The City of Hamilton has issued a cold weather alert for Monday overnight as temperatures near -12 C and a wind chill of near -20 C.

A hearing was held in court Monday to decide what evidence jurors should hear during an upcoming trial for two people accused of murdering a New Brunswick man in 2022.

The special debate in the House of Assembly on the MOU with Quebec is now underway.

Opposition leaders and both independent members gave opening remarks this morning, with the need for an independent review of the agreement being an ask right across the board.

Premier Andrew Furey argues that there has been independent oversight throughout the entire process.

He says that started with the LeBlanc report, then the Churchill River Energy Analysis Team, and the expert panel that would provide advice to government.

Furey says government will continue to have independent oversight, noting they will establish a “team of experts” – separate from the negotiating team – that will provide advice to cabinet.

He notes the composition of that team has not yet been determined, but they are looking at a mix of a financial, legal, and energy experts.

PC leader Tony Wakeham acknowledges that government had experts advise them on the MOU, such as JP Morgan, but notes that they were “hired.”

Wakeham says he does not consider someone who is hired to be independent, and that review must happen separately.

NDP leader Jim Dinn concurs, saying that the review must be done by a panel that is arm’s length from government, “and that reports to the House and to the people of the province, not just to cabinet.”

The NHL has fined Toronto forward Max Domi ​​​​​​​$5,000 US for elbowing Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway during the Maple Leafs' 3-2 overtime win Sunday.

A registry disclosing Manitoba teachers' disciplinary records that the province had promised would come online this January is now public.

Ahmad Al Marrach was stabbed in a parking garage at the Halifax Shopping Centre early on the evening of April 22, 2024. He died later in hospital.

Former Alberta MLA Derek Fildebrandt will be back in court this year after the Crown filed an appeal of his acquittals on charges of uttering threats against a group of teen boys he chased in his pickup truck through a southwest neighbourhood. 

Chaired by Jim Balsillie, former Blackberry Co-CEO and John Ruffolo, Founder & Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity, and Founder of OMERS Ventures, the Council of Canadian Innovators was created in 2015 by Canada’s most successful technology CEOs to ensure their voice was heard in the public policy development process. Innovation experts say that one essential element in sustained regional growth is the presence of significant concentrations of homegrown high-growth scale-ups. Companies that scale from millions to billions provide the most returns to national economies. For far too long, Canada’s public policy regarding innovation has been dominated by foreign multinationals and other actors whose primary purpose is not to create economic growth in Canada.

Canadian Innovators recently interviewed former Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina about his career and what he hopes to see for the future.

A 33-year-old woman is charged with second-degree murder in the death of a man from northern Manitoba who was assaulted on Dugas Street in St. Boniface in late December.

The statement reads as follows:

A low pressure system formed off Cape Hatteras early Saturday and 
rapidly intensified into a powerful storm as it tracked 
northeastward to stall over the Avalon Peninsula on Sunday. From a 
meteorological perspective, the storm met nearly double the criteria 
for a 'weather bomb,' with its central pressure dropping nearly 48 
millibars in 24 hours. Barometric pressure was analyzed at 951 
millibars as the storm's centre moved onto the southern Avalon 
Peninsula, which was the most intense value observed on land over 
Newfoundland since March 2017, and the lowest measured on the Avalon 
Peninsula since Hurricane Igor made landfall in September 2010. 

The main impacts from the storm were associated with strong winds 
and storm surge. 

Numerous reports of coastal flooding due to storm surge were 
received from areas along the east and northeast coasts, leading to 
structural collapses, infrastructure damage, and road washouts in 
several communities. The Town of Gambo entered a state of emergency 
as waves and storm surge inundated parts of the community. 

The strong winds also caused downed trees, damage to buildings, and 
numerous power outages. Saturated and unfrozen ground undoubtedly 
contributed to increased susceptibility to damage compared to what 
might occur during more typical January conditions. A number of 
ferry crossings were cancelled as well. 

Precipitation amounts were relatively modest, consisting of rain in 
the east and snow followed by rain in the west and north. Reported 
snowfall amounts were generally unremarkable, with a couple of 
centimetres or less in most communities that received snow. However, 
difficult driving conditions were reported over higher elevations in 
northern Newfoundland, as well as southern Labrador, suggesting 
heavier snowfall in those areas. 

The following is a summary of weather event information received by 
Environment and Climate Change Canada as of 10:30 A.M. NST today. 

