News briefs

West Nile victim awarded $130,000; Feds protect foreign strippers; Park wardens need guns: Officer

West Nile victim awarded $130,000

Toronto — A plasterer who was bitten by a mosquito while working outdoors applying stucco to buildings has been awarded $130,000 by the Ontario Court of Appeal. Ryszard Kolbuc was bitten in the summer of 2002, contracted West Nile and, within three weeks, the 52-year-old was a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. Kolbuc was insured through his union with Ace Ina Insurance under a group accident policy. Ace Ina refused to pay, arguing what happened to Kolbuc was a disease, not an accident. A lower court agreed, but the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling last month. “An accident can cause a disease,” the Court of Appeal said. “For example, if a sailor is shipwrecked at sea and develops an illness from exposure to the elements, his injury is caused by an accident.” In 2002, there were more than 390 human cases of West Nile in Ontario. But the number has dropped significantly, with only 42 reported last year.

Feds protect foreign strippers

Ottawa — New laws will prevent foreign strippers from getting work permits if authorities believe there is a strong chance they could be sexually exploited or subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment, said Immigration Minister Diane Finley. In December 2004, the former Liberal government ditched a program that provided temporary work permits to foreign strippers. These permits were awarded despite warnings the strippers were vulnerable to forced prostitution, said Finley.

Park wardens need guns: Officer

Ottawa — A federal appeals officer has ruled it’s too risky for unarmed wardens to police national parks. Douglas Malanka, an officer with the Canada Appeals Office on Occupational Health and Safety, ruled that wardens need to carry sidearms. Until they are properly armed, the RCMP will be responsible for policing national parks. In 2000, a warden at Banff National Park filed a health and safety complaint stating that the safety of wardens was threatened because they don’t carry guns. Parks Canada has not yet decided if it will arm its wardens.

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