MORNING NEWS SCRAMBLE

GTA Stormwatch

Environment Canada says flurries will start this afternoon, and we could get up to 15cms of snow tonight. It’ll be windy too, with gusts up to 60km/h. Click here for the latest forecast updates.

Fly the flag on Saturday

Five former PMs – Stephen Harper, Paul Martin, Jean Chretien, Kim Campbell, and Joe Clark – are calling on Canadians to show their Canadian pride and fly the flag on Saturday.  This is the 60^th anniversary of the current Canadian flag, and the former leaders are calling on us to show our pride like never before “in the face of threats and insults from Donald Trump”.

50 percent tariffs?

CBC News reports that the White House says President Trump plans to stack tariffs on top of tariffs.  So, the 25% worldwide steel and aluminum tariff announced this week would be hit with an additional 25% overall tariff on Canadian goods.

Property taxes to jump 6.9%

Toronto city council has given the thumbs up to a nearly 7% property tax hike.  It’ll cover things like union wage increases and expanded food programs. Council also voted to ban Teslas from the list of cars that qualify for a vehicle-for-hire grant program. The Mayor says it’s to send a message to Elon Musk.

Liberals tie Conservatives with Carney as leader

A new poll by Leger finds that support for the federal Liberals would surge to 37% with Mark Carney as leader, which would tie Conservative support. Carney as leader would erase a 9-point lead that the Conservatives would have if an election was held today. If Chrystia Freeland were to win the leadership, the Conservative’s lead would grow to 11-points.

On the provincial campaign trail

🟥 Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie says she’d eliminate interest on student loans and use tax credits to create thousands of paid apprenticeships and internships.

🟧 NDP Leader Marit Stiles says she’d also eliminate interest on student loans, convert student loans into grants, and introduce rent control.

🟦 PC Leader Doug Ford is in Washington, D.C. talking to business and political leaders about stopping the proposed tariffs on Canadian goods.

Bird flu detected in Rouge Park

Parks Canada says Avian flu has recently been detected in Rouge Park in Scarborough and five more cases are suspected. There are also concerns about outbreaks beyond the park. If you’re planning on visiting Rouge Park, you are urged to stay away from wildlife and keep your dog on a leash.

Autoshow starts Friday

The Canadian International Autoshow opens on Friday, and a number of high-profile brands are returning this year. Mercedes, Audi, and BMW are making a comeback after not taking part last year. Honda, Volkswagen, Jaguar Land Rover, and Mazda have all decided to sit out this year’s show.

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KEEP THE CHANGE

American Dream costs US$4.4m today

One financial advice influencer says the American Dream now costs US$4.4-million! $800K goes to raising kids and paying for their education, $180K on vacations, $1.6M on saving for retirement, $900K on buying a home, and $800K+ on car purchases. There is some pushback on the advice, especially on the amount allocated for vehicles and vacations.

Don’t get creepy

The Canadian Press has some tips to avoid lifestyle creep after getting a pay increase. Shopping at fancier grocery stores or taking a cab vs. transit are all small ways that your expenses can eventually rise and prevent you from building your net worth for the long haul.

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HEALTHY START

Get it done!

The Telegraph has a list of eight ways to stop procrastinating. Suggestions include breaking things down into smaller steps, asking yourself why something is important, and recognising that “perfection is the enemy of done”.

Is chocolate good for your heart?

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, here’s some good news –  a small amount of dark chocolate is a heart-healthy treat! It’s loaded with antioxidants which can reduce blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. The key is the snack can’t have added sugars and fat… just go with the dark, good stuff.

AND… ANOTHER THING!

Selfie safety

As many as 480 people have died since 2008 while trying to get the perfect selfie, according to The Telegraph. That compares to 5-6 people who die of shark attacks each year. The causes of death are varied and include falls, being struck by vehicles, and drownings. Some popular spots are even hiring security guards to make sure selfie takers don’t take things too far.

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