Across Canada, jobs are disappearing, wages are falling behind, and the bills keep climbing. Strikes threaten to disrupt key services, iconic retailers are shutting down, and ordinary Canadians are left wondering if their paycheques will last the month.
Air Canada on the Brink
Air Canada flight attendants are in the final hours before a strike deadline. If talks fail, flights across the country could be cancelled, hitting both passengers and workers hard. For staff, it’s a fight for fair pay and respect in a job that’s only gotten tougher as costs rise.
Canada Post’s Crisis of Confidence
Canada Post is facing an “existential crisis” as mail volumes drop and competition grows. The union has rejected the company’s final offer, overtime bans are in place, and federal mediators are trying to keep talks alive. For workers, it’s a high-stakes battle in an industry struggling to stay relevant.
Hudson’s Bay: An Icon Bleeds Jobs
Hudson’s Bay, a Canadian retail giant, is laying off more than 8,000 employees by June 1, 2025. The loss isn’t just about jobs—it’s about the hollowing out of malls and communities already under strain.
Claire’s and ICING: Bankruptcy at the Mall
Claire’s, the mall jewelry store loved by generations, has filed for bankruptcy for the second time since 2018. Stores in the U.S. are already closing, and Canadian jobs hang in the balance. For employees, bankruptcy often means little to no severance and an abrupt end to financial security.
The Domino Effect: Who’s Next?
With the retail and service sectors under siege, the question now is—who will fall next? Rising tariffs between the US and China are shaking global supply chains, driving up costs for Canadian businesses. Companies already operating on thin margins may not survive the next shock. If more major employers collapse, it could trigger a domino effect that pushes unemployment higher, slows spending, and deepens an already fragile economy.
The Cost for Canadians
For workers, the impact is immediate: shrinking paycheques, disappearing benefits, and skyrocketing expenses for rent, groceries, and gas. Communities lose not just jobs, but the stability and vibrancy that come with them. Without urgent action—fair wages, stronger worker protections, and strategies to keep businesses afloat—Canada risks sliding into a deeper economic crisis.