February 2005 in Canada
February 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December
Events in Canada
This page deals with current events in Canada, of interest to Canada and/or involving Canadians.
February 28, 2005
- Studies on polygamy will be done by Status of Women Canada for the federal government to address concerns that same-sex marriage will be a step towards it. The results will be published in December or January. (CTV)
- The five-year battle to live in Canada ended for Sanja Pecelj's as she arrived in Halifax. Having spent 441 days in a church basement for sanctuary from being deported to Kosovo where her house had been destroyed in the conflict. In order for Nova Scotia to sponsor her immigration application, which had broad community support, she had to leave temporarily. Sanja lived with her sister in Mexico for six months during the process. (CBC)
February 27, 2005
- Scott Tournament of Hearts: An incredible final shot by Jennifer Jones of Team Manitoba in the last end of play resulted in four points, defeating the Jenn Hanna four-some of Team Ontario. Jones down by two at this point was forced to make an in-off of a rock sittout side the rings to hit an other-wise secure Ontario rock sitting on the button. She made the shot, winning the game 8-6. (CBC sports)
- In Langley, B.C. there is a push by a Conservative MP to extend compassionate care benefits to siblings. This comes as a result of a woman dying of cancer who's immediate family is her sister, and she was denied federal benefits because of a gap in the law. (CBC)
- Fateh Kamel an Algerian-Canadian convicted in 2001 in France of assisting terrorists with passports arrived in Montreal after being released four years into his eight year sentence for good behavior. Deputy Conservative leader Peter MacKay wants further investigation into Fateh's crimes, but authorities stress they want to balance security and the rights of Canadian citizens. (CBC)
- There was a fire in Palais Montcalm a landmark in Quebec City. The damage is estimated at $100,000 and may delay restoration work which was in progress. (CBC)
February 26, 2005
February 25, 2005
- A federal court ruled that neo-Nazi activist and Holocaust-denier Ernst Zündel could be deported from Canada. He has been jailed in Toronto for the past two years under post 9/11 legislation to assess whether he posed a risk to Canadian society. Zündel will be arrested and face charges in Germany for his activities if he is deported. (Haaretz)
- Missile defense: Prime Minister Paul Martin stipulated that despite not joining America's missile defence program he expected to be consulted if a missile was to be intercepted in Canadian airspace. (CBC)
- Manitoba is joining British Columbia's lawsuit against North American and foreign-based tobacco companies. B.C. is seeking $10 billion in compensation from tobacco companies for related health-care costs. (CTV)
- 2005 Scott Tournament of Hearts: Defending Scott champion Colleen Jones fails to make it 5 championship wins in a row, as she was ousted by Sandy Comeau's rink from New Brunswick in the morning tie-breaker. Comeau would then play Jenn Hanna's Ontario rink who had beaten Alberta's Cathy King rink in the other morning tie-breaker. Hanna would go on to win the final tie-breaker which determined the last playoff spot. In the evening, the page-playoffs began with Hanna once again winning, defeating Saskatchewan's Stefanie Lawton rink in the 3-4 game for the right to go to the semi-final on Saturday. In the other playoff game, Manitoba's Jennifer Jones rink defeats British Columbia's Kelly Scott rink in the 1-2 game, forcing Scott to play in the semi-final on Saturday and giving Jones a bye to the final on Sunday. (CBC sports)
February 24, 2005
February 23, 2005
February 22, 2005
February 21, 2005
February 20, 2005
February 19, 2005
- Famous Players will no longer run "issue-driven advertising" and has cancelled the same-sex advertising sponsored by Canadians for Equal Marriage. This decision came after a boycott of theaters and death threats were received by staff. Vice-president of corporate affairs Nuria Bronfman stated the ads were at the end of their run and Famous Players was "not succumbing to threats or boycotts." (CTV)
- The 2005 Scott Tournament of Hearts, Canada's national curling championship for women begins play at Mile One Stadium in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Team Canada's Colleen Jones, the defending champion is upset by Jenn Hanna of team Ontario. Elsewhere, former Scott champion Cathy King of Alberta loses both her games. British Columbia's Kelly Scott and Saskatchewan's Stefanie Lawton both are undefeated at 2-0 while Manitoba's Jennifer Jones, Nova Scotia's Kay Zinck, New Brunswick's Sandy Comeau in addition to Hanna are at 1-0. (CBC)
- Adil Charkaoui, a suspected sleeper terrorist, was released after 21 months detention and $50,000 bail. He is required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and has significant restrictions on his movement, computer use and contacts. (National Post)
February 18, 2005
- Quebec Premier Jean Charest reshuffles his cabinet in an attempt to restore confidence in his liberal government after losing popularity as a result of flip-flops and indecision. (Globe and Mail)
