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Liberal Candidate Paul Chiang Steps Down Amid Controversy

Paul Chiang, a Liberal candidate in the Markham-Unionville riding, has announced his resignation following backlash over comments he made regarding a Conservative opponent, Joe Tay. Chiang suggested that individuals could claim a bounty offered by Hong Kong authorities by turning Tay over to the Chinese consulate. This statement, made during a press conference in January, sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about foreign interference in Canadian politics. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has since launched an investigation into the matter, citing potential threats to Canada's democratic processes. Chiang issued an apology, calling his remarks a "deplorable lapse in judgment," but the controversy persisted. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the comments, stating that they endangered Tay's safety and sent a chilling message to the community. Chiang's resignation comes as Liberal leader Mark Carney faces mounting pressure to address ...

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TSX rises as energy and consumer staples lead




The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended up 71.66 points, or 0.3%, at 21,061.88 on Monday, approaching its 20-month high of 21,074.91 reached last week. The energy and consumer staples sectors were the main drivers of the gains, as oil prices recovered some of their losses and investors digested a Bank of Canada business survey.

The survey showed that Canadian firms saw their order books decline as interest rates crimped consumer spending, and they expected inflation to ease despite increased concerns over wages for the next year. The report could keep the door open for interest rate cuts in the first half of the year, according to some economists.

The energy sector rose 0.9% as U.S. crude oil futures settled at $72.50 a barrel, down 0.3%. The consumer staples sector added 0.8%, boosted by shares of Saputo Inc and Loblaw Co, which climbed about 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. The utilities sector also ended 1.1% higher.

Trading volumes were lower than usual, with U.S. markets closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. On Tuesday, Canada will release its consumer price index report for December, which could offer more clues on the central bank’s policy outlook. Economists expect inflation to rise to 3.4% from 3.1% in November.

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