Messier among 3 recipients of Order of Hockey in Canada

Published April 08, 2013

Associated Press

OTTAWA –  Mark Messier was one of three recipients of the Order of Hockey in Canada for his contributions to the game.

Messier, who won six Stanley Cups during a Hall of Fame career with Edmonton, the New York Rangers and Vancouver, was honored along with Paul Henderson and coach Dave King.

During a two-hour ceremony held on Parliament Hill, Messier broke down as he spoke of the national pride he felt as a young boy watching Henderson score the goal that sealed Canada's hockey supremacy over the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series.

Others who have been awarded the Hockey Canada honor include Jean Beliveau, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Gord Renwick.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the ceremony and paid tribute to recipients.

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Canada defends leaving UN convention on droughts

Published March 28, 2013

Associated Press

OTTAWA, Ontario –  Canada is defending its decision to pull out of a United Nations convention that fights the spread of droughts. It's the only country in the world outside the agreement.

The decision comes a month before a major scientific gathering hosted by the secretariat of the convention that would have forced Canada to confront scientific analysis on the effects of climate change.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government has been vilified an as outlier on climate change policy in past international meetings.

Harper said Thursday that Canada is withdrawing from the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification because the program is too bureaucratic.

Canada's foreign minister calls it a "talkfest" that does a disservice to taxpayers.

Former Canadian ambassador to the UN Robert Fowler says the move is a "departure from global citizenship."

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