No one owns Antarctica, but that agreement is showing cracks
Antarctica has been governed by a treaty of nations since 1959, but with rising geopolitical tensions and a shifting world order, that governance system is under pressure. From aboard an unprecedented Canadian mission to the frozen continent, CBC's Susan Ormiston explains what's at stake and how countries are angling for more control.
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Vancouver Sun
36 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
BC Ferries deal with Chinese shipyard makes waves in Ottawa
OTTAWA — BC Ferries set off a tidal wave of controversy on Tuesday after announcing a major shipbuilding deal with a Chinese state-owned enterprise, with the ripple effects of the decision reaching Ottawa. Vancouver Island Conservative MP Jeff Kibble raised the issue in Wednesday's question period, accusing the Liberal government of rewarding the provincial carrier for selling out Canada's national interest. 'The Liberals are set to hand over $30 million (in federal subsidies) to BC Ferries while BC Ferries hands over critical jobs, investment and industry to China,' said Kibble. 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. BC Ferries said in a press release that it had awarded China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards (CMI Weihai) a contract to build four new vessels after a 'rigorous' global bidding process. Company CEO Nicolas Jimenez was quoted in the release as saying that CMI Weihai was the 'clear choice' for the contract given, among other factors, its 'proven ability to deliver safe, reliable vessels on dependable timelines.' Kibble blasted BC Ferries in the House of Commons for buying the ships from China instead of a 'proven Canadian shipbuilder' and pressed the Liberal government to tie federal ferry subsidies to buying Canadian-built ships. Liberal Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland said that she shared Kibble's concerns about procurement 'at all levels of government' but wouldn't comment directly on the BC Ferries contract, calling it a provincial matter. One politician who hasn't hesitated to criticize the deal is the provincial minister responsible for BC Ferries. B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth was quick to distance himself from the decision, saying he was worried about the message it sends in the midst of Chinese economic aggression. 'I do have concerns around procuring services from any country that is actively harming Canada's economy through unfair tariffs or other protectionist trade practices. I have shared these concerns with BC Ferries,' Farnworth told the media. Yet, despite his reservations, he ruled out blocking the BC Ferries-CMI Weihai deal. 'BC Ferries is an independent company responsible for its own operational decisions,' said Farnworth. He added that he was 'disappointed' that the contract didn't include more involvement from Canadian shipyards. BC Ferries' head of fleet renewal, Ed Hooper, told Postmedia that no Canadian shipbuilders bid on the contract won by CMI Weihai. Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to ramp up Canadian shipbuilding during this spring's federal election campaign. The federal government previously awarded the Chinese state-owned company a contract to build a new vessel for east coast ferry operator Marine Atlantic, according to a 2023 filing from Transport Canada. The ship began service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in July 2024. Federal Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound didn't respond to an inquiry from the National Post about the BC Ferries-CMI Weihai deal, and didn't indicate whether the federal government would continue to take bids from the company. A spokesperson with Public Services and Procurement Canada told the National Post that CMI Weihai does not appear on the agency's database of active bids. National Post rmohamed@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here . 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 .
Winnipeg Free Press
37 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada invites United Arab Emirates to G7 summit, Brazil says Carney invited to COP30
OTTAWA – Canada has invited the United Arab Emirates to attend the G7 summit in Alberta, The Canadian Press has learned. While UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan could end up attending the summit, which starts Sunday in Kananaskis, Abu Dhabi has not said whether it has accepted the invitation. A Canadian government official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about Canada's list of invitees, confirmed the invitation. The office of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the COP30 summit in the Amazon region city of Belém this November. The Canadian Press has asked Carney's office to confirm his attendance. Canada also has invited Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the G7 summit, and Riyadh has not indicated whether it has accepted the invitation. The confirmed list of leaders attending the G7 as guests includes the heads of government from Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and Ukraine, all of whom have said they will attend. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
an hour ago
No banned firearms have been sent to Ukraine, despite government promise
The federal government has not yet made good on its commitment to send banned guns collected through the federal buyback program to Ukraine. So far, no firearms have been donated to the war effort, despite a pledge made by the Trudeau government in December. One day before the 35th anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre (new window) , hundreds of models were added to the federal government's list of banned firearms. Federal ministers at the same time made a commitment to donate a portion of the firearms collected through the government's first phase of its firearm buyback program to Ukraine, in a bid to support its fight against the Russian invasion. The announcement was made by then defence minister Bill Blair. He was joined by former public services minister Jean-Yves Duclos and former public safety minister Dominic LeBlanc. Of the three, only LeBlanc remains in cabinet. Some experts expressed concerns about this plan (new window) , warning it seemed haphazard and intended to generate support for the Trudeau government's controversial gun policies. (new window) WATCH | From December 2024: Critics weigh in on buyback changes: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Late additions to gun buyback program will balloon costs, critics say The federal government has made last-minute additions of gun parts to its assault-weapon buyback program such as magazines, bolts, and grips. Critics say adding the wide range of components will only add to the program's ballooning cost. More than six months later, that hasn't happened. A statement from Public Safety Canada says more than 12,000 guns have been bought back from businesses in the first phase of the program, but said it is still working to identify which, if any, will go to Ukraine. The Government of Canada continues to work with businesses to identify prohibited firearms in their inventory of NATO calibre that could be donated to Ukraine, said Max Watson, a spokesperson for Public Safety Canada, in a statement. In December, Blair said the government had been working with Ukraine since October to see whether any of the banned firearms could be used in the war. Every bit of assistance we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step towards their victory and a worthwhile investment of our collective time and efforts, he said at the time. Days after the announcement, the department confirmed that 23 makes and models of assault-style firearms were identified to be sent to Ukraine by the country's Defence Ministry. I'm not sure anyone, at any point, believed that the Canadian government was going to pay to confiscate sporting rifles from civilians and send them to a war zone in Eastern Europe, said Rod Giltaca, the CEO of the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, in a statement. In reality, after over five years, they haven't managed to roll out their buyback in the first place. Buyback delayed for years The Trudeau government had sought to implement its buyback program for certain assault-style firearms since they were banned by the federal government in May 2020. Ottawa initially banned the sale of some 1,500 guns, later expanding the list to more than 2,000 makes and models. Although the program has been marred by delays, the government began the first phase of the buyback — which includes buying the remaining stock of prohibited firearms from eligible businesses — in November 2024. It compensates businesses for the value of the gun, then destroys it — except for the firearms that have been designated to be sent to Ukraine. A buyback program for individuals who legally owned the now-prohibited guns is set to begin later this year. (new window) While campaigning for election, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to "reinvigorate the implementation of an efficient gun-buyback program for assault-style firearms." (new window) The buyback plan has the support of the gun control movement but faces stiff opposition from hunters and shooters, who say it unfairly targets lawful gun owners. Giltaca says firearm owners are waiting to see whether Carney's gun policies differ from the Trudeau government. I'm sure there are many that are hoping that the next four years will bear little resemblance to the last 10.… Licensed gun owners would enjoy a reprieve from being blamed for the Liberals' failures on public safety, he said. Kate McKenna (new window) · CBC News
