ETA Canada Travel Pass News

Statistics Canada announced that the Crime Severity Index for 2025 fell by 5% compared to the previous year. This marks the second consecutive year of decline following eight consecutive years of increases.

The general crime rate, calculated based on the total number of occurrences regardless of the severity of the crime, also decreased by 2% in 2025.

Statistics Korea cited the rate of residential burglary, which has decreased for three consecutive years, as the main reason for the decline in the crime severity index.

Along with this, the nationwide homicide rate and the rates of car theft and robbery were also recorded as having decreased. On the other hand, store robbery cases increased.

Although the fraud crime rate decreased in 2025, it remained 61% higher than in 2015; attributed to a steep increase in reported fraud cases over the previous 10 years.

Toronto Pearson International Airport announced a $1.5 billion terminal modernization plan to improve aging infrastructure and enhance passenger convenience.

This project will be carried out at Terminals 1 and 3 and aims to improve the smoothness of airport usage and lay the foundation for future growth.

The contract was awarded to Norr-Dialog, a joint venture formed by two Ontario companies, and PCL Construction, a Canada-based firm. Norr-Dialog is responsible for planning, construction, engineering, and integrated design, while PCL Construction participates as a risk-managing construction manager.

This plan includes improvements to boarding gates, passenger waiting areas, and customs and immigration facilities. It also involves expanding terminal space, upgrading baggage handling systems, modernizing check-in areas, improving security screening procedures, refurbishing lounges, and expanding charging spaces within the terminal.

Construction will proceed in phases to minimize passenger inconvenience while maintaining airport operations.

Pearson Airport previously unveiled a $3 billion investment plan earlier this year to expand air traffic and improve on-time performance. The plan included runway repaving, the creation of modernized commercial spaces, and the potential for terminal expansion.

In addition, the airport is pursuing the expansion of the airfield, the installation of new high-speed taxiways, the replacement of 20,000 airfield lights, and the improvement of 30 km of baggage handling infrastructure.

The airport plans to strengthen its competitiveness through ‘Pearson LIFT,’ a long-term investment plan for facilities and terminals over the next few decades.

Pearson Airport aims to increase its passenger volume to 65 million per year by the 2030s, an increase of about one-third from the current level.

A recent Reuters survey indicates that the Bank of Canada is expected to keep its overnight interest rate unchanged at 2.25% at its policy meeting on July 15, maintaining this level through next year. With inflationary pressures largely under control and the economy entering a moderate recovery, the monetary authorities currently have no urgency to adjust interest rates.

According to Reuters, although Canada’s inflation rate climbed to 3.2% in May, exceeding the central bank’s target range of 1% to 3% for the first time since December 2023, the market expects price increases to slow in the coming months. Compared to other major economies, Canada’s inflation concerns are relatively mild. The Bank of Canada last cut interest rates in October 2025, when it aimed to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on economic growth.

Now, benefiting from rising oil prices boosting export revenues and a recovering Labor market, the Canadian economy has emerged from a technical recession, significantly reducing the urgency to adjust policy rates. There is a consensus in academia regarding the critical point for raising or lowering interest rates. In a survey conducted from July 7 to 10, all 36 economists surveyed unanimously predicted that the Bank of Canada would keep its interest rate unchanged at 2.25% next week. More than half (19 out of 30) further predicted that this borrowing cost would remain frozen until at least July 2027.

Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC Capital Markets, pointed out that there are clear signs of economic recovery in the spring, so there is absolutely no need to cut interest rates; at the same time, given that the economy still has spare capacity and core inflation indicators are stable, there is no need to seriously discuss the issue of raising interest rates at present. The median survey suggests that the central bank’s next move will be to raise interest rates, but this is not expected to happen until the second half of next year.

Adam Schickling, senior economist at Vanguard, analyses that only a significant shift in energy prices to the real economy, or a loss of anchor for inflation expectations, could trigger a rate hike; conversely, a decline in trade policy, a broad economic contraction, or a surge in unemployment could force the central bank to cut rates. Data projects that Canada’s average inflation rate will be 2.6% in 2026, while core inflation will remain stable at 2.1%. This will make Canada more resilient to external shocks than other developed countries.

The unemployment rate is expected to remain around the current level of 6.6% in 2026. Meanwhile, Canada’s economic recovery is expected to continue, with the average economic growth rate projected to rebound sharply to 1.8% in 2027 from 0.7% this year. Despite the Trump administration’s refusal last week to extend the Canada-Mexico-Canada Agreement (CUSMA), the market remains optimistic. The trade agreement, signed during Trump’s first term, still has 10 years remaining and is subject to annual review before its expiration, unless the three countries agree to amend and renew it. Of the 17 economists who responded to additional questions, all but one believed the chances of the US withdrawing from the agreement were extremely low.

