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Charities try to cash in on penny's swan song
Monday spelled the end of the Canadian penny, leaving several charities wondering waht will happen to their coin jars.
According to CBC News, several of the country's charity organizations have collected millions of pennies during a recent penny drive, preparing in advance for this day.
Feed the Children and Tim Hortons have gathered $70 and $1 million dollars respectively in penny drives dedicated to childrens foundations and feeding the hungry in third world countries.
On the negative end of things, some charities are concerned that fewer coins in circualtion could hurt fundraising efforts.
The Canadian Mint estimates it will recover 6 billion pennies. This means that there are still $60 million dollars or more out there for charities to gather.
Flickr Photo by: Kasia/flickr
Gap between Rich and Poor becomes wider
The gap between the rich and the poor is becoming more apparent.
According to a Statistics Canada report, the average income of the top 1 per cent is 10 times higher than the remaining 99 per cent of the nation.
The same can be observed in Quebec.
The Institut de recherche et d’informations socio-économique (IRIS) reported that the richest 1 per cent of Quebecers have seen their income rise by 59.3 per cent from 1982 to 2010.
On the other hand, average income for the poorest 50 per cent of Quebecers has increased by 16.6 per cent during the same period.
Simon Tremblay is a researcher with IRIS.
He told the McGill Daily that the share of federal and provincial tax paid by the richest one per cent fell to 21.2 per cent—a 2.1 per cent decrease from 2007.
Tremblay added that inequalities between the rich and the poor have been on the rise, and unless there are significant political changes, these inequalities will persist.
STORY WRITTEN BY: JENNA MONNEY-LUPERT
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
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
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
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
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
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