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Reynolds says his comment “was a joke in the game” and not meant to offend

ARLINGTON, Texas — Television broadcaster Harold Reynolds said Monday that he didn't mean to upset Canadians with a comment he made during Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

After a foul ball by Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista in the fourth inning of Sunday's 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers, the FOX commentator took a shot at Canada's baseball ability.

"We were talking about foul balls in the stands up in Toronto, and because there's not a lot of people that grew up playing baseball in Canada, they're not used to catching a lot of balls in the stands ... not many people catching that one, anyway," Reynolds said.

The Rangers won the first two games in the best-of-five series at Rogers Centre before the series moved to Globe Life Park for Games 3 and 4.

On Monday, Reynolds said he didn't mean to upset anyone.

"I never ever want to offend people," he said before Game 4. "That's never the nature of my heart, that's not who I am. So it was never (meant) to be offensive, not at all. That's it."

His on-air comment drew the ire of many from north of the border and quickly picked up steam on social media. Former star slugger Larry Walker, a native of Maple Ridge, B.C., posted his thoughts on Twitter.

"I won 7 gold gloves. I think part of winning them was cause I could catch," he tweeted from his verified account.

Reynolds said he was surprised at how the comment became such a hot talking point.

"I don't have much to say about it," he said. "I don't want to inflame this thing. It was just a simple comment that was a joke in the game."

Baseball Canada also sent out a tweet during Game 3 that included pictures of Walker, Colorado Rockies slugger Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., and Toronto native Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds.

"Amazing how we produced three MVPs for a country that doesn't play a lot of baseball! #TeamC." 

Reynolds was asked if he had any words for Canadians who may have been upset by the comment.

"Happy Thanksgiving," he said. "I mean that's it. I don't have much more. I'll talk about it during the game if it comes up. I had no idea this was going to go (viral)." 

Game 4 was scheduled for later Monday afternoon. A deciding Game 5, if necessary, would be played Wednesday in Toronto.

The Blue Jays have two Canadians on their playoff roster: Toronto native Russell Martin and Dalton Pompey of Mississauga, Ont.,

Reynolds spent 12 seasons in Major League Baseball. The two-time all-star won three Gold Glove awards.

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Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

Trudeau faces renewed attack in noisy start to final week of federal campaign

OTTAWA — There weren't any whistles, but there were more than a few bells as the marathon federal election campaign entered its final week Monday.

Stephen Harper launched a game show style attack — complete with clanging cash register — aimed directly at Justin Trudeau during a campaign event in Waterloo, Ont., in an attempt to portray the Liberal leader as a threat to the pocketbooks of Canadian families.

But Trudeau, speaking in Ottawa, fired back at the Conservative leader, saying he wouldn't be clawing back any of the boutique tax credits for families that Harper was warning about.

He said it was one more example of Harper engaging in the politics of fear and telling "untruths" to voters about his platform.

Trudeau goaded his political opponents to keep their focus on him, saying he was all about focusing on Canadians.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair told his supporters in Maple Ridge, B.C. that his party was the only credible choice for beating the Conservatives on Oct. 19, as he was forced to deflect several questions about his party's slide in recent polls.

The Canadian Press

Person familiar with process: Chase Utley appeal hearing unlikely Monday

NEW YORK — A person familiar with the process says Chase Utley's appeal hearing for his two-game post-season suspension is unlikely to be scheduled for Monday, which means the Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman could be eligible to play in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the New York Mets.

MLB and the players' association were working to schedule the hearing before special assistant to the commissioner John McHale Jr., the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

Utley was penalized Sunday by MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre, who said Utley's takeout of Mets shortstop Rubin Tejada in Game 2 on Saturday was an "illegal slide." Tejada's right leg was broken, and he will miss the rest of the post-season.

McHale had been MLB's executive vice-president of administration from 2002 until April, when he received his new title. He has continued his role of hearing appeals of on-field discipline.

Ronald Blum, The Associated Press

Condon wins debut with Habs, adding another chapter to improbable journey to NHL

Mike Condon was an unwanted goaltender two and a half years ago. Now he's Carey Price's backup with the Montreal Canadiens.

Condon's incredible journey to the NHL took him from Princeton University to Wall Street and on a rapid rise through the minor leagues. On Sunday, he made 20 saves to win his first start for the Canadiens, to whom he believes he owes everything.

"I got a lot of good opportunities, and I'm very fortunate for them," Condon said. "I'm just trying to make the most of the one I have now."

