Long waiting times for surgery; Frozen Grocery Prices: CBC Marketplace Cheat Sheet
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This Teenager Waited Almost 2 Years For Scoliosis Surgery As His Spine Worsened
The ordeal that Cael Perry of Peachland, British Columbia endured is exactly why experts say Canada’s long wait times for elective surgeries are at a « crisis » point.
In November 2020, Perry’s mother noticed a twist in her back. X-rays confirmed the 15-year-old had scoliosis and the C-shaped curve in his spine was already considered severe at a 58-degree angle.
It took until May 2021 for a specialist appointment, when new x-rays showed his spine had twisted at an 80-degree angle. Five more months passed before Perry was seen by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in November 2021.
It wasn’t until September 2022 that he was booked for surgery. At that time, her spine was at a 108 degree curve.
Perry’s journey through the BC health system highlights gaps in public health care for many types of elective surgeries, experts say. According to data provided by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and analyzed by CBC, nearly 30% of Canadians did not have their joint replacement or cataract surgery within medically acceptable timeframes in 2019, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. come. Today, many Canadians are waiting even longer than three years ago for these procedures. Read more
In tonight’s episode, we explore why some doctors are calling for more funding for private health care, while others urge Canadians to keep their faith in the public system.
Tune in to our investigation tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 a.m. NT) on CBC TV or CBC Gem.
This expert calls Loblaw’s decision to freeze prices on all No Name products until January a « public relations strategy »
Canada’s largest grocery chain is freezing prices on all of its no-name products for the next three months.
Loblaw Companies Ltd. – which operates grocery stores such as Loblaws, Zehrs, No Frills and Real Canadian Superstore – says it has frozen prices for the popular private label, which includes more than 1,500 grocery items, through Jan. 31, 2023.
Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Center for Future Work research institute, said that while many Canadian companies have tried to portray themselves as the victims of inflation, their financial results show that they are in fact contributing to it.
« Corporate profits have soared along with consumer prices, and that’s no coincidence, » he told CBC News in an interview on Monday. « It’s clear that companies are doing much more than passing on higher costs. »
Loblaw’s earnings have indeed increased of late, with the company reporting net income of $387 million in its most recent quarter. That’s an increase of $12 million from the same period last year and $121 million from the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other grocery stores reported similar trends.
Meanwhile, Loblaw Chairman and CEO Galen G. Weston said the rising cost of groceries was « maddeningly » out of the company’s control, pointing to higher prices for everything , from raw materials to energy and transport. Read more
Loblaw Companies Ltd. announced it would freeze the price of all no-name items for the next three months, a move that drew mixed reactions from shoppers on the streets of Toronto on Monday.
Toronto police have made multiple arrests and laid hundreds of charges in moving company scam
Police say four people were arrested this week in connection with a moving company fraud in Scarborough, Ontario.
In June, agents executed a warrant against several low-budget moving companies following an undercover investigation by CBC Marketplace in a group of national moving companies accused of misleading prices.
According to the police, and as revealed in the Market survey, companies quote customers for small amounts when contacting them online.
However, after companies collected a customer’s belongings, they would hold the items until a higher amount was paid, usually thousands more than expected.
In some cases, companies held property and threatened to sell it unless the higher amount was paid.
Police listed 13 moving companies in the June warrant. Rread More.
You can watch the full Market inquiry from march anytime Gem of Radio-Canada.
What else is going on?
Health Canada recalled baby blankets, army men and butterfly nets this week
Mittal International Brand’s baby blankets posed entrapment and choking hazards, while Juvo Plus’ Army action figure set and butterfly nets contained lead and phthalates.
The price of vegetable oil has increased more than other food products
Some say this can be attributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as Ukraine is the world’s largest exporter of sunflower oil.
Hearing aids have become considerably cheaper in the United States
Major retailers and pharmacies are now allowed to sell them without a prescription, and experts believe Canada will follow…eventually.
The marketplace needs your help
Are you looking to get a better deal on your cell phone bills? We want to know your story! Tell us about what you tried, what worked and what didn’t. Email us at marketplace@cbc.ca.
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