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New Internet worm set to attack April 1	31/03/09
Nickelback dominates the 2009 JUNO Awards	30/03/09
T.O. researchers identify online spying operation	29/03/09
Carmakers race to capture luxury hybrids market	28/03/09
Guelph police make arrest in meat tampering case	27/03/09
Hundreds on flood evacuation alert in Manitoba	26/03/09
Tories to abolish 'two-for-one' prison-time credit	25/03/09
India's Tata Motors launches super-cheap Nano car	24/03/09
Suncor, Petro-Canada announce merger	23/03/09
Pope decries African wars at Mass for 1 million	22/03/09
Bodies of 4 fallen Cdn. soldiers coming home	21/03/09
Retail sales rise 1.9 per cent in January	20/03/09
Canadian inflation rises for first time in five months	19/03/09
Austrian 'Dungeon Dad' pleads guilty to all counts	18/03/09
Jurors view more video testimony at Fritzl trial	17/03/09
'Dungeon Dad' pleads guilty to incest, denies murder	16/03/09
N.L. wreckage may contain 10 or more bodies	15/03/09
Former Oilers' GM Sather posts bail for Pocklington	14/03/09
Phelps talks to NBC about marijuana pipe photo	13/03/09
Auto sector in 'existential crisis,' Clement says	12/03/09
German gunman shot dead after killing 15 at school	11/03/09
Harper to deliver first major speech on recession	10/03/09
Global losses reach $50 trillion, report finds	09/03/09
CAW reaches tentative labour deal with GM	08/03/09
Alberta no longer holds economic bragging rights	07/03/09
Phillion says he feels 'fantastic' after decision	06/03/09
Judge to render verdict Thursday in beheading case	05/03/09
Poll ranks Canada second in list of top U.S. allies	04/03/09
Bank of Canada cuts interest rate to 0.5 per cent	03/03/09
Afghan children killed by old munitions, military says	02/03/09
Canadians make stem cell breakthrough	01/03/09

New Internet worm set to attack April 1 Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Mar. 30  2009  20:00  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 31st, 2009 A cyber Trojan worm is expected to hit millions of computers on April 1, but whether it will unleash a harmless April Fool's joke or a dastardly criminal plot, no one knows. The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has issued a warning about the latest version of the Conficker worm, which could potentially have infected any computers running a Microsoft operating system.
CIRA, which manages Canada's dot-ca (.ca) domain name registry, says that the worm will force infected computers to connect randomly to about 50,000 web URLs a day beginning April 1. But what could happen when those computers reach those websites is anyone's guess. Files on the websites could instruct the worm to do anything from steal passwords or banking information, to delete a person's hard drive to simply sending spam messages. As CTV's technology expert Kris Abel explains, computer researchers made a breakthrough this week that will allow network administrators the ability to remotely identify an infected computer. Kris Abel: Network admin tool for Conficker virus  ( ) (CLICK THIS DIAMOND) and/or type - http://krisabel.ctv.ca/post/Security-Experts-Develop-Tool-To-Identify-Computers-Infected-By-Conficker-Worm.aspx Experts say that anywhere from three to 12 million computers may be infected worldwide. Most users with up-to-date anti-virus software should be fine however, as the biggest threat is towards computers, particular on large networks, that have been inactive for the last six months or so. Microsoft has put a $250,000 bounty out to catch the cyber criminal, but so far no on has been caught. Christopher Davis, the CEO of Defence Intelligence, an Ottawa-based information security firm, told CTV Newsnet that he believes the worm is "far from a hoax." "It's one of the biggest bot-nets we've ever seen," he said. Davis recommended that Canadian computer users make sure their Microsoft Windows update is working and that their anti-virus software is up to date. He said that on April 1, when the worm goes live, the average user wouldn't notice it operating on their computer as it will run hidden. CIRA says it is registering and isolating unregistered dot-ca domain names that are expected to be generated by the Conficker worm. Abel says that there are tools online that will search and destroy the worm if you think your computer is infected. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from Lindsay Zier-Vogel
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Nickelback dominates the 2009 JUNO Awards Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Mar. 29  2009  23:02  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 30th, 2009 Hometown heroes Nickelback came out on top with three awards at the 38th Annual JUNO Awards in Vancouver, B.C. They kicked off their winning streak Sunday night by taking home Group of the Year. "It's absolutely amazing," lead singer Chad Kroeger said of their Group of the Year award, and thanked his fans from the leaf-covered stage. This is the fourth time the band earned this title at the JUNOS. Nickelback were also the first band to perform on the show, getting the party started with an explosive, pyrotechnic performance of their hit song, "Something in Your Mouth." Known for their fist-pumping anthems and soaring power ballads, the band is made up of brothers Chad Kroeger (lead vocals and guitar) and Mike Kroeger (bass), Ryan Peake (lead guitar) and Daniel Adair (drums).	Chad Kroeger of Nickelback celebrates his band's JUNO award for group of the year at the JUNO Awards in Vancouver, Sunday, March 29, 2009. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jeff McIntosh
The group has sold 27 million albums worldwide since their 1996 breakthrough album "Curb." Their JUNO legacy began in 2001, when they were first named Best New Group. Sunday night the band also picked up the awards for Album of the Year for "Dark Horse" and the JUNO Fan Choice Award, presented by Pepsi. "This is the good one," lead guitarist Ryan Peake said of the Fan Choice Award. "This is why didn't get a real job. This is why we still don't have real jobs," he joked. "It's all because of the Canadian fans," he said. More awards Sporting a bowtie and a checked blazer, rocker Dallas Green won the first award of the night, Songwriter of the Year. The tattooed musician began his acceptance speech by first thanking his wife, Leah Miller, along with his family, and finished by thanking "anyone who's ever tried to write their own song." Sam Roberts won Artist of the Year, after accepting Rock Album of the Year the previous night. "This is amazing," he said on stage, dedicating his award to the musicians in his band. "We are in outstanding company in this award. It's mind-blowing to be in your company tonight," he said to fellow nominees Bryan Adams, City and Colour, k.d. lang and Serena Ryder. Kardinall Offishall was another two-time JUNO winner, beating out JUNO heavyweights Celine Dion and Nickelback for Single of the Year on Saturday night and Rap Recording of the Year during the televised ceremony. "Lights" (a.k.a Valerie Poxleitner) was ecstatic to win New Artist of the Year. "Oh my goodness. I was so not expecting this," said Poxleitner in her shiny purple dress. Loverboy inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame
The rock group Loverboy was honoured for lifetime achievement and inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, joining iconic Canadian musicians Bryan Adams, Rush and the Tragically Hip. The four members of the 1980s band known for hits like, "Turn me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend" each thanked their families, colleagues and fans, and the contribution of their late bass player Scott Smith. Russell Peters' sophomore schtick Russell Peters took to the stage for his second appearance as host of the JUNO Awards joined by brightly costumed Bollywood dancers. Peters, the Brampton, Ont. native, joined in the dance, then pulled out funky breakdancing moves that would have made the judges of So You Think You Can Dance Canada proud. "I know it's Vancouver but what's with the grow-op on stage?" Peters joked about the oversized foliage that framed the stage. Mixing drug jokes with Olympic fever, Peters took jabs at Barenaked Ladies ex-frontman Steven Page, for his recent possession charges. Rockin' performances Of the 14 musical performances, Dallas Green of City and Colour blew the crowd away with his duet with Tragically Hip lead singer, Gord Downie. Earlier in the night, the stage shifted to an ocean-blue as Vancouver-based songstress Sarah McLachlan, sang "U Want Me 2." The night before, McLachlan was honoured with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for her charity work. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams was joined by 2009 nominee Kathleen Edwards who accompanied him on violin and back-up vocals. JUNO winners The Stills rocked out with their hit "Being There" and Serena Ryder took to the stage with her "Little Bit of Red," an energetic song from this year's Adult Alternative Album of the Year. Strutting etalk's red carpet
Not only did musical heavyweights Nickelback, Bryan Adams and Feist walk the red carpet to Vancouver's General Motors Place, but Olympians Jeremy Wotherspoon and Mellisa Hollingsworth joined in on the star-studded festivities. Red carpet host Ben Mulroney was looking casual in jeans and a black jacket as he chatted with Canadian celebrities and musicians like JUNO veterans Nickelback and Hedley. etalk's Tanya Kim talked with the five-piece Montreal rock quintet The Stills, who walked away with both New Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year the night before. "There's a lot of screaming going on over here," Serena Ryder told Kim on the red carpet. "I don't know how these people are going to keep their voices." After winning last year's New Artist of the Year, Ryder was nominated for two JUNOs this year. "I feel like I've won already just by being part of such an amazing, amazing group of people," Ryder said of her fellow Artist of the Year nominees, Bryan Adams, City and Colour, k.d. lang and Sam Roberts. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from Lindsay Zier-Vogel
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T.O. researchers identify online spying operation Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Mar. 28  2009  23:34  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 29th, 2009 The New York Times is reporting that a group of University of Toronto researchers have discovered a massive online spying operation that has accessed sensitive information from hundreds of sources worldwide.
The operation is based largely in China, where it has wormed its way into some 1,300 computers in more than 100 countries over the past two years, the researchers say. Some of these computers are located in government offices, while others are the property of private businesses. The researchers say some of the Dalai Lama's Tibetan exile centres have been targeted, as have various South and Southeast Asian governments. The researchers' findings were released Saturday night online, in a report entitled "Tracking 'GhostNet: Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network."  Use this link and/or "http://www.scribd.com/doc/13731776/Tracking-GhostNet-Investigating-a-Cyber-Espionage-Network" An accompanying news release said: "For security reasons, we have redacted parts of the report until affected parties can be notified by the relevant authorities. A full uncensored report will be released in one week." This is the second major report from the Information Warfare Monitor -- a joint project of the SecDev Group (Ottawa) and the Citizen Lab (Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto). "We uncovered real-time evidence of malware that had penetrated Tibetan computer systems, extracting sensitive documents from the private office of the Dalai Lama," investigator Greg Walton said. According to the research group, GhostNet continues to infiltrate and spy on about 12 new computers each week, allowing a malicious outsider to control such functions as video and audio recording. With that level of control over a computer, the outside user could see and hear what is happening in a private room. The team discovered the commands that had been sent out to the infected computers and probed some of the document names which had been stolen by the spies. However, most of the stolen contents weren't recoverable. The F.B.I. has declined to speak publicly about the findings, but the research team said that they had already notified law enforcement agents. The news release also said: "While our analysis reveals that numerous politically sensitive and high value computer systems were compromised in ways that circumstantially point to China as the culprit, we do not know the exact motivation or the identity of the attacker(s), or how to accurately characterize this network of infections as a whole. One of the characteristics of cyber-attacks of the sort we document here is the ease by which attribution can be obscured. Regardless of who or what is ultimately in control of GhostNet, it is the capabilities of exploitation, and the strategic intelligence that can be harvested from it, which matters most. This report underscores the growing capabilities of cyber attacks, the ease by which cyberspace can be used as a vector for signals intelligence, and the importance of taking information security seriously by security professionals and policy makers worldwide..." Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from ctvtoronto.ca
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Carmakers race to capture luxury hybrids market Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Mar. 28  2009  07:50  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 28th, 2009 It's been a bit of an irony for years that the luxury car sector, the part of the auto market that could most afford the additional costs of hybrid technology, has been the one offering customers such paucity of choice when it comes to greener vehicles. That may be about to change. News reports suggest that Nissan will jump into the luxury hybrid market next year with its Infiniti M model. It's playing catch-up to rival Toyota, which already offers a variety of Lexus hybrids. Nissan may also be hoping to keep pace with German automakers Daimler AG and BMW AG. They're also revving up for the race to capture their share of the hybrid market for customers looking to buy premium class vehicles. "I think it's an untapped market," said industry insider Keagan Patrick. "If you play in the premium (vehicle) market you can afford to offer clients this kind of technology. The kind of client who can afford this type of brand can afford all the bells and whistles." Automakers have traditionally been reluctant to jump full force into the luxury car market	John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., introduces the production version of the all-new 2010 Honda Insight. (AP / Joe Wilssens, courtesy of Honda via Wieck) Prius hybrid sedans sit on a lot at a Toyota dealership. (AP / David Zalubowski)
because they were not sure how consumers would respond. But Patrick, an analyst with the California-based marketing firm AutoPacific, points to a similar reluctance in the 1990s when hybrids first hit showrooms with lower-end offerings from Honda and Toyota (which sold the Prius only as a hybrid). "Toyota -- I don't know if they were lucky or genius, but they had the money and took on the technical and marketing risks, which were substantial ... And it paid off for them in spades. It was a huge publicity and marketing coup," he said. But Patrick said when it comes to winning the race to capture the luxury hybrid market, figuring out the right marketing strategy will be key. So far, automakers have opted not to significantly change the styles of their luxury hybrids, a far cry from the aggressive strategy that Toyota employed with Prius. "If you look at the Prius, it says, 'look at me! I'm socially conscious!' I don't know if these luxury brands will be styled to stand out, though," Patrick said. But it may be a strategy worth pursuing. The Prius now represents 70 per cent of all hybrid sales. The success of less expensive hybrid models may now be fueling race in the premium class market. "Lexus has taken on this (race for the hybrid market) with full force. I wouldn't be surprised if the Infinity followed. They may not sell like hotcakes in the current market but in the future I think they will sell," he said. Patrick notes there is a greater opportunity for profit in the sales of high-end hybrids than their less expensive counterparts. He said car companies may only make about US$2,400 on the sale of economy hybrids, but with luxury hybrids they could make profits in the range of US$12,000. There has also been a shift in public perceptions about hybrids in general that could reshape the luxury car market. Concerns about their reliability and resale values have been alleviated. Also, consumers of all income brackets now want to be -- and be seen as being -- good environmental citizens, said Patrick. "'Miles per gallon' seems to be the new 'horsepower.' Maybe these premium luxury vehicle customers aren't looking for horsepower any more. They're now saying, 'I get 45 MPG,'" Patrick said. "People want to say not only that, 'I can afford this technology,' (but) they also want to show the world that, 'I am socially responsible and green.'" Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from Parminder Parmar
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Guelph police make arrest in meat tampering case Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Mar. 27  2009  08:36  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 27th, 2009 Guelph, Ont. police have made an arrest in connection with a series of deli packages that were recently found with sewing needles inside them at a local No Frills supermarket.
Store management called police after a No Frills customer brought a package that had been tampered with back to the supermarket last week. The subsequent investigation found 13 sewing needles that had been inserted into 12 different Schneider's meat product packages sold at the No Frills supermarket located at 191 Silvercreek Parkway in Guelph. The store immediately pulled Schneider's products from its shelves and police investigated the matter with the help of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Sgt. Doug Pflug told ctvtoronto.ca that all of the affected products had been yanked from store shelves within a 25 kilometre radius of the No Frills during the investigation. No injuries were reported as a result of the tampering. Late Thursday, Guelph police announced they had made an arrest in connection with the case. Mastoora Qezil, 41, of Guelph, was arrested and charged with one count of common nuisance. She is scheduled to appear in bail court on Friday. Anyone with information for investigators is asked to contact Const. Kevin King at 519-824-1212, ext. 222, or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from ctvtoronto.ca
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Hundreds on flood evacuation alert in Manitoba Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Mar. 26  2009  07:43  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 26th, 2009 Hundreds of Manitoba residents are on evacuation alert Thursday as an ice jam in the Red River continues to push water levels higher. Meanwhile, residents along the North Dakota part of the Red River are working frantically to build dikes high enough to hold back the water. In Manitoba, dozens of homes north of Winnipeg have already been evacuated due to flooding. The massive ice jam, located near Lockport, backed up the river's waters, forcing residents in East and West St. Paul, St. Andrews and St. Clements to evacuate. Overnight, two large trackhoes smashed holed in the ice and lifted large chunks out of the river and onto the shoreline. Still, officials fear the jam could become stuck at other parts of the river. The Manitoba government has also sent 2,700 metres of tube diking to emergency areas. Next week, major flooding is expected along the Red River, which flows northward from North Dakota into Manitoba, from spring runoff.	Roads have been closed as rising floodwaters make them unpassable in areas in and around Winnipeg, Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Massive ice jams bottlenecking Manitoba's Red River have prompted evacuations in communities north of Winnipeg. (Chris Martin / MyNews.CTV.ca)
Meanwhile, residents in N.D. are working around the clock as the Red River rises into what Mayor Dennis Walaker described as "uncharted territory." On Saturday, officials say the Red River will crest at 12.5 metres. Pat Zavoral, an administrator with the city of Fargo, said 1997's "flood of the century" was only 12.1 metres. To fight the waters, residents have been building dikes to higher levels than originally planned. "We're dispensing these sandbags out into these neighbourhoods where we have 45 kilometres of dikes that we have to reinforce to a higher level for the crest that's going to happen on Saturday," Zavoral told CTV's Canada AM on Thursday. He said officials originally thought they'd only need 350,000 sandbags to fight back the waters. "Three days ago we upped it from 1 million to 3.5 million sandbags and I think we're going to surpass that," Zavoral said. Still, Zavoral said he was confident that the dikes would be able to hold off the water. To the west, residents along parts of the Missouri River have also been told to evacuate because of rising water levels. Officials used dynamite to blast an ice jam to ease flooding around the town of Bismarck. "Right away, you could see water moving, as well as ice and trees that were in the water," Gov. John Hoeven said. "Clearly, they are moving water through the ice jam now." U.S. President Barack Obama has declared North Dakota a federal disaster. As a federal disaster area, the federal government will pay for 75 per cent of state and local government costs to deal with the flooding. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
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Tories to abolish 'two-for-one' prison-time credit Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Mar. 25  2009  08:00  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 25th, 2009 The Conservative government is planning to introduce legislation Thursday to end the "two-for-one" credit judges often grant convicted felons for time spent in pre-trial custody, CTV News has learned. The credit aims to compensate for so-called "dead time" criminals spend in overcrowded detention centres that do not have rehabilitation programs or many of the amenities of long-term prison housing. Critics who want the "two-for-one" credit to end argue that some prisoners abuse the system by trying to stretch their pre-trial time to cut their time behind bars later. CTV's Roger Smith, reporting from Ottawa, said Wednesday that the Tory legislation will likely have the support of the Liberals. NDP members also say they will also support the legislation, but indicate they want exceptions made for those being housed in the worst jails. Irvin Waller, founding director of the Institute for the Prevention of Crime at the University of Ottawa, said the legislation is just another example of politicians being tough on criminals and not on crime. "We don't see here a federal-provincial plan to really reduce the number of victims, we just see tinkering with one small part of the system," Waller told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday. If passed, Waller said he expects to see offenders serving longer sentences and more people behind bars. "That means that we will be paying more of our taxes for after-the-fact solutions to crime	Irvin Waller, founding director of the Institute for the Prevention of Crime at the University of Ottawa, speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Ottawa, Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Kidnap victim Graham McMynn speaks during a press conference in Vancouver after being held captive for eight days on Thursday, April 13, 2006. (Richard Lam / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
