Blog

Canada’s minister leading the stop-and-start trade negotiations with the United States says the situation is ultimately “resolvable,” but noted it will take some time to find a solution to the ever-evolving trade war. Dominic LeBlanc told the Senate foreign affairs and international trade committee Thursday that his talks with the Trump administration are currently focused on lowering or removing sectoral tariffs on industries like autos and lumber, which he hopes to make progress on before next year’s scheduled review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on free trade (CUSMA).Although he expressed optimism that Canada is getting closer to both a resolution on those tariffs and a positive CUSMA review in July — thanks in part to the removal of reciprocal measures and pressure from ...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Ottawa is launching a new federal procurement agency designed to overhaul and centralize military equipment purchasing. Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr, who will oversee the new Defence Investment Agency, told The Canadian Press the agency will deliver equipment to the Canadian Armed Forces at a faster pace that meets its needs.“We cannot be trapped outside the technology cycle with procurement. If we deliver stuff late, then it’s irrelevant and we don’t want to be there,” he said.“So … we’re going to move at the speed of relevance to meet the moment.”Fuhr insists the new agency will not amount to another layer of bureaucracy that could further slow the process.On T...

Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta is committing $14 million to a West Coast oil pipeline do-over that hinges on First Nations getting on board early and Ottawa reversing a tanker ban that would make such a project unworkable on the northern B.C. coast. It’s a project Smith hails as the fulfilment of a higher duty to humanity, while her B.C. counterpart characterizes it as half-baked political gamesmanship.“What stands before us right now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock our wealth and resources and become a world-leading energy superpower,” Smith told a news conference in Calgary on Wednesday.“There are billions of people around the world living in energy poverty who demand a higher standard of living. This is not just a question of Alberta’s energy. It is a global, moral ...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Alberta government said Wednesday it plans to apply to build a new oil pipeline to northwestern British Columbia. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will submit the application to the federal government next spring.Alberta will act as the proponent, Smith explained, with the support and technical advice from three crude pipeline companies: Enbridge, South Bow and Trans Mountain.B.C. Premier David Eby has long opposed the project.“The problem that we have is Smith continues to advance a project that is taxpayer-funded, has no private sector proponent, is not a real project and is incredibly alarming to British Columbians, especially First Nations along the coast,” Eby sa...