Canada Post to launch chequing and savings account with Koho

By Ian Bickis and Rosa Saba, 

The Canadian Press

November 08, 2024

Two years after the failed launch of a lending program, Canada Post is making another foray into banking services.

The postal service confirmed Friday that it will be offering a chequing and savings account in partnership with Koho Financial Inc.

The accounts will be launched nationally next year, though Canada Post employees will be offered early access as the product is tested.

Canada Post spokeswoman Lisa Liu said in a statement that there are gaps in the banking and savings products available that the Crown corporation looks to fill.

“Canada Post is uniquely positioned to fill some of these demands. Many of our existing financial products help meet the needs of new Canadians and those living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, but we believe more is required.”

The MyMoney offering will be a spending and savings account where customers will be able to choose between features like high interest rates, cashback rewards and credit-building tools.

A document briefly posted to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers website said it would use a prepaid, reloadable Mastercard that will use money from the account like a debit card but offer the features of a Mastercard.

It said there will be a range of account tiers, including no-fee accounts and paid accounts with more features.

The plans comes after Canada Post launched a lending program with TD Bank Group in late 2022, only to shut it down weeks later because of what it said were processing issues.

Liu said the postal service has since been exploring other possible financial service offerings.

“Utilizing what we’ve learned, we are making a strategic shift from loans toward products more aligned with our core financial service products.”

The new account will be delivered with financial technology company Koho. A few months ago the company paired with Canada Post to allow its customers to deposit cash into their account through post offices.

Koho is also working to secure a Canadian banking license to expand its services.

Koho chief executive Daniel Eberhard said in a statement that he was thrilled to be working with an institution that shares the company’s values and view of the future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Canada's permanent employees earning more, according to latest jobs data

Honda employees work along the vehicle assembly line in Alliston, Ont., on Thursday, April 25, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Promit Mukherjee
Reuters
Staff
Contact
Updated Nov. 8, 2024

Canada added a fewer-than-expected 14,500 jobs in October and wages of permanent employees rose, data showed on Friday, as the economy struggled to absorb the slack built up due to a rapidly increasing labor force.

The unemployment rate stayed unchanged from September but hovered around a 34-month high of 6.5 per cent, Statistics Canada said.

Analysts polled by Reuters had estimated a net addition of 25,000 jobs and the unemployment rate to edge up to 6.6 per cent.

Canada's business investment and hiring have been muted even after four rounds of rate cuts as high interest rates and inflation have throttled demand, and as the labor force has continued to grow, fueled by immigration, which crossed 7 per cent of the overall population in the third quarter, an all-time high.

This has increased the number of people in the labor force seeking jobs and not landing any, resulting in a steady fall in the employment rate, or the number of people employed out of the total working age population of 15 years and above.

Canada's labor force has swelled by 2.4 per cent since last year but the employment rate shrunk to 60.6 per cent in October, its sixth consecutive monthly decline, StatCan said.

"The October jobs report is very much consistent with an economy that is still grinding out modest growth, and wage gains that are slightly hot for comfort," Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, wrote in a note.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said last month after the rate cut decision that layoffs had remained modest but business hiring had been weak, and that has hit young people and newcomers to Canada.

However, Macklem expressed hope that continued interest rate cuts would help to grow the economy and increase employment.

The jobless rate amongst those aged 15 to 24 fell 0.7 percentage point in October to 12.8 per cent, the statistics agency said, adding that the employment rate for this group rose for the first time since April.

The Bank of Canada has reduced its key policy rate by a cumulative 125 basis points to 3.75 per cent, with a super-sized cut of 50 basis points last month, in a bid to prop up economic growth and absorb the excess labor supply.

Financial market bets for a rate cut of 50 basis points on Dec. 11 fell to 58 per cent from 62 per cent before the jobs report was released.

The Canadian dollar extended losses and weakened by 0.41 per cent to 1.3918 to the U.S. dollar, or 71.85 U.S. cents. Yields on two-year government notes rose 0.3 basis point to 3.072 per cent.Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp(opens in a new tab)

The average hourly wage growth of permanent employees rose to an annual rate of 4.9 per cent in October from 4.5 per cent in September, the agency said.

The wage growth figure is closely watched by the BoC and a rise could dissuade against another deeper cut next month, economists said.

There will be one more jobs report, inflation and GDP data before the next rate decision.

The increase in jobs came entirely from full-time employment, while part-time employment shrunk. The additions were broad based with both the goods-producing sector and services sector showing healthy growth.

