Six stories in the news today, Aug. 23

Aug 23, 2016 | 1:30 AM

Six stories in the news today from The Canadian Press

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JANE PHILPOTT TO REPAY $520 FOR AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS

The controversy surrounding Jane Philpott’s travel expenses grew Monday as evidence surfaced that the federal health minister billed taxpayers $520 for access to Air Canada’s executive airport lounges in North America and Europe. Late Monday, the minister promised to repay the money spent for the one-year “Maple Leaf Club North America Plus” membership.

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’60s SCOOP RALLY TO BE HELD OUTSIDE ONTARIO COURTHOUSE

Plaintiffs and supporters of the ’60s Scoop lawsuit from all over Ontario are expected to rally at a Toronto courthouse today as their lawyers press for summary judgment in the legal battle started in February 2009. The lawsuit turns on a federal-provincial arrangement — now dubbed the ’60s Scoop — in which Ontario child welfare services placed as many as 16,000 aboriginal children with non-native families between 1965 and 1984.

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FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS FLOW TO ONTARIO

The federal treasury is set to begin distributing $1.49 billion worth of transit funding among cities in Ontario for track upgrades, new buses, shelters and station upgrades. The details being announced today will outline $688 million worth of projects in five Ontario cities that are lined up to be the first recipients of the dedicated transit funding.   

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DAY 10 ENDS WITHOUT A VERDIC IN BAIN TRIAL

Deliberations in Richard Henry Bain’s first-degree murder trial are now among the longest in Canadian history, his lawyer Alan Guttman said Monday as Day 10 came and went without a verdict. Bain, 65, faces four charges, including first-degree murder in the shooting death of stagehand Denis Blanchette outside a Montreal nightclub in September 2012 as the Parti Quebecois celebrated an election win.

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NEW AIR TRANSAT MEAL POLICY UPSETTING SOME TRAVELLERS

Air Transat says it has stopped offering meal accommodations for the majority of travellers who require special diets for health or religious reasons. The airline says passengers flying economy class on transatlantic flights are required to choose from a selection of hot sandwiches that cannot be adapted to address allergies or other restrictions.

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CANADIAN OLYMPIANS BACK ON HOME TURF

Some members of Canada’s Olympic team — including closing ceremony flag-bearer Penny Oleksiak — return home this morning. A second round of athletes will also arrive early tomorrow. The returning athletes will arrive at Toronto’s Pearson Airport at about 5:30 a.m. both days. Canada finished the Games in Brazil with 22 medals and placed 10th in the medal standings.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Statistics Canada will release the July production figures for principal field crops.

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Barrie, Ont., to make an announcement with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman.

— Alberta Finance Minister Joe Ceci wil provide details on the government’s 2016-17 first quarter fiscal update.

— BMO Financial Group will release its third-quarter results.

— The federal three-person panel reviewing Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project holds roundtable meetings in Victoria.

 

The Canadian Press