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Air Canada Flight Attendants Approve Strike Mandate Amid Contract Dispute

Air Canada Flight Attendants Edge Closer to Strike Action More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants have overwhelmingly voted—99.7% in favour—to grant their union a strike mandate, signaling growing frustration over stalled contract negotiations. The vote, conducted by the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), does not guarantee a strike but empowers the union to call one if necessary. A legal strike could begin as early as August 16, following the expiration of a mandatory cooling-off period. Union president Wesley Lesosky criticized the airline for dragging its feet on key issues, including wages, unpaid hours, and working conditions. CUPE argues that flight attendants are only compensated for time between takeoff and landing, excluding critical duties like safety checks, boarding, and deplaning. Air Canada responded by acknowledging the vote as a standard part of the negotiation process and expressed its commitment to reaching a fair agreemen...
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Understanding the New GST Cuts: What’s Included and What’s Not

 

The Canadian government has announced a temporary Goods and Services Tax (GST) break to help ease the financial burden on Canadians during the holiday season. This initiative, effective from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025, aims to provide significant relief by removing the GST/HST on a variety of essential items.

What’s Included in the GST Cuts?

The GST cuts will apply to a broad range of goods, making many everyday purchases more affordable. Here are the key items included:

  1. Groceries: While basic groceries are already GST-free, the new cuts extend to additional food and beverage items, including:

    • Alcoholic beverages (excluding spirits but including wine, beer, ciders, and spirit coolers up to 7% ABV) .
    • Restaurant meals and snacks .

  2. Children’s Essentials:

    • Clothing and footwear designed for children, including baby bibs, bunting blankets, and receiving blankets .
    • Diapers and children’s toys .

  3. Holiday Essentials:

    • Gifts, books, print newspapers, puzzles, and Christmas trees .

What’s Not Included?

Despite the extensive list of items covered, some goods remain subject to GST/HST. These include:

  • Luxury Items: High-end electronics, jewelry, and other luxury goods.
  • Non-Essential Services: Services such as spa treatments, gym memberships, and entertainment tickets.
  • Certain Alcoholic Beverages: Spirits and high-alcohol content beverages are excluded from the tax break .

This temporary GST relief is expected to save Canadians an estimated $1.6 billion over the two-month period, providing much-needed financial relief during a time of year when expenses typically rise .

By understanding what’s included and what’s not, Canadians can better plan their holiday spending and take full advantage of the savings offered by this initiative.


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