instead of investing in the things that would reduce the number of gang-related homicides, the number of women assaulted, the number of robberies," he said. The "two-for-one" system came under fire recently when the father of a kidnapping victim expressed his anger when his son's kidnappers had their sentences reduced by six years due to the two-for-one credit. Robert McMynn's son, Graham, then 24, was abducted at gunpoint in April 2006 and spent eight terrifying days in captivity before being rescued from a Surrey, B.C. home. Still, the two-for-one credit is not a requirement. The judge in the case of convicted terrorist Momin Khawaja did not give out a two-for-one credit, much to the decry of the defence lawyer in the case, Lawrence Greenspon. But Canada's criminal code says that judges may take pre-trial custody into account and that discretion has become a near-standard practice, backed up by support from various appeal courts. The government legislation would take away the judge's discretion, but some believe that longer sentences given out under the bill could be subject to a Charter of Rights challenge. CTV legal analyst Steven Skurka called the legislation a "huge mistake." "If there is a problem, and I don't accept that there is one, the answer is to pour more money into the justice system and to get in-custody trials on sooner," Skurka said. He said the legislation would put huge demands on the justice system. "I don't think this has been thought through at all," he said. "It sounds like it's been decided on anecdotes rather than empirical studies." Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from CTV's Roger Smith
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India's Tata Motors launches super-cheap Nano car Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Mar. 23  2009  10:07  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 24th, 2009 Tata Motors launched its low-cost Nano car in Mumbai on Monday in an effort to turn around its financial fortunes while giving low-income consumers the chance to own a vehicle. The tiny car measures about 3.1 metres, has one windshield wiper and is outfitted with a 624-cc rear engine. It will cost buyers about 100,000 rupees, or US$2,050. "The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional barriers. From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the concept, development and production of the car has overcome several challenges," Tata chairman Ratan N. Tata said at a news conference. "I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who 'til now have not been able to own a car. We are delighted in presenting the Tata Nano to India and the world." In these tough economic times, the car offers the best mileage for any car in India, according to the company's website. It boasts fuel efficiency of 23.6 km/litre, as certified by the Automotive Research Association of India. And while the car may be a breeze to park, there is little trunk space and safety is not a selling feature: the vehicle is without airbags and anti-lock brakes. But speeding won't be an issue, as the car's top speed is 105 kilometres per hour.	Tata's Nano car is seen in an exhibition during the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit in Ahmadabad, India, on Jan. 11, 2009. (AP / Ajit Solanki) Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata speaks at a press conference prior to the launch event of the Tata Nano in Mumbai, India, on Monday, March 23, 2009. (AP / Gautam Singh)
Air conditioning, a radio and power steering will cost buyers extra. The car will arrive at Tata dealers in India on April 1. However, demand is expected to exceed supply as a temporary plant in Uttarakhand can only manufacture a limited quantity of vehicles. A plant in Gujarat dedicated to assembling the Nano is expected to begin operations in 2010, and will produce about 350,000 cars per year. Tata Motors is India's largest car company. It generated revenues of about US$8.8 billion in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. However, the company has been hard-hit by the global financial crisis, particularly in its commercial vehicle division, the core of its business. The company posted a loss of 2.63 billion rupees (US$54 million) for the quarter from October to December. It is also having difficulty refinancing $2 billion of a $3 billion loan it secured to buy Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford last June. The Nano is only expected to boost the company's revenues by a few per cent, and it may take a few years for the company to break even on the investment, analysts say. The car is generating a great deal of interest around the world. However, a European model, the Nano Europa, won't arrive in dealerships until 2011 and the company has not announced plans for a North American version of the vehicle. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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Suncor, Petro-Canada announce merger Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Mar. 23  2009  07:49  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 23rd, 2009 Canadian oil and gas giants Suncor Energy Inc. and Petro-Canada announced Monday that they have agreed to merge, creating a single company worth $43.3 billion. The companies will operate under the Suncor name with Suncor's existing shareholders owning 60 per cent of the company and Petro-Canada shareholders owning 40 per cent. "This merger creates a made-in-Canada energy leader with the assets, cost structure and financial strength to compete globally," Suncor CEO Rick George, who will assume the same role with the merged entity, said Monday. "The combined portfolio boasts the largest oil sands resource position, a strong Canadian downstream brand, solid conventional exploration and production assets, and low-cost production from Canada's east coast and internationally." The deal values Petro-Canada at $19.18 billion, based on its closing prices on the Toronto Stock Exchange last week. "They're saying it's a merger but its not... it's really a takeover of Petro-Canada by Suncor," BNN's Michael Kane reported Monday.	Suncor Energy CEO Rick George waits to addresses shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Calgary, April 24, 2008. (Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS) A Petro-Canada gas station is seen in Toronto on April 29, 2008. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Kane said the board of directors will be split 60-40 in favour of Suncor executives. "More than just the strategic fit, I also believe there's a lot of common ground in our corporate vision," George said. "Both Petro-Canada and Suncor have a history of innovation and pushing the frontiers of oil and gas development in Canada. And just as importantly, both companies have taken a leadership position in striving to develop not just resources, but also communities, the Canadian economy and our quality of life." Petro-Canada CEO Ron Brenneman, who will assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman in the merged company, said the deal will be good for shareholders of both companies. "The increased scale provides more stability in volatile markets, plus the financial and organizational capability to successfully take on large-scale projects in the future," Brenneman said in a press release. Company executives say the merger will help them save about $300 million in operating expenditures annually. The companies also expect to save approximately $1 billion through "elimination of redundant spending and targeting capital budgets to high-return, near term projects." Earlier this year, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, which holds a 3.3 per cent stake in Petro-Canada, took action to try and increase the shareholder value in the company. Reports say the OTPP was pushing for restructuring at Petro-Canada. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Pope decries African wars at Mass for 1 million Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Mar. 22  2009  08:39  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 22nd, 2009 LUANDA, Angola -- Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass Sunday with an estimated 1 million Angolans and decried the "clouds of evil" over Africa that have spawned war, tribalism and ethnic rivalry that reduce poor people to slavery. The biggest crowd of Benedict's first pilgrimage to Africa turned up in sweltering heat for the open-air service on the outskirts of Angola's seaside capital, Luanda, the last major event of his seven-day trip, which ends Monday. "How true it is that war can destroy everything of value", said Benedict, wearing a pink cape and mopping his sweaty brow with a white handkerchief.	Pope Benedict XVI arrives to celebrate a Mass on the outskirts of Angola's seaside capital, Luanda, on Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP / Andrew Medichini)
Evils in Africa have "reduced the poor to slavery and deprived future generations of the resources needed to create a more solid and just society," he said during the Mass under a tented pink altar in a huge vacant lot near a cement factory. Angolans have been enslaved, subjugated and at war almost nonstop since Portuguese colonizers brought the first Catholic missionaries in 1491. Many of the slaves taken to Brazil, for example, came from Angola. The Catholic Church was an ally of the colonizers who discriminated against the people until independence from Portugal in 1975, when civil war erupted, in part fueled by the country's oil and diamond wealth. Some 15,000 died, including missionaries, before the war ended in 2002 but its scars still are evident among the many people who lost limbs in one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. A Marxist revolution also has left scars, though the country's president for 30 years, Eduardo dos Santos, abandoned communism and improved relations with the church from the late 1980s. Critics say last year's massive election victory was marred by fraud and corruption and that the pope must beware of allowing his visit, sponsored by the state, to be seen as legitimizing an authoritarian regime. The bishops in Angola twice have denounced the government for leaving its people mired in poverty while leaders enrich themselves off oil and diamonds. Since he arrived on Friday from Cameroon, the pope has met with dos Santos and spoken out against corruption in Africa, the continent with the fastest-growing Catholic population in the world. Before he said Mass on Sunday, Benedict clasped his hands, as if in prayer, and offered his condolences to the families of two 20-year-old women trampled to death in a stampede at a Luanda stadium before a youth event he addressed on Saturday. He also wished a speedy recovery to some 40 people injured in the crush. Dozens of others collapsed and were treated at the site for heat exhaustion. The Vatican's No. 2 official, Cardinal Tarcisio Pertone, will visit the injured in hospital, said Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi. State radio appealed to people to take water and food to Sunday's Mass. People also carried parasols and stools amid the hooting cars and motorbikes making their way to see the pope. Some men hoisted children onto their shoulders and mothers strapped babies to their backs. Even before he landed in Africa, the pope provoked protests after he told reporters on his chartered Alitalia jet that condoms were not the answer to Africa's severe AIDS epidemic, suggesting that sexual behavior was the issue. He condemned sexual violence against women, but also chided the 45 African countries including Angola that have approved abortion in cases of rape or incest or when a mother's life is in danger. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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Bodies of 4 fallen Cdn. soldiers coming home Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Mar. 21  2009  23:17  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 21st, 2009 Canadian troops carried the bodies of four fallen soldiers onto a military plane during a mournful ramp ceremony at Kandahar airfield early Sunday local time. The four soldiers -- Master Cpl. Scott Vernelli, 28, Cpl. Tyler Crooks, 24, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, 20, and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes, 22 -- perished Friday in two separate roadside bomb attacks. Accompanied by the sound of bagpipes, soldiers who carried the flag-draped coffins were visibly emotional during the ceremony, which was watched by 3,000 NATO troops just after midnight.	The casket of one of the Canadian soldiers killed in Friday's bombings is taken to the plane Saturday, March 21, 2009 for the trip home. (Murray Brewster / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The slain solders will now return to Canada where they will be laid to rest. They were killed during a mission aimed at breaking up the Taliban's supply lines in southern Afghanistan, the latest of 116 military deaths in the country. Vernelli and Crooks died around 6:45 a.m. local time while on a foot patrol west of Kandahar in the Zhari district. Five other Canadian soldiers were injured in the blast and a local interpreter also perished. Bouthillier and Hayes were killed by an improvised explosive device which blew up about two hours later. All four soldiers were all based at CFB Petawawa in Ontario. Brigade Commander, Lt. Col. Mark Misener, speaking Saturday in Petawawa, said the military will do all it can to support the families of the troops. "In the military, we are all part of a large family and we all feel the impact of casualties, be they be killed or wounded in action. We will not forget their sacrifice as we continue to bring security and hope to the people of Kandahar," he said. "They were all very young, very professional, very dedicated soldiers that believed in the mission in Afghanistan," he added. Vernelli, who was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, leaves behind a wife and a daughter born only six months ago. Tributes to the fallen "He was definitely committed to his wife and his young daughter," said friend and fellow soldier Lieut. Andrew Hennessey, speaking to CTV News in Petawawa. "She's a beautiful little girl and they had a beautiful young family, and I know that Scott was really looking forward to coming back," he said. Hennessey added that Vernelli was "very keen, very intelligent and an example for others to look up to." Crooks, who died on his 24th birthday, was engaged to his high school sweetheart and friends said he was a fit and active young man dedicated to soldering. Hennessey said that both soldiers will be greatly missed at Petawawa. "It really is a small community, so we really try to pull together and rally around families of our fallen." In the small village of Ripples, N.B., community members mourned the passing of Hayes on Saturday. Family friend Ann Jordan said that Corey was well-liked in the small, close community. "Corey was a great guy and he was always smiling," Jordan said Saturday, recalling that Hayes came to see her family just before departing for Afghanistan. "It's sad for all the people." Bouthillier, meanwhile, practiced martial arts and was known for his sense of humour, said Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
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Retail sales rise 1.9 per cent in January Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Mar. 20  2009  08:37  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 20th, 2009 OTTAWA -- Retail sales rose 1.9 per cent in January to $33.7 billion after declining 5.2 in December -- their largest monthly decline in more than 15 years. Statistics Canada report sales rose in five of eight retail sectors, led by a 3.8 per cent increase in the automotive sector. The volume of retail sales was up 1.8 per cent. The agency says a 6.4 per cent rise in the value of sales at new car dealers was the main	A man walks into a Vancouver clothing store to shop. Statistics Canada reported retail sales rose 1.9 per cent in January. (Richard Lam / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
contributor to the increase in the automotive sector in January, and it reflects a higher number of new motor vehicles sold. Sales at gasoline stations rose 2.6 per cent, while used and recreational motor vehicle and parts dealers registered a 1.8 per cent decline. The two sectors where January's increases more than offset December's declines were food and beverage stores (up 2.1 per cent) and pharmacies and personal care stores (2.0). Sales at building and home supplies stores fell 1.4 per cent, reflecting in part a continued slump in the housing market, while sales at furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores were down 0.7 per cent. Sales rose in all provinces in January except for Manitoba, which suffered a 0.6 per cent decrease. None of the increases offset December's declines. British Columbia (at 3.1 per cent) posted the largest gain, closely followed by Ontario (3.0) and Saskatchewan (2.9). Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Canadian inflation rises for first time in five months Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Mar. 19  2009  08:27  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 19th, 2009 Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 1.4 per cent in February from 1.1 per cent the previous month, Statistics Canada reported Thursday morning. It was the first increase in the cost of living in five months, mostly due to higher food and house prices, the agency reported. The rise in the overall cost of food was fuelled by a 25.8 per cent jump in fresh vegetables last month over last February, as well as a 9.7 per cent rise in the prices of bakery and cereal products, and a 6.1 per cent increase in meat prices.	Canada's annual inflation rate rose slightly last month to 1.4 per cent, reversing a recent trend toward lower costs for most items consumed by Canadians.
Meanwhile, gasoline prices rose in February over the previous month, but they still remained 19.7 per cent lower than a year ago. Excluding the price of gas, the Consumer Price Index rose 2.5 per cent in the 12 months to February. Overall, energy prices fell 8.8 per cent during that period. It was the first time in two months no Canadian province experienced deflation. Inflation was highest in the prairies and generally lowest in Canada's Atlantic provinces. The Bank of Canada has said it has a target of returning consumer price index inflation to 2 per cent. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
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Austrian 'Dungeon Dad' pleads guilty to all counts Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Mar. 18  2009  07:38  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 18th, 2009 Austrian Josef Fritzl, who fathered seven children with a daughter he kept confined in a dungeon, pleaded guilty Wednesday to all the charges against him. At the start of his trial earlier this week, the 73-year-old only pleaded guilty to incest and false imprisonment. However, after hearing his daughter's video testimony, he said he was also guilty of the other charges against him, including: negligent homicide enslavement coercion rape "I declare myself guilty to the charges in the indictment," Fritzl told a panel of judges. He also described his actions as "sick behaviour." The murder charge is because one of the seven children Fritzl had with his daughter died in infancy.	Journalists and visitors lineup in front of the entrance to the country court, in St. Poelten, Austria, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. (AP / Christof Stache) Josef Fritzl, centre, is escorted during a break of the second day of his trial at the provincial courthouse in St. Poelten, Austria, on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. (AP / Helmut Fohringer)
Officials say the baby -- a male twin born in April 1996 -- may have survived if Fritzl had arranged for medical care. "I don't know why I didn't help," Fritzl told the court. "I just overlooked it. I thought the little one would survive. "I should have recognized that the baby was doing poorly." Asked why he changed his plea, Fritzl said it was the testimony from his daughter, Elisabeth, that prompted his decision. Now 42, Elisabeth was imprisoned in a cellar Fritzl built underneath his house. Fritzl punished his daughter by shutting off electricity in her cellar, which was infested with rats. Meanwhile, psychiatrist Adelheid Kastner told the court Wednesday that Fritzl suffered from a serious personality disorder and would pose a threat to the public if released. Kastner recommended Fritzl serve out his sentence in a psychiatric ward. He faces up to life imprisonment on the negligent homicide charge. Elisabeth and her children were staying at a psychiatric clinic under heavy security during the trial. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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Jurors view more video testimony at Fritzl trial Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Mar. 17  2009  08:16  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 17th, 2009 ST. POELTEN, Austria -- Josef Fritzl returned to the courtroom Tuesday for the second day of his Austrian trial on charges he imprisoned his daughter for 24 years in a squalid dungeon and fathered her seven children. The 73-year-old again hid his face behind a blue binder and stayed silent as he was led into the court in St. Poelten, west of Vienna. Fritzl has pleaded guilty to incest and false imprisonment, but is contesting negligent homicide and enslavement charges and has acknowledged only partial guilt on rape and coercion charges. He was charged with homicide in the death of an infant -- a male twin born in April 1996 -- who prosecutors say might have survived with proper medical care. Police say DNA tests prove Fritzl is the biological father of all six surviving children, three of whom never saw daylight until the crime came to light 11 months ago. On Tuesday, jurors planned to view more of the videotaped testimony from the key witness against Fritzl -- his daughter Elisabeth. Now 42, she was 18 when he allegedly imprisoned her in the cramped, windowless cell he built beneath the family's home. Fritzl could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted of homicide. He faces up to 20 years behind bars if found guilty of enslavement, up to 15 for a rape conviction, and one year for an incest conviction. Reporters were not allowed into the courtroom Tuesday morning, and were expected to remain excluded until shortly before the verdict, which could come as early as Thursday.	Josef Fritzl covers his face prior to the start of his trial for incest on Monday, March 16, 2009, at the provincial courthouse in St. Poelten, Austria. (AP / Helmut Fohringer, Pool) Josef Fritzl has been charged with rape, incest, false imprisonment, slavery and murder. (Police Niederoesterreich / Associated Press)
In her opening statement, prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser said Fritzl refused to speak to his daughter during the first few years of her ordeal, coming downstairs only to rape her. Burkheiser said the rapes sometimes occurred in front of the children, and she described Elisabeth as a "broken" woman. Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said he did not think anything unexpected would happen in the coming days. "The facts are relatively clear ... there can't really be any surprises in a situation that has already been cleared up," Mayer said. He said Fritzl answered all the court's questions during closed-door proceedings Monday afternoon. "I certainly think he was cooperative," Mayer said. He declined to provide details, citing Austrian law. Before the trial wraps up, the eight-member jury will see prerecorded testimony from one of Elisabeth's brothers, Harald. Jurors also will consider several reports from experts including one on Fritzl's psychological state, one on the newborn that died and one on the door leading into the dungeon, which prosecutors say could not be opened from the inside. Officials say the exact timing of each is unclear and depends on the extent of Fritzl's responses. The Associated Press normally withholds the names of victims of sexual assault. In this case, the withholding of Elisabeth's name by the AP became impractical when her name and her father's were announced publicly by police and details about them became the subject of publicity both in their home country and around the world. Austrian media ridiculed Fritzl on Tuesday for hiding his face in the courtroom. "Now he's ashamed -- 25 years too late," the Heute newspaper said in a front page headline over a photo of Fritzl trying to shield himself from news cameras. Mayer said Fritzl has not said anything publicly because he feels "embarrassed." Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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'Dungeon Dad' pleads guilty to incest, denies murder Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Mar. 16  2009  08:25  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 16th, 2009 A 73-year-old Austrian man accused of fathering his daughter's seven children and imprisoning her in his basement for decades pleaded guilty to incest and false imprisonment Monday. Josef Fritzl pleaded only partially guilty to charges of coercion and rape and he pleaded not guilty to murder and enslavement charges. As he entered the courtroom in St. Poelten, about 65 kilometres west of Vienna, Fritzl hid his face behind a blue file folder.	Josef Fritzl covers his face prior to the start of his trial for incest on Monday, March 16, 2009, at the provincial courthouse in St. Poelten, Austria. (AP / Helmut Fohringer, Pool)
