Good day to you. We’re starting today’s brief with the latest in our year-end interview series. Next up is Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli, a former advisor to Justin Trudeau.

Zerucelli talked about becoming a politician after many years as a Liberal staffer, his political role model, as well as how he draws inspiration from his father’s experience as a bricklayer.

“It’s been a blur.I’ve been meeting with stakeholders, union leaders and businesses all across the country, some of whom have been highly impacted by the tariffs, because I believe it’s really important to stay connected to people and what they’re feeling,” he said of the whirlwind change from staffer to MP for Etobicoke North and cabinet member.

“I’ve been out meeting with building trades unions and connecting them to what the government’s doing. And, I’ve also been focusing on my riding in Etobicoke North.”

Davis Legree has more from their conversation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday condemned new Russian air attacks and announced additional economic assistance for Ukraine as he and the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stood side-by-side and spoke to reporters at a Halifax-area airport.

The two leaders embraced as Carney welcomed Zelenskyy to Canada. Zelenskyy touched down for a brief stop on his way to Florida for planned peace talks with U.S. president Donald Trump this weekend, which he called “very important and very constructive.” (More on that further down in the brief.)

Carney said Canada will provide a further $2.5 billion of economic assistance for Ukraine, noting the money will help unlock financing from other organizations, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for reconstruction.

The Canadian Press has more.

In Other Headlines:

Internationally:

President Donald Trump on Sunday insisted Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a peace deal as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort, but he acknowledged the negotiations are complex and could still break down, leaving the war dragging on for years.

The president’s statements came after the leaders met for talks following what Trump said was an “excellent,” two-and-a-half-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine launched the war nearly four years ago. Trump insisted he believed Putin still wants peace, even as Russia launched another round of attacks on Ukraine while Zelenskyy flew to the United States for the latest round of negotiations.

“Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” Trump said during a late afternoon news conference as he stood with Zelenskyy after their meeting. He repeatedly praised his counterpart as “brave.”

AP reports.

In Other International Headlines:

The Kicker:

Do they need that incentive?

The 2026 World Cup champion will take home a record $50 million USD, with each of the 48 participating teams collecting at least $10.5 million.

That figure is up from $42 million in 2022 and $38 million in 2018. But it is still less than half of what was on offer at the much less-hyped Club World Cup earlier this year.

World soccer’s governing body said the total prize fund for the World Cup, staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, was $655 million, 50 per cent increase on the previous edition in Qatar.

The Canadian Press explains.

Have a good day! We’ll see you tomorrow.