Impasse at strikebound B.C. ports not broken by Saturday's round of negotiations
Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Jul, 2023 09:34 AM
Hundreds of supporters showed up to a rally in Vancouver backing striking B-C port workers.
Speakers from as far away as Australia and New Zealand offered support for the thousands of workers who have been off the job since Canada Day.
The workers continue to push for improved wages as the cost of living climbs, as well as protection from what they see as an overuse of contractors for maintenance work.
Vice president Pat Bolen told the crowd issues around maintenance work are the union's "line in the sand."
The central principle of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy is that Canada acts for its national interests, while defending its values. The Strategy positions Canada as a reliable partner for the region, now and in the future. It constitutes an ambitious plan, which initially provides for an investment of nearly $2.3 billion over the next five years, said the statement.
Winter storm watches have been issued for parts of Fraser Canyon, Fraser Valley, Nicola region, the Okanagan Valley, Similkameen and South Thompson areas. The weather office says the storm is expected to bring up to 20 centimetres of snow.
The announcement comes after Premier David Eby and Mitzi Dean, minister of children and family development, met with members of the group AutismBC and other stakeholders, including the First Nations Leadership Council and B.C.’s representative for children and youth.
Workers applying for EI will be eligible for the more-generous benefits starting on Dec. 18, with advocates praising the move but urging the government to make good on its promise for a much bigger overhaul of the system. Qualtrough made the announcement while visiting the Canadian Cancer Society's regional care centre in Vancouver.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said that COVID-19, RSV and influenza are continuing to co-circulate at high levels. While RSV activity seems to have levelled off, Tam said she expects it to remain elevated for weeks to come.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson says much of the added surplus comes from higher personal and corporate income taxes, while sales taxes and natural gas royalties were also higher. Robinson says $2 billion of the added revenue has already been earmarked for cost-of-living measures announced since the summer.
