ADVERTISEMENT Watch ‘A big, complicated relationship': Robertson on Canada negotiating with Trump's government Former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson says he doesn't believe Canada and the U.S. will reach a deal by July 21.
Former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson says he doesn't believe Canada and the U.S. will reach a deal by July 21.
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CTV News
42 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘Mini-win' for Canada as digital services tax dropped, expert says
Former special advisor to the Ministry of Finance Julian Karaguesian on if dropping the digital service tax gives Canada additional leverage during trade talks. Former special advisor to the Ministry of Finance Julian Karaguesian on if dropping the digital service tax gives Canada additional leverage during trade talks. Days after Ottawa rescinded the digital services tax aimed at tech companies to advance trade negotiations with the U.S., critics have voiced their disappointment in the government's handling of the situation. But one expert calls this move by Prime Minister Mark Carney a 'mini-win.' The play made by the federal government to hold on to the tax until the last minute before giving in made it appear as though a concession had been made, Julian Karaguesian, an economist and former special advisor at the Ministry of Finance, told CTV News Channel on Tuesday. 'We also had to back down publicly and double down on this tax,' Karaguesian said. 'But I think that was a good strategic, tactical manoeuvre by the Prime Minister.' The feds dropped the tax hours before the first payment was due, three days after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended trade talks over it. Carney called it 'part of a bigger negotiation.' 'No sovereignty over domestic policy' According to Karaguesian, Canada is facing significant pressures and challenges on federal and provincial budgets, in addition to the pressure of boosting defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP in the coming decade. 'There's a sovereignty issue. The digital services tax is a domestic policy,' Karaguesian points out. 'What we're seeing from the White House is they're telling their allies that 'you have no sovereignty over your domestic policy. We will use leverage in terms of access to our market to cancel any policy that we believe interferes with our business interests.'' 'Truly internal economy' Meanwhile, the removal of provincial trade barriers is largely symbolic when it comes to direct barriers, Karaguesian explains. If all provinces and territories eliminated the most egregious interprovincial trade barriers, the federal government could promote policies to boost Canada's economy and productivity, creating what Karaguesian calls a 'truly internal economy.' However, despite progress on removing these trade barriers, there is a certain risk associated with different jurisdictions taking different approaches, a recent report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said. 'A natural resource superpower' Karaguesian says Canada needs to reduce its trade dependence on the U.S. and consider expanding trade with countries like India, China, and Europe. He highlights the importance of focusing on Canada's infrastructure — especially transportation and telecommunications. 'We are a natural resource superpower,' Karaguesian said. 'We were a rich country before we had total free trade with the U.S., and we will stay a rich country if we make good choices. We just have to reduce our dependence on a single trading partner, which is (not) treating us as a partner and an ally but rather using our economic interdependence as a weapon to squeeze concessions out of us.' The 30-day trade deal deadline announced after Carney and Trump met in Alberta during the G7 summit will come to an end on July 21. Canada is expected to adjust counter-tariffs on steel and aluminium products to 'consistent' levels in conjunction with the trade talks held with the U.S., Carney said two weeks ago. With files from CTV News' Luca Caruso-Moro and the Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Ceremony at Assiniboine Park welcomes 30 new Canadians
Dozens of new Canadians took their citizenship oath Tuesday at a special ceremony in Assiniboine Park—marking a new milestone in their lives. Hailing from 12 different countries, 30 new Canadians gathered at the Performance Garden for the final legal step to become a Canadian citizen. 'I really feel very happy,' said Sanjeev Kumar, who came with his family from Punjab, India, to Canada a decade ago. 'I have so many more opportunities to look ahead to in my life.' For 18-year-old Sanchi, Sanjeev's daughter, the ability to vote in elections was the most anticipated element of becoming a Canadian. 'I just missed that last election by very little, and I was pretty upset about it, but now I'm finally Canadian, and I'm just glad to have a voice in Canada to speak up about the things that are happening,' said Sanchi. Citizenship ceremony Dwight MacAulay, officer of the citizenship ceremony, shakes hands with a new Canadian on July 1, 2025. (Daniel Timmerman/CTV News Winnipeg) 'Appreciating diversity here in Canada, I think it's very important, especially considering what's happening with our downstairs neighbours.' The first-year University of Manitoba student said she aspires to become a lawyer one day to stand up for human rights. 'Human rights, for sure, it's a huge part of the things that I believe in. I just believe, you know, equal rights for all, no matter where they're from.' MP Doug Eyolfson was among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony, adding that it was 'very meaningful' to be a part of the event. 'You are now officially citizens of the greatest country in the world,' he said. 'We have a nation that is built on tolerance and inclusivity. We're a society that helps each other.' Lyric Theatre Performance at the Lyric Theatre on July 1, 2025. (Daniel Timmerman/CTV News Winnipeg) Meanwhile, at the nearby Lyric Theatre, Winnipeggers gathered to experience live music as part of a Canada Day lineup to celebrate the nation.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
University of Pennsylvania to ban transgender athletes, feds say, ending civil rights case focused on swimmer Lia Thomas
WASHINGTON — The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban transgender women from its women's sports teams to resolve a federal civil rights case that found the school violated the rights of female athletes. Article content The U.S. Education Department announced the voluntary agreement Tuesday. The case focused on Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who last competed for the Ivy League school in Philadelphia in 2022, when she became the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title. Article content Article content Article content It's part of the Trump administration's broader attempt to remove transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. Article content Under the agreement, Penn agreed to restore all individual Division I swimming records and titles to female athletes who lost out to Thomas, the Education Department said. Penn also agreed to send a personalized apology letter to each of those swimmers. Article content It wasn't immediately clear whether Thomas would be stripped of her awards and honors at Penn. Article content The university must also announce that it 'will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs' and it must adopt 'biology-based' definitions of male and female, the department said. Article content Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a victory for women and girls. Article content 'The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX's proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law,' McMahon said in a statement. Article content The Education Department opened its investigation in February and concluded in April that Penn had violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education. Such findings have almost always been resolved through voluntary agreements. If Penn had fought the finding, the department could have moved to refer the case to the Justice Department or pursued a separate process to cut the school's federal funding. Article content In February, the Education Department asked the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFSHSA, to restore titles, awards and records it says have been 'misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories.' Article content The most obvious target at the college level was in women's swimming, where Thomas won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle in 2022. Article content
