Canada
Trudeau Legacy: Majority say he took on the country’s biggest problems, but split over whether he made progress
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians most likely to view marijuana legalization, COVID-19 response, and expansion of the social safety net through the Canada child benefit, dental care, and other programs, as the biggest accomplishments of Trudeau’s time in the nation’s top job. On the other end of the spectrum, they view immigration policy, handling of the inflation/cost of living crisis, and the federal carbon tax, as the biggest failures.
How hockey shaped the Governor
A piece from 2013 when the UK press discovered a Canuck was going to be their bank governor Mark Carney is a confident, sensitive, humble, brave and slightly crazy soul who craves responsibility. We know this, I’m told, because he is an ice hockey goalie.
Rising Nationalism, Desire for Economic Sovereignty Propels Liberals to Five-Year High
This large sample of nearly 2,000 cases sees the Liberal Party with a clear lead for the first time since November 2021. The Liberals are at 40.7 per cent nationally, the first time they have broken the 40-point threshold since May 2020. The Conservatives, meanwhile, are at 35.5 per cent while the NDP is at 12.8 per cent. These highly favourable numbers for the Liberals understate the party’s seat advantage, as they now have large and stable leads in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic, while they are competitive in British Columbia.
All Senate vacancies now filled as Trudeau makes 5 new appointments
With just days to go until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves federal politics, his office says five new appointments have now filled all the vacancies in the 105-seat Senate.
Canada expands ‘work-sharing program’ as U.S. tariffs pose ‘maximum peril’
Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon announced new 'temporary work-sharing measures' that will go into effect Friday to mitigate the impacts of the U.S. trade war.
Canada suspends pork imports from top U.S. plant amid Trump tariffs
It is the latest blow for America's farm sector, which has been roiled by concerns that U.S. tariffs will spark retaliation from top importers.
Canadians can soon get their passport in 30 business days — or it’s free
Beech also noted in a press release that the federal government continues to roll out its online passport renewal program, which began in December 2024, with eligible Canadians able to complete their application, pay fees and upload a professional digital photo from their computer or mobile device.
[Announcement] Endings are never easy, but gratitude makes them beautiful
Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality, takes to social media to announce she will not seek re-election in the riding of Toronto Centre. That riding is certainly a safe Liberal riding, so much so, that it can be home for a 'star candidate' that a new leader might recruit. Trudeau recruited Bill Morneau to run there and when Morneau left, Ien a former co-host of CTV's Canada AM, was the next star candidate to run. Click through to watch her statement. -DA
Anthony Germain to Seek Liberal Nomination in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas
A former longtime journalist and broadcaster is taking a stab at federal politics. VOCM News has confirmed that Anthony Germain, a former host on CBC TV and radio, will be seeking the Liberal nomination in the district of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas. Will be a tough fight for the Liberals to win this new-for-2025 riding: My model has it leaning Conservative by 3 points right now.
[Endorsement] Shanjeelin Dwivedi
Conservatives in the riding of Abbotsford--South Langley will vote to nominate their candidate today. This is a heavily contested fight as this riding is a certain victory for the Conservatives in a general election. Click through to watch this video endorsement posted on the feed of Tamara Jansen, who won 2024 by-election in Cloverdale--Langley City, a riding she had won in 2019 but lost in 2021. Jansen is among those Christian Conservatives who are "pro-life and pro-family" and advocate strong for their views within the party and in Parliament. Many in the Conservative caucus who share Jansen's commitment to that kind of advocacy are also in this endorsement video including Leslyn Lewis (whom Jansen once endorsed for party leader), Cathay Wagantall, Tom Kmiec and Garnett Genuis. One assumes, then, that Dwivedi shares these socially conservative views. And since lots of other Conservative MPs appear as well in this endorsement video I get the sense that Dwivedi is likely be the Conservative nominee -- and presumptive MP -- by day's end. This is the riding, by the way, former BC finance minister Mike de Jong wanted to run -- but was disqualified from doing so by the party. -DA
Canada, the Northern Outpost of Sanity
Bill McKibben: Justin Trudeau, in his final week as Prime Minister, tells Donald Trump to shove it.
