French skydiver Michel Fournier failed on his second attempt to set a new free-fall record after his $500,000 balloon left without him on Tuesday. Fournier's initial plan was to be inside a small capsule attached to the balloon and then jump 24. 85 miles (40 kilometers) to earth. To prepare for his ascent, Fournier was breathing compressed oxygen and wore a space suit. The ascent would have taken 120 minutes and the descent only a quarter of an hour.

Familiar faces on wedding banquets involving a Canadian groom and an Indian bride were the giveaway that aroused the suspicion of Canadian immigration officials that marriage for convenience syndicates were behind the move to fast track the acquisition of resident visas by Indian nationals. After their curiosity was challenged, visa officers compared files of wedding photos submitted as proof of a legitimate wedding, which led to the conclusion syndicates were behind the rent-a-guest modus operandi.

If Ontario has its beef against the Lord's Prayer being recited daily at the Legislature, Quebec lawmakers on Friday dealt with its Christian tradition through a question if it should keep the crucifix on its National Assembly or remove the Christian symbol. The provincial legislature, however, adopted the motion filed by Quebec Premier Jean Charest to retain the crucifix. The Christian icon became a major issue in the French-speaking province celebrating its 4th centennial because of a controversial report prepared by the Bouchard-Taylor Commission.

Ten Sears Canada stores opened in Ontario Monday, possibly in violation of the Retail Business Holidays Act since it was Victoria Day. The company had been forewarned by the provincial government it might face sanctions, but Sears nevertheless went ahead and opened although it maintained it did not went against the law because the openings were private-by-invitation only affairs and were closed to the public.

While Canada reviews the use of Tasers arising from the death of a Polish migrant zapped by a stun gun at the Vancouver airport, two Colorado men tried to settle a parking lot argument using Tasers. Harvey Epstein, co-owner of Mamacitas restaurant and Casey Dane, a supervisor with Colorado Security Services, hit each other with Taser guns over an argument after Dane clamped the wheel of a vehicle parked behind the Epstein's eatery.