fbpx
Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Moe travels to Washington with 13 premiers to combat tariffs; plans Mexico trip next

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is one of several premiers travelling to Washington, D.C. next week to continue with diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the looming tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

While the tariffs have been paused for one month, the threat is far from neutralized.

The Council of the Federation’s 13 premiers will travel to Washington together so that they can present a united voice on free trade between Canada and the U.S.

Moe is taking it a step further than some premiers, as he is also planning to travel to Mexico after the premiers’ trip to Washington to advance trading prospects with Mexico. 

“Over the course of the next few weeks, Premier Moe and multiple cabinet Ministers will be travelling within Canada and beyond to advocate for Saskatchewan’s interests,” reads Saskatchewan’s press release. “These engagement efforts will focus on promoting the province as a global supplier of food and energy security, while strengthening relationships with our key international trading partners.”

While Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was the first to emphasize collaboration over retaliation, Moe and Quebec Premier François Legault followed in her footsteps.

“It’s important in the current economic environment that we engage with our counterparts in the United States to emphasize the shared benefit of trade between our two countries and turn the conversation toward building on those strengths rather than jeopardizing them with tariffs,” said Moe, sticking to his new tune.

The 13 premiers will be in Washington on Feb. 12, where they will meet with various U.S. elected representatives, business leaders, and the Canadian American Business Council.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt also previously noted her excitement about going to Washington, D.C. and advocating for the tariffs to be removed permanently. 

Moe said that Saskatchewan supports strong measures to secure the border.

“Strengthening border security and preventing the flow of illicit drugs like Fentanyl is a concern that has been identified by the U.S. and one that I share,” said Moe. “We are already taking action as a province through our Border Security Plan to ensure we have more officers and law enforcement presence at the Saskatchewan-U.S. border.”

The provincial government said the U.S. is Saskatchewan’s largest and most important trading partner, accounting for around $40 billion worth of imports and exports annually. These goods remaining tariff-free is vital for the economy.

Saskatchewan’s government said that over the next several weeks, Moe and various cabinet ministers will travel within Canada and internationally advocating for Saskatchewan’s interests.

Trans Mountain looks to innovate as 10% U.S. energy tariff looms

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: TMX

A Canadian energy sector company is reviewing ways to expand projects in the wake of U.S. tariff threats which could see it increase the country’s barrel per day production by as much as 300,000. 

The Trans Mountain Expansion oil pipeline first launched commercial operations last May following years of regulatory delays and obstacles since it was first announced.   

The $30.9 billion project, owned by the Canadian government, was designed to substantially increase the transport capacity of oil from Alberta through B.C. to the Pacific Coast and currently ships up to 890,000 barrels per day for export.

Shipments of oil are primarily sent to the United States and Asian markets.

However, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to hit Canada’s energy sector with 10 per-cent tariffs on all oil imports, Trans Mountain said it’s looking to expand existing projects to allow for an additional 200,000 to 300,000 barrels per day. 

Trans Mountain vice-president Jason Balasch told Energy Now that the additional barrels would be a means for Canadian oil producers to export to international markets without relying on the extensive network of pipelines south of the border.

Canada currently relies on the U.S. pipeline network for about 9% of the country’s total crude exports.

While Canada-U.S. trade remains volatile, Trans Mountain is reviewing its short-term options such as using a drag reducing agent in its pipeline to expedite transportation as well as installing additional pumps for long term use.

According to Trans Mountain, it’s capable of providing enough oil for 28 to 30 tankers monthly should restrictions at the Vancouver Port roll back and allow for night time shipping. 

The company projects these restrictions to be removed by the third quarter of this year. 

The Port of Vancouver has been installing navigation aids that will allow the port to become fully operational at all times.

Under the current daytime loading schedule, Trans Mountain has been loading a maximum of 24 Aframax vessels per month, transporting around 800,000 barrels per day.  

However, if the restrictions are lifted, the company could see a significant increase in exportation. 

The Alberta Roundup | Did Danielle Smith save Canada?

By
Isaac Lamoureux
-
Source: Facebook

The threat of U.S. tariffs was put on hold for the next 30 days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a plan to secure the border. Canada’s plan included many of Alberta Premier Smith’s recommendations, including the appointment of a fentanyl czar. Did Smith save Canada from the tariffs?

Plus, the city of Edmonton has passed a bylaw prohibiting the sale of knives in convenience stores, an idea previously floated in the spring.

And the Alberta government is providing additional support for residents of Jasper displaced by the wildfire.

These stories and more on The Alberta Roundup with Isaac Lamoureux!

Ontarians see Ford’s election call as self-serving, but would still vote for a majority gov

By
Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

Despite being the overwhelming favourite to win the provincial election, a majority of Ontario voters say that Premier Doug Ford called voters to the ballet to serve his own interests and that an election is unnecessary.

In a new poll from Angus Reid, 78% of Ontarians agreed with the statement “Doug Ford is calling this election for his own best interests,” with only 13% of voters disagreeing.

The belief that Ford called a self-serving election is held across party lines, as over 90% of Liberal, NDP, and Green party voters said the election was only called for the sake of the Progressive Conservatives. Even 58% of Ontarians intending to vote PC agreed with the statement.

Not only do voters think that the election was called to serve the interests of the premier, but a majority also say that the election is unnecessary. 

A total of 68% of Ontarians say the election is unnecessary, with 84% of Ontario Liberals and Greens and 83% of NDP supporters agreeing with the sentiment. A plurality, 48%, of PC supporters also agree that the election is unnecessary, while 38% disagree.

Ford opponents have hammered him for calling an early election during a potential trade conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie slammed Ford for calling an election and is attempting to shift the provincial conversation away from the issue of American tariffs and towards healthcare.

“Doug Ford doesn’t want to have an election about healthcare because he doesn’t want to answer for his failures,” said Crombie.

NDP leader Marit Stiles claims that Ford is calling the election to run away from his government’s record.

“While the people of Ontario are anxious about the grave threat of tariffs, Doug Ford is pursuing his own political gain. People need a Premier who will fight like hell for every single job that’s at risk, not run to the polls over a year early,” said Stiles.

The Angus Reid poll also found that 40% of Ontario voters think that a PC government would be the worst for their overall quality of living while 17% say the Liberals would be the worst, 16% say the NDP would be the worst, and 10% for the Greens.

On the other hand, only 31% of voters say the PCs would be the best for their overall quality of living while 25% say the NDP would be the best, 20% say the Liberal would be the best, and 19% remain uncertain.

Earlier in the week, Angus Reid polled Ford’s personal popularity, finding that the premier only holds a 32% personal approval rating, making him the most unpopular premier in the country.

Despite the negative perception of Ford and the prospects of his party returning to power, the PCs are projected to win the election in a landslide.

According to 338Canada, the Ontario PCs are on track to win a supermajority in the Legislative Assembly. Ford’s PCs are projected to win 46% of the popular vote, up from the 40.8% they won in 2022 and 101 seats in the legislature of 124, up from 83 seats. 

The NDP is slated to win 19% of the vote and 12 seats, while the Liberals are projected to win 26% of the vote and eight seats. 

If the PCs win 101 seats in the legislature, Ford’s party would win the most seats in Ontario’s electoral history and the greatest proportion of seats in the legislature since Premier Leslie Frost’s 1955 election victory in which he won 83 of the 98 seats. 

Colombian man extradited to the U.S. over human smuggling, pregnant woman’s drowning

By
Alex Zoltan, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

A Colombian man was extradited from Canada to the United States and arraigned on Thursday for his alleged involvement in a human smuggling attempt that resulted in a pregnant woman drowning.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 36-year-old Jhader Augusto Uribe-Tobar – a citizen of Colombia who resides in Québec – attempted to smuggle a pregnant woman from Canada into New York for $2,500 by instructing her to wade through the frigid Great Chazy River in darkness.

The woman, a 33-year-old citizen of Mexico, died in December 2023 while attempting to complete the trek.

The body of Ana Vasquez-Flores was found in the river near Champlain, N.Y., on Dec. 14, 2023, two days after her husband alerted a border patrol agent that she had not emerged from the woods on the American side of the border.

Juan Uribe-Tobar advertised his smuggling services on TikTok according to the court documents.

On December 7, 2023, Vasquez-Flores’s husband contacted Uribe-Tobar via the app and was told that the cost for the crossing was “$2,500 American” – with the route taking Vasquez-Flores through Montreal before reaching Plattsburgh, New York.

Four days later, at approximately 6:21 p.m., Uribe-Tobar messaged the relative, stating, “Friend, we are at the river crossing.” A minute later, he followed up with, “She is crossing, friend.”

The husband responded, “I’m very nervous.”

By 7:06 p.m., Uribe-Tobar sent another message indicating concern for A.V.-F.’s safety: “Bro hello, I think she got wet or turned off her cell phone. Bro, I told her to hold it while she was crossing.”

Uribe-Tobar and the victim’s relative continued to exchange messages throughout the night. 

Uribe-Tobar claimed he had people searching for the man’s wife and allegedly told the husband via text message, “I already sent them a pin to see if they see her, I told them what happened and that she is pregnant.”

He provided her last known location – near the Great Chazy River in Champlain – where, according to Uribe-Tobar, the water was “wadable.”

A search was launched immediately and on December 14, 2023, authorities discovered Vasquez-Flores’s body floating in the Great Chazy River.

Uribe-Tobar has been charged with federal smuggling-related offences, which carry a minimum sentence of three years and a maximum of life in prison.

United States Attorney Carla Freedman said of the tragic incident: “This tragedy highlights the dangers of illegal migration and how, as alleged, smugglers deliberately put people in harm’s way for profit.”

“By vigorously prosecuting human smuggling networks,” Freedman continued *we are deterring and reducing the number of dangerous crossings like the one that took the lives of this young woman and her unborn child.”

Omar Alghabra to promote “inclusive governance” as special envoy for Syria 

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
-
Source: CPAC

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Liberal MP and former minister of transport Omar Alghabra as its Special Envoy for Syria with a special focus on “inclusive governance” for the new regime that took over after the downfall of Bashar al-Assad. 

Trudeau’s choice of Alghabra, who will advise on promoting “inclusive governance” and human rights, comes as Global Affairs Canad – Canada’s foreign service – faces scrutiny over promoting DEI initiatives overbroad. 

Canada has committed to aiding the Syrian people in building an “inclusive and just society”, the press release on Alghabra’s appointment reads. 

Alghabra, a Syrian Canadian, has been a vocal proponent of accepting Syrian refugees in the past. 

“Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the people of Syria. With the appointment of Mr. Alghabra as Canada’s new Special Envoy for Syria, we are strengthening our efforts to promote dialogue, deliver critical humanitarian aid, and build a future where all Syrians can live in safety and dignity for years to come,” said Trudeau.

According to the press release, Alghabra’s role involves consulting with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to push for governance that includes all segments of Syrian society. 

The Middle Eastern country has been riddled with warring factions for years and is in desperate need of basic infrastructure, economic stabilization, and counter-terrorism.

Canada’s has provided the country with significant financial aid, over $4.7 billion since 2016, and an additional $17.25 million announced last month.

Additionally, the Trudeau government has signalled openness to review sanctions against groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham known for numerous violent attacks, as it assumes leadership over the country. 

Reports suggest the Canadian government is mulling the decision to potentially lift these sanctions or reconsider HTS’s terrorist status.

HTS’s control over much of Syria after the fall of Damascus has many Western allies questioning whether the new government will honour its pledge to introduce democratic elections and represent the various ethnic and religious groups that make up Syria and the Levant. 

Feds announce strategy to boost Canada’s cybersecurity

By
Noah Jarvis, True North Wire
-
Source: CPAC

The federal government has unveiled their strategy to boost Canada’s cybersecurity and defend against threats from malicious foreign governments or non-state criminal organizations.

The announcement of the “National Cyber Security Strategy” comes shortly after the release of the federal government’s bi-annual National Cyber Threat Assessment showing that Canadian citizens and businesses are facing growing cybersecurity threats.

The cybersecurity strategy lays out the Trudeau government’s plan to cooperate with law enforcement, academia, civil society, and other levels of government in order to combat emerging threats in Canada’s cyber landscape. 

To make Canada a “global leader” in the cyber security industry, the government plans on creating an education pipeline for cyber security professionals, raising privacy regulations on businesses, and regulations for artificial intelligence development. 

The government also claims that it will collaborate with the energy industry to strengthen cybersecurity around key infrastructure.

“We had been working with our private sector partners and others in Canada for some time to develop the strategy,” said Public Safety Minister David McGuinty in a press conference.

Despite listing several priorities and objectives for the government to achieve, the National Cyber Security Strategy does not provide any specifics about what steps the government will take to achieve their objectives. 

The cybersecurity strategy seeks to address many of the concerns brought up in the National Cyber Threat Assessment. 

The threat assessment found that Canada faces significant cybersecurity threats from state actors, non-state cyber-criminals, and the development of artificial intelligence.

The assessment lists China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and India as potential threats, with China being named the most significant threat of them all.

The report also pointed to the growth of cybercrime-as-a-service available for cybercriminals to purchase, varying from malware-as-a-service, ransomware-as-a-service, phishing-as-a-service, and more. 

The recently released final report from the foreign interference commission found that foreign adversaries are using cyber tools to interfere in Canada’s democratic processes, specifically China, Russia, and Pakistan. 

The Hogue report asserted that the Chinese government uses their cyber tools to interfere in Canadian elections while Russia uses their tools to spread misinformation beneficial to Russia’s interests. The cybersecurity strategy only mentions foreign interference in passing.

According to the threat assessment, Canadians lost ​​$567 million from fraud and scams in 2023, up from $383 million in 2021.

The cybercrime strategy is being backed by the government with $37.8 million over six years. 

CUPE asks feds to nationalize companies that try to leave for the U.S.

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook (CUPE SCFP)

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats, Canada’s national public sector workers union is calling on the feds to forcibly take ownership of any “nationally important” company that threatens to move its operations to the U.S.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees called on the federal government to assert public ownership of companies in Canadian markets and spend more tax dollars to fight back against Trump’s “imperialism.”

“US President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs would severely damage the Canadian economy, our public services and our way of life,” CUPE said in its statement. “These tariffs are not a one-off: they are part of a larger anti-democratic effort by his administration to solidify billionaire control over government, stoke fear and racism, and cement US imperialism in Canada and around the globe.”

It called on the state to “meet this crisis with bold action and progressive, public solutions.”

Among those “progressive” solutions, CUPE wants the government to seize control of any Canadian business owner who wants to leave Canada for lower taxes and less regulatory burden that the new U.S. administration promises. 

“Put emergency nationalization on the table,” the announcement said. “If a company doing business in Canada threatens to move nationally important operations to the US, the federal government could take ownership.”

This week, the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses Canada, announced half of its members now have premises in the U.S. out of necessity to protect themselves and the jobs they provide amid an “anti-business” climate in Canada.

Though manufacturers and businesses say they have moved premises to the U.S. because of problems caused by the Canadian government, CUPE demands that the state grow larger and its involvement in the market expand further.

It called for the government to “Trump-proof” the economy by taking ownership of “key transportation and energy infrastructure.” It advocated using the Canada Infrastructure Bank to spend $22 billion buying stakes in private companies, “supporting them in the public interest.”

CUPE called for Canada to “develop public manufacturing” in sectors such as pharmaceutical production and to “guarantee” jobs for young workers by working with unions such as itself and municipalities.

The union called for more government spending in handouts as well, advocating for an increase in programs such as Employment Insurance.

It also wants the state to increase its funding of Canadian media by increasing the Canadian Journalism tax credit and paying for advertising that “supports” it. 

The group want to ensure that foreign competition stays out of the market. And ensure that Canada’s telecommunications market bans foreign companies from using Canada’s broadcasting spectrum.

To fight back against Trump, CUPE wants more federal spending for health care, education, social services and municipalities, in general, to “create jobs and soften the blow of a recession and forecasted spike in inflation.”

The federal union also advocated against one political party in particular.

According to a countdown clock of Canada’s current estimated federal debt created by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canada is currently nearly $1.25 trillion in debt.

It accused Conservatives such as Pierre Poilievre and “conservative provincial governments” of plans to reduce government spending, taxes, and regulations are “regressive” and won’t spur on economic growth but will “harm” Canadians.

“Tax cuts mean less money for vital services. Governments should be looking to raise, not cut, revenues to help pay for the support workers and communities will need through this crisis,” CUPE wrote. “A good first step would be a hefty tax on companies owned by billionaires.”

When discussing his plan to cut taxes for producers, businesses and workers to spur economic growth, Poilievre noted he would take large cuts out of corporate welfare to pay for the tax breaks.

Blanchet says Quebecers “fiercely” oppose a pipeline, survey says otherwise

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: X

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said that Quebec was “fiercely opposed” to the notion of any energy pipelines running through the province in response to fending off the impact of U.S. tariffs. 

“We are fiercely opposed to any type of transport on Quebec territory of hydrocarbons from Western Canada to any market whatsoever. It does not serve Quebec. It does not serve the environment. It does not serve the planet,” Blanchet told reporters during a press conference in Carleton-sur-Mer, Que. Thursday.

However, a recent poll conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found that 79 per-cent of Canadians believe that Canada “needs to ensure it has oil and gas pipelines running from sea to sea across the country.” 

A majority of respondents across all provinces agreed, however, Quebecers were the least likely to “strongly agree” at 27 per-cent.

Talks of re-opening the Energy East pipeline from Alberta to Atlantic Canada have re-emerged in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff threat on Canadian imports. 

Federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson called for Ottawa and the provinces to discuss the possibility of an oil pipeline to Eastern Canada as a means to improve energy security and mitigate “vulnerabilities” in Canada’s economy. 

“The world has changed quite a bit in the aftermath of what we have seen from what has been our friend, the United States,” Wilkinson told reporters in Montreal Thursday. “I think it does call for us to reflect on whether there are some conversations that we need to have in this country.”

Quebec Premier François Legault also acknowledged how Trump’s tariff threats may potentially soften Quebecers’ opposition to a pipeline running through the province. 

“There’s no social acceptability for this kind of project right now in Quebec. But of course … what Mr. Trump is doing may change the situation in the future. So if there’s social acceptability, we will be open to these kinds of projects,” ” Legault told reporters Monday. 

“If Danielle Smith or whoever table projects, we’ll look at them, but we need to have social acceptability.”

However, Blanchet remains unshook by the latest tariff developments, even aiming at Liberal leadership Mark Carney for his rapidly shifting stance on Canadian energy. 

Carney recently said that the federal government should use its “exceptional powers” to “move forward with projects,” referring to pipelines, “including the Energy East.”

“But at the same time, the provinces, including Quebec, must agree with such projects,” Carney told reporters in Windsor, Ont. Thursday. “But we’ll see.”

However, Blanchet accused Carney of using the tariff threat as a way to “bypass” the province’s environmental concerns. 

“The ‘pro-hydrocarbon speech’ that even Mr. Carney is starting to hold, as if there were a future in western Canadian hydrocarbons… the sacrifice of interests in green energies that make Quebec rich and that are a contribution to environmental issues, which are suddenly being pushed aside from the public debate to say, ‘we are in crisis,’” said Blanchet. 

“What a great opportunity to bypass Quebec considerations and ecological considerations, to unroll a pipe to the Atlantic?”

Liberals backtrack on Meta ad ban while news outlets remain blocked

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: X

The Liberals are flip-flopping on their advertising ban on Meta, not on behalf of news organizations like True North, but for themselves.

In response to the Liberals’ online news bill, Bill C-18, Meta previously banned news links on Facebook and Instagram for Canadian users. In retaliation, the government announced it would not pay advertising dollars to Meta if the tech platform didn’t agree to be forced to pay Canadian news organizations.

“We have decided to take the necessary step of suspending all Government of Canada advertising to Facebook,” said then-Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez weeks after the news ban. 

CTV News first revealed that the Liberals’ advertising boycott on Meta would come to an end with a $100,000 campaign promoting the GST rebate.

The Toronto Star later revealed that this price tag would rise to almost $300,000.

True North’s Candice Malcolm said that a key component of the online news act was an attempt to force Meta to bail out failing Canadian news companies.

“Now that Trudeau needs to use Zuckerberg’s platforms to promote his own vote-buying scheme for the Liberal Party, Justin Trudeau is walking that back,” she said.

However, Malcolm highlighted the hypocrisy in the recent decision.

“Trudeau is saying it’s okay for him and his government to be back on Facebook and Instagram, but it’s not okay for journalists and organizations like True North. Very fitting. Very rich,” she said. 

Unlike Meta, Google succumbed to the Liberals’ demands and agreed to pay $100 million annually to publish Canadian news on its platform. 

A previous study revealed that the news ban resulted in Canadian news engagement plummeting. Canadian news outlets lost 85 per cent of their engagement on Facebook and Instagram, leading to a 42.6-per-cent overall decrease in online news consumption — representing 11 million fewer views daily.

Concerning the GST rebate the Liberals are now advertising, a previous survey from the Angus Reid Insitute revealed Canadians were not buying what the Liberals were selling. In fact, the survey highlighted that the political gambit, which boasted of the tax holiday and $250 cheque, was working against the Liberals.

Over eight in ten (84 per cent) of Canadians said the tax exemption was entirely or mostly political. Less than five per cent of respondents who did not already intend to vote Liberal said the tax gambit would make them much more or more likely to vote for the party in the future. 

However, 36 per cent of Canadians said that the tax trick would make them less or much less likely to vote for the Liberals in the future.

Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg previously revealed that he would “dramatically reduce the amount of censorship” on Meta’s platforms. 

The change would be a move away from fact-checkers and towards X-style community notes, which Zuckerberg said would promote and defend free expression and eliminate bias. He also committed to working with the Trump administration to defend free speech internationally.

Malcolm highlighted more irony with Trudeau, given his recent call to Canadians to purchase Canadian goods and boycott American goods in response to the tariffs.

“And meanwhile, we learned that he is now using our tax dollars to pay for ads to one of the largest American corporations in the world, all just to promote his electioneering tax gimmicks,” said Malcolm.

1...456...1,460Page 5 of 1,460

Related stories

© 2025 True North | Privacy Policy