Ontario food bank reports record-breaking usage
The Mississauga Food Bank reported that roughly 3,900 more residents used the facility this January, a year-over-year increase of 41%.
โEvery month a record is broken is not a cause for celebration, but an alarm bell urgently ringing.โ - the food bank stated.
The food bank reports feeding 13,326 people in January.
#Ontario
๐ Maple Chronicles
The Mississauga Food Bank reported that roughly 3,900 more residents used the facility this January, a year-over-year increase of 41%.
โEvery month a record is broken is not a cause for celebration, but an alarm bell urgently ringing.โ - the food bank stated.
The food bank reports feeding 13,326 people in January.
#Ontario
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐ข14
๐ฎ๐ณIndian Immigration To Canada Has Tripled Since 2013
โช๏ธThe number of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada rose from 32,828 in 2013 to 118,095 in 2022, an increase of 260%, according to a National Foundation for American Policy.
โช๏ธIn 2022, at 118,095, Indian immigration to Canada dwarfed the next largest source countries for permanent residents: China (31,815), Afghanistan (23,735), Nigeria (22,085) and the Philippines (22,070). In 2014, Canada had more immigrants from the Philippines than from India.
๐ Maple Chronicles
โช๏ธThe number of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada rose from 32,828 in 2013 to 118,095 in 2022, an increase of 260%, according to a National Foundation for American Policy.
โช๏ธIn 2022, at 118,095, Indian immigration to Canada dwarfed the next largest source countries for permanent residents: China (31,815), Afghanistan (23,735), Nigeria (22,085) and the Philippines (22,070). In 2014, Canada had more immigrants from the Philippines than from India.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก21๐คฌ17๐4โค1
Prince Edward Island election to be held April 3
Prince Edward Islanders are heading to the polls for a provincial election this spring, with voting day set for Monday, April 3.
Progressive Conservative Leader Dennis King made the official announcement Monday evening at his nomination meeting, as he became the final candidate to be nominated to run in the 2023 provincial election for the party.
Prince Edward Island does have fixed election legislation setting the next voting date as Oct. 2, 2023, but King exercised his right as premier to trigger it early.
๐ Maple Chronicles
Prince Edward Islanders are heading to the polls for a provincial election this spring, with voting day set for Monday, April 3.
Progressive Conservative Leader Dennis King made the official announcement Monday evening at his nomination meeting, as he became the final candidate to be nominated to run in the 2023 provincial election for the party.
Prince Edward Island does have fixed election legislation setting the next voting date as Oct. 2, 2023, but King exercised his right as premier to trigger it early.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก7๐ฅ3๐1
๐ซB.C. proposes new law to combat sharing of intimate images online without permission
Attorney General Niki Sharma presented a bill in the legislature Monday that would create new legal rights and remedies to stop the distribution of intimate images and allow the injured person to seek compensation for their harms.
โ๏ธThe legislation covers intimate images, near-nude photos, videos, livestreams and digitally altered images, including videos known as deep fakes.
It will require an offender to delete or destroy images or order social media platforms to remove them and scrub the images from search engines.
If the bill is approved, Sharma said the legislation will be retroactive or available to prosecutors back to the moment she tabled it on March 6.
#BritishColumbia
๐ Maple Chronicles
Attorney General Niki Sharma presented a bill in the legislature Monday that would create new legal rights and remedies to stop the distribution of intimate images and allow the injured person to seek compensation for their harms.
โ๏ธThe legislation covers intimate images, near-nude photos, videos, livestreams and digitally altered images, including videos known as deep fakes.
It will require an offender to delete or destroy images or order social media platforms to remove them and scrub the images from search engines.
If the bill is approved, Sharma said the legislation will be retroactive or available to prosecutors back to the moment she tabled it on March 6.
#BritishColumbia
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก9๐5โค2๐คฌ1
๐Public health no longer advising boosters for most Canadian adults
ะhe National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended spring booster shots exclusively to at-risk groups, including those over the age of 80, and those who are immunocompromised.
