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This article was published 08/02/2024 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FIVE CHARGED FOR PAINT PROTEST

OTTAWA — Five people face mischief charges after the building that houses the Prime Minister’s Office was doused with splashes of pink paint.

It is the second such protest in less than a year by Last Generation Canada, the self-described “civil resistance” group that claimed responsibility.

The group, formerly known as On2Ottawa, is committed to demanding government action on the climate crisis.

Spokesperson Laura Sullivan says the group also wants a national firefighters agency that could better prepare the country for wildfires.

Sullivan says more disruptions can be expected throughout the week.

Ottawa police say five people were arrested while blocking the intersection outside the building and all five face mischief charges.

In 2023, On2Ottawa staged multiple protests and acts of vandalism.

Their pink-paint targets have included a mammoth replica at the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria; a Tom Thomson painting at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa; and the Toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square in the city’s downtown.

MORE CHARGES FOR ACCUSED SPY

MONTREAL — The RCMP say a former employee of Quebec’s hydro utility who is accused of spying on behalf of China faces two new charges.

Yuesheng Wang is the first person to be charged with economic espionage under Canada’s Security of Information Act, and in November 2023 he was charged with fraudulently using a computer, fraudulently obtaining a trade secret and breach of trust.

Police say that Wang, who used to research battery materials at Hydro-Québec, was additionally charged today under that act with two counts related to committing preparatory acts on behalf of a foreign entity.

The RCMP allege Wang gave information about the public corporation to a Chinese university and Chinese research centres and that he published scientific articles and filed patents with them rather than with the public utility.

Police also allege Wang used information without Hydro-Québec’s consent, harming the intellectual property of his former employer.

The Chinese national has denied the charges and has said he wants to remain in Canada to clear his name.

‘SAMPLES’ LEAD TO DRUG BUST

CALGARY — Police have laid drug-trafficking charges after a man allegedly handed out business cards with free samples of cocaine in Calgary.

Officers patrolling a downtown casino became aware of the cards on Christmas Eve after they were given out to patrons.

Police say the cards bore a name that the accused used as an alias, and small baggies with samples of suspected cocaine were attached.

Investigators began an investigation in January.

Last weekend, officers searched a vehicle and recovered almost 60 grams of cocaine individually portioned in more than 50 baggies, a digital scale, cash and business cards.

A 30-year-old man is charged with two counts of trafficking a controlled substance, one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.

B.C. RESTRICTS FLAVOURED NICOTINE ACCESS

VANCOUVER — B.C.’s government has ordered that flavoured nicotine pouches only be sold from behind pharmacy counters in the province in an effort to prevent youth from becoming addicted.

The order signed by Health Minister Adrian Dix means buyers of the pouches, which contain up to four milligrams of nicotine, will have to consult a pharmacist.

Premier David Eby says the province is doing what it can to prevent children from coming into contact with the “hazardous” and “addictive” product while Health Canada works to address rules that allowed them to be sold in convenience stores and gas stations.

The pouches, available in a variety of flavours, are often sold under the brand name Zonnic and are marketed as a way to help adults quit smoking.

PM ALLEGEDLY THREATENED ONLINE

MONTREAL — A Montreal man appeared in court on Wednesday after he allegedly threatened in an online post to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The RCMP said Paul Clarissou, 30, faces one count of uttering threats, following an investigation by the force’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.

Crown prosecutor François Giasson said Clarissou’s case was put off until March 26.

The Quebec-based RCMP unit investigated after the alleged comments were reported, and charges were laid on Jan. 31. Police said the post was made on the accused’s account on the X platform, formerly Twitter, but did not specify what was said.

According to the charges filed by the Crown, the alleged threat was made against Trudeau on or around May 19, 2023.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office said Wednesday it does not comment on matters of security involving the prime minister, and referred all questions to police.

The RCMP said in a statement that they take seriously any threat that affects a person’s security, and that anyone engaging in such activity could face criminal charges and a significant sentence.

» The Canadian Press