Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today...BoC expected to hold policy rate at 5% today The Bank of Canada is set to announce its interest rate decision this morning. It's widely expected to maintain its key interest rate at five per cent, but economists will be watching for any hints about the timing of upcoming rate cuts. Forecasters expect the central bank to begin lowering its key rate in June as the economy continues to slow and inflation trends lower. High interest rates have slowed demand in the economy as co

Aam Aadmi Party candidates for Lok Sabha seats to be announced on April 16: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Aam Aadmi Party candidates for Jalandhar and Ludhiana Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be announced on April 16. This information was given by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In Jalandhar, the Aam Aadmi Party had given the ticket to Sushil Rinku, the sitting MP, but he left the AAP and joined the BJP. Aam Aadmi Party is yet to announce candidates from Gurdaspur and Ferozepur seats. On the other hand, this time BJP has made Sanjay Tandon its candidate while not giving the ticket to Kira

The Punjab government will not further pursue the case against Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in the 9-year-old drug trafficking case. The state government gave this information during an important hearing in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Supreme Court has given 4 weeks time to the Punjab government to file a written reply in this matter. It is to be noted that the Jalalabad police arrested Khaira on 28 September 2023 from his house in Chandigarh in a 9-year-old drug trafficking case. After three months, he got bail.

The British Columbia government is granting a one-time $430 benefit to the roughly 20,000 seniors in its support program for elderly low-income renters. B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says eligible seniors don't need to apply for the payment, which will be sent out this month. Kahlon says the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program, known as SAFER, will also expand eligibility for its benefits to seniors with annual incomes up to $37,240, compared to the previous $33,000 limit. Other changes will include the possible annual review and amendment of rent ceilings, which are used to determine

British Columbia is rolling out another round of COVID-19 vaccination boosters, with invitations starting to go out Monday. Ministry of Health says people who haven't received a booster against the XBB. 1.5 Omicron variant of COVID-19 will be among those offered the free shot. Others who will be invited include adults aged 65 and older, Indigenous adults 55 and over, residents of long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities, and anyone older than six months who is "clinically extremely vulnerable." The ministry says in a statement that although the spring program is focused on those mos

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal's health suddenly deteriorated on Tuesday, due to which Bikram Singh Majithia took over the command of the 'Punjab Bachao Yatra' to be taken out in Payal and Sahnewal assembly constituencies of Ludhiana. According to information received from a senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Badal suffered from diarrhea, due to which the doctors advised him to rest.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has ruled out raising taxes on the middle class in the upcoming federal budget but will not do the same for the notion of new or higher taxes on the wealthy or corporations. Freeland was asked by reporters in a news conference today about the prospect of new taxes on corporate Canada or others who are not part of the middle class. She didn't answer the question. Instead she emphasized the "urgent" need to invest in things that are important to Canadians, such as housing and artificial intelligence. Freeland says the government will make those investments in a

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail on Wednesday. He will be accompanied by AAP's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, who has recently come out on bail. Bhagwant Mann had recently written a letter to the Tihar Jail administration asking for permission to meet Kejriwal and while granting it, the jail administration said that Bhagwant Mann can meet Kejriwal as usual. It is to be noted that Kejriwal was brought to Tihar Jail after being sent to custody till April 15 by the court in Delhi's liquor scam case. The ED alleges that the money

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to defend his carbon pricing policy in a televised "emergency meeting" with the country's premiers. The Conservatives tabled a motion this morning which demands that Trudeau sit down with provincial and territorial leaders within five weeks. MPs are expected to vote on the motion tomorrow. Poilievre says he believes Trudeau is "too scared" to hold the televised meeting because he knows the Liberal government is losing the carbon pricing debate. The Conservatives insist the carbon price is making life less afforda