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Quebec

Quebec, Airbnb reach agreement to collect lodging tax in the province

MONTREAL – Airbnb and the province of Quebec have announced what is being called a first tourist tax agreement on short-term rentals in Canada. Quebec Tourism Minister Julie Boulet and officials with the Canadian arm of the home-sharing platform made…

Making ICBC a co-op one option for B.C., competition must be part of any option selected: taxpayers federation

The British Columbia government has options at its disposal to address auto insurance problems in the province – ranging from leaving the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) to shuttering the insurer – but all should include reintroduction of competition, concludes a new report commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). CTF argues that “fast and furious changes” are needed in light of the “looming 30% hike to car insurance,” a figure noted in an Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y) report made public last month. Among its many observations, the…

Authorities confirm tornado hit Quebec town as cleanup operations continue

MONTREAL – Environment Canada says a tornado touched down in a Quebec town during intense thunderstorms that caused considerable damage in different parts of the province, including the felling of century-old trees in Montreal. Meteorologist Amelie Bertrand said Wednesday a team dispatched to Lachute confirmed an EF-1 tornado with winds reaching about 175 km/h struck in the town about 85 kilometres north of Montreal.

Bertrand said an EF-1 tornado can cause wind gusts ranging from about 135 to 175 km/h, placing Tuesday’s tornado at the higher end of…

Cleanup underway after severe storm with heavy winds rips through Montreal area

MONTREAL – Crews began cleaning up in Quebec on Wednesday after a suspected tornado hit one town and severe thunderstorms ripped through other parts of the province, felling century-old trees in one Montreal neighbourhood. The Montreal area and the Laurentian…

Many polled Canadians aren’t researching options before buying financial products: LowestRates.ca survey

While Canadians may head online to compare prices on flights or when booking a hotel, most aren’t researching their options before buying financial products, according to a new survey from comparison site LowestRates.ca. The online survey, conducted last month by…

Dash 8 crew erroneously thought convective activity was not a factor in Mont-Joli approach incident: TSB

A combination wind shear and turbulence was one factor in a 2016 incident in Quebec in which a pilot had “temporary difficulty” controlling a Dash 8 below 2,000 feet, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in a recent investigation…

Smoke from fires in northwestern Ontario prompts evacuation of First Nation members

Smoke from a growing number of forest fires in northwestern Ontario has prompted the evacuation of community members from a First Nation in the region. Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services says members of the Nibinamik First Nation…

2016 was the warmest year on record for the globe, Canadian Prairies experienced one of the “longest and most active storm seasons”: report

Last year topped 2015 as the warmest year in 137 years of record keeping and marked the third consecutive year of record warmth, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Thursday. The 27th annual State of the Climate…

CatIQ enters into agreement with Impact Forecasting to use cat event flood response footprints for Canada

Toronto-based Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) announced that they have entered into an agreement whereby Impact Forecasting’s cat event response flood footprints for Canada will be made available as a layer on CatIQ’s CatHUB module. “Aon Impact Forecasting’s Canadian…

With marijuana legalization impending, now is not the time to lower the legal alcohol limit, CAA-Quebec argues

The federal government’s proposal to explore lowering the legal alcohol limit for drivers in a bid to improve road safety is “commendable,” but with cannabis due to be legalized in less than a year, now is not the right time…

Federal justice minister seeks to beef up blood/alcohol levels for drivers

OTTAWA – Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould is considering lowering the legal alcohol limit for licensed drivers, according to a letter she sent to her Quebec counterpart. In the correspondence to Stephanie Vallee dated on May 23, Wilson-Raybould suggests lowering…

Hub International purchases “certain assets” of Quebec surety broker

Chicago, Ill.-based Hub International Limited announced on Monday that Hub Quebec has purchased “certain assets” from Patrice Varin, through a corporation held by him. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Varin will join Hub Quebec, bringing with him a…