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Churchill Falls: A 15% Power Bill Rebate, $10 Billion From Ottawa — What It Means for Your Wallet

  Thursday, August 20, 2026 Last Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney stood on a pier in St. John's alongside Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette to announce what Ottawa is calling the largest clean energy investment in North American history. Buried in the headline numbers — $273 billion in nominal contract value, $10 billion in federal financing, 14,000 megawatts of new hydro capacity — is a much simpler story for ordinary Canadians: who pays what for electricity, for the next 50 years. Here's what actually changed, and what it means for your bills whether you live in St. John's, Montreal, or Ajax, Ontario. The deal it's replacing was historically lopsided To understand why this is a big deal, you need the old one. Under the original 1969 Churchill Falls contract, Quebec locked in the right to buy the vast majority of the plant's power from Newfoundland and Labrador at roughly 0.2 cents per kilowatt-hour — a price th...

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Stay Healthy This Sick Season: Tips to Protect Yourself from Norovirus, COVID-19, Flu, and RSV


As winter approaches, so does the season of sniffles, coughs, and stomach bugs. Norovirus, COVID-19, flu, and RSV are all making their rounds, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and stay healthy:

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coming into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

2. Handle Food Safely

Norovirus is often spread through contaminated food. Ensure that you wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, cook shellfish properly, and avoid preparing food when you're sick.

3. Clean and Disinfect Surfaces

Regularly clean high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and countertops with household cleaning products. Use a chlorine bleach solution or an EPA-registered disinfectant to clean areas contaminated by vomit or feces.

4. Wear Masks in Crowded Areas

Wearing an N95 or medical-grade mask can help reduce your exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

5. Get Vaccinated

Stay up to date with your COVID-19 booster shots and get the annual flu vaccine. While there are no vaccines for norovirus or the common cold, getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 can significantly reduce your risk of severe illness.

6. Stay Home When Sick

If you're feeling unwell, stay home to avoid spreading illness to others. Isolate yourself until at least 48 hours after your symptoms have subsided.

7. Prioritize Rest and Hydration

Ensure you get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. Drink water and electrolyte solutions to help your body recover from illness.

By following these simple steps, you can help protect yourself and others from the common winter illnesses. Stay healthy and take care!




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