary, owns and operates Canada's largest natural gas distribution company, which provides oil to the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and in New York State. Canada is the biggest supplier of foreign crude to the United States. An average of 1.5 million barrels passes through the Enbridge system daily. Enbridge is also developing a gas distribution system for New Brunswick. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
=======================
Police seeking wider eavesdropping powers Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Nov. 28  2007  08:14  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 28th, 2007 Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair is calling on Ottawa to reform wire-tap legislation amid growing concern that modern technology is making it tougher to gather intelligence on criminals and terrorists. Blair is urging lawmakers to ease the job of investigators by forcing cellphone and Internet companies to co-operate with the authorities. The Toronto chief stressed that authorities are asking for "lawful access" to communication devices and records rather than warrant-less eavesdropping. "It becomes very challenging for the law enforcement community dealing with organized crime and national security threats to gather the evidence we need within that regime of judicial authorization in order to conduct our investigations," Blair told Canada AM on Wednesday. "What we're asking for is that people responsible for bringing these new technologies online would share some of that information to make it accessible to us with a judge's permission." Blair raised the issue Monday while testifying before the Air India inquiry.	Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair speaks with Canada AM from London, Ont. on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007. John Lawford of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007.
"Before the police community could intercept anybody's communication we have to get judicial authorization," Blair said. "There is a very strict regime that requires us to present evidence and to be able to demonstrate that we have tried every investigative means that is not likely to succeed or has failed before we get the authorization to intercept anyone's communications." The issue has pitted law enforcement against privacy advocates, who are fearful of Big Brother's powers, for years. John Lawford of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre told Canada AM on Wednesday that the lawful access debate has been going on since 2002. He said past consultations with law enforcement agencies have revealed a desire to lower the standards for obtaining a warrant to "something less than reasonable belief, something more like a suspicion." "Then it's going to invite things like profiling large groups and just running a large wire tap on all of them or an Internet tap and just seeing if something shakes out," Lawford said. The former Liberal government introduced legislation in 2005 that would have made it easier for law enforcement to eavesdrop on text messages and voice communications by removing technological impediments to the investigative process. The bill, which died in the Commons when Liberal prime minister Paul Martin's government was toppled, also would have forced Internet service providers to disclose intelligence deemed useful in tracking network users. The Harper government has been consulting industry groups about the issue, The Canadian Press reports. Blair estimates that if a similar bill is passed it will allow police to compete technologically with organized criminals and terrorist groups utilizing cutting-edge communications equipment. "Organized crime and terrorist groups quickly utilize these technologies and it takes months -- even years -- for us to catch up and keep up so we're asking for some help from the industry itself to make these new technologies more accessible to us so we can do the job that we're judicially authorized to do," he said. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
=======================
Senator calls for moratorium on RCMP Taser use Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Nov. 27  2007  08:19  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 27th, 2007 A moratorium on Taser use by the RCMP should be imposed until everyone is assured that officers issued the weapons are properly trained, says Sen. Colin Kenny. The appropriate time to use them "is ... when someone is threatened or someone is in danger," the chair of the Senate defence and national security committee told Canada AM on Tuesday. Kenny said police may wish to consider a different type of Taser. "There are Tasers that actually record a picture of what the Taser's aiming at, and they record it on a little tape and they record the sound." This would make the officer think twice before using the Taser and would give a reviewing officer a record of what happened, he said. Kenny said he was speaking in general terms and not specifically about the case of Robert Dziekanski, the Polish immigrant who died following a confrontation with police at Vancouver International Airport in the early-morning hours of Oct. 14. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) released its report into the Dziekanski affair on Monday.	Liberal Sen. Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. Alain Jolicoeur, president of the Canada Border Services Agency, addresses a news conference in Vancouver, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. (Sam Leung / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Alain Jolicoeur, president of the federal agency, said it would move to improve translation services at the airport and make changes in the way it deals with international travellers. The CBSA will also extend video surveillance of the areas under its control within the airport, he said. Kenny said he's reviewed the five recommendations. "The most obvious concern to me is when the individual came to primary inspection, there was clearly a communications problem. And at that point, there should have been an escort to take the individual through to secondary," he said. Dziekanski -- who came to Canada to be with his mother, Zofia Cisowski of Kamloops, B.C. -- went through primary inspection at 4:09 p.m. on Oct. 13. He went in the direction of the secondary inspection area, but then ended up in the baggage carousel area, where he remained for more than six hours. Cisowski's husband made inquiries about Dziekanski at 7 p.m., but CBSA officials said no one fitting Dziekanski's description was found. Dziekanski tried to leave the baggage area at 10:40 p.m. A border services officer directed him to the secondary inspection area. By that time, his mother had already left for Kamloops. Joliceur said an officer who spoke a "limited" amount of Polish was available to help Dziekanski; however, that individual was never called on again during the evening. Dziekanski cleared secondary inspection at 11:30 p.m. A sweating, distressed Dziekanski started acting out at about 1:20 a.m. Airport security called the RCMP, and officers used a Taser to shock Dziekanski at least twice. The 40-year-old lost consciousness and died. "I don't know how customs can clear somebody to come into the country if they can't communicate with them," Kenny said. There are translation services available off-site, he said. The CBSA report is one of at least eight reviews into the Dziekanski case, including a public inquiry launched by British Columbia and a federal inquiry into the RCMP's use of Tasers. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Saskatchewan defeats Winnipeg to win Grey Cup Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Nov. 25  2007  22:25  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 26th, 2007 The Saskatchewan Roughriders fought their way to a 23-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday to win the Grey Cup. Riders cornerback James Johnson made history by managing three interceptions and was named the game's outstanding player. The tense game took place before a sellout crowd at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Neither team had won the Cup in nearly 20 years. Saskatchewan's last win was in 1989 and Winnipeg's the following year. According to oddsmakers, the Bombers were the 11-point underdogs, due in part to the fact that Ryan Dinwiddie made his first ever CFL start as quarterback, replacing Kevin Glenn, who suffered a broken arm in the East Division final against Toronto last weekend. The Riders' quarterback, 34-year-old Kerry Joseph was named the CFL's outstanding player and first-team all-star. He was third in the league in passing, with 4,002 yards and was the top rushing quarterback, with over 700 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Grey Cup is Canada's largest professional sporting event and has been played since 1909, with this year's game broadcast in more than 160 countries. Winnipeg played at the Grey Cup the last time it was held in Toronto in 1992, when they were defeated by Calgary 24-10. Tonight's game was preceded by a moment of silence to recognize the men and women of the Canadian armed forces serving at home and abroad. Participating in the official coin toss were the premiers of the represented provinces, Gary Doer and Brad Wall. Thousands spend day partying	Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive lineman Jeremy O'Day and offensive lineman Gene Makowsky hoist the Grey Cup after beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 to win the 95th Canadian Football League Grey Cup in Toronto on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Saskatchewan Rough Riders wide receiver D.J.Flick is tackled by Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Juran Bolden, rear, and Anthony Malbrough during the first quarter in the 95th Canadian Football League Grey Cup in Toronto on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007 (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
In many respects it was the fans supplying the real entertainment with their colourful outfits and catchy tunes. Tens of thousands of fans spent the afternoon milling their way into the Rogers Centre for the Grey Cup game, but not before taking the time to party. An early snow storm and the elimination of the Toronto Argonauts meant a slow start to the city's Grey Cup celebrations, which was moved inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Many still spent the day outside, taking in the concerts and the hype. Blue Bomber fans are outnumbered by their Roughrider counterparts who believe their team is a shoe-in. Some fans paid as much as $500 to be there, and all feel it was well worth it. Leading up to tonight's big ticket were some big names in entertainment, Glass Tiger and the Barenaked Ladies, who performed the national anthem at the opening ceremony. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
All passengers from sunken ship now in Chile Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Nov. 25  2007  13:00  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 25th, 2007 PUNTA ARENAS, Chile -- A second plane carrying all remaining passengers from the sunken Canadian-owned cruise ship Explorer has landed in mainland Chile. GAP Adventure of Toronto says they were the last group to board a Chilean air force plane for the airlift from an island in the Antarctic. The first airlift was conducted Saturday from King George Island to the mainland Chilean city of Punta Arenas. The airlifts came after the tourists and crew were rescued from the Explorer, which sank after striking an iceberg. The Explorer was on a 19-day voyage of Antarctica and the Falkland Islands when the accident happened. GAP Adventure, which owned the ship, says representatives from the consular offices of Australia, Britain, Canada and the U-S are in Punta Arenas working with the company to help the passengers, including 12 Canadians, get flights home. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press	Passengers of the Canadian ship MS Explorer arrive to Punta Arenas, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, after being evacuated from King George Island, Antarctica. (AP / Roberto Candia) Cruise ship 'Explorer' is seen in this image from GAP Adventures.
