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Vancouver Budget Balances Books Without Tax Hike

Vancouver city council approved a 2026 budget, which includes a freeze on municipal property taxes. Vancouver City Council has approved a new budget that pledges no increase in property taxes, a move welcomed by many residents facing rising living costs. However, the financial plan comes with significant trade-offs: millions of dollars will be cut from arts programs, park services, and other community initiatives. City officials argue the budget reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility while easing pressure on households. Critics, however, warn that reductions in cultural and recreational funding could erode the city’s vibrancy and limit access to public spaces. The decision highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing affordability with investment in community life. As Vancouver grows, the debate over how to fund essential services without raising taxes is likely to intensify.

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A New Era or More of the Same? Putin’s Unprecedented Fifth Term

 


In a widely anticipated outcome, Russian President Vladimir Putin has clinched a fifth term in office following an election process that has drawn international criticism for its lack of genuine competition and freedom. The election, which official results claim Putin won with 87% of the vote, has been described by the White House as ‘preordained’ and hardly reflective of a ‘free or fair’ democratic process.

The victory grants Putin another six years at the helm, extending his rule which has been marked by an increasingly authoritarian grip on power. Critics, including Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, have voiced concerns over the election’s legitimacy, suggesting that history will not look kindly upon Putin’s tenure.

Despite the controversy, Putin’s win was celebrated by his supporters as a testament to the trust and hope placed in his leadership. However, opposition voices and international observers have condemned the election, pointing to the suppression of dissent, the stifling of independent media, and the absence of credible monitoring as evidence of the election’s orchestrated nature.

As Putin embarks on this new term, the world watches with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, pondering what this extended period of Putin’s leadership will mean for Russia and its relations with the global community.

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