Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he plans to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico on Tuesday, alleging drugs are “still pouring into” the United States from