In this edition:
- Unionized Canada Post workers rejected ‘final offers,’ so what happens next?
- Canadian trade with U.S. picked up in June despite tariffs
- How will Ontario’s alcohol tax cuts impact the price of beer, cider and spirits?
- Prime Minister Carney announces new softwood lumber supports
- Port Cares CEO retiring by end of the year
- Focus on Human Resources
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Unionized Canada Post workers rejected ‘final offers,’ so what happens next?
Labour experts say another postal service strike is unlikely after unionized Canada Post workers rejected their employer’s latest round of offers in a forced vote and the parties mull their next steps.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said Friday that the roughly 55,000 members represented by the union shot down the Canada Post’s latest proposal, which would’ve seen wage hikes of about 13 per cent over four years and restructuring to add part-time workers to the deal.
Picture credit: Lazy_Bear / Adobe Stock
Canadian trade with U.S. picked up in June despite tariffs
Statistics Canada says Canadian exporters did more business with the United States in June even as tariffs ramped up. The agency says exports to the U.S. rose 3.1 per cent in June, but were still down 12.5 per cent on a year-over-year basis.
Canada’s trade surplus with the U.S. expanded to $3.9 billion in June as imports rose less than exports.
Picture credit: olegkruglyak3 / Adobe Stock
Ontario’s alcohol tax cuts take effect. How will they impact the price of beer, cider and other spirits?
Changes that came into effect on Aug. 1 lower taxes on spirits and beer produced by local microbreweries by 50 per cent. The measures were initially announced as part of the 2025 provincial budget.
The LCBO confirmed lower markups. But consumers shouldn’t expect instant savings, as the Crown agency’s purchases are exempt from basic tax rates applied to spirits.
Picture credit: Dmytro / Adobe Stock
Prime Minister Carney announces new softwood lumber supports
PM Mark Carney today announced a support package for Canada’s softwood lumber industry including up to $700 million in loan guarantees, $500 million to supercharge product and market diversification, made-in-Canada requirements for federal procurement, and $50 million for softwood lumber workers.
Picture credit: Port Cares
Focus on Human Resources
As premiers push for more immigration power, experts call for a fact-based debate
The Canadian Press
Some premiers say they want to have more local control over the immigration system — but experts say what the system really needs is a national conversation on immigration reform that shores up public support.
“Most of the existing policies have been formulated on the fly without any evidence or serious impact evaluations of what the various classes of immigrants are, how they’re performing economically and otherwise,” said Michael Trebilcock, a retired academic and co-author of two books on immigration policy.
“So it’s basically research-free.”
As the premiers and territorial leaders were wrapping up their three-day meeting in Huntsville, Ont., late last month, they called for an increase to economic immigration levels to fill local labour gaps and said they would use their constitutional powers to seize more control over immigration and issue work permits.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
