In the news today, Jan. 24

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is spending a second day in New Brunswick today as he continues a cross-Canada swing aimed at boosting party candidates in an election year. The prime minister will begin the day with a visit with families at the Origins Natural Learning Childcare Centre in Quispamsis to highlight the Canada Child Benefit payments. Then, in the evening, Trudeau heads to northern New Brunswick for another of his townhall-style meetings to take questions from the public. On Wednesday night, he spoke briefly during a rally for a New Brunswick Liberal MP in the battleground riding of Fundy Royal.

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HOUSING A TOP ISSUE IN BURNABY SOUTH BYELECTION

Housing is shaping up to be a defining issue in the Burnaby South byelection where NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is seeking a seat. Renters in the riding have been kicked out of older apartments to make way for luxury condos, and sky-high prices are shutting millennials out of the market. Singh proposed measures this week to build 500,000 new affordable units over the next decade, challenging the Liberal government to start by removing federal tax on the construction of such units. The New Democrats narrowly beat the Liberals in the riding in the 2015 election by about 550 votes, while the Conservatives placed third, losing by about 3,600 votes.

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U.S. MAYORS URGED TO LOBBY FOR TRADE DEAL

One of the hard-bargain drivers from the American side of the NAFTA negotiating table is bringing his powers of persuasion to the next challenge facing the new trade pact — the U.S. Congress. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney was a fixture of the 14-month negotiation process that culminated last October in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. On Wednesday, he urged a gathering of American mayors to lobby Capitol Hill lawmakers to ratify the deal. Mahoney told a panel discussion at the United States Conference of Mayors in Washington that they all have influence on their members of Congress, and the White House needs their help.

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NEW GUIDE FOR BABIES AT RISK OF ALLERGIES

New guidelines from the Canadian Paediatric Society suggest babies at high risk of developing allergies be offered common allergenic foods at about six months of age. Babies who are ready for food sooner can start as young as four months of age, but not earlier. The recommendations follow a recent shift in global thinking on when to introduce potential allergens, the most common of which are cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy. The society advises caregivers to offer potential allergens one at a time to gauge reaction. If the foods are tolerated well, offer them a few times a week to maintain tolerance. If there’s an adverse reaction, consult a doctor about the next steps.

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VERDICT DUE FOR MEN BEHIND FREE PAPER

Two men responsible for a free newspaper in the Toronto area find out today if they’re guilty of peddling hate. James Sears and LeRoy St. Germaine pleaded not guilty to promoting hatred against women and Jews. The prosecution argued that the paper, Your Ward News, is filled with “vile and degrading” articles and imagery. Sears, the editor-in-chief, and St. Germaine, the publisher, maintained they are satirists. Your Ward News has a circulation of about 300,000. The federal government has barred Canada Post from distributing the publication.

The Canadian Press

by CP

In the news today, Jan. 24

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