Don’t shut Line 5: Biden administration issues long-awaited position on Canada-U.S. pipeline

The Biden administration has weighed in for the first time on a major cross-border legal dispute that could shut down portions of Enbridge’s Line 5 Canada-U.S. oil pipeline. The opinion came in an amicus brief that, although nuanced, argued against shutting down the pipeline, partly in order to preserve diplomatic relations with Canada. The more than 1,000-kilometre long … 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

Group of Tim Hortons franchisees in Quebec sue brand owner for $18.9M

Several Quebec Tim Hortons franchisees are taking the brand’s owner to court, blaming what they describe as unreasonable constraints in the company’s licensing agreements for lower-than-expected profits. In a lawsuit filed in Quebec Superior Court on Thursday, 16 companies with Tim Hortons franchise licences allege the TDL Group Corp.’s contracts “place it in a position … Read more

SaltWire’s money woes a sign of bigger problems in the newspaper business: experts

The recent decision by SaltWire Network Inc., Atlantic Canada’s largest newspaper company, to seek protection from its creditors is another sign of the decline of the business and the growing threat to local journalism, experts said Tuesday. “We’re seeing a resurgence in a steady spate of closings and scaling back of local news operations,” said … Read more

WestJet CEO apologizes for accessibility failures

WestJet chief executive officer Alexis von Hoensbroech apologized Thursday for incidents where the airline failed to accommodate people living with disabilities, saying he hopes to improve travel accessibility. “To our guests who didn’t have a good travel experience with us, we are sincerely sorry, and we are committed in doing better,” von Hoensbroech said during a House of Commons transport committee … Read more

Toronto ride-share, food delivery drivers strike, calling for more fair pay, better work conditions

Dozens of ride-share and food delivery drivers in Toronto staged a strike Wednesday, calling for more fair pay and better treatment after a recent report found that what some drivers make falls well below Ontario’s minimum wage. In a joint report published Monday, Ridefair Toronto and the Rideshare Drivers Association of Ontario (RDAO) said some … Read more

1st human has received Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implant, billionaire says

The first human patient received an implant from Elon Musk’s computer-brain interface company Neuralink over the weekend, the billionaire says. In a post Monday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk said that the patient received the implant the day prior and was “recovering well.” He added that “initial results show promising neuron … Read more

Buses halted in Metro Vancouver as transit workers go on strike

Buses will not run Monday in Metro Vancouver after more than 180 workers represented by CUPE Local 4500 walked off the job. The job action, which began at 3 a.m. PT, comes three weeks after the workers began refusing overtime. The union represents transit supervisors, communications supervisors and a range of other roles. Talks between the union … Read more

The Russians are spending big on infrastructure to absorb occupied Ukraine

Armies rarely measure their success by the roads they’ve paved or the rail lines they’ve laid down — but that may be the metric Russia is using in occupied portions of Ukraine, where major infrastructure projects are underway or are being planned. Over the last few months, Moscow-based media have reported on the construction of a new railway line between Rostov-on-Don … Read more