Top Stories – Jan 13 – Drink Less?

The current guidelines that say about two alcoholic drinks per day is safe are about to be updated. And they will be quite a bit lower, likely recommending no more than two drinks a week. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction suggests health-related risk from alcohol is negligible to low when consuming two drinks per week, moderate for three-to-six drinks per week, and increasingly high beyond that.

The president of Sunwing Airlines has apologized for failing to meet Canadians’ expectations over the chaotic holiday travel season. Hundreds were stranded when Sunwing cancelled their flights home due to winter storms. A separate official told MPs the company has received 7,000 complaints, although it isn’t clear over what period of time.

Barbie has undergone another transformation, ahead of a summer film depicting the iconic doll. My First Barbie is taller than the traditional doll, with a larger waist and permanently attached undergarments. The live-action film about Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is due out in July.

Toxic chemicals from toilet paper have been found in the bodies of BC’s endangered orcas, according to a study conducted by marine scientists. Researchers at UBC analyzed tissue samples from 8 killer whales, stranded along the coast between 2006 and 2018. The various toxins leaked into the ocean via sewage treatment plants and industrial runoff before entering the food chain.

The 2022 New Homes Registry Report shows that 14,546 purpose-built rental homes were registered in the province last year, the biggest number since BC Housing started collecting data 20 years ago. In total, 51,400 new homes were registered in in 2022 including 42,370 multi-unit homes.

Canada’s banking regulator is launching public consultations on existing and newly proposed mortgage lending rules. It says loan risks have increased considerably since the start of the pandemic. It adds that while current safeguards have been helpful, more measures might be needed to reduce mortgage lending risks.

More renters in BC will be protected from housing speculators and profiteers through the creation of a new $500-million Rental Protection Fund to protect tenants and preserve affordable rental homes for decades. It will provide one-time capital grants to non-profit housing organizations so they can purchase affordable residential rental buildings and ownership co-operatives.

The Star Blanket Cree Nation in Saskatchewan says ground-penetrating radar has discovered more than 2,000 areas of interest and a child’s bone at the site of one of the longest-running residential schools in the country. The jaw bone fragment was identified to be that of a child from about 125 years ago. Project lead Sheldon Poitras said his team is looking at options, including DNA testing, to confirm what is there, but they don’t believe all are unmarked graves.

Two reports say the last nine years were the hottest on record, with 2022 being the warmest La Niña year ever recorded. A climate scientist at NASA told CNN they’re predicting that 2023 will actually be warmer than last year. And the last four years have been the warmest on record for the planet’s oceans.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets have the first of 2 games this weekend in Victoria tonight against the Royals. Pre game show on 1047 The Lizard and rocketfan.ca begins at 6:35

In Tampa last night the Canucks lost their 3rd straight game on this road trip, 5-4 to the Lightning. They stay in the Sunshine state and take on the Panthers tomorrow.

Canucks forward Tanner Pearson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing another hand surgery. He’s been out since Nov. 9.

Veteran quarterback Derek Carr wrote a heartfelt goodbye to the Las Vegas Raiders amid reports the team will trade him in the offseason. He has a no-trade clause and is expected to be involved in the process.