April 2005 in Canada

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Deaths 23 — George Pan Cosmatos 22 — Robert Farnon 3 — Frank Clair 1 — Lazare Gionet Ongoing events Canadian federal budget, 2005 2005 Quebec student strike National Hockey League labour dispute U.S.-Canada softwood lumber dispute Same-sex marriage debate Judy Sgro controversy/"Strippergate" Sponsorship scandal Events 30 April–15 May: Ice hockey: Men's World Championship

Events in Canada

This page deals with current events in Canada, of interest to Canada and/or involving Canadians.

April 30, 2005

• A United States Air Force Titan IVB rocket passes over the Hibernia oil fields without incident. Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams had concerns that the rocket could cause damage to the oil platforms if it dropped any debris. The news of the launch prompted many oil companies to evacuate the platforms near the intended destination, a few kilometres from the oil fields.^[1]
• Around 50 cases of rubella (German measles) are confirmed near London, Ontario. Officials are not overly concerned because most people are immunized against the disease, but warn it can have dangerous consequences for unimmunized children and pregnant women. (CBC)
• The Grande Bibliothèque du Québec, a 33,000-m², 4-million-volume library, opens in Montreal. It is the central branch of the Bibliothèque nationale du Québec.^[2]

April 29, 2005

• A 63-year-old Ottawa man dies during an attempt to scale Mount Everest. Dr. Sean Egan left base camp in order to seek medical assistance, but died during the descent, possible from a cardiac arrest. Egan was an experienced mountain climber.^[3]
• The provincial governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan both sign a deal with Ottawa to further the development of a national child-care program. The federal government is giving $26 million to Manitoba and $22 million to Saskatchewan.^[4]
• The RCMP charges Gregory Alan Despres of New Brunswick with the first degree murder of Fred Fulton and Verna Decarie. The couple were found dead on Tuesday.^[5]
• Two boys 12- and 15-year-old boys are charged with arson in connection to the fire at the plastics factory in Cobourg, Ontario. The fire occurred on April 25/26 and caused damage to both property and life, throwing the town into a state of emergency.^[6][7][8]
• Polls indicate that the Liberals and Conservatives are tied in public opinion. This is in contrast to previous polls, which showed the Conservatives leading by a significant margin.^[9][10]

April 28, 2005

• The Albertan Utilities Consumer Advocate Advisory Council presents a report to the province illustrating the lack of success in North America in deregulating electricity markets. Alberta plans to completely deregulate its electricity market by July 2006.^[11]
• U.S. President George W. Bush officially nominates David Wilkins as the new American ambassador to Canada.^[12]
• Ontario's coroner investigates the death of a two-year-old boy in a Toronto hospital. The boy was suffering from diarrhea and vomiting and died waiting in emergency room while waiting to see a doctor.^[13]
• New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton attacks the Conservatives over their political alliance with the Bloc Québécois and its impact on the Atlantic Accord. Layton says that the separatist Bloc does not support the Accord, which would allow Nova Scotia and other Maritime provinces to collect millions in its offshore oil revenue.^[14]
• The Anglican Church of Canada decides to postpone the blessing of same-sex unions for another two years. Seventy bishops made the decision in Windsor, Ontario. This decision comes after the Anglican Communion criticized both the Anglican Church of Canada and the U.S. Episcopal Church on the issue of homosexuality.^[15][16]
• The Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ontario prevents a priest from performing mass for prisoners when it prohibits the priest from bringing in the two ounces (59 mL) of wine.^[17]
• Police are called in to control Newfoundland crab fishermen in the Confederation Building. The fishermen were angry over the Speaker's decision to close the legislature's gallery because of disruptions by the fishermen. Fishermen are angry over the government's introduction of crab quotas.^[18][19]

