Rabu, 31 Januari 2024

The Manulife-Loblaw deal: How it will impact you and other questions, answered - CBC News

Manulife has announced that its coverage of 260 specialty prescription drugs will apply only at Loblaw-owned pharmacies, a deal that was first reported by The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

Experts who spoke with CBC News said the deal could hurt independent pharmacies and degrade the quality of pharmaceutical care that patients receive, while others said the arrangement is good for Canada's competition landscape and that patients will benefit from lower costs.

CBC News answers your questions about the Manulife-Loblaw deal.

How do I know if I will be affected?

The deal will impact only people whose specialty drug prescriptions are covered by Manulife. If you have a prescription that's not for a specialty drug, the arrangement won't affect you.

According to Manulife's website, the change will take place in phases. New claimants will have to go through Loblaw-owned pharmacies, which include Shoppers Drug Mart, as of Jan. 22. It is unclear what the timeline is for recurring claimants.

CBC News reached out to Manulife with a detailed list of questions. Manulife spokesperson Luke Shane wrote in response that the deal "does not impact the vast majority of our members who have not been prescribed Specialty Drugs."

Is my prescription included?

If your medication is covered under Manulife's Specialty Drug Care program, you will have to confirm with your insurance provider that your prescription drug is part of the group of 260 medications included in the exclusivity deal.

At this time, there is no publicly available list of medications included in the Specialty Drug Care program. Manulife did not provide a list of these medications as requested by CBC News.

The drugs included under Manulife's program are used to treat a number of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis and hepatitis C. They might be difficult for patients to store or administer by themselves.

WATCH | Why this pharmacist is worried about the Manulife-Loblaw deal: 

Manulife-Loblaw drug deal raises questions over competition

22 hours ago

Duration 1:58

People insured by Manulife will soon have to get certain specialty prescription drugs from Loblaw-owned pharmacies, raising questions over competition and patient choice.

What is a preferred pharmacy network?

This type of arrangement, called a preferred pharmacy network, is common in the United States and gaining traction in Canada. The idea is that an insurance company deals exclusively with one or several pharmacies in exchange for lower costs.

Steve Morgan, a professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and an expert on pharmacare systems, said that "we don't know exactly how much of the savings that are generated get passed on to the consumer at the end of the day."

Sun Life offers a voluntary preferred pharmacy network with several specialty pharmacies. Green Shield has offered a preferred pharmacy network arrangement for specialty drugs through HealthForward since 2015.

CBC News reached out to Canada Life to ask whether the insurance company has exclusivity deals with pharmacies, but a spokesperson did not respond before deadline.

How will co-pay be impacted? 

According to Manulife, there will be no change in cost to members who require specialty drugs.

"Manulife has identified that they're basically able to get a better deal by just going to a single provider. That's why they're doing it," said Aidan Hollis, an economics professor at the University of Calgary whose research focuses on innovation and competition in pharmaceutical markets.

"When they get that better deal, the idea is that they should be passing on the savings to their insured customers."

A pharmacy on a downtown street.
The type of arrangement between Manulife and Loblaw, called a preferred pharmacy network, is common in the United States and gaining traction in Canada. The idea is that an insurance company deals exclusively with one or several pharmacies in exchange for lower costs. (Jonathan Migneault/CBC)

As for the co-pay — which is the standard rate that a person pays for their prescriptions and other pharmaceutical care — Mina Tadrous, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's faculty of pharmacy, said it depends on an individual's specific insurance plan.

If you're insured through your employer, speak to a human resources employee or your benefits provider to understand how it might impact your coverage plan, Tadrous said.

"The co-pay piece can really vary depending on [a person's] specific plans and arrangements. Insurance companies have many different coverage programs," he said.

Does Canada regulate these deals?

Some provinces have regulations that require a person's written consent if an insurance agreement restricts access to their pharmacy of choice, including Ontario. But according to the Ontario College of Pharmacists, when it comes to preferred provider contracts, "consent is given by the [patient] when they opt-in or enrol for benefits."

The only province in Canada where these kinds of exclusivity deals are illegal is in Quebec. The province's Bill 92 prohibits preferred pharmacy arrangements between pharmacies and insurance providers.

"We have regulatory bodies that look at the profession of pharmacy, and this is not in their mandate because ... they don't look at business deals," Tadrous said, adding that there is no single regulator whose mandate would be to uphold standards and ensure patients aren't being left behind.

He said the Ministry of Health is most concerned about drugs that it pays for, noting that the federal government doesn't interfere in the distribution of medications — just the approval of medication access.

Can I still fill my prescriptions through Bayshore?

