on its side near Redwater, Alberta. At least 28 people were injured in the incident. February 26 – Three Via Rail employees die when a train derails near Burlington, Ontario. March 3 – Near Montreal, a charter bus crashes killing two people and injuring 48 others. March 5 – The federal government announces they are closing the Canadian embassy in Damascus amid the continuing violence in Syria. March 19 – NDP candidate Craig Scott wins a federal by-election in Toronto—Danforth. March 22 – Vaughn Solomon Schofield becomes lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan, replacing Gordon Barnhart. March 23 – In Perth-Andover, a high spring freshet coupled with an ice jam causes a rise in water levels surpassing those in the 1987 flood. A mandatory evacuation order was issued. About 500 people were affected. March 24 – Thomas Mulcair is elected leader of the New Democratic Party. March 29 Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announces the 2012 budget which includes cuts to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the reduction of over 19,000 federal jobs, and the discontinuation of the penny by the Royal Canadian Mint. The federal government announces they will gradually raise the age of eligibility for Old Age Security from 65 to 67 starting in 2023. April to June April 1 – Juno Awards in Ottawa, Ontario April 12 – John James Grant becomes Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, replacing Mayann Francis. April 15 – 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic April 19 The federal government announced they will close Kingston Penitentiary, which has housed convicted killers such as Paul Bernardo and Russell Williams. One hundred and fifty students are arrested in Gatineau after violent protests against Quebec's proposed tuition hikes. April 20 – Allyson McConnell is convicted of manslaughter after drowning her two sons in the bath as revenge against their father. She is sentenced to six years in prison but serves only 15 months. April 23 The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta wins a majority government of 61 seats in the 2012 Alberta election. The Wildrose Party wins 17 seats to become the Official Opposition for the first time. The Liberal Party wins five seats and New Democratic Party four. Thunder Bay—Superior North MP Bruce Hyer leaves the NDP caucus after being disciplined for voting against the NDP's position on the gun registry. April 24 – A sawmill in Prince George, British Columbia, explodes, killing two workers. April