Huawei CFO arrest 'followed rules,' Canadian rent is too darn high, and more top news

The news Canadian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation by clicking the hashtags below.

Canadian border officials followed protocol when they arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver’s airport in December, according to lawyers for Canada’s Attorney-General, who this week hit back at claims that authorities engaged in a “covert criminal investigation” that violated Wanzhou’s rights. The Huawei executive’s arrest — at the request of the U.S. over allegations including bank fraud — has damaged trade relations between China and Canada, with the former stopping imports of certain Canadian products, such as canola and beef. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Canadian cities are being squeezed for affordable housing, as rapid population growth fuels a surge in the cost of living. With strong job numbers and immigration driving people to cities, landlords are hiking their prices to meet the growing demand. Last year only 37,000 new apartments were built nationwide to feed demand that increased by 50,000 units. Most Canadians say housing is already their single biggest expense, with the average person spending 43% of their income on housing.? Here’s what people are saying. 

The United Nations' Climate Action Summit began this week on the heels of a global "climate strike," which saw protests in cities around the globe calling for more action to reduce greenhouse gases. A report presented at the summit says the average "global temperature for 2015-2019 is on track to be the warmest of any equivalent period on record." (Read the findings here). Dozens of major businesses have pledged cuts to their emissions, following the growing concern of the effects of climate change. Energy production, agriculture and forestry, transportation and heavy industry are the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Japanese car maker Nissan has agreed to pay the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a fine of USD$15 million, while its former chairman Carlos Ghosn will pay the agency USD$1 million to settle the scandal in which Ghosn allegedly under-reported his earnings. The disgraced auto executive was credited with forming the powerful Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi alliance before his fall from grace last November, when he was arrested in Tokyo, suspected of under-reporting around $80 million in earnings. He denies all charges and is set to stand trial in Japan next year. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

When considering applicants for a job, many employers say they look for culture fit, or a sense that the candidate will fit in well with the firm’s goals and values. Yet such efforts can wind up creating a homogenous workforce where everyone looks and thinks the same way, says Sue Shellenbarger, in The Wall Street Journal. But culture fit can also be great for performance and innovation without undermining diversity, as long as it’s measured in a fair and systematic way, according to the Harvard Business Review. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Idea of the Day: When hiring, while ability to do the work is essential, so are the “fit factors,” says Lou Adler, CEO of the Adler Group.

“Mistakes seem to breed whenever there’s a lack of understanding of real job needs… when assuming personality and presentation skills during the interview are a good proxy for motivation, team skills and cultural fit. They’re not.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

— Jessica Hartogs