Canada

The Liberal government unreasonably invoked the Emergencies Act to clear the convoy protests that gridlocked the capital city and border points nearly four years ago, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled on Friday.

The court dismissed the government's appeal of a 2024 ruling which deemed former prime minister Justin Trudeau's decision to use the legislation unlawful and infringed on protesters' Charter rights.

"As disturbing and disruptive the blockades and the convoy protests in Ottawa could be, they fell well short of a threat to national security," wrote the three judges on the appeal court.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford isn’t mincing words about Canada’s new electric vehicle deal with China, saying Friday that Chinese manufacturers are gaining a foothold in the country’s auto market at the expense of workers in this country.

“The federal government is inviting a flood of cheap made-in-China electric vehicles without any real guarantee of equal or immediate investments in Canada’s economy, auto sector or supply chain,” Ford said in a statement issued shortly after news of the deal broke.

“Worse, by lowering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles this lopsided deal risks closing the door on Canadian automakers to the American market, our largest export destination, which would hurt our economy and lead to job losses.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reached an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, in a move that marks a major shift in the relationship between the two countries.

Opinion piece by Brian McQuinn, Co-Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Conflict and Associate Professor, International Studies, University of Regina; and Marcus Kolga, Adjunct professor, University of Regina.

...

The war in Ukraine and the attacks on NATO partners might seem distant, but Canada is on the front lines. As part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia, Canada has more than 2,000 troops deployed under Operation Reassurance.

If Baltic leaders are right, and it’s only a matter time until there’s an open war with Russia, Canadians will be on the front lines from the beginning.

Canada’s NATO commitments also mean that an attack on any of these countries will be treated as an attack on Canada.

...

Historically, Canada and Europe have relied on American military guarantees, but it seems highly unlikely U.S. President Donald Trump would come to the aid of Latvia and declare war on Putin. Canada and its European allies are likely on their own.

...

“Estonia is prepared for different threats. We know that the pressure from Russia goes beyond the military. It also includes vandalism, sabotage, airspace violations, balloons threatening aviation, cyberattacks and ongoing information campaigns — not only against Estonia, but against all allies, no matter how near or distant, including Canada," says Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

"We also focus on building a strong economy and attracting investment, like the Canadian Neo Performance Materials plant in eastern Estonia. We protect our information space and work to make sure our society is resilient and ready to deal with any kind of crisis — whether it comes from aggressor states, from nature or from climate change. We are not afraid; we are prepared.”

...

Baltic societies offer Canada a clear blueprint for countering Russian coercion, preparing for crisis and building resilience without surrendering democratic values.

...

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has reached a deal with China to allow tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into the country in exchange for lower canola duties.

He billed his first such trade deal since taking office as a preliminary one that would boost the economy.

Carney says Ottawa expects Beijing to drop canola seed duties to 15 per cent by March.

Canadian canola meal, lobsters, crabs and peas will no longer be subject to Chinese tariffs from March to at least the end of the year.

In return, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market at a 6.1 per cent tariff rate.

The pact comes just hours after Carney met with President Xi Jinping on a trip to Beijing, ending a multi-year trade dispute that began when the last Liberal government levied EV tariffs to protect Canada's auto sector.

A Toronto police officer has been arrested after property that was delivered to police was taken instead of logged.

Police say the thefts occurred multiple times in October.

They say items that were recovered included government-issued identification, bank cards and passports.

Police added that some of the items had previously been reported stolen.

Const. Derek McCormick has been charged with four counts of theft under $5,000, along with one count each of breach of trust and obstructing justice.

Police say McCormick, a 28-year veteran, has been suspended with pay.

As a major snowstorm caused travel chaos, serious weather alerts, highway closures and school cancellations, some working for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation were told to head into the office.

“Just a reminder that we have a 5-day a week in person requirement,” the email, seen by Global News, said.

It added that the snow meant staff could arrive late and leave early as long as they made an effort to attend.

“Otherwise,” the note concluded, “please take a vacation day, which some … staff are doing today.”

The message was sent after schools in Toronto had announced they would close for the day, and while emergency services and Environment Canada were urging people to avoid all non-essential travel.

“Allow extra time for travel,” the weather agency wrote. “Non-essential travel should be avoided.”

About an hour after telling workers to head into the office or use a vacation day, the directive was revised.

“We are now being advised that if you have your equipment, you may work from home,” the follow-up, sent at 10:35 a.m., said. “Staff to decide for themselves if it’s safe or possible to drive in today. Please use your best judgment and prioritize safety.”

Was a pipe dream to think Carney would stand up to the orange menace.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/41672329

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/32680271

The Canadian arm of the Chinese state-owned energy giant has a half-interest in the Grand Rapids Pipeline, with Calgary-based South Bow Corp. holding the rest. Grand Rapids runs 460 kilometres between the oilsands region in northeastern Alberta and the Edmonton area.

PetroChina was seeking to acquire South Bow's interest under an option contained in their agreement that includes a 30-day time limit, said an Alberta Court of King's Bench written decision posted online last week.

"The proverbial fly-in-the-ointment is the requirement of two governmental authorizations," wrote Justice Douglas Mah, who rendered his oral decision in December.

"First, because of the size and nature of the transaction, dispensation is required under the Competition Act ... Second, because PetroChina is a Chinese state-owned enterprise, its acquisition of South Bow's interest in the pipeline must undergo a net benefit review under the Investment Canada Act ... Both of these authorizations take time to get."

Elston Bostock, 49, is awaiting sentencing on a long list of charges he pleaded guilty to in recent months, following a lengthy police investigation into his actions that began in April 2024.

The offences Bostock admitted to include getting traffic tickets voided in exchange for liquor and gift cards, stealing cannabis from a police scene, sharing confidential police information and sending lewd texts about a photo he took of the topless body of a woman who had fatally overdosed.

He also pleaded guilty to selling drugs — including cocaine and psilocybin (also called magic mushrooms) — to friends and other officers.

In an emailed statement on Wednesday, Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Claude Chancy said police can't comment on Bostock's remarks about the culture within the force, citing "the ongoing court process."

Archived link

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s trip to Beijing this week—the first trip by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years—signals a high-stakes attempt to reset Canada-China relations. This visit comes as pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai’s mitigation hearing reaches an end and as Ottawa looks to expand Canada’s oil exports to China.

...

Beijing is seizing upon tensions in the United States–Canada relationship to provide a fig leaf to the Canadian government—and much of the rest of the world—presenting itself as an alternative trusted partner in trade and investment. Carney shouldn’t accept that offer without conditions, including the release of the Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai, which he has already said he supports. Lai’s mother was a Canadian citizen, and his sister, nieces and nephews are Canadian citizens and residents of Ontario. Lai’s companies also employ more than 1,500 people in Canada.

...

If Canada won’t stand up for a 78-year-old journalist imprisoned for running a newspaper, what red line will Beijing have to cross for Ottawa to act? Lai’s case is also part of Beijing’s broader campaign of transnational repression, with Hong Kong issuing bounties on Canadian citizens and activists worldwide for speaking up in defence of democracy.

...

Canada can use tools it has deployed elsewhere. The Canadian Parliament has passed motions on the Uyghur genocide and imposed sanctions on officials in Belarus for human rights abuses and political imprisonment. Hong Kong’s crackdown on democracy deserves a similar response. Canada should coordinate with Britain and the US at the G7 in June to present a unified front and not make any new concessions until Hong Kong political prisoners are released. Britain is already pursuing humanitarian release for Lai, who holds British citizenship.

...

This isn’t about severing ties with China; it’s about ensuring those ties don’t come at the cost of Canada’s values. Carney has something Beijing wants: access to Canadian markets, minerals and investment. He should use that leverage.

...

Apparently the US Department of ~~Defense~~War thinks that they can order non-US citizens not resident in the USA to cease and desist from mailing things.

Uh…

Hilarity of the items involved aside, the gall of the US military postal service to give orders to civilians not under their command and not even of their nation is shocking.

"[...] a small group of rich Canadians will get far richer by collaborating with the Americans. Consider all of the Canadian companies doing business with the Department of Homeland Security, taking advantage of free trade to set up shop in a country that puts children in cages. But these companies and their CEOs aren’t pariahs derided for collaborating with an authoritarian government. Rather, they are considered pillars of the business community, lauded for their charitable works, written about glowingly in our mainstream media and connected to our most powerful politicians."

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/53463841

Before the cameras were installed four years ago, roughly 17 per cent of motorists followed the posted speed limits. ... In the last year before the cameras were banned, compliance reached 87 per cent.

Within a week of the cameras’ removal, that fell to 62 per cent, and three weeks later, it had dropped to 50 per cent.

...

Carlucci says it’s time for drivers to reflect and consider one simple question.

“Why are you speeding in a school zone?”

Canada's Armed Forces personnel have joined the ranks of local tradesmen and volunteers to begin to repair hundreds of homes damaged n Pimicikamak Cree Nation in the aftermath of a power outage last month.

The power outage left the community, 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, without electricity for five days, while frozen pipes damaged much of the community's water and system.

Seven soldiers arrived on Jan. 11 to help local workers assess damage to homes and infrastructure. Three more will be arriving in the community on Wednesday.

The emergency marked the third time in the past year that residents have had to evacuate the area. The community issued two evacuation orders in summer 2025 as wildfires approached.

Most of the estimated 1,300 homes in the area have seen at least some damage.