Canada
Poilievre says Trudeau’s exit won’t shift election focus from carbon price
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre again demanded that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau call a national election instead of proroging Parliament.
[Press release] Liberal Party of Canada announces date of leadership vote
Statement from the party executive posted late last night indicates:
- Leader will be announced March 9.
- Entry will be $350,000. Deadline to get in is January 23.
- Cutoff date to be a member eligible to vote is January 27.
Speak French, understand Quebec or don’t run for leader, Liberals say
A day after many Liberal MPs argued that their next leader must speak French and understand Quebec, one of their caucus colleagues — who doesn’t speak the language — announced his candidacy in the party’s leadership race. But Liberal MP Chandra Arya isn’t worried about learning French anytime soon. “Quebecers, like all Canadians, at the end of the day, they want to see the work to be done. It is not that whether you’re polished in French and English,” said Arya in an interview. I wish Arya well but I'm pretty sure he's misread the room on this one.
Gudie Hutchings bows out, Yvonne Jones to make announcement Friday
Gudie Hutchings, the federal rural economic development minister and Liberal MP announced today that she will not be running in the next federal election. Labrador MP Yvonne Jones will also be making an announcement on Friday. NTV’s Don Bradshaw has that story. With Jones expecting to announce her decision not to run, there will now only be one LPC incumbent in all of Newfoundland and Labrador: Joanne Thompson in St John's East. That's a pretty solid data point data point for the expected Atlantic Canada wipeout of the Liberals this spring.
Liberals Enjoy Modest Boost amid Trudeau Resignation, Trump Threats
Amid a flurry of recent political events, the Liberals have experienced a modest boost in their fortunes. The party now sits at 25.8 per cent, a six-point improvement from December’s political crisis sparked by the resignation of Chrystia Freeland.
Post-Trudeau resignation, Conservative lead grows to 27
Conservatives open up their biggest lead yet – 25 points. If an election were held today, 47% of committed voters would vote Conservative, while 20% would vote Liberal, and 18% for the NDP. Freeland and Carney well ahead of others on recognizability, familiarity, and net favourable impression.
Canadian businesses prepare for "tremendous expense” of tariff war
Canada's top politicians are preparing a list of American products to slap tariffs on in case U.S. president-elect Donald Trump follows through with his tariff threat. The federal government’s goal is to hurt American manufacturers in Republican states while minimizing price hikes impacting Canadians. ON Global National David Akin looks at what items could be affected and how the owner of a Canadian model train maker with a big export business is aiming to keep his business on track.
The Provinces
Churchill Falls MOU ‘very good deal’: electricity, financial experts
As big-time New York banker Konstantin Akimov entered the House of Assembly chamber Wednesday evening, he gestured to The Telegram with a thumbs up. Later, he’d give the entire province a figurative thumbs up for getting Quebec to agree to what he called “a good deal” for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Elsewhere
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado ‘kidnapped’, allies say
Leader reportedly freed after being ‘violently intercepted’ having left hideout to lead protest against Nicolás Maduro.
Trudeau says Trump’s 51st state talk distracts from cost tariffs will bring
In an interview with CNN, Trudeau pushed back again on the idea of Canada becoming part of the U.S., which Trump has continued to push in comments to media.
Trump’s inaugural committee has already raised a record $170 million in donations
The whopping amount raised thus far by Trump’s presidential inaugural committee is more than double the amount President Joe Biden raised four years ago when he brought in nearly $62 million for his inauguration, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Media
Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2025
News organisations are braced for multiple challenges in 2025 that will likely include further attacks from hostile politicians, continued economic headwinds, and battles to protect intellectual property in the face of rapacious AI-driven platforms.
Science and tech
Coal likely to go away even without EPA’s power plant regulations - Ars Technica
Set to be killed by Trump, the rules mostly lock in existing trends.
