September 8 Update: Points earned for Red Cross donations count towards Everyday Status Qualification, earn bonus points on Air Canada gift cards & a 50,000 PC Optimum points offer + MORE Sep 8th

Here’s your Rewards Canada Daily update! Your daily dose (or near daily dose) of loyalty program, credit card and travel news, bonuses, deals and more.   Rewards Canada reader Jason T. reached out to us via Facebook and asked if the promotion for earning Air Canada Aeroplan points for donating to the Canadian Red Cross counts towards Everday Status Qualification. We reached out to Aeroplan and have confirmation that yes those points do count! Technically speaking you could donate $5,000 and receive 100,000 points which would earn you Aeroplan 25K status. But as Jason also points out these donations aren’t tax deductible so if you were to donate $5,000 that’s a significant amount you can’t deduct that from your taxes. You might have to do the math to see if the Status is worth more than the deduction. Nonetheless this is something to consider if you are nearing that 100K mark and need a boost you to get that status. Click here to learn more about this donation offer…

When Vancouver condo owners Maggie and Rob found out they were on the hook for $400,000 in improvement costs to their building and unit as required by an assessment from their Strata Council, they weren’t sure what to do. (We’ve changed their names and some details to protect their privacy.)

The couple, who are in their early 80s and mortgage-free, have lived in the large upscale Kitsilano condo for the past 20 years and were not anticipating a financial obligation of this magnitude during retirement. So the results of an assessment from their Strata Council, which requires them and other unit owners to find six-figure sums in short order, came as a shock. While they have about a half-million dollars in investments they could use to cover the improvement costs, liquidating those assets would come with a serious tax hit. And their income isn’t high enough to qualify for a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or mortgage refinance.

Making matters worse, Rob’s health has been failing, which puts moving out of the question…

 Just over a year ago Aeroplan launched a partnership with Uber Eats whereby you could earn points on Uber Eats orders made through the Aeroplan eStore. Today that partnership with Uber has been expanded and it operates in pretty much the same fashion as the RBC & DoorDash Pass offer. This new Aeroplan partnership sees holders of an Aeroplan co-brand credit card receive a free Uber Pass membership. The free membership runs for three, six or twelve months depending on which card you have.If you have a TD or CIBC Aeroplan co-brand card you can join today while American Express will launch on November 1. Cardholders will be able to save up to $120 in monthly membership costs and have unlimited $0 Delivery Fees and 5% savings off eligible restaurant orders over $15 on Uber Eats, and save on grocery orders through Cornershop over $40, where available. Cardholders will also unlock new Uber Rides perks each month with discounts available only to Passholders. To enjoy these benefits, Cardholders must activate their free membership by September 7, 2022…