In a tweet Saturday afternoon, the organization said its "Board of Directors has voted to eliminate body-checking from Peewee hockey."

According to the vice-president of Hockey Development, Saturday’s vote was a "watershed moment" for peewee hockey.

"It’s a good decision, and a win-win for kids," Paul Carson told CTV’s News Channel in an interview from Charlottetown, P.E.I. where the annual meeting was held.

Carson said Saturday’s vote caps off a lengthy debate the national hockey association has been having.

"We did presentations at our semi-annual meetings. We did presentations with our board a couple of months ago -– really trying to position everybody with a level of comfort knowing that it’s the right move."

After longstanding disagreement over whether to allow hitting among young hockey players, federations in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Quebec have already instituted bans on hitting among their peewee players – most of whom are 11- and 12-years-old.

The issue gained momentum last year after a study showed that the rate of injury was three times higher in Alberta than in Quebec.

According to Hockey Alberta, the study indicated that a ban on checking at the peewee level would prevent 400 concussions and more than 1,000 injuries each year in the province.

Earlier this month, Hockey Alberta eliminated bodychecking in all categories of peewee hockey as part of a ban that takes effect in September.

And on May 12, Nova Scotia became the latest province to ban body checking for peewee players as well as for players in the B and C levels of the bantam and midget leagues (ages 13 through 18).

But not everyone agrees that peewee players should be banned from bodychecking. Some say the practice prepares young players for tougher games at older levels, while others contend learning to do it well can prevent injuries.

According to former Calgary Flames player Theo Fleury, learning how to check effectively was essential to his success in the NHL. "Being small and having had body checking in minor hockey I learned how 2give and take a body check. Hockey is a game of contact, leave it in," he tweeted earlier this month.

But Carson doesn’t buy that argument. In his view, the protective effect of learning to check at a young age is essentially non-existent. Research shows that the risk of injury for players who hit at a younger age is roughly equivalent as the risk for players who bodycheck later in their careers, he explained.

Carson said the focus of the game for young hockey players should be skill development. "The idea behind the game is to play the sport at level where you’re really confident skater, puck carrier, passer-receiver and shooter."

He said Saturday’s vote was not unanimous although an “overwhelming” number of board members were in favour of the ban. According to a re-tweet by the Saskatchewan Hockey Assocation, it was the only organization that cast a "no" vote.

The changes voted on by Hockey Canada in Charlottetown on Saturday are expected to take effect in the 2013-2014 season.

Paramedics say he is suffering from serious injuries and smoke inhalation.

The fire started on the 8^th floor of a 12 story highrise at 311 Bell St. S.

Smoke was reported on the 6^th through 9^th floors.

Firefighters searched the residence for other occupants. No one else was in the apartment and there were no other injuries reported.

Ottawa fire services inspector is on the scene.

Just as Ottawa's franchise icon Daniel Alfredsson predicted following a 7-3 Penguins rout in Game 4, the Senators weren't good enough to rally from a 3-1 deficit for the first time in six attempts in franchise history.

They were good enough to win only once in a series decided by Pittsburgh's offensive execution, a scoring depth that ranges far beyond Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Brenden Morrow, Kris Letang and Malkin each added singles for the Penguins on Friday, while Neal's goals gave him five in the final two games of the series.

The Penguins were aided by the solid goaltending of Tomas Vokoun, who made 29 saves and doesn't appear willing to give back his job to former Stanley Cup winner Marc-Andre Fleury any time soon.

Pittsburgh, which led the conference during the regular season, will play either the Boston Bruins or New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals. Boston leads 3-1 in a series that resumes Saturday night.

For the Senators, who generated only goals by Milan Michalek and Kyle Turris, it was yet another disappointing conclusion to a season. The Senators have failed to advance past the conference semifinals since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2007.

Much like the series, Game 5 didn't take long to decide as the Penguins overwhelmed Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson with waves of scoring attempts -- even when Crosby, who had just an assist, and Malkin weren't on the ice.

Malkin did get Pittsburgh's fourth goal, his fourth of the playoffs, on a short breakaway created by the turnover Neal generated at mid-ice in the final minute of a second period in which Pittsburgh scored three times.

Neal added his second of the game unassisted at 11:07 of the third, and his sixth of the playoffs and third of the game with 2:39 remaining.

The Penguins are averaging 4.27 goals a game through 11 playoff games, the best such pace of any team since the 1992-93 Penguins averaged 4.17 goals per game. Pittsburgh have also scored at least four goals in nine of 11 playoff games, only once failing to score fewer than three in a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 3 in Ottawa.

But they recovered from that lone defeat in the series to outscore the Senators 12-5 in the final two games, including the 7-3 rout in Game 4 in which Senators coach Paul MacLean's post-game news conference lasted only 13 seconds and Alfredsson couldn't generate much optimism in a quiet dressing room.

The final game of the series wasn't decided that quickly, but the Penguins never trailed after Morrow, who missed Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, beat Anderson down low off a pass by Mark Eaton 6:25 into the first. The play was started after longtime Senators antagonist Matt Cooke beat Jared Cowen to the puck and threaded a pass to Eaton.

The goal was reviewed briefly before it was determined Morrow did not use a distinct kicking motion while directing the puck by Anderson.

Neal made it 2-0 on a power play created by Jean-Gabriel Pageau's interference penalty nearly 7 1/2 minutes into the second, and Letang pushed it to 3-0 with a 4-on-4 goal just over five minutes later.

Tyler Kennedy skated the puck out of his own zone before sending a pass to the left circle to Letang, who cut into the high slot to beat Anderson with a hard wrist shot.

Michalek, reunited on a line with Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, finally got Ottawa on the board late in the second period.

“He just came and tell me, ‘Mom, my sisters are taking some pills in your purse. Hurry, hurry, hurry,’” says mother Monique Herault.

Kassidy, 4, and her sister Haley, 3, were able to get the bottle open with their teeth. They were rushed to hospital by ambulance and placed in critical care. They were released four days later.

“I couldn't eat, I didn't sleep, I thought my children was going to die,” says Herault.

Now the family wants answers regarding the safety of the child-resistant bottle under the brand name Secu-Rigo.

It is a common type of container that uses aligned arrows on the bottle and lid to open. When the arrows are separated the bottle should be locked.

 “That bottle was supposed to be child-proof. And my daughter of four years old opened it with her teeth,” Herault says.

The manufacturer of the bottles Richards Packaging released this statement:

We take these incidents very seriously all of our products meet the CSA standards governing child-resistant packages.

All of our products are tested by the CSA and their inspectors audit our manufacturing facilities on a regular basis.

Please be aware that all prescription containers are child-resistant not child-proof and that parents are the first and best guardians of their children’s safety when it comes to the proper storage and security of any medication.

“How can this be CSA approved if children almost died over it. The company is not manufacturing their product right,” says Derrick Nadeau, the children’s father.

The family says they notified their local pharmacist who tested out the other bottles. They say staff found the same problem and pulled the rest of the stock from the shelves.

Monique Herault says it’s a start, but she won’t find closure until the company recalls the bottles.

"I don't feel safe. I mean I watch every step they take. It's a nightmare."

With a report from CTV’s John Hua

The 1.36 litre size of President's Choice White Grape Juice contains sulphites which are not declared on the label.

The product, which has a best before date of April 17, 2014, has been distributed nationally in Loblaw banner stores.

Consumption of the product may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in people with sensitivity to sulphites.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the product.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring the effectiveness of the voluntary recall.

“There are serious accusations from the Toronto Star that I use crack cocaine,” Ford told reporters at city hall on Friday afternoon. “I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine.”

It’s been more than a week since reports of the alleged video first surfaced on U.S. website Gawker, and later in the Toronto Star.

Both media outlets said they had viewed a video that appears to show the mayor smoking crack cocaine.

The existence and content of the video has not been verified by CTV News.

Last week, Ford called the allegations “ridiculous,” but said little else about the matter.

The mayor said Friday he was advised by his lawyer to “not say a word.”

“I cannot comment on a video that I have never seen or does not exist,” he said.

He said it was “most unfortunate” the he has been “judged by the media without any evidence.”

Ford added that the intense media scrutiny during the past week has taken a toll on him and his family, and he thanked his supporters.

