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How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Friday, November 22Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold electionsGhana has rolled out an upgraded version of its passport which is embedded with a microprocessor chip containing the holder’s biometric data. The country’s President Nana Akufo-Addo launched the new travel document at a ceremony in Accra on December 2, to Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. He called the project one of the hallmarks of the country’s digital transformation and modernization efforts led by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, noting that the redesigned travel credential comes with enhanced features for improved security and ease of travel. The new passport project is handled by local company Biometric Travel Solutions Ltd under a Build-Operate and Transfer arrangement. This company, which is an official partner of the Foreign Ministry, will work with Hungarian security printing firm ANY Security Printing Company Plc for the next 10 years. “The e-Passport is not just a travel document; it is a symbol of our progress, resilience, and readiness to embrace the future with confidence. This achievement underscores the strategic importance of public-private partnerships in driving national development,” the outlet quotes the president as saying. Akufo-Addo added that the move is part of an ongoing process to digitize and streamline administrative process and ease access to public services. The document is also designed with elements that represent key Ghanaian values, symbols and culture. Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who also spoke during the launching ceremony, emphasized the security advantages of the new passport, saying it will curb identity theft and make tampering difficult. Beyond security, the minister said the new document has been designed in such a way as to reduce the turn-around time needed to obtain it. She said other measures are also being take to facilitate the application process for the passport. Botchwey said the transition to an upgraded passport underscores not only the government’s quest for efficiency, but also the need to align with international standards in the domain of travel documents prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). “The Government of Ghana has been working assiduously to make its digitization agenda, under the able leadership of the Vice President, a reality through various initiatives. The chip-embedded passport that we are launching today is a major milestone in this journey and boasts of several state-of-the-art features carefully designed to enhance its security and facilitate ease of travel for Ghanaian citizens,” said Botchwey as cited by . “By the introduction of the chip-embedded passport, Ghana is poised to be at the forefront of modern technology within the African sub-region, shortening the turn-around time for passport issuance, while making travel safer, and more secure for all citizens.” As part of its digital transformation drive, Ghana in October to facilitate access to digital government services. | | | | | | |
The NSE Nifty 50 consolidates between 23,500 support and 23,860 resistance. Analysts highlight that a breakout above 23,860 may target 24,000-24,100, while a drop below 23,500 could signal further downside. "Technically, Nifty managed to cross the 200-day simple moving average, or 200-DSMA, on the daily chart but failed to sustain above it, forming a doji candle. On the weekly chart, the index has formed an inside bar candlestick pattern, indicating strong demand near the 23,500-23,540 zone. The 200-DSMA is placed around 23,860, which will act as an immediate hurdle for Nifty. A sustainable move above this level could drive the index towards 24,000–24,100," according to Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP technical and derivatives research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd. "On the downside, 23,500 remains a key support. In the immediate term, Nifty is expected to consolidate between 23,500 and 23,900, with a breakout on either side defining its next move," said Yedve. "With no significant triggers in the near term, markets are likely to remain range-bound. Pre-quarterly business updates to be released in the first week of January 2025 will provide insights into the upcoming result season and would be keenly tracked by the markets," said Siddhartha Khemka, head of research, wealth management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. "After oscillating within a well-established range of 23,650-23,850, the index has formed consecutive doji candles on the daily chart, while the weekly chart shows a spinning top or inside bar candlestick pattern. A decisive move in either direction is required to establish a clear trend," according to Aditya Gaggar, Director of Progressive Shares. Bank Nifty closed marginally higher at 51,311. Yedve noted that on the daily chart, the index formed a small green candle, and on the weekly chart, it displayed an inside bar candlestick pattern. The 200-Day Simple Moving Average, or 200-DSMA, is currently placed around 50,580, which will serve as strong support, while the 100-Day Exponential Moving Average, or 100-DEMA, at 51,630 acts as resistance. "In the short term, Bank Nifty is expected to trade within the 50,550–51,650 range, with a breakout in either direction determining its future trajectory,” he said. Overseas investors stayed net sellers for the ninth consecutive session, and domestic institutional investors stayed net buyers for the eighth straight session on Friday. FPIs offloaded stocks worth Rs 1,323.29 crore, and domestic institutional investors bought stocks worth approximately Rs 2,544.64 crore, according to provisional data from the National Stock Exchange. The Nifty January futures were up by 0.34% to 24,000 at a premium of 187 points, with the open interest up by 4.77%. The open interest distribution for the Nifty 50 Jan. 2 expiry series indicated most activity at 25,000 call strikes, with the 21,600 put strikes having maximum open interest. Indian benchmark indices ended Friday's session higher as Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and ICICI Bank Ltd. share prices led. The Nifty 50 ended with gains for the second day in a row. The benchmark indices recouped weekly losses. The Nifty 50 ended 63.20 points, or 0.27%, higher at 23,813.40, and the Sensex ended 226.59 points, or 0.29%, higher at 78,699.07. A few hours into Friday's session, the Nifty 50 had risen 0.79% to the day's high of 23,801.40, and the Sensex had climbed 0.73% to the day's high of 79,043.15. JSW Energy: The company’s arm JSW Neo Energy acquired a 4,696 MW renewable energy platform from O2 Power Midco Holdings and O2 Energy SG for Rs 12,468 crore. OL Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals: The board approved the subdivision of each share into 5. Prestige Estates: The company signed a business transfer agreement to transfer the company’s hospitality undertaking to arm Prestige Hospitality Ventures for Rs 313 crore. Zydus Lifesciences: The company and Sterling Biotech have mutually agreed to extend the deadline for the purchase of the API business of Sterling Biotech from Dec. 31, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Ola Electric: Anshul Khandelwal resigned from the post of Chief Marketing Officer. Suvonil Chatterjee resigned from the post of chief technology and product officer. The Indian rupee weakened sharply on Friday, hitting a fresh record closing low of 85.54 against the US dollar. This marked its steepest single-day decline since February 2023. The domestic currency, during the trading session, had depreciated 53 paise to hit its lowest ever value of 85.81. It had opened at 85.32 per dollar and had closed at 85.26 on Thursday.
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BY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a Vermont Supreme Court ruling , claiming that it gives schools permission to vaccinate children even if their parents do not consent. The ruling addressed a lawsuit filed by Dario and Shujen Politella against Windham Southeast School District and state officials over the mistaken vaccination of their child against COVID-19 in 2021, when he was 6 years old. A lower court had dismissed the original complaint, as well as an amended version. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Nov. 19. But the ruling by Vermont’s high court is not as far-reaching as some online have claimed. In reality, it concluded that anyone protected under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, or PREP, Act is immune to state lawsuits. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that schools can vaccinate children against their parents’ wishes. THE FACTS: The claim stems from a July 26 ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court, which found that anyone protected by the PREP Act is immune to state lawsuits, including the officials named in the Politella’s suit. The ruling does not authorize schools to vaccinate children at their discretion. According to the lawsuit, the Politella’s son — referred to as L.P. — was given one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic held at Academy School in Brattleboro even though his father, Dario, told the school’s assistant principal a few days before that his son was not to receive a vaccination. In what officials described as a mistake, L.P. was removed from class and had a “handwritten label” put on his shirt with the name and date of birth of another student, L.K., who had already been vaccinated that day. L.P. was then vaccinated. Ultimately, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that officials involved in the case could not be sued. “We conclude that the PREP Act immunizes every defendant in this case and this fact alone is enough to dismiss the case,” the Vermont Supreme Court’s ruling reads. “We conclude that when the federal PREP Act immunizes a defendant, the PREP Act bars all state-law claims against that defendant as a matter of law.” The PREP Act , enacted by Congress in 2005, authorizes the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a declaration in the event of a public health emergency providing immunity from liability for activities related to medical countermeasures, such as the administration of a vaccine, except in cases of “willful misconduct” that result in “death or serious physical injury.” A declaration against COVID-19 was issued on March 17, 2020. It is set to expire on Dec. 31. Federals suits claiming willful misconduct are filed in Washington. Social media users described the Vermont Supreme Court’s ruling as having consequences beyond what it actually says. “The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that schools can force-vaccinate children for Covid against the wishes of their parents,” reads one X post that had been liked and shared approximately 16,600 times as of Tuesday. “The high court ruled on a case involving a 6-year-old boy who was forced to take a Covid mRNA injection by his school. However, his family had explicitly stated that they didn’t want their child to receive the ‘vaccines.’” Other users alleged that the ruling gives schools permission to give students any vaccine without parental consent, not just ones for COVID-19. Rod Smolla, president of the Vermont Law and Graduate School and an expert on constitutional law, told The Associated Press that the ruling “merely holds that the federal statute at issue, the PREP Act, preempts state lawsuits in cases in which officials mistakenly administer a vaccination without consent.” “Nothing in the Vermont Supreme Court opinion states that school officials can vaccinate a child against the instructions of the parent,” he wrote in an email. Asked whether the claims spreading online have any merit, Ronald Ferrara, an attorney representing the Politellas, told the AP that although the ruling doesn’t say schools can vaccinate students regardless of parental consent, officials could interpret it to mean that they could get away with doing so under the PREP Act, at least when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. He explained that the U.S. Supreme Court appeal seeks to clarify whether the Vermont Supreme Court interpreted the PREP Act beyond what Congress intended. “The Politella’s fundamental liberty interest to decide whether their son should receive elective medical treatment was denied by agents of the State and School,” he wrote in an email to the AP. “The Vermont Court misconstrues the scope of PREP Act immunity (which is conditioned upon informed consent for medical treatments unapproved by FDA), to cover this denial of rights and its underlying battery.” Ferrara added that he was not aware of the claims spreading online, but that he “can understand how lay people may conflate the court’s mistaken grant of immunity for misconduct as tantamount to blessing such misconduct.”
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Gordon doppelclangers! Meet chef's doubles... who look nothing like himLambton County is on a list of future sites for power plants in Ontario, including the possibility of a large nuclear facility. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce announced today that three sites – already owned by Ontario Power Generation – are under consideration. The plan includes the site of the former Lambton Generating Station. It was decommissioned and then torn down in 2019. The province said the site, along with the others in Haldimand County and the Port Hope area, is being eyed to meet an anticipated 75 per cent increase in demand for power by 2050. Leece said the first step in the process will be consultations with municipalities and First Nations. St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar calls it welcome news. His municipality lost over $2 million of its tax base when the coal-fired Lambton Generation Station closed. “That’s hard to recover, really hard,” he told CTV News London. St. Clair Township suffered a further setback recently when an announced $245 million whiskey distillery plant went on hold. “Obviously the Diageo Corp. plant we've been talking about is in a pause right now. So something like this would bring on more, more jobs, more work construction, the trade unions,” said Agar. “And, it's kind of quiet now, so it'd be nice to jump start again.” Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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After NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party was only ready to help pass the GST/HST holiday portion of the affordability announcement, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled legislation Wednesday that only seeks to enact that measure. Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive. 'They alone are responsible': No deal yet in Canada Post strike The Canada Post strike is expected to continue as parties remain 'too far apart on critical issues' to reach a deal, according to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Montreal's Mirabel airport after landing gear malfunction No injuries were reported after a Boeing 737 was forced to divert to Mirabel airport after the aircraft experienced a technical issue with the landing gear. Two Canadians arrested for failed murder plot in California Two men who travelled from Canada to Monterey County have been arrested and accused of attempted murder after a triple-stabbing Sunday. Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items Ontario says it will match the federal government’s two-month GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates. Montreal billionaire Robert Miller could have as many as 100 victims, lawyer says A Quebec judge is hearing arguments this week in a class-action lawsuit application against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller over allegations he paid minors for sex. Hyundai recalling hundreds of thousands of cars and SUVs in Canada, U.S. Hyundai is recalling hundreds of thousands of SUVs and small cars in the U.S. and Canada because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens. 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Try hundreds': Parks Canada draws attention to helium balloon litter concerns In posts on social media, Parks Canada is calling on people to "balloon responsibly" while revealing staff at Point Pelee National Park find hundreds of helium balloons along the Lake Erie shoreline each year. LaSalle Fire Service brings Sparky’s Toy Drive to town The LaSalle Fire Service is busy with a Sparky's Toy Drive, serving the town of Lasalle directly. Northern Ontario Suspect ignited propane cannister explosion at ex-partner's residence in Kapuskasing, Ont. A 30-year-old who was on probation has been charged with arson and causing an explosion in a case of intimate partner violence in Kapuskasing on Tuesday. 