The federal government along with the province of British Columbia have signed a memo of understanding worth billions of dollars which will uphold the northern tanker ban. The agreement unlocks billions of dollars of federal investment in B.C. but keeps the door open for future pipeline projects through the province. This likely green-lights the bitumen pipeline to the south of the province and we may hear an announcement on that project today as Prime Minister Mark Carney now travels to Calgary. Carney has long contended that any pipeline deal would be privately financed and owned and the MOU guarantees that British Columbia will be compensated for any new pipeline infrastructure. The memorandum also guarantees indigenous ownership in future resource infrastructure as well.

Several areas around Ottawa suffered the most severe flooding in recent history during the downpour from the powerful line of thunderstorms that passed through the national capital region on Canada Day. A 25-floor building near the Carlingwood Shopping Centre on 30 McEwen Avenue has been evacuated as a result of flooding that affected the power supply. The basement and main floor of the building were flooded and the building’s electrical system has been deemed unsafe. Some residents said they heard a transformer explosion in the basement when the power cut out. Hundreds of residents left the building yesterday with dozens also losing their vehicles to flood damage. Up to 1900 basements were reported flooded in Ottawa after almost 12 centimetres of rain fell in a very short time period.

The Ottawa Police Service has released information relating to the suspected murder suicide on Monday that claimed the lives of two young boys. 7-year-old and 12-year-old brothers were found deceased Monday in their Findlay Creek home just hours after the father was found deceased in a burning vehicle at the carpool lot on highway 416 at Rideau River Valley. Police say several investigative and forensic examinations are still outstanding and require time to complete. The OPS adds they recognize the community’s desire for answers and will provide further information when those processes have been completed. The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Mohammed Al-Lami. Police will not be releasing the names of the boys at the request of their mother.