Canada
Trump, Doug Ford back off on latest trade war threats
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to double tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel to 50 per cent in response to Ontario Premier Doug Ford slapping a 25 per cent tax on electricity sold to the U.S. Now, both leaders have backed off on their threats. On Global National, Mackenzie Gray explains what prompted Ford and Trump to back down after doubling down.
Trump’s tariff ‘chaos’ keeps auto sector ‘on hold,’ union says
U.S. President Donald Trump won't raise incoming steel and aluminum tariffs from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, but other planned tariffs in April are still fuelling uncertainty.
Carney puts assets into blind trust as he prepares to become prime minister
“We have been actively working with the Ethics Commissioner and we have delivered a full and robust conflict of interest management plan,” [a Carney spokesperson said]. The statement did not detail the plan nor who would administer the blind trust. It also did not detail which assets he may have divested.
'Lack of transparency' from federal Conservatives leads riding president in N.B. to quit
With a federal election call expected soon and a Liberal incumbent certainly running for a fourth term in Saint John-Kennebecasis, some Conservatives in the riding are keen to get cracking on their own campaign — if only they could. But the national party is standing in the way, refusing to set a nomination meeting date and to dispel rumours that the party brass has already identified the nominee it wants to run, according to a resignation letter submitted by riding president Leslie Keirstead. "I have asked the National Party staff, on numerous occasions, to clarify their intentions but they have been unwilling to share that information with me," Keirstead wrote in a letter to the board directors. Yet another story of Conservatives in their EDAs frustrated by CPC HQ. Meanwhile: LPC Incumbent Wayne Long told me he's changed his mind about quitting and he's running again!
Bryan Paterson acclaimed as federal Conservative candidate for Kingston and the Islands
It’s official: Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson will run as a Conservative candidate in the next federal election. A pattern is emerging with many of these CPC nominations. Though several had expressed an interest in running, the winner is acclaimed after others "withdraw". Then, when a local reporter tries to call up the winner -- or those who withdrew -- they are met with stony silence. I'm getting this in ridings across the country where potential or frustrated Conservative nominees are told not to talk to the press or can't get answers from CPC HQ. As to Kingston: Last time it was painted blue, it was painted that way by the great Flora Macdonald in 1984. She would lose to Liberal Peter Milliken in 1988. In 2021, the Conservatives finished third behind the NDP and Liberal winner and incumbent Mark Gerretsen. My model today: Gerretsen holds by 10+ points.
Federal NDP select St. Catharines candidate
The Reverend at Silver Spire Church says she has seen the need for change every day working the the downtown area. LPC incumbent Chris Bittle won this in 2015 knocking off CPC incumbent Rick Dystra and has held it ever since. But, like a lot of Liberals in Ontario, Bittle was facing a situation last fall where he might have been losing by 20 points. Not anymore. My model has this a toss-up between LPC and CPC with 1.7 percentage edge to the CPC who are running, Bas Sluihmers, who has the endorsement anti-vax MPs in caucus like Dean Allison and Leslyn Lewis. The NDP vote in St Catherines -- 21 per cent in 2021 -- could be influential. If NDP support melts, it could go to the CPC, which is has been vigourously courting private sector union workers and make a real difference. Bittle has to hope NDP support comes his way as we're seeing in other parts of the country.
L’enseignant Claude Tousignant se lance pour le Bloc Québécois dans Marc-Aurèle-Fortin
L’enseignant Claude Tousignant sera candidat à l’investiture pour le Bloc Québécois (BQ) dans la circonscription Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, à Laval, où il tentera de déloger le député libéral Yves Robillard. Not sure Robillard is running. He's not listed as a candidate at the Liberal web site. In any event: In my model, a Liberal should hold this riding right now by a comfortable margin.
Media personality running for Conservative nomination
Toby Tannis has been accepted as a candidate in the process to select a Conservative candidate for the federal riding of Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee. Tannis is a longtime Okanagan media personality, most recently co-hosting a morning radio show.
The Provinces
B.C. says U.S. has paused Columbia River Treaty talks amid Trump tensions
British Columbia's Energy Ministry says in a news release that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration 'is conducting a broad review of its international engagement.'
'Cruelest day:' Greens lay off staff because of Holt Liberal cuts
Leader David Coon says he hopes the new majority doesn't show more political ruthlessness by cutting off his party's official status.
Elsewhere
EU says its countermeasures to Trump's tariffs will go into effect on April 1
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said as the United States is “applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros,” or about $28 billion.
US Military Aid Starts Flowing Across Poland-Ukraine Border
US military aid to Ukraine has now started moving across the border from Poland, following an agreement between US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, according to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.
Greenland elections: Center-right Demokraatit Party wins most votes
Demokraatit’s upset victory over parties that have governed the territory for years indicates that many in Greenland care just as much about social issues such as healthcare, education, cultural heritage and other social policies.
Billionaires at Trump’s swearing-in have since lost US$209 billion
The companies behind the inauguration attendees’ fortunes have been some of the biggest losers, dropping a combined US$1.39 trillion in market value since Jan 17, the last trading day before the inauguration.
Media
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Science and tech
Self-driving cars can still be fooled by tampered-with signs
They also learned of a specific phenomenon where the systems "memorized" signs, so that when they were hidden, the vehicle still assumed in its calculations that the signs would be present in the position where it first detected them, even when they were hidden from view, leading to "lower-than-expected attack success rates" in the wild.
How longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries are coming via software updates
Breathe Battery Technologies [has] an algorithm that promises to boost charging speeds by upward of 30 percent, all while preserving the lifespan of those cells. It’s part of a software package light enough to run on ancient embedded systems and small enough to be deployed via over-the-air updates. Best of all, it’s not theoretical: Volvo will feature this tech on the company’s upcoming ES90 sedan, and you can already find it on some smartphones.
The Calendar
- 0930 ET: St John's - ACOA Min Gudie Hutchings makes a funding announcement
- 1430 ET: Sainte-Thérèse, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet and BQ MP Louise Chabot speak to reporters.
- 1800 ET: New York City - LPC MP Chrystia Freeland speaks to the Foreign Policy Association.
- 1900 ET: Rivière-du-Loup, QC - BQ MP Maxime Blanchette-Joncas speaks at the nomination meeting for the Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata BQ EDA.
Issued this day ...
… in 2007: Sc 2209 Higher Learning: HEC Montreal. Design: Denis L’Allier. Issued to mark the 100th anniversary of he École des hautes études comerciales of Montréal, part of a 15-stamp series issued between 1998 and 2007 to mark centennials and other significant anniversaries of several Canadian post-secondary institutions.