Six stories in the news for today, Nov. 20

Six stories in the news for Monday, Nov. 20

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CANADIANS TOLD TO BRACE FOR ‘CLASSIC’ WINTER

One of Canada’s high profile weather forecasters is warning Canadians to brace for a whole lot of snow this winter. Chris Scott, The Weather Network’s chief meteorologist, says the message from his forecast team is “‘buckle up’ because it looks like a stormy winter.” The forecast says British Columbia, the Prairies, Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes can all expect above normal levels of precipitation. But the long-range forecast also calls sustained periods of milder temperatures.

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FORMER WATCHDOG WARNS FEDS ON HOUSING CASH

Parliament’s first budget watchdog is warning the federal government to be careful how it spends billions in new housing money over the next decade to ensure it actually makes a lasting impact. In an analysis published today, former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page says Ottawa currently doesn’t tie homelessness and housing funding to any outcomes, meaning the money flows whether the results are good or bad.

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NEBRASKA CASTS VOTE ON KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE TODAY

Five commissioners in Nebraska are set to vote today on the fate of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, potentially clearing the last major regulatory hurdle of a project once thought dead. The Nebraska Public Service Commission will vote on whether the project, which would transport 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to U.S. markets, serves the public interest. The vote comes as TransCanada continues to clean up a 5,000 barrel oil spill from it’s pipeline in nearby South Dakota.

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CEREMONIES TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF MONTREAL PROTOCOL

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be in Montreal today to mark the 30th anniversary of a landmark treaty to protect the earth’s ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol was an international agreement signed in the city on Sept. 16, 1987 to phase out the use of chemicals being blamed for destroying the ozone layer.

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COLLEGE FACULTY RETURN TO WORK AFTER STRIKE

College faculty in Ontario head back to their schools today, after a five-week strike was ended over the weekend with back-to-work legislation. The 12,000 professors, instructors, counsellors and librarians who’d been on strike since Oct. 15 will return to work today to prepare for students’ return on Tuesday. Colleges are extending their semesters so students don’t lose their terms, but student advocates say trying to condense five missed weeks into roughly two extra ones will be very stressful.

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NDP TURNS TO UNUSED RULE TO KEEP BILL ALIVE

In a show of backbencher strength, NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson could become the first MP in history to force her colleagues in the House of Commons into a secret ballot to save a piece of legislation. Malcolmson plans to appeal directly to House of Commons Speaker Geoff Regan today hoping he’ll let her private members’ bill to establish a national strategy on abandoned vessels proceed to debate.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— National inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women to hold hearings in Saskatoon.

— Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is in Toronto to talk about the importance of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as part of a national speaking tour.

— Alberta’s child advocate to release a report on the experiences of LGBTQ youth in the child welfare and justice systems.

— The fifth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Through to Nov. 21.

— The European Union Delegation to Canada hosts the 2017 Common Security and Defence Policy Symposium in Ottawa.

— Scotiabank Giller Prize to be awarded in Toronto.

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