By Canadian Press

In the news today, Aug. 30

Aug 30, 2019 | 2:16 AM

Five stories in the news for Friday, Aug. 30

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ONTARIO ANTI-CARBON TAX GAS STICKERS COME INTO EFFECT TODAY  

A new law requiring Ontario gas stations to start posting anti-carbon tax stickers goes into effect today. Earlier this year the Progressive Conservatives passed the law that makes it mandatory for station operators to post the stickers on their pumps. The stickers show the amount of money the federal carbon tax adds to the price of a tank of gas, but says nothing about the rebates available to offset the cost. The new law says individuals could face fines of up to $1,000 a day for repeatedly failing to post the stickers, while maximum fines for corporations go as high as 10-thousand dollars a day. Last week Ontario Premier Doug Ford said fines would be enforced, though not at the maximum levels.

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LIBERALS USE HARPER VIDEO IN FUNDRAISING PITCH

Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper has been conscripted to help fill the election war chest — of the Liberal party. The Conservatives posted a video Thursday of Harper urging supporters to kick in money to help make his successor, Andrew Scheer, the next prime minister. But in a cheeky twist, the Liberals quickly promoted the same video to bolster their claim that Scheer would turn back the clock to the Harper era and to make their own appeal for funds. Trudeau has referred repeatedly to Scheer as Harper with a smile and has gone so far as to maintain that Scheer doesn’t take any important decisions without consulting the former prime minister. But the Conservatives appear to believe Harper is an asset. In the video released Thursday, Harper, who heads up the Conservative party’s fundraising arm, says “it’s important that we all get active because Canada is at a turning point.”

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MELISSA TODORVIC TO APPEAR BEFORE PAROLE BOARD

A young woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex-girlfriend more than a decade ago is set to appear before the Parole Board of Canada today. Melissa Todorovic last appeared before the board in November, when she was granted six months of day parole. At the time, the board said Todorovic had made progress in understanding what led her to orchestrate the 2008 killing of 14-year-old Stefanie Rengel, who she saw as a romantic rival. The panel said Todorovic had worked on addressing her emotions and relationship patterns, and found her remorse for the killing appeared genuine. It said, however, that Todorovic should expect to remain in counselling for a long time and required her to report any relationship with men to her parole officer.

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VERDICT IN CHILD MENINGITIS DEATH SET FOR SEPTEMBER

A judge in Lethbridge, Alta., is going to hand down a ruling Sept. 19 in the case of a couple charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life to their 19-month-old son. David and Collet Stephan testified that they originally thought Ezekiel had croup and that they treated him with natural remedies, including a tincture of garlic, onion and horseradish added to a smoothie. They said he appeared to be recovering at times and they saw no reason to take him to hospital despite his having a fever and lacking energy. But in her closing arguments, Crown Attorney Britta Kristensen told court the couple was aware Ezekiel had meningitis. It is the second trial for the Stephans. The Supreme Court of Canada overturned their original conviction

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SASKATCHEWAN CONFIRMS CASE OF ANIMAL ANTHRAX

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture says seven farm animals are dead due to anthrax. The province says the case was confirmed in the rural municipality of Golden West, located about an hour and a half drive southeast of Regina. It says lab results from Thursday confirmed anthrax caused the sudden death of seven animals. Dr. Betty Althouse, the ministry’s chief veterinary officer, says the animals were farmed livestock. She says the last cases of animal anthrax that resulted in death occurred in 2015. Anthrax is caused by a bacteria that can survive for decades as spores in soil. The province is warning farmers to be on the lookout for anthrax as changes in soil moisture from flooding or drying can cause spores to build up on pastures.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet today with Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart.

— Gov. Gen. Julie Payette visits the Netherlands where she will meet with King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and attend the official ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Scheldt.

— David Morton, chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission, presents the key findings of an inquiry into gas prices in the province.

— The Ontario Securities Commission will hold a hearing to determine whether to approve the proposed settlement agreement with Toronto-Dominion Bank, in connection with allegations that their currency traders shared confidential information in chatrooms.

— Statistics Canada will report today Canada’s gross domestic product for the second quarter.

The Canadian Press