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5 Things to Know Today (Oct. 1): Minimum Wage Hike, Cooler U.S. Inflation, Oil Below $100

  Thursday October 1, 2026 A new quarter, a higher minimum wage in Ontario and a softer inflation read south of the border. Here are the five things that matter to your wallet today. 1 Ontario's minimum wage rises to $17.95 today Ontario's general minimum wage climbs 35 cents, from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour, as of October 1 — a roughly 2% bump tied to Ontario's CPI. The student rate goes to $16.90 (from $16.60) and the homeworker rate to $19.70. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week earns about $718 a week before deductions. Federally regulated workers already have an $18.15 floor, which has applied since April 1. What it means for you: If you pay anyone by the hour — a cleaner, a part-time helper, a seasonal worker — hours worked from today forward must be paid at no less than $17.95, even if the pay period started in September. Workers should check their next paycheque. 2 Cooler U.S. inflation eases the pressure on rate hikes The Fed's preferred inflation gauge came i...

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Raging Wildfire Engulfs Jasper, Alberta: A Perfect Storm of Destruction

 

In a devastating turn of events, a wildfire that began 12 kilometers away from Jasper, Alberta, transformed into an unstoppable force, leaving firefighters powerless. The inferno, fueled by relentless winds gusting up to 100 kilometers per hour, created a 100-meter-tall wall of fire that consumed buildings within the townsite. 

Scientists attribute this catastrophe to a trifecta of factors: prolonged drought, dense forests filled with dead lodgepole pine trees, and strong winds that funneled the fire toward the town. The situation in Jasper is dire, with potentially 30% to 50% structural damage. Authorities are now faced with the daunting task of rebuilding a community that has been ravaged by this natural disaster. 


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