WestJet to lay off 3,333 workers under restructuring plan

BANKRUPTCY LAW BUSTS UNION CONTRACTS

CUPE LOOSES MORE MEMBERS, WHEN WILL THEY 

CALL A GENERAL STRIKE IN ALBERTA
WESTJET TOOK FEDERAL FUNDS TO RETAIN WORKERS

 © Provided by The Canadian Press

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will permanently lay off 3,333 employees as part of a major restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.

The company plans to consolidate call centre activity in Alberta, restructure its office and management staff and contract out operations at all but four of the 38 Canadian airports where it operates, WestJet said in a release Wednesday.

"Throughout the course of the biggest crisis in the history of aviation, WestJet has made many difficult, but essential, decisions to future-proof our business," said CEO Ed Sims, calling the changes "unavoidable."

About 2,300 airport customer service agents and baggage handlers will lose their jobs, according to CUPE union official Chris Rauenbusch.

Some 600 office and management staff in Calgary will be cut within a month or so, he said. "The head office is already desolate."

Another 433 call centre representatives will be laid off in Moncton, Halifax and Vancouver, he said.

WestJet, which went private after Toronto-based Onex Corp. bought the company in December, had employed some 14,000 workers just before the pandemic struck. About 4,500 active employees will remain on the payroll after the layoffs.

The company said preferential hiring interviews for some of the 2,300 WestJet airport workers now facing layoffs will be a priority in selecting airport partners.
The pandemic saw the airline suspend most of its schedule — including all international trips — in late March, running at less than 10 per cent capacity.

Canadian airline revenue streams have shrunk to a fraction of 2019 levels, with fleets parked and border shutdowns ongoing even as domestic travel demand gradually starts to pick up.

Canada, unlike countries including France, Germany and the United States, has held off on sector-specific support for carriers. Instead Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out financial aid available across industries, including the federal wage subsidy and loans starting at $60 million for large companies.

In an memo to staff Wednesday afternoon, Sims said the dearth of government funds along with a "patchwork" of provincial and federal travel advisories and constraints on non-essential domestic and international travel are compounding a "weak demand environment."

Robert Kokonis, president of Toronto-based consulting firm AirTrav Inc., said the relative lack of financial support "may run the risk of incurring lasting damage on our aviation and travel sectors."

A healthy domestic airline sector is critical in a sprawling country with a handful of far-flung, high-density population centres, he said.

"And we need to have carriers to link Canada with the rest of the world. If we have a major carrier fail, you're not going to replace that lift overnight," Kokonis said. "This message from WestJet today has got to be the eye-opener."

The company is increasing reliant on flights to the U.S. following a partnership with Delta Air Lines, cemented in a joint venture announced in February.

Last week fewer than 7,500 passengers arrived at Canadian airports from the U.S., down more than 98 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.

International passenger numbers were down 95 per cent compared to a year earlier, the agency said Wednesday.

Chief executives from 27 Canadian companies in sectors ranging from aviation to banking and telecommunications have called for a "measured" reopening of the skies that would see travel resume across all provinces and between select countries.

An ailing travel sector also hurts local businesses, Kokonis said.

"It’s airports, it's ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, it's taxis, it's hotels, it's tour operators. It’s your kayak and canoe outfitter at Lake Louise that has nobody to rent a boat to."

Manitoba and the Maritime provinces continue to restrict interprovincial travel, though the four Atlantic provinces announced plans Wednesday to create a "bubble" that allows residents to travel within region, removing a 14-day isolation period.

Travellers arriving in Canada from abroad must self-isolate for two weeks.

Last week, Trudeau extended a ban on non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. until at least July 21.

The announcement came as European Union countries began to reopen their borders to EU and some non-EU members.

"It's not desperate yet, because the airlines can navigate through the next months," said Jacques Roy, a professor of transport management at HEC Montreal business school.

"But the restrictions will have to come to an end and have travel resume sometime."

WestJet earlier this week said it had halted its pursuit of a labour code exemption that would have facilitated permanent mass layoffs.

WestJet will have to provide unionized employees affected by the latest round of layoffs with payment in lieu of notice, Rauenbusch said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020
Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press

Coronavirus: More than 100 Manitoba employees losing jobs, says WestJet
Shane Gibson

© Michael King / Global News WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will lay off 3,333 employees including 116 in Manitoba as part of major restructuring amid a coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.

A spokesperson for WestJet confirms there will be a number of permanent layoffs in Manitoba because of the COVID-19 crisis.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. said Wednesday it will permanently lay off 3,333 employees as part of a major restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.

Company spokesperson Morgan Bell tells Global News a total of 116 Manitoba employees are being permanently laid off, including 104 in Winnipeg and 12 in Brandon.

Read more: Latest WestJet layoffs affect 3,333 employees as COVID-19 cripples airline industry

A drastic drop in air travel is being blamed for the company's decision, Bell added.

WestJet, which went private after Toronto-based Onex Corp. bought the company in December, had employed some 14,000 workers just before the pandemic struck.

About 4,500 active employees will remain on the payroll after the layoffs.

The company plans to consolidate call centre activity in Alberta, restructure its office and management staff and contract out operations at all but four of the 38 Canadian airports where it operates, WestJet said in a release Wednesday.

"Throughout the course of the biggest crisis in the history of aviation, WestJet has made many difficult, but essential, decisions to future-proof our business," said CEO Ed Sims, calling the changes "unavoidable."

Read more: WestJet backs away from labour code exemption that would facilitate mass layoffs

About 2,300 airport customer service agents and baggage handlers will lose their jobs, according to CUPE union official Chris Rauenbusch.

Some 600 office and management staff in Calgary will be cut within a month or so, he said.

Another 433 call centre representatives will be laid off in Moncton, Halifax and Vancouver, he said.

A 'weak demand environment'

The company said preferential hiring interviews for some of the 2,300 WestJet airport workers now facing layoffs will be a priority in selecting airport partners.

The pandemic saw the airline suspend most of its schedule -- including all international trips -- in late March, running at less than 10 per cent capacity.

Canadian airline revenue streams have shrunk to a fraction of 2019 levels, with fleets parked and border shutdowns ongoing even as domestic travel demand gradually starts to pick up.

Canada, unlike countries including France, Germany and the United States, has held off on sector-specific support for carriers. Instead, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out financial aid available across industries, including the federal wage subsidy and loans starting at $60 million for large companies.

Read more: Coronavirus pandemic: WestJet suspending international travel

In a memo to staff Wednesday afternoon, Sims said the dearth of government funds along with a "patchwork" of provincial and federal travel advisories and constraints on non-essential domestic and international travel are compounding a "weak demand environment."

Last week fewer than 7,500 passengers arrived at Canadian airports from the U.S., down more than 98 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.

International passenger numbers were down 95 per cent compared to a year earlier, the agency said Wednesday.

