5 Benefits on How to Protect Your Mortgage With Life Insurance

For potential homebuyers and current homeowners, a home is a costly investment with a long-term commitment. That's why every homeowner carrying a mortgage needs to get life insurance. Life insurance that covers a mortgage is called mortgage life insurance or mortgage protection insurance. This kind of insurance is designed to protect the lender, just in case they are unable to pay for their monthly mortgage fees. In this article, let's highlight five benefits on how to protect your mortgage with life insurance.

1. May protect homeowners due to sudden unemployment

With Canada's unemployment rate fluctuating every year, sometimes homeowners might face unexpected job loss due to termination or disability. The benefit of having mortgage life insurance alleviates the stress and financial burden related to unemployment by covering the period when the homeowner is out of work. At Northwood Mortgage, we offer a series of mortgage life insurance options that target the specific time frame if a homeowner loses their job, falls ill, or becomes physically disabled, causing unemployment.

2. May protect homeowners due to unexpected death

If the homeowner dies, the mortgage life insurance will cover the remaining amount left on the mortgage. Along with unemployment, death in the family can cause financial strain, especially when the homeowner passes away. Mortgage life insurance is a great benefit because homeowners are assured that after death, the mortgage will not become their family's responsibility.

3. Mortgage life insurance frees up your budget

When it comes to having mortgage life insurance, homeowners can free up their budget by the funds they get from other insurance policies. For example, the funds received from a personal life insurance or employer benefits could be used for payments on other financial obligations such as car payments, other bills, and university tuition. What would usually go towards the mortgage can be spent wisely on other expenses because the homeowner has mortgage life insurance.

4. Mortgage life insurance is convenient

Another benefit that mortgage life insurance offers is convenience. By covering unemployment, death, and other bills, it is an added layer of security in case unexpected circumstances should occur. With all its benefits, it is also easy to qualify. To purchase a mortgage life insurance policy, homeowners do not require to submit to a life insurance medical exam. This is a very convenient benefit to have for sickly individuals. In case the homeowner is denied life insurance due to medical illness, the homeowner with mortgage life insurance is financially protected.

5.Mortgage life insurance accommodates new homebuyers

For potential first-time homebuyers who can only afford a small down payment, getting mortgage life insurance can secure the home of their dreams. They can use mortgage life insurance through the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation, which requires a 5% downpayment.

Northwood Mortgage
As you can see, choosing a mortgage insurance policy should be decided carefully. However, investing in mortgage insurance can safeguard you and your family's future in the long run.

At Northwood Mortgage, we have an expert staff of mortgage agents specializing in life insurance and mortgages in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, and the GTA. We take the time to listen to your needs, and we cater our services to each client.

If you would like more information on mortgage insurance coverage and protection in Toronto and the GTA, we invite you to book a FREE consultation with one of our Northwood Mortgage agents by calling 416-969-8130 ext. 111, toll-free at 888-492-3690, or contact us here. Once we receive your request, one of our mortgage agents will contact you within 24-48 hours to arrange an appointment.

northwoodmortgage.com

Speaking four or more languages could lower risk of dementia — study

New research has found that having a strong ability for learning languages may help to reduce an individual’s risk of developing dementia.

Carried out by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada, the study looked at 325 Roman Catholic nuns in the United States who were taking part in the larger, internationally recognized Nun Study, which is a longitudinal study of religious sisters aged 75 and over.

The nuns were asked to report on how many languages they spoke, and 106 samples of the nuns’ written work were also provided for analysis.

The findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, showed that just 6% of the nuns who spoke four or more languages developed dementia, compared to 31% of those who only spoke one language.

However, speaking two or three languages did not appear to have a significant effect on reducing dementia risk in this study, a finding which goes against those found in some previous studies.

When the researchers analyzed the nuns’ written work, they found that written linguistic ability appeared to have an even greater effect on reducing dementia risk than the ability to speak different languages.

“The Nun Study is unique. It is a natural experiment, with very different lives in childhood and adolescence before entering the convent, contrasted with very similar adult lives in the convent,” explained lead author Suzanne Tyas. “This gives us the ability to look at early-life factors on health later in life without worrying about all the other factors, such as socioeconomic status and genetics, which usually vary from person to person during adulthood and can weaken other studies.”


“Language is a complex ability of the human brain, and switching between different languages takes cognitive flexibility,” said Tyas. “So it makes sense that the extra mental exercise multilinguals would get from speaking four or more languages might help their brains be in better shape than monolinguals.”

“This study shows that while multilingualism may be important, we should also be looking further into other examples of linguistic ability,” Tyas stated.

“In addition, we need to know more about multilingualism and what aspects are important — such as the age when a language is first learned, how often each language is spoken and how similar or different these languages are,” she added. “This knowledge can guide strategies to promote multilingualism and other linguistic training to reduce the risk of developing dementia.” RGA/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

How Monthly Payments Work for a 30-year Fixed-rate Mortgage

When looking for mortgage solutions, the number of options at your disposal can be daunting. For instance, some people may opt for a second mortgage, while others may opt for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage instead. In Canada, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is more popular than the second mortgage option, and accounts for roughly 80% of all home purchases; its popularity has not waned since its inception. Here, we will focus on how monthly payments work for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

What is a fixed-rate mortgage?

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a loan issued by a financial institution that has an interest rate that is fixed for the duration of the loan. It usually has a repayment term of three decades, although the homeowner can refinance or sell their home before the 30-year term ends if they wish. The interest rate is determined when the loan is first issued to the homebuyer.

How Principal and Interest Payments Work

When you make your monthly mortgage payments, a part of the amount will be put towards the interest on the loan, while a portion will be invested towards the principal amount. During a conventional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you would be paying mostly interest payments during the first few formative years of your mortgage. As such, you are likely to struggle to reduce the principal by any significant amount during the first few years of the mortgage.

However, as time persists the financial tables turn, and the composition of your monthly payments will flip, as less money will go towards the interest and more is applied towards reducing the principal amount that you borrowed. As you enter the later years of your 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, more of your monthly payment will be put towards paying back the principal, which will allow you to build equity at an accelerated pace.

Your Monthly Payment Remains Constant

While the composition will change over the lifespan of your mortgage, in terms of the payment charges, the actual total amount that you will be expected to pay will not change whatsoever. Moreover, the interest rate that you are expected to pay will also not change. It is for this reason that this mortgage solution is referred to as a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, as the rate amount remains constant.

Another option that some Canadians may decide to take is an adjustable-rate mortgage. As the name implies, the interest rate may fluctuate throughout the loan, which makes it a riskier option for many Canadians, while the fixed-rate mortgage option is arguably the safer of the two.

To learn more about fixed-rate and variable mortgages, call Northwood Mortgages at 888-492-3690 or contact us here.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Things You Should Know Before Going for a Second Mortgage in Toronto

If you own a home in Canada then you have probably have heard of a second mortgage at some point in your life. A second mortgage is similar to a first mortgage, in that it is a loan secured by your property. As time passes you will accumulate more and more equity on your property. A second mortgage is primarily intended to use the equity that you’ve accumulated over the years.

According to a report by Business Insider, almost 2 million Canadians have a second mortgage, and nearly as many that have a HELOC. Some Canadians will use their second mortgage in order to avoid having to declare bankruptcy. In any event, a HELOC, for those unaware, is also another form of a second mortgage, because it serves as a line of credit for home equity. In other words, the person will supplement a second loan over their first in order to access their equity. Below are some things that you should know before going for a second mortgage in Toronto.

Different Types of Second Mortgages

A revolving HELOC works similarly to a credit card. That is, the borrower will have access to equity in perpetuity as they continue to pay off the principal (what they owed previously) over the upcoming months and years. Moreover, a HELOC can be modified to become a closed second mortgage, which functions much like a loan for a vehicle. That is, the borrower will receive only one lump sum of money from their equity and they must pay it off in a gradual manner.

It should also be noted that it is difficult to qualify for a HELOC of any kind, because they tend to only be offered to those with an impeccable credit profile and who happen to live in a prosperous urban area. Hence, those who have a poor credit profile or have a meager income will only likely have one option at their disposal—a private mortgage.

The Two Main Reasons Why Second Mortgages are Used

The most popular reason why a second mortgage is used is to pay off a consumer debt that has high interest. Many homeowners will also use a second mortgage in order to upgrade their home for resale or to renovate it for their own recreational purposes. Leveraging a second mortgage is highly recommended at the moment because credit card interest rates are presently 15%. As such, you can save a large sum of money by opting for a second mortgage.

For instance, let us imagine that you owe $30,000 on your credit card. In such a scenario you would have to pay roughly $600 in minimum payments every month; This is of course assuming that a 3% minimum payment is required. Now, if your interest rate was 15% APR then you would owe $4,500 in interest charges after just one year has elapsed. This is before you even get to the principal amount that is owed. As can be seen, interest charges can make or break first time homeowners who aren’t too careful with their fiancees.

Due to the aforementioned problems, many Canadians turn to a second mortgage in order to pay off their credit card debts. The end result is that their interest rates will be reduced because their second mortgage is secured by their home, which serves as the primary asset in this case.

Remember that Your Home Will Be Used as Collateral

If you have decided to take out a second mortgage on your home you must remember that your home will actually be used as collateral to secure the loan. As a result, if you fail to pay it off then the lender can foreclose on your property the same way they could with your first mortgage. However, the tradeoff is in the significantly lower interest rates that you will be charged, as your home will serve as an asset that will back your loan.

Take Advantage of Interest Only Payments

It is possible to only make interest payments with many of the second mortgage products that various lenders offer their clients; this will allow you to have easier and more affordable access to your home before you opt to sell your house to the highest bidder. Your monthly payments will also be significantly lower.

