News

Michael Applebaum’s reign as interim mayor became official on Monday morning.

According to the Gazette, Applebaum was sworn in as Montreal’s 42^nd mayor. He is the first Anglophone in 102 years to hold the job as top dog in Montreal and the first of Jewish origin.

Among some of Applebaum’s priorities are to remove 1.1 percent of the 3.3 property tax hike and to provide more money to public transit to diminish fare increases.

The federal government has denied the requests of its provincial counterparts to ban Oxycontin from being sold in markets.

According to the Globe and Mail the Canadian health minister stated that abuse of a prescription drug is not a good enough reason to ban it.

She also asked the public to consider the needs of patients in physical pain.

The Ontario health minister is disappointed in the denial to ban the drug.

She stated that the number of deaths due to Oxycontin abuse should not be ignored.

An Ontario women's prison is being hit by another alleged scandal.

According to CBC News, a guard at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario was suspended for allegedly trading sex for drugs.

While the Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) hasn't elaborated on the accusations as the case is being investigated, more inmates have come forward with similar complaints.

The union representing the guards didn't comment on the issue saying that when the investigation is over of needed they will take the necessary action.

Residents in west-end Toronto are demanding answers after discovering an unlikely next-door neighbour.

Meetings were held last week to discuss an uranium processing plant in the neighbourhood that some say they didn’t even know existed.

A warning to foreign governments in relation to possible enhanced status at the U.N. for Palestine could lead Israel to cancel the Oslo peace agreement and oust the current Palestinian Authority.

According to the New York Times, the threats reflect the last stretegy in progress as the Palestinians continue with plans for a vote in the United Nations General Assembly.

Last week, the Palestinians drafted a resolution to the member states as a first step of the campaign for international recognition of a future state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

The PQ is embarking on a blitz to pass a series of bills before parliament breaks for the holidays.

According to CBC News, the latest bill is receiving plenty of support from opposition parties. Bill 10 gives power to a judge to suspend any mayor or councillor with pay if they are facing a criminal charge that could lead to prison time.