Canada Minute: Issue 33

Canada Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Canadian politics.

📅 This Week In Canada: 📅

• US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has criticized Canada for jeopardizing the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) by imposing counter-tariffs on American products, calling it “pulling the rug out” from the trade deal. In March, Canada placed a 25% tariff on $29.8 billion in US goods, including some covered by CUSMA, in response to escalating US tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, copper, and other products. Hoekstra also cited personal attacks by Canadian politicians on US leadership and the review of a $74-billion F-35 fighter jet contract as sources of tension. Prime Minister Mark Carney has suggested removing some tariffs where it benefits Canadian businesses and ongoing negotiations. Both Hoekstra and Canadian officials acknowledge that progress in talks has been slow, and a resolution is not expected soon. Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed concern that even a signed deal may not be respected by President Trump and warned of potential renegotiations before the next scheduled start date. 
  
  
• Youth employment in Canada has fallen to its lowest level since 1998, with the employment rate for those aged 15 to 24 dropping to 53.6% last month. Industries that typically hire younger workers - such as retail, food service, and hospitality - are showing particular weakness, leaving many teens struggling to find jobs despite multiple applications. Analysts and employment specialists attribute the decline to lasting impacts from the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and employers’ caution in hiring inexperienced workers. Some employers argue that younger workers lack motivation or work ethic, while some point out a gap in experience and workplace skills due to missed opportunities during COVID-19.
  
  
• Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced that his party will make repealing the federal electric vehicle (EV) sales mandate a key priority during the fall parliamentary sitting. The mandate, set to take effect next year, requires new zero-emission vehicles to make up 20% of sales by 2026, rising to 100% by 2035. Poilievre criticized the policy as a “disaster” and plans to use motions, petitions, and pressure campaigns to push the Liberals to abandon it. Automakers have also called for the mandate’s repeal, citing falling demand, US tariffs, and the economic risk to jobs in the industry. The federal EV rebate program, which offered up to $5,000 for electric cars, ended in January, further limiting the likelihood of meeting the 20% target. Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin has suggested a new rebate program may be introduced, but no concrete plans have been announced. 
  
  
• Air Canada has cancelled plans to restart flights after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced that its 10,000 flight attendants will defy a federal back-to-work order and continue striking. The federal government ordered binding arbitration to end the labour dispute, but CUPE says it will challenge the directive as unconstitutional and insists it wants to negotiate directly with the airline. Air Canada offered a 38% increase in overall compensation over four years, but CUPE rejected it, arguing the first-year raise was too low given inflation. The strike has already impacted more than 100,000 passengers. The union argues that the government’s intervention rewards Air Canada’s refusal to bargain in good faith, pointing to stagnant wages and unpaid work as key issues. Protests were held at major airports across Canada, with union leaders calling the government’s move an attack on workers’ rights. Negotiations between the airline and union are expected to continue this week despite the standoff.
  
  
• Canada is facing a “facility crisis” as many publicly owned indoor pools age and require costly repairs or replacements, putting recreational and competitive swimming at risk. More than half of these pools are over 25 years old, and less than half of the country’s 25-metre pools are in good condition, according to Swimming Canada. Closures are widespread, from university pools like the University of Manitoba’s Joyce Fromson Pool to municipal facilities such as the St. James Civic Centre in Winnipeg and Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Swim clubs report limited capacity, forcing athletes and students to travel between multiple locations, and some programs may need to shrink due to overcrowding. The shortage threatens opportunities for swimming lessons, lifeguard training, and the development of future elite swimmers. Across the country, smaller communities, universities, and cities are struggling to keep pools operational, creating long-term concerns for public safety and sport development. Experts and club leaders say federal leadership is needed to coordinate investment and encourage other levels of government to address the problem. We'd suggest better fiscal management on the part of municipalities, which are largely responsible for these recreation facilities. When City governments focus on pet projects instead of basic services, this is what happens!
  
  
• Canada’s police chiefs, represented by the Association of Chiefs of Police, say they are working under outdated laws that fail to address today’s globalized and digital crime landscape. Association president Thomas Carrique argued that police warned the federal government as far back as 2001 about the need for legislative changes and now face growing threats like transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and online exploitation. He said proposed federal legislation, the Strong Borders Act, would provide important tools to fight international criminal networks but still leaves loopholes, such as restrictions on obtaining search warrants for small packages that could contain lethal amounts of fentanyl. Carrique and other chiefs also renewed calls for tougher bail rules, citing cases of repeat offenders being quickly re-arrested after release. While national crime statistics show a decline in severity, Carrique stressed that public perception of crime and ongoing victimization require stronger justice system responses. He emphasized that law enforcement must be better equipped to keep pace with 21st-century threats.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