=======================
California fires force thousands to evacuate Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Nov. 24  2007  14:50  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 24th, 2007 A California wildfire spread quickly Saturday, destroying at least 35 Malibu homes and forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents in three communities. The blaze began at 3:27 a.m. near Malibu Lake, Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mike Brown told CTV Newsnet on Saturday. "Right now we've got about 15,000 to 20,000 residents that have been affected by this fire," he said. The fire, which is feeding on brush and trees along Malibu ravines and hills, is being fueled by the hot dry Santa Ana desert winds. Gusts reached up to 100 kilometres per hour in some mountain passes over night. "We've had a die down of the winds right now which does help firefighting efforts," Brown said adding that dryness and humidity still pose a significant threat.	Firefighters battle a wildfire near Malibu, Calif., early Saturday, Nov. 24. 2007. (AP / Craig Durling) A helicopter flies over a wildfire in Malibu, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.
The blaze travelled downhill toward the Pacific Ocean and jumped the Pacific Coast Highway, spreading smaller fires along the main thoroughfare. "This fire made an aggressive run towards the south," Brown said. "Once it reached the beach area it wanted to move west and we had a shift in the winds west." More than 1,700 firefighters are battling the flames, along with 23 water-dropping helicopters from fire stations across southern California area. The affected area totals some 900 hectares of land. No injuries have been reported. "It's still unknown how this fire got started. We do have a point of origin which is near one of the peak mountain ways and we have cause investigators up there right now combing through the area," Brown said. Malibu, a popular celebrity enclave, is home to many multi-million dollar homes. Carol Stoddard, 48, was forced to evacuate her US$2-million, 325-square-metre, seven-level home. Firefighters said it's likely her residence and 12 uninsured cars were destroyed in the blaze.	Homes burn in Malibu, Calif. Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. A wind driven brush fire burns out of control in Malibu, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. (AP / Dan Steinberg)
"I stayed there until I couldn't breathe and the embers were flying everywhere,'' she told The Associated Press. "It was dark and I was standing around my house. I couldn't see. I couldn't grab enough stuff that was of importance, like my passport.'' Firefighters were put on watch this weekend as the winds returned after wreaking havoc on southern California from Oct. 19 to 26. The winds fueled massive fires that killed at least 10 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and forced half a million people to evacuate. Those fires prompted U.S. President George Bush to declare a federal state of emergency and to sign a federal disaster declaration that released federal funds for people whose property losses are not covered by insurance. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
=======================
Opposition MPs take up Montana death row case Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Nov. 22  2007  22:21  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 23rd, 2007 Stephane Dion has taken up the case of a Canadian man sitting on death row in Montana. The Liberal leader has written the state's governor asking him to commute Ronald Allen Smith's death sentence. Smith was convicted of murdering two people in 1982. Dion says he wrote the letter because the Tory government has decided to ignore Canadian policy by refusing to officially appeal Smith's death sentence, which is outlawed in Canada. "Canada abolished the death penalty 31 years ago," Dion said in question period on Thursday. He said Canadian policy has been to ask foreign governments not to kill Canadian citizens facing death for crimes committed in their countries. "That's why I wrote to the Governor of Montana today asking (that) he commute the death sentence against a Canadian there. Will the government do the same?" The Tories recently said Canada would no longer call for clemency for Canadians facing the death penalty in democratic countries. NDP Leader NDP Jack Layton has also sent a personal letter to Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe has started a petition he wants to send to Montana with the signatures of opposition MPs.	Albertan Ronald Allen Smith, seen during an interview with CTV Newsnet's 'The Verdict,' faces lethal injection for the 1982 murder of two men in Montana. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007. (Fred Chartrand / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson didn't accept opposition criticism that Canada's international human rights reputation is being harmed by the new Tory position. Nicholson said that "individuals who commit multiple murders and mass-murders abroad . . . cannot necessarily count on the Canadian government to claim clemency and repatriation back to this country.'' But Dion argued that the Tories are walking away from Canadian principles. "We are weakened as a nation when we fail to stand up for our fellow citizens who face such dire consequences," he said in a press release. Smith says the death penalty is a punishment that should be left in the past. "It's an unnecessary tool. In this day and age, it's an archaic idea that shouldn't be bought into," he told CTV Newsnet's The Verdict earlier this month. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Saying no to Iraq war was victory, Chretien says Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Nov. 22  2007  08:43  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 22nd, 2007 Former prime minister Jean Chretien says one of the major victories in his career was standing up against pressure to join the U.S. invasion of Iraq. During an exclusive interview with Canada AM's Beverly Thomson, Chretien says he doesn't worry about what kind of legacy he has left, saying that's up to other people to decide. "People always talk about legacy -- what do you want as a legacy? But people should not worry too much about it because there's no control you can have over that. You do your best and at the end of the day the people will conclude certain things," he says. However, Chretien, who has just published his memoir "My Years As Prime Minister," says there are moments in his long career that he is especially proud of, such as keeping Canada out of the Iraq invasion. "For the independence of the country, saying no to the Americans on the war was a great moment for Canada," Chretien says. "Of course it was not without risk. Suppose the war in Iraq had been a great success, I think it would have been a bit embarrassing for me. But I thought they were wrong and I said so." That willingness to speak his mind has been present throughout his career, Chretien said, adding that other world leaders have taken notice over the years.	Former prime minister Jean Chretien sits down for an interview with Canada AM. 'My Years As Prime Minister' by Jean Chretien is available from Random House of Canada.
One of those leaders is former British prime minister Tony Blair, who wrote a statement that is printed on the back of the book. "You read what Tony Blair wrote about me. I was the one who was saying aloud what a lot of them were thinking but didn't dare to say, so that was a characteristic I am very proud of." But Chretien said he learned how to gain the confidence of other world leaders such as Blair and Bill Clinton, not through brash posturing, but by building personal relationships. "To be able to gain the confidence of these people when you're from a small country, you have to be careful because the U.S. president is a bigger shot than the prime minister of Canada, like it or not. So if you try to get credit too much, they lose confidence, they think that you're trying to use them," he says.	Former prime minister Jean Chretien appears at a book fair to promote and autograph copies of his new book in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. (Ian Barrett / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
"To really have an influence you have to be low key and very personal." Chretien, who avoids commenting in detail about the latest developments surrounding former prime minister Brian Mulroney and German businessman Karlheinz Schreiber, said his memoir isn't about slamming others, but about telling his story. "I don't want to attack the character of people. ... I don't like to, I guess, name somebody. I report facts, you can conclude." Speaking about the current state of the Liberal Party of Canada, Chretien said leader Stephane Dion is not to blame. He said Dion, who Chretien first invited to Ottawa on the advice of his wife, is simply under tougher scrutiny and a higher level of criticism than before, as any leader of the opposition would be. "The problem of the leader of the opposition, of this leader of the opposition, is the problem of any other leader of the opposition, and when you become prime minister you forget about that." Chretien said Dion has a strong record as an environment minister and advocate for Canada and is surrounded by qualified politicians such as Michael Ignatieff and Gerard Kennedy. He said he has no trouble seeing him as the future prime minister. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Taser manufacturer wants role in review process Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Nov. 21  2007  08:39  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 21st, 2007 An executive with Taser International says his company wants to participate in any Canadian review of the stun gun and is confident the product would be found safe. "We do need answers to what happened," Taser co-founder and chairman Tom Smith told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday. "Obviously we manufacture the device. We have a lot of knowledge that we can share, so we need to be part of this inquiry so we can try and provide some answers." Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced Tuesday that he had asked Paul Kennedy, who heads the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, to conduct the review. "I have asked the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP to review all RCMP protocols on the use of CEDs (conducted electrical devices) and to assess the compliance of the RCMP with these protocols," the minister said in a news release. "This builds on the work currently underway by the Commission on the use of CEDs, as referred in its June 2007 Annual Report."	The B.C. government announced on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 that it will launch a full public inquiry into the death of Polish national Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver airport last month. (AP / Toby Talbot) Tom Smith, chairman and co-founder of Taser International, speaks with Canada AM from Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007.
The review comes following the Oct. 14 death of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish man, at Vancouver International Airport following a confrontation that ended with RCMP officers using a Taser on him. Kennedy -- who will only look at the RCMP -- is to make an initial report by Dec. 12. His work is in addition to Day's earlier decision to have the RCMP conduct an internal review of its Taser procedures. The Liberals have called for a broad national review that would include the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Transport Canada and the Vancouver Airport Authority. The NDP and Amnesty International want police to suspend Taser use, citing 17 deaths in Canada and more than 280 in the United States. The B.C. government has also ordered a public inquiry into the Dziekanski case.	A memorial service was held for Robert Dziekanski, 40, at a Kamloops, B.C., funeral home on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. (Jeff Bassett/ THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Meanwhile in Chilliwack, B.C., a man is in extremely critical condition in hospital following a Tuesday incident with police, who used pepper spray, batons and a Taser to subdue him. Critic welcomes review A critic -- and competitor -- of Tasers is welcoming the review of how RCMP officers use the stun guns. "If you don't know what the threshold of safety and effectiveness is, then how do you prevent these devices from being abused in the field and in real world scenarios, when there's no supervision?" Ken Stethem asked in an interview with CTV British Columbia on Tuesday. Stethem -- founder of Omega Science, a company that develops non-lethal security tools -- said part of the problem with Tasers is their design. The North Vancouver businessman and former U.S. Navy Seal said Tasers rely on "spark gap technology." As with a car's spark plug, CEDs can wear out. When they do, the intended electrical wavelength can change and make the devices unsafe. Officers using such a device might be tempted to use the device more than once, he said. That raises the following questions for Stethem: How many stuns are too many? When is the duration of electrical contact too long? What science has been done by the manufacturer or law enforcement to support the use of CEDs? "What science has been done to support unlimited stuns and unlimited exposure -- and the answer is none," Stethem said. His company is developing a solid-state device that reportedly won't have any variations in electrical output. But Taser International's position is that: "Specifically in Canada, while previous incidents were widely reported in the media as 'Taser deaths,' the role of the Taser device has been cleared in every case to date." Smith told Canada AM, "I have been Tasered myself. I have Tasered my brother." While admitting the device is "not risk-free," Smith said it's still the safest way to end a confrontation. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Officer charged with helping B.C. prisoner escape Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Nov. 20  2007  07:57  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 20th, 2007 A corrections officer in B.C. has been charged with helping a gangster escape from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre last Thursday. Edwin Ticne, a corrections officer for more than 10 years, appeared briefly in a Port Coquitlam Provincial Court on Monday. He is facing two charges in relation to the escape and one of obstruction of justice. RCMP Cpl. Brenda Gresiuk told CTV British Columbia that the 35-year-old was arrested on Nov. 16 in Coquitlam. Last Thursday night, Omid Tahvilli became the first person ever to escape from the centre. Officials said they discovered he was missing following a head count. Tahvilli, 37, has been at the centre since July 2005 and was awaiting sentencing on charges including kidnapping, unlawful confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats, and assault causing bodily harm.	Omid Tahvilli is seen in this undated handout photo. North Fraser Pretrial Centre is seen here Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007.
The RCMP says "Tahvilli is ranked high in the Persian Gang hierarchy." He was also facing extradition to the U.S. for telemarketing frauds. BC Corrections spokeswoman Lisa LaPointe told CTV British Columbia that it was "very disappointing" to hear that a corrections officer had been arrested. "I think that is probably the only way that somebody could get out of North Fraser Correctional Centre because it is such a secure centre," said LaPointe. The maximum-security centre operated by the provincial government's public safety ministry is where accused serial killer Robert Pickton is being held. Gresiuk urged anyone with information about Tahvilli to contact police. Ticne is due back in court on Wednesday. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with a report from CTV British Columbia's Jina You .
=======================
Heart attack patient delayed at U.S.-Canada border Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Nov. 18  2007  21:46  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 19th, 2007 Canadian officials are calling for a review of border security after ambulance workers were delayed while transporting a heart attack patient to a Detroit hospital. "It's another sad chapter of what's happening at the border," New Democrat MP Brian Masse told CTV News. "It's becoming a militarized zone." The incident happened last Monday, when 46-year-old Rick Laport needed emergency angioplasty -- a procedure that couldn't be performed at his Windsor, Ont., hospital. Medical officials rushed Laport to the border, expecting to be waved through so they could take him to Detroit's Henry Ford medical facility. Instead, U.S. customs asked the male driver to exit the vehicle and show his identification card. Another border official opened the back of the ambulance to confirm a patient was inside, and asked Laporte to verify his name. "What happened on Monday is something that you don't expect to happen with the protocols in place," Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis told CTV News.	Essex Windsor EMS paramedics were delayed while transporting a heart attack patient to a Detroit hospital. Kat Lauzon, the heart patient's wife, is upset because the delay could have caused her husband to lose his life.
The ambulance workers were only delayed by five minutes, but Laport's heart had already been re-started twice by paramedics. The patient's wife, Kat Lauzon, said he could have died. "We need something done about this," said Laport's wife, Kat Lauzon. "This needs to be changed. Not one person should die because of that type of miscommunication, or whatever you want to call it." Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day expressed concern about the delay in a letter to his U.S. counterpart, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Canada and the U.S. have a long-standing tradition of helping one another in times of emergency," he wrote. "I am quite concerned about this incident." Day asked Chertoff that border procedures be reviewed. Just last week, Quebec firefighters responding to a call for help from their American counterparts were also delayed at the border. For nearly 40 years, members of the Lacolle Fire Department have pooled their resources with firefighters in Rouses Point, a town a few minutes south of the border in New York. Last Sunday, Lacolle firefighters hoped to help extinguish a blaze at the Anchorage Inn, a well-known landmark in Rouses Point. Because they were dressed in their gear, most of the firefighters didn't have any form of identification. As a result, they were delayed about 10 minutes at the border before they could reach their destination. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with a report by CTV's Joel Bowey in Kitchener, Ont.
=======================
Loonie, others bearing brunt of currency crisis: IMF Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Nov. 18  2007  14:50  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 18th, 2007 The director of the International Monetary Fund said Sunday that the Canadian dollar is among the currencies unfairly hit by the global currency crisis. "Some countries have on their shoulder a much larger part of the burden than they should -- the Canadian dollar, the euro, the Brazilian currency," Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said at the G20 economic meeting being held in South Africa. The current global imbalance in currency values has been driven in part by the United States' huge trade deficit with its trading partners and by higher commodity prices.	Incoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, France's Dominique Strauss-Kahn, reacts to reporters' questions in his office at the IMF headquarters in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
China has a massive trade surplus with the U.S. However, the value of China's yuan is set by the government and does not substantially change in value depending on the strength of the economy. It is considered by many to be undervalued. Several countries, including Canada, feel the yuan is not responding adequately to problems arising from the weak U.S. dollar. The Canadian dollar closed at US$102.67 on Friday, down from a high of US$1.10 the week before. However, it has appreciated rapidly in value against the U.S. dollar in the past five years. The rapid change has hurt exporters, something Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty planned to address at the meeting. "My objective here at the G20 was to create a greater sense of urgency with respect to global imbalances,'' Flaherty said on a conference call from Kleinmond, South Africa on Saturday. The Canadian government has estimated that it has shouldered a third of the burden made by the depreciating U.S. dollar. But Strauss-Kahn avoided criticizing the tightly-controlled yuan. He would only say that the dollar appreciation was in the right direction, although some currencies are not reacting the way the international watchdog expected. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde also said China must allow the yuan to appreciate faster, but told reporters that discussions between finance ministers and Central Bank governors were not focused on accusing specific currencies. "The currencies need to be in such an equilibrium where it facilitates trade," she said. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
=======================
More than 1,700 dead from Bangladesh cyclone Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Nov. 17  2007  12:25  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 17th, 2007 The official death toll from the cyclone that ripped through Bangladesh reached 1,723 on Saturday. "The toll is rising fast, as we receive more information from outlying areas where telephone lines have been restored," Mokhlesur Rahman, a ministry official in the capital of Dhaka, said Saturday. Two hard-hit towns are Patuakhali, where 474 people died, and neighbouring Barguna, where another 375 were killed, Rahman said. Both those towns are south of Dhaka, which itself remains without power and water as of Saturday. Tropical Cyclone Sidr hit the low-lying, impoverished South Asian country on Thursday with 240-kilometres-per-hour winds and a 1.2-metre-high storm surge. According to the UN, millions have been left without power. More than 3.2 million were forced to flee the coastal areas for government shelters. Relief workers are struggling to ferry food and medical supplies to thousands of survivors, aid workers say. Washed-out roads and debris blocked them from reaching victims stranded by flood waters.	A cyclone affected Bangladeshi boy Babul awaits treatment at Potuakhali, 152 kilometers (95 miles) south of Bangladesh's capital Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007. (AP / Pavel Rahman) Bangladeshi commuters cross an uprooted tree which created a road block in Potuakhali, 152 kilometers south of Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007.(AP Photo/Pavel Rahman)
"We sent a relief team in a jeep, but they had to return halfway as the roads and channels were unpassable,'' M. Shakil Anwar of CARE Bangladesh told The Associated Press via telephone from nearby Khulna city. "We will try again tomorrow on bicycles, and hire local country boats," Anwar said adding that CARE plans to distribute emergency rations to 500 families of the area. The military has joined rescue efforts, pitching in with helicopters, ships and roughly 3,000 soldiers. The helicopters are being used to deliver supplies to the most remote and cut-off areas. Navy ships are trying to deliver supplies and medical help to isolated fishing communities located on hundreds of tiny islands. Some evacuees have already started returning home only to find their straw and bamboo huts flattened. "We survived, but what we need now is help to rebuild our homes," Chand Miah, a resident of a small island, told the Associated Press. The UN estimates more than 20,000 homes were destroyed in the hardest hit areas and 150 fishing trawlers remain unaccounted for. Crops and vital food sources in the country have also been devastated. John Holmes, UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, said the damage to livelihood, housing and crops will be "extremely severe," adding that the world body is making millions of dollars in aid available to Bangladesh. The UN's World Food Programme is also sending food for 400,000 people, the BBC reported Friday. Bangladesh is vulnerable to flooding and cyclones. In 1996, a tornado struck northern Bangladesh, killing 621 people and destroying 80 villages. However, the UN said Friday that storm preparedness and disaster-risk reduction measures significantly lowered the number of casualties. "The death tolls had been reduced very dramatically from such events. In 1970, the death toll from such a cyclone had been in the area of 300,000 to 400,000. In 1991, it had been about 130,000 to 140,000," it said. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
=======================
Simple grain offers health benefits to diabetics Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Nov. 15  2007  22:00  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 16th, 2007 An ancient grain that was once the staple of the Aztec diet is not only surprisingly nutritious, it can also help regulate blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease in diabetics, Canadian researchers report in a new study in the journal Diabetes Care. The grain is called chia. If the name sounds familiar, it's because it is the very same seed used in Chia Pets, those novelty gifts that allow you to sprout "hair" on pottery figures. But chia has a longer history. It was once revered by ancient Aztecs, who found it a powerful food that helped fuel village runners. Dr. Vladamir Vuksan and a team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto have been trying to uncover the medicinal magic behind the seed that derives from the plant called Salvia hispanica. The chia seed is either white or black-coloured. Both are considered highly nutritious. Vuksan decided to focus just on the variety that provides white seeds, which has been trademarked Salba. Vuksan's team found that the seeds contain high levels of fibre, calcium, magnesium, more antioxidants than many berries, and omega-3 essential fatty acids.	New research has discovered that an ancient grain, known as chia or Salba, can help regulate blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease in diabetics. The chia grain is the same seed used in Chia Pets, those novelty gifts that allow you to sprout 'hair' on pottery figures.
