Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
A violent extremist attack against Canada’s Jewish community is a “realistic possibility” in the next six months, the federal Integrated Threat Assessment Centre warns in a report obtained by The Globe and Mail.
Robert Fife reports that ITAC, which is a specialized organization in the Canadian intelligence community, also said it is unlikely that “Iranian lethal operations” in Canada would target Jewish public officials, such as MPs and cabinet ministers who support Israel.
ITAC shared the report with the federal government and often shares such information with people or organizations that could be affected.
Amid the war in Iran and the fallout from the Israel-Gaza conflict, ITAC assessed that the Canadian Jewish community – including schools, community centres and synagogues – is in danger. Any attack would most likely come from a lone-wolf extremist, using knives, small arms or a vehicle, the report said.
“While a violent extremist attack targeting the Jewish community in Canada is a realistic possibility in the next six months, a violent extremist threat to Jewish public officials – as a specific group within that community – remains unlikely,” ITAC said in the internal threat assessment.
“The most likely scenario of an attack targeting the Jewish community is a lone actor using unsophisticated methods against easily accessible targets.”
The Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue, seen March 9 in Thornhill, Ont., was struck by gunfire.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
What else is going on
Online Streaming Act targeted by U.S. Republicans in move that could lead to new tariffs: A Canadian law that requires Netflix and other major streaming services to promote Canadian content and financially support the country’s creative industries has become the target of a renewed attack in the U.S. Congress, where Republicans have launched a bill that could ultimately lead to the imposition of fresh tariffs.
Ontario to introduce legislation capping ticket resale prices at original value: Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives say they will introduce the legislation soon after the government’s spring session begins next week.
New Brunswick First Nation asks Supreme Court to hear case on Aboriginal title, private land: The Supreme Court of Canada is being asked to consider a clash between Aboriginal title and private land in a New Brunswick case that would have significant national implications.
Accounting firm owned by Smith government appointee searched by RCMP: The RCMP searched the office of an accounting firm whose owner was appointed to the board of a government agency by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith – one of multiple search warrants executed by police as part of their investigation into the province’s health care procurement controversy.
Canadian retail sales up 1.1% to $70.7-billion in January: Statistics Canada says sales were up in six of the nine subsectors it tracks, as the motor vehicle and parts dealers subsector posted the largest increase in retail sales in January – up 2 per cent.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney has no public events today.
Party Leaders: No schedule released for Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet today, but he will be campaigning Saturday with Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne along with BQ candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné. There’s a by-election in the riding on April. 13. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, at the end of a U.S. tour, was scheduled to tape an interview with Bloomberg News. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was in her Saanich-Gulf Islands riding in British Columbia, meeting with constituents. No schedule released for Don Davies, the interim NDP leader.
Ministers on the Road: In Whitehorse, Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller announced $17.2-million over two years for the production and broadcasting of Indigenous audio and video content.
In Toronto, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, on behalf of Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, made an announcement on government support for a community-led project that helps Indigenous women in Toronto.
Eby headed to China: B.C. Premier David Eby will be leading a delegation to China later this year, with dates and an itinerary in the works, according to a statement from his office.
Quote of the Day
“Anytime Parliamentarians want to stand up and defend that agreement and make the case in Canada or the United States it’s a good thing.” - Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, at a news conference in Fredericton today, on making the case for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. LeBlanc was responding to a question about the impact of Pierre Poilievre’s trip to the United States this week.
Question period
Joe Rogan has figured in Canadian political news this week for a podcast interview he did with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Prior to his work on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Texas-based Rogan was an actor. From 1995 to 1999, he starred on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio. What was the name of his character?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Pierre Poilievre and Joe Rogan talk a little bit about politics and so much about kettlebells
But at a certain point in the conversation, I started to feel sorry for Mr. Poilievre. He’s a smart person who likes to stuff his brain with history and obscure facts, and it was clear he’d done his homework. Over and over when the conversation wandered away from politics, he tried gamely to join Mr. Rogan’s smug soliloquys with some related trivia that he’d offer with the air of someone arriving at a potluck with a dish they hope everyone likes.
— Shannon Proudfoot, Feature Writer
Doug Ford has utterly wasted an extraordinary mandate
Mr. Ford has utterly wasted an extraordinary mandate. He could have used the past eight years to lay the foundation for radical policy changes: to perhaps reimagine how we structure health care in Ontario, or fund education, or conceive of what it means to own a home in this province.
— Robyn Urback, Columnist
The Supreme Court will rule on Bill 21. Canada’s future may well hang in the balance
The question now facing the court is whether la laïcité is, as the Quebec government contends, a fundamental characteristic of the Quebec nation alongside its language and civil law tradition that requires special consideration when adjudicating rights claims.
— Konrad Yakabuski, 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: Rogan played Joe Garrelli. The character was a handyman and electrician at the fictional news radio station central to the show.