Latest news with #Chiasson
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68
Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 68 After last minute issues on the scale, Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira will now meet at featherweight. Will it go the distance? Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 68 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. Last event: 3-1 UFC main cards, 2025: 46-39-1 Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 preview Chiasson (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) enters this one on back-to-back wins at 135 pounds: a first-round stoppage of Pannie Kianzad last March, followed by a second-round TKO of Mayra Bueno Silva last June. Chiasson has fought at featherweight when the division still had a pulse, and recorded a split decision victory over Norma Dumont in her last fight at that weight. ... Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) came in heavy for the second time in her UFC tenure. The career bantamweight has not fought at 145 pounds during her UFC run. Vieira will look to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 307 in October. Prior to that setback, she beat Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision in July 2023. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 expert pick, prediction With the relentless UFC schedule making it extra difficult to keep cards together (much less hold up to any sort of standard), this bout between two top-ranked bantamweights, Chiasson and Vieira, will now take place at the defunct weight class of featherweight. Although I was already picking Chiasson to win, it worries me for Vieira's sake that the Brazilian was the one who requested the weight change. Both women are large for the division and have difficulty making the weight, but this move from Vieira could bode badly for her already suspect output in fights. Chiasson, on the other hand, has looked to be trending upward as she finally seems to be putting all her skills together. It's probably a bolder prediction than I'm making it out to be, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Chiasson will turn up the heat and get Vieira out of there via a second-round submission. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 odds The oddsmakers and the public slightly favor the American, listing Chiasson -120 and Vieira -102 via FanDuel. Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira UFC on ESPN 68 start time, how to watch Chiasson and Vieira are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts on ESPN+.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 predictions: We've got upsets picked in the main, co-main in Vegas
UFC on ESPN 68 predictions: We've got upsets picked in the main, co-main in Vegas Our picks for Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber, Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein and more in 'Sin City' Show Caption Hide Caption Blanchfield vs. Barber gets intense in UFC on ESPN 68 faceoff Watch as all the fighters for UFC Vegas 107 come face-to-face ahead of their bouts on Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home stomping grounds Saturday with women's flyweights at the top of the lineup. UFC on ESPN 68 (ESPN, ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below. Dusko Todorovic vs. Zachary Reese Records: Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) Past five: Todorovic 2-3, Reese 3-2 Todorovic 2-3, Reese 3-2 Division: Middleweight Middleweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.31.25): Todorovic +170, Reese -205 Todorovic +170, Reese -205 Junkie pick results: Reese 7, Todorovic 4 Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira Records: Chiasson (11-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Chiasson (11-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Past five: Chiasson 3-2, Vieira 3-2 Chiasson 3-2, Vieira 3-2 Division: Women's bantamweight Women's bantamweight Rankings: Vieira No. 4, Chiasson No. 7 Vieira No. 4, Chiasson No. 7 Odds (as of 05.31.25): Chiasson -135, Vieira +115 Chiasson -135, Vieira +115 Junkie pick results: Chiasson 10, Vieira 1 Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Records: Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Past five: Jacoby 2-3, Lopes 4-1 Jacoby 2-3, Lopes 4-1 Division: Light heavyweight Light heavyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.31.25): Jacoby -190, Lopes +160 Jacoby -190, Lopes +160 Junkie pick results: Jacoby 8, Lopes 3 Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff Records: Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Goff (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Goff (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Past five: Brahimaj 3-2, Goff 4-1 Brahimaj 3-2, Goff 4-1 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.31.25): Brahimaj +310, Goff -395 Brahimaj +310, Goff -395 Junkie pick results: Brahimaj 8, Goff 3 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Records: Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) Past five: Gamrot 3-2, Klein 4-0-1 Gamrot 3-2, Klein 4-0-1 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: Gamrot No. 10 Gamrot No. 10 Odds (as of 05.31.25): Gamrot -155, Klein +130 Gamrot -155, Klein +130 Junkie pick results: Gamrot 11, Klein 0 Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Records: Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Past five: Blanchfield 4-1, Barber 5-0 Blanchfield 4-1, Barber 5-0 Division: Women's flyweight Women's flyweight Rankings: Blanchfield No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Barber No. 9 Blanchfield No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Barber No. 9 Odds (as of 05.31.25): Blanchfield -220, Barber +180 Blanchfield -220, Barber +180 Junkie pick results: Blanchfield 8, Barber 3 Individual staff member picks, main card Readers 62-43: Blanchfield (67%), Gamrot (75%), Goff (81%), Jacoby (66%), Chiasson (53%), Reese (85%) Nolan King 68-38: Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Farah Hannoun 68-38: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Mike Bohn 67-39: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Matt Erickson 