Dr. Jack Bukowski, a professor of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology at the Harvard School of Medicine is impressed with how nutritious this "super grain" appears to be. "It has a remarkable nutrient profile. We haven't seen anything like this before," he told CTV News. Vuksan's team calculates that 3.5 oz of white chia seeds contain: the same amount of omega-3's as 28 ounces of salmon. as much calcium as 3 cups of milk. as much iron as 5 cups of raw spinach. and as much vitamin C as seven oranges. What's more, it's rich in dietary fibre and gluten-free. Just 12 grams of Salba provides more than five grams of dietary fibre - about the same as in 1-¼ cups of All-Bran cereal. The grain's insoluble fibre allows it to absorb many times its weight in water. By doing so, it helps provide a feeling of fullness and slows digestion, which means a steadier rise in blood sugar and steadier release of insulin. With some studies suggesting that a high-fibre diet can help control diabetes, Vuksan decided to test Salba on diabetics.	Dr. Vladamir Vuksan and a team at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto have been trying to uncover the medicinal magic behind the seed that derives from the plant called Salvia hispanica. Dr. Amir Hanna, a diabetes specialist at St. Michael's who reviewed the data from the study, was impressed with the study's results.
The study tracked 20 otherwise healthy diabetic patients for 12 weeks. His team ground the Salba seeds into flour and baked it into bread, which was served to the diabetics. They were also given additional amounts to sprinkle on food they ate at home. Their total intake was approximately 37 grams or four teaspoons of Salba a day. The subjects then had their blood measured for a variety of changes. The researchers noted a slight drop in blood glucose, but more importantly, the Salba: made blood thinner and less prone to clotting - a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. lowered levels of internal inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein, a protein produced by the liver. and reduced blood pressure, lowering systolic blood pressure, on average, by six points mmHg (millimetres of mercury). Dr. Amir Hanna, a diabetes specialist at St. Michael's who reviewed the data from the study, was impressed with the results. "The interesting thing was the blood pressure," he says. "That's a very important reduction in blood pressure. Actually, some pills don't lower blood pressure that much." While the study found no ill effects on the grain on any of the 20 subjects tested, Vuksan cautions that, because of Salba's ability to thin blood, those on anticoagulants, blood thinners other blood pressure medications should consult with their doctors before taking it. Researchers plan further studies of the grain's effects on heart disease, arthritis -- and even weight loss, because of the grain's apparent ability to suppress appetite. "I think it's a great thing to pursue because it is a food ingredient rather than a pill or injection," says Hanna. In the meantime, Salba has already become a popular seller in health food stores, with many embracing this ancient seed as a modern nutritional wonder grain. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with a report from CTV medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip.
=======================
Tasered man was lost, seeking help, mother says Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Nov. 15  2007  09:04  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 15th, 2007 The mother of a Polish immigrant who died after RCMP officers used a Taser on him can't understand why police didn't simply arrest her son before using force. Walter Kosteckyj, the lawyer for Zofia Cisowski, said his client was stunned after watching a video of the confrontation that resulted in her son's death. "Her position is basically this: 'I see my son lost, looking for help. When he sees the police he's calling out for them, I tried to get help, he tried to get help and this is the way things have ended up.'" The video shows Polish national Robert Dziekanski in the early morning hours of Oct. 14 at the international arrivals terminal of Vancouver International Airport. Dziekanski is breathing heavily and appears agitated. At one point he barricades himself behind glass doors and throws a computer and small table at the doors. But he appears to calm down when four officers arrive on the scene, raising his hands and backing up in what appears to be a gesture of surrender. The officers don't attempt to subdue the 40-year-old man as they surround him. But seconds later Dziekanski screams in pain, staggers, and then falls to the ground after being shot by an electric stun gun, or Taser. Kosteckyj said his client doesn't understand why police apparently acted with such force. He said the four officers arrived on the scene and headed straight to the suspect without securing the scene, asking questions or getting background, or even moving a nearby witness -- steps he suggested could have resulted in a peaceful end to the confrontation.	Robert Dziekanski holds a small table at the Vancouver Airport in this image from video. Walter Kosteckyj, lawyer for Dziekanski's mother, speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Vancouver on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007. Paul Pritchard, witness who taped the incident, speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios Vancouver on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007.
After the Taser is used, Dziekanski appears to writhe in pain, while police pin his arms, legs, and head to the ground and handcuff him. As three officers hold Dziekanski down, there appears to be a second attempt to Taser him. After he's restrained, an officer places his knee on his neck and holds it there. After several seconds, Dziekanski seems to stop writhing as he lies pinned on his stomach and appears to lose consciousness. An officer takes his pulse at his neck. None of the officers appear to try and revive him. Police reaction Cpl. Dale Carr, a spokesperson for the RCMP, said judgment should not be cast until all the information has been gathered. "Our reaction is that our testimony will come out at the coroner's inquest and it will offer perspective on what the police officers were going through and what all the other witnesses were going through at the time and they'll be testifying under oath," Carr told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday. He said a much more complete picture will develop as the result of the police investigation, which is still ongoing, and a coroner's inquest that will probe the circumstances of Dziekanski's death. Emergency radio logs leaked to CTV British Columbia show a 12-minute gap from when Dziekanski lost consciousness and when B.C. Ambulance arrived. The airport has its own paramedics who could have been at the scene within two minutes, but the airport supervisor did not call them, CTV British Columbia reported. For reasons that are still not clear, it took 10 hours for Dziekanski to clear customs. He and his mother never connected, and she left the airport to return to Kamloops.
