Canada
Trudeau, premiers strategize how to counter Trump's tariff threat
As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump vows to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods imported into the U.S., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers met to discuss how to counter the threat. On Global National David Akin looks at the initial concerns the premiers had, and how they felt after the meeting.
[Press release] Premier Doug Ford Urges Federal Government to Take More Proactive Approach at Border
Moving forward, Ontario will continue to engage with U.S. lawmakers to demonstrate how our province is uniquely positioned to help America bring jobs back home as it decouples from China. Ontario can help build up Fortress Am-Can by building out Ontario-U.S. critical mineral supply chains and provide more clean, nuclear power to fuel America’s economic growth and promote our shared security.
[Press release] Statement from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Click through for the full statement. Very similar to Ford's in tone as well as commitment -- scroll to the bottom after you click through -- to continue unilateral action (i.e. not Team Canada) to protect Alberta interests, including on border security and to secure market access for Alberta energy products. -DA
Liberals table GST break bill without $250 cheques
While the federal government has now tabled its temporary GST relief legislation, that bill does not include the $250 rebates that were promised alongside the tax break. On Global National Mackenzie Gray explains why the two plans have been separated, and why even some Liberal MPs are not on board with the cheques.
Liberal MPs ask to expand $250 cheques to retirees
Ontario Liberal MP Chad Collins said he felt his primary responsibility was to respect and represent the needs of his constituents and that he would therefore vote against his government’s affordability package because it excludes those groups.
Sen. Woo downplays evidence that China ‘targeted’ MPs Chong, Kwan
The independent senator says there may be more 'benign' reasons the Chinese government was collecting information on the Conservative and NDP parliamentarians.
B.C. Métis society says Liberal candidate should resign
The Waceya Métis Society published a statement calling into question Fleischer’s Métis heritage. Trouble in the Langley--Cloverdale by-election for the Liberals.
The Provinces
Alberta threatens to invoke sovereignty act over federal emissions cap
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is threatening to invoke the Alberta Sovereignty Within A United Canada Act to prevent the province from being subjected to the federal government's cap on oil and gas emissions. On Global National Heather Yourex-West explains the brewing battle, and why industry experts don't think Smith's pushback will amount to much.
U.S. tariff of 25% would devastate P.E.I. potato industry, say producers
"It's almost impossible to operate as a business properly with that kind of tariff," Visser said of Trump's plan. "Something would have to change, but any kind of tariff would ultimately result in less revenue back to the farm and back to the growers."
Elsewhere
Mexico, Canada warn Trump against raising tariffs
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that Mexico would retaliate if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump followed through with his proposed 25% across-the-board tariff, a move her government warned could kill 400,000 U.S. jobs and drive up prices for U.S. consumers.
Media
Elon Musk and Joe Rogan respond to criticism of US podcaster by ABC's chair Kim Williams
Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have responded to comments made by the ABC's chair, Kim Williams, with the billionaire comparing the broadcaster to Russian state media.
Reader Notes
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.
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. Many of you have already contributed and I’m very grateful. Thank you. Hoping others may consider a donation as small as $3 a month for this 7-day-a-week newsletter. Thanks in any event for all your support!
Science and tech
Teaching a drone to fly without a vertical rudder
In the B-2 stealth bomber, one of the very few rudderless airplanes, Dutch roll instabilities are dealt with using drag flaps positioned at the tips of its wings, which can split and open to make one wing generate more drag than the other and thus laterally stabilize the machine. “But it is not really an efficient way to solve this problem,” says David Lentink, an aerospace engineer and a biologist at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. “The efficient way is solving it by generating lift instead of drag. This is something birds do.”
The Calendar
- 0815 ET: 035-B West Block - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting 121 - Briefing on the Mandate and Priorities of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food: Min Lawrence MacAulay testifies.
- 0815 ET: 430 Wellington - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting 128 - Defence Policy Update: Public Services Min Jean-Yves Duclos testifies.
- 0815 ET: 035-B West Block - Agriculture and Agri-Food (AGRI) | Meeting 121 - Briefing on the Mandate and Priorities of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
- 0815 ET: 315 Wellington - Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting 148 - Examination of Rogers Communications Inc. Contract Practices
- 0815 ET: 430 Wellington - National Defence (NDDN) | Meeting 128 - Defence Policy Update
- 0930 ET: Ottawa - PM Trudeau speaks at the Sustainable Finance Forum.
- 1100 ET: 425 Wellington - Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting 118 - Recent Reforms to the International Student Program
- 1100 ET: 420 Wellington - Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) | Meeting 139 - Subject Matter of Supplementary Estimates (B), 2024-25 Vote 1b under Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Votes 1b and 5b under Department of Employment and Social Development, and Briefing on Ministerial Priorities and Mandates
- 1100 ET: 125-B West Block - Official Languages (LANG) | Meeting 123 - Minority-Language Education Continuum
- 1100 ET: 410 Wellington - Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting 118 - Experience of Indigenous Veterans and Black Veterans
- 1330 ET: Vancouver - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks at the BC Federation of Labour's Convention
- 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Health (HESA) | Meeting 142 - Drafting report
- 1530 ET: 420 Wellington - Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) | Meeting 130 - C-353
- 1530 ET: 330 Wellington - Finance (FINA) | Meeting 167 - Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Budget who practice arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations and to make related amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- 1530 ET: 225-A West Block - Health (HESA) | Meeting 142 - Bill C-368, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (natural health products)
- 1845 ET: Surrey, BC - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visits the CUPW Canada Post picket line
- 2030 ET: Surrey, BC - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh campaigns in the by-election in Cloverdale--Langley City.
