
Chignecto Isthmus case waste of Nova Scotia Court of Appeal's time: federal lawyer
Lawyer Lori Ward told the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal that the issue before it is actually a 'pressure tactic' to be used as 'ammunition in the political arena.'
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Ward points out that even if it's decided that Ottawa has sole jurisdiction over the low-lying, narrow strip of land that connects the two provinces, it would have no obligation to fund projects aimed at preventing catastrophic flooding.
She says the federal government has already committed to fund half of the estimated $650 million needed to upgrade centuries-old dikes that protect the area.
The provinces maintain it's Ottawa's responsibility to protect rail, power and communication lines as well as inter-provincial trade from climate-change impacts, but federal lawyer Jan Jensen argued that this does not require Canada to protect the dikes.
Story continues below advertisement
The court has reserved its decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2025.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Global News
26 minutes ago
- Global News
Trump vows tariffs for ‘the rest of the world.' Where does Canada stand?
The United States will impose a tariff for 'essentially the rest of the world' instead of making individual trade deals, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Monday. 'We're going to be setting a tariff essentially for the rest of the world, and that's what they're going to pay if they want to do business in the United States, because you can't sit down and make 200 deals,' Trump said during a joint media event with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump's remark comes a day after he announced a trade deal with the European Union, which will see a 15 per cent tariff imposed on most European goods being exported to the U.S. The deal with the EU looks very similar to the one Trump announced with Japan, which would have a 15 per cent tariff on most Japanese exports to the U.S. Story continues below advertisement While Trump has said negotiations with other nations and trading blocs were progressing towards a deal before Aug. 1, he has singled out Canada as a country with which he was not making progress. Last week, Trump said his administration hasn't 'had a lot of luck with Canada' in its trade negotiations. He added that there may not be a deal with Canada. 'I think Canada could be one where there's just a tariff, not really a negotiation,' he told reporters. 'We don't have a deal with Canada; we haven't been focused on them,' he said. Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday said he would only sign a deal that was 'a good deal for Canada.' 'The negotiations are at an intense phase,' Carney told reporters in Prince Edward Island. Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The negotiations are at an intense phase," Carney told reporters in Prince Edward Island. Canada and the EU have both similarities and differences when it came to their respective commercial relationships with the U.S., Carney said. 'We have some similarities with the European Union in terms of our commercial relationships with the United States. We're one of their most important trade partners,' he said. 4:59 Canada – U.S. trade negotiations ahead of deadline 'He does not like Canada' These deals don't portend well for Canada, said Concordia University economist Moshe Lander, especially considering some recent threats Trump made against Canada's economy. Story continues below advertisement 'Trump's getting his way. He's menacing countries, big and small, and putting the world economy back to the 1930s,' Lander said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Trump's statement on Monday seems to indicate that he would rather settle on a flat tariff rate for his trading partners, said Sal Guatieri, director and senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. 'For countries that run a trade surplus with the U.S. goods, they most likely will need to settle for something in that 15 per cent range,' he said. Earlier this month, Carney said it was 'unlikely' that a zero-tariff trade deal could be reached in August. Carney told reporters there was 'not a lot of evidence' for any country to have a tariff-free agreement and it was unlikely Trump would agree to one with Canada. Where does Canada's trade stand with U.S.? Canada's balance of trade with the U.S. is not like that of the EU. Story continues below advertisement Excluding oil, gas and energy, Canada runs a trade deficit with its neighbour. However, Guatieri said Trump was likely to only look at the overall balance of trade. 'Unfortunately, I don't think the White House is making much of a distinction with respect to Canada's trade with the U.S.,' he said. 'It's just saying basically in total, Canada is running a surplus with the U.S. and needs to pay a higher tariff. The main message from these six trade deals (that Trump has signed recently) is that basically no country will be unscathed. Everyone will end up with higher tariffs than was the case a year ago under the new White House,' he said. Trump has been ratcheting up his threats against Canada as the trade talks intensify. Last month, he said Canada was a 'a very difficult country to trade with' and threatened to scrap the talks altogether if Canada did not withdraw its Digital Services Tax. Last month, he raised the stakes of his trade war. In a letter to Carney posted to Truth Social, Trump threatened a 35 per cent tariff on 'Canadian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.' 