May 06

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HEIGHT= 27226 ><NOBR><div>  <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><IMG SRC="5e4a5c200.png" border=0 width="92" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <B>Past Articles:</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FFCC80" BORDERCOLORDARK="#CC9900" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD 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06"><U><B>Jul/06</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id940.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 06"><U><B>Jun/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id934.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 06"><U><B>May/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id929.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 06"><U><B>Apr/06</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id924.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 06"><U><B>Mar/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id910.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 06"><U><B>Feb/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id908.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 06"><U><B>Jan/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id898.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 05"><U><B>Dec/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id892.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 05"><U><B>Nov/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id885.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 05"><U><B>Oct/05</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id880.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 05"><U><B>Sep/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id875.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 05"><U><B>Aug/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id808.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 05"><U><B>Jul/05</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id803.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 05"><U><B>Jun/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id798.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 05"><U><B>May/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id793.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 05"><U><B>Apr/05</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id771.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 05"><U><B>Mar/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id766.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 05"><U><B>Feb/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id760.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 05"><U><B>Jan/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>These "Articles" are dated from May 1st, 2006 - May 31st, 2006.</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="413" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#public_smoking_bans_hit_ontario___quebec" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Public smoking bans hit Ontario & Quebec</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 31/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#quake_victims_beg_for_help_as_aid_flows_to_indonesia" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Quake victims beg for help as aid flows to Indonesia</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 30/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#aid_arrives_in_quake_devastated_indonesia" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Aid arrives in quake-devastated Indonesia</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 29/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#indonesia_quake_toll_surpasses_4600" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Indonesia quake toll surpasses 4,600</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 28/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#_little_time_to_get_out__3000_die_in_indonesia_quake" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  'Little time to get out': 3,000 die in Indonesia quake</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 27/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#beslan_hostage_taker_sentenced_to_life" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Beslan hostage-taker sentenced to life</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 26/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#klein_threatens_to_abandon_equalization" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Klein threatens to abandon equalization</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 25/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#british_police_launch_anti_terror_sweep" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  British police launch anti-terror sweep</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 24/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#brawling_vandalism_scuttle_talks_in_caledonia" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Brawling, vandalism scuttle talks in Caledonia</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 23/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#caledonia_barrier_back_up_as_tension_rises" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Caledonia barrier back up as tension rises</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 22/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#finland_s_lordi_monster_hit_at_eurovision" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Finland's Lordi monster hit at Eurovision</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 21/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#cowansville_que__on_alert_as_rising_river_prompts_evacuation" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Cowansville, Que., on alert as rising river prompts evacuation</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 20/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#thousands_of_comrades_send_goddard_home" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Thousands of comrades send Goddard home</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 19/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#canada_s_stay_in_afghanistan_extended_by_2_years" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Canada's stay in Afghanistan extended by 2 years</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 18/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#harper_says_afghan_debate_important_for_canada" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Harper says Afghan debate important for Canada</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 17/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#tories_anticipating_auditor_s_report_on_gun_registry" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Tories anticipating auditor's report on gun registry</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 16/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#more_refugees_sneaking_into_canada_study" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  More refugees sneaking into Canada: study</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 15/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#sabres_oust_senators_in_ot" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Sabres oust Senators in OT</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 14/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#cecilia_s_killer_gets_15_years_without_parole" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Cecilia's killer gets 15 years without parole</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 13/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#cecilia_zhang_killer_to_learn_parole_decision" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Cecilia Zhang killer to learn parole decision</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 12/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#british_agents_knew_of_lead_bomber_report" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  British agents knew of lead bomber: report</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 11/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#student_pleads_guilty_to_killing_9_year_old_cecilia_zhang" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Student pleads guilty to killing 9-year-old Cecilia Zhang</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 10/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#peter_mackay_visits_troops_in_kandahar" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Peter MacKay visits troops in Kandahar</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 09/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#iranian_president_writes_to_bush_regarding_nukes" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Iranian president writes to Bush regarding nukes</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 08/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#cn_offers__7_5m_for_oil_spill_contamination" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  CN offers $7.5M for oil-spill contamination</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 07/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#windsor_police_officer_gunned_down_in_broad_daylight" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Windsor police officer gunned down in broad daylight</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 06/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#officer_joins_call_for_public_inquiry_into_police_practices" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Officer joins call for public inquiry into police practices</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 05/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#senior_tobacco_exec_won_t_go_to_jail_in_massive_fraud_case" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Senior tobacco exec won't go to jail in massive fraud case</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 04/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#tax_cut_budget_delivers_on_pm_s_promises" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Tax-cut budget delivers on PM's promises</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 03/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#loonie_rises_above_90_cents_us" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Loonie rises above 90 cents US</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 02/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="365"><div> <A HREF="#income_tax_filing_deadline_just_hours_away" TITLE="May 06"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Income tax filing deadline just hours away</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 01/05/06</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> =======================</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="705" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div>  <A NAME="public_smoking_bans_hit_ontario___quebec"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Public smoking bans hit Ontario & Quebec</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 31 May 2006  01:02:49  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 31st, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="58" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="165" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 629 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Smokers in Quebec and Ontario will be spending more time outside as laws that ban smoking in all enclosed public places kicked in at midnight Tuesday.</B></div> <bR> <div> The Quebec government has vowed to crack down immediately, with inspectors fanning out to check bars, restaurants, bingo halls, shopping centres, and other facilities — even tents and churches.</div> <bR> <div> Any business owner who allows illegal smoking will be fined $400 for a first violation of the new law.</div> <bR> <div> Ontario, on the other hand, plans to phase in its legislation gradually. Although its law is also tough — banning cigarettes even in enclosed smoking rooms or partially roofed patios — the province plans to initially hand out warnings instead of fines to violators.</div> <bR> <div> As well, people in many Ontario municipalities — including Ottawa and Toronto — have long faced bans on smoking in many public spaces.</div> <bR> <div> Quebecers, on the other hand, have rarely been forced to butt out.</div> <bR> <div> Many bar and restaurant owners in Quebec have fiercely opposed the crackdown, predicting the new law would bring financial disaster, lead to job losses, lower video lottery terminal (VLT) revenues and slimmer profits for bars and restaurants.</div> <bR> <div> But the provincial health minister, Philippe Couillard, dismissed concerns that a smoking ban would damage the economy and put bars out of business.</div> <bR> <div> Couillard said the province hopes that banning tobacco use will drop the percentage of Quebecers who smoke to 20 per cent, from 23.</div> <bR> <div> The ban is sound fiscal policy, because any reduction will help the province reduce health-care costs, the health minister said.</div> <bR> <div> He also dismissed the dire warnings that many bars and restaurants would fold because of the new ban.</div> <bR> <div> He recalled the banning of cigarettes from drugstores in Quebec. At the time, retailers warned it meant imminent bankruptcy, Couillard said — but the financial disasters never materialized.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="quake_victims_beg_for_help_as_aid_flows_to_indonesia"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 339 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Quake victims beg for help as aid flows to Indonesia</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 30 May 2006  07:36:37  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 30th, 2006</div> <div> <B>International aid began to reach quake-stricken Indonesia at a significant pace on Tuesday, but many of the survivors, desperate for food and shelter, lined the roads begging for handouts as traffic rolled by.</B></div> <bR> <div> The United Nations says 22 countries have promised to send help. Some have already sent supplies.</div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday, a pair of U.S. military cargo planes landed, bringing some of the first significant aid to reach the increasingly desperate survivors.</div> <bR> <div> About 20 U.S. Marines arrived on the cargo planes in the ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta, where the airport had reopened to commercial traffic, even though its terminal was badly damaged.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. planes brought heavy-lifting machinery and a portable field hospital.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a0dca0690.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Indonesian aid workers stack relief supplies from the World Food Program. (Ed Wray/AP)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="a0dea06d0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="109" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Indonesians on a truck loaded with aid from the World Food Program pass homeless people on the road near a relief camp. (Ed Wray/AP)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 323 WIDTH="707"><div> Saturday's 6.3-magnitude earthquake killed 5,427 and left 130,000 homeless, according to Indonesia's Social Affairs Ministry . It also damaged airport runways and roads on the island of Java, hampering efforts to get supplies to the hardest hit areas.</div> <bR> <div> Routes travelled by UN aid trucks are lined by earthquake survivors, begging for handouts from the passing motorists.</div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday, a moderate earthquake shook Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, sending people scrambling into the streets but causing no damage or injuries.</div> <bR> <div> In Canada, relief agencies thanked Canadians who have donated to relief efforts, but are concerned that the region's long-term needs not be forgotten.</div> <bR> <div> UNICEF Canada and World Vision Canada have together raised about $130,000 for Indonesian quake disaster relief.</div> <bR> <div> The Ontario government made a $200,000 pledge to the Canadian Red Cross yesterday, while the federal government pledged $2 million for disaster relief over the weekend.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="aid_arrives_in_quake_devastated_indonesia"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Aid arrives in quake-devastated Indonesia</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 29 May 2006  06:06:29  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 29th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0aa9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 505 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Planeloads of international aid began arriving earthquake-devastated areas of Indonesia on Monday amid complaints from victims and government officials that supplies were not coming fast enough.</B></div> <bR> <div> A UN plane loaded with water, tents, stoves and cooking sets landed at the city of Solo, which is about three hours from Bantul, the hardest hit city in Saturday's 6.3-magnitude quake.</div> <bR> <div> The supplies were to be delivered later Monday.</div> <bR> <div> The number of dead from the temblor fluctuated overnight Sunday, with some reports suggesting more than 5,100 had perished. Officials said early Monday that 4,300 were dead, but suggested the toll could reach 5,000.</div> <bR> <div> Canada has pledged $2 million in aid for the estimated 200,000 people left homeless. Most of them are now living in shacks close to their former homes or in shelters erected in rice fields.</div> <bR> <div> Millions of dollars more in aid have been promised by countries around the world. They have also offered to send tons of supplies and hundreds of personnel.</div> <bR> <div> In Zurich, the International Red Cross launched an emergency appeal for $10 million US.</div> <bR> <div> Britain said it had donated $6.2 million Cdn to the United Nations and its agencies to meet the immediate needs of those hit by the quake.</div> <bR> <div> The European Union pledged up to three million euros ($4.2 million Cdn) in emergency aid to help the victims, while Australia will send three million Australian dollars ($3.3 million Cdn) in aid.</div> <bR> <div> Private fundraising efforts are being organized by Indonesians living in Canada.</div> <bR> <div> The Indonesian government said late Sunday it would spend $107 million US to help rebuild over the next year.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 561 WIDTH="707"><div> Hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of injuries,with some survivors being treated outdoors in parking lots.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. military said on Sunday it would send 100 doctors, nurses and medical technicians from a base in Japan to help treat the injured.</div> <bR> <div> Some supplies of food and clothing arrived along with emergency medical help on Sunday, but officials complained that much more was needed.</div> <bR> <div> "We have received food and medicine from the government but it's not enough," Suparno, a neighbourhood official in Bantul, told the Associated Press. "How can I distribute 40 kilograms of rice to 1,200 people?"</div> <bR> <div> The disaster zone stretches across hundreds of square kilometres south of the ancient city of Yogyakarta. Much of the affected area is made up of farming communities.</div> <bR> <div> Villagers lined main roads on Sunday begging for handouts, while others worked together to clear rubble and build temporary shelters.</div> <bR> <div> President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday that so far there has been a "lack of co-ordination" in aid distribution.</div> <div> "I saw in many areas that there are many things that need to be speeded up," he said after visiting refugees Monday.</div> <bR> <div> The affected region was mostly without electricity and fresh water supplies were unavailable.</div> <bR> <div> Torrential rains have fallen at least twice since the quake, while hundreds of aftershocks have rattled the survivors.</div> <bR> <div> The quake comes less than 18 months after Indonesia was devastated by a tsunami that killed 230,000 people across Asia on Dec. 26, 2004.</div> <bR> <div> The archipelago is prone to earthquakes and has dozens of active volcanoes. The volcano Merapi has been threatening a major eruption in recent weeks. </div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="indonesia_quake_toll_surpasses_4600"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Indonesia quake toll surpasses 4,600</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 28 May 2006  09:35:36  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 28th, 2006</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0aa9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 87 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>The number of people killed in an earthquake that shook the Indonesian island of Java has climbed to more than 4,600 on Sunday, according to the country's department of social affairs.</B></div> <bR> <div> One day after the 6.3-magnitude quake struck, thousands of survivors who spent the night in the open returned to their ruined homes, trying to salvage personal belongings.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 522 WIDTH="540"><div> The Indonesian Red Cross estimates that some 200,000 people fled their homes after the quake hit early Saturday morning. Most of those people remained homeless. As many as 10,000 were reported injured.</div> <bR> <div> Most of the dead were buried in village graveyards within hours of the disaster, in line with Islamic tradition.</div> <bR> <div> Aftershocks repeatedly rattled the area, about 400 kilometres east of the capital, Jakarta. About 450 of them had been reported as of midday Sunday, with the strongest measuring a magnitude of 5.2.</div> <bR> <div> The earthquake set off increased activity at a nearby volcano, Mount Merapi, which shot hot gas clouds and volcanic rocks down its slopes soon after the quake.</div> <bR> <div> Hard hit were the town of Bantul and the nearby city of Yogyakarta, where houses and government buildings collapsed near ancient heritage sites. Long lineups were reported at the few gas stations that remained open in Bantul on Sunday.</div> <bR> <div> Canada's Foreign Affairs Department confirmed Sunday morning that it has tracked down the 19 Canadians who were in the region and all were reported safe.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Canadian aid on the way</B></div> <bR> <div> The Canadian government pledged $2 million Cdn in emergency aid and federal Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay offered his sympathy.</div> <bR> <div> "On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend our sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives and to those communities hit by this dreadful act of nature," MacKay said in a statement.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a0aba0e10.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Victims of the earthquake are treated in the hallway of a hospital in Yogyakarta. Staff at many hospitals in the region say they're overwhelmed by the number of injured. (Achmad Ibrahim/Associated Press)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="a0a3a0ac0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="172" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 232 WIDTH="707"><div> "I also want to reassure Canadians that my department and the embassy of Canada in Jakarta are in contact with local authorities to determine if any Canadian citizens have been affected."</div> <bR> <div> In Zurich, the International Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal for $10 million US, and in the United States a Pentagon spokeswoman said the U.S. Defence Department was ready to help.</div> <bR> <div> Britain said it had donated three million pounds to the United Nations and its agencies to meet the immediate needs of those hit by the quake.</div> <bR> <div> The European Union pledged up to three million euros ($4.2 million Cdn) in emergency aid to help the victims, while Australia will send three million Australian dollars ($2.5 Cdn) in aid.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="_little_time_to_get_out__3000_die_in_indonesia_quake"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>'Little time to get out': 3,000 die in Indonesia quake</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat, 27 May 2006  14:31:44  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 27th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0a09f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 33 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Rescue efforts continued into the night Saturday in Indonesia's Central Java province after a massive earthquake left more than 3,000 people dead and injured thousands more.</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 364 WIDTH="540"><div> The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck at 5:54 a.m. local time, and was felt the strongest in the town of Bantul, 55 kilometres southwest of the ancient city of Yogyakarta.</div> <bR> <div> As night fell, many people were seen sleeping in the street as the army and relief workers struggled to help in the evacuation.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Mass graves</B></div> <bR> <div> Many roads and bridges were damaged and in the worst-hit areas mass graves were being dug.</div> <div> "Since the earthquake started very violently, there was little time for people to get out," Brook Weisman-Ross, the Regional Disaster Coordinator for Plan International, told CBC News from Yogyakarta.</div> <bR> <div> "Many government buildings and large buildings across the city sustained significant damage to them."</div> <bR> <div> "It lasted for about a minute and a half, but it felt like forever," the BBC's Orlando de Guzman told CBC News.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a0a19f6c0.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A house is seen flattened following a strong earthquake in Bantul, Indonesia. (Pramita/Associated Press)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="a0a3a0ac0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="172" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 451 WIDTH="707"><div> In several of the surrounding villages, about 90 per cent of the houses were flattened or severely damaged," said de Guzman, who lives in the region.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Many people affected</B></div> <bR> <div> As many as 150,000 people may have been displaced by the disaster, Weisman-Ross said, adding that there were no clear numbers yet.</div> <bR> <div> "I would say that's probably a likely figure since there's a dense population here," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "The number of casualties is expected to rise," the Indonesian Red Cross said on its website, since many people remain trapped or buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings.</div> <bR> <div> The quake's epicentre was in the sea at a depth of 33 kilometres. The Jakarta earthquake centre said it did not cause a tsunami.</div> <bR> <div> Yogyakarta is a city of more than a million people who live about 30 kilometres from the summit of Mount Merapi, a volcano that had been threatening a major eruption this month.</div> <bR> <div> Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.</div> <bR> <div> A quake with a magnitude of 6 of greater has the potential to cause severe damage.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="beslan_hostage_taker_sentenced_to_life"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 345 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Beslan hostage-taker sentenced to life</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 26 May 2006  07:47:32  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 26th, 2006</div> <div> <B>A Russian court handed a life sentence Friday to the only-surviving hostage-taker involved in the deadly 2004 Beslan school siege.