Murray Wood: Why most of us are Switzerland when it comes to culture war debates
As society becomes more and more divided, Murray Wood says a lot of his friends are just trying to stay neutral, as ther...
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…
WestJet flight from Toronto has rough landing
WestJet says a flight travelling from Toronto had a rough landing at an airport on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten yesterday afternoon.
The airline issued a statement on its website, saying flight WS2276 from Toronto experienced a hard landing upon arrival at Princess Juliana International Airport at around 1 p.m. ET.
It said foam was deployed as a precaution and the plane’s slides were activated, with all passengers and crew safely evacuated and taken to the terminal.
The airport’s operating company released its own statement regarding the incident. It said there were 164 people on board the WestJet Boeing 737-800, and three of them were taken for medical assessment.
WestJet said in its statement that it’s still awaiting confirmation of what happened to the plane, noting its teams are focused on supporting its guests and crew.
Here’s what else we’re watching…
Smoke, ‘unsettled’ weather expected in B.C.
After a weekend of smoke-filled skies across much of British Columbia, conditions are expected to improve today, with the BC Wildfire Service saying smoke should become more localized to areas near active fires.
The provincial situation report says today is expected to bring slightly cooler and “unsettled” weather in the central and southern Interior, where local downpours are possible.
Evacuation orders and alerts are in place across the Chilcotin region in central B.C. because of multiple fires burning out of control.
On Sunday, the Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation order for 85 parcels and 42 structures in the Smokey Lake fire area, adding them to hundreds of other properties in the region that have been ordered evacuated since Friday.
Special air quality statements are in place across much of the province, warning of the health risks from increased smoke levels.
Revised Alberta school book ban expected to be released today
The Alberta government is set to release its revised school library book ban today.
The government had promised an updated ministerial order Friday, but the announcement was rescheduled.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said in an email after the postponement that officials were taking the time needed to ensure a revised order was clear for all school boards.
Boards originally had until the end of the month to remove books containing images, illustrations, audio and written passages with sexually explicit content.
Edmonton’s public school board issued a list of 200 books that it would have to remove, including Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” prompting widespread criticism and ire from Atwood herself.
The government directed school boards last Tuesday to pause their work in complying with the initial order.
Union to announce next phase of B.C. strike
The president of the B.C. General Employees’ Union is set to make an announcement this morning, laying out the next phase of the union’s public service strike.
The union says Paul Finch is scheduled to speak at a picket line in Surrey on the fifth consecutive day of picketing following the launch of job action last Tuesday.
The union represents more than 34,000 members working for B.C.’s public service and has held picket lines at locations including government sites in Victoria, Surrey, and Prince George, and the Royal BC Museum.
It says some of its key asks include competitive wages and fair access to telework.
Premier David Eby has said the government’s goal is to reach a deal that’s both fair to unionized workers and to taxpayers.
Onslaught of sports betting ads harming youth: docs
Doctors are calling for restrictions on sports betting ads, saying they are setting youth up for a future of problem gambling.
An editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday says the ads are everywhere during sports broadcasts and that the legalization of online gambling has made every smartphone a potential betting platform.
Editor Dr. Shannon Charlebois says even though betting sites say they’re only for people 19 years of age and older, youth are being inundated with advertising that equates enjoying sports with betting.
Charlebois says a bill to regulate sports betting advertising has been introduced in the Senate and if passed, would be a good start to addressing the problem.
She would like to see gambling advertising restricted during games and removed from social media platforms used by youth.
Jodie Foster among TIFF Tribute Award recipients
When Jodie Foster began working in Hollywood as a child actress, she says there weren’t very many women around.
“Occasionally there was a script supervisor or maybe a makeup and hair person, but then mostly not,” Foster said on the red carpet ahead of the Toronto International Film Festival’s Tribute Awards.
Foster was among the Hollywood elites honoured Sunday at the awards show that celebrates the contributions of actors and filmmakers to cinema, alongside the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Channing Tatum, Idris Elba and Catherine O’Hara.
Del Toro was honoured with the TIFF Ebert Director Award in celebration of his decades-long career that includes an Academy Award win for “The Shape of Water.”
O’Hara is the recipient of the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award.
The Toronto-born actress is known for iconic comedic characters in “Beetlejuice,” “Home Alone,” and “Schitt’s Creek.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2025.
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