Politics

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...

Federal Conservatives say they want the Liberal government to clearly explain whether the controversial Irish hip-hop group Kneecap is barred from entering Canada or not as questions swirl about the case. Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for combating crime, announced nearly two weeks ago “on behalf of the Government of Canada” that the band’s members had been deemed ineligible for entry ahead of scheduled concerts this month.Yet the group says it has still not received official notice about being barred or any rejection of their electronic travel authorizations, which Irish citizens require in order to enter Canada and which the group says they obtained.Gasparro and other cabinet officials have refused to provide clarity in the days since the announcement.“He either ...

The NDP on Wednesday called for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the future of Canada Post as the government seeks changes to the company’s business that have sparked a national postal workers’ strike. NDP interim Leader Don Davies said he sent a letter to the Speaker of the House requesting the emergency debate for Wednesday night, citing “the urgent situation” facing the Crown corporation.“We all know that delivering the mail today in 2025 is different than it was decades ago. We know there are economic challenges facing Canada Post. However, the question is how best to deal with it,” Davies told reporters ahead of question period.“That’s why we think an institution as vital to our country as Canada Post is, as historically relevant and as integral it is to our economy, we ...

By Dylan Robertson The Canadian Press Posted October 1, 2025 12:14 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Prime Minister Mark Carney is replacing Canada’s special envoy to Europe with a “personal representative” to the European Union. John Hannaford, a former diplomat who also served as the highest-ranking official in the public service, will take up the role. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. His job will involve boosting trade and inve...

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest remarks about wanting Canada to become the 51st state are “offensive” and “not funny anymore,” Canadian MPs and the Ontario premier said on Wednesday. Trump was speaking about his “Golden Dome” missile defence plans in front of military officials who had been abruptly summoned to attend a speech on Tuesday by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at which Trump also spoke.Trump told the gathered generals that “Canada called” a few weeks ago to ask to be part of the missile defence shield, and said he replied that Canada should join the United States to get it for free.“President Trump is back at it again,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Wednesday, speaking to reporters after a meeting with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Toronto. ...

A partial U.S. government shutdown will likely have a domino effect on the next interest rate decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve, economists say, and Canada could see resulting impacts as well. Many U.S. agencies’ work came to a standstill and hundreds of thousands of employees were furloughed starting at midnight Wednesday after lawmakers failed to reach a short-term funding agreement.Among those affected are the statistical agencies — including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau — whose economic data is relied upon by the American central bank in deciding whether to change its baseline interest rate.If the shutdown persists, economists agree that a compounding lack of data will make it more likely the Fed will keep the rate steady, despite facing intense pol...

Algoma Steel Group Inc. is set to receive half a billion dollars in government loans to help it reorient its business away from the United States as the federal government argues supporting the domestic steel industry is a matter of Canadian sovereignty. Ottawa’s $400 million in financial assistance will come from the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan program, a $10-billion tariff relief fund set up in March. The Ontario government will also provide $100 million to the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-based company.The loans are to help Algoma Steel continue operations, limit disruption to its workforce and move to a business model that isn’t as reliant on the United States.Patty Hajdu, minister for jobs and the federal government’s northern Ontario development agency, said in an interview Monday that st...