By Canadian Press

The Thursday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories

Jul 6, 2016 | 3:25 PM

Highlights from the news file for Thursday, July 7

—

FORT MAC WILDFIRES MOSTLY COSTLY DISASTER IN CANADIAN HISTORY, INSURANCE BUREAU: The wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta have surpassed the 1998 ice storm in Quebec as the biggest insurance disaster in Canadian history. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says damage totalled 3.58 billion dollars. The bureau says its estimate was the first based on data collected by Catastrophe Indices and Quantification — a company that compiles insured loss amounts based on surveys with insurers.

—

TRUDEAU HEADS TO POLAND FOR FIRST NATO LEADERS SUMMIT: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to turn Canada back into a peacekeeping powerhouse is expected to bump up against the threat of a new Cold War in Europe when he lands in Poland on Friday for his first NATO leaders’ summit. Trudeau intends to offer to take a leadership role in a 4,000-strong NATO force being deployed in Eastern Europe. That is expected to include sending hundreds of Canadian troops to Latvia, where they will serve as a deterrent against Russian aggression in the region. Canadian officials say it will be the largest Canadian deployment since the Second World War.

no snow

Chances of a white Christmas for Nanaimo 'quite remote'

12h ago

vehicle damage

Over 40 vehicles damaged during late-night Nanaimo vandalism spree

18h ago

rising costs

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

22h ago

—

ELECTORAL WATCHDOG CAUTIONS PARLIAMENT NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE CHALLENGES OF REFORM: Canada’s chief electoral officer has told a Parliamentary committee that Elections Canada will need a full two years to prepare if the Trudeau government wants to change Canada’s voting system in time for the next federal election in 2019. Marc Mayrand says if new legislation is enacted by May 2017, it would provide enough time to prepare for the next fixed election. The Liberals have promised to end the current first-past-the-post voting system, but Maynard says MPs should not underestimate the challenges of making a change in time for the election.

—

AUDITOR GENERAL REVIEWS RCMP HANDLING OF HARASSMENT LAWSUITS: Former auditor general Sheila Fraser is going to review the R-C-M-P’s response to harassment lawsuits filed by four female officers. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale had already asked the R-C-M-P watchdog to revisit the broader issue of bullying and harassment within the force. The government says it’s appointing Fraser to ensure all R-C-M-P employees feel safe and respected in the workplace.

—

KENNEY WANTS ALL NEW PARTY: Conservative MP Jason Kenney isn’t interested in Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives or the Opposition Wildrose taking each other over. He told an Edmonton news conference that his plan for a united right includes a new party that would hold a leadership race before the next provincial election. On Wednesday in Calgary, Kenney announced he will seek the leadership of the Alberta Tories with the intent of bringing together small-c conservatives to defeat the NDP government.

—

POSTIES REJECT BINDING ARBITRATION: A union representing the majority of Canada Post employees has rejected the notion of binding arbitration to avoid a potential work stoppage. Canada Post has given lockout notice, but says it would be willing to submit to arbitration to settle its contact differences with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. But the union says it hopes to reach a negotiated settlement — the two sides remain far apart on two big issues: CUPW’s request for wage increases for rural mail carriers and the pension changes Canada Post says it needs to reduce costs.

—

OBERLANDER CASE BACK IN FEDERAL CABINET’S HANDS: The long-running legal case about whether former Nazi death squad member Helmut Oberlander will be stripped of his citizenship is back in the hands of the federal cabinet. The Supreme Court of Canada said Thursday it will not hear the federal government’s challenge of a setback in its latest bid to revoke Oberlander’s citizenship. Oberlander, born in Ukraine, was a member of a Nazi death squad during the Second World War and came to Canada in 1954. Oberlander has been fighting federal attempts to revoke his citizenship and deport him since 1995.

—

OBAMA SPEAKS OUT ON POLICE SHOOTINGS: President Barack Obama says the U.S. has a serious problem. Obama says all Americans should be deeply troubled by the fatal shootings of two black men by police officers in Louisiana and Minnesota. He says they are not isolated incidents but rather symptoms of broader challenges in the criminal justice system. 

—

FACELIFT RATHER THAN WRECKING BALL FOR 24 SUSSEX DRIVE: The commission overseeing federal properties in the capital region says it wants to revamp 24 Sussex Drive rather than demolish the prime minister’s official home. A report by the auditor general in 2008 has detailed the many shortcomings of the well-known Ottawa address, including major electrical and plumbing issues. At the time, the estimated cost of renovating the building was pegged at $10 million, although renovation experts have since warned the price tag could be at least 50 per cent higher. There have been suggestions that a cheaper option would be to flatten the stone building and construct a new one, but in a new 50-year draft plan, released Thursday, the National Capital Commission says it wants to renew and transform the 148-year-old residence.

—

HELP WANTED, SENATE HIRING: Canadians who want to become a senator can now submit their resumes online. The independent advisory board that recommends potential senators to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is now looking to fill 20 current and upcoming vacancies in seven provinces. This time, they are opening the application process to anyone who thinks they might be a good addition to the Upper Chamber. The advisory board also welcomed eight new members to help judge which names should make it to the top of the list.

—

The Canadian Press