April 27, 2005

• An elderly Albertan woman enters day 3 of her hunger strike to raise awareness of the state of Alberta's long-term care facilities.^[20]
• Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta Frank Work says Edmonton police officers illegally used computer systems to seek information about two critics of the Edmonton force, namely Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte and former police commission chairman Martin Ignasiak. Diotte and Ignasiak were the targets of a failed police drunk driving sting November 2004.^[21]
• Sponsorship scandal: Justice John Gomery lifts the publication ban again after testimony from Paul Coffin. Coffin says that he falsified bills for his firm during the sponsorship program at the request of Chuck Guité.^[22][23]
• Conservative Leader Stephen Harper condemns Paul Martin's deal with the NDP, calling it a "deal with the devil" and accusing Martin of trying to buy more time for his Liberal minority government. Harper announces that he will attempt to push a motion of no confidence through the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity. Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe implies that he will support that motion. (CBC) ^[24]
• New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton criticizes Paul Martin when the Prime Minister announces that corporate tax cuts may be introduced as legislation separate to budget. Layton previously made a deal with Martin to remove those tax cuts from the budget in return for NDP support.^[25]
• Vancouver City Council votes in favour of lobbying the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia to introduce a "pay by the kilometre" insurance scheme, suggesting it might encourage people to drive less and, thereby, reduce traffic congestion.^[26]
• Polls in Quebec suggest that about 54% of the population would support a sovereignty referendum at this time. The damaging effect of the sponsorship scandal on the Quebec Liberal Party is a contributing factor.^[27]

April 26, 2005

• Canadian federal budget, 2005: NDP leader Jack Layton and Prime Minister Paul Martin announce that they have reached an "agreement in principle" to ensure the NDP's support against any vote of no confidence until after the 2005 budget is passed. The alliance may not be enough to defeat a vote of no confidence since the Liberals and NDP only have 151 seats combined compared to the Conservative and Bloc Québécois combination of 153 seats. There are three independent MPs and one vacant seat.^[28][29]
  • The agreement will move tax cuts for large corporations from the budget to a separate piece of legislation and spend $4.6 billion over two years from this year's $9 billion surplus on social programs, which will likely include:
    • $1.6 billion for affordable housing and aboriginal housing
    • $1.5 billion for post-secondary education tuition fees
    • $900 million for energy retrofits for low income home-owners
    • $500 million for foreign aid
    • $100 million to compensate seniors who have lost pensions due to companies declaring bankruptcy
  • Conservative leader Stephen Harper reacts with disdain and tells the media that the Liberals are trying to buy their way out of the corruption scandal with taxpayers' money.
• A 61-year-old handyman in Calgary known as the "Hemlock Rapist" pleads guilty to eight sex-related charges.^[30]
• A class action lawsuit is filed in Calgary against a payday loan company that charged 15000% interest on loans.^[31]
• Nortel buys an American information technology firm, PEC Solutions, for $448 million US in cash.^[32]
• The federal government pledges $25 million for a new theatre in Toronto which will be home to the Toronto International Film Festival. This new money matches the province of Ontario's $25 million contribution and raises the total raised thus far to $95 million.^[33]

April 25, 2005

• One person dies and one person is sick from necrotizing fasciitis in Manitoba.^[34]
• At least 1700 seal carcasses, mostly young pups, wash up on the shore of Newfoundland's northern peninsula. It is believed they all died from heavy ice conditions in a storm.^[35]
• General Motors recalls 97,000 vehicles in Canada due to a faulty seat belt design.^[36]
• The federal government announces a plan $75 million in new funding for the accreditation of foreign-trained medical professionals.^[37]
• A report from Statistics Canada shows that Canadians are better educated today compared to the early-1980s but real wages have remained the same or declined.^[38]
• NDP Leader Jack Layton says that he will vote with the Liberals on a motion of confidence if Paul Martin removes corporate tax breaks from the federal budget.^[39]
• A five-day campaign known as "Drop the Pop" begins in Nunavut. The campaign, aimed particularly at students and children, will promote healthier alternatives to soft drinks, such as juice and milk, and raise awareness about obesity, tooth decay, and diabetes.^[40]
• Same-sex marriage in Canada: four same-sex couples in New Brunswick file suit for the right to marry under the Charter. This challenge, the first to be filed in over five months, would make New Brunswick the eighth of ten provinces to recognize same-sex marriage.^[41]
• An economic assessment of the Canadian Forces army, navy and airforce reveals that they are over-stretched and either require higher levels or funding or a smaller role in international and domestic commitments.^[42]

April 24, 2005

• Team Canada wins the silver medal at the 2005 men's under-18 hockey championship. The US wins gold and Sweden wins bronze.^[43]
• A single mother of four children is shot to death at a Toronto nightclub.^[44]

April 22, 2005

• For Earth Day 1000 Canadian Inuit in Nunavut come together to form the phrase "Arctic Warning: Listen" which could only be seen from the air. They are raising awareness of the impacts of global warming on the Arctic.^[45]