</B></div> <bR> <div> Nur-Pashi Kulayev, 25, was found guilty of terrorism and murder in the three-day siege, during which 331 people — more than half of them children — died.</div> <bR> <div> "[Kulayev] deserves the death sentence but because the Russian government has introduced a moratorium on carrying out death sentences, I sentence him to life imprisonment," Judge Tamerlan Aguzarov told the court in Vladikavkaz.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Familes called for death sentence</B></div> <bR> <div> Familes of the victims shouted and cried as the verdict was read out.</div> <bR> <div> "The ultimate sentence should have been passed," said Aneta Gadiyeva, whose child died at the school.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a096a0f70.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="247" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Nur-Pashi Kulayev was found guilty of terrorism and murder in the three-day siege which killed 331 people, more than half of them children. (Sergei Grits/Associated Press)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 451 WIDTH="707"><div> "We believe that this was a particularly evil act and it should have been punished accordingly."</div> <bR> <div> Many mothers of the children who died at the school were on hand for the verdict, dressed in black and carrying signs that read, "There is no forgiveness of the authorities who let Beslan happen."</div> <bR> <div> Kulayev said at his trial that charges against him were "fairy tales." However, the judge rejected Kulayev's defence that he had been forced into the hostage-taking and that he had never threatened or harmed any of the hostages.</div> <bR> <div> The vedict came at the end of a year-long trial.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Only hostage-taker to survive</B></div> <bR> <div> The school siege began on Sept. 2, 2004, when 32 heavily armed militants took more than 1,200 hostages at the school in southern Russia.</div> <bR> <div> They demanded that Russian troops pull out of Chechnya. During the siege, they rigged the building with bombs and refused to let their hostages drink or use toilets.</div> <bR> <div> The siege ended in mass confusion, with Russian troops raiding the building as the bombs detonated and the gunmen fired on fleeing hostages.</div> <bR> <div> Kulayev was the only hostage-taker to survive. He was found hiding under a truck not far from the school after the siege ended, and narrowly avoided being lynched by a mob.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="klein_threatens_to_abandon_equalization"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Klein threatens to abandon equalization</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 25 May 2006  06:21:38  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 25th, 2006</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0909f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 430 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Alberta would pull out of the federal equalization program rather than see the other provinces benefit from its oil and natural gas resources, Premier Ralph Klein said.</B></div> <bR> <div> Klein said on Wednesday he's ready to fight with the eastern provinces to keep Alberta's resource revenues out of the equalization program, which sends federal money to poorer provinces so they can provide services such as health care.</div> <bR> <div> At a meeting next month, other premiers are expected to suggest that Alberta's oil revenues can be included in the calculations that determine how much cash each province gets from Ottawa.</div> <bR> <div> "This is political showdown," Klein said. "This is also a constitutional issue. Alberta has control and authorization and authority over its resources."</div> <bR> <div> And he said he's willing to walk away from the program altogether.</div> <bR> <div> But University of Alberta political scientist Steve Patten suggests Klein can't really do that, and his bluster won't go far among the premiers, even if it works to whip up long-standing anti-eastern sentiment among Albertans.</div> <bR> <div> Equalization payments come from federal government revenues, such as federal income tax, not from Alberta's bank accounts, Patten said. Pulling out, he said, would have no effect on the program.</div> <bR> <div> "When we in Alberta talk as if Alberta — perhaps the premier — sitting down and writing a cheque a couple of times a year to the poorer provinces, we're really misrepresenting what the formula is all about. That's not the way it works," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="british_police_launch_anti_terror_sweep"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>British police launch anti-terror sweep</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 24 May 2006  07:48:20  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 24th, 2006</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0889f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 360 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Nine people were arrested Wednesday in a series of anti-terrorism raids by 500 police in several parts of England.</B></div> <bR> <div> The raids involved five police forces and were aimed at people suspected of being involved in planning attacks outside of the United Kingdom, police said.</div> <bR> <div> They have so far not given any further details except to say that the raids are expected to continue for most of the day.</div> <bR> <div> Properties were searched with warrants that had been issued under U.K.'s terrorism act.</div> <bR> <div> Eight people were arrested in Manchester and one in Merseyside, police said. There were also raids in Birmingham and Middlesbrough.</div> <bR> <div> The police forces involved included London's Metropolitan Police, Birmingham's West Midlands Police and Cleveland Police in northeast England.</div> <bR> <div> The raids were jointly organized with MI5, the British security service, and were the result of an investigation that has been going on for months, the BBC reported.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="brawling_vandalism_scuttle_talks_in_caledonia"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 ><NOBR><div> <B>Brawling, vandalism scuttle talks in Caledonia</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 23 May 2006  07:04:24  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 23rd, 2006</div> <div> <B>The southern Ontario town of Caledonia awakened in darkness and uncertainty on</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a087a0420.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="66" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 269 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Tuesday, the day after a standoff between aboriginal protesters and non-native residents exploded in violence.</B></div> <bR> <div> Talks that had been planned for Tuesday amid hopes the longstanding land-claim dispute was about to be resolved were not expected to resume.</div> <bR> <div> Municipal officials in Haldimand County declared an official state of emergency late Monday night after vandalism at a local transformer cut power from much of the community. Hydro officials say restoring electricity could take days.</div> <bR> <div> Schools have been closed on Tuesday, making for an extended long weekend for 41,000 children.</div> <bR> <div> The calm that settled over the town after darkness fell was a stark contrast to the scene during the daylight hours on Monday, when protesters and residents traded punches and insults.</div> <bR> <div> Ontario Provincial Police officers repeatedly separated the two sides during the day, and showed up in the evening in riot gear on Highway 6, the main road running through the southern Ontario town.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 201 WIDTH="540"><div> Former Ontario premier David Peterson, appointed by the province at the end of April to help resolve the standoff, said Monday's events had "complicated the situation by a large measure."</div> <bR> <div> When talks could resume is uncertain, he said.</div> <bR> <div> Peterson called the turn of events Monday "heartbreaking."</div> <bR> <div> The native protesters had briefly dismantled their barricade Monday morning as a sign of goodwill after the province pledged to indefinitely halt development on a plot of disputed land.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a085a06f0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="111" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Clashes between aboriginal protesters and non-native residents of Caledonia dashed hopes that a longstanding land-claim dispute was near a resolution. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 376 WIDTH="707"><div> The Six Nations community claims the land on which the subdivision was being built was illegally taken from them 200 years ago.</div> <bR> <div> Hundreds of town residents turned up Monday and barred access to the site. The scene turned ugly when a van driven by a Six Nations protester tried to force its way through the locals, prompting a fist fight.</div> <bR> <div> Several native and non-native demonstrators were injured in scuffles after natives blocked the highway with an electrical transmission tower and then used backhoes to tear a trench across the road in front of their blockade.</div> <bR> <div> The non-native blockade began Friday night, as part of a weekly demonstration by members of the community frustrated about the barricade that has been in place for almost five weeks.</div> <bR> <div> Peterson told CBC Newsworld the Caledonia dispute is watched by native groups across North America.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't underestimate the significance," he said. "All of us were praying and working hard to ensure that something ugly didn't develop out of this, like an Oka or a Wounded Knee or something like that."</div> <bR> <div> In a development that seemed to underline Peterson's concerns, members of First Nations in the North Battleford area of Saskatchewan set up a short-lived blockade of their own at a major highway near the community Monday afternoon.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="caledonia_barrier_back_up_as_tension_rises"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Caledonia barrier back up as tension rises</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 22 May 2006  10:22:57  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 22nd, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a07c9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 285 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Six Nations members set up a new barrier across a road in Caledonia, Ont., on Monday afternoon, shortly after aboriginal protesters and non-native residents of the area traded punches and insults.</B></div> <bR> <div> Ontario Provincial Police officers separated the two sides and then lined up in a pair of columns to keep them apart on Highway 6, the main road running through the southern Ontario town.</div> <bR> <div> Tempers reached the boiling point just a few hours after what had seemed to be a breakthrough in a five-week standoff over the construction of a subdivision on land the aboriginal protesters claim is theirs.</div> <bR> <div> Barricades that the Six Nations protesters had erected on April 20 on Highway 6 came down as planned early Monday.</div> <bR> <div> However, traffic was still being impeded because several dozen non-aboriginal protesters had set up a human barricade of their own.</div> <bR> <div> They were standing in the middle of the road a short distance away from the site where the Six Nations barricade had stood, blocking any aboriginal person who tried to pass through.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 180 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Sides trade punches, accusations</B></div> <div> "That's colonialism at its finest," Janie Jamieson, a spokeswoman for the Six Nations protesters, told CBC News in a midday interview as more aboriginal people returned to the site and Ontario Provincial Police officers tried to keep the peace.</div> <bR> <div> "The OPP is witnessing it but nobody's doing anything about it," Jamieson said.</div> <bR> <div> At one point, shouting, pushing and shoving broke out as a vehicle tried to get through the new barricade. Some people from the opposing sides traded punches, and each side accused the other of using racial slurs.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a07da0830.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The barricade came back up after native and non-native protesters clashed. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 465 WIDTH="707"><div> "Most people in Caledonia have a great degree of sympathy for land claims and want it settled," said resident Pat Woolley, interviewed at the site of the non-aboriginal protest.</div> <bR> <div> However, he said, "people behind the barricade feel they weren't consulted" before the blockade went up.</div> <bR> <div> For weeks, vehicles have been let through only irregularly.</div> <bR> <div> Shortly before the new Six Nations barrier went up on Monday, Woolley pointed out that people are still off work because the aboriginal protesters were continuing to block a nearby rail line. As well, he said, the Six Nations group does not intend to leave the subdivision at the heart of the dispute.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Land claimed by aboriginal people in area</B></div> <div> The Six Nations community claims the land on which the subdivision was being built was never signed away by their ancestors, but was illegally taken from them 200 years ago.</div> <bR> <div> "Our own populations are growing, and if we allow the loss of land, we will be remiss in our duties in our children and our ancestors," Six Nations Confederacy Chief Allen McNaughton said Monday.</div> <bR> <div> The new protest that sprang up on the weekend briefly delayed a plan to take down the aboriginal barricade on Monday as a sign of goodwill as negotiations continued over the ownership of the land.</div> <bR> <div> On Monday morning, they faced off with native protesters arriving at the site, moving their bodies to prevent them from walking through the small crowd as OPP officers tried to keep the tension in check.</div> <bR> <div> "If anything happens at that table, the barricades are going right back up as quickly as they came down," Jamieson warned in the CBC interview shortly before a new metal barrier was pushed across the road.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 180 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>'We're going to work it out,' minister says</B></div> <bR> <div> "We thought everything was going to happen today, but we've got a delay and we're going to work it out," David Ramsay, Ontario's minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said early Monday during an interview with CBC News.</div> <bR> <div> "You get incidents out there that upset people and minds get changed," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "That's unfortunate."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a07ea0830.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Aboriginal protesters and non-native residents of the area traded punches and insults. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 451 WIDTH="707"><div> The second blockade began Friday night, as part of a weekly demonstration by members of the community frustrated about the barricade that has been in place for almost five weeks.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Negotiator predicts quick end to latest tension</B></div> <div> Former Ontario premier David Peterson was appointed at the end of April to help resolve the standoff.</div> <bR> <div> "I think the fact that there's a lot of tension in the air is not a big news story," he told CBC News in an interview Monday morning after the non-aboriginal blockade went up. "In an hour or two, they'll get in their cars and go home."</div> <bR> <div> Peterson said it was crucial that the Caledonia dispute be ended responsibly because it is being watched by native groups across North America.</div> <bR> <div> "Don't underestimate the significance," he warned. "All of us were praying and working hard to ensure that something ugly didn't develop out of this, like an Oka or a Wounded Knee or something like that.</div> <bR> <div> "Hopefully we can get through this in a peaceful way."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Saskatchewan blockade being planned</B></div> <div> In a development that seems to underline his concerns, members of First Nations in the North Battleford area of Saskatchewan said they are planning to set up a blockade on two bridges crossing the North Saskatchewan River.</div> <bR> <div> "We're doing that in solidarity with Caledonia, and all lands that have been taken over by people that are non-Indian," said Marcia Neault of the Poundmaker reserve.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="finland_s_lordi_monster_hit_at_eurovision"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 238 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Finland's Lordi monster hit at Eurovision</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 21 May 2006  10:02:50  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 21st, 2006</div> <div> <B>Finnish metal band Lordi, who perform in monster masks and suits of armour, are the surprise winners of the Eurovision Song Contest.</B></div> <bR> <div> It was a stunning upset for a competition that is usually associated with upbeat pop sounds or bland dance music.</div> <bR> <div> Lordi calls itself a "horror rock" band and its song, <I>Hard Rock Hallelujah</I>, is a screaming blend of apocalyptic lyrics and crunching guitar sounds.</div> <bR> <div> The band's frontman, Mr. Lordi, wielded a double-headed ax over his head during the </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a07ba09b0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="155" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Heavy metal band Lordi performs in full armour amid jets of fire. They burned their way into European hearts at the Eurovision Song Contest. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 701 WIDTH="707"><div> Eurovision performance. He said his rock inspiration is the heavy metal band Kiss.</div> <bR> <div> "This is a victory for rock music … and also a victory for open-mindedness," he said after the win on Saturday, a first for Finland.</div> <bR> <div> "We are not Satanists. We are not devil-worshippers. This is entertainment," he told Reuters.</div> <bR> <div> Many Finns were scandalized when the group was chosen to represent their country.</div> <bR> <div> But the rest of Europe appeared mesmerized. The Eurovision Song Contest, which pits European countries against one another in a bid to produce the top song, is seen by 100 million television viewers.</div> <bR> <div> Lordi scored 292 points from telephone voters in 38 countries for its performance, well ahead of Russia's Dima Bilian with 248 points and Bosnia's Hari Mata Hari with 229 points.</div> <bR> <div> The Eurovision Song Contest, held in Athens and hosted this year by Greek pop singer Sakis Rouvas and Access Hollywood correspondent Maria Menounous, has been held annually since 1956 and has a kind of camp appeal for European viewers.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Syrupy ballad</B></div> <div> Many of the acts showcased on Saturday stuck to the catchy tune formula that has been successful in the past. Ireland's Brian Kennedy offered a syrupy ballad; the Bosnians had a love song; the Germany entry was a cowboy group calling itself Texas Lightning and Latvia's Cosmos performed a cappella.</div> <bR> <div> Previous winners of the contest include '60s chanteuse Lulu, Sweden's ABBA, who won in 1974 with <I>Waterloo,</I> and Canada's Celine Dion, who represented Switzerland in 1988.</div> <bR> <div> The Eurovision title entitles the winner to a trophy shaped like an ancient Greek column, but is no guarantee of stardom. Many past winners have faded into obscurity.</div> <bR> <div> Mr. Lordi predicted his band's win would open the doors for a wider range of musical styles at Eurovision. "This is proof that from now on there will be more rock bands who will have the courage to join in," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Band members never appear without their elaborate masks and makeup and do not reveal their true names.</div> <bR> <div> Lordi's albums <I>The Monsterican Dream</I> (2004) and <I>The Arockalypse</I> (2006) are hits in Finland. The compilation album <I>The Monster Show</I> has also been released in more than 20 countries.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC Art News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="cowansville_que__on_alert_as_rising_river_prompts_evacuation"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Cowansville, Que., on alert as rising river prompts evacuatio</B><B>n</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat, 20 May 2006  12:23:19  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 20th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0779f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 423 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Flooding in Quebec's Eastern Townships on Saturday has forced at least 50 people from their homes.</B></div> <bR> <div> A front-end loader was used to help some people move through the floodwaters in the city of Cowansville, about 100 kilometres southeast of Montreal, early in the day.</div> <bR> <div> "It's been quite a morning," CBC News reporter Karine Bastien reported from Cowansville.</div> <bR> <div> "Right now firefighters are still evacuating people from their homes," she said.</div> <bR> <div> "The people who have been evacuated are staying with family or in a hotel."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Overflows banks</B></div> <bR> <div> More than 200 people may have to leave their homes after the Yamaska River overflowed its banks overnight.</div> <bR> <div> Emergency workers started going door to door around 4 a.m. local time, asking people to evacuate flooded areas and using equipment including front-end loaders to move people through the rising waters.</div> <bR> <div> "They're using sandbags and you can see people helping each other," Bastien said.</div> <bR> <div> The Eastern Townships have received about 140 millimetres of rain since the beginning of May.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="thousands_of_comrades_send_goddard_home"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Thousands of comrades send Goddard home</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 19 May 2006  06:25:09  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 19th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0739f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 157 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Thousands of troops from several countries lined the tarmac at Kandahar airbase on Friday to say goodbye to Capt. Nichola Goddard, Canada's latest casualty in Afghanistan.</B></div> <bR> <div> Goddard, the first female combat soldier Canada has lost in battle, was killed Wednesday battling Taliban insurgents west of Kandahar.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday soldiers from eight countries attended as her flag-draped casket was carried by eight members of her unit, the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. The casket went underneath an arch formed by two M777 howitzers and between the ranks of camouflage-clad soldiers then up the loading ramp of a C130 Hercules for the flight home to Canada.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 236 WIDTH="540"><div> The plane is expected to arrive in Trenton, Ont., on Saturday.</div> <bR> <div> At the Kandahar base, prayers were said, and Brig.-Gen. David Fraser followed the casket into the airplane to say a brief private farewell.</div> <bR> <div> Soldiers at the ceremony included those from Canada, the United States, Britain, Romania, France, the Netherlands, Estonia and Afghanistan.</div> <bR> <div> Goddard was serving as a forward artillery observer when Canadian troops were called to support Afghan forces as they battled Taliban fighters about 24 kilometres west of Kandahar.</div> <bR> <div> The details of her death are unclear.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a072a0a00.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Capt. Nichola Goddard was the first Canadian female soldier to be killed in combat since the Second World War. (Department of National Defence Photo)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 238 WIDTH="707"><div> The Canadians formed a ring around the area where the Afghan forces were battling the Taliban.</div> <bR> <div> Canadian military officials said 18 Taliban militants were killed and 26 captured during the operation. Three Afghan National Army soldiers were wounded.</div> <bR> <div> Goddard was the 16th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002. One Canadian diplomat has also been killed.</div> <div> The Calgary native lived in Shilo, Man., with her husband, Jason Beam.</div> <bR> <div> Her funeral will take place in Calgary, at the same church where she was married less than four years ago.</div> <bR> <div> A public memorial is planned at her base at CFB Shilo, in Manitoba.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="canada_s_stay_in_afghanistan_extended_by_2_years"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Canada's stay in Afghanistan extended by 2 years</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 17 May 2006  22:42:56  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 18th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a06d9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 140 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>With the latest death of a Canadian soldier fresh in their minds, members of Parliament have voted to approve an extension of the military mission to Afghanistan.</B></div> <bR> <div> The vote was close, but the government prevailed 149-145. It means Canadian soldiers will remain in Afghanistan two years longer than previously planned.</div> <bR> <div> The death of Capt. Nichola Goddard, 26, was reported as the Commons gathered on Wednesday to debate the merits of a government proposal to extend the mission.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 256 WIDTH="540"><div> A defiant Prime Minister Stephen Harper led off the debate by declaring he would extend the mission by a year, with or without the support of the House, and would be willing to call an election on the issue, putting the ultimate decision directly into the hands of Canadians.</div> <bR> <div> "We cannot walk away quickly," Harper told the House. "If we need further efforts or further mandate to go ahead into the future, we will go so alone and go to the Canadian people to get that mandate."</div> <bR> <div> Harper said the mission is in Canada's interests and important in the fight against terrorism.</div> <bR> <div> "The events of Sept. 11, 2001 was a wake-up call, not just to Americans but to people in all free and democratic nations. Two dozen Canadians were killed as result of the attacks on the twin towers … Canada is not safe from such attack, and we will never be safe from such attacks as long as we're a society that defends freedom and democracy."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a06ea0b40.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Capt. Nichola Goddard is the first Canadian female soldier to be killed in combat since the Second World War. (Department of National Defence Photo)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 397 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Under six-hour grilling</B></div> <bR> <div> The Conservatives announced the vote for a two-year extension earlier this week, and MPs spent about six hours debating whether Canada's troops should come home next February or stay in Afghanistan until early 2009.