- Archeologists Discover Missing Ship 155 Years Later2010-07-29 21:47:49 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada (AHN) - Canadian archeologists announced on Thursday they discovered a missing ship 155 years after the vessel disappeared in the Arctic Bay.
The vessel is one of three ships that Parks Canada is seeking to locate this summer. The two others are the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror. The three vessels were trapped in 1850 in the icy waters of Mercy Bay, located 600 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.
The wreck was found in shallow water days after Parks Canada archeologists started the search for the 422-ton vessel along the Beaufort Sea. The team found the ship upright in silt, the three masts missing. Because of the ice cold water, the ship did not deteriorate so much. The archeologists used side-scan sonars from inflatable Zodiac boats to search for Investigator.
Parks Canada photographers will use underwater cameras to take pictures of the wreck this week. The agency\'s divers will be deployed next summer to further investigate the ship\'s hull.
Environment Minister Jim Prentice, who visited the Parks Canada camp on Tuesday, said finding Investigator will help Ottawa assert Canada\'s claim to the Arctic area.
On Aug. 10, two members of Parks Canada will continue searching for Erebus and Terror in the area. Sir John Franklin led the three vessels in 1845 to complete a crossing of the Northwest Passage. Ottawa named in 1992 Erebus and Terror national historic sites even if the two vessels are still missing. Investigator and another vessel, the HMS Resolute, were sent to search for Erebus and Terror.
Archeologists said Mercy Bay being ice-free this season helped them locate Investigator. The area has been ice-free during summers since 2007.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Despite Verbal Abuse Charges, RCMP Head Likely To Keep Post2010-07-29 11:08:19 GMTShow article
AHN News StaffOttawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Even if it is senior Mounties who have filed charges of verbal abuse, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Bill Elliott would likely keep his post. Reports said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is inclined to keep the top Mountie in his position.
One reason cited for Harper\'s confidence in Elliott is that the prime minister placed a civilian head over the agency to help bring order to the RCMP and appears to be delivering, even if he has bursts of temper.
Among the complainants against Elliott is Deputy Commissioner Raf Souccar, who had a yelling match with the commissioner. Their verbal battle was heard by other RCMP staff even if the incident happened in a closed room.
Harper has ordered Clerk of the Privy Council Wayne Wouters to conduct a probe of the RCMP complaints against their head.
On Wednesday, Elliott and the 11 deputy commissioners issued a statement promising to cooperate with Wouters\' investigation. Seven of the 11 commissioners have filed complaints against their head.
Elliott, who has been heading the RCMP for three years, is in the middle of reshuffling the organization\'s management. The clash with Elliott is viewed by many Mounties as linked with the revamp of the RCMP.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Study: Phytoplankton Population Down 40 Percent In 60 Years2010-07-29 11:04:29 GMTShow article
AHN News StaffHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (AHN) - A Dalhousie University study released on Wednesday showed that the world\'s phytoplankton population is down by 40 percent in 60 years. Study lead author Boris Worm explained the population decline to rising sea surface temperatures and changing water conditions.
Phytoplanton are microscopic marine algae that need sunlight and nutrients to grow. The warming temperatures in oceans are limiting the amount of nutrients from the ocean surface to deeper parts of the ocean.
Worm said the phytoplankton are critical to planetary life-support it produces half of the oxygen humans breathe. Seabirds, fish and tiny zooplankton are among the marine population that feed on phytoplankton. With the population decline, everything in the food chain is affected, according to the three-year study.
Over the past six decades, the decline translated into a 40 percent drop in phytoplankton population. The population decline was observed in eight of 10 ocean regions.
Boyce said in a statement, "Phytoplankton is also important in maintaining sustainable fisheries operations and the overall health of the ocean. We need to make sure that the numbers do not continue to decline."
Boyce added more research is needed on the impact of the declining phytoplankton population, but stressed a good start is to lower the temperature of the world\'s oceans. The report was published Thursday in the Nature journal.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Travel Guide Names Vanuatu Happiest Place On Earth2010-07-29 11:01:28 GMTShow article
AHN News StaffMontreal, Quebec, Canada (AHN) - Travel guide Lonely Planet released its latest list of the world\'s happiest places. On top of the list is the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, while Montreal in Quebec came in second.
