Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…
Bank of Canada set to make rate announcement
The Bank of Canada is set to make an interest rate announcement and publish updated economic forecasts for the first time since January this morning.
The central bank lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 2.5 per cent last month in its first cut since March.
Most economists expect the bank will deliver a second consecutive cut this morning as the economy shows cracks in the face of U.S. tariffs.
Annual inflation rose half a point to 2.4 per cent in September but BMO chief economist Doug Porter argues readings of underlying inflation were likely calm enough to warrant another cut.
First Nation demands title in western Quebec
A First Nation has filed a title claim in Quebec Superior Court to large swaths of territory across the western part of the province.
Jean-Guy Whiteduck, chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, says his people must have a say in the way water, wildlife and forestry are managed in the region.
The Aboriginal title claim covers eight areas, including islands in the Ottawa River; Gatineau park and adjoining lands in the city of Gatineau; two harvesting zones in the Gatineau regional county; the Papineau-Labelle wildlife reserve; and the Baskatong Reservoir.
Whiteduck said the intention isn’t to dislodge private landowners, saying the lawsuit only covers lands that are owned or managed by governments.
Steel industry pins budget hopes on Buy Canadian
Zero-profit projects. Cancelled contracts. Halted development plans.
In a year that has gone from bad to worse, steel fabricators are now pinning their hopes on possible Buy Canadian provisions in the upcoming federal budget — though such a shift would offer only limited protection from punishing U.S. tariffs.
At a conference in Montreal this week, makers of steel products ranging from beams to nuts and bolts said U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent levy on steel imports has already inflicted hefty financial losses.
“It’s really hard having a neighbour downstairs that is kind of going with his impulses,” said Véronique Roy, president of Logiciel Magnus, which sells software used in the design of steel structures.
Alberta students head back to class after strike
It’s going to be a busy day for Alberta schools today as more than 740,000 students are set to return to class following the end of a provincewide teachers strike.
Classes are resuming after Premier Danielle Smith’s government invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order 51,000 teachers back to work.
Students have been out for more than three weeks, and Smith has said the strike has caused irreparable harm and that the government had no other choice.
School boards have advised parents they expect classes to be up and running, but there may be delays and changes to everything from diploma exams to extracurricular activities.
Zellers brand set for another relaunch this week
Zellers is making a comeback — again.
The discount retailer that’s died and been revived several times since its 1928 beginnings will get another relaunch Thursday at Londonderry Mall in Edmonton.
The latest iteration will stick with the original’s emphasis on affordable family offerings but will pare back the kinds of merchandise sold and rethink the hulking properties Zellers once occupied.
The new retailer will take over much smaller spaces and be stocked with men’s, women’s and kids’ apparel, as well as home goods, luggage and seasonal items, but ditch other Zellers categories like toys and pharmaceuticals.
Jays beat Dodgers to pull even in World Series
Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman stole the show in Game 3. The Toronto Blue Jays flashed their star power Tuesday in a Game 4 win that evened the World Series at two games apiece.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run homer and Shane Bieber threw 5 1/3 strong innings as Toronto beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2.
“I get that it’s easy to write Ohtani versus Guerrero. To us, it’s Toronto versus Los Angeles,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “But that swing was huge.”
Guerrero, Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement and Addison Barger had two hits apiece and the Toronto bullpen — on the heels of an 18-inning marathon a day earlier — allowed just two hits and a run over 3 2/3 innings.
Chalk up another comeback win for a Toronto team that’s two victories away from its first World Series title in 32 years.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2025
The Canadian Press
