Author: Sean Previl
Canada Post says it has told the union representing its workers that a “temporary pause” is needed after several days of talks, with the union calling that “reprehensible” as the clock ticks down to another possible labour disruption.
The Crown corporation said the pause was needed as the discussions had made no “meaningful progress.”“This pause will allow Canada Post to focus on preparing comprehensive proposals aimed at moving discussions forward constructively,” Canada Post said in a press release Tuesday night.But the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said in a statement Tuesday that Canada Post was not providing a date for when to expect those proposals.“Given the seriousness of the matter, it is reprehensible to keep workers and the public on edge when we should all be focused on negotiating good collective agreements that will benefit workers and grow our public service to meet the needs of all Canadians,” the union wrote. Story continues below advertisement
The latest development comes just a week before a potential strike could begin on May 22, when the current collective agreements expire.
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Growing Canada Post strike concerns as May 22 deadline approaches
Canada Post and CUPW have been holding talks in recent months after the federal labour relations board ordered workers back to work in December 2024 following a request by then-labour minister Steven MacKinnon.
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MacKinnon asked the board to do so if it agreed with his determination that there was an “impasse” in negotiations.In a post on X on Dec. 16, MacKinnon said an industrial inquiry commission would be looking into the structural issues of the conflict and issue a report on May 15, while adding that the board ordered current collective agreements to be extended.The union says that extension ends on May 22.
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Hearings for the commission have concluded and the commissioner will present a report and recommendations to the responsible minister by Thursday.Earlier this month, Canada Post said in a news release that the two parties were working with a mediator to continue discussions that had stopped in March.
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Another Canada Post strike could be coming in May
The union told Global News in an email at the time that if progress was being made in meetings, “talks would continue.”Canada Post said in its Tuesday news release that CUPW requested both parties return to the table with assistance of a mediator, but said the union has “either held or hardened its previous positions on key issues, leaving little room for progress.”CUPW, however, said in a statement that the corporation has “refused to take responsibility for the financial situation it finds itself in,” adding that its offer to use existing collective agreement language to allow for weekend delivery was ignored. Advertisement
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Prime Minister Mark Carney says his new cabinet reflects a “hinge moment” in Canadian history, saying it will focus both on its relationship with the U.S. but also on building a stronger economy for Canada.
Speaking to journalists outside Rideau Hall after revealing the new cabinet, Carney said speed will be crucial given the challenges facing Canada.“The swearing-in of this cabinet is among the fastest following an election, and the beginning of the new Parliament will be one of the most rapid following an election in Canadian history,” Carney said.“We are starting as we aim to go on, our government will deliver its mandate for change with urgency and determination. We’re going to deliver that mandate with a new team purpose built for this hinge moment in Canada’s history.”Anita Anand is taking on the foreign affairs role, replacing Melanie Joly, in Carney’s first cabinet shuffle following the federal election last month. Story continues below advertisement
Joly was among those who joined Carney on his recent trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump. She’s been shifted to the role of minister of industry and minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for the Quebec regions, as well as registrar general.
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Carney cabinet shuffle: Anand replaces Joly as foreign affairs minister
Asked why Joly had been shifted out of foreign affairs, Carney in his first press conference after the swearing in said the shift was due to the need to focus on the economy.“We are at the start of an industrial transformation, a transformation of this economy and Madame Joly as minister of industry is going to help lead that in concert with other members of the cabinet,” he said.Carney added though Joly had built relationships with the U.S., he said that the person who has the relationship with the White House is the prime minister with President Donald Trump. Story continues below advertisement
Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne was also on that trip but remains in his role, while adding the role of minister of national revenue to his responsibilities.The other member of that trip, Dominic LeBlanc, keeps his roles as intergovernmental affairs but is also listed as the minister responsible for “One Canadian economy” and will be responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, likely taking a key role in negotiations with the Trump administration. He will also serve as president of the King’s Privy Council for Canada.Sean Fraser, the former housing minister under former prime minister Justin Trudeau who quit and said he would not run again before changing his mind, has been brought back to cabinet as minister of justice and attorney general of Canada. He’s also the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.Among the other ministers previously in Carney’s cabinet who are returning once more are:Gary Anandasangaree becomes minister of public safetyChrystia Freeland stays as minister of transportation and internal tradeSteven Guilbeault stays on as minister of Canadian identity and culture and minister responsible for Official LanguagesPatty Hajdu becomes minister of jobs and families and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern OntarioSteven MacKinnon becomes government house leaderDavid McGuinty takes on the role of defence ministerJoanne Thompson remains as fisheries ministerRechie Valdez becomes minister of women and gender equality
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Carney cabinet shuffle: LeBlanc takes reins as first Canada-U.S. trade leader
Alongside the 12 ministers who stayed in Carney’s cabinet, another 16 new members were sworn into their roles, including Fraser. Story continues below advertisement
Those include:
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Shafqat Ali is the president of the Treasury BoardRebecca Alty is minister of Crown-Indigenous RelationsRebecca Chartrand becomes minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development AgencyJulie Dabrusin is minister of environment and climate changeMandy Gull-Masty is minister of Indigenous servicesTim Hodgson is minister of energy and natural resourcesJoel Lightbound is minister of government transformation, public works and procurementHeath MacDonald becomes minister of agriculture and agri-foodJill McKnight is minister of veterans affairs and associate minister of national defenceLena Metlege Diab is minister of immigration, refugees and citizenshipMarjorie Michel is minister of healthEleanor Olszewski becomes minister of emergency management and community resilience and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development CanadaGregor Robertson becomes housing minister, also responsible for infrastructure, and becomes minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development CanadaManinder Sidhu is minister of international tradeEvan Solomon is minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation, and responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario
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The prime minister also spoke to the decisions that went into his cabinet in the context of Canada’s relationship with the U.S., saying he wanted to look for a combination in the files while also bringing new voices into the fold.“Canadians elected us with a mandate for change,” he said.“We have a series of choices, both the U.S. and Canada, about how we can better manage our border, we think we’ve made tremendous progress, but where do we go over the next decade. And then what degree of interoperability do we have in our military in a world that’s more dangerous and divided and so we have big decisions to make there.” Story continues below advertisement
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre reacted to the new cabinet in a press conference Tuesday afternoon, saying Conservatives would continue to hold the government accountable but could support some actions by the Liberals including on foreign affairs.“If the government does a good job at defending our national interest in negotiations with the U.S., then we will support those efforts,” Poilievre said. “When they are right, we’ll stand with them, when they’re wrong, we will oppose them. We hope the country succeeds, we want the nation to do well.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to reporters following a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
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More than half of those entering cabinet, however, are new MPs – some of whom were elected for the first time this year.Among the former cabinet ministers who are not returning are Bill Blair, Jonathan Wilkinson and Ginette Petitpas Taylor. A few ministers who were also named to cabinet for the first time by Carney in March were also dropped, including Kody Blois, Arielle Kayabaga and Ali Ehsassi. Story continues below advertisement
Carney stressed with Canadians wanting change, he wanted to bring in new perspectives into the cabinet, while also keeping some ministers that had past experience.“We have a big intake of new deputies, lots of different experiences that they’re bringing,” he said. “So bringing a balance, which is what we have, of experience perhaps in some cases in new roles, but experiences as cabinet ministers and new voices, new perspectives, half and half. For me, it’s perfect.”Poilievre, however, was critical of some of Carney’s choices, saying there was disappointment in previous ministers like Guilbeault, Fraser and Freeland returning to cabinet.“He appointed Trudeau’s old team and Trudeau’s old advisors,” Poilievre said. “It’s more of the same when Canada needs real change.”He added that some of the new MPs joining cabinet were “problematic.”“If this is the new blood that Mr. Carney is bringing into that cabinet, then sadly for Canadians, nothing is going to change.”But in addition to the typical cabinet ministers, 10 MPs were named as “secretaries of state,” with these members to support various portfolios while not attending cabinet meetings.
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Carney cabinet shuffle: Sean Fraser named new attorney general, justice minister
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