OTTAWA – RCMP say an Ottawa youth has been arrested and charged with terrorism-related offences that allegedly targeted Jewish people.
The Mounties say the young person arrested Friday was charged with facilitating terrorist activity by communicating instructional material related to an explosive substance.
The youth is further charged with knowingly instructing a person to carry out terrorist activity against “Jewish persons.”
Auto review by Veeno Dewan
The famous Integra model is back in the Acura performance lineup. For the uninitiated, the 1980s and 1990s Integra was an iconic performance two- door coupe. Highly anticipated and sure to sell out fast, the 2023 version of the legendary Acura Integra is a new Sportback four -door sedan with the sporty Honda Civic Si underpinnings. No retro styling, only the distinctive “Integra” lettering stamped into the front and rear bumpers. The new Integra is a distinctive looking car with its pentagon grille and sleek light treatments.
The Integra is powered by; a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-4 with VTEC producing 200 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and Torque at 192 lb.-ft. @ 1,800 – 5,000 rpm. The transmission choice is either a Sport-tuned Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with Paddle Shifters or an optional six-speed manual (Hooray!)with a mechanical limited slip differential. There is also optional adaptive suspension.
There are four trim levels to choose from in the model line up: base Integra, ($34,350), A-Spec ($37,050), Elite A-Spec Package ($42,550) and the latest Type S edition ($55,600) as tested available only with a 6- Speed manual transmission aimed at performance thrill seeking drivers. The Integra Type S is distinct with wide fender flares, a front track and rear track stretch by 3.5 inches and 1.9 inches. There is the addition of a functional hood scoop and a wider grille for more cooling along with. Larger lower front air-intakes, larger 19-inch Michelin Pilot 4S tires, Also added is bigger four-piston 13.8-inch front and 12-inch rear Brembo brake rotors. The Type S also arrives with a high-performance straight through exhaust system with active exhaust valves.
In terms of the drivetrain, the Type S has the Civic Type R, 2.0L VTEC turbocharged engine spinning out a phenomenal 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed short throw manual gearbox. Power goes to the front wheels. Sorry no automatic transmission on this version!
The S type interior is set off by red rim, 12-way powered heated seats with extra side and thigh bolstering, UltraSuede inserts are added with the Type S logo embossed on the front headrests. Standard features across the range include heated sport seats and steering wheel, sunroof, power driver’s seat, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster which provides reconfigurable information for the driver. The Integra comes with a 7.0-inch infotainment display as standard with a larger 9.0-inch unit available as an option. There is also blind-spot monitoring, and forward-facing driver assist technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, which uses a new camera system. All models feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is almost 700L of cargo space is provided with the rear seats
up.
On the road, the 2023 Integra, much like the original version is satisfyingly sporty to drive. Its turbocharged 2.0L engine likes to rev and offers quick acceleration in a smooth, linear manner. A stand out feature is the optional six-speed manual transmission as equipped on our test car. the short- throw shifter snicks into up and down wonderfully accurate and precise in operation. Combined with a firm, yet fairly forgiving clutch the transitions and rev matching system make for a positive confident up and downshift experience.
There are four drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. The latter lets you select the engine response, steering, suspension, and gauge display between the other three options.
The steering is well weighted and direct erring on firm for excellent cornering with controlled weight transfer. Meanwhile, the adaptive dampers set up can switch from normal to driver preferred comfortable cruising mode or a performance-oriented firmer setup for more precise cornering. Ride and handling is also good with a tuned nicely engineered chassis. The three-stage adaptive dampers have driver selectable Comfort, Normal and Sport modes. Each of the Adaptive suspension settings combine with throttle and steering parameters when used. Comfort offers looser steering, and throttle control and a more relaxed ride. Sport sharpens throttle response; firmer steering and a firmer road feel for more driver feedback.. Fuel consumption is rated at 11.1 L/100 km on city streets, 8.3 L/100km on the highway.
Downsides are few, the lack of rear headroom being one weakness in particular. All in all, the 2023 Acura Integra S Type is a very engaging, fun to drive sports coupe and can be had with one of the best manual transmissions around. A very competent and highly recommended sports car for the demanding fun -orientated
driver.
2023 Acura Integra Type S priced from $55,600 ($58,195 including freight and PDI).
More info at www.acura.ca
OTTAWA – Every week now for more than a month, cabinet ministers have been appearing in front of cameras on Parliament Hill in an effort to convince Canadians that the Liberal government has the housing crisis in hand.
Ever since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s summer cabinet shuffle, they’ve been scrambling to be seen making the cost of living a top priority, hoping to catch up to the runaway Conservatives on the issue of affordability.
Like clockwork, Housing Minister Sean Fraser appeared Tuesday alongside Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, this time to announce millions in spending to build or upgrade thousands of co-operative homes.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, have been racking up millions of clicks, views and shares with a slick 15-minute explainer video, complete with graphs, news segments and narration from none other than leader Pierre Poilievre.
Welcome to the main event of Canadian politics: the battle to become the party voters can trust to confront one of the country’s most pressing issues.
Poilievre’s video, in which he lays blame for the housing shortage squarely on Trudeau’s shoulders, is only his latest effort to use his massive social media following to speak directly to potential voters — particularly younger ones.
The two strategies also illustrate opposing outlooks on the mainstream media, a group Poilievre and his Conservative party — to say nothing of their supporters — have long cultivated as a useful political punching bag.
“It shows what modern political communications is like,” said Mobilize Media Group president Jeff Ballingall. “It’s great to see that Pierre’s team is reflecting modern communications in media consumption.”
Poilievre’s latest video lays out the Conservative case “in a way that’s compelling,” said Ballingall, the social media architect behind Ontario Proud and Canada Proud, two accounts dedicated to attacking Trudeau and the Liberals.
Cole Hogan, who worked on digital ad campaigns for provincial conservatives like Ontario Premier Doug Ford and former Alberta premier Jason Kenney, said he would normally advise against making a video like Poilievre’s.
Not only is it a time-consuming endeavour in a field that moves at a lightning-fast pace, Hogan said, but existing wisdom says short, snappy content is usually more effective online.
Poilievre, however, is nothing if not unconventional, he added: “It’s hard to imagine this coming from anybody else.”
Social media’s other advantage is that it provides detailed intelligence on who is watching on which platform and from where — crucial information in politics, where “data is everything,” Ballingall said.
“From there you can distil a lot of your messaging later on.”
While Conservatives are lauding Poilievre’s latest endeavour as a success, Fraser and other Liberals accuse him of exploiting the anxieties of Canadians without offering much in the way of practical solutions.
Poilievre is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” who is “pretending to understand the challenges that people are living with, but insisting that he’s not going to advance the solutions that are actually going to help them, “Fraser said.
The number of Canadians with at least one disability has doubled in ten years, a reality that should push governments to help reduce barriers to accessibility, says the head of a human rights organization.
Statistics Canada data shows that 27 per cent of people 15 and older — about eight million Canadians — reported having at least one disability in 2022, about twice the percentage of people who reported a disability 10 years ago.
Collected every five years, the StatCan numbers are important because they influence government policy at the federal, provincial and local levels, Heather Walkus, national chair of the Council for Canadians with Disabilities, said in a recent interview.
“At least eight million Canadians have a disability and we are still excluded, not able to join in with families and be part of the Canadian experience because of environment, because of attitudes, and because of the way the system is set up to ensure there’s no success or little success,” Walkus said.
Of the millions of Canadians with a disability, 72 per cent reported having encountered some form of barrier to accessibility within the last year; 60 per cent of the eight million said they had experienced barriers navigating indoor and outdoor public spaces.
Walkus, who describes herself as having “very low vision,” said much needs to be done to ensure everyone can navigate public spaces.
For example, when she recently attended a conference on disabilities in Ottawa, she was unable to use the hotel’s elevators. The buttons did not have raised lettering or braille, and riders were alerted by flashing lights when an elevator became available — leaving her unable to know when a cabin arrived. Inside the elevator, its sound system was “so muffled” she could not hear what floor she was on.
“I couldn’t even get up an elevator in 2023,” she said.
“That’s what people need to understand,” Walkus added. “We have ability, we want to live our lives, but we’re somehow still separated.”
The year 2022 marked the first time Statistics Canada’s national survey included questions on barriers to accessibility, Susan Wallace, an analyst with the agency and manager of the Canadian Survey on Disability, said in an interview. The survey, she added, asked people about 27 different types of barriers, involving building entrances, lighting or sound levels, public sidewalks, among others.
Accessibility problems span the country: a recent report from a University of Calgary-led project found that nearly 60 per cent of public spaces in Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa are either inaccessible or partially inaccessible to disabled people. Called “Mapping our Cities for All,” the project’s goal is to help the federal government meet its goals of removing barriers for people with disabilities by 2040.
Walkus said Canada must also address the financial strain of those trying to sort out details of the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit Act, which became law in June 2023. The benefit is aimed at reducing poverty and supporting working-age people with disabilities through income supplements. Online consultations for the benefit opened Nov. 15 and close Dec. 21.
“The good thing is that it’s coming. The bad thing is we’re not quite sure when and how that will roll out,” Walkus said.
Wheelchairs, talking-program computers, and many other support technologies are expensive, Walkus said, adding that it’s becoming increasingly expensive to find accessible housing. “People need to understand that having a disability is not cheap.”
The number of Canadians with disabilities in 2022 was up by five percentage points since the last survey in 2017, when 22 per cent of Canadians, or 6.2 million people, reported having at least one disability. Statistics Canada said the increase can be attributed to the aging population and the rise in mental health-related disabilities among youth and work-age people.
The most common disability type is pain-related, at 62 per cent, followed by issues linked to flexibility and mobility, which is on par with results from 2017. The next most common disability is mental health-related, at 39 per cent — the largest increase in disability type between 2017 and 2022. The last survey found that 33 per cent of people with a disability reported that it was mental health-related.
Review by Veeno Dewan
The all-new fourth generation MDX is Acura’s flagship SUV and so it should be, the MDX has been a family favourite for a while now. For 2023, the new top version in the line up is the $83,000 MDX A-Spec Ultra that adds improved exterior aerodynamic aids , including an exclusive front splitter and grille that improve airflow to the engine bay. There are cooling side vents, and a rear diffuser with large round exhaust outlets. The Type S features gloss black trim accents, 21-inch alloy wheels painted Shark Gray or Berlina Black, and with a machine finish on the Ultra Package. It will also offer an exclusive eye-catching Tiger Eye Pearl paint option.
The Acura Type S has a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 as found in the TLX Type S sedan. This new powerplant is smaller but produces an increase of 65 hp and 87 lb-ft over the standard MDX’s 3.5L V6. This makes the Type S the most powerful Acura SUV ever. There is a revised 10-speed automatic transmission and the Acura’s fourth-generation Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that sends up to 70 per cent of torque to the rear axle and 100 per cent of it left or right, when required. Also added to the Type S is a double-wishbone front suspension, with adaptive dampers, more effective Brembo brakes with red painted calipers, seven drive modes, and a battery relocated from under the hood to the cargo area for better weight distribution. An extra radiator have been added for extra cooling and the steering, transmission, and brake pedal have been recalibrated
Inside, the MDX features a sleek hi-tech interior with impressive quality, fit and finish. The dash and centre console has a busy, high-tech look typical of Acura with a plethora of buttons for different features and functions, but at least there is a proper dial for the stereo volume control, which is always appreciated. The Type S MDX features three-seat rows, wonderful Milano leather seats in red or ebony, accented with black “Ultrasuede” inserts. The racy flat-bottomed steering wheel is highlighted with a Type S badge, and contrast stitching on various details, as well as two standard 12.3-inch display screens. Upgrades to the Ultra Package include spectacular quilted front and middle row seats, massaging front seats with nine settings (An Acura first!), and 25-speaker, 1,000- watt ELS Studio 3D audio system, LED illuminated doors speakers, and 16-way power-adjustable front seats which brings the MSRP to $83,000 for the Type S Ultra.
The third row is best seated for younger, smaller passengers. Behind the third row is 513 L of storage but fold that row down and cargo space grows to 1,368 L. Fold the second row down and the MDX offers a maximum of 2,690 L. Safety is high with a next-generation front passenger airbag. It deploys with three chambers and a cradle feature reacts on impact to help prevent head and neck injuries.
On the road, Acura’s stand out SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.) is standard on all trims. This traction system is improved now for faster response, apportioning power between the front and rear wheels for superb grip. The Acura Type S as tested definitely ups the performance quotient – For such a big SUV, the MDX feels light, quick and agile. There are a variety of drive modes to suit personal preferences and adverse conditions. Normal is good for everyday driving, while Sport mode kicks it up a notch. The transmission has a new torque converter and strengthens gears. It can downshift 40% quicker with rev matching when using the paddle shifters and in its most aggressive setting (Sport+), will also upshift 30% quicker under hard acceleration.
The MDX Type S is quicker and handles and rides better, the air suspension offers automatic load leveling and is able to raise the ride height by 2.0 inches in “Lift” mode. For those who need to tow a boat or trailer, the MDX’s maximum towing rating is 2,268 kg (5,000 lb).
