In the news today, Aug. 2

By The Canadian Press

Six stories in the news for Thursday, Aug. 2

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TRIAGE FOR BORDER CROSSERS DELAYED AGAIN

A long-promised triage system aimed at redirecting irregular border crossers from crowded shelters in Montreal and Toronto will not be in place until as late as the end of September. The federal government says it’s working with individual municipalities across Ontario and must identify available housing capacity before it can roll out its triage program. Ottawa had announced the triage system in April.

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BERNIER SLAMS HIS PARTY’S TRADE STRATEGY

Conservative MP Maxime Bernier says he’s the only federal politician who truly supports free trade with the U.S., and while it’s not his role to renegotiate NAFTA, he thinks it’s “sad” he’s the only one who wants to put supply management on the trading table. Bernie says every political party in Ottawa wants to keep the very system that U.S. President Donald Trump wants axed, and that intransigence is preventing Canada from reaching a deal.

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FATAL PLANE CRASHES IN ALBERTA AND B.C.

Police and federal transportation authorities are investigating fatal plane crashes in Alberta and British Columbia. RCMP say two men died Wednesday in the crash of a small plane in a mountainous region southwest of Calgary. Mounties also say one person died and another was missing after a float plane crashed on a remote lake in Gold Bridge, B.C. the victims’ names and hometowns have not yet been released.

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LIGHTNING IGNITES NEW WILDFIRES IN B.C.

Lightning storms in British Columbia are being blamed for many blazes that started this week across the province, including one that threatened Kootenay Park Lodge on Wednesday. Officials say more than 300 wildfires have started since Tuesday, with dozens recorded in the last few days in the Cariboo region, the area hard hit by last year’s record-breaking fire season. Storms were expected to continue through the week.

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OPPOSITION: EPIPEN SHORTAGE UNACCEPTABLE

The federal opposition parties are calling on the Trudeau government to urgently address the shortage of life-saving epinephrine auto-injectors, known as EpiPens. But the Conservatives and New Democrats differ as to how to ensure an adequate supply. The NDP says the Liberals must take all steps necessary to prevent a future supply crunch. The Conservatives want the government to encourage development of a Canadian-based supply chain.

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SKIN CREAMS, LOTIONS RECALLED

Health Canada says it has seized eight skin creams and lotions from a Montreal-based company because they contain corticosteroids, a prescription drug used to treat inflammatory skin conditions. the agency says the products were distributed to retailers in Quebec by Ayotai Canada, which specializes in products for people of colour.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— BCE Inc., Bombardier and SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. are among the companies reporting quarterly results today.

— Statistics Canada will release a study on life satisfaction among Canadian seniors.

— Convicted sex offender Sem Paul Obed is due in a Halifax court to face charges of sexual assault.

— Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab will be in Halifax to announce a new immigration stream.

— Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay will discuss his recent trade mission to Chile and Argentina.

— Environment Minister Catherine McKenna will announce new funding to improve water quality in the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

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