$2 a litre for gas? It's coming; How some movers could be ripping you off: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet
Consumer and health news you need from the week
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Gasoline has never been more expensive — and experts say there's little relief in sight
The price to fill up a tank has never been higher in Canada, and experts say that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a major factor.
Dan McTeague, president of Canadians For Affordable Energy, says the average price of a litre of gasoline in Canada's biggest market, the Greater Toronto Area, hit $1.67 per litre on Wednesday, the highest level it's ever been. And he expects prices to go even higher.
It's an "inevitable response," he said in an interview with CBC News, "to the threat that the global supply of oil will be further tightened by sanctions on the Putin regime."
Russia is one of the largest producers of oil and gas in the world, with Europe a major buyer of the country's oil.
But while punitive sanctions on Russia have mostly exempted energy products thus far, Vijay Muralidharan, senior consultant at energy analytics firm Kalibrate, says the market is acting out of fear that five million barrels a day may soon be unavailable.
"It freaks you out as a buyer," Muralidharan said. "Even if it doesn't happen, there's paranoia, so you bid up to make sure your supply is there." Read more
WATCH | Sky-high gas prices could keep rising, experts warn:
Some movers could be ripping you off. Here's how
If you're planning a move in the near future, you're going to want to heed the lessons learned from Marketplace's latest hidden-camera investigation.
Over the last two years, at least 24 complaints were submitted to Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services about the same connected group of moving companies. These firms conduct moves all over the country.
Customers tell Marketplace that after getting a quote based on an estimated weight of their items and putting down a non-refundable $200 deposit, they felt pressured to sign a new contract with a higher flat-rate weight on moving day.
We wanted to know if these were isolated incidents, so one of our producers went undercover.
Posing as a customer of Roadway Moving, Marketplace hired the company to transport the contents of a one-bedroom apartment from Toronto to Sudbury, Ont.
What Marketplace found out — and our producer experienced first-hand — is that this group of moving companies is offering low quotes to consumers and then increasing the total cost of moves by thousands of dollars — in some cases grossly over-estimating the weight of goods to be moved. Read more
Watch our full investigation on CBC Gem.
WATCH | Marketplace — Customer's weight estimate for her move jumps from 1,000 to 4,000 pounds:
WestJet is buying Sunwing. What will that mean for Canadian travellers?
WestJet is acquiring Sunwing, as competition in the Canadian travel market heats up.
The company released a statement on Wednesday confirming the news, saying that "the transaction will bring together two distinctly Canadian travel and tourism success stories."
Under the agreement, WestJet will create a new tour operator unit headed by Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter that includes Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations as separate brands.
One industry expert thinks the acquisition isn't going to be the last one we see.
"Consolidation is starting to happen in the industry," said John Gradek, a lecturer and co-ordinator of the aviation management program at McGill University in Montreal.
Meanwhile, the competition bureau says it will review the proposed transaction.
"Under the Competition Act, the Competition Bureau has a mandate to review mergers to determine whether they are likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition," the statement read. Read more
How a Health Canada rule change is preventing this woman with terminal cancer from accessing magic mushrooms
Janis Hughes has been given two years to live, but wants to live those years as free of pain as possible.
She's spent hours researching how to improve her quality of life and believes psilocybin, a compound found in fungi commonly known as magic mushrooms, may be the answer
There is a growing body of scientific evidence that psilocybin may help lessen existential dread, Go Public reports.
The problem is that psilocybin is illegal in Canada.
Hughes and other patients with terminal illness have requested access to it for medical purposes — something Health Canada has allowed dozens to do in the last two years through a Section 56(1) exemption.
But last month, a week before she submitted her request, the rules changed. Hughes's request was denied.
Health Canada says the rule change came because more research on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin is needed. But a chorus of voices working in the field of psychedelic therapy says the new system is creating difficult roadblocks — and causing more harm to palliative patients already struggling. Read more
WATCH | A terminal cancer patient fights for access to psilocybin, a compound found in magic mushrooms:
What else is going on?
Conversion therapy is now illegal in Canada. But some U.S. life coaches are still offering it to Canadians
Hidden-camera investigation raises questions about effectiveness of ban in age of virtual therapy.
Health Canada recalls Fitbit watch due to risk of burns
The Fitbit Ionic smartwatch has been recalled in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
UN agrees to create global plastic pollution treaty
The United Nations approved a landmark agreement to create the world's first ever global plastic pollution treaty on Wednesday.
Canadian snack maker Neal Brothers sees sales surge amid Loblaws fight with Frito-Lay
Canadian snack maker says orders have almost doubled, but costs are up, too.
Nerve damage may explain some cases of long COVID, U.S. study suggests
Sixty per cent of patients in small study had nerve damage, which may point to new treatments.
Marketplace needs your help
Do you have a story you think we should investigate? We want to hear from you. Email us at marketplace@cbc.ca. Catch up on past episodes of Marketplace on CBC Gem.