- Kyoto Protocol: The current budget for meeting Kyoto goals is estimated to be $5–6 billion in next week's budget. Almost half of this funding is recycling unspent funds from previous programs. It's believed by some the funding is aimed at increasing support for the federal liberals in British Columbia, Quebec and traditional NDP voters. (Globe and Mail)
- Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh will ask the public for input into the benefits and risks of prescription drugs at public hearings in the next few weeks. (TheStar)
February 17, 2005
February 16, 2005
- Same-sex marriage: In Ottawa, Prime Minister Paul Martin criticized opponents of legalizing gay marriage as being "disingenuous" when they implied it could be easily undone in the future. At the same time some Conservatives opposed to same-sex marriage have suggested it could lead to the legalization of polygamy. (Reuters)
- A security review of Hydro-Québec facilities is underway after Radio-Canada reporters were able to gain access to dams and critical control panels unimpeded. Regulation for Hydro-Québec falls to the province because it is a private company. (CTV)
- Kyoto Protocol: Prime Minister Paul Martin said Canada would help countries outside of the protocol reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. The Prime Minister was then attacked by critics who noted Ottawa had yet to clarify how it could meet its own commitments more than 10 years after signing on to Kyoto. Greenpeace activists, some dressed as polar bears, protested at Parliament Hill for Canada to do more. (Reuters)
- 2005 Budget: Stephen Harper warned the liberal government it should not expect automatic support for its budget. Since liberal have only 125 seats compared to the combined 150 seats of the Conservative, Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party. Although it has been hinted some Conservatives will miss the vote to avoid a re-election. (CBC)
February 15, 2005
- In Ottawa, Sheila Fraser reveals in her latest report that of the $9 billion given to 15 private foundations, which the federal government cannot hold accountable, $7.7 billion is unspent gathering interest. (CBC)
- Health Canada might introduce measures similar to Australia in warning of the potential dangers of painkillers known as Cox-2 inhibitors. Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh is considering creating an independent drug agency to monitor drugs on the market. This follows high profile drugs such as Vioxx being pulled from the market after health complications arose. (Canada)
- The 40th anniversary of the Canadian flag designed by George F.G. Stanley. Prime Minister Paul Martin thanked John Matheson for his role in the multi-party parliamentary committee that selected the flag, and presented him with the flag flown at Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965. (CTV) (CBC)
- 2004 tsunami: The Canadian death toll is increased from 9 (Feb. 10) to 12, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Eight people are still considered to be missing in tsunami disaster zones in Thailand. (CBC)
- Equalization payments: Ontario is demanding $5 billion more from the federal government and P.E.I. wants to renegotiate its deal too. (CBC)
February 14, 2005
February 13, 2005
February 12, 2005
- The government of Ontario criticized anesthesiologists for being "greedy" and were holding patients "hostage" with their one day protest on February 11. The anesthesiologist chair of the Ontario Medical Association responded that unless action was taken by the government wait times would continue to increase as overworked, underpaid anesthesiologists left Ontario or retired. (TheStar)
February 11, 2005
February 10, 2005
February 9, 2005
February 8, 2005
February 7, 2005
- In Toronto, Bob Rae released a report which concluded Ontario needs to spend more than $1.5 billion on post-secondary education to improve quality and accessibility to low-income people. (CBC)
February 6, 2005
- U.S. Missile Defence: At a major conference in Harriman, New York, Ottawa is urged to stop debating the issue and sign up to the project. Moving forward is seen as important to addressing other issues of maritime defence and trans-border planning. (CBC)
February 5, 2005
- The University of Calgary is about to introduce a new computer science course teaching students how write programs that create e-mail spam as well as spyware. The idea being knowing how to write the software will improve ones ability to combat it. Security on the program will be tight and students will be required to sign waivers. (CBC)
February 4, 2005
February 3, 2005
- Canada's tsunami response was characterized as "amateur" by John Watson, president and chief executive of CARE Canada. Sending the DART with expensive overhead (e.g. leasing transport planes) was not only inefficient but requires slow political decision making. Mr. Watson proposes NGO's create a "unified aid delivery system, based on the British model." (CBC)
February 2, 2005
February 1, 2005
News collections and sources
- Wikipedia:News collections and sources.
- Wikipedia:News sources - This has much of the same material organised in a hierarchical manner to help encourage NPOV in our news reporting.