In the news today: Potential strike notice looms for Air Canada

By Canadian Press on August 12, 2025.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Potential strike notice looms for Air Canada

The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants could signal its intent to strike if a deal isn’t reached by the end of today.

The earliest that flight attendants could potentially walk off the job is Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET.

Since the union must provide 72-hours notice if it plans to strike, that means it could declare its plans for a work stoppage by Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET.

Air Canada said yesterday it “remains at the bargaining table and is focused on achieving a negotiated settlement” without any disruption to travel.

Flights are continuing to operate as scheduled, but the airline says if there are disruptions, it will notify customers via email and text message in advance of their travel.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Wildfires: More help from Armed Forces in N.L.

More help from the Canadian Armed Forces is expected today in Newfoundland and Labrador to help fight wildfires.

Premier John Hogan says the number of firefighters from the military will double to 80.

As well, two water bombers from Ontario were scheduled to arrive on Monday to help with his province’s battle against a string of stubborn wildfires.

As of Monday there were eight active wildfires in the province — six in Newfoundland and two in Labrador.

In New Brunswick, three wildfires were considered out of control on Monday, with residents north of Moncton told to prepare for evacuation.

Vancouver Island camp evacuated over wildfire

An out-of-control wildfire has forced the evacuation of a campground near the Vancouver Island city of Port Alberni, B.C.

The BC Wildfire Service says the Mount Underwood blaze is more than six square kilometres in size.

The wildfire has led to the evacuation of the China Creek Campground and Marina, located about 15 kilometres south of Port Alberni.

The website for the campground and marina says it can accommodate 250 tent and RV campsites.

There are currently 98 wildfires burning throughout British Columbia, nine of which are classified as out-of-control.

Heat wave set to abate in most of Canada

Sweltering heat is expected to continue in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces today, but relief is on the way for some.

A multi-day heat wave should end today in southern British Columbia, where warnings covered most of Vancouver Island and stretched into the North Thompson and South Okanagan areas.

Hot conditions will continue for a while longer in southern Ontario, stretching north past Lake Huron and Georgian Bay and east through southern Quebec.

The weather agency says cooler temperatures are expected to sweep through the region this evening, providing relief from the 30 C temperatures and near 40 humidex values.

In the Maritimes, similar temperatures are expected to remain through to Wednesday, while parts of Newfoundland will see similar conditions breaking on Thursday or Friday.

Parti Québécois wins Quebec byelection

The Parti Québécois sailed to a third-straight Quebec byelection win on Monday, cementing the sovereigntist party’s momentum ahead of the 2026 provincial election and dealing a crushing blow to Premier François Legault’s governing party.

Former journalist Alex Boissonneault handily defeated Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime in the Arthabaska riding, flipping a seat that Legault’s Coalition Avenir Quebec has held since 2012.

While polls had suggested Boissonneault and Duhaime were neck-and-neck, the PQ candidate captured over 46 per cent of the vote, compared to just over 35 per cent for Duhaime.

The sovereigntist party also won in Jean-Talon in 2023 and Terrebonne earlier this year. The party sits fourth in seat count in the province’s legislature, but has been leading in the polls for the better part of two years.

Boissonneault, who was born and grew up in the riding, campaigned on a promise to restore a “broken social contract” that sees Quebecers pay high taxes without getting enough in return.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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