Latest news with #ChrystiaFreeland
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Freeland calls on opposition to give unanimous consent on internal trade bill, says legislation coming ‘very, very soon'
Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland talks about the speed in which the federal government will be able 'to build one Canadian economy, not 13.' Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland says she hopes members of Parliament from all parties will unanimously sign on to her government's promised soon-to-be-tabled bill to eliminate federal interprovincial trade barriers. Throughout the election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged several times to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day, while his platform promises only to table the necessary legislation by the July 1 deadline. There are just two and a half weeks left before the House rises for the summer break. Freeland, when asked whether that internal trade legislation will be tabled during this sitting, said it will be introduced 'very, very soon.' 'Let me also say I would like to pass this legislation really, really quickly,' Freeland said, in an interview on CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Monday. 'Now is a critical moment. Now is not a time when Canada can afford to dither.' 'I want to take this opportunity to say to all the other members of the House of Commons, I would love this legislation to pass through unanimous consent,' Freeland also said. 'This is something that we can all get behind. It should not be controversial.' Freeland was in Saskatoon, Sask. for a highly anticipated in-person meeting between Carney and Canada's premiers, during which internal trade was among the top agenda issues. When pressed on the timeline to table a bill that would remove all the federal barriers to interprovincial trade — with other hurdles under provincial jurisdiction — Freeland said she didn't want to pre-empt an announcement from the prime minister. 'What I can say is the federal government is absolutely committed to doing everything in our power, as fast as we can, to build one Canadian economy, not 13,' she said. 'Obviously, we don't have a majority in the House of Commons, so we can't guarantee what will happen there, but what I can tell you is we are going to table legislation very quickly, and the federal government will be acting unilaterally to lift all remaining federal barriers to internal trade.' The premiers, Freeland said, 'unanimously' support eliminating internal trade barriers. Some provinces have been taking action to remove some internal trade barriers themselves by signing agreements and memorandums of understanding to do so. None of the agreements are binding. Despite this, several sticking points remain in place and many interprovincial trade barriers continue to exist, such as geographic restrictions on the sale of certain goods, regulatory and policy differences across jurisdictions, and hurdles to labour mobility. Pressed several times by Kapelos, Freeland conceded in her interview there are 'different estimates' from economists on how much a Canada-wide free-trade deal would add to the economy. 'For me, at the end of the day, we don't know for sure, but everyone is agreed this is going to be a good thing,' Freeland said, pointing to a roundtable she held with leading economists last week. 'It will make our economy stronger. It will make us richer at a time when Canadian businesses are struggling to export their goods to the U.S.' According to a 2019 study from the International Monetary Fund, removing all internal trade barriers in Canada, both federal and provincial, could add $200 billion to the economy — a number the federal government has been touting as motivation to remove said interprovincial trade obstacles. Federal politicians should 'put partisan stripes aside': Houston Coming out of the first ministers' meeting on Monday, several premiers categorized the discussion as constructive. Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it the best meeting of the premiers in a decade. Also in an interview for CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Monday, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said it was a 'really positive meeting.' 'I mean, everybody is on the same page. We have to grow our economy,' Houston said, describing the Carney government's focus on the economy as 'night and day' from the previous Liberal regime. 'There's tons of opportunity for this country, and we feel like as premiers, we have an adult who wants to listen to us and work with us,' Houston also said. 'So, it's a good feeling.' Asked how realistic he thinks it is that interprovincial trade barriers fully come down, Houston said that while all the obstacles may not come down at once, there's 'good momentum' in getting 'some done, and then most done.' In April, Houston's government announced that Ontario and Prince Edward Island are working with Nova Scotia to introduce reciprocal legislation with the aim of eliminating internal trade barriers. 'I'm focused on what's best for Nova Scotia and what's best for Canada,' Houston told Kapelos. 'And I hope that when legislation comes before the House of Commons, that all members will put political partisan stripes aside and focus on Canadians. 'That's certainly what I'm doing, and that's what I would encourage elected officials to do across the board,' he added.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
NDP says government needs to be more transparent in trade talks with the U.S.
New Democratic Party interim Leader Don Davies speaks with media in the Foyer of the House of Commons, Monday, May 26, 2025 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA — The NDP's interim NDP leader is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to honour the government's commitment to table information about any U.S. trade talks in the House of Commons. The request from Don Davies comes ahead of this month's meeting of G7 leaders, where Carney will once again meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and the two will continue to work out a new new economic and security relationship between the two countries. A letter from Davies to Carney, dated May 29, says the NDP is concerned the government has entered 'preliminary' discussions with the Trump administration about renegotiating the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which is up for review next year. Davies writes that in Feb. 2020, then deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland committed to tabling notice of intent for trade talks in the House at least 90 days before they begin, sharing talk objectives at least 30 days before negotiations start, and providing an economic impact assessment alongside implementation legislation. Davies says there's no indication these steps are currently being followed. In a May 27 interview with CBC's 'Power & Politics,' Carney said there needs to be more progress on the U.S. tariff issue before trade talks can begin. David Baxter, The Canadian Press
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla sales crash in Canada's largest province, with sales of these models falling more than 90% in one flat quarter
Tesla's electric vehicle (EV) sales have hit a rough patch, with a dramatic decline not only in Europe but now in Canada, particularly in Québec, during the first quarter of 2025. According to a Business Insider report citing data from Québec's vehicle registration authority, only 524 new Teslas were registered in the province from January to March 2025—a staggering 85% drop from the 5,097 vehicles registered in the final quarter of 2024. Tesla models that have seen biggest fall in sales -- Model Y and Model 3 The Tesla Model Y, the company's best-selling vehicle, saw registrations plummet to just 360 units in the first quarter of 2025, down from 3,274 in the fourth quarter of 2024 -- a decline of nearly 89%. The Model 3, Tesla's most affordable offering, fared even worse, with registrations falling 94% to a mere 96 units from 1,786 in the previous quarter. These figures highlight a significant setback for Tesla in a key Canadian market. While automotive sales often dip at the start of the year, Quebec's numbers reflect a far steeper decline than typical seasonal trends. This downturn mirrors Tesla's struggles in Europe, where sales dropped nearly 50% in April 2025 despite growing overall EV demand, according to Business Insider. The global pattern suggests Tesla may be grappling with broader challenges, including intensified competition from Chinese EV makers like BYD and shifting consumer preferences toward hybrid vehicles. What hurt Tesla -- Rebate freeze, tariffs and ... A major factor in Tesla's Quebec's slump appears to be the Canadian government's sudden suspension of $43 million in federal EV rebates in March 2025. The freeze followed a suspicious surge in Tesla rebate applications, which skyrocketed from 300 to nearly 5,800 per day, prompting a formal review. Business Insider reports that Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland has stated Tesla will remain ineligible for future incentives as long as U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian goods persist, further complicating Tesla's market position. Beyond rebates and tariffs, Tesla faces growing competition in Canada from domestic and international EV manufacturers offering more affordable models. For instance, companies like Rivian and VinFast have introduced competitively priced EVs, while legacy automakers like Toyota and Ford are gaining traction with hybrid options. Tesla's pricing strategy, which has seen multiple cuts in recent years, may also be eroding its brand premium, making it harder to maintain market share in cost-sensitive regions like Québec.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla sales crash in Canada's largest province, with sales of these models falling more than 90% in one flat quarter
Tesla's electric vehicle (EV) sales have hit a rough patch, with a dramatic decline not only in Europe but now in Canada, particularly in Québec, during the first quarter of 2025. According to a Business Insider report citing data from Québec's vehicle registration authority, only 524 new Teslas were registered in the province from January to March 2025—a staggering 85% drop from the 5,097 vehicles registered in the final quarter of 2024. Tesla models that have seen biggest fall in sales -- Model Y and Model 3 The Tesla Model Y, the company's best-selling vehicle, saw registrations plummet to just 360 units in the first quarter of 2025, down from 3,274 in the fourth quarter of 2024 -- a decline of nearly 89%. The Model 3, Tesla's most affordable offering, fared even worse, with registrations falling 94% to a mere 96 units from 1,786 in the previous quarter. These figures highlight a significant setback for Tesla in a key Canadian market. While automotive sales often dip at the start of the year, Quebec's numbers reflect a far steeper decline than typical seasonal trends. This downturn mirrors Tesla's struggles in Europe, where sales dropped nearly 50% in April 2025 despite growing overall EV demand, according to Business Insider. The global pattern suggests Tesla may be grappling with broader challenges, including intensified competition from Chinese EV makers like BYD and shifting consumer preferences toward hybrid vehicles. What hurt Tesla -- Rebate freeze, tariffs and ... A major factor in Tesla's Quebec's slump appears to be the Canadian government's sudden suspension of $43 million in federal EV rebates in March 2025. The freeze followed a suspicious surge in Tesla rebate applications, which skyrocketed from 300 to nearly 5,800 per day, prompting a formal review. Business Insider reports that Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland has stated Tesla will remain ineligible for future incentives as long as U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian goods persist, further complicating Tesla's market position. Beyond rebates and tariffs, Tesla faces growing competition in Canada from domestic and international EV manufacturers offering more affordable models. For instance, companies like Rivian and VinFast have introduced competitively priced EVs, while legacy automakers like Toyota and Ford are gaining traction with hybrid options. Tesla's pricing strategy, which has seen multiple cuts in recent years, may also be eroding its brand premium, making it harder to maintain market share in cost-sensitive regions like Québec. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Tesla faces collapsing sales in Canada's Québec province, with new registrations tumbling 85%
Tesla's sales woes have reached Canada. Data from the vehicle registration authority in the province of Québec shows a dramatic decline in Tesla registrations in the first quarter of 2025. Only 524 new Tesla vehicles were registered in Québec between January and March 2025, down over 85% from the 5,097 units logged in the final months of 2024. The company's top-selling Model Y saw the steepest drop in terms of pure numbers, falling from 3,274 units in the final quarter of 2024 to 360 in the first quarter of 2025. The Model 3, Tesla's cheapest car, plunged from 1,786 to just 96 units over the same period, a fall of 94%. While the drop is precipitous, it should be noted that auto sales are generally lower in the first quarter of the year than later in the year. Though confined to one region of Canada, the collapse mirrors similar issues in Europe, where Tesla sales fell by nearly 50% in April despite overall EV demand continuing to grow. In Québec, as in Europe, demand for electric vehicles remains strong, suggesting that Tesla's slump is less about market conditions and more about the brand itself. Rebate freeze and trade tensions Several factors appear to be converging. Tesla has been excluded from Canada's federal EV rebate program, with $43 million in rebates frozen and each individual claim now under review. Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland ordered the freeze in March following a last-minute surge in Tesla rebate applications — from 300 a day to nearly 5,800 — which triggered a probe into possible abuse. Freeland also said that Tesla would remain ineligible for future incentives as long as President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian goods are in place. In parallel, provinces, including British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and Manitoba, have removed Tesla from their rebate programs. Political backlash and brand damage Tesla's registration drop in Québec also comes amid a broader global backlash, especially in Europe, against CEO Elon Musk, who has endorsed a number of right-wing European political parties, including support for Germany's far-right AfD party and Britain's populist Reform UK party. In North America, Musk's role leading the Department of Government Efficiency has led to protests, boycotts, and vandalism of Tesla dealerships across at least a dozen states. Musk said this week he was stepping away from DOGE after months of involvement as a " special government employee." Federal law stipulates that those with this title cannot serve for more than 130 days in a 365-day period. Tesla's shares, which had come under pressure during Musk's DOGE stint, began rebounding in April after he announced he would step back from government work and " spend 24/7 at work" on his companies. In a Q&A published by Ars Technica on Tuesday, he said he'd been too involved in politics since wading into the 2024 presidential race last year — a campaign he heavily financed to the tune of nearly $300 million. In a sit-down with Bloomberg at the Qatar Economic Forum last week, he said he's no longer going to be spending big on politics, like he did in the 2024 election.
