Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has struck a new Canada-U.S. advisory committee to offer guidance as a potentially rocky review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement gets under way.
The Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations will be chaired by Dominic LeBlanc, the federal Minister for Canada-U.S. Trade Relations.
Steven Chase and Mark Rendell report that the committee’s 24 members (not including LeBlanc) include former politicians and Canadians with experience in business, investment, trade and labour. Among them are former Quebec premier Jean Charest, former Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole, former Liberal cabinet minister Ralph Goodale, as well as several chief executives, including BMO Financial Group’s Darryl White, CN Rail’s Tracy Robinson, TC Energy’s François Poirier and Nutrien’s Ken Seitz.
Also on the committee are Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association president Flavio Volpe, Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO Candace Laing and Unifor president Lana Payne.
Since taking office in early 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a slew of tariffs on Canada. While products traded under USMCA rules are exempt, that hasn’t shielded steel, aluminum and autos from damaging levies.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the committee will serve as a “forum for expertise and strategy on all aspects of the Canada-U.S. economic relationship.” The first meeting is scheduled for April 27.
It replaces the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations, established in January, 2025, by then-prime-minister Justin Trudeau.
In other news, the federal government is eyeing a new oil pipeline route in southern British Columbia that some in Ottawa believe would face fewer environmental hurdles and less resistance from Indigenous groups than the northern route Alberta is proposing, two federal sources say.
Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed an memorandum of understanding in November, with the goals of unlocking Alberta’s energy sector and diversifying export markets in the face of Trump’s trade war. The agreement laid the conditions for construction of a new oil conduit to the Pacific.
Robert Fife and Emma Graney report that a new pipeline could carry an additional one million barrels a day destined for Asian markets and help fulfill the Prime Minister’s promise to turn Canada into an energy superpower.
The memorandum doesn’t say what path the pipeline will take.
Smith has talked up a northern route that would carry Alberta oil to the Port of Prince Rupert, B.C. Her government is expected to propose such a route to Ottawa’s Major Projects Office this summer. An Alberta government source said the province expects that Ottawa will designate the pipeline a project of national importance in the fall.
But the two federal sources say the federal government leans toward a route that would run through the province’s south to the port of Vancouver. That pipeline could either run alongside the Trans Mountain pipeline or follow another path. In either case, the sources said, it would require a new terminal for loading oil onto tankers.
CPAC programming cancelled: The Cable Public Affairs Channel, better known as CPAC, has cancelled two programs because of financial challenges.
The move affects PrimeTime Politics and L’Essentiel. “Esteemed colleagues have left CPAC today,” CPAC president and CEO Christa Dickenson said in a statement posted on social media.
Dickenson said CPAC has been faced with an accelerating revenue decline, continued uncertainty in the broadcasting landscape and a doubling of subscriber erosion since 2024. “To navigate this volatile, complex and ambiguous environment we have been forced to make difficult and necessary decisions,” she wrote.
Prime Minister Mark Carney makes his way to Question Period in Ottawa on Tuesday.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
MPs approve Annette Ryan as next PBO: Members of Parliament approved the nomination of Annette Ryan as the next Parliamentary Budget Officer in a 164 to 153 vote, with Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs voting against the nomination.
Ottawa opens regulatory doors to space launches in Canada: The federal government has introduced legislation to provide the first regulatory framework for lofting rockets and payloads into orbit and for the re-entry of material from space back to Earth, all at sites within Canada.
L3Harris to establish F-35 sustainment depot in Quebec as Ottawa reviews fighter jets order: Canada’s new F-35 fighter jets will be serviced in Quebec at a depot established through a collaboration between L3Harris and Lockheed Martin, though the number of jets Canada is ordering from the U.S. defence company remains unclear.
Global Affairs called in Israeli ambassador over Canadian killed in Lebanon, Anand says: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has issued a formal notice to Israel’s envoy in Ottawa after the death of a Canadian in Lebanon, which her spokeswoman says will be investigated by Israeli officials.
Federal Court rules against two senior public servants tied to ArriveCan procurement: Two people linked to the controversial procurement process behind the costly app have lost their bids to have the Federal Court overrule internal grievance findings related to allegations of misconduct against them.
Deputy minister defends move to help acquaintance land job in her department: The deputy minister who breached conflict of interest rules when she intervened is defending her decision to help her friend enter the public service even though he did not speak French.
B.C. will not amend Indigenous rights law this spring: Premier David Eby says his government will not push through amendments to his province’s landmark law, and will instead spend the next six months trying to negotiate a resolution with Indigenous leaders.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: In Ottawa, Mark Carney chaired the weekly cabinet meeting and attended Question Period.
Party Leaders: Green Party Leader Elizabeth May virtually attended Parliament. No schedules released for other party leaders.
Ministers on the Road: In Germany, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is at the HANNOVER MESSE 2026 industrial technology trade fair, at the beginning of a trip that will also include stops in Norway and will end Friday. Today, she announced a $23-million investment in Siemens’ $70-million project for a Canadian research and development centre.
Charette on Trade: Janice Charette, Canada’s chief trade negotiator to the United States, is scheduled to participate late this afternoon in a fireside chat in Ottawa at the Future of Business summit about the coming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
New Library and Archives Canada Creator in Residence: Alexane Drolet, founder of media company Alexplique, has been named as the new Creator in Residence at Library and Archives Canada.
Another advisory panel: The Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations was not the only committee named today. Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller also named members of an advisory panel on the modernization of federal support to the audiovisual sector. There are 11 audiovisual sector specialists on the panel, listed here.
Quote of the Day
“Was he lost?” – Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, responding to a media question today, on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holding a scrum with journalists outside the room where the federal cabinet was holding its regular weekly meeting. The area is routinely a location for journalists to ask questions of cabinet ministers.
Question period
Two of the leaders of the major political parties in Quebec were born in the same city. Who are they and what is the city?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Ottawa’s reforms to economic migration have (half) a point
The immigration ministry is proposing major changes to the way economic immigrants are selected. The reforms would give a much needed boost to Canada’s economy – provided Ottawa doesn’t continue to override the system by giving priority to niche groups of applicants.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Mark Carney has a mandate to make painful choices. A gas-tax cut doesn’t cut it
Ottawa is going to have to make a series of difficult fiscal choices – trade-offs where saying yes to necessary things will only be possible by saying no to some other things that are themselves desirable and popular. To govern is to choose.
— Tony Keller, columnist
The long and costly shadow of COVID-19
A new report, “Addressing the Costs and Care for Long COVID,” estimates that medical costs for the treatment of long COVID patients will average US$11-billion annually across the 38 countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development over the next decade.
— André Picard, health reporter and columnist
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
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The answer to today’s question:
Premier Christine Fréchette, the leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the Parti Québécois, were both born in Trois-Rivières, about 142 kilometres east of Montreal.