Nathan Janzen, assistant chief economist at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), emphasized that from an economic rationale perspective, maintaining the agreement is strongly supported by all parties involved, as the trade agreement brings substantial mutual benefits to the economic systems along both the Canada-US and US-Mexico borders.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Detroit and Windsor and previously delayed due to controversy, will officially open on July 27 after the Canadian government agreed to share the net toll profits with the United States.

Officials familiar with the matter said that this concession by Canada was ultimately approved by US President Trump. A view of the Gordihowa International Bridge in June 2026, taken in Windsor. Photo: Dan Janisse / Windsor Star

This agreement ends the tense standoff between the two countries. Previously, Canada had covered the entire construction cost of the new C$6.4 billion (US$4.5 billion) bridge spanning the Detroit River. The project had been opposed for years by the existing owners of the Ambassador Bridge, who recently made a large donation to a political group associated with Trump.

Under the new agreement, Canada will allocate half of its operating profits, after deducting operating costs, to a regional development fund established by the United States. Several officials stated that the original text of the agreement, which only involved Canada and the state of Michigan, remains unchanged. The Canadian government issued a press release stating that the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will also collaborate with the U.S. on toll adjustments, requiring U.S. approval for some non-market-related rate changes, but did not disclose further details.

The press release also mentioned that the agreement includes establishing a 15-year economic development fund linked to the bridge’s operating profits. U.S. officials stated that the fund will be controlled by the United States. Earlier reports indicated that U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick pushed for delays in the bridge’s opening in order to secure a larger share of toll revenue. The original agreement stipulated that Canada could exclusively enjoy the bridge’s toll revenue until the construction costs were recovered, after which the revenue would be split equally between Michigan and Canada.

The new agreement does not change this arrangement, but some officials say that Canada has agreed to a supplementary agreement with the US to allocate a portion of the initial toll revenue to the United States. Although the Canadian announcement did not provide specific details, officials stated that Michigan and Canada will continue to split toll revenue equally after recovering costs, and the new agreement will not affect Michigan’s share. In a statement released on Truth Social, Trump said the new agreement gave “America a better deal,” and therefore the bridge would open on July 27.

The plan to launch in June was postponed after U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick called for renegotiation to secure greater benefits. Some officials stated that any toll adjustments exceeding 10% would also require U.S. approval. This agreement was reached after two weeks of intensive negotiations between the U.S. and Canada. The office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer had previously confirmed that an agreement had been reached. “The Gordie Howe International Bridge has always been a major boon to our state,” Whitmer said in a statement Friday.

“I am proud of my efforts in securing the bridge’s opening and thank my partners who have worked alongside me for many years.” Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate from Michigan, posted on social media that he has spoken with Lutnick and that the new bridge will open “soon.” Michigan is considered one of the states with the best chance of a Republican breakthrough in this year’s Senate election. U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick believes the bridge issue is unrelated to current trade negotiations. President Trump has decided not to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and instead push for an annual review of the agreement.

There’s a new development in the case of the fishing boat sinking in Richmond. Transport Canada has seized another ship belonging to the company involved, and the media has also revealed a detail that is difficult for the families to accept.

On the very day the ship sank, the company was still showing off its catches on Xiaohongshu (a Chinese social media platform), with videos full of joyful scenes of anglers pulling in big fish. Two hours before the post was published, their fishing boat had already sunk to the bottom of the sea. Of the 10 people on board, only 3 survived.

The vessel involved in the accident was a nine-meter-long boat named Top Ocean, which last sent a location signal at 10:35 a.m. that day. The company’s post was published at 12:24 PM. The post was later deleted, but English-language media outlets had taken screenshots and saved them . Ms. Lin, Ming Chen’s mother, said that the owner of the sea fishing company told her that the two boats would set sail one after the other, with an interval of “no more than five minutes”.

The owner himself was on the second boat, with a boat full of guests. Ms. Lin said that she met the owner at the Steveston dock around 7 p.m. on the day of the incident. At that time, more than 8 hours had passed since the ship sank. Military planes, police and various search and rescue forces were already busy at sea, but the owner was letting passengers off the ship on another large ship. Ms. Lin said, “As a boat operator, if you can’t contact another boat, you should at least send the passengers back first and then go check on the other boat’s condition. That’s what you should do.” The shop owner told Ms. Lin that he immediately called the police as soon as he realized he couldn’t contact the other boat.

