Busy day? Here are five stories popular with Globe readers to help you catch up.
Another critic of gay marriage ascends to Ontario’s highest court
Justice Bradley Miller, a critic of gay marriage, has been promoted to Ontario's highest court - the third such judge chosen by the Conservative government since December for the Ontario Court of Appeal, Sean Fine reports.
A Globe and Mail search of the legal websites CanLII and Quicklaw reveal that Justice Miller has not written any published rulings by which to appraise his abilities as a judge during his six months on Ontario's Superior Court.
Justice Miller is the court's second adherent, after Justice Grant Huscroft, of a legal doctrine known as"originalism," a view that says constitutions should be interpreted according to how their founders intended.
Both judges have made the originalist argument in their published work that the 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms did not explicitly protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.
In his days as a professor, Justice Miller published essays that said gay marriage in Canada is a"new orthodoxy," and the only"defence" to public school material full of same-sex positivity is to take children out of the system.
Chinese envoy says lack of oversight behind Vancouver’s house-price crisis
Wealthy Chinese buyers are not to blame for Vancouver’s increasingly costly real estate, the Chinese government's top envoy says. Instead, blame a lack of regulation in the booming real estate market.
Consul-General Liu Fei said this situation would never occur in China, and explained that China's government has strict policies with regard to affordable housing, Iain Marlow reports.
Ms. Liu has some suggestions to make housing in the city more affordable:
- Quotas to increase the number of affordable housing units within new buildings
- Greater oversight from the city of real estate developers
- A tax or fee for overseas investors who want to buy luxury properties in Vancouver
The soaring average price of a detached house in Vancouver reached $2.23-million in May, pushing home ownership beyond the reach of many Vancouverites.
Mayor Gregor Robertson has urged B.C. Premier Christy Clark to intervene in the market and called for a speculation tax on people who buy and sell real estate quickly to make a profit. The province, which does not collect any data on the subject, has so far said it will not enact any measures.
John Baird says Jim Flaherty’s death spurred him to leave politics
Former foreign affairs minister John Baird said he left politics due to the sudden death of his close friend and former finance minister Jim Flaherty last year, Jacquie McNish reports.
Mr. Flaherty died of a heart attack in April, 2014, and Mr. Baird said that after months of reflection he decided that it was time to start a new career in the private sector.
“I just thought the time was right. … It is an incredibly demanding job and I had given it my all,” he said.
His latest business appointment: strategic adviser at Mississauga-based engineering giant Hatch Ltd. He is also a director with two companies controlled by Hong Kong developer Richard Li, and he serves as international adviser at gold mining giant Barrick Gold Corp. and Bay Street law firm Bennett Jones LLP.
In each of his new positions, Mr. Baird said his primary focus will be fostering deeper Canadian trade and business ties between China and other Asian countries.
Court approves Mobilicity sale to Rogers for $465-million
An Ontario court has approved a deal for Rogers Communications Inc. to buy Mobilicity in a $465-million sale, Christine Dobby reports.
Bill Aziz, Mobilicity's chief restructuring officer, said in an affidavit that he understands the agreement has the support of"substantially all of [Mobilicity's] secured debt holders."
The company's main asset is its spectrum - the airwaves used to build cellular networks - which it purchased for $243-million in 2008. The federal government must approve transfers of spectrum and has previously blocked Mobilicity's attempts to sell its licenses to Telus, who offered $380-million in its original 2013 deal and $350-million in a deal last year.
Mr. Aziz said Mobilicity has been in talks with potential buyers for the past two weeks, and asked its suitors to provide their last and final offers by 10:30 p.m. Monday.
Rogers will assume Mobilicity's outstanding debts to its trade creditors -- such as suppliers and landlords – as well as its obligations to employees and dealers.
Mobilicity had 157,000 subscribers as of the end of April. According to the affidavit, these customers will not experience any interruptions in their subscriptions.
It’s not just the bride and groom shelling out for weddings
It's no secret that getting married costs a lot of money.
But it's not just the bride and groom who are feeling the financial pinch, Kiran Rana reports.
When the cost of a gift for the engagement party, bridal shower and the wedding day are added up, Canadians are spending an average of $776 on wedding-related presents.
The cost is especially hefty for bridesmaids, who can expect to spend roughly $1,000 before the special day is over, financial planner Shannon Lee Simmons says.
Ms. Simmons said that in an ideal situation, brides and grooms would make their wedding party part of the financial decision making process.
Stephanie van der Meer has been a bridesmaid three times, with costs for each starting at $500 and topping $1000. She’s seen demands from expensive dresses to required matching shoes to a professional makeup job.
“Money isn’t everything in these situations,” Ms. van der Meer says. “There are ways around it. Just make do to have those memories and commit to someone knowing they would do it for you if the tables were turned.”