Six stories in the news today, May 22

Six stories in the news today, May 22, from The Canadian Press:

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PM HARPER VISITS QUEBEC RIDING TORIES LOST BY A HAIR IN 2011

One of the Quebec ridings won by the NDP in the last federal election was captured by only nine votes. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the town of Berthier-sur-Mer today with an eye on returning it to the Tory fold this fall. Today’s event will see Harper announce more money to help get travellers to the region, which is known as a good sailing destination.

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HARPER PRAISED IN MONTREAL RIDING AS GREAT FRIEND OF ISRAEL

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was rewarded for his staunch support of Israel during a visit to the Montreal riding of Mount Royal on Thursday. He received the King David Award from the city’s influential Jewish Community Council in a riding the Liberals have held since 1940. The riding is up for grabs this fall and the religious organization has given its stamp of approval to Harper.

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HIGH COURT SET TO RULE IN CHILD PORN CONSENT CASE

The Supreme Court of Canada will rule today in the case of two Edmonton men who were acquitted of making child pornography after videotaping two 14-year-old girls performing sex acts. Donny Barabash and his friend, Shane Rollison, were acquitted at trial of making child pornography because the judge accepted their defence that the videos were consensual and for private use.

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CASE WITH RICIN ALLEGATIONS BACK IN COURT

The case of a man accused of having enough castor beans to produce a “substantial quantity” of the deadly toxin ricin is scheduled to return to court today in Charlottetown. Amir Raisolsadat was arrested last month after the Mounties applied for a peace bond under Section 810.01 of the Criminal Code. Information sworn in provincial court indicates that the RCMP “fears on reasonable grounds” that the 20-year-old man will commit a terrorism offence.

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RCMP INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF METAL OBJECTS IN POTATOES

The RCMP and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are looking into three cases of potatoes containing pieces of metal in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. A spokeswoman for the CFIA said officials are looking into the possibility of food tampering. In two of the cases, the RCMP said nails were found in the potatoes.

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SHRINKING DEMAND SPELLS END OF SOME BLOOD DONOR CLINICS

Canadian Blood Services is shutting down four permanent blood donor sites and eliminating 16 mobile clinics across the country because it is collecting too much blood. Ian Mumford, the agency’s chief supply chain officer, says advances in medicine have prompted Canada’s hospitals to reduce their demand for blood products. The four permanent clinics are in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY …

— Statistics Canada releases the retail trade numbers for March and the consumer price index for April.

— Sentencing arguments continue in Montreal the case of former Quebec lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault, who has pleaded guilty to fraud and breach of trust.

— Yosef Jomo Gopaul will appear in provincial court in Surrey, B.C., charged in connection to the death of Julie Paskall on Dec. 29, 2013.

— The Ontario Securities Commission holds a hearing in the matter of Garth Drabinsky, Myron Gottlieb and Gordon Eckstein.

— Suncor Energy CEO Steve Williams participates in panel discussion in Calgary on carbon pricing.

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