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Former Ottawa news anchor dies at 73

Max Keeping, a well-known broadcaster who anchored CTV Ottawa’s 6 O’Clock news for 38 years, passed away from cancer on Oct. 1, after fighting the disease for three years.

There were moments of silence held at the RedBlacks game, as well as at city hall.

“He put on a brave face and fought his cancer, but sadly today, he passed away,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson to the CBC. “Max would be front and centre at an event like this, because, as we all know, it’s the kind of person he was.”

—Eric Davidson

 

“Harperman” singer retires from public service, vows to keep singing

Tony Turner, a scientist in the public service who was suspended over his song “Harperman”, which criticizes the current government, has retired from the public service.

Turner told the Ottawa Citizen he made the decision so he could sing his song for the rest of the election campaign.

“I have been asked to perform at rallies and I will do that for the balance of the election. This election is too important to be silent,” he said to the Citizen.

Turner’s former employer, Environment Canada, had launched an ethics investigation into the creation of “Harperman”, and it is unclear if his retirement will put an end to the investigation.

Turner’s suspension created a debate around whether or not public servants should be neutral in the nation’s political conversation.

  —Eric Davidson

Hundreds of Canadians receive incorrect voter cards

An Elections Canada mixup has led to hundreds of Canadians receiving voter cards with incorrect information.

Some cards told people to vote at incorrect polling stations—in some cases almost 600km away. For example, some Yukon residents have received voting cards telling them to vote at a location 590 km away. Elections Canada has said that 300 people in the Yukon will receive new cards.

People in Saskatchewan and British Columbia have also complained of bad voter information cards.

Elections Canada told the CBC that it has launched an investigation, and is preparing to send out new cards Oct. 13, which is the last day they can send them to reach voters on time for the election.

“If you get that voter info card, you’re registered, but you think that that address doesn’t seem right or the voting location doesn’t seem right, we certainly want to hear from you and we encourage you to contact the returning office,” said Diane Benson, a spokeswoman at Elections Canada, according to the CBC.

Voters can check their polling station online at ereg.elections.ca.

    —Eric Davidson