Canada Post Union Shifts to Rotating Strikes Starting Saturday

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced it will transition from a nationwide strike to rotating strikes starting on Saturday morning. This decision, effective at 6 a.m. local time, aims to resume mail and parcel deliveries across the country. The union’s move follows a meeting with the federal minister responsible for Canada Post, Joël Lightbound, where concerns regarding recent changes to the postal service’s mandate were raised.

The union expressed its intent to continue discussions with Lightbound, stating that a follow-up meeting is scheduled for next week. This shift to rotating strikes is expected to mitigate the disruptions caused by the previous nationwide strike, allowing for some postal services to resume.

Job Market Insights and Government Initiatives

In related news, Statistics Canada is set to release its employment data for September. The latest figures are anticipated to show that Canadian employers added approximately 5,000 jobs last month, reflecting a rebound from a loss of about 66,000 positions in August. Andrew Hencic, a senior economist at TD, has noted the potential for a loss of 35,000 jobs in September but cautioned against overinterpreting the preliminary employment numbers. This data release is particularly significant as it represents the last snapshot of the job market before the Bank of Canada makes its next policy rate decision on October 29.

In a separate development, Prime Minister Mark Carney has requested his cabinet ministers to outline three to five key objectives to guide the Liberal government’s priorities for the upcoming year. This initiative, communicated in a letter dated July 8, emphasizes the need for ministers to focus on achievable goals using existing resources.

Education and Housing Challenges

In Alberta, an education expert has criticized the provincial government’s online lesson plans, describing them as “incoherent.” Maren Aukerman, an education professor at the University of Calgary, highlighted concerns about the nearly 200-page tool kit, which she believes does not align well with the provincial curriculum. This critique comes as the province’s teachers remain on strike, marking the largest walkout in Alberta’s history.

Meanwhile, in Newfoundland, advocates are raising alarms about the treatment of the province’s homeless population. Front-line housing workers report that the provincial government is relocating homeless individuals from their communities to towns with more services. Sherri Chippett from the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing and Homelessness Network stated that individuals in need of housing are often offered accommodations one hour away, rather than being supported in their local areas.

In a lighter note, author J.K. Rowling responded to the Vancouver Board of Parks’ decision to disavow her after it voted to apologize for hosting a Harry Potter event in Stanley Park. Rowling, expressing her indifference to the board’s statement, humorously suggested that she would accept a “certificate of avowal” for her views on transgender issues.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 10, 2025.