ETA Canada Travel Pass News

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Shock ran around the world, but the Iranian Canadian community in Vancouver, Canada, rejoiced. On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On March 1, many people were seen walking around carrying the Iranian flag, which features green, white, and red horizontal stripes with a sun and a lion holding swords in the centre, as well as placards that read “Make Iran Great Again.”

Some people honked their horns when they saw the flag. They were Iranian Canadian people, and they headed to David Lam Park in Vancouver’s Yaletown district, where the park was packed to the brim. Some people were carrying American and Israeli flags, as well as a large photo of former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who continues to live in exile in the United States.

“The moment we’ve been waiting for has finally come,” some said, while one man said in a voice that was somewhere between joy and a sigh, “47 years has been too long.” Demonstrations have been taking place on Saturdays since last month, with large demonstrations also taking place in Toronto and Montreal in Canada. However, many people have family and friends in Iran, and there were also voices expressing concern for their safety.

The Iranian national team has also been selected to participate in this year’s FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The team is set to play in the first round in the United States, and attention is focused on how the United States and FIFA will respond.

On March 3rd, Vancouver Police issued a warning about a series of apartment break-ins using hot glue. Hot glue is a type of adhesive. It is used by heating and melting a stick of resin using a tool called a glue gun. When the resin cools, it hardens and bonds things together.

Police have revealed that the suspect’s modus operandi is to first break into an apartment late at night and apply hot glue to connect the top of the front door to the door frame with a thin thread. When the resident returns home and opens the door, the glue thread breaks. However, if the resident is not home, the glue thread remains unbroken, indicating that the resident is not home.

It is believed that the suspect would break into the apartment again within a few days of applying the glue and enter a room where the glue was still present. The incidents were reported between August 9 and December 24, 2025. To date, a total of 10 units has been affected, including five apartment buildings in Vancouver and one in Burnaby.

Police say the suspects target older apartment buildings with poor security, specifically those with poorly secured stairwell doors and no security cameras. Similar break-ins have also occurred in Ontario and Edmonton, Alberta.

The shooting incident in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia (BC), which left eight people dead, has sparked controversy over the fact that the suspect’s ChatGPT account had been frozen before the incident, and that OpenAI, the developer, did not report this to the police.

The Wall Street Journal reported on February 20th that OpenAI had suspended the ChatGPT account of suspect Jesse Van Reutzeler (who died after the shooting) in June of last year. The reason for the suspension was said to be posts about gun violence. However, the company did not report the incident to the police, citing its criteria at the time as “not credible and not an imminent criminal plan.”

In response to this, Canadian Minister of Artificial Intelligence Evan Solomon, along with other relevant ministers, met with OpenAI executives in Ottawa on the 24th. After the meeting, Minister Solomon told reporters he was “disappointed.” Furthermore, on the 26th, Anne O’Leary, the company’s vice president of global policy, revealed in an open letter that a second ChatGPT account in the suspect’s name had been discovered after the incident, and that this account had been reported to police.

The letter states that the company has been strengthening its law enforcement reporting protocols for several months and is currently working to establish a direct line of communication with Canadian law enforcement, strengthen its model for connecting users with local mental health support when needed, and improve its detection systems to identify repeat violators of its policies. However, in a statement on the 27th, Minister Solomon expressed dissatisfaction, saying that while he appreciated the company’s enthusiasm for the measures it presented, “we have yet to see a concrete plan for how to implement them.”

He said he plans to meet with the company’s CEO, Sam Altman, and sounded the alarm that legislation regarding AI needs to be rushed. British Columbia Premier David Eby is also scheduled to meet with Sam Altman. On the 20th, the premier released a statement saying, “The reports that OpenAI had relevant information prior to the incident are extremely shocking to the families of the victims and all British Columbia residents.”

On February 19, the British Columbia (BC) government announced that it would amend the law to allow driver’s license renewals to be completed online. According to a government announcement, drivers’ licences, BC Identification Cards (BCIDs) and photo BC Service Cards will be available for renewal and reissue online through the ICBC website.

The program applies to applications for reissue of a valid driver’s license if it is lost, broken, or damaged, and simple renewal of a driver’s license that does not require any changes other than extending the expiration date. This applies to full driver’s license holders of classes 1 to 8, and allows them to apply online for the renewal or reissue of their existing license, as well as the renewal or reissue of a standalone BCID, a standalone photo BC Service Card, and a combined driver’s license and BC Services Card. However, for Class 7 Learner’s Licence holders, lost or damaged licences can be replaced online, but renewals will still require a re-examination, which will require face-to-face contact.

