Canada’s annual inflation rate reached 2.6% in February, marking the first time in seven months that it has surpassed the 2% threshold. This increase follows the expiration of the GST exemption for Canadians on February 15. The inflation rate in January had been 1.9%. According to Statistics Canada, the inflation rate for February would have been 3% if the GST exemption had not been in place. This latest figure, coupled with the ongoing trade tensions with the US, may limit the Bank of Canada’s ability to cut interest rates further. StatCan noted that while prices increased across nearly

Prime Minister Mark Carney has breathed new life into the Liberal Party, with a new Ipsos survey revealing that the Liberals have steadily increased their lead over the Conservatives since his arrival. The Ipsos poll indicates that if an election were held tomorrow, the Liberals would secure 42% of voter support, while the Conservatives would receive 36%. Prior to this, the Conservatives had consistently led in Ipsos polling since 2021, but this trend shifted in February of this year. Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, noted that it now appears the Liberals’ position is strengthe

Economists and market participants are betting that the Bank of Canada will not cut interest rates next month, given the latest inflation data. Money markets are pricing in a 65% chance that the central bank will keep rates steady during its next meeting on April 16. With February's inflation data and the potential for further increases due to tariffs, the Bank of Canada may temporarily pause its rate-cutting cycle in April. Economists at National Bank and Benjamin Reitzes, an economist at BMO Capital Markets, have expressed similar expectations. Reitzes noted that the removal of the carbon t

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has decided to withdraw his resignation. He announced that he will resume his position as SGPC President within two to four days. Dhami made this statement after a meeting with former Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal at his residence in Hoshiarpur today. Yesterday, the interim committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had rejected Dhami's resignation. Following this, Dhami, on the advice of the entire Akali leadership, has opted to retain his post as SGPC President and will officiall

Amid the ongoing farmer protests at the Punjab-Haryana borders, the third round of talks between the Centre and farmer organisations is set to take place in Chandigarh on Wednesday. The Centre has sent letters to leaders of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha Non-Political and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, inviting them for the meeting. It is worth noting that the first meeting regarding the farmers' demands was held on February 14, followed by the second round on February 22. The third meeting is scheduled for March 19. The farmers' protest began on February 13 o

Former Shiromani Akali Dal minister, Bikram Singh Majithia, appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar at Patiala Police Lines for the second consecutive day today. The SIT is investigating the drug smuggling case filed against him three and a half years ago. Before attending the SIT session, Majithia paid his respects at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. Akali Dal spokesperson and advocate Arshdeep Singh Kler was also present with Majithia. Notably, Majithia was questioned by the SIT for 8 hours on the previous day.

A union representing more than 4,000 school support workers in Alberta says members have ratified collective agreements with two Fort McMurray school districts Monday, ending a two-month strike. The Canadian Union of Public Employees says workers at both the Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts are set to return to their duties on Wednesday. The union said Saturday it had reached tentative deals with the public and Catholic school boards in Fort McMurray and with the Edmonton Public School Board, noting a ratification by the Edmonton workers would occur Monday o

Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing at least 413 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials. The surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January and threatened to fully reignite the 17-month-old war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was open-ended and was expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel's actions. The Israeli military ordered peo

NASA's two stuck astronauts are finally on their way home after more than nine months in space. Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams left the International Space Station in a SpaceX capsule early Tuesday, checking out with the cosmonaut and astronaut. The capsule is due to splash down in the evening off the Florida coast, weather permitting. Their return will close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule last June. They expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched and eventually had to switch to SpaceX to get back.