Canada
Randy Boissonnault out of cabinet amid business dealings controversy
Randy Boissonnault is out of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal cabinet after months of controversy surrounding his former business. And with that, no one from Alberta is in the federal cabinet. That was the case 2019-2021 but it's rare that Alberta has zero seats at the cabinet table. The only other Alberta option for PM Trudeau is Calgary MP George Chahal --- but he has already revealed himself as one of the rebels seeking to get Trudeau to quit.
Trudeau expected to unveil GST relief in multibillion-dollar affordability announcement, sources say
The plans would require legislated changes, which means the Liberals will need the support of another party to first end the two-month stand-off in the House of Commons that has stymied most other work.
Supplementary Estimates (B) 2024-25
If you need the spreadsheets associated with the release this week of Supp Bs, you'll find them at this link. Per the press release when these estimates were tabled Monday: "These Supplementary Estimates are seeking parliamentary approval of $21.6 billion in proposed spending across 79 federal organizations" -DA
The Provinces
British invasion: 900 Brits being interviewed to move to N.L.
As Newfoundland and Labrador pushes for higher immigration targets, P.E.I. shares some of its allocated spaces with the province.
Stephen Harper appointed to oversee Alberta’s AIMCo fund
The move comes almost two weeks after the province’s finance minister fired the Crown agency’s entire board, along with a number of executives, citing ballooning costs and substandard returns.
Lethbridge-West byelection called to fill vacancy from NDP resignation
Running for the UCP is John Middleton-Hope, a sitting city councillor and former police chief, while the NDP has put forward Rob Miyashiro, who served on council from 2013 to 2021.
St-Pierre Plamondon accuse QS d’être woke
Le chef péquiste Paul St-Pierre Plamondon estime que les déclarations controversées d’Haroun Bouazzi sont le reflet du « wokisme » de Québec solidaire, qui se sert depuis 10 ans de cette technique pour faire avancer son agenda. «Le wokisme est un mouvement, à proprement dit, antidémocratique...»
In This Assembly: Behind Quebec's political realignment
Graham Fraser reviews À la conquête du pouvoir: Comment une troisième voie politique s’est imposée au Québec by Pascal Mailhot and Éric Montigny.
Yukon council refuses to pledge allegiance to King Charles
Governance in Yukon's second-largest municipality has been at a standstill since its newly elected mayor and council refused to pledge allegiance to King Charles.
Ontario NDP appoints former Toronto mayor David Miller as special advisor
Former mayor of Toronto, David Miller, has been appointed by the Ontario NDP to be a Special Advisor to the Leader on crafting a new deal for municipalities.
Elsewhere
Trump nominates former Michigan congressman Pete Hoekstra to be ambassador to Canada
Bruce Heyman, who had been Obama's envoy to Canada from 2014 to 2017, said in a post on X that the early naming shows the "importance of the relationship," and pointed out that Hoekstra being from a border state gives him "direct knowledge and understanding of Canada."
The diciest Trump Cabinet picks, ranked
Aaron Blake Several of the picks for hugely powerful roles could test even Republican senators’ willingness to sign off, a situation that could tempt Trump to try to go around the Senate confirmation process.
Mexico's Sheinbaum: Trudeau supports keeping USMCA intact
Sheinbaum told reporters that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “doesn’t agree” with calls from the premiers of the provinces of Ontario and Alberta for Canada to consider making a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States rather than seeking an extension of the existing USMCA free trade treaty, which includes Mexico.
Media
NFL, celebrity boxing, and hot dogs: Netflix’s push into live TV
widespread streaming issues persisted throughout the event, leaving fans wondering whether Netflix is equipped to handle future livestreams, including two NFL Christmas Day games and WWE’s Monday Night Raw.
Corus Entertainment Taps Jefferies to Explore Potential Sale
Canadian television company Corus Entertainment Inc. is working with Jefferies Financial Group to explore a sale of its business, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Rogers Sports & Media, Corus confirm layoffs in audio divisions
The Canadian media industry has taken another hit as Rogers Sports & Media and Corus confirmed layoffs in their audio divisions.
Reader Notes
Who writes this stuff?
This newsletter is curated by David Akin, chief political correspondent at Global News. The headlines, excerpts, and photos are generated by the publishers of the clipping. The publisher is at the bottom left of the clipping. If I've got a comment, you''ll see that in italics. But if I've generated the headline and the excerpt, you'll see me taking attribution by finishing with -DA in bold. The stuff about the stamps at the bottom — that’s all me.
We've got 1,800+ subscribers to this thing and there are some costs associated with sending out 70,000 or so e-mails a month. The costs of doing so are offset with contributions from sponsors like our friends at Aurora Strategy Global and from many generous readers who are also chipping in. But we could use a few more contributors (or sponsors for that matter. Interested? Send me an e-mail ). You can help keep this newsletter going with a monthly pledge -- Just $5 would do it -- via Patreon or, if you want to make a one-time donation, send an e-transfer to jda@davidakin.com. Thanks for all your help!
Science and tech
A new generation of cheaper batteries is sweeping the EV industry
A type of lithium-ion battery called lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, is becoming increasingly prevalent in EVs around the world. Manufacturers like Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, Tesla, and others are now offering these packs as an alternative to, or an outright replacement for, the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) chemistries that have dominated for years. While LFP cells made up just 6 percent of the market in 2020, they’ve now jumped to roughly 30 percent.
El Capitan ranked the most powerful supercomputer in the world
El Capitan is now the most powerful supercomputer in existence, as proven by TOP500's list.
The Calendar
- Toronto - PM Trudeau and Fin Min and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland speak to reporters.
- 0800 ET: Montreal - Health Min Mark Holland speaks at the Canada Healthcare Innovation Summitt 2024
- 0815 ET: 035-B West Block - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting 119 - Fertilizer Tariffs
- 0815 ET: 415 Wellington - Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting 132 - C-61
- 0815 ET: 330 Wellington - Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting 146 - Committee Business
- 0815 ET: 025-B West Block - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting 126 - FY25 Supp Bs. Defence Min Bill Blair to testify.
- 0900 ET: Ottawa - International Trade Min Mary Ng speaks about the nuclear energy sector.
- 1000 ET: Ottawa - GPC MP Elizabeth May meets with Peace Train Canada
- 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting 116 - Experience of Indigenous Veterans and Black Veterans
- 1100 ET: 035-B West Block - Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting 116 - Meeting Requested Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4) to Discuss a Request to Undertake a Study of the Urgent Issue of a Passport Being Issued to a Known Convicted Human Smuggler with a Court Order Issued Forbidding Possession of any Travel Documents
- 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 137 - FY25 Supp Bs. Employement Min Randy Boissonnault to testify.
- 1100 ET: 430 Wellington - Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting 122 - Drafting report
- 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting 121 - Minority-Language Education Continuum
- 1100 ET: 420 Wellington - Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting 154 - Purchase of the Official Residence of the Consul General in New York
- 1100 ET: 225-A West Block - Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting 134 - C-65
- 1300 ET: Whitehorse, YT - LPC MP Brendan Hanley makes a funding announcement
- 1300 ET: Quebec City - Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos makes a funding announcement
- 1400 ET: Washington, DC - Foreign Affairs Min Melanie Joly speaks to reporters.
- 1530 ET: 420 Wellington - Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting 140 - Privacy Breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency: Revenue Min Marie-Claude Bibeau to testify.
- 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting 128 - Briefing on the Current Situation in Haiti
- 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Health (HESA) | Meeting 140 - C-368
- 1530 ET: 415 Wellington - Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 130 - Russian Interference and Disinformation Campaigns in Canada
- 1530 ET: 035-B West Block - Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting 109 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting 138 - Drafting report
- 1830 ET: Mississauga, ON - PM Trudeau speaks at an LPC fundraising event.
- 1900 ET: Toronto - CPC MP Don Stewart hosts a town hall meeting on crime.