Trail-blazing B.C. politician dies
VANCOUVER — Grace McCarthy, a former Social Credit cabinet minister in British Columbia who blazed a trail for women in politics and business, has died. She was 89.
A statement issued by her family says McCarthy died peacefully at her Vancouver home surrounded by her family Wednesday night after a lengthy battle with a brain tumour.
Called “Amazing Grace” by her fellow politicians, McCarthy entered the political arena in 1966 after serving as an elected Vancouver park board representative. She went on to become Canada's first female deputy premier.
As a lone woman in the world of politics, McCarthy took on the challenge of raising a family and having a career decades before work-life balance became an issue for women.
In a November 2008 interview with The Canadian Press, McCarthy said that while she was vastly outnumbered by all the men in government, she never felt uncomfortable in her pioneering role.
“To walk into a room full of men, it was an advantage,” she said, adding that she brought her negotiating skills to the table and provided a different perspective.
“What you said was meaningful.”
Trans Mountain pipeline still a go
VANCOUVER — Kinder Morgan says it will proceed with the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as long as it secures satisfactory financing for the project through its initial public offering.
The Texas-based company, in conjunction with its indirect subsidiary Kinder Morgan Canada, announced Thursday its final investment decision on the project, which is conditional on the successful completion of the IPO. The company has offered 102.9 million shares at a price of $17 per share in an effort to raise $1.75 billion. The public offering is set to close May 31.
The IPO would be one of the biggest ever on the Toronto Stock Exchange and Kinder Morgan spokesman Dave Conover says the company is confident it will be a success.
Pot protest costs more than $245,000
VANCOUVER — This year’s 4-20 marijuana day of protest in Vancouver cost the city more than $245,000.
The city estimates 40,000 people were at Sunset Beach Park and the Vancouver Art Gallery during the April 20 protest.
The city says in a news release that police costs came to over $170,000, while other costs such as sanitation, and fire and rescue pushed the costs even higher.
The city refused to grant a permit to protest organizers, but the event went ahead without approval.The city says it will bill organizers of the Sunset Beach event to recover expenses.
Charge stayed against pig activist
TORONTO — An Ontario woman recently found not guilty of mischief after giving water to pigs headed to slaughter has scored another legal victory in a separate case involving pigs.
Charges of obstructing police and breach of recognizance against Anita Krajnc were stayed, according to Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, which didn’t give a reason.
Those charges were laid after Krajnc crossed a police line last fall to get closer to an overturned truck full of pigs in Burlington, Ont.
“I have mixed feelings,” Krajnc said Thursday of the outcome of the case.
“My perspective is always: what is best for the pigs? I don’t want the pigs who died at the rollover crash to ever be forgotten. I would have gone to jail for those pigs.”
Video of the scene shows her being dragged away by police and then placed in handcuffs. She said she went limp on purpose and wasn’t hurt in the incident.
Teen with cancer gets OK for grad
RAPID CITY, S.D. — School officials in Rapid City, S.D., have changed their minds and agreed to let a teen with brain cancer walk with her peers at graduation.
Officials originally said 17-year-old Central High student Meredith Erck could not participate in Sunday’s ceremony because she’s six credits short of graduation requirements. Erck wanted to walk across the graduation stage with her twin brother.
The Rapid City Journal reports that the school district reversed itself after an outpouring of support for Erck.
She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015, and previously had colon cancer. Her illness prevented her from completing her classes on time.