Manulife previously had a relationship with Bayshore HealthCare to administer its Specialty Drug Care program. "Our previous provider had a small network of retail pharmacies," Shane wrote in his response to CBC News.

You might still be able to fill your prescriptions through Bayshore, but it depends on whether your insurance group plan is mandatory or voluntary.

People under a voluntary group plan will still have the option of getting their medication from Bayshore or another pharmacy of their choice. But they won't get special pricing, according to Manulife's initial announcement. Those under a mandatory group plan will have to make the switch to Loblaw.

Manulife told CBC News that it will be offering delivery for customers with specialty drug prescriptions who do not live close to a Shoppers Drug Mart and to those who want to keep having their prescriptions delivered.

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2024-01-31 22:45:01Z
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Canada’s economy got a lift late last year. Why that might delay rate cuts - Global News

Canada’s flatlining economy showed signs of life heading into the end of 2023.

While data released from Statistics Canada Wednesday indicates the country may have avoided a recession, the bad news is that might push back the timeline for interest rate cuts.

The agency reported that real gross domestic product rose 0.2 per cent in November, thanks largely to strength in goods-producing sectors.

Manufacturing and wholesale trade saw growth in the month, and the transportation and warehousing sectors rebounded in the wake of the St. Lawrence Seaway strike dragging down the sector in October.

The Quebec public service strike meanwhile limited growth, with StatCan pointing to declines in the educational services sector tied to the work stoppages.

November marks the first month of growth since May 2023. With interest rates at the highest level seen in decades, the Canadian economy has been struggling to grow.

Click to play video: 'Business Matters: Canada’s economy stalls, again'

Business Matters: Canada’s economy stalls, again

StatCan’s initial estimates for December show a possible acceleration in growth to 0.3 per cent on a monthly basis, though these reports will be updated at the end of February.

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But early signs of growth growth suggest Canada’s economy grew overall in the fourth quarter, potentially skirting a technical recession after a contraction in the third quarter.

Early StatCan estimates show real GDP grew at an annualized pace of 1.2 per cent in the fourth quarter, while the Bank of Canada called for essentially flat growth in its latest forecasts. Economists expect growth to remain weak in the first half of this year, before picking back up in the second half of 2024.

Rate cut bets scaled back

The central bank has been looking for signs that the economy is slowing and demand is easing to give it confidence that inflation will continue to trend back down to its two per cent target.

The Bank of Canada gave its clearest hints yet that its benchmark interest rate might have peaked last week as it delivered its fourth consecutive hold.

While conversations among economists have pivoted to when rate cuts might begin, with most calls for easing starting in the spring or summer, BMO chief economist Doug Porter said in a note to clients Wednesday that the stronger-than-expected GDP result takes some of the pressure off the Bank of Canada to start cutting before it’s sure inflation is on a sustainable path back to two per cent.

“This solid result, after a long dry spell for growth, affords policymakers the ability to gently push back on easing chatter, as they wait for underlying inflation to come down further,” he wrote.

Click to play video: 'Economists expect spring interest rate cut after Bank of Canada holds steady'

Economists expect spring interest rate cut after Bank of Canada holds steady

Money markets pared bets for an April rate cut to a 42 per cent chance from a 51 per cent chance before the growth figures, according to Reuters.

CIBC senior economist Andrew Grantham meanwhile said in a note that bond yields – a key metric informing fixed mortgage rates – also pushed higher Wednesday morning amid expectations of a June cut rather than April.

But Grantham said the Q4 bounceback, if it holds, is likely tied more to an easing in previous supply constraints than a surge in consumer demand.

He said he suspects the Bank of Canada will be more concerned with upcoming inflation and labour data than GDP figures in gauging how long to keep its policy rate elevated.

– with files from The Canadian Press, Reuters

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Selasa, 30 Januari 2024

'Less choice for Canadians': Manulife-Loblaw deal raises access, competition concerns - CTV News

Insurance company Manulife has announced big changes in how it covers certain prescription drugs, with roughly 260 medications now only available for coverage if dispensed at a Loblaw-owned pharmacy.

The new arrangement is known as a preferred pharmacy network arrangement: insurers get a better price on medication in exchange for giving pharmacies exclusive rights to dispense it. This agreement includes medication used to treat complex, chronic or life-threatening conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, cancer and hepatitis C.

For independent pharmacists like Mohammad Masood, it signals another shift away from personalized patient care

"For every medication, they can come here," he said. “But for their oncology or arthritis medication, they have to go to a completely different pharmacy and pharmacist. They may be well trained, but they don't have the holistic picture that we have.”