(Reporting by Promit Mukherjee and Dale Smith; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Mark Porter)

 

Only three out of 121 grads offered jobs despite critical nursing shortage, says union

Posted: November 9, 2024 
— By Web Team

The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador is calling on the provincial government and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services to urgently address the concerning employment challenges faced by soon-to-be graduating nurses.

On Friday morning, RNU Vice President Kim Parsons presented to a group of 121 engaged and frustrated fourth-year nursing students at the Centre for Nursing Studies. Despite over 600 vacancies in our healthcare system, only three of these students have received job offers. The RNU says it’s a stark contrast to statements by government officials and NLHS that over 90% of nursing graduates have been hired.

One student shared that an NLHS manager in central Newfoundland stated that he prefers hiring private agency nurses because they are easier to make happy. Even more concerning, says the union, he admitted to not posting available positions at all, as it is simpler for him to bring in agency nurses.

“These students are eager to work in Newfoundland and Labrador, but they are being dismissed and overlooked by recruiters,” said Kim Parsons, Vice President of RNU. “We have a serious nursing shortage, yet our new graduates are being denied opportunities. This is outrageous and needs to change immediately.”

The union says none of the students have been offered the rural incentives that the government has widely promoted to attract nurses to remote and underserved areas.

“Why aren’t these incentives being extended to our soon-to-be graduates?” Parsons questioned. “This is a major missed opportunity to strengthen healthcare in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The students expressed their desire to work in Newfoundland and Labrador but are being ignored or disregarded by recruiters. It is essential for NLHS to take recruitment seriously and take immediate action to retain our future workforce and address the nursing shortage.

INFLATION

Annual rental prices fell for the 1st time in over three years, but only in big cities

Average cost of rent is down just $50 a month from June's record high

Jenna Benchetrit · CBC News · Posted: Nov 07, 2024 

The exterior of an apartment building in North Vancouver, B.C. Canadian rental prices fell 1.2 per cent in October compared to the same time last year. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

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Canadian rental prices fell 1.2 per cent in October compared to the same time last year, marking the first time that annual rents have declined since July 2021, according to a new report.

The decline is mostly concentrated in urban centres in Ontario and British Columbia, according to a national rent report released on Thursday by Rentals.ca and real estate data firm Urbanation. 

The average cost of rent around the country is now $2,152 per month. That's down $50 a month from June's record high of $2,202 per month.

Throughout the summer, CBC News heard from seniors, young people, newcomers and many others about their struggles to afford housing during the rental affordability crisis.

For perspective, when the last annual decline was recorded in July 2021, the average cost of rent was $1,752 per month — $400 less per month than in October 2024.

• Where can you afford to rent? Use CBC's rental interactive to find out.

"The downward trend is great, but we've got a long way to go to get back to kind of some semblance of affordability or the standards that tenants used to enjoy," said Geordie Dent, executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations in Toronto.

Declines in big cities, prices up in smaller markets

Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary each saw decreases in October. However, rental prices in smaller mid-sized markets were still on the rise, reflecting a spike in demand as Canadians seek housing in less expensive markets.

"It is a rare occurrence for rents to decline at the national level," said Urbanation president Shaun Hildebrand in a press release.

"This is happening as the key drivers of rent growth in recent years — a strengthening economy, quickly rising population, and worsening homeownership affordability — are beginning to reverse."

Hildebrand said he expects the downward trend will continue as more apartment construction is completed.

Steve Pomeroy, an industry professor at McMaster University's Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, said that Canada has seen "a very significant increase in rental construction over the last five or six years."

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation noted in a fall housing supply report released in September that several major cities saw record apartment completions as developers cleared their backlogs. Montreal and Vancouver were an exception.

"What we're now seeing is the beginning of those units coming onto the market. So that additional supply is helping to to meet the demand," said Pomeroy, adding that the federal government's revised policies around temporary foreign workers and international students have also eased pressure on housing demand.

'There isn't much else to go'

Some landlords, especially in rental condo-heavy markets like Toronto, have also dropped rental prices to fill units.
Prices have "already gone up to what the market can currently bear, there isn't much else to go," he said.

And those factors together have created the conditions for rent to come down, he said.

Dent, the tenant advocate, says the market forces of the last year are having an effect. "And it's finally putting downward pressure on rents."

   

B.C. restaurateur warns of ‘$30 burgers’ as temporary foreign worker program changes

By Simon Little & Richard Zussman Global News
Posted November 7, 2024 

1:58

Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker ProgramThe restaurant industry is warning prices could drastically increase because of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program. Richard Zussman has more.

The restaurant industry in British Columbia is sounding the alarm over coming changes to the temporary foreign worker program it says will only drive prices higher.

The new federal changes will bar low-wage temporary foreign workers in regions with an unemployment rate over six per cent.

At the same time, they increase the minimum hourly wage for temporary workers in the high-wage stream to $34.62 in B.C. in order to incentivize businesses to hire Canadian workers.

5:12

Canada’s restaurant industry on changes to the temporary foreign workers program


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau initiated the changes amid concerns Canadians were being passed over for jobs and amid pressure on the housing market.

But some in the hospitality sector say there will be unintended consequences.

Lewis Hart, who owns Laowai in Vancouver’s Chinatown, said the restaurant industry has struggled with a labour shortage for years and relies on TFWs to stay in operation.

Boosting wages from around $20 per hour to over $30 an hour will leave businesses with few options, he said.

“Once one person is employed at (that wage) the rest of the industry will see that as the median income, and we are going to see that passed on to consumers, we are going to see massive price increases,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if you see prices such as $30 burgers within the next six months if this goes ahead.”

4:33

Immigration lawyer calls Ottawa’s move to limit temporary foreign workers ‘political’

Hart said the changes could result in up to 6,000 workers leaving Canada because employers can’t afford the new wage.

But he said there aren’t Canadian workers waiting to take their places.

“Even if there is a wage increase, people do not want to finish work at 2 a.m., and especially with the limited transit options we have, many people still can’t afford to work downtown,” he said.

“We are losing more people in our industry than we are gaining each year. This has been a lifeline since the pandemic, and now the rug is being pulled out from beneath us.”

Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, said the changes will hurt a restaurant sector where many businesses are already considering closing up shop amid surging costs.

“We are talking about skilled workers, we are not talking about low-wage workers here — these are cooks and chefs that we cannot source in Canada, they are not registered in cooking schools, the impact of this on us is huge,” he said.

“Everybody wants responsible immigration, but for the government to do this is overreach, it’s political, and I think it’s going to backfire on them.”

Hart, who is himself an immigrant to Canada, is calling on the federal government to rethink the changes.

“Get off your hands and fix housing. That is the problem,” he said.

“We can’t use someone as a scapegoat because of your own inefficiencies.”

The new wage rates are scheduled to take effect on Friday.

SO MUCH FOR THE 'FREE' MARKET

Our Response to the Government of Canada's order to Shut-Down TikTok Canada

NewsNov 6, 2024

Shutting down TikTok’s Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone's best interest, and today's shutdown order will do just that. We will challenge this order in court. The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.

TikTok’s closure in Canada raises worries for creators’ revenue, support

By Staff The Canadian Press
Posted November 8, 2024 

TikTok’s Canadian offices ordered to shutdown amid 'national security risks'.


Canadian TikTok creators fear that the federal government’s decision to shut down the app’s Canadian operations will erode their support system and limit earning potential.

Toronto-based TikTok culture commentator Mikael Melo says the app’s Canadian division helped local creators with account optimization, resolving technical issues and securing sponsorships.

He’s concerned that vital support will vanish with the closure.

The federal government ordered the dissolution of TikTok’s business in Canada on Wednesday, citing national security risks, but it did not ban the app.

Lifestyle and food content creator Mali Raja says TikTok’s Canadian arm frequently organized pop-up events and digital campaigns to spotlight local talent, and played a key role in connecting creators with brands.


The Toronto-based creator says she now feels less motivated to continue making TikToks when the future of the platform seems uncertain in Canada.

Advertisers may also become reluctant to invest in content on the platform, says Michelle Nguyen, president and chief strategist of Toronto-based social media agency Super Duper. As a result, Canadian creators may see a decline in ad dollars, she says.

 

Closure of TikTok’s Vancouver office a big blow to employees, content creators

This year, TikTok expanded its downtown Vancouver offices from a co-working space to an entire floor of the 32-storey office tower at 595 Burrard St., which boasts 16,000 square feet of space.

Author of the article: Sarah Grochowski
Published Nov 09, 2024 • 

Abbotsford's Emmy Raine Curtis credits TikTok Canada with launching her influencer career. 

Photo by Emmy Raine Curtis /Postmedia

Former Vancouver-based TikTok staff and content creators say Canada’s decision to shut down the app’s operations over alleged national security risks will throw a wrench in their financial livelihoods.

“It will have minimal impact on security, but will put people out of work in an already challenging job market,” said David FitzGerald, a former recruiter for TikTok in Vancouver.

Among those potentially impacted are content creators like Abbotsford’s Emmy Raine Curtis, who credits TikTok Canada with launching her influencer career.

“Shutting down the TikTok Canada offices means less access to support for Canadian creators, and fewer job opportunities for people,” said Curtis.

FitzGerald and Curtis’s comments were in response to this week’s news that the Canadian government had ordered TikTok Technology Canada to “wind up” its operations, citing “national security risks” linked to the app and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The order follows a review that began last year.

Canadian users will still be able to access the app, but the company’s offices in Vancouver and Toronto will shutter.

However, FitzGerald, who since founded his own recruitment company, believes “any potential security threat is far more likely to stem from the technology itself rather than from a physical office or local team.”

A TikTok spokesperson confirmed the closure of its Canadian offices will result in the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs, and that the company plans to fight the federal order in court.

This year, TikTok expanded its downtown Vancouver offices from a co-working space to an entire floor of the 32-storey office tower at 595 Burrard St., which boasts 16,000 square feet of space.

This growth aligns with TikTok’s 65 career openings in Vancouver, spanning roles in machine learning, software engineering, data science and product management, according to LinkedIn. The majority of the jobs were posted within the past week.

For content creators who regularly visit TikTok’s Vancouver office for support, this news brings concerns of a major setback.

“It’s causing a lot of upset,” said Vancouver-based creator Nadiia Synook, who runs the account Torroooo, with nearly 51,000 followers.

Synook regularly attends networking events and workshops at TikTok’s Vancouver office. She found out about the closure on Wednesday through the media.

“Having offices here is a big plus for creators,” said Synook. “Working online is one thing, but meeting amazing creators from across Canada is something else. It helps us grow by collaborating with each other.”

When Curtis of TikTok’s Itsemraine had a small following in 2023, she said the company invited her to be its digital host of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.

“During that opportunity, TikTok Canada helped me establish brand deals, I signed my first major deal with Powerade during the tournament and was given every resource possible to ensure I could maximize my experience,” she recalled.

In the year since, the Canadian TikToker has grown into a sports personality, amassing over 35,000 digital followers.

“I can’t make it clear enough just how much TikTok, but specifically TikTok Canada, has boosted my career,” Curtis said.

Postmedia News contacted TikTok employees in Vancouver, but many declined to comment, citing a company policy prohibiting them from disclosing information to the media.

“We’ve been reminded of this policy multiple times in the past few days. Therefore, I cannot provide any information directly related to me or allow my name to be used in any way,” one staffer said Friday.

ByteDance is subject to strict Chinese national security laws, which could compel it to share TikTok data with the Chinese government if required. The company has maintained that foreign user data isn’t stored in China.

A Canadian Security Intelligence Service document tabled at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in September revealed that as early as 2022, the agency suspected TikTok could be used by China to monitor foreigners.

The app was banned from federal government devices in February 2023.

With files from The Canadian Press

sgrochowski@postmedia.com

‘How to move to Canada’ surges on Google as U.S. wakes up to Trump win

By Joshua Freeman

November 06, 2024

 

Motorists make their way towards Canada, at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry in Buffalo, N.Y. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

U.S. search engine queries about moving to Canada shot up Wednesday in the wake of Donald Trump’s decisive win in the presidential election.

According to Google, “move to Canada” began trending upward Tuesday night as the election results trickled in and surged in the overnight hours, hitting a peak around 6 a.m. Wednesday as people woke up to the news.

Search interest was highest in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon and Minnesota – states where Vice President Kamala Harris won.

Other related searches included “how to immigrate to canada from us,” along with “best places to live in Canada,” and “how to get a visa for Canada.”

“Zillow in Canada” was another related query, with people searching for the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. house-hunting app.

A few other countries also garnered the attention of U.S. residents looking to flee elsewhere. U.S. users also searched for how to move to Australia, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway.

The top search result for “move to Canada” directs people to the federal government’s immigration page.

A spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada previously told CTV News that the government’s website is designed to handle surges in traffic.

“Canada.ca is specifically designed to automatically scale on demand to meet high levels of traffic,” the spokesperson said in an email.

According to preliminary results, Trump won the electoral college, as well as 50.9 per cent of the popular vote, making him the first president in more than 100 years to win a non-consecutive term in office. Grover Cleveland was the last president to do so back in 1893.

Trump has promised a tougher stance on immigration and U.S. border security. At the same time, Canada has scaled back the number of immigrants it plans to accept in a radical shift from the past few years.

