Now that a Canadian has died in U.S. immigration custody, Canada can no longer justify U.S. exceptionalism
Last week, Canadian Johnny Noviello died in a Florida ICE facility at 49 years old. He is one of 13 fatalities in ICE custody this year alone, making it the deadliest year yet for immigration detention in the U.S. There are currently 55 other Canadians detained by ICE, in 'barbaric' and 'negligent' conditions according to expert inspectors hired by the U.S. government.
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Montreal Gazette
38 minutes ago
- Montreal Gazette
Lincoln: An urgent letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney
Dear Prime Minister Carney: Your reputation for quiet competence, reasoned judgment and steady decisiveness, already tested in your previous major career achievements, has resonated both here and beyond our shores since your election as our prime minister. No doubt your overwhelming victory as leader of the Liberal party played its part, as did your winning a national election in a result that had seemed quite improbable mere months beforehand. Your presence as prime minister attracts respect and confidence, and once again Canada is viewed and listened to with deserved seriousness by your peers on the world stage. The voice of Canada as a middle power may not be prominent or especially powerful, yet it resonates far and wide as a voice of stability, fairness and peace. Your mandate begins in a world beset by the instability and insecurity caused by conflict and war, where destruction and the loss of innocent lives have become the new normal. Conflict still rages in Myanmar after four years, with over 50,000 opponents of the junta losing their lives. The Sudan civil war has directly caused more than 150,000 deaths, with another depressing number of 525,000 infants having succumbed to malnutrition. The ethno-political cauldron that is the Middle East is stoked by the raging fire of ceaseless conflict and warfare. The recognized Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs estimates a staggering 4.5 million deaths have occurred in post-9/11 war zones. Last September, the Wall Steet Journal estimated the number of those killed or wounded since the advent of the current Russo-Ukraine war at one million. How can humankind tolerate such blatant disregard for life and living? How can the dignity and security of life and living have become mere stories and statistics for nightly news? How can the profound integrity and dignity of the human person have become mere 'collateral damage'? Prime Minister, you can be that new respected Canadian leader who emulates Lester Pearson's historical call for peace, which led to the creation of the UN's first peacekeeping force and the saving of an untold number of lives. You can and should launch a peace initiative, perhaps called People Peace / Monde et Paix. You could invite eminent Canadians to join you for the launch — for instance, Céline Dion, Margaret Atwood, Roméo Dallaire, Irwin Cotler and David Suzuki. Governor General Mary Simon would provide the important presence of our First Peoples. This would not be a political initiative, but a people's one, calling all across the globe to join hands and voices for peace and the preservation of life. You could use your status as leader of a country of peace to ask Pope Leo XIV and his world faith peers to join in your call. Each day that elapses means ever more deaths and destruction. The endless calls by political leaders for 'ceasefires' and 'de-escalation' remain so many buzzwords, while the carnage rages on. (Here's hoping the Iran-Israel ceasefire will be a welcome exception and will hold.) It is high time ordinary citizens, all of us across our lands, have our turn in urging and insisting, never giving up until peace and human life win the day. Of all the causes you may champion as our prime minister, the cause of peace is the noblest. Peace has no political allegiance or religion; it protects all of us, regardless of age, race or status. It means our right to live free lives while respecting the right of our neighbours to do likewise. Peace means access to water, food and the essentials of life. Peace means the protection of infants, mothers and the most vulnerable. Peace is normalcy, and the clear possibility to anticipate a deserved future. Peace recognizes our differences, but allows us to accept them freely and willingly. Peace most certainly does not mean guns, bombs and missiles, which have no other purpose but to kill and destroy. Please, Prime Minister, please be our champion for peace. In respect and hope,
Calgary Herald
44 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
Hosting the world fuels our economy and builds Calgary's future
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mayor Jyoti Gondek rides in last year's Calgary Stampede Parade. Photo by Brent Calver / Postmedia Network In a time when cities across the globe are competing for talent, tourism and investment, Calgary cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. We have the people, the infrastructure, the spirit and the experience to lead — and we're doing exactly that. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Nowhere is that more evident than every July, when Calgary transforms into something remarkable. The city comes alive with a unique energy — part tradition, part celebration and all heart. Canadian tuxedos replace business suits, pancake breakfasts pop up on every corner and more than a million people flock to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the legendary Calgary Stampede. The Stampede is so much more than rodeos and mini donuts. It's an economic driver. It's a cultural touchstone. And it's a clear example of what happens when a city opens its arms to the world. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Last year, the Calgary Stampede welcomed 1.47 million people to the grounds, an all-time best. A 2019 study by the Conference Board of Canada found that throughout the year, the Calgary Stampede generated more than $540 million for Alberta's economy. More impressively, $282 million of that total came during the 10 days of Stampede alone. For every dollar spent on Stampede Park, another $2.65 was spent across the city. That effect is felt at our hotels, restaurants, shops, taxis and attractions — not just during the 10 days of Stampede, but long after the boots come off. And the benefits go beyond dollars and cents. The Stampede creates more than 3,000 seasonal jobs and sustains upwards of 1,000 roles year-round. For many young Calgarians it's their first step into the workforce. For others, it's a chance to be part of something much larger than themselves — a celebration of community, culture and connection. As a proud partner with the Treaty 7 Nations, the Stampede has played a long-standing and essential role in advancing reconciliation and celebrating Indigenous culture. The Elbow River Camp comprises tipi owners who offer their history, inviting visitors to learn, listen and engage with traditions that predate the city itself. These stories, showcased through tipis, powwows and craft markets, enrich our shared understanding and help build a more inclusive Calgary. But the Stampede is just one part of Calgary's year-round identity as a host city. This June alone, Calgary welcomed the world's leaders to G7. We hosted the Global Energy Show, where industry experts from across the globe explored innovation and investment opportunities. And we opened our doors to 15,000 Rotarians and their partners for a major international convention. These events not only showcased our capacity to deliver world-class experiences — they reinforced Calgary's reputation as a bold, forward-looking, globally connected city. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hosting international events brings the world to our doorstep. It sparks local spending, drives hotel bookings and fuels job creation. It boosts our reputation and attracts investors, innovators and entrepreneurs looking for a place where ideas, and people, thrive. In short, it sets the stage for long-term economic growth. And none of this would be possible without Calgarians. It's our volunteers who flip thousands of pancakes and run hundreds of community events. It's our artists and performers who bring our culture to life. It's our local businesses who stay open late, decorate their windows and make our guests feel like family. Calgarians don't just watch these events happen — we power them. So, whether we're rolling out the red carpet for heads of state or getting up at dawn to heat up the griddle, we're telling the world that Calgary is open, optimistic and ready for the future. Let's keep showing the world what Calgary can do. Let's keep welcoming visitors and hosting major events. And let's keep building an economy that works for everyone. This is Calgary. And this is what it looks like when a city shows up. Jyoti Gondek is the mayor of Calgary.
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
What if killing Canada's digital tax is just the beginning for Donald Trump?
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, listens to U.S. President Donald Trump while posing for a photograph during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alta. on June 16, 2025. DARRYL DYCK THE CANADIAN PRESS Flash forward to last week. There was Trump, posting on social media that Canada's incoming Digital Services Tax — a policy that would force American tech giants and other firms, including Canadian ones, to pay up — was nothing short of a 'blatant attack' on the United States. Trump declared he had cut off all negotiations to resolve the trade war that started earlier this year with his wave of tariffs on Canadian goods. In other words, Canada's most important commercial and military partner, the destination for 76 per cent of all exports last year, was willing to ditch talks and dictate terms that could jeopardize thousands of jobs and hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity. All over a domestic policy the Americans didn't like. Barely 48 hours later, shortly before midnight on a Sunday, the government announced the tax was dead. Not only would Canada not implement the policy as planned, it would repeal the 2024 law that created it. Is this Trump using economic pressure to force Canada's hand? 'It is exactly that,' said Lawrence Herman, a veteran trade lawyer and special counsel with the firm, Cassidy Levy Kent. 'It's an example of, on a particular issue, how much pressure can be brought to bear to force Canada to abandon not only a policy, but a law that has been in force for 18 months.' In Herman's view, the decision looks like a 'significant retreat' by the government, which shows 'how dependent we are on a reasonable relationship' with Canada's largest trading partner. Other policies that Trump has complained about, such as the supply management system for dairy and poultry, could be next, he said. Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, told the CBC this week that he has a 'strong belief' Canada could water down that system by changing a law designed to protect it if that becomes part of a new trade deal. 'It's not a particularly good start to this so-called new economic and security relationship,' Herman said. He was referring to Carney's stated goal of talks that are now continuing under an agreement struck at the Group of 7 summit in the Alberta Rockies last month to strive for a deal to redefine the relationship by July 21. Others have been harsher in their judgment. Lloyd Axworthy, a former Liberal foreign affairs minister, posted online that Carney was acquiescing to Trump in a way that contradicts his 'elbows up' mantra on the campaign trail. 'Forget any dreams of a more sovereign, self-directed Canada. We're doubling down on the corporate cosiness and U.S. dependency that's defined our last half-century,' he wrote on Substack. Axworthy did not respond to an interview request Thursday. For Jean Charest, a former Quebec premier who sits on the government's Canada-U.S. advisory council, the situation illustrates the 'chaos' of dealing with Trump, whose administration is grappling with trade talks and tariffs threats against most countries on the planet. This meant that Carney's government was operating 'in a world of very bad choices,' Charest said. Deciding to scrap the Digital Services Tax, in that context, was 'certainly a legitimate choice,' he said. 'We are not in an ordinary world of negotiations,' Charest added. 'It would be nice to think, 'You give, I give ... we compromise.' It doesn't work that way with Donald Trump, and we're making our way through this by trying to protect essentially what's the most important for us in the short term, and that's a negotiation that has some legs.' Charest noted that there was opposition inside Canada to the Digital Services Tax, which would have applied back to 2022 with a three per cent tax on Canadian revenues from digital services companies with more than $1.1 billion in global earnings and $20 million inside Canada. The U.S. also pushed back against the policy when Joe Biden was in power. David Pierce, vice-president of government relations with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said his business lobby group felt the Digital Services Tax should be paused. He also said it would have been wrong to proceed with it after the U.S. dropped a controversial provision from Trump's major budget bill last week: the so-called 'revenge tax' that would have hit the U.S. assets of foreign businesses and individuals. That decision came as the G7 agreed to exempt American firms from a co-ordinated effort to ensure corporations pay a minimum tax, which was 'absolutely a win' for the U.S. Even so, Pierce said Canada likely had no choice but to drop the policy, given Trump's exploitation of Canada's 'weakness' — its major economic reliance on trade with the U.S. 'We just hope that this now paves the way for a good renewed deal,' said Pierce. The ultimate goal of the federal government in that deal, at least publicly, has been to return to the terms of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), which Trump signed in 2018 during his first term, after disparaging North American free trade as unfair to his country. That would mean lifting the rounds of tariffs Trump has imposed since the winter, with import duties tied to concerns about drugs and migration over the border, and others that Trump slapped on Canadian autos, steel and aluminum in a bid to promote those sectors in the U.S. Canada has responded with countertariffs on its own that the government says hit more than $80 billion worth of American imports to Canada. Canada's lead trade negotiator with the Trump administration, Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, was not available for an interview this week, the embassy in Washington told the Star. Charest, however, said he believes it is possible that Canada could accept some level of tariffs in a July 21 deal, so long as they have no material effect. Such 'zero-effect' tariffs could only kick in at levels of trade that Canada doesn't or likely won't achieve, for example.
