YES!
YES!
THAI FOOD CATERING 7 DAYS A WEEK!
613.233.4687
THAI FOOD DELIVERY 7 DAYS A WEEK!
metronews.ca
OTTAWA • WEEKEND, MAY 1-3, 2009
www.hot-peppers.ca
TIM WIECLAWSKI/METRO OTTAWA
The Dutch embassy in Ottawa cancelled a Queen’s Day reception on Thursday evening after a Dutch driver, allegedly attempting to assault the royal family, killed five people and injured 13 others when he plowed into a crowd gathered for a royal parade in the city of Apeldoorn. The members of the royal family were not injured. In light of the attack, the Queen’s Day reception in Ottawa was cancelled. Food from the event was donated to the Shepherds of Good Hope. A release from the Dutch embassy stated it was considering cancelling this weekend’s events as well. A Sunday church service at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Kent Street will proceed, but with a different focus. The embassy stated it was overwhelmed by expressions of sympathy from people in the city.
QUEEN’S DAY
MORE COVERAGE, PG 7
Celebrity Buzz pg 26
Lindsay replaces DJ with buzz drink?
Are keys included?
Chrysler files for bankruptcy protection, inks Fiat deal
TIM WIECLAWSKI/METRO OTTAWA
Grit convention • Follow Parveen Sandur’s blog from the federal Liberal convention in Vancouver at metronews.ca. • For news updates from the convention, see metronews.ca.
613.233.4687
www.hot-peppers.ca
Reception cancelled at Dutch embassy
On the web
c
Joannie Hebert, a performer with the Théâtre de L’Aubergine, works out on a trapeze in Major’s Hill Park Thursday. Théâtre de L’Aubergine is running circus workshops in the park during the Canadian Tulip Festival, which starts on Friday. This year’s festival is expected to attract 600,000 people.
Tulips ‘right on the money’ TRACEY TONG tracey.tong@metronews.ca
This year, Tulipfest will feature more than just pretty flowers as organizers of the Canadian Tulip Festival double the number of sites and expand entertainment offerings. “We’ve gone from two locations to four, which is huge,” said festival spokesman Connor McGuire. “We wanted to get a larger community presence, to have it more integrated into the city of Ottawa,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what part
Although the three million of town you’re in — you’re going to be able to experi- tulips planted in the nation’s ence some part of the tulip capital will always be a main attraction for the festival, festival.” “the tulip festiOrganizers is about getare looking “We wanted to get val ting people out forward to a a larger community of the house afsuccessful ter a long winfirst weekend presence.” ter and to conas the festival certs and perkicks off Fri- Connor McGuire day. This year, the timing of formances,” Armour said. This year, events include a the tulips is “right on the circus school, performances money,” McGuire said. An estimated 600,000 peo- by China’s Nanjing Acrobatic ple from all over the world Troupe and appearances by are expected to visit the four big-name speakers including sites over 18 days, said Julian Sir Bob Geldof, Rick Mercer, Armour, executive director Margaret Atwood and Sister Helen Prejean. of the tulip festival.
As part of the filing, the Chrysler LLC filed for bankU.S. government will proruptcy Thursday and vide up to $4.2 billion in announced an industrydebtor-in-possession fichanging deal with Fiat, nancing and up to $5.4 bilafter being pummelled by lion in exit financing. Obasliding auto sales and unma said he hopes the enable to reach agreement tire process will take only on restructuring its debt. Despite weeks of intense 30 to 60 days. Some of Chrysler’s 3,600 negotiations, Chrysler failed to gain full support U.S. dealers are expected to from its lenders to avoid close, and Chrysler Finanthe first-ever bankruptcy cial will stop providing filing by a major U.S. au- loans for new cars and trucks. Instead, General tomaker. Motors The move Corp’s fiwas hailed by nancing President Fiat specifics arm, GMAC, Barack Obawill provide ma as a criti- • The deal will allow Fiat to loans to cal step in own up to 35 per cent as it Chrysler saving 30,000 makes investments in U.S. dealers and jobs at operations and small-car customers. Chrysler, ma- technology for Chrysler. In addition jority-owned Over time, Fiat could eventuto Fiat’s ownby Cerberus ally own 51 per cent after ership stake, Capital Chrysler has repaid its loans U.S. officials Group, and to the U.S. Treasury. expect hundreds of Chrysler to thousands more jobs at affiliated sup- be 55 per cent owned by the United Auto Workers’ pliers and dealers. At the same time, healthcare trust fund Chrysler entered an ex- while the U.S. and Canadipected alliance with Fiat an governments hold a SpA, in which the Italian combined stake of 10 per carmaker was given an ini- cent. Chrysler has three mantial stake of 20 per cent. Chrysler struggled in re- ufacturing plants in Canacent years to compete, da and had to reach agreehurt by its near total re- ments with its unions liance on the U.S. market, there and the Canadian poor quality and a truck government under the reand SUV-dominated line- structuring. The automaker is not filup with the lowest combined fuel economy of any ing for bankruptcy in Canada, but the Canadian major automaker. The Chapter 11 filing, in government, along with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the province of Ontario, Manhattan, has implica- said they will provide tions for the entire indus- $2.42 billion in financing try — including Chrysler’s to help the company restructure. rivals and suppliers. REUTERS
GET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW! Save up to 20% off the single ticket price
Box Office: 613 236-5196 | www.gctc.ca Free Daily News Group Inc., operating as Metro Ottawa 130 Slater Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6E2. Publisher: Bill McDonald
MEDIA PARTNER: