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Globe and Mail
25 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Carney discusses tariffs, security with Trump over phone
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone Thursday, which the Canadian side described as a productive and wide-ranging conversation that touched on trade, security and Ukraine. There have been few updates on the trade front between the two countries since both sides failed to reach a trade agreement by an Aug. 1 deadline. Since then, Mr. Trump increased the blanket tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 per cent from 25 per cent. However, the tariffs come with a broad exemption that excludes all products that meet the rules of origin in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade. 'The leaders discussed current trade challenges, opportunities, and shared priorities in a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S.,' said a summary of the Thursday call released by the Prime Minister's Office. Tariffs weigh on Ontario's economy as manufacturing sector sheds jobs 'The leaders also discussed how to build on the President's leadership to support long-term peace and security for Ukraine and Europe. The leaders agreed to reconvene shortly.' Earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with her counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Washington. An American summary of the meeting said they discussed efforts to support Haiti's security 'and overcome Hamas's ongoing obstruction of peace in Gaza. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Anand also discussed peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war and mechanisms to strengthen our hemisphere's response to China's coercive activity.'
CBC
26 minutes ago
- CBC
Canada joins call for Israel to halt settlement plan meant to crush Palestinian statehood
Social Sharing Canada and 21 other countries issued a joint statement on Thursday calling for the immediate halt of a recently approved Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. On Wednesday, the Israeli government gave its final approval of a 3,500 apartment expansion plan in a tract of land east of Jerusalem known as E1. The development has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to U.S. pressure during previous administrations. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and her counterparts called on the Israeli government to "urgently retract" the expansion plan and "stop settlement construction." "The decision by the Israeli Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and a violation of international law. We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms," the statement said. More than 700,000 Israelis now live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 and sought by the Palestinians for a future state. The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel has disputed the legality, arguing that the West Bank is disputed territory whose fate should be determined through negotiations. If the E1 expansion process moves quickly, infrastructure work could begin in the next few months and construction of homes could start in around a year. "The government of Israel still has an opportunity to stop the E1 plan going any further. We encourage them to urgently retract this plan," the ministers' joint statement said. The signatories include the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the U.K. The foreign affairs representative of the European Commission also signed the statement. WATCH | Israel approves controversial E1 settlement: Israel approves controversial E1 settlement expansion in West Bank 17 hours ago Israel has given final approval to expand one of the largest Jewish settlements in the Occupied West Bank. The settlement's mayor wants it to be part of Jerusalem whereas nearby Palestinians are worried about being cut off from East Jerusalem. The location of E1 is significant because it is one of the last geographical links between Ramallah, in the northern West Bank, and Bethlehem in the southern West Bank. The two cities are 22 kilometres apart, but Palestinians travelling between them must take a wide detour and pass through multiple Israeli checkpoints, adding hours to the journey. Both critics and proponents of the E1 expansion plan have said it will effectively divide the West Bank in two, destroying plans for a future Palestinian state. Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said during a news conference at the site last week that the plan "finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state" — something he repeated Wednesday. "The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions," Smotrich said. "Every settlement, every neighbourhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea." Canada is one of a number of countries planning to recognize a Palestinian state at next month's United Nations General Assembly meeting. Canada's recognition is based on a commitment from the Palestinian Authority — which operates in the West Bank — to hold elections next year. The statement issued by Anand and her counterparts specifically condemned Smotrich for his comments regarding the future of a Palestinian state. "This brings no benefits to the Israeli people. Instead, it risks undermining security and fuels further violence and instability, taking us further away from peace," the statement said. In June, Canada and five Western allies issued sanctions against Smotrich — and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — accusing the two ministers of pushing "extremist rhetoric" by calling for the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the territory. The sanctions — which drew heated responses from both Israeli and U.S. officials — also targeted some Israeli settlers involved in violent acts in the West Bank. Israel's plans to expand settlements are part of an increasingly difficult reality for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as the world's attention focuses on the war in Gaza. There have been marked increases in attacks by settlers on Palestinians, evictions from Palestinian towns and checkpoints that choke freedom of movement, as well as several Palestinian attacks on Israelis. WATCH | He says extremist Israeli settlers burned his home: He says extremist Israeli settlers burned his home 2 days ago Peace Now, an organization that tracks settlement expansion in the West Bank, called the E1 project "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution" which is "guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed." Earlier this summer, diplomats from several Western governments that had condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government came under fire from Israeli soldiers while visiting the West Bank city of Jenin. The IDF claimed to have fired warning shots in the air after diplomats strayed from an agreed-upon route, although video footage from the scene showed soldiers aiming their rifles in a horizontal direction. Four Canadian Embassy staff were among those forced to seek cover. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the shooting as "totally unacceptable."
CBC
26 minutes ago
- CBC
Government decision to revert expense reporting rules applauded by taxpayers advocate
Social Sharing An Alberta taxpayers advocate is applauding the provincial government's decision to revert its expense disclosure policy after critics accused it of dodging responsibility. The government is also promising to re-post eight years' worth of expense receipts that were deleted from its website. Kris Sims, of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says the group is happy the United Conservatives are fixing what appears to have been a mistake, but she questions why it's taking so long to officially announce the news. In early August, CBC News reported that the province quietly published new rules axing a requirement for Premier Danielle Smith, her ministers, political staff and deputy ministers to publicly post receipts for expenses of more than $100. WATCH | Alberta reversing course on its expense disclosure policy: Alberta government scrapping changes to expense disclosure policy 11 hours ago The Alberta government has reversed recent changes to its expense disclosure policies. A government spokesperson says the decision was made at a cabinet meeting. The changes introduced on Aug.1 sparked controversy, as they included no longer requiring cabinet members and other senior officials to publicly disclose receipts over $100 and removing thousands of expense reports from its website. Marisa Breeze, press secretary to Finance Minister Nate Horner, said sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and the addresses of accommodations, will be redacted. She also confirmed that deleted receipts would be put back up on the government's public website. "This approach protects the safety of officials and preserves Alberta's reputation as a national leader in transparency," Breeze said in an email. When the story was first reported, Horner's office said it was done to cut government red tape and to bring Alberta's policies into alignment with other provinces. But late last week, Smith said the change was only meant to redact hotel information, but "it turned out to be something quite different." Sims said it's important taxpayers have that historical data on spending. She's fine with hotel locations being redacted for safety, but the original rules were put in place for a reason, she said. "I do think it was a mistake," she said. Sims said she's felt frustrated about how the reversal was communicated only to reporters and not the general public. "Why is it taking so long for them to officially come out with a news release and put the story to bed? That's where I'm kind of scratching my head," she said. "People deserve to know if they're spending taxpayers' money on a Corolla or a Corvette." Sims was not the only one who called the removal of receipts questionable. Official Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said it's good the UCP cabinet partially reversed course, but said it shows the government is making up things as it goes along. "[Smith's] claim she wanted to do one thing, but somehow something else was done just doesn't pass the smell test," he said in a statement. Smith's former infrastructure minister, Peter Guthrie, who was booted from the UCP caucus earlier this year, has also said Smith was being evasive with her explanation.
