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French debate gives leaders last major stage from which to sway Quebecers

OTTAWA — In Ascot Corner, Que., population 2,000, 50 farmers and a few tractors showed up this week to protest outside an all-candidates meeting. 

Fifteen minutes away, in Sherbrooke, Calgary Conservative Jason Kenney came bearing his party's message on religious face-coverings as he campaigned with local candidates.

And in Quebec City, the National Assembly voted Thursday to condemn acts of hate and violence against Muslim citizens.

The federal campaign is hot in Quebec, with a few particularly provocative topics with the potential to shake up the vote. The final French-language debate Friday night, hosted by the TVA network, has become a high-stakes event for the leaders tussling over the province's 78 seats.

In recent weeks, the NDP's polling numbers in the province have softened, opening up the possibility of unexpected gains for their rivals.

For example, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is hoping to win back seats his party formerly held in Montreal. He was in the city's suburbs Thursday, promoting more transit infrastructure to alleviate the city's notorious gridlock

The emotional issue of religious accommodation and specifically the wearing of face coverings during citizenship ceremonies, has become one of the most contentious issues. There is wide support in the province for the Conservative and Bloc Quebecois position that women wearing the niqab be forced to remove it when swearing the oath.

But the niqab issue also appears to have spurred more that just anti-Islamic rhetoric in the province. A pair of teens tore the headscarf from a pregnant woman in Montreal earlier in the week, causing her to fall on the ground.

On Thursday, the National Assembly passed a unanimous motion saying that "Muslim Quebecers are full citizens and this legislature condemns without reservations hate speech and violence against all citizens of Quebec."

NDP leader Tom Mulcair has criticized Harper and Duceppe for using the divisive issue to score political points, while acknowledging that many people feel strongly about it.

"The person who has the most to lose is Mr. Mulcair, because it's his support base which is the most divided on the niqab issue," said Louis Massicotte, a political science professor at Laval University.

"He counts on the support of Quebec nationalists and they're quite sensitive in general to questions of integration."

Despite the attention to the niqab, pollster Christian Bourque said many Quebecers watching the debate will be trying to decide whether Tom Mulcair or Justin Trudeau has the best chance of beating Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

"If they feel Justin has the wind in his sails, some will go in his direction because he's got that potential to beat Mr. Harper," said Bourque, executive vice-president of Leger.

"If they still believe that the NDP is the only force that can beat the Conservatives, a lot of people will remain with the NDP and they may get some of that (lost) support back when everybody gets over this niqab thing."

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is likely to be a major topic of discussion during the debate, with negotiations coming to a head potentially a few hours before the broadcast.

The Quebec dairy industry worries that deal will weaken the supply management system of tariffs and production quotas and Harper will try to allay those fears.

"It's really been an issue throughout, from the every beginnings of the campaign," said Gordon Lambie, a reporter with the Sherbrooke Record in Quebec's Eastern Townships region. "

Mulcair has been saying this week that Harper doesn't have the mandate to negotiate any sort of final deal during an election campaign.

"The NDP will never accept a deal that compromises the supply management system that has provided honest work for thousands of families across Canada," Mulcair told supporters in Montreal on Thursday.

Mulcair also focused on the party's stance on the environment, another issue with resonance in the province. The Energy East oil pipeline project has met significant opposition and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe deliberately raised it during the first French-language debate.

Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press

Ontario and Alberta agree to fight climate change in their own ways

TORONTO — Ontario and Alberta have different approaches on climate change, but agree reducing greenhouse gases is a key issue linked directly to the economy, Premiers Kathleen Wynne and Rachel Notley said after meeting in Toronto Thursday.

"We talked about our shared commitment to addressing issues around environmental protection and climate change," said Notley.

Alberta has a climate change review panel doing consultations with all sectors of the economy, including the energy industry, and is looking at reducing the amount of coal it burns to generate electricity, she added.

"It's also looking at what we do with respect to energy efficiency and with respect to renewable energy," said Notley. "Those are two areas under the previous government that were not developed at all from the perspective of government policy."

Alberta will develop a policy that balances environmental stewardship with ensuring "sustainable and economically healthy growth" of the province's energy sector, added Notley.

"The sustainable development of the energy industry is very important for Alberta's economy and very important for Canada's economy," she said.

Ontario already closed all its coal-fired electrical generating stations and has decided to implement a cap-and-trade system to further reduce greenhouse gases, while Alberta already has carbon pricing.

"What's important from our perspective is that we're all taking action, and it's consistent with the Canadian energy strategy that we are putting our own sub-national strategies in place," said Wynne. "A real reduction of emissions is our goal."

Notley said she supports NDP Leader Tom Mulcair's proposed national carbon trading system to combat greenhouse gas emissions because it would let provinces opt out if their efforts are as good as or better than his plan.

"The key thing about his plan that is appealing to Albertans is the fact that it respects the ability of individual provinces to make their own plans that reflect the economic and industrial profiles of each province," said the NDP premier. "That's why I think we can work within it."

There are 1,100 Ontario companies that are dependent on Alberta's oilsands for their business, said Wynne, so the province has a vested interest in the sector.

Ontario and Quebec have raised concerns about the environmental impact of the Energy East pipeline project, and Notley admitted Alberta could do a better job of explaining the need for the pipeline to diversify its energy markets.

"I do feel there's better discussions to be had around this issue," she said. "I think we can change the framework and change the way the conversation goes forward and we can have a discussion ultimately on that pipeline on the basis of its economic merits and the environmental consequences of the pipeline itself."

TransCanada Corp. wants to build a $12-billion pipeline to carry Alberta crude to ports in eastern Canada, which involves converting an existing natural gas pipe for two-thirds of the way and building new pipe through Quebec and New Brunswick.

"A project like the pipeline shouldn't be about pitting one province against another," said Wynne. "It's about how do we have this conversation that recognizes the economic merits and the economic needs of all provinces."

The premiers also expressed support for a new free trade deal at the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks in Atlanta, but Wynne complained about a lack of information from the federal government and said she hoped Ontario's auto sector and agricultural supply management systems were protected in the negotiations.

Notley's visit to the Ontario legislature was part of a business trip which also took her to Montreal and New York City.

___

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Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press

France beats Canada 41-18 to reach RWC quarterfinals thanks to bonus point from 5 tries

MILTON KEYNES, England — France became the first team through to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals after scoring five tries in a 41-18 win against Canada in their Pool D match on Thursday.

Veteran lock Pascal Pape got the all-important fourth try and the bonus point that France —runner-up four years ago to New Zealand — needed to reach the last eight.

France will be aiming to beat Ireland in its last game to secure top spot in Pool D and avoid a likely showdown with the All Blacks in the quarterfinals.

Despite the fulltime score, it was a somewhat patchy performance from France and the only safe bet was the accurate kicking of veteran flyhalf Frederic Michalak.

The 32-year-old Michalak converted the first four tries and added two penalties on his way to becoming his country's all-time World Cup scorer with 136 points. He made his World Cup debut in 2003.

Michalak went off near the end and was replaced by Morgan Parra, a mainstay from the 2011 squad, who then helped to set up winger Remy Grosso for a try on his test debut as Canada played the last 10 minutes with 14 players after Nanyak Dala was sin-binned.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre will be pleased with a fifth straight win, but will be seeking answers as to why his team switched off in the first half.

The French appeared to be in complete control at 17-0 after tries from centre Wesley Fofana and hooker Guilhem Guirado, but Canada rallied with two quick tries.

Left winger DTH Van Der Merwe crossed out wide and hooker Aaron Carpenter bulldozed over the creaking French line on the right.

That stirred France back into action.

The French won a penalty at the end of the half, but Michalak chose an attacking lineout instead of a shot at goal. The move paid off, the French rolling maul proved too good and prop Rabah Slimani ducked in to pad out the lead to 24-12.

Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press

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Glasgow Rangers midfielder Fraser Aird set to join Canadian senior camp

TORONTO — Fraser Aird is set to attend his first camp with the Canadian senior soccer team, the Canadian Soccer Association has confirmed.

The 20-year-old Glasgow Rangers midfielder is part of the senior roster to be announced Friday for a camp next week in Florida ahead of an Oct. 11 friendly with Ghana in Washington.

Aird will join newcomer David (Junior) Hoilett at the Canadian camp.

The Toronto-born Aird was part of a Canadian under-15 camp in 2010 and played in a U15 friendly against the U.S. He represented Scotland at the under-17 level.

Aird was slated to be part of the Canada team at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship earlier this year, but had to sit out due to club commitments.

The Canadian Press

Washouts, damage to homes reported in New Brunswick after major downpour

FREDRICTON, N.B. — Heavy rainfall that dumped more than 160 millimetres on parts of New Brunswick is being blamed for widespread property damage and the death of one man. 

The province's Emergency Measures Organization says the downpour Wednesday and early Thursday damaged bridges, highways and guardrails across the province.

"We're dealing with road closures ... washouts and I've got a few bridge washouts as well, so we are looking at significant damage to road infrastructure," said spokesman Paul Bradley.

The RCMP say a 51-year-old man in Berwick, N.B., died after a retaining wall collapsed on him as he was connecting a sump pump at his home. The man has not been identified, and RCMP say they are not investigating as the death is considered accidental.

Six duck hunters were also rescued from a small island on Grand Lake after their boat started to sink Wednesday night.

In Welsford, about 70 kilometres south of Fredericton, some roads were covered in water and on Highway 101 in Wirral large slabs of asphalt were torn from the roadbed and ended up among some trees more than 10 metres away.

Addison Sweet of nearby Hoyt said the damage in his community was overwhelming.

"It looks like a war zone. It looks like the military bombed it in places," he said.

"There are 50 foot sections of road completely gone, culverts gone, and brooks running wide open."

Some roads are impassable, he said. "You're not going to get through some for a few days."

Bradley said some people in Hoyt had voluntarily left their homes and 14 families in Grand Bay-Westfield were staying with family and friends. A reception centre was also opened in Oromocto for anyone who had been forced from their homes.

In Clarendon, Cheryl Perrin had two driveways but the end of one was washed away by the raging floodwaters and the other one was damaged.

"We knew it was bad but we didn't know it was that bad," she said. 

Perrin said the heavy rain lasted all day Wednesday and through the night.

"There was so much of it that it had no place to go."

Bradley said most roads were swamped and caution was being urged for drivers, particularly in central and southern regions. The downpour and subsequent washouts also forced the closure of some schools and cancelled buses.

Heavy rainfall warnings for New Brunswick and P.E.I. ended Thursday, though warnings remained in effect for much of Nova Scotia and western Newfoundland.

The weather office predicted between 40 and 80 millimetres of rain in Nova Scotia and similar amounts in western Newfoundland.

Environment Canada urged people to prepare for flash flooding.

Despite the nasty weather, four cruise ships carrying more than 5,200 passengers plus crew planned to make a day of it in Halifax harbour, including the Queen Mary 2 ocean liner. A fifth vessel decided to bypass Halifax due to the weather and was headed for Saint John, N.B.

Lane Farguson, a spokesman for the Halifax Port Authority, said the rain wasn't ideal but cruise passengers to the Maritimes are typically prepared for changeable weather.

"They know it's possibly a good idea to bring some rain gear," he said.

— By Melanie Patten in Halifax and Kevin Bissett in New Brunswick

The Canadian Press

Collision with moose near Grande Prairie send one man to hospital

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Fine waived against Ottawa shop that sold chest-binder to someone under 18

An Ottawa-area sex shop says a city bylaw that saw it slapped with a fine for selling a chest binder to someone under 18 is also triggering important conversations about resources for youth struggling with their gender identity.

The owner of Venus Envy says bylaw officers originally came to the store on Monday in response to a complaint from a parent whose child purchased a band designed to flatten the chest.

Shelley Taylor says the store was originally fined $260 for failing to keep minors off the premises and quickly found itself at the centre of public outcry.

Taylor says local politicians, including the mayor, swiftly spoke up questioning the fine and saying the bylaw was out of date in an era where erotic toys and literature can be obtained nearly anywhere.

Taylor says the city has since waived the fine, but believes that wasn't the main issue.

She says it's more important to discuss the dearth of resources available to youth who fall outside gender norms.

"We were really saddened by this one person's story, obviously, but then also the repercussions of what that meant for access to a whole bunch of youth who might not have parental support," Taylor said in a telephone interview.

"It felt like it was really going to be a problem for a lot of people."

Taylor said Venus Envy is a "sex-positive" store carrying everything from sexual health education pamphlets to children's books depicting homosexual parents to toys and other paraphernalia.

She said similar merchandise aimed at gender-normative people is readily available, sometimes even in popular drugstore chains, but said her merchandise also includes alternatives for those with less mainstream preferences.

The chest binder, she said, is one such item that is not carried in a number of similarly themed stores she has encountered in her travels.

Taylor said she has no recollection of the purchase that touched off the controversy, adding the store sells about 20 chest binders each week and bylaw officials declined her request to see a receipt or other proof of the transaction.

But that's no matter, she added.

The larger issue at hand, Taylor said, is that youth grappling with issues of gender identity don't always have safe spaces to ask questions or gather information, and barring them from stores like Venus Envy limit their options even further.

Visiting the store in the company of an adult may not be feasible for those who lack support or are unwilling to share such personal issues, she added.

"It's a vulnerable place for people to be in often unless they've had a lot of experience buying these products," Taylor said.

Ottawa city councillor Catherine McKenney, who represents the mid-town Ottawa neighbourhood where Venus Envy is located, said that vulnerability is what prompted her to speak out against the fine and request a repeal of a bylaw she describes as outdated.

She added it isn't up to municipalities to regulate who's going into stores and what they're purchasing.

"For myself, as a parent, I feel that's my role," McKenney said, adding her view is shared by Mayor Jim Watson, who has backed her effort to revisit the rules.

"His stance was, like mine, that the wellbeing of anyone in our community, but especially (those) who are dealing with their sexuality or their gender — their well-being has to prevail over any application of a bylaw," she said.

McKenney said city staff have agreed to study the bylaw issue and hopes to see it off the books by early next year.

Follow @mich_mcq on Twitter

By Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press

Canadiens prospect Noah Juulsen hopes concussions are behind him

BROSSARD, Que. — A concussion kept defenceman Noah Juulsen out of most of his first NHL training camp but at least he healed in time to get in a pre-season game with the Montreal Canadiens.

"They're treating me well," said Juulsen, who pencilled into the lineup for a game Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre, likely paired with veteran Alexei Emelin. "It's a great feeling just getting back here.

"It's not an ideal scenario, but I've got to go out and play my game."

Nearly all the prospects were dispatched to their junior teams or sent to St. John's of the AHL on the weekend, but Juulsen was kept on to get at least some camp experience.

The Canadiens' first round draft choice, picked 26th overall in June from the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, was unable to take part in the team's rookie camp, a week before main camp. He only started full skating with the team on Saturday.

"It's pretty tough," the Abbotsford, B.C., native said. "You watch the guys every day and you want to be out there.

"There's a protocol you've got to go through and once you're through that you do non-contact practices and then work your way into contact."

Juulsen's concussion history is murky, but the Canadiens don't seem overly concerned. After rookie camp, he signed a three-year entry level contract.

He said it was not his first concussion, but didn't want to get into how many he's had. And he gave no details of what caused his latest one, other than that it occurred "off ice."

"I'm good to go now and from here on forward everything's going to be good," he said, adding that he has been free of concussion symptoms for a couple of weeks.

Juulsen expects to return to Everett by the end of camp, but says he has learned plenty skating with the likes of P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov that he can use back in junior hockey. He got to see NHL players' work habits and game preparation, and got a taste of the extra quickness he'll need in pro hockey.

At six-foot-one, 170 pounds, he'll also need to add some muscle, but some will that will come with age.

"I'm not the biggest guy yet but I think in a couple of years I will be," he said.

Juulsen had 52 points, including nine goals, in 68 games last season with Everett, where he was a teammate of forward Nikita Scherbak, Montreal's top pick in the 2014 draft. The Canadiens selected 26th overall two years in a row and both times took Silvertips.

Scherbak is to play in St. John's this season.

A right-shot defenceman who can move the puck, Juulsen also hopes to make Canada's team for the world junior championship in Finland in December. He attended the team's camp in the summer.

"I played in two of the four games," he said. "I felt really good in it. Hopefully everything goes well."

 

Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

Maple Leafs say they won’t lack effort in first season under Babcock

One of the biggest criticisms of the Toronto Maple Leafs during their tailspin last season was a lack of effort. Even as players insisted they were trying, they didn't have the look of a team hell-bent on winning.

As the rebuild continues, the Maple Leafs might not be much better, even under Mike Babcock. But the star coach will make sure that at least they put up a fight.

"Two things that irritate me the most are lack of preparation and lack of compete," he said. "That's not happening. We're going to get that fixed."

The Leafs should be motivated by playing for a new coach and needing to impress a new general manager, Lou Lamoriello. Phil Kessel's already gone, and almost no one on the roster is untouchable.

Management brought in several players on one-year, "prove-it" contracts. Shawn Matthias signed for US$2.3 million, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau $1.5 million, Matt Hunwick $1.2 million, Mark Arcobello $1.1 million and Brad Boyes $700,000.

They also have players with a year left on their deals, like centre Nazem Kadri, defenceman Martin Marincin (acquired from Edmonton) and winger Michael Grabner (acquired from the Islanders).

Toronto probably won't contend for a playoff spot, but it won't be because players aren't trying.

"We're not going to lose because of lack of effort this year," Kadri said. "It's something that's going to change. We're going to be a skating team, a team that is going to move quick and with pace."

Much has been discussed about Babcock bringing a more puck-possession style to the Leafs. His Canadian Olympic team had the puck so much that it dominated the tournament.

Babcock's Detroit Red Wings also thrived on puck possession. But it's not like flipping a switch.

"The better players you have, the more that you have the puck. That's reality right there," Babcock said. "We plan on having the puck. We're going to work very, very hard to play defence fast and (then) we're on offence. I think that's the whole key to having success."

Babcock's first Leafs training camp has included a lot of hands-on teaching. Totally new systems means even the veterans have a lot to learn.

From the first few days, players understood why Babcock brought a reputation for attention to detail. If all goes according to plan, that'll carry over to game action when Toronto hosts the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night to open the regular season.

"He is very structured," captain Dion Phaneuf said of Babcock. "His teams play with a structure that no matter who's in the lineup, injuries, guys moving on, they play a consistent way. So as players, I think that helps you. When you have that structure on your team, our jobs is to put the work in and we'll see where that takes us from here."

A lack of talent will probably take the Leafs to another top-10 draft pick because it'll be almost impossible to make up for Kessel's lost production. Babcock said he and Red Wings GM Ken Holland used to sit together before each season and figured out how many goals the team would have to score to make the playoffs.

"You have to score about 230 to get in," Babcock said. "When we did the math, it didn't add up. So we had to find some other way to get better."

It'll be on Joffrey Lupul, Kadri, Grabner, Parenteau, Matthias and others to try to replace Kessel's goals.

"I don't know if we have a 35-goal scorer on the team," Lupul said. "I need to score more. Kadri needs to score more. We need more goals from our bottom six. It's going to have to come from a lot of different players."

---

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Stephen Whyno, The Canadian Press

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Supporters of controversial sunken B.C. ship bouyed by fishy visitors

VANCOUVER — Officials with the Artificial Reef Society of B.C. say the sea floor is adapting well six months after the sinking of a decommissioned Canadian warship in Howe Sound, north of Vancouver.

HMCS Annapolis went down amid controversy in Halkett Bay off Gambier Island in April, ending years of legal battles from critics who argued paint on the ship's hull contained toxic chemicals.

Howard Robbins, the president of the artificial reef society, says those worries appear unfounded and the ship is living up to its environmental goal.

Rockfish stocks have been declining in Georgia Strait, but Robbins says some of the small, spiny fish have already been spotted nosing around the Annapolis. 

He says the old ship is also becoming increasingly popular with divers, closing the loop on a circle route for scuba fans that includes the HMCS Chaudiere in Sechelt Inlet, and several ships near Nanaimo.

In all, the artificial reef society has sunk seven vessels in B.C. waters. (CKAY)

The Canadian Press

SNC-Lavalin settles corruption case brought by African development bank

MONTREAL — SNC-Lavalin is turning another page on its sullied past with a deal to settle corruption allegations in two African countries in a move it hopes could provide a formula to resolve problems in Canada.

Under the deal, the company has agreed to pay $1.5 million and accept certain conditions to settle a corruption case filed by the African Development Bank Group, both the bank and SNC said Thursday.

The regional development bank said the settlement resolves allegations, which SNC didn't contest, that former employees of SNC-Lavalin International Inc. ordered illicit payments to public officials to secure two contracts.

The development bank said one of the contracts was awarded to SNC (TSX:SNC) in October 2008 to supervise construction of a road and bridge in Mozambique. The other was awarded in 2010 to supervise a road upgrade in Uganda.

"The sanctions imposed under the settlement agreement reflect the level of co-operation provided by the company in the investigation of the matter," said Anna Bossman, director of the development bank's anti-corruption department.

In addition to the monetary penalty to support anti-corruption initiatives in Africa, SNC has agreed to meet certain undisclosed conditions for two years and 10 months. The settlement means the subsidiary won't be barred from bidding on future contracts in the two countries. No other SNC subsidiaries will be sanctioned.

In 2013, the World Bank suspended SNC-Lavalin International and more than 100 affiliates from bidding on projects it finances for up to 10 years over allegations of bribery in Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Outgoing SNC-Lavalin CEO Robert Card said the African settlement demonstrates that companies "can engage in a constructive dialogue and find effective means to reward remediation while allowing companies to move forward."

SNC-Lavalin wants Canada to adopt a similar model used in Britain and the United States that allows it to pay a fine but spares companies trials that could prevent convicted firms from bidding on government contracts.

The Montreal-based company will appear in court Oct. 16 for a criminal fraud case filed in Canada. The RCMP alleges that SNC-Lavalin paid nearly $47.7 million to public officials in Libya between 2001 and 2011 to influence government decisions.

It also charged the company, its construction division and its SNC-Lavalin International subsidiary with one charge each of fraud and one of corruption for allegedly defrauding various Libyan organizations of about $129.8 million.

SNC has said it will plead not guilty and that the charges stem from alleged activities of former employees who face criminal charges.

If convicted, SNC-Lavalin could be banned from bidding on Canadian government contracts for 10 years under Ottawa's so-called integrity framework. However, the federal government has moved to reduce penalties if companies co-operate with authorities and take remedial action. But SNC-Lavalin says the government's changes don't go far enough and are out of step with Canada's trading partners.

Analyst Maxim Sytchev of Dundee Capital Markets said the Africa settlement was a small step in a lengthy process by SNC to clean up its operations and deal with issues of the past.

"If the company is not being debarred from foreign jurisdictions I believe the probability of them being squeezed by Canada is diminishing as we speak,"  Sytchev said.

 

Follow @RossMarowits on Twitter.

 

Ross Marowits, The Canadian Press

Canadian women’s volleyball team book spot for Olympic qualifier