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Wed, 29 Dec 2004 17:53:05 EST
MONTREAL - Alcan Inc. announced Wednesday that it has paid $110 million US to Powerex, a subsidiary of B.C. Hydro, to settle a claim arising from the collapse of American energy trading company Enron.
Alcan said following the cancellation of its Kemano Completion generating project in northwestern B.C., it assigned to Enron Power Marketing Inc. the right and obligation to deliver specified volumes of electricity to Powerex.
When Enron went bankrupt in late 2001, Powerex filed a claim against Alcan and an arbitrator upheld the claim.
The company said it recorded a pre-tax charge of $100 million US in the fourth quarter of 2002. The remaining $10 million US will be charged to income in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Alcan terminating agreement with B.C. Hydro
Alcan also announced Wednesday that it has given B.C. Hydro five years notice that it will stop selling 140 megawatts of power to the utility under a long-term electricity purchase agreement.
The agreement, signed in 1990, gives Alcan the right to recall electricity for its own industrial purposes.
"In light of our recent experiences with low water levels in British Columbia and in consideration of our future potential industrial needs in British Columbia, Alcan is acting responsibly with regard to this initiative," said Cynthia Carroll, president of Alcan's primary metals group.
All energy deliveries under the agreement will end on Dec. 31, 2009.
Shares of Alcan closed down 22 cents at $58.91 on the TSX.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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WebPosted Dec 30 2004 02:50 PM PST
VANCOUVER - Two British Columbia doctors have been fined $25,000 each for signing prescriptions for U.S. patients they never met.
The B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons also formally reprimanded the brothers, Dr. Yann Jone Hsiao of Vancouver and Dr. Wey-Jong Hsiao of Burnaby, for "unprofessional behaviour."
In addition, each brother has to pay $2,000 in legal costs.
The college's deputy registrar, Dr. Doug Blackman, said the province's doctors know countersigning prescriptions for U.S. residents without face-to-face contact is unacceptable under the governing body's rules.
The violations took place from January 2003 through to August 2004.
The college also reprimanded the doctors for failing to keep medical records for the U.S. patients.
Blackman said he believes the brothers made "significant" amounts of money from the practice.
The pair are the second and third B.C. doctors to be disciplined by the college for writing prescriptions for patients in the U.S. without meeting them.
Richmond physician Dr. Satnam Singh Gandham was the first. He was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay $4,000 in legal costs.
Federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh has asked doctors' governing groups to crack down on physicians working for internet pharmacies.
Officials with the Canadian Pharmacists Association have said they fear internet pharmacies catering to U.S. residents could lead to drug shortages in Canada.
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Fri, 31 Dec 2004 11:43:24 EST
BUENOS AIRES - The death toll of a fire that roared through a packed Buenos Aires nightclub climbed on Friday to at least 175, with more than 600 injured as young revellers stampeded to reach locked exit doors.
The blaze late Thursday was likely sparked by a flare fired into the club's foam ceiling during a rock concert, sending burning debris onto at least 1,500 people who climbed over each other as they fought to escape the flames and smoke.
"People were pushing and jumping over each other trying to get out," one man who had been at the Los Callejeros concert, Jose Maria Godoy, told the Associated Press.
"It was like a human wave. As people fell down running for the door, others just simply ran over them or pushed them down."
Officials said the fire, which they called one of the worst disasters to hit Argentina, may have claimed more lives because staff at the Republica de la Cromagnon disco had wired some doors shut to keep out gate-crashers.
An official with the Buenos Aires health department said the tragedy killed at least 175 people, mostly in their late teens and twenties, and injured more than 600 people.
Most of the victims are believed to have died from inhaling smoke.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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Fri, 31 Dec 2004 12:55:47 EST
MADRID - The ruling cabinet in Spain approved a bill on Friday that would legalize same-sex marriages, a step that moves the country closer to becoming the third European country to recognize gay weddings.
The bill would allow homosexuals to adopt children and would extend to same-sex spouses the same inheritance rights and pension benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples.
The cabinet of Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero approved the bill on Friday. The ruling party expects to present the bill to parliament in February.
"The right to marry is a right for everyone, without distinction. It cannot be understood as a privilege," said Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega after the meeting. "The recognition of homosexuals' rights eradicates an unjustified discrimination."
The Roman Catholic church, which holds a great deal of influence in Spain, is adamantly opposed to gay marriage.
Belgium and the Netherlands have already legalized gay marriages.
"Civil union" laws for same-sex couples are on the books in Sweden and Denmark, but they fall short of legalizing gay marriage. In both countries, the Lutheran church can bless the unions.
Canada's proposed same-sex marriage law was approved by the Supreme Court earlier this month.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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Fri, 31 Dec 2004 09:29:17 EST
BAGHDAD - Three militant groups warned Iraqis against voting in January's national election, condemning democracy as "un-Islamic" and threatening to attack anyone who participates in the "dirty farce."
All 700 members of the electoral commission in the northern city of Mosul reportedly resigned after the militants made the threat.
All 700 members of the electoral commission in the northern city of Mosul reportedly resigned after the militants made the threat in a statement on Thursday.
The radical Ansar al-Sunnah Army and two other groups said that democracy was un-Islamic and could eventually lead to the passing of laws that permitted homosexual marriage.
"Democracy is a Greek word meaning the rule of the people, which means that the people do what they see fit," said the statement. "This concept is considered apostasy and defies the belief in one God, Muslims' doctrine."
It also said that "anyone who accepts to take part in this dirty farce will not be safe."
Insurgents have stepped up attacks on the U.S.-backed interim government and coalition troops in recent months as part of a campaign to derail the Jan. 30 election for a national assembly.
The fighting has been particularly intense around Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city and a rebel stronghold. Twenty-five militants and one American died in one of the latest clashes, when insurgents attacked a U.S. military post on Wednesday.
Shias, who make up 60 per cent of the population but were dominated by the country's Sunni minority under Saddam Hussein, are expected to sweep the election.
Many Sunni Muslims have urged people to boycott the ballot and most major Sunni political parties have said they won't run candidates.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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Global auto sales hit record high
Last Updated Thu, 30 Dec 2004 11:33:39 EST
TORONTO - Global auto sales climbed to a record high this year and will post a further moderate gain in 2005, according to a report released Thursday by Scotiabank's economics department.
Higher oil prices failed to dampen demand as sales volumes advanced by three per cent.
"Purchases should edge up an additional two per cent in 2005 as solid gains in developing nations offset a largely flat performance in the major markets of North America, Western Europe and Japan," said Carlos Gomes, Scotiabank's auto industry specialist.
New vehicle purchases in Asia, excluding Japan, continue to advance at a double-digit pace and are expected to exceed 10 million units next year.
When full-year figures are tallied for 2004, China is expected to show sales of 2.3 million units, surpassing both Italy and France and making it the fourth largest car market in the world.
By the end of the decade, China will move into second spot, surpassing both Germany and Japan, with sales only behind the United States, Gomes said.
The report paints a less rosy outlook for North America.
Vehicle sales in the U.S. advanced to 16.7 million units this year - the first increase since the cyclical peak in 2000 - and will be largely flat in 2005.
In Canada, car and light truck purchases are expected to pick up moderately to 1.56 million units next year, the report says.
Sales in Mexico rose by 10 per cent this year, surpassing one million units for the first time.
Gomes said Mexico, with 100 million consumers, represents North America's automotive growth market, with sales likely to exceed 1.1 million vehicles in 2005.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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Fri, 31 Dec 2004 11:45:06 EST
BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA - Indonesia's health minister warned the country may have up to 20,000 more tsunami casualties, as the first aid planes planes touched down Friday in the devastated northern region of the island of Sumatra.
Indonesia has confirmed about 80,000 deaths so far - the bulk of more than 120,000 reported in the 12 countries hit by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami.
Health Minister Siti Fadilah said Friday he expects the toll in Indonesia alone to hit 100,000, however.
That would push the death toll from the tsunami to more than 140,000.
The American planes landing in the Sumatra city of Banda Aceh were laden with body bags for those killed by Sunday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent series of killer waves, as well as blankets and medicine for the survivors.
Boxes of supplies have begun to pile up at Banda Aceh's airport because many roads on the Indonesian island's northern tip remain impassable.
As much as 60 per cent of Bandah Aceh has been destroyed.
Up until now, the only aid reaching the region has been trucked in from the south of Sumatra, where damage was not as great.
Humanitarian workers say some tsunami survivors have tried to hijack some of those vehicles to secure food and water in an effort to avoid starvation.
"There have been reports of vehicles being held up, so there is a real logistic bottleneck that we're facing at the moment," said John Budd, a UNICEF official in Jakarta.
Looters in Banda Aceh were being forced to undress and sit on the street as a warning to others who may be considering theft as desperation mounts.
Aid from 18 countries has already arrived in Indonesia, and planes from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Pakistan and other nations were expected to land with more on Friday.
On Sumatra's ravaged northwest coast, where entire villages had been washed away, planes have been dropping food to villagers stranded among bloating corpses.
The World Health Organization says the next few days will be critical in controlling the potential outbreak of water-borne diseases.
