While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Spencer Van Dyk.
Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole is cautioning the prime minister that despite the need to diversify trade, China is not a substitute for the United States. O’Toole has been tapped to join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s 24-member Canada-U.S. Advisory Committee, unveiled this week as a formal review of the countries’ trilateral trade deal with Mexico fast approaches. More than a...
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says there is a gap between the Canada and U.S. administrations’ trade philosophies. Greer made the comments at a U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade agenda on Wednesday. “They’ve done this, but overall they’ve indicated that they want to be trading more, they want to have more trade...
An energy and climate policy-focused think tank is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver results on a slate of “critical” issues related to the federal government’s memorandum of understanding with Alberta, namely the industrial carbon pricing system. “This is the most important element of the (memorandum of understanding, or MOU),” wrote Chris Severson-Baker, the executive director of the Alberta-based...
Despite accusing the United States of weaponizing the deep integration of its economy with Canada’s, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he “absolutely” wants the trilateral trade deal including Mexico to remain intact. “We’ve become overly dependent on one trading partner who has turned around, as the prime minister has also said, and weaponized that very dependency or integration against...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is again urging the prime minister to sign a tariff-free trade deal with the United States, following a video by Mark Carney Sunday calling Canada’s former strength, built on its bond with America, a “weakness” that must be corrected. In his own video released on Monday — paralleled with Carney’s address, seeing both leaders sitting in...
Defence Minister David McGuinty is still without a timeline for the now-yearlong review into the purchase of dozens of F-35 fighter jets, telling reporters in Ottawa Monday that it’s ongoing. “What it says, I hope, for Canadians, is that we’re being very responsible,” McGuinty said, when asked whether the review is being delayed because the Canadian government is worried about...
A former Bank of Canada governor is predicting Canada has about a 30 per cent chance of falling into a recession, amid growing global economic pressures. The ongoing war in the Middle East — with blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and damage to production facilities — is taking a striking toll on the global economy, sending fuel prices soaring...
Finnish President Alexander Stubb says he’s “the most pro-American president in Europe,” despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent criticisms of Western allies and global trade system disruption. Stubb made the comments in an interview on CTV Question Period while he was in Ottawa for the first visit to Canada by a Finnish president in 12 years. In the interview, which...
The federal government is set to table its spring economic update on April 28, the one-year anniversary of the Liberals’ general election win, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne told the House of Commons Tuesday. It will be Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first since his cabinet flipped the release schedule for its budgets and fiscal updates. The document will give the latest...
Today is the first day Prime Minister Mark Carney will be heading to Parliament Hill with his newly minted majority government. Winning all three seats that were up for grabs in Monday’s byelections, the federal Liberals are entering a new era. What will this mean for federal political dynamics, the timing of the next federal election, and passing policy? Here’s...
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals secured a majority government after clinching all three federal byelections held on Monday night. Nearly a year after last April’s minority government win and on the heels of courting five opposition MPs to cross the floor, Carney’s grip on power just got tighter. In the Liberals’ first win of the night in University-Rosedale, Ont., candidate...
Following the surprise floor-crossing of longtime Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu to the Liberal benches, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon won’t say whether there’s a red line on which defecting MPs the Liberals will or won’t bring into their caucus. On Wednesday Gladu became the fifth MP — and fourth Conservative — to cross the floor and join the Liberals in...
Liberal MP Chris d’Entremont, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives in November, says current Conservative MPs have “absolutely” asked him what it’s like being a Liberal. “They want to know what the caucus structure is, what we talk about, what kind of input that we have in decision making,” d’Entremont told host Mike Le Couteur in an interview on...
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says while it’s unlikely the U.S. administration will hash out all of its trade issues with Canada and Mexico by July 1, he’s optimistic they’ll be resolved as soon as possible. “I think that we aren’t probably going to be able to resolve all issues by July 1, but I think we are on track...
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon is pushing back on the Conservatives’ calls to cancel the proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City. Construction on the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project, overseen by the Crown corporation Alto, is set to begin in 2029 or 2030. But, speaking to reporters this week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called the project a “boondoggle” and...
Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin will not reveal whether the Alberta-Ottawa memorandum of understanding sets a target date of 2030 by which the province will hike its industrial carbon price to $130 a tonne. In November, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a major new energy co-operation agreement, outlining the conditions that need to...
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Liberal MP Michael Ma has apologized for comments he made last week seemingly questioning the issue of forced labour in China, and would not say whether he will face consequences. “Mr. Ma has apologized for his comments, as he should have,” Carney told reporters during a housing announcement with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto...
The CEO of the Swedish manufacturing company Saab says there are still “intensive” talks underway with the Canadian government around the potential purchase of Gripen fighter jets, but that he has no timeline for when Canada will finish its review of the American-made F-35s. The federal government launched a review a year ago of its plan to purchase dozens of...
Prime Minister Mark Carney is criticizing Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau for his English-only message of condolences to the families of the pilots who died in a plane crash on Sunday at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. “We live in a bilingual country, and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages regardless of...
As Canadian drivers continue to see a spike in the price at the pump, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne won’t commit either way on dropping the gas tax to provide some relief. The war in the Middle East has now exceeded three weeks, with Iran continuing to block the vital Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices soaring globally. According to CAA...
Conservative campaign manager Steve Outhouse says leader Pierre Poilievre arranged his appearance on the hugely popular Joe Rogan podcast himself. During his first U.S. tour since becoming Conservative leader, Poilievre made stops in Michigan, Texas and New York City this week, and sat down to record a more-than-two-hour podcast episode with Joe Rogan. The episode, which dropped Thursday, is set...
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says based on the information before him, there are no longer clandestine activities or transnational repression taking place in Canada that is linked to the government of India. “In the files that we have that involve transnational repression, we’re not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity, based on the criminal information, the investigations...
At the one-year anniversary of Mark Carney’s tenure as prime minister, the federal Liberals are seeing record-high support, according to the latest data from Nanos Research. In the polling firm’s most recent ballot tracking, the Liberals are at 47.6 per cent, the Conservatives at 31.1 per cent, and the NDP at 11.2 per cent. The Conservatives under leader Pierre Poilievre...
Defence Minister David McGuinty says Canada is “leaving the door open” to providing assistance in the Middle East — as the conflict in Iran exceeds two weeks and spreads further throughout the region — but he also insists Canada “will not be engaging offensively.” “We’re leaving the door open to be, I think, of assistance to any neighbouring states that...
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree insists the federal government’s approach to people associated with the Iranian regime in Canada is “aggressive,” despite having only deported one person in the last three years. Late last month, the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran, targeting the country’s leadership, with retaliatory strikes since widening the conflict in the region. Against the...
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says Canada needs to separate its trade talks from its national security concerns when dealing with certain countries if it is serious about diversifying trading partners beyond the United States. Moe joined Prime Minister Mark Carney this week on the first leg of his Indo-Pacific trade tour to India, Australia and Japan. In India, Carney signed...
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champange says the federal government is once again “exploring” a formal free-trade deal with India, and that the South Asian country also sees “a lot of benefit” to deepening ties with Canada. In an interview with CTV Question Period airing Sunday, host Vassy Kapelos asked Champagne directly whether he, as finance minister, wants a formal free-trade deal...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canada needs to create more leverage in its negotiations with the United States, and argues that despite the ongoing trade war between the two countries, Canada should not substitute the U.S. with China. In a speech focused on becoming “stronger at home” to increase leverage abroad, Poilievre laid out his vision for Canada-U.S. relations in...
The newest member of the federal Liberal caucus is standing by his decision and says he wouldn’t speak ill of his former Conservative colleagues, despite their vocal criticism of his floor crossing. “I have no bad words to say about people on the other side of the aisle,” MP Matt Jeneroux said on his way out of his first-ever national...
A U.S. Representative for Michigan is pledging more pushback in Congress to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “chaotic” tariffs, after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck them down. In an interview on CTV Question Period Sunday, Debbie Dingell told host Vassy Kapelos that Trump’s tariffs are destroying long held U.S. relationships, including with Canada. “I want to be clear that...
In a move Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling a betrayal, Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux is joining the Liberal caucus. “Matt, welcome to the government team,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday, sitting down with Jeneroux for a press conference in Edmonton. The two did not take questions from journalists.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon is standing by the Liberals’ decision to deliver the Budget Implementation Act as a 634-page omnibus piece of legislation. Bill C-15, the Budget Implementation Act, allows the government to enact the legislative policies laid out in the budget thatrequire new laws or amendments to existing laws. Among other things, the legislation includes changes to transport...
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer says he believes the Liberals are having conversations “in good faith” with his party to get legislation passed in the House of Commons, though he wouldn’t say whether the spirit of co-operation is spurred by efforts to avoid an election. “I believe the conversations are being held in good faith,” Scheer said in an interview...
Amid a year-long trade war, Canada’s outgoing ambassador to the United States says she doesn’t know whether U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to keep the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in place, because his messaging around the deal has been inconsistent.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson wouldn’t rule out allowing Chinese state-owned companies from buying majority stakes in Canada’s oil patch, when asked directly whether that would be a red line for the federal government. “We will look at every investment from every country against the Investment Canada Act, and we will accept investments that are a net benefit...
Canadians are virtually evenly split on how they believe MPs hoping to cross the floor should handle it, new data from Nanos Research finds. According to the numbers, a third of Canadians — 33 per cent — believe MPs planning to cross the floor should resign their seat and trigger a byelection, running on the mandate of the party they...
Former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean Chretien sat down for a fireside chat in Ottawa Monday to discuss the topic of “Canada and the World,” moderated by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). Ahead of the conversation, Harper received an RCGS Gold Medal at a ceremony in Ottawa, in recognition of his “distinguished career in public service,” according to...
The boost to the federal GST credit Prime Minister Mark Carney promised Canadians last week is one step closer to being enacted. In one of their first moves on Monday, members of Parliament unanimously approved a Conservative motion proposing to speed up the House of Commons’ deliberations over Bill C-19, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act. That bill seeks...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says members of her caucus can sign whatever petitions they want to, including one pushing for a referendum on the province’s independence from Canada. “I don’t police the responses of my MLAs, they can sign whatever petition that they want,” Smith told CTV Question Period host, Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday, adding she doesn’t...
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has handily passed the biggest test of his leadership since he took the helm of the party in September 2022. After delivering a rousing election-campaign-style speech to a packed room of party members in Calgary Friday night, Poilievre received 87.4% per cent support in his leadership review. The results were announced in a paper release shortly...
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney both say they’re open to alternate routes for a potential pipeline to get Alberta oil to Asian markets, which does not necessarily need to end at B.C.’s northwest coast.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he would have used different words to describe the changing global trade landscape than Prime Minister Mark Carney did on his recent trip to China. During his trip earlier this month — the first visit to China for a Canadian prime minister in eight years — Carney said during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li...
The decision to cull more than 300 ostriches at a B.C. farm last November cost the federal government more than $6.7 million across three agencies, according to newly released data. After Universal Ostrich Farm, located near Edgewood, B.C., reported it had lost dozens of birds following an avian flu outbreak in late 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered...
Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government “focused on results for Canadians,” and is not considering a snap election. On Monday, Carney announced a boost to the GST credit, as part of a suite of new affordability measures, in a grocery-store press conference reminiscent of election-time campaign stops. Longtime cabinet minister and former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland also resigned...
Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest actions in Venezuela and ramped up rhetoric about acquiring Greenland, both of which have renewed speculation from some about Trump’s American expansionism goals, experts say an attempt to annex Canada using military force is “far-fetched.” On Jan. 3, Trump launched a military operation in Venezuela, during which U.S. troops captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro...
Following the historic signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Ottawa and Alberta to lay the groundwork for a new oil pipeline — and the resignation of longtime cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault over the issue — Environment and Climate and Change Minister Julie Dabrusin insists the federal government is not rolling back its climate policy. On Thursday, Prime Minister...
Ontario’s representative in Washington says he’s signed his Christmas card to U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, and hopes the two are moving forward after an altercation last month. “I’ve met Ambassador Hoekstra several times, I actually kind of like the guy,” David Paterson told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday. “He’s different.” “I’ve had...
The U.S. ambassador to Canada invoked the longstanding bilateral defence partnership between Canada and the United States on Wednesday, as Canada considers diversifying its fighter jet fleet procurement.
Sweden’s deputy prime minister says Saab is prepared to fill any gap in Canada’s capability needs if the federal government decides to deviate from its American Lockheed Martin deal and purchase fighter jets from several companies. “Saab would be the ones that would have to answer for details of that sort,” Ebba Busch said in an exclusive interview on CTV...
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority Liberal government narrowly survived its third confidence vote in as many weeks on Monday, passing the federal budget by a vote of 170-168 and staving off a holiday election. The vote was a make-or-break one for the Liberal government, which is two seats shy of a majority. Leading up to the vote, both the Bloc...
Defence Minister David McGuinty says Canada isn’t ruling out diversifying its fighter-jet purchases from more than one company in order to fulfil capability requirements. “We’re grateful for any forthcoming offer that comes forward,” McGuinty told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday. “If anybody walks into Canada tomorrow from a sovereign wealth fund or with a...
In his first media availability since two MPs announced they’re leaving his caucus, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he plans to continue leading the party as he has been. When asked by a reporter to respond to comments by former Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont — who last Tuesday announced he was crossing the floor to the Liberals and later blamed...
Canadians’ concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump and the state of relations with our southern neighbour are once again on the rise, according to new data from Nanos Research. Nearly 18 per cent of respondents in Nanos Research’s weekly issues tracking said Trump and Canada-U.S. relations are their greatest concern, doubling from 8.8 per cent last month. The next issue...
The second round of major so-called nation-building projects will be announced this Thursday in Prince Rupert, B.C., Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday. Carney confirmed the date during a press conference in Fredericton, following a meeting with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt. “We’ve got big strategies that then also have implications for provinces across the country,” Carney said, when...
With a looming confidence vote on Mark Carney’s highly anticipated first budget as prime minister, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon says he believes the opposition parties should support the document because it is “squarely in the middle of Canadian politics.” The Liberals, two seats shy of a majority government, have already survived two confidence votes in the House related to...
A former national security advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump says it was a mistake for Prime Minister Mark Carney to apologize for the anti-tariff ad that angered Trump and prompted him to terminate trade talks with Canada. “I think that showed weakness, and I think that will be in Trump’s consciousness as he looks to see what the next...
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson is downplaying the U.S. government’s ownership stakes in two Canadian critical minerals companies, saying Canada is embracing a multilateral approach to securing critical minerals supply chains. In early October, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the White House had purchased ownership stakes in the Vancouver-based mining companies Trilogy Metals Inc. and Lithium Americas. Both...
Despite refusing to say whether next Tuesday’s budget has been finalized, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne signalled the document will show the size of the public service has grown too large. “We need to bring back the civil service to a sustainable level,” Champagne told reporters following a funding announcement on Wednesday, adding that the federal government is looking for efficiencies...
Canada Post has laid off dozens of managers amid its restructuring plan and ongoing labour dispute with employees, a source confirmed to CTV News. “These changes are a continuation of our corporate-wide restructuring efforts to better align our management team with the future needs of the organization,” wrote Canada Post president and CEO Doug Ettinger in a memo to employees...
The U.S. ambassador to Canada doesn’t foresee a new security and economic deal between Canada and the United States — which could see the reduction or full removal of tariffs amid an ongoing trade dispute — before the new year. “We have stopped negotiations with Canada,” Pete Hoekstra said in a keynote address to the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and...