The most popular U.S. President in history and the most disliked U.S. President so far came to Toronto today to speak about current global issues. The event, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, was a private function to which tickets cost between $200 and $500.

In response to the arrival of Bush in Canada, protesters gathered across from the Convention Centre in Simcoe Park. Armed with signs that depict Bush as a war criminal, they chanted and blew whistles to display their disapproval of Bush’s policies during his presidency. They challenged the new government to remove the remnant policies left over from Bush’s reign.

The protesters staged a 3 metre by 3 metre canvas painting of George Bush at which protesters threw shoes, as well as wearing red gloves to represent their feelings that Bush has blood on his hands.

Janette spoke with James Clark of the Toronto Coalition to Stop War as he was setting up for the protest. He explained the reason they are protesting Bush even though he has been out of office for 5 months. “It is true that he’s been out of office, but many of his policies are still being felt, and we think that anytime Bush comes to Canada or anywhere else around the world, there should be an audience of people who turn up to say that he should be held to account for what policies he implemented in office. Whether it’s the war in Iraq, that has killed more than a million people, or it’s the war in Afghanistan, still continuing, there are all kinds of policies that even the current administration in the U.S. is continuing. We think that Bush should be held to account for his 8 years in office.”

He described the purpose of calling Bush a war criminal: “If you look at Canadian law, if you look at international law, when it comes to war crimes, I think there’s a very clear case that could be made, that the decisions that Bush made in office –the pre-emptive war against Iraq, the pre-emptive war against Afghanistan –those constitute war crimes. There are lots of high-profile legal scholars, members of the international law community who are saying that the policies implemented by Bush during his tenure represent war crimes. We think rather than him being treated as some sort of international statesman, that he should be held to account as a war criminal. And certainly, there are lots of people, not just here in Canada, but around the world, object his policies and continue to oppose him to this day.”

He is asking the Canadian government to take notice: “One of the reasons we’re here is to draw attention to the fact that the Canadian government is actually continuing to implement many of the policies that have been wholesale rejected by the United States, by the American electoral when they elected Barack Obama president in November 2008. Our government is escalating, or participating in the escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Omar Khadr is a Canadian citizen, the only Western national who is not being repatriated back from Guantanamo Bay. We have a number of Canadian citizens who have been detained and tortured abroad, and our government continues to support and implement those policies that have been rejected by millions of people around the world.

In addition to protesting Bush’s presence in Toronto, Clarke explained he was also protesting Clinton: “If you look at the policies of the Clinton administration, you can also see that a case could be made for war crimes. The sanctions that were implemented in Iraq from the end of the first Gulf War in 1991 all the way up to the more recent invasions in March 2003 –those sanction’s numbers killed 1.5 million Iraqis –did nothing to weaken the regime. In fact, more than half of the people who died because of the sections were Iraqi children…you can remember Madeline Albright, who was the State Secretary at the time. She said this was a price we think is worth paying in order to advance U.S. foreign policies. When you look at things like that, the war on Yugoslavia, the air strike against Sudan, there are also cases to be made against Bill Clinton.”

Covering four cities, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto, desiFEST is a celebration of South Asian music that creates mainstream opportunities for music inspired by or created by South Asians. The goal is to help make stronger ties within the local communities and motivate youth and support the ARTS community in Canada.

The main event in Toronto begins tomorrow at Yonge-Dundas Square. The line-up includes artists like Amanda Davis, A-Slam, and Baba Khan.



Another event showcasing unique aspects of the community is the “Off the Page” show. The Sulong Theatre Collective, a Filipino performance arts company, is helping to put on the show to address the challenges faced by Filipino nannies. Included in the show are multi-disciplinary programs of dance, spoken languages, films, and personal accounts of live-in caregivers.

The artistic director of Sulong, Catherine Hernandez, joined Janette in studio today to share more about the event. She explained that the collective “is comprised of four different artists of the Filipino community.”

Sulong is part of the “Off the Page” showcase on Saturday. She explained that she wanted to “do something [to] make sure our public know the truths behind our situation.”

She explained that most people do not research their history: “They learn their history through popular culture” and so “through this we understand that people are going to learn more…through watching it through art.”

Culture in the City

DesiFest South Asian Celebration
Yonge-Dundas Square
Saturday May 30th 11am-11pm, free event

Off the Page: Artistic showcase to address the challenges faced by Filipino
nannies
Sunday May 31st- at 1:30pm: Kapisanan Philippine Centre, 167 Augusta Ave.

African Canadian Heritage Association Gala and 40th Anniversary
Saturday May 30th, 6:30pm /Centennial College -941 Progress Ave

City of Tribes featuring the collective of Black artists (COBA) and
Britain's Tavaziva dance troupe
Thursday May 28 - Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at 8pm
Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay W

Alison Parrott

In light of the current abduction and murder of Tori Stafford, questions are being raised as to what precautions should be taken to maintain child safety. Police have been challenged to review the criteria of the Amber Alert System; a system that, since it was introduced in 2002, has issued 34 alerts for 40 children, 18 of which involved family members, 9 involved strangers, and 3 children were killed.

In July of 1986, before the Amber Alert System, Lesley Parrott’s 11 year-old daughter Alison was lured from her track meet and found murdered 2 days later. Her killer was convicted 13 years later. Since then, Lesley has launched the “Stay Alert… Stay Safe” program aimed at children 7-10 years old. She joined Janette in studio today. She offered some advice for Tori’s family in their time of need. She said “You have to live through the present...live through the minutes, the hours and keep breathing…you’re going to need a lot of love to just keep you going.”

She is very critical of the media’s coverage of this case. She explains, “A lot of the media coverage instills fear… this is evil. So it’s understandable that people are fearful. But if we only talk about the most fearful aspects…we’re making everybody vulnerable…when we’re scared we’re vulnerable. It’s an extremely rare case and I’m allowed to say that. The answer is not to lock up our children.”

She explained how she was able to get through it: “We ended up being surrounded by tremendous love… it restores your faith in people.”

The debate surrounding the federal deficit continued today during question period. After learning the federal deficit had grown by $16 billion in just four months, Canadians began to ask difficult questions. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff attacked both Harper and Flaherty accusing them of not looking out for what is best for Canadians, going as far as demanding that the Finance Minister be forced from his position. The Conservative government retaliated by saying the spending was necessary to keep Canada moving forward in this recession.

To help understand what this means for Canadians, Janette was joined today by President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Catherine Swift.

She feels that the amount of debt racked up by the government certainly didn’t have to be even the initial $30 billion: “I didn’t believe we needed to go into deficit with the 30 billion dollars…maybe to the tune of 15… we could really be moving forward… I like what they’re doing in EI focusing on training.”

She would like to see “refundable tax credits for tax credits for small businesses… since they hire at a disproportional rate …to encourage their training is a very important thing.”

Catherine is concerned about what this deficit means for the future: “The main thing is the future taxation…The real cost is that we’re spending money on servicing a debt that Canadians would rather see put elsewhere…like healthcare.”

Speaking about GM, she said the most problematic aspect for her is that “I’m concerned about bailing out pensions… I think that is dead wrong…There are an awful lot of private sector people who are going to say, ‘What about me?’”

The Malvern community is a neighbourhood in the area of Scarborough in which over 60 cultures are represented. It is the highest concentration of young people in all of Canada and is infamous for its high rates of crime and violence. In an effort to change the area’s poor reputation, the Malvern Christian Assembly is sponsoring a new magazine entitled Shimmerzine that aims to empower youth. The topics vary from fashion to youth-related issues.

Associate Editor Phyllicia Broomes and cover model Latoya Meyers joined Janette in studio to share more about the magazine. Phyllicia explained that the magazine came about after the “chief editor was watching her daughter…and how she was taking a different look at fashion.”

Latoya spoke about her appearance on the debut issue: “I was shocked, but I feel honoured for the opportunity… We used just normal people from our church... We did a photo shoot... I was shown the cover of the magazine and that’s how I found out.”

Phyllicia is proud of what the magazine means for the community: “I think it’s awesome that youth within the community can look inside the magazine and see people who look like them, people who live in the same community…and feel inspired.”

On the community premier event Latoya raved, saying, “It was exciting. It was fun. A lot of the people who were part of the magazine got to come together and say job well done…”

Opposition MPs demanded Finance Minister Jim Flaherty lose his job today, as the minister struggled to defend his $50 billion deficit. Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff attacked, accusing Flaherty of “incompetence on a historic scale.” He added, “Canadians just cannot trust this government with their money. Will the Prime Minister fire this Minister of Finance?” His party says Flaherty lost credibility after acknowledging the deficit will be $16 billion higher than he predicted in January.

TD Bank Economist Grant Bishop points out that “We’ve seen a deterioration in economic conditions since the budget was released in January… It’s key to keep budgets in perspective. As a ratio to GDP the deficit is moderate.”