WHO says up to five million people in countries that rim the Indian Ocean do not have the basics they need to stay alive.
In Sri Lanka, 28,508 people are now confirmed dead, with nearly 5,000 still missing and a million left without homes.
India's death toll has hit 11,330 with many thousands still missing.
Thailand has confirmed 4,541 deaths, including 2,230 foreigners, with another 6,000 people missing and feared dead.
Foreign forensic teams are at work in the Thai resort area of Khao Lak near the southern island of Phuket, where police estimate up to 3,000 people may have been killed.
The teams have come from Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Australia. They say the magnitude of the disaster is beyond anything they've seen.
Thais have rushed to bury bodies as they deteriorate in the tropical heat. Authorities have asked them to hold back until identifications can be made. Experts say in some cases that may never happen.
Governments around the world are reporting thousands of citizens missing.
Canada's Foreign Affairs says more than 70 Canadians are missing. Sweden and Germany report 1,000 of their nationals are still unaccounted for.
Hundreds of Italian, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Czech and Singaporean tourists are among those reported missing.
Relatives from dozens of countries are searching beaches and scouring newspapers and the internet in search of word of their loved ones.
With files from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Written by CBC News Online staff
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Fri, 31 Dec 2004 12:37:28 EST
TORONTO - Huge numbers of workplaces across Canada have joined the escalating worldwide tsunami relief effort, donating tens of millions of dollars in cash, goods and services.
As reports grew of the widespread devastation and desperate need in the region hit by Sunday's earthquake and tsunami, businesses big and small have stepped up with offers of help.
"We have always been able to count on the generosity of Canadian businesses in emergencies, but the response this time has been unprecedented," said World Vision Canada's Marilyn Freidmann.
On Friday, Air Canada announced it would fly two planeloads of food, cooking utensils, clothing and drugs to Indonesia. The airline also said its flight attendants on Saturday would begin handing out Red Cross donation envelopes on flights across its entire network.
Pharmaceutical giant Apotex is sending drugs.
Other companies are offering to match donations made by their employees or customers. Best Buy, which operates the Best Buy and Future Shop chains, will match customer donations up to $100,000.
Bell Canada is matching all employee donations up to the end of January and putting up $175,000 as well.
Canada's big banks, in addition to donating $575,000 themselves, are also accepting Red Cross donations at any of their branches. Royal Bank announced Friday it would boost its initial donation of $100,000 to $250,000, offering to match money raised by its employees and customers.
"In light of reports that show the impact of the disaster is far greater than expected, we have decided to increase our support," Royal Bank CEO Gord Nixon said.
Inco, whose nickel mining operations in Indonesia were not damaged by the tsunami, has donated $540,000 US.
Manulife Financial, which has 5,000 employees in Indonesia (including 120 in the hardest-hit area of the Aceh province on the island of Sumatra), donated $200,000.
"We are committed to helping our people and their respective families overcome this tragedy and will do everything we can to provide them the necessities required at this time - such as food, water, medicine, shelter and clothing," said Manulife Indonesia president John Harrison.
Many companies are acting as conduits for aid donations.
Canadian Tire is collecting money in all 454 of its stores and the company's foundation and its controlling shareholder have chipped in $250,000; Wal-Mart is collecting donations at its 242 Canadian stores, as are Sears Canada, Canada Safeway and sporting goods retailer Forzani Group, among others.
Amazon.ca is using its Canadian website to solicit donations for the Canadian Red Cross. As of noon Friday, it had received 275 gifts totalling $18,000.
Home Hardware will collect money for Southeast Asia relief efforts at all of its more than 1,000 stores across Canada. It's also donating $250,000.
Smaller businesses have come up with a variety of ways to help out.
One inn in Sidney, British Columbia said it will let its guests donate half the cost of their stay to the aid effort and get a tax receipt for the gift. Staff at one Toronto restaurant donated all their tips Thursday to Doctors Without Borders.
Showcase, a chain of 31 gift stores, is donating seven per cent of its sales this weekend. Discount travel operator itravel 2000 said it will donate some of the proceeds from each booking it gets for the next three months and launched the campaign with an initial donation of $5,000.
Organized labour groups have also been active. The Canadian Union of Public Employees has pledged $100,000, while the Canadian Auto Workers has offered $150,000. CAW locals have also chipped in with donations of their own.
Many employees, both unionized and unorganized, are donating time to help in fundraising campaigns at their workplaces.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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New Year's Eve muted as world mourns
Last Updated Fri, 31 Dec 2004 11:45:44 EST
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Australians rang in the new year with a spectacular fireworks display over Sydney Harbour, an event that was turned into a giant fundraiser for the victims of the tsunami in southern Asia.
Officials in Sydney, which holds one of the first major New Year's Eve celebrations in the world, said it was too late to scale back the festivities.
Fireworks over Sydney's Harbor to welcome the New Year, Friday, Dec. 31, 2004. (AP photo)
Instead, they used it to urge revellers to donate to the victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that swept across parts of 10 countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
As many as 121,000 people were killed, including 2,200 foreign tourists. Roughly 6,000 more foreign tourists are missing or unaccounted for.
At the stroke of midnight local time, a massive fireworks show exploded over Sydney's picturesque harbour.
People at the city's celebration and its nationwide television audience were asked to observe a minute of silence for the victims. Aid organization Oxfam used lights to flash an appeal for donations on the pylons of the harbour bridge.
Party-goers in neighbouring New Zealand also observed a minute of silence.
Celebrations are being scaled back in other major cities around the world.
In France, which has reported about 120 citizens killed or missing, officials draped the trees lining Paris's Champs Elysses with black crepe to mourn the victims. The famed street is the traditional centre of New Year's celebrations in the French capital.
In cities across Italy, Norway and Germany, planned celebrations will be toned down, with governments urging its citizens to donate generously to the tsunami victims.
Other countries have cancelled their official celebrations, including Malaysia, Turkey (which has reported 53 missing or dead) and Thailand, in memory of its 4,500 victims.
Written by CBC News Online staff
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WebPosted Dec 31 2004 09:32 AM PST
VANCOUVER - The sister of a man shot and killed in a confrontation with Vancouver police wants to know the circumstances behind his death.
Gerald Chenery, 29, was shot on Boxing Day.
For Maggie Gisle, her brother's life ended as tragically as it began. She says their parents were alcoholics and didn't have the skills to raise her and her 11 brothers and sisters.
"We're not the Brady Bunch. I was actually abandoned with my twin sister."
Maggie was put up for adoption when she was only four years old. And because of that, Gisle didn't have the chance to grow up with Chenery.
"I feel that almost in a way that he was taken away from me years ago - and again today," she says. "It's somebody that I won't be able to get to know or to have in my life.
"To me it's another loss due to addiction. I found my way out and landed on my feet and unfortunately, Gerald didn't."
In the confrontation with VPD, the two rookie police officers shot Chenery several times after he lunged at them with a knife. Officers say he'd been repeatedly warned to put down the weapon.
Gisle wonders why two junior officers were paired together, why her brother was shot so many times and why there wasn't another way to subdue him - such as with a Taser.
"I struggle with that kind of force and whether it was necessary or not," she says.
Vancouver police say they don't have enough experienced staff to pair every new officer with a seasoned one. They add that not every officer carries a Taser.
Gisle hopes to get more answers from a police inquiry, hoping that she will find some peace once she knows the circumstances of how her brother died.
The internal police investigation is underway.
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... while there is pain and suffering in my own family, and I'm not wealthy, I did complete a particularly difficult 2 year period of unemployment and personal transformation ... I have an extra day off work to reflect ...
I'm healthy, warm, dry, and comfortable ... I have food in the cupboard and my refrigerator works ... I have basic clothing, and I was able to afford a couple of new bras, slips and some panties this year ...
I've spent a significant portion of my life chasing money and artificial dreams ... I've been saved from the jaws of death enough to believe that cats and other Earthbound critters have more than one life ...
Even more than the incomprehensible "natural" (Act Of God?) disaster and grief half way around the world due to the recent earthquake / tsunami - and more than the recent, gruesome and unnecessary death of an innocent toddler due to his parent's gross negligence (story in previous reply) - and certainly more than the inevitable (Darwinian) deaths of party animals (thrillseekers, risktakers) in a tinsulated nightclub fire, the story that speaks clearest and loudest to me personally is the last one in this file ...
Gerald Chenery was shot and killed by everyone of millions of Canadians who turn their backs everyday on their fellow human in the rush for a $5 cup of takeout coffee with their $500 PDA and $5,000 big screen TV in their $50,000 4X4 to their $500,000 "dream home" ...
Gerald obviously wasn't "strong" enough to rise from a Downtown Eastside alley to the "higher" levels of human endeavour as were those in and behind the other "stories of the day" ...
But for the Grace of God, I may have been in Gerald's shoes last weekend - or more to the point, 26 months ago !!!
{The points of special importance to (Cyber)CDs [correct me if I'm wrong] are Mental Health and Spiritual Life ...}
I'm Sorry Gerald !!! Who knows ??? You may have done better as "Gerrie" here @ the Forum ...
Happy 2005 Everyone !!!
Love / Marda
