Canada in Brief, Oct. 26-Nov. 1

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau is given a standing ovation as he presents the fall fiscal update in the House of Commons on Oct. 24, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Feds use a third of economic windfall for new tax measures, spending

The Trudeau government is dedicating about a third of the expected windfall from Canada’s surprisingly strong economy toward new investments, benefits for families with kids, and additional help for the working poor.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s fall economic statement released Oct. 23 promised $14.9 billion in fresh spending and tax relief over the next five years—on top of what it had outlined in its March budget.

Thanks to the unexpectedly robust economy over the last year, the government has received a mid-mandate financial bump that’s expected to trim a total of $46.6 billion from its projected deficits over the same five-year period.

Two more women file sex assault complaints against Gilbert Rozon

Two more Quebec women have filed official complaints of sexual assault against Just For Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon.

They are TV personality Penelope McQuade, 46, and actress Patricia Tulasne, 58—two of the 10 women who accused Rozon last week of sexual harassment or sexual assault.

News of the police complaints comes a day after TV star Julie Snyder filed a similar complaint with authorities.

Rozon founded Just For Laughs in 1983 and was serving as president when he resigned last week as news of the allegations surfaced. He also stepped down as vice-president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce and as head of the committee behind Montreal’s 375th-anniversary celebrations.

Canada’s Walk of Fame to add 6 new names

Six more names will be added to Canada’s Walk of Fame next month. Two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion Donovan Bailey is among those who will be inducted at an annual awards gala in Toronto on Nov. 15.

Actress Anna Paquin, the youngest Canadian to win an Academy Award, will also receive a star, as will science broadcaster and environmental activist David Suzuki.

Several people are receiving posthumous honours, including civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond, Ted Rogers, the late president and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc., and folk icon Stompin' Tom Connors, who died in 2013.

This year’s additions bring the number of inductees to 173.

With files from The Canadian Press