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Good evening, readers.
Stop the presses — U.S. President Donald Trump is raving about tariffs and slamming Canada.
During a prime-time appearance at a Las Vegas casino on Wednesday, the president talked up his favourite trade tool and took shots at Canada’s “nasty” leadership.
“I love tariffs, right? Because we’ve been screwed by tariffs used against us for years. By China, by Japan, by South Korea, by Germany, by everybody, by Canada,” he said to jeers from the crowd.
“Canada’s nasty. They are. They’re nasty,” he added. “I love the people but they’re nasty. Nasty leadership.”
Speaking to reporters in Saguenay, Que. on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked to respond.
“Whatever adjective is used, yes, we’re standing up for Canadian workers, for Canadian businesses, as we always have from the start,” said the prime minister, who also mentioned he spoke with Trump last week.
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette are meeting today with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington.
CTV News has more.
On the same vein, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Thursday that Carney is putting Canada in a “position of weakness” by making a string of concessions before entering serious negotiations with the Americans.
He told reporters in St. John’s, N.L., that Carney was squandering Canada’s leverage in talks by pre-emptively agreeing to demands from the U.S. to drastically increase spending on the military, reducing some counter-tariffs and repealing the digital services tax and promised fees on streaming providers.
“I don’t understand the strategy of making concession after concession after concession before even getting to the negotiating table,” Poilievre said.
“Many of these things were going to have to happen, but why not bring them to the to the bargaining table and get something in return for them, rather than making every concession and then showing up empty-handed and in a position of weakness when we bargain?”
Marco Vigliotti explains.
The pressure is on, Doug.
Our own Barbara Patrocinio reports exclusively that Ontario’s Big City Mayors will publicly endorse mandatory treatment at their next meeting, set for Ottawa later this month.
Mandatory care, also known as compassionate care, is a proposed approach that would allow some people experiencing severe addiction or mental illness to be admitted into treatment without their consent under defined legal circumstances.
The Ford government has spent months studying this policy, but has yet to embrace it.
The endorsement from the OBCM — which represents 29 municipalities accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the province’s population — would increase the pressure on Premier Doug Ford’s government to make a decision on the policy.
Read more in this piece from sister outlet QP Briefing.
In Other Headlines
Internationally
A Senate committee voted Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress and refer him to the Justice Department for potential prosecution over his refusal to answer questions at a hearing last week on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times at the hearing.
Meanwhile, Iran said Wednesday it is in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said a deal could be announced this week. The agreement is likely to be contingent on the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iran’s ports.
AP has both of these stories.
In Other International Headlines
The Kicker
WK Kellogg said Thursday that it will remove artificial colors from all its cereals by the end of this year.
The change comes a year ahead of schedule. Kellogg said last August that it would remove synthetic dyes from its cereals by the end of 2027.
AP reports.
Have a great night!