Flaherty admitted today, “It’s a deeper recession than anticipated,” but added that “Canada will exit the recession with a strong economy because of the steps we’re taking in Canada’s economic action plan.”

Prime Minister Harper called the deficit “affordable” – but is it?

Currently, the federal government pays about $30 billion in interest charges every year. That’s enough to build 100 new hospitals or, for the sports fans out there, 100 new Skydomes. Approximately 18 million people file income tax in Canada, which means Flaherty’s new deficit will take about $2,700 out of each taxpayer’s pocket by the end of this year. Add in the provincial deficits, and the total average debt load per taxpayer could be closer to $5,000.

Christopher Holcroft, Principal with Empower Consulting and former political consultant, says Canadians should look past the political leadership questions. “Harper’s going to do nothing, because if he had to fire Flaherty, he’d have to fire himself… Instead, we need to ask two key questions. How is the government going to pay back the deficit without increasing taxes? And are we spending enough to prepare for the new economy and help people retool?”

As the government acts on stimulus packages, the end of the national spending extravaganza seems nowhere in sight. It’s predicted that Canada will rack up another $70 billion in new federal deficits in the next few years. Bishop predicts, “Going forward, we’ll see sluggish growth coming out of this, which will mean lower income growth. It’s hard to see how we’ll pay back the deficit without increasing taxes.”

It looks like the question is when – not if – General Motors Corp. will file for bankruptcy. GM is just days away from Monday’s government-issued restructuring deadline, and last-ditch efforts to restructure the company failed last night. The floundering automaker tried to restructure $27 billion in bond debt by asking bondholders to swap bond debt for company stock. This strategy was seen as GM’s last hope to cut debt. Sun Media’s Joe Duarte, National Editor of Autonet, explains, “The people who hold bonds didn’t want to take the maximum haircut they were being asked to take… They’re hoping to get a better deal.”

GM’s pending restructuring plan is viewed as a nationalization by some. High government ownership could mean that jobs will be saved. Duarte congratulated Janette Luu and all taxpayers, saying, “You own a little bit of GM!” In Ontario, “the provincial government may look at funding some pensions, which will give taxpayers an even bigger stake in the company.”

The rival domestic automaker Chrysler appeared in bankruptcy court today, hoping to sell its stronger operations to a group headed by Fiat. “There were some 340 objections, but most have been settled,” says Duarte. “A dozen or so are left before Fiat says that they will secure the rest of the assets.” Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection on April 30.

A new report entitled “DiverseCity Counts” released today revealed that only 5 per cent of Greater Toronto corporation leaders are visible minorities. The report is a collaboration between the Greater Toronto Leadership Project and the Diversity Institute at Ryerson University. The plan aims to address the under-representation of racial groups in leadership positions. The project is an 8-initiative plan with the study being just the first of three reports to be released over the next few years.

According to Wendy Cukier, associate dean of the Ted Rogers School of Management and founder of the Diversity Institute in Management & Technology at Ryerson University, organizations regulated by the federal government are more diverse because the number of employed visible minorities has been monitored for the past several years. The Toronto District School Board impresses Ratna Omidvar, president of the Maytree Foundation, with its 19 per cent of vice-principals and principals being of visible minorities. She added “The leadership [of schools] is looking more like the children who go to school.”



However, diversity in the Toronto music scene is much more visible. Baba Khan is one of Canada’s most renowned South Asian DJ’s. He has shared the stage with acts such as Sean Kingston, Kardinal Offishall, and Timbaland. He is the co-founder of Soul Shock Entertainment – a company that specializes in marketing strategy and promotions of clubs. He is also the co-founder of Scratch Lab, Canada’s first and only DJ school. To top it all off, he is a nominee for a DJ Stylus award.

Baba Khan joined Janette in studio today to discuss some of his accomplishments. About starting his career Baba Khan said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, same with my career.” He said he began “under the radar…slowly, but surely I built a fan base.” The transition of celebrity to DJ is not something Baba Khan appreciates: “It’s sad to say celebrities are trying to be DJs and they shouldn’t be.” He explained that the DJ Stylus Awards create awareness about Canadian DJs. He said, “In Europe and the U.S. DJs are treated like gods… [the awards] help us get our names out.” Perhaps being a little biased, he believes “the most talented DJs live in Canada because they have to be so diverse.” Speaking about his records, he said they “let me put my own spin, they let me produce…[and] spread the East meets West fusion.”

Toronto Bike Month is kicking off with announcements that give the two-wheeled commuter alternative a big boost.

City Council approved a $6 million facelift for Jarvis Street, which will see the addition of two new bike lanes – and the removal of the centre lane. City Councillor and Chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee Adrian Heaps says the city is adjusting to current attitudes. “20 years ago no one envisioned the Distillery District as a tourist area. Toronto’s a fluid city – things change. Cycling is now undergoing a renaissance.”

27,000 drivers use Jarvis St. daily, and some drivers are worried that the reduction from five lanes to four will wreck havoc on their commutes. The city says the change will add just two minutes onto travel times. Council is now proposing similar changes to the Bloor Danforth corridor – suggesting that street parking for cars be eliminated, in order to accommodate cyclists.

Not everyone agrees with the changes. City Councillor Karen Stintz says, “You need an integrated plan that has to look at mobility in transit – but it has to include the car. Right now congestion is being made worse by City Hall… We continue to add to the bike plan, and I think that’s why we’re facing frustration from drivers. We’re expanding the plan beyond its original intent.”

Transit authorities are also moving to integrate cyclists. Mayor David Miller was at Union Station this morning to unveil its new Bike Station, which will allow commuters to cycle to and from their trains. The storage facility holds up to 180 bikes, and costs $2 per day.

Cycling is on the rise in the city. The number of people riding bikes to work has increased by over 30% since 2001, while the number of people taking cars dropped by about 5%. Toronto is trying to keep up with cycling enthusiasts. 95 km of bikes lanes currently exist, and the city wants to install an additional 1,000 km in the next five years.

Councilor Heaps says the new bike lanes will take some getting used to. Of the frustrations, he says, “Some of it is ignorance – drivers not understanding how bike lanes work. But cyclists also have to understand they’re sharing the road. They’ve got to share the responsibility as well.”

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced new funding aimed at providing more Ontarians with jobs. Businesses in digital media, green (environmentally friendly) production, or health sciences that meet certain criteria set out by the government may be eligible for funding. Today, McGuinty joined British pop star Elton John at Starz Animation Studio to state Ontario’s commitment to provide almost $23 million in funding for a “school of excellence” in animation at Starz. Currently underway at Starz is Elton John’s “Gnomeo and Juliet.” Elton declared choosing Starz to do the animation work was “a no-brainer” due to the quality of work and its excellent facilities. Elton told the media that Ontario’s contribution was a great way to not only prevent talented Canadians from leaving the country to pursue careers in animation, but to encourage Canadians who may have already left, to return.

However, some might see the government’s contribution as funding for the film industry. To explain both sides, Janette was joined by Christina Blizzard in studio today. She explained that McGuinty mentioned previously that he wasn’t going to pick winners or loser when it comes to distributing money. She told Janette how she was slightly surprised, saying that “the last experience with Lord of the Rings was a terrible experience.” She alluded to that fact that this time may be different, adding, “I don’t think there will be too much criticism…there is a certain logic to put [funds] into animation.” She emphasized that as the manufacturing sector is experiencing trouble, the government is shifting its focus to funding the creative industries.

Pakistan is facing a humanitarian catastrophe, according to Human Rights Watch. The organization is calling for the Pakistani government to lift a curfew so that aid supplies can be airlifted into the Swat Valley. The country’s ambassador to the U.S. estimates that at least $200 million is needed for immediate relief, just to cover basic food and healthcare needs.

The ongoing fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan’s army has forced civilians from their homes in the Swat Valley. The U.N. Commissioner for Refugees says more than 125,000 people were being forced from their homes every day by the conflict – amounting to more than 2 million displaced people this month. The government says over 200,000 remain in the region.

Toronto’s Pakistani community is coming together this Saturday to raise money for internally displaced persons in the Swat region. Tasleem Riaz and Farukh Qazi are co-founders of Toronto’s Pakistani Community Centre. Qazi says it’s hard to watch the situation from a distance. “Everyone is quite upset and very sad. People are trying to deal with the situation by fundraising and providing emergency supplies.”

“This is not an issue only for Pakistanis. This is a humanitarian issue,” adds Riaz. Their organization is laying out a plan for distribution of supplies. “Our team is very energetic and educated. We send supplies to our team, and they’ll go to the refugee camps and distribute them.”

The fundraiser is being held at 1 pm on May 30. It is being held at the Pakistani Community Centre, at 1470 Gerrard St. E.

If you wish to contribute to the relief effort, the Pakistani Community Centre has set up an account at TD Canada Trust. Donations can be made to account 1248-520-8213.

