By The Canadian Press
A CN locomotive moves in the railway yard in Dartmouth, N.S. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. Unifor said it has reached a late night deal with Canadian National Railway to avoid a lockout of 4,800 workers. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)
Six stories in the news today, Feb. 24, from The Canadian Press:
TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT AVERTS CN RAIL LOCKOUT
A lockout of about 4,800 Canadian National Railway workers was averted late Monday when the company and Unifor reached a tentative settlement. Union president Jerry Dias told The Canadian Press that the deal “came together when the company realized that the government was not going to interfere.” Unifor said no details of the agreement would be revealed until after ratification votes are held over the next three weeks.
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STUDY: UPPING TFSA LIMITS A ‘TIME BOMB’
A new study says the Conservative government’s plans to double contribution limits for tax-free savings accounts would cost billions in lost tax revenue and primarily line the pockets of wealthy Canadians. The report by the left-wing Broadbent Institute says most Canadians would not benefit from the plan to nearly double the TFSA contribution limit to $10,000 a year, up from $5,500.
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POLICE STILL AN OPTION IN NDP CONTROVERSY
Police may yet be called in to investigate dozens of New Democrat MPs who used taxpayers’ dollars to pay the salaries of aides working in satellite party offices. Well-placed sources say referring the matter to the police is an option that has been considered in the past by members of the board of internal economy, the multi-party committee that oversees House of Commons spending.
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PEOPLE HOPE TRAIN FIRE REPORT PROVIDES ANSWERS
People forced to flee their homes west of Edmonton almost two years ago by the fiery explosion of freight train cars are hoping for answers. The Transportation Safety Board is to release a report today into what caused 13 Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) cars to derail near Gainford on Oct. 19, 2013.
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ALBERTA TO RELEASE 3Q BUDGET NUMBERS
Alberta’s finance minister is expected to deliver more bad news today when he presents an update on this year’s budget. Robin Campbell is releasing third-quarter numbers, which will take into account the collapse of oil prices into the US$40 a barrel range.
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SENTENCING TODAY FOR EX-SOLDIER IN ATTACK PLOT
A former soldier who hatched a plan to attack the Veterans Affairs office in Calgary is expected to be sentenced today. Glen Gieschen, who is 45, pleaded guilty in November to possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a weapon.
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ALSO COMING IN THE NEWS TODAY….
— Toronto police are expected to shed more light on the mystery surrounding a tunnel found in north Toronto near a Pan Am Games venue at York University.
