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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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GM's Oshawa Plant to Reduce Shifts Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns


General Motors is set to scale back operations at its Oshawa Assembly Plant this fall, moving from a three-shift system to two shifts. The decision, according to Unifor, the union representing workers, is a direct response to U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian-built vehicles.

Unifor National President Lana Payne criticized the move, calling it "reckless" and warning that it could have widespread consequences for the auto parts supplier network. The union has urged GM to reconsider its decision, arguing that Canadian jobs should not be sacrificed for political favor.

The shift reduction follows the U.S. government's imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian-made vehicles in March, a policy that has significantly impacted the Canadian auto industry. GM has stated that it plans to recalibrate the Oshawa plant to focus more on Canadian sales rather than exports to the U.S..

With thousands of jobs potentially affected, Unifor is calling on the Canadian government to take swift action to protect domestic auto manufacturing. The union has also demanded that GM uphold its commitments to Canadian workers and production.

The Oshawa plant, which assembles Chevrolet Silverado trucks, was reopened after significant investments from federal and provincial governments. Now, with the looming shift cuts, workers and industry leaders alike are watching closely to see how GM and policymakers respond.

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