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French-Canadians threatened by culture loss

A recent report which was done in Quebec indicates that francophones throughout Canada are victims of slight culture loss.

According to the Gazette the report was made up by a Quebec independence group with some financial aid by the Parti Quebecois of Quebec.

The report is known as the Estates-General on Quebec Sovereignty project which consists of the data of 1,200 people throughout 13 regions of Quebec.

The report`s authors stated it identifies 92 ways in which the Canadian system has ignored the interests and values of Quebecers.

The head of the pro-independence group stated that he wants to remind people of how much the French language has diminished in Canada since the 20th century.

February 4th, 2013

Hosted by: Aisha Samu

Stories by: Hannah Besseau, Natasha Taggart, Nikita Smith & Kurt Weiss

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

Montreal reveals plan for new Champlain bridge

sign on the Champlain Bridge

The city of Montreal has released its plan for the new Champlain Bridge.

According to the Gazette, the city’s proposal, unveiled on Sunday, outlines some ideas in the works such as two lanes dedicated to public transit, a 13-kilometre-long rail system and a toll booth.

Mayor Michael Applebaum says that even with added toll booths, drivers shouldn’t be the only ones forced into paying to maintain the bridge.

A release that was issued after the press conference says that the city will turn to public funds to finance the infrastructure of the multi-billion dollar project. The provincial and federal governments will finance the majority of the project.

The new bridge is expected to be completed in 2022 and could cost up to 5 billion dollars.

Flickr Photo by: christine592

STORY WRITTEN BY: NATASHA TAGGART

Obama promises U.S. immigration refroms

Barack Obama greets the audience at Newton Sr. High School in Iowa

President Barack Obama has said US immigration reform could be achieved within six months.

In an interview with Spanish-language TV channel Telemundo, The president said reform should pass in 2013.

He says he would put "everything" into securing a deal even sooner.

But obstacles to the deal were political rather than technical, Obama said.

The comments come the day after the president backed comprehensive immigration reform.

Correspondents say the focus on immigration reflects the growing influence of Hispanic voters.

Obama guarantees he will put everything he has behind it.

The president also said he would work with all politicians to achieve reform, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican.

But the senators' proposals would allow undocumented immigrants to start the process of becoming citizens.

Meanwhile, politicians in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives are reportedly working on their own immigration framework.

Flickr Photo by: WEBN-TV

STORY WRITTEN BY: KURT WEISS

Mounties held interest in occupy Ottawa movement

Occupy Ottawa

According to the CBC, recently released documents show that the Royal Canadian Mounties collected a file on the occupy Ottawa movement.

The file shows that the Mounties were very interested in the protest, including intensively searching though social media and questioning campus security after a meeting was held at the University of Ottawa.

Notes also show that the Mounties planned on using cameras for surveillance of the Confederation Park protest, but ultimately decided against it.

Though it has been 14 months since the police removed Occupy Ottawa protestors from Confederation Park, information about their observation methods are only now coming to light thanks to an access-to-information request from the Canadian Press.

The one month occupation of the park resulted in many complaints and concerns about rats, drugs, and sexual assault.

Flickr Photo by: refreshment_66

STORY WRITTEN BY: NIKITA SMITH 

AQPS launches new campaign on suicide awareness

The Association Quebecoise de Prevention du Suicide (AQPS) is aiming to raise awareness on the issue of suicide in the province.

The group has launched a campaign in hopes to sensitize the population.

According to the CBC, there are approximately 3 suicides every day in Quebec. Despite more mobilization on the issue, AQPS spokesperson Anne-Marie Caron states the fact that numbers in Quebec have not decreased is worrisome. 

The campaign begins on the 23rd suicide prevention week.

STORY WRITTEN BY: HANNAH BESSEAU

Chariots of the Gods this Sunday on Grade A Explosives

Let's face it, Ottawa is a pretty boring place. It's full of stiff, boring politicians who pretty much hate fun, or at least say they do because some PR person tells them that people hate fun. But, every now and then something fun and interesting comes out of the Canadian capital. For instance, this Sunday you can listen to Andrew from Grade A Explosives interview Chariots of the Gods about the release of their album, Tides of War. You could also win tickets to see these fine gentleman when they come to Montreal on the 16th of February. So don't be unfun, listen to CJLO from 4-6 PM for all the goodness.

UN inquiry points figure at Israel for annexing Palestinian territories

Prime Ministers Meles Zenawi and Jens Stoltenberg with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

A United Nations inquiry is accusing Israel of trying to annex Palestinian territories.

According to The New York Times, a panel of three judges spent nearly six months examining Jewish settlements created in occupied Palestinian territories.

They found that the Israeli settlements violate international laws and could be considered war crimes.

The panel presented their report to the UN’s Human Rights Council on Thursday.

They advised that Israel remove all settlers from Palestinian territories.

Israeli officials refused to cooperate with the investigations, calling the inquiry one-sided and biased.

Flickr Photo by: Norway UN (New York)

STORY WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA TREMBLAY

February 1, 2013

Hosted by: Saturn De Los Angeles

Stories by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi, Catlin Spencer & Alyssa Tremblay

Produced by: Catlin Spencer

PM’s controlled question and answer sessions, doesn’t sit well with Quebec

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, will meet on Friday, but they won’t be holding a press conference.

In a report by The Gazette, the P.M.’s restrictions on question and answer sessions has prompted Marois to decline the request for a press conference.

According to Marois’s entourage, they were told to follow Ottawa’s system of taking questions from four journalists.

The custom of taking questions from a limited number of journalists with their names agreed upon in advance has been standard since Harper first took office in 2006.

The motive for this practice is to keep questions focused on hot topics of the day, and rarely trend on an unexpected or longer-term subject.

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