Masood says many of the 260 medication included in this agreement were already restricted in terms of where they could be filled under coverage, but he says independent pharmacies should have been brought into this process.

"If they wanted to improve competition and come down on price they could have come to independent pharmacists and said this is the price we are willing to pay for a drug. 'If you want to dispense it, dispense it,'" he suggests. "'If you want to leave it. Leave it.'"

Manulife says the deal will provide "more options" for patients with prescriptions available for pick up in store or by delivery

"At this time, to evolve our program, it's appropriate to select a single service provider to move the program forward for the benefit of our customers and their employees," said Doug Bryce, Manulife vice-president of product and platforms.

Loblaw, which owns Shoppers Drug Mart, insists the patient experience "will remain unchanged, if not better."

"They can pick up their prescriptions from one of more than 1,800 pharmacies across our network, or have them shipped directly to their home," said spokeswoman Catherine Thomas.

But others, aren’t as sure.

"The consolidation of the pharmacy business is less choice for Canadians," says Stephen Morgan, a professor of health policy at the University of British Columbia. "It will start looking a lot like our telecom industry where we have less choice and pay high prices. You don't want to see that in your pharmaceutical sector."

In Quebec, rules prevent preferred pharmacy networks so coverage in that province will remain unchanged. But for those in small and rural communities in other parts of the country, it might mean driving longer distances to a Loblaw-owned pharmacy.

"It's not ideal from a patient care perspective," said Justin Bates, CEO of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. "It introduces an uneven playing field because largely independent pharmacies aren’t able to participate."

At Mohammad Masood’s Scarborough, Ont. pharmacy most patients are long time customers. Masood says he knows their history and understands their medical needs. He thinks deals like the partnership between Manulife and Loblaw doesn’t take that into account.

"There is a discontinuity," he says. "We have a circle of care here in which the patient is taken care of."

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Varcoe: Enbridge plans to cut 650 positions next month, as midstream landscape changes - Calgary Herald

Enbridge cites economic uncertainty, a challenging regulatory environment, higher interest rates and fierce competition for growth

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Citing persistent economic headwinds, Calgary-based pipeline giant Enbridge signalled it’s going to cut its workforce by 650 people next month, while the midstream sector faces a changing landscape.

The energy infrastructure firm, which has a large presence in both Canada and the United States, sent a memo Tuesday informing its staff of planned cuts across the company, which will begin in February and be completed by March 1.

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“After careful evaluation, Enbridge has made the difficult, yet necessary, decision to reduce its workforce,” the company confirmed in a statement.

“While we delivered strong financial performance in 2023, cost-reduction measures are necessary to maintain our financial strength, be more cost competitive and enable us to grow.”

In the memo, Enbridge pointed to ongoing economic uncertainty, a challenging regulatory environment, higher interest rates, fierce competition for growth, and the reverberations from geopolitical developments for contributing to “increasingly difficult business conditions.”

According to its website, the company has more than 12,000 employees, mainly based in Canada and the United States. The cuts represent slightly less than six per cent of its total workforce.

Enbridge said it will look to reduce vacancies and contract positions, as well as redeploy staff.

“Reducing our operating costs and strengthening our competitiveness will enable us to weather near-term challenges,” the statement said.

Enbridge head office Calgary
Enbridge at the company’s downtown Calgary office on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. The Calgary-based pipeline giant is going to cut its workforce by about 650 people in the coming weeks. Jim Wells/Postmedia

Analyst Stephen Ellis with Morningstar noted pipeline companies in the North American industry aren’t benefiting as much from service rates that are tied to inflationary increases as they have in recent years, while rising interest rates have heightened their need to focus on cost-cutting.

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“It does seem appropriate for the current environment, given some of the headwinds . . . but it doesn’t seem like, in my opinion, it marks a larger shift in overall Enbridge strategy,” Ellis said in an interview.

During the third quarter of 2023, Enbridge reported adjusted earnings of $1.27 billion, down from $1.37 billion during the same period in 2022.

Enbridge is the largest pipeline company in Canada and the sector has been facing a shifting landscape during the energy transition.

Last September, Enbridge bought three U.S. natural gas utilities — East Ohio Gas Co., Public Service Company of North Carolina (PSNC) and Questar Gas Co. — from Richmond-based Dominion Energy for $19 billion.

The acquired companies have more than 3,000 employees. The deal was the largest acquisition for Enbridge since 2016, when it bought Houston-based Spectra Energy for $37 billion.

In December, Enbridge sold off its interest in the Alliance natural gas pipeline and the Aux Sable joint ventures for $3.1 billion.

