| Thursday, November 21, 2024 |
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Global journal • News • Weather • Opinion • Sports |
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New Brunswick tenants can expect a promised three per cent cap on rent increases effective Feb. 1, but landlords will get some wiggle room, on a case-by-case basis, to help cover the cost of “capital renovations.”
On Wednesday, Housing Minister David Hickey introduced amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and its regulation to create a permanent rent cap but also to establish a process for landlords to seek rent increases above the new threshold.
Under the proposed new rules, New Brunswick landlords will be able to apply to the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office for approval for a rent increase above three per cent but less than nine to cover “capital renovations,” which could include maintenance, reporters heard during a technical briefing Wednesday morning.
“It’s not to step in and put in stainless steel appliances,” Hickey later told reporters. “It’s needed renovations that are important for the safety of the tenant but also for the safety of the unit.” |
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Holt introduces legislation that cuts gas prices 4.5 cents |
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An act to amend the petroleum products pricing act, once voted into law by the majority Liberal legislature, will make good on a Holt campaign commitment to immediately remove what it coined the 'Higgs Gas Tax.' Photo: Postmedia archives
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Bernardo victims' families barred from parole hearing |
The families of victims murdered by Canadian serial killer Paul Bernardo have been denied in-person attendance at his upcoming parole hearing, Global News reported. Tim Danson, the lawyer representing the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, who were murdered as teenagers, argued the decision violates their legal rights. The Parole Board cited security concerns for not allowing their attendance. Danson described the families' reaction to the decision as "gut-wrenching" and urged for the hearing to be postponed to allow their attendance. Bernardo, serving a life sentence for multiple murders, was controversially transferred to a medium-security prison last year.
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Canada closes embassy in Ukraine after threats of air attack |
The Canadian Embassy in Kyiv has temporarily closed following a U.S. warning about a "potential significant air attack," CTV News reported. Ukraine's military intelligence agency countered this, claiming Russia was spreading misinformation. Several other embassies also closed as a precaution. President Joe Biden recently authorized Ukraine to use longer-range U.S. missiles against Russia, while Moscow reported intercepting such missiles in the Bryansk region. Despite these developments, experts suggest they won't significantly alter the war. Russia maintains control over large areas in eastern Ukraine, with North Korean troops aiding their efforts. Putin has also lowered the threshold for nuclear weapon use.
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Montreal billionaire's property seized in sex abuse case |
A Quebec Superior Court judge ordered a pre-trial seizure of two Montreal-area properties owned by billionaire Robert Miller, Canadian Press reported. The decision comes at the request of four women who filed civil lawsuits against Miller, alleging sexual abuse when they were minors. The judge cited concerns Miller may attempt to hide assets, noting the lack of bank accounts in his name and the use of nominees to conceal property ownership. The 81-year-old founder of Future Electronics faces multiple legal challenges, including criminal charges and a proposed class-action lawsuit, all related to alleged sexual exploitation of minors. Miller denies the allegations.
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Child, Youth, and Seniors’ Advocate Kelly Lamrock answers questions from media after announcing his office will be examining how social services are being improved by community groups and non-profit agencies. Photo: Brice McVicar/Brunswick News |
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We do have a government with a new mandate and we're hoping our office can help stimulate change. I write so many reports that respond to when it screws ups, we'd like to see if we can start advocating things to keep it from screwing up in the first place. |
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Child, Youth, and Seniors’ Advocate Kelly Lamrock says he's already identified numerous issues of concern with government in the province and, now, it's time to focus on how to fix things.
Speaking to a crowd of community organization representatives at St. John the Baptist-King Edward School in Saint John on Wednesday morning, Lamrock noted that in his March report "How It All Broke," he identified central governance flaws from the 1990s that negatively impact social programs and deprive New Brunswickers of service. It's time, he said, to focus on how to fix those issues and he thinks some of the answers lie with non-profit groups across the province. "One of the best ways to turn government around is to decentralize it," Lamrock told the crowd. "Government is very good at redistributing income. It's not as good at sometimes running programs with a compassionate front line response to actual human beings." |
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| The Anglophone East School District saw students English reading and scientific literacy results far below the provincial average. Photo: Payge Woodard/Brunswick News
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