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While the Major Projects Office is mandated to accelerate development through regulatory and financial coordination, its recent engagements with Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation suggest its influence may extend beyond that.
In 2024 the First Nation, along with the neighbouring township of Ignace, were selected to host Canada’s deep geological repository (DGR) for nuclear waste, a development that is critical for current and future nuclear energy projects.
The DGR project hasn’t been publicly identified as being in the national interest, and it’s also not been named in various internal federal briefing memos listing such potential projects. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization tells iPolitics they are not seeking an official referral to the MPO, although they would be open to it. They do, however, clarify that they are not interested in a national interest designation for the DGR.
Yet MPO Vice-President Rob Van Walleghem met with Wabigoon leadership twice last fall, as the First Nation seeks investments in infrastructure, housing, roads, utilities, broadband and emergency services as part of its willingness to host the waste.
The requests involve a contentious treaty matter and a wide range of federal government departments, and the MPO is helping the community navigate that.
iPolitics’ Aya Dufour has that story.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Mark Carney is not “grateful” during a speech at World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today.Trump said he heard Carney’s Tuesday speech at the forum, which was widely praised around the world.
But Trump said “Canada lives because of the United States,” before adding “Remember that Mark, the next time you make your statements.”Trump’s wide-ranging speech touched on his record in the year since he returned to the White House.
CP reports.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is headed to Quebec City on Thursday for two days of private meetings with his cabinet before Parliament resumes next week.
In a news release the Prime Minister’s Office says the two days of meetings will focus on the economy, affordability and security.The news release says cabinet ministers and secretaries of state will discuss progress on the priorities laid out in their mandate letters and make plans for “delivering change in the year ahead.”
Cabinet will hear from experts in finance, community services, advanced technology and global affairs, the news release says.
CP also has that story.
In Other Headlines:
Internationally:
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he had reached a “framework” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte for “a future deal with respect to Greenland” and “the entire Arctic region.”
Trump added he would no longer impose threatened tariffs on European nations over their support for the Danish territory next month as part of the deal framework, which he announced on his Truth Social platform.
“Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote.
“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations,” he added.
“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 1.”
Trump’s post continued: “Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland. Further information will be made available as discussions progress. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and various others, as needed, will be responsible for the negotiations — they will report directly to me.”
Global reports.
In other international headlines:
In opinion
Carney’s new world (dis)order
The Kicker
We leave you today with this news story from the Beaverton:
Following his poorly-received and rambling address at the World Economic Forum, U.S. President Donald Trump angrily demanded that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney personally give him the standing ovation he earned for his speech yesterday.
“Canada lives because of the U.S., which means all of your standing ovations are my rightful property, you Maurice Richard-loving losers.”
