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Taverner puts a halt to his swearing in as OPP commissioner

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Ron Taverner has put his appointment as commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police on hold, pending a review into his hiring by the Office of the Integrity Commissioner.

“Out of the greatest of respect for the brave men and women of the Ontario Provincial Police, I am requesting my appointment as commissioner be postponed until as such time the integrity commissioner has completed his review,” Taverner said in statement issued Saturday afternoon.

Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Sylvia Jones accepted Taverner’s decision.

“While the government has full confidence in Mr. Taverner, we will respect his request for a delay in his appointment, until such time as the integrity commissioner has conducted a review of the selection process,” Jones said in statement.

Taverner, 72, was set to be sworn in as Ontario’s top cop on Monday.

The NDP has called on the integrity commissioner to look into “potential political interference” in the appointment of Taverner, a long-time family friend of Premier Doug Ford. Taverner, who recently retired from the Toronto Police Service at the rank of superintendent, had been unit commander at 23, 12 and 31 Divisions.

It was also revealed Saturday that Gary Couture, OPP deputy commissioner of field operations, has been appointed Interim Commissioner of the OPP while the review is conducted, replacing Brad Blair, who held that position since the retirement of commissioner Vince Hawkes in early November.

Blair asked the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario to investigate “potential political interference” in Taverner’s appointment. Ombudsman Paul Dubé this past week turned down Blair’s request, saying it was outside his jurisdiction. Blair is taking the matter to court to decide whether or not that is the case.

In a statement to OPP members Saturday, Blair said he understands the “preference for an alternative interim commissioner and will co-operate in every respect.”

Blair said he will resume his role of deputy commissioner of traffic safety and operational support command and remains “devoted to ensuring that the well-earned reputation” of the OPP “remains untarnished.”

“I have been humbled by the honour of leading the women and men of the OPP and I do not regret a single step I have had to take,” said Blair.

The number of voices questioning the hiring process, calling for a review or putting a pause on Taverner’s appointment had been growing since it was announced Nov. 29, and included former OPP commissioner Chris Lewis and former RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had also written a letter to Taverner, urging him to “do the right thing” and “delay your installation and assuming command of the OPP until a full investigation …has been completed,” Horwath wrote.

At Queen’s Park Saturday, Deputy NDP Leader Sara Singh said Taverner’s move to postpone his controversial appointment is welcome but raises further questions about how a close friend of the premier was given the plum policing job after the qualification level was mysteriously lowered, allowing him apply.

“We are very relieved Mr. Taverner will not be appointed Monday and sworn in,” Singh told reporters.

“However we are still very concerned. Where there is smoke, there is fire. There are a lot of unanswered questions here.”

The New Democrats are calling for an “emergency select committee” of MPPs to investigate the hiring — with the power to compel witnesses in public sessions — in addition to the integrity commissioner’s probe.

“We need to have answers,” said Singh.

At this point, it’s unclear whether Taverner himself made the decision to ask his OPP swearing-in be postponed or whether he was prompted by the premier’s office, Singh added.

“That’s why the premier’s office needs to come forward and provide some clarity…We need to understand how this was allowed to happen, how rules were changed.”

Established in 1988, the Office of the Integrity Commissioner “serves the public interest by encouraging and supporting high ethical standards that strengthen trust and confidence in the Ontario government,” states its website.

The office has a number of mandates, one of which falls under the Members’ Integrity Act. The “primary objective is to help prevent ethics violations before they occur,” and the office offers confidential advice to members of provincial parliament around 300 times each year, according to its website.

If a member suspects another member of crossing an ethical line, in contravention of the act, the member can ask the integrity commissioner through what is known as a “Section 30” complaint to look into the matter, and offer an “opinion.” An affidavit must be filed by the complainant to start the process.

The process involves a review to see if the complaint is within the jurisdiction of the office, followed by a decision on whether an inquiry will be conducted, and notifying the affected member of that decision. If the inquiry is on, the office then asks for written responses to the affidavit.

Taverner’s decision to postpone his investiture comes as the Progressive Conservatives have recalled the house Monday.

The Tories are to introduce back-to-work legislation to end a strike by the Power Workers’ Union, which threatens to shut down Ontario Power Generation’s nuclear reactors that provide almost half of the province’s electricity supply.

But resuming sitting in the house means the government will face the opposition in the daily question period.

With the first question period set for Tuesday morning, the Tories were bracing for difficult inquiries from the New Democrats, Liberals, and Greens over Taverner’s appointment.

All the opposition parties have denounced the fact that a close friend of the premier is being named to run the provincial police even though he lacked the professional qualifications in the initial job posting. That posting, which was later amended, enabled Taverner, a superintendent, to apply for the post, which comes with a raise of almost $100,000 over his $178,000 Toronto police salary.

Jim Rankin is a reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @Jleerankin

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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Anglais

Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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Anglais

MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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