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The worst-kept secret in U.S. politics is finally out: Donald Trump is running for president. But, of course, the GOP itself crashed, with many of Trump’s hand-picked candidates headlining the disaster. He was the political black hole from which so few GOP candidates escaped. “The question is: What happens when he goes head-to-head with the guy he’s imitating?”Well, with Trump’s official 2024 bid, we are one step closer to seeing what will happen. A Trump party in all but name.

OTTAWA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is coming under pressure from populist conservative rivals as the country veers toward a possible recession, with provinces vowing to oppose some of his Liberal government's key policies. New federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is leading the charge, blaming Trudeau for skyrocketing inflation and laying responsibility for a housing shortage on "gatekeepers" in Ottawa. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have lost court bids to overturn federal carbon pricing already. Alberta, Saskatchewan and other conservative-led provinces also oppose an assault-rifle buyback the Trudeau government is promising for next year. ECONOMIC HEADWINDSQuebec is a prime example of historical tension between Ottawa and the provinces.

☆ TC Energy says Keystone oil pipeline system to curtail volumes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies TC Energy Corp FollowNov 15 (Reuters) - Canada's TC Energy (TRP.TO) on Tuesday said the Keystone oil pipeline system will be required to curtail volumes due to a series of recent severe weather-related impacts to system facilities. TC Energy did not share any details on the duration of the curtailment, citing it as customer confidential information. Keystone ships Canadian crude from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest and on to the Gulf Coast, and is a key part of Canada's oil export network. The company in October said it would temporarily increase capacity on its Keystone pipeline for a couple of months from November for testing operations on the system. Reporting by Swati Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Porter and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NHL roundup: Flames hold off Kings 6-5
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsNovember 15 - Tyler Toffoli and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and two assists for the Calgary Flames in a 6-5 win against the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. Adam Ruzicka had a goal and an assist, and Jacob Markstrom made 24 saves for the Flames, who have won two in a row. Jonathan Huberdeau, Andrew Mangiapane and Brett Ritchie also scored for Calgary, and Nazem Kadri registered two assists. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kemp added Los Angeles' other goals, and Drew Doughty logged two assists. Jordan Binnington had 45 saves and Pavel Buchnevich added two assists for the Blues, who have won three straight.

☆ The housing-affordability crisis is sparking startup founders, Wall Streeters, and nonprofit leaders to try to offer new solutions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Hana R. Alberts | Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some innovations may help homebuyers, renters, and investors cope with the affordability crisis. 100 People Transforming Business is an annual list highlighting people across industries who are changing the way the world does business. Mortgage rates have topped 7%, the highest rate in 20 years, which means homebuyers can afford less house for their money. That's why many people and companies in the real-estate industry are trying to help homebuyers, renters, and investors cope with an affordability crisis. That's where the Washington, DC, nonprofit Grounded Solutions Network comes in: It says it helps repurpose "vacant space into vibrant space."

☆ Rogers-Shaw decision by Dec unlikely, tribunal head says as hearing starts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After a series of failed settlement talks, the battle between Rogers-Shaw and the antitrust agency kicked off in Canada's Competition Tribunal on Monday, which is expected to last at least four weeks. Rogers offered to sell Shaw's Freedom Mobile business to Quebecor Inc (QBRb.TO) to overcome competition bureau concerns, which the bureau rejected. It wanted the tribunal to reject the divestiture as a viable remedy and also issue an order blocking the Rogers-Shaw merger. But the initial rally in shares of Rogers and Shaw reversed after the competition bureau subsequently made clear it will pursue the litigation. Rogers-Shaw and Quebecor are racing against time to close the deal, as a delay poses financial risks, according to arguments made by the lawyers of Rogers-Shaw at the tribunal during a public hearing in late October.

☆ Kids’ average daily screen use increased by more than an hour and twenty minutes during the pandemic, analysis finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Carma Hassan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Average daily screen use by children during the Covid-19 pandemic increased by more than an hour and twenty minutes, according to an analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics on Monday. Kids’ average daily screen use increased by 1.5 times during the pandemic – from a baseline of 162 minutes a day before the pandemic to 246 minutes during the pandemic, according to the analysis. Also, some of the studies in the analysis used retrospective estimates, meaning parents could have misremembered how much screen time their kids had before the pandemic. Parents and caregivers’ amount of screen time, as well as their stress levels, during the pandemic were found to be associated with the duration of kids’ screen use, the analysis said. It is also critical to discuss balancing screen use with other important daily functions, such as sleep and physical activity,” the researchers advised.

☆ Canada's share buyback tax could backfire, energy sector warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Rod Nickel | Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: The processing facility at the Suncor oil sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, September 17, 2014. On Thursday, the Liberal government proposed a 2% tax on buybacks to encourage companies to reinvest in their workers and business. The tax will generate an estimated C$2.1 billion ($1.6 billion) over five years and take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Canada’s four largest producers - Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Cenovus Energy, Suncor Energy and Imperial Oil - spent C$15.8 billion combined on buybacks in 2022’s first three quarters, according to Tudor Pickering Holt (TPH). The tax may not deter oil companies’ buyback intentions anyway, said Eight Capital analyst Phil Skolnick, who covers the sector.

☆ Suncor quarterly profit more than doubles, beats estimates on crude rally
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Suncor Energy Inc (SU.TO) said on Wednesday its third-quarter adjusted profit more than doubled and beat analysts' expectations, as the Canadian energy major was supported by higher oil and refined product prices. Excluding items, Suncor's adjusted earnings more than doubled to C$2.57 billion ($1.87 billion), or C$1.88 per share, beating analysts' consensus of C$1.83 per share, as per Refinitiv data. Total upstream production for the reported quarter was 724,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), compared with last year's 698,600 boepd. Its refinery crude throughput rose 1.4% to 466,600 barrels a day with a refinery utilization of 100%. ($1 = 1.3716 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Ruhi Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Canada's oil sands hold the world's third-largest crude reserves and the long-life projects can produce for decades. Last week Suncor agreed to buy Teck Resources' (TECKb.TO) Fort Hills stake for about C$1 billion ($737 million) in cash as "part of our Base Plant mine replacement strategy". Other acquisition targets could include French major TotalEnergies' (TTEF.PA) stake in Fort Hills and its 50% share of the Surmont thermal oil sands project, Oberstoetter added. Last month TotalEnergies said it plans to spin off its Canadian oil sands assets into a separate company. The Fort Hills deal is the latest move by Calgary-based Suncor to focus on its core oil sands business.

[1/5] Volunteers fill boxes with donated food at the Ottawa Food Bank warehouse in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada October 27, 2022. Demand has surged 33% at the Ottawa Food Bank from pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, with visits up as spiraling grocery, gas and rent prices, along with fast-rising borrowing costs, leave more Canadians struggling to make ends meet. "That's because the cost of food has risen ... but also because of the number of people that are turning to a food bank right now," said Wilson. "Our wholesalers are definitely more tentative about spending money," said Farnell. "Everyone's nervous ... Will people be spending money?

☆ NHL roundup: Christian Dvorak's hat trick carries Canadiens to victory
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY SportsOctober 30 - Christian Dvorak scored a third-period hat trick as the visiting Montreal Canadiens rallied past the St. Louis Blues 7-4 on Saturday night. Rangers 6, Stars 3Zac Jones scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period to help New York notch a victory over host Dallas. Red Wings 2, Wild 1Lucas Raymond scored his first two goals of the season and host Detroit downed the Wild. Capitals 3, Predators 0Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for his first shutout of the season and visiting Washington defeated Nashville. Mikael Backlund scored a short-handed goal, and Brett Ritchie also scored for Calgary, which had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Some, like fossil fuel-burning Saskatchewan and Alberta, say the federal government's plan for a 2035 net-zero grid is unrealistic. The challenges Canada faces underline how difficult meeting net-zero electrification goals will be globally. Reuters GraphicsUnlike Canada, the United States has a federal electricity regulator and mostly delivers power through regionally integrated systems, which may make it more nimble to transform the grid. Provinces regulate Canada's electricity utilities, but the federal government has some jurisdiction over the environment. The Alberta Electric System Operator in June estimated it would cost an additional C$44 billion to C$52 billion ($38.18 billion) to meet Ottawa's 2035 net-zero mandate.

