Carney travel. Carbon fight. Bloody Saturday.  March 16th 2025

Carney’s first foreign visit as PM will be to U.K., France

Carney says he was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for visits to reinforce historical relationships and discuss trade.

Liberals, Conservatives spar over carbon pricing

For nearly two years, the federal Conservatives have been building an campaign around a so-called carbon tax election, that a Pierre Poilievre government would "axe the tax". But on Friday, the first action by the new Liberal government of Mark Carney tried to change the channel by getting rid of the unpopular tax themselves. But as Global's chief political correspondent David Akin reports, the Conservatives are not about to let the Liberals off the hook.

Blind trust seen as a 'placebo' as Carney can't shake Brookfield ties

“He’s the prime minister of the country, having never been scrutinized,” said a managing partner at an asset management firm. “I think now people are going like, ‘Hold on a second. What have we got here’?” A partner at a private equity fund added: “I think people are generally concerned with his conflict of interest, given his association with Brookfield.”

Carney orders review of U.S. fighter jet purchase amid trade tensions

Canada's deal with Lockheed Martin and the United States government is for 88 F-35 fighter planes at a cost of about US$85 million each.

Another batch of Conservative nominations announced by CPC HQ. As with the group in yesterday's Roundup, this group of Conservatives have signed up to compete in ridings where the Liberals or NDP are incumbents and heavy favourites. If there is a breakthrough here -- and it would mean CPC fortunes would have to return to where they were six months ago -- look for a breakthough in the riding at the bottom right of this graphic -- Winnipeg South. Conservatives placed 2nd there in 2021 (based on transposed results) though they were still 15 points behind incumbent and new Environment Minister Terry Duguid. The Conservative candidate there is Janice Morley-Lecomte, who was a cabinet minister in the short-lived Stefanson government. -DA

Former Vernon councillor adds name to federal Conservative ballot

The party's nomination period closed on Feb. 26, and the official nomination vote will take place Sunday, March 16, from 1:45-6:30 p.m. at the Coldstream Community Hall, 9909 Kalamalka Rd. This riding will elect whoever wins today's nomination contest and so, today's vote at the Coldstream Community Hall is the de facto vote for this new riding's first member of Parliament.

Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservatives receive 13 expressions of interest

The federal Nipissing-Timiskaming Conservative riding association has received 13 expressions of interest from those interested in becoming the local candidate, according to Gordon Rennie. Rennie, president of the local association, said the party reopened the nomination to select the Conservative candidate for the riding, on March 10. It closed [Saturday] at 5 p.m.

Much in the way US presidents leave a note in the Roosevelt desk for their successor, Trudeau left a note for Carney at his old desk. Shot taken by the new PMO photographer Lars Hagberg. There’s two pics at this link: Shot of Carney, shot of the note. -DA