'If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 35 per cent that we charge,' the letter adds. Story continues below advertisement 'He does not like Canada,' Lander said. 'Canada is not going to get any sort of favourable treatment in whatever deal comes out,' he added. 2:04 What Trump's EU trade deal reveals about talks with Canada Autos, steel, aluminum hardest hit Those threats come as the steel and aluminum sectors continue to face steep U.S. tariffs. Story continues below advertisement 'Unfortunately, it doesn't look like any country so far is able to get their 50 per cent duty on steel and aluminum down to a smaller number,' Guatieri said. He added, 'One partial save for Quebec is that the U.S. really does need Canadian aluminum. They have limited capacity to increase their aluminum production or buy foreign-made aluminum from countries other than Canada.' Both Japan and the EU managed to get their tariff rate on automobiles reduced from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. Guatieri said Canada is likely to get a similar deal on autos. 'We would still be somewhat competitive in selling our vehicles to the U.S., especially when you consider that there is an exemption for U.S. content in Canadian-made vehicles. That would help (but) not fully shield Canada's auto industry,' he said. According to BMO, Canada's effective tariff rate for trade with the U.S. is currently around six per cent. This is because Trump's tariffs on Canada do not include goods that are CUSMA-complaint. This would be 'manageable' for the broader economy, Guatieri said, but added that the auto, steel and aluminum industries could see some serious pain, including potential layoffs. 'We think most of the rest of the country is somewhat insulated from this trade war, but unfortunately Ontario and Quebec are not,' Guatieri said.


Global News
26 minutes ago
- Global News
MAGA singer: Religious group denounces Montreal for fining church after concert
A Quebec religious group is accusing the City of Montreal of censorship for fining a local church after it hosted a concert over the weekend by a Christian singer. Ministerios Restauración Church is facing a $2,500 fine for hosting singer Sean Feucht, a rising star in the MAGA political movement tied to U.S. President Donald Trump. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The city says it warned the church it didn't have a permit to host Feucht — who has spoken out against abortion and LGBTQ+ people — but says the show went ahead anyway. The religious group — Réseau évangélique du Québec — represents roughly 500 evangelical Protestant churches in the province, and says the city tried to shut the show down because it didn't like the singer's religious views. Spokesperson Jean-Christophe Jasmin says the event should not have required a permit because it was part of a routine religious gathering. Story continues below advertisement Complaints about Feucht have led officials to cancel his concerts scheduled in Eastern Canada — decisions that free speech advocates in the country say were violations of the Charter. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025.


Global News
26 minutes ago
- Global News
Trump explains fallout with Epstein, denies ever visiting his private island
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he threw Jeffrey Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club and ended their working relationship years ago because 'he stole people who worked for me.' Speaking to the press during a Monday meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer while in Scotland, Trump said the confrontation with the convicted sex offender came after Epstein poached at least one more employee from him after being warned never to do it again. 'That's such old history, very easy to explain, but I don't want to waste your time by explaining it,' Trump said in response to a question from a reporter about the rift between the two men, who had close business ties as well as a personal friendship. 'But for years, I wouldn't talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn't talk because he did something that was inappropriate,' the president said. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen U.S. President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 28, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland.'He hired help, and I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He stole people that work for me. I said, 'Don't ever do that again.' He did it again,' Trump said. Epstein then became 'persona non grata. I threw him out, and that was it. I'm glad I did, if you want to know the truth.' A White House spokesperson said last week said Trump expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for 'being a creep.' 3:51 'Release the damn files': Republicans join with Democrats to demand Trump release Epstein files Questions from reporters on Monday prompted an extended digression into the Epstein case as Starmer sat quietly at Trump's side. Story continues below advertisement Trump continued, stressing multiple times that he 'never had the privilege' of visiting Little St. James — the 72-acre private island owned by Epstein off the coast of St. Thomas, where it's alleged the financier took underage girls to abuse them. 'By the way, I never went to the island and Bill Clinton went there, supposedly, 28 times,' Trump told reporters. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I never went to the island, but Larry Summers, I hear, went there. He was the head of Harvard and many other people that are very big people,' he continued. 'Nobody ever talks about that. I never had the privilege of going to his island. And I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island. In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn't want to go to this island.' View image in full screen Jeffrey Epstein's former home on the island of Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin appeared with Epstein at social events in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump's name, along with many other high-profile individuals, appeared multiple times on flight logs for Epstein's private plane in the 1990s. Trump has denied ever being on the plane and has not been officially accused of any wrongdoing. Story continues below advertisement On Monday, when asked about last week's Wall Street Journal report that said the president allegedly drew a picture in a birthday letter for Epstein years ago, Trump said, 'I don't do drawings, I'm not a drawing person.' He said he would make exceptions for charity — sketching buildings — but insisted, 'I don't do drawings of women.' The Journal report says the letter signed by Trump included a provocative drawing of a woman. On Monday, it was reported that Trump is asking a federal court in Florida to force Rupert Murdoch to give a deposition for the president's lawsuit against the Journal within 15 days, citing the media mogul's age and physical condition. Trump sued the Journal, owned by Murdoch, in U.S. District Court in southern Florida on July 18 for its story reporting on the president's ties to Epstein. The president's motion to the court on Monday noted Murdoch is 94 years old, is believed to have suffered several health scares in recent years and is presumed to live in New York, reports The Associated Press. 'Taken together, these factors weigh heavily in determining that Murdoch would be unavailable for in-person testimony at trial,' Trump's request to the court said. Story continues below advertisement 0:34 Trump denies he wrote alleged bawdy birthday note to Epstein: 'Somebody could have used my name' Trump has been under growing pressure from his supporters and political opponents to release more information about the Justice Department's investigation into Epstein, who officials ruled died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. After Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year promised to release additional materials related to possible Epstein clients and the circumstances surrounding his death. The Justice Department reversed course this month and issued a memo concluding there was no basis to continue investigating and no evidence of a client list. Those findings sparked an angry outcry from some of Trump's supporters who have long believed the government was covering up Epstein's ties to the rich and powerful. View image in full screen American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and Donald Trump pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Fla., in 1997. Davidoff Studios / Getty Images A key House committee is looking into the investigation of Epstein for sex trafficking crimes, working to subpoena Trump's Department of Justice for files in the case, as well as hold a deposition of Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Story continues below advertisement The Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee acted just before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent lawmakers home early for a month-long break from Washington. The committee's moves are evidence of the mounting pressure for disclosure in a case that Trump has unsuccessfully urged his supporters to move past. But they were also just the start of what can be a drawn-out process. The committee chairman, Rep. James Comer, said he told the speaker that 'Republicans on the Oversight Committee were going to move to be more aggressive in trying to get transparency with the Epstein files. So, we did that, and I think that's what the American people want.' Comer has said that he is hoping that staff from the committee can interview Maxwell under oath on Aug. 11 at or near the federal prison in Florida where she is serving a lengthy sentence for child sex trafficking. View image in full screen From left, Donald Trump and then girlfriend (and future wife), Melania Knauss, financier Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb. 12, 2000. Davidoff Studios / Getty Images On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance used a speech in his home state of Ohio to address the growing controversy. Story continues below advertisement Vance insisted that the Trump administration isn't trying to cover up information from the investigation that's in the public interest. Vance said Trump asked Bondi to release all 'credible information' but that the process 'takes time.' The DOJ has asked for grand jury transcripts to be made public, but a judge in Florida has rejected that bid while requests remain pending in New York. Vance said Trump wants 'full transparency' in the case and alleged that prior administrations went 'easy on this guy.' — With files from The Associated Press and Reuters