Canada in Brief, Sept. 6-12

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses supporters at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Surrey, B.C., on Sept. 4, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Trudeau says he won’t use ‘tricks’ to ram through pipeline construction

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pouring cold water on Alberta’s suggestion that the federal government use legislation or a court appeal to get construction started quickly on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

In a Sept. 5 interview on Edmonton radio station CHED, Trudeau said using “tricks” such as a new law or the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause would create further legal fights down the road.

The Federal Court of Appeal last week reversed a cabinet decision to allow Trans Mountain construction to go ahead.

The prime minister was in Edmonton to meet with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who has pulled her government from the national climate plan until there’s a fix.

Archeologists aim to uncover more secrets of Franklin expedition

Canadian archeologists are set to spend two weeks exploring the wreck of HMS Erebus to uncover even more secrets from the ill-fated Franklin expedition.

The ship, along with HMS Terror, disappeared during an exploration through the Arctic in 1846, leaving the fate of captain Sir John Franklin and his crew a mystery for more than 150 years.

Inuit guides helped Parks Canada archeologists find the Erebus in 2014, and the Terror was found two years later about 100 kilometres away.

Underwater archeologists are aiming to recover artifacts from the Erebus’s living quarters, possibly including Franklin’s cabin.

New concussion guidelines could change practices worldwide

A University of Calgary researcher says new concussion guidelines in the United States could change care for all children with mild traumatic brain injuries.

The guidelines, initiated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include recommendations on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of mild concussions in children.

Keith Yeates, who runs the Integrated Concussion Research Program at the University of Calgary and co-authored the report, said they will better help doctors deal with the cases.

Deal reached on broken rail line to Churchill

A deal has been reached to sell and repair a broken rail line that is the only land link for the northern Manitoba town of Churchill.

The community on Hudson Bay has been isolated since spring flooding in 2017 damaged the line and forced fuel and food to be flown in at skyrocketing costs.

The town said the deal includes the sale of the Hudson Bay Railway, the Port of Churchill, and the Churchill Marine Tank Farm.

A news release from the federal government said the assets have been purchased by the Arctic Gateway Group, a private-public partnership of Missinippi Rail Limited Partnership, Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings, and AGT Limited Partnership.

It said they are fully committed to the restoration of the Hudson Bay rail line.

With files from The Canadian Press