GM and Auto Workers Union talks past
deadline
Saturday, May 16 2009 - The talk concerning General Motors's
(GM) cost concessions, between GM Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers Union
(CAW), was scheduled to end at midnight last night, but both sides
were empty handed when the deadline hit.[1]
Both federal and provincial governments
are urging GM to enact cost-cutting measures in order to prove that
they are deserving of the CA$6 billion in aid
that GM requested in early February.[2]The
company is required to present it's restructuring plans to the
government by July 1st. Union president Ken Lewinski says that "the
government wants a report no later than the latter part of this
afternoon.[1]
The union says that no decisions have been reached because the
government is making many more demands of the GM membership than
they did of Chrysler Canada. Specifically, GM wants
to cut health-care benefits and well as reduce pension benefits for
future retirees. A GM Canada spokesperson refused to comment on the
situation, saying only that there is "lots of hard work going
on".
Canada challenges EU vote to ban sales of seal
products
May 7, 2009 - The Canadian Government will seek to
challenge the
European Union vote taken May 5 to ban
the sale of
seal products.
Trade Minister
Stockwell Day will launch an appeal
process with the
World Trade Organization
unless Canada is exempted as they regulate sustainable and humane
seal hunting.
[5][6] The EU
voted 550 to 49 to ban sale of seal products. Canadian Senator
Mac Harb has a petition
bearing over 500,000 signatures which supports a bill introduced to
end Canada's annual $2.4 million dollar
commercial seal
hunt.
[7] Prime
Minister
Stephen
Harper arrived in
Prague
the same day to begin free trade talks with the EU. He said of the
seal hunt, that "it is a concern and unless there is improvement
the Government of Canada will have to take some actions. We cannot
let a single disagreement contaminate and undermine all the other
issues."
[8]
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