</div> <bR> <div> The Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party voted against the motion. NDP Leader Jack Layton said the mission would see Canada straying further from its traditional role as peacekeeper.</div> <bR> <div> Liberal Leader Bill Graham had said he would wait to see if the Conservatives answered all his questions regarding the two-year extension before deciding which way to vote.</div> <bR> <div> The Liberals allowed their members a free vote and in the end, Graham and 29 other Liberals supported the motion.</div> <bR> <div> But Graham did criticize the government for holding a vote without providing sufficient time to debate the issue. Graham said his party supports the troops and the mission in Afghanistan, but that MPs would be voting "with a gun put to our heads."</div> <bR> <div> Canada has about 2,200 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, part of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom.</div> <bR> <div> Previously, Canada was a participant in the NATO-led International Stabilization Assistance Force (ISAF), and it has been reported that Canada could take over leadership of the larger NATO mission in Afghanistan in 2008.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="harper_says_afghan_debate_important_for_canada"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Harper says Afghan debate important for Canada</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 16 May 2006  23:45:54  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 17th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0699f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 940 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Prime Minister Stephen Harper will lead off Wednesday's debate on whether to extend Canada's military mission in Afghanistan.</B></div> <bR> <div> The debate, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET, will decide whether Canada's 2,300 troops will come home next February or stay in Afghanistan until early 2009.</div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday, Harper said the mission is a vital one.</div> <bR> <div> "What we are doing there is not just protecting our national interests, but [we are] providing international leadership and providing real advancement to the standard of living and human rights of the Afghan people. These are important things for which Canada should stand."</div> <bR> <div> The opposition parties believe that if Canada extends its stay in Afghanistan it won't be able to respond to other trouble spots such as Darfur, Sudan.</div> <bR> <div> "Did [the prime minister] realize that this would render Canada incapable of responding to other situations in the world?" asked NDP Leader Jack Layton.</div> <bR> <div> Harper says that, for Canada, the priority is Afghanistan.</div> <bR> <div> "We understand that a commitment of this magnitude creates some real constraints on our ability elsewhere," he said.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Casualty count raises questions</B></div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday night, after a six-hour debate, MPs will vote on a motion for a two-year extension of Canada's diplomatic, development, civilian police and military personnel in Afghanistan, including funding and equipment.</div> <bR> <div> Increasing casualties, including the deaths of 15 soldiers since 2002, have caused many Canadians to question how long Canada should be in Afghanistan.</div> <bR> <div> The Liberals suggest that may be why Harper is putting it to a vote now — so that the mission extension is dealt with well before a possible election looms next year.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not about whether or not the mission should be until February 2009," said Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh. "Now the question is whether or not it should be extended."</div> <bR> <div> Layton also says MPs haven't been given much time to prepare.</div> <bR> <div> "What we don't know is the nature of the extended mission. Canadians have not been told about it. MPs have not been told about it, yet they're going to be asked to vote on it after a few speeches on the House of Commons."</div> <bR> <div> But Harper says MPs have had lots of time to decide.</div> <bR> <div> "Members of this House, the parties of this House, have had five years to decide what their position is on this mission. We want to be sure that our troops have the support of this Parliament going forward."</div> <bR> <div> Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay has just returned from a trip to Afghanistan. He says Afghan President Hamid Karzai has asked about Canada's involvement after next February.</div> <bR> <div> "They want to know that Canada is going to be there," said MacKay.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="tories_anticipating_auditor_s_report_on_gun_registry"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Tories anticipating auditor's report on gun registry</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 16 May 2006  06:09:43  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 16th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0689f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 844 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>The federal government will move as quickly as possible to scrap the gun registry after the auditor general delivers her latest report, Tory MPs say.</B></div> <bR> <div> Sheila Fraser will table her latest report in the House of Commons shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday – a report the Conservatives hope will put the last nails in the coffin of the registry they have long vowed to scrap.</div> <bR> <div> "I think this is going to bolster and reaffirm the fact that it is a complete and absolute waste of money," said Edmonton MP John Williams.</div> <bR> <div> "We will commit and follow through on our election promise to get rid of the gun registry."</div> <bR> <div> Fraser issued a scathing report on the firearms registry in 2002, in which she said the costs had ballooned to $1 billion, and that the Liberals had hidden the true cost of requiring Canadians to register rifles and shotguns. The original estimate for setting up the registry was $2 million.</div> <bR> <div> The report to be delivered on Tuesday is expected to say those cost overruns have continued.</div> <bR> <div> Many of those cost overruns have already been uncovered by Conservative MP Gary Breitkreuz, who has filed hundreds of access-to-information requests on the gun registry.</div> <bR> <div> His main concern is that, even with the latest report for ammunition, the Tory minority might not have the firepower to shoot down the registry.</div> <bR> <div> "It'll be a close call. I mean, in a Parliament with numbers like this, it'll depend on whether the leaders allow free votes," he said.</div> <bR> <div> The Conservatives hold 125 seats in the 308-seat House of Commons. The Liberals have 102, the Bloc Québécois 51, NDP 29 and there is one Independent.</div> <bR> <div> New Democrat Joe Comartin says his party will vote to keep the registry.</div> <bR> <div> "They cannot get rid of the long gun registry without bringing an amendment into the House for that legislation, and I don't believe they have the votes in the House to do it," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Many Tories believe they have public support for scrapping the registry, but support for the registry runs high in Quebec and the country's biggest cities, both areas where the Conservatives need to build support.</div> <bR> <div> Liberal MP John Godfrey says the registry cost more money than at first thought, and knows his party will be blamed. But he says the issue isn't money, it's public safety.</div> <bR> <div> "The most important point is why we established it in the first place, which was to make Canada safer, so we would know where guns were and who owned them," he said.</div> <bR> <div> The Tories say they will do a better job of making Canada safer with their new minimum sentences for the illegal use of firearms.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="more_refugees_sneaking_into_canada_study"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>More refugees sneaking into Canada: study</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 15 May 2006  06:52:03  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 15th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="58" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="165" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 554 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Canada's refugee agreement with the United States is forcing more people to try to enter Canada illegally, a study from Harvard says.</B></div> <bR> <div> The report, entitled Bordering on Failure, says the number of refugee claimants at Canadian border crossings has dropped by more than 50 per cent in the past 18 months, and that more refugees are trying to find other ways into the country, including human smuggling.</div> <bR> <div> "What we found was dramatic decreases in legal border crossings," said Deborah Anker, a Harvard law professor who co-wrote the study. "There were a number of reports from NGOs [non-governmental organizations] who had been contacted by refugees who were applying for asylum with relatives who had entered Canada without authorization."</div> <bR> <div> Anker said the connection is clear: Fewer refugees are trying to enter Canada legally because of the new safe third-country agreement that came into effect just over a year ago.</div> <bR> <div> The agreement was intended to reduce the number of refugee claims at the border by designating the United States as a safe haven.</div> <bR> <div> The problem, Anker said, is that many migrants don't consider the United States a safe haven.</div> <bR> <div> "We are really in a very troubling situation in terms of refugee protection in the U.S.," she said.</div> <bR> <div> The study backs up a report by the Canadian Council for Refugees, which said refugee claims dropped to about 4,000 from 9,000 in the year before the agreement was signed.</div> <bR> <div> Janet Dench, the executive director of the council, says the number of refugee claims has dropped to about 4,000 from 9,000 in the year before the agreement was signed. And she says illegal crossings are on the rise.</div> <bR> <div> "We do know that some of them are finding a way of getting into Canada irregularly," Dench said. "This is what we were frightened would happen. They have no recourse but resort to dangerous methods of crossing borders."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="sabres_oust_senators_in_ot"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 233 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Sabres oust Senators in OT</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat, 13 May 2006  23:04:31  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 14th, 2006</div> <div> <B>The Buffalo Sabres are returning to the conference finals and the Ottawa Senators are returning home early – again.</B></div> <bR> <div> A shorthanded goal by Jason Pominville at 2:16 of overtime Saturday in Ottawa lifted the Sabres to a 3-2 win that wrapped up a stunning five-game victory over the Senators in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.</div> <bR> <div> With Jay McKee in the penalty box for tripping, Pominville picked up the puck near the Sabres blueline, went wide around Daniel Alfredsson, then cut in on goal and slid the puck past Ottawa goaltender Ray Emery.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a05ca0a00.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Buffalo's Jason Pominville, centre, celebrates his series-winning goal with his teammates. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 447 WIDTH="707"><div> "I put my head up and I saw Alfie," Pominville told <I>Hockey Night in Canada</I>. "He's a forward and I thought I'd take advantage of it. I don't do that that often but it paid off that time."</div> <bR> <div> The goal earned Buffalo its third trip to the Eastern Conference final since 1998, with all three berths coming under head coach Lindy Ruff.</div> <bR> <div> It was also a sweet reward for Pominville, who was put on waivers at the beginning of the season and played 18 games for the Sabres' minor-league affiliate in Rochester.</div> <bR> <div> "That's an awesome goal and it's well deserved," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "That kid has battled hard since day one in our organization and he finally gets his due reward."</div> <bR> <div> Henrik Tallinder and Chris Drury each had a goal and an assist in regulation time for the Sabres, while Daniel Alfredsson and Brian Pothier tallied for the Senators.</div> <bR> <div> The loss marked another early playoff exit for Ottawa, which earned at least 100 points in five of the past seven regular seasons but managed only four playoff series wins.</div> <bR> <div> Hopes were especially high for the team this year after the Senators racked up the league's second-best record in the regular season en route to earning the top seed in the East.</div> <bR> <div> "We have a lot of talent, a lot of good personnel in here and it's disappointing to blow a chance because you never know when you're going to have a team that has a chance to win," said forward Mike Fisher.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Miller outstanding</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 465 WIDTH="707"><div> Ottawa drew a tough second-round opponent in a Buffalo team that had matched the Senators' regular season win total and that was backstopped by an outstanding goalie in Ryan Miller, who made 34 saves Saturday in another exceptional performance.</div> <bR> <div> Miller was instrumental in leading Buffalo to four one-goal wins in the series — three coming in overtime. The Senators outshot the Sabres in all of them.