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Finance ministers, Freeland set to meet to discuss Alberta CPP exit proposal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

OTTAWA — Finance ministers from across the country will meet up virtually with their federal counterpart Chrystia Freeland today to discuss Alberta’s proposal to quit the Canada Pension Plan.Freeland called the meeting amid concerns about the ramifications of Alberta leaving the federal retirement plan to set up its own standalone program.The Alberta government says its workers have contributed an oversized share to the national fund and would be in line for big savings and payouts if it were to leave the CPP.Freeland says Albertans need to know the CPP delivers among the best returns in the world and that an Alberta pullout would put the program at great risk for millions.Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner says he looks forward to discussing the pension issue, along with other points of inter-governmental dispute, including the federal carbon tax.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had planned to hold a possible referendum on leaving the CPP in 2025, but now says she won’t hold it unt...

Foreign affairs minister says Canadians will soon be cleared to leave Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s minister of foreign affairs is reconfirming that Canadians and their families will be able to leave Gaza beginning in the coming days.Melanie Joly issued a late Thursday update on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, saying she has spoken with her counterpart in Israel, Eli Cohen, about the matter.She says she also received confirmation of Egypt’s co-operation.While the flow of foreign nationals leaving Gaza through the Rafah crossing since Wednesday has been slow, officials with Global Affairs Canada say they are working around the clock to evacuate Canadians from the war zone. They are asking Canadians to get their documents and “be ready to depart once we are informed that they can cross the border.” However, as of Friday, at 5 a.m. Eastern, Canada has not been added to the official approval list of “foreign passports” for travel through the Rafah crossing.Joly’s message also noted that G-A-C will comm...

Judge orders Montreal suburb to compensate residents for excessive traffic noise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

MONTREAL — A Montreal suburb has been ordered to pay thousands of dollars to around 300 residents who say they’ve suffered from years of unreasonable traffic noise.The residents, who filed the class-action lawsuit a decade ago, live along a stretch of a road — chemin Des Prairies — in the city of Brossard, where traffic has steadily increased over the years as the community has grown. The neighbourhood used to be largely farmland, but now chemin Des Prairies connects to a major boulevard and a large shopping mall, and 10,000 vehicles travel on it every day, Quebec Superior Court Justice Dominique Poulin wrote in her Oct. 10 decision.“The court has heard 11 credible, sincere, convincing and disheartened residents who are significantly affected by the traffic, which they consider excessive … which causes them inconveniences that exceed, in the eyes of the court, by their severity and recurrence, the normal inconveniences they must endure as a result of living along the str...

Judge in ‘Freedom Convoy’ trial expected to rule on admissibility of police evidence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

OTTAWA — The judge in the criminal trial of two “Freedom Convoy” organizers is expected to deliver a ruling today about the admissibility of internal police documents as evidence. Crown prosecutors and the Ottawa Police Service have argued the heavily redacted documents, which include emails and information about a software update for officers’ cellphones, are irrelevant or protected by solicitor-client privilege. The software update for officers’ cellphones may have deleted messages between organizer Chris Barber and police liaison officer Const. Nicole Bach.Defence lawyers are set to begin their cross-examination of Bach today, but they say they will not be able to complete their cross-examination of any police liaison officers until Justice Heather Perkins-McVey makes a ruling about the documents.Barber and Tamara Lich face multiple charges, including mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation in relation to the 2022 protests against ...

Trudeau in D.C. to talk hemispheric trade, migration at White House summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in the U.S. capital today to represent Canada at the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity summit. The White House meeting, hosted by President Joe Biden, marks the first official gathering of all 12 countries in the hemispheric trade framework. The partnership, known as APEP, marks the earliest beginnings of a north-south trade corridor meant to foster economic growth and strengthen supply chains.The White House is hoping that in turn, more stability in South America and the Caribbean will help ease the pressure from irregular migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition to the U.S. and Canada, the framework includes Mexico, Chile, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.It’s not clear whether Biden and Trudeau will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one on the margins of the half-day summit.“We’re glad to have the participation of all members of t...

