File Income Tax By May 5, CRA Extends Deadline Due To Human Error

Janyce McGregor, CBC 
Canadians have been given five extra days to file their 2014 income tax returns, thanks to a "human error" at the Canada Revenue Agency.

Last Friday, the CRA issued a statement saying the deadline for filing tax returns electronically was May 5 at 3 a.m.

That was a mistake. On Monday, the agency issued a new statement, saying this year's deadline is, in fact, April 30.

Members of the British Navy face sexual assault charges in Halifax

The Canadian Press
Four members of the Royal Navy have been charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm at a Canadian Forces base in Halifax.

Crown attorney Scott Morrison said Friday outside court that the men are alleged to have participated in a “group sexual assault” in a barracks at CFB Shearwater on April 10.

The men were arrested Thursday morning and were in Nova Scotia participating in a hockey tournament with local Armed Forces personnel, he said.

Imagine This Giant Shark At Your Backyard

Many in Southwest Florida are used to having some wildlife in their backyard. In this case, the wildlife was a shark. An 8 to 9 foot bull shark has been swimming very close to the condos that line Hickory Boulevard. Residents say it’s not the first time.

Neighbors say people are chumming — throwing bait into the water — which is causing the sharks to return. Now, they are asking the city to get involved and prohibit fishing as well as designate the area as a swimming only area. See video below after cut

Bell Canada faces $750M lawsuit over allegedly selling customer data

A lawsuit seeks $750 million in damages for breach of privacy, breach of contract and breach of the Telecommunications Act. (CBC File Photo)

The Canadian Press
A $750-million national class-action lawsuit has been filed against Bell Canada over alleged breaches of privacy arising from its recently discontinued target ads program.

The suit against subsidiaries of Bell  alleges that the defendants used the program to track, collect and sell the sensitive account and internet browsing information of their customers to advertisers.

It seeks $750 million in damages for breach of privacy, breach of contract and breach of the Telecommunications Act.

Average Canadian sold houses climbs 9% to $439,144 in March

CBC reports that the average price of a Canadian home sold in March increased by nine per cent compared with the same month a year earlier, rising to almost $440,000. The average house price was $439,144, and actual home sales activity rose 9.5 per cent above March 2014 levels.

While the spring home buying season is off to a hot start, the two big markets of Toronto and Vancouver continue to skew the numbers higher, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Wednesday. If sales in those two markets are stripped out, the average price for Canadian resale homes drops to $332,711, with an annual increase of just 2.4 per cent.

Sam Griner, 'Success Kid' helps father get a kidney through GoFundMe

Sam Griner is shown in this original photo from the 'Success Kid' meme. (Know Your Memes / Laney Robertson Griner)

This is an inspiring story of the 'success kid' meme that helped father  raise donations through GoFundMe. In seven days He has successfully raised over $75,000 needed to do his father kidney transplant.

Eight-year-old Sam Griner was once the pudgy-faced, fist-pumping toddler who spawned the Internet meme known as "Success Kid. On the page, the description goes like this 'Justin is a 39 year old father of one in need of a kidney transplant. Please help us reach our goal so that Justin may get the pre-treatments and transplant he desperately needs. His mother died from this disease, please help us write a different story for Justin and his son, Sam'

Now Sam can write his own "Success Kid" meme after his family successfully raised more than $80,000 to help fund a kidney transplant for his father, Justin.

One-fifth of New Immigrants Arrive With No Money

via Vancouver Sun

In a new report  by Metro, it shows new Immigrants arrive in Canada with an average of $47,000 in savings – but are left with less than half of that once they get initially settled, says a new BMO Wealth Management report.

And about one-fifth, or 19 per cent, come with no money at all, finds the study being released Wednesday.

“It can be incredibly stressful – financially and otherwise – to pick up, move to another country, and begin the process of creating a new life for yourself, so it’s great to see that new Canadians do have a bit of a nest egg remaining,” said Julie Barker-Merz, president of BMO InvestorLine.

