Latest news with #Begg
Herald Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Comeback mare Niance primed to strike in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Group 3-winner Niance could be the beneficiary of a high-pressure Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) on Saturday at Caulfield. The Grahame Begg-trained mare, a six-time winner from 10 starts including Listed and Group 3 races last campaign, has drawn out but should land within striking distance behind the speed. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The 1100m sprint is loaded with on-pace horses including Cleo Cat, Recommendation, Midwest, Fickle and Acromantula. 'She's got good gate speed, tactical speed herself,' Begg said. 'She doesn't have to lead to be able to win a race. 'Hopefully she'll get a nice sit on them and give herself every chance. 'She's ticked every box so far.' • Hoop in race against time to retain Victorian licence Niance is a $2.40 favourite from Cleo Cat ($5) and Recommendation ($8). 'It looks a nice race for her,' Begg said. 'A very competitive race, a pretty strong race for this time of year. 'I've seen other years gone by they haven't had full fields.' Niance makes her return at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Michael Klein The 15-horse field on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Pisanello, is the biggest since 2020. Niance has primarily raced in fillies and mares restricted company to date but Begg said the five-year-old could 'take the next step'. • Streak that started in Towong goes on line in city debut 'We'll have to think about things after Saturday, what the right path to go with her,' Begg said. 'There's certainly races like the Monash and Bletchingly stakes … we'll study the programs, how they shape up and go from there. 'She won two stakes races last spring against the mares, so we certainly think highly of her and think she's certainly got the ability to take the next step.' Begg has Splash Back resuming on Saturday in a 1200m Benchmark 78. 'She's a nice mare, a pretty progressive horse,' Begg said. 'She's running at 1200m which will be interesting, it's short of her best distance but it's a nice start off point for her.' Originally published as Comeback mare Niance primed to strike in Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ten dead in ‘brutal' attacks by Isis-linked militants on Mozambique wildlife reserve
One of Africa's largest protected areas has been shaken by a series of attacks by Islamic State-linked extremists, which have left at least 10 people dead. Conservationists in Niassa reserve, Mozambique, say decades of work to rebuild populations of lions, elephants and other keystone species are being jeopardised, as conservation operations grind to a halt. On 29 April, militants attacked buildings in Niassa, killing two anti-poaching scouts. Two more scouts are missing and another seriously injured. The attack, which was later claimed by Islamic State-Mozambique, came 10 days after another raid on a nearby safari camp in which two people were beheaded and six soldiers were killed. A village of 2,000 people has been displaced by the violence and all conservation work has been suspended in Niassa reserve, according to local groups. On Monday, wildlife and community organisations warned that the violence is risking more than 20 years of conservation work in the area. 'The worst thing about these kind of attacks, which is kind of the point, is the fear factor. The attacks are brutal: the two carpenters that were killed at the safari camp were beheaded. There is enormous fear from communities from the brutality of the attack,' said Colleen Begg, managing director of Niassa Carnivore Project, whose headquarters were attacked in the 29 April raid. Begg said that the suspension of tourism activities could affect the area for several years. 'Niassa reserve is special because of its size. It is the size of Switzerland. There are very few places like this in Africa with no fences, with large populations of lions, elephants and animals that require a lot of range. It's one of these beautiful wilderness areas. We've been trying to figure out how to make it a world heritage site and all of that is now at risk because of insecurity,' she said. At 4.2m hectares (10m acres), Niassa is regarded as one of Africa's most important wildlife refuges. It is home to as many as 1,000 lions, 350 critically endangered African wild dogs, and recovering populations of elephants, buffalo and other keystone species. Related: The secret bond that helped two captive women survive Mozambique's Islamists Islamic State Mozambique, known locally as al-Shabaab although not linked to the group in Somalia, emerged in 2017 and has displaced more than 1 million people in northern Mozambique as its activities have expanded. While there was a crackdown on the group after an attack on the city of Palma that resulted in the suspension of a major gas project by TotalEnergies, the militants remain active in the country's northernmost province. Nine conservation and safari camps have been abandoned since the attacks, with one destroyed by the Islamist group. Begg said that urgent support was needed to restore peace in the region and prevent further loss of life. The Mozambican army is in pursuit of the IS-linked group. 'Obviously, the first task is to solve the problems with the insurgents and get them out of Niassa. If we cannot create peace, people can't walk to collect honey, they can't go to their fields, they can't harvest. It's impossible for conservationists. No tourists will come. It is devastating,' Begg said. Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
Vancouver Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. minister's performance in key portfolio leaves much to be desired
VICTORIA — Public Safety Minister Garry Begg expressed no concern this week when news broke that the RCMP had interviewed Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko as part of a witch hunt for a whistleblower. Begg hadn't actually launched the investigation into the leak to Sturko that exposed the widespread diversion of safer supply drugs to the illicit market. The order was given by Glen Lewis, director of police services in Begg's ministry of public safety and solicitor general. But the investigation had no more enthusiastic defender than the minister himself. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The director is fully within his role to act as he did,' Begg told reporters Wednesday. 'It was an appropriate request, an appropriate investigation. The director did exactly what he should have done.' It wasn't really a request. The section of the Police Act under which Lewis acted made it an order to the RCMP, not a request. Nor did Begg see anything wrong with police descending on Sturko to ask for the source of the leak. 'She was told right away that she was not the subject of an investigation,' the minister said. What about her concern that the investigation was intended to silence whistleblowers and intimidate the Opposition? 'She was, like I, a policeman for many years,' replied Begg. 'She knows how police do their business. I would be very surprised if she was shocked that the police wanted to talk to her.' So, this was OK in his view? 'I certainly approve of an investigation being conducted into the information that was provided to her — that's appropriate.' Begg said all this after the Premier David Eby had said the opposite. Eby defended Sturko. He agreed that the probe could intimidate whistleblowers and the Opposition. Also suggested police resources could be better applied to investigate pharmacies engaged in the diversion of safer supply drugs. Were the premier and his minister of public safety on the same page? 'I can't comment on what the premier has said,' Begg replied. 'I haven't talked to the premier about it.' There matters stood at mid-afternoon on Wednesday, following question period in the legislature. Then at 5 p.m. came an email with what were advertised as 'clarifying comments' from the minister. 'I've now had the opportunity to speak to the premier,' Begg began. 'We've discussed the issue, and I'd like my position to be clear.' One: 'What I approve of is an independent process, and the director of police services was operating under his authority.' Two: 'We support whistleblowers and whistleblower protections.' Three: 'It is our view that everyone should be focusing attention on investigating the pharmacies alleged to be involved in drug diversion.' Four: 'I fully agree Elenore Sturko was doing her job.' Begg said almost none of that to reporters a few hours earlier. Not that whistleblowers needed protection, not that there were better uses for police resources, not that Sturko was doing her job. Presumably his comments flowed from his session with the premier. Eby had offered a critical take on the leak investigation at a noon-hour news conference. He had repeated his comments in question period. On Sturko: 'It is important that the House recognizes that she was doing her job. I spent some time on the Opposition benches, I recognize effective Opposition work. This was certainly a case of that. She shouldn't get a phone call from police for doing her job.' On whistleblowers: 'We introduced legislation to protect whistleblowers. We support whistleblowers bringing forward information that can assist us all in understanding what's happening in the province on the front lines.' On the investigation: 'I'm extremely reluctant to weigh in on where police put their resources. But I really hope that there is more effort going into investigating these pharmacies rather than anything related to the member and what she did in this House.' On Lewis himself: 'I haven't talked to the director yet. The independent director has an important role to play in our system. That independence is part of it. The head of the public service will contact him and will understand the intention and what the plan was and so on.' The premier said all of that — and more — in question period. Begg was in the House when Eby said it. His desk is a few seats away from that of the premier. Yet when reporters talked to the minister after question period, he appeared not to have absorbed any of the premier's thinking. Was Begg not paying attention? Or is he just one of those NDP ministers, confined to a message box and unable to venture outside until authorized to say something different. Either way it wasn't a flattering performance by a minister in a key portfolio. No wonder Begg didn't make the cut when Eby appointed his first cabinet. It took his 22-vote victory in the last election, which secured the NDP majority, before he made it to cabinet rank. No wonder, too, that the premier decided to bypass the minister and get the head of the public service to communicate directly with Lewis on the rationale for this ill-advised investigation. vpalmer@
Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Minister's performance in key portfolio leaves much to be desired
VICTORIA — Public Safety Minister Garry Begg expressed no concern this week when news broke that the RCMP had interviewed Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko as part of a witch hunt for a whistleblower. Begg hadn't actually launched the investigation into the leak to Sturko that exposed the widespread diversion of safer supply drugs to the illicit market. The order was given by Glen Lewis, director of police services in Begg's ministry of public safety and solicitor general. But the investigation had no more enthusiastic defender than the minister himself. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The director is fully within his role to act as he did,' Begg told reporters Wednesday. 'It was an appropriate request, an appropriate investigation. The director did exactly what he should have done.' It wasn't really a request. The section of the Police Act under which Lewis acted made it an order to the RCMP, not a request. Nor did Begg see anything wrong with police descending on Sturko to ask for the source of the leak. 'She was told right away that she was not the subject of an investigation,' the minister said. What about her concern that the investigation was intended to silence whistleblowers and intimidate the Opposition? 'She was, like I, a policeman for many years,' replied Begg. 'She knows how police do their business. I would be very surprised if she was shocked that the police wanted to talk to her.' So, this was OK in his view? 'I certainly approve of an investigation being conducted into the information that was provided to her — that's appropriate.' Begg said all this after the Premier David Eby had said the opposite. Eby defended Sturko. He agreed that the probe could intimidate whistleblowers and the Opposition. Also suggested police resources could be better applied to investigate pharmacies engaged in the diversion of safer supply drugs. Were the premier and his minister of public safety on the same page? 'I can't comment on what the premier has said,' Begg replied. 'I haven't talked to the premier about it.' There matters stood at mid-afternoon on Wednesday, following question period in the legislature. Then at 5 p.m. came an email with what were advertised as 'clarifying comments' from the minister. 'I've now had the opportunity to speak to the premier,' Begg began. 'We've discussed the issue, and I'd like my position to be clear.' One: 'What I approve of is an independent process, and the director of police services was operating under his authority.' Two: 'We support whistleblowers and whistleblower protections.' Three: 'It is our view that everyone should be focusing attention on investigating the pharmacies alleged to be involved in drug diversion.' Four: 'I fully agree Elenore Sturko was doing her job.' Begg said almost none of that to reporters a few hours earlier. Not that whistleblowers needed protection, not that there were better uses for police resources, not that Sturko was doing her job. Presumably his comments flowed from his session with the premier. Eby had offered a critical take on the leak investigation at a noon-hour news conference. He had repeated his comments in question period. On Sturko: 'It is important that the House recognizes that she was doing her job. I spent some time on the Opposition benches, I recognize effective Opposition work. This was certainly a case of that. She shouldn't get a phone call from police for doing her job.' On whistleblowers: 'We introduced legislation to protect whistleblowers. We support whistleblowers bringing forward information that can assist us all in understanding what's happening in the province on the front lines.' On the investigation: 'I'm extremely reluctant to weigh in on where police put their resources. But I really hope that there is more effort going into investigating these pharmacies rather than anything related to the member and what she did in this House.' On Lewis himself: 'I haven't talked to the director yet. The independent director has an important role to play in our system. That independence is part of it. The head of the public service will contact him and will understand the intention and what the plan was and so on.' The premier said all of that — and more — in question period. Begg was in the House when Eby said it. His desk is a few seats away from that of the premier. Yet when reporters talked to the minister after question period, he appeared not to have absorbed any of the premier's thinking. Was Begg not paying attention? Or is he just one of those NDP ministers, confined to a message box and unable to venture outside until authorized to say something different. Either way it wasn't a flattering performance by a minister in a key portfolio. No wonder Begg didn't make the cut when Eby appointed his first cabinet. It took his 22-vote victory in the last election, which secured the NDP majority, before he made it to cabinet rank. No wonder, too, that the premier decided to bypass the minister and get the head of the public service to communicate directly with Lewis on the rationale for this ill-advised investigation. vpalmer@
