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What happens when you give 50 homeless people $7,500 each? A B.C. study found out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

VANCOUVER — There’s a stark contrast between public perception and the reality of how homeless people spend money, says a researcher who gave 50 homeless people in British Columbia $7,500 each to do with as they wished.Instead of blowing the windfall on “temptation goods”, such as alcohol, drugs or cigarettes, they spent it on rent, clothing and food, the study led by University of British Columbia researcher Jiaying Zhao found.The handout even generated a net saving of almost $800 per recipient, taking into account the costs that would have been involved in providing shelter accommodation.“The goal is to do something about the homelessness crisis here in Canada, and specifically Vancouver because the current approaches are failing,” said Zhao, who is working with policymakers on the problem. “I think this study provides very strong evidence in favour of a basic-income policy.”Researchers tracked the spending of the recipients for a year aft...

Almost half of Canadians living paycheque to paycheque as Tory support grows: poll

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests nearly half of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque as the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze household budgets, and young people are more likely to say their finances are in poor shape. It also suggests the Conservatives, who are hammering home a message about affordability, are gaining popularity, with 38 per cent of respondents saying they’d vote for the Tories if an election were held today.And support for the Liberals, who focused their recent cabinet retreat on the housing crisis, is slipping. The poll by Leger shows that 47 per cent of respondents say they’re living paycheque to paycheque, including 53 per cent of those aged 18 to 35 and 57 per cent of people between the ages of 35 and 54. The poll suggests high prices are hitting people in Atlantic Canada, Manitoba and Saskatchewan the hardest — more than half the respondents in those regions say they’re just getting by on each paycheque, compared to 38 per cent o...

Statistics Canada to release June and Q2 GDP figures today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada will release its latest reading on how the overall economy is faring this morning.The agency is expected to release its figures for gross domestic product for June and for the second quarter as a whole.An early estimate by Statistics Canada pointed to a contraction of 0.2 per cent in real GDP for June, while growth in the second quarter was estimated at an annualized rate of one per cent.The decrease in June was attributed to the wholesale trade and manufacturing sectors, though the agency cautioned the numbers were preliminary and said they would be updated.The economic report comes ahead of the Bank of Canada’s interest rate decision set for next week.The central bank raised its key interest rate target by a quarter of a percentage point to five per cent in July as it said it remained concerned that progress toward its two per cent inflation target could stall.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 1, 2023.The Canadian Press

Almost half of Canadians say workers’ right to strike outweighs economic hit: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute found that for almost half of Canadians the right to strike outweighs the risk of economic consequences. The report on how Canadians perceive unions comes after several high-profile labour disputes have made headlines across the country this year, from a month-long strike by Toronto-area Metro workers to the B.C. port strike earlier in the summer. The Angus Reid Institute says three in five Canadians believe that unions have had a positive impact on the workers they represent.Around three in five unionized workers say they’re satisfied with how they are represented by their unions. Women were somewhat more likely than men to say they didn’t feel supported when they went to a union representative for assistance. Non-unionized workers were divided on whether they would support or oppose their own workplace unionizing, with young people far more likely to welcome it. It has been a busy, and at times challenging, year for unionized ...

Daily horoscope for September 1, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. EDT today (3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Pisces into Aries.Happy Birthday for Friday, Sept. 1, 2023:You are practical, down-to-earth and focused. You like to feel that you’re doing the best job possible. This year you will reap the benefits of all your hard work. Seize opportunities in business dealings and act on them! People notice your professional strengths. Expect to be in the spotlight!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★Tread carefully today. The Moon is in your sign, which makes you more emotional about whatever issue you encounter, including the people you talk to. Furthermore, today the Moon in your sign is opposing your ruler Mars. Oy! This will create conflict with others. Be cool. Tonight: You win!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★You might be doing a slow boil today about something related to your job or your health, or perhaps it has something to do with a pet. Whatever t...

