ETA Canada Travel Pass News

Due to construction work on the Broadway Subway Project in Vancouver, British Columbia, a portion of Broadway Street has been closed to all vehicular traffic since January 26.

The Broadway Subway Project Corporation announced this on January 9. The road closure covers one block of East Broadway between Quebec Street and Main Street. The area will undergo road reconstruction work for the new Mount Pleasant underground station, which will begin on January 26 and run for approximately four months.

According to the authorities, East 8th Avenue will be the detour route for vehicles. Turn restrictions will be in place depending on the time of day, and traffic controllers will be on hand to guide vehicles. If you are just passing through the area, they are urging you to use other east-west routes to reduce congestion and maintain access for local vehicles. Vehicle traffic will be prohibited, but footpaths will remain open, and access to shops, homes and services in the area will be maintained.

Work will generally be carried out Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. After the four-month closure, one lane in each direction will be reopened, with all lanes expected to be reopened by summer.

The project involves extending the SkyTrain Millennium Line, operated by TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s public transportation system, from VCC Clark Station west to Arbutus Street, with the construction of six new subway stations.

Air Canada announced on January 21 that it will launch a winter-only Vancouver-Sapporo route starting December 17, 2026. Between December 2026 and March 2027, the airline will operate three flights per week between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and New Chitose Airport (CTS). This will be North America’s first direct flight to Hokkaido.

According to the announced schedule, AC55 from Vancouver departs YVR at 1:25 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving at CTS the following day at 3:35 pm. AC54 from New Chitose departs CTS at 7:55 pm on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving at YVR at 11:10 am on the same day. According to a news release, the new route will reduce travel time between Vancouver and Sapporo by more than two hours each way by eliminating the need for a layover. The aircraft will be a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Passengers can choose from Signature Class, Premium Economy, or Economy. Air Canada Vice President and CCO Mark Gallardo said, “This new route further strengthens Vancouver’s role as North America’s second-largest Pacific gateway, driven by the continued growth in premium leisure demand and travel to Japan. He also cited Sapporo’s attractions as including “superb powder snow, the Sapporo Snow Festival, soothing hot springs, and culinary delights like ramen and legendary beer.”

This brings Air Canada’s direct flights to Japan, including limited-time routes, to three (Vancouver-Narita and Kansai Airport), plus seven (Toronto-Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Montreal-Narita).

Low temperatures and power outages are merely inconveniences for many, but for others, they can be deadly risks. Canada has recently experienced a sustained drop in temperature, with many areas entering a period of severe cold. Meanwhile, some communities in Montreal experienced sudden power outages. Against this backdrop of alternating low temperatures and power outages, a worrying incident has drawn attention.

Montreal police say a 66-year-old woman was found dead in an apartment in Montreal’s West End on Sunday (January 25). The neighbourhood was experiencing a power outage that had lasted since Saturday morning (January 24).

Firefighters made a routine home visit and found the woman unconscious. Police reported that around 6 p.m. Sunday, firefighters found the woman unconscious in an apartment on Hudson Avenue during a community safety check and called the police. Montreal police then arrived at the scene.

The inspection was conducted because the area had experienced a large-scale power outage since Saturday, and the fire department proactively visited some residents to check if any were affected by the outage.

Police confirmed: Not a criminal case Montreal Police spokesperson Ann-Sophie Simard stated clearly when contacted by the media: “After completing the relevant investigation, the police confirmed that this incident did not involve any criminal activity.”

Police have not released further details about the woman’s personal circumstances, nor have they stated whether her time of death was directly related to the power outage.

The case has been transferred to the coroner for investigation into the cause of death and specific circumstances. The case has now been officially handed over to the Quebec Coroner’s Office, which is responsible for further investigating the woman’s cause of death and the specific circumstances surrounding her death. Relevant departments will consider the on-site situation, medical examination results, and environmental factors to determine whether there is a sudden health emergency or whether it is related to the life risks caused by a prolonged power outage.

