Thousands of Safeway workers in Alberta could go on strike after UFCW Local 401 issued a strike notice to parent company Sobeys. The union says workers could walk off the job at midnight on October 7 if no agreement is reached through negotiations. The proposed strike date falls just before the Thanksgiving weekend. The move comes after nearly a year of negotiations between the union and the company. Workers are seeking better wages, improved benefits, job security and safer stores. UFCW Local 401 president Thomas Hesse said workers do not want a strike but want a fair agreement. He warned tha

The United Kingdom could join Canada-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, with reports indicating that high-level discussions are underway between the two countries. The financial institution is designed to provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence projects in allied countries. Canada has so far brought eight countries into the institution — Albania, Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine, which is facing Russia’s invasion. The UK would be the first other G7 country to join the initiative. According to reports, Finance Minister François-Philippe C

Former Canadian Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has praised Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to diversify Canada’s trade during his closing remarks at the two-day Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. Harper supported the federal government’s decisions in the energy sector and said Canada had little choice but to step back from trade negotiations with the United States. He said reducing Canada’s dependence on the U.S. and redirecting trade toward other countries would bring challenges, but expressed confidence that Canadians would be able to manage them. Harper also prais

Canada’s Official Opposition Conservative Party has begun a two-day parliamentary caucus meeting in Penticton, B.C., under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre. The meeting comes ahead of the parliamentary session starting September 21 and is expected to give Poilievre an opportunity to rally his MPs, as the Conservatives are currently trailing the Liberals by double digits in the polls. According to reports, several Conservative MPs who have returned from working in their ridings during the summer break are increasingly concerned about potentially losing their seats in the next election. Cont

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening talks on making Canada the European Union’s first associate member. The proposal was made Wednesday during von der Leyen’s annual address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance. Addressing Carney, von der Leyen said the EU wants to take its relationship with Canada “to the highest level.” She said the partnership extends beyond trade and is based on shared values, including cooperation on artificial intelligence, climate change, the Arctic and geopolitical i

Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that visa requirements for Canadians could be raised during his visit to Europe as Canada seeks to deepen its strategic and economic relationship with the European Union. Carney left Canada Tuesday for a three-day trip to Strasbourg, France, and Liverpool, UK. In Strasbourg, he is attending European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union address and will address the European Parliament on Thursday. During the trip, Carney is also expected to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Liverpool for discussions on defence, s

Construction has officially begun on the new Newton Community Centre in Surrey, marking one of the largest investment projects in the city’s history. According to the City of Surrey, construction crews are currently removing the old structures and preparing and levelling the site. Mayor Brenda Locke said the 175,000-square-foot modern community hub will bring a major transformation to Newton by bringing recreation, cultural and library services together under one roof. The $310-million project near King George Boulevard will feature a 50-metre swimming pool, a leisure pool, two gymnasiums, a

Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has linked the UCP’s defeat in the Calgary-Shaw byelection to the upcoming separation referendum, saying the debate over Alberta leaving Canada is turning away Conservative voters who also feel strongly about the country. Kenney said the separation issue is pushing some nationalist supporters toward opposition parties such as the NDP. He believes the October 19 referendum is having a negative impact on Conservative support. In the Calgary-Shaw byelection, Alberta NDP candidate Kyle Campbell defeated UCP candidate Mike Derry by 582 votes. Campbell received

Canada’s central bank could raise interest rates in the coming months as rising global crude oil prices increase inflationary pressures. Economists believe the Bank of Canada’s chances of raising rates by December are growing, despite Canada’s annual inflation rate remaining steady at 3% last month. Economists at Desjardins Group and RSM Canada say it may be difficult for Bank of Canada officials to ignore oil prices above US$100 a barrel, particularly if the increase persists. While core inflation remains under control for now, economists warn that continued oil price shocks could push