Top Stories – April 7 – Cannabis Events?

The province is launching an online public engagement about cannabis consumption spaces about whether to allow them, and how they could be regulated. Consumption Space is a term for a business or special event that provides cannabis for on-site sale and use such as cafes, lounges, concerts or festivals. Info and the survey link click here http://engage.gov.bc.ca/cannabisconsumptionspaces

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is warning about charity scams related to the war in Ukraine. Fraudsters are contacting victims by telephone, email, online, and social media, and they seem very convincing. Be cautious and let your family know.

One of Canada’s biggest business lobby groups is making a request for increased defense spending in today’s federal budget because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Business Council of Canada says it’s time for Canada to commit to matching the NATO target on defense spending of 2 percent of gross domestic product. Canada’s level currently stands at less than 1.4 percent.

Two Kelowna individuals could be facing charges after trying to sell a Western Painted Turtle they had been keeping as a pet. The Conservation Officer Service launched an investigation after a complaint was made to the RAPP hotline from someone who had seen it advertised online. Officers seized the turtle and it was delivered to the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops on Tuesday.

Ottawa wants to make digital giants compensate Canadian media outlets for reusing their news content. The bill is designed to support Canada’s independent media, and is modelled on an Australian law making tech companies such as Google and Meta pay for news content on their platforms. News organizations will be able to team up to bargain collectively with digital giants.

Airlines in Canada are asking a Federal Court of Appeal panel to end rules that increased compensation for passengers subjected to delayed flights and damaged luggage. Right now, passengers have to be compensated up to $2,400 if they were denied boarding because a flight was overbooked, and receive up to $2,100 for lost or damaged luggage. Delays and other payments for cancelled flights can bring compensation of up to $1,000.

BC broke a record for the number of people moving to the province in 2021. Stats Can says net migration reached just over 100-thousand, which is the highest annual total since 1961. One-third came from other Canadian provinces or territories, which is the highest number seen since 1994.

A new single-step certification process will allow workers to join a union in BC when 55% of employees sign cards indicating they want to. Up until now, a minimum of 45% of workers at a job site had to sign membership cards. After that they had to restate their preference for a union through an additional vote which is where the province says interference can often occur.

In Ukraine, the mayor of the besieged port city of Mariupol put the number of civilians killed there at more than 5,000. That came as the country collected evidence of Russian atrocities on the ruined outskirts of Kyiv and braced for what could become a large battle for control of the country’s industrial east. The Western allies moved to impose new sanctions against the Kremlin over what they branded war crimes.

Sports

In the BCHL playoffs in Vernon last night, the West Kelowna Warriors beat the Vipers 6-2. West Kelowna now leads the best of seven, 3 games to one and can wrap up the series tomorrow at home at Royal LePage Place.

The Masters starts today at Augusta National in Georgia. As of yesterday, Tiger Woods was scheduled in a group that tees (teed) off at 7:45 our time. Notable for NOT playing this year are Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

The Canucks took a 5-1 win against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas last night. Elias Pettersson led the way with 2 goals and 2 assists. Vancouver moves to Glendale, Arizona for a game against the Coyotes tonight.

Anahim Lake’s Carey Price is with the Montreal Canadiens on their two-game road trip this week but isn’t playing. The Habs are last in the league and Price is still recovering from knee surgery and some time in the Players Assistance Program.

The Kelowna Rockets wrapped up their 2 game road trip in Prince George with a 4-1 win against the Cougars. The Rockets come home for games Saturday and Sunday against the Vancouver Giants

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American running back Shaq Cooper who spent the 2021 season with the Winnipeg and BC. Before signing with the Lions, the 29-year-old spent two seasons with Edmonton.