April 21, 2005

• The Quebecor subsidiary, Vidéotron, an internet service provider, admits to regularly giving the personal details of its customers to other companies and will identify customers, without a court order, at the request of the Canadian Recording Industry Association.^[46]
• Sponsorship scandal: Prime Minister Paul Martin, in a televised address to the nation, promises a general election within 30 days after the release of the Gomery Report, which will likely occur in December 2005. The opposition parties react with disdain and reserve the right to force an election before then.^{[47][48][49][50]}
• In a study of 34 countries concerning obesity in youth, Canada ranks as the fourth most obese country. Only Malta, United States, and England ranked higher.^[51]
• Despite objections from the city of Windsor, the federal government and the province of Ontario announce plans to impose $129 million worth of road widenings in Windsor that lead to Ambassador Bridge.^[52][53]
• The Supreme Court of Canada agrees to hear a charter challenge on British Columbia's Bill 29 which in 2002 negated collective bargaining agreements with health care unions, privatized some health care services, imposed pays cuts on nurses and other government support staff, and terminated approximately 8000 health care jobs.^[54]

April 20, 2005

• Sponsorship scandal: Prime Minister Paul Martin requests that the national networks provide him with five minutes of airtime to speak directly to Canadians about the sponsorship scandal. CBC Newsworld and CTV News Channel will carry the live address at 7:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Thursday evening. CTV say they will immediately carry a response from Conservative leader Stephen Harper, while the CBC has not yet said if it will carry the opposition leader's response. New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton demands equal airtime on both networks.^[55][56]
• In Bountiful, British Columbia, a group of women defend their lifestyle to the media and say they are not being abused. The town is populated by a fundamentalist Mormon sect that practises polygamy.^[57]
• In Oslo, Norway, Canadian Inuit leader Sheila Watt-Cloutier wins the 2005 Sophie Prize for drawing attention to the impact of climate change and pollution on the traditional lifestyles of the Arctic's indigenous people and others. The prize will be presented on June 15 at a ceremony in Oslo.^[58]
• In Manitoba on the north shore of the Nelson River, about 500 kilometers north of Winnipeg, a ferry operator Bobby Clarke claims to have recorded 2m 49s video of Bigfoot. Although Clarke has screened it to hundreds of locals; he is holding out for a TV network to pay for it.^[59]

April 19, 2005

• A multiple sclerosis painkiller, Sativex, is approved for prescription use in Canada. The drug is delivered as a spray under the tongue and each dose will carry 2.7 milligrams of THC.^[60]
• In Alberta, the provincial government imposes a 6% reduction in auto insurance for non-high-risk drivers after only 13 of Alberta's 70 private insurance companies voluntarily lowered their rates at the request of the government. The cuts will be effective as of July 1.^[61]
• Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announces plans to build a $350 million entertainment complex beside the Air Canada Centre. They expect the project to be complete by 2009.^[62]
• Air Canada and Air China are agreeing to triple the amount of direct flights between the two countries.^[63]

April 18, 2005

• The Liberals cancel an opposition day scheduled for the Conservatives on Wednesday, April 20 in order to delay an expected motion of no confidence that the Tories planned to table. In response, the Tories say they will no longer co-operate in order to keep the government afloat.^[64]
• The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Joe Volpe announces proposed immigration reforms that include allowing international students at public post-secondary institutions to work off-campus while completing their studies, allowing students to work for two years, rather than one year, after their graduation, and spending $72 million over two years to increase processing of parent and grandparent applications and to cover integration costs once they arrive in Canada.^[65]
• General Electric pays $1.4 billion cash and assumes $1 billion of debt from Bombardier as part of the deal for Bombardier Capital's Inventory Finance Division, whose four main units provide financing for snowmobiles, boats, trailers, recreational vehicles and manufactured housing.^[66]
• As part of Prince Rupert's port expansion, CN Rail is increasing its upgrades from $15 million to $30 million and acquiring $125 million in new locomotives and rolling stock.^[67]
• Telus is beginning lock out measures against the Telecommunications Workers Union despite four years of negotiations which included federal conciliators and mediators.^[68]

April 17, 2005

• Albertan transportation minister Lyle Oberg announces plans to require truck drivers to train as professionals. The 37-week pilot program will be run through Red Deer College in central Alberta.^[69]

April 16, 2005

• Calgary police have begun a letter campaign which they hope will help address the increasing problem of road rage. When incidents are reported by citizens a letter is sent to the alleged offender they are still accountable for their actions. This has raised some concern over privacy and potential abuse of the system.^[70]

