In the news today, Feb. 21

Six stories in the news for Wednesday, Feb. 21

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DECISION DAY FOR PATRICK BROWN

Patrick Brown is expected to find out today whether he will be able to continue his bid to lead Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives through the spring election. The former Opposition leader, who resigned last month amid sexual misconduct allegations, is fighting to reclaim his old job. A party nomination committee meet with Brown last night and will announce today if he should be allowed to run as a Tory candidate in the June election.

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JURY IN FONTAINE CASE TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS

The fate of a man accused of killing an Indigenous teenage girl and dumping her in Winnipeg’s Red River is expected to be in the hands of a jury today. Raymond Cormier has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the August 2014 slaying of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine whose death reignited calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.

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B.C. JUDGE TOSSES RCMP NEGLIGENCE LAWSUIT

A lawsuit in the case involving a B.C. Mountie who failed to get out of his cruiser to investigate a shots fired call has been tossed out of court. A B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed the action alleging police negligence in the case of Lisa Dudley, who was shot in her home in Mission in September 2008, ruling the lawsuit was filed too late.

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B.C. BUDGET TRIES TO EASE FINANCIAL PINCH

British Columbia has moved to ease the province’s housing crisis with a budget that introduces a new tax on property speculators, higher taxes on foreign homebuyers and plans to create 114,000 affordable housing units over the next decade. Finance Minister Carole James said the measures are part a goal to improve housing affordability in markets where some seniors are forced to live in their vehicles.

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EX-MANITOBA PREMIER SELINGER TO RESIGN

Former Manitoba premier Greg Selinger says he will resign his legislature seat on March 7. NDP Leader Wab Kinew asked Selinger last week to step down following allegations that Stan Struthers — a cabinet minister when Selinger was premier — had inappropriately touched some female employees years ago. Selinger, who said he was unaware at the time that anything had happened, was Manitoba premier between 2009 and 2016.

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BRADY LEMAN EARNS GOLD FOR CANADA

It was a golden comeback for Brady Leman in men’s skicross. The Calgarian broke a leg a day before the 2010 Vancouver Games and was fourth in the 2014 finals in Sochi. But last night, he captured a gold medal in the four-man big final — Canada’s ninth gold and 20th overall. In curling, Rachel Homan’s rink was eliminated from medal contention. And, in figure skating, Canadian Kaetlyn Osmond stands third after the women’s short program. The long program for the medals is on Friday.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— A celebration of life will be held for teenager Becca Schofield in Riverview, N.B.

— Companies reporting results today include Maple Leaf Foods, Stelco Holdings and the Caisse de depot.

— The Alberta government will hold a session in Calgary to hear from survivors of the ’60s Scoop.

— Environment Minister Catherine McKenna travels to New York City for meetings on climate issues.

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