As political leaders and businesses on both sides of the border react to the latest escalation in trade-related rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump — who, as per Canadian Press, is “threatening not to allow a new bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit to open, arguing that the United States should first be compensated,” according to a post to social media last night — Prime Minister Mark Carney is planning to be back in his front-and-centre seat in the House of Commons this afternoon.

“Trump said in a social media post Monday that the U.S. will ‘immediately’ start negotiations over the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is set to open early this year after delays,” the wire service notes.

“In his post, Trump said Canada has treated the United States ‘very unfairly’ for decades,” CP notes.

“He said Canada owns both the Canadian and American sides of the bridge, which he said was built with ‘virtually no U.S. content.’ The government of Canada website says it’s funding the entire project, which will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan.”

His appearance also comes in the wake of a new report from CBC News on the ongoing closed-door talks between the minority Liberal government and their Conservative adversaries that “could keep the government in power,” and avoid the prospect of a snap election.

“Behind the scenes, Liberals and Conservatives have been working on potential deals that could end a parliamentary gridlock and potentially avoid a second federal election in 12 months, three senior Liberal and Conservative sources said.”

Meanwhile, as previewed in What We’re Watching, the Conservatives will use their third designated supply day of the year to trigger a full day of debate on their call for the government to “bar non-citizens convicted of serious crimes,” as well as those with “active judicial proceedings related to serious crimes” from filing refugee claims, “end the practice of leniency to non-citizens convicted of serious crimes to avoid deportation,” and “ensure repeat extortionists stay in jail,” as outlined in the non-binding motion set to be put forward by the party’s immigration critic, Michelle Rempel Garner, this morning which will go to a vote tomorrow afternoon. (10 a.m.)

Outside the chamber: Government Transformation Minister Joël Lightbound is booked in for an afternoon appearance at GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ESTIMATES as committee members go through the fine print of Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne’s 641-page pitch to roll out measures announced in his inaugural budget last fall — and to which, as per CBC News, Carney “opened the door to potential amendments” during his tête-à-tête with Poilievre last week. (3:30 p.m.)

After wrapping up the one-hour back-and-forth with Lightbound, the committee will get an update on the “creation and planning of the Defence Investment Agency” from Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr. (4:30 p.m.) 

Elsewhere on the committee circuit: HEALTH members are set to get an update on the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile — and, more specifically, “how the Liberals lost $20 million in pharmaceuticals,” according to Conservative health critic Dan Mazier –- from Public Health Agency of Canada president Nancy Hamzawi, who will brief MPs behind closed doors before a one-hour public session. (3:30 p.m.)

Also on the radar: A trio of Team Carney front benchers — Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon and Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin — will “highlight the launch of a new strategy to transform Canada’s automotive industry,” as unveiled by the prime minister in Toronto last week, and share the details of new “investments for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.” (9 a.m.)

ON AND AROUND THE HILL

New Democrat MP Gord Johns teams up with representatives of the Canadian Health Coalition, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Friends of Medicare and the Canadian Labour Congress to urge the government to “protect the Canada Health Act in the face of (the Alberta government’s) shift toward a two-tier, privatized health mode.” (10:30 a.m.)

Later today, Canadian author and self-described “expert in constitutional law” Raymond Samuels hits the West Block press theatre to preview what the advisory describes as “his rewriting of the proposed Quebec Constitution Act,” which “presents a clear path towards a revised Quebec identity” and “effectively eviscerate Quebec separatism from mass popular consciousness,” which will be “officially presented to the National Assembly later this month.” (1 p.m.)

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

The Canadian Medical Association will highlight new data from its annual health and media survey that, according to the advisory, suggests that Canadians “are increasingly turning to AI and other online sources for health information,” leading to concern amongst doctors “about what this will mean going forward if Canada doesn’t adopt strong legislation to manage AI,” with Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, Jen Gunter, David Skok and Vass Bednar on the speakers’ list for the mid-morning launch at a downtown Ottawa hotel.

FRESH FROM iPOLITICS

HOT OFF THE WIRES