The mayor also briefly addressed his dismissal from his duties as a volunteer high school football coach. The Toronto Catholic District School Board announced this week that Ford will no longer coach the Don Bosco Eagles, but stressed that the decision had nothing to do with the video allegations.

The school board said Ford was let go because he made disparaging remarks about the players and the school in a March media interview.

The mayor said Friday he will continue to support the team and wished the young players success in the upcoming season.

“These kids are phenomenal kids who have bright futures and can do anything if they put their mind to it.”

Following his statement, the mayor refused to take questions, but his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, agreed to answer a limited number of questions from the crush of reporters who gathered at city hall.

“He does not have an addiction to crack cocaine and I think he was really clear on that,” Doug Ford said.

“There was one news organization that accused, and has an accusation, of a video that does not exist or we haven’t seen. Very simple” he said. “So, until then, we’ll deal from there.”

Councillors react to Ford’s statement

Ford’s statement came shortly after members of his inner circle released a letter assuring residents that despite the controversy that’s surrounded the mayor over the last week, city business continues without interruption.

The open letter, signed by six members of Ford’s executive committee, urged the mayor to speak to the allegations as the controversy around the reports continued to intensify.

“We ask the Mayor to definitely address the allegations before him,” the letter reads. “The allegations need to be addressed openly and transparently. We are encouraging the Mayor to address this matter so that we can continue to focus on serving the people of Toronto.”

Following Ford’s statement, executive committee member Jaye Robinson said while she’s pleased that Ford finally addressed the allegations, she is not sure if his response was forceful enough.

“I’m not sure if he went far enough” Robinson told CTV’s Power Play on Friday. “I’m not sure if it was comprehensive as some might have liked it to be.”

Robinson, who was one of the signatories on the letter, said she’s uncertain if Ford’s statement will help quell the controversy.

“What we do know is we’d like the disruptions at city hall to end."

Deputy mayor Doug Holyday, who was personally thanked by Ford during his statement, said he doubts the heightened media attention directed at the mayor will subside anytime soon.

“I don’t imagine the matter is going to go away,” he said shortly after Ford spoke.

Executive committee member Peter Milczyn said he’s happy Ford finally broke his silence.

“I appreciate that not everyone is going to believe him, but at this point that wasn’t really the issue,” Milczyn told CP24. “The issue was he needed to come out and address it, he couldn’t just stay silent.”

Meanwhile, other councillors criticized Ford for not taking reporters’ questions and for being vague when addressing the allegations levied against him.

“He is unable to govern the city anymore,” Coun. Glen De Baeremaeker told reporters. “He has no legitimacy.”

Ford's chief of staff fired

Meanwhile, more details have emerged about the firing of the mayor’s chief of staff, Mark Towhey.

Towhey, who was the third chief of staff to serve Mayor Ford since he took office, was fired Thursday after he reportedly urged Ford to “get help,” according a source quoted by multiple media reports.

As Towhey was escorted out of city hall Thursday afternoon, he was asked what advice he had for Ford and replied his advice was confidential.

Towhey said little else, but confirmed he was no longer in the position and had not resigned.

On Friday, Ford thanked Towhey “for all the work he has done.”

Crowdfunding initiative hits snag

In another development to the saga, a crowdfunding initiative to raise $200,000 to purchase the alleged video of Ford has hit a snag, after Gawker reported it has not been able to contact the seller since last Sunday.

Gawker’s John Cook warned contributors to the fund -- dubbed “Crackstarter”-- that his confidence in completing the deal has “diminished.”

The fund had accumulated over $167,000 by Friday evening, with at least one donor pledging $10,000.

Doug Ford criticized Gawker Friday, calling the website’s initiative “disgusting.”

One, an injured pigeon, was bleeding and appeared to have a damaged wing. Belway believes that newly-installed bird spikes are to blame.

Bird spikes are a series of long, sharp wires jutting up from surfaces on which birds like to land and possibly nest. They are legal, common in many cities, and often recommended as a humane way to deter problem birds. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources recommends them as one of many ways to deal with problem pigeons.

But Belway thinks the pigeon flew into the spikes and became injured. “I think it's animal cruelty. I don't see how they're less special than any other bird" she says.

