All Purpose Politics and News Thread

[Ciel21]

Alaska Airlines has had its planes grounded.
US FAA issues ground stop advisory for Alaska Airlines (msn.com)

[Ciel21]

Business News:
1) we were just talking about the state of Hudson Bay stores and then last night, I saw this article:
Hudson’s Bay cuts jobs in ’realignment’ of organizational structure | Toronto Sun

2) Loblaws' first quarter earnings:
Loblaw reports $13.58B in Q1 revenue, as Reddit group's boycott kicks off (yahoo.com)

[Ciel21]

Man with sword kills a teenage boy, seriously injures police officer in London UK attack:
Two London cops who confronted sword-wielding man remain hospitalized | Toronto Sun

[Ciel21]

Some US Red Lobster restaurants have closed already:
CANADA NEXT? Red Lobster shutters dozens of U.S. stores (msn.com)

Daily Mail in the UK has reported that 48 US restaurants' contents were auctioned off for $5000 each:
Entire contents of shuttered Red Lobster restaurants sold for $5k - as DUMPSTER DIVERS help themselves to unsold items | Daily Mail Online

[Ciel21]

Potential strikes that could affect the Canadian economy-

Dr. Charlebois (you know him from many newspaper, media and social media appearance on food issues)sounds the alarm about goods movement in Canada in jeopardy of rail strike action next month: CHARLEBOIS: The invisible lifeline of Canada's economy may be in trouble (msn.com)

Canada Border Services Agency's employees had until May 15 to vote on strike action---and the outcome is to be determined with potential for strike in June (which would affect land and air travel):9,000 border service workers could walk off job as of June (thestar.com)

And in the arena where Canada Revenue Agency presides over taxation issues in Canada, a recent situation about foreign landlords of properties in Canada that have not paid taxes got publicity as one landlord's tenant got a letter from the CRA asking tenant to withhold 25% of rent and submit it to the CRA to pay for landlord's tax obligations. Another tenant at a different property got a similar letter. Feds clarify CRA confusion over non-resident landlord taxes (thestar.com)

[Ciel21]

I missed knowing that Gate Gourmet employees had a contract to vote on at the end of April 2024:
Airline food workers end strike with Gate Gourmet (thestar.com)

Ontario's Safe Streets Act was taken to court by a legal clinic. The Justice struck down parts of the Act but upheld other parts in regards to panhandling and where it can be done. Still not permissible to ask for money while on the roadways.
Court strikes down parts of Ontario panhandling law as unconstitutional | CTV News

Court strikes down parts of Ontario panhandling law as unconstitutional | CTV News

[Ciel21]

Two Royal couples that married in 2023 have announced baby news for 2024:

Sheika Mahra of Dubai and her husband Sheikh Mana became parents of a daughter, Mahra, at the start of May: In Pics: Sheikha Mahra shares moments with new born daughter (emirateswoman.com)

Princess Rajwa and her husband Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan have announced they are expecting a child this summer:
From engagement to baby news, timeline of Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa's relationship (thenationalnews.com)

[Ciel21]

If you are a Canadian with a service dog or pet dog planning to travel with the dog to the United States this summer, become familiar with new travel rules for dogs coming into effect on August 1, 2024:

https://ca.yahoo.com/news/guide-dog-...130000098.html

[Ciel21]

Ok. I'll admit I was waiting to see when Red Lobster Canada was going to state whether the chain was going to stay in business or close. I did not know that it is headquartered in the state of Delaware, USA.

https://ca.yahoo.com/finance/news/se...182543286.html

An application will be brought before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on May 28 to have the U.S. bankruptcy recognized and enforced in Canada, Canadian counsel Linc Rogers confirmed to CBC News on Thursday.Red Lobster Canada, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated company that owns and operates Red Lobster restaurants across Canada, was part of the Chapter 11 filing in the U.S. It's listed as a "related debtor" in the filing.
"There is currently a stay in proceedings in place in Canada preventing any creditor from taking action in Canada against [Red Lobster] Canada and certain affiliated entities," Rogers wrote.

[Ciel21]

The United Kingdom's citizens will be expected to vote on July 4 after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for an election:

It will be fought on the first set of new constituency boundaries since 2
010, redrawn to reflect population changes since then, and will be the first where voters have to show ID.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-69050450

Speaking of showing ID, earlier in May 2024, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not have his ID on his person when he went to vote. He was the one who brought in the ID rule. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68947834

According to the Electoral Commission, about 14,000 people were unable to vote in last year's local elections in England as a result of the new rules.
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports, driving licences, older or Disabled Person's bus passes and Oyster 60+ cards.

Oyster cards are smartcards used for public transit.

[Darth Penguin]

Poor Boris, still trying to be relevant.

[Ciel21]

Poor Boris, still trying to be relevant.

That's a stunningly clever t-shirt slogan! Maybe we could entice Larry the Cat to wear it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prospect of CBSA strike this summer as strike mandate has been attained:
https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ne...5219dd62c.html

[Ciel21]

Strike action coming to Ontario (two) and Canada's borders (air, land, sea):

Canada Border Service Agency: https://www.thespec.com/business/a-c...ce7722ab7.html

Toronto Transit Commission: https://www.ttc.ca/riding-the-ttc/Up...aining-Updates

LCBO stores: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/05/...ly-says-union/

Oh, there's a class action lawsuit on how recyclable the recyclable bags sold in many chain stores are:
https://www.thestar.com/business/dol...aa597b043.html

Hot summer indeed! Ontario is getting another taste of hot and humid weather this week. Be prepared for it.

[Ciel21]

Update on Canadian National Railway negotiations-potential for strike action:

https://montreal.citynews.ca/2024/06...strike-threat/


Oak wilt is a real concern. The City of Hamilton has a May-October ban on cutting oak trees due to the threat of spread of oak wilt (I became aware of the ban late last summer when I saw a notice at the local municipal centre).
https://www.thespec.com/news/hiking-...ce=hot-stories

[Ciel21]

Tomorrow, tomorrow is only a day away but it could mean lineups to get across the Canada-US border and delays in trucked produce and merchandise reaching warehouses and stores (repeat of early Covid-19 shutdowns/limited store openings):

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/winds...onse-1.7225515


Mississauga ON residents will be voting for a new mayor and Ward 5 councillor on June 10 (advance voting has been happening)-I'm certain Toronto and other cities will be keen to know who will lead the city that is home to Toronto Pearson airport:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...2024-1.7225516

The Toronto Transit Commission may be on strike on June 7, but there's a Shake Shack grand opening on June 13 at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) to look forward to! The location is Canada's first one.
https://globalnews.ca/news/10533720/...opens-toronto/