'They alone are responsible': No deal yet in Canada Post strike The Canada Post strike is expected to continue as parties remain 'too far apart on critical issues' to reach a deal, according to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. Magic mushroom store in Sudbury, Ont., closes after visit by police A store at the corner of Elm and Durham streets in Sudbury called Shroomyz that sold magic mushrooms has closed. Sault Ste. Marie Bad weather closes Hwy. 17 west of the Sault Highway 17 from Batchawana Bay to Wawa is closed Wednesday due to poor weather conditions Financial woes have Sault museum struggling to survive Budget talk in Sault Ste. Marie has included the worsening financial state of the local museum, with board officials saying they could only have a few years remaining. Police seize $1M in drugs in northwestern Ont. bust Suspects from Alberta and B.C. are in custody after Ontario Provincial Police made a massive drug bust at a rental unit near Kenora, Ont. Ottawa Ottawa man charged with attempted murder, assaulting police in Orleans attack The Ottawa Police Service has laid charges against a 33-year-old man involved in allegedly assaulting five people before being shot by police in a parking lot near Place D'Orleans Shopping Mall earlier this month. OCDSB trustees vote to sanction fellow trustee after antisemitism complaint Trustees at Ottawa's largest school board have voted to censure a fellow trustee for antisemitic comments made during the debate over attending the Capital Pride Parade. Kingston substitute teacher charged for allegedly assaulting students in classroom A Kingston, Ont. teacher is facing charges after allegedly assaulting two students in a classroom setting earlier this month. Toronto Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items Ontario says it will match the federal government’s two-month GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates. Police identify suspect who allegedly shot at vehicles on Highway 401 in Mississauga Ontario Provincial Police have identified the man who remains wanted for allegedly shooting at passing vehicles on Highway 401 in Mississauga on Tuesday morning. ‘A troubling issue of recidivism’: Durham police say auto thefts are down, but high rates of offenders on probation, bail Montreal Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Montreal's Mirabel airport after landing gear malfunction No injuries were reported after a Boeing 737 was forced to divert to Mirabel airport after the aircraft experienced a technical issue with the landing gear. Quebec Liberals want to ban supervised injection sites near schools, daycare centres The Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) wants to ban supervised drug consumption sites within 150 metres of schools and daycare centres in Montreal, and within 250 metres elsewhere in Quebec. Montreal billionaire Robert Miller could have as many as 100 victims, lawyer says A Quebec judge is hearing arguments this week in a class-action lawsuit application against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller over allegations he paid minors for sex. Atlantic First significant snow of the season for parts of the Maritimes Thursday, Friday A low-pressure system moving up the eastern seaboard of the United States is forecasted to bring a mixture of snow and rain into the Maritimes Thursday night into Friday. Tariff concerns loom large ahead of meeting between premiers and Prime Minister Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet virtually with the nation’s premiers Wednesday night to discuss President-Elect Donald Trump’s intent to implement a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Canada when he takes office if border issues are not addressed. N.S. Liberal Leader loses seat to PC candidate, trails just 14 votes It appears Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill has lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate Nick Hilton – by just 14 votes. Winnipeg Two men randomly stabbed at Polo Park, one person arrested Two men were randomly stabbed at CF Polo Park Mall Tuesday and police have one person in custody. More charges laid against pair involved in animal cruelty investigation: Winnipeg police Warning: This story contains disturbing details. Discretion is advised. Winnipeg police have laid additional charges against two Winnipeggers charged with animal cruelty after videos of animals being tortured and killed were uploaded to the dark web. Winnipeg woman dies following head-on crash: Manitoba RCMP A Winnipeg woman has died following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 16 on Monday. Calgary Woman sexually assaulted in downtown Calgary, warrants issued for man accused Calgary police are searching for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman downtown earlier this month. Concerns raised over continual changes to Alberta's trapping and hunting rules Wildlife conservation groups are raising the alarm over the Alberta government's decision to lift trapping and harvesting limits on wolverines. $1M Lotto Max winning ticket purchased in Alberta A pair of Albertans won big in Tuesday night’s Lotto Max draw. According to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, a $1 million winning ticket was purchased somewhere in the province outside of Calgary and Edmonton. Edmonton Woman accused in drowning of girl on Alberta lake denied bail The woman accused in the drowning death of a five-year-old girl in an Alberta lake has been denied bail. Industry not consulted on Alberta's plan to challenge federal emissions cap The Alberta government did not consult with the oil and gas sector before announcing a sweeping set of plans it says it could use to challenge the proposed federal greenhouse gas emissions cap, industry sources say. Worker killed in incident at Edmonton site: government A worker died at an industrial construction site in Edmonton on Monday, the Government of Alberta says. Regina 'The premier owes my children an apology': MLA Jared Clarke criticizes Sask. Party's stance on transgender youth NDP MLA Jared Clarke took his opportunity to put Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party on blast Tuesday – criticizing the party's campaign promise of a change room policy while explaining the effect it had on his own children. Sask. developing program it says will give better understanding of student performance in 'core subject areas' The province says work is underway to develop a program that will help better understand Saskatchewan student performance in 'core subject areas' at school. Pats trade 2022 5th overall pick Cole Temple to Everett An active season trade wise continued for the Regina Pats Wednesday as the team sent their 2022 fifth overall pick Cole Temple to the Everett Silvertips. Saskatoon Saskatoon city council approves $1.2M winter warming centre plan Saskatoon’s new city council has approved the latest cold weather strategy, a $1.2 million plan to operate winter warming centres for those in need. Sask. woman charged with manslaughter after fatal assault on Pelican Lake First Nation A 20-year-old woman has been charged with manslaughter following a fatal assault on Pelican Lake First Nation. 'The roads are a mess': Saskatoon residents voice concerns over city road clearing As crews make their way through city streets in the aftermath of last weekend’s storm, some Saskatoon residents say their efforts aren’t enough. Vancouver Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive. Liberal candidate in B.C. byelection seeks Métis membership after identity questioned The Liberal candidate in a federal byelection in British Columbia says she is applying for Métis membership after a local group questioned her claims of Indigenous identity. B.C. premier says U.S. tariffs would be 'devastating' for forest industry A 25-per-cent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for the province's lumber and forestry industries, British Columbia Premier David Eby said Wednesday ahead of a meeting with fellow premiers and the prime minister. Vancouver Island Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive. B.C. premier says U.S. tariffs would be 'devastating' for forest industry A 25-per-cent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for the province's lumber and forestry industries, British Columbia Premier David Eby said Wednesday ahead of a meeting with fellow premiers and the prime minister. Ongoing vandalism to Vancouver Island Red Dress project A Red Dress memorial project, raising awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit individuals, has been the target of ongoing vandalism in Campbell River, B.C. Stay Connected
Asit Patel’s move from Winnipeg to Calgary in a few weeks will be a little more expensive than he’d hoped. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Asit Patel’s move from Winnipeg to Calgary in a few weeks will be a little more expensive than he’d hoped. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Asit Patel’s move from Winnipeg to Calgary in a few weeks will be a little more expensive than he’d hoped. That’s because the provincial gas tax is being reinstated next Wednesday, and the 12.5-cents added to every litre pumped is going to be an unwelcome goodbye hug when he and his family bid farewell to Manitoba. Premier Wab Kinew announced Monday that the tax, which was 14 cents per litre before the government temporarily suspended it a year ago as an “affordability measure” to help Manitobans navigating inflationary prices on almost everything, was going back into effect Jan. 1. Premier Wab Kinew announced the government will cut the provincial fuel tax by 10 percent on Jan. 1, 2025. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files) Patel, his two parents, brother and sister-in-law are hoping to find more opportunities and a better way of life in Alberta. “I’m expecting around $600-$700 (for fuel),” Patel said Tuesday while waiting at 204 Fuels on Waverley Street, noting he’s renting a U-Haul truck to get the family’s bare necessities to their new home. “We’re basically going to Calgary with three beds and a couple of boxes. We’re starting fresh.” Patel said his family can’t afford to take any more than what would fit in the back of the rental truck, meaning some of their belongings will be left behind. Moving companies are out of the question. It’s too expensive, he said, partly because of high fuel prices across the Prairies. “We know we have to pay the (fuel) taxes, but it needs to be reasonable,” said Patel’s father Umesh. “Every common person will be affected by this.” The province said the 1.5-cent-per-litre cut from the previous levy will be permanent. “Our government keeps our word,” Kinew said in a news release Monday. “We said we’d cut the fuel tax and we did. We said it would last 12 months and it did. Now we’re going further by bringing in a permanent cut to the fuel tax to make it one of the lowest in Canada.” Kinew’s government revealed last week that its projected 2024-2025 deficit has soared by $513 million, to $1.3 billion. The result of the yearlong gas tax holiday cost the province an estimated $340 million in lost revenue in 2024. The province expects to collect $78 million per quarter from the reinstated 12.5-cent fuel tax, which will be a revenue loss of $28 million over the fiscal year compared to the estimated $340 million that would have been collected at 14 cents per litre. Finance Minister Adrien Sala wouldn’t say why government decided to cut the tax by 10 per cent or how it arrived at that figure. “We knew that the gas tax holiday had an enormous impact for Manitobans in saving them money,” Sala told the Monday. “Manitobans continue to face affordability challenges and we wanted to make sure we continue to provide them the help that they need.” The 204 Fuels gas bars have some of the lowest prices in the city — charging 111.9 cents per litre of regular gas when he was filling up, a cent cheaper than Costco on McGillivray Boulevard, which requires a membership to get the discounted price. A Shell gas bar on south Pembina Highway near the Perimeter posted the regular fuel price at $129.9 per litre Tuesday. Sandeep Hangra said she’s disappointed that the gas tax is coming back. Her husband recently lost his job as a long-haul truck driver and is now working as a driver with a ride-hailing company to try to make ends meet. They’re thinking about moving back to India because life has become too expensive here, she said. When they arrived in Canada in 2017, the monthly rent for their apartment was just under $1,000. It has since doubled. “There’s too much inflation and no jobs,” she said. Meanwhile, Christina Harris said the gas tax is returning at a bad time. “Especially with the cost of things going up, it’s just that much more on top of everything else,” she said. Harris said she expects to wait in gas bar lines over the next few days in order to fill up at the best price before the tax kicks in again. “It makes a difference when you commute back and forth to work, having to get gas two or three times per week,” she said. “It adds up.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Harris is expecting to feel the impact of rising fuel prices, but as a motorist, she knows there aren’t many alternatives. “We don’t have a choice,” she said. Gas tax holiday critics, however, support its return. Molly McCracken, Manitoba director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, guessed that one in five residents of the province didn’t benefit from the yearlong “affordability measure,” presumably because they neither own nor have access to a vehicle. scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the . A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. . Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the . A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. . Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementOrlando City 1, Atlanta 0( ) recently gave back some of its 2024 gains. Investors who missed the rally this year are wondering if Fortis stock is now again and good to buy for a self-directed Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) focused on and total returns. Fortis stock price Fortis trades near $60 per share at the time of writing. The stock was as low as $51 in April this year and recently ran as high as $63.75, nearly recovering the drop from the $65 it reached in 2022 before interest rate hikes in Canada and the United States put pressure on utility stocks. Fortis operates utility businesses in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. These include power-generation facilities, electricity transmission networks, and natural gas distribution utilities. Investors like these rate-regulated assets for their reliable and predictable cash flow to cover dividend payments and provide funding for capital projects. Growth Fortis grows through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic developments. The company hasn’t made a large purchase for several years but is working on a $26 billion capital program that is expected to raise the rate base from $38.8 billion in 2024 to $53 billion in 2029. Fortis has other projects under consideration that could be added to the development plan. In addition, a decline in interest rates could spark a new wave of consolidation in the utility sector. Dividends As new assets are completed and go into service, the rise in revenue and cash flow should support steady dividend growth over the next five years. Fortis intends to boost the distribution by 4-6% through 2029. Investors should feel comfortable with the guidance. Fortis increased the dividend in each of the past 51 years. At the time of writing, Fortis provides a dividend yield of 4.1%. Risks The slide in the share price in 2022 and 2023 occurred in step with rising interest rates in Canada and the United States. Fortis uses debt to fund part of its growth program. A jump in borrowing costs puts pressure on profits and cuts into cash that can be used for dividends or debt reduction. The central banks stopped raising interest rates late last year and began to cut rates in the second half of 2024. This is why Fortis investors saw the share price rebound in recent months. Looking ahead, the outlook for interest rates is different in Canada and the United States. The Bank of Canada will likely continue cutting interest rates to support the economy. Unemployment is creeping up, and inflation remains near the central bank’s 2% target. In the United States, however, the story is more complicated. The American economy remains in good shape, and unemployment is very low. At the same time, inflation has increased in the past two months. The Federal Reserve just cut interest rates by another 0.25%, but additional cuts in 2024 might not occur if inflation continues to rise. Donald Trump’s plan to implement new tariffs on all goods entering the United States could create a surge in prices. In the event that the Federal Reserve puts rate cuts on hold or is forced to raise rates again, utility stocks could come under new pressure. Is Fortis a buy now? Income investors should be comfortable owning Fortis at this level. That being said, there could be a better entry point in the coming months, so it might make sense to take a half position and look to add on any additional weakness.