Good evening, let’s start with today’s top stories:
Tentative deal reached for 120,000 PSAC workers, while CRA strike continues
The Public Service Alliance of Canada and the federal government have reached a new tentative agreement with the Treasury Board that ended a strike affecting more than 120,000 public servants. But nearly 35,000 workers at the Canada Revenue Agency remain on the picket line.
On pay and work-from-home rules – the two main points of disagreement that led to the strike that began April 19 – the final deal landed much closer to the government’s position than the union’s.
PSAC had been seeking a 13.5-per-cent wage increase over three years. The agreement, which includes a fourth year, is worth 11.5 per cent, Ottawa says. The union said it is worth 12 per cent, or 12.6 per cent with compounding.
Opinion: The end of the PSAC public sector strike is only the beginning - Rob Csernyik
Explainer: Here’s what you need to know about the tentative deals plus continuing strike action.
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Trudeau says he’s asked for probe of Chinese foreign interference aimed at Conservative MP
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he’s asked his officials to investigate a report in The Globe and Mail that says the Chinese government has targeted Canadian MPs behind a parliamentary motion declaring Beijing’s oppression of Uyghurs to constitute genocide.
During Question Period, Trudeau was asked by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre why a report on the matter from CSIS was produced in 2021 but no action was taken. He noted the Chinese diplomat reported by The Globe as involved in targeting Conservative MP Michael Chong is still listed as working in Beijing’s Toronto consulate.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and it shouldn’t have happened,” the Prime Minister told the House of Commons.
Alberta voters head to polls on May 29
The writ for the Alberta election has dropped, with voters set to go to the polls on May 29.
United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith and New Democrat Party Leader Rachel Notley are both kicking off their campaigns today in Calgary, which is expected to be a key battleground. Observers expect the UCP to lose some – but not all – support there.
Edmontonians are largely expected to stand behind the NDP, while rural voters are poised to deliver for the UCP.
Read more: The Take Back Alberta movement is gaining ground in the UCP, and some in the party are worried
Opinion: Alberta’s oil-rich future and a pivotal election - Globe editorial
The latest NHL developments: Second-round Stanley Cup playoffs, fired Flames coach and, yes, Snoop Dogg
The next opponents have been set for the remaining Canadian teams in action.
The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers for Game 1 tomorrow night, after advancing to the second round for the first time in 19 years by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning. But if Leafs fans are dreaming of a warm-weather getaway to cheer on their team, Florida has different ideas: The Panthers are restricting ticket sales for Games 3 and 4 to U.S. residents.
The Edmonton Oilers start the second round on the road on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, after eliminating the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
In other hockey news, the Calgary Flames have fired head coach Darryl Sutter after a disappointing season. And rapper Snoop Dogg is joining the bidding to buy the Ottawa Senators.
Opinion: Canada needs a Stanley Cup – even if you can’t stand the Leafs - Roy MacGregor
ALSO ON OUR RADAR
Coronation draws criticism: King Charles has been eager to make his coronation ceremony more inclusive by dropping some ancient rituals, but a move to encourage people from across the realms, which includes Canadians, to swear allegiance to the King has been a step too far for many.
CIC voted no to Teck split: Teck Resources biggest shareholder, China Investment Corp., voted against its proposed split last week, a source familiar with the matter tells The Globe.
First Republic Bank seized: Regulators have seized troubled First Republic Bank early today, making it the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, and sold all of its deposits and most of its assets to JPMorgan Chase in a bid to end the turmoil in the banking system.
OPG’s severance payout: Ontario Power Generation paid more than $131,000 in severance to an executive who was fired because of an intervention on his first day by Premier Doug Ford’s then-chief of staff, Dean French, according to a document revealed after a four-year freedom-of-information battle.
RIP Tim Bachman: One of the founding member of Bachman-Turner Overdrive rock band has died, his brother Randy Bachman confirms.
MARKET WATCH
U.S. stocks ended little changed today as investors took in the weekend auction of First Republic Bank and braced for another expected interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve this week. Weakness in energy shares drove Canada’s main stock index lower.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 46.46 points or 0.14 per cent to 34,051.70. the S&P 500 lost 1.61 points or 0.04 per cent to end at 4,167.87, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 13.98 points or 0.11 per cent to 12,212.60.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index slide 21.44 points or 0.1 per cent to 20,615.10. The loonie traded at 73.83 U.S. cents.
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TALKING POINTS
Ottawa’s vision for electricity’s future is about to clash with Ontario’s
“Ontario’s dynamic is somewhat unique. It’s the only province now in the midst of signing new gas contracts, though others (notably Alberta) are already building gas facilities that should be done by 2025.” - Adam Radwanski
Raging Rick Bowness pulls no punches after Winnipeg’s playoff elimination
“No one should be talked about in a derogatory way in the workplace. Except for this one. The NHL isn’t a faculty lounge. It’s a fighting pit. Wherever NHLers are, they are on stage. The more combative the approach, the better the show.” - Cathal Kelly
LIVING BETTER
It’s well-established that diet plays a significant role in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But It has been unclear how specific dietary components contribute - until now. According to U.S. research, too many refined carbohydrates and processed meats are leading dietary drivers of new diabetes diagnoses worldwide.
TODAY’S LONG READ
‘That’s the Saskatchewan way’: Small town shelters Manitoba student band stranded by spring snowstorm
Springfield Collegiate Institute school band students from Manitoba play at at Craik School in Saskatchewan.Supplied
When a snowstorm stranded a busload of teenage band students in the middle of rural Saskatchewan, their teacher, Greg Crowe, feared disaster. But what ensued was an impromptu lesson in small-town hospitality – and an opportunity for the snowbound castaways to put their instruments to use.
There were 47 teens and five adults aboard the bus the week of April 16, on their way home from a music festival in Edmonton, when it started to fishtail across a slippery prairie highway after a spring blizzard. The bus stopped at the nearest town: Craik, Sask., population 453.
When it arrived at Craik School, its principal, Charla Edwards, ran to meet them. With the roads still covered in ice, it seemed likely the group would need to spend the night. She turned to Facebook, where she asked locals for blankets, pillows, towels, air mattresses and other supplies.
Crowe and the other adults in the group proposed an idea: Would the kids like to put on a concert for students and staff at Craik as a token of thanks? Read the full story by Xiao Xu.
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