Canada in Brief, June 9-15

Canada in Brief, June 9-15
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signs a book of condolence at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa as Sophie Gregoire Trudeau looks, June 14, 2016. The Prime Minister visited the embassy to pay his respects as Americans grieve the killings of 49 patrons at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
The Canadian Press
6/15/2016
Updated:
6/15/2016

Trudeau, Obama exchange condolences over tragedy in Orlando, hostage death

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with President Barack Obama to offer condolences for the loss of life in the mass shooting in Orlando on the weekend.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s solidarity with the people of Orlando, families and friends of the victims, and the LGBTQ community.

He and Obama agreed on the importance of fighting hate and intolerance, and the need to promote and protect pluralism and diversity.

Obama also expressed condolences for the killing of Robert Hall by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines. The two men said they will continue working together in the fight against terrorism.

Hall family backs Canada’s policy not to pay ransom

OTTAWA—Relatives of a Canadian man slain by militants in the Philippines say they agree with Canada’s policy of not paying ransom for hostages.

Robert Hall had been held hostage by Abu Sayyaf since September 2015 and was killed earlier this week after a deadline for a ransom payment passed.

In a statement distributed by the press gallery in Ottawa, Hall’s family says every option to free him was considered and efforts to that end were “vast and exhaustive.”

In the end, the family says it agrees with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s directive that money not be paid to hostage takers who seek to undermine fundamental Canadian values.

Alberta officials say huge Fort McMurray wildfire no longer growing

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta.—The huge wildfire that tore through parts of Fort McMurray and northeastern Alberta is classified as being held for the first time since it became out of control in early May.

Wildfire information officer Lynn Daina said the designation means the fire is no longer growing, but is not yet under control.

Daina said it’s an important day for firefighters who have been battling the blaze for weeks. She said the work of firefighters combined with recent rainy weather and high humidity checked the fire’s growth.

Thousands of residents have been returning to Fort McMurray this month after being forced to flee on May 3.

Concrete poured into Ottawa sinkhole that swallowed 3 lanes of pavement

OTTAWA—Officials say they have poured concrete into a massive sinkhole that opened up in the middle of downtown Ottawa five days ago, but the street remains closed.

The sinkhole swallowed three lanes of pavement, the sidewalk and a parked minivan when it opened up on June 8, and the city’s mayor says it may take several weeks to reopen the road.

City officials say the “first phase” of concrete work has been finished on the sinkhole, and many of the businesses that were forced to close last week have reopened.

However, some of the buildings are still without water, and others are under a precautionary advisory to boil water before drinking it. The cause of the sinkhole has yet to be determined.

Former Victoria seniors home to house 140 homeless, including tent city camp

VICTORIA—The British Columbia government has bought a former seniors care facility in downtown Victoria and plans to turn it into 140 housing units for the homeless.

The purchase comes as the province heads to B.C. Supreme Court later this month in its second attempt to evict the 80 to 100 people who have been camping on the grounds of the Victoria courthouse since last year.

B.C. paid $11.2 million for the former care facility which will be ready for tenants next month.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman says the new building has enough space for the homeless camp residents who are living in unsafe conditions in tarp-covered tents beside the courthouse.

With files from The Canadian Press