City spokesperson says Crystal Pool is safe again, but remains closed until Tuesday

VICTORIA - All eight people taken to hospital Friday after two chemicals combined to create chlorine gas in a Victoria recreation facility have been released, as the investigation into the exposure continues.

Colleen Mycroft, the city's intergovernmental and media relations manager, says WorkSafeBC staff are continuing their search for the cause of the incident at Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre.

B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Parks says the hazardous gas formed from the mixing of pool chemicals -- approximately 20 litres of 12-per-cent chlorine with 20 litres of hydrochloric acid.

That resulted in the release of chlorine gas, but the statement does not say how the chemicals were mixed.

Northern trade corridor top of mind as Manitoba premier plans meeting with PM

WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is planning to go to Ottawa next week for a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Kinew says it's part of a plan the two men have to meet roughly every three months, primarily to discuss the possibility of a northern trade corridor through the Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay.

The project recently made a list of projects being considered as “transformative” by the federal government.

Studies are underway to gauge private-sector interest and examine the use of icebreakers to extend the port's short shipping season.

Ontario jeweller accused in Ryan Wedding case challenges decision to deny him bail

TORONTO - An Ontario man accused of serving as the "de facto bank" for a violent criminal enterprise allegedly helmed by former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is challenging a judge's decision to deny him bail.

Ryan Sokolovski, a jeweller and former professional poker player, filed an application for judicial review last month, arguing the judge unfairly assessed some of his proposed sureties and mistakenly relied on "unsubstantiated allegations" from American authorities.

Sokolovski was among eight Canadians arrested last fall as part of a lengthy U.S. investigation into Wedding, and sought to be released ahead of his extradition hearing.

He is alleged to have played a key role in the international drug smuggling ring by laundering hundreds of millions of dollars in assets through his jewelry business and securing luxury items for Wedding, who was taken into U.S. custody earlier this year.

Hazardous gas sends 8 to hospital after chemicals mix at Victoria pool

Eight people were taken to hospital after chemicals at a Victoria pool combined to create a dangerous gas on Friday.

The city had issued a shelter-in-place order over a "hazardous material incident" at the Crystal Pool, telling anyone within 300 metres southwest of the building to stay inside with their windows shut, but the order was later lifted.

City spokeswoman Colleen Mycroft said Friday that two chemicals came into contact with each other, producing gas into the air.

Liberals set to debate age restrictions for social media

MONTREAL - Liberal party members will soon grapple with the question of whether children and young teens should be barred from accessing social media accounts for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Reddit and YouTube.

The policy resolution is expected to hit the floor at the Liberal party policy convention in Montreal for debate and a vote on Saturday.

Jonathan Nuss, the head of the Outremont Liberal riding association, is one of the main proponents of a resolution calling on the party to ensure social media platforms limit user accounts to Canadians aged 16 and older.

The Montreal lawyer and father of two young children said he wants this resolution to kick-start a national debate on addictive technologies and the harmful effects social media can have on young children — a debate that's already happening among parents across the country.

Manitoba premier works on grocery tax-cut pledge as business group calls for more

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government has a major detail to flesh out as part of its budget plan to eliminate the provincial sales tax on food in grocery stores — the legal definition of a grocery store.

"The challenge, of course, is we've got a bunch of smart people who work with us in government and they're like 'What is a grocery store'?", Kinew told reporters Friday.

Kinew has already expressed a willingness to extend the tax cut from full-sized traditional grocery outlets to "mom and pop" stores, but said Friday there is no legal definition for those. Convenience stores are another issue.

"I want you to eat healthy. For sure, I can see you buying a rotisserie chicken and a salad at the big grocery store. I can see at the, quote-unquote, mom and pop store, buying some healthy food. If you go into (7-11) and you walk past the Taquitos, what's the healthy food? They do have some salad, they do have some boiled eggs."

Cash for canvas: Annual Calgary Stampede tarp auction sets record of $6.1M in bids

CALGARY - If you go by the Stampede chuckwagons, it appears Calgary’s economy is racing along nicely.

The Calgary Stampede canvas auction saw a record $6.1 million collected from sponsors, which is about $2 million higher than the year before.

The money secured partnerships for 27 drivers at this year’s Rangeland Derby during the Stampede, which begins July 3.

The top bid was $550,000 by Bar L5 Ranch for driver Rae Croteau Jr.

Resolving softwood dispute mutually beneficial for Canada, U.S., B.C. premier says

VANCOUVER - Ottawa must make a case of "mutual benefit" with the United States as it advocates for Canada's softwood lumber industry during trade negotiations, British Columbia Premier David Eby said Friday.

The United States cannot produce enough wood to meet its domestic demand and instead of looking to Canada, it has "dramatically" increased imports from Europe and Russia to fill the gap, Eby said.

"It is more expensive for American consumers. It drives up the cost of home building," he told delegates at the annual Council of Forest Industries convention in Vancouver.

The premier's remarks came after the U.S. Department of Commerce posted its preliminary tariff determination for the sector, with total duties estimated at just short of 25 per cent, lower than the current rate of more than 35 per cent.

Jury reaches no verdict on first day deliberating at Live Nation ticket monopoly trial

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury finished its first day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict in an antitrust case pitting 34 states against the concert giant Live Nation Entertainment.

The states argue in the civil case that the company and its ticketing arm, Ticketmaster, are monopolizing the industry and driving up prices to see live music.

Live Nation contends there is more competition than ever and the company plays fair amid a U.S. booming concert business.

Soon after starting deliberations, the jury in Manhattan federal court told the judge it wanted to review certain testimony given at the five-week trial. It later asked to see additional trial testimony, including from music industry experts. Deliberations resume Monday.

Supreme Court upholds reversal of death declaration in case of man found to be alive

OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed a judge's decision to annul the declaration of a Quebec man's death when new evidence indicated he was actually alive and well in Iran.

One day in February 2008, Hooshang Imanpoorsaid told his family he was going on a business trip to Toronto.

The next day, he sent two of his children an email saying that "things got out of hand and to fix it, drastic measures are necessary to be taken."

He never returned to their Brossard home in the greater Montreal area.

Talk back: Tech deal promotes conversations between journalists and those who follow their stories

NEW YORK (AP) — Environmentalist Christine Holland closely follows journalist Tiffany Higgins' stories from the Amazon River region, frequently sending her comments and questions. This week, Higgins responded to one message about her piece on the Brazilian arts community by sending Holland a lengthy personal video.

They've turned the usual one-way conversation between a journalist and consumer into a two-way one, and a deal announced Friday indicates that is much more likely to be happening in the future.

The New York-based news company Noosphere signed a multiyear licensing agreement with British broadcaster Sky News to make available its technology that facilitates such connections through an app. Sky immediately announced that it would begin experimenting with its usage for its defense and security experts, promising “a dedicated experience expressly designed for highly engaged audiences.”

The organizing principle of the whole thing: Give audiences access — not only to the news but to those who report it.

Coachella looks like fun and glamour for influencers. Behind the scenes, they fiercely strategize

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sam Mintesnot had checked off everything she possibly could have from a long list of to-dos in preparation for the Coachella music festival. She crafted the best outfits, got her hair and nails done, booked a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and flew out on Tuesday with a spreadsheet full of ideas for videos she could post related to the festival.

The only problem was that just days before the Coachella kicked off on Friday, she didn’t have a ticket — at least, not yet.

Mintesnot is a content creator, and she was seeking an invitation from a brand to join them at the annual festival in Indio, California, that is sometimes called an “influencer Olympics.” She posted across her social media platforms about her ticket-less journey in hopes of landing a pass to Coachella in exchange for posting videos about the brand and experience.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” she said. “There’s so many opportunities out there.”