Canada
Toronto terror arrests raise questions about security screening
One of the men charged with terrorism offences has been charged with committing an aggravated assault for the so-called Islamic State.
Poilievre promises support for Sudbury, Canada's mining sector
I’m here today and I will be back. I am committed to Sudbury,' Conservative leader says. Not once, not ever, in Canada's history has a candidate from a small-c conservative party represented a riding which included the city of Sudbury. And yet, Poilievre has been there five times in two years and plans to return. That's a sure sign that the party's internal polls indicate there may be a historic shift under way in the city.
Jury finds protesters not guilty of conspiring to kill Mounties at Coutts blockade
But Anthony Olienick and Chris Carbert were both convicted on other charges of mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Olienick was also convicted of possessing a pipe bomb.
New Brunswick MLA Dominic Cardy arrested at Toronto anti-Israel rally
Cardy was asked to leave by Toronto police, but said he declined. He continued to chant “Free Palestine from Hamas,” which received more negative attention. It even got physical with some of the attendees kicking him, he said.
The Provinces
Ontario to keep current electoral map, fuelling early election rumours
Premier Doug Ford says he won’t align Ontario’s vote districts to match the changes made by the federal government earlier this year. “No,” he said when asked this week if the province would adopt the changes. “Why change something that works? It works. So it’s all good. Just because the feds wanna do it, jury-rig the ridings, and it’s no secret, people do that, governments do that, I’m not doing it."
Elsewhere
Grassroots enthusiasm fuels Kamala Harris’ record month of fundraising
Vice President Harris’ campaign said Friday that two-thirds of the historic haul came from first-time donors to her presidential bid as Trump reports $139 million raised.
David Plouffe joins Harris campaign, one of several new senior advisers
Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is bringing on a new echelon of senior advisers, most prominently David Plouffe, the former top political adviser to Barack Obama.
Latino Voters Are a Big Cohort in '24, and GOP Firms Are Taking Note
Republican firms are looking to capitalize on demographic changes and expand service lines to campaigns and groups to target Latino voters this cycle. Latinos could potentially cast some 36.2 million votes in 2024 — a nearly 4-million vote increase over the last presidential cycle.
Media
Ottawa says Meta may still see Online News Act regulation — but CRTC wants more proof
Even though the government operates at an arm's length from the CRTC, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge has signalled for months that Meta could still be regulated under the law, in light of users' loopholes.
Kids Online Safety Act would make tech companies accountable
The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was in 1998 — before Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and smartphones. The legislation would require tech companies to implement measures to help protect kids from exposure to harmful content.
Reader Notes
REMINDER: I track each and every federal government spending announcement via my OttawaSpends account on X . If the tweets there look a little odd, do read the explainer at the link in the bio of that account. We have over 17,000 spending announcements so far in this 44th Parliament - and each and every one has its own tweet.
Science and tech
Tornado database from Environment Canada archives offers new twist on storm chasing
A trove of documents detailing more than two centuries of tornado events in Canada is now available to anyone with an internet connection, thanks to the work of the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) and former Environment Canada meteorologist Michael Newark.
Why is Japan cracking down on rideable motorised suitcases?
A growing number of airports are imposing restrictions on these electric suitcases over safety concerns. Rideable suitcases are a thing?
The Calendar
- 1100 ET: Toronto - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh attends the 2024 Caribbean Carnival Grande parade.
- 1200 ET: Havre-Aubert, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet and BQ MP Kristina Michaud attend the Festival Acadien.
- 2000 ET: Bowen Island, BC - GPC MP Elizabeth May campaigns in support of a BC Green candidate.
Issued this day ...
... in 1983: Scott #995: Newfoundland. Design: Roger Hill.
Canada Post: "On August 5, 1583, at St. John's, Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for Queen Elizabeth I of England. Sir Humphrey Gilbert was born about 1537. He served as a soldier, notably in Ireland where he gained a ruthless reputation. Gradually the idea of founding a colony in the New World took hold of him. Because he was well connected at Queen Elizabeth's court, he received a royal patent in 1578 to set up such a colony. He embarked for North America that same year, but the voyage failed. It was 1583 before he assembled the resource for another try. On June 11, 1583, Gilbert left Plymouth with five ships, four of which assembled off St. John's on August 3, 1583. Crews of the 36 fishing vessels already in the harbour prepared to resist Gilbert's entry but relented upon viewing his royal commission. On August 5, Gilbert claimed all the land within 200 leagues of St. John's for Queen Elizabeth. He left St. John's on August 20, hoping to found his colony farther south on the mainland. Diminishing supplies, however, soon forced him to turn back to England. Just before his ship, the Squirrel, sank with him and all hands in a storm, he shouted to another vessel, "We are as near to Heaven by sea as by land." The portrait of Sir Humphrey Gilbert is reproduced with the kind permission of Mrs. Walter Raleigh Gilbert of Devon, England." The portrait of Gilbert on this stamp can be found in Compton Castle, Devon.