Stuck in the ER? Wait times are up across N.B., report says
A report from the Montreal Economic Institute, a think tank in Quebec, found New Brunswick emergency room patients faced a typical wait of about four and a half hours in 2024-25. That's nearly an hour over 2020-21 wait times.
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CTV News
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- CTV News
‘Count me as skeptical': Eby open to conversations with Smith on pipelines, doubtful private proponent will come forward
Premier David Eby speaks to reporters from his office following the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito As the federal government passes its contentious bill to streamline approvals of so-called nation-building projects, B.C. Premier David Eby says he's doubtful he can be convinced of the need to build a new pipeline through his province. The Liberals' Bill C-5 — dubbed the Building Canada Act — passed 306 to 31 on Friday, just minutes before the House rose for the summer break. The bill — aimed at giving government sweeping new powers to approve major projects of national interest — is now headed for the Senate, where it's expected to pass. Amid opposition to the bill, Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised that he won't impose a project on a province that doesn't want it, and that all projects will require consensus to go ahead. The condition prompted Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to say during an interview on CTV Question Period earlier this month that she would 'convince' Eby to support building a pipeline to transport oil from her province, through his, to tidewater. Eby has said he won't support a new pipeline built with any public dollars, arguing the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) is already in place. In an interview on CTV Question Period airing Sunday, Eby told host Vassy Kapelos the priority should be getting TMX operating at capacity before greenlighting new projects. 'There's no fight here,' Eby said, of the potential standoff between the two premiers. 'The concern that I have is a matter of priorities.' '(TMX) is owned by Canadians. It's not operating at capacity,' Eby also said. 'There's 200,000 additional barrels of capacity in that pipeline. Let's start there.' The B.C. premier added he doesn't think a new pipeline should be subsidized by government, arguing there are other energy projects being proposed by private companies, which should be prioritized. When pressed by Kapelos on the positive impact of TMX on Canada's GDP, and whether the two are mutually exclusive — if the government can at once create an environment through Bill C-5 to encourage private investment in major projects so they don't need to be federally funded, while other energy projects Eby listed also move ahead — Eby pointed to his signing of an agreement with the Prairie and other Western provinces for a 'port-to-port' energy corridor. 'If Premier Smith is able to come up with this (pipeline) project, that's what the corridor will be for,' he said. 'Count me as skeptical, and count me as opposed to the idea of tens of billions of dollars of additional federal subsidy when we have a pipeline that is not currently at capacity in our province operating right now,' he added, when asked by Kapelos whether he can be convinced by Smith that a new pipeline project could have merit. The B.C. premier said he would prefer to focus on projects that can be delivered on 'in the here and now.' He also said that if Smith can conceive of a pipeline project that doesn't require 'significant federal subsidy,' then 'more power to her.' 'If the premier of Alberta is able to deliver it, then let's have that conversation,' he said. 'But I don't see that.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Lobster industry continues to navigate tariff threats
Fishing boats on Grand Manan island New Brunswick on Thursday, May 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Dave Hennerbichler is visiting Nova Scotia from British Columbia, and picking up a load of lobster before he returns home is a 'must do' on his shopping list. 'It's just a specialty, and believe it or not, we can come here and get lobster cheaper than we can buy steak,' said Hennerbichler. That is likely music to the ears for Lobster Processors Association executive director Nat Richard, who began the recent spring lobster season managing high levels of fear and concern. 'If we had spoken in January, there was a real possibility that we would be hit directly with significant tariffs on our two largest markets — those being the U.S. and China,' said Richard. The 25 per cent China tariff remains in place. So far, U.S. President Donald Trump has not delivered on his threat to impose additional tariffs on Canadian seafood products, which means, for now, the lobster industry is keeping its head above water. But there are warning signs that overall business is not as strong as last year. 'We've seen a fairly sharp pullback by American consumers. Certainly, the consumer confidence numbers in April and May were quite scary — quite a drop,' said Richard, adding 80 per cent of Canada's lobster exports go to the U.S. If fewer Americans are buying lobster, and the industry continues to navigate tariffs, it amounts to another troubling and unstable chapter for lobster fisherman Carl Allen. 'I operate in an industry that has an extreme amount of uncertainty built into it by nature,' said Allen, who also captains a boat. 'I leave the wharf in the morning not knowing how many pounds I'm going to catch.' Overall, volatility is nothing new in the lobster industry. It experienced record lows during COVID-19, but domestic revenues and overseas markets rebounded within two years. 'How we factor in that kind of volatility and that kind of uncertainty and do business planning is a challenge,' said Richard. 'But we are used to it.' Allen has concerns that go beyond just tariffs. 'The fear is always, does the U.S. go into recession, and then does consumer spending in general drop?' said Allen. If that were to happen, Allen said the lobster industry would then be in the crosshairs of global financial uncertainty, combined with ongoing tariff threats — which could lead to major financial setbacks for those who make their living at sea.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Shoppers are discovering once rare plants in local retailers in Canada
Plants that have colourful patterns that resemble paintings and even a starry sky were sold for hundreds of dollars during the pandemic houseplant boom. But amateur gardeners are finding that the Philodendron Pink Princess, Philodendron Ring of Fire and Monstera Thai Constellation are no longer hard to find in Canada. In fact, trips to local big-box retailers, grocery stores and nurseries are like treasure hunts for plant enthusiasts as they discover these non-traditional plants are sold for much lower prices today. This is a trend retailers and growers attribute to the continuing demand for unusual varieties. Rare plants in Canada: Genna Weber with spiritus-sancti Genna Weber holds one of her prized plants called the Philodendron spiritus-sancti, once considerd a 'holy grail' among plant enthusiasts. (Genna Weber) Because of the demand, these businesses found a way to mass produce them, which helped lower the prices. 'The plants that were rare and trendy during the pandemic are more mainstream now,' Justin Hancock, director of research and development for wholesale horticultural grower Costa Farms, said in a recent video interview with from Miami. Demand was a big factor in bringing in the non-traditional plants into Longo's stores, said Deb Craven, president at the Ontario grocery chain. 'I think what we noticed, especially during COVID, was that there was a demand for other types of plants and maybe plants that our guests wouldn't have been looking for in the past that they were starting to look for,' Craven said in a video interview from Ancaster, Ont. Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Ring of Fire The Philodendron Ring of Fire is among the variegated plants that grew popular during the pandemic. (Home Depot) Pricey plant splurges Before the coveted plants started popping up at grocery stores, Pol Apiwong was among those who splurged on rare plants during the pandemic. Apiwong said he paid a grower in Thailand in 2021 around $400, excluding shipping, for a small Philodendron Spiritus Sancti, which was viewed as a 'holy grail' plant then. Before and during the pandemic, he said plant enthusiasts had to import rare plants or buy them from personal collectors or smaller plant shops. Four years after his big purchase, the Spiritus Sancti's price has plunged. The plant is currently sold out at the JOMO Studio plant shop in Toronto where Apiwong works as a manager. It has the price tag of $45 for the same size he paid the Thai grower. 'We continue to see excitement around new and unusual releases,' he said in a phone interview with 'People still want to buy something special.' Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Genna Weber won this small Philodendron Spiritus Sancti in a giveaway in 2022. She says the plant was selling for around $500 at that time. (Genna Weber) Genna Weber, a plant influencer with the handle Genna's Plants on Instagram and YouTube, recalled buying a small Philodendron Pink Princess for about $25 in 2019. Then during the pandemic, the houseplant market took off as lockdowns kept Canadians at home. At that time, these plants were tougher to find as demand was high, she said. Prices were often at least $100 for a small Pink Princess, which has splashes of bright pink foliage, and even a few hundred dollars for a large specimen during the pandemic. 'And now, you can basically pick them up in any garden centre or Canadian Tire for next to nothing, like under $20 for a plant,' Weber said in a recent video interview with from her plant-filled living room in Norwich, Ont. Weber significantly grew her collection during the pandemic to more than 200 plants today. 'And then the supply kind of caught up with the demand.' Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Pink Princess Genna Weber, a plant influencer on Instagram and YouTube, holds a Philodendron Pink Princess. (Genna Weber) Mark Beaty, senior merchant of the garden department at The Home Depot, said interest has continued to grow. He noted 'an immediate positive' response, anecdotally, when the big-box chain started to sell a plant that has creamy white variegation that some say is reminiscent of a starry sky, called Thai Constellation, in March 2023 in Canada. 'Our customers see them trending on social platforms like Pinterest and are inspired to bring them into their homes,' he wrote in an email to 'Our associates see rare plants at trade shows and will send me photos, asking 'have you seen these?' which leads to me ensuring we eventually carry them in-store.' Why are prices down? The spike in demand for the trendy plants has led to producing and selling greater quantities of them, thereby reducing the price, said Julie Codere, lawn and garden category director at Rona. Despite plant sales cooling since the COVID-19 peak, she said the Canadian big-box retailer has seen 'steady purchases' of these unusual plants. 'Our 'trendier' plants usually sell quite fast as we have repeat customers that shop often and also employees that share on social media as well,' Codere wrote in an email to from Boucherville, Que., noting popular ones include a plant with golden-yellow leaves called Chameleon ZZ plant, another with splashes of cream, white and yellow on its narrow foliage called Pothos Variegated Amplissium, Monstera Thai Constellation and a plant with varying white variegation called Philodendron White Knight. Rare plants in Canada: Chameleon ZZ plant The Chameleon ZZ plant is among the popular plants at stores in Canada. (Rona) She said Rona discovers 'trending' plants by visiting trade shows as well as following blogs and plant groups on social media. 'Large producers have specialized teams of researchers and passionate growers that bring that new discovery to the market and we're able to sell it at a competitive price,' she wrote. Perhaps one of the best examples of a once-rare plant that has become widely available in Canada, the Monstera Thai Constellation is another plant whose price has plunged. It was harder to find several years ago, selling for three digits or more, depending on the seller and size. But the plant recently became more accessible. Costa Farms began to send shipments of the Thai Constellation to its partners including retailers in Canada just last year, Hancock said. He said it's difficult to propagate some plants like Thai Constellation by the tens of thousands through traditional cuttings, which are stems with nodes from which roots will grow. But his company found a partner that could more efficiently and affordably propagate the Thai Constellation through tissue culture, allowing Costa Farms to sell larger numbers of the plant at lower prices, Hancock said. Monstera Thai Constellation Monstera Thai Constellation has variegation that resembles a starry sky. (Home Depot) These are some of the formerly rare plants that are now accessible to the masses: Monstera Burle Marx Flame The Burle Marx Flame has lance-shaped leaves in its young form that become heart-shaped with slits resembling a flame when it matures, according to Costa Farms. Monstera Burle Marx Flame Monstera Burle Marx Flame has been mass produced. (Costa Farms) Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata, or Albo Pothos, has cream and white patterns, with leaves fenestrating as it matures. Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata Epipremnum pinnatum Albo-Variegata is commonly sold at garden centres and local retailers.(JOMO Studio) Alocasia Frydek Variegated Alocasia Frydek Variegated is prized for its green velvet leaves with white and cream patterns. Rare plants in Canada: Alocasia Frydek Variegata Alocasia Frydek Variegata is also known as Variegated Alocasia Frydek or Alocasia micholitziana 'Maxkowskii Variegata.' (JOMO Studio) Alocasia Jacklyn Alocasia Jacklyn, or Alocasia tandurusa, has distinctive dark-veined, bright green, arrowhead-shaped and hairy leaves with striped stems. Rare plants in Canada The Alocasia Jacklyn has drawn buzz because of its distinctive foliage. (JOMO Studio) Philodendron Gloriosum Philodendron Gloriosum is a crawling plant — which means it grows horizontally — with heart-shaped velvety leaves. Rare plants in Canada: Philodendron Gloriosum Philodendron Gloriosum is a crawling plant native to South America. (JOMO Studio) Anthurium Crystallinum Velvety anthuriums such as Anthurium Crystallinum were on many pandemic plant parents' wish lists. The Crystallinum has dark green, heart-shaped leaves with contrasting white veins.
