Further flight cancellations expected after WestJet strike

By The Canadian Press on July 2, 2024.

WestJet flight disruptions are expected to continue this week after an agreement was reached over the weekend to end a strike by mechanics. Striking aircraft mechanics are seen on the picket line at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Saturday, June 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Here’s a roundup of stories from the Canadian Press to bring you up to speed…

“Full resumption of operations will take some time” after preliminary agreement: WestJet

WestJet flight disruptions are expected to continue this week after an agreement was reached over the weekend to end the mechanics’ strike. The airline said in a statement on Monday morning that “fully resuming operations will take time and further cancellations will be required in the coming days.” Around 680 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association walked off the job on Friday night despite a directive to binding arbitration from federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan. The airline said it had cancelled around 830 flights between Thursday and Monday.

Here’s what else we’ll be looking at…

Google: Productivity boost to promote use of artificial intelligence

The chief technology officer of Google’s cloud division says that in the next year or two, many organizations will move from experimenting with artificial intelligence to actually using it. As companies move out of testing mode, Will Grannis says they will increasingly turn to AI-based platforms and tools for everything from financial services to healthcare. He says the shift is being driven by increasing familiarity with the technology and the continued pursuit of productivity and efficiency gains, especially among the workforce.

Manitoba NDP still on honeymoon after nine months

Nine months after his election, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew remains popular with voters. His NDP government has implemented many promises the party made during last year’s campaign, and opposition parties are working to rebuild after losing leadership positions and parliamentary seats. But experts say the government still faces challenges as it tries to follow through on other promises – such as keeping food prices affordable – and implement a budget that may require severe restrictions. Recent opinion polls suggest support for the NDP has grown since the party won 34 of the 57 parliamentary seats in the Oct. 3 election.

Five years after the tobacco ruling, “nothing has changed”

Five years ago, Quebec’s highest court upheld a landmark ruling that ordered three major tobacco companies to pay billions of dollars to smokers who became ill or addicted. Yet the roughly 100,000 members of the two class-action lawsuits have not received a cent, and recent court filings show that hundreds have died from smoking-related illnesses in the meantime. The three companies – Imperial Tobacco, JTI-Macdonald and Rothmans-Benson & Hedges – filed for creditor protection immediately after the Ontario Court of Appeal ruling, a process that has put a halt to all legal proceedings against them.

Tim Hortons parent company invests in China

Restaurant Brands International says it is spending up to $45 million on two deals designed to bolster its presence in China and spur growth in what the company sees as a promising market. The parent company behind Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Firehouse Subs says the first deal will see Popeyes China acquired by Tims China, which operates Tim Horton’s franchise stores in the country. The moves come months after the company said it needed to increase spending in China to fuel further growth, and executives are striking an optimistic tone about the potential for expansion in the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2024.

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