1. Maximum wind gusts in kilometres per hour. 

Sagona Island: 151 
Grates Cove: 141 
Bonavista: 136 
Musgrave Harbour: 134 * 
Pool's Island: 132 
Twillingate: 125 
Cape Pine: 122 * 
Caplin Cove: 120 * 
Saint-Pierre Airport (France): 115 
St. John's Int'l Airport: 115 
Fogo Island: 113 * 
St. John's (Robin Hood Bay): 113 * 
Ferolle Point: 111 
St. John's (East White Hills): 111 * 
Cape Race: 109 
Red Bay (Labrador): 106 * 
St. Anthony Airport: 106 
Trinity (Fort Point): 104 * 
Blanc-Sablon Airport (Quebec): 105 
Gander Int'l Airport: 104 
Lord's Cove: 103 * 
Port aux Basques: 103 

2. Rainfall in millimetres. 

Burin Bay Arm: 41.7 * 
Heart's Desire: 41.4 * 
Green's Harbour: 40.6 * 
Salmonier Nature Park: 39.6 * 
St. Lawrence: 33.5 
Gander West: 25.4 * 
Lethbridge: 23.0 
Bay Roberts: 21.1 * 
St. John's Int'l Airport: 19.4 

* denotes unofficial observation stat

60-year-old Nain resident started the new year with a date in the courts on a charge of impaired driving.

RCMP were called shortly after midnight on Saturday after a snowmobile crashed on Bridge Road in Nain. The machine was carrying a number of people when it left the road and went into a ditch.

There were no injuries.

Police say the driver of the snowmobile showed signs of impairment and was arrested at the scene. He was taken to the detachment, where he refused to provide breath samples.

The man’s snow machine was seized and impounded, and his license was suspended. He’s facing charges of impaired driving and refusal to comply with a breath demand.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed new guidance for devices used to monitor blood oxygen levels to improve their accuracy and performance across a range of skin tones.

Ads calling for society to "protect trans kids" will soon be seen on the sides of London transit buses, a month after a Christian group bought advertisements that angered transgender activists and their supporters.

The Hamilton Medical Officer of Health has issued a Cold Weather Alert effective overnight.  A Cold Weather Alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below minus 15 degrees Celsius or minus 20 with wind chill.

This alert will remain in effect until a cancellation notice is issued.

The City of Hamilton has notified community agencies who work with people who are vulnerable and experiencing homelessness. City of Hamilton Recreation Centres and Hamilton Public Library branches are available as warming spaces during regular business hours. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/cold.

The City of Hamilton has launched an enhanced Winter Response Strategy to support unhoused and vulnerable residents, which will be in effect daily from December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/WinterResponse.

The best place for you during a Cold Weather Alert is indoors. If you must be outside:

Dress in layers of clothing. Keep inner layers dry. Wet clothing increases the risk of cold injury.

Protect your face, ears and hands with a scarf, hat, and gloves.

To protect your feet, socks must be dry. Wool is a good material to keep your feet dry.

Drink warm fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Avoid strenuous exercise.

Family Provided Answers After Two-Decades

Police have identified the male found on the Livingston Channel shoreline 21 years ago using investigative genetic genealogy (IGG).

On May 29, 2003, a male body was recovered from the Livingston Channel Detroit River, just west of Amherstburg. He was wearing dark coloured pants, a dark shirt and a winter coat. The male was wearing mountain shoes.

As a result, members of the Essex County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began an investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).

Over the years, several attempts have been made to identify the remains with negative results.

The male’s DNA was submitted by CIB investigators for IGG use in February 2023 to determine the male’s identity. A few months later, through genealogy support by the Toronto Police Service (TPS), a presumptive ID was determined.

In September 2024, a family member’s DNA was used to confirm that the male was 48-year-old, James Raymond Stewart of Detroit, Michigan who went missing in November 2002.

According to the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS), the cause of death was undetermined. However, foul play was not suspected in his death.

The investigation was assisted by Essex County OPP Crime Unit, OPP Forensic Identification Services, Victim Services, TPS, the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) and OFPS.

“After two decades, we were finally able to provide this family with answers about James, thanks to investigative genetic genealogy. This investigative tool has proven to be invaluable, enabling law enforcement to solve even decades-old cases and offering hope to others facing similar circumstances. Its ability to connect distant relatives through DNA has transformed the landscape of historic homicide and unidentified human remains investigations,” said Detective Inspector Randy Gaynor, OPP CIB.

ABOUT OPP’S USE OF IGG

Since 2019, the OPP has integrated investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) into its investigative practices for specific types of crimes through the Historic Homicide Unit (HHU). The current focus for IGG use includes cases involving unidentified human remains, sexual assault, homicide and serious violent crimes like robberies.

To date, 23 cases have been submitted for IGG analysis. In 2024, two cases were resolved using IGG. Additionally, IGG was utilized to identify a victim in a case from 19 years ago.

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