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Hamilton Spectator
09-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Why some Canadians are alarmed by Mark Carney's pledge to act with urgency
Canadians elected Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government based on its pledge to act with urgency and fix things — the country's economy, its security and its standing on the world stage. But with the unveiling of a bill to supercharge the economy and early efforts to improve the country's adversarial relations with India and China, there's growing concern that Carney's plans to boost Canada could involve unsavoury trade offs. Ask Indigenous leaders who were left out of 'nation-building' meetings or were given just a week to comment on legislation that will fast track infrastructure projects reasonably expected to pass through their treaty-protected territories. Ask Sikh-Canadian leaders who have seen their members targeted for death or violence, allegedly on orders from Indian government agents. Last Friday, they listened as Carney defended his G7 invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one that 'makes sense' based on India's economic power, population and key role in international 'supply chains.' Ask foreign aid organizations, perhaps, if Canada commits to radically increasing defence spending along with NATO allies at a leaders' summit planned for later this month. Carney is not alone in his apparent willingness to step on toes if it means he can move further and faster in responding to the sense of emergency at hand. It's part of a global movement with governments invoking looming threats and emerging risks to push through all sorts of questionable — and sometimes contestable — priorities. The most blatant example is the one that has sparked the economic emergency in Canada. U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports have been pushed through not with legislation that can be studied, debated and voted upon, but through presidential executive orders invoking real or imagined national emergencies at the Canada-U. S. border. They are premised upon risks from America-bound migrants, fentanyl, steel and cars and, despite initial court rulings that tranches of the tariffs are illegal under U.S. law, they remain in effect. Likewise, the generalized panic that Russia's three-years-and-counting war against Ukraine has instilled in Europe. There is legitimate reason to worry about the longer-term intentions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a leader who has been unwilling to agree to a ceasefire despite sanctions, despite diplomatic isolation, despite the more recent appeals, threats and exhortations of the Trump administration. But preparations for a potentially wider conflict on the European continent now have German officials talking about rehabilitating long-abandoned bunkers, Poland vowing to build up 'the strongest army in the region,' and Swedish households receiving an alarming 32-page pamphlet from their government entitled: 'In case of crisis or war.' 'To all residents of Sweden: we live in uncertain times,' the booklet begins ominously. It goes on to cover everything from securing one's home to digital safety to instructions on how to stop bleeding to advice about handling pets and talking to children. This is the political and emotional backdrop against which Canada and other NATO member states later this month are expected to back an agreement to steeply increase in their national defence budgets, moving to five per cent of GDP from two per cent. If agreed to, it will result in many billions of dollars going to weapons, tanks, planes and soldiers' salaries. But before those purchases can go ahead, there will be many difficult choices made about how to come up with the funds. Governments always talk about finding budget efficiencies for unexpected priorities, though saving is not a specialty for which politicians are well suited. Even Donald Trump and Elon Musk came up spectacularly short of their savings pledges through the Department of Government Efficiency. More frequently, governments end up robbing Peter in order to pay Paul, as the saying goes — cutting spending in on domain to increase it in another. That is exactly what the United Kingdom did with blunt effect when it announced earlier this year that it would slash foreign aid spending drastically in order to increase the defence budget. 'Few countries have articulated such a direct, one-to-one trade off before between those two areas of public spending,' noted a report from ODI Global , a think tank, that criticized the British government for thinking of defence and foreign-aid spending as an either-or choice. Similar potential trade offs are cause for concern in Canada. Will the urgency to build oil pipelines and assert the country as an 'energy superpower' in new markets come at the cost of Canada's fight against global warming? Carney's reputation as a climate-change warrior is well-established, but his use of the oil-and-gas industry's ' marketing speak ' at a recent meeting first ministers' meeting with provincial premiers has some worried about the economy taking priority over the environment. Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national association representing Canadian Inuit, wasn't even invited to the first ministers' meeting, which concluded with a statement about the need to 'unlock the North's economic potential.' 'It is troubling that in 2025, the Government of Canada is so comfortable with empty rhetoric in place of rightful participation,' the Inuit association said in a news release . The legislation to get Carney's economic fast-track transformation under way — one that the Liberal government wants to pass into law by Canada Day — was decried by the Assembly of First Nations, which had just seven days to provide any concerns about the bill, APTN News reported . There are those who will defend a go-fast approach to governing in extraordinary times. They will warn that there is a greater risk in being sunk by the status quo — the never-ending consultations, the delays, red-tape entanglements. 'The advantage of a wartime mentality lies in the sense of urgency it introduces, and the readiness it encourages to push aside unnecessary bureaucratic barriers,' wrote Lawrence Freedman, an emeritus professor of War Studies at King's College London, in a piece about Russia, Ukraine and Europe. It's a line that can be applied as equally to Ottawa as to Moscow, Kyiv, Paris, Brussels or London. But one person's bureaucratic barrier is the next person's guard rail — a measure ensuring confidence, protecting against damaging errors, saving lives. Moving at high speeds, it can be difficult to spot the difference.
Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Unjustified and unlawful': Canadian officials react to Trump's threat to double steel, aluminum tariffs
The federal minister tasked with Canada-U. S. trade relations said Ottawa has 'taken note' of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent , but stopped short of announcing any formal retaliatory measures, at least for now. Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister whose portfolio includes Canada-U. S. trade, said in a statement on the social media platform X Saturday that the government will remain 'resolute in defending our workers and our communities.' 'We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us,' he wrote. We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us. That's why this Monday, the Prime Minister will meet with Premiers in Saskatoon with one goal - build one Canadian economy out of thirteen, and get big, nation-building projects built faster. (2/3) In a speech in Pennsylvania Friday, Trump said that the increased tariff figures would 'even further secure the steel industry in the United States.' 'Nobody's going to get around that,' Trump said. Industry minister Mélanie Joly, who formerly served as foreign minister, said that Canada is 'fighting' the 'unjustified and unlawful tariffs with our own retaliatory actions, strong domestic support packages, and big moves to diversify our trade.' President Donald Trump says he's going to double the tariff rate on steel to 50 per cent, a dramatic increase that could further push up prices for a metal used to make housing, autos and other goods. (AP Video / May 30, 2025) She added that she plans to meet with steel and aluminum producers and workers over the coming days to 'advance' a plan in response to Trump's pledge. Terry Sheehan, the Liberal MP who represents the steel-dependent riding of Sault Ste. Marie , wrote that the government will 'not back down' in the face of tariffs that 'threaten to further damage the vital relationship between our two countries.' Sault Ste. Marie's mayor, Matthew Shoemaker, said Trump is 'trying to cripple our economy.' Maninder Sidhu, the newly minted minister of international trade, wrote that the government will 'move on terms … strategically, thoughtfully, and without delay.' Sidhu, a Brampton MP first elected in 2019, said that 'trade diversification' is his 'top priority.' 'Canada has what the world needs and we're ready to deliver,' Sidhu wrote. Meanwhile, United Steelworkers, which represents over 220,000 workers in Canada, said that the 50 per cent tariff would 'completely shut us out of the U.S. market' and called on the government to 'move quickly to strengthen domestic demand.' In March, U.S. President Donald Trump put 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 'This isn't trade policy — it's a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers,' national director Marty Warren said of the president's recent announcement. 'Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers.' The Canadian Steel Producers Association, a trade group, said in a statement that the government must immediately 'fully reinstate retaliatory steel tariffs to match the American tariffs and to implement as quickly as possible new tariffs at our own borders to stop unfairly traded steel from entering Canada.' In March, Trump put 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the United States. Trump used Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose steel and aluminum duties and said it will help bring manufacturing back to the United States. Canada is the largest steel supplier to the United States, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of all imports in 2023. About a quarter of all steel used in America is imported. Earlier this week, a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Trump does not have the authority to wield tariffs, a pause that was subsequently lifted by a federal appeals court Thursday. A Leger poll from earlier this month found that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians are in favour of the federal government imposing dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The poll also found that Canadians are reducing the number of U.S. products they're buying in stores as a result of the ongoing trade war. With files from The Canadian Press
Toronto Star
02-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
‘Unjustified and unlawful': Canadian officials react to Trump's threat to double steel, aluminum tariffs
The federal minister tasked with Canada-U. S. trade relations said Ottawa has 'taken note' of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent, but stopped short of announcing any formal retaliatory measures, at least for now. Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister whose portfolio includes Canada-U. S. trade, said in a statement on the social media platform X Saturday that the government will remain 'resolute in defending our workers and our communities.' 'We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us,' he wrote. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us. That's why this Monday, the Prime Minister will meet with Premiers in Saskatoon with one goal - build one Canadian economy out of thirteen, and get big, nation-building projects built faster. (2/3) — Dominic LeBlanc (@DLeBlancNB) May 31, 2025 In a speech in Pennsylvania Friday, Trump said that the increased tariff figures would 'even further secure the steel industry in the United States.' 'Nobody's going to get around that,' Trump said. Industry minister Mélanie Joly, who formerly served as foreign minister, said that Canada is 'fighting' the 'unjustified and unlawful tariffs with our own retaliatory actions, strong domestic support packages, and big moves to diversify our trade.' President Donald Trump says he's going to double the tariff rate on steel to 50 per cent, a dramatic increase that could further push up prices for a metal used to make housing, autos and other goods. (AP Video / May 30, 2025) She added that she plans to meet with steel and aluminum producers and workers over the coming days to 'advance' a plan in response to Trump's pledge. Terry Sheehan, the Liberal MP who represents the steel-dependent riding of Sault Ste. Marie, wrote that the government will 'not back down' in the face of tariffs that 'threaten to further damage the vital relationship between our two countries.' Sault Ste. Marie's mayor, Matthew Shoemaker, said Trump is 'trying to cripple our economy.' Maninder Sidhu, the newly minted minister of international trade, wrote that the government will 'move on terms … strategically, thoughtfully, and without delay.' Sidhu, a Brampton MP first elected in 2019, said that 'trade diversification' is his 'top priority.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Canada has what the world needs and we're ready to deliver,' Sidhu wrote. Meanwhile, United Steelworkers, which represents over 220,000 workers in Canada, said that the 50 per cent tariff would 'completely shut us out of the U.S. market' and called on the government to 'move quickly to strengthen domestic demand.' Canada Trump says he will double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 per cent In March, U.S. President Donald Trump put 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 'This isn't trade policy — it's a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers,' national director Marty Warren said of the president's recent announcement. 'Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers.' The Canadian Steel Producers Association, a trade group, said in a statement that the government must immediately 'fully reinstate retaliatory steel tariffs to match the American tariffs and to implement as quickly as possible new tariffs at our own borders to stop unfairly traded steel from entering Canada.' In March, Trump put 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the United States. Trump used Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose steel and aluminum duties and said it will help bring manufacturing back to the United States. Canada is the largest steel supplier to the United States, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of all imports in 2023. About a quarter of all steel used in America is imported. Earlier this week, a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Trump does not have the authority to wield tariffs, a pause that was subsequently lifted by a federal appeals court Thursday. A Leger poll from earlier this month found that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians are in favour of the federal government imposing dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The poll also found that Canadians are reducing the number of U.S. products they're buying in stores as a result of the ongoing trade war. With files from The Canadian Press Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Parkland-Sunoco deal comes amid fraught U.S.-Canada relations, resource nationalism
CALGARY — Ottawa is weighing the proposed takeover of Calgary-based Parkland Corp. by American fuel distributor Sunoco LP at a time of fraught Canada-U. S. relations and amped-up resource nationalism. The US$9.1-billion friendly deal announced last week is subject to a review under the Investment Canada Act, which considers whether it will be a net benefit to the country and unlikely to harm national security. Parkland sells fuel under the Ultramar, Chevron and Pioneer gas station brands in Canada and also owns a refinery in Burnaby, B.C. In March, Ottawa updated the national security guidelines under the Investment Canada Act to account for potential harms to Canada's economic security through enhanced integration between the Canadian company and a foreign economy. Late last week, the president of the union representing 150 workers at Parkland's refinery in Burnaby, B.C., said critical energy infrastructure should not be handed over to a foreign multinational in the middle of a trade war. Jennifer Quaid, who teaches corporate law at the University of Ottawa, says the timing of the bid could be unlucky for Parkland and Sunoco as heightened attention is being paid to U.S. President Donald Trump. The flurry of tariff and annexation threats coming from Trump have intensified calls for Canada to develop its own resources and build infrastructure allowing access to markets outside of the United States. "Rightly or wrongly, there will more attention focused on it because it's an American acquisition in a sector that we are paying a lot of attention to right now in terms of Canadian capacity," Quaid said. Parkland said Sunoco has committed to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining its Calgary head office and investing in Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025. Companies in this story: (TSX:PKI) Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Winnipeg Free Press
13-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Parkland-Sunoco deal comes amid fraught U.S.-Canada relations, resource nationalism
CALGARY – Ottawa is weighing the proposed takeover of Calgary-based Parkland Corp. by American fuel distributor Sunoco LP at a time of fraught Canada-U. S. relations and amped-up resource nationalism. The US$9.1-billion friendly deal announced last week is subject to a review under the Investment Canada Act, which considers whether it will be a net benefit to the country and unlikely to harm national security. Parkland sells fuel under the Ultramar, Chevron and Pioneer gas station brands in Canada and also owns a refinery in Burnaby, B.C. In March, Ottawa updated the national security guidelines under the Investment Canada Act to account for potential harms to Canada's economic security through enhanced integration between the Canadian company and a foreign economy. Late last week, the president of the union representing 150 workers at Parkland's refinery in Burnaby, B.C., said critical energy infrastructure should not be handed over to a foreign multinational in the middle of a trade war. Jennifer Quaid, who teaches corporate law at the University of Ottawa, says the timing of the bid could be unlucky for Parkland and Sunoco as heightened attention is being paid to U.S. President Donald Trump. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The flurry of tariff and annexation threats coming from Trump have intensified calls for Canada to develop its own resources and build infrastructure allowing access to markets outside of the United States. 'Rightly or wrongly, there will more attention focused on it because it's an American acquisition in a sector that we are paying a lot of attention to right now in terms of Canadian capacity,' Quaid said. Parkland said Sunoco has committed to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining its Calgary head office and investing in Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025. Companies in this story: (TSX:PKI)
