McMaster projects win big global health grants

A test that quickly determines the cause of a bout of diarrhea. A sanitation system that converts human and fish waste into a source of fuel.

Neither project is glamourous, but both have turned out to be golden for researchers at Hamilton's McMaster University and could save lives in Africa.

Two groups at the university have each won $100,000 grants from Grand Challenges Canada, a federally funded body that doles out money for researchers and entrepreneurs working in global health.

"The whole team's very excited," said Dr. Jeff Pernica, an assistant professor of pediatrics at McMaster University, who is helping to develop a test that makes it easier for healthcare workers to determine the cause of diarrhea.

"Grand Challenges Canada has done a lot to provide fund projects that before would have been a lot harder to back. So this kind of thing is really amazing news for all of us."

The grant, he said, will allow his team, which includes researchers in Canada, the U.S. and Africa, to conduct a year-long study at a hospital in Gabarone, the capital of Botswana.

New test

Starting in late 2013, they will test 100 children who are admitted to the facility for acute diarrhea with a new type of swab that tests for specific germs, including harmful strains of E. coli.

Jeff Pernica is an assistant professor of pediatric medicine at McMaster University. (Supplied)

Pernica said many medical facilities in sub-Saharan Africa often don't take stool samples from children suffering from diarrhea because they lack the proper resources,

"Kids come into hospital, and as long they don't have bloody diarrhea, nobody does any testing," he said. "But a lot of these kids, even if they don't have bloody diarrhea, could have treatable causes."

The swab tests, he said, represent a more cost-effective, relatively convenient way for healthcare professionals to determine what the specific cause of the condition might be and whether a prescribing medication — antibiotics, for example — would be appropriate.

Related: 'Fecal transplants' used to treat C. difficile cases

The cost of not developing better diagnostics, he said, is grave, especially for people in low-income countries.

"Diarrhea, or diarrheal disease, I should say, is the second-leading killer of [children under five]," said Pernica, citing figures from the World Health Organization.

"And the ones that survive, their growth and development is affected. So it does a lot to prevent adults from reaching their full potential."

Fuel from waste

A focus on human waste is, strangely, one trait among many that Pernica's work shares with the other McMaster-affiliated project that has just won a Grand Challenges Canada Grant.

But instead of testing for pathogens, researchers at the United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health want to exploit its potential as a source of energy.

Corinne Schuster-Wallace, a McMaster environmental studies prof, is leading an international team that's planning a sanitation system for Uganda that would turn human excrement and byproducts from fish farming into biofuel.

"It's exciting that we can move forward with the project because we can see a huge potential for changing lives in Uganda," she said.

Children in Uganda play near a waste pit that contains both litter and human excrement. Not having access to proper sanitation facilities, researchers says, is a major threat to human health. (Courtesy of Corinne Schuster-Wallace)

She noted the sub-Saharan country, like many in the developing world, does not have proper sanitation systems. Many Ugandans are left with little choice but to defecate in fields, creeks or ditches — often contaminating the water supply.

The biofuel project, Schuster-Wallace said, offers a potential fix for the problem.

Service providers would cart off the waste and put it into massive underground tanks. The methane gas produced would be captured and then used as fuel. And the remaining sludge, Schuster-Wallace said, could be sold as fertilizer.

"The argument is, and what we're premising with this grant, is that there's wealth in waste," she said. "This could be a different finance model for sanitation."

Engaging local stakeholders

If it's implemented, the system could bolster African economies in other ways, Schuster-Wallace said. Improved sewage systems would cut down on the prevalence of water-borne diseases, which would in turn boost worker productivity.

Corinee Schuster-Wallace is an adjunct professor with McMaster University's Department of Geography and Environmental Science. (Supplied)

The next stage in the project, she said, is embarking on the "mucky" work of consulting local governments, entrepreneurs and community groups on how they can bring the plan into being.

"[We are] trying to make sure that all sectors and all stakeholders understand what it is that they put into the system and what it is that they get out of it, because that's the only way to make it sustainable," she said.

"People have to be engaged and have to be willing to own this," she added. "That's where the bold idea is."

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Police ask for public's help in search for missing Hamilton woman

Kaila Bawden, 18, was last seen on Friday

CBC News

Posted: Apr 28, 2013 10:04 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2013 10:03 AM ET

Kaila Bawden's family reported her missing on Saturday. (Supplied)

Police are seeking the public's assistance in the search for a missing Hamilton woman.

Kaila Bawden's family reported her missing on Saturday. Police say she was last seen on Friday in the "southeast area of downtown Hamilton."

Bawden is described as white, 18 years old, five foot eight, 130 lbs., with a fair complexion, blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing track pants, a burgundy hoodie, a black jacket and black shoes.

Police ask anyone with information about Bawden's whereabouts to call the Division One staff sergeant at 905-546-4725.

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Bald Eagles at the Royal Botanical Gardens survive first month

Did you know eagle moms play favourites?

By Taylor Ablett, CBC News

Posted: Apr 29, 2013 7:24 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 29, 2013 7:22 AM ET

 

A pair of four-week-old eaglets in a Cootes Paradise nest appear to be healthy and growing.

According to RBG Species at Risk Biologist Kathryn Harrison who does regular checks on the babies, they have survived their first month with flying colours.

Harrison says anything could happen in the first few months of life, making them the most critical.

"What can happen is, they'll have multiple young but they want to play the odds of getting the best offspring," says Harrison. "If there's not a lot of food available then you might have the mother preferentially feeding one of them over the other."

The babies were born just before Easter and are in a nest in a tree 30 meters up. If the babies can survive the first few weeks, life can still get tricky despite not having many predators.

Eaglet diet: fish mostly but also mice, muskrats and even a duck

"An issue would be the competition between the siblings or the limited amount of food," says Harrison. "Which is not the case here, we should have a lot of fish coming into the fish way, and the marsh is a good place for food."

Things like windstorms or something that could blow the nest down, and falling out of the nest would be also a threat to the eaglets. "In some cases one might push the other one out of the nest," says Harrison.

Both parents will stick around to help raise the eaglets. As one stays at the nest to protect their young and keep potential threats away, the other goes out to hunt.

"Fish is the majority of their diet, but they'll eat pretty much anything," explains Harrison. "You'll see them diving for mice or muskrats, they even had a duck in the fall."

A full-grown bald eagle can grow to be three feet from head to tail, and between six to eight feet wingspan, making them a big animal and top predator.

Eaglets Time Line

The eggs were laid mid-February, and approximately 35 days later they hatched. From hatching it's over two months (70 days) before they leave the nest. Once they leave the nest, they still need parental care for about another month until they're full-grown, and then they'll be off on their own.

Lake Ontario shortens life span

Bald Eagles live between 15-25 years, however "lifespan is reduced in Lake Ontario to about eight to 12 years," says Harrison. "Because of the water quality and the fish."

"Eagles are a top predator, so they're going to feed on things that are feeding on things, that are feeding on things, and basically you have bio accumulation," explains Harrison. "Every one small fish is going to eat a lot of other things, and then the bigger fish is going to have eaten a lot of small fish that are going to have a lot of contaminates, and it just builds up.

"Lake Ontario is a good spot, but still there's a lot of challenges in general when you have a population like Southern Ontario, and you have things like contaminates that go into the water," says Harrison.

[View the story "Bald Eagles at the RBG" on Storify]

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U.S. Steel locks out workers at Nanticoke, Ont., plant

Company bought Hamilton, Ont.-based Stelco in 2007

The Canadian Press

Posted: Apr 28, 2013 12:04 PM ET

Last Updated: Apr 29, 2013 7:25 AM ET

 

U.S. Steel locked out almost 1,000 unionized workers at its facility in Nanticoke, Ont., Sunday, raising questions from employees about promises the company made to the federal government about continuing production in Canada.

'From what we can see, production has been shifted to the United States.'

—Bill Ferguson, president, Steelworkers Local 8782

The company shut the gates of its Lake Erie Works plant, located about 130 kilometres southwest of Toronto, at 9 a.m. just as it had warned it would, leaving hundreds of angry workers gathered outside.

"The gates are now closed on one of the most productive steel mills in North America, one of the most efficient steel mills in North America," said Bill Ferguson, president of Steelworkers Local 8782.

"From what we can see, production has been shifted to the United States."

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Company purchased Stelco in 2007

U.S. Steel makes steel for a number of operations from cars to building construction.

It bought one of Canada's largest steel manufacturers — the Hamilton-based company formerly known as Stelco — in 2007.

The purchase triggered a long dispute between the federal government and the company over broken promises U.S. Steel made to secure approval to buy Stelco.

The two sides settled the case in late 2011 with an agreement that saw the company promise to keep producing steel in Canada for at least another four years and make major capital investments at its Canadian mills.

In light of the lockout, Ferguson said the union is now wondering what exactly the terms of that agreement were.

"Nobody knows what's going on here," he said.

Union voted Tuesday to reject latest offer

Notice of Sunday's lockout was sent to the United Steelworkers Union on Thursday under a mutual agreement to give 72-hours notice of a strike or lockout.

On Tuesday, the union membership had voted 70 per cent to reject a final contract offer from the company that would eliminate cost-of-living wage increases, reduce holidays and amount to a virtual standstill in wages.

Ferguson said workers would have received an extra $1 an hour under the company's latest offer, but that had already been mandated under the cost-of-living clause in the previous agreement.

'Sombre mood'

According to the union, there are 978 members of the bargaining unit at Nanticoke.

"It's a sombre mood, but there's a lot of anger," Ferguson said of the workers gathered outside the plant Sunday morning.

The union offered earlier this week to keep its members on the jobs and negotiate further, but that was rejected by the company.