</div> <bR> <div> "We were able to come back to win (Game 1) 7-6 and it kind of got my feet back under me," Miller told <I>Hockey Night in Canada</I>. "I had to be better for the guys and we were able to pull off some great victories against these guys. They're tough."</div> <div> Emery, who was filling in for injured Ottawa starter Domink Hasek, stopped 21 shots in Game 5 but, throughout the series, couldn't equal the big saves made by his counterpart, most notably in overtime.</div> <bR> <div> "They won the series because they outplayed us in overtime three times, that was the series," Senators coach Bryan Murray said. "When you lose three games in overtime it's pretty tough."</div> <bR> <div> The Senators also didn't get enough scoring from stars like Alfredsson and Dany Heatley, who topped the team in goals and points in the regular season.</div> <bR> <div> Alfredsson had one goal and four assists in the series while Heatley had a goal and an assist and failed to convert numerous scoring chances, including some prime opportunities in the decisive Game 5.</div> <bR> <div> "The right people weren't scoring goals for us," Murray said.</div> <bR> <div> Buffalo will now meet the winner of the Carolina-New Jersey series, which the Hurricanes lead three games to one.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Sabres strike quickly</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 554 WIDTH="707"><div> Buffalo, which in Thursday's Game 4 failed to open the scoring for the first time in the playoffs, got on the board first Saturday. Thirty-three seconds into the game, Tallinder blasted a shot from the left-wing boards that went over Emery's shoulder.</div> <bR> <div> The goal seemed to influence the Sabres' attack as they began firing long shots on Emery off their rushes rather than making extra passes.</div> <bR> <div> Near the mid-way point of the first, Tallinder and fellow defenceman Rory Fitzpatrick were whistled for minor penalties, the latter for high-sticking during a post-whistle scrum, giving Ottawa a 5 on 3 advantage.</div> <bR> <div> Alfredsson made good on the opportunity, drilling a low point shot past Miller to even the score at 1-1.</div> <bR> <div> It was the Senators captain's first goal since Game 1 of Ottawa's first-round series with Tampa Bay.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Nifty deke</B></div> <bR> <div> Buffalo capitalized on a power-play chance of its own to regain the lead in the second period. The Senators allowed Drury to walk out from the corner untouched and he put a nifty deke on Emery before sliding the puck in.</div> <bR> <div> With the teams playing 4 on 4 later in the period, Miller made a terrific save on Martin Havlat, sliding over for a glove save as Havlat tried to one-time a rebound. But off the ensuing faceoff, Pothier hammered a point shot that went high over Miller to tie the game at 2-2.</div> <bR> <div> The third period started off slowly, with Buffalo content most times to dump the puck into the Ottawa zone rather than try to generate rushes.</div> <bR> <div> With the Sabres looking like they were playing for overtime in the latter stages of regulation time, the Senators stepped up their offensive pressure. Ottawa had several chances, including a close-range shot by Havlat that clanged off the post, but they couldn't beat Miller and the game went into overtime.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff w<I>ith files from Canadian Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="cecilia_s_killer_gets_15_years_without_parole"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 217 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Cecilia's killer gets 15 years without parole</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 12 May 2006  13:06:23  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 13th, 2006</div> <div> <B>A Chinese visa student who admitted kidnapping and killing a nine-year-old Toronto girl will spend 15 years in prison before he's eligible for parole.</B></div> <bR> <div> Min Chen showed no reaction when Superior Court Justice Bruce Durno pronounced his sentence in a Brampton courtroom.</div> <bR> <div> The 23-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday to second-degree murder in the death of Cecilia Zhang, who was taken from her bedroom in October 2003.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a053a09a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="154" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Min Chen told police he planned to kidnap Cecilia and ask for a $25,000 ransom from her parents. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 435 WIDTH="707"><div> Chen told police he planned to kidnap Cecilia and ask for a $25,000 ransom from her parents, Raymond Zhang and Sherry Xu, to pay for an arranged marriage so he could stay in Canada.</div> <bR> <div> But he said he unintentionally smothered the child with a towel when he tried to stop her from screaming.</div> <bR> <div> In reaching his decision, Durno said he weighed a number of mitigating factors, including the fact the motive for the crime was greed.</div> <bR> <div> While Chen maintains he did not plan to kill Cecilia, the judge noted that the student did plan to keep Cecilia in the trunk of his car while waiting for the ransom payment.</div> <bR> <div> Durno said he felt Chen was immature and believed there was potential for rehabilitation.</div> <bR> <div> He concluded by saying that no matter what sentence he imposed, it would never bring Cecilia back to her family.</div> <bR> <div> But Chen's lawyer, Toronto defence attorney John Rosen, said he was disappointed that Durno rejected his arguments for leniency based on the fact his client didn't plan to kill Cecilia.</div> <bR> <div> "What I was disappointed with was that it was clearly a spontaneous act in the sense that it wasn't planned, wasn't considered, wasn't foreseen," Rosen said outside the courthouse.</div> <bR> <div> "The judge rejected that submission, and I'm disappointed with that."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Chen's parents issue statement</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 402 WIDTH="707"><div> Chen stood stone-faced, blinking frequently throughout the court appearance. He nodded once when his translator asked whether he understood the sentence.</div> <bR> <div> Originally charged with first-degree murder, he was arrested in his Scarborough home in July 2004.</div> <bR> <div> Rosen wouldn't say whether an appeal was planned, but he said and his legal team would "look at the judgment carefully."</div> <bR> <div> When asked about Chen's subdued reaction to the sentence, Rosen said not displaying emotion shouldn't be seen as a character flaw.</div> <bR> <div> "You don't know the person, the culture he comes from, the way he was raised," he said.</div> <bR> <div> His other lawyer, John Lee, read a statement from Chen's parents in Shanghai.</div> <bR> <div> "We are extremely sad for the death of Cecilia and sadder because Min Chen caused her death," he read.</div> <bR> <div> Crown lawyers had asked for parole eligibility in the 17-to-20-year range, while Chen's lawyers asked for 12 years. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of up to 25 years without parole.</div> <bR> <div> He will have to submit his DNA to a database of criminal offenders.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="cecilia_zhang_killer_to_learn_parole_decision"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Cecilia Zhang killer to learn parole decision</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 12 May 2006  06:06:23  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 12th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0529f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 344 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>The man who says he kidnapped and killed Toronto schoolgirl Cecilia Zhang will find out today when he's eligible for parole.</B></div> <bR> <div> Min Chen pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday in the death of the nine-year-old, who was taken from her bedroom in October 2003.</div> <bR> <div> Chen, a 23-year-old Chinese visa student, faces an automatic life sentence with eligibility of parole ranging from 10 to 25 years and must submit his DNA to a database of criminal offenders.</div> <bR> <div> Crown lawyers are asking for parole eligibility in the 17-to-20 year range, while Chen's lawyers have asked for 12 years.</div> <bR> <div> Chen told police he planned to kidnap Cecilia and ask for a $25,000 ransom from her parents, Raymond Zhang and Sherry Xu, in order to pay for an arranged marriage to stay in Canada.</div> <bR> <div> But he says he unintentionally smothered the child with a towel when he tried to stop her from screaming.</div> <bR> <div> Chen had been charged with first-degree murder when he was arrested at his Scarborough home in July 2004.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="british_agents_knew_of_lead_bomber_report"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>British agents knew of lead bomber: report</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 11 May 2006  06:07:51  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 11th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a04a9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 505 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>British intelligence agents had the ringleader of last summer's London bombings on their radar before the attacks, but their limited resources were focused elsewhere, a parliamentary report said.</B></div> <bR> <div> British agents decided not to concentrate on Mohammad Sidique Khan, from West Yorkshire, because other threats were deemed a higher priority, the Intelligence and Security Committee report said.</div> <bR> <div> On July 7 last year, Khan led a group of suicide bombers who blew themselves up on London subways and a bus, killing 52 people.</div> <bR> <div> Agents had become aware of Khan and Shazad Tanweer, another of the bombers, as peripheral characters in other investigations and surveillance operations.</div> <bR> <div> People detained in other countries had referred to men from Britain known only by pseudonyms who had travelled to Pakistan in 2003 and sought meetings with al-Qaeda figures, said the report, which was released Thursday.</div> <bR> <div> However, British agents hadn't been able to confirm their identities before the attacks.</div> <bR> <div> Instead, intelligence agents focused on more pressing cases, including "known plans to attack the U.K.," the report said.</div> <bR> <div> "When resources became available, attempts were made to find out more about these two and other peripheral contacts, but these resources were soon diverted back to what were considered to be higher investigative priorities."</div> <bR> <div> The report said the involvement of al-Qaeda in the attacks was unclear, and it had found no links between the July 7 bombers and the men who failed in their attempt to bomb the London transit system two weeks later.</div> <bR> <div> The report also concludes that security services could not have stopped the attacks.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="student_pleads_guilty_to_killing_9_year_old_cecilia_zhang"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 220 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Student pleads guilty to killing 9-year-old Cecilia Zhang</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 09 May 2006  11:37:30  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 10th, 2006</div> <div> <B>A young student from Shanghai pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in the death of Cecilia Zhang, who was kidnapped from a bedroom in her Toronto home in October 2003.</B></div> <bR> <div> Min Chen, then 21, was arrested at his Scarborough home in July 2004 and charged with killing Cecilia after her disappearance created headlines across the country for months.</div> <bR> <div> The girl's remains were found near a Mississauga river on March 27, 2004, three days before she would have turned 10.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a048a09d0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="157" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Cecilia Zhang's smiling face was featured on posters and ads throughout the Toronto area for months. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 414 WIDTH="707"><div> On Tuesday morning, an agreed statement of facts was read out in a Brampton courtroom, revealing for the first time that Chen smothered Cecilia to death.</div> <bR> <div> It also revealed the motive for the crime: Chen desperately needed money.</div> <bR> <div> He had planned to ask for ransom and then pay $25,000 to arrange a marriage of convenience so that he could stay in Canada and continue his studies.</div> <bR> <div> At first he thought he could kidnap the girl, demand a ransom and return her to her parents the same day.</div> <bR> <div> However, when he approached Cecilia in her house the night of Oct. 19, 2003, he feared that she was about to scream for help.</div> <bR> <div> So he took a purple towel she had with her, covered her face and head with it, and pressed his hand hard against her face while he carried her out of the house to a waiting car.</div> <bR> <div> By the time he put her in the car's trunk, she was no longer struggling. When he checked on her later, she wasn't breathing. He eventually left her body in the Mississauga ravine where it was found.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Student faces mandatory life sentence</B></div> <bR> <div> Chen was originally charged with first-degree murder. His trial on that charge was expected to begin Tuesday, but instead he was arraigned on the lesser charge.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 254 WIDTH="540"><div> The judge is required to impose a life sentence, which means Chen will not be eligible for parole for between 10 and 20 years, depending on the circumstances of the case.</div> <bR> <div> Upon his eventual release, he would likely be deported back to China.