Vue lecture
Carney meets with cabinet, premiers after Trump hits Canada with baseline 35-per-cent tariff
Premier Ford objects to court finding Ontario bike-lane law unconstitutional

Ontario Premier Doug Ford teed off Wednesday on a court decision declaring his law to remove three Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional, calling it the “most ridiculous” ruling he has ever seen.
Ford has already said his government plans to appeal, even as it works on a compromise with the city to both keep the bike lanes and add extra lanes for vehicle traffic.
Ford proposes three-level tunnel under Highway 401, feasibility study not started

Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed more details Wednesday about his planned tunnel under Highway 401, even as a feasibility study he’s commissioning has yet to get underway.
Speaking at an unrelated transit announcement in Thornhill, Ont., north of Toronto, Ford said his plan is to have a 19.5-metre-wide, three-level tunnel, with one level going eastbound, one for westbound traffic and a bottom level for transit.
Alberta targets predatory tow-truck drivers with exclusion zones, fines

Alberta’s government is creating fines and rules meant to curb predatory tow-truck drivers.
Starting Friday, there will be 200-metre exclusion zones around accident scenes for tow-truck operators, who must stay back unless police or drivers involved say otherwise or face a $1,000 fine.
Three charged in connection to Quebec migrants case detained until next hearing

Three men facing smuggling-related charges after 44 foreign nationals were found in a truck in southern Quebec on Sunday will remain detained until their next court hearing.
Ogulcan Mersin, Dogan Alakus and Firat Yuksek appeared in a Sherbrooke, Que. courtroom today following their arrest over the weekend.
Nova Scotia releases plan on future transport needs for Halifax and surrounding area

The Nova Scotia government has released its long-awaited plan to address the future transportation needs of Atlantic Canada’s largest city and the surrounding area.
Public Works Minister Fred Tilley told reporters Wednesday that the goal of the Regional Transportation Plan is to transform the transportation system for Halifax and those areas within an hour’s drive of the port city – a region that is home to 63 per cent of the province’s population.
Evacuation order and some alerts lifted for fire burning near Lytton, B.C.

An evacuation order issued by the Lytton First Nation has been rescinded after firefighters declared that a nearby wildfire had been held.
Evacuation alerts issued by the nation and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District have also been lifted for the Cantilever Bar wildfire, which lost its out-of-control status on Tuesday.
Why are fentanyl deaths in Europe a fraction of those seen in North America?
When police in England raided a fentanyl lab outside the northern city of Leeds in early 2017, the bust sent shockwaves across the country.
The raid and subsequent conviction of three men – who made and sold around £164,000 worth of the opioid in five months – was the first major fentanyl case in Britain and it prompted dire warnings from law enforcement officers, health officials and the media that the U.K. was headed for a U.S.-style fentanyl crisis.
© Chad Hipolito
Three men denied bail in alleged militia plot in Quebec

Three men who face terrorism charges over allegations that they plotted to take over land near Quebec City were denied bail at a court hearing on Wednesday.
Marc-Aurèle Chabot and Raphaël Lagacé of Quebec City, along with Simon Angers-Audet from nearby Neuville, were arrested last month. Each face one count of facilitating terrorism.
Manitoba Métis Federation won’t attend Carney’s major projects meeting over inclusion of Ontario group

The Manitoba Métis Federation is turning down Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to discuss his government’s controversial major projects legislation, saying it won’t attend the meeting alongside another Métis group it claims has no reason to exist.
The federation, which represents Red River Métis, said Wednesday Carney’s decision to invite the Métis Nation of Ontario to Thursday’s meeting undermines the integrity of the gathering and puts the government’s plans for major projects at risk.
Air Canada hopes to avoid flight disruptions after attendants vote in favour of strike mandate

