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Tracking car thefts; Adoption outcry: CBC’s Marketplace cheat sheet

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Miss something this week? Don’t panic. CBC’s Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need.

Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday.

Have a car with a push-to-start ignition? Here’s why it may end up stolen and overseas

If you’re driving a car you bought new in the past couple years, there’s a good chance you have a push-to-start ignition.

The technology is deceptively simple. Instead of turning the key, you just push the start button.

But while it’s a breeze for drivers, that convenience has a downside.

Experts say push-to-start ignitions are easy prey for car thieves, who are leveraging the technology to steal vehicles to ship overseas.

Marketplace investigation tracked stolen vehicles from Ontario and Quebec all the way to Ghana and Nigeria, where there’s a booming market for Canadian cars because of their reliability and the availability of parts.

“It’s low risk, high reward,” said Det. Greg O’Connor of the Peel police auto crime unit, who told Marketplace this type of car theft has a low overhead cost and takes little time. Cars can be loaded onto shipping containers and be en route within hours, he said. Read more

Watch Marketplace’s full investigation tonight to find out how to protect your vehicle and get the inside scoop on what car tops the list of the most stolen vehicles in Ontario. That’s at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC-TV and CBC Gem.

 

Hamilton locksmith Mustafa Jafar demonstrates a device used to reprogram blank keys that can aid thieves in stealing cars. (Jenny Cowley/CBC)

 

‘Disheartening:’ Why one animal rescue group refuses to allow families with autistic children to adopt

Mike and Erin Doan of Listowel, Ont., began inquiring about adopting a dog after their nine-year-old son Henry communicated to them that he wanted one.

But when Erin contacted Kismutt Rescue to ask about a dog the group had up for adoption, she was shocked to be told they don’t allow families with autistic children to adopt.

On Facebook, Kismutt Rescue released a statement explaining its policy and wrote that after two bad experiences, “No dog will be adopted into homes with autistic children.”

But Erin said she doesn’t understand why an organization would ban all autistic people from adopting dogs.

“For sure, there are some that have more behavioural issues than others, but to put a blanket policy in place without even meeting the kiddo and the family — it’s just really disheartening,” she said.

Billie Wessel of London, Ont., who also has a child with autism, agrees.

“It’s honestly disgusting to read that, because autism is a spectrum,” Wessel said.

“I don’t think there should ever be a case where a child is discriminated against. A regular-functioning, ‘normal’ child could have aggression issues with a dog as well, the same way an autistic child could have a meltdown.” Read more

 

Erin and Mike Doan of Listowel, Ont., say they were disheartened to hear that their nine-year-old son Henry wasn’t going to get the pet he had asked for, after a rescue group said it doesn’t adopt out dogs to families with autism. (Submitted by Erin Doan)

 

These women filed complaints about their gynecologist over a year ago. But they’re still waiting for a resolution

Three Ontario women are speaking out after making complaints regarding their former gynecologist to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).

Navi, who asked CBC News not to publish her last name for fear of online harassment, Elizabeth Adamou and Candice Jones each complained to the CSPO about Dr. David Gerber more than a year ago, but they’re still waiting for their complaints to be resolved.

They say that long delays, intimidating legal demands, mischaracterization of complaints, and a lack of communication have left them wondering if the college is acting to protect patients, or the doctors it’s supposed to regulate.

In late December 2021, the CPSO disclosed that Gerber, of Meridia Medical in midtown Toronto, would face complaints from 10 patients at a disciplinary hearing, up from the six previously announced in 2020.

The college alleges that Gerber “engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct,” including but not limited to his communication, failing to explain what an examination would involve, failing to obtain informed consent and failing to demonstrate adequate sensitivity.

Howard Winkler, Gerber’s lawyer, said “two leading independent medical experts have carefully reviewed each complaint and the related medical records. Both experts agree that the care Dr. Gerber provided met or exceeded every clinical standard and did not deviate from the usual and expected practice.”

The CPSO will not comment on any specific complaint or hearing, but CBC News previously reported that the college had expected to hold the hearing in 2021. A date has not yet been set. Read more

 

Women who complained about gynecologist frustrated with Ontario regulatory body

Three women who filed complaints against a Toronto gynecologist say they’re frustrated with the lengthy delays, legal demands and mischaracterization of their concerns by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 5:33

 

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Telus prioritizing ‘most important customers,’ avoiding ‘unprofitable’ offers: CFO

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Telus Corp. says it is avoiding offering “unprofitable” discounts as fierce competition in the Canadian telecommunications sector shows no sign of slowing down.

The company said Friday it had fewer net new customers during its third quarter compared with the same time last year, as it copes with increasingly “aggressive marketing and promotional pricing” that is prompting more customers to switch providers.

Telus said it added 347,000 net new customers, down around 14.5 per cent compared with last year. The figure includes 130,000 mobile phone subscribers and 34,000 internet customers, down 30,000 and 3,000, respectively, year-over-year.

The company reported its mobile phone churn rate — a metric measuring subscribers who cancelled their services — was 1.09 per cent in the third quarter, up from 1.03 per cent in the third quarter of 2023. That included a postpaid mobile phone churn rate of 0.90 per cent in its latest quarter.

Telus said its focus is on customer retention through its “industry-leading service and network quality, along with successful promotions and bundled offerings.”

“The customers we have are the most important customers we can get,” said chief financial officer Doug French in an interview.

“We’ve, again, just continued to focus on what matters most to our customers, from a product and customer service perspective, while not loading unprofitable customers.”

Meanwhile, Telus reported its net income attributable to common shares more than doubled during its third quarter.

