Saskatchewan businesses prepare for looming Canada Post strike
The operators of Regina-based Sticks & Doodles says the company is prepared for another Canada Post strike as 20 per cent of its sales relies on shipping purchases. (Sierra D'Souza Butts/CTV News)
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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
New Wheatley plans pave path for a revitalized downtown
Officials released new plans on Saturday to breathe new life into Wheatley, almost four years after the explosion. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Nearly four years after an explosion rocked the community of Wheatley, officials are charting a course to turn the wreckage into a welcoming space. Residents gathered at the explosion site in the downtown core Saturday morning for the release of the new conceptual plans. 'This town rallied, it supported neighbours, it asked hard questions, it collaborated and above all, it never gave up on what could be,' Darrin Canniff, the Mayor of Chatham-Kent, told a crowd of more than 200 people. 070625 About 200 people walked the lot in downtown Wheatley, where an explosion levelled several buildings in 2021. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Dignitaries from all three levels of government and representatives from frontline stakeholders spoke on the lengthy recovery process needed to restore Wheatley. Moving forward, Canniff predicted the town would become the fastest-growing community in Chatham-Kent. 'We're here today to dream a dream of the future of Wheatley, of what it can be,' Canniff said. 'I believe in this community that five years, ten years from now, we will look back and say, wow, look at how amazing this community is.' On July 19, 2021, an emergency was declared in Wheatley following the detection of Hydrogen Sulfide gas. The following month, on Aug. 26, an explosion occurred at 15 Erie Street North and expanded the emergency evacuation zone. In 2024, following site demolition, a successful investigation, and the plugging of an uncovered well, municipal officials deemed the emergency order over. Developed by Fotenn Planning and Design, two conceptual plan options released on Saturday feature a heavy incorporation of green space, gardens and places for people to gather. The space would be anchored by the many small businesses that fill the downtown core. Howard Gabert, the chair of the Wheatley Task Force, told CTV News they are still working to decide the fate of existing infrastructure on the property. As of Saturday, a scrubbing system and an abandoned wellhead were still visible at the site. 'So, that's what the two designs are, one of them retains it on an above-ground structure for managing the scrubber system, while the other one has a design that doesn't incorporate all of that,' Gabert said. Last year, council approved the acquisition of buildings affected by the explosion, beginning the demolition process and paving the way forward for a streamlined process. Because of Wheatley's ties to the water and fishing, one design plans for a boat in the park's core. Gabert said the designs are heavily fuelled by community feedback they've received. 'I think what you see in the design is elements of appreciation for nature, you'll have systems that are going to integrate into the community and to be what we're referring to as Wheatley's backyard,' Gabert added. After a long road, Gabert said they are looking forward to moving past the 'tragic' event. With solidified funding from the province, Gabert said there's hope work can begin in the coming months while they continue to solidify the final design. -With files from CTV's Chris Campbell.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
TERRAZZANO: Ottawa should be selling Canada Post and not bailing it out
Canada Post distribution centre Lléo Blanchette on Friday May 23, 2025. Canada Post averted a nation wide strike on Friday as union employees implemented work to rule pressure tactic. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf / Montreal Gazette Here's a bold prediction: Canada Post won't pay back a dime of the $1-billion bailout it's taking from taxpayers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The federal government gave Canada Post up to $1 billion in 'repayable funding' to 'prevent insolvency.' Canada Post is supposed to pay that funding back to taxpayers 'insofar as (Canada Post's) revenues are sufficient.' With Canada Post bleeding money, taxpayers shouldn't hold their breath waiting for that money to be paid back. Canada Post lost $841 million last year. It was the Crown corporation's seventh straight year losing money, with losses totalling $3.8 billion over those years. 'Canada Post is facing an existential crisis: It is effectively insolvent, or bankrupt,' according to the report of the Industrial Inquiry Commission. And as bad as the last few years were, Canada Post's financial situation could get worse. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The funding does not solve the Corporation's structural issues,' Canada Post wrote. In its 2023 Annual Report, Canada Post warned of 'larger, unsustainable losses in future years.' The nature of taxpayer bailouts is that more bailouts soon follow. And Canada Post appears ready to go back to the government with cap in hand. '(Canada Post) welcomes the federal government's announcement of the repayable funding and may require additional short-term borrowing to remain solvent through 2025,' Canada Post said. 'In its current financial situation … (Canada Post) will need additional annual funding going forward to maintain operations and meet employee obligations.' There are three things any would-be champion of taxpayers in Ottawa should do with this situation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. First, members of Parliament should oppose taxpayers bailing out Canada Post. If Canada Post is to exist, then it should be forced to operate like a business and stand on its own two feet. Second, MPs should hold Canada Post accountable to paying back every dime of the $1 billion it takes from taxpayers. If Canada Post doesn't pay every cent back, MPs should ask a simple question every day in the House of Commons: Who is getting fired? Third, and most importantly, MPs should push for the real solution: Sell Canada Post. The government should sell Canada Post and use the money to start paying down its $1-trillion debt like other countries. 'By selling (Royal Mail), we help that important national business to prosper and invest in the future, while we use the money we get to pay down the national debt and pay less interest on that debt as a result,' said George Osborne, then-United Kingdom chancellor of the exchequer when the country privatized its postal service. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Other countries like Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Japan, Israel, Belgium, Malta and Austria sold or partially privatized their government postal company. In Europe, the delivery of all letters has been open to competition since 2013, effectively ending postal monopolies. 'Austria, the Netherlands and Germany privatized their state-owned mail services,' and 'in these countries, inflation-adjusted stamp prices fell between 11% and 17% within 10 years,' explains economist Vincent Geloso. Contrast that with the experience of Canada Post since it became a Crown corporation. 'Almost immediately, stamp prices increased steeply, from 17 cents to 30 cents, and since then, Canada Post has consistently increased prices faster than inflation (to $1.44 today),' according to Geloso. Canada Post is not worth its cost to taxpayers and consumers. Instead of bailing out the failing Crown corporation, MPs should push to sell Canada Post. Franco Terrazzano is federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Olympics Columnists World Editorial Cartoons NHL
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Local unemployment rate up to 6.9 per cent in May
London's unemployment rate is rising as people struggle to find work in the current labour market. According to Statistics Canada, the jobless rate in the region rose half a percentage point to 6.9 per cent in May. Approximately 1,700 jobs were lost locally, amid trade tensions with the United States. Nationally, unemployment has increased for three consecutive months, reaching seven per cent in May. This is the highest unemployment rates have been in nearly a decade, with 1.6 million people unemployed.
