Skip to main content

Featured

OAS Payments Are Bigger This July — Here's How Much More You'll Get

  July 21, 2026 If you or someone in your family collects Old Age Security, the deposit landing later this month is larger than the last one. Here's exactly why, and what the new numbers look like. Old Age Security payments went up 1.2% for the July-to-September 2026 quarter — the largest of the four scheduled increases so far this year. Combined with earlier adjustments, that puts OAS 2.3% higher than it was in July 2025. OAS amounts are reviewed every January, April, July, and October to track the Consumer Price Index. When the cost of living rises, the payment rises with it. When it falls, the payment simply holds steady — OAS is protected from ever decreasing. The new maximum monthly amounts Age Group April–June 2026 July–September 2026 Monthly Increase 65 to 74 $743.05 $751.97 +$8.92 75 and older $817.36 $827.17 +$9.81 Seniors 75 and up sit higher because of the permanent 10% top-up the federal government added to that age group's OAS back in July 2022. That bump applies...

article

Ottawa and Ontario Reach Deal to Clear Path for Highway 413 Project

 


In a significant development, Ontario and the federal government have announced a deal that will allow the contentious Highway 413 project to move forward. Here are the key details:

  • Project Assessment Set Aside: The Federal Court ruled that the assessment of Ontario’s Highway 413 project can be set aside. As a result, the highway project can proceed without a full-fledged federal environmental assessment.

  • Collaborative Process: Officials from both levels of government have agreed to a collaborative process to address issues related to federal species at risk throughout the project planning in Ontario. This approach aims to ensure that environmental impacts are minimized while considering critical habitats for species such as the Western chorus frog and the red-headed woodpecker.

  • Federal Court Approval: The Federal Court has canceled the project’s designation under the Impact Assessment Act. A joint consent order filed by both governments on March 20 requested the discontinuation of the federal environmental assessment for the project.

  • Working Group: An essential step involves the establishment of a joint working group between the Ontario transportation ministry and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. This group will recommend measures to mitigate environmental impacts within areas of federal environmental jurisdiction. Their collective expertise will guide the project as it moves into the design stage.

  • Ontario’s Commitment: Ontario’s own environmental assessment process is already underway, and the province remains committed to constructing projects that minimize environmental impacts. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria expressed optimism about moving forward with the Highway 413 project, emphasizing that a federal environmental assessment would have caused significant delays.

This agreement marks a pivotal moment for Ontario, providing much-needed clarity and momentum for the Highway 413 initiative. With the roadblock cleared, the province aims to commence work on the project within the next year. The proposed route for Highway 413 will traverse parts of the Greenbelt, connecting the existing 400 and 401 highways in the northern and western regions of the Greater Toronto Area.

Comments