Canada
RCMP facing “critical staffing shortages” in 2 provinces
Global News has obtained an internal e-mail saying the RCMP is facing "critical staffing shortages" and needs hundreds of additional officers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. On Global National Mercedes Stephenson looks at one temporary solution to fill the gap, and what experts say the Mounties need to do to solve the persistent problems.
Freeland plans to scrap capital gains tax changes if she becomes PM
The move, which a source said was needed to counter U.S. President Donald Trump's tax policies, mark a major reversal for Freeland, who introduced the proposed changes last year.
Carney lines up support from more senior ministers, top Liberal brass in leadership race
Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Employment Minister Steve MacKinnon are set to throw their support to Mr. Carney in the coming days, two sources say. Both ministers represent Quebec ridings and their planned endorsements of Mr. Carney follow on the heels of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault also throwing their support behind him for the March 9 leadership vote.
Carney, Arya file paperwork to officially run for the Liberal leadership
The two appear to be the first candidates to file. They submitted the required 300 signatures from registered Liberals and a $50,000 deposit ahead of Thursday's 5 p.m. ET deadline.
[CP24 Interview] Poilievre talks dealing with tariffs, Trump's gender comments and Canada's "weak" government
The Conservative Party Leader spoke on his Canada first policy as the "weak" Liberal government struggles to come to the table and deal with Trump's tariffs.
Poilievre 'not aware' of more than two genders; says there are other priorities
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says (In the interview posted 👆) he is only aware of two genders — male and female — and that the government should leave people alone.
Poilievre says he wouldn't make any big changes to equalization program
A number of provincial premiers have long criticized the program and called for changes. But Poilievre told Radio-Canada's Téléjournal Acadie in New Brunswick on Wednesday that he doesn't expect to alter the program significantly if he becomes prime minister.
Le chef du Bloc Québécois à Baie-Saint-Paul pour une activité militante
L’événement, intitulé « Québécois en Bloc », se déroulera au pavillon Jacques St-Gelais Tremblay du Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul à partir de midi. En plus de Blanchet et Desbiens, les députés Martin Champoux (Drummond), Julie Vignola (Beauport-Limoilou) et Mario Simard (Jonquière) participeront également à l’événement. Seat model notes here: Both the riding of Beauport-Limoilou and Charlevoix-Montmorency couid be CPC pickups. The incumbents are both BQ -- Vignola and Desbiens -- respectively. This rally is being held Desbien's riding. Neither the Conservatives nor any other party have a nominated candidate in either of those ridings, so far as I know. (If you know something different, let me know. ) A month ago, I had both these ridings in the CPC column but after factoring in more recent polls from Abacus, Ekos, Leger, and Nanos, I now have Vignola and Desbiens hanging on by less than 3 points. No wonder Blanchet is leading a rally there!
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says he won't run in next election
Sajjan was first elected in Vancouver South in 2015 when the Trudeau Liberals swept to power and has served a variety of roles in cabinet including defence, veterans affairs and international development.
[Press release] Government of Canada leverages new technologies to improve HR and pay operations and support employees - Canada.ca
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting employees and resolving outstanding pay issues for federal public servants while working to improve their overall human resources (HR) and pay experience. It is unacceptable that some employees continue to face pay issues and it is our top priority to resolve them.
The Provinces
Canada's premiers pitch strategies to tackle Trump's tariff threat
Canada's premiers are pitching their strategies to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's potential tariffs. On Global National, Mike Armstrong explains what Quebec Premier François Legault, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and B.C. Premier David Eby are all suggesting.
Sask. premier comes out against retaliatory tariffs on province's goods in break from Team Canada approach
Saskatchewan's premier says he remains committed to a unified response to President Donald Trump's threat of a 25 per cent tariff, but that there are some tactics he does not want to see implemented. That includes the broad dollar-for-dollar tariffs floated by the federal government. Moe said he's looking at all powers available in provincial jurisdiction to reduce any export tariff on Saskatchewan goods, should they be implemented by Ottawa.
Doug Ford on early Ontario election: ‘stay tuned’ about
“Stay tuned,” Ford said Wednesday, when asked by a reporter at Queen’s Park whether he plans to call an early election next week. “We need a mandate from the people.”
Elsewhere
Farm workers ditch shifts amid ICE raid fears as food prices set to skyrocket
Around 75% of immigrant farm workers in Bakersfield, California, ditched their shifts after Trump ramped up his threats by removing protections against ICE raids in "sensitive areas," including schools and workplaces.
Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase CEO, Backs Trump’s Tariffs, Saying ‘Get Over It’
But that was then. With Mr. Trump saying he plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico by next month, and 10 percent tariffs on imports from China, Mr. Dimon appeared to take a fresh look at the policy. “The question is how they get used,” he said on Wednesday. “Can they get — be used to bring — people to the table? Yes.”
Media
News media bailouts short on transparency
The government has said its journalism bailouts would be transparent, but the pay and expenses of the expert panel have not been proactively posted by the host department, the Canada Revenue Agency. The agency said it does not track the cost of the salaries of public servants in its Journalism Division for the time spent supporting the panel.
Bracing for Poilievre
Lauren Watson: Canada’s likely next prime minister threatens to gut the country’s press.
Dozen of subreddits are banning links to X
Dozens of popular subreddits are banning links to X after Elon Musk made a gesture that historians and human rights groups have described as a Nazi salute. Communities that have instituted a ban on links to X include r/formula1, r/military, r/nursing, r/TwoXChromosomes, and r/nintendo.
Reader Notes
A reminder ...
This newsletter is curated by me, David Akin, the chief political correspondent at Global News, but I put it together every day independently of my employer. And there are costs associated with using this platform to deliver what amounts to about 80,000 e-mails a month.
You can help keep this newsletter going with a monthly pledge -- Just $5 would do it -- via Patreon or, if you want to make a one-time donation, send an e-transfer to jda@davidakin.com.
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. The stamp stuff at the bottom are scans from my collection and, if there’s a stamp blurb, I’ve written that bit. -DA
Science and tech
Google will let you control your Chromebook with your face
oogle is announcing a variety of classroom and accessibility-focused ChromeOS features today, and one of the standouts is being able to control your computer with your head and facial expressions. The feature — aimed at those with motor impairments — was first announced in early December, but it’s now rolling out to more users with compatible Chromebooks (Google recommends 8GB of RAM or more).