๐ซThe recommendation excluded Canadians under the age of 65 โ so long as the person did not have complex medical needs or live in a long-term care home.
๐ Maple Chronicles
ะhe National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended spring booster shots exclusively to at-risk groups, including those over the age of 80, and those who are immunocompromised.
๐ซThe recommendation excluded Canadians under the age of 65 โ so long as the person did not have complex medical needs or live in a long-term care home.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก15๐4
Governments of Canada and Ontario invest over $109 million to bring high-speed internet to home and rural communities in Ontario
The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced a total investment of $109 million to bring high speed Internet access to over 19,000 homes, businesses and rural communities in Ontario.
The government of Ontario has committed to bring high speed internet access to every community in Ontario by the end of 2025, and has finalized agreements totalling more than $2.2 billion for nearly 200 broadband projects across the province, as of Feb. 2023.
So far, 93.5 per cent of Canadian households have access to high speed internet, or are targeted to receive access through existing program commitments, compared to just 79 per cent in 2014, the two governments said in a release.
#Ontario
๐ Maple Chronicles
The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced a total investment of $109 million to bring high speed Internet access to over 19,000 homes, businesses and rural communities in Ontario.
The government of Ontario has committed to bring high speed internet access to every community in Ontario by the end of 2025, and has finalized agreements totalling more than $2.2 billion for nearly 200 broadband projects across the province, as of Feb. 2023.
So far, 93.5 per cent of Canadian households have access to high speed internet, or are targeted to receive access through existing program commitments, compared to just 79 per cent in 2014, the two governments said in a release.
#Ontario
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก11๐6โค2
๐ฆBank of Canada holds interest rate at 4.5%
The Bank of Canada dropped its scheduled interest rate update on Wednesday, announcing a rate hold after eight consecutive hikes since March 2022, when it stood at 0.5%.
Throughout 2022, the bank hiked its interest rate seven times. Another increase followed in January of this year, bringing the key rate to 4.5%. Throughout its rate hike updates, the Bank of Canada has repeatedly cited inflation as the core reason for its decisions.
The central bank will publish its next full outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, in the MPR on April 12, 2023.
๐ Maple Chronicles
The Bank of Canada dropped its scheduled interest rate update on Wednesday, announcing a rate hold after eight consecutive hikes since March 2022, when it stood at 0.5%.
Throughout 2022, the bank hiked its interest rate seven times. Another increase followed in January of this year, bringing the key rate to 4.5%. Throughout its rate hike updates, the Bank of Canada has repeatedly cited inflation as the core reason for its decisions.
The central bank will publish its next full outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, in the MPR on April 12, 2023.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐ฅ5๐2๐คก1
Poilievre accuses Trudeau of working against Canada and in 'a foreign dictatorship's interests'
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of working in China's interests and against Canada.
Poilievre suggested that members of Canada's security services have been leaking information about the election interference allegations to the media because they "must be very worried about how the prime minister is working against the interests of his own country and his own people."
"They've been warning him for years about this. And what has he done? He's covered it up, even encouraged it to continue," Poilievre told reporters Tuesday.
The source of the leaked documents has not been identified and there is no evidence detailing who the leakers are, what department they work in.
๐ Maple Chronicles
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of working in China's interests and against Canada.
Poilievre suggested that members of Canada's security services have been leaking information about the election interference allegations to the media because they "must be very worried about how the prime minister is working against the interests of his own country and his own people."
"They've been warning him for years about this. And what has he done? He's covered it up, even encouraged it to continue," Poilievre told reporters Tuesday.
The source of the leaked documents has not been identified and there is no evidence detailing who the leakers are, what department they work in.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐18๐คก13
๐ Record-high number of Canadians don't think they'll ever afford a home
A report released by Mortgage Professionals Canada found about a third of respondents believe theyโll never be able to afford their first house.
