Canadian politicians vote for bill to end postal workers strikes

   Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 25/18

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The Canadian government is working to deliver an end to rotating strikes by postal workers that has backlogged millions of letters and parcels.

   Debate is ongoing this weekend as the Liberal government prepares legislation ordering and end to the strike early in the week.

UPDATE: Canada's Senate has approved the back-to-work bill and the rotating strikes are to end at noon on Tuesday (Nov. 27).

   Negotiations over the past year failed to find a settlement between Canada Post and the 50,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers on pay and work conditions.

   Labor Minister Patty Hajdu has encouraged both sides to continue bargaining to “still pull a deal off.”

   Calling mail delivery an “essential service,” Hajdu said small businesses relying on the postal service to deliver their products over the busy Christmas season could go bankrupt if the situation isn’t remedied quickly.

   The union is calling back-to-work legislation unconstitutional and threatens to challenge it in court.

   Canada Post said it could take into January to clear the backlog of mail during almost five weeks of rotating strikes.

Online retailers urge an end to rotating postal workers' strikes in Canada

   Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 18/18

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   c) By Jim Fox

   Online retailers led by eBay have called on the Canadian government to end a five-week labor disruption by postal workers as people are being urged not to mail anything to Canada.

   There are 407 truckloads of mail and parcels backlogged at Toronto sorting terminals and 100 in Vancouver as rotating strikes continue.

   The latest offer to settle the dispute was rejected for the 50,000 workers.

   Retailers want to see some effort to end the strike as Black Friday and Cyber Monday’s big selling dates approach.

   In a bid to end the job action, the post office sweetened its contract offer but the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said it was “unsatisfactory” and wouldn’t put it to a vote.

   Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned the Liberal government might be forced to legislate an end to the strikes before they disrupt the holiday shopping and greeting card season.

   “We have been forced to request that international posts, including the United States Postal Service, refrain from shipping items until we can clear the backlog,” said Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton.

   More than 200 cities and towns have been hit by the rotating strikes.

Canadians getting more chances to win tax-free lottery jackpots

   Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 11/18

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Canadians will have an additional chance a week to win a tax-free prize that’s being increased to a maximum $70 million – the most ever offered.

   Popularity over the chances of winning $60 million prompted the interprovincial lottery game called Lotto Max to raise its jackpot cap to $70 million on a $5 ticket beginning in May.

   As well, there will be draws twice a week – Tuesdays and Fridays – instead of just one.

   Hitting the jackpot is especially profitable in Canada as lottery and casino gambling winnings are not taxed and are paid all at once, not over a number of years.

   Lottery officials say the changes will ensure that jackpots grow more quickly.

   Once the jackpot reaches its cap, additional $1 million Maxmillion prizes are offered.

   The Lotto Max maximum was last increased in 2015 at $60 million, up $10 million from when the game was introduced in 2009.

   Somewhere out there in Edmonton, Alberta, someone is holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $60 million that has gone unclaimed from the Oct. 26 draw.

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Asylum case backlog in Canada means almost a two-year wait

   Canada column for Sunday, Nov. 4/18

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Asylum seekers illegally entering Canada from the United States now have to wait almost two years to have their claims processed.

   That’s with an additional $74 million from the Canadian government to allow the hiring of 60 more workers to help clear some of the backlog.

   The Immigration and Refugee Board said workers are adjudicating refugee claims and appeals, most of which are from the influx of tens of thousands of “irregular” border crossers at non-official entry points.

   Wait times are expected to grow with an anticipated 60,000 new claims this year on top of a current inventory of 65,000 to be handled.

   Once someone has been determined eligible to make a refugee claim, they normally get access to social assistance payments, education, health services, emergency housing and legal aid.

   They can then apply for a work permit after they have undergone medical and security examinations.