Updated, Nov. 21— Quebec MP Marie-Claude Bibeau retains her role as federal minister of agriculture and agri-food in Wednesday’s cabinet shake-up for the Liberals’ minority government. Bibeau will join her colleagues — including returning Transport Minister Marc Garneau and new Labour Minister Filomena Tassi, a Hamilton MP and former minister for seniors — in having […] Read more
Bibeau remains federal agriculture minister in shuffle
Talks continue toward ending CN strike as factories slow output
Montreal/Winnipeg | Reuters — Talks to end a strike by thousands of workers at Canada’s biggest railroad, Canadian National Railway, continued on Wednesday, as industrial plants slowed output of products cut off from their markets. About 3,000 unionized workers, including conductors and yardmen, hit picket lines on Tuesday after talks with management failed to resolve […] Read more
Pulse weekly outlook: Green pea bids still pointed higher
MarketsFarm — Green pea prices in Western Canada continue to rise, while bids for most of the other major pulses grown in the Prairies are also trending higher. Spot green pea bids have risen by about 70 cents per bushel over the past two weeks to currently top out at $10.50 per bushel, according to […] Read more
New environmental rules expected to further lift diesel prices
MarketsFarm — Diesel prices in Canada and the U.S. have increased marginally ahead of winter, which is expected for this time of year — but in the New Year, prices on the farm will likely be higher than normal, as the ocean freight industry adopts new environmental standards. While a farmer’s demand for diesel is […] Read more
Elevator operators seek quick end to CN strike
The Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) wants grain shipments on Canadian National Railway (CN) to resume as soon as possible. “It has a major impact for every day that we’re not moving grain on CN,” WGEA executive director Wade Sobkowich said in an interview Tuesday. “A federal mediator has been appointed and that’s a step […] Read more
CN conductors on strike
Unionized conductors, trainpersons and yard workers at Canadian National Railway are on strike as of Tuesday morning. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), whose CTY arm represents about 3,000 unionized CN staff, announced late Monday its members would stop work at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday. “Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a deal with CN,” […] Read more
Impossible Whoppers contaminated by meat, suit claims
Reuters — Burger King was sued on Monday by a vegan customer who accused the fast-food chain of contaminating its meatless “Impossible” Whoppers by cooking them on the same grills as its traditional meat burgers. In a proposed class action, Phillip Williams said he bought an Impossible Whopper, a plant-based alternative to Burger King’s regular […] Read more
Teamsters serve strike notice on CN
Teamster-led workers in contract talks with Canadian National Railway could be on the picket line as early as 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday after serving strike notice on the company. The Teamsters Canadian Rail Conference – Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons (TCRC-CTY), which represents about 3,200 CN conductors and railyard co-ordinators in Canada, has served 72 hours’ […] Read more
U.S. propane bottlenecks not affecting Canada
MarketsFarm — Despite ongoing shortfalls of propane in some areas of the U.S. Midwest, the situation doesn’t appear to be adversely affecting Canada, according to the Canadian Propane Association. The late harvest in the Midwest has been further hampered by wet conditions, forcing farmers to dry their grain before putting it in the bin. As […] Read more
CN to cut management, union jobs
Reuters — Canadian National Railway said on Friday it would cut management and union jobs, as the largest Canadian railroad operator grapples with an economic slowdown. The company will lay off 1,600 employees in the U.S. and Canada, according to a report by the Globe and Mail. The announcement comes amid declining freight volumes as […] Read more
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