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Jail Escapees Back In Custody

A trio of men who broke out of the Dauphin Correctional Centre on Sunday morning are now back in jail.
 
One of the suspects was arrested shortly after the initial report, while the other two allegedly broke into a business in Cowan and stole alcohol while on the run.
 
They were arrested by Swan River RCMP around 3:30 Sunday morning.
 
Charges for the alleged break-in and theft are not known at this time, but all three are facing a charge of escape custody.
 
Doer To End Stint As Ambassador
 
It's the end of an era for Canada's most important diplomatic
post as former Manitoba premier Gary Doer has confirmed his
longer-than-usual stint as ambassador to the United States is about
to conclude.

Doer says he'll help prepare the transition to a new Liberal
government and will leave it to the incoming government to pick the
specific departure date.

Rumours about his impending departure had been swirling for
months given that his six-year D.C. stint had already lasted longer
than his last two predecessors combined.

Doer hinted he could be returning home, saying he's never sold
his house in Winnipeg or his cabin in the province.
 
New Rating System For Truck Washing Facilities
 
Truck wash facilities in western Canada are using a new rating
system to determine if they are meeting biosecurity criteria.

One of the goals of the Western Canadian Swine Transport Wash
Program is to make sure employees are following the proper wash
procedures.

Mark Fynn is the manager of Animal Health and Welfare Programs
with Manitoba Pork.

He says the program was developed in the summer of 2014 to help
fight the PED outbreak. Fourteen wash facilities across western
Canada have participated in the program.
 
Very Small Cancer Risk From Processed Meats Says CCA
 
The World Health Organization says hot dogs, bacon and other
processed meats can lead to colon, stomach and other cancers.

But the Canadian Cattlemen's Association says the risk is very
small.

Spokesman Mark Klassen says as long as you're not eating bacon at
every meal and you're following the recommendations of Canada's Food
Guide, there's no reason to stop processed meat.

Health Canada says it will review the findings of the agency and
will update its dietary guidance if necessary.
 
Canada Post Suspending Community Mailbox Installations
 
Canada Post has delivered a surprise to hundreds of thousands of
Canadians by announcing it is suspending the installation of
community mailboxes.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it's thrilled with the
news, which mirrors the Trudeau Liberals' campaign pledge to scrap
the move away from door-to-door delivery.

It means nearly a half-million households that were to be
converted to superboxes by year's end will get to keep their current
home mail service.

The postal workers' union says it will push the new government to
reverse the door-to-door service cuts made to other households over
the last 10 months.
 
Trudeau To Attend Ken Taylor Funeral
 
Prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau will be in Toronto to
attend today's church funeral for Canada's former ambassador to
Iran, Ken Taylor.

Taylor garnered international fame for helping six Americans
escape Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis.

What became known as the ``Canadian Caper'' was the subject of a
book, and more recently the Oscar-winning Hollywood movie ``Argo.''

Taylor made further headlines when he complained Ben Affleck's
film minimized Canada's role in the crisis, and Affleck acknowledged
his concerns at the film's end.

The 81-year-old Taylor died of cancer 10 days ago in New York.

 

Former Rebel Minister Leaving Politics

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says his former health minister is
leaving a hole to fill now she's decided to quit politics.

He says Theresa Oswald made an important contribution to the
party.

Oswald came close to unseating Selinger in a leadership revolt
last year but says she made the decision not to run in the
provincial election next spring with her family.

She adds she doesn't have a job lined up and is open to helping
the New Democrats win re-election.
 
Province Approves Loan Guarantee For Fixing Bombers Stadium
 
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says he hopes insurance covers a
``significant portion'' of the costs to the ongoing problems at
Winnipeg's new football stadium.

The NDP government has approved a loan guarantee of at least $35
million for stadium owners Triple B to cover the cost of a
slew of new repairs at Investors Group Field.

Selinger says he's frustrated, but they have no choice but to fix
the problems.

The builder and the stadium's owners are currently locked in a
lawsuit over who's to blame for problems at the stadium.
 
Bombers Join Campaign Ending Violence Against Women
 
The CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers have joined a public education
campaign aimed at ending violence against women.

The campaign features commercials with Bombers including coach
Buck Pierce and cornerback Matt Bucknor.

The Blue Bombers will also lead more than 100 school workshops on
the issue.

Premier Greg Selinger says the players are role models who have a
chance to teach young people that men don't commit violence against
women
 
Study Examining Bats Role In Climate Change
 
An effort spanning 31 states and 10 Canadian provinces has been
working to better understand the ecological role that bats play, and
the threats they face from climate change, habitat loss and wind
energy development.

The North American Bat Monitoring Program involves acoustic
surveys to detect the high-pitched frequencies emitted by the flying
mammals as they capture bugs and navigate in the dark.

Researchers say the monitoring program has been spurred by a
disease called white-nose syndrome that has killed millions of bats
and is spreading.

Scientists say one threat to bats are wind farms, where as many
as 800-thousand bats die annually in collisions with spinning
blades.
 
Ag Ex Begins Tomorrow In Brandon
 
The Manitoba Livestock Expo isn't just about cattle anymore.

While the newly branded Manitoba Ag Ex will still feature cattle
shows with over 100 exhibitors and almost 600 head of cattle, it has
some new components, like a stock-dog competition.

Ag Ex general manager Ron Kristjansson says they'll also have
Wheat City Wild Bull riding.

Ag Ex runs from tomorrow to Saturday, with cattle shows open to
the public free of charge.
 
MLA Wins 50/50 At Bombers Game
 
A Manitoba member of the legislature was the big winner of the
50/50 draw at the last Winnipeg Blue Bombers game.

Minto MLA Andrew Swan, a longtime season-ticket holder, had the
winning number.

That means the former justice minister took home more than
$163,000.

Swan was one of the Rebel Five MLA's who publicly questioned
Premier Greg Selinger's leadership ability last November.

 

Population Growing On The Prairies

Statistics Canada says Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta had the
highest average population growth of all provinces from 2011 to
2014.

Their study recorded Canada's overall population growth as 1.1
per cent each year. The Prairies have a younger population compared
to the rest of Canada, with more children up to 14 years old than
adults 65 or older.

Statistics Canada projects the Prairie provinces could surpass
Quebec's population in less than 50 years while the Atlantic
provinces could decrease to less than five per cent of the country's
population.
 
