Here’s the latest on Canadian impacts of the global IT outage

The latest developments on the Canadian impacts of the global technology outage that is causing massive disruptions to companies and services around the world. All times Eastern:

11:25 a.m.

Toronto-based cybersecurity and technology lawyer Brent Arnold says the scope of the global outage is enormous.

Arnold says the disruption — caused by a software update gone wrong rather than a security breach — could the largest of its kind.

He says the outage is a good reminder of just how interconnected the technology industry is, and the costs could be substantial given the number of companies affected. 

10:55 a.m.

Porter Airlines says it is extending flight cancellations until 3:00 p.m. because of the third-party system outages affecting global industries. The company had previously extended cancellations until noon.

The airline says the outage has affected its website, mobile app, reservation and other systems, so customers cannot be rebooked until operations are restored. It says communications by email and text will be delayed and that the best source of information will be its website, once its back online.

Air Canada and WestJet say they haven’t been directly affected.

10:10 a.m.

The Canada Border Services Agency reports it experienced a partial systems outage of its telephone reporting system, primarily used by small aircraft passengers and boaters, which has since been resolved.

It says no CBSA systems are currently affected.

Telecommunications carrier Telus Corp. says some of its employees remain unable to access tools and systems needed for customer support.

It says it is working “with the utmost urgency to bring our systems to full functionality as soon as possible” and apologizes for any inconvenience.

10 a.m.

WestJet says there has been no direct effect on its own IT systems or operations, and any flight cancellations on its network have been unrelated to the CrowdStrike outage.

However, the airline expects there may be some delays involving its flights on Friday due to effects being felt by airports where it is flying to and from. It says guests travelling via WestJet or connecting with other airlines may also be affected.

9:50 a.m.

The tech outage is not affecting race weekend at the Honda Indy in Toronto.

IndyCar spokeswoman Kate Davis said that they are on schedule and do not anticipate any issues.

Friday is practice day, with the race set for Sunday on the street circuit at Exhibition Place.

9:45 a.m.

Hamilton’s St. Joseph’s hospital says it is experiencing issues with its IT systems and is working on a fix.

It calls it an “evolving situation” and says it will keep patients informed on care plans as the hospital remains open.

Meanwhile, Via Rail says it is in “no way” affected by the global outage.

It says its operations are being conducted normally.

9:15 a.m.

The Canadian Bankers Association says its members are reviewing the situation based on updates from their technology partners.

It says Canada’s banking system is well-protected and that current effects on banking services would be temporary.

The industry group represents 60 domestic and foreign banks in Canada.

8:30 a.m.

TMX Group, which operates the Toronto Stock Exchange, says its core trading and clearing systems are operating as normal.

It expects to begin trading for the day at 9:30 a.m. as usual.

It says it is continuing to monitor for any potential impacts.

8 a.m.

Windsor Police report there are long delays at the Canada-U.S. border, both at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel and the Ambassador Bridge, due to the worldwide outage.

It says to avoid both areas if possible.

Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport says flight delays and cancellations may occur. Passengers should contact their airline for specific flight details.

7:45 a.m.

Some companies are reporting their operations are unaffected by the tech outage.

Rogers Communications Inc. says there have been no impacts to its phone and internet networks, nor the media outlets it owns.

Air Canada says there is no major impact to its operations, but the airline is monitoring the situation closely.

7:30 a.m.

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services says several of its IT systems are currently affected by the outage.

That includes Meditech which is the main information system used to manage patient care and finance information.

The provincial health service says it has implemented contingency plans and is focused on the delivery of emergency care.

7:15 a.m.

The University Health Network in Toronto says the outage is affecting some of its systems.

It says clinical activity at its hospitals is continuing as scheduled.

However, it warns that some patients may experience delays.

7 a.m.

Flight delays and cancellations are to be expected as Canada’s largest airport, Pearson International in Toronto, says airlines are experiencing technology disruptions.

Porter Airlines said it is cancelling its flights until 12 p.m. due to the outage.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador says users of its digital platforms may experience service disruptions and that the province is working with its service providers to address the issue.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2024.