Prince Harry and Meghan will be spending their Christmas holidays in Canada, a spokesperson for the couple said Friday. Although no details were released, reasonable speculation will focus on the long-time residency of Megan Markle in Toronto as an actress and her great friendship of the Ben Mulroneys of Moore Park. Meghan chatted, cooked, was Auntie Meg to Mulroney kids

The economy had a little October surprise for Canadians as retail sales fell 1.2 percent instead of moving up .05 percent as expected. Net sales were $50.9 billion. Statistics Canada says sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers as well as building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were a cause. Sales fell in eight of 11 subsectors, representing 81 percent of retail trade. Retail sales in volume terms fell 1.4 percent.

Ban on vaping advertising promised

Health Canada is proposing to ban the advertising of vaping products in spaces where young people can see them in a bid to rein in the rise of underage e-cigarette use. Minister Patty Hajdu put forward new rules Thursday that would prohibit vaping promotion in specialty shops, businesses and online platforms frequented by youth. Was Canada duped by vape claim to wean tobacco smokers?

Eleven raccoons found in an empty house

Watch a promotional video from Gates Wildlife as they go about nudging eleven raccoons out the door of a house that is vacant while awaiting renovation.

We don’t want to go/Gates Wildlife

Isla Glaser, 4

A four-year-old girl, Isla Glaser, has performed with super-hero poise as she talked with 911 in New Jersey to get help for her mom during a medical emergency. Take a look.

Wilmar Kortleever has kindly asked whether the Bulldog was deceived by a Leaside Community Facebook post on Friday about two mischievous men at the front door claiming to be plumbers. Photographs published there are from the movie Home Alone released in 1990. As the thread lengthened, many fans of Home Alone commented and one sombre reader said there are such men on Leaside streets. FB

400 northbound blocked at Innisfil Beach Rd where as many as 20 vehicles are involved/Barrie 911

Highway 400 was cluttered with damaged vehicles and subject to whiteout conditions Thursday after a series of collisions. OPP Sergeant Kerry Schmidt said blowing snow created dangerous driving conditions for motorists along a stretch of the highway. Northbound Highway 400 was shut down between Highway 88 and Innisfil Beach Road. By 3 p.m. however, all vehicles in the collisions had been removed from the highway and conditions had improved Schmidt told CP24. Vehicles were being towed to the Georgian Downs race track on the 5th sideroad of Innisfil Township.

The parking lot at Georgian Downs is full of damaged vehicles/Barrie 360 Alerts Twitter

Jean Charest with wife Michelle Dionne last year/Montreal Gazette

East York Conservative Justin Van Dette has issued a release applauding the prospect however unconfirmed that former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, 61, might run for head of the CPC to replace Andrew Scheer. Charest has a long history of public acceptance and at an early age was the leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. “Like so many other Canadians across the country, I too was very encouraged to hear several media reports note that former Quebec Premier Jean Charest was seriously considering a run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

“No Conservative Party in Quebec”

“To hear some Conservatives describe him as a Liberal is shocking considering that history notes that in the Province of Quebec there is no Conservative Party.  For many decades, Quebecers chose between a federalist and a separatist,” said Mr. Van Dette. Montreal Gazette

An unpleasant confrontation at the Tim Hortons in Leaside Village on Laird Drive is the subject of a long thread at Leaside Community Thursday. (Warning: language, anger)

Foreign call centre usually the source of scam calls/Wikipedia

Bell and Rogers are required by government directive to begin call-blocking methods Thursday against the many wild numbers used to contact potential victims of money frauds. But opinion seems to be mixed on just how effective it will be. Those who still possess residential landlines have found that the once essential devices are now a source of non-stop harassment from criminals and peddlers. CBC