However, the official records didn’t quite match. The first distress call reached the joint rescue coordination centre at 11:45 a.m. The call came from a man who happened to be sailing by. He and his wife found five people floating in the water, none of them wearing life jackets. Police estimated that the people had been in the water for about an hour by then. BC Emergency Services received the call at 12:16 p.m. Transport Canada has already ordered the impounding of the fishing company’s other 11-meter vessel on Thursday.

The seizure order was affixed directly to the boat’s window, stating that the boat, intended for recreational use, was being operated as a commercial passenger vessel without proper registration and markings. The large ship was an Axopar vessel, and it had been docked at Steveston Pier since the incident. The berth it was in was originally reserved for the already sunk Top Ocean.

The sunken Top Ocean was registered to Yin and Song, who both registered the same address: a 930-square-meter mansion in Richmond. The Ministry of Transport determined that the owner of the detained large ship was also Mr. Yin. As early as last week, Ms. Lin and Chen Ming’s girlfriend mentioned that Chen Ming had complained many times before his death that there was something wrong with the boat, and that one of the side doors was broken.

Hailey Lee, the girlfriend, said that she was on the boat two days before the accident when the door suddenly popped open and seawater rushed in. Chen Ming is only 22 years old this year. His mother said he is a “sensible child” who especially loves fishing. At first, he just went out to sea a few times as a customer, but later the company told him that he could come and fish without spending any money, and he could just lend a hand. And so, he gradually began doing various jobs on the ship.

As for whether her son was properly licensed to be the captain of this chartered boat, Ms. Lin said she didn’t know. Police are still investigating whether the tragedy was caused by a problem with the vessel’s operation . The shipwreck now lies 153 meters below the surface near Roberts Bank. It was located by an underwater robot on July 6, but no trace of the six missing persons was found inside or outside the ship. The company’s website had already closed its reservations.

On the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, some analysts point out that the country is currently facing a crisis of comprehensive political, social, and cultural disorder, and this “self-destruction” is not accidental, but rather a seed sown at the very beginning of its founding. The article states bluntly that US President Donald Trump is not a departure from the American spirit, but rather a quintessential product of American history and political culture.

A Guardian commentary points out that the “American exceptionalism” that Americans have long upheld is not merely a political ideology, but a belief deeply rooted in their national identity. Because they believe themselves to be historical exceptions, the United States, after its decline in national power, has become even more obsessed with looking back at its founding history, hoping to rediscover its self-identity from the myth of the revolution.

The article argues that Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) slogan is the most vivid manifestation of this nostalgia. His challenge to political conventions and clashes with institutions do not contradict the spirit of the American Revolution but rather continue the political tradition at the founding of the United States, which centres on overthrowing the existing order and resisting authority.

The commentary further cites research by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, pointing out that while the American Revolution has long been packaged as an ideal movement pursuing freedom and equality, it was actually intertwined with practical considerations such as land interests, property expansion, and economic gains.

The colonists resisted the British monarchy’s restrictions on westward expansion and opposed taxation, while also using violence, such as humiliating British officials, to rally public sentiment; the revolution itself was a violent spectacle. The article argues that what the United States is truly obsessed with is not freedom itself, but the thrill of “breaking free from constraints.”

Revolution, which allows the masses to overthrow political authority through violence, has been portrayed as a glorified political virtue, thus sowing the seeds of today’s political polarization and institutional failures. The intense debates in American society today regarding constitutional originalism, gun rights, and historical symbols reflect the nation’s continued reliance on its founding myth for answers, yet it remains unable to resolve its current problems.

The commentary concludes by describing how the United States is gradually returning to its starting point and losing itself. While the US still considers itself an exceptional nation and continues to promote its values to the world, what truly erodes America is not external enemies, but rather the greed, violence, and fascination with revolutionary myths that have existed since its founding. The author bluntly states that the US is now swallowing a poison it has concocted itself, and this self-destruction has long been written into its founding genes.

A tick-borne virus that can cause severe encephalitis is drawing the attention of public health authorities in North America. According to data from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States reported a record high of 76 cases of Powassan virus infection in 2025. Previously, the country’s annual average number of cases was only 7-8. According to the annual report of the Quebec Institute of Public Health (INSPQ), two cases of encephalitis caused by the Powassan virus were reported in the Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec region of Quebec in 2024.

