ETA Canada Travel Pass News

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Evenson Dumerlus faces criminal charges for posting threatening videos against President Trump on social media. The 34-year-old officer posted threatening remarks about the former US president on Snapchat last year while on security duty for the G7 summit in Alberta.

A special investigation team took over the case after receiving a report from another RCMP officer, and Dumelus was relieved of his duties on the same day. The RCMP issued a statement on Wednesday emphasizing that any threatening behaviour that undermines public safety will be dealt with seriously, that there will be no tolerance for violent speech, and that perpetrators may be prosecuted and face severe penalties, including long prison sentences.

Police also urged the public to report such incidents promptly to effectively curb such crimes. Dumelus is scheduled to appear in court in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu on July 30, 2026.

Family, Statistics Canada recently released a set of data that really made me question reality; it truly embodied the term “magical realism.” Let’s look at some exciting figures first. In the first quarter of this year, the net worth of Canadian households broke through the CAD 18.6 trillion mark, with an average wealth of over CAD 440,000 per person. Converted to RMB, that’s equivalent to about 2.3 million RMB per person! Surprised? Unexpected, right? If you’re checking your pockets right now and find you don’t have that much money, don’t panic. You’re probably like most people, having been “averaged out” once again.

So where did all this money come from? Simply put, it comes down to two familiar wealth-generating formulas: real estate and stocks. The Canadian housing market, which had been stagnant for over a year, has recently shown signs of recovery. This rebound in property values has become the biggest driver of soaring wealth. Even economists at the Royal Bank of Canada have spoken out, saying that the housing market is clearly showing signs of stabilizing.

Besides those who profited from buying property, stock market investors also benefited. In the first quarter of this year, the Canadian stock market surged, driven by the energy and mining sectors, adding nearly 150 billion Canadian dollars to the financial assets of Canadian households. In other words, those who own mines, houses, and stocks have seen their assets more than double in just three months. But if the story ended here, it wouldn’t be the Canada we know.

On the other side of the coin, the reality is so cruel it takes your breath away. Just as total wealth reached new heights, another record was ruthlessly broken. According to the latest data from the Bankruptcy Oversight Office, the number of people filing for consumer bankruptcy and debt restructuring in Canada surged to over 37,000 in the first quarter of this year!

This figure directly sets a record since the 2009 financial crisis. What does this mean? Let’s do the math: In the first three months of this year, an average of 17 people per hour in Canada had no choice but to go bankrupt or restructure their debts because they could no longer make ends meet. You’re here looking at the average wealth of 440,000 Canadian dollars and marvelling at your comfortable life, but in the same hour, 17 living people are being driven to desperation by high mortgages, credit card bills, and ever-rising prices, and must declare that their finances have completely collapsed.

This is the true picture of Canada today. The seemingly glamorous “wealth growth” is just a phantom bubble created by inflated asset prices. The harsh reality is that mortgages and various debts are still climbing at an alarming rate, and high interest rates are like a Damocles’ sword hanging over everyone’s heads. Those ordinary workers who truly have no assets and rely solely on their fixed salaries are already exhausted each month just trying to cover bank interest and supermarket bills.

On one hand, the wealthy are making a fortune in the bull market through real estate and financial assets, with their paper wealth soaring; on the other hand, ordinary people are struggling between high inflation and high interest rates and even going bankrupt in droves. This extreme “two-sided Canada” not only widens the gap between the rich and the poor but also makes the so-called “wealth per capita” a huge irony.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently pledged to reduce the federal operating deficit to zero by fiscal year 2028-29 by separating government operating expenses from capital expenditures. This move has been met with scepticism, with critics arguing it’s merely an accounting “numbers game” and won’t truly alleviate taxpayer pressure.

The Carney government’s approach to the deficit primarily involved classifying some operating expenses as “capital investments” in its calculations. However, Acting Federal Budget Officer Jason Jacques warned last November that as much as $94 billion in operating expenses in the federal budget were incorrectly classified as revenue-generating capital investments, violating standard accounting principles. If strictly classified according to regulations, this portion of funds should be considered operating expenses, meaning Carney’s promise to balance the deficit may be difficult to fulfill. The actual deficit far exceeded expectations.

