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From crowded crease, Ramo named Calgary Flames starter for season-opener

CALGARY — The man who finished last season in the Calgary Flames' net has been given the nod to start this season.

Flames head coach Bob Hartley named Karri Ramo his opening-day starter, but that settles just one question about Calgary's goaltending situation.

The 29-year-old Finn will play Wednesday's opener at home against the Vancouver Canucks with Jonas Hiller backing him up.

Ramo made 44 saves in Calgary's final game last spring — a 3-2 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal.

But with three goaltenders on one-way contracts still in Flames' camp Monday, there was an undercurrent of waiting for a decision from above to resolve the crowded crease.

"The only good thing about three goalies is we have another subject of conversation," Hartley said.

"That's about the only good thing that comes out of it, but at the same time, it's our situation and we're going to work with it and see what's going to happen."

Ramo became an unrestricted free agent July 1 and re-signed with the Flames for a year and US$3.8 million. Hiller, 33, has one season remaining on his contract that counts $4.5 million against the salary cap.

Joni Ortio's contract becomes a one-way deal this season, paying him $600,000. The 24-year-old Finn had an outstanding call-up in January when Ramo was injured. Ortio allowed a combined five goals in four wins over division rivals.

Hartley intends to continue last season's goaltending strategy of going with the hot hand until it goes cold. So it will be a short trip to backup status again as the coach isn't shy about swapping goalies mid-game.

"Win. Simple as this," Hartley said. "We have the same ingredients in net so we might as well keep the same recipe book. They win, they play. They don't win, we have the musical chair going."

The Flames reduced their numbers to 26 on Monday by assigning centre Markus Granlund to their new American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton, Calif. Centres Paul Byron and Mason Raymond were placed on waivers.

Not every team can have a Carey Price, so Hartley hopes the natural competition for starts gets Calgary's goaltending to a level that wins a Stanley Cup.

Hiller posted a 26-19-4 record starting the majority of games last season, with a goals-against average of 2.36 and a save percentage of .918. He was stellar at times during a 6-1 stretch at season's end to help the Flames secure a playoff berth.

The Swiss netminder was Calgary's starter in the first round against Vancouver, but was on the bench the last four games of the Anaheim series.

"What Bob told me is whoever plays well, he keeps playing," Hiller said. "Three guys here, so it's a little different. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen, but I guess who plays well is going to play. All I can do is play as good as I can."

Ramo went 15-9-3 in the regular season with a GAA of 2.60 and a save percentage of .912. He raised his free-agent stock in the playoffs.

When Hiller gave up two goals on three shots to start Game 6 versus Vancouver, Ramo's 17 saves in relief helped the Flames recover for a 7-4 victory and the series win.

Ramo took over for Hiller again in the second period of a 6-1 loss to open the Anaheim series. He stopped 18 of 21 shots.

"For me, I don't care how many goalies there (are)," Ramo said Monday. "Every time I'm between the pipes in a game or in a practice, you focus on stopping pucks and try to prepare yourself as best as possible.

"Other people make decisions and . . . I'm sure they're working on what's best for the team."

Working three goalies into a practice can mean less reps for all three, says Ortio.

"It might not be the ideal situation, but we're going to just have to try to make it work," Ortio said. "We don't know how long this is going to go on."

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press

Producers of dried medical pot awaiting approval to sell now-legal cannabis oils

TORONTO — A number of Canada's medical marijuana growers are poised to release cannabis oils for authorized patients who don't want to smoke or vaporize the dried herb to relieve their symptoms.

In July, Health Canada gave growers the green light to begin producing the plant-based extracts, which are expected to be approved for sale in the coming months.

About a dozen of the country's 25 medicinal pot producers have sought expanded licences to produce and market cannabis oils and/or fresh marijuana buds and leaves under the updated federal regulations. Among them are Ontario companies Tweed and Bedrocan Canada Inc., and B.C.'s Tilray.

Tilray announced Monday that it has 20 cannabis extract products awaiting Health Canada approval, including oils in liquid form, gel caps and a topical preparation for certain skin conditions.

"We really felt it was important to let patients and the general public, physicians and researchers know about these products ahead of time," Philippe Lucas, the company's vice-president of research and services, said from Nanaimo, B.C.

"We know there's going to be a lot of questions about the products, the first time that these kinds of extract products will be legally available in Canada."

Lucas said some patients and doctors aren't keen about the idea of having to smoke or vaporize dried marijuana. Cannabis extracts allow the drug to be ingested — and more discreetly.

Patients who have been authorized by their doctors to purchase dried medical marijuana to treat such conditions as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis symptoms or epilepsy will not need a new prescription to access cannabis oils, he said.

"There's an equivalency factor that we've put into these and so there will be an equivalency, for example, of the number of gel caps or the amount of oil you're allowed to order, based on your daily and monthly limits.

"So any Canadian who's authorized to use medical cannabis right now would be able to access these," said Lucas, noting that the oils will be delivered by mail or courier in the same way the dried herb is currently shipped.

Prices for the oil extracts, he said, should not be substantially higher than the $4 to $14 per gram for the dried products.

Bruce Linton, chairman and CEO of the recently merged Bedrocan and Tweed, said the company initially plans to release two or three cannabis oil products, which could be scaled up to 10 or more, depending on patient demand.

"There are different types of oils," Linton said from the Tweed plant in Smiths Falls, Ont., southwest of Ottawa. "The combination of ingredients is expected to have a similar effect in its oil form as it does in its flower form."

For instance, an oil could include a combination of marijuana strains, while another could be a purified single strain with a specific effect, such as helping a person with chronic pain to sleep.

"So each of the venues has their own distinct strains, which have their own distinct applications and will become their own distinct oils," he said of the Bedrocan and Tweed growing facilities.

As well, some oils produced by the various growers will have different concentrations of the weed's main medicinal ingredients: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive agent that provides marijuana's high, and non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol), which is being used by some patients to control seizures.

Lucas of Tilray said some parents have been going through the laborious process of making their own cannabis oil from dried marijuana to give to their children with epilepsy or other seizure disorders that are resistant to or poorly controlled by standard pharmaceuticals. Typically these oils come from strains high in CBD.

Jennifer Ayotte of Oshawa, Ont., said having cannabis in oil form would be a major benefit in treating her 23-year-old daughter Stephanie, who suffers intractable seizures from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Currently Ayotte makes brownies containing dried marijuana that her daughter can eat. One brownie can be divided into many small portions and ingested throughout the day to control her seizures.

The medicinal pot has made a big difference for Stephanie, who had been having up to a dozen seizures a day and had fallen down stairs and broken her leg as a result.

Traditional anticonvulsive drugs either didn't work or provided little improvement, and they also had side-effects "that were just awful," said Ayotte, explaining that some made her daughter so psychotic that she tried to jump out of the car on Highway 401 and kicked in one of the vehicle's doors.

While ingesting marijuana has reduced Stephanie's seizures by at least 90 per cent, the high sugar content needed to make them even remotely palatable has led to unwanted weight gain in her daughter, who also has severe cognitive impairment.

"So having an oral would be tremendous," her mother said.

"Certainly for us and for other people who are caring for her, it will make it a lot easier. So when she is out or we're in a restaurant and she needs to have it, instead of having a brownie, it can be put into the food that she's eating."

A Health Canada spokesman said once a grower has received a supplemental licence to produce cannabis oils, the company is permitted to get production up and running, but is not yet allowed to sell the products.

"Health Canada officials will conduct a formal inspection of their facility to determine if the licensed producer meets the requirements for sale," Sean Upton said by email.

"When all requirements are met, including analytical testing to ensure compliance with the conditions of the supplemental licence and the requirements for good production practices under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulation, Health Canada will amend the supplemental licence to include the activity of sale."

 

Follow @SherylUbelacker on Twitter.

Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press

Scott Walker to lead Team Canada White at U-17 Hockey Challenge

As Canada bids RWC farewell, coach Crowley regrets missed chances and lack of game management

LEICESTER, England — When Canada's players eventually fly home from the Rugby World Cup after their last match against Romania, it will be with fond memories of the attacking rugby they played and regrets over the opportunities they failed to take.

On the eve of the Pool D encounter, Canada coach Kieran Crowley reflected on the tournament and one match stood out: the 23-18 loss to Italy, where the Canadians failed to capitalize on a 10-0 lead.

"We watched that video and probably cried all the way through it," Crowley said Monday. "We had overlaps and chances to score. We didn't have the game sense to do it."

Canada played some thrilling rugby against France last week, getting behind the defence and scoring two quick tries in the first half. Canada got to within six points of France after the restart, but then faded, losing 41-18. After the 50-7 defeat to Ireland in their opening match, Crowley underlined how Ireland had punished his team with its superior game management.

But Canada is not to blame for that.

In the four years between the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, Canada played three Tier One teams. In the first 12 days of this tournament, the Canadians played three, exposing their limitations as well as increasing their fatigue.

"We need to play Tier 1 countries, our decision makers (on the field) need to be at a club where they're given decision-making games. We've made a lot of progress at skill level but we haven't got over the line lately to get wins," Crowley said. "There's some mini-rugby starting up in Canada, but there is progress being made elsewhere as well. Romania have seven professional teams in Bucharest and that's not something we can compete with."

Veteran lock Jamie Cudmore, who captains Canada in the absence of the injured Tyler Ardron, remembers how he came into rugby late and thinks the game must be developed more at grassroots level in Canada.

"I started quite late, 16 or 17 years old. If you get to the international stage at 23 or 24 and been only playing five or six years that's not enough," said Cudmore, a regular for Clermont in France's elite Top 14 league. "We need guys in our decision-making areas to be playing high-level competition week in, week out, and then we'll start knocking over some of the big boys."

Cudmore will play his 14th World Cup match, moving level with Canada record-holder Rod Snow.

Joking about his age, Cudmore says he's so old "I've coached a few of the guys in the squad and that dates me a little bit." Still, he's in no hurry to walk away from international rugby."

Lynn Howells' Romania lineup should be the fresher side at Leicester's City Stadium.

It has played only twice so far, losing 38-11 to France and 44-10 to Ireland, and had four days longer to prepare this match.

Romania is aiming to win its last two matches, this one and the last one against Italy, to take third spot and secure an automatic place for the 2019 World Cup.

"It's time to produce a result and for the players to come out and play their best rugby," coach Howells said. "But it's a pretty nervous camp at the moment, they just want to go out there and play."

He already has a pretty good idea how Canada will approach the game: with plenty of running and width.

"They don't want the scrum because that's what they try and stay away from," he said. "We're expecting more of a loose game."

Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press

Panel should have considered whales when it reviewed pipeline proposal: lawyer

VANCOUVER — A federal panel tasked with reviewing the Northern Gateway pipeline project failed to take into account the serious threat posed by oil spills and increased tanker traffic to humpback whales, says an environmental lawyer.

ForestEthics Advocacy, Living Oceans Society, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and B.C. Nature are part of a Federal Court of Appeal challenge arguing the government erred in granting approval to Calgary-based Enbridge (TSX:ENB) for the controversial, $7-billion megaproject.

Barry Robinson, a lawyer for three of the four environmental groups, told the court in Vancouver on Monday that the review panel's failure to consider Canada's official recovery strategy for humpback whales negated the federal government's approval.

"The final humpback whale recovery strategy was added to the Species At Risk public registry on Oct. 21, 2013," said Robinson — that was two months before the panel issued its recommendations. As of that date, the Joint Review Panel was required to take that document into consideration, he added.

"They seem not to have understood that obligation," Robinson said, referring to panel members.

"The panel failed to consider the humpback whale recovery strategy even after one of the interveners ... tried to bring the recovery strategy to their attention."

In late 2013, the Joint Review Panel — the independent body mandated by the National Energy Board to assess the environmental effects of the project — recommended that the pipeline project be approved with 209 conditions.

The federal government issued its approval six months later with the same conditions.

The proposed, 1,200-kilometre twin pipeline would carry bitumen between the Alberta oilsands to B.C.'s coast for export to foreign markets. Enbridge estimates the project would boost Canada's GDP by $300 billion over 30 years.

The Federal Appeal Court is considering a total of 18 legal challenges from First Nations, environmental organizations and a labour union during the hearing, which is set to conclude Oct. 8.

Raincoast's Misty MacDuffee said a bump in tanker traffic increases the likelihood of fatal collisions with whales and underwater noise seriously interferes with feeding and communication.

"The waters between Kitimat and Hecate Strait, where Enbridge wants to put its tankers, are critical feeding grounds," said MacDuffee, speaking outside the court building in Vancouver on Monday.

"As a (species at risk), Canada is obligated to protect habitat that is critical to the survival and recovery of humpback whales."

The push to have the court overturn the approval goes beyond opposition of this project and could set a pattern for all future pipelines, said lawyer Karen Campbell, co-counsel with Robinson for the environmental groups.

"If they continue with processes that are increasingly geared toward facilitating approval then we're going to see more and more cases in court," said Campbell. "We're hoping that we can stop that by getting a good precedent out of this case."

Joie Warnock with Unifor, which is expect to argue against the approval later in court, said the labour union does not oppose pipelines but takes issue with a faulty approval process that she describes as "rigged from the beginning."

"The playing field was never level between the powerful interests between foreign oil companies and those working Canadians who have concerns that need to be addressed," she said.

Eight First Nations argued in court last week that the federal government violated its duty to consult and accommodate aboriginal bands before approving the pipeline.

Ivan Giesbrecht, a spokesman for Northern Gateway, has said the firm accepts First Nations' traditional land-use rights and remains committed to working with aboriginal communities.

Lawyers for the federal government and Northern Gateway are expected to make legal arguments later this week.

— Follow @gwomand on Twitter

Geordon Omand, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version contained an incorrect spelling of Misty MacDuffee's name.

Sharks forward Torres suspended 41 games for illegal check to the head

The NHL handed out one of its longest suspensions for on-ice conduct in league history by banning San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres 41 games for an illegal hit to the head of Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg.

Torres is one of the worst head-shot offenders in recent years, since the Department of Player Safety began cracking down on them.

It's the fifth suspension for Torres. He has also been fined three times and warned twice in 703 games, according to director of player safety Patrick Burke, who narrated the suspension video.

Torres had already been suspended for hits to the head of Jordan Eberle (April 2011), Nate Prosser (December 2011), Marian Hossa (April 2012) and Jarret Stoll (2013).

Silfverberg was his latest victim when Torres lined up the Swede during Saturday night's pre-season game and drove his left shoulder upwards into his head. Silfverberg left for precautionary reasons but was considered OK.

Torres was almost a full second late on the hit after Silfverberg was stripped of the puck. He will forfeit US$440,860.29 in salary as a result of the suspension.

This suspension is 11 games longer than the one given to Chris Simon in 2007 for stomping on the ankle of Jarkko Ruutu.

Torres's previous high was 25 games for the hit on Hossa in the 2012 playoffs.

Marty McSorley was banned for a year in 2000 and wound up serving 23 games for his stick to the head of Donald Brashear, while Todd Bertuzzi served 20 games for attacking Steve Moore from behind in 2004.

Torres's suspension flies in the face of a positive trend for the NHL. Suspensions were down 49 per cent last season from 2011-12, the first year Brendan Shanahan was in charge of the Department of Player Safety. That department is now headed by Stephane Quintal.

"The players are getting it," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week in his New York office. "We're paying attention to this."

Torres is more the exception than the rule when it comes to NHL discipline. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly credit the league's rookie symposium along with educational and other videos for the progress.

"You can take a look at a game today and compare it to a game that was played five years ago and you'd see a night and day difference in terms of just the safeness of the environment out on the ice," Daly said by phone recently. "I think it's a safer game today than it was five years ago."

Injuries and suspensions are down, which makes Torres's infraction stand out even more.

Technically he was not considered a repeat offender because he hadn't been fined or suspended within the past 18 months. Torres played in only 15 games since being suspended for hitting Stoll.

---

Follow @SWhyno on Twitter

Stephen Whyno, The Canadian Press

Tribe of One’s video with Ecole Central students makes waves online

Major League Baseball attendance up slightly this season

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball averaged 30,517 fans at games this season, up slightly from the previous two years and the sport's seventh-highest mark.

The average was up from last year's 30,454 and was the most since 30,985 in 2012, the commissioner's office said Monday. The average peaked at 32,785 in 2007, before the Great Recession.

Total attendance was 74.76 million, an increase of 30,000; there were four fewer dates this season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers drew 3.76 million and led in home attendance for the third straight season. The New York Yankees drew 3.4 million and topped the AL for the 13th consecutive year.

The Toronto Blue Jays drew 2.79 million, good for fourth in the AL and eighth in the majors, and averaged 34,504 fans a game. That number was inflated by Toronto's exceptional play after the all-star break that carried the Jays to the AL East title. The team says it sold out 20 of its 21 home games.

The Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals, the top two teams in the AL, were the lowest road draws in the majors in 2015. Toronto drew an average of 27,762 fans in its away games, just ahead of Kansas City's league-worst road average of 27,681.

Tampa Bay drew a big league-low 1.25 million and Cleveland was 29th at 1.39 million.

— With files from The Canadian Press

The Associated Press

Afternoon weekday playoff games may prove disappointing for Jays fans

TORONTO — Despite their thrilling second-half push to the post-season, it appears the Toronto Blue Jays are not ready for prime time.

Start times for the first three games of the American League Division Series between Toronto and Texas were released Monday, and the Blue Jays' early slot in Major League Baseball's post-season lineup might be disappointing to fans who snagged elusive playoff tickets or planned to catch the game at a local bar after work.

Game 1 on Thursday at Rogers Centre will start at 3:37 p.m. if the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees in the AL wild-card game, and 4:07 p.m. if the Yankees are victorious.

The start for Game 2 on Friday is less favourable, with a 12:45 p.m. first pitch, meaning those caught in the 9-to-5 rat race may have to miss the game or try to monitor it at work.

Game 3 in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, a day when when a matinee might be appealing to fans, will take place at 8 p.m. ET. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, have not yet been assigned a start time.

The Blue Jays are playing in the post-season for the first time since 1993, and their run to the AL East title has created a major buzz in a city desperate for a winning team.

The Canadian Press

Montreal’s proposal to dump raw sewage into St. Lawrence River panned

MONTREAL — The City of Montreal is standing by its plan to dump eight billion litres of untreated wastewater into the St. Lawrence River while it does construction work, saying it's the best alternative.

The one-week sewage dump is to relocate a snow chute on a tunnel that needs to be empty for workers to access it. The project is part of an ongoing plan to raze the downtown Bonaventure Expressway, which runs above it.

Mayor Denis Coderre told reporters Monday he's confident that city officials have done their due diligence, made sure that drinking water for communities downstream will not be affected and selected the best option in terms of time and cost.

Coderre suspended the plan last week, but experts maintained the temporary diversion of wastewater was the best option.

"After the re-evaluation, I decided I was satisfied with the answer," Coderre said.

However, the plan has its detractors.

More than 58,000 people had signed an online petition as of Monday afternoon against the proposed dumping.

The issue also caught the attention of some federal election candidates.

The Conservatives' Denis Lebel said he is "concerned" about the discharge of sewage into the river, adding Environment Canada is working with the city to assess the impact.

Coderre said the same type of work was done twice before — in 2003 and 2007 — without issue.

An Environment Canada spokesperson said discussions with city officials are ongoing to gather information about the potential impact, but the agency was unable to provide with The Canadian Press with an interview.

"The Fisheries Act prohibits unauthorized deposits of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish," a spokeswoman said in an email. "Under the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations, Environment Canada cannot authorize this type of wastewater deposit."

The provincial Environment Department has approved the plan, which is expected to start Oct. 18.

"We evaluated the situation regarding the impacts on the environment, the impact on the wildlife, the impact on people ... making sure people had clean water," Environment Minister David Heurtel said in Quebec City.

Federal Green party candidates in Quebec called the decision "ill-advised," suggesting the city could have done better.

Daniel Green says parsing the work over a longer period instead of proceeding with a one-shot deal in October could have lessened the impact, as would having the work done in February, when frigid temperatures would kill off bacteria.

"That's a lot of waste water to be discharged, in October, in the St. Lawrence River, when you have fishermen, duck hunters, surfers, kayakers using the water," Green said.

The Green party is asking Environment Canada to stop the proposed work and Coderre said if that's the case, the city would come up with a response after Oct. 18.

The mayor also dismissed concerns raised by a U.S. state senator from New York, Patty Ritchie, who wrote a letter to the International Joint Commission — whose mandate it is to protect the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes — to probe Montreal's plan.

Ritchie said Montreal's plan to dump "the equivalent of 2,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools filled with wastewater" from homes and businesses needs further study.

"While I realize that the dumping will occur in Canadian waters, downstream from any U.S. communities, I am very concerned by the precedent Montreal is setting for other communities along the St. Lawrence and the lakes," she wrote.

Coderre insists the plan is the right one.

"When you're factual, when you look at the experts, at the end of the day that was the decision to be taken because it was the only one," Coderre said.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press

Northern Metalic Flyers hammer Peace River 10-1

Canada holds off New Zealand TPP offensive for greater dairy access

OTTAWA — Canadian officials have slammed the door on a suggestion by New Zealand that it might push for greater access for its dairy products as the Trans-Pacific Partnership moves forward.

But disappointed New Zealanders, who ran headlong into Canada's sacrosanct adherence to supply management during the talks, maintained that the day will come when Canada's dairy farmers will no longer enjoy having their "hands held" by protective policies.

New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said Monday he considers the 12-country Pacific Rim trade deal to be open to future "adjustments" after his country failed in an 11th-hour bid for more tariff-free access for its dairy products.

Groser said his country had achieved its main goal of tariff elimination on all exports, except beef to Japan and certain of its dairy products.

That was a reference to New Zealand's unsuccessful attempt to gain more access to Canada's protected dairy industry.

The Harper government trumpeted its protection of Canada's supply management system following the conclusion of the marathon TPP talks.

Canada made a modest concession by allowing imports of dairy products to rise by 3.25 per cent, far lower that even some government insiders had been predicting.

New Zealand had been pushing for more, as it also sought greater access to the American market.

"What we're doing is on the more difficult issues is establishing a direction of travel. Unquestionably, we will see adjustments to that direction of travel," Groser said in Atlanta, as he and 11 fellow ministers announced the conclusion of the TPP talks.

"This will open up political space for future generations of trade ministers from my country to build on this."

Back in Ottawa, Canadian government officials, who briefed journalists on the condition they not be identified, were adamant that there would be no re-opening of Monday's deal, saying it was closed to further negotiation.

"The announcement made by ministers today was of the conclusion of negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said one official.

"This is not an agreement in principle. This is not an agreement on some elements. This is a conclusion of all aspects of a negotiation, today."

Many dairy farmers in Canada were largely supportive of the outcome, but their New Zealand counterparts were bitterly disappointed.

Andrew Hoggard, of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand, said his country's negotiators "threw everything at it" in their talks but ran into "some pretty entrenched protectionist views."

"If supply management is so fantastic for one part of the Canadian economy, why don't you do it for everything? Get the old Politburo going and everything's supply managed," he said in an interview.

Hoggard said that over time, it is inevitable that the protections for the dairy sector will inevitably diminish as they have in other agricultural sectors, such as pork and beef.

He said it was time for Canada's dairy farmers to "play on the world stage, and wear big kiddie pants and not have to wear government nappies."

One Pacific Rim diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the TPP is viewed by many as a "living document" that will evolve over time, as more countries are admitted and further liberalization takes place.

