A private home care worker says she's considering leaving her job over government handling of wages
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National Post
10 minutes ago
- National Post
Man walks into Nova Scotia forest, walks out with $28K fine: 'I want to challenge this order in court'
A Nova Scotia man who intentionally violated the province's ban on entering the woods says he plans to fight his $28,000 fine. Article content Jeffrey Evely, a veteran and former candidate for the People's Party of Canada, recorded a video over the weekend of him first going to the Department of Natural Resources in Coxheath, N.S., and informing officers he was going into the woods to protest the ban. Article content Article content Article content 'I want to challenge this order in court, and the only way to do that is to get the fine,' Jeffrey Evely says in the video. 'So, I'm not trying to make trouble for you guys, I just want a piece of (Premier) Tim Houston and I want to be as accommodating and nice as I can be.' Article content Article content When he left the forest, he was handed a fine of $28,872.50, according to an image of the document. Article content The new policy came into effect on Aug. 5, and will remain until Oct. 15. It bans people from hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles like ATVs in the woods due to the elevated wildfire risk. People are not even allowed to enter the woods. The fine for violating the ban is $25,000. Article content Evely's fine includes taxes, fees, and surcharges. Article content 'I know it's the height of summer vacation and people want to do all the activities that we enjoy,' Houston said when the ban was announced. 'But we have to stay out of the woods. It's a small price to pay to avoid the devastation that we saw from wildfires in 2023.' Article content Article content Article content 'This law views people as the problem – not dangerous activities. This law is anti-human, and should someone find themselves on the wrong end of a charge – a massive charge, $25,000 dollar fine, for going into the woods, you can expect a constitutional challenge and a judicial review of this order,' said Marty Moore, a constitutional lawyer with JCCF. Article content 'Premier Houston would be wise to immediately review his overly broad order to avoid further legal action.' Article content Evely will argue that 'banning citizens from enjoying nature on the assumption they could start a fire is unconstitutional,' JCCF said. Article content Evely is not the only one asking for the ban to be reconsidered. The Ecology Action Centre, Dal Legal Aid and the Canadian Constitution Foundation have also said the ban should be overturned.
CBC
11 minutes ago
- CBC
After heat-related death, Montreal health officials warn of risks even after weather cools
With at least one death reported since Sunday, Montreal Public Health is urging people to keep an eye out for heat-related symptoms even once heat dissipates. A spokesperson for Montreal Public Health, Tudor Matei, said the agency has been notified of five other heat-related deaths this year, after temperatures soared in late June. The health agency is asking emergency doctors to report any deaths suspected to be linked to heat on days when Environment Canada issues heat warnings for the city. Temperatures exceeded 33 C in Montreal Sunday and Monday, with Tuesday's high expected to reach 34 C. Environment Canada forecasts a high of 29 C on Wednesday, with seasonal temperatures returning Thursday. Emergency rooms throughout the city say they're already seeing patients with heat-related symptoms. But health officials say the busiest days often come after it cools down. Medical professionals warn the health dangers can linger for days after. "Over a few days, people are warm, their bodies are compensating, but towards the end of it, when it persists for several days, we start to see that people get tired, and then their state tends to decline and that's where we get a peak," said Vanessa Grillo, with Urgences-santé. That means, even when the most recent heat wave is officially over, your body may still be at risk. Heat can cause a range of illnesses: heat cramps, exhaustion, stroke, rash and fainting due to overheating and dehydration. Doctors say it's critical to know when to get help. "Every year we try to avoid this kind of death because it's preventable and we really need people to be aware that it's not just casual heat," said Dr. Anne-Sara Briand, with Montreal Public Health. "It's deadly." WATCH | Health officials urge caution in Montreal heat: Why you should watch for heat-related symptoms — even after a heat wave is over 1 hour ago Health experts say staying hydrated, keeping cool and checking in on neighbours can save lives — especially for seniors and those with chronic illnesses. Montreal Public Health has launched a campaign called Visiter une personne aînée isolée — which translates to Visit an isolated senior — in partnership with the city and police, Briand said. The program involves door-to-door visits to check for fraud, mistreatment and heat-related risks. It helps identify the most vulnerable seniors, provide advice and add them to a contact list for support during heat waves, she said. Earlier this summer, Matei, a toxicologist with Montreal Public Health, said in the context of climate change and the region's rising temperatures, "it's more and more of a problem." During the summer heat wave in 2018, 66 people died in Montreal. Around two-thirds of those deaths were seniors with underlying health conditions. A 2024 study from Quebec's Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) suggests that heat is responsible for 470 deaths per year in the province, and that the number will increase if nothing changes. Along with deaths, there are over 200 hospitalizations and thousands of emergency room visits.