A Louisiana man has been charged with murder after allegedly killing a deputy U.S. marshal who was shot while serving an arrest warrant, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Multiple law enforcement officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant related to a prior sexual battery charge when Clarence A. Frazier Jr., 48, of Alexandria, allegedly barricaded himself inside his home and opened fire, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.
Frazier is charged with the murder of a federal officer and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
Authorities identified the slain deputy U.S. marshal as Drew Hanson, whom officials described as a devoted husband, father and son.
“Tragically, the defendant’s alleged actions claimed the life of a dedicated law enforcement officer who was simply doing his duty,” Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “The alleged perpetrator is now in custody and will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to officials, the shooting occurred July 13, after members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office located Frazier at his residence and obtained a search warrant for the property.
According to the federal criminal complaint, Frazier had failed to appear in state court to face trial on a charge of sexual battery of a person with infirmities.
After announcing their presence, law enforcement officers forced entry into the home, authorities said.
Frazier allegedly barricaded himself inside a bedroom and opened fire on the officers, striking Hanson.
Following a standoff inside the bedroom, Frazier was taken into custody.
Hanson later died from the gunshot wounds he sustained during the exchange of gunfire.
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/someone-holding-a-stack-of-canadian-bills-illustrative.jpg?id=53770298&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=218%2C0%2C219%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>October has arrived, and with it comes a slew of <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/quebec-cra-benefits-credits-payment-dates-october-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal benefit payments Quebecers can receive this month</a>, including payments from the Advanced <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-workers-benefit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canada Workers Benefit</a>.</p><p>This refundable tax credit is designed to help lower-income individuals and families across the country, giving them a financial boost to cope with the rising cost of living. </p><p>For eligible Canadians, the upcoming <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/government-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government benefit</a> payment could put extra cash in their pockets this fall, helping with everyday expenses. While the CWB is available in all provinces and territories, the payment amounts and income thresholds are a bit different in Quebec from elsewhere in the country.</p><p>Here's everything you need to know about the October 2024 Canada Workers Benefit payment, including how it works and how much you could receive as a resident of Quebec.</p><h3>What is the Canada Workers Benefit?</h3><br/><p>The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is a refundable tax credit that helps individuals and families across Canada who are working but earning a low income. It's designed to give workers a bit of extra financial support by providing a basic amount, as well as a disability supplement for those who qualify. </p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-workers-benefit.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about the CWB</a></p><h3>What is the Advanced Canada Workers Benefit?</h3><br/><p>The Advanced Canada Workers Benefit (ACWB) lets eligible individuals receive part of their Canada Workers Benefit ahead of tax time. </p><p>Instead of waiting until you file your tax return, you can automatically get up to 50% of your total CWB in three payments throughout the year. These payments are spread out to help you manage everyday expenses, and you don't need to apply for the advanced payments — if you're eligible, the payments are issued automatically.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-workers-benefit.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about the ACWB</a></p><h3>Who is eligible for the Canada Workers Benefit?</h3><br/><p>To qualify for the CWB, you must meet a few basic conditions. First, you need to have earned a working income, and your net income must be below the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-workers-benefit/net-income-not-eligible.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">limit set for your province or territory</a>. You also need to be a resident of Canada throughout the year, and either be 19 or older on December 31 or live with a spouse, common-law partner or child.</p><p>However, there are some situations that make you ineligible. You won't qualify if you were a full-time student for more than 13 weeks of the year (unless you had an eligible dependant on December 31), if you were in prison for at least 90 days during the year or if you don't have to pay Canadian taxes because of your role as a diplomat or similar position.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/acwb-eligibility.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about CWB eligibility</a></p><h3>How to apply for the Canada Workers Benefit</h3><br/><p>Applying for the Canada Workers Benefit is simple — you just need to claim it when you file your taxes. If you file your return electronically, your certified tax software will guide you through the steps to claim the CWB. If you prefer to file a paper return, make sure to fill out and submit <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/tax-packages-years/general-income-tax-benefit-package/5000-s6.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Schedule 6</a>, which is specifically for the Canada Workers Benefit.</p><p>If you're also eligible for the disability supplement, the process is similar, but keep in mind that if you have an eligible spouse, only one of you can claim the basic amount, while both of you can claim the disability supplement on separate forms if you're both eligible.</p><p>You don't need to apply separately for the advance payments under the ACWB program — these will be sent out automatically if you're eligible. Just make sure to file your tax return before November 1 of the benefit period to receive those payments.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/acwb-apply.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about applying for the CWB</a></p><h3>How much is the Canada Workers Benefit in Quebec?</h3><br/><p>The amount you can receive from the CWB depends on your income and where you live in Canada. Here are the maximum basic amounts you can get in Quebec, depending on your family situation:</p><ul><li>If you're <strong>single without children</strong>, the maximum basic amount you can get in Quebec is <strong>$3,521.87</strong>. This starts to decrease if your income is over $13,294.87, and you won't get anything if your income is above $30,904.22.</li><li>A <strong>couple without children</strong> can get up to <strong>$5,494.27</strong> for the basic amount. This begins to decrease if your net family income is above $20,412.45 and maxes out at an income of $47,898.80.