โช๏ธThe rapid decline in affordabilityโthanks to both high home prices and now high interest ratesโhas played a central role in Canadiansโ view towards homebuying, according to the report said.
โช๏ธThe survey revealed a record-high number of non-owners believe they will never be able to buy a family home, at 33 percent, growing by 8 points in just six months and a whopping 15 points year-over-year.
โช๏ธCanadians are more anxious about inflation, with 60 per cent of respondents saying theyโre worried about how it will impact their finances, up 20 per cent from six months earlier.
๐ Maple Chronicles
A report released by Mortgage Professionals Canada found about a third of respondents believe theyโll never be able to afford their first house.
โช๏ธThe rapid decline in affordabilityโthanks to both high home prices and now high interest ratesโhas played a central role in Canadiansโ view towards homebuying, according to the report said.
โช๏ธThe survey revealed a record-high number of non-owners believe they will never be able to buy a family home, at 33 percent, growing by 8 points in just six months and a whopping 15 points year-over-year.
โช๏ธCanadians are more anxious about inflation, with 60 per cent of respondents saying theyโre worried about how it will impact their finances, up 20 per cent from six months earlier.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐ข15๐คฌ7๐2
Giving the middle finger is a 'God-given right,' says Quebec judge
Giving someone the middle finger is a "God-given" right that belongs to all Canadians, a Quebec judge said, as he recently acquitted a Montreal-area man of criminal harassment and uttering threats.
In his ruling, Quebec court Judge Dennis Galiatsatos wrote that not only was Neall Epstein not guilty, the fact that he was arrested and prosecuted at all was a bewildering injustice.
Police arrested Epstein on May 18, 2021, after he had a heated argument with a neighbor which involved raising middle fingers.
#Quebec
๐ Maple Chronicles
Giving someone the middle finger is a "God-given" right that belongs to all Canadians, a Quebec judge said, as he recently acquitted a Montreal-area man of criminal harassment and uttering threats.
In his ruling, Quebec court Judge Dennis Galiatsatos wrote that not only was Neall Epstein not guilty, the fact that he was arrested and prosecuted at all was a bewildering injustice.
Police arrested Epstein on May 18, 2021, after he had a heated argument with a neighbor which involved raising middle fingers.
#Quebec
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐28โค7๐คก7๐5
Alberta introduces firearms act to counter federal legislation
The Alberta government introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at bulking up in its ongoing firearms feud with the federal government.
Bill 8 is meant to strengthen the province's ability to regulate, administer and advocate on behalf of firearms owners.
Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro has been critical of the federal Liberals' Bill C-21, which includes a national handgun freeze and prohibition on many assault-style firearms.
He has indicated Alberta would not agree to having RCMP officers act as confiscation agents and would protest any such move under the provincial-federal agreement that governs policing.
About 30,000 prohibited firearms are believed to exist in Alberta under the federal definition.
#Alberta
๐ Maple Chronicles
The Alberta government introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at bulking up in its ongoing firearms feud with the federal government.
Bill 8 is meant to strengthen the province's ability to regulate, administer and advocate on behalf of firearms owners.
Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro has been critical of the federal Liberals' Bill C-21, which includes a national handgun freeze and prohibition on many assault-style firearms.
He has indicated Alberta would not agree to having RCMP officers act as confiscation agents and would protest any such move under the provincial-federal agreement that governs policing.
About 30,000 prohibited firearms are believed to exist in Alberta under the federal definition.
#Alberta
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐31๐ฅ2
Ford government allocating $21B less to fund health care, hospital capacity to shrink
โช๏ธThe Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) is out with a scathing report detailing the Ford governmentโs health-care spending, revealing that hospital capacity will considerably diminish by 2027-2028 due to surging demand and that the province is allocating over $21 billion less to the sector.
โช๏ธDuring the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing health-care crisis, Ford promised billions in spending to create more capacity in health care, but the FAO report concludes that the pledged increase in capacity will be offset by growing demand due to a larger and aging population.
โช๏ธThe FAO says the province would need to add significant funding to its current health-care plan or make cuts to its programs to reach targets. The projections were released as Ontario manages a shortage of nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) โ a deficit that the FAO projects to persist through its six-year forecast period.
โช๏ธEven with government measures to increase the supply of nurses and PSWs, by 2027-28, the FAO projects a shortfall of 33,000 nurses and PSWs. These nurses and PSW shortages will jeopardize Ontarioโs ability to sustain current programs and meet program expansion commitments.
This once again highlights a trend that is unfolding in Canada's health care system.
#Ontario #healthcare
๐ Maple Chronicles
โช๏ธThe Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) is out with a scathing report detailing the Ford governmentโs health-care spending, revealing that hospital capacity will considerably diminish by 2027-2028 due to surging demand and that the province is allocating over $21 billion less to the sector.
โช๏ธDuring the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing health-care crisis, Ford promised billions in spending to create more capacity in health care, but the FAO report concludes that the pledged increase in capacity will be offset by growing demand due to a larger and aging population.
โช๏ธThe FAO says the province would need to add significant funding to its current health-care plan or make cuts to its programs to reach targets. The projections were released as Ontario manages a shortage of nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) โ a deficit that the FAO projects to persist through its six-year forecast period.
โช๏ธEven with government measures to increase the supply of nurses and PSWs, by 2027-28, the FAO projects a shortfall of 33,000 nurses and PSWs. These nurses and PSW shortages will jeopardize Ontarioโs ability to sustain current programs and meet program expansion commitments.
This once again highlights a trend that is unfolding in Canada's health care system.
#Ontario #healthcare
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก15๐คฏ5๐2๐ข1
Ottawa plans to crack down on doctors charging for medically necessary health care
A rise in the number of companies offering Canadians faster access to health care at a price is prompting the federal government to launch a crackdown on the practice.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is telling the provinces to put a stop to patients being charged for medically necessary care โ and warns that Ottawa will claw back federal health transfer payments if the charges continue.
Companies charging patients for virtual visits with a family physician are the chief targets of the federal crackdown, according to a senior government official.
Although the Canada Health Act prohibits charging "insured persons" for medically necessary services, there has been an explosion recently in the number of companies across the country offering online doctors' appointments and charging fees in the range of $50 to $100 per visit.
#healthcare
๐ Maple Chronicles
A rise in the number of companies offering Canadians faster access to health care at a price is prompting the federal government to launch a crackdown on the practice.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is telling the provinces to put a stop to patients being charged for medically necessary care โ and warns that Ottawa will claw back federal health transfer payments if the charges continue.
Companies charging patients for virtual visits with a family physician are the chief targets of the federal crackdown, according to a senior government official.
Although the Canada Health Act prohibits charging "insured persons" for medically necessary services, there has been an explosion recently in the number of companies across the country offering online doctors' appointments and charging fees in the range of $50 to $100 per visit.
#healthcare
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คฏ9๐5
๐
Canada ranks as the worldโs eighth largest economy
โช๏ธCanada is ranked as the worldโs eighth-largest economy based on GDP nominal estimates of $2.24 trillion (IMF) and $1.98 trillion (World Bank).
However, adjusting for purchasing power parity, Canada moves lower in the ranking to the fifteenth-largest economy.
#facts
๐ Maple Chronicles
โช๏ธCanada is ranked as the worldโs eighth-largest economy based on GDP nominal estimates of $2.24 trillion (IMF) and $1.98 trillion (World Bank).
However, adjusting for purchasing power parity, Canada moves lower in the ranking to the fifteenth-largest economy.
