Food agency taking steps to prevent entry of lettuce suspected in E. coli cases

OTTAWA — The federal government is advising the food industry not to import romaine lettuce from areas in the U.S. suspected of producing lettuce contaminated with E. coli. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will also take steps to make sure products from areas identified by the American Food and Drug Administration are not being allowed into Canada.

The measures come after the FDA said it suspects romaine lettuce harvested in parts of California this month is the source of an outbreak of E. coli O157 that has made people sick in both Canada and the States.

The agency says it is continuing its own investigation into several E. coli cases linked to the romaine lettuce, and is sharing its findings with its American counterparts.

Domestic violence victim awarded $315,000 in civil suit against attacker

MONTREAL — A court has awarded a Quebec woman who was violently attacked by her longtime partner $315,000 in damages in a decision her lawyer hopes will provide victims of domestic violence another avenue to obtain justice. The woman, whose identity is not revealed in the court documents, testified that the attack took place while she was confined for three days in September 2012.

Court documents says she was beaten and bruised by Craig O’Brien, with whom she had been in a common law relationship for seven years - a union that became increasingly toxic over time. O’Brien testified that he was extremely intoxicated and could not remember the extent of the injuries he inflicted, which included a broken finger, multiple contusions and lacerations. He also prevented her from eating, and she testified that she was certain she was going to die.

She managed to escape when O’Brien went on the balcony to smoke, and she called police in the Montreal suburb of Laval. He pleaded guilty to charges including unlawful confinement, assault and aggravated assault.

B.C. intervenes in greenhouse gas fight

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says it will intervene in separate court cases in Saskatchewan and Ontario where those provinces are challenging federal authority to pass legislation that puts a minimum price on greenhouse gas pollution.

B.C. Attorney General David Eby says the province intends to argue federal and provincial governments share a role in addressing climate change. He says B.C. will argue both the province and federal government have a role in addressing climate change, but the federal government has the right and responsibility to put a price on carbon pollution. Environment Minister George Heyman says B.C. is already leading the country when it comes to carbon pricing with its decade-old carbon tax, but it believes the provinces should follow the national climate strategy.