This month, current Budget Officer Annette Ryan reported that the Carney government’s cumulative deficit is projected to reach C$318.1 billion over the next five years, C$22.6 billion higher than the C$295.5 billion projected in the spring economic statement 51 days ago. The main reason for this gap is declining government revenue, particularly a reduction in personal income tax. This data once again confirms that the government’s choice to increase debt rather than taxes is not a true “burden reduction,” but merely a postponement of tax pressure to the future. Interest expenses erode public services

A new report from the conservative think tank Fraser Institute uses stark figures to illustrate the true cost of high debt. In 2025-26, the combined debt of the Canadian federal and provincial governments will reach C$2.4 trillion, with interest payments alone amounting to C$94.4 billion.

The annual burden per Canadian resident, allocated by each province, is Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest at $3,348.

Manitoba 2816 Canadian dollars

Quebec $2436

Ontario $2282

British Columbia $2185

New Brunswick: $2141

Nova Scotia 2138 Canadian dollars

Saskatchewan $2133

Prince Edward Island 2078 Canadian Dollars

Alberta has the lowest price at $1845.

This money is only enough to “pay interest,” and not a single penny can be used to repay the principal. Interest expenses squeeze education and healthcare

Interest payments also directly squeeze spending on public services. For example, in 2025-26, the federal government paid $54 billion in debt interest, almost equal to the $54.7 billion in medical transfers allocated to the provinces that year; Ontario taxpayers paid $16 billion in provincial interest, even exceeding the total post-secondary education budget ($14 billion); and Alberta paid $2.9 billion in interest, far exceeding the $1.6 billion budget for child and family services. Jake Fuss of the Fraser Institute points out: “Government debt must pay interest, and the more interest payments there are, the less money is left for the public to access the projects and services they need.”

According to a Toronto Star commentary on June 14, Canada’s current pension policy is exacerbating intergenerational inequality, with more young people facing heavy pension and tax burdens, while the government’s largest expenditures are going to the wealthiest elderly in the country.

Originally intended to prevent poverty in old age, pension funds are now largely flowing to wealthy seniors.

Why is the pension policy being criticized as “unfair”?

The commentary points out that the most controversial aspect is the Old Age Security (OAS). The OAS is not accumulated through individual or employer contributions but rather funded by national taxes. Under current policy, individuals with an annual income of $148,451 (aged 65-74) or $154,196 (aged 75 and older) are still eligible to receive the full amount of their retirement pension.

Even couples with an annual income of $181,994 (aged 65-74) or $308,392 (aged 75 and older) are only eligible for a partial retirement pension. The income test only begins when an individual’s annual income exceeds $90,997; asset levels and actual retirement status do not affect eligibility.

In contrast, the Canada Child Benefit begins to decline at a family income of $37,487 and is eliminated at $250,000. Meanwhile, nearly one-fifth of children under six live below the poverty line, and poverty is worsening. The welfare benefits for the elderly are increasing the burden on the younger generation.

The article argues that OAS was established to address widespread poverty among the elderly. However, in Canada today, those aged 65 and over are among the wealthiest in the country, with many earning far more than younger adults.

While some seniors still face hardship, the massive government spending has ironically led to the neglect of younger people in need. With the federal debt projected to surpass C$3 trillion within the next five years, every pension payment flowing to wealthy seniors is being squeezed out of other social programs.

The author urges the government to cut benefits for wealthy seniors as soon as possible and allocate more resources to younger families to prevent the continued worsening of intergenerational inequality.

A future pension crisis is looming, making institutional reforms imperative.

Commentators warn that the current favourable retirement conditions enjoyed by the baby boomer generation may be merely a historical anomaly. With soaring housing and asset prices, economic volatility impacting young workers, and the decline of traditional employer-sponsored pension plans, it will be difficult for younger generations in Canada to replicate the path of “mortgage retirement” or long-term stable employment.