The Provinces
Province says Morgan Harris' remains identified at Winnipeg landfill
In a social media post, Cambria Harris, the daughter of Morgan posted “please keep our families in your hearts tonight and every day going forward as we trust this process we found my mother Morgan it is a very bittersweet moment. I believe both our families will bring both of our loved ones home.”
Rural Alberta MLA booted from UCP caucus for refusing to support budget
The UCP said Lesser Slave Lake's Scott Sinclair has been booted from caucus for not toeing the party line: 'All government MLAs are expected to vote in favour of a tabled budget.'
Premier Danielle Smith confirms Alberta will keep sanctions in place amid U.S. tariff uncertainty
Premier Danielle Smith has said Alberta needs to take action, but she won't curtail or impose financial payments on oil and gas shipments.
MLA booted from BC Conservatives over residential school comments, 2 more quit
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad said MLA Dallas Brodie was expelled for her "decision to publicly mock and belittle testimony from former residential school students."
Top court finds Ontario spending limits on third-party election ads unconstitutional
The top court’s ruling, released on Friday, said the spending limit law is so disproportionate that it allows political parties to “drown out” the voices of third parties.
N.L. Liberals confident of a contested race in search for a successor to Andrew Furey
"I'm pretty confident that we have a minimum of two in the race, but it could likely turn out to be four or five people," said Judy Morrow, who is chairing the party's leadership election committee. "I have every confidence that it's going to be a contested race."
Elsewhere
Trump’s Tariffs by Whim Keep Allies and Markets Off Balance
Investors sent stock prices down on Thursday amid the uncertainty over what President Trump’s inconstancy means for the global economy. Great brief analysis by David Sanger (🎁 link)
How Trump’s ‘51st State’ Canada Talk Came to Be Seen as Deadly Serious
Mr. Lutnick called Mr. LeBlanc after the leaders had spoken on Feb. 3, and issued a devastating message, according to several people familiar with the call: Mr. Trump, he said, had come to realize that the relationship between the United States and Canada was governed by a slew of agreements and treaties that were easy to abandon. Mr. Trump was interested in doing just that, Mr. Lutnick said. He wanted to eject Canada out of an intelligence-sharing group known as the Five Eyes that also includes Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Media
Why Techdirt Is Now A Democracy Blog (Whether We Like It Or Not)
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a few people reach out about our coverage these days. Most have been very supportive of what we’ve been covering (in fact, people have been strongly encouraging us to keep it up), but a few asked questions regarding what Techdirt is focused on these days, and how much we were leaning into covering “politics.” When the very institutions that made American innovation possible are being systematically dismantled, it’s not a “political” story anymore. It’s a story about whether the environment that enabled all the other stories we cover will continue to exist.
Inside the Trump White House's relentless strategy to dominate news
The Trump administration has transformed its traditional press shop into a rapid-response influencer operation, and “they’re all offense, all the time.” (🎁 link)
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. The stamp stuff at the bottom are scans from my collection and, if there’s a stamp blurb, I’ve written that bit. -DA
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Science and tech
Cuts to U.S. weather forecasting, climate science create dark clouds for Canadian counterparts
Manitoba scientists concerned about loss of integrity of U.S. data and ability to predict dangerous events.
The Calendar
- 0900 ET: Toronto, - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh attends the United Steelworkers’ International Women's Day Brunch
- 0930 ET: Lévis, QC - Public Services and Procurement Min Jean-Yves Duclos speaks about new polar icebreakers.
- 0930 ET: Oakville, ON - Transport Min Anita Anand and Defence Min Bill Blair speak about actions to combat auto theft.
- 1100 ET: Toronto, - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh attends the International Women's Day rally.
- 1730 ET: Guelph, ON - GPC MP Elizabeth May and Mike Morrice launch the campaign for the GPC candidate in the riding of Guelph.