It was announced today that the government pledged $500 million to help as many as 50,000 laid-off workers access skills and training and employment insurance benefits. Long tenured workers may be eligible for an extension of benefits of up to two years, provided they participate in longer-term training for a new career. In addition, they would be allowed an extra 12 weeks to search for a new job. In response, the opposition parties declared the new rules do not do enough for Canadians.

This issue has speculation on the rise that a summer election is in order. However, it is uncertain whether or not employment insurance benefits will be a large enough concern to spark an election. To elaborate on the subject further, the Sun’s Senior Associate Editor, Lorrie Goldstein, joined Janette in studio. He feels that four elections in five years would be outrageous. He explained that “the 1.2 million dollars [should be taken and put] into EI during the recession.” He reminded us that “an election throws everything 6 months in advance.” Ottawa is out of touch with what Canadians want and need “because Ottawa is a company town… [they] don’t feel the wolf at the door like the working people do.” He stressed that right now it is most important “to get the money out to the people.” To sum up his thoughts on the election, he pointed out that “there are always talks of spring and fall elections… all polls are indicating [another] minority.” He explained “Canadians are screaming ‘make it work.’” If more money flowed through employment insurance, there would be an increase in the economic state: “People have to spend money to live.”

Dr. James Lovelock offers a dire prognosis for the human race: our population could shrink to as few as 500 million by the end of the century. The renowned scientist says global warming is irreversible and a global catastrophe is on the horizon.

The controversial environmentalist is in Toronto to talk about his latest book, “The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A Final Warning.” Lovelock first proposed his Gaia hypothesis in the early 1960s while working for NASA. Although it wasn’t taken seriously by many at the time, it now forms the basis for much of climate science. Lovelock looks at Earth as a living organism, with all life forms being part of the larger whole. According to his theory, the planet is a self-regulating system that keeps the environment suitable for life.

By inventing a device that detects CFCs, Lovelock helped to discover the growing hole in the ozone layer. At first, he didn’t view global warming as an urgent issue – but as he observed the results of climate change, he started sounding the alarm. “We’ve seen things, like ice melting in Northern Canada – that’s serious stuff.” He adds, “Earth is changing, it’s becoming warmer, it’s becoming more threatening to people who live on it.”

If this eminent scientist’s predictions prove to be correct, we’ll see extreme weather as the norm by 2020, and by 2040 much of Europe will be a desert. “Among the survivors will be most of the people in Canada – Canada’s problem will be the refugees, and most difficult will be saying ‘No, we can’t take you anymore.’”

Lovelock says answers for the future lie in technology, but he worries innovation won’t be fast enough. “We should be spending at least as much time and money preparing Canada for the influx of people – preparing our schools and hospitals.”

Dr. Lovelock is speaking at the Glenn Gould Theatre at 8:30 am on May 26. For tickets, check out corporateknights.ca.

Sickle cell disease affects 1 in 600 African Canadians, but patients find medical support in short supply. Approximately 150 young adults receive transfusions at the Hospital for Sick Children, but find that adult services are almost impossible to access.

The Coalition to Save Our Young Adults is calling for Ontario to remove the cap on medical services, extending resources to adults dealing with sickle cell diseases. Durhane Wong Rieger, President and CEO of the Anemia Institute for Research and Education, says, “We need Toronto hospitals to lift the self-imposed restriction of 99 patients. They’ve got to open up a number of beds for sickle cell patients. We need specialists trained for these diseases… It’s do-able.”

Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. People with sickle cell disease have an abnormal form of hemoglobin, a protein, which causes the cells to become crescent shaped. The shape of the cells can lead to blockages in blood vessels, which can cause pain, infection, and organ damage.

There is no cure for sickle cell disease, but treatments exist for symptoms and complications. Some sufferers need regular blood transfusions, because sickle cells don’t last as long as regular cells and the body can’t produce new red blood cells fast enough.

Sickle Cell patient Victoria Idowu says she’s concerned about the treatment options available. “There’s a lack of funding and education just in hospital staff. It’s a concern. I don’t want to get the wrong treatment, or pick something else up in the hospital.” But Idowu doesn’t let her fears get in her way. “I try try not to let it affect my life, but it can be very painful. It all depends on your mindset.”

For more information, visit anemiainstitute.org.

Tori’s mom spoke to media today to thank the public for their support during this time and to clarify her criticisms of police. She explained her frustration with being targeted as the number one suspect, knowing it was a waste of time. She also revealed that her boyfriend identified Terri-Lynne’s suspicious behaviour to police shortly after Tori went missing. McDonald was accused of being unemotional and cold, and displaying atypical behaviour for a woman with a missing child. She defended her behaviour by saying that was just her personality and her way of handling the situation.

Sun Media’s Randy Richmond, the only reporter to speak with McDonald one-on-one, talked to Canoe Live. He said “This investigation hinged a lot on her behaviour…a lot of that behaviour was sheer panic…and that she didn’t have answers to give police.” He explained her upset because “She felt all along that she was the prime suspect” and she knew that was wrong. McDonald’s boyfriend expressed to Richmond that “[police] bungled this.” He shared that “[McDonald] was angry about it yesterday…she was angry…very, very angry with police behaviour.” He told us the latest information about the suspects saying it was rumoured that there was “a woman targeting the area… going to school with dogs.” He felt that the police did act quickly on tips, but since they held the suspect in custody for almost a month, people who provided the initial leads thought they were wrong.

Today the search continued for Tori in rural towns surrounding Woodstock assisted by Terri-Lynne. For the third day in a row, there does not seem to be any definitive leads as to the whereabouts of Tori’s remains.

To learn more about the circumstances, Lianne Castelino, spoke with Oxford Community Police Chief, Ron Fraser. Chief Fraser explained the many challenges faced by his department throughout the search for Tori “Thousands of tips would come in. with each tip that’s followed up, it also generates more need to interview more people. So just the sheer mass of information that came in, that had to be investigated, has been a challenge.” He also addressed the topic of the amber alert saying “The issue of the amber alert has come up several times. There was no amber alert issued because if you look at the criteria of the amber alert… we have to believe there are circumstances around the abduction that indicate that the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death…and there has to enough descriptive information about the child…about an abductor or suspect’s vehicle to utilize the immediate broadcast alert.” He explained that they didn’t have information about the abductor until a full 24 hours later.

All week long Canoe Live has featured guests promoting the theme “Asia’s Next Wave: Canada’s Youth Making a Difference.” Today, Lianne was joined by aspiring Chef, Geoffrey Low. A talented, first year culinary arts student at George Brown College, Low is part of a new generation of multicultural chefs who are starting to change the face of Canada’s restaurant industry. Among Canada’s most prominent Asian chefs are Sursur Lee and Stephen Yan from “Yan Can Cook”

Low brought in some examples of his dishes and spoke to Lianne about how he got into cooking: “The head of my program says it best if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” He said his friend suggested he try cooking and his mom asked him to prepare dinner. He didn’t grow up in a rich environment of cuisine “I grew up experiencing only Chinese cooking.” He expressed his interest in pursuing another year of school to specialize his own forte. He finished by expressing his appreciation for good quality, healthy meals saying “I like cooking healthy fresh food…It’s delicious.”

Following yesterday’s news of two arrests in the abduction and murder of Tori Stafford, OPP have vowed not to stop searching until Tori’s body is returned to her family. Yesterday the police were focusing on the small town of Rockford just north of Guelph, but today new evidence has led them to the area of Fergus. The small community northeast of Woodstock houses a dumpster that police have sealed off and deemed an item of interest.

The Woodstock community is still shocked by the news and Stafford’s father refuses to believe Tori has been murdered until physical proof is presented. Sun Media reporter PJ Harston with the London Free Press joined Janette via web-cam to explain the latest in the search for Tori. He shed light on the dumpster’s role in the investigation saying, “Earlier today it was confirmed…it is a dumpster that is dumped out on a regular basis. It was just dumped out yesterday.” He explained that some media outlets have reported suspicions that McClintic’s charges will be increased, although he was unable to confirm that news with authorities. “Police are pretty tight lipped on whether that will happen.” In response to the suspects being known to the parents, he said, “We know the only admitted connection was that they knew Terri Lynne’s mother and they were considering breeding dogs together.” Terri-Lynne’s neighbours have been in the media recently saying that they were the ones who reported suspicious behaviour. Harston revealed, “We assessed the situation today and …they tried 41 days ago to get the police interested in Terri-Lynne. They finally did some investigation themselves and that’s what led police to them.” He concluded by saying that Tara McDonald’s boyfriend did have an altercation with the media, which he added was probably due to frustration and emotion.

Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty introduced new credit card regulations today, although, the rules are not what consumers expected. Some anticipated an interest rate cap that Flaherty deemed not necessary due to his belief in “consumer choice.” However, the rules in place help protect credit card users with the following measures:

1. Credit card holders will get a minimum 21-day interest-free grace period on all new purchases when they pay their balance in full.
2. If they make only minimum payments, monthly statements will be required to indicate how long cardholders have to pay off a balance.
3. Credit card companies will also be required to give advance notice of any changes to interest rates.
4. Consumers will have to give consent before institutions can increase credit card limits.

NDP Leader Jack Layton felt that Flaherty’s proposal favoured banks rather than consumers. He explained his position further when he joined Janette in studio today. He explained what he wished: “[the credit card companies would] stop marketing these credit cards to young people. They’re really out there promoting them to young people and…they slap on fees and charges that are outrageous…and Mr. Harper and Mr. Flaherty thought that a little cosmetic tinkering was going to be enough, but that’s not going to help the people who are really struggling right now to pay the bills in this economy.” In response to Flaherty’s “consumer choice” comment, Layton argued, “…I think what consumers want is a choice for a low interest card without all these frills because people are having real problems.” He continued, “They ought to have an option for a low-interest credit card and there shouldn’t be changes to the fees and charges just at will.” He feels that Harper is wrong to just make the charges more visible to consumers instead of actually reducing interest rates. The new American laws regarding credit cards are stricter according to Layton, but they have still not given the consumer what they need: “The consumer should have the choice of a low-interest credit card.” When he spoke about the banks, he eluded to their taking advantage of the consumer saying, “The banks have the lowest interest money from the government that they’ve ever had in history. How come they’re increasing interest rates at exactly that time? I think they are taking advantage of people.”

All month long Asian Heritage celebrations have been taking place all across the city. The Korean Students’ Association of Canada is a group that preserves its culture all year long. Young leaders make up the non-profit organization and work to bring together the community through social events and cultural forums. As the President’s message indicates, the group aims to support the “Korean heritage within the current student network and reach…out to nurture new and effective members of [the Korean] community.” To expand further on the goals and projects of KSAC the former president, Simon Park, and current president, Jooseok Lee joined Janette in studio today.

They both explained the impact of the organization on the community. Simon expressed, “The community has really grown. A lot of immigrants came; a lot of university students came from Korea and joined the community. [They are brought together by] the bigger size of the community and the linguistics and cultural issues.” Jooseok described how the organization tries to aid the community; he explained, “They help with career development and cultural identity issue…more with Korean Canadians who were born in Canada” who may not be as aware of their Korean heritage. Simon mentioned how pleased he was that the community is existing strongly and vibrantly today. He reviewed the role the KSAC played in taming racism after an incident involving racism in a school. He said, “Last night, we had a community forum. The incident was highly publicized in the media and… we had the police and school board tell us what happened on their end…” The meeting was held to help prevent racism in the future. Jooseok hopes to “have more Korean-Canadian students to seek the help available to them…and [have] more interaction [in the community].”

After a six week long investigation, a male and a female suspect were arrested for their involvement in the Tori Stafford case. Twenty-eight year-old Michael Thomas Rafferty is charged with abducting a child under the age of sixteen, and first-degree murder. Eighteen year-old Terri-Lynne McClintic is charged with abduction of a person under sixteen, and being an accessory to murder after the fact.

Police held a press conference today in Woodstock where Oxford Community Police Chief, Ron Fraser, and OPP Detective Inspector, William Renton, shared the sad news with the public. Police Chief Fraser expressed, “There are no consoling words to offer or profound words of wisdom that can make this news easy for anyone to accept.” Tori’s mother, Tara McDonald, knows McClintic from her previous use of oxycontin; however, police are saying that Tori’s abduction was a crime of opportunity and the relationship between the two was only discovered afterwards.

Court documents suggest that Tori was murdered soon after her abduction. Police are hesitant to release information about the case: they are not giving details about what led them to the suspects or what a possible motive might be. It has been reported that McClintic is cooperating with police leading them to actively search for Tori’s remains surrounding the area of Guelph.

Sun Media Reporter, Dan Brown with the London Free Press joined Janette today. He explained the latest in the search for Tori: “The latest is the police have vowed to return Tori’s body.” He explained that there is “large police presence [near the town of Rockford, north of Guelph]…officers are not confirming anything [but] there is a police van scouring that area.” He shared, “What we do know…is that there is a house in Woodstock on Wilson St….we’ve established that is where McClintic lived.” Neighbours reported suspicious behaviour last night and the suspects “were arrested swiftly after.” He mentioned that the family has been instructed by police not to speak to media. However, he said, “Rodney Stafford said just straight out ‘I’m devastated. I don’t know where to go from here.’” He added that even Stafford’s brother “tried to attack Rafferty as he was led out of court this morning.”

The town of Woodstock has been very supportive in light of Tori’s abduction. Now with the latest revelations in the case, residents have learned that Tori’s abduction may have been a random crime of opportunity. Sun Columnist Joe Warmington spent the day in Woodstock speaking to the community and joined Janette via phone interview this evening. “I hate to use the word shock,” Joe Warmington explained when Janette asked about the town’s reaction to the news. He said, “I think that people actually thought she’d be coming back…Everybody’s looking around to see if they know who these people are.” Janette asked about the possible connection to a drug debt. “We put that to the police in the press conference…they are content with their suspects…I suspect it doesn’t.” He explained, “The parents were cleared…I think they are owed an apology.” Looking back on this investigation, Joe expressed regret saying, “I think the criteria of amber alert needs to be looked at.” He said “It’s very tragic…very sombre.”

Bento's is hosting a Spring Health and Safety Blitz!
Parents are invited to book an appointment to take part in the Toronto Police Car Seat Clinic. While learning about how to install car seats safely, have a bite to eat at the community BBQ. All proceeds will go to the local "Breakfast on Us" program.
When: Saturday, May 23, from 10 am until 1:30 pm
Where: 2000 Dundas Street West
Call Sofie to book an appointment for the car seat clinic: 416-588-2000.

Kick, Cut, Care!
Practice your soccer skills and drills with Toronto FC fan-favourite Danny Dichio - while raising money for the Childhood Cancer Foundation. Danny is daring boys to shave their heads, and daring girls to donate 10 inches of hair to make wigs for children undergoing cancer greatment.
When: Sunday, May 24, from 11 am until 3 pm
Where: Adventure Valley (Leslie & Steeles)
For more information: www.childhoodcancer.ca/kickcutcare

Amarjeet Kaur Chhabra is not your average Canadian Idol. The young community activist was the 2006 Scarborough City Idol winner, a grassroots initiative to get youth involved in local politics.

One of the youngest female candidates to run for Toronto City Council in 2006, Amarjeet says, "Politics wasn’t a family passion, and in the beginning I wanted to become a doctor.” Once she was accepted into University, her love for politics quickly won her over. Amarjeet’s stint at City Hall as an executive member for the Toronto Youth Cabinet also gave her the chance to directly address the needs of youth.

Besides working on various community projects, Amarjeet was recently invited to participate in the Young Planners Network Conference in New York, where she was able to meet with other youth to discuss the issues around community development and her vision for Toronto.

Amarjeet is currently the Boycott Organizer with the Toronto’s Hotel and Hospitality Workers Union, but says she may throw her hat back in the ring to run for City Councillor in 2014.

Bankruptcy court proceedings began today in a case that might “make it seven” for Canada. Jim Balsillie’s dream to own Canada’s seventh NHL team could become a reality if the judge rules in his favour.

Balsillie is offering $212.5 million for the Phoenix based team, but only if he is allowed to relocate the team to Southern Ontario. Hamilton has emerged as the top pick in the region. Most hockey fans are cheering for the Blackberry tycoon – in a poll commissioned by Balsillie’s bid team, 87% of Canadians say the country deserves a seventh team because of the dedication of fans.

Brahm Resnik is an anchor and reporter for 12 News in Phoenix – and being a Canadian, of course he’s covering the hockey story. Resnik says it’s “a bare-knuckle fight to control this team – and the first issue is, who controls the team?”

That’s just the first of a list of issues. Can whoever controls the Coyotes sell the team? Can current owner Jerry Moyes sell the team without the approval of the NHL? Can the team move to another city without NHL approval? Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, says he would prefer the Coyotes move to their original hometown of Winnipeg, instead of Hamilton. Also tying things up - the Coyotes currently have 25 years left on their arena lease with the city of Glendale.

How soon could hockey fans in Canada be celebrating? Resnik says, “Everybody’s hoping the decision comes down today. It all depends on how tightly the judge runs things.”

A surprise decision from the U.S. Supreme Court today: Conrad Black’s criminal conviction will be reviewed.

The fallen media baron has maintained his innocence throughout his ordeal. Black was convicted of 4 counts of fraud and obstruction of justice in 2007, and was acquitted on 9 more serious charges. He is currently serving a 6 ½ year sentence in a Florida prison.

The move by the Supreme Court is rare – of the 10,000 applications received every year, a maximum of 120 are heard. The top court sits from October – June, and it is likely that Black’s case will be heard before the end of 2009. Judges can order a retrial, dismiss the case, or ask that certain aspects of the conviction be reviewed.

The point at issue in Black’s case is the right to honest services. The legal concept was developed as a check on corrupt politicians, and the Supreme Court will consider whether it should apply to private conduct as well. Lorrie Goldstein, The Sun’s Senior Associate Editor, says, “This is a legal argument – whether the law he was convicted under was fair and constitutional. This is about whether the law itself was just.”

Goldstein concludes, “It’s a big victory for him, but it’s not the victory. It doesn’t mean he’s getting out of jail anytime soon.”

The Sri Lankan government has declared victory over the rebel Tamil Tigers, but the protests in Toronto continue. Many Tamil Canadians are questioning reports that the Tamil leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed, despite the TV broadcast of pictures of what is said to be the leader’s corpse.

Manjula Selvarajah, spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress, says Tamils are still waiting for more news about the Tiger leader. “Independent media aren’t allowed in the country right now, and there have been false reports issued from the government in the past. Tamil Canadians are hoping a reputable organization will come forward about the reports.”

The Canadian Tamil Congress wants Prime Minister Stephen Harper to make a statement supporting allowing international aid and media into the war-torn region. At a press conference today, spokesperson David Poopalapillai referred to the large protests in Toronto, saying, “If the issues are not addressed, the demonstrations will continue.”

Selvarajah says the community is hopeful. “We do feel the tides are turning. The European Union said they’d like to see an inquiry into war crimes. Amnesty International is questioning why doctors in the war zone have suddenly gone missing.”

A statement was released this afternoon by Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs. He says, “Our government continues to call for a new, meaningful and durable political solution that will address the legitimate aspirations of all the people of Sri Lanka.” He also expressed that, “Canada's greatest concern now is the safety of civilians still trapped in the conflict zone.”

Bilaal Rajan isn’t waiting for change – he’s making it. The 12 year old author wrote his first book last year, entitled “Making Change: Tips for an Underage Overachiever.”

The underage charitable powerhouse has been working toward eradicating child poverty for years, and he hasn’t even graduated from elementary school yet. At the age of seven, Rajan created the “Hands for Help” organization. In 2005, he was appointed the child ambassador for Unicef Canada. Explaining his passion, he says, “So many other children my age aren’t really living my life. They aren’t going out and playing and doing homework. They have to skip school just to feed their families.”

This year, Rajan launched his Barefoot Challenge – daring people around the world to give up their shoes. In April, he walked barefoot for seven days, in order to better understand the struggles faced by underprivileged kids who can’t afford shoes. Rajan says, “It wasn’t anything to do with raising funds – it was raising awareness. There were people participating in over 10 countries, which I think is a huge success.”

Rajan is changing the face of the world and the community he lives in. Using social networking sites, he says the Barefoot Challenge has spread to countries like Australia, England, and Tanzania. Check out his website, makingchangenow.com.

The spotlight was gone from Oshawa's closed truck plant, as the Canadian Auto Workers union and GM try to hammer out a deal before their midnight deadline. And with only hours to go, CAW President Ken Lewenza says the union is "not even close" to reaching a new agreement with General Motors Canada. The deadline was set by the federal and Ontario governments, after an agreement between the two sides back in March didn't do enough to cut GM's labour costs.

Here's a rundown of what is at stake during these negotiations: General Motors and the CAW must come up with an agreement by midnight tonight for the automakers to be eligible for $6 billion in federal and provincial loans. The CAW has offered the same deal it proposed to Chrysler; 25% reduction in total employee compensation. The company currently employs approximately 7,500 hourly waged workers in Ontario alone.

While in our city today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty fielded questions on the GM issue. Although the Prime Minister says he understands the severity of the situation and the stress it puts on those who are now without work, he wasn't quick to offer up a solution. He believes "the taxpayers of Canada should not be expected to support the restructuring, unless the restructuring will be successful." Harper acknowledged that in order for a deal to be reached, tough decisions and concessions will have to be made from both sides. McGuinty came forward, adding that he realizes "this has come out of left field for (the workers), but we all have to find a way to recognize that since there is so much at risk, we have to dig deep to ensure GM's survival in Canada."

If and when a deal is reached between the CAW and General Motors, there won't be much time to breathe easy for the automaker. GM has a looming June 1 deadline to present its restructuring plans to the government.

While the NHL team for Ottawa is named after the upper house of our government, the main sport is Canada’s capital these days is the blood sport of politics. Some may even call it a political three ring circus.

In ring number one is former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on the stand at the Oliphant Inquiry trying to explain why he took envelopes of cash from German lobbyist Karlheinz Schreiber. In ring number two we have embattled Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla, who has testified for an Immigration Committee hearing for allegedly mistreating two former nannies who were caring for her mother. And in the final ring we have Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, who is at the centre of streaming internet attack ads funded by Stephen Harper’s conservatives.

It’s certainly one way to grab the spotlight from our country’s sinking economy. The inquiry into the Mulroney affair and the committee discussing what is being called “Nannygate” don’t have any legal ramifications, so is it good government in action or simple political posturing? The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration’s responsibility is to examine the administration and policy development of certain government departments and agencies. The Oliphant hearing is called a commission of inquiry and not a court of law; it cannot find anyone guilty or punish anyone. Yet, the latter of the two will cost taxpayers $14 million.

Christopher Holcroft, former political consultant and principal with Empower Consulting, believes that Mulroney’s inquiry is, essentially, mismanaged time and money, adding that “it’s a distraction from important political strategies that we should be dealing with.”

It’s been a turbulent three months for baby Kaylee Vitelli. The infant was born with Joubert Syndrome, a life-threatening brain disorder which affects her ability to breathe on her own. Last month, Kaylee’s parents were told their daughter would not survive without the help of a respirator. Her parents, Crystal Vitelli and Jason Wallace then made the most difficult decision parents would ever have to make. The two chose to remove the little girl's respirator which, they believed, would end her short life. But Kaylee shocked her parents and hospital staff and survived. Today she went home.

After having their publicists from J.P. Public Relations appeal through the media for what they believed was a necessary helicopter ride home, they received a limousine ride with a police escort to the Toronto Island Airport. Once there, Kaylee and her family boarded the chopper donated by Cardinal Couriers and continued on their 17-minute journey to their hometown of Bradford, Ontario. According to their spokesperson, J.P. Pampena, the shorter commute would be beneficial to Kaylee’s health. But Sun Media’s Don Peat said doctors believed otherwise, adding that when speaking to doctors at Sick Kids Hospital they informed him that “she would’ve been fine to do ground transportation, but obviously that was not the decision that the parents wanted.” They arrived at home a short time later, and after settling in, the family opened their doors and officially introduced their daughter to the media.

Now that she has left the hospital, many are wondering how she will manage at home. Rather than transferring to another medical facility, both of Kaylee’s parents were trained for administering at-home care, and a nurse will be visiting the residence everyday. Peat also adds that “they will also have various medical equipment to ensure that she keeps breathing throughout the night, and throughout the day as well.”

Police officers in riot gear circled Queen’s Park today, trying to contain the thousands of Tamil protestors assembled on the legislature’s front lawn. Citing safety concerns, police decided to shut down part of University Ave. around Dundas St. W.

Causing traffic chaos is an attention grabbing tactic that risks garnering frustration rather than sympathy. Spokeperson Aranee Muru says no further road blocks are planned, and she hopes Canadians are starting to listen. “We don't want to be out here, we're forced to be out here because we have to stand up for humanity.”

At least 50 people were killed today when the only hospital in Sri Lanka’s northern war zone was hit by shells. This is the second attack on the hospital this week. The Tamil Tigers blame the government, but Sri Lankan officials deny firing heavy weapons. Muru is calling for immediate action. “We need to air drop food and medication… We need an international monitor there. But predominantly we want the Canadian government to call back our ambassador for consultation… Cut off all economic ties.”

The situation in the Sri Lankan war zone is dire. Human Rights Watch says both sides are using the estimated 50,000 civilians as “cannon fodder.” But is the critical message being lost in the Toronto protests?

Toronto City Councilor Karen Stinz says she has “received several e-mails over the past few weeks about the protests, and people are getting more and more frustrated… The risk the Tamil community runs is a backlash.”

General Motors has just two days to reach a deal with the Canadian Auto Workers. The deadline set by the Canadian government is looming, but the two parties are trapped in discussions about a pension shortfall.

GM Canada faces a pension deficit of more than $7 billion. The federal government says the pensions fall under the jurisdiction of the province - but Ontario officials say that the pension problems should be lumped in with GM’s overall financial troubles, and should be dealt with as part of the restructuring of the company.

The pension worries are tying things up, says Sun Media’s Joe Duarte, National Editor of Autonet. “It’s going to make it a lot tougher. The CAW is holding firm – they don’t want to touch the legacy cost. My dad is a former employee, and he’s worried.”

Although a recent auto report has revealed that auto production slid almost 50% in the first quarter, Statistics Canada says sales of new vehicles rose 6.3% in March. Most of these were new trucks, and sales of passenger cars went up 2%. Duarte says, “It’s promising, in that we can see an upward swing. Compared to last year we’re still down. We have to watch now, because we’re heading into the summer doldrums, which is traditionally when sales drop.”

Troops in Pakistan secured footholds in the Swat Valley today, killing 11 militants. An aggressive campaign in the Taliban stronghold was launched 5 days ago, after peace talks in the country were called off last month.

It’s a complex political situation with religious undertones that’s now raising international concerns about the safety of civilians. The United Nations Secretary-General says the UN is ready to give humanitarian assistance, recognizing that many civilians are trapped in the deadly crossfire.

Exiled Pakistan journalist Mohsin Abbas says, “The situation is pretty tense at the moment. More than 1.3 million people have fled the area because they don’t want to get in trouble.” He adds that it’s hard on Pakistani Nationals living in Canada, because “Communication with family is difficult because it’s mountainous, and a lot of people are displaced.”

Refugee camps are overflowing, as one million Pakistani civilians have been displaced from their homes. It’s hard to determine civilian casualties, but more than 360,000 refugees have registered at 17 camps.

Veering away from traffic-stopping protests like the Tamils have staged to raise awareness about the violence in Sri Lanka, Pakistanis living in Canada have remained relatively quiet. Abbas explains, “They don’t want to cause trouble for people at home, so they’re more likely to keep their profile low here… They’re more for fundraising than protesting because they want to send help to the area… They see more and more people are going to have to leave.”

The month of May has been a bloody one in Toronto. The murder of 14 year old Adrian Johnston is the latest tragedy to hit the west end of the city. He was shot three times last night at 5 pm, and succumbed to his wounds as neighbours looked on helplessly. On Sunday night, six people were shot at a West Mall birthday party. A few days before, on May 5, Samuel Olivera Junior was stabbed to death. And on May 1, 18 year old Jarvis St. Remy was shot at a bus stop.

Although police say there is no information suggesting the cases are linked, fears of a gang war are on the minds of many. As disenfranchised and alienated youth bond through a life of crime and descend into drugs, a cycle of crime can make itself known on the streets.

“Youth Assisting Youth” is an organization that provides peer mentoring services for at-risk kids and youth new to the city. Managing Director Grant Peckford says, “It’s all about prevention… it’s young people who need some direction, need some focus and to be engaged.” The service partners with police services, and tries to deter gang involvement by bringing in former gang members. “The amazing thing is that they’re former gang members – and they’re mentors. It’s solutions based. It’s prevention. The kids see another way.”

Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla testified to a House of Commons committee today, denying that she had mistreated nannies. She stated that her brother employed the women, and that she had little involvement in their work. She added, to her knowledge, they had been well-treated, suggesting that her mother had occasionally cooked meals for the nannies.

But former nannies Magdalene Gordo and Richelyn Tongson say it was Ruby Dhalla, not her brother, who hired them and supervised the work. Gordo told the Parliamentary immigrations committee that she was “mentally tortured” during her time with the Dhalla family.

During the testimony Dhalla emphasized her personal dedication to challenges facing immigrants and women. She pointed out that her own mother worked in factories and as a caregiver after immigrating to Canada.

But where did today’s testimonies leave the case? The Toronto Sun’s Senior Associate Editor, Lorrie Goldstein says, “Somebody’s lying… we don’t really know.”

Goldstein adds, “A partisan parliamentary committee is not the place to air these things. The evidence served isn’t really cross-examined… It’s basically a political circus… There’s a bigger issue here – the whole nanny caregiver program needs to be looked at. The entire relationship works against the caregivers.”

Think of Canada and images of prosperity come to mind, especially in a bustling city like Toronto. But poverty in Canada is on the rise – according to Statistics Canada, almost 3.5 million people lived below the low income cutoff in 2004. The latest census indicates Canada is facing a homelessness crisis.

In Toronto alone, about 30,000 people rely on shelters every year as a basic form of housing. One in 18 children in the city is poor. And a recent case study on homelessness revealed that one in four homeless people are women. Angela Robertson, a champion of social justice issues, says, “Poverty has no race, no age, and no sexual orientation.”

Robertson speaks up for those who might otherwise not be heard. Tomorrow night, she is being presented with the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Social Change. She says, “It’s a great honour, and it’s an opportunity to highlight these issues and to be a voice for these women who have been invisible.”

Robertson is a dedicated volunteer and activist for many issues. One of her main focuses is her role as Executive Director of “Sistering – A Woman’s Place,” an organization that provides shelter and support for women. The agency focuses on helping homeless, marginalized, and low-income women, aiming to help them gain more control over their life circumstances. Robertson notes that poverty “has brutal consequences for women. Homeless women are more likely to die prematurely, and they’re 10 times more likely to be victims of sexual assault.” More than 2,000 women use Sistering’s services every year.

The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards is a major fundraising event, supporting more than 40 YWCA programs across Toronto. For more information, check out ywcatoronto.org.

The Sri Lankan civil war is more than 12,000 kilometres away, but Torontonians are feeling like they are front and centre of the conflict. Local Tamils blocked major Toronto arteries last night when the Gardiner Expressway turned into an impromptu gathering place for more than 5,000 Tamil protesters.

Three people were arrested during the peaceful demonstration which was meant to draw attention to the civil war and the rising civilian death toll. The highway protest lasted for six hours, until Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff’s office promised to bring up the demonstrators’ cause in Parliament.

The awareness efforts continued this morning as about 50 protestors set up at Queen’s Park. Another group assembled outside the Sri Lankan Consulate near Yonge St. and St. Clair Ave. A hunger striker, 8 days into his fast, is demanding a ceasefire in the war-torn country.

The United Nations is condemning the “bloodbath” that took place in Sri Lanka over the weekend. A UN spokesperson says at least 100 children were killed, and a government doctor in the country says that shelling over the last two days has killed as many as 1,000 Tamil civilians. It is difficult to verify reports of fighting because the Sri Lankan government is not allowing journalists or aid workers into the war zone.

Toronto Tamil journalist Ragavan Paranchothy says, “Over the weekend there was a report that over 3,000 people were killed on Mother’s Day alone. You can’t expect the Tamil community to just sit there. We’ve protested peacefully, but nothing seems to be working. The highway protest was almost a symbol of disobedience.”

The issue of the Sri Lankan civil war is close to many Canadians’ hearts - Canada has the largest Tamil community outside of Sri Lanka. Many Canadian Tamils are frustrated because Canada hasn’t joined countries like Britain and France in pushing for a ceasefire. But after last night’s protest, Paranchothy notes, “The Prime Minister has apparently agreed to meet with the Tamil leadership and community and see what they can do.”

It is “more probable” than previously thought that General Motor Corp. will file for bankruptcy protection, says CEO Fritz Henderson. However, he added, “There’s still a possibility and an opportunity” for the company to restructure without resorting to bankruptcy.

There are less than three weeks until GM’s June 1 deadline to reduce debt and expenses. GM says it is looking at issues on a country-by-country basis, meaning that a U.S. bankruptcy doesn’t necessarily mean GM will file for bankruptcy in other countries as well.

In Canada, it’s largely people in Oshawa who are on the front lines. This Thursday, the city’s GM pickup truck factory will close permanently. The Sun’s editorial board met with the Oshawa Mayor and GM and Chrysler workers to get their take on the auto industry crisis. Editorial page editor Rob Granatstein says the workers aren’t necessarily against bankruptcy: “I think they’re willing to see bankruptcy protection – but not willing to see insolvency, because that affects pensions.”

Granatstein adds that the auto workers “wanted to know how becoming an auto worker suddenly became a bad word… These are your good typical Canadian people. They’re not rich, they go to work with blisters on their hands – they just want people to see the real work.”

As for the future of Oshawa, Granatstein says the city’s mayor is optimistic. “Oshawa is more than just an auto industry… They’ve got a university; they’ve got other things happening. Don’t roll up the sidewalks, they’ll be okay.”

Canada’s live-in caregiver program is under scrutiny as more details in the MP Ruby Dhalla nanny scandal surface. Dhalla is set to testify this week in front of a standing committee on immigration.

Allegations of nanny abuse by Dhalla first surfaced on May 5, the day after the Ontario government passed a bill to protect the rights of temporary workers. Dhalla is under fire for alleged mistreatment of her live-in nannies. A third nanny has now come forward in the case, claiming she was overworked and the family seized her passport. The nanny also says she received no pay for overtime.

Dhalla’s lawyer has suggested the accusations are part of a conspiracy to destroy the young MP’s career. However, he would not answer questions about whether the nannies had work permits, which would have allowed the nannies to work legally in Dhalla’s home. Under federal law, an employer found guilty of hiring a foreign worker without the appropriate permits could face up to $50,000 in fines and up to two years in jail.

At a press conference, Dhalla stated: “Anyone that has ever entered our home has always been treated with love, with care, with compassion, and respect. I myself have dedicated a great part of my own personal life to working on these issues, and championing issues that are important to immigrants, to women, and to families.”

Immigration specialist Guidy Mamann from Mamann and Sandaluk wonders if Dhalla will face harsher penalties because of her political position. “I’m not so sure Dhalla will get away as scot-free as some of us would… If it was you or me who did this, it probably wouldn’t be taken too seriously. They’d just deport the person who was working illegally.”

Whether or not the allegations turn out to be true, Mamann says her political career has been marred. “She’s a public figure, she had her sights on higher levels of political achievement. One would think that’s over for awhile at least.”

In this floundering economy, company pension plans are coming under attack. While the Big Three automakers have been asking for more concessions from their workers, there’s a growing fear that retirees will be shortchanged. However, the Ontario government contends that you can’t negotiate away retirement benefits. According to Ontario’s Economic Development Minister, Michael Bryant, “Retirees' pensions can’t be touched, and won’t be touched, period. No Canadian judge has ever touched a retiree’s pension in the history of CCAA, and it’s the finding of the Supreme Court of Canada, that unions cannot, by law, bargain away retirees pension benefits.”

But now Air Canada is asking the federal government for relief from its pension fund payments as its economic woes grow. Canada’s largest airline has a $3.2 billion pension deficit. Meanwhile, a court ruling has allowed Quebec printing giant AbitibiBowater to suspend special payments to its pension fund. Last month the company filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors. And with GM and Chrysler racking pension plan deficits of more than $13 billion combined, many are left wondering what will be left for them at retirement.

According to Peter Merrick, a financial planner and founder of merrickwealth.com, the pension deficits stem from a combination of problems. Merrick says that with a longer life expectancy nowadays, companies have to pay retired workers more money than expected. But he also points a finger at the current economic recession, saying “Pension plans have to invest in something, and how everyone has been impacted by the market meltdown over the past few months, pension plans have also been impacted by this.” Merrick says in order to deliver a pension benefit that is guaranteed at retirement, there needs to be assets, and in this economy those assets are no longer as healthy as they once were, triggering huge deficits in these plans, which will make it hard paying promise benefits to retirees.

Your best bet, according to Merrick, is to plan for the future. Although a pension plan is a good idea, he suggests that it is not the best retirement plan. Evaluate all of your resources, like health care, and prepare for what it’s going to be like living possibly one third of your life in retirement.

Jim Balsillie created a media frenzy by publicizing his bid for the Phoenix Coyotes, an offer backed by current owner Jerry Moyes. The catch? Balsillie plans on moving the team to Hamilton in southern Ontario, if his bid is successful. The question is: Who has the right to make the decision, the NHL or Jerry Moyes?

According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmann, Balsillie is circumventing league rule by using the courts to gain control of the team. The NHL says that although he owns the team, Jerry Moyes has no authority to place the team in bankruptcy because it had removed Moyes from control of the team, therefore nullifying any offer by Balsillie. The NHL alleges that Moyes signed numerous documents handing power of the team into the hands of the league. Dr. Avner Levin of Ryerson University says the documents “appear to give Mr. Bettmann ownership of the team.” The judge is being asked to put the team up for auction, and should another potential suitor come forward to buy the team, Balsillie would have the right to counter the offer. Moyes also argues that denying the move of the team to Hamilton will result in significant anti-competitive effects because there are no other viable investors for the Coyotes.

But the NHL disagrees, saying it not only has another interested investor in Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, but Reinsdorf is willing to keep the team in Phoenix. Should the court grant Moyes’ bankruptcy wish and Basillie’s offer is accepted, he would still need three-quarters approval – or about 23 of 30 votes from the other owners for the sale to be approved.

We’ve seen the rise of Ruby Dhalla, but now are we seeing the fall of the Liberal MP? Yesterday, Dhalla stepped down from her position as the Liberal Party’s Multiculturalism and Youth Critic. Now she has asked the Ethics Commissioner to review the allegations of abusive and possibly illegal behaviour involving two live-in caregivers, whom Dhalla had hired to look after her mother.

The controversy comes on the heels of what many are calling a successful Liberal convention. According to the Sun’s National Bureau Chief, Kathleen Harris, the recent developments are “throwing a wrench in the whole thing” and have “soured the mood” of the Liberal Party. And the drama is fueling the Conservative fire with Harris adding, “The Conservatives can smell blood and are all over it.”

Harris notes that next week is especially important for the future of Dhalla’s career with the Liberal Party. Dhalla will testify about the matter before the Immigration Committee, a hearing that is also expecting testimonies from the two nannies in question.

RIM’s CEO Jim Balsillie has offered to buy the Phoenix Coyotes for over $212 – but only if he can move the team to Southern Ontario.

The intriguing powerplay was set up yesterday when Coyotes CEO Jerry Moyes applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Balsillie was waiting in the wings to scoop up the team for almost $230 million, including $17 million in bridge financing – but only on the condition that he can make it Canada’s 7th NHL franchise. Balsillie has tried and failed to buy teams from Nashville and Pittsburgh, and NHL boss Gary Bettman says he’s skeptical of this offer. But support is growing for the move. Over 40 000 people have already signed an online petition on MakeItSeven.ca.
Howard Bloom, founder of SportsBusinessNews.com says “Yes, Toronto’s going to get a second franchise. Is it going to be Balsillie’s? Maybe not.”

Bob Stellick, sports marketing consultant and former Director of Business Operations for the Toronto Maple Leafs, says “what Balsillie’s doing is certainly interesting. But Copps Coliseum isn’t adequate. He’s going to have to locate an arena.”

So when can fans expect the big move? Stellick points out “the reality is the NHL schedule comes out in a few months. Where are they going to play? Unknown tickets for an unknown place… Timing is really up to the U.S. Courts.”

Shameless self-promotion or genuine community involvement? Toronto city councilors have already spent $2000 of tax payers’ money to sponsor sports teams. Last year, the total hit $10 000, and an additional $65 000 was spent supporting various charities.

This spending is allowed under councilor expense policies. The issue was first raised in July 2008 when city staff suggested that sponsorships and donations shouldn’t be allowed. But instead, a motion passed that allows councilors to pick and choose organizations

Speaker Sandra Bussin has spent the most on sports teams so far. The “Bussin Blue Jays” and “Bussin Blizzard” bear her name. Donations can be an important boost for amateur teams, which often struggle to find enough money to play. But are councilors who support the local soccer or hockey team essentially buying votes?

The Sun’s Senior Associate Editor Lorrie Goldstein is frustrated by the spending, which he says has been going on for years. “Times are tough. This is a different climate right now. Self promotion - you can do that on your own – you don’t need our money to do it… Spend your own damn money. Not mine.”

Jamaica is a music-making powerhouse, best known for catchy reggae beats. The music documentary “Rise Up” explores the challenges independent Jamaican musicians face, while showcasing the contrasting beauty and poverty of the country.

Set in the Kingston ghetto where reggae first originated, “Rise Up” follows three up-and-coming artists: Turbulence, Ice Anastasia, and Kemoy. Filmmaker Luciano Blotta says he picked these three because “they each represented something unique… a segment of what you can find.” Blotta mixes in interviews with other musicians, including stars like Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare.

Luciano Blotta says when he first visited Jamaica, he was struck by the role of music in the country’s culture. Watching the street dances, he realized “the most important thing for the people is their music… Reggae music is a worldwide phenomenon. It’s a religion in a sense.” Blotta saw himself reflected in the struggle of aspiring musicians. “As an artist myself, I sort of recognized what they were going through.”

“Rise Up” screens this Friday at the Innis Town Hall Theatre. Check out hotdocs.ca for additional show times.

Could there be a light at the end of the recession tunnel? U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress today that the economy should start growing by the end of the year. But he cautioned that we can’t take another shock to the financial system, and recovery will be slow.

Canada’s unemployment rate rose to 8.0% in March, the highest in 7 years. Bernanke warned today that even as the U.S. economy pulls out of the slump, businesses will probably be cautious about hiring. Unemployment rates could continue to rise.

Sal Guatieri, Senior Economist with the Bank of Montreal, agrees that the job losses won’t stop right away. “We’ll likely see more layoffs in the growing economy and the auto industry… but we should start seeing milder losses over the coming months.” Guatieri adds that positive gains in the stock market could signal a positive future: “There appears to be more convincing evidence that the economy really has hit bottom and the freefall is over. More indicators are showing a slower rate of decline or that it’s stabilizing.”

Violence has erupted in Toronto’s 12 Division. The area’s 14th shooting of the year took place in the early hours of Sunday morning, when a 60-year-old man was shot in the foot. So far there have been 6 murders in the West area bordered by Lawrence, Scarlett, Dundas, and Caledonia – and it’s only May. In 2008, there was a total of 4 homicides.

The Sun’s Joe Warmington doesn’t want to sensationalize the string of recent shootings, but worries that people in the area have become desensitized to the violence. “Just look at the number of body bags – it’s a warzone there… but what can they do about it? Lots of people are let out on bail and have nowhere to go, so they go there. And with the number of guns, it’s just a recipe for disaster.”