66-40: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Goff, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Goff, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese Abbey Subhan 66-40: Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Kenny Hathaway 64-42: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Simon Samano 63-43: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Todorovic Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Todorovic Brian Garcia 61-45: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Danny Segura 60-46: Barber, Gamrot, Goff, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Barber, Gamrot, Goff, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Matthew Wells 57-49: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese George Garcia 57-49: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Goff, Jacoby, Vieira, Reese Preliminary card picks Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68: Make your predictions for Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber
UFC on ESPN 68: Make your predictions for Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber We want your predictions for UFC on ESPN 68. Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we'll use the official tallies that are registered by Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT). Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC on ESPN 68 (ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Make your picks below. Alice Ardelean vs. Rayanne Dos Santos Records: Ardelean (9-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Dos Santos (14-8 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Ardelean (9-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Dos Santos (14-8 MMA, 0-2 UFC) Past five: Ardelean 3-2, Dos Santos 3-2 Ardelean 3-2, Dos Santos 3-2 Division: Women's strawweight Women's strawweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Ardelean +225, Dos Santos -280 MarQuel Mederos vs. Bolaji Oki Records: Mederos (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Oki (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Mederos (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Oki (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Past five: Mederos 5-0, Oki 4-1 Mederos 5-0, Oki 4-1 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Mederos +160, Oki -190 Kurt Holobaugh vs. Jordan Leavitt Records: Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC), Leavitt (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC), Leavitt (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) Past five: Holobaugh 2-3, Leavitt 2-3 Holobaugh 2-3, Leavitt 2-3 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Holobaugh +155, Leavitt -185 Trevin Giles vs. Andreas Gustafsson Records: Giles (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC), Gustafsson (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Giles (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC), Gustafsson (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Past five: Giles 2-3, Gustafsson 4-1 Giles 2-3, Gustafsson 4-1 Division: 180-pound contract weight 180-pound contract weight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Giles +140, Gustafsson -165 Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira Records: Chiasson (11-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Chiasson (11-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Past five: Chiasson 3-2, Vieira 3-2 Chiasson 3-2, Vieira 3-2 Division: Women's bantamweight Women's bantamweight Rankings: Vieira No. 4, Chiasson No. 7 Vieira No. 4, Chiasson No. 7 Odds (as of 05.26.25): Chiasson -120, Vieira -100 Jafel Filho vs. Allan Nascimento Records: Filho (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Nascimento (20-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC) Filho (16-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Nascimento (20-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC) Past five: Filho 4-1, Nascimento 3-2 Filho 4-1, Nascimento 3-2 Division: Flyweight Flyweight Rankings: Filho No. 12 Filho No. 12 Odds (as of 05.26.25): Filho +135, Nascimento -160 Dusko Todorovic vs. Zachary Reese Records: Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) Past five: Todorovic 2-3, Reese 3-2 Todorovic 2-3, Reese 3-2 Division: Middleweight Middleweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Todorovic +205, Reese -250 Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff Records: Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Goff (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Goff (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Past five: Brahimaj 3-2, Goff 4-1 Brahimaj 3-2, Goff 4-1 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Brahimaj +270, Goff -340 Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Records: Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Past five: Jacoby 2-3, Lopes 4-1 Jacoby 2-3, Lopes 4-1 Division: Light heavyweight Light heavyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.26.25): Jacoby -185, Lopes +155 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Records: Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) Past five: Gamrot 3-2, Klein 4-0-1 Gamrot 3-2, Klein 4-0-1 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: Gamrot No. 10 Gamrot No. 10 Odds (as of 05.26.25): Gamrot -175, Klein +145 Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Records: Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Past five: Blanchfield 4-1, Barber 5-0 Blanchfield 4-1, Barber 5-0 Division: Women's flyweight Women's flyweight Rankings: Blanchfield No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Barber No. 9 Blanchfield No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Barber No. 9 Odds (as of 05.26.25): Blanchfield -240, Barber +195 UFC on ESPN 68 fight card (as of May 26, 2 p.m. ET) MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET) Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff Dusko Todorovic vs. Zachary Reese PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'A survival game': How the cost of living has changed since the 2021 federal election
Rachel Chiasson, 36, recently settled into an apartment in Edmonton's Cromdale neighbourhood, ending a nearly two-year endeavour that included a period of precarious living situations. She was renovicted from her Calgary apartment in May 2023. The management company gave her eight months' notice, Chiasson said, but she had to uproot her life because she couldn't find anywhere else nearby to live. Chiasson, a licensed practical nurse, tried moving to Edmonton, but again struggled to find housing, she said. She, her German Shepherd and two cats lived in her car for two weeks, then a motel for one month, before finding a place in Redwater, Alta. She commuted about 60 kilometres to and from Edmonton for work, until she finally found her new apartment in the city. "[Inflation has] affected me immensely," said Chiasson, who's originally from Halifax. "I was homeless — and I know lots of other people are facing this on the daily. There have been times when I've not had much money to even just eat. "It was hard for me mentally, physically, financially … and I was still working during that time," she said. Rachel Chiasson, 36, spent a weeks-long period living in her car and a motel with her three pets, after getting renovicted from an apartment in Calgary. (Craig Ryan/CBC) The steep, years-long rising cost of living is still a top federal election issue, especially amid the U.S. trade war. Using Statistics Canada's monthly consumer price index (CPI) data, which measures inflation on goods and services, CBC News calculated Alberta's inflation rate since the last federal election in September 2021. Overall, prices grew by about 13.7 per cent as of February, the latest month for which data is available. The national rate was nearing 14.1 per cent, data shows. But inflation is not uniform, as markets differ for things like food, gas, rent and streaming service subscriptions. At the grocery store, for example, coffee and tea are almost 40 per cent more expensive, while eggs cost 25 per cent more, data shows. But reading materials — including books, newspapers and magazines — are five per cent cheaper. "This is substantial inflation," said Beyza Ural Marchand, a University of Alberta economics professor. Ural Marchand is currently researching how the recent inflation has impacted Canadians, but could not yet divulge any of her findings. Her previous research, however, has found that lower-income households tend to be hit harder by inflation. Poorer households may consume about the same as higher-income households, but a larger share of their budget is dedicated to necessities, she said. If prices of essential products rise, they have less money to spend on other things, whereas wealthier households have more wiggle room. Multiple people told CBC News how their wallets and purse strings have tightened since the 2021 election. Some, like Chiasson, have experienced homelessness. Homeward Trust, an Edmonton agency dedicated to improving homelessness, estimated that more than 2,900 people in Edmonton experienced homelessness in 2023 — an increase of about 1,100 from 2021, when it estimated about 1,800 people experienced homelessness, municipal data shows. The dataset lists inflation as a contributing factor. "Something has to give," said Belinda King, 63. She was homeless in Edmonton for 10 months, much of which was spent in a women's shelter. "I had no addictions," she said. "I found myself homeless because the price of everything is going up, and the wages and incomes don't go up. I never chose to be homeless." King, who now lives in an apartment in the Dickinsfield area in the city's north side, said she worries she could be on the street again. She underwent knee replacements and hasn't recovered enough to work again, she said. In the meantime, she's scraping by on her CPP and AISH payments — the latter of which could be cut back. The six major federal parties — the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, Bloc Québécois, Green Party and People's Party of Canada (PPC) — each promised initiatives to address the higher cost of living, should they form government after the election on April 28. The measures mainly include tax breaks and changes to social programs that aim to help Canadians keep more money in their pockets. The parties have also detailed how they each plan to increase the housing supply — affordable units and otherwise — and some measures that would seek to make buying a home easier for Canadians. The U.S. trade war, however, could compound the affordability issue. The United States government imposed tariffs on Canadian imports that don't comply with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the free trade agreement between the North American neighbours: 10 per cent on potash and energy products and 25 per cent on everything else. But the U.S. recently made exceptions for Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles. Those goods are getting taxed an extra 25 per cent, regardless of complicity. Canadian companies affected by tariffs may have to lay off workers. Retail companies could absorb higher costs or try to recoup those costs by raising prices for consumers. Ural Marchand expects retailers — grocery chains in particular — to raise prices, she said, noting that they've done so in other recent moments of high inflation, such as when the war in Ukraine affected supply chains. "Given that they did not absorb the previous shocks, it seems unlikely," Ural Marchand said. "They all led to having these corporations making even larger profits, not lower." WATCH | Affordability, health care crucial election issues for seniors: The federal and provincial governments have enacted countermeasures to the U.S. tariffs. The federal political parties have also made tariff-related promises, some of which focus on helping laid-off workers from affected sectors. In the meantime, Lorephil Toledo, a single mother who owns a cleaning company in Edmonton, is just trying to get by. At work, she is navigating higher prices for supplies and losing clientele who opt for cheaper services, said Toledo, 37. She has laid off staff and hired her two teenagers to help on weekends. Meanwhile, she also has to make sure she brings home enough money to feed her kids, she said. "It's a survival game," she said. Toledo, who received Canadian citizenship last year after immigrating from the Philippines, will be voting federally for the first time, she said. She is still researching with which candidate she most aligns, but the economy is her top issue, she said.