Condon has made the most of every opportunity over the past several years, especially when it looked like his hockey career was over. When his time at Princeton came to an abrupt end with a first-round playoff sweep in March 2013, Condon couldn't latch on with anyone and went about working on his 130-page thesis on post-Cold War arms transfer, "a real snoozer."

Exploring his options, he even tried a one-day internship on Wall Street.

"It was miserable," Condon said. "I did the rat race for a day, and I didn't really like it."

During spring break, Condon reached out to the ECHL's Ontario Reign "just on a hope and prayer" and flew from New Jersey to California to play on an amateur tryout. After a couple of goaltenders were injured, he got four starts and allowed just six goals on 99 shots, parlaying that success into a professional tryout with the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros.

Injuries with the Minnesota Wild got Condon to Houston, where he won his first three starts and took part in the playoffs. His career path went from not looking good to fast track.

"When the season ends and no one comes knocking for a tryout or anything like that, it's tough," Condon said. "My family invested so much time in the game and so much blood and sweat that I was like, 'It'd be bad if I didn't go out there and at least give it a try.' I went out there with a good attitude, an open mind and good things happen."

In May 2013, the Habs came knocking and signed Condon to a two-year contract. His goalie coach at Princeton, Greg Gardner, appreciates just how thin the difference was between Condon breaking out and never getting discovered.

"The way NHL scouting goes, sometimes if you don't happen to be at the right game at the right moment, you might miss them," Gardner said. "Pro hockey's all about being prepared for opportunities. ... His path is about proving people wrong, and he just continued to get better."

Condon starred for the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, playing so well and earning so much favour in the organization that the Habs brought him up as a black ace during their playoff run. Last season he started for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs and in training camp unseated Dustin Tokarski as Price's backup.

During training camp, Condon was so determined to block out distractions that he didn't have an international phone plan. He'd text his parents every once in a while but took a break from Twitter and wanted to keep his mind focused.

"The mind's a powerful thing, and the quieter it is, the better you play," Condon said. "The work's been put in in the summer and just got to let it show."

It showed. Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin said Condon "really outplayed" Tokarski, who was waived and sent to the St. John's IceCaps.

Condon's calm in net and work ethic in practice earned him not only an NHL job but the respect of his coaches and teammates.

"He showed up every day ready to work," alternate captain Brendan Gallagher said. "The training camp he had, he earned his spot. For him in practice, he battles hard, he competes hard and makes us work and that's only going to make us better."

Condon should be an upgrade over Tokarski, who had a .910 save percentage last season. But because he's on a two-way contract and doesn't require waivers, the Needham, Mass., native isn't guaranteed to stick unless he shows he deserves it.

A strong outing against the Senators was a good start, though Condon is trying to worry about the present and not reflect on his path to the NHL or what would've happened if things didn't work out.

"I'd probably be behind some desk," Condon said. "But I'd much rather be here."

One day the political science major might again look at finance jobs, but Condon hopes that day doesn't come for a long time. Gardner isn't concerned about that, especially after what his pupil has gone through.

"He's come a long way from a maturity standpoint and from a professional standpoint," Gardner said. "Nothing surprises me. I truly believe he's got a great future ahead of him."

___

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Stephen Whyno, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected version of an earlier story. Greg Gardner's name is spelled without an i.

School board battle: Edmonton Catholic struggles to create LGBT policy

EDMONTON — It started earlier this year when a seven-year-old transgender girl wanted to use the girl's washroom in her Catholic school.

She was no longer identifying as a boy and didn't want to stand out by having to use a new, gender-neutral washroom.

In May, the school in Edmonton had agreed she could use the female facilities.

But the girl, whose mother knows her daughter is wise beyond her years, wasn't buying it.

"'I'm actually going to need to see that in writing, Mama," the girl's mother recalls her saying.  "To date I haven't been able to give it to her."

The family filed a human rights complaint and Edmonton Catholic Schools has tried several times since then to craft a broader policy — dealing with more than just washrooms — that protects gay and transgender students while falling in line with the church.

The issue may reach its boiling point Tuesday when the school board holds its next meeting over a washroom controversy, which has ballooned into a contentious religious debate over transgender rights.

The school board requires schools to have all-gender washrooms. But the girl's mother, who has asked not to be named to protect her child's identity, says the decision on which washroom her daughter uses is ultimately up to the principal.

The board's last meeting in September was fiery. One trustee cried and shouted over accusations she was homophobic. Another trustee, Larry Kowalczyk, told media that he considers being transgender a mental disorder.

