Toronto Public Health is warning that cases of respiratory illnesses are on the rise in Toronto. Health experts are also warning that the disease is spreading among students in schools. Public Health reported more than 570 influenza cases and an 11 percent COVID positivity rate in the second week of January.

Health officials said that the situation is likely to worsen as COVID cases and influenza cases are being reported at the same time. The main reason for the rapid spread of the virus and the increase in cases is the severe cold. Due to the heavy snow and cold, most of the time is spent indoors. Therefore, the risk of viruses spreading more during this period is very high, said Dr. Vinita Dubey, Toronto Associate Medical Officer of Health.

Dubey warned that parents and students should be vigilant and take precautions to help prevent the spread of respiratory infections in schools.

 

 

 

Several egg brands have been recalled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency following possible salmonella contamination. Eggs with specific lot code information of brands such as Compliments, Formost, Golden Valley Eggs, IGA, Western Family, No Name and other markets in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan have been recalled.

The agency clarified that the eggs are being recalled based on lab reports and no illness has been reported to anyone after consuming the sold eggs. The agency recommended that buyers of potentially infected eggs discard or return them to the stores where they were purchased. Food does not look or smell spoiled if Salmonella is present. But the agency warned that it can cause various diseases.

A list of egg brands with specific lot code information can be found on the CFIA website.

 

 

Alberta saw a record increase in housing construction in 2024 as demand for housing increased, leading to a two per cent increase in the national average. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 46,632 homes were built in Alberta in 2024, a 32 per cent increase from the previous year.

By any measure of housing construction, last year was a record year, said Scott Fash, CEO of the Build Alberta Association. Calgary and Edmonton also saw record increases. Canada’s major cities, Calgary, saw a 24 per cent increase in housing construction. However, Ontario and B.C. saw a decline in the number of new housing projects last year. CMHC Deputy Chief Economist Tania Bourassa Ochoa said that there has been a lot of effort to build homes at all levels of government, provincial, federal and municipal.

 

 

Canada is responding to US President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports. Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he would not hesitate to retaliate in kind if Trump imposes additional tariffs. Government sources also clarified that Canada has multiple plans to respond to Trump.

If Trump goes ahead with the decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports, Canada's response will be to impose counter tariffs worth about $37 billion. In addition, it is possible to impose tariffs on another $110 billion. If Trump's tariffs are low, Canada's counter tariffs will also be modest. Therefore, the Canadian government has made it clear that no decisions will be made until Trump's decision on tariffs is made.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who was in Washington, said that even Republican senators do not have a clear idea of what Trump's tariff plan is. Wilkinson said there are indications that three tariff options are being considered. He said they could be 25 percent tariffs, 10 percent tariffs, and a lower duty that increases over time. In any case, a meeting of Canada's premiers has reached an agreement to jointly confront the threat of tariffs being raised by the US.

Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the creation of a Canada-US Relations Council to support the federal government. The 18-member council includes representatives from the auto industry, the nuclear energy sector, agriculture and the labour movement.

 

 

 

People living in Calgary can now be proud. Calgary is the best city to live in Canada this year, according to a report released by technology company MovingWaldo. Calgary is number one on the list of seven places in Canada with the highest quality of life in 2025. The ranking was prepared by analyzing quality of life, safety and affordability. Factors such as job opportunities, education and health care quality, sense of safety, public transportation, environmental cleanliness, recreational facilities and parks also made Calgary the top of the list.

Calgary topped Moving Waldo’s list last year due to its affordability and Banff. Moving Waldo says Calgary has a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 72.47. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Calgary is $1,841. The average cost to purchase a property is $588,600. High demand for jobs in the oil and gas sector, as well as professions including nurse attendants, retail managers and administrative officers, also contributed to Calgary’s top spot.

 

Apple's in-store financing rate in Canada has reportedly dropped to zero percent. The lowest rate in years has been 7.99 percent financing. But this low rate only applies to iPhones. Rates are different for Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad.

Apple's zero percent financing is expected to encourage more people to get their phones directly from the company. Getting phones directly from Apple will allow people to buy bring-your-own-device (BYOD) from carriers. This is the best way to save money on a phone in the long run.

