Shares of BlackBerry plunged more than 28 per cent in early trading after the smartphone maker’s latest results fell short of analyst expectations and it warned that further losses were likely to come next quarter. CTV

Behind-the-scenes dealing with two major banks over the right to stamp their Visa card with the Aeorplan name is now being played out in public. There’s probably a good reason for that as Aeroplan — which is operated by Aimia Inc.– seeks to enlist cardholder support  to improve its position with the banks. Aimia says it has an open mind about replacing CIBC as its bank credit card partner at the end of 2013 unless the Commerce matches contractual terms offered by TD Bank. Aeorplan has been a CIBC product for as long as most of its cardholders can remember. It started as an Air Canada frequent flyer program. In recent years Aeroplan has evolved into an extensive loyalty scheme operated by Aimia Inc. “It’s basically a battle for Canada’s most affluent credit card holders. That’s a key and attractive market to essentially own,” Kenric Tyghe, industry analyst at Raymond James told the Star. The potential bidding war between the banks was set up  as Aimia announced what it called groundbreaking changes to Aeroplan to take effect Jan. 1, 2014. The company’s new Distinction recognition program will reward top-accumulating members with flight reward benefits, bonus mile offers, and preferential treatment. As well, Aeroplan plans to cancel its current policy where unredeemed miles expire after seven years. Instead, miles will not expire as long as members stay active in the program with at least one accumulation or redemption activity every 12 months. , 

If anyone wondered if living in 24 Sussex Drive has softened up Laureen Harper, they should have seen her go Wednesday. The prime minister’s wife — along with a whole bunch of Calgary MPs, friends and assistants — cleaned out literally tonnes of garbage from flood-damaged Calgary-area homes, helped deliver tonnes of food at the Morley reserve and then — after putting in a solid eight hours of work and travel, continued on to Exshaw, where she helped clean out a couple more damaged homes. Calgary Herald

Corktown Common, Waterfront Toronto’s newly-named park in the West Don Lands off Bayview Ave. will open to the public on June 28. A key component of the revitalization of the area, Corktown Common is intended to become the heart of a new waterfront community.

It’s sometimes hard not to laugh over the apparent expectations of “congestion” experts for commute times. Today its reported that “all those stuck on the Gardiner Expressway (and) the Don Valley Parkway” should know that their time in transit is “the longest among Canada’s big cities.”  Statistics Canada puts the average trip at  32.8 minutes. Shorter than New York and Washington but not much. Then, seemingly with a straight face, writer Bruce Campion-Smith, in the Star, adds that among Canada’s “metropolitan areas” Saguenay, Thunder Bay and Moncton have the quickest average commute at 17 minutes. This would seem to say it all.  If you want to flit to work in mere moments, go to Thunder Bay or maybe get a position down the street.