When answering questions from the judge, his voice was weak and soft. Prosecutors allege Fritzl imprisoned his daughter, Elizabeth, for 24 years in a cell built beneath his home. They also claim DNA tests show he fathered all seven of his daughter's children. In court, prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser accused Fritzl of raping his daughter in front of the children. "Josef Fritzl used his daughter like his property," Burkheiser said. One of the seven children died in infancy, prompting prosecutors to charge Fritzl with murder. Prosecutors say the baby may have survived if Fritzl had arranged for medical care. "In Austria, counts are concurrent so if you're accused of five things you get the penalty that is the harshest that you are being found guilty for," Hanno Settele, with Austrian public television ORF, told CTV's Canada AM on Monday. "Mr. Fritzl and his defence are obviously trying to fend off the harshest (penalties)... which of course is murder and slavery." Settele said no one has ever been charged with slavery in Austria's history. Meanwhile, Defence lawyer Rudolf Mayer asked that the jury remain objective and insisted that his client was "not a monster." "If you just want to have sex, you don't have children," Mayer said. Mayer said his client told him he was "scared" before the trial started. Settele said the trial is drawing a huge amount of media attention in Austria. "We have never seen anything like this," he said. Fritzl faces up to life imprisonment and a verdict is expected by Friday. Authorities say three of the six children were allegedly kept underground at Fritzl's home. The other three were reportedly brought upstairs and raised by Fritzl and his wife, Rosemarie. Rosemarie apparently believed that the children had been abandoned. Elisabeth and her children are staying at a psychiatric clinic under heavy security during the trial. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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N.L. wreckage may contain 10 or more bodies Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Mar. 15  2009  12:57  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 15th, 2009 The Transportation Safety Board believes 10 or more bodies are inside the wreckage of the Sikorksy S-92 helicopter that crashed into the cold waters of the North Atlantic, off the coast of Newfoundland. Before Sunday, only one body had been found. The TSB located the fuselage of the chopper on Saturday, which is sitting 180 metres below the surface. Investigators used a camera to search the wreckage. Of the 18 people who were aboard the helicopter when it crashed last Thursday, only one man, 30-year-old Robert Decker, is confirmed to have survived. He remained in stable but critical condition in a St. John's hospital this weekend, unable to talk to investigators about the tragic incident. Following the crash, authorities recovered the body of Allison Maher, 26. She is believed to have been the only woman aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash. An additional body has since recovered from the wreckage using a remote operated vehicle, lead investigator Mike Cunningham said Sunday.	Tribute flower bouquets are seen attached to the fencing outside Cougar Helicopters at the airport in St. John's, N.L. on Saturday, March 14, 2009. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS) A member of the rescue crew boards a helicopter in St. John's, N.L., after the search was called off on Friday, March 13, 2009.
"We have an ROV which extracts the bodies one at a time and puts it into a basket, which is lifted to the surface," Cunningham told reporters. He said the remains may be removed from the wreckage within 24 hours, barring any unforeseen challenges. The following is a list of 14 names the RCMP have publicly identified as being aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash: Thomas Anwyll, 46, Langley, B.C. Peter Breen, 55, St. John's Gary Corbett, 46, Conception Bay, N.L. Wade Drake, 42, Fortune, N.L. Wade Duggan, 32, Witless Bay, N.L. Corey Eddy, 32, Paradise, N.L. Colin Henley, 38, St. John's Tim Lanouette, 48, of Comox, B.C. Ken MacRae, 47, Greenwood, N.S. Derrick Mullowney, 51, Bay Bulls, N.L. Burch Nash, 44, Fortune, N.L. John Pelley, 41, Deer Lake, N.L. Paul Pike, 49, Shears Town, N.L. Allison Maher, 26, Aquaforte, N.L. (confirmed deceased) The crash The helicopter, operated by Cougar Helicopters, was ferrying workers to the Hibernia and Sea Rose oil platforms when it reported mechanical problems during its flight on Thursday morning. It turned back towards St. John's, issued a distress call and plunged into the water eight minutes later. Search efforts ended on Friday evening after officials said "the likelihood of finding survivors is no longer there." There were some questions raised about how quickly the Canadian military responded, amid reports that the search and rescue helicopters used were busy on a training mission at the time of the crash. But officials said the training exercise didn't jeopardize search and rescue efforts and didn't result in delays. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Former Oilers' GM Sather posts bail for Pocklington Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Mar. 14  2009  10:11  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 14th, 2009 As owner of the Edmonton Oilers during the team's 1980s zenith, Peter Pocklington watched plenty of spectacular on-ice rushes. But on Friday night, it was Pocklington himself who led a rush as he burst out of a California jailhouse, deked out a group of news reporters and leapt into a SUV driven by a family member. The mad dash, captured exclusively by CTV News, came moments after Pocklington was released from the San Bernardino County Central Detention Center, where he was detained by police on two charges of bankruptcy fraud.	In exclusive CTV News footage, former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington is seen leaving San Bernardino County Jail on Friday evening, March 13, 2009.
Pocklington, who spent more than 60 hours in police custody, was released after former Oilers coach and general manager Glen Sather posted a US$1 million bond. When asked during the parking lot dash about Sather's help, Pocklington quickly responded, "He's a wonderful guy." Seconds later, Pocklington had jumped into the SUV and sped off into the night. As part of his bond agreement, Pocklington can only leave his home for work. Authorities also seized his passport because prosecutors consider him to be a flight risk. The fraud charges stem from allegations that Pocklington hid his real worth when he filed for bankruptcy in August 2008. At the time, he reported that his personal assets were worth $2,900 and that his debts totalled nearly $20 million. The massive discrepancy led authorities to launch an investigation into those claims. Prosecutors also believe that Pocklington continues to have hidden off-shore bank accounts, which he uses to support himself. If he's found guilty, Pocklington could face up to a decade in jail. Reached by telephone shortly after his release from jail, Pocklington said, "It doesn't matter anymore; I'm in a battle with bad people." None of the allegations against Pocklington have been proven in court. The trial begins on May 5 in California. Pocklington's lawyer has steadfastly defended his client's innocence and said that he is simply the victim of a crusade against corporate crime. "I can't believe what's been done to him -- it's just crazy," lawyer Michael Lusby told The Canadian Press this week. "The political climate in this country is such that you can indict a ham sandwich." On Wednesday, FBI officials pulled up to Pocklington's Southern California home, handcuffed him and took him into custody. Later, a shackled and cuffed Pocklington appeared before a judge, where he pleaded not guilty to both counts. Pocklington gained fame in the late 1970s for acquiring a young Wayne Gretzky and putting him on the ice with the Edmonton Oilers. But in 1988, Pocklington traded the NHL superstar to the Los Angeles Kings in a deal that is still infamous among many hockey fans. In 2002, Pocklington moved to California amid complaints from the Alberta government that he failed to repay $12 million in government business loans. With files from The Canadian Press
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Phelps talks to NBC about marijuana pipe photo Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Mar. 13  2009  08:25  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 13th, 2009 NEW YORK -- Swimmer Michael Phelps insists he's more worried about the pain he caused family, friends and fans than losing money in endorsements after he was photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe. In excerpts from an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer that aired Friday morning, the Olympic champion didn't directly answer the question of whether he was smoking marijuana. "It was a bad mistake. I mean, we all know what, you know, what you and I are talking about. It's a stupid mistake. You know, bad judgment." USA Swimming suspended the Olympic great for three months after the photo was published in a British tabloid Feb. 1. He also lost his sponsorship from Kellogg. "I've come to realize that people want to bring you up, but more people want to bring you down. And that's how our public is. That's definitely something to keep in mind and keep close to heart." Phelps has previously apologized for his poor judgment. He was questioned about promises he made to fans after a DUI arrest in 2004, which the swimmer promised was a mistake he would not repeat.	In this Jan. 27, 2009, file photo, Michael Phelps holds a news conference during the 3rd Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (AP / Hassan Ammar)
"I'll be the first one to admit I've made a lot of mistakes in my life. Both, like I said, in the pool and out of the pool. I've never made the same mistake twice." When asked if he considered his DUI arrest and the marijuana controversy the same thing, Phelps replied: "In my eyes, no. I think they're both immature and stupid mistakes. For me, I feel my duty is to try to help other people not make this mistake." The photo was taken at a house party while Phelps was visiting Columbia, S.C., in November during an extended break from training after he won a record eight gold medals in Beijing. "There was probably two or three people there I didn't know," he said. "It was a very small group. Six or seven people probably total in the whole house. Like, nothing major. You know, not like a giant college house party. It was nothing like that. It was just a small group and we were just sitting around and celebrating." Phelps said he trusted his friends that the people he didn't know there could also be trusted. "I'll say that there are a lot of people out there who want to take advantage of any situation they have. . . . Sometimes you learn the hard way," he said. Phelps said he became aware of the photo a day or two before it was published. "It's not about money to me," he said of the fallout. "So, you know, the contract side of things, yeah, I was disappointed. But, you know, I think the biggest thing is who I hurt the most. Like, if I lost money, OK. It's not an issue with me." Asked what his mother's reaction was, he said: "Didn't scream. Clearly showed she was upset. She wasn't reprimanding me." Phelps also addressed the issue of young boys and girls who look up to him that may have been crushed by the photo. "I want to say that if you do make a bad judgment or you do make a mistake, make sure you're responsible for it. Because that's how you're going to change and that's how you're going to learn." The remainder of the interview will air Sunday night on "Dateline." Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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Auto sector in 'existential crisis,' Clement says Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Mar. 12  2009  07:59  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 12th, 2009 The Canadian auto industry is in the midst of an "existential crisis" and government, unions and management must work together or the sector will lose its ability to compete, says Industry Minister Tony Clement. On Wednesday, Chrysler LLC painted a grim picture of its situation in Canada, saying it needs billion of dollars in help if it is to survive. Chrysler President and Vice-Chairman Tom LaSorda told MPs the company is seeking	Chrysler president and vice chairman Tom LaSorda speaks to a parliamentary committee in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.
