NAFTA: Early sticking points encountered on numerous issues + MORE Sep 5th

MEXICO CITY — Negotiators have run into a series of early sticking points on nearly every major element considered key to achieving a new NAFTA agreement, according to sources who describe a dialogue-of-the-deaf-like approach to sensitive issues.
A recurring pattern has emerged during the current round of talks in Mexico City, said sources with knowledge of the discussions: a country will raise a prized priority, only to have another systematically refuse to engage the conversation.
“The tone is negative,” said one source, who added that it’s still early, he remains hopeful a deal can be reached this year, and that obstinacy is to be expected in initial bargaining.
He cited two examples.
One is the Canadians asking for greater access to professional visas. It’s a priority not just for the Canadians, but also for businesses that struggle to send staff across the border. NAFTA’s visa list is outdated and doesn’t include modern digital jobs. The Americans have pushed off that conversation, which risks bumping into that country’s sensitive immigration politics…

You may have seen teasers of Aeroplan’s latest contest on Instagram and other social media channels over the past week and it is one of the largest ever offered to members!Officially launched today, Aeroplan’s Moments worth Millions contest will award 5 prizes of 1 million Aeroplan miles each over the next 5 weeks. All you have to do to enter is tell your Aeroplan moment via social media:We want to know where your Aeroplan Miles have taken you and the moments they helped create. Share your travel pics, videos, and stories using #withaeroplan on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for a chance to win 1 of 5 prizes of 1 million miles. That’s a total of 5 million miles! Don’t forget to tell us a bit about your photo in your post. We’ll draw a million-mile winner every week for 5 weeks. Good luck!How to enter:Facebook:Share your pics, videos, and stories on the Aeroplan Facebook page using #withaeroplanTwitter:Tweet your pics, videos, and stories @Aeroplan using #withaeroplanInstagram:Post your pics, videos, and stories @aeroplan using #withaeroplan I know there are lots of you with great stories on where Aeroplan has taken you so get on your social media channels and share them…

Rack up savings and reduce the impact of penalty fees, hiked rates and debt on your credit card bill by following these payment rules

TORONTO — Equifax Canada says non-mortgage consumer debt climbed 3.3 per cent year-over-year in the second quarter and warns that consumers’ ability to keep up with their debt payments could be affected as interest rates and borrowing costs rise.
The credit monitoring firm’s report comes out a day before the Bank of Canada announces its first interest rate decision since hiking its key lending rate by one-quarter of a point to 0.75 per cent in July.
Strong second-quarter economic growth figures last week has an increasing number of economists predicting the central bank will raise rates sooner rather than later, which could help to curb consumer borrowing at a time when Canadians have record debt loads.
Equifax says non-mortgage debt rose to the equivalent of $22,595 per person in the second quarter.
Alberta had the highest provincial average, at $28,240 of non-mortgage consumer debt per person — up 1.8 per cent from last year — followed by Saskatchewan ($24,690) and British Columbia ($24,026)…

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