Around 10,000 Air Canada AC-T flight attendants will be in a legal position to strike in less than two weeks, but the airline says it’s confident there is enough runway left to reach a deal that avoids grounding numerous flights.
The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees says negotiations with the airline are set to resume Friday after its members voted 99.7 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.
Advocates fear Haitian nationals intercepted in Quebec could face deportation if they are returned to U.S.
Canadian authorities intercepted a 16-foot U-Haul truck at the U.S.-Canada border near Stanstead, Que., just minutes after alleged smugglers loaded in 44 people, the RCMP say.
The people found in the sweltering cargo area, most of whom were Haitian nationals, included a pregnant woman and young children, police said. They allegedly told officers they had crossed the border on foot, walking for two hours before the truck picked them up.
Morning Update: Trump trades tariffs for ‘gifts’
Good morning. Canada is laying the groundwork for USMCA talks while Trump rewrites trade policy one hazy deal at a time – more on that below, along with Victoria Mboko’s Cinderella run at the National Bank Open and a potential Air Canada strike. But first:
Today’s headlines
- Wildfires push thousands from their homes in Manitoba and Newfoundland, while areas of Nova Scotia are on high alert
- Former Israeli officials call for an end to the war in Gaza, as Netanyahu hints at its expansion
- The family of a hostage held by Hamas pleads for an international response after the release of videos
- An Afghan family seeking entry into Canada has been detained by ICE
Ontario’s private-clinic plan doesn’t add up, prospective applicants warn

The Ontario government, poised to allow private clinics to do publicly funded hip- and knee-replacement surgeries, is facing behind-the-scenes criticism from some of the people who hope to build the new facilities.
The long-delayed move is part of the Progressive Conservative government’s push to boost the involvement of the private sector in the public health care system, in an effort to move more procedures out of hospitals and reduce waiting times.
Afghan family seeking entry into Canada detained by ICE
An Afghan family fleeing the Taliban and seeking to join relatives near Toronto are stuck in a “legal trap” after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, their lawyers say.
The family was eligible to cross into Canada by land from the U.S. to claim asylum because a close relative – a 32-year-old woman who previously worked for a Western aid organization in Afghanistan – was granted refugee status in Canada last year.
Wildfires push thousands from homes in Manitoba, Newfoundland, while areas of Nova Scotia on high alert

Rapidly growing wildfires in several provinces forced thousands of people from their homes and prompted air-quality warnings in cities thousands of kilometres away, while hot and dry conditions had other areas on high alert, including Nova Scotia, where the government banned most summertime activities in wooded areas.
The deteriorating conditions have added up to a wildfire season that is on track to be one of Canada’s worst on record in terms of area burned, second only to 2023.
Carney says Canada won't sacrifice softwood lumber industry
Structures destroyed in fast-growing Newfoundland wildfire, Premier Hogan says

Multiple wildfires are burning in Newfoundland, prompting more evacuation orders and destroying structures in a community in the eastern part of the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier said during a media briefing Tuesday the out-of-control wildfire near Small Point–Adam’s Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove and Kingston grew significantly overnight.
Mohawk Council of Kahnawake considers road tolls amid looming federal budget cuts

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake said Tuesday that it is looking at imposing tolls on the roads crossing its territory in response to looming federal budget cuts.
Grand Chief Cody Diabo told reporters the tolls could help offset the impact of cuts to federal departments, including Indigenous Services Canada.
Cathedral Grove’s ancient trees not at risk, fire service says, as Vancouver Island blaze prompts evacuation order

Vancouver Island photographer Colby Rex O’Neill has had restless nights as a wildfire burns less than a kilometre from his home.
That’s a worry, but he also fears the Wesley Ridge fire could reach what he calls a “national treasure” – Cathedral Grove, a temperate rainforest containing trees that are about 800 years old.
Adisa De Rosario follows in his father’s steps with Toronto FC

Just 20, Adisa De Rosario has spent half his life in Toronto FC colours.
The young goalkeeper joined the TFC academy in 2015. Even then, he was no stranger to the club’s training centre, having been part of its pre-academy.
Privacy commissioner to investigate WestJet cybersecurity breach, security safeguards

Canada’s privacy commissioner has opened an investigation into a cyberattack on WestJet WJAFF which saw a “malicious actor” gain access to the airline’s systems.
The airline said in a statement last month that a “sophisticated, criminal” third party was able to gain access to some personal and travel-related data during the June cybersecurity incident.
Audit of Nova Scotia firefighter school reveals serious safety concerns
The family of a Nova Scotia firefighter who died in training says the results of a scathing audit of the province’s main firefighters school is an important first step in ensuring future safety.
The $300,000 money-for-value audit by consultant 21FSP was released Tuesday by the provincial government. It was launched in June and stemmed from the death of firefighter Skyler Blackie during a training exercise at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School in March 2019.

© HO
Skyler Blackie died on March 20, 2019, 11 days after the bottom of the rusted extinguisher blew off as he charged it with propellant during a certification exam at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School in Waverley, N.S. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
McGill faculty groups file constitutional challenge of Quebec labour bill

Four faculty groups at McGill University have launched a constitutional challenge of a Quebec bill that allows the provincial labour minister to terminate strikes.
The associations, which represent 500 academics, say the bill restricts the constitutional right to strike.
Globe Climate: The North Atlantic right whale’s collision course
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Good afternoon and thanks for catching up with us after the long weekend. Welcome to Globe Climate, a newsletter about climate change, environment and resources in Canada.
A mysterious illness has killed billions of sea stars. Just yesterday, scientists shared how they’ve solved the case.
© Lauren Owens Lambert
Hiking this Vancouver Island park was my chance to step back into history
In the summer of 1910, 20-year-old Myra Ellison sent a letter home to her mother from the shores of Campbell Lake on Vancouver Island, where she was surrounded by a wilderness of old-growth forests and steep, snow-capped mountains.
“My boots are simply fine for walking,” she assured her mother.
© Justine Hunter
Want to take a sabbatical? Experts weigh in on how to convince your boss

Soon after Rachel Calvelli got married, she and her husband wanted to take six months off work and travel across North America.
At her job, Calvelli had two options for a sabbatical: two years of salary spread across 30 months and six months off, or four years of salary across five years and a year off.
Canada’s trade deficit widened to $5.9-billion in June, second highest on record
Canada’s merchandise trade deficit widened in June to $5.9-billion as imports grew faster than exports due to a one-time high-value oil equipment import, data showed on Tuesday.
The deficit observed in June is the second highest on record after the deficit dipped to its largest in history in April to $7.6-billion.
Air Canada flight attendants enter final day of strike mandate vote
Air Canada flight attendants are entering the final day of voting on whether to give a strike mandate to their union.
The vote, which began July 28 and closes today, comes after the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees concluded the conciliation process with no deal reached.
The union represents more than 10,000 flight attendants who have been in contract talks since the start of the year.
© Christinne Muschi
Parts of northern Ontario under air quality statement as smoke from wildfires persists

A stretch of northern Ontario remains under a special air quality statement today amid smoke from wildfires burning in parts of the country.
The special statement for southern parts of the province, including the Toronto area, lifted this morning as conditions there improved.
Morning Update: Netanyahu vows to continue military force in Gaza
Good morning. Canada has started to deliver aid in Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to agree to a ceasefire. More on that below, plus a look ahead on the trade file for the week and a look back at how science saved sick sea stars. Let’s get to it.

TOP STORY
Three charged with smuggling-related offences after 44 migrants intercepted in Quebec, CBSA says

The Canada Border Services Agency says it has arrested and charged three alleged smugglers after police in southern Quebec intercepted a truck carrying 44 foreign nationals in conditions an RCMP officer described as “horrific.”
The agency said RCMP and Quebec provincial police intercepted the vehicle with dozens of people aboard near Stanstead, Que., overnight between Saturday to Sunday.
Montreal’s rat problem worsens despite city’s promise to tackle it

The rats took over James Klein’s backyard this spring.
He’d never had a rat problem in the more than two decades he’s lived in Montreal’s Snowdon neighbourhood. But now, when he watches TV in his family room, he sees them out of the corner of his eye, scurrying around outside the glass door leading onto his back deck.
Newfoundland wildfires prompt evacuations for residents of small communities
Residents of several small communities in eastern Newfoundland were ordered Monday to leave their homes as two separate wildfires burned along the shores of Conception Bay.
On Monday, just before 2 p.m. local time, the provincial government issued evacuation orders for the two towns of Small Point–Adam’s Cove–Blackhead–Broad Cove and Kingston, which are spread along the west side of the huge bay.
Officials said a 150-hectare wildfire had come within one kilometre of Kingston.
© Adrian Wyld
Film producer Debbie Nightingale co-founded the documentary festival Hot Docs

Debbie Nightingale produced movies and television shows before a personal plot twist led her to become a goat farmer. Over time, her Ontario farm became a popular tourist attraction.
Ms. Nightingale, who has died at 71, was a prominent member of the Canadian film and television industry whose many credits included co-founding a documentary festival now known as Hot Docs.
Family caught in Montreal shootout suing police, city

A family that was caught in a shootout between Montreal police and an armed suspect last year is suing the city and members of the police force, alleging inhumane treatment that caused lasting trauma.
Houssam Abdallah and his family members say they’ve been living a nightmare since he and one of his sons were caught in crossfire outside their home one year ago.
Vulnerable woman missing from Annapolis Valley found dead, Nova Scotia RCMP say

