According to a new report, the Ford Motor Company will be moving their $900 million planned investment plant from Avon Lake, Ohio to a new site in Mexico. Do you really think President Donald Trump would have allowed this to happen?
h/t Marvin
Economy
Canadian Tire Testing First-of-its-Kind-in-the-World Autonomous Trucking Technology
Officials said the breakthrough technology provides a transportation solution for the middle mile – the short-haul shuttle runs that semi-tractor trailers make between distribution centres, warehouses, and terminals each day – by enabling next-generation automated trucks that are more fuel efficient, safer to operate, and provide an enhanced driver experience.
Canadian Government Commits $247 Million Towards Yukon Gateway Project
The Yukon Resource Gateway Project will provide much needed upgrades to existing transportation infrastructure in two key areas of high mineral potential and active mining. These areas include the Dawson Range and Nahanni Range and includes the upgrade of over 650 kilometres of local road systems and infrastructure providing access to significant areas of mineralization. With these improvements, Canadians and local businesses will be able to benefit from the economic potential of Yukon’s natural resources.
Three Los Angeles Supermarkets Close After City Passes Mandate Requiring Groceries To Increase Employee Pay
The grocery chain Kroger will close three more of its stores in Los Angeles after the city passed a mandate requiring large grocery stores to temporarily boost employee pay by an extra $5 per hour, numerous sources reported.
Two Ralphs stores and a Food 4 Less will shut down on May 15 after the city approved the “hero pay” emergency order that the grocery chain says would increase employee’s total compensation to $24 an hour, which includes pension benefits and health care, CBS LA reported Thursday.
It’s Just Money
There is plenty to printed or taxed:
Tax write-offs cost more than $3.3 billion last year, an increase of millions over 2019, according to an internal Canada Revenue Agency audit. The report disclosed the Agency typically “stockpiled” unrecoverable taxes for write-downs: “An uncollectible amount can be written off at any time.”
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A bill to expand carbon tax exemptions for farmers is crucial as cabinet hikes rates every year until 2030, the Commons agriculture committee was told yesterday. “Farmers are struggling now,” said Conservative MP Philip Lawrence (Northumberland-Peterborough South, Ont.), sponsor of the bill.
To be filed under “Justin Trudeau Is An Arrogant Piece of Crap“:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday would not set any date for a federal budget, the first since 2019. Trudeau told reporters pandemic management was a greater priority: “Of all the money invested in helping Canadians get through this pandemic, eight or nine of every ten dollars has come from the federal government.”
Trudeau Labels Canada’s Economic Recession a “She-cession”
Yesterday on International Women’s Day rather than addressing the economic downturn Canada is facing with real solutions Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instead turned Canadians’ economic troubles into an opportunity to virtue signal, labeling the economic recession a “she-cession”.
Yes, that is correct Trudeau is actually trying to make the economic pains of Canadians a gendered issue.
Toronto has had some of the longest COVID-19 business closures in North America
As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on for a year, Toronto has become a flashpoint for the inherent inequities and political consequences that come with difficult public-health decisions.
It’s Just Money
Cases in point:
A federal climate bureau spent more than $600 million last year, says an internal audit. Spending did not include $800,000 in annual staff time to manage newly-detailed carbon offset regulations: “Doing nothing is not an option.”
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The $675 million Public Health Agency “lacked everything” despite assuring legislators it was prepared for the pandemic, a Liberal-appointed lawmaker told the Senate national finance committee. “I was told twice, not just once but twice, you had enough resources on hand to deal with the pandemic,” said Senator Éric Forest (Que.): ‘There was a huge gap between the perception and the reality.’
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The Liberal government will not release a budget in March as it takes more time to assess the impact of the pandemic, meaning that more than two years will have passed since the last federal budget was released.
Cities ask Liberals for $7B to create affordable housing
Canada’s municipalities are asking the federal government to include $7 billion in its upcoming budget for cities and housing providers to buy disused properties and quickly turn them into affordable housing.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) estimates the money could create up to 24,000 permanent affordable housing units in urban and rural communities.
51% of Canadian businesses uncertain they can remain open: Canadian Chamber of Commerce
A new survey by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce found that a majority of Canadian business owners are worried that they might be forced to shut down before the end of the year due to the financial hardships brought on by the pandemic.
Ottawa, airlines close to bailout package that could soar past $7 billion, says labour leader
The federal government is in the final stages of talks with airlines on what could turn out to be a $9 billion support package for the pandemic-battered industry, says union representative Jerry Dias.
Sources say most of the airlines are calling for financial help from Ottawa but WestJet wants the federal government to prioritize coming up with a plan to safely restart air travel.
Twitter to launch engineering hub in Canada with dozens of hires this year
Twitter Inc. will be bulking up on Canadian talent this year with a hiring spree meant to add dozens of engineers in the country to its staff.
The San Francisco, Calif.-based social media giant said Thursday that it plans to form its first Canadian engineering hub with at least 24 workers it will soon hire.
Small businesses took on $135 billion in new debt since pandemic began
Small businesses in Canada had to take on extreme levels of debt in order to sustain themselves since the beginning of the pandemic.
Uber: the end of the road for the gig economy
The Supreme Court has dismissed Uber’s appeal against an employment tribunal ruling that its drivers must be classed as workers rather than self-employed contractors. The verdict has been a long time coming and means Uber drivers are entitled by law to a minimum wage and annual leave.
“I don’t think Canada can stand by this at all”: economist urges action on Keystone XL cancellation
The Keystone XL pipeline was to carry 830,000 barrels of heavy crude oil a day from Alberta to Nebraska, employing 2,800 Canadian workers during construction. It was slated to be the first pipeline fully powered by renewable energy sources.
But on his first day of office, US President Joe Biden revoked TC Energy Corporation’s permit to build Keystone XL.
“This is actually a very serious issue and it needs to be dealt with,” University of Calgary professor of economics Jack Mintz said at a panel discussion event held by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute on Tuesday.
“I don’t think Canada can stand by this at all.”