Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
The federal government announced support programs today aimed at Canadian businesses and workers in response to the wave of tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed and has threatened to introduce.
The loans-based plan features about $6.5-billion in spending through such measures as the $5-billion Trade Impact Program to help exporters reach new markets.
For workers, the government said temporary changes to the Employment Insurance Work-Sharing Program are designed to increase access and maximum duration.
Meanwhile, Trump said today that his administration will place reciprocal tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy products by day’s end.
“Or we’ll wait till Monday or Tuesday,” he said.
And the Prime Minister’s Office announced five Senate appointments ahead of the conclusion of the federal Liberal leadership race on Sunday.
Among the five is Sandra Pupatello, a former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister who ran for the provincial party leadership in 2013 and lost to Kathleen Wynne. The others are Dawn Arnold for New Brunswick, Tony Ince for Nova Scotia, Katherine Hay and Farah Mohamed, both for Ontario.
Former central banker Mark Carney is seen as the frontrunner as Liberals gather in Ottawa for their leadership meeting. The other candidates are Chrystia Freeland, a former finance minister, Karina Gould, who served as government House leader, and Frank Baylis, a former MP.
The winner will be announced at the party meeting, where the scheduled speakers include former prime minister Jean Chrétien. Please watch theglobeandmail.com for updates.
A freight truck carrying lumber crosses the border from Canada to the U.S. as seen from Champlain, N.Y., on March 5.Brendan McDermid/Reuters
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What else is going on
Ottawa police to create dedicated unit for Parliament Hill area: The federal government is making $50-million available over five years for the Parliament district policing program, which will have 49 employees.
Top court strikes down part of Ontario elections law: Today’s ruling by a majority of the court found the section of the Ontario Election Finances Act in question violates the right to vote enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Ottawa outlaws another 179 types of firearms and announces classification review: The government says all current and future variants of the newly listed firearms are prohibited, whether or not they are named in regulations.
Service Canada says you’ll soon get your passport processed in 30 days, or it’s free: Citizens’ Services Minister Terry Beech says that change is coming this year, along with an online renewal option that will launch in the summer.
A Conservative Leader at odds with corporate Canada?: With Pierre Poilievre still considered the frontrunner to become Canada’s prime minister after the next federal election, business leaders are struggling to understand what to expect if he wins – and the extent to which some of them could end up in his crosshairs one day.
Perspectives
Canada must hold its ground on tariff threats
Whatever Mr. Trump decides tomorrow, or next week, or the week after that, this country can and will do what is necessary, if that’s what he wants. Keep calm and Canada on.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Tariffs are only the start: we must buckle down for years of conflict with the U.S.
It is rarer to find examples – Poland in the 1930s, Mongolia today – of a country wedged between two hostile and expansionist superpowers. That, alas, is where we are today, with not only the United States to our south but Russia to our north.
— Andrew Coyne, Columnist
Infection point: How vaccine mandates killed the Justin Trudeau brand
By the time Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland quit in December, 2024, and Mr. Trudeau announced his resignation in January, he was a shell of the leader who once, in more optimistic times, painted pictures of Canada’s future using watercolours.
— Robyn Urback, Columnist
On our radar
- Prime Minister’s day: In Montreal, Justin Trudeau hosted a roundtable discussion with leaders of the business community.
- Party leaders: In Toronto, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference and was scheduled to attend an evening party fundraising event at a golf club in the Toronto area town of Milton. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May visited an all-girls school in Victoria, in celebration of International Women’s Day, as well as a seniors’ home. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in Ottawa, met with labour and community leaders and held a news conference with Bea Bruske, the president of the Canadian Labour Congress.
- Liberal leadership race: Mark Carney was scheduled to host a rally in Mississauga Saturday evening.
- Ontario Legislature to resume: Ontario’s post-election cabinet will be sworn in March 19, with the legislature sitting again on April 14. A day later, a Speech from the Throne will be read by Lieutenant-Governor Edith Dumont. Official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles said the legislature needs to return sooner to deal with such issues as U.S. tariffs. “It’s time to get back to work,” she said in a statement.
Question period
The Saskatchewan Party, now led by Scott Moe, has governed the province since it won a majority in 2007. Who was the province’s last NDP premier?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Go deeper
- Explore where candidates running for the Liberal Party leadership stand on Trump, tariffs and more
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Like a long read? Check out the fall of Justin Trudeau and the making of Pierre Poilievre
- Take a look at the history of immigration reporting and great political scandals from A Nation’s Paper, a book about The Globe and Mail’s role in Canadian history
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: Lorne Calvert, the province’s premier from 2001 to 2007, retired as party leader in 2008 – a year after Brad Wall led the Saskatchewan Party to power.