A 32-year-old Nova Scotia woman who was reported missing from the Annapolis Valley has been found dead, RCMP said Monday.
Police say Kerstin Marie Wetter was last seen Sunday at a residence on Highway 10 in the community of Nictaux, N.S.
A mysterious illness has killed billions of sea stars. Now scientists say they’ve solved the case

Sunflower sea stars were once everywhere along the Pacific coast. Big, colourful and many-armed, they could be spotted at low tide clinging to rocks as if painted there by Vincent van Gogh.
Then came a devastating sickness that turned healthy sea stars into mounds of decaying mush. Known as sea star wasting disease, the mysterious syndrome is estimated to have killed billions of the creatures since it emerged in 2013.
Quebec’s RSV immunization program greatly lowered infant hospitalizations, study says

Quebec’s universal respiratory syncytial virus immunization program proved more than 85 per cent effective in reducing infant hospitalizations, emergency-room consultations and intensive-care admissions, according to a new study.
The province was the first in Canada to announce a publicly funded nirsevimab program for the 2024-25 RSV season. Ontario, Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories later followed suit.
Wesley Ridge wildfire in B.C. burns in difficult terrain, posing a challenge for firefighters
It’s the sounds of the wildfire at Cameron Lake that alarm Colby Rex O’Neill the most.
The gunshot-like noise of trees exploding, followed by the earth-shaking crash as they fall. The thunderous clap as overheated boulders split, then roll down the hillside, splashing into the lake.
Canadian rising tennis star Victoria Mboko stuns top seed Coco Gauff
Canadian hockey brand pulls product line that faced criticism for demeaning women

A Canadian hockey brand has pulled controversial clothing from its online store after a line of T-shirts and hoodies it sold was criticized for demeaning women and girls as sex objects.
HockeyBenders, a company that has become popular in rinks across the country and boasts a large following of kids and teenagers online, sold $35 T-shirts with the slogan “Barduzz, Gettin Huzz,” which it has pulled.
Philanthropist and former Ontario lieutenant-governor Hilary Weston dies at 83
Hilary Weston, an Irish-Canadian businesswoman, philanthropist and writer who served as lieutenant-governor of Ontario, has died.
Ms. Weston’s family confirmed her passing at the age of 83 in a Sunday statement, which did not give a cause of death.
Toronto’s young swimmers see Summer McIntosh as an example to follow
Winning her fourth gold medal of the world swim championship in Singapore, Toronto teenager Summer McIntosh is a stroke closer to becoming one of the most decorated swimmers in history.
But at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, she’s already a legend.
Quebec’s summer travelling carnivals intend to stick around, season staple for generations

Bright colourful rides, skill-testing games with a stuffed animal prize, and copious amounts of sticky cotton candy are all hallmarks of the travelling carnival circuit, and are deeply rooted in the imagination of Quebeckers who’ve been able to experience them.
The travelling midways, which temporarily set up shop in shopping centre parking lots or wherever else they can find space, have been part of the Quebec landscape for decades.
LeBlanc says Trump, Carney to speak in coming days following tariff announcement
U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will likely talk “over the next number of days” after the U.S. imposed a 35 per cent tariff on goods not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, a Canadian official said on Sunday.
Dominic LeBlanc, the federal cabinet minister in charge of U.S.-Canada trade, also told CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that he was “encouraged” by recent discussions and believed a deal to bring down tariffs remained an option.
Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu eyes new markets outside U.S., looks at Southeast Asia and beyond

Ottawa’s new trade minister says he’s looking to sign deals in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and beyond – and to convince businesses to actually use the trade agreements Canada has already signed.
“My primary role as Canada’s top salesman is to be out there hustling, opening doors for businesses and accessing new markets,” Maninder Sidhu told The Canadian Press.
Quebec provincial police say fatal crash leaves four dead, including three children

Quebec provincial police say four people are dead, including three children under the age of 10, following a car crash southeast of the provincial capital on Saturday.
Quebec provincial police say the victims include a 29-year-old man and three children all from the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
Crown prosecutors stay charge for Alberta man convicted in 1987 murder

An Alberta man who spent more than three decades in prison for the death of an Edmonton woman has had his charge stayed, the group representing him announced.
Innocence Canada, a non-profit that advocates against wrongful convictions, said Roy Allan Sobotiak was to appear in court Friday to set a date for his new trial, but learned the Crown Prosecution Service stayed his second-degree murder charge.