Top News Advisory for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 – CP

Source: The Canadian Press
Oct 15, 2015

Thursday, Oct. 15

6:40 a.m.

Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. Entries are subject to change. This includes projected word counts and the estimated timing of stories and updates, both of which can be affected by news developments and other matters. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Contact the National Desk at 416-507-2150.

TOP NEWS AT THIS HOUR:

B.C. First Nation shocked after violent attack

Band-Office-Attack

LILLOOET _ Members of a First Nation in British Columbia’s Interior sounded drums and chanted songs, as they grappled with a violent attack that only hours earlier injured 10 people and left the suspect dead.But the small crowd, gathered Wednesday night near the entrance of the Bridge River Band Office, located about nine kilometres northwest of Lillooet, B.C., was moved not by anger but a deeper spiritual purpose, Chief Susan James told reporters. 632 words. By Darryl Dyck. PHOTO.

___

Majority musings: Trudeau tests the waters

FedElxn

OTTAWA _ Justin Trudeau mused about a majority Wednesday as his Liberals ride high atop polls that suggest they have the all-important momentum heading into next week’s election _ a surge that has them squarely in the Conservative crosshairs.As he has done all week, Stephen Harper spent his entire public appearance attacking Trudeau, warning Canadians that there is “a lot at stake” in Monday’s vote and painting the Liberal plan as a path to higher taxes _ and economic ruin. 765 words. PHOTO.

___

PREMIUM FEDERAL ELECTION STORIES:

Party leaders campaign in Quebec

FedElxn-Where-The-Leaders-Are

OTTAWA _ All three major party leaders will campaign in Quebec today, targeting ridings in a key battleground that helped turn the tide for the NDP in 2011.An orange wave swept that province in the last election, giving the New Democrats 59 seats and helping elevate them to Official Opposition status for the first time. 355 words.

___

Liberal campaign co-chair quits over email

FedElxn-Liberals-Gagnier

OTTAWA _ Justin Trudeau’s national campaign co-chair is stepping down after he sent a detailed email to people behind the Energy East pipeline with advice on how and when to lobby a new government _ including a Liberal minority.Earlier in the day the Liberals stood by Dan Gagnier, saying he did not break any ethical standards. But in a statement later Wednesday, Gagnier said he didn’t want to be a distraction to the campaign. 864 words. By ordan Press.

___

Score-settling in two hot Ontario ridings

FedElxn-Bitter-Battles

ETOBICOKE _ In hockey, retribution for a dirty hit or a perceived public slight can unfold many games later. The team rallies behind the aggrieved player and tries to settle the score.In politics, those personal rivalries can play out over years and stimulate just as much emotion and feelings of team loyalty. 660 words. By Jennifer Ditchburn.

___

It’s not fear, it’s facts, Harper says

FedElxn-Conservatives

BRANTFORD _ His opponents call it fear mongering, but Stephen Harper says what he’s trying to do in drawing attention to his interpretation of the Liberals’ election platform is present Canadians with the facts.From a series of ads in the ethnic media saying Justin Trudeau will put brothels in neighbourhoods to a repeated statement they’d cancel pension income splitting for seniors, the Conservatives have come under fire from their opponents this week from engaging in stunts designed to detract from their own record. 848 words. By Stephanie Levitz. PHOTO.

___

Trudeau asks voters for majority mandate

FedElxn-Liberals

HAMILTON _ Justin Trudeau is asking Canadians to give his Liberals something they haven’t had a taste of in a while: a majority mandate.The Liberal leader made the comment Wednesday as polls suggest his party has been enjoying some late-campaign momentum and as the scrutiny of Trudeau intensifies in the lead-up to Monday’s vote. 597 words. By Andy Blatchford. PHOTO.

___

Mulcair lends support to NDP incumbents

FedElxn-NDP

HALIFAX _ Tom Mulcair shored up NDP support Wednesday in Nova Scotia, where at least one of his three incumbents in the Halifax area is locked in a tough fight ahead of the Oct. 19 vote.The NDP leader was in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, a riding won by Robert Chisholm in the last election, and in some respects a perfect representation of the conundrum facing the party that seems in the waning days of the campaign to be fighting for respect as much as electoral success. 533 words. By Murray Brewster. PHOTO.

___

Trudeau talks majority as polls swing red

FedElxn-Poll-Tracker-Liberals

OTTAWA _ It seemed inconceivable when the federal election began in early August, but Justin Trudeau is now openly gunning for his third-place Liberals to form a majority government when Canadians go to the polls Monday.Trudeau’s hunt for a red October isn’t pure fantasy, say pollsters who have been tracking the Liberal renaissance, but it could still go down like a stricken U-boat. 706 words. By Bruce Cheadle. An interactive graphic is available to accompany this story online; contact your digital editors for details.

___

While Harper goes national, Kenney goes local

FedElxn-Conservatives-Kenney

TORONTO _ Largely away from the spotlight of Stephen Harper’s national campaign, Jason Kenney is running another one.While Harper is focused on turning Canadians off the Liberals’ economic policies, Kenney is going after something else _ the power of the Justin Trudeau brand. With vars FedElxn

___

Tech founder puts up cash to stop C-51

FedElxn-Entrepreneur-Donation

TORONTO _ A Vancouver-based entrepreneur who has earmarked $1 million of his own fortune to combating the Harper government’s controversial anti-terrorism bill said the laws dredge up unsettling memories of the totalitarian regime he fled as a child.Frederick Ghahramani said the sweeping surveillance measures contained in Bill C-51 undermine some of the central Canadian principles that prompted his family to relocate from Iran in 1985. 703 words. By Michelle McQuigge. Moved National and Business; guard against duplication

___

The longest campaign: who made the most of it?

FedElxn-Long-Campaign

OTTAWA _ Conventional wisdom holds that the longest election campaign in modern Canadian history was designed to drain Liberal and NDP coffers and expose the inexperience of Stephen Harper’s rivals _ Justin Trudeau in particular.But with Monday’s vote looming, the Liberals haven’t faded. Indeed, polls suggest Trudeau _ accused of being “just not ready” by his Conservative adversaries _ has built a strong head of steam. 717 words. By Kristy Kirkup.

___

If Jays can, Tories can: Kenney says

FedElxn-Conservatives-Jays

BRAMPTON _ Having the Blue Jays in the race for the World Series at the same time as the federal election has been a bit of a boon for the Conservatives, given that they share the same colours.But Jason Kenney took the parallel one step further Wednesday, drawing a link between the Jays’ capturing their American League Division Series and the political future of the other blue team, his own. 308 words. By Stephanie Levitz.

___

See also:

_ FedElxn-At-A-Glance

_ FedElxn-Trail-Tails

_ FedElxn-Quick-Quotes

___

OTHER TOP NEWS:

Deaths of sisters a reminder of farm safety

Alta-Girls-Suffocate-Canola

WITHROW _ An agriculture safety expert is calling for more education about dangers on the farm after three Alberta sisters suffocated while playing in a truck loaded with canola.Glen Blahey with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association says it may look like fun to jump in a pile of tiny grains or seeds _ but it can be deadly. 541 words. PHOTO.

___

U.S. duties against Canadian mills affirmed

Paper-Mill-Subsidies

HALIFAX _ Canadian mills that produce glossy paper products will continue to pay costly duties levelled against them last summer by the U.S. Department of Commerce.In a decision released Wednesday, the department said it has determined that U.S. imports of supercalendered paper from Canada have received countervailable subsidies ranging from 17.87 to 20.18 per cent. 448 words.

___

Deputy chief under scrutiny at Oland trial

NB-Oland-Trial

SAINT JOHN _ The conduct of a senior officer with the Saint John Police Force was under scrutiny Wednesday at the murder trial of Dennis Oland after a former staff sergeant alleged he was given advice on what to say when he testified.But Glen McCloskey, who is now the deputy chief of police, told the court he did not suggest that anyone change their testimony. 652 words. By Kevin Bissett. PHOTO.

___

Shafias ask Ontario court for new trials

Shafia-Appeal

TORONTO _ A father, mother and their son, all convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of four family members, have asked Ontario’s highest court for new trials.In documents filed with the Ontario Court of Appeal, Mohammad Shafia, his wife Tooba Yahya and their son Hamed argue, among other issues, that their trial judge should not have admitted “overwhelmingly prejudicial” evidence from an expert on so-called honour killings. 540 words. By Diana Mehta. PHOTO.

___

B.C. premier still confident in LNG

LNG-Conference

VANCOUVER _ Premier Christy Clark is defending her optimism on British Columbia’s fledgling liquefied natural gas industry, despite growing First Nations protests and sinking international demand.Speaking at the third annual International LNG in B.C. conference, the premier maintained her rosy outlook in a speech to hundreds of business, government and aboriginal leaders in Vancouver. PHOTO. 560 words. By Laura Kane. Moved Business and National.

___

Health employees face discipline

Health-Privacy-Breach

CALGARY _ Alberta Health Services says four dozen of its employees in the Calgary zone are facing disciplinary action for inappropriately accessing a patient’s information.CEO Vickie Kaminski says the 48 work at South Health Campus and across the Calgary region. 272 words. Moved Prairies Regional.

___

Terrorist cites voting rights in challenge

Terror-Citizenship

OTTAWA _ An Ottawa man jailed for his part in a terrorist conspiracy says a federal move to strip him of Canadian citizenship violates several constitutional guarantees, including his right to vote.Hiva Alizadeh is the latest to challenge new provisions that allow the government to revoke citizenship from someone convicted of terrorism, treason or espionage _ as long as they hold nationality in another country. 374 words. By Jim Bronskill.

___

Environment Canada suspends Montreal’s sewer dump

Montreal-Sewage-River

MONTREAL _ The federal government is “irresponsible and negligent” to have ordered a halt to the City of Montreal’s plans to begin construction work that would see eight billion litres of raw sewage dumped into the St. Lawrence River, Mayor Denis Coderre said Wednesday.Coderre said Ottawa’s decision “makes no sense” and puts the city’s water-treatment infrastructure in jeopardy. 718 words. By Sidhartha Banerjee and Giuseppe Valiante. PHOTO.

___

Jays ride baseball karma over Texas Rangers

BBA-ALDS-Rangers-Blue-Jays

TORONTO _ When it was all over, Jose Bautista stood on a table, grabbed a bottle of champagne and poured it over his head.It was only fitting. The 34-year-old Blue Jays slugger, who has waited so long to see his team prosper in the post-season, had delivered a wild ending to an even wilder game. A stiff drink was warranted _ and needed. 1,351 words. By Neil Davidson. Moved National and Sports. PHOTO.

___

See also:

_ BBA-Blue-Jays-Fan-Reaction

_ BBA-Blue-Jays-Fan-Arrest

_ BBA-Blue-Jays-ALDS-Difference-Makers

___

TOP INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

Officials: Obama to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond 2016

US-United-States-Afghanistan

WASHINGTON _ U.S. President Barack Obama will keep 5,500 American troops in Afghanistan when he leaves office in 2017, according to senior administration officials. Obama had planned to pull out all but a small, embassy-based U.S. military presence by the end of next year. But military leaders argued for months that the Afghans needed additional assistance and support from the U.S. to beat back a resurgent Taliban and hold onto gains made over the last 14 years of American bloodshed and billions of dollars in aid. PHOTO.

___

Wooden boat collides with Greek patrol vessel; 8 missing

EU-Greece-Migrants

ATHENS _ Greece’s coast guard says eight people are missing after a wooden boat carrying migrants or refugees attempting to reach the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos sank after colliding with a patrol boat during a rescue operation.The coast guard says 31 people on board were rescued, and the survivors reported eight people were missing. Thursday’s incident occurred half a nautical mile north of Lesbos, the island that has been the entry point of the majority of those making the journey from the nearby Turkish coast.

___

8 ethnic rebel armies sign cease-fire pact with Myanmar govt

AS-Myanmar-Ceasefire-Agreement

NAYPYITAW _ Myanmar’s government and eight smaller ethnic rebel armies signed a cease-fire agreement to end more than six decades of fighting, but other more powerful groups refused to come on board, signalling that peace will remain elusive for some time to come.The pact was signed at a ceremony in Myanmar’s administrative capital, Naypyitaw, by President Thein Sein and representatives of the groups. PHOTO.

___

Activists occupy Baltimore City Hall; oppose commissioner

US-Baltimore-Police-Commissioner-Protests

BALTIMORE _ Baltimore police disbanded an overnight occupation of City Hall by activists opposed to moves to make the city’s interim police commissioner permanent, and at least 12 people could be seen being led away early Thursday to police vehicles.At least 25 police officers converged outside the building hours before dawn as activists was still inside from a protest sit-in that erupted Wednesday over numerous demands for better policing. PHOTO.

___

Germany orders fixes to VW cars with deceptive software

Volkswagen

BERLIN _ Germany’s transport authority has ordered a mandatory recall of all 2.4 million Volkswagen cars in the country fitted with software that gave them the ability to evade diesel emissions testing, officials said Thursday.Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Volkswagen would have to present replacement software for certain cars that have a 2.0 litre diesel engine this month and begin fitting vehicles with them next year. PHOTO.

___

Syrian troops launch offensive in central Homs province

ML-Syria

DAMASCUS _ Activists and state media say Syrian government forces have launched an offensive in the central province of Homs under the cover of Russian airstrikes.Syrian state TV said troops captured the town of Khaldiyeh near the central city of Hama and killed several militants in the village of Teir Maalah near the city of Homs, Syria’s third largest. PHOTO. APNewsNow.

___

Police unsure what ‘sins’ provoked attack on brothers

US-Church-Killing

NEW HARTFORD _ The fatal beating of a young man and the savage attack on his younger brother by relatives and fellow members of an upstate New York church was intended to get them to confess their sins, investigators said, but they still haven’t determined what those supposed sins were.Police said spiritual “counselling” at the Word of Life church turned into an hours-long attack Sunday night in which Lucas Leonard, 19, and his 17-year-old brother, Christopher, were pummeled with fists and kicked. They suffered injuries to the abdomen, genitals, back and thighs. PHOTO.

___

BUZZ:

Sergeant-at-arms says legislature leak wrong

Sask-Legislature-Peeing

REGINA _ There’s a leak at the seat of government in Saskatchewan and the sergeant-at-arms wants it to stop.Patrick Shaw, who is also head of security at the Saskatchewan legislature, says three party bus companies have been pulling up in front of the building late at night and allowing people to pee on it. 241 words.

___

No bell on bike turns into slew of charges

ODDITY-Charges-Escalate

EDMONTON _ What started as a stop for not having a bell on a bike turned into almost 20 charges for an Edmonton man.Police stopped the 25-year-old for riding on the sidewalk and not having the bell. Police say they gave him a false name, so he was arrested for obstruction of justice. 113 words.

___

Randy Quaid to face fugitive charge in Vermont

US-People-Randy-Quaid

ST. ALBANS _ Actor Randy Quaid is expected back in a Vermont court on a charge that he left the country five years ago after being accused of vandalism in California.Quaid and his wife Evi were arrested Friday while trying to enter the United States from Canada. They’ve been held on $500,000 bail each. He is to return to court on Thursday. PHOTO.

___

UK court rules that bridge is not a sport

EU-Britain-Bridge-Sport

LONDON _ Legions of bridge players in Britain may feel they’ve been dealt a rotten hand after a court ruling that the popular card game is not a sport.A High Court judge on Thursday endorsed Sport England’s earlier ruling that bridge is not a sport because it does not involve physical activity. English Bridge Union officials had challenged the ruling in court.

___

Cuba-based band to perform at White House reception

US-Obama-Buena-Vista-Social-Club

WASHINGTON _ For the first time in more than 50 years, a musical band based in Cuba is set to perform at the White House.The Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club is on the lineup for a White House reception Thursday in honour of Hispanic Heritage Month and the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks. Cuba’s ambassador to the U.S. also has been asked to attend.

___

Jay Z testifies in dispute over his hit song “Big Pimpin’ ”

US-Jay-Z-Copyright-Suit

LOS ANGELES _ Jay Z told a jury Wednesday that he believes he has a valid license to use Arabic music featured on his 1999 hit “Big Pimpin”’ that is now the subject of a copyright infringement trial.The rap superstar spent roughly 90 minutes testifying in a federal courtroom Wednesday, recounting his life, his successes and the creative process that led him and music producer Timbaland to create “Big Pimpin’,” which was his first major hit single. PHOTO.

___

Deezer, BandPage to tailor ticket offers to listening habits

US-Deezer-BandPage

LOS ANGELES _ Streaming music service Deezer is partnering with artist-profile company BandPage to let listeners know when their favourite musicians are in town.The tie-up comes on the heels of Internet radio company Pandora’s purchase of ticket-seller TicketFly for $450 million last week, and is the latest attempt to address the problem of unsold concert tickets.

___

Oprah Winfrey explores faith and spirituality in ‘Belief’

US-TV-Oprah-Winfrey-Belief

NEW YORK _ Oprah Winfrey is hoping people will find common ground, no matter what or who they believe in, with her new documentary series “Belief,” about how religion is viewed across the globe.“We live in a world where when your belief isn’t the same, you literally can get your head chopped off,” she said at the series’ premiere Wednesday in New York. PHOTO.

___

Chinese activist-artist Ai Weiwei writing memoir

US-Books-Ai-Weiwei

NEW YORK _ Ai Weiwei, the Chinese artist, activist and dissident, is working on a memoir.The Penguin Random House division Crown announced Wednesday that it would release the book in the spring of 2017. PHOTO. APNewsNow.

___

The enforcers: Chechens discourage ‘indecency’ at weddings

EU-Russia-Chechen-Weddings

GROZNY _ What makes for a proper wedding in the eyes of Chechen authorities? No gunfire, keep the men and women at a distance on the dance floor and don’t let the bride cut the cake.These are among the recommendations issued last month by Department of Culture in the capital, Grozny, to safeguard the “spiritual and moral development” of the republic’s young people. Although they don’t have the force of law, the recommendations carry significant weight as Chechens are increasingly pressured to adopt conservative and Islamic ways under strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov. PHOTO.

___

INDEX: ADVISORIES NATIONAL