Trump won't do anything that doesn't benefit ‘his White House and his ego': Reid
CTV News Political Commentator Scott Reid on why he believes Canada and the U.S. are 'pretty far away from an agreement.'
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Montreal Gazette
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Montreal's GardaWorld green lit to bid up to US$138M on ‘Alligator Alcatraz' ICE contracts
A U.S. subsidiary of GardaWorld, the Montreal-based security giant reportedly helping staff the Florida detention site known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' has been cleared to bid up to US$138 million on ICE contracts. GardaWorld Federal Services, a Virginia-based arm of GardaWorld, was among dozens of companies shortlisted by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) under an emergency procurement programme, government records show. ICE's agreement with GardaWorld's U.S. subsidiary sets a limit of US$138 million (CAN$190 million) on the value of contracts the company can compete for, The Gazette has confirmed. It was first reported by The Globe and Mail. The contracts are part of a sweeping effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to expand detention capacity across the country. GardaWorld was already contracted to provide security and correctional staff at 'Alligator Alcatraz, ' a remote facility in Ochopee, Florida. It is expected to house up to 3,000 detainees. The site has drawn growing criticism from rights groups, who warn of poor oversight, overcrowding and unsafe conditions. It gained notoriety after Trump visited in July and jokingly referred to its swampy surroundings by saying there were 'a lot of police officers in the form of alligators.' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that 'Alligator Alcatraz' would serve as a model for future state-run migrant detention centres. She also said she hopes to launch similar facilities in the coming months, including in airports and jails. According to the Miami Herald, GardaWorld was awarded a separate contract worth US$8 million to provide staffing for the Florida facility. In July, The Gazette reported that GardaWorld was seeking armed guards for 'a remote part of southern central Florida,' offering US$25 per hour, plus travel, meals and accommodation. The posting outlined strict requirements for applicants: candidates were required to hold Florida gun and security licences, have at least one year of armed experience, and legally own a registered semi-automatic handgun. GardaWorld provides a wide range of private security services in Canada and abroad, including airport screening, cash transport and personal protection. The company was founded by Stephan Crétier in Montreal, where he used a $30,000 mortgage on his house to launch the business. Today, it remains headquartered in Montreal, though Cretier is now based in Dubai. He is worth nearly $4 billion, according to The Gazette's Rich List. In 2022, Quebec's provincial investment agency, Investissement Québec, invested $300 million in GardaWorld. A provincial spokesperson has previously said the investment was unrelated to the company's U.S. contracts. Twelve people have died in ICE custody so far this year, including Canadian Johnny Noviello, who died at a Miami detention facility in June. This story was originally published
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Two of Canada's most senior ministers head to Mexico to talk discuss trade
The flags of Mexico and Canada fly near the Ambassador Bridge, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Two of Canada's most senior cabinet ministers will be in Mexico City this week holding bilateral meetings with government officials and the Mexican president, as Canada looks to improve its trading partnerships outside the United States. Senior government officials confirmed to CTV News that the meeting, which will involve Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, will take place Tuesday and Wednesday. The talks are expected to cover trade and the larger relationship between the two countries. That relationship suffered in the past year, when Ontario Premier Doug Ford called on Canada to seek a unilateral trade deal with the United States – without Mexico – and accused the country of undercutting North American manufacturers. Canadian business leaders say the upcoming talks show an effort to strengthen ties at a time when both countries are facing volatility from the United States. 'When we talk to Mexico, when we talk to their embassies in Canada, they are very eager to reset the relationship,' Catherine Fortin-LeFaivre, senior vice-president of International Policy and Global Partnerships at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said Sunday. While Canada faces new blanket 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods that aren't covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Mexico received a 90-day extension to continue trade talks with the U.S. before it sees blanket tariffs increase from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke over the phone, with the two leaders agreeing to improve trade collaboration between the two nations. Carlo Dade, director of international policy at the University of Calgary's School of Public Police, said Canada having open dialogue and strong ties with Mexico is 'a good sign.' 'If we weren't talking to Mexico, there would be reason to be concerned and worried,' Dade told CTV News. He added that Canada hasn't taken advantage of being in close proximity to a country like Mexico that has a higher per-capita GDP than China. 'The infrastructure is there, we have CPKC - Canada-Pacific Kansas City Railroad - so there's (an) integrated North American railroad,' Dade said. 'We have a trade agreement, we have decades of strong, strong, political and economic relations – the only missing factor has been a willingness of Canadian business to seize the opportunities. Mexico has been marked as a priority market to expand trade with by Export Development Canada. While it is already Canada's third-largest trading partner, with nearly $56 billion dollars in two-way merchandise crossing the border in 2024, it represented just over one per cent of Canadian exports that year. Fortin-LeFaivre says those relations will be crucial, particularly if the United States looks to move from a trilateral free trade agreement to two bilateral deals. 'It will be imperative that if that is happening that we have a very strong connection with Mexico directly, without the U.S. being there,' she said. Friday, Carney reiterated Canada's commitment to the CUSMA agreement while condemning Trump's recent tariff increase.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Finance and foreign affairs ministers travel to Mexico to strengthen trade partnership
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed Monday that he and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will be travelling to Mexico City in an effort to strengthen Canada's trade ties with Mexico. The ministers are expected to return to Canada on Thursday, according to two senior Canadian government sources.
