Gas prices up slightly in the Maritimes
Nova Scotia
The price of regular self-serve gasoline in the Halifax-area increased by 0.5 cents. The minimum price is now 144.1 cents per litre.
The price of diesel decreased by 2.4 cents. The new minimum price is 155.7 cents per litre.
The price of regular self-serve gasoline in Cape Breton is 146.1 cents per litre and the price of diesel is 157.7 cents per litre.
Prince Edward Island
The price of regular self-serve gasoline on P.E.I. increased by 1.1 cents. The minimum price is now 149.6 cents per litre.
The price of diesel did not change. The minimum price on the island remains 164.2 cents per litre.
New Brunswick
The price of regular self-serve gasoline in New Brunswick increased by 1.5 cents. The new maximum price in the province is 146.0 cents per litre.
Diesel prices decreased by 0.6 cents. The maximum price is now 158.3 cents per litre.
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CTV News
26 minutes ago
- CTV News
Eric Ham: As Trump challenges China for superiority of rare earth minerals, Canada suffers
The fight for rare earth minerals is pitting the world's two biggest economies in a race for global supremacy, and Canada is getting squeezed, says Washington political analyst Eric Ham in a column. (iStock / Getty Images Plus / wildpixel) Eric Ham is based in Washington, D.C. and is a political analyst for CTV News. He's a bestselling author and former congressional staffer in the U.S. Congress and writes for The fight for rare earth minerals pits the world's two biggest economies in a race for global supremacy. Moreover, as this back-and-forth unfurls, U.S. President Donald Trump's willingness to blow up longstanding norms, relationships, and treatises underscores the lengths Washington and Beijing are prepared to go for domination. Plans are already being designed for a U.S. takeover of Greenland. Yet, more dastardly and no doubt troubling, is Trump's fanciful ambitions of an American annexation of Canada. Since the president's historic victory last November, the former reality television star has unleashed a barrage of nihilistic attacks on the United States' northern neighbour. Beijing's weaponization of its global leading bounty of rare earth minerals has the White House desperate to catch up — and it is now Ottawa and its 150-year history and alliance with America that stands on the precipice of potential erasure. Rare earth mineral, tellurium Refined tellurium is shown in Magna, Utah in a Wednesday, May 11, 2022 photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Rick Bowmer) Since his surprise victory in 2016, Trump has always made it known his desires to bring Greenland under the flag of American sovereignty. Citing national security reasons for this questionable idea, most within foreign policy circles simply dismissed the thought as the incoherent ramblings of a novice and capricious politician, unsophisticated in the ways of geopolitics. However, since his return to Washington, Trump, to the surprise of many, has only added to the list of nations he wants under U.S. control. Beyond the annexation of Greenland, the president has expressed desires to also control the Panama Canal and Canada. Not stopping there, the Trump administration is also eyeing dominance of the Arctic. The successful passage of the recently enshrined law, the Big Beautiful Bill Act, allocates US$8.6 billion to increase the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker fleet where Washington hopes to counter rising Russian and Chinese dominance. Recognizing the U.S. is woefully lagging China's unmatched economic pre-eminence, the White House is making aggressively bold overtures to close the gap. Takeover bids and brazen confrontations are now the weapons of choice being used to counter Beijing's strength. Tariffs might be the signature economic policy of this administration but clearly, they are a means to an end. No doubt, the tariffs are meant to paralyze and destabilize nations and regions by crippling economies and markets forcing them to bend to the will and might of America's newest strongman. Rare earth mine in China In this Dec. 30, 2010, photo, workers use machinery to dig at a rare earth mine in Ganxian county in central China's Jiangxi province. (Chinatopix via AP) Trump telegraphed such maneuvers early in his second term when ratcheting up takeover talks specifically of Greenland and Canada. Now, as China and the U.S. intensify their trade war, Beijing has wielded its secret weapon with efficient precision. Imposing new export controls on seven rare earth elements, China's demonstration of its economic and political muscle further revealed America's weakness in its ongoing imbroglio with the Asian superpower. In an audacious, if not reckless effort to catch up, Trump has turned to the quixotic and fatalistic notion that bringing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal under U.S. sovereignty will shorten the distance with its economic rival. Yet, Beijing's approach to its