CTV National News: What is fueling job creation in Canada amid economic uncertainty?
Job creation in Canada was up in June, the first substantial bump the country has seen since the start of 2025. Kamil Karamali looks into the numbers.
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CBC
39 minutes ago
- CBC
AI job applicants, promised boats, and boycotts going strong: CBC's Marketplace cheat sheet
Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need. Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday. That white guy who can't get a job at Tim Hortons? He's AI That white guy who can't get a job at Tim Hortons? He's AI 4 days ago Duration 3:26 A series of AI-generated videos that show a white man complaining about how difficult it is to get a job in Canada have been taken down by TikTok, following inquiries made by the CBC News Visual Investigations team. The social media platform says the videos violated its community guidelines, because it wasn't clear enough that they were made with AI. Most of the videos feature what looks like a white man in his 20s named "Josh," who speaks to the camera and makes racially charged statements about immigrants and their role in the job market. In fact, "Josh" is created by AI and doesn't exist. In one video, he complains he can't get a job because people from India have taken them all, particularly at Tim Hortons. He claims that he applied for a job at the doughnut shop and was asked if he spoke Punjabi. In a statement, Tim Hortons said the emergence of videos such as this have been extremely frustrating and concerning for the company, and adds that it has had difficulty getting them taken down. In another video, "Josh" attacks Canada's immigration policy, asking why so many people are admitted to Canada when there aren't enough jobs to go around. It's part of a trend known as "fake-fluencing." That's when companies create fake personas with AI in order to make it look like a real person is endorsing a product or service. The company in this case is Nexa, an AI firm that develops software that other companies can use to recruit new hires. Some of the videos feature Nexa logos in the scene. The company's founder and CEO Divy Nayyar calls that a "subconscious placement" of advertising. The U.S. boycott remains strong. Why many Canadians are digging in their heels It's shaping up to be a record sales year at Maker House, an Ottawa gift shop where almost everything in the store — from furniture to food to greeting cards — is entirely made in Canada. Hot sellers these days include a T-shirt with the newly iconic "elbows up" slogan, and chocolate bars wrapped in quintessential Canadian expressions such as "eh." Founder Gareth Davies says year-over-year sales surged by 150 per cent in February, when U.S. President Donald Trump first announced plans to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, and ramped up his threats to make Canada the 51st state. At the time, many Canadians pledged to boycott U.S. travel and goods, and support the Buy Canadian movement as a way to express their anger. Davies says sales since then have continued to stay strong: they're currently up by 80 per cent and almost doubled during the week leading up to Canada Day. "It's like a big hug from your neighbours across the country saying, 'You know, we're in this together and we're going to protect our country and our economy,'" he said. "I, in my gut, believe it will last as long as the vitriol lasts from the south." Boycotts often wane over time as people lose interest and return to old habits. But many Canadians' resolve to boycott the U.S. and focus on Canadian products has remained strong, and shows no signs of dissipating. A majority of Canadians polled in a new survey said they're actively supporting the Buy Canadian movement, and support stores removing U.S. products. Plus, Canadian travel to the U.S. has steadily declined since Trump took office in January. Should Tim Hortons repay all Canadians promised a boat? This Ottawa man thinks so Michel Leveillee is a loyal Tim Hortons customer. The Ottawa man says he visits two or three times a day for his large double-double, and he always participates in "Roll Up the Rim to Win" — the annual promotion that gives customers the opportunity to win prizes ranging from a doughnut to an all-inclusive vacation. So when Leveillee became one of thousands of Canadians across the country last year who were told they'd won a 2024 Targa 18 WT boat and trailer, he couldn't believe it. "[There were] tears of joy," he said. "And after that came the tears of deception." The wins had been a mistake. Tim Hortons reached out to its customers by email, blaming "technical errors." Montreal-based law firm LPC Avocats then launched a class-action lawsuit, arguing the thousands of affected customers deserve to be awarded the boat and trailer or the prize's value — about $64,000, the firm estimates. They had intended to represent all Canadians. In June 2025, a judge ruled that the lawsuit could go forward, but only for Quebec residents, because that province has stronger consumer protection laws. Leveillee said he'll be happy for any customers who can get justice, but Tim Hortons should be held responsible for everyone who got the notifications. "If [you] buy a coffee on the Quebec side [of the Ottawa River], and then you play Roll Up the Rim and win in Ontario, you're a winner no matter what," he said, noting he often stops for coffee in Gatineau, Que. CBC News reached out to Tim Hortons for comment, but they declined because the matter is still in court. Read more from CBC's Gabrielle Huston. A Marketplace story update Finally, an update to a story that Marketplace pursued a little over a year ago on food dyes, several of which are banned in Europe, but allowed here. The New York Times reports that Trump's secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has convinced several food manufacturers to remove some of these synthetic dyes from their food by the end of 2027. They report at least one major holdout, however: the candy industry, which says people like brightly coloured candy. Read more on this development here. What else is going on? Canada's big banks 'appear to be protecting themselves,' expert says. Marketplace needs your help! What's your sun care story? Whether you've found the perfect sunscreen or you're still searching, we want to hear what works for you (and what doesn't). Email us at marketplace@ and give us the "glow-down" on how you are staying sun safe! We're working on all-new investigations for our upcoming season and we want to hear from you. Got something you think we should investigate? Email us at marketplace@
