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March 1st, 2012
Read by: Kevin Gascoigne
Stories by: Sabrina Daniel, Esther Viragh and Carlo Spiridigliozzi
Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi
Canada questioned on war on drugs
Canada's stance on marijuana has been questioned.
According to CBC News, the Global Commission on Drug Policy stated, in an open letter, that it is weird for Canada to be taking a tough stance on marijuana while other countries are reconsidering theirs.
The commission also stated on Wednesday that Prime Minister Stephen Harper should stop pursuing the outlaw of marijuana.
The open letter, which warns that Canada is making the same mistakes as other countries have in the past on this issue has been signed by former dignataries from around the world.
Flickr photo by: Tha Goodiez
Quebec doctor charged in U.S.
A former Quebec doctor is facing serious charges in the U.S.
According to CBC News, Dr. Jacques Roy and six other people are accused of defrauding the madicare system in the U.S. of 375 million dollars.
Dr. Roy is facing 10 charges of recruiting patients and having the medicare system pay for treatment which he never provided.
His practice Medistat Group Associates is alleged to have certified more than 11 000 patients from January 2006 to November 2011.
He is looking at a possibility of 100 years in prison if found guilty.
flickr photo by: meddygarnet
Anti-corruption unit targets Quebec mayor
The mayor of Saint-Constant, Que., and his son were targeted in a series of anti-corruption raids south of Montreal.
According to the CBC, Gilles Pepin had his home and offices at City Hall searched on Wednesday.
The province’s anti-corruption unit found nothing that would warrant an arrest.
Pepin’s administration has faced allegations of violating the elections act in the past. It is unclear if the search warrants are connected to that investigation.
Opus cards will soon need to be replaced
If you've had your Opus card for four years, it is time to get it replaced.
People who purchased a transit pass when they first came out will have to get a new one before April 2012.
Replacement passes are free as long as they are exchanged within three months of their expiration date.
You can check your card's expiration date at an Opus machine, a retailer who sells the cards or online. Fares remaining on the old card will be transferred to the new one.
You can purchase your new Opus card at Berri-UQAM, Honore-Beaugrand, Jean-Talon, Cote-Vertu, Lionel-Groulx and the Fairview shopping centre.
Anyone unable to visit those six service points can be reimbursed by mail. To get a refund, buy a new card and send your old one along with the receipt to the STM.
Since April 2008, the STM has issued around 3.8 million passes. Before the end of 2012, almost 200,000 people will have to replace their cards.
A new generation of Opus cards will be available this summer. They will be good for four years.
To check the expiry date of your transit pass or to find out where to send your old Opus cards, visit the STM website at www.stm.info
This Week In Sports: February 29th
NHL:
The trade deadline came and went without much fanfare for a second consecutive year, with only 15 trades being completed on the final day of wheeling and dealing. On the local front, the Habs refrained from a full-blown fire sale, only moving enigma Andrei Kostitsyn to Nashville for a 2nd round pick while also getting back the pick Montreal sent over in the Hal Gill trade. While the return seems underwhelming, Kostitsyn hadn't exactly made himself that endearing to other teams with his lackluster play over the last twenty games. The major changes will come in the summer when a new management team will no doubt come in and perform a clean sweep.
NBA:
The NBA All-Star weekend has come and gone, with no shortage of storylines. The weekend began with a volley of questions headed in Dwight Howard's direction, as the Orlando Magic's franchise player has been the subject of trade rumours since the beginning of the season. The basketball world then turned its attention to the Skills Competition, highlighted by Kevin Love's impressive win in the three-point challenge, followed by a victory for Jeremy Evans in the Slam Dunk contest. Evans underwhelmed with his first dunk, but then brought the house down with an unreal dunk of two balls tossed up by a teammate sitting under the basket.
But perhaps the most newsworthy thing to come out of the weekend happened in the actual All-Star game, when Dwayne Wade inadvertently hit Kobe Bryant in the face, resulting in a broken nose and a mild concussion for Bryant. Conspiracy theories are running rampant, but I think its safe to say that the injury was accidental.
NFL:
The biggest news in the NFL is coming out of Indianapolis, as it has been for the past month, except this time it's not about Peyton Manning. The NFL Combine took place in Indy this week and, as it has been for years, players' stocks are rising and falling as we approach the Draft in April. One of the biggest names has only helped himself this week, as Robert Griffin Jr. III ran a fantastic 40-yard dash while impressing every team he was interviewed by; this is sweet music to the ears' of the front office of the St.Louis Rams, who hold the 2nd overall pick and will probably get a massive return from the team who falls in love with Griffin and wants to move up to grab him with the Rams pick.
-Andrew Maggio co-hosts Game Misconduct every Sunday from 12pm-2pm and runs a dedicated Habs blog that you can check out here
February 29, 2012
Read by: Greg Wilson
Stories by: William Pelletier, Michael Lemieux, Joel Ashak and Alyssa Tremblay
Produced by: Jamie-Lee Gordon
Habs legend Béliveau hospitalized after suffering stroke
Montreal Habs legend Jean Béliveau (on the right) was hospitalized last Monday after he suffered a stroke.
According to CTV Montreal, the 80 year-old former Canadiens captain is currently undergoing treatment at Montreal General Hospital.
One of his former teammates told CTV he was in a worrisome health state. Béliveau has been suffering from throat cancer and heart problems for more than 15 years.
Fans and former teammates consider him as one of Canadiens greatest superstars. Béliveau played with the Habs for more than 20 years, including 10 as a captain. He retired in 1971 after winning 10 Stanley Cups and two Hart trophies for most valuable player.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement on Tuesday wishing him a speedy recovery.
Flickr photo by: US Mission Canada
'Pierre Poutine' suspected of giving false information to voters
According to CBC, a phone number used to give false information during last year’s election has been determined. The name registered is Pierre Poutine.
Apparently people in Guelph received calls from this number during last May. They were then told that their polling location had changed and given the location of a “new” one. The location had not changed however.
The name was obtained after elections Canada filed a production order for the call centre the calls were made through. According to Bell Pierre Poutine lives on Seperatist street, Joliette Quebec.
Pierre Poutine is the name of a restaurant in Guelph. Elections Canada is looking in to whether foul play was involved.
Charest announces another $55 million for Plan Nord
Quebec Prime Minister Jean Charest announced Tuesday that an additional 55 million dollars will be invested in the Plan Nord.
The plan’s goal is to develop the northern region of Quebec in order to efficiently extract its natural resources. More specifically, they want to build Route 167 that will connect the city of Chibougamau to the Renard mine site which will become the first diamond mine in Quebec.
According to CTV Montreal, the added funds will mostly be used for on-the-job training projects, job fairs, and reaching out to those seeking work.
Geoff Kelley, the Minister of Native Affairs, says that the Charest government is trying to reach to the First Nation communities through these programs. Kelley also hopes to eradicate housing and social problems this way.
But the response isn’t all favorable. Opposition leaders fear that too much money from Quebecer taxpayers will be given to foreign companies.
Flickr photo by: psauve
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