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

Highlights from the news file for Wednesday, July 13

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CHERRY SLAMS TENORS OVER CONTROVERSIAL ANTHEM: Don Cherry is adding his voice to the growing list of those offended by The Tenors’ controversial rendition of “O Canada,” saying the altered and politically charged lyrics embarrassed Canadians. The “Hockey Night in Canada” personality took to his Twitter account Wednesday to post a scathing critique of the Canadian group’s on-field performance before Tuesday night’s Major League Baseball all-star game at San Diego’s Petco Park. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Heritage Minister Melanie Joly called the anthem a treasured Canadian symbol, adding what happened was “inappropriate and disrespectful.” One of the Tenors held a sign that read “all lives matter” and included the phrase in a line he changed in the anthem.

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FATHER OF MISSING GIRL PLEADS FOR HER RETURN: Colin Marsman says more than anything, he just wants his baby girl back. Marsman issued a statement today, begging for information on the whereabouts of his five-year-old daughter Taliyah Leigh, who has been the subject of an Amber Alert since Tuesday morning. The alert was issued after police discovered the body of her mother in the Calgary apartment they shared. Officers say family members last saw the girl on Sunday morning and became concerned when Baillie failed to show up for her job at an airport restaurant. The Amber Alert for Taliyah is still in effect and police have ruled Baillie’s death a homicide.

permanent home

'We're hugely grateful:' Nanaimo Men's Shed group finds a place to call home

33m ago

Making an impact

Nanaimo woman publishes books to open awareness of neurodiverse children

12h ago

iconic voice

Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole, a welcome voice for a half-century, dead at 90

19h ago

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MOSAIC CUTS 330 JOBS AT SASKATCHEWAN POTASH MINE: Poor market conditions are forcing Mosaic to temporarily layoff 330 employees at its Colonsay, Saskatchewan potash mine. The company says it plans to restart the mine in next January, but could move the date forward if conditions improve. Mosaic says until then, it will rely on its lower-cost Esterhazy and Belle Plaine mines in the province for potash production. Other potash producers have also cut back, with the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. shutting down its Picadilly mine in New Brunswick in January, putting 430 people out of work, and Vale suspending work at its potash mine at Kronau, Sask., last November.

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NEW BRITISH PM NAMES MINISTER FOR BREXIT: Veteran Conservative euroskeptic David Davis has been appointed to lead Britain’s exit talks with the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May has named Davis to the newly created post of secretary of state for exiting the European Union. Davis is a long-serving lawmaker who often clashed with May when she was home secretary over privacy and free-speech issues. He has long advocated leaving the European Union, a plan he will now be in charge of implementing following Britain’s vote to quit the bloc. May was appointed prime minister today after David Cameron tendered his resignation to the Queen.

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CROWN WITHDRAWS EXPENSE CHARGES AGAINAST SEN. PATRICK BRAZEAU: Sen. Patrick Brazeau and his lawyer took direct aim Wednesday at the RCMP, calling the force’s investigation of the Quebec senator wrongheaded and a waste of public money. Lawyer Christian Deslauriers said Brazeau was considering his options — which include taking the Mounties to court — after the Crown withdrew fraud and breach of trust charges stemming from his Senate housing expenses. The Crown says it no longer believes there is a reasonable prospect to convict Brazeau. The senator would likely face a hard time taking the Senate to court if he wanted to recoup the expenses it made him repay, or the salary he lost after having spent the last two years being suspended without pay, his lawyer said.

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TERROR IN AFRICA ON CANADA PEACEKEEPING RADAR: Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says containing the spread of terrorism across Africa is a consideration as Canada mulls where it will contribute to a UN peacekeeping mission. Sources say a mission to Mali, where more than a dozen peacekeepers have been killed this year, is very much on the government’s radar. But Sajjan says the government has yet to make up its mind about where to send its peacekeepers in order to fulfil a major foreign policy priority. Sajjan says Canada wants to have an impact wherever it deploys troops, and doesn’t simply want to send a contingent of troops to a specific country for its own sake.

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TSB SAYS PLANE CARRYING LAPIERRE FLYING TOO HIGH AND FAST: The plane that crashed with federal cabinet minister Jean Lapierre and six other people aboard — killing them all — was travelling faster and at a higher altitude than recommended, the Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday. The federal agency said the plane crashed in eastern Quebec last March 29 soon after the pilot turned off the autopilot and lowered the landing gear. Almost immediately afterwards, the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft “rolled quickly into a steep right bank and descended rapidly” before smashing to the ground, the TSB wrote in an investigation update. According to the report, the aircraft’s mechanical systems all appeared to be working and the pilot was qualified for the flight.

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OPEN CARRY LAW WILL BE UPHELD DURING REPUBLICAN CONVENTION: Cleveland’s police chief says he prefers people not walk around with guns in public during next week’s Republican National Convention but he is required to uphold Ohio’s open carry law. The law allows legal gun owners to openly carry firearms in public. Chief Calvin Williams said Wednesday police have previously dealt with events at which people openly carried firearms. The four-day convention begins Monday and will feature presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The open carry issue has risen to the forefront after the ambush shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas last week.

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CANADIAN SPIES KEPT EYE ON THE GOOD WIFE:  It’s among the most secretive agencies in Canada. But one project officer at the Communications Security Establishment, the electronic spy service, was “very excited” about seeing the CSE portrayed in an April episode of the popular CBS television series “The Good Wife.” Internal emails obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act reveal the drama about a Chicago law firm captured the attention of the CSE, usually preoccupied with monitoring terrorists and foreign agents. The spy service was featured in a “Good Wife” episode that takes lawyers Alicia Florrick and Lucca Quinn to Toronto to help a whistleblower on the run from the U.S. National Security Agency.

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CROSBY SAYS SECOND CUP SWEETER THAN THE FIRST: As Sidney Crosby prepares to carry the Stanley Cup through his hometown, he says in many ways a championship tour is all the sweeter the second time around. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain is in Halifax this week and will bring the cup to the city on Saturday for a parade. Through this week he’s running a hockey camp at the rink in the suburb of Cole Harbour where he refined his skills and was first scouted as a future NHL star. Crosby said during a news conference Wednesday that he appreciated winning more this time around after a challenging regular season. The Penguins won the Cup final in six games over the San Jose Sharks.

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The Canadian Press