The virus is named after Powassan, a town in the Parry Sound region of Ontario, where the world’s first death related to the virus was recorded as early as 1958.The main vector for Powassan virus is the black-footed tick (deer tick). The risk period is concentrated from late spring to early autumn. Compared to Lyme disease caused by tick bites, the Powassan virus infects much faster: it takes only 15 to 30 minutes after a bite for the virus to cause infection, while Lyme disease usually takes 24 to 48 hours.

As Dr. Parada, a medical consultant at the National Pest Management Association of Chicago, worried: “Powassan virus is more dangerous than Lyme disease because it spreads so quickly—you simply don’t have time to get to the hospital.” [Special Reminder] There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for Powassan virus. In contrast, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment can usually cure Lyme disease. Symptoms of Powassan virus infection are as follows: The incubation period is usually 1 to 4 weeks.

Afterward, some patients may experience symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and fatigue. Note: Most infected individuals are asymptomatic. Severe cases may develop into encephalitis or meningitis, with complications including seizures, confusion, speech or walking difficulties, and even coma. • The mortality rate for severe cases is close to 10%.

Note: Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain parenchyma, mainly affecting neuronal function; meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, mainly affecting cerebrospinal fluid circulation. The causes, symptoms, and prognoses of the two are different.

Appendix: Main symptoms of Lyme disease The symptoms of Lyme disease vary depending on the stage of infection and are usually divided into three stages, but the symptoms of each stage may overlap, and some patients may not show typical early symptoms. Early local symptoms (3-30 days after tick bite)

Approximately 70-80% of those infected will develop a characteristic “migratory rash” at the bite site. This rash usually starts as a small red dot and gradually enlarges over several days, sometimes reaching a diameter of over 30 centimetres.

Circular rashes may form a bullseye or bullseye appearance, may feel warm to the touch, but are usually painless and non-itchy. In addition to a rash, early symptoms may include: fever, chills; headache, fatigue; muscle and joint pain; stiff neck; and swollen lymph nodes. It is important to note that approximately 20-30% of Lyme disease patients do not experience symptoms (or do not notice the rash), making early identification more difficult.

Early dissemination symptoms (days to weeks after the bite) If left untreated in the early stages, the infection can spread from the bite site to the whole body. At this point, the following may occur: • Multiple small migratory erythema appeared on other parts of the body. With increased outdoor activities, the risk of tick bites has risen. Just a week ago, Quebec’s public health agency upgraded its warning, adding more towns to its risk list.

On Tuesday, police in Hamden, a small town with a population of less than 1,000, rescued 16 children from a home. According to the latest reports, the children are all the family’s biological offspring, and there was no evidence of human trafficking. Police obtained a search warrant while investigating an unrelated case and raided the remote rural residence.

The scene shocked them; even experienced investigators found it unbearable. “It’s disgusting!” The 16 children ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years old and included both boys and girls. They were crammed into a room that was about 12 feet by 12 feet (about 3.66 meters by 3.66 meters) and filled with human faeces. Investigators angrily stated that the children were treated like wild animals.

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, whose county includes the area, bluntly stated, ” Most of our livestock live better conditions than them.” And that’s indeed the case. The oldest girl is almost 18, but she has severe developmental disabilities and can’t even spell her own name.

Several other children are also unable to speak. When they were found, several of them were in serious condition; two children had to be airlifted to a Level 1 trauma centre for emergency treatment. One of the children was in critical condition on Tuesday and required intubation to keep breathing.

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson described the environment in which the children were living as “horrific” and “pure evil. “He had never seen a worse case in his entire career. “This is something we almost never see in the United States,” Wilson said, adding that even nearly 24 hours after the incident, “ the smell still lingered on me.”

Four members of the Siders family involved in the incident have been arrested: the children’s parents, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, and their grandparents, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders. They are each charged with 17 counts of second-degree felony endangering children. Whatever their purpose, the family had been deliberately hiding the children for years, keeping them out of the sight of investigators. It seems that no one outside this family knows about the children’s existence.

Terri Siders, a relative of the Siders family, had heard many years ago that Gary Siders Jr. had children, but he never imagined that he had 16, and he had never met any of them. Furthermore, she had not heard from this family for at least eight years. This family has been moving between several counties in Ohio since 2008, deliberately avoiding establishing medical records or government registration. The children have also never enrolled in school.

The family had been living in Hamden for several years, and their neighbours had no idea they had a child. Neighbour Joseph Stewart said he “hasn’t seen any of the children” since the family moved in. The four men were arraigned Wednesday morning in Wenton County General Court and remain in custody, with bail set at $300,000 each.

The Ohio state government is applying for temporary guardianship of all 16 children. “These children will definitely receive justice.”

According to a post and comments on the Reddit forum r/CostcoCanada on June 29, a consumer recently shared their experience of repeatedly buying second-hand goods while shopping at Costco, which sparked heated discussions among many netizens.

A netizen posted that they bought a Miele vacuum cleaner from Costco a few months ago, and found that the machine had been used before when they got home – the body was covered in scratches, dusty, the dust bag was full, and the brush head was tangled with a lot of hair. After replacing it with a new machine, even after long-term use, it did not show such wear and tear, leading them to suspect that the original machine they bought had been used for a year before being returned to the shelf.

The netizen also said that when choosing a lunchbox recently, they found another obviously used product on the shelf. The plastic had scratches and small holes from knives and forks, and the fabric and zipper had food and stains. In the comments section, many netizens shared similar experiences—some found that the packaging of sunglasses they bought online was incomplete and that the lenses had oil stains; some bought beach umbrellas that contained sand; and some even found that the toilet seat and tank were old and stained when they bought toilets. So, why does this happen? Netizens: Someone lied when returning the item.

One netizen claimed that some people are very good at repackaging old appliances as new products and lying to employees when they return them, so these used products sometimes end up back on the shelves. In response, some netizens wondered why, given Costco’s lenient return policy, people would lie and simply return the item truthfully. One person shared their experience of purchasing a beverage dispenser from a Costco in Nepean, Ontario, where the company’s headquarters are located. Upon cleaning, they discovered mouldy juice and fruit residue inside, emitting an unpleasant odour. When returning the item, the clerk simply shrugged and said, “This kind of thing happens,” and processed the return smoothly, demonstrating that not all used items are sent for disposal.

Some netizens have pointed out that non-food items may be restocked if they are in good condition, but different stores have different standards for what is considered “available for sale.” Some stores may deliberately fake returns, while employees may mistakenly put used items into the available-for-sale basket. It is hoped that stores will carefully check before restocking, but this cannot be detected every time.

One netizen summarized that Costco processes many returns every day, and it’s inevitable that used items will be mistakenly classified as resaleable. This could be due to the returnee concealing the usage condition or an employee error. Some netizens also suggested that if you encounter such a problem, you should take the initiative to report it to the store manager or take a photo and contact Costco headquarters, which will usually result in a faster rectification. Costco has a returns and clearance centre.

Some commenters also believe that only tagged clothing and unopened items will be restocked, while other items are usually returned to the manufacturer or scrapped.

Some netizens pointed out that Costco has dedicated return clearance centres in Ontario and Quebec, where customers can purchase returned items at discounted prices. For example, about 75% of the inventory at Rideau Auction in Winchester comes from Costco. There are also online retailers (such as sourcedesaubaines.com). Netizens suggest searching “Costco liquidation” for more information. In fact, it’s common to see merchants selling Costco returns at low prices on Chinese social media. These returns are mostly used but undamaged items. The problem is that such purchases carry certain risks; after-sales service depends entirely on the merchant’s explanation, so please be cautious.

Statistics Canada announced on Tuesday (30th) that Canada’s real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.5% month-on-month in April, the fastest growth rate since July 2025, better than the 0.4% previously estimated by Statistics Canada, marking the economy regaining growth momentum after a mild contraction in the first quarter.

The oil and gas extraction sector performed strongly in April, mainly benefiting from a rebound in synthetic crude oil production, after unplanned maintenance hampered growth at the beginning of the year. Manufacturing, construction, and transportation and warehousing industries also generally recorded growth, and the public sector also improved, with construction rising 0.7% month-on-month, the first rebound in five months.

The real estate brokerage and agency industry also recorded its first growth since August 2025 due to the improved housing market in the Greater Toronto Area. Preliminary estimates from the Statistics Bureau indicate that growth in May will slow to 0.1%, mainly driven by the financial, insurance, real estate, and leasing sectors. GDP briefly contracted slightly in the first quarter of this year, and the two consecutive quarters of contraction initially sparked recession speculation; however, most economists believe it is too early to say. The conflict in Iran has driven up oil prices and led to a surge in refined oil exports.

Energy statistics released by the Bureau of Statistics on the same day showed that refined petroleum exports surged 69.7% year-on-year, driven by the war in Iran that pushed up global oil prices. Crude oil and equivalent product output rose 4.2% year-on-year in April, marking the 11th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, with oil sands extraction contributing the most. Offshore production in Newfoundland and Labrador also reached a new high since March 2020.

Crude oil pipeline exports to the United States rose 8.8% year-on-year, while exports to Asia and Europe surged by 46.6%. The Bureau of Statistics indicated that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are hindering local crude oil supplies.