ETA Canada News

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced on December 24 that 23 people have been infected with food poisoning caused by E. coli O26, which has been linked to recalled Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops, and five have been hospitalized.

Cases were reported between early October and late November 2025 and are spread across seven provinces. PHAC believes the actual number of cases is higher.

On December 21, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recalled several pepperoni and bacon flavor Pizza Pops due to suspected E. coli O26 contamination. Because bacteria cannot be killed in frozen foods, it has been pointed out that contamination during the manufacturing process may have been distributed nationwide.

The recall includes Pizza Pops Pepperoni + Bacon (30 pizza snacks), Pepperoni + Bacon (8 pizza snacks), Supremo Extreme Pepperoni + Bacon (30 pizza snacks), and FRANK’s RedHot Pepperoni + Bacon (4 pizza snacks), all of which have a best-by date of June 2026.

Eating food contaminated with E. Coli O26 can make people sick, even if it looks or smells the same. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps, and watery to bloody diarrhea. In severe cases, the bacteria can cause convulsions, stroke, the need for blood transfusions or kidney dialysis, permanent kidney damage, and even death.

Authorities are urging people to seek medical advice if they become ill after eating the recalled products, to check their freezers to see if any of the affected products are in their refrigerators, not to eat, sell, distribute or use the affected products, and to discard or return any of the affected products to the store where they were purchased if they have them.

With the continuous advancement of DNA analysis technology, breakthroughs have been made in several decades-old cold cases in Quebec in the past year, bringing a turning point to the investigation of long-unsolved cold cases. Marie-Chantale Desjardins, only 10 years old, was murdered north of Montreal in 1994. On the day of the incident, she disappeared while riding her bicycle home from a friend’s house.

Four days later, police found her badly injured body next to a tree nearby. The case remained unsolved for over 30 years. This year, Real Kurtmarsh was convicted of second-degree murder, with the judge clearly stating that key evidence came from significant technological advancements in the field of forensic biology. Diana Segan, head of the DNA department at the Quebec Laboratory for Forensic Sciences and Justice, said the lab analyses about 50 cold cases each year and has helped police solve 8 to 10 cases in the past one to two years. She pointed out that the breakthroughs mainly come from more sophisticated DNA extraction techniques and “genetic pedigree”—comparing DNA from crime scenes with genetic data uploaded to open databases by the public.

Currently, the laboratory processes 30,000 to 40,000 pieces of physical evidence annually and uploads approximately 4,000 to 5,000 DNA files to the national crime scene DNA database. Whether it’s an old or new case, investigations typically begin with database comparisons, and in some cases, DNA can be re-extracted from evidence that was not tested decades ago.

Genetic pedigree technology has also been used in other cases. Last September, police used the method to identify a suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Catherine Davio, who was killed in Montreal in 2008; Quebec police also filed charges this year in a 1979 home invasion murder case and confirmed the identity of a body found in 1997.

A 10-year-old girl in Canada was brutally murdered; the perpetrator has finally been punished 30 years later. Segan emphasized that genetic pedigree can only provide investigative clues; a final verdict still requires the police to supplement evidence. She hopes that this technology will be used more extensively in ongoing cases to prevent crimes from becoming cold cases over time.

Some experts believe that as DNA technology and database coverage continue to expand, the concept of “cold cases” may gradually decrease in the future.

A murder case involving a same-sex love triangle, violence, and conspiracy has once again drawn attention. At a hearing on Thursday (November 27), 52-year-old Nicola Puddicombe publicly recounted for the first time the details of her 2006 murder of her boyfriend, Dennis Hoy, to persuade the jury to allow her to apply for early parole.

According to the Toronto Star, a local English-language newspaper, the case dates to October 27, 2006, when 36-year-old GO Traffic Officer Dennis Hoy was hacked to death with an axe in his apartment by his live-in girlfriend, Nicola. Nicola was then in a relationship with a woman in her early twenties, Ashley Pochaluk. Prosecutors allege that the two conspired to murder Hoy so they could have a “free-choice relationship” and for Nicola to inherit Hoy’s $250,000 life insurance policy.

At the hearing, Nicola confessed that before the incident, she was deeply entangled in an emotional conflict with her longtime boyfriend Hoy and her new girlfriend Pecharuk and was mentally “exhausted.” In a state of extreme confusion, she finally nodded in acquiescence to Pecharuk’s murder plan.

“One day I said, ‘Okay, let’s do it this way,’” Nicola recalled in court. Although the defence emphasized that the murder plan was devised by Pecharuk and that Nicola only “agreed at the last minute,” the prosecution alleged that the two had been plotting for months and pointed out that Nicola benefited from Hoy’s approximately $250,000 life insurance policy, questioning her motives. Nicola repeatedly denied these allegations.

According to her testimony, Hoy was initially open to her relationship with her supermarket colleague Pecharuk and even expressed interest in a threesome. However, the relationship quickly deteriorated, accompanied by arguments, resentment, and allegations of violence. Nicola described her relationship with Hoy as “abuse-like,” and Pecharuk repeatedly suggested “getting rid of him,” from poisoning to assaulting her with a baseball bat, all of which she refused, but ultimately succumbed to a mental breakdown.

On October 27, 2006, 36-year-old Hoy was struck six times in the back of the head with the blunt end of an axe and lay naked and bleeding on Nicola’s bed. Pecharuk confessed to the police, but his confession was later ruled invalid by the court, and he was ultimately acquitted (the two were tried separately). Nicola, on the other hand, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2009 and sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 25 years.

In her testimony on Thursday, Nicola provided her first detailed account of the night of the attack: she first massaged Hoy to put him to sleep, then summoned Pecharuk, telling him she was going to take a shower and instructing him to proceed as planned. During this time, she smoked in the bathroom and left the tap running to mask the noise. Only when Pecharuk said “It’s over” did she emerge from the bathroom, where she saw bloodstains and an axe on the bed, exclaiming in shock, “You used an axe?” He responded that he had only struck her with the blunt end.

Nicola then called 911, falsely claiming a home invasion. She stated that upon learning Pecharuk was ultimately acquitted while she herself had spent twenty years in prison, she was not angry: “I feel she deserved it. I know I encouraged her.”

Nicola maintained her innocence for years but now admits to playing a key role in the case. “I forced a young girl to do terrible things, and I have to bear the consequences,” she said. “She wouldn’t have done it unless I gave the go-ahead.”

Nicola, now 52, has applied to invoke the “faint hope clause” to seek a reduced sentence and enter the parole process. This clause, applicable to prisoners who have served more than 15 years, allows them to request a jury review. While the clause was repealed in 2011, Nicola was convicted in 2009, so she can still invoke it to seek a reduced sentence.

If the jury unanimously agrees, the inmate can apply to shorten the period of non-parole. Under the original sentence, Nicola cannot apply for parole for the first time until 2032.

The defence emphasized that she completed several courses, secured stable employment, improved her behaviour, and built healthier relationships while in prison. She stated that it was only after her parole application was rejected last year that she truly realized she had to take responsibility.

However, the prosecution insisted that she was the mastermind behind the murder, not only spreading false information to Pecharuk that Hoy was a “Hells Angels member,” “had killed people,” and “abused her,” but also only recently admitting that she allowed and even encouraged Pecharuk to carry out the murder.

The Nova Scotia provincial government has confirmed that the province’s minimum wage will be increased in two phases next year, officially reaching $17 per hour in October 2026. This is the latest adjustment following the continuation of the current adjustment mechanism.

The current minimum wage is $16.50, which is the level after the $1.30 increase in October of this year. According to the timetable released by the provincial government, the minimum wage will first increase by 25 cents to $16.75 on April 1, 2026, and then increase by another 25 cents on October 1 of the same year, reaching $17.

The provincial government stated that the increase was based on the unanimous recommendation of the Minimum Wage Review Board. This board, composed of representatives from both labour and management, advocated continuing to use the established formula of “inflation rate (CPI) + 1%” and implementing it in two phases to give businesses more time to cope with last year’s significant adjustments.

According to provincial government data, minimum wage workers in Nova Scotia are primarily concentrated in the retail, accommodation, and food service industries. Among them, 57% are women, 39% have a college degree or higher, and 38% are over 30 years old; 72% hold permanent positions, and 41% work full-time.

As flu cases continue to rise in Ontario and other parts of eastern Canada , medical experts warn that the flu is not just a common cold and can lead to fatal complications in severe cases. The recent deaths of three children in the Ottawa area due to flu-related complications have drawn significant public attention.

Ottawa Public Health reported Monday that three children, aged between 5 and 9, died from influenza A. These cases come as Ontario and the eastern region are facing a significantly higher number of flu cases this season than in previous years.

Montreal epidemiologist and cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos points out that influenza can lead to serious multi-system problems, including viral pneumonia complicated by bacterial infection, impaired kidney function, and even kidney failure. In older adults, influenza can also increase the risk of heart disease. He emphasizes that viewing influenza as a “trivial cold” is a dangerous misconception.

Regarding the child’s death, Toronto infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch stated that it is currently unclear whether there are other underlying factors, but influenza itself carries a high risk of death. Data shows that influenza causes approximately 400,000 to 500,000 deaths globally each year, and in Canada, approximately 2,500 to 3,500 people die annually from influenza-related illnesses. The risk of severe illness is primarily concentrated in children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Labos added that the H3N2 strain is the predominant strain circulating in Canada this year, as it is more contagious and more likely to cause severe illness. A similar trend was observed in previous Southern Hemisphere winter flu outbreaks, and it is now gradually becoming apparent in Canada.

Public health data shows that infection rates were particularly high among children aged 5 to 11 in Ontario at the beginning of this month. Experts believe that prolonged indoor gatherings and limited ventilation in schools are significant factors contributing to the spread of the virus.

Regarding prevention, experts unanimously recommend getting a flu shot as soon as possible. Although this year’s vaccine is not a perfect match for the H3N2 strain, it can still effectively reduce the risk of severe illness and complications. Doctors also urge people to stay home and rest if symptoms appear, wear masks on public transportation and in medical facilities, and maintain good hand hygiene.

The latest monitoring report shows that the positivity rate for influenza tests rose to 20.2% in the first week of December, far exceeding the level of the same period last year. Health authorities warn that influenza activity is still rising rapidly, and hospitalizations continue to increase, including at several children’s hospitals.

Amid the ongoing trade war between the US and Canada, the Canadian federal government has officially incorporated “Buy Canadian” into its procurement rules.

Starting December 16, Ottawa is seeing a substantial change in how it spends money on major infrastructure and defence projects.

The federal government stated that the new “Buy Canadian” policy has taken effect, which will prioritize Canadian businesses and Canadian-made products to ensure that more public funds remain in the country to support domestic industries and jobs.

This policy was first announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in September of this year. At its core, the federal government will prioritize businesses that invest in Canada, employ Canadian workers, and manufacture or innovate domestically when procuring goods and services for large projects. Federal Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound explained that the policy implementation is divided into different phases.

The first phase has been launched, and all federal contracts with a value of CAD 25 million or more must prioritize Canadian companies during the bidding and evaluation process. The policy also sets forth clear requirements for material usage. All federal construction and defence projects valued at CAD 25 million or more must use Canadian-made or processed steel, aluminium, and lumber, provided that basic supply conditions permit.

The government specifically emphasized that “Made in Canada” here does not simply mean sold locally. The relevant materials must be manufactured or processed within Canada, and cannot simply be resold by distributors, to ensure that the federal program truly stimulates demand in Canadian manufacturing.

According to the plan, this procurement rule will continue to expand its scope. Light bond stated that by the spring of 2026, the threshold for prioritizing the purchase of Canadian products will be lowered to federal contracts of CAD 5 million or more, further expanding its coverage.

In terms of its scope, this policy is not limited to a single department. All federal departments and agencies, Royal Incorporated, and federal government grants and subsidies will be included in the “Buy Canadian” procurement framework

.The federal government has indicated that this policy will apply to new major federal projects, housing-related agencies, defence procurement, and federally funded community infrastructure projects, meaning that a large number of public works projects will be affected in the future.

Lightbond stated that through “Buy Canadian,” the federal government is prioritizing Canadian workers and industries in its procurement decisions while ensuring supply chain stability.

The government also noted that the policy comes as the trade war led by US President Donald Trump continues, impacting Canada’s steel, aluminium, and lumber industries. The new rules are seen as a support measure for these industries.

With the policy now in effect, federal procurement rules have changed, and the criteria for who will have an advantage in future large government projects have become clearer.

British Columbia has long been considered Canada ‘s “cannabis capital,” but the latest data shows that this traditionally strong province is being overtaken in cannabis sales by an unexpected rival.

Statistics Canada’s newly updated sales data for September shows that British Columbia’s cannabis sales have lagged Alberta for the 12th consecutive month.

In September, cannabis sales in British Columbia reached $69 million CAD, while Alberta’s reached $81 million CAD, leading by more than $12 million. This result surprised many. After all, British Columbia has long been a benchmark for the Canadian cannabis industry, and the cannabis produced there is highly regarded for its exceptional quality.

In September of this year, total cannabis sales across Canada reached approximately C$474 million. Alberta led the way with C$81 million in sales, followed by British Columbia with C$69 million, and Quebec with C$66 million.

Looking back at the data from August, sales in BC had just exceeded 73 million Canadian dollars, while total national sales had surpassed 500 million Canadian dollars. That month, Alberta had already recorded sales of over $86 million, while British Columbia barely beat Quebec, whose sales that month were just under $70 million.

More notably, for the entire year from October 2024 to September 2025, British Columbia was surpassed by Alberta in every single month of cannabis sales, without exception. September’s sales figures represent a low point for British Columbia, marking the province’s lowest monthly sales since June of this year.

There may be specific reasons behind the decline in sales. This year, British Columbia experienced a strike by the BCGEU union, which has just ended. During the strike, many cannabis stores in British Columbia and the Greater Vancouver area experienced product shortages, with shelves severely depleted.

The impact of this strike on the supply chain is clearly reflected in sales figures. When consumers walk into stores only to find the products they want are out of stock, sales naturally suffer.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued a $36.9 million fine to an Ontario business owner for allegedly failing to declare more than 2,300 used vehicles exported from Canada.

In a press release issued Monday, the CBSA stated that the Ontario exporter was suspected of shipping many used vehicles from Canada to West Africa without completing the necessary export declaration procedures, a move that triggered an investigation in 2021. The CBSA Criminal Investigations Unit, based in Halifax, launched an investigation and ultimately executed two search warrants in London, Ontario in July 2023.During the search, CBSA agents seized a large number of items, including business and financial records, vehicle ownership documents, sales contracts, bankers’ boxes filled with documents, and electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, and SIM cards.

After a detailed review and analysis of more than 750,000 records related to the case, the CBSA, pursuant to Section 95 of the Customs Act, formally served the individuals involved with a Notice of Ascertained Forfeiture for failing to declare exported goods in accordance with the law.

The federal agency stated that the penalty amounted to the full value of the exported vehicles.

In a press release, Dominic Mallette, CBSA’s Regional Director for the Atlantic region, said: “The tens of millions of dollars in fines that accompany the findings of this investigation send a strong warning to all commercial exporters: any failure to comply with mandatory reporting requirements and Canadian law will be dealt with seriously.”

The Canadian federal government announced that it will provide an additional $235 million in aid to Ukraine. According to the Canadian Press, Defense Minister McGuinty stated that Canada will work with NATO allies to purchase a range of key military equipment from the United States for Ukraine, totaling approximately $500 million, of which Canada will contribute $200 million.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anand also announced at the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels that Canada will allocate $35 million to support NATO’s comprehensive relief package for Ukraine. The Department of Global Affairs stated that the funding would enable NATO to provide Ukraine with medical supplies, personal protective equipment, communication tools, training, and logistical support, as well as enhance interoperability between Ukrainian and NATO forces and rebuild key defense infrastructure.

The Department of Global Affairs also stated that since 2022, Canada has provided nearly $22 billion in funding to Ukraine, including $6.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine until 2029.

The performance of Canada ‘s housing market this year can only be described as “dismal,” and even that would be an understatement.

The Greater Vancouver area is expected to see its lowest sales volume in 25 years this year, while the situation in Toronto is even worse, with house prices falling for 10 consecutive months and plummeting 22% from their 2022 peak.

According to the latest data released by the Greater Vancouver Realtors on December 2, a total of 1,846 residential properties were sold in November, a 15.4% decrease year-over-year and 20.6% lower than the 10-year seasonal average. It is projected that by the end of 2025, only 22,263 homes will be sold in the Greater Vancouver area, breaking the record for the lowest annual sales volume this century.

The previous record low was set in 2018, with 24,619 transactions that year, but this year is clearly even worse.

Even more serious is the housing inventory in the Greater Vancouver area, which is so large that it is difficult to sell. There were 3,674 new listings in November, which is slightly less than 1.4% of last year, but still 3.1% higher than the 10-year average.

Overall inventory increased by 14.4% year-on-year, reaching 15,149 units, which is 36.3% higher than the ten-year seasonal average. Even if there are plenty of houses to choose from on the market, they still can’t be sold, and sellers face enormous pressure to lower prices.

In terms of prices, the composite benchmark price in the Greater Vancouver area in November was CAD 1,123,700, down 3.9% year-over-year and down 0.3% from October. The benchmark price for detached houses was CAD 1,900,600, down 4.3% year-over-year. The benchmark price for apartments was CAD 714,300, down 5.2% year-over-year. The benchmark price for townhouses was CAD 1,065,600, down 4.4% year-over-year.

Compared to the peak in March 2022, the decline in some areas is even more alarming. The average home price in the Fraser Valley in November was $1.45 million CAD, a full 19% decrease from the peak in 2022. The average condominium price was $507,600 CAD, also down 15% year-over-year.

The slump in the Greater Vancouver housing market is not an isolated case; the situation is even more severe in Toronto, Canada’s largest real estate market. A report released today by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board shows that home sales plummeted 15.8% year-over-year, while prices fell 6.4% to $1.03 million. This marks the 10th consecutive month of decline in Toronto area home prices, with the average price across all home types now down by 22% compared to the record high in February 2022.

The situation is even worse in Toronto’s condominium market, which has seen what some experts call a “crash,” with sales falling by 21.8% and prices dropping by 15% since their peak in February 2022.Investors are withdrawing from the condo market, and first-time homebuyers are also hesitant to buy due to units being too small. Sales are falling, prices are falling, and expectations are falling even further, making condos the weakest link in Toronto’s housing market.

Why has the Canadian housing market performed so poorly this year? The reasons are not complicated. Bryan Yu, chief economist at Central 1 Credit Union, analysed that this largely reflects the current state of housing affordability and the lack of economic certainty. While mortgage rates are slightly better than in the previous two years, they remain high.

Jason Mercer, chief information officer of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, also said that economic uncertainty continues to affect the confidence of both buyers and sellers. While Canada’s economy showed some bright spots in the third quarter, the impact of tariffs continued, and Algoma Steel recently issued a layoff notice to 1,000 employees, making the market hesitant to make any rash moves.

The Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate to 2.25% in October. Economists generally believe that interest rates are unlikely to fall further in the short term, and that a market recovery will depend on confidence, not interest rates. But right now, what the market lacks most is confidence. Potential homebuyers in Greater Vancouver and Toronto are still taking a wait-and-see approach, waiting for more positive economic news.

Buyers lack confidence in the economy and employment, and the road to recovery for the Canadian housing market seems long.