15yrs Old Canadian Diplomat's Son, Is Charged With Murder In Florida

Marc Wabafiyebazu, 15, left, stands in juvenile court in Miami with attorney Curt Obront during a hearing, Wednesday, April 8, 2015. (AP /The Miami Herald, Walter Michot, Pool)

The Canadian Press 
A Canadian diplomat's teenage son accused of involvement in a drug-related shootout that killed his older brother in Florida has been charged with murder and will be tried as an adult.

A Miami-Dade County grand jury indicted 15-year-old Marc Wabafiyebazu on first-degree felony murder charges Wednesday.

Wabafiyebazu's defence lawyer, Curt Obront, said his client will plead not guilty.

"We have confidence in the criminal justice system and look forward to moving forward through judicial process," Obront said.

RIP! Iconic Singer Percy Sledge, Dies at 73

The singer of one of the most iconic songs the world has ever heard 'When A Man Loves A Woman', Percy Sledge, has died. The Legendary soul singer died today April 14th at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was 73 years old.

His longtime agent, Steve Green, said Percy, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 died after a long battle with liver cancer. He's survived by a wife and 12 children.

When A Man Loves A Woman was the biggest song of 1966 and the greatest hit of his career. It's one of the most covered songs of all time and has featured on several movie soundtracks

Canadian Toy Testing Council Shut Down After 63yrs For Insolvency

Children play during a 2010 Canadian Toy Testing Council event to announce its top toy picks. (Pawel Dwulit/CP)

The Canadian Toy Testing Council known for testing toys for children since 1952 has shut down after members were unable to secure financial backing. The council operates through a network of through families in the Ottawa region who would take the toys home and judge them on design, durability, safety and playability.

The group also produced an annual pre-Christmas list of top toys and books.

But last year the volunteer-run organization did not operate its toy testing program or produce its annual list because of what it described as funding challenges.

In a news release Tuesday, the organization said it had been under financial stress for several years.

Canada Revenue Agency filings for the council show the organization's revenue was cut in half from 2011 to 2012, to $52,328 from $98,743, and the group could not recover. The council reported revenue of $46,101 in 2014.

Everything Is Mathematics

It is the beginning of spring down here south and I joined the fellas for a game of soccer for the first time in the year. I noticed changes in people and the vibe was different compared to the previous season. Halfway into our warm-ups, a fight ensued between two ladies who came to cheer their man friend. I was flabbergasted that two young ladies in their twenties who appeared decent in demeanor could result into fatal violence in open field.

We paused the session to stop the scuffle but it seems a larger sect would like to see the end of the fight. In fact, it was like a round match of women UFC match, only that I do not think these ones have insurance to cover injuries suffered from broken bottles. There it dawned on me that everything is mathematics. Mathematics resolve truth by seeking out patterns, permutations, shapes, motions, logic, structure, change, space,… probability

Read full on ablethoughts

First Nations Languages Studied By Zurich University

Three indigenous languages still spoken within Canada are part of a global project on mother tongues. (CBC)

Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press
Three indigenous languages still spoken in Canada are among a group being studied as researchers attempt to understand how children around the world learn their vastly different mother tongues.

The global project — spearheaded by the University of Zurich — is looking at Dene, East Cree, and Inuktitut among 10 languages.

Researchers already know that children have little problem learning to speak their native language. What's not well understood is exactly how this happens.

"We're trying to get a real sense of how children can acquire or learn any language in the world," Dagmar Jung, a senior researcher from the University of Zurich, said in an interview.

"It's a miracle that any child can actually learn any language it's exposed to when it's young.

Caption This Art: Is This Reptile or Human

What is your guess? Do you think it is human or the reptile 'Chameleon'. Most will argue it is the former, but look closely, you can be looking at two human inter-woven together, one on the other. 

Awareness: Ontario farms under bird flu quarantine

Canadian Press
Twenty-nine poultry farms in Ontario were under quarantine on Sunday after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency established an avian influenza control zone in the wake of the disease being found on a turkey farm in the province earlier this month.

The agency had said last week that H5 avian influenza was found on a farm in Woodstock, Ont. It had placed the infected premises and eight other farms under a quarantine.

That quarantine was broadened over the weekend as a new control zone — stretching out in a 10 kilometre radius from the infected farm in southwestern Ontario — was established.

Hillary Clinton declares interest to run for US Presidency in 2016

Wife of former US President Bill Clinton, and former US Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton, 67, has declared her interest to run for president of the United State sin 2016. She announced her interest to run today April 12th.

"I’m running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion. And I want to be that champion. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote - because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.” she said

Canada's unemployment rate stays at 6.8 per cent in March

The Canadian Press
Canada’s economy posted a surprise job gain in March as more people found part-time work.

Statistics Canada’s latest labour market survey says the country’s jobless rate remained at 6.8 per cent in March — unchanged from the previous month — and it registered a month-to-month net gain of nearly 29,000 jobs.

Women over 55 years old, in particular, were able to find new jobs in March.

The unemployment rate matched the consensus projection of economists, who also predicted no new jobs would be created for the month, according to Thomson Reuters.

“The bar was set pretty low for this employment release and it managed to clear it,” Bank of Montreal chief economist Douglas Porter said in a note to investors.

Thus Far, Game Of Thrones 'Dinkles' Recap

Before the premiere of "Game of Thrones" Season 5, the valets look back at the show's most striking moments. Check out Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s Game of Thrones “recap,” and find out which one of them calls Peter Dinklage, aka the Dinkles, “my jam, my jelly, my peanut butter and my peanuts.”

Aww! Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel welcome son

According to People magazine, Justin Timberlake and wife Jessica Biel have welcomed a son, Silas Randall Timberlake. A rep told the magazine that mom and the baby are doing well and dad is “ecstatic

Vancouver Canucks Made It Back To NHL Playoffs

The Vancouver Canucks were able to officially clinch a playoff berth while away from the rink Tuesday, guaranteed due to results elsewhere in the NHL. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

Canadian Press
The Vancouver Canucks are in the playoffs, having clinched a spot with the Los Angeles Kings losing to the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night.

And that means a win for local bars and restaurants as well, says Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C Restaurant and Food services Association.

"This is probably at least a million dollars a game for the economy of Vancouver. It's massive."

The Palace of Mistakes

Welcome to realness. This guy spits some real.

The breadth of life’s daily up and down is the time clock of our very existence. The world is a beauty of imperfect souls in a perfect space of time. The critical member of this imperfection is the boodle of mistakes we commit in our endeavour to a better expression of self.

We are often relegated to the thought that the mistakes we make defines us as we are all human. I resent such character appropriation. How we ‘right’ our wrongs defines us. No matter how deepened are the wounds, sullen the relationship or messy that fallout; we failing to act to correct our wrongs is building a comfy palace of mistakes.

Read full on ablethoughts

Disgusting! Afghanistan woman forced to marry her attacker to avoid prison

Sitting next to the man who raped and made her pregnant, Afghanistan woman forced to marry her attacker to avoid prison. Afghan woman known only by her first name Gulnaz, (pictured left) was just 16 years old when was raped by her cousin's husband, a man named Asadullah (pictured right), in 2008. She fell pregnant as a result of the rape. But in Afghanistan, sleeping with a married man is a crime, and it doesn't matter if the married person forced themselves on you. How sad! Rejected by her family and facing 12 year in prison for 'adultery by force' and falling pregnant for a married man, Gulnaz had no choice but to marry her depraved attacker. That was her only hope to get a reduced sentence. She later gave birth to the girl in the photo above.

19 yrs Old Canadian Student Missing For Weeks, Located

A York University student who went missing on her 19th birthday in late March has been found and is safe, police are reporting.

Amina Lawal went missing on March 20 after going to meet a study group for school. Lawal is a student at York's Schulich School of Business.

Avril Lavigne's Husband Chad Speaks About Wife Battle With Lyme Disease

Avril Lavigne recently discussed her debilitating bout of Lyme Disease after months away from the limelight, and now husband Chad Kroeger has expressed that he’s “very thankful” to have Avril’s condition out in the open.

The 40-year-old rocker shared his relief with KISS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O this week in Australia. “I’m like, “OK the wife has come out and said this and now I don’t have to keep hiding,” he said. “With everyone going, ‘What’s wrong with your wife?’ and me just going, ‘Ah, she’s going to be fine.’

He added: “I’m like, ‘Okay, I can talk about this now.’”

Goodnews! PM expands eligibility for Canada Student Grants program

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces changes to the Canada Student Grants program at Seycove Secondary School in North Vancouver. (CBC)

CBC
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a change to the Canada Student Grants program Tuesday, which will expand the number of training programs eligible for government help.

Until now, post-secondary training programs had to be longer than 60 weeks to qualify for the grant program, which was started in 2009, Harper said at a press conference in North Vancouver.

Harper called the cutoff arbitrary.

Rewind Clip: Tug of War Battle Between Canadian And US Soldier

Prior to the departure of 31 Canadian Brigade Group (31 CBG) personnel from Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Canadian soldiers observed US National Guard soldiers playing an interesting version of the game Tug of War. 31 CBG soldiers were fascinated by the spectacle and cheered on the competitors. Finally, one young Canadian soldier dared to challenge the hometown crowd, and put national pride on the line. In this video, Master Corporal John Celestino of the Windsor Regiment (left), participates in a game of Tug of War with a US National Guard soldier (right). This version of the game builds esprit de corps and really works the leg muscles...just ask Master Corporal Celestino! See video below

Selfishness Is Good Business

The journey of life is not complete in the entirety of its existence when apt privileges fail to serve its very purpose. The long drive to be successful and accomplished is deeply in-grained in the human DNA, whether it is for the better or worse of the lot. Regardless, the glory of self comes to play in the theatre of dreams.

Selfishness is often seen as a dark expression of oneself over the common good. In some school of thoughts, it is seen as the root cause of the ills in the society. At the tail end of all contemporary issues we face in the world, you’ll trace scintilla of self coming to play big time. Terrorism, corruption, crime, scam, homicide and abuse; all emanated from the selfish ideology of some few.

Read full on ablethoughts

Canadian Teacher In Indonesia Convicted Of Child Sexual Abuse

 The Canadian Press
An Ontario teacher found guilty Thursday of sexually abusing three children at an Indonesian school said he will appeal the decision.

A three-judge panel sentenced Neil Bantleman, of Burlington, Ont., to 10 years in prison.

"Today is completely a miscarriage of justice," Bantleman told The Associated Press. "I'll keep fighting."

The court also ordered Bantleman, 45, to pay a fine of nearly $10,000 or serve six additional months in jail.

"The defendant has deliberately committed violence and obscene acts," the judges said in their verdict.

Empire overtakes The Big Bang Theory as No.1 series on network TV

Empire has passed The Big Bang Theory as this season’s No. 1 rated series on broadcast television. Joe Adalian of Vulture tweeted the numbers out, showing that Empire scored a 6.9 and TBBT a 6.7 in the key 18-49 demographic.

Before Empire came on TV, the Big Bang Theory on CBS was the top rated series on broadcast television in the US. Well, not anymore. That title now belongs to Empire on Fox.

Pavelec makes 39 saves as Winnipeg Jets soar over Montreal Canadiens

The Winnipeg Jets' Jim Slater (behind net) and Lee Stempniak celebrate a Dustin Byfuglien shot that trickled through the legs of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Dustin Tokarski. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

Canadian Press
Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec earned the full support of the hometown crowd Thursday night against Montreal.

Pavelec made 39 saves for his sixth consecutive win as the Jets downed the Canadiens 5-2 at the MTS Centre.

Fans were already chanting “Pavy, Pavy” after he stopped 20 shots in the first period alone to keep a 1-0 Winnipeg lead alive.

“Yes, I heard it. It’s always nice,” Pavelec said with a small smile.

UK One Direction's Zayn Malik Quits After Five Years

Zayn Malik (second from left) has quit One Direction after five years with the chart-topping boy band that was formed on X-Factor in 2010. The 22-year-old singer has made the decision to bow out of the group leaving Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne & Louis Tomlinson to continue as a four-piece. 

In a statement released to Daily Mail this afternoon Wednesday March 25th, Zayn said;

'My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let you down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.'