Local news shrinking in Canada, affecting 2.5 million

Local news coverage in Canada is declining sharply. A new report finds that many Canadians, especially in suburban areas, lack access to local news. Nearly 2.5 million Canadians live in areas with one or no local news outlets. The report warns this gap allows misinformation to spread more easily. David Macdonald, a co-author of the report, said, “local news is dying.” Prime Minister Mark Carney faces scrutiny over his blind trust. Critics have questions about the assets in this trust, which is intended to prevent conflicts of interest for politicians. A blind trust means a third party manages a person's assets without them knowing the details. This arrangement is meant to keep political and financial interests separate. The greenhouse sector in Canada is concerned about U.S. tariffs on imports. These tariffs could hurt businesses that depend on selling to the U.S. Richard Lee, a leader in Ontario's greenhouse vegetable industry, noted that tariffs earlier this month cost the sector over $6 million. A recent trade policy change included a temporary pause on some tariffs, but uncertainty remains high. In Quebec, the government plans to introduce new legislation to strengthen secularism in schools. Education Minister Bernard Drainville stated that religious accommodations are not appropriate in Quebec education. This follows concerns over religious practices reported in some public schools. Manitoba's upcoming budget is set to include a payroll tax cut to support businesses and create infrastructure jobs. The plan will raise tax thresholds, benefiting around 1,000 businesses. Premier Wab Kinew has also hinted at the possibility of fully phasing out the tax in the future. In Edmonton, school support workers have ratified a new deal and will return to work. The union representing these workers announced a 93 percent approval for the new agreement, which includes higher wages. Similar agreements have been reached in other school divisions, with workers expected to resume their duties soon.