🇺🇸Ads for smugglers in Canada helping migrants illegally cross into U.S. flourish on social media

Smugglers offering to help people cross the border illegally into the United States are openly advertising their services on social media. The Globe and Mail has found multiple posts from people smugglers who are promoting “safe” routes to the United States, including from Montreal and British Columbia, with some claiming there will be no police involvement or checkpoints.

Some advertisements call their work “dunki” or “donkey” services, with payment due upon arrival. The price, which is not always stated, is in one case listed as $3,500 for same-day service from Canada to the U.S., with “payment after reach.”
#US
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📝More than half of Canadians concerned of potential recession: survey

A new report by BMO says 63 per cent of Canadians surveyed expressed concerns about the potential for a recession in the next 12 months.

The online survey also found 48 per cent of those surveyed believed the economy will weaken over the next 12 months, while 19 per cent expect it to improve.

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🇺🇸💸Trump muses about slapping 25% tariffs on Canada Feb. 1

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that he could still hit Canada with tariffs as early as next month.

I think we'll do it Feb. 1

the president said in response to a question about when those tariffs could be implemented.

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🚶‍♂️Federal immigration department cutting 3,300 jobs over three years

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says it will be eliminating 3,300 positions over the next three years. The federal department says these staffing changes are meant to align with reduced immigration levels and funding.

Who would have thought that letting in fewer migrants would result in less wasteful spending?
#immigration
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Singh says NDP still plan to vote to topple Liberals ‘at the earliest opportunity,’ regardless of leader

And that opportunity won’t come until March, I assume? Pension comes first.
#Singh
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Ford tells LCBO to clear U.S. booze from shelves if Trump imposes tariffs

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’s told the LCBO to clear U.S. booze from its shelves if Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs as he’s threatened to do.

I’ve sent a direction to the LCBO that if these tariffs come to clear off every bit of U.S. alcohol off the shelves. Let’s start promoting more Ontario-made wines, and the vodkas, the spirits. That’s what we need to do.

#US
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🇷🇺Ottawa has done nothing to actually seize millions from Russian oligarch

Two years after Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly declared she was taking the unprecedented step of moving to confiscate millions of dollars from a sanctioned Russian oligarch with assets in Canada, the government has not actually begun the court process to forfeit the money, let alone to hand it over to Ukrainian reconstruction — and it may never happen.
#Russia
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If [Trump] does choose to proceed with tariffs on Canada, Canada will respond, and everything is on the table.

Why is Trudeau still talking as if his opinion carries any weight? The man can't even resign properly.
#US
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith lays blame on Trudeau as Trump eyes Feb. 1 tariffs

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has complicated ongoing negotiations with the U.S. after newly inaugurated President Donald Trump set a date to impose tariffs against Canada.

I don’t know that this particular administration, this particular president, responds well to threats, especially empty threats. If he wants more energy security, then you should be talking about how you can provide energy security, not making the conversation about energy security undermined.

#Alberta #US
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🇺🇸B.C. Premier David Eby asks Canadians to think carefully about spending money in U.S.

British Columbians should rethink trips to the United States and purchases of American products, as the province establishes a task force to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs, Premier David Eby said.

No problem—if you can’t afford a trip to the U.S., you won’t be spending money there anyway.

#BritishColumbia #US
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Mark Carney secures four key cabinet endorsements in race to become prime minister

Ministers endorsing Carney include Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree, former housing minister Sean Fraser, and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Six individuals have declared an intention to run, including Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould, current Liberal MPs Chandra Arya and Jaime Battiste and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis.

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Final report on foreign election meddling coming next week

After reviewing hundreds of documents and listening to hours of testimony, the inquiry probing foreign interference in Canada's past two federal elections will release its final report on Jan. 28.

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Conservatives say they could shrink federal workforce by 17,000 yearly by not replacing leavers

The Conservative party added more detail Wednesday to its leader’s plan to shrink the federal public service, saying the bureaucracy could be cut by 17,000 jobs a year just by not replacing employees who leave their jobs.

Each year, more than 17,000 employees leave the public service and reductions can be made by simply not backfilling vacant positions.

Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman said.
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Amazon to close Quebec facilities, insists it's not because of new union

Amazon announced on Wednesday it will shutter its facilities in Quebec in the coming weeks and cut nearly 2,000 jobs, 1,700 of which are permanent positions.

A company spokesperson said Amazon will outsource deliveries to smaller contractors. The spokesperson insisted that the decision was tied to cost savings — not the recent unionization of about 300 employees at a Laval, Que., warehouse.
#Quebec
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📊Three-quarters (77%) of Canadians want an immediate election to give next government strong mandate to deal with Trump’s threats

While around two-thirds (67%) of Canadians say they’re confident in Canada’s ability to respond to President Trump’s tariff threats, rising to 75% among those 55+, three-quarters (77%) say we should have an immediate federal election so that Canada has a Prime Minister and government with a strong mandate to deal with the issue.

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🏦 Inflation slows ahead of Bank of Canada’s 1st rate decision of 2025

Statistics Canada said Tuesday that the annual pace of inflation cooled to 1.8 per cent last month, down one-tenth of a percentage point from November.

The agency pointed to Ottawa’s GST/HST “holiday,” which began Dec. 14, as the main factor pulling price pressures down.

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Poilievre urges Trudeau to 'open Parliament' as Trump ponders Feb. 1 tariff

Pierre Poilievre has urged Justin Trudeau to "cut short" the prorogation of Parliament so MPs can address Donald Trump's threat of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods.

Poilievre said he backs "retaliatory tariffs" against the US, but insists that "requires urgent Parliamentary consideration."

Liberals have shut Parliament in the middle of this crisis. Canada has never been so weak, and things have never been so out of control. Liberals are putting themselves and their leadership politics ahead of the country. Freeland and Carney are fighting for power rather than fighting for Canada.

#Poilievre #Freeland #Trudeau #US
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Canadian military ready to deploy at border if needed: top soldier

Canada’s top soldier says the military is prepared to deploy helicopters or surveillance equipment to help secure the border with the United States if asked.

General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, said the military is only there to support organizations responsible for border security such as the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency if required, and that “there is no intention to militarize the border.”
#US
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🇺🇸Trump tells World Economic Forum U.S. doesn’t need Canadian oil, gas, autos or lumber

U.S. President Donald Trump says his country does not need to import Canadian oil, gas, autos or lumber.

We’re going to be demanding respect from other nations ... Canada has been very tough to deal with over the years. We don’t need them to make our cars, and they make a lot of them. We don’t need their lumber because we have our own forests. We don’t need their oil and gas, we have more than anybody.

#US
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Canada bracing for possible influx of asylum claimants after Trump immigration orders

Canadian refugee advocates, federal government departments and immigration lawyers are bracing for a potential influx of asylum claimants following U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders this week.
#US
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🎓Ontario sees drop in international student applications amid cap on study permits

Ontario has received 23 per cent less international student applications this year after the federal government reduced the number of study permits. The provincial government revealed it accepted 181,590 applications, down from 235,000 in 2024.

The cap has led to a drop in enrolments at Ontario colleges, prompting them to suspend programs and reduce staff.
#Ontario #immigration
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