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News from Connect2Canada
Earthquake in Haiti
The Connect2Canada Team
On January 12, 2010, a strong earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck close to Port-au-Prince. The Government of Canada extends its sincerest condolences to those affected by the earthquake. Information for Canadians in need of assistance and details on how you can help are available here. Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in the affected area should contact Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada at 1-800-387-3124.
Special Features
Government of Canada to Match Generosity of Canadians in Response to the Devastating Earthquake in Haiti
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Canadian International Development Agency
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced that Canada will match individual donations to registered Canadian charitable organizations to support humanitarian and early recovery assistance to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti on January 12th.
"Many Canadians are deeply concerned about the suffering and loss of life as a result of this catastrophe in Haiti," said Minister Oda. "Canadian citizens have shown time and again their generosity with countries in urgent need, and our government is prepared to match their contributions dollar for dollar."
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Canada’s Economic Action Plan: Investing in Clean Energy Projects
Monday, January 11, 2010
Natural Resources Canada, The Newsroom
Through the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, an investment in renewable energy projects was announced today, which will create jobs, improve the environment and stimulate the economy. The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, announced support for 19 projects under the Clean Energy Fund. Funding of up to $146 million will support the demonstration of renewable and clean energy across the country, including integrated community energy solutions, smart grid technology, and renewable applications with solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy.
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Canada Marks 20 Years’ Membership in Organization of American States
Friday, January 08, 2010
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), today marked the 20th anniversary of Canada’s membership in the Organization of American States (OAS).
“As we celebrate Canada’s 20 years of membership in the Organization of American States, our commitment to the organization and its principles and values remains steadfast and purposeful,” said Minister Cannon. “Our membership gives us the ongoing opportunity to advance our priorities for the Americas in a forum that seeks to address regional challenges by fostering dialogue among its member countries.”
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International News
Ottawa envoie la DART
Mercredi 13 janvier 2010
Radio-Canada
Le Canada a confirmé mercredi qu'il enverra en Haïti son Équipe d'intervention en cas de catastrophe (DART), afin d'aider les personnes sinistrées à la suite du séisme de magnitude 7 qui a frappé mardi le pays des Antilles. C'est le ministre de la Défense nationale, Peter MacKay, qui a confirmé la nouvelle.
Plus tôt, son collègue des Affaires étrangères, Lawrence Cannon, avait annoncé qu'un groupe de militaires rattachés à la DART était déjà en route vers Haïti pour aller y évaluer les besoins humanitaires. Cette évaluation permettra au Canada de débloquer plus rapidement l'aide, une fois que le gouvernement haïtien lui en aura fait la demande officielle.
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Teary Governor General thanks Canada for aid to Haiti
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Canadian Press
Haitian-born Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean offered an emotional thank you to Canada today for moving so quickly to help her earthquake-ravaged homeland.
A teary Jean, who came to Canada with her parents as an 11 year old, said the devastation is heart-breaking for Haitian Canadians.
She described the damage as being like an "atomic bomb" going off.
She called for solidarity with the people of Haiti and urged them to be courageous.
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Haitian contacts, relief efforts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
CBC News
Port-au-Prince, the impoverished Haitian capital, was hit with a devastating earthquake Tuesday that caused the collapse of several buildings and an unknown number of fatalities. The 7.0 magnitude quake had its highest intensity in an area where at least 1.8 million people live.
A list of ways to get involved in relief efforts and stay connected with those still Haiti is provided below.
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L'aide du Canada pourrait dépasser les 100 millions $
Jeudi 14 janvier 2010
le journal de montréal
Le gouvernement fédéral canadien a annoncé jeudi qu'il était prêt à offrir à Haïti une aide égale à celle des citoyens canadiens et allant jusqu'à 50 millions $, ce qui porterait potentiellement le total de l'assistance canadienne à 100 millions $.
« Le Canada fera les mêmes contributions que les citoyens canadiens font aux organisations caritatives canadiennes reconnues afin de soutenir les efforts d'aide humanitaire et de secours pour un total de 50 millions, ce qui est un potentiel de 100 millions », a indiqué le chef de la diplomatie d'Ottawa Lawrence Cannon lors d'un point de presse
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Amputee soldier returns to duty in Afghanistan
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Canadian Press
The first Canadian soldier to return to active duty in Afghanistan as an amputee says coming back has closed a loop for him and shown the insurgents' weapon of choice can be overcome.
Designed to do more than maim, kill and damage, the improvised explosive device is supposed to instill terror, said Capt. Simon Mailloux.
"By coming back here, I think I've defeated the IED that blew me up — I've overcome that fear," Mailloux said.
