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This Toronto park is over 20 times bigger than Central Park and has breathtaking views
There are so many trails to explore.
You don't need to go far from Toronto to discover open air and endless trails. This massive park is a gorgeous spot for a hike, and it will have you forgetting you're anywhere near the city.
Open year-round, it's a dreamy destination to soak up the last of the fall colours, or enjoy a snowy-weather stroll once winter sets in.
Rouge National Urban Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, according to Parks Canada, spanning Toronto, Markham, Pickering and the Township of Uxbridge.
Covering more than 19 square miles, the sprawling natural area is 23 times bigger than New York City's Central Park.
Before planning your visit, though, there are a few access restrictions to keep in mind.
The Zoo Road Day Use Area is closed for construction of a new visitor centre until 2027, and Rouge Beach and Marsh is also closed for construction. While other areas of the park remain open, some popular trailheads and parking options are affected, so it's worth checking your route before heading out.
There are several trails to choose from, with hikes ranging from a quick 15-minute stroll to a four-hour adventure. Here are a few worth adding to your bucket list:
- Vista Trail: This route is a favourite for soaking up the season's vibrant colours, thanks to its two-level viewing platform overlooking the Rouge Valley.
- Orchard Trail: You can wander through a landscape filled with wetlands and traces of the area's early European settlers, including historic orchards, former residences and a mill.
- Woodland Trail: With a mix of forests, meadows and water, this trail is a good pick if you want a more relaxed hike.
- Glen Eagles Vista Trail: Short on time? This 15- to 30-minute walk leads to a scenic lookout where you can take in views of the Rouge River and Little Rouge Creek, framed by colourful autumn leaves. Keep in mind that the Glen Eagles Vista parking lot closes seasonally from November 1 to May 1, so it's not an option for parking during an early-November visit.
- Northeast Trail: At over 10 kilometres one-way, this longer route winds through marshes and farmland. Along the way, you'll encounter seven boardwalks and a pergola overlooking the marsh.
The park offers free admission year-round and free guided walks on select days. Upcoming events include a spooky Halloween walk and an autumn senses experience.
During the winter, you can enjoy snowy hikes, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and more, so it's worth keeping this spot in mind for some cold-weather adventures.
Planning your trip from Toronto? Rouge National Urban Park has multiple access points, but getting to a specific trail may take a little extra planning right now.
For the Vista and Orchard trails, Twyn Rivers Day Use Area remains open and can be reached from the Altona Road side in Pickering.
However, parking is limited, particularly on weekends, and the walk from nearby transit stops can involve a stretch of road without a sidewalk.
Check the official Parks Canada directions and current park bulletins before leaving, as closures and access conditions can change.
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B.C. billionaire's real estate firms allege 'pattern of misconduct' by CRA in tax row
B.C. billionaire's firms fight ballooning tax bill
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Companies controlled by billionaire B.C. property developer Terry Hui allege that the Canada Revenue Agency has engaged in a "pattern of misconduct" in its attempts to collect on ballooning tax debts dating as far back as 2007.
Five companies within Hui's real estate development group are targeted in the audit by the CRA, including Adex Securities, One West Holdings, a B.C. numbered company and two Luxembourg-based shell companies.
The companies filed an application in Federal Court this month, claiming the government has wrongfully moved to collect on tax debts totalling nearly $330 million, most of which is accrued interest.
The application says the group is involved in capital-intensive real estate projects in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary and the audit, initiated in 2013, focused on transactions that relied on Canada's tax treaty with Luxembourg.
The companies say in the application that they've received tax debt assessments this year, with Adex owing $45 million and interest of more than $65 million, while the two Luxembourg based companies owe together more than $92 million and $127 million in interest.
They want the court to stop the government from collecting on the debts until a related case filed earlier this year is concluded, while objecting to the CRA wanting $115 million security payment from Adex.
Requiring a payment that large and not allowing the company to defer will cause the real estate group to "lose significant capital that is currently being used to fund active development projects."
The application is one of at least three filed in Federal Court this year related to the dispute, where they claim that being forced to pay will cause "irreparable harm" and that no advance notice from the CRA means that they "could not have reasonably planned for a debt … of this magnitude."
The companies claim the revenue agency has exhibited a "pattern of misconduct," alleging its officers acted outside established policies and procedures and "without regard to the impact of their actions on taxpayer businesses."
Lawyers for the companies were not immediately available for comment, but Justin Kutyan with KPMG Law in Toronto told The Canadian Press earlier this year that the transactions in the case were similar to a tax structure upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2021.
The court ruled 6-3 in favour of Alta Energy Luxembourg, which had claimed a tax exemption on a capital gain of more than $380 million under Canada's treaty with Luxembourg, described in the decision as being "well known as an international tax haven."
The court found in Alta's favour, ruling that Canadian tax authorities couldn't use anti-tax avoidance rules to "judicially amend or renegotiate a treaty."
The dissenting justices in the case, however, said "the federal government did not deliberately set out to create the conditions for unlimited tax avoidance by means of schemes" used by the company.
The dissenters wrote that "the court should not legitimize such blatantly abusive tax avoidance based on the view that Canada should have negotiated different treaty terms."
The CRA said it did not have a spokesperson available for an interview to comment on tax treaty abuse.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.
By Darryl Greer | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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CRA is hiring for tax jobs in Canada that pay up to $149,000 a year
There are auditor, advisor, and specialist positions.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is hiring for tax-related positions across the country right now.
You can make up to $149,000 a year with these Government of Canada jobs.
The federal agency is looking for tax professionals to work in the Compliance Programs Branch, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch, and Appeals Branch to resolve complex compliance and regulatory issues.
The tax professional positions that the CRA is currently staffing are Regional Technical Advisor/Auditor, Senior Technical Specialist, Senior Technical Advisor, Regional Computer Audit Advisor, Industry Sector Specialist, Tax Appeals Case Specialist, and Appeals Policy Specialist.
If you're hired for any of these CRA jobs, the salary is between $125,309 and $149,779 per year.
The duties of the various tax jobs include:
- conducting extensive research and analysis
- interpreting policy and recommending solutions
- mentoring and providing technical guidance and expert advice on emerging, highly sensitive, or contentious tax issues
- providing direction and support to enhance program delivery within field operations
You must have a degree from a post-secondary institution with a specialization in accounting, business administration, commerce, economics, finance or tax, a post-secondary law degree, or eligibility to receive a designation from a recognized professional accounting association.
Experience requirements vary because the jobs span different branches of the CRA.
You must be willing to work overtime, travel, work evenings, weekends and statutory holidays, and work shifts or a flexible schedule.
A valid driver's license is required or personal mobility equivalent to having a driver's license.
The deadline to apply for these federal government jobs is Monday, October 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Various tax professional positions
Salary: $125,309 to $149,779
Company: Canada Revenue Agency
Who Should Apply: You need a post-secondary degree with a specialization in accounting, business administration, commerce, economics, finance or tax, a law degree from a post-secondary institution, or eligibility to receive a designation from a recognized professional accounting association.
Since the jobs are in different branches of the CRA, there are various experience requirements related to the departments.
You must be willing to work overtime, travel, work evenings, weekends and statutory holidays, and work shifts or a flexible schedule.
A valid driver's license is also required for these jobs.
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G7 Leaders Joked About Taking Their Clothes Off For A Pic & Trudeau Suggested 'Bare-Chested Horseback'
"We’ve got to show them our pecs!”
Things took an unexpected turn during the G7 summit in Germany, when several world leaders joked about taking their clothes off for a photo in order to show they are tougher than Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking on Sunday, during the 48th G7 summit, Putin became the butt of a joke between Justin Trudeau, British PM Boris Johnson, U.S. President Joe Biden and others.
As they prepared to discuss the Russian leader and the invasion of Ukraine, a video shows Johnson questioning if the group should remove their jackets before lunch, asking "shall we take our clothes off?"
According to The Washington Post, he went on to add, "We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin!"
Trudeau then quipped, "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display.”
The Canadian PM's joke is in reference to a series of infamous photos of Putin, including pics of him shirtless holding fish, shirtless basking in the sun and shirtless — yep, you guess it — on horseback.
The joke didn't die there, with Johnson adding, "There you go! There you go! We’ve got to show them our pecs!”
It was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who eventually shifted the conversation away from the Russian leader, simply saying that horseback riding "is the best, though!”
The same day, Johnson and Trudeau laughed (sort of) with one another as they compared the size of each other's private jets.
As always, the event so far has also inspired a number of ridiculously awkward photos of the leaders, including the classic "family photo" which appeared as stiff and uncomfortable as ever.
While there have been moments of humour during the summit until now, it hasn't all been jokes and smiles.
Among the key objectives of the summit is to continue to find ways to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the subsequent impact on food and energy supplies, prices and inflation worldwide.