RSS
Quebec calls public inquiry into Legionnaire's outbreak
The provincial government has called a public inquiry into the latest Legionnaire’s disease outbreak in Quebec City.
In a report by CTV News, Public Security Minister Robert Dutil made the announcement on Thursday morning.
There have been one-hundred forty one cases and nine out of those affected have died from the illness since July. The source of the current outbreak is believed to be the cooling systems of two building towers.
Inspectors are reviewing thirty of recent disinfected cooling towers to see if building owners have complied with clean-up procedures.
Heavy smokers and people with weak immune systems are at most risk of catching the disease which isn’t contagious.
Rise in food prices could affect poor countries
In a report by the BBC, global food prices have jumped up ten percent in July.
According to a statement by the World Bank, the rise raises fears of soaring food prices for some of the world’s poorest countries.
The price of corn, wheat and soybean has seen the most dramatic increases. Only prices for rice have decreased from June to July of this year.
The World Bank is blaming a number of reasons mainly droughts for the rise. Corn in the US and wheat crops in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan have been affected by severe drought.
Countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East are the most vulnerable to rising food prices.
Flickr Photo by: NRCS SD
Romney wins Republican nomination
As expected for months, Mitt Romney won the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday.
According, to CBC News, the former governor of Massachusetts won praise from fellow Republicans and his wife Ann who called him the "Man America Needs"
Ann Romney defended her husband's business success to counter Democratic attack ads that show Romney as wealthy and out of touch.
Keynote speakers at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday included New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan.
Romney's nomination sets the stage for what should be a close contest against Democratic President Barack Obama.
Flickr Photo by: VictoryNH: Protect Our Primary
Double The Interviews On Grade A Explosives This Sunday
Earlier this month, UK metalcore band The Architects played La Tulipe along with Halifax's own A Sight For Sewn Eyes. Curious what each band thought of various political and social issues as well as the status of their bands within metal? Really? Well you should still listen to Andrew from Grade A Explosives interview with Dan from Architects and Josh from A Sight For Sewn Eyes this Sunday from 4-6PM. A definite good time will be had by all.
.jpg)
August 29th, 2012
Read by: Alyssa Tremblay
Stories by: Jamie-Lee Gordon, Gregory Wilson, Alyssa Tremblay, Carlo Spiridigliozzi and Hannah Besseau
Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi
News August 27th 2012
Hosted by Aisha Samu
Produced by Erica Bridgeman
Stories written by Alyssa Tremblay, Daniel J Rowe, Aisha Samu and Carlo Spiridigliozzi
RCMP, federal border agency allowed to use information extracted through torture
The Conservative government has given the RCMP and the federal border agency the right to use information likely obtained through torture.
According to the Globe and Mail, newly disclosed records show Public Safety Minister Vic Toews quietly released the directives not long after giving similar instructions to CSIS.
The directives given to CSIS were criticized last summer by human rights advocates and opposition MPs.
They considered it a violation of Canada's international obligations to prevent the torture of prisoners.
The directives state the protection of life and property as main considerations when deciding on the use of information likely extracted through torture.
It adds that in exceptional circumstances, ignoring information because of its source would represent a risk to public safety.
There are also instructions for deciding whether to share information when there is a substantial risk of future torture.
The directives maintain that terrorism is a national priority and the RCMP and the federal border agency must maintain strong relationships with foreign countries and share information with them.
The disclosed documents come six years after a federal commission of inquiry recommended that information never be shared with a foreign country where there is a risk that it will cause the use of torture.
More affected by Legionnaire's disease
The fatal outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in Quebec City has claimed two more lives.
According to the Gazette, the bacterial infection has infected at least 104 people and eight have died.
The regional director of public health Francois Desbiens said on Sunday that the 89 cooling towers believed to be behind the outbreak have been disinfected.
Health minister Yves Bolduc has stated that it was up to the government in 1997 when the first outbreak of the disease killed one person to act. The report commissioned in ’97 called for the creation of a registry of buildings that use cooling towers in their ventilation systems.
This is the worst outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in Canada in over 25 years.
BFTE talks to New Wave musicians Ming & Ping & Acoustic RnB Sensation, David Bak
New Wave musicians Ming & Ping and Acoustic RnB Sensation, David Bak
August 28 on Beats From The East - Special Guests : David Bak and Ming & Ping
New Wave is not dead and DJ Mister Vee will prove that to you this coming Tuesday!
Joining in for some Q&A will be Ming & Ping, a tandem of twin brothers from Hong Kong.
Also, we will also be welcoming the man behind the hit youtube music video "The Facebook Song", acoustic RnB artist, David Bak!
Tune in at 9pm And please check out their great videos posted below.
Call is out for young anglos to vote
The campaign to get young Quebecers to vote on the September 4th general election is on.
According to the Gazette, Elections Quebec and Quebec Community Groups Network have partnered up to encourage young anglophones to vote.
The campaign is in response to the low participation of young voters which has fallen 60 per cent in the past 40 years. One in three between the age of 18 and 24 cast a ballot during the 2008 election
Vote it up will count on social media to get young people talking politics. The goal is to get an additional 400 000 voters casting ballots on September 4th.
Pages
Staff Login | Advertise | Our Location | RSS | Contact Us
