55 h. ago Vancouver student meal program to receive large donation after city cuts budget

Earlier this month, the school board learned of the city's plans to cut the program's funding from $320,000 last year to $162,500 this year, citing "significant budget pressures" and "substantive funding" that was expected from the province.

Other

3 d. ago Toronto businesses anticipate having to cut staff and freeze hiring due to tariffs

As much as we may want to avoid the subject, tariff talk continues to dominate the news cycle, with residents understandably confused about what's being taxed, from where, when, and how much — details that have changed multiple times at the whim of U.S. President Trump.As the levies persist, some cities will see greater impacts than others, as will some industries, though hardly any corner of the economy is immune. At a local level, the City of Toronto has launched an action plan that includes deferring industrial property taxes and a campaign urging residents to shop within their community rather than supporting American brands.Still, independent businesses are staring down the barrel of higher operating costs, logistical tribulations and more that, many say, will lead to even fewer jobs being available in the city when unemployment has risen to a brutal 8.7 per cent.Out of more than 500 small businesses that expressed their fears on th...

Economics

4 d. ago Another Bank of Canada interest rate cut is on the way and here's what could happen

Amid times of economic uncertainty — an upcoming federal election and tense relations with the U.S. — Canadians are waiting for the next Bank of Canada (BoC) interest rate announcement.The central bank has made two 0.25 per cent cuts to its key interest rate so far this year, with the last one on March 12 bringing the rate to 2.75 per cent.That announcement came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods, and Canada retaliated with counter-tariffs. The BoC claimed the Canadian economy entered the year in a "solid position," saying GDP showed robust growth, and inflation was finally close to the two per cent target.However, with economic aggression from the U.S., BoC officials predicted a slower pace of economic activity and increased inflationary pressures in Canada. The latter concern contributed to the decision to lower the policy rate by a quarter point.The last BoC update did not come with an extensive m...

Other

6 d. ago Israel cuts off Gaza’s southern city of Rafah and vows to ’vigorously’ expand in the territory

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel announced Saturday it has completed construction of a new security corridor that cuts off the southern city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza, as the military said it would soon expand “vigorously” in most of the small coastal territory. Palestinians were further squeezed into shrinking areas of land. “Soon, […]

Other

7 d. ago Letters to the Sun: Cuts to school lunches, Vancouver byelection voting problems draw criticism

Motivation for recent cuts to City of Vancouver programs and operations was cost.

Politics

8 d. ago Peterborough Library Workers Ask: “What Is a Library Without Librarians?”

PETERBOROUGH, Ontario — Following a city council demand for $120,000 in budget cuts, the Peterborough Public Library management has informed workers they will be laying off three of the library’s four full-time unionized librarians. “What management is talking about is getting rid of three highly trained people each with more than 15 years of service […]

Society

2 w. ago Vancouver cuts school meal program funding, raising concerns about student hunger

The federal government recently pledged $39.4 million over three years to expand school food programs across more than 1,000 B.C. schools.

Society

2 w. ago City council cuts funding for doctor recruitment, saving $80K

In a tight 8-7 vote, London city council has decided to pull its share of funding from a recruitment drive to bring desperately needed family doctors to the city. LFP’s Jack Moulton looks at the program: what it does, why funding was yanked, and what it will mean going forward. WHAT IS THE PROGRAM? The […]

Economics

3 w. ago Convicted killer of North Vancouver student violates parole, now missing

Tian (Eddie) Zhang was in a Crime Stoppers bulletin this week for being "unlawfully at large." A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Events

4 w. ago Mayor, city councillors start long path to $13M in cuts, savings – or both

To bring the tax increase down the needed 23 per cent, or 1.5 percentage points, would mean finding $13 million in savings.

Economics