Six stories in the news today, Aug. 13 – CP

Source: The Canadian Press
Aug 13, 2015 4:28

Six stories in the news today, Aug. 13 from The Canadian Press:
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NIGEL WRIGHT TO APPEAR AGAIN AT DUFFY TRIAL

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff returns to the witness stand today in Ottawa to continue giving his side of the story at Conservative Senator Mike Duffy’s fraud, breach of trust and bribery trial. On Wednesday, Nigel Wright outlined a plan designed to make Duffy’s expenses scandal quietly go away by saying the senator had possibly made a mistake in his claims, rather than suggesting Duffy had done anything wrong. Wright will be cross-examined today by Duffy’s lawyer.

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DUFFY TRIAL DOMINATES CHATTER ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The Mike Duffy saga pulled focus from the federal election Wednesday as Nigel Wright _ Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff and the beleaguered senator’s $90,000 man _ finally told his side of the story. The New Democrats wasted no time taking full advantage of the scandal’s explosive return to prominence. “Nigel Wright may be on the witness stand, but it’s Stephen Harper who is on trial,” NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said in Levis, Que.

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OILSANDS FURORE A POOR DEBATE, SAY EXPERTS

The furore over a New Democrat candidate’s remarks about leaving a lot of Alberta’s oilsands in the ground is a reflection of how poorly the issue is understood, say energy experts. To many, Toronto Centre candidate Linda McQuaig’s recent statement is just the simple fact of the matter.

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ENERGY BOARD GIVES TRANS MOUNTAIN 145 CONDITIONS

The National Energy Board has issued 145 draft conditions that Kinder Morgan must meet if its Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is approved, including increased consultation with B.C. First Nations and upgrading its emergency response. But Rueben George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation says more consultation does nothing to mitigate the risks to his people or their land along the Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver.

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RESIDENTS OF SASKATCHEWAN CITY URGED TO BOIL TAP WATER

Residents of North Battleford, Sask., are being told to boil their tap water as a precaution because it might be contaminated. The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency says the entire city, with a population of about 14,000, is under a precautionary drinking-water advisory. A city official said partially treated water spilled into treated water at a treatment plant on Tuesday.

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VERMILLION ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ACQUSITIONS

Vermilion Energy is looking to go shopping for acquisitions to grow its globe-spanning portfolio, but bargains aren’t cropping up just yet. Right now there’s a disconnect between what sellers and buyers consider a fair price but that gap is expected to narrow in the coming months, CEO Lorenzo Donadeo said in an interview.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS …

_ The Ontario Energy Board will release a report on the Energy East pipeline following 15 months of consultations with people living in local and Aboriginal communities along the proposed route of the pipeline.

_ Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will release the quarterly results of its House Price Analysis and Assessment.

_ A news conference will be held in Vancouver regarding secret hearings being held by the Security Intelligence Review Committee regarding complaints about illegal spying on Canadians.

_ The Canadian Bar Association begins a four-day conference in Calgary. Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin will deliver opening remarks.

_ Parti Quebecois Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau will give a speech at the Universite de Montreal’s Laval campus.

_ Canadian companies reporting second-quarter results today include Cineplex, Canadian Tire, Onex Corp., Danier Leather Inc., and Leon’s Furniture Ltd.