News for Youse: Debate passes with little said, reforms for temp workers, and ovations for Jason Collins

Debate passes with little said  Last night (April 29) top candidates for the B.C. provincial election faced off in the only televised debate scheduled ahead of the May 14 vote. Highlights included NDP leader Adrian Dix accusing the Liberal Party of “running a fact-free campaign,” and the Green’s Jane Sterk suggesting that things might only be “marginally better” if the NDP takes power. You can read Charlie Smith’s commentary on the debate here.

School Board votes to balance budget  The Vancouver School Board has passed a budget that includes layoffs for teachers. The board was expected to implement cost-cutting measures given it was facing a projected operating-budget shortfall of $7.91 million for 2013-2014. The number of teachers employed by the district will be reduced, though not significantly, according to VSB Chair Patti Bacchus.

Reforms for temp workers program  The federal Conservatives have announced they are suspending two of the most controversial provisions of the country’s temporary foreign workers program. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said employers will no longer be allowed to pay TFWs 15 percent less than average wages, and that the so-called fast-track program is being put on hold.

UN talks Canadian women’s safety  A report adopted this morning (April 30) by the United Nations Human Rights Council suggests Canada is failing to protect women from violence. The Universal Periodic Review, submitted on UN-member states every four years, recommends that Canada assign a task force to investigate cases and establish a “National Center for Missing Persons,” among other measures. The report’s adoption follows a February 2013 report drafted by Human Rights Watch that detailed a host of allegations relating to the RCMP’s failures to protect aboriginal women and girls from violence in northern B.C.

Obama talks Syria, Boston attacks  U.S. President Barack Obama held a press conference at the White House this morning, fielding questions on a range of issues including the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, the FBI’s handling of the Boston Marathon attacks, and an ongoing hunger strike at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

EU clamps down on pesticides  The European Union has agreed to restrict the use of some pesticides following observed escalations in the collapse of bee populations across the continent. Pesticides containing neonicotinoid chemicals will be banned from crops classified as attractive to honey bees and other pollinators. The moratorium is expected to take effect before the end of the year.

Ovations for Jason Collins  The sports world largely reacted positively to Jason Collins outing himself as the first openly gay professional athlete on a major U.S. team. “We are extremely proud of Jason and support his decision to live his life proudly and openly,” said Washington Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld. Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers echoed those remarks, saying, “I am extremely happy and proud of Jason Collins.” U.S. President Barack Obama also weighed in on the matter, revealing that he spoke with Collins personally. “I told him I couldn’t be prouder,” Obama said, adding, “For a lot of young people out there who are gay or lesbian who are struggling with those issues to see a role model out there, who is unafraid, I think it’s a great thing.”

The World Wide Web turns 20  Today marks the twentieth anniversary of the birth of the World Wide Web. Originally envisioned as a piece of software that scientists could use to share research, the WWW now essentially constitutes the Internet as we know it. You can read more about the WWW’s origins here.

Knox maintains innocence  Amanda Knox has reaffirmed her innocence in an interview with ABC News. The American citizen was previously found guilty of killing a British woman in Italy in 2007. She was convicted in 2009 and served four years of a 26-year sentence before that ruling was overturned in October 2011. Knox remains in Italy to face a retrial. You can read a lengthy case for Knox’s innocence published by Rolling Stone here.