The cost of retirement is likely to rise sharply in the future, while investment and savings capacity is declining. To avoid large-scale poverty among the elderly in 30-40 years, the government must not only reform OAS and welfare distribution but also redesign pension savings tools and incentive mechanisms to create sustainable retirement security for young people.

Air Canada and the International Association of Mechanics and Space Workers (IAMAW), representing 11,000 employees in technical, ground, and financial roles, recently announced a preliminary agreement on a new round of collective bargaining negotiations.

The union described the agreement as “historic” and promising a landmark wage to increase for its members. The new agreement covers employees in several key positions, including aircraft maintenance, cabin service, airport ground staff, cargo, finance, and clerical work. The details of the agreement have not yet been made public. The union will organize a vote among its members to decide whether to approve it, with the vote expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Air Canada’s board of directors will also need to approve it subsequently. On February 3rd of this year, the two sides began a new round of negotiations, the overall process of which was described as “constructive.” Some experts believe that federal political and public pressure made it difficult for Air Canada to refuse the agreement, prompting it to make significant concessions on employee wages, including those of pilots.

For Chinese passengers who frequently fly with Air Canada and Chinese employees working for Air Canada, this agreement means that frontline service and back-end support teams will receive better treatment, which is expected to improve the overall service level.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) recently received the largest donation in the university’s history for its newly established medical school.

The Stephens family donated $40 million CAD to the new medical school, which will be used to support medical students in training and help them become the future doctors of British Columbia (BC).

In recognition of and gratitude for this act of kindness, the SFU medical school located in downtown Surrey will be officially named the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine. The donation was made on behalf of the family by Ratana Stephens and Arran Stephens, co-founders of the food company Nature’s Path and heads of Que Pasa Foods.

It is understood that the funds will be used to support medical research and innovation, student training, and the construction of key infrastructure for medical schools. Ratana Stephens expressed her gratitude to SFU and her family for working together to make this vision a reality.

Intense global competition for medical talent: New medical schools become key to breaking the deadlock “We are currently facing a shortage of healthcare personnel, both domestically and internationally, and we are competing fiercely with other jurisdictions around the world for these healthcare talents,” British Columbia Premier David Eby said at a press conference on Friday. David Yin added, “Our goal is to enable more people to find a family doctor in their close-knit communities. This new medical school is part of the government’s efforts to improve healthcare in BC and south of the Fraser River. We are very grateful for the Stephens family’s extremely generous generosity.”

In a joint statement regarding the donation, donors Ratana and Arran Stephens stated: “Supporting the next generation of doctors is the best use of social resources and the most rewarding investment in social well-being.” There is still a shortage of family doctors in British Columbia. In recent years, British Columbia has made significant progress in connecting residents with family doctors.

Since 2023, the province has successfully connected 600,000 BC residents with a family doctor. Currently, BC leads all of Canada in this metric, with 77% of its residents having their own family doctor. However, the healthcare gap still exists: One in five: Currently, about 20% (one in five) of people in British Columbia still do not have a family doctor. Matching 4,000 people per week: Although the government is successfully matching another 4,000 people with family doctors every week, the demand remains huge.

In addition to training local talent, British Columbia has also launched a cross-border recruitment drive for American medical personnel. In the past few months, more than 700 American medical professionals have joined BC, and over 2,000 others have submitted job applications.

Cultivating sustainable healthcare capabilities with “community service” at its core with the establishment of the Stephens Family Medical School at SFU, Premier David Ellison hopes to cultivate more new talent willing to fill the gaps in family physicians. He emphasized that the sustainable development of the healthcare system depends on training professionals with a “community service mindset.” David Yin also expressed his gratitude to all those who have already contributed to the BC healthcare system: “The faculty, staff, doctors, nurses, health science professionals working at UBC and its various campus medical facilities, as well as the healthcare workers who mentor and support others and stand on the front lines of saving lives in hospitals, are the core force in solving this medical crisis.”

This September, SFU’s Stephens Family Medical School will welcome its first cohort of students. They will become the core and soul of this new medical school, shouldering the responsibility of building the community and protecting family health in the future.

