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WestJet's Strike Deadline Is Hours Away — Here's What You're Owed (and What You're Not)

  August 1, 2026 Thousands of flights are already being cancelled ahead of a possible strike this long weekend. Before you panic-book a new flight or file an insurance claim, here's what Canada's passenger rights rules actually cover — and the one detail almost nobody is explaining correctly. Where things stand this morning WestJet's roughly 4,000-plus flight attendants, represented by CUPE 8125, issued a 72-hour strike notice Thursday; WestJet answered with its own 72-hour lockout notice. Unless a deal is reached, a strike or lockout could begin as early as 12:01 a.m. Mountain time Sunday, Aug. 2. The airline has already started an "organized take-down" of its network, cancelling roughly 80 flights scheduled for today (Aug. 1) alone, with more cancellations expected as the deadline nears. Talks are still ongoing, and federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has said negotiations are "progressing." The rights nuance almost no one is explaining correctly ...

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Anticipation and Reaction to Fed’s Rate Decision

 


As investors braced for the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision, North American stock markets experienced a mixed close. The Fed maintained its key interest rate at 5.25%-5.50%, leaving the future of rate cuts uncertain. Despite this, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dipped, while the Dow Jones and S&P/TSX Composite saw modest gains.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference offered a glimmer of hope as he dismissed the likelihood of an immediate rate hike, causing a surge in market optimism. He acknowledged the persistent issue of inflation but expressed confidence in the progress towards the 2% target.

The labor market showed signs of normalization, with job openings at a three-year low2. Meanwhile, the earnings season is more than halfway through, with a majority of S&P 500 companies surpassing consensus expectations.

In the corporate landscape, AMD’s AI chip sales forecast led to a 9% drop in its shares, while Amazon’s AI-driven cloud growth pushed its stock up by 2.2%. Johnson & Johnson plans to proceed with a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit settlement, and Starbucks faced a significant sales forecast cut.

The energy sector took a hit due to falling oil prices and a potential Middle East ceasefire, while uranium miners saw a boost from a U.S. ban on Russian imports. Canadian manufacturing activity continued to contract, reflecting ongoing economic challenges.

In summary, the market’s response to the Fed’s decision was a complex interplay of anticipation, relief, and sector-specific movements, highlighting the intricate dynamics of financial markets.

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