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Public sector general strike in Quebec enters Day 2, more walkouts later this week

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

MONTREAL — Unions representing hundreds of thousands of Quebec public sector workers, particularly in health care and education, are on strike again today.The workers are part of a “common front” of four major unions that have planned a three-day strike until Thursday, which has closed schools and delayed surgeries.The unions say the government’s most recent contract offer, a 10.3-per-cent salary increase over five years and a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker, isn’t enough.Josée Fréchette, a vice-president at a large health-care union, told reporters Tuesday that workers want additional pay for night and weekend shifts and more vacation.Treasury Board Chair Sonia LeBel, who is leading the negotiations for the government, says she’s waiting to hear a counter-offer from union leaders.The union representing 80,000 nurses and other health-care workers will strike on Thursday and Friday, while a teachers union with 65,000 members is launching an unl...

Israel-Hamas hostage deal offers pause in fighting, hope for Canadians still in Gaza

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

There is hope more Canadians will soon be able to leave the Gaza Strip, after Qatar announced a truce-for-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas that would bring a four-day halt in fighting in the devastating six-week war.Qatar’s Foreign Ministry — which had led weeks of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas — said it would announce within a day when the clock will start ticking on the truce, during which 50 hostages will be released in stages in exchange for what Hamas said would be 150 Palestinians prisoners held by Israel.The Israeli government said it would extend the lull by an additional day for every 10 hostages released.Global Affairs Canada has said one Canadian is missing, but won’t confirm if that person is being held hostage, a possibility Washington hinted at in a statement over the weekend.On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly expressed hope that a deal would allow all foreign nationals in Gaza to get out of the war zone, in...

Feds promise long-awaited Indigenous loan guarantee program, but offer few details

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

OTTAWA — The “next steps” for a long-awaited Indigenous loan guarantee program will be announced in next year’s federal budget, the Liberal government promised in its fall economic statement on Tuesday.But industry groups and Indigenous leaders are still waiting for details on whether the program, which the fiscal update said would help communities invest in the natural resource sector, will facilitate equity ownership in oil and gas projects. It is important for help to be available across all sectors, the First Nations Major Project Coalition said on Tuesday after the government promised to “advance development” of loan guarantees.“We hope to see a program that ultimately seeks to respect the rights of First Nations to participate in projects on their lands, as they wish,” said a statement from the coalition, a group of more than 130 Indigenous Nations working to ensure First Nations communities get a fair share of the benefits from projec...

Fear of avian flu descends on B.C. farms as millions of chickens are killed

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — It’s the first thing poultry farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley think about in the morning, and the last thing they worry about at night, according to industry spokeswoman Amanda Brittain.The threat is avian flu, which has resulted in the deaths of millions of birds from infection or culling, and has become a pervasive fear for farmers as infections spread, said Brittain, chief information officer with the BC Poultry Association.She said the industry has placed itself on level “red” — the highest of three levels — in its biosecurity program as farmers fight to fend off the outbreaks, which have been triggered by migrating wild birds.“Before anybody goes into the barn, they’re changing their shoes two or three times,” said Brittain.“They’re changing their clothing or putting on a biosecurity suit over their clothing. Extra precautions are taken to disinfect any vehicles that come on and off the farm, th...

Canadians want to see carbon price paused on all home heating fuel, poll suggests

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests Canadians are broadly in favour of the federal government’s decision to exempt home heating oil from its price on carbon, and would welcome expanding the relief to all forms of home heating fuel. The governing Liberals announced last month a three-year reprieve from the carbon price for property owners who depend on heating oil, along with funding to help people make the switch to electric heat pumps. The abrupt about-face from a government that considers tackling climate change a cornerstone priority triggered an uproar in Ottawa over a controversial measure that has proven politically useful on both sides of the aisle. Climate activists denounced the reprieve as a short-sighted move that risks doing permanent damage to the Liberal government’s efforts to limit the impact of climate change. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, has vowed he would do away with the carbon price altogether as prime minister, rallying supporters at ev...

Live updates | Timing for the Israel-Hamas pause in fighting to be announced in the next 24 hours

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

A cease-fire agreement between the Hamas militant group and Israel has been confirmed by both parties, along with Washington and Qatar, which helped broker the deal that would bring a temporary halt to the devastating war that is now in its seventh week.The Israeli government said that under an outline of the deal, Hamas is to free over a four-day period at least 50 of the roughly 240 hostages taken in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Qatar later confirmed the deal, saying the start time will be announced in the next 24 hours and it will last four days. The agreement would bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 11,000 people have been killed, according to health authorities.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the Cabinet voted early Wednesday to back the agreement that the war would continue even if a deal was reached. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.Currently:— Truce deal ra...

‘You’re a hero’ - Injured Hermann officer welcomed home

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

WASHINGTON, Mo. – It was an emotional night in Washington, Missouri, on Tuesday as a large crowd welcomed home a local hero who was critically injured in the line of duty.Hermann officer Adam Sullentrup was shot in the head back in March. Around 8 p.m. Tuesday, people lined Highway 100 in Franklin County to show their support as he was escorted back home.Sullentrup had been recovering at a hospital in Colorado. He suffered a serious brain injury as a result of the March shooting. People who showed up to show their support Tuesday said they want Sullentrup and his family to know the entire community stands with them. Villa Ridge resident Lauri Goodwin echoed that sentiment.“I feel this never should have happened to him, and I just want to come out to support him coming home,” Goodwin said.Union resident Hannah Berkaw said the homecoming is a needed step in the community’s recovery process. Another St. Louis resident loses property via Recorder of Deeds Office “It was a rough day wh...

Commission approves amendments to Spanish state aid scheme, including €5.61 billion budget increase, to compensate energy-intensive companies for indirect emission costs

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, amendments to a Spanish scheme to partially compensate certain energy-intensive companies for higher electricity prices resulting from the impact of carbon prices on electricity costs (so-called ‘indirect emission costs') under the EU Emission Trading Scheme (‘ETS').  The scheme was originally approved by the Commission on 16 March 2022 (SA.100004). Under the scheme, the compensation is granted to eligible companies through a partial refund of the indirect emission costs incurred between 2021 and 2030. The compensation is granted for indirect emission costs incurred in the previous year, with the final payment to be made in 2031.  Spain notified the following modifications to the existing scheme: (i) a budget increase of €5.61 billion leading to an overall budget of €8.51 billion to compensate costs from 2022 to 2030, to account for the increase in the forward price of EU ETS allowances; and (ii) the introduction of an ...

Harriette Cole: What do I do about an ex-friend who’s trying to undermine my work?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 25-year-old woman, and I work in finance at a bank. I’m struggling to manage a relationship with a co-worker.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My newfound love of reading is disrupting my life Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m on the road to burnout and I can’t see a solution Advice | Harriette Cole: I felt like a loser so I quit my job after a week. Now things are even worse. Advice | Harriette Cole: My mom is putting up a huge fight about my college decision, but it’s my life Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m a college student now, so I can’t relate to my family This colleague, whom I once considered a friend, has become increasingly competitive and seems to be undermining my work. We used to collaborate effectively and share great conversations. However, things have taken a sharp turn.It may have something to do with the fact that I was just prom...

Miss Manners: How should I have responded to a loud comment about my makeup?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:15:21 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: The husband of a friend remarked (shouted, actually) to me, from outside a closed bathroom door, that I wear too much makeup!Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: She was embarrassingly rude in public and then blamed it on anxiety Advice | Miss Manners: We had to give up our season tickets because of the hooters Advice | Miss Manners: Unless her house is on fire, I find the host’s behavior reprehensible Advice | Miss Manners: So now moms expect their own gifts at kids’ birthday parties? Advice | Miss Manners: Why I would never get rid of this useless item I keep tripping over I was mortified, and of course, I had not asked for his opinion.What would have been the proper response?GENTLE READER: As you were behind a closed bathroom door, the proper response was silence.If this caused him to repeat himself or increase his volume, he would only embarrass himself. Assuming that...