In the news today, Nov. 29

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ELECTORAL MATH DROVE DAVIE DEALINGS: OFFICIAL

A federal public servant who attended secret cabinet meetings about the $700-million shipbuilding contract at the centre of the criminal case against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman told the RCMP that electoral considerations were front and centre as successive governments approved the project. Melissa Burke, an analyst with the Privy Council, said that included when the Harper government first decided in 2015 to award the contract to Quebec-based Davie Shipbuilding. She said the same held true when the newly elected Trudeau government upheld the deal later that year despite concerns about how it had been managed by the Conservatives.

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ANOTHER DIPLOMAT FALLS ILL IN CUBA: FEDS

Global Affairs Canada says another Canadian diplomat in Cuba has fallen ill, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13. That includes diplomats posted to the Canadian embassy in Havana, as well as their dependants, who have come down with a mysterious illness that causes dizziness, headaches and trouble concentrating. Global Affairs says the government continues to investigate the cause of the unknown illness, adding in a statement that the health and safety of diplomatic staff and their families is a top priority. The government is also planning to hold a teleconference today to provide more detail about the investigation.

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ONTARIO SET TO RELEASE CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN

Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is set to unveil its climate change plan today, months after it cancelled the province’s cap-and-trade system. Environment Minister Rod Phillips will lay out the plan, which he says will be clear and achievable, at an event north of Toronto this afternoon. Phillips has already revealed the plan won’t include putting a price on carbon, which is a federal requirement the Tories have promised to fight in court.

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POLICE OFFICER CONCERNED ABOUT ONLINE EDIBLE SALES

A police officer in Delta, B.C., says he’s concerned about the growing online market for edible cannabis. Const. Derek Gallamore says brownies, cookies and candies with very high levels of THC are easily accessible on the internet. He says even though some websites require people to register with a government ID he’s worried that youth could ask someone to buy for them. Edible pot products are still illegal in Canada while the federal government creates regulations within the next year.

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GARDEN WHERE OTTER GOBBLED KOI TO REOPEN

A tranquil garden in Vancouver where a crafty otter has devoured about 10 expensive koi is set to reopen this morning. Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden closed last Friday after the river otter moved into a pond and began feasting on the carp. The city’s park board says garden staff lowered the water level on Tuesday and removed the two remaining adult koi and 344 juveniles. The fish were transferred to Vancouver Aquarium for safekeeping, joining a third adult koi that was removed Saturday.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Premier Rachel Notley will discuss the Alberta energy industry’s challenges at a lunchtime event at Toronto Region Board of Trade.

— Ontario legislator Kathleen Wynne will press the government to pass legislation that would require the installation of seatbelts on school buses.

— The trial of Edward Downey, who faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Sara Baillie and her daughter Taliyah Marsman, continues today in Calgary.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, Nov. 29

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