In the news today, April 5

Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of a crash between the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team bus and a semi-trailer that killed 16 people and injured 13 others. The collision changed the lives of the 29 people onboard the bus and their loved ones, but also the small Saskatchewan city that the team calls home. Residents in Humboldt are preparing to mark the anniversary after a year spent grieving and trying to rebuild their lives. There are fewer than 6,000 people in the city, so everyone is somehow touched by what happened. Mike Yager, who runs a local sportswear store, says the demand for Broncos gear has not stopped.

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DETAILS OF SAUDI-CANADIAN FEUD LAID OUT IN MEMO

A newly released federal document provides a close look at Saudi Arabia’s retaliation against Canada following criticism by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland on Twitter of the regime’s arrest of women’s rights activists. A briefing note to International Trade Minister Jim Carr offers more detail on how events were unfolding on the ground about a month after the start of the dispute. The document lists numerous measures, including denial of access to military bases, rerouting of flights for product supplies, prevention of a Canadian company from importing and selling medication and various shipments from Canada being completely stopped at Saudi ports.

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CANADA TO SUSPEND LICENCES FOR BIOCELL IMPLANTS

Health Canada says it will suspend licences for Biocell breast implants unless the company that makes them provides new evidence about their safety. The Health Department says it conducted a scientific assessment of macro-textured implants as part of its larger ongoing safety review of breast implants and a rare associated cancer, which was launched in November 2018. Health Canada says it continues to monitor and review all available scientific and clinical information regarding the safety of textured breast implants, including any new evidence provided by Allergan, the company that manufactures the implants, in the next 15 days.

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ALBERTA’S POLITICAL LEADERS SPAR OVER PIPELINES, MINORITY RIGHTS

Alberta’s political leaders traded shots over everything form pipelines to minority rights in last night’s election debate. United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney and NDP Leader Rachel Notley both told reporters after the debate that it would be up to Albertans to decide who won. Notley says Kenney had a chance to clear up concerns about the UCP leadership race and comments his candidates have made around Islamophobia and homophobia, but he didn’t do it. Kenney says Notley only brings up those issues because she’s trying to avoid talking about the NDP’s failed economic record. Albertans go to the polls on April 16th.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Environment Minister Catherine McKenna will make an announcement about money for energy efficiency and climate change adaptation projects.

— Nova Scotia’s Gaelic Affairs Minister Randy Delorey will introduce an act today that will designate the official tartan for the House of Assembly.

— Social Development Minister Shane Simpson and Education Minister Rob Fleming will attend an announcement by the United Way of the Lower Mainland over the period promise campaign and menstrual products in B.C. schools.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, April 5

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