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Military air assets preparing to head to Fort McMurray: source

As the wildfire evacuation order in Fort McMurray enters its second day, iPolitics has learned the main form of support offered by the military will likely be air support.

Highway 63, the only road in and out of Fort McMurray, has been intermittently closed south of the city toward Edmonton. When that happens, evacuees are being told to head north to the oilsands camps but will need to be moved as soon as possible.

Sources tell iPolitics the assets being arranged at this point are air assets that will be used to help move those people out of the camps and to safer locations.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley formally requested help from the Canadian Forces last night and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan tweeted Wednesday morning that the military is preparing to help out.

Dan LeBouthiller, spokesperson for the Department of National Defence, says the official request is still going through the government but that preparations are underway.

“The CAF are preparing to provide assistance to the people of Fort McMurray and will act in support of Public Safety Canada, the Government of Alberta, and the first responders managing the situation on the ground,” said Lebouthillier.

“The CAF is deploying several CH-146 helicopters to assist the Province of Alberta with their emergency response. A CC-130 Hercules aircraft is en route to Cold Lake and is ready to respond as required. Other assets remain ready to respond if required.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is speaking at 12:30 EST. It’s not clear whether he will provide updates on the situation at that time.

Trudeau offers full federal assistance to fire ravaged Fort McMurray

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will provide all possible assistance to Alberta as wildfires ravage Fort McMurray.

Canada is a country of people who help each other in challenging times, Trudeau told his caucus Wednesday.

“I’ve been dealing with offers of support and calls from the Atlantic provinces, all the way out to B.C., as people are looking for how they can support their friends and neighbours as people go through this difficult time.”

Trudeau urged people with friends or family in Fort McMurray to make sure they are OK and ask what help they need. Donations to the Canadian Red Cross are also welcome, he added.

The prime minister said he has already spoken to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to offer his government’s “total support.”

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, in a conference call from Germany early Wednesday, confirmed a formal request for assistance has been received from the Alberta government.

What form that will take — at least on the military side — is still being determined and National Defence is expecting to hear soon from the province about the kind of equipment and personnel required.

The office of Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, the federal focal point for assistance, is expected to provide more details later today.

Corporate Canada helped raise $30M for refugees: McCallum

A Syrian refugee family after landing safely in Toronto. Photo: Domnic Santiago via Flickr CC

Now that Canada has settled 25,000 government sponsored Syrian refugees, the Immigration Minister says he will use the lessons learned in the process to improve the immigration system for all groups.

“We inherited a department full of problems and we want to transform it into a department that’s speedy and welcoming to newcomers,” said John McCallum in an interview with New Canadian Media.

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One of the biggest lessons learned involves engaging the private sector. From the beginning the government pitched the settlement of Syrian refugees as a “national project.” The minister openly encouraged business leaders to donate money, and to date, McCallum says Canada’s companies, communities and NGOs have raised more than $30 million to help settle Syrians.

Helping with rents

Those private sector funds played a pivotal role in solving the problem of finding affordable housing for the Syrian newcomers. Although many government refugees were housed in hotels for weeks and even months, McCallum says 93 per cent have now found permanent homes despite expensive rents in some cities.

open quote 761b1b“We have a problem that no other immigration minister has; I cannot produce these refugees quickly enough to meet all the demands of generous Canadians who want to accommodate them.”

The federal government provides a refugee family of five, less than $800/month for rent, a daunting budget to work with especially in Toronto and Vancouver where average rents for a two-bedroom apartment top $1,300/month. McCallum says the government didn’t want to increase the housing allowance, instead settlement agencies were able to apply for corporate grants to subsidize rents for newcomers.

But successful engagement has also resulted in frustrated expectations – it’s a double-edged sword McCallum doesn’t mind wielding.

“We have a problem that no other immigration minister has; I cannot produce these refugees quickly enough to meet all the demands of generous Canadians who want to accommodate them.”

Staffing in Jordan and Lebanon

Since the story of Alan Kurdi, the little boy washed ashore made headlines, thousands of Canadians coast to coast have formed sponsorship groups to take in refugees. But visa officers were pulled back after the government reached its settlement targets at the end of February and caps were imposed on private sponsorship such as Group of Five applications. The public outcry was immediate and McCallum has since announced that additional staff will return to Jordan and Lebanon to help interview Syrians.

Although exact numbers haven’t yet been determined, McCallum says the staff will consist of a mix of new hires and retired visa officers. The government is committing to processing applications accepted before March 31. The government’s goal is to have 10,000 privately sponsored Syrian refugees set foot on Canadian soil by early next year.

open quote 761b1b“Certainly, there are long delays for many classes of immigrants and other newcomers. It’s not necessarily because of the Syrian experience.”

Addressing the backlog

But while Syria applications are being fast-tracked there is concern among other refugee groups that they are being forgotten. The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada website indicates that government refugee claims out of Jordan can be processed in one month, while an application from Nepal takes 17 months. Processing an application from Eritrea is estimated to take an incredible 85 months. It’s a huge discrepancy McCallum says he’s trying to fix.

“Certainly, there are long delays for many classes of immigrants and other newcomers. It’s not necessarily because of the Syrian experience.” McCallum says over the past decade, processing times have gotten worse as staff have been cut, while red tape has grown.

In the next few weeks McCallum will be announcing measures to ease the backlog. The measures involve streamlining family reunification applications for spouses, parents, grandparents and caregivers. McCallum says he’s also hopeful more money will be found to hire more immigration officers across the board.

He’s adamant that resources were not diverted from other regions to deal with Syrian refugees and he stands by Canada’s commitment.

“I don’t make any apologies for making Syrian refugees a priority. This is a global crisis, the worst the world has seen in decade. Millions are displaced because of war … it’s right that Canada step up to the plate.”

The Sprout: Earls reverses controversial beef decision

Good morning and welcome to the Sprout – where your host is thinking about her fellow Albertans affected by the raging wildfire in Fort McMurray. Stay safe everyone.

Now, here is today’s agriculture news

The Lead: 

We start with some breaking news this morning: After a week of trying to extinguish a social media backlash, Earls Restaurant said this morning it is reversing its decision to no longer source Alberta beef for its menu.

As the Globe and Mail reports, the company said Wednesday it “made a mistake.” The company now says it will work with Alberta ranchers to build a supply of beef that meets the chain’s new criteria.

In Canada: 

The federal Liberals used their majority Tuesday to vote down an NDP motion demanding the government immediately start enforcing Canadian cheese standards and stop the imports of a U.S. milk protein. The vote came as Quebec dairy farmers blocked access to the Parmalat plant in Montreal. iPolitics has the story.

Conservative MP and internal trade critic Dan Albas is calling on the Liberal government Tuesday to immediately refer to the Supreme Court a New Brunswick court decision that struck down restrictions on the interprovincial import of alcohol. iPolitics’ BJ Siekierski explains.

Canadian mink farmers are offering a $100,000 reward to catch invaders who broke into an Ontario farm and released 500 minks. As The Western Producer writes, the reward comes as 2,000 kits (baby mink) are not expected to survive because they depend solely on their mothers for warmth and survival.

Internationally: 

The World Health Organization says U.S. officials have killed 39,000 turkeys linked to a outbreak of a mild form of avian flu. State officials have begun implementing a quarantine and remain alert for new cases. Reuters has the details.

Argentinian farm exports have skyrocketed in the first quarter as farmers respond to new policies aimed at opening up markets and reducing stockpiles. As Reuters reports, the surge in shipments is expected to affect global food prices, which have neared a seven-year low and are expected to slump further thanks to a sluggish world economy.

And, cash-strapped ISIS fighters are selling eggs and chickens in Libya as a way to raise funds. The New York Post reports. 

Noteworthy:

The Kicker: 

In what has become an annual tradition, the Calgary Stampede has released the list of its food fare for the July celebrations. This year’s expected hot items? Bug balls, a burger stuffed with macaroni and cheese and a deep fried butter tart. 

Until tomorrow.

More staff going to help process Syria refugees, military may help: McCallum

Immigration Minister John McCallum says talks are underway with the military about again helping with efforts to bring Syrian refugees to Canada.

He says it’s part of the effort to meet a promise to private sponsors to get thousands of Syrians here by the end of this year or early next.

McCallum says additional staff will head overseas this month to speed the processing of applications.

The military assisted in the effort to bring 25,000 Syrians to Canada by the end of February by conducting security screening overseas and also prepared bases here for temporary housing, though they were never used.

Hundreds of sponsorship groups were frustrated when the Liberals packed up that massive settlement effort at the end of February and returned refugee processing to its prior slow pace.

Pressure they placed on the government saw the Liberals pledge to process all applications received by the end of March in an effort to bring in about 10,000 people.

Trudeau to formalize Three Amigos summit

Federal sources say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will formalize the date for the so-called Three Amigos summit at a press conference on Wednesday.

The summit, which draws together the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico, is expected to take place in Ottawa towards the end of June.

Trudeau will announce the date during a day meant to highlight accomplishments of his government during its first six months in office.

Canada was supposed to host a Three Amigos summit last year, but the meeting did not materialize — partly because former prime minister Stephen Harper was at odds with Mexico over a visa requirement for Mexican visitors to Canada, and partly because the U.S. had resisted approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

The Mexican visa issue is still outstanding, but Trudeau has promised to resolve it.

U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to address Parliament right after the Three Amigos summit, while Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto will likely do an official visit to a couple of cities in Canada before the broader meeting.

Talk of the summit has been in the air for weeks. When Trudeau was in Washington in March, Obama announced he would make the trip to Parliament as part of the Three Amigos summit, but the exact timing has remained up in the air.

After Indiana, Clinton explores how to win Republicans

Hillary Clinton greets audience members during a campaign stop at Jackie O's Production Brewery and Tap Room in Athens, Ohio, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. AP Photo/Paul Sancya

ATHENS, Ohio – With Donald Trump all but clinching the Republican nomination for president, Hillary Clinton is beginning to explore ways to woo Republicans turned off by the brash billionaire.

The Democratic front-runner’s campaign believes Trump’s historically high unfavourable ratings and penchant for controversy may be enough to persuade a slice of GOP voters to get behind her bid, in much the same way so-called Reagan Democrats sided with the Republican president in the 1980s.

Even before Trump was declared the winner Indiana’s GOP primary, there were some early signs that a sliver of the party might see Clinton as the only option.

“I’m with her,” tweeted Mark Salter, a top campaign aide to 2008 Republican nominee John McCain, on Tuesday.

Democrats caution their effort to win over Clinton Republicans — or Hilla-cans, perhaps — is in its earliest stages, but could grow to include ads and other outreach targeted in particular at suburban women in battleground states. Already, aides say, a number of Republicans have privately told Clinton and her team they plan to break party ranks and support her as soon as Trump formally captures his party’s nomination.

“We have an informed understanding that we could have the potential to expect support from not just Democrats and independents, but Republicans, too,” said Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon. “There’s a time and place for that support to make itself known.”

While such bipartisan support would expand Clinton’s base of potential voters, a series of high-profile endorsements from Republican officials could also raise questions about her liberal credentials and threaten to dampen enthusiasm among some in her own party.

For months, primary rival Bernie Sanders has criticized Clinton’s record from the left, highlighting her 2002 vote in favour of the war in Iraq and support from Wall Street. The Vermont senator won the Indiana primary Tuesday, demonstrating her lingering weaknesses within her own party.

Clinton has begun casting her candidacy in recent days as a cry to unify a divided country. After a series of victories last week, which all but ensured she will capture her party’s nomination, Clinton called on Democrats, independents and what she called “thoughtful Republicans” to back her bid.

Guy Cecil, chief strategist of Priorities USA Action, the super PAC backing her campaign, echoed that language Tuesday night, calling on “Democrats, independents and reasonable Republicans” to reject Trump’s “outdated ideas.”

While a vocal segment of the Republican Party has denounced Trump, few have been willing to go as far as saying they would back Clinton in the fall.

Ben Howe, a Republican strategist who has worked for Cruz, said he’d be actively working against Trump — a decision he recognizes means backing Clinton.

“Anything right now that would allow Donald Trump to become president is the wrong move, so the de facto result is that Hillary would win,” he said. “I don’t agree with Hillary Clinton. What I think is Hillary Clinton is more honest than Trump, and that’s saying a lot.”

Endorsements from prominent GOP backers could potentially pave the way for Republican voters to back Clinton, particularly woman.

“Educated, suburban white women are turned off en masse and there will be more of that,” Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Clinton backer, said of Trump. “In the Columbus suburbs, she’s going to do very well.”

A February poll of likely Republican voters commissioned by a Democratic firm led by Stan Greenberg, a former pollster for former President Bill Clinton, found that 20 per cent of Republicans are “uncertain” whether they would back Trump or Clinton in a head-to-head match-up.

A quarter of GOP voters in Indiana said they would not vote for Trump in a general election, according to exit polls. Half of Republicans who didn’t vote for Trump said they would be scared and another third said they would be concerned about Trump occupying the White House.

There is some irony in Clinton playing the role of a unifier: She’s long been one of the most divisive figures in American politics. But while 55 per cent of Americans said they had a negative opinion of Clinton in an Associated Press-GfK poll released last month, 69 per cent said the same of Trump.

For some voters, that leaves them feeling like they have few good options.

Amy Bishop, 42, a stay-at-home mom from Indianola, Iowa, said she wasn’t sure how she would vote in November. She said she would “most likely” go for Clinton over Trump, but stressed that she wasn’t “100 per cent.”

“I don’t feel like she’s honest and upfront,” said the self-identified independent. Of Trump, she said, “I think he’s very reactive.”

Tracey Kingery, a Republican from Des Moines, Iowa, said she, too, was unsure about how to vote.

“I think he seriously would go half-cocked on everything. He’s a little too hot-headed for me,” she said. But, said the 47-year-old, “there’s been too much negative stuff about her.”

Morning Brief: Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Fort McMurray wildfire remains out of control after city evacuated — Barack Obama to address Canadian Parliament in late June — Sen. David Tkachuk says meeting with Duffy to talk expenses never happened — What’s next for PKP? — Quebec amending language laws — Brian Pallister sworn in — Cruz drops out after Trump wins Indiana, Sanders scores narrow victory — UN demands protection for hospitals in conflict — Abu Sayyaf hostages in Philippines make video plea — And finally, why Alex Trebek won’t take stupid people for $100

Today’s Morning Brief is brought to you by Resolute Forest Products. Sustainability is one of Resolute’s shared corporate values and an integral part of how we do business every day. We believe that delivering on our sustainability commitments makes us more competitive and generates value for shareholders over the long term.​

____________________

Fort McMurray wildfire remains out of control after city evacuated — Barack Obama to address Canadian Parliament in late June — Sen. David Tkachuk says meeting with Duffy to talk expenses never happened — What’s next for PKP? — Quebec amending language laws — Brian Pallister sworn in — Cruz drops out after Trump wins Indiana, Sanders scores narrow victory — UN demands protection for hospitals in conflict — Abu Sayyaf hostages in Philippines make video plea — And finally, why Alex Trebek won’t take stupid people for $100

____________________

Good Wednesday morning to you.

To read your Morning Clippings, click here.

We begin in Fort McMurray, where the city is burning. It’s a devastating time for residents as wildfires continue to rage. Everyone was ordered to evacuate yesterday as flames leapt the highway and blazed into the city. This morning things are changing quickly: the fires are still raging out of control and no doubt more homes and businesses will be lost. While some of the city’s 60,000 residents headed south towards Edmonton yesterday, others were forced north to oilsands work camps when the highway was closed. It’s the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history and the images are like something out a movie.

“All Albertans are with the people of Fort McMurray,” said Premier Rachel Notley, who’s hoping to get up to the city today, as is Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, who’s home has been lost in the flames. “CBC has confirmed that senior military officials are preparing for a request to come from Notley for help fighting the wildfires. The Department of National Defence may offer airlift and other transportation support for firefighting as well as logistical help.”

The last time a U.S. president addressed a joint session of Parliament was Bill Clinton in 1995. Now we have the date for the next. Word is President Barack Obama will speak in the House on June 29 or 30. It will happen during the first meeting of the Three Amigos in nearly three years. Of course, it also means Parliamentarians will have to stay in town longer if they want to hear the president speak. The House was expected to rise June 9th.

Although Sen. Mike Duffy’s trial was told that he spoke with Sen. David Tkachuk and asked whether he could claim expenses against his Ottawa-area home as a secondary residence, Tkachuk says the meeting never happened. He says the only advice he gave during a January 2009 meeting of new senators was about caucus responsibilities, since he hadn’t yet been appointed to the executive of the Senate’s internal economy committee, which oversees expense rules. Duffy testified at his trial that he spoke with Tkachuk one-on-one after the meeting and asked whether he could or should claim expense against his Ottawa-area home as a secondary residence. Jordan Press has more.

In the wake of his sudden resignation, people are wondering what’s next for Pierre Karl Peladeau? Will he return to media giant Québecor? CP’s Giuseppe Valiante has that story.

Meanwhile, here are six potential candidates who might replace him at the PQ’s helm.

Still in Quebec, the provincial government is amending its language laws to ensure that French is featured on all outdoor signs and storefronts.

In Manitoba, Brian Pallister has been sworn in as premier and named a 12-person cabinet.

Here and there:

  • Small Business Minister Bardish Chagger is in Havana to speak at
  • FITCuba 2016, Cuba’s international tourism fair, which is recognizing Canada as this year’s guest country of honour.
  • Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan holds a teleconference call from Stuttgart to discuss his participation at the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL.
  • Statistics Canada releases the Canadian merchandise trade figures for March.
  • The NDP hold their weekly caucus meeting at 9:15 a.m.
  • The Conservative caucus meets at 9:30 a.m.
  • The Liberal caucus meets at 10 a.m.
  • Citizenship Minister John McCallum and Mayor Jim Watson attend an announcement about the Welcome Fund for Syrian Refugees.
  • Lawyers Hugh Scher and Amy Hasbrouck, speak about the problems with Bill C-14, (assisted suicide) on behalf of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
  • Canadian Forces ombudsman Gary Walbourne appears at Senate veterans affairs committee hearing witnesses on services and benefits provided to member of the Forces; veterans; former RCMP members and their families.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks and holds a media availability at the National Press Theatre.
  • Commons legal and constitutional affairs committee discusses Bill C-14, medical assistance in dying. 2 p.m., Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould appears; 4:15 p.m., Health Minister Jane Philpott appears.
  • Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi appears at Senate finance committee to discuss the government’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure funding program.
  • Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi appears at Senate transport and communications committee to discuss emerging issues related to its mandate and ministerial mandate letters.

It was quite the night in Indiana. Ultra-conservative Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called it a day and dropped out of the presidential race after a devastating loss to Donald Trump in the Republican primary. Cruz had pinned his final hopes on a win here and without it, there was really no path forward in the nomination process. “From the beginning I’ve said that I would continue on as long as there was a viable path to victory,” Cruz said. “Tonight I’m sorry to say it appears that path has been foreclosed. With a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign.”

That means Trump has now made his grand entrance into general eleciton mode. His first move? Attack Hillary Clinton. “She will not be a great president. She will not be a good president. She will be a poor president,” he said. God bless America, indeed.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders pulled off a win last night over Clinton, but didn’t get the landslide he needed. That said, it made for a fine morale boost.

In the wake of another deadly attack on a hospital in Syria last week, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday demanding that all parties in the conflict protect staff and facilities treating the wounded and sick. The first of its kind to focus on protecting hospitals and health care workers in conflict zones, the resolution urges all countries to bring those responsible for attacks to justice.

The three remaining hostages being held by the Islamic militants in the Philippines that beheaded John Ridsdel last week have appeared in a video pleading for their governments to meet the captors’ demands. In the video, the hostages say if the demands are not met “we will be executed like our friend John”.

In Featured Opinion this morning:

  • Thanks to Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s self-inflicted death-spiral, we’re getting a crash course in the political power of paranoia. Thing is, it’s easy to convince people over time that governments are no damn good — but once you’ve done that, how do you convince them to vote for anybody?
  • Lucky us, says Susan Delacourt — Canadians seem immune to the paranoia virus that has infected American public life since Davy Crockett was a Freemason. For proof, look no further than the fact that people managed to crash StatsCanada’s census website Monday — the same census killed by the Harper government for being too ‘intrusive’.
  • L. Ian MacDonald gives us the hidden backstory on Pierre Karl Péladeau’s very sudden decision to quit the PQ leadership. Turns out his estranged wife’s Sunday night spot on a popular talk show — which saw Julie Snyder speak in detail about the split and its impact on their kids — got under the mogul’s skin in a big way.

And finally, why Alex Trebek hates spending time with stupid people.

With that, have yourself a good day.

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