In today’s news: Trudeau expected to name new Labor minister

Here’s a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press to bring you up to date…

Trudeau was expected to name a new Labor minister

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to name a replacement for Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan, whose resignation is effective today.

O’Regan announced Thursday that he is stepping down from the Liberal cabinet for family reasons, although he plans to continue as an MP until the next federal election.

Trudeau’s office has not indicated whether a new cabinet member will be named or whether other ministers will be affected.

A source with knowledge of the matter, who would only speak on condition of anonymity, says a wider cabinet reshuffle is not expected.

The prime minister’s office previously confirmed the cabinet would hold a brief meeting today, the first since the Liberals’ surprise loss in the Toronto byelection last month.

Here’s what we’re watching…

ATCO requests adjournment of earnings hearing for appeals

A prominent Alberta utility is seeking to postpone a hearing on appropriate remedies for gas and electricity rates that the province’s utility regulator says is neither reasonable nor justified.

ATCO Utilities, in a letter sent late last month to the Alberta Utilities Commission, disagrees with the commission’s ruling and says it is premature to proceed until the appeal processes are complete.

ATCO Gas delivers natural gas to 1.3 million customers — approximately 82% of homes and businesses in Alberta. ATCO Electric supplies power to approximately 230,000 customers in north and east-central Alberta.

In June 2023, the Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate asked the commission to look at the profits made by the two companies in 2021 and 2022.

Like other utilities in Alberta, the companies operate under a series of five-year agreements with regulators that allow them to earn a rate of return over an agreed-upon range.

If actual profits exceed this range, the utility must demonstrate that they come from increased efficiency or higher productivity. If it cannot, the regulator may conclude that the draft five-year agreement is flawed.

The new 911 “Halley’s Comet Moment” system for safety

An upgrade to Ontario’s 911 systems sets the stage for more efficient emergency responses in what one official calls “public safety’s Halley’s Comet moment.”

The new system — called Next Generation 9-1-1 — replaces decades-old analog technology in emergency communications centers with a digital network, allowing dispatchers to get to emergency calls faster and laying the groundwork for receiving texts, photos and videos from callers. future.

Emergency service providers across the country will eventually have to upgrade their systems under a directive from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and that work is underway in parts of Ontario.

In Toronto, police said they have completed the first phase of upgrading 911. In Peel Region and London, Ont., emergency responders began using the initial version of the system, called NG911, earlier this year.

The new software not only makes answering calls more efficient, but also allows Toronto’s 911 call centers to all operate at the same time, making service interruptions less likely.

Plant-based milk brands should apologize: marketer

A marketing expert says two brands that recently had to recall Listeria-tainted plant milk can bounce back from the outbreak but must move quickly to regain consumer trust.

David Pullara says both Danone and Walmart should quickly apologize for the recalled Silk and Great Value products.

The marketing instructor at York University’s Schulich School of Business says the fact that Canada is days into the withdrawal period without hearing an “apology” means companies are already behind in rebuilding consumer confidence.

Pullara says companies should use then-CEO Michael McCain’s approach to the 2008 Listeria outbreak at Maple Leaf Foods as a template. McCain offered a sincere apology, determined to find out what went wrong and vowed not to let it happen again.

Twelve people, including 10 in Ontario, one in Quebec and one in Nova Scotia, became ill after drinking the products.

Consumers “win” with food code: Kraft Heinz

A food code of conduct could stabilize food prices in the future and encourage more investment in the Canadian food industry, according to the president of Kraft Heinz Canada.

“It creates a better business environment for both the supplier and the retailer, but I think at the end of the day, the consumer wins,” Simon Laroche said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Progress on the near-complete food code stalled last year as it became clear that some major retailers had reservations. Loblaw joined earlier this year after some changes to the proposed guidelines. This week, Walmart and Costco confirmed their support, meaning every major retailer in the country is now on board.

Laroche said he is happy to hear that grocers are on board with the code and believes it will be a positive thing for consumers and the industry.

Canada may still be finalizing its code, but Laroche has already seen what it could do for a country with a concentrated food market. Before moving into his current role last year, Laroche spent several years leading Kraft Heinz’s businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea. Australia has had a code of conduct since 2015.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 19, 2024.

The Canadian Press