Animal rescue society benefits from 100 Heroes
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
The Prince George Animal Rescue Society is $14,000 taller in the saddle.
The society was lifted to that new financial height in less than an hour, when 100 local heroes pooled their money and rode this local charity to victory.
The society took home the whole purse collected by the 100 Heroes organization. It was the first cheque presentation event ever held by the new philanthropy campaign, and the tears shed by founder and operator Nicola Redpath illustrated the power of this initiative. She called the big financial windfall a transformative turn for her ability to protect the most vulnerable animals of the region.
For those who don’t know of the local animal rescue society, it is a farm in the Pineview neighbourhood of Prince George that takes in all manner of livestock in need of rescuing. These animals are often in medical distress, often suffering from malnutrition, and they eat. A lot.
“We have lots of skinnies, lots of SPCA horses, those are always the worst ones,” said Redpath, describing the menagerie right now. “And a tonne of dogs, just an influx, lately. We have 12 dogs right now, and four rescue horses. Plus, there’s a meat auc-
tion coming up so we’ll be going to that and maybe save a few more horses from there. That’s the last stop, for those guys.”
The money comes at almost the same time John Brink and his group of companies made their annual donation, so the farm is about to undergo a transformation. Brink, a local wood products and real estate entrepreneur, is in year three of a five-year pledge to the animal rescue society for cash and lumber. That, and the new, unexpected windfall of $14,000, means a rush of construction can take place.
Redpath identified some of the society’s priorities.
They will install automatic waterers with winter warming abilities, so hours per day are not devoted by the organization’s volunteers just to make rounds of water delivery to the troughs of the farm.
New fencing can be built, to streamline the penning facilities for the large livestock.
The dog section can receive an upgrade to kennels and storage.
The cat section will be upgraded to allow the distressed felines access to a safe outdoor enclosure as well as their indoor recovery room.
And perhaps most importantly, the farm’s fields needed a major facelift so they can grow more of their own hay supply. The wildfires this past summer cause
the price of hay to skyrocket, and the supply of hay to be depleted all across the region. It put a huge personal burden onto Redpath’s family as well as the society they run.
Redpath feels incredibly lucky to be the recipient of this big pool of money. It was rare enough that someone joined the 100 Heroes club and used one of their three nomination tickets to name the Prince George Animal Rescue Society as a worthy local cause. It was rare enough that the society ticket was drawn as one of the three finalists. But it was especially rare that Redpath was able to prevail at the finals.
Each of the three finalists – the other two were School District 57’s Community Schools Program and the AiMHi organization –gets to tell a short story about themselves at a meeting of the 100 Heroes. The heroes then vote on which of the three they reacted to best. “I thought I was going to throw up,” said Redpath. “My stomach was in knots right as soon as I arrived. It came in waves of nausea. That was the longest five minutes of my entire life. It wasn’t even the public speaking, I’ve done that before, but it was just the thought of what was on the line. The stakes were just enormous for us – the thought of what we could do with all that money.”
— see ‘WE GOT, page 3
Actor Lou Ferrigno, left, stopped by the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation’s third annual Spirit Day fundraiser on Thursday ahead of his appearance at Northern FanCon this weekend. Local business owner Cam Thun, second from right, made a significant donation to support the fundraiser –presenting a cheque to Spirit of the North CEO Judy Neiser, second from left, and Spirit of the North past president and Citizen publisher Colleen Sparrow.
P.G. living wage falls
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff
The provincial government’s childcare policies are being credited for a significant decrease in how much a family needs to earn to meet basic needs.
According to a report released this week by the Living Wage for Families Campaign, the so-called living wage for the North Central region – Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James –stands at $14.03 per hour, down from $16.51 in 2018.
The living wage is the hourly amount that each of two working parents with two young children must earn to meet their basic expenses – including rent, child care, food and transportation –once government taxes, credits, deductions and subsidies have been taken into account.
The group pointed to two programs the provincial government has introduced for the difference: the income-tested Affordable Child Care Benefit and the universal Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative. Combined, they add up to a $8,994.75 savings on childcare expenses, a 40-per-cent reduction compared to 2018.
If not for those initiatives, the living wage amounts would have increased to $16.67.
“The B.C. government’s child care investments are a major win for families with children, and we are also pleased to see the government’s new employment standards legislation which will provide workers and their families
However, without sustained public investment in key family expense areas... the living wage decline we see this year will be short-lived... — Halena Seiferling
with greater economic security,” said campaign organizer Halena Seiferling in a media release.
“However, without sustained public investment in key family expense areas – especially housing – the living wage decline we see this year will be short-lived and families will continue to struggle.”
The median monthly rent for a three-bedroom unit in Prince George rose by $52 in 2019 to $988, a 5.6 per cent increase.
“We call on the provincial government to take similar bold measures in other policy areas, especially on the high and rapidly growing cost of rent,” Seiferling said. “Maximum rent increases should be tied to the unit rather than to the tenant to protect housing affordability, and existing affordable housing stock must be protected.”
In other parts of the province, the living wage in Metro Vancouver was measured at $19.50, in Kamloops at $14.38 and in the Fraser Valley, $15.54.
Nove Voce tackling sci-fi themes in Saturday show
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
Choir’s log, star date 05042019.
A local chorus seems to have become entangled in themes of science fiction and action adventure.
The only way to move through this nebula is sing their way out.
The singers have set their phasers to “stunning” and will launch a full attack from the Prince George Playhouse state on Saturday night.
“A long time ago in a galaxy far far away a group of choristers decided to take on the challenge of space the final frontier,” said the choir’s heralded leader Robin Norman.
“Their mission: to explore Swedish troll proverbs and beyond while singing amazing pieces from Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit,
Star Wars, Star Trek, and so much more.”
That Norman’s way of saying that she and her Nove Voce choir have won the right to represent Canada at the European Choral Games coming up this summer in Sweden.
They are raising money for the trip the best way they know how: sing, sing, sing. They are unabashedly performing a soundtrack for nerds everywhere on Saturday, that night of all final frontiers, because it is, after all, the one date on the calendar where we all get to feel the tractor beam of heroism. May the fourth be with you.
“At this concert you will hear familiar fun music like Baba Yetu from Civilizations, soaring haunting pieces like Lament of The Highborne from World of Warcraft, and powerful music from
scores such as Duel of the Fates from The Phantom Menace,” said Norman and, well aware that it is coinciding with Northern FanCon, “there will be photo opportunities and costume contests,” as well. This rebel force has assembled an away-team that also includes “local pianist Jedi Maureen Nielsen,” and “percussion goddess Barb Parker,” Norman said. The choir is also “enlisting help of new allies and members of another alliance the Synergy handbell choir. Synergy members will be joining Nove Voce for the piece Northern Light by Esenvalds which also features tuned wine glasses with the chimes.”
Tickets are $20 each at Books & Company.
Sailing across the known universe at warp Nove Voce speed is a free bonus.
No charges against RCMP dog handler from serious injury arrest
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff
mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
The B.C. Prosecution Service says charges will not be pursued against a Prince George RCMP dog handler from a 2015 arrest in which a suspected truck thief suffered serious injuries.
In a clear statement issued Thursday, the BCPS found the force the officer used was reasonable under the circumstances.
According to a summary of the incident, on Sept. 8, 2015, RCMP were conducting covert surveillance on a stolen pickup truck and when they attempted to pull it over, the suspect attempted to flee as did two other occupants.
A police dog was released, and it chase the suspect down and took hold of his leg. When the suspect continued to resist, the dog’s handler delivered one punch and two elbow strikes to his face, according to a statement provided by the officer.
The suspect suffered a displaced jaw and facial fractures and maintained the officer actually kicked him in the face as many as six times.
The Independent Investigations Office, the civilian-based organization that investigates police-related incidents of death or serious harm, was called in to investigate and, in March 2017, handed its findings over to the BCPS for consideration of charges.
According to statements provided by the officer and a colleague involved in the apprehension, they had cornered the pickup when it was driven onto a driveway on a rural Prince George property and backed up against a metal gate.
The suspect was recognized from past instances, including a previous attempt to flee police.
When the partner used his vehicle to block the pickup, the driver attempted to use the truck to push back, spinning the
There is no substantial likelihood of conviction against the subject officer for any offence in relation to this incident. No charges are approved.
— B.C. Prosecution Service
wheels as it pressed against the RCMP vehicle. The dog handler, meanwhile, drove his vehicle into the side of the pickup to disable the rear axle or tire.
The occupants jumped out and the suspect ran toward the highway. Worried the suspect would try a carjacking or take someone hostage in one of the nearby homes, the handler released the dog.
While the injuries were consistent with being hit by either hand and elbow or by foot, the BCPS raised questions about the suspect’s credibility, noting he denied the truck was stolen and maintained he was not trying to flee police while in the pickup, despite getting out to run away.
“The subject officer’s evidence regarding the nature of the strikes would at least raise a reasonable doubt. Based on this, in conjunction with anticipated credibility issues in regards to the suspect’s evidence, the evidence is not capable of establishing that the kicking alleged by the suspect occurred beyond a reasonable doubt,” the BCPS said.
“There is no substantial likelihood of conviction against the subject officer for any offence in relation to this incident. No charges are approved.”
The full statement is posted with this story online at www. pgcitizen.ca.
The Citizen archives put more than 100 years of history at your fingertips: https://bit.ly/2RsjvA0
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
Getting in the Spirit
Simran Jawanda, Spirit Bear and Ryan Kennedy promote the third annual Spirit Day fundraiser along 15th Avenue on Thursday. This year’s goal is to raise $70,000 to support enhancements to youth mental health and addictions in Northern BC.
Rex Murphy speaking at contractors event
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
He is known from coast to coast for his acerbic wit and wry humour on the topics of the day.
Rex Murphy has one of Canada’s most distinctive voices of commentary, both for its folksy Newfoundland tone and its typically Canadian flexibility. Like the nation itself, one could argue, Murphy can identify with the dirty hands of hard work and the white collars of policy. As a columnist, in the broadcast and written forms alike, he has made a career out of finding the pulse-points of Canada.
Murphy is the special guest of the Independent Contractors & Businesses Association (ICBA) for a one-time-
only breakfast where he will deliver the Rexiest speech on the spirit of our nation today, with special focus on the energy sector, the construction industry, and the politics of natural resources.
Joining Murphy will be Chris Gardner, president of the ICBA. The organization’s local chapter offers this event as “an excellent opportunity to network with owners, executives and leaders of B.C.’s construction industry.”
This Murphy meal happens Tuesday at the Prince George Civic Centre at 7 a.m. Tickets are available on the eventbrite. ca website.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Christina Klotz, the ICBA’s regional services coordinator (email christina@icba.ca or call 250-596-8118).
‘We got to see such a huge impact made in just a few moments’
— from page 1 Colin Breadner, the founder of the 100 Heroes campaign in Prince George, said he felt like a million dollars himself afterwards, and he could see the same amazement and joy all around the room when the finalists were telling their stories.
“I couldn’t sleep that night. I was just buzzing to be part of that,” said Breadner. “We got to see such a huge impact made in just a few moments, because we all got together and from an affordable $100 each we were able to change the life of a community organization that will impact how many other lives as a result of the better work they’ll be able to do, now.”
Breadner said Redpath buckled over when the winner was announced and he honestly worried that her fear of vomit might actually come true.
“Her reaction was amazing. There were tears. Everyone in the room was feeling it together,” he said. “And I noticed something else, too. There were all walks of life in that room. Every background of person you could imagine was represented by these people who paid their $100 (140 took up the challenge, hence the $14,000 total), and that really included a lot of millennials. I know people have said some harsh things in society about the millennial generation, but that was shot down completely with this campaign. There were a lot of young people involved, and that’s a generation that is completely comfortable with the idea of crowd-sourcing money for important causes. One Hundred Heroes is just a variation of that.
Instead of everything impersonal on a computer, though, this brings people into the same room where you can be part of the final decision and meet the people who are doing these amazing things in our community.”
The three speeches were all video recorded by Pop Media who will provide them to the three charities as a legacy piece they can use in future for their marketing. It’s one more way the 100 Heroes
initiative can help worthy local causes. Since the animal rescue society was the winner of the prize, it is not eligible for future editions of the campaign for the next 18 months. AiMHi and School District 57’s Community Schools can go back into the pool of possible winners immediately. Breadner said the next round would be coming soon. Follow the 100 Heroes PG page on Facebook for updates.
Handgun seized in shooting case
Citizen staff
Prince George RCMP seized a loaded handgun and arrested three people in relation to an alleged shots fired incident in the Hart early Thursday morning.
At about 3:20 a.m., RCMP received a report of multiple gunshots being heard near the corner of Highway 97 North and Shady Lane. They came from a vehicle heading south, RCMP said, and about 10 minutes later, a suspect vehicle was located near 15th Avenue and Alward Street. A 19-year-old woman, who was the driver, and two men, ages 35 and 32 years old were arrested and, after a search warrant was obtained, the gun was found inside the vehicle, RCMP said.
The three were held in custody overnight but, as of midday Thursday, they had not been charged and their names had not been released.
“No clear target of this shooting has been located,” RCMP said and added police are asking for the public’s help with the investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the event is asked to call the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers. bc.ca (English only). You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest or seizure of firearms, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER — Canfor Corp. reported a loss in its most recent quarter compared with a profit a year ago as revenue fell.
The forestry company says it lost $89.5 million or 71 cents per diluted share for the three months ended March 31.
That compared with a profit of $112.2 million or 87 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Sales for the first three months of 2019 amounted to $1.15 billion, down from $1.23 billion for the first three months of 2018.
On an adjusted basis, Canfor says it lost $36.8 million or 29 cents per diluted share for the quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $145.4 million or $1.13 per diluted share a year earlier.
On Monday, Canfor temporarily curtailed operations at its B.C. lumber mills due to low prices and the high cost of fibre. The curtailment is expected to reduce Canfor’s production output by approximately 100 million board feet.
“While our B.C. based lumber business experienced significant challenges due to lower than anticipated market prices and difficult operating conditions, our U.S. South and European operations generated solid financial returns,” Canfor chief executive Don Kayne, said in a statement.
“We look forward to adding a further 200 million board feet to our U.S. South operations during the second quarter with the upcoming close of the Elliott acquisition, which will help offset the escalating log cost and fibre supply issues impacting our B.C. operations.”
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CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Sworn in
The chief, council and lands authority members of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation were sworn in on Wednesday night at Uda
Dune Baiyoh – House of Ancestors.
Military adapting to natural disaster role
Lee BERTHIAUME
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — The first time Warrant Officer Andrew Buchan was called on to help provide disaster relief at home was the flooding in Quebec in 2017, after 15 years in the reserves. Now, only two years later, he’s back at it.
“This is a new thing,” says Buchan, whose primary responsibility is ensuring the engineer unit to which he is assigned has the tools and supplies it needs to help protect the village of Cumberland, in Ottawa’s rural east end, from flooding. “Call-outs for the military to provide this type of support, at least in my neck of the woods, weren’t as common and it’s becoming more common.”
The Canadian Forces has a long history of helping provinces and municipalities with disasters such as floods, ice storms and wildfires, but recent trends suggest those requests are growing in both frequency and scope.
The military has been called out to help with 10 weather-related disasters over the past two years, according to an analysis by The Canadian Press. That compares to 20 between 2007 and 2016 and only 12 between 1996 and 2006.
And those emergencies – which the military lumps under the moniker Operation Lentus – appear to be getting bigger, meaning the military is being forced to deploy more personnel and resources over larger geographic areas.
The Canadian Forces has more than 2,300 troops across Ontario and Quebec filling sandbags, building barriers, checking on waterlogged homes and evacuating residents. That compares to 2,200 deployed outside the country.
In Quebec, Premier Francois
Legault has said he wants the military to stay after the water recedes this time, to help clean up the mess left behind - including hundreds of thousands of contaminant-soaked sandbags.
The Canadian Forces can do hard, dirty work that small municipalities and even provincial governments don’t have the ready labour and equipment for. They also have engineers and other specialists who can speed up assessments of structures such as bridges to make sure they’re safe to reopen, so civilian life can get back to normal.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says the military is entitled to bill lower-level governments for its
work but hasn’t done so and won’t start now. But the demand is forcing the military to adapt to ensure it is not only ready to respond when called upon, but that doing so does not mean it can’t take on overseas missions and train to defend from foreign attack.
Reservists like Buchan, a member of the 33rd Combat Engineer Regiment from Ottawa whose day job is in the federal public service, already make up a sizable portion of those providing flood relief. Their role is set to expand even further starting this summer, says Col. Peter Allan, deputy chief of staff for continental operations at the Canadian Joint Operations Command, as the military adapts to the new reality.
While the military has long relied on regular-force units for quick responses when requests for assistance arrive from disasteraffected provinces, reservists will now take on much of that role.
“The more we can use reservists in an Op Lentus context, the less impact we have on the training cycles for other units that are deploying overseas,” Allan says.
“We’ve certainly seen the Op
Lentus need in Canada, and we know that occasionally if we get hit with a number of things all at the same time, that it will burden the training that we’re trying to do with regular force in other areas.”
There have been other changes; two years ago, the military decided to start training troops in western Canada in the basics of dealing with wildfires, which have emerged as a major threat there.
“We’re not by any means training them to be wildland firefighters,” said Allan. “We’re giving them the basics so that when something does come up they are prepared to go into the field safely and assist with a fire response.”
And while it is not explicitly because of the increased demand for disaster-related assistance, Allan said the addition of 3,500 regularforce members and 1,500 reservists through the Liberals’ defence policy will also help.
“It’s relatively minor adjustments,” Allan says of how the military is changing its approach. “But those are the kinds of adjustments that we make after we assess every mission. So incremental changes, I would say.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Police killed both man and woman in B.C. hostage-taking
SURREY (CP) — British Columbia’s police oversight agency says both a man and a woman who were killed in a hostagetaking incident in March died of shots fired by police.
The Independent Investigations Office says it’s continuing its investigation into the officer-involved shootings on March 29 in Surrey. RCMP notified the agency after a hostage situation that started the previous night led officers to enter a home at about 7:25 a.m.
The office says there was an interaction between police and a man and shots were fired, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene while a woman was taken to hospital but did not survive. It says the workload for the case has been particularly significant, including forensic work, and over 40 interviews completed with witness officers and civilian witnesses. It says the goal of the investigation is to determine whether police actions were lawful, proportionate and reasonable, or if any offence may have been committed.
American man has right to hunt in Canada, court rules
VANCOUVER (CP) — The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld an American Indigenous man’s rights to hunt in Canada because his ancestors traditionally did so. Richard Desautel was originally charged under the Wildlife Act with hunting without a licence and hunting big game while not a resident of B.C. after he shot and killed an elk near Castlegar in 2010. Desautel, a member of the Lakes Tribe in Washington state, argued in provincial court that he was exercising his constitutional right to hunt for ceremonial purposes. The Lakes Tribe was described in court as a “successor group” to the Sinixt people, who lived, hunted and gathered in B.C.’s Kootenay region prior to first contact with European settlers. The B.C. Supreme Court confirmed his right in 2017 and the Appeal Court re-affirmed it in a ruling released today. In dismissing the Crown’s appeal, Justice Daphne Smith says hunting in what is now British Columbia was a central and significant part of the Sinixt’s distinctive culture before European contact and remains integral to the Lakes Tribe.
China bans exports from two Canadian pork plants
TORONTO (CP) — China has suspended the export permits of two Canadian pork exporters, including Quebec-based Olymel LP, apparently over package mislabelling amid growing tensions between the two countries.Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said administrative issues related to routine customs inspections arise periodically.
She said the current suspension is limited to two processing facilities with all other approved Canadian pork processing facilities remaining eligible to export to China. “CFIA 1/8 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 3/8 is looking into the situation and we are working with the Chinese importers and Chinese authorities to lift the suspension as soon as possible,” she said. The department was formally notified Wednesday of the suspension after Customs China posted the information on its website the prior evening. The suspensions come amid strained relations between the two countries following last December’s arrest in Vancouver of Huawei Technologies executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant. China has since arrested two Canadians and halted canola imports from two Canadian companies. Ottawa has been unable to follow up on the notification because China is in the middle of a holiday this week, said a minister’s spokeswoman.
CP PHOTO
Combat Engineer Warrant Andrew Buchan poses for a photo outside a staging location Wednesday in Ottawa. Buchan has been deployed twice in the last three years to help with disaster relief.
Canadians struggle to distinguish between real, fake news: survey
Michelle McQUIGGE The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Canadians are increasingly skeptical of the news they consume and struggle to distinguish fact from fiction or propaganda, a new survey suggested Thursday.
The poll of more than 2,300 Canadians, conducted on behalf of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, found the number of respondents who question the validity of news reports has jumped 10 per cent in the past year, leading to high levels of distrust of both news stories and political figures.
The survey found 40 per cent of respondents said they struggled to distinguish between fact-based and false news stories, while 53 per cent reported reading an agenda-driven report masquerading as impartial reporting.
Natalie Turvey, president of the CJF, said the findings have serious implications as Canadians prepare to sift through coverage of the federal election slated for the fall.
“Our founding motto – ‘as journalism goes, so goes democracy’ – feels more relevant than ever as Canadians prepare to head to the polls,” Turvey said in an email. “To be engaged in our democracy, citizens need to have access to quality information.”
Turvey said the CJF will use a new $1 million grant from the Google News Initiative to develop tools that will better equip Canadians to sort real news from false or misleading information in the digital sphere.
The foundation’s survey, conducted between April 3 and April 8 by Earnscliffe Strategy Group, assessed news consumption patterns broken down by age group. It found that respondents across all demographics were increasingly relying on social media for their news.
While 71 per cent of respondents reported turning to traditional print or television outlets and affiliated websites for news coverage in 2016, that dropped to 62 per cent in this year’s poll. The number turning to social media rose from 54 to 58 per cent, the survey said.
Regardless of where news coverage is found, the poll suggested readers are left increasingly uncertain of how to process the information they’ve taken in.
It found 85 per cent of respondents said their concerns about the accuracy of news content left them unsure of which politicians to trust, up from 56 per cent the year before.
Participants also demonstrated a growing lack of faith in Canadians’ ability to distinguish between sound journalism and rumours or falsehood.
About 74 per cent of respondents felt news consumers lacked that skill in 2019,
up from 63 per cent last year.
The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error as they are not a random sample and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole population.
The trends highlighted in the poll are not unique to Canada, according to UNESCO, which is poised to celebrate World Press Freedom Day on Friday by highlighting the role journalism plays in elections.
UNESCO said distrust of the media and attacks against the credibility of journalists have been observed around the world.
The result, it said, is increasingly polarized political conversation that threatens the integrity of the democratic process.
“When freedom of expression and safety of journalists are protected, the media can play a vital role in preventing conflict and in supporting peaceful democratic processes,” it said.
UNESCO said this year’s World Press Freedom events would tackle topics such as how journalists can compete with those peddling disinformation, how electoral
regulations should apply to internet companies, and what partnerships can be put in place to improve media literacy around elections.
In Canada, observers have already raised warnings that more action is needed.
Last month, a report from the national cyberspy agency warned that voters will very likely experience some kind of online foreign meddling related to the October vote.
Canada’s Communications Security Establishment said that last year, half of all advanced democracies holding national elections were targeted by cyberthreat activity.
It was a threefold increase since 2015, and the CSE expects the upward trend to continue.
Shawn McCarthy, president of the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom and a reporter with a major newspaper, said both the public and governments have become more aware that inaccurate information is increasingly circulated and more easily consumed.
He said new federal legislation set to take effect next month requires online platforms
to publish a digital registry of all political ads posted during the federal election campaign.
Elections Canada, however, has pointed out that the registry will only apply to paid ads and does not cover alternate means of communication such as texts, emails or other private messages. That still leaves many disinformation channels open for use, it said.
McCarthy said governments have a difficult balance to strike as they try to protect both freedom of speech and the democratic process, adding excessive measures could amount to censorship.
He said journalists must play a more active role in combating disinformation by calling out inaccuracies and providing context for their work.
He also warned against exploiting the trend of media distrust for political or rhetorical gain, citing citing frequent instances in the U.S. where politicians have cast facts that counter their agenda as “fake news.”
“We have this concern about false news, but we can’t let that shut us down to the inconvenient news that we all need to consider,” he said.
A person logs into Facebook on their phone. Canadians are struggling to tell the difference between fact-based news distributed by news outlets like The Citizen and fake news and propaganda.
For whom the bells toll
Federal Liberals and Justin Trudeau supporters tied themselves in knots trying to disgrace Jody Wilson-Raybould after she refused as attorney general to stop a federal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, a large Quebecbased engineering firm. Despite intense political and bureaucratic pressure that went on for months, she held her ground until Trudeau shuffled her out as attorney general.
What happened afterwards has been well reported. The affair provoked a hot debate over the roll of attorney general and whether the individual in that office is primarily responsible to her political master (in this case, the prime minister) or to the Government of Canada (and by extension the Canadian public) when dealing with legal matters.
In the normal course of government business, the two interests should be compatible since the prime minister has been entrusted by voters to work on their behalf. In situations where the prime minister’s political desires conflict with the legal plans of independent federal prosecutors, the attorney general finds herself in a tight spot. She can work with both sides behind the scenes to find a compromise, she can obediently use her political authority to overrule her
bureaucrats or she can refuse to satisfy her leader and face the political consequences. Obviously, Wilson-Raybould chose the latter option and, in her taped conversation with then Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick, stressed that she wasn’t just standing on legal principle but also had strong feelings that Trudeau and his advisors were potentially making a huge political mistake that could hurt the prime minister and the party.
Right on both counts.
To see what kind of attorney general those people thought Wilson-Raybould should have been for Trudeau, look to the south and the disgraceful, potentially illegal conduct of U.S. Attorney General William Barr on behalf of his political master, U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since becoming attorney general earlier this year, Barr has consistently put the political interests of Trump ahead of his official duties as the head of the Department of Justice. Numerous political commentators and politicians have rightly pointed out that if Barr wanted to be either Trump’s personal lawyer or the White House lawyer, he should have applied for those positions, not attorney general. While Trump’s personal lawyer represents Trump the individual and the White House lawyer’s job is to offer legal counsel for the president and his
administration, the U.S. attorney general is supposed to represent the American people in overseeing the administration of justice, regardless of politics.
U.S. attorney generals have a long (and many would say proud) history of refusing to provide legal comfort to the presidents who appointed them. Richard Nixon’s attorney general refused to fire the Watergate special counsel. The attorneys general for Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton did not intervene during the Iran-Contra and Monica Lewinsky scandals, respectively.
Barr’s letter summarizing Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report led to Mueller writing his own letter to Barr, informing the attorney general that his synopsis “did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance of this Office’s work and conclusions.” That’s the language lawyers use to accuse someone of misleading others.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went much further Thursday morning, accusing Barr of committing a crime by lying to Congress. Whether she uses her authority to bring forward perjury charges against Barr (convictions can lead to jail time as Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen has learned the hard way) is another matter.
For too many people, this is politics as usual, easily dismissed with a cynical wave of the hand but it truly matters if one
The struggle with work-life balance
Take a quick look at any recent political speech – federal, provincial, municipal or international – and the word “jobs” is certain to appear in some form at some moment.
British Columbia has been consumed over the past few years with discussions about housing affordability, while enjoying a low unemployment rate and a seemingly happy workforce. However, when employed residents of this province are asked about the current state of affairs, there are plenty of instances when work is undermining lifestyle.
When Research Co. asked employed British Columbians recently about their work-life balance, a third of respondents (33 per cent) described it as “perfect.” This leaves 12 per cent of employed residents who believe that lifestyle is taking precedence over work, and a sizable majority (53 per cent) who believe that work is getting in the way of their health, leisure, family and spirituality. Technology was supposed to make work better for everyone. Company-issued cellphones and laptops would make communication seamless and allow tasks to be handled more quickly. Young employees smiled when they were provided with the shiniest portable hardware on their first official day on the job. As time has gone by, cellphones and laptops have become more about direct surveillance than emergency accessibility. In the survey, 25 per cent of employed British Columbians say they had to take a work-related call on the cellphone when they were with family or friends, and a slightly higher proportion (28 per cent)
BY THE NUMBERS MARIO CANSECO
had to reply to a work-related email at a time when they were not supposed to be “on call.”
What is fascinating about these interruptions caused by technology is that they affect younger workers more. Fewer than one in five employed British Columbians aged 55 and over were “interrupted” with calls or emails outside office hours. The proportion is higher for those aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 54.
The “generation gap” does not end there. If you are an employed British Columbian aged 55 and over, you are significantly less likely to have worked from home on a weekend (15 per cent), to have worked from home at night (also 15 per cent) or to have missed a “lifestyle” engagement (such as a family gathering or leisure activity) because of work (13 per cent).
Conversely, significant proportions of workers aged 18 to 34 and aged 35 to 54 had to deal with work tasks on a Saturday or Sunday (26 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively), worked after hours from home (20 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively) and missed “lifestyle” gatherings because of “the office” (34 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively).
Staying late for work is the main reason messing with the family life and leisure of British Columbians. Once again, the age differences are not subtle. A majority of employed residents aged 18 to 34 have stayed at their desks longer than they should
(52 per cent) along with almost half of those aged 35 to 54 (47 per cent). For those aged 55 and over, the proportion of “late workers” drops to 36 per cent. As expected, being “always on” even when they have left the workplace is taking a toll on employed British Columbians. Two in five (42 per cent) say work has put a strain on their relationships with family and friends. The province’s youngest workers are more likely to report having a tougher time setting the office aside.
All generations agree that it is now harder to achieve worklife balance than it was for their own parents. It would be easy to blame technology, but it is not solely responsible for the fact that the office is now with us all the time. Overeager bosses and supervisors can generate a sense of panic – particularly among impressionable younger workers – that abruptly makes the signals emanating from the company-issued cellphone more important than the conversation with a significant other sitting at the dinner table.
The survey indubitably shows that millennials and members of generation X are having a harder time establishing clear boundaries between what they do and how they want to live. The fact that roughly a third of employed British Columbians of all ages gleefully boast of having a “perfect” work-life balance” should be a motivator for everyone.
The secret to knowing when to leave the office behind may lie in figuring out how to unplug, and not assuming that what can be dealt with during regular business hours is an emergency that requires shunning family, friends or leisure.
SHAWN
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believes the fair application of the law to everyone, regardless of wealth or power, is a core democratic value. Having to make difficult choices about what to do about the potentially illegal conduct of others isn’t just something faced by politicians but by residents in their private lives. If a friend refuses to stay over or take a cab instead of driving home after having four drinks in two hours at your home, is your friend impaired? Do you call the police or do you make excuses for your friend’s conduct?
If, despite your protests, your colleague takes a small amount of product with little value that won’t be missed from your employer without permission, do you tell your manager or do you stay quiet?
How many people who praised WilsonRaybould and Jane Philpott for their opposition on matters of principle against Trudeau and their fellow Liberals would have made a similar choice if they had stood in their shoes?
The phrase “for whom the bells toll” originates with English poet John Donne. His following words – “it tolls for thee” – is a plea to the reader to care about issues and problems beyond everyday personal concerns and to answer the bell when called upon, to stand up for what’s right. —
Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout
Political posturing over gas prices
It’s amazing what a difference a wild card can make in a card game. B.C., Alberta and Ottawa have been playing their hands over the pipelineexpansion project for the past few years, to the point of stalemate. But runaway gas prices in metro B.C. over the past few months make it a whole new game.
It looks as if $1.70 a litre is the price point at which a political annoyance can no longer be ignored.
That pump price is holding for the moment in the Lower Mainland, and Premier John Horgan is looking increasingly desperate when it comes to doing something about it.
The long-running pipeline argument is about diluted bitumen, a form of crude oil. But the pump price of refined gasoline is a major new element for the B.C. government to contend with, and it could become a key factor in the pipeline expansion.
Facing increasing pressure to do something, Horgan has been camped lately on supply and demand as the main reason for the roughly 40-cent-a-litre price jump since winter. Meaning: “Don’t blame me or the carbon tax, it’s out of my hands.”
But that also implicitly means more pipeline capacity is the only solution to curb price hikes.
After Alberta Premier Jason Kenney made good on his threat to get the “turn off the taps” bill ready for action, Horgan responded with a new angle.
He’s going to ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who bought the existing line and the expansion project last year, to adjust the batches flowing through and get more gasoline to the coast. Horgan told reporters the federal government could direct more refined gasoline to replace the diluted bitumen, saying it would be in the national interest to see rational pricing in the Lower Mainland.
“I can’t rationalize the outrageous spike in prices here relative to other jurisdictions, beyond what I’ve said several times – the lack of supply.”
His message to Trudeau: “Get some gasoline into the pipeline so we can relieve the pressure. ”
Exactly the opposite has been happening lately – increased crude shipments are supplanting gasoline — which Horgan said contributes to the price increase.
His request is also completely counter to the thrust of the Alberta bill that gives that government full authority to adjust flows to drive
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pump prices in B.C. as it sees fit. Kenney proclaimed the bill as law as promised, although it isn’t formally in effect yet. He made a courtesy call to Horgan, and the two had a friendly talk by Horgan’s account.
But the threat is now hanging over B.C.
The two also have a specific disagreement within the pipeline battle to sort out.
Kenney said: “Unfortunately, since coming into office… the B.C. government has opposed the expansion project every step of the way, most recently in the B.C. Court of Appeal.”
But Horgan said his government is issuing all required permits as needed and hasn’t thwarted the project.
The court action is a reference question in which B.C. is asking if it has jurisdiction to restrict crudeoil movements in B.C. while it studies safety measures.
That’s one of several oddities in play – B.C. wants exactly the same authority that Alberta has just granted itself to control oil movements, even as it claims Alberta’s move is flagrantly unconstitutional. B.C. renewed its suit against the Alberta legislation soon after it was proclaimed.
Horgan said the difference is that B.C. is asserting jurisdiction over an environmental-protection issue, while Alberta is trying to impair trade.
B.C. would likely have to give something to get more gas, but Horgan didn’t want to negotiate publicly.
One potential would be dropping the passive resistance to the pipeline in return for a guaranteed share of gasoline and some reduction in crude bound for tankers.
Another oddity is that in all the projections for the twinning of the existing pipeline and increasing its capacity, there are no indications it would bring more gasoline to the coast, Horgan said. It was budgeted to bring dilbit to the coast for export.
Nonetheless, Horgan said: “There’s an opportunity for the three governments to find a way forward.”
He noted that it’s not sustainable for Trudeau to head into an election with gas at $1.70 in the Lower Mainland.
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IN THE FAST LEYNE LES LEYNE
Flooding in eastern Canada expected to peak this weekend
Terry PEDWELL The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Water levels are expected to peak by week’s end in flood zones around the nation’s capital, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Thursday as he toured neighbourhoods in east Ottawa, warning that patience will be needed once the new record-high markers are reached.
Goodale also told residents he doesn’t expect a second wave of flooding like the one the area experienced in 2017. That is, of course, as long as the weather predictions hold.
“We should see the crest on one side of Ottawa and then the other side of Ottawa within the next day or two,” Goodale told reporters as he stood in front of the swollen Ottawa River, which runs west to east, bisecting Ottawa and Gatineau, Que.
“It should not get any worse beyond that.”
Environment Canada was calling for up to 15 mm of rain Friday but little precipitation beyond that until the middle of next week.
Unlike in New Brunswick, where floodwaters have begun to recede, Ottawa residents can expect to see the water remain at or near record levels for at least a week as snowmelt continues to pour in from the north, Goodale said.
Ottawa is among areas in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec that have seen record flooding this spring, but in 2017 it had two rounds of floods weeks apart. And it was in the second round that much of the flooding damage occurred.
As of late Thursday, the city said 155 households had “self-evacuated” their dwellings.
In Quebec, the official numbers provided by public security officials remained largely the same as Wednesday, with 7,229 homes reported flooded, 4,063 properties isolated,
and some 10,895 people forced out due to flooding across the province.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault toured Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac on Thursday, one of the harder-hit areas in the province.
After surveying flooded streets and the magnitude of the damage in the community just northwest of Montreal, he reiterated the government’s support for the flood-hit municipality.
Legault said he wanted to meet the immediate needs of those hit by flooding in the community, adding many of those forced out last Saturday when a dike gave way would be able to return home in the next week.
In New Brunswick, Goodale said, the flooding situation is “under control and getting better.”
“The water crest is moving toward Saint John but the situation is steadily improving, it’s stable,” he said.
Goodale commended volunteers and the military, who have protected many homes in flood zones with walls of sandbags, as well as the many Canadians far from the affected areas who have offered financial and other support.
“There’s been a tremendous outpouring of very determined effort by Canadians to say they care and they want to be involved in the solutions.”
At one point as he toured Ottawa’s flooded eastern region, Goodale got aboard a boat to view an area, especially hard hit by this year’s flooding, that is currently unreachable by land vehicles.
While he could not provide an accurate estimate, the minister said he did not expect the overall cost of the flooding in Eastern Canada to reach the record levels seen by Albertans in 2013 as a result of the High River flooding.
Kenney calls environment bill a threat to unity
Mia RABSON The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is warning that if a federal bill overhauling environmental assessments passes in its current form, it will threaten Canadian unity and there will be “an immediate constitutional challenge.”
Kenney testified to the Senate’s energy committee Thursday morning about Bill C-69 – what he calls the “no more pipelines” bill – saying it flagrantly violates Alberta’s constitutional right to regulate its natural resources.
The legislation establishes a new process for reviewing major projects with a national scope or in federal jurisdiction. The federal Liberals say it is needed to restore confidence in the assessment process and finally get big projects built; critics say it gives too much political power to the federal cabinet to interfere and allows too much involvement of lobby groups that might not have any direct connection to a proposed project.
Kenney wants all the amendments proposed by the former NDP government in Alberta accepted, including a hard two-year timeline for the whole process, less room for interference by federal ministers, and an exemption for in-situ oil sands projects in Alberta that are currently reviewed by the Alberta Energy Regulator. Similar amendments have been requested by industry associations, including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.
All of them, including Kenney, said the amendments have to be made as a package.
“This bill does not need a nip and tuck,” Kenney told senators. “It needs major reconstructive surgery or it needs to be put out to pasture.”
Three federal ministers behind the bill spoke at the committee following Kenney: Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Transport Minister Marc Garneau.
They implored the senators to remember that the existing system has failed to allow a single new pipeline built to either of Canada’s coasts, and has resulted in multiple legal challenges. The goal of C-69, they said, is to prevent those kinds of delays.
Sohi told senators the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion was proposed in 2013, yet six years later the government is still
I’m simply pointing out there is a deep and growing frustration in my province.
It’s the role of the PM of any party to safeguard national unity.
— Premier Jason Kenney
responding to court cases that have thus far kept shovels out of the ground.
Sohi said the government wants to get good projects built with sound environmental protections. He said while the government is open to amendments, it is not open to wiping out the bill’s attempt to address the environmental and Indigenous consultation requirements that have led to most of the court challenges.
“The process must look after the environment,” Sohi said. But Kenney said the government is putting national unity at risk by trying to get this bill adopted. He pointed repeatedly to a recent poll suggests half of Albertans are prepared to secede from Canada. He said he thinks most people are just “blowing off steam” to express frustration, but contends that if support for seceding in Quebec were at 50 per cent, no federal government would try to pass a bill causing so much anger.
“I’m simply pointing out there is a deep and growing frustration in my province. It’s the role of the PM of any party to safeguard national unity,” Kenney told reporters following his Senate appearance.
“These bills undermine national unity.” Sohi, an Edmonton MP, said after his own committee appearance that he knows the anxieties Alberta families are facing because of the economy. But he said he rarely hears anyone threaten to leave Canada.
“I think it is irresponsible for anyone to suggest that Alberta will leave the confederation,” Sohi said. “Yes we have challenges and we are working hard to address those challenges.”
Later Thursday, Kenney is to meet face-to-face with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the political foe he used to face as a Conservative MP and attacked relentlessly in his successful bid to become Alberta’s premier.
Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette and Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac Mayor Sonia Paulus visit the flood zone Thursday in Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que.
Sports
Spruce Kings take series lead against Brooks
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
The Prince George Spruce Kings’ quest for the Doyle Cup is one win away from reality.
They backed the Brooks Bandits into a corner Thursday after a 4-1 win in Game 5 for a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and will have a chance to wrap up their second championship of the 2018-19 season when the teams meet again Saturday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
Patrick Cozzi continued to hold a hot hand and scored two goals for the BCHL champions. Ben Poisson and Corey Cunningham each collected singles. Brandon Scanlin was the Bandits goalscorer.
Logan Neaton turned in a stellar first-star performance in goal for the Kings, making 25 saves to lock up his 19th win of the playoffs and his teammates outshot the Bandits 30-26.
The Kings were the hungrier team and seemed to have better skating legs off the hop. They won most of the puck battles which set the tone as the Kings improved to 11-0 on home ice in the playoffs.
Prince George outshot the Bandits 10-3 in the opening 20 minutes and had a 1-0 lead it show for it. The goal came 14:27 into the period. Kings defenceman Nick Bochen put a point shot wide off the end boards and the carom came right to Cozzi, who chipped the puck in to a sliver of net showing behind Pierce Charleson. It was the second goal in as many nights for Cozzi, a Colorado College recruit for next season. He scored the winner in the Kings’ 3-1 victory in Game 4 Wednesday night.
The Kings had plenty of chances to add to their lead but couldn’t put the finishing touches on Charleson. The Bandits came up with a second-period surge with about seven minutes left in the period that led to the tying goal. Brooks captain Nathan Plessis started it when he jumped on a rebound in front and took a shot that got through Neaton but defenceman Layton Ahac got the shaft of his stick in the way of the puck. Neaton made another stellar save to deny Luke Bast just before Scanlin lunched a wrister from the point that got through a screen
8:05, Gravel BKS (slashing), Coyle PG (roughing) 16:55.
Period 4. Prince George, Cunningham 6 (Anhorn) 10:22 Penalties – Bochen PG (high-sticking) 4:02, Vachon BKS (roughing), Vanroboys PG (roughing) 10:22, Ceulemans BKS (double high-sticking) 10:56, Chu PG (high-sticking) 13:16, Lemay BKS (slashing) Donaldson PG (unsportsmanlike conduct) 17:06, Hancock BKS (misconduct), Vanroboys PG (misconduct) 17:08, Vachon BKS (misconduct), Plessis BKS (misconduct), Theis BKS (misconduct), Cunningham PG (misconduct), Coyle PG (misconduct), N.Poisson PG (misconduct) 19:05. Shots of goal by Brooks 3 11 12 -26 Prince George 10 12 8 -30 Goal – Brooks, Charleson (L,14-6); Prince George, Neaton (W,19-3);. Power plays – BKS: 0-3: PG: 1-5. Referees – Troy Paterson, Trevor Nolan; Linesmen – Cody Wanner, Dustin Minty. Attendance – 1,935. Three stars – 1. Logan Neaton, PG; 2. Patrick Cozzi, PG; 3. Dylan Anhorn, PG. Scratches – Brooks: D Ethan Lund (healthy), D Wyatt Villatlta (healthy), F Bobby Harrison (healthy), F Andranik Armstrong (healthy); F Taylor Makar (healthy), D Tyler Bates (healthy), G Ethan Barwick (healthy); Prince George: D Jay Keranen (upper-body injury), D Liam WatsonBrawn (upper-body injury), F Nick Wilson (healthy), F Spencer DenBeste (healthy).
and hit the top corner of the net. That came at 16:34 and the Kings answered 58 seconds later. The Kings won a draw in their own end and Nick Poisson chipped the puck deep in the Brooks end and Chong Min Lee got to it first, using his backhand to centre the puck into the slot to Dylan Anhorn. The Kings defenceman immediately fed it to Ben Poisson and he scored his team-leading 15th of the playoffs with a high wristshot to take a
2-1 lead into the dressing room. Cunningham provided the Kings a cushion midway through the third period. He chased down a loose puck and with Anhorn alone in front fed him the puck. Anhorn’s shot went wide but Cunningham collected it behind the goal line and scored his sixth of the playoffs on a wraparound. If the outcome was in doubt, Cozzi put those thoughts to rest when he got the puck in the slot
and dangled with it to avoid getting checked, then spun off a low shot to cap the scoring 13:15 into the third.
Game 7, if needed, would be played Sunday night.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Spruce Kings will draw the winner of their Show Home Lottery today at 3 p.m., preceded by the 50-50 draw at 2:45 p.m…. Both teams are among the five which will converge at the national tournament
in Brooks, May 11-19. The Doyle Cup will determine the Pacific region champions and the runnerup will claim the host spot the Bandits were guaranteed when the won the right to host…. The Spruce Kings will leave for Alberta next Wednesday and will spend two days training at the WinSport, Hockey Canada’s headquarters in Calgary, before making the two-hour trek southeast to Brooks. The Kings won’t play on the opening day of the tournament. They play their first game on Sunday, May 12, an afternoon encounter with Central, the Dudley Hewitt Cup champions from Ontario. The Oakville Blades are through to Saturday’s Dudley Hewitt final and will play the winner of tonight’s semifinal between the host Cochrane Crunch and Hearst Lumberjacks…. The Portage Terriers of Manitoba wrapped up the Anavet Cup championship in five games Thursday with a 7-3 win over the Saskatchewan champion Battlefords North Stars.
Cougars leave draft table with pair of high-end picks
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff
Armed with the third- and fourth-overall picks in the Western Hockey League bantam draft, the Prince George Cougars tapped the same talent pool twice.
They zeroed in on the Okanagan Hockey Academy Edmonton bantam prep team and plucked out a couple of gems – selecting defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk third overall, then selecting centre Koehn Ziemmer as the fourth player chosen Thursday in Red Deer.
“We got two very high-end players,” said Cougars general manager Mark Lamb. “Dowhaniuk, a defenceman, he can play the game anyway you want to play, good puck-mover, he can play physical and he’s only going to grow.” Dowhaniuk collected nine goals and 30 assists for 39 points in 29 games with his OHA team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. He stands five-foot-10 and weighs 147 pounds and was picked as an all star in the Alberta Cup bantam tournament, collecting two goals and two assists in five games. According to DraftGeek Scouting Report, Dowhaniuk was the
consensus top defenceman available in the draft.
“He’s got a brother in the league who plays for Edmonton (2002-born defenceman Logan Dowhaniuk) and the family is really familiar with the league,” added
Lamb. The five-foot-10, 179-pound Ziemmer, a native of Mayerthorpe, Alta., was a potent point producer with his OHA team. In 34 games he had 42 goals and 38 assists for 82 points.
“Koehn Ziemmer is a very high-skilled goalscorer who can offensive plays who has had a great year, said Lamb. “The two kids played together so they’ve got some really good chemistry, so I don’t think we could be happier with the two picks we got, we got a real stud D and a real stud forward.”
Before the draft began the Cougars made a deal with the Winnipeg Ice, sending the Ice the second-overall pick the Cats acquired in January 2018 from the Swift Current Broncos to allow Winnipeg to select forward Connor Geekie (Yellowhead bantam triple-A Chiefs).
The Ice had obtained the third-overall pick, originally owned by the Regina Pats, in an earlier trade from the Saskatoon Blades. With their first-overall pick the Ice took forward Matthew Savoie (Northern Alberta midget Xtreme).
The Cougars had two second-round picks and with their own pick, 26th overall, chose F Kyren Gronick, a five-foot-nine, 181-pound forward from Regina (27g-26a53pts) who played this past season for the Regina Aces bantam team.
— see ‘CLEARLY, page 11
CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Prince George Spruce Kings forward Fin Williams and Brooks Bandits forward Ryan Mahshie chase down the loose puck while Bandits
goaltender Pierce Charleson looks on Thursday evening at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena in Game 5 of the Doyle Cup. The Spruce Kings won 4-1, to take
Semenya case reflects sport dilemmas
The Associated Press
NEW YORK – Caster Semenya’s running career, jarred by an adverse court ruling on Wednesday, is unique in virtually all its details. Yet the dilemmas she has posed for the track-and-field establishment reflect how vast segments of the sports world are now wrestling with issues related to intersex and transgender athletes.
The essence of the dilemma: how to minimize or eliminate discrimination while simultaneously ensuring that competitions are as fair as possible.
The challenges faced by Olympic champion Semenya – a South African woman who reportedly has some intersex traits – differ in key respects from those confronting transgender women. But there are parallels as well, as evidenced in the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the sports world’s highest court.
The CAS ruled that Semenya and other female runners with unusually high testosterone must take medication to reduce their levels of the male sex hormone if they want to compete in certain events, notably the 400 and 800 metres. Comparable requirements apply to transgender women seeking to compete in the Olympics and in NCCA-governed collegiate sports in the U.S.; both organizations say male-to-female athletes should demonstrate that their testosterone level has been below a certain point for at least a year before their first competition.
In Semenya’s case, the CAS voted 2-1 to uphold proposed rules issued by international track’s governing body, the IAAF, saying that they are discriminatory but that “such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means” of “preserving the integrity of female athletics.”
Athlete Ally, a U.S.-based group advocating for grater transgender inclusion in sports, assailed the ruling against Semenya.
“Forcing athletes to undergo medically unnecessary interventions in order to participate in the sport they dedicate their lives to is cruel, and a violation of their human rights,” said the group’s executive director, Hudson Taylor.
Also angered was Kimberly Zieselman, executive director of InterACT, which advocates on behalf of intersex youth.
The CAS ruling against Semenya “is another example of the ignorance faced by women athletes who have differences in their sex traits,” Zieselman said in an email. “There is no one way to be a woman.”
“It is an inherently flawed conclusion that Caster’s natural testosterone level is the only thing giving her physical strength,” Zieselman added. She noted – while citing swimmer Michael Phelps’ long arms – that many athletes have unique physical advantages.
Powerful female stars such as Serena Williams in tennis, Katie Ledecky in swimming and six-footnine Brittney Griner in basketball also have been cited as possessing a distinctive physical edge.
Aside from Semenya, there have been relatively few high-profile controversies involving intersex athletes, while there’s been an abundance of news stories about transgender athletes.
Overall, supporters of increased trans inclusion in sports are heart-
ened by the pace of progress. In the United States, a growing number of state high school athletic associations in the U.S. enable them to play on teams based on their gender identity, and the NCAA has trans-inclusive guidelines for all its member schools.
But there have been numerous bitter controversies, even at the high school level. In Connecticut, for example, the dominance of transgender girl sprinters Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood has stirred resentment among some competitors and their families.
At the adult level, USA Powerlifting incurred recent criticism for sticking by its policy of banning trans women from its competitions. The organization contends
that regardless of testosterone levels, male-to-female competitors generally have significant advantages related to bone density and muscle mass.
Earlier this year, tennis great Martina Navratilova became entangled in the debate over trans women’s place in sports.
A lesbian and longtime gayrights activist, Navratilova was accused of being “transphobic” after asserting that many transgender women – even if they’d undergone hormone treatment – have an unfair advantage over other female competitors. Among her critics was Athlete Ally, which ousted her from its advisory board.
Another critic was Rachel McKinnon, a transgender Canadian
track cyclist who in October won a world championship sprint event for women of ages 35 to 44. She suggested that Navratilova’s argument reflected “an irrational fear of trans women.” McKinnon encountered widespread resentment after she won her championship event. Initially, she was elated, even though one of her top rivals pulled out of the final at the last minute.
But then a photo spread across the internet showing her on the podium with the two smaller, skinnier runners-up, triggering extensive social-media attacks.
Joanna Harper, a medical physicist and transgender runner from Portland, Ore., says the controversies raise complex questions, and
she believes there needs to be a standard based on hormone levels.
“The gender identity doesn’t matter, it’s the testosterone levels,” Harper said. “Trans girls should have the right to compete in sports. But cisgender girls should have the right to compete and succeed, too. How do you balance that? That’s the question.”
The IAAF argued in Semenya’s case that high, naturally occurring levels of testosterone in athletes with intersex characteristics that don’t conform to standard definitions of male and female give them an unfair competitive advantage. It decreed a maximum level for females.
Semenya – whose muscular build and super-fast times have led some to question her accomplishments – declared she will not be deterred by the CAS ruling.
“For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger,” she said in a statement. “I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world.”
AP FILE PHOTOS Above, Caster Semenya of South Africa crosses the finish line to win the women’s 800 metres at the IAAF track and field Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic in September 2018. Left, transgender cyclist Rachel McKinnon of Canada, left, holds hands with competitor Carolien Van Herrikhuyzen of the Netherlands during the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships in Carson, Calif., in October 2018.
Winged Devil
‘Clearly we’re in a development cycle’
— from page 9
The Cougars also owned the Portland Winterhawks’ 36th overall pick, from the January 2018 deal that sent D Dennis Cholowski to the Winterhawks and used it to pick up D Jaren Brinson, who played last season for Edge Academy in Calgary. Brinson, a native of Airdrie, Alta. (2-8-11 in 31 games) measures five-foot-11 and 133 pounds.
The Cougars did not have a third-round pick and in the fourth round selected LW Carter MacAdams of Delta Hockey Academy 70th overall.
The Langley native, who stands six-foot-one and weighs 150 pounds, had 25 goals and 45 points in 32 games.
The Cats had two seventh-round
picks and picked LW Andrej Kovacevic of the West Vancouver Warriors bantam prep team (27-29-56 in 34 games) 136th overall, then used their 146th pick to choose F Kassius Ker, also of the West Vancouver Warriors, 146th overall. Ker had 38 goals and 66 points in 30 games last season.
In the eighth round, 158th overall, the Cats decided on Ty Young, a goalie who played for the Lethbridge triple-A bantam Golden Hawks. In 22 games he posted a 2.77 average and .919 save percentage.
He’s from Coaldale, Alta.
D Connor Claughton joined the Cougars in the ninth round, 195th overall. He played this past season for the Red Deer Rebels bantam triple-A team., posting two goals
and 12 assists in 26 games. The five foot-eight, 138-pound Claughton is from Red Deer.
For their last pick of the day, in the 10th round, 202nd overall, the Cougars went with five-footeight, 130 pound centre Gavin Schmidt, a native of Calgary who totaled five goals and 32 points in 33 games with the Okotoks Oilers triple-A bantam team.
“Clearly we’re in a development cycle with a strong upward trend,” said Bob Simmonds, the Cougars director of scouting.
“These players combined with the (2003-born players picked in the draft last year) and the ‘05s we’ll get next year we believe will be the core of a team that will be successful for years and will be competing for championships.”
Homebrew O’Brien joins Cat’s WHL family
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
If Fischer O’Brien gets called up to his WHL team next hockey season he won’t have far to travel. The Prince George Cougars made that possible Thursday when they swung a deal to acquire the 16-year-old forward from the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
In return, the Cougars sent defenceman Tyson Phare to Lethbridge in a trade made during the WHL draft in Red Deer.
O’Brien played all his minor hockey in Prince George and was drafted last year by the ‘Canes in the fifth round of the WHL draft, 98th overall. He played this past season for the Cariboo Cougars in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League and had two goals and five assists for seven points in 40 games with the midget Cats. Fischer is the younger brother of former Cougar centre Brogan O’Brien, who played five seasons in the WHL and now plays at Carleton University.
“We’re thrilled to add a player that comes from a great family that has strong ties to the organization and community,” said Cougars general manager Mark Lamb, in a team release.
“His brother enjoyed a very successful career in Prince George, and we’re excited to have Fischer now join the fold.”
Phare was the Cougars’ firstround pick (18th overall) in 2017, chosen a member of the Yale Academy Elite 15s. He played 16 games in the WHL with the Cougars over two seasons and was held without a point.
After being sent down by the Cougars in October, Phare played productive eight games last season at Yale Academy in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, finishing with a goal and nine assists. He also suited up for two junior B games with the Ridge Meadows Flames. One Prince George minor hockey player was chosen in Thursday’s draft. Centre Nico Myatovic, who captained the Prince George-based North Central Bobcats and led them to the bantam Tier 1 provincial championship, was selected in the sixth round, 119th overall, by the Seattle Thunderbirds. In 16 games with his bantam team he had 17 goals and 43 points. Myatovic also played nine games for the major midget Cariboo Cougars and picked up five assists. Bobcats forward Max Sanford of Williams Lake was taken one spot ahead of Myatovic in the sixth round, 118th overall, by the Kelowna Rockets.
Bruins tie up series
Mitch STACY
The Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tuukka Rask stopped 39 shots and the Boston Bruins got some muchneeded production from their top-liners in a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night that evened their Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece. Patrice Bergeron had two goals, David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist and Sean Kuraly also tallied for the Bruins, who had lost the last two games in the best of-seven series but knotted the set again as it moves back to Boston for Game 5 on Saturday.
Artemi Panarin scored for Columbus on a controversial play, and Sergei Bobrovsky,
who has been spectacular in the post-season so far, had 41 saves but was beaten on long shots by Pastrnak and Bergeron in the first period.
Brad Marchand picked up an assist on Bergeron’s goal but also committed three penalties, one leading to an unsuccessful Blue Jackets penalty shot in the first period. Marchand and Bergeron had been kept off the score sheet in the first three games. Early in the first, Pastrnak was flattened by a huge hit from Columbus defenceman Adam Clendening. Around 25 seconds later, Pastrnak rifled a shot past Bobrovsky from the left circle to get the Bruins on the board.
Boston made it 2-0 on Bergeron’s snap shot from the slot at 7:18 of the first.
APRIL 17: Boston 99, Indiana 91 FRIDAY, APRIL 19: Boston 104, Indiana 96 SUNDAY, APRIL 21: Boston 110, Indiana 106 WESTERN CONFERENCE Golden State 4, L.A. Clippers 2 SATURDAY, APRIL 13: Golden State 121, L.A. Clippers 104 MONDAY, APRIL 15: L.A. Clippers 135, Golden State 131 THURSDAY, APRIL 18: Golden State 132, L.A. Clippers 105 SUNDAY, APRIL 21: Golden State 113, L.A.
EASTERN CONFERENCE Boston 1, Milwaukee 1 SUNDAY, APRIL 28: Boston 112, Milwaukee 90 TUESDAY, APIL 30: Milwaukee 123, Boston 102 FRIDAY, MAY 3: Milwaukee at Boston, 8 p.m. MONDAY, MAY 6: Milwaukee at Boston,
Philadelphia 95 MONDAY, APRIL 29: Philadelphia 94, Toronto 89 THURSDAY, MAY 2: Toronto at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. SUNDAY, MAY 5: Philadelphia Toronto 95 (Philadelphia leads 2-1) TUESDAY, MAY 7: Philadelphia at Toronto, 8 p.m.
O’BRIEN
CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Westwood Pub Devils player Dylan Long flies through the air to try and get a shot past Quesnel M. Daniels
Consulting Crossfire on Wednesday night at Kin 2 in the opening game of the 2019 Prince George Senior Lacrosse league season.
O’Ree doc exposes racism’s stain on hockey
The Canadian Press
It’s been 60 years since Willie O’Ree broke the National Hockey League’s colour barrier and he still hears racial remarks in the rink.
As the new documentary Willie shows, the Fredericton native who became the first black hockey player in the NHL is still working hard to foster diversity in sports and help young players overcome obstacles and hatred.
“I still go to the games and I watch and still see racial remarks and slurs directed to the players and I just shake my head,” the 83-year-old said in an interview in Toronto, where the film is screening at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
“I still just can’t believe it. When I played, there were only six teams in the National Hockey League – there were two from Canada and four from the United States –and there was the prejudice there. But now we have 31 teams and more players that are playing now and I just can’t believe what’s going on. It’s not going to end overnight. It’s going to take still a long time to overcome the racial problems that we have in hockey.”
Directed by Montreal-raised Laurence Mathieu-Leger, Willie shows just how fiercely determined O’Ree was to play professional hockey and skate in the NHL –goals he set at age 14.
Growing up in Fredericton, the youngest of 13 children, he would sleep overnight at the skating arena so he could get on the ice first thing the next morning.
NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958.
“Besides being black and being blind, I was faced with four other things: racism, prejudice, bigotry and ignorance,” O’Ree said, noting he faced racial slurs in practically every game he played.
“But my older brother told me, ‘Willie, names will never hurt you unless you let them.”’
The doc also shows O’Ree tracing the history of his ancestors, one of whom escaped slavery in the South.
O’Ree retired from professional hockey in 1980.
These days he is an ambassador for the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone program, which pushes for “a safe, positive and inclusive environment for players and families.” The doc shows him mentoring young players, some of whom have encountered racism on the ice.
While there, he had to use the “coloured only” rest room, sleep in a dorm with other players of colour, and stay at the back of the bus on the ride home, he recalled.
“When I stepped off the bus, I said, ‘Willie, forget about baseball and concentrate on hockey.”’
But racism also followed O’Ree in hockey and as he rose in the ranks of the sport, he
The gifted athlete excelled at many sports and was even scouted by agents for the Milwaukee Braves minor-league baseball training camp in Atlanta, where he witnessed the segregation of the American South for the first time.
faced another major hurdle: A puck ricocheted off a stick on the ice and hit his face, breaking his nose, part of his cheek and shattering the retina in his right eye.
He ended up blind in that eye but kept it a secret from everyone except his younger sister, who didn’t tell anyone, just so he could keep playing.
Five to six weeks later, he was back on the ice.
Hockey great Wayne Gretzky is among those in the doc who speak about how remarkable O’Ree was for persevering through it all and eventually making his
“I’ve come into contact with numerous boys and girls and helped them to overcome some of the racial slurs and racial remarks that have been directed towards them,” O’Ree said. “I mean 10, 11, 12, 13-year-old boys and girls coming off the ice because of racial remarks and I just can’t understand it. It really hurts me to know that these boys and girls are still faced with it at this day and age.”
As the film shows, O’Ree is also now a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, after being inducted last November.
“You can do anything you set your mind to do, if you feel it within your heart and within your mind,” he said.
Drake pays tribute to his mom, shatters Billboard awards record
The Associated Press
With Mother’s Day around the corner, Drake gave his mom an early gift with a heartfelt speech at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, where the rap star also broke Taylor Swift’s record for most wins.
Drake turned up the love for his mom when he picked up top artist, besting Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Post Malone and Travis Scott. He won 12 awards Wednesday in Las Vegas, making his career total 27 (Swift has 23 wins).
He looked up to the ceiling as he held the trophy, then said: “I just want to thank my mom for her relentless effort in my life. I want to thank my mom for all the times
you drove me to piano. All the times you drove me to basketball and hockey – that clearly didn’t work out. All the times you drove me to Degrassi. No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride, and now we’re on one hell of ride.”
Family bonding was a theme at the three-hour show, which aired live on NBC and was hosted by Kelly Clarkson. Ciara’s young son and husband, NFL player Russell Wilson, danced along while she worked the stage, and Nick and Joe Jonas gave kisses to Priyanka Chopra and Sophie Turner of Game of Thrones fame when they sang in the audience before hitting
the stage. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco looked to his parents as he accepted top rock song, quoting the name of his current hit: “Hey look Ma, I made it!” Mariah Carey’s twins cheered her on as she sang a medley of her hits and accepted the Icon award. She was in diva form before taking the award from Jennifer Hudson, throwing her napkin on the floor after dabbing her face with it. “Without getting into all the drama, all the ups and downs of my career... I guess I always felt like an outsider, someone who doesn’t quite belong anywhere, and I still feel like that lost interracial child who had a lot of nerve to believe I could succeed at anything at all in this world. But, and this is the truth, I did believe because I had to,” she said. “The truth is I dedicated my life to my music –my saving grace – and to my fans.” Cardi B, the night’s top nominee with 21, locked lips with husband Offset on the red carpet and the couple sat closely inside the venue. She won six awards, including top Hot 100 song for Girls Like You with Maroon 5.
“I remember when Maroon 5 hit me up to do this song. I was like, ‘Bro I’m five months pregnant. I can’t even breathe.’ But this record to me was so amazing. I was like, ‘Oh this is going to be a hit.’ And now I sing this song to my daughter because she’s the girl that I need,” she said.
Imagine Dragons’ band leader Dan Reynolds used his speech to highlight the dangers of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth. He earned rousing applause. Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard followed suit, telling the audience after winning top country song: “In the spirit of so much truth being spoken tonight by so many talented artists, I think we should speak some truth. As artists we all get to experience so many unbelievable things, but in our opinion, at the end of the day, it’s all for nothing if you’re not using your platform for better ... to spread love, to help those in needs, to be a light to your community.”
CP PHOTO
Willie O’Ree poses for a photo during an interview in Toronto on Wednesday.
SNC-Lavalin shares plummet
The Canadian Press
Shares in SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. hit a 10-year low Thursday after the company announced plans to wind down its operations in 15 countries and reported a $17-million loss in its latest quarter.
The stock closed down $4.48, or 13.13 per cent, at $28.97 Thursday.
“We will stop bidding on certain projects, certainly within the mining area,” CEO Neil Bruce said. “We’re not going to continue to –in fact we have already stopped – bidding on pure lump-sum EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) projects.”
Fixed-price bids for infrastructure and oil and gas will continue, but only in “core regions,” he said. SNC-Lavalin is firmly rooted in both construction and engineering, exposing it to potentially higher margins, but also the cost overruns and fixed-price contracts that can plague the world of builders.
Bruce declined to specify which countries the company will exit, but said they represent about $85 million in total revenue with “no long-term plan” for growth. The retreat means SNC will step back from between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of the 50-plus states where it operates.
The engineering and construction giant also hopes to save $250 million annually with an organizational revamp, combining its oil and gas business with its mining unit as part of a cost-reduction program under chief operating officer Ian Edwards, who was appointed in late January.
SNC noted that one of the three shareholders in Highway 407 may exercise its right of first refusal on the company’s plan to sell the bulk of its 16.77 per cent stake in the toll highway operator for $3.25 billion, a move expected to close before the end of June.
If that happens, SNC will owe OMERS – the pension plan poised to buy a 10.01 per cent stake in 407 International Inc. – a break fee of 2.5 per cent of the purchase price, or about $75 million, said analyst Benoit Poirier of Desjardins Capital Markets.
“Considering this shareholder only has to match OMERS’ $3.25-billion offer, the net proceeds to SNC are unlikely to change materially,” added Frederic Bastien, an analyst with Raymond James.
Bruce declined to name which of the other two owners of the toll highway – Spain’s Ferrovial S.A., holding a 43.23 per cent stake, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board with 40 per cent - was making a bid.
In the light of a shaky first quarter with earnings far below expectations, analysts met Bruce’s “confident” belief in SNC’s 2019 profit forecast with skepticism.
Bastien said the promised turnaround “seems unrealistic to us at first blush.”
“Considering the many cost-savings initiatives of past years, we find it somewhat surprising there is still that much fat to trim out of
the business,” he said.
Analyst Derek Spronck of RBC Dominion Securities noted some would question “whether SNC-Lavalin will be able to meet their 2019 guidance targets.”
Yuri Lynk of Canaccord Genuity said meeting those targets would likely require two “record quarters” in the second half of the year.
The forecast calls for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of between $900 million and $950 million.
Earlier this year, the firm slashed its 2018 guidance twice in three weeks, more than halving its profit forecast and halting all bidding on future mining projects amid an ongoing diplomatic feud between Canada and Saudi Arabia – a key source of oil and gas revenue – and delays on SNC’s project with Codelco, Chile’s state-owned copper mining company, which has since cancelled the contract.
“We’re making absolutely no excuses around that,” Bruce said of the US$260-million deal involving construction of two new acid plants for a smelter at the Chuquicamata mine.
“There’s a lot of events that we consider to be out (of) our control, but that certainly was within our control, and we failed in that respect.”
Ottawa’s spat with the Saudi regime continues to hurt the company, he said. “We have seen a number of opportunities that we would normally expect to have a reasonable chance of success actually fall away.”
Bruce reiterated his belief the company has lost out on between $5 billion and $6 billion in contracts over the past five to seven years, with European and American competitors seeking “to persuade a customer that we are too high-risk,” particularly since SNC was slapped with corruption charges in 2015.
He said he expects the criminal case – which concerns charges that are between seven and 20 years old, he noted repeatedly – to take up to three more years to play out.
SNC-Lavalin said it lost $17.3 million or 10 cents per share last quarter, far below analysts’ expectations of 34 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.
That compares with a profit of $78.1 million or 44 cents per share in the first quarter of last year.
Revenue totalled $2.36 billion, down from $2.43 billion a year ago.
On an adjusted basis, the Montreal-based company said it earned 21 cents per share for the quarter ended March 31, compared with an adjusted profit of 77 cents per share a year earlier.
The results included an adjusted loss of eight cents in its engineering and construction business, while its capital investments business earned 29 cents per share in its most recent quarter.
That compared with an adjusted profit of 51 cents from the engineering and construction side a year ago, while the capital investments business earned 36 cents per share.
CMHC more optimistic about housing market
The Canadian Press
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says it no longer rates the country’s housing market as highly vulnerable after an overall easing of price acceleration.
The federal agency said in a report Thursday that it rates the overall market at moderate after 10 consecutive quarters at the highly vulnerable rating, though some cities remain at elevated risk.
“The state of the national housing market has improved to moderate vulnerability,” CMHC chief economist Bob Dugann said in a statement.
“Even though moderate evidence of overvaluation continues for Canada as a whole, there has been improved alignment overall between house prices and housing market fundamentals in 2018.”
The inflation-adjusted average price decreased 5.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2018 from the same period a year earlier.
CMHC said that while house prices in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Hamilton moved closer to sustainable levels, it continues to see a high degree of vulnerability in those markets.
The agency noted that while Vancouver remains rated at highly vulnerable, evidence of overvaluation has changed from high to moderate.
The biggest cities in the Prairies remain at a moderate degree of vulnerability, while Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax and St. John’s are rated as low vulnerability.
The report based its vulnerability assessment on several criteria including price acceleration, overvaluation, overbuilding, and overheating.
Price acceleration has eased nationally after the federal government’s mortgage stress tests came into effect in 2018 and raised the bar for qualifying for a mortgage, the report said.
“Tighter mortgage rules, likely reduced demand for housing, and contributed to the observed decline of house prices.”
CMHC also noted that inflation adjusted personal disposable income dropped by 1.2 per cent to reduce buying power, but that was partially offset by a young-adult population that grew by 1.9 per cent to continue to increase the pool of potential first-time homebuyers.
Reserve’s unwillingness to cut interest rates. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 91.87 points to 16,410.88, seven trading days after hitting a record high. The decrease was driven by losses in six of the market’s 11 major sectors, led by energy, health care, materials, and industrials. Energy fell 2.6 per cent with Crescent Point Energy Corp. dropping 4.5 per cent as oil prices sank to the lowest level in about a month.
The June crude contract was down US$1.79 at US$61.81 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was down 3.1 cents at US$2.59 per mmBTU.
Growing U.S. stockpiles and increasing oil production is offsetting the impact on prices from sanctions against Venezuela and Iran.
Sanctions caused oil to temporarily rise to about US$65 per barrel, said Allan Small, senior investment adviser at HollisWealth. “Could oil get down to the high $40s, I think so. Above $65 is very hard for me to see with all the oil that exists in the marketplace and keeping in mind all the alternative forms of energy that are coming onstream.”
Health care fell as several marijuana stocks lost ground. Materials was down a gold prices hit the lowest level since Dec. 24. The June gold contract was off US$12.20 at US$1,272.00 an ounce and the July copper contract was down 2.2 cents at US$2.78 a pound.
Industrials fell as SNC-Lavalin Inc. shares hit a 10-year low and Bombardier Inc. fell another 5.1 per cent after disclosing it is looking to sell its aerostructures businesses in Belfast and Morocco as part of a consolidation of its aerospace business into a single unit.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 122.35 points at 26,307.79. The S&P 500 index was down 6.21 points at 2,917.52, while the Nasdaq composite was down 12.87 points at 8,036.77.
The U.S. central bank disappointed investors with its outlook, Small said in an interview. The comments helped to pump up the U.S. dollar at the expense of the loonie. The Canadian dollar traded at an average of 74.28 cents US compared with an average of 74.54 cents US on Wednesday. Small said Friday’s U.S. jobs report will set the tone for the day and possibly salvage the week.
CP PHOTO Neil Bruce, president and CEO of SNC-Lavalin, is flanked by Ian Edwards, left, chief operating officer, and Kevin Lynch, chairman of the board, at the engineering company’s annual shareholders meeting in Montreal on Thursday.
Bruce MacDonald 1970 - 2019
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved, Bruce Lawrence MacDonald. Our Brother, Father, Friend passed on April 15, 2019. He was born in Idaho on May 18, 1970 and immigrated to Canada in 1974. He grew up in Kamloops but moved to Prince George in 1993 when he became a spirit-filled believer. He supported his mother until her passing then married in 2004 and was blessed with two beautiful boys. His marriage ended in 2014 and he relocated to the Okanagan where he remained until his passing. Bruce had no fear, everything he did, he did well and he saw challenges as opportunities to improve things for himself and others. He loved mercy, sought justice and always gave generously. He had many passions but nothing compared to being a Dad. Bruce is predeceased by his mother, Patricia and brother David, but forever loved, honoured and remembered by his boys Joshua & Justin, their mom Laura, his siblings, Patience, Thomas (Janet), Marjorie, Nathan (Janet), Agnes (Kevin), Xander (Erin) and Robert, and numerous other loved ones. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm on May 11, 2019 at the Salvation Army Church, 777 Ospika Blvd, reception to follow.
It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of the matriarch of our family, our beloved Mom, Grace McKinnon (Henry) on April 27, 2019. She was predeceased by her husband Mal, son Kenny and infant grandson Mitchell. She is survived by her daughters, Karen Forde (Rolly), Gale Richet, Sherry Dawson (Jack), Tracey Dowhy (Brad), Grandchildren; Michelle, Jake, Tyler, Nadine, Brad, Corbin, Cassity, Tanner (Tori), Parker, Great Grandchildren, McKayla (Drew), Katie, Tatum, Garrett, and soon to be Great-Great Granddaughter due in May. Also survived by a large extended family. Mom was born in Prince George, BC September 10th 1932. She was an incredibly hard-working woman who would tackle anything! Most everyone would say she had a feistiness about her; a trait that was passed on to her daughters. She was an impeccable homemaker, avid gardener, and every summer her and dad could be found salmon fishing in Kitimat. She began her journey with Alzheimer’s in 2006. In spite of the diagnosis, she lived her life to the fullest and leaves behind fond memories with all those she met along the way. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Cosio and Dr. Fredeen, and to the entire staff that cared for Mom at Gateway Lodge. For the past six years you became like family not only to Mom, but to us daughters as well. Our sincerest gratitude is beyond words knowing that Mom was so well cared for. No service as per Mom’s request. A celebration of life to be held at a later date. Mom, you held our hands when we were small, you caught us when we fell,The hero of our childhood and the latter years as well. Every time we think of you, our hearts fill with pride, And though we’ll always miss you, we know you’re by our side. In laughter and in sorrow, in sunshine and in rain, We know you’re watching over us until we meet again.
Hoagland,EileenE. October13,1928-April28,2019
Withbrokenhearts,wesaygoodbyetoourMom whopassedawayonApril28,2019,attheageof "90".
Sheissurvivedbyherchildren,Darlene,John, Candee(Gary),andMark(Trine);hergrandsons, Shane,Derrick(Kim),David,andSteven;andgreatgrandchildren,Josh,Rylan,Tom,Grady,andPamela, aswellasbymanyniecesandnephews.
Sheisalsosurvivedbyherchosenchildrenand grandchildren,Mona(Tina,Rich,Jolene,andDarcy), Steve,andPat(Kevin).Averyspecialpersonin Mom’slifeisStan,herbestfriend’sson.
Sheispredeceasedbyherhusband,Roy,andher great-grandson,JarredGoyer.
ServicestobeheldatAssmansFuneralHomeat1:00 PMonMay7,2019.Aluncheonwillfollowandwill beannouncedaftertheservice.
WewouldliketothankDr.Khanforhisspecialcare ofMomandanextraheartfullthankstoallthestaff attheHospiceHouse.Youwereallsoverywonderful toMomandallofus.ThankyoualsotoPatforbeing byoursideeveryday.
Inlieuofflowers,pleasemakeadonationinmemory ofMomtotheHospiceHouse.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bernadette Slosmanis (née Atkin), on January 29th, 2019 at the age of 79. She passed away peacefully at Birchview Residences, surrounded by her loving family. Bernadette will be forever remembered by her loving husband Zigmund Slosmanis and daughter Natalie (Rodney) grand-children Emmett and Ella, sisters Helen, Mary (Alberto), Jane (David) and Julie, and brothers Roger (Christine), Trevor (Phyllis) and Michael (Rosemary), many nieces and nephews, as well as extended family and close friends in Prince George, Vancouver, Montreal and the UK. She is predeceased by her parents Mary Brenda Anita Atkin (Hall) and Albert James Atkin and sister, Theresa Cooper (Atkin). Bernadette had many passions in life including painting with watercolors (especially lilies and tulips), gardening, music, theater, literature and cooking delicious meals. She loved creating cards for family and friends of her artwork. We will always cherish Bernadette’s independent and feisty spirit, incredible intellect and strong determination. This spirit and the love we shared will help us move forward from this loss. Please join us in a celebration of her life on Saturday May 11, 2019 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Two Rivers Gallery, 725 Canada Games Way, Prince George, BC. We welcome family and friends to join us and share their memories and stories of this amazing and beautiful woman.
