Category: Nation

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Canadian International AutoShow Introduces Inaugural Luxury & Supercar Forum

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Toronto is a North American leader in sales of luxury and supercars, and the Canadian International AutoShow helps drive that reputation forward with one of the most comprehensive showcases of exotic vehicles on the auto show circuit.

Two days before the 2019 AutoShow opens to the public, it will play host to the inaugural Luxury and Supercar Forum, featuring luxury and supercar designers from McLaren, Rolls-Royce and Devel Sixteen. This exclusive event will not only provide an early look at some of the most exotic cars appearing at the AutoShow, but will also provide a unique insight into how the designers of the most exclusive cars in the world see the super car genre evolving.

“Toronto has quickly become a super car mecca,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “We are a continental leader in sales of luxury cars. Pfaff McLaren is one of the world’s largest McLaren dealers, and Grand Touring Automobiles is one of the North America’s largest retailers of Rolls-Royce, Lamborghinis and other super premium luxury products. The strength of this marketplace is well known within the luxury and exotic brands, and those that want to get a foothold in this space.”

Two years ago, Aston Martin picked Toronto for the global auto show debut of its AM-RB 001 — the hypercar it developed in partnership with Red Bull and since re-named the Valkyrie. Last year, Swedish luxury car maker Koenigsegg brought its record-setting Agera RS to open the AutoShow — the world’s fastest production car that can reach speeds approaching 450 kilometres per hour. Continue reading “Canadian International AutoShow Introduces Inaugural Luxury & Supercar Forum”

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RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada

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RIU Hotels & Resorts has announced the construction of a hotel in its Riu Plaza urban line, in Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the cultural, business and financial centre of the country. The Spanish company intends to invest around 100 million dollars in the project, that will establish the first RIU hotel in Canada and will add continuity to the hotel company’s plan to expand into the world’s great cities.

The project, designed in a sophisticated avant-garde style, as a part of the Riu Plaza line, is now near the end of the design phase and is set to open in 2021. The building, a newly-built modern tower block, will be located in the city’s financial district and is mixed use. RIU’s investment in the part intended for the hotel will have 350 rooms, meeting rooms, a gym, bar and restaurant; while the upper floors will be for residential use.

Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, has made it clear that the opening of the first hotel in Toronto “is a big step forward in our commitment to expanding the Riu Plaza hotel line in the world’s key cities, establishing the RIU brand beyond more traditional vacation destinations. We hope this hotel attracts RIU customers around the world to discover the city of Toronto with us, and also hope that the loyal customers we have in Canada decide to discover our urban product. This project means a new drive to raise awareness of our brand within and beyond the country.” Continue reading “RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada”

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Federal Tax Changes coming into effect in the New Year

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Ms. Ruby Sahota, Member of Parliament for Brampton North, wants to share information about new tax  changes at the federal level that will positively affect our
middle class and those working hard to join it. These changes include:

-Decreasing the Small Business Tax rate from 10% to 9% which will provide up to $7500 in
savings for small business owners a year. When we formed government the small business tax was
11.5%; now it is one of the lowest small business tax rates in the world. Small businesses make up
98% of all Canadian businesses and employ 8 million hard working Canadians.

-Changing the Canada Pension Plan premium from 4.95% to 5.1% on earning between $3,500 and
$57,400. These enhancements will increase the maximum CPP retirement benefit by about 50%
for those who make enhanced contributions for 40 years, supporting Canadians as the cost of
living increases.

-Decreasing Employment Insurance premiums from $1.66 to $1.62 per $100 of insurable earnings.
-Increasing the Canada Workers Benefit for lower income workers, which helps low income
earners stay employed as experts say that more than half of all Canadians who live in poverty are
working. Continue reading “Federal Tax Changes coming into effect in the New Year”

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“This season is about bringing light to the people around us”-P.M. Justin Trudeau

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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Christmas:

“Merry Christmas, Canada!

“Today, our family joins Christians across the country and around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ.

