March 2005 in Canada
Events in Canada
This page deals with current events in Canada, of interest to Canada and/or involving Canadians.
March 31, 2005
- The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of Anglophones and immigrants in Quebec, making more of them eligible for English-language schooling. However, the court rejected the claim that francophones have a right, under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to place their children in English-language schools. The decisions did not strike down Bill 101. (CBC) (National Post)
- A massive fire ravages a plastics factory in Toronto's industrial west end, closing part of a major highway and keeping 150 firefighters and 45 vehicles from six fire stations on the scene throughout the night. (CBC)
- The Royal Air Force pulls out of CFB Goose Bay, ending a permanent presence it has had in Canada since the end of the Second World War. Defence planners in the United Kingdom say they cannot afford to maintain barracks and hangars in a foreign country while closing bases at home. (CBC)
- The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) has ordered Montreal's CKAC-AM station to make a full apology after Psychiatrist Pierre Mailloux, host of the Doc Mailloux phone-in show referred to the Sikh people as a "gang of bozos", however, they stated that when he said "You cultural communities come from a wacko country. You live a wacko culture. Don't bring it with you. That's the message to convey" he was acting within the boundreis of "freedom of expression". (BBC)
March 30, 2005
- It was revealed by her doctor that Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi was severely beaten and probably tortured and raped in Iran. (Globe&Mail)
- Canada fell to the number two spot on The Economist's 'best places in the world to do business'. Denmark is now number one, while the US is tied for third. (Globe&Mail)
- All three levels of government in cooperation with the private sector, will build a 52 house community in the Town of Okotoks, south of Calgary. It will be North America's first large-scale solar heating system. (Federal Government)
- The head of Interpol, an American, claims that Canada is not a 'superway' for terrorists like the US claims and that Canada is, in fact, a leader in cooperation with international policing. (Globe&Mail)
- The federal government will move the Canadian Tourism Commission, an 80-man, $80 million crown corporation, from Ottawa to Vancouver. It will be the first federal agency headquartered in British Columbia (Vancouver Sun)
March 29, 2005
March 28, 2005
March 27, 2005
March 26, 2005
March 25, 2005
March 24, 2005
March 23, 2005
- BC Lions announce that they have purchased the FieldTurf surface used by the Montreal Expos during their final season at Olympic Stadium, and will install it at B.C. Place for the 2005 Canadian Football League season. (CP)
- Police issued a warrant for Jim Mercier a former owner of an Alberta skydiving school. Mercier failed to show up to an inquiry in the death of an 18-year-old student when her parachute failed to open during a jump. (CBC)
- The Haida Nation has set up blockades to stop logging operations in British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands. They wish to be consulted on the sale of Crown timber rights to Brascan Corporation. (CBC)
- Canada can learn from Dutch hospitals on how to control the spread of superbugs. This comes after a CBC investigation indicated a lack of compliance with safety standards could be contributing to the deaths of 8,000 Canadians a year. (CBC)
- 2005 World Women's Curling Championship: Canada wins 11–4 over Italy's Diana Gaspari but loses 10–7 to the United States, skipped by Cassandra Johnson. Canada sits at 7–3 (TSN)
March 22, 2005
- The Department of Fisheries announced that a 2-month seal hunt will be permitted in the Atlantic starting 29 March 2005. Over 300,000 pups, and about a million seals overall, will be allowed to be culled. (BBC) (Reuters)
- A federal report by the House of Commons fisheries committee states that the Fraser River is near a crisis. A third of the 2004 salmon run went missing and the report blames rising water temperatures and illegal overfishing. (CBC BC)
- In Athens, Greece, a 16-year-old girl from Duncan, BC, was arrested on Sunday, and released on Tuesday pending trial, for violating an antiquity law by holding an ancient ruin for a picture. While the teen admits possessing the stone she claims ignorance of the law banning such possession. (Vancouver Sun)
- RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli provided an update on the investigations findings of the Rochfort Bridge massacre. He said police were prepared, a risk assessment had been done and there is no way to "plan for or manage the insane behaviours of an individual." However, changes would likely be made after a review of the shootings and Commissioner Zaccardelli called for a judicial review of how past charges against Roszko were dropped. (CTV)
- The young girl who was thrown onto a busy highway by her late father less than three weeks ago was released from hospital today. Although she will wear a neck brace and require therapy she is expected to make a full recovery. (CTV)
- At the 2005 World Women's Curling Championship, Canada's Jennifer Jones wins both of her games: defeating Japan 13-7 and Denmark 9-3 for a 6–2 record good enough for 4th place as yet. (TSN)
March 21, 2005
March 20, 2005
March 19, 2005
March 18, 2005
- Ontario's 2004–05 budget deficit triples from $2.2 billion to approximately $6 billion after changes in the inclusion of savings on electricity subsidies. This undercuts an election promise from Premier Dalton McGuinty of a balanced budget. (CBC)
- The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the Provinces may restrict the in-store promotion of tobacco products. (Globe&Mail) (Supreme Court)
- A further 8 mutilated bald eagles were discovered in North Vancouver bringing the total to at least 50 dead. A $10,000 reward has been posted for the capture of the poachers responsible. (National Post)
- Métis in northwestern Saskatchewan will receive $13.5 million from Canada and $6 million from Saskatchewan in compensation for the loss of traditional hunting grounds when the governments established a weapons range there in 1953. The funds will be used to create an economic development] fund for the Métis communities. (CBC)
- A day after he is acquitted of any role in the bombing of Air-India flight 182, Ripudaman Singh Malik has his business broken into and ransacked. (Globe&Mail)
March 17, 2005
- Victims' families want a public inquiry after 2 suspects are found not guilty of bombing Air-India flight 182 by the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver on March 16. The trial and prosecution is the most expensive in Canadian history at an estimated $130 million. (Globe&Mail) (CBC)
March 16, 2005
- The Quebec student strike reaches a peak in Montreal, where between 10 000 and 100 000 students take to downtown streets. Over 230 000 students are on strike this day, 100 000 of which are on unlimited strike, the others having voted to strike for a single day or few days to participate in the demonstration. Student leaders say the offers of education minister Jean-Marc Fournier are insulting. (CBC 1) (CBC 2) (Canada Newswire)
March 15, 2005
March 14, 2005
- In Calgary, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced $222 million in grants for Canadian health researchers working on 571 projects. (CBC)
- The Royal Canadian Mint showcased a new $1 coin of Terry Fox, the first Canadian coin to have an image of a Canadian on it. It will be in circulation on April 4. (CBC)
March 13, 2005
March 12, 2005
March 11, 2005
- Jetsgo, one of the country's upstart discount airlines, announced just after midnight Friday that it will stop all operations immediately. Passengers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements as there will be no aircraft or staff available. Travellers looking to return from a trip must also book with other airlines. (CBC)
- Sponsorship scandal: The Federal government has filed a $39-million lawsuit to get back funding from Quebec advertising firms that was allegedly misspent. (CBC)
- 2005 Tim Hortons Brier: Nova Scotia's Shawn Adams rink defeats Jean-Michel Menard's Quebec rink in the 3–4 game advancing Nova Scotia to the semi-final. In the 1–2 game, Randy Ferbey's Alberta defeats Randy Dutiuame's Manitoba rink 7-4. Manitoba goes to the semis while Alberta gets a bye to the final. (CBC sports) (CBC sports)
March 10, 2005
- The largest police memorial in Canadian history is held in Edmonton, to honour the four RCMP victims of the Mayerthorpe Incident. Attending were ~10,000 officers from North America, Canadian dignitaries and entertainers with songs of reflection and sorrow. (CBC)
- 2005 Tim Hortons Brier – After the round-robin play is completed, Team Alberta, skipped by Randy Ferbey sits at first place with a 9–2 record. In second place is Team Manitoba, skipped by Randy Dutiaume with an 8–3 record. Also with an 8–3 record is Team Nova Scotia, skipped by Shawn Adams who finishes third because they lost their game to Manitoba. Rounding off the playoff-bound teams is Quebec skipped by Jean-Michel Menard at 7–4. (CBC sports)
March 9, 2005
- The House of Commons passes the 2005 Canadian budget by a vote of 132–73. The Conservatives abstain from the vote to ensure that the Liberal government does not fall on the confidence vote. (Reuters)
- Retired Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire received Canada's 25th Pearson Peace Medal, which honours achievement in international service and understanding. Dallaire lead the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda during the genocide and wrote a book detailing the inaction by the world to stop it. (NationalPost)
- A man in a white van drove onto the Ontario legislature grounds and set himself on fire. Firefighters put him out and his condition is unknown; it is not believed to be related to the farmer protest. (CTV)
- In Atlantic Canada powerful winds and heavy rain lead to significant disruptions in the region. (CBC)
- 2005 Tim Hortons Brier – Randy Ferbey's Alberta rink continues to lead the way with a n 8–1 record and wins against Ontario and Yukon/Northwest Territories. Randy Dutiaume's Manitoba rink has sole possession of second place at 7–2 as they won both their games against Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. With one day left of the round-robin, only Alberta has clinched a berth. (CBC sports)
March 8, 2005
March 7, 2005
March 6, 2005
March 5, 2005
March 4, 2005
- Albertan Premier Ralph Klein says that Centennial Day (September 1) will not be a statutory holiday in Alberta this year, due to opposition from within his caucus.
- Rajinder Singh Atwal is convicted of second-degree murder in the July 2003 stabbing death of his teenage daughter. The motive for the "honor killing" was that she had kept an interracial relationship a secret for three years. (CBC)
March 3, 2005
March 2, 2005
- In Toronto, farmers converged on the Ontario legislature to demand a $300 million cash infusion to help their industry recover. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty responded that farming has been affected across Canada and the federal government needs to help out in this regard. (CBC)
- Alberta's speech from the throne, given by newly appointed Lt.-Gov. Norman Kwong, promised Albertans the province would lead Canada in medicare reform and education by reinvesting its surpluses. (CTV)
- A FedEx van delivering anthrax to a Winnipeg lab was involved in a collision. The road was blocked for two hours as the hazardous materials team determined that the packages were undamaged. (CBC)
- Air Transat agreed to pay $7.65 million to 175 people who were on a plane that ran out of fuel over the Atlantic Ocean and glided to an emergency landing in the Azores. The flight departed from Toronto on August 24, 2001, and was en route to Lisbon. (Bloomberg)
March 1, 2005
- Sponsorship Scandal: Lafleur Communications PDG Jean Lafleur reveals he and his family received over $11 million CAD in salary from the government and several agencies.
- Missile Defence: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed disappointment in Ottawa's decision to not join. Also plans for Rice to visit Canada were delayed, although a spokesman stated it was unrelated to current events. (Guardian)
- White supremacist Ernst Zündel is deported to Germany where he was promptly arrested on charges of denying the Holocaust. (CTV)
- Toronto scientists from Toronto Western Hospital and the Baycrest Centre are reporting excellent results in alleviating severe depression using a pacemaker that stimulates the mood center of the brain. (TheStar)
- Ontario has become the first province to ban pit bulls. This comes after a series of high-profile attacks by the breed. Critics maintain banning a breed isn't the solution and that irresponsible dog owners need to be held accountable to address the problem. (CTV)
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.