Finance

Caring for someone with a disability, medical condition, or frail age can be a full-time commitment, and financial support is available for those who dedicate their lives to providing this crucial care. Here’s an in-depth guide to the financial assistance available for carers in Australia, including Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, and additional one-off payments. Carer Continue reading

Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC) recently released its mid-year update of the Semi-Annual State of the Housing Market Report, highlighting trends and challenges faced by Canadian homeowners and potential buyers. This year’s findings reveal both ongoing financial anxieties and improving consumer sentiment about homeownership. Anxiety Surrounding Mortgage Renewals Among mortgage holders facing renewal within the next Continue reading

As the holiday season approaches, many Australians relying on Centrelink payments are curious about how Christmas and New Year shutdowns will affect their payment schedules. Here’s a comprehensive guide to navigating the changes in reporting and payment dates during the festive period. Centrelink Holiday Shutdown Period Centrelink offices will be closed on the following dates: Continue reading

The Waterloo Region Council has been locked in intense discussions regarding the 2025 budget, with property tax hikes and service cuts at the center of the debate. After a marathon meeting earlier this month failed to set the budget, councillors reconvened Thursday and Friday to make critical decisions. A Closer Look at the Tax Increase Continue reading

Australian power giant AGL has been hit with a record $25 million fine for overcharging welfare recipients through the Centrepay payment system. The Federal Court ruling, announced Thursday, highlights serious breaches of trust involving some of Australia’s most vulnerable citizens. Overcharging Scandal: What Happened? The court found AGL and its subsidiaries—including AGL Retail, Sales South Continue reading

Australians are waking up to an unexpected Christmas gift in their bank accounts, thanks to a Federal Government initiative to issue refunds following significant changes to the HECS-HELP student loan system. This policy shift, aimed at reducing financial strain on borrowers, is already making an impact. What’s Behind the Refunds? In a move that has Continue reading

The Mega Millions jackpot has soared to a staggering $825 million, just in time to add extra sparkle to the holiday season. With the next drawing set for Friday, one lucky player might step into Christmas as one of the wealthiest lottery winners in history. Tuesday’s Drawing Comes Up Empty The $740 million jackpot from Continue reading

The USD/CAD currency pair is trading at pandemic-era highs as Canada’s loonie grapples with a loss of its safer commodity currency status. Donald Trump’s threat of imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian goods has added a layer of volatility, threatening a full-scale North American trade war that could push USD/CAD to the 1.50 mark. Meanwhile, the Continue reading

In an effort to support struggling households amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, Social Welfare Minister Michael Falzon announced that nearly 97,000 low-income families will receive the first of two additional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) payments this weekend. This initiative, initially introduced in 2022, has since been expanded to encompass medium-income families whose earnings fall Continue reading

The provincial government has committed over $18 million to enhance staffing and operations at local healthcare organizations across Northwestern Ontario. This funding is a significant step toward addressing the challenges faced by rural communities and supporting diverse populations in the region. Improving Healthcare Access and Supporting Workers This investment aims to: Thunder Bay Regional Health Continue reading