🇨🇦 Canada Extends Latvia Mission — But Scrambles to Fill Equipment Gaps
Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed Canada will keep troops in Latvia until 2029, extending Operation Reassurance, the country’s largest overseas mission. Roughly 2,200 Canadian troops are deployed at Camp Ādaži alongside 1,300 NATO allies.
But even as Ottawa extends the mission, the Canadian Armed Forces are struggling to modernize. Many of the Leopard 2A4 tanks on site date back to the late 1980s and 1990s, with commanders warning of spare-part shortages.
“Peace can only come through strength… Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine shattered any previous assumptions that many others held of European post-Cold War security,” Carney told troops in Riga.
Defence Minister David McGuinty, traveling with Carney, said the government is committed to a “major reboot” of the military, pointing to $9.3B in additional defence spending this year.
📌 Equipment challenges:
• Ottawa has rushed anti-drone, anti-tank, and short-range air defence systems into Latvia.
• A small number of RQ-21 Blackjack surveillance drones are in use, but commanders say more are urgently needed.
• New barracks and tank sheds have been built at Ādaži to ease overcrowding.
Brigade commander Col. Kris Reeves said the long-term extension provides certainty but underlined the pressure to adapt:
“Just turn on the news and you see how important drones are in the Ukraine fight. We need those pieces of equipment here in Latvia.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed Canada will keep troops in Latvia until 2029, extending Operation Reassurance, the country’s largest overseas mission. Roughly 2,200 Canadian troops are deployed at Camp Ādaži alongside 1,300 NATO allies.
But even as Ottawa extends the mission, the Canadian Armed Forces are struggling to modernize. Many of the Leopard 2A4 tanks on site date back to the late 1980s and 1990s, with commanders warning of spare-part shortages.
“Peace can only come through strength… Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine shattered any previous assumptions that many others held of European post-Cold War security,” Carney told troops in Riga.
Defence Minister David McGuinty, traveling with Carney, said the government is committed to a “major reboot” of the military, pointing to $9.3B in additional defence spending this year.
📌 Equipment challenges:
• Ottawa has rushed anti-drone, anti-tank, and short-range air defence systems into Latvia.
• A small number of RQ-21 Blackjack surveillance drones are in use, but commanders say more are urgently needed.
• New barracks and tank sheds have been built at Ādaži to ease overcrowding.
Brigade commander Col. Kris Reeves said the long-term extension provides certainty but underlined the pressure to adapt:
“Just turn on the news and you see how important drones are in the Ukraine fight. We need those pieces of equipment here in Latvia.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦 Canadian Ministers Meet U.S. Attorney General in Washington
Two Canadian cabinet ministers met with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in Washington on Tuesday, as Ottawa seeks deeper cross-border cooperation on security, trade, and law enforcement.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Justice Minister Arif Virani led the delegation, holding what LeBlanc described as “frank and productive” discussions with Garland and senior officials at the Department of Justice.
Talks focused on cross-border crime, money laundering, cyber threats, and organized crime networks, which both countries say are increasingly operating across shared borders.
📌 Key points:
• The ministers emphasized the need to align efforts against transnational organized crime and cybersecurity threats.
• Both sides highlighted ongoing cooperation through joint task forces and intelligence sharing.
• The meeting followed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent European trip, underscoring Ottawa’s push to bolster alliances on multiple fronts.
LeBlanc said afterwards that Canada and the U.S. “face common threats that no country can address alone,” adding that the partnership remains “essential to protecting our citizens and strengthening the rule of law.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Two Canadian cabinet ministers met with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in Washington on Tuesday, as Ottawa seeks deeper cross-border cooperation on security, trade, and law enforcement.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Justice Minister Arif Virani led the delegation, holding what LeBlanc described as “frank and productive” discussions with Garland and senior officials at the Department of Justice.
Talks focused on cross-border crime, money laundering, cyber threats, and organized crime networks, which both countries say are increasingly operating across shared borders.
📌 Key points:
• The ministers emphasized the need to align efforts against transnational organized crime and cybersecurity threats.
• Both sides highlighted ongoing cooperation through joint task forces and intelligence sharing.
• The meeting followed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent European trip, underscoring Ottawa’s push to bolster alliances on multiple fronts.
LeBlanc said afterwards that Canada and the U.S. “face common threats that no country can address alone,” adding that the partnership remains “essential to protecting our citizens and strengthening the rule of law.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦 Poilievre Says Temporary Foreign Workers Taking Jobs from Young Canadians
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberal government Wednesday of allowing temporary foreign workers to displace Canadian youth in the labour market.
“As our young people have a quarter-century high in their unemployment, Mark Carney this year is expected to bring in a record number of temporary foreign workers to take the jobs of Canadian youth,” Poilievre said at a news conference in Prince Edward Island.
Youth unemployment reached 14.6% in July, the highest since 2010 outside of the COVID-19 period.
📌 Key points:
• Poilievre cited federal data showing 105,000 visas issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in the first half of 2025. He argued this exceeded Ottawa’s target of 82,000 for the year.
• Immigration officials countered, saying the figure included renewals for workers already in Canada, with only 33,722 representing new arrivals.
• A further 302,000 visas were issued under the International Mobility Program, which operates outside the labour market test requirement.
Government officials note the overall number of temporary foreign workers entering Canada has declined to 119,000 in the first six months of 2025, down from 245,000 in the same period last year.
Analysts say Poilievre’s focus on immigration underscores a political vulnerability for the Carney government. Opinion polls have shown rising concerns about immigration’s impact on housing and affordability, even as economists stress Canada’s low birthrate means immigration is essential for labour market growth.
The federal government is expected to release an updated immigration levels plan this fall, aiming to reduce the share of temporary residents from 7.1% of the population to 5%.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberal government Wednesday of allowing temporary foreign workers to displace Canadian youth in the labour market.
“As our young people have a quarter-century high in their unemployment, Mark Carney this year is expected to bring in a record number of temporary foreign workers to take the jobs of Canadian youth,” Poilievre said at a news conference in Prince Edward Island.
Youth unemployment reached 14.6% in July, the highest since 2010 outside of the COVID-19 period.
📌 Key points:
• Poilievre cited federal data showing 105,000 visas issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in the first half of 2025. He argued this exceeded Ottawa’s target of 82,000 for the year.
• Immigration officials countered, saying the figure included renewals for workers already in Canada, with only 33,722 representing new arrivals.
• A further 302,000 visas were issued under the International Mobility Program, which operates outside the labour market test requirement.
Government officials note the overall number of temporary foreign workers entering Canada has declined to 119,000 in the first six months of 2025, down from 245,000 in the same period last year.
Analysts say Poilievre’s focus on immigration underscores a political vulnerability for the Carney government. Opinion polls have shown rising concerns about immigration’s impact on housing and affordability, even as economists stress Canada’s low birthrate means immigration is essential for labour market growth.
The federal government is expected to release an updated immigration levels plan this fall, aiming to reduce the share of temporary residents from 7.1% of the population to 5%.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦 Canada Eyes LNG Port to Tap European Markets
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson says Canada is prepared to push ahead with new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity aimed at Europe, as Ottawa looks to deepen its energy role across the Atlantic.
Speaking in Berlin after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Hodgson said:
“There is a window here for Canada to help Europe diversify its energy supply, and we intend to seize that opportunity.”
The minister confirmed Ottawa is in talks with private sector partners to accelerate LNG projects, though he cautioned that any new port facilities would take years to come online.
📌 Context:
• Europe has sought alternatives to Russian gas since the war in Ukraine, with Germany aggressively expanding LNG terminals.
• Canada currently lacks an operational Atlantic LNG export terminal, but Hodgson suggested the government is ready to back “commercially viable” proposals.
• Carney and Merz also discussed critical minerals and defence partnerships, underscoring the growing economic-security link between Ottawa and Berlin.
Hodgson framed the energy talks as part of a broader strategic partnership:
“Canada can be a reliable supplier of clean, responsibly produced energy that strengthens not just Europe’s security, but our shared prosperity.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson says Canada is prepared to push ahead with new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity aimed at Europe, as Ottawa looks to deepen its energy role across the Atlantic.
Speaking in Berlin after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Hodgson said:
“There is a window here for Canada to help Europe diversify its energy supply, and we intend to seize that opportunity.”
The minister confirmed Ottawa is in talks with private sector partners to accelerate LNG projects, though he cautioned that any new port facilities would take years to come online.
📌 Context:
• Europe has sought alternatives to Russian gas since the war in Ukraine, with Germany aggressively expanding LNG terminals.
• Canada currently lacks an operational Atlantic LNG export terminal, but Hodgson suggested the government is ready to back “commercially viable” proposals.
• Carney and Merz also discussed critical minerals and defence partnerships, underscoring the growing economic-security link between Ottawa and Berlin.
Hodgson framed the energy talks as part of a broader strategic partnership:
“Canada can be a reliable supplier of clean, responsibly produced energy that strengthens not just Europe’s security, but our shared prosperity.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🔥 Canada’s 2023 Wildfires Pushed Air Pollution to Decade-Level Highs
Canada’s record-breaking 2023 wildfire season burned 42 million acres of forest and pushed air pollution to levels not seen in Canada since 1998 — and in the United States since 2011 — according to new analysis by the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index.
Researchers found that more than half of Canadians breathed air that exceeded national clean air standards, a dramatic jump from less than 5% in the previous five years. The report says wildfire smoke erased much of the progress made in reducing air pollution, with fine particulate matter now once again at levels that directly threaten human health and life expectancy.
Globally, particulate pollution in 2023 was nearly five times the World Health Organization’s recommended level. University of Chicago professor Michael Greenstone, co-creator of the AQLI, said:
“We’re now stuck living with air pollution concentrations that are the dangerous ghost of the fossil fuels burned since the Industrial Revolution. Even countries that have earnestly spent decades cleaning up their air can’t escape these ghosts and the shorter and sicker lives that they deliver.”
The study warned that air pollution has become the greatest external threat to human life expectancy, comparable to smoking, with reductions to WHO guideline levels estimated to add 1.9 years of life for the average person.
Beyond climate dynamics, a growing number of analysts argue that decades of poor forest management have compounded the wildfire problem. Critics note that thinning programs, controlled burns, and investment in firebreaks have lagged, leaving forests overstocked with fuel. The result: hotter, faster, and more destructive fires.
Others point to the “green agenda” pursued for decades — including strict restrictions on logging and land-use practices — as well-intentioned but poorly balanced. Instead of healthier ecosystems, some experts say these policies have created conditions where wildfires spread unchecked, undermining the very environmental goals they sought to achieve.
The 2023 wildfire season now stands as the most destructive in Canadian history. 2024 ranks second, underscoring that these events are no longer outliers but part of a troubling new baseline, with consequences for Canada, its neighbors, and far beyond.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Canada’s record-breaking 2023 wildfire season burned 42 million acres of forest and pushed air pollution to levels not seen in Canada since 1998 — and in the United States since 2011 — according to new analysis by the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index.
Researchers found that more than half of Canadians breathed air that exceeded national clean air standards, a dramatic jump from less than 5% in the previous five years. The report says wildfire smoke erased much of the progress made in reducing air pollution, with fine particulate matter now once again at levels that directly threaten human health and life expectancy.
Globally, particulate pollution in 2023 was nearly five times the World Health Organization’s recommended level. University of Chicago professor Michael Greenstone, co-creator of the AQLI, said:
“We’re now stuck living with air pollution concentrations that are the dangerous ghost of the fossil fuels burned since the Industrial Revolution. Even countries that have earnestly spent decades cleaning up their air can’t escape these ghosts and the shorter and sicker lives that they deliver.”
The study warned that air pollution has become the greatest external threat to human life expectancy, comparable to smoking, with reductions to WHO guideline levels estimated to add 1.9 years of life for the average person.
Beyond climate dynamics, a growing number of analysts argue that decades of poor forest management have compounded the wildfire problem. Critics note that thinning programs, controlled burns, and investment in firebreaks have lagged, leaving forests overstocked with fuel. The result: hotter, faster, and more destructive fires.
Others point to the “green agenda” pursued for decades — including strict restrictions on logging and land-use practices — as well-intentioned but poorly balanced. Instead of healthier ecosystems, some experts say these policies have created conditions where wildfires spread unchecked, undermining the very environmental goals they sought to achieve.
The 2023 wildfire season now stands as the most destructive in Canadian history. 2024 ranks second, underscoring that these events are no longer outliers but part of a troubling new baseline, with consequences for Canada, its neighbors, and far beyond.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦 Quebec to Table Bill Banning Public Prayer
The Quebec government says it will introduce legislation this fall to ban prayer in public spaces, citing the “proliferation of street prayer” as a challenge to the province’s secular framework.
Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge announced Thursday that Premier François Legault had given him a mandate to strengthen Quebec’s secular laws.
“The premier of Quebec has given me the mandate to strengthen secularism, and I am determined to fulfil this mandate diligently,” Roberge said.
Legault has previously signaled support for restrictions on public prayer, stating in December:
“Seeing people praying in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec. When we want to pray, we go to a church, we go to a mosque, but not in public places.”
The bill follows months of debate after images of Muslims praying in Montreal went viral online, and after a video of worshippers outside the Notre-Dame Basilica drew wide attention. Other public religious events, including Catholic processions, are also common in Quebec.
Reaction has been swift. The Canadian Muslim Forum said street prayer falls under freedom of expression and warned a ban would “stigmatize communities and undermine social cohesion.” The group added the government should focus on “solving real problems” such as health care, housing costs, and the SAAQclic digital platform overrun.
The announcement also comes as Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec faces political headwinds. The party has recently lost three consecutive byelections to the Parti Québécois and the premier is scheduled to testify next week at a public inquiry into the half-billion-dollar cost overrun of the SAAQclic system.
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he is not opposed to restrictions on public prayer but criticized Legault for delays:
“The premier tells us that he has been thinking about the issue of street prayers for a year. Why has he done nothing?”
An advisory committee on secularism released a 300-page report earlier this week recommending Bill 21 be expanded to include daycare educators wearing religious symbols. It did not recommend banning public prayer, suggesting municipalities already have the power to regulate it.
Despite that, Roberge said the report influenced the government’s decision to move forward with legislation, noting caucus discussions had advanced “reflections on several aspects of secularism.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The Quebec government says it will introduce legislation this fall to ban prayer in public spaces, citing the “proliferation of street prayer” as a challenge to the province’s secular framework.
Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge announced Thursday that Premier François Legault had given him a mandate to strengthen Quebec’s secular laws.
“The premier of Quebec has given me the mandate to strengthen secularism, and I am determined to fulfil this mandate diligently,” Roberge said.
Legault has previously signaled support for restrictions on public prayer, stating in December:
“Seeing people praying in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec. When we want to pray, we go to a church, we go to a mosque, but not in public places.”
The bill follows months of debate after images of Muslims praying in Montreal went viral online, and after a video of worshippers outside the Notre-Dame Basilica drew wide attention. Other public religious events, including Catholic processions, are also common in Quebec.
Reaction has been swift. The Canadian Muslim Forum said street prayer falls under freedom of expression and warned a ban would “stigmatize communities and undermine social cohesion.” The group added the government should focus on “solving real problems” such as health care, housing costs, and the SAAQclic digital platform overrun.
The announcement also comes as Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec faces political headwinds. The party has recently lost three consecutive byelections to the Parti Québécois and the premier is scheduled to testify next week at a public inquiry into the half-billion-dollar cost overrun of the SAAQclic system.
PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he is not opposed to restrictions on public prayer but criticized Legault for delays:
“The premier tells us that he has been thinking about the issue of street prayers for a year. Why has he done nothing?”
An advisory committee on secularism released a 300-page report earlier this week recommending Bill 21 be expanded to include daycare educators wearing religious symbols. It did not recommend banning public prayer, suggesting municipalities already have the power to regulate it.
Despite that, Roberge said the report influenced the government’s decision to move forward with legislation, noting caucus discussions had advanced “reflections on several aspects of secularism.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
❤15👎9😁2😢2🙏2🤡1
🇨🇦 Convoy Figure James Bauder Wanted on Canada-Wide Warrant After Missing Court Date
James Bauder, a central figure in the 2022 Freedom Convoy, is now the subject of a Canada-wide warrant after failing to appear in court in Ottawa earlier this week.
Bauder, who left Canada this summer and is currently seeking asylum in the United States, faces charges including mischief and intimidation related to his role in the protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks. A Superior Court judge ordered his arrest after his absence in court.
The Calgary resident has long argued he is the victim of “political persecution,” raising nearly $13,000 online for legal fees. He previously attempted to move his case out of Ottawa, claiming the city — home to thousands of federal employees — could not provide him with an impartial jury. A judge dismissed that request, calling it “baseless in fact.”
📌 Background:
• Bauder led a smaller convoy to Ottawa in 2021, presenting a “memorandum of understanding” to the Senate and Governor General demanding an end to COVID-19 mandates and the resignation of then-prime minister Justin Trudeau.
• He later joined with other convoy leaders including Tamara Lich, Pat King, and Chris Barber to organize the 2022 protest.
• Bauder is also a defendant in a class action lawsuit by Ottawa residents seeking millions in damages from the "occupation".
Since relocating to the U.S., Bauder has appeared alongside Donald Trump allies Roger Stone and Wayne Allyn Root, who have publicly pledged support for his asylum bid. His trial in Canada is set for November and December, with other convoy leaders already found guilty for their roles.
James Bauder, a central figure in the 2022 Freedom Convoy, is now the subject of a Canada-wide warrant after failing to appear in court in Ottawa earlier this week.
Bauder, who left Canada this summer and is currently seeking asylum in the United States, faces charges including mischief and intimidation related to his role in the protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks. A Superior Court judge ordered his arrest after his absence in court.
The Calgary resident has long argued he is the victim of “political persecution,” raising nearly $13,000 online for legal fees. He previously attempted to move his case out of Ottawa, claiming the city — home to thousands of federal employees — could not provide him with an impartial jury. A judge dismissed that request, calling it “baseless in fact.”
📌 Background:
• Bauder led a smaller convoy to Ottawa in 2021, presenting a “memorandum of understanding” to the Senate and Governor General demanding an end to COVID-19 mandates and the resignation of then-prime minister Justin Trudeau.
• He later joined with other convoy leaders including Tamara Lich, Pat King, and Chris Barber to organize the 2022 protest.
• Bauder is also a defendant in a class action lawsuit by Ottawa residents seeking millions in damages from the "occupation".
Since relocating to the U.S., Bauder has appeared alongside Donald Trump allies Roger Stone and Wayne Allyn Root, who have publicly pledged support for his asylum bid. His trial in Canada is set for November and December, with other convoy leaders already found guilty for their roles.
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🇨🇦🚬💰 Billions to Flow to Provinces in Historic Tobacco Settlement
Major tobacco companies will begin paying out billions of dollars Friday as part of a $32.5 billion settlement, with Ontario and Quebec each set to receive over $1 billion in initial payments. Other provinces and territories will also see millions in compensation.
The agreement, approved by an Ontario judge in March, followed years of mediation involving JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. along with their creditors. The settlement resolves decades of litigation over smoking-related health care costs and two Quebec class-action lawsuits.
📌 Breakdown of the deal:
• About $24 billion will be paid to provinces and territories over 20 years.
• Plaintiffs in the Quebec class actions will receive $4 billion.
• An additional $2.5 billion will compensate smokers not part of the lawsuits.
• Over $1 billion will go to a new foundation to fight tobacco-related diseases.
While the payouts mark a legal milestone, public health advocates warn the settlement includes no new restrictions on tobacco sales or marketing.
“Without adequate funding for tobacco-reduction measures, this agreement will be nothing more than a gigantic cash grab,” said Flory Doucas of the Coalition québécoise pour le contrôle du tabac.
Canada still has about four million smokers, and tobacco is linked to 46,000 deaths annually, according to advocacy groups.
The case originated in Quebec, where courts ordered tobacco firms to pay $15 billion in damages. After the ruling was upheld on appeal, the companies sought creditor protection in Ontario in 2019, halting all proceedings while negotiations continued.
In a related ruling this week, Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz approved $909 million in legal fees for lawyers involved, calling the figure unprecedented but reasonable given the scale and complexity of the case. Nearly $900 million of that will go to Quebec counsel representing class-action plaintiffs.
This pan-Canadian settlement closes more than $1 trillion in potential claims, making it one of the largest corporate liability resolutions in Canadian history.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Major tobacco companies will begin paying out billions of dollars Friday as part of a $32.5 billion settlement, with Ontario and Quebec each set to receive over $1 billion in initial payments. Other provinces and territories will also see millions in compensation.
The agreement, approved by an Ontario judge in March, followed years of mediation involving JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. along with their creditors. The settlement resolves decades of litigation over smoking-related health care costs and two Quebec class-action lawsuits.
📌 Breakdown of the deal:
• About $24 billion will be paid to provinces and territories over 20 years.
• Plaintiffs in the Quebec class actions will receive $4 billion.
• An additional $2.5 billion will compensate smokers not part of the lawsuits.
• Over $1 billion will go to a new foundation to fight tobacco-related diseases.
While the payouts mark a legal milestone, public health advocates warn the settlement includes no new restrictions on tobacco sales or marketing.
“Without adequate funding for tobacco-reduction measures, this agreement will be nothing more than a gigantic cash grab,” said Flory Doucas of the Coalition québécoise pour le contrôle du tabac.
Canada still has about four million smokers, and tobacco is linked to 46,000 deaths annually, according to advocacy groups.
The case originated in Quebec, where courts ordered tobacco firms to pay $15 billion in damages. After the ruling was upheld on appeal, the companies sought creditor protection in Ontario in 2019, halting all proceedings while negotiations continued.
In a related ruling this week, Ontario Superior Court Chief Justice Geoffrey Morawetz approved $909 million in legal fees for lawyers involved, calling the figure unprecedented but reasonable given the scale and complexity of the case. Nearly $900 million of that will go to Quebec counsel representing class-action plaintiffs.
This pan-Canadian settlement closes more than $1 trillion in potential claims, making it one of the largest corporate liability resolutions in Canadian history.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡7❤6🔥3😱2🤔1🎉1🌭1
📦 Canada to End Duty-Free Online Shopping from U.S.
The federal government will eliminate the duty-free exemption on U.S. online purchases under $40 CAD, bringing an end to a policy that has allowed Canadian consumers to buy lower-value goods across the border without paying duties or sales tax. The change takes effect October 15, 2025.
Ottawa says the move will create a fairer marketplace for Canadian retailers, who have long argued that the exemption gave U.S. e-commerce giants an unfair edge. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland framed the decision as part of a broader push for economic fairness, noting that Canadian businesses have been losing ground to cross-border platforms that could ship goods into Canada more cheaply.
The so-called “de minimis” threshold dates back decades, initially set at just $20 CAD. It was raised during the renegotiation of NAFTA into the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), when Ottawa agreed to set a higher level for U.S. shipments, allowing goods under $40 CAD to enter duty-free. Purchases under $150 CAD were exempt from customs duties, though taxes still applied above the $40 mark. American negotiators had pushed for much higher thresholds — closer to U.S. standards of $800 USD — but Canada resisted, citing the risk to domestic retail.
📌 Under the new policy:
• The $40 exemption for U.S. goods will fall to zero.
• All shipments from the U.S., regardless of value, will now face duties and GST/HST.
• Exemptions for other countries remain unchanged, though Ottawa has signaled future reviews of those thresholds.
The change comes as a “buy Canadian” movement is gaining traction, with both consumers and businesses placing new emphasis on sourcing domestically. Analysts say the removal of the U.S. duty-free carve-out dovetails with this shift, reinforcing efforts to strengthen local supply chains and keep spending at home.
Industry groups in Canada, including small business associations, have welcomed the measure, arguing it will level the playing field after years of pressure from American online retailers. Consumer advocates, however, warn that shoppers could see higher prices and longer shipping delays, particularly in border regions where cross-border commerce is part of everyday life.
The U.S. has signaled concern that the measure could create new trade friction under CUSMA. Washington has previously accused Ottawa of protectionist tendencies in retail, dairy, and digital services, and analysts say the duty-free rollback could become another irritant in bilateral trade talks.
Ottawa says it expects to collect hundreds of millions in new annual revenues from the change.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The federal government will eliminate the duty-free exemption on U.S. online purchases under $40 CAD, bringing an end to a policy that has allowed Canadian consumers to buy lower-value goods across the border without paying duties or sales tax. The change takes effect October 15, 2025.
Ottawa says the move will create a fairer marketplace for Canadian retailers, who have long argued that the exemption gave U.S. e-commerce giants an unfair edge. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland framed the decision as part of a broader push for economic fairness, noting that Canadian businesses have been losing ground to cross-border platforms that could ship goods into Canada more cheaply.
The so-called “de minimis” threshold dates back decades, initially set at just $20 CAD. It was raised during the renegotiation of NAFTA into the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), when Ottawa agreed to set a higher level for U.S. shipments, allowing goods under $40 CAD to enter duty-free. Purchases under $150 CAD were exempt from customs duties, though taxes still applied above the $40 mark. American negotiators had pushed for much higher thresholds — closer to U.S. standards of $800 USD — but Canada resisted, citing the risk to domestic retail.
📌 Under the new policy:
• The $40 exemption for U.S. goods will fall to zero.
• All shipments from the U.S., regardless of value, will now face duties and GST/HST.
• Exemptions for other countries remain unchanged, though Ottawa has signaled future reviews of those thresholds.
The change comes as a “buy Canadian” movement is gaining traction, with both consumers and businesses placing new emphasis on sourcing domestically. Analysts say the removal of the U.S. duty-free carve-out dovetails with this shift, reinforcing efforts to strengthen local supply chains and keep spending at home.
Industry groups in Canada, including small business associations, have welcomed the measure, arguing it will level the playing field after years of pressure from American online retailers. Consumer advocates, however, warn that shoppers could see higher prices and longer shipping delays, particularly in border regions where cross-border commerce is part of everyday life.
The U.S. has signaled concern that the measure could create new trade friction under CUSMA. Washington has previously accused Ottawa of protectionist tendencies in retail, dairy, and digital services, and analysts say the duty-free rollback could become another irritant in bilateral trade talks.
Ottawa says it expects to collect hundreds of millions in new annual revenues from the change.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
💩15😁5🤡2👀2🔥1🤔1
🇨🇦🏗️ Trans Mountain Chair to Lead Ottawa’s New Major Projects Office
The federal government is set to name Dawn Farrell, current chair of the Trans Mountain Corporation’s board of directors, as CEO of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Major Projects Office, according to senior government sources.
Farrell, who previously oversaw the completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, will lead the new Calgary-based office designed to fast-track major infrastructure projects across the country. With nearly four decades of energy sector experience — including roles at BC Hydro and as CEO of TransAlta, one of Canada’s largest wind power producers — Farrell is seen as a figure capable of bridging Ottawa’s ambitions with Alberta’s energy priorities.
Reports say that Carney wanted someone skilled at managing projects spanning multiple provinces and navigating complex regulatory environments. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is also reported to have a good working relationship with Farrell, a detail expected to ease federal-provincial ties.
The appointment comes after Bill C-5, Carney’s “nation-building” legislation, passed Parliament in June. The law allows the federal cabinet to hand-pick projects, override federal laws and environmental reviews, and cut approval times from five years to two under a “one-project, one-review” framework. Not every project greenlit by the office will receive federal financing, but it will serve as the central hub for proposals and complaints.
Carney has already hinted that the first wave of projects will include new port infrastructure. On a trip to Germany this week, he cited potential investments at Montreal’s Contrecoeur port, as well as a new facility in Churchill, Manitoba, which could open up opportunities for LNG exports and critical minerals. He described the infrastructure push as part of a half-trillion-dollar federal investment program.
Background:
• The Port of Churchill is North America’s only deepwater Arctic port with rail access. Owned by the Arctic Gateway Group, a partnership of First Nations and Hudson Bay communities, it operates seasonally due to ice conditions.
• Ottawa has pitched Churchill as a potential export hub linking Canadian resources to Europe, bypassing more congested southern routes.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The federal government is set to name Dawn Farrell, current chair of the Trans Mountain Corporation’s board of directors, as CEO of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Major Projects Office, according to senior government sources.
Farrell, who previously oversaw the completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, will lead the new Calgary-based office designed to fast-track major infrastructure projects across the country. With nearly four decades of energy sector experience — including roles at BC Hydro and as CEO of TransAlta, one of Canada’s largest wind power producers — Farrell is seen as a figure capable of bridging Ottawa’s ambitions with Alberta’s energy priorities.
Reports say that Carney wanted someone skilled at managing projects spanning multiple provinces and navigating complex regulatory environments. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is also reported to have a good working relationship with Farrell, a detail expected to ease federal-provincial ties.
The appointment comes after Bill C-5, Carney’s “nation-building” legislation, passed Parliament in June. The law allows the federal cabinet to hand-pick projects, override federal laws and environmental reviews, and cut approval times from five years to two under a “one-project, one-review” framework. Not every project greenlit by the office will receive federal financing, but it will serve as the central hub for proposals and complaints.
Carney has already hinted that the first wave of projects will include new port infrastructure. On a trip to Germany this week, he cited potential investments at Montreal’s Contrecoeur port, as well as a new facility in Churchill, Manitoba, which could open up opportunities for LNG exports and critical minerals. He described the infrastructure push as part of a half-trillion-dollar federal investment program.
Background:
• The Port of Churchill is North America’s only deepwater Arctic port with rail access. Owned by the Arctic Gateway Group, a partnership of First Nations and Hudson Bay communities, it operates seasonally due to ice conditions.
• Ottawa has pitched Churchill as a potential export hub linking Canadian resources to Europe, bypassing more congested southern routes.
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📚 Alberta Teachers in Strike Position as Talks Break Down
Contract negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government have collapsed just days before students return to classrooms, putting more than 51,000 teachers in a legal strike position.
At a joint news conference Friday, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Finance Minister Nate Horner said mediated talks had reached an impasse, blaming the union for walking away. Horner said the government’s proposal included a 12% salary increase over four years and funding to hire 3,000 additional teachers, with a total cost of $750 million.
“The bargaining team walked away from this offer. That’s why I’m disappointed to be here today,” Horner said, adding the province is grappling with a $6.5 billion deficit.
Nicolaides accused the ATA of shifting demands, claiming the union initially sought more classroom resources but is now pressing for “higher wages and fewer teachers.”
“I can’t understand why Alberta’s generous and competitive proposal was declined,” he said.
The government said no counteroffer was made by the ATA before talks broke down. Nicolaides emphasized that officials hope to avoid disruption when schools reopen next week:
“I think we’re very, very close. I would encourage union leadership to come back to the table.”
The ATA, which rejected a mediator’s recommendations earlier this summer, is holding its own news conference Friday morning. In June, nearly 95% of teachers voting supported taking strike action, citing wages, classroom crowding, and inadequate resources as key issues.
ATA president Jason Schilling has previously said teachers have been “propping up a system that is under-resourced and overburdened,” adding that conditions in schools are unsustainable without significant changes.
Parents across Alberta are bracing for possible classroom disruption as both sides remain at an impasse with the new school year set to begin Tuesday.
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Contract negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government have collapsed just days before students return to classrooms, putting more than 51,000 teachers in a legal strike position.
At a joint news conference Friday, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Finance Minister Nate Horner said mediated talks had reached an impasse, blaming the union for walking away. Horner said the government’s proposal included a 12% salary increase over four years and funding to hire 3,000 additional teachers, with a total cost of $750 million.
“The bargaining team walked away from this offer. That’s why I’m disappointed to be here today,” Horner said, adding the province is grappling with a $6.5 billion deficit.
Nicolaides accused the ATA of shifting demands, claiming the union initially sought more classroom resources but is now pressing for “higher wages and fewer teachers.”
“I can’t understand why Alberta’s generous and competitive proposal was declined,” he said.
The government said no counteroffer was made by the ATA before talks broke down. Nicolaides emphasized that officials hope to avoid disruption when schools reopen next week:
“I think we’re very, very close. I would encourage union leadership to come back to the table.”
The ATA, which rejected a mediator’s recommendations earlier this summer, is holding its own news conference Friday morning. In June, nearly 95% of teachers voting supported taking strike action, citing wages, classroom crowding, and inadequate resources as key issues.
ATA president Jason Schilling has previously said teachers have been “propping up a system that is under-resourced and overburdened,” adding that conditions in schools are unsustainable without significant changes.
Parents across Alberta are bracing for possible classroom disruption as both sides remain at an impasse with the new school year set to begin Tuesday.
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📉 Canadian Economy Contracts 1.6% in Q2 as U.S. Tariffs Weigh on Exports
Canada’s economy shrank 1.6% on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2025, a much steeper drop than expected, according to Statistics Canada. The contraction was driven primarily by a 7.5% fall in exports, the sharpest decline in five years, as U.S. tariffs tightened pressure on cross-border trade.
The quarterly decline follows a downward revision of first-quarter growth to 2%, leaving the economy with just 0.4% growth in the first six months of 2025. It is the first quarterly slowdown in seven quarters.
Key details:
• Exports fell 7.5%, led by reduced demand for goods and energy products.
• Business investment in machinery and equipment slipped 0.6%, the first drop since the pandemic.
• Domestic demand grew by 3.5%, with household spending up 4.5%, residential investment rising 6.3%, and government spending up 5.1%.
Markets had expected a smaller contraction of 0.6%. The sharper slowdown has increased speculation that the Bank of Canada could cut interest rates at its next meeting in September. The central bank has held rates steady at 2.75% for three consecutive meetings.
Economists warn the data points to weak momentum heading into the third quarter.
“The most concerning aspect of today’s report is the seemingly weak momentum that the economy still had towards the end of the quarter and into the start of Q3,” said Andrew Grantham, senior economist at CIBC Capital Markets.
Still, analysts noted that robust household and government spending helped soften the blow, though questions remain about whether that strength is sustainable.
