Surge in newcomers putting pressure on inflation via housing demand: BoC official

Surge in newcomers putting pressure on inflation via housing demand: BoC official

The recent surge in newcomers is adding to inflation through housing demand, a senior Bank of Canada official said Thursday, warning rental and home prices could continue to rise without a boost to housing supply. In a speech in Windsor, Ont., deputy governor Toni Gravelle acknowledged many of the benefits coming from this rise in immigration, … Read more

U.S. ‘beginning’ internal discussions about renewing North American trade pact

U.S. ‘beginning’ internal discussions about renewing North American trade pact

For anyone with lingering night terrors from the last renegotiation of NAFTA, the notion of reopening the pact might evoke the trailer for a classic horror movie sequel: It’s baaaaa-aaaack.  But this time is different, says the U.S. envoy to Canada. In an interview with CBC News, Ambassador David Cohen said officials in his country have … Read more

Time’s up for some short-term rentals in B.C. as new housing rules look set to transform scene

Time’s up for some short-term rentals in B.C. as new housing rules look set to transform scene

Nancy Paine’s short-term rental business is dead in the water. As co-founder and CEO of Victoria-based Superhost, Paine said she had been at the forefront of the Airbnb revolution for seven years, acting as a “liaison” for homeowners needing help with the logistics of running a listing on the accommodation site. At the peak of … Read more

2023 set to be hottest year on record, UN says

2023 set to be hottest year on record, UN says

The United Nations weather agency said Thursday that 2023 is all but certain to be the hottest year on record, warning of worrying trends that suggest increasing floods, wildfires, glacier melt and heat waves in the future. The World Meteorological Organization also warned that the average temperature for the year is up some 1.4 degrees C from … Read more

Federal government hikes income requirement for foreign students, targets ‘puppy mill’ schools

Federal government hikes income requirement for foreign students, targets ‘puppy mill’ schools

Ottawa will require foreigners applying to study in Canada to have double the amount of funds currently required, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Thursday. He also threatened to cap visas in provinces that don’t help house students or who won’t shut down educational institutions that he argues shouldn’t be operating. “There are, in provinces, the … Read more

The year of projectiles: 11 times fans hurled items at musicians in 2023

The year of projectiles: 11 times fans hurled items at musicians in 2023

“I f–cking dare you,” Adele warned a crowd during a July show, to discourage them from throwing objects at her onstage. The Grammy winner appeared to be joking, strolling across the stage in Las Vegas with a T-shirt cannon and firing merchandise into the audience. However, she was addressing the epidemic of fans throwing objects at singers, which reached a … Read more

‘It scared the hell out of me,’ says lead plaintiff in proposed class-action suit over data breach at 23andMe

‘It scared the hell out of me,’ says lead plaintiff in proposed class-action suit over data breach at 23andMe

A proposed class-action lawsuit against 23andMe could include more people in Canada than originally anticipated, experts say, after the genetic testing company said a data breach affected millions more customers than initially believed. A statement from the company on Tuesday said hackers have gained access to roughly 6.9 million profiles on the site — nearly half its … Read more