[1/3] Manuela Teixeira, who runs six businesses in Old Chelsea village, stands at the counter of her cafe Biscotti & Cie, which she says faces a dire labor shortage, in Old Chelsea, Quebec, Canada, October 3, 2022. Canada has the worst labor shortages in the Western world, according to the latest OECD data from late 2021. Quebec's immigration ministry didn't respond to a query on the arrival caps and labor challenges for this article. The new census data showed 28.7% of recent immigrants to the province spoke French as their first language, up from 25.7% in 2016. When company workers had to isolate after arriving from Tunisia during COVID-19, people in the town rallied to help with supplies, she said.

A tanker truck used to haul oil products operates at an oil facility near Brooks, Alberta, Canada April 18, 2018. Oil and gas is Canada's highest-polluting sector, but also contributes around 7.5% annually to national GDP and is a major employer in Alberta. The province has already "invested or committed" C$1.8 billion ($1.3 billion) to develop CCS, Puddifant said. Over the last decade, the Alberta government has invested in infrastructure including the Quest carbon capture project, operated by Shell (SHEL.L) and the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line. In March, Alberta picked six proposals to move forward on developing a carbon storage hub near Edmonton.

☆ NHL roundup: Sabres top Flames behind Alex Tuch's hat trick
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY SportsOctober 21 - Alex Tuch produced his first career hat trick to help the visiting Buffalo Sabres earn a 6-3 win against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt each added a goal and an assist while Rasmus Dahlin also scored for the Sabres. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterTuch extended his goal streak to three games 46 seconds into the second period. Dahlin has scored in each of the Sabres' first four games, the longest season-opening goal streak by a blue-liner in NHL history. The Canadiens also got first period goals from Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher to get off to a 5-0 start.

☆ Canada home price tumble in September shattering record -Teranet
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The index, which tracks repeat sales of single-family homes in major Canadian markets, showed prices dropped a record 3.1% in September from August, led by sharp declines in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. The major market index is now 7.0% below the May peak, with Hamilton down 13.5% and Toronto down 11.1%. Prices are still higher than a year ago, up 6.0% from September 2021, but gains are slowing. The Teranet index tracks closings, so it typically lags realtor sales data by three to five months. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Julie Gordon in Ottawa; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Enbridge says it agreed to pay $11 mln on Line 3 pipeline penalties
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Enbridge Inc FollowOct 17 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO) said on Monday it has reached an agreement on penalties over its Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project and that it will pay $11 million to various Minnesota regulators and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The Canadian company said $7.5 million of the total will be used to provide financial assurances and fund multiple environmental and resource enhancement projects, as part of the agreements with the Minnesota regulators and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Line 3, built in the 1960s, carries oil from Edmonton, Alberta, to refineries in the U.S. Midwest, but for years was transporting less than its capacity because of age and corrosion. The replacement project, announced in 2014 and amounting to roughly $8.2 billion, was opposed by environmental and Native American groups, particularly in the last stage of the expansion in Minnesota. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Seher Dareen and Swati Verma in Bengaluru Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fact Check-Global News headline about potential ‘hate speech’ charge for Alberta premier is a fake
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Canada’s Global News did not publish a headline speculating potential hate speech charges for Alberta’s new premier, according to a spokesperson for the network who spoke to Reuters. Hundreds of social media users have viewed a screenshot of an Oct. 12 Global News article, written by journalist Rachel Gilmore, which carries the headline: “Danielle Smith could be charged with hate speech after claims about unvaccinated discrimination, experts say” (here and here ). But no such headline was ever written, nor published by the journalist and Global News, a spokesperson for the outlet told Reuters via email. Smith has also not been charged with hate speech. Reuters was unable to find any evidence of the headline being posted by the network.

Last month, it unveiled plans to spin off its Canadian oil sands assets into a new publicly traded company, which surprised many industry watchers. McCrea expects the recent trend of takeovers of private Canadian oil companies by larger companies to continue rather than the IPO route. The last time a new Canadian energy listing appeared on the TSX was in January when Calgary-based Kiwetinohk Energy Corp (KEC.TO) shares started trading. read moreNow, energy stocks have become a refuge for investors facing a sell-off in high growth sectors. Some energy investors welcomed the idea of more Canadian oil and gas listings.

☆ A weed gummy theory for the Fed’s high-stakes interest rate gamble
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Here’s the thing: The Fed right now is wearing blinders, and it only cares about bringing down inflation, my colleague Paul R. La Monica writes. The Weed Gummy TheoryThere’s an analogy offered by investment analyst Peter Boockvar last month that I can’t stop thinking about. He compared the Fed to an eager but inexperienced consumer of weed gummies, which, notoriously, take longer than anyone expects to kick in. Bankruptcies: Rate hikes make it more expensive for companies to pay down debt, increasing the risk of corporate bankruptcies and defaults. The so-called PPI, which tracks what suppliers charge other businesses for goods and services, showed prices going up 8.5% from a year ago.

☆ Analysis: How China's Xi accumulated power, and why it matters in a third term
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A visitor takes pictures in front of a screen displaying an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, China September 3, 2022. Restoring the practice, which entails self-criticism in front of the general secretary, marked a small but symbolic example of how Xi has departed from China's collective leadership of recent decades and accumulated power unseen since Mao's time. The expected absence of a clear successor will also enable Xi to rule unchallenged but potentially ratchets up risk the longer he stays in power. Many were purged, including rivals for power like the popular former Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai. Xi also oversaw a crushing of dissent and forbade "disrespectful" discussion about the party among members.

☆ Canadian hamlet unveils 17-foot Cheeto dust statue
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The bright orange, sticky residue that Cheetos leave on your fingertips has now been immortalized – by a 17-foot statue in Alberta, Canada. The Cheetos brand erected the statue of a hand holding a massive Cheeto, complete with orange fingertips, in Cheadle, Alberta. The community was chosen because of its name’s similarity to “cheetle,” the company’s official name for Cheeto dust, according to a news release from Cheetos. But the unique piece of art won’t stay in Cheadle forever, according to the news release. Its population is tiny: just 83 people lived there in 2021, according to Canada’s census for that year.

☆ France's TotalEnergies plans to spin off Canadian oil sands assets
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign with the logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at a petrol station in Nantes, France, June 30, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane MaheSept 28 (Reuters) - TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) said on Wednesday it is looking to spin off its Canadian oil sands operations and list them on the Toronto Stock Exchange, as the assets do not fit with the French oil major's low-emissions strategy. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCanada's oil sands hold some of the world's largest crude reserves but are more carbon-intensive and costly to produce than many conventional oil projects worldwide. Total has been trying to exit the region for several years and in 2020 wrote down C$9.3 billion ($6.83 billion) worth of oil sands assets. TotalEnergies' oil sands assets will generate $1.5 billion of cash flow in 2022, he added.

☆ Danielle Pinnock went from spoofing Hollywood to starring in one of its hottest comedies
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Danielle Pinnock can thank her mother’s wig for helping her get the role of a lifetime. Pinnock won the role and has been winning raves for her comedic timing and singing on the series which was quickly crowned the most popular new comedy on broadcast television. Danielle Pinnock visits the #IMDboat At San Diego Comic-Con 2022: Day One on The IMDb Yacht on July 21, 2022 in San Diego, California. “We had just moved to LA and it felt like the acting Olympics,” Pinnock said of the inspiration for Hashtag Booked. “She’s over the top, but she also has a vulnerable side to her as we dive deeper into the season,” Pinnock said.

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