Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Canada was among the governments of 35 countries signing a statement Monday calling on the International Olympic Committee to clarify the definition of "neutrality" as it seeks a way to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes back into international sports and, ultimately, next year's Paris Olympics.
"As long as these fundamental issues and the substantial lack of clarity and concrete detail on a workable `neutrality' model are not addressed, we do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition," read the statement.
Among those signing the statement were officials from the United States, Britain, France, Canada and Germany.
Those five countries brought nearly one-fifth of all athletes to the Tokyo Games in 2021. Other countries that had suggested an Olympic boycott was possible if the war continues -- such as Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark -- also signed onto the statement, which did not go so far as to mention a boycott.
The statement was the product of a Feb. 10 summit in London between government leaders, who heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy said Russia athletes had no place at the Paris Games as long as the country's invasion of Ukraine continues.
Canadian sports minister Pascale St-Onge signed the statement on behalf of Canada.
She tweeted Feb. 10: "Canada's position is clear: Russian and Belarusian athletes must be banned from the 2024 Olympic Games.
"Let's stand in solidarity with Ukraine."
The International Olympic Committee is trying to find a way to allow Russians into the Olympics, citing the opinion of United Nations human rights experts who believe Russians and Belarusians should not face discrimination simply for the passports they hold.
The IOC wants competitors from those countries who have not supported the war to be able to compete as neutral athletes, with no symbols of their countries allowed.
"The United States will continue to join a vast community of nations to hold Russia and Belarus -- and the bad actors who dictate their actions -- accountable for this brutal war," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Lee Satterfield said in a separate statement. "Russia has proven, time and again, it has no regard for and is incapable of following the rules -- in international sport and in international law."
While acknowledging there was an argument for them to compete as neutral athletes, the government officials noted in the joint statement how closely sports and politics are intertwined in Russia and Belarus. Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago Friday and Belarus has been Russia's closest ally.
"We have strong concerns on how feasible it is for Russian and Belarusian Olympic athletes to compete as `neutrals' -- under the IOC's conditions of no identification with their country -- when they are directly funded and supported by their states (unlike, for example, professional tennis players)," the countries' joint statement said. "The strong links and affiliations between Russian athletes and the Russian military are also of clear concern. Our collective approach throughout has therefore never been one of discrimination simply on the basis of nationality, but these strong concerns need to be dealt with by the IOC."
When the war started, the IOC recommended sports organizations bar Russians from competitions, labelling it as a measure for those athletes' safety. That stance changed at the start of this year. Last week, IOC president Thomas Bach said the IOC stood in solidarity with Ukraine's athletes, but also that sports has to respect the human rights of all athletes.
"History will show who is doing more for peace. The ones who try to keep lines open, to communicate, or the ones who want to isolate or divide," Bach said.
An IOC spokesman said the committee was waiting to comment until it saw the official statement.
Also last week, European Union lawmakers condemned the IOC's efforts to reintegrate Russia into world sports. The EU parliament asked the 27 member states to pressure the IOC to reverse its decision and said the Olympic body's approach was "an embarrassment to the international world of sport."
Monday's statement, while calling for clarity from the IOC, said the quickest way for Russia to get back into the international sports scene would be "by ending the war they started."
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Hundreds of love letters from decades past are up for grabs, offering a peek into days when pen and ink were conveyors of connection when miles apart.
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are both one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup final.
As weight-loss plans go, it's easy to see the allure of intermittent fasting: Eat what you want, but only during certain windows of time — often just eight hours a day.
A daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed paperwork to legally remove "Pitt" from her name on the day she turned 18.
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
Tick season is well underway and there is a new species of ticks causing new diseases, which is why you need to take steps to protect yourself.
Canada is getting not one – but two – celestial shows over the next few days. Keep an eye on the sky for the northern lights and parade of planets!
A hefty donation by a renowned local activist to the University of Winnipeg has created what is believed to be the most comprehensive two-spirit archives in all of Canada.
Leanne Van Bergen discovered a skulk of 10 baby foxes, and two mothers, had made themselves at home on her property in Beausejour.
An 81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman thought she’d never ride a horse again after a brain bleed led to severe physical complications.
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.
Prince Edward Island is celebrating its first-ever International Day of Potato on Thursday.
The president of Covered Bridge Chips in New Brunswick is hoping to have his factory rebuilt for late 2025 following a devastating fire last year.
Students and staff at Winnipeg’s Westwood Collegiate had a unique problem to solve this month; how do you lead ducks to water from the school’s courtyard when 12 of them can’t fly yet?
Debby Lorinczy remembers her father as an amazing person and as a man who also made an amazing discovery.
Abigail Strate is a member of the Canadian national ski jumping team and an Olympic bronze medallist. She's also a certified beekeeper.