</div> <bR> <div> Cecilia's parents were not in court for the guilty plea. The family submitted victim impact statements in both written and video form, however.</div> <bR> <div> Raymond Zhang cried as he said his only daughter would never have a chance to fulfil all her dreams.</div> <bR> <div> Sherry Xu was also emotional as she talked about the 161 days and nights she spent hoping for good news before her daughter's body was found and the 720 days and nights that have elapsed since the ordeal began.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a049a0a40.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="164" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Min Chen came to Canada from China on a student visa in 2001. He has admitted that he killed Cecilia by putting his hand over her mouth until she stopped breathing. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 456 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Parents mortgaged home to have ransom ready</B></div> <bR> <div> Zhang and Xu had issued public pleas for their child's safe return in the weeks following her disappearance.</div> <bR> <div> The girl's parents also mortgaged their house in order to have money ready in case of a ransom demand.</div> <bR> <div> But the ransom call the police expected never came. Nor did the break in the case that Toronto's Chinese community longed for, as it raised tens of thousands of dollars to be offered as a reward.</div> <bR> <div> Information about Cecilia was sent around the world and featured on <I>America's Most Wanted</I> in case she had somehow been spirited out of the country.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Killer knew former boarder at Zhang home</B></div> <bR> <div> Chen came to Canada from China on a student visa in 2001.</div> <bR> <div> At the time of his arrest, police said he knew a woman who had boarded at the Zhang home between September 2002 and March 2003.</div> <bR> <div> She was at first suspected of being involved in the case, but an investigation later cleared her. She was expected to be called as a witness when Chen went to trial.</div> <bR> <div> Chen had visited the Zhang home at least four times and had met Cecilia, police said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="peter_mackay_visits_troops_in_kandahar"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 243 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Peter MacKay visits troops in Kandahar</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 09 May 2006  05:44:33  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 9th, 2006</div> <div> <B>Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay paid a surprise visit to the troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday.</B></div> <bR> <div> MacKay landed at Kandahar for a two-day visit to show support for the troops and reassure Afghan leaders that Canada's commitment won't waver.</div> <bR> <div> "We've had a debate in the Parliament of Canada — the commitment is to finish the job," he told reporters. "The commitment is not defined in terms of years, it's defined in terms of its success and we feel that progress is being made and we're here…to see that the work is going to be completed."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a040a0a70.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="167" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay is greeted by Col. Tom Putt, deputy commander of the Canadian Forces in Kandahar. (Bob Weber/Canadian Press)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 472 WIDTH="707"><div> Recent polls have suggested support among the Canadian public for the Afghan mission has fallen below 50 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> Afghan officials, however, said on Monday they intend to ask Canada to extend the deployment. It is currently set to end in February, 2007.</div> <bR> <div> After arriving Tuesday morning, MacKay planned to meet with soldiers at the main coalition base at Kandahar air field and at the smaller Camp Nathan Smith in downtown Kandahar.</div> <bR> <div> His trip will also take him to Kabul where he will meet government officials.</div> <bR> <div> Taliban activity has intensified in recent weeks in the southern Afghan provinces, where Canadian troops are operating along with other coalition troops.</div> <bR> <div> Military officials say there has been an increase in roadside bombs and suicide attacks.</div> <bR> <div> There have also been reports that Taliban fighters are frustrated by the fact that their attacks have produced little damage to the armoured Canadian vehicles, the LAV-III and Bison troops carriers and Coyote surveillance vehicles.</div> <bR> <div> That has reportedly driven Taliban extremists to the black market looking for bigger and better weapons to aim at the Canadians.</div> <bR> <div> Attacks against the more lightly armoured Mercedes G-Wagons have been more damaging.</div> <bR> <div> Fifteen Canadian soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="iranian_president_writes_to_bush_regarding_nukes"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Iranian president writes to Bush regarding nukes</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 08 May 2006  07:02:40  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 8th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7f0e9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 360 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>Iran's president has proposed new ways out of the ongoing crisis over his country's nuclear programs, said an Iranian official.</B></div> <bR> <div> In a letter, the first letter from an Iranian leader to a U.S. president in 27 years, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has offered President George W. Bush "new solutions" to their differences, said government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham.</div> <bR> <div> The letter was sent via the Swiss Embassy.</div> <bR> <div> Washington has had no diplomatic relations with Tehran since 1979, when the U.S. Embassy was stormed. The leaders of the two countries have not directly corresponded in that time.</div> <bR> <div> The United States is leading a group of Western countries, including the European Union, in trying to stop Iran from enriching uranium.</div> <bR> <div> Iran, which announced last week its uranium enrichment program was progressing well, insists its nuclear intentions are peaceful, that it only wants to generate electricity.</div> <bR> <div> But other countries worry that Tehran wants to build nuclear weapons.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="cn_offers__7_5m_for_oil_spill_contamination"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 184 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>CN offers $7.5M for oil-spill contamination</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 07 May 2006  10:34:36  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 7th, 2006</div> <div> <B>Canadian National is offering $7.5 million to people living around an Alberta lake, whose property was contaminated following a derailment last summer.</B></div> <bR> <div> In August, 43 cars of a CN train jumped the tracks near Lake Wabamun, dumping 1.3-million litres of heavy bunker fuel oil and wood preservative.</div> <bR> <div> It's believed an estimated 730,000 litres of the thick, dark liquid ended up in the lake, about 50</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="8dd9a08f0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> An aerial view of Lake Wabamun shortly after the spill (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 540 WIDTH="707"><div> kilometres west of Edmonton.</div> <bR> <div> The slick made boating, fishing and swimming in the lake impossible.</div> <bR> <div> It also sparked angry protests by property owners, who accused CN of being more interested in clearing the tracks in the days immediately after the derailment then they were in preventing the slick from spreading.</div> <bR> <div> "This is the first time this has been offered, but I think they also understand, they [CN] had to come to the table because they created some serious problems here," resident Randy Crick said. "And remember, for those first three days they weren't even around."</div> <bR> <div> The offer, meant to compensate people for the time they haven't been able to use the lake, will be split 1,600 ways.</div> <bR> <div> Individuals can get between $1,500 and $27,000 each, depending on their proximity to the lake and where the spill occurred.</div> <div> While people in the area appear eager to take the deal, they want a guarantee the lake will be safe to use.</div> <bR> <div> "If there's even the remotest risk that there are any health risks that will arise out of the coming months, after the advisory's lifted, we wouldn't recommend that anybody accept it," said Doug Goss, a spokesman for Wabamun residents and cottagers.</div> <bR> <div> CN has said the offer is only on the table until June 30. People can choose not to accept it, but the alternative sounds more complicated.</div> <bR> <div> "People who choose to take the court route should be aware that CN will contest any court action vigorously and defend its rights vigorously," CN spokesman Jim Feeny said.</div> <bR> <div> During last month's spring thaw, balls of toxic tar began to surface, evidence that the lake was still polluted. Earlier this month, a CN official predicted the final cleanup would be completed by July.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="windsor_police_officer_gunned_down_in_broad_daylight"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 192 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Windsor police officer gunned down in broad daylight</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 05 May 2006  16:53:52  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 6th, 2006</div> <div> <B>A veteran member of the Windsor, Ont., police force was shot and killed Friday.</B></div> <bR> <div> It is the first time in the force's 120-year history that one of its officers has been murdered in the line of duty.</div> <bR> <div> Const. John Atkinson, 37, was gunned down outside a convenience store in the southwestern Ontario city in the middle of the afternoon, apparently trying to prevent a robbery.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a034a08f0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A body lies covered by a sheet outside a Windsor convenience store. (CBC)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 70 WIDTH="707"><div> Windsor resident Dennis Rochon heard the commotion and saw the aftermath.</div> <bR> <div> "I was sitting on my balcony," he told CBC News. "I thought I heard a car backfiring, then I saw people across the street panicking."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 278 WIDTH="540"><div> Rochon said he saw Atkinson's body lying in the street, bleeding from the gunshot wounds.</div> <bR> <div> Windsor police called in every available officer, including its tactical team and members of the Ontario Provincial Police.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Shooting stuns city, schools</B></div> <bR> <div> Large areas of the city were sealed off as police looked for the shooters.</div> <bR> <div> Ten schools in the area were locked down as a precaution. Parents had to sign their children out.</div> <bR> <div> Within hours, police had one suspect in custody. A second was arrested later in the afternoon, along with a handgun. The two men under arrest are both 18 and from Windsor. They have not yet been charged.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a035a0ca0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Windsor police Const. John Atkinson (in 1994 file photo) was shot and killed Friday in the parking lot of a convenience store. (Windsor Star Files/CP)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 199 WIDTH="707"><div> Later in the day, two more people were taken into custody, but police have not released any further information.</div> <bR> <div> Windsor police Chief Glenn Stannard said Atkinson was on duty when he spotted some suspicious men at a convenience store and went into action.</div> <bR> <div> "Const. Atkinson approached these individuals, and during this time a firearm was produced and Const. Atkinson was shot. Const. Atkinson was struck by a bullet, but was unable to return fire."</div> <bR> <div> Atkinson is survived by his wife and two children – a six-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="officer_joins_call_for_public_inquiry_into_police_practices"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Officer joins call for public inquiry into police practices</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 05 May 2006  07:05:55  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 5th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="58" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="165" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 372 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>A veteran Toronto police officer says he supports a call by defence lawyers for a public inquiry into the Toronto police force because the force is rife with systemic corruption.</B></div> <bR> <div> In an exclusive interview with CBC Radio News and the Toronto Sun, Sgt. Jim Cassells said police brass have covered up, refused to investigate or buried cases of alleged police brutality, public complaints and internal corruption for years.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm an experienced person, I've got 30 years on the job, and I've seen some fiddle faddle go on."</div> <bR> <div> Cassells, a police officer for the past 29 years and a key investigator on an RCMP-led special task force into the city drug squad, was charged with one count of misconduct last month under the Police Services Act after he talked to a Toronto Star reporter.</div> <bR> <div> Cassells said he has watched police supervisors turn a blind eye to many cases involving officers. Known for being outspoken, Cassells has had the tough job of investigating other officers and said he felt it was time to speak out even though he knows he risks losing his job.