US$2.3 billion from the Canadian government, as well as a break on a fight over taxes and major sacrifices from the Canadian Auto Workers. Clement said the government wants to help Chrysler, but needs assurance that the investment is safe. He said all players need to work together to make the industry competitive. "The fact of the matter is unless government of course, but also labour and management come together to severely restructure the auto industry both in Canada and the U.S., we're into a place where they cannot compete and they cannot succeed," he said. Chrysler LLC is taking some of the right steps, Clement said, such as looking for international partnerships as a means of remaining in business. He also said the money from Ottawa would be a loan that the government would expect to be repaid. It would also be vital that the company continues to produce vehicles at current levels. "We want to get this money back out of the auto sector over a period of time," Clement said. "These are repayable loans. We want to make sure Canada maintains its 20 per cent of production that we have right now in the North American auto sector, so these are the kinds of things wee reviewing in both the case of Chrysler and GM." He said there will be a flurry of discussions and negotiations over the next few weeks as the government decides "is it going to be money well spent and not money down the drain." LaSorda said Chrysler is willing to pull out of Canada if it makes financial sense to do so. "Chrysler LLC cannot afford to manufacture products in a jurisdiction that in uncompetitive relative to other automotive jurisdictions," he said on Wednesday. Chrysler Canada and its parent company, Chrysler LLC, have had their sales hammered by the economic downturn. Its sales were down 27 per cent in February compared to last year and it has asked Ottawa for a $1 billion in emergency loans as it works on its restructuring plan.
LaSorda said his company's labour costs are $70 an hour in wages and benefits for both current workers and retirees. He says it needs to be cut by $20 to be competitive. Just last week, Chrysler announced it would be cutting 1,200 jobs in Windsor, Ont., by eliminating the third shift at its minivan assembly plant. The Windsor plant produces the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans and has about 4,450 hourly workers. It is the company's only supplier on minivans as two other minivan plants have been shut down in the U.S. LaSorda said that the company could move the Windsor plant to either of the other sites they previously shut down. The Dodge Grand Caravan was Canada's No. 3 best selling vehicle in February. Analysts say Chrysler is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. On top of the most recent job cut announcements, it has slashed about 32,000 jobs to staunch the financial bleeding, and has cut production levels by 30 per cent. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
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German gunman shot dead after killing 15 at school Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Mar. 11  2009  08:54  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 11th, 2009 A 17-year-old gunman was shot dead by German police after he went on a shooting spree at his former high school, killing 15 people. Police say at least 10 of the victims were students and state officials confirmed three teachers were also among the 15 dead. Baden Wuerttemburg governor Guenther Oettinger said police shot the suspect after he fled Albertville high school in Winnenden, a suburb located about 20 kilometres northeast of Stuttgart. According to police, the gunman entered the high school around 9:30 a.m. and started shooting randomly. About 1,000 students attend the school. "He went into the school with a weapon and carried out a bloodbath," regional police chief Erwin Hetger said Wednesday. "I've never seen anything like this in my life." Initial reports said nine students and an adult were killed. However, state officials updated the death toll later Wednesday saying 16 people, including the gunman, were dead.	A police officer escorts pupils leaving an elementary school nearby the Albertville school in Winnenden, near Stuttgart, Germany, Wednesday, March 11, 2009. (AP / Daniel Maurer) CTV map detailing the location of Stuttgart, Germany.
According to police, the gunman was dressed in a black combat uniform. Witnesses said some students jumped from windows of the school building when the gunman began shooting. Dave Rising, a reporter with The Associated Press, said several people were injured during the incident. Rising, in an interview with CTV's Canada AM, also said local media is reporting that the gunman was known to police. There were reports that the gunman was on the loose for a time in Winnenden, which has a population of about 28,000, before he was shot dead. The shooting is the worst to happen in Germany since 2002, when 19-year-old Robert Steinhaeuser shot and killed 12 teachers, a secretary, two students and a police officer at a high school in Erfurt. Steinhaeuser, who had been expelled from the school, then turned the gun on himself. Steinhaeuser was a gun club member and was licensed to own weapons. Following the attack, Germany raised the age for owning recreational firearms from 18 to 21. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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Harper to deliver first major speech on recession Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Mar. 10  2009  08:33  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 10th, 2009 Prime Minister Stephen Harper will emphasize the positives about Canada's economy today when he makes his first major speech on the recession. When he addresses the Brampton Board of Trade, Harper is expected to emphasize that while there is a gloomy global climate, Canada is a comparative bright light. The prime minister has written most of the speech himself, The Canadian Press reports. Harper rarely writes his own addresses, but reports say he spent the weekend at his residence, choosing the wording himself.	Prime Minister Stephen Harper gestures while speaking to the media during a visit to Berwick, N.S. on Friday, March 6, 2009. (Mike Dembeck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The address will be the most detailed speech he has delivered this year on the state of the economy. His spokesman, Kory Teneycke, says the speech will note that Canada has remained mostly immune from some of the worst aspects of the global economic crisis -- and those elements of our economy that are being hit, are being hit to a lesser degree than other countries. Industry Minister Tony Clement had a similar message during an interview with CTV in Halifax Monday night, when he said that he's confident the federal government's stimulus package will have a positive impact once it is passed by the Senate. While Harper will concede that Canada's gross domestic product shrank 3.4 per cent over last year, he'll note that Canada entered the global recession later than most other countries and that its effect has not been as deeply felt. Harper will also argue that smart decisions from his government on bank regulation and tax cuts have helped soften the economic blow. The choice of venue is no coincidence. The locale was selected because southern Ontario's manufacturing sector has been particularly hard-hit by the current recession. Brampton's Chrysler plant, which employs 3,500 people, was recently idled for a week, though there are no plans for it to close. Harper's speech is meant, in part, to quell complaint from some of his own Conservative MPs who have been grumbling that the prime minister has not made himself visible enough in recent weeks while the economic crisis has appeared to worsen. Harper has responded to those complaints by stepping up his public appearances in recent weeks, making stimulus-funding announcements across the country. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Global losses reach $50 trillion, report finds Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Mar. 09  2009  07:48  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 9th, 2009 MANILA, Philippines -- The global crisis wiped a staggering US$50 trillion off the value of financial assets last year including $9.6 trillion of losses in developing Asia alone, the Asian Development Bank said Monday. "This is by far the most serious crisis to hit the world economy since the Great Depression," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda. But he predicted Asia would be "one of the first regions to emerge from it."	A man looks at a stock price indicator after Monday's trading in Tokyo, March 9, 2009. (AP / Shuji Kajiyama)
In a study commissioned by the Manila-based lender on the impact of the financial crisis on emerging economies, it estimated the value of financial assets worldwide -- currency, equity and bond markets -- to have dropped by $50 trillion in 2008. It said developing Asia was hit harder -- losing the equivalent of just over one year's worth of gross domestic product -- than other emerging economies because the region has expanded much more rapidly. In Latin America, losses were estimated at $2.1 trillion. According to the study, the figures provide clear proof of the close connections between markets and economies around the world, leaving few, if any, countries immune to financial or economic fallout. A recovery can only now be envisaged for late 2009 or early 2010, it said. A sprawling region, developing Asia includes 44 economies from the central Asian republics to China to the Pacific islands. The bank had earlier projected the region's growth to slow to 5.8 per cent this year from an estimated 6.9 per cent last year. The worldwide downturn has hit export-driven economies particularly hard. From South Korea to Taiwan to Singapore, exports have plunged by double digits in recent months as American and European consumers spent less on cars and gadgets. Kuroda said Monday the impact of the crisis could result in a spike in unemployment, slower growth rates and depressed stock markets. Tight liquidity and credit could also hit small and medium enterprises, while a drop in remittances from overseas workers, which has been fueling domestic consumption in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, could remove important social safety nets, Kuroda said. He said the ADB has responded by stepping up access to loans, grants and credit guarantees by several billion dollars from the originally planned $12 billion for 2009. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Associated Press
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CAW reaches tentative labour deal with GM Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Mar. 08  2009  13:06  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 8th, 2009 The Canadian Auto Workers union has agreed to a tentative agreement with General Motors that will freeze wages and pensions, cutting labour costs for the struggling automaker. CAW president Ken Lewenza said the two sides came to a consensus at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, tentatively agreeing to changes to the collective bargaining agreement that the union believes will keep a "Canadian investment advantage" in place. "The contract changes we have negotiated are a significant sacrifice on the part of CAW members, both active and retired," he said at a noon-hour news conference in Toronto. "They will cause real hardship for our members and their families." Details of the tentative deal include: Base wages and pension levels have been frozen. The existing CAW contract will now expire in 2012 instead of 2011. Autoworkers will pay a monthly health premium, among other concessions, should the agreement be ratified.	Canadian Auto Workers union president Ken Lewenza pauses at a news conference in Toronto on Sunday, March 8, 2009. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS) The front grill of a GMC truck is shown at a General Motors dealership in Toronto on Thursday, March 5, 2009. (Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
