Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 9, 2021, Winnipeg, Manitoba C MHK PAGE A14A 14 NEWS I CANADA / WORLD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM Coast Guard signs Arctic deal with Royal Navy OTTAWA — The Canadian Coast Guard signed an agreement Friday with Britain’s Royal Navy to train its sailors on Arctic icebreakers in Canada’s Far North. The memorandum of understanding follows a 2020 agreement between the two NATO countries that saw officers from Britain’s HMS Protector train aboard a coast guard vessel. The Canadians will work with British sailors in icy northern waters to break up ice sheets while exchanging information from their Royal Navy counterparts. The British High Commission in Ottawa announced the new agreement on behalf of the Royal Navy and the coast guard. The statement noted that Canada operates a fleet of about 20 icebreak-ing vessels that helps smash ice, keep frozen sea lanes open and assist other ships through unfavourable waters. Britain has a renewed interest in the Arctic region and has trained annually with Norway’s navy. “The sharing of the Canadian Coast Guard’s wide experience and expertise will mean British sailors are better-equipped when sailing to the frozen region,” the Royal Navy statement said. Mario Pelletier, the commissioner of the coast guard, said in the statement that the Canadians would benefit from the Royal Navy’s “operational experience and expertise.” — The Canadian Press JONATHAN HATWABD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The Canadian Coast Guard has signed an agreement to train sailors from Britain's Royal Navy on Arctic icebreakers. Rocky Mountain coal leases being transferred during debate EDMONTON — An environmental group says an exchange of coal exploration lease applications in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains suggests mining companies expect to be able to go ahead with their plans despite a provincial debate on the industry’s future. “They wouldn’t be buying those lease applications if they didn’t think they could do something with them down the road,” said Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Morrison said her group has found that Cabin Ridge Project Ltd., one of several companies hoping to develop open-pit coal mines in the Rockies, has purchased 2,000 hectares of coal exploration lease applications from a second company, Peace River Coal. The purchases took place over July and August, after Alberta suspended exploration activity and the sale of new leases in response to public concern over the high-impact industry in one of the province’s most beloved landscapes. The purchases also coincided with the work of a government panel tasked with hearing from Albertans about how or if they want industry on those summits and foothills. The purchases concern so-called Category 2 lands, which are deemed the most environmentally sensitive and valuable. Energy Minister Sonya Savage said she is baffled. “I am puzzled why any coal company would want to purchase a lease application for Category 2 lands in that area given the strong concerns raised by Albertans,” she said in an email. “We have been clear that all exploration activity in that region has been halted.” The Alberta Energy Regulator, which approved the transfers, referred questions to Alberta Energy. Alberta has been debating the possibility of more coal mines in a long stretch of the Rockies that covers most of their range in the province since the government revoked a 1976 policy that protected them. Those landscapes are favourite recreation destinations, as well as the source of most of the prov- ince’s drinking water. A public outcry against coal mines, including voices from urban environmentalists to small-town mayors and ranchers, forced the province to restore protections and strike a committee to hear from Albertans before making further moves. The head of that committee, Ron Wallace, has said it’s clear from the input he’s received that Albertans want an overall policy for what happens on those landscapes, not just a list of where coal mines might be acceptable. His committee is slated to report in November. — The Canadian Press U.S. appeals court lets Texas resume ban on most abortions AUSTIN, Texas — A U.S. federal appeals court Friday night quickly allowed Texas to resume banning most abortions, just one day after clinics across the state began rushing to serve patients again for the first time since early September. Abortion providers in Texas had been bracing for the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals to act fast, even as they booked new appointments and reopened their doors during a brief reprieve from the law known as Senate Bill 8, which bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, an appointee of president Barack Obama, suspended the Texas law that he called an “offensive deprivation” of the constitutional right to an abortion. But in a one-page order, the New Orleans-based appeals court temporarily set aside Pitman’s ruling for now while it considers the state’s appeal. The court gave the Biden administration, which had brought the lawsuit, until Tuesday to respond. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents several Texas abortion clinics, urged the U.S. Supreme Court to “step in and stop this madness.’” “Patients are being thrown back into a state of chaos and fear,” said Nancy Northup, the organization’s president. Texas had roughly two dozen abortion clinics before the law took effect Sept. 1, and not all Texas abortion providers resumed services during the 48 hours that the law was on hold. Many physicians had feared such a swift reversal from the appeals court, which risks putting them back in legal jeopardy. The new law threatens Texas abortion providers with lawsuits from private citizens, who are entitled to collect at least US$10,000 in damages if successful. That novel approach to enforcement is the reason why Texas had been able to evade an earlier wave of legal challenges prior to this week. — The Associated Press IS Where The Story begins! Nestled next to Sturgeon Creek, & & & ^ our residence offers gracious retirement living at its best. Carefree, Comfortable and Safe Independent Assisted Living Specializing in seniors care while providing a Continuum of Care and Support in a warm, active and all-inclusive Community lifestyle. %/ ¿toy Active \/%[ew Triends ✓ Be NOW SCHEDULING PERSONAL TOURS Please call Kari to arrange your personal visit 204.202.1865 i. t & & & Ask About Our WELCOME HOME Special! \/ Great rn All Seniors Care™ www.allseniorscare.com ■■J & & & LIVING CENTRES & & & nnm PROUDLY CANADIAN Where Caring is Our Number One Concern™ ^^7 SUPPORIED Did you live in Manitoba Developmental Centre or know someone who did? A Lawsuit May Affect You. Please Read this Carefully You could be affected by a class action lawsuit involving the Manitoba Developmental Centre (“MDC”) in Portage la Prairie. The Manitoba Queen’s Bench has decided that a class action lawsuit will go forward on behalf of a “Class,” of people, which could include you. This notice summarizes your rights and options. You can choose whether to stay in the Class or not. There is no money available now and no guarantee that there will be. WHAT IS THE CASE ABOUT? This lawsuit says that the Province of Manitoba failed to properly protect the people who lived at MDC from the harm they suffered. The lawsuit says that MDC residents were physically, sexually and mentally harmed by staff and other residents. The Government of Manitoba denies these claims. The Court has not decided which side is right. The lawyers for the Class will have to prove their claims in Court. AM I INCLUDED? You are affected by this lawsuit if: • You lived at MDC between July 1, 1951 and May 29, 2020; OR • You are an estate trustee of someone who lived at MDC between July 1, 1951 and May 29, 2019, and who died after October 31, 2016. WHO REPRESENTS THE CLASS? The Court has appointed Koskie Minsky LLP to represent the Class as “Class Counsel”. You do not have to pay Class Counsel, or anyone else, to participate. Instead, if Class Counsel gets money or benefits for the Class, they may ask for lawyers’ fees and costs, which would be deducted from any money obtained, or be paid separately by the Government of Manitoba. You may hire your own lawyer but if you do, you may have to pay that lawyer. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS? Stay in the Class: To stay in the Class, you do not have to do anything. If money or benefits are obtained, you will be notified about how to ask for a share. You will be legally bound by all orders and judgments, and you will not be able to sue the Government of Manitoba about the legal claims in this case. Staying in this Class will not impact MDC residence or any supports received by class members from agencies which are funded by the Government of Manitoba. Get out of the Class: If you want to keep your rights to sue the Government of Manitoba individually over the claims in this case, then you need to remove yourself from the Class, by “opting out”. If you remove yourself, you cannot get money or benefits from this lawsuit if any are awarded. To ask to be removed, send a letter to the address below, postmarked no later than January 12, 2022, that says you want to be removed from Weremy v. The Government of Manitoba. Include your name, address, telephone number, and signature. You can also get an Opt Out Form at www.MDCclassaction.ca. You must mail your removal request or Opt Out Form postmarked by January 12, 2022, to: Epiq Class Action Services Canada Inc., Attention: Manitoba Developmental Centre Class Action, 134 - 1364 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2X 2M4, or send it by email at: info@mdcclassaction.ca. HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION Go to https://kmlaw.ca/cases/manitoba-development-centre-class-action/, 1-800-286-2266, or by email at: mdcclassaction@kmlaw.ca. call toll-free Getting information to people who need it. We ask for the help of family members, caregivers and friends of former residents in getting information to former residents who have trouble reading or understanding this notice. More information about this lawsuit is available at the website or by calling the toll-free number. Please show this notice to people who are impacted by this lawsuit or their caregivers. A_14_Oct-09-21_FP_01.indd A14 10/8/21 11:03 PM ;