6.69°C Vancouver

News

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
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
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.
thousands-of-canadians-passports-stuck-as-canada-post-strike-continues
CanadaNov 20, 2024

Thousands of Canadians' Passports Stuck as Canada Post Strike Continues

Thousands of Canadians' passports are stuck as the Canada Post strike continues. Service Canada has put 85,000 passports on hold. The Department of Employment and Social Development stated that Service Canada stopped sending passports on November 8, a week before the strike began, in anticipation that they could get stuck in transit. Spokesperson Mila Roy said that if someone mailed their passport application just before the strike started, Service Canada may not have received it. As a result, these individuals will also need to wait for the strike to end and for postal services to be restore
canada-tightens-security-screening-for-passengers-flying-to-india
CanadaNov 20, 2024

Canada tightens security screening for passengers flying to India

Canada has tightened security screening for passengers flying to India. In addition, reports indicate that Air Canada has instructed passengers traveling to India to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before their scheduled departure time. Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand stated that the decision to tighten security screening was made out of an abundance of caution and is temporary. However, the specific reason for the decision was not provided. In October, an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago made an emergency landing at Canada's Iqaluit Airport due to a bomb threat, thoug
ukraine-will-lose-war-if-us-stops-military-aid-zelensky
CanadaNov 20, 2024

Ukraine will lose war if US stops military aid: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine will lose the war if the US halts its military aid. He made these comments in relation to the potential suspension of funding under Donald Trump. Trump has pledged during election rallies that America will end its involvement in the war and redirect taxpayer money to improving the lives of Americans. Currently, Ukraine is heavily dependent on the US to continue the fight. According to Trump, he would end the war within 24 hours, although he has not disclosed how he intends to do so. In response, President Zelensky has expressed co
calgary-doctor-charged-with-sexual-assaulting-patients-at-clinic
CanadaNov 20, 2024

Calgary doctor charged with sexual assaulting patients at clinic

A Calgary doctor is facing charges after allegedly sexually assaulting several patients over a four-year period. Calgary police say four people came forward in 2023 to report being assaulted by their family physician who worked at the Brentwood Medical Clinic in the city’s northwest. It is alleged each victim was assaulted in an examination room at the clinic between 2016 and 2020 when the suspect “performed non-consensual sexual acts” during their exams. Police have charged 46-year-old Phu Truoung Vu with four counts of sexual assault. He is set to appear on court on Dec. 3. In July of

Just In

surrey-man-charged-after-newton-area-shooting
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Police have laid multiple criminal charges following a shooting at a Surrey home on New Year’s Day. Officers from the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the area of 140B Street and 59 Avenue in Newton. At the scene, they found an injured man who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Officials said his condition was stable. A second man was arrested at the location. The SPS Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation. On January 28, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 49-year-old Chanchal Badwal. He fac
b-c-based-jim-pattison-developments-cancels-virginia-warehouse-sale-to-ice
BCJan 30, 2026

B.C.-based Jim Pattison Developments cancels Virginia warehouse sale to ICE

Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not proceed with the sale of a Virginia warehouse property to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which had planned to use the site as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. The 43.5-acre property in Hanover County, Virginia, faced public scrutiny after news emerged that it could be converted into a holding and processing centre amid a wider U.S. immigration crackdown. The company, owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, had previously stated it was unaware of the final purchaser or the intende
israel-to-reopen-gaza-egypt-border-crossing-after-nearly-two-years-of-closure
WorldJan 30, 2026

Israel to reopen Gaza–Egypt border crossing after nearly two years of closure

Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday, allowing limited movement of people in and out of the territory for the first time in nearly two years. The Israeli military agency COGAT, which oversees civilian coordination with Gaza, said the reopening will permit “limited movement of people only,” with both Israel and Egypt screening those seeking to cross. European Union border assistance personnel will supervise operations at the crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world. The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, following ren
federal-court-of-appeal-set-to-rule-on-ottawas-single-use-plastics-ban
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Federal Court of Appeal upholds Ottawa’s authority to maintain single-use plastic b

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal government acted within its authority when it classified certain plastic products as toxic, clearing the way for Ottawa to maintain its ban on several single-use plastic items. In a unanimous decision released Friday, a three-judge panel overturned a 2023 lower court ruling that had found the federal government overreached by broadly labeling plastic manufactured items as toxic under environmental legislation. That earlier decision had cast uncertainty over the future of the single-use plastics ban. The appeal court concluded the go
cfia-says-threats-against-staff-escalated-during-b-c-ostrich-cull-forcing-family-relocation
BCJan 30, 2026

CFIA says threats against staff escalated during B.C. ostrich cull, forcing family relocation

A senior Canadian Food Inspection Agency official says agency employees faced escalating threats and harassment during preparations for the culling of hundreds of ostriches at a British Columbia farm, including incidents serious enough to force the relocation of a worker and their family. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the official said opposition to the cull intensified both online and in person, culminating in what they described as extreme cases of direct threats involving physical violence and sexual assault. One CFIA employee and their partner were relocated along with their chi