MORNING NEWS SCRAMBLE

Boy dies in rollover crash in Oakville

A police spokesperson confirms to 680 NewsRadio a nine-year-old boy has died from his injuries. It appears the driver of a pickup fell asleep, the truck wandered off the road, and rolled over several times.

Postage rates jump 25% today

As if the strike wasn’t bad enough, Canada Post is hiking its rates by 25% as of today.  Domestic stamps in a booklet will now cost $1.24 each, up from $0.99.  Canada Post’s CEO says: “Ensuring stamp prices better reflect the cost of providing the service is an important step forward and aligns with efforts being taken by postal services around the world.”

Is another massive property tax hike on the way?

Mayor Olivia Chow is set to unveil The City of Toronto’s 2025 proposed budget. Last year taxpayers were hit with a 9.5% tax increase. We’ll find out today how big this year’s increase might be as the city potentially faces a billion dollar budget shortfall.

Oakville MP Anita Anand bows out

Anita Anand says she’s decided not to run for Liberal leader, and she’s also not going to seek re-election as Oakville’s MP. She says she’s returning to her previous role as a Professor at U of T’s Law School from which she’s been on a leave of absence since entering politics. Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon also says he’s not running.

Alberta Premier meets Donald Trump

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith spent time at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, where she had a chance to talk to Donald Trump. Smith says: “We had a friendly and constructive conversation during which I emphasized the mutual importance of the U.S. - Canadian energy relationship, and specifically, how hundreds of thousands of American jobs are supported by energy exports from Alberta.”

Doug doubles down

Premier Ford says he wants to move ahead with an environmental assessment on a tunnel under the 401, and it’s time to sit down for a chat with the owners of the 407 to look at different options. Ford has raised the idea of buying back the toll highway.

Is it time?

Defunding the CBC - an election issue? Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre promises he’s going follow through on the defund promise should he be elected our next Prime Minister. How will the CBC report on the issue?

California burns

Californian firefighters are still trying to keep ahead of the devastating wildfires sweeping across the state, and high winds aren’t helping matters. You can keep up with the latest here. So far, at least 24 people have died. Looters and illegal drones are also becoming a problem, including one illegal drone which struck and grounded a “Super Scooper” from Quebec.

Canadian women win gold!

Our National Women’s Under-18 Hockey team has won gold at the IIHF World Championship in Finland! Canada beat the U.S. 3-0 at the tournament. It’s the 8th gold for Canada’s women’s team at the tournament.

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KEEP THE CHANGE

Where to go in 2025?

A weak loonie might have you reconsidering foreign travel this year, but if you really want to jet off, Money.ca has come up with a list of places where the Canadians dollar will still stretch. Hungary, Romania, Thailand, and Morocco top the list.

Fed up tipping?  You’re not alone

The Wall Street Journal reports that tipping in the U.S. has fallen to a six year low driven by higher prices and being asked for tips at places that never used to ask for them. While the average full-service restaurant tip is still a healthy 19.3%, WSJ reports Americans are going out less, and ordering less when they do, meaning servers are making less per table. A survey last year by Lightspeed also found the same situation in Canada, with 25% of people here tipping less.

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HEALTHY START

Post-sickness clean-up

Chances are someone in your home has been sick over the last couple of weeks. Lifehacker.com has a list of spots to prioritize in the post-sickness clean-up. Door handles, light switches, and remotes are just the start of your disinfecting journey.

How much does a lack of sun really matter?

A writer for The Telegraph says she has now moved her family from Iceland (which barely gets any winter sun) to Mauritius after taking tests before and after a winter-sun holiday. After feeling “pale, weak and wheezy”, her doctor told her she’d likely benefit from some time in the sun. Tests done after the trip showed her vitamin D, resting heart rate, blood pressure, ferritin (iron stores) and BMI all improved. The writer concludes: “Perhaps it’s time for doctors to start prescribing holidays again. It certainly worked for me.”

AND… ANOTHER THING!

Best celebrity banana bread

Better Homes and Gardens says Betty White’s banana bread recipe from the 1950’s comes out tops! Soft with crunchy walnuts, lots of banana, a touch of vanilla, and easy to make. Here’s the recipe.

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