When Apple first moved away from zero percent interest rates in 2023, the Mac rate was 4.99 percent.

Apple Devices and Interest Rates

.iPhone - 0% over 24 months
.iPad - 4.99% over 12 months
.Mac - 7.99% over 24 months
.Apple Watch - 4.99% over 12 months
.Apple Vision Pro - 7.99% over 24 months

 

 

In addition to not leading the Liberal Party in the next federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will not run for the Quebec riding of Papineau. Trudeau said at a news conference with premiers that he will not run in the upcoming election based on his own decisions. He said he is fully focused on doing the job Canadians elected him to do at this extraordinary and important time. He said that the inauguration of Donald Trump and the challenges Canada will face in the coming weeks require us to work as a team.

This is Trudeau's first press conference since announcing that he would step down as party leader and prime minister once a new Liberal leader is elected. Following Trudeau's resignation, the party announced that it would elect a leader on March 9. Despite the resignation, Trudeau will remain a member of Parliament until the election. Once the writ is issued, he will also step down as MP for Papineau. Trudeau was first elected as MP for the riding in 2008.

 

 

A total of 15,500 people died waiting for specialist care in Canada, according to a report. This is the figure from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The new figure was released by SecondStreet.org after reviewing requests under the Freedom of Information Act across the country.

28,077 patients died last year on health care waiting lists, which include everything from cancer treatment to cataract and heart surgeries to MRI scans. Despite paying high taxes, Canada's health sector is failing compared to Europe, which has better health care systems, said Harrison Fleming, director of legislative policy at SecondStreet.org. Second Street says the figures are incomplete because the provinces of Quebec, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador do not accurately record data. SecondStreet.org also stated that Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia only provided data on patients who died while waiting for surgeries.

 

 

 

Canada is seeing a rise in norovirus cases, with health experts warning that the elderly and young children are most at risk.

Norovirus has become the second-most common illness in Canada and the United States after COVID-19, says Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease specialist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton. He says the disease is more common in the winter months. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, the disease is most common in the winter and early spring, when people spend more time indoors. Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea. The disease is usually spread through close contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces.

 

Toronto fraud cases are on the rise. But as the number of crimes increases, so do the number of cases that remain unsolved.
Toronto police reported 17,000 fraud cases in 2024, costing officers $368.6 million. That’s about 3,000 more than the number of fraud cases filed in 2023, said Toronto police spokesperson Nadine Ramadan.

According to data presented at a police board meeting last month, only 83 per cent fewer cases were completed in 2023 than in 2015. There are several reasons for this. Fraud investigations are complex and often take six to 18 months to resolve, said Toronto police spokesperson Nadine Ramadan. As crime and fraud continue to rise, the number of investigators is a major challenge. Last month, TPS requested a $46.2 million increase in its 2025 budget to hire more officers and address growing needs. The Toronto Police Service Board approved the request, but it has yet to be approved by council.

 

 

The Liberal Party of Canada has announced that it will elect its next leader and the country's next prime minister on March 9. Voting eligibility has also been changed.

The Liberal Party of Canada will elect a new leader on March 9, the party said in a statement. The party said it will fight hard for victory in the 2025 election. The date was announced by the party's national council after several meetings. The entry fee for potential candidates has been set at 350,000 Canadian dollars, up from 75,000 Canadian dollars. Candidates must declare their intention to run by January 23 and pay the fee. Voter registration will be open until January 27, Reuters reports. Voting eligibility has been limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 14 and over. The move is part of addressing concerns about foreign interference.

 

 

 

Alberta job market rebounds. More than 30,000 jobs were created last month, but wage growth remains sluggish.

Alberta’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 per cent in December, down 1.2 per cent from a month earlier, Statistics Canada said in a jobs report released Friday. Alberta accounted for most of the 91,000 jobs added to the Canadian economy.
Calgary and Edmonton added 20,000 and 11,000 jobs, respectively. The largest job gains were in the manufacturing sector. Wages in Alberta rose 2.5 per cent from a year ago, but wages remain low compared to the rest of the country.