Lonely Planet said it was not surprised by Vanuatu emerging as the happiest place because the general idea of a happy life has images of a hammock in a white-sand beach. All these could be found in the island, known for its blue waters teeming with life, lush vegetation and scenic environment.
The travel guide pointed out Montreal is considered a happy city because it hosts Just for Laughs, which is one of the world\'s biggest comedy festivals during summer. Although it holds the comedy festivals on summer, it is a happy city all year round. Lonely Planet said the Quebec city is also clean, welcoming and multicultural.
The travel guide said other happy cities could be found in Wuyi Shan in China and Malawi in Africa. Wuyi Shan is described as a place of secret valleys with waterfalls and mysterious caves. Malawi is known for greeting visitors with effusive grins.
In 2009, Forbes.com named Rio de Janiero in Brazil as the world\'s happiest city, followed by Sydney in Australia.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Canadian Premiers Step Into Census Fray2010-07-29 10:52:56 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Canadian premiers are joining the growing federal and provincial voices about the controversy created by Ottawa\'s decision to scrap the long census form.
The 13 premiers, who are holding their yearly meeting next week, are expected to voice their support or opposition to the federal government\'s initiative which has apparently divided the nation.
The Quebec and Ontario governments are for a reversal of the scrapping of the long form, but Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty acknowledged there is not much room for a compromise.
Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Bachand earlier wrote federal Industry Minister Tony Clement to reverse Ottawa\'s decision. While Quebec has its own statistical agency to analyze statistics, Bachand said the province relies heavily on raw data collected by Statistics Canada. Bachand quoted an Institut de la statisque du Quebec position that a voluntary survey would be harmful to the reliability, comparability and coherence of data.
New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton said the party is in favor of a solution to the census long form controversy that would protect the validity and integrity of the census data.
The scrapped form has 40 pages. Canadian law mandated that residents must accomplish the long from in full or face a $500 penalty or three months prison term. However, no one has been jailed for not fully accomplishing the survey form. But the depth of the questions, which includes some very personal matters, had been the subject of complaints by Canadians.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Ontario Companies Still Collect Eco Fees Despite The Levy\'s Abolition2010-07-28 08:08:38 GMTShow article
AHN News StaffToronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Even if Ontario officially abolished the eco fee on thousands of products, the levy is still being collected on television sets and other electronic items.
Ontario Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller admitted on Tuesday the environmental fee is a huge headache for the province.
The controversy caused by the sudden collection of the eco fee on July 1, simultaneous with the implementation of the harmonized sales tax in Ontario, will make it difficult for the province to bring up an amended version of the fee. It would also make it more difficult for Stewardship Ontario\'s program to recycle household items made of hazardous materials to be accepted by residents.
Miller pointed out that with the eco fees, manufacturers had no incentive to change their products into more environment friendly goods because they could pass on anyway to consumers the cost of producing products that are not so green.
Ontario officially removed the eco fees on July 20. According to a new Angus Reid survey, 64 percent of residents were against the collection of the environment fee, while 87 percent supported Ontario\'s cancellation of the fee. Another 36 percent of the 685 respondents blamed Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty for the confusion caused by the eco fee.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - BC Privacy Commissioner Orders Closure Of Online Casino Until Glitch Is Fixed2010-07-28 07:30:35 GMTShow article
AHN News StaffVancouver, British Columbia, Canada (AHN) - British Columbia Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham ordered the province\'s online gambling website to remain close until the glitch that caused privacy breaches is fixed.
An expert third-party security review is being made to find out what caused the technical problem.
New Democratic Party gaming critic Shane Simpson agreed with Denham\'s order. Simpson said Denham apparently could not trust the BC Lottery Corporation to correct the situation. Simpson cited an expert\'s opinion that it may take PlayNow.com several months to fix the problem before the portal could resume being online.
Until the online casino\'s crash, BC expected to earn $40 million income yearly from the website\'s operations.
Despite the crash, BC Lotteries Minister Rich Coleman had expressed confidence in the BC Lottery Corporation officials, whom he said last week are doing a good job.
