News

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama’s views clashed with those of Latin American countries on two issues – Cuba and on the war on drugs, during Saturday’s summit in Colombia.

According to the CBC, Harper and Obama represented the only countries who still did not want to lobby to invite Cuba to the Organization of American States.

Drivers under twenty-one are facing a new alcohol restriction. A ban from drinking any amount of alcohol before driving started on Saturday, CTV reports.

A Quebec road safety expert says when it comes to young driver accidents, half the time there is alcohol involved.

Young drivers caught with even a drop of alcohol will lose their license for ninety days. They will also be fined from three hundred to six hundred dollars and lose four demerit points.

Hearings on whether the province can extend its injunction on the long-gun registry continue in Quebec Superior Court today.

According to CTV lawyers for the federal government attempted to squash Quebec’s injunction on the long-gun registry in court yesterday.  The injunction which expires today requires Quebecers to continue to register their long-guns and prevents the feds from destroying its portion of the data.

Police dispersed a student protest held outside Concordia’s Hall building Thursday morning. According to The Link, students blocked the entrance to the building. The CBC reports that 75 protestors were able to delay exams. The university did not announce any cancelations saying it had a responsibility to students who wanted to take their exams.

Meanwhile picket lines at Collège de Valleyfield forced the school to cancel its plan to resume classes.

Just the day before students had organized 12-hour protest marathon that disrupted much of downtown Montreal.

Read by: Katie McGroarty

Stories by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi, Joel Balsam, Dominique Daoust and Katie McGroarty

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

Over 5500 federal service employees have been notified that they might lose their jobs. The members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada received notices on Wednesday. The notice stated that they would be affected but will not necessarily be laid off. Some employees might be moved to other departments if there are vacancies.

Read by: Greg Wilson

Stories by: Joel Balsam, William Pelletier, Alyssa Tremblay and Joel Ashak

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

The flight maintenance company Aveos will have to pay nearly $6 million to its ex-workers.

According to the CBC, a Quebec judge issued a court order forcing the firm to compensate the 2,600 employees who were abruptly terminated last month.

Each former employee will receive up to $2,000 as a back pay.

But the court order also states that no further claims can be made against Aveos.

Tuesday marked the end of classes for some, but for others it was just another day on the picket lines. Some striking students have been out of the classroom since early March...

The University held a town hall meeting on Tuesday to air student concerns.

Joel Balsam was there...

[CLIP]

Striking students didn't get the response they wanted from Concordia's interim President Fred Lowy at Tuesday's Town Hall meeting. He said he wants more money for the university...and doesn't oppose a tuition hike.

Student protesters deny that they are backing down when it comes to the tuition hikes.

In a report by CJAD, student leaders against the hike stated that the fact they are focusing on a freeze instead of free education should not be seen as toning down. 

On Monday, hundreds of students gathered for a day-long demonstration against the hikes at Berri Square. 

A prosecutor in the case of the Trayvon Martin shooting announced she would not be holding a hearing to decide if the man who shot Martin should be tried.

According to BBC, the prosecutor, named Angela Corey, could either file charges or drop the case.

George Zimmerman, who fatally shot 17-year-old Martin in February, claims it was self-defense.

Six councilors and the only senate seat have been disqualified from the CSU 2012 general elections.

This adds to the previous allegations, disqualifications and confusion that characterized this year’s elections.

Acccording to the Link newspaper, CSU Chief Electoral Officer Ismail Holoubi said that the seven candidates were disqualified because they failed to submit their campaigning expense forms.

But Ramy Khoriaty, former CSU VP Finance & Clubs and one of the disqualified councilors, said none of the seven candidates had accumulated any expenses.