Four stories in the news today, March 20

Four stories in the news for Monday, March 20:

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HOPES PLACED ON LIBERALS TO COUGH UP VENTURE CAPITAL CASH: Those connected with new and growing companies hope the Trudeau government will make additional commitments in the budget concerning venture capital. An existing federal venture-capital program will soon start to wind down and stakeholders say such support is necessary to keep momentum going in the startup industry. The budget is expected to include several measures aimed at improving the performance of the so-called innovation economy.

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MILITARY TIGHTENS BELT: Officials in the defence department are curbing spending in order to free up millions of dollars for military operations and other more critical tasks. They’ve clamped down on non-essential travel, meetings with foreign counterparts and even Spring Break courses for cadets. The defence department isn’t saying how much it hopes to save as it heads toward the end of the fiscal year on March 31. The cost-cutting is in addition to the military curbing use of its vehicles, keeping warships in port and cutting back on flying times.

pay and ride

Popular e-bike sharing program launching in Nanaimo

5h ago

exemption required

'Give the police the tools they need:' Provincial government again looking to ban public drug use

7h ago

24/7 support

Major supportive housing complex set to open in Nanaimo

9h ago

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KENNEY FORGES AHEAD WITH EFFORT TO UNITE ALBERTA’S RIGHT:  Newly minted Alberta Progressive Conservative leader Jason Kenney meets with the leader of the province’s other right of centre party today.  Kenney hopes to start talks with Wildrose leader Brian Jean as soon as possible in order to merge the two parties before the next provincial election. Kenney cruised to victory in the PC leadership race over the weekend.

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CORONERS INQUEST INTO DEATH OF MAN SHOT BY TRANSIT POLICE: An inquest into the death of a 23-year-old man who was fatally shot by transit police in 2014 will begin today. Naverone Woods was shot at a Safeway in Surrey, south of Vancouver, after officers responded to a call about a man demanding a knife from a nearby convenience store. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead. The transit officer who shot him was cleared of wrongdoing by the province’s police watchdog last year.

The Canadian Press