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WestJet Strike Countdown: What to Do If You're Flying This Long Weekend

  Published July 31, 2026  |  Canadian Money Brief If you've got a WestJet flight booked for this weekend, here's the situation in one line: a strike or a lockout could ground the airline's cabin crew as early as Saturday, August 1 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time / Sunday, August 2 at 12:01 a.m. MT — right at the start of the busy August long weekend. Nothing has happened yet. WestJet and the union representing its roughly 4,400 flight attendants, CUPE Local 8125, are both still at the table. But both sides have now filed the legal paperwork that makes a work stoppage possible within days, so this is the moment to actually check your booking rather than hope it sorts itself out. HOW WE GOT HERE Flight attendants voted 99.4% in favour of a strike mandate back on July 15. On July 30, the union issued a 72-hour strike notice over wages and unpaid ground work — CUPE says the average flight attendant does about 35 hours a month of unpaid boarding, security, and delay-related work...
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Are rate hikes over for Canada


The Canadian economy is expected to show a modest growth of 0.4% in the third quarter of 2023, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. This is lower than the 0.6% expansion in the previous quarter, and well below the 2.1% growth rate that the Bank of Canada projected in July.

The weak GDP numbers have fueled the speculation that the country may be heading into a recession, as global trade tensions, lower oil prices, and household debt weigh on the economic outlook. 

However, not everyone is convinced that the situation is so dire. Some forecasters argue that the third quarter slowdown was mainly due to temporary factors, such as a strike at a major auto plant, a drop in agricultural output due to drought, and a slowdown in housing construction. They expect that the economy will rebound in the fourth quarter, as these factors dissipate and consumer spending picks up.

Moreover, some forecasters point out that the inflation rate remains within the central bank's target range of 1% to 3%, suggesting that there is no need for further monetary stimulus. They also note that the labour market remains strong, with the unemployment rate at a near-record low of 5.5%, and wage growth at a solid 3.2%.

Therefore, some forecasters believe that the Bank of Canada will maintain its wait-and-see approach, and keep interest rates unchanged until there are clear signs of either a sustained recovery or a prolonged downturn. They argue that the central bank has already done enough to support the economy, by cutting interest rates three times in 2022, and that any further easing could fuel financial imbalances and inflationary pressures.

In summary, the GDP numbers for the third quarter of 2023 are likely to spark more debate about the state of the Canadian economy and the direction of monetary policy. However, some forecasters are more optimistic than others, and think that the rate hikes are over for now, unless there is a significant change in the economic conditions.

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