News

Syria blocked many pro-Palestinian protesters from reaching the border it shares with Israel Monday in an attempt to avoid the deadly encounter with Israeli forces protesters found last time.

Syrian police set up checkpoints including a one kilometer long one near Israeli held Golan Heights. Over 20 protesters were seen waving flags and walking before being stopped by police. On Sunday protesters passed similar checkpoints as well as UN ones without trouble.

News read and produced by Erica Fisher.

Stories written by Sofia Gay, Erica Fisher, Chris Hanna and Jacqueline Di Bartolomeo. 

Canada Post workers in Montreal went on strike late Sunday night. Their reasons for walking off include workplace safety, wages for new employees, and sick leave.

Postal workers in Winnipeg and Hamilton also went on strike last week.

The strike is set to last until 11:30pm Monday night. No mail will be delivered across Montreal while the workers are off the job.

Around 25,000 people showed up with bikes at the ready on Sunday for Tour de l'Île, so many that some riders had to wait an hour just to get started. 2,600 volunteers also staffed the 52 kilometre route for the the 27th annual event.

Cyclists kicked off their trip on Parc Avenue at 9:15 Sunday morning. They were enthusiastic about the ride, which had them travel through and around the city. 

Access to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race track on Ile Notre Dame will be closed to cyclists starting this weekend. The Grand Prix Formula One race has led officials to close off access for safety reasons.

Access will be shut down starting at six a.m. June fourth until five a.m. June fourteenth. Access to Ile Notre Dame from the South Shore via the Victoria Bridge cycling path will also be closed.

Read by Sarah Deshaies

Produced by Nikita Smith

Stories written by Sarah Deshaies, Dominique Daoust, AJ Cordeiro

The city’s transit authority rejected a proposal on Tuesday. Instead it will proceed with its original shuttle-bus arrangement regarding the Villa Maria metro station. The orange line metro cars won’t be stopping at the station for three months due to renovations. This decision is due to costs and limited availability of extra buses in its fleet.

A mayor of one of the towns hardest hit by flooding called the federal government’s response in the Richelieu Valley "lame". He also called out Prime Minister Stephen Harper, accusing him of not giving enough attention to Quebec.

Water levels have risen to record highs in the valley for weeks, tarnishing homes and stranding residents.

Leader of the Official Opposition Jack Layton agrees that more needs to be done to help flood victims.  He will plea their case to the Prime Minister when parliament resumes on June 2.

The union representing Canada Post workers has given the Crown corporation an ultimatum: either accept their final offer or they go on strike. The strike will begin Thursday night is the offer is rejected.

The union says the strike notice puts pressure on Canada Post to negotiate. It says it is willing to talk up until the deadline.

The new offer includes changes to positions as well as lessened wage increases. Negotiations to reach a new collective agreement have been in the works since last fall.

 SlutWalk made its way to Montreal on Sunday. Around 300  people started marching from Peace Park on St. Laurent  Street.

 Their goal was to take back the word slut, and allow women  to look and feel sexy without being sexualized.

 Organizers believe that women should never be blamed for  rape committed against them, regardless of how they dress  or act. 

SlutWalk originated in Toronto in January, when an officer told a group of students that they can avoid being raped if they did not dress like sluts. SlutWalk marches have already been held in the United States and England. 

NDP Leader Jack Layton avoided the heated topic of separation when questioned yesterday. Pressed for details Layton said, “What constitutes a majority is 50 per cent plus one.”

Since the NDP nearly swept the province of Quebec in the last election, Layton knew the issue would come up.

Yesterday at a news conference held to announce the members of Layton’s shadow cabinet, it did. His ambiguity towards the topic has irked some politicians. PQ Leader Pauline Marois accused Layton of turning back on promises. Specifically, the Sherbrooke declaration that states 50 per cent plus one is enough to secede.