Winnipeg Free Press

1. August 19, 2008

2. Chrétien blasts PM for skipping Olympics

   By Janice Tibbetts QUEBEC -- Stephen Harper made a political blunder by failing to attend the Olympic opening ceremonies in China, Jean Chrétien charged Monday as he denounced the sitting prime minister for burning bridges and undoing decades of goodwill between the two countries with his swipes at the emerging superpower.

3. Aid groups determined in spite of Taliban threat

   By Clint Thomas and Chris Wickens TORONTO -- Aid groups say they remain committed to helping the Afghan people but are reviewing security in the wake of the latest threat from the Taliban.

4. Tories already campaigning with tax bucks: opposition

   By Randy Shore VANCOUVER -- Flyers sent out by the federal Conservative party last week violate rules that forbid members of Parliament from using their free postage privileges to send out campaign material, opposition MPs say.

5. Canadians warming to election talk

   By Norma Greenaway OTTAWA -- Canadians are warming to the idea of a federal election "to clear the air," according to a new Ipsos-Reid poll that suggests a fresh round of election talk spurred by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his chief rival Stéphane Dion might be striking a chord with voters.

6. Russians take battleground to Internet

   OTTAWA -- As Russian troops stormed into Georgia this month, they had some novel help from cyber-savvy countrymen who unleashed an assault of their own -- hacking into government and commercial websites.

7. Around Canada

   Group linked to Tigers
   TORONTO -- A Toronto non-profit group wired more than $3 million to overseas bank accounts, some of them linked to the Tamil Tigers, before it was shut down by the government in June for alleged terrorist financing, says an RCMP report released Monday.

8. August 18, 2008

9. Planes' exit row passengers in hot seat

   By Jack Branswell and Phil Couvrette OTTAWA -- Like most people, you probably tune out as flight attendants give their safety briefing before the plane takes off, but if you're in an exit row, you might want to think twice about not paying attention.

10. Prairie farmers keep eye on weather forcasts

    By John Cotter Prairie grain and oilseed farmers are watching weather forecasts for warm sunshine to put the finishing touch on what experts say could be higher yields of good-quality crops.

11. MPs' work often gets results in House

    By Tim Naumetz OTTAWA -- For a place that Prime Minister Stephen Harper claims is on the brink of anarchy, Parliament has been a busy little beehive since the current session began a year ago this fall.

12. Studying amphibians' limbs may help humans

    By Richard Dooley HALIFAX -- New research on amphibians could soon give researchers a leg up on how limbs develop in a host of organisms, and one day lead to techniques to repair injuries in humans.

13. Mental illness stigma still strong, survey shows

    By Sharon Kirkey Nearly one in two Canadians believes mental illness isn't always "real" but a cop-out for bad behaviour and personal weakness, while attitudes toward people with addictions border almost on religious judgment, a new national survey shows.

14. Around Canada

    Bomb scare in B.C. VANCOUVER -- Vancouver's bomb squad was flown into Williams Lake Sunday afternoon to examine two bags suspected of containing "bomb-like material" in an incident that has evacuated the airport and cancelled several flights.

15. B.C. firm supplying aerial drones will pilot them in Afghanistan

    By David Pugliese EMPLOYEES of a British Columbia firm supplying surveillance drones for the military in Afghanistan will be playing a greater role than first thought in the operations of the system as they pilot the aircraft during takeoffs and landings from Kandahar.

16. August 17, 2008

17. Arctic exercise to boost sovereignty

    By Bob Weber In a summer of record marine traffic in the Arctic, the Canadian military is about to begin a series of elaborate rehearsals in case something goes wrong on any of the increasing number of cruise ships, pleasure craft, research or commercial vessels plying the unpredictable waters of the North.

18. Town pitches in for crash victims' kin

    By Lana Haight ST. BRIEUX, Sask. -- Families of the victims of a tragic car crash that killed six people from a small community in east central Saskatchewan were finalizing funeral arrangements on Saturday, after one of the victims who was still clinging to life passed away.

19. Non-cheaters braver, kinder: study

    By Lauren La Rose TORONTO -- Students who are less likely to cheat earned top marks when scored on measures of courage, empathy and honesty, according to new research.

20. Top judge didn't support Morgentaler

    By Janice Tibbetts QUEBEC -- Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin distanced herself Saturday from the controversial decision to name Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada, saying she was not the driving force behind the move and intentionally abstained from voting on whether to honour the abortion doctor.

21. Dion slams PM for election talk

    MONTREAL -- Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion criticized Prime Minister Stephen

22. August 16, 2008

23. Saskatchewan girl dies, crash toll rises to five

    By Jason Warick, Lana Haight and Jorge Barrera MELFORT, Sask. -- Residents of this small central Saskatchewan town drew together in grief and pain Friday, after learning that a fourth child died in a terrible road crash that has now claimed five lives.

24. Canada tackles Arctic mystery

    By Randy Boswell OTTAWA -- The Canadian government confirmed Friday it will embark on the most extensive search ever for the fabled British shipwrecks Erebus and Terror, with Environment Minister John Baird saying the hunt led by Parks Canada scientists will boost "our case for sovereignty'' in Arctic waters.

25. Olympics fakery not unique; why the outcry?

    By Shannon Proudfoot First it was the digitally enhanced fireworks, then the aesthetically superior little girl in the red dress. On Friday, reports emerged that the children who carried the Chinese flag in a show of national unity at the Beijing opening ceremonies were not from the 56 ethnic groups they were purported to represent, sparking a fresh round of headlines.

26. B.C. hiker dies after hornet attack

    VICTORIA -- A hiker died Friday after he was swarmed and stung by hornets on Mount

27. Quebec Inuit celebrate historic catch

    By Andy Blatchford MONTREAL -- Standing at the edge of his canoe over the frigid waters of the Arctic, Noah Annahatak raised his arm and thrust his harpoon into a 48-ton beast twice the length of his boat.

28. Canada scores its first x-rated television channel

    By Allison Jones TORONTO -- Move over "Little Mosque on the Prairie" and "Corner Gas."

29. Kandahar governor out: months after Bernier gaffe

    By Tobi Cohen and A.R. Khan KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- A former Afghan general is replacing the governor of Kandahar who stayed on longer than expected when a Canadian minister committed a diplomatic gaffe by calling for the governor's ouster while he was still in office.

30. Around Canada

    P stands for pot

31. August 15, 2008

32. Harper to Dion: fish or cut bait

    By Jack Branswell and Juliet O'Neill FREDERICTON -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper ratcheted up the potential for a fall election Thursday by saying his patience for Liberal threats to call an election is quickly coming to an end.
    
    Tories forcing vote to duck scandal: opposition
    Conservative's outburst jars ethics hearing

33. Tories forcing vote to duck scandal: opposition

    By Mia Rabson OTTAWA -- Opposition MPs accused the federal government of misbehaving at a parliamentary committee this week with the intent of forcing a fall election in order to avoid further scrutiny of their spending habits from the last election.

34. Conservative's outburst jars ethics hearing

    By Tim Naumetz OTTAWA -- A Conservative effort to counter opposition MPs at a Commons inquiry into election advertising backfired Thursday, when a Tory witness showed up unexpectedly and loudly demanded to testify -- then erupted in anger at MPs and departed without giving evidence.

35. U.S. court reconsiders decision to squelch Arar lawsuit

    By Jim Bronskill OTTAWA -- A U.S. federal appeals court will revisit a lawsuit by Ottawa engineer Maher Arar, who was tortured in Syria after being shipped overseas by American authorities.

36. Canadians laggards on cutting energy use

    By Eric Beauchesne OTTAWA -- Canadians have been slow to adjust to soaring energy prices, according to a new study that reveals gasoline is guzzling a much bigger share of our incomes, in large part because of the increase in pump prices, but also because Canadians have not cut back on their driving or adjusted their commuting habits.

37. Teens' confidence puts them at risk

    By Sheryl Ubelacker TORONTO -- Most teens consider themselves virtually invincible and seriously misjudge their risk of injury or death from motor vehicle and other accidents, say researchers, who suggest such misguided attitudes could be avoided with injury-prevention programs begun at an early age.

38. Montreal force's silence deplored

    By Sue Montgomery, Jason Magder and Christopher Maughan MONTREAL -- As family and friends buried a Montreal teenager killed in a police shooting last weekend, a veteran police officer with intimate knowledge of the case expressed frustration Thursday over his bosses' silence about the incident that sparked riots in the city.

39. U.S's ammo needs have Sask. police scrounging

    SASKATOON -- Police in Saskatchewan are going to be counting every bullet, now that a run on ammo supplies by the U.S. military has made re-loads scarcer than ever.

