R-C-M-P in Antigonish say a police officer faces a charge of sexual assault that dates back to 2007.  Police say they received a report about an alleged sexual assault in June of last year, involving a woman who was a youth when she attended an event at a private home in Antigonish in 2007.  The Mounties say 38-year-old Corporal Kyle Lesko, of New Glasgow Regional Police was served with a court summons in April and is to appear in court in Antigonish on May 21st.  Police say he was a serving member of the Trenton Police Force in 2007, and was off-duty at the time of the alleged assault.  New Glasgow Regional Police say Kyle Lesko has been placed on leave, effective Monday, April 14th.

 

 

The federal party leaders will remain in Montreal for another day for the English debate tonight.

However last night they exchanged words in French with Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre aligning on support for new oil and gas pipelines as a matter of national security.

N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh says that Canada needs to prioritize what matters most and invest in sectors like agriculture, culture and the French-language.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says Canada needs to align itself with other countries that have been impacted by the U-S tariffs.

The Green Party was removed from the debate earlier yesterday after fielding candidates in fewer than 70 per cent of ridings.

 

 

The governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario have signed a memorandum of understanding to remove barriers to the free flow of goods and workers within Canada.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, whose government has already passed legislation on interprovincial trade, says the 13 provinces and territories will likely move at different speeds, and come from different places, but he believes all Canadians recognize the need for change.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt called the memorandum of understanding a great opportunity, and a way to celebrate Canadian-made products.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says trade barriers within Canada cost the economy up to 200 billion dollars a year.

 

 

The Bank of Canada held its benchmark interest rate yesterday as it mulls a range of economic scenarios in the face of U-S tariffs.

The central bank laid out two possible paths, one that sees tariffs removed quickly and one that sees a prolonged trade war that sends Canada into a recession.

The Bank of Canada’s next interest rate decision is set for June 4th.