Just a few niggles. That touchpad-based infotainment system is still fiddly and its hard to know where your fingers are sliding about. The sub menus or different functions could be simpler and designed for less driver attention. To sum up the Acura MDX Type S is a compelling purchase if you are looking for a premium sport orientated SUV with stellar performance chops. With its vice- free road manners, creamy smooth engine, transmission, and agile handling, it is superbly refined. Add; seven seats, a technology driven driver cockpit, luxury and style The Acura MDX Type S is highly recommended.
2023 Acura MDX : Priced from $57,900 for the base MDX, Type S Ultra package $83,000 plus extras.
More info at www,acura.ca
NEW DELHI (AP) — India restored electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, an Indian foreign ministry official said Wednesday, two months after Canada alleged the South Asian nation was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
The electronic visa was back in order on Wednesday, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters.
The move could ease tensions between the two countries that swapped accusations and expelled each other’s diplomats with India introducing a visa ban on Canadian nationals.
A diplomatic spat erupted between the two countries after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver in western Canada.
Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh activist and plumber, was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver.
For years, India had said that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation he denied but dismissed the Canadian allegation of its involvement in his killing as “ absurd.”
New Delhi’s worries about Sikh separatist groups in Canada have long strained the relationship between the two countries, despite maintaining strong defense and trade ties. India had previously accused Canada of harboring separatists and “terrorists.”
The allegation brought the discord to the forefront with Canada recalling 41 of its 62 diplomats in India after New Delhi warned it would strip their diplomatic immunity — something Canadian officials characterized as a violation of the Geneva Convention.
Last month, India eased the ban and resumed services for entry, business, medical and conference visas for Canadian nationals.
Quebec’s blood supply agency says Health Canada has lifted a longstanding ban on blood donations in the province that stemmed from fear of mad cow disease.
Héma-Québec vice-president Dr. Marc Germain says it’s clear that there is now virtually no risk of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease through new blood transfusions.
For two decades, people who lived or travelled in the United Kingdom or France for long periods of time in the 1980s and 1990s have not been allowed to donate blood in case they were exposed.
Héma-Québec says the change will come into effect Dec. 4.
Canadian Blood Services has also asked Health Canada to lift the ban in the rest of the country.
It says Health Canada is expected to make a decision soon.
The United States and Australia both lifted similar bans in 2022.
Both Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec say they have turned away thousands of donors whose travel in the United Kingdom and Europe decades ago disqualified them.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2021.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
A 34-year-old Quebec man is dead after an off-road vehicle crashed over the weekend in northwestern New Brunswick.
RCMP say three people were on an off-road vehicle that crashed and ended up in a ditch in Haut-Madawaska, N.B., a rural community located by the Quebec boundary and the Maine border.
Police say they believe the driver lost control making a turn and that alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash that occurred around 10:50 p.m. Saturday.
One of the passengers, a man from St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Que., was transported to hospital where he died from his injuries.
The driver of the off-road vehicle and the other passenger were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries.
The RCMP did not share details on the condition of the two surviving passengers.
OTTAWA – Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Monday he doesn’t yet have a position on the Liberal government’s proposed legislation to ban the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts in most federally regulated workplaces.
The bill, known as Bill C-58 in the House of Commons, was introduced last week and will apply to most federally regulated industries such as banking, airports and telecommunications, and ports. It will not apply to the federal public service or workplaces that are regulated by a province or territory.
“We’re going to study the legislation,” Poilievre told reporters at a press conference in Vancouver. “I never take a position before I have had a chance to actually look at what’s written down on paper.”
His response comes as the Conservatives try to make inroads with the more of the country’s workers, placing a front-and-centre focus on cost of living issues and the anxieties it has brought to the country’s working class.
On Monday he said that while he hasn’t yet taken a position on the anti-replacement workers bill, he’s on the side of workers.
“I don’t blame the workers who are voting for strikes right now,” Poilievre said.
“Conservatives are 100 per cent on side with workers, union and non-union, who are fighting for pay hikes,” he said.
He laid the blame for rising costs at the feet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government spending.
Poilievre’s political pitch has him selling himself as the one with the “common sense” approach that helps the “common people” while Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh as elite and out of touch. He’s targeting the message in particular at NDP and Liberal-held ridings in northern Ontario and parts of British Columbia where Conservatives think they could win in the next election.
At the party’s national policy convention in Quebec City this past September, Poilievre used his keynote speech to say that workers were being “punished” through inflation and other taxes.
But some labour leaders are watching with skepticism, and are using the replacement workers legislation as a test for the Conservative leader who says he’s friendly to workers. Unifor called on all parties to back the legislation in full, president Lana Payne said Monday, in a statement.
“If Pierre Poilievre truly supports the rights of working people there is only one way to vote,” she said.
But Payne also pointed to Poilievre’s record when it comes to workers, adding “we are not holding our breath.”
Poilievre has voted multiple times in favour of back-to-work legislation over his nearly 20 years as an MP, including when the former Conservative government was in office.
By Veeno Dewan.
The full-size 2023 Toyota Crown is a new hybrid sedan with what seems like SUV pretensions. A replacement for the Toyota Avalon sedan, the Crown’s height is 100 mm taller than the Camry sedan, It sits high and mighty and is fairly large sedan that has almost SUV proportions. In Japan it is actually classed as a Crossover. It rides on as standard 19-inch wheels with optional 21-inch rims and tires. It is a sleek, bold looking car, and even comes in funky two-tone colors. The red and black combo looking particularly striking. For the Canadian market, there is a choice of either a standard all-wheel drive, and a choice of either a 2.5L Hybrid engine with 236 hp or a new more powerful 2.4L Turbo Hybrid Engine option producing an impressive 340-hp.
The Crown line-up starts with a very well-equipped XLE trim at $45,590. The mid-level Limited rings in at $50,990 while the top performance enhanced Platinum is $59,990. The entry XLE and Limited models are powered by Toyota’s ubiquitous 2.5-litre 4-cylinder hybrid engine drivetrain with a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission ). All models of the Crown feature all-wheel-drive and a hybrid system, The $9,000 extra for the Platinum version delivers the new Hybrid Max system, larger 21- inch wheels, more equipment, and that unique two-tone paint option.
As standard features on all Crown models are heated front seats that offer 8-way power-adjustment and driver’s seat lumbar support. The climate control system is a dual zone unit and there is Toyota’s latest infotainment system featuring a 12.3-inch touch screen. There is wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with over-the-air updates functionality. The Crown Limited model offers upgrades such as a premium sound system, leather interior and a panoramic sunroof. The Platinum sees a power boost thanks to the more performance-oriented Hybrid Max AWD system, upping the standard 236 hp to 340 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The system incorporates a 2.4L turbo engine, while the front electric motor has a capacity of 61 kW, with the rear motor delivering 59 kW. The CVT is replaced by a more responsive six-speed auto transmission.
The interior of the 2024 Crown Platinum tester comes across as neatly conventional and looks high quality, although there is a lot of plastic trim. Its mostly black, although the leather seats have nice contrast piping. Some small bronze-coloured trim pieces provide a hit of contrast. The big central display units have dual screens and are well integrated. It is nice to see physical buttons for the most used functions such as audio and climate. Ergonomics are good and the controls and display screen infotainment unit is easy to use and intuitive. The rear cabin is well finished and the back seats are comfortable. Generally, there is a good feeling of space, ample leg, and shoulder room, although rear headroom is a little compromised. The trunk space is sized at 433 litres.
On the road Toyota claims a 0-100 km/h time of 5.8 seconds for the Platinum, which is quick for this class. It feels strong off the line with good acceleration to highway speeds and ample power for quick passing when needed. The hybrid drivetrains performance is no doubt enhanced by the omission of the CVT in favour of the Platinum exclusive six-speed automatic in the interest of greater responsiveness. Selecting Sport+ mode, stiffens the suspension and allows for more road feel. However, this is a big heavy vehicle and is not as nimble as you would expect. The trade-off instead is a delightfully comfortable serene ride and an adaptive suspension system that does a great job of ironing out road imperfections and potholes. Handling and braking is very good with no issues. A major highlight is the quiet, calm cabin that’s’ equal to super premium luxury class sedans in my opinion.
In terms of fuel economy, the XLE and Limited trims are rated at an impressive 5.6/5.7/5.7 L/100 km (city/highway/combined), while the more powerful Platinum is rated at 8.1/7.3/7.8 L/100 km.
To sum up, The Crown has many things to like. There is a well- engineered hybrid drivetrain and good as standard equipment list. The distinctive looks, the high driving position, and obvious Toyota quality. are also plus points. Downsides are few; a smallish trunk for one thing and no full All Electric EV version (As yet.). The Crown is a good alternative if you are in the market for a roomy family hybrid but do not fancy a typical boxy SUV. Highly recommended.
2023 Toyota Crown priced from – $45,590 – $59,990.
More info at www.toyota.ca