40. MPs warn CIDA undermining effort

    By Andrew Mayeda and Peter O'Neill OTTAWA -- The Canadian International Development Agency's attempt to shield itself from liability for the death or injury of aid workers could discourage aid agencies from taking on development projects in Afghanistan, opposition critics warned Thursday.

41. Around Canada

    Mom, kids die in crash

    MELFORT, Sask. -- A woman and three children are dead after the vehicle they were in drove off a Saskatchewan highway and overturned in a water-filled dugout.

42. August 14, 2008

43. Harper condemns killing of aid workers in Afghanistan

    CAPPAHAYDEN, N.L. -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says an attack that killed three aid workers in Afghanistan -- including two Canadians -- is a reminder of the Taliban's brutality.

44. U.S. deserter to be deported

    MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- A U.S. army deserter who fled to Canada to avoid fighting in the war in Iraq was handed a deportation order Wednesday, a move critics called an about-face for the country given its tradition of opening its doors to refugees.

45. Lawsuits filed in wake of propane explosion

    By Michael Oliveira TORONTO -- Residents and business owners who fled a thunderous propane depot explosion in their neighbourhood were enticed Wednesday with three different class-action lawsuits demanding compensation for property damage, lost wages and the pain of the "traumatic" incident.

46. Canada's strongest computer to wrestle with climate change

    By Arielle Godbout CANADA'S most powerful supercomputer -- 30 times more powerful than the system used by Environment Canada to forecast the weather -- will be built by IBM Canada for the University of Toronto, the two organizations are expected to announce Thursday.

47. Teen now faces death

    By Craig Offman and Max Harrold An overturned court decision in Saudi Arabia has a Montreal teenager facing execution for his alleged role in a murder case that already has put his brother on death row.

48. 'It was a boycott of our committee': MP

    By Tim Naumetz OTTAWA -- Three Conservative campaign agents ignored summonses they received more than a week ago to appear at a Commons inquiry into the Tory "in and out" advertising affair, MPs were told Wednesday.

49. Oilsands ad 'greenwash,' environment group crows

    By Randy Boswell A ruling by Britain's advertising regulator against oil giant Shell has prompted a new World Wildlife Fund campaign denouncing the petroleum company's "greenwash" tactics in promoting its Canadian oilsands projects.

50. Arctic crowding stirs alarm

    By Bob Weber A Danish admiral is adding his voice to Canadian calls for better safety regulation of Arctic shipping as recreational sailing and tourist cruises in northern waters reach record levels.

51. Tories face re-election woes, poll suggests

    OTTAWA -- A new poll suggests there could be trouble ahead for Stephen Harper's Conservatives as the governing party prepares for the possibility of a fall election.

52. Police confirm cyanide found in dead man's room

    By Andrew Duffy Denver police confirmed Wednesday that a white powder found in the hotel room of a dead Canadian man was sodium cyanide.

53. August 13, 2008

54. Governor General says youth must be heard

    MONTREAL -- The Quebec provincial police say the investigation into the shooting death of an 18-year-old by police on Saturday is expected to last eight to 10 weeks.

55. Tory agent told he didn't have to be at inquiry

    By Tim Naumetz OTTAWA -- The official agent for a failed Conservative candidate in the 2006 election campaign says the party told him he didn't have to attend a parliamentary inquiry into the Tory "in and out" ad financing scheme.

56. Mulroney-Schreiber inquiry delayed

    By Jim Brown OTTAWA -- The long-awaited inquiry into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair likely won't hold any formal public hearings until early next year -- a timetable that could postpone any troubling revelations until well after the next federal election.

57. MacKay pledges help for injured

    OTTAWA -- Defence Minister Peter MacKay says the government will do anything it can to eliminate shortcomings in the health care and rehabilitation of injured military personnel returning from Afghanistan.

58. Program to help foreign residents become citizens

    By Arielle Godbout THE federal government is creating a new program aimed at helping foreign students and other temporary residents working in Canada become permanent residents, Immigration Minister Diane Finley announced Tuesday.

59. Bear attack in garden a nightmare, says victim

    By Stuart Hunter VANCOUVER -- A British Columbia woman nearly killed in a vicious bear attack outside her home while she was gardening has described the horror of hearing the bear chomp on her head while she looked into its eyes.

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