News

Hosted by: Catlin Spencer

Stories by: Marilla Steuter-Martin & Kris Eugenio

Produced by: Jenna Monney-Lupert

Gay marriage is set to become legal in Illinois.

According to the Washington Post, Governor Pat Quinn says he will sign the bill into law by the end of the month.

President of the National Organization for Marriage, Brinn Brown, opposes the bill.

He says it will mean harassment for those who hold traditional marriage views. 

Illinois is the 15th American state to pass same-sex marriage laws.

The move has already been endoresed by the U.S. President Barack Obama.

STORY BY MARILLA STEUTER-MARTIN

An application for fracking near Gros Morne National Park has been put on hold by 

the Newfoundland and Labrador government Monday. 

CBC reports the Shoal Point Energy and it’s partner Black Spruce Exploration’s plan 

to use hydraulic fracturing to extract gas and oil reserves from the shale rock on the 

western region of the province has been paused, for now. 

The government has stated that they will not look at the application until they are 

satisfied that the process will not harm residents or the environment. 

UNESCO has mentioned that environmental status of Gros Morne National Park 

could be at risk. 

Rob Ford has issued an apology to the citizens of Toronto for his recent behavior.

The University of British Columbia`s Commerce Undergraduate Society has decided not to hire a sexual abuse counsellor due to pro-rape chants which occured in September during frosh week.

According to CBC News a referendum took place which resulted in only 245 out of 815 students supporting the funding of the counsellor position.

The University was counting on the CUS to provide $200,000 in order to fund the counsellor position.

Dean of the Sauder School of Business, Robert Helsley was disappointed with the referendum results, and stated that the purpose of the position was to raise awareness of sexual violence issues.

A firey explosion occurred at a chemical plant in the Eastern Townships on Wednesday afternoon.

CBC News reports, that firefighters got the call around 5pm Wednesday about an explosion at the Aldex Chemical Plant in Granby. Onlookers claim to have seen thick billowing smoke from kilometres away.

Nearby buildings were evacuated while the fire burned out all 3600 of polystyrene in the plant.

Quebec's mining industry may be in tougher times now since it has just lost support from Quebec City. 

In a report by The Gazette, Bill 54 has just been dropped from the National Assembly's to-do list. 

The mining reform bill initially proposed by the Parti Quebecois last year in its electoral campaign promised higher royalties for mining companies. 

But a lack of support from Opposition MNAs has prevented the bill from moving forward. 

Adding insult to injury is U.S. aluminum maker Alcoa. 

With nine smelters across Quebec, the company has threatened to shut down a third of its facilities due to increasing power rates the government is proposing.  

Premier Pauline Marois accused Alcoa of eliciting fear. 

If you will be buying alcohol in Ontario, you may just have to stick to the LCBO for now.

According to CBC News, the Ontario government will not let private retailers sell beer and wine in convenience stores, despite recent demand from the industry.  

However, it will try to make locally made vintages and brews more accessible in stores such as the Liquor Control Board of Ontario or LCBO.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne says her government will continue to work with the province's sole liquor retailer to expand its distribution. 

The move has put some politicians at Queens Park on the rocks.

A student protest at Al-Azhar University in Cairo was dispersed by use of tear gas by Egyptian security forces on Monday October 28, 2013.

Aljazeera reports that the students were protesting in support of recently deposed president Mohamed Morsi.

Students blocked a main road as they demonstrated against the military who ousted Morsi earlier this year on July 3^rd.

A transgender student in Nova Scotia says she’s been harassed by cafeteria staff despite workers being put through sensitivity training.

According to CBC, Dalhousie University student, Jessica Dempsey received an apology email from the dining hall manger of her school in July after her first complaints against the food service staff.

The staff was then reported to have gone through sensitivity training after the complaint was passed on to the university’s Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Protection office.

But nothing has changed according to Dempsey, as workers continue to call her by her old name and one person asked if her breasts were real.

Hosted by Jocelyn Beaudet

Stories by Saturn De Los Angeles, Brendan P. Adams and Catlin Spencer

Produced by Saturn De Los Angeles