Here’s a roundup of articles from The Canadian Press designed to get you up to speed on what you need to know today…
Housing and food prices on the agenda when MPs return
MPs return to the House of Commons today, determined to find relief for Canadians suffering the effects of inflation.
Although some of the most heated debates this fall will focus on bail reform, gun restrictions and climate change, it’s housing costs and grocery bills that will likely dominate the debate. agenda.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne will shake things up this morning when he meets with the leaders of Canada’s largest grocery chains to find a plan to curb the rising cost of food.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said executives at Loblaws, Sobeys, Metro, Costco and Walmart Canada have until Thanksgiving to present a plan to lower prices, or the government could step in to force things.
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Here’s what else we’re looking at…
Disputes slow down the trial of the organizers of the “Freedom Convoy”
Lawyers for both sides in the trial of the main organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” are working to prevent the proceedings from reaching an impasse.
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are facing charges related to their roles in the demonstration in which large trucks blocked streets in downtown Ottawa to protest COVID-19 public health measures.
The Crown had estimated it would take about 10 days to present its case during a trial initially scheduled for 16 days.
But as the trial enters its third week in an Ottawa courtroom, only two of the Crown’s planned 21 witnesses have appeared so far.
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Trial of London bombing defendant continues today
Jurors in the trial of a man accused of killing four members of a Muslim family in Ontario are expected to hear more evidence today.
Nathaniel Veltman is accused of deliberately hitting five members of the Afzaal family with his truck while they were walking in London, Ontario.
Prosecutors alleged his actions in June 2021 constituted an act of terrorism and argued he was motivated by white nationalist beliefs.
Veltman, 22, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Jurors watched a video Friday of Veltman telling a detective he hesitated before carrying out his attack but decided to “get it over with,” hoping to inspire other young white men to target Muslims .
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Court to rule on sex workers’ Charter challenge
The Ontario Superior Court is expected to issue its decision this morning on a constitutional challenge launched by an alliance of groups defending the rights of sex workers.
The Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform argued in court last fall that Canada’s prostitution laws violate the Charter rights of workers in the industry.
They say the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, passed by the former Conservative government, promotes stigma, incites targeted violence and prevents sex workers from obtaining meaningful consent before engaging with their clients.
The law was passed in 2014, about a year after the Supreme Court of Canada struck down previous anti-prostitution laws after lawyers argued the existing provisions were disproportionate, overly broad and put sex workers at risk.
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World Petroleum Congress opens in Calgary
Hundreds of oil and gas executives from around the world are gathering in Calgary this week for the World Petroleum Congress.
This massive event takes place every three years and attracts delegates from nearly 65 oil-producing countries.
Among those attending this year’s event are the CEO of Exxon Mobil and the CEO of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company,
The theme of this year’s congress is the energy transition.
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Hay River evacuees return home after a month
Jennifer Coleman has lived in and around Hay River, Northwest Territories, her entire life, but the road to the community seemed like a strange place as she and others evacuated by the wildfires were allowed to return there on Saturday for the first time in more than a month.
Coleman said it was quite difficult to travel such a familiar route without recognizing anything due to the fire-altered landscape.
She and her husband had been residing in Peace River, Alberta, since Hay River, along with the neighboring hamlet of Enterprise and K’atl’odeeche First Nation, were evacuated on August 13.
The city of Hay River posted photos on social media Sunday of flights arriving at its airport with returning evacuees, and Mayor Kandis Jameson said in a post that it will take some time for things to return to normal. normal.
Residents of K’atl’odeeche First Nation were allowed to return Sunday, but Enterprise residents remain evacuated due to fire risk.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 18, 2023.
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