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Gas Prices Are Spiking Again — Here's How to Protect Your Wallet as the Iran Conflict Escalates

  Published July 20, 2026 If it feels like you're filling up more often for the same money lately, you're not imagining it. Oil markets jolted higher to start the week, and Canadian drivers are almost certain to see it at the pump in the next few days. What just happened Brent crude — the global benchmark that drives Canadian gas pricing — jumped nearly 4% on Monday to trade above US$90 a barrel, its highest level since mid-June, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate traded near US$84. The move came after the United States and Iran escalated hostilities over the weekend, including strikes on vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on an oil facility in Kuwait. That strait matters enormously to your gas bill: roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes through it. When shipping through it slows or stalls, traders price in a "risk premium" almost immediately — and that shows up at Canadian pumps within days, not weeks. What it mea...

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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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