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Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that he does not support Sri Lanka's president Mahinda Rajapaksa, and hence, will not be attending this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, or APEC. 

In a report by CBC News, Harper says that he does not want to be seen or photographed shaking the Sri Lankan president’s hand because he believes he is a “serial abuser of human rights.”

The Prime Minister went so far as to say that given the many atrocities of the sri lankan civil war, he feels the need to end Canada’s yearly $20 million contribution to the Commonwealth organization. 

It seems that Harper is alone in his boycott. 

Hosted by Danny Aubry

Stories by Rory Warnock, Alexa Everett and John Toohey 

Produced by Saturn De Los Angeles

One of this city's most diverse neighborhoods took to the streets to echo the growing public dissent against the proposed Charter of Values. 

Seventy people showed up at Montreal's Park Extension on Sunday afternoon. 

It was held by various religious and cultural groups. People who both wore religious gear, and didn't, were there expressing their solidarity. 

They had placards that read - “We are here for good” and “No to the discriminatory charter.”

A few attendees spoke to The Gazette to share their thoughts.

Jatinder Singh Bhandari was one the organizers, says he believes that the Quebec government is dividing Quebeckers apart. 

Meanwhile Park -ex resident Guy Tassé was also there. 

After funding cuts forced it into a two-year hiatus, the community organization Head and Hands is re-launching its street work program in N.D.G. Monday.

According to the Gazette, Head and Hands will now have a full-time street worker working to build relationships with N.D.G. marginalized youth.

The social worker spearheading the new program, known only by her first name, Sara, is leaving posters on telephone poles and in the windows of stores and bars with her cellphone number.

A hospital in Ontario has found out a idea to fix its medical services - by taking criticism one step further. 

A CBC News report tells us how the Kingston General Hospital developed from being one of the most poorly managed in the country - to the most improved. 

The hospital has historically gotten negative feedback from visitors and patients because of its unsanitary and disorganized environment. 

But as general manager Leslee Thompson explains, she invited the people who complained and asked them to work together in the hospital to look for solutions.  

There are now '200 patient experience advisers'  who observe, assist and give feedback on how they believe the hospital should be managed, 

Hosted by: John Toohey

Stories by: Saturn De Los Angeles, Hannah Besseau & John Toohey

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

Health care institutions and hospitals across Quebec are concerned about losing staff if the 

The city of Montréal is still waiting on answers about a controversial pipeline project.

The project by Enbridge Inc. is a pipeline which extends six hundred thirty nine kilometers from Montréal East to Westover, Ontario. It crosses the Ottawa and Mille-Îles rivers.

Enbridge is being pressured by environmental and citizen groups to reveal its plans regarding risks along the pipeline and emergency response plans.

A recent security sweep of sabaneta prison in Venezuela has uncovered more than 100 pistols, rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

According to the BBC, the search has also uncovered secret tunnels where inmates have stored over 20 pounds of cocaine and marijuana.

The security sweep began once inmates were temporarily removed after a fight between rival gangs two weeks ago.

Prison minister Iris Varela has said that inmates guilty of smuggling the illegal arms and drugs into the prison will experience the full weight of the law.

Statistics collected by the Venezuelan prison observatory currently state that 80% of jails in the country are run by armed inmates with little to no security control.

Ubisoft announced it will be expanding its workforce with 500 new jobs in Montreal over the next seven years. 

The video game giant will be investing $373 million in its Montreal affiliate. 

Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat said the company chose Montreal because of a contribution of $9.9 million from the quebec government, along with tax-incentives for creating jobs. 

Mallat claims that a important reason montreal flourished as a gaming hotspot is because of the numerous university programs available.  

Montreal has now become of the largest vide game production cities in the world, only behind tokyo and los angeles. 

Ubisoft currently employs 2,650 in its Montreal offices.

Two grassroots organizations have teamed up to help compile an online database of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.

No More Silence and Families of Sisters in Spirit launched this listing in mid-September.

Social justice activist Andrea Smith spoke to aboriginal news source Indian Country Today. 

She argues, the need for the database is two-fold, as there has been little visibility nor interest from the federal government on tackling the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women.

She also adds that First Nations community members and allies must rely on each other bring change.

Compiling listings of missing aboriginal women have always been a challenge for academics and community organizers.