20 – A large fire in Toronto, ON destroyed several buildings on the south side of Queen Street West, between Bathurst and Portland Streets. March – The Apple iPhone is expected to be released on Rogers Wireless service provider. March 3 – 2008 Alberta general election March 17 – Federal by-elections in Toronto Centre, Willowdale, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River and Vancouver Quadra. March 28 – The start of the 2008 Canadian Commercial Seal Hunt April to June April 5 – The Quebec City Armoury burns down. April 19 – Bowie Seamount on the British Columbia Coast becomes a Marine Protected Area. April 26 – The Toronto Transit Commission's union, the ATU Local 113 voted against a contract causing mayhem throughout the city as they gave only an hour's notice to Torontonians. Strike ended the day after when they were forced back to work through legislation. It also revived the debate as to whether the TTC is an essential service or not. May 29 – The Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (“Holodomor”) Memorial Day Act is assented. May 30 – Maxime Bernier resigned from his federal cabinet post as Minister of Foreign Affairs, after a scandal where it was discovered that he had left confidential NATO briefing documents at the home of his former girlfriend, Julie Couillard. She was a former model who had past romantic links with members of the Hells Angels. June 11 – The federal government officially apologizes for the systematic abuses inflicted to Aboriginal children in the residential school system. June 14 – Howard Hampton announces his resignation from the leadership of the Ontario New Democratic Party, resulting in the commencement of the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election. June 20 – Presidential candidate John McCain speaks before the Economic Club of Toronto. July to September July 1 – Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada) General Rick Hillier's term is set to end; Hillier is replaced by Walter Natynczyk. August – 2008 Canada listeriosis outbreak. August 10 – Toronto Explosions leaves 2 dead and thousands evacuate their homes. August 28 – The governor general announces the creation of the Sacrifice Medal. August 30 – The former Liberal MP Blair Wilson announces he is joining the Green Party of Canada, becoming the party's first MLA. September 7 – Stephen Harper issues the writs for the 2008 federal election. Federal by-elections which had been scheduled in Westmount—Ville-Marie, Saint-Lambert and Guelph for