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Hollywood strikes don’t address unique challenges faced by Canadian BIPOC creators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

TORONTO — Ongoing strikes by Hollywood actors and writers have kept discussions about fair compensation and job protection at the forefront of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, but Canadian film industry players who are Black, Indigenous and people of colour say that still doesn’t address the larger barriers they face. Canadian BIPOC filmmakers and actors say that while they support the striking members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writers Guild of America, they’re still fighting for visibility and support on this side of the border.Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, co-founder of the Black female-led Sunflower Studios, director of the film “When Morning Comes,” and co-director of the upcoming series “Bria Mack Gets A Life,” says the strikes, although significant, don’t tackle the issues that lead to the underrepresentation of BIPOC filmmakers in Canada.“When it comes to Canad...

Contract talks held up RCMP team’s response to Saskatchewan killings: emails

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

SASKATOON — A specialized RCMP team that deals with high-risk situations was not immediately available to respond to a stabbing rampage and hunt for a mass killer in Saskatchewan because of contract negotiations, internal emails show.Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show Ottawa’s Emergency Response Team-Special Activities Group, also known as ERT-SAG, was initially offered to help as Mounties responded the stabbing attacks on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon on Sept. 4, 2022.Chaos descended on the community as Myles Sanderson, 32, moved from home to home, busting down doors and attacking people. Eleven were killed and 17 were injured.Sanderson was arrested four days later and died in police custody.Emails between Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore, the commanding officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP, and other high-ranking Mounties show officers were working to catch up to Sanderson’s erratic movements. His brother, Damien Sanderso...

Policy gaps contributed to deadly gondola crash at Quebec’s Tremblant ski resort

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

MONTREAL — A deadly collision between a gondola and a drill rig at Quebec’s Mont Tremblant Ski Resort in July occurred, in part, because of incomplete procedures governing how construction equipment was to be moved on the property, a labour inspector has concluded.A Canadian soldier, Sgt. Sheldon Johnson, 50, of Kingston, Ont., died in the collision, and a woman in her 50s was severely injured after they were thrown from a sightseeing gondola that was struck by the mast of a drill rig on July 16. About one week later, a Quebec labour board inspector banned the movement of construction equipment on the site because the risk was too high that another collision would occur.The information is included in intervention reports obtained by The Canadian Press through an access to information request with Quebec’s labour board — Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail.“Information obtained during the investigation shows that the conditio...

Ng won’t confirm status of ‘Team Canada’ mission to India amid strained relations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

LONDON, Ont. — Trade Minister Mary Ng has spent the past four months talking up a major visit to India designed to boost Canadian exports to the world’s most populous country.But now she is not saying whether the trip is going ahead, raising questions about a halted trade deal amid frosty relations between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his counterpart in New Delhi.“I’m excited to do lots of trade missions to the Indo-Pacific,” Ng said Wednesday in London, Ont., when asked about the status of the trip.Ng is scheduled to lead a five-day “Team Canada” trade mission to Mumbai with leaders from Canadian businesses and provinces, leaving on Oct. 9.The trade mission, the first in Asia under Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, is focused on boosting Canadian clean-technology companies as a way to help meet India’s need for renewable energy.The Trade Commissioner Service says the trip would also seek to increase trade in sectors such as automot...

Alberta premier to address Calgary daycare E. coli outbreak as parents urge action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is to address the E. coli outbreak related to several Calgary daycares during a news conference this morning.There are 329 lab-confirmed cases of the bacterial infection related to an outbreak that was declared on Sept. 4.Thirteen children are still in hospital, 11 of whom have hemolytic uremic syndrome — a complication affecting the blood and kidneys.Six of those children are receiving dialysis.Smith is to be joined by Health Minister Adriana LaGrange, Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton, as well as chief medical officer of health Dr. Mark Joffe and other health officials from Calgary.The news conference comes a day after parents with children in the daycares sent an open letter asking Smith to do more to deal with the situation. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2023.The Canadian Press

Weather Network app can’t send alerts after cyberattack but Alert Ready working

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

OTTAWA — The Weather Network and MétéoMédia still can’t send weather alerts through push notifications from its app following a “malicious cyberattack” on Monday.But Pelmorex, the parent company of the two weather services, says the attack is not affecting the Alert Ready system it runs to send emergency notifications to cellphones when dangerous weather is imminent.On Sept. 11, the attack took down at least part of the The Weather Network and the two websites are still not providing full weather data four days later.The sites have restored the current temperature and forecast data, but other information such as whether it’s sunny, cloudy or raining right now, are missing.Karen Kheder, Pelmorex’s director of communications, says the attack is also preventing the company from sending its own weather alerts through push notifications to app users.However, she says the Alert Ready system, which Pelmorex runs for federal and provincial governments, uses sep...

Daily horoscope for September 15, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT today (6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Virgo into Libra.Happy Birthday for Friday, Sept. 15, 2023:You work hard to achieve your goals. You often specialize in something, and your success depends on your mastery of a technique. Simplicity is the key to life this year. It’s time to create solid foundations. Take charge of your health. Exercise and explore martial arts or yoga.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Unexpected changes related to your job are happening now. You might have felt these changes very recently, or they might happen today. It could be a minor change, or major. Likewise, sudden news that affects your health might arrive — even sudden news about your pet. Tonight: Cooperate.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Social occasions are different and exciting today, no question. This is the classic day to enjoy meeting new faces and seeing new places. Social plans might s...

Commissioner Sinkevičius on official visit to Bulgaria to discuss European Green Deal topics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius was in Sofia on 14 September where he met Nikolai Denkov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria; Julian Popov, Minister for Environment and Water; and Kiril Vatev, Minister of Agriculture and Food, as well as representatives of green NGOs and civil society. The discussions covered a range of topics including nature conservation, air quality, waste management, wastewater treatment, fisheries, as well as maritime security and environmental impacts of Russia's war on Ukraine.The recent devastating floods in the country was also on the agenda. The Commissioner will then visit an electricity station renovated with the support of EU funds to support e-transport and contribute to improving air quality in Sofia. In the afternoon, the Commissioner will have a joint meeting with members of the parliamentary committees of European Union Affairs, Schengen Area, and Euro Area, as well as with members of the Committees on Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and Environment an...

Aruba secured first place as the most attractive investment climate in the Caribbean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

Aruba is the perfect destination to expand your commercial horizons. While Dutch is the official language of Aruba, most residents speak a minimum of four languages, including English and Spanish, increasing accessibility to markets globally. Located at the southern edge of the Caribbean, Aruba is a strategic gateway to markets like Latin America, North America, and Europe. The Aruba infrastructure includes state-of-the-art seaport and airport facilities that complement excellent transportation of goods and people. With direct flight access and connectivity to major cities in the US and LATAM, Aruba facilitates business travel, trade, and connectivity, making it convenient for investors to access key markets.Living on the island also provides a unique island life experience while having everything you need within reach. The combination of beautiful beaches, a pleasant climate, and a welcoming community contribute to an enjoyable lifestyle with excellent family amenities. Aruba's isl...

New report: Antisemitic discourse and hate speech online and in media against Jewish community members remain a problem in Moldova

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:11 GMT

The Monument to the Victims of Jewish Ghetto in Chisinau, capital of Moldova.Antisemitic discourse and hate speech online and in media against Jewish community members remain a problem in Moldova, according to a new report on the status of Jewish-related issues in the South-eatsern European country.‘’Online publications about the community’s activities received hateful and insulting comments. Vandalism of Jewish sites and memorials also remains a problem,’’ the report, added, citing the local Jewish community.The report was commissioned by the Action & Protection League (APL), Europe’s leading organization for combating antisemitism. APL, which has office in Brussels, was founded to explore the causes of modern-day antisemitism and to implement effective defense.Together with the European Jewish Association (EJA), a group representing hundreds of Jewish communities in Europe, which is engaged across Europe in the fight against antisemitism and safeguarding freedom of religion fo...