Morning CHEK for January 23

Morning CHEK for January 23
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B.C. attorney general gives suspended legislature officials til Feb. 1 to respond to speaker’s explosive report, advanced voting continues in Nanaimo byelection after a big turnout on day one and The Canadian Cancer Society extends Weedless Wednesday challenge to cannabis smokers. Those stories and more on Morning CHEK.

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Attorney General says suspended officials have until Feb. 1 to answer for alleged spending abuses: B.C.’s attorney general says the fiery report released Monday by the Speaker of the legislature alleging flagrant spending abuses by two top officials contains some disturbing allegations and also raises broader concerns within the assembly about a lack of oversight. David Eby says clerk Craig James and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz have until February 1st to respond to the explosive report. Both men deny any wrongdoing. An R-C-M-P investigation continues.

Eby calls on Ottawa for help for action against money laundering: David Eby says he does not want the federal election campaign to get in the way of Ottawa fully co-operating with the province to deal with serious money-laundering woes. Eby says he’s more hopeful after a meeting with Organized Crime Minister Bill Blair, who has agreed to share RCMP information on money laundering that wasn’t given to B.C., but did make it to an international report.

Big turnout in Nanaimo for advanced byelection voting: Advanced voting continues Wednesday in Nanaimo for the Jan. 30 byelection, a vote that could have a huge impact on B.C.’s balance of power. A big turnout Tuesday in the first chance to vote on Nanaimo’s next MLA. Voting stations open at 8 a.m. this morning at the Beban Park Social Centre and Departure Bay Baptiste Church. An all candidates forum is tomorrow night.

B.C. files final objection on Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to the NEB: The B.C. government called on the National Energy Board to reject the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in its final arguments filed to the NEB as an intervener in the projects reconsideration. The submission highlighted the potential impacts of increased oil tanker traffic on the southern resident killer whale population and a potential oil spill on the environment and coast.

Smokers are given the challenge to butt out on Weedless Wednesday: Today is Weedless Wednesday and the Canadian Cancer Society is extending the 24-hour challenge to butt out to cannabis smokers now that recreational marijuana is legal. This is National Non-Smoking Week, a yearly event that began in 1977. The society says more research is required on the impacts of smoking cannabis, but is indisputable for tobacco, killing 6,000 British Columbians every year.

U2 singer says capitalism is ‘amoral’ at World Economic Forum: U2 lead singer Bono told the world’s business and political elites gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum that capitalism is amoral. And while he concedes capitalism has taken more people out of poverty than quote — “any other ism,” Bono says it is a wild beast that can chew up a lot of people on the way. Bono says he used to consider the International Monetary Fund the “Great Satan” for what he called its bullying of junior economies but says the IMF has changed.

Video shows officer narrowly dodging sliding vehicle: A video from Wisconsin highlights the potential dangers of driving in snow and ice. An out of control car slid towards a Fond du Lac County Sheriff, who gets out of the way just in time. Neither the officer or the driver of the SUV was hurt.

ENTERTAINMENT
Theatres nix top Oscar pic: “Roma” received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. But don’t look for it in two theatre chains. Deadline reports “Roma” is excluded from AMC theatre’s best picture showcase and Regal Cinemas’ Best Picture Film Festival. An AMC statement notes “Roma” was never licensed to its theatres. Netflix showed it on just a few U.S. screens to qualify for Academy consideration.

SPORTS
Edmonton Oilers fire GM Peter Chiarelli, multiple reports: Peter Chiarelli has been fired as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, according to multiple media reports. The Oilers have scheduled a news conference with Bob Nicholson, CEO and vice-chair of the Oilers Entertainment Group, for Wednesday morning. The Oilers lost their third in a row on Tuesday night, falling 3-2 to the Detroit Red Wings at home. The loss pushed Edmonton three points out of a playoff spot.

Canucks host Hurricanes in last game before the All-Star break: The Vancouver Canucks host the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday in what will be the team’s last game before the All-Star break. The Canucks go into the game tied with Dallas and Colorado for the final wild-card spots with 52 points, although the Stars and Avalanche have both played one less game than the Canucks.

Royals fall 4-1 to Raiders: The Prince Albert Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead and never looked back in a 4-1 victory over the Victoria Royals. The game saw the return of former Royals’ player Dante Hannoun, who was dealt from Victoria to P.A. in a deal prior to the WHL trade deadline. The Royals travel to Kelowna Friday.

Raonic out at the Australian Open in quarter-final loss: Canadian Milos Raonic is done at the Australian Open _ and now is facing another health concern. France’s Lucas Pouille has reached the Australian Open semifinals for the first time with a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-4 win over the 16th-seeded Raonic. Afterward, the 28-year-old Raonic said he is battling a knee injury and is expected to get it evaluated by doctors shortly.

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