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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. U.S. President Donald Trump isn't getting the help from allies that he thought he would — analysts say his conduct for the past year is largely to blame. We'll get into that below. We'll also look at what we talk about when we talk about affordability, and why the RCMP says labour trafficking is a growing concern in Canada.
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THE LATEST
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- Israel's defence minister said Tuesday that its military killed two key Iranian military figures in overnight strikes as it stepped up widescale attacks on Iran, while Persian Gulf nations came under renewed attack from Iran.
- Venezuela defeated Italy 4-2 on Monday night to book its first trip to the World Baseball Classic championship game. Venezuela will play the United States for the title on Tuesday night in Miami.
- Canada's benchmark home price fell 4.8 per cent in February compared to last year, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. While housing activity stalled in larger cities amid heightened economic anxiety, St. John's, Regina and Quebec City saw considerable price increases.
- Another Loblaw-owned store has been fined $10,000 for promoting imported food as Canadian, and Sobeys could be next.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press)
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Why allies aren't leaping to Trump's aid in Strait of Hormuz
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U.S. President Donald Trump is having trouble convincing other nations to help protect commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
What's happening: That's in part because of his contemptuous treatment of allies since his second term began, analysts say. After several countries declined his requests for them to send warships to the strait, he was visibly frustrated. He specifically said NATO countries should be helping, as well as China, South Korea and Japan, which he said are highly dependent on oil from that region.
Why it matters: The U.S. president failed to lay the groundwork for an alliance that could help his country against Iran, said Leon Panetta, who served as U.S. defence secretary and CIA director during the Obama administration. Now, he's playing catch-up, Panetta said — "and that's not an easy game to play when you're in the middle of a war." Now, Panetta says the U.S. would need to weaken Iran's ability to attack shipping through the strait and take the lead by deploying destroyers before allies would get involved.
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Thinking of moving to a more 'affordable' part of the country? Consider this
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Though many people have preconceptions about the cost of living in different parts of the country, these may not all be accurate.
What's happening: Affordability is measured in different ways. For example, according to the market basket measure — where one looks at the cost of a specific basket of necessities like food and shelter — B.C. is the most expensive, while Quebec is the least.
The issue: This measure masks considerable cost differences in large cities and rural areas within a given province or territory. Another way to look at it is through income, though goods usually cost more in regions with higher wages. Disposable incomes in Alberta are much higher than elsewhere, meaning its residents can absorb higher daily costs, though that's changing, too. For example, grocery costs are up everywhere in Canada. It also depends on what your specific needs are. Edmonton and Calgary are among the most affordable housing markets, while car insurance is much cheaper in P.E.I. than in Ontario.
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He came to Canada with a dream. RCMP say he became a victim of labour trafficking
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At 22 years old, one man moved from Japan to Toronto to study English. But he says he wound up in rural Nova Scotia, working excessive hours on a campground and being paid just $300 for almost a year's work.
What's happening: In relation to the case, Trevor Annon, 65, of southern Ontario, has been handed several charges including trafficking in persons and extortion. He's also facing a fraud charge for another case. (He declined to comment to CBC News. The allegations haven't been proven in court.) The Japanese man said Annon would threaten to send him back to Japan if he didn't work hard, in addition to yelling at him and calling him a moron.
Why it matters: The RCMP says the young man is a victim of labour trafficking, something they say is a growing concern across Canada. Experts believe the number of cases is much higher than the data suggests because the crime is significantly underreported. Labour trafficking is about more than unpaid wages or unsafe conditions, according to the RCMP — it becomes criminal when someone is forced or deceived into working with the false promise of immigration status, or if they're extorted into doing so.
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