Statistics Canada says inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March compared to the same month last year, riding mostly on the back of 35.3 per cent year-over-year increase in gasoline prices. TD senior economist James Marple says headline inflation only hit a pandemic-era high because it was compared to very weak prices at the onset of the pandemic last year. He says the country may see stronger price growth later this year if high-contact services re-open and bring back displaced workers. Marple also says inflation may feel higher for many Canadians who have shifted spending towards larger homes, fo

A pair of proposed changes to the federal budget put forward by opposition parties will determine whether the minority Liberal government will fall, which could trigger an election.The government says it has informed opposition parties that two votes in the House of Commons — on a Bloc Québécois sub-amendment today and on a Conservative amendment Thursday — are considered confidence votes.A third opportunity to pass judgment on the massive budget comes Monday, when the House votes on the main motion to approve the government's budget policy.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal govern

Amid growing cases of coronavirus, Haryana government decided has decided to vaccinate protesting farmers and also test them for coronavirus. "It is my duty to worry about everyone in Haryana. Farmers are protesting here in large numbers. We have decided to vaccinate them and get them tested for COVID-19,"said Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij.

Health officials are urging eligible British Columbians to register online for a vaccine in order to reduce growing pressure on health-care workers getting "pushed to the limits" at hospitals. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say those aged 35 and up can now register for a vaccine as part of the province's age-based vaccination stream. Dix and Dr. Henry say 849 more people have become infected with COVID-19 and one more person has died for a total of 1,539 fatalities since the pandemic began. They say 456 people are in hospital and 148 of them are i

The provincial deficit is predicted to hit a record this year with billions of dollars in new spending promised for infrastructure and supports for families and businesses. Finance Minister Selina Robinson forecasts a 9.7-billion-dollar deficit this fiscal year and says it may take seven to nine years to balance the books. She says the province will help the recovery with 8.7 billion dollars in infrastructure spending over three years that will create 85 thousand jobs. Another 1.6 billion dollars is promised for poverty reduction strategies and an extra 3.1 billion for the health-care and men

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland both say they are seeking appointments at a pharmacy to get vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19. Both Trudeau, 49, and Freeland, 52, became eligible today when Ontario dropped the age to get that vaccine to 40 and above. Trudeau says he is still working out the details for getting his shot. Freeland says she has her children online trying to get her an appointment and is now on a waitlist. Extension of hotel quarantines in Canada Canada is extending the use of quarantine hotels for international

More than 3,000 National Guard soldiers, along with police officers, sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement personnel have flooded Minneapolis in the wake of a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murder in the death last year of George Floyd. The jury on Tuesday found Chauvin guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. But in the city that has come to epitomize America's debate over police killings, there remain places where Minneapolis can feel almost like a police state. Concret

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says details are still being arranged, but travel restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 will not include random stops. A statement from Farnworth's office says the restrictions are meant to discourage recreational travel and will include checks at ferry terminals and along major highways out of Metro Vancouver. He says the rules are not meant as punishment and his ministry is also working to ensure racialized communities are not unfairly affected. Travel regulations were announced for the province yesterday and will remain in effect until

The Fraser Health authority says it will be vaccinating residents 40 years and older in a variety of neighbourhoods it has deemed to be high-risk for COVID-19. Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of the health authority, says vaccinating residents in certain neighbourhoods in Surrey, North Delta and Langley will help reduce the burden being placed on hospitals due to COVID-19. Lee estimates 50 to 70 non-essential surgeries have been cancelled and hospitals in the region are at 96 per cent capacity. As of this morning, there were an estimated 229 COVID-19 patients in Fraser Health hospitals. D