Health Canada is recalling these smart plugs over an electric shock risk

Health Canada is urging consumers to “immediately” stop using the recalled smart plugs and contact Emporia to receive a full refund or a free replacement smart plug. (Photo: Health Canada)

Health Canada has issued a recall notice for Emporia's North America smart plugs, warning that these products present a risk of electric shock.

According to the notice issued on Tuesday, the smart plugs lack proper grounding and can potentially expose users to electricity.

The plugs feature a white exterior finish with "emporia" printed on the front, as indicated by the health agency.

These China-manufactured products, which measure about 8.9 cm wide, 3.8 cm high, and 2.5 cm deep, enable consumers to monitor energy usage and control various home appliances through the Emporia App on their smartphones. They were available for purchase individually or in multi-packs.

A total of 2,239 smart plugs were sold in Canada between July 2022 and August 2023. However, as of September 18, the company has not received any reports of incidents or injuries related to these products in Canada.

Health Canada is urging consumers to “immediately” stop using the recalled smart plugs and contact Emporia to receive a full refund or a free replacement smart plug.

If you have one of these recalled products, don’t worry< the company says it will remotely disable the smart plug, but make sure you are connected to the internet during this process.

In case you're unable to establish an internet connection for remote disabling, Emporia offers a no-cost return option. Once the smart plug has been deactivated or returned, Emporia will swiftly provide you with either a free replacement smart plug or a full refund.

Reporting for this story was paid for through The Afghan Journalists in Residence Project funded by Meta.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles recalled in Canada over potential power loss

Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles from Kia, Hyundai and Genesis are being recalled in Canada over a potential power loss issue that can increase the risk of a crash.

Canada Post quarterly loss tops $300M as strike hits second week -- and rivals step in

Canada Post saw hundreds of millions of dollars drain out of its coffers last quarter, due largely to its dwindling share of the parcels market, while an ongoing strike continues to batter its bottom line.

'Immoral depravity': Two men convicted in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba

A jury has found two men guilty on human smuggling charges in a case where a family from India froze to death in Manitoba while trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border.

Canada's tax relief plan: Who gets a cheque?

The Canadian government has unveiled its plans for a sweeping GST/HST pause on select items during the holiday period. The day after the announcement, questions remain on how the whole thing will work.

Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease

An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease.

Pat King found guilty of mischief for role in 'Freedom Convoy'

Pat King, one of the most prominent figures of the 2022 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa, has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order.

Canada issues travel warning after 6 people die from tainted alcohol in Laos

The Canadian government is warning travellers following the deaths of at least six people in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists in Laos after drinking tainted alcohol.

Ground beef tied to U.S. E. coli recall, illnesses wasn't sold in Canada: distributor

At least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef, federal health officials said.

Canada's new income tax brackets in 2025: What you need to know

The Canada Revenue Agency has released updated federal income tax brackets for 2025, reflecting adjustments for inflation. Here’s the breakdown.

Canada

Trump supporters review-bomb B.C. floral shop by accident

A small business owner from B.C.’s Fraser Valley is speaking out after being review-bombed by confused supporters of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump this week.
'Immoral depravity': Two men convicted in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba

A jury has found two men guilty on human smuggling charges in a case where a family from India froze to death in Manitoba while trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border.
Pat King found guilty of mischief for role in 'Freedom Convoy'

Pat King, one of the most prominent figures of the 2022 'Freedom Convoy' in Ottawa, has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order.
Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease

An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease.
No criminality in school bus crash in B.C.'s Cariboo region, RCMP say

An investigation into the school bus crash near Lac La Hache, B.C., earlier this year that left dozens of people hurt and one Good Samaritan dead has concluded the incident was nothing more than a tragic accident, the RCMP revealed Friday.
Sask. principal has sexual assault conviction overturned in light of 'butt-grabbing game'

A Saskatchewan principal sentenced to six months behind bars for sexual assault has another chance to prove he’s the victim of a middle-school prank that escalated out of control.

World

Texas school board approves optional curriculum that incorporates Bible lessons for K-5 classes

Public schools in Texas now can use a new, state-written curriculum infused with Bible stories after the state’s school board voted in favour on Friday.
Colorado funeral home owners who let nearly 190 bodies decay plead guilty to corpse abuse

The owners of a Colorado funeral home who let nearly 200 bodies decay in a room-temperature building and gave grieving families fake ashes pleaded guilty on Friday to corpse abuse.
Vang Vieng: What to know about the Laos backpacker town at centre of suspected methanol poisonings

The deaths of six foreign tourists linked to a suspected mass methanol poisoning has thrown a spotlight on a small town in Southeast Asia that has worked hard in recent years to shed its reputation for excess.
Matt Gaetz says he's not returning to U.S. Congress next year

Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general on Thursday, said Friday he will not be returning to U.S. Congress next year.
Rare first edition of Machiavelli's famous leadership treatise, 'The Prince,' goes up for auction

The Italian Renaissance diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli has become synonymous with subtle scheming. And now, an extremely rare first edition of his most famous work, the political manual 'The Prince,' is going up for auction, with an expected sale price of up to £300,000 (US$375,000).
NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile

NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.

Politics

The winners and losers of the Liberals' holiday tax break and cash giveaway

The Liberal government is pulling out the federal wallet to put more money into people's pockets over the holidays, but its recently announced affordability measures create winners and losers.
No evidence linking Modi to criminal activity in Canada: national security adviser

A senior official says the Canadian government is not aware of any evidence linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to alleged criminal activity perpetrated by Indian agents on Canadian soil.
Halifax Security Forum begins amid questions on Canada's military spending

The Halifax International Security Forum opened Friday with Defence Minister Bill Blair defending Canada's military spending amid mounting pressure on NATO members to do more following Donald Trump's win in the U.S. presidential election.

Health

Tracking respiratory viruses in Canada: RSV, influenza, COVID-19

As the country heads into the worst time of year for respiratory infections, the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report tracks how prevalent certain viruses are each week and how the trends are changing week to week.
U.S. confirms first case of bird flu in a child

A child in California is recovering at home from a confirmed case of bird flu. They are the first child in the United States to test positive for avian influenza.
Mpox still a health emergency, says WHO

The Mpox outbreak continues to represent a public health emergency, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

Sci-Tech

Fast-forming alien planet has astronomers intrigued

Astronomers have spotted orbiting around a young star a newborn planet that took only three million years to form, quite swift in cosmic terms.
Elon Musk has pledged to settle Mars. This book offers a reality check

The promise of starting life anew on Mars may appear alluring as the climate crisis intensifies and space and rocket technology advances. But the reality would be dreadful, according to experts.
New Brunswick oysters test positive for dermo disease, first confirmed case in Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says oyster samples from New Brunswick's east coast have tested positive for two diseases, one of which has been found for the first time in Canada.

Entertainment

Caravaggio portrait goes on public display for the first time in Rome

A portrait by baroque painter Caravaggio of of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini is going on display in Rome, from Nov. 23 until Feb. 23, 2025, at Palazzo Barberini.
Rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrives in court seeking bail before sex-trafficking trial

Sean 'Diddy' Combs cannot be trusted to follow the rules he has proposed for himself as part of a US$50-million bail package, a prosecutor said on Friday, in urging a judge to keep the music mogul in the Brooklyn jail where he has been held for 10 weeks ahead of his May 5, 2025 trial on sex-trafficking charges.
REVIEW
REVIEW 'Wicked: Part One' review: This re-imagination of the hit musical is a cinematic showstopper

CTV film critic Richard Crouse says 'Wicked' is a bold, brassy re-imagination of the beloved hit musical that brews up its own cinematic vibe.

Business

Maple Leaf Foods launches defamation lawsuit against Canada Bread and Grupo Bimbo

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has launched a defamation lawsuit against Canada Bread Co. Ltd. and its parent company Grupo Bimbo.
Canada Post quarterly loss tops $300M as strike hits second week -- and rivals step in

Canada Post saw hundreds of millions of dollars drain out of its coffers last quarter, due largely to its dwindling share of the parcels market, while an ongoing strike continues to batter its bottom line.
Cineplex rolls out free refills on pop, popcorn at theatres

Starting Friday, avid moviegoers won't go thirsty or run out of salty, buttery treats while enjoying the latest films at all Cineplex theatres.

Lifestyle

Cheating on your spouse no longer a crime in New York, with repeal of little-known 1907 law

New York repealed on Friday a seldom-used law over a century old that made it a crime to cheat on your spouse — a misdemeanor that once could have landed adulterers in jail for three months.
Canoeist is paddling the 9,650-kilometre Great Loop out of gratitude for life

Peter Frank has paddled from Michigan's Upper Peninsula in June to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland this month in his 1982 Sawyer Loon decked canoe, but he’s still got a long way to go.
World's tallest and shortest women meet for afternoon tea

The world's tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman have met for afternoon tea in London to celebrate Guinness World Records Day.

Sports

Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules

A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor 'brutally raped and battered' her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 euros on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland.
'We are an extraordinary group of people': Whoopi Goldberg launches All Women's Sports Network

Whoopi Goldberg's latest venture, the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), has been a long time in the making.
Alex Ovechkin expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with broken left leg

Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record.

Autos

Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles recalled in Canada over potential power loss

Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles from Kia, Hyundai and Genesis are being recalled in Canada over a potential power loss issue that can increase the risk of a crash.
Northvolt says Quebec battery plant will proceed despite bankruptcy filing

Northvolt AB has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, but said the move will not jeopardize the manufacturer's planned electric vehicle battery plant in Quebec — though hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars invested in the parent company could be lost.
Canadian drivers own their poor road habits: survey

Canadian drivers are regularly in a hurry to get to their destination and a majority are willing to take unnecessary risks on the road, according to the results of a new survey.

Trump supporters review-bomb B.C. floral shop by accident

A small business owner from B.C.’s Fraser Valley is speaking out after being review-bombed by confused supporters of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump this week.
No criminality in school bus crash in B.C.'s Cariboo region, RCMP say

An investigation into the school bus crash near Lac La Hache, B.C., earlier this year that left dozens of people hurt and one Good Samaritan dead has concluded the incident was nothing more than a tragic accident, the RCMP revealed Friday.
1 dead after crash that closed highway in Hope, B.C.

A 69-year-old man is dead after a crash that partially closed the Coquihalla Highway earlier this week.

Toronto

Trudeau announces funding to feed 160,000 Ontario students

An additional 160,000 students in Ontario will get access to free meals, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced at a Brampton, Ont. school Friday.
3 charged in connection with collision between TTC bus and stolen BMW that injured 9

Three people are facing charges in connection with a carjacking of a stolen BMW that collided with a TTC bus in North York early Monday morning.
Toronto man onboard Blue Origin flight to space says he 'can't wait to go again'

Henry Wolfond returned to Earth Friday morning after a quick trip to the edge of space. The Toronto finance executive was part of a six-person crew onboard the New Shepard, a reuseable rocket designed for space tourism by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.

Calgary

Sixth person charged in Tara Miller's death

Alberta RCMP have charged a sixth person in connection with the death of Calgarian Tara Miller.
'Sounded like a bomb': Mahogany residents stunned by townhouse explosion, fire

Investigators are working to piece together what caused an explosion and fire at a six-plex in the southeast Calgary community of Mahogany.
Sexual assault charge against Banff councillor Hugh Pettigrew withdrawn

The Crown has withdrawn a sexual assault charge against Banff councillor Hugh Pettigrew and agreed to a common law peace bond.

Ottawa

BREAKING
BREAKING Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal

Ottawa seniors will be facing a 60 per cent hike in transit fares in 2025, instead of a 120 per cent increase, under a new plan to halve a proposed hike in fares for riders over the age of 65.
Woman seriously injured in October house fire dies in hospital, Ottawa police say

A 51-year-old woman has died in hospital, more than a month after a fire damaged a home in Ottawa's west end. The Ottawa Police Service says it is now treating the death of Ottokie Kelly as a homicide.
Orleans man calls for changes after service guide dog attacked by another dog

An Orléans man who uses a service guide dog wants to see changes to rules surrounding dog attacks, after his guide dog was attacked by another dog last month.

Montreal

Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer's disease

An 81-year-old Quebec man has been sentenced to prison after admitting to killing his wife with Alzheimer's disease.
Montreal family doctor admits to fathering child with 19-year-old patient

A Montreal family doctor has vowed to stop practicing medicine after he admitted to fathering a child with a 19-year-old woman who was his patient.
Third suspect sought in killing of Montreal cryptocurrency influencer

Quebec provincial police are searching for a third suspect in connection with Kevin Mirshahi, the cryptocurrency influencer who was kidnapped and killed last summer.

