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B.C.’s Cantonese speakers fight to preserve language amid uncertainty in Hong Kong

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

You wouldn’t know that Cantonese is under threat, judging from the food court of the Parker Place shopping mall in Richmond, B.C., the most ethnically Chinese city in the world outside Asia.All around, tables of diners young and old meet to “chui sui” — literally, to “blow water,” or gossip — in the language that originated in southern China and Hong Kong.Charles Chan, who immigrated to British Columbia from Hong Kong 40 years ago, said he raised his children to speak Cantonese at home.“You better let your children learn Cantonese to help them be more competitive in the job market,” said Chan as he waited for his wife to buy dumplings. He said he was confident about the language’s future. But some Metro Vancouver Cantonese speakers say its fate is uncertain in its homeland, and overseas communities play a vital role in its preservation.The concerns come after the shutdown of an online group promoting Cantonese in late August, after authorities in ...

Pierre Poilievre to deliver first speech as leader to Conservative convention

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

QUEBEC — Conservatives gathered for the federal party’s national policy convention in Quebec City today will hear not only from their leader later, but from a man who at one time wanted that job himself.The must-see event of the day for the more than 2,000 Conservatives who travelled to Quebec City will be tonight’s speech by leader Pierre Poilievre.The convention comes almost one year exactly since he scored a resounding first-ballot victory in the leadership race and it is the first time he will address a policy convention as the party’s head.Poilievre will take the stage as recent polls show the Conservatives with a considerable lead over the governing Liberals, lifting the spirits of party members clamouring for a return to power after being shut out for nearly eight years. Before Poilievre, the delegates will hear from former cabinet minister Peter MacKay.MacKay skipped the virtual policy convention in 2021 following his defeat in the 2020 leadership race and ...

Statistics Canada to release August jobs data this morning

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadians will get a read on the health of the jobs market this morning as Statistics Canada gears up to release the August Labour Force Survey. The jobs market has been showing signs of softening in recent months, with the unemployment rate climbing to 5.5 per cent as of July, marking the third straight monthly increase. The labour market stalled in July, according to the reporting agency, but wage growth has continued to be strong — a point of contention for the Bank of Canada as it tries to wrestle inflation back to its two per cent target. Average hourly wages accelerated to five per cent in July. On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada decided to maintain its overnight rate at five per cent, influenced by signs that the economy is weakening. Last week, Statistics Canada reported the domestic economy contracted in the second quarter, taking many economists by surprise. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2023.The Canadian Press

Home sick: How hybrid workplaces and employees can navigate flu season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

While many workplaces have shifted to hybrid setups coming out of the pandemic, employment experts say workers should be cautious about using that added flexibility to work from home when feeling sick.It’s a situation that some observers of remote work trends predict could become more prevalent as companies increasingly make their hybrid arrangements permanent.“There is a bit of a return to … people’s comfort level with doing things while not feeling 100 per cent, but that’s not everybody by any means,” said John Trougakos, a University of Toronto professor of organizational behaviour and human resources management.With a current uptick in COVID-19 cases in Canada linked to two new variants, along with the usual cold and flu season, employment lawyer Brittany Taylor said it’s crucial that both employers and employees take the time now to consider how to handle sick days.“I’m expecting as we get into the fall these issues are goin...

Grocery store workforce stands to benefit from gains made by Unifor with Metro strike

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

As Metro workers at 27 Toronto-area grocery stores return to work after a month-long strike, experts and union representatives say their new collective agreement raises the bar for grocery store workers across the country.“It’s the workers’ time to be recognized for what they’ve given to these companies,” said Kim Novak, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union Local 1518 in British Columbia. More than 3,700 Metro workers went on strike at the end of July after rejecting their first tentative agreement, fighting for better pay. On Aug. 31, they voted ‘yes’ on a second agreement, which included front-loaded wage gains beginning with a $1.50 hike.The Unifor-Metro deal helps set a floor for future agreements, though they won’t be identical, said Stephanie Ross, an associate professor in the school of labour studies at McMaster University. “They’re going to … these next tables with a victory in their pocket,” she said.Unifor has made it cl...

