Day 5 of Nova Scotia election campaign: announcements on taxes, housing, and health

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

StatCan to release August GDP report, estimate for third quarter economic growth

Statistics Canada is set to publish its August gross domestic product report, which will include an early estimate for economic growth in the third quarter. The agency’s preliminary estimate for August suggested the economy did not grow that month. RBC says it expects the economy remained weak in September as well, dampening growth for the third quarter. The Bank of Canada projected in its latest monetary policy report that the economy grew at an annualized rate of 1.5 per cent in the third quarter. The central bank delivered a half-percentage point interest rate cut last week in response to rapidly plummeting inflation.

Israel envoy seeks hostages ‘at any cost,’ says Canada has strained ties during war

Israel’s ambassador to Canada says the war that started a year ago has profoundly changed Israelis’ views on peace in the Middle East. Iddo Moed says the conflict has strained his country’s longstanding ties with Canada. In an interview marking a year after the Hamas attack on Israel, the ambassador says the prospect of peace with the Palestinians seems impossible in the near term. He argues that Canada should propose offering de-radicalization programs when the war ends in Gaza, instead of focusing on Palestinian statehood. He says Israelis are disappointed that Canada has stopped voting against United Nations motions that are critical of Israel, and that Ottawa still supports a U-N agency that has fired a handful of staff for taking part in the Hamas attack.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Day 5 of Nova Scotia election: Housing and taxes

Taxes, health care and housing are today’s topics on the election campaign for Nova Scotia’s three main parties. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill will be at his party’s headquarters in Halifax to present a “plan to lower taxes.”Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender will hold a news conference in the Halifax area on housing. And Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston is at Cape Breton University in Sydney, N.S., for a health-related announcement. At dissolution, the Progressive Conservatives held 34 seats in the 55-seat legislature, the Liberals held 14 seats, the NDP had six and there was one Independent. Election day is Nov. 26.

Tobacco company opposes proposed deal: court doc

One of three major tobacco companies involved in years of negotiations with creditors says it opposes the proposed multi-billion-dollar settlement announced in the case earlier this month. JTI-Macdonald Corp. has filed a document with an Ontario court indicating it does not support the proposal due to “critical outstanding issues.” The document was filed ahead of a hearing scheduled today to set the next step for the proposed plan of arrangement presented on Oct. 17. The proposal would see the three companies — JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. — pay $24 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to tens of thousands of Quebec smokers and their heirs.

Manitoba Tory leadership candidates square off

The two men running for the leadership of the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives made their pitches to party members last night. Obby Khan, a former cabinet minister backed by some high-profile Tories, said he is best prepared for the helm because he has a seat in the legislature and experience. Khan says he wants to build a big-tent party that can attract people of different political leanings. Wally Daudrich (DAWD’-rich), a longtime party board member and business owner, says the Tories can be more fiscally and socially conservative. He says he is pro-life, but would let party members set policies on that and other issues. The Tories are looking to replace former premier Heather Stefanson, who stepped down after the party lost last year’s election.

Room costs ‘out of control’ on Swift show nights

Taylor Swift fans with tickets to her concerts in Toronto and Vancouver are facing a huge rise in hotel and short-term rental costs on show weekends. Some accommodation costs during the November and December shows are 10 times more than other weekends, forcing some Swifties to cut potential losses and sell their coveted tickets. While fans have accused the hotel industry of price gouging, economist Thomas Davidoff says he doesn’t see a problem with surge pricing as it reflects demand and availability. Ken Whitehurst, the executive director of the Consumer Council of Canada, says dynamic pricing is often applied aggressively in the travel industry, since provisions about what constitutes price gouging aren’t well defined.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024.

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OTTAWA – The Canadian economy was flat in August as high interest rates continued to weigh on consumers and businesses, while a preliminary estimate suggests it grew at an annualized rate of one per cent in the third quarter.

Statistics Canada’s gross domestic product report Thursday says growth in services-producing industries in August were offset by declines in goods-producing industries.

The manufacturing sector was the largest drag on the economy, followed by utilities, wholesale and trade and transportation and warehousing.

The report notes shutdowns at Canada’s two largest railways contributed to a decline in transportation and warehousing.

A preliminary estimate for September suggests real gross domestic product grew by 0.3 per cent.

Statistics Canada’s estimate for the third quarter is weaker than the Bank of Canada’s projection of 1.5 per cent annualized growth.

The central bank has acknowledged repeatedly the economy is weak and that growth needs to pick back up.

Last week, the Bank of Canada delivered a half-percentage point interest rate cut in response to inflation returning to its two per cent target.

Governor Tiff Macklem wouldn’t say whether the central bank will follow up with another jumbo cut in December and instead said the central bank will take interest rate decisions one a time based on incoming economic data.

The Bank of Canada is expecting economic growth to rebound next year as rate cuts filter through the economy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

LACOMBE, Alta. – Canada’s Rachel Homan and Brad Gushue carried unbeaten records into Thursday at the Pan Continental curling championship and are assured semifinal berths.

Homan thumped Mexico 10-1 in just six ends on Wednesday evening after also making quick work of South Korea in an earlier 8-2 decision that lasted six ends.

Gushue downed Australia 13-8 in the lone men’s draw.

Ottawa’s Homan and Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., were both 6-0 with one game remaining in their preliminary rounds Thursday.

Gushue finishes against China’s Xiaoming Xu (4-2) and Homan meets Japan’s Miyu Ueno in a battle of undefeated teams.

The men’s semifinals are Thursday evening and the women’s Friday morning. The gold-medal games are Saturday at the Gary Moe Auto Sportsplex in Lacombe, Alta.

The top four men’s and women’s teams in the Pan Continental qualify for the 2025 world championships, although Canada has an automatic berth in the men’s championship in Moose Jaw, Sask., as the host country.

Homan’s alternate Rachel Brown got into the game against Mexico’s Adriana Camarena for her first ice time in the event and played third to give Tracy Fleury the night off.

“It’s not every day you get to play third for Rachel Homan,” said Brown, who threw third stones for the first time in her career.

“It was really, really fun. I would have liked to play a little bit better, but the girls were dialled. They played so well.”

South Korea’s Eunji Gim (4-2) was also playoff bound with the fourth women’s playoff team still to be determined Thursday.

In other women’s games Wednesday evening, Japan downed South Korea 6-4, the U.S. hammered Chinese Taipei 19-0 and China defeated New Zealand 9-4.

Gushue is attempting a Pan Continental hat trick after winning the first two tournaments.

Reigning women’s world champion Homan is representing Canada for the first time in the regional championship.

A bonus for Gushue, vice-skip Mark Nichols, second Brendan Bottcher and lead Geoff Walker was South Korea’s 5-4 win over China dropped the latter to a record of 4-2, which means Gushue will be the playoffs’ top seed with choice of stones throughout the playoffs.

“It’s always nice to go into the playoffs that way,” said Gushue’s coach Jeff Hoffart.

Joining Gushue in the men’s final four will be John Shuster of the U.S. (5-1) and Japan’s Shinya Abe and China (4-2).

The U.S. downed Chinese Taipei 9-3 and Japan dominated New Zealand 9-1 in other men’s games Wednesday afternoon.

Bottcher, a longtime skip, is playing his first event for Gushue after the latter fired second E.J. Harnden earlier this month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.