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Can Canadian downtowns find new purpose in a post-office era?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

VANCOUVER — Kay Matthews doesn’t mince words when asked about the state of businesses fighting to survive in downtown cores across Ontario.“We’re struggling,” said Matthews, executive director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association. “We’re seeing the impacts from one end to the province to the other … For the first time, Ottawa’s even seeing economic impacts that they’ve never seen in past.”The experiences in Ontario’s cities are echoed across Canada, as downtowns grapple with high vacancy rates, the post-pandemic work culture and the prospect that crowds of office workers may never return in full.That could spur a shift in the fundamental nature of Canada’s downtown neighbourhoods, but experts say such a major alteration will take time, requiring large investments and changes to infrastructure to bring people back.Members of the International Downtown Association Canada gathered in November in Ottawa to...

Statistics Canada to release November job report today

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is set to release its November labour force survey this morning.The report will shed light on the unemployment rate last month, as well as whether the economy added or lost jobs.RBC says it expects employment rose by 15,000, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8 per cent as the population rapidly grows.Canada’s unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in October.After a robust bounce back from the pandemic, the job market has cooled this year as high interest rates weigh on businesses.Forecasters expect this trend to continue as the economy struggles to grow and interest rates remain elevated. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1, 2023.The Canadian Press

Ocean noise strategy delayed, but whale report by military may sound out path forward

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

VANCOUVER — Marine scientist Kieran Cox calls it “probably the most pervasive, unregulated pollutant in Canada and globally.” It’s not plastic, petrochemicals or another chemical toxin. It’s underwater noise.“Noise pollution is certainly something that everything from small invertebrates to big cetaceans are interacting with and so that’s why we’re moving forward as a country on this topic,” said Cox, a biological sciences post-doctoral fellow at Simon Fraser University.Cox led a team of researchers who examined a report commissioned by the Defence Department on safeguarding whales from the sound of weapons during training exercises. He said while the report has flaws, it’s a step in the right direction while Canada decides on its national ocean noise strategy that has been delayed after years of development.Noise created in the oceans, through activities like shipping, can interfere with underwater animals’ ability to loca...

‘Angel’ Shane MacGowan remembered by friend Finny McConnell of The Mahones

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

Finny McConnell, frontman for Canadian band The Mahones, remembered many occasions spent drinking into the mornings with his close friend and fellow Irish punk Shane MacGowan as he prepared to pay tribute to the singer-songwriter in London.Speaking from a pub in the Camden Town area around the corner from where he first met MacGowan in the late 1970s, McConnell described him as “a sweetheart, an angel and funny as hell.”McConnell said he was set to perform at a concert Friday in Camden in honour of MacGowan’s legacy and influence in London’s Irish community.MacGowan, the boozy, rabble-rousing singer and chief songwriter of The Pogues, died Thursday, his family said. He was 65.“It’s a sad day for all us Irish punks because he’s the king, he’s the guy who started it all,” said an animated McConnell, who punctuated his anecdotes with profanity and guffaws. “He broke the rules and made it current for all us young punks, he got ...

Ontario real estate law update with open bidding option enters into force

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

TORONTO — New rules for Ontario real estate are coming into force that are meant to provide more clarity and choice for buyers and sellers, though they don’t go as far as some had hoped.The rules, which took effect Friday, include the option for sellers to use an open bidding process, improvements to broker and brokerage disclosures, and ways to avoid conflicts on multiple representation.The open bidding option gives the seller the choice to disclose submitted bid prices to potential buyers, something they were previously banned from doing.Open bidding has been advocated by some, including Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, as a way to reduce rampant overbidding in real estate and help reduce prices. “A consistently transparent bidding process will help bring down the skyrocketing price of houses,” he said when the Ontario government announced open bidding would be an option for sellers.The federal Liberals also promised in their 2021 election campaign to e...