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Is it OK to use AI in your job search? Experts say yes. Here's how to do it right
While many recruiters and employers don't discourage applicants from using AI, it's a turnoff when some candidates forgo their personalities and rely heavily on the tools. Empty Office space is seen in Toronto on Friday March 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Sandra Lavoy noticed awkward pauses and hesitation from a job candidate when she asked questions on a video call. The pauses didn't seem natural; neither did the responses. Lavoy, the regional director at employment agency Robert Half, suspected the candidate was using artificial intelligence to generate answers during a live job interview. 'I questioned it,' she recalled. 'And they jumped off the call.' That experience wasn't a one-off for Lavoy, so she started asking candidates to show up in person. With the unemployment rate around seven per cent, those on the hunt for work are looking to get an edge on fellow job seekers. Some are turning to AI to generate pristine, error-free resumés and even prepare for interviews. But that trend has many on the hiring side questioning its ethics. Companies have started noticing the misuse of AI tools during live interviews and it has become a trend over the last couple of months, said Alexandra Tillo, senior talent strategy adviser at Indeed Canada. Many recruiters don't mind the use of AI in job searches, Tillo said but it raises an alarm when candidates forgo all personality when writing a cover letter or rely heavily on technology during interviews rather than their own knowledge. Similar responses to situational or behavioural questions from multiple candidates, with a delivery that lacks emotional intelligence, is what's tipping off recruiters to inauthentic candidates, she added. 'It's very hard to judge someone's skills, especially if the answer is not truly their own and it does lead to a bit of a waste of time ... (and a) lack of trust,' Tillo said. A tough job market leaves little room for errors from candidates — likely one of the reasons some feel compelled to use AI during live interviews, Tillo speculates. Employers are taking longer to hire the right candidate: sifting through a heap of applications and relying heavily on AI-powered application tracking systems. Meanwhile, candidates are using AI to insert the right keywords in the hopes of getting through those systems, said Ariel Hennig Wood, career coach at Canada Career Counselling. 'We're losing the personalized resumés and then we're losing the personalized response on the employer side,' she said. But there are ways AI can be used effectively when looking for work, Wood said. Her strategy includes step-by-step prompt engineering — telling generative AI programs and apps such as chatbot ChatGPT exactly what it needs to do for every phase of the job search. 'When it comes to employer research, AI can definitely be your best friend,' Wood said. AI could help gather insights on information ranging from a company's turnover rate to why employees like working there. The next piece is the cover letter. She suggests starting with a generic template borrowed from AI, then personalizing it with your own voice through the right prompts. 'Instead of just saying, 'I want a job,' it should be: 'I want this job, and this is why I'm a good fit. This is why I feel connected to this role,'' Wood said. Then tailor that research to the resumé and cover letter, while also doing an analysis of the job posting to add the right keywords, she added. 'AI needs to be used in the job search process to be effective against application-tracking systems,' said Wood. Then, Wood suggested leveraging AI for practice interview questions — such as generating questions you might be asked or pulling out achievements from your resumé to make answers relevant to the job interview. 'You can record yourself answering the interview questions, and then it will give you AI-generated feedback, which can be helpful,' she said. But also get feedback from a friend or career counsellor, Wood added. Once a candidate lands the job, Wood said AI can help with offer negotiations. 'It can scan the offer and flag anything that may be out of the norm,' she said. 'It could tell you ... where there could be room for negotiation in the offer.' AI isn't just a tool to polish resumés for Karan Saraf, who is studying public relations and is on the lookout for a job. Some days, he uses it to make sense of his scattered thoughts when applying to a job, while other times, it's about role-playing interviews. And his strategy worked, landing him interviews in a tough youth job market. Saraf said as long as he's not plagiarizing or misleading employers, he doesn't feel the need to disclose that he leveraged AI in his job search journey. 'But then, if I'm ever asked this question, I would be honest about it,' he said. 'That's part of being an ethical AI user.' Wood said an ethical AI user would know exactly what's in their resumé, if questioned. 'I don't believe that you need to go into an interview and say, 'By the way, I prepped with AI for this,'' she said. 'It's such a common tool now that everybody's using and if you are using it ethically, there's nothing to disclose.' But Carlie Bell thinks that creates an imbalance between employers and job seekers. Upcoming Ontario legislation mandates companies to disclose in their public job postings their use of AI in screening, selecting and assessing applicants starting Jan. 1, 2026. Other provinces haven't yet opted for similar measures. 'It is employers ... who are going to be held to legal standards around this kind of stuff and expectations, but there is still nothing there to really guide the job seekers,' said Bell, director of consulting at Citation Canada. Bell anticipates employers will also start expecting job seekers to disclose their use of AI for transparency both ways. Still, using AI in a job search isn't likely to harm a candidate as long as they continue to be creative and talk about personal experiences, Bell said. 'In a world where everybody's the same ... and you're trying to compete essentially against machines on both sides, what we know is that the human really matters still,' Bell said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2025. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Anand says Indo-Pacific strategy will have economic focus but maintain values
Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, right, greets Foreign Minister Anita Anand during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post-Ministerial Conference with Canada, held as part of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Bernama via AP) OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the economy is becoming the primary focus of Canada's relationships in the Indo-Pacific — a shift that appears linked to Canada's recent moves to overcome its security dispute with India. Anand was in Japan and Malaysia this week for her first trip to the region since taking over as foreign minister in May. Her message coming out of that trip was that Canada's foreign policy is shifting — though not abandoning — the priorities set by the previous Liberal government of former prime minister Justin Trudeau. 'It is important for us to revisit our policy — not only in the Indo-Pacific but generally speaking — to ensure that we are focusing not only on the values that we have historically adhered to,' Anand said Thursday in a teleconference from Malaysia. 'Foreign policy is an extension of domestic interest and particularly domestic economic interests. This is a time when the global economy is under stress.' The Trudeau government put language on environmental protection, labour standards and gender equality in its trade agreements. Goldy Hyder, head of the Business Council of Canada, said that made Canada appear 'a bit preachy' to other countries. He said Canada has to be respectful in the way it stands up for democratic values. A focus on the economy is quickly becoming a defining trait of the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former central banker who is intent on building up Canada's domestic capacity and reshaping its trade and security plans to rely less on the United States. Carney has been mostly focused on Europe so far; he has visited the continent three times since March. Anand's visit this week 'sets the stage' for Carney's planned visits this fall to the Association of South East Asian Nations leaders' summit in Malaysia and the APEC forum in South Korea, said Vina Nadjibulla, research vice-president for the Asia Pacific Foundation. Anand visited Tokyo to sign an information-sharing agreement that could lead to defence procurement deals, before heading to Malaysia for a meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Her visit also comes as Canada tries to restore ties with India after two years of diplomatic chill following the 2023 shooting death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver — a crime Ottawa linked to agents of the Indian government. The RCMP said last year it had evidence of New Delhi playing a role in acts of homicide, coercion and extortion targeting multiple Sikh-Canadians. Canada subsequently expelled six senior Indian diplomats; New Delhi expelled six Canadian diplomats in response. India claims Canada is enabling a separatist movement that calls for a Sikh homeland — Khalistan — to be carved out of India, and calls that a violation of its sovereignty. Carney began to thaw the relationship in June. He invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta and the two leaders agreed to reinstate their high commissioners. The two countries are also starting security talks. As the world's most populous country, India is seen as a critical partner as Carney pushes to disentangle Canada from its heavy reliance on trade with the U.S. The two countries have engaged in on-and-off negotiations on a trade deal since 2010, with frequent pauses — including Ottawa's suspension of talks after the Nijjar assassination. Hyder said India's corporate sector has been urging Canadian corporations to continue expanding trade in spite of the tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi. 'One day this is all going to be resolved, and we don't want to have lost all that time,' he said. He said the reduced number of Canadian diplomats has made it more challenging for members of his council to engage in India, because there are fewer trade commissioners in India to help Canadians connect companies with contacts and opportunities on the ground. Hyder, who spoke just before leaving for a fact-finding mission to India, said the appointment of high commissioners will set the tone for eventual trade talks. He said a trade deal would be helpful but is not 'a precondition' for boosting trade, and suggested Ottawa should focus on scaling up the roads and ports needed to meet Asia's demand for Canadian commodities. Vijay Sappani, a fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said an India trade deal could come quite soon. 'If we put in the right efforts on our end, I feel like we could probably get a free-trade agreement done before the end of this year, if not (the first quarter) of next year,' said Sappani. 'There is no Indo-Pacific without India, and if we want to play in the global markets, where we've been kind of shunned … then we need to step up to the plate.' Sappani said Ottawa should seek assurances from India that it will never play a role in violence in Canada. In turn, he said, Ottawa could commit to not having politicians show up at any event where there are displays commemorating those who took part in violence in support of the Khalistan movement. 'That is the biggest thing that we Canadians can do to stop some level of irritants within the Indian side, and trade definitely will come on back on the table,' he said. Anand would not say how soon Canada and India could appoint top envoys, or start trade talks. 'We will take the relationship with India one step at a time,' she said Thursday. 'That timeline will be steady, not immediate.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