Manitoba and the Maritime provinces continue to restrict interprovincial travel, though the four Atlantic provinces announced plans Wednesday to create a "bubble" that allows residents to travel within the region, removing a 14-day isolation period.

Read more: Coronavirus: WestJet to rehire nearly 6,400 workers through federal wage subsidy

Travellers arriving in Canada from abroad must self-isolate for two weeks, and last week, Trudeau extended a ban on non-essential travel between Canada and the U.S. until at least July 21.

WestJet earlier this week said it had halted its pursuit of a labour code exemption that would have facilitated permanent mass layoffs.

WestJet will have to provide unionized employees affected by the latest round of layoffs with payment in lieu of notice, Rauenbusch said.

--With files from Clay Young and The Canadian Press

Federal work on First Nations policing should have begun long ago: Bellegarde

© Provided by The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the Liberal government will work on a law to ensure First Nations have the policing services they need and deserve — but questions are being raised about why this work has seemingly just started.


Blair told the House of Commons public safety committee Tuesday night he has recently begun contacting Indigenous leaders across the country to figure out how to best transform policing in their communities.

The Liberals promised to take action on First Nations policing over six months ago, first in the mandate letter Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued to Blair in December and again in response to Indigenous protests against the Coastal GasLink project in northern B.C.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said this work is long overdue.

"Of course it should have started a long time ago," he said Wednesday.

"But now we have this opportunity to start working with them to get this done soon."

He and Indigenous leaders hope to seize upon the widespread calls for police reform in the wake of a number of violent police incidents involving Indigenous people across Canada to ensure things finally get done.

In February, amid countrywide road and rail blockades over objections by some Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs to the pipeline project in B.C., some asked whether Ottawa should do more to expand policing services run by First Nations to stop violent clashes between Indigenous people and police during pipeline protests.

Blair warned then this idea would not be a quick fix to the immediate issue involving the protests, noting that it would require "complex" and long discussions.

Changes to the way policing is conducted require provincial and territorial involvement and approval, as operational policing matters fall within provincial jurisdiction.

The First Nations Policing Program, created in 1992 as a "practical way to improve the level and quality of policing services for First Nations communities through the establishment of policing agreements," has helped to see approximately 60 per cent of First Nation and Inuit communities in Canada served at least in part by an Indigenous-run police force.

But Bellegarde says this program has long been plagued by funding shortfalls. The Assembly of First Nations has been pushing for First Nations-led policing to be upgraded from a mere program and enshrined in legislation.

"There is no legislative base, their financial resources are inadequate and yet that's what our people are expected to use to put in place a police service. Not acceptable," Bellegarde said.

"We're going to take advantage of this opportunity now to get it done and get it done properly and then we can start to look at community-based policing services from a First Nations perspective, and that's what this opportunity is all about: First Nations police seen as an essential service with a legislative base."

The Assembly of First Nations is also calling for a review of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act that would include giving more power to the Mounties' civilian oversight body. It also wants a zero-tolerance policy for excessive use of force within the RCMP and for the Mounties to wear body cameras to increase transparency.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said he believes the long history of conflict between the RCMP and First Nations, Inuit and Metis has led to a point "beyond reconciliation." He said the only way forward is to enable and empower more Indigenous communities to be responsible their own policing.

Phillip also pointed to the role RCMP officers played in separating children from their families and taking them to residential schools, where many of them were abused, neglected and thousands died.

He echoed Bellegarde's calls for legislating Indigenous policing in Canada and said he believes the Liberals should have moved into action on this sooner.

"They've paid lip service with progressive notions on implementing the U.N. declarations as it pertains to Indigenous policing, but there's very little follow through, if any. And the consequences of that are Chantel Moore, for example, or other Indigenous Peoples that are either beaten or dying at the hands of police," Philip said Wednesday.

Moore was shot and killed by police earlier this month in New Brunswick after an officer with the Edmundston Police Force arrived at her home for a wellness check.

"This is a national emergency and it needs to be addressed. Enough talk, we need to prioritize this," Philip said.

In a statement Wednesday, Blair's spokeswoman Mary-Liz Power said the minister "has and will continue to speak with First Nations chiefs across the country about the disturbing incidents that have taken place over the last few weeks."

"It is a priority within Minister Blair's mandate to co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing, which recognizes First Nations policing as an essential service, and ensures that police services better reflect the communities they serve," Power said.

"Minister Blair will also work with interested communities to expand the number that are served by First Nations policing."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2020.

Teresa Wright, The Canadian Press

California wants judge to classify Uber, Lyft drivers as employees
By Tina Bellon 

© Reuters/Hannah McKay The Uber logo is displayed on a mobile phone in this picture illustration
By Tina Bellon

(Reuters) - California plans to ask a state court judge to force Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc to classify their ride-hail drivers as employees rather than contractors, ratcheting up the tension over a new gig worker law.

Shares of both companies fell nearly 8%. A hearing for the matter was set for Aug. 6.

The fight is one of the biggest clashes over the future of the so-called "gig economy" of workers, typically for delivery and other app-based services. California is Uber's and Lyft's biggest U.S. market.

In January, California implemented a law making it tougher for companies to classify workers as contractors rather than employees. The contractor designation is essential to Uber and Lyft, who are exempted from paying drivers overtime, healthcare, unemployment and workers' compensation.

The court fight also comes as the coronavirus has shut down much of the ride-hailing companies' business and gig workers for the first time were able to receive taxpayer-sponsored unemployment benefits under a federal pandemic relief bill.

In a filing in the Superior Court of California in San Francisco on Wednesday, lawyers for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said their office on Thursday will file a request for a preliminary injunction, which would force the change in status if approved by a judge.

Uber in a statement said most drivers preferred the independence afforded by working as contractors, that it had made changes because of the law, and that it calculated over 158,000 drivers in California would lose work if the reclassification happened.

Lyft in a statement said California should rather let voters decide on the issue during a November ballot initiative sponsored by Uber, Lyft and delivery company DoorDash Inc.

"If the courts were to grant the Attorney General’s request, it would have a devastating effect on millions of Californians at the worst possible time," Lyft said.

(Reporting by Tina Bellon; Editing by Sandra Maler, Peter Henderson and David Gregorio)

Congo police disperse parliament protesters with tear gas, water cannon

JUST LIKE TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE

© Reuters/Olivia Acland FILE PHOTO:

 Democratic Republic of Congo's outgoing President Joseph Kabila sits next to his successor Felix Tshisekedi during an inauguration ceremony in Kinshasa

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo police fired tear gas and water cannon on Wednesday to repel hundreds of protesters whose rally against a proposed new law threatened to spill into the parliament compound in the capital Kinshasa.

© Reuters/Henry Nicholls FILE PHOTO: Britain hosts Africa investment summit

Opponents say the reform, which would place prosecutors under the government's authority rather than the courts, undermines the independence of the judiciary.

On the second day of protests, crowds of mostly young men chanted and squared up to security forces on the streets around parliament, before being pushed back by armed officers in jeeps.

The proposal was put forward by a member of ex-president Joseph Kabila's PPRD party, but has faced opposition from the UDPS party of President Felix Tshisekedi.

"We will fight to the end to protect the independence of the judicial system," said protester and UDPS supporter Jean Kabamba, whose head was wrapped in a Congolese flag.

The tension and frustration felt by Tshisekedi's party long predates the current events, said Fred Bauma from the Congo Research Group at New York University. The proposed law "is just a trigger," he told Reuters.

Tshisekedi took power last year, but his presidency has been hampered by an awkward power-sharing deal with Kabila, whose allies control a majority of ministries and seats in parliament.

The recent trial of Tshisekedi's former chief of staff on embezzlement charges pointed to other cracks in the ruling elite. Vital Kamerhe backed Tshisekedi in his successful election campaign in return for his support in the 2023 race. On Saturday, he was sentenced to 20 years hard labour.

(Reporting by Benoit Nyemba and Hereward Holland; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

NASA to name DC headquarters after 'hidden figure' Mary W. Jackson

She was NASA's first Black female engineer.

BUILD A MONUMENT TO HER AND HER SISTERS

By Ivan Pereira 24 June 2020
Mary Winston Jackson, professional aerospace engineer and leader in ensuring equal opportunities for future generations, is seen in this undated photo.Mary Winston Jackson, professional aerospace engineer and leader in ensuring equal opportunities for future generations, is seen in this undated photo.NASA
Washington D.C. renames street to honor black female NASA mathematicians

The residents of Washington D.C. gathered to celebrate Hidden Figures Way, the new street honoring the prolific achievements made by black female mathematicians during the Space Race.

Mary W. Jackson was once a "hidden figure" at NASA, but now her name will grace the agency's office in the nation's capital.

NASA announced on Wednesday that its Washington, D.C., headquarters will be renamed in honor of Jackson, the agency's first Black female engineer and who spent decades juggling complex research with pushing for more diversity in scientific fields.

"NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to push the frontiers of the aerospace industry. The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.

Jackson, a Hampton, Virginia native, earned a degree in math and physical sciences in 1942 and worked as a teacher, bookkeeper and Army secretary before she joined NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in 1951. She worked on several engineering projects, including ones that involved the Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, and her supervisor suggested she enter a training program to be promoted to engineer.
MORE: NASA honors 'hidden figures' who helped John Glenn orbit the Earth

Jackson needed special permission to attend the classes since they took place at the then-segregated Hampton High School. She eventually earned the promotion in 1958. As an engineer, she worked on studies mostly focused on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes, NASA said.

In 1979, she worked at Langley's Federal Women's Program and advocated for more women and minorities to be hired in math and science fields. Jackson retired in 1985, and she died about 20 years later.

"She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother, and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA, but throughout this nation," Carolyn Lewis, Jackson's daughter, said in a statement.
MORE: Katherine Johnson, mathematician and real-life subject of 'Hidden Figures,' dies at 101

Jackson's work, along with that of other Black female NASA scientists, was highlighted in the 2016 book "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race." Janelle Monáe portrayed Jackson in the film adaptation that came out the same year.




Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C.Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C.NASA

Last year, Jackson and "Hidden Figures" colleagues Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Christine Darden were awarded Congressional Gold Medals, and Congress voted to rename the street outside NASA's D.C. headquarters Hidden Figures Way.

Democrats on track to elect first openly gay Black lawmakers to Congress

© Richard Drew/AP, FILE | Al J. Thompson/The New York Times via Redux In this, March 19, 2018, file photo, New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres addresses a news conference in New York. | Mondaire Jones is shown in Nyack, N.Y., June 16, 2020.
Two years after LGBTQ candidates made historic gains in federal, state and local elections across the country, two New York Democratic House candidates are on the verge of crossing a new milestone in the halls of Congress.

Attorney Mondaire Jones and New York City Councilman Ritchie Torres are leading crowded fields in primaries to replace retiring Reps. Jose Serrano and Nita Lowey. While neither race has been called by the Associated Press or ABC News, as absentee ballots have yet to be counted, both, should they win, could become the first openly gay Black members of Congress.

“With these two candidates, we are on the cusp of achieving history,” Alphonso David, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, told ABC News.

 “(MORE: COVID-19 outbreak exposes generations-old racial and economic divide in New York City

Jones, an attorney who worked in the Justice Department under President Obama and the Westchester County Law Department, received endorsements from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

He leads an eight-candidate field in a district that includes portions of New York’s Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York City’s northern suburbs.

“This is a huge victory for the progressive movement and for the working people of New York’s 17th Congressional District,” Jones told ABC News. “Government has never worked for everyone, it’s only ever worked for a subset of the American people, and I’m running to change that.”© Richard Drew/AP, FILE | Al J. Thompson/The New York Times via Redux In this, March 19, 2018, file photo, New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres addresses a news conference in New York. | Mondaire Jones is shown in Nyack, N.Y., June 16, 2020.

Torres, who identifies as Afro-Latino and would also be the first gay Hispanic member of Congress, is ahead in a 12-candidate contest that includes City Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., a Pentecostal minister and social conservative with a history of anti-gay and homophobic remarks.

(MORE: How a Trump-praising Democrat could win a New York House primary)

While some progressive activists worried that a splintered primary field would give Diaz Sr. a path to victory, he trails Torres and state assemblyman Michael Blake, after a number of outside groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, poured money into the race and ran ads against him.

“Groups lined up and said, ‘We hope you support our candidate, but don’t support Ruben Diaz Sr,’” said Annise Parker, the former mayor of Houston who serves as president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which supports LGBTQ candidates for political office. “We can’t have that attitude and those beliefs in Congress, and I think that had an impact.”

The number of LGBTQ members of Congress reached double digits for the first time in 2019, and could hit a record high of eleven, should both candidates win their primaries, and the sitting lawmakers win reelection.

In interviews with ABC News, Jones and Torres discussed the need to further diversify representation in Congress as the nation grapples with racial inequality following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis and the coronavirus continues to disproportionally impact communities of color.

“This country is facing a reckoning when it comes to racial justice issues,” the Human Rights Campaign’s David told ABC News. “Voters are speaking up loudly about the path forward and how that path has to include people of color.”

Jones, who said he was raised by a single mother with the help of food assistance and subsidized housing, has called for monthly stimulus checks to Americans - $2,000 per adult and $1,000 per child – to help families weather the coronavirus-induced recession, and has also endorsed Medicare-for-All.

He said he’s excited to “bring my experiences to bear as we formulate policy at the federal level,” and also serve as the role model to Americans that he never had.

“It is a [responsibility] I take very seriously, it is one that I know would have directly improved my life if I had that kind of representation growing up,” he said.

Minnesota sues Exxon, Koch and API for being 'deceptive' on climate change
By Valerie Volcovici

© Reuters/Eric Miller FILE PHOTO: Minnesota Attorney General Ellison announces charges against former police officers involved in Floyd death


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The state of Minnesota on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the American Petroleum Institute, Exxon Mobil Corp and Koch Industries for what it called a decades-long campaign to deceive the public about climate change.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges by states, cities, and citizen groups targeting fossil fuel companies over their role in global warming.

Attorney General Keith Ellison said the state believed the oil and gas industry's main lobby group, as well as Exxon and Koch, violated Minnesota laws barring consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices and false advertising.

The complaint alleges the companies and industry body "strategized to deceive the public" about climate science to protect their business interests and accused them of a "multi-pronged campaign of deception" conducted over the last 30 years.

"The fraud, deceptive advertising, and other violations of Minnesota state law and common law that the lawsuit shows they perpetrated have harmed Minnesotans’ health and our state’s environment, infrastructure, and economy,” Ellison said.

He said the state has asked a Minnesota district court to require the defendants to fund an education campaign on climate change and pay for damages caused by global warming.

The API did not directly comment on the lawsuit, but said the oil industry had been working to provide "affordable, reliable energy to U.S. consumers while substantially reducing emissions and our environmental footprint."

“Any suggestion to the contrary is false,” said API Chief Legal Officer Paul Afonso.

Officials at Exxon and Koch did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

At least 15 other plaintiffs, including states, cities and youth and citizen groups, have filed similar lawsuits against the oil and gas industry, including Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.

In December, Exxon prevailed in a case brought by New York that accused the oil major of failing to disclose the financial risks of climate change to investors.

(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

RCMP can't explain silence on criminal charges against Mountie

Court records reveal that 10 months ago, Const. Simon Seguin, 31, was criminally charged with assault, mischief and unlawfully entering a dwelling house.

Seguin was seen on a March 2020 RCMP dashcam video tackling Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The video shows Seguin taking the chief to the ground without warning, punching him in the head and putting him in a chokehold. Charges against Adam for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer were dropped by the Crown in Fort McMurray on Wednesday. 

Janice Johnston

The Fort McMurray RCMP officer now being investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response team for the violent arrest of a First Nations chief will go to trial in September on three unrelated criminal charges.

Court records reveal that 10 months ago, Const. Simon Seguin, 31, was criminally charged with assault, mischief and unlawfully entering a dwelling house.

"He did attend a residence while he was off duty and attempted to gain access inside this home," RCMP spokesperson Fraser Logan told CBC News. "An altercation ensued with two occupants inside before he left the residence."

Logan said Seguin had a personal relationship with one of the home's occupants. He said he didn't know if the woman who was allegedly assaulted is the one Seguin had that relationship with.

CBC News first learned of the criminal charges against Seguin on Tuesday. They were not made public by RCMP.

Logan admitted that is a departure from their typical practice.

"This is not normal for us," Logan said. "That is something that we are concerned about because internally we don't know exactly why those charges weren't made public. That is something we normally do."

© Peter Evans/CBC The Fort McMurray house Cst. Seguin is being investigated for unlawfully entering last August.

Seguin was seen on a March 2020 RCMP dashcam video tackling Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The video shows Seguin taking the chief to the ground without warning, punching him in the head and putting him in a chokehold.

Charges against Adam for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer were dropped by the Crown in Fort McMurray on Wednesday.

Chief Adam was taken aback when CBC News told him about the criminal charges against Seguin.

© Peter Evans/CBC The reaction of Chief Allan Adam (left) when he's told the RCMP officer who tackled him faces unrelated criminal charges. He spoke to CBC News along with his lawyer Brian Beresh.

"I'm speechless because I was not aware of this information," Adam said.

His lawyer is demanding accountability from the RCMP. Brian Beresh wants to know why Seguin remains on front-line active duty.

"It was only recently that this information was discovered," Brian Beresh said. "I'm very surprised that this was not revealed publicly and I'm very surprised ... that this person has not been suspended."

Logan said an internal evaluation after the August 2019 incident determined Seguin should not be pulled off the job. But he said that status would likely be reviewed after the conclusion of the criminal trial.

ASIRT, who are investigating Adam's arrest, did not respond to an email asking if the police watchdog was aware of the criminal charges that had been laid 10 months ago against Seguin.

Code of conduct hearing

CBC News has learned an RCMP Code of Conduct hearing was held on March 26, 16 days after Seguin tackled Adam.

A source told CBC News Seguin was given a one-day suspension for the mischief allegation and received a letter of reprimand on his file for the assault allegation.

Logan was unable to explain the timing of the hearing or why it was held before Seguin's September trial.

"Honestly I don't know," Logan said. "It's a parallel process and it comes up when it comes up. It's supposed to come up when any concern has been brought to light."

Beresh said he's also at a loss to understand the timing of the internal hearing.

"I think this case leaves us with more questions than answers," Beresh said. "I think the RCMP have to provide all those answers publicly as soon as possible."

A criminologist with Mount Royal University in Calgary, Kelly Sundberg, described the situation as unacceptable.

"It's concerning and frankly, it's disturbing," Sundberg said. "What justification could the RCMP possibly have that this officer would maintain active duty in light of everything that's come to public view? It's unbelievable."

© CBC Mount Royal University criminologist Kelly Sundberg described the Seguin case as concerning and disturbing.

Sundberg thinks the RCMP needs to take immediate action to rectify the situation.

"Just for the credibility and legitimacy of our criminal justice system and for the police, surely someone would think of putting him on administrative leave, even if paid, until all this shakes out," Sundberg said

SEE https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/06/a-true-victory-charges-dropped-against.html

UPDATED
'A true victory:' Charges dropped against Alberta chief in violent arrest

© Provided by The Canadian Press

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Charges were dropped against a prominent northern Alberta First Nations chief Wednesday as it was revealed that one of the officers involved in his violent arrest had been charged in an off-duty assault seven months earlier.

The case of Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation was in front of a Fort McMurray provincial court judge Wednesday when charges of resisting arrest and assaulting an RCMP officer were withdrawn by the Crown.

The move came after RCMP dash-cam footage of Adam's March arrest, which started as a stop for an expired licence plate, was made public earlier this month as part of a court application to clear Adam's name.

"The Crown reassessed the prosecution standard based on an examination of the available evidence including the disclosure of additional relevant material and withdrew the two charges," Alberta Justice spokeswoman Carla Jones said in a statement.

"The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service has no comment on the actions of the police."

Adam, who was left bruised and bloodied during the arrest, welcomed the news.

"I'm overwhelmed at the fact that the charges have been dropped because, you know, we knew — my wife and I knew — that we didn't do nothing wrong," he said on a video call after the hearing.

"You know, it was just for an expired licence plate. We don't understand the reasons why it had to escalate."

Adam's lawyer Brian Beresh called the decision a win.

"The withdrawal of these charges at this stage in the law, for our purposes, is a finding of not guilty," Beresh said. "It is a true victory, not only for Allan Adam and his family, other Indigenous accused, but for our society generally."

Beresh said he learned through a court check that one of the officers, Const. Simon Seguin, has a trial set before a provincial court judge in September on separate charges of assault, mischief and unlawfully being in a dwelling house.

"Those events, which led to charges against him, occurred on Aug. 5, 2019," he said. "As of this date, that police officer remains on full duty, not suspended, not fired."

Alberta RCMP confirmed it was aware of the charge.

"His duty status would have been the result of an assessment made by his managers on his suitability to remain on duty," spokesman Fraser Logan said in a statement. "These internal processes are independent of any pending criminal trial."

Logan added the decision to drop the charges against Adam was up to the Crown.

"The role of the police is to investigate and gather evidence in support of a charge and the RCMP fulfilled that role on this file," he said. "The Crown's role is to assess the elements of the offence and to determine if they prosecute."

The 12-minute dash-cam video from early on March 10 shows a black truck idling outside the Boomtown Casino in downtown Fort McMurray in the glow of flashing police lights.

Adam can be seen walking back and forth between the truck and a RCMP cruiser, shouting profanities at an officer out of view. The chief tells the officer to tell his sergeant: "I'm tired of being harassed by the RCMP.'"

"Sir, just return to your vehicle. I'll come talk to you in a minute,'" the Mountie replies.

A few minutes later, Adam again gets out of the truck and takes off his jacket as he strides toward the officer. A woman in the driver's seat gets out and Adam crouches as though bracing for a fight.

At one point, the officer is seen pushing the woman against the truck and yanking her by the shoulder as she shouts, "'Ow!"

"'Hey! Leave my wife alone! You come for me,'" Adam says, before swatting the officer's hands away from the woman.

About seven minutes into the video, a second officer — who has been identified as Seguin — runs at Adam, tackles him to the ground and punches him in the head. Adam is then cuffed and put in the back of the cruiser, blood streaming from his face.

The RCMP had initially stated that the officers' actions were reasonable.

Politicians, however, have demanded answers after the video was released.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, the province's police watchdog, is investigating the arrest. They did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but posted on Twitter that the independent investigation will continue.

Speaking in Edmonton, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said the Police Act is under review by the province and there will be a focus on racism and abuse of authority.

"We know, like in any walk of life, there are some bad apples. And police services, especially because of the extraordinary powers that they exercise, must be particularly careful."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 24, 2020

— By Colette Derworiz and Tim Cook in Edmonton, with files from Dean Bennett.

The Canadian Press

RCMP can't explain silence on criminal charges against Mountie

Court records reveal that 10 months ago, Const. Simon Seguin, 31, was criminally charged with assault, mischief and unlawfully entering a dwelling house.

Seguin was seen on a March 2020 RCMP dashcam video tackling Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The video shows Seguin taking the chief to the ground without warning, punching him in the head and putting him in a chokehold. Charges against Adam for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer were dropped by the Crown in Fort McMurray on Wednesday. 

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/06/rcmp-cant-explain-silence-on-criminal.html


BULLSHIT Charges to be dropped against First Nations Chief Allan Adam

Allan Adam had been charged with resisting arrest, assaulting police officer 

VIDEO SHOWS THE COPS ASSAULTING HIM

 he Canadian Press · Posted: Jun 24, 2020

Pictured here at June 6 press conference, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam accused Wood Buffalo RCMP of assault. (Jamie Malbeuf/CBC)

The Crown will drop charges against First Nations Chief Allan Adam, who is accused of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, CBC News has learned.

An unnamed RCMP source, who is not authorized to speak to the media, confirms that the Alberta crown decided to drop the charges because they were not in the public interest.

Adam's first court date is scheduled for later today. He is not expected to appear in person.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated later.

Investigation launched after northern Alberta chief accuses RCMP of assault 

RCMP dashcam video shows officer tackling, punching Chief Allan Adam during arrest

In the nearly 12-minute video obtained by CBC News, an agitated Adam swears repeatedly at the police officers, accuses the RCMP of harassing him and removes his jacket after RCMP pulled behind his idling truck outside the Boomtown Casino in Fort McMurray, Alta..

There is more arguing and Adam gets back into the passenger seat. The officer is seen pushing the woman against the truck and yanking her by the shoulder as she shouts, "Ow!"

"Hey! Leave my wife alone! You come for me," Adam says, before swatting the officer's hands away from the woman.

About seven minutes into the video, a second officer runs at Adam, grabs him by the neck and shoulders and tackles him to the ground.

"Don't resist, sir!" the officer yells, as he straddles the chief. That officer can be seen punching Adam in the side of the head with one arm while holding him down with the other.

"My name is Chief Allan Adam," Adam says as the two officers pin him down.

The officers eventually handcuff the chief, pull him up and lead him toward the cruiser. His face is bloodied. His laboured breathing can be heard inside the police vehicle toward the end of the video.

Adam's lawyer Brian Beresh has dismissed criticism that Adam is responsible for escalating the situation. He said his client responded the way he did because he knows how police have treated Indigenous people.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the incident shocking and has called for an independent inquiry.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, the province's police watchdog, is now investigating.

WE NEED CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF POLICE WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE FIRST NATIONS ELDERS

Alberta First Nations Chief Allan Adam speaks out after charges against him are dropped

Charges have been dropped against a prominent northern Alberta First Nations chief who was the subject of a violent arrest earlier this year. The case of Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation was in front of a Fort McMurray provincial court judge Wednesday where charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer were withdrawn by the Crown. Adam said he was overwhelmed by Wednesday’s decision to drop those charges, but knew he did nothing wrong. “If we are to move forward in any capacity, we have to seriously open the eyes of each and every non-native Canadian to the realities that we, Indigenous people of the land, have had to live with for decades,” he said. “This case, like too many others in recent weeks, shines a light on systemic racism that for too long has gone unchecked and unbridled,” Allan’s lawyer Brian Beresh said. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/7101448/al...

White supremacist terrorism 'on the rise and spreading,' US says in new report

© Mangel Ngan/Pool via Reuters Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives a news conference about dealings with China and Iran, and on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, in Washington, June 24, 2020.
The threat of racially or ethnically motivated terrorism, especially white supremacist terrorism, is "on the rise and spreading geographically," according to a new report by the State Department, as the threat from ISIS and other radical Islamist terror groups evolves.

The annual report, released Wednesday by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, details by country and terror organization the threats emanating around the world.MORE: State Dept. labels white supremacist group terrorists for 1st time ever

While 2019 saw some banner accomplishments in counter terrorism, according to Pompeo, like the killing of ISIS's founding leader and the fall of its caliphate, the threat of terrorism has morphed and expanded to new regions, especially the Sahel in northern Africa.

This year's report put even greater focus on white supremacist terrorism, just weeks after the department designated a white supremacist group as a foreign terrorist organization for the first time. In 2019, there were several high-profile attacks motivated by the ideology, including the Christchurch, New Zealand, mosque shooting in March; the El Paso, Texas, shooting in August; and the Halle, Germany, synagogue shooting in October.

That kind of "violence (is) both on the rise and spreading geographically, as white supremacist and nativist movements and individuals increasingly target immigrants; Jewish, Muslim, and other religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or intersex (LGBTI) individuals; governments; and other perceived enemies," the report said.

MORE: State Dept warns of rise in 'racially-motivated' terrorism, expansion of ISIS 'toxic ideology'

According to U.S. ambassador-at-large for counter terrorism Nathan Sales, that threat has expanded since 2015, but he praised the Trump administration for taking it on.

"It took this administration coming into power to really prioritize stepping up efforts against this threat here in the case of the FBI and DHS, but also abroad where this department comes into play," Sales said.

In April, the State Department designated the Russian Imperial Movement, a white supremacist group, as a "foreign terrorist organization" for the first time, barring U.S. individuals from supporting the group.

© Jens Schlueter/Getty Images, FILE In this Oct. 9, 2019, file photo, rescued parishioners of the Jewish community and police forces stand near the scene of a shooting that has left two people dead in Halle, Germany.

While that action was unprecedented, President Donald Trump has also downplayed the threat of white supremacist groups, telling reporters last year, "It's a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess."

The State Department also announced Wednesday that it was increasing its reward for information leading to ISIS's new leader, Amir Muhammad Sa'id Abdal-Rahman al-Mawla, who is also known as Abu Muslim al-Turkmani. The U.S. government will now provide up to $10 million for details leading to his whereabouts, Pompeo announced, adding, "We're undaunted in our pursuit of bringing terrorists to justice."

© Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images, FILE In this Nov. 3, 3017, file photo, Iraqi fighters of the Hashed al-Shaabi stand next to a wall bearing the Islamic State (IS) group flag as they enter the city of al-Qaim, in Iraq's western Anbar province near the Syrian border.
Although ISIS's caliphate fell and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in 2019, the threat from the terror group has "evolved," according to Sales -- calling it now "a global network that reaches every inhabited continent" and continues to conduct and inspire attacks.MORE: 'Risk of a mass breakout' at ISIS prison camps in Syria: report

That includes in Iraq and Syria, once home to ISIS's caliphate, where Sales said, "We have to keep our eye on the ball ... to prevent any ISIS remnants from reconstituting, to prevent them from continuing attacks."

Virgin Galactic announces deal with NASA to help train private astronauts

© Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters, FILE Sir Richard Branson stands outside the New York Stock Exchange ahead of the Virgin Galactic (SPCE) IPO in New York, Oct. 28, 2019.

Private space exploration company Virgin Galactic announced it scored a deal with NASA to train private astronauts for spaceflight.

Under the Space Act Agreement signed with NASA's Johnson Space Center, Virgin Galactic will develop a new private orbital astronaut readiness program, the company announced Monday.

MORE: Virgin Galactic to resume selling tickets to space, reports skyrocketing demand

Goals for the new deal include identifying people interested in purchasing private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, procuring transportation to the space station and helping create astronaut training packages for private space travelers.

In a statement, NASA described the agreement with Virgin Galactic as "a program to identify candidates interested in purchasing private astronaut missions to the station then procures the transportation, on-orbit resources, and ground resources for private astronaut missions."© Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters, FILE Sir Richard Branson stands outside the New York Stock Exchange ahead of the Virgin Galactic (SPCE) IPO in New York, Oct. 28, 2019.

"We are excited to partner with NASA on this private orbital spaceflight program, which will not only allow us to use our spaceflight platform but also offer our space training infrastructure to NASA and other agencies," George Whitesides, the CEO of Virgin Galactic said in a statement.

"Based on the unsurpassed levels of spaceflight customer commitments we have secured to date, we are proud to share that insight in helping to grow another market for the new space economy," he added. "We want to bring the planetary perspective to many thousands of people."

MORE: Dragon soars in successful NASA-SpaceX launch

Stock for Virgin Galactic soared over 15% on news of the NASA deal Monday.

The Sir Richard Branson-spearheaded space tourism company announced earlier this year that it is preparing to sell tickets to space again, and that it has already taken more than 600 reservations from "Future Astronaut customers" in 60 countries.

In May, the Elon Musk-founded SpaceX became the first private space exploration company to launch NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, ushering in a new era of private spaceflight. The successful SpaceX-NASA launch also marked the first time in nearly a decade that the U.S. sent American astronauts from American soil into space.

Tesla ranks dead last in latest auto quality survey
Paul A. Eisenstein

Dodge became the first U.S. brand to nab the number one spot in the latest annual quality survey from J.D. Power — with Tesla ranking dead last.

The California-based automaker scored worst out of all 32 brands covered by the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, which measures the problems motorists face during the first 90 days of ownership. With an average 250 problems per 100 vehicles — or 250 PP100, as Power terms it — its owners reported nearly twice as many issues as did those buying Dodge models.

That poor showing echoes widespread concern about quality problems that have long nagged Tesla, and comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed it is investigating a problem that can cause the touchscreens on 63,000 Model S sedans to fail. Those screens are used to operate a variety of vehicle functions, including climate control.

Elon Musk reopens Tesla facility, defying local county orders

The electric vehicle maker’s newest product line, the Model Y SUV, has come under particularly harsh criticism, with reports on Tesla owner forums and in EV websites pointing to a long list of problems including defective paint, misfitting exterior trim and faulty rear seats that may not fold, as expected, and, in some cases, which have not even been bolted into place.

Website Elektrek earlier this month reported that some Tesla customers, including a couple in Maryland, declined to take delivery of one of the Model Y SUVs because of readily apparent and “significant defects.”

Paint problems have been an issue from the automaker since it began producing the Model S, its first mass-market EV, said independent auto Anton Wahlman. “It’s no surprise that since they’re using the same paint shop as the Models S, X and 3 that there’d be continuing paint problems” with the Model Y.

For his part, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has acknowledged quality issues on a number of occasions. He warned of “production hell” as the company began ramping up its Fremont, California, assembly line to handle the Model 3 sedan in 2018. And he acknowledged the need to make “rectifications” to problems with the new Model Y earlier this year. That has translated into extensive repair work for many vehicles after they come off the Fremont line.

Meanwhile, Tesla recently announced it would make its “All Weather Protection Kit” available for free to owners of several different product in cold climates where paint problems have been more severe.

For its part, J.D. Power put an asterisk on the 2020 results for Tesla. The automaker has long resisted cooperating with outside quality arbiters.

“Unlike other manufacturers, Tesla doesn’t grant us permission to survey its owners in 15 states where it is required,” said Doug Betts, president of the automotive division at J.D. Power. “However, we were able to collect a large enough sample of surveys from owners in the other 35 states and, from that base, we calculated Tesla’s score.”

Tesla has not responded to several requests for comment on the results of the 2020 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.

While the EV automaker might have anchored the bottom of the new quality report, the picture was quite different for traditional Detroit automakers.

In a stunning turnaround, the Dodge brand, long a quality laggard, surged to take the top spot, tying with Kia, while toppling traditional benchmarks including South Korea’s Genesis, Japan’s Lexus and Germany’s Porsche.

It was the first time a Detroit automaker led the IQS in its 34 years, noted Power, adding that domestic brands are, on the whole, now ranking above industry average.

“Collectively, this is the best-ever performance by the Detroit automakers in the history of the study,” Power said.

On the other hand, premium brands fared surprisingly poorly. While Genesis and Lexus came in above industry average, the lowest ranked brands, in descending order, were Jaguar, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Audi, Land Rover and Tesla.

The way of the dragon: Lost lizard found after 10-day, 4-km hike through Winnipeg

Ian Froese

© Ian Froese/CBC

 William Hill holds his two-year-old bearded dragon for the first time Tuesday night, after he went missing for 10 days. He was discovered four kilometres from his home.
An Elmwood man who spent 10 days searching for his lost dragon is breathing easier today.

William Hill's bearded dragon is finally back under his care, after his beloved foot-long reptile named Groot set off on an improbable four-kilometre adventure to St. Boniface.

And as fate would have it, Groot was taken in by Cara Velnes, who just happened to have a tank for a bearded dragon gathering dust in storage.

"I was just tickled pink," the 23-year-old roofer said after being reunited with his pet dragon at Velnes' home.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I was telling my sisters and my dad; my dad couldn't believe it either."

It's not only peculiar how far the reptile scuttled away from his Elmwood home, after escaping while lounging outside with Hill's father, but how the creature survived. Bearded dragons, which are native to Australia, are kept in tanks to replicate a hot, desert-like environment.

© Ian Froese/CBC 

Cara Velnes pets the bearded dragon she took care of Tuesday night, after it was discovered outside her front door.

Hill doesn't know exactly where his bearded dragon was, but Groot has likely been roaming the city since June 13.

"They're supposed to have constant supply of heat, I'm really surprised that he survived those cold nights," Hill said.

Few people were perhaps more prepared to shelter the displaced lizard than Velnes.

That's because Velnes bought a tank specifically for a bearded dragon last year. Her kids wanted one for Christmas, but then their wish list changed and the tank was stowed away.

Until Tuesday night, that is.

Velnes heard a commotion outside her door as some neighbour kids found the reptile underneath a truck.

She decided to take in the pet since she already had the pet's room and board covered.

"I ended up pulling [the tank] out and I had to explain to my kids why I have a giant tank for a lizard," Velnes said.

"Of course, the kids wanted to keep it, but that's not my situation — we can't do that."

She flagged the discovery on a St. Boniface Facebook group, and someone else connected the dots to a social media post on a Winnipeg lost dogs page regarding a lost lizard from Elmwood.

Within two hours, Hill and his sister, Chantalle Gauthier, were at Velnes' door.

Since Groot went missing, Hill has been scouring his neighbourhood and handing out flyers.

He was starting to run out of hope when he received a text message on Tuesday.

"I just can't wait to get him home, put him in his cage, get him all warmed up, try feeding him a couple of worms, see how he is, and then I'll take him to the vet tomorrow," Hill said.

Velnes said she's happy to have facilitated the reunion, and it may not be the last bearded dragon her family will have.

"There is a birthday in two weeks, so we'll see," she said, laughing.

5.8 magnitude earthquake shakes California

© USGS A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was measured 17km from Lone Pine, Calif.

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit California around 10:45 a.m. local time Wednesday.

The epicenter was near Cartago, about 180 miles north of Los Angeles.

People at several businesses near Lone Pine and Bishop told ABC News the while the shaking was "intense," they didn't see any damage.

Several rockslides were reported in Inyo County.

© USGS A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was measured 17km from Lone Pine, Calif.

Some shaking was felt in LA.

This comes a day after a 7.4 magnitude quake hit Mexico, near the resort of Huatulco, killing at least six people and damaging hundreds of homes, according to The Associated Press. At least six others were hurt, including two people in Mexico City, more than 300 miles from the epicenter.

Sinkholes drain lake near Oxford NS
Brett Ruskin

© Brett Ruskin/CBC 

A log rests on the lakebed after the water receded in recent months.

Waterfront property is a bit harder to find this year in Oxford, N.S.

A kilometre-long lake near the town has mostly disappeared as much of its water has drained into at least two sinkholes in recent months."This is pretty shocking," said Amy Tizzard, a regional geologist with the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines. "I couldn't believe my eyes at the extent that it had emptied. Each time I visit there's something new exposed."

CBC has agreed not to name the lake, which is about two kilometres from the town, because officials fear it will attract ATVers and others who could disturb local bird habitats and ongoing environmental studies at the site.

It is the latest sinkhole problem in the area. Two years ago, part of a park and adjacent parking lot in Oxford were swallowed up by a sinkhole. Last fall, the provincial government began investigating possible sinkhole activity beneath a nearby section of the Trans-Canada Highway.
Aerial images of the lake show at least one visible sinkhole. Tizzard said the sinkhole isn't new — it has appeared in images dating back to the 1930s — but it appears to have recently reopened.

There is most likely another sinkhole at the other end of the lake, where the water level is also steadily dropping.

Tizzard said the lake is known locally to have fluctuating levels, but the water hasn't been this low since the 1970s.

Exactly where the water is going is a bit of a mystery.

"There'd be a big enough pore space to accommodate the size of the lake," Tizzard said. "So we're looking at caves and fractures or fissures. That's where it's gone. We don't know if it's coming out anywhere yet."

The sudden draining is likely due to the water eroding a layer of gypsum, which would have been acting as a plug. 

Visitors discouraged from coming to the lake

Local residents and government officials are hoping that, although the drained lake is enticing, people will be respectful of the space.

Along the lakebed there are already track patterns made by ATVs ripping through the soft mud.

The area is home to a series of delicate environmental studies, which could easily be disrupted with a high volume of visitors.

In 2018, the town of Oxford saw a portion of parkland and parking lot disappear into a sinkhole. That hole is part of the same geological pattern, called "karst topography."

The area has underground layers of water-soluble rock such as salt or gypsum. When water erodes that lower layer, the surface eventually collapses.

© Brett Ruskin/CBC

 Amy Tizzard stands on the lakebed, overlooking part of the remaining lakewater. Last year the water was up to the tree line.

A CBC News investigation last year also found that part of the TransCanada Highway near the town was built over a sinkhole. That spot has required ongoing work to patch and refill the roadway.

As for the lake, it's not known how low the water level will go, or if it might begin refilling.

"It continues to get lower every time I come up here," Tizzard said.

UCP LOOKS AT WHITE MILITIA FOR ALBERTA

Alberta explores creation of civilian corps to support police
Elise von Scheel

© CBC

 A private members' motion has sparked debate about role of citizen policing in Alberta.

A motion from a UCP MLA is leading the government to explore involving more civilians in law enforcement.

The legislature passed the motion on Monday, which urged the minister of justice to examine "options to establish a voluntary civilian corps to assist law enforcement in Alberta."

The non-government initiative was brought forward by Todd Loewen, who represents the rural riding of Central Peace-Notley. Next steps are up to the minister.

Statistics Canada shows the crime rate in rural Alberta is 38 per cent higher than in urban areas of the province.

Combating that statistic is what prompted Loewen to introduce the motion — which could see private citizens taking on enhanced law enforcement roles.

"It's a big concern all across Alberta. The amount of crime, and in particular rural crime, has been a hot issue for years now," he told CBC News.

In his mind's eye, Loewen said he envisions unarmed local residents working side by side with police officers in low-risk activities to reduce crime. That could include duties like assisting with natural disaster recovery, traffic control and other non-violent emergencies.

Loewen was insistent; this motion is not to replace police, nor is it a sanctioning of vigilante justice.

Motions have no teeth. They're not binding and don't create legislation. Minister Doug Schweitzer holds the cards now. However, this motion is raising questions about what role citizens should play in policing the province. 

Criminologist excited by potential benefits

Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist at Mount Royal University, is excited by the potential benefits.

"This is a model I think that Canada really needs," he said.

When done right, Sundberg says there's evidence civilian law enforcement saves money and boosts community safety. Plus, he added that infusing citizens can often improve negative police culture like harassment and discrimination.

His excitement was accompanied by a word of caution. While there are success stories to draw from, like the U.K., there are also examples of civilian law enforcement going horribly wrong.

If it's not managed properly, Sundberg said it can slip into vigilantism, unhealthy power dynamics, and serious injuries.

He added there are several things that have been proven to make a difference, like thorough training and screening of applicants, building collaboration between the volunteers and officers, and establishing proper oversight.

If the idea is pursued, Sundberg said Alberta's success will balance on those factors like a teeter-totter.

"If it's done incorrectly it can be a disaster, but if it's done right it can be amazing. It's really going to be one thing or the other," he said.

"It's very important that the government get the model right."
Opposition worries about citizen safety

The NDP has concerns about the vagueness of the motion's wording.

"Does this replace existing structures? Does this go farther than existing structures? Is this a part of law enforcement? There really were no answers," MLA Marie Renaud said.

Her party also is worried about the strain this could place on communities and the safety of citizen volunteers, citing the death of Rod Lazenby. The peace officer was attacked and killed while responding to an animal complaint in 2012.

Renaud said adding police presence isn't the solution to underlying social issues that contribute to crime.

"We need to take a very broad look at investing in not just law enforcement, not just emergency response, but prevention."

Ubaka Ogbogu, a law professor at the University of Alberta tweeted that recent events stemming from police killing people of colour have proven that more law enforcement doesn't automatically equal safer communities.

Loewen agreed that the timing of the motion was unfortunate but said the text was submitted for presentation in the legislature months ago.

He also said there has been "fear mongering" from people who don't understand it properly.

"If you look at the motion there's no word 'militia' in there at all. There's no intention to have them armed. They won't be responding to 911 calls. They're not going to take over for police. They're not vigilantes. They're just people in the community that would want to volunteer to help the law enforcement."

There are also questions about the necessity of such a measure, as there are neighbourhood watch initiatives and the RCMP already runs a civilian law enforcement branch called the Auxiliary Program.

Sundberg said that program is inadequate and mostly defunct, so there's an argument to be made in favour of a carefully constructed civilian force specific to Alberta.

The next step is for Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer to review the motion. He will then decide whether to implement the recommendation, consult with experts, or to let it fall to the wayside.

"While we have to study this particular motion, in general the government welcomes peaceful initiatives taken by law-abiding volunteers to help keep their communities safe and secure," the minister's office said in a statement to CBC News.

There's no timeline set out for this phase. It could take months until the fate of this motion is decided.

COVID-19: Poll suggests majority of B.C. workers not ready to go back to the office
Author of the article:Tiffany Crawford
Publishing date:Jun 24, 2020 •

A new poll suggests many B.C. workers are not comfortable returning to work yet during the pandemic.

A majority of British Columbians are wary of a return to the office, with most saying they’re worried about catching COVID-19 from a co-worker, a new poll suggests.

The Insights West survey found only 20 per cent of respondents said they felt very comfortable going back to the workplace, and if given a choice, 31 per cent would choose to go back to work now or in September, with 19 per cent saying they want to permanently work from home.

Most (78 per cent) said their biggest concern is catching COVID-19 from a co-worker or customer.

Forty-three per cent of those polled felt “somewhat comfortable, while 37 per cent said they were not comfortable, including 24 per cent who were “not very comfortable” and 12 per cent who were “not at all comfortable.”

Insights West found that men were more likely to feel comfortable returning to work than women, and those older than 55 were more concerned about heading back to the office than their younger counterparts.

Many (67 per cent) said they were concerned about physical distancing when it comes to common spaces like kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, while a similar number (66 per cent) were concerned about physical distance when in their actual workspace.

Given a choice, the vast majority of workers still working from home wouldn’t return to the workplace anytime soon. Only a fraction of these workers (13 per cent) would choose to go back now if it were up to them and only 18 per cent would prefer to go back in September. Most would go back when there are no more COVID-19 cases or a vaccine is developed.

Steve Mossop, president of Insights West, said he believes that the pandemic could permanently alter the way people work.

“This could have drastic implications for commercial real estate in the years to come, company team-building and socialization, and the infrastructure needed to support productivity in the workplace,” he said in a statement.

The survey of 879 B.C. residents was conducted from June 18-21. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

B.C. nurses working in acute care report high levels of stress and violence: Study

Tiffany Crawford
 

© Supplied

 Nurses who work in acute care report a high level of stress, burnout, and violence in the workplace.

Nurses working in acute care, long-term care and community-care settings report high levels of mental injury and workplace violence, according to a University of B.C. study for the B.C. Nurses’ Union (BCNU).

The study, which surveyed 4,462 B.C. nurses, found that in long-term care, 85 per cent reported exposure to physical assault and 54 per cent reported high levels of burnout.

In acute care, 57 per cent of nurses reported high levels of burnout, while half were above the cutoff point for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Thirty-one per cent reported moderate or severe depression, according to a news release from the BCNU.

BCNU president Christine Sorensen says the data highlights the serious need for nurses to be better supported in their workplaces now more than ever, given the unprecedented stress and impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on nurses.

“Before COVID-19, we see there was a dire need for investments in mental-health support for nurses who are dedicated to providing care,” said Sorensen in a statement Wednesday. “Nurses are professionals and are committed to their patients, but this research shows they have been suffering in silence for too long.”
The union has also commissioned another study on psychological health and safety, which is looking at nurses’ mental health before and after the pandemic.

The union says conclusions could help to inform requirements for pandemic planning by government and health employers that will incorporate the psychological health of nurses now and for the future.