$2 a litre for gas? It's coming; How some movers could be ripping you off: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet

Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC'sMarketplacerounds up the consumer and health news you need.

Want this in your inbox?Get theMarketplacenewsletter every Friday.

Gasoline has never been more expensive and experts say there's little relief in sight

The price to fill up a tank has never been higher in Canada, and experts say that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a major factor.

Dan McTeague, president of Canadians For Affordable Energy, says the average price of a litre of gasoline in Canada's biggest market, the Greater Toronto Area, hit $1.67 per litre on Wednesday, the highest level it's ever been. And he expects prices to goeven higher.

It's an "inevitable response," he said in an interview with CBC News, "to the threat that the global supply of oil will be further tightened by sanctions on the Putin regime."

Russia is one of the largest producers of oil and gas in the world, with Europe a major buyer of the country's oil.

But while punitive sanctions on Russia have mostly exempted energy products thus far, Vijay Muralidharan, senior consultant at energy analytics firm Kalibrate, says the market is acting out of fear that five million barrels a day may soon be unavailable.

"It freaks you out as a buyer," Muralidharan said. "Even if it doesn't happen, there's paranoia, so you bid up to make sure your supply is there."Read more

WATCH | Sky-high gas prices could keep rising, experts warn:

Record-breaking gas prices across Canada could keep climbing, experts warn

3 years ago

Duration 1:51

The cost of gas across Canada is rapidly rising, and with Russian oil supplies taken off the market, as well as OPEC nations failing to increase production, experts warn prices won't come down anytime soon.

Some movers could be ripping you off. Here's how

If you're planning a move in the near future, you're going to want to heed the lessons learned fromMarketplace'slatest hidden-camera investigation.

Over the last two years, at least 24 complaints were submitted to Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services about the same connected group of moving companies. These firms conduct moves all over the country.

Customers tellMarketplacethat after getting a quote based on an estimated weight of their items and putting down a non-refundable $200 deposit, they felt pressured to sign a new contract with a higher flat-rate weight on moving day.

We wanted to know if these were isolated incidents, so one of our producers went undercover.

Posing as a customer of Roadway Moving,Marketplacehired the company to transport the contents of a one-bedroom apartment from Toronto to Sudbury, Ont.

WhatMarketplacefound out and our producer experienced first-hand is that this group of moving companies is offering low quotes to consumers and then increasing the total cost of moves by thousands of dollars in some cases grossly over-estimating the weight of goods to be moved.Read more

Watch our full investigation onCBC Gem.

WATCH | Marketplace Customer's weight estimate for her move jumps from 1,000 to 4,000 pounds:

Tracking the movers a customers weight estimate goes from 1,000 to 4,000 pounds

3 years ago

Duration 2:48

While Marketplace producers waited in Sudbury for their delivery, GPS trackers hidden inside boxes on the moving truck showed the company completing an entirely different move first. That customer, Darlene Sherrington, had her same-day move quote increase from 1,000 pounds to a flat rate of 4,000 pounds.

WestJet is buying Sunwing. What will that mean for Canadian travellers?

WestJet is acquiring Sunwing, as competition in the Canadian travel market heats up.

The company released a statement on Wednesday confirming the news, saying that "the transaction will bring together two distinctly Canadian travel and tourism success stories."

Under the agreement, WestJet will create a new tour operator unit headed by Sunwing CEO Stephen Hunter that includes Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations as separate brands.

One industry expert thinks the acquisition isn't going to be the last one we see.

"Consolidation is starting to happen in the industry," said John Gradek, a lecturer and co-ordinator of the aviation management program at McGill University in Montreal.

Meanwhile, the competition bureau says it will review the proposed transaction.

"Under the Competition Act, the Competition Bureau has a mandate to review mergers to determine whether they are likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition," the statement read.Read more

How a Health Canada rule change is preventing this woman with terminal cancer from accessing magic mushrooms

Janis Hughes has been given two years to live, but wants to live those years as free of pain as possible.

She's spent hours researching how to improve her quality of life and believes psilocybin, a compound found in fungi commonly known as magic mushrooms, may be the answer

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that psilocybin may help lessen existential dread, Go Public reports.

The problem is that psilocybin is illegal in Canada.

Hughes and other patients with terminal illness have requested access to it for medical purposes something Health Canada has allowed dozens to do in the last two years through a Section 56(1) exemption.

But last month, a week before she submitted her request, the rules changed. Hughes's request was denied.

Health Canada says the rule change came because more research on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin is needed. But a chorus of voices working in the field of psychedelic therapy says the new system is creating difficult roadblocks and causing more harm to palliative patients already struggling.Read more

WATCH | A terminal cancer patient fights for access to psilocybin, a compound found in magic mushrooms:

Cancer patient fights for access to psilocybin | Go Public

3 years ago

Duration 2:11

Janis Hughes of Winnipeg was given two years to live after a battle with breast cancer and was denied an exemption to access psilocybin, a compound found in fungi commonly known as magic mushrooms. Physicians and advocates say the exemption system is unfair and is causing patients harm.

What else is going on?

Conversion therapy is now illegal in Canada. But some U.S. life coaches are still offering it to Canadians
Hidden-camera investigation raises questions about effectiveness of ban in age of virtual therapy.

Health Canada recalls Fitbit watch due to risk of burns
The Fitbit Ionic smartwatch has been recalled in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

UN agrees to create global plastic pollution treaty
The United Nations approved a landmark agreement to create the world's first ever global plastic pollution treaty on Wednesday.

Canadian snack maker Neal Brothers sees sales surge amid Loblaws fight with Frito-Lay
Canadian snack maker says orders have almost doubled, but costs are up, too.

Nerve damage may explain some cases of long COVID, U.S. study suggests
Sixty per cent of patients in small study had nerve damage, which may point to new treatments.

Marketplace needs your help

Do you have a story you think we should investigate? We want to hear from you. Email usatmarketplace@cbc.ca. Catch up on past episodes ofMarketplaceonCBC Gem.