Winnipeg Couple Sentenced For Series Of Crimes
 
A Winnipeg woman who, along with her boyfriend, led police on a
series of stolen car chases across Manitoba has been sentenced to
time served.

Brittany Kehler, who is 26, spent the past 16 months behind bars
for stealing cars, evading police and almost hitting an officer
during the summer of 2014.

Matthew Martens, who is 24, was sentenced earlier this year to 10
years in prison for his role in the crimes.

Defence lawyer Brett Gladstone told court that Kehler was blinded
by love and wants to be Martens's wife.
 
Study Shows Trudeau Has Room To Tax The Wealthy
 
As Justin Trudeau prepares to be sworn in as prime minister next
week, a new study says his incoming Liberal majority government has
lots of room to raise taxes on the wealthiest Canadians as pledged.

A study done by the left-leaning think tank the Canadian Centre
for Policy Alternatives says Trudeau can hike the top marginal
income rate on those earning $200,000 or more and still
leave their tax rates lower than they were 40 years ago.

It notes Canada, on average, has become a low-tax jurisdiction
for the rich compared with the US and there's little evidence that
higher taxes would drive the wealthy out of Canada.
 
More Health Issues For Former Toronto Mayor
 
Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford says he's dealing with another
health scare -- a tumour is growing on his bladder.

The tumour was found recently after he'd experienced abdominal
pain, and more tests are being done to determine if the growth is
cancerous.

The city councillor underwent several rounds of chemo and then
surgery in May, to remove a cancerous tumour from his abdomen.

Last month, Ford reported he was cancer-free, but ``not out of
the woods yet.''
 
North Dakota Researching Hemp Industry
 
North Dakota's agriculture department is launching a research
program to help determine whether industrial hemp can be a viable
commodity in the state.

Eight years ago, the department issued the nation's first
hemp-growing licenses to two farmers, one of whom was a state
lawmaker.

But efforts to further the industry were hampered by federal drug
law, which doesn't differentiate between marijuana and its cousin,
hemp, which can be used for a variety of products, including rope,
paper, lotion and cooking oil.

A provision in the 2014 federal farm bill changed things,
allowing for universities and state agriculture departments to
research hemp in states that permit its cultivation. North Dakota
State University already has started hemp research at its centre in
Langdon.
 
Milestone For The Snowbirds
 
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds are 45 years old this week!

The aerobatics squad is based at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, but
yesterday, anniversary celebrations were held in Regina.

The precision flying team has performed at more than 2500
airshows.

 

Manitoba Companies Upset That Province Isn't Part Of Trade Deal

Manitoba companies could be shut out of some contracts in other
western provinces under a regional trade deal that stops at the
Saskatchewan boundary.

Manitoba is the only western province that did not sign on to the
New West Partnership in 2010.

In recent weeks, the Saskatchewan government has started
expressing preferential treatment for companies in provinces that
have signed the trade deal.

A new contract offer for fencing for SaskEnergy says the utility
may opt to only accept bids from Saskatchewan, Alberta and British
Columbia.

That's not going over well with the Winnipeg Construction
Association, which says its 700 members don't want to lose out on
business opportunities.
 
Province Launches Awareness Program Aimed At Curbing Sex Trafficking
 
The Manitoba government and community groups have launched an
awareness program aimed at curbing sex trafficking during Grey Cup
Week in Winnipeg.

The program, called Buying Sex Is Not a Sport, provides a
24-hour-a-day phone hotline for people impacted by sexual
exploitation.

Posters will be placed in 40 sports bars and restaurants and on
transit buses. Stickers with the campaign message will also be
placed in cabs.

Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh says football is a great sport
but predators are not going to be welcome in the city during the
Canadian Football League festivities.
 
Conservatives Break Funding Record During Quarter
 
Although the Conservatives may have lost the election of 11 days
ago, they still lead the fundraising race.

The Tory party says it raised more than $10 million in the
third quarter of this year.

It's the biggest quarterly haul on record for any federal party,
surpassing their own 2011 record of $8.2-million.
 
New Clubroot Resistant Canola Variety Officially Registered
 
A new clubroot resistant canola variety received its official
registration this week. Proven Seed PV 580 GC was developed by
Crop Production Services, a subsidiary of Agrium.

Jamie Mills, CPS canola product line manager, says it is the
first true multigenic clubroot resistant variety. Most of the
research happened at Innovation Place in Saskatoon.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Alberta
assisted in identifying new genetic sources to combat clubroot.

It is important because new virulent pathotypes of the canola
disease, referred to as 5X, are being found in parts of
north-central Alberta.
 
Anniversary Of Quebec Independence Referendum
 
It was 20 years ago today that Quebecers came within a whisker of
voting to leave Canada.

The sovereignty referendum of October 30th, 1995 saw the
federalist side win by a threadbare margin of less than one
percentage point.

Federalists, including former Quebec premier Jean Charest, say
the sovereigntists lost because Canada's federal system of
government works.

That said, Charest adds ``the sovereignty movement in Quebec is
not going to go away.''
 
Time Change Takes Place This Weekend
 
This is the weekend most Canadians switch from daylight time to
standard time.

Before going to bed tomorrow night, turn your clocks and watches
back one hour.

Some parts of Canada don't observe the time change, including
almost all of Saskatchewan, which is on central standard time
year-round.

 

Manitoba Beef Producers Says Red Meat Cancer Risk Is Minimal

A World Health Organization report suggests there's a link between eating red meat and certain kinds of cancer, but local producers don't believe it.

Melinda German of Manitoba Beef Producers believes the risk is minimal, and that red meat is still a part of a healthy diet.

"Red Meat still has very high nutritional benefits and value, and like anything it should be in moderation and definitely it is a strong part of the Canadian Food Guide."

The WHO came out yesterday saying their study was misinterpreted, and they recommend reducing red meat consumption, not cutting it out altogether.

Health Canada Issues Warning About Propane Gas

Don't rely on your nose to check if your propane tank is properly
sealed.

Health Canada issued an alert yesterday saying certain propane
gas sold in Manitoba and Saskatchewan lack the required odour
additive and may pose a safety risk.

In Canada, propane is required to have a certain level of
odourant added in order to alert consumers if there's a gas leak.

Health Canada said failure to detect leaking gas can pose fire,
explosion and burn hazards to people if the gas is in the presence
of an ignition source.

The affected propane gas was manufactured by Crescent Point
Energy and sold between April 2009 and October 2015.
 
Winnipeg Police Investigating Homicide In St. Boniface
 
Winnipeg police are investigating a homicide in St. Boniface.

