The Thursday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories

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TERRORIST SUSPECT SPARKS DEBATE ON PEACE BONDS: A man who police say was planning a terrorist attack was under a peace bond and that has prompted debate about whether the court-ordered tool is an effective means of controlling radicalized people. Under the terms of his peace bond, Aaron Driver was prohibited from using a computer or cellphone at his Strathroy, Ont., residence. The RCMP candidly acknowledge Driver was not under constant surveillance and that only a tip from U.S. authorities alerted them to his plans. He died in a confrontation with police Wednesday after climbing into a waiting taxi. Phil Gurski, a former intelligence analyst who specializes in counter-radicalization efforts, says Canada needs a mature, reasoned debate about what tools security organizations require.

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NO GUARANTEE OF ATLANTIC CANADIAN ON SUPREME COURT: Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould says an advisory board developing a list of candidates for the Supreme Court will include judges from Atlantic Canada. However she told a House of Commons justice committee on Thursday that it doesn’t mean someone from the region will be appointed. Justice Thomas Cromwell, who is from Nova Scotia, will retire next month and traditionally he would be replaced by another judge from Atlantic Canada. The Liberal government came under criticism last week when it indicated the seven-member advisory board, chaired by former prime minister Kim Campbell, would consider candidates from across the country.

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LEGAL POT COULD BRING INCREASED IMPAIRED DRIVING: Federal documents say Canada’s justice minister has been warned that legalizing marijuana could result in an increase in impaired driving cases.  The documents obtained by The Canadian Press were briefing materials for Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. Federal officials say there is limited data as only two jurisdictions in the United States have legalized marijuana: Colorado and Washington. The memo says in Colorado, in the year following marijuana legalization, there was a 32 per cent increase in marijuana-related traffic deaths.

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U.S. MAINTAINS POT IS DANGEROUS: The Obama administration isn’t going to reclassify marijuana and remove it from the list of the most dangerous drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration says it consulted with the Health and Human Services Department and concluded that marijuana will remain in the class of drugs that have “no accepted medical use in the United States.” The agency is opening the door to further medical research of the drug by expanding the number of agencies that can legally grow marijuana for research purposes.

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FORD CRACK VIDEO FINALLY MADE PUBLIC: Three years ago it was the most sought after video in Canada and finally the notorious images of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford crack cocaine was made public Thursday.  The so-called “crack video” was released after the conclusion of a court case involving Ford’s friend and driver Alexander (Sandro) Lisi, who faced an extortion charge related to efforts made to retrieve the clip. Some people called publishing the video “tasteless” and shameful, while others said they respected that media outlets were simply doing their job. Ford’s brother, Doug accused the media of wanting to rehash the scandal and trample over the grave of the former mayor, who died of cancer earlier this year.

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TRUMP WON’T BACK DOWN ON LATEST ACCUSATION AGAINST OBAMA: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is refusing to take back his claim that President Barack Obama founded the Islamic State group — even when he’s challenged on the logic of his position. When a conservative radio host pointed out that Obama “is trying to kill them” — meaning militants — with airstrikes, Trump replied, “I don’t care.” Clinton’s campaign accuses Trump of “trash-talking” the U.S. while failing to present any serious counter-terrorism plans of his own. 

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FEDS TRYING TO SORT OUT ROOT CAUSES OF PHOENIX DEBACLE: The federal government’s focus is shifting as it tries to sort out the troubled Phoenix payroll system that has left many government employees without pay. The government has been trying to deal with cases of workers who haven’t been paid for months, including new workers and students. Marie Lemay, the deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement, says after months of trying to resolve pay issues, officials are turning their attention to figuring out the root causes of the glitches.

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FUNDRAISING UNDERWAY TO HELP QUEBEC FAMILY HIT BY TRAGEDY: A fundraising drive is underway to help the father of a baby who was born shortly after her mother was fatally struck by a car. The initiative has already raised more than $24,000, only several hours after the launch of the funding drive. Marie-Pier Gagne was 40 weeks pregnant when she was hit by a Quebec City driver on Wednesday morning. She died but her baby survived and is still in hospital. Gagne’s cousin, Emilie Marceau, started the funding drive and said all the money collected will go to the baby’s father for food and other expenses.

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CONTROVERSIAL JET FIGHTER MAKES CANADIAN DEBUT: The new-age fighter jet with a ballooning price tag that was the running to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 fleet has made its first visit to Canada. A pair of F-35 stealth fighters roared into British Columbia on Thursday in preparation for the Abbotsford International Airshow. The federal Liberal government promised during last year’s election campaign that it would hold an open competition to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 fleet, but it also pledged not to buy the F-35.

The Canadian Press