Workers in four provinces are seeing an increase in their paycheques today as new minimum wage rates take effect across Canada. In Ontario, the hourly rate is rising by 65 cents to $17.20, an adjustment linked to inflation. Saskatchewan’s minimum wage is increasing by one dollar to $15, matching Alberta’s rate - the lowest among all provinces. In Manitoba, the minimum wage is up by 50 cents to $15.80, following a formula in provincial law that ties annual increases to the previous year’s inflation rate. On Prince Edward Island, the hourly rate climbs by 60 cents to $16, following an earl

British Columbia NDP Leader David Eby says his government would fast-track factory-built homes as part of its strategy to ease the province's housing crisis. At an election campaign stop on Vancouver Island, Eby says pre-built homes cut waste, reduce emissions, and the advances in the industry mean the homes are "beautiful and high-quality." A statement issued by the NDP says its government would work with the industry, municipalities and First Nations to create a provincewide framework so builders know what's required in every community. It says there would also be a pre-approved set of const

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be travelling to France next Thursday to attend the Francophonie summit. The meeting of French-speaking countries, which happens every two years, will be held on Oct. 4 and 5 in Villers-Cotterêts and Paris. The Prime Minister's Office says Trudeau will work with other heads of state to further shared priorities including democracy and human rights. Representatives from Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec will also be at the meetings. Leaders are also expected to make a decision on applications to join the international francophonie body, including

Voting will be held on October 15 for 13,237 panchayats of Punjab. The results will also be announced on the evening of the same day, but this time the 'defaulters' will not be able to contest the panchayat elections as the candidates who want to contest the elections will have to produce a 'no outstanding' certificate. The Punjab State Election Commission has issued a letter to the Deputy Commissioners in this regard, in which the candidates of the Panchayat elections have been asked to get a 'no objection' certificate. For panchayat elections, when candidates file their nomination papers, t

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali for the last two days. Regarding his health, the hospital has said that today they conducted some tests related to the heart of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the results of which are still awaited. According to the hospital, his condition is stable and his health is expected to improve soon. According to reports, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is facing shortness of breath and chest pain due to increased blood pressure in the arteries of his heart.

Two Liberal ministers are inviting the NDP Leader to a briefing on carbon pricing so he can "better understand" how it helps fight climate change while putting more money back in families' pockets. In a letter sent to Jagmeet Singh today, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson say it's very disappointing the NDP has fallen for what they call the Conservatives' "disinformation campaign" on the climate policy. At the NDP caucus retreat earlier this month, Singh wouldn't say whether his party would keep the consumer carbon price if it formed government. Sing

Israeli airstrikes hit one of Beirut’s heavily-populated southern suburbs on Friday as blasts were heard throughout the Lebanese capital. It was not immediately clear what the target was but thick black smoke was seen billowing from the area. The strike came an hour after thousands of people attended the funeral of a top Hezbollah commander who was killed the day before.

Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product grew 0.2 per cent in July, following essentially no change in June, helped by strength in the retail trade sector. The agency says the growth came as services-producing industries grew 0.2 per cent for the month. The retail trade sector was the largest contributor to overall growth in July as it gained one per cent, helped by the motor vehicles and parts dealers subsector which gained 2.8 per cent. The public sector aggregate, which includes the educational services, health care and social assistance, and public administration sectors, gained

There are reports of Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar resigning. This news has come when the assembly elections are going on in Haryana. However, the party avoided the talk of resignation calling it a rumour. Meanwhile, a meeting has been called by the Punjab BJP on September 30. The meeting will be held in Chandigarh under the leadership of BJP constituency in-charge Vijay Rupani. It is being said that Sunil Jakhar is angry with being Ravneet Singh Bittu a minister. He has not been active in party programs for the past several days. Jakhar was also absent from the important meeting to discu