However, there will be no cuts to current pension levels and wages. "We refuse to impose more pain on our laid-off members, who are already paying a huge price," said Lewenza. All of the tentatively-agreed-to changes are contingent on GM securing the more than $30 billion in government loans that are vital to its future, Lewenza said. "The agreement is contingent on the companies receiving government and financial assistance and recommitting to a proportionate Canadian manufacturing presence, including specific product commitments in GM's respective plants," he said. Union members will be hit hard by changes CAW economist Jim Stanford told CTV's Question Period that the changes "are going to mean real sacrifice for our members and for our retirees, so it's not a happy occasion on our side." "On the other hand, for General Motors it will mean a little bit of a reduction in their labour costs, a significant reduction in their legacy costs...and hopefully that will allow the federal and provincial governments now to finalize their deals with GM to keep the company operating here in Canada." Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told Question Period the tentative agreement is "a good step forward." "This is very important. This needs to be resolved, this month, during the month of March. It's a step in the right direction," he said. "There's more to be done certainly in terms of reasonable assumptions about car sales, about the future of these companies, the Detroit Three, but this is a good step forward." The deal is subject to ratification by 10,000 CAW members who work for GM, and a vote is scheduled to take place on either Tuesday or Wednesday, the union said. GM fights against 'substantial doubt' of failure
GM has sought more than $30 billion in loans from the U.S., Canadian and Ontario governments. Last week, the company admitted that auditors had expressed "substantial doubt" about the company's ability to keep operating and it fell to third-place in the Canadian market in its February sales. On Thursday, Lewenza said it was "too devastating" to fathom the possibility of GM filing for bankruptcy. He said the CAW would go along with negotiations in hopes of having a new contract ratified by March 15. Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the industry, Stanford said the union was keeping an eye to the future by agreeing to tough concessions. "We know that more job cuts are on the way," he said Sunday. "What we're doing here is desperately trying to preserve the remaining footprint of General Motors that will manufacture a range of different cars in Oshawa, engines and transmissions in St. Catharines, and hope that as the economy turns around...then we'll have a chance to catch some of that next wave of the industry." Stanford said the union will now move its attention to Chrysler and Ford, with hopes of inking a similar deal through pattern bargaining. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Alberta no longer holds economic bragging rights Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Mar. 07  2009  12:44  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 7th, 2009 EDMONTON -- Alberta's bragging rights as Canada's economic engine are fading and Premier Ed Stelmach says people seem to be a little grumpy about it. "Everybody's saying `Ooh! This province is doing better than we are,"' Stelmach said. "Man, I don't know what it is that somebody does better and it's like everybody gets concerned." The energy bonanza has come to a crashing halt, suddenly putting the province near the bottom of the pack for economic growth in the country this year.	A portion of the Shell Albian Sands oilsands mine is seen from an overlook near Fort McMurray, Alta., Wednesday, July 9, 2008. (Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The latest Conference Board of Canada outlook projects growth of minus 0.5 per cent, the first negative figure the province has seen in nearly a quarter of a century. That's in stark contrast to a place that led the country in growth for three years starting in 2004. But Stelmach actually seems a bit relieved that Alberta is no longer No. 1. "Thank God!" he said in reaction to the news that Saskatchewan is now in top spot with projected growth of 1.6 per cent. "I hope every province does better. I hope Manitoba, Quebec and the Maritimes don't rely on equalization." Conference board economist Todd Crawford says Alberta's extremely strong growth over the past few years overheated things in the province. "Alberta's economy has been running so hot the cost of living has exploded," said Crawford. "Saskatchewan is just at the beginning of a boom, whereas Alberta has been booming for quite some time. "With all the activity going on in the oilsands and the price of oil coming down 70 or 80 per cent from its peak last summer, we've seen most of the oil companies cancel pretty much every major project happening in Alberta." But Crawford said oil prices are expected to rebound next year as the U.S. economy begins to turn around, the Canadian economy starts to bounce back and the global economy stabilizes. "That's obviously good news for Alberta," he said. "We can expect to see the oilsands producers and energy companies begin to reinvest in the province." The conference board projects that Alberta will climb back to second place in Canada for 2010, with growth of four per cent. But for now, the province is preparing to make some tough decisions as the meltdown continues and the energy windfall that produced surplus budgets for 15 consecutive years evaporates. "We're going to have some serious meetings with Albertans to see how to ensure that we don't put this province in the same situation that we had to recover from in the early '90s," said Stelmach. The premier says he's concerned about the impact that Alberta's falling fortunes will have on the rest of Canada. "Because our contribution to Ottawa last year was quite substantial, it was over $18 billion," he said. "There won't be the same contribution (this year) and yet the prime minister has this equalization pool that he still has to share with the other provinces." Alberta recently released a grim update on its finances, projecting a deficit of $1.4 billion for the fiscal year that's just ending and 15,000 job losses in the year ahead.
Former Alberta Liberal leader Kevin Taft, who has a PhD in business, says the province's economic future is tied tightly to the boom/bust cycles of oil and natural gas prices. "There's no question the oilsands boom has gone bust," said Taft, who is now the Liberal energy critic. "We were riding the crest of the Canadian wave for a number of years and we could easily be going into the trough here," he said. "I think Alberta is in for potentially two or three years of very tough economic news." Stelmach, however, is more optimistic. He told a business audience in Calgary that he expects to see economic improvement starting next year. "Although government revenues will probably take a little longer to catch up," Stelmach told the crowd. "Some departments may even have a reduction from last year, but that's to find money to fund health and education, which are priority areas." Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Phillion says he feels 'fantastic' after decision Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Mar. 06  2009  08:02  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 6th, 2009 Although he hasn't yet been declared innocent, Romeo Phillion says he feels "fantastic" after Ontario's top court struck down his murder conviction and ordered a new trial into the case. Phillion, who has been free on bail since 2003, spent more than three decades in jail after being convicted in the 1967 stabbing death of Ottawa firefighter Leopold Roy. "I feel very happy about what happened. It's not over yet but it will be," Phillion told CTV's Canada AM on Friday. "It's just a load off my shoulders." In 1972, five years after Roy was stabbed to death, Phillion boasted to police that he committed the murder. Although he recanted his confession almost immediately, he was convicted of murder and sent to jail. The court heard that investigators verified Phillion's alibi but that it was then discredited for reasons that were never documented.	Romeo Phillion speaks with CTV's Canada AM from Toronto, Friday, March 6, 2009. James Lockyer, lawyer for Phillion, speaks with CTV's Canada AM from Toronto, Friday, March 6, 2009.
It was revealed that prosecutors knew about the alibi but did not disclose that police had verified it when they presented their case during the 1972 trial. The alibi was an important component of the confession. Appeal Court Justice Mike Moldaver said in his 103-page ruling that the jury sitting on the trial back then may have come to a different conclusion had evidence of the alibi been presented. Phillion said knowing he was innocent was the only thing that kept him going. "I knew someday the right people would hear me out and they'd do something about it," he said. Phillion's lawyer James Lockyer said they're hoping for an acquittal rather than a dismissal of the charges. "We're going to have to go to court at some point," Lockyer told CTV's Canada AM on Friday. "At that time what we're hoping is that the Crown will agree to offer no evidence against Romeo and he'll be acquitted finally of this crime that he didn't commit." As for compensation, Phillion said he hasn't yet thought about it because he's been so focused on his exoneration. "The tag is off my shoulders, that's what I've been looking for all these years," he said. "It's not over yet but it's coming, we're about two miles away." He called his "confession" the saddest day of his life. "I signed my life away for something I did not commit. That is unthinkable," Phillion said. During his time in prison, Phillion made countless bids to appeal his conviction. His appeal was denied by the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1974 and by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1977. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from ctvtoronto.ca
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Judge to render verdict Thursday in beheading case Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Mar. 05  2009  07:55  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 5th, 2009 A Winnipeg judge is expected to rule Thursday that Vince Li is not criminally responsible for the gruesome murder and beheading of Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus last summer. There is no jury in the trial, and the decision rests solely in the hands of the judge. Both the Crown and the defence agree that Li is a schizophrenic who was suffering a psychotic episode, and should not be found criminally responsible for the murder of the 22-year-old. The trial wrapped up on Wednesday. "Basically the judge's sole decision in this trial is whether Li should be sent to a prison or sent to a mental facility," said CTV's Jill Macyshon, reporting from Winnipeg. "We expect the judge will say he should be found not criminally responsible for the murder and should be sent to a mental facility to receive treatment, because really there has been no evidence submitted in court that says anything else."	An artist's sketch shows Vince Li, the man accused of beheading a passenger on a bus, inside a courtroom in Winnipeg, on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (Tom Andrich / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Tim McLean is shown here in a photo from the social networking website Facebook.
If the judge rules as many expect, Li's case will go into the hands of doctors. However, the judge can rule that Li presents a risk to himself and others, and must be kept in a locked medical facility. The judge is also expected to rule that Li's case must be reviewed on an annual basis. "What's expected is that he will have to go before a review panel every single year," Macyshon said. "They will decide, ultimately at some point possibly down the road, if Mr. Li can be re-integrated into society, and that doesn't sit well with McLean's family." McLean's relatives wants Li to spend his life in prison, demanding "a life for a life." Li's trial wrapped up Wednesday after a psychiatrist took the stand and testified for the defence, saying Li, 40, heard the voice of God last July, telling him to kill McLean or risk being killed himself. Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg said Li was psychotic and was in no state to tell the difference between right and wrong. "The attack was sudden and came as Li caught a glimpse of the sunlight and heard God's voice telling him that McLean was a threat," Rootenberg testified. "The voice said, `Do it now ... If you don't, he's going to kill you."' Rootenberg said Li was psychotic and unable to know that killing, beheading and dismembering McLean was wrong. "It wasn't his hands doing that," he said. "It was God's hands and God doing that through him." One day earlier, a psychiatrist who testified on behalf of the Crown said essentially the same thing. "Both said Li is schizophrenic, he was suffering from auditory hallucinations at the time of the murder, and he is mentally ill and needs to be treated and should not be sent to prison," Macyshon said. It is rare for both the defence and Crown to agree on such a high profile case. Normally the Crown attorney pushes for a stiff sentence for the defendant. An agreed statement of facts was read in court on Tuesday. It said that Li attacked his victim "for no apparent reason" and ignored the other passengers on the bus as he repeatedly stabbed McLean. The other passengers fled the vehicle, as Li continued to methodically hack his victim into pieces, decapitating and dismembering the body. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
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Poll ranks Canada second in list of top U.S. allies Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Mar. 04  2009  07:49  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 4th, 2009 More Americans consider Great Britain, rather than Canada, to be the United States' top ally, according to a recent Gallup Poll. The telephone survey of 1,023 adults found that although Canada is the United States' most important trading partner, 36 per cent of respondents believe Great Britain to be their country's "most valuable ally." Canada ranked second, earning top spot from 29 per cent of respondents, with Japan, Israel and Germany rounding out the top five. The poll's results were released on Tuesday, the same day that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited U.S. President Barack Obama for the first time since Obama was sworn into office. The poll's findings may reflect the close ties forged between the U.S. and Great Britain over the last several years. Former British prime minister Tony Blair became one of former president George Bush's strongest allies, particularly after he pledged troops to the Iraq war. Indeed, in a March 2007 Gallup Poll that asked Americans to assess Blair, respondents gave him a 65 per cent approval rating.	U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper shake hands during their public address following private meetings on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. U.S. President Barack Obama meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (AP / Gerald Herbert)
However, the new poll found that 40 per cent of respondents had never heard of Brown, while 29 per cent said they did not know enough about him to have an opinion about him. While Americans overall may not consider Canada to be their country's most important ally, Canada was more popular than Great Britain among certain segments of the U.S. population. Thirty-five per cent of Democrats said Canada was the United States' most valuable ally, compared to only 26 per cent of Republicans. As well, Americans living in the Midwest, whose home states are close to the Canadian border, are more likely to consider Canada rather than Great Britain as the United States' top ally. And generally speaking, Americans still have a very favourable opinion of their neighbours to the north. Ninety per cent of Americans gave Canada a favourable rating, including 39 per cent who gave Canada a "very favourable" rating. Eighty-nine per cent of Americans gave Great Britain a favourable rating. Written by CTV.ca News Staff
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Bank of Canada cuts interest rate to 0.5 per cent Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Mar. 03  2009  09:57  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 3rd, 2009 Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney cut the interest rate Tuesday to 0.5 per cent, the lowest ever, in yet another attempt to stimulate the sluggish economy. The rate cut, the seventh in the last year, was widely expected by economists. "Consistent with returning total (consumer price index) inflation to 2 per cent, the target for the overnight rate can be expected to remain at this level or lower at least until there are clear signs that excess supply in the economy is being taken up," Carney said in a statement. The move comes a day after Statistics Canada released dismal numbers that prove Canada is in a deep recession. The Statistics Canada report indicated that Canada's economy shrank by 3.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2008. That is the biggest decline since the recession of 1991 and sparked a significant drop in the markets on Monday. Toronto's S&P/TSX composite index fell 435.51 points, or 5.36 per cent, to 7,687.51, its lowest point since 2003.	A pedestrian walks past the Bank of Canada in Ottawa, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, attends a Group of Seven (G7) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Rome, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009. (AP / Pier Paolo Cito)
While rate cuts are designed to have a stimulative effect on the economy, most experts believe the cut will have a minimal impact. The central bank has cut its rate from 4.5 per cent 15 months ago to 0.5 per cent, to little effect. Peter Drake of Fidelity Investments said after the announcement that it could take anywhere from 12 to 18 months for interest rate cuts to take effect, which means today's announcement won't provide immediate relief. Drake said that a cut to the main interest rate will hopefully ripple through the spectrum of interest rates and therefore stimulate the economy. "The idea is that it will influence other rates, the rates at which banks lend to people and to commercial customers and indeed to each other," Drake said during an interview on CTV Newsnet. After Carney's announcement, Canada's major banks - Royal Bank, Bank of Montreal and CIBC - said they would cut their prime rates in step with the central bank. In his statement, Carney also seemed to back away from his January economic outlook report, which suggested that Canada's economy would begin to recover in late 2009. He had predicted that the economy would start growing by an annualized two per cent in the third quarter of 2009 and record an average growth of 3.8 per cent in 2010. On Tuesday, Carney acknowledged that economies around the world are performing more poorly than anticipated, and said the Canadian economy will likely decline more sharply in early 2009 than previously predicted. Carney now suggests the recession could last until 2010. "The effects of the recent aggressive monetary and fiscal policy actions in Canada and other major economies will begin to be felt in the second half of this year and will build through 2010," Carney said. "Once the global financial system stabilizes and global growth recovers, the underlying strength of the Canadian economy and financial sector should ensure a more rapid recovery in Canada than in most other industrialized economies." Carney also said it is possible that the Bank may provide additional stimulus, if necessary, by purchasing credit and other assets. However, the Bank will not offer details on such plans until its April Monetary Policy Report. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Afghan children killed by old munitions, military says Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Mar. 02  2009  07:47  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 2nd, 2009 Military investigators in Afghanistan have found that an explosion that killed three Afghan children was caused by old munitions and not explosives belonging to Canadian troops. Kandahar Governor Tooryalai Wesa and the new commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance, announced the investigation's results to reporters in Kandahar late Monday afternoon local time. During a roundtable discussion with reporters, neither Wesa nor Vance offered details about the investigation and did not give evidence to support the findings. Last Monday, two children were killed after an explosion in Kandahar province that was initially blamed on Canadian soldiers. A third child later died in hospital. While details of the incident are still unclear, Afghan provincial police officials have said the children were likely scavenging for scrap metal when the explosion occurred.	Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance speaks to reporters about the investigation in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Monday, March 2, 2009. Afghans chant slogans during a protest outside the provincial council office in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.
Some local villagers said the blast was caused by an unexploded shell left behind by Canadian soldiers who were conducting target practice in the area. However, other locals accused the Canadians of firing rockets. The Canadian military confirmed that its troops were carrying out artillery testing in the region, but said it has strict protocols for ensuring no explosives are left behind after such operations. Villagers held a protest not long after the incident. They collected the bodies of the first two children killed, loaded them into a motorcycle sidecar and took them into downtown Kandahar to show the remains to reporters. Written by CTV.ca News Staff with files from The Canadian Press
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Canadians make stem cell breakthrough Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Mar. 01  2009  13:35  ET Giant Dwarf Posted: March 1st, 2009 Canadian researchers have found what could be a new way to make embryonic-like stem cells, a discovery that could lead to cures for devastating conditions such as spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease. Previous methods to create embryonic-like stem cells have used a virus to help transform adult cells into pluripotent stem cells -- cells that can develop into most other cell types. But those methods carried the risk of damaging the cell's DNA. With damaged DNA, the cells often became cancerous or led to abnormalities. This new method, described online in the journal Nature, uses a novel "wrapping" procedure to deliver specific genes to adult cells to reprogram them into stem cells, without damaging the cell's DNA. Genetic researchers have long believed that stem cells could be the ticket to finding cures for a host of diseases, since they allow tissue to rebuild itself. The best stem cells come from embryos, which are rich in pluripotent stem cells. But the use of embryonic stem cells has been controversial. This new simplified method does not require embryos and instead can generate stem cells from many adult tissues, including a patient's own skin cells, allowing for personalized therapies. The method, developed by Dr. Andras Nagy, from the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, has been dubbed piggyback. It uses a DNA sequence that can move around in a cell to extract the cell's DNA and transform it into a stem cell. When it's done the DNA leaves the cell, leaving no trace of itself in the way that viruses sometimes did.	The new method uses a 'wrapping' procedure to deliver specific genes to adult cells to reprogram them into stem cells. This new approach to creating stem cells does not require embryos and instead uses many types of adult tissues, including a person's skin. Dr. Andras Nagy, from the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, developed the new technique.
In different tests using mouse cells and human cells, Nagy was able to create lines of pluripotent stem cells using the piggyBac method. The research could transform stem cell technology and accelerate work in regenerative medicine, the field of research focused on finding ways for the human body to repair or replace its own damaged or diseased cells and tissues. The research could transform stem cell technology and accelerate work in regenerative medicine, the field of research focused on finding ways for the human body to repair or replace its own damaged or diseased cells and tissues, says Dr. Jim Woodgett, Director of Research for the Samuel Lunenfeld Institute. "What's critical about this work is that it makes it much, much easier for labs around the world to create these special cells and it will accelerate discovery," Woodgett told CTV News. Dr.Michael Rudnicki of the Stem Cell Network of Canada finds the discovery fascinating and exciting. "We now have the technology to derive these cells readily and in a way that will facilitate their use clinically," he said. "This is an important finding and is really a breakthrough." Rudnicki says because the previous viral-based method caused genetic alterations that predisposed the cells to becoming cancerous, many of those cells couldn't be used. With this technique the cells are undamaged and as good as the stem cells in our body. "This discovery is going to be widely used," Rudnicki believes. "I think it will prove to be the routine method used internationally." Woodgett believes that within about five years, researchers will be able to use stem cells generated with this new method to research ways of treating kidney disease, heart disease and joint diseases, among others. "Really, the potential applications are endless. That's why there is so much effort going into this field at this time." Written by CTV.ca News Staff