Good morning. Manitoba is experiencing its most devastating wildfire in decades, but there’s hope that some help and humidity could slow down the fires. More on that below, plus a couple of tariffs updates and one Wimbledon winner. Let’s get to it.
Trees burned by wildfires in northern Manitoba earlier last week, in the surrounding area of Flin Flon, Man., June 12.Mike Deal/The Canadian Press
TOP STORY
Manitoba sees more more evacuations as wildfires rage
The latest: Manitoba is experiencing its most destructive wildfire season in three decades, but officials are hopeful the arrival of international firefighters and cooler, wetter weather will help. As of yesterday, there were 122 active fires burning in the province, which has declared its second state of emergency this year.
What else: Nearly a dozen Manitoba communities continued evacuation efforts this weekend, including for around 4,000 people in Garden Hill First Nation and more than 1,000 near Snow Lake. During the previous state of emergency, more than 21,000 people had been evacuated.
Who else: About 160 firefighters are arriving in the province, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. They come from Mexico, New Zealand and Australia and will join 101 personnel already in the province, but just miss 268 others from the U.S. have returned home.
Where else: Across Canada, nearly 560 wildfires burned on Sunday. In Ontario, there were 52 active wildland fires in the northwest region of the province.
Survey says: Canadians who live in the West are much more likely than those in the rest of the country to have taken action to reduce wildfire risk and mitigate the impacts of wildfire smoke, according to new polling.
Containers are stacked on a cargo ship, at a loading terminal in the harbour in Hamburg, Germany, July 13.Fabian Bimmer/Reuters
World
EU delays retaliatory tariffs against U.S., seeks negotiation
The latest: The European Union said yesterday it would extend its suspension of tariff countermeasures until early August and meanwhile press for a negotiated settlement. The EU’s executive commission says it will keep talking and prepare retaliatory measures.
The context: Trump said earlier this weekend he would impose a 30-per-cent tariff on most imports from the EU and Mexico from Aug. 1. He sent a letter to Canada earlier this week threatening a 35-per-cent tariff hike.
What’s next: If the tariffs do indeed take effect, the potential impact on Europe could be vast. And the process of finding a response may test the unity of member states.
Analysis: Trump tariff threat piles pressure on Canada to expand trade with Asia.
Photo illustration by Christie Vuong; Food styling by Nicole BIllark/The Globe and Mail
How We Live
What is Canada’s best ice cream?
The latest: In the middle of summer, we wanted to offer something lighter and sweeter. So we asked readers to tell us about the best ice cream in Canada – and it turns out, this is a wildly popular topic. From Muskoka Mocha to Moon Mist readers and staff shared childhood memories, treasured family rituals, nostalgic tastes of home – and a joyful, fierce pride of place.
What else: Vegan ice cream is getting a glow-up and tastes good (no, really).
What’s that? You may have never heard of Central Smith Creamery – but you probably know their ice cream.
Who else? I’m a mom who’s indifferent to ice cream, with a kid who lives for it.
Investing
The 40-year-old virgin homebuyer
The latest: Hindered by expensive housing, a growing number of Canadians are buying their first home later in life – during a time traditionally used to save for retirement. In the meantime, what are folks doing in their 20s and early 30s? They’re focusing on travel, education and career growth.
What’s next: On Tuesday, The Canadian Real Estate Association will release its June home sales figures and its latest quarterly forecast on. Statistics Canada will also be releasing inflation data when it report its consumer price index for June.
Related: A realistic guide to retirement for mid- or late-life homebuyers.
Health
Study shows obesity rates increased after start of COVID-19
The latest: A new study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal says that obesity rates in Canada increased faster in the four years after the onset of the pandemic compared with the prior 11 years, and that women and younger adults were particularly affected.
What’s next: A range of medical researchers have documented how the pandemic compounded health challenges for Canadians, including caregiving responsibilities and mental health. One professor says stress is a possible contributing factor.
Bookmarked
- First person: If there’s a ceasefire in Gaza, my wife wants to rest and go to the beach; my sons want to leave.
- In depth: Survival, loss and rescue during the Texas floods. Now, many ask whether more could have been done to prevent human tragedy.
- Government spending: A federal department offers few details on why ArriveCan contractors failed 16 Indigenous procurement audits.
- For your finances: Big rallies haven’t been kind to CAE shares in the past. Will this time be different?
- Conversation starter: Here’s how Wikipedia became one of the greatest inventions of the modern age.
- Wimbledon: Sinner claims Wimbledon crown as mutual respect underpins newest rivalry in men’s tennis, writes Cathal Kelly.
The Quote
There is no question that our aesthetic experiences – and experiences of beauty, if we are lucky – and the things they engage with are an enormous part of human life.
Beauty can be a refuge in this hard and ugly world – but it can serve a greater purpose, too, says philosophy professor Sonia Sedivy.
The Shot
Courtney Stevenson works with her mother Connie attaching tags to lobster traps ahead of Setting Day.Nathan Rochford/The Globe and Mail
On Prince Edward Island, lobster fishing is a family affair. In fact, multigenerational fishing families are common here. Despite the challenges, many keep the tradition alive for the love of the trade.