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Fed Decision Day: Oil Tops $108, Bond Yields Hit a 19-Year High — What It Means for Your Money

  All eyes are on Washington today. The Federal Reserve wraps up its two-day policy meeting this afternoon, and markets are pricing in roughly a 90–93% chance of a 25-basis-point hike — what would be the first rate increase of this cycle, as energy-driven inflation forces central banks around the world to reverse course. It comes after a rough session on both sides of the border: the TSX slipped to a one-week low, Wall Street logged its sixth decline in seven sessions, and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield touched 5.04% — its highest level since 2007 — as oil held near four-month highs above $107 a barrel. Here's what moved markets overnight, and what today's decision could mean for your mortgage, your grocery bill, and your portfolio. 🇨🇦 TSX: Second Straight Decline The S&P/TSX Composite closed Tuesday at 35,582.07 , down 120.46 points (-0.34%) — its second straight losing session and lowest close in about a week. Energy was the lone bright spot as crude prices surged,...
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Provincial Directive Curbs AHS Authority Over Private Surgical Contract Negotiations

 


In a significant policy shift, Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has stripped Alberta Health Services (AHS) of its authority to negotiate contracts with private surgical facilities. According to a government directive obtained by media, the change came after internal concerns—raised by the agency’s then-chief executive—over rising contract costs.

Documents, including a letter from former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos’s lawyer, allege that senior government officials—even involving Premier Danielle Smith’s former chief of staff—intervened in AHS’s procurement process to favor private companies. This interference reportedly undermined AHS’s established negotiation powers and raised serious questions about transparency in the province’s health system. 

A separate report in a Morning Update from Unpublished Newswire reiterated the move, noting that the directive is part of broader reforms aimed at reducing costs by leveraging competitive pricing in surgical services.  Meanwhile, a CityNews investigation has added context to the controversy, citing denials by private surgical providers who label the allegations of sweetheart deals as “false and baseless.” 

Critics and opposition leaders are calling for further inquiry into the decision-making process behind these changes, arguing that the shift could signal a move toward greater privatization of public health services. In contrast, government representatives insist that the directive is intended solely to improve efficiency and ensure more competitive pricing for publicly funded operations.

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