The incident happened yesterday morning. Police say a 49-year-old
woman was found dead and are calling the circumstances suspicious.

Police have taped off a business on Marion Street near Defresne
Avenue as well the back lane immediately behind the store.

Residents and workers in the area say they did not hear or see
anything unusual.
 
More Candidates For Interim Conservative Leader
 
The number of Conservative MPs in the race to become the party's
interim leader has grown to six.

They are Rona Ambrose, Rob Nicholson, Diane Finley, Erin O'Toole,
Candice Bergen, and Mike Lake.

The Conservative caucus will pick an interim leader when it meets
next Thursday.
 
Halloween Safety Tips From RCMP
 
Halloween is tonight, and one thing that is always an issue on the creepiest of holidays is safety.

The darkness of night can lead to unsafe conditions for trick or treating kids.

Dauphin RCMP Constable Rob Tuff says the easiest way to keep kids safe is to make sure they can be seen by oncoming traffic.

"Trick or Treaters are encouraged to wear lighter coloured clothing, have a flashlight with you if possible. One thing that has been used in previous years is a blinking light."

Constable Tuff also recommends kids travel in groups, and with parents if possible.

The Clocks Fall Back Tonight

Many Canadians will be getting an extra hour of sleep tonight as
most of the country switches from daylight saving time to standard
time.

Before going to bed, turn your timepieces back an hour.

Some parts of Canada don't observe the time change, including
almost all of Saskatchewan, which is on central standard time
year-round.

Daylight saving time returns on March 13th.

 

Salvation Army Fire Treated As Suspicious

The Dauphin Fire Department was called out to a fire in the clothing bin at the Salvation Army last night.
 
Fire Chief Cam Abrey says the DFD was dispatched to the scene just after 11:00pm last night.
 
The fire was quickly extinguished by the crews and there was no damage to the building itself.
 
The fire is being treated as suspicious, and anyone with information is asked to contact Dauphin RCMP.
 
City's Fall Clean-Up Begins Next Week
 
The City of Dauphin's fall clean-up campaign begins next week.
 
Starting October 13, city crews will be collecting garden waste, grass, leaves, shrubs and tree branches, and the city is asking residents to put their waste in a clearly identifiable pile in their back lanes.
 
Residents without a back lane are asked to put their items on the boulevard near the curb.
 
Red Dresses Hanging In Several Winnipeg Locations
 
Red dresses were seen hanging in several spots in Winnipeg
yesterday in recognition of murdered or missing aboriginal women.

Five years ago, Metis artist Jaime Black photographed hanging red
dresses, which to her symbolized the missing or murdered women no
longer around to wear them.

She asked Canadians to join in this year by displaying a red
dress in a public place yesterday in remembrance for missing and
murdered indigenous women.

Seven dresses were seen hanging from the fence surrounding the
memorial for 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, whose body was found last
year in Winnipeg wrapped in a bag.
 
TPP Announcement Could Impact Election Campaign
 
A major trade deal may be the big campaign issue today for the
federal party leaders.

A Trans-Pacific Partnership accord could be announced this
morning in Atlanta, where trade ministers from 12 nations, including
Canada, have been involved in marathon talks for five days.

An announcement was set to be made yesterday, but was delayed
several times.

Insiders say snags were hit in negotiations on next-generation
pharmaceuticals and Canadian dairy concerns.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says Canada must be part of any
TPP deal, but he objects to the secretive way in which the
Conservatives have conducted these talks.
 
PED Investigation Finds Similar Virus In China
 
The US Department of Agriculture says the porcine epidemic
diarrhea virus nearly matches the DNA of a virus found in China
and was likely carried into the United States on reusable tote bags.

A special investigation began last summer into the possible
sources of the virus that killed more than 8-million baby pigs in
2013 and 2014.

Investigators determined that the tote bags -- called Flexible
Intermediate Bulk Containers -- best fit the criteria for entry into
the United States and spread across the country.

The woven, plastic fibre bags were reused and often not cleaned,
the report said.
 
Zip Line Injuries On The Rise
 
A new study says zip line injuries are soaring as the activity
grows in popularity.

Researchers looking at US emergency-room data say over a 16-year
period, from 1997 to 2012, says nearly 17,000 people were
treated for zip line-related injuries, including broken bones, cuts
and sprains -- and most occurred in the study's last four years.

Industry representatives claim the study is alarmist and that zip
lines are safer than driving a car.

The study is published in today's ``American Journal of Emergency
Medicine.''

 

Suspicious Fire At Credit Union Place

There was another suspicious fire last night in Dauphin.
 
Just before 8:00pm, the Dauphin Fire Department was called out to a fire at Credit Union Place.
 
Upon arrival, firefighters were met at the entrance by staff who indicated the fire was out but there was still heavy smoke in the lobby of the arena.
 
Crews ensured the fire was extinguished then worked with D-R-S staff to remove smoke from the affected area.
 
Fire Chief Cam Abrey says the damage was limited to a washroom on the main level of the facility.
 
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dauphin RCMP.
 
Case Of Manitoban Shot By Police Under Investigation
 
The head of Manitoba's new Independent Investigation Unit has had
to recuse himself from its first major case.

The unit is investigating the death of 44-year-old Haki Sefa, who
was shot and killed by police after a confrontation on Highway 59 in
mid-September.

It turns out that Zane Tessler, the unit's civilian director, is
in a conflict of interest because when he was working as a Crown
attorney in 2011, he was involved in prosecuting Sefa.

The director of a similar unit in Nova Scotia will take over the
case.
 
National Farmers Union Denouncing TPP
 
The National Farmers Union is denouncing the Trans-Pacific
Partnership, saying it would severely damage Canada's supply managed
sectors such as dairy, chicken, turkey and eggs.

The NFU says the supposed gains for other agriculture sectors
such as beef, pork, grain and oilseeds is an illusion.

NFU president Jan Slomp says the government's promised
compensation to dairy producers for their losses will be borne by
the taxpayer.

Slomp also says statements made by New Zealand's dairy industry
and its trade minister indicate that the TPP may contain
additional concessions on dairy that will be phased in over time or
will be the subject of future rounds of TPP talks.
 
Harper Defends TPP Deal
 
Stephen Harper says opening markets for Canadian trade under the
tentative Trans-Pacific Partnership is just one part of a
Conservative economic action plan for jobs and growth.

The deal must still be passed by all 12 nations' legislatures or
governing powers, with Canada being an interesting test ground for
the pact considering we're two weeks away from an election that
could change the power in Parliament.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says Harper had no mandate to negotiate
such a massive deal during the campaign, and vowed if New Democrats
form the next government, there is no guarantee it will be ratified.

Harper will be in Whitby, Ontario today, where he will reportedly
announce more than a billion dollars to help the auto sector weather
the changes the deal might bring to the industry.
 
Trudeau Promises To End First Nation Water Advisories
 
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has promised to end boil-water
advisories on First Nations reserves within five years if he becomes
prime minister.

At a town hall meeting in Toronto last night, Trudeau said it's
not right that a country like Canada currently has 93 different
communities under 133 boil-water advisories.

His comments came the same day the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation
said it's taking its own case to the UN.

The reserve straddling the Manitoba-Ontario border has been cut
off from the mainland for a century and has been under a boil-water
advisory for almost two decades.
 
South Carolina Cleaning Up After Flooding
 
South Carolina's governor says just because the rain has stopped
doesn't mean her state is ``out of the woods.''

A week of rainfall caused flash-flooding that has washed out
roads, collapsed bridges and caused two dams to burst near downtown
Columbia.

There's also no water to drink for some 40,000 people.

At least 10 people are dead in South Carolina and two died in
North Carolina.

 

AMM Meeting With Parkland Municipalities

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities will be meeting some municipalities in the Parkland for the next few days.
 
Executive director Joe Masi says these meetings are part of the AMM's annual visits to municipal councils across the province.
 
"It's really meant to hear firsthand from them some of the concerns and issues they're facing in the municipality. Our role is to listen to them, see where we can help and update them on some things we're working on. They really are interactive sessions going one-on-one with councils."
 
Today, they'll be meeting with the City of Dauphin, RM of Dauphin and the Municipality of McCreary.
 
That will be followed by meetings with Ste. Rose and Alonsa tomorrow, and Gilbert Plains, Mossey River and Lakeshore on Friday.
 
Manitoba Pork Welcomes TPP Signing
 
The Manitoba pork industry is welcoming the signing of the
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Manitoba Pork officials say the TPP will level the playing
field for Canadian pork producers, providing access to high-value
premium markets such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

They also say it ensures Canada does not get left out of any
deals that the U.S. arranges.

The TPP must still be ratified in Parliament, which will not
sit again until after the October 19th election.
 
Charges Laid In Winnipeg Beating
 
A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a case
where the victim was badly beaten and left in the street, only to be
run over by a drunk driver.

Billy Joe Couture admitted to assaulting 22-year-old Dustin McKay
after the pair got into a fight in Winnipeg.

Couture acknowledged he beat McKay unconscious and left him in
the middle of the road. Moments later, McKay was run over and later
died in hospital.

Fifty-year-old Desmond Spicer has been charged with drunk driving
causing death.
 
Hillier Criticizes Opposition To Iraq And Syria Missions
 
A former top military commander is criticizing those who oppose
military intervention in Iraq and Syria.

Retired general Rick Hillier, a former chief of defence staff,
said in Winnipeg yesterday that not much can be accomplished until
the leadership of the Islamic State is taken out.

Canada's role in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant has become an election issue.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has said he would end bombing campaigns
and other military action, and put more resources into humanitarian
and refugee efforts.
 
More Women Come Forward Against Bill Cosby
 
A model who has accused Bill Cosby of drugging her at the Playboy
Mansion in 2008 is suing Cosby for sexual assault.

Chloe Goins filed suit yesterday in federal court in Los Angeles,
seeking punitive damages for problems she says she has endured since
the incident, including mental anguish.

The lawsuit is the third filed against Cosby since last year, and
includes a list of 40 women who have accused the comedian of some
form of sexual misconduct.
 
Volkswagen Recalls To Start In January
 
Volkswagen says a recall of cars with software at the centre of
an emissions-rigging scandal should start in January.

CEO Matthias Mueller says the goal is to finish
the repairs by the end of next year.

Volkswagen has said up to 11-million vehicles worldwide across
several of its brands have a diesel engine with software used to
cheat on US emissions tests.

 

Lake Manitoba And Lake Winnipeg Under Wind Warnings

The long weekend could be a windy one on Lake Manitoba.
 
A strong wind warning has been issued for the lake by Environment Canada.
 
Wind speeds for the lake are forcasted to reach 25 knots or 46 km/h by Friday evening, and that's expected to increase to 30 knots or 55 km/h by Monday.
 
Similar warnings have also been issued for Lake Winnipeg.
 
Winners From Last Night's Chili Cook-Off
 
One big winner emerged from this year's Chili cook off in Dauphin. 

Michif Hillbilly Chili won a total of four awards, including best team display, most unique flavour, best team spirit, and best chili overall. 

3rd place went to Michif Chili-kateers and 2nd went to Michif The Incredibles. 

Follow the Road to Brain Health won best meatless chili.
 
Key Related Car Thefts On The Rise In Manitoba
 
Manitoba drivers seem to be making it easier for thieves to steal
their vehicles.

Manitoba Public Insurance says of the 400 vehicles stolen this
past spring, the keys had been left inside 75 per cent of them.

MPI says key-related thefts in this spring increased 11 per
cent, compared to the spring of 2014.

CAA Manitoba says in the winter, most vehicles only need a
couple of minutes to warm up so there's no need to leave the keys in
the ignition.
 
Health Workers Union Says It Has A Strike Mandate
 
A union representing 4000 health workers in Manitoba
says it has a strike mandate.

The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals has been
without a contract since March 2014.

Union members work in more than 160 health fields including
social workers, paramedics and respiratory therapists.

President Bob Moroz says 88 per cent of members who voted are in
favour of a strike if a deal can't be reached. Negotiations are set
to resume on October 21st.
 
TPP Deal Unlikely To Boost Amount Of Antibiotic-Free Chicken
 
Canadian restaurants aren't holding out much hope that the new
Trans-Pacific Partnership deal will boost the availability of the
antibiotic-free chicken their customers are increasingly requesting.

The deal will open an additional 2.1 per cent of the Canadian
chicken market to imports in addition to the 7.5 per cent existing
threshold.

Joyce Reynolds, executive vice-president of Restaurants Canada,
says the change is so small they're doubtful it will be a catalyst
for Canadian farmers to be more innovative and responsive to
consumer needs.

