Prominent business groups are backtracking on their claim that one in five Canadians would be affected by the federal government's proposed changes to capital gains taxation.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland intends to ask Parliament to approve proposed changes to capital gains taxation in a stand-alone bill a move that will force the federal Conservatives to take a specific position on the measure.

Conestoga College is being called out for its aggressive international student recruitment as the college had 37,000 study permits approved and extended in 2023. That was the most in the country.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says international students will be able to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week starting in September.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has ruled out raising taxes on the middle class in the upcoming federal budget but won't say if corporations or the wealthy are in for the same treatment.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a new $1.5-billion housing fund will help non-profit organizations acquire more rental units across Canada and make sure they remain affordable.

The parliamentary budget officer is projecting inflation will return to the Bank of Canada's two per cent target by the end of the year and the federal deficit will grow amid weakening economic conditions.