Canada
Trump vows tariffs of 25% on Canada, Mexico; and 10% on China
Trump said the tariffs of 25 percent on Mexican and Canadian goods and 10 percent on Chinese merchandise would be aimed at halting an “invasion” of drugs and migrants into the United States. (🎁 link)
Donald Trump threatens 25% tariff on products from Canada, Mexico
The news also prompted a flurry of late-evening phone calls: between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump, and between Trudeau and several provincial premiers, in an effort to defuse the danger to Canada's economy.
Trump's 25 per cent tariff equals pain on both sides of border, Canadian leaders say
"For the American businesses and for American consumers, this would mean higher prices and increased costs for input and less competitive business environment for America as well,” the chamber's chief economist, Stephen Tapp, said in an interview late Monday. Things would be even worse if other countries retaliated with tariff walls of their own. In that case, Canadian incomes would fall by 1.5 per cent and productivity by 1.6 per cent, the chamber's report said.
Premiers call for urgent meeting with Trudeau to discuss Canada-U.S. relations
"We require clarity from you about how you propose to include and engage with premiers as we enter the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, including who among your cabinet ministers will serve as lead for your government," the letter reads.
Freeland says the two-month GST holiday is meant to tackle the 'vibecession'
In a news conference on Monday, Freeland said there's a disconnect between recent good news on inflation and interest rates and how Canadians are feeling about the economy, something she said is being referred to as a "vibecession."
Mandate Letter of the National Security and Intelligence Advisor
This is curious but welcome. The PM has decided to publish a mandate letter for his NSIA. Published mandate letters are usually for elected officials, not for unelected bureaucrats like Nathalie Drouin, the current NSIA. In any event, worth a read for those interested in this field. -DA
The Provinces
Election day in Nova Scotia as Tim Houston seeks 2nd term as premier
Voters in Nova Scotia are heading to the polls today as the province holds an election to determine if Tim Houston and the Progressive Conservatives will remain in power.
Alberta seeks to ‘de-risk’ oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory
Danielle Smith said the Alberta government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase Alberta's oil and gas export volumes to the U.S.
About 1,450 lobster boats to head out on Day 1 of Canada’s largest lobster fishery
Fishers aboard roughly 1,450 boats in Canada's largest lobster fishery are to set their traps in the small hours of Tuesday morning off southern Nova Scotia.
A look at how New Brunswick premier may handle the carbon tax
A campaign promise from Nova Scotia may shed some light on how New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt plans to handle the carbon tax. Holt was vague on specific details during the fall campaign, but recently confirmed that there’s one option she’s considering.
Saskatchewan government outlines priorities in 2024 throne speech
[In] The largest section of the throne speech, Moe said he will introduce the largest personal income tax reduction in Saskatchewan since 2008 by raising the personal exemption, spousal exemption, child exemption and seniors supplement by $500 a year in each of the next four years, in addition to fully indexing income tax brackets.
Elsewhere
Trump’s Trade Agenda Could Benefit Friends and Punish Rivals
... trade experts say, if there are no exclusions for Mr. Trump’s future tariffs, the levies could harm American factories that may not be able to buy certain parts and components outside China. A big tariff on those products could convince manufacturers that it makes more economic sense to set up their factories outside the United States entirely. That would undercut the central goal of Mr. Trump’s tariffs, which is to push companies to make their products in the United States. (🎁 link)
Who is Calin Georgescu, Romanian right-wing candidate leading the election?
While he has not explicitly admitted that he supports Russia, he said in an interview that Romania ought to abide by “Russian wisdom”. In a 2022 interview, Georgescu called Russian President Vladimir Putin one of the few true leaders in the world.
Media
Catherine Tait says she made CBC better. Andrew Scheer says that's 'quite the echo chamber'
Outgoing president of CBC/Radio-Canada said cutting the broadcaster's English Services puts access to Canadian-made information at risk.
Science and tech
How physics moves from wild ideas to actual experiments
In a field full of ambitious plans, a recent proposal by Steven Prohira, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas, is especially strange. Prohira suggests that instead of using antennas, we could detect the tell-tale signs of atmospheric neutrinos by wiring up a forest of trees. His suggestion may turn out to be impossible, but it could also be an important breakthrough. To find out which it is, he'll need to walk a long path, refining prototypes and demonstrating his idea’s merits.
The Calendar
- 0900 ET: 120 Wellington - GPC MP Elizabeth May attends a parliamentary seminar on nuclear disarmament.
- 0930 ET: 135B West Block - Canadian Labour Congress representatives speak about EI reform.
- 1000 ET: West Block - PM Trudeau will meet with his cabinet.
- 1030 ET: Ottawa - GPC MP Elizabeth May attends a book launch.
- 1100 ET: 430 Wellington - Health (HESA) | Meeting 142 - Opioid Epidemic and Toxic Drug Crisis in Canada
- 1100 ET: 420 Wellington - Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting 129 - C-353: CPC MP Melissa Lantsman testifies.
- 1100 ET: 025-B West Block - Government Operations and Estimates (OGGO) | Meeting 155 - Indigenous Procurement
- 1100 ET: 430 Wellington - Health (HESA) | Meeting 141 - Opioid Epidemic and Toxic Drug Crisis in Canada
- 1100 ET: 225-A West Block - Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) | Meeting 135 - M-109: CPC MP Scott Reid testifies.
- 1100 ET: 425 Wellington - Public Safety and National Security (SECU) | Meeting 131 - Growing Problem of Car Thefts in Canada
- 1100 ET: HoC Foyer - BQ MP Rhéal Fortin speaks to reporters.
- 1100 ET: 135B West Block - Healthcare workers returning from Gaza speak to reporters.
- 1100 ET: 415 Wellington - Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN) | Meeting 134 - C-61
- 1100 ET: 035B West Block - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 138 - C-378
- 1100 ET: 125B West Block - Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting 122 - Minority-language Education Continuum
- 1200 ET: Italy - Foreign Affairs Min Melanie Joly speaks to reporters.
- 1530 ET: 410 Wellington - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting 120 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Finance (FINA) | Meeting 166 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting 127 - Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Contaminated Sites
- 1530 ET: 430 Wellington - Science and Research (SRSR) | Meeting 110 - The Mission, Mandate, Role, Structure and Financing of the New Capstone Research Funding Organization Announced in Budget 2024
- 1530 ET: 125-B West Block - Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) | Meeting 139 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 420 Wellington - Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Foreign Affairs and International Development (SDIR) | Meeting 61 - Transnational Repression in Developing Democracies
- 1530 ET: 425 Wellington - Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (ETHI) | Meeting 141 - Privacy Breaches at the Canada Revenue Agency
- 1545 ET: Ottawa - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at a Canadian Labour Congress event.
- 1700 ET: Yellowknife - LPC MP Michael McLeod makes a funding announcement
- Ottawa - PM Trudeau meets with Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske.