3 Whitehorse breweries to attend Haines Beer Festival, apprehensively
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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
N.L. cabinet quietly approved new cash benefit for departing ministers
Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet ministers are now eligible for extra money on their way out the door, CBC News has learned. The provincial cabinet has approved a new transitional allowance policy for ministers, which came into effect April 1 — just months before a scheduled provincial election. There has been no public disclosure of the decision before now. Executive Council — which is responsible for the overall operations of the provincial government — confirmed the existence of the new policy in response to inquiries from CBC News. The decision could put tens of thousands of dollars in the pockets of some departing ministers. Since the beginning of April, eight cabinet ministers have either already left or signalled their intentions to not run again when voters go to the polls this fall. According to Executive Council, the transitional allowance policy is designed to provide financial support when a minister leaves office due to resignation, retirement, death or losing an election. It applies only to the ministerial portion of their salary. That's currently $48,664 per year. The premier is paid more: $65,168. WATCH | N.L. cabinet approves new benefit for outgoing ministers: The new policy provides one month's salary for each year of service in cabinet, on a prorated basis, for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months. For ministers, that's a minimum payout of around $12,000, up to the full annual salary of $48,664. Ministers eligible for allowance and severance pay Executive Council won't say when the decision was made, noting that it was a decision of cabinet and those deliberations are protected. Officials indicated it aligns with the new MHA transitional allowance, which has similar terms and applies to the $95,357-a-year salary for members of the House of Assembly. All current cabinet ministers are also MHAs. But there are key differences between the two policies. The new MHA transitional allowance policy for departing members replaces the previous severance allowance. However, the new ministerial policy is an additional benefit stacked on top of the existing severance policy for ministers. The existing severance policy sees them continue receiving their salary up to the end of the month in which they depart, plus one additional month's pay. Premier's office says Hogan wasn't involved in decision Premier John Hogan was not made available for an interview this week. Spokesperson Ben Murphy sent an emailed statement Thursday evening. "Premier Hogan was not in cabinet when the decision was made, and he was not involved in the decision," the statement said. Hogan stepped aside from his cabinet portfolio after announcing his ultimately-successful run for the Liberal leadership in March. He was sworn in as premier in May. Meanwhile, there were no replies to a CBC News message sent to the legislative email addresses of every current cabinet minister. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Complaints pile up against only agency providing Indian consular services in Canada
Every time Prashant Vashista thinks of BLS International — the sole company sanctioned by the Indian consulate to handle services like visas and passport renewals in Canada — his mind goes back two years to his mother's death. Grief-stricken, he drove an hour to BLS's Brampton location to arrange for emergency visas so he could see his family in India. Even though he picked up the visas himself, Vashista said employees demanded he pay a $45 courier fee for himself, his daughter and his wife, totalling $135. "I was in dire need. So I had to pay," he told CBC Toronto. It wasn't the first or last time BLS allegedly pushed him to pay for services he didn't need — and his experience isn't unique. CBC spoke with numerous people who described being pressured to pay extra charges at BLS, many of whom felt their ability to visit India or legally stay in Canada depended on it. Former employees at one BLS branch say they're not surprised, saying staff were encouraged to charge clients as much as possible and find minor errors in their forms or photos to sell services or reduce the backlog of applications. "I knew 100 per cent that we are wrong… and we are [over]charging the clients," said one former supervisor. BLS says it has reputation for 'service excellence' BLS has locations across the country that provide services like passport renewal, police criminal record checks, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards, which function as lifelong visas. A quick web search reveals a trove of public Facebook posts, Reddit threads and online petitions — one of which has more than 7,000 signatures — created by frustrated BLS clients. The company has also been awarded an "F" rating by the Better Business Bureau. In response to CBC Toronto's questions about the complaints, BLS said the company has a "longstanding reputation for transparency, compliance, and service excellence." "We remain fully aligned with the standards and expectations of the governments and authorities we work alongside," BLS communications manager Pooja Arora wrote. "Where concerns are raised, we will always investigate them thoroughly and take appropriate steps to improve." For its part, the Consulate General of India in Toronto says it is committed to "prompt, efficient" service, adding that BLS International was selected "through a competitive bidding process." Client describes 'legalized plunder' During a visit to the Mississauga location in April, one client says his OCI application ran aground when staff pressed him for extra documents not mentioned on the BLS website and found minor issues with his photos and application forms. CBC Toronto has agreed to protect his identity because he fears repercussions from BLS during future visits. In a complaint he later sent to the company, he says staff used "scare tactics" to push him to pay for extra fees, called his wife "dumb" and threatened to blacklist him when he asked to see an itemized receipt before paying. Harpreet Hora, a lawyer based in Kenora, Ont., says he had similar experiences during two separate visits to Toronto BLS locations. "They forced me to take a courier service… which I had never asked for," he said. Though he later received refunds after complaining to both the company and the consulate, he described the ordeals as "obviously stressful" and "a sort of harassment." "You see that this is legalized plunder from people," Hora said, pointing out that few people have the time or patience to pursue refunds. Another client, Shivam Nehra of Oakville, says he was pressured to pay $100 for a "premium lounge service" to bypass the long lineups outside while he faced down a looming permanent residency application deadline. "I went there three to four times to get my documents corrected and every time, these guys will point out any different mistake," he said. The story on the inside It appears the situation wasn't better on the other side of the counter. Three former employees, all of whom worked in the Brampton location within the last five years, say they were kept on short-term contracts and felt pressured to find issues with applications or add extra charges. CBC Toronto has agreed to protect their identities over concerns about impacts to their careers. "You need to find a reason where you can take out money from a client," one said. "If you're not selling, you will be kicked off," they continued, describing internal staff competitions over who could sell the most services, with gift baskets going to the winners. With little guidance on official standards, reasons to reject applications could be as minor as a missing comma or writing "ave." instead of "avenue" on a form. They also said some mistakes were unavoidable because of how the company's own online application forms were formatted. Two employees also said they would push unwilling clients to use their courier service and charge families multiple times, despite deliveries going to the same address. 