Mastermind Toys stopped accepting gift cards on Dec. 24 — when most cards were still wrapped

Riverview father Rudy Walters is speaking out after Mastermind Toys stopped accepting gift cards effective Christmas Day — with signs posted on their storefronts only days before. Walters said the move raises questions about the value of gift cards and about consumer protection when a company such as Mastermind Toys heads toward bankruptcy. “I would just like to see some more … Read more

Planning a ski trip? Fewer runs open amid mild weather across Canada – National

Ski resorts are facing challenging conditions amid warmer weather across Canada during a typically busy holiday week, limiting the runs open. Blue Mountain in Ontario as of Wednesday had just one out of 11 runs open. In an email to Global News, spokesperson Tara Lovell said that it has “very limited terrain until snowmaking temperatures … Read more

BlendJet recall of millions of blenders over fire hazard, breaking blades includes 117,000 in Canada

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, … Read more

Canada’s inflation rate holds steady at 3.1%

Canada’s annual inflation rate held steady at 3.1 per cent in November, matching the previous month’s rate, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday. Economists were expecting the rate to fall below the three per cent threshold, putting the economy closer to the Bank of Canada’s two per cent inflation goal. Mortgage interest costs and the high cost … Read more

Step inside the secretive world of toymakers

At a $3-billion toy company in downtown Toronto, kindergarteners file in with parents and siblings, clad in snowsuits and ready to offer their expertise. They pass a toy museum decked out with Paw Patrol toys, Tech Decks, Bakugan and more, and eventually arrive at a small room with a large two-way mirror. Soon, they’ll be … Read more

Ever had a negative-calorie meal? This is how ‘zero-calorie’ foods measure up

CALORIC DEFICIT FROM EATING? With ingredients containing virtually no calories, is it then possible to eat a negative-calorie meal? The concept is increasingly popular among people who are trying, for example, to adopt a healthy lifestyle or lose weight, observed consultant gastroenterologist Andrea Rajnakova. They believe that certain foods require more energy to digest than … Read more

Expect some food prices to get cheaper next year — but typical grocery bills may still go up by $700

Savvy shoppers should be able to find a few bargains at the grocery store next year, but even with prices for some essentials falling the typical Canadian family’s overall grocery bill is set to increase by about $700 next year. That’s the main takeaway from a closely watched annual report on the food industry, the … Read more