#facts
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก25๐คฏ6๐2
๐จ๐ฆ๐บ๐ธU.S. President Joe Biden coming to Canada in the end of March
โช๏ธU.S. President Joe Biden will be making an official visit to Canada between March 23 and 24 to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his trip to the nation's capital will include an address to Parliament.
โช๏ธAmong the pressing cross-border issues that are set to be on the agenda: the role of Norad in defending North America including the Arctic in light of the recent takedown of unidentified aerial objects including a Chinese spy balloon that traversed both Canadian and American airspace, and modernizing the Safe Third Country Agreement amid irregular crossing tensions.
โช๏ธOther topics both sides say will come up are military assistance to Ukraine, the ongoing instability in Haiti and the opioid crisis.
#US
๐ Maple Chronicles
โช๏ธU.S. President Joe Biden will be making an official visit to Canada between March 23 and 24 to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his trip to the nation's capital will include an address to Parliament.
โช๏ธAmong the pressing cross-border issues that are set to be on the agenda: the role of Norad in defending North America including the Arctic in light of the recent takedown of unidentified aerial objects including a Chinese spy balloon that traversed both Canadian and American airspace, and modernizing the Safe Third Country Agreement amid irregular crossing tensions.
โช๏ธOther topics both sides say will come up are military assistance to Ukraine, the ongoing instability in Haiti and the opioid crisis.
#US
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก23๐คฌ7๐ฑ6
๐ญ๐น๐จ๐ฆCanada's top general concerned military lacks capacity to lead Haiti mission
Canada's top general said he was concerned that the armed forces, already stretched thin by support for Ukraine and NATO, do not have the capacity to lead a possible security mission to Haiti.
Amid talks of a possible military intervention in Haiti, Canada has already deployed ships off the coast of Haiti and sent armored vehicles to Haitian police.
"My concern is just our capacity as we rebuild, as we move to brigade level in Latvia. There's only so much to go around. ... It would be challenging," says Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre, as Canada is preparing to nearly double its military presence in Latvia (bordering Russia and Belarus).
And this is while Canada over the past year has already spent C$1 billion ($724 million) in military assistance to Ukraine - an amount well beyond its comfort level.
As patience runs out, Biden will use his visit to Canada to push the Canadian government to continue supporting Ukraine and engaging in the Haitian crisis.
#Haiti
๐ Maple Chronicles
Canada's top general said he was concerned that the armed forces, already stretched thin by support for Ukraine and NATO, do not have the capacity to lead a possible security mission to Haiti.
Amid talks of a possible military intervention in Haiti, Canada has already deployed ships off the coast of Haiti and sent armored vehicles to Haitian police.
"My concern is just our capacity as we rebuild, as we move to brigade level in Latvia. There's only so much to go around. ... It would be challenging," says Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre, as Canada is preparing to nearly double its military presence in Latvia (bordering Russia and Belarus).
And this is while Canada over the past year has already spent C$1 billion ($724 million) in military assistance to Ukraine - an amount well beyond its comfort level.
As patience runs out, Biden will use his visit to Canada to push the Canadian government to continue supporting Ukraine and engaging in the Haitian crisis.
#Haiti
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก26๐คฏ5๐คฌ4
Forwarded from Blood Meridian
๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝCanadian cannabis company gets authorization to grow and sell in Mexico
Canadian cannabis company Xebra announced that it had received authorization from Mexico Health Authority (COFEPRIS) for its Mexican subsidiary to import seeds, grow cannabis and sell derived products in Mexico. That comes after a late 2021 Supreme Court ruling in the companyโs favor.
COFEPRIS responded to the announcement by saying it was essentially forced to grant the authorization by a court order, which threatened fines and the removal of staff if it did not abide by the ruling. The agency said it intends to try to annul the permits it granted to Xebra in federal court.
#Canada #Mexico
โ ๏ธ Blood Meridian
Canadian cannabis company Xebra announced that it had received authorization from Mexico Health Authority (COFEPRIS) for its Mexican subsidiary to import seeds, grow cannabis and sell derived products in Mexico. That comes after a late 2021 Supreme Court ruling in the companyโs favor.