With files from CTVNews.ca

HINDU SIKH CLASH AT TEMPLE IN CANADA

Another person charged following violent demonstrations in Peel Region

By Joanna Lavoie

November 09, 2024 

Peel Regional Police officers are standing outside of the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (Jacob Estrin/CTV News Toronto)

Police have charged another person following a series of recent violent demonstrations in Peel Region.

This latest arrest pertains to an altercation that broke out last Sunday evening outside Hindu Sabha Temple on The Gore Road in Brampton.

In a Nov. 9 news release, Peel Regional Police (PRP) said they’re investigating a number of offences that happened at that Nov. 3 demonstration, many of which were caught on video and involved people using flags and sticks to assault others.


One of the suspects was subsequently identified as 35-year-old Brampton resident Inderjeet Gosal. He was arrested on Nov. 8 and charged with assault with a weapon. Gosal has since been released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in a Brampton court in the near future, police said

.

Dozens of people are seen outside of a Hindu temple in Brampton on Nov. 4. Police said one person was sprayed with an unknown noxious substance at a protest in the city on Monday evening, but it's unclear where that demonstration took place.

Another similar demonstration took place the following day, on Nov. 4, outside the same mandir, as tensions are high between members of the Hindu and Sikh communities, following what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as “credible allegations” that the Indian government was connected to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia last year. Ottawa has also accused India’s home minister Amit Shah of targeting Sikh activists, which the Indian government has vehemently rejected.

“As tensions between opposing sides increased, the demonstrations became physical and assaultive,” PRP said in a Nov. 9 news release.

The force has since formed a strategic investigative team dedicated to probing the recent “incidents of criminality” at demonstrations in the region.

So far, they’ve arrested and charged five people.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for 24-year-old Armaan Gahlot, of Kitchener, and 22-year-old Arpit (no surname), of no fixed address, for uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, conspiracy to commit assault with a weapon, and conspiracy to commit mischief. Police are urging them to get a lawyer and turn themselves in to authorities.

Further, an off-duty Peel police officer has been suspended for his alleged involvement in the Nov. 3 demonstration, pending an investigation.

“We would like to remind the public that complex investigations such as these take time and that individuals are arrested as they are identified and in no specific order,” police said in a release, adding that investigators “continue to analyze hundreds of videos of the incidents and are working to identify additional suspects involved in criminality and anticipate further arrests.”

Anyone with suspect or general information is asked to contact PRP at either 12 Division (Mississauga) at 905-453-2121, ext. 1233, or 21 Division (Brampton) at 905-453-2121, ext. 2133. Police are also asking anyone with video of any of the demonstrations to submit it online.

Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar and CTV News Toronto’s Phil Tsekouras, and The Canadian Press

Brampton buses to resume service as union allows them to cross picket lines

By Bryann Aguilar

November 08, 2024

Mayor Brown says city exploring legal action after strike causes Brampton Transit delays
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says the city is looking at every legal avenue if striking workers continue to block buses and disrupt transit service.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says the city is looking at every legal avenue if striking workers continue to block buses and disrupt transit service.

Buses return to regular service in Brampton on Saturday as striking city workers have agreed to loosen picket lines at transit facilities.

Some 1,200 workers represented by CUPE Local 831 have been on strike since Thursday and set up picket lines outside transit buildings, preventing buses from exiting.

It has resulted in significant transit delays across Brampton. Brampton Transit operators are not part of CUPE Local 831 but are represented by ATU Local 1573, which confirmed there had been no bus service due to the picket lines.

On Friday evening, CUPE Local 831 President Fabio Gazzola said his union “will be relaxing the strike lines.”

“So, we’ve heard the comments from the residents and the intent was never to have a disruption. All CUPE wants is a fair and equitable deal, and we’re looking forward to going back to the bargaining table,” said Gazzola.

“That’s why I’m here before the transit supervisors basically to let the public know that we will be relaxing the strike lines and that the buses will be out on the route tomorrow.”
Here’s a list of services affected by the Brampton city workers strike

The union’s decision comes hours after Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown told CP24 that the city was exploring legal action if bus service continued to be disrupted.

“Particularly, (what) irritates me is the fact that CUPE has picketed and stopped our transit operators from going to work. Our transit operators want to work,” Brown said.

“They’ve been lined up for two days in a row trying to report to work, and they’ve been prevented from doing so. Transit is a critical service for our city, and this is an unfair labour practice.”

The mayor said he respects the union’s right to strike, but blocking buses is unfair to residents.

“The city won’t accept this,” Brown said. “We are going to pursue every legal avenue before us, and that includes pursuing an injunction to get this critical service returned. It’s simply not a fair labour practice what we’re seeing right now.”
Union demands ‘out-of-whack’: mayor

At the picket lines, striking workers held signs, including one that reads, “Why is there always money for management but not for workers?”

Gazzola has said the city’s latest offer does not match the wage increases non-union employees received, which has been the main sticking point in contract negotiations.

He noted the union was locked in for a five-year deal and fell behind wages.

CUPE Local 831 President Fabio Gazzola says he wants to get to the bargaining table and get a deal done with the City of Brampton so the strike could end.

The mayor has claimed the increase included in the city’s offer is fair, saying it matches what CUPE workers in Mississauga got this summer – a three per cent wage increase over four years.

“Right now, our local CUPE is asking for demands that are completely out-of-whack with what we’ve seen accepted elsewhere. But those are essential workers who don’t have the right to strike and there’s danger pay inherent in their profession,” Brown said.

“We’re a little bit frustrated why we’re seeing such a significant disruption when the city has negotiated in good faith for nine months.”

Brown urged the union to get back to the bargaining table so a deal could be reached.

“Let’s sign the same deal that was signed in Mississauga just a few months ago. And if CUPE Mississauga thought it was a great deal, then why can’t CUPE in Brampton sign that very same deal?”

Meanwhile, the CUPE president has said the workers’ demands are reasonable. Gazzola argued that Brampton workers are in a different situation than those in Mississauga.

“It’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison. The City of Mississauga has 250 unionized employees. The City of Brampton has 1,200. The classifications are far more extensive. The areas of work are vast in comparison to the three areas in Mississauga,” Gazzola told CP24 on Friday.

He also disputed that the union wanted a contract similar to the city’s emergency services.

“We’ve made many comparisons internally to non-union staff but that’s kind of the basis of some of the conversations. It wasn’t a straight-up comparison,” he said.

“Our enforcement officers face dangers every day, as well as other front-line workers. That’s something the city seems to kind of want to ignore or avoid.”

Gazzola would not provide the specific figure his union is looking to get, saying he does not want to negotiate outside of the bargaining table.

On Thursday, Brown warned Brampton could be in for a long labour disruption. When asked on Friday how far apart the two sides are, Gazzola did not directly answer, but said he was “optimistic” that a deal could be reached.

Like the mayor, Gazzola wants to return to the bargaining table.

“I’ve had the same phone number for 15 years. They should call me, I’ll answer it. All we want to do is get back to the bargaining table. We’ve worked on weekends, through the night. And we didn’t want one day of strike, let alone two,” Gazzola said.

“We’re committed and very optimistic to achieve the ultimate goal of getting a contract.”

Here’s a list of services affected by the Brampton city workers strike

By Joshua Freeman

November 07, 2024 
A Brampton Transit bus is seen in an undated file image.

Around 1,200 municipal workers in Brampton went on strike as of Nov. 7 after their union and the city failed to reach an agreement in months of negotiations.

The strike affects a range of city services. Here’s what’s impacted.
Transit

While the city says that all services are operating, it adds that they “are experiencing significant disruptions.” Transit users are being encouraged to make alternate travel plans.
Fire and Emergency Services

All services are operating as usual.
Animal services

Shelter tours are cancelled and longer wait time may be possible for other services.
Recreation

Some recreation centres may be closed and others will operate at reduced hours.

Rentals that were scheduled for a time when a facility is now closed will be cancelled. Permit holders will be refunded accordingly, the city says.

Drop-in and other programs will continue to run at open facilities during their reduced hours of operation.
Service Brampton

Three Service Brampton kiosks are temporarily closed: Cassie Campbell Community Centre; Gore Meadows Community Centre; and Save Max Sportsplex.

Service is otherwise operating as usual, but with longer wait times.
City Clerk’s Office

Those looking to get hitched can still do so, but they may need to cross a picket line to get their marriage licence. Marriage ceremonies are also operating, however the city says that new marriage ceremony requests “will be scheduled tentatively” and will need to be confirmed one week prior to the date.

Commissioning of documents, and citizen appointments are cancelled until further notice.
Building

The Building and Business Portal will be temporarily unavailable for applying for permits or booking inspections. The city says it will not be accepting or reviewing building permit applications until further notice.

Services have been reduced at the Building division and longer response times are possible.
Court and Administrative Services

Longer wait times may be possible for court services.

The Provincial Offences Court at 5 Ray Lawson Boulevard remains open, however. The city also notes that its offices remain open for all administrative penalty matters.
Enforcement and By-law Services

Service levels have been reduced and staff are focusing on “vital services and safety-related complaints.”
Performing Arts

Performances at the Rose Theatre, Lester B. Pearson and Cyril Clark are impacted by the strike. Performances of “We Will Rock You” are affected and the city says it will be reaching out to affected ticket holders.

You can find the latest updates on city services during the strike on the City of Brampton’s website.

Nova Scotia

KKK Halloween costumes symptom of growing far-right in Atlantic Canada, researcher says

Costumes like those worn at Halloween party in Cape Breton should not be treated as a joke, says researcher

Josh Hoffman · CBC News · Posted: Nov 09, 2024 

Four people wearing Ku Klux Klan costumes attend a Halloween dance in North Sydney, N.S. (Facebook)

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A researcher studying the rise of extremism in Atlantic Canada warns Ku Klux Klan Halloween costumes are just one example of an insidious effort by far-right groups to normalize hateful attitudes.

Last month, four people donned white robes and pointed hoods at a Halloween party in North Sydney, N.S., prompting outrage and condemnation on social media, and an apology from the local firefighter's club that hosted the event.

David Hofmann, director of criminology at the University of New Brunswick, said regardless of the partygoers' intentions, the fact they thought it was acceptable to attend a public event dressed as members of a white supremacist group shows extremist values have entered the mainstream.

"Joke or not, they are essentially symptomatic of this larger effort to make these very, very dangerous behaviours seem normal," Hofmann said. "We should not brush it off as a joke."

Far-right extremism growing in Atlantic Canada

His research, gathered from news articles and public records, identified 29 far-right extremist groups active in Atlantic Canada between 2000 and 2019, and 148 people who expressed these ideologies or were involved in related activities.

Hofmann said there were a combined 75 incidents of far-right extremism — primarily property damage — in the region throughout 2018 and 2019. That's more than double the total number of incidents between 2000 and 2010.

The number of right-wing extremist incidents in Atlantic Canada has seen a dramtic increase in recent years, according to research out of the University of New Brunswick. (University of New Brunswick)

Nova Scotia had the highest rate of incidents of far-right extremism followed by New Brunswick, according to the data.

While most incidents have been non-violent, Hofmann said he's concerned that could change. He worked with Public Safety Canada to record statistics on incidents that could lead to violence, like recruitment, rallies, hate speech and discrimination.

"We try very, very hard to differentiate between awful but lawful behaviour, and behaviours that are a threat to public safety," he said. 

Hofmann said most people might associate the KKK with the United States, but the white supremacist group has a significant history in the Maritimes. 

The Maritimes' history with the KKK

Allan Bartley, author of The Ku Klux Klan in Canada: A Century of Promoting Racism and Hate in the Peaceable Kingdom, said the organization has had a presence in the Maritimes for more than a century.

There were more than 10,000 card-carrying members across the country in the years following the First World War, with many in the Maritimes, Bartley said.

One of the first leaders of the KKK's Canadian branch, James Lord, served as a member of the New Brunswick Legislature for St. Stephen from 1925 to 1930.

The Nova Scotia Coalition Against the KKK held rallies after the white supremacist group announced it was going to try to open a chapter in Halifax in 1981. (Nova Scotia Public Archives)

The KKK has continued to try to get a footing in the region over the decades. In 1981, it attempted to open a Halifax chapter, but the group was met with protests.

As recently as 2017, members were found handing out recruitment pamphlets in Fredericton.

"I am struck by the persistence of the same kinds of narratives and political discourse that surrounded the Klan 100 years ago and that continues to persist today," said Bartley.

Concern far-right extremism will escalate

Hofmann said the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president in 2016 was a part of a growing, global far-right movement.

He said some of Trump's behaviour — notably when he referred to "very fine people" having attended a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 — has had a direct impact across the border.

"What we saw here in Canada, and in the weeks after, was a wave of protests and demonstrations by the far right as they fed off this energy," Hofmann said. 

David Hofmann, director of criminology at the University of New Brunswick, said as far-right extremism becomes more common, there's a concern some people will be emboldened to act violently. (CBC)

The data collected by Hofmann shows more than 60 per cent of the incidents of far-right extremism in Atlantic Canada since 2000 happened after 2016.

As people with extreme far-right ideologies in Canada become more comfortable expressing their beliefs, Hofmann said there's concern it will embolden some individuals to act violently.

"This is why we need to stand up and say dressing up like the KKK is not acceptable," he said.

Despite prison stint, Canada's richest man's fortune surged by $20 billion in months

CRIMINAL CRYPTO CAPITALI$M

Irish Mae Silvestre

Nov 9 2024,


@cz_binance/X

Despite a four-month prison term, Canada’s richest man continues to get richer, adding several billion dollars to his net worth in less than a year.

