In the news today, June 15

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Near Ardley

Province seeks public input on potential Red Deer River reservoir

6h ago

public safety risk

Fire at vacant half-duplex ignites neighbours calls for action in Red Deer

7h ago

Over 15,000 pounds for food bank

Borouge International E1 Turnaround benefits multiple central Alberta community causes

8h ago

UP ALL NIGHT ON PARLIAMENT HILL

As Thursday night turned into Friday morning, MPs continued to vote on a seemingly endless series of motions aimed at compelling the Liberals to divulge details of their planned carbon pricing scheme. Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said his goal was to make the government “as uncomfortable as possible until they tell the truth” about how much more Canadians will pay for everything from groceries to gasoline because of the carbon price. The Conservatives had lined up more than 200 votes on the government’s main spending plan.

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YOUNG SISTERS SHOT AT TORONTO PLAYGROUND

Two sisters, ages five and nine, were seriously injured during a “brazen” daylight shooting at a playground in Toronto’s east end, authorities said Thursday. Toronto police Det. Sgt. Jim Gotell told reporters at the scene that the girls were rushed to the Hospital for Sick Children and both are expected to survive. He said at least seven shots were fired and investigators believe the intended target was a man who was among the 11 children in the playground. Earlier in the evening, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters that both girls required surgery, and called those behind the shooting “cowards.”

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SENTENCING SCHEDULED IN VICIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT

A southern Alberta man is to be sentenced today for a vicious sexual assault on a woman who spent weeks in a coma and was forced to learn how to walk and talk again. Denzel Dre Colton Bird pleaded guilty last fall to striking the then-25-year-old woman from behind with a metal pipe in 2016, dragging her into an alley and sexually assaulting her. Bird will be sentenced for aggravated sexual assault and an additional charge of break and enter. The Crown is requesting 20 years in prison, while the defence has argued that Bird should receive an additional six years on top of the time he’s already spent in custody.

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HAILSTORM HITS SOUTHERN PRAIRIES

Parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba were pounded by hail and heavy rain in a storm that included tornado warnings in some areas. There were reports of baseball-size hail as Environment Canada says a supercell moved through the region Thursday, creating favourable conditions for the heavy weather. The storm knocked power out in some communities and concerns about lightning prompted officials to temporarily halt a CFL game in Winnipeg between the Blue Bombers and the Edmonton Eskimos.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Statistics Canada releases the Canada’s international transactions in securities for April and the monthly survey of manufacturing for April

— Saskatchewan Corrections Minister Christine Tell and RCMP Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki announce two RCMP crime reduction teams in Regina.

— Trial date to be set in Ottawa for former hostage Joshua Boyle, who faces assault charges.

— Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Minister Carla Qualtrough participate in the steel cutting ceremony for the Royal Canadian Navy’s first of two joint support ships in North Vancouver.

The Canadian Press