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RCMP probe of cabinet leaks did not stop with Mark Norman

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The criminal investigation into the alleged leak of cabinet secrets over a multi-million dollar shipbuilding program almost three years ago did not stop with Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, as the RCMP confirmed Sunday the probe is ongoing.

The Mounties issued the statement after court documents filed Friday alleged police had evidence that a federal procurement official passed cabinet documents to a lobbyist working for Quebec shipyard prior to a key meeting in the fall of 2015.

The documents were filed in an Ottawa court by lawyers defending Norman, who faces one charge of breach of trust  after being accused of leaking cabinet secrets to an executive at the Davie shipyard in ​Lévis, Que. 

« The RCMP’s investigation discovered that a government employee, Matthew Matchett, gave a lobbyist then working for Davie the classified Memorandum to Cabinet (« MC ») and slide deck relating to the Liberal Government’s November 19, 2015 iAOR Cabinet committee meeting, » said the court filing, a copy of which was obtained by CBC News.

None of the allegations in the disclosure motion have been proven in court.

Matchett, according to the federal government employee registry, is the Assistant Director, Industrial Benefits for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. No charges have been filed against him.

CBC News reached out to Matchett on Saturday and Sunday but received no response. 

Stéphanie Dumoulin, a spokesperson for the RCMP would only confirm the investigation is still active the federal police force is « therefore unable to further comment at this point. »

She would not answer specific questions related to the court filing.

Lawyers want info on other leaks

The notion that there might be suspects other than Norman came to light last year in the RCMP search warrants, one of which was used to raid Norman’s home.

His lawyer, Marie Henein, has asked the court to force the government to release documents « relating to Mr. Matchett’s leaks and how his case was treated internally and by the RCMP. »

The disclosure motion alleged Matchett provided Hill + Knowlton lobbyist Brian Mersereau with documents and regular updates in the run-up to a crucial federal cabinet committee meeting on Nov. 19, 2015.

Mersereau and an executive at the Davie shipyard, Spencer Fraser, have been granted immunity, according to the court filing.

At the cabinet committee meeting, the fate of a program to lease a temporary supply ship for the navy was up for discussion.

The Liberal cabinet ministers decided to put the $668 million plan, originally conceived under the previous Conservative government, on hold for further study, but word quickly leaked to the media.

The Liberals eventually allowed the temporary supply ship program to proceed and the MV Asterix is now serving alongside the navy.

RCMP alleged, in their search warrant, that Norman orchestrated the leak to CBC News reporter James Cudmore, who later went to work in the defence minister’s office as a policy advisor.

The Liberals were embarrassed and ordered an RCMP investigation.

The MV Asterix, the navy’s planned temporary supply ship, at the Chantier-Davie Shipyard in Levis, Quebec in early July 2017. The contract to lease the vessel to the federal government is at the centre of an RCMP investigation into the leak of cabinet secrets.

Norman’s lawyers denied that he leaked any documents and have said they want more information on the role of the civil servant.

« Mr. Matchett’s leaks of classified documents relate to the very same Cabinet meetings and subject matter at the centre of this prosecution, » said the disclosure motion.

It also notes the second suspect has not given the RCMP a statement related to the case against Norman.

‘It is jaw-dropping’

A legal expert following the case said the federal government will have a hard time avoiding the release of documents related to its investigation of Matchett.

Government representatives cannot hide behind an ongoing police investigation, according to retired colonel Michel Drapeau,

« They have a duty to disclose, » he said.

« If they don’t disclose on this point, the first thing that will happen at trial is that [Vice-Admiral Norman’s] lawyer will say her client is denied fair treatment. »

If the allegations in the disclosure motion are accurate, a defence expert said that both the RCMP and the Liberal government have a lot of explaining to do.

« It is incomprehensible, » said Dave Perry, an analyst at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

« It is a bit gob-smacking that someone who is now named — Mr. Matchett there — provided an actual cabinet document that was actually involved in this and that person does not seem to have been prosecuted. »

It’s also unclear whether there has been any internal government sanctions taken in regards to the alleged leak of documents.

« It is jaw-dropping, » said Perry.

Norman does not go to trial until next August.

The case will be in court again on Nov. 2 Lawyers are expected to discuss the disclosure motion then.

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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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