Stock market today: World shares mixed after Wall St ends its best month of ’23 with big gains

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — World shares were mixed on Friday after Wall Street closed out its best month of the year with big gains in November. Germany’s DAX rose 0.6% to 16,309.89 and the CAC 40 in Paris added 0.5% to $7,348.88. Britain’s FTSE 100 was up 0.8% at 7,512.94. The future for the S&P 500 edged 0.1% lower while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.1%.In Asian trading, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.2% to 16,838.89, hovering around a one-year low, while the Shanghai Composite index edged up 0.1% to 3,031.64.A private sector survey released Friday showed Chinese manufacturing activity unexpectedly expanded in November, marking the fastest growth in three months. That report by Caixin contradicted an official one released the day before that showed weak factory demand. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index edged 17 points lower to 33,431.51 after a similar private-sector survey showed Japan’s manufacturing contracting in November at the fastest pace in nine months. South Korea’...

Live updates | Israel and Hamas trade blame for their cease-fire’s end as combat resumes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

Israel resumed fighting in Gaza minutes after a temporary cease-fire deal ended, and accused Hamas of having violated the truce. Hamas blames Israel, saying it declined offers to free more hostages. Mediator Qatar said Friday that efforts are ongoing to renew an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and expressed “deep regret” over the resumption of Israeli bombardments.Over 100 hostages were freed during the seven-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage. The 240 Palestinians released under the cease-fire were mostly teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. The deal that began Nov. 24 ended after a week and multiple extensions, despite international pressure for the truce to be upheld as long as possible. Weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign have left more than three-quarters of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis. More t...

Daily horoscope for December 1, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. EST today (5 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Cancer into Leo.Happy Birthday for Friday, Dec. 1, 2023:You are generous, witty and charming. You’re also courageous and outspoken about what matters to you. This year is laid-back and slower-paced so that you have an opportunity to rejuvenate your energy and your outlook on life. Focus on relationships that are beneficial to you. This is important.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★★Grab your dancing shoes. It’s time to trip the light fantastic! Accept invitations to party. Enjoy social and romantic outings with your main squeeze. Fun times with children and sports events, the arts and the hospitality industry will be excellent choices. Enjoy your day! Tonight: Play!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★This is a wonderful day to entertain at home. Any kind of gathering will be upbeat and interesting. However, you also might enjoy a quiet, rom...

EU Civil Protection Mechanism launches preparations for possible extreme weather events for 2024 in the face of climate change

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

On 30 November Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič (pictured) met the Italian Civil Protection and Sea Policies Minister Nello Musumeci, for the opening session of the European Civil Protection Mechanism “lessons learnt” meeting on wildfires and floods.The meeting involves 54 representatives from 30 European countries that are part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Together they will identify and share lessons and good practices from the Mechanism's deployments not only in Europe but also in Bolivia, Canada, Chile or Tunisia in 2023. Unlike previous years, today's meeting will go beyond wildfires and will focus also on floods, following this summer's extreme weather events.The outcome of discussions will be used to further improve the EU's response, as well incorporate relevant findings into trainings. While climate change is difficult to reverse, we must be better prepared to address its consequences and minimise the effects.During his visit to Italy, Commissioner Len...

Harriette Cole: I want to shut down my friend’s snooping without a lot of drama

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:22 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who constantly crosses my boundaries by asking intrusive, personal questions about things like financial matters. How do I address this without making it confrontational?— Crossing the LineRelated ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My birthday wish list could get me in trouble with my family Advice | Harriette Cole: My two roommates are moving out, and I don’t believe their excuse Advice | Harriette Cole: My old friend is back in my life, and she has brought a lot of drama Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m on the brink of unloading on my husband about the car crash Advice | Harriette Cole: I can no longer be silent about this messed-up family DEAR CROSSING THE LINE: Decide what you want to share with this friend and what is off limits.Take the time to think about this since it seems to come up a lot. Also think about why this person keeps asking. Are they natura...