FONOM debate a lively affair
There were a few sparks during the FONOM provincial leaders’ debate in North Bay involving the four major party leaders.
A couple of times there were calls of ‘shame’ from the crowd about the Liberals cancelling the Northlander passenger train in 2012.
All four parties have pledged to restore passenger rail service to the northeast.
Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities President Danny Whalen says the debate went very well with each of the leaders focusing on their party platforms.
Whalen says he’s already told the leaders he’ll be knocking on the door of the winner.
Other issues discussed included affordability, housing, winter road maintenance, the pandemic, mental health and addictions.
Conservative leadership debate tonight
The six people in the running to become the new leader of the federal Conservative party are preparing for their first official debate this evening, to be held in Edmonton.
An “unofficial” debate, held last week in Ottawa, saw five candidates in attendance, and it quickly turned into a series of personal attacks, interruptions, and shouting.
Analysts say some candidates may increase their attacks during this evening’s debate.
Conservative officials say a French-language debate is set for May 24th and one more may be held in late August.
The party faithful is to cast their leadership ballots on September 10th.
Some movement for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country’s soldiers are making progress in their battle against Russian forces in the disputed Donbas region in
eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky says Ukrainian troops have pushed back attempts to take the city of Kharkiv, a major industrial centre in the region.
Russian-backed separatists have been operating in the Donbas since 2014.
Meantime, Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold out in a sprawling steel plant in the devastated southern port city of Mariupol.
Environmental appeal
The federal government says it will appeal an Alberta court ruling that its environmental impact law is unconstitutional.
The court says the law is an example of “legislative creep”, an attempt by the federal government to
move into an area that is supposed to be under provincial jurisdiction.
The Impact Assessment Agency, established by the legislation, allows Ottawa to evaluate major natural resources projects on a broad range of environmental and social issues, including climate change.