Six stories in the news today, April 12

Six stories in the news today from The Canadian Press:

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RENEWED ATTAWAPISKAT CRISIS RAISES QUESTIONS

The recurring crises in the remote James Bay region First Nation of Attawapiskat are back in the national headlines after a reported rash of suicide attempts. Five mental health workers have arrived in the community of about 2,000, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said Monday in the House of Commons, in order to address what she’s calling “one of the most serious and pressing tragedies that our nation is facing.”

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NEW DEMOCRAT MPs DIVIDED OVER MULCAIR’S LONG GOODBYE

The rifts exposed by the NDP’s non-confidence vote in Tom Mulcair’s leadership has deepened with some New Democrat MPs questioning his intention to stay at the helm until a successor is chosen. Delegates at a weekend convention voted Sunday to send Mulcair packing. Some MPs welcome his plan to remain leader for up to two years until a replacement is chosen. But others doubt that would be palatable to grassroots New Democrats.

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FUNERAL TODAY FOR B.C. MOUNTIE KILLED IN CRASH

A public funeral will be held near Victoria today for RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett who was killed a week ago when her cruiser was hit broadside by a pickup truck. The regimental ceremony will start with a procession of uniformed law enforcement officers down the Island Highway before the 2 p.m. service.

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PARTI QUEBECOIS KEEPS LONGTIME STRONGHOLD

The Parti Quebecois has easily won a Quebec byelection in a riding it has held since 1973. PQ candidate Mireille Jean strolled to victory in the traditionally nationalist riding of Chicoutimi. The result does little to change the makeup of 125-seat national assembly, where the Liberals have 71 members, the PQ now has 30 and the Coalition 20. Quebec solidaire has three members and there is one Independent.

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LOBLAW TO OPEN 50 NEW STORES THIS YEAR

Loblaw plan to build dozens of new stores and renovate more than 100 others this year, creating thousands of retail and construction jobs. Loblaw says that overall it will erect about 50 new stores and renovate 150 existing ones, including projects that started in January.

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LOOKING FOR A WORLD CLASS PIZZA?TRY EDMONTON

A popular tourism website has selected Edmonton as the eighth top city in the world for pizza. Users on Conde Nast Traveler voted for Edmonton just ahead of the Italian cities of Florence, Palermo and Milan, and just one spot behind Venice. Chicago, New York and Rome top the list, but the site notes that in an era when artisanal and hipster pizzerias are all the rage, “the old-school joints still rule up north in Edmonton.”

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Seven new Senators will be sworn into office in the Senate Chamber.

— Environment Minister Catherine McKenna delivers a keynote speech in Ottawa at a symposium on climate change.

— Ian Morrison of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting appears at Commons heritage committee to discuss media and local communities.

— Immigration Minister John McCallum will appear at a Commons committee examining the Canadian Citizenship Act.

— The CRTC will hold a second round of public hearing on basic telecommunication services and broadband services.

— In Calgary, Scotiabank will hold its annual shareholders meeting.