The Polish government has called for a full probe of the tragedy. Paul Pritchard, the witness who taped the incident on his video camera, told Canada AM on Thursday that Dziekanski appeared scared and seeking help when police arrived. He said he never felt threatened by the man. "He was acting irrationally, but in my opinion he was acting scared," Pritchard said. He said Dziekanski even put his arms out in a gesture of defeat and showed no signs he was going to resist arrest. He said the four officers seemed intent on using a Taser despite Dziekanski's apparent willingness to surrender. The situation escalated quickly once they did. "It became a real situation all of a sudden. I was just filming for the sake of an entertainment standpoint, but once they Tasered him you heard this bloodcurdling scream. I still think about it," Pritchard said. Another cellphone video of the fatal confrontation had been released previously but this latest video is of much higher quality. Other witnesses also said they didn't feel threatened by Dziekanski. The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has filed its own complaint about the case. The RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is also investigating the incident. Dziekanski will be buried on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Kamloops. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Leafs centre expresses regret over nude photos Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Nov. 14  2007  07:54  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 14th, 2007 Toronto Maple Leafs rookie centre 19-year-old Jiri Tlusty has issued a statement expressing regret that nude photos of him have been circulating on the Internet. The photographs were apparently taken last season while Tlusty was playing for the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. "I used poor judgment in this instance last season and I have learned a valuable lesson. It will not happen again and I have no further comment," Tlusty said in a statement released Tuesday night. The nude photos were taken by the Czech native, Tlusty's lawyer Jerome R. Morse said. "Mr. Tlusty took these photographs of himself with his camera phone last year," Morse wrote in an email to Zack Taylor of isthishappening.com -- the Canadian gossip website that originally posted the photos last week. "As such, Mr. Tlusty is the owner of these photographs and any unauthorized publication of these photographs is a violation of his copyright."	Toronto Maple Leafs' Jiri Tlusty warms up prior to taking on the Ottawa Senators the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. (CP / Sean Kilpatrick) Leafs rookie Jiri Tlusty, right, with an unidentified friend who was celebrating his birthday in the Czech Republic, appears on the Canadian gossip site isthishappening.com
The nude photos have since been removed from the site. Shortly after the photos made their way onto the site, an image of Tlusty touching tongues with another male was posted. In an interview with isthishappening.com, Tlusty addressed questions about his sexuality last week, saying, "I am not gay or bi nothing (sic)." "I don't know nothing about the homosexual," he said. Tlusty said the photos were taken during a birthday celebration with friends in his hometown of Slany, Czech Republic. Leafs general manager John Ferguson also issued a statement Tuesday in support of Tlusty. "Photographs were posted recently on the Internet without Jiri's knowledge or consent. He made a naïve mistake as a teenager," Ferguson said. "It's a lesson in how something private came easily become very public in the Internet age. Hopefully it's a lesson that other people will learn from as well." Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Tory support dips after new Schreiber allegations Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Nov. 12  2007 23:01  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 13th, 2007 A surprise announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to investigate new and troubling allegations into the Airbus affair has led to a dip in Tory Government support, a new poll shows. A Strategic Counsel poll conducted between Thursday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 11 for CTV and The Globe and Mail has found the Conservatives and Liberals are neck-and-neck nationally -- each with 32 per cent support. A Strategic Counsel poll in October had the Tories leading the Liberals 34 to 29. Much of the damage to the Conservatives occurred in the crucial election battleground of Ontario, where their support dipped four per cent since October, to 29 per cent. Quebec also saw a three-point dip in Tory numbers to 23 per cent. Meanwhile, the Liberals have made considerable gains in Ontario, at the expense of the NDP. Liberal support spiked seven points to 47 per cent in the province, while the NDP slipped five points to 12 per cent after reaching a peak in support at 17 per cent in August.	The poll found that Liberal support spiked seven points to 47 per cent in Ontario, while the Conservatives slipped four per cent to 29 per cent. The study also found that Justin Trudeau is the most popular choice to replace current Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.
Support for the Liberals increased immediately after Harper announced an independent body would review an affidavit filed by embattled German businessman Karlheinz Schreiber, who is currently in jail fighting extradition to Germany on charges of fraud, bribery and tax evasion. In a sworn affidavit, Schreiber added new allegations to a dispute over cash paid to Mulroney after he stepped down as prime minister. At the conclusion of polling on Sunday, the Liberal numbers were up nationally by three percentage points from the previous poll in October. "This poll indicates that the government will need to manage the Mulroney file carefully in order to retain the high ground on accountability and transparency," the survey concludes. In the affidavit, Schreiber alleges that discussions he had with Mulroney about a $300,000 cash payment took place one day before the former prime minister retired from office. Schreiber says he informed the Harper government of these allegations seven months ago -- allegations that have not been proven in court. The prime minister says he wasn't aware of the allegations and he immediately called a probe after Schreiber filed the affidavit. But the opposition parties pounced on the Tory government. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion told CTV's Question Period on Sunday that he finds it "very hard to believe" that the prime minister only found out last week about details of the business dealings between Mulroney and Schreiber.
On Monday, Liberal MP and public works critic Mark Holland suggested there was a cover-up. "People are very upset that Mr. Harper has not taken decisive action and sat for a couple of weeks on this explosive information around Mr. Mulroney and Mr. Schreiber," Holland told CTV News. "They seemed more interested in covering it up." Tim Woolstencroft, a managing partner with The Strategic Counsel, told CTV.ca that anytime the Conservatives come under the microscope, the Liberals stand to benefit. "When the Conservatives hit a bump in the road, the data suggests the Liberals are the default opposition party to the government," he said. "If a voter is interested in defeating the government, they're going to have to align themselves with the Liberals." However, the opposite is true for the NDP, he said, simply because the Liberal brand has been consistently strong in Ontario. Woolstencroft said if the Conservatives hope to gain some ground in Ontario and Quebec, Harper will have to portray himself as more of a moderate, progressive leader. The government's recent tax cut announcement does little to sway voters, Woolstencroft said. "Things like tax cuts always seem to have the least impact on party fortunes," he said. Senate reform While the NDP's numbers have dipped, it doesn't appear the party's position on senate reform has hurt their support or that of the Conservatives, who backed the idea. In fact, the data suggests one in two Canadians are open to having a debate on the merits of keeping the Senate. However, the poll also shows voters are hesitant to abolish the Senate altogether. Only 46 per cent of people said they thought it was a good idea.
Last week, Harper backed NDP Leader Jack Layton's call to hold a nation-wide referendum on the abolition of the unelected Senate. Support for the Senate's abolishment varied from province to province: Quebec showed strongest support at 63 per cent. Ontarians were least supportive at 36 per cent. Most BC residents, 44 per cent, support the idea. Prairie residents are evenly divided -- 39 per cent support the idea while 42 per cent oppose it. Bloc Quebecois voters are the most likely to support the move at 75 per cent while 56 per cent of Conservative voters and 50 per cent of NDP voters support the idea. The majority of Liberal voters, 55 per cent, are opposed to it. The Liberal leadership The survey also shows Canadians wouldn't mind seeing a change at the helm of the Liberal party. Justin Trudeau, who officially entered politics as a Liberal candidate this year, is the most popular choice to replace current Leader Stephane Dion. Trudeau received 40 per cent of national support, followed by Michael Ignatieff (25 per cent) and Bob Rae (23 per cent). Former leadership contender Gerard Kennedy trailed far behind at 11 per cent. The poll concludes that among Liberal voters, however, support for Trudeau waned to 35 per cent, though he was still the most popular choice.
"Liberal voters have a lot more knowledge about the other candidates," said Woolstencroft. "They recognize Trudeau is a risky choice because of his age and inexperience. It's all a handicap going into an election." Woolstencroft recognized that Trudeau does have his family legacy working for him. "There's absolutely no question about it, his name is like gold," he said. Technical notes The poll was conducted between Nov. 8 and 11 by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail. 1,000 respondents were sampled nationally, and the margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Results are based on tracking among a proportionate national sample of Canadians 18 years of age or older. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Inquiry to cover work of disgraced pathologist Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Nov. 12  2007 08:04  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 12th, 2007 Public hearings at a judicial inquiry examining the practice of pediatric forensic pathology in Ontario begin today. The inquiry will cover the work of a disgraced former pediatric forensic pathologist but will not find legal fault. The Ontario government promised to hold the inquiry last April after a review of former pathologist Dr. Charles Smith's work found that he had made errors in 20 of 45 child autopsies dating back to 1991.	Dr. Charles Smith
Criminal proceedings resulted in 13 of those cases. Commission lawyer Linda Rothstein said the inquiry will try to take a comprehensive look at pediatric forensic pathology and at the specific cases that Smith was involved in. The public hearings start with an expert panel and should last about three months. Smith is expected to testify in late January. About a dozen parties have standing at the inquiry, including some of the accused whose convictions were tossed out. Crown attorneys, the body that regulates doctors in Ontario, and the coroner's office also will participate in the inquiry. By next April, Justice Stephen Goudge must report on his findings and make recommendations to help restore confidence in the pediatric forensic system. His report is expected to deal with strategies to improve policies, procedures and accountability in the Office of the Chief Coroner. Goudge's conclusions will not cover any individual cases that have been or may be subject to criminal proceedings. Further, Goudge said he wouldn't offer any conclusions or recommendations pertaining to any discipline or civil or criminal liability issues. Last June and August, Goudge held private meetings with people affected by the doctor's work. Prominent cases
The independent review into 45 of the autopsies Smith performed began in June 2005, after several cases he had worked on collapsed. In many cases, people -- including the parents of the children involved -- were convicted in their children's deaths. Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that a Toronto couple convicted in 1998 in the death of their eight-month-old son Paulo should be granted a new trial. Marco Trotta was convicted of second-degree murder in Paolo's 1993 death and sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 15 years. He was also convicted of aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm. His wife, Anisa Trotta, was convicted of criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the 'necessaries of life' and sentenced to five years in jail. Both were convicted after damning evidence from Smith, who conducted the autopsy on Paulo. Earlier this year, another man convicted based on testimony by Smith, William Mullins-Johnson, was acquitted of the 1993 murder of his four-year-old niece. The Ontario Court of Appeal said Mullins-Johnson was wrongfully convicted of a crime that clearly never took place. Sherry Sherrett of Trenton is also seeking to clear her name after she was convicted of infanticide based on Smith's testimony and jailed for a year in the 1996 death of her son, Joshua. Smith resigned as chief pediatric pathologist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children two years ago, and took an appointment with the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority. He was later fired. But last year, an appeals tribunal ruled he was unfairly terminated. Smith was involved in more than 1,000 autopsies for the Ontario Office of the Chief Coroner. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
=======================
Group urges U.S. to re-open UFO investigations Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Nov. 11  2007 17:56  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 11th, 2007 The Coalition for Freedom of Information is calling on the U.S. government to re-open investigations into Unidentified Flying Objects that it shut down 30 years ago. Using previously classified documents, the group intends to discuss many well-documented cases, including two that were examined by U.S. officials
The two cases include a Peruvian Air Force pilot who fired several rounds at a craft that was not affected and an Iranian pilot who claims his control panel became inoperable when he attempted to fire on a UFO. Both pilots will speak publicly about the events on Monday at a panel discussion in Washington D.C., moderated by Arizona Governor Fife Symington. The panel will include former government, aviation and military officials, with representatives from France, England, Belgium, Chile, Peru, Iran and the U.S. It will call for the U.S. government to re-open its UFO investigations. The panelists have all either sighted UFOs or conducted an official investigation. Symington himself claims that he had a sighting 10 years ago during his second term as governor. He said he witnessed a massive object navigate over Squaw Peak, a mountain range in Phoenix, Arizona. A pilot and former Air Force officer, Symington said the craft didn't resemble any man-made object he'd ever seen. "It was truly breathtaking," Symington told CNN on Friday. "I was absolutely stunned because I was turning to the west looking for the distant Phoeniz Lights." The governor said that the incident was witnessed by hundreds of concerned Arizona residents who called his office. The U.S. Air Force eventually claimed responsibility, admitting that they'd dropped flares. However Symington said that what he saw was something else, as flares don't fly in formation. There are many high-ranking officials who share Symington's concerns, and they want the U.S. government to stop telling the public that all UFOs can be explained in down-to-earth terms. "I would now like to set the record straight," Symington said. "My office did make inquiries as to the origin of the craft, but to this day they remain unanswered." Last year, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport experienced a UFO event that made international headlines. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
'Vimy' unites soldiers from across generations Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Nov. 10  2007 21:13  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 10th, 2007 Military families gathered at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton on Saturday. They were there to honour those serving in Afghanistan and veterans. But they were also treated to a new play called "Vimy." "Vimy" focusses on the bonds made in battle and the friendships that were forged in the fight that helped to define Canada as a nation. Canadians astounded the world when they fought back the Germans in the First World War to take a strategic ridge in Vimy, France. News of the victory resounded through Europe and here at home. Canadians took pride in what their soldiers had done, something which their allies had been unable to do time after time before. Many argue that it was a turning point for Canadian nationalism and is a defining moment for the country. But the victory didn't come easily. Canadians lost 3,600 soldiers. While Canadians honour those who fought in that battle and others in our history, the play points out sentiments about the war at the time were much more complicated. "Guys are dying out there, and I'm going to go home and tell them what a crazy, stupid war this is," says one of the charcters in the play. "They're seeing something that's really human. It's not necessarily about the war, it's about the people involved in it," said James MacDonald, the director told CTV News Edmonton.	Actors perform a play called 'Vimy' at Edmonton's Citadel Threatre. Military families from many generations filled the audience. James MacDonald is the director of the play.
Two members of the audience just returned from Afghanistan. They say the play rings a familiar note. "Just like the movie "Band of Brothers," we become brothers -- not blood brothers, but you're just like brothers overseas," said Cpl. Derek Romkey. Canada has lost 71 men and women in Afghanistan since 2002. But one soldier who has returned from the conflict says what they're doing in the country is no different than sacrifices made by generations of soldiers before them. Cpl. Sorel Benoit said the play allowed him to talk to older veterans in the audience. He said veterans told them their stories about the Second World War and Korea. But they were as curious about him as he was about them. They wanted to know "about my experience overseas, as well, and (see) if we had a special bond in different generations," said Benoit. Romkey said the play and Remembrance Day on Sunday will allow soldiers of all ages to discuss a common bond. But he also notes, Remembrance Day this year will bring out strong emotions. "This year will be tough, because we lost quite a few buddies and friends overseas in this last tour," Romkey said. "There will be quite a bit more reflection going on." Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Lavigne fights back against Perez Hilton's insults Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Nov. 09  2007 09:15  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 9th, 2007 TORONTO -- It seems that the near constant attacks of American blogger Perez Hilton are getting to cocky pop star Avril Lavigne. The Canadian singer has apparently set up her own website to counter Hilton's repeated assaults on her singing, wardrobe and rock star behaviour. The site, www.perezlavigne.com, features a video clip of Lavigne welcoming people to the page and a note stating "This is my revenge to Perez Hilton." She continues: "His insults have really hurt me so please help me to kick Perez in the ass with this website now!" Lavigne has been a favourite target of Hilton's site, www.perezhilton.com, a popular stop for celebrity gossip. A representative for Lavigne could not be immediately reached for comment. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press	Image taken from perezlavigne.com pokes fun at celebrity blogger Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr. who writes under the pseudonym Perez Hilton. Avril Lavigne takes audience questions during an acoustic announcing her upcoming 'Best Damn Tour,' in West Hollywood, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. (AP / Reed Saxon)
=======================
Canada slips in world rankings on gender equality Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Nov. 08  2007 09:19  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 6th, 2007 GENEVA -- Women in predominantly Muslim countries are struggling to compete for jobs, win equal pay and hold political office, falling behind the rest of the world in eliminating discrimination, according to a report issued Thursday by the World Economic Forum.
Nordic countries, by contrast, received the best overall grades for gender parity in education, employment, health and politics, according to the review of 128 countries. Canada, like the United States received mixed marks. Overall, Canada's score on the categories studies improved slightly, but that wasn't enough to prevent the country from slipping to 18th from 14th spot in the world rankings. The United States finished in 31st spot down eight places from last year. Sweden, which has more women than men holding high political office, topped the list, followed by fellow Nordics Norway, Finland and Iceland. New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Spain round out the top 10. "The purpose of the rankings is to bring out where a country stands in terms of dividing the resources that are available between women and men,'' said Saadia Zahidi, one of the report's three co-authors. Zahidi said religious and cultural reasons are important in understanding why men have economic, political, education and health advantages over women in much of the world. Ex-Soviet states with a Muslim majority, such as Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, were in the middle of the field, but nearly all countries in the Middle East placed in the bottom third. Pakistan, Chad and Yemen were at the bottom. Women living on the Arabian peninsula receive nearly as much education and health benefits as men there, Zahidi said, "but they're held back on political participation and economic empowerment.'' The annual study does not take into account a country's overall level of economic development. For example, women in Sri Lanka, South Africa, Cuba and Lesotho all fared better -- relatively speaking -- than women in industrialized countries such as Japan, Switzerland and the United States. The United States scored lower because the percentage of female legislators, senior officials and managers fell in 2007, and the pay gap between women and men widened, the report said. The world's most populous countries -- China and India -- were hurt in the study by the preference of many parents for boys, which has led to abortions and infanticide being directed primarily against girls. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
=======================
Girl born with eight limbs has successful surgery Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Nov. 07  2007 06:23  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 6th, 2007 BANGALORE, India -- Doctors in southern India completed a grueling 24-hour operation Wednesday on a girl born with four arms and four legs that surgeons said will give the 2-year-old a chance at a normal life. The surgery went "wonderfully well," said Dr. Sharan Patil, who led a team of more than 30 surgeons in performing the marathon procedure to remove Lakshmi's extra limbs, salvage her organs and rebuild her pelvis area. "This girl can now lead as good a life as anyone else," Patil said from a hospital in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. Lakshmi, who has been revered by some in her village as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess, was born joined at the pelvis to a "parasitic twin" that stopped developing in her mother's womb. The surviving fetus absorbed the limbs, kidneys and other body parts of the undeveloped fetus. "This is a very rare occurrence," said Dr. Doug Miniati a pediatric surgeon at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the surgery. Miniati said the surgery was extremely complicated but her chances of survival were greater because she was not joined at the heart or brain.	Lakshmi looks on at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India before the surgery on Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. (AP Photo) Members of the doctors' team pose for photographs after the completion of 24-hour operation on Lakshmi, at the Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore, India on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007. (AP/Mahesh Kumar)
The doctors worked through the night to remove the extra limbs and organs. By midnight, a team of neurologists had separated the fused spines while orthopedic surgeons removed most of the "parasite," carefully identifying which organs and internal structures belonged to the girl, said Patil. Then began the difficult job of reconstructing Lakshmi's lower body. The operation included transplanting a good kidney into Lakshmi from the twin. The team also used tissue from the twin to help rebuild the pelvic area, one of the most complicated parts of the surgery, Patil said. "Beyond our expectations, the reconstruction worked wonderfully well," Patil said. "We were able to bring the pelvic bones together successfully, which takes away the need for another procedure," he said. However, she will have to have further treatments and possible surgery for clubbed feet before she would be able to walk, he said. Lakshmi's parents, who were expected to see their daughter later Wednesday, said they were very relieved. "It will be great to see our daughter have a normal body," her father Shambhu, who only goes by one name, told reporters. "We were worried for her future." Children born with deformities in deeply traditional rural parts of India, like the remote village in the northern state of Bihar that Lakshmi hails from, are often viewed as reincarnated gods. The young girl is no different -- she is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth. Others sought to make money from Lakshmi. Her parents kept her in hiding after a circus apparently tried to buy the girl, they said. Her mother, who is currently pregnant with a healthy fetus, was "overwhelmed," Patil said. Doctors at Sparsh Hospital in Bangalore said they were performing the surgery, which they estimated cost $625,000, for free because the girl's family could not afford the medical bills. "We are very grateful to all the doctors for seeing our plight and deciding to help us," Shambhu said. Doctors at the hospital have said that Lakshmi was popular among staff and patients. "She's a very cute girl," hospital spokeswoman Dr. Patil Mamatha said. "She's very playful and gets along well with others." Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
=======================
Loonie surpasses US$1.08 in overseas trading Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Nov. 06  2007 07:40  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 6th, 2007 The loonie cleared another symbolic milestone Tuesday, passing US$1.08 in early-morning overseas trading. The Canadian dollar traded briefly at 108.007 cents US shortly after 6 a.m. ET Tuesday. It then dropped back down below the US$1.08 mark.