When fans from all over the world flock to Vancouver to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they will see an unusually empty False Creek. According to CBC, Transport Canada has issued a temporary order requiring almost all vessels to be emptied from False Creek east of Cambie Bridge.

The order established a temporary restricted area between Camby Bridge and the Vancouver Science Centre from June 1 to July 8, with the aim of “addressing direct or indirect risks to maritime safety or the marine environment.”

The City of Vancouver stated on its website that these restrictions are to “support emergency access and maritime safety during the 2026 World Cup.” Exceptions are made for vessels with berthing agreements with wharves in the area, regular passenger ferries traveling between the International Square and Olympic Village wharves, Indigenous people exercising their rights, and government personnel performing official duties.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stated that they did not forcibly remove any boats, but rather “proactively” cooperated with the boat owners to ensure they had time to leave voluntarily. The Vancouver Police Department and the City of Vancouver have referred further questions to the federal Department of Transportation, but the department has not yet responded.

In May, a homicide occurred in the Niagara region of Ontario, and police have now identified the body of a 23-year-old woman found in a home in St. Catharines. Canadian female international student murdered in her home; family devastated On May 15, police received a report that someone was unresponsive near Lakeside Road and Lake Street. Upon arrival, officers found 23-year-old Vidhi Kalpeshkumar Megha dead in a residence.

Niagara Regional Police confirmed Mega’s identity, which they had not previously released. On May 19, police announced the arrest of 40-year-old St. Catharines resident Joshua St. Omer and charged him with second-degree murder of Mega. Police said 23-year-old Mega was found dead at around 4:15 p.m. in a residence near Lake Street and Lakeside Road, and a man inside the house was also seriously injured.

Canadian female international student murdered in her home; family devastated (NDTV) Police initially said on May 15 that a man was taken to the hospital and was believed to have no life-threatening injuries. The Indian Consulate General in Canada stated on X website: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and mourn this tragedy.

The Consulate has contacted the families in India and Canada, as well as the funeral home, and will provide all support and assistance to the families, including the repatriation of the remains to India.” The statement said she was an international student. Niagara police said they had notified Mega’s family and investigators had determined the violence to be an isolated incident that posed no ongoing threat to public safety. Soida stated that the notification process becomes more complex and time-consuming in homicides involving foreign citizens.

“For foreign citizens, certain procedures must be followed. This involves agencies outside of the Niagara Police Department, which need to be notified in advance, and then these notifications must be issued through federal agencies, including Interpol. So, unfortunately, it takes longer than anyone would like. Once we were able to notify the deceased’s family, we immediately initiated the procedure.”

Indian student Vidi Mega was murdered in St. Catharines, Canada on May 15, but her family was not informed of the incident for more than 10 days. According to her father, Mega was stabbed by an assailant inside the house because she refused to pay him money. Her father said a thug broke into the house and tried to extort money from Vidi. “She argued with him and refused to pay. He attacked her with a knife… I was notified that she had died. I have sent official emails to my relatives,” he told the Asian News International (IANS). He also urged the Canadian government to repatriate his daughter’s remains to India for a final ceremony.

“My daughter’s name is Vidi Kalpesh Mega. She stayed there for four years. I have made a request to the government: please repatriate my daughter’s remains to India as soon as possible,” he said. The father stated that Gujarat Cabinet Minister and BJP MP for the Borsad constituency, Rahmanbay Solanki, had contacted him regarding the matter. Solanki has contacted both the Chief Minister’s office and the Prime Minister’s office to ensure the swift return of Widi’s remains.

Solanki said, “I only learned last night that our daughter Vidi Mega had been murdered in Borsad. This morning, I visited her family. I shared their grief and sorrow, offered my condolences, and conveyed their request to the government: to return our daughter’s remains to her family as soon as possible.” Widi is a resident of Borsad, Gujarat. She moved to Canada to study business administration and completed a three-year course.

