Strike could be last hurrah for Ottawa’s core as public servants fight for telework

As the federal public service strike is into its second week, a new poll has found that Canadians are divided between the union and the federal government.

Pop singer Ed Sheeran staunchly defended himself on Tuesday against allegations that his hit ballad Thinking Out Loud ripped off the melody of Marvin Gaye’s classic song Let’s Get It On.

health issues, including a 2010 brain hemorrhage and stroke — and why he’s grateful to be alive.“It’s been a crazy roller-coaster ride,” Michaels told People.“After all the adversity I’ve been through, I just feel grateful to be here. If I were to go today — and I hope I don’t — I would die with a full heart.”In addition to his recent health struggles, Michaels has also battled Type 1 diabetes since he was 6. “I was almost at ketoacidosis, which is when the organs shut down,” he told the outlet of his diagnosis many years ago.

what it calls one of the largest strikes in Canadian history says the federal government is “stalling” on talks for a new collective agreement.Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) national president Chris Aylward made the claim Wednesday on Parliament Hill – which was the site of the “largest picket event of the strike” so far, the union said.The strike, which has gone on for eight days now, has seen more than 100,000 federal public servants across the country walk off the job while the union negotiates a new collective agreement with Ottawa for some 155,000 workers, including those deemed essential and who must continue working.Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said in a statement Wednesday that while Ottawa is determined to reach an agreement with the union, it needs PSAC “to start bringing their demands in line with the Public Interest Commission recommendations.”Earlier this year, that independent arbitrator recommended a nine per cent wage increase over three years. Ottawa has tabled that offer – with a signing bonus – but PSAC has been seeking a 13.5 per cent increase over three years.Aylward said PSAC has “moved off” its wage demands, but did not provide specifics.

Canadian military personnel including special forces members are already on the ground in Sudan to assist with evacuation efforts as rival military leaders battle for control of the country, multiple sources tell Global News.

banned firearms as it continues to rework some controversial gun control amendments.Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement Wednesday morning, in what Ottawa is touting as a “significant step” towards the launch of the Firearms Buyback Program.The Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association (CSAAA), which represents the hunting and sport shooting industry in Canada, will work in collaboration with Public Safety Canada and retailers.The first phase of the program set to begin later this year will focus on businesses with banned firearms in their possession, according to a government statement.The CSAAA will help identify the number and types of banned firearms that are held by businesses and try to “streamline” the buyback process, the statement said.The second phase, which will come later but with no clear timeline yet, will focus on individual gun owners and will not involve the CSAAA.The Liberal government banned some 1,500 models and variants of firearms, including the AR-15 and Ruger Mini-14, through an order-in-council in May 2020.The proposed buyback program would require owners to either sell these firearms to the government or have them rendered inoperable at federal expense.“The successful implementation of this program is no small feat, and we appreciate the expertise of the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association,” said Mendicino in a statement.“This is the first step towards getting assault-style firearms out of our communities,” he added.In February, the federal government withdrew an amendment to the federal bill that would have spelled out in law the various models covered by a ban on assault-style guns.Automatic firearms are already prohibited in Canada.The Liberals

strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and amid government vows not to negotiate in public, is the federal government doing exactly that?In what was called “An open letter to public servants and Canadians,” Treasury Board president Mona Fortier on Monday outlined her negotiating team’s position about what she said were the remaining sticking points with PSAC.Fortier also encouraged workers to “get a full understanding of all the issues that remain to be resolved” from their PSAC representatives.“It’s important for Canadians and public servants to understand what the government is doing to end the stress and strain from the labour disruption,” she wrote.The direct appeal to public servants on Monday comes after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers last week insisted the government would not negotiate its position in public and urged talks to continue.“We are not negotiating in public right now,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday when asked about the union’s demands. “The negotiations happen at the negotiating table.”Fortier’s letter said the government has reached agreements with PSAC on more than 560 demands from the union.

A German plane airlifted dozens of Canadians out of Sudan Monday, according to Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau, as many citizen continue to try and escape the conflict-ridden nation.

One of Canada’s largest labour disruptions has entered a sixth day as the union representing thousands of striking public-service workers looks to hamper access to ports.

Canada’s biggest federal public service union is preparing to ramp up its ongoing strike by moving picket lines to strategic locations such as ports on Monday.

Canadians are being urged not to apply for a new passport or renew an old one as the major federal workers’ strike — which shows no sign of ending — severely disrupts services across the country.

Read more: Calgary police receive leads on suspect in Central Library senior assault Cameron Ray, a supervisor librarian with Toronto Public Library, said he has lived the experience first hand — and several times.“I did have one year where every three months I was assaulted. This guy chased me around the branch with a pair of hair scissors, like, ‘I’m going to stab you,'” he says.

