Most recent entries for October 2010

 

David Chen, centre, flanked by MP Olivia Chow and his lawyer, David Lindsay, shows his relief Friday after being found not guilty on charges of assault and forcible confinement. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)

1) Toronto Chinatown grocer found not guilty

A Toronto Chinatown grocer and his two co-accused have been found not guilty on charges of assault and forcible confinement.

Read more.

2) Fired federal adviser to get $1M settlement

A former federal bureaucrat wrongfully dismissed by the Public Works Department will collect more than a million dollars in lost wages and damages, the second former employee of the department to receive such a settlement.

Read more.

3) Suspicious items were explosive: Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday that suspicious packages found on planes in the United Kingdom and Dubai contained explosive materials, and he has directed the Department of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies to take whatever steps are necessary to protect Americans from a terrorist attack.

Read more.

4) Billboard ban draws legal threat

Montreal's Plateau Mont-Royal borough has received a lawyer's letter advising it to back down on its plan to ban billboards.

Read more.

5) CFL fines Blue Bomber for pink gloves

Winnipeg Blue Bombers fullback Jon Oosterhuis has been fined by the CFL for wearing pink gloves in support of breast cancer awareness during a recent football game.

Read more.

For October's photo contest, we asked you to send in pictures celebrating Canada's harvest and fall season.

We received some fantastic photos. In the gallery above, you'll see our top five entries. Your votes helped choose this month's winner!

Congratulations to our winner, Barnabe Geisweiller who will receive a copy of With Glowing Hearts: The Official Commemorative Book of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games courtesy of CBC's Connect with Mark Kelley.

Stay tuned for details about November's photo contest.

By CBC News

NASA officials have confirmed that studies are being conducted to assess whether astronauts could be sent to colonize Mars.

The mission, called the Hundred Years Starship, is being undertaken by NASA's Ames Research Centre, which is based in Moffett Field, Calif., the Daily Telegraph reported. 

Some believe the space agency could send a manned one-way mission to Mars by 2030. The cost of the project would top $11 billion, according to early estimates.

We asked you if you had the chance, would you volunteer for a one-way mission to Mars. As of 3 p.m. ET Friday, more than 1,600 votes were cast. About 49 per cent of respondents said they would jump at the chance, compared with about 42 per cent who said they wouldn't.
Another 8.81 per cent were unsure.

We also asked you whether you thought humans could successfully colonize Mars. The majority of the 61 comments ranged from discussions of whether it would be possible to when it would take place and how much amount it would cost - a whopping $11 billion.

"This sucks, 2030 we start colonizing!?," wrote CBC News.ca community member wolfy29.  
"This is 2010! We are supposed to be flying around in space ships already and have colonized several planets galaxies away. Throw some more money at NASA and the European Space Agency. We have some catching up to do! In my lifetime, people!"

Most commenters who said they would go to Mars seemed excited at the thought of even discussing the topic.

"Oh, hell yeah, I would go. Have your name go down in history? Why, yes," wrote viper8608.

By CBC News

In advance of Halloween on Sunday, CBC News wants to know what your plans are for the frightful day. Will you be shelling out candy to a parade of trick or treaters, or donning your best costume and heading out on the town Oct. 31?

Ancient pagan Celts first performed Halloween-like rituals on the feast of Samhain, lord of the dead. It wasn't until AD 834 that Samhain became a Christian festival, incorporated into the calendar as All Saints' Day by Pope Gregory III.

CBC News Your Voice wants to know, what is your most creative Halloween costume of all time?

Who you are planning to go as this year?

In case you need some help, here are some costume suggestions from today's headlines. And don't forget to check out our Halloween safety tips.

Let us know.

Make sure to send us photos of costumes, decorations and more! You can upload your photos here or email them to yournews@cbc.ca

A court sketch shows Tabitha Speer, widow of special forces Army medic Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer, testifying as Canadian Omar Khadr looks on during the fourth day of Khadr's sentence trial (Janet Hamlin/Pool/Associated Press)

1.) Family seeks son missing 10 weeks in B.C.
A family from Australia has lodged a formal complaint with the Interior Health Authority over treatment of their son as they continue their search for him after more than 10 weeks.
Read more

2.) P.E.I. convict accused of killing 3 Toronto prostitutes
A man from Prince Edward Island -- already in prison for one murder and charged with another -- is facing new charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of three Toronto prostitutes between 1994 and 1997.
Read more

3.) Soldier's mother wants DND apology
The New Democrats are calling on Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Canada's chief of defence staff to meet with the mother of a soldier who took his own life after serving in Afghanistan.
Read more

4.) Khadr's victim a 'most generous' husband: widow
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer was a "most generous, loving" husband before he was murdered by Omar Khadr in 2002, Speer's widow testified at a U.S. military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Thursday
Read more

5.) CRTC green lights usage-based internet billing
Metered internet usage is on the way, with the CRTC handing down its final decision on how wholesale customers can be billed by large network owners.
Read more

In this photo of a sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin and reviewed by the U.S. Department of Defense, Canadian Omar Khadr is seen on the third day of his sentence trial. (Associated Press)

1. Khadr's lawyers attack psychiatrist's claims

Defence lawyers at the sentencing hearing of Omar Khadr on Wednesday tried to discredit a forensic psychiatrist who said Khadr is likely to re-enter a life of jihadism if his radical views don't change after his detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Read more.

2. Ignatieff vows to scrap F-35 jet deal

Michael Ignatieff says a Liberal government would cancel the Conservatives' multibillion-dollar purchase of F-35 fighter jets and hold an open competition to replace Canada's CF-18s.

Read more.

3. Calif. pot vote threatens B.C. bud industry

B.C.'s billion-dollar illegal marijuana economy could be facing a financial crisis if Californians vote to legalize marijuana during mid-term elections on Nov. 2.

Read more.

4. Indonesia tsunami death toll hits 272

At least 272 people are dead and more than 400 are missing after a tsunami swept through a string of remote Indonesian islands, a local official says.

Read more.

5. Email about Williams's mental health questioned

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is questioning the judgment of the new communications director of the Opposition Liberal Party.

Read more.

Military purchases: Are you concerned about cost overruns?


A Canadian military Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone conducts test flights with HMCS Montreal in Halifax harbour. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

A report released this week by Canada's auditor general praised the federal government for doing a good job of rolling out the economic stimulus plan but criticized it for failing to manage two purchases of military helicopters.

The previous Liberal government initially ordered 28 Sikorsky Cyclone helicopters to replace the Canadian Forces' aging fleet of Sea Kings for $1.8 billion. There was also a $3.2 billion contract to provide set-up and long-term support.

The Canadian Forces have yet to receive one of the choppers, and the multiple delays have driven the up to $5.7 billion, including training, setup and long-term maintenance.

The report also rang alarm bells about the F-35 fighter jets the Conservative government has promised to buy.

We asked you whether you were concerned that cost overruns would occur with the F-35 fighter jet purchase. As of 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, more than 2,200 votes were cast. About 66 per cent of respondents expressed concern, compared with about 31 per cent who didn't. Another three per cent were unsure.

"Yeah, I'm concerned," wrote CBC News.ca community member Jack1059. "The [Conservatives] spend our tax money on the Cadillac of fighter planes without even knowing the maintenance costs. If I buy a car, I at least get some comparison shopping going."

Most commenters who defended the additional expenses argued that military contracts are almost never on budget. "Unexpected problems come up, which require money to fix," wrote Stach45. "It is just the way things go. Does it suck? Yes. Is it necessary? Definitely. If the Liberals hadn't sold these helicopters in first place, we wouldn't be going through this mess. As for the F-35, it is replacing an aircraft which is older than most of the pilots. That alone should speak for itself."

CAB123 agreed. "Virtually every military purchase in history has cost overruns .... Am I concerned about it? Not really, because I know it's coming. It's just a question of whether it will be before delivery or after."

1. 'Weather bomb' heads for southern Ontario

A so-called "weather bomb" that will affect most of Central Canada is expected to blast Ontario with strong winds and heavy rains later Tuesday before moving east.

Read more.

2. Khadr threw grenade to kill 'many Americans'

Omar Khadr threw a grenade with the intent of killing as many Americans as he could and told interrogators he felt happy that he had killed a U.S. soldier, according to a statement of facts agreed to by Khadr himself.

Read more.

3. Auditor General Fraser slams chopper buys

The federal government did a good job of rolling out the economic stimulus plan and many other services and programs, but failed to properly manage two purchases of military helicopters, says Auditor General Sheila Fraser.

Read more.

4. Firearm-related homicides drop: StatsCan

The number of gang-linked and firearm-related homicides declined slightly, although the overall homicide rate remained unchanged last year over 2008, according to Statistics Canada.

Read more.

5. CSIS watchdog calls for spy debate

The body that oversees the Canadian Security Intelligence Service says it's time for a national debate over whether Canada needs a full-fledged foreign spy service.

Read more.

Cenotaph in Gaspe Bay, Que.

On Thursday, Nov. 11, Canadians across the country will take time to remember and honour the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces during times of war.

One of the ways in which this country commemorates war veterans throughout the year is through the more than 6,200 military memorials that have been established across the country. They range from plaques to paintings, to the most recognizable of all -- cenotaphs.
There are at least 76 cenotaphs registered across Canada. The best known is the National War Memorial in Ottawa. It was unveiled in May 1939 by King George VI to commemorate Canadians killed in the First World War. In 1982, it was rededicated to include those who served in the Second World War and the Korean War.

Read more


Memorial in Yellowknife, NT at Veterans Memorial Drive.


Memorial in Grimsby, Ontario at the Royal Canada Legion - Branch 127. (Jerry Schroeder.)


Cenotaph in Calgary, AB., at Queen's Park Veterans' Cemetary. (Margaret Smith, Kevin Evans)

In advance of this year's Remembrance Day, CBC News wants your help in highlighting some of Canada's cenotaphs.  Take a photo of a memorial in your community and send it to us and help us celebrate the country's veterans.

How to get involved:

• Snap a picture of a memorial in your community.
• Include your full name, the date of the photo and the location of the cenotaph.
• Send your photo and information to: yournews@cbc.ca (include the word cenotaph in the subject line), upload it to our Flickr group, or Tweet your pictures to @cbcyourvoice.

In this photo of a sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin and reviewed by a U.S. Department of Defence official, U.S. Air Force Capt Michael Grant swears in Omar Khadr, right, on Monday in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  (Janet Hamlin/Associated Press)

1. Khadr to serve no more than 8 years: lawyer

The Canadian government has agreed to Omar Khadr's plea agreement that allows him to return to Canada to serve the remainder of his sentence after spending a maximum of one year in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, his lawyer says.

Read more.

2. Reno contracts amended to favour Sauvé: NDP

The opposition New Democrats say they have documents that show a Parliament renovation contract was amended at the last minute to favour a Montreal contractor with ties to the Conservative Party.

Read more.

3. U.S. dollar dips vs. loonie, other currencies

The Canadian dollar rose by more than half a cent Monday as the U.S. dollar slumped amid skepticism about a pledge by Group of 20 finance ministers to avoid currency devaluations that could derail the global recovery.

Read more.

4. Veteran Bruyea gets apology

The federal government has apologized to Sean Bruyea, a Canadian Gulf War veteran and Veterans Affairs critic whose sensitive personal and medical information was illegally shared by officials in the department.

Read more.

5. Toronto's SickKids hospital gets $30M gift

Children battling cancer have more support on their side thanks to a $30-million donation to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children from Ontario philanthropists Myron and Berna Garron.

Read more.