Canada
Cabinet shuffle to test Liberal solidarity with PM Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not directly addressed the fall out following Chrystia Freeland's sudden resignation as finance minister, but he's preparing for a significant cabinet shuffle, Friday. But as David Akin explains, the calls for Trudeau to step down are only growing.
Miller, Anand, MacKinnon expected to get new portfolios in Friday cabinet shuffle: Liberal source
At least six Liberal MPs are expected to be promoted to cabinet in the long-awaited change of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's senior ranks on Friday. The author, Abbas Rana, has been on the Hill as long as I have it seems and is often overlooked as one of those who gets scoops. Our newsroom has a couple of the same names on the move Abbas and some we have not been able to verify but which sound plausible.
Some Liberals say a chance at Trudeau's cabinet not worth it
"If I was asked,” said one Liberal MP, who had not been, “with what happened with Chrystia, I would not accept.“Why would I enter a burning building?”
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
David Herle, the podcast host who worked for former PM Paul Martin, former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and has run election campaigns for federal and provincial Liberal parties, gets the interview every journalist in Canada wanted: 30 minutes with the new finance minister the day after he was sworn in to the job. Herle is a friendly interviewer and that's because LeBlanc is a friend. Still, some interesting things to note here: LeBlanc sees models for his tenure in Finance in deficit-fighters like Martin and Jean Chrétien. But he also says here that he would be prepared to spend into deficit to support Canadian industry if Trump's threatened tariffs bite and that he is "reassured" that Canada has the fiscal firepower to do that. That’s interesting because the departing finance minister Chrystia Freeland clearly believed the PM was in jeopardy of wasting that fiscal firepower on “cheap political gimmicks.” The only thing Herle did not ask about, given his obsession with the topic on his other podcast, Curse of Politics, the day before, was "What was Trudeau thinking offering Carney a job?" There are no Carney questions here. But he does ask about Freeland's resignation letter. Good interview, if you ask me, by a host who is most definitely a Liberal but is not a sycophantic partisan. He is, instead, engaged, sympathetic, empathetic, and curious. I'd almost be prepared to grant him "journalist" status :) -DA
Canada sees decline in greenhouse gas emissions, but missing target: report
A preliminary emissions report Thursday from the federal government shows greenhouse gases emitted in 2023 fell by six million tonnes compared to 2022.
Heather Ray to be NDP federal candidate for new Peterborough riding
A member of the riding association executive for about a year, the 40-year-old Ray is a queer farmer and single mother based in Douro-Dummer, where she was born and raised. With a master’s degree in international public policy, she has worked in the not-for-profit sector, including for years at Peterborough GreenUP. The riding is held by CPC MP Michele Ferreri and, given polling averages in Ontario, right now, she would favoured to hold by 25+ points. The NDP have never won this seat in a general election.
Fighting the phenomenon of vehicle thefts in Canada
The 16th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security
The Persian Gulf War Was a War
The 18th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs
The Provinces
Alberta's Smith disappointed federal pension plan report offers no estimate of share
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province has heard back from Canada’s chief actuary on its bid to leave the Canada Pension Plan but says there's no estimate on how much the province should get. The province has been waiting for months for the review and a figure.
Le maire de Trois-Rivières ne sollicitera pas de 3e mandat
«Pour une des rares fois dans ma vie d'adulte, je choisis de me placer au centre de mes priorités. Je priorise ma santé, ma famille, mes amis, mon avenir. Je me paie le luxe que peu de politiciens s'offrent: je choisis le moment où je quitte mon poste», a-t-il déclaré.
Elsewhere
Will Canada’s border plan stop Trump tariffs? Republicans ‘don’t know’
Republicans and Trump administration officials are claiming victory for securing border security commitments from Canada, but are unsure if they will prevent threatened tariffs.
Chinese National Charged in California After Aiding Local Candidate, Prosecutors Say Times
Mr. Sun’s arrest and the sentencing in New York of Mr. Chen are part of an effort by federal prosecutors to curb attempts by China to influence local politicians in the United States. After setbacks in extending its influence in Washington, the Chinese government has turned to America’s cities and states, prosecutors say, hoping to nurture support for causes important to Beijing, such as curbing calls for autonomy for Taiwan, opposing any democracy movement in Hong Kong and combating the fiercely anti-Communist Falun Gong spiritual movement.
Media
After a police stop in Serbia, journalist finds spyware on phone
In a report published this week, the international watchdog confirmed Milanov’s suspicions, finding forensic evidence that spyware was installed on the phones of several journalists and activists, including Milanov.
Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto departs in cost-cutting move
Neil Cavuto, the first anchor hired by Fox News in 1996, is leaving the network, another casualty of cost-cutting in the TV news business. Cavuto is one of the few Fox News anchors who frequently criticized President-elect Donald Trump, which did not always please the conservative viewers who make up much of the network’s audience.
Reader Notes
Always looking for more support
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.
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Science and tech
AI models adjust personality test answers to appear more likable, study finds
Most major large language models (LLMs) can quickly tell when they are being given a personality test and will tweak their responses to provide more socially desirable results—a finding with implications for any study using LLMs as a stand-in for humans.