 

 

 

Canada's richest family is reportedly worth nearly $100 billion. Canada's richest people are getting richer, according to the latest Forbes 2025 data. A few Canadians, like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, are also regulars on the list of the world's richest people.

The Thomson family, which runs the Thomson-Reuters media empire, which employs more than 25,000 people worldwide, is worth $68.6 billion. Thomson Reuters tops the list of Canada's richest people. The new data shows that $68.6 billion USD has turned into a staggering C$98.7 billion. The Thomson family, Canada's richest family, is ranked 22nd on the world's richest list, according to Forbes. The report also shows that the family raised and earned an additional $14.25 billion in the first three quarters of 2024

 

 

While Singapore retained its position as the world's most powerful passport, Canada slipped in the global rankings. Canada is among the five passports that have suffered the most decline in global rankings in the past decade.

According to the 2025 Passport Index, Canada has fallen three places in the past decade to seventh place. The countries that are also in the same league are Malta and Poland. The ranking is based on the number of destinations that can be visited without a visa. Passport holders from these three countries, which are in seventh place, also have visa-free access to 188 of the 227 destinations worldwide.

Singapore is the only country with visa-free access to 195 of the 227 destinations. Japan is second with visa-free access to 193 destinations. Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain are in third place. The biggest advance has been made by China. China, which was ranked 94th in 2015, rose to 60th in 2025. The United Arab Emirates is also among those who have improved their ranking over the past decade. It has moved up to 10th place with visa-free access to 185 destinations.
Meanwhile, Venezuela has slipped from 30th to 45th place. The other country that has suffered the biggest decline over the past decade is the United States. It has fallen from second place to ninth place.

 

 

Changes to income tax income limits in Canada. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced this. Although the tax rates are the same, the income limits for each category have changed.

Less than or equal to $57,375 - 15%
Between $57,375 and $114,750 - 20.5%
Between $114,750 and $177,882 - 26%
Between $177,882 and $253,414 - 29%
$253,414 and above - 33%.

Last June, the federal government increased the capital gains tax. Accordingly, the taxable portion of capital gains increased from 50% to 66.67%. This would increase the tax rate for any Canadian individual or corporation making $250,000 in capital gains per year by between one-half and two-thirds of a percentage point. This would only affect a small portion of the wealthy population (0.13%). The capital gains tax increase was introduced in the House of Commons last June, but failed to pass due to opposition from the Conservatives. Its future is now uncertain after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned and Parliament was suspended.

 

 

A patient died while waiting for care in the emergency room at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. The patient had been waiting for eight hours for treatment.

A middle-aged man was brought to the emergency room by ambulance after midnight, said Dr. Shawn Young, chief operating officer of the Health Sciences Centre. His condition deteriorated before 8 a.m. and he was transferred to another room for care. The patient later died, Dr. Shawn Young said at a news conference. Dr. Shawn Young said the patient was initially assessed and some tests were done as needed. However, he said he would investigate whether there were any lapses in hospital protocol. The emergency room was very busy at the time of the incident. But the number of patients was not unusually high, Dr. Shawn Young said

 

As immigration has decreased as part of Canada's new immigration policies, the number of applications in Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada has also started to decrease. As of November 30, the number of applications in IRCC has decreased to 1,006,500. As of October 31, 1,056,100 applications were pending. This is about 4.7 percent less than in a month. The total number of applications at the end of October was 2,406,000. This has decreased to 2,267,700 by November.

IRCC aims to process 80 percent of applications within the service standard. However, more complex applications have a backlog of 20 percent. Service standards may vary depending on the application type.

As of November 30, IRCC had 828,600 applications in its inventory for permanent residence. Of these, 318,000 applications are in the backlog. This is an increase from the 311,100 applications outstanding at the end of October.

 

 

Calgary police are searching for a Calgary woman suspected of selling a fake iPhone to a man she met online last year. Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the woman. Investigators say the victim testified that she purchased the iPhone from the woman on November 16 through Facebook Marketplace and that it was fake.

The buyer and seller met in person and exchanged money for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The man recognized the phone as fake and called police. Police have released a photo of the woman. Investigators said anyone with information about the suspect should contact police.

 

 

Car stolen from parked at Calgary airport. The stolen car was a 2022 Toyota Highlander belonging to a man named Darren Cooper. Darren had parked his car in parking lot P1 in the domestic terminal. Darren said he parked the car there because he thought it was safer.

The car was discovered missing after Darren and his family returned to the airport after a long vacation. With car thefts on the rise in Canada, authorities are taking the theft of cars from the airport very seriously. According to the Equit Association, Toyota Highlanders were the most stolen vehicles in Canada in 2023.

 

 

The political crisis in Canada is taking a new turn. Various media outlets in the country are reporting indications that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will resign this week. No official statement has been released regarding the news that Trudeau will announce his resignation. Media reports say that Trudeau's setbacks in Canadian politics, speculation about his political future, declining approval ratings in recent days, and challenges to the Liberal Party have led to his resignation.

Trudeau, who has been prime minister since 2015, has faced a lot of criticism over major policy decisions and the party's performance in recent elections.

Media reports say Trudeau's resignation could spark a leadership contest within the Liberal Party and lead to a political realignment at a critical time for Canada's economy. The Prime Minister's Office has not yet commented on such reports. An official announcement on the resignation is expected soon.

 

 

Two brands of sea salt and Himalayan salt have been recalled after plastic particles were found in the products. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the recalled products should not be used, sold or distributed.

The two products recalled are President's Choice Mediterranean Sea Salt and Himalayan Pink Rock Salt. Both recalled products had a use-by date of January 17, 2026. No health problems or other illnesses have been reported with the recalled products. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not released details of the plastic particles found in the products.

 

 

Delhi: Police have arrested a young man who blackmailed women he met through dating apps by posing as a US model and swindling them. The man has been identified as 23-year-old Tushar Singh Bisht, a native of Delhi. Tushar, an employee of a private company in Uttar Pradesh, lured women by saying that he was a model in the US and had come to India for a visit. Police say that he has cheated around 700 women and swindled them.

Tushar also lured women through Snapchat on the dating app Bumble. He targeted women between the ages of 18 and 30. Police say that he duped 500 women through Bumble and 200 women through Snapchat and WhatsApp. Thushar was caught after one of the women who had been scammed filed a complaint with the police. The police said that Thushar had created a fake profile by arranging an international mobile number.

Through this fake profile, he became close to women on Bumble and Snapchat. Later, Thushar's method was to extort money by threatening them with their nude pictures. After gaining their trust, he had obtained the mobile numbers, pictures, videos and personal information of the women. Many women did not approach the police even after realizing the scam, fearing that their personal information would be exposed. This further motivated Thushar to commit the scam.

Thushar used to save the photos and videos sent to him through Snapchat and other means on his phone without the women's knowledge. Later, he extorted money by threatening to spread these pictures on social media and sell them on the dark web. The police said that the accused was finally caught after the woman who had been scammed filed a complaint. Police said Tushar, a resident of Delhi and a BBA graduate, had been working as a technical recruiter in a private company in Noida for the past three years.

 

 

Canadians eligible to receive Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) credits from the federal government will receive the first benefits of the new year on Friday. This is the third quarterly payment for the 2023 base year. The benefit is available to low-income Canadians.

These are tax-free quarterly payments that the government makes in lieu of the GST or HST that individuals and families pay on various goods and services. The benefit is provided to low-income people to reduce the financial burden of paying taxes. GST/HST credit amounts may also include payments from provincial and territorial programs. The payments come during a two-month “tax holiday” declared by the federal government. Canadians are not required to pay GST/HST on many items during this time. GST/HST credit payments are calculated based on your marital status, family income, the number of children under 19 registered for the Canada Child Benefit, and the GST/HST credit. Single Canadians without children can receive up to $519 in GST/HST credits for the full year between July 2024 and June 2025.