On January 16th, a man accused of the murder of Alexander Lo in Vancouver, Canada in 2024 was sentenced to life imprisonment (with no possibility of parole for 13 years) for second-degree murder. Lo’s younger brother is Kai-Gee Adam Lo, also accused of the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival massacre in April 2025, in which 11 people were killed.

The incident occurred in January 2024. According to an agreed statement of facts read out in court, Law and Dwight Kematch met on a dating app and met at Kematch’s home in Vancouver. However, for some reason, Kematch became enraged and, while drunk, assaulted Law with his fists, a hammer, and a knife. Kematch’s family called the police, but Law was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kematch, who has previous convictions for theft, animal cruelty and arson, suffered physical and sexual abuse and neglect growing up, partly because of colonization of Indigenous people, according to his defense attorney, Jim Heller.

He has apologized to Low’s family and described the Lapu-Lapu Day incident as “a ripple effect of my actions.”

Meanwhile, after Law’s death, his mother, Lisa, attempted suicide and was hospitalized, and defendant Kai-Gee Adam Law reportedly supported her through that time.

Defendant Kai-Gee Adam Lo is scheduled to appear in court in February in connection with the Lapulapu Day case.

A shooting occurred in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia. According to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), a man was found shot and lying on the ground in the 3500 block of 176th Street in Surrey around noon on January 13.

The man, Baljinder Binder Singh Gurcha (46), was pronounced dead at the scene. About three miles away, a vehicle fire occurred in the 18900 block of 40th Avenue, which police believe may be related to the murder.

CBC News Online reported that Gacha, who owned and operated several Surrey-based businesses, including a banquet hall, a limousine service and a film production company, collapsed at a wedding reception hall he operated. There were suspected gang-related murders in Surrey and Abbotsford in the six days prior to January 13, but the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) believes Gacha’s murder is unrelated to any gang violence.

Meanwhile, the region has seen an increase in extortion attempts, mainly targeting South Asian business owners, but the SPS did not say whether Gacha’s murder was linked to the extortion attempts. The SPS said 16 extortion attempts have already been reported in Surrey so far in 2026.

Police are appealing for information: If you have dashcam footage from the area of the vehicle fire or the area where Gacha’s body was discovered between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on January 13th, please contact them at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

At a press conference on January 14, British Columbia’s (B.C) Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, announced that the three-year pilot project, “Project Drug Decriminalization,” will end on January 31.

The project, which began on January 31, 2023, decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs. To legally implement this, the provincial government signed an agreement with the federal government’s Health Canada, allowing individuals aged 18 and over to possess up to 2.5 grams of cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and opioids (including heroin, fentanyl, and morphine) for personal use in certain locations as an exception.

The permit expires on January 31 of this year, but the provincial government has decided not to reapply, meaning the project will come to an end.

The project was in response to B. C’s “toxic drug crisis,” which claimed thousands of lives since a public health emergency was declared in 2016. However, at a press conference, Minister Osborne explained that “a lot of effort and good intentions have gone into this project, but it has not delivered the results we had hoped for,” and said that the project would not be renewed.

Opinions on both sides have been divided on whether the project has gone “too far” or “not enough.” Minister Osborne stressed that “this does not mean the end of the effort” and that the state government will continue to promote prevention, treatment and recovery through overdose prevention sites.

According to a CTV News report today (January 9), an estimated 11,000 restaurants in Canada will close in the next two years, with 7,000 expected to close by 2025 and another 4,000 projected to close by 2026.

Canada’s restaurant industry is facing enormous pressure as inflation and rising food prices lead to more restaurants, bars and small eateries closing. According to a recent study by Dalhousie University, 7,000 restaurants in Canada will have closed by 2025.

“The food service industry as a whole has been extremely difficult over the past few years,” said Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agricultural and Food Analysis Laboratory at Dalhousie University. The university predicts that another 4,000 restaurants will close by 2026.

