Canada
Canada details new “Arctic Foreign Policy” in effort to bolster northern presence, security
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals will appoint an "Arctic Ambassador" and create two diplomatic posts in Alaska and Greenland to boost Canada's presence in the north and increase security against foreign threats. As Global’s David Akin reports, the blueprint also emphasizes "Indigenous teachings and values.”
Chrystia Freeland promises a fall fiscal update as clock ticks down on 2024
Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland said Friday that she will deliver a fall economic statement this year. Time is running short on days left before Parliament rises for holidays.
JD Vance backs Tory MP’s campaign to protect Canadian Christians
'Canada has seen a number of church burnings in recent years thanks to anti-Christian bigotry,' Vance wrote in a tweet supporting Jivani.
Lawful gun owners feel cheated by new federal firearms ban
For many law-abiding firearm owners, firing a gun isn't about shooting at a target — it's a competitive sport, and many are dedicated, passionate athletes.
The time of your life: The mortality and longevity of Canadians
Canadian Journal of Economics / Kevin Milligan (From 1930-1964), cohort life expectancy after age 54 grew by five years for women and seven years for men. The income–longevity gradient for the top 5% vs. bottom 5% of incomes is nine years of post-54 life for men and seven years for women. The life expectancy improvements arise across the income distribution in Canada, unlike the United States. Large differences across neighbourhoods emerge that cannot be explained by income differences alone.
The Provinces
Manitoba to send conservation officers to U.S. border to boost security, appease Trump: Kinew
"The federal government has announced potentially new resources coming with the RCMP. We're saying, at the provincial level, we're standing up a plan as well."This is a new direction we're going in."
Quebec premier wants to put a stop to prayer in parks and public places
Quebec Premier François Legault says he's looking at ways to end prayer in public places, including parks, as his government promises new legislation to strengthen secularism.
Elsewhere
Taliban bans women from medical training at private institutes
The Taliban's Ministry of Health on Monday informed the leaders of medical training institutes in Afghanistan about the new ban on women's education in the institutes, which mainly offered classes in nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory science and dental assistance.
Meet the American Super Distrusters
With the 2024 cycle now behind us, it’s tempting to categorize declining trust levels as a political problem and a challenge for candidates and their campaigns. It certainly is. How will political leaders connect with actively distrusting voters? Long-form influencer podcasts, as we just saw in the last election, may be one strategy. But Super Distrusters are more than voters. From a business perspective, they’re consumers, employees, and shareholders. How will businesses rebuild confidence among those least inclined to believe them?
Voters Broadly Positive on How 2024 US Elections Were Run, Unlike in 2020
Trump voters’ skepticism about election administration and the counting of mail-in ballots declined sharply with their candidate’s win.
Once again, polls missed a decisive slice of Trump voters in 2024
Public polling understated Trump's support in virtually every state, according to an NBC News Decision Desk analysis of the survey data.
Science and tech
Rivian's EVs ranked last on Consumer Reports reliability list
Overall, Consumer Reports says EVs are improving in reliability. Some scored particularly well, including Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, while the reliability of Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y was more average. But all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids still give owners more problems than standard hybrid cars or ones with internal combustion engines.
Issued this day ...
… in 1898: Sc 86: Xmas 1898. The first stamp issued anywhere anytime with the phrase “Xmas” on it so, in that sense, this was the world’s first Christmas stamps. Canada would not begin to issue the kind of annual Christmas stamps as we now know them until 1964 but, this one was a first. And, as it turns out, this was issued not so much to celebrate Christmas but celebrate the glory of Queen Victoria and the British Empire.