In the news today, Oct. 3

Four stories in the news for Wednesday, Oct. 3

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EXPECT NASTY FEDERAL CAMPAIGN, TRUDEAU SAYS

Next year’s federal election campaign will likely be the nastiest one yet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. Speaking at a Liberal fundraiser in northwestern Toronto, Trudeau was adamant his Liberal party won’t indulge in the expected mudslinging, saying positivity is the only way to go. Next year’s election is expected to pit Trudeau against the Conservatives under Harper’s successor, Andrew Scheer. For his part, Scheer said his party plans on focusing on policy in the upcoming election. Scheer also accused Trudeau of hypocrisy, noting that prominent Liberals such as Bill Morneau and Ahmed Hussen have called two Conservatives a Neanderthal and “not Canadian,” respectively.

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B.C.’S LNG DEAL HAS HORGAN IN JUGGLING ACT

The prospect of billions of dollars in liquefied natural gas revenues has British Columbia’s government preparing for a political and environmental juggling act as Premier John Horgan attempts to hold together his minority government while appeasing ever watchful climate guardians. He described LNG Canada’s decision to build a $40-billion liquefied natural gas project in northern B.C. as akin to a “moon landing” in its historic magnitude, emphasizing just how much the project means to an economically deprived region of the province. But Green Leader Andrew Weaver, whose party is key to Horgan’s grasp of power, did not attend the signing ceremony and accused the NDP of a “grand hypocrisy.”

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USMCA TWISTING NORTH AMERICAN TONGUES

The new moniker for the revamped North American Free Trade Agreement is already the butt of several jokes. NAFTA rolled off the tongue, but the acronym for the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement — the USMCA — will take a little getting used to. It was just minutes old when gags about the Village People song “YMCA” started bouncing around the internet. One thing is clear: President Donald Trump wanted a new name for an agreement he has repeatedly denounced as a disaster for his country.

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CALGARY BURIED IN SNOW

People in Calgary are digging out from the snowiest October day in 104 years — a new record. Roads and highways in and around the city Tuesday were covered in heavy, wet snow. Parts of Calgary reported snowfall amounts of up to 40 centimetres in a 12-hour period with similar amounts in the mountain parks and other areas of southern Alberta. Calgary police reported 251 collisions and dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed at Calgary International Airport, and at one point 80 transit buses were stuck or stalled on slippery streets.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Premier Rachel Notley and Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the new Royal Alberta Museum.

— A sentencing hearing will be held for Guido Amsel, who was found guilty of attempting to murder his former wife and two lawyers by sending them letter bombs.

— Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott are expected to make a health-care announcement.

— The trial continues today for Jennifer Clark and Jeromie Clark, who have been charged with criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life to their 14-month-old son.