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government-of-canada-will-present-mini-budget-tomorrow
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Government of Canada will present mini budget tomorrow

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to table the fall economic statement on Tuesday, and she has already signalled that both issues will be front and centre.On housing, Freeland has previously indicated the government is looking at making more public land available and trying to address the strain short-term rentals are putting on supply.But she's remained relatively tight-lipped on other specifics expected in the update, and has indicated the government "won't be able to do everything" due to limited funds. According to sources, the new measures will include a $15 billion loan over 10 y
economists-expect-inflation-slowed-again-in-october-as-high-interest-rates-take-hold
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Economists expect inflation slowed again in October as high interest rates take hold

Forecasters anticipate Canada's inflation rate took another dip in October as gasoline prices fell from the previous month and grocery prices rise more slowly.Statistics Canada is set to release its consumer price index report tomorrow, coinciding with the federal government's fall economic statement. BMO expects the annual rate to come in at 3.2 per cent for October, while RBC is forecasting the rate fell to 3.1 per cent. Canada's inflation rate came in at 3.8 per cent in September. A further slowdown would be welcome news for the Bank of Canada as it looks for evidence of a sustained slowdo
quebec-to-appoint-conciliator-as-labour-unions-prepare-for-major-strikes-this-week
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Quebec to appoint conciliator as labour unions prepare for major strikes this week

The province says it will appoint a conciliator to help bridge the gap in stalled contract negotiations with public sector unions ahead of major strikes this week.The conciliator's recommendations, however, won't be binding.A labour group representing about 420,000 public sector workers in education, health, and social services asked for a conciliator to help talks advance.The group, which calls itself the "common front" will hold a three-day strike starting Tuesday.The common front has rejected Quebec's latest contract offer — a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years and a one-time
no-word-on-status-of-135-canadians-cleared-to-leave-gaza-strip-over-weekend
CanadaNov 20, 2023

No word on status of 135 Canadians cleared to leave Gaza Strip over weekend

Canadians with loved ones trapped in the embattled Gaza Strip are still waiting to learn whether the 135 people cleared to leave the territory on Sunday were able to make the journey.A daily list from Gaza's General Authority for Crossings and Borders, which contains the names of foreign passport holders cleared to cross into Egypt via the Rafah land crossing, expanded to include 135 people with ties to Canada on Sunday.But Global Affairs Canada did not provide any details on Sunday as to how many of those people were able to leave the war-torn enclave.The agency's last update, provided on Fri
canadian-mps-spent-14-6m-on-travel-in-first-half-of-2023
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Canadian MPs spent $14.6M on travel in first half of 2023

Canadian Members of Parliament spent more than $14.6 million of taxpayer dollars on travel in the first six months of 2023, up nearly 10 percent from the previous six months. This amount works out to about $80,000 per day. This taxpayer money is spent on commercial airfare,, ground transportation, accommodation and meals for Members of Parliament and their families and staff. According to the report, from January 1 to June 30, 338 MPs spent an average of $43,000, or more than $7,200 per month, on work and constituency-related travel.Among them were the travel bills of Canada's two main opposit
heres-the-truth-about-plane-wreckage-found-near-kamloops
BCNov 17, 2023

Here's the truth about plane wreckage found near Kamloops

Plane wreckage that made headlines this week when officials announced a hunter had stumbled on what police thought was a decades-old crash site in the B.C. Interior was actually placed there deliberately for training purposes.A notice posted Tuesday on the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System says the RCMP inspected the site north of Kamloops and "verified" the wreckage was at least 20 to 25 years old, and it carried no registration or identifying marks.But Fred Carey, executive director with volunteer air safety group PEP-Air, says their group planted the fuselage there two years
federal-govt-should-accept-sc-decision-regarding-plastic-ban-alberta
AlbertaNov 17, 2023

Federal govt should accept SC decision regarding plastic ban: Alberta

Alberta has urged the federal government to accept the Supreme Court's decision regarding the plastic ban. In fact, the Alberta government is pleased with the court's ruling that found Canada's plastic ban too broad when it came to determining what plastic is toxic to the environment. The Federal Court on Thursday found the Cabinet order that all things made of plastic are harmful, not reasonable. The decision may therefore lead to changes in the ban on six single-use plastic items, including straws, grocery bags and takeout containers. The rules currently ban the manufacture and import of tho
six-top-executives-removed-in-alberta-health-services
AlbertaNov 17, 2023

