Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Canada report

Toronto still reeling from shooting death

By JIM FOX
Published January 1, 2006

Police, politicians and the public agree there were many "senseless" murders in Toronto in 2005, but the events of the past week topped even the worst.

In the city of 3-million people where only a decade or two ago gun crimes were somewhat rare, police call the death of a teenage holiday shopper "despicable."

A stray bullet struck Jane Kyriacou, 15, as gunfire erupted between two rival gangs in the busy downtown during Boxing Day shopping Monday. Six other people were injured, one critically, in the Yonge Street incident.

Toronto police are working nonstop on the case, which has gripped the city.

"It's just a totally senseless act, a despicable act," said Sgt. Savas Kyriacou.

Two young men were arrested shortly after the shooting, and police have seized a handgun. Police believe as many as 15 people and several weapons might have been involved.

"Yonge Street's our street - it's the street of every Torontonian. I think we all share the outrage that such an innocent young girl could be killed in this manner," said Mayor David Miller.

Opposition politicians want the Liberal government - seeking re-election Jan. 23 - to oust Finance Minister Ralph Goodale over a criminal investigation into a potential information leak.

Prime Minister Paul Martin rejected calls for Goodale's dismissal, calling him a "good and honest" man who will be cleared of any allegations of wrongdoing.

Goodale refuses to resign over the incident, which involves allegations a major government announcement on income trusts was leaked in advance to the financial community.

Politicians say there was a surge in trading of income-trust units hours before Goodale's statement on the popular investment products.

There's plenty of snow at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec's most popular winter resort, but little of the usual holiday activity. A strike has resulted in the resort, north of Montreal, operating at reduced capacity with about 200 management employees trying to provide basic services. Talks have broken off between the union representing 1,500 striking employees and resort owner Intrawest of Vancouver.

The Ontario Superior Court has ordered the Canadian government to put $4.6-billion (Canadian) into a specially designated trust account for a group of disabled veterans and their descendants. The award is the result of about seven years of legal battles over the government's failure to properly invest soldiers' pensions administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The case involves about 30,000 veterans in conflicts since 1919.

The funeral was held Thursday in Nepean, Ontario, for Sen. William Doody, who was 74. As one of Newfoundland and Labrador's best-known Conservative politicians, he was credited with helping the Conservatives defeat the Liberal dynasty led by Premier Joey Smallwood in the 1970s.

In 2005, Canada's dollar rose 3.35 percent, stimulated by a strong economy and high oil prices. It ended the year at 85.98 cents U.S., while the U.S. dollar is worth $1.1630 Canadian, before bank exchange fees.

The key Bank of Canada interest rate remains at 3.25 percent and the prime lending rate is 5 percent.

Over the past year, Canadian stock exchanges turned in strong performances, aided by a rise of almost 60 percent in the oil and gas sector. The Toronto exchange composite index rose by 21.9 percent to 11,383 points - a near record high - while the Canadian Venture Exchange was up 22.5 percent to 2,236 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 6, 7, 10, 29, 42, 44; bonus 25. (Dec. 24) 16, 17, 18, 23, 28, 33; bonus 27.

A final effort is being made to avert the lockout of 600 workers on Tuesday at the Stora Enso papermaking plant in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The two sides have been trying to reach new terms for the past 19 months. The plant in Port Hawkesbury has been idle since Dec. 24 and the company said it issued the lockout notice because of uncertainties over the threat of an imminent strike.

Alberta Mounties say they erred in failing to respond to a 911 call from a woman who was later murdered in her home. According to an internal police memo, Brenda Moreside, 44, who was killed last February, reported her common-law husband was breaking into the house in High Prairie. Police said they wouldn't come because the man couldn't be arrested for breaking into his own home. Stanley Willier faces trial for second-degree murder.

Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:29:14]