On Monday, the loonie closed up 14 basis points at 107.18 cents US. "The advance comes as the price of oil started to run higher, it has topped US$95 (a barrel)," BNN's Michael Kane said Tuesday. Traders are expecting ongoing declines in U.S. crude oil stocks, heightening fears that supplies may be limited going into the Northern Hemisphere winter. Analysts think some traders and investors will try to push oil prices past the US$100-a-barrel mark by the end of this week. The soaring loonie smashed a 50-year record last Wednesday after it topped the high of 106.14 cents US. The old record was reached on Aug. 21, 1957. On Friday, the Canadian dollar closed at 107.04 cents US, bolstered by a drop in the nation's unemployment rate to a 33-year low. The jobless rate fell from 5.9 per cent in September to 5.8 in October. Despite its speedy climb, Kane said some currency analysts believe the loonie is overvalued and could "fall to 95 cents US by the end of this year." Meanwhile, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Monday he was "encouraged" to see that some major Canadian retailers have slashed prices to better reflect the power of the rising dollar. "I'm encouraged by the fact that many retailers have lowered prices,'' he said after a speech in Toronto. "There's still some adjustments to be made, quite clearly, given the increased purchasing power of the Canadian dollar and the extent of that increase.'' Flaherty also said retailers are happy about the Tories' recent move to further reduce the goods and services tax to five per cent by Jan. 1, 2008. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
=======================
Hollywood writers begin strike as talks fail Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Nov. 05  2007 08:37  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 5th, 2007 With the failure of last-minute talks between film and television writers and studios, some of Hollywood's best behind-the-scenes talents are set to appear on picket lines today. The first pickets were expected to go up Monday morning at NBC's headquarters at Rockefeller Center in New York. In Los Angeles, 14 studio locations were scheduled for daily pickets until a deal is reached.	People load picket signs into vans at the Writers Guild of America headquarters in Los Angeles. (AP / Ric Francis)
About 12,000 Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer members have been without a contract since Oct. 31. Writes are holding out for a greater share of DVD profits and revenue from Internet distribution of films and television shows. Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter told CTV's Canada AM that the Screen Actors and Directors Guilds are facing contract talks next year, and the producers feel they have to set a precedent that works for them. "Where the writers go on this is where they're going to have to go too and the producers just don't want to give up that big a piece of the pie." The job action comes after nearly 11 hours of last-minute talks on Sunday that were derailed when East Coast members of the union announced the strike had gotten underway for 4,000 members. Producers said the writers refused to hold off on the planned strike despite the fact talks were in progress. Rechtshaffen, speaking from L.A., said the job action will have an immediate impact on some aspects of television. "Late night is going to be hit pretty much immediately," he said. "'Saturday Night Live,' by the very nature of its currency, is going to go into reruns pretty much right away. Leno and Letterman, because of all the sketches and the monologues are going to be in the same situation. Unless they went into an all-talk format, all interviews, they're probably going to go into reruns."
He said daytime dramas and soap operas are usually written further in advance, so there shouldn't be an interruption until January or February at the earliest. Sitcoms aren't written as far in advance, however, and producers could begin running out of scripts before the end of the year. Writers said they have backed off on key issues in order to try and reach a deal, but to no avail. They said they withdrew a proposal to increase their share of revenue from the sale of DVDs. The writers also said the producers' proposals in the area of Internet reuse of TV episodes and films were unacceptable. "The AMPTP made no response to any of the other proposals that the WGA has made since July," writers said in a statement. It is the first walkout by writers since 1988. The last one lasted 22 weeks and cost more than US$500 million. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Dutch weighing Afghan 'responsibilities': minister Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Nov. 04  2007 13:21  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 4th, 2007 The Dutch government knows that if it decides to pull out of Afghanistan, it will make it more difficult for Canada to stay, says The Netherlands' defence minister. "But we do realize in this country ... that we started a serious job that will take many, many years to help that country," Eimert van Middelkoop told CTV's Question Period on Sunday. Speaking from The Hague, the minister said that his country's Parliament will be debating	Dutch Defence Miniter Eimert Van Middelkoop appears on CTV's Question Period on Sunday, November 4th, 2007.
the extension issue in December. The Netherland's international responsibilities, along with its national interests, will be part of that debate, he said. "For the whole of NATO ... it would be very difficult if one of the countries -- the Netherlands or Canada or the Netherlands -- will say 'no,'" van Middelkoop said. "If one of the countries will go home, all the problems of the other countries will increase. That is the international responsibility." Van Middelkoop has been very critical of some NATO member countries over their reluctance to put troops and equipment in harm's way. "There is no such thing as a free ride to peace and security. Fair risk and burden-sharing remain the leading principles of this alliance," he said during a meeting of NATO defence ministers in the Netherlands in late October. In response, some countries promised small increases in the number of troops and military trainers. The Dutch commitment currently expires in August 2008. The country's troops are operating in Uruzgan province, which lies immediately north of Kandahar province -- Canada's area of responsibility. Twelve Dutch troops have died in Afghanistan, the latest in a roadside bombing on Saturday. About 1,700 Dutch troops are serving in Afghanistan. Canada has lost 71 troops and one diplomat in Afghanistan since 2002. About 2,500 Canadian troops are serving ther. Extending the mission has been a major political controversy in this country, with the minority Conservative government wanting to extend the current mission to 2011. The three opposition parties oppose an extension of the current mission, which has seen Canadian troops in heavy combat. The NDP would like to see the troops brought home now. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has advocated that if Canada stays until 2011, Afghanistan's national army could be largely self-sufficient.
Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, caused a furor when he said it could take a decade to develop Afghanistan's national army -- but he later said he's on the same page as the prime minister. Van Middelkoop sided with Harper. If the Netherlands extends its commitment to 2010, "the Afghan National Army will be a very effective and realistic actor in the field, and then we can start an exit strategy," he said. However, van Middelkoop didn't make it clear whether he was speaking about the Dutch operations in Uruzgan or NATO operations as a whole. On the notion of success, "the term 'winning' is maybe a little bit risky," he said, noting the Dutch and Canadian troops aren't fighting a classic war. "Winning is that at a certain moment, you can say to Kabul, to President (Hamid) Karzai, 'we think you can do it on your own,'" he said. "It will be a responsible measure to say goodbye to you. The Taliban maybe will be there in some corners of your country, but they are not a real danger for Kandahar or Kabul. That, if you wish, is winning." Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Runaway U.S. teacher and teen found in Mexico Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Nov. 03  2007 12:59  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 3rd, 2007 LEXINGTON, Neb. -- A female schoolteacher was arrested in Mexico and the 13-year-old boy she allegedly ran away with was turned over to his relatives, a prosecutor said Saturday. Kelsey Peterson, a 25-year-old sixth-grade math teacher and basketball coach at Lexington Middle School, was arrested in Mexicali, a city on the border with California, Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman said. They were found and apprehended by Mexican authorities without incident Friday evening. Peterson was in FBI custody and transported back to the U.S. early Saturday, and the boy was released to relatives in Mexico, Waterman said. "I'm really relieved, especially that the individuals are well and unharmed," Waterman said. Peterson and the boy fled after police began investigating whether the pair had an intimate relationship, authorities said. Court documents said the boy was last seen Oct. 26. Waterman said she did not have details on how the pair were found or where Peterson was being held. She said FBI agents were holding her on federal charges. Calls to FBI and U.S. attorney officials in Omaha were not immediately returned Saturday. A judge issued an arrest warrant Monday charging Peterson with kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Peterson also faces federal charges, including transporting a minor across state lines or a foreign border for sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher said. Those charges were filed Thursday. The boy, Fernando Rodriguez, was an eighth-grader at the school, but district Superintendent Todd Chessmore said Rodriguez had been in Peterson's 6th-grade math class. The Associated Press generally does not identify people who may be victims of sex crimes, but the boy's name had been widely publicized as police searched for him.
