An economist says the Canadian housing market could be in for a rebound this year after a cautious 2023.
T-D Bank economist Rishi Sondhi says that optimism depends largely on the forecasts of the Bank of Canada cutting interest rates, which may begin as early as the second quarter.
Home prices softened in several areas late last year, including in the Fraser Valley.
Vancouver Realtor Tim Hill says he is optimistic of consumer sentiments slowly shifting as prices improve in recent months.
Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser, who has been travelling across Canada to highlight such agreements made directly with cities, says he was also surprised by the backlash — but is not planning to back down.
The slow trickle of people allowed through the highly controlled Rafah border crossing out of Gaza has so far included 107 peopleon Canada's list of anticipated evacuees, and they are only allowed to remain in Egypt for 72 hours. The list includes Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as eligible family members who don't have immigration status in Canada.
The general director of Gaza City's main hospital says scores of wounded people are being treated at the Al-Shifa Hospital following overnight Israeli strikes and shelling.
Premier David Eby says social media behaviour that got the BC Green Party's deputy leader fired represents a "reprehensible" attack on provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi has also resigned as a Green candidate in the 2024 provincial election after liking a social media post that compared Henry to Josef Mengele, an infamous Nazi doctor who experimented on concentration camp victims during the Second World War.
Global Affairs Canada says 32 more Canadians were able to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt on Thursday after a key border crossing reopened. The department says there had originally been 40 Canadian names on the list of people approved to leave through the border crossing at Rafah, but precisely what changed wasn't immediately clear.
Ontario plans to ban employers from requiring Canadian work experience in job postings or application forms, the labour minister announced Thursday, saying it will be an important step to help newcomers get their foot in the door. Ontario would be the first province to dismantle that barrier in the hiring process, Labour Minister David Piccini said.