Charlebois stated that Canadian consumers are becoming increasingly frugal with their food budgets. “They will choose to dine at home to avoid paying tips, buying expensive wines, and so on,” Charlebois said. In addition to rising food prices and inflation, the Canadian Restaurant Association also attributed the increase to rising rent, insurance, and wage costs.

The association stated that 41% of restaurants are operating at a loss or barely breaking even, but they are still trying to keep prices low because they know that customers are budget conscious.

Kelly Higginson, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Canada, said: “Canadians are currently facing challenges in terms of spending power. Reduced disposable income means people will spend less at restaurants.” From December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025, Ontario residents enjoyed a two-month relief from Goods and Services Tax (GST/HST) on dining out, prepared foods, snacks, and certain alcoholic beverages. The Canadian Restaurant Association is calling for the reinstatement and permanent implementation of this tax credit.

Higginson said, “We should eliminate the excise tax on food when we are facing a problem with purchasing power, especially with the high cost of living. Why tax food? It’s terrible public policy.” Charlebois agreed with this view and told CTV News that he believes all food taxes should be abolished. “I think we need to eliminate taxes on all food, regardless of where it is consumed,” said Charlebois.

Another reason for the decline in restaurant sales is that Canadians are drinking less alcohol; national retailers saw a 10.6% drop in alcohol sales in October. Charlebois added that some customers are unhappy with the tipping system, which has also hit the restaurant industry. He said that many Canadians don’t mind tipping when dining at formal restaurants; however, they get annoyed when they are asked to tip when ordering at a fast-food counter.

Canadians can now add a touch of glamour to their lives with a “wearable coin”. The Royal Canadian Mint recently launched a new Gold Maple Leaf (GML) pendant, which features a 24K gold maple leaf coin with a purity of 99.99%, cleverly blending minting heritage with jewellery design.

Classic design meets exquisite craftsmanship This pendant features an 18K gold base and at its core is Walter Ott’s iconic maple leaf design, a design derived from the world-renowned gold maple leaf investment coin and a classic symbol of Canadian minting craftsmanship.

The pendant features an adjustable gold chain with two connecting rings, allowing for free adjustment to three lengths: 16 inches, 17 inches, or 18 inches, to suit different outfits and necklines. It’s worth mentioning that the back of the pendant features an open design, allowing a clear view of the details on the front of the gold maple leaf coin.

The Mint website states: “This 24K gold coin continues Walter Ott’s classic gold maple leaf investment coin design, featuring a single sugar maple leaf pattern complemented by a distinctive radiating pattern, while the obverse features a portrait of King Charles III designed by Steven Rosati.” Limited edition, a highly sought-after collector’s item.

To acquire this “wearable coin,” you’ll need to pay a hefty price tag—the Mint website lists it at CAD 2299.95. What makes it even more precious is that among the gold maple leaf pendants released this time, the version featuring the 2025 coin is limited to only 150 pieces, combining the value of wearing as an ornament with the attributes of investment and collection. In fact, this is not the first time the Royal Canadian Mint has released a high-priced special coin.

Last year, the Mint launched a diamond-shaped coin and a pure gold coin inlaid with real coral, both of which were sold at astonishing prices, continuing its exploration in the field of high-end commemorative coins and collectible jewellery.

Affected by multiple factors such as trade uncertainties with the US, tariff pressures, and the accelerated penetration of artificial intelligence, Canadian companies are showing a markedly cautious outlook on hiring in the first half of 2026. Multiple recent surveys and economist analyses indicate that while companies haven’t completely “hit the brakes,” they are collectively cooling down their workforce expansion, and the job market is transitioning from a previously tense state to a more rational and prudent adjustment period.

According to the Toronto Star, a nationwide survey released on December 29 by human resources agency Express Employment Professionals indicates that only 44% of Canadian businesses plan to increase their workforce in the first half of 2026, significantly lower than the 51% in the same period last year. Meanwhile, approximately 42% of companies plan to maintain their current workforce size, while another 10% anticipate job cuts.

