Health Canada warns about unauthorized health products seized from B.C. stores

OTTAWA - Health Canada is issuing a public advisory after unauthorized health products were seized from two nutrition and supplement stores in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The advisory lists dozens of products, including injectable peptides, anabolic steroids and testosterone compounds, which Health Canada says are used for bodybuilding, anti-aging, enhancing athletic performance or weight loss.

It says the products found at Maxximus Supplements and Cutting Edge Nutrition were not authorized by Health Canada and have not been assessed for safety, efficacy, and quality.

Health Canada says the seized drugs include Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, which are not authorized in Canada for any use and have not been reviewed for safety.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalls vegan bacon product over undeclared wheat

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a vegan bacon product sold in Ontario because it contains wheat, which doesn't appear on the list of ingredients. 

The agency says the vegan bacon is sold under the brand Veggie Paradise. 

It says wheat is an allergen and people with celiac or gluten-related issues should not consume the product. 

The agency says the recall was spurred by test results on the product, but no adverse reactions have been reported. 

Some local brands left out as Kildonan Place renovation shuffles tenant storefronts

“We’ve moved” and “Closed for relocation” signage dots the food court’s perimeter at Kildonan Place.

Snowfall warnings issued for Coquihalla, Sea to Sky highways in B.C.

Snowfall warnings are in effect for some major highways coming to and from British Columbia's Lower Mainland.

Environment Canada says a weather system approaching from Washington state will result in snow for the Coquihalla Highway and Fraser Canyon on Wednesday.

Amounts could reach up to 10 cm along the Fraser Canyon, and as much as 15 cm for stretches of the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Kamloops.

The Sea to Sky Highway and Whistler are expecting 15 to 25 cm of snow by Wednesday evening as a strong low-pressure system tracks across the south coast.

S&P/TSX composite ends lower in shortened trading day, U.S. stock markets rise

TORONTO - Stock markets in Canada and the U.S. moved in opposite directions in the shortened trading day on Christmas Eve amid lighter volumes.  

While Canada's benchmark index finished in negative territory, weighed down by losses in the basic materials sector, Wall Street closed higher and reached more records Wednesday. Roughly 1.8 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, roughly a third of the average trading day.

“I just think the path of least resistance is to the upside,” said Allan Small, senior investment adviser at iA Private Wealth. 

Prior to this week, he said stocks had been “selling off a little bit” amid concerns about AI and data centre spending. 

Former Royal Winnipeg Ballet principal dancer leads one-woman Melt Chocolate Co. show

Christmas seems to be a key time of year for Amanda Green, no matter what line of work she chooses.

At this time 12 years ago, Green was the principal dancer for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, performing the role of Clara in the company’s annual production of The Nutcracker. Today, she’s a busy chocolatier, making and delivering products via her one-woman business, Melt Chocolate Company.

Production ramps up around events like Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day. The 40-year-old typically unveils a new collection of bonbons to coincide with each new celebration.

In the fall, she created six new flavours for this Christmas: clementine, raspberry cherry kirsch, cranberry pink peppercorn, peanut brittle, eggnog vanilla bean and gingerbread caramel.

Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers

HONOLULU (AP) — A federal judge’s ruling has cleared the way for Hawaii to include cruise ship passengers in a new tourist tax to help cope with climate change, a levy set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake denied a request Tuesday that sought to stop officials from enforcing the new law on cruises.

In the nation’s first such levy to help cope with a warming planet, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation in May that raises tax revenue to deal with eroding shorelines, wildfires and other climate problems. Officials estimate the tax will generate nearly $100 million annually.

The levy increases rates on hotel room and vacation rental stays but also imposes a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship’s passengers, starting next year, prorated for the number of days the vessels are in Hawaii ports.

Government suspending ban on single-use plastic exports

OTTAWA - The federal government is suspending the planned export ban on single-use plastics due to tariffs and supply chain issues "creating significant pressure on the domestic economy."

The government launched a 70-day consultation about not moving forward with the single-use plastic export ban on Saturday through the Canada Gazette.

The government says the progress on environmental benefit expected with the export ban is not proportional to the economic impact.

The plastic sector generated $35 billion in revenue shipping single use plastics in 2023, according to the notice in the Gazette.

What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?

The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.7 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing after lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Monday night.

The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. Here is a look at the largest U.S. jackpots won and the places where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a Los Angeles-area gas station.

2. $1.787 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025. The winning tickets were sold in Missouri and Texas.