To further illustrate, if you were interested in renovating your home before resale or are interested in renegotiating your first mortgage, then you could remodel your home using the funds procured from the second mortgage. You could also have the option to pay off the interest charges. Then after you are done giving your home a makeover you could then resell it at a higher price and then use some of the money that you’ve made to pay off your second mortgage.

Avoid Private Mortgage Insurance

When a person applies for a standard mortgage in Canada they need to acquire private mortgage insurance if they are unable to put a minimum 20% down payment on their house. The end result is that they will have to pay fees, known as Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation fees, which can actually be quite exorbitant.

For instance, if you were to take out a half a million dollar mortgage with a 5% down payment then you would have to pay 4% worth of Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation fees. In other words, you would need to pay almost $20,000 in fees because you weren’t able to make the minimum 20% down payment.

The good news is you can take out a second mortgage in order to avoid private mortgage insurance. Of course this also means that you will have to add additional expenses to your monthly budget but it can still be a more affordable alternative to having to pay private mortgage insurance fees.

If you would like to learn more about obtaining a second mortgage in Toronto, please visit our website or call us at 1-888-495-4825.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Man firing into Toronto cafes shoots 14 people, killing 1

TORONTO  — A man firing a handgun into restaurants and cafes as he walked along a Toronto street shot 14 people, killing one of them, before dying after an exchange of gunfire with police late Sunday, police said.

Police Chief Mark Saunders said the shooting in the city’s Greektown neighborhood was not random and he did not rule out terrorism as a motive.

“Other than the shooter we have a young lady that is deceased,” the police chief said.



Saunders also said a 9-year-old was in critical condition.

A video from one witness shows a man dressed in black clothes and a black hat walking quickly and firing three shots from the sidewalk into at least one shop or restaurant. Toronto’s Greektown is a lively residential area with crowded Greek restaurants and cafes.

The condition of the other victims was not known yet, police spokesman Mark Pugash said.

Witnesses heard many shots and described the suspect walking past restaurants and cafes and patios on both sides of the street and firing into them.

John Tulloch said he and his brother had just gotten out of their car when he heard about 20 to 30 gunshots.

“We just ran. We saw people starting to run so we just ran,” he said.

An army of police, paramedics and other first responders soon descended on the scene, while area residents, some in their pajamas, emerged from their homes to see what was happening.

Toronto Councillor Paula Fletcher told CP24 she heard that the gunman was emotionally disturbed.


“It’s not gang related. It looks like someone who is very disturbed,” Fletcher said.

Councillor Mary Fragedakis also said she heard the gunman was disturbed.

Fletcher said for this to happen in an area where families gather for dinner is a tragedy.

Mass shootings are rare in Canada’s largest city.

“We were so used to living in a city where these things didn’t happen,” Toronto Mayor John Tory said. “But there are things that happen nowadays and they are just unspeakable.”

This past weekend Toronto police deployed dozens of additional officers to deal with a recent spike in gun violence in the city. Tory said the city has a gun problem.

“Guns are too readily available to too many people,” Tory said.

Police urged people to come forward with video or witness testimony.

The mass shooting comes a few months after a driver of a van plowed into pedestrians on a Toronto sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring 14. Authorities have not disclosed a motive. But they have said the arrested driver, Alek Minassian, posted a message on social media referencing a misogynistic online community before the attack.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Canada will show us if pot is beneficial

BANGKOK — Starting in October, marijuana will be entirely legal in Canada, where lawmakers passed sweeping cannabis legalization last week. Recreational use of pot and hashish by adults will be lawful, and the decision should have a much farther-reaching impact. Interest in the purported health benefits of cannabis will now considerably increase.

While several nations have decriminalized marijuana in part or by region or jurisdiction, Uruguay was until now the only country to legalize it across the board. Canada follows suit with the Cannabis Act, which allows each of the 10 provinces to devise its own system of licensing and regulating related business.

“It’s been too easy for our kids to get marijuana – and for criminals to reap the profits,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. “Today, we change that.” The change is in fact sure to make it even easier for “kids” to access marijuana, if their parents are buying and using it without fear of prosecution, but it will also indeed sever the profits going to illicit dealers, which of course cannot be taxed.


The Canadian move is extremely bold. Critics are howling, but the law displays a political resoluteness based in no small measure on faith. The health benefits of cannabis continue to be debated, but the dispute cannot be resolved without serious, long-term research, and perhaps the Canadian experiment will enable that. Meanwhile, what’s about to happen in Canada will have other members of the international community reviewing their attitudes towards a plant that’s been used since primitive times as a mild intoxicant.

Thailand is among the nations linked unfavorably to marijuana. It is not only a supply source, but also has tough laws that class “ganja” as a dangerous narcotic – as well as inconsistent enforcement of those laws. Its stance and its overseas reputation aren’t going to change anytime soon, but the authorities have at least given hints of progressive thinking, mooting a proposal to allow cannabis to be cultivated for health research.

If health benefits are established, doctors might have a valuable new tool, not least in easing the pain and discomfort of diseases. But such a drastic development might also explain why academic interest in marijuana has been limited. The medical establishment might be clinging to the status quo.In the US, nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis, but federally it remains classified as a prohibited drug because there is no official proof of medical merit, and instead high potential for abuse. Thailand too, and most countries, await the evidence it can do some good.

So let’s get on with the serious research. Scientists around the world should be pooling resources and dissecting the claims made for marijuana’s wholesome benefits. Shown proof the benefits exist, politicians would have to choose between public health and conservative reluctance. First comes the science, then the politics.

Few young people today believe cannabis is harmful, apart from coughing when it’s smoked. But doubt has been renewed recently with declarations that the touted medicinal benefits have been inadequately researched. Canada’s leap of faith might turn out to be a terrible mistake, but it has at least encouraged other nations to consider long-overdue action and launch unbiased and unhindered research that will either give the world a minor medical miracle or prove it was all just a pipe dream.

source: opinion.inquirer.net

Motive elusive after van driver kills 10 on Toronto sidewalk

TORONTO — Police in Canada’s biggest city are piecing together witness accounts and surveillance video trying to determine why a driver plowed a rented van along a crowded sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring 15 in what many said seemed a deliberate attack.

A 25-year-old suspect was quickly captured in a tense but brief confrontation with officers a few blocks away from where his van jumped the sidewalk Monday and continued for a mile, leaving people bloodied and dead in his wake. But authorities so far had not disclosed a possible motive or cause even as the police chief agreed with witnesses that it seemed intentional.

“The incident definitely looked deliberate,” Police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters at a late-night news conference.


Saunders said the suspect, Alek Minassian, who lives in the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill, had not been known to police previously. An online social media profile described him as a college student.

Officials would not comment on a possible motive except to play down a possible connection to terrorism, a thought that occurred to many following a series of attacks involving trucks and pedestrians in Europe and the presence in Toronto this week of Cabinet ministers from the G7 nations.

Asked if there was any evidence of a terrorist link, the chief said only, “Based on what we have there’s nothing that has it to compromise the national security at this time.”

A senior national government official said earlier that authorities had not turned over the investigation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a sign that investigators believed it unlikely terrorism was the motive. The official agreed to reveal that information only if not quoted by name.

Authorities released few details in the case, saying the investigation was still underway, with witnesses being interviewed and surveillance video being examined.

“I can assure the public all our available resources have been brought in to investigate this tragic situation,” Toronto Police Services Deputy Chief Peter Yuen said earlier.

The incident occurred as Cabinet ministers from the major industrial countries were gathered in Canada to discuss a range of international issues in the run-up to the G7 meeting near Quebec City in June. Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the incident a “horrific attack” and said the G7 foreign ministers extended their condolences.

The driver was heading south on busy Yonge Street around 1:30 p.m. and the streets were crowded with people enjoying an unseasonably warm day when the van jumped onto the sidewalk.

Ali Shaker, who was driving near the van at the time, told Canadian broadcast outlet CP24 that the driver appeared to be moving deliberately through the crowd at more than 30 mph.

“He just went on the sidewalk,” a distraught Shaker said. “He just started hitting everybody, man. He hit every single person on the sidewalk. Anybody in his way he would hit.”

Witness Peter Kang told CTV News that the driver did not seem to make any effort to stop.

“If it was an accident he would have stopped,” Kang said. “But the person just went through the sidewalk. He could have stopped.”

Video broadcast on several Canadian outlets showed police arresting the driver, dressed in dark clothes, after officers surrounded him and his rental Ryder van several blocks from where the incident occurred in the North York neighborhood of northern Toronto. He appeared to make some sort of gesture at the police with an object in his hand just before they ordered him to lie down on the ground and took him away.

Witness Phil Zullo told Canadian Press that he saw police arresting the suspect and people “strewn all over the road” where the incident occurred.

“I must have seen about five, six people being resuscitated by bystanders and by ambulance drivers,” Zullo said. “It was awful. Brutal.”

Police shut down the Yonge and Finch intersection following the incident and Toronto’s transit agency said it had suspended service on the subway line running through the area.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his sympathies for those involved.

“We should all feel safe walking in our cities and communities,” he said. “We are monitoring this situation closely, and will continue working with our law enforcement partners around the country to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

‘Dota 2’ championship makes historic Vancouver move

This year’s edition of eSports’ biggest annual tournament, The International “Dota 2” Championships, will take place in Vancouver, west coast Canada, after six years in Seattle.

With a prize pool regularly floating north of $20 million (about over P1 billion), The International is a prestige fixture on the eSports circuit.

It’s the pinnacle event for team game “Dota 2”, which made a splash at the first ever edition of The International during the Gamescom convention in Cologne, Germany.

Thereafter, the pro-level invitational has been held in Seattle, northwest United States, home of the game’s developer Valve Corp., whose history includes formative franchises “Half-Life” and “Portal”, as well as another eSports fixture, “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” and PC gaming’s dominant digital download store, Steam.

But after six years in Washington state, first at the 2,500 capacity Benaroya Hall and then, from 2014, at the 17,000 person KeyArena, The International is moving northward still, across the border and into the 19,000 seater Rogers Arena, downtown Vancouver.

The coastal city is a regular in global quality of life rankings, while the Rogers Arena hosts the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team.

The week-long International Dota 2 Championships will run from Aug. 20 to 25, 2018, with ticket sales starting on March 23 at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. PDT; midweek tickets, for Monday to Thursday access, are priced at $125 CAD ($95 or nearly P5,000), with finals tickets for Friday and Saturday at $250 CAD ($190 or almost P10,000), Valve explained in an official blog post.

Valve is currently expected to broadcast the event live through the “Dota 2” game client and via online video streaming platform Twitch, as it has done in previous years. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Over 800 Canadian doctors reject pay raises, say they already earn too much

While thousands of workers around the world protest for higher wages, more than 800 doctors in Canada are protesting their own pay raises.

The doctors belong to Médecins Québécois pour le Regime Public (MQRP), a public group of physicians from various regions of Quebec who advocate for the full implementation of the Canada Health Act.

The MQRP took to their official website to oppose the recent salary increase as negotiated by Canada’s medical federations.

“These increases are all the more shocking because our nurses, clerks, and other professionals face very difficult working conditions, while our patients live with the lack of access to required services because of the drastic cuts in recent years, and the centralization of powering the Ministry of Health,” wrote MQRP last Feb. 28. “The only thing that seems to be immune to the cuts is our remuneration.”

The Quebec doctors then asked that the pay raises granted to them be revoked and given instead to other healthcare workers: “We, Quebec doctors, are asking that the salary increases granted to physicians be canceled and that the resources of the system be better distributed for the good of the health care workers and to provide health services worthy to the people of Quebec.”

It is known that last Feb. 1, the MQRP also published a letter denouncing the working conditions of Quebec nurses and the lack of respect of the government towards them. They have also opposed last Feb. 17 the $500 million worth of pay increases for specialist doctors, which they called “indecent in a context where it lacks funds in so many sectors of the public health system.”

“MQRP advocates for the improvement of our public health system, working conditions for all health professionals with better inter professional collaboration,” the group stressed. “That’s how better patient care will be delivered, not by raising the salaries of already high-paying doctors.” JB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Canada boosts protection for endangered whales

The Canadian government said Wednesday it will boost protection for two species of endangered whales.


Since June, 12 North Atlantic right whales have been found dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which is home to nearly a quarter of the last 458 specimens of this kind of whale. Canadian environmentalists say it is among the most threatened in the world.

The Ministry of Fisheries said it would set up “critical habitat” protection areas for these whales off the coast of Nova Scotia and for beluga whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The goal is to safeguard “specific geographic locations and conditions essential for the survival and recovery of the species, such as where they give birth, hatch, feed or raise their young,” the ministry said.

The government is especially worried about the North Atlantic right whales because their mortality rate in 2017 has been higher than the average of recent years.

Autopsies showed whales bleeding to death after what were likely collisions with ships or getting caught up in fishing nets.

Fisheries Minister Dominique LeBlanc wants officials to update identified critical habitats because of “changing population distributions as a result of climate change.”

The government already took measures last year to protect beluga whales and white sturgeon. It denied TransCanada permission to build an oil facility on the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where female belugas give birth in the spring. AB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Canadians a bit less happy, but satisfied with their jobs

OTTAWA, Canada — Canadians are less likely to find a good balance between work and family, but are mostly satisfied with their jobs, according to a survey released Tuesday.

In the eight years to 2016, the number of Canadians who reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their work-life balance fell by 10 percentage points to 68 percent, according to the Statistics Canada study.

This downward trend, said the government statistical agency, “may have implications for the well-being of Canadians.”

Women were slightly less likely than men to be satisfied with their work-life balance — 66 percent versus 70 percent, respectively.

Just over one in five Canadians said they “always or often had difficulties fulfilling family responsibilities because of the amount of time they spent on their job.”

Happy or not with their work-life balance, however, Canadians are overwhelmingly satisfied (84 percent) with their jobs.

For others, a bad “work environment” or “too low” pay were the two top reasons cited for having soured their work experience.

Another part of the survey that looked at new technologies found that most Canadians viewed being virtually connected as positive and that technology improved life. /cbb

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Trudeau to Duterte: Canada ‘concerned’ over EJK issue

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has conveyed “concern” on the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, as he raised the issue on human rights violations during his bilateral meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte during the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings held in Manila.



Trudeau revealed this information during a press conference held on Tuesday at the International Media Center in the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

“I emphasized the people-to-people ties between Canada and the Philippines and the great connection there but I also mentioned human rights, the rule of law, specifically the extrajudicial killings being an issue Canada is concerned with,” Trudeau said.

The Canadian prime minister’s comments came the day after US President Donald Trump hailed the “great relationship” he enjoys with Duterte in a meeting the Philippines government said did not touch on human rights.

“I impressed upon him the need for respect for the rule of law.” 

Asked how Duterte responded, Trudeau said: “The president was receptive to my comments and it was throughout a very cordial and positive exchange.”

“This is something that is important to Canadians, and it’s important to the world and I will always bring that up,” Trudeau said, referring to human rights.

The Canadian prime minister added he offered support to Duterte “as a friend to help move forward on what is a real challenge”.

Duterte is hosting world leaders as the Philippines holds the rotating chair of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc.

Trudeau’s comments were a rare sour note for Duterte during a summit that has been largely silent on the issue.

Trump garnered headlines on Monday for his show of camaraderie with Duterte, a man who last week boasted of having personally stabbed someone to death as a teenager.

A Philippine presidential spokesman repeatedly insisted Monday that human rights had not come up during their summit talks, although the White House said they had done so “briefly”.

Ahead of a regional summit in the Philippines, rights groups had urged world leaders to challenge Duterte over what they say are gross abuses.

The 72-year-old overwhelmingly won elections last year vowing to eradicate drugs through a campaign that would see up to 100,000 people killed.

Since he took office, police have reported killing 3,967 people in the crackdown. 

Another 2,290 people have been murdered in drug-related crimes, while thousands of other deaths remain unsolved, according to government data.

Rights groups say Duterte may be presiding over a crime against humanity.  With a report from Agence France-Presse

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Skin cancer detection device wins award

A high-tech device capable of detecting melanoma skin cancer has won the international James Dyson Award 2017. This innovative device was developed by four engineering students from McMaster University in Canada.

The device, called sKan, detects melanoma quickly, cost-effectively and non-invasively by using temperature sensors to measure skin temperature in a specific area.

Developed by four young engineering students from McMaster University in Canada, the device impressed the James Dyson Award 2017 jury with its ease of use and its potential for saving lives worldwide by improving early diagnosis rates.

Placed directly on skin, the device applies cold to the area being tested, creating a thermal shock. It then measures how long skin takes to return to its initial temperature. The faster this occurs, the greater the likelihood of melanoma, since cancerous cells regain heat more quickly than healthy cells.

Results from the device are then transferred to a computer which creates a heat map, showing how long different areas of skin took to heat back up.

With the $40,000 prize money, the team of engineers who developed the device plan to hone their design and develop a prototype, before envisaging clinical trials in the longer term.

Each year, 200,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed worldwide. If detected in time, 90 percent of skin cancers can be treated. Seventy percent of skin cancer cases are linked to excessive sun exposure, mainly intermittent and intense periods of exposure during childhood.

The James Dyson Award is an international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. Run by the charitable trust of the British inventor James Dyson, the award is open to current and recent design and engineering students in 23 countries.

Last year’s award winner was American student Isis Shiffer with her folding, recyclable cycle helmet, called EcoHelmet, designed for people using bike-sharing schemes. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Facebook hires AI expert, launches lab in Canada's Montreal

TORONTO - Facebook Inc has hired artificial intelligence academic Joelle Pineau to head its new research lab in Montreal, the Silicon Valley social media company said on Friday.

Once the exclusive domain of academic researchers, artificial intelligence has grabbed the attention of the corporate world as businesses from healthcare to financial services look to use algorithms to sort through reams of data in search of patterns to solve problems.

The lab will be Facebook's fourth, after sites in Palo Alto, New York, and Paris, and joins similar AI research efforts in the city from Microsoft Corp and Alphabet's Google.

The company will also invest $7 million to support AI research at academic institutions in Montreal, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research said in a statement.

Pineau is a co-director of McGill University's Reasoning and Learning Lab whose work focuses on developing and applying models and algorithms applying robotics to healthcare, transportation and language processing.

One project she has been working on at McGill, where she will maintain her academic position, is a robotic wheelchair.

Pineau will be joined by fellow researchers Pascal Vincent, Michael Rabbat and Nicolas Ballat, and Facebook expects the team to grow to around 30 researchers.

Facebook already uses AI for image recognition, language analysis and targeted advertising. It also uses AI to identify and remove what the company deems "inappropriate content."

The Facebook project will be connected to McGill University's Centre for Intelligent Machines and to the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms, started by University of Montreal professor and machine learning pioneer Yoshua Bengio, two sources with knowledge of the plans said.

Combined, University of Montreal and McGill have more than 200 researchers, including students, working on AI research projects, Bengio said. That is up from around 150 cited by Google last year, which it called the greatest academic concentration of AI research in the world.

The mostly French-speaking province of Quebec boasts around 90 start-up companies focused on artificial intelligence.

The Canadian federal government has pledged C$125 million to build AI expertise in Montreal, the Toronto-Waterloo corridor, and Edmonton, while the provincial Quebec government has also promised some C$100 million ($82 million) specifically for AI research. — Reuters

Canada soon to allow gender-neutral passports

Montreal, Canada — Canadian citizens who do not identify as male or female will soon be able to mark “X” on their passports and other identity documents, the government said Thursday.

From August 31, citizens will be able to add an “observation” to their passports stating their sex should be “identified as ‘X’, indicating it is unspecified,” the government said in a statement.

The move will help Canadians have documents that “better reflect their gender identity,” it said.

These interim measures will be in force until authorities are able to print an “X” on passports and other documents.

“By introducing an ‘X’ gender designation in our government-issued documents, we are taking an important step towards advancing equality for all Canadians regardless of gender identity or expression,” said immigration, refugees and citizenship minister Ahmed Hussen.

In June, Canada passed a law adding “gender identity and expression” alongside race, religion, age, sex and sexual orientation among prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Can You Claim Land Transfer Tax?

Land transfer tax (LTT) is a charge levied by each Canadian province when you acquire a property. It is based on the amount paid for the land and includes any amount remaining on the mortgage or debt assumed as part of the purchase agreement. This tax is determined using a specific equation and a land transfer tax calculator.

Many people wonder if land transfer tax can be claimed. If you’ve moved for work and your employer has not reimbursed you, you can claim the LTT. Also, there exists a rebate in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island that allows you to recoup the cost of the land transfer tax entirely.

Land Transfer Tax Rebate

In Ontario, first-time home buyers can qualify for a rebate that is equal to the full amount of the land transfer tax paid, up to a maximum of $4,000. As of January 1st, 2017, this tax rebate is restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of the country. Furthermore, you must apply for the land transfer tax rebate within 18 months of the date of registration of the transfer or the date of the unregistered disposition.

Qualifying for the Ontario Rebate

There are certain criteria you must meet in order to qualify for the Ontario land transfer tax rebate. You must be 18 or older and live in the purchased home within nine months of buying it. Furthermore, you cannot have previously owned a home. If your spouse has already owned a home during the time that they have been your spouse, you will not qualify. The rebate covers the full amount of the LTT up to the maximum home purchase price of $368,250. If your home costs more than that price, you can still qualify for the maximum rebate but have to pay the remainder of the tax.

Qualifying for the Toronto Rebate

The city of Toronto has its own land transfer tax that comes with a separate rebate. The criteria that must be met are similar to that of the Ontario LTT rebate. You must be 18 or older, live in the home within nine months of purchase, and cannot have owned a home before, with the same going for your spouse (during the time that they’ve been your spouse). The maximum amount you can receive as your rebate is $3,725. You are eligible for both the Ontario and the Toronto rebates if you’ve bought property in the city. Additionally, if you are purchasing a home with your spouse, and only one of you is eligible for the rebate, you can still get 50% of the rebate amount. This goes for both the Toronto and Ontario LTT rebate.

Using the Land Transfer Tax Calculator

To determine what your land transfer tax is you will need to use the land transfer tax calculator. You’ll need the purchase price of your home and this land transfer tax calculator.

source:  northwoodmortgage.com

Canada fires drive thousands more out of their homes

MONTREAL, Canada — Thousands of people fled their homes in western Canada over the weekend as strong winds fanned forest fires that have ravaged British Columbia province for more than a week.

The inferno’s progress prompted authorities to take new emergency measures, ordering the evacuation of 24,000 people in the region including the town of Williams Lake which is home to some 11,000 people, reported public broadcaster CBC.

Some 60 percent of affected residents have already left their homes.

Authorities estimate that around 17,000 people had already evacuated before the latest orders as wild fires sparked by hot dry weather prompted a state of emergency to be declared on July 7.

Navi Saini, a spokeswoman for the province, said there were currently 161 wildfires active as of Sunday.

Further to the south, fire crews equipped with planes and helicopters in the US state of California were making steady progress against 11 active blazes fueled by searing temperatures and high winds.

“Great news! All evacuation warnings for the #AlamoFire have been lifted. There is fire equipment still in the area working – use caution,” the official account for Cal Fire tweeted.

The Whittier fire, which began on July 8 and stretched across 18,015 acres and has burned down almost 2,000 structures was 36 percent contained, according to the agency. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Macron, Trudeau ‘bromance’ fires up internet

“A liberal fantasy dream sequence”, “a bromance,” “insanely romantic”.

The Internet was abuzz Friday with pictures of French President Emmanuel Macron and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau schmoozing at the G7 summit in Sicily, strolling through flowered walkways and chatting against the backdrop of a sparkling blue Mediterranean sea.

“Apparently Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron flew to Sicily for their wedding photoshoot,” netizen @sherlockify joked on Twitter.

The reaction to the telegenic pair’s encounter in the picturesque, hillside town of Taormina, immortalized by Macron himself who tweeted a video of their meeting, provided some light relief from a summit otherwise devoted to thorny issues such as climate change and the threat of extremism.