The president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said Saturday that the union has not heard a response from the Treasury Board yet on a proposal for a deal that the union’s team submitted Thursday night.

Jamie Foxx’s health is on the up following a hospitalization last week in Georgia.

Desiigner is seeking mental health help after allegedly doing some pretty unsavory things on an international flight.

Muslims gather to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer at Amr ibn al-As Mosque during the first day of the Eid al-Fitr in historical center Fustat of Cairo, Egypt on April 21, 2023. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.

buy a home than compared to last year, according to a new report from RateHub.The report shows that homebuyers will need an annual income of $217,000 in Toronto as of March 2023 to afford to buy a $1,118,500 home. That’s a $6,250 increase in income compared to March 2022, even though the average home price fell by more than $200,000 in the city in that time, according to RateHub.You will also need to earn over $200,000 in Vancouver to afford a home, while the rest of the country requires between $75,000 and $170,000.

FAIRMOUNT - Spreading a sense of community and sisterhood and having fun at the same time is the goal of a new Philadelphia cycling group. Black Girl Joy Bike riders are gearing up for their first-ever community ride."When I’m on a bike, I feel really emboldened and free," Iresha Picot said. "I feel like, weightless.

It seems CEOs these days aren’t aware how easy it is to record video calls because they just keep getting caught saying the darnedest things.

WASHINGTON - Missing sisters, Hanna Lee and Skye Rex, who were last seen with their mother three years ago in Pennsylvania, have been found safe, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).The nonprofit company made the announcement Wednesday via social media using age-progressed images of the girls.Missing sisters who were last seen with their mother two years ago in Pennsylvania may be in the D.C. region.NCMEC shared a statement on behalf of the children’s father, John Rex the same day. "I’m so grateful for everyone’s support in helping us get to this day," the statement reads.

Barry Humphries' health "worsened" over the past week before he was readmitted to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. The Australian comedian, 89, best known as character Dame Edna Everage, was rushed to the hospital earlier this week following ongoing complications from a hip replacement surgery and is in a "serious condition". Barry's hospital dash came after his health "worsened", according to Peter Ford, editor of entertainment at Sunrise.

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members be on strike?That question is being asked of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, which has the power to table back-to-work legislation, as federal public servants strike for the second day Thursday.The Liberals, who have a minority government, have sidestepped those questions, and opposition parties are facing queries as well on whether they would support such a bill.NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Wednesday his party, which is backing the Liberals on key items through a supply-and-confidence agreement, would not support back-to-work legislation.The Conservatives were non-committal on supporting such legislation, with the party’s Treasury Board critic MP Stephanie Kusie saying Wednesday the “incompetence” of the Trudeau government is what’s caused the strike.Though both parties say they want to see the two sides reach a deal, it’s unclear how long the strike will go on, and how it will end.

FILE-A stylist cuts a man's hair at a salon. (Photo by: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Grey hair is a physical change most experience as they get older, but new scientific research may shed light on how people can protect their natural hair color. A study by researchers from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine finds that some stem cells can transition between growth areas in hair follicles but get stuck as people get older and lose their ability to mature and sustain hair color, according to a release from NYU Langone Health.The team’s study, published in the scientific journal Nature on Wednesday, centered on cells found in the skin of mice and humans called melanocyte stem cells or McSCs. Hair color, the researchers explain, is controlled based on nonfunctional but continually growing pools of McSCs in hair follicles to become mature cells that make protein pigments responsible for hair color.The study notes McSCs are plastic, which means during hair growth, the cells move back and forth as they transition between parts of the developing hair follicle.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court initially gave itself a deadline of Wednesday to decide whether women seeking access to a widely used abortion pill would face more restrictions while a court case plays out. But on the day of the highly anticipated decision the justices had only this to say: We need more time.In a one-sentence order, the court said it now expects to act by Friday evening.

COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from UNICEF. In 52 of the 55 countries surveyed, the public perception of vaccines for children declined between 2019 and 2021, the UN agency said. The data was a "worrying warning signal" of rising vaccine hesitancy amid misinformation, dwindling trust in governments and political polarisation, UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, said.

WASHINGTON - Missing sisters, Hanna Lee and Skye Rex, who were last seen with their mother three years ago in Pennsylvania, have been found safe, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The nonprofit company made the announcement Wednesday via social media using age-progressed images of the girls.Missing sisters who were last seen with their mother two years ago in Pennsylvania may be in the D.C. region.The siblings were last seen on March 17, 2020, with their mother Lashada Lee in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is billing as “one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history,” more than 155,000 federal workers have walked off the job with many now on the picket lines.The strike kicked off Wednesday 12.01 a.m. Eastern, with nearly a third of the country’s public servants halting work after the union representing them failed to reach an agreement with the government.Picket lines are being set up in more than 250 locations across the country, according to PSAC.