"This was an operation that was probably a top plate operation in Canada. When it was sold to the Americans it almost became a second tier operation," Ferguson said, calling the company's current approach to talks with the union "radically different" from its predecessor.

According to the company website, the Lake Erie Works facility makes 2.25 million tonnes of slabs and 3 million tonnes of high-quality hot rolled coils.

This is the third time U.S. Steel has locked out Ontario workers since purchasing plants in Hamilton and Nanticoke in 2007.

The company reached an agreement with the United Steelworkers union in April 2010, ending an eight-month lockout. And a lockout at U.S. Steel's Hamilton plant lasted from November 2010 to October 2011.

With files from CBC News

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Insiders say Canada 'scammed' by foreign worker industry

exclusive

Kathy Tomlinson

Go Public

Several information technology industry insiders have come forward to expose some of the inner workings of multinational outsourcing companies from India, which they claim exploit Canada's temporary work visa system and bring no real benefit.

"I need to stop this scam. I am hurting," said one experienced Canadian IT worker, originally from India, who told CBC he's been pushed out of his industry as a result of outsourcing.

He and others told Go Public that they have seen up close how the Indian companies operate in banks and other major Canadian corporations, where the multinationals have large contracts to do IT work.

"Nobody is checking what they are doing," said another local worker. "They just use their name and use their money to get the contract."

Workers unqualified

The "scam" allegedly includes bringing in cheaper workers from India – some with grossly exaggerated resumes — who then can't perform on the job, causing delays and mistakes on projects for Canadian companies.

"Our people had to actually redo things. And fix those issues," said one bank insider. "It was really a mess and those were really serious issues."

India's IT sector has spawned several multinational outsourcing companies, which send temporary workers to Canada. (CBC)

The insiders claim there are bonus incentives for managers of Canadian companies that sign on, promises of big savings that can't be delivered and violations of work visa rules in the process.

"They would push the banks to hire these people and to select them over other people that were genuinely more qualified," said a former bank insider.

"There were kickbacks...certain bonuses that were flying back and forth between individuals who were in a hiring position."

A former employee of one of the multinationals said Canadian executives were "dazzled" by the sales pitches, promising workers who could do more for less.

Canadian firms 'dazzled'

"When I go to the kid and say, 'You can own Disneyland for a day,' the kid is dazzled right?" he said. "If people are saying there are saving costs, that is bull***t."

The bottom line, said the people who contacted CBC, is Indian companies are earning millions bringing cheaper IT labour into Canada, while also moving some of the work overseas.

Industry insiders claim they've seen exaggerated qualifications and violations of visa rules. (Getty Images)

The multinational firm charges a Canadian client less per worker than the going rate here, but insiders estimate they still make a 50 per cent profit on each of their foreign workers.

In the meantime, they said, Canadians are shut out of almost all the available jobs, while others are laid off.

"These companies are just big [temp] agencies here and it's immigration through the back door," said another out-of-work Canadian of Indian descent.

Many of the foreign workers only stay in the transient jobs long enough to improve their qualifications, he added.

"They say we are just here to get the Canadian experience and that's it."

They reportedly then apply for permanent residency and get a better job in Canada, or go back to India.

Revolving door

"It's a never-ending revolving door," said the former bank insider. "When we get these people up to speed with these skills...then they will leave."

Dozens of industry people contacted Go Public after they saw the stories about RBC replacing staff with foreign workers. They all spoke on the condition they would not be identified.

"It's very big. It's coast to coast. It's huge and it's every company," said another worker.

Several of them have written to the prime minister, their MPs or the Immigration Department about this in recent years. They said they got little or no response.

"We've been writing. We've been doing as much as possible," said one.

The largest firms bringing IT workers into Canada include TCS, India's largest IT service company, a division of Tata. TCS made more than $10 billion in 2011-12 and reportedly counts the Bank of Montreal, CIBC and TD among its large Canadian clients.

TCS was the only company that responded directly to the claims raised here.

In a statement, it denied its employees exaggerated resumes or violated visa rules. It also denied paying kickbacks and not hiring Canadians, insisting all of those claims are "false and without any merit in fact."

Other companies include iGATE, which provides workers to RBC, and Cognizant, which reportedly does IT work for Loblaw and Manulife. Mahindra Satyam is another company mentioned frequently, for doing IT work for Scotiabank.

"It's out of control now. And it's become so bad," said the former bank insider.

Visa fast track

Several insiders said the multinationals take advantage of a little-known fast track in the work visa system.

"You have your doors open and you let everyone in — so what the heck," said the former multinational employee.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is seen here chatting with the head of India's largest IT outsourcing firm in January. (Getty Images)

The government often allows these companies to bypass time-consuming scrutiny of the Temporary Foreign Worker program by giving them an exemption to bring workers in under a visa called an "intra-company transfer".

Under those visa rules, a company can transfer an employee to work in its Canadian branch office, if they have specialized skills or management ability. Once here, they can renew their work permit for up to five years.

"They are supposed to render their services to the employer they are employed with," said the former multinational employee.

In reality, insiders say, the Indian nationals then simply work in the offices of major Canadian corporations and have no exceptional skills.

"I would say 80 per cent of them would hold this intra company transfer visas and they're not eligible or they're not allowed to go to these end client sites," he said.

They may work at several locations, which lawyers confirmed would likely violate the visa rules.

"If what is being told is accurate, we have a serious problem that there are Canadians that are being displaced by individuals that are not bringing specialized knowledge or significant benefit to Canada," said Toronto immigration lawyer Mario Bellisimo.

"And that totally runs contrary to the law as well as to the spirit of the policy."

Fake qualifications

Several insiders claimed worker qualifications were faked or exaggerated on paper in order to qualify for the visas and jobs.

"The resumes were customized to match the skills that the banks required," said the former bank insider.

This Canadian IT professional is driving a cab for a living, because he says he's been shut out by foreign workers from India. (CBC)

She added that some multinational employees told her that if they needed specific certifications they could buy them in India.

"They're buying their qualifications. They are paying for their certificates and coming here and we are looking at them saying, 'Oh this person has a certificate in project management. It's from India.'"

Go Public obtained several resumes from Indian nationals in the IT field. One claimed he was a "Senior Systems Engineer" at 22 years old, but fresh out of school. Another called himself a "Software Developer" at 21, when he had no prior experience.

"The skill sets were exaggerated," said the former bank insider. "They looked too good to be true."

"Some don't even have the degrees," claimed one of the insiders. "They show that they are master's or bachelor's [degrees] or skilled with whatever experience but they don't have it. They do two-week crash courses before coming here."

"Quietly, they really struggle," said another insider. "We help them. And we know, after that, we are going to be replaced."

Government figures show 16,299 foreign workers from India were in Canada in December of 2011, a steady increase from 2,171 in 2002.

Indian companies TCS and iGATE have small offices in Canada, but its employees primarily work elsewhere, at worksites of large Canadian companies. (CBC)

Go Public asked for the latest figures – on how many intra-company transfers were granted in India last year – but was told that information would not be released.

"We are unable to release the stats," wrote Erika-Kirsten Easton, director of ministerial events and media relations for the Immigration Department

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the government is now looking at intra-company transfers to make sure they are not being abused, but he says they don't want to go too far.

"It would be hugely damaging to our economy if we suddenly erected huge barriers to the movement of skilled labour within certain companies," Kenney told Go Public.

"At the same time, we want to make sure that people are not using that as a kind of back door to undercut the Canadian labour market or displace Canadian workers," he said.

Internal government documents obtained by Go Public show bureaucrats in the Immigration Department have flagged that corruption in visa applications is widespread.

"Persistent fraud occurs in all business lines," said the internal report on offices issuing visas in India in 2012-13.

"Verification of Indian education, employment and financial documentation is labour intensive and often without conclusive outcomes."

U.S. crackdown

Governments in the U.S. and Britain have already cracked down on multinational firms – going back to 2010 — for taking advantage of the same type of company transfer visas there.

"These other companies are essentially creating multinational temp agencies," said Senator Charles Schumer, a U.S. Democrat who has led the charge to stem the influx there.

"These companies are petitioning for foreign workers simply to then turn around and provide these workers to other companies who need cheap labour for various short term projects."

Several hundred foreign IT workers have come in recent years, to work in several major Canadian corporate offices. (CBC)

A proposed U.S. law is currently in the works which would add further restrictrions by mandating a large portion of their workforce must be American residents.

There are many reports that Indian companies are feeling squeezed as a result.

Several U.S. lawsuits have also been filed against the large Indian companies, alleging various violations of U.S. immigration and labour laws.

'Stop the loopholes'

"This whole file needs to be fixed immediately," said Opposition immigration critic Jinny Sims. "The government needs to stop the loopholes but also needs to do investigations and look into what is going on."

In the meantime, industry insiders claim Canadian companies are losing control of their business while the IT jobs disappear for good.

"Going forward, these costs do escalate," said the former multinational employee.

"It becomes like a mafia. Let's say you have one proved preferred vendor. So over a period of time...you depend entirely on this particular vendor to provide your daily bread and butter services."

"We have to stop this thing. For ourselves and for our children," said one of the unemployed workers. "This country is going to be dependent on foreigners.

Submit your story ideas to Kathy Tomlinson at Go Public

Follow @CBCGoPublic on Twitter

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Hamilton to host Oktoberfest in August

Former Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page will perform

CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 12:18 PM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 12:49 PM ET

 

International Village Executive Director, Susie Braithwaite, makes the announcement to a crowded room. (Taylor Ablett)

Aug-toberfest?

