News for Friday March 18th, 2016

March 18 2016 // News
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Hosted by: Pauline Nesbitt
Stories by: Catlin Spencer
Produced by: Emeline Vidal
 

 

LOCAL

A protector for the homeless will be named for the city of Montreal within the coming weeks.

According to the Montreal Gazette, Mayor Denis Coderre says the protector will ensure the homeless have fair access to designated services, and make recommendations to the proper authorities.

This announcement comes after the unveiling of two recent studies of the homeless population in Montreal.

Findings show that a large majority of the homeless population is held back by relationship problems or mental health issues.
 

 

NATIONAL

Health Canada has given a Vancouver safe-injection site an exemption to continue operating for another four years.

According to CTV News, this is the first time since 2011 that Insite has received a multi-year exemption.

BC Health Minister Terry Lake says the extended exemption reflects the understanding of the facility's value and its importance as a part of the health services in the Vancouver community.

Since its opening over a decade ago, Insite has carried out more than two million safe injections with zero deaths from overdoses.

 

 
INTERNATIONAL

SeaWorld has announced that it will be ending its controversial orca-breeding program.

According to BBC News, the company has been facing heavy criticism over the alleged treatment of its captive orcas.

Instead, the company says it will be committed to educating its visitors on animal welfare and conservation issues via new programs in the park.

While activists have called for SeaWorld to release its captive whales into the wild, SeaWorld has advised that  because many of the animals were born and raised in captivity, they most likely would not survive.