MONTREAL - Quebec's largest student group has vowed to defy the Quebec government's new emergency law, calling for a summer of protests and acts of civil disobedience.C.L.A.S.S.E., the more radical of the province's three main student associations, declared Monday it would continue to encourage protests even if it meant it would lead to harsh financial penalties under the province's Bill 78."The special law won't kill the student movement," spokesman Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said at a news conference on Monday."The fundamental rights under threat today need to be defended."In a blatant act of defiance, the group encouraged anyone against the new law to post their photo on a new website, the name of which translates as "Someone arrest me." The group reported the website was overloaded with ... Continue reading →

Enlarge Image Quebec Premier Jean Charest, left applauds his Education Minister Michele Courchesne (sitting) after his vote to special legislation on Friday May 18, 2012 in Quebec City as Intergovernmental affairs minister, Yvon Vallieres, right, looks on.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Clement Allard QUEBEC - The Quebec government brought down the legislative hammer Friday on troublesome protest, introducing a historic-but-controversial emergency law aimed at restoring order in the province. Following months of social tension and student protests that made international news, and after a legislative debate that spanned a full night, morning and afternoon, the national assembly voted 68-48 in favour of legislation to set temporary limits on protest. It was among several developments Friday as Montreal also adopted a new anti-mask bylaw, while three of the four ... Continue reading →

ANTIGONISH, N.S.—A Roman Catholic bishop who was convicted of importing child pornography into Canada has been stripped of his clerical duties. The Diocese of Antigonish, N.S., says the Holy See in Rome has dismissed Raymond Lahey from the clerical state. The diocese says that is one of the most serious penalties that the Roman Catholic Church can impose. In a statement, the diocese says that means Lahey can no longer preside at any religious services or sacraments. Lahey was sentenced earlier this year to 15 months in jail after he was caught with hundreds of pornographic photos of young boys at the Ottawa airport. Continue reading →

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s premier says it was insensitive for executives at Halifax-based utility Emera to throw themselves a party one day after the private company proposed to hike energy rates. Emera, the parent company of Nova Scotia Power, hosted the event last Wednesday at a waterfront restaurant for its executives and board of directors. Nova Scotia Power announced last Tuesday that it was applying to increase rates by three per cent annually in 2014 and 2015. Premier Darrell Dexter said Emera showed “very poor judgment” in throwing the bash at a time when many Nova Scotians are struggling to make ends meet. “It shows a lack of sensitivity with respect to the way people are feeling,” he said at the provincial legislature. “There’s no ... Continue reading →

Enlarge Image Quebec construction magnate Tony Accurso leaves the Quebec Provincial Police headquarters after being arrested for charges of fraud along with 13 others Tuesday, April 17, 2012 in Montreal. Some of the public money set aside for Canada's economic recovery has ended up in the hands of companies and individuals accused of taking part in an elaborate collusion scheme in Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - Some of the public money set aside for Canada's economic recovery has ended up in the hands of companies and individuals accused of taking part in an elaborate collusion scheme in Quebec. An investigation by The Canadian Press of stimulus funding in three municipalities recently raided by police revealed three separate cases where companies tied to criminal ... Continue reading →