News
Copy by Lawrence Zwer
The ongoing tariff saga took a positive turn yesterday afternoon, as United States president Donald Trump paused the 25% tax on Canadian goods that was due to start today. Following a call between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at 3pm yesterday, Trudeau wrote on Twitter: I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million. Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said yesterday he was cancelling a $100-million provincial contract for rural satellite Internet with Starlink, a company controlled by billionaire Elon Musk, a key supporter of President Trump. “Ontario won’t do business with people hell-bent on destroying our economy,” Mr. Ford said in a statement issued by his re-election campaign.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum says American tariffs on her country have been delayed for a month after a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, a statement confirmed by the White House. Sheinbaum wrote on Twitter: “Mexico will reinforce the northern border with 10,000 members of the National Guard immediately, to stop drug trafficking from Mexico to the United States, in particular fentanyl,” “The United States commits to work to stop the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.”
Closer to home, a large fire at a paper storage warehouse in Trenton brought in all available Quinte West firefighters along with the OPP, and Hydro and gas crews. The fire started just after 1pm yesterday afternoon at a warehouse owned by Massey’s Production, a tissue-making company. Crews brought the blaze under control around 3.30 and no injuries were reported.
The Wellington Town Hall Expression of Interest (EOI) Working Group will host a workshop on the future of the Wellington Town Hall at the Wellington and District Community Centre (111 Belleville Street) this evening from 6-8 pm. Attendees can share their ideas and vision for the Wellington Town Hall in-person at the meeting, or online. For more information, please visit thecounty.ca
Finally, the 20 year Scotiabank sponsorship of the Giller prize for fiction has come to an end, more than a year after members of the literary community began protesting the bank’s ties to an Israeli arms manufacturer. Scotiabank’s role as the literary award’s main sponsor came under fire at the 2023 Giller ceremony, when Pro-Palestinian activists interrupted the ceremony with signs saying, “Scotiabank funds genocide.” After the protesters were arrested, hundreds of authors signed a letter calling for the charges to be dropped. Numerous literary figures, including previous Giller prize-winning authors, went on to disavow the award, citing Scotiabank’s subsidiary’s stake in Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. In 2023, Scotiabank had an estimated $500-million stake in the company, making it the largest foreign shareholder. The company’s weapons technology has been documented being used in Gaza and the occupied West Bank by Israel. The Giller foundation says it will “explore new opportunities and collaborations” following the split with Scotiabank, while a Scotiabank representative said by email the bank had no comment.
Sports
Just one game in the NHL last night – the Ottawa Senators travelled to Nashville to face the Predators to start a 4 game road trip. Adam Gaudette, David Perron, Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, and Jake Sanderson scored to give the Sens a 5-2 victory
In other Sens news, 25 year-old Josh Norris will be out of the lineup for a few weeks after sustaining an injury during Ottawa’s Saturday night game against the Minnesota Wild. The injury was characterized as mid-body, but not otherwise detailed. The Michigan native has 31 points this season. And Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman earned himself a 10 game suspension for attempting to injure Sens forward Tim Stutzle during the same match.
In soccer news, Spanish national team forward Jenni Hermoso testified at trial on Monday that she did not consent to being kissed by the country’s former top soccer official after winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup. On the first day of Luis Rubiales’s trial in Madrid, Hermoso also said she felt coerced to publicly exonerate the former president of Spain’s Football Federation after the incident in Sydney. When Rubiales kissed Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final presentation ceremony, it sparked outrage in Spain about the prevalence of sexism in sports and beyond. The 47-year-old Rubiales, is accused of sexual assault and of trying to coerce Hermoso, alongside others, to publicly support him. Prosecutors are seeking a 2 and a half year prison sentence, along with a fine and a ban from working as a sports official.
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