Car Sharing Hits Canadian Market

Turo peer-to-peer car rentals expand Canada's sharing economy. Canadians can now rent their personal vehicle to others through a U.S. company that has just launched in this country.

"We're actually the first company to bring the benefits of peer-to-peer car rental to Canada." says Cedric Mathieu, director at Turo Canada. "It's an entirely new way for you to start making money out of your car."

How it works? Turo, based in San Francisco, offers a service that is similar to AirBnB, but for vehicles.  Through Turo's app or on its website, owners can list their vehicles for rent by the day, week or month, earning money from what is often an under-utilized, depreciating asset.

Trip of Death! Quebec adventurer returns after solo travel to Antarctica

Frederic Dion hugs his daughters Adelie (6), left, and Danaelle (3) as he arrives at the airport, Monday, January 12, 2015 in Montreal.

The Canadian Press
A Quebec adventurer who has just returned from a solo trip to the geographic South Pole says his next big adventure will involve trying to be the best father in the world.

Frederic Dion made the trip to the Antarctic on skis and covered 2,100 kilometres in 35 days.

The 37-year-old arrived at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport this afternoon and was welcomed by his wife and two young daughters.

Dion’s trek wasn’t without its challenges, with winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour and temperatures that often plummeted to -50 C.

His sleigh, which contained a tent, sleeping bag and food, broke apart and he also suffered frostbite along the way.

Transport Canada Introduces New Rail Safety Requirement

New safety regulations for railways were announced in response to the tragedy in Lac-Megantic, Que. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

CBC
Railway operating certificates from the federal government become mandatory Jan. 1, at least for new operators.

This new requirement for rail companies follows a recommendation of the Auditor General after the train derailment and explosions that devastated Lac-Megantic, Que. in 2013.

Now Transport Canada will have the power to shut down a railroad's operations without going to court. The ministry says a revocation will only happen if there is an extreme violation of the safety regulations.

On the other hand, should an extreme violation happen and the government not act, it may be held to account.

Transport Canada says it will take only an hour to complete the certificate, but it is giving existing railways two years to do so.

176 turned away from Canada due to Ebola travel ban

Health workers prepare graves for Ebola victims in Guinea. Getty

 Stephanie Levitz | The Canadian Press
Newly-released figures show an estimated 176 people were turned away from Canada after the imposition of a partial travel ban from Ebola-affected countries in West Africa.

The federal government put the controversial measures in place at the end of October, barring people from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone from receiving visas to come to Canada.

At the same time, the government announced it would also stop processing visa and visitor applications in the queue.

In newly-published information, the immigration department says an estimated 176 applications have been affected, resulting in a return of approximately $20,000 in fees.

Toronto Transit Commission offers to pay funeral of girl killed by its bus

Amaria Diljohn, 14, was killed Dec. 19, 2014 after being struck by a TTC bus at the corner of Finch Ave. and Neilson Rd.

Torstar News Service
The Toronto Transit Commission has offered $20,000 to help pay for the funeral of Amaria Diljohn, the 14-year-old girl killed by one of its buses on Dec. 19.

TTC spokesman Brad Ross confirmed Wednesday that CEO Andy Byford had authorized the offer, which was made privately to the family on Dec. 23.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Ross said. “It clearly was a TTC bus (that struck Diljohn) and we know the family’s having financial troubles paying for the funeral.”

Diljohn’s family had set up a trust account to accept donations to help pay for her funeral.

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