Cargill plant closes doors

CALGARY — The Cargill meat-packing plant in southern Alberta announced Monday it is temporarily shutting down as the result of COVID-19. The High River facility, which employs about 2,000 workers, has been linked to more than 350 cases of the novel coronavirus. A company spokesman called it a difficult decision as the plant is considered […]

Perishable production skyrockets

Campbell Soup Company’s production goes into overdrive during what executives dub “soup season.” Starting in October and ending with the close of winter, Campbell’s manufacturing centres run non-stop, staffed by extra employees. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer demand has soared, eclipsing that of the company’s busiest time. In March, there were more […]

Husky Energy cuts production

CALGARY — A move by Husky Energy Inc. to halt production of 80,000 barrels per day takes the total reduction in Canadian crude output to about 365,000 bpd since the onset of measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, an analyst says. That’s more than 7% of national production of 5.1 million bpd in December. […]

E-commerce giants offer relief

Canadian businesses struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic are getting some relief from the e-commerce platforms they use to sell their goods and services. E-commerce companies including Shopify Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and EBay Canada are trying to help businesses grappling with the impacts of COVID-19 by offering cash advances, waiving fees and pausing loan repayments. The […]

Markets finish week well

TORONTO — North American markets closed the week up with a late-day surge, while the loonie rose against the U.S. dollar. The climb in markets was likely sparked by news of promising results from a COVID-19 treatment as well as some encouraging statistics out of places like New York and Italy, said Erik Bregar, head […]

One grocery visit per week

CALGARY — Western Canada’s largest private-sector union is proposing that people be limited to one trip to the grocery store each week to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among customers and workers. Tom Hesse, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers 401, which represents 32,000 workers, said governments should also bring in regulations that […]

Tech helping COVID battle

TORONTO — Michael Hartley was overseeing the health, safety and environmental risks for a 6,200-person offshore oil project in the Caspian Sea when the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, killing 11 workers on board and releasing million litres of oil in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. “Our installation manager came to me and […]

Insurance premiums slashed

TORONTO — Canadian insurance companies are slashing premiums in a bid to help small- and medium-sized businesses grappling with COVID-19. The declining use of dental benefits and some extended health care benefits have pushed the Winnipeg-based insurer Canada Life Assurance Co. to offer premium reduction adjustments for employer-sponsored group benefits plans. Canada Life President Jeff […]

Commercial rent relief wanted

TORONTO — Small businesses are hoping for promised rent relief from both landlords and government as the COVID-19-related shutdown drags on and their bills pile up. The urgency comes as some landlords have already started issuing eviction notices for businesses that didn’t pay April rent, while those who were able to pay are stressed about […]

WestJet laying off pilots

CALGARY — WestJet Airlines Ltd. has confirmed it will lay off 1,700 pilots as the company continues to struggle with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. About 700 pilots are slated to receive layoff notices effective May 1, with 1,000 more kicking in on June 1, depending on employee seniority, according to the Air Line Pilots […]