Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
1. Air Canada flight attendants’ union issues strike notice
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Canada component issued a 72-hour strike notice shortly after midnight. The strike and a lockout notice go into effect around 1 am on Aug. 16. Air Canada has hinted at “gradual” flight cancellations to allow for the shutdown.
The union representing Air Canada flight attendants has issued a 72-hour strike notice, with job action set to begin Saturday.https://t.co/SLkoMVy6Vw
— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) August 13, 2025
2. Study shows BC is seeing less US visitors, but more Canadians
Statistics Canada shows a 7% drop in US visitors in BC from February to July compared to 2024. In February, US President Donald Trump began hinting at tariffs against Canada, which triggered a wave of nationalism and calls to do more travelling within Canada. The data shows a 40% drop in British Columbians crossing the border. The data showed a notable increase in Canadian tourists.
B.C. seeing fewer U.S. visitors in 2025, but trend offset by increase in Canadian tourists https://t.co/RtOMBnVLlb pic.twitter.com/mqURXmVGGD
— The Province (@theprovince) August 13, 2025
3. Thousands in Newfoundland and Labrador on evacuation alert due to wildfires
The province reports five out-of-control fires. A 2.5 square kilometre fire has roughly 20,000 people in St. Johns on evacuation alert as the fire burns about 15 km south of the capital city. The largest fire is mapped at 64 square kilometres and burning near Kingston. About 3,000 have been evacuated and an unknown number of homes and structures have been destroyed.
Roughly 20,000 people under wildfire evacuation alert in Newfoundland and Labrador. https://t.co/F9ZbMkFtye
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) August 13, 2025
4. Canadian news publishers sound the alarm over Google’s AI search summaries
Publishers claim not only inaccuracies in the AI overview at the top of Google searches but also that the fairly new AI feature is cutting into their online traffic. Mistakes in search results have made headlines in the past, however Google claims the accuracy is the same as other search features. A study found that fewer people are clicking on actual links when they get an AI summary, slowing traffic onto websites.
Canadian news publishers, experts raise alarm over Google search AI summaries https://t.co/ZkZWNChXe7
— CP24 (@CP24) August 13, 2025
5. Taco Bell debuts new Baja Blast flavour for first time in two decades
On a brighter note, Taco Bell fans can rejoice over a new flavour of the fast food chain’s iconic Baja Blast drink. Baja Midnight is described as an “unexpected” purple twist on the iconic tropical lime beverage. The new flavour debuts in Canada and the US later this month.
Taco Bell answers fan prayers with new Baja Blast flavor for the first time in 20 years https://t.co/Lsam8OPk0s pic.twitter.com/Gwzh8YsFIW
— New York Post (@nypost) August 13, 2025
Thumbnail photo credit: Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Canada component
