Good morning. We’re looking ahead to further tariff turmoil as Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” looms – more on that below, along with the latest from a devastating earthquake in Myanmar and a sweep of our spring-cleaning stories. Let’s get to it.
TOP STORY
More tariffs are coming this week. Are we ready?
The latest: Wild swings are something Canada’s auto sector has become accustomed to, but the industry braces for impact as fears grow that U.S. tariffs will smother the supply chain in costs that cannot be passed on to buyers.
The stat: Over the past three decades, motor vehicle production in Canada plummeted from nearly three million cars and trucks in 2000 to 1.5 million in 2023. Last year’s tally is expected to come at around 1.3 million, according to Ontario’s Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing.
What’s next: The next few days promise to be like no other. On April 2, President Donald Trump’s promised “Liberation Day,” the White House plans to release a raft of what it terms reciprocal tariffs.
Fentanyl: U.S. senators are pushing back against what they are calling the “fake emergency” that Trump relied on to justify Canadian tariffs.
Metal: Algoma Steel faces double the pressure of going electric while fighting tariff turmoil.
Labour: A world-renowned Canadian heart surgeon turned down a U.S. job over political tension.
People look on as search and rescue operations continue in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 29, 2025.Stringer/Reuters
World
Myanmar earthquake death toll climbs
The latest: A recent 7.7-magnitude quake has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from a civil war. The Southeast Asian country scrambled to rush in rescue efforts with limited resources. As of yesterday, the military government said around 1,700 people are dead and 3,400 injured.
What’s next: Junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, made a rare call for international assistance. The U.S. Geological Service’s predictive modelling estimated the death toll could eventually reach 10,000.
Globe readers told us spring cleaning is a chance for a fresh start.Illustration by Miguel Manich
How We Live
Spring brings on the urge to get rid of our stuff
The latest: We asked Globe readers what they love most about spring cleaning. Some wrote to us about the general sense of accomplishment, and the pride of opening a clean fridge or a tidy closet. Others told us that cleaning can lead to more thoughtful spending and to living minimally.
What else: Experts share their tips for environmentally conscious ways to deal with gently used items without creating more waste.
Who else: Brogan Chambers has racked up more than 6.3 million followers on TikTok by offering free deep cleans of their homes for folks struggling with their mental health.
Election 2025
Security expense changes for candidates and their families
The latest: Catherine McKenna, former minister of environment and climate change, sometimes required an RCMP security detail to deal with harassment that she experienced as a politician. “We need good people to run, and people are entitled to feel safe,” she said. The 2021 federal election campaign was particularly volatile, with sometimes violent incidents, including a man throwing gravel at Justin Trudeau.
What’s next: This campaign, Elections Canada is changing how candidates can get reimbursed for security if they pay for it themselves. The expense now falls under a new personal security category, with up to $5,000 being reimbursable at 60 per cent rather than just $200.
Save this: How to vote early, key dates, how to vote from abroad and more. Here is your guide to the federal election.
Drug crisis
The last days of a safe drug-use site
The latest: An Ontario Superior Court judge has temporarily blocked legislation that would have forced the closing of 10 of the province’s 23 supervised drug-use sites this week – but a closing in Kitchener is going ahead for now. The Globe spent a day talking to visitors and staff about how they were feeling as the deadline for the anticipated closing drew near.
What’s next: We have an overview of the facilities that would close if the government eventually wins in court, and which would remain open.
Bookmarked
- Middle East: Many Palestinians in Gaza prayed outside demolished mosques as they marked the normally festive Eid al-Fitr with rapidly dwindling food supplies and renewed fighting in the Israel-Hamas war.
- For your finances: Canada is at economic war, it is time to respond with force. David Rosenberg suggests bold moves to save the country.
- Conversation starter: We are not talking enough about the epidemic of Indigenous deaths during police interactions, writes Tanya Talaga.
- Junos: A patriotic speech by crooner and host Michael Bublé was one of the highlights of Sunday night’s Juno Awards in Vancouver, J. Kelly Nestruck writes.
- Ask a doctor: Why won’t my doctor prescribe Ozempic for weight loss? A new series of physician-authored columns offer insights and advice on common health topics.
The Quote
Can a morning routine actually be beneficial for a normal person? Is it all play-acting for content and clicks?
Influencers talk about 4 a.m. pushups and ice-water dunks. Graham Isador asks: Have morning routines gone too far?
The Shot
Golden Diner Family Restaurant is pictured in downtown Toronto on February 14, 2025.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
Classic greasy-spoon diners across Canada have become casualties of modern times. Toronto’s Golden Diner has managed to buck that trend and is beloved for keeping it old school.