AI coming to classes around Canada
AI is now a daily tool for many but experts say it's still not widely understood. The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, AMii, is getting a $5 million gift from Google to shape artificial intelligence courses at 25 post-secondary institutions across Canada.
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CTV News
23 minutes ago
- CTV News
Five things to know about Canada's counter-tariffs on the U.S.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) OTTAWA — After U.S. President Donald Trump boosted steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent, some industry groups and the Official Opposition have called on the federal government to retaliate in kind. Here's a look at the counter-tariffs Canada has imposed so far. 1. What do the counter-tariffs cover? The Canadian government has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods three times since Trump's trade war began, aimed at what it says are imports worth $95.4 billion worth. On March 4 — after the U.S. imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods, along with 10 per cent on energy products — then-prime minister Justin Trudeau announced the first raft of counter-tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods. Those 25 per cent tariffs target things like orange juice, motorcycles, clothing and shoes, coffee, cosmetics and alcohol. On March 12, the U.S. added a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum products, which was stacked on top of existing levies on Canadian goods. Canada's response a day later was 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on another $29.8 billion of U.S. goods, including steel and aluminum, tools, computers and sport equipment. On April 9, in response to another round of U.S. tariffs — this time targeting the Canadian auto industry — the federal government imposed 25 per cent duties on 'non-CUSMA compliant vehicles' from the U.S. and 25 per cent tariffs on the content of CUSMA-compliant vehicles from the U.S. The government says this covers $35.6 billion in auto imports from the United States. 2. What are the exemptions? On April 15, in the midst of the federal election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the government was exempting some products from tariffs for six months to help Canadian businesses adapt. The tariff holiday covers specific categories: goods used in Canadian manufacturing, processing and food and beverage packaging, as well as imports used to support public health, health care, public safety and national security objectives. And when it comes to vehicle tariffs, the government said 'companies that produce autos in Canada have been granted remission to ensure the ongoing viability of their Canadian operations,' but that it is 'contingent on them maintaining production levels in Canada and on following through with planned investments.' 3. Does this mean all counter-tariffs have been dropped? On Wednesday, Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer said the government 'secretly dropped those tariffs to zero during the campaign.' This line has been repeated often by the Conservatives since the release of a report by Oxford Economics on May 13, which said Canada paused counter-tariffs for six months 'on nearly all U.S. goods imports.' The report said it estimated the exemptions would cover about 97 per cent of the tariffs. The government said that's not true. A spokesperson for Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the exemptions apply to 30 per cent of the $60 billion worth of goods that are subject to tariffs — a figure that doesn't include the auto tariffs. William Pellerin, a partner in international trade at McMillan LLP, said the exemption is not nearly as broad as what's been reported. 'I think that report caused a lot of consternation within the trading community and the legal community. It is absolutely, certainly not zero impact on our clients,' he said, noting many of them are paying millions of dollars in duties already. 4. Where does all this leave Canadian businesses? Pellerin said there's a lot of confusion out there about what's covered by the exemptions. The Canada Border Services Agency has issued a customs notice explaining how to interpret the exemptions, 'but in many circumstances it's simply not obvious at all,' Pellerin said. As an example, he said he has clients who have been told by the CBSA that imported agricultural equipment is not exempt. 'We actually think that that's legally incorrect, that they've poorly interpreted the order-in-council,' he said. That's the kind of thing his firm is trying to sort out while it waits and hopes for a long-term resolution. 'Whatever actions need to be taken to get back to a tariff-free world (are) absolutely necessary,' he said. 5. How much tariff revenue has the government collected and where is it going? Conservative MPs have been asking this question in the House of Commons all week. On Tuesday, Conservative MP Dan Albas charged that 'Liberals promised $20 billion in elbows-up U.S. tariffs, but later dropped them with no regard to affected Canadian workers or fiscal impacts.' Prime Minister Carney responded to say that tariffs are still in effect and $1.7 billion has been collected so far. The federal government's latest fiscal monitor showed Canada collected an extra $617 million in import duties in March, as compared to the year before. Figures for April and May have not yet been published. During the election campaign, the Liberals and the Conservatives both estimated Canada would collect $20 billion in tariff revenue this fiscal year. In its election platform, the Liberal party pledged that 'every dollar raised from these tariffs will support Canadian workers and businesses affected by the trade war.' Officials at the Finance Department said in a statement that the money is going into the consolidated revenue fund and being used 'to support those hardest hit by this economic disruption.' The statement said that is happening through programs like employment insurance work-sharing, deferral of corporate income tax payments and GST/HST remittances, or by offering liquidity support through Export Development Canada, Farm Credit Canada, Business Development Canada and the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility. — With files from Craig Lord This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025. Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Indigenous training group upset with Thunder Bay, Ont., library after lease ends
Social Sharing An Indigenous community group is questioning the Thunder Bay Public Library's (TBPL) commitment to reconciliation after the library ended a partnership and lease agreement in May. The TBPL says it was a straightforward decision to make space for programming, and that it is committed to positive relationships with the Indigenous community. The Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS), works on improving the skills and employment opportunities for Indigenous people on behalf of nine First Nations in the region. Sharon Ostberg, a board member of AETS, said the library first approached the group about a partnership in 2018, offering space in the basement of its Waverley branch. "We would of course have to retrofit it at our cost," she said. "We agreed, and we did spend over $1,000,000 in retrofitting the basement level of the library in order to accommodate our our staff and our programs." The renovations included the addition of washrooms, a boardroom and a kitchen, as well as electrical upgrades and ventilation. Ostberg said the lease initially included first right of refusal to purchase the Waverley branch building, if it were to be put up for sale. AETS, Ostberg said, used the space for program delivery. "We needed more space because we took on more programs," she said. "So we rented the Brodie Street basement and and did some retrofits there, because at the time the library didn't know where they were going, what their future held." Library ended lease to deal with shortage of space says CEO The initial 2018 lease with AETS, library CEO Richard Togman said, was for three years, and it was initially signed before he came on board as CEO. That was extended twice, with each extension being for one year. "During those extension periods, that's when the library was going through its whole master facilities plan and was obviously advocating at the community that we needed more space, that we were undersized and we were hoping we were going to get a central library location," he said. "We were very clear with everyone involved that we didn't have a surplus of space and we were hoping that a new central library would give us the space we needed." The proposed central library, which would have been located at Intercity Shopping Centre, was ultimately voted down by city council. "Effectively we went back to the drawing board, looked at our internal spaces, and where we can get the physical square footage we need to do work around things like improving children's programming and opening up more meeting rooms to the community, and just generally being able to expand our book collection. All the core library things that we do," he said. "And at that time, we realized that the relationship with AETS wasn't meeting the objectives that had originally been part of the lease agreement." Togman said the library had support from its former senior advisor for Indigenous relations in ending the lease. "We gave them a generous notice period of almost seven months to let them know that we needed the space back for the library," Togman said. "We had obligations to the community, and legally we can only lease out space if it's deemed surplus by the library system." "At that point, it was obvious that it was not surplus. We were really tight on square footage." 'Missed opportunity': AETS board member says "To me, this was a very missed opportunity by both the city and the library board, because they had, you know, a native organization right at their doorsteps working with them," Ostberg said. "It doesn't sit well with the Indigenous people and it does definitely does not sit well with our nine First Nations." Togman said while he can't directly speak on the initial lease as it came about before he was CEO, "my understanding of the intent at the time was that they were going to be a lot of joint programming, and a kind of gradual integration of the organizations." "It was going to result in them promoting library services in the Indigenous community and kind of a lot of multifaceted aspects in that respect." However, an analysis done by the library showed the project wasn't working out as intended. "It wasn't furthering the library schools of reconciliation with the community," Togman said. "They were still very two separate organizations with different mandates. And as time evolved, that became more and more apparent." Regarding the renovations, Togman said the lease agreements stated AETS would not receive any compensation or reimbursements for any improvements they made to library spaces. "From the library's perspective, we're committed to honouring our agreements and upholding all of the legal obligations we have when we make commitments to other organizations, and we've upheld every commitment under the terms of the lease," he said. Togman said the library is working hard on efforts around reconciliation and programming that serves the Indigenous community. He also noted that the library has appointed the next senior advisor of Indigenous relations, Stephanie MacLaurin.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
N.L. government doesn't understand true level of child-care demand, NDP leader says
Political opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador says the government is letting child-care operators down by not communicating updates for months, while NDP Leader Jim Dinn says it shows the province doesn't understand the overall need for care. "I can't help but think that the main reason for these delays is because they know they don't have the funding for it, and they're slowing it down and frustrating the people who are trying to move this forward," Dinn told CBC News Thursday. Dinn's comments follow reporting from CBC News that at least three prospective daycare operators feel bogged down in bureaucracy. They've heard radio silence from the provincial government for months in some cases, waiting for updates about when they can receive the funding they've applied for. Newfoundland and Labrador's 2025 budget allocated $3.9 million for the creation of new $10-a-day child-care spaces, but advocates have said that isn't enough. One advocate told CBC News earlier this week that amount of money would only fully cover about five projects. "In the execution of it, it's really disappointing to parents, and to organizations that are trying to create these spaces," Dinn said. "I don't think government fully appreciated the demand that was there, and they didn't fund it appropriately." WATCH | Delays operators face are 'alarming and fustrating': NDP, PCs blast 'alarming and frustrating' months-long wait by daycare operators trying to open new centres 23 minutes ago Duration 2:05 PC Leader Tony Wakeham and NDP Leader Jim Dinn say the Liberal government should have to answer to firm deadlines when considering applications for daycare centres. Several operators say they have everything lined up — except approval from the provincial government. The CBC's Heather Gillis reports. Tony Wakeham, leader of the Official Opposition, said the fact that operators looking to open $10-a-day spaces are facing government-created barriers is alarming. "They face enough barriers when it comes to financing, when it comes to staff. The last thing they need is a Liberal government saying, 'No, we're not going to respond on a timely basis.' Or, they haven't responded on a timely basis," Wakeham said. "I wrote the minister a week ago about these issues. I have not even gotten a response back." Wakeham said the issue also translates to other problem areas — specifically noting health care. A lack of child care in an area of the province, especially in rural areas, can keep communities from being able to recruit the health-care professionals they need, he said. He wants to see better timelines established and a more frequent update schedule that can keep parties seeking funding informed on their status. Dinn said he'd want to see the $3.9 million allocated for the creation of spaces increased to reflect the true demand for child care, and believes child care will be a key election issue this fall. "If we want to encourage families to make Newfoundland and Labrador their home, to move beyond the city, then we've got to make sure that there's an investment there," Dinn said. "If our children are our most valuable resource, and I hear that from government as well, than put the money into it. They're just as deserving of that investment as oil companies." CBC News has asked Education Minister Bernard Davis for an interview on the matter, but Davis isn't answering questions.
