Experts: Canadian federal budget 2024
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will present the next budget in the House of Commons on April 16, with the government facing considerable political pressure over the economy. Ms. Freeland says the economic plan will be about “building more homes, faster, making life more affordable and creating more good jobs.” (The Globe and Mail)
Expert: Instagram cracks down on teen sextortion
Instagram is aiming to make it harder for potential scammers and criminals to coerce teens into sending nude photos and extort them for money. The company announced on Thursday it is testing new features to curb an alarming trend called financial sextortion, which often targets kids and teenagers.
Experts: Green hydrogen
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, says it has been awarded the engineering contract for the Projet Mauricie green hydrogen hub in Quebec. The development is the latest milestone for the $4-billion Mauricie project, which is being developed by TESCanada H2 Inc. The company is proposing to build a "green hydrogen" production plant in the Mauricie region of Quebec, between Montreal and Quebec City, that will be powered exclusively by renewable electricity.
Expert: The ‘sandwiched' generation of caregivers in Canada
Who provides unpaid care in Canada's care economy? In 2022, 13.4 million Canadians aged 15 years and older (42%)—over two in five people in this age group—provided unpaid care in the previous 12 months to children younger than 15 years old or to youth aged 15 years and older and adults with a long-term condition or disability.
Expert: Baltimore bridge collapse
Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early on Tuesday after a container ship smashed into a pylon, sending eight people into frigid water below. Authorities stopped people from using the bridge after getting a mayday call, which Maryland's governor said saved lives. (CTV News)
Expert: Canada’s carbon tax to increase on April 1
With the federal government under pressure to freeze its planned increase to the carbon tax, policy experts are calling for a clear-eyed debate over the legislation and its role in the country's climate goals. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, along with seven premiers, have called for the scheduled April 1 hike to be scrapped, saying it will only make inflation worse.
Expert: HIV epidemic on the rise, with more cases in Quebec than national average
The HIV epidemic is on the rise again in Canada, with an 'alarming increase' of 24.9 per cent in reported cases across the country in 2022, according to the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported 1,833 new cases of HIV in 2022. Men aged 30 to 39 are the category with the highest rates.
Expert: World Happiness Report 2024
The World Happiness Report reflects a worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and well-being as criteria for government policy. It reviews the state of happiness in the world today and shows how the science of happiness explains personal and national variations in happiness. The report’s release aligns with the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness, March 20, 2024.
Expert: National Cannabis Survey
New data show that, in 2023, five years after non-medical cannabis use was legalized, over one-third of younger adults aged 18 to 44 years and one in seven adults aged 45 years and older had used cannabis in the previous 12 months.
Experts: Total Solar Eclipse | April 8, 2024
On April 8, 2024, a spectacular and rare celestial event is set to unfold over Canada, the United States and Mexico – a total solar eclipse. As the Moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the Sun, temporary darkness will sweep across parts of the country, captivating countless spectators. Quebec hasn't witnessed a total solar eclipse in over 50 years, and it will be over 80 years before the next one.
Expert: Advocating for children's health on World Sleep Day
About 30 per cent of children suffer from sleep disorders, with profound implications for their physical and emotional health, as well as their academic performance. Despite the prevalence and impact of these disorders, access to effective interventions is limited in Quebec and worldwide.
Expert: The resurgence of measles in Canada
As measles continues its slow spread across communities in the country, health officials are urging Canadians to stay vigilant and keep their vaccinations up-to-date. Health Minister Mark Holland said he is “deeply concerned” with the global measles outbreak and its potential impact on Canada. (Global News)
Experts: International Women's Day | March 8
March 8 is International Women's Day, a global day of recognition celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls, and raising awareness of the work left to be done. (Status of Women Canada)
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Expert: Too warm, too soon? Canada’s Spring 2024 forecast
Most Canadians can look forward to a warmer-than-normal spring, but they should also brace for the season’s "profound mood swings," according to The Weather Network's latest outlook. The forecast predicts that the unusually mild winter seen across much of the country thanks to El Niño conditions will pave the way for even more pleasant weather in the coming weeks, but not without some interruptions.
Expert: Canada’s new online harms bill
The Liberal government is proposing heavier sentences, new regulatory bodies and changes to a number of laws in new legislation to tackle online abuse. The Online Harms Act proposes to police seven categories of harmful content online. Those categories include content used to bully a child and content that encourages a child to harm themselves.
