In the news today, Aug. 30

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DECISION EXPECTED ON TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE

The Federal Court of Appeal is expected to release a judgment today on whether the federal government adequately consulted First Nations on the contentious Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The court combined into one case nearly two dozen lawsuits calling for the National Energy Board’s review of Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd.’s project to be overturned. First Nations argued the federal government did not adequately consult them before the energy board review or the cabinet decision to approve the project.

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FEDS THREATEN TO WITHHOLD CLIMATE CHANGE MONEY

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says provinces that don’t get on board with a federal plan to deal with climate change, including putting a price on pollution, will forfeit their share of a $2-billion federal fund. Federal officials have been reviewing $420 million slated for Ontario from the low-carbon economy fund after that province’s newly elected Tory government scrapped a cap and trade system and rejected imposing a price on carbon. McKenna wouldn’t say if she has made a decision about Ontario’s share.

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B.C. SUING DRUG COMPANIES OVER OPIOIDS

British Columbia has launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against dozens of pharmaceutical companies, alleging they falsely marketed opioids as less addictive than other pain drugs and helped trigger an overdose crisis that has killed thousands. The lawsuit is the first of its kind in Canada and names OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma Inc. and other major drug manufacturers. It also targets pharmacies, alleging they should have known the quantities of opioids they were distributing exceeded any legitimate market.

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MANITOBA MOVING TO SPEED UP FAMILY COURT

Manitoba aims to speed up family court so divorces, child custody disputes and other matters don’t drag on for years. Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench says the coming changes are also aimed at reducing the toll taken on people involved. The court’s new model includes a triage system to clarify and narrow the number of issues being disputed in a case before it goes to court.

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ALLY WON’T JOIN MAXIME BERNIER’S PARTY

Maxime Bernier’s closest caucus ally says he has no plans to join the renegade Quebec MP’s new party. Conservative MP Alex Nuttall played a key role in Bernier’s unsuccessful Conservative leadership campaign last year that saw him lose to Andrew Scheer. Nuttall says he was elected as a Conservative and won’t even broach the idea of joining Bernier’s yet-to-be-formed party with his constituents, who narrowly elected him as MP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte in 2015.

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CANADIANS ADVANCE AT U.S. OPEN

Canadian tennis pros Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov moved another step up the ladder Wednesday at the U.S.Open in New York. Raonic, the No. 25 seed downed France’s Gilles Simon in three sets on a hot and humid day at Flushing Meadows. Fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov pulled out a five-set win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi to also advance to the third round.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— The TD Bank and Laurentian Bank will release their third-quarter results.

— Statistics Canada releases today include payroll employment, earnings and hours for June.

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will speak at a Liberal fundraiser in Mississauga, Ont.

— Treasury Board president Scott Brison will sign a bilateral health agreement with Nova Scotia Health Minister Randy Delorey.

— The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa will make a book of condolence available to honour Senator John McCain.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, Aug. 30

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