</div> <bR> <div> He said he has seen "numerous cases minimized, for simple terms swept under the carpet," and "complaints against police not being processed" and "allegations of assault not being investigated fully."</div> <bR> <div> In addition to a public inquiry, he said an arm's-length review is needed of how the Toronto police force investigates wrongdoing within its own ranks.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 409 WIDTH="707"><div> Cassells said he detailed many of his concerns to the superintendent of the force's professional standards branch. He said he also complained to former chief Julian Fantino and John Neilly, the RCMP chief superintendent who headed the drug squad probe.</div> <bR> <div> "You know, I told Chief Fantino, I told Supt. Neilly that I wasn't happy with my experience at the special task force. I told them in writing. I refused an award given to every member of the special task force by the chief."</div> <bR> <div> Cassells said no one ever followed up on his complaints, not the professional standards branch, which is charged with internal investigations, and not the chief.</div> <bR> <div> But Cassells would not divulge details about specific cases and declined to talk about the investigation into the drug squad, saying he does not want to put ongoing prosecutions at risk.</div> <bR> <div> Toronto police internal prosecutors have charged Cassells with misconduct, claiming he is alleged to have communicated some information about the police force to the media without proper authority.</div> <bR> <div> Cassells said he is looking forward to a disciplinary hearing next week.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm not looking to avoid a prosecution under the Police Services Act. In fact, I welcome it as an opportunity to say it publicly. And if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I'm not going to be a person who, after retirement, comes out will all kinds of stories and allegations. I'm not that kind of policeman."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="senior_tobacco_exec_won_t_go_to_jail_in_massive_fraud_case"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Senior tobacco exec won't go to jail in massive fraud case</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 04 May 2006  07:23:27  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 4th, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a02b9f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 463 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>A former tobacco company executive will not serve any jail time after pleading guilty to conspiring to smuggle cigarettes, and defrauding the Canadian government of more than $1 billion in taxes, CBC News has learned.</B></div> <bR> <div> Stan Smith was vice-president of sales for the former RJR-MacDonald company when high tobacco taxes sparked a wave of cigarette smuggling.</div> <bR> <div> Court documents from his sentencing hearing show that Smith confessed to overseeing the scheme. In return for co-operative testimony, the judge gave Smith a conditional sentence with eight months house arrest.</div> <bR> <div> The case dates back to the early 1990s when the Canadian market was flooded with tax-free cigarettes imported via native reserves on the Canada-U.S. border.</div> <bR> <div> By 1992, an estimated 20 per cent of cigarettes sold across Canada and 50 per cent in Quebec were smuggled. That figure rose to 60 per cent by 1994.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Accused of massive fraud</B></div> <bR> <div> Investigators eventually accused JTI-Macdonald Corp., formerly known as RJR-Macdonald, Inc., and several of its subsidiaries of conspiring to defraud the federal, Quebec and Ontario governments out of $1.2 billion in tax revenue between 1991 and 1996.</div> <bR> <div> The companies were alleged to have supplied the Canadian black market with Canadian-brand tobacco products manufactured in Canada and Puerto Rico.</div> <bR> <div> The RCMP said in 2003 that the firms had provided the cigarettes "knowing that these products were being smuggled back into Canada and onto the commercial market."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 439 WIDTH="707"><div> However, the tobacco companied denied doing anything illegal.</div> <bR> <div> Smith's connection to big American smugglers was revealed in 1998 by CBC Television's The Fifth Estate.</div> <bR> <div> Later that year, he agreed to co-operate with the RCMP. An investigation eventually led to charges against Smith, and other senior executives and the company.</div> <bR> <div> The judge called it the biggest fraud case in Canadian history.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Pleaded guilty four months ago</B></div> <bR> <div> Four months ago, after a private pre-trial hearing, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.</div> <bR> <div> However, he claimed the conspiracy had been developed by more senior executives at the company.</div> <bR> <div> RCMP officials said they wouldn't have a case against the senior executives without Smith's help.</div> <bR> <div> The judge who sentenced Smith called him the finest tobacco smuggling informant in the world. None of Smith's co-accused or the company would comment on the developments.</div> <bR> <div> Their preliminary inquiry is expected to wrap up this fall, after which a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to send the case to trial.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="tax_cut_budget_delivers_on_pm_s_promises"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 271 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Tax-cut budget delivers on PM's promises</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 02 May 2006  18:03:13  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 3rd, 2006</div> <div> <B>The Conservative government used its first budget to follow through on several campaign promises, with initiatives that include reducing the GST and bringing in its monthly child-care allowance.</B></div> <bR> <div> "For years, Ottawa has been overtaxing Canadians," Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in his speech to the House of Commons. "In this budget, we deliver real tax relief for Canadians."</div> <bR> <div> The Conservatives said they will cut the GST by one percentage point to six per cent on July 1. The move is expected to cost the government $3.52 billion this year and $5.17 billion in 2007.</div> <bR> <div> The government didn't specify when it would cut the rate to five per cent, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised during the last election campaign.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="a026a0bc0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="188" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tables the budget in the House of Commons in Ottawa. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 521 WIDTH="707"><div> Income tax measures both remove and add some relief.</div> <bR> <div> The tax rate on the lowest tax bracket will go to 15.5 per cent on July 1, after the Liberals cut it from 16 per cent to 15 per cent in their fiscal update in November.</div> <bR> <div> At the same time, the government is introducing a new Canada employment benefit that will offer working people a $250 tax credit for 2006 to cover work-related expenses, such as home computers, uniforms and supplies. The credit rises to $1,000 for the 2007 tax year.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Child-care money</B></div> <bR> <div> The government also followed through on another of its five promises by introducing a $1,200-a-year child-care benefit for the parents of children under the age of six.</div> <bR> <div> The government said it will spend $3.7 billion on the program, starting when the first monthly cheques are mailed in July. The payments will continue until the month in which a child turns six.</div> <bR> <div> "While the universal child-care benefit will support child-care choices by families, we also intend to invest in creating new child-care spaces," Flaherty said.</div> <bR> <div> He said the budget includes $250 million, beginning next year, to create child-care spaces.</div> <bR> <div> <B>More cash for the military</B></div> <bR> <div> Canada's military will see its budget increased by $5.3 billion over the next five years, including money to speed up recruitment of 13,000 regular armed forces and 10,000 more reservists.</div> <bR> <div> The extra money for the armed forces will also go toward new equipment, such as transport planes to replace the country's fleet of aging C-130 Hercules planes.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 414 WIDTH="707"><div> In keeping with the government's stated focus on security, the budget also includes $303 million over two years for border security and $161 million over two years to expand the number of RCMP officers and hire additional federal prosecutors.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Business tax cuts</B></div> <bR> <div> Flaherty said the Conservatives will retroactively eliminate the federal capital tax as of Jan. 1, 2006. The tax, which is charged at 0.125 per cent on taxable capital in excess of $50 million, was originally slated to be phased out in 2008.</div> <bR> <div> The general corporate income tax rate also dips to 19 per cent from 21 by 2010.</div> <bR> <div> In order to encourage Canadian companies to hire apprentices, the government is also introducing a non-refundable tax credit equal to up to 10 per cent of the wages paid to qualified workers. The credit will have a maximum of $2,000 per year.</div> <bR> <div> Flaherty said the government will try to curb its expenses by cutting some programs deemed to no longer be serving their purpose.</div> <bR> <div> Flaherty said the Treasury Board will aim to find $1 billion in savings for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Details about the cuts, which could affect department and agency employees and the programs they offer, are expected by the autumn.</div> <bR> <div> After putting aside $3 billion for both this year and 2007 for debt reduction, the government said it expects a surplus of roughly $600 million for the current year and $1.4 billion the following year.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="loonie_rises_above_90_cents_us"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Loonie rises above 90 cents US</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 02 May 2006  07:11:28  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 2nd, 2006</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="a0229f350.jpg" border=0 width="159" height="53" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 344 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>The Canadian dollar soared over the 90-cent US mark in international trading on Tuesday, its highest level in nearly three decades.</B></div> <bR> <div> The loonie breached the 90-cent barrier for the first time since November 1977, reaching a high of 90.3 before settling to 90.11 cents US.</div> <bR> <div> On Monday, the currency closed at 89.83-cents US on the eve of the the federal government's budget. The dollar had just missed the 90-cent mark, reaching a high point of 89.98 cents during the day's trading.</div> <bR> <div> Rising commodity prices are helping to keep the Canadian dollar at the 28-year high against its U.S. counterpart.</div> <bR> <div> The currency is being bolstered by rising demand for Canadian commodities, including oil, gold and nickel.</div> <bR> <div> Oil held steady below $74 a barrel on Monday, keeping within sight of record highs.</div> <bR> <div> The Canadian dollar has been creeping upward for four consecutive years and has increased about 4.2 per cent against the U.S. dollar this year.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="income_tax_filing_deadline_just_hours_away"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 58 ><NOBR><div> <B>Income tax filing deadline just hours away</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 01 May 2006  07:31:52  EST</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: May 1st, 2006</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="58" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="165" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 430 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>If past practice is anything to go by, millions of Canadians will be rushing to drop off their tax returns or e-mail them on Monday, in time for Canada Revenue Agency's filing deadline.</B></div> <bR> <div> The federal tax agency said about 15 million returns for the 2005 tax year had been filed by April 23, leaving 10 million more to come in before the deadline of midnight on May 1.</div> <bR> <div> The deadline is usually April 30, but that day fell on a Sunday this year.</div> <bR> <div> Taxpayers who owe the government money have until midnight to submit their returns electronically, mail them in time to record a Monday postmark, or drop them off at a Canada Revenue Agency office.</div> <bR> <div> If they don't do that, they'll be charged a penalty of five per cent on the outstanding balance, as well as an extra one per cent for every month the return is late.</div> <bR> <div> The government agency says people should file their returns on time even if some documents or figures are missing, in order to avoid a penalty. The return can be updated later.</div> <bR> <div> If the government owes you money, the fastest way to get your tax refund is to file electronically by using one of several commercial tax preparation software packages.</div> <bR> <div> "With direct deposit, you can receive your refund in as quick as eight business days, compared with four to six weeks for a paper return," Canada Revenue Agency says on its website.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CBC News Staff</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="May 06"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>