Enbridge, which operates Canada’s Mainline crude pipeline network, will soon see increased competition from the Trans Mountain expansion project, Ellis noted.

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The $30.9-billion development, which is now expected to begin operating in the second quarter after another construction challenge, will increase the capacity of the existing line that moves Alberta oil to the Pacific coast by 590,000 barrels per day.

Calgary-based TC Energy, which has aggressively sold assets in the past year, is also planning to spin off its oil pipeline network — including the Keystone system — into a new publicly traded company named South Bow. The move is expected to occur in the second half of this year.

Laura Lau, chief investment officer with Brompton Group, which has previously owned stock in Enbridge, said Tuesday the midstream sector is facing increased pressure due to the effect of high interest rates and the difficulty to build major infrastructure projects in Canada and the United States.

She pointed to Friday’s decision by the Biden administration to put a temporary pause on approving new LNG export projects as another example of government policy that could impede the industry.

“It used to be, in the good old days, you could do these big projects. It’s harder to find growth now and it’s harder to make numbers work with higher interest rates,” Lau said.

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“The operating environment is getting tougher and tougher for permitting.”

There have been some layoffs in the Canadian oilpatch in the past year, with Suncor Energy announcing last summer it was cutting 1,500 positions.

The Canadian economy has largely stalled since the middle of 2023. It’s expected to remain weak in the first quarter before growth gradually resumes, with an annual GDP expansion of just under one per cent forecast by the Bank of Canada’s latest monetary policy report.

Meanwhile, energy prices have dipped in recent months and it could mean less cash flow for the country’s oil and gas industry in 2024.

Based on the current pricing outlook for oil and natural gas, industry revenues in Canada are projected to drop by 12 per cent to $162 billion from last year’s levels, said Jackie Forrest, executive director of ARC Energy Research Institute.

Lower cash flow levels and uncertain government policy make it more difficult for the energy sector to invest.

“The lower commodity prices are putting a bit more fiscal pressure (on). I’m not sure that will result in layoffs but, for sure, you’re going to see the slowdown in spending,” Forrest said.

“Add to that the massive policy that we’re getting here — the layering of policy on top, potential for legal challenges, political uncertainty. I think that’s another factor that’s going to slow down investment over the next year.”

Chris Varcoe is a Calgary Herald columnist.

cvarcoe@postmedia.com

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2024-01-30 23:48:45Z
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Manulife-Loblaw deal raises questions over ties between insurance companies, big drug retailers - CBC News

Manulife says its coverage of certain specialty prescription drugs will only apply at Loblaw-owned pharmacies, raising questions over the relationship between insurance providers and major pharmacy retailers.

For independent pharmacists like Kyro Maseh, who owns Lawlor Pharmasave in Toronto, the deal signals another shift away from personalized care for patients who have a longstanding relationship with their local pharmacist.

"What it means for the patient at the end of the day is that they're going to be picking up their medications from a high-volume pharmacy, or mail-order pharmacy for that matter, thus eliminating any sort of personal care in the process," Maseh told CBC News.

Known as "preferred pharmacy network arrangements," such exclusivity deals are common in the U.S. And while they aren't new to Canada, they are gaining traction, which worries pharmacists like Maseh.

"We're slowly moving towards the American model where it's all going to be just high-volume pill factories," he said, noting that some patients might have to travel to get to a pharmacy where their medication is available.

A man wearing pharmacist scrubs is pictured in front of a wall of medications.
Kyro Maseh, an independent pharmacist who owns Lawlor Pharmasave in Toronto, says the Manulife-Loblaw deal signals another shift away from personalized care for patients. (Craig Chivers/CBC)

The Manulife-Loblaw arrangement — details of which were shared with plan holders earlier this month — affects around 260 medications under the insurance company's Specialty Drug Care program.

Drugs in this class are meant to treat complex, chronic or life-threatening conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cancer, osteoporosis and hepatitis C.

If you're on medication that is covered by the Specialty Drug Care program and are concerned about how this change will affect you, send an email to ask@cbc.ca

"The very big and very powerful insurance companies essentially are exercising some of their market power in the pharmacy business," said Stephen Morgan, a professor at the University of British Columbia who specializes in pharmaceutical policy.

Canada spends about $10 billion per year on specialty drugs, which are medicines that cost more than $10,000 per patient annually. The markups on those drugs amount to about $600-$800 million a year, and insurance companies like Manulife want in, Morgan says.

"They want to use the power of directing those customers to particular pharmacies in exchange for, essentially, kickbacks," he said.