Mergers: Commission authorizes the acquisition of joint control of RNS Enerji by TotalEnergies and RNS Holding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Rönesans Enerji Üretim ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (“RNS Enerji”), based in Turkey, by TotalEnergies SE, based in France, and Rönesans Holding A.Ş., based in Turkey. RNS Enerji is active in the development and sale of power plants, production and sale of electricity as well as the construction of charging stations in Turkey. TotalEnergies is present in the energy sector, particularly in (i) the oil and gas industry; (ii) renewable energies; (iii) electricity production; and (iv) carbon neutral activities. RNS Holding is active in construction, real estate, health, energy and petrochemicals. The Commission concluded that the planned acquisition would not raise competition concerns, given its very limited impact on the European Economic Area. The transaction was reviewed under the simplified merger control procedure.

Miss Manners: They say they’d rather die than live like I do. How should I respond?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am 38, and 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with a severe, life-limiting disease that leaves me in enormous pain around the clock.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: How should I warn my neighbors about months of noise? Advice | Miss Manners: I cringe when I picture my dear friend in our house Advice | Miss Manners: Is the fundraising tactic of my child’s school tacky or smart? Advice | Miss Manners: Will foreigners just assume I’m a nuisance? Advice | Miss Manners: I won’t be going on the cruise. How do I explain my absence? Unfortunately, my body seems to be breaking down at a faster rate than many others with this disease. I have begun using various aids, such as a wheelchair, which somehow seems to give people a free pass to ask about my limitations and tell me about theirs.I am not ashamed of my disease, and I don’t mind telling people about it. My proble...

Dear Abby: She offered no remorse for grabbing the spotlight at the engagement party

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I recently attended an engagement party at a restaurant for our son and his fiancee. The party was hosted by our son as a surprise for his fiancee.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My friend’s personality changed, and now she’s stalking me Advice | Dear Abby: Should I consider this my husband’s strike three? Advice | Dear Abby: I want to leave my wife but I’m afraid she’ll hurt somebody if I do Advice | Dear Abby: I’m sick of explaining I have a plain phone, not an expensive toy Advice | Dear Abby: She sat in our backyard and refused to join us for dinner As an engagement gift to the couple, my husband and I, together with the mother and sisters of the bride-to-be, chipped in (with our son) to cover the cost of the party.During the party, my husband’s sister, an invited guest, took it upon herself to quietly pay the bill for the entire affair. We did...

5 ways to show seniors they are appreciated

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

Senior citizens account for a significant percentage of the overall population. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released in 2020 indicate the nation’s 65-and-older population had grown by more than one-third over the preceding decade. By 2050, the number of senior citizens is expected to be close to 90 million.People are living longer than ever, and as individuals age, the demand for senior services continues to grow — as does the need to be patient and respect the elderly. There are many ways to show seniors just how much they’re appreciated.1. Help with chores. Lend a hand with chores around the house that may have grown difficult for seniors. This can include mowing the lawn, weeding garden beds, raking leaves or even taking the garbage cans in and out on collection days.2. Visit more often. Frequent visits are one of the simplest ways to show seniors you care. Whether seniors live in a private home or managed care facility, visitors brighten their days, especially if they ...

Union Berlin looks to bring in Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci on final day of transfer window

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:22 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Italy captain Leonardo Bonucci’s potential move to Union Berlin and Bayern Munich’s search for a defensive midfielder were among the outstanding matters to be cleared up on the final day of the transfer window in Germany.The 36-year-old Bonucci was expected in Berlin on Friday to sign a one-year contract with Union after falling out of favor with Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, who told the highly decorated defender last season that he did not feature in his plans for 2023-24.Bonucci made more than 500 appearances for Juventus and had a year left on his contract there, but he was excluded from preseason training and has been forced to look elsewhere to maintain his hope of captaining Italy at next year’s European Championship in Germany.Union is making its Champions League debut this season after its surprise fourth-place finish from its fourth year in the Bundesliga. The team was only promoted for the first time in 2019.Union was drawn against Real Madrid, ...