April 15, 2005

• In Vancouver, an agreement on sharing gas tax revenue is signed by PM Paul Martin, BC Premier Gordon Campbell and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The deal will bring about $630 million to BC municipalities. However, Vancouver mayor Larry Campbell warns that the deal must first be approved by the Cabinet and the Treasury Board and a federal election might kill the deal.^[71][72]
• The Boston Globe retracts a story about the opening of the seal hunt on the east coast where the reporter Barbara Stewart falsely reported events of the day.^[73]
• In Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the federal government and provincial government are each putting $30 million towards expanding the port facilities to cope with the surge in trade with China. The New Jersey-based port operator will put $60 million towards the project and CN Rail will spend at least $15 million to match their facilities to the upgrades.^[74][75]
• U.S.-Canada softwood lumber dispute: Minister of International Trade (Canada) Jim Peterson announces that the federal government will give $20 million to Canadian softwood lumber associations for its legal expenses in fighting its trade dispute with the United States.^[76]

April 14, 2005

• Influential writer Jane Jacobs wins the fifth annual Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing from the Writers' Trust of Canada for her book Dark Age Ahead.^[77][78]
• A member of Canada's elite military unit Joint Task Force 2, who disappeared several years ago, reappeared at a Canadian embassy in Bangkok. His disappearance was of special concern because of his special knowledge of explosives, land mines and booby traps.^[79][80]

April 13, 2005

• The Government of Alberta's 2005 budget is tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta by finance minister Shirley McClellan. The debt-free government expects a $1.5 billion surplus in the coming fiscal year, although that could increase if energy prices reach expected levels.^[81]
• Prominent white supremacist and founder of the Heritage Front, Wolfgang Droege, is shot to death in his apartment. One suspect is arrest at the scene.^[82]
• The Liberals present its Kyoto Protocol plan to the House of Commons.^[83]
• David Kilgour, the Liberal Member of Parliament representing Edmonton-Beaumont quits the Liberal Party of Canada. He will sit as a Liberal-leaning Independent.^[84]
• Through the Canadian Debt Initiative, Canada is cancelling the debt owed to it by the highly impoverished nations of Rwanda, Zambia and Honduras.^[85]
• A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows that Aboriginal Canadians are four times as likely to suffer a serious injury and twice as likely to die from them than non-native Canadians. The study considers status-only Aboriginal.^[86]

April 12, 2005

• Same-sex marriage in Canada: the government's Bill C-38 survives a vote, 164-132, on a wrecking amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, introduced by the Conservative Party of Canada.^[87]* Kelly Ellard Trial: In her third trial Kelly Ellard is found guilty of second-degree murder in the 1997 death of 14-year-old Reena Virk. The court still has to decide how long she will have to serve before being eligible to apply for parole.^[88]
• The B.C. Supreme Court awards $130,000 in compensation to a pedestrian who, while crossing at an intersection, was hit by a cyclist.^[89]
• A former inspector for the United States Department of Agriculture testifies to a Canadian House of Commons committee that officials in the U.S. are covering up mad cow disease incidences.^[90]

April 11, 2005

• The roster for Team Canada at the Men's World Championship of hockey is announced.^[91]
• The BC Supreme Court rules that a 14-year-old girl, who is a Jehovah's Witness, cannot refuse a blood transfusion as part of her cancer treatment even if it is against her religious beliefs.^[92]
• A new EKOS poll estimates the Conservatives to have the support of 36.5% of decided voters, while the Liberals are down to 25%. The New Democratic Party was at 20.5% support while the Bloc Québécois was at 12.6%. The poll represents the lowest level of support the Liberal Party has had since taking office in 1993, and is the first time the newly merged Conservative Party has had a statistical lead.^[93]
• Four class-action lawsuits are being coordinated against the government of Canada and an Australian-based feed maker seeking $7 billion on behalf of 100,000 farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. The suit claims a federal monitoring system lost track of 80 imported cattle, one of which was infected with mad cow disease and later ground into feed for other cattle. The suit targets the Australian-based feed maker for selling feed that was possibly contaminated and also targets Canada for allowing the Canadian farmers to buy feed that contained ground cattle brains and spinal cords.^[94][95]
• A Quebec shock jock is being ordered to pay $340,000 in moral damages, punitive damages, and legal fees after losing a defamation lawsuit brought on by a weather reporter who was disrespected on-air. The original lawsuit sought $750,000.^[96]

