Skip to Main content

12.09°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Feb 27, 2024 4:03 PM - The Canadian Press

Ottawa freezes merger notification threshold, funds housing innovation projects

Share On

ottawa-freezes-merger-notification-threshold-funds-housing-innovation-projects

It also announced $123 million of funding to eight homebuilders that the federal government says are driving innovation and will help build more than 5,000 affordable homes.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

The federal government is freezing the threshold at which the Competition Bureau must be notified of a merger.

It also announced $123 million of funding to eight homebuilders that the federal government says are driving innovation and will help build more than 5,000 affordable homes.

The announcements came this morning during Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's weekly economic update alongside other ministers.

Competition law requires mergers that exceed a certain value to be flagged to the Competition Bureau in advance, so it can determine whether the deal could prevent or lessen competition.

Ottawa says the amount usually increases along with gross domestic product but instead, it will be kept frozen at $93 million, the threshold since 2021.

The funding for homebuilders is being allocated through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, a program that funds rent-to-own schemes and other innovative projects.

Latest news

B.C. 911 emergency workers begin strike vote over staffing and workload concerns

Workers at British Columbia’s 911 emergency service centres began voting Wednesday on potential strike action, with the union citing staffing shortages, rising call volumes and increasing workplace pressure. The union representing E-Comm employees said staff are already facing significant mental strain as members respond to more than two million emergency calls each year. The union said the work is stressful even under normal conditions, but current staffing levels have added to the pressure on employees. A key issue in the dispute involves mandatory overtime tied to the upcoming FIFA World

two-surrey-men-charged-following-alleged-shooting-linked-to-extortion-investigation

Two Surrey Men Charged Following Alleged Shooting Linked to Extortion Investigation

Two Surrey men are facing firearm-related charges following an investigation into an alleged shooting at a Surrey residence connected to reported extortion threats, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said frontline officers responded to reports of shots fired at about 12:40 a.m. on April 22 in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue. Investigators confirmed damage to a home and a vehicle. The residence was occupied at the time, but no injuries were reported. According to Surrey Police Service, the file was transferred to the department’s Extortion Response Team, which identified a suspect vehi

AlbertaMay 13, 2026

Bus rollover near Beaverlodge sends several passengers to hospital

RCMP say several passengers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a charter bus rolled off a highway near Beaverlodge in northwestern Alberta early Wednesday morning. Police said officers responded to the crash at about 7 a.m. on Highway 672, west of Grande Prairie and northwest of Edmonton. According to RCMP, 17 people were on board the bus at the time of the rollover. Several passengers were transported to hospital, while others were assessed at the scene for minor injuries. Cpl. Mathew Howell said no fatalities had been reported as of Wednesday morning. Police have not said wha

punjab-cm-bhagwant-mann-meets-nitin-gadkari-shivraj-singh-chouhan-in-delhi

IndiaMay 13, 2026

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann meets Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a visit to New Delhi on Wednesday. Senior Punjab government officials were also present at the meeting. According to the Punjab government, discussions focused on National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects in Punjab, including several works that have been delayed. Mann said the two sides discussed steps to expedite and complete the pending projects. Later, the chief minister also met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Mann said the meeting included detailed discu

AlbertaMay 13, 2026

Edmonton court hears evidence of prior dog attack at trial over death of 11-year-old boy

An Edmonton court heard testimony Wednesday about a previous violent dog attack involving two Cane Corsos at the centre of a criminal negligence trial tied to the death of an 11-year-old boy. Shawn Hesse testified that in 2023, his Pomeranian escaped from his property and ran toward the two dogs later involved in the death of Kache Grist. According to Hesse, the Cane Corsos grabbed the smaller dog from opposite sides and attempted to tear it apart. Hesse told the court he rushed the injured Pomeranian to a veterinarian, but the dog later died from its injuries. The Cane Corsos were owned by Cr

Related News

Poilievre calls for immigration minister’s removal over expiring visa concerns

Poilievre calls for immigration minister’s removal over expiring visa concerns

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for Immigration Minister Lena Diab to be removed from cabinet, accusing the Liberal government of failing to manage Canada’s immigration system as millions of temporary visas approach expiry. Speaking about immigration and labour pressures, Poilievre alleged the federal government does not have a clear plan to track or manage people whose visas are expiring. He claimed there is no effective system in place to determine who has left Canada after their visa expired and who may still be in the country. Poilievre also accused Prime Minister Mark Ca

CBSA launches hundreds of immigration investigations linked to extortion networks across Canada

CBSA launches hundreds of immigration investigations linked to extortion networks across Canada

The Canada Border Services Agency says it has launched hundreds of immigration investigations tied to alleged extortion networks operating across Canada, with dozens of foreign nationals already deported as part of the enforcement effort. According to information shared during a public safety roundtable in British Columbia, the agency had opened 446 immigration investigations nationwide as of May 7 involving foreign nationals suspected of participating in or being connected to extortion-related activities. The CBSA said 118 removal orders have been issued following those investigations, while

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand begins official visits to Oman and Qatar

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand begins official visits to Oman and Qatar

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand has begun official visits to Oman and Qatar aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and advancing cooperation on regional and economic priorities. According to Global Affairs Canada, Anand will remain in Muscat and Doha until May 15 for meetings with senior government officials focused on defence cooperation, trade, and people-to-people connections between Canada and Gulf states. In Oman, Anand is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi and other senior officials. Discussions are expected to include economic

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital