🇨🇦✈️ F-35 Fatigue: Canada’s Billion-Dollar Jet Deal That Still Doesn’t Fly
Canada’s $27.7-billion plan to buy 88 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets is once again under review — and not because of national security, but because Ottawa is realizing what critics warned years ago: this deal is more about Washington’s leverage than Canada’s defense.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has begun pressing Lockheed Martin for greater economic benefits to justify the purchase. If the U.S. defense giant doesn’t deliver, she’s floated scaling back the order and supplementing the fleet with Sweden’s Gripen-E jets, which Saab has offered to assemble in Canada — a move that could actually create Canadian jobs instead of exporting them south.
The F-35 contract, signed in 2023 under intense U.S. pressure, has already become a diplomatic headache. Ottawa now faces the impossible task of extracting more industrial participation from Lockheed — a company with a waiting list of eager buyers. Analysts like Philippe Lagassé doubt Canada has any real bargaining power. “You can’t reopen a contract after signing it unless you’re willing to buy even more jets,” he said — effectively calling Joly’s negotiating stance a bluff.
Inside the Department of National Defence, the enthusiasm remains predictably American. Deputy Minister Stefanie Beck and Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet told Parliament that fifth-generation aircraft are “indispensable” because Russia and China have them. But critics note that such logic locks Canada into a permanent arms race dictated by the Pentagon — one that costs billions while offering little independent defense capability.
The Gripen-E, meanwhile, offers a more flexible, upgrade-friendly platform — a jet designed for smaller countries that want sovereignty over their own maintenance and software. Saab even stopped using the “generation” label entirely, arguing that capability evolves daily through modular design. It’s a quieter pitch, but one that fits Canada’s supposed strategy of reducing dependence on the U.S.
Even so, Joly and Prime Minister Mark Carney are walking a tightrope. Cutting or replacing part of the F-35 fleet could anger Washington just as Canada seeks tariff relief and defense cooperation with the Trump administration. David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute summed it up: Lockheed Martin has no reason to concede unless Canada brings “something bigger to the table” — possibly a buy-in to Trump’s so-called Golden Dome missile defense system.
The result? A deal that was meant to modernize the Air Force now looks like another symbol of Ottawa’s subservience to American defense contractors — a $27-billion illusion of sovereignty wrapped in stealth paint.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Canada’s $27.7-billion plan to buy 88 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets is once again under review — and not because of national security, but because Ottawa is realizing what critics warned years ago: this deal is more about Washington’s leverage than Canada’s defense.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has begun pressing Lockheed Martin for greater economic benefits to justify the purchase. If the U.S. defense giant doesn’t deliver, she’s floated scaling back the order and supplementing the fleet with Sweden’s Gripen-E jets, which Saab has offered to assemble in Canada — a move that could actually create Canadian jobs instead of exporting them south.
The F-35 contract, signed in 2023 under intense U.S. pressure, has already become a diplomatic headache. Ottawa now faces the impossible task of extracting more industrial participation from Lockheed — a company with a waiting list of eager buyers. Analysts like Philippe Lagassé doubt Canada has any real bargaining power. “You can’t reopen a contract after signing it unless you’re willing to buy even more jets,” he said — effectively calling Joly’s negotiating stance a bluff.
Inside the Department of National Defence, the enthusiasm remains predictably American. Deputy Minister Stefanie Beck and Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet told Parliament that fifth-generation aircraft are “indispensable” because Russia and China have them. But critics note that such logic locks Canada into a permanent arms race dictated by the Pentagon — one that costs billions while offering little independent defense capability.
The Gripen-E, meanwhile, offers a more flexible, upgrade-friendly platform — a jet designed for smaller countries that want sovereignty over their own maintenance and software. Saab even stopped using the “generation” label entirely, arguing that capability evolves daily through modular design. It’s a quieter pitch, but one that fits Canada’s supposed strategy of reducing dependence on the U.S.
Even so, Joly and Prime Minister Mark Carney are walking a tightrope. Cutting or replacing part of the F-35 fleet could anger Washington just as Canada seeks tariff relief and defense cooperation with the Trump administration. David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute summed it up: Lockheed Martin has no reason to concede unless Canada brings “something bigger to the table” — possibly a buy-in to Trump’s so-called Golden Dome missile defense system.
The result? A deal that was meant to modernize the Air Force now looks like another symbol of Ottawa’s subservience to American defense contractors — a $27-billion illusion of sovereignty wrapped in stealth paint.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
💯10🤬5❤3🫡1
🇨🇦 Brampton Betrayal: Stellantis Shifts Jeep Production South as Ottawa Fumbles the Trade File
Brampton autoworkers woke up to betrayal this week. Stellantis — the automaker that pocketed massive public commitments from Ottawa and Queen’s Park — is moving Jeep production to the U.S. as part of a $13B expansion south of the border.
Premier Doug Ford called the move “a slap in the face,” promising to withhold funding and “push like they’ve never seen before” to keep the Brampton plant alive. He’s right to be angry — the province pledged up to $132 million for the facility’s EV transition, with Ottawa matching funds. That money was supposed to secure jobs for 3,000 workers. Instead, those same workers are watching their livelihoods vanish while Washington reaps the rewards.
Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to deflect blame, calling Stellantis’s decision a “direct consequence of U.S. tariffs.” But that only underlines what critics have been saying for months: Carney’s government failed to secure the trade stability he promised by summer. The tariffs remain, and the consequences are cascading — from auto to lumber to steel — leaving Canada’s core industries exposed and demoralized.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and industry critic Raquel Dancho accused Carney of “sleepwalking through negotiations,” arguing that every lost plant, every shuttered mill, is proof Ottawa can’t protect Canadian jobs. Even Unifor’s Lana Payne joined the pile-on, warning that “Canadian auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar.”
The irony? Stellantis once pitched the Brampton plant as the future of Canadian EV production. Now, the same company is reopening its Belvidere, Illinois plant to build Jeeps — creating 3,300 American jobs with the same capital Canada helped secure.
This isn’t just a corporate reshuffle — it’s a warning shot. As Carney prepares to meet Trump again over tariffs, the message from Brampton couldn’t be clearer: if Ottawa can’t defend its own factories, why would any multinational think twice before packing up for the States?
#Ontario #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Brampton autoworkers woke up to betrayal this week. Stellantis — the automaker that pocketed massive public commitments from Ottawa and Queen’s Park — is moving Jeep production to the U.S. as part of a $13B expansion south of the border.
Premier Doug Ford called the move “a slap in the face,” promising to withhold funding and “push like they’ve never seen before” to keep the Brampton plant alive. He’s right to be angry — the province pledged up to $132 million for the facility’s EV transition, with Ottawa matching funds. That money was supposed to secure jobs for 3,000 workers. Instead, those same workers are watching their livelihoods vanish while Washington reaps the rewards.
Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to deflect blame, calling Stellantis’s decision a “direct consequence of U.S. tariffs.” But that only underlines what critics have been saying for months: Carney’s government failed to secure the trade stability he promised by summer. The tariffs remain, and the consequences are cascading — from auto to lumber to steel — leaving Canada’s core industries exposed and demoralized.
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and industry critic Raquel Dancho accused Carney of “sleepwalking through negotiations,” arguing that every lost plant, every shuttered mill, is proof Ottawa can’t protect Canadian jobs. Even Unifor’s Lana Payne joined the pile-on, warning that “Canadian auto jobs are being sacrificed on the Trump altar.”
The irony? Stellantis once pitched the Brampton plant as the future of Canadian EV production. Now, the same company is reopening its Belvidere, Illinois plant to build Jeeps — creating 3,300 American jobs with the same capital Canada helped secure.
This isn’t just a corporate reshuffle — it’s a warning shot. As Carney prepares to meet Trump again over tariffs, the message from Brampton couldn’t be clearer: if Ottawa can’t defend its own factories, why would any multinational think twice before packing up for the States?
#Ontario #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤬11😁8💯2❤1💩1
🥩🇨🇦🇲🇽 Alberta Beef Invades Mexico’s Costco Aisles — Finally, Some Good Trade News for Canada
At a time when tariffs, layoffs, and factory closures dominate headlines, there’s finally a glimmer of good news for Canadian exporters: Alberta beef is now officially on the shelves at Costco Mexico.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald attended the ribbon-cutting near Mexico City, celebrating what’s being hailed as a “new frontier” for Canadian beef in a market long dominated by U.S. suppliers. The deal — struck between JBS Canada and Costco Mexico — will see roughly 20,000 tonnes of beef from Brooks, Alberta shipped to 41 Costco stores across Mexico.
It’s a rare win for Canadian agriculture amid a sea of trade turbulence. U.S. tariffs have been hammering lumber, autos, and steel, yet Canadian beef is quietly expanding abroad — riding on reputation, not subsidies. Porterhouse and New York Prime cuts from Alberta now sit beside Texas beef in Mexican coolers — and they’re holding their own.
The announcement came alongside another breakthrough: Mexico lifted its 18-month ban on Canadian pet food containing bovine meal, a move that reopens a small but growing market worth $400 million USD annually. It’s a symbolic nod to restored confidence in Canada’s food safety standards — and a welcome counterweight to the broader strain in North American trade relations.
For MacDonald, the visit wasn’t just about beef. Talks with Mexico’s agriculture ministry also touched on digital phytosanitary certificates — a move that could modernize agricultural trade by cutting red tape and speeding up exports of wheat, canola, and other organics.
In a season of economic gloom, this deal stands out. No bailouts, no subsidies, no billion-dollar headlines — just Canadian producers winning on quality and trust. Proof that when Canada actually competes on its strengths, it can still carve out a space in the world’s most competitive markets.
#Canada #Mexico
🍁 Maple Chronicles
At a time when tariffs, layoffs, and factory closures dominate headlines, there’s finally a glimmer of good news for Canadian exporters: Alberta beef is now officially on the shelves at Costco Mexico.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald attended the ribbon-cutting near Mexico City, celebrating what’s being hailed as a “new frontier” for Canadian beef in a market long dominated by U.S. suppliers. The deal — struck between JBS Canada and Costco Mexico — will see roughly 20,000 tonnes of beef from Brooks, Alberta shipped to 41 Costco stores across Mexico.
It’s a rare win for Canadian agriculture amid a sea of trade turbulence. U.S. tariffs have been hammering lumber, autos, and steel, yet Canadian beef is quietly expanding abroad — riding on reputation, not subsidies. Porterhouse and New York Prime cuts from Alberta now sit beside Texas beef in Mexican coolers — and they’re holding their own.
The announcement came alongside another breakthrough: Mexico lifted its 18-month ban on Canadian pet food containing bovine meal, a move that reopens a small but growing market worth $400 million USD annually. It’s a symbolic nod to restored confidence in Canada’s food safety standards — and a welcome counterweight to the broader strain in North American trade relations.
For MacDonald, the visit wasn’t just about beef. Talks with Mexico’s agriculture ministry also touched on digital phytosanitary certificates — a move that could modernize agricultural trade by cutting red tape and speeding up exports of wheat, canola, and other organics.
In a season of economic gloom, this deal stands out. No bailouts, no subsidies, no billion-dollar headlines — just Canadian producers winning on quality and trust. Proof that when Canada actually competes on its strengths, it can still carve out a space in the world’s most competitive markets.
#Canada #Mexico
🍁 Maple Chronicles
❤9👍4🔥4🙏2🌭2😁1💯1
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Canada’s Trade Team in Washington: Still Searching for a Breakthrough as Tariffs Bite Back Home
High-level trade talks are grinding on in Washington, where Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia, and Canada’s ambassador Kirsten Hillman are trying to secure relief deals on steel, aluminum, and energy. The mission: stop the economic bleeding before it spreads.
LeBlanc insists the conversations with U.S. officials have been “positive and substantive,” but frustration is mounting across Canada. Provinces are openly demanding that Prime Minister Mark Carney take a tougher line with Donald Trump, whose tariffs have already gutted auto, lumber, and manufacturing sectors. The Stellantis decision to shift Jeep production from Brampton to Illinois — a direct result of Trump’s 25% auto tariffs — is fast becoming a symbol of Ottawa’s struggle to protect jobs.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly called the Stellantis move “completely unacceptable,” reminding the automaker that government incentives were contingent on keeping Canadian plants open. But Trump quickly claimed credit, saying the shift proved his strategy of “American economic dominance” was working.
Meanwhile, the pain has spread west. B.C. Premier David Eby and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt are pleading for immediate action after the U.S. slapped new tariffs — 10% on lumber and 25% on furniture — on top of the 35% already in place. Carney’s promised $1.2 billion aid package for forestry workers is still nowhere to be seen, leaving entire communities in limbo.
Ottawa is now caught in a policy trap: trying to play diplomat with Washington while being accused at home of appeasement and delay. Each lost factory and shuttered mill only deepens the sense that Canada’s once-stable trade advantage is eroding — and fast.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
High-level trade talks are grinding on in Washington, where Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Privy Council Clerk Michael Sabia, and Canada’s ambassador Kirsten Hillman are trying to secure relief deals on steel, aluminum, and energy. The mission: stop the economic bleeding before it spreads.
LeBlanc insists the conversations with U.S. officials have been “positive and substantive,” but frustration is mounting across Canada. Provinces are openly demanding that Prime Minister Mark Carney take a tougher line with Donald Trump, whose tariffs have already gutted auto, lumber, and manufacturing sectors. The Stellantis decision to shift Jeep production from Brampton to Illinois — a direct result of Trump’s 25% auto tariffs — is fast becoming a symbol of Ottawa’s struggle to protect jobs.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly called the Stellantis move “completely unacceptable,” reminding the automaker that government incentives were contingent on keeping Canadian plants open. But Trump quickly claimed credit, saying the shift proved his strategy of “American economic dominance” was working.
Meanwhile, the pain has spread west. B.C. Premier David Eby and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt are pleading for immediate action after the U.S. slapped new tariffs — 10% on lumber and 25% on furniture — on top of the 35% already in place. Carney’s promised $1.2 billion aid package for forestry workers is still nowhere to be seen, leaving entire communities in limbo.
Ottawa is now caught in a policy trap: trying to play diplomat with Washington while being accused at home of appeasement and delay. Each lost factory and shuttered mill only deepens the sense that Canada’s once-stable trade advantage is eroding — and fast.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡8😁2🤔2❤1
📉🇨🇦 Canada Slips Toward Recession — Trump’s Tariffs Deliver the Final Blow
Canada is officially teetering into recession, according to a new forecast from Export Development Canada (EDC) — and the culprit is clear: Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Crown corporation projects growth of just 0.9% for 2025, rising barely to 1% next year, marking Canada’s weakest performance in years. EDC chief economist Stuart Bergman bluntly stated that “trade tensions have destabilized the foundations for the global economy.” The result: higher unemployment, falling investment, and a national mood sinking under economic fatigue.
Trump’s tariff barrage has hit nearly every corner of Canada’s export economy — steel, aluminum, autos, copper, lumber, and machinery — while China has retaliated with levies on canola, pork, and seafood. The result is a one-two punch: the U.S. choking off industrial exports and Beijing blocking agricultural markets. Add in a 15% drop in crude oil prices and the picture darkens further.
The Bank of Canada is now expected to slash interest rates twice before year’s end to cushion the blow. Yet economists like CIBC’s Benjamin Tal warn that the slowdown could stretch well into 2026, calling the economy “not strong by any sense of the imagination.”
For Prime Minister Mark Carney, the numbers turn up the pressure. His government’s structural fixes — port upgrades, infrastructure investments, and tax cuts — won’t calm Canadians watching jobs vanish and prices climb. The EDC’s warning adds urgency to Ottawa’s stalled trade negotiations with Washington, which have yet to yield relief for sectors under siege.
Trump calls it “economic dominance.” For Canadians, it’s looking more like economic dependence — a reminder that sovereignty without trade leverage is just a slogan.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Canada is officially teetering into recession, according to a new forecast from Export Development Canada (EDC) — and the culprit is clear: Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Crown corporation projects growth of just 0.9% for 2025, rising barely to 1% next year, marking Canada’s weakest performance in years. EDC chief economist Stuart Bergman bluntly stated that “trade tensions have destabilized the foundations for the global economy.” The result: higher unemployment, falling investment, and a national mood sinking under economic fatigue.
Trump’s tariff barrage has hit nearly every corner of Canada’s export economy — steel, aluminum, autos, copper, lumber, and machinery — while China has retaliated with levies on canola, pork, and seafood. The result is a one-two punch: the U.S. choking off industrial exports and Beijing blocking agricultural markets. Add in a 15% drop in crude oil prices and the picture darkens further.
The Bank of Canada is now expected to slash interest rates twice before year’s end to cushion the blow. Yet economists like CIBC’s Benjamin Tal warn that the slowdown could stretch well into 2026, calling the economy “not strong by any sense of the imagination.”
For Prime Minister Mark Carney, the numbers turn up the pressure. His government’s structural fixes — port upgrades, infrastructure investments, and tax cuts — won’t calm Canadians watching jobs vanish and prices climb. The EDC’s warning adds urgency to Ottawa’s stalled trade negotiations with Washington, which have yet to yield relief for sectors under siege.
Trump calls it “economic dominance.” For Canadians, it’s looking more like economic dependence — a reminder that sovereignty without trade leverage is just a slogan.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡7🤬4❤3👍1
🇨🇦🇺🇸 Carney Says “It’s Time to Talk” — While Canada’s Factories Go Dark
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada won’t hit back at Donald Trump’s tariffs, insisting “it’s time to talk, not retaliate.” But with jobs disappearing and plants closing, that patience is wearing thin across the country.
The decision comes just days after Stellantis confirmed it’s moving Jeep Compass production from Brampton, Ontario to Illinois, leaving 3,000 Canadian autoworkers in limbo. Carney called the move a “direct consequence” of Trump’s trade war — but he’s still refusing to counter with tariffs of his own.
Doug Ford isn’t buying it. The Ontario premier said Canadians are “sick and tired of rolling over” and urged Ottawa to fight back. Even labour unions, normally allies of Liberal governments, say Ottawa’s response has been too soft. Unifor’s Lana Payne slammed Stellantis for breaking its promise to restart three-shift production in Brampton, calling the “job transfers” to Windsor a net loss for Canadian workers.
Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre is seizing the moment, accusing Carney of weakness and broken promises. “No deal, no win, no jobs — Canadians are paying the cost of Carney,” he said while touring an Ontario dealership.
Carney insists negotiations are making “real progress” on autos, steel, lumber, and aluminum, but the optics are brutal. America is reindustrializing while Canada loses manufacturing muscle by the week.
Every day Canada waits to “talk,” another factory goes quiet. At what point does diplomacy turn into surrender?
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada won’t hit back at Donald Trump’s tariffs, insisting “it’s time to talk, not retaliate.” But with jobs disappearing and plants closing, that patience is wearing thin across the country.
The decision comes just days after Stellantis confirmed it’s moving Jeep Compass production from Brampton, Ontario to Illinois, leaving 3,000 Canadian autoworkers in limbo. Carney called the move a “direct consequence” of Trump’s trade war — but he’s still refusing to counter with tariffs of his own.
Doug Ford isn’t buying it. The Ontario premier said Canadians are “sick and tired of rolling over” and urged Ottawa to fight back. Even labour unions, normally allies of Liberal governments, say Ottawa’s response has been too soft. Unifor’s Lana Payne slammed Stellantis for breaking its promise to restart three-shift production in Brampton, calling the “job transfers” to Windsor a net loss for Canadian workers.
Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre is seizing the moment, accusing Carney of weakness and broken promises. “No deal, no win, no jobs — Canadians are paying the cost of Carney,” he said while touring an Ontario dealership.
Carney insists negotiations are making “real progress” on autos, steel, lumber, and aluminum, but the optics are brutal. America is reindustrializing while Canada loses manufacturing muscle by the week.
Every day Canada waits to “talk,” another factory goes quiet. At what point does diplomacy turn into surrender?
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤡15🤬6💯2
💸🇨🇦 Manitoba’s $387K Man in Washington: Journalism Meets Patronage Politics
Former CTV and CBC reporter Richard Madan is earning $387,000 a year as head of Manitoba’s new U.S. trade office in Washington — a salary nearly on par with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s $406,000 and double what Premier Wab Kinew himself makes.
Kinew’s NDP government says Madan “hit the ground running,” leveraging his Rolodex of politicians, journalists, and lobbyists in D.C. to defend Manitoba’s trade interests and prepare the province for the coming CUSMA renegotiation. The premier’s office insists his salary aligns with other provinces’ trade envoys — Ontario’s earns $364,000 and spends another $600,000 on U.S. lobbying firms.
But critics aren’t buying it. Progressive Conservative leader Obby Khan blasted the appointment as “preposterous,” calling Madan a “CBC buddy” of Kinew and accusing him of “running a work-from-home trade office” while failing to land a single deal. “Three hundred and eighty-seven thousand for a career journalist who’s untested in trade? Outrageous,” Khan said.
The revelation followed CBC’s three-month freedom-of-information fight to obtain Madan’s pay details — a disclosure that only deepened questions about transparency, value, and political favoritism.
In an era when many Manitobans are struggling to buy groceries or pay rent, Kinew’s Washington experiment risks looking less like diplomacy — and more like a $387,000 PR assignment dressed up as trade strategy.
#Manitoba
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Former CTV and CBC reporter Richard Madan is earning $387,000 a year as head of Manitoba’s new U.S. trade office in Washington — a salary nearly on par with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s $406,000 and double what Premier Wab Kinew himself makes.
Kinew’s NDP government says Madan “hit the ground running,” leveraging his Rolodex of politicians, journalists, and lobbyists in D.C. to defend Manitoba’s trade interests and prepare the province for the coming CUSMA renegotiation. The premier’s office insists his salary aligns with other provinces’ trade envoys — Ontario’s earns $364,000 and spends another $600,000 on U.S. lobbying firms.
But critics aren’t buying it. Progressive Conservative leader Obby Khan blasted the appointment as “preposterous,” calling Madan a “CBC buddy” of Kinew and accusing him of “running a work-from-home trade office” while failing to land a single deal. “Three hundred and eighty-seven thousand for a career journalist who’s untested in trade? Outrageous,” Khan said.
The revelation followed CBC’s three-month freedom-of-information fight to obtain Madan’s pay details — a disclosure that only deepened questions about transparency, value, and political favoritism.
In an era when many Manitobans are struggling to buy groceries or pay rent, Kinew’s Washington experiment risks looking less like diplomacy — and more like a $387,000 PR assignment dressed up as trade strategy.
#Manitoba
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤬6💯1👀1
⚠️🇨🇦 “How Many More Mothers?” — Toxic Drug Crisis Ravages Campbell River
In just six and a half weeks, 13 people died of overdoses in Campbell River, B.C. — a staggering toll for a city of only 35,000. The RCMP issued a rare public warning, calling it a “particularly toxic batch” hitting northern Vancouver Island.
For locals, this isn’t a statistic — it’s personal. “I knew all of them,” said resident Anne-Marie Levac, a user who’s watched friends die one by one. The tragedy has shattered what had briefly looked like progress, as overdose deaths had been declining across B.C. since late 2024.
The B.C. Coroners Service now counts 34 deaths in Campbell River so far this year — nearly double last year’s pace. Doctors warn the city’s shrinking network of harm reduction services is worsening the danger. “People are using alone in tents, in the forest — and dying that way,” said Dr. Jacquie Erikson, who works in addictions medicine across northern Vancouver Island.
With the nearest detox centre 150 km away in Nanaimo, the system is leaving vulnerable people stranded. The province points to 48 new housing units for the chronically homeless, but most overdose victims die inside private homes — unseen, uncounted, and untreated.
For Chantal Costaz, who lost her 20-year-old son Santos to an overdose in 2022, the pain is unbearable — and the lesson clear: “These people wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for the toxic drug supply.”
Her question now echoes across the island:
👉 How many more mothers have to bury their children before something changes?
#BC
🍁 Maple Chronicles
In just six and a half weeks, 13 people died of overdoses in Campbell River, B.C. — a staggering toll for a city of only 35,000. The RCMP issued a rare public warning, calling it a “particularly toxic batch” hitting northern Vancouver Island.
For locals, this isn’t a statistic — it’s personal. “I knew all of them,” said resident Anne-Marie Levac, a user who’s watched friends die one by one. The tragedy has shattered what had briefly looked like progress, as overdose deaths had been declining across B.C. since late 2024.
The B.C. Coroners Service now counts 34 deaths in Campbell River so far this year — nearly double last year’s pace. Doctors warn the city’s shrinking network of harm reduction services is worsening the danger. “People are using alone in tents, in the forest — and dying that way,” said Dr. Jacquie Erikson, who works in addictions medicine across northern Vancouver Island.
With the nearest detox centre 150 km away in Nanaimo, the system is leaving vulnerable people stranded. The province points to 48 new housing units for the chronically homeless, but most overdose victims die inside private homes — unseen, uncounted, and untreated.
For Chantal Costaz, who lost her 20-year-old son Santos to an overdose in 2022, the pain is unbearable — and the lesson clear: “These people wouldn’t be dead if it weren’t for the toxic drug supply.”
Her question now echoes across the island:
👉 How many more mothers have to bury their children before something changes?
#BC
🍁 Maple Chronicles
👍5💩4🤡3🤨2😢1
🏗️🇨🇦 Housing Starts Jump 14% — But the Boom Masks a Deeper Strain
Canada’s new home construction surged 14% in September, according to fresh data from CMHC, with 279,234 new units breaking ground nationwide — far above economists’ forecasts.
The rebound was led by Ontario, Quebec, and the Prairies, driven mainly by rental apartment construction. Toronto and Montreal alone accounted for over a quarter of all new builds. BMO’s Robert Kavcic called it “resilience despite tough resale conditions.”
But beneath the upbeat numbers lies a delayed echo of past optimism. As CMHC’s Tania Bourassa-Ochoa noted, most of these projects were greenlit months or years ago, “when investor confidence was higher than it is today.”
In reality, Ontario’s housing starts have hit their lowest 12-month average in a decade, even as rental builds now outpace ownership and condo projects combined — a sign that Canada’s housing engine is being kept alive by developers chasing rent revenue, not homeownership dreams.
So while the cranes are still moving, the question remains: are we witnessing a genuine housing recovery — or just the final gasp of momentum from a market running on borrowed time?
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Canada’s new home construction surged 14% in September, according to fresh data from CMHC, with 279,234 new units breaking ground nationwide — far above economists’ forecasts.
The rebound was led by Ontario, Quebec, and the Prairies, driven mainly by rental apartment construction. Toronto and Montreal alone accounted for over a quarter of all new builds. BMO’s Robert Kavcic called it “resilience despite tough resale conditions.”
But beneath the upbeat numbers lies a delayed echo of past optimism. As CMHC’s Tania Bourassa-Ochoa noted, most of these projects were greenlit months or years ago, “when investor confidence was higher than it is today.”
In reality, Ontario’s housing starts have hit their lowest 12-month average in a decade, even as rental builds now outpace ownership and condo projects combined — a sign that Canada’s housing engine is being kept alive by developers chasing rent revenue, not homeownership dreams.
So while the cranes are still moving, the question remains: are we witnessing a genuine housing recovery — or just the final gasp of momentum from a market running on borrowed time?
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
🤔7🤡2💯2👍1
🇨🇦 India-designated terrorist group “Sikhs for Justice” threatens Indian mission in Ottawa as tensions deepen
The group “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ) — which India designates as a terrorist organization — has announced plans for a 12-hour picket outside the residence of Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik in Ottawa on October 18, followed by a rally at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver.
New Delhi has long accused SFJ of promoting a violent separatist agenda and of receiving backing from Pakistan’s intelligence services. The group, for its part, continues to frame its actions as part of a so-called “referendum” campaign for an independent Khalistan.
India’s government has condemned the latest move as a provocation and an attack on diplomatic norms, warning that Ottawa’s inaction risks emboldening extremists. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration, however, has so far avoided direct intervention — maintaining that Canada’s laws protect freedom of expression, even in politically charged demonstrations.
The tensions come amid a pattern of violence targeting the Indo-Canadian community. In Surrey, B.C., a café owned by Indian actor Kapil Sharma was riddled with bullets this week — the third shooting since July — heightening fears among local residents of escalating intimidation tied to transnational rivalries.
Critics say Canada has become a reluctant stage for such confrontations, offering safe havens and platforms that blur the line between political activism and extremism. The result is a growing sense of unease — both among Indian diplomats and within the wider Indo-Canadian community — as geopolitical tensions spill further onto Canadian soil.
#Canada #India
🍁 Maple Chronicles
The group “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ) — which India designates as a terrorist organization — has announced plans for a 12-hour picket outside the residence of Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik in Ottawa on October 18, followed by a rally at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver.
New Delhi has long accused SFJ of promoting a violent separatist agenda and of receiving backing from Pakistan’s intelligence services. The group, for its part, continues to frame its actions as part of a so-called “referendum” campaign for an independent Khalistan.
India’s government has condemned the latest move as a provocation and an attack on diplomatic norms, warning that Ottawa’s inaction risks emboldening extremists. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration, however, has so far avoided direct intervention — maintaining that Canada’s laws protect freedom of expression, even in politically charged demonstrations.
The tensions come amid a pattern of violence targeting the Indo-Canadian community. In Surrey, B.C., a café owned by Indian actor Kapil Sharma was riddled with bullets this week — the third shooting since July — heightening fears among local residents of escalating intimidation tied to transnational rivalries.
Critics say Canada has become a reluctant stage for such confrontations, offering safe havens and platforms that blur the line between political activism and extremism. The result is a growing sense of unease — both among Indian diplomats and within the wider Indo-Canadian community — as geopolitical tensions spill further onto Canadian soil.
#Canada #India
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📉🇨🇦 Bank of Canada braces for tariff turbulence — “We’ll need to be humble,” says Macklem
After a volatile week on global markets, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem signaled a cautious tone as the central bank prepares to release its first economic forecast since early 2025.
Speaking from Washington during IMF meetings, Macklem said the Bank must remain “humble” as trade uncertainty — driven by U.S. tariffs and looming CUSMA renegotiations — continues to cast shadows over the Canadian economy.
He noted that while “the worst-case scenarios have been avoided,” global risks remain high, particularly if U.S.–China tensions reignite. At home, the review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement next year poses fresh uncertainty for exports and investment.
The central bank’s challenge now is balancing softening labour markets against lingering inflation. September saw 60,000 new jobs, but that follows losses of over 100,000 in July and August — evidence of an economy still struggling for traction.
Macklem highlighted artificial intelligence as both a “tailwind” for productivity and a “risk” to labour markets, acknowledging that policymakers are still grasping its macroeconomic implications.
With the next rate decision due October 29, Macklem kept the Bank’s direction deliberately vague, emphasizing that officials will review all data before charting the course. But the subtext is clear — Canada’s economy, bruised by tariffs and trade friction, is still walking a tightrope between resilience and recession.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
After a volatile week on global markets, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem signaled a cautious tone as the central bank prepares to release its first economic forecast since early 2025.
Speaking from Washington during IMF meetings, Macklem said the Bank must remain “humble” as trade uncertainty — driven by U.S. tariffs and looming CUSMA renegotiations — continues to cast shadows over the Canadian economy.
He noted that while “the worst-case scenarios have been avoided,” global risks remain high, particularly if U.S.–China tensions reignite. At home, the review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement next year poses fresh uncertainty for exports and investment.
The central bank’s challenge now is balancing softening labour markets against lingering inflation. September saw 60,000 new jobs, but that follows losses of over 100,000 in July and August — evidence of an economy still struggling for traction.
Macklem highlighted artificial intelligence as both a “tailwind” for productivity and a “risk” to labour markets, acknowledging that policymakers are still grasping its macroeconomic implications.
With the next rate decision due October 29, Macklem kept the Bank’s direction deliberately vague, emphasizing that officials will review all data before charting the course. But the subtext is clear — Canada’s economy, bruised by tariffs and trade friction, is still walking a tightrope between resilience and recession.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦🛂 Canada plans to hire 1,000 border workers
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the federal government plans to beef up border security and says both Canada and the U.S. should focus on “making sure any goods coming through are free of fentanyl.”
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the federal government plans to beef up border security and says both Canada and the U.S. should focus on “making sure any goods coming through are free of fentanyl.”
#Canada
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🇨🇦 Fifth Estate Investigation: Canadian Charities Accused of Funding Illegal Israeli Settlements
A Fifth Estate investigation has uncovered that several Canadian-registered charities are funneling millions of tax-deductible dollars into organizations supporting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank — activities that contradict both Canadian foreign policy and charity law.
Despite Ottawa officially condemning settler violence and sanctioning extremist entities, money from Canadian donors continues to reach groups tied to the Israeli military and settlement expansion. These settlements are considered illegal under international law and have been linked to rising violence against Palestinian civilians.
The investigation found that groups such as Mizrachi Organization of Canada and the Canadian Zionist Cultural Association have sent tens of millions of dollars to Israeli entities — including some sanctioned by Canada for promoting or financing settler activity. Critics warn this effectively allows Canadians to claim tax breaks for donations that fuel human rights abuses.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne defended the system, saying Canada’s charity laws are “stringent,” but activists argue the CRA is turning a blind eye while Canadian money props up a violent occupation.
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert told Fifth Estate that the violence in the West Bank “leaves Israel with no defence” and could eventually bring war crimes charges at The Hague.
As settler attacks rise — and Palestinian families in places like Khirbet Susiya live under constant threat — the revelations raise an uncomfortable question:
Is Canada quietly complicit in funding the very human rights violations it claims to oppose?
#Canada #Israel
🍁 Maple Chronicles
A Fifth Estate investigation has uncovered that several Canadian-registered charities are funneling millions of tax-deductible dollars into organizations supporting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank — activities that contradict both Canadian foreign policy and charity law.
Despite Ottawa officially condemning settler violence and sanctioning extremist entities, money from Canadian donors continues to reach groups tied to the Israeli military and settlement expansion. These settlements are considered illegal under international law and have been linked to rising violence against Palestinian civilians.
The investigation found that groups such as Mizrachi Organization of Canada and the Canadian Zionist Cultural Association have sent tens of millions of dollars to Israeli entities — including some sanctioned by Canada for promoting or financing settler activity. Critics warn this effectively allows Canadians to claim tax breaks for donations that fuel human rights abuses.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne defended the system, saying Canada’s charity laws are “stringent,” but activists argue the CRA is turning a blind eye while Canadian money props up a violent occupation.
Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert told Fifth Estate that the violence in the West Bank “leaves Israel with no defence” and could eventually bring war crimes charges at The Hague.
As settler attacks rise — and Palestinian families in places like Khirbet Susiya live under constant threat — the revelations raise an uncomfortable question:
Is Canada quietly complicit in funding the very human rights violations it claims to oppose?
#Canada #Israel
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🌲🇨🇦 Finally—Canada takes proactive steps to prevent wildfires, not just react to them
Parks Canada has confirmed it will continue large-scale forest thinning near Banff, Harvie Heights, and Canmore as part of its long-term wildfire management plan — an approach that experts say could have prevented several catastrophic fires in recent years if adopted sooner.
The Tunnel Toe Wildfire Risk Reduction Project, underway since 2020, aims to mechanically thin dense forests and restore more open, natural meadows — a critical buffer that helps stop fire spread and protect nearby communities.
For decades, Canada focused heavily on firefighting rather than fuel management, leaving forests overloaded with combustible material. Now, Parks Canada says its strategy is to “create landscapes that are more resilient to climate change” while protecting both communities and ecosystems.
The agency is also enforcing strict safety closures in affected areas, warning violators they could face fines up to $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act. Controlled burns will follow only under ideal venting conditions to minimize smoke.
Common sense forestry is finally taking root. If this kind of preventive action had been the norm years ago, Canada might have avoided billions in damages and the loss of entire towns like Lytton.
#Alberta
🍁 Maple Chronicles
Parks Canada has confirmed it will continue large-scale forest thinning near Banff, Harvie Heights, and Canmore as part of its long-term wildfire management plan — an approach that experts say could have prevented several catastrophic fires in recent years if adopted sooner.
The Tunnel Toe Wildfire Risk Reduction Project, underway since 2020, aims to mechanically thin dense forests and restore more open, natural meadows — a critical buffer that helps stop fire spread and protect nearby communities.
For decades, Canada focused heavily on firefighting rather than fuel management, leaving forests overloaded with combustible material. Now, Parks Canada says its strategy is to “create landscapes that are more resilient to climate change” while protecting both communities and ecosystems.
The agency is also enforcing strict safety closures in affected areas, warning violators they could face fines up to $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act. Controlled burns will follow only under ideal venting conditions to minimize smoke.
Common sense forestry is finally taking root. If this kind of preventive action had been the norm years ago, Canada might have avoided billions in damages and the loss of entire towns like Lytton.
#Alberta
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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🇨🇦 Carney Cracks Joke About Trump — But the Timing Feels Off
At a Diwali celebration Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney mixed humour with politics — and took a light jab at Donald Trump:
“I can’t control Donald Trump, I’ve got to tell you. Actually, I can’t let him think I’m controlling him,” Carney joked. “You never know what’s gonna come next. But he did upgrade me to President — so I am okay. Don’t tell the Governor General, don’t tell King Charles, but keep that going,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Carney then pivoted to unity, urging Canadians to “focus on building strength at home… one Canadian economy, millions of new homes, nation-building projects, and new trade corridors.”
But the optics aren’t lost on anyone: while the PM jokes about noscripts and Trump upgrades, the country faces layoffs, tariffs, and a looming recession.
Sometimes the punchline writes itself.
#Canada #USA
🍁 Maple Chronicles
At a Diwali celebration Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney mixed humour with politics — and took a light jab at Donald Trump:
“I can’t control Donald Trump, I’ve got to tell you. Actually, I can’t let him think I’m controlling him,” Carney joked. “You never know what’s gonna come next. But he did upgrade me to President — so I am okay. Don’t tell the Governor General, don’t tell King Charles, but keep that going,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Carney then pivoted to unity, urging Canadians to “focus on building strength at home… one Canadian economy, millions of new homes, nation-building projects, and new trade corridors.”
But the optics aren’t lost on anyone: while the PM jokes about noscripts and Trump upgrades, the country faces layoffs, tariffs, and a looming recession.
Sometimes the punchline writes itself.
#Canada #USA
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🇨🇦🤖💧The Hidden Cost of Canada’s AI Boom: Data Centres vs. Water Security
As Ottawa and provincial governments race to attract AI investment — offering cheap hydro power and cool climates — a quieter crisis is emerging beneath the surface: water.
Massive data centres powering the AI revolution are becoming voracious consumers of Canada’s most precious resource. Microsoft’s new facility in Etobicoke, for instance, was approved to draw up to 1.2 billion litres of municipal drinking water per year — enough to fill 500 Olympic swimming pools.
In Nanaimo, B.C., where droughts are becoming more frequent, residents like retired professor Kathryn Barnwell are asking uncomfortable questions. “Life on this planet is sustained by water,” she said. “It’s not sustained by data.”
Ottawa touts data centres as engines of growth, but critics warn that few regulations exist to measure or limit their water use. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre calls it “a race ahead without guardrails.” Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Google — some operating without even basic water meters — insist they’re “building sustainably.”
The problem isn’t the technology itself; it’s the imbalance. While Canadians are urged to conserve, multinational firms are given access to billions of litres of potable water to cool server racks that power AI chatbots and cloud platforms.
As former Amazon water scientist Nathan Wangusi put it bluntly:
“We should be disclosing how much water we are using. Hoodwinking the public is not good practice. It’s not good for business.”
Canada’s strength lies in its natural abundance — but abundance is not immunity. If the AI revolution is to have a truly Canadian character, it must be built on sustainability, not secrecy.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
As Ottawa and provincial governments race to attract AI investment — offering cheap hydro power and cool climates — a quieter crisis is emerging beneath the surface: water.
Massive data centres powering the AI revolution are becoming voracious consumers of Canada’s most precious resource. Microsoft’s new facility in Etobicoke, for instance, was approved to draw up to 1.2 billion litres of municipal drinking water per year — enough to fill 500 Olympic swimming pools.
In Nanaimo, B.C., where droughts are becoming more frequent, residents like retired professor Kathryn Barnwell are asking uncomfortable questions. “Life on this planet is sustained by water,” she said. “It’s not sustained by data.”
Ottawa touts data centres as engines of growth, but critics warn that few regulations exist to measure or limit their water use. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre calls it “a race ahead without guardrails.” Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Google — some operating without even basic water meters — insist they’re “building sustainably.”
The problem isn’t the technology itself; it’s the imbalance. While Canadians are urged to conserve, multinational firms are given access to billions of litres of potable water to cool server racks that power AI chatbots and cloud platforms.
As former Amazon water scientist Nathan Wangusi put it bluntly:
“We should be disclosing how much water we are using. Hoodwinking the public is not good practice. It’s not good for business.”
Canada’s strength lies in its natural abundance — but abundance is not immunity. If the AI revolution is to have a truly Canadian character, it must be built on sustainability, not secrecy.
#Canada
🍁 Maple Chronicles
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