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Alex Ballingall

@aballinga.bsky.social
2K followers 594 following 334 posts

Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star. Government/political people, please tell me everything: aballingall@thestar.ca www.thestar.com

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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
‘No way’ Canada can meet its 2030 climate target, researchers say
Under Mark Carney's policies, goal for 2030 won't even be met 20 years later, finds the Canadian Climate Institute.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I'm doing an AMA on the r/CanadaPolitics subreddit tomorrow at noon EST. It's supposed to be about the trade war, obviously, but since it's an AMA I suppose it could also be about anything anyone can imagine to ask. Link below: www.reddit.com/r/CanadaPoli...
reddit.com
From the CanadaPolitics community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the CanadaPolitics community
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Donald Trump calls Canada’s leaders ‘nasty.’ Mark Carney says trade talks are, too
Prime Minister Mark Carney says it's fair to describe Canada's approach to trade negotiations with the United States as "nasty," after President Donald Trump used that word to slam Ottawa's
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Last week I spent a few days in Windsor and Detroit, which resulted in this feature about how the Gordie Howe Bridge fell under the shadow of Donald Trump's trade war. (Personal note: I love the Windsor vibe. Great peoplee. Great town.) www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Can the Gordie Howe Bridge pull together what Donald Trump is tearing apart?
The question that looms over the new bridge is whether the world it was built for is still the one we live in, Alex Ballingall writes.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Mark Carney names Ontario defence company as strategic partner, awards nearly $2B contract
The new contract will see the firm’s facility in London churn out 190 armoured combat support vehicles over four years, the prime minister said.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Is Ottawa entering its Margaret Thatcher era on airports? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
The arguments for and against selling Canada’s airports
There is not doubt any deals would be worth billions but would Canadian’s flying experience really change?
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Mark Carney says he and Donald Trump had ‘long discussion’ about NATO, Iran war
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he had a "long discussion" with U.S. President Donald Trump about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the American-Israeli war with Iran, as Canada is
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Deliberations include discussions of a payout of up to $3.1 billion to support housing loans, the possible export of electricity to the United States, and the creation of this week’s new nuclear energy plan. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Mark Carney sidelined from at least 17 government deliberations because of corporate conflicts
The revelation is contained in letters that the Privy Council Office sent to a parliamentary committee that probed the ‘screens’ that Carney set up last year to protect himself from conflicts of inter...
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Reposted by Alex Ballingall
Toronto Star @thestar.com · 09/06/2026
“Let’s be clear, there is no Alto project without Quebec,” Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said, referring to the Crown corporation overseeing plans for a new high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City. #cdnpoli New from @aballinga.bsky.social:
thestar.com
Canada’s first high-speed rail project dies if Quebec pulls out, Carney minister says
Already promising to stage a referendum on separation, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon took to social media to reject the project as a costly "fiasco."
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The Department of National Defence kept secret how much it paid for a contract with the controversial American tech company Palantir, according to newly released documents that show the deal was worth $30 million more than the government disclosed to Parliament www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Documents reveal that Palantir contract was worth $30M more than government disclosed
Canada's Department of National Defence kept secret how much it paid for a contract with the controversial American tech company Palantir, according to newly released documents.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Carney was target of 79 threats -- 12 of them "direct" -- over the first 110 days since he became Liberal leader and then prime minister last year.
thestar.com
Government documents reveal barrage of threats against Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney faced near-daily threats over his first 100 days in office, according to newly released government documents that show how a wave of threats against top political
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Poilievre doubled down on his new attack line targeting Carney's economic credentials, claiming Mark Carney presents the "illusion of knowledge"
thestar.com
Pierre Poilievre attacks Mark Carney’s economic credentials, says he presents ‘the illusion of knowledge’
In a full-frontal assault on Prime Minister Mark Carney's economic credibility, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre suggested the former central banker presents "the illusion of knowledge" and claime...
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Ahead of Carney's trip to India, the country's high commissioner to Ottawa says it's time to move one from the deep-freeze in relations that followed allegations the India was linked to suspected murder and other violent crimes in Canada -- allegations the commissioner dismissed as "preposterous."
thestar.com
Dismissing ‘preposterous’ allegations, India’s high commissioner welcomes reset in relations with Canada
Dinesh Patnaik dismissed accusations from the federal government and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, both of which have claimed to have evidence linking agents of the Indian government to violent crime...
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Toronto MP Bill Blair to resign and become high commissioner to U.K.
Two sources confirmed the MP for Scarborough Southwest was set to formally resign his seat on Monday.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
An analysis of the political situation in Canada that Carney will confront after circumnavigating the globe and redefining Canadian foreign policy for the "new world order." www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Mark Carney returns from turmoil abroad to looming domestic challenges
The prime minister will huddle Thursday with his governing cabinet in Quebec City following a world tour in which he reset relations with China and charted a new course of
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CPAC TV @cpac.ca · 10/12/2025
Why did the Liberals vote against the Conservative's motion on the MOU? It'd be because some in the Liberal caucus are unconformable with the MOU, says Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star @aballinga.bsky.social. Full panel: youtu.be/NjNfppntOVM?...
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Steven Guilbeault resigned from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet Thursday in a dramatic renunciation of the government’s new deal to support oil-rich Alberta’s proposal for a major pipeline to the west coast, a senior government source confirmed to the Star.
thestar.com
Steven Guilbeault resigns from Mark Carney’s cabinet
Before entering elected politics, Guilbeault was a famed environmentalist.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
The Star has confirmed that Steven Guilbeault resigned today from Mark Carney's cabinet. Story coming asap.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
One Liberal source, who spoke on condition they aren’t named, said MPs from B.C. are “hopping mad” over a lack of communication from Carney’s office over what’s going on with the pipeline talks. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Mark Carney says hurdles remain as tensions rise over pipeline deal for Alberta
The prime minister said a memorandum of understanding with Alberta will set out "necessary conditions" for any federal greenlight to a new oil pipeline.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
The Star now has sources saying Con. MP Matt Jeneroux -Met with PM on budget day -Was seen with PM's deputy chief of staff later that night in the precinct -Called PM, told him he was resigning his seat before announcing it himself 2 days later www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Conservative MP told Mark Carney about his planned resignation before announcing it, sources say
Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux spoke by phone with Prime Minister Mark Carney and told him he was vacating his seat before publicly announcing a bombshell resignation that cast further doubt
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Conservative MPs facing questions about party loyalty are enduring unfair “harassment” fuelled by rumours and Liberal attempts to earn a majority in the House of Commons through convincing opposition members to defect to the government, a senior Tory claims.
thestar.com
Senior Tory accuses Liberals of fuelling ‘harassment’ of Conservative MPs amid floor-crossing rumours
Conservative whip Chris Warkentin downplayed disunity in the Tory caucus and said his party has been brought together by events of the past week.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Canada’s top naval commander says the two foreign companies vying to supply the federal government with a new, multibillion-dollar submarine fleet will need to show they can help create a high-skilled domestic workforce www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Canada’s new subs will need to be operated and maintained by Canadians, top naval commander says
The demand underscores the Carney government's drive to ensure its huge, planned increase in defence spending reaps economic benefits in Canada.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Sovereign Space Launch? The military thinks Canada would benefit, economically and security-wise. My story here:
thestar.com
Is it time Canada had its own space launch capability? The military thinks so
With the geopolitical turmoil of the past year, some industry players say there is interest in gaining the capacity to shoot Canadian payloads, using Canadian rockets, from Canadian launch pads,
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
The Liberal government has had discussions about increasing parliamentary resources for the shrunken caucus of New Democrats, the Star has learned, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Grits navigate a minority Parliament where the party is just three votes shy of a controlling majority.
thestar.com
Liberals in closed-door talks to boost NDP funding, claim it’s not related to upcoming budget vote
The Liberal government has had discussions about increasing parliamentary resources for the shrunken caucus of New Democrats, the Star has learned, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Grits navigate a min...
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Judy Trinh @judytrinh.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Supporters of Freedom Convoy leaders- Chris Barber and Tamara Lich get into a scuffle ahead of their sentencing today. Both have been found guilty of mischief. Their lawyers want full discharge, crown seeking 8yrs for Barber and 7years for Lich.
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Jack Hauen @jackhauen.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
New: Clients of lobbying firms with close connections to Premier Doug Ford and his nephew have been hugely successful in applying to the province’s Skills Development Fund. Full analysis: www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic... #onpoli
thetrillium.ca
Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training funds
Groups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has found
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Canadian Paintings @canadianpaintings.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Autumn, Digby Neck Maud Lewis c. 1962
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Some concern us also present inside the Liberals’ women’s caucus, where some are pressing their government to make sure programs started under the previous government continue to receive money, two Liberal insiders told the Star.
thestar.com
Mark Carney’s austerity budget raising fears gender equality programs will end
Members of the Liberals' women's caucus of MPs are pressing their government to make sure funding for programs started under the previous government continue to receive funding, two Liberal insiders
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
@markramzy.bsky.social reports
thestar.com
Liberals’ push for gun buyback program fuelled by pressure from Quebec, public safety minister says in leaked audio
A gun-owning tenant recorded a conversation with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree without the minister’s knowledge.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Parliament is back and the Star will be covering it all. To get primed on the big storylines, here's our bureau chief Tonda MacCharles with a good survey of the political landscape at the start of the fall sesh: www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
What to watch, who’s hot and who’s not as MPs return to Parliament
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre each have certain advantages as the 45th Parliament resumes Monday.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
This is very much worth reading.
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Toronto Star @thestar.com · 18/08/2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government had no choice but to impose binding arbitration on Air Canada flight attendants this weekend because negotiations were not ending the dispute.
thestar.com
Mark Carney says he had no choice but to end the Air Canada impasse
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu issued an order calling on the industrial relations board to end the strike and impose binding arbitration on Air Canada and CUPE.
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National Newswatch @nationalnewswatch.com · 17/08/2025
Pierre Poilievre’s political exile is expected to end within days. Then the real fight begins, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed... Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
thestar.com
Pierre Poilievre’s political exile is expected to end within days. Then the real fight begins
Greater challenges are waiting for him, Conservative insiders and analysts say, as the Tory leader tries to keep his broader voting base intact, and set the stage for the victory
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Reposted by Alex Ballingall
Toronto Star @thestar.com · 14/08/2025
Gun-control advocates fear Mark Carney will delay buyback program
thestar.com
Gun-control advocates fear Mark Carney will delay buyback program
An imminent delay, a lack of updates from Ottawa, and Mark Carney's attempts to keep premiers happy, vow to drastically cut spending, and emphasis on border security, are raising questions
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Toronto Star @thestar.com · 30/07/2025
#Breaking: Mark Carney says Canada will recognize Palestine as a state
thestar.com
Canada will recognize Palestine in September, Mark Carney says
The move comes amid increasing international pressure and outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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Toronto Star @thestar.com · 30/07/2025
Donald Trump’s tariff war with Canada is escalating with new measures from the U.S. and retaliatory responses from Canada. We’re tracking what’s active, what’s coming and how Canada has responded.
thestar.com
Trump’s tariff threats keep changing. We’re tracking what’s active, what’s coming and how Canada has responded
Donald Trump’s tariff war with Canada is escalating with new measures from the U.S. and retaliatory responses from Canada. Here’s what’s in effect.
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The Wren News @thewrennews.ca · 10/07/2025
#Kamloops’ archival parade photos show how early Canada Day celebrations evolved — from attempts to erase Indigenous and immigrant contributions to the city, to embracing them. The latest from @lyssamartin.bsky.social
thewrennews.ca
In photos: Kamloops historial Canada Day parade photos
Old Kamloops parade photos show how Canada Day evolved from attempts to erase Indigenous and immigrant contributions to embracing them.
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Ben Spurr @benspurr.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote www.thestar.com/news/gta/no-...
thestar.com
‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote
Housing Minister Gregor Robertson expressed his “disappointment” with city council’s decision last month to not allow sixplexes citywide in a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow.
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Robert Benzie @robertbenzie.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩ has complete coverage of the first ministers’ meeting and the Council of the Federation conference at Deerhurst Resort on Peninsula Lake in Huntsville. #onpoli #cdnpoli www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Live updates: Carney meeting with premiers in Muskoka; Doug Ford announces agreement with Alberta, Saskatchewan
Canada’s leaders are sitting down in cottage country days before U.S. tariffs are threatened to take effect on Aug. 1.
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News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
🚨BREAKING: The last journalists working for AFP in Gaza have said they can no longer work for the news agency. They are out of energy and they are starving to death. I have never seen a statement from a news organisation like it. 🧵
Sans intervention immédiate, les derniers reporters de Gaza vont mourir
21 juillet 2025
L'AFP travaille avec une pigiste texte, trois photographes et six pigistes vidéo dans la Bande de Gaza depuis le départ de ses journalistes staff courant 2024.
Avec quelques autres, ils sont aujourd'hui les seuls à rapporter ce qu'il se passe dans la Bande de Gaza. La presse internationale est interdite d'entrer dans ce territoire depuis près de deux ans.
Nous refusons de les voir mourir.
L'un deux, Bashar, collabore pour l'AFP depuis 2010, d'abord comme fixeur, ensuite comme photographe pigiste, et depuis 2024 comme principal photographe.
Samedi 19 juillet, il est parvenu à poster un message sur Facebook: « Je n'ai plus la force de travailler pour les médias.
Mon corps est maigre et je ne peux plus travailler ».
Bashar, 30 ans, travaille et vit dans des conditions égales à celles de tous les Gazaouis, allant d'un camp de réfugiés à un autre camp au gré des bombardements israéliens. Depuis plus d'un an il vit dans le dénuement le plus total et travaille en prenant d'énormes risques pour sa vie. L'hygiène est pour lui un problème majeur, avec des périodes de maladies intestinales sévères.
Bashar vit depuis février dans les ruines de sa maison de Gaza City avec sa mère, ses quatre frères et sœurs et la famille d'un de ses frères. Leur maison est vide de tout aménagement et confort, à part quelques coussins. Dimanche matin, il a rapporté que son frère aîné était « tombé, à cause de la faim ».
Même si ces journalistes reçoivent un salaire mensuel de l'AFP, il n'y a rien à acheter ou alors à des prix totalement exorbitants. Le système bancaire a disparu, et ceux qui pratiquent le change entre les comptes bancaires en ligne et l'argent liquide prennent une commission de près de 40%.
L'AFP n'a plus la possibilité d'avoir un véhicule et encore moins de l'essence pour permettre à ses journalistes de se déplacer pour leurs reportages. Circuler en voiture équivaut de toutes les façons à pre…
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
Brace for layoffs, budget watchdog says, as Carney government aims to slash spending by $25B
The Liberal government wants to find roughly $25 billion in annual savings from the federal budget within the next three years, the Star has confirmed, a higher than expected target
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Here's an analysis of the decision to dump the Digital Services Tax, and what it might say about the Trump World we're living in.
thestar.com
What if killing Canada’s digital tax is just the beginning for Donald Trump?
The mercurial nature of the U.S. president means what happens next is anyone's guess.
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Toronto Star @thestar.com · 26/06/2025
Over half of Canada’s 2025 study permits going to international students already here. Postsecondary education sector will continue to see enrolment drop for at least the next three years, analysis warns.
thestar.com
Over half of Canada’s 2025 study permits going to international students already here
Postsecondary education sector will continue to see enrolment drop for at least the next three years, analysis warns.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
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National Newswatch @nationalnewswatch.com · 20/06/2025
Mark Carney’s government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed... Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com
thestar.com
Mark Carney’s government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill
The proposed law, Bill C-5, has sparked warnings of Indigenous resistance in the coming weeks, along with condemnation from environmental groups, and some reservations within the Liberal caucus.
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Alex Ballingall @aballinga.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Some Liberals have reservations about Bill C-5, which would give cabinet special powers to fast-track development projects like mines, pipelines and ports, and to approve them by skirting environmental laws and regulations. Our story here:
thestar.com
Mark Carney makes some Liberals uneasy with parliamentary hustle for infrastructure bill
Some Liberal MPs are expressing reservations about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push to fast-track major development projects.
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 13/06/2025
An advance look at “On Parade,” David Plunkert’s cover for next week's issue. #NewYorkerCovers
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Brian Platt @brianplatt.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
(Bloomberg) -- The US and Mexico are closing in on a deal that would remove President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on steel imports up to a certain volume, according to people familiar with the matter, a revamp of a similar deal between the trade partners during his first term.
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Toronto Star @thestar.com · 09/06/2025
Some Canadians are alarmed by Mark Carney’s pledge to act with urgency. With the unveiling of a bill to supercharge the economy and efforts to improve relations with India and China, there’s growing concern that Carney’s plans to boost Canada could involve unsavory trade offs. #Analysis
thestar.com
Why some Canadians are alarmed by Mark Carney’s pledge to act with urgency
With the unveiling of a bill to supercharge the economy and efforts to improve the country’s relations with India and China, there’s growing concern that Carney’s plans to boost Canada could involve u...
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