Ontario cities need help — and cash — to meet 2025 accessibility deadline, advocates say
Province says it’s working with all governments, investing in accessible services and infrastructure CBC Toronto is breaking down accessibility in Ontario in four stories: the progress made so far, how legislation is enforced, if the province can reach its 2025 goal and what accessibility looks like in cities, zooming in on Toronto. As a hard of hearing person, Kellina Powell says she can rarely make out the announcements on the GO train, often leaving her in the dark about what’s happening on her commute from downtown Toronto to her homeRead more
B.C. ski resorts face low snow levels as climate change exacerbates typical weather cycles
Alpine resorts across B.C. are struggling with unusually low snow levels this year Alpine resorts across B.C. say they are struggling with unusually low snow levels this ski season. While experts say cyclical weather patterns are largely to blame for the warmer, drier winter so far, climate change likely plays a role and will continue to do so, one researcher says. “This is going to be probably one of the mildest winters we’ve seen since sort of recorded history,” geographer Michael Pidwirny, an associate professor at the University of British Columbia’s OkanaganRead more
Mother serving life sentence for murdering 8-year-old daughter dies in B.C. prison
Lisa Batstone was found guilty of 2nd-degree murder for suffocating daughter Teagan in 2014 A woman serving a life sentence for killing her eight-year-old daughter has died in custody at the Fraser Valley Institution in Abbotsford, B.C. Lisa Batstone, 50, died on Jan. 1, according to a news release from the Correctional Service Canada (CSC). The cause of death has not been released. Batstone was found guilty of second-degree murder four years ago for the 2014 suffocation death of daughter Teagan Batstone and sentenced to life with no parole eligibility for 15 years. The decision wasRead more
A Glace Bay man knocked on a famous photographer’s door. It led him to a whole new world
Recently released book shows a different side of Robert Frank When Brian Graham first learned about a world famous photographer who’d recently made Cape Breton Island his second home, he was intrigued, but he wasn’t ready to meet Robert Frank just yet. “I didn’t think I had anything to say, tell you the truth,” he recalled, on a recent morning from his wife’s home in France. “I hadn’t done anything.” His new book Goin’ Down the Road with Robert Frank, documents their 40-year-long friendship and unlikely working relationship, which began in Mabou,Read more
New year, new tax measures — what to expect in 2024
GST/HST exemptions, end of short-term rental deductions and CPP hikes are among new 2024 measures New tax measures, and changes to existing ones, will begin affecting Canadians in 2024. But tax experts say the effects on most individuals are likely to be minor, unless they’re high-income earners. GST/HST exemptions, the elimination of deductions for some short term rentals, new alternative minimum tax rates and changes to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions are among the new measures coming in 2024. Eliminating short-term rental deductions The elimination of some short-term rental deductionsRead more
BlendJet recall of millions of blenders over fire hazard, breaking blades includes 117,000 in Canada
There have been 329 reports of blades breaking during use BlendJet is recalling millions of portable blenders over laceration and fire hazards after receiving dozens of reports of injuries, U.S. regulators said Thursday. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the recall covers about 4.8 million blenders in the U.S. and about 117,000 were sold in Canada. BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders can overheat or catch fire, according to the CPSC, and their blender blades can break off while in use. There have been 329 reports of blades breaking during use, theRead more
Teen’s body found in Ottawa river after reports of group falling through ice
Search continues for another missing boy in south Ottawa’s Rideau River Family and friends are grieving the death of one teenager, while another is still missing, after four youth reportedly fell through the ice on Ottawa’s Rideau River on Wednesday night. Ottawa police said they’ve found the body of one boy, but rescue efforts are ongoing for another boy after the search “in very difficult conditions” stopped overnight and resumed Thursday. A police underwater search and recovery crew was seen sending an unmanned search vehicle into the river Thursday afternoon. A policeRead more
Ottawa looking at including used cars in federal electric vehicle incentive, report says
Federal program currently offers incentives for only new vehicles A government report suggests federal incentives for used electric vehicles could be in the works as Ottawa pushes to phase out gas-powered cars. Canada’s latest emissions reduction progress report says the federal government will “explore the potential to expand the Incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program to include used vehicles.” But the three lines in the report don’t offer much detail. Neither Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez’s office nor the office of Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault would say whether discussions are underway to expandRead more
Energy regulator rejects FortisBC’s $327M application for natural gas pipeline
FortisBC had argued that 30 km of new pipeline was needed to meet Okanagan area’s energy demands The B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) has rejected an application from FortisBC to build a natural gas pipeline worth $327 million in the Okanagan region. The Okanagan Capacity Upgrade (OCU) project would have seen the installation of 30 kilometres of new pipeline, running north from Penticton to Chute Lake, along with two new power stations to help regulate the pipeline’s flow. FortisBC, the main natural gas utility in the province, said the OCU project wasRead more
Dutch man who sexually extorted B.C. teen Amanda Todd given 6-year sentence in Netherlands
Aydin Coban was sentenced to 13 years in prison in B.C., a punishment longer than Dutch laws A judge in the Netherlands has ruled that the Dutch man convicted for sexually extorting B.C. teen Amanda Todd should serve six years in prison. Aydin Coban wasn’t present in Amsterdam District Court for a brief hearing to announce the sentence. His lawyer, Robert Malewicz, said he would appeal the decision to the Dutch Supreme Court. Coban was convicted last year in B.C. of extortion, two counts of possession of child pornography, child luringRead more