Edmonton Police Seize 60,000 Opium Poppy Plants From Property

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Four people have been charged in connection with an “elaborate” opium poppy-growing operation in northeast Edmonton, police say.

Edmonton police said in an Oct. 14 statement that a search warrant had been executed at a property in July, where approximately 60,000 opium poppy plants were found growing behind the residence. The plants have a total estimated value of between $160,000 and $500,000.

During the two-day operation, officers also found additional poppy seeds and doda powder, which is made from grinding opium poppy seeds to create a type of tea with analgesic effects.

“An opium grow of this size is rarely encountered in Canada and even though there was no indicia of further processing, due to the volume of plants, it was likely being grown to be sold on the illicit market,” said staff Sergeant Marco Antonio of the Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement (EDGE) Section. Continue…

Police Arrest Suspect in Vancouver Stabbings as Victim Count Rises to 7

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Vancouver police have arrested a suspect in a series of “unprovoked” stabbings and assaults in the city’s Yaletown neighbourhood on Oct. 10.

Seven random attacks occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 10 near David Lam Park along the Yaletown seawall, leaving victims with non-life-threatening injuries, police said in a statement on Oct. 12.

Investigators announced on Oct. 13 that an unnamed 35-year-old suspect was arrested in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in connection with the incidents.

Police said officers first responded to 911 calls reporting that several people had been injured just after 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 10. Officers found three injured victims at the scene, who were subsequently taken to hospital. Continue…

7 People in Hospital After Explosion at Toronto Construction Site

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An explosion at a building under construction in Toronto on Oct. 14 has left seven people injured, four of whom were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, officials say.

Fire crews were dispatched just before 9:30 a.m. to a high-rise building under construction near Esther Shiner Boulevard and Provost Drive in the Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue East area in North York after receiving a call about a gas explosion in the building, Toronto Fire Division Commander Paul O’Brien told reporters on Oct. 14.

Several emergency vehicles responded to the incident and roads were closed in the area.

There was no fire when crews arrived at the building, but several workers were found with signs of burns, O’Brien said. He noted the explosion occurred in the mechanical room at the penthouse level of the building, but said it was unclear how many workers were on the floor at the time.

Seven workers were injured during the incident and were transported to hospital, according to a Toronto Paramedic Services official on scene, who noted that four of the injured workers sustained life-threatening injuries, while three workers had minor injuries. Continue…

Bloc Québécois Issues 6 ‘Unavoidable’ Budget Demands to Minority Liberals

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The Bloc Québécois has made public its list of demands to the minority Liberal government to gain the party’s support for the upcoming budget, saying six of those are make-or-break.

Bloc MP Jean-Denis Garon presented 18 demands from his party on Oct. 14 at a press conference in Ottawa. Among the six demands that he said are “unavoidable,” Garon mentioned unconditional increased health transfers to Quebec and new federal funds for provinces to spend on infrastructure, without strings attached.

The Liberals currently have 169 seats in the House of Commons, three shy of a majority government. The Liberals will have to rely on support from one opposition party to pass their upcoming budget, which is usually considered a vote of confidence in the government.

“When I close my eyes and visualize, it’s difficult to see myself standing up and voting for a budget,” Garon said of the Liberal’s expected budget proposal. The MP said it’s the responsibility of the minority government to reach out to other parties to move things forward. “It’s my understanding that up to now there’s not much outreach being done,” he said. Continue…

Chaplain Prayer Ban During Ceremonies: Canadian Military Preparing New Policy

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Canada’s military is preparing a new policy that will dictate what its chaplains are allowed to say, or whether they can lead prayer, during military ceremonies.

The Canadian Armed Forces banned prayers by chaplains in public settings in 2023, replacing them instead with “spiritual reflections,” but committed to creating a new policy following backlash.

The Epoch Times has learned that the department could be releasing the new policy in the coming days.

Material apparently related to the new policy tells chaplains to avoid “metaphysical references” and maintain religious neutrality during military ceremonies.

“A policy on spiritual reflections in military settings is currently being developed under the leadership of the policy development team at Military Personnel Command and will be released once the approval process is complete,” public affairs officer Major Jason Rheubottom told The Epoch Times in a statement.

Rheubottom declined to confirm whether the new policy is set to be released in the coming days ahead of Remembrance Day. Continue…