B.C. sea cucumber poacher gets six-year sentence for ‘ravaging the ocean'
Scott Steer and his co-accused corporation faced eight charges including fishing in a closed area without a licence, selling more than $1 million worth of illegally harvested sea cucumbers and breaching an earlier order forbidding him from possessing fishing vessels.
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Toronto Sun
42 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Letters to the Editor, July 31, 2025
Thursday letters Photo by Illustration / Toronto Sun KANGAROO COURT This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account As reported by Brian Lilley, the Crown wants to jail Tamara Lich for seven years and Chris Barber for eight years, for the minor charge of mischief ('Truckload of spite,' July 23). Not only is this an absurdity, it's an utter abomination of justice and an obvious act of political persecution. This is the kangaroo court of Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, Mark Carney and Doug Ford in action. What an utter disgrace. Lich and Barber helped organize a legal and peaceful protest against Trudeau's illegal mandates: Apparently embarrassing the Marxist Liberal government was a heinous crime. Who should be on trial are Trudeau and Freeland. Trudeau illegally imposed an experimental inoculation on Canadian citizens and illegally unleashed the Emergencies Act, without due cause. Freeland illegally froze the bank accounts of law-abiding Canadian citizens. Trudeau and Freeland are the real criminals here. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Harley Whitlock Brantford (It is beyond comprehension why they are so keen to put them in jail for so long. Actual murderers have gotten away with less) BRING BACK MACKAY I believe that in order for conservatives to have another real chance to win the next federal election, Pierre Poilievre must be replaced. I believe that the conservatives nationally need to be called the Progressive Conservative Party again, and that Peter MacKay from Nova Scotia needs to replace Poilievre — preferably very soon. I also believe that Mark Carney is way more conservative than liberal in his style and actions, and that he would have preferred to be the leader of the conservatives had he been invited to do so. And if that had happened, then I am certain that the Conservative Party would have won this last federal election! So, get MacKay to lead the Conservative Party (or convince Carney to become a conservative! That's the only hope for the conservatives to win the next election! Susan MacDonald (It's a fair point things look grim for the Conservatives' electoral prospects, but Mr. MacKay has shown no interest in a return to the political stage. Perhaps that might change) Celebrity MLB Canada Opinion Wrestling
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Safe room opened at Edmonton airport to help human trafficking victims
Ten years ago, a speeding BMW driven by an intoxicated man lost control and crashed in front of an apartment building on Whyte Avenue in south Edmonton, killing the young woman inside it and claiming the 30-year-old driver's life a month later. The story made headlines because of the terrible collision, but what wasn't known at the time: the 21-year-old woman was a mother named Maddison Fraser who was being sex trafficked and the driver was a John who had paid to abuse her. Fraser was an athlete and national boxing champion, who aspired to become a nurse — but it wouldn't come to pass. 'Maddison was manipulated and lured into trafficking by someone she believed cared for her,' said musician Paul Brandt, the co-chair of the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons and founder of #NotInMyCity. Story continues below advertisement Her mother Jennifer Holleman previously told Global News her daughter was lured from Nova Scotia to Alberta to work in the sex trade by her boyfriend. Then, the abuse began — she was beaten, her hair set on fire, burnt with cigarettes and lighters, and sexually assaulted. 'That relationship quickly turned into a nightmare of control, violence, and exploitation. Madison was moved from city to city,' Brandt said. 2:05 Cross-country human trafficking hearings begin in Halifax Brandt said her mom tried to free the girl from her pimp, to no avail. 'In July 2015, at just 21 years old, Maddison died in a car accident here in Edmonton on Whyte Avenue. The man driving the vehicle was a buyer, or a John, or more accurately put, a commercial sex offender. Messages found on her phone confirmed that she had been trafficked.' Story continues below advertisement Brandt shared her story on Wednesday at an Edmonton International Airport event announcing the creation of a space for those looking to flee their captors. 'Maddison reminds us why resources and spaces like the one that we're announcing today are so critical. A secure place, a trained person, a moment to be seen. Heard and helped,' Brandt said. Edmonton police stand at the scene of a fatal collision on Whyte Ave., Wednesday, July 8, 2015. Geoff Stickle, Global News The airport has opened a safe room: a dedicated space intended to support victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, or those experiencing tragedy at the airport. It's one of two such spaces at a Canadian airport — the other is in Calgary. 'We know that human trafficking is (a) $180-billion-a-year industry globally, that traffickers in Canada are making over $280,000 per year, per victim,' said Brandt. Story continues below advertisement 'The average age of being trafficked is 13 and it's skewing younger right now. And the greatest risk factor is simply being a girl,' he said. 'Often the trafficker is perceived as a boyfriend or someone who cares. Victims are often controlled physically, emotionally, financially or psychologically. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 3:42 Country star Paul Brandt raising awareness about human trafficking #NotInMyCity is an organization raising awareness and taking action to prevent, disrupt, and end sexual exploitation and trafficking, with a focus on protecting children and youth. Brandt launched #NotInMyCity partially to combat the myth many Canadians have that human trafficking is something that happens elsewhere — not in their backyard. 'The response we received from the public was, 'That doesn't happen here.' And as they started to learn about the statistics and the reality, they determined it wouldn't happen in their city,' Brandt said. Story continues below advertisement 'It is a huge issue. It's the fastest growing crime in Canada today.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It is a huge issue. It's the fastest growing crime in Canada today." RCMP Insp. Kiel Samotej is in charge of the Leduc and EIA RCMP detachments and said labour trafficking is amongst the crimes being seen in Alberta. 'It's heartbreaking because a lot of these individuals that are being labour-trafficked are coming here for a new start, a new beginning. They're vulnerable and they believe they're coming here supported by people with good intentions and unfortunately it's not what's happening, right?' Samotej said. 'A good majority of them are under the age of 25, right? But it can happen to anybody though.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "A good majority of them are under the age of 25, right? But it can happen to anybody though." 1:45 RCMP charge Edmonton father and son with human trafficking In addition to opening the safe room, the airport has a partnership with #NotInMyCity to offer human trafficking awareness training sessions to its team members and partners — because the more people who know what signs to look for, the more people can help. Story continues below advertisement 'Over 20,000 people across the country have taken the training,' Brandt said, adding knowing what signs to look for is important across a range of industries. 'I would say even with law enforcement and in healthcare, 88 per cent of trafficking victims say that they access health care while they're being trafficked and someone fails to intervene on their behalf. So this is about an awakening to the issue.' 0:56 'Low risk, high reward': How sex traffickers use coercive debt to exploit survivors EIA said survivors often arrive via major airports and travel through the province before exploitation in industries like hospitality, agriculture or sex work. 'It's happening in transportation hubs across the country. It's happening around the world,' said EIA corporate communications manager Erin Isfeld. 'We know they're typically marginalized individuals and so we need to step up for them. 'We want traffickers, when they're coming through this airport, to know they're not welcome here.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We want traffickers, when they're coming through this airport, to know they're not welcome here." Story continues below advertisement EIA describes itself as a middle man, a transitional space, where victims can connect with RCMP and support agencies to get out of the bad situation they find themselves in. 'As an airport, really we're just providing this space and ensuring that the right connections are happening,' Isfeld said. Human trafficking indicators to watch for in airports include: Passenger is unable to explain details about their travel Does not have control of their own ID/passport Has excessive baggage or few to no personal possessions and not suitably dressed for the journey Is travelling on a last-minute booking paid for in cash or pre-paid credit card at the airport A young person accompanied by someone claiming to be a parent or guardian who is, in fact, not related to the youth The EIA safe room is skirted away in a secure, private place and is designed to be a comforting area to temporarily accommodate individuals experiencing trauma or crisis at the airport. 'It's for the folks who are here in our airport on a daily basis, our security staff, any of our team members who have this training, to be really looking out for those signs,' said Isfeld. 0:53 Why human trafficking remains a major issue in Canada The airport aims for a no-harm approach, to discreetly help someone whose abuser may be in the vicinity. Story continues below advertisement 'We don't wanna be approaching someone who potentially is with a human trafficker,' Isfeld said. 'So it's really taking that look, and then reaching out to security, reaching out the RCMP detachment that we have here at the airport to then intervene in that space. We don't want anyone else to be harmed in this situation. So it's really looking for those signs.' The room features a livable space with amenities such as couches, a bed, a kitchenette and a full bathroom. Fresh clothes, food, phones, internet and other resources will also be available in the room. 1:53 Human trafficking not just a big city problem: RCMP Samotej said the agencies in Alberta working to end human trafficking are quite aggressive and pro-active. 