The diplomat said it was better to get "a good deal now" rather than hold out for a "perfect deal" that might not be attainable.

"At a certain point, it became clear that getting rid of all tariffs on all products wouldn't happen."

Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press

TPP: Will Canadian companies take advantage of the world’s largest trade zone?

OTTAWA — Canada's signature on Monday's sweeping trade deal will open a door for companies to expand deeper into the Asia-Pacific region — but it remains to be seen how many will actually walk through it.

With the world's largest economy right next door, Canada's business community has had good reason to remain focused on the fish-in-a-barrel opportunities offered by the United States market.

So, will Canada's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a 12-country pact billed as covering 40 per cent of the global economy — encourage Canadian companies to finally step out of their North American comfort zone?

"It's so easy for Canadian firms to just walk across the border," said Ian Lee, an economics professor at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business.

"We can do all these deals, and I totally support these deals, they're absolutely essential. But then the question is: how do you get businesses to seize the opportunities? And that's more difficult."

Lee said up to three quarters of Canada's foreign trade goes to the U.S., which shares similar business laws, language and culture.

He also noted how prime ministers and Bank of Canada governors have long urged business leaders to diversify by looking beyond North America.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has repeatedly stressed that overseas trade deals provide key tools that will help create jobs in Canada.

International Trade Minister Ed Fast has acknowledged the Conservative government, which has signed trade deals with more than three dozen countries over the last decade, faces the challenge of persuading overly cautious Canadian businesses to hunt for new markets overseas.

An estimate provided earlier this year by Fast's department said only 40,000 of the country's one million small- and medium-sized businesses were exporters — and only about 10,000 of them exported outside the U.S.

It's not only the allure of the U.S. market that keep Canadian businesses close to home.

Economists blame protectionist measures in Canada for discouraging firms from exploring outside their cosy domestic bubble.

Lee pointed to strict regulations that shield the airline, dairy, poultry, auto and telecom industries, and suggested taking way protectionist measures that discourage companies from looking beyond North American shores.

"But that's a bridge too far, I think, for most politicians, including Harper."

Jack Mintz, an economist from the University of Calgary, said these types of protective measures also limit Canadian productivity, an area where the country has struggled.

Mintz believes Canadian firms are ready to take advantage of deals like the TPP and the country's trade agreement with Europe, which has yet to be fully implemented.

"We are a very open economy and we tend to think of ourselves as traders," Mintz said.

He said that perhaps companies have not been enticed enough by free-trade pacts beyond North America because they involve much smaller economies in places like Jordan, Panama and Honduras.

He did note, however, that Canada's pact with Korea — implemented earlier this year — is a significant agreement.

Canadian firms will also have to brace for stiffer competition as the larger trade agreements with the Asia-Pacific nations and Europe come into force.

Many companies in Canada, however, should be able to make the transition because they're already exposed to global competitors, said trade expert Laura Dawson.

"I don't think that for most of our sectors that Canada is in really any danger of any competitive surprises," said Dawson, director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

However, the TPP will create some winners and losers, she added.

She expects Canadian industries focused on services, higher technology and value-added products will find success in a more-open trading environment, while businesses involved in low-wage assembly and the production of simple products will likely face bigger challenges.

There are other compelling economic reasons why Canadian companies should start looking past the U.S. even if it remains the easiest trading partner, said Wendy Dobson, an economics professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman Institute for International Business.

She pointed to the expansion of the increasingly integrated Asian market and, in relative terms, the declining significance of the U.S. in the world economy.

"We need other markets," Dobson said.

She also warned Canada can't risk failing to innovate nor can it be absent when other countries integrate with each other through trade and investment deals.

If not, Dobson said "there's going to be the piper to pay down the road."

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Andy Blatchford, The Canadian Press

Midget Petroleum Flyers split weekend exhibition games

Habs GM Bergevin says Kassian showed ‘lack of character’ in vehicle crash

BROSSARD, Que. — Forward Zack Kassian showed a "lack of character" when he was involved in an early morning motor vehicle accident that left him with two broken bones, Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Monday.

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.

It was unclear how long Kassian will be out of the lineup, but he will miss the team's regular season opener on Wednesday night in Toronto.

"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 hopes 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 had yet to decide whether to put Kassian on the injured list or to suspend him. He hadn't yet spoken to the player and was still gathering details of the incident.

"I'm looking at all my options right now," he said.

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."

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."

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Dolphins’ Philbin fired 4 games into 4th season; Dan Campbell promoted to interim coach

MIAMI — Joe Philbin was fired Monday four games into his fourth season as coach of the Miami Dolphins, and one day after a flop on an international stage that helped to seal his fate.

Tight ends coach Dan Campbell, who has been with the Dolphins since 2010, was promoted to interim coach. He has no previous head coaching experience.

"I'm not here just to finish the season up," Campbell said. "That's not my plan. We're coming here to win games. It's still early. We have time to turn everything around. But we can't wait."

The Dolphins (1-3) lost their third game in a row and turned in their fourth consecutive lacklustre performance when they were beaten Sunday in London by the archrival New York Jets, 27-14.

Midseason head coaching changes are unusual in the NFL, but few will accuse owner Stephen Ross of impatience. He ignored calls to fire Philbin in December after the Dolphins faded to finish 8-8 for a second successive season.

But doubts only grew this season regarding Philbin's inability to motivate players with his bland demeanour. Campbell said he respected Philbin but plans to make practices more intense.

"This is my sixth season with the Miami Dolphins, and this is the most talented roster we have had in those six years," Campbell said. "We have plenty of talent.

"I feel there's a lot more we can get out of these guys. We need to change the culture to where it is so competitive on Wednesday, Thursday, maybe even Friday, that it's intense and heated. We may have to break up a few (fights) — that's when things get good. You can't go through the motions Wednesday and Thursday and turn it up on Sunday. It doesn't work that way."

Ross said the decision to fire Philbin was difficult.

"I don't believe we were performing at the potential we have," he said. "I felt this was the time to make this decision. I haven't seen a lot of improvement. I see the same old, same old.

"My goal is still to make the playoffs. I felt this was the best opportunity we have — to pick Dan Campbell as our head coach."

The Dolphins have started poorly in every game and have been outscored 37-3 in the first quarter. The offensive line has been a problem throughout Philbin's tenure, and the defence has progressively gotten worse under co-ordinator Kevin Coyle. They rank last in the AFC in rushing and offensive points per game, and last in the NFL in sacks and run defence.

Philbin, who was hired as a first-time head coach in 2012, went 24-28. He failed to reach the playoffs or even finish above .500.

Philbin, who said after Sunday's loss that he wasn't worried about his job security, issued a statement after being fired.

"I want to thank Steve Ross for allowing me the privilege to serve as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins," Philbin said. "This is a tremendous organization from top to bottom that has a talented and dedicated staff. I want to especially thank the players, coaches and football staff who have worked so unselfishly and represented the team with dignity and class. I would be remiss if I didn't thank the incredible fan base who has supported me and my family unconditionally since day one.

"It is my hope that the 2015 Miami Dolphins achieve great success both on and off the field."

Philbin's job has been in jeopardy since a rocky 2013 season that included a bullying scandal and a meltdown in the final two games that cost Miami a playoff berth.

The Dolphins have floundered for more than a decade while going through frequent shake-ups at the top. The next coach will be their eighth since 2004, and the second hired by Ross.

The Dolphins are on course to miss the playoffs for the 13th time in the past 14 years, and the seventh season in a row. It has been 23 years since they reached the AFC championship game, 31 years since they played in the Super Bowl and 42 years since they won an NFL title.

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Steven Wine, The Associated Press

Chris Hadfield lands down in Dawson Creek

Nationals fire manager Matt Williams, coaching staff after disappointing, dysfunctional season

WASHINGTON — Manager Matt Williams was fired by the Washington Nationals on Monday after a season in which the team went from World Series favourite to failing to make the playoffs.

The club announced the move a day after finishing the regular season barely above .500 at 83-79, second to the New York Mets in the NL East.

"This entire season was a disappointment," general manager Mike Rizzo said during a telephone conference call. "It was not our best year. It wasn't Matt's best year. It wasn't my best year. As an organization, it wasn't our best year. All of us, together, feel the disappointment."

Williams is gone after only two seasons in his first job as a skipper in the majors. Last year, he was voted NL Manager of the Year after the Nationals finished with the best record in the league. In February, the Nationals exercised his 2016 contract option.

But he presided over a 2015 season filled with defeats, discord and the embarrassing spectacle of a dugout dustup between NL MVP front-runner Bryce Harper and teammate Jonathan Papelbon during a game the day after the team was eliminated from playoff contention.

Williams said he had no idea of the extent of the skirmish until much later in the day. Even though he was, of course, in the dugout at the time, Williams said he hadn't been aware of exactly what happened — including that Papelbon grabbed Harper by the throat. None of his players or coaches told him about it right away, and he said he hadn't asked to know more.

"Not one single incident was the tipping point of making a decision with Matt Williams," Rizzo said. "Like I said during the season, (we were) going to take his whole body of work into consideration."

The Nationals also said Monday they will not renew the contracts of the seven members of Williams' staff: bench coach Randy Knorr, pitching coach Steve McCatty, hitting coach Rick Schu, third base coach Bobby Henley, first base coach Tony Tarasco, bullpen coach Matt LeCroy, and defensive co-ordinator Mark Weidemaier.

Knorr, who was a candidate for manager when Williams was hired, could be considered for that post again, Rizzo said.

Before Sunday's season finale against the Mets, Rizzo said the Nationals were "not going to let people twist in the wind" — and, true to his word, the house-cleaning began quickly. He said he met with Williams in the Nationals Park manager's office Monday morning to deliver the news.

Rizzo said the hiring process would begin Monday afternoon.

"We're going to bring in a group of people with diverse backgrounds, diverse experiences and diverse skill sets. And I think that's something we did not do last time. Last time we brought in managing candidates with little or no managerial experience," Rizzo said.

Before the season began, no one was shy about predicting big things for Washington — not even the Nationals themselves. But the team fell apart in the second half.

Williams' string of open-to-second-guessing bullpen choices didn't begin in 2015 — they were front-and-centre during Washington's NL Division Series loss last season. He also tried to deal with a long list of injuries, including to half of the everyday lineup for long stretches: Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon and Denard Span. The ideal lineup was available for only two games all season.

"We had some things that went sideways and we had a whole bunch of injuries, and not much you can do about that except adjust and move on," Williams said Sunday.

His departure begins an off-season of significant change for a team that won division titles in 2012 and 2014 but could not win a playoff series.

At least 20 per cent of the roster is pretty much guaranteed to be gone. Two homegrown building blocks, right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and shortstop Ian Desmond, are expected to leave via free agency, along with leadoff hitter Span and right-hander Doug Fister. Drew Storen is expected to be traded after losing the closer's job to Papelbon, then faltering badly.

"It's got a chance to be drastically different next year," Werth said, "so that's tough."

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Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press

Suncor takes aim at bigger Syncrude stake with bid for Canadian Oil Sands

CALGARY — Suncor Energy is looking to grow its position as Canada's dominant oilsands producer —  and take advantage of a prolonged rout in crude prices — with a hostile bid to take over Canadian Oil Sands Ltd., the largest partner in the massive Syncrude mine.

Suncor (TSX:SU) is offering $4.3 billion in its own stock and would take on about $2.3 billion in COS debt, bringing the total price tag to $6.6 billion.

Suncor and Syncrude have the oldest operations in the oilsands, with side-by-side mines north of Fort McMurray, Alta. COS has a 37 per cent stake in Syncrude and Suncor has a 12 per cent stake, meaning Suncor would own just under half of Syncrude if it successfully gobbles up its target.

Suncor CEO Steve Williams said his company made overtures to COS earlier this year in the hopes of inking a friendly deal, but was rebuffed by its board. The unsolicited offer announced Monday requires that two-thirds of COS stock be tendered to Suncor by Dec. 4.

"Our clear preference was to work together on a co-operative negotiated deal," Williams said in an interview. 

"We approached them twice, once in March, once in April, and were told that there was no interest at that time," he said.

"So I felt that the only option open to me, because I do think that this is a compelling offer, was then to go directly to shareholders."

COS said it's reviewing the Suncor offer with its advisers.

"Shareholders are urged not to take any action or make any decision with regard to the Suncor offer until the board has had an opportunity to fully review the Suncor offer and to make a recommendation as to its merits," it said in a release.

COS shareholders would have got a better deal if the company had accepted Suncor's earlier offer — $11.84 as of March 31, according to a filing to U.S. regulators, versus $8.84 based on Suncor's closing price on Friday.

Williams noted crude prices have dropped 17 per cent since its friendly approach, languishing below US$50 for several weeks.

Brompton Group portfolio manager Laura Lau says COS is likely holding out for a better offer to emerge.

The logical "white knight" would be ExxonMobil-controlled Imperial Oil (TSX:IMO), which owns 25 per cent of Syncrude and manages its day-to-day operations,  Lau said. "I'm sure Imperial-Exxon have sharpened their pencils."

Imperial spokesman Pius Rolheiser said the company doesn't comment on market speculation.

Lau said she doubts the two Chinese-controlled firms with Syncrude stakes — Sinopec, with nine per cent, and CNOOC-owned Nexen, with seven per cent — would have much of an appetite to grow their share, given Ottawa's hurdles to foreign state-owned investment in the oilsands. Mocal Energy and Murphy Oil each have five per cent interests in Syncrude.  

John Stephenson, CEO of Stephenson & Co Capital Management, said he doubts Imperial is keen on topping Suncor's offer, and COS shareholders would be wise to take what's on the table.

During the last oil industry downturn in 2009, Suncor also went shopping, absorbing Petro-Canada in a blockbuster deal.

This time around, the mergers and acquisition front has been relatively quiet, with buyers and sellers failing to see eye to eye. One exception has been Suncor's recent plan to purchase an additional 10 per cent stake in the under-construction Fort Hills mine from partner Total for $310 million.

Stephenson said he's expecting more deals to follow in the oilpatch, with big and financially strong players picking off their weaker counterparts.

"The bigger will get bigger and the stronger will get stronger."

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Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story: An earlier version misspelled 'Brompton'