The International Village Business Improvement Area announced Friday they are hosting Oktoberfest on the Labour Day long weekend in August.

On August 30th and 31st, the event will feature food, beer gardens, shopping, and entertainment throughout the weekend.

"We're doing it on the Labour Day weekend because that's when the Mustard Day festival was," says Mark Bowden of RelEvent Management Inc. "The International Village has a reputation for having a festival then."

A true Oktoberfest like in Munich or Kitchener starts in September, according to Bowden, but this year Labour Day weekend falls in late August.

"Next year we will be holding it in September," says Bowden.

Some of the event highlights include a preformance by Steven Page, the former lead singer of the Barenaked Ladies. Poor Angus will also perform, the band that finished in the top 4 of CBC's Searchlight contest.

More information can be found at www.hamiltoninternationalvillage.ca

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More than 100 surgeries done but where is the money to keep robot surgeon operating?

Warning: video contains graphic images

By Julia Chapman, CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 7:43 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 8:19 AM ET

 

The surgeon looks through the viewer to see a 3D image of the patient. (St. Joseph's)

Winston Sardine reads through the notes he wrote after his prostate surgery last May.

"The operating room experience was somewhat brief, just enough time to look at the multi-armed equipment as they were securing me onto the operating table and getting me hooked up to the anesthetic and then, lights out," wrote the 71-year-old from Hagersville.

Sardine's surgical experience at Hamilton's St Joseph's Healthcare was a unique one, which is clear to him looking back at those notes. He laughs before he read about the "multi-armed equipment" that performed his procedure.

He is one of over a hundred patients who underwent surgery in the last year with the da Vinci Surgical robot system, one of the most advanced surgical tools in the world and the only one in the local health network.

But with the initial funding running out there is uncertainty about where the money will come from to keep it operating. Dr. Bobby Shayegan, uro oncologist and chair of the robotic program at St. Joseph's said it is so successful that the hospital will find a way, including asking for private donations.

"For a physician its much more accurate technology. I have a range of movements that a human hand would not have, so what I can do with a small, narrow male pelvis is more than I can ever do with my own hand," said Dr. Shayegan.

Shayegan helped bring the da Vinci to the Hamilton hospital in late 2011 before putting it into use a few months later in 2012. He uses the robot primarily for urological surgeries, like removal of the prostate, but it can also perform gynecological, cardiac, thoracic and oral procedures with a trained surgeon, Shayegan said.

After Sardine was diagnosed with prostate cancer and met with Shayegan about surgery, he researched the da Vinci robot, watching procedures posted online. Noting that the robotic surgery seemed "less intrusive," he chose that option over a traditional procedure.

"I've had absolutely zero problems [post-surgery]," Sardine said. "I understand from a number of people, including my doctor and my wife's doctor, that this is unusual."

Sardine said its typical of patients who have their prostate removed to experience incontinence for up to six weeks after surgery, but it didn't happen to him. Shayegan performed Sardine's prostate surgery on May 7 of last year, and he was back at home on May 9.

"There is not doubt in my mind that it improves outcomes for patients, recovery of urinary control is faster, blood loss is very very small, they're not in hospital very long, " Shayegan said. "It's a vast leap for patients."

But now St. Joe's is dealing with a funding issue. The da Vinci came to Hamilton with a philanthropic donation of $2.3 million, but now it's but up to the hospital to maintain. With the exception of Alberta, no Canadian provincial or territorial government helps with the cost of surgical robots.

Shayegan said it costs about $3500 more per surgery compared to a traditional procedure. He alone has done over a hundred surgeries with the robot since it came to the hospital, totaling to at least $350,000. On top of that is a $180,000 annual maintenance cost.

"So far, we've had 100 per cent patient satisfaction," Shayegan said. "I hope we can translate that into some funding."

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Olympian Clara Hughes speaks at Mohawk College

Olympic medallist trained in Dundas in the 1990s

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 6:08 PM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 6:37 PM ET

 

Clara Hughes, the only Canadian ever to win Olympic medals in both summer and winter sports, spoke in Hamilton on Friday, sharing her story with over 1,000 people at Mohawk College's McIntyre Theatre.

The Winnipeg-born athlete talked about her transition from troubled youth to competitive athlete, her Olympic successes and failures, and her fight to raise awareness about mental health.

"If there's anything I hope my stories can leave you with are the possibilities," she said, imploring audience members to get involved. "You don't need to be on the world stage to make a difference."

On Saturday, Hughes, 40, will be in Dundas for the unveiling of a plaque at Sydenham Hill in her honour. The stretch was part of her training route during the seven years she lived in the area.

Related: Take a video cycling tour up the hill that trained Olympian Clara Hughes

The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. at the Sydenham Hill lookout.

Here are a few excerpts from her speech on Friday:

— On being back in Hamilton

— On carrying the flag for Canada at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics

— On her feelings after completing her final Olympic race

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Hamiltonians react to 'local' food debate

Clare Pearson is knee-deep in starting her new business: a Mexican paleta cart.

For her traditional frozen treat, she believes in using as much produce from the Hamilton and Niagara areas as possible.

"I'm spoiled for choice in any direction," she said, speaking of the abundance of berries and tree-fruit she can buy less than an hour away.

Pearson also plans to clearly label where her ingredients came from: strawberries from a Dundas farm or peaches from Niagara. That would be considered 'local.' But if she used blueberries from St. Jacob's, according to current federal regulations, she'd have to throw her 'local' label out.

New definition

Premier Kathleen Wynne wants to change that, transforming what the word "local" means in food and restaurant marketing.

Related: Local Food Act called 'stepping stone'

The idea of local food has become a popular trend, with more restaurants sourcing from agricultural lands at their doorstep to support nearby farmers and reduce their carbon footprint. The "100 mile diet" has also become a fad, eating only what can be grown within 100 miles of their home. Wynne has proposed new legislation that if passed, will shake up the idea of what 'local' is, by making all of Ontario "local."

A sign at an Alliston, Ont. burger restaurant has Wynne calling on the federal government to change its definition of local food, saying the current rules are "too narrow" and work "contrary to interests of farmers."

Many in Hamilton's food industry agree the current rules are narrow.

Right now, Bistro Burger Joint owner Jay Klausen could be fined by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency up to $50,000 for labeling its beef as "local," even though it is raised and processed approximately 200 kilometres away from the restaurant.

Conflicting ideas

The CFIA states "local," "locally grown," and any similar term mean that the domestic goods being advertised originated within 50 km of the place where they are sold, measured directly, point to point."

A month ago, the Ontario Liberal government tabled the Local Food Act, which seems to contradict the CFIA's definition. According to that proposed piece of legislation "local food" means, "any food produced or harvested in Ontario."

"The CFIA's legislation is designed to regulate the labeling and advertising of food products. However, the scope of their definition may be too narrow and could work contrary to the interests of supporting local food and Ontario farmers," wrote Gabrielle Gallant, a spokesperson for Wynne, who is also Ontario's minister of agriculture.

Klausen was scheduled to meet with the CFIA Friday.

"It's easy for those of us in the southern tip to make the local claim but as a province I think the current restrictions make it hard for those in remote areas," Pearson said.

The CFIA definition came into affect in 1974.

Options

Torrie Warner, owner of Warner's Farms in Beamsville, said the federal definition is "restrictive" and that a "100 mile" concept is more reasonable. But to him, it's also not so cut and dry — the market had changed.

"You can get something around the world pretty easily," he said. "I would think anything product of Ontario would be considered local."

Related: Hamilton pair launches aquaponics farm

For Warner, it's also about having options. Warner is an invited vendor at the Ottawa Farmer's Market that typically only allows local vendors within 100 km of the city. He's only allowed to sell produce that other vendors don't produce, like peaches, plums, cherries and certain varieties of grapes.

"I'm not a 'local' producer, but I'm still bringing Ontario product grown on my farm to the customers in Ottawa," he said. "That way they have a choice that is still Ontario, and still Canadian, rather than having to get it from California or Georgia."

And far as Warner is concerned, he's in the same pool as any other Ontario grower.

"In Ontario, we have the same labour laws and same restrictions," he said. "It's always better when someone buys our produce."

Changes 'problematic'

But there are still limits to labeling, said Lynda Lukasik, executive director of Environment Hamilton. Under the new act, theoretically, a restaurant in Sudbury would be able to label an item with Hamilton-grown beef as 'local.'

"That's problematic," Lukasik said. "But I have no problem with [a label] 'Ontario-grown'."

Even though new business owners are often cash-strapped, Pearson said she'd choose whatever produce is grown closest to Hamilton, regardless of cost and the 'local' definition.

"As a producer, we have a responsibility to support the farmers in the area," she said.

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Group stages last-ditch protest before deportation of Hamilton man's wife

Wafaa Abdou is scheduled to be deported on Saturday, her son's 9th birthday

CBC News

Posted: Apr 27, 2013 10:19 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 27, 2013 10:22 AM ET

 

A Hamilton group is venturing to north Toronto to protest the imminent deportation of Wafaa Abdou, an Egyptian woman who is married to a Canadian.

The Reunite Wilkie Family Committee is staging a demonstration at 11 a.m. on Saturday outside the Rexdale detention centre where Abdou is being held. She is scheduled to be deported back to Egypt by the end of the day, leaving Ian Wilkie, her Hamilton-born husband, and their three children behind in Ontario.

Related: Hamilton man's wife to be deported to Egypt

"Coincidentally, this is also the date of her son, Yusuf's, 9th birthday: a sad commentary on the lack of veracity in the Harper government's claim to support family values so far in this case," the group said in a statement.

Abdou has been incarcerated at the detention centre since January, just after her refugee claim was denied.

Abdou's children hold a picture of her. (Supplied)

Abdou and Wilkie, who met in Egypt over a decade ago, were living in Syria in 2011 when that country's civil war broke out. They fled to Canada, looking to settle in Hamilton, Wilkie's hometown, with their three children — Fatima, 6, Yusuf, 8, and Zaynab, 11.

A Canadian citizen, Wilkie said he tried to sponsor his wife's immigration immediately. They were told to seek refugee status instead, which Wilkie has said was bad advice. The process eventually led to a Jan. 14 appointment in which Abdou was interrogated and told her claim had been denied.

We don't offer immigration advice: CIC

Citizenship and Immigration officials can't comment on specific cases before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Erika-Kirsten Easton, director of ministerial events and media relations, told CBC Hamilton in March.

But as for the notion of Abdou being erroneously advised to file for refugee status, the department "does not offer immigration advice of the kind you suggest," she said.

Canada's refugee system, Easton said, is "one of the fairest refugee systems in the world. Decisions regarding who is granted refugee status are made "only after a thorough review," she said. "Due process is diligently followed at every step."

And unless a spouse sponsors an immigrant, the government does not give more weight to someone married to a Canadian, she said.

"(Citizenship and Immigration Canada) considers all applications in a fair and impartial manner according to Canada's immigration laws and based on the facts of the case."

With files from Samantha Craggs and Kaleigh Rogers

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Mayor meant no disrespect to Hamilton's city manager, he says

Mayor Bob Bratina says he meant no disrespect to the city's top bureaucrat at a heated council meeting Wednesday.

A day after a raucous meeting that included shouting and allegations against the mayor of bullying and nasty behaviour, councillors say they regretted the tone. But they also said sometimes politics involves disagreements that can get heated.

During a discussion about Light Rail Transit (LRT), Coun. Sam Merulla accused the mayor of "bullying" and yelling at city manager Chris Murray. He's demanding an investigation into the exchange between the two and says he will ask for it at an upcoming meeting.

In an email to CBC Hamilton, Bratina said Thursday that he regretted the "lapses of decorum in a meeting that on balance was reasonably civil."

And he addressed the bullying accusation, saying: "I have great respect for the city manager and had no intention of showing disrespect to Mr. Murray."

The tension erupted after Coun. Brian McHattie introduced a motion for council to "reaffirm" that LRT is its transit priority. It also would have directed the mayor to represent that position when dealing with upper levels of government.

The motion stemmed from the mayor being quoted in local media as saying Hamilton would have to choose between LRT and all-day GO service. The mayor insists the story was inaccurate.

Bratina and some councillors argued Wednesday that declaring LRT the No. 1 priority went against the city's Rapid Ready plan, which council passed in February. That led to debate on the appropriateness of the motion and whether it required a council vote to reopen the transit issue.

Murray said that the plan and the motion did not conflict. Shortly afterward, the mayor left his seat and spoke to Murray.

"All I know is that the tone was one of aggression. In looking at (Murray's) face, he looked legitimately startled, almost fearful," Merulla said Wednesday.

Merulla asked for a report back detailing the exchange between Murray and the mayor. When Bratina asked Murray in front of council if he'd been bullied, Coun. Jason Farr interjected.

"You know what? I heard it. I heard what you said," he said. "I got it verbatim. You're being awful nasty, awful nasty."

Will say more later

Farr wouldn't comment on the matter Thursday, except to say that it is a personnel matter that will be discussed in camera.

"I will not comment until the matter is resolved in this official capacity. At such time I will share both what I had heard and the context."

Farr got up and left the meeting right after the exchange, but said Thursday he was not leaving because of it. He had family commitments.

The debate "wasn't our finest hour," Coun. Tom Jackson said Thursday. "But when you've got 16 strong personalities brought together for a four-year term, you do your darndest to work together."

Jackson didn't hear what happened between Murray and the mayor, he said, nor was he focused on it.

"The anomaly like last night will happen once in a while," he said. "I'm going to do my best to be part of the group and get it back on track."

'That's politics'

Coun. Chad Collins agrees that arguments are common in politics.

"The community didn't elect a Stepford council. We don't all share the same opinion," Collins said. "That's part of it. That's politics."

Collins didn't hear what the mayor said to Murray, but he noticed that there was an exchange.

"I watch the mayor get up and walk over to Mr. Murray, and I could see staff kind of lean back when the mayor was speaking," he said. "I could see it was a tense moment.

"Really, the only people who can account for their actions are the people who undertook them. Now it's up to the mayor whether he'll explain his actions."

Coun. Brenda Johnson said some councillors went into the meeting wanting to embarrass the mayor, and "I think they accomplished that," she said.

"I think the intent was to embarrass the mayor, it was achieved and whether this motion will follow through, I don't know," she said. "I hope so. I hope we didn't go through all that for nothing."

Issue will come back again

McHattie wants it to come back. His LRT motion is in the hands of the clerk's office, where staff will determine if it conflicts with the Rapid Ready plan and requires a council vote to reopen the issue.

The city has spent millions studying the possibility of light rail transit in Hamilton, McHattie said. So he's baffled that not all councillors think it's the priority.

"I was baffled and I remain baffled."

As for the mayor, "He is who he is and he's going to continue to behave in exactly the same fashion as he has over the last number of years."

"It's unfortunate these things happen but I think we just need to carry on."

***

Mayor Bob Bratina's statement:

"As I said last night to Council I regretted the lapses of decorum in a meeting that on balance was reasonably civil.

Since the beginning of this term we've met as council on over 100 occasions and came to unanimous agreement on several very contentious issues. My expectation is this will continue to be the pattern.

I have great respect for the City Manager and had no intention of showing disrespect to Mr. Murray."

***

Coun. Jason Farr's statement:

"Any comment would be inappropriate due to the fact there is now on record a Notice of Motion requesting an In-camera personal matter.

I will not comment until the matter is resolved in this official capacity. At such time I will share both what I had heard and the context."

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Developer needs 'way more vision' on Knitting Mills revitalization, neighbour says

A north Hamilton resident is decrying the lack of progress on the redevelopment of a shuttered north Hamilton industrial site.

By Cory Ruf, CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 7:17 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 7:10 AM ET

 

A north Hamilton resident is decrying the lack of progress on the redevelopment of a shuttered north Hamilton industrial site.

Sylvia Nickerson, president of the Beasley Neighbourhood Association, says Forum Equity Partners, the company purchased the Cannon Knittings Mills in 2011, has not shown enough "vision" to attract anchor tenants.

The delay, she says, represents a "missed opportunity" for the Beasley, a low-income neighbourhood just northeast of downtown, and leaves the community with a large, dilapidated white elephant.

Related: Cannon Knitting Mills project needs tenants to move forward

"I think Beasley deserves better than this and deserves the opportunity to provide a vision for what a building could be," says Nickerson. "[The developers] need to put their money where their mouth is and I don't see that happening with this project."

Purchased in 2011

Forum Equity Partners purchased the Cannon Knitting Mills in 2011 for about $200,000. About 50 per cent of that came in the form of a loan from the city's economic development office, which is a partner on the project.

"I'm so tired of developers slapping the words 'creative' or 'innovative' on a building and expecting businesses to line up to move in."—Sylvia Nickerson, Beasley Neighbourhood Association

The plans for the redevelopment, dubbed "The Mills Innovation Exchange," boasted illustrations of a cleaned-up brownfield site filled with cutting-edge tech startups and chic stores on the ground level.

But the developers, Nickerson says, need to do more than project a hip, modern image to get the project off the ground.

"I'm so tired of developers slapping the words 'creative' or 'innovative' on a building and expecting businesses to line up to move in," says Nickerson, who lives near the site. "In a neighbourhood like Beasley, a building developer needs way more vision than that."

Jeremy Freiburger, executive director of the non-profit creative consultancy firm Cobalt Connects, also expressed disappointment about the state of the project.

Forum Equity Partners, he says, tapped his company to help create a plan for what the Knitting Mills could become.

"We can't just say, 'We've got an empty box, move into this empty box.' We have to ask, 'What's this box about?' " says Freiburger. "Our job was intended to be to help them go through that process."

But the developers, he says, didn't keep in touch.

Other factors

Forum Equity Partners declined to comment for this story. But Glen Norton, manager urban renewal and planning with the city's economic development office, says other factors — not a lack of effort on the part of the developer — are causing the holdup.

In March, he told CBC Hamilton that low-cost office space downtown makes the Knitting Mills project a tough sell.

"We're competing with a downtown office vacancy rate of 12.8 per cent right now," he said. "The rent on this is not going to be as cheap as someone can get in an office tower right now. Once that high vacancy rate goes away, this looks more attractive."

Another challenge is parking. Before the project can go ahead, Norton said, there needs to be spaces for 100 cars.

In an April email to CBC Hamilton, Norton wrote that the city "[continues] to assist the developer in attempts to attract and locate anchor tenants."

However, he noted the city "cannot, nor would we, force this developer (nor any other) to develop a project on a schedule that did not make sense from an economic feasibility basis."

In the meantime

Nickerson did laud the city for arranging for film crews to shoot on the site, and hopes community members will be allowed to use the space in other ways while it's awaiting redevelopment.

"On James Street, before James had become rejuvenated, a lot of buildings that were in disrepair or under construction hosted art events and parties to bring people into the space and use it for its cool, post-industrial [aesthetic]."

"Even from that, you're getting people into see the space," says Nickerson, suggesting that turning the Knitting Mills into a venue for downtown arts events could attract potential investors.

"You never know who those people are, what connections they have or what ideas they might have about that space. And you're letting people inside, building a kind of buzz and a new history.

"Something good could come of that."

With files from Samantha Craggs

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How robots are teaching Hamilton school kids real-world skills

By: Taylor Ablett, CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 9:18 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 8:13 AM ET

 

A robot kit, ordered from Korea. (Courtesy of: Nicki Ho)

An Ontario company is using robots to teach Hamilton elementary school kids real-world skills.

The Ontario Youth Mind Building Company is a not for profit organization that has developed a robotics program that allows students to build their own robots.

The goal of OYMBC is to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math through a mixture of different programming, geared towards students between the ages of 6-12.

Designing, building, programming, and playing with various robots give students an opportunity for hands-on learning.

The classes work on a trial and error model, with students having the mission of completing different games and challenges, helping to develop problem solving and creative thinking.

Matthew Koo, regional manager for the Hamilton locations, says that their program is unique because there isn't a lot of instruction from the teachers.

"We talk at most, for three minutes. We assign a project and issue a challenge, and the kids have to complete the challenge," says Koo. "They have to problem solve themselves, and there is different paths you can choose. Every path they choose will lead to a different outcome, and no two kids will end up with the same robot."

The goal from there is to find the best path, and determine why it was the most effective.

Through doing this, students learn the technical skills of inertia, mass, and acceleration.

Robot gladiator battles

Nicki Ho, teacher and volunteer for the OYMBC, travels around Hamilton to direct robotics classes, aiding her students in the build of the 'bots.

"The program is student-centered and the teacher is merely facilitating the students … they build confidence in problem solving independently," says Ho. "For example, one week they were to build a gladiator and battle with each other. The gladiator who lost the least amount of pieces won. Then they were to go back to make their gladiators stronger for the next battle."

According to Ho, the life skills learnt in robotics are motor skills, patience, and skill sequential planning.

OYMBC is currently in nine schools in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, and 15 schools from Toronto to Hamilton. Summer camps are available in Hamilton this year for the first time, and interested parents can get more information at www.oymbc.com.

"The kids get to learn complicated things through basic methods," says Koo. "They build robots and find problems along the way."

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More than 100 surgeries done but where is the money to keep robot surgeon operating?

Warning: video contains graphic images

By Julia Chapman, CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 7:43 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 8:19 AM ET

 

The surgeon looks through the viewer to see a 3D image of the patient. (St. Joseph's)

Winston Sardine reads through the notes he wrote after his prostate surgery last May.

"The operating room experience was somewhat brief, just enough time to look at the multi-armed equipment as they were securing me onto the operating table and getting me hooked up to the anesthetic and then, lights out," wrote the 71-year-old from Hagersville.

Sardine's surgical experience at Hamilton's St Joseph's Healthcare was a unique one, which is clear to him looking back at those notes. He laughs before he read about the "multi-armed equipment" that performed his procedure.

He is one of over a hundred patients who underwent surgery in the last year with the da Vinci Surgical robot system, one of the most advanced surgical tools in the world and the only one in the local health network.

But with the initial funding running out there is uncertainty about where the money will come from to keep it operating. cDr. Bobby Shayegan, uro oncologist and chair of the robotic program at St. Joseph's said it is so successful that the hospital will find a way, including asking for private donations.

"For a physician its much more accurate technology. I have a range of movements that a human hand would not have, so what I can do with a small, narrow male pelvis is more than I can ever do with my own hand," said Dr. Shayegan.

Shayegan helped bring the da Vinci to the Hamilton hospital in late 2011 before putting it into use a few months later in 2012. He uses the robot primarily for urological surgeries, like removal of the prostate, but it can also perform gynecological, cardiac, thoracic and oral procedures with a trained surgeon, Shayegan said.

After Sardine was diagnosed with prostate cancer and met with Shayegan about surgery, he researched the da Vinci robot, watching procedures posted online. Noting that the robotic surgery seemed "less intrusive," he chose that option over a traditional procedure.

"I've had absolutely zero problems [post-surgery]," Sardine said. "I understand from a number of people, including my doctor and my wife's doctor, that this is unusual."

Sardine said its typical of patients who have their prostate removed to experience incontinence for up to six weeks after surgery, but it didn't happen to him. Shayegan performed Sardine's prostate surgery on May 7 of last year, and he was back at home on May 9.

"There is not doubt in my mind that it improves outcomes for patients, recovery of urinary control is faster, blood loss is very very small, they're not in hospital very long, " Shayegan said. "It's a vast leap for patients."

But now St. Joe's is dealing with a funding issue. The da Vinci came to Hamilton with a philanthropic donation of $2.3 million, but now it's but up to the hospital to maintain. With the exception of Alberta, no Canadian provincial or territorial government helps with the cost of surgical robots.

Shayegan said it costs about $3500 more per surgery compared to a traditional procedure. He alone has done over a hundred surgeries with the robot since it came to the hospital, totaling to at least $350,000. On top of that is a $180,000 annual maintenance cost.

"So far, we've had 100 per cent patient satisfaction," Shayegan said. "I hope we can translate that into some funding."

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Take a video cycling tour up the hill that trained Olympian Clara Hughes

Cyclist Clara Hughes trained on the Dundas, Ont hill from 1991 to 1998

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Apr 26, 2013 7:10 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 10:12 AM ET

 

It's surprising what a 116-metre climb on a bike will do to strengthen your legs.

That's the incline on Dundas' Sydenham Hill — and from 1991 to 1998, Olympic great Clara Hughes trained on it before becoming an 18-time Canadian national cycling champion and one of only five people ever to snag medals in the winter and summer Olympic games.

Hughes returns to Hamilton this weekend to be recognized for her accomplishments and commitment to cycling.

Sydenham Hill — which rises more than 100 meters from central Dundas to the top of the escarpment — was a central part of her training. Hughes has often talked of the role the tough climb played in her development as a cyclist.

Click on the video in the player above to see local competitive cyclist Mandy Dreyer (winner of this year's Paris to Ancaster race) take you on a narrated video climb up Sydenham Hill. Dreyer is also a member of the Tough Rock Racing team.

"It's nice to have athletes that aren't just athletes," Dreyer told CBC Hamilton. "She's an inspirational person for sure."

Saturday, a plaque will be unveiled at the top of the hill to commemorate Hughes' accomplishments.

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Hamilton dad wants answers in daughter's post-transplant death

Nicole Cassavetes had heart transplant surgery a year ago and died 11 days later. Her parents are still asking: "What happened?"

By Samantha Craggs, CBC News

Posted: Apr 24, 2013 5:17 PM ET

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2013 4:48 PM ET

 

It's been a year to the day since 14-year-old Nicole Cassavetes died, and on Wednesday, her parents went to Queen's Park for answers.

Dale and Kim Cassavetes headed to Toronto to listen to MPP Paul Miller raise the issue of their daughter's medical treatment in the legislature. They also were able to meet with Ontario Minister of Health Deb Matthews for about five minutes.

It's all part of a quest to learn the details of Nicole's death at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children last year, a death they say has left their family broken and marred with questions. Nicole had a heart transplant on April 13 and died from an infection on April 24.

The family has a list of 29 concerns about her treatment, Dale Cassavetes said. And until someone answers them, he and his wife are unable to grieve.

Nicole held her family together the morning of her surgery, her dad wrote on her Facebook page. (Cassavetes family)

"We haven't had any closure yet," he said. "I don't even think I personally have had a chance to mourn because I've been bitter about what happened, about how things have been handled.

"I've been focused on trying to get some kind of justice or accountability — or at least answers — and we're just hitting road blocks."

Nicole, who was a ninth grader at Saltfleet Secondary, had heart problems from birth. Her first heart surgery was when she was 11 days old.

When she learned of her need for a heart transplant, she became a vocal advocate of organ donation. She was a sweet, compassionate girl who would cry when others were bullied, Cassavetes said. Her transplant journey drew more than 1,300 followers on Facebook.

Heading into the surgery, "I remember the overwhelming fear she had, but also the incredible bravery she displayed," her father wrote on the Nicole's Heart Transplant Facebook page.

"It was Nicole who kept our family together that morning. After 15 hours of surgery, we thought it was a whole new beginning for our family."

Twenty-nine concerns

But it wasn't the beginning they imagined. Among Cassavetes's 29 concerns: the damage to her new heart that seemed to be there before it was implanted, to medical staff keeping her chest open for six days. He believes that encouraged the infection, and he said he hasn't gotten a satisfying answer as to why it was done.

He has questions about how long her new heart was stored before it went into her body. Also on his list: the size of the heart that was transplanted, the age of the donor and the apparent administration of medication to which she had known allergies.

The family has gone to the pediatric death review committee, which found no fault. It has lodged a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons against two of the physicians involved, and they are awaiting the results of its review. It has written letters to Ontario's chief coroner and the Sick Kids chief of staff.

"It's disheartening," he said. "We cannot get answers to specific questions."

Sick Kids hospital issued an email statement to CBC Hamilton.

"The hospital has previously met with the family," it reads. "The Coroner's Office has also been involved in a review of this unfortunate death."

Concerns seem 'reasonable and legitimate'

Miller, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, said he has some unanswered questions too.

"I am curious," he told CBC Hamilton. "Some of the concerns they listed seem reasonable and legitimate to me."

The family doesn't want another family to experience what they have, he said.

"I think that's a worthy cause. They don't seem to be vindictive in any way. They just want answers."

Cassavetes feels optimistic after the meeting with the minister, who said she would look into it, he said.

"I'm certainly not going to rest," he said. "I do want the answers. I think our family is deserving of all the answers. My daughter certainly is."

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Hamilton mayor bullied city manager, councillor claims

Merulla didn't hear conversation, but claims Bratina was abrasive with staff during LRT meeting

By Samantha Craggs, CBC News

Posted: Apr 24, 2013 10:44 PM ET

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2013 10:42 PM ET

 

A tense debate over Light Rail Transit (LRT) turned ugly at city hall on Wednesday when one councillor accused Hamilton's mayor of bullying the city's top bureaucrat.

It was a debate over whether council would cite LRT as the city's transit priority and compel the mayor to follow council's position when speaking with the province. During the meeting, Mayor Bob Bratina left his seat and spoke to city manager Chris Murray.

Coun. Sam Merulla sits nearby. He didn't hear what the mayor said, but claims Bratina "bullied" the city manager.

Coun. Brian McHattie, right, introduces a motion reaffirming council's commitment to LRT as Coun. Jason Farr, left, listens. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

"All I know is that the tone was one of aggression. In looking at (Murray's) face, he looked legitimately startled, almost fearful," said Merulla. He is insisting on a full investigation into what the mayor said to Murray and will introduce a motion at an upcoming meeting.

"No one on council should ever make someone fearful on staff and that's what happened today."

Bratina disagreed with Merulla's assertion, saying he didn't bully Murray. When he asked Murray to clarify, Coun. Jason Farr, overcome with emotion, spoke out of turn.

Bratina (to Murray): Did I threaten or bully you when I approached you?

Councillors (murmuring): That's not fair.

Farr: You know what? I heard it. I heard what you said. I got it verbatim. You're being awful nasty, awful nasty.

Bratina: You're out of order.

Farr: Well, you're constantly out of order. This is terrible what you're doing.

Bratina: What did I say?

Farr: Terrible. I got it right here

Bratina: I said, "I can't believe you said that."

Farr left the meeting immediately after the exchange.

Bratina wasn't available to media afterward, but he said at the end of the meeting that he disliked the turn the debate took.

"I regret that the decorum fell apart a little tonight," he said.

"I hope as we go forward and finish this term, we will return to the decorum that we started with because we have done a very good job. I was very disappointed with what happened tonight, and I will leave it at that."

Merulla said he hopes for a report from Murray on what exactly was said between the two.

The exchange was the climax of a tense meeting dominated by LRT discussion. Last week, the mayor was quoted in local media as saying that Hamilton may have to choose between LRT and all-day GO service. Bratina insisted at Wednesday's meeting that he was misquoted.

Coun. Brian McHattie introduced a motion reaffirming council's preference for the LRT line, which would see a 13.5-kilometre light rail line from McMaster University to Eastgate Square. It would cost an estimated $800 million.

The motion also directed the mayor to follow council's position when corresponding with the province on transit. Bratina told CBC Hamilton this week that he does this anyway as dictated by the city's procedural bylaw and the Municipal Act.

Some councillors argued that McHattie's motion expressing a preference for LRT went against the Rapid Rail plan council passed in February, which means two-thirds of councillors would have to vote to reopen the issue. Shortly before the exchange between Bratina and Murray, the city manager said that the motion does not conflict with the plan.

The city clerk's office will examine McHattie's motion to see if it requires a vote to reopen the LRT issue.

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Hamilton councillor fields calls after satirical lawn mowing story

Fake story says Terry Whitehead wants to fine residents $103 for cutting their grass diagonally

By Samantha Craggs, CBC News

Posted: Apr 25, 2013 7:16 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2013 7:48 AM ET

 

If you believe that Coun. Terry Whitehead wants to fine anyone who cuts their grass diagonally, you've been had. And you're not alone.

Hammer in the News, a fake news site that satirizes current events in Hamilton, published the story "Diagonal grass cutting banned in Ward 8." Residents, not realizing it was a joke, called the Ward 8 councillor's office wanting an explanation.

The site is funny, Whitehead said. But it should have clearer disclaimers on the site and the story.

"The last few days, my staff have been fielding calls about me pursuing a bylaw on diagonal cutting," Whitehead said during a council meeting Wednesday. "And by the way, I cut my lawn diagonally."

"But nowhere does it say in the tweets or otherwise that it's a satirical site."

The story, published April 16, says Whitehead is "sick and tired of how unkempt his west Mountain ward looks."

"I looked out the window (from an airplane) down at my ward, and I see all these lines going every which way. People are cutting their lawns any way they want," it quotes Whitehead as saying, "and it's got to stop. It looks terrible."

The satire claims that Whitehead is implementing a "Go Straight" bylaw that would fine homeowners $103 unless they cut their lawn up and down or sideways.

Whitehead said he contacted the owner of Hammer in the News. He didn't ask him to remove the story because "I kind of find it funny myself," he said at a council meeting Wednesday.

"But I want him to put a disclaimer on it so people understand that it's satirical news."

As of Wednesday, the story does not have a disclaimer. The site's anonymous author, who goes by the name Farley Hammerton, said Hamilton Street Railway asked him to put up a disclaimer about his "weight-based bus fare" story too.

"They said they were inundated with calls," he said.

Whitehead did seem upset when he approached him, he said, but he's "obviously changed his stance. I'm cool with it. Who wants to be sued?"

Related

External Links

Hammer in the News

(Note:CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

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Police raids carried out in Hamilton, Toronto, Peel, police say

CBC News

Posted: Apr 25, 2013 8:22 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2013 9:30 AM ET

 

Twelve search warrants were executed in Hamilton, Peel and Toronto early Thursday, Const. Wendy Drummond of Toronto police told CBC Hamilton.

The organized crime and guns and gangs unit arrested several people, she said.

"We're in the process of going through the seizures and laying charges," Drummond said. She couldn't yet say how many people were arrested in Hamilton, where, or what was seized.

More information would likely be coming later Thursday, she said.

Const. Debbie MacGreal Dinning of Hamilton police told CBC Hamilton that arrests had been made and Hamilton officers were involved, but that was all she knew.

Toronto police conducted a series of early-morning raids in the city's east end Thursday.

One of the raids took place in a townhouse complex (near Morningside and Old Finch Avenues) where a man and a woman were taken into custody.

Some residents say they were sleeping at 5:30 a.m. when they heard a loud bang and then the sounds of people yelling.

The townhouse was one of at least five addresses raided in the Toronto area.

With files from the Canadian Press

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New bird flu 'very serious,' Hamilton infectious disease expert says

'One of the most lethal influenza viruses we have seen so far'

By Adam Carter, CBC News

Posted: Apr 25, 2013 10:34 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2013 10:32 AM ET

 

A new strain of lethal bird flu needs to be monitored closely as health officials don't yet know how easily it can spread from human to human, a Hamilton Health Sciences infectious disease expert says.

"It's a very serious infection and a very serious problem right now in China," said Dr. Mark Loeb, an infectious disease physician at Hamilton Health Sciences and professor at McMaster University.

"In terms of a global pandemic problem — it's too early to tell."

This new strain of bird flu, dubbed H7N9, emerged in China over the last month. The World Health Organization's top influenza expert, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, told reporters at a briefing in Beijing Wednesday that people seem to catch the H7N9 virus from birds more easily than the H5N1 strain that began ravaging poultry across Asia in 2003.

The H5N1 strain has since killed 360 people worldwide, mostly after contact with infected fowl.

A high infection severity

Scientists are watching the virus closely to see if it could spark a global pandemic, but say there is little evidence so far that it can spread easily from human to human.

Loeb says that because this strain of virus hasn't been known to cause infections in people until now, humans have no preexisting immunity towards it.

"And because of that, the severity of the infection is pretty high," he said. "There have been a number of deaths and severe illness due to this virus."

The H7N9 bird flu virus has infected more than 100 people in China, seriously sickening most of them and killing more than 20, mostly near the eastern coast around Shanghai. On Wednesday, Taiwan confirmed its first case, a 53-year-old man who became sick after returning from a visit to the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu.

"This is definitely one of the most lethal influenza viruses we have seen so far," Fukuda said. But he added that experts are still trying to understand the virus, and that there might be a large number of mild infections that are going undetected.

In comparison, the earlier bird flu strain, H5N1, is known to kill up to 60 of every 100 people it infects.

An emerging picture

Part of the issue researchers are facing is facts on how the virus spreads and exactly where it came from are still emerging.

Some people who are infected with it were potentially exposed to birds, but others were not, Lowe says.

"It's an emerging picture," he said. "We're not at this point seeing evidence of rapid spread from human to human, but we don't even know if that's happening or not."

"The key message is that public health officials need to keep their eyes on this and watch it very carefully to see how it evolves."

WHO experts say they still aren't sure how people are getting infected but said evidence points to infections at live poultry markets, particularly through ducks and chickens. They said it was encouraging that reported infections appeared to slow down after the closure of live poultry markets in affected areas.

With files from the Associated Press

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Union takes on new meaning for injured Hamilton woman

This time last year, the union didn't mean much to Karen Weller. It was a few dollars off her pay cheque. It was the occasional newsletter or notice.

These days, she clings to that membership with all of her energy.

Weller, an east-end personal support worker, is in recovery. She's still reeling from a fatal head-on collision in New York State in February that killed one of her dearest friends and cost thousands in medical bills for her and her baby.

Her union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare, has stepped in to help. It's set up a trust fund to help pay for some of Weller's medical bills.

Now when Weller thinks of her union, she feels only gratitude.

"If it's even a dollar I receive, I'm grateful," said the Jamaican-born mother of four. "I've depleted all the funds that I have. I'm going into money I'm supposed to be using to take care of the baby.

"When (the union) called me, it was like a light."

Weller works part-time jobs at two Hamilton nursing homes — Grace Villa and Extendicare Hamilton — so she doesn't have health benefits. She used to pay for hospital insurance but cancelled it after years of not using it. She switched the coverage to life insurance instead.

Head-on crash killed her friend

Her nightmare began on Feb. 22. She packed her four-month-old son, Tajaye, into her friend Carol Dion's minivan and the two women set off for New York City. Dion had family there.

They were scheduled to leave Thursday and return Sunday. At about 1 a.m. on Friday, they were traveling down Interstate 87. They'd been on the road for about three and a half hours. Weller was driving.

Suddenly, another vehicle veered into Weller's lane. "Carol, that's a headlight," she told Dion. Those were the last words they would ever speak.

The vehicle smashed into theirs. Dion's minivan rolled several times, came to a stop and caught fire. Dion's head was bent, and "it was just like she was sleeping," Weller said. The collision threw Tajaye from the vehicle, and Weller could see him face down in his Dalmation-patterned snowsuit on the ground nearby. The driver of the other vehicle died in the crash.

Paramedics took Weller and her son to Albany Medical Centre, where Tajaye was treated for two broken legs, multiple skull fractures and near-fatal bleeding in the brain. The crash also broke Weller's foot, shattered her knee and injured her chest and back.

Thousands in medical bills

The nurses in Albany were outstanding, Weller said. Unfortunately, so were the bills.

Each night Tajaye stayed in the hospital, it cost about $10,000, Weller said. She's already gotten a bill for his first night in the emergency room. It's more than $9,000.

The ambulance cost thousands. Weller needed a cast for her broken foot but received a cheaper alternative because she didn't have insurance.

The expenses still mount. She requires physiotherapy, and Tajaye regularly visits McMaster Children's Hospital. Every trip requires cab fare.

SEIU Healthcare held an emergency meeting when it learned of Dion and Weller's collision, said Eulalee Robinson, a chief steward and member of the human rights committee. It's fundraising to help with Weller's medical costs. It also contributed to a fund to send Dion's remains back to her native Jamaica.

An injury to all

The notion of pulling together for a fellow member — even when it's outside of contracts and negotiations — is a union in its truest sense, Robinson said.

"An injury to one member is an injury to all," she said.

"We have to stand together in solidarity, and that's what a union is all about."

Members have heeded the call, Robinson said. The union posted news of the trust fund for Weller on its website, and members have come forward, particularly staff who work in nursing homes.

"It's made the SEIU members feel good to see their union doing something like this," she said.

'Changed my perspective'

For Weller, the struggle has just begun. She hobbles slowly around her home, unsure when she'll be able to return to her physically strenuous job where she lifts, turns and cares for other people. She's still on maternity leave with Tajaye and focusing on being mobile again.

Tajaye's progress is delayed because of the collision, Weller said. At six months, he's still on formula and only now able to sit up with help. And she misses her friend Carol Dion, a wife and mother who was "a godmother to everyone," Weller said. "She spread herself so thinly. She was there for everybody."

Weller is a union supporter now.

"You pay your small amount of union dues," she said. "Half the time you don't even see it disappear from your pay cheque."

The incident "has just refreshed whatever confidence I had that they are truly there for you when you need them," she said.

"In the past, I thought 'oh, it's union dues. It's something you do.' But this has changed my perspective."

About the fund

The public can donate to the fund by visiting any TD Bank, or by sending a cheque or giving online.

To donate in person at a TD Bank branch:

• Account name: Sarah Lee Marie Correia and Eulalee Robinson in trust of Karen (Panton) Weller Family
• Account #: 6335325
• Branch #: 1482
• Institution No: 004
• Transit No: 14822

By cheque:

• Made out to: Sarah Lee Marie Correia and Eulalee Robinson in trust of Karen (Panton) Weller Family
• Mailing address: SEIU Healthcare, 125 Mural Street, Richmond Hill, Ont., L4B 1M4
• Attn: Secretary/Treasurer
• Online: seiuhealthcare.ca

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Flea market owner says RCMP 'went on a rampage'

A local businessman says the RCMP used "Gestapo-ish" tactics in a raid on the east Hamilton flea market he manages.

On April 7, officers stormed into the Haggler's Flea Market, located in a strip mall on Barton Street East at Strathearne, arresting two vendors and seizing counterfeit DVDs and fake designer clothing, jewellery and purses.

Now, John Zipilli who has run the market for 28 years, is slamming the RCMP for how the blitz was conducted and the effect it has had on his vendors.

Haggler's Flea Market is located on Barton Street East near Strathearne. (Cory Ruf/CBC)

More than a dozen police officers charged into the building, he said, yelling expletives. Zipilli said the agents zeroed in on the booth of a woman who had previously been warned by authorities for selling counterfeit DVDs.

After finding that she didn't have any on sale, he said, police combed the store, where parents with children often shop, for more loot. He said RCMP never gave vendors a list of items that were taken and didn't take proper precautions to ensure only counterfeit items were seized.

"Then they went on a rampage," he said. "I thought I might have had a terrorist sitting in a back."

$100,000 in merchandise seized: RCMP

Steve Martin, an inspector with the RCMP's Hamilton-Niagara detachment, disputed Zipilli's account of his agency's actions and defended how the raid was conducted.

"For the size of the mall, we consider that we came in with a measured response," Martin said. He said he could only speak in "generalities" about the case, given it is going before the courts.

'It wasn't just a random one-off and it never is on these things.'—RCMP Inspector Steve Martin

However, he said blitzes on vendors of counterfeit goods usually occur during business hours, as the illegal items may not be on display outside of those times. Officers, he added, were decked out in raid gear for their own safety and also so the public could easily identify them as law enforcement. "We say that everything we do is for police officer and public safety."

The police, Martin said, don't seize items indiscriminately, and often bring along copyright holders or their representatives for raids to help identify fraudulent material. "We don't just show up on the Sunday and start taking stuff," he said, adding seized items would be returned if they were found not to be fakes.

"It wasn't just a random one-off and it never is on these things. There's considerable planning involved."

The RCMP has said it confiscated over $100,000 in counterfeit merchandise — a figure that Zipilli believes to be exaggerated.

"Excluding my two jewelers, there's not $100,000 in the whole place."

The RCMP, Martin noted, calculates the dollar amounts based on the estimated value of the goods if they were authentic. "It gives you a better understand of the impact it would have on the economy."

One of the vendors, a 45-year-old Guelph man, was handcuffed in front of his daughter, Zipelli said.

The other man who was arrested, Satish Maini, 61, of Mississauga, was back selling at the Market on Sunday. He told CBC Hamilton he's innocent. He estimated the RCMP took more than $1,000 in merchandise — mostly jackets, hats and children's clothing — from his stall. He insists the items were legal.

The RCMP raided Satish Maini's stall at Haggler's Flea Market on April 7. (Cory Ruf/CBC)

"They took all of my official, licensed Snap-On and NBA jackets. They were official jackets, official hats. Nothing big."

"I think they should either show me how it is illegal or bring my stuff back," he said. "I'm very upset because now I can't sell them."

Maini, who works during the week as a supervisor for a company in the Greater Toronto Area, said he is a law-abiding citizen and feels "disrespected" because of the police action.

"I have a respectable job. I make my living with my job to support my family. But here, one day a week, I make some extra money for my son to go to university."

'Niche' market

Open only on Sundays, Hagglers has been at its current location in Hamilton's Parkdale neighbourhood for 12 years. Vendors rent stalls from Zipilli, selling a variety of products, ranging from clothing and jewelery to electronics and appliances, at discount prices.

Related: Hamilton raid sheds light on trafficking of counterfeit goods

"Markets have always been around. It's a niche, right? You never know what kinds of deals you can find."

He said his vendors sometimes sell knockoff merchandise, often unknowingly, but insisted they're not criminals and shouldn't be treated as such.

"My vendors buy in bulk from wholesalers," he said. "When you go through the merchandise, who knows what's in there? They're not experts. So there's always knockoffs, but I direct you to any variety store right now and you'll see knockoffs just bluntly there on display."

But Martin said it's unacceptable for flea market operators to take a lax approach to counterfeit goods.

"The mall owners have a fiduciary responsibility to understand that counterfeiting is illegal." Flea market owners, he added, should be aware that knockoff goods are often produced using child or slave labour. "They should have a really hard look at themselves first."

Maini said he can tell the difference between what's real and what's counterfeit, and takes pride in his shop, even though it's only a secondary source of income.

"They've got to bring my stuff back so I can sell my jackets and all that. Because I know they're legal," said Maini, who's scheduled to appear in court on June 5.

"That's my money. I bought them. Buying and selling, that's my business."

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Hamilton leads the country in home price increases

CBC News

Posted: Apr 23, 2013 11:13 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 23, 2013 11:17 AM ET

 

Hamilton has led the way in Canada in home price increases in the past year, shows a new report from BMO.

Canadian housing prices stayed relatively balanced over the last year but Hamilton, Winnipeg and Regina bucked that trend, shows this year's BMO Home Buying Report.

"By and large, prices are holding up," said Robert Kavcic, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets. "The market remains relatively balanced overall, leaning slightly in favour of buyers in some select markets."

The report advises that people looking to buy a home or condo this spring need to stick to their budgets. Total housing costs shouldn't exceed more than one-third of household income, said Laura Parsons, a BMO mortgage expert.

Canadians should also choose shorter amortization to save thousands in interest costs.

Other advice:

• Stress test your budget by using a mortgage payment based on a higher interest rate. If rates increase even by 1 per cent, you'll need another $126 per month on a $200,000 mortgage.
• Live within your means. Stick to the one-third rule, including mortgage payments, property taxes and heating costs.
• Think carefully about fixed vs. variable mortgage rates.
• Consider choosing a shorter amortization. The shorter the life of the mortgage, the less you pay in interest. Choosing a maximum 25-year amortization helps households build equity in their home faster and save thousands in interest costs.

The average home sale price in Canada is $378,532.

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RCMP spoke with Hamilton Muslim community after terror suspect arrests

The Canadian Press

Posted: Apr 23, 2013 11:40 AM ET

Last Updated: Apr 23, 2013 11:38 AM ET

 

A Hamilton-based lawyer and Muslim community leader says he went into a Monday meeting with the RCMP with a bad feeling.

"People knew that this meeting could only mean there were arrests," said Hussein Hamdani, a Hamilton, lawyer and longtime advocate in the Muslim community.

"But there was fear and stress about what the arrests would be."

The meeting was about alleged plot by two men to derail a Via Rail passenger train.

'I was pretty certain it was something big.'—Muhammad Robert Heft, outreach advocate

The first e-mail went out to the community around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, catching some 22 leaders in Canada's Muslim community by surprise.

The RCMP, they were informed, wanted them to clear their schedules for an afternoon meeting.

It wasn't a cold call; many of the groups had long-standing ties with Canadian security agencies as part of ongoing outreach on the part of police with Muslim organizations.

Still, those who received the e-mail said it was a bit unnerving, more so when a second message came in an hour later giving the time and location of the sit-down meeting: 2:30 p.m. at RCMP offices in Toronto.

A public press conference had been scheduled for an hour later.

"I was pretty certain it was something big," said Muhammad Robert Heft, who runs an organization that provides outreach to Islamic converts.

Two men arrested

It wasn't the first time that Muslim leaders had been summoned by the police; ahead of the arrests in the Toronto 18 case in 2006, a similar gathering had been convened.

As Heft and others crowded into the boardroom Monday, the buzz was around wondering exactly what the police were about to announce.

Police led off the meeting thanking the Muslim community for their work before somberly informing them that two men had been arrested for plotting to attack a Via Rail passenger train.

They divulged their names and ages, as well as the fact that one is Tunisian and the other is from the United Arab Emirates.

Police said they had Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser under surveillance since August. They were put on investigators' radar thanks to tips from the Muslim community.

Neither of the men are Canadian and the gathering wasn't told how and when they arrived in the country.

"We understood and we were happy that the RCMP did their due diligence and was able to stop anything from happening, first and foremost," Heft said.

"And the mood there was what will be the backlash, how are we going to handle the media and the press reports from looking like they are stereotypically demonizing Muslims, when it was a tip from our leadership that prompted the arrest."

Blowback from terror plots

Those in the room represented all facets of Canada's Islamic community, from mosques to secular organizations.

All have felt keenly in the past the blowback that's come after Muslims are implicated in terrorist activities.

The leaders received a 30-minute briefing before the floor was opened for questions.

Much of the time was spent thanking the RCMP and on further discussion on outreach, but there was some skepticism.

Some wondered about the timing of the arrests, coming on the same day that counter-terrorism legislation was up for debate in the House of Commons.

The briefing was held almost at the exact same time that twin explosions shook the Boston marathon one week ago.

The RCMP insisted there was no connection, Hamdani said, and it was just a co-incidence.

Meetings such as Monday's go further than people realize in the RCMP's counter-terrorism efforts, Heft suggested.

It helps send a signal that police aren't targeting the community, he said.

"It says enough for guys like me to go back to people and say no, no that's not how it is. You might think it's this way, you might try to come up with a conspiracy but I know some real stand-up guys inside the RCMP who took the time to take our community aside and say 'hey look, you guys are part of the greater community, there might be things said about you guys but know that's not what we believe,"' Heft said.

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Via terror plot suspects deny allegations

Two men accused of trying to carry out an al-Qaeda supported plot to derail a Via passenger train made separate court appearances in different provinces today, with early indications that both will likely plead not guilty to the charges.

"He's in a state of shock and disbelief," lawyer John Norris said of his client, 35-year-old Raed Jaser, speaking to crowds of reporters outside the Toronto courthouse.

"He's anxious to see the evidence that the Crown says it has against him."

Jaser, of Toronto, along with Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal, is facing several charges including conspiracy to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group, conspiracy to interfere with transportation facilities for the benefit of a terrorist group and participating in a terrorist group.

Esseghaier has also been charged with instructing someone to carry out an activity for the benefit of a terrorist group.

A judge granted a publication ban on the Toronto proceedings in a brief court appearance where Jaser was remanded in custody his next appearance May 23.

His father, Mohammed Jaser, spoke to a crush of journalists outside the courthouse.

"I don't know nothing," he said. "Let the police do their job."

In another packed courtroom in Montreal, a bearded Esseghaier, who RCMP say has no fixed address, declined to be represented by a court-appointed lawyer.

He made a brief statement in French in which he called the allegations against him unfair.

"The conclusions were made based on acts and words which are only appearances," he said. The judge cut him off saying that he should not address the charges against him at this time and will be given the chance to do so at a later date.

Esseghaier was remanded into custody and flown to an airport north of Toronto on Tuesday afternoon. An RCMP spokesperson said the court proceedings will be held entirely in Ontario.

RCMP said suspects watched trains in Toronto area

Neither man is a Canadian citizen, but each was in the country legally. RCMP did not say where either man was from or how they came to live in Canada, but The Canadian Press said Esseghaier is believed to be Tunisian.

An earlier report said Jaser was from the United Arab Emirates, but the country issued a press release saying that neither were nationals of the U.A.E.

Jaser, who appeared in court with a long beard and wearing a grey sweater, is a permanent resident who has lived in the country for 20 years, Norris said. He said it was "notable" that the arrest came on the same day as the House of Commons debated an anti-terrorism bill.

Jennifer Strachan, chief superintendent of RCMP criminal operations in the province of Ontario, said Monday the two suspects watched trains and railways in the Greater Toronto Area.

"We are alleging that these two individuals took steps and conducted activities to initiate a terrorist attack," she told reporters.

There was a specific route targeted, not necessarily a specific train, Strachan said, although she declined to reveal the route. Police said the attack was not imminent.

According to a Reuters report, U.S. law enforcement and national security sources said the alleged plot targeted a rail line between Toronto and New York City. Via Rail and Amtrak jointly run routes between Canada and the U.S. Both companies say they're working with authorities.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said the two accused were getting "direction and guidance" from al-Qaeda elements in Iran. There was no information to suggest the attacks were state-sponsored, he said.

Iran's foreign minister rejected as "ridiculous" Canada's claim that the two arrested were backed by al-Qaeda in Iran.

"If the news that you are announcing is true, this is the most hilarious thing I've heard in my 64 years," the ISNA news agency reported Iran Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi saying today. "We hope Canadian officials show a little wisdom and pay attention to the world's public opinion and intelligence."

Search warrants

Search warrants were executed at a number of homes in both Toronto and Montreal.

Half of a duplex was cordoned off by police tape in the Markham, Ont., area northeast of Toronto last night as officers questioned neighbours.

Chiheb Esseghaier studied at the University of Sherbrooke before moving to Institute National de la Recherche Scientifique in Varennes, Que. (Via Biosensor BioMEMS Bionanotechnology Lab web page)

A neighbour, Sanjay Chaudhery, said Jaser lives with his wife in a basement apartment. He told CBC News that the couple had lived in Toronto for at least a year and kept to themselves.

"Even if I was working in my backyard, they used to cover their windows and doors," Chaudhery said.

"It's strange, surprising, shocking," he said of the arrests. "I'm worried — what's happening to my neighbourhood?"

Esseghaier was born in Tunisia and had studied at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec. More recently, he has been doing doctoral research at the Institute National de la Recherche Scientifique in Varennes, Que.

"His thesis was on nanosensors and he was in one of our research centres," Julie Martineau said in an interview with The Canadian Press about the PhD student, who's enrolled in the faculty of energy materials and telecommunications.

Montreal suspect

Esseghaier's LinkedIn profile reveals that he took part in writing a number of biology research papers, including those that focused on HIV and cancer detection.

He also attended scientific conferences that included the World Congress on Biosensors in Cancun in 2012 and the Photonics North Conference in Montreal in 2012 and the TechConnect World Conference in Santa Clara, Calif., in 2012.

Raed Jaser, 35, of Toronto, was remanded into custody until his next court appearance on May 23. (Alex Tavshunsky/CBC)

His profile also said he speaks Arabic, French and English.

Some students who knew him said he had extreme views on religion.

Faouzi Bellili, a doctoral student at INRS, said that a few months ago Esseghaier had told him he shouldn't help Canadians because they are non-believers.

"I actually told my wife, keep an eye on this guy, he's dangerous," he said. However, Bellili added that he didn't believe Esseghaier could harm anyone.

RCMP credits Muslim community

RCMP credited the Muslim community with a crucial role in the case, saying it was a tip to police that helped them uncover the alleged plot.

"What we're hoping is that the Canadian community realizes that the lead for this that tipped off the RCMP came from the Muslim community," said Hussein Hamdani, an Ontario lawyer and a member of Public Safety Canada's Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security.

"The Canadian Muslim community is a partner in making Canada more safe and secure."

Imam Yusuf Badat, director of religious affairs at the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, said the Muslim community was thanked before Monday's news conference. A "prominent community leader" came forward with the tip, but he didn't know who it was, he said.

Asked about a backlash, he said: "I'm confident that Canadians are great people, and they won't put the blame on the general Canadian public for the actions of a few."

Badat said radicalization can be prevented by getting people involved in civic engagement.

"Learn Islam from the right sources, rather than being radicalized through these internet videos," he said.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press

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