Federal Green Party leader Annamie Paul faces internal party controversy

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Annamie Paul wins leadership race for Federal Greens

The Green Party of Canada has a new leader who's first public job will be managing a controversy over a high profile resignation. Annamie Paul is a global affairs lawyer who won the leadership race after 8 ballots on Saturday night. She is the first black woman to lead a political party in Canada. And, in her first week on the job she will have to try to heal the wounds from yesterday's resignation of the party's executive director. Prateek Awasthi was accused of bullying and harassment in his former position in the private sector. The debate caused rifts among Greens, who were divided over whether he should be fired. Paul is reluctant to become publicly involved in the controversy.

"I really don't feel that it's appropriate for me to comment on a situation that I'm not fully apprised of. So I am looking forward to meeting with our federal council. I'll be meeting with our caucus and they're going to bring me up to date on all of these things. But being a leadership candidate I actually have been completely separated from all of the inner workings of the party during this period."—Federal Green Party Leader Annamie Paul.

Paul is also facing a challenge to win a seat in the House of Commons. She is running in a federal byelection in her home neighbourhood of Toronto Center, which has been held by a Liberal for the past 27 years.

Arbitrator finds BC Ferries management in the wrong, but recommends no remedy

The Victoria Times Colonist is reporting an arbitrator has ruled B.C. Ferries did not have the right to unilaterally lay off more than 1,100 workers in early April due to the pandemic. Arbitrator John B. Hall did not recommend a remedy. He says it's up to the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers union and the company to find one.

Death of 60 deer on Galiano Island may be due to disease not found in British Columbia

B.C.'s provincial veterinarian says the deaths of more than 60 deer on Galiano Island may be due to a new disease that's not been seen in this province before. Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease attacks the lungs and intestines of deer, elk, moose and caribou. The fatal and incurable condition has been documented in the United States since 1994. Dr. Helen Schwantje says it's not known how it arrived on Galiano Island in September, or if it's spread to other Gulf Islands, where there have been unconfirmed reports.

"Perhaps exposure to a carcass or equipment that was used to handle a carcass, so it's possible that someone inadvertently brought it back to Galiano Island, but we don't know that. So we're trying to learn more about it and how widespread it is."—Dr. Helen Schwantje, provincial wildlife veterinarian.

Schwantje says samples have been sent to experts in California for further analysis. The disease cannot be spread to domestic animals or humans, but hunters are asked not to harvest unhealthy deer. Instead, they're being asked to report any to the province's Wildlife Health Laboratory or local conservation office.