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OTTAWA—The Liberal government’s decision to cleave its controversial online harms legislation into two on Wednesday was framed by the federal justice minister as the quickest way to prioritize child safety in a Parliament he says the opposition Conservatives have plunged into paralysis. The widespread calls from civil liberties, human rights and religious minority groups to split up the bill were not one of the primary reasons Arif Virani said was behind the decision, though he acknowledged that some had been “suggesting” he make the move. “What we looked at in September was a parliamentary calendar that had three months’ worth of time. In three months’ worth of time, we’ve had exactly one day of debate dedicated to this bill. Is that frustrating for me? You’re absolutely right, that’s frustrating for me,” Virani told reporters. The legislation has been fraught with controversy from its earliest stages of development over The legislation at issue is the Trudeau Liberals’ proposed solution to dangerous content on the internet: a sweeping bill that has drawn praise for its efforts to hold social media platforms accountable for the content they host, and criticism for changes to the Criminal Code and Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) that some say polices free speech. On Wednesday, Virani announced that all four parts of the bill will be split into two groups. One legislative track will deal with the parts of the bill that mostly address harmful content directed at children. The first of those parts is the Online Harms Act, which would require social media platforms — including livestreaming and adult-content services — to minimize exposure to seven types of harmful content. Three of those categories focus on children: content used to bully a child, content that induces children to harm themselves, and content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor of child abuse. The remaining four deal with other harms: content in which intimate images (including deepfakes) are shared without consent, content that incites violent extremism or terrorism, content that incites violence and content that promotes hatred. That entire part of the legislation will be combined with another part of the original bill that proposes changes to how child pornography on the internet is reported and how those offences are handled. Those two sections of the bill have been widely viewed as the more acceptable parts of the legislation, by experts and opposition parties alike. But the decision means that the bill’s remaining two parts — proposed changes to the Criminal Code and the CHRA that have been deemed “ ” and poorly thought out — will be combined into one. The legislation had proposed creating a stand-alone hate crime offence that could be applied to every offence in the Criminal Code, and could come with a maximum penalty of life in prison. Other changes involved upping penalties for hate propaganda offences, such as increasing the maximum penalty for advocating for or promoting genocide from five years to life imprisonment. Ottawa has previously said the legislation is not intended to put people behind bars for life for expressing opinions, but instead would twin the new hate crime offence with existing Criminal Code offences already punishable by a maximum of life in prison. The new offence was partly meant, government officials have said, to improve how hate-motivated offences are tracked and prosecuted. The CHRA changes, meanwhile, would allow people to file online hate speech complaints — which could be enormous in volume — to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which could result in financial penalties or content being removed. Virani justified the split as necessary in a House of Commons that has been waylaid by debate on a single issue — whether the Liberals should pony up more unredacted documents tied to a scandal-plagued green technology funding agency — for more than two months. The original legislation was tabled in late February, missing the deadline by which the Liberals promised to initially introduce the bill by two years. Virani said the parliamentary impasse made the Liberals “rethink” how they should use their time to get parts of the bill past the legislative finish line. “I’m not going to look at the face of Canadian parents, of Canadian children, and tell them that I’m not going to do everything I can to protect those kids,” Virani said. Angus Lockhart, a senior analyst with Toronto Metropolitan University’s policy institute, the Dais, said the move is a positive step forward, even if it’s indicative of “the time pressure of a government that’s running out of time.” The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) welcomed the decision, saying in a statement that the more contentious parts of the legislation can now undergo the “focused scrutiny it deserves.” The CCLA was one of more than 20 groups and experts who , back in May, for the legislation to be split in two over free speech and other concerns. In spite of the criticism, particularly due to the Israel-Hamas war and its ripple effects in Canada, the federal government has insisted the changes on Canadians’ freedoms. Conservative justice critic Larry Brock told the Star in a statement that Virani was “desperately trying to salvage his deeply flawed legislation.” “We will repeal Trudeau’s draconian censorship laws and bring home protection of children and Canadians online while protecting the rights and freedoms of Canadians,” the statement read. It is not yet clear how the separation of a singular bill into two tracks will be handled by the House of Commons. Virani’s spokesperson said the minister was in talks with his opposition counterparts to determine how the bill already before the House, and whose text remains unchanged, could proceed through the remainder of the legislative process.None
Arguably the biggest underdog story in MLS Cup playoff history, the New York Red Bulls can claim their first league trophy when they travel to Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday to face the Los Angeles Galaxy . Last Saturday, the Galaxy punched their ticket into the showcase event with a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders, while the Red Bulls continued their magical run, defeating Orlando City by that same score. For the first time in a decade, the Galaxy will play for the MLS Cup, with the most decorated club in league history regarding domestic trophies seeking to lift this one for a sixth time. Saturday will mark the 10th time they reach the cup final in their 29-year history, with LA winning all three of their previous matches at this stage in Carson. For a few years, Greg Vanney has been looking to find the right approach to get this team going, and their short passes out of the back this season have worked wonders, as they boast the fourth-highest pass competition rate in the defensive third (85.9%). It has been a historic playoff run for this edition of the Galaxy offensively, netting 16 goals in four games, one fewer than the post-season record set by a Greg Vanney-led Toronto side in 2016. No team in the regular season created as many quality scoring opportunities as the Galaxy, who led the league with 57.5 non-penalty expected goals, according to FBref's data. They have outscored their three playoff opponents this season at Dignity Health Sports Park by a combined margin of 12-2, claiming 16 triumphs at that venue this year across all competitions. During the regular season, they went unbeaten against Eastern Conference opposition at home, winning two of those three contests while conceding just one goal (1-1 draw versus Inter Miami). Having only claimed one victory in their final 11 matches across all competitions, virtually everyone had written the New York Red Bulls off before the post-season began. Miraculously, they have defied all the odds, sweeping their opening round series against the reigning MLS Cup champions, the Columbus Crew, before eliminating their arch-rivals, New York City FC and Orlando City. With their victory last weekend, they became the lowest-seeded team ever to reach the MLS Cup final (seventh), with Sandro Schwarz becoming the 12th head coach in league history to make the final in his first season at the helm. All year, the Red Bulls have been happy to let the opposition have the ball, averaging just 44.5% possession during the regular season and fewer than 40% in each of their playoff fixtures. When they win possession, it has usually been in advantageous positions, while they have made the most of those opportunities, scoring on two of their three targeted efforts in the Eastern Conference semi-finals versus NYCFC and netting on their only shot on goal last Saturday. The Red Bulls love to pass the ball forward as much as possible, ranking fifth in the regular season for average vertical passing distance (7.23 yards), relying on their attacking players to pressure opposing backlines, all of which has enabled them to get to within a game of their first MLS Cup. New York have won two of their last three meetings versus the Galaxy and claimed points in two of their last three visits to Dignity Health Sports Park. However, their only previous MLS Cup final appearance, which took place in Carson, saw them suffer a 3-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew in 2008 when that venue was known as the Home Depot Center. The Galaxy victory last weekend came at a huge cost, with the MLS regular-season leader for touches and their leader in assists, Riqui Puig , suffering a torn ACL and being ruled out of this match. Meanwhile, Marco Reus will be questionable after being taken off at the half of their Western Conference final due to a knock, while Martin Caceres will not be available because of an Achilles injury. Dejan Joveljic scored five minutes from the end to see off the Sounders, with John McCarthy making four stops to collect his second clean sheet of the 2024 playoffs. For the Red Bulls, Felipe Carballo will be a question mark after missing the previous encounter due to a foot issue, while Roald Mitchell and Kyle Duncan are out because of knee injuries. In Carballo's absence last week, Schwarz inserted Peter Stroud into the lineup, the only change to their starting 11 against Orlando City. Andres Reyes scored two minutes into the second half of their previous encounter, with Carlos Coronel collecting another clean sheet, saving 3.7 goals above expected in four playoff contests this year, with just two goals conceded in the post-season. Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup: McCarthy; Yamane, Garces, Yoshida, Nelson; Delgado, Cerrillo, Fagundez; Pec, Joveljic, Paintsil New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup: Coronel; D. Nealis, Reyes, S. Nealis; Harper, Edelman, Stroud, Tolkin; Forsberg; Vanzeir, Morgan Even without Puig, the Galaxy will be heavy favourites for this clash, though we expect they will be left frustrated against a side with tremendous resolve who are more than comfortable hanging back. The Red Bulls are peaking at the right time, and their outstanding goalkeeping should keep them alive on Saturday, while they have been clinical when needed in the playoffs, which is why we project them to pull off what could go down as the biggest upset in the history of the MLS Cup finals. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
TORONTO - Broad-based gains led Canada’s main stock index higher in late-morning trading on Christmas Eve, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 57.82 points at 24,806.80. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 177.64 points at 43,084.59. The S&P 500 index was up 43.11 points at 6,017.18, while the Nasdaq composite was up 210.74 points at 19,975.62. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.50 cents US compared with 69.47 cents US on Monday. The February crude oil contract was up 91 cents at US$70.15 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up 13 cents at US$3.48 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$1.10 at US$2,627.10 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.11 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. "I still got more to write this weekend for sure," said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. "But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year." Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. "It was a great putt. I was very nervous," Dahmen said. "But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend." His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. "I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body's not moving very well and you've got to move your hands," said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. "Just pretty happy with how I played." Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. "Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch," Clanton said. "We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
US President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden also warned that Washington will "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups, announcing that US forces had just conducted fresh strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria." Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable." Biden -- set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power -- said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding. "We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said. However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny. "Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said. The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions." Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria. "We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria. The US military said the strikes were conducted by warplanes against Islamic State operatives and camps. Strikes were carried out against "over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s," the US Central Command said on social media. Earlier, Biden met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the crisis. Assad's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced Sunday they had taken the capital Damascus and that Assad had fled, prompting celebrations nationwide and a ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that the deposed leader was now in Moscow, along with his family. The US military has around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to help combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly struck targets in the country including those linked to Iranian-backed militias. Tehran was a major backer of Assad's government. Biden also confirmed US authorities believe the American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, still lives. "We believe he's alive," Biden said, but the US has yet "to identify where he is." bur-sms/mlmThe Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals will play in a primetime clash on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. That game will come after the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns suit up at 4:30 p.m., so the Steelers will know if they are playing for the AFC North title or just seeding. The Steelers could choose to rest starters if the Ravens win, but they will also want to play for seeding. There is a huge difference between playing the Houston Texans and the Ravens, at least on the betting market. Pittsburgh will look to finish the season out with a win over the Bengals, which would not only give them 11 wins but knock the Bengals out of the playoffs, thus ending their season. The Saturday game helps the Steelers on the other side for the playoffs as well. They will not have to play on a short week, even if they play on Saturday for a playoff clash with anyone. AFC North road teams are 2-13 in primetime matchups since 2019, so even though the Steelers have opened up as early underdogs, they have the advantage from that perspective. BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. More Pittsburgh Steelers News Pittsburgh Steelers likely to play in Ireland game in 2025 Three former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks throw touchdowns for new teams Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback helps lead new team to division title Possible Pittsburgh Steelers playoff opponent eliminated Potential Pittsburgh Steelers playoff opponents revealed
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