Spotted on CBCNews.ca: Fri., May 06, 2011

NDP deputy leader Thomas Mulcair speaks to reporters during a post-election news conference in Montreal, Tuesday, May 3, 2011. (Graham Hughes/ Canadian Press).

NDP's Mulcair clarifies bin Laden comments

NDP Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair blamed a post-election "fatigue" for his controversial comments questioning the existence of U.S. photos of Osama bin Laden's body.
Mulcair told host Mike Finnerty of CBC Montreal's Daybreak on Thursday that he had no reason to doubt photos exist when the U.S. president says so, but was questioning the decision not to release them.

The NDP's Quebec lieutenant landed in hot water Wednesday when he told CBC's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon that he didn't believe photos exist of bin Laden following the al-Qaeda leader's killing by U.S. forces on Sunday in Pakistan.

"I don't think, from what I've heard, that those pictures exist and if they do, I'll leave that up to the American military," he told Solomon Wednesday.

This story has been followed closely by CBCNews community members, and has garnered a wide array of reactions. Some commenters say the deputy Opposition leader was burnt out, and others fervently condemn his comments on the existence of photos of bin Laden's body.

"Cut him some slack! I doubt politicians get much sleep during election campaigns," Dresdenfile wrote. 

Newfie thinks this is indicative of any party not used to the limelight. "Growing pains for a group of inexperienced politicians who are not use to the limelight," Newfie wrote. "The Conservatives were like that when they first took power under Harper but they learned to keep their mouth shut, and I mean completely shut." 

Guyfibre thinks this is a sign of things to come. "Jack must be shaking his head and sick with worry. He's in deep - too deep. Let the Gong Show begin."
 

Jack Layton, NDP leader and now officially the leader of the opposition, speaks to the media at a press conference in Toronto on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. (Nathan Denette/ Canadian Press).

No charges in Layton massage parlour leak

The Ontario Provincial Police aren't laying charges in a leak about the 1996 visit to a massage parlour that found NDP Leader Jack Layton inside.

The police force was investigating the information leak about the 1996 incident at the request of the Toronto Police Service, whose officers raided a suspected bawdy house posing as a massage parlour in 1996.

One of the officers found Layton inside. Layton said he wasn't aware it was a bawdy house and never went back. He was never arrested or charged.

Serving officers are sworn not to leak information to the public. But a retired officer involved in the visit let a reporter see his notebooks from the investigation in the final days of the election campaign that saw the NDP more than double its seats in the House of Commons and become the Official Opposition.

CBC News has learned a private investigator was scouring police and court records the week before the election, looking for information on Layton.

"The investigation has concluded and criminal charges will not be laid," said a statement released by the provincial police.

This story has sparked an intense debate in the comments field, and has some commenters focused on Layton's 1996 massage, but has many questioning the motive of the retired police officer who shared his notebook from the investigation.

"I don't really care if he was caught in a common bawdy house," RBK in Alberta wrote. "It is his life." But what concerns RBK is why Layton wasn't arrested on the spot.  "Did he receive preferential treatment? That is something that bothers me and that is the question I would like to see answered."

2BorNot thinks greater attention needs to be put on the police officer that divulged the contents of their notebook. "So then this means that thousands of retired police, can use their confidential police notebooks, to try to influence federal elections?" Additionally, 2BorNot thinks. "So then that means any police notebook, can be passed to a 'retired' police officer, to leak private information to influence elections."

Oracle quipped that it's "going to be a rough 4 years," but adds "it will be a golden age to be a private investigator. Digging up dirt on certain people will fast become a growth industry."

 


Hockey parents debate bodychecking

Young hockey players shouldn't be bodychecking until they are well into their teen years, a researcher told Calgary parents.

Hockey Calgary held an information session for parents and coaches about bodychecking on Thursday night.

The University of Calgary physiotherapist Carolyn Emery studied Peewee and Bantam hockey players in Alberta and Quebec. In Quebec players don't bodycheck until Bantam, a level that includes 13 and 14 year old players.

In Calgary body checking starts among the 11 and 12 year olds at the Peewee level.

Injuries between players in the two provinces were the same in Bantam, but four times higher when comparing Peewee players.

In the comments section of this story, many commmenters are weighing in with their own views on bodychecking in youth hockey leagues, as well as whether a change in rules would in fact, decrease injuries.

"I have 2 boys in hockey" writes TomPatty and adds "body checking should start at a young age [...] it's crucial to start early so they know what to do during a check...how to protect themselves."
 
Capitaaah jokingly asks, "why not just wrap the kids in bubble wrap and have the kids mom out on the ice holding his hand?"

Bigrroy is surprised the debate is even taking place.  "Considering the number of hours the average parent spends in the emergency ward with their hockey, football and soccer playing child, I'm surprised they're not looking for safer sports."