Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and the other four federal party leaders are headed to Tumber Ridge to attend a Friday vigil for the victims of a mass shooting in the B.C. community.
“At the invitation of the Mayor of Tumbler Ridge, the Prime Minister will be travelling to the community on February 13th to attend a vigil in memory of the victims of this week’s tragic shootings,” Laura Scaffidi, Carney’s spokesperson, said a statement issued today.
This week’s shooting left nine people dead, including the shooter, and about 25 injured in the small British Columbia mining town about 400 kilometres north of Prince George.
Carney, the Liberal leader, invited all the party leaders to accompany him, Scaffidi’s statement said.
Spokespersons for Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and interim-NDP Leader Don Davies said the four other party leaders would be accepting Carney’s offer to visit the community of about 2,400 people.
Carney cancelled his trip to Germany this week to attend the Munich Security Conference in light of the mass shooting. Defence Minister David McGuinty, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon are to travel to Munich on behalf of the Prime Minister to advance government security priorities, the PMO said in a statement.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, who is leading the federal response, and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, the former mayor of Vancouver, are in Tumbler Ridge.
The flag flies at half-mast over the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill on Wednesday.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Ontario to lift freeze on domestic postsecondary tuition fees: The provincial government is also introducing a major shift in the Ontario Student Assistance Program, which will see a greater proportion of student aid delivered in the form of loans rather than grants.
Senators push back on bill exempting political parties from privacy law: They say a provision in Liberal tax cut legislation exempting political parties from provincial privacy laws needs more scrutiny.
Judges must speak out to bolster public confidence in courts, says Manitoba Chief Justice: Glenn Joyal, speaking at the University of Ottawa’s law school, cited challenges such as recent threats to the rule of law and broader issues such as Canada’s sovereignty and national unity.
Deal signed for new large reactor east of Toronto: Ontario Power Generation has struck an agreement with the municipality of Port Hope for the reactor project that would create 1,700 jobs locally and more than 10,000 jobs across the province.
Titanic director James Cameron among the new Governor-General’s performing arts laureates: The distinction, considered the country’s highest honour in the performing arts, is also being awarded to choreographer Sylvain Émard, singer-songwriter Daniel Lavoie, as well as screen actor and arts executive Tonya Williams.
Data Dive with Nik Nanos: Canadians are clamouring for a stronger military: In the absence of a traditional war, a wartime mentality is emerging – Canadians have an appetite for more defence spending as they see significant global threats.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney has no public events.
Party Leaders: Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet held a news conference on Parliament Hill after meeting with Carney. No schedules released for other party leaders.
Ministers on the Road: Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, the former mayor of Vancouver, are in Tumbler Ridge.
Quote of the Day
“I don’t have the feeling that I had, in front of me, a Prime Minister planning an election – but one never knows. If we have to go into an election, we are entirely ready. We never stop doing the meetings that are required in order to be ready to go into an election.” – Following a meeting with Carney today, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet responds to a media question about his thinking on a possible spring election.
Question Period
Sixteen years ago today, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games began in Vancouver and Whistler. How many previous Olympics has Canada held and where were they held?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Trump is obsessed with Canada - and our rebuke of his advances is growing more dangerous
Mr. Trump sees Canada as an easy target. We are, and always have been, geographically, culturally and economically close to the United States, even as our population, our economy and our military are much smaller. It is precisely this familiarity that makes the rejection sting and keeps Mr. Trump returning to his endless list of grievances again and again.
— Debra Thompson is a contributing columnist for The Globe and Mail.
Pierre Poilievre’s bespoke tax proposal is a bad fit
Politicians are often criticized for pushing “boutique tax credits” for niche groups that end up distorting the tax code. But Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre is taking that bad idea to new heights with his pitch for tailored relief for laid-off auto workers – a bespoke tax measure.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
The AI job apocalypse is coming. Or is it?
We’ve had machines that can make everything we need for centuries. Yet we still want, and are willing to pay for, things that have been “made by hand,” whether a piece of furniture, an article of clothing, or a meal. The camera did not eliminate painting, nor did the movies kill the theatre. So long as humans survive AI, so will human labour. I think.
— Andrew Coyne, 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
Got a news tip that you’d like us to look into? E-mail us at tips@globeandmail.com. Need to share documents securely? Reach out via SecureDrop.
The answer to today’s question: Two. The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.