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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...

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Thousands of Canadians Die While Waiting for Surgery



According to a recent report, more than 17,000 Canadians have died while waiting for surgery or diagnostic scans in 2022-23. The report also suggests that the actual number could be higher. This is a concerning issue that needs to be addressed.

Long wait times for surgeries, MRI and CT scans are putting thousands of patients at risk. The surgical waitlist in Ontario alone surpasses 200,000 people . This comes off the back of a 21-page report from CUPE’S Ontario Council of Hospital Unions that found hospital staff vacancies have grown dramatically, increasing 19 per cent over the last year, and currently 37,00 positions remain unfilled .

The consequences of the long waits are stark, as more than 2,000 people died on waiting lists for surgeries last year, up almost 50 per cent from the year before. Another 9,400 patients died waiting for MRIs and CT scans . The situation is dire and requires immediate attention.


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