By Daniel Pagan
Vancouver safe injection site to stay open
Advocates of a safe injection site in Vancouver were victorious last week after the British Columbia Supreme Court gave Insite a prolonged exemption from Canada’s laws against the possession and trafficking of drugs. The previous exemption was going to expire June 30 and has been extended one year. The case was brought before the B.C. Supreme Court by two drug addicts and a non-profit organization that runs Insite. The site is supported by Vancouver’s mayor and the Vancouver Police Department, but is opposed by the RCMP and the federal Conservative government. The federal government has said it will appeal the ruling.
U.S. primaries come to an end
Barack Obama declared himself the official Democratic nominee for president of the United States during his speech delivered in St. Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday. Republicans are set to hold their national convention there in September. Obama gained enough delegates to win the nomination after the South Dakota primary Tuesday. Hillary Clinton won the state with a 12 per cent margin. Clinton refused to concede, but is open to being vice-president.
Ontario and Quebec partner to battle emissions
Ontario and Quebec provincial governments signed a formal agreement to work together to cut greenhouse gas emissions by setting up a carbon cap-and-trade protocol. The proposed system would cap greenhouse gas emissions and allow big polluters to trade for carbon credits from other companies that cut emissions in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels. Ontario and Quebec are home to two-thirds of Canada’s population, have large economies responsible for 58 per cent of Canada’s GDP and are hoping to put the system in place by Jan. 2010. Federal Environment Minister John Baird dismissed the new plan as ‘just talks’ according to a Globe and Mail article Tuesday.
Tories in hot water after controversial salary increase
Provincial Progressive Conservatives are under fire from opposition parties and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation after up to 34 per cent of salary increases were approved for the premier and ministers. Premier Ed Stelmach will now earn $213,450 annually, up from $184,000, making him Canada’s highest paid provincial leader. The move came after wage increases were approved for all MLAs last month. Critics are upset about the size of the raise and that the decision was made behind closed doors with no debate.