COFEPRIS responded to the announcement by saying it was essentially forced to grant the authorization by a court order, which threatened fines and the removal of staff if it did not abide by the ruling. The agency said it intends to try to annul the permits it granted to Xebra in federal court.
#Canada #Mexico
โ ๏ธ Blood Meridian
๐คก7๐3๐คฏ1๐ฑ1
๐ฆGrowing share of Canadians are spending more than 25 % of income on mortgage payments
The central bank considers households that spend more than 25 % of their income on debt servicing to be more vulnerable to rising interest rates or a loss of income. The proportion of new mortgages that met this definition rose to 29 % in the fourth quarter, according to data published Friday.
Thatโs up from 12 % in the same quarter in 2021, and 14 % in the fourth quarter of 2019.
๐ Maple Chronicles
The central bank considers households that spend more than 25 % of their income on debt servicing to be more vulnerable to rising interest rates or a loss of income. The proportion of new mortgages that met this definition rose to 29 % in the fourth quarter, according to data published Friday.
Thatโs up from 12 % in the same quarter in 2021, and 14 % in the fourth quarter of 2019.
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คก8๐ฑ3๐2
Half of Quebec ER visits waited over 5 hours
The study from the Montreal Economic Institute showed half of all patients in Quebec emergency rooms waited longer than five hours and 11 minutes.
Quebecโs emergency wait-time increased by 40 minutes since four years ago โ a rise of roughly 15%.
Wait-time has also increased for patients on stretchers. In 2022, one-in-four patients on a stretcher in a Quebec emergency room spent longer than 24 hours waiting for care. That made for roughly 210,000 people.
#Quebec
๐ Maple Chronicles
The study from the Montreal Economic Institute showed half of all patients in Quebec emergency rooms waited longer than five hours and 11 minutes.
Quebecโs emergency wait-time increased by 40 minutes since four years ago โ a rise of roughly 15%.
Wait-time has also increased for patients on stretchers. In 2022, one-in-four patients on a stretcher in a Quebec emergency room spent longer than 24 hours waiting for care. That made for roughly 210,000 people.
#Quebec
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐คฌ11๐ข1
University president urges New Brunswick to eliminate tuition for nursing students
The Higgs government can quickly boost the number of nursing students in New Brunswick by eliminating their tuition fees, says the president of the University of Moncton.
Denis Prud'homme believes that eliminating the fees would be a better way to spend money than the province's decision to subsidize New Brunswick students in a nursing program offered by a university in Maine.
"In my view, there's a very efficient way to quickly increase the number of bachelor or nursing candidates. That's to eliminate tuition fees. It's an urgent need," Prud'homme said.
The government announced last October that it will offer a $6,000 "incentive grant" to up to 100 New Brunswick students who enrol in the bachelor of science in nursing program at Beal University in Bangor, Maine.
Students who accept the $6,000 grant must agree to work as registered nurses in New Brunswick for at least one year after graduation.
#NewBrunswick
๐ Maple Chronicles
The Higgs government can quickly boost the number of nursing students in New Brunswick by eliminating their tuition fees, says the president of the University of Moncton.
Denis Prud'homme believes that eliminating the fees would be a better way to spend money than the province's decision to subsidize New Brunswick students in a nursing program offered by a university in Maine.
"In my view, there's a very efficient way to quickly increase the number of bachelor or nursing candidates. That's to eliminate tuition fees. It's an urgent need," Prud'homme said.
The government announced last October that it will offer a $6,000 "incentive grant" to up to 100 New Brunswick students who enrol in the bachelor of science in nursing program at Beal University in Bangor, Maine.
Students who accept the $6,000 grant must agree to work as registered nurses in New Brunswick for at least one year after graduation.
#NewBrunswick
๐ Maple Chronicles
๐7