Whether you have a traditional wood-burning fireplace, a gas model, or an electric option, ensuring your fireplace is ready to heat your home and create a cozy atmosphere requires a few simple steps. Inspect and Clean Your Chimney  A chimney inspection is recommended every year, especially if you use your fireplace regularly. Creosote buildup, a […]

The post A Guide to Preparing Your Fireplace for Winter  appeared first on Zoocasa Blog.

Meta's also provided some tips on how to avoid scams.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The arrest warrants do not guarantee that the men will be tried at The Hague, the Dutch city where the […]

Every episode of Say Nothing, the FX/Hulu show based on the nonfiction book of the same name, ends with a disclaimer: “Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA or participating in any IRA-related violence.”  Disclaimers aren’t unusual in film and television (arguably even more shows should employ them) but the Adams […]

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is back with another round of product recalls, and you’ll want to check your fridge and pantry ASAP.

From organic carrots and frozen breaded chicken to literal bread and butter, these food recalls in Canada are raising red flags over issues like harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, undeclared allergens and foreign objects like pieces of metal.

Some of the affected products are from household brands like No Name, Great Value, PC Organics, Compliments, Janes and Saputo, plus more popular breads including Dempster’s and Harvest Gold.

A few of these recalls have ties to the ongoing Sifto salt recall, where pieces of metal were found in various salt products that were then used in the preparation of other products. This includes the ongoing bread recall and a newer breaded chicken recall noted below.

The CFIA has advised consumers to stay vigilant, check their kitchens and return or throw out any recalled products for safety.

Here are nine of the latest food recalls in Quebec and everything you need to know about the affected products.

Saputo & Baxter salted butter

Recalled products:

• Baxter Salted Butter, 454 g
• Saputo Salted Butter, 25 kg

Recall reason: Saputo Dairy Products Canada G.P. is recalling Baxter and Saputo brand salted butter sold in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec due to contamination with pieces of metal. This issue is linked to the earlier recall of Sifto salt, which the CFIA says was used in the production of these products. Consumers are advised not to use, sell, serve or distribute the affected butter. You can check the CFIA recall notice for details on specific batches and UPC codes to determine if your product is affected.

Salted butter recall notice

Omni potstickers

Recalled product: Omni Potstickers, 200 g — best before June 21, 2026

Recall reason: Canda Six Fortune Enterprise Co. Ltd. is recalling Omni brand potsticker dumplings due to undeclared shrimp, a known allergen. Distributed across Canada, these potstickers could pose a serious risk to those with shellfish allergies, and one allergic reaction has already been reported. Consumers are urged to check if they have the affected product and avoid consuming it if allergic or sensitive. The recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. The CFIA says it’s continuing its investigation to ensure the affected items are removed from the marketplace.

Omni recall notice

Great Value Pacific white shrimp

Recalled product: Great Value Pacific White Shrimp Cooked Peeled Deveined Tail On 16/20, 350 g — best before November 1, 2025

Recall reason: Select Source Seafood is recalling Great Value brand Pacific white shrimp that was sold nationally due to contamination with 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone, a chemical compound. Consumers are advised not to use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product. For details on specific batch information, consult the CFIA recall notice. Recalled products should be returned to the place of purchase or safely discarded.

Great Value recall notice

Various brands of organic carrots

Recalled products:

• Bunny-Luv Organic Juice Carrots, 11.34 kg — all products sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024
• Bunny-Luv Fresh Carrots, 907 g — all products sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024
• Cal-Organic Organic Baby-Cut Carrots, 454 g, 907 g & 2 x 907 g — all best-before dates from September 11 to November 2, 2024
• Cal-Organic Organic Carrots, 907 g & 2.27 kg — all products sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024
• Cal-Organic Organic Petite Carrots, 340 g — all best-before dates from September 11 to November 2, 2024
• Cal-Organic Carrots, 50 lb — all products sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024
• Compliments Organic Baby-Cut Carrots, 454 g — all best-before dates from September 14 to October 24, 2024
• Compliments Organic Carrots, 907 g — all products sold from August 14 to October 23, 20
• PC Organics Baby-cut Carrots, 454 g & 907 g — all best-before dates from September 11 to November 2, 2024
• PC Organics Carrots, 907 g — all products sold from August 14 to October 23, 2024

Recall reason: Grimmway Farms is recalling various brands of organic carrots, including Cal-Organic, PC Organics, Compliments Organic and Bunny-Luv, due to potential contamination with E. coli O121. Sold across the country, these carrots may not appear spoiled but could cause serious illness if consumed. Symptoms of E. coli O121 exposure range from nausea and diarrhea to severe complications like kidney damage. While no one in Canada has reported getting sick from them as of the time of writing, consumers are advised to check their homes for these products, avoid consuming them and either return them to the store of purchase or dispose of them.

Organic carrots recall notice

Various brands of frozen breaded chicken products

Recalled products:

• Compliments Breaded Chicken Strips, 1.5 kg — best before October 22, 2025
• Great Value Chicken Nuggets, 1.5 kg — best before October 16, 2025
• Great Value Crispy Popcorn Chicken, 1.13 kg — best before October 18, 2025
• Janes Pub Style Chicken Burgers, 700 g — best before October 27, 2025
• Janes Whole Wheat Chicken Strips, 2 kg — best before October 21, 2025
• no name Chicken Burgers, 1.81 kg — best before October 22, 2025
• no name Chicken Nuggets, 1.81 kg — best before October 28, 2025
• no name Chicken Strips, 1.81 kg — best before October 28, 2025
• Sysco Chicken Nuggets, 4 kg — best before October 17, 2025

Recall reason: Sofina Foods Inc. is recalling various brands of frozen breaded chicken products, including Compliments, Great Value, Janes, no name and Sysco, due to contamination with pieces of metal. This issue is linked to the prior Sifto salt recall, as the affected salt was used in the production of these products. Sold across the country, these products should not be consumed, sold or served. Consumers are encouraged to check their freezers and dispose of the recalled items or return them to the store of purchase. For specific batch details, consult the CFIA recall notice.

Frozen chicken recall notice

M&M Food Market Buffalo Chicken Dip

See on Instagram

Recalled product: M&M Food Market Buffalo Chicken Dip, 450 g

Recall reason: National Pasta Corp. is recalling M&M Food Market brand Buffalo Chicken Dip sold nationally due to contamination with pieces of metal. The CFIA notice doesn’t specify whether this metal recall is connected to the earlier Sifto salt recall. Consumers should avoid using or serving this product and either discard the dip or return it to the store where it was purchased. For specific lot codes, consult the CFIA recall notice.

M&M Food Market recall notice

Hestars Temple Street Crispy Rice

Recalled product: Hestars Temple Street Crispy Rice (“Corn flavor”), 108 g — all codes where milk is not declared on the label

Recall reason: Heng Hing Trading Ltd. is recalling Hestars brand Temple Street Crispy Rice (“Corn flavor”) due to undeclared milk, a known allergen. Distributed in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec, this product poses a serious risk to individuals with milk allergies, and one allergic reaction has been reported. Consumers are advised to avoid consuming the product and either discard the item or return it to the store of purchase.

Hestars recall notice

Various brands of bread

Recalled products:

• Compliments 12-Grain Bread, 600 g
• Compliments Ancient Grain Bread, 600 g
• Dempster’s Thin Sandwich 100% Whole Wheat Bread, 675 g
• Dempster’s 100% Whole Wheat Bread, 675 g
• Dempster’s Honey & Oatmeal 100% Whole Grain Bread, 600 g
• Dempster’s Signature Everything White Bread, 600 g
• Dempster’s White Bread, 675 g
• Dempster’s Ancient Grains with Quinoa 100% Whole Grain Bread, 600 g & 3 x 620 g
• Dempster’s Multigrain 100% Whole Grain Bread, 600 g
• Dempster’s 12 Grain 100% Whole Grain Bread, 600 g & 3 x 620 g
• Dempster’s Texas Toast White Sandwich Bread, 675 g
• Dempster’s Thin Sandwich White Bread, 675 g
• Dempster’s Texas Toast 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread, 675 g
• Dempster’s Smooth Multigrain 100% Whole Grain Bread, 600 g
• Harvest Gold White Sandwich Bread, 675 g
• Harvest Gold 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread, 675 g
• Pom Signature Everything White Bread, 600 g
• Pom White Sandwich Bread – “Ultra-moelleux”, 675 g
• Pom 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread – “Ultra-moelleux”, 675 g
• Sunshine 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread, 675 g

Recall reason: Bimbo Canada is recalling various bread brands, including Compliments, Dempster’s, Harvest Gold, Pom and Sunshine, due to contamination with pieces of metal. This recall is linked to the earlier Sifto salt recall, as the affected salt was used to make these breads. Distributed in Ontario and Quebec, these breads should not be eaten, sold or served. Consumers are advised to check their pantries and dispose of the recalled bread or return it to the store of purchase. For full details, including batch information, refer to the CFIA recall notice.

Bread recall notice

Johnsonville sausages

Recalled products:

• Johnsonville Pure Beef Smoked Beef Sausages Fully Cooked Sausages, 375 g — best before December 6 and 21, 2025
• Johnsonville Pure Beef Cheddar Cheese Smoked & Fully Cooked Sausages, 375 g — best before December 6, 2025

Recall reason: Johnsonville LLC is recalling various flavours of smoked beef sausages due to an incorrect best-before date on the packaging. Sold in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec, these products should not be eaten, sold or served. Consumers are advised to check their packages and return any affected items to the store of purchase or dispose of them.

Johnsonville recall notice

Love this? Check out our MTL Blog noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!

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 Editorial Standards page.

If you’ve been feeling the pinch at the checkout lately, there’s some good news coming your way just in time for the holidays.

The federal government announced on Thursday that it’s offering a tax break to all Canadians by waiving the goods and services tax (GST) on a whole bunch of everyday items starting in December. According to the feds, this move would provide an estimated $1.6 billion in tax relief and is aimed at giving Canadians more money in their pockets at a time when they need it most.

This new tax break is arriving on December 14, just in time for the holiday season, and applies to a variety of essentials, from groceries and snacks to kids’ clothing and even Christmas trees. Yes, you read that right — buying that perfect tree for your living room just got a little cheaper.

“Our government can’t set prices,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a press release, “but we can give Canadians, and especially working Canadians, more money back in their pocket.”

— (@)

The exemption will last for two months, until February 15, 2025, giving families a chance to save on purchases during the busiest shopping months of the year.

According to the feds, a family spending $2,000 on these items over the two-month period would see GST savings of over $100. Meanwhile, residents of provinces with HST — which Quebec doesn’t have — would save even more.

So, what exactly is free of federal tax now? Here’s the full list of items the exemption applies to from the government press release:

• Prepared foods, including vegetable trays, premade meals and salads, and sandwiches
• Restaurant meals, whether dine-in, takeout or delivery
• Snacks, including chips, candy and granola bars
• Beer, wine, cider and premixed alcoholic beverages below 7% ABV
• Children’s clothing and footwear, car seats and diapers
• Children’s toys, such as board games, dolls and video game consoles
• Books, print newspapers and puzzles for all ages
• Christmas trees

And there’s more: Working Canadians who earned up to $150,000 in 2023 are in for a bonus this spring, when the government will roll out a $250 Working Canadians Rebate. According to the feds, this rebate is designed to help middle-class Canadians, giving nearly 19 million people an extra boost in their bank accounts.

“The holiday season is when expenses are highest for many Canadians and their families,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. “With new tax relief on groceries and seasonal expenses and a rebate for working Canadians, we are reducing costs when they are highest for Canadians.”

So whether you’re hosting a holiday feast, buying gifts for the kids or just grabbing some snacks for a cozy movie night, this GST exemption is a little something to make life more affordable.

For more details about eligible items and how to make the most of this tax break, check out the official government announcement here.

Love this? Check out our MTL Blog noticeboard for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!

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 Editorial Standards page.