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Canada renews demand for photojournalist's body
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Canadian Press
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon denounced a former Tehran prosecutor Monday and renewed Canada's six-year-old demand to have the body of slain Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi repatriated from Iran.
Cannon's comments came in response to a recent Iranian parliamentary investigation that found ex-prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi responsible for the deaths of at least three protesters imprisoned after last summer's disputed Iranian elections.
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Bombing attempt was a test run, Ottawa fears
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Colin Freeze, The Globe and Mail
The federal government fears that al-Qaeda's “underwear bomber” attack on a trans-Atlantic flight was simply a test run.
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan suggested that Canada will be on a heightened state of aviation alert for the foreseeable future.
“That may very well have been, if you will, a kind of pilot project by the organization to see how viable [the bombing technology] was,” he told reporters yesterday. “And we have reason to believe that we have to be concerned, all of the countries of the West.”
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Dalton McGuinty's royal gift:
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Jane Tamer, The Globe and Mail
Now here’s a gift fit for a king — or a prince.
During their visit to Canada last year, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, were given his-and-hers matching BlackBerrys by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. An appropriate gift, given that BlackBerry is a Waterloo, Ont., invention and Research in Motion is a huge success story.
A list of the gifts received by the royal couple during their international travels last year was published (PDF) by Clarence House (the Prince’s residence) on its website.
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Business and Trade
Canada's Top 100 Women Entrepeneurs 2009
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Canadian Business Online
When PROFIT launched "Canada's Top Women Business Owners" (as it was known until 2004), our aim was to celebrate the achievements of female entrepreneurs and highlight their important contributions to the Canadian economy. Knowing that women are the driving force behind some of this country's most dynamic and durable businesses, we wanted to put them front and centre on the national stage. Mission accomplished: since 1999, PROFIT has been celebrating the achievements of female entrepreneurs sharing the success stories of Canada's Top Women Entrepreneurs, exploring the opportunities and challenges facing women at the helm, and revealing their best business practices.
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BoC sees no housing bubble yet
Monday, January 11, 2010
Paul Vieira, Financial Post
The Bank of Canada Monday dismissed talk of a housing bubble in Canada as "premature," warning that calls for higher interest rates now in an effort to temper real-estate markets would be akin to "dousing" the economic recovery with cold water.
It delivered this message through a speech in Edmonton, and marked the first time the central bank tried to address directly myriad concerns that the country's real-estate market is appreciating too quickly, too soon.
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Calgary among 'most attractive' cities
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tavia Grant, The Globe and Mail
Calgary, Waterloo, Ottawa, Vancouver, St. John's, and Richmond Hill, Ont., top the Conference Board of Canada ranking of the country's most attractive cities to migrants.
These cities have “what migrants are looking for when choosing where to locate,” according to the Conference Board's second report on the topic.
It analyzed 50 Canadian cities based on 41 indicators including health, economy, environment, society, education, innovation and housing to rank the places most attractive to skilled workers and mobile populations.
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Canadian stores free of toxic children's jewellery, Wal-Mart says
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Emily Mathieu, The Toronto Star
Children's jewellery containing a known carcinogen that was sold at Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. was not available at chain locations in Canada. "They were not sold through our stores," said Susan Schutta, spokesperson for Wal-Mart Canada.
The bargain superstore has announced they would pull several items from store shelves in the U.S., following an investigation by The Associated Press which found cadmium, a metal known to hinder brain development, was being used in cheap children's trinkets.
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U.S. Steel attacks investment act in court
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Joe Schneider, Bloomberg
U.S. Steel Corp. urged a Canadian judge to throw out a government lawsuit that claims the steelmaker failed to live up to commitments it made when it acquired Stelco Inc. in 2007.
The Investment Canada Act, under which the government sued in federal court, is unconstitutional because it's too vague and doesn't give companies a proper right to defend themselves, Michael Barrack, U.S. Steel's lawyer, said at a hearing in Toronto Tuesday. Investors can justify why they didn't comply with commitments made under the law, but aren't told how, he said.
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Télévision payante chez Astral
Jeudi 14 janvier 2010
Radio-Canada
Une remontée des revenus publicitaires, un meilleur contrôle des coûts et un taux d'imposition moins élevé permettent à Astral Media de commencer son exercice 2010 du bon pied.
Pour son premier trimestre terminé le 30 novembre, Astral Media dévoile une hausse de 63 % de son bénéfice net, à 64,6 millions de dollars.
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Seal industry delegates drum up business in China
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
CTV.ca
A Canadian delegation is promoting the beleaguered seal industry in China this week in the wake of moves by the European Union to shut its doors to Canada's seal products.
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea is heading a delegation of seal industry representatives to promote not only traditional products such as fur and omega-3 oils.
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Canadian News
Keep Guard up on Airport Security: Baird
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
CBC News
Transport Minister John Baird said Tuesday that the government put airlines on high security alert over the weekend on the basis of some specific information it received.
While Baird wouldn't discuss the nature of the information, he said that vigilance is still required even though a few weeks have now passed since the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a flight to Detroit.
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Opening ceremonies won't be traditional
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Darryl Dyck, The Canadian Press
As Olympic organizers scurry around putting the final touches on the 2010 Winter Games, one major piece of the puzzle is falling neatly into place.
The producer of the opening ceremonies says he's been able to cancel some rehearsals because his volunteer performers are ahead of schedule.
But David Atkins says that doesn't mean there's no pressure in putting on the show that will officially introduce Canada and the 2010 Games to the world.
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Warm weather forces early public closure of Olympic site to preserve snow
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Canadian Press
Vancouver Olympic organizers say Cypress Mountain, on Vancouver's North Shore, will close early to prepare for the upcoming Games.
The organizing committee, known as VANOC, says the site of the snowboard and freestyle skiing competitions, will close to the public immediately to protect the condition of the courses.
The decision to close the mountain two and a half weeks earlier than planned follows several days of rain and warm weather that have the potential to ruin the carefully prepared race courses.
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Mother of B.C. soldier tells mourners she was proud
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Canadian Press
The mother of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan sobbed Tuesday as she told those mourning his death that her son will be in her heart forever.
Pte. Garrett Chidley was among four soldiers and a journalist killed when a roadside bomb ripped through their armoured vehicle near Kandahar city on Dec. 30, making it one of the deadliest days for Canadian forces since the war began.
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ROM gets up to $2.75M in stimulus funding
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
CBC News
Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum is getting a boost of up to $2.75 million from the federal government's stimulus funding program to help revive three galleries.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister John Baird joined officials at the museum Tuesday morning for the announcement.
Coming from the government's Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the grant is earmarked for the refurbishing and updating of the perennially popular Bat Cave exhibit
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Olympic megastar Klassen an 'underdog'
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Lindsey Craig, CBC Sports
Less than two months before the Vancouver Olympics, Cindy Klassen's dream came true.
She made the team.
But what's so striking isn't that the long-track speedskater qualified — it's that she worried she wouldn't.
Klassen is an Olympic hero. At the 2006 Games, she didn't just win one medal, or even a few. She won five Olympic medals — in one Games.
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Taux d'alcool à .05% : les Québécois en accord, sauf à Québec
Jeudi 14 janvier 2010
Branchez-Vous Matin
Les résultats d'un coup de sonde sur la perception des Québécois concernant la nouvelle limite d'alcool permise pour les conducteurs ont été publiés ce mercredi.
Le sondage SOM publié sur le blogue de la firme par Julie Fortin dévoile en effet que 61% des internautes québécois sont en accord avec le fait que Québec fasse passer le taux d'alcoolémie permis de 0,08% à 0,05%. En fait, 42% sont tout à fait d'accord et 19% sont plutôt d'accord.
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Opinion/Editorial
En cas de malheur
Jeudi 14 janvier 2010
Mario Roy, cyberpresse.ca
Ce n'est pas un trait d'humour: ce serait inimaginable dans les circonstances. Plutôt un terrible cri de souffrance. Ou de désespoir. C'est l'histoire d'un dieu insensible et vengeur qui se demande: « Voyons voir. Les ouragans, les inondations, les glissements de terrain, l'oppression, les coups d'État, la déforestation, l'exode, la maladie, la misère... qu'est-ce que je n'ai pas encore fait descendre du ciel pour accabler les Haïtiens? » Le dieu a trouvé : un gigantesque tremblement de terre, il ne restait que ça.
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Hands across the border
Friday, January 08, 2010
David H. Wilkins, Calgary Herald
Please accept my deepest sympathy upon the loss of your beloved colleague and special friend, reporter Michelle Lang. From the outpouring of love and respect shown for Lang, not just on your pages, but in newsrooms across Canada, it is clear Canadian journalism and the public at large has lost one of its brightest lights. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your grieving country. Canada's tireless and noble efforts in the war on terror do not go unnoticed or unappreciated in my country and by all those who seek to live in liberty's light. We are grateful that Lang was so willing to tell the important stories of the brave men and women who help secure freedom for all of us. We mourn with our friend, Canada.
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How you can help those in Haiti
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Globe and Mail
Information on how the public can assist the relief efforts for the devastating earthquake in Haiti
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