Federal liberals in ‘honeymoon' with Alberta — for now
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Executives in the oil and gas industry are waiting to find out if the Carney government will fast-track a new pipeline as part of its nation-building agenda.
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Until they get that clarity, they are still dealing with significant policy uncertainty from Ottawa, according to the Business Council of Alberta, which outlined potential actions to improve investment in a recent report.
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'There (are) still lots of concerns and lots of issues to deal with, but there's more reason to be hopeful now than we've seen in a long time,' said Mike Holden, the council's chief economist.
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A federal bill that would speed up natural resource and infrastructure projects that are deemed in the national interest has drawn cautious optimism from the energy sector, amid concerns from Indigenous peoples and environmental groups.
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In its wish list for Ottawa, Holden's group wants the government to repeal or reform policies that have held back investment in the oilpatch, including a tanker ban on the West Coast and a proposed oil and gas emissions cap.
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However, there is hope among many businesses that Ottawa could fast-track major projects — namely pipelines — by overriding some of these controversial policies.
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'I think this is the honeymoon with Carney,' Holden said.
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Industry and the federal government are having important discussions about increasing Canada's ability to export and develop natural resources, according to Deborah Yedlin, chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
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'There's a sense of optimism that I have not sensed from an energy standpoint in 10 years,' Yedlin said.
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Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson has met regularly with those in the energy sector since he was sworn in, she said.
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Montreal Gazette
5 hours ago
- Montreal Gazette
Trump signs executive order pushing tariffs on Canada to 35%
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pushing tariffs on Canada to 35 per cent beginning on Friday, following through on a threat to raise duties if Ottawa didn't make a trade deal. The White House confirmed the tariffs would not hit goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, commonly known as CUSMA. A fact sheet from the White House said Canada 'failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl' and also pointed to Ottawa's implementation of retaliatory tariffs. Canadian officials had been tempering expectations that a trade deal would materialize ahead of Trump's deadline and Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he'll only make an agreement that is good for Canada. Trump said earlier Thursday he had not 'spoken to Canada' but did reference that 'he's called' — suggesting Carney may have reached out hours before the 35 per cent tariff was set to hit. The Canadian Press has contacted Carney's office for confirmation but has not yet received a response. Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted on social media that 'Canada shouldn't settle for anything less than the right deal.' He repeated his call for the federal government to respond with a 50 per cent tariff on U.S. steel and aluminum. 'Now is not the time to roll over. We need to stand our ground,' Ford said. Trump dampened the prospect of a deal with Canada in a post on social media early Thursday morning that said it would be very hard to make a deal after Carney announced Wednesday that Ottawa intends to recognize a Palestinian state. Trump told reporters at the White House that he 'didn't like that' but that it was 'not a deal-breaker.' When asked about the holdup in Canadian negotiations, Trump said 'they have to pay a fair rate.' The president also misrepresented agricultural duties, complained about Canadian military spending and said Canada has been treating the United States badly for years. While Trump didn't mention fentanyl, the White House fact sheet focused on the drug to justify increasing the tariffs. 'Given Canada's continued failure to arrest traffickers, seize illicit drugs, or coordinate with U.S. law enforcement and Canada's retaliation against the United States for the President's actions to address the unusual and extraordinary threat to America, further presidential action is necessary and appropriate to protect American lives and the national security and foreign policy of the United States,' the White House said. U.S. government data shows a miniscule amount of fentanyl is seized at the border with Canada compared to Mexico. Ottawa responded to Trump's concerns of cross-border trafficking with a $1.3 billion boosted border plan. Ottawa appointed a 'fentanyl czar' and announced a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl trafficking and money laundering, and deployed additional helicopters and drones along the border. Trump announced a 90-day extension on trade talks for Mexico Thursday after a phone conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum. He said it was because the 'complexities of a Deal with Mexico are somewhat different than other Nations because of both the problems, and assets, of the Border.' 'Additionally, Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its Non Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many,' Trump said. In a separate executive order Thursday Trump increased his so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs on many other nations, with those duties to be implemented in seven days. The order applied to 68 countries, as well as the 27-member European Union, which negotiated its new tariff rate in a deal announced earlier in the week. Countries that were not listed would face a baseline 10 per cent tariff. While Trump continued to claim in posts on social media that tariffs are making 'America GREAT & RICH Again,' the president's main tool for realigning global trade faced some sharp questions from federal appellate judges in court earlier Thursday. The Trump administration's lawyer argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that there are still checks and balances on the president's powers and he has the authority to use a national security statute to impose duties — despite the fact that the word 'tariff' is found nowhere in the International Economic Emergency Powers Act of 1977. The act, usually referred to by the acronym IEEPA, gives the U.S. president authority to control economic transactions after declaring an emergency. No previous president had ever used it for tariffs and the U.S. Constitution reserves power over taxes and tariffs for Congress. Members of the 11-judge panel on Thursday repeatedly questioned the Trump's administration's justifications for using IEEPA to implement the so-called 'Liberation Day' and fentanyl-related tariffs 'If the president says there's a problem with our military readiness and he puts a 20 per cent tax on coffee, that doesn't seem to necessarily deal with (it)' said Chief Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore. No decision was issued from the bench Thursday and a White House spokesperson has said the case is expected to go before the Supreme Court.
Vancouver Sun
6 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Trump says he hasn't 'spoken to Canada' as Friday's deadline for 35% tariffs approaches
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pushing tariffs on Canada to 35 per cent beginning on Friday. The White House confirmed the tariffs would not hit goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, commonly known as CUSMA. Earlier Thursday, Trump said he has not 'spoken to Canada' as the Aug. 1 tariff deadline looms. Trump did say that 'he's called' — suggesting Prime Minister Mark Carney may have reached out hours before a 35 per cent tariff is set to hit Canada. The Canadian Press has contacted Carney's office for confirmation but has not yet received a response. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The White House released a statement on Thursday saying that Trump has signed an executive order to increase the tariff. The statement again blames the hike on Canada's 'inaction' in stoping 'fentanyl and illicit drugs flowing across the northern border' — despite evidence that very little illicit fentanyl comes from Canada. Trump dampened expectations of a deal with Canada this week in a post on social media early Thursday morning. Trump said it will be very hard to make a deal with Canada after Carney announced Wednesday that Ottawa intends to recognize a Palestinian state. Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday he 'didn't like that' but that it was 'not a deal-breaker.' When asked about the holdup in Canadian negotiations, Trump said 'they have to pay a fair rate.' The president also misrepresented agricultural duties, complained about Canadian military spending and said Canada has been treating the United States badly for years. 'We like Canada, I love Canada, I have so many friends in Canada but they've been very poorly led,' Trump said. 'They've been very, very poorly led and all we want is fairness for our country.' Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox Business Network that Carney's decision on Palestine was 'tone deaf' and he didn't see the president 'stepping off the gas.' He added that Canada hasn't 'solved dairy' and pointed to Ottawa's retaliatory tariffs that remain in place. If Carney calls Trump and 'turns on the charm,' removes retaliatory duties and 'stops the silliness,' the president might 'let it down a bit,' Lutnick said. Trump previously sent a letter to Carney threatening to impose 35 per cent tariffs if Canada doesn't make a trade deal by Friday. The White House has said those duties would not apply to goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA. Trump did announce Thursday a 90-day extension on trade talks for Mexico after a phone conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum. He said it was because the 'complexities of a Deal with Mexico are somewhat different than other Nations because of both the problems, and assets, of the Border.' 'Additionally, Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its Non Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many,' Trump said. 'We will be talking to Mexico over the next 90 Days with the goal of signing a Trade Deal somewhere within the 90 Day period of time, or longer.' Mexico already recognizes a Palestinian state. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not rule out further extensions and said there was still time for countries to negotiate ahead of the midnight deadline. 'I do know that other foreign leaders around the world have reached out,' she said. While Trump continued to claim in posts on social media that tariffs are making 'America GREAT & RICH Again,' the president's main tool for realigning global trade faced some sharp questions from federal appellate judges in court Thursday morning. The Trump administration's lawyer argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that there are still checks and balances on the president's powers and he has the authority to use a national security statute to impose duties — despite the fact that the word 'tariff' is found nowhere in the International Economic Emergency Powers Act of 1977. The act, usually referred to by the acronym IEEPA, gives the U.S. president authority to control economic transactions after declaring an emergency. No previous president had ever used it for tariffs and the U.S. Constitution reserves power over taxes and tariffs for Congress. Members of the 11-judge panel on Thursday repeatedly questioned the Trump's administration's justifications for using IEEPA to implement the so-called 'Liberation Day' and fentanyl-related tariffs 'If the president says there's a problem with our military readiness and he puts a 20 per cent tax on coffee, that doesn't seem to necessarily deal with (it)' said Chief Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore. Thomas Berry, with the Washington-based Cato Institute, said in a media statement that 'based on the tenor and questions of the arguments, it appears that the challengers have the better odds of prevailing.' The Cato Institute, which opposes the IEEPA tariffs, provided the hearing with an amicus brief — a legal submission from a group that's not party to the action. No decision was issued from the bench Thursday and Leavitt has said they expect the case to go before the Supreme Court. — With files from The Associated Press Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
6 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Trump says he hasn't 'spoken to Canada' as Friday's deadline for 35% tariffs approaches
Article content Trump previously sent a letter to Carney threatening to impose 35 per cent tariffs if Canada doesn't make a trade deal by Friday. The White House has said those duties would not apply to goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA. Article content Trump did announce Thursday a 90-day extension on trade talks for Mexico after a phone conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum. He said it was because the 'complexities of a Deal with Mexico are somewhat different than other Nations because of both the problems, and assets, of the Border.' Article content 'Additionally, Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its Non Tariff Trade Barriers, of which there were many,' Trump said. 'We will be talking to Mexico over the next 90 Days with the goal of signing a Trade Deal somewhere within the 90 Day period of time, or longer.' Article content Article content Mexico already recognizes a Palestinian state. Article content White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not rule out further extensions and said there was still time for countries to negotiate ahead of the midnight deadline. Article content 'I do know that other foreign leaders around the world have reached out,' she said. Article content While Trump continued to claim in posts on social media that tariffs are making 'America GREAT & RICH Again,' the president's main tool for realigning global trade faced some sharp questions from federal appellate judges in court Thursday morning. Article content The Trump administration's lawyer argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that there are still checks and balances on the president's powers and he has the authority to use a national security statute to impose duties — despite the fact that the word 'tariff' is found nowhere in the International Economic Emergency Powers Act of 1977. Article content Article content The act, usually referred to by the acronym IEEPA, gives the U.S. president authority to control economic transactions after declaring an emergency. No previous president had ever used it for tariffs and the U.S. Constitution reserves power over taxes and tariffs for Congress. Article content Members of the 11-judge panel on Thursday repeatedly questioned the Trump's administration's justifications for using IEEPA to implement the so-called 'Liberation Day' and fentanyl-related tariffs Article content 'If the president says there's a problem with our military readiness and he puts a 20 per cent tax on coffee, that doesn't seem to necessarily deal with (it)' said Chief Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore. Article content Thomas Berry, with the Washington-based Cato Institute, said in a media statement that 'based on the tenor and questions of the arguments, it appears that the challengers have the better odds of prevailing.'
