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GLOBAL NEWS Daily from CANADA Tuesday, 13 December 2005

Conservative Leader Expected To Announce Defence Platform
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will take his federal election campaign to Trenton, Ont., today where he is expected to introduce his party's policy on defence. His defence platform follows his announcement that a Conservative government would provide a tax credit for Canadians who enrol their children in organized hockey and other sports. After the stop in Trenton, Harper is expected to head to Windsor in southwestern Ontario for a campaign rally. Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Paul Martin heads to British Columbia for stops in Surrey and Vancouver. Martin had no new Liberal policies to announce, but he did bring up the issue of same-sex marriage. He called on Harper to say whether he plans to use the notwithstanding clause to revoke the legislation legalizing gay unions. NDP Leader Jack Layton, who is in Regina today, is expected to make an announcement on health care.

10 Wait-Time Benchmarks Set
Health ministers from across the country have unveiled 10 key benchmarks aimed at cutting wait times for medical services. In a joint release, the health ministers said the provinces and territories will "strive to provide" the following benchmarks: Radiation therapy to treat cancer within four weeks of patients being ready to treat; Hip fracture treatment within 48 hours; Hip replacements within 26 weeks; Knee replacements within 26 weeks; Surgery to remove cataracts within 16 weeks for patients who are at high risk; Breast cancer screening for women aged 50 to 69 every two years; Cervical cancer screening for women aged 18 to 69 every three years after two normal tests. There are three additional wait-time benchmarks for cardiac bypass patients that will provide treatment within two weeks to 26 weeks, depending on the severity of the case. "Each government will continue to pursue its own strategy to improve access and, by the end of 2007, establish its own multi-year targets to achieve the benchmarks," said a news release from Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman.

Judge Strikes Down New Anti-Gang Laws In B.C.
What was seen by many as a breakthrough in anti-gang law enforcement in B.C. has been put into jeopardy by a provincial Supreme Court ruling. The ruling was made last week, but was under a publication ban until Monday. A publication ban remains in effect regarding the name of the accused connected to the ruling. Police say this ruling on a new section of the Criminal Code is a setback. Last summer, B.C. police set out to prove that the Hells Angels are one of the most powerful biker organizations on the planet, and that under the Criminal Code of Canada the Angels fit the description of a criminal organization. Under that premise they made two major raids and arrested 18 people under Canada's anti-gang legislation. Five of those arrested were full patch members of the Hells Angels, and some were senior members of the biker group. Police made the raids with the intention of going after the leaders, those who rarely commit crimes themselves but allegedly pull the strings behind the scenes. Bob Paulson, RCMP Chief Superintendent for the Outlaw Biker Gang Unit ,said it was a proactive step to target the often untouchable top brass within the Hells Angels. "You know you can't wait around forever hoping that they do the worst, most serious offence where we have evidence to suggest that all they do is instruct and direct the commission of these offences. So in that respect that's how we were able to move these cases along and go after the heads of the organizations," Paulson said.

PQ, Liberals Each Win Seat in Que. Byelections
Jean Charest's Liberal government managed to hold on to their longtime stronghold of Outremont in Montreal. Charest's star candidate Raymond Bachand, a former sovereigntist, defeated Karim Farouk, a 29-year-old former student union leader who ran for the Parti Quebecois. The PQ lost key votes in Outremont to the Green Party and the left-leaning Union des forces progressistes. The Parti Quebecois, meanwhile, retains its solid hold on the riding that was represented by former leader Bernard Landry. Stephane Bergeron won Vercheres riding, south of Montreal, by close to 10,000 votes over Liberal rival Jean Robert, according to Elections Quebec. Landry quit as the PQ's leader after a disappointing leadership review score last June.

Tories Resume Attack on Grit Beer, Popcorn Gaffe
A senior Liberal staffer's comments on Sunday about beer, popcorn and child care continue to provide fodder for Conservatives and a headache for Paul Martin. At the start of week three of the federal election campaign, the Liberal leader tried to downplay a comment uttered by Scott Reid, his own director of communications. In a television interview Sunday, Reid criticized the Conservative party's plan to give parents CAD 1,200 per year for each child under six. "(Children) need care that is regulated, safe and secure and that's what we're building here. Don't give people CAD 25 a day to blow on beer and popcorn. Give them child-care spaces that work." Although Reid later apologized for the beer and popcorn portion of his remark, saying "no responsible parent" would spend money intended for child care on food, Tory Leader Stephen Harper said sorry isn't good enough. "Scott Reid did not withdraw the meaning, he only withdrew the words," Harper said. Indeed, Reid added this qualifier to his apology: "The point remains that Mr. Harper offers a tax cut, not a child care plan." Harper said those kind of "attacks" on parents were the bulk of the Liberals' response to the Tory child care proposal.