Rate previously slowed to 5.9 per cent in January Canada’s inflation rate cooled to 5.2 per cent in February, the largest deceleration since April 2020, according to Statistics Canada. The agency said its consumer price index had a year-over-year deceleration from February 2022, when the inflation rate was 5.7 per cent. The reading compared with an annual inflation rate of 5.9 per cent in January and was the lowest reading since January 2022, when it was 5.1 per cent. Canada’s inflation rate slowed to 5.9% in January, but food costs continue to riseRead more

Criticized for crime, it’s also been a safe haven for those on Ottawa’s streets Outside the Rideau Street McDonald’s, Frederick Renaud and Kimberley Sipes stand together, asking passersby to spare any change — something they say they’ve done every day for the last six months. The duo were surprised Sunday afternoon to see hundreds of people marching in their direction, some dressed as Ronald McDonald or boxes of french fries, carrying banners that read “Rideau McDonald’s Farewell March.” Wide-eyed, Sipes turned to Renaud and half-whispered, “The McDonald’s is closing.” The two stood in silence forRead more

Deputy mayor compares them to little chemical bombs harmful to nature The municipality of Mont-Tremblant in the Laurentians is preparing to ban all fireworks on its territory, making it among the first in Quebec to do so according to the Union des municipalités du Québec. A motion to ban all fireworks was introduced at city council on Monday, toughening up the existing bylaw which requires people to obtain a permit before setting off fireworks. The motion is expected to be adopted on April 10 and will likely be implemented two weeksRead more

Their vulnerable presence up on that stage highlighted the power that comes from within When I was growing up, I didn’t see Indigenous performers or dancers in our local venues. I didn’t see stories of them sharing our culture in the media. I didn’t see them included in celebratory ceremonies. I didn’t see myself represented. In fact, I didn’t see any signs of our culture displayed anywhere. So when my children were asked to participate in the 2023 Canada Winter Games opening ceremony on P.E.I., we saw it as an opportunity notRead more

Victim was extricated from rubble Sunday evening, officials said The body of one victim has been pulled from the rubble of an Old Montreal heritage building ravaged by fire on Thursday, while six other people are still missing, officials said at a news conference Sunday night. This is the first confirmed death since the blaze, which tore through the three-storey, 15-unit residential building at the intersection of Place d’Youville and Saint-Nicolas Street. Steve Belzil, commander of the Montreal police arson squad, said the victim’s body was pulled from the rubble at 6:45 p.m. local time. “The stepsRead more

Students say agents used forged letters without their knowledge For Karanveer Singh, the pieces of his Canadian dream started to fit together one by one. In 2019, the 24-year-old from Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, India, received a letter of acceptance for the business administration program at Loyalist College, a public college in Belleville, Ont. That letter was then used to obtain a student visa and his entry into Canada. Singh’s dream? To build a better life for himself while sending money back home to support his physically disabled father, who soldRead more

FSIN vows to mount legal challenge to Sask. First Act The Saskatchewan First Act was borne out of meetings and consultations, but its a lack of consultation with Indigenous communities that has the act destined for a courtroom. On Thursday, Saskatchewan Party government members voted unanimously to pass the act, known as Bill 88. The government has said the bill is meant to assert provincial jurisdiction and prevent federal government intrusion. Usually, bills pass with little fanfare outside of cheers and the sounds of hands slapping desks on the governing party’sRead more

Suspect had no prior criminal record, but officers had been called to the home before, police said Friday Edmonton police say the two officers killed early Thursday were shot multiple times as soon as they arrived at the apartment suite where a woman had called for help with her 16-year-old son. Edmonton Police Service Deputy Chief Devin Laforce said Friday that there was no indication of violence when police responded to the call, and they didn’t know there was a gun in the home. Const. Travis Jordan, 35, and Const.Read more

Incidents in Nanaimo, Prince George raise questions around welfare of unhoused people Recent events, including a violent attack, at homeless encampments and tent cities in B.C. have raised questions about who is responsible for them, and what is being done to help people experiencing homelessness in the province. On Monday, a man was shot at an encampment in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, while attempting to retrieve an item allegedly stolen by someone who resided there. A day later, the city of Prince George voted to create a centralized homeless camp in the Moccasin Flats area, to stop campsRead more

‘We have reason to believe that there are victims, deaths,’ said police’s arson commander At least six people are considered missing and could still be in the rubble following a major fire that raged through a historic building in Old Montreal on Thursday morning, emergency officials said at a news conference Saturday. Investigators had initially said one person was believed to be missing after the fire. Montreal fire operations chief Martin Guilbault said information recently confirmed from various sources led them to conclude more people were trapped inside when the fireRead more