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Toronto Highrise Fire Leaves Hundreds Without Homes Amid Uncertain Timeline

Fire crews are still on scene of a blaze in two connected apartment buildings in Thorncliffe Park but it's not extinguished yet. Residents of two Toronto apartment towers remain displaced after a stubborn and complex fire forced the evacuation of hundreds of units late last week. Fire crews have been battling the blaze at 11 Thorncliffe Park Drive and 21 Overlea Boulevard since Thursday, but officials say there is still no timeline for when residents will be able to return. The fire, described by Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop as one of the most complex incidents in the city’s history , has proven difficult to extinguish because it is burning inside insulation trapped between the walls of the two highrise buildings. At its peak, crews detected dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide , prompting the evacuation of all 378–408 units across the towers. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Acting Division Commander Robert Hewson noted that firefighters have been “actively...

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Grocery prices to rise by up to 4.5% in 2024, report predicts

 

The annual Canada’s Food Price Report forecasts that the average Canadian family of four will spend $700 more on food in 2024, reaching a total of $16,297.20. The report, which is produced by four Canadian universities, projects that bakery, meat and vegetables will see the highest price increases, up to 7 per cent.

The report attributes the rising food costs to several factors, including interest rates, energy costs, climate change, transportation expenses and geopolitical risk. However, it also notes that the rate of increase is slowing compared to the previous two years, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the food supply chain and caused inflation to spike.

Some essential items, such as dried pasta, sauces and canned goods, could become cheaper in 2024, as grocery chains compete for customers and benefit from lower commodity prices. The report also suggests that families spent less on groceries in 2023 than in 2022, possibly due to higher housing costs and debt levels.

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