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relief-for-canadians-gst-exemption-on-selected-grocery-items
CanadaNov 21, 2024

Relief for Canadians: GST Exemption on Selected Grocery Items

Canadians are receiving significant relief as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month GST exemption on various items, including restaurant food and children's toys. The Prime Minister stated that Canadians will no longer have to pay sales tax on Christmas trees, children's toys, and restaurant meals. Additionally, Trudeau mentioned that his government will issue $250 cheques to many Canadians next year. These payments will be issued to all Canadians with an income of up to $150,000 after taxes in 2023, benefiting approximately 18.7 million individuals under the Working Canadians E
decrease-in-median-income-requirement-for-homebuyers-in-major-canadian-cities
CanadaNov 21, 2024

Decrease in Median Income Requirement for Homebuyers in Major Canadian Cities

The median income needed to buy a home in Canada's major cities is now gradually decreasing. According to the latest data, real estate prices have fallen in many cities in recent months, alongside lower mortgage rates, leading to a decrease in the median income requirement to purchase a home. Calculations by Ratehub indicate that the median income requirement to buy a home in Vancouver, Toronto, and Hamilton has decreased by more than $4,000 compared to a month ago. The report highlights that October was the second consecutive month in which the salary requirement to buy a home in Vancouver de
50-killed-20-injured-as-militants-ambush-vehicles-in-pakistan
WorldNov 21, 2024

50 killed, 20 injured as militants ambush vehicles in Pakistan

At least 50 people were killed and 20 others injured when several vehicles carrying passengers were targeted by militants in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, officials said. The militants ambushed the vehicles in the Kurram district of restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The vehicles were travelling in a convoy from Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when gunmen opened fire, the officials said. Rescue authorities said 50 people were killed and 20 others were injured in the attack. Most of the victims belonged to the Shia community, they said.
death-toll-in-gaza-from-israel-hamas-war-passes-44-000-palestinian-officials-say
WorldNov 21, 2024

Death toll in Gaza from Israel-Hamas war passes 44,000, Palestinian officials say

The death toll in the Gaza Strip fromthe 13-month-old warbetween Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The Health Ministry said 44,056 people have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war. It has said the real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or i
international-criminal-court-issues-arrest-warrants-for-netanyahu-and-hamas-officials
WorldNov 21, 2024

International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas officials

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials,accusing them of war crimesand crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely tofurther isolate themand complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its m
trudeau-expected-to-announce-temporary-gst-break-on-some-items-ndp-says
CanadaNov 21, 2024

Trudeau expected to announce temporary GST break on some items, NDP says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce on Thursday a temporary GST break for certain essential items to help ease affordability pressures. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says in a statement that the announcement is in response to his party's demands to permanently lift the goods and services tax on a range of expenses, including home heating and grocery-store meals. The Globe and Mail has reported that the prime minister is set to announce a multibillion-dollar package of affordability measures, including the GST break. Trudeau is scheduled to make an announcement alongside Finance Mi
jagmeet-singh-demands-removal-of-provincial-sales-tax-on-everyday-items
CanadaNov 21, 2024

Jagmeet Singh Demands Removal of Provincial Sales Tax on Everyday Items

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has written to premiers across Canada, demanding the removal of provincial sales tax on everyday items. He stated that working people are facing inflation on everything from cell phone bills to groceries. Singh emphasized that his proposal to reduce the GST at the federal level and exempt sales tax at the provincial level could provide significant relief to the public. Singh also mentioned that if his party forms the government at the federal level, he will remove the GST on groceries, diapers, children's clothing, cell phones, and internet bills. This will be offset
former-pm-stephen-harper-appointed-to-oversee-albertas-aimco-fund
AlbertaNov 20, 2024

Former PM Stephen Harper appointed to oversee Alberta's AIMCo fund

Alberta’s government has appointed former prime minister Stephen Harper as chairman of the board of the $169-billion public-sector pension fund manager Alberta Investment Management Corp., and added deputy minister of the province’s finance ministry as a permanent director. Mr. Harper is taking the role unpaid after Alberta’s government dismissed AIMCo's entire 10-member board of director and four senior leader, including its chief executive officer, on November 7. The province also named four other members of the board on Wednesday. Three of them are returning less than two weeks after
randy-boissonnault-leaves-cabinet-prime-minister-says
CanadaNov 20, 2024

Randy Boissonnault leaves cabinet, prime minister says

Randy Boissonnault is leaving his post as employment minister in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet after weeks of questions about the Edmonton MP's past claims of Indigenous identity.

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prince-george-rcmp-arrest-teen-in-2024-fentanyl-related-youth-death
BCJan 15, 2026

Prince George RCMP Arrest Teen in 2024 Fentanyl-Related Youth Death

Prince George RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has arrested a 17-year-old in connection with a 2024 fentanyl-related overdose that claimed the life of a 16-year-old. Police were first called to a home in the College Heights neighbourhood after a youth was found unconscious. The teenager was transported to hospital, where they later died. Toxicology results confirmed high levels of fentanyl in the youth’s system. Following an investigation, the B.C. Prosecution Service approved a manslaughter charge. On January 13, 2026, officers executed an arrest warrant, and the accused was brought to court and
nanaimo-man-faces-multiple-charges-after-downtown-coffee-shop-incident
BCJan 15, 2026

Nanaimo man faces multiple charges after downtown coffee shop incident

Nanaimo RCMP say a local man is facing several criminal charges following an incident at a downtown coffee shop earlier this week. Police were called around noon on January 13 to a business at 8–90 Front Street after a confrontation between a customer and the store manager. The situation escalated, resulting in an assault and damage to property, according to RCMP. The following day, the BC Prosecution Service approved five charges against 40-year-old Aiden Tye of Nanaimo. He faces charges of assault, assault with a weapon, mischief, committing an indecent act in public, and exposure of an in
alberta-government-launches-review-of-calgary-water-main-breaks-requests-city-records
AlbertaJan 15, 2026

Alberta government launches review of Calgary water main breaks, requests city records

The Alberta government has initiated a formal review of Calgary’s recurring water main failures, requesting extensive records from the city spanning the past 20 years. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said in a letter to Calgary officials, shared publicly on social media, that the review aims to ensure the city’s 1.6 million residents have access to safe and reliable water services. Williams noted that while the city is actively addressing the latest rupture, the province must take steps to prevent future incidents. The concerns focus on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, a key pipelin
federal-privacy-watchdog-probes-sexualized-deepfakes-on-x-platform
CanadaJan 15, 2026

Federal privacy watchdog probes sexualized deepfakes on X platform

Canada’s federal privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into sexualized deepfakes circulating on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Philippe Dufresne, who oversees federal private sector privacy compliance, has expanded an existing probe into X and opened a separate inquiry into xAI, the company behind Grok, the artificial intelligence tool used to generate the content. The office of the privacy commissioner said the investigations will determine whether X and xAI collected, used, or disclosed personal information without valid consent in the creation of deep
AlbertaJan 15, 2026

Two seriously injured after pit bulls attack caretakers in Vermilion area

Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after being attacked by two pit bulls at a rural property near Vermilion, east of Edmonton, according to RCMP. Mounties say officers were called Wednesday to a home in the Vermilion area, roughly 190 kilometres east of Edmonton, after the dogs turned on their caretakers. Police did not release details about the extent of the injuries but confirmed both victims required medical treatment. Following the attack, the dogs escaped from the property, prompting authorities to warn residents about the potential risk of the animals being loose in