The Monday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories

By The Canadian Press

Highlights from the news file for Monday, May 2:

PELADEAU LEAVING POLITICS: Fighting back tears, Parti Quebecois Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau has announced his immediate departure from politics, less than a year after he was hailed by many as the saviour of the sovereigntist movement. Peladeau, 54, said it was a stark choice between his family and politics. He is stepping down as PQ leader.”I am forced to make a choice, an agonizing choice, between my family and my political project, our political project, which is shared by so many people,” he told a news conference in Montreal. “I have chosen my family.

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AFGHAN VETS LAWSUIT MAY BE IN SETTLEMENT MODE: The Trudeau government is drafting a letter of assurance it hopes will bring to a close a class-action lawsuit by Afghan veterans angry about the 10-year-old overhaul of their benefits and entitlements. The legal challenge was put into abeyance over a year ago in the B.C. Supreme Court. The time-out from legal proceedings was intended at the time to give the previous government of Stephen Harper an opportunity to introduce a series of improvements to the so-called New Veterans Charter, which — among other things — replaced lifetime pensions for serious injuries with lump-sum awards and a patchwork of stipends.

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PRINCE HARRY LAUNCHES TORONTO INVICTUS GAMES COUNTDOWN: Prince Harry has launched the official countdown to the 2017 Invictus Games, promising that the Toronto edition of the Olympic-style sporting event honouring wounded, injured and sick troops would be its biggest yet. About 600 military participants from 16 nations are expected to compete in 12 sports in the event, which is the 31-year-old royal’s brainchild. Harry said the desire to found the games took root in 2008 while he was serving as an officer in Afghanistan.

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BCE SIGNS DEAL FOR MANITOBA TELECOM: BCE Inc. has signed a friendly deal valued at $3.9 billion to buy Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., one of the few regional independent rivals to Canada’s three main national telecommunications companies. The agreement would add Manitoba’s largest phone, Internet and wireless company to BCE’s Montreal-based business, which includes the CTV television network, the former Chum and Astral radio chains and Bell Canada.

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NO THANKS, SAYS RONA AMBROSE: Thanks, but no thanks — that’s interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose’s reaction to a nascent campaign seeking to allow her to run for permanent leadership of the party. A small group of Tory MPs launched a drive last week to open the party’s constitution to change the rules that prevent interim leaders from seeking the top job, a move designed specifically to encourage Ambrose to run. But her spokesman said it’s not in the cards and that she’s not going to be a candidate for the permanent leadership of the Conservatives.

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SENATOR DUFFY RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT HILL: Sen. Mike Duffy is back on Parliament Hill after keeping a low profile during his long-running legal odyssey. Duffy’s return comes less than two weeks after he was acquitted of all 31 charges in his trial for fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Duffy was suspended from the Senate over his expense troubles, but the suspension was lifted with the last federal election. He is now free to return to his Senate office and privileges and take his seat when the chamber returns to work on Tuesday.

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POLL SAYS MOST BELIEVE SEX ASSAULT CLAIMS: Two thirds of Canadians questioned for a new online survey believe the majority of sexual assault claims are true. The survey from the Canadian Women’s Foundation comes amidst high-profile sexual assault cases over the past year that questioned the credibility of women that report sexual assault. The survey found 67 per cent of respondents believe the majority of sexual assault claims are true, compared to seven per cent who believe the claims are exaggerated and one per cent who believe they are false.

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DELAY IN NETHERLANDS TRIAL: A trial in the Netherlands has been delayed again for the man charged with child pornography and extortion involving 39 people and who is also implicated in the suicide of British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd. The court had vowed to forge ahead on Friday, saying the delay was difficult on the alleged victims. Instead, Aydin Coban’s case will go to trial in the Netherlands sometime after the summer, said Elsbeth Kleibeuker, a spokeswoman for the Dutch National Prosecutor’s Service.

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EXPERTS TO OPPOSE SCHOENBORN OUTINGS: The treatment team for a mentally ill British Columbia man who killed his three children is expected to oppose day passes during an upcoming annual review. A lawyer for Allan Schoenborn has told a B.C. Supreme Court judge that the man’s psychiatrists will recommend against allowing him on escorted outings when his hearing is held later this month. Schoenborn was granted the potential for limited freedom at his hearing last year by the B.C. Review Board, which decided he had made progress and could possibly make day trips as part of his rehabilitation.

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CHARGE DROPPED AGAINST ACTOR: A misdemeanour domestic battery charge has been dropped against “Trailer Park Boys” actor Mike Smith a month after his arrest in Los Angeles. Smith, who plays the character Bubbles on the Canadian cult comedy, was arrested on April 1 after an incident at a Hollywood hotel involving a woman. He was released on bail hours later, after being booked on suspicion of misdemeanour domestic battery, and had been set to appear in a L.A. court last Friday. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s office said Monday Smith’s charge had been dropped.

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