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Hudson’s Bay Battles Lender Over Ruby Liu Lease Deal in Ontario Court

Hudson’s Bay Co. is pushing back against a motion filed by its senior lender, Restore Capital LLC, which seeks to terminate a controversial lease sale to billionaire Ruby Liu. The retailer has asked the Ontario Superior Court to dismiss the motion, arguing that the deal represents its best chance to recover funds for creditors amid its ongoing liquidation. The dispute centers on Hudson’s Bay’s plan to sell up to 28 store leases—25 of which remain pending court and landlord approval—to Liu’s company, Central Walk. While three leases have already been approved for $6 million, Restore claims the remaining transaction is draining resources, citing over $18 million in rent and professional fees with no clear path to completion. Hudson’s Bay CFO Michael Culhane defended the deal, stating that Restore was fully aware of the risks and had previously supported the transaction. He emphasized that Liu has already made a $9.4 million deposit and that the sale could generate significant recoveries ...

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LCBO Stores Set to Reopen Tuesday After Resolving Last-Minute Dispute

 

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) have resolved a last-minute dispute, paving the way for LCBO stores to reopen on Tuesday. This resolution comes after a two-week strike that saw over 9,000 workers walk off the job.

The tentative agreement, reached on Friday, initially hit a snag when the union and the LCBO disagreed over the return-to-work protocol. The LCBO accused the union of introducing new monetary demands, while the union maintained that their demands were standard and had been used in previous strikes.

Despite the initial impasse, both parties confirmed on Saturday morning that the dispute had been resolved. Voting on the tentative deal is set to occur over the weekend, and if ratified, unionized workers will return to work on Monday, with stores reopening to the public on Tuesday.

The agreement includes an eight-percent pay raise over three years, the conversion of 1,000 casual employees to permanent part-time status, and the hiring of 60 additional full-time employees in warehouse operations. Additionally, there will be no store closures for the duration of the deal.

A significant point of contention was the expansion of ready-to-drink beverages into grocery and convenience stores. The Ford government expedited this timeline, allowing licensed Ontario grocery stores to sell these beverages ahead of schedule. A non-binding committee will be formed to determine the best way to implement these plans.

With the resolution of this dispute, Ontarians can look forward to shopping at LCBO stores again, knowing that their purchases support public services.


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