CBC
07-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
'A survival game': How the cost of living has changed since the 2021 federal election
Rachel Chiasson, 36, recently settled into an apartment in Edmonton's Cromdale neighbourhood, ending a nearly two-year endeavour that included a period of precarious living situations. She was renovicted from her Calgary apartment in May 2023. The management company gave her eight months' notice, Chiasson said, but she had to uproot her life because she couldn't find anywhere else nearby to live. Chiasson, a licensed practical nurse, tried moving to Edmonton, but again struggled to find housing, she said. She, her German Shepherd and two cats lived in her car for two weeks, then a motel for one month, before finding a place in Redwater, Alta. She commuted about 60 kilometres to and from Edmonton for work, until she finally found her new apartment in the city. "[Inflation has] affected me immensely," said Chiasson, who's originally from Halifax. "I was homeless — and I know lots of other people are facing this on the daily. There have been times when I've not had much money to even just eat. "It was hard for me mentally, physically, financially … and I was still working during that time," she said. The steep, years-long rising cost of living is still a top federal election issue, especially amid the U.S. trade war. Using Statistics Canada's monthly consumer price index (CPI) data, which measures inflation on goods and services, CBC News calculated Alberta's inflation rate since the last federal election in September 2021. Overall, prices grew by about 13.7 per cent as of February, the latest month for which data is available. The national rate was nearing 14.1 per cent, data shows. But inflation is not uniform, as markets differ for things like food, gas, rent and streaming service subscriptions. At the grocery store, for example, coffee and tea are almost 40 per cent more expensive, while eggs cost 25 per cent more, data shows. But reading materials — including books, newspapers and magazines — are five per cent cheaper. "This is substantial inflation," said Beyza Ural Marchand, a University of Alberta economics professor. Ural Marchand is currently researching how the recent inflation has impacted Canadians, but could not yet divulge any of her findings. Her previous research, however, has found that lower-income households tend to be hit harder by inflation. Poorer households may consume about the same as higher-income households, but a larger share of their budget is dedicated to necessities, she said. If prices of essential products rise, they have less money to spend on other things, whereas wealthier households have more wiggle room. Multiple people told CBC News how their wallets and purse strings have tightened since the 2021 election. Some, like Chiasson, have experienced homelessness. Homeward Trust, an Edmonton agency dedicated to improving homelessness, estimated that more than 2,900 people in Edmonton experienced homelessness in 2023 — an increase of about 1,100 from 2021, when it estimated about 1,800 people experienced homelessness, municipal data shows. The dataset lists inflation as a contributing factor. "Something has to give," said Belinda King, 63. She was homeless in Edmonton for 10 months, much of which was spent in a women's shelter. "I had no addictions," she said. "I found myself homeless because the price of everything is going up, and the wages and incomes don't go up. I never chose to be homeless." King, who now lives in an apartment in the Dickinsfield area in the city's north side, said she worries she could be on the street again. She underwent knee replacements and hasn't recovered enough to work again, she said. In the meantime, she's scraping by on her CPP and AISH payments — the latter of which could be cut back. The six major federal parties — the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, Bloc Québécois, Green Party and People's Party of Canada (PPC) — each promised initiatives to address the higher cost of living, should they form government after the election on April 28. The measures mainly include tax breaks and changes to social programs that aim to help Canadians keep more money in their pockets. The parties have also detailed how they each plan to increase the housing supply — affordable units and otherwise — and some measures that would seek to make buying a home easier for Canadians. The U.S. trade war, however, could compound the affordability issue. The United States government imposed tariffs on Canadian imports that don't comply with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the free trade agreement between the North American neighbours: 10 per cent on potash and energy products and 25 per cent on everything else. But the U.S. recently made exceptions for Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles. Those goods are getting taxed an extra 25 per cent, regardless of complicity. Canadian companies affected by tariffs may have to lay off workers. Retail companies could absorb higher costs or try to recoup those costs by raising prices for consumers. Ural Marchand expects retailers — grocery chains in particular — to raise prices, she said, noting that they've done so in other recent moments of high inflation, such as when the war in Ukraine affected supply chains. "Given that they did not absorb the previous shocks, it seems unlikely," Ural Marchand said. "They all led to having these corporations making even larger profits, not lower." WATCH | Affordability, health care crucial election issues for seniors: Affordability, health care crucial election issues for seniors 3 days ago Duration 2:00 Seniors enjoying karaoke night at Edmonton's Norwood Legion told CBC what matters to them in the upcoming federal election. Their issues? The cost of living, pension security, affordable housing and top-notch health care. The federal and provincial governments have enacted countermeasures to the U.S. tariffs. The federal political parties have also made tariff-related promises, some of which focus on helping laid-off workers from affected sectors. In the meantime, Lorephil Toledo, a single mother who owns a cleaning company in Edmonton, is just trying to get by. At work, she is navigating higher prices for supplies and losing clientele who opt for cheaper services, said Toledo, 37. She has laid off staff and hired her two teenagers to help on weekends. Meanwhile, she also has to make sure she brings home enough money to feed her kids, she said. "It's a survival game," she said. Toledo, who received Canadian citizenship last year after immigrating from the Philippines, will be voting federally for the first time, she said. She is still researching with which candidate she most aligns, but the economy is her top issue, she said.
