Canada
Trudeau’s policies a barrier to unified approach to Trump: Alberta premier
Danielle Smith said she wants to ensure that Alberta oil and gas is exempted from the 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports that Trump has threatened.
Justin Trudeau ‘surprised' provinces agree on defence spending: Doug Ford
“He was surprised that we had so much interest in it,” Ford added. “But that's the next thing: president-elect Trump will say, you need to meet your two per cent [of GDP] NATO commitments, and he's right. We need to hit our two per cent, and we need to make sure we secure the borders.”
Poilievre calls for asylum seeker cap, border plan as U.S. tariff threat looms
With gridlock in Parliament set to continue, Poilievre said Conservatives "will make accommodations to quickly pass a border plan if it goes towards fixing Trudeau's broken border."
Tariffying
BMO Chief Economist Douglas Porter: Taking all these mitigants into account, the damage could be limited to around 1% of GDP, at least in the first year. But it would entail a combination of a lower standard of living through a cheapened currency, damaged government finances, and an even heavier skew to spending/housing and away from investment/exports. There may even be some upside inflation risk from the weak loonie and firmer housing market, despite weak overall growth. Moreover, at the micro level, there would be entire sectors under intense pressure, which could face years of heavy challenges
'They're wasting it all': Poilievre rejects municipal calls for more infrastructure money
'Trudeau will give more and more to incompetent, greedy, money-hungry municipal politicians. I will cut the bureaucracy, and axe the tax,' Poilievre said in Aurora Friday
The Provinces
Quebec forest industry already under pressure amid Trump tariff threat: Legault
François Legault says in a statement posted on social media that high interest rates and existing duties on softwood lumber are already putting pressure on the sector, which he says accounts for more than 50,000 jobs in Quebec. His comments echo those of British Columbia Premier David Eby, who told media last week that Trump's plan to impose a tariff of 25 per cent on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for his province's forest and lumber industry.
Rising sea levels could put Vancouver’s airport underwater
YVR — the second-busiest airport in Canada — sits on an island that could be flooded due to climate change, a new Senate committee report warns.
Elsewhere
A shadow Trump foreign policy team haunts Biden’s final acts
While Canada spent the week stewing, attention in Trumpworld had already moved on. The president-elect made appointments to his economic team and announced more plans to dismantle the “deep state.” Just days after he threatened the United States’ top two trading partners via social media, he posted an AI-generated video of him popping out of a turkey and dancing on President Joe Biden’s Thanksgiving table. Trump has challenged the oft-quoted adage of “one president at a time” in new ways. Tweets and declarations that may or may not become policy have set some foreign governments on edge, while delighting others. (🎁 link)
‘Wildly disruptive’: What happened last time Trump moved a federal agency out of DC
“This,” Trump said in one campaign video, “is how I will shatter the deep state.” The relocation of federal jobs outside Washington, DC, was something Trump embarked on near the end of his first term — shifting the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management about 2,000 miles west to Grand Junction, Colorado. As I mentioned yesterday, Trump ≠ Poilievre but, if the Conservatives win a big majority at the next federal election, there's an excellent chance Poilievre takes the same approach with Canada's federal bureaucracy. It's a concern taken seriously by Ontario's premier and by members of Ottawa city council and one of the reasons they've been keen to get federal employees back in the office. After all, a future government might conclude, if federal workers can telecommute from suburban Ottawa, why not telecommute from Lethbridge, Brandon or Chicoutimi?
Georgian Prime Minister Says President Must Vacate Office
Georgia's prime minister has said President Salome Zurabishvili must leave office at the end of her term later this month, despite her pledge not to.
Media
At Georgian Protests, Journalists Say They're Being Targeted And Beaten
Journalists covering large anti-government protests in Georgia say they have been deliberately targeted by security forces, with many reporting that they were beaten and required hospitalization.
RFE/RL Journalist Arrested, Beaten During Protests In Georgian Capital, Lawyer Says
RFE/RL producer Beka Beradze has been arrested during protests near the Georgian parliament building in Tbilisi, suffering apparent injuries during the incident in the early morning hours of December 1.
Science and tech
How Waterproof Is My Phone? IP68, IPX8 Ratings Explained
Can you take your iPhone swimming? Here's what those IP67, IP68 and IPX8 water-resistance ratings really mean.
The Calendar
- 1100 ET: 430 Wellington Canadian Heritage (CHPC) | Meeting 143 - Further consideration of the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
- 1100 ET: 425 Wellington -Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI) | Meeting 136- Briefing on Canada's Emissions Reduction Policies
- 1100 ET: 125B West Block -Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) | Meeting 132 - Review of the Fisheries Act
- 1100 ET: 225A West Block -International Trade (CIIT) | Meeting 130 - Recent Developments Concerning the Canada–United States Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute
- 1100 ET: 415 Wellingt4on -Natural Resources (RNNR) | Meeting 117 - Committee business / drafting report
- 1100 ET: 330 Wellington -the Status of Women (FEWO) | Meeting 135 - Breast Cancer Screening for Women Aged 40
- 1115 ET: 025-B West Block -Public Accounts (PACP) | Meeting 155 - 2024 Reports 8 to 12 of the Auditor General of Canada
- 1530 ET: 425 Wellington -Canadian Heritage (CHPC) | Meeting 144 - Protection of Freedom of Expression
- 1530 ET: 035-B West Block -Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) | Meeting 119 - Recent Reforms to the International Student Program
- 1530 ET: 430 Wellington -Justice and Human Rights (JUST) | Meeting 124 - FY 25 Supp Bs - Justice Min Arif Virani testifies.
- 1530 ET: 410 Wellington -Veterans Affairs (ACVA) | Meeting 119 - FY 25 Supp Bs - Veterans Affairs Min Ginette Petitpas Taylor testifies
- 1530 ET: 330 Wellington -Industry and Technology (INDU) | Meeting 149 - Examination of Telecommunication Companies Service Contract Practices
- 1730 ET: West Block -Deputy PM and Fin Min Chrystia Freeland chairs a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations.