In the news today, Feb. 21

A man accused of killing his daughter on her 11th birthday died in hospital on Wednesday evening, police said, noting that their investigation into the girl’s death is not over. Roopesh Rajkumar had been hospitalized with what police described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound since shortly after his arrest. His daughter, Riya, became the subject of an Amber Alert last week after her father allegedly indicated to her mother that he planned to hurt both the child and himself. Shortly after the alert was sent out, Peel regional police knocked down the door to her father’s home in Brampton, Ont., and found Riya’s body. Rajkumar was arrested by provincial police more than 100 kilometres away in Oro-Medonte, Ont., and was charged with first-degree murder.

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TRUDEAU JOINS HUNDREDS IN HALIFAX FOR VIGIL

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the hundreds of people who gathered in Halifax’s main square Wednesday night in support of a Syrian refugee family that lost seven children in a house fire. The mourners gathered at Grand Parade in front of city hall and listened solemnly as the Barho children’s names and ages were read out followed by a moment of silence. Natalie Horne, of the organization that sponsored the Barho family, spoke through tears as she told the crowd that each of the children were unique and individual. Trudeau didn’t speak at the vigil, but stood among the crowd and listened intently, before heading to a previously planned party event. Pressure has been mounting for Ottawa to help to bring other members of the grieving family to Nova Scotia.

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DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED VULNERABLE IN ONTARIO: STUDY

People with developmental disabilities are more likely than the non-disabled to encounter problems with Ontario’s health-care system regardless of age, sex or class, a new study suggests. The research from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences found the developmentally disabled were significantly more likely to die young, languish in hospital without plans for appropriate aftercare, spend time in long-term care, or have repeat hospitalizations and emergency room visits than their non-disabled peers. The study, compiled by researchers from ICES, the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, said the findings held true regardless of what disability was specifically at play.

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PROPOSED EDIBLE POT REGULATIONS CRITICIZED

Critics say Canada’s proposed edible pot regulations would result in tasteless products wrapped in wasteful packaging, shutting out medical patients and fuelling a continued black market. The consultation period on the proposed rules ended Wednesday and Health Canada is now reviewing the responses. Jessika Villano, owner of Buddha Barn dispensary in Vancouver, says the government is creating an environmental nightmare with its proposed packaging rules. A single serving would be limited to 10 milligrams of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, and each serving must be individually wrapped. Health Canada aims to implement regulations to support the sale of edibles, topicals and extracts by Oct. 17 this year.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz will give a speech today to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.

— Statistics Canada will release its wholesale trade results, employment insurance figures and data on travel between Canada and other countries for December.

— BC Centre on Substance Use will hold a news conference on a proposal for regulated heroin sales to address the overdose crisis.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, Feb. 21

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