Aside from the technical glitch that hit PlayNow.com, BC Lottery Corporation was fined $650,000 by a federal agency that monitors money laundering. The Financial Transactions and Report Analysis Center of Canada said the penalties were slapped on the provincial agency because of the firm\'s persistent and chronic failure to follow legal requirements to report large money transactions.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Sr. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers File Complaints Against Commissioner Over Verbal Abuse2010-07-28 06:55:08 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - There is trouble within the ranks of the 130-year old Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Senior Mounties have filed complaints against RCMP head Commissioner William because of verbal abuse.
Among the senior RCMP officials who have filed complaints are Deputy Commissioners Tim Killam and Raf Souccar. Reports said the complaints have reached Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but the prime minister\'s office declined to comment on the issue.
However, Elliott has confirmed there were complaints filed against him. He acknowledged the RCMP is going through major changes, but he is working with senior officials to solve the problem. Elliott said he met with key RCMP officials on Tuesday for three hours.
Aside from filing verbal abuse charges against Elliott, the senior Mounties described their boss as arrogant, close minded and an insulting man. The cited as proofs of Elliott\'s temper incidents of the RCMP head throwing documents at another officer and going into a rage.
Elliott is the 22nd man to head the RCMP. He was appointed to his post on July 2007. Elliott, who replaced Giuliano Zaccardelli, is the first civilian to head the agency, which explains why some officers still consider Elliott an outsider.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Study: Aborigines At Highest Risk For Kidney Ailments Among Canadians2010-07-28 05:36:50 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (AHN) - A study released Tuesday by the University of Manitoba and St. Boniface General Hospital identified aborigines as the group that has the highest risk for kidney ailments among Canadians.
The study covered 727 adults, of whom 161 were aborigines, with end-stage renal disease and on peritoneal dialysis. The dialysis uses a membrane in the abdomen to filter waste and excess water.
Manish Sood, lead author of the study and director of hemodialysis at St. Boniface, admitted being perplexed by the cause of the high rate of kidney ailments and renal deaths among aborigines. He theorized it could be a genetic problem or due to poor nutrition and poor drinking water quality.
Sood said the data indicates the government should give members of First Nations communities more attention and to help find out the reasons behind the high mortality rate when it comes to kidney diseases.
A 2009 study by the Harvard Medical School found out that aborigines have only 33 percent chances compared to Caucasian Canadians to receive a kidney transplant although the natives have over twice the rate of kidney failure.
According to Health Canada, two million Canadians are affected yearly by kidney ailment. Most of they find out they have renal problems only at the later stages of the disease. The Canadian Institute for Health Research has allocated about $23 million over the past four years to learn more about kidney diseases.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - National Statistics Council Urges Ottawa To Reconsider Scrapping Of Long Census Form2010-07-28 05:18:30 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - The National Statistics Council urged on Tuesday Ottawa to reconsider its decision to scrap the long census form. The 40-member council, which is a volunteer advisory group, said the move weakens the value of information that Canadians rely on to plan program and invest funds.
The scrapping of the long census form was the reason Statistics Canada Chief Munir Sheik resigned from his post last week.
Council Chair Ian McKinnon said the loss of data from using a shorter form with less information would cause a serious gap in monitoring economic and social changes occurring within the Canadian society. Because of the form change, McKinnon said it would become harder to secure from groups such as immigrants, the youth and aborigines residing in cities, which had been hard in the first place to reach.
Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement explained to the Commons Industry Committee on Tuesday morning the reasons why the federal government opted to drop the long form because of privacy breach complaints made by census respondents. Among the survey questions that turned off respondents were the time they went to work, child care expenses and yearly income.
Sheikh, in the same committee hearing, said he opted to leave the agency because its reputation has suffered, and because of the impression that Clement made to media that StatsCan agreed with Ottawa\'s decision. Sheikh stressed a voluntary survey would not yield the best results.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Canada Joins International Community In Placing Sanctions On Iran2010-07-27 06:41:41 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Canada is supporting the move of the global community to place sanctions on Iran over the Middle Eastern nation\'s move to build nuclear weapons in defiance of international agreements.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Monday that the sanctions seek to send strong signals to Iran that nations are united in purpose and commitment against nuclear arms proliferation. Cannon stressed no nation could threaten international peace and security without consequences.
The foreign minister stressed the sanctions are against the Iranian government, not the Iranian people. It means Canadian wheat exports to Iran will continue. The sanctions will ban dealing with Iranians involved in nuclear, chemical, biological and missile proliferation, and will prohibit the export to Tehran of nuclear proliferation goods, items for refining oil and gas, remaining arms and technology-related goods.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement, "These targeted measures are designed to hamper attempts by Iran to develop nuclear, chemical, biological and missile programs as well as to persuade it to agree to constructive discussions with China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. These sanctions also send a message to all states — particularly those with nuclear aspirations — that international standards cannot be flouted without consequence."
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Canadian Medical Association Warns On Danger Of Caffeine-Laden Energy Drinks2010-07-27 06:41:10 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - The Canadian Medical Association, in its editorial for the July 26, 2010 issue, warned of the danger of excessive caffeine contents of energy drinks.
The journal pointed out energy drinks, which are also rich in sugar content, have about 80 to 140 milligrams of caffeine for every 250 milliliters. This is equivalent to caffeine in one cup of coffee or two cans of cola. In some instances, the caffeine content could be up to 500 mg per can in some U.S.-made products such as Wired X505 and Fixx.
The CMA blamed the excess amount of caffeine in the energy drinks to inadequate labeling requirements, lack of awareness of the harmful effects of caffeine and marketing campaigns designed to hook children and youth.
The editorial pointed out traditional caffeinated beverages will suffer acute intoxication for only a few hours with few serious short- or long-term health consequences. "However, marketing of energy drinks is distinctly different from that of other highly caffeinated beverages. Energy drinks are often targeted toward children and youth through carefully designed advertising campaigns as well as sponsorship of events such as snowboarding and skateboarding competitions," wrote CMAJ Population and Public Health section editor Noni MacDonald, Scientific section deputy editor Matthew Stanbrook and editor-in-chief Paul Hebert.
The CMA cited a U.S. study of 100 American adolescents aged 12 to 18, 73 percent of whom consumed 100 mg or more of caffeine daily. Most of them drank the caffeine in the evening, which will likely affect their sleeping. The editorial pointed out poor sleep quality and quantity among adolescents are linked with mood disorders, worsening of asthma, obesity, lower sense of well-being and poor school performance.
The medical association challenged Health Canada to step in by placing regulations on labeling, sales and marketing or for the industry to self-impose benchmarks with clear labeling and public education campaigns.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Ontario Places Zero-Alcohol Requirement On Young Drivers2010-07-27 06:02:33 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Beginning Aug. 1, all young drivers in Ontario will be required to have zero-alcohol consumption when behind the wheels. The tough legislation seeks to raise a new generation of motorists who would be more responsible when it comes to road safety.
The new rules, which Ontario\'s legislature passed in 2009, applies as well to older drivers who just got a new license. It covers all types of licenses, but mainly targets new motorists with G1 and G2 licenses.
Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne seeks to protect young drivers who are at the highest risk because of high drinking rates among the youth.
Violators of the new law would have their license suspended immediately for 24 hours and face further suspension of 30 days and a penalty of up to $500. Second-time offenders would face a 90-day license suspension, while third-time violators could have their licenses revoked.
The initial legislation included limiting the number of a teenage passengers if the driver is also a teen, but the Ontario youth waged a Facebook campaign, which led the provincial government to remove that provision.
Ontario parent Tim Mulcahy initiated the drive for the province to be tougher on young drivers after his 20-year old son Tyler died in a vehicular crash in July 2008 following a drinking and eating spree by Tyler and his friends. Mulcahy bought several full-page newspaper ads that asked Ontario officials to place more driving restrictions on motorists, particularly in relation to alcohol consumption.
The group Mothers Against Drunk Driving said the new rules would lead to a drop in alcohol-related accidents in the province. Manitoba and New Brunswick have similar laws.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Groups Complain Of Nuisance Moose On Newfoundland Roadsides2010-07-27 04:58:06 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
St. John\'s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada (AHN) - The Save Our People Action Committee called on the Newfoundland and Labrador government on Monday to remove nuisance moose on the province\'s roadsides, which pose dangers to motorists.
The citizens group wants a hotline set up where motorists could report moose sightings so hunters could shoot the animals, which are being blamed for over 700 moose-vehicle collisions in Newfoundland yearly. Province officials estimate there are over 120,000 moose in Newfoundland.
Among the latest victims was a family of four returning on Saturday night from Botwood to Grand Falls-Windsor. When the car driver saw a moose, the motorist swerved to avoid a male moose, causing the vehicle to hit the gravel shoulder and roll over.
The committee reported that the moose involved has been roaming the vicinity the past three days. On the same night, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police helped two young women get treatment for minor injuries after their car hit a moose in the Wreckhouse area.
Committee leader Eugene Nippard said more than 20,000 Newfoundland residents have signed a petition calling on the province to kill loose moose. The petition was sent to the Newfoundland government in summer, but the province has not yet acted on their request. The committee also asked the province to fence off the highways, but Newfoundland rejected the request because it is too costly.
A spokesperson for Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale said the agency will study the committee\'s hotline proposal.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Pilot, 2 Passengers Escape Freak Air Accident In British Columbia2010-07-26 06:06:22 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Powell River, British Columbia, Canada (AHN) - A pilot and his two female passengers escaped a freak air mishap near Powell River City in British Columbia on Saturday.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a float plane turned over and submerged in water after the aircraft was hit by a gust of wind on its tail section as the Cessna 185 taxied away from the marina. When the plane began dropping into the water, the pilot - who had 40 years of flying experience - ordered his two passengers to leave the plane.
The pilot and the two passengers escaped from the aircraft unharmed. The Transport Safety Board is investigating the incident. The aircraft was leaving British Columbia, bound for Calgary, Alberta.
Five people who boarded a DHC-2 Beaver aircraft on the same day were not lucky as the BC passengers were. The plane crashed Saturday in a swamp two kilometers away from the La Grande Riviere Airport after the plane left Quebec.
The pilot and one passenger died from the accident, while three other passengers were injured and have been airlifted to a Montreal hospital for treatment. The pilot is employed by Nordair, a commercial and corporate air carrier that operates in the James Bay and Hudson Bay areas.
The TSB is also investigating the Quebec plane crash, which is the fourth to occur in the province this summer. TSB spokesman John Cottreau said Sunday the probe would include the sudden spike of air accidents involving small planes.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Toronto Opens Caribana Festival With Saturday Parade2010-07-26 06:03:57 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Toronto\'s annual Caribana Parade began on Saturday, opening Ontario capital city\'s three-week festival that celebrates the Caribbean culture. The parade passed through Lakeshore Boulevard.
The festival, on its 43rd year, pushed through despite funding cuts by the federal and provincial governments. Funding went down by 30 percent, resulting in the festival\'s budget whittled to $1.8 million from $2.6 million last year. Organizers adjusted by scaling down costs, but the festival budget is still $100,000 short, despite a last-minute, one-time extra funding support thrown in by main sponsor, the Bank of Nova Scotia.
In 2009, the Caribana Festival attracted 1.2 million visitors, who spent $400 million, which benefited the Ontario economy.
Caribana Chief Executive Denise Herrera Jackson said festival organizers are preparing for the day when government funding support would be further cut because of federal and provincial austerity measures. To help defray the cost of this year\'s festival, Herrera Jackson said more events require tickets for revelers to get in.
These includes the "From the Soul" art exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, the Caribana Gala at the CEN grounds, the Kaiso 365 Calypso Monarch Finals at the Ontario Science Center, the King and Queen Show and the Pan Alive at Lamport Stadium.
Tickets for the art exhibit costs $24 for adults and $16 for children. The event features over 170 works of African-Canadian artists and runs from July 22 to Aug. 15. The Caribana Gala tickets sold at $160, which covered dinner, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. The gala was held July 23. The Kaiso 365 finals tickets sold for $40. The finals were held July 24. The King and Queen Show tickets go for $30. The event will be on July 29. Pan Alive, which will be held July 30, will sell tickets at $30.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Federal Court Of Appeals Stays Order Requiring Ottawa To Help Khadr In Gitmo Trial2010-07-26 06:02:53 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - The Federal Court of Appeals ruled over the weekend that stayed an order requiring Ottawa to help a half-Canadian, half-Afghan detained in Cuba in his military trial at Guantanamo Bay.