Six top executives removed in Alberta Health Services

The board of Alberta Health Services says six of the organization's top executives are no longer in their positions.Last week, Premier Danielle Smith announced sweeping changes to dismantle the provincewide health-care provider, reducing it to one of four new service delivery organizations reporting directly to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange.She appointed Lyle Oberg, who's a doctor and former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, to run the AHS board.He says in a statement that the transition over the next 18 months requires new ideas, voices and leadership.Oberg says the board has made
number-of-covid-19-patients-in-bc-hospitals-rises
BCNov 17, 2023

Number of Covid-19 patients in BC hospitals rises

New data suggest that COVID-19 activity in British Columbia is trending downward, while influenza and RSV are on the rise. A weekly update provided Thursday by the BC Centre for Disease Control says COVID-19 cases, new hospitalizations and deaths are all declining from a peak in the first week of October.It says there were 25 deaths of patients with COVID last week, down from 70 three weeks earlier. But the number of people in hospital with COVID-19, including new and previous admissions, has risen to 263 as of Thursday.The CDC says Influenza A is behind a rise in flu activity, accounting for

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charges-approved-after-alleged-sexual-assault-in-downtown-vancouver
BCMar 27, 2026

Charges approved after alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver

A 47-year-old man has been charged following an alleged sexual assault in downtown Vancouver, according to a Vancouver Police Department release. Police said officers were called at approximately 7:20 p.m. on March 25 to Granville Street between Dunsmuir and Pender streets after a woman reported she had been groped by a stranger. Witnesses also told police the same suspect had allegedly assaulted other people in the area prior to officers arriving. The suspect was located at the scene and arrested without incident, police said. Derek Jason Sangris, 47, has been charged with one count of sexual
bolsonaro-moved-to-house-arrest-after-hospital-discharge-in-brazil
WorldMar 27, 2026

Bolsonaro moved to house arrest after hospital discharge in Brazil

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been released from hospital in Brasília and will continue serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest, following a ruling by the country’s top court. According to a decision by the Supreme Federal Court earlier this week, Bolsonaro was granted permission to serve his sentence at home due to declining health. The court said the arrangement is subject to review within 90 days. Bolsonaro was discharged Friday morning from DF Star hospital in the capital. He then travelled to his residence in the Jardim Botânico neighbourhood, where he lives wit
punjab-and-haryana-high-court-orders-fresh-cross-examination-in-majithia-defamation-case
IndiaMar 27, 2026

Punjab and Haryana High Court orders fresh cross-examination in Majithia defamation case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a fresh cross-examination in a defamation case filed by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia against Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, reviving proceedings in a matter dating back to 2016. According to court proceedings, the High Court allowed a petition filed by Sanjay Singh and directed that the case be revisited for cross-examination. The defamation complaint was originally filed by Majithia in a Ludhiana court in January 2016. The case relates to allegations made during a political rally in Moga, where Singh is accused of referring t
abbotsford-police-issue-public-safety-notice-ahead-of-offenders-release
BCMar 27, 2026

Abbotsford police issue public safety notice ahead of offender’s release

The Abbotsford Police Department says a 46-year-old man with a history of violent sexual offences is scheduled to be released into the community later this month under strict conditions. According to an Abbotsford Police Department news release, Stephen Bradley Ewing is set to be released from William Head Institution on March 30 and is expected to reside in the Abbotsford area. Police say Ewing has prior convictions from 2021 and 2023, including sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, and overcoming resistance by choking. The release also states that at least one offence involved
AlbertaMar 27, 2026

Alberta man sentenced to 17 years in U.S. prison in Florida child exploitation sting

A Red Deer, Alta., man has been sentenced to 17 years in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty in a child exploitation sting tied to a planned trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. According to U.S. court documents, James Hjelmeland, 31, pleaded guilty in November to attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case stems from an undercover operation involving a Florida law enforcement officer. Court records state Hjelmeland began communicating online with a detective who was posing as the parent of a 12-year-old girl. The officer, acting in