By Murray Sherriffs
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Talks involving the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec and the Legault government aimed at finding a way past the Bill 2 impasse have ended, a week-and-a-half after they began, and Premier Legault says that “…there are hundreds of thousands of Quebecers who don’t have access to a family doctor, so we need to find solutions together.” The FMOQ says that the nine days of talks changed nothing because the government remains entrenched in its position.
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Chomedey MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier has been turfed from the Quebec Liberal Party caucus by leader Pablo Rodriguez, pending an investigation by the ethics commissioner relating to the alleged use of her constituency office resources during the PLQ leadership race which saw her support Rodriguez and following reports which suggested that it might have involved payments made to some people to support his drive to lead the party. Jean-Francois Roberge, the minister responsible for Democratic Institutions says that it’s “obvious” that legislation is required and that he will table a bill today to ban vote-buying in political party leadership races.
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The official opposition in Quebec City wants a parliamentary committee to investigate extortions and firebombings of restaurants and other businesses, mostly in the Montreal area. Westmount–Saint-Louis MNA / Quebec Liberal Party public security critic Jennifer Maccarone says that there is a “real culture of fear” in the industry, as business owners are increasingly being intimidated by criminals to pay protection money.
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Employment and income gaps between English and French-speaking Quebecers costs the province about $1.5 billion in lost income annually according to a study by the Social Research Demonstration Corporation of employment of English-speaking Quebecers. It suggests that English-speaking Quebecers face higher unemployment and lower incomes than their French-speaking counterparts.
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Former Québec solidaire MNA Dr. Amir Khadir does not regret treating his patients with Lyme disease, with prolonged prescriptions of antibiotics and might take legal action to reduce the six-month suspension issued by the disciplinary council of the Quebec College of Physicians; suggesting that one month would be a fairer penalty.
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Hundreds of organizations and individuals will take part in public consultations regarding the Quebec constitution Bill 1, in the face of the anger and frustration from law experts and civil liberties groups.
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A second suspect, 28-year-old Mohamed Aymen Tayeb, has been arrested in the arson attack that destroyed the $19 million home under construction of the co-founder of Pornhub’s parent company in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, four years ago.
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22-year-old Arthur Galarneau, who murdered his mom, dad and grandmother in their Montreal home, two years ago, will likely be found not guilty as both his lawyer and the crown agree that his schizophrenia should stand in the way of a guilty verdict.
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23-year-old Kellya Lamire and 34-year-old Riccardo Bruny are facing several charges in connection with pimping crimes on the South Shore as well as activities in Toronto, Gatineau, Ottawa and Montreal.
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The Sûreté du Québec has seized more than $1 million worth of stolen vehicles and boats in Laval following raids on three homes and a business that involved a cell phone fraud and stolen goods ring.
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Montreal is opening spots in emergency shelters, with the downtown YMCA on Stanley to house about a hundred unfortunates from 7 p.m.-8 a.m. and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada working to have 500 additional shelter spots by Christmas.
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Researchers say that a single human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination appears is be just as effective as two doses at preventing the viral infection that causes cervical cancer. HPV is very common and spread through sex. While most HPV infections clear up on their own, some linger, causing cancers that appear years later, including cervical cancer in women and rarer cancers in both women and men. HPV vaccination has been recommended for girls since 2006 and the nation is already counting fewer cases of precancerous cervical lesions among women in their 20s, the first age group to start getting the shots when they were tweens or teens.
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Sun / -7º today
Flurries / -1º tomorrow
Sun / cloud / -8º Sunday