accumulation of critical minerals — that power everything from fighter jets to missiles, electric vehicles to drones and even wind turbines — was done without firing so much as a warning shot; not even a belligerent or antagonistic remark was made. In fact, its overtures to join its silk and road initiative (BRI) was seen as too attractive for many nations to pass up. Contrast that with Washington's hard power approach, which has already backfired spectacularly, as evidenced by the nationalistic fervour and resistance orchestrated by both Canadians and Greenlanders, to come under the U.S. flag. Prime Minister Mark Carney, with great aplomb, directly dismissed a Washington takeover during his inaugural meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. A recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute shows that when it comes to current negotiations with the United States, 'Three-in-five respondents said Canada should take a hard approach at 63 per cent, rather than a soft one, at 37 per cent.' The data was taken before and after Trump's announcement of the new 35-per-cent tariff. Additionally, the survey stated that when it comes to supply management, half of Canadians want Ottawa negotiators to stand firm, even if it means retaliation. More importantly, on the critical issue of rare earth minerals, perhaps the sole overarching reason Trump is ready to wage war with America's century-old neighbour: two-thirds (66%) say no to offering the U.S. first priority on critical minerals. Trump learned, perhaps too late, that for nearly two decades, U.S. critical mineral supply chains were 'too concentrated, too fragile, and too exposed' to Chinese leverage and control. Now, in a fruitless race to level the playing field, the president is waging economic warfare against allies, neighbours, and friends. His historic blow-up at the White House, lashing out at Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky, was largely fuelled by frustration the embattled European leader was stalling on an agreement of military assistance in exchange for American control of Ukraine's mineral resources. However, now the deal is finalized, the president recently announced the sale of Patriot systems to European and NATO allies to provide to Kyiv in its ongoing war against Russia. Still, the historic deal does very little to dent China's dominance over the United States. Trump, though touting the agreement as a massive win for the U.S., very acutely knows it is not enough to shore up American supply chain vulnerabilities — not if, but when, China chooses to act. Threats to national sovereignty; unceasing ignominious characterizations of a relationship that has been a shining beacon of cooperation and mutual benefit for more than a century; and now, economic policies that are posing threats not just to perceived enemies but to American consumers. Trump's efforts to lead the nation back from its second-tier status against China is noble, but in waging war against Beijing, Trump's misguided efforts now has America's allies catching strays and it is the nation's biggest trading partner, Canada, suffering the most.
CTV News
26 minutes ago
- CTV News
Canadians voice frustrations with CRA over delays accessing benefits, refunds
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters is seen in Ottawa on Friday, June 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Chris Ellis has been trying to access his tax refund for four months. He's just one of dozens of Canadians who tell CTV News the significant wait times and other challenges contacting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are preventing them from accessing certain benefits. From getting locked out of accounts for extended periods to getting stuck in a loop on the automated voice messaging system, many are expressing frustration with the agency's communication. In response to a CTV News article encouraging Canadians to reach out about their experiences with the CRA, several people shared that they have been waiting months to have their issues resolved. Ellis, for his part, was notified he'd been locked out of his CRA account after his bank, HSBC, was bought out by RBC, changing his direct deposit information and triggering a security alert. But Ellis says he didn't learn he'd been locked out until more than a month after he filed his taxes. 'I called CRA, and after listening to useless advice and options, I finally realized that I was in a loop: there was no way to reach an actual agent, and there was no option to select one,' Ellis wrote. 'This went on for about three weeks, with me calling in, going through the useless messages that took about six minutes, only to find out there were no agents available.' 'Super frustrating given that my account was locked out,' he added. Ellis then had to submit documentation through a portal — more than once — to prove his identity, but he still hasn't received his tax refund. 'So here I am, almost four months after submitting my tax return, and I am still in limbo,' he said. Ellis adds that CRA employees, once they can be reached, are 'very sharp' and 'very helpful,' but that the issue lies with the online and phone services. Delays causing 'extreme stress' 'I have been unable to reach a human at the CRA for weeks,' wrote Eric Enright in an email to CTV News. 'I have called periodically, maybe 10-15 times, and every time it just says all agents are busy and pushes me to an automated system that can't help. It is very frustrating.' 'I have no problem waiting hours, as I can just leave my phone beside me while I work,' Enright added. 'It's ridiculous, in my opinion, to not even give people the option of waiting.' Paul Medhurst said his tax return was filed mid-April but also has still not been processed. 'This failure of CRA is causing me extreme stress, worry and I'm losing a lot of sleep,' Medhurst said. '(I) worry of being broke and having my income held.' He added the delay in processing his tax return is preventing him from accessing monthly disability benefits. Sarah Kienitz wrote that it's taken months to receive the Canada Child Benefit, for which she's been approved. 'I attempted to contact the CRA three times to find out what the hold up was and to get clarity about why my taxes had been processed, but this was taking much longer,' she wrote. 'Each time I received a message that agents were busy and there was no option to even remain on hold, or any other way to contact them, except the chatbot that inevitably told me to call an agent with my queries.' 'I find it incredibly frustrating that I have tax deadlines and can be penalized for not completing on time, but the CRA can drag their heels almost four months before even telling me what my benefit entitlements are,' Kienitz also wrote. Others complained that CRA delays and communication challenges are preventing them from distributing estates for which they are the executor. Government departments tasked with finding savings Prime Minister Mark Carney, meanwhile, has pledged billions in new spending while promising to balance its operating budget. That will likely mean significant cuts to the size of the federal public service, according to the parliamentary budget officer. Ahead of a planned fall budget, government departments are being asked to find their own internal savings by the end of August, CTV News has confirmed. The Globe and Mail reported Friday the CRA is among the departments in the early stages of determining where to make cuts, as the union representing CRA employees is warning the cuts could 'disproportionately' affect call centres. Complaints about CRA wait times are not new. A 2017 report by the Auditor General found that the agency gave 'very limited access to its call centre services,' and that it blocked more than half the calls it received because it couldn't handle the volume. Also a 2023 report by the taxpayers' ombudsperson found the agency failed to properly communicate about the problem when thousands of people were locked out of their account two years prior. That report acknowledged specific challenges at the time, namely an overwhelming number of requests with the CRA while it distributed COVID-19-era relief benefits. 'This examination has highlighted a recurring issue at the CRA, where it communicates reactively rather than proactively,' the report concluded. In an email statement to CTV News, CRA spokesperson Charles Drouin said the agency is encouraging people to use online self-service tools — such as CRA My Account and the AI chatbot — before calling, because an estimated quarter of reported issues can be solved without an agent. 'We regret the inconvenience this situation may cause and are actively working to continuously improve both our phone and digital services,' Drouin wrote. 'By expanding self-service options, we aim to make it easier for Canadians to get the help they need quickly, securely, and without needing to speak to an agent.' Drouin added the CRA understands wait times can be frustrating, and that it values 'providing timely, high-quality service.' 'At times, demand for phone support can exceed our capacity and as a result, some callers are being redirected to automated self-service options,' Drouin wrote. Efforts to streamline certain processes are underway, including by changing some of its authorization requirements for individuals representing a client, according to a press release from the CRA this week. With files from CTV News' Stephanie Ha
CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
Modular manufacturing ramps up production in N.B. to meet housing demand