Any changes to your license information, such as your name or address, will also require an in-person process, and you cannot update online if you have any outstanding fines, tickets, other violations, or rehabilitation program requirements.

Details of the online renewal process and eligibility are yet to be finalized. If the amendment is passed and relevant regulations are put in place, the system is expected to go into operation in 2027. This brings British Columbia into line with eight other provinces, including Ontario and Alberta, in offering the same services. If you wish to renew in person, you can do so at an ICBC centre as before.

7-Eleven Canada announced that it will be releasing the Japanese-style “Egg Sando” starting March 4th.

The classic mayonnaise egg sandwich is a best-seller at 7-Eleven in Japan, and the upcoming Canadian version lives up to expectations, using cage-free eggs, Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, and fresh bread. It’s priced at $5.

Mark Goodman, vice president and general manager of 7-Eleven Canada, explained in a news release that consumers have been asking for more Japanese 7-Eleven products. He described the egg sandwich as “a product that symbolizes our company’s efforts to meet customer needs at an affordable price.” He also said the timing of the launch comes at a time when interest in Japanese culture and travel to Japan is on the rise.

The news of the “Japanese-style egg sandwich release” was widely covered in Canadian media. CBC News Online wrote, “This week, Canadians can be proud of,” noting that in addition to winning medals at the ongoing Milan-Cortina Olympics, “some people may be surprised to learn that the egg sandwich will be released,” and humorously introduced the product, saying, “The egg sandwich has a cult following.”

The online edition of the Vancouver Sun also published an interview with Benny Chen, executive chef at 7-Eleven Canada, about the development of the “Canadian version of the egg sandwich,” which took two years. The “Japanese-style egg sandwich” was already released in the United States last year. However, it was met with mixed reviews as it was different from the original Japanese product. In Canada, the product will be closer to the Japanese “egg sandwich.”

Seven-Eleven operates approximately 500 stores from British Columbia to Ontario.

The British Columbia (BC) government announced its 2026 budget on February 17th. The budget, titled “Securing BC’s Future,” is centred around significant cuts to the public sector, strengthening medical and education services, extending the completion time for large-scale public works projects, and supporting skilled workers and natural resource-related projects. However, the provincial budget deficit is expected to be the largest in history.

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey blamed the state’s economy on factors including US tariffs and a slowing housing market, and said, “Now is the time to pause some of the things we want to do and focus on what we really need to do,” describing the budget as “a serious budget for very serious times.”

The priority areas are health, education, and safety. In the health sector, an additional $2.8 billion will be invested over the next three years, including for mental health and addiction treatment, expanded access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), and increased medical personnel. In public education, $634 million will be invested over three years to increase the number of teachers and strengthen special needs systems.

In the safety sector, an additional $139 million will be allocated over three years to reduce recidivism, violent crime, and property crime, and to support swift access to justice. Budget allocation will also be made to combat extortion, which has become a problem in recent years. In addition, spending aimed at promoting economic activity will include accelerating permits and licenses in the natural resources and tourism sectors, skilled trades programs, and measures to promote business investment.

On the other hand, the basic tax rate for the first income bracket, which applies to all taxpayers, will increase from 5% to 5.6%, which will result in a tax increase of $76 for the average taxpayer, although tax credits will help offset the tax increase for about 40% of taxpayers. The bill also raises provincial property taxes on homes assessed at over $3 million, as well as speculation and vacancy taxes.

Finance Minister Bailey said, “Under this government, British Columbia has one of the lowest tax burdens for working and middle-class people,” and emphasized, “That will not change.” Several public works projects will be delayed cutting costs, including construction of long-term care facilities, student accommodation at the University of Victoria, and the second phase of Burnaby Hospital, and 15,000 public sector jobs will be cut over the next three years.

The deficit is expected to increase dramatically next fiscal year, from $9.6 billion this year to $13.3 billion, with deficits projected for the following two years of $12.1 billion and $11.4 billion, respectively. Finance Minister Bailey stressed that “this is not an austerity budget” and said the deficit would be reduced through structural reforms.

A woman in Manitoba who has suffered from scoliosis since childhood waited for surgery for eight years, but she has finally ushered in her own spring. From taking care of dogs and mopping the floor to now being able to walk independently, her life has undergone earth-shattering changes compared to a year ago. According to Global News, Kim Hughes-Tardiff (pictured), a woman from Manitoba, said she has been living a very difficult life, always feeling exhausted due to her mobility issues. “It has been a really tough journey,” she said.

After a long wait of up to eight years, she finally underwent back surgery on June 2, 2025. “I had lumbar fusion surgery, which involved the implantation of 32 steel nails and rods.” The doctors initially planned to perform four surgeries, but the long wait disrupted the original plan.

“In the end, only one surgery was needed because my bones and nerves were severely compressed and too soft, and he did his best. However, if it had been done eight years ago, the situation might have been better, but it’s too late now,” Tadif said.

Tadif has been unable to work due to pain since 2014. She said that waiting eight years for surgery left her exhausted. She was unable to make plans and cancelled many, saying, “I can’t predict how I’ll be tomorrow.”

Highlighting the challenges facing the healthcare system Her experience highlights the challenges many Canadians Clinical psychologist Renée El-Gabalawy has studied the effects of surgical delays and cancellations. She says the impact of waiting goes far beyond physical condition: “The effects are very broad, encompassing mental health, social functioning, and physical well-being.”

She pointed out that some studies suggest it could take Canada 30 years to resolve its surgical backlog. She advised patients to do as much as they can while waiting. “Whether it’s cognitive behavioural therapy or exercise, we know that these methods can effectively improve physical and mental health, as well as perioperative outcomes.”

As for Tadif, her recovery is expected to take another year, but she is grateful that the pain has lessened. She looks forward to returning to doing the things she loves. “I love swimming, I love being outdoors in the summer, and taking a hot bath really helps,” Tadif said. Of course, there’s also playing with her new puppies.

As costs caused by extreme weather continue to rise, Canada ‘s home insurance “safety net” is beginning to crack at the edges.

Although market competition remains healthy and Canada has avoided the “coverage deserts” emerging in the United States, insurers are reducing policy coverage in various ways to adapt to the changing risk environment. Raising premiums—often at rates higher than inflation, and sometimes significantly higher—is a common practice, but experts say insurance companies are also increasingly excluding certain risks, increasing deductibles, and reducing exposure in high-risk areas.

“The Canadian market is showing early signs of tightening protection,” Morningstar DBRS said in a report last November. Although insurance companies have not completely withdrawn from certain regions, some companies have reduced the scale of their related business. “We have rebalanced in some areas with high severe weather risk,” TD CEO Raymond Chun said in a recent earnings call.

“In areas with a high concentration of risk in certain severe weather zones, we have already made appropriate adjustments.” Chun stated that the bank is shifting its growth focus to regions with lower disaster risks. Definity Financial Corp. claims to have become Canada’s fourth-largest property and casualty insurer after completing its C$3.3 billion acquisition of Travelers last month. The company is also taking steps to moderately withdraw from high-risk regions.

In an analyst call last November, CEO Rowan Saunders said the company was adjusting its business portfolio, shifting new business to areas with lower disaster risk and reducing its concentration in high-risk areas. He said that the main work of transferring high-risk exposures has been largely completed, but this will be an ongoing process.

“This is simply a matter of ongoing, good portfolio management.”

The pressure to rebalance the business portfolio has increased after costs have soared further from already high levels in recent years, especially given the record $9.4 billion in insurance payouts in 2024. But this is not a one-off event.

A TD report indicates that between 2020 and 2024, the average loss of personal property is almost double that of the previous period, while the number of catastrophic weather events averages 15 per year, far higher than the level of about two per year in the 1980s. In the report, economist Likeliel Seitlheko stated, “The increasing losses in personal property insurance claims are putting enormous pressure on Canada’s home insurance industry.”

In response to rising costs, insurance companies have increased deductibles for risks such as hail to over CAD 10,000, reduced coverage, and even removed coverage for certain risks, such as floods. Seitlheko stated, “In the worst-case scenario, some risks are simply not covered by insurance.”

Flood insurance was only introduced in Canada about a decade ago, and its availability in high-risk areas has been limited. According to data from Public Safety Canada, Quebec has the highest number of properties at risk of flooding, followed by Ontario and British Columbia.

The Insurance Board of Canada estimates that approximately 1.5 million households (about 10% of the total) are ineligible for flood insurance; for those who are, flood insurance could increase premiums by up to $15,000 per year. But David Nickerson, who studies real estate economics at Toronto Metropolitan University, says that even this figure overestimates the actual number of people who can obtain insurance. “The industry claims that 90% of Canadians have access to flood insurance. This is an exaggeration.

Considering the specific circumstances of high-risk areas and the ‘red line’ system, in reality, only about 50% of people may have effective coverage.” Nickerson stated that part of the problem lies in the fragmented and outdated risk data, which is why the federal government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade flood maps. Although insurance companies have access to multiple information sources, they can still face the problem of over-concentration of risk. Nickerson points out that TD experienced this during the Calgary hailstorm in 2024.

“They suffered huge, huge losses, so they scaled back operations to replenish their financial reserves.” Alberta has consistently been a focal point of losses. A TD report indicates that the $3 billion worth of hailstorms and the $1.1 billion Jasper wildfires in 2024 caused the province’s industry operating costs to exceed premium income by nearly 20% that year.

Despite the challenges, Nadja Dreff, Global Head of Insurance at Morningstar DBRS, said the industry remains stable. The massive losses in 2024 served as a stress test for the industry, demonstrating that insurers were well-prepared, although this preparation largely meant raising prices.

Dreff said, “From a consumer’s perspective, especially from the perspective of personal insurance, the situation is not optimistic, right?” “Because in order for insurance companies to absorb these losses, they had to raise individual insurance premiums, and that has indeed happened. We predict that this will continue into 2026.”

Statistics Canada data shows that between 2021 and 2025, home insurance costs (combined with mortgage insurance) rose by 31%, while the overall inflation rate was 15% during the same period. The TD report points out that the increase is even higher in areas with frequent claims: British Columbia saw an average increase of 68%, and Alberta saw an increase of 58%. However, with costs continuing to rise and insurance companies needing to ensure financial stability, there is no easy solution.

Dreff said, “Everyone is doing their best, while consumers are on the receiving end.” “The only way to truly get out of this situation is for the whole society to invest in climate resilience building.”

The Insurance Bureau of Canada also called for improvements in building standards and repair methods to make homes more resistant to extreme weather. “We must put on the brakes and stop the problem from getting worse, and really take building a more resilient nation seriously,” said Liam McGuinty, Vice President of Federal Affairs at the Insurance Bureau of Canada. He said that as Canada accelerates housing construction, it is essential to avoid building in high-risk flood areas and to enhance the resilience of homes to hail and wildfires.

McGuinty stated that, based on current trends, costs will continue to rise as climate change makes weather events more extreme. “We should pay close attention to this trend. All these costs will ultimately have to be borne by a certain group, right? And the ones who ultimately bear the costs are the policyholders, the people who pay the premiums.”

Canadian Tire, a major Canadian retail chain, has been fined nearly $1.3 million by a Quebec court for violating 74 provisions of the Consumer Protection Act by inflating prices and misleading consumers in its discount advertising.

This case stems from a six-month investigation launched by the Quebec Office of Consumer Protection (OPC) in 2021. The investigation found that between April and October 2021, Canadian Tire artificially inflated the original price in its promotional materials, company website, and three stores in the Montreal area, misleading consumers into believing that the product was on sale with a significant discount—the price consumers actually paid was almost the “normal price” of the product.

OPC sampled seven products, and Canadian Tire only admitted responsibility for five of them, including: Knife sets from Henckels and Cuisinart Cookware from the brands Lagostina and Heritage DEWALT brand cordless drill The court-approved settlement agreement shows that the fines and court costs for each charge range from CAD 15,625 to CAD 18,150.

Prosecutor Jérôme Dussault stated that Canadian Tire initially refused to plead guilty but ultimately agreed to a settlement with the prosecution. This settlement has been formally approved by Judge Simon Ruel. In a written statement, Canadian Tire responded that the OPC’s allegations concerned five products from five years ago, over a six-month period, and emphasized that “no customers were overcharged as a result.”

The company will pay the fine within the next 12 months as required.

On February 4th, Vancouver City Council passed a motion to hold a one-night fireworks display this summer. The motion was put forward by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim following the cancellation of the Celebration of Light fireworks display.

The Celebration of Light was a three-day annual fireworks display held at English Bay in downtown Vancouver. It was a large-scale event that attracted approximately 400,000 people each day, but in November of last year, organizers decided to cancel the event indefinitely, citing financial difficulties due to cuts in subsidies from the federal and provincial governments.

Mayor Sim’s motion calls for a $2 million one-day fireworks display to serve as a bridge to the revival of the Celebration of Light. The City of Vancouver already has $1.4 million budgeted for the 2026 Celebration of Light, so the additional budget would only be $600,000. Councillors Pete Fry of the Green Party and Councillor Sean Orr of COPE voted against the proposal, criticising the lack of a clear business plan for the event and a realistic path to reviving the Celebration of Light. He also questioned the move at a time of austerity and ongoing cuts to city staff.

With the motion now in place, city officials are expected to submit concrete plans for the event by spring. The Honda Celebration of Light began in 1990 as Symphony of Fire. Every year, three to four countries from overseas participate in the international fireworks competition to determine the winning team. Honda became the main sponsor in the 2000s, and the current name was adopted.

Due to financial constraints, the 2025 event will feature three Canadian teams for the first time. Before the spread of COVID-19, Vancouver used to have fireworks displays on New Year’s Eve and Canada Day on July 1st, but these were cancelled after the coronavirus outbreak.