The province's education minister intervened. Several trustees were called to a closed-door meeting with David Eggen at the legislature, where he warned there could be consequences if board members "didn't get their act together."

Board chairwoman Debbie Engel has admitted creating a policy is an "emotionally charged issue," but has expressed confidence one can be developed similar to one adopted by Edmonton Public Schools a few years ago.

The public district became the first on the Prairies to develop a stand-alone sexual orientation and gender-identity policy. It lets students use the washroom and locker room that matches their self-identified gender.

Part of the reason the Edmonton Catholic district has delayed its policy is that it was waiting for the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta to suggest a provincewide one, with advice from Catholic bishops.

That document was made public last week and while it says schools should support inclusive communities and treat everyone with dignity and respect, it also includes an explanation of why being transgender doesn't fit with the church.

"The Catholic church teaches that the body and soul are so united that one's gender identity is rooted in one's biological identity as male and female ... genetically, anatomically and chromosomally, the body reveals the divine plan."

Lorraine Turchansky, spokeswoman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, says it's unusual to have such input and attention on policy development.

The parents of the 40,000 children in Edmonton's Catholic schools have chosen the separate system with "the full knowledge and understanding that Catholic faith is part of the education those kids receive," she adds.

Kris Wells with the University of Alberta's Institute for Sexual Minority Studies calls the church's proposal "transphobic" and says religion can't be a shield to justify discrimination.

He says policies are needed to help teachers too.

A transgender teacher with the nearby Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools still has a complaint before the human rights commission over his removal from its substitute teacher list in 2008.

Wells says eight of Alberta's 61 school divisions have LGBT policies — none is Catholic.

The issue is a struggle in other provinces too, Wells says. School districts in British Columbia were among the first to start adopting polices a decade ago. About half now have them.

"They make good progress but you can see how slow it is. It's such a piecemeal approach."

That's why he has called on the Alberta government to implement a provincewide policy.

Eggen has said he prefers to let democratically elected school officials build their own policies. He hopes Edmonton Catholic will set an example.

"This is a great teaching moment," he has said. "There are many other boards across the province that need to work through this process."

Chris Purdy, The Canadian Press

Fort St. John Women’s Resources Society taking back the night

Zobrist, Royals rally from 3-run deficit, beat Astros 5-4 to even AL Division Series at 1-all

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ben Zobrist hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning, reliever Wade Davis got replay help for a key pickoff in the ninth and the Kansas City Royals rallied from a three-run hole to beat the Houston Astros 5-4 on Friday, evening their AL Division Series at a game apiece.

The Royals knotted the game at 4 off Scott Kazmir and relievers Oliver Perez and Josh Fields in the sixth. Kansas City took the lead in the seventh when Alcides Escobar led off with a triple against Will Harris (0-1) and Zobrist followed with his single through the left side.

Kelvin Herrera (1-0) and Ryan Madson each tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Royals, and Davis came on to close it.

Davis walked Preston Tucker with one out, and speedy Carlos Gomez came in as a pinch-runner. Davis snapped a throw that first baseman Eric Hosmer neatly snagged on one hop as Gomez made a dive back to the bag — Gomez was initially ruled safe, but the call was overturned upon review. Jose Altuve then grounded out to end it, giving Davis a save.

It was a crucial victory considering what awaits Kansas City in Game 3 on Sunday: Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, who was 15-0 at home this season. Edinson Volquez will start for Kansas City.

Two starters acquired with October in mind, Johnny Cueto of the Royals and Kazmir of the Astros, pitched largely to a stalemate Friday, which meant the outcome hinged on the bullpens.

Kansas City's relief corps was simply better, allowing the reigning AL champions to become the first home team to win in six games this post-season.

Colby Rasmus homered, doubled and drove in two runs for the Astros, becoming the first player in major league history with an extra-base hit in his first six playoff games. George Springer also drove in a pair of runs after hitting a solo shot in the series opener.

Salvador Perez homered for Kansas City. Hosmer also drove in a run.

The Astros jumped on Cueto right from the start, just as they did Yordano Ventura in the series opener. Rasmus doubled in a run in the first inning, and Springer added a two-run single in the second as restless Royals fans began to shower their ace with boos.

Perez got one back for Kansas City with a homer to left in the bottom half, but Rasmus matched him with his third home run in three games this post-season.

Cueto finally settled in, but it looked as if it would be too late. Kazmir allowed a run in the third, but otherwise had Kansas City off balance until the sixth inning.

