By Canadian Press

In the news today, Jan. 17

Jan 17, 2018 | 4:49 AM

Eight stories in the news for Wednesday, Jan. 17

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CANADA, U.S. URGE CRACKDOWN ON NORTH KOREA

Canada and the U.S. led calls Tuesday for the global community to step up its enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, even as they urged Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and embrace a more peaceful future. The demands followed a day of closed-door talks in Vancouver where foreign ministers and senior diplomats from 20 countries strategized ways to end North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and force it back to the negotiating table.

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Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

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Seasonal Sorrow

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Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

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TRUDEAU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NAFTA

Justin Trudeau remains optimistic that Canada, the U.S. and Mexico can strike a deal to modernize NAFTA that benefits all three countries. In an interview this week with The Canadian Press, the prime minister said he still believes there’s a good chance negotiations will result in what he calls a “win-win-win” — notwithstanding contradictory signals from the U.S. that have frequently left the impression that NAFTA is doomed.

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NOT GOING TO RESTART INQUIRY: TRUDEAU

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is a long way from “starting over or scrapping” the federally-funded inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Trudeau’s comment in an interview with The Canadian Press comes as a number of survivors, families and Indigenous leaders call on the federal government to formally restart the process due to concerns over operational matters with the inquiry.

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BANK OF CANADA TO MAKE INTEREST RATE DECISION 

The Bank of Canada will makes its latest interest rate announcement this morning. Economists widely believe that based on current economic data, bank governor Stephen Poloz is likely to raise the central bank’s benchmark interest rate today for a third time since last summer. Many economists note that Poloz has indicated that interest rate decisions will be data dependent.

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U.S. BORDER DATA FUELS CANADIAN VISA PROBES

A budding cross-border data exchange with the U.S. is quietly helping Canada crack down on immigration violators. Ottawa has flagged more than 1,000 possible cases of people overstaying their visas or committing other immigration infractions based on information provided by the United States, newly obtained memos show.

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LAC-MEGANTIC DELIBERATIONS ENTERING DAY 7 

Jurors will deliberate for a seventh consecutive day today at the trial of three men charged with criminal negligence causing death in the Lac-Megantic railway disaster. The 12 jurors sent the judge a letter Tuesday telling him they were at an impasse. But Quebec Superior Court Justice Gaetan Dumas sent them back, urging them to try once more to reach unanimous verdicts.

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LIBERALS TO ANNOUNCE BUSINESS OMBUDSMAN

The Liberal government plans to make good on a campaign promise to create an ombudsman with teeth to oversee the conduct of Canadian companies operating abroad. International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is expected to announce the creation of a new position today.

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NDP LEADER JAGMEET SINGH IS ENGAGED

New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh pulled back the curtain on his closely guarded private life, letting Canadians know that he is now engaged. Singh, 38, proposed to girlfriend Gurkiran Kaur, 27, on Tuesday night just blocks away from the Ontario legislature in Toronto where he served as a provincial legislator for six years. Until December, Singh had declined to confirm or deny that he was in a relationship.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends the “Charlevoix reconnait” gala in La Malbaie, Que., and delivers remarks.

— Heritage Minister Melanie Joly will address the media in Toronto after meetings to discuss harassment in film, TV and theatre.

— Syncrude Canada to appear in an Alberta court to face charges related to the deaths of blue herons at one of its mine sites.

— MP Scott Simms provides an update on steps to address a marine pollution threat from the Manolis L shipwreck.

— Canadian Armed Forces soldiers arrive in Edmonton after being deployed in Latvia.

— Gov. Gen. Julie Payette continues a visit to Ukraine and Latvia.

The Canadian Press