News
Copy by Craig Foster
There will be no postal strike on Friday morning. However, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has announced an immediate, nationwide halt to overtime work for its 55,000 members. This decision comes as negotiators continue to assess contract offers from Canada Post, with the union demanding a 19 percent wage increase. It follows a meeting on Thursday evening between both parties that did not result in a successful agreement. The Crown corporation issued a statement confirming that there are no rotating strikes or national work stoppages planned at this time. Nevertheless, it has warned of potential delays in service. Earlier this week, the union issued strike notices indicating that they intended to begin strike activities on Friday, May 23, at 12:00 a.m. local time, unless an agreement was reached before that time.
Former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino will stay on as Mark Carney’s chief of staff for the time being, the prime minister announced Thursday. Carney tapped Mendicino for the role after winning the Liberal leadership in March. Sources told CBC News at the time that the former MP would be in his new role only temporarily — which the prime minister alluded to in his Thursday social media post. The prime minister noted that Mendicino had originally planned to return to Toronto before signing on as chief of staff, and credited him for his “vital” support after the Liberal leadership race, election and the transition to government. Opposition parties heavily scrutinized Carney’s choice to hire Mendicino at the time, both for his time in cabinet and his stance on the Middle East.
Israel’s ambassador to Canada suggests that there might have been a deliberate effort to provoke Israeli soldiers before they fired warning shots in the vicinity of a diplomatic delegation — which included Canadians — in the West Bank on Wednesday. Four members of a Canadian delegation were part of a tour in the city of Jenin when members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired warning shots in the area. Two are Canadian citizens, including Ottawa’s top diplomat in the West Bank, and two are locally hired staff. No one was injured during the incident. Israel’s Ambassador Iddo Moed suggested during an interview with CBC News Network’s Power & Politics that the diplomats may have been led astray to intentionally try to provoke the IDF soldiers.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enrol international students on Thursday, and is forcing existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other schools. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate the Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-26 school year, the department said in a statement. Harvard said the move, which affects thousands of students, was illegal and amounted to retaliation.
Sports
The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are rolling. The Carolina Hurricanes are reeling. Sam Bennett scored one of his two goals in Florida’s three-goal first period, Sergei Bobrovsky made 17 saves and the Panthers beat the Hurricanes 5-0 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final.
Britta Curl-Salemme scored the game-tying goal and the overtime winner in a 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge in Game 2 of the PWHL Finals on Thursday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points a day after being named the NBA’s MVP, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed the Minnesota Timberwolves again, winning 118-103 on Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