Henrique Manreza knew he would love small-town life in Woodstock when he moved to New Brunswick three years ago from San Paulo, a Brazilian city of 12 million. An outdoorsy person, he loves to hike and kayak, and he's even learning to fish. "In San Paulo, if you want to go into nature, you need to travel two hours or something like that. Here, in 15 minutes I'm in the middle of the woods or in the middle of a huge river. It is just an awesome place." Manreza also knew he wanted to work in construction, specifically the modular construction industry with Woodstock-based Ironwood Manufactured Homes, where he would work indoors all the time. "I'm from Brazil, so winter [here] can be hard on us," he said. "And then here you can work the entire year inside. Of course you feel the cold, but it's not the same as working outside." WATCH | 'With us it's always on time, on budget,' says modular housing developer: Home shopping? Your new place to live could come from a factory 4 minutes ago The ability to work indoors is one of the strengths of an industry that has become a focal point for provincial and federal governments trying to meet demands for new housing nationwide. Workers like ducking the cold weather outdoors, and companies say it considerably shortens the time frame for the construction of new houses and apartment buildings. Manreza is part of a pipeline of trades students from New Brunswick Community College in Woodstock. Many want to work in modular construction, and one of the main reasons is to avoid the inclement weather in the outdoor construction industry. Ironwood owner Mark Gaddas likes the mix of employees — young and older, newcomers and people born and raised here. "We have a pretty diverse workforce," Gaddas said. "We've got a really good working relationship with NBCC. Most of our employees have come through one of their programs. We certainly work with the Atlantic immigration program too. We are going to have to look towards immigrants as our workforce needs increase." Companies like Ironwood need the infusion of new people as modular construction becomes a key driver in a housing sector that's trying to keep pace with a growing population in New Brunswick and across the country. To keep pace itself, Ironwood is building a new 100,000-square-foot factory to replace the 10,000-square-foot one. The current plant produces a house every one to two weeks, and has turned down opportunities to do projects such as multi-unit apartment buildings because it would tie up their operations for weeks, and they'd have to turn away house builds that are the staple of the business. "We've got 33 guys on the floor right now, and they go non-stop," Gaddas said. Brandon Searle, the director of innovation and operations of the Off-site Construction Research Centre at the University of New Brunswick, says speed is a key feature of modular construction, which is especially important given Prime Minister Mark Carney's commitment to doubling the amount of new homes constructed per year to 500,000. "I don't think the country's ever built much more than 250,000," Searle said. "If you want to really produce that, we have to rethink how we do things." The UNB centre works with industry partners on innovative pre-fabricated solutions in panellized, precast concrete, mass timber, modular construction, and has produced a simulation for the production design and flow in the new Ironwood facility. Carney has said that modular and other forms of pre-fabricated construction will be critical to doubling the amount of new housing. The New Brunswick government has said the same. David Hickey, the minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corp., said they're counting on companies to ramp up production, as Ironwood will do when the new plan opens in the fall. The provincial and federal governments have put 2.5 million into helping the company expand its workforce and build a plant that can produce multi-unit buildings and more single-family homes in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. "We need to be doing a better job of making sure we're investing in [modular construction], seeing the economic development opportunity … but also as a solution to the supply crisis that we're in in housing and really solving that question around how we fill the 'missing middle,'" Hickey said. Gaddas said the main attractions for modular-home buyers are speed and price predictability. His team can construct a single-family home in the shop, deliver the large Lego-like pieces by truck to the site, and assemble it all within four to six weeks. A traditional on-site build is four to six months, he said. The price is also locked in once the estimate is done, because there are no cost overruns that come from dealing with weather and co-ordination of tradespeople with on-site construction. "With us it's always on time, on budget," he said. Ironwood currently employs 54 people, with 33 on the shop floor. Gaddas said the new plant will have up to 85, with as many as 65 on the shop floor, ramping up production and opening up new opportunities for the company. "We're essentially recognized as a custom-home builder for single-family homes," he said. "Our new facility will open up additional markets such as the multi-residential, and the hospitality industry, so a lot of your hotel chains now are looking at modular builds. University dormitories can be built using modular technology."