“It should come as no surprise that the Canadian economy struggled in Q2 as tariffs ramped up. However, the domestic strength is somewhat comforting, although the sustainability of that momentum is an open question,” wrote Benjamin Reitzes, macro strategist at BMO.
Statistics Canada also reported that GDP contracted by 0.1% in June on a monthly basis, largely due to declines in goods-producing industries, which make up a quarter of the country’s output.
The Bank of Canada projected in July that GDP would shrink by about 1.5% in the second quarter, suggesting the economy is evolving largely in line with its forecast. Policymakers are now weighing the balance between trade pressures, weakening exports, and still-resilient domestic spending ahead of the September decision.
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Canada’s economy shrank 1.6% on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2025, a much steeper drop than expected, according to Statistics Canada. The contraction was driven primarily by a 7.5% fall in exports, the sharpest decline in five years, as U.S. tariffs tightened pressure on cross-border trade.
The quarterly decline follows a downward revision of first-quarter growth to 2%, leaving the economy with just 0.4% growth in the first six months of 2025. It is the first quarterly slowdown in seven quarters.
Key details:
• Exports fell 7.5%, led by reduced demand for goods and energy products.
• Business investment in machinery and equipment slipped 0.6%, the first drop since the pandemic.
• Domestic demand grew by 3.5%, with household spending up 4.5%, residential investment rising 6.3%, and government spending up 5.1%.
Markets had expected a smaller contraction of 0.6%. The sharper slowdown has increased speculation that the Bank of Canada could cut interest rates at its next meeting in September. The central bank has held rates steady at 2.75% for three consecutive meetings.
Economists warn the data points to weak momentum heading into the third quarter.
“The most concerning aspect of today’s report is the seemingly weak momentum that the economy still had towards the end of the quarter and into the start of Q3,” said Andrew Grantham, senior economist at CIBC Capital Markets.
Still, analysts noted that robust household and government spending helped soften the blow, though questions remain about whether that strength is sustainable.
“It should come as no surprise that the Canadian economy struggled in Q2 as tariffs ramped up. However, the domestic strength is somewhat comforting, although the sustainability of that momentum is an open question,” wrote Benjamin Reitzes, macro strategist at BMO.
Statistics Canada also reported that GDP contracted by 0.1% in June on a monthly basis, largely due to declines in goods-producing industries, which make up a quarter of the country’s output.
The Bank of Canada projected in July that GDP would shrink by about 1.5% in the second quarter, suggesting the economy is evolving largely in line with its forecast. Policymakers are now weighing the balance between trade pressures, weakening exports, and still-resilient domestic spending ahead of the September decision.
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🇨🇦🏰⚖️ Poilievre Calls for Stronger Legal Protections in Home Defence Cases
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code so that the use of force is presumed reasonable when a person defends their home against an intruder.
Speaking in Brampton, Ont., on Friday, Poilievre unveiled what he calls the “Stand on Guard” principle, which he says would give clarity to Canadians acting in self-defence.
“Canadians who are defending their homes don’t have time to think about nine conditions. It’s wrong for the law to apply a complicated, indecipherable legal doctrine when you were only doing what is right,” he said.
Under current law, Canadians can use force if they believe on reasonable grounds it is necessary to protect themselves or others, but courts weigh nine factors, including the threat, the history of the parties, and whether weapons were involved, to determine if the action was “reasonable.”
Context:
• The existing framework was created in 2013, when Stephen Harper’s Conservative government passed reforms clarifying self-defence laws. Poilievre supported that legislation at the time.
• The castle doctrine, often summarized as “your home is your castle” underpins Poilievre’s new proposal.
The Conservatives cited the case of Cameron Gardiner of Collingwood, Ont., who in 2019 shot two masked intruders who zip-tied him and held him at gunpoint. Gardiner was initially charged with manslaughter, but the Crown withdrew charges in 2021.
More recently, the case of Jeremy David McDonald in Lindsay, Ont., has renewed public debate. McDonald faces charges after injuring a man who allegedly broke into his home with a crossbow. The incident sparked widespread calls for clearer protections for those defending their families.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser responded by saying self-defence is already legal in Canada under existing laws, accusing Poilievre of “chasing a photo op.”
Poilievre said if the federal government does not act, the Conservatives will table legislation through a private member’s bill.
“Your home is your castle. Canadians deserve to know the law will protect them when they protect their families.”
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code so that the use of force is presumed reasonable when a person defends their home against an intruder.
Speaking in Brampton, Ont., on Friday, Poilievre unveiled what he calls the “Stand on Guard” principle, which he says would give clarity to Canadians acting in self-defence.
“Canadians who are defending their homes don’t have time to think about nine conditions. It’s wrong for the law to apply a complicated, indecipherable legal doctrine when you were only doing what is right,” he said.
Under current law, Canadians can use force if they believe on reasonable grounds it is necessary to protect themselves or others, but courts weigh nine factors, including the threat, the history of the parties, and whether weapons were involved, to determine if the action was “reasonable.”
Context:
• The existing framework was created in 2013, when Stephen Harper’s Conservative government passed reforms clarifying self-defence laws. Poilievre supported that legislation at the time.
• The castle doctrine, often summarized as “your home is your castle” underpins Poilievre’s new proposal.
The Conservatives cited the case of Cameron Gardiner of Collingwood, Ont., who in 2019 shot two masked intruders who zip-tied him and held him at gunpoint. Gardiner was initially charged with manslaughter, but the Crown withdrew charges in 2021.
More recently, the case of Jeremy David McDonald in Lindsay, Ont., has renewed public debate. McDonald faces charges after injuring a man who allegedly broke into his home with a crossbow. The incident sparked widespread calls for clearer protections for those defending their families.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser responded by saying self-defence is already legal in Canada under existing laws, accusing Poilievre of “chasing a photo op.”
Poilievre said if the federal government does not act, the Conservatives will table legislation through a private member’s bill.
“Your home is your castle. Canadians deserve to know the law will protect them when they protect their families.”
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📚 Alberta Premier Criticizes Edmonton Public Schools’ Banned Book List
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has accused the Edmonton Public School Board of “vicious compliance” after more than 200 noscripts were flagged for removal from school libraries under a new provincial directive on age-appropriate materials.
The list, includes novels such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Color Purple, The Godfather, Jaws, and works by authors including George R.R. Martin, Maya Angelou, and Sarah J. Maas. The board confirmed Friday the list is accurate, with chair Julie Kusiek noting that “several excellent books” would be removed this fall.
Smith said the government’s intent was to limit explicit sexual content in elementary schools, not to ban classics.
“If they need us to hold their hand through the process … we will more than happily work with them to work through their list, one by one,” she said.
The policy stems from a ministerial order signed July 4 by Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, which prohibits library materials containing “graphic depictions of sexual acts,” while allowing for context in religious texts or non-explicit references. Nicolaides said Friday he would be speaking with the board to better understand how the list was compiled.
Reaction has been swift. PEN Canada president Ira Wells called the move “literary censorship,” describing it as Canada’s largest book ban to date.
“What the government of Alberta is doing here is book banning. It is literary censorship and we should use those words,” Wells said.
Notably, Canadian author Margaret Atwood responded online after learning her novel The Handmaid’s Tale was included, writing wryly:
“Don’t read it, your hair will catch on fire! Get one now before they have public book burnings of it.”
Parents’ groups that raised concerns about explicit graphic novels in schools earlier this year said they never intended for mainstream literature to be swept up. John Hilton-O’Brien, of Parents for Choice in Education, called the list “malicious compliance.”
Context:
• Other boards, including Calgary and Fort McMurray, are still reviewing collections to comply with the new regulations by October 1.
• The NDP opposition has accused the UCP of focusing on book bans while failing to resolve looming labour unrest with Alberta’s teachers.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has accused the Edmonton Public School Board of “vicious compliance” after more than 200 noscripts were flagged for removal from school libraries under a new provincial directive on age-appropriate materials.
The list, includes novels such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Color Purple, The Godfather, Jaws, and works by authors including George R.R. Martin, Maya Angelou, and Sarah J. Maas. The board confirmed Friday the list is accurate, with chair Julie Kusiek noting that “several excellent books” would be removed this fall.
Smith said the government’s intent was to limit explicit sexual content in elementary schools, not to ban classics.
“If they need us to hold their hand through the process … we will more than happily work with them to work through their list, one by one,” she said.
The policy stems from a ministerial order signed July 4 by Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, which prohibits library materials containing “graphic depictions of sexual acts,” while allowing for context in religious texts or non-explicit references. Nicolaides said Friday he would be speaking with the board to better understand how the list was compiled.
Reaction has been swift. PEN Canada president Ira Wells called the move “literary censorship,” describing it as Canada’s largest book ban to date.
“What the government of Alberta is doing here is book banning. It is literary censorship and we should use those words,” Wells said.
Notably, Canadian author Margaret Atwood responded online after learning her novel The Handmaid’s Tale was included, writing wryly:
“Don’t read it, your hair will catch on fire! Get one now before they have public book burnings of it.”
Parents’ groups that raised concerns about explicit graphic novels in schools earlier this year said they never intended for mainstream literature to be swept up. John Hilton-O’Brien, of Parents for Choice in Education, called the list “malicious compliance.”
Context:
• Other boards, including Calgary and Fort McMurray, are still reviewing collections to comply with the new regulations by October 1.
• The NDP opposition has accused the UCP of focusing on book bans while failing to resolve looming labour unrest with Alberta’s teachers.
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🥃 Jack Daniel’s Parent Company Reports 62% Sales Drop in Canada Amid Boycott
The parent company of Jack Daniel’s whisky and Woodford Reserve bourbon says its sales to Canada plunged 62% in the latest quarter, as American-made alcohol remains off shelves in most provinces due to the ongoing trade dispute.
The decline follows retaliatory measures by provinces after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods in March. While Alberta and Saskatchewan have since lifted their bans, American spirits remain unavailable in most provincial liquor stores.
On a Thursday investor call, Brown-Forman executives acknowledged multiple pressures but said the Canadian boycott is causing a “significant impact.”
“American spirits products have been off the shelf in Canada for months. This had a significant impact on our first quarter of fiscal 2026, which will impact our full fiscal year results,” said Leanne Cunningham, the company’s CFO.
Company CEO Lawson Whiting added that the trade dispute has created “significant headwinds,” with growth from non-U.S. brands like Diplomatico and El Jimador unable to offset declines in Jack Daniel’s and other U.S.-produced spirits.
Background:
• Canada was the second-largest market for U.S. spirits exports in 2024.
• Sales also dropped 16% in the U.K. and 10% in Germany, but the steepest fall was in Canada.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney announced last week that Canada is removing 25% tariffs on CUSMA-compliant U.S. spirits, but provinces still control what appears on store shelves.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States welcomed Carney’s tariff move but warned it will have little impact until all provinces resume sales.
“The unfortunate decision to remove American spirits from Canadian retail shelves is not only harming U.S. distillers, but it’s also needlessly reducing revenues for the provinces, and placing unnecessary burdens on Canadian consumers and hospitality businesses,” the group said.
In Nova Scotia alone, provincial records show more than 587,000 units of American liquor have been stockpiled since the boycott began, sitting in warehouses rather than on shelves.
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The parent company of Jack Daniel’s whisky and Woodford Reserve bourbon says its sales to Canada plunged 62% in the latest quarter, as American-made alcohol remains off shelves in most provinces due to the ongoing trade dispute.
The decline follows retaliatory measures by provinces after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods in March. While Alberta and Saskatchewan have since lifted their bans, American spirits remain unavailable in most provincial liquor stores.
On a Thursday investor call, Brown-Forman executives acknowledged multiple pressures but said the Canadian boycott is causing a “significant impact.”
“American spirits products have been off the shelf in Canada for months. This had a significant impact on our first quarter of fiscal 2026, which will impact our full fiscal year results,” said Leanne Cunningham, the company’s CFO.
Company CEO Lawson Whiting added that the trade dispute has created “significant headwinds,” with growth from non-U.S. brands like Diplomatico and El Jimador unable to offset declines in Jack Daniel’s and other U.S.-produced spirits.
Background:
• Canada was the second-largest market for U.S. spirits exports in 2024.
• Sales also dropped 16% in the U.K. and 10% in Germany, but the steepest fall was in Canada.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney announced last week that Canada is removing 25% tariffs on CUSMA-compliant U.S. spirits, but provinces still control what appears on store shelves.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States welcomed Carney’s tariff move but warned it will have little impact until all provinces resume sales.
“The unfortunate decision to remove American spirits from Canadian retail shelves is not only harming U.S. distillers, but it’s also needlessly reducing revenues for the provinces, and placing unnecessary burdens on Canadian consumers and hospitality businesses,” the group said.
In Nova Scotia alone, provincial records show more than 587,000 units of American liquor have been stockpiled since the boycott began, sitting in warehouses rather than on shelves.
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🇨🇦⚓ Canada’s ‘Nation-Building’ Shipyards Project Serves NATO First
Ottawa is presenting its multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding push as a bold national project. But behind the rhetoric of “nation-building,” Canada’s largest naval expansion in decades appears designed less for sovereignty — and more to lock the country deeper into NATO’s military-industrial orbit.
At Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, the first of 15 “River Class” destroyers are underway, with an initial price tag of $22.2 billion. The ships, officially named for Canadian rivers, are built for combat and alliance missions — counterterrorism, anti-piracy, and global surveillance — roles far removed from defending Canada’s coastlines.
On the Pacific coast, Seaspan Shipyards launched the HMCS Protecteur, the longest naval vessel ever built in Canada, intended to resupply Canadian and NATO warships. A $3.15-billion polar icebreaker is also in progress, slated for 2032. Seaspan says its contracts have delivered jobs and GDP growth, but the projects are ultimately geared toward extending NATO’s presence in the Arctic.
The most telling move came in Quebec, where Chantier Davie Canada is building the Polar Max icebreaker in partnership with Finland. CEO James Davies openly described it as “a statement to allies and adversaries that Canada and Finland are moving with purpose to secure the Arctic.” Critics note that the Arctic, long under Canadian sovereignty, is now cast primarily as a NATO frontier.
Even Ontario’s entry into shipbuilding — backed by $215 million in subsidies, relies on a consortium with Italian, French, and Danish firms. Rather than strengthening Canada’s independence, the program ties its defence sector more tightly to European corporations and NATO supply chains.
Background:
• Canada has just two heavy icebreakers compared with Russia’s fleet of about 40, a reminder of which nation actually secures Arctic routes year-round.
• Industry Minister Mélanie Joly recently told Bloomberg, “There is a need for more icebreakers within NATO. Canada is leading the way.”
• But with half a trillion dollars in planned infrastructure spending, critics see an enormous financial burden on Canadians for what amounts to outsourced NATO capacity.
While billed as a renaissance of Canadian industry, the shipbuilding push reveals something else: Ottawa paying the price to reinforce Western alliance priorities, even as economic pressures mount at home. Russia invests in Arctic strength for sovereignty. Canada invests billions to act as a subcontractor for NATO.
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Ottawa is presenting its multi-billion-dollar shipbuilding push as a bold national project. But behind the rhetoric of “nation-building,” Canada’s largest naval expansion in decades appears designed less for sovereignty — and more to lock the country deeper into NATO’s military-industrial orbit.
At Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, the first of 15 “River Class” destroyers are underway, with an initial price tag of $22.2 billion. The ships, officially named for Canadian rivers, are built for combat and alliance missions — counterterrorism, anti-piracy, and global surveillance — roles far removed from defending Canada’s coastlines.
On the Pacific coast, Seaspan Shipyards launched the HMCS Protecteur, the longest naval vessel ever built in Canada, intended to resupply Canadian and NATO warships. A $3.15-billion polar icebreaker is also in progress, slated for 2032. Seaspan says its contracts have delivered jobs and GDP growth, but the projects are ultimately geared toward extending NATO’s presence in the Arctic.
The most telling move came in Quebec, where Chantier Davie Canada is building the Polar Max icebreaker in partnership with Finland. CEO James Davies openly described it as “a statement to allies and adversaries that Canada and Finland are moving with purpose to secure the Arctic.” Critics note that the Arctic, long under Canadian sovereignty, is now cast primarily as a NATO frontier.
Even Ontario’s entry into shipbuilding — backed by $215 million in subsidies, relies on a consortium with Italian, French, and Danish firms. Rather than strengthening Canada’s independence, the program ties its defence sector more tightly to European corporations and NATO supply chains.
Background:
• Canada has just two heavy icebreakers compared with Russia’s fleet of about 40, a reminder of which nation actually secures Arctic routes year-round.
• Industry Minister Mélanie Joly recently told Bloomberg, “There is a need for more icebreakers within NATO. Canada is leading the way.”
• But with half a trillion dollars in planned infrastructure spending, critics see an enormous financial burden on Canadians for what amounts to outsourced NATO capacity.
While billed as a renaissance of Canadian industry, the shipbuilding push reveals something else: Ottawa paying the price to reinforce Western alliance priorities, even as economic pressures mount at home. Russia invests in Arctic strength for sovereignty. Canada invests billions to act as a subcontractor for NATO.
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Canada Faces ‘Waiting Game’ as Trump Tariffs Head Toward U.S. Supreme Court
A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlawful, but left them in place while the case likely proceeds to the Supreme Court. The decision prolongs uncertainty for American trading partners, including Canada, already strained by escalating levies.
In a 7–4 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs and fentanyl-related duties exceeded the scope of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), the statute he invoked to declare a trade emergency. The judges noted the law “neither mentions tariffs nor contains safeguards limiting presidential authority.”
Trump dismissed the ruling as “partisan” and insisted in a post that “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!” He argued that removing them would be a “total disaster” for the United States.
Some Background:
• Trump first invoked IEEPA in March to impose economy-wide duties on Canada, citing a fentanyl emergency at the northern border — despite U.S. data showing negligible fentanyl seizures there.
• The White House later raised tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, copper, and autos to 35%.
• Ottawa partially lifted its retaliatory tariffs but remains in talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Canadian officials describe progress in negotiations but admit the situation hinges on U.S. courts. Trade lawyer and former diplomat Lawrence Herman called it a “waiting game,” with no relief expected until the Supreme Court rules.
For Canada, the timing is costly. Second-quarter GDP figures showed the economy shrinking 1.6%, with exports down 7.5%, the steepest drop in five years. Analysts point directly to U.S. tariffs as a major drag on growth.
Meanwhile, critics in the U.S. say the deeper issue is Trump’s reliance on emergency powers to expand executive authority at the expense of Congress. Former judge Shira Scheindlin described the tariffs case as “yet another separation of powers issue,” noting the Supreme Court has often sided with the doctrine of the unitary executive — a theory granting broad presidential powers.
Ottawa, like other capitals, is watching closely. But as Trump continues to weaponize tariffs as a tool of global leverage, Canada finds itself exposed: dependent on U.S. legal battles for clarity on trade rules that should be predictable.
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A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlawful, but left them in place while the case likely proceeds to the Supreme Court. The decision prolongs uncertainty for American trading partners, including Canada, already strained by escalating levies.
In a 7–4 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs and fentanyl-related duties exceeded the scope of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), the statute he invoked to declare a trade emergency. The judges noted the law “neither mentions tariffs nor contains safeguards limiting presidential authority.”
Trump dismissed the ruling as “partisan” and insisted in a post that “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!” He argued that removing them would be a “total disaster” for the United States.
Some Background:
• Trump first invoked IEEPA in March to impose economy-wide duties on Canada, citing a fentanyl emergency at the northern border — despite U.S. data showing negligible fentanyl seizures there.
• The White House later raised tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, copper, and autos to 35%.
• Ottawa partially lifted its retaliatory tariffs but remains in talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Canadian officials describe progress in negotiations but admit the situation hinges on U.S. courts. Trade lawyer and former diplomat Lawrence Herman called it a “waiting game,” with no relief expected until the Supreme Court rules.
For Canada, the timing is costly. Second-quarter GDP figures showed the economy shrinking 1.6%, with exports down 7.5%, the steepest drop in five years. Analysts point directly to U.S. tariffs as a major drag on growth.
Meanwhile, critics in the U.S. say the deeper issue is Trump’s reliance on emergency powers to expand executive authority at the expense of Congress. Former judge Shira Scheindlin described the tariffs case as “yet another separation of powers issue,” noting the Supreme Court has often sided with the doctrine of the unitary executive — a theory granting broad presidential powers.
Ottawa, like other capitals, is watching closely. But as Trump continues to weaponize tariffs as a tool of global leverage, Canada finds itself exposed: dependent on U.S. legal battles for clarity on trade rules that should be predictable.
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