Seven stories in the news today, Aug. 31

Seven stories in the news today from The Canadian Press

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CANADA POST, CUPW REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Canada Post and its largest union have reached a tentative settlement, averting the prospect of job action this week. The tentative agreement must still be ratified by more than 50,000 postal workers across the country before they become new contracts. Details of the agreement have not yet been released.

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Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

PM TRUDEAU ACTS TO BRING CANADA CLOSER TO CHINA

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to deepen Canada’s relationship with China and explore a possible free trade deal. After meeting with Trudeau today in Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told reporters through a translator that Canada and China will launch a feasibility study on an eventual free trade pact.

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CANADA SIGNALS INTENT TO JOIN CHINA-LED BANK

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has officially submitted Canada’s bid to join a controversial new international infrastructure bank led by China — an initiative the Asian country hopes will help build its economic credibility around the world. China founded the US$100-billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank late last year to provide other countries in the region access to capital for investments in projects in areas such as transportation, power and telecommunications.

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EXTENSION SECURED IN CANADA-CHINA CANOLA DISPUTE

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says existing dockage rules with China on canola exports have been extended beyond a Sept. 1 deadline as the two countries continue to negotiate a long-term solution. The two countries disagree on the level of “dockage” — foreign material such as weeds, other crops and detritus — that should be considered acceptable in Canada’s canola exports to China. The Chinese government had given Canada until Thursday to cut the level of foreign material in its deliveries by more than half. 

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GRIM ECONOMIC READING FOR Q2 EXPECTED

The latest reading on the state of the Canadian economy is coming this morning and expectations are the results will be grim. Statistics Canada is set to release data on how the economy fared in the second quarter, a three-month period marred by the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alta., which forced the suspension of several oilsands operations.

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MILITARY TOUTS PROGRESS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT

The military’s top brass says progress has been made in the war on sexual misconduct in the ranks, as evidenced by an increase in the number of cases being reported. But they admit that victory remains a distant and elusive goal, even as questions persist over what repercussions offenders are really facing. During the first six months of the year, military police received 106 complaints of sexual misconduct that warranted a criminal investigation — putting 2016 on pace for a 22 per cent increase over 2015.

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SECOND DAY OF RARE IMMIGRATION HEARING

A rare court hearing for a mentally ill Jamaican man who’s been in prison for five years without charge will resume today. Alvin Brown’s hearing at which the federal government will have to justify his continued detention, is believed to be only the second case to find itself in Superior Court.

The Canadian Press