</li><li>If you're a <strong>single parent</strong>, the maximum basic amount is <strong>$1,888.40</strong>. This amount is reduced if your income is more than $13,400.24, and no amount is paid if your family income is over $22,842.24.</li><li>For a <strong>couple with children</strong>, you can get up to <strong>$3,522.38</strong>. This starts to decrease if your family's income is over $20,563.57, and you won't get anything it's above $38,175.47.</li></ul><p>There's also a disability supplement available, which can add a maximum of <strong>$787.70</strong> per eligible person and is also subject to reduction based on income.</p><p>Given that the ACWB quarterly payments are for around 1/6 of your yearly entitlement, for the October 2024 payment, eligible recipients could receive up to:</p><ul><li><strong>$586.98</strong> if you're single without children</li><li><strong>$915.71</strong> for a couple without children</li><li><strong>$314.73</strong> if you're a single parent</li><li><strong>$587.06</strong> for a couple with children</li><li><strong>$131.28</strong> extra for each person who qualifies for the disability supplement</li></ul><p>These amounts vary for other provinces and territories, as they have different maximums and income thresholds. You can always use the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/child-family-benefits-calculator.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CRA's benefit calculator</a> to get a more accurate estimate based on your specific situation.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/acwb-amount.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about ACWB payment amounts</a></p><h3>Is the Canada Workers Benefit taxable?</h3><br/><p>No, the Canada Workers Benefit is not taxable. As a refundable tax credit, it's actually designed to reduce the amount of tax you owe, or give you a refund if you don't owe any tax.</p><h3>When are the Canada Workers Benefit payment dates?</h3><br/><p>The next Advanced Canada Workers Benefit payment date is <strong>October 11, 2024</strong>. </p><p>This is the final payment for 2024, with the following payment scheduled for January 10, 2025.</p><p><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/calendar.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More about federal benefit payment dates</a></p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/row-of-houses-in-montreal.jpg?id=55506085&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=2%2C0%2C2%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>The Montreal housing market is poised for steady growth in 2025, with home prices expected to rise faster than the national average, a new report shows. </p><p>For anyone hoping to buy a home here, the real question is: <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/housing-market-montreal-average-rent-november-2024" target="_blank">How much income will you need</a> to make it happen?</p><p>According to a <a href="https://www.royallepage.ca/en/realestate/news/canadian-property-price-appreciation-set-for-a-return-to-long-term-norms-in-2025/" target="_blank">recent report from Royal LePage</a>, the aggregate price of a home in Greater Montreal is forecast to increase by 6.5% this year, reaching $655,082 by the fourth quarter of 2025. </p><p>Detached houses are set to climb even higher, with a 7.5% increase pushing their median price to $750,780. Condos, meanwhile, are expected to rise by 6%, bringing their median price to $507,210.</p><p>That puts Montreal slightly ahead of national growth projections, where the aggregate home price is expected to rise by 6% this year — although the average home in Canada is still projected to be about 30% more expensive than in Montreal, rising to $856,692 by the end of the year. </p><p>Montreal is also set to outpace Canada's other big cities this year, with Toronto projected to grow by 5% and Vancouver by only 4% in the same period.</p><p>"The Greater Montreal real estate market recorded healthy growth in activity and prices in 2024 after 2023 was characterized by below-average transactions," explains Marc Lefrançois, a Royal LePage real estate broker.</p><p>So, how much income do you need to afford a home in Montreal in 2025? Let's crunch the numbers.</p><p> As a general rule, the <a href="https://assets.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/sites/cmhc/consumers/buying-a-home/homebuying-step-by-step-guide/homebuying-step-by-step-guide-en.pdf?rev=37af6dbf-580a-4de8-aba9-353eba4c022f" target="_blank">Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation</a> (CMHC) recommends keeping your major housing costs — mortgage payments, property taxes, heating costs and condo fees — to no more than 32% of your before-tax income. We've made some calculations based on current mortgage conditions in Canada, including the <a href="https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/banking-and-financial-statistics/posted-interest-rates-offered-by-chartered-banks/" target="_blank">Bank of Canada</a>'s current five-year conventional interest rate of 6.45%, to figure out what household income you need to afford an average home in Montreal.</p><p><strong>For a single-family detached house priced at $750,780:</strong></p><ul><li>You'll need a minimum down payment of <strong>$50,078</strong> (5% on the first $500,000 and 10% on the rest).</li><li>Including the obligatory 4% CMHC insurance on a down payment of that size, your total mortgage would be <strong>$728,730.08</strong>. That means monthly payments of <strong>$4,859.14</strong>, assuming a 6.45% interest rate over 25 years.</li><li>Factor in around <strong>$5,332.94</strong> in annual property taxes and <strong>$1,597.92</strong> in heating costs, and your total yearly expenses come to <strong>$65,240.54</strong>.</li><li>To stay within CMHC's guidelines, you'll need a gross household income of <strong>$203,877 </strong><strong>per year</strong>.</li></ul><p><strong>For a condo priced at $507,210:</strong></p><ul><li>A down payment of <strong>$25,721</strong> is the minimum.</li><li>With 4% CMHC insurance added, your total mortgage would be <strong>$500,748.56</strong>, which comes out to monthly payments of <strong>$3,338.97</strong>.</li><li>We've estimated around <strong>$2,040</strong> a year in condo fees (based on 850 sq. ft. at $0.20/sq. ft.), while property taxes add about another <strong>$3,602.81</strong>, bringing total yearly expenses to <strong>$45,710.45</strong>.</li><li>In order to keep that capped at 32% of your income, your household will need to make around <strong>$142,845</strong> to comfortably afford this.</li></ul><p>Montreal's affordability is still relatively strong compared to other Canadian cities, but rising demand could push prices even higher. </p><p>The city is experiencing renewed interest from buyers, many of whom had previously moved to more remote areas during the pandemic, according to Lefrançois. At the same time, <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-new-mortgage-rules-december-2024" target="_blank">government programs aimed at helping first-time buyers</a> are increasing demand without necessarily boosting supply, which adds upward pressure to prices.</p><p>With fewer new construction projects in the pipeline and more families looking to settle in or around the city, Royal LePage expects steady competition in the housing market throughout the year.</p>
