/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/sports/baseball/2021/05/05/leading-off-cole-mccullers-willie-mays-90th-birthday/NYY121-430_2021_230352.jpg)
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/city_hall/2021/05/04/us-firm-set-to-win-controversial-city-hall-online-payment-contract-despite-objections-from-torontos-tech-sector/city_hall.jpg)
U.S. firm set to win controversial city hall online payment contract, despite objections from Toronto’s tech sector
Toronto city council appears set this week to approve a U.S. firm’s proposal to move online a host of payments Torontonians make to city hall, despite objections to the deal from members of the local tech community. City staff expect that to remain the popular choice for big bills such as property taxes. Bianca Wylie, a local open government advocate and co-founder of Tech Reset Canada, said city council should reject the PayIt proposal and start anew. At executive committee, city staff strongly rejected any suggestion of favouritism, noting a city fairness monitor reviewed the Swiss challenge process and monitored its application, without objections. Council will consider other items including:Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...
Source:thestar
May 04, 2021 22:51 UTC
CN offers pension to widower after claims of LGBT discrimination
A man in Harbour Grace, N.L., has won the fight to get access to his late partner's CN Rail pension after initially being denied because he was in a same-sex relationship. It recognized him as the common law spouse of Gerry Schwarz, a CN employee for 30 years, and grants him the survivor pension for the rest of his life. CN's pension plan did not include same-sex partners as eligible spouses until 1998. WATCH | CN earlier said former policies may have to be re-examined:CN reviewing policy that withheld pension from gay widower The National 2:10 CN Rail says it's reviewing its policy that kept a Newfoundland man from getting his deceased same-sex partner's company pension as a surviving spouse. CN said a review of its policies affecting LGBT employees that retired before 1998 is underway.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 22:18 UTC
Nellie Pokiak remembered as a 'pioneer' in the science community
An obituary remembering Nellie Pokiak left out one thing: her pioneering contribution to research and science. Pokiak, a well-respected member of the Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, community, died last week at the age of 66. Loseto described the Pokiaks as a team that worked together to collect samples from hunters for beluga research. Loseto said she still remembers when Nellie went to her first conference to present with the department about her knowledge of beluga. It wasn't just the science community where Nellie made an impact.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 22:18 UTC
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Brewers’ Yelich back on injured list, 1 day after returning
PHILADELPHIA - Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is going back on the injured list just one day after getting activated. The Brewers announced Tuesday that Yelich was returning to the IL due to the lower back strain that has bothered the 2018 NL MVP for the last three weeks. “I’m just not where I need to be to go out there on an everyday basis and compete in a Major League Baseball game,” Yelich said before the Brewers played Tuesday night at Philadelphia. “We’re kind of at a point where we need to get more answers,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. ___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsLoading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...
Source:thestar
May 04, 2021 22:18 UTC
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Seguin return for Stars a boost even if they miss playoffs
But it is still a big boost for the 29-year-old centre who got hurt during the playoffs last summer inside the NHL’s Canadian bubble. Bowness kept asking how he felt, and Seguin said in the moment with the adrenaline he wasn’t going to pass on playing. All five of those wins over the Stars came after regulation, including 1-0 in OT on Saturday night in Nashville. Seguin described the lead-up all day to Monday’s game as full of nerves, emotion and excitement. “His impact was felt immediately.”Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Source:thestar
May 04, 2021 21:56 UTC
Windsor woman stuck renting despite preapproval for $450K home
A Windsor, Ont., woman who's a former homeowner says blind bidding wars have become so out of control that she's been priced out of the market and has no choice but to rent — despite being preapproved for a $450,000 home. Blind bidding wars have left her unable to afford anything listed at or below $450,000, since homes end up being sold for much more. I have a really good job, I have a good down payment and I have a preapproval and I still wasn't able to find a home. - Cristina Conciatori"Every house we went to with a list price in my budget went for well over the budget. "I have a really good job, I have a good down payment and I have a preapproval, and I still wasn't able to find a home.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 21:32 UTC
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine not troubled by variants so far, says CEO
One of the people behind the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine says he has yet to see any evidence that emerging variants of the disease have found a way to defeat it. "The second concern is that variants potentially could escape existing immune responses." To address the second concern, BioNTech's team of researchers run tests on the vaccine's effectiveness against individual variants. "We do not have any evidence that our vaccine would not work against any of the prevalent variants." BioNTech is also researching possible risks the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine might present to pregnant women.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 21:18 UTC
This Toronto woman finally has a place to call home after years of living on the streets
"I can't wait to start this new journey," Renaud told CBC News. Standing at a window in her new apartment, Renaud looks out at a broken down house. WATCH| This Toronto woman finally has a place to call home after years on the streets:This Toronto woman finally has a place to call home, after years of living on the streets CBC News Toronto 2:53 The pandemic has heightened homelessness in Toronto for some, but others have been able to find permanent housing. Lorenda Reddekopp has the story of one woman who recently moved into her own place after years of living on the streets. "The last couple years [I lost] friends and stuff — a lot of homeless people, overdoses and just violence on the streets," Renaud said.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 21:18 UTC
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/entertainment/2021/05/04/this-gold-plated-nintendo-wii-was-made-for-queen-elizabeth-ii-now-its-on-sale-for-300000-us/_1_golden_wii.jpg)
This gold-plated Nintendo Wii was made for Queen Elizabeth II. Now it’s on sale for $300,000 U.S.
A man in the Netherlands is selling a 24-karat gold Nintendo console which he claims was made for Queen Elizabeth II. The golden Nintendo Wii, complete with a gold-plated “Wiimote” controller, was listed on ebay.com for a hefty $300,000 U.S. “In 2009, when (video game company) THQ learned that the Queen likes to play on Prince William’s Nintendo Wii, they decided to send her a golden Wii to promote ‘Big Family Games,’ their new sports collection,” Fillerup said. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... This is not the only golden videogame console out there.
Source:thestar
May 04, 2021 20:03 UTC
Alberta tightens restrictions, increases fines for COVID-19 rule-breakers
The Alberta government has introduced a bundle of tougher public-health restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 — measures Premier Jason Kenney argued are needed to keep the health-care system from being overwhelmed. They are among the toughest restrictions introduced in Alberta since last spring. We must not, and we will not force our doctors and nurses to decide who gets care and who doesn't. 2-week 'reset' for schoolsWith the move to close schools, Kenney acknowledged the disruption for students and their parents. "Albertans, you're frustrated, you're confused, you're angry and you're scared and this announcement should have helped, but I'm afraid it has mostly just created more questions," she said.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 19:32 UTC
Woman airlifted to hospital after cougar attack in B.C.'s Fraser Valley
A woman is in stable condition after a cougar attack in B.C. The woman was in her yard early Tuesday morning on a rural property in the Harrison Mills area, west of Agassiz, when she was attacked by a cougar, said the B.C. Yellow police tape is seen in the area west of Agassiz, B.C., where a woman was attacked by a cougar on Tuesday. The service's predator attack team secured the attack site and were still on the scene later Tuesday. The province has recorded an average of two to three non-fatal cougar attacks each year since 2010, according to data from B.C.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 19:26 UTC
RCMP investigates Vaughan-based group over 2020 ads taking aim at teachers unions
The RCMP has launched an investigation into a number of full-page advertisements in 2020, under the name Vaughan Working Families, Ontario's New Democratic Party says. In the ads, which appeared in three national newspapers early last year during a tense round of contract talks with provincial teachers' unions, Vaughan Working Families took aim at teachers unions and expressed support for the Ford government. "Teachers were under attack from the Ford government, and they got some help in that attack from Vaughan Working Families in the form of an advertising blitz," NDP MPP Peter Tabuns said in the news release. Following the publication of the ads, the Ontario NDP had called for an investigation, while the government denied any involvement. NDP ethics critic Taras Natyshak said at that time that the full-page advertisements violated the province's election spending rules.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 18:22 UTC
NDP pushes feds to cover dental care costs for uninsured Canadians
Millions of Canadians can't afford to go to the dentist and the federal health critic wants Ottawa to do something about it. According to the Canadian Dental Association, 32 per cent of Canadians have no dental insurance. Don Davies, MP for Vancouver-Kingsway and the NDP's health critic, seconded the motion tabled by MP Jack Harris. Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows Canada spent about $265 billion on health care in 2019. In the NDP 's plan, the money from Ottawa would be doled out to the provinces, who would have to agree to provide dental care and reimburse dentists who provide the coverage to qualifying residents.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 17:55 UTC
Montreal comic creators sue Marvel, say Iron Man's design is 'strikingly' familiar
When Montreal-based comic book company founders Ben and Raymond Lai watched the 2018 Marvel movie Avengers: Infinity War, they said they knew they had to sue Marvel Entertainment — again. Ben and Raymond Lai say Marvel has copied their designs again. And their lawyers say they have a case because the brothers' claims involve new Marvel costumes in different Marvel movies. The character Caliban, created by Ben and Raymond Lai, is the subject of the brothers' second lawsuit against Marvel Entertainment. She said when Ben and Raymond Lai present their work to the public, people often think they copied Marvel.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 17:53 UTC
Advocates ask if immunocompromised patients will be prioritized for 2nd vaccine shot
As cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, and other vulnerable populations start to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, some are turning their minds to the next one. While he received his first dose about two weeks ago, Chiasson has been advocating for him to receive his second dose soon. He asked for consideration for organ transplant recipients in the dosing policy, but has not received a response. Maillet fears this will put transplant recipients more at risk and significantly restrict their lives. "We will continue to review the COVID-19 vaccine plan based on national guidance, epidemiology and vaccine supply," the statement said.
Source:CBC News
May 04, 2021 17:37 UTC