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Union gives failing grade to companies handling veterans rehabilitation contract

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

OTTAWA — A union representing workers at Veterans Affairs Canada says a deal to privatize rehabilitation services has been a failure. The $570-million contract with Lifemark Health Group and WCG International Consultants was supposed to take the strain off case managers and help veterans access services. But the Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees has given the deal a failing grade in a new report card, issued six months after the contract kicked in. It says instead of streamlined services, case managers are dealing with more paperwork. The report card says only the least complex files have actually been transferred and delays in getting started have led to backlogs for veterans. The union is pointing the finger at a lack of training in Veterans Affairs Canada’s guidelines, as well as a lack of understanding of what the clients need. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.The Canadian Press

Watchdog’s relations with spy community ‘particularly strained’ over last year

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

OTTAWA — Newly released documents say the intelligence community’s relationship with its key watchdog has been particularly strained over the last year due to a “level of resistance” to scrutiny.The assessment appears in briefing materials prepared for Canada’s top public servant in advance of a late January meeting with the chair of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency. The notes were disclosed to The Canadian Press in response to a request to the Privy Council Office under the Access to Information Act. This is just the latest indication of serious tensions between the spy watchdog and the federal intelligence agencies it monitors.It follows the recent release of intelligence review agency records that lamented a culture within the Communications Security Establishment of “resisting and impeding” independent review, frustrating efforts to ensure the cyberspy service is obeying the law.The latest notes surface amid an RCMP investi...

Fire burned through memories, pieces of history, says owner of Nova Scotia daycare

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

The owner of a Nova Scotia daycare destroyed as recent wildfires ripped through the province says the flames consumed both her livelihood and a physical piece of twentieth-century history.Among the many memories and treasured family heirlooms lost in the fire that raced through suburban Halifax was a piece of the Berlin Wall belonging to Terri and Lutz Kottwitz. Most of the couple’s belongings were destroyed when wildfires levelled their home in Hammonds Plains, as well as the neighbouring ForestKids Early Learning Centre daycare owned by Terri Kottwitz.“Someone said that it’s not going to look like the rest of the ashes so maybe we’ll still find it,” Terri Kottwitz said of the chunk of wall in a telephone interview. “But that’s an awful lot of looking through those ashes to find a little piece of the wall.”The blaze also consumed other, more personal mementoes of her husband’s homeland of Germany: crystal that belonged to his mo...

Trudeau and ministers to provide update as wildfires burn in multiple provinces

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to provide an update on the wildfires that have forced thousands of people from their homes and caused widespread property damage in several provinces. Trudeau will appear in Ottawa today alongside a number of ministers, including Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.His announcement comes as several provinces have been dealing  with dangerous wildfires that have burned tens of thousands of square kilometres of land across Canada over the last two months. There were more than 150 fires burning in Quebec on Sunday, which forced thousands of people from their homes in the northwestern part of the province over the weekend. In Nova Scotia, the largest wildfire in the province’s history continued to burn out of control in Shelburne County, while firefighters managed to contain a blaze near Halifax that damaged or destroyed over 150 suburban residences.Alberta recently ended a provi...

B.C.’s Eby says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

British Columbia Premier David Eby says his trade mission to Asia is part of an effort to grow trade and reduce the risks that come with international uncertainties.The premier and his delegation have not visited China, B.C.’s second largest trade partner, during the two-week trip but instead focused on Japan, South Korea and Singapore and have met, so far, with a range of businesses including a large Japanese rental housing company looking to break into the Canadian market.“Right now we see the tensions caused by the war in Ukraine, and sanctions on Russia, the relationship between the US and China, Canada and China, and the volatility of international relationships,” Eby said on the phone from Singapore. “And it’s very obvious to me and to many British Columbians that being dependent on one or two major trading partners disproportionately is going to really affect us if the worst happens.”Tensions between China and Canada have been growing amid ...

Daily horoscope for June 5, 2023

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

Moon Alert: After 4 a.m. EDT today (1 a.m. PDT), there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Capricorn.Happy Birthday for Monday, June 5, 2023:You are multitalented and try to do everything. Learn to pace yourself. Take time off. This is the perfect year to take inventory of your life. You might have to let go of people, places and things that have held you back. Do some internal and external housecleaning.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★This is a productive day for you if you don’t get sidetracked with your kids, money issues (especially extravagance) or difficulties with romantic partners. These are touchy issues. Nevertheless, you’re actually focused and raring to go. Tonight: You’re high-viz.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This week, you’re involved with financial deals and cash flow. (Something’s cooking on the back burner.) Possibly, this relates to redecorating or renovating projects. You have strong ideas now about what...

Miss Manners: Am I really being perverse not to have my DNA tested?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Since moving to a new area, I’ve found that people ask where my family is from and react oddly when I confess that I don’t know.We are white, and we have lived in the rural South for generations. Growing up, it never seemed strange to me that we had no other explanation for our presence there. My great-grandparents were all born in the American South, and they never mentioned any ancestry from anywhere else.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I made the mistake of sharing my manuscript with this colleague Advice | Miss Manners: How can I make a guest commit to her RSVP? Advice | Miss Manners: How am I supposed to plan a shower with all these gay friends? Advice | Miss Manners: We are stung that the ‘cool’ neighbors didn’t clue us in Advice | Miss Manners: Her sheepish greeting always makes me feel awkward Since moving to a large city in the North, the t...

Round House Theatre stages August Wilson’s final play ‘Radio Golf’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews 'Radio Golf' at Round House Theatre (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); The late August Wilson’s “Century Cycle” famously featured 10 plays that tackled 10 different decades of African American life in 20th century Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The collective works include “Gem of the Ocean” (1900s), “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”...

Brewers bring 3-game win streak into matchup with the Reds

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (32-27, first in the NL Central) vs. Cincinnati Reds (26-33, fourth in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Monday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Julio Teheran (1-1, .82 ERA, .82 WHIP, five strikeouts); Reds: Andrew Abbott (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -114, Brewers -105; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers will try to continue a three-game win streak with a victory against the Cincinnati Reds.Cincinnati has a 14-17 record at home and a 26-33 record overall. Reds hitters are batting a collective .253, which ranks seventh in the NL.Milwaukee has a 32-27 record overall and a 16-15 record on the road. The Brewers are 20-6 in games when they record at least eight hits.Monday’s game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jonathan India has 15 doubles and six home runs for the Reds. Spencer Steer is 13-for-36 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI over the past 10 games.Rowdy Tellez leads...

Cubs play the Padres with 2-1 series lead

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:51:19 GMT

Chicago Cubs (26-32, third in the NL Central) vs. San Diego Padres (27-32, fourth in the NL West)San Diego; Monday, 9:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, eight strikeouts); Padres: Blake Snell (1-6, 4.66 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 61 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -175, Cubs +149; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs lead 2-1 in a four-game series against the San Diego Padres.San Diego is 13-17 at home and 27-32 overall. The Padres have a 14-8 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Chicago has a 26-32 record overall and an 11-16 record on the road. The Cubs have a 24-5 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.The teams match up Monday for the seventh time this season. The Cubs are ahead 4-2 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Juan Soto has 15 doubles and 10 home runs while hitting .253 for the Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. is 12-for-43 with three doubles and four home runs over the last...