Evan Leversage is interviewed by the media after watching a Christmas Parade in St. George, Ont., on October 24, 2015. A funeral is scheduled for today for the terminally-ill boy, whose wish to see another Christmas prompted his community to stage an early Santa Claus parade. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
December 10, 2015 - 1:15 AM
Five stories in the news today, Dec. 10, from The Canadian Press:
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FIRST FLIGHT OF GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED SYRIANS EXPECTED TODAY
A military plane filled with Syrian refugees is scheduled to land tonight in Toronto, the first of many such flights in the coming weeks that will eventually bring 25,000 Syrians to Canada. A second flight is expected to touch down Saturday in Montreal, bringing to 300 the estimated number of refugees arriving as part of the initial wave. While refugees have been arriving since the Liberals were sworn into office on Nov. 4, today's trip represents the first flight arranged specifically for the program.
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QUEBEC ASSISTED-DYING LAW NOW TO TAKE EFFECT TODAY
Quebec legislation on assisted dying will become law on Thursday. Health Minister Gaetan Barrette made the announcement Wednesday after Quebec's top tribunal gave the province permission to appeal a lower-court decision that granted an injunction aimed at blocking adoption of the law. Barette said the ruling means that, as of today, Bill 2 "will be implemented fully."
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CHILD-CARE COSTS HIGHEST IN TORONTO, LOWEST IN QUEBEC
A new report says child-care costs have increased across the country, but some regions feel the pinch more than most. The study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives looked at 27 cities and found child-care fees the highest in Toronto, with parents facing median costs of more than $1,000. Quebec is at the other end of the spectrum, where child-care fees are capped at $174 a month.
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MILLENNIALS LACK FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE: POLL
A new poll suggests two-thirds of millennials are investing their money, but that most feel they don't have adequate knowledge for the task. The poll for CIBC found 67 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 reported have investments including stocks, GICs, bonds and mutual funds. However, 82 per cent said they didn't know enough about investing.
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FUNERAL TODAY FOR BOY HONOURED WITH EARLY CHRISTMAS PARADE
A funeral is scheduled for today for Evan Leversage, a terminally-ill boy from St. George, Ont., whose wish to see another Christmas prompted his community to stage an early Santa Claus parade. Seven-year-old Evan died at a Brantford, Ont., hospice on Sunday in the arms of his mother, Nicole Wellwood. Evan had an inoperable brain tumour and doctors had said they weren't sure if he would live to see this Christmas, so St. George put on an early Christmas parade in October.
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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY ...
— Nova Scotia Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab will provide an update on Syrian refugee settlement.
— Trial continues in Ottawa for Sen. Mike Duffy on 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.
— Former TV journalist Arthur Kent's defamation lawsuit continues in Calgary.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2015