By Canadian Press

In the news today, Aug. 1

Aug 1, 2018 | 5:05 AM

Six stories in the news for Wednesday, Aug. 1

———

U.S.-MEXICO NAFTA TALKS ENCOURAGING

Federal insiders say Canada’s NAFTA partners are simply trying to work through bilateral sticking points, even as the Canadian government appears to have been left out of ongoing talks between the United States and Mexico. A senior government official says the U.S. and Mexico’s return to the table to sort out their differences is a positive sign for the future of NAFTA, even if Canada wasn’t invited to take part. Top Canadian negotiators are expected to rejoin NAFTA talks by mid-August.

———

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

ONTARIO FOREST FIRE DISPLACES RESIDENTS

Several residents have evacuated their homes as a raging fire known as Parry Sound 33 burns in northeastern Ontario. The blaze began on July 18 and has now burned more than 100 square kilometres. Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources says the blaze is just five kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway and will likely spread in the next days. More than 500 firefighters are battling the fire, including more than 200 from Mexico.

———

OTTAWA KEEPING EYE ON U.S. 3D GUN DEBATE

Public Safety Canada says it Is closely monitoring U.S. moves to allow designs for 3D-printed guns to be posted online, but there are rules already in place to prevent unauthorized weapons from being made. The federal department says regardless of how they are made, all firearms are subject to the Firearms Act, the Criminal Code and associated regulations. Downloadable gun blueprints were expected to be posted online today, but a federal judge in Seattle has issued a temporary restraining order to stop the release of the blueprints.

———

CUPE TO REPRESENT WESTJET CABIN CREWS

WestJet says the Canada Industrial Relations Board has issued an interim order to allow the Canadian Union of Public Employees to represent cabin crew members. The union had filed an application on July 10th to represent the flight attendants after a majority signed cards stating they supported joining CUPE. The airline said it now has until Aug. 10 to make submissions on which positions to exclude from the bargaining unit.

———

THREE DEAD IN CALGARY; SUSPECT ARRESTED

Calgary police have a suspect in custody after finding three people dead at two different homes in the city. Police found a woman dead at a home in the city’s southwest, then found the body of a woman and a man at a home in the northeast. Police say the deaths appear to be related, but don’t yet know if any of the people knew each other.

———

COURT JUDGES DO CRY, LAW PROFESSOR SAYS

A legal expert is arguing that judges shouldn’t be expected to be emotionless robots, after a defence lawyer questioned a British Columbia judge’s ability to deliver a fair sentence because she cried during a victim impact statement. Defence lawyer Jacqueline Halliburn has asked provincial court Judge Monica McParland to recuse herself from the Kelowna courtroom because of what she argued was an “overall tone of bias” in a sexual interference case. 

———

ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Companies reporting results today include Domtar, TorStar, Encana, Molson Coors and Restaurant Brands International,

— Syncrude Canada to appear in court on charges related to the deaths of blue herons at one of its mines in 2015.

— An announcement will be made regarding Alberta hunting regulations.

— Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef will make a funding announcement in Yellowknife related to the economic security and prosperity of Indigenous women in the north.

— The Toronto International Film Festival will announce its Canadian lineup.

The Canadian Press