In the news today: Union serves 72-hour strike notice to CPKC

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Union serves 72-hour strike notice to CPKC

More than 9,000 workers at Canada’s two major railways could be either on strike or locked out as of Thursday, disrupting supply chains relied upon by many industries.

The union representing thousands of workers at Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. says it has served a 72-hour strike notice to the railway.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference issued a news release saying unless the parties can reach a last-minute agreement, workers will be off the job as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Thursday.

Not long after the union’s statement, CN Rail issued a notice that it intends to lock workers out at that same time unless an agreement or binding arbitration is achieved.

The company says no meaningful progress has occurred despite weekend labour negotiations.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Jasper making progress on path back to normal

The people of Jasper are making progress on getting back to normal after being allowed back to their town, cleaning their homes, re-uniting with neighbours and seeking insurance information.

Friday was the first day residents were allowed back after a wildfire forced the evacuation of the entire community, which eventually lost close to one third of its structures in the blaze.

Over the weekend, Parks Canada announced the status of the Jasper Wildfire Complex had changed from out-of-control to being held, and an evacuation alert that advised returning residents to be ready to flee again on an hour’s notice was dropped.

Parks Canada and municipal officials will provide updates at a news conference later today in nearby Hinton, and afterwards media are expected to get their first chance to visit Jasper.

The town says that on the first day of re-entry, more than 500 people visited the support centre at Commemoration Park, 350 people visited the insurance tent, 120 appliances were picked and ATCO Gas completed 335 service re-lights.

Lich, Barber’s lawyers argue for acquittal

An Ottawa court is expected to hear final arguments for acquittal from the legal teams of two “Freedom Convoy” figureheads today.

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are fighting criminal charges for their role in organizing the protest in 2022, which brought massive crowds and thousands of big rig trucks to downtown Ottawa for weeks, in opposition to pandemic restrictions.

The two are charged with mischief, intimidation and counselling others to break the law, but their trial has been legally complicated and marked with dozens of starts and stops since it began last September.

Today marks day four of closing arguments, and the court is expected to hear first from Barber’s counsel before Lich’s lawyers deliver their final submissions.

Barber’s lawyer Diane Magas told the court last week that her client is not responsible for the individual actions of protest participants.

Hurricane Ernesto to bring N.L. heavy rain, waves

An Environment Canada meteorologist says Newfoundland is expected to see big waves and downpours starting today as Hurricane Ernesto makes its way through the region.

Chris Fogarty with the Canadian Hurricane Centre predicts the storm will weaken in intensity as it moves over the colder Newfoundland and Labrador waters.

Ernesto made landfall in Bermuda on Saturday and weakened into a tropical storm, but regained strength on Sunday and was once again classified as a hurricane by that evening.

Fogarty says Ernesto will likely bring large waves to the Avalon Peninsula and heavy rain in the St. John’s area that is expected to hit late Monday and continue into Tuesday.

Fogarty says those living near the coast should prepare for pounding waves, and residents in the southern part of the Avalon Peninsula should brace for potential damage to docks, breakwaters and other structures close to the waterfront.

Underconsumption trend goes viral on social media

A trend called underconsumption has taken social media by storm.

The trend sees users boast about how they’re continuing to make use of the things they already own and repurpose household items instead of buying new ones, all while saving money along the way.

Experts say this trend of underconsuming is essentially a rebrand of minimalism, which has some roots in the current economic conditions and high joblessness that has particularly affected young people.

Canada’s unemployment rate has been steadily rising, hitting 6.4 per cent in July, data from Statistics Canada shows, as high interest rates slow the economy. However, young people have been hit particularly hard, with the youth unemployment rate reaching 14.2 per cent in July.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press