The survey, covering key industries such as education, construction, retail, healthcare, and finance, and involving over 500 hiring managers, is highly representative.

A spokesperson for the agency, Daisy Kaur, stated that the current hiring environment is more of a “slowdown” than a “freeze.” She pointed out that many companies are still hiring, but with a greater emphasis on precise matching and cost control, rather than the “hire first, worry later” strategy of the past few years. Employers are generally more focused on candidates’ multi-skilled backgrounds and whether the position can truly bring long-term value to the company.

From a macroeconomic perspective, trade uncertainty remains a significant variable affecting business confidence. Shelly Kaushik, senior economist at BMO, analysed that tariff risks related to the United States have had a particularly pronounced impact on Canada’s automotive, steel, aluminium, and lumber industries. These sectors not only face rising export costs but also job losses due to delayed investment. She pointed out that trade policy uncertainty will gradually transmit to the broader job market through business investment intentions, consumer confidence, and capital expenditure.

The survey also revealed that the primary reason for companies reducing or cautiously hiring is cost control, followed by the impact of tariffs, weakening market demand, and the application of artificial intelligence.

Notably, among companies planning layoffs, 23% explicitly cited automation and AI as significant reasons for reducing labour demand, and another 21% indicated that they would not immediately fill vacancies even if some employees left. This reflects that technological advancements are structurally changing labour demand, rather than merely causing cyclical fluctuations. However, looking at the overall employment situation, the Canadian labour market still shows a certain degree of resilience.

Brendon Bernard, senior economist at the job search platform Indeed, points out that since the post-pandemic hiring peak subsided, the job market has continued to cool, but large-scale layoffs have not occurred. The latest data shows that the national unemployment rate fell to 6.5% in November, indicating that while businesses are more cautious, they are not generally pessimistic. He believes that the current economic environment is closer to a “mild slowdown” than a recession.

Overall, Canada’s employment outlook for the first half of 2026 presents a picture of “slowing growth but not stabilizing.” Tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties have dampened corporate expansion, while artificial intelligence is reshaping job structures. However, stable macroeconomic fundamentals and a relatively healthy unemployment rate provide a buffer for the labour market.

For job seekers, opportunities still exist, but competition will increasingly focus on skills, efficiency, and adaptability. For businesses, maintaining a talent pool while controlling costs will be a key challenge for human resource management in the coming year.

In early 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) expanded its pistachio-related food recall to include chocolate and spread products from two companies due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The recalled products include various chocolate products from the Canadian brand Peace by Chocolate, in different packaging and sizes, including 15-piece, 24-piece, and 32-piece mixed chocolate boxes, as well as “Dubai-style” pistachio chocolate and Knafeh (Kunafa) chocolate bars. Additionally, NuttyHero’s 340g nut and seed spread, in flavours including maple cinnamon, coconut flakes, and chocolate, was also added to the recall list on January 2nd.

A complete list of recyclable products can be found on the government’s Recalls Canada website.

The products mentioned above are the latest in a nationwide food safety investigation conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) targeting foods containing pistachios or pistachio ingredients. The agency noted that since the recall began several months ago, more than 100 people across the country have become ill.

The CFIA advises the public that if they possess any of the recalled products, they should immediately discard them or return them to the place of purchase and should not consume, sell, or use them for any purpose. The authorities also pointed out that food contaminated with Salmonella may not show any abnormalities in appearance or smell. However, for people with weakened immune systems, including young children and pregnant women, infections can have serious consequences and even be life-threatening.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If you experience any discomfort after consuming any of the recalled products, please contact a healthcare professional immediately.

To date, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled a total of 330 pistachio or pistachio-containing food products due to the risk of Salmonella, affecting dozens of companies, from Canadian chocolate brands to bakeries and food retailers across the country.