
‘It's been a tough road': Canadian Union of Postal Workers negotiator on bargaining progress with Ca
CUPW's negotiator Jim Gallant reveals their bargaining process with Canada Post and the main sticking point.
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Global News
21 minutes ago
- Global News
Canada's economy ‘treading water' after GDP dropped for 2nd straight month
Canada's economy shrank in May for the second straight month as the trade war with the United States continues to change some financial priorities for businesses and consumers alike. This is because U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies are starting to slowly increase some costs for businesses, which can potentially mean higher prices for consumers if those costs are passed along. However, the economy seems relatively stable for now, according to the latest economic data. 'Canada's economy is treading water, neither sinking nor challenging Canada's world gold medal swimming superstar Summer McIntosh,' says Derek Holt, vice-president and head of capital markets economics at the Bank of Nova Scotia. Statistics Canada reported on Thursday that gross domestic product (GDP) for the month of May showed a 0.1 per cent decline compared with the previous month — the same amount seen in April compared with March. Story continues below advertisement Most economists expected a larger drop of 0.2 per cent for the May report. GDP is the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country, and the figure is updated monthly, quarterly and annually. Most experts consider a period of two consecutive quarters, which covers a period of six months, of GDP decline as meeting the criteria for an economic recession. 2:20 As Trump's tariff deadline looms, where do Canada-U.S. trade talks stand? 'The economy continued to grapple with external headwinds; however, most of the May GDP decline was explained by temporary disruptions to oil extraction due to wildfires, with the manufacturing sector partially retracing a large April decline,' economist Abbey Xu at Royal Bank of Canada says. Get weekly money news Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday. Sign up for weekly money newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The Canadian economic outlook remains highly contingent on the evolution of U.S. trade policy.' Prime Minister Mark Carney has been looking to solidify a trade deal with Trump by Aug. 1, but so far, no agreement has been reached. Story continues below advertisement The sectors with the biggest declines in May included mining and quarrying, excluding oil and gas extraction, with a drop of 2.1 per cent. Retail trade also contributed significantly to the overall GDP decline, with a drop of 1.2 per cent, and the subsector that contributed most to the drop was motor vehicles and parts dealers. Statistics Canada notes that the drop in sales of motor vehicles and parts in May followed an increase in sales for the previous two months. The agency also highlights that sales of motor vehicles and parts in May 2025 were still 7.8 per cent higher than in June 2024. Helping to offset some of the GDP declines in May, the sector with the most activity was manufacturing, which grew by 0.7 per cent following a drop of 1.8 per cent in April. Transportation and warehousing increased 0.6 per cent in May, coming off a 0.1 per cent decline in April, and led by rail transportation. 1:46 Auto sales drop as trade war drives prices up: Stat Can NHL playoffs boosted the economy The arts, entertainment and recreation sector also helped offset some of the losses to GDP in May with a 0.2 per cent increase, thanks in part to the NHL playoffs, according to Statistics Canada. Story continues below advertisement 'The arts, entertainment and recreation sector increased 0.2 per cent in May, a third consecutive increase, driven in large part by performing arts, spectator sports and related industries, and heritage institutions,' the agency said in its report. 'For the first time since 2004, three Canadian National Hockey League teams qualified for the second round of the playoffs, resulting in a higher than usual number of games taking place in Canada in May and contributing to increased activity in spectators' sports in the month.' Another sector that saw growth in May is real estate, rental and leasing, with a 0.3 per cent increase, which marked its second straight month of GDP gains. Statistics Canada says this reflects higher home resale activity across the country, and partially offsets the declines for the previous four months. More to come.

21 minutes ago
Trump slams Canada's plan to recognize Palestinian state amid trade talks
U.S. President Donald Trump took to his social media platform just after midnight on Thursday to say he is not pleased with Canada announcing it will recognize a Palestinian state (new window) in September if the West Bank's governing body agrees to make certain commitments. Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine, Trump posted on Truth Social (new window) . That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!! Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed earlier on Wednesday that trade negotiations have not been finalized just two days ahead of the deadline. It is possible that [negotiations] may not conclude by the first of August, Carney said at a news conference on Wednesday. But we'll see with the teams there. We're working hard. WATCH | Trade deadline nears: Trump set an Aug. 1 deadline for Canada to reach a trade deal and has threatened to impose a 35 per cent tariff (new window) on goods that don't comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). That rate would apply to Canadian exports currently being tariffed at 25 per cent, under Trump's emergency powers, citing what he says is a national security threat from fentanyl trafficking. The president has been very clear … that there are certain sectors that are strategic, in their judgment, to the United States' economy: aluminum steel, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber, Carney said. The prime minister previously hinted that the Canadian government is in no rush to finalize a deal by Friday, saying last week that his objective is "not to reach a deal whatever it costs (new window) ." On Monday, Carney said in P.E.I. that trade negotiations with the United States are at an "intense phase (new window) ." Tariffs ordered on some copper products On Wednesday, Trump announced that the U.S. would levy a 50 per cent tariff (new window) on copper products such as pipes and wiring, starting Friday. The White House said it would apply only to semi-finished copper products and other products that heavily use copper when being manufactured. Trump suggested last Friday that the U.S. might not reach an agreement (new window) with Canada and that more tariffs could be in store for the country. I think Canada could be one where there's just a tariff, not really a negotiation, Trump told reporters. Canada's top trade negotiators — Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., and Dominic LeBlanc, minister responsible for Canada-U.S trade — have also downplayed (new window) the likelihood of the two countries reaching a deal by Aug. 1. It's important for us to recognize that there is a time when the deal is the right deal, and it's important for us to be in a position to continue negotiating until we get to that point, Hillman said last week. With files from Darren Major, David Thurton and Reuters


National Post
21 minutes ago
- National Post
Closure Systems International Launches Defender-Lok™ CRC Product Line
Lightweight. Drop-in. Scalable. Sustainable. Article content INDIANAPOLIS — Closure Systems International (CSI), a global leader in closure design and manufacturing, announces the launch of its new child-resistant closure (CRC) platform: Defender-Lok™. Engineered for OTC and nutraceutical applications, Defender-Lok delivers certified safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability in a drop-in, high-performance solution. Article content Article content Article content Built for Line Efficiency and Compliance Article content Defender-Lok is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing capping and filling lines—minimizing downtime, feeder jams, and sealing failures. The result: optimized production, simplified validation, and consistent throughput. The closures are certified child-resistant and senior-friendly, offering peace of mind to both manufacturers and consumers. Article content 'In the OTC and nutraceutical market, child-resistant closures demonstrate a brand's commitment to consumer safety and regulatory compliance. A well-engineered design meets the expectations of today's health-conscious shoppers, ensures compliance, and integrates seamlessly with high-speed filling and capping lines,' said Chuck Newswanger, Director, Global Commercial Innovation and Technical Development–Pharmaceutical Packaging at CSI. Article content Key features of Defender-Lok include: Article content Sustainability by Design Article content With growing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements and state-level mandates like California's SB-54, sustainability is no longer optional. Defender-Lok is designed for material minimization—reducing resin use, shipping weight, and overall environmental impact. Select SKUs already exceed 2027 SB-54 targets, and all closures in the line can be produced using CSI's PolyCycle™ PCR resin, which is made from post-consumer content and fully recyclable. Article content Backed by Global Scale and Technical Expertise Article content CSI brings more than 90 years of experience and operates nine manufacturing sites across the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, China, and Japan. All CRC products, including Defender-Lok, are manufactured in FSSC-22000 certified facilities with in-house tooling and R&D support. CSI also offers customers full application assistance, including on-site technical service, validation audits, and commercialization support. Article content Article content Defend Product Integrity – Lok In Performance Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Clint S. Rush Director of Marketing & Business Development