Canada’s wild pigs risk ‘absolute destruction’ if left unchecked

The Canadian city of Edmonton may soon be hogtied with a problem that it won’t be able to barbecue its way out of.

Wild pigs have been spreading across central Alberta’s prairies and if left unchecked, could soon find themselves in the river valley of Edmonton. According to Ryan Brook, a University of Saskatchewan professor studying the pigs, the creatures are an “ecological trainwreck” and would cause “absolute destruction” if they make their way to the river valley, which is abundant in water and forest cover.

Share

Former Squamish Five terrorist transforms from bombing to filmmaking – blames ex-boyfriend

Juliet Belmas contemplated the trajectory of her life — teenager-turned-terrorist, imprisonment, a career in the movie business, an opioid-crisis film-in-the-works, and now the invasion of Ukraine.

… Belmas once did many bad things, but that was another lifetime — although forever present.

Sentenced to 20 years for her role in the Squamish Five “urban guerrilla” group — she, Ann Hansen, Brent Taylor, Doug Stewart and Gerry Hannah waged a violent campaign in the early 1980s that included bombing an Ontario factory making U.S. missile parts.

“I met Brent Taylor when I was just turning 18,” she said, still incredulous at her naiveté.

Share

And now comes the first faint cry for bailouts from our ever virtuous Titans of Commerce…

Analysis: Confusion, but not panic, reigns in global finance in Russia’s wake

March 7 (Reuters) – Western allies’ sanctions against Russia have started to blow back in the form of large potential losses for their own banks, companies and investors, often in unexpected ways. In the past, such fires have been precursors to financial crises.

But some market participants say they aren’t seeing panic in the market, at least not yet.

“We haven’t had any of those ‘holy shit’ phone calls,” said David Schamis, co-founder of financial services-focused private equity firm Atlas Merchant Capital, while heading out of town for his daughter’s hockey tournament over the weekend.

Oligarchs gonna Oligarch on your back.

Share

‘Gypsy’ replaced by ‘spongy’ in name for invasive moth

Gypsy Queen is Happy

An invasive moth species is getting a new name after the old one was dropped for containing what some consider a racial slur .

The insect formerly known as the “gypsy moth” will now go by the common name “spongy moth,” the Entomological Society of America announced Wednesday. It is the first name change, along with the retirement of the name “gypsy ant,” that the organization governing the study of insects in the United States has implemented as part of its Better Common Names Project.

Share

Mexican football match descends into BLOODBATH: ‘Up to 17’ fans killed

At least 22 people were brutally injured – two of them seriously – after a football match descended into carnage in central Mexico yesterday.

Unconfirmed reports are circulating that up to 17 people could have died attending the game between the host Queretaro and Atlas from Guadalajara – the reigning league champion.

The match was suspended in the 62nd minute when multiple fights suddenly broke out in the stands – with men seen tearing off the jerseys of their rivals.

Share

Austrian bishop hangs banner of nude trans activist over main altar for Lent

The Catholic bishop of Innsbruck, Austria, inaugurated a “Lenten” decoration of the main altar of the historic University church of Saint John Nepomuk, a baroque jewel from the early 18th century. The “decoration” shows an enlarged partial inverted photograph of a naked young man with scars and tattoos lying on a bed and has been placed as an altarpiece above the tabernacle of the former main altar of the church. The piece of contemporary art by Carmen Brucic was specially chosen by Bishop Hermann Glettler, and bears the title: “Tired.”

Share

Trudeau to protect number of Quebec’s Commons seats to ensure province doesn’t lose MP

The federal government is preparing to take action to ensure that Quebec does not lose a seat when Canada’s electoral map is redrawn.

A number of government departments are working on proposals to protect Quebec’s voice in Parliament as it faces losing a seat in an upcoming redistribution of seats based on population.

Because Quebec’s population has declined, it stands to lose an MP, while other provinces with growing populations, including Alberta, would gain MPs. The last time a province lost a seat in redistribution was in 1966.

Share

Patrick Brown’s decision whether to enter the Conservative leadership race coming ‘soon’

A spokesman for Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says he will soon make a decision about whether to enter the Conservative party leadership race.

Gary Collins says Brown is pleased with the rules the party’s leadership election organizing committee has released so far on how long candidates will have to sign up members.

The party says candidates will have until April 19 to enter the race and until June 3 to submit membership applications.

Share

Lawyer for RCMP official accused of leaking secrets seeks a stay of proceedings

The lawyer for an RCMP official accused of preparing to leak sensitive information is seeking to have at least part of the case against him stayed.

Cameron Ortis, who served as director general of the RCMP’s national intelligence co-ordination centre, is charged with violating the Security of Information Act. He was arrested in September 2019 and is accused of trying to share sensitive information with a foreign entity or terrorist organization. He’s also charged with sharing operational information in 2015.

We’re never going to know what happened here and no one aside from Ortis will lose their job.

Share