
Marking Catholic Education Week in Saskatchewan
Jeff Rogstad talks with John McGettigan, the Chief Development Officer of the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Foundation about the legacy of Pope Francis.
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How Trump's tariff hikes could impact B.C.
Vancouver Watch U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to double steel and aluminum tariffs has created new uncertainty in B.C.


CTV News
19 minutes ago
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Quebec ombudsman issues 11 recommendations over long delays in death certificate processing
Quebec's ombudsman has issued 11 recommendations to address long delays in processing death certificates, citing hundreds of public complaints and serious impacts on grieving families. A copy of a death certificate in Quebec. (CTV News) The Quebec ombudsman (Protecteur du citoyen), has issued 11 recommendations in a newly released report on excessive wait times for death certificates in the province. According to the report, the citizens' watchdog received more than 700 complaints between May and August 2024 about 'unreasonable delays' in obtaining death certificates — a necessary step in settling an estate. The ombudsman noted that in May 2024, it took the Directeur de l'état civil (DEC), the body responsible for issuing documents related to official acts, 55.8 working days to register a death in the civil status register, prompting the special investigation. Some of the recommendations include developing an organizational plan for the death registration service based on an analysis of observed trends, and reinstating a quality assurance process that was abandoned in 2023. The watchdog also stated that the DEC needs to modernize its infrastructure and emphasized the importance of informing citizens by phone and online when registration wait times exceed the promised timeframe. 'During our investigation, we found that some of the measures taken by the DEC were helping to reduce delays. However, corrective action is still needed to ensure more satisfactory and lasting improvements,' said Quebec ombudsman Marc-André Dowd. He added that they hope the recommendations are implemented quickly for the sake of the public, as delays can prevent next of kin from accessing the deceased's assets, which financial institutions often freeze. 'When the DEC imposes delays on citizens that complicate the settlement of an estate, the administrative issues can cause anxiety for bereaved families. This is not just about access to a document; it's a difficult time in people's lives. They have to deal with complex procedures while coping with grief and distress,' Dowd continued. In its investigation, the ombudsman identified five causes for the long delays, including a rise in deaths, human resource issues, and third-party complications. The office of Employment Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain, which oversees the DEC, said it has taken note of the report. 'Several of the recommendations have already been implemented by the DEC. In fact, since the fall, processing times have returned to the targets set,' the minister's press secretary, Bénédicte Trottier Lavoie, said. With files from The Canadian Press

Globe and Mail
24 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Ten arrested in connection with shooting at Toronto's Piper Arms pub
Toronto police have announced 10 arrests in what they say were an interconnected spate of shootings in recent months. The alleged incidents include one in March at the Piper Arms pub in Scarborough, where a trio of masked men armed with an assault rifle and handguns unleashed a torrent of bullets that injured a dozen people in a stunning display of violence caught on video. All the shootings involved hired gunmen in stolen cars, who also fired at people in tow truck yards, a gas station and a commercial plaza, Toronto police said at a press conference Wednesday. Police alleged that some of the shootings are connected to tow-truck turf wars, though they have not linked the Piper Arms shooting to that industry. Chief Myron Demkiw, speaking to reporters at police headquarters, said they released the video on Wednesday of that March shooting to illustrate the extent of the gun problem the city is facing. He said gun crime 'needs to stop,' calling on the federal government to step in to help curb the violence. 'I have been in contact with the federal Minister of Public Safety, and I look forward to further discussions with him concerning public safety in Toronto,' Chief Demkiw said. The newly appointed minister, Gary Anandasangaree, said in an interview Wednesday that he met Chief Demkiw for breakfast last weekend to discuss what his new government can do to help. Mr. Anandasangaree pointed to sweeping legislation unveiled Tuesday as 'the immediate response,' saying the Strong Borders Act is 'meant to curtail flow of fentanyl, drugs, guns and so on, including investments at the border.' The Toronto MP, who represents a Scarborough riding close to where the pub shooting took place, said plans are underway to put hundreds of new federal agents at the border. Crime statistics from Toronto police show that 2024 was a near-record year for shootings in the city. Police say that 80 to 90 per cent of the crime guns seized in Toronto are now U.S.-sourced, up from roughly 50 per cent a decade ago. Detectives say they have laid 203 charges, including 24 counts of attempted murder while recovering four firearms in connection with a series of shootings this spring. The 10 arrested suspects are all tied to interconnected shootings, police say, but did not explain how they are related. Three of the suspects are male youths, including two 17-year-olds and one 15-year-old; the others arrested are between the ages of 19 and 22. The first shooting occurred on March 1, where police allege two suspects in a stolen vehicle drove to a commercial plaza and shot a man. On March 4, these same suspects allegedly drove to a gas station and opened fire on a man washing his car. Then, on March 6, three suspects arrived at a tow-truck yard in a stolen vehicle, police say. One gunman fired at victim, who was injured. The same three suspects then drove to a nearby tow yard and allegedly shot at a second victim who sustained non-threatening injuries. The next day, on March 7, police allege three gunmen arrived at the Piper Arms in a stolen vehicle, spraying bullets around the restaurant. The incident injured 12, most of whom were hit by bullets, but some were hit by flying glass. Four days later, on March 11, in Mississauga, four males in a stolen car attempted to rob a bank but were unsuccessful, police say. Toronto police later stopped the vehicle after a foot chase arrested two gunmen and found a loaded handgun. Finally, on May 26, police say they arrested two men in a stolen vehicle at Jane and Finch and found a loaded firearm. Police Superintendent Paul MacIntyre of the city's organized crime enforcement unit said the alleged perpetrators are 'a bunch of guys that are not a gang,' describing them as hired gunmen. 'They're just friends, if you will. They're associates,' he said. 'There's no kind of organization to them." On Wednesday, Chief Demkiw also fielded questions about an unrelated shooting in Lawrence Heights this week, where a 31-year-old man in a wheelchair was a killed and five others injured in what police said was a targeted attack. The suspects in this case remain at large.