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What is citizens’ services, and what should be expected from the new minister?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

OTTAWA — As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reorganized his front bench Wednesday in a massive federal cabinet shuffle, he also created a single new job: minister of citizens’ services.But when the minister appointed to the new role was asked what exactly citizens’ services is, he wasn’t entirely clear. “This is really where the rubber hits the road in providing services to citizens right across the country,” newly appointed cabinet minister Terry Beech said Wednesday, less than an hour after he was sworn in. Some elements of Employment and Social Development Canada will be under his purview, as well as “a bit of digital governance,” he said. When pressed for details, he admitted he wasn’t sure on the specifics.“I met with my deputy minister about five minutes ago. She handed me a piece of paper with a whole bunch of bullet points on it,” he explained. “I’m gonna get fully briefed and to provide you much more fuls...

B.C. judge allows cannabis ‘fire sale’ to stave off CRA destruction threat

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has approved the bulk sale of more than 1,200 kilograms of cannabis by a company after the Canada Revenue Agency threatened to destroy it. In a ruling released online this week, the court allowed Tantalus Labs Ltd. to move ahead with a hasty sale of its remaining inventory of cannabis flower after the CRA planned to destroy the product at its facility in Maple Ridge, B.C. The agency had earlier declined to renew the company’s excise tax licence due to financial difficulties, which saw Tantalus shed the bulk of its employees at the end of June due to looming insolvency. Without the licence, the company would’ve been unable to sell its remaining inventory and potentially recover more for creditors, including its main lender and the CRA itself. As the date of its licence expiry approached, the company had to go to court for approval of the sale of its remaining inventory on what bankruptcy trustee Ernst & Young called a “fire...

Canada Goose launches second-hand, trade-in program in Canada

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

TORONTO — Your next Canada Goose coat might be on its second life by the time it gets to you.The Toronto-based, luxury apparel company announced Thursday that it is bringing Generations, a platform allowing consumers to shop for and trade in pre-loved pieces from the brand, to Canada.Pieces available for trade-in or purchase through Generations will range from the company’s popular parkas and outdoor vests to snowsuits, snow pants, trench coats and even fleece and knitwear.The program is being launched to further Canada Goose’s commitment to sustainability but also cater to the growing number of people seeking second-hand goods, Carrie Baker, the company’s president, said.“The resale market is growing like crazy, even faster than just regular commerce, and for us, it really taps into our target demographic,” she said.Baker has seen statistics suggesting 80 per cent of consumers under the age of 30 shop for pre-loved goods, but interest in purchasing sec...

Daily horoscope for July 27, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. EDT today (3 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius.Happy Birthday for Thursday, July 27, 2023:You are a keen observer of the human condition and insightful about others around you. However, you can appear detached because you’re careful. Exciting changes will take place this year that might bring you more personal freedom. Stay flexible so you can pursue new opportunities. You might travel.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★You might be surprised by something related to shared property, banking, taxes, debt or an inheritance. Quite likely, things will go your way today. Romance might hold unexpected delights. Accept invitations to party. Enjoy fun activities with kids. Tonight: Escape!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Be accommodating and cooperative with others today, because very likely, someone will throw you a curveball. Go carefully and think before you react. Ju...

Six convicted of murder for 2016 Brussels bombings

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

A Belgian court convicted six men of murder and two others of terrorism charges on Tuesday (25 July) after the country's largest ever trial involving the 2016 Islamist bombings in Brussels that killed 32 people.The six, of 10 facing charges, were found guilty of murder and attempted murder in a terrorist context for their part in the twin bombings at Brussels airport and third bomb on the city's metro on 22 March, 2016.They and two others were also convicted of participating in the activities of a terrorism organisation. Two men were acquitted.Separate hearings to determine sentences will be held in September.The trial revived painful memories for the roughly 1,000 victims registered to attend. They include those who lost loved ones or were injured, and witnesses to the bombings."Yes, this will help turn a page," said Pierre Bastin, who lost his daughter Aline in the metro bombing, when asked if the verdicts would help him deal with his grief.Pierre-Yves Desaive, who was close to th...

Miss Manners: It was a bad time for me, and I can’t believe my friend was so heartless

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was very close to my mom. When she passed away unexpectedly 10 years ago, I was quite devastated.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: In a moment of forgetfulness, I made a mortifying offer to a friend Advice | Miss Manners: This shopper was rude to the cashier. Should I have scolded her? Advice | Miss Manners: Must I tip a server who irritates me? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I reveal my suspicions about how my ex died? Advice | Miss Manners: I was appalled by her request for her daughter’s birthday I returned to my home (about 700 miles away) following the funeral, and a concerned friend offered to pick me up and take me out for a cup of coffee.I will say, the idea of someone caring lifted my spirits. But in the car on the way to the coffee shop, my friend said, “Well, it is something we all go through.” It was said in a rather “oh well” kind of way...

Cardinals host the Cubs, aim to continue home win streak

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

Chicago Cubs (50-51, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (46-57, fourth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Thursday, 7:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Justin Steele (10-3, 2.95 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 96 strikeouts); Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (6-5, 4.33 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 86 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -110, Cardinals -109; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals will try to keep a five-game home win streak alive when they face the Chicago Cubs.St. Louis has a 46-57 record overall and a 22-26 record in home games. The Cardinals are 30-11 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Chicago has a 23-25 record on the road and a 50-51 record overall. Cubs pitchers have a collective 4.14 ERA, which ranks seventh in the NL.The matchup Thursday is the 10th time these teams meet this season. The Cubs have a 5-4 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Nolan Arenado has 19 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 77 RBI for the Cardinals. Nola...

Mets host the Nationals in first of 4-game series

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

Washington Nationals (43-59, fifth in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (47-54, fourth in the NL East)New York; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Josiah Gray (7-8, 3.45 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 98 strikeouts); Mets: Kodai Senga (7-5, 3.27 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 125 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -198, Nationals +166; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets host the Washington Nationals to open a four-game series.New York is 23-22 at home and 47-54 overall. The Mets have a 34-7 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.Washington is 23-26 on the road and 43-59 overall. Nationals hitters have a collective .403 slugging percentage to rank 10th in the NL.Thursday’s game is the eighth time these teams meet this season. The Nationals are ahead 4-3 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Nimmo has a .260 batting average to lead the Mets, and has 17 doubles, four triples and 15 home runs. Pete Alonso is 10-for-36 with two home runs and seven RBI ...

Netherlands stands tall against US at Women’s World Cup despite injuries to its forwards

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — They almost did it, even without their best forwards.Netherlands got ahead of the United States early Thursday and then withstood a flurry of U.S. attacks to preserve a 1-1 draw in its rematch of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final.The Dutch entered the match with a weakened attack. Vivianne Miedema, the country’s all-time leading women’s scorer, is out of the tournament entirely with a torn ACL.After coach Andries Jonker selected Lineth Beerensteyn for the team’s first match against Portugal, Beerenstyn went down with an ankle injury. With Jonker’s top forwards out against the United States, he turned to Katja Snoeijs, a 26-year-old attacker for Everton.“I think, a bit (of) mixed feelings,” Snoeijs said after the match. “I think we can be happy with the point, especially in the group phase, but I think we’re still looking to be better and to win a game like this as well.”Snoeijs was only informed she’d be starting against the U.S. one day bef...

Meta’s Threads gets a highly requested ‘following feed’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:55 GMT

New York (CNN) — Meta on Tuesday launched a highly anticipated “following feed” option in its Threads app as part of its latest batch of updates that could help the new social platform further chip away at Twitter’s position in the market.The option to see a reverse chronological feed of posts from only accounts a user follows had been one of the most requested features since Threads launched earlier this month. On Tuesday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg replied to a post requesting the feature, saying, “Ask and you shall receive.”The following feed, one of the central features of the Twitter experience, can be accessed on Threads by double tapping on the app’s home button.Meta has been steadily rolling out updates to Threads as it tries to keep users engaged in the new app. Threads had a hugely successful launch, topping 100 million sign-ups in its first week, but engagement has declined somewhat since then.Meta rolled out Threads as a barebones app — missing popular features such as dir...