Belgian region rejects deadline to sign on to Canada-EU trade deal
BRUSSELS—The head of Belgium’s small Wallonia region is rejecting a Friday deadline to sign up to a huge trade deal between the EU and Canada, demanding a full renegotiation that could bring the whole trans-Atlantic agreement down.
Wallonia Minister-President Paul Magnette said Oct. 19 that “we cannot sign by Friday,” when a two-day summit of EU government leaders is to end. It was set as a target day to get the last of the 28 EU nations on board.
Belgium can only back the deal if its regions, including Wallonia, approve it. Without unanimity among EU nations, the deal will collapse.
Magnette told TV network RTBF that despite progress over the past few days “it is insufficient. And you cannot say now: ‘you have 3 days to accept.'”
First stage of probe into plane crash that killed Prentice concludes at scene
KELOWNA, B.C.—Transportation Safety Board investigators have wrapped up their work at the scene of a fatal plane crash in British Columbia that killed former Alberta premier Jim Prentice and three other men on Oct. 13.
The board says investigators have collected all the required data from the crash site, about 10 kilometres northeast of the Kelowna airport in B.C.’s Okanagan region.
The board has described the investigation as particularly challenging, partly because the aircraft did not carry in-flight data or cockpit voice recorders. No distress signal was issued before the plane vanished from radar just minutes after takeoff from Kelowna on a flight to Springbank, near Calgary.
A state funeral for Prentice will be held Oct. 28 in Calgary.
Cut climate change funding for developing countries, use it in Canada: Wall
REGINA—Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says the federal government should cut money intended to help developing countries with climate change and use it for research in Canada that could reduce emissions worldwide.
Wall, who has repeatedly criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon-tax plan, wants to see the $2.6 billion Ottawa has earmarked for developing countries added to an existing $2 billion federal low-carbon economy trust.
He said adaptation and innovation are the best ways to fight climate change—not a carbon tax that he said will do the most harm to the economy while having the least impact on reducing emissions.
“Energy, mining, agriculture—the backbone of Saskatchewan’s economy—will be hit hard by a carbon tax,” he said.
MP Peter Julian quits as NDP House leader to explore leadership bid
OTTAWA—British Columbia MP Peter Julian says he is stepping down as NDP House leader to explore the idea of running for his party’s leadership.
Julian, who represents the riding of New Westminster-Burnaby, says he plans to discuss his potential bid with people across the country. Murray Rankin, another B.C. New Democrat, will take over as House leader.
Julian, 54, was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and has been re-elected four times.
So far, there are no official candidates to replace NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who indicated he would step down next year after losing a leadership review in the wake of 2015’s poor election showing. The party is to select Mulcair’s replacement in October 2017.
32 charged with 78 offences in Canada-wide human trafficking probe
TORONTO—Police say 32 people have been charged with 78 offences in a six-day co-ordinated investigation into human trafficking across Canada.
More than 390 officers from 53 Canadian police services, plus the FBI in the United States, directly engaged with people suspected of working in the sex trade, potentially against their will.
Most of the arrests in Operation Northern Spotlight occurred in Ontario where 25 people were charged with 67 offences.
Outside of Ontario, 17 police services and several RCMP municipal detachments across Canada participated in the investigation.
Charges laid during the investigation include trafficking in persons under 18, procuring sexual services under 18, exercising control, making child pornography, and distributing child pornography.
With files from The Canadian Press
