
What’s happening on (and off) Parliament Hill, plus the news you need to start your day.
As of one minute past midnight, those sweeping new levies targeting billions of dollars in American imports that Canada had served notice it was prepared to roll out after the two sides failed to strike a deal to end the ongoing cross-border trade war are officially in force.
“The dollar-for-dollar tariffs are the federal government’s response to the 50-per-cent levies imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Aug. 22 on hundreds of products worth more than $28 billion — from plywood and cement to wine and hockey sticks,” and will hit “nearly 700 American products at rates ranging from 15 per cent to 50 per cent … from commodities such as steel and aluminum to household goods such as toilet paper and niche products including coin-operated arcade games,” as CBC News notes.
Although the move hasn’t yet triggered a formal response from the United States, a few hours before the levies kicked in, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a new threat against Montreal-based aerospace giant Bombardier.
“NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES,” he declared in a mid-afternoon post to his preferred social media network, Truth Social.
“Their products aren’t good enough! Over 50% of their revenue comes from the United States — They live off American Buyers, American Companies, American Airports, and American Service — All while Canada blocks our GREAT American Banks, and Companies, throughout the U.S.A. They even blocked Gulfstream Aerospace from doing business in Canada — Completely unjust and unfair! That Era is OVER! If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank.’”
“The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on how Trump would enforce the action targeting Bombardier or the steps he would take to bar deliveries of Bombardier jets that have been approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration,” CBC News notes.
“Bombardier issued a statement late Monday highlighting the work it already does in the U.S., as well as plans for expansion, saying its aircraft create ‘tens of thousands of U.S. jobs.’”
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon heads to Norman Wells, N.W.T., where, alongside Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, Northwest Territories Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek, Norman Wells Mayor Frank Pope and other officials, he’s set to unveil what his office is billing as a “major investment to advance a nation-building infrastructure project,” which, as per a source “with knowledge of the matter” who spoke to iPolitics last week, will include “millions of dollars in funding for the Mackenzie Highway project.” (8 a.m. MT)
Elsewhere on the ministerial circuit:
- Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald kicks off a two-day mini-tour of southern Alberta with a morning visit to Calgary-based Hydragreens Produce Ltd., to highlight fresh federal support to “advance Canada’s controlled environment agriculture sector and drive sustainable agricultural technology.” (9 a.m. MT)
- Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr takes questions from reporters after wrapping up a closed-door roundtable with representatives of the “Alberta defence industry,” as well as the Business Council of Alberta. (12:30 p.m. MT)
- Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger visits Regina-based agriculture equipment manufacturer Degelman Industries to share the details of new federal support earmarked for “businesses and workers” across Saskatchewan (10:30 a.m. CT) and unveils new funding for “community infrastructure” alongside RCMP Heritage Centre CEO Sam Karikas. (1 p.m. CT)
- Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson teams up with Newfoundland and Labrador’s environment minister, Andrea Barbour, in downtown St. John’s to promote what the advisory describes as “an important milestone to advance development more efficiently” throughout the province. (1 p.m. NT)
- Rounding out the roster, a trio of front benchers — Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Secretary of State for Seniors Stephanie McLean — will “highlight” their government’s recent move to extend the temporary suspension of the federal excise tax “on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels,” during separate appearances in Halifax, Brantford and Nanaimo, respectively.
Also on the radar: New Democrat leader Avi Lewis joins his party’s five elected MPs as they kick off three days of pre-sitting “planning sessions” in Toronto, which as per the advisory, will “focus on tackling the cost-of-living crisis and protecting Canadians from the fallout from the trade war,” and will include a “closed-to-media” roundtable with “Toronto-based unions and organizations fighting to make life more affordable” later this morning, as well as a mid-afternoon media availability.
ON AND AROUND THE HILL
In cooperation with the Covid Testimony Association, Conservative MP Dean Allison is set to serve as chair during the opening round of testimony from “Canadians injured by Covid-19 vaccines,” as well as those “who have lost loved ones following vaccination,” which, according to the advisory, “represents the first time that Canadian lawmakers will be listening to Canadians about their experiences with the Covid-19 vaccines,” and is expected to continue through Friday. (8:30 a.m.)
IN THE CHAMBER
Both the House of Commons and the Senate have shut down for the summer, with regular parliamentary proceedings set to resume in September.
FRESH FROM iPOLITICS
HOT OFF THE WIRES
Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.







