For The Record: WestJet resuming flights to Hat
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 25, 2021.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews WestJet flights will resume to Medicine Hat on Monday morning, the airline and officials at the Medicine hat Regional Airport have confirmed. The airline announced last February it would halt flights at several regional routes, including Medicine Hat, from mid-March until June 24 owing to the decline in travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic and “government restrictions.” The company initially reduced flights in March 2020, but eventually suspended them until November that year. The first outbound flight leaves Medicine Hat for Calgary at 7:30 a.m. on June 28. Railroad fines Fines for trespassing on railroad property or not giving up right-of-way to locomotives are rising, according to new information published by Transport Canada. The charge for trespassing on rail lines and facilities increases from $100 to $500. The fine for failure to give way at a crossing goes from $150 to $750. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced the changes to the Railway Safety Act on Thursday morning. The Transportation Safety Board states 39 fatalities were recorded across Canada in 2020 related to trespassing incidents. An average of 72 accidents per year involving a trespasser were recorded from 2009 to 2019. On Wednesday, the Transportation Safety Board also announced it would launch a formal review to study an increasing trend in the number of accidents at level crossings during winter months. Beef contract talks Pay raises, paid sick leave and a system to ensure workers are well-informed during health crises are the main bargaining points as union at Cargill’s High River meatpacking plant head into contract talks. An outline provided to members of United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 401, states the plant was “devastated” during outbreaks of COVID-19 last year. The union will seek to add provisions within the collective agreement to provide “greater transparency and protections” in future events. The contract for 2,100 workers at the Cargill facility expired on Dec. 31. The union settled a six-year deal for 1,600 workers at Olymel pork processing plant in Red Deer in January. The contract at the JBS Brooks beef facility expires in January 2022. Pot shop in Oyen Two months after the town of Oyen approved a development permit for its first cannabis retailer, “Convenient Cannabis” is preparing to open its doors at 206 Main Street in the town located two hours north of Medicine Hat. The Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission issued the retail licence on June 4, and the company’s website states June 24 as the planned opening day. Convenient Cannabis also operates a location in Irricana, east of Airdrie. 22-21