Daily horoscope for September 8, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

Moon Alert: After 1 a.m. EDT today there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The Moon is in Cancer.Happy Birthday for Friday, Sept. 8, 2023:You have strong opinions and are fiercely determined, which is why it’s good that you have excellent communication skills. It’s important to focus on family and service to others this year. Obviously, take care of yourself first. Time for a makeover? Explore classes and new training.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Keep your eyes open for amazing opportunities that might begin at work today or in a work-related culture. A tiny seed of an idea today could grow into any kind of success in the future. Believe in yourself. Anything is possible! Tonight: Family discussions.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★★This is a fantastic day to socialize! No matter what you’re doing, whether you have a champagne purse or a beer wallet, get out and socialize! Meet a friend for coffee, lunch or dinner. Meet the gang at happy hour. Enjo...

Commission adopts reporting rules on banks' exposure to shadow banking

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

The European Commission has adopted technical standards to be used by credit institutions when reporting their exposures to shadow banking entities, as required by the Capital Requirements Regulation. These standards set out criteria for the identification of shadow banking entities, ensuring the harmonization and comparability of exposures reported by credit institutions. The standards will also provide supervisors with robust data to assess banks' risks in relation to non-banking financial intermediaries. This will reinforce the prudential framework, allowing for an improved transparency of the material linkages between the traditional banking sector and the shadow banking sector.Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union Commissioner Mairead McGuinness said: “Non-bank financial institutions have grown during recent years. Some have built up considerable leverage and liquidity mismatches and, as highlighted by the recent losses in the banking sector involvin...

Miss Manners: Is it OK to trick them into diving with great white sharks?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I graduated with my Ph.D. two years ago. My friends have been asking me nonstop to come for a visit. However, every time I visit, they just want to go bar-hopping, something I am not a fan of.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: What to say to a stranger who wants to touch you Advice | Miss Manners: We aren’t invited to the shower but our co-worker wants gifts from us anyway Advice | Miss Manners: My husband was upset by my request at the restaurant Advice | Miss Manners: Am I really ‘trying too hard to be liked’? Advice | Miss Manners: Please decree that people should not knock on a bathroom door Now they are saying if I come visit, they will do something I want, as long as there is a low risk of getting sick, injured or killed. They said no to roller coasters and skydiving.I have found an option to go cage-diving with great white sharks, no scuba certification req...

Dear Abby: I’m worried about my 12-year-old’s serious dating

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My 12-year-old daughter has a girlfriend she’s been “dating” for about eight months.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: This boy makes me so happy. Must we break up because of his parents? Advice | Dear Abby: I thought I’d get over my husband’s misdeed but it haunts me Advice | Dear Abby: She decided I can’t be near her children Advice | Dear Abby: The wedding is on hold, but the bride is apparently keeping my money Advice | Dear Abby: When he thought I was dying, he revealed his role in this painful deception They’re not sexually active, and they only see each other socially a couple of weekend days every month, but they do FaceTime with each other every day. From what I can gather, they are also attached at the hip during school hours.My concern is the length of this relationship. I remember when I was their age I had a crush on a different boy pract...

Commanders preview: A new era of Washington football kicks off with high anticipation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:45 GMT

It was an offseason 24 years in the making — an offseason of change. The Washington Commanders kick off a new era of football on Sunday with a new ownership group, a new starting quarterback and a new offensive coordinator.“There’s been a buzz all offseason for this team,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said.Head coach Ron Rivera enters his fourth season at the helm of this franchise, and even without new ownership, it would be a pivotal one for him.Rivera has posted a 22-27-1 record in his three years, but this could be his best roster yet. That being said, there’s something he has yet to do during his tenure — getting off to a fast start. Players and coaches have repeatedly said that it’s one of the main focuses heading into the season, now it’s time to do it. The Burgundy and Gold have started 2-6, 2-6 and 1-4 in Rivera’s three years.With Josh Harris and the new ownership group evaluating everything this year, a slow start is something that...