Crown has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt at the trial of former clerk
Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Mar, 2022 05:17 PM
The defence says the Crown has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt at the trial of former clerk of the legislature Craig James.
Lawyer Gavin Cameron continued his closing arguments for a second day in B-C Supreme Court.
James was charged with fraud and breach of trust based on allegations of misspending.
But Cameron says two people stand by their decisions on James receiving a 258-thousand-dollar retirement benefit and two others followed policy in approving his travel expense claims.
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole has called for the government to immediately strengthen border screening in the face of a highly mutated new variant of COVID-19. The World Health Organization will meet Friday to discuss variant B.1.1.529, which originated in South Africa.
Rainstorms of increasing intensity are forecast to hit British Columbia over the coming days, prompting warnings for people to be prepared to evacuate. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the biggest storm is expected to arrive Tuesday and people living in areas prone to flooding should be on alert.
The two investigations are not connected and criminality is not believed to be a factor in either death. Both investigations have been turned over to BC Coroners Service. The families of the deceased men have been notified.
An inquiry commission has received a six-month extension to file its final report into money laundering in British Columbia. A statement from the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in B.C. says the provincial government has approved a deadline extension to May 20 from Dec. 15.
There are currently 3,061 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 211,202 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 295 individuals are in hospital and 112 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
The government now says there are still recipients who owe some or all of the $2,000, specifically those who were not entitled to the aid or didn't collect CERB for at least 20 weeks.