Latest news with #MacKinnon
Daily Record
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Murdo MacKinnon relishing pressure of Johnstone Burgh's Junior Cup final appearance
The West of Scotland League Premier Division outfit are going for glory this weekend. Murdo MacKinnon insists he welcomes the pressure that comes with Johnstone Burgh's first Junior Cup final appearance in 25 years tomorrow. The Keanie Park boss knows the full town is behind the team as they prepare to face Lowland League Tranent at Broadwood Stadium in North Lanarkshire. Buses will be packed with up to 3,000 Burgh fans expected to make the journey from Renfrewshire and hoping for a first cup triumph in 57 years. And gaffer MacKinnon is ready to embrace the moment. He said: 'It's all about pressure. It's a privilege, to be totally honest with you, it doesn't come round every day. 'I'm expecting the best part of 3,000 supporters there for Johnstone Burgh. It is 25 years from the last appearance in the cup final and the Burgh were a right good team at that point. They just couldn't get over of the line in penalties and we're now up against a right good team on Sunday. 'They've been successful, they've won trophies, they've got great experience about them. But I've got a top side. I know I've got top players there. So, we're in for a treat in a final.' MacKinnon continued: 'My focus is purely on the game, I'm not worrying about the pressure, I'm not worrying about anything else. 'And if there is to be any pressure around it, I would rather take it on my shoulders and alleviate that for the players because what they've done and what they've achieved to get there so far has been incredible. 'But they've got a determination about them to go and finish this job – and I think they can.' Burgh showed great resilence to get to the final after a nervy semi-final against fellow West of Scotland League Premier Division rivals Largs Thistle. After a 1-0 defeat at home to the Seasiders, it was win-or-bust at Barrfields in the second leg earlier this month. Goals from Ciaran Diver and Aaron Mason were enough to overturn the deficit and ensure Burgh's date with destiny. One player MacKinnon is hoping will play a huge part is former Northern Irish international Kyle Lafferty who the Burgh boss says is 'hungrier than ever'. He said: 'As a lad, he's really down to earth. He's one of the boys, one of the players. That's how he's treated. That's how he wants to be treated. He has had an unbelievable career. A career that only people can dream of. He's won every major title this country has to offer. 'He's played for some of the biggest clubs in the country. Some of the biggest games. He's played for his country nearly 90 times, and in major tournaments. 'To have somebody with that experience, and that help, within your group and being able to use that in big games like this is brilliant. It's outstanding for me. 'And it's great for the group as well. Obviously, Kyle's got great experience playing in big games. He knows what they're about. But one thing I can tell you all, he's as hungry to win on Sunday as he's ever been.'
Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
CFIA Says BC Ostrich Cull Will Go Ahead, Despite Intervention From RFK Jr.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will go ahead with a cull of ostriches from a farm in Edgewood, B.C., despite a request from United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that they be spared. Kennedy had posted a letter on social media on Friday addressed to CFIA President Paul MacKinnon, saying there is 'significant value' studying the ostriches' immune response to avian flu and asking the agency to partner in a study of the birds. The letter is co-signed by the heads of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health, who Kennedy said took part in a conversation with MacKinnon on Thursday. The food inspection agency says in response to a question about whether Kennedy's letter will have any impact on the cull that the 'humane depopulation' of the flock will proceed. It says dates and plans will not be shared publicly, citing privacy protections for producers. The agency had earlier confirmed in an email that MacKinnon had a call on May 22 with the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with Kennedy, who it said had expressed an interest in the H5N1 outbreak on the ostrich farm. Related Stories 5/24/2025 5/21/2025 'The CFIA remains focused on our ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) response across Canada,' the agency said in the statement issued Saturday. Sixty-nine of the flock died of avian flu in December and January, but the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms say the remaining 400 or so birds are healthy and have acquired herd immunity, making them valuable scientific subjects. Kennedy's intervention came after dozens of protesters gathered at the farm to try to prevent the cull ordered by federal authorities. Some remain camped at the farm, and have been calling for more to join them.
Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Carbon Tax ‘Absolutely Gone' but No Plan to Strike Its Legislation: Gov't House Leader
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon says the consumer carbon tax is 'absolutely gone' for good, but there is currently no plan to remove the tax by way of legislation. 'There are a lot of laws on the books that either aren't applied anymore or are simply ignored, maybe even forgotten, but the carbon tax is absolutely gone, and we'll make sure that that's made very clear to Canadians in due course,' MacKinnon told CTV News in an interview aired on May 25. MacKinnon, whose role includes setting the government's agenda in the House of Commons and tabling legislation, was giving a preview of the Liberals' priorities at the beginning of the new Parliament. As the first order of business, the minority Liberals intend to table a motion to implement a federal income tax cut before July 1. MacKinnon said he would be 'very surprised' if the measure faces opposition from other parties. Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during the election campaign to drop the tax rate for the lowest income bracket by 1 percent. The Tories had pledged a larger tax cut of 2.25 percent. Carney also said Ottawa would work to bring down internal trade barriers between provinces and territories by Canada Day. MacKinnon said this would also be a legislative priority of his government. Related Stories 5/25/2025 5/25/2025 Asked about the removal of the carbon tax by way of an act of Parliament, MacKinnon did not provide a timeline. 'Look, that will have to be done eventually,' he said, calling the tax a 'latent' piece of legislation. 'We have no intention of returning the carbon tax. It is not part of the climate change policy mix for this government.' Carney signed a directive to set the fuel charge rate to zero on his first day in office on March 14. Carney has been a strong advocate of carbon taxes, but had promised to cancel the fuel charge during the Liberal leadership campaign, Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre had long called for the removal of the carbon tax, saying it makes Canadians poorer by raising the cost of essential items such as food and fuel. There was a marked While Carney has set the fuel charge rate to zero, he said he would compensate the loss in emissions reduction by making the industrial carbon tax more stringent. His election Carney described himself as a 'pragmatist' during the election campaign, and has not shut the door on the oil and gas sector since his election win on April 28. Carney House Leader MacKinnon said he didn't have much to add on the topic regarding potential bills to bring changes to these policies, but that the 'intention is clear.' He said to pay attention to what Carney is saying and to the speech from the new energy minister. In his single Newly appointed Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, a former chair of Hydro One utilities company, gave an outline of that objective during a talk in Calgary last week. 'We need infrastructure that gets our energy to tidewater and to trusted allies,' he Alberta's government under Premier Danielle Smith has had a tense relationship with Ottawa in recent years over its energy and climate policies. Smith Jennifer Cowan and Carolina Avendano contributed to this report.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Union says CFIA staff facing intimidation and threats over planned B.C. ostrich cull
The president of the union representing staff of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it's increasingly concerned about 'intimidation and threats' against workers over a planned cull of ostriches at a farm in British Columbia. Milton Dyck of the Agriculture Union says workers have been receiving threats online over the planned cull that was ordered after an outbreak of avian flu, and protesters have gathered at the property at Edgewood, B.C., to try to block it from happening. Dyck says in a statement Monday that the union supports the right to peaceful protest, so long as it doesn't obstruct workers. He says the union expects its members to be able to work in a safe environment, 'free of physical threats and intimidation.' The CFIA meanwhile says it will go ahead with the cull, despite a request from United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the birds be spared. Kennedy had posted a letter on social media on Friday addressed to CFIA President Paul MacKinnon, saying there is 'significant value' studying the ostriches' immune response to avian flu and asking the agency to partner in a study of the birds. The letter is co-signed by the heads of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health, who Kennedy said took part in a conversation with MacKinnon on Thursday. The food inspection agency said in response to a question Monday about whether Kennedy's letter will have any impact on the cull that the 'humane depopulation' of the flock will proceed. It said dates and plans will not be shared publicly, citing privacy protections for producers. The agency had earlier confirmed in an email that MacKinnon had a call on May 22 with the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with Kennedy, who it said had expressed an interest in the H5N1 outbreak on the ostrich farm. 'The CFIA remains focused on our ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) response across Canada,' the agency said in the statement issued Saturday. Sixty-nine of the flock died of avian flu in December and January, but the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms say the remaining 400 or so birds are healthy and have acquired herd immunity, making them valuable scientific subjects. Kennedy's intervention came after dozens of protesters gathered at the farm to try to prevent the cull ordered by federal authorities. Some remain camped at the farm, and have been calling for more to join them. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
CFIA says B.C. ostrich cull will go ahead, despite intervention from RFK Jr.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will go ahead with a cull of ostriches from a farm in Edgewood, B.C., despite a request from United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that they be spared. Kennedy had posted a letter on social media on Friday addressed to CFIA President Paul MacKinnon, saying there is 'significant value' studying the ostriches' immune response to avian flu and asking the agency to partner in a study of the birds. The letter is co-signed by the heads of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health, who Kennedy said took part in a conversation with MacKinnon on Thursday. The food inspection agency says in response to a question about whether Kennedy's letter will have any impact on the cull that the 'humane depopulation' of the flock will proceed. It says dates and plans will not be shared publicly, citing privacy protections for producers. The agency had earlier confirmed in an email that MacKinnon had a call on May 22 with the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with Kennedy, who it said had expressed an interest in the H5N1 outbreak on the ostrich farm. 'The CFIA remains focused on our ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) response across Canada,' the agency said in the statement issued Saturday. Sixty-nine of the flock died of avian flu in December and January, but the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms say the remaining 400 or so birds are healthy and have acquired herd immunity, making them valuable scientific subjects. Kennedy's intervention came after dozens of protesters gathered at the farm to try to prevent the cull ordered by federal authorities. Some remain camped at the farm, and have been calling for more to join them. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025.