The telecommunications company said it earned $280 million, up 105.9 per cent from the same three-month period in 2023. Earnings per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 was 19 cents compared with nine cents a year earlier.

It reported adjusted net income was $413 million, up 10.7 per cent year-over-year from $373 million in the same quarter last year. Operating revenue and other income for the quarter was $5.1 billion, up 1.8 per cent from the previous year.

Mobile phone average revenue per user was $58.85 in the third quarter, a decrease of $2.09 or 3.4 per cent from a year ago. Telus said the drop was attributable to customers signing up for base rate plans with lower prices, along with a decline in overage and roaming revenues.

It said customers are increasingly adopting unlimited data and Canada-U.S. plans which provide higher and more stable ARPU on a monthly basis.

“In a tough operating environment and relative to peers, we view Q3 results that were in line to slightly better than forecast as the best of the bunch,” said RBC analyst Drew McReynolds in a note.

Scotiabank analyst Maher Yaghi added that “the telecom industry in Canada remains very challenging for all players, however, Telus has been able to face these pressures” and still deliver growth.

The Big 3 telecom providers — which also include Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. — have frequently stressed that the market has grown more competitive in recent years, especially after the closing of Quebecor Inc.’s purchase of Freedom Mobile in April 2023.

Hailed as a fourth national carrier, Quebecor has invested in enhancements to Freedom’s network while offering more affordable plans as part of a set of commitments it was mandated by Ottawa to agree to.

The cost of telephone services in September was down eight per cent compared with a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada’s most recent inflation report last month.

“I think competition has been and continues to be, I’d say, quite intense in Canada, and we’ve obviously had to just manage our business the way we see fit,” said French.

Asked how long that environment could last, he said that’s out of Telus’ hands.

“What I can control, though, is how we go to market and how we lead with our products,” he said.

“I think the conditions within the market will have to adjust accordingly over time. We’ve continued to focus on digitization, continued to bring our cost structure down to compete, irrespective of the price and the current market conditions.”

Still, Canada’s telecom regulator continues to warn providers about customers facing more charges on their cellphone and internet bills.

On Tuesday, CRTC vice-president of consumer, analytics and strategy Scott Hutton called on providers to ensure they clearly inform their customers of charges such as early cancellation fees.

That followed statements from the regulator in recent weeks cautioning against rising international roaming fees and “surprise” price increases being found on their bills.

Hutton said the CRTC plans to launch public consultations in the coming weeks that will focus “on ensuring that information is clear and consistent, making it easier to compare offers and switch services or providers.”

“The CRTC is concerned with recent trends, which suggest that Canadians may not be benefiting from the full protections of our codes,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor developments and will take further action if our codes are not being followed.”

French said any initiative to boost transparency is a step in the right direction.

“I can’t say we are perfect across the board, but what I can say is we are absolutely taking it under consideration and trying to be the best at communicating with our customers,” he said.

“I think everyone looking in the mirror would say there’s room for improvement.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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TC Energy cuts cost estimate for Southeast Gateway pipeline project in Mexico

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CALGARY – TC Energy Corp. has lowered the estimated cost of its Southeast Gateway pipeline project in Mexico.

It says it now expects the project to cost between US$3.9 billion and US$4.1 billion compared with its original estimate of US$4.5 billion.

The change came as the company reported a third-quarter profit attributable to common shareholders of C$1.46 billion or $1.40 per share compared with a loss of C$197 million or 19 cents per share in the same quarter last year.

Revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30 totalled C$4.08 billion, up from C$3.94 billion in the third quarter of 2023.

TC Energy says its comparable earnings for its latest quarter amounted to C$1.03 per share compared with C$1.00 per share a year earlier.

The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TRP)

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BCE reports Q3 loss on asset impairment charge, cuts revenue guidance

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BCE Inc. reported a loss in its latest quarter as it recorded $2.11 billion in asset impairment charges, mainly related to Bell Media’s TV and radio properties.

The company says its net loss attributable to common shareholders amounted to $1.24 billion or $1.36 per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a profit of $640 million or 70 cents per share a year earlier.

On an adjusted basis, BCE says it earned 75 cents per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of 81 cents per share in the same quarter last year.

“Bell’s results for the third quarter demonstrate that we are disciplined in our pursuit of profitable growth in an intensely competitive environment,” BCE chief executive Mirko Bibic said in a statement.

“Our focus this quarter, and throughout 2024, has been to attract higher-margin subscribers and reduce costs to help offset short-term revenue impacts from sustained competitive pricing pressures, slow economic growth and a media advertising market that is in transition.”

Operating revenue for the quarter totalled $5.97 billion, down from $6.08 billion in its third quarter of 2023.

BCE also said it now expects its revenue for 2024 to fall about 1.5 per cent compared with earlier guidance for an increase of zero to four per cent.

The company says the change comes as it faces lower-than-anticipated wireless product revenue and sustained pressure on wireless prices.

BCE added 33,111 net postpaid mobile phone subscribers, down 76.8 per cent from the same period last year, which was the company’s second-best performance on the metric since 2010.

It says the drop was driven by higher customer churn — a measure of subscribers who cancelled their service — amid greater competitive activity and promotional offer intensity. BCE’s monthly churn rate for the category was 1.28 per cent, up from 1.1 per cent during its previous third quarter.

The company also saw 11.6 per cent fewer gross subscriber activations “due to more targeted promotional offers and mobile device discounting compared to last year.”

Bell’s wireless mobile phone average revenue per user was $58.26, down 3.4 per cent from $60.28 in the third quarter of the prior year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:BCE)

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