Eight stories in the news today, Dec. 5

Eight stories in the news for Monday, Dec. 5

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ENERGY EAST STILL NEEDED, N.B. PREMIER SAYS

New Brunswick’s premier says there’s still a strong need for the proposed Energy East pipeline project despite the federal government’s approval of two pipeline expansions in western Canada. Brian Gallant says Energy East would help eastern refineries reduce their dependence on foreign oil, and provide a safe mode to get oil from Alberta.

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SPOKESWOMAN SAYS NOTLEY WILL VISIT B.C.

A spokeswoman for Rachel Notley says the Alberta premier will visit British Columbia today. Cheryl Oates confirmed the visit would occur when she was asked via text over the weekend, but did not respond to emails asking for details. Notley said last week that she would be heading to B.C. as early as this week to make the case for Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced federal approval of Trans Mountain last Tuesday.

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COMPETITION BUREAU LOOKS AT POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT BID RIGGING

The Competition Bureau of Canada says its efforts to prevent bid rigging in construction contracts this year has already turned up potential criminal activity — just as new federal infrastructure money begins to flow. It couldn’t say if any of the situations relate to projects funded by the infrastructure program. But the bureau warned the Trudeau government months ago that its multibillion dollar infrastructure commitment would prove tempting for companies looking to illegally boost their bottom lines.

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AMERICANS REACT TO SOFTWOOD LUMBER DISPUTE

A leading American voice for free trade with Canada says the imposition of import tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber would place a heavy burden on consumers and U.S. workers. The U.S. National Association of Home Builders says duties or volume caps on imported lumber would add more than $1,300 to the cost of a new single family home and result in a net loss of almost 8,000 American jobs. The U.S. Lumber Coalition has petitioned Washington to impose duties to offset the harm that it claims subsidized Canadian softwood lumber is doing to U.S. mills, workers and communities.

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COPYCATS COULD USE DRONE IN ATTACK: REPORT

A federal intelligence report warns that publicity about near-misses between drones and passenger aircraft might give terrorists ideas about how to take down a plane. The Transport Canada report obtained by The Canadian Press also suggests small unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, could easily be used for advance surveillance of targets. The assessment underscores concern in intelligence circles that terrorists could take advantage of the tiny, inexpensive and widely available flying machines.

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DEFENCE TO CALL EVIDENCE IN TAMARA LOVETT CASE

The defence is to begin arguing its case today at the trial of a woman who treated her son with dandelion tea and oil of oregano before he died of a strep infection. Tamara Lovett’s trial is entering its second week in a Calgary courtroom. She’s charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life and with criminal negligence causing death. Her seven-year-old son, Ryan Alexander Lovett, died in March 2013 after getting a strep infection that kept him bedridden for 10 days.

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TRIAL RESUMES FOR TRIO LINKED TO POLYGAMOUS SECT

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin today in the trial of three people connected to a British Columbia polygamous community. Brandon Blackmore, Emily Ruth Gail Blackmore and James Oler are charged with taking girls into the United States for a sexual purpose. The Blackmores are each accused of transporting a 13-year-old girl across the border. Priesthood records admitted into evidence show Warren Jeffs, the now imprisoned prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, married that girl in 2004.

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QUEBECERS GO TO POLLS IN FOUR BYELECTIONS

Voters in four Quebec ridings head to the polls today in what will be Jean-Francois Lisee’s first major test as Parti Quebecois leader. One of the ridings up for grabs will be Saint-Jerome, which has been vacant since former PQ leader Pierre Karl Peladeau resigned abruptly in May, citing family reasons. The governing Liberals hold a strong majority in the provincial legislature with 69 of 125 seats.

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