Warmington says that the police division in the area is a proactive force. Toronto police chief Bill Blair told The Sun yesterday that the TAVIS (Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy) unit will be used.

Recent shootings in 12 Division:
- Jan. 9: Shooting at Martha Eatonway
- Jan. 16: Shooting at Woolner Ave.
- Jan. 20: City’s fifth homicide victim – Basil Bryan – shot at Keele St. and Avon Dr.
- Jan. 26: a 23-year-old man was hit twice in leg and upper chest by bullets in the Jane St. – Tretheway Ave. area
- Feb. 1: Jahmelle Grant is fatally shot at Weston Rd., south of Lawrence Ave. W
- Feb. 26: Man shot in the Jane St. and Trethewey Dr. area
- March 9: Man shot in attempted murder at 755 Jane St.
- April 8: Shooting at 1668 Weston Rd.
- April 21: Daniel Lewis, 17, shot in laneway near Dunraven Dr. and Keele St.
- April 22: Omar Waite, 29, slain by gunfire at bus stop in Keele St. and Eglinton Ave. W. area
- April 24: Man shot in the leg in Jane St. – Tretheway Dr. area
- April 27: Gunmen open up on Greentree Ct. townhouse, in the Keele St. – Eglinton Ave. W. area
- May 2: Shooting at Bijou Walk area, near Pearsen St. and Eglinton Ave. W.
- May 3: Shooting at Weston Rd. and Ray Ave.

Mental illness affects millions of Canadians across diverse communities. Health Canada estimates that 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. This week, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is celebrating National Mental Health Week. They’re dedicating May 4 – 11 to building awareness and understanding about mental health issues. This year’s theme is Work/Life Balance – timely, considering the economic stresses of the last year.

CAMH’s 2nd annual Transforming Lives Awards will take place next Tuesday at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. The awards are handed out to people who have overcome various mental health challenges, and who now provide help and hope to others.

Brian Glasgow is a recipient of a Transforming Lives award who is sharing his story in the hopes of inspiring others. He experienced racism and turned to drugs at a young age. He says he “felt like an outsider… I wanted to fit in and be accepted.”

Following what he calls a “path of destruction”, Glasgow ended up homeless, and tried to get his life back on track by entering treatment centres. He relapsed, turned to crime in order to buy drugs, and landed in jail. After moving home to his wife and son, he started using drugs again. “There were years and years of denial, and then eventually I was just tired of it … I did the CAMH 21 day program, and then used the support groups afterwards.”

As of late afternoon Monday, the number of confirmed cases of H1N1, also known as Swine Flu, has risen to 140 in Canada. All cases had been mild until April 30, when a young girl was admitted to an Edmonton hospital with severe symptoms.

As the number of cases worldwide continues to rise, pig farmers are starting to feel the effects. Up to 20 countries, including China, have banned the import of pork products. This is despite the fact that the World Health Organization says the H1N1 virus would be killed by cooking pork to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius. Canada’s Trade Minister Stockwell Day and Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz have reassured Canadians that human swine influenza cannot be contracted by eating pork.

The Vice-Chair of Ontario Pork, Mary-Ann Hendrikx, is a hog farmer who is feeling the effects of the Swine Flu. She says farmers are worried. “There’s a lot of frustration, it just seems to be building… I think there’s a real concern that things are going to get a lot worse if we don’t get an upswing in prices and that’s only driven by demand.”

Summertime is when students get some relief from textbooks and lecture halls, but it’s also a time to gain valuable work experience and save up for next year’s tuition. But this year, landing a summer job could be tougher than usual. Canada’s youth unemployment rate has hit 14.8%, an 11 year high. Ryerson University says they’ve seen a 30% decrease in jobs available to students, and a 28% decrease in the number of companies coming to recruit on campus.

The Ontario government is trying to help by increasing funding for youth employment. It is adding $32 million dollars, for a total of $90 million, to go towards helping youth find work. In addition to offering more government jobs, Ontario will expand its $2-an-hour wage subsidy program, encouraging employers to hire students.

Theo Rallis, author of “Ugly Resumes Get Jobs” says a functional resume is crucial in your job search. An Ugly Resume is “designed to get you through the gatekeepers, the technology preventing you from actually getting to the managers.” Most recruiting companies use software, and “if your resume isn’t in a format that the software understands, it can’t get processed by the software. So it goes into this little black hole and no one ever sees it.”

Rallis also suggests using your existing contacts as resources. “Leverage your social network, expand outside your social network and find out who’s hiring. And then… follow-up, follow-up, follow-up.”

The Canadian warship stationed off the coast of Somali will extend its anti-piracy efforts, remaining in the area until June. The HMCS Winnipeg has successfully thwarted several hijacking attempts since it joined the NATO Operation Allied Protector mission at the beginning of April.

Somalian Education Minister Abdi Farah says that the causes of the hijackings are complex. “We have to address the other issues related to the piracy, and that’s illegal fishing – who are the fishing companies? Who sponsors them?” He also cites dumping of chemical waste as being an issue. Farah emphasizes that “We condemn the piracy… we are talking to the Somali elders who are the local authorities and telling them to stop this. But that’s not enough – these guys, they see the money and also the ransom paid by the foreign companies. That encourages the pirates.”

Canada is continuing its efforts to deter the pirates, but is facing a roadblock. The HMCS Winnipeg must release pirates who are captured, since the Canadian government says they have no legal right to detain them. However, some NATO countries have come to an agreement that allows them to bring pirates to other African countries for prosecution. Defence Minister Peter MacKay says that Canada is currently working toward a similar agreement.

COURTESY OF “HalifaxNewsNet”
http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca

The intense blaze that has turned the outskirts of Halifax into an inferno is getting under control. The fire started earlier this week in the suburb of Spryfield, and intensified with dry weather and high winds. Close to five hundred homes were evacuated, leaving seven damaged and eight completely destroyed. About 1,200 residents were expected to leave their homes at a moment’s notice. Some people lost photo albums, personal treasures and cars, while others were left very concerned about the pets that were left behind. But someone was doing a rain dance because it poured this morning during the efforts to get it under control. Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly spoke to Janette Luu earlier today by phone, expressing his relief of how things are taking a positive turn: "Things have changed substantially, and it is good news."

While it is good news that the fire has died down, there are people who are faced with a very difficult situation. Janette interviewed our own Tara Slone whose family was affected by the fire firsthand. Her father lost his home in the fire which she explained: “I got a phone call from a family friend who said that she had heard that my parents were some of the ones who were evacuated. I got in touch with my dad… at that point it was probably early evening… he didn’t know yet. All he knew was that they were evacuated and the fire may have come close to the house. The dog was still in the house. Within a couple of hours, we were told that the house was indeed destroyed and that the dog was not rescued." Tara explained that her father is in shock and has not been able to return to his house. She did mention that they "are under the impression that there is nothing left at all.” Tara also referenced the CBC footage of the camera crew chased out of the area by fire explaining, “As far as I know, that was actually my father’s street.” She continued, “Basically, I think the reason that the dog wasn’t rescued was because the flames were just too hot for anybody to get in and so fast-moving.” Her father is now staying with a friend, and she indicated that his insurance company will assist him in finding a temporary place to stay. “They’re safe, but it’s a devastating loss to all of us.”

Some residents are slowly going through a police check, having to show ID before they are allowed back to their homes. The area that is burning is said to be as large as five miles by three miles. How it all began is a mystery at this point, and Mayor Kelly tells Janette, "It is unknown how it started. It's under investigation, and it will take some time." Firefighters are working around the clock to get the fire completely extinguished before dry windy weather approaches again.

Benihana Restaurants began in New York with the franchise growing from a family business to an international success over the past 45 years. The idea sprung from Japanese entertainer, Yunosuke Aoki, who moved to the U.S. from Japan with the concept of bridging dining and entertainment with Japanese cuisine. The local Benihana Japanese Steakhouse located at the Fairmont Royal York features all the unique qualities of the Benihana restaurants. Diners are dazzled with the exciting talents of chefs who juggle and chop their ingredients during meal preparation. After the personal show, diners are able to enjoy the tasty creation.

To demonstrate the process, Chef Michael Tan of the Fairmont Royal York Benihana, joined Janette in studio today. Benihana uses a teppanyaki cooking method: a style of Japanese cooking that uses an iron griddle (a teppan) to prepare food. He shared how the popularity of teppanyaki cooking has spread across North America saying that after bringing the cuisine to North America, Aoki added “…more flare and more action” He described the training process, saying it’s “very challenging… if you make a little mistake someone could get hurt. [It involves] lots of concentration and balance.” It took Tan about one year to learn. He does it because “I love the show and to make the customers enjoy the cooking.” At Benihana “we slice and dice a lot of [food] in front of you… and lots of steam tricks.” Tan feels that “the hardest part is just doing the next step. We don’t want to be repetitive.” Check out Benihana Restaurant