The Specialty Drug Care program will be carried out "primarily" through Shoppers Drug Mart and other Loblaw-owned pharmacies, starting Jan. 22, according to Manulife. The company previously also covered specialty drugs through national home and community health-care provider Bayshore HealthCare.

"At this time, to evolve our program, it's appropriate to select a single service provider to move the program forward for the benefit of our customers and their employees," said Doug Bryce, Manulife vice-president of product and platforms, in the announcement.

A pharmacy storefront is photographed at night.
A Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy is shown in Bowmanville, Ont., on Jan. 12, 2022. (Doug Ives/The Canadian Press)

'Shadowy' agreements

While arrangements like these aren't new to the Canadian market — insurance provider GreenShield introduced a preferred pharmacy network arrangement for specialty drugs in 2015 through HealthForward — they're becoming more common for specialty drugs, according to Mina Tadrous, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

Deals like the one between Manulife and Loblaw could make it more challenging for Canadians who rely on specialty drugs to navigate an already-challenging health-care landscape, says Tadrous.

"They may go to their pharmacy that they regularly go to and find out that they have to switch pharmacies or go somewhere else. And so that might be concerning and it could be especially concerning for patients that live in rural areas," he said.

Pharmacy markups on specialty drugs — which are costly to begin with — can play a key role in "shadowy" agreements with insurance companies, says Marc-Andre Gagnon, a professor at Carleton University whose focus is on social, health and pharmaceutical policy. 

"There's a lot of money for these specific drugs, which means there's a lot of leeway to organize a system of rebates between the drug manufacturer, the patient support programs, the insurer and the pharmacies," he said.

"You end up with these very shady deals that are completely under the table, basically, in a system where there's no transparency and we just don't know anything about what's going on."

LISTEN | Why some Canadians are turning to public adjusters: 

The Current13:45Inside the world of public adjusters

After years in the insurance industry, Brandon Sobel and his father stopped working for insurance companies and became public adjusters — insurance experts hired to help homeowners settle their claims. Sobel tells us more about why a growing number of Canadians in the midst of property insurance disputes are turning to adjusters like him for help.

Manulife spokeswoman Emily Vear told The Canadian Press in a statement that the deal with Loblaw will provide "more options" for group benefits members to receive their specialty medications, with patients able to pick up drugs from a Loblaw-owned store or have them delivered to their home.

"We believe in providing our members greater choice in how they access and receive the services they need for their health and wellness," she said.

"This exciting partnership also enables access to a dedicated team of expert professionals, such as nurses and pharmacists, to help manage and administer our members' medications."

CBC News reached out to Manulife for further information.

On its website, Bayshore HealthCare says Specialty Drug Care plan members could have their medication shipped to their home, a clinic or doctor's office, but it does not mention pickup options at pharmacy locations.

Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas said in a statement to CBC News that the company is confident that patients' experience "will remain unchanged, if not better."

She said that the expansion of the program will impact under one per cent of the patient population requiring specialized medication.

"They can pick up their prescriptions from one of more than 1,800 pharmacies across our network, or have them shipped directly to their home," she stated.

'Super-profitable drugs'

Other experts dispute the notion that preferred pharmacy network arrangements hurt competition.

"Manulife has identified that they're basically able to get a better deal by going to a single provider," said Aidan Hollis, an economics professor at the University of Calgary, whose research focuses on innovation and competition in pharmaceutical markets.

"When they get that better deal, the idea is that they should be passing on the savings to their insured customers," he said.

"It's a single sliver of a deal, so the business is much larger than this. This is just Manulife, it's not every insurer. Probably those independent pharmacies can collaborate, form chains or collaborations, and figure out a way to try to get back some of that business.

"There's no reasons for Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaws to try to get all of it. We would expect other chains to try to do the same thing."

On its website, Manulife says exclusive availability of its Specialty Drug Care plan does not apply in Quebec.

Gagnon, at Carleton University, said the lack of such restrictions outside of Quebec creates an uneven system where some pharmacies attract "all the big money involved with drugs," while smaller ones "struggle to cope."

"If all the super-profitable drugs for pharmacy chains are being captured by just some of the actors, that's a problem for the rest of the pharmacies," he said. "They end up with the leftovers, the drugs that are way less profitable."

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2024-01-30 21:36:32Z
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Toyota Canada issues 'do not drive' warning for 7300 cars; recall for airbag defects - CP24


The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, January 30, 2024 1:33PM EST
Last Updated Tuesday, January 30, 2024 3:39PM EST

TORONTO - Toyota Canada Inc. reissued an urgent “Do not drive” warning for about 7,300 cars as part of a decade-old campaign to remind customers their vehicles may have a defective Takata airbag.

