Canada’s output per capita, a measure of standard of living, plummets

Real output per capita has fallen to seven per cent below its long-term trend since the pandemic, resulting in a decline of roughly $4,200 per person, according to a new report by Statistics Canada.

To reverse the trend, GDP per capita, a metric used by economists together with other economic indicators to evaluate a country’s standard of living, would need to grow at an average yearly rate of 1.7 per cent.

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🇨🇦🇮🇳 Indians immigrate to Canada in record numbers

The number of Indians immigrating to Canada has more than quadrupled since 2013. Between 2013 and 2023, Indians immigrating to Canada rose from 32,828 to 139,715, an increase of 326%.

Between 2016 and 2019, Indian international students enrolled in U.S. universities dropped by 13% but increased by 182% at Canadian universities. Diplomatic issues between India and Canada have reduced Indian student visa approvals in the short term.

Why wouldn't they, if it's that easy?

#immigration #US #India
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👊Alberta rejects “unconstitutional” federal plastics registry and production cap

If the federal government proceeds with its proposed plastics registry and production cap, Alberta will take them to court once more.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault proposed creating a plastics registry, forcing some companies to report their plastic production and implementation regularly.

This unilateral announcement is a slap in the face to Alberta and our province’s petrochemical industry, and the thousands of Albertans who work in it.

Said Alberta’s Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz.

Video shows Ontario police sharing Trudeau’s location with protester, investigation launched

Ontario Provincial Police say they are investigating the conduct of one of their officers after a video posted online appeared to show an officer sharing security information about the prime minister with protesters.

The incident happened during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Alliston, Ont., on Thursday to announce the new Honda electric vehicle manufacturing plant.

In the video, an officer can be seen approaching protesters, expressing support for the demonstrators and telling them the direction the prime minster’s motorcade was travelling.

Nobody likes Trudeau, what a surprise.

#Trudeau
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'Deeply unhappy' grocery shoppers plan to boycott Loblaw-owned stores in May

A boycott targeting Loblaw is gaining momentum online, with what could be thousands of shoppers taking their money elsewhere in May.

Reddit group r/loblawsisoutofcontrol already has about 56,000 members. While there's no way of knowing how many will participate in the boycott, the page is full of posts from people who say they plan to, or have already started.

There's also a list of demands to Loblaw from the boycott organizers that includes signing a grocery code of conduct and committing to affordable pricing.

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🇨🇦🇮🇳🇺🇸India’s spy agency reportedly linked to killing of Canadian Sikh activist

An officer in India’s foreign intelligence agency has been linked to the 2023 slaying of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as well as a thwarted plot to kill his New York-based ally Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the Washington Post reports.

U.S. officials believe the scheme to assassinate Mr. Pannun, counsel for the separatist organization Sikhs for Justice, was ultimately approved by the former head of India’s spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Post reports.

#India #US
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Pierre Poilievre reconfirms his plan to sell off the CBC Headquarters and convert it into housing.

#Poilievre
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🇨🇦🇺🇦🪖First ten armoured vehicles promised to Ukraine to be delivered by summer, Blair says

Defence Minister Bill Blair says the first ten of 50 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) promised to Ukraine last year will be delivered by this summer, but likely won't be fully in service until the fall.

The newly manufactured vehicles, from General Dynamics Land Systems in London. Ont., were part of $650 million in military support pledged during the visit to Ottawa by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last fall.

#Ukraine
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PM Justin Trudeau and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre took part in Khalsa day celebrations in Toronto.

When it comes to elections, any vote counts, right?

#Trudeau #Poilievre
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🚙 Conservatives demand details of $15B Honda EV deal

Conservative MPs are pushing Ottawa to release details of its agreement with Honda Canada to build a sprawling electric vehicle operation in southern Ontario — disclosure they say is necessary to ensure Canadians get all the jobs in the multi-billion-dollar project.

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Ottawa to propose new asylum rules to allow for faster deportations

The Liberal government is proposing to make changes to Canada’s asylum claim system which could speed up the deportation process for rejected applicants from the country.

The proposed amendments were quietly announced two weeks ago in the 2024 federal budget and come as Canada deals with a record number of asylum seekers.

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🚩Scientists warn Canada 'way behind the virus' as bird flu explodes among U.S. dairy cattle

While federal officials say there's still no sign of a dangerous form of bird flu in Canadian dairy cows, scientists warn limited surveillance means Canada might not be staying ahead of an explosive H5N1 outbreak among dairy cattle south of the border.

So far, dozens of herds across various U.S. states have been infected with this form of influenza A.

#US
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💉Ottawa approves B.C.'s request to recriminalize use of illicit drugs in public spaces

Minister of Addictions and Mental Health Ya'ara Saks said Tuesday the federal government has approved the B.C. government's request to recriminalize the use of illicit drugs in public spaces.

The province is just over a year into a pilot program that allows adults to carry up to 2.5 grams of drugs for personal use without facing criminal charges.

B.C. Premier David Eby asked nearly two weeks ago for an adjustment to the exemption order to recriminalize the use of those drugs in public spaces, such as hospitals and restaurants.

#BritishColumbia
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Number of companies listed as Indigenous jumps sharply as Ottawa adopts procurement target

More than 800 new registrants enrolled in the Indigenous Business Directory, a database of companies eligible to participate in Ottawa’s procurement strategy for expanding the Indigenous economy. That jump, from 1,900 to 2,700 companies as of April, coincided with a federal plan, announced three years ago, that by this year a minimum of 5 per cent of the total value of federal contracts should be awarded to Indigenous businesses.

The value of government contracts awarded under the program, known as the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business, has risen to $862-million in the 2022-23 fiscal year, up from $170-million five years prior.

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Suspect in killing of temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar got student visa in days

One of the suspects accused of gunning down B.C. Sikh temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar entered Canada using a study permit that he said took only days to obtain.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has declined to answer questions about how the suspects came to Canada, but online posts indicate that Karan Brar arrived on a student permit three years before the killing.

#India
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🇨🇦🇵🇸🇮🇱Nearly half of Canadians are opposed to university protest encampments, poll suggests

A new opinion poll suggests nearly half of Canadians oppose the pro-Palestinian encampments that have cropped up on some university campuses.

Just 31 per cent of people who took the Leger survey last weekend said they support the encampments, while 48 per cent were against the demonstrations. About one in five said they don’t know.

#Palestine #Israel
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🇨🇦🇮🇷 MPs vote unanimously in support of designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group

The House of Commons has voted unanimously in support of a motion to add Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps to an official list of terrorist organizations.

The motion came from a House justice committee report that, among other things, called on the government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity in Canada. MPs voted 327 to 0 to accept the report on Wednesday.

#Iran
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🌱NDP leader slams Liberals for giving nearly $26-million to Costco, Loblaw in recent years

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is slamming the federal Liberals for giving nearly $26 million to Costco COST-Q and Loblaw L-T for energy-efficient appliances.

Newly released data from Environment and Climate Change Canada show Costco was also given more than $15 million for efforts to reduce emissions, including new fridges. Loblaw was ultimately given more than $10 million.

The Opposition Conservatives accused Singh of faking outrage over the issue.

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Federal unions file complaints over increase to office time

Several federal public service unions are putting together formal complaints arguing that by mandating federal public servants return to offices at least three days a week in September, the federal government is undermining collective agreements.

The government directed all public servants, with few exceptions, to be in the office three days a week starting Sept. 9.

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🛩 Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey

Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.

The country's largest carrier placed last in both business class and premium economy.

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🏦 Bank of Canada warns of steep jump in mortgage payments

Homeowners who are due to renew their mortgages over the coming years will face steep jumps in payments, according to the Bank of Canada, with the median monthly payment increasing by more than 60 per cent for those with a variable rate mortgage.

The report warns that the ability of households and businesses to service their debt has become one of the main risks to the stability of the country’s financial system.

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