News

Nearly one in six could not handle $500 increase in mortgage payment: poll

OTTAWA — Nearly one in six Canadians would not be able to handle a $500 increase in their monthly mortgage payments, a new survey from the Bank of Montreal suggests.

According to the bank, 16 per cent of respondents said they would not be able to afford such an increase, while more than a quarter, or roughly 27 per cent, would need to review their budget.

Another 26 per cent said they would be concerned, but could probably handle it.

Such an increase would be generated in the case of a three percentage point hike in interest rates — from 2.75 per cent to 5.75 per cent — on a $300,000 mortgage with a 25-year amoritization period.

Given that interest rates are likely to increase in the foreseeable future, the bank said there was no better time to put together a detailed debt management plan.

"The ultimate goal of most Canadians should be the elimination of debt, but the first step needs to be getting rid of bad debt, which has the potential to destabilize a household's financial situation," said Chris Buttigieg, senior manager of wealth planning strategy at BMO.

"A financial professional can help you avoid having your debt lead to long-term financial instability and work with you to develop a plan to sort out your balance sheet as quickly and efficiently as possible."

A report by Statistics Canada last month found the ratio of household credit market debt to disposable income climbed in the second quarter of 2015 to 164.6 per cent, up from 163.0 per cent in the first three months of the year.

That means Canadians owed nearly $1.65 in consumer credit and mortgage and non-mortgage loans for every dollar of disposable income.

The report by BMO's Wealth Institute found that almost half of Canadians, 47 per cent, believed that the high level of debt in Canada has been influenced by soaring real estate values, while 40 per cent believed it has been influenced by low rates.

Interest rates, including mortgage rates, have been near historic lows. The Bank of Canada has cut its key interest rate twice this year in an attempt to boost an economy hobbled by a sharp drop in commodity prices.

BMO noted that when interest rates are low it is a good time to make aggressive principal repayments on loans and its survey found that 35 per cent of those asked are looking to pay down their mortgage sooner.

"However, statistics have shown that debt service rates have not changed very much from the early 1990s, when interest rates were much higher," the report said.

"It appears that many Canadians have used low interest rates to get larger loans on more expensive houses rather than to aggressively repay their debt."

The online survey was conducted by ValidateIt for BMO from June 23 to 29, with a sample size of 1,014 Canadians.

The polling industry's professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

 

The Canadian Press

Jays fans contemplate sick days, vacation requests for afternoon playoff games

TORONTO — Sick days, last-minute vacation requests and reluctant ticket sales — those were just some of the options being considered by Toronto Blue Jays fans as the baseball team's long-awaited playoff games were officially slated for inconvenient afternoon starts.

The timing came as a blow to many who've watched the team make an exhilarating second-half push to the post-season for the first time since 1993.

Game 1 on Thursday is set to begin between 3:37 p.m. and 4:07 p.m., while Game 2 on Friday starts even earlier with opening pitch scheduled for 12:45 p.m.

For Samantha Valters, who couldn't take a vacation day at short notice, the times meant she had to put her prized tickets up for sale.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for over 20 years for, so it's a real bummer," said the 31-year-old. "It kind of ruins that high and excitement in the city when you can't all get together and root for your team."

Calling in sick wasn't an option for Valters either because everyone in her office knows just how much of a Jays fan she is.

"I'm a super fan. I'm dressed in Jays gear right now. I have little bobble-heads at work on my desk," she said with a laugh. "I've been at the World Series games when I was a kid and I've been looking forward to this for so long."

Valters hopes she'll be able to go to other playoff games, but notes she'll likely only be able to make it if they are after regular working hours.

"At least they're in the playoffs, and that makes me incredibly happy," she said. "But you'd love to be there in that moment and feel that camaraderie."

Like Valters, Josh Elijah definitely wants to experience the games with friends.

The London, Ont., resident doesn't have tickets to the games in Toronto but is determined to find a way to watch them on television with his buddies.

He has plans to leave work early on Thursday, but is still contemplating what he'll do for the Friday game.

"I'm going to try to get out of work somehow," he said, adding that he hoped his boss would be sympathetic. "I want to be with my friends to watch the game. This is the moment, this is the time all Blue Jays fans have been waiting for."

The 30-year-old, who describes himself as an "avid baseball fan" said he'd certainly be burning a sick day for future games in the coming weeks if they are scheduled during the day.

Jacob Robinson is also considering time off work if more playoff games land in the middle of the afternoon.

The Delhi, Ont., resident will be at Friday's game thanks to a well-timed day off, he and his wife won't be able to make it to Game 1 — a situation that's left him frustrated.

"It's a bit of a gut punch to not be able to go to that first game, and having spent that much money to go," he said. "It was the one I was really excited about because it's the first time in 22 years."

If future games are slotted for more afternoons, Robinson plans to ask his boss about possibly using some vacation time to go watch them because he feels the experience is worth it.

"This is kind of the one team I feel everyone rallies around, no matter where you're from in Canada," he said. "It's not only just the team, but the excitement around it. I really just hope that the afternoon games don't take away from that."

Diana Mehta, The Canadian Press

Few pregnancy deaths but maternal health challenges remain: report

VANCOUVER — Seven-thousand gynecologists and obstetricians from across the globe have gathered in Vancouver to strategize on measures to improve maternal and reproductive health worldwide.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics is releasing a report on Tuesday at its triennial congress saying "more work needs to be done."

Challenges range from high mortality rates due to cervical cancer in low-resource countries and unsafe abortions, to the millions of mothers in South Saharan Africa living with HIV infections, according to the report.

"Our world has an unfinished agenda in women's reproductive health," said Dr. Richard Adanu, co-guest editor of the report, in a news release.

"We need to collectively strategize to find new approaches or to persist with proven and successful interventions."

But progress has been made since the congress last met, said its president Sabaratnam Arulkumaran at a news conference Monday.

He said there's been a "considerable reduction" in maternal mortality worldwide, from 540 deaths per 100,000 to 280, or a drop of 45 per cent.

"The idea is, actually, this can be further reduced," Arulkumaran said. "That's why we are here today, trying to (make) action plans."

He said doctors can save more women's lives by improving emergency obstetrics, safe abortion care and contraceptive coverage.

The federation is targeting about 20 countries that contribute to 77 per cent of maternal mortality and 74 per cent of child mortality globally, he added.

They say focusing on nine key causes of mortality could save up to half of those lives by 2035.

It's working with groups such as the International Confederation of Midwives and the International Pediatric Association.

Canada has been a leader in improving maternal health on several fronts, said one of the federation's past presidents, Dorothy Shaw.

"We're very interested in getting the Canadian public aware of what Canada's contribution is," said Shaw, who is also vice-president of medical affairs at the University of British Columbia.

Canada does not meet the United Nations' Millennium Project goal for rich countries to commit 0.7 per cent of gross national product toward development aid, but she said the government has stepped up on maternal and child health.

Last May, the Conservative government announced another $3.5-billion toward maternal and child health in low-income countries.

"Is it ever enough?" she said with a chuckle. "It was more than civil society asked for."

Dr. Jennifer Blake, CEO of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, told delegates on Monday about a successful project that has benefited from government funding.

The project conducted maternal mortality audits at 22 health centres in Mali, which Blake said is one of the most complicated and unstable countries due to war.

"A lot's going on," she said. "Canada doesn't get credit for the work it has done."

Follow @TamsynBurgmann on Twitter

Tamsyn Burgmann, The Canadian Press

In small Nova Scotia town, locals push ahead with effort to help Syrian refugees

HUBBARDS, N.S. — Just days after the image of a three-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed up on a Turkish beach flashed around the globe, about 60 people packed a church hall in Hubbards, N.S., determined to find a way to respond to the refugee crisis his death came to symbolize.

A month later, the resulting refugee support group is flourishing, but there's also a growing realization that private sponsorship is far from simple.

Susy MacGillivray, 47, a mother of two young children who joined the refugee support group, contrasts current efforts to help Syrians with her childhood memory of her parent's church bringing Vietnamese boat people to Canada in 1980.

"People got it together. We filled a kitchen. We had beds and there was a family there and we had a party," she recalled.

A private sponsor today faces fundraising challenges, multiple committees and efforts to dispel fears of terrorism, say members of the Bay Refugee Project.

"We are the little engine that will," says Sheelagh Priestly, 53, who also joined after the first meeting. "It's miraculous to see in the short 3 1/2 weeks how far we've come."

Already, about 25 people are meeting regularly for hours at restaurants and donated space, while 100 people have indicated interest on a Facebook page. The group has a fundraising committee, an executive committee and a logistics committee to handle paperwork.

Stephen Sharam, 38, heads up the communications committee and has had to appoint a volunteer just to answer questions from nearby communities that want information.

"There are so many people who want to help," he says.

For the Hubbards group the first step was to find a sponsorship agreement holder — an agency that has worked with Ottawa to bring in refugees in the past — to partner with. They chose the Roman Catholic diocese, one of eight such groups available in the province.

Sharam says church experts will initially assist a team of five people in the town working through applications to be sent to Citizenship and Immigration in Winnipeg to apply to receive a refugee under the program.

Meanwhile, MacGillivray, Priestley and other volunteers are busy raising the $27,000 Ottawa requires them to provide to fund the first family of four for a year.

Space for a fundraising dinner has already been donated for a night of food and music at the Shore Club in Hubbards at the end of the month.

MacGillivray says she's hoping to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 from that event. Another committee member is working out how to get charitable status. There's also plans for an art auction.

She says when they've reached the 50-per-cent point for the funds the group needs, they can send in the application for private sponsorship.

The group is also exploring another option, known as Blended Visa Office Referred refugees, where a refugee is identified by a visa office overseas and half the costs are paid for by Ottawa. MacGillivray says that could mean the project could bring in two refugee families with the same amount of cash.  

Some committee members say they are happy to contribute but Ottawa's approach is too cumbersome and reliant on private donors.

"I'm glad we're helping ... but I feel like it's almost nothing," Jackie Leppard said as a recent meeting of the group began. 

"We should be sending teams over there and we should be bringing people over by the tens of thousands."

Meanwhile, Priestley says one of the challenges the group faces is social media comments whipping up fear terrorists will somehow slip through the refugee system.

"We'll have to communicate that there shouldn't be fear about helping. It's sad really. Aren't all of us friends and brethren of one another?" she says.

 

Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press

B.C. wife, husband “stuck” after IRA-related refugee claim turned down

VANCOUVER — A former British soldier married to a disabled Canadian woman may be forced to leave their Victoria home for the United Kingdom after a series of missteps and a snarl of red tape.

John Collins, 62, first made an application for refugee status when he entered Canada, based on alleged harassment in the U.K. by a member of the Irish Republican Army. The application was denied and he's been ordered to leave by the Immigration and Refugee Board.

But Collins is the main caregiver for his wife, Anne, who is disabled and can't work. He also doesn't make enough money as a security guard to pay their bills while saving for airfare so both can return voluntarily to the U.K., said John.

"We are totally stuck," said John. "We are penned into the corner at the moment, and the situation is getting worse day by day."

"We just really need help but we want to also point out how unjust the whole thing has been," added Anne, who's 63.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May, who is running for re-election in the nearby riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, said her staff is helping the couple, noting their situation isn't unique, but is complicated.

The Collins married a decade ago and came to Canada from England in September 2012. When they arrived, John was denied entry and told that if he wanted to work in Canada he would have to return to the U.K. to apply. After hours of questioning, and in frustration, Anne suggested he make a refugee claim.

A July Immigration and Refugee Board decision noted John served in the British special forces and he claimed a member of the IRA recognized him as a veteran at church. After that, his house was flooded, hit by fire, vandalized and robbed, the board heard.

The decision said he hadn't proven the events were ordered by the IRA, nor did Collins provide any "objective evidence" the IRA was pursuing British veterans. It ruled police acted on his complaint and he was unable to prove they couldn't protect him.

The board ruled John was not a refugee nor in need of protection. He's been told to leave by Nov. 6.

Refugee board spokeswoman Melissa Anderson said it's rare for claims to be accepted from the U.K. because it's not considered a refugee-producing nation by the Canadian government.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board and Canada Border Services Agency declined to comment on the case, citing privacy concerns.

Government rules say a person cannot apply to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds if their application has been rejected in the last 12 months.

The border agency said in an email that once a refugee claim has been rejected, the person is required to leave Canada within 30 days after a departure order becomes enforceable.

John said he is prepared to return, but Anne is wheelchair-bound, and also suffering with a broken hip, and he doesn't want to leave her alone.

"I've been married to her for 10 years," he said. "I've looked after her and suddenly I'm being told by a little clerk in an office that she can get somebody else to look after her."

He also said he earns just a little more than $12 an hour as security guard in the Victoria area and can't save the money needed to pay their bills and save for their flights.

Anne could return to the U.K. with John because of her British ancestry, but she said John also helps her brother who is in an assisted-living facility.

May said her staff spends about 90 per cent of their time working on immigration and refugee cases.

She called any such action against John "outrageous," noting Anne is disabled and needs her husband.

"This is the kind of circumstance where a removal order makes no sense," she said.

The Canadian Press

Trial begins for NBA’s Thabo Sefolosha, arrested, injured after confrontation with NYC police

NEW YORK — Opening statements are set to begin in the trial of a professional basketball player charged with resisting arrest and other crimes following a confrontation with police officers outside a trendy Manhattan nightclub in April.

The Atlanta Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha, who suffered a season-ending leg fracture in the struggle, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also include misdemeanour obstructing government administration and disorderly conduct. He has rejected a plea offer from prosecutors and his attorney, Alex Spiro, has said his client is going to trial to clear his name.

A jury of four women and two men was picked Monday in Manhattan Criminal Court. Opening statements start Tuesday.

The case stems from an early-morning struggle outside the 1Oak Club in Chelsea shortly after the stabbing of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland, his girlfriend and another woman. It was then that the 30-year-old guard-forward ignored six separate orders to move away from the crime scene, charged at another officer and then flailed his arms and twisted his legs while being placed under arrest, according to a criminal complaint.

During jury selection, Spiro said that while his client, a Swiss national, may have been "mouthy" and "fresh" in his dealings with officers after the stabbing, no crime had been committed. He also suggested race played a role in his client's arrest.

"Are you all willing to understand that we're all swayed at some level by implicit racial biases," he asked potential jurors.

Six police officers will be called as witnesses for the prosecution, an assistant district attorney, Francesca Bartolomey, said Monday. Spiro had sought to review the personnel records of five officers involved in incident but the judge, Robert Mandelbau, denied that motion.

Charges against another Hawks' player involved in the confrontation, Pero Antic, have been dropped.

Jake Pearson, The Associated Press

Leonardo Barboza, Klay Thompson combine for 29 points in Warriors’ 95-87 win over Raptors

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Leandro Barbosa scored 15 points, Klay Thompson added 14 and the NBA champion Golden State Warriors beat the Toronto Raptors 95-87 in a preseason game Monday night.

DeMarre Carroll scored 15 points for the Raptors, who played in Vancouver on Sunday.

Raptors: Norman Powell scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the fourth quarter. ... DeMar DeRozan scored 12 points. ... Jonas Valanciunas had 10 rebounds. ... All-Star guard Kyle Lowry was given the night off to rest a sore right groin after Sunday's 26-point effort

Warriors: NBA MVP Stephen Curry fouled out with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter. He went 5 of 7 from the floor, including 3 of 5 from long range, and finished with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. ... James Michael McAdoo scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. ... Marreese Speights had 12 points.

Star watch: Carroll, who played all 12 minutes, scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the first quarter.

Coaching debut: Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said his dad (Hall of Famer Bill Walton) advised him to call six different coaches and read six different books in preparation for his promotion.

Up next: Golden State visits Portland on Thursday. Toronto plays the Los Angeles Lakers in Ontario, California, on Thursday.

The Associated Press

Kam Chancellor’s big play allows Seattle to escape with 13-10 victory over Detroit

SEATTLE — With one big punch, Kam Chancellor showed his importance to the Seattle Seahawks.

And once again, the Seahawks may have received another Monday night break from the officials in the same end zone where the infamous "Fail Mary" took place.

Chancellor knocked the ball free from Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson at the 1-yard line when it appeared the Lions were going to take the lead, and Seattle held on for a 13-10 win.

With Detroit on the verge of capping a 91-yard drive with the go-ahead touchdown with less than 2 minutes remaining, Chancellor came from the side and punched the ball from Johnson's arm as he was being tackled by Earl Thomas. It bounded into the end zone where it was guided over the back line by K.J. Wright for a touchback and Seattle's ball at the 20.

Wright should have been called for an illegal bat for hitting the ball out of the end zone, NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino told NFL Network. The penalty would have given the ball back to Detroit at the Seattle 1.

But no flags were thrown and on the ensuing possession, Russell Wilson found Jermaine Kearse for 50 yards on third down. With Detroit out of timeouts, the Seahawks (2-2) ran off the final seconds of their second straight win.

"The back judge was on the play and in his judgment he didn't feel it was an overt act so he didn't throw the flag," Blandino said. "In looking at the replays it looked like a bat so the enforcement would be basically we would go back to the spot of the fumble and Detroit would keep the football."

Wright said he did not know the rule and Seattle coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the Seahawks got a break.

"Now that you look at it, we were fortunate," Carroll said.

Detroit (0-4) is off to its worst start since it also started 0-4 in 2010 on its way to a 6-10 season, and with a schedule that offers little relief going forward.

"It's unfortunate, but you can't put the game in the referee's hands," Johnson said.

It was an ugly performance by the home team, filled with offensive mistakes and two fourth-quarter fumbles by Wilson, the second returned 27 yards for a touchdown by Caraun Reid to pull Detroit to 13-10.

But in the end, Seattle's defence came through.

Starting on their 9 with 6:23 remaining, the Lions converted a big third down on Golden Tate's 22-yard catch-and-run and reached the Seattle 46 with 3 minutes left on Ameer Abdullah's 9-yard run. Matthew Stafford then zipped a pass to No. 3 tight end Tim Wright down the seam for 26 yards to the Seattle 20 with 2:30 remaining, placing it in-between Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Chancellor.

The Lions reached the Seattle 11 and on third-and-1, Stafford passed to an open Johnson. As he stretched for the goal line, Chancellor came across and knocked the ball free.

Seattle has not allowed an offensive touchdown in the two games since Chancellor ended his holdout and has forced 18 punts during that stretch.

"It was big time," Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said of Chancellor's return. "He just made us a whole defence."

Wilson was forced to be an escape artist as Seattle's offensive line continued to struggle with protection. Wilson threw for 287 yards and rushed for another 40 yards. Wilson's most memorable play was spinning free of two near sacks and finding Kearse for 34 yards in the second quarter, and then hitting Doug Baldwin on a 24-yard TD on the next play.

Seattle was without Marshawn Lynch for the first time since Week 7 of the 2011 season against Cleveland when Lynch had back problems flare up during pregame warmups. Thomas Rawls rushed for 104 yards last week in relief of Lynch, but could not get started against a better Lions defence. Rawls finished with 48 yards on 17 carries.

Stafford was 24 of 35 for 203 yards for Detroit, which lost starting tight end Eric Ebron and both starting defensive tackles Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker to injuries.

Ebron suffered a knee injury in the first half after having two early catches, while Ngata and Walker both went out in the second half. Ngata suffered a calf injury while Walker was taken off on a cart after suffering a left leg injury in the fourth quarter.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Tim Booth, The Associated Press

Nicholas Hoag has five aces in Canadian victory over Honduras in volleyball

CORDOBA, Mexico — Nicholas Hoag had 17 points, including five aces, as Canada defeated Honduras 3-0 on Monday to clinch its first victory in Pool A at the Norceca Men's Continental Championship.

Daniel Cornelius and Jansen Vandoorn also contributed with eight points each as Canada won 25-13, 25-10, 25-10. The Canadians also overcame Honduras in blocks (11-3) and in services (11-1).

"We knew it was going to be a good start for us," said Canadian coach Glen Hoag. "But when you play against a Central American team with very young players like them there were some interesting things we saw. The way they spiked and try to go for the points. They showed a good plan, and showed concentration, despite this was a very difficult match for them".

Captain Luis Salgado scored nine points for Honduras. He served the only ace for the Central American team coached by Marcos Antonio Tejeda.

"We faced a World League calibre team, a high level one," said Tejeda. "We had no previous experience and no preparation matches. Despite this was a difficult match, it has been a privilege for us to play against Canada."

The Canadian Press

Edmonton police department tries to clarify link between rising crime, oil price

Edmonton's police force tried to clarify Monday comments its chief made last week that out-of-work oilpatch workers could be to blame for the city's recent rise in crime.

On the weekend, the Edmonton Police Service released tables and charts that it said shows monthly crime statistics in Edmonton climbing over the past 12 months as oil prices dropped to record lows.

On Monday, deputy chief Brian Simpson spoke to reporters on the steps of police headquarters.

“It’s not linked to oil prices,” he said. “It’s linked to the change in the economy that we experience in Alberta. This has been an Alberta experience for a long time.”

The department had said the data was provided in response to a request from Melissa Blake, the mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, that Chief Rod Knecht back up his claim that low oil prices and crime were connected.

"The price of oil is not the only factor behind a higher crime rate — population growth in the city and the local unemployment rate are also contributing factors," the news release on Sunday said.

"However, as the statistics show, the connection between the price of oil and crime rates in the city is clear."

