The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Ottawa - A private member's bill introduced Thursday in the Commons would outlaw racial profiling by federal agencies. Libby Davies, a New Democrat MP from Vancouver, said her bill is aimed at curtailing what she called "the criminalization of diversity." The legislation would ban the use of racial, religious or similar stereotypes in making security decisions. Montreal - Quebec Finance Minister Yves Seguin promised Thursday to become "more aggressive" in pursuing Ottawa for money amid reports the federal surplus will be bigger than expected. Seguin appeared increasingly frustrated when asked about the surplus, which could reach $7 billion this fiscal year. "It bothers me a bit," Seguin said. "I'm certainly going to be more aggressive, if you'll forgive the expression, in my dealings with the federal government." Successive Quebec finance ministers have long complained about Ottawa piling up huge budgetary surpluses without giving enough money back to the province, particularly for its ailing health system. Quebec - Attorney General Marc Bellemare said he will appeal a 31Ú2-year prison sentence given to a man charged in a teen prostitution case. Andre Pelissier was the first person to be sentenced after police busted the alleged prostitution ring in December 2002. More than 40 alleged clients and pimps have been arrested in the case.
