Global National: Nov. 16

Mail in the Canada Post system is frozen tonight as 55,000 postal workers remain on strike for a second day. Though Canadians and small business are already feeling the negative impacts ahead of the holiday season, it could deal a devastating blow to the business itself. And, operations began moving toward normal at Eastern Canada’s biggest port on Saturday, after the government intervened in a labour conflict that had profound effects on this country’s supply chain. The Maritime Employers Association locked out more than 1,000 longshore workers last Sunday, after the union rejected a contract offer. At the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned world leaders that the incoming Donald Trump administration will be a constant challenge. Trump has already touted tough tariffs on all imports into the U.S. market – including a 10 per cent tax on all Canadian goods. Meanwhile, the number of Canadians using food banks has nearly doubled in the last five years. In Calgary on Saturday, there was a major push for donations, as more families struggle with the cost of living. And, the biggest heritage project in Canadian history is marking a major milestone. Centre Block on Parliament Hill has been closed to politicians and the public for five years as it undergoes delicate renovations. Ottawa says the $5-billion project is on time and on budget.