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Asha Tomlinson on raising a black boy; 2-year air travel complaint backlog : CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet

CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need this week.

Newsletter: Consumer and health news you need from the week

Asha Tomlinson is envious of the stage of life her son Isaiah Henry is at, but she is also nervous about his future. (Submitted by Asha Tomlinson)

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

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Raising a young black boy in North America today means fear, faith and hope that change will come: Asha Tomlinson

Tomlinson looks at her son Isaiah's sweet, smiling face every day and sees a life filled with energy, love, laughter and happiness. (Submitted by Asha Tomlinson)

In the wake of the recent death of George Floyd while in police custody, protests are ongoing in the United States, Canada, and all over the world.

As Marketplace co-host Asha Tomlinson writes in this incisive essay "the events of the past week have been all-consuming and overwhelming," especially as the mother of a young black boy. But she still has faith in a better future. Read more

Canadian Transportation Agency overwhelmed by two-year backlog of nearly 14,000 air travel complaints

A response to an order paper question tabled by the federal NDP last week has revealed that more than half of the air travel complaints submitted to the Canadian Transportation Agency over the past two years remain untouched. (Mike Hillman/CBC)

If you're still waiting for a response to an air travel complaint you filed with the CTA, you're hardly alone. The organization is wrestling with a backlog of complaints accumulated over the past two years. At the same time, thousands of Canadians are demanding the agency help get their money back from flights cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Hand sanitizer in wine bottles has some experts worried

Minhas Sask Distillery sold hand sanitizer packaged in wine bottles in Winnipeg supermarkets. (Joanne Levasseur/CBC)

It's great that breweries and distilleries are answering the call for more hand sanitizer, but experts are warning that packaging the sanitizer in wine or beer bottles could be dangerous. Read more

Customers who unknowingly paid for credit card insurance frustrated banks won't show proof they signed up

Credit card insurance is a product that banks market as a way to help with credit card payments if a customer loses their job or gets sick. Some Canadians say they are being charged for it when they didn't sign up it. But the banks are refusing to provide proof they signed up for credit card insurance. (CBC)

Years after Marketplace first reported on Canadians unknowingly being charged for credit card insurance they say they never signed up for, more consumers are seeking restitution. Some have been successful, while others have had to fight tooth and nail to get refunds. Read more

What else is going on? 

Canada's only rice mill running 24/7 during pandemic
While food service business has plummeted, retail sales are up 75 per cent at Dainty Foods.

Influential Lancet hydroxychloroquine study retracted by three authors
Three of the authors of an influential article that found hydroxychloroquine increased the risk of death in COVID-19 patients have retracted the study due to concerns about the quality of the data.

Black entrepreneurs want Canadian firms to 'put their money where their mouth is' to fight racism
They say real action must come after the ads and #BlackoutTuesday.

Yes, we're getting more extreme rainfall, and it's due to climate change, study confirms
A new study from researchers at Environment and Climate Change Canada found that climate change has made rainfall more extreme and storms with heavy rainfall more frequent.

Marketplace needs your help

Have your best laid wedding plans gone up in smoke? If you're having trouble with refunds, booking a new wedding date, or are still waiting for a call back from any of the service providers who were supposed to help you on your big day, we want to hear from you. Contact us at marketplace@cbc.ca.

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Are you a big online shopper? Send us your videos and examples of over packaging, including excessive wrapping, too much plastic, or giant boxes for small items. Remember to include your name, city, what you bought and where it was from!  And if you're wondering how to shoot it, check out this great video by Marketplace viewer Alfy in Brampton, Ont.  

Send your videos to: marketplace@cbc.ca. PS: Feeling a bit camera shy and want more shooting tips? Email us and we'll send some along!

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