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Tehran Rocked by Renewed Israeli Strikes as Iran’s Leadership Council Assumes Control

  A woman reacts as she holds a placard with an image of Iranian late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at a rally in solidarity with Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Ali Khamenei, in Beirut, Lebanon. Israel has launched another wave of airstrikes on Tehran, intensifying a rapidly escalating regional crisis just one day after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. According to multiple reports, Israeli officials said the renewed strikes were intended to maintain air dominance as Iran faces its most significant leadership vacuum in decades.  The power void left by Khamenei’s killing has prompted Iran to activate a leadership council to stabilize governance. Inside the country, reactions have been sharply divided—some mourning the long‑time leader, others openly celebrating his death, revealing deep internal fractures.  The military confrontation has widened beyond Iran’s borders. Iran has retaliated with missile barrages targeting Israe...
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Preserving Affordable Housing: The Role of Rental-Protection Funds


Colleen Frank, a 74-year-old resident, stood in front of the rental apartment she had called home for over two decades. The two-bedroom condo in Chilliwack, B.C., where she had served as the unofficial superintendent, was no longer hers. Evicted at 72, she faced homelessness in a rapidly rising rental market. Colleen’s story is not unique; many low-income Canadians struggle to find affordable housing as rents soar.

Across Canada, lower-cost rental properties are disappearing due to renovictions, tenant turnover, and demolitions. While new buildings receive attention, the existing stock dwindles. It’s akin to filling a bucket with a hole at the bottom—new development won’t suffice if we lose existing units.

Canada is now taking a crucial step to address this crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced the creation of a $1.5-billion rental protection fund. This fund aims to preserve affordable housing by helping non-profits purchase rental apartments when they come up for sale.

How It Works

  1. Loans and Grants: The program offers $1 billion in loans and $470 million in grants. Non-profits can access these funds to buy affordable rental properties.
  2. Cost-Effective Preservation: Research shows that preserving existing affordable housing is 50-70% cheaper than new construction. Non-profit operators keep rents lower for the long term.
  3. Swift Action: Private real estate sales move quickly, making it challenging for non-profits to compete. The rental-protection fund bridges this gap.

British Columbia’s Rental Protection Fund has already made a difference. It provides one-time capital grants to non-profit housing organizations, allowing them to purchase rental buildings and co-operatives listed for sale. By safeguarding existing units, this fund protects renters and ensures long-term affordability.

As the housing market escalates, rental-protection funds become essential tools. By preserving what we have, we can stem the vanishing supply of affordable units and provide stability for vulnerable Canadians. 

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