Afterward, she enrolled in a Personal Care Worker (PSW) honors course. The 40-year-old suspect, Joshua San Omer, was arrested on May 18. The Niagara Regional Police Department (NRPS) said in a statement that he has been charged with second-degree murder.

In two to three months, the city of Richmond will reduce the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour on most residential roads west of No. 5 Road. Major thoroughfares will remain unaffected and will maintain the speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour.

The city council unanimously passed the relevant bylaw amendment, and the new legislation is expected to be formally passed at the next meeting. City Councillor Laura Gillanders stated, “This is an appropriate speed limit. Not all residential areas in Richmond have sidewalks, and there are also children riding bicycles, so this is very reasonable.”

Years ago, the city of Richmond had already reduced the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour on some roads in certain areas, such as Steveston. The new regulations will significantly expand the speed limit area, covering almost all major residential areas in Richmond. However, there are some exceptions, such as the area in the city center bounded by Blundell Road to the south, River Road to the north, Gilbert Road to the west, and No. 4 Road to the east.

City Councillors Kash Heed and Bill McNulty jointly introduced the motion in response to frequent pedestrian injuries near the downtown business district. They were referring to a section of No. 3 Road between Granville Avenue and Westminster Highway. This stretch of road is home to the Richmond Centre shopping mall, the SkyTrain station, and several high-rise residential buildings, but the upcoming new regulation does not cover this area. Sid expressed hope that a separate motion could later be implemented to include this area in the scope of the new speed limit.

The new regulations also adjust relevant policies to make it easier for the municipal government to implement traffic slowdown measures, such as setting up speed bumps on the road surface. After the new bill is formally passed, the city will install traffic signs with a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour in phases. The project is expected to take place this summer and will last approximately two to three months.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is actively expanding its international route network and plans to strengthen air links with Vietnam and South America to further enhance itsposition as an international air hub and trade gateway on Canada’s west coast. YVR President and CEO Tamara Vrooman recently stated that Vancouver is presented with a significant opportunity to expand its international passenger and freight transport business as the global trade landscape changes. Data shows that YVR’s international business continues to grow, with passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific region increasing by 15% year-on-year, and passenger traffic on other international routes also increasing by about 10%.

Fruman pointed out that the addition of international routes not only brings more passengers but also significantly enhances cargo capacity. She revealed that a single weekly international flight can generate approximately CAD 54 million in economic benefits annually and bring in up to CAD 500 million in air cargo value. Among numerous potential markets, Vietnam is considered one of the most promising destinations. Despite growing trade between Canada and Vietnam, there are currently no direct flights between the two countries.

Data shows that in 2025 alone, approximately 58,000 passengers will transit through Singapore between Vancouver and Vietnam, while the actual market demand for flights from Vancouver to Vietnam is estimated at around 90,000. Fruman believes this demand is sufficient to support the opening of direct flights. Trade in high-value goods between Canada’s west coast and Vietnam is increasing, and air freight is a crucial mode of transport. Opening direct flights will not only benefit tourism but also create greater convenience for business trade. In fact, the prospect of launching direct flights between Vancouver and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, has already attracted attention from the aviation industry. Both Air Canada and Vietnam Airlines have publicly expressed interest in the route. Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates the only direct flight route between Vietnam and North America – Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco.

In addition to the Asian market, YVR is also setting its sights on South America. With the development of industries such as mining and technology, and the increasing number of international companies establishing headquarters in Vancouver, the business community’s demand for direct flights to South America continues to grow.

Currently, most passengers and cargo traveling to South America still need to transit through Toronto . Fruman revealed that Lima, the capital of Peru, is YVR’s most promising destination for new South American routes and has been listed as the first choice for future direct flights. At the same time, YVR has set ambitious development goals, hoping to double its cargo volume to 730,000 tons by 2030. In 2025, YVR set a new record by handling 365,000 tons of cargo and 26.9 million passengers annually.

Airport management believes that with the accelerating trend of global supply chain restructuring and international trade diversification, Vancouver can become an important aviation and logistics hub connecting Asia, North America, Europe and South America, bringing more investment, employment and international trade opportunities to British Columbia’s economic development.