Federal leaders launch campaign ahead of April 28 election

Federal party leaders are entering the first full day of their campaign for the upcoming election. Liberal Leader Mark Carney will kick off his campaign in Gander, Newfoundland, aiming to promote Canadian pride. His main rivals, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, are campaigning in the Greater Toronto Area, which has many key seats. All three leaders emphasize Canadian unity as they prepare to address economic challenges from U.S. President Donald Trump. The election is set for April 28. In business news, Hudson's Bay, Canada's oldest retailer, is starting liquidation sales today. The company is closing most of its stores due to financial struggles. Only six locations will remain open, including the flagship store in Toronto. The closures come after Hudson's Bay filed for creditor protection, citing low consumer spending and trade tensions with the U.S. In Ontario, a supervised consumption site is legally challenging a new provincial law that would close ten such facilities. The law, part of the Community Care and Recovery Act, restricts consumption sites from opening near schools and daycares. The sites must cease operations by April 1 as new regulations come into effect. A recent study indicates that artificial intelligence can predict early death in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's and colitis. The research, based on data from Ontario, found that many patients died before age 75. Those with other chronic conditions were at a higher risk for premature death. Lastly, Canadians continue to shift towards streaming services like Netflix, despite rising costs. The 2025 Couch Potato Report shows that more households are forgoing traditional TV subscriptions. As of last year, 46 percent of homes in Canada did not have cable or satellite TV, a rise from 42 percent in 2023. This trend is expected to continue.