Skip to main content

Featured

The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — And It's Paying 25% More

  Sunday, July 19, 2026 If you've relied on the quarterly GST/HST credit, that name is gone for good. Here's what replaced it, how much more it's worth, and whether you need to do anything to get it. For years, the GST/HST credit quietly landed in millions of Canadian bank accounts every three months — a modest, tax-free top-up meant to offset sales tax on everyday purchases. As of this month, that program no longer exists under its old name. It's now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) , and the federal government has permanently increased the payment by 25%, locked in for five years. If you already qualified for the GST/HST credit, you don't need to apply for anything new. But you should know what changed, because the numbers — and the timeline — are more involved than a simple rename. What actually changed The CGEB was first announced by the federal government in January 2026 as part of a broader affordability push, and it became law with the passa...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

UN Report Exposes Systematic Torture in Myanmar, Including Abuse of Children



A chilling new report from United Nations investigators has revealed systematic torture by Myanmar’s security forces, including the abuse of children, in detention facilities across the country.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), established in 2018, compiled evidence from over 1,300 sources, including eyewitness accounts, forensic data, and photographs. The report details horrific abuses such as beatings, electric shocks, gang rape, strangulation, and the removal of fingernails with pliers. Children were often unlawfully detained as proxies for missing parents and subjected to similar torture.

Nicholas Koumjian, head of the IIMM, stated, “We have uncovered significant evidence, including eyewitness testimony, showing systematic torture in Myanmar detention facilities.” Some of the torture resulted in death, and high-level commanders have been identified among the perpetrators, though names were withheld to avoid alerting those under investigation.

Myanmar’s military-backed government has denied the allegations and failed to respond to over two dozen requests for information and access from the UN team. The junta continues to claim it is maintaining peace and blames “terrorists” for the unrest.

The report also highlights summary executions carried out by both government forces and opposition armed groups. The IIMM is supporting international legal efforts, including cases in Britain and at the International Criminal Court. However, budget cuts at the UN threaten the continuation of these investigations, particularly those focused on sexual violence and crimes against children.

This report adds to the growing body of evidence documenting atrocities committed since Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, which plunged the country into civil war and led to the detention of tens of thousands of civilians.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment