News
In local news, Lennox and Addington OPP are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing teen in Amherstview.
14-year-old Ava MCALLISTER was last seen yesterday night at approximately 6:15 p.m. around Amherst Dr., Amherstview.
She is described as 5’5″, medium build and blue eyes. She may be wearing a black hoodie, black pants and black running shoes.
If you have seen her, please contact Lennox and Addington OPP.
JOBS
Canada’s economy added a modest 14,000 jobs in March according to Stats Can figures released today. That is good news after major job losses during the first two months of this year.
The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 per cent, and there was little variation in the number of full- and part-time employees last month.
The same was true of the number of private and public sector workers, though the number of workers in the public sector has been growing at a faster rate on a yearly basis.
Average hourly wages were up 4.7 per cent for a total of $37.73.
FIGHTERS
As part of its pitch to lure Canada to buy Gripen-E fighter jets, Saab has offered to establish a secure, sovereign data centre in Montreal to house critical, top-secret mission data and intelligence.
The company is framing it as a “unique advantage” in the battle to convince the federal government to limit the purchase of U.S.-manufactured F-35s, which have all of their data stored at a Lockheed Martin centre in Fort Worth, Texas.
The purpose-built Saab data centre “will host all work on the fighter mission system the company stated. The centre would be staffed by Canadians who possess “Canada/U.S. security clearance,” presumably to handle data related to operations with the North American Aerospace Defence Command or NORAD.
IMMIGRATION
Canada’s Immigration Department is sending some 30,000 refugee claimants letters that they may not be eligible for asylum — and is telling some of them that they should leave immediately.
The move comes after Ottawa passed a law last month that tightened how and when claimants could apply. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reiterated that these are not deportation letters.
Bill C-12 bars those who came to Canada more than a year prior to filing claims with the IRCC. It is retroactive to June 24, 2020, and applies to claims made on or after June 3, 2025.
In the letter, applicants are advised that they can submit additional information or evidence regarding the circumstances of their entry over the next 21 days.
IRCC also highlighted how individuals whose claims are not referred for asylum would still be able to fill out a form known as a pre-removal risk assessment, which a case officer can then read to make a decision.
And finally, the 203rd edition of the Quinte Exhibition will have to wait another year. The Belleville Agricultural Society says the annual Labour Day Weekend fair has been postponed this year because their new site off Black Diamond road won’t be ready. As well, preparatory work for future development of the old site at Bridge and Sidney streets severely limits any activities there.
In a Facebook post organizers say, while it’s disappointing, they are looking forward to coming back bigger and better than ever in 2027 at their new Quinte Exhibition Event Centre. Construction on the $10.5 million building began in summer 2025 and is not expected to be finished until this fall, but not in time to host the Fair.
Sports
GOLF
It is the second weekend in April and in the golf world that means it is time for the Masters. This year’s event has three Canadians in the field: Corey Connors, Nick Taylor and the 2003 Master Champion Mike Weir.
After Thursday’s Round 1, Nick Taylor was the top Canadian at -1, 4 strokes behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns. Connors finished at +3 while the 55 year old Weir was +9.
NHL
This is also the last weekend suite of games in the NHL, with regular season play concluding on Thursday. The Montreal Canadiens have clinched a playoff. The Edmonton Oilers are about to do the same with one more win or a loss by at least three other teams.
The Ottawa Senators currently hold down the last wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. There are four teams below the Senators in the standings with a chance to make the playoffs.
The Winnipeg Jets need to finish strong as they are three points out of a wild card spot with four games to go.
There are no NHL games scheduled for tonight.
NBA
On the basketball court, the Toronto Raptors are in fifth place with two games to go in the regular season. Tonight Toronto is New York to face the Knicks. On Sunday they finish up at home to the Brooklyn Nets.
It is important that they hold onto to that spot as the top six teams go directly to the playoffs. Teams finishing in the 7 to 10 spots go through a play-in tournament to decide the last two spots in the playoff of 8 teams in each conference.
