Skip to main content

Featured

Ottawa Backs Down on Digital Tax Dispute Amid Pressure from Trump White House

Canada has reportedly agreed to delay its planned digital services tax (DST) following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a recent statement from the White House. The tax, which was originally slated to target tech giants like Amazon, Meta, and Google, had been a major sticking point in U.S.-Canada trade discussions. The White House claimed Canada “caved” to U.S. demands after months of negotiations, with Trump’s team arguing the tax unfairly targeted American firms. The Canadian government, however, framed the delay as a strategic move to preserve economic stability and avoid retaliatory tariffs. Critics within Canada argue that the government’s decision reflects a growing trend of yielding to U.S. economic influence, while others say the delay is pragmatic given ongoing global talks about a coordinated approach to taxing digital revenues. The issue remains contentious, and observers are watching closely to see whether Canada will revive th...

article

Amazon to Close All Quebec Warehouses, Lay Off 1,700 Workers

 

Amazon Canada has announced the closure of all seven of its warehouses in Quebec, resulting in the layoff of approximately 1,700 permanent employees and 250 temporary workers. The decision, which will take effect over the next two months, is part of a strategic move to revert to a third-party delivery model.

The affected facilities include fulfillment centers in Lachine, sorting centers in Coteau-du-Lac and Longueuil, delivery stations in Laval and Lachine, and an AMXL delivery station in Longueuil. Amazon claims that this decision was made to provide more efficient and cost-effective service to customers.

However, the move comes amidst ongoing labor disputes, particularly following the unionization of workers at the Laval warehouse last year. The Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) has condemned the closures, suggesting they are part of an anti-union campaign.

Amazon has assured that it will offer a package including up to 14 weeks' pay and transitional benefits to the impacted employees. Despite this, the CSN plans to challenge the closures, arguing that they violate labor laws.

This decision marks a significant shift in Amazon's operations in Quebec and raises questions about the future of labor relations in the region.




Comments