China goes after Canadian canola. The U.S. wasn’t the only front in the trade war. Our second-largest trading partner slapped tariffs on $3.7 billion worth of agricultural products, including 100% tariffs on canola, a top export. The levy was a direct response to Canada’s 100% tax on Chinese-made EVs. Now, after years of icy relations, Canada is working hard to get back on China’s good side, and hopefully see these levies dropped. (Mar. 21 Edition)
We started caring about Greenland’s sovereignty. Canada wasn’t the only target of Donald Trump’s annexation threats. The semi-autonomous territory of Denmark also found itself in the crosshairs. In a show of support our editorial team (no joke) bought “Greenland Is Not For Sale” hats. As for Greenlanders, they were defiant, freezing out JD Vance and voting in March for a party that supports a gradual path to full independence. (Mar. 11 Edition)
Ontario approved Canada’s first new nuclear plant since the ‘80s. Ontario Power Generation got the OK to start building a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington nuclear site in Clarington. SMRs, which deliver less energy than traditional reactors but have enhanced safety features, are the hot new thing in nuclear. Ontario’s SMR will be a test case for their wider viability as more places (even the moon) consider going nuclear. (April 8)
RIP Pope Francis, hello Pope Leo. Francis will go down as one of Catholicism’s most consequential modern leaders, espousing progressive (for the Church) stances on issues like climate change and LGBTQ+ rights. His death at 88 created a fork in the road for the conclave: continue down this path or turn back. When the black smoke cleared, Francis’ ally Robert Prevost became the first American pope, taking the name Leo XIV. (April 25 Edition)
Liberals complete a historic comeback. This time last year, the Liberals were dead in the water, down over 20 points to the Conservatives. Until, that is, Mark Carney won the party’s leadership and Donald Trump’s “51st state” talk scrambled the political landscape. In the end, Carney’s Liberals fell two seats shy of a majority, Pierre Poilievre (briefly) lost his seat, and the NDP lost official party status as Jagmeet Singh resigned. (April 29 Edition)