Fernando's aunt, Laura Rodriguez, said Saturday that the boy was likely with an uncle in Mexicali. She said family in California and Mexico had already been searching for him. Rodriguez said the family had not been told by any officials that Fernando had been found. Peterson's car crossed into Mexico on Tuesday at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which separates San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, Lexington police said. The car's license plate was captured by an automated system that scans the plates of all vehicles passing through the entry point. Cars typically are not stopped on the way out because "our focus is on what's entering the United States," said Vince Bond, a spokesman with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in San Diego. Court documents showed authorities had recovered several e-mails and letters in which Peterson and the boy professed their affection for one another. In letters, the boy called Peterson his "Baby Gurl" and said their relationship was "just not about the sex but that it was pretty good," according to the court documents. Peterson's school-issued laptop contained letters to the student, including one from April saying she loved him, thought he loved her, was "100 per cent faithful" to him and would always be faithful, the court documents state. Laura Rodriguez also said the family believed Peterson gave the boy a cell phone without his family's knowledge so she could reach him more easily. Messages left on a cell phone for a Kelsey Peterson of Lexington were not returned. Lexington Schools Superintendent Todd Chessmore said he placed Peterson on paid administrative leave on Oct. 25. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files fromThe Associated Press
=======================
Jobless rate sends loonie to new record high Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Nov. 02  2007 08:59  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 2nd, 2007 The Canadian dollar jumped to a record high of 107.17 cents US on Friday, bolstered by continued high oil prices and a drop in the nation's unemployment rate to a 33-year low. The dollar jumped 2.05 cents over yesterday's close of 105.12 cents US after Statistics Canada reported Friday that the national jobless rate fell to 5.8 per cent in October -- a decline of 0.1 per cent from September.	The Canadian dollar jumped more than two U.S. cents Friday morning to a record 107.17 cents US. (CP / Jonathan Hayward)
The soaring loonie smashed a 50-year record on Wednesday after it topped the high of 106.14 U.S. cents that was reached a half-century ago on Aug. 21, 1957. The loonie also benefited Friday from an increase in oil prices -- up 92 cents at US$94.41 per barrel. Oil had broken $96 per barrel earlier in the week. Jobless rate According to the latest Labour Force survey, record numbers of Canadians are holding down jobs with October's employment rate reaching an all-time high of 63.7 per cent. From January to October, Canada's robust economy created 346,000 new jobs, representing the strongest growth for that period in five years. Women and older workers continue to lead the way in employment last month. Women aged 25 and over posted a record employment rate of 59.4 per cent along with the lowest unemployment rate -- 4.3 per cent -- in more than 30 years. Workers aged 55 and over continued to see massive gains demonstrating an all-time high participation rate of 33.9 per cent. Employment for older workers has risen 6.9 per cent since the start of the year, driven by the participation of older women in the work force. By contrast, employment levels have risen 1.2 per cent for those aged 25 to 44 for 2007. The service sector continued to elevate the nation's employment level with the highest gains in health care, social assistance and public administration. In October, service sector jobs increased by 66,000 representing a growth of 3.2 per cent in 2007. However, the gains have been tempered by losses in the accommodation sector and food and beverage industry. The manufacturing sector has continued to suffer due to the record-setting gains of the Canadian dollar. Employment in the goods-producing sector has fallen 0.5 per cent since January, representing a loss of 3,300 jobs.
However, gains in construction and utilities -- including electric power generation, transmission and distribution, natural gas distribution, water supply and sewage systems -- have offset those losses. Employment in Ontario grew for a second straight month with 32,000 new jobs created last month. So far this year, employment in Ontario has increased by an estimated 1.7 per cent, just below the national average of 2.1 per cent. Employment also continued to grow in the western provinces and in Atlantic Canada. The tight labour market is driving higher wages for employees. Workers were paid 4.1 per cent more for their hourly labour than a year ago, well above the 2.5 per cent inflation rate. October marked the third consecutive month that the increase in hourly compensation was above four per cent on a year-over-year basis. The Canadian Press has compiled a list of the October unemployment rates in select cities. The September figure is in brackets: Newfoundland 13.5 (13.6) Prince Edward Island 8.8 (10.5) Nova Scotia 7.6 (8.0) New Brunswick 7.6 (8.2) Quebec 6.9 (6.9) Ontario 6.0 (6.2) Manitoba 4.0 (4.2) Saskatchewan 4.3 (3.8) Alberta 3.4 (3.6) British Columbia 4.4 (4.3) Written by CTV.ca News Staff
=======================
Excess body fat raises cancer risk: expert panel Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Oct. 31 2007 22:21  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: November 1st, 2007 A major international report warns that medical evidence is stronger than ever that excess weight increases a person's risk for a number of cancers. "If you're already a bit fat, don't get any fatter, do not put on any more weight," said Dr. Phillip James of the International Obesity Task Force. The report by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund says carrying excess body fat boosts the risk for cancer of the colon, kidney, esophagus, pancreas, and endometrium, as well as breast cancer in post-menopausal women. "This report is optimistic because unlike what I was taught at medical school, there is a lot we can do to reduce our risk of cancer," said Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health.	Dr. Phillip James speaks to reporters during a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007.
There is also convincing evidence linking consumption of alcohol, red meat and processed meat to elevated cancer risk, the report concludes. "This report is a real milestone in the fight against cancer, because its recommendations represent the most definitive advice on preventing cancer that has ever been available anywhere in the world," said Prof. Martin Wiseman, project director of the report. To avoid excess weight gain, the report recommends: Limiting intake of high-fat and sugar-rich foods that are low in fibre, including most fast food. Limiting intake of cooked red meat to about 500 grams (1.1 lbs) per week. Avoiding completely bacon, ham, sausage and luncheon meats. Limiting alcohol to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. Limiting consumption of salt. Eating mostly foods of plant origin. Being physically active every day. Breastfeeding. But the most important recommendation of all is to be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight. A BMI (body mass index) of between 18.5 and 25 is generally regarded as "healthy", but the report recommends that an ideal BMI is between 21 and 23.	Limiting trips to the drive-thru, and lowering the intake of high-fat and sugar-rich foods that are low in fibre, may help reduce the risk of cancer. The study also recommends being physically active every day to help prevent cancer.
The cancer risk increases as people head towards the 25 mark, so everyone should try to be as close to the lower end as possible, the report says. "We are recommending that people aim to be as lean as possible within the healthy range, and that they avoid weight gain throughout adulthood," said Prof. Sir Michael Marmot, chair of the panel. "This might sound difficult, but this is what the science is telling us more clearly than ever before. The fact is that putting on weight can increase your cancer risk, even if you are still within the healthy range." The report says meals should be planned around non-starchy vegetables and fruits, served with such protein sources as poultry, fish or eggs on the side. "We are recommending five servings or more of vegetables and fruit daily because, like physical activity, they pack a double whammy against cancer,'' panel member Dr. Phillip James said. Fruits and vegetables help reduce cancer risk on their own. And, because they are low-calorie, they help maintain a healthy weight, he noted. The experts also found convincing evidence that alcohol consumption is linked to cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. It is also implicated in colorectal cancer among men and pre-and post-menopausal cancer in women. Drinking alcohol is a probable cause of liver cancer and colorectal cancer in women, they say. But with many studies concluding that small amounts of alcohol protect against heart disease, the panel decided to recommend limiting rather than avoiding alcohol. The report is also the first to urge breastfeeding as a way to protect against cancer, arguing that it may reduce breast cancer in the mother and prevent obesity in the child. The 517-page report, released today in Washington, is the result of the largest-ever study into lifestyle and cancer. There is no new research involved in this document. Instead, nine independent teams of scientists from around the world and hundreds of peer reviewers reviewed 7,000 existing studies over five years. The experts note that two-thirds of cancer cases are not thought to be related to lifestyle, and there is little people can do to prevent the disease in these cases. But more than three million of the 10 million cases of cancer that are diagnosed around the world every year could be prevented if the recommendations were followed, say panel members. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with a report from CTV medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip