Five stories in the news for today, Aug. 4

Five stories in the news for Friday, Aug. 4

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B.C. WILDFIRE SEASON IS THE WORST IN SIX DECADES

This year’s wildfire season is British Columbia’s worst in six decades and the battle is far from over. Kevin Skrepnek of the BC Wildfire Service says 4,910 square kilometres of forest, bush and grassland have been torched. B.C.’s most devastating fire season on record was in 1958, when flames consumed about 8,560 square kilometres. Skrepnek says August is usually one of the busiest months for fire, so this current situation could get worse.

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SOUND OFF

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CFJC-TV

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TORONTO TAKING STEPS TO COMBAT OVERDOSE DEATHS

Toronto is speeding up the opening of three supervised injection sites and asking police to consider having some officers carry the opioid overdose antidote naloxone as the city responds to a spike in suspected opioid-related deaths. The measures were among several laid out yesterday after the mayor held an emergency meeting with first responders, public health officials and some city councillors.

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BANK SEEKING OKAY TO REMOVE CONTROVERSIAL MARKER

The Bank of Montreal is seeking provincial permission to remove a marker from outside a branch in Old Montreal that celebrates the city’s founder, Paul de Chomedey. The inscription notes that he killed an Iroquois chief “with his on bare hands” in 1644. The building is listed as historic and government approval is needed before any renovations are made.

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NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CANADA CONFIRMED

The United States Senate has swiftly confirmed Kelly Knight Craft as the new American ambassador to Canada, endorsing her nomination just ahead of the upcoming NAFTA negotiations. Knight Craft is a longtime philanthropist, wife of a Kentucky coal magnate, and supporter of Republican causes who organized inaugural events for the state’s governor and for U.S. President Donald Trump.

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LATEST JOBS REPORT OUT TODAY

The latest jobs data comes out today for the month of July. The country’s labour market has been on a tear lately, adding 45,300 positions in June to slightly reduce the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent. Statistics Canada said the vast majority of the new jobs in June were in part-time work, although the number of full-time positions also increased.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— The first group of Mexican firefighting personnel arrive in B.C.

— Parks Canada will provide an update on the Verdant Creek wildfire in Banff, Alta.

— Trial date to be set in Calgary for Edward Downey, charged in the deaths of Sara Baillie and her five-year-old daughter Taliyah.

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the 70th Annual Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, Ont.

— In the evening, Trudeau will speak at the Laurier Club donor fundraising dinner in Victoria.

The Canadian Press