The new rules start December 1.
From then on, all new phones must be unlocked. And for phones people already own, they can ask their provider to unlock it, and unlocking it has to be free, according to the CRTC.
Currently, telecoms stock stores with phones that they make sure are locked (so users can only use their service). To unlock it, they charge around $50.
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Thursday, 15 June 2017
Thursday, 1 June 2017
BC Trials to Take Place in Digital Small Claims Court Now
In an attempt to increase citizens' access to justice and make small claims faster, cheaper and easier, the province has launched its online Civil Resolution Tribunal.
The new online tribunal is the first in Canada where these types of disputes (contracts, debts, personal injury, personal property and consumer issues for values under $5000) can be filed, negotiated, and resolved almost all online, with simple explainers of options and procedures.
B.C. has already been letting condo owners settle strata disputes online since last year.
The Ministry of Justice also raised the jurisdiction of B.C. small claims to $35,000, up from $25,000.
The new online tribunal is the first in Canada where these types of disputes (contracts, debts, personal injury, personal property and consumer issues for values under $5000) can be filed, negotiated, and resolved almost all online, with simple explainers of options and procedures.
B.C. has already been letting condo owners settle strata disputes online since last year.
The Ministry of Justice also raised the jurisdiction of B.C. small claims to $35,000, up from $25,000.
Elementary Schools Cancel High Jump Due to 'Risk' Factor
Two school boards in Sault St. Marie are citing the Ontario Physical Education Safety Guidelines, which classifies high jump as a "higher risk activity," as the reason they are cutting the sport out of elementary schools immediately.
Other sports so far included in the "higher risk activity" category: wrestling, alpine skiing, and snowboarding.
According to the school boards' joint statement, "It was felt that the changed classification and the need to maintain student safety as a priority means this event is best suited for development at the secondary level where there is greater access to trained staff and proper equipment at sites."
"We felt it best to maintain high jump at the secondary level and to have our younger students compete in events that are most appropriate for their stage of development and which can showcase their abilities with less risk involved,” added Lucia Reece, Algoma District School Board director.
Innocent Man Jailed for Rape Has Been Released, and His Lying Ex Is Now Jailed
The man was jailed after his ex-spouse charged him with choking and trying to rape her.
The story she and her attorney told the judges in the original 2015 trial was that her ex broke into her apartment, threw her on her bed, choked her, threatened to kill her, and attempted to rape her multiple times, and they presented as evidence injuries to her neck. The man was charged and sent to prison.
19 days later, the woman came forward with the truth: that she made it up.
The 34-year-old Ontario woman was then charged with mischief for the lie (mischief in Canada has maximum punishment of 14 years). Her lawyer suggested a punishment of a conditional sentence, citing that she had changed since she made the claim, that she had recently completed anger management, and that she was making progress in drug recovery. They also presented a letter to the court written by her daughter asking that her mother not be sent to jail and an unsigned letter from her ex asking the same.
However, because the woman had a previous criminal record and had been in jail several times, the court said, it gave her jail time: 60 days.
The court justice said of the sentence, "When you go to a police officer and pretend to be a victim, the police officer begins investigating the case, but that takes that officer away from investigating real cases. ... (Your story) was calculated. You inflicted injuries to your neck. You said they were caused by someone. You gave a sworn statement to police. You knew (the ex-spouse) was arrested and in custody …
"One day went by. Two days went by. A week went by. Nineteen days went by knowing an innocent man was in jail."
The story she and her attorney told the judges in the original 2015 trial was that her ex broke into her apartment, threw her on her bed, choked her, threatened to kill her, and attempted to rape her multiple times, and they presented as evidence injuries to her neck. The man was charged and sent to prison.
19 days later, the woman came forward with the truth: that she made it up.
The 34-year-old Ontario woman was then charged with mischief for the lie (mischief in Canada has maximum punishment of 14 years). Her lawyer suggested a punishment of a conditional sentence, citing that she had changed since she made the claim, that she had recently completed anger management, and that she was making progress in drug recovery. They also presented a letter to the court written by her daughter asking that her mother not be sent to jail and an unsigned letter from her ex asking the same.
However, because the woman had a previous criminal record and had been in jail several times, the court said, it gave her jail time: 60 days.
The court justice said of the sentence, "When you go to a police officer and pretend to be a victim, the police officer begins investigating the case, but that takes that officer away from investigating real cases. ... (Your story) was calculated. You inflicted injuries to your neck. You said they were caused by someone. You gave a sworn statement to police. You knew (the ex-spouse) was arrested and in custody …
"One day went by. Two days went by. A week went by. Nineteen days went by knowing an innocent man was in jail."
Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Exciting B.C. Election
The Liberals and Christy Clark did not receive a majority ... yet.
They might not get one. They won 43 of B.C.'s 87 electoral districts, one short of a majority.
That means that the NDP with 41 and the Greens with 3 may form a coalition or other governing arrangement, and NDP leader John Horgan could find himself premier of B.C. This gives a special kind of power to the Greens (under leader Andrew Weaver) which they haven't had before.
B.C. hasn't had a minority government since 1953.
The outcome of the election is not yet final, however, as there will be recounts. Some districts were close, with Courtenay-Comox the closest at a 9-vote NDP win over the Liberals.
They might not get one. They won 43 of B.C.'s 87 electoral districts, one short of a majority.
That means that the NDP with 41 and the Greens with 3 may form a coalition or other governing arrangement, and NDP leader John Horgan could find himself premier of B.C. This gives a special kind of power to the Greens (under leader Andrew Weaver) which they haven't had before.
B.C. hasn't had a minority government since 1953.
The outcome of the election is not yet final, however, as there will be recounts. Some districts were close, with Courtenay-Comox the closest at a 9-vote NDP win over the Liberals.
Thursday, 4 May 2017
New Loonie Low
The loonie might go as low as 70 cents to the U.S. dollar in 2017, according to experts.
Right now it's around 73 cents, a 14-month low.
The fall of the loonie is tied to the same old things: a strong period for the U.S. economy, interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and oil prices that are expected to stay low.
However, business in the U.S. isn't doing amazing: This week, the U.S. PMI was below the forcast level, and construction spending contracted very slightly.
Meanwhile, Canadian manufacturing is doing well. Their PMI reported a 6-year high this week.
Right now it's around 73 cents, a 14-month low.
The fall of the loonie is tied to the same old things: a strong period for the U.S. economy, interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and oil prices that are expected to stay low.
However, business in the U.S. isn't doing amazing: This week, the U.S. PMI was below the forcast level, and construction spending contracted very slightly.
Meanwhile, Canadian manufacturing is doing well. Their PMI reported a 6-year high this week.
Thursday, 27 April 2017
Trump Agrees Not to Terminate NAFTA
After phone calls with Trudeau and Nieto, the White House said that Trump "Agreed not to terminate NAFTA at this time and the leaders agreed to proceed swiftly, according to their required internal procedures, to enable the renegotiation of the NAFTA deal to the benefit of all three countries."
Trump also wrote in a statement, "It is my privilege to bring NAFTA up to date through renegotiation. It is an honor to deal with both President Peña Nieto and Prime Minister Trudeau, and I believe that the end result will make all three countries stronger and better."
During the campaign trail and until very recently, Trump made strong statements against NAFTA and in favor of possibly ending the treaty.
Trump also wrote in a statement, "It is my privilege to bring NAFTA up to date through renegotiation. It is an honor to deal with both President Peña Nieto and Prime Minister Trudeau, and I believe that the end result will make all three countries stronger and better."
During the campaign trail and until very recently, Trump made strong statements against NAFTA and in favor of possibly ending the treaty.
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Trump Doesn't Fear Trade War Because of Canada's 'Tremendous Surplus'
Trump's response to questions about whether he feared a trade war with Canada after his new taxes on lumber imports was, "Nope. Not at all."
The reason, Trump said, was, "They have a tremendous surplus with the United States. Whenever they have a surplus, I have no fear."
He also told reporters, "They've outsmarted our politicians for many years, and you people understand that."
Canada and the U.S. charge their forestry companies differently for the trees they cut down. In the U.S. companies compete and bid for trees. In Canada, the provincial governments charges fees to companies which happen to be lower than the market price U.S. companies pay. American companies complain Canada's system is an unfair subsidy.
The tariffs are expected to add around $1200 to the price of new homes since taxes are always passed on to consumers, although lumber prices have already started to move up in expectation of an increase in cost.
Analysts expect that Canada may fire back by taxing American imports to Canada.
The reason, Trump said, was, "They have a tremendous surplus with the United States. Whenever they have a surplus, I have no fear."
He also told reporters, "They've outsmarted our politicians for many years, and you people understand that."
Canada and the U.S. charge their forestry companies differently for the trees they cut down. In the U.S. companies compete and bid for trees. In Canada, the provincial governments charges fees to companies which happen to be lower than the market price U.S. companies pay. American companies complain Canada's system is an unfair subsidy.
The tariffs are expected to add around $1200 to the price of new homes since taxes are always passed on to consumers, although lumber prices have already started to move up in expectation of an increase in cost.
Analysts expect that Canada may fire back by taxing American imports to Canada.
Monday, 24 April 2017
Trump's First New Tariff on a Foreign Country: Canada
Lumber tariffs up to 24% are being imposed by Trump on Canada.
During his presidential run, Trump repeatedly spoke of "America first," and threatened tariffs on China and Mexico. These threats received voter support, but the first tariff imposed by the president was on the U.S.'s northern neighbor.
The lumber tariffs were announced Monday after trade talks on dairy products fell through.
There is talk of a trade war between Canada and the U.S. Currently, the two nations and Mexico are preparing to renegotiate NAFTA.
The U.S. government is thought to be motivated by a desire improve prospects for American lumber companies, who complain that subsidies provided to Canadian companies by the Canadian government create an unfair playing field. Canada exported a reported $5.6 billion worth of softwood to the U.S. last year.
During his presidential run, Trump repeatedly spoke of "America first," and threatened tariffs on China and Mexico. These threats received voter support, but the first tariff imposed by the president was on the U.S.'s northern neighbor.
The lumber tariffs were announced Monday after trade talks on dairy products fell through.
There is talk of a trade war between Canada and the U.S. Currently, the two nations and Mexico are preparing to renegotiate NAFTA.
The U.S. government is thought to be motivated by a desire improve prospects for American lumber companies, who complain that subsidies provided to Canadian companies by the Canadian government create an unfair playing field. Canada exported a reported $5.6 billion worth of softwood to the U.S. last year.
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