A look at why Alberta-U.S. travel is not down as sharply as rest of Canada
Albertans look to be ignoring the national trend when it comes to travel to the U.S. That suggestion comes out of a deeper dive into the data by the CBC's Robson Fletcher. He spoke about it with CBC TV News at 6 host Bryan Labby.
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Hamilton Spectator
19 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta resumes buying U.S. alcohol, months after pause meant to fight tariffs
EDMONTON - Alberta is buying American alcohol and gambling machines again, three months after Premier Danielle Smith announced restrictions aimed at fighting back against U.S. tariffs. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said Friday that the move signals a 'renewed commitment to open and fair trade' with the United States. Smith said in March that the province would no longer buy U.S. alcohol and video lottery terminals, or sign contracts with American companies. Alberta's liquor stores are privately owned but must order stock through the provincial government. That came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped heavy tariffs on Canadian goods and energy. Other premiers also announced bans on U.S. liquor along with other proposed penalties. Nally said in a statement that the decision to resume buying U.S. alcohol and gambling machines 'sets the stage for more constructive negotiations' ahead of a renewal of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. The agreement, known as CUSMA, was negotiated during the first Trump administration and is up for a mandatory review in 2026. 'Prime Minister Mark Carney has made a clear effort to reset the relationship with the U.S. administration, and Alberta's government supports this approach,' Nally said. 'We are focused on highlighting Alberta's role as a responsible and collaborative trading partner and will continue working alongside other provinces to advocate for a tariff-free relationship.' The minister said Albertans are encouraged to continue supporting local producers, even as more U.S. options return to store shelves. In April, the province paused its policy around procurement from U.S. companies in what Nally called 'the spirit of diplomacy.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Many Canadians losing confidence in future of trade relationship with U.S.: Poll
OTTAWA — Almost two in five Canadians say recent court rulings in the U.S., and the ongoing legal battle over President Donald Trump's tariffs, have made them feel less confident in the future of trade relations, a new poll suggests. The poll suggests that 38 per cent of Canadians say they feel less confident now about the future of Canada-U.S. trade as well as trade between the U.S. and other countries. Sixteen per cent of Canadian respondents say they feel more confident, while 37 per cent say their level confidence in the future of the trade relationship hasn't changed. The Leger poll, which was conducted online and can't be assigned a margin of error, surveyed more than 1,500 people between May 30 and June 1. The poll also surveyed more than 1,000 Americans. Their responses to the poll were substantially similar. Thirty-six per cent of American respondents said the recent court rulings and the ongoing legal battle over Trump's tariffs made them feel less confident about the future of trade with Canada and with the rest of the world. Another 19 per cent reported feeling more confident and 31 per cent said their opinion hadn't changed. Trump's tariffs are still hitting most countries around the world after a federal appeals court temporarily paused a decision last week by the U.S. Court of International Trade to block his tariffs. The court said Trump went beyond his authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to take his trade war to the world. A federal appeals court granted the Trump administration's emergency motion for a temporary stay, allowing those tariffs to stay in place for now. The poll suggests that Albertans are reporting the lowest level of confidence in the state of trade relations — 48 per cent of them told Leger they feel less confident about the future of Canada—U.S. and U.S.–international trade relations. That's compared to 38 per cent of Quebecers, 37 per cent of Ontarians and 35 per cent of people in B.C. Among Canadians 55 years of age and older, 43 per cent reported feeling less confident in trade relations; just 33 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34 said the same. More women than men said they were losing confidence. While many Canadians expressed concern about the future of trade relationships, many also said the fact that U.S. courts are trying to limit Trump's impact on trade policy increases their trust in America's institutions. The poll suggests that 45 per cent of Canadians say their trust in U.S. democratic institutions has increased, while 17 per cent say it has decreased. Almost a third of Canadians said it has had no impact on their opinion. Quebecers were the most likely to say their trust had increased, at 54 per cent, compared to 45 per cent of people in B.C., 43 per cent of Ontarians and 39 per cent of Albertans. Canadians aged 55 and over were more likely to say their trust had increased than younger Canadians. Among the Americans surveyed, 38 per cent said the fact that U.S. courts are trying to limit Trump's trade powers increases their trust in U.S. democratic institutions. Another 24 per cent said it decreases their trust and 26 per cent said it had no impact on their opinion. Andrew Enns, Leger's executive vice-president for Central Canada, said that if there had been only one ruling — the one that blocked the tariffs — the confidence levels recorded by the poll might have been higher. "There was a second ruling and I think, if anything, it's left people a bit uncertain about the situation," Enns said, noting that levels of concern seemed to be higher earlier in the year. "I think the confidence, it's going to take some time to rebuild that." The polling industry's professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. — With files from David Baxter and Kelly Geraldine Malone This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Officials under scrutiny after fragile river system suffers damage with little accountability: 'It's quite a small penalty'
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation recently reported on a "weak reprimand" handed down to a company that contaminated a river with byproducts from its operations. A coal company responsible for releasing more than a million liters of mine-contaminated wastewater into an Alberta river was fined just 9,000 Canadian dollars (about 6,500 U.S. dollars), which critics say is hardly holding it accountable. In March 2023, CST Canada Coal allowed wastewater from its mine to spill into the Smoky River, a major tributary of the Peace River. The leak lasted at least 17 hours and released roughly 9,000 kilograms of polluting sediment into the water — a known threat to fish species such as the local bull trout and Arctic grayling, not to mention the risk to communities downstream. The Alberta Energy Regulator cited the company, but the fine is being called "a slap on the wrist" by environmental groups and former government officials. "It's quite a small penalty for something that was deemed to have moderate potential for adverse effects downstream," said Tara Russell, program director with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society's northern Alberta chapter, per the CBC. Coal mine wastewater often contains toxic materials such as selenium as well as fine particles that damage fish gills and disrupt ecosystems. In this case, regulators found that CST had inadequate reporting protocols, no qualified staff on-site, and no ice removal equipment to repair the frozen valve that led to the spill. This wasn't the first time CST leaked contaminants into the Smoky River, the CBC revealed. In 2022, the company spilled more than 100,000 liters of untreated wastewater in a similar incident and was fined CA$22,000. Aside from damaging ecosystems, the pollution is harmful to local communities that rely on the ecosystem for water, food, irrigation, and more. Letting polluters off the hook easily can mean they may not feel real pressure to do better. "I can't see that this is going to be an effective enforcement tool," said NDP MLA Marlin Schmidt, per the CBC. "It's not an effective deterrent for the companies and it's an extremely expensive process for the Alberta Energy Regulator." Critics say Alberta needs tougher enforcement and escalating penalties for repeat offenders to truly protect waterways, wildlife, and public trust. "Other operators are looking [at] this fine and saying the AER is not credible when it says that they're going to bring the hammer down on bad actors," said Schmidt. Individuals can help hold polluters accountable by supporting organizations that advocate for stronger environmental regulations, including CPAWS and Ecojustice. You can also take local action by pushing for clean energy policies and voting for candidates who prioritize public health over polluter profits. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