UAE-based broadcaster censors satiric ‘Last Week Tonight’ over Saudi Arabia and Khashoggi killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Dubai-based television network broadcasting across the Mideast cut substantial portions of an episode of the satiric news program “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” over references to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince being implicated in the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The decision by OSN highlights the continued limits of speech in both the United Arab Emirates, which has vowed it will allow protests at the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks it will host later this month, as well as neighboring Saudi Arabia. It also highlights just how sensitive Khashoggi’s dismemberment and killing in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul remains over five years later, as Prince Mohammed has sought to rehabilitate his image through diplomatic efforts. “Criticizing the royal family, criticizing the crown prince in Saudi Arabia is a terrorist offense and you can be prosecuted for terrorism,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, the e...

Daily horoscope for November 3, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions after 11 p.m. EDT today (8 p.m. PDT). The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Friday, Nov. 3, 2023:You appear cool. You’re ambitious and hardworking. You plan for the distant future. Fortunately, this is a fun-loving, upbeat year for you, and you have a strong zest for life! This is good because it’s time to nurture the happiness and beauty that you have within yourself. Enjoy!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★This is a delightful day; nevertheless, it’s a bit tricky, especially with financial decisions. Meanwhile, you feel idealistic and friendly to everyone, which makes you inclined to give away the farm or be overly generous. Don’t do anything you will later regret. Be sensible. Tonight: Patience.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★★This is a feel-good day! Expect warm relations with close friends, partners and spouses. Meanwhile you feel dreamy-eyed and imaginative today. Social outings will appeal to you, espe...

EU taxonomy: Green investments to boost sustainable finance 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

To boost the shift towards eco-friendly investment, the EU has introduced rules to define what qualifies as green or sustainable activities.Why the EU needs a common definition for sustainable investmentsSustainable development requires the preservation of natural resources and respect for human and social rights. Climate action is an important aspect, as the need to limit and mitigate the effects of climate change becomes more and more urgent.The EU is committed to gradually decreasing its greenhouse gas emissions. The European Green Deal, the EU’s flagship initiative on climate action, sets a goal of zero net emissions by 2050.To achieve the goal, the EU must invest in new technologies.Public investment will not suffice and private investors will have to step in to finance climate-friendly projects. This requires clear criteria on what exactly is sustainable and eco-friendly; otherwise, some funding might be directed to “greenwashing” projects that claim to be green, but in realit...

COVID-19: Commission authorizes third adapted vaccine for member states' autumn vaccination campaigns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

The Commission has authorized the Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Novavax. This is another important step in the fight against the disease. It is the first protein-based adapted vaccine authorized for this autumn and winter season.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) carried out an in-depth evaluation of the vaccine. Following this evaluation, the Commission authorised the adapted vaccine under an expedited procedure so that member states have sufficient time to prepare for their autumn-winter vaccination campaigns.In line with previous recommendations by the EMA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), adults and adolescents from 12 years of age who require vaccination are invited to get a single dose, irrespective of their COVID-19 vaccination history.BackgroundWith the EU Vaccines Strategy, the Commission continues to ensure that member states have access to the latest authorised COVID-19 vaccines to protect the vulnerable members...

Miss Manners: Three years after disappearing, she sent me a rude email

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:20 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A woman I used to have a meal with once a month or so has not communicated with me in three years.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Must I tell these nosy people about the tragedy of my fiance? Advice | Miss Manners: They’re demanding we vacation every year in the back of beyond Advice | Miss Manners: You better believe the guests notice when the bride has a different meal Advice | Miss Manners: I used to be flattered by this response. Not anymore. Advice | Miss Manners: Our argument about her restaurant behavior ended our friendship I didn’t give it that much thought, due to COVID: She has had health issues and might not have felt safe on the subway. (She lives outside the city proper, and we used to meet at a restaurant in the city.)Last week she posted on social media that she is looking for a job. The next day, I got a frantic, brusque, ill-mannered and gauche emai...