The Canadian economy appeared to stall in the second quarter as Statistics Canada says the economy contracted at an annualized rate of 0.2 per cent in the second quarter. The agency also revised its reading for growth in the first quarter to an annual pace of 2.6 per cent, down from 3.1 per cent. Economists say the latest spending data showing a contraction in the economy suggests the Bank of Canada's rate hiking campaign may be coming to an end. Statistics Canada says the economy contracted at an annualized rate of 0.2 per cent in the second quarter. The pullback in the second quarter came as

Quebec's education minister says it doesn't make sense that a teacher can commit sexual misconduct and then be transferred without consequences to another school district. Bernard Drainville made his comments today in reaction to a report that identified numerous shortcomings in how misconduct cases against teachers are treated within the school network. Drainville requested the report earlier this year after several allegations of sexual misconduct in schools came to light. The report raises several problems with the way teachers' files are handled, including a lack of communication between

Canadian federal government has put a price tag on how much it would like to see Google and Facebook spend under an act requiring the tech giants to compensate media for news articles. Federal officials estimate Google would need to offer $172 million and Facebook $62 million in compensation to satisfy criteria they're proposing be used to give exemptions under the Online News Act. The criteria listed as part of a draft set of regulations would allow compensation provided by tech giants to be both monetary and non-monetary.While the guidelines do not specify what non-monetary contributions wou

The Canada Revenue Agency says 120 people have been fired for claiming a federal COVID-19 benefit while employed there. The CRA is reviewing approximately 600 cases in which current employees received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — or CERB — during the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefit was worth $2,000 a month to Canadians whose jobs were lost or downgraded as a result of public-health restrictions. The CRA said in July that it had let 20 employees go as a result of its CERB investigation, but it now says that number is up to 120. Claims for CERB were found to be legitimate in 30 cas

The Montreal Public Health Authority says there were 175 deaths related to suspected drug overdoses in the city last year.Most of these deaths occurred at home.Releasing this new data, the department said that it has been collected from August 2022 to July 2023.According to new data released by DRSP, Montreal's public health department, 77 percent of overdose deaths occur in homes.Of the 175 people who died, 9 per cent were homeless.According to the Public Health Authority, the age of the deceased is between 40 and 59 years.Among the dead were 138 men, and 38 women.Public health authorities sa

The opposition has been constantly demanding the resignation of Ontario's Housing Minister Steve Clarke.In the meantime, Minister Clark has refused to resign while issuing the latest statement in Toronto.In fact, on August 9, a new report by the Auditor General of Ontario revealed how thousands of hectares of greenbelt land was opened for housing development.A 95-page report released by Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk reviewed how the state government chose to exclude 810,000 hectares of farmland, forest and wetlands from Niagara Falls to Peterborough from the Greenbelt.Ontario's Integrity Commis

Quebec Transport Minister Genevieve Guilbault is apologizing after photos emerged of her not wearing her seatbelt while on the road.The photos, published by the Journal de Montreal today, were taken over a three-year span and posted to her social media accounts, both while Guilbault was driving or a passenger in a vehicle.Guilbault, who is also the deputy premier, apologized for the lapse in judgment as she headed into a cabinet meeting.She said the moments where she forgot to buckle up were rare exceptions rather than the rule, but were unacceptable nonetheless and violations of the provincia

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to Asia next week for a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Singapore and India.The trip involves the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, and a focus on economic ties in booming regions of Southeast Asia, as Canada seeks alternatives to a rising China.In Jakarta, Trudeau will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where the group of 10 countries that will ratify a strategic-partnership agreement with Canada.The next stop in Singapore will involve meeting with the city-state's head of government and business leaders to promote investment i

The first case of the BA.2.86 variant of Covid has been reported in Canada.This is the first case found in British Columbia.B.C. health officials have confirmed this variant.B.C.'s Centers for Disease Control confirmed that the variant was found in a person in the Fraser Health Region, east of Vancouver, who has not traveled outside the province.Medical Director of Vancouver Infectious Disease Control Dr. Brian Conway says the new BA.2.86 variant has not yet been shown to cause more severe disease.Conway says the first case being recorded here in B.C. is a reminder that COVID never truly went