Business Headlines in the Spotlight

Canada’s largest airport welcomes Uber and Lyft

Uber and Lyft have been given the all clear to now pick up and drop off passengers at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport as part of a new pilot project because there was “significant demand” from the 47 million passengers that move through the airport for access to ride-hailing services.

Approximately 200 North American airports already allow ride-hailing, including Canadian airports like Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary.  

Lyft Canada’s managing director issued a statement saying the company is “thrilled” to be able to operate at the airport.  Passengers “can count on a convenient and affordable Lyft ride to and from the airport,” said Lyft’s, Aaron Zifkin in an email statement.

Toronto’s Pearson International Airport didn’t say how long the pilot will last, but says it will monitor how the changes affect transportation to and from the facility.

It is all about the sole

A European court ruled that Van Haren, a company that sold similar shoes, infringed the Designer Louboutin red soled high-heels trade mark.

The European Union’s top court has defended French fashion designer Christian Louboutin’s claim to trademark red soled high-heel shoes.

The court said that it did not matter that the shoes were different in shape. It said the registration of the trademark “sought solely to protect that application of a colour to a specific part of that product.”

Aurora Cannabis growing again with $115 million acquisition

A month after Aurora Cannabis Inc. announced a $3.2-billion all-stock offer for rival licensed marijuana producer MedReleaf, the largest-ever deal in Canada’s cannabis industry as the company grows in anticipation of the legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada later this summer. 

Well that record lasted a month as Aurora Cannabis has signed an agreement to buy Anandia Laboratories Inc. with another all-stock deal valued at $115 million.

Anandia provides research and development services as well as analytical testing for clients licensed under Canada’s medical cannabis rules.

Aurora CEO, Terry Booth says the deal expands his company’s capabilities and will help accelerate product development.

The companies say that Anandia’s cannabis testing services will remain operationally independent of Aurora.

Starbucks anti-bias training for Canadian locations

Starbucks closed about 1,100 Canadian locations for anti-bias training in a bid to make its stores more inclusive after the April arrest of two black men who had been refused permission to use the washroom at a Starbucks in Philadelphia.

The four-hour training sessions involve sharing experiences, listening to experts, reflecting on the realities of bias in society and talking about how employees can create public spaces where everyone feels like they belong.

“You may think this does not relate to us in Canada, but it does,” Conway said in the video. “The world is changing, and we are not immune to the complexities or biases and neither are our customers or our communities.”

They note the company has changed some of its policies, including providing all locations with lists of ways they can access mental health, substance abuse and housing services and a commitment to ongoing education and development for staff.

They also reference and reinforce the company’s promise to tackle the circumstances that led to the training.