In the news today, Feb. 13

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BOUSHIE RELATIVES TO MEET WITH MINISTERS

Relatives of a First Nations man whose accused killer was acquitted by a Saskatchewan jury are meeting federal ministers to take what they call a first step in reforming Canada’s justice system. On Friday, a jury found Gerald Stanley, 56, not guilty of second-degree murder in the 2016 shooting death of Colten Boushie, 22. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould is expected to meet Boushie’s family today along with Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale.

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INQUIRY HOLDING HEARINGS IN MONCTON, N.B.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls begins two days of hearings in Moncton, N.B., today. Commissioner Michele Audette says about 20 family members and survivors are expected to address the hearings. The federal government set up the inquiry in December 2015 to address the high number of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The commissioners began the inquiry in September 2016.

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HOUSING, CHILD CARE FOCUS OF B.C. NDP AGENDA

Premier John Horgan’s New Democrats return to the B.C. legislature today. The NDP will set out its agenda for the latest legislative session with a throne speech today, followed by the provincial budget on Feb. 20. Horgan says his minority government will not waver from its focus on affordable housing and child-care programs despite the ongoing dispute with Alberta over the Trans Mountain pipeline.

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TRUMP THREATENS NEW ‘RECIPROCAL’ TAX

U.S. President Donald Trump is complaining about Canadian trade practices while threatening some as-yet-undefined international tax that has revived fears he might be contemplating new American import penalties. Trump said Monday that ”Canada does not treat us right in terms of the farming and the crossing the borders” but was non-specific. ‘ The White House had downplayed the threat and various U.S. media outlets said there was nothing imminent.

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GM BRINGS MAVEN CAR-SHARING TO TORONTO

General Motors Co. is bringing its Maven car-sharing business to Canada for the first time as part of the Detroit-based company’s broader strategy for navigating a changing automotive world. Toronto will be the first non-U.S. city to offer GM’s Maven City app-driven service, which has grown to 17 American cities since it was launched two years ago in New York City. The app enables Maven members to reserve cars by the hour, day, week and month.

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FEDS TO SEEK ORAL HISTORY ON FRANKLIN WRECKS

Parks Canada is launching an effort to collect testimony from Inuit elders who have knowledge of the doomed Franklin expedition of 1845. The project is seeking a contractor to conduct archival research and record interviews with elders with knowledge of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror shipwreck sites. The two ships were part of Sir John Franklin’s 1845 quest to find the elusive Northwest Passage and their disappearance remains a mystery today.

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CANADA ASSURED OF A CURLING MEDAL TODAY

Canada is assured of another gold or silver medal on Tuesday when the curtain falls on the inaugural Olympic mixed curling tournament. Ottawa’s John Morris and Winnipeg’s Kaitlyn Lawes will play Switzerland for the gold medal. Canada was holding at seven medals overall early Tuesday — two gold, four silver and a bronze.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and MP Peter Julian unveil the party’s top priorities for the upcoming federal budget.

— A vigil in support of Colten Boushie’s family will be held today in Montreal.

— Quebec’s health minister will hold a news conference to discuss the introduction of cameras in long-term care homes.

— Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan meets with NATO defence ministers in Brussels and Rome.

— The Canadian Union of Postal Workers will discuss its struggle for pay equity for rural and suburban mail carriers.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, Feb. 13

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