LOCAL
The provincial transit agency is investigating David Price, a top aide to Rob Ford, for several alleged incidents at a commuter train station, including berating an employee and breaking a door. Mr. Ford repeatedly refused to answer reporters’ questions about it, saying, “it’s actually no one’s business what happens in my office.” [Globe and Mail]
Ontario has poked Quebec in the eye with a legislative resolution that implicitly condemns the Parti Quebecois’ proposed secular charter. The motion promises that Ontario will never restrict people from publicly expressing their beliefs. [Globe and Mail]
As Toronto Police announced the seizure of BMWs, motorcycles, and $6.25-million in cash during investigations this year, officers warned about “problem property owners” that may be perpetuating crime. Police want to instill a sense of responsibility into property owners tempted to look the other way when their properties are used as marijuana grow-ops, after-hours clubs or crack houses. [National Post]
NATIONAL
The police have identified all six of the victims of Wednesday’s bus crash victims. They include Connor Boyd and Kyle Nash, both 21-year-old students at Carleton University, Michael Bleakney, 57, Karen Krzyzewski, 53, Rob More, 35, and the bus driver, Dave Woodward, 46. [National Post]
Twenty-five Greenpeace activists have been arrested by Russia, including two Canadians, for protesting commercial oil drilling in the Arctic. According to Greenpeace, the Russian authorities illegally boarded the Arctic Sunrise and held the crew at gunpoint after coming on board with the help of a helicopter. [Globe and Mail]
Canada will contribute $5-million to create jobs in the West Bank and Gaza. Canada’s contribution is part of a $100-million initiative to kickstart economic development. [Globe and Mail]
INTERNATIONAL
Pope Francis is warning that the moral edifice of the church might “fall like a house of cards” if it doesn’t balance divisive rules concerning abortion, gays, and contraception with the greater need to make the church a more welcoming place for all. “The Church has sometimes locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules,” he said. [CBC]
President Obama has named Bruce Heyman, a partner at Goldman Sachs, to be his country’s ambassador to Canada. The U.S. Senate must still approve the nomination. [CBC]
Chicago is now the murder capital of the United States, surpassing New York despite having only a third of the population. There were 500 murders in Chicago last year, but a Detroit resident, a city with a much smaller population yet had 386 murders, is three times as likely to be murdered. [National Post]
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