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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...
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Freeland's Exit and Economic Woes: Canada Faces $61.9 Billion Deficit

In a dramatic turn of events, the Canadian government unveiled its fall economic update on Monday, revealing a staggering $61.9 billion deficit for the last fiscal year. The announcement was overshadowed by the abrupt resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who stepped down just hours before she was scheduled to present the update.

Freeland's resignation letter, posted on social media, cited irreconcilable differences with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the country's economic direction. She criticized the government's "costly political gimmicks" and urged Trudeau to work collaboratively with provincial leaders to address the looming threat of tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

The economic update, tabled by Government House Leader Karina Gould, includes over $20 billion in new spending and a $1.3 billion border security package aimed at countering Trump's tariff threats. The document also highlights the government's GST holiday, which took effect on Saturday and is expected to cost $1.6 billion.

Freeland's departure has sparked calls for Trudeau's resignation and raised questions about the future of Canada's economic policy. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been sworn in as the new finance minister, tasked with navigating the country through these turbulent times.



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