It’s a possible scenario, says one pest control expert. Birds fly into things all the time. Another bird specialist says the spikes might not even be the problem.  "There's a lot of things that can hurt pigeons, especially downtown. It could have hit a window. It could have been hit by a car" says Mae Goguen of the Ottawa Wild Bird Care Centre.

But the pigeon wasn’t the only bird tragedy for Rachel Belway. On another side of the building, away from the spikes, she found three dead young birds on the sidewalk. She believes they had been knocked out of a nearby nest. If that’s true, it could be illegal. "If a nest has eggs, at that point it becomes illegal to move them” says Goguen.

There’s nothing Rachel Belway can do about the baby birds. But she maintains the bird spikes will do more harm than good. She wants them removed.

This year, for the 5^th consecutive year, he will be running the 2 KM.

“My mom signed me up for the marathon 2k when I was 3 years old,” says Luis.

He is also raising money for Can Fund, a charity that helps Olympic level athletes. Over the years, he’s raised more than 16-thousand dollars.

Luis says he doesn’t train for race day. He has learned that he needs to pace himself.

“When I was 6 years old it didn't go that well,” says Luis, “at the end I was sort of sick. I ran too fast.”

CTV's Natalie Pierosara will have more on this story tonight at six.

William Scott, a 41-year-old resident of Spruce Grove, Alta., was at the wheel of a semi-truck carrying a large load of steel when he struck one of the bridge's girders, said Sgt. Kirk Rudeen, of the Washington State Patrol.

Scott made it across the four-lane span but the bridge collapsed behind him, sending the structure tumbling down 15 metres into the Skagit River. Rescuers arrived at the scene within minutes and pulled three people from the frigid water. By late Thursday, officials declared the rescue effort a success.

No one was killed, although the three people pulled from the river were taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries. All three have now been released.

Cynthia Scott, William’s wife, told CTV Edmonton Friday that her husband was “horrified” as he watched the bridge collapse behind him in his rear-view mirror.

“He is shaken up,” Cynthia said. “He was really scared for the people that had fallen off the bridge, and he was really happy to hear that they were fine and that was the real blessing. Because vehicles can be replaced, trucks can be replaced, bridges can be replaced, but people can’t.”

She said her husband has been driving a truck for 20 years and has between 10 and 15 years of “heavy haul experience.” He has won awards and bonuses for his commitment to safety.

She believes it’s “too early to say” what caused the bridge to fall, based on pictures she has seen of the collapse.

“I’ve seen pictures of the damage and the damage is so minimal,” she said. “If it hit at all, it seems physically impossible to have done any kind of damage to a structure, never mind take it down. It just seems structurally impossible.”

The bridge spanned the river along Interstate 5, about 130 kilometres south of the B.C. border. Helicopter footage suggests that the bridge fell straight down along with some of the metal supports above the bridge, creating a tangle of wreckage where the bridge met the water.

Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste said it appeared as though two semi trucks were crossing the four-lane bridge at the same time, both heading southbound, when one of them collided with part of the bridge.

"Early indications tell us we had a semi-truck southbound on Interstate 5 in the right lane, which we call lane 1. At this point, we had a semi, which was also southbound, in lane 2, the left lane. For reasons unknown at this point in time, the semi-truck struck the overhead of the bridge, causing the collapse," Batiste told reporters.

Scott works for Mullen Trucking, and company vice president Ed Scherbinski told The Associated Press that it received a Washington State permit to carry the oversized load across the bridge.

Scherbinski said the company also hired a local escort to navigate the route.

"This is what we do for a living. We pride ourselves in doing things the proper way," Scherbinski said.

The collapse cuts off the main route between Washington State and Canada. Motorists were being asked to avoid the area, said the National Transportation Safety Board.

The accident occurred just ahead of the Sasquatch Music Festival in Quincy, Wash., which attracts many Canadians each year who would normally take the highway to get there.

Dan Sligh and his wife were among those rescued from the river, along with another man. All three were hurt, though the extent of their injuries is not known.

Sligh said he and his wife were heading out on a camping trip in their pickup truck when the bridge effectively disappeared in front of them.

"I hit the brakes and we went off," Sligh told reporters from a hospital where he was being treated for his injuries.

