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Federal Budget 2025: What It Means for Your Money

The 2025 federal budget introduces a mix of tax cuts, housing measures, and spending shifts that will directly affect Canadians’ day-to-day finances. While the government projects a significant deficit, the plan focuses on affordability and long-term growth. Here are eight key ways it impacts your wallet: 1. Lower Income Taxes The lowest federal tax bracket will be reduced from 15% to 14% starting mid-2025, giving middle-income earners some relief. 2. Vacant Home Measures The Underused Housing Tax will be expanded to discourage vacant and underutilized properties, aiming to free up more housing supply. 3. Student Loan Relief Repayment assistance will be enhanced, with lower income thresholds and capped monthly payments to ease the burden on graduates. 4. Consumer Protection New rules will cut down on excessive banking fees and strengthen protections for financial consumers, especially those with modest incomes. 5. Housing Affordability Programs Funding will support first-...

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Hopes for a swift resumption of peace talks to resolve Cyprus’ long-standing ethnic division were dashed as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed his support for a two-state solution. Speaking ahead of a military parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion that split the island, Erdogan dismissed the United Nations-endorsed plan for a federated Cyprus, which Greek Cypriots have long supported.

Erdogan’s remarks came as a blow to those advocating for a unified Cyprus. The Turkish president emphasized that a federal solution is not feasible, insisting that the rights of Turkish Cypriots must be recognized through a two-state arrangement. This stance complicates efforts by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his envoy, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, who have been working to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.

The anniversary of the invasion is marked differently across the island. In the north, Turkish Cypriots celebrate what they view as liberation from Greek Cypriot dominance, while in the south, Greek Cypriots mourn the invasion’s devastating impact, which left thousands dead or missing and displaced a significant portion of the population.

Erdogan’s firm position underscores the deep-seated divisions that continue to hinder peace efforts. As both sides remain entrenched in their views, the path to reconciliation appears increasingly uncertain.


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