'I know what you're doing' The same employee who described looking for misplaced commas said they ultimately left the company because they were disturbed by having to lie to clients they often sympathized with. "There are students who are doing their applications for their permanent residency, not having jobs… or getting minimum wage, but still BLS is charging them like two or three hundred dollars [for] a thing which could be done [for] $40." All three also say they eventually found themselves returning to BLS for services, where they or their families were charged for add-ons they didn't want. "I was like, 'Man, I have worked at this location and I know what you're doing,'" the same employee recalled telling a Brampton staff member, who charged them an unnecessary courier fee, which they say they had "no choice" but to pay. The search for accountability As a private company contracted by a non-Canadian consulate in Canada, BLS operates outside of the purview of any federal or provincial immigration ministry. Global Affairs Canada says that while it authorizes "the establishment of consular posts," it has no authority over a company contracted by a foreign state, recommending instead that people with issues reach out to their local consumer protection office, or, in the event of a criminal complaint, the police. Consumer Protection Ontario, meanwhile, says it has received just one complaint related to BLS International in the last three years, but declined to comment on the outcome. The only body with authority to fire or discipline BLS is the Consulate General of India, who said in a statement to CBC Toronto that "every effort is being made — including through internal reviews, coordination with BLS, and process improvements — to ensure that service standards continuously improve." Former client Harpreet Hora isn't so sure. For the last three years, he's found himself researching BLS, including several right-to-information requests with the Indian government over how many complaints they've received about the company. "Much to my surprise, the Indian consulate says they do not have data of this," he said. The consulate did not comment on Hora's claim that it had no data on complaints, when asked by CBC Toronto. "I feel cheated by the Indian consulate," said Hora. "Reason being… I'm making complaints to you, and you're not taking action."
New York Post
17 hours ago
- New York Post
Massive city, state budgets grossly overspend and put NYC at risk, fiscal watchdog finds: ‘unaffordable and unprepared'
Both the city and state's gargantuan budgets are 'unaffordable and unprepared' in the wake of a potential recession and impending cuts from the feds, a fiscal watchdog group said Thursday — sounding the alarm on massive overspending. The Citizen Budget Commission recommended nixing Gov. Kathy Hochul's pet project, the $2 billion dollar 'inflation reduction checks' approved as part of the state's record-high $254 billion budget for next year. The nonpartisan group also ripped mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani's signature plan to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and businesses — an essential policy to pay for the socialist's pie-in-the-sky platform of $10 billion in new spending. 4 The Citizen Budget Commission said that the state should get rid of the $2 billion dollar 'inflation reduction checks.' James Messerschmidt 'We should not raid rainy day funds and we should hold the line on taxes,' said Ana Champeny, vice president for research at the CBC. Neither the state's whopping spending plan nor the city's giant, near $116 billion budget is putting away enough in reserves and are still short to cover their freebie-filled budgets, according to the CBC's briefing. The watchdog group warned that the mayor elected in November will have to close a $6 to $8 billion budget gap just 16 days into their term due to underbudgeting, overspending — and impending costs from the state's class size law mandate. Similarly, it said the state still has a structural budget gap of nearly $22 billion dollars, which could increase due to federal cuts. 4 New York Post cover for Wednesday, July 16, 2025. rfaraino 'The real finding with this budget, at the state level is that it spends too much and prepares too little for the future,' said Patrick Oreki, the CBC's state policy director. Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting in Albany on Thursday, Hochul claimed she was already being fiscally prudent by reducing her free check handouts from $3 billion to $2 billion. 'I know we had some instinct that this would happen, something would happen,' Hochul said regarding the impact of the recently-passed federal 'Big Beautiful Bill,' which will slash federal funds to states including New York. 4 NY State Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos visit Walton High School in the Bronx, NY on July 16, 2025. James Messerschmidt 'That's why our one time $3 billion inflation rebate is now a $2 billion inflation rebate, cutting a program that I believe in, but also trying to be cognizant of the fact that we may need that money for future challenges,' she said. Hochul, who is facing re-election next year, has publicly drawn a line in the sand when it comes to raising taxes — insisting that she won't approve hikes when recently repeatedly questioned about Mamdani's proposal. But the governor's budget director Blake Washington, during a press gaggle last week, didn't rule out raising taxes to pad the spending plan. 4 New York State Assemblymember and New York City Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference announcing District Council 37's endorsement of Mamdani for mayor at DC 37 headquarters on July 15, 2025 in New York City. Andrew Schwartz / 'You know, you really just get down to the fundamental – do you want to raise taxes to build or just to cover up for the mistakes of others,' Washington said, referencing potential dwindling federal funds. 'Once we get more and more information under our belt, then we'll have a better sense of what the best approach is,' he said. Mamdani's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