He added the couple "saw the water approaching ... you hold on as tight as you can."

Jeremiah Thomas, a volunteer firefighter, said he was driving nearby when he glimpsed something out of the corner of his eye and turned to look.

"The bridge just went down, it crashed through the water," he told The Associated Press. "It was really surreal."

A Federal Highway Administration database listed the bridge as being "functionally obsolete," meaning that the design is outdated, likely due to factors such as having narrow shoulders and low clearance.

However, the bridge was not classified as structurally deficient.

The bridge was built in 1955 and has a sufficiency rating of 57.4 out of 100, according to federal records. That is well below the statewide average rating of 80, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data, but 759 bridges in Washington State have a lower sufficiency score.

With files from The Associated Press

(Ottawa)-The Ottawa Police Service wishes to advise commuters of a road closure in effect at the intersection of Parkdale Avenue and Scott Street as a light standard has fallen to the ground following a collision.

Commuters are asked to avoid the area, for at least a few hours, as repairs are being made.

Race events are scheduled for Saturday afternoon and evening, and all morning and early afternoon on Sunday.

Each race begins at the corner of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue, outside Ottawa City Hall, and ends at the Cartier Drill Hall along the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. Several downtown Ottawa streets will be partially or completely closed to vehicular traffic.

Check the Ottawa Race Weekend website to see which streets will be affected.

Ottawa Police, City officials and race officials will monitor activities so as to minimize any potential traffic impacts. Motorists planning to travel in and around these areas on Saturday and Sunday should consider taking alternate routes.

Local residents affected by the road closures should check the Ottawa Race Weekend website for information.

The City of Ottawa appreciates motorists’ patience during this time.

NEW YORK -- Actress Amanda Bynes appeared disheveled in a long blond wig and sweats Friday in a criminal court where she was charged with reckless endangerment after police said she heaved a marijuana bong out of her Manhattan apartment building.

The 27-year-old former child star was arrested Thursday evening, after building officials at her midtown apartment called police to complain she was rolling a joint and smoking pot in the lobby.

The officers went to her apartment on the 36th floor where they said they saw heavy smoke and a bong sitting on the kitchen counter. They said she tossed the bong out the window in front of them, prosecutors said.

She then said to police: "It was just a vase," according to Manhattan assistant district attorney Chikaelo Ibeabuchi.

"My client completely denies illegally throwing anything out of her window," said Andrew Friedman, her attorney for the arraignment.

The judge released her on her own recognizance and gave her a July 9 court date.

Thursday, Bynes was held overnight at a police precinct. She pulled up to court Friday morning in a squad car where she was greeted by a crush of media. She was also charged with attempted tampering with evidence and unlawful possession of marijuana, all misdemeanors.

"I'm asking you I don't want any pictures," she said to a photographer.

"I don't want any photos. No press are allowed in here," she announced to the public courtroom.

Bynes rose to fame starring in Nickelodeon's "All That" and has also starred in several films, including 2010's "Easy A." But she has been in the news more recently because of several scrapes with the law and bizarre public behavior.

Her lawyer said she had no record in New York, but the judge noted she had several out-of-state cases. In California in December, the former "Hairspray" star resolved a misdemeanor hit-and-run case after entering into a civil settlement with other drivers.

Also in California, she was charged last fall with driving on a suspended license after it was temporarily taken away from her after two hit-and-run cases where she was accused of leaving the scene without providing proper information. She has also pleaded not guilty to drunken driving in a separate case.

In releasing her, Chief New York County Judge Neil Ross gave her a stern warning not to make trouble or miss any court dates.

"I do want to make sure you understand," he said. "If you get arrested again ... I'm going to be setting very, very significant bail."

"OK," she replied.

"You're in a very, very challenging situation right now," he said.

Assistant district attorney Ibeabuchi had asked for $1,000 bail. He said no bong was recovered from the street below - a sign, her attorney said, that Bynes was telling the truth.

"There was nothing recovered from the sidewalk, clearly a search was made for the bag," said Friedman of the New York County Defender Services. He said she was followed illegally into her apartment and has made a complaint about police wrongfully entering.

As the judge dispensed with her case, she said, "Thank you sir, have a nice day."

The star then got into a waiting yellow cab ringed with photographers and TV cameras and left.

The Ottawa Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

(Ottawa)- The Ottawa Police Service is looking for public assistance in locating a 12 year old girl. Carissa Stephenson of Ottawa was last seen on Albert Street in the downtown area this morning.

She has light brown skin, is 5' 5" (165cm), approximately 100 lbs (45 kg), short black hair with long bangs and large barettes in her hair and has braces (see picture). She was wearing an aqua green hoodie with a label of "Aéropostale", white/blue denim skinny jeans.

There are concerns for her wellbeing as she has some mental difficulties.

If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of Carissa, please contact Ottawa Police Service by dialing 911.

Staff Sergeant Gauthier is being recognized for his 31-year career of achievements and service. His work in drug prevention in the community and his outreach efforts with the Aboriginal population, both in Ottawa and abroad, has positioned him as a respected leader. He has volunteered countless hours towards these causes and has built and maintained widespread and strong professional relationships.

Sergeant Momy was nominated for his outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of policing, as well as his work with both the Ottawa Police Association and Canadian Police Association.

The Order was created in October 2000 to recognize the leadership and exceptional service or distinctive merit displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Police Services, and recognizes their commitment to this country. The primary focus is on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.

"This is a great honour to be bestowed on an officer," said Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau. "On behalf of the Ottawa Police, I congratulate both Staff Sergeant Gauthier and Sergeant Momy for their contributions and commitment to the safety of Ottawa residents."

Doug Holyday said council's executive committee would be issuing a formal statement aimed at reassuring people, and that it would also urge Mayor Rob Ford to address the week-old allegations that he smoked crack cocaine.

"If the mayor has another version, he should be out there putting that forward so the people can make a decision," Holyday said.

"At this point it hasn't happened, but I think the longer that goes on, the worse it gets."

Holyday said he was not prepared to call for Ford's resignation if the mayor refuses to speak up. Nor would he say whether he believed Ford has a substance abuse problem.

Ford has spent the past week evading reporters and ducking in and out of city hall since the American website Gawker and the Toronto Star reported viewing a cellphone video they said was taken by a drug dealer.

The video -- its authenticity has not been verified -- appeared to show Ford smoking what looked like crack cocaine, the publications said.

Last Friday, Ford called the allegations "ridiculous" but has otherwise refused to deal with them, despite repeated urging from friends and rivals alike that he do so.

The letter from the executive committee will make it clear the mayor's inner circle believes the silence can't last.

Holyday insisted the city was still functioning, saying governance was bigger than any one person.

"The business of the city will continue as usual," Holyday said.

"The water still comes out of your tap, the fire department is still working."

On Thursday, Ford's chief of staff Mark Towhey left the job.

Towhey would only say he did not resign but several reports cited sources as saying Ford fired him after he urged the mayor to get help.

Holyday, a close Ford ally, said the mayor was a good listener but he expressed frustration at the lack of follow-through.

"Listening and actions are two different things, and sometimes I don't see the action after we've had the conversation," Holyday said.

Other reports said the final straw came when the mayor wanted his staff to help organize a pizza party for the high school football team he coached, even though the school board had relieved him of his duties.

As he had done for days, Ford again dodged reporters Thursday and a statement issued by his office did not say why Towhey had left staff.

Gawker has so far raised more than $160,000 toward a goal of $200,000 it said it needed to buy the video.

However, editor John Cook says the drug dealer who has the video has been unreachable in recent days, and said his confidence that the deal to buy the video could go through was "diminished."

City officials ended the two-day-old advisory at 10:15 p.m., after tests concluded the water quality was fine.

Mayor Michael Applebaum said the warning had been issued as a precaution after an abnormal drop in levels inside a filtration plant under renovation.

"You can drink the water," Applebaum told a news conference.

"If you open your tap and see it's a little bit brown, just let the tap run for a bit."

Applebaum said the city is now trying to determine what happened to cause the water volume to drop at the Atwater plant, the second-biggest in the country.

The mayor was making his first public appearance in days. He had planned to take the week off while mourning the death of his brother following a lengthy illness. Applebaum thanked the media and public for respecting his family's privacy.

Officials had feared the water might be contaminated by sediments that trickled into the system. They said the tests confirmed Thursday that it was free of e-Coli and other serious bacteria.

Locals had been venting their frustration for two days. Many found relief in dark humour about the state of affairs in their scandal-plagued city.

One lengthy La Presse newspaper column bitterly decried the quality of governance in the city, before concluding with a joke: at least the mayor doesn't smoke crack.

The advisory, which followed repeated subway disruptions and reports of corruption in the city, resulted in a flurry of comments on Twitter. Many struck a humorous note: "Even the water is corrupt in Montreal," tweeted a number of people, including Marcel Carrier.

There were also jokes that drew parallels between brown envelopes, like the kind being described at the Charbonneau inquiry, and the brown water.

The incident started at the west-end Atwater station. It was shut down around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday after levels dropped, causing sediments to enter the supply.

City officials had said from the start that the advisory was a preventive measure. They said Montrealers were able to drink the water after it had been boiled for a minute.

"We have no indication that any citizens were affected by drinking the water that circulated," said Christian Dubois, the municipal public-safety director, earlier Thursday.

"But we're not taking any risks."

The advisory resulted in a surge in demand for bottled water. Several Montreal grocery stores said they were running out.

One major grocery chain said the demand for bottled water underwent an astronomical increase -- by about 25 to 50 times -- since the advisory came into effect.

The company told The Canadian Press that it had sent 40 trucks to Montreal carrying a total of one million water bottles to deal with the demand.

Montreal did not wind up distributing bottled water because there was no need, according to city officials.

"There isn't a water shortage," said city spokesperson Valerie De Gagne.

"Water-filtration plants are working at full capacity."

The city was still preparing for the worst as of mid-day Thursday, preparing a "gameplan" in case the advisory had been extended, she said.

The impact was being felt at coffee shops, which had to turn away customers. It also prompted a more urgent call to action among advocates for the homeless.

One youth shelter, Dans la rue, recognized the potential impact on the poor.

"As soon as (the shelter's team) learned about it, they went to get large water bottles," said group spokeswoman Dorothy Massimo.

The shelter, which serves about 150 meals per day, uses water coolers.

Massimo said the shelter had enough water to last another day.

The brazen theft of Apple products like iPhones and iPads continues to rise. A quick poll along an Ottawa transit station shows many have either had their smartphones snatched or knows someone who has.

‘It was at Hurdman station and someone just snatched her phone. And she had a kid with her and she couldn't do nothing,” says Djenny Destouches of her sister’s experience.

There are about 400 personal robberies or swarmings in Ottawa, many of them over personal electronics. The hottest ticket item: the iPhone.

“We're seeing them at all hours of the day. Broad daylight, we're seeing them in transit stations, on buses and high traffic areas as well,” says S-Sgt. Michael Haarbosch of the Ottawa Police Service.

The resale of stolen Apple products is part of an estimated $30 billion global black market.

iPhones can easily be resold for up to $800.

With that much money on the line, owners of the products are worried about what thieves are willing to do.

“You have to be very careful because you feel either they're going to stab you for your phone or they're just going to take it,” says iPhone owner Garmai Mulbah.

Tips to avoid becoming a victim of “Apple Picking” include using generic ear buds, not using the device around suspicious people, or keeping the item in your pocket or purse.

With a report from CTV’s John Hua

The original version of the audit report said Duffy broke the rules when he declared a Prince Edward Island cottage as his primary residence and noted that the senator refused to co-operate with independent auditors.

Last Friday, CTV’s Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported that those damning notes were removed from the public version of the report that was tabled in the Senate.

• Compare the two versions of Duffy's audit

When asked if she helped sanitize the Duffy report, Stewart Olsen said: “I object to the word ‘sanitized.’ I moved the motion to adopt the report.”

Stewart Olsen is one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s most loyal advisers, dating back to his days in the Canadian Alliance Party. She served as his chief communications strategist until he appointed her to the Senate. 

Last week, Fife revealed that the audit of Duffy’s expenses was whitewashed as part of a secret deal with Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright.

Fife reported that Wright wrote a personal cheque for $90,000 to help Duffy repay improperly claimed living expenses. A confidential report later obtained by Fife showed that incriminating language was removed from the final version of Duffy’s audit report.

Harper addressed the scandal directly for the first time on Wednesday, telling reporters that he did not know about the agreement between Wright and Duffy and was not asked to sign off on it.

"I learned of this after stories appeared in the media last week speculating on the source of Mr. Duffy's repayments," Harper said in Peru, where he was on a trade mission before heading to Colombia.

"Immediately upon learning that the source was indeed my chief of staff, Nigel Wright, I immediately asked that that information be released publicly. That is what I knew,” Harper said.

"Had I obviously been consulted, more importantly, I would not have agreed. And it is obviously for those reasons that I accepted Mr. Wright's resignation."

Wright stepped down from his post on Sunday, while Duffy resigned from the Conservative caucus on Thursday.

Meanwhile,opposition MPs ramped up pressure on the government to release all documents related to the ongoing Senate expense scandal.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau raised questions Wednesday about why the language in Duffy’s report was different from that contained in the audits of two other senators’ expenses.

“It has now been a week since news broke that the prime minister’s right hand man secretly paid a sitting senator $90,000 to obstruct an audit,” Trudeau said.

“Today I want to ask a very specific question about that obstruction. We know now that the Conservatives on the Senate committee on internal economy used their majority to doctor the final report on Sen. Duffy’s expenses. Can anybody on that side of the house tell us who gave the order to whitewash the report on Sen. Duffy”

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird replied that, “It’s very clear from the committee’s report that these expenses should not have been expensed. No one in the government is disputing that fact. As I understand it, the report did in the end reflect the fact that a payment had been made.”

Duffy’s audit has since been referred back to the Senate’s internal economy committee for further review.

On Wednesday, Duffy issued a statement saying he “welcomed” the development of further review into his expense claims.

“Canadians deserve to know all of the facts,” he said. “I am confident that when they do they will conclude, as Deloitte has already concluded, that my actions regarding expenses do not merit criticism.”

Duffy said he will co-operate with the review “and all other authorities,” and will not comment again publicly until the process is complete.

In early May, the committee issued reports based on independent audits of the living expenses of Duffy, and Senators Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau. Harb and Brazeau were ordered to repay $51,000 and $48,000 in ineligible expenses, respectively, and Government Senate Leader Marjory LeBreton said their wages would be garnished to recoup the money.

Duffy’s report noted the $90,000 repayment, and LeBreton said then she considered the matter of Duffy’s audit closed.

The Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project is designed to provide insight into the real or perceived problem of racial profiling. The project is part of a settlement between Police and the Ontario Human Rights Commission after a 2005 complaint by a young black man pulled over while driving his mother’s Mercedes.

“Racial and ethnic profiling, real or perceived, quickly erodes public confidence and trust,” says Inspector Pat Flanagan, the head of the project. He says officers will now include what they believe the race of the driver to be in their traffic stop reports. They will also indicate whether they perceived the driver’s race before or after they pulled them over. Over the course of two years, the study will have data from an estimated 100-thousand traffic stops.

York University’s Dr. Les Jacobs, co-designer of the study, says it’s more important to know what the police officer thinks the driver’s race is because it’s the officer’s perception that may or may not influence his or her actions.

The Ottawa Police Services Community Police Action Committee is fully on-board with the study and how it’s designed. But not everyone is pleased. Ottawa Police Association President Matt Skof has questions about the study’s usefulness and its possible legal ramifications down the road. “There’s nothing I’ve seen in any of the literature that shows anything other than this project will be divisive,” he says.

The full project begins later this month.

J.P Trottier of the Paramedic Service says, “In about 75-80 percent of the time when you need to use CPR it will be on somebody you know.”

Here are the basics:

• If you suspect someone is in cardiac arrest check for a response.
• If they are unresponsive call 911 and start chest compressions. If you have access to a portable defibrillator, use it as well.
• Don't stop until paramedics arrive.
• Mouth to mouth isn't required.

The key to good compressions is to be rapid and forceful. Your hands should be in the middle of the chest at the nipple line. Push two inches down into the chest as hard and as fast as you can.

The City of Ottawa still offers full CPR training to those who want it.

CTV's Natalie Pierosara will have more on this story tonight at six.