Why the Conservatives and NDP are headed for a clash over Canada’s working-class votes

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s path to power may be by prosecuting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s past eight years in government, but his road to victory is painted NDP orange. Appealing to working-class voters in rural and northern ridings — like those held by New Democrats across British Columbia and Liberals in northern Ontario — is … Read more

Fate of giant carbon capture project still uncertain, but Pathways Alliance hopeful for deal with feds

Despite growing frustrations and prolonged negotiations with the federal government, a consortium of Canada’s largest oilsands companies is optimistic about having a “line of sight” in securing the certainty it needs from Ottawa to advance its proposed $16.5-billion carbon capture pipeline project. The Pathways Alliance is not expecting any new commitments in the upcoming federal … Read more

Canada’s job numbers almost unchanged in March, while unemployment rose to 6.1%

The Canadian economy lost 2,200 jobs in March while the unemployment rate rose to 6.1 per cent, as more people looked for work and job growth ground to a halt, Statistics Canada said Friday. That’s up from 5.8 per cent in February and marks the largest increase in the unemployment rate since summer 2022. The federal agency’s … Read more

Lengthier job hunts for recent graduates could be major factor in unemployment rate

Nearly a year after graduating from Carleton University with a degree in engineering physics, Surya Nareshan is still struggling to find employment. Nareshan, who lives in Ottawa, has applied for dozens of positions since May — mostly in software engineering and optics. While he’s made it through multiple rounds of interviews, including elaborate proficiency testing, he hasn’t yet found … Read more

Canada’s need to improve productivity has reached emergency level, says Bank of Canada official

A senior Bank of Canada official says the need to improve productivity has reached an emergency level as the economy faces a future where inflation may be more of a threat than in the past few decades. In a speech, senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers says an economy with low productivity can only grow so … Read more

U.S. eases vehicle emissions rules, but overall reduction targets remain unchanged

The Biden administration on Wednesday slashed its target for U.S. electric vehicle adoption from 67 per cent by 2032 to as little as 35 per cent after industry and autoworker backlash in the political battleground state of Michigan. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) instead adopted a “technology neutral” regulatory scheme that allows automakers far more freedom … Read more

This layoff could have been an email. Is there a good way to lose your job as a remote worker?

Is there a good way to lay off a remote worker?  Four years after remote work became the norm for a huge section of the labour force, it appears some companies are still struggling with the etiquette of letting someone go virtually. And amid a gradually cooling labour market and mass layoffs in several sectors, such as media and the tech industry, it’s … Read more

Canada’s inflation rate slowed to 2.8% in February, beating expectations for 2nd month in a row

Canada’s annual inflation rate cooled to 2.8 per cent in February, helped by slower growth in the cost of cellular services, groceries and internet access services, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. Economists had largely expected the rate to rise to 3.1 per cent and undo some of the year’s early progress. Rent and mortgage interest costs continued to be primary … Read more

Wildfires made Canada’s air quality worse than the U.S. for the first time

Canada’s record-setting wildfire season hiked the country up global pollution rankings — and for the first time made its air quality worse than the U.S., according to a new report by air quality technology company IQAir. “In previous years, Canada had the cleanest air quality in all of North America,” said Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of … Read more

Niagara Falls, Ont., mayor, police and telecoms brace for eclipse day crowds as 1 million visitors expected

Niagara Falls, Ont., mayor Jim Diodati says that when he goes out on April 8 to watch the total solar eclipse, he’s packing everything he might need for the entire day. “My plan is I’m riding my bike down there with my backpack. And it’s going to be loaded with cereal bars and water bottles. … Read more