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In the news today: Pair of key economic reports out today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Pair of key economic reports coming todayStatistics Canada will release its report this morning on how the economy fared in April when it releases its reading of gross domestic product for the month.The agency’s early estimate for April that it released last month had pointed to a gain of 0.2 per cent.Another key report out today comes from the Bank of Canada, which will release its business outlook survey and its Canadian survey of consumer expectations.The readings on the economy come ahead of the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate decision on July 12.Here’s what else we’re watching …B.C. must change forest strategy: wildfire reportBritish Columbia’s independent forests watchdog says the provincial government is not doing enough to protect forest lands from the risk of catastrophic wildfires.The B-C Forest Practices Board ...

Cheaper competition for Humira is hitting the market, but savings will depend on your insurance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Patients who take the autoimmune disease treatment Humira may see some price relief when several lower-cost, biosimilar versions of the AbbVie drug reach the U.S. market in July. But lower pharmacy bills may not happen right away — or at all — for some patients. That’ll depend largely on your insurance coverage. Here’s a closer look. WHAT IS HUMIRA?It’s an injectable biologic drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients usually take it twice a month.Biologic drugs are made from living cells instead of by mixing chemicals and have led to major advances in treating immune-system disorders, eye diseases and some cancers since the late 1990s.IS HUMIRA EXPENSIVE?The list price (or initial price) for a month’s supply of Humira is $6,922, according to AbbVie. Patients typically don’t pay that much out of pocket every month. Instead, it depends on their prescription drug coverage, which might still bring large bills until a plan’...

Attacks on LGBTQ community largely influenced by events in the U.S.: advocates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Wilbur Turner has witnessed his fair share of hate since he came out as a queer man 27 years ago in Alberta. He’s seen it from pockets of the Christian right and from the then-Progressive Conservative government in his home province when it opposed same-sex marriage in the mid-2000s. In the years since, documented attacks against the LGBTQ community have ebbed and flowed and moved from mostly behind closed doors to public spaces like schools and libraries. Turner, the founder of LGBTQ rights group Advocacy Canada, said recent events in Canada have been largely influenced by what’s been happening south of the border. “It is pretty well organized. There’s quite a number of different groups that have popped up across Canada that are fuelling this,” he said from his home in Kelowna, B.C. “It’s really based in Christian nationalism.”Bearing the brunt of the attacks are transgender, non-binary and racialized people in the queer community, ad...

B.C. must urgently change forest strategies or face more wildfire disasters: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s independent forests watchdog is calling for the provincial government to make critical changes to how it manages forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.The report, released Thursday by the B.C. Forest Practices Board, says risk mitigation currently focuses on areas near communities, but leaves the wider forest landscape “severely vulnerable.”It comes as the largest wildfire in the province’s history, the Donnie Creek wildfire, continues to burn out of control in the remote northeast.“The key is there’s an urgency to this,” board chair Keith Atkinson said in an interview. “We’re obviously experiencing, maybe, our most severe year in front of us.”The report says in 2017, 2018, and 2021, B.C. experienced its three largest wildfire seasons in 102 years on record, affecting 34,000 square kilometres of land.“If the way forests and fire are managed doesn’t change, B.C. will face ma...

A pair of key economic reports coming from Statistics Canada and the Bank of Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

OTTAWA — A pair of key economic reports are due out this morning.Statistics Canada will release its report on how the economy fared in April when it releases its reading of gross domestic product for the month.The agency’s early estimate for April that it released last month had pointed to a gain of 0.2 per cent.The other report is coming from the Bank of Canada which will release its business outlook survey and its Canadian survey of consumer expectations.The readings on the economy come ahead of the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate decision on July 12.The central bank raised its key policy rate earlier this month to 4.75 per cent in its continuing fight to bring inflation back to its target of two per cent.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2023.The Canadian Press

‘We’re addressing the symptom, not the cause’: A look at food banks across Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

The word “crisis” comes up quickly when speaking with those who run food banks across Canada. With inflation driving food prices higher while wages and support programs lag behind, numerous directors say demand at Canada’s food banks is greater than ever.In some cities, food banks have been forced to offer less to each person in order to meet demand. New Canadians and working, lower-middle class people are among those now lining up for food hampers.In the North, where food insecurity rates are already disproportionately high, a Yellowknife food bank says it has seen a 72 per cent increase in the number of children who don’t have enough to eat.Food banks were supposed to be temporary, said David Froh at the Regina Food Bank, which has now been operating for 40 years. He’s one of several directors who said they’re hoping for systemic solutions to poverty and hunger that would ensure people have adequate incomes, and that they could afford to buy eno...

Daily horoscope for June 30, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. EDT today (7 a.m. to 8 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Scorpio into Sagittarius.Happy Birthday for Friday, June 30, 2023:You have a quirky sense of humor. Relationships are important to you, even though you sometimes hide your feelings. This is a year of learning and exploring new ideas. Be open to philosophies and belief systems that will help you get closer to the true meaning of your life.ARIES(March 21-April 19)★★★Today you want to shake things up a bit. You want some adventure and stimulation! You will be adamant about what you want done at home or in your family, and you won’t hesitate to state your views, especially about home repairs. Tonight: Explore!TAURUS(April 20-May 20)★★★★This is a fast-paced, energetic day! You might take a short trip. In discussions with others, you’ll be strong and very much to the point. People will be convinced by you because you will put a lot of your...

EU should not 'lower the bar' to take in Ukraine, says Denmark

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Denmark supports EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the western Balkans but "geopolitical circumstances" did not justify skating over governance reforms, Finance Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (pictured) told the Financial Times on Thursday (29 June).The EU risks "importing instability" if it relaxes its standards on democracy and corruption to hasten the accession of Ukraine and other candidate countries, Rasmussen said in an interview with the newspaper.To join the EU, a country has to align its laws with many EU standards ranging from climate to labour. That process usually takes many years.When asked about Ukraine's membership in the EU, Rasmussen said that EU shouldn't "lower the bar" but instead help Ukraine with investments and assistance, the FT reported.Although Ukraine met two out of seven conditions to launch the EU membership process, an EU official familiar with the bloc's recommendations to Ukraine said that some key judicial reforms were needed.In 2019, th...

Miss Manners: I want to ditch a wedding planner who is proposing horrifying activities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am planning my wedding, but feel stuck on two points.Point 1: How can I politely express to a vendor that I am no longer interested in their services? Do I need to give a reason, if I have been corresponding with them for some time?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I thought it was inappropriate for her to skip the funeral and show up for the food Advice | Miss Manners: I told the subway rider he was rude, and he got huffy Advice | Miss Manners: Why do they ask such questions about my groceries? Advice | Miss Manners: The bride isn’t friendly, plus I know she’s already married. Must I go to her wedding? Advice | Miss Manners: Am I right that it’s disgusting to put eyeglasses on a kitchen counter? The vendor in question has expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for those silly fluff activities common to weddings today, up to and (rather egregiously) including the...

Dear Abby: I can’t even play with cats correctly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am a 29-year-old housewife with a loving husband, a caring mother and equally supportive in-laws. I’m writing because I feel useless.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I prevailed in the dispute but it split our friend group Advice | Dear Abby: I’m sure his wife saw his inappropriate behavior with me Advice | Dear Abby: We can’t go out with her anymore, and we can’t tell her why Advice | Dear Abby: My daughters want to follow the same house rules as my son Advice | Dear Abby: He made my life miserable, and my daughter demands I socialize with him I don’t even have a hobby I’m good at. Although I like to play music, draw and play with cats, I don’t think I’m good at any of them, despite others telling me otherwise.My friends and family are better off than I am. My friend is participating in a skating competition, my brother is working toward be...