'I give a lot of props and compliment to their support agencies we have. They're taking proper steps forward and they're making a difference,' he said, noting the airport has been a leader in that regard. Story continues below advertisement 'I've never seen such a progressive workplace in regards to getting things done, addressing problems and taking action.' Isfeld said the airport has been doing training with #NotInMyCity for eight years, but felt it could have a larger role. 'We need to have a united front on this and how can we actually move the needle? What can we do to be that transitional piece? How can we ensure we provide this safe space?' 2:02 Human trafficking cases climbing in Calgary: ALERT Brandt said there is a need for such spaces — so much so, more are being built. 'In Calgary, at YYC, we started a safe room with the idea that maybe it would be helpful, but maybe this is going to be something that's more symbolic. Story continues below advertisement The airport said Indigenous people are disproportionally targeted by human traffickers and to recognize that, the safe room was named Kîsê Watotâtôwin ᑮᓭ ᐘᑐᑖᑑᐏᐣ and an Indigenous naming ceremony was performed.
Global News
12 hours ago
- Global News
Chilean police return $125K in luxury watches stolen from Keanu Reeves
Chilean authorities announced Tuesday that six valuable watches stolen from Canadian actor Keanu Reeves were handed over to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), months after recovering them in a police raid. The FBI will arrange for the watches' return to Reeves, including an engraved Rolex worth at least US$9,500. The 60-year-old actor's six watches are valued at a total of US$125,000, according to Marcelo Varas, a police officer from Chile's robbery investigation squad. Chilean prosecutors told reporters that Reeves had identified the watches as those stolen from his Los Angeles home during a string of high-profile burglaries in December 2023. The announcement was made as Trump's secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, arrived in the South American country for meetings with Chilean officials about transnational crime, among other issues. Story continues below advertisement According to authorities, the watches stolen from the John Wick actor's Hollywood Hills home nearly two years ago turned up in Santiago, Chile's capital, when police raided homes and uncovered stolen cars, iPhones, luxury watches and designer purses. That operation coincided with another Chilean investigation, coordinated with the FBI, into a spate of burglaries by South America-based crime groups targeting multi-million-dollar homes in the U.S., many belonging to celebrities and professional athletes, such as Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In February, seven Chilean nationals were charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property over burglaries in which they stole valuables worth over US$2 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Middle District Florida. 1:25 NFL issues security alert over possible crime syndicate targeting players' homes According to the complaint, the individuals were members of a South American theft group that burglarized the homes of professional athletes around the United States. Story continues below advertisement The U.S. Attorney's Office said the individuals targeted high-profile athletes in the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA), when they were away or playing in professional games at the times of the burglaries. Varas said authorities were still investigating any link between the theft of Reeves' watches and the other high-profile burglaries. In April, police in Chile announced the arrest of 23 citizens over the string of break-ins in the United States. The raid, codenamed 'Operation Pennsylvania,' took place across dozens of homes in Santiago and led to the seizure of US$1.36 million worth of goods, according to police. 'This phenomenon of international thieves has regretfully existed in our country for many years, but it's unfortunately been on the rise recently,' prosecutor Eduardo Baeza said during a press conference in April. Johnny Fica, head of the Investigative Police of Chile's (PDI) money and asset laundering division, said many of the detainees had no criminal records in Chile but were career criminals abroad that laundered assets in Chile. Fica said the investigation began last year and was carried out with information from the FBI. They showed images from the raid which featured drawers filled with shoes, designer purses, luxury watches and more. 'What you see is part of a life of luxury they had here in Chile. A lot of them liked to show off,' Fica said, adding that many of the groups were family or close-knit units. Story continues below advertisement 'Their goal was clear, they wanted to enjoy the profits of their crimes in this country and they didn't skimp on spending because they felt like they had, until now, impunity,' Fica added. — With files from The Associated Press and Reuters