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
CUPE : Air Canada no longer wants to negotiate
Article content TORONTO — Statement from Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, on Air Canada's proposal to end contract negotiations: Article content After nine months of the company delaying at the bargaining table on the fundamental issues – unpaid work and poverty wages – the union asked for and received an unprecedented 99.7% strike mandate from its membership. Flight attendants turned out by the hundreds at airports across the country for a powerful showing of solidarity for their August 11 Day of Action. Article content Air Canada has seen how determined and united flight attendants are to end unpaid work and win a real cost-of-living increase to wages. Article content Now, Air Canada has decided they no longer want to negotiate. They want to go to arbitration, rather than stay at the bargaining table and bargain a new contract. Article content Everyone knows the best deals are negotiated at the bargaining table, not handed down by an outside third-party. Then why does Air Canada want the union to agree to arbitration? Article content First, arbitrators rely on precedent and the status quo to make their determinations. But Air Canada flight attendants are trying to break the status quo by ending the historic abuse of unpaid work in this industry. Air Canada wants an arbitrator to do their dirty work for them to keep the status quo intact. Article content Second, an arbitrator's determination would be final. Members would not get a chance to vote on it. Air Canada wants to go to arbitration because they want to take away our members' democratic voice. Article content The union has declined the company's proposal to preserve the exploitative status quo and take away our members' voice. Article content The Air Canada Component of CUPE remains at the bargaining table, ready to negotiate. Article content We have always been available to negotiate. The union was available to continue discussions while it sought a strike mandate – the company never reached out. Article content With respect to Air Canada's latest offer: it is below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage – and still leaves flight attendants unpaid for all hours of work. Article content Currently, Air Canada flight attendants perform hours of critical safety-related duties for free. The company has offered to begin compensating flight attendants for some of these duties – but only at 50% of their hourly rate, and the company is still refusing to compensate flight attendants for time spent responding to medical emergencies, fires, evacuations, and other safety and security-related issues on the ground. Article content Meanwhile, on wages, Air Canada's offer is below market value, below inflation, and below minimum wage. Article content Air Canada has offered 8% in the first year as a one-time catch-up. Meanwhile, flight attendants have taken a 9% cut to their real wages due to inflation over the course of their last contract since 2015. This offer does not even keep up with inflation – it is, in effect, a pay cut. Air Canada's offer is below inflation. Air Canada is using misleading 'kitchen-sink' figures to make the public believe that flight attendants who rely on food banks and second and third jobs are the ones being greedy. In reality, the company has offered a 17.2% wage increase over four years. Even in year four of Air Canada's offer, in 2028, Air Canada flight attendants would earn less than competitor airlines in Canada earn today. Air Canada's offer is below market value. Even with the 'best offer' that Air Canada can make, an entry-level Air Canada flight attendant working full-time will still earn less than federal minimum wage. Junior Air Canada flight attendants working full-time (75 credit hours per month) currently earn $1,952 per month pre-taxes. With Air Canada's first-year catch-up increase of 8%, their earnings would increase to $2,108.16 per month. Meanwhile, a worker earning federal minimum wage at $17.75 per hour would earn $2,840.00 per month pre-taxes. Air Canada's offer is below minimum wage. Article content Air Canada has posted billions in profits in recent years. They can afford to pay flight attendants fairly without raising costs for the public. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content
