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1 in 4 Canadians Can Only Afford the Minimum Payment on Their Credit Card

  Published August 24, 2026 · Canadian Money Brief A new survey from Equifax Canada puts a hard number on something a lot of us have felt creeping up all year: credit cards are doing more of the heavy lifting in Canadian budgets, and fewer people are paying them off. Of more than 1,500 Canadians surveyed, a quarter said they expect to make only the minimum monthly payment on their credit card, and another 7% think they'll fall behind entirely. That leaves just over half — 56% — who expect to pay their balance in full each month. The survey also found that 40% of respondents are spending more overall than they were a year ago, more than double the 18% who say they're spending less. Nearly 3 in 10 said they're leaning more heavily on credit cards to cover essentials like groceries and utilities, and close to a quarter are dipping into savings to keep up with everyday costs. More than a third have cut back on contributions to savings, investments, or education funds to make ro...

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Swiss Ski‑Resort Bar Skipped Six Years of Fire Checks Before Deadly Blaze

                    Forty people were killed in the fire at the bar in Switzerland's Crans-Montana.

A bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans‑Montana had gone six years without mandatory fire‑safety inspections before a New Year’s Eve blaze killed 40 people. Local officials acknowledged that required annual checks had not been carried out since 2019, an oversight only uncovered after investigators began reviewing the venue’s compliance history.

The fire is believed to have started when sparkling candles attached to champagne bottles ignited sound‑proofing foam on the ceiling, causing flames to spread rapidly through the crowded basement bar. Many of the victims were teenagers celebrating the holiday.

The town’s mayor described the lapse in inspections as a serious failure and expressed deep regret. Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s operators, who face potential charges including involuntary homicide and negligent fire‑setting.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of fire‑safety enforcement across Switzerland and renewed debate over whether indoor venues should be allowed to use decorative pyrotechnics.


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