The Chicken Farmers of Canada says it's already working to reduce
antibiotics and doesn't believe additional imports will spur more
production of antibiotic-free birds.
 
Randy Quaid Arrested Again
 
American actor Randy Quaid has been arrested in Montreal for the
second time this year, and is due to appear before the Immigration
and Refugee Board for a detention-review hearing in the city this
afternoon.

The circumstances behind the arrest are unclear.

Quaid and his Canadian wife fled north in 2010 and have sought to
stay in Canada, saying they were the victims of persecution amid a
number of legal problems in the US.

The couple claim they were being hunted by ``Hollywood
star-whackers.''

Advance Polls Open Today

Today is the first day of advance voting for the federal election.
 
Advance polling stations will be open from today through Monday.
 
There are 30 advance polls throughout the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa constituency, including the First United Church in Dauphin, the Minnedosa Community Conference Centre, and the Bendee Enterprises Building in Swan River.
 
Zebra Mussels In Lake Winnipeg Called A Catastrophe
 
A water quality expert from the University of Winnipeg says Lake
Winnipeg is a lost cause due to an explosion in the number of zebra
mussels.

Eva Pip says the problem is irreversible and calls it a
catastrophe.

She says the situation is so far gone it could be as little as
two years before people start to see the devastation to the lake's
ecosystem.

The province says it is turning its focus towards stopping the
zebra mussels from spreading to other lakes and rivers.
 
Long Plain Reserve Close To Barracks Deal
 
The chief of Manitoba's Long Plain First Nation believes a deal
to develop Kapyong Barracks into an urban reserve is close.

Dennis Meeches says he and the other Treaty 1 Chiefs have
received an offer on the land from the federal government and he
expects them to finalize a counter offer within the next month.

He says now that a decade-long court battle is over, he doesn't
expect things to take too long.

Meeches wouldn't disclose details of the offer he and fellow
chiefs and received on the land.
 
Winnipeg Killer Victim In Calgary Homicide
 
Calgary police have identified the victim in a homicide case
under investigation as a convicted Winnipeg killer.

Police have identified the victim as 31-year-old Joel Gary
Geddes, a Winnipeg man with an extensive criminal history.

Geddes was convicted of manslaughter in the fatal baseball-bat
beating of 18-year-old Morgan Trudeau in Winnipeg in 2003.

Police add there is no evidence to indicate that it was a random
attack and they are still working out a possible motive in the
killing.
 
Cenovus Apologizes After Layoff Mixup
 
A spokesperson for Calgary-based oil company Cenovus is
apologizing that some of the 540 staff members who lost their jobs
this week lost partial access to the company's computer system
before being notified of the layoffs.

But Brett Harris says no one was locked out or barred from the
building, or had their access card or cellphone suspended.

Unnamed workers were quoted in the media as saying they were
barred from the building and blocked from using company cellphones
and computer systems, but that was later acknowledged to be an
error.
 
Music Fans Celebrating John Lennon
 
Today would be John Lennon's 75th birthday, and music fans around
the world are celebrating the late Beatle.

His widow, Yoko Ono, is in Iceland -- where the Imagine Peace
Tower is lit every year, while a special service will be held at St.
John's church in Liverpool -- the site where Lennon first met Paul
McCartney.

Events are also scheduled in Hollywood, London, Connecticut and,
Washington DC.

 

Plane Crash In Thompson Sends Eight People To Hospital

A plane crash in the northern Manitoba community of Thompson has
sent eight people to hospital.

The Transportation Safety Board says a Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft
operated by Keystone Air crashed just after leaving the airport
yesterday.

TSB spokesman Chris Krepski says the twin-engine plane went
down at about 7 p.m. about two kilometres from the airport.

He says the two pilots and six passengers suffered various
injuries but had no immediate information on the severity.
 
Arrest Made After Winnipeg Police Officer Dragged
 
An arrest has been made after a Winnipeg police officer was
dragged when a driver allegedly fled from a roadside alcohol check
on the weekend.

The officer needed treatment at hospital for non-life-threatening
injuries.

The suspect eventually slammed into a median and fled on foot.
Police say 42-year-old Gregory Blaine Martin was taken into
custody without incident yesterday afternoon in Winnipeg.
 
Amber Alert Cancelled After Remains Discovered
 
The RCMP will release more information this morning about
their discovery of the body of a two-year-old girl, abducted from
her home early Monday in Blairmore, Alberta.

Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette was the subject of an Amber Alert for
much of two days until the Alert was cancelled last night when
police found human remains in a rural area near Blairmore.

The town learned of the news as many had gathered for a hopeful
candlelight vigil not far from her home.

Hailey's father, 27-year-old Terry Blanchette, was found dead in
the home on Monday and police believe it was a homicide.

Mounties have a 22-year-old local man in custody, but have not
yet charged him.
 
Campaign Promises From Party Leaders Yesterday
 
More campaign promises were issued yesterday by all three main
party leaders on the heels of this week's news of a surprise
$1.9 billion surplus in the bank from last year.

Prime Minister Harper announced a $2000 single
seniors tax credit if his Conservatives are re-elected, while NDP
Leader Tom Mulcair promised to establish a $100-million mental
health innovation fund for children and youth.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau pledged $750 million for
skilled trades funding.

Harper lauded his party's fiscal stewardship during a large rally
in Calgary last night.
 
Sentence Delivery Set For Brazeau Trial
 
A judge in Gatineau, Quebec will deliver his sentence October
28th for Senator Patrick Brazeau.

The former member of Prime Minister Harper's Tory caucus pleaded
guilty at his trial's resumption yesterday to reduced charges of
assault and possession of cocaine.

The Crown dropped the more serious charge of sexual assault due
to insufficient evidence.

Both the Crown and defence are recommending Brazeau be given an
unconditional discharge, which his lawyer argued would leave him
with an excellent chance of being able to return to the upper
chamber as a senator.
 
UN Food Price Index Drops In August
 
The United Nations says its global food price index recorded its
sharpest monthly drop in August since December of 2008.

The overall index fell 5.2 per cent from July.

That included a seven per cent drop in the cereal price index, an
8.6 per cent drop in the vegetable oil index and a 9.1 per cent
month-over-month drop in the dairy price index.

The meat price index in August was virtually unchanged from the
previous month.

 

Corrections Centre Needs More Officers

A 10 week long corrections officer basic training course in Dauphin that will be held in April was brought up at yesterdays Agency Luncheon hosted by the Dauphin friendship center.

Assistant Superintendent of programs with the Dauphin Corrections center Bob Alm says that staffing in Dauphin has always been an issue and that he hopes this course will help bring more officers to Dauphin.
 
"Everybody had to go to Winnipeg to get their training, and it costs less. It is offered in Dauphin, so what we wanted to do is promote it."
 
The next Corrections Officer Info Session will be held September 24th at 1:30 at the Dauphin Friendship Center.
 
Prairie Mountain Health Preparing For AGM
 
The annual general meeting for Prairie Mountain Health will be taking place next week.
 
The meeting will take place at the Elkhorn Resort in Clear Lake on September 22.
 
In previous years, PMH would hold two AGM's, one in the northern part of the region and one in the south, but PMH spokesman Blaine Kraushaar says the board wanted to have the meeting in a more central location in the region.
 
"This one in particular will coincide with a bigger workshop that will take place just before in the day with our local health involvement groups. They're relatively new so the board wants to take a chance to talk to those groups, hear what they have to say and then also do their annual general meeting that day as well. It's one meeting this year and they'll take a look to see how it goes and then review that at the end of this one."
 
Kraushaar says some of the topics that will be covered at the meeting include a review on the fiscal year, discussions on their challenges and successes from the past year, and what areas they can improve in.
 
Problems With New Houses In Peguis
 
The housing director for a Manitoba First Nation says several new
houses purchased for families that lost everything in the 2011 flood
have been plagued by problems.

Tina McCorrister of the Peguis First Nation says 37
pre-fabricated homes were bought from an American company at a cost
of almost $3.5 million.

But she says mould was discovered in seven of the houses right
away because they had not been properly wrapped for transport to
Peguis.

She says the houses had to be stripped to the studs and that's
when the band discovered the insulation, electrical wiring and
structural integrity were not up to a livable standard. The band is
contemplating a lawsuit.
 
Plane That Crashed In Thompson Was Refueled Incorrectly
 
A plane that crashed in northern Manitoba, sending eight people
to hospital, may have had the wrong fuel.

The Navajo Chieftain aircraft operated by Keystone Air, crashed
just short of the runway at Thompson Airport on Tuesday evening.

Keystone Air president Cliff Arlt says the company has learned
the aircraft may have been fuelled with jet fuel in error, rather
than Avgas, as would have been required for the Navajo.

The company says all six passengers apparently got off the plane
on their own, but there was no more information on their condition.

The two pilots were also hurt, but none of their injuries are
believed to be life-threatening.
 
Kostyshyn Encouraging Participation In Open Farm Day
 
Manitobans are invited to learn more about family farms and local
food this Sunday as part of the sixth annual Open Farm Day.

Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn is encouraging people to plan
a road trip to learn about the daily demands of running a farm,
where to find the best locally made food products or just explore
the rural part of the province.

In all, 37 farms will participate in Open Farm Day, which last
year drew eight thousand visitors.

A map of participating farms can be found at
www.openfarmday.ca.
 
Party Leaders Holding Debate Tonight In Calgary
 
Canada's top political leaders are in Calgary for another
pre-election debate -- with tonight's instalment to focus on the
economy.

On the eve of the debate, the NDP released its proposed fiscal
plan, which is forecasting balanced budgets.

The NDP plans to pay for such items as a national child-care
program by eliminating income-splitting for families, cuts to fossil
fuel subsidies and raising the corporate income tax rate to 17 per
cent.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was not invited to the debate,
but May says she will react to it on Twitter as it unfolds. 

 

Manitoba Pork Concerned About PED

Manitoba pork producers are worried about PED, after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency made the decision to cease emergency protocol measures for swine transporters in Manitoba.

As of October 1, pig transporters returning to Manitoba from the US will have to get trucks and trailers washed in the United States.
 
Manitoba Pork Council chairman George Matheson believes some wash stations in the States won't properly sanitize the equipment.
 
"We've had an investigator who specializes in swine diseases look at these facilities. For the most part, they use recycled water. It's water that may do a visually clean job, but in fact it's contaminated with bacteria and viruses," says Matheson.
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says that there is no evidence PED can survive on equipment washed with "hot water (minimum 60°C) and detergent, followed by use of an appropriate disinfectant on the clean surface."
 
---
 
Networking Opportunity For Women At Parkland Crisis Centre
 
The Parkland Crisis Centre is hosting a movie night for women today at 6:30.

Shelter worker and group facilitator with the parkland Crisis Centre Angie Smith, says that the movie night is great way for women to network.
 
"We want women in the community to be able to come out, meet our staff, get to know what the Parkland Crisis Centre is all about and offer some of our services."
 
All women in the community are invited to come out to the movie night.

Women attending the movie will get free popcorn, and drinks.
 
---
 
Racism Summit Taking Place In Winnipeg
 
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman is holding a summit on racial
inclusion in his city at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

Bowman called for two days of panel discussion on the issue after
a magazine article labeled Winnipeg the most racist city in Canada.

Author Joseph Boyden was last night's opening night keynote
speaker, followed by civil rights activist Dr. Gerard Durley,
comedian Aisha Alfa and Manitoba Treaty Commissioner James Wilson.

Bowman says he hopes the summit will produce tangible results.
 
---
 
Recap Of Leader's Debate From Last Night
 
The leaders of the major federal parties squared off in Calgary
last night in a spirited debate in which they laid down their
economic visions while trying to break a three-way deadlock in the
polls.

Prime Minister Harper said his stay-the-course low-tax program
with balanced budgets is the safe road to prosperity.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said a government he leads would
invest in the future, even if it means three straight deficit
budgets.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair tried to split the difference, saying
it's time for the NDP to take the helm after Canada spent decades
alternating between Liberal and Conservative governments.
 
---
 
Omar Khadr Looking Of Easing Of Bail Conditions
 
Omar Khadr will be back in an Edmonton court today to find out if
more of his bail conditions will be eased.

Khadr is free on bail pending an appeal in the US of his
conviction for war crimes, including the murder of a US soldier in
Afghanistan in 2002.

Among other things, he wants to be able to visit his family in
Toronto and get rid of his electronic monitoring bracelet.
 
---
 
Harvest Progress In Saskatchewan
 
Despite wet weather, Saskatchewan farmers made some harvest
progress during the past week.

Shannon Friesen, provincial crops analyst, says 52 per cent of
the crop is in the bin, up from 40 per cent last week.

Harvest ranges from 75 per cent in the southwest to 29 per cent
in the northeast. Overall production this year is expected to be
about average.

Some parts of the province received frost, but Friesen says
damage is minimal in most cases as crops were mature.
 
 
-----
 
An earlier version of the Manitoba PORK Concerned About PED script had an incomplete quote from the CFIA.

 

Missing Winnipeg Mother And Son Located

A Winnipeg mother who was the subject of a Canada-wide warrant
for the alleged abduction of her 12-year-old son has been located
along with the boy.

Police say both Charlotte and Tristan McMahon have been found
safe in Manitoba.

Police haven't said specifically where the two were found, and
say they're still investigating the case.

A warrant for the arrest of McMahon was issued Saturday after
police alleged the mother abducted the boy.
 
Workers Dismantling Manitoba Cruise Ship
 
Workers who are dismantling an abandoned cruise ship in Manitoba
have strung lights across the vessel one last time.

Selkirk resident Terry Tillett says workers decided to light up
the MS Selkirk II on Saturday evening because once work begins to
dismantle the hull, it will no longer be recognizable.

The vessel operated as a cruise ship on the Red River between
1969 and 1990, but has been moored near the Selkirk Marine Museum
for more than 20 years.

The rusting old vessel caught fire in 2012.
 
Party Leaders Talk About Trans-Pacific Partnership
 
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair accused Stephen Harper of selling out
dairy and poultry farmers in Ontario and Quebec during last week's
leaders debate on the economy.

Mulcair says the prime minister didn't adequately protect supply
management from the demands of Trans-Pacific Partnership members
Australia and New Zealand.

The Harper government says the partnership is crucial to Canada's
economic future, noting that it would encompass 40 per cent of the
world's combined gross domestic product.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Harper needed to be more
forthcoming to Canadians about the opaque trade talks.
 
Toronto Film Festival Wraps Up
 
The 40th annual Toronto International Film Festival has drawn to
a close -- and ``Room'' won the festival's top prize.

The People's Choice Award went to the harrowing Canadian-Irish
drama starring Brie Larson and Vancouver's eight-year-old Jacob
Tremblay as a mother and son who live in a shed that he thinks is
the entire world.

Last year's top honour went to ``The Imitation Game,'' which then
garnered eight Oscar nods and one statuette for best adapted
screenplay.

Other previous People's Choice winners went on to nab best
picture at the Oscars, including ``12 Years a Slave,'' ``The King's
Speech,'' and ``Slumdog Millionaire.''
 
Big Winners At Emmy Awards
 
``Game of Thrones'' won for best drama series at last night's
Emmy Awards.

The win was announced by actor-comedian Tracy Morgan, who made a
triumphant return to the stage after being seriously injured last
year in a car accident.

Viola Davis became the first black woman to win best
dramatic-series actress for ``How to Get Away with Murder,'' and Jon
Hamm finally won best dramatic-series actor for ``Mad Men'' after
seven previous nominations.

``Veep'' won best comedy series, and its star Julia Louis-Dreyfus
won best actress in a comedy series, while Jeffrey Tambor won best
comedy actor for playing a transgender character on ''Transparent.''

 

One Person Dead After Accident Near Dauphin

One person is dead and another is in hospital after a
single-vehicle accident near Dauphin.

RCMP say a car left the road about two kilometres south of the
community and ended up on its right side.

A 41-year-old man from Dauphin who was driving died at the scene.

His passenger, a 38-year-old woman from Duck Bay, was
taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators
believe speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash.
 
Victim Identified In Shooting North Of Winnipeg
 
The stepmother of a 44-year-old man who was shot and killed by
police on the weekend says he had been suffering from depression.

Janice Sefa says she had been estranged from Haki Sefa
but heard there had been trouble in his family.

He died at the scene of the shooting late Sunday night on Highway
59, just north of Highway 44.

The investigation is being handled by Winnipeg's new Independent
Investigations Unit.
 
Beekeeping May Be Allowed In Downtown Winnipeg
 
Bees could soon be buzzing in downtown Winnipeg after a city
committee approved a zoning change to allow beekeeping in the core.

Once finalized, beekeeping could happen on rooftops or even at
ground level, as long as there was a fence at least two metres tall.

Most other big Canadian cities already allow beekeeping and the
Fort Garry Hotel has expressed interest in using the honey for its
restaurant.

The hope is to start by March, but there will be public hearings
to determine exactly how it would work.
 
Party Leaders On Campaign Trail Today
 
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will make a campaign stop today in
Tory-held turf in Moncton, New Brunswick, where he'll announce
proposed improvements to the Employment Insurance system.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will make an announcement
today at a trucking and transport company in the riding of Winnipeg
Centre, held by six-time New Democrat MP Pat Martin.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will give a speech in an NDP
riding in Montreal.
 
Emissions Scandal Halts Volkswagen Sales
 
Volkswagen Canada has halted the sale of certain diesel-powered
vehicles -- including the Jetta, Golf and Beetle -- in the wake of
an emissions scandal in the US.

The German automaker admitted last week to rigging 500,000
cars with software to turn on extra pollution controls to defeat US
emissions tests.

Germany's transport minister has called for new tests to
determine whether any similar manipulation had taken place in
Europe, and adds Volkswagen's CEO has pledged full co-operation
with the government.

Volkswagen stock lost about $15 billion in market value
yesterday.
 
Pope Francis Tour Hits America
 
From one former Cold War rival nation to another.

Pope Francis will arrive in Washington from eastern Cuba on
Tuesday after a visit that comes at a delicate point in the island's
history.

In a message to about 150,000 on Monday evening, he urged
Cubans not to be resistant to change.

Francis' US visit will also include events in New York and
Philadelphia.

 

Court Appearance For Ontario Shooting Suspect

A suspect in the deaths of three Ottawa-area women is expected in a Pembroke court today.

The 57-year-old was arrested yesterday afternoon, hours after a
shooting in the eastern Ontario community of Wilno led to the
discovery of three bodies and triggered lockdowns and a manhunt that
stretched as far as Ottawa.

After the man's arrest in suburban Kinburn, police revealed that
he was being investigated in the deaths of three women whose bodies
were found in separate homes in Wilno and two other area towns.

Autopsies are expected to take place in Ottawa today.

Case Adjourned For Manitoba Truck Driver

A 28-year-old truck driver from Winnipeg who is facing charges in
a crash that killed three teenagers from Carrot River, Saskatchewan,
has had his case adjourned until later next month.

Normand Lavoie did not enter a plea on charges of criminal
negligence causing death during a brief court appearance yesterday
in a Melfort court. He will be back before a judge on the matter on
October 20th.

The boys were on their way home from a football camp when their
car was rear-ended by a semi-tractor trailer in a construction zone
near Spalding, about 200 km east of Saskatoon.

Their car was then pushed into a truck, which hit a 21-year-old
flag person from British Columbia.
 
Party Leaders Preparing For French Debate
 
Most of the federal party leaders will take the day off from the
campaign trail today to prepare for tomorrow's French-language
debate in Montreal.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Green Leader Elizabeth May
and the Bloc's Gilles Duceppe have no scheduled events, but the
NDP's Tom Mulcair has three Montreal events planned and Liberal
Leader Justin Trudeau has a photo-op at a Montreal martial arts
centre.

Yesterday, Harper and Trudeau both imagined a Canada without
Harper as prime minister.

Harper painted a scorched-earth portrait of what he believes
Canada's economy would look like under a non-Conservative
government, while Trudeau said a Tory minority government with
Harper at the helm will have to look past the Liberals for support.
 
Bluetongue Virus Affecting Ontario Beef Industry
 
A Beef Farmers of Ontario spokeswoman says efforts are underway
to renegotiate export certificates with a number of countries
because of Bluetongue.

The virus has been confirmed in three cattle from one
Southwestern Ontario farm.

However, LeaAnne Wuermli says she's been told those
renegotiations should be concluded in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, Wuermli reports the discovery of the virus will
not have any impact on live animal or beef trade with the US or
Mexico.

It's not clear how the virus got into Ontario, but Wuermli says
there's speculation warmer temperatures have seen the midges which
carry it move further north.
 
Volkswagen Shares Continue To Fall
 
Shares in Volkswagen are tumbling for a third straight day in
Frankfurt trading, as the German automaker scrambles to contain its
widening emissions-rigging scandal.

Volkswagen's share price plunged 17 per cent and 20 per cent in
the first two trading days of the week and were down about four per
cent this morning.

Yesterday, VW said 11-million of its diesel vehicles worldwide
contain software that can evade emissions controls, far more than
the nearly half-million cars identified by US authorities as
violating clean air laws.

CEO Martin Winterkorn said he was ``endlessly sorry,'' but
questions remain about his future with VW.

Volkswagen Canada has offered no comment so far on any recall or
compensation.
 
Pope Francis To Meet With Obama
 
Pope Francis meets with US President Barack Obama today at the
White House on day two of the pontiff's his six-day American visit.

Yesterday, Obama and his family greeted the pope upon his arrival
at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, DC.

Tomorrow, Francis will address Congress, and on Friday he'll
speak to the United Nations in New York before heading to
Philadelphia on the weekend to take part in a Vatican-sponsored
conference on the family.

 

Beef Cattle Research Council Presenting Webinars For Producers

The Beef Cattle Research Council started presenting free beef based webinars for beef producers across Canada last fall.

Beef extensions coordinator at the BCRC Tracey Herbert says that they organize webinars through the fall to the spring months for producers.
 
"We listen to producers and hear from them on what topics would be of interest to them, as well as we take a look at what kind of new and interesting information is coming out and maybe some areas where we could stand to do a bit more extension."
 
Herbert says that people can ask the presenters questions after they are done their webinar, and they can answer live.

The webinars are also recorded for anyone that doesn't get a chance to watch them live.
 
Elections Canada Reminding People To Check Voting Registration Status
 
The countdown is now at 26 days until the federal election takes place, and Elections Canada has some important information for voters to keep in mind before they head to the polls.
 
Marie-France Kenny, regional media advisor for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, says the first thing people should do is check to see if they're registered to vote.
 
"If you go on Elections.ca, there's a little part that says "am I registered to vote?". You click on that and it will ask you a few questions, and then it will tell you whether you are registered. If you need to update your registry, you can do that online."
 
Kenny says the e-registration works for most people, but in some cases she says it will tell you to go to your local returning office and bring correct pieces of ID to prove your identity and current address.
 
Agri-Food Trade Alliance Calling For Canada To Join TPP
 
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance has released an open letter
to the leaders of all of Canada's political parties, calling on them
to support Canada concluding an ambitious Trans Pacific Partnership
when negotiators and trade ministers gather next week.

The Alliance says negotiations are reaching a critical juncture
with the other 11 countries at the table.

It says while some choices can wait until after the October 19th
federal election, the choice to participate fully when the TPP
concludes must be made now.

It says if Canada is not committed to concluding an agreement, it
will either be forced to accept what others negotiate or remain on
the outside.
 
Mohamed Fahmy Finally Released
 
Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy says he can't believe he is a
free man after nearly two years since his arrest in Cairo on widely
denounced terrorism charges.

He plans to celebrate his recent marriage and to travel the world
before returning to Canada to take a teaching job at the University
of BC's school of journalism.

Fahmy and his co-accused colleague Baher Mohamed were among 100
people pardoned by Egypt's president yesterday, a day before
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was to travel to New York to attend the UN
General Assembly.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson says he was pleased to
hear of Fahmy's release, saying it had been a government priority.
 
More Resignations Expected For Volkswagen
 
A member of Volkswagen's supervisory board expects more
resignations in the wake of the scandal over rigged US emissions
tests.

Olaf Lies told a German radio station today that ``there must be
people responsible for allowing the manipulation of emission levels
to happen.''

Yesterday, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned over the
scandal that involves about 11-million VW diesel cars worldwide.

VW has filed a criminal complaint with German prosecutors
seeking to identify those responsible for any illegal actions
connected with the scandal.
 
Hip-Hop Artists From Winnipeg Dies
 
A 30-year-old Winnipeg hip-hop artist known as Brooklyn has died.

No cause of death has been confirmed. Brooklyn's real name was
Jamie Prefontaine. He was a member of the prominent Winnipeg hip-hop
group Winnipeg's Most, along with band members Jon-C, or Billy
Pierson, and Charlie Fettah, whose real name is Tyler Rogers.

Winnipeg's Most began in the summer of 2010 and the rappers were
immediately recognized for their work, winning numerous Aboriginal
People's Choice Awards in both 2010 and 2011.

In their short career, they worked with Juno-nominated producers,
made two albums, and began their own label, Heatbag Records, on
which they released works by more than 10 different artists.