General view of campus life at Temple University, in Philadelphia, PA, on a frisk early spring day of March 27, 2019. (Photo by Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - The results of an audit examining public safety at Temple University have been released, revealing a need for improved community relations, assertive leadership and city-wide collaboration. According to the university's Public Safety Department, 21CP Solutions conducted an "external, independent review" of campus safety services from the Temple University Police Department.

NEW DELHI : The 3rd day of the 2nd Health Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency being organised in Goa witness series of technical sessions on digital health innovations, healthcare technology and Digital Public Goods (DPGs) to emphasie India’s commitment to “healthcare for all" through vibrant global and local collaborations.  The first session focused on “Innovations in Healthcare" during which health experts pushed for a lifecycle-care framework where open-source software can enable data innovations.  “Suggestions such as a central organization or coalition in the world to guide national governments, along with regional implementation hubs, paradigm shift towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and AGI-enabled Digital public goods were put forward.

PSAC) announced Tuesday night, after the union failed to reach an agreement with the federal government.Canada’s largest public service union had set a deadline of 9 p.m. Eastern Tuesday for the two sides to make a deal.

ELGIN, Texas - A Texas high school cheerleader is recovering in the hospital after being shot in Elgin. This comes just before the biggest All-Star Cheerleading competition in the world. Those close to the cheerleader said it was supposed to be a big weekend for her, but instead she won’t be able to participate because of a senseless act of violence.On Monday, April 17, Payton Washington and her three teammates were returning home from an out-of-town cheer practice at Woodlands Elite in the Woodlands.

Patty Hung, 77, or Orinda, Calif., ran her 37th consecutive Boston Marathon on Monday, April 17, 2023, extending her record as the longest streak of finishers for women’s athletes in the storied race. (Photo courtesy: B.A.A./MarathonFoto)BOSTON - A 77-year-old Bay Area woman made her definitive mark in the storied Boston Marathon on Monday, crossing the finish line for the 37th consecutive time-- more than any other woman in the history of the prestigious, world renowned road racing event.Patty Hung, of Orinda, completed the 26.2 mile race with a time of 5:40:37, putting her in 9th place in her division of women aged 75-79.Last year, she set her name in the Boston Marathon record books owning the longest active women’s streak with her 36th consecutive run, surpassing the previous record set by Andrea Hatch of Maine who ended her streak in 2013, according to the Boston Athletic Association. SEE ALSO: Boston Marathon 2023: Defending champ Evans Chebet wins, spoils Kipchoge debutSEE ALSO: Warriors' Draymond Green ejected after stomping on chest of Sacramento King's SabonisA former math teacher at Miramonte High School, Hung returned to school later in life to become a nurse.

Toronto Blue Jays veteran reliever Anthony Bass was not happy with how United Airlines staff treated his pregnant wife and two children during a recent flight, and he used social media to voice his frustrations.Bass said his pregnant wife, Sydney Rae Bass, who is the sister of Jessie James Decker, was forced down on her "hands and knees" to pick up the popcorn dropped by his 2-year-old daughter during a flight."The flight attendant @united just made my 22 week pregnant wife traveling with a 5 year old and 2 year old get on her hands and knees to pick up the popcorn mess by my youngest daughter," Bass tweeted. "Are you kidding me?!?!"Bass didn’t get the reception on Twitter that he may have thought would come when he sent out the tweet.One Twitter user said, "Genuinely curious who should clean up the mess your 2 year old made? As a parent of three kids I am the one responsible for them.""The cleaning crew they hire!" Bass responded.Jessie James Decker got involved on her Instagram Story as her sister told the camera that United gave her daughter's popcorn.The incident seems to have been resolved, at least in the eyes of Bass. "Thank you everyone for the support.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is being asked to decide under what circumstances businesses must accommodate the needs of religious employees.A case before the justices Tuesday involves a Christian mail carrier in rural Pennsylvania. He was told that as part of his job he’d need to start delivering Amazon.com packages on Sundays. He declined, saying his Sundays are for church and family.

US President Joe Biden speaks to the crowd during a celebration event at St. Muredachs Cathedral on April 14, 2023 in Ballina, Ireland.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Jake Gyllenhaal spent a lot of time together during the COVID lockdown.

inflation cooled to 4.3 per cent in March, Statistics Canada said Tuesday, even as Canadians homeowners faced ballooning payments on their mortgages.That marks the lowest level for annual inflation since August 2021 and a sharp slowdown from the 5.2 per cent seen in February.Canada’s annual inflation rate has been steadily declining since last summer, as global price pressures ease and high borrowing costs weigh on spending. Read more: Priced out of summer vacation? Here’s how to book ‘budget-conscious’ travel But the rapid rise in the Bank of Canada’s interest rate, designed to cool inflation, has also compounded the pain and driven costs higher for some Canadians.Specifically, mortgage interest costs rose 26.4 per cent in March — the largest yearly increase on record, Statistics Canada noted.Canadians are today renewing their mortgages at much higher rates than a year ago, when the Bank of Canada first started raising its policy rate from the rock-bottom 0.25 per cent.

LOWER MERION, Pa. - The parent of a 5th grade student at Bala Cynwyd Middle School is keeping his child away from school after he says he showed up on a "kill list" made by other students.The parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said they received a call from Lower Merion School officials on Mar. 27 - the same day six were killed in a school shooting in Nashville - and told their son had been threatened. "Other students suggested that a list be made of students within the building who they hoped are shot," the parent told FOX 29's Jeff Cole.

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Monday it will relocate around 300 Shaw call centre jobs based overseas to Canada after completing its $26-billion acquisition of the carrier earlier this month.The positions will be located in B.C., Alberta and Manitoba, where Rogers has pledged to boost the number of “customer-facing” jobs.As part of a set of conditions Ottawa attached to its approval of the merger with Shaw Communications Inc., Rogers must create 3,000 new jobs in Western Canada.All Rogers customer service positions have been based in Canada since 2020, when it announced it transitioned 150 remaining foreign call centre jobs to Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

More than 155,000 federal public servants will strike on Wednesday if no deal is reached between the federal government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

PHILADELPHIA - A passenger's ride-share trip took a violent turn when police say they became the victim of a group of juveniles earlier this month.The juveniles surrounded the vehicle as it stopped at a traffic light at 2nd and Chestnut streets in Old City, according to authorities.Police say two of them reached in to try and steal the passenger's phone, then hit them in the face as the driver pulled away.MORE HEADLINES:It is unclear if the phone was stolen, or if the victim sustained any injuries.Surveillance footage captured the suspects on a SEPTA subway platform after the incident.Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Canada Revenue Agency workers over an ongoing labour dispute “poses a threat to small businesses,” an independent group has warned, calling for an extension of the tax deadline.The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in a statement Monday urged the agency and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)-Union of Taxation Employees (UTE), which represents more than 35,000 CRA workers, to quickly reach an agreement.“The timing couldn’t be worse,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB president in the statement, arguing that a potential strike could create uncertainty for small businesses in the middle of tax season. Read more: Public service strike will start Wednesday if no deal reached by then Canadians have until May 1 to file their income tax and benefit returns.

BOSTON - The fastest and most-decorated elite field ever to assemble in Hopkinton is getting ready to cross the start line for the 127th Boston Marathon on Monday.The group includes world record holders, Olympic and Paralympic medalists, winners of major marathons from 27 countries and a dozen Boston Marathon champions, according to the Boston Athletic Association, which administers the prestigious race. World record-holder Eliud Kipchoge is making his Boston Marathon debut.On Saturday, the city marked the 10-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko and his wife Aleksandra want to be taken off Canada’s sanctions list, claiming in Federal Court they’ve been wrongfully labelled as “elites and close associates” of the Russian regime.

Read more: Louisville shooting: At least 6 dead, including suspect, at downtown bank The shootings rocked the city of 3,200 residents, which is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery, Alabama.Dadeville Police Chief Jonathan L. Floyd paused to regain his composure before speaking at the news conference.“What we’ve dealt with is something that no community should have to endure. I just ask for your patience.

Ottawa police say two people have been charged with mischief after a woman threw paint at the prime minister’s office and chained herself to the building Saturday.Police haven’t confirmed the identities of the people arrested, but a climate change advocacy group has identified the woman as the same person who walked on the Juno Awards stage while topless.On2Ottawa has posted photos and video to its Twitter account of the woman tossing a bucket of what appears to be pink paint on the entranceway, then posing topless for a photo next to a sign saying, “Demand climate action now!”Casey Hatherly, who goes by the name Ever, came to national attention last month when she hopped on the Junos stage while Avril Lavigne was introducing a performance.She was topless and messages written on her upper body included “land back” and “save the Greenbelt,” referring to Ontario’s decision last year to open a protected area of land for housing.Ottawa police say they arrested and charged both the woman involved in Saturday’s incident as well as a man filming it.