Canada
Canadians should prepare for spring election, even if Trudeau stays on: experts
Canada appears to be barrelling toward a spring election now that the NDP is vowing to vote down the government early next year — whether Trudeau stays on or not.
Canada has ended ‘flagpoling’ for immigrants. What is the practice?
The CBSA said work and study permits will no longer be provided to flagpolers at a port of entry, effective Dec. 23 at 11:59 p.m. eastern.
Bilan de fin d’année | Yves-François Blanchet plaide pour des élections rapides
« C’est déplorable d’avoir aussi peu de sens de l’État sous prétexte de s’accrocher, désapprouve M. Blanchet. Si tu veux t’accrocher, fais une élection. Les libéraux vont être obligés de se rallier en arrière de toi s’ils veulent encore avoir une chance de sauver quelques sièges, puis, de toute façon, ses principaux aspirants à la succession n’ont pas envie d’être l’agneau sacrifié. »
Bolton warns Trump’s tariff threats are ‘highly likely’
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is threatening to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports, a move that doesn't make much sense to many economic experts. On Global National Mackenzie Gray explains why John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, is warning Canada to take those threats seriously.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs appearance before SECU
Electoral interference and violent criminal activities carried out by agents of the Government of India, and the subsequent expulsion of six diplomats from the Government of India. This briefing binder was prepared for the DM for a meeting of SECU held Dec 12
The Provinces
Premiers want Ottawa to extend charitable donations deadline
Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the request in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, sent in his capacity as chair of the Council of the Federation. Ford says the premiers are echoing calls from charities to help account for a decline in mail-in donations due to the Canada Post strike, which brought letter mail to a standstill for a month starting in mid-November.
Alberta premier hopes for health reform payoff in 2025, regrets deferring tax cut
In a recent year-end interview, Smith said work that began in 2023 to create four new organizations in place of one health authority is almost complete, but there's still more to do.
Elsewhere
Ukraine says Russia launched ‘inhumane’ attack on Christmas Day
Russia launched a massive missile and drone barrage targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant, Kyiv said.
Hong Kong offers rewards for arrest of 2 Canadians, 4 other activists
According to the warrants, the six are wanted for national security offences such as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces.
Media
Read All Over: Report on a news business
Former NYT editor Jill Abramson reviews A Nation’s Paper: The Globe and Mail in the Life of Canada, a collection of essays about the history of that newspapers edited by John Ibbitson. I had a brief stint as a Globe writer in its Report on Business, from 2001 to 2005, and my hiring process there included a job interview by none other than Chrystia Freeland, who, in 2001, was the Globe's number two editor. -DA
At CNN, lower TV ratings and heightened anxieties about what’s ahead
With traditional viewership on a decline, the cable news network leans into its strong digital presence as it heads into uncertain times covering the second Trump administration. (🎁 link)
What Spotify Is Really Costing Us
Music has always been a perilous, impractical pursuit, and even sympathetic fans hope for the best value for their dollar. But if you think too deeply about what you’re paying for, and who benefits, the streaming economy can seem awfully crooked.
Reader Notes
A reminder that the headlines, excerpts, and photos here 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. -DA
Science and tech
OpenAI ‘considered’ building a humanoid robot: Report
OpenAI has recently explored building its own humanoid robot. The ChatGPT maker has been involved in the space for some time now, by way of financial backing. It has thus far invested in Figure and 1X, along with the “general purpose AI” firm Physical Intelligence.