Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he is backing down on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries over his demand to annex Greenland, after reaching what he called a “framework of a future deal” on the island with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Adrian Morrow reports that Trump made the announcement after a meeting with Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, today. He did not reveal any details of the agreement.
Earlier in the day, Trump warned that “Canada lives because of the United States,” and called out Prime Minister Mark Carney by name after the Canadian leader warned that the Washington-led rules-based international order is over.
In his Davos speech, Trump reiterated his demand that Denmark allow the U.S. to annex Greenland – against the wishes of the semi-autonomous Arctic territory’s inhabitants – but for the first time, said he won’t use military force to seize the island.
A few hours later, after the meeting with Mr. Rutte, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he was also not going to impose tariffs on Feb. 1, as he had threatened to against European countries opposed to his annexation plan.
The President said there would be “additional discussions” on the Golden Dome missile shield that would be led by Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Meanwhile, Carney headed home from Davos without meeting Trump.
Steven Chase reported from Davos that the Prime Minister’s Office said that at that time there were no plans for Carney to speak to Trump today.
Carney left Davos for Zurich at about the same time Trump arrived.
Carney is getting ready for a cabinet retreat in Quebec City. At the World Economic Forum Tuesday, he gave a much-celebrated speech in which he called for middle powers to stop pretending the rules-based international order is still functioning, and instead build coalitions to survive in a new era where great powers prey on smaller countries to take what they want.
Carney urged countries to start publicly condemning economic coercion, even when practiced by an ally, in another clear reference to the United States.
“The old order is not coming back,” he said.
President Donald Trump, right, meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a meeting on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday.Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
What else is going on
Canadian general serving with U.S. Army would not be subject to potential Minnesota deployment: National Defence spokesperson Kened Sadiku said Brigadier-General Robert McBride, the deputy commanding general of operations for the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division, would not be subject to the orders of President Donald Trump.
Ontario Premier says Canadians should boycott Chinese-made EVs: Doug Ford, appearing alongside auto-industry representatives and a national union leader today, said Canadians shouldn’t buy any of the 49,000 Chinese EVs set to be imported at a lower tariff rate as a result of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent deal with China.
TikTok can continue to operate in Canada for now, court rules: Canada’s federal court today overturned a government order to close TikTok’s Canadian operations, allowing the short-video app to keep operating for now, and told Ottawa to review the case.
Watchdog warns that the `whistle-blowing regime’ is at risk: Harriet Solloway, the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, sent a letter to Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali asking for a one-time injection of $6.7-million and around $14.3-million in additional funding per year.
Alberta minister says cases of preventable deaths raised by doctors `concerning’: But Matt Jones, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, says he is confident that Albertans will still get the urgent care they need at hospitals.
Asylum claims drop after closer official scrutiny of visitor visa applications: The figures showed that from January to November of 2025, 33 per cent fewer people submitted an asylum claim in Canada compared with the same period the previous year.
On our radar
Commons on a Break: The House of Commons will sit for the first time this year on Jan. 26. The Senate sits again on Feb. 3.
Prime Minister’s Day: On his final day at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Mark Carney attended the Investors Industry Governors meeting, and an informal luncheon of world economic leaders. He also met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, then departed to return to Ottawa.
Cabinet Retreat: Carney has announced that his cabinet will meet for a planning forum in Quebec City on Thursday and Friday. They are to discuss government priorities and hear from experts within and outside government on various issues.
Party Leaders: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attended a party fundraising event at a golf club in the Greater Toronto Area community of Whitby. No schedules released for other party leaders. Interim-NDP Leader Don Davies is in the Nunavut of Rankin Inlet for a caucus meeting.
Ministers on the Road: Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand have been in Davos with Carney for the World Economic Forum.
Freeland at Harvard: Former federal cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland will be among the resident fellows at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School this spring. After a decade as an MP, the former federal finance minister recently stepped down as she also took on a post as an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Resident fellows reside on the Harvard campus, mentor undergraduate students, hold office hours, and lead a not-for-credit study group based on their experience and expertise.
BQ caucus meeting: Bloc Québécois members are holding a caucus meeting on Sunday, a day before the House of Commons sits for the first time this year. Bloc members will meet on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet will hold a news conference on his party’s priorities for the parliamentary session.
Quote of the Day
“She was concerned, in my opinion, that we’re coming out here to do a press conference. Where was the phone call from the Prime Minister? It takes about three seconds to make a phone call or a text message. None of us received anything.”
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford, at a news conference in Toronto today, talks about a phone call with Industry Minister Mélanie Joly on the federal government’s electric-vehicle deal with China, and a lack of outreach on the policy by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Ford noted that Joly is expected to visit Toronto on Monday and there will be a conversation on how the federal government plans to support our workers.
Question period
Who are the only two U.S. presidents to have twice addressed Parliament?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
In the age of Trump, it’s time to think about the unthinkable
Will the United States invade Canada? The question might seem so ludicrous as to not merit an answer. As ludicrous, say, as the question of whether the United States is willing to destroy the Western alliance by snatching the sovereign territory of Denmark.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
No, Canada is not selling out to Beijing
Therein lies both the opportunity and the danger in the Prime Minister’s “strategic partnership” with China. In seeking to lessen our dependence on the United States, Canada must guard against becoming too dependent on China.
— Andrew Coyne, Columnist
Does the Vancouver Art Gallery have a new controversy on its hands?
In the grand scheme of things, this may not be an existential problem for the gallery. However, you might wonder how much, if any, due diligence was done on Mr. Waugh, including taking a look at his social-media posts to see whether there was anything problematic in them. Mr. Carney became Prime Minister in March last year, while the new architects were picked in September. The posts on Mr. Waugh’s account were up long before and after the VAG’s selection was announced.
— Gary Mason, National Affairs 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: Dwight Eisenhower, president between 1953 and 1961, and Ronald Reagan, president between 1981 and 1989. Eisenhower spoke on Nov. 14, 1953, and July 9, 1958. Reagan delivered speeches on March 11, 1981, and April 6, 1987.