Five stories in the news today, Dec. 30, from The Canadian Press:

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MODERATE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES SOUTHERN B.C.

There were no reports of damage or injuries following a moderate earthquake that struck near Victoria late Tuesday. The quake struck at 11:39 p.m. PST about 20 kilometres north of Victoria and was felt across much of southern British Columbia. Natural Resources Canada said the quake measured 4.3 while the U.S. Geological Survey placed the magnitude at 4.8.

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POLL: DEBT REDUCTION TOP PRIORITY OF CANADIANS

A CIBC poll suggests that paying down debt remains the top financial priority of Canadians, but it’s a goal the bank says many appear to be having difficulty meeting. According to the poll, 26 per cent of respondents named debt reduction as their key financial goal for 2016, the sixth straight year it has claimed top spot on the list. Keeping up with bills or getting by came in second, cited as the main priority of 18 per cent of respondents.

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MANITOBA TO PUSH OTTAWA FOR MORE MONEY FOR POLICING

Manitoba’s attorney general says he will be pushing for more federal money to help bolster front-line First Nations policing on remote reserves. Gord Mackintosh says the previous Conservative government’s decision to freeze the aboriginal policing budget for almost a decade before cancelling a band constable program was “horribly perverse.” Some 31 aboriginal communities across Manitoba relied on band constables before the program was terminated earlier this year.

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SASK. ARTIST ALLEN SAPP DIES AT 87

Much-honoured Saskatchewan artist Allen Sapp has died at the age of 87. Premier Brad Wall paid tribute to Sapp on Twitter on Tuesday, saying Sapp’s brush strokes “told the story of the Cree and of Saskatchewan.” Sapp was an officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and a winner of the Governor General’s Award for his illustrations in the children’s book “The Song Within My Heart.”

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CANADA GETS THE DAY OFF AT WORLD JR. HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

It’s a day off for Canada at the World Jr. Hockey Championship in Helsinki after posting a 3-2 shootout win Tuesday over the Swiss. The defending champion Canadians have a regulation win, an overtime win and a loss so far at the tournament, putting them in second place in Group A with five points. Canada plays group Sweden on Thursday. Today’s Group A games will see the United States face Switzerland and Sweden take on Denmark.

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