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Oil Prices Are Spiking — Here's What It Means for Your Gas Tank and Grocery Bill

  Published July 17, 2026 Crude oil is trading near one-month highs this week, and if you've filled up your tank recently, you've probably already felt it. The culprit: an escalating conflict in the Middle East that's disrupting one of the world's most important oil shipping routes — and it's starting to show up at Canadian pumps and, eventually, on grocery store shelves. What's happening with oil prices West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the North American benchmark, has been trading around the $79–$80 per barrel range this week — up roughly 5% over the past month. Brent crude, the global benchmark that matters more for what Canadians pay at the pump, has been hovering near $85 per barrel, also near a one-month high. The spike traces back to renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. reimposed a naval blockade on Iran and has intensified strikes, while Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. bases and threats to disrupt regional energy shipments further. ...

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Canada’s Railways and Union in Critical Talks as Midnight Deadline Looms

 

Canada’s two major freight railroads, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), are currently embroiled in intense labor negotiations. The stakes are high: if an agreement isn’t reached by midnight, thousands of workers could face a lockout. This would halt the movement of approximately $1 billion worth of goods that traverse these companies’ tracks daily.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged both sides to continue their efforts at the negotiation table. He emphasized that millions of Canadians, workers, farmers, and businesses across the country are counting on a resolution. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters have also called on the federal government to take immediate action to keep trains running and goods flowing.

The situation remains tense, and the outcome will have significant implications for the Canadian economy. Let’s hope that a last-minute agreement can be reached to avert a major rail stoppage. 

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