 

 

A study suggests more intense wildfires are likely in Canada. The study also points to the need to take precautionary measures to deal with the increasing threats posed by climate change. These are the findings of a study conducted by Canadian researchers published in the journal Science.

The researchers also examined the intensity of wildfires from 1981 to 2020.
There were more days with higher fire intensity from 2000 to 2020 than in the previous two decades, says Xianli Wang, a scientist with the Canadian Forest Service. The study indicates that a wildfire that broke out in Jasper, Alta., last summer spread to 60 square kilometers in a matter of hours. The increase in wildfires was recorded in northern Quebec, northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia.

 

Hardy Canadians celebrated the New Year by taking a dip in the frozen Lake Ontario. Strong winds and freezing temperatures didn't deter them from their traditional New Year's Day ritual of jumping into the lake. About 750 people took part in the Courage Polar Bear Dip in Oakville, west of Toronto, on Wednesday.

The Oakville-based Polar Bear Dip has been running for 40 years. It's one of several events across the country that raise money for charity. People of all ages take part in the event. Eight-year-old Evelyn Gray was among the participants. Evelyn came with her father to take a dip in the frozen lake. World Vision Canada CEO Michael Messenger said the event is expected to raise about $100,000. He said the funds will be used to provide clean water to Congo and Zambia this year.

 

 

The Yukon government is reportedly moving to shift applications to the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) to an intake-based approach. Officials say that once a given intake is capped, YNP applications will stop being accepted until the next intake. This year’s YNP will open with the first intake on January 29. This intake will accept a maximum of 125 applications for nominations to the YNP.

The YNP is expected to hold future intakes quarterly. However, a specific schedule for intakes has not been set. The YNP intends to adjust the size and frequency of intakes based on the allocation of nominations received from the federal government. Yukon has requested an increase in the allocation for nominations in 2025.

 

 

Ontario will introduce tougher penalties for drunk driving and car theft this year. The province's new law will impose tougher penalties for drunk driving and drug-related offenses.

The Safe Roads and Communities Act, which became law in November, provides for the indefinite suspension of drivers' licenses for reckless or dangerous driving. It also increases the penalties for convicted car thieves. The law also allows courts to prohibit drivers from using drugs or alcohol in their systems. Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the new law will improve road safety in Ontario.

 

 

Radon gas levels in homes in Canada are rising.
Radon is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas. It is found in dangerously high levels inside homes. It affects 17.8 per cent of people.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Calgary. Radon is a gas that comes from the ground, said Alex Budd, owner of Budd Radon Services. It comes from uranium contained in rocks. Alex Budd says the gas can accumulate in your home and cause lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The gas often enters homes through foundation cracks and other leaks. Radon levels inside homes are higher in the winter because the floor is frozen. Experts say that lack of ventilation in the house due to closed windows is also a reason

 

 

British Columbia and Alberta in Canada have been named among the most beautiful places in the world for tourists in the new year. The places in Canada have been included in the list of 71 most beautiful places in 2025 released by travel publication Conde Nast Traveler. Peyto Lake in Alberta and Emerald Lake in BC are two of the most beautiful places to visit in the world.

Located in Yoho National Park in BC, Emerald Lake is one of the landmarks of the Canadian Rockies. The clear glacial waters of the lake are great for canoeing and swimming. Peto Lake is the most beautiful lake in Alberta. It is also the most photographed lake in the world. Peto Lake is located in Banff National Park. The lake can be best viewed from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.

Other beautiful places on the list include Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, Shark Bay in Australia, and Paris in France.

 

Support for Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party in Canada is at its lowest level in history, according to a report. Only 41% of those who voted Liberal in 2021 now want to vote for Trudeau, according to the Angus Reid survey released on Monday.

Only 16% of undecided and inclined voters support Trudeau's party. The Liberal Party now has the lowest support since Angus Reid surveys began in 2014. Only about half of those who supported the Liberals now support them before the 2021 federal election. Many of those same people are also considering switching their support. Of those who voted Liberal in 2021, 20% now support the NDP and 16% the Tories. Of these, 12% are undecided, the survey said. Meanwhile, Pierre Poilivre's Conservatives now have 45% support.