National

Trudeau hopes government can help Air Canada following announcement of layoffs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 May, 2020 05:15 PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government will work closely with Air Canada to see if any more help can be offered after the airline announced mass layoffs yesterday. Trudeau acknowledges it's a very difficult situation for airlines and the travel industry during the COVID-19 crisis. Air Canada will lay off more than half of its 38,000 employees next month as it grapples with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airline estimates about 20,000 of its employees will be affected. Air Canada's move was announced after Trudeau extended the $73-billion Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through the end of August earlier Friday.

Trudeau said the government will continue to work with Air Canada to try to determine the best way to get through the crisis. Meanwhile, Trudeau says Health Canada has authorized the first clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 vaccine at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Trudeau also says an additional $100 million will go to the Red Cross to help deal with COVID-19, floods and wildfires.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Chief public health officer's decisions must be scrutinized: Scheer refuses to express confidence in Tam

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer refused Thursday to express confidence in Canada's chief public health officer, arguing the need to question her decisions around the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the reasons Parliament must resume. The four main parties in the House of Commons are locked in negotiations to determine if and how Parliament resumes on Monday, the deadline set for it to reconvene following its adjournment in mid-March.

Chief public health officer's decisions must be scrutinized: Scheer refuses to express confidence in Tam

Vancouver Aquarium could face closure due to COVID-19

The Vancouver Aquarium says it is facing bankruptcy and could be forced to close permanently if it can't arrange emergency funding. A statement from the facility says animal care and habitat costs for 70,000 animals exceed $1 million a month but revenues have dropped to almost zero since the COVID-19 outbreak forced it close last month.

Vancouver Aquarium could face closure due to COVID-19

Fluevog designs 'The Dr. Henry' shoe inspired by B.C. provincial health officer

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is adding another title to her long list of credentials — shoe muse. John Fluevog Shoes is launching a limited edition shoe called "The Dr. Henry," inspired by the public health official. The Vancouver designer says the pink-heeled tribute was made with Henry's blessing, and all proceeds from a pre-sale set to begin next week will be donated to Food Banks BC to support the fight against COVID-19.

Fluevog designs 'The Dr. Henry' shoe inspired by B.C. provincial health officer

Crews make progress on wildfire near Squamish, B.C.

The BC Wildfire Service says crews are making good progress on a ground fire that's so far charred one square kilometre of bush and trees in the Upper Squamish Valley. Marg Drysdale, an information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, says calm weather has kept the fire's activity low Thursday afternoon as 37 firefighters and three helicopters work to get it under control.

Crews make progress on wildfire near Squamish, B.C.

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts

Vancouver's mayor says community relief measures introduced Thursday by the British Columbia government are not enough to prevent city layoffs and service cuts. Kennedy Stewart said offering municipalities tax-payment delays as well as borrowing and debt initiatives is helpful but won't eliminate financial troubles related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vancouver mayor says B.C. relief not enough to ward off layoffs, service cuts

Federal inmate dies from COVID-19 complications at prison in Mission, B.C.

An inmate has died from an apparent complication related to COVID-19 at an institution in B.C. that is experiencing the largest outbreak among prisoners in Canada. Correctional Service Canada says it is the first death from the novel coronavirus among federally sentenced inmates in the country.