Phillip Crowe, media spokesperson for Toyota Canada, said in an email on Tuesday that the recall isn't new and is instead a repeat of an existing recall for Takata airbags at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel.

The warning affects the 2003 and 2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix models as well as 2004 and 2005 RAV4s.

“If the airbag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement.

The company is hoping the advisory reaches people who didn't respond to their first recall in 2013, later expanded in 2015, Crowe said.

Owners can check on Toyota's recall website to see if they're affected, and contact a Toyota dealership to have their cars fixed for free.

Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate airbags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding airbags sent Takata of Japan into bankruptcy.

Crowe said the company is not aware of any airbag inflator ruptures or injuries to Canadian drivers related to the recall.

Takata airbag malfunctions led to the largest series of auto recalls in history, with about 100 million vehicles affected worldwide.

--- With files from The Associated Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 30, 2024.

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Toyota Canada issues ‘do not drive’ notice to 7.3K owners. Here’s why - Global News

Toyota Canada is urging roughly 7,300 Canadian owners to “stop driving” their vehicles due to a potentially fatal airbag fault.

The recall dates back to almost a decade ago, but still some owners have not yet had their vehicles repaired, said spokesperson Philippe Crowe.

“The ‘stop driving’ notice is being sent to owners of vehicles who have not, after many communications attempt, had the recall procedure done on their vehicle,” Crowe told Global News in an email Tuesday.

“Next step is for owners of affected vehicles to contact a Toyota dealership to have the recall procedure done free of charge.”

Click to play video: 'Consumer Matters: Frustrating experience with vehicle flaw'

Consumer Matters: Frustrating experience with vehicle flaw

The recall isn’t just for Canadian owners.

Toyota on Monday said some 50,000 older U.S. vehicles still need repairs given the Takata air bag inflators could explode and potentially kill motorists.

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More than 30 deaths worldwide, including 26 U.S. deaths, and hundreds of injuries in various automakers’ vehicles since 2009 are linked to Takata air bag inflators that can explode, unleashing metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks.

Click to play video: 'Business Matters: Tesla recalling 200,000 2023 Model Y, S and X cars'

Business Matters: Tesla recalling 200,000 2023 Model Y, S and X cars

Over the last decade, more than 67 million Takata air bag inflators have been recalled in the United States by more than 20 automakers, and more than 100 million inflators worldwide, in the biggest auto safety callback in history.

There have been prior “do not drive” warnings issued by other automakers for vehicles with older Takata air bag inflators after fatal crashes.

In Canada, some 5,000 2003-04 Corolla models need repairs, as well as 1,600 2003-04 Corolla Matrix and 700 2004-05 RAV4.

Click to play video: 'Honda and Acura recall vehicles due to faulty fuel pump concerns'

Honda and Acura recall vehicles due to faulty fuel pump concerns

Toyota said the RAV4 recall involves the driver’s airbag while the other recalls involve the front passenger airbag only. In some Corolla and Corolla Matrix models, certain vehicles are also involved in a second recall that can cause the airbag to deploy even without a crash.

Crowe said owners who believe their vehicle could be affected can check toyota.ca to see if their vehicle is impacted.

— with files from Reuters

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Ford government giving $1.75M to Staples for ServiceOntario retrofits - CityNews Toronto

Crosstown construction winding down, but what about Eglinton repaving?

Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction crews are getting close to finishing the reconstruction of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, but when it comes to repaving the roads above the tunnels the timeline isn’t clear. Nick Westoll reports.

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9 privately run ServiceOntario outlets moving to Staples stores, province says - CBC.ca

The provincial government is moving nine privately run ServiceOntario outlets to Staples Canada stores this year, the minister of public and business service delivery said Monday.

Todd McCarthy announced the impending changes at a morning news conference in Oakville, where he said the move will mean longer operating hours and better parking for Ontarians who need to access government services.

Six locations will open by Feb. 1, with three additional outlets expected in Staples stores within the coming months.

The first six locations are:

  • Oakville, 2460 Winston Churchill Blvd.
  • Newmarket, 17810 Yonge St.
  • Toronto (Scarborough), 1980 Eglinton Ave. E.
  • Strathroy, 425 Caradoc St. S.
  • Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg Town Centre, 200 Broadway St.
  • Welland, Seaway Mall, 800 Niagara St.

The three further outlets will be in Hamilton, Keswick and the Leaside neighbourhood of Toronto, according to the province.

McCarthy confirmed earlier reporting by CityNews that the government covered 100 per cent of the costs of retrofitting the Staples stores with ServiceOntario kiosks, though he would not provide specific figures for those expenses. He said that the province always covers the one-time capital costs of retrofits in any privately-run ServiceOntario outlet to "ensure common branding and consistency with protocols." 

Including those costs, the plan is expected to reduce operating expenses between $900,000 and $1 million over three years compared to if the service centres had remained at their previous locations. McCarthy attributed the projected savings to Staples assuming responsibility for leasing costs.

Opposition criticizes sole-source contract

The contract with Staples was sole-sourced, McCarthy said. He added that ministry staff reached out to dozens of potential partners but it was Staples that met key criteria including "community presence and scalability."

Don Valley West MPP Stephanie Bowman submitted a request Monday on behalf of the Ontario Liberal Party to the province's Financial Accountability Officer to consider providing analysis of the province's move to "award contracts without a competitive bidding process … to privatize parts of ServiceOntario."

"We ask that you undertake to estimate the financial costs and benefits of these outsourcing arrangements," the letter reads.

"Your analysis would shed much-needed light on the costs and benefits to the taxpayer from these arrangements; the impact, if any, on unionized jobs in the civil service; and other potential implications."

WATCH | Reporters ask minister why province hasn't released full details on Staples deal:

Ontario government dodges questions about new ServiceOntario deal

10 hours ago

Duration 2:31

Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Todd McCarthy announced on Monday that nine privately run ServiceOntario locations will be moving into Staples Canada stores this year. But as CBC’s Talia Ricci reports, some reporters felt their questions weren't being answered during the minister’s news conference.

In a statement, the opposition NDP zeroed in on the agreement, noting that before taking office, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was critical of the previous Liberal government's use of sole-source contracts.

"This decision clearly has nothing to do with saving taxpayers' money, and everything to do with finding a way to give public dollars to private corporations ... leaving ServiceOntario operators and workers in the lurch," said MPP Tom Rakocevic, New Democrat critic for consumer protection.

Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner similarly called out the government on its move to award contracts without a competitive bidding process.

"Instead of providing some badly needed transparency, this government is busy defending yet another backroom deal designed to help wealthy insiders cash in," Schreiner said in a statement Monday.

Meanwhile, McCarthy said the pilot project will be evaluated on customer wait times and the efficiency of service delivery. For the past 15 years, the province has also operated ServiceOntario outlets in some Canadian Tire stores, IDA stores and Home Hardware locations. 

The agreement with Staples is part of a broader push to consider new locations for all of the stand-alone, privately run operations of the provincial provider, McCarthy said. 

LISTEN | Why the province is moving some ServiceOntario locations to Staples:

Metro Morning9:37Minister Todd McCarthy on why he's moving several ServiceOntario locations to Staples

Todd McCarthy is the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, the ministry that oversees Service Ontario.

As contracts with remaining privately operated ServiceOntario locations approach expiry, the government will be reviewing them to determine if they should continue to operate in the same way or if they should be closed and moved into retail outlets, libraries or municipal offices.

There are some 190 privately run ServiceOntario outlets in the province, making up roughly 71 per cent of all locations.

No changes are being contemplated for the more than 80 government-run ServiceOntario centres.

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Trans Mountain's completion will be 'hugely positive' for Canadian oil industry: analyst - BNN Bloomberg

The Trans Mountain pipeline project is inching closer to becoming operational and a commodities analyst says Canada’s oil sector will benefit significantly once the pipeline project comes online.

The Trans Mountain is set to begin filling with crude in February, a key step toward becoming fully operational. Randy Ollenberger, managing director of oil and gas equity research at BMO Capital Markets, told BNN Bloomberg that the news is “hugely positive” for the Canadian oil sector. 

“This will be the first time in more than a decade we have spare pipeline capacity exiting the base. This is big, I think investors have forgotten about how big this could potentially be for the sector,” Ollenberger said in a Monday interview. 

Spare pipeline capacity will also reduce volatility for Canadian oil prices, Ollenberger added. As a result, he anticipates companies operating in the sector will receive better valuations and higher stock prices. 

Oil price impacts

In today’s commodity markets, Ollenberger said Canadian producers are competing to sell oil, which results in discounted prices. 

“We're going to be moving into a market where buyers are going to be competing to buy Canadian oil,” he said. “That price competition, we think, will result in a better price for Canadian oil relative to other benchmarks in the world.” 

Cash flow

This change in market dynamics is likely to benefit heavy oil producers in the Canadian industry, according to Ollenberger. 

“A company like MEG Energy, which is 100 per cent heavy (oil) with no downstream operations, they will see a substantive increase in their cash flow,” he said. 

With files from Bloomberg News 

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Flair Airlines owes $67 million in unpaid taxes as CRA opens door to seize carrier's property - CBC News

Court documents show Flair Airlines owes the federal government $67.2 million in unpaid taxes, prompting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to obtain an order for the seizure and sale of the carrier's property.

The money relates to import duties on the roughly 20 Boeing 737 Max jetliners that make up the budget airline's fleet and "which were needed to meet the travel demand in a post-COVID world," CEO Stephen Jones said.

However, he said the Federal Court order obtained by the tax agency in November has no impact on the carrier's operations, which have expanded over the past year and ramped up competition with rival airlines, and that the company has agreed to settle the debt.

"We have a mutually agreed-upon payment plan with CRA to pay these importation duties, and we are current with that plan," Jones said in an emailed statement to CBC News, adding that the terms of the deal are confidential.

The CRA said it cannot comment on specific cases for confidentiality reasons but that it looks to make arrangements with a company "based on their ability to pay" before it garnishees revenues or takes further steps to recover the money.

"As a last resort, we may take additional legal collection actions such as seizing property or assets to protect the interests of the Crown," spokesperson Nina Ioussoupova said in an email to CBC News.

Flair planes repossessed last March

The court order from Nov. 23, first reported in the Globe and Mail, directs the "Sheriff of Alberta or any civil enforcement agency" to seize and sell Flair's property and assets.

The writ marks the latest chapter in a multi-year struggle to stay solvent and within regulatory lines, as the airline repeatedly crossed paths with the courts.

Last March, Flair saw four of its planes repossessed in the middle of the night after aircraft leasing manager Airborne Capital claimed that the company regularly missed rent payments that amounted to millions of dollars over the preceding five months.

WATCH | Four planes seized in Flair Airlines commercial dispute:

Flair Airlines' flights cancelled after 4 planes seized in ‘commercial dispute’

11 months ago

Duration 2:39

Some Canadians were left stranded after four of Flair Airlines' planes were abruptly seized in a dispute with the company it leases them from. The airline was late on a payment, but says the move was 'completely unwarranted.'

In response, Flair launched a $50-million court action against Airborne Capital and three other leasing firms, arguing that ongoing demands for payment from the four companies were "baseless."

Flair has touted its achievements in recent months, claiming the top flight completion rate in the country at 98 per cent and an on-time performance of 69 per cent — weak globally, but solid compared with its Canadian competitors. It said it flew 296,000 passengers in December and 4.5 million in 2023, marking big gains from the previous year.

But the ultra-low-cost carrier faces increased competition from WestJet — newly retrenched in Western Canada even as it wound down low-cost subsidiary Swoop in October — and from budget rival Lynx Air and Porter Airlines, both of which are expanding swiftly.

A greater focus on sun destinations this winter has also put Flair in direct competition with other airlines that continue to do likewise, including WestJet-owned Sunwing Airlines and Air Transat.

Debt-laden company striving to stabilize finances

Jones, the airline's CEO, says Flair has been running a smooth operation propelled by high passenger numbers for much of the past year, despite growing pains at the debt-laden company that's still striving to stabilize its finances and gain consumer confidence.

In 2022, the Canadian Transportation Agency prompted Flair to rejig its board and revoke shareholder rights from top investor 777 Partners in order to comply with rules around domestic ownership.

Moreover, Flair must continue to make payments of more than $7 million US per month on its 20-odd Boeing 737 plane leases and manage loans amounting to between $200 million and $300 million US — making import taxes on those same jets all the tougher to pay, Jones told The Canadian Press in August.

A man wearing a suit holds a miniature model of an airplane. The plane is white with lime green accents, and has the word 'flair' plastered on the side.
Flair Airlines CEO Stephen Jones is shown in November 2023. He says a Federal Court order obtained by the Canada Revenue Agency in November has no impact on the carrier's operations, which have expanded over the past year and ramped up competition with rival airlines. (Peter Cowan/CBC)

He cited rates of 18 per cent on loans from 777 Partners, the Miami-based company that owns one-quarter of the airline.

The interest is "non-cash" — no monthly payments required — and merely adds to the principal, he said last summer. "At some point there will be some form of reckoning, whether it's a restructure or whatever."

Meanwhile, a Facebook page dedicated to Flair passenger woes continues to log issues, but it features fewer complaints than in mid-2022, when travel chaos descended on a sector unprepared for the surge in post-pandemic flight demand.

Flair aims to expand its fleet to 26 planes this year from 21 last summer.

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