In the news today, Dec. 13

By The Canadian Press

Five stories in the news for Wednesday, Dec. 13

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CANADIANS TO FORK OUT MORE FOR FOOD IN 2018

Canadians are eating out more and can expect to pay extra to do so in 2018, suggests a report into food prices. Food inflation overall is expected to rise between one and three per cent next year, says Canada’s Food Price Report. For an average family of four, that represents an increase of $348 to about $11,948 for the year.

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GOOGLE LOOKS AT TOP-TRENDING SEARCHES IN CANADA

Google is out with its 17th annual survey of top-trending searches, and top-of-mind topics for Canadians in 2017 ranged from devastating hurricanes to deceased rock icons to the continuing U.S. political circus. The top overall search term in 2017 was Hurricane Irma, while right behind that was Meghan Markle, the American and sometime Torontonian actor engaged to Prince Harry.

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CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENTS BEGIN IN POLYGAMY CASE

A British Columbia man found guilty of marrying two dozen women says he believed he was entitled to practice polygamy because he wasn’t charged when police investigated the allegations in the 1990s. Winston Blackmore appeared in B.C. Supreme Court in Cranbrook on Tuesday, where a judge is hearing arguments on whether Canada’s polygamy laws infringe on his rights to freedom of religion and expression.

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B.C. LOOKS AT CIGARETTE RULES FOR POT

B.C. marijuana smokers may have to follow the same public smoking rules as tobacco users when cannabis becomes legal. Premier John Horgan says his government may follow the same provincial smoking laws and community clean air bylaws that prohibit smoking near buildings or public spaces. More details on provincial marijuana policy are expected early next year.

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JURY DELIBERATING IN BABCOCK MURDER TRIAL

The case against two men accused of killing a young Toronto woman whose body has not been found has been put to the jury with the judge reminding jurors to rely on the circumstantial evidence they heard during the trial. The 350 pages of instructions from Superior Court Justice Michael Code capped the nearly eight-week trial of Dellen Millard and his friend Mark Smich. Both have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the presumed death of Laura Babcock, who disappeared five years ago.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— StatsCanada will release Canada’s international investment position for the third quarter.

— International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau will report on the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund.

— Also in Ottawa, Finance Minister Bill Morneau will announce the next steps in income sprinkling tax measures.

— Officials from Unifor and Unite will meet with Bombardier’s CEO in Montreal to discuss the Boeing and C Series planes dispute.

— Premier Philippe Couillard and Economy Minister Dominique Anglade will unveil the province’s digital strategy.

— Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will host a town hall meeting in Brampton.

— Hillary Clinton will be in Vancouver to promote her book “What Happened.”

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