ETA Canada Travel Pass News

A report by the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, which aims to promote “safe sports” and “improvement of Canada’s sports system,” was released on March 24. The commission reported that abuse in sports is widespread at all levels and in all sports, from the grassroots to the national level, and is structurally present.

One of the commissioners, Lise Maisonneuve, pointed out that “institutional flaws and widespread abuse are undermining participant safety and the health of the sports system. This situation is unacceptable.” Abuse in sports takes many forms, including sexual assault, physical and psychological abuse, neglect, racism, bullying, and harassment. The committee interviewed more than 1,000 people, 175 of whom were victims of abuse, and heard many “heartbreaking testimonies of severe abuse.”

Many of the victims were still children when they were abused, and the effects continue to be severe even into adulthood. The report points out that abuse is often overlooked due to power imbalances and a culture of silence, and that in the sports world, winning, reputation, and funding tend to take precedence over the safety of participants. The report states that such abusive behaviour not only affects individual athletes but also undermines the credibility of the sports world.

The report makes recommendations focusing on “effective responses to abuse,” “victim support,” and “strengthening preventative measures.” Specifically, it calls for the establishment of a nationwide safe sports agency responsible for investigating and reporting abuse in sports at all levels, the creation of safe sports education programs, the development of background check systems, and the placement of safeguarding officers.

The Canadian government announced the establishment of the “Future of Sport in Canada Commission” on December 11, 2023. The commission consists of one independent member and two special advisors. The commission has two tasks: to review the sport system and make recommendations for concrete and effective actions.

On May 9, 2024, former Chief Judge Maisonneuve of the Ontario Provincial Court was appointed as the independent member along with the two special advisors. The commission’s initial term was 18 months from May 9, 2024, with a deadline of November 9, 2025, for the publication of its final report, but this was extended to March 31 of this year.

The British Columbia (BC) provincial government has announced its intention to introduce the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to certain professional services that were previously exempt from it, as part of its 2026 provincial budget.

According to the official notice “Notice 2026-001” updated by the state government on March 31, a tax of 7% will be levied on eligible services starting October 1, 2026. The PST will primarily apply to five areas under this system reform: accounting, architecture, engineering/geology, security, and non-residential real estate. Accounting services include a wide range of accounting-related services, such as bookkeeping, assurance services like audits and reviews, and tax accounting.

Construction services cover advice and services related to construction practice, although some exceptions apply. Security services include not only security services but also investigative services such as those provided by private detectives. Businesses providing taxable services will be required to register with the PST, indicate the tax on their invoices, and collect and pay the tax.

The state government allows registration up to six months before the tax implementation date, so for a tax implementation in October 2026, pre-registration will be possible from April 1st onwards. The British Columbia provincial government projected its largest-ever deficit in the 2026 budget, announced on February 17.

While the government explains the changes by stating that “BC’s PST tax scope is narrower than other provinces, and the tax on professional services will be updated to be on par with other provinces,” this will impose a 7% burden on small businesses and individuals using accounting services, at a time when residents and businesses are suffering from inflation and soaring gasoline prices.

TransLink, which operates Metro Vancouver’s public transport system, announced on March 31 that it will release a Compass Card in collaboration with Japan’s Sanrio.

Limited editions featuring designs of Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, and others will be sold at Metrotown in Burnaby on April 4th. If any remain, they will be available for purchase on TransLink’s online store the following week.

There are four designs available. Each set includes a Compass Card and a bag tag, and purchases are limited to two sets per person. One set cost $44.99.

The Compass Card is for adult fares and includes a $6 deposit. This marks the first time TransLink has partnered with Sanrio for a limited-edition product. Sales will take place from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on April 4th.

To protect people from the summer heatwaves, the New Westminster City Council, located near Vancouver, unanimously passed a new ordinance on March 30.

The ordinance now requires landlords of rental apartments to maintain an average room temperature of 26°C or below in at least one room within a unit from 8 PM to 8 AM the following morning. Speaking to the city council about the new ordinance, Nadine Nakagawa mentioned the 2021 heatwave (heat dome), stating that heat domes are possible again in the future, and that “the most dangerous places should not be people’s homes.”

At the end of June 2021, British Columbia (BC) was hit by an unprecedented heat dome. Temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in many areas, and high temperatures continued even at night. According to the BC Coroner’s Office, 619 people died in the heatwave, including 33 in the city.

According to City Councillor Nakagawa, many of the deceased in the city lived in older rental housing, and it was the area with the highest death toll per capita during the heat dome event. The new ordinance allows landlords to be fined up to $750 if they fail to maintain a safe room temperature. However, there is no deadline set for taking the necessary measures.

The city of Vancouver announced on March 4th that it will close Granville Street in downtown Vancouver to traffic during the FIFA World Cup. The closure will run from June 11th, when the World Cup begins, until July 20th, after the tournament concludes. Five blocks of Granville Street, from Georgia Street to Davie Street, will be closed to traffic.

During the event, benches, patios, live music and cultural events, and photogenic spots will be available. TransLink buses operating on this section will run along Seymour Street and Howe Street during this period, with temporary bus stops set up. However, vehicle traffic will remain permitted at the intersections of Robson, Smith, Nelson, and Helmken Streets where they intersect with Granville.

The city has announced that although this initiative will only be implemented during the World Cup, it will serve as an important pilot program toward realizing the “Granville Street Project,” which aims to transform Granville Street into a safer and more vibrant place in the future. After the World Cup, the route will revert to bus service.

The British Columbia (BC) provincial government and the City of Vancouver held a press conference on March 17 regarding attending matches at the FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver venue, which will be used to enjoy this year’s FIFA World Cup.

At the Fan Festival Vancouver, where the PNE will be held, the games will be broadcast live in an amphitheatre equipped with a large screen for viewing. According to both governments, 10,000 seats will be available in the theatre, of which 2,600 will be in the general admission area (floor area) and will be free of charge. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The remaining 7,400 seats will be sold as “premium” tickets, which will include access to a dedicated priority entrance lane.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and British Columbia Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Ann Khan, who held a press conference that day, only stated that they would not disclose the price of the paid seats and would announce it later. In addition to watching the game, the fan festival will offer cultural programs showcasing the diversity and creativity of Vancouver and British Columbia, as well as food culture from various parts of BC and live performances.

Live performances are scheduled for all 28 days of the event. According to the state and city, admission to the festival venue at Hastings Park in the PNE will be free. Further details can be found on the FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver website. TransLink announced on March 3rd that they will be operating shuttle buses to the venue.

The British Columbia (BC) provincial government announced on March 18 that a legal amendment has significantly increased the maximum amount of damages that victims of the misuse of sexually explicit images can claim through the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT). The limit has increased from $5,000 to $75,000, a 14-fold increase. The amendment is already in effect.

The law that was amended is the Intimate Images Protection Act, which came into effect in 2024. This law provides a mechanism for people whose sexual images have been shared without their consent to be redressed without having to go through lengthy and expensive court cases.

Victims can use the CRT to file requests for “removal of images from the internet,” “cessation of further dissemination and threats of dissemination,” and “claims for damages against individuals, social media companies, and websites that shared or threatened to share the images.”

This also applies to manipulated images, such as AI-generated deepfake images. According to a BC provincial government news release, the CRT has resolved 389 out of 486 cases since the law came into effect. The remaining cases are still in progress.

British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma issued a statement saying, “Raising the damages cap to $75,000 sends a clear message that sharing non-consensual sexual images is never acceptable in BC and has serious consequences.” She emphasized that the law has produced tangible results for victims of sexual violence and that this amendment is a step towards ensuring victims receive fair redress.

Gasoline prices in Canada are soaring. According to the CAA (Canadian Automobile Association), the national average price on March 20 was $1.685 per litre. This is an increase of about 13 cents from last week’s average of $1.557 and about 40 cents from $1.291 a month ago.

According to GasBuddy, which surveys and provides information on gasoline prices nationwide, as of March 20, the highest price nationwide was $2.051 in the Northwest Territories, followed by British Columbia (BC) at $1.924. Quebec was at $1.794, Ontario at $1.641, and the cheapest was Alberta at $1.567. According to CBC data, the highest average rent in major cities is in Victoria, British Columbia, at $2.103, followed by Vancouver at $2.083.

Toronto is at $1.647, Montreal at $1.830, and Calgary at $1.632. The sharp rise in gasoline prices is largely due to the surge in crude oil prices caused by tensions in the Middle East following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February, but it is also attributed to seasonal factors such as preparations for switching to summer gasoline and increased demand.

It has been pointed out that prices may continue to rise depending on the situation in the Middle East. The surge in gasoline prices is causing increases in transportation costs and other expenses, leading to inflation. The Consumer Price Index for February, released by Statistics Canada on March 16, rose by 1.8% year-on-year, and this is expected to have an impact on inflation in the coming months.

When a bank account has insufficient funds and payments such as checks or automatic withdrawals cannot be processed, banks charge customers a fee called a “non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee.” A new cap rule on these NSF fees, established by the Canadian government, came into effect on March 12th.

Under the new rules, the maximum NSF fee will be reduced from $50 to $10. Additionally, banks cannot charge NSF fees to a single account multiple times within two business days. Furthermore, banks are prohibited from charging NSF fees if the account balance is less than $10.

Federal Finance and Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated, “A $5 shortfall in a payment can result in a $50 NSF fee. That money could otherwise be used for things like food or medical expenses,” adding that lowering NSF fees would strengthen consumer protection.

According to a government news release, approximately one in three people pay NSF fees annually, which is an excessive burden, especially for those struggling to make ends meet each month. The new measures are expected to reduce the burden by approximately $600 million annually.

Police in British Columbia (BC) are warning residents about counterfeit money circulating in several communities. On March 2, the North Vancouver RCMP revealed an increase in counterfeit $50 and $100 bills in the city. They stated that there had been at least 11 reports of sophisticated counterfeit bills being used at multiple stores in the past two months.

The announcement listed the following characteristics of the seized counterfeit bills: “They all have the same serial number,” “They are made of plastic material like genuine banknotes,” and “They have hologram stickers that mimic genuine banknotes.”

Earlier, on February 26, the Nanaimo RCMP issued a similar statement, citing at least 17 reports of counterfeit money use in Nanaimo, a city close to Metro Vancouver. Furthermore, according to reports on March 12, $11,000 worth of counterfeit bills were seized at a supermarket in New Westminster.

New Westminster police revealed that a man was attempting to use the counterfeit money when staff noticed the suspicious bills and called the police. Just on March 9, police in New Westminster had issued a warning about the widespread circulation of counterfeit money.

Counterfeit money is reportedly on the rise not only in Metro Vancouver but throughout the country. It was also reported that counterfeit money was being used in various parts of the country during last year’s Christmas shopping season.

North Vancouver RCMP Sergeant Mansall Sahak stated, “In Canada, using or possessing counterfeit money knowing it is counterfeit is a criminal offense. If you unknowingly accept counterfeit money as legitimate payment, you will not be compensated for the loss.”

He urged businesses to always verify that any cash payments they receive are in legitimate currency. Information on how to spot counterfeit money can be found on the Bank of Canada website: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/counterfeit-prevention/