Still trailing 4-2, Lorenzo Cain got the Royals' tying rally started with a double, and Astros manager A.J. Hinch called for Oliver Perez. He allowed back-to-back singles and a walk to leave the bases loaded for Fields, who walked Salvador Perez on four pitches to tie the game.

When the Royals took the lead the following inning, their shutdown bullpen made it stick.

CORREA HOBBLED

Astros rookie Carlos Correa fouled a pitched off the inside of his back knee in the fifth inning, and for a while appeared as if he might leave the game. He eventually remained in the game but struck out, though he did single off Herrera in the seventh.

UP NEXT

Keuchel threw six shutout innings in the Astros' wild-card win over the Yankees, and tossed eight shutout frames against the Royals in June. Volquez tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Kansas City's regular-season finale in Minnesota to tune up for the playoffs.

Dave Skretta, The Associated Press

No Introduction Needed: Ben Hutton turning heads early with Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER — Luca Sbisa had never heard of Ben Hutton before the pair met on the first day of Vancouver Canucks' training camp.

"I didn't personally know who he was," said Sbisa. "Nobody really knew who he was."

They do now.

The rookie defenceman was one of the surprises of the pre-season with Vancouver, making the team in his first pro camp before adding an assist in his first NHL game in the Canucks' 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames on opening night.

"(Hutton's) like a little sponge. He's pretty quiet, he's just there listening," Sbisa said after Friday's practice. "He's done a great job coming in and working hard."

A 22-year-old from Prescott, Ont., Hutton was drafted by Vancouver in the fifth round back in 2012, but played three seasons of college hockey at the University of Maine before signing with the Canucks in March.

Paired with Sbisa on the blue line while also getting minutes on the second power-play unit, Hutton readily admits he didn't think he would be playing in Vancouver this quickly.

"I don't exactly know what I expected coming in," said Hutton, who is poised with the puck on the ice and always sporting a smile off it. "I just wanted to play my game, which is move my feet, jump up in the rush and try and make a few plays out there.

"I'm starting to feel a little bit more comfortable and feel like I belong here."

The Canucks believed in Hutton so much that they put fellow defenceman Frank Corrado on waivers before he was eventually claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hutton, meanwhile, could have been sent to the AHL without having to clear waivers.

"Last year when we were trying to sign him I was asking 'How good can this guy be?' (Scouts) thought he could be a top-4 defenceman down the road," said Vancouver head coach Willie Desjardins. "But at the same time we didn't expect him to come in this year. We thought a year in the AHL would probably help him. We'll keep judging as we go, but so far he's been good."

Hutton has patience with the puck, using subtle delays to create space, and has added some much-needed speed and finesse to Vancouver's attack from the back end. He can also deliver pin-point passes out of the defensive zone, as witnessed by the feed to Jannik Hansen for Vancouver's first goal against Calgary on Wednesday.

"That's definitely something I pride myself in," said Hutton, who will suit up for his second NHL game Saturday when the Canucks host the Flames. "I like to have good outlet passes and quick breakout passes. It makes life easier as a defenceman and for the whole team."

Hutton had a goal in four outings with the AHL's Utica Comets last season after scoring nine times and adding 12 assists in 39 games for Maine. He said he felt some nerves in his debut with the Canucks, but calmed himself down after a couple of rough sequences early.

"I remember one of my first shifts I got the puck and I was fumbling it behind the net," he said. "I was like 'Wow, just put the nerves behind, don't think about it, just play hockey.' After a few shifts it worked out."

While they had to be introduced on Day 1, Hutton's new teammates are now keenly aware of who he is and what he brings.

"We're all cheering for him," said Sbisa. "We all wanted him to make the team, and now that he's made it we all want him to do well and carry this thing as far as he can."

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Huskies needing billet for new player

Police: Former Hurricanes player, TV analyst Aaron Ward arrested in domestic incident

CARY, N.C. — Authorities have arrested former Carolina Hurricanes player and TV analyst Aaron Ward following a domestic incident.

Capt. Don Hamilton with the Cary Police Department said police arrested Ward after responding to a house Friday. Hamilton says Ward was charged with assault on a female and interfering with emergency communications, both misdemeanours.

Hamilton said authorities initially cited Ward's wife, Kelly, for misdemeanour simple assault on him, but they rescinded the citation Friday afternoon after further investigation, and she faces no charges. Police did not ask for medical assistance.

Cary is near Raleigh, where Ward helped the Hurricanes win the 2006 Stanley Cup.

In a statement, TSN communications director Greg McIsaac said the TV network was "aware of the situation" and Ward wouldn't appear on-air "until further notice."

The Associated Press

Rangers down Jays 6-4 in extra-inning thriller, leaving Toronto in deep hole

TORONTO — From a game that had everything, the Toronto Blue Jays left with nothing.

After yielding two runs to the Rangers with two outs in the 14th inning in a crushing 6-4 loss Friday, the Jays headed to Texas knowing that one more slip-up will be their last in the best-of-five American League Division Series.

Texas won the opener Thursday 5-3, beating Jays ace David Price.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Toronto strutted its way to the AL East title, hammering balls over fences wherever it went.

But the AL West champion Rangers have proven to be a formidable foe, with depth, character and good pitching.

"The task at hand is pretty simple — we have to win or we go home," said Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, who stirred the pot several times Friday. "That being said I like our chances just for the fact of the team we have in here."

The action switches to Arlington for games Sunday and, if necessary, Monday. It's up to Marco Estrada to keep the series alive in a matchup with Martin Perez at Globe Life Park.

"It won't be easy, they got a great team over there," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "They outplayed us both games.

"Today was a great ball game ... they outlasted us," he added. "It doesn't surprise me because they got that good a team. They can keep coming. Very balanced.

"They've got some real good arms they can keep in the bullpen."

Toronto appears to have lost one of its top arms in reliever Brett Cecil, who pulled up lame after taking part in a rundown and was later seen wearing a walking boot. Gibbons said the left-hander had a "pretty significant tear in his calf, so that's not very good." 

Neither bullpen blinked until the 14th inning of a game that came in three minutes shy of five hours.

Jays nemesis Rougned Odor beat out an outfield single off LaTroy Hawkins, the Jays' seventh pitcher, to start the two-out rally. Chris Gimenez then singled with Odor escaping a tag at second on the play after a video review.

Hanser Alberto's single up the middle scored Odor, with Gimenez moving to third and Alberto to second. Delino DeShields then beat out an infield single off Liam Hendriks to drive in Gimenez.

Alberto, who was in for the injured Adrian Beltre, used one of DeShields' bats for the key hit after taking a liking to it in batting practice.

"You look up and down the lineup and you track us throughout the year, it's not surprising that somebody at the end of that bench or end of that lineup contributes to what we've got going on because that's how we play the game," said Texas manager Jeff Banister.

Russ Ohlendorf took care of the Jays in the bottom of the 14th, hitting Russell Martin with a pitch with two outs before striking out Kevin Pillar.

Five Rangers relievers combined to limit the Jays to two hits in seven innings.

Friday's game ranks as Toronto's longest post-season game by innings. The Jays, now 3-2 in playoff extra innings, have gone to 11 innings on three previous occasions.

The game was a baseball smorgasbord, with something for all tastes. Good pitching, great fielding, managerial moves and tactical hitting.

Not to mention drama.

The bench emptied with one out in the 13th after Donaldson hit a blast just foul to left-field with one out. Keone Kela, the fifth Rangers pitcher, took umbrage at Donaldson's salty post-pitch comments and had to be held back. Nothing came of the incident, however.

"We made eye contact and exchanged a few words," said Donaldson. "He didn't back down and I didn't back down."

After Donaldson struck out and Jose Bautista walked, Edwin Encarnacion flied out to the warning track in centre field.

Donaldson, the Jays MVP candidate, had homered in the first inning just hours after going through a concussion check necessitated by a collision in Thursday's game.

Both bullpens did their job as the innings kept coming.

Jays closer Roberto Osuna pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and 10th. Rangers left-hander Jake Diekman, hitting 99 m.p.h. at times, matched him both innings.

Texas had the winning run on third with two outs in the 11th after a pair of Mark Lowe walks but left-hander Aaron Loup rescued the former Ranger by inducing Josh Hamilton to fly out.

Pinch-runner Dalton Pompey made it to third with two outs in the 12th after Chris Colabello opened the inning with a single, but Shawn Tolleson shut down the Jays' rally.

Texas' Will Venable got on with a broken bat single off Aaron Sanchez with two outs in the 13th but nothing more came of it.

Neither team seemed too happy with umpire Vic Carapazza's strike zone.

"There was complaining on both sides, but it's behind us," said Gibbons.

The game was a duel between Marcus Stroman and Rangers ace Cole Hamels for seven innings.

Stroman left with a 4-3 lead after yielding a leadoff single to DeShields in the eighth. But Cecil could not hold down the fort.

After a sacrifice bunt moved DeShields to second, Cecil struck out Prince Fielder. Pinch-hitter Mike Napoli singled to bring DeShields home and tie the game 4-4. Napoli was caught in a rundown after being picked off to end the threat. 

A raucous crowd of 49,716 watched under the Rogers Centre dome, with fans elsewhere doing their best to balance work and play with a lunchtime start that stretched into Happy Hour.

There were gutsy performances all-round in an entertaining game that started with a bit of everything before settling back to the expected showdown between Stroman and Hamels. Colabello also had a starring role, putting on a show at first base for the Jays.

The wild start saw the two team tied 3-3 after two innings that featured six runs, six hits and two errors.

Donaldson, who took a knee to the head Thursday in breaking up a double play, was cleared to play after passing concussion protocols. He wasted little time proving his fitness by slamming a solo homer to centre field in the bottom of the first on a 3-2 delivery from Hamels.

For Stroman, it was another remarkable chapter in his comeback story from spring training knee surgery. He has yet to lose in five starts since returning in early September, posting four wins and Friday's no-decision.

The right-hander scattered five hits over seven innings, giving up three runs — two earned — with five strikeouts and two walks. He had retired 18 of his last 21 before giving way.

Hamels went seven innings, giving up four runs — two earned — on six hits with six strikeouts.

Stroman retired 14 straight before walking Mitch Moreland with two out in the sixth. He followed that by striking out Elvis Andrus, pounding his chest as he left the mound.

As Stroman found his groove, the Jays defence began to batten down the hatches with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Bautista — recovered from Thursday's hamstring cramp — making dazzling fielding plays in the fifth and seventh innings, respectively.

Colabello, playing first base like Dominik Hasek, was a one-man wrecking crew for Toronto. He had an unassisted double play in the first inning, drove in a run in the second and hoovered up ground balls all day long.

It was only the fifth unassisted ground ball double play by a first baseman in post-season history, according to Baseball Reference.

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press

CEO defends mass firing of parking lot cashiers at Edmonton Oilers rink

EDMONTON — The CEO of a group that runs several venues, including the NHL arena where the Edmonton Oilers play, is defending his decision to fire all its parking lot cashiers amid allegations of rampant theft.

Tim Reid of non-profit Northlands said Friday that some of the 38 people let go were upright and exceptional employees, but had to go anyway.

"It was a very holistic change," Reid said. "Not everybody was at fault in this. This was a reaction for the betterment of the company."

The mass firing was necessary because tracking down and firing just those responsible would have taken four months at a cost of $400,000 in lost revenue, he said.

"What we know is that money has gone missing. We know that for a fact."

Reid wouldn't say if any managers overseeing parking would also be held responsible, but admitted there was fault in the front office.

"We had breach of process that we had not been managing to the fullest of our abilities."

He said Northlands will be outsourcing the parking to a third-party contractor.

"This may not seem like the most fair decision, but it was the most financially viable for the company."

The Oilers are the primary tenants at Rexall Place and are not commercially linked to it in any way. The team is to move to a new downtown arena starting in the 2016-17 NHL season

Northlands charges $20 for parking at major events. Many of the fired cashiers worked part-time making minimum wage.

Reid said two audits in the summer, which involved car counts and cameras in parking-lot booths, showed that about one dollar in five was either being pocketed or not collected by cashiers.

About half of employees checked weren't following procedures, he added.

Northlands makes about $6 million a year in parking, so Reid estimated the annual lost revenue between $700,000 and $1.2 million.

Reid said if the Northlands board feels evidence of theft is compelling enough, it may turn the information over to police for possible criminal investigation.

Some of the fired cashiers said they are considering lawsuits for defamation.

"It is very serious because there were people that relied on this job, there were people that needed this job," one of the cashiers, Sarah Pollard, told radio station CHED. "There was somebody that was here for almost 33 years who no longer works here and was treated the exact same way." 

Reid said he feels Northlands can successfully defend against any lawsuits.

— with files from CHED

Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press

Northern Health offering tips to keep Thanksgiving healthy and safe

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs calls for local Conservative candidate to step down

CEO defends mass firing of parking cashiers at Edmonton Oilers rink

EDMONTON — The CEO of the group that runs several venues, including the NHL arena in Edmonton, is defending his decision to fire all the parking lot cashiers amid allegations of rampant theft.

Tim Reid of Northlands says some of the 38 people let go were upright and exceptional employees but had to go anyway.

Reid says tracking down just those responsible would take four months and cost $400,000 in lost revenue.

He says Northlands management shares some of the blame, but he won't say if anyone in the front office will be penalized.

Some of those let go say they feel as if they've been publicly branded as criminals and are considering defamation lawsuits.

Reid says two recent audits showed that one dollar in five was either being pocketed or not collected by the cashiers — averaging out to more than $1 million over the course of a year.

The Canadian Press

U.S. judge OKs $446 million settlement for victims of Lac-Megantic disaster

LAC-MEGANTIC, Que. — Lac-Megantic resident Robert Bellefleur has welcomed a U.S. bankruptcy judge's approval of a $446-million settlement fund for victims of the deadly oil-train derailment in 2013.

"It's good news for people who were hit hard, who lost loved ones, homes, businesses," says Bellefleur, who knew about 25 of the 47 victims, including his cousin's son, his daughter's two babysitters and his contractor.

"It's very good news. It doesn't replace lives. It will provide comfort and maybe enable people to get back on their feet and live a more normal life, but without ever  forgetting what happened." 

But Bellefleur, a member of a Lac-Megantic-based coalition that promotes rail safety, said the state of the rail track in the town, which he called a determining factor in the tragedy, still has not been addressed.

Judge Peter Cary announced his decision in Portland, Maine, on Friday after Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP) dropped its objection to the settlement plan and after a Canadian judge gave conditional approval Thursday.

The settlement was the result of negotiations with about two dozen companies.

Barring any surprises, payments could be made to victims of the disaster by year's end, said Robert Keach, the bankruptcy trustee. About $110 million Cdn is being set aside to settle wrongful death claims.

"We don't pretend to suggest that we made up for everything that happened," said Keach. "But within the limits of the civil system, this is substantial compensation for the victims and they deserve it." 

A runaway train with 72 oil tankers derailed in Lac-Megantic on July 6, 2013, setting off powerful explosions and causing fires that wiped out much of the downtown. 

Raymond Lafontaine, who lost his son, two daughters-in-law and one of his employees in the tragedy, said in an interview Friday it is "inconceivable" it has taken this long for the fund to be accepted.

"I am a victim and I am heading to spend the winter down south because I can't stand to live here right now," he said. "We know that the victims were ignored 200 per cent, we had rights to nothing.

"Talking to the lawyers, it seems I could get about $5,000 to have lost my three kids.

"The judge said OK today? Well that's welcome. But the victims will get very little. Because the city will get its cut. The governments will get their cut. And the lawyers will get theirs. Millions. They will all fill their pockets. And the victims will get very little."

On Friday, the judge described the devastation from the fires as "vast and complete."

"My thoughts and good wishes go to the good town of Lac-Megantic and the victims' families," Cary said after announcing he would sign the settlement.

After the fires were doused, the train's operator, Maine-based Montreal, Maine and Atlantic, filed for bankruptcy. The settlement fund is tied to those bankruptcy proceedings in the United States and Canada.

The fund was the product of negotiations with about two dozen companies with potential liability. In addition to settling wrongful death claims, money will be used to compensate government entities and others for destruction and environmental damage.

Canadian Pacific owned the track where the crude oil shipment originated and contended it bore no responsibility, since the train that derailed had a Montreal, Maine and Atlantic locomotive and crew and was operating on MMA rail.

But Keach argued Canadian Pacific bears some responsibility for failing to properly classify the Bakken region crude oil, which was as volatile as gasoline.

Canadian Pacific isn't contributing to the settlement fund, and the railroad had contended the plan would have hampered its ability to defend itself from lawsuits, because the agreement provided legal immunity only to companies that do contribute.

But the altered amendment calls for a "judgment reduction provision" that would take into account the full settlement paid by others if Canadian Pacific is ordered to pay damages in the future.

"Although CP was not at fault in the derailment, we have been working with the trustee for a solution that protects CP interests and allows payments to be made to victims as soon as possible," said Canadian Pacific spokesman Martin Cej.

 

The Canadian Press

B.C. protesters want apology from NHL defenceman after grizzly bear killed

VANCOUVER — The case of an NHL player charged in the death of a grizzly bear has become a rallying cry for a British Columbia group against trophy hunting.

About a dozen members of Bears Matter gathered outside provincial court in Vancouver on Friday before a court date for Anaheim Ducks defenceman Clayton Stoner.

