News
An earthquake shook the Ottawa valley and parts of Quebec and Eastern Ontario shortly after noon today. The quake was recorded at 12:36 and registered 3.9 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was centred about 20 km northeast of Shawville, Quebec and a little over 80 km from downtown Ottawa. People in the Ottawa area reported buildings shaking and a noise similar to a loud truck passing. There were also reports of pictures falling from walls but no major damage or injuries so far. Reports that the quake was felt at a lesser intensity have been logged from as far away as Toronto, North Bay and Montreal but no word yet on whether anyone in the County felt the tremor.
Gas prices are set to fall Monday. After sweeping three federal byelections yesterday the Liberals have a parliamentary majority and Prime Minister Mark Carney took the opportunity to announce a temporary reduction in the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. The fuel tax holiday will start Monday and will end on Labour Day. Removing the tax will reduce the price of a litre of gas by 10 cents and a litre of diesel by four cents. Carney also said the four cent per litre excise tax on aviation fuel would be suspended. Gas prices have soared because of the ongoing conflict in the middle east which is disrupting petroleum shipments through the straight of Hormuz. The affordability measure is expected to cost approximately $2.4 billion.
In other comments this afternoon, Prime Minister Carney said that the Liberal majority would will allow his government to push through legislation that opposition parties have delayed or opposed. Carney said his government intends to provide more support for affordability and turbocharge home construction. Local MP Chris Malette added his voice this afternoon, welcoming the three newly elected Liberal MP’s and saying that the Liberal majority would allow the government to move more quickly to address affordability, public safety and Canada’s position on the global stage. Malette added that all parties still need to work together in these difficult times.
And the war of words between Pope Leo XIV and US President Donald Trump continued today. The Pope issued a letter earlier today warning against a slide into authoritarian government by democracies. The letter says that the Catholic Church teaches that power must be exercised for the common good not to advance the ambitions of economic or technical elites and it warns against self exaltation. The Pontiff’s letter does not name the President or the United States specifically. Trump attacked the Pope on his Truth Social media site Sunday after the Pope spoke out against the US Iran war.
And the world’s oldest gorilla in captivity turned 69 yesterday. Fatou is a western lowland gorilla who was reportedly sold to the Berlin Zoo by a French animal trader. The trader claimed to have purchased her from a French sailor in Marseille who needed to cover his bar tab. Fatou’s real birthday isn’t known but since she arrived at the zoo at the age of 2 it has been celebrated on April 13th. Fatou is healthy for her age, but like humans, she suffers from some age related problems including a bit of arthritis and some hearing loss. What does a gorilla eat on their birthday? Fatou celebrated with a special feast of her favourites – cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce.
Sports
In local under 17 boys rep basketball, the Prince Edward County Clippers defeated the Napanee Hawks 48 to 41 but lost to the Gladiators 67 to 53 in Richmond Hill over the weekend. In other games in Richmond Hill, the Belleville Spirits managed to get by the Napanee Hawks 70 to 60 in overtime. Belleville also topped the Lindsay Wildcats 87 to 53.
In the WNBA, the Toronto Tempo have signed Hamilton born Guard Kia Nurse to their roster. Nurse is a three time Canadian Olympic team member and played last season for the Chicago Sky. The Tempo play their first game May 8th against the Washington Mystics in Toronto.
With only three days left in the NHL regular season four Canadian teams are in action and for one of them the results could affect home ice advantage for the playoffs. Montreal is in Pittsburgh for a 7 pm start against the Penguins. A win by the Canadiens could put them ahead of Tampa Bay for second place in the Atlantic Division but Pittsburgh will also be looking to stay ahead of Philadelphia in the Metropolitan. In other games tonight, Winnipeg is in Utah for a 9 pm face off with the Mammoth. The Colorado Avalanche travel to Calgary for a 9 pm puck drop with the Flames and the Los Angeles Kings are in Vancouver to face the Canucks at 10. The Jets, Flames and Canucks have all been eliminated from post season play.
In Major League Baseball, the injury plagued Blue Jays start a three game series with the Milwaukee Brewers tonight. First pitch goes out at 7:40.