Edmonton

What were those columns of light over Edmonton Thursday?

Social media lit up with pictures of the evening sky over the Edmonton area late Thursday. Weather conditions were just right for what are known as 'light pillars.'
Man intentionally drove his vehicle into Alberta home before firing long gun: RCMP

An Alberta man has been charged after he allegedly drove his vehicle into a home and fired a gun in a town east of Edmonton.
Woman accused in drowning of girl at Alberta lake had been under house arrest

A bail hearing has heard that a woman accused in the drowning death of a five-year-old girl in an Alberta lake didn't know the child and was supposed to be under house arrest.

Atlantic

P.E.I. teen sentenced to 2 years in custody in death of Tyson MacDonald

A teen who pleaded guilty in the death of 17-year-old Tyson MacDonald on Prince Edward Island last year has been sentenced to two years in custody.
What to know about the weekend rain, wind, and waves in the Maritimes

A fall storm moving from Cape Cod into the Maritimes will bring rainy and windy weather to the region this weekend.
Missing Nova Scotia senior found safe after emergency alert issued

A vulnerable man who was missing in Cape Breton has been found safe.

Winnipeg

'Immoral depravity': Two men convicted in case of frozen migrant family in Manitoba

A jury has found two men guilty on human smuggling charges in a case where a family from India froze to death in Manitoba while trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border.
Manitoba RCMP officer fatally shoots armed teenager, IIU investigating

Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating after a RCMP officer fatally shot a teenager armed with a weapon Friday morning in Norway House Cree Nation.
Towing company sues Winnipeg councillor, other towing company for defamation

A Winnipeg towing company is suing a Winnipeg city councillor and another local towing company, claiming comments they made about contracts in the city have defamed them.

Regina

B.C. man dies in collision on Sask. highway

A man from British Columbia has died in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 6 near Milestone, Sask.
Snowfall warning expands to Regina with up to 25 cm expected

Much of southwest Saskatchewan, including Regina, is under a snowfall warning on Friday, with total amounts of 10 to 25 centimetres expected.
Report shows more girls getting involved in sports, local program creates landscape to continue trend

A Regina program has created a landscape to encourage more girls to get involved in sports while building their self-esteem.

Kitchener

Man charged in Kitchener crash involving Grand River Transit LRT

Charges were laid after a crash between an LRT train and a Dodge vehicle shut down a busy Kitchener street for more than eight hours on Thursday.
FunGuyz says it's closing all 30 of its magic mushroom stores in Ontario

FunGuyz, which calls itself the biggest magic mushroom dispensary in Canada, says it's shutting down all 30 of its Ontario locations.
The Boathouse reopens in Kitchener's Victoria Park

A reopening ceremony was held in Kitchener’s Victoria Park Friday morning at 11 a.m. at The Boathouse, a restaurant and live music venue.

Saskatoon

Why isn't Saskatoon's new downtown shelter open yet?

Saskatoon's new downtown shelter must undergo renovations before it can open, according to the operator of the site.
Sask. principal has sexual assault conviction overturned in light of 'butt-grabbing game'

A Saskatchewan principal sentenced to six months behind bars for sexual assault has another chance to prove he’s the victim of a middle-school prank that escalated out of control.
'What about our spirituality?': Sask. man wants new Lighthouse operator to respect Indigenous culture

A Saskatoon man is concerned about an Alberta non-profit coming into the city to open a new shelter and run the Lighthouse.

Northern Ontario

Senior killed in dog attack in northern Ont.

An 81-year-old was killed in a dog attack this week in Bonfield, Ont. Police believe three dogs were involved.
Woman stabbed multiple times in Sudbury altercation

A 30-year-old woman is in hospital in Sudbury after she was stabbed multiple times early Friday morning in Chelmsford.
Police investigating death in Magnetawan, Ont.

The Almaguin Highlands detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is investigating a sudden death in Magnetawan.

London

VIDEO
VIDEO London house fire spreads to neighbouring property

London fire crews and police are on scene of a house fire in east London. Crews were called to the 1800 block of Culver Drive, east of Third Street and south of Oxford Street, around 11:30 a.m.
Charges laid after transport truck crash causes Highway 401 lane closure

Significant delays are being reported in the area and tow trucks are on scene to help. No injuries have been reported.
One person dead after two-vehicle crash involving delivery truck

Emergency crews were called to the scene on Highway 10 around 9 a.m. for reports of a crash between a van and a delivery truck.

Barrie

Highway 400 closed in Muskoka Lakes after fatal propane truck rollover

Emergency crews were called to Highway 400 in Georgian Bay Township Friday morning after a fatal tanker truck rollover.
Drug trafficking investigation results in largest fentanyl seizure in Simcoe County: OPP

Two people are facing drug trafficking charges after what provincial police are calling the largest fentanyl seizure in Simcoe County.
Barrie magic mushroom dispensary closed after company announces its shuttering Ont. locations

The doors are locked and the OPEN sign is off on Friday at an illegal magic mushroom dispensary in downtown Barrie one day after FunGuyz announced it would shutter its 30 Ontario locations.

Windsor

Car fire on the Ambassador Bridge

Windsor fire responded to a transport truck fire on Friday afternoon on the Ambassador Bridge.
Attempted bank robbery leads to arrest

Windsor police are crediting a quick response by their downtown patrol officers to help arrest a 39-year-old man after an attempted bank robbery.
Man arrested in connection to sexual assault on public bus: WPS

A man has been arrested by Windsor police following an incident on a public bus.

Vancouver Island

Campbell River high school closed due to fire

Carihi Secondary school in Campbell River is closed due to a fire on the property overnight – drawing a firefighting response from multiple departments and a crowd of onlookers.
Ship strikes kill thousands of whales. A study of hot spots could map out solutions

A study of hot spots for collisions between ships and whales around the world, including Canadian waters, offers a map for measures to prevent the deadly strikes that could drive some species to extinction, one of the British Columbia-based authors says.
Power restored, roads reopened after massive Saanich fire

The power has been restored and single-lane traffic reopened on Saanich’s Quadra Street by the wreckage from a massive fire on a condo construction site.

Kelowna

Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops

Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops.
Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior

British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year.
B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids

A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail.

Lethbridge

Hurricanes kick off U.S. road trip with a loss, falling 4-0 to Silvertips

The Hurricanes launched a three-game road trip south of the border Wednesday dropping a 4-0 game to the league-best Everett Silvertips.
Lethbridge residents asked to show some love to downtown businesses during holidays

A new citywide campaign is hoping to encourage residents to shop, eat and explore local this holiday season.
Lethbridge career exploration day aims to get women more involved in agriculture

Agriculture is an industry mainly dominated by men, but around 80 middle school and high school students – all of whom are female – are hoping to change that.

Sault Ste. Marie

After a year of struggle, centre that helps Sault youth to move to a building with heat

Sault-based charity Save Our Young Adults, or SOYA, will soon move to a new home -- for good reason.
$3M donation to help repair arena in Elliot Lake

The City of Elliot Lake said Thursday it has received a $3-million donation from Edward and Suzanne Rogers for the Centennial Arena restoration.
Sault College accounting students get a head start on their careers

Students in Sault College’s business accounting program have a new learning pathway that will ultimately give them a head start to a career.

N.L.

As N.L. firm pivots, scientists say Canada's green hydrogen dreams are far-fetched

A Newfoundland energy company's embrace of data centres is raising doubts about eastern Canadian hopes of harnessing the region's howling winds to supply Germany with power from green hydrogen.
Canadian leads group pushing Vatican for zero-tolerance policy on abuse by clergy

An international group led by a Canadian is in Rome this week to push the Catholic Church to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on abuse by clergy.
Newfoundland wind-to-hydrogen company eyes data centre as international market lags

A company hoping to build a multi-billion-dollar wind-to-hydrogen project in western Newfoundland is eyeing other options as Canada's plans to supply Europe with green energy have not yet materialized.

Health Canada is recalling these smart plugs over an electric shock risk

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

REVIEW | 'Wicked: Part One' review: This re-imagination of the hit musical is a cinematic showstopper

WATCH | 'Fireball' meteor lights up Calgary's sky

BREAKING | Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal

VIDEO | London house fire spreads to neighbouring property

REVIEW 'Wicked: Part One' review: This re-imagination of the hit musical is a cinematic showstopper

WATCH 'Fireball' meteor lights up Calgary's sky

BREAKING Seniors facing 60% hike for OC Transpo monthly transit pass in 2025 under new proposal

VIDEO London house fire spreads to neighbouring property