“It’s a time to spread joy and cheer, appreciate our blessings, and honour traditions – whether that’s opening presents, decorating the Christmas tree, sharing a meal together, or setting aside a couple of cookies for Santa.

“We’re also well into winter, from coast to coast to coast – and here in Canada, we’ve always known how to smile through the cold days and long nights. This time of year, that Canadian spirit shines through most – because this season is about bringing light to the people around us.

“We also know this is a difficult time for some families. For Canadian Armed Forces members who are far from home, it’s just one example of the many sacrifices you and your families make. We’re thinking of you, and we’re grateful for everything you do for Canadians.

“And we’re thinking too of hardworking Canadian families who might be struggling to make ends meet this Christmas. Our government is working hard to make things a little easier for you  Continue reading ““This season is about bringing light to the people around us”-P.M. Justin Trudeau”

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Mississauga Joins Global Network of Data-Driven Cities

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The City of Mississauga has been awarded the International Organization for Standardization 37120 (ISO 37120) platinum-level certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) – a global leader in standardized city data. Mississauga is one of ten Canadian municipalities to receive the certification. The City joins more than 60 municipalities that are part of the WCCD global network.

“We are pleased to be recognized with this honour alongside other world-leaders including London, Dubai and Buenos Aires,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Increasing transparency and fostering innovation are important priorities for us as we continue to create a connected city for the 21st century. Data-driven decision making is vital for us to deliver high-quality programs and services to our citizens.”

Mississauga reported 96 out of the 100 indicators, earning platinum-level ranking.

“Mississauga is now part of an international standard,” said Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer. “Not only does it show how we are doing compared to other cities, but also serves as a benchmark in our planning process. It is important for us to be able to learn from other cities as we continue to build a world-class city.”

The standard includes a comprehensive set of 100 indicators that measures a city’s social, economic and environmental performance. The Region of Peel, local school boards, utilities and Trillium Hospital contributed data as part of the assessment. Continue reading “Mississauga Joins Global Network of Data-Driven Cities”

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Prince’s Trust Canada and Marriott International Announce National Partnership on New Youth Employment Initiative

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Prince’s Trust Canada, a national charity established by HRH The Prince of Wales, and Marriott International, a leading global lodging company with more than 6,700 properties across 129 countries and territories, announced a new Canada wide partnership  that will support youth employment and grow the hospitality-talent pool nationally.

Prince’s Trust Canada works with innovative and dedicated employer partners like Marriott International to link young people facing barriers to employment with meaningful employment opportunities. Prior to the partnership announcement, the two organizations ran a successful pilot project in Toronto.

The new Get Into Hospitality program saw 12 under-employed  young people in Toronto get two weeks of rigorous classroom training and two weeks of fully paid job shadowing training at Toronto area hotels. The young people finished the program with new skills, improved confidence and jobs. Marriott International committed to hiring at least 50% of the program participants.

In addition to helping young people struggling to find employment, the hospitality-focused curriculum and paid workplace experience program supports the expanding travel and tourism industry in Canada by preparing young Canadians for careers in the industry.

Continue reading “Prince’s Trust Canada and Marriott International Announce National Partnership on New Youth Employment Initiative”

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CJMR Radio Hosts Raise Over $180,000 and 40,000 Pounds of Food For Seva Food Bank

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The Punjabi radio producers of CJMR 1320 AM radio station have once again come together to fight hunger in our community by hosting another radiothon and food drive in support of Mississauga’s Seva Food Bank. The previous seven radiothons and food drives have collectively raised over $750,000 and 320,000 pounds of food for Seva Food Bank. This year, at the eight  annual CJMR Guru Nanak Radiothon and Food Drive raised over $180,000 in pledges and 40,000 pounds of food for the Seva Food Bank.

The record-breaking effort was led by the producers of CJMR 1320 AM radio station to mark the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.  “We really wanted to find a way to put Guru Nanak’s message of equality, social justice and service into practice,” remarked radio host Kuldip Deepak. “The Seva Food Bank is doing just that with its commitment to seva, selfless service, and sarbat da bhalla, the well-being of all humanity.”

On Friday November 23rd and Sunday November 25th, the radio hosts were on the air for over sixteen hours fielding over a thousand calls from dedicated listeners who pledged their donations. On Saturday November 24th, a food drive was organized with the support of over two hundred volunteers, spanning almost twenty-five South Asian grocery stores and gurdwaras to collect food donations across  the Peel region. Continue reading “CJMR Radio Hosts Raise Over $180,000 and 40,000 Pounds of Food For Seva Food Bank”

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Prime Minister announces investment in artificial intelligence to create over 16,000 jobs for Canadians

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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has announced an investment of up to nearly $230 million for the AI-Powered Supply Chains Supercluster (SCALE.AI) based in Quebec. The investment is expected to create more than 16,000 jobs and add more than $16 billion to our economy over 10 years. The funding will be matched dollar-for-dollar by private sector partners. The government of Québec also announced an investment of $60 million to support the initiative.

SCALE.AI brings the retail, manufacturing, transportation, infrastructure, and information and communications technology sectors together to build intelligent supply chains through artificial intelligence and robotics. This supercluster is helping Canadian small and medium-sized businesses take advantage of new opportunities, and positioning Canada as a global export leader.

The Prime Minister made the announcement while delivering remarks at the G7 Multistakeholder Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Montréal, Quebec. The conference brought together over 150 technology leaders, academic experts, members of civil society, and government officials from G7 countries, including Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains, France’s Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Mounir Mahjoubi, and Quebec’s Minister of Economy and Innovation Pierre Fitzgibbon. Continue reading “Prime Minister announces investment in artificial intelligence to create over 16,000 jobs for Canadians”

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The excitement of the World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction is coming to Toronto 

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BARRETT-JACKSON TO SHOWCASE UNIQUE COLLECTION AT 2019 CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTOSHOW

For nearly half a century, car enthusiasts have turned to Barrett-Jackson to get their hands on some of the finest collector cars on the road.

Widely regarded as a barometer on the collector car industry, Barrett-Jackson’s auctions have evolved into automotive lifestyle events where thousands of people flock for a glimpse at some of the world’s most sought after, unique and valuable cars. At the 2019 Canadian International AutoShow, presented by The Toronto Star and Wheels.ca, Barrett-Jackson will be showcasing a sample of some of the most prized cars in collections from across Canada, plus — for the first time in Canada — some of the most prized muscle cars from the personal collection of Craig Jackson himself.

“Most car enthusiasts are aware of the Barrett-Jackson brand and the incredible vehicles that have crossed their famous auction stage,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “This feature will bring the excitement of the auction stage to the AutoShow and celebrate some of the most savvy collectors from our own backyard.”

To be located on the 100 level of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre across from the popular Auto Exotica feature, the Barrett-Jackson collection will feature up to 10 prized muscle cars.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson is a global leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle events. It specializes in providing products and services to the astute classic and collector car owners and automotive enthusiasts around the world. Continue reading “The excitement of the World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction is coming to Toronto “

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Canada helps create more resilient coastal communities

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Fighting back against climate change

The impact that climate change has on the health and sustainability of our water resources threatens the livelihood and health of people around the world, especially people from Pacific islands countries and territories and Small Island Developing States. Ocean warming, acidification and sea-level rise put these coastal communities and their economies at risk.

The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson has reiterated Canada’s commitment to working with the global community to support resilient coasts and coastal communities by highlighting the following Canadian investments:

  • $10 million to the Pacific Initiative for Biodiversity, Climate Change and Resilience. Funding for this joint initiative with the European Union, France, New Zealand and Australia will support efforts in the Pacific region to adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity, and improve ocean and fisheries health.
  • $20 million for capacity development and technical assistance in Small Island Developing States. This includes areas of public financial management, financial sector supervisory capacity, and fostering inclusive growth.

Support in these areas complements Canada’s commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the marine conservation targets under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Continue reading “Canada helps create more resilient coastal communities”