The decision by Judge Pierre Blais overturned a ruling by Federal Court Judge Russel Zinn that Omar Khadr must be provided assistance in his legal battle by the federal government of Canada. The ruling said Zinn overstepped his authority by mandating Ottawa to help Khadr.
Blais said forcing the federal government to intervene diplomatically in Khadr\'s trial could result to irreparable damage to Ottawa.
However, Blais\' ruling may be moot because Khadr dismissed his American lawyers, including the Pentagon-appointed military lawyer, and said he would boycott the hearings slated to resume in August. Khadr is accused of lobbing a grenade when he was 15 that caused the death of an American medic. He is the only western detainee in Guantanamo Bay.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Canada Pushes Through With Census Despite StatsCan Chief Resignation2010-07-26 05:44:52 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said over the weekend that Ottawa will push through with the census despite the resignation a few days ago by Statistics Canada Chief Munir Sheikh. The chief statistician left his post over a disagreement with the decision by the federal government to scrap the long census form in favor of a new form.
The new form would require Canadians to answer only eight questions, while leaving other questions in the census up to them if they want to answer it or not. Ottawa made the shift because of rising complaints of privacy breach against the long census form. Among the questions asked in the long form is how many bedrooms are there in the family residence.
Flaherty said regardless of what form StatsCan staff would use, most Canadians would fill up the form because they are aware that what they are doing would be for the good of the country.
Some newspaper columnists criticized the argument being used by Ottawa that the long form breaches citizens\' privacy. Vancouver Sun columnist Glenn Harewood pointed out the yearly income tax form is more intrusive than the census form. Toronto Star columnist Thomas Walkom wrote that Ottawa requires airlines to collect personal data and hands over the information to a foreign government. Walkom insisted the change in census form merely reflects the hypocrisy of the Tory-led government in matters of protecting Canadians\' privacy.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - Canadian Industry Minister Helps Save Drowning Woman2010-07-26 04:37:22 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Port Sydney, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement helped save on Saturday night a woman drowning at the Muskoka River, near his residence.
Clement was almost finish having dinner with his in-laws at Port Sydney in Ontario when a young lady frantically knocked at his front door at about 7:30 p.m. seeking help for her friend who was drowning in a nearby river.
The minister, his wife Lynne and father-in-law Doug Golding got life jackets and went to the dam at the back of his house to the banks of the Muskoka River where Clement saw about 150 yards downstream a women floating. Clement, with his T-shirt and shorts on, jumped into the river while his Lynne and Golding went down the bank to attempt to catch the drowning woman downstream.
The two threw a life jacket to the swimmer, who was floating on her back. Clement, while swimming, felt a strong undercurrent, swam back to shore, and then called 911 for assistance.
The woman saved by the Clements was identified as Jennifer from Toronto. The tale of rescue was soon posted on Twitter.
Clement said his chest and arms are sore because of the rescue attempt. He credited community efforts for the rescue since other swimmers in the vicinity also jumped into the water with him and helped comfort the victim and her friend, who was shocked by the accident.
Clement warned tourists who shoot the rapids at the dam behind his house to be careful because of the strong undercurrents.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved - After Mounties Refuse Charges, MP Seeks Meet Over Ouster2010-07-23 09:25:38 GMTShow articleAHN News Staff
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) - A day after illegal lobbying charges were dismissed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police against MP Helena Guergis, the ex-Tory legislator is seeking a meeting with Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper.
Guergis, in a statement issued Thursday, said a face-to-face meeting between her and the prime minister would allow them the opportunity to raise their individual concerns and for her to answer the charges. She maintained she never had a chance to air her side.
The Mounties also cleared Guergis\' husband, former MP Rahim Jaffer.
Despite the RCMP\'s action, Harper stood on Wednesday with the party\'s decision to kick out Guergis, who was removed from her post as Minister of State for the Status of Women when the scandal erupted.
Harper\'s spokeswoman said the Tories gave Guergis a full explanation in April why she was ousted from her position and the party. Even if Guergis is eventually be cleared by federal Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson, the MP representing the Simcoe-Grey voting district would not automatically be reinstated to the Conservative caucus, the spokeswoman added.
Guergis and Jaffer were accused of using their political influence, Guergis\'s office and public resources to get clients for Jaffer\'s environmental consultancy business.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved