News for Youse: Fewer building permits, Vic Toews resigns, and more rail-safety concerns

Sharp drop in building permits  Statistics Canada has reported that the seasonally adjusted value of building permits in metropolitan Vancouver fell by 45 percent in May 2013 compared with the same month a year ago. The drop was from $784 million to $428 million.

Grandview-Woodland meeting  A large crowd is expected to appear in the meeting room above Eastside Family Place to discuss the city's plan to densify Grandview-Woodland. The area stretches from the waterfront to Grandview Highway between Clark Drive and Nanaimo Street.

Fire causes evacuation  A townhouse project in Champlain Heights caught fire yesterday, causing residents to evacuate. Some have been told that they won't be able to return home for three months. 

Furlong joins advisory board  Vancouver-based Arian Resources Corp. has announced that it has named former Vanoc CEO John Furlong to its advisory board. The junior mining company is focusing on "prospective gold properties in Albania". 

Vic Toews resigns  Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is quitting Parliament to spend more time with his family. Toews enraged many Canadians last year by introducing Bill C-30, which sought to allow police to gather people's Internet-surfing habits without a search warrant.

NDP decries rail-safety cuts  Federal NDP transport critic Olivia Chow has criticized the Conservative government for cutting funding for rail safety by eight percent this year. She made the comment after Stephen Harper visited Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, where railcars carrying crude oil exploded on July 6, killing five and leaving 40 people missing.

Rail crash affects markets  Pipeline shares were up slightly and railway stocks fell a little bit in early trading this morning. Investors fear greater regulation on the shipment of oil by rail following the disaster in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec.

Egyptian battles continue  The BBC has reported that 51 people are dead after the military fought with supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in Cairo.

Rangers sign McDonagh  The New York Rangers have signed a deal with defenceman Ryan McDonagh. It's worth $4.7 million per year according to the New York Post.

Lauryn Hill goes to jail  Former Fugees singer Lauryn Hill has begun a three-month prison sentence for tax evasion, according to a TMZ report.