CBC
27-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Little progress on Police Act reforms 3 years in, critics say
Three years after an all-party report gave provincial leaders recommendations to transform policing in British Columbia, critics say progress has stalled, with many critical steps yet to be taken. The Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act was appointed in 2020 to initiate reforms related to modernizing the police, addressing systemic racism, and its impact on mental health and addiction. It followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and the ensuing movement to examine systemic racism in policing. "Over the last 15 months, it has become clear that transformative change is required to achieve a new vision of policing and community safety rooted in decolonization, anti-racism, community, and accountability," said the final report from the special committee on April 28, 2022. The 11 recommendations included calls for First Nations to have control over police governance in their communities, the creation of a provincial police force, the formation of a new approach to mental health calls, and the establishment of an all-party standing committee to oversee the implementation of the report's changes. "Very little progress has been made with respect to the Police Act amendments to make sure that we have a contemporary police service … it's kind of dropped off the forefront," said former B.C. solicitor general Kash Heed. "It's a massive challenge, and you've got to have the will to do it. The policymakers do not have the will to do it." The impact of this prolonged inaction, according to First Nations leaders and former politicians, is significant: continued issues with systemic racism in policing, higher costs, and challenges with transparency and governance. Timeline for provincial police service unclear Garry Begg, the minister of public safety and solicitor general for British Columbia, who served on the committee, says the province intends to implement all of the recommendations — but could not provide a timeline. "Things have changed pretty dramatically, and the progress that we've seen is quite remarkable," said Begg, who answers the critics by pointing to changes to policing in tone, mindset, and consultation with First Nations communities. "I think it's an evolution, not a revolution," said Begg. "It is something that requires gradual change and requires a tremendous amount of legal work that is always done behind the scenes, but I'm satisfied that we're making progress that puts us where we should be." Tiffany Parton, the executive director of the B.C Association of Chiefs of Police, declined an interview for this story, saying she is bound by a non-disclosure agreement. Parton said she has been working with the Ministry of Public Safety in response to the report, but is "unsure of what the future holds in relation to a provincial police force," one of the report's major recommendations. Delays come at cost to community, critics say In April 2024, B.C. passed Bill 17, the Police Amendment Act, which made changes to police governance and oversight, largely affecting police boards and municipalities, including requirements for police boards to create a code of conduct and updated procedures for handling complaints. However, Adam Olsen, the former MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, who also served on the committee, says he feels the changes are "transactional," and represent the priorities of the Ministry of Public Safety, not what the committee heard the public wanted. Olsen says he has been disappointed to see little progress on many of the recommendations. For instance, he says B.C. is no closer to having a provincial police service or the co-ordination of mental health services with 911 emergency responses. He says the cost of these delays has made public safety a political football in the legislature. "My patience is thin because the thing that we discussed as a committee is being effective at diminishing the politicization of public safety," Olsen said. "What have we seen over the last year and a half? Total politicization of public safety." Cloy-e-iis (Judith Sayers), the president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, says she and other board members of the B.C. First Nations Justice Council were surprised when Bill 17 was announced last year, as they hadn't been consulted. She says the legislation doesn't recognize First Nations' traditional laws, and categorizes First Nations policing as designated units, not a full police force. She says she would like to see some action on independent oversight by First Nations over policing in their communities. "We're not seeing the action that we need. We're not seeing changes," Sayers said. "We keep on seeing shootings of First Nations people by police, and it hasn't stopped." Heed says that at this point, he believes it will take a significant amount of public pressure or another catalyst like George Floyd's murder to spark politicians to enact the widespread changes that have been called for. "I'm not optimistic that it's going to happen in the next decade or so," he said. 'However, you would think we'd have a government that would be creative enough to deliver the service to the community in a very accountable, effective and efficient way."
