“Effectively, we’ve lost Christmas with Canada Post,” said Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, in an interview with Global News.

Those hoping to receive holiday gifts through Canada Post should not expect a Christmas miracle this year. Experts predict it could take up to a month to clear the backlog of parcels and letters.

“It’s not like starting your car after it’s been parked for three weeks. In some of the larger facilities, it could take up to five days just to begin processing items,” explained Fraser Johnson, a professor of operations management at Western University’s Ivey Business School, in an interview with the Toronto Star.

Reports indicate Canada Post missed delivering 12 million parcels in early December, according to the Financial Pos.

Johnson further clarified that for every day of delay in the supply chain, it could take about five additional days to clear the backlog.

“Canadian consumers need to brace for the reality that Christmas 2024, in terms of shipping capacity, has already hit its limit,” Kelly told Global News. He recommended shopping locally, saying, “Please visit your local businesses for gifts you can hand-deliver or purchase in-store.”

He also added, “Even if the strike were resolved today, Canada Post wouldn’t be able to clear the backlog in time to deliver packages before the holidays. For 2024, Canada Post is essentially out of commission. It’s not a viable option for small businesses this year.”

On Friday, Canada Post and its employees, represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), marked the 29th day of their strike. The 55,000 workers are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and expanded services at public post offices. The strike began on November 15, after a year of unproductive bargaining.

Canada Post rejected the union’s latest offer, saying it would “add billions of dollars in unsustainable fixed costs,” according to a December 11 statement.

Jan Simpson, the union’s national president, urged workers to remain firm. “The pressure of public opinion, financial strain, and constant pushback can make even the most determined question this fight. But it’s important to remember why this strike matters. This isn’t just about pay or benefits—it’s about fairness, dignity, and recognizing the crucial role the work plays in connecting communities across the country,” Simpson said in a statement on Thursday.

She added, “Every letter, package, and cheque you handle plays an essential role in keeping communities connected and life running smoothly. Yet, this importance is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life.”

On Friday, Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon requested the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to assess the situation and potentially order workers back to their jobs if a deal is not reached.

In a post on X, MacKinnon stated that if CIRB determines a deal won’t be reached by the end of 2024, they should mandate union workers return to work and extend existing agreements until May 22, 2025. He also plans to appoint an Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) to examine the dispute and provide recommendations by May 15, 2025.

The union, however, issued a statement condemning the government’s intervention. “The Union strongly denounces this assault on our constitutionally protected right to collectively bargain and strike,” the statement read. “This order reflects a troubling pattern where the government uses its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook, drag their feet, and refuse to bargain in good faith with workers and unions.”

The union also noted that the situation is “rapidly evolving” and they need more time to assess the details. “We are currently reviewing the order and considering all of our options moving forward,” said CUPW.

Kelly of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business added, “It seems the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) will have 72 hours to complete its work before issuing a back-to-work order on Monday.”

“This means Canada Post workers may return to their jobs as early as next week,” he said. CFIB estimates that small businesses are losing a combined $100 million every day due to the strike.

“This will be too late to save any part of the Christmas season for small businesses,” Kelly said. “With such a massive backlog, it will be nearly impossible for new shipments to reach Canadians before Christmas through Canada Post.”

Larry Savage, a labor professor at Brock University, discussed the strike’s impact, noting that public support for the union has been lukewarm. “As strikes drag on, they become harder to sustain, and if the public isn’t supporting you, it can be demoralizing for the union,” he told the Canadian Press. He added that it remains “unclear” who is winning the public’s favor.

A poll conducted in early December revealed that Canadians weren’t overly affected by the strike. “As the two sides exchange proposals, Canadians seem to sympathize with both perspectives. One-third (34%) believe Canada Post is justified in pushing back on demands and trying to change its business model due to financial struggles,” the survey showed. “A similar proportion (29%) supports the union’s demands. About one-quarter (23%) offer no sympathy, likely just wanting their packages delivered.”

The Trudeau government has enacted another unexpected gun ban, immediately outlawing 324 types of firearms. Canadians who previously used these firearms for hunting or target shooting must now secure them or face severe penalties. The government also plans to seize these firearms through a buyback program and send some to Ukraine’s military.

As with previous bans targeting hundreds of firearms, this list raises questions about its alignment with public safety goals. It includes low-powered varmint rifles, rare antiques found only in museums, and firearms no more dangerous than many that remain legal. Contrary to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s assertion, many of these guns are not designed for the battlefield.

While any bullet can be lethal, the .22 caliber is among the least powerful. It is commonly used in varmint hunting and youth-target practice. Including .22 caliber firearms on a list ostensibly targeting battlefield weapons seems questionable.

One example is the GSG-16, a .22-caliber target shooting rifle sometimes sold in pink. The list also bans several guns designed to mimic military rifles in appearance but with non-military functionality, firing .22 bullets one at a time. For instance, the newly prohibited Mauser StG44 resembles the iconic Sturmgewehr 44 but lacks assault rifle characteristics.

The government’s criteria for assault-style rifles continue to be inconsistent. True assault rifles—already illegal in Canada—are defined by automatic firing and large-capacity magazines, neither of which are permitted under Canadian law. Long before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure, rifles in Canada were limited to five rounds and semi-automatic firing (one shot per trigger pull).

The Trudeau government introduced the term assault-style in its Bill C-21, defining it as a semi-automatic rifle using centre-fire ammunition, designed post-2023, and originally intended to hold high-capacity magazines. Yet many banned firearms, including .22-caliber rimfire guns and pre-2023 models, do not fit this description.

The list also includes obscure historical weapons, such as the Browning M3 Aircraft machine gun from the 1930s, a mounted aircraft weapon already prohibited. Another example is the SaskSten, a WWII-era Sten gun modified for Canadian regulation, which sold for at least $4,000 before being banned. These weapons are rarely, if ever, involved in crimes.

The bans appear to target firearms based on appearance rather than functionality. For nearly every prohibited firearm, there are legal alternatives with similar power and firing rates. Notably, the SKS—a Soviet-era semi-automatic rifle—remains legal, likely because of its widespread use among Inuit and First Nations hunters.

The claim that banned firearms will aid Ukraine has been met with skepticism. Defense Minister Bill Blair suggested that some firearms on the list could be useful to Ukraine, but modern militaries prefer standardized equipment. Weapons chambered in .22 caliber or limited to five rounds are ill-suited for combat. Ukraine’s interest likely lies in a small subset of rifles chambered for high-powered cartridges like the .338 Lapua, suitable for sniping.

The timing of the ban coincides with the anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, in which a legally purchased Ruger Mini-14 was used to kill 14 women. The Mini-14 was included in a 2020 ban, yet firearms with comparable caliber and firing rates remain legal.

The ban also comes as police organizations criticize earlier gun control measures. In October, both the Toronto Police Association and Surrey Police Union denounced the government’s handgun freeze, noting that gun crime has surged since its implementation.

The reason is clear: most crime guns in Canada are illegally smuggled from the United States, making regulatory changes to legal gun ownership ineffective in curbing gun violence.

What do breast milk, liquid medication, and distilled water (for CPAP devices) have in common?

They are all considered essential liquids and can be carried through security screening in quantities exceeding the 100ml limit.

These items are exempt from the 100ml liquid limit and do not need to be placed in your 1L plastic bag. However, you must declare these items to the screening officer at the checkpoint and remove them from your carry-on bag for inspection.

Learn more about essential liquids here.

The southern United States is on track to surpass Canada’s longstanding dominance in the North American lumber market, as years of trade restrictions and environmental challenges take a toll on Canadian output. According to commodity pricing agency Fastmarkets, the U.S. South is poised to overtake Canada in softwood lumber capacity for the first time since at least 1970. This shift highlights how Canada’s lumber sector has weakened under U.S. tariffs, alongside issues like wildfires, land-use regulations, and insect infestations.

In August, the U.S. raised import duties on Canadian softwood lumber by nearly 81%, intensifying a four-decade trade dispute. Analysts expect the current 14.54% levy could double by next year, illustrating how trade policies can reshape industries and create new market leaders. Tariffs on imports have become a prominent election topic in the U.S., with Republican candidate Donald Trump advocating for broad import taxes. The U.S. has long claimed that Canada’s C$10 billion ($7.2 billion) industry undercuts American producers with low-cost lumber, contending that Canadian loggers’ government-set fees constitute a subsidy. This dispute has severely impacted British Columbia (BC), where forest products made up a quarter of all export value in 2022. Additional tariffs could be “quite devastating for the sector,” said Kurt Niquidet, chief economist at the BC Council of Forest Industries, noting the potential for widespread mill closures across Canada.

While Canadian sawmills, especially in BC, grapple with rising costs and diminishing revenue, the U.S. South is seeing gains in lumber production. The U.S. Lumber Coalition credits tariffs for fueling American investment and boosting production capacity. North American sawmill closures resulted in a 4% capacity reduction this year alone, with over 40% of those closures in BC, according to Fastmarkets senior economist Dustin Jalbert. Canfor Corp., a major Canadian forestry company, announced plans to shutter two BC mills by year-end, citing tariffs and limited timber supply, resulting in a C$100 million writedown. Other major Canadian producers, including West Fraser Timber Co., Interfor Corp., and Western Forest Products Inc., have also cut back or closed mills in western Canada.

The U.S. South, benefiting from faster-growing private forests, has emerged as North America’s largest wood-producing region, says Brooks Mendell, president of Forisk Consulting in Georgia. However, he noted that Canada remains essential to North America’s lumber supply, as the U.S. alone cannot meet demand. If Canada’s output continues to decline, American consumers may face higher lumber prices or turn to more distant sources, like Scandinavia. “The U.S. can only produce so much more incremental lumber before reaching a maximum harvest limit,” noted BC-based forestry consultant Russ Taylor, who has been active in the industry for over four decades.

Lumber demand is showing signs of recovery, potentially slowing Canada’s decline. U.S. single-family home construction is increasing, with the National Association of Home Builders forecasting growth through 2026. Fastmarkets expects North American lumber capacity to fall short of demand this year for the first time since the pandemic-fueled home improvement surge. “If demand recovers next year while supply is down, it doesn’t take an economist to see what that likely means for prices,” said Fastmarkets’ Jalbert.

The Canadian Coast Guard Inshore Rescue Boat Student Program is now open for applications for Summer 2025. This is an opportunity to embark on an exciting adventure where you can truly make a difference on the water and in people’s lives. Applications close on December 30th, 2024.

If you are considering a career with the Canadian Coast Guard, there is three upcoming virtual presentations designed to help navigate the process for the Officer Training Program.

• Explore the Officer Training Program
• Understanding the Canadian Coast Guard College Admissions Process
• Tips for the Written Assessment and Interview Preparation

Click here for more information and to register online.