Stoner is charged with five counts under the provincial Wildlife Act, including two counts of knowingly making a false statement to obtain a hunting licence, hunting out of season, hunting without a licence and unlawfully possessing dead wildlife.

The bear, which local residents had named Cheeky, was killed in the Great Bear Rainforest on B.C.'s central coast in 2013.

Bear Matters member Barb Murray said a growing number of people are against trophy hunting and that Stoner's case should draw attention to the practice.

"We really need to make this case stand out above the others so that Premier (Christy) Clark cannot ignore our petitions, cannot ignore our letters and cannot ignore our voices," she said.

Records from the Environment Ministry show dozens of charges in 2014 related to hunting without a licence and unlawfully possessing dead wildlife.

However, few other cases have been in the spotlight.

"Clayton Stoner, he's recognized internationally, he's an NHL hockey player, he makes millions of dollars," Murray said. "He's supposed to be an example of what a sportsman (embodies). And he's not."

Stoner has never denied the hunt, which sparked debate two years ago when pictures published in a Vancouver newspaper showed him holding a grizzly's severed head.

Stoner, who is from Port McNeill on Vancouver Island, defended his hunting trip with his father, an uncle and a friend after the photos were publicized.

"I grew up hunting and fishing in British Columbia and continue to enjoy spending time with my family outdoors," he said in a September 2013 written statement, adding he would continue those activities in the province.

Stoner should apologize for hunting bears, said Murray, her voice choked with emotion.

"I'm hoping they slap a very big fine, and he could also contribute to conservation in this province, big time."

Stoner was not in court Friday. Ricky Bal, a lawyer who appeared on his behalf, said he does not know how the hockey player intends to plead.

The case was put over until Nov. 13.

The Anaheim Ducks begin their regular season Saturday in San Jose against the Sharks.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

With no interim leader named, UEFA defends President Michel Platini despite 90-day suspension

LONDON — Still defiant, UEFA is standing by its man.

Although Michel Platini was handed a 90-day suspension by FIFA, banning him from all soccer-related activity, the home page of UEFA's corporate website on Friday still had a smiling photo and statement from the man they continue to call president.

"This is because the UEFA executive committee is aware that the UEFA president will immediately take all necessary steps to appeal the decision of the FIFA ethics committee to clear his name," European soccer's governing body said in a statement posted on its website shortly after the 60-year-old Platini was suspended.

UEFA does clearly state that Platini will not carry out any official duties during the suspension, but keeping the former France captain as the visible leader in name could end up earning a rebuke, or worse, from FIFA for failing to adhere to the ethics committee's decision.

On the other side of Switzerland at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Sepp Blatter was stripped of his presidential duties on Thursday after also getting a 90-day ban. The governing body soon issued an official communique to announce that the 79-year-old Blatter had been "relieved of all his duties."

Blatter's job title was even wiped from his Twitter profile and the presidential page expunged, with a site for acting president Issa Hayatou uploaded in its place.

Both Platini and Blatter were suspended after becoming embroiled in a Swiss criminal investigation into financial wrongdoing at FIFA. If Platini does appeal and it is denied, it would effectively rule him out of the running to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in the election on Feb. 26.

Since a criminal case was opened against Blatter two weeks ago, he has been communicating in public through his lawyers, rather than through official FIFA channels. But Platini's statement attacking allegations that are "astonishingly vague" is the lead item on UEFA's corporate website.

And despite the actions of FIFA in Zurich, UEFA has not elevated Angel Maria Villar — the body's most senior vice-president — to the top job at its headquarters in Nyon.

Villar, the head of the Spanish soccer federation, is also at risk of sanctions from a separate investigation into soccer corruption.

"It seems to me that UEFA is trying to fudge it by saying they are not appointing someone in (Platini's) place," British lawyer Nick De Marco, a specialist in sports law, told The Associated Press. "Under the rules, they have to have someone in his place chairing meetings."

It is likely that Villar will chair Thursday's hastily-organized meeting of both UEFA's 54 members and the executive committee — despite not being appointed acting president as statutes dictate.

Last month, Platini was questioned by Swiss investigators about a payment of 2 million Swiss francs (about $2 million) he received from FIFA in 2011 for work carried out up to 2002. Blatter is being investigated as a suspect in the case, while Platini is being treated "between a witness and an accused person," according to Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber.

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Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports

Rob Harris, The Associated Press

Sixty six players to represent Canada at World U-17 Hockey Challenge