April 10, 2005

• After finishing in a six-way tie for first with an 8-3 record, Canada won the Men's Curling Championship with a 4-0 playoff record. Scotland placed second with Germany in third.^[97]
• Certain 128 mL President's Choice Baby Foods jars are being recalled due to a problem with the seals.^[98]

April 9, 2005

• At the 2005 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships, after going undefeated in the tournament, Canada lost the gold medal match to the United States in a shootout with a score of 3-1. The 60 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime ended scoreless 0-0 which forced the shootout. Canada had not given up a single goal before the shootout.^[99]

April 8, 2005

• After adding 4400 new jobs in March, Canada's unemployment rate fell to a 4-year low of 6.9%. However, the new employment is almost solely part-time jobs and the drop in the overall rate is attributed to fewer people looking for employment.^[100]
• In a study of 22 national governments by Accenture Consulting, the Government of Canada is ranked first in terms of customer service in egovernment services.^[101][102]
• A class-action lawsuit against the federal government, the province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto is being heard. The suit seeks $600 million in damages based on the decision to lift anti-SARS measures shortly after the World Health Organization issued a travel advisory against the city.^[103]

April 7, 2005

• Scotiabank is suing Argentina for US$650 million claiming the Argentine Central Bank discriminated against the Canadian bank during Argentina's banking crisis.^[104]
• The CBC will cease its operations with Newsworld International on July 31, 2005. The news channel was bought by a group led by Al Gore and will be rebranded to target Americans aged 18–34 years old.^[105]
• An eight-year study on public health and obesity in Canada is published. It ranks Vancouver as the slimmest city and Saskatoon as the most overweight city.^[106][107]
• Representatives of the government of Canada withdraw from a business conference with Iran in protest of the case of deceased journalist Zahra Kazemi. Kazemi died in Iranian police custody and Iranian refugee doctor Shahram Azam says that she had extensive injuries and had been tortured. Iranian officials deny the charges. Canada has unsuccessfully demanded return of Kazemi's body ^[108][109]

April 6, 2005

• Conservative leader Stephen Harper says he will not join the Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party and defeat a Liberal budget bill later this month. Such a defeat would have constituted a vote of no confidence and forced the 39th Canadian federal election.^[110]

April 5, 2005

• The Drug Expenditure in Canada: 1985-2004 report released today says that Canadians are spending 500% as much money on drugs today than in 1985 and 8.8% more than one year ago. About 80% of drug expenditure goes towards prescription drugs while the other 20% is spent on non-prescription drugs.^[111]
• Canadian federal budget, 2005: Conservative Members of Parliament are pressuring leader Stephen Harper to join the Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party and defeat a Liberal budget bill later this month. Such a defeat would constitute a vote of no confidence and force the 39th Canadian federal election.^[112]
• The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Canadian Geographic magazine have launched a free, bilingual, web-based atlas of Canada.^[113][114]

April 4, 2005

• Sponsorship scandal: Over the weekend testimony from Jean Brault that was under a publication ban was published on American blogs. Justice Gomery has no jurisdiction over these blogs, but Canadians who go so far as to publish the blog's web address could still face prosecution and jail time.^[115]

April 3, 2005

• Former immigration minister Judy Sgro launches a new legal action against deported pizza store owner Harjit Singh, whose allegations of influence-peddling caused Sgro to resign and sue Singh for defamation. Sgro is challenging Singh's right to quietly sell his upscale home to his daughter and son-in-law — she is seeking $50,000, along with a court declaration annulling the property transfer. Sgro claims the sale was a fraudulent attempt to hide Singh's assets.^[116]

April 2, 2005

• Quebec student strike: The government and the main student federations come to an agreement whose adoption is strongly recommended to individual associations, who will vote on during the week.^[117]

April 1, 2005

• Cuba reopens its border to Canadian cattle after being closed for two years.^[118]
• Ontario and Quebec are joining Manitoba in their opposition to a water diversion project in North Dakota that could contaminate the north-flowing Red River.^[119]
• A man in Calgary is in a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after jumping off the roof of a 40-storey building and smashing windows on the 24th and 5th storeys on the way down.^[120]

News collections and sources

• Wikipedia:News collections and sources.
• Wikipedia:News sources — This has much of the same material organised in a hierarchical manner to help encourage NPOV in our news reporting.

References