Prairie Update – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Sep 1, 2015

(Alta-Police-Assault)

Three police officers have been found not guilty of aggravated assault in an altercation with a man at a hotel bar, but one of them has been convicted of assault.

Constable Robert Angstadt will be back in court on November 8th for sentencing. His colleagues, Constables David Hrycyk and Marc Seiller, were cleared and will be back on the job soon.

Judge Morris Gates ruled the three officers did not endanger the life of James Halcro when he was taken into custody on August 25th, 2012.

However, he said Angstadt over-reacted to the situation by putting his hands on Halcro’s neck and taking him to the floor. (CHAT)

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(Alta-Pride-Bus)

A Calgary bus driver who said he would quit his job if assigned to drive a bus wrapped in a rainbow flag for the Calgary Pride Festival says he’s being treated unfairly.

Jesse Rau says after doing media interviews, he was called in by his supervisor in response to a complaint that he was texting and driving, something he denies ever occurred.

Rau has said he’s a Christian and doesn’t support homosexuality.

He says he feels like he’s being harassed because of his stance on the issue and suspects someone who is in a position of authority in Calgary Transit is upset that Rau is — in his words — “raining on his parade.” (CTV Calgary, CFFR)

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(Sask-Mulcair)

Federal N-D-P Leader Tom Mulcair has announced measures aimed at ending violence against women.

While visiting Saskatoon yesterday, Mulcair said he wants to undo what he calls an underlying attitude of racism that he says has prevented a national inquiry into the issue.

Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of violence against women.

Mulcair says he’ll work with women’s groups, indigenous peoples, communities and organizations to create a national action plan to end violence against women and girls, with dedicated funding and benchmarks for progress. (The Canadian Press)

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(Sask-Fiscal-Update)

Saskatchewan’s official opposition says the projected deficit of 292 million dollars is a sign the government isn’t managing finances properly.

Finance critic Trent Wotherspoon says the government has had record revenues but they’ve spent the money and drained the rainy day fund.

Wotherspoon would have preferred more improvements to hospitals, care homes, schools and roads instead of what he calls Premier Brad Wall’s misplaced priorities.

The finance critic listed among those a 228 per cent increase in highly paid consultants, huge cost overruns on the planned Regina Bypass and significant cost overruns on the Children’s Hospital. (CJWW)

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(Mba-Illegal-Hunting)

Anyone convicted of illegally killing a wild animal or fish in Manitoba will now face stiffer penalties.

Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Tom Nevakshonoff announced yesterday that the new fines are in addition to fines imposed through court.

As well, fines for killing big game in a conservation closure area double, which could be as high as 10-thousand dollars.

The fines don’t apply to anyone legally exercising a treaty or aboriginal right to hunt or fish. (The Canadian Press)

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(Mba-Prison-Lockdown-Over)

A week-long lockdown at a federal prison near Winnipeg is over.

It began on August 24th after the death of an inmate at Stony Mountain Institution.

Clayton Korski, who was 33, had been serving a life sentence for murder when he died.

R-C-M-P have a 21-year-old man in custody but have yet to lay any charges. (CJOB)

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(Prairie Update by The Canadian Press)

(The Canadian Press)