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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ottawa posts $43.2-billion budget deficit for April-to-March period
Canada's federal budget had a deficit of $43.2 billion for the April-to-March period of the 2024-25 fiscal year, $7.7 billion less than the deficit for the same period the previous year, according to an initial report by the Department of Finance. Before net actuarial losses, the budgetary deficit was $39.1 billion, compared to $43.4 billion the prior year. For just the month of March 2025, the federal government posted a budgetary deficit of $23.9 billion, compared to $33.6 billion in March 2024. The deficit before net actuarial losses and gains was $23.5 billion, compared to $33.0 billion in the same period of 2023-24. Revenues increased by $5.9 billion or 15.2 per cent in March, mostly due to higher corporate income tax revenue. Revenues totalled $45 billion for the month, up 15.2 per cent from the previous year. The report said tax revenues were up by $5.6 billion or 19.1 per cent compared to March 2024, largely due to higher corporate income tax revenue. It said the results in March 2025 reflect a substantial increase in customs import duties from countermeasures in response to U.S. tariffs. Program expenses excluding net actuarial losses were down 4.7 per cent to $64.2 billion compared to March of last year. Election promises add up to a lot of red ink — but reality could be even worse Canada needs a full federal budget now to show where taxpayers' money is going Major transfers to persons, which consist of elderly benefits, EI benefits, COVID-19 income support for workers and children's benefits were up $1.5 billion or 14.0 per cent, the report said. • Email: dpaglinawan@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man arrested after sexually assaulting teen girl in Vancouver bathroom
A man has been arrested and charged after a crime spree on Wednesday that involved assaulting a woman, sexually assaulting a teen girl, and attempting to rob a bank. According to Vancouver police, the violent string of incidents began around 5:15 p.m. on May 28 in an office at Cambie and West 41st. A woman was leaving an appointment when she was grabbed in the hallway and assaulted. She was able to scream and get away unharmed. Just 14 minutes later, a teen girl was using a washroom in the same building when an unknown man cornered her inside with a knife and sexually assaulted her. The attacker fled after someone tried to enter the washroom. As police were responding to the sex assault, they said a man walked into a bank on the ground floor of the building and tried to rob it. Police arrest a suspect. John Frederick Field, a 62-year-old Surrey man, is charged with sexual assault with a weapon against a person under 16, forcible confinement, carrying a concealed weapon, robbery and assault. He was being held in custody. Police are asking anyone with information about the incidents to contact police at 604-717-0602. sip@ Suspect in Lapu Lapu festival killings makes second appearance in Vancouver court B.C.'s minimum wage is going up: Here's everything you need to know
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Question period falls into familiar groove as Carney dodges tariffs queries
OTTAWA — Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. That was the Conservative's message as the House of Commons kicked off its inaugural question period of the spring session, with newly-minted Prime Minister Mark Carney proving he's just as adept at dodging questions as his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. Opposition leader Andrew Scheer started off with warm words of welcome for Carney before teeing off his first question on Canada's vanishing counter-tariffs. 'During the election campaign, it was 'elbows up' as he put retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., and secretly he dropped those tariffs to effectively zero,' Scheer said. 'But he didn't stop there, he told Canadians that the government would collect $20 billion in revenue from those tariffs and he used it to cost his platform. Now that those tariffs are going to bring in zero dollars — why wasn't he honest with Canadians during the election, and how is he going to make up the shortfall? Is he going to borrow it, print it or tax it?' Carney dodged the question, choosing not to counter the Sheer's claims. 'Our tariffs have maximum impact on the United States, minimum impact on Canada, and we're dedicating all the revenues from those tariffs to supporting the workers and businesses affected by the unjustified American actions,' Carney said. Scheer noted that even with a new body in the PM's seat, some things remain the same. 'Well, he didn't take long to pick up old Liberal habits of not being able to answer questions,' Scheer remarked, implying that the LIberals must have something to hide by delaying the budget until after the summer. 'The PM said 'undoing the damage of the last 10 years will require great speed,' but he's not going to table a budget for six months. If he's the man with the plan and the guy you hire in a crisis, why won't he table a budget before he goes on summer vacation?' Carney didn't explain why he won't table a budget before this fall, oddly pointing out that the Conservative platform made no mention of tabling a spring budget. 'Our plan includes legislating for one Canadian economy and nation-building projects immediately to grow this economy, and we expect the support from all in this House.' Carney also dodged questions on repealing the no-pipelines bill by repeating his previous response almost verbatim, prompting jeers from the opposition benches. bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Carney thanks Canadians, MPs as the House of Commons resumes THE KING'S SPEECH: Tradition, ceremony made for memorable royal visit
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Two men, woman face firearm and drug charges in separate Brampton probes
Peel Regional Police have seized two loaded firearms and illicit drugs in two separate investigations in Brampton, charging three people in the process. Cops say on May 14 they executed a Criminal Code search warrant at a residence in Brampton and located a fully loaded Glock handgun, along with a quantity of illegal substances. Antwon Asamoah, 29, of Brampton, was arrested and charged with three firearm-related charges and three of possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance. Then on May 17, police conducted a traffic stop in the area of Ready Court and Drinkwater Road and seized a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun, a quantity of illicit drugs, and Canadian currency. Two people were arrested. Howard Hemmings, 48, from Shelburne, was charged with knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession for the purpose – schedule 1 cocaine, fail to comply with release order and fail to comply with prohibition order. Tracy Campbell, 43, of Brampton, was charged with knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession for the purpose – schedule 1 cocaine. The investigation remains ongoing, and police anticipate further charges will be laid. Anyone with information about this matter can contact the 22 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-3311, ext. 2233. jstevenson@
Edmonton Journal
7 days ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Liberals hold first post-election meeting on the eve of new spring session
Article content Carney dodged questions about this possibility when asked about it a few days ago and simply said that these votes on the Reform Act will be taking place in caucus. Liberals will also have to decide who they will be supporting to run for Speaker. As of Friday, at least seven candidates — five Liberal MPs and two Conservative MPs — were in the running, but eligible MPs have until 6 p.m. to decide to remove their names. Carney, for his part, has a few busy weeks ahead of him after the start of the spring sitting. Carney will be meeting with the country's premiers in Saskatoon on June 2, will be hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, and will be attending the NATO Summit in the Netherlands from June 24 to 25. More to come. National Post calevesque@
