Seven stories in the news today, Sept. 28

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FEDS GIVE CONDITIONAL OK TO GIANT LNG PROJECT

The federal government has granted conditional approval to the massive Pacific NorthWest LNG project planned for British Columbia’s northwest coast. But there are 190 legally binding conditions attached to the approval, including a maximum cap on greenhouse gas emissions. The $36-billion project would ship 19 million tonnes a year of liquefied gas to Asia while pumping more than five million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually into the atmosphere.

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TORY MP DECRIES MEAL TAB ON PM’s PLANE

Passengers who accompanied Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his first two international trips were apparently well fed. The government has revealed, in response to a written question by the Conservatives, that the cost of food and beverages supplied aboard a government Airbus used for the trips amounted to just over $1,300 per person. Conservative MP Blaine Calkins calls the price tag “outrageous.”

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ROYAL COUPLE BRING TOUR TO YUKON

Prince William and Kate will spend the fifth day of their Canadian tour taking in the wild beauty of Yukon. The royal couple are set to visit the MacBride Museum of Yukon History in Whitehorse today, when they’ll meet with local kids and take part in a storytelling activity. Later in the day, the royals will head to Carcross, a picturesque community of about 300 people south of Whitehorse on the Klondike Highway.

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SCHEER PLANS TO LAUNCH TORY LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN TODAY

Conservative MP Andrew Scheer, who was Speaker of the House of Commons during the more than four years the Conservatives had a majority government under former prime minister Stephen Harper, plans to launch his campaign today in Ottawa. Scheer stepped down as Opposition House leader earlier this month to focus on his efforts to join the race. Conservatives will elect their new leader May 27.

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REPORT: CLIMATE CHANGE RAISES FOREST FIRE RISK

A new government report says that by the end of this century a changing climate is expected to at least double the area burned each year by forest fires in Canada. The 2015 annual forest assessment by Natural Resources Canada says a warming climate will contribute to a 50 per cent increase in large fires, new tree diseases and more insect infestations.

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WOMAN CONVICTED IN $100M PONZI SCHEME TO BE SENTENCED

A disgraced notary who masterminded a $100-million Ponzi scheme involving more than 200 investors in British Columbia is scheduled to be sentenced today. Rashida Samji was convicted in May of 28 counts of fraud and theft, but the theft charges were stayed and yesterday’s sentencing hearing moved forward with the remaining 14 fraud counts.

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The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Seven stories in the news today, Sept. 28

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