Knecht said last week a lot of people are coming back to Edmonton from Fort McMurray and Cold Lake and are sitting around in Edmonton waiting for the price of oil to go back up so they can go back to work.

Blake called the comments "unjust."

Simpson said the shadow population that comes to Edmonton comes from all over northern Canada, and is not directly related to a downturn in the oilpatch.

“It’s mainly property crimes are the biggest impact that we’re seeing across the board," Simpson said. "I think we’re up about 18-plus per cent at this point and the other thing is violent crimes. We’re seeing an increase as well.

“A lot of those violent crimes in the policing environment relate back to drug usage in terms of our experience.”

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson also weighed in on the debate last week, saying the downturn in the economy means Edmonton ends up policing "northern Alberta's problem children."

Blake said last week that she would welcome an apology from Knecht and Iveson, saying it seemed like her community was "an easy target."

The EPS will be asking city council for 80 additional officers during budget deliberations in November.

(CHED, CTV Edmonton, The Canadian Press)

 

The Canadian Press

Rotary District 5370 creates over 200,000 meals for developing nations

Man sues Colorado university for denying Bible-themed donor plaque in football locker room

DENVER — A graduate of a Colorado university who wanted to cite the names of Bible verses on a donor nameplate in a football locker room sued his alma mater for rejecting the request.

Michael Lucas wanted the plaque recognizing a $2,500 donation he made to be inscribed with "Colossians 3:23" and "Micah 5:9," but not the language from them. The Colorado School of Mines said the inclusion of the verse names would violate the separation of church and state, according a lawsuit filed in Denver federal court last week.

Lucas argues that it constitutes private speech protected by the First Amendment. The university said it is disappointed the former football player sued and disagreed with his claim that it restricted his free-speech rights.

For his donation, Lucas was getting one of 130 personalized plaques in the locker room of the school's new athletic facility. Quotations approved for other donor nameplates included, "Give 'Em Hell!" and "Take your whiskey clear," according to the lawsuit.

Lucas, who played defensive nose tackle for the Mines' Orediggers from 1998 to 2002, said the university rejected the citations because they referenced Bible books and because Colossians 3:23 includes the word "Lord." It reads: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

Richard Collins, a law professor at the University of Colorado, said that while public institutions have to be careful not to appear to favour one religion over another, he thinks there's a good chance the court will see donor nameplates as private speech.

"The plaque is obviously the work of the donor, not the university," he said. "The university just way overreacted to the content of this."

Scott Johns, a law professor at the University of Denver, said one question the court will evaluate is whether people using the locker room would feel excluded if certain religious messages were allowed.

"At the end of the day, the school's in a tough place," he said.

After the dispute, Lucas still made his donation and agreed on a plaque with the quotation from Micah, instead of the name of the Bible citation itself. The nameplate now reads: "Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed."

But Lucas agreed to the nameplate "under protest" and he wants the university to give him what he originally requested, said his attorney Natalie Decker, who works with Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian advocacy group.

"We worked with him to come to an agreement on an inscription that both reflected his intentions and was consistent with our obligations as a public university," Karen Gilbert, a school spokeswoman, said in a statement.

She said the university believes the "speech at issue is considered government speech" because it's permanently on its property and the school can't favour one faith or belief over others.

"The Mines community is made up of many faiths and beliefs and we aim to foster a supportive and inclusive university environment," Gilbert's statement said.

The lawsuit names 10 Colorado School of Mines officials, including its former president, the current president and university trustees. Lucas is seeking attorneys' fees if he wins, $1 from each of the school officials named in the suit, and for the university for change its policy regarding what can go on donor nameplates such as his.

"It's absurd for them to argue that a Bible-verse reference that doesn't even include the text of the verse is somehow inappropriate because another person might go and look up that verse and see that the word 'Lord' is included in that," Decker said.

Ivan Moreno, The Associated Press

Dramatic cougar chase in Victoria ends with big cat felled by tranquilizer dart

VICTORIA — It was the perfect Hollywood ending to a guns-drawn pursuit of a cougar bounding across backyards, over fences and through garages in a downtown Victoria neighbourhood steps from British Columbia's legislature.

Dozens of residents peered over fences or stood on balconies watching the drama as police and conservation officers with dogs ran through alleys and along sidewalks with their pistols drawn as noisy crows led the chase from the sky.

Relieved neighbours and bystanders clapped and cheered after one shot from a tranquilizer rifle immobilized the big cat Monday morning.

About a half dozen officers surrounded the cougar as it lay on the grass with a dart in its side, its chest heaving, before it was lifted into the back of a pickup truck and placed in a steel barrel.

"I was hoping they wouldn't kill it," said Sonja Edwards, who lives in the James Bay neighbourhood where the cougar was on the loose. 

"We decided to tranquilize it because we had a chance to," said conservation officer Peter Pauwels.

He said he expected the cougar to wake up in a few hours when it would be released back into the wild Monday evening.

"I'm going to try and take it as far away from human civilization as I can get on southern Vancouver Island."

Pauwels downplayed the intensity of the hunt and the potential danger that the wild, cornered cat posed to the neighbourhood, which includes an elementary school and seniors' facilities.

The pursuit was anything but quiet as police sirens wailed, tracking dogs howled and crows screeched from above.

Two Layser panting hounds named Jim and Phoebe, their noses to the ground, had the cat's scent and were just steps behind the cougar.

They followed it across a parking lot and into a yard on Michigan Street, but the cat spun around, leapt about two metres into the air and ran past a group of reporters and photographers who were part of the chase.

A police officer screamed, "Look out," as the cougar charged out of a parking lot.

A resident named Tim Van Alstine said he planned to take a photo of the large cougar but when he saw it run out into the street, he realized he was in danger.

"When I saw the size of the cat, I said, 'It's time to get out, like get away quick,' and I did," he said. "I just forgot the picture. I just took off. I started running backwards. Big. Big. Much bigger than anticipated."

Opposition New Democrat MLA Carole James, who represents the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding where the cougar was roaming, said her husband took photos of the animal running through their backyard.

Pauwels said he suspects the cougar has been in the Victoria area for a about a week, based on recent reports of cougar sightings in nearby Oak Bay.

He said cougars sometimes leave the wilderness areas that surround Victoria and end up lost in the urban zone, unable to find their way out.

"Cougars, when they get into these areas, they're scared and they are trying to find a way out. I don't think this thing was ever inclined to attack anybody."

Cougars are not strangers to James Bay and Victoria's downtown area.

In 1992, a cougar was spotted on the grounds of the Fairmont Empress Hotel, where it was tranquilized in the hotel's underground parking lot.

Six years later, a cougar walked into a business in James Bay, where an employee locked the animal in a room until conservation officers arrived and tranquilize it.

Vancouver Island is believed to be home to up to 800 cougars.

 

 

 

.

 

Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press

BC Women in Energy hosting information session tonight

Staying Up: McCann, Virtanen, Hutton make Canucks’ roster for opening night

VANCOUVER — Jared McCann and Jake Virtanen spent a nervous Sunday waiting to learn their immediate fate with the Vancouver Canucks.

"It was tough," said McCann. "We were sitting there watching the baseball game, sweating a little bit. It definitely wasn't an easy time."

The 19-year-old forwards could exhale, at least a little, on Monday after being told they will be staying with Canucks to start the season.

"Still trying to soak it in right now," said Virtanen. "It's pretty exciting."

Virtanen, the sixth overall pick in 2014, and McCann, who was taken 18 spots later, had strong performances in training camp and during the exhibition schedule with two goals and two assists each in six games.

Vancouver also decided to keep another rookie, 22-year-old defenceman Ben Hutton, with the big club ahead of Wednesday's opener in Calgary against the Flames. 

"You don't just get lucky," said Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins. "There's no luck. You get what you deserve ... those guys are ready, they're good players."

With veteran winger Chris Higgins out with a broken foot, 30-year-old Adam Cracknell also made the team, likely on the fourth line.

The Canucks still have a bit of wiggle room with Virtanen and McCann if things don't work out early in the season. Both are too young to play in the AHL and their only option is being returned to junior, but they won't have the first year of their entry-level contracts burned until each plays a 10th NHL game.

It's not something the team is focusing on, but the players are well aware they still have lots to prove.

"It's in the back of our minds," said Virtanen. "We still have to make this team and guys are pushing for jobs still."

Hutton, who could have been sent to the AHL without having to clear waivers, was a relative unknown coming into camp after a strong rookie tournament in mid-September. A fifth-round pick back in 2012 who played three years at the University of Maine, Hutton showed he belonged on a team that was looking to add some speed and creativity in defence.

"I had no idea I would be here at this point, I'm going to be completely honest," Hutton with a big grin. "But I am and I'm happy so I'm just going to keep rolling with it."

Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said he was glad to see players who deserved a spot stick with the club.

"You hear every year about guys coming in and getting a chance and everyone's fighting for the same job, but you never follow through on that," said Sedin, who is entering his 15th season. "They're really good people. They come in, they work hard, they don't expect to be given anything. They work for what they get. That's all you can ask for."

To make room for McCann, Virtanen, Hutton and Cracknell, the Canucks placed forward Linden Vey and defencemen Frank Corrado and Alex Biega on waivers.

Desjardins said cutting Vey and Corrado was especially difficult.

"I feel for those guys. It's hard. When we wrote up our lineup in the summer both guys were on the team. That's where we felt they'd be," said Desjardins. "They didn't have bad camps, it's that other people had real good camps."

The Canucks could lose all three on the waiver wire ahead of assigning them to the AHL, with Corrado and Vey biggest risks.

The 24-year-old Vey had 10 goals and 14 assists in his first full NHL season with the Canucks in 2014-15 after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings for a second-round pick. Corrado, meanwhile, has been viewed as one of Vancouver's top young defence prospects, but the 22-year-old was passed by Hutton in the pecking order.

"On our team I want guys to compete for spots," said Desjardins. "If you're not doing your job then we're going to go to somebody else."

---

Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

MLSE signs four-year promotions deal with daily fantasy provider DraftKings

TORONTO — Daily fantasy website DraftKings has signed a four-year advertising and promotion deal with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The fantasy provider has partnerships with nearly every major sports league in North America and is known for its ubiquitous advertising campaign that has come to dominate sports broadcasts over the past year.

DraftKings says the deal means successful players will be able to win special experiences with MLSE's three pro teams, such as box seats at the Air Canada Centre, a chance to go behind-the-scenes with the Maple Leafs, or court access for pre-game warm-ups at a Raptors game.

DraftKings players pay to assemble virtual teams of professional sports stars for a single day to compete for prizes and awards that can range up to $1 million or more.

The Fantasy Sports Trade Association says more than 57 million people in the U.S. and Canada will play daily fantasy sports in 2015.

Unlike most other fantasy sports products, in which players draft their pros at the beginning of the season and play every week with the same roster, sites like DraftKings and its biggest rival FanDuel give their players the chance at a new lineup every day.

DraftKings vice-president of business development Jeremy Elbaum says Canada is an untapped market for the company, and that this deal is the first in a series of planned expansions outside the United States.

"It wouldn't warrant a deal like this if we weren't already seeing some good results from people signing up in the Toronto area," he said.

Elbaum said the company is putting most of the money it has raised from investors, including venture capital firms, Fox Sports and the National Hockey League, towards advertising as it seeks to gain new customers.

The company has yet to turn a profit, yet Elbaum said the business model is sound.

"We have a direct revenue stream that comes in every single day, we just are choosing to continue on this high-growth pattern," he said.

According to ad researcher iSpot.tv, both DraftKings and FanDuel have been in the top 10 in American TV advertising spending since the NFL season began in early September.

MLSE chief commercial officer David Hopkinson said the company plans to build a new "interacitve zone" at the Air Canada Centre to give fans access to set their lineups and play DraftKings fantasy in the arena.

DraftKings and other daily fantasy providers have come under fire in other jurisdictions from those who claim fantasy sports should be regulated like gambling.

Hopkinson said the company was confident that DraftKings doesn't meet the legal definition of gambling and that fantasy sports are a great way to get fans more involved in the game and interested in individual players.

"We've certainly done our homework," he said. "This market is still going to grow in Canada. I don't think it's anywhere near what it's going to become."

Lawyer Chad Finkelstein, an expert on Canada's gambling laws, said those who sign up for DraftKings or other paid daily fantasy sites won't face any negative consequences, but those who offer fantasy sports need to prove their products aren't the games of chance that fall under strict regulation in the criminal code.

"I'm sure they've gotten legal opinions, they've passed that threshold for MLSE to have signed this deal," he said.

In the United States, online fantasy operates under an exemption in the federal law regulating online gambling.

Canada has no law that deals with online gambling, and the Criminal Code places most of the restrictions on games of pure chance, with lesser restriction on games that mix chance and skill.

Finkelstein said he's a big NBA fan and plays fantasy basketball every year, but added that following every bit of league and player news still doesn't translate to a winning fantasy record.

"When I draft on paper I'm always really happy, but trades happen, injuries happen, suspensions happen and bad weather happens," he said. "To me, that's luck."

___

Follow @Henderburn on Twitter

 

Peter Henderson, The Canadian Press

Canadiens’ Kassian enters rehab program after early morning vehicle accident

BROSSARD, Que. — Montreal Canadiens forward Zack Kassian has entered a substance abuse program after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, the NHL and the NHL Players Association announced Monday.

Kassian, 24, was placed in "stage two of the substance abuse and behavioral health program (SABH)," they said in statement.

"Under the terms of the joint program, Kassian will be suspended without pay until cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators."

Earlier in the day, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Kassian  showed a "lack of character" when he was involved in the accident that left him with two broken bones.

Kassian broke his nose and left foot in the crash that occurred around 6:30 a.m. ET Sunday in Montreal. Two women with him in the vehicle also suffered non-life threatening injuries.

"I don't have all the information, but it's disappointing to say the least," said Bergevin. "I addressed the whole team this morning.

"We are professional and we have to behave like professionals. You have to be respectful and you're lucky to be a hockey player. I'm a firm believer in character and that's really a lack of character and judgement on his part."

Bergevin was told that Kassian was not driving the vehicle when it went off a road and crashed into a tree.

The Canadiens had played a pre-season game Saturday night in Ottawa and had no practice scheduled on Sunday. No charges were laid against the player.

Bergevin said he hoped it will serve as a wake up call for the 24-year-old, who was acquired in the off-season from Vancouver in exchange for veteran Brandon Prust.

He hadn't yet spoken to the player and was still gathering details of the incident and was considering whether to suspend Kassian. Then he entered the NHL and NHLPA rehab program.

Forward Dale Weise, who played with Kassian in Vancouver, had talked to him and was just happy to see that no one was badly hurt.

"That's the main concern here: no one in the car was seriously injured," said Weise. "I don't think we should be worrying about who did what wrong."

It was a first controversy for new Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty.

"Obviously it's a big mistake on his part, but he's lucky to walk away and not be too badly hurt," said Pacioretty. "We have our first game coming up in two days so obviously it's a very important matter.

"We're happy he's OK but we have to stay focused on our game as well."

In Vancouver, Canucks captain Henrik Sedin offered support to his former teammate.

"You feel bad for the guy," Sedin said after Vancouver's skate Monday. "I always liked him as a guy. He had his issues, but he was always good to be around. Hopefully it works out for him ... forget about hockey, but just life I think, for him, is the most important thing."

Kassian had not had a particularly good camp but was a lock to start the season in Montreal. His accident may have spared left winger Jacob de la Rose from being cut, however.

The Canadiens assigned Sven Andrighetto and Charles Hudon to St. John's of the AHL and placed goalie Dustin Tokarski and defenceman Mark Barberio on waivers.

Tokarski, who played brilliantly for an injured Carey Price in the 2014 playoffs, had a weak camp and lost his job to 25-year-old rookie Michael Condon.

"Condon played very well and deserved a job here," said Bergevin. "With goalies, it's more difficult.

"If you have no confidence it's almost impossible to play. Dustin looked shaky in camp. Can he get it back? For sure. He's on waivers. I don't know if he'll clear or not."

The Canadiens kept eight defencemen, including prospects Jarred Tinordi and Greg Pateryn who were battling for jobs.

The Canadiens announced on Sunday that veteran winger Tomas Fleischmann, in camp on a tryout, signed a one-year deal, reportedly at a bargain US$750,000.

"We chose Montreal first," said Fleischmann. "The reason was it's a good team, good players and a good chance to win the Stanley Cup."

— With files from Joshua Clipperton in Vancouver.

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Feds lose bid to place niqab ruling on hold, could pave way for Ishaq to vote

OTTAWA — A new court ruling means a devout Muslim woman who chooses to cover her face now has a chance to become a Canadian and vote in the Oct. 19 federal election.

The Federal Court of Appeal rejected Monday a government request to put a recent decision in favour of Zunera Ishaq on hold while Ottawa seeks a hearing in the Supreme Court of Canada.

Justice Johanne Trudel dismissed the government's application for a stay of a Sept. 15 decision that affirmed the unlawfulness of a federal rule prohibiting a niqab at a citizenship ceremony.

Ishaq, 29, came to Ontario from Pakistan in 2008. She refused to take part in a citizenship ceremony because she would have to show her face due to a December 2011 policy requiring candidates who wear full or partial face coverings to remove them during recitation of the oath.

The Federal Court of Canada found the rule unlawful in February and the Court of Appeal recently upheld the decision. A three-judge panel ruled from the bench immediately after a hearing, saying they wanted Ishaq to obtain citizenship in time to vote.

On Monday, Trudel said she could not agree to the federal request for a stay of the appeal court's mid-September ruling.

"I find that the appellant has not demonstrated that refusing his application for stay would result in irreparable harm to the public interest," she wrote. "This suffices to dispose of the appellant’s motion for stay."

The issue of face coverings at citizenship ceremonies has become a highly divisive one on the federal election trail, generating sparks in two French-language debates.

The Conservatives argue it is essential — and consistent with national values — to show one's face at the very moment of becoming a Canadian citizen.

"We are disappointed in the court's decision, especially as we were waiting on the Supreme Court to hear our appeal," Conservative spokesman Stephen Lecce said in a statement.

"We have committed to rectifying this matter going forward by introducing legislation that will require one to show their face while swearing the oath of citizenship."

The NDP and Liberals have accused the government of using the issue, which affects only a small number of women, as a means of distracting voters from more important issues like the economy.

Critics of the federal stance note all new citizens must show their face as proof of identity before becoming a Canadian and that the government should not tell them what they can wear during the actual ceremony.

Follow @JimBronskill on Twitter

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

Canadian Olympic Committee examines harassment policy in wake of Aubut scandal

Rocked by the resignation of its president amid sexual harassment allegations, the Canadian Olympic Committee says its workplace policies should be strengthened to make it easier for complainants to come forward.

Marcel Aubut stepped down after women accused him of harassing behaviour such as sexually charged comments and unwanted touching. It was a stunning development for a man who stamped his big personality on the Olympic movement in Canada.

Tricia Smith, who ran against Aubut for the COC's presidency in 2009, will be interim president until an election is held at a COC board meeting in November. The new president will finish out Aubut's term ending in the spring of 2017.

Canada's summer athletes are entering their final months of preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics opening Aug. 5.

Smith was unavailable for comment Monday. The former Olympic rower said in a letter to staff and Canada's sports federations, however, that independent investigators conducting a review of internal policies will be asked for recommendations on how to make the process of lodging a complaint less stressful.

"The events of the past week have caused us to consider what more we can do to ensure we have a workplace that is consistent with the ideals and standards of the COC and the Olympic movement," Smith said in the letter obtained by The Canadian Press.

"One challenge we have identified for review by our independent experts, is how to ensure any victims of harassment and sexual harassment feel fully comfortable coming forward with a complaint, if they are feeling mistreated. We anticipate we will need to improve our processes in this regard."

A first woman withdrew her complaint when Aubut resigned, but the COC's investigation into other allegations of harassment is continuing.

Aubut apologized to "those who may have been offended by my behaviour" in a statement announcing his resignation Saturday.

"I realize that my attitude could at times be perceived as questionable by some women and could have caused them to feel uncomfortable," he said. "I acknowledge this and will adjust my behaviour accordingly."

Longtime COC board member and International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said the situation proves the COC's policies against harassment work, but restoring confidence within is what the organization needs right now.

"I think it's probably to do what Tricia started to do, which is to communicate that this is a real problem, an awkward problem and we want to make sure it doesn't happen again," Pound said Monday from Switzerland.

"We're taking steps to make it easier to report on unacceptable conduct," he added. "Our job is to make sure there's an atmosphere in our office, with our teams, with our officials, everybody, that you don't get any kind of harassment, sexual or otherwise."

Aubut, 67, became a board member of the COC in 2000 and took over as president in 2010. Well-connected politically, the Montreal lawyer aggressively pursued corporate sponsorships with a goal set in 2012 to raise $100 million within four years.

He moved the heart of the COC's operations in 2013 into a tony address on Rene-Levesque Boulevard in Montreal.

Aubut escorted IOC president Thomas Bach around Toronto and Montreal in July. At the conclusion of the Pan American Games, Aubut launched a full-court press urging Toronto to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which the city ultimately declined to do.

Whether the COC chooses another mover-shaker to take over, or goes with more understated leadership, Pound says the Olympic movement in Canada is not irreparably damaged by the scandal. 

"The five rings are bigger than Marcel Aubut," Pound said.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press