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In the news today, March 14

Mar 14, 2018 | 3:00 AM

Seven stories in the news for Wednesday, March 14

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MORE U.S. DUTIES FOR CANADIAN FORESTRY SECTOR

The U.S. government has hit the Canadian forestry industry with more duties as it upheld countervailing duties on Canadian newsprint. The Department of Commerce says a preliminary investigation found Canadian exporters underpriced uncoated groundwood paper by as much as 22.16 per cent and will collect cash corresponding to those rates.

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TRUDEAU TAKES STEEL TOUR TO SAULT STE. MARIE, REGINA

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Regina today as he continues a tour of steel and aluminum plants to reassure workers there are measures in place to shield them from the possibility of U.S. tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump recently exempted Canada and Mexico from tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum, although the U.S. government has been dropping hints that the exception is only temporary.

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AMBER ALERT LIFTED FOR MISSING MONTREAL BOY

Montreal police have cancelled an Amber Alert for a missing 10-year-old boy, but the search for Ariel Jeffrey Kouakou was continuing. Police said they made the decision to lift the alert at about 11 p.m. Tuesday because the criteria to maintain it was no longer being met. A statement posted on Twitter by police urged people to “stay vigilant and report any information regarding Ariel to 911.”

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NO APPEAL IN TINA FONTAINE CASE

The Crown will not appeal the acquittal of a man who was accused of killing 15-year-old Tina Fontaine and dumping her body in a Winnipeg river. Prosecutors said in a statement that only errors in law can be appealed when someone is found not guilty. A jury found Raymond Cormier not guilty last month of second-degree murder in the Indigenous girl’s death.

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ANOTHER STORM LASHES MARITIMES

Hydro repair crews were fanning out across the Maritimes as another storm arrived in the region, bringing heavy snow, damaging winds and pounding surf. Utilities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I were reporting around 60,000 homes and businesses without electricity early today. Environment Canada said up to 25 centimetres of snow was expected in some areas accompanied by strong winds.

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ALLEGED SERIAL KILLER BACK IN COURT TODAY

Alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur is expected to appear in a Toronto court today via video. The self-employed landscaper is charged with the first-degree murder of six men with ties to the LGBTQ community. Police have recovered the remains of seven people from planter pots at a Toronto home where McArthur worked and stored equipment. Prosecutor Michael Cantlon said last month that the Crown would be turning over more evidence today.

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ONTARIO TO SIGN INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL

The federal infrastructure minister and his Ontario counterpart will unveil details today about how the country’s most populous province will spend billions in new federal infrastructure money. The details of the deal are to be announced in Mississauga, revealing how much transit, green and social infrastructure funding Ontario will receive over the next decade. Further details will be unveiled in the coming days when the agreement itself becomes public.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— The King and the Queen of the Belgians make several stops in Toronto as they continue a Canadian visit.

— Environment Minister Catherine McKenna will announce an initiative to reduce carbon pollution and drive clean growth.

— Students on some Canadian campuses will stage protests over discrimination in the justice system.

— Halifax Transit will hold the Vincent Coleman dedication ceremony to officially unveil its newest harbour ferry.

— Statistics Canada will release Canada’s international investment position for the fourth quarter.

 

The Canadian Press