In the news today, Aug. 247

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Leaving the party

Saskatoon MLA Betty Nippi-Albright to quit NDP, sit as independent

12m ago

finding flood risk

Canada has a new searchable flood risk tool. You just can't search it yet.

33m ago

103 strays since Jan.

LLRIB responds after dangerous dog pack draws concerns in communities

16h ago

HUMANS RESPONSIBLE FOR HUNDREDS OF B.C. WILDFIRES

Campfires, cigarettes, flares and car accidents are some of the ways humans have likely started more than 400 wildfires in British Columbia this season. Despite efforts to spread the word about fire bans and other restrictions, fire information officer Ryan Turcot says many people still aren’t getting the message. On average, the Wildfire Service says 40 per cent of fires over the past 10 years, or 666 per year, have been caused by humans.

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QUEBEC SCHOOLS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

This summer construction crews have been erecting temporary extensions to aging school buildings across Montreal to help cope with ever-increasing enrolment. A mini baby boom in the 2000s, increased immigration and an influx of refugees are putting enormous pressure on the city’s education system amid budget cuts and deteriorating school infrastructure. Montreal’s public schools are bursting at the seams and, like Quebec’s highways and bridges, the bill for decades of neglect has come due.

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PARALYZED BRONCOS PLAYER STARTS OVER BY CRAWLING

Paralyzed Humboldt Broncos player Ryan Straschnitzki is on his hands and knees practising a skill he hasn’t needed in 18 years — crawling. With the help of two physiotherapists, he’s being shown how to keep himself upright on his arms and move his legs forward, a few inches at a time. Straschnitzki was paralyzed from the chest down when a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and a semi-trailer collided in April in rural Saskatchewan. Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured.

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SHAWN MENDES WINS BIG AT MMVAs

Shawn Mendes pocketed four awards and stole the hearts of countless screaming teenagers at the iHeartRadio MMVAs. The Pickering, Ont.-raised singer was the recurring star of the Toronto street party. He opened and closed Sunday’s show with performances of his songs “Lost in Japan” and “In My Blood,” but also turned up several more times to dish out love to his Canadian fans.  Mendes claimed the MMVA’s for artist of the year, best pop artist and two awards voted by viewers — fan fave artist and video. 

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Ruling in Port Hawkesbury, N.S. in Chase the Ace fight on freeze of winnings until case is decided

— International Association of Women Police conference in Calgary

The Canadian Press