In its latest list of the top 10 richest Canadians, Maclean’s magazine estimates that Changpeng Zhao, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, is currently the second richest person in the country.

The Thomson family, who controls the Thomson Reuters Corporation, tops the list with a net worth of $98.15 billion.
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But at the rate he’s going, Zhao could soon close that gap.


Changpeng Zhao/X

Zhao is currently worth $61.02 billion — a $20.72 billion jump in just a few months since the Bloomberg Billionaire Index reported that Zhao had a net worth of $40.3 billion as of May 6. At the time, his net worth made him the wealthiest crypto entrepreneur, the richest Canadian on the list, and the 34th richest person in the world.

Born in Jiangsu, China, Zhao (also known as CZ) moved with his family to Vancouver in the late 1980s after his dad got a job at the University of British Columbia. According to Bloomberg, he completed a computer science degree at McGill University in Montreal, and his interest in cryptocurrency was sparked after a discussion at a poker game in 2013. Zhao founded Binance in 2017, and by 2018, it was the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world.

Koshiro K/Shutterstock

But it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the multibillionaire.

In 2023, Zhao pled guilty to failing to implement anti-money laundering controls at Binance. He spent four months in prison and was released from custody on September 27. Not only has he resigned as CEO, but Binance was fined US$4.3 billion.

Maclean’s list includes grocers, tech giants, developers, and investors.

“As a group, their wealth has ballooned over the last two decades: the combined net worth of the ten richest Canadians is now $261 billion, compared to $60 billion in 2004,” states the report


With files from Isabelle Docto

Ontario family worth over $98 billion just keeps getting richer


An Ontario family behind a vast media empire saw its fortune grow by $14.25 billion since the start of 2024, cementing the Thomson family's position as Canada's wealthiest.

Maclean's revealed its list of Canada's Richest People on Thursday, with the 2024 list, produced in partnership with Canadian Business, offering "a fresh look at the uber-wealthy in this country."

And they sure aren't exaggerating about said wealth, as Canada's rich just keep getting richer.

"The bulk of Canada's money is still held by a few at the top. On average, a billionaire will earn a typical Canadian's yearly salary by January 2. What has changed is where that affluence lives," reads the report.

It's not just your usual suspects of business tycoons on this year's list, as Maclean's notes the growing presence of e-commerce giants, crypto CEOs and other new money big-wigs among the country's wealthiest.


But it was still traditional "old money" at the top of this year's list.

The Thomson family, at the helm of the globe-spanning Thomson-Reuters media empire, secured the top position on this year's ranking with a staggering value of $98.15 billion.

This should come as little surprise to anyone who has been tracking the immensely wealthy family's impressive financial gains in recent years, which have only been bolstered by gargantuan earnings in 2024.

In addition to its controlling stake in Thomson Reuters — a company that has seen immense share growth in the last five years — the Thomson family's holding company, Woodbridge, owns major publications like The Globe and Mail.

Woodbridge also holds a minority interest in the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, as well as BCE Inc., which owns Bell Canada. If a stake in one NHL team wasn't enough for Canada's richest family, David Thomson, the reclusive family patriarch, is also a co-owner of the Winnipeg Jets.

Back in January 2024, the Thomson family empire was worth $60.4 billion USD ($83.9 billion in Canuck Bucks). That figure had increased to $67.8 billion by April, and by May, the Thomson empire's riches had grown even more to $71 billion, further solidifying the family's position as the richest in Canada.

With a current net worth of $98.15 billion CAD ($70.6 billion USD) as of November, the Thomson family has seen its fortune swell by over $10 billion USD/$14 billion CAD in 2024 alone.

But it took a long time for them to accumulate such astronomical riches.

David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet (okay, Mr. Fancy, we get it), is the third generation at the head of this empire and saw the family business expand with the acquisition of global news service Reuters for $17 billion USD.

According to Maclean's, David follows in the footsteps of his late father as "an avid art collector," and is the owner of several works from legendary artist Pablo Picasso, among other culturally significant painters.

But even Canada's richest family can only adorn so much wall space, and the Thomson family has donated roughly 450 works to the Art Gallery of Ontario from artists like the Group of Seven, Tom Thomson, Cornelius Krieghoff and Peter Paul Rubens

The Maclean's list also includes other notable Canadians like grocery magnate Galen Weston Jr., who has accumulated a net worth in excess of $18 billion as of 2024.