“The Franco-Canadian friendship has a new face,” Macron tweeted after sitting down for talks with Trudeau and taking the now famous stroll.

“@JustinTrudeau, it’s up to us to take on the challenges of our generation!”

“Sitting down with @EmmanuelMacron for the first time, talking jobs, security & climate -– looking forward to more conversations, my friend,” Trudeau responded on Twitter, posting pictures of both smiling, shaking hands, and looking out over the Mediterranean, their dapper suit jackets billowing in the breeze.

Macron, 39, has only been in power for 12 days but enjoys similar kudos, particularly abroad where he has been compared to Trudeau.

“This image of Trudeau and Macron in Sicily is right out of a liberal fantasy dream sequence,” tweeted Dhruva Jaishankar, an expert on foreign policy at the India section of the Brookings Institution think tank.

Others were even more explicit.

“Le swoon, le sigh,” tweeted netizen MissMary, above a photo of both leaders in apparent earnest chat.

“Is there a budding bromance between Macron and Trudeau? Two hunks!” added @MaureenRamsden.

source: technology.inquirer.net

How Mortgage Rates Are Determined in Canada

For many Canadians, their home is the biggest investment they will ever make, and their mortgage the most significant loan. When shopping for a mortgage, people generally look for ways to get low mortgage rates.

A mortgage rate doesn’t refer to the size of the mortgage loan, but rather the interest rate on your mortgage. Obviously before you buy, you’ll want to search for a low mortgage rate. There are many factors that affect mortgage rates in Canada, and a fuller understanding of these factors can be an immense help to the inexperienced buyer when applying for a mortgage.

In this article, we’ll look at a basic outline of how mortgage rates are determined in Canada, including some ways to get a low mortgage rate.

Fixed vs. Variable Rate Mortgages

There are two kinds of mortgage loans available to Canadians: fixed or variable rate mortgages. A fixed rate mortgage, as the name suggests, keeps the same interest rate and monthly payment for the duration of the term. A fixed rate mortgage is ideal for those who want more stable financial planning, and want to avoid any surprises due to sudden inflation.

A variable rate mortgage adjusts based on the lender’s prime rate, which is determined by the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate. This means the interest rates can change day to day. While obviously there is some risk involved with a variable rate mortgage, they can often save Canadian homeowners money. While the monthly payment remains the same, lower interest rates mean that more of your monthly payment goes towards your principal. While some homeowners fear sudden increases in mortgage rates, banks generally avoid this so as not to incur any backlash.


The Mortgage Market

Mortgage rates are set based on a number of factors. These factors, or steps, are referred to as the secondary mortgage market. When you are granted a mortgage loan, the following steps occur:

• Your mortgage is sold by the bank/lender to a third party investor, known as the aggregator.
  
• Your loan is combined with other loans by the aggregator to form a mortgage-backed security.
  
• The mortgage backed security is divided into shares, which are sold to other investors.
  
  

Therefore, your mortgage rates are based on what the aggregator will pay for the mortgage, but also by the worth of the mortgage-backed security and what investors are willing to pay. This creates a competitive mortgage market, with homeowners benefitting from low mortgage rates and investors benefitting from higher mortgage rates.

It can be complicated to understand everything that goes into determining mortgage rates in Canada. The best way to understand mortgage rates is to consult with one of our mortgage professionals. They understand the market thoroughly and will be able to explain how everything works, and help you find a low mortgage rate! Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Canada flooding forces evacuations, military deployment

OTTAWA, Canada — The Canadian army has begun to deploy in eastern Canada, where flooding from heavy rain forced new evacuations on Saturday ahead of peak floods expected on Monday or Tuesday.

Water levels continued to rise on Saturday from Toronto and Lake Ontario up to 500 kilometers (300 miles) downstream of the St. Lawrence River, especially in Quebec province, where some 400 troops have been dispatched.

The worst is yet to come, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard warned on Saturday.

“The water will continue rising over the next two or three days,” he said after visiting the town of Rigaud, east of Montreal, which has been flooded for more than a week.

The government ordered the troop deployment on Friday.

“Our troops are responding quickly and professionally, and are already beginning to deliver critical support to Canadians affected by the flooding,” Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said on Saturday.

Torrential rains have added to runoff from melting snow that has caused rivers to overflow their banks, posing a critical situation from Ottawa to Montreal.

The emergency services warned that rising waters would reach regions east of Montreal, where precipitation by Sunday night could reach between 90 and 125 millimeters (3.5 to 5 inches).

Near the Atlantic, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization warned residents to remain on alert until Monday, saying water levels are near or above flood stage in many regions and expected to rise.

In Quebec, the province hardest hit by the flooding, more than 1,500 homes have been flooded in 121 towns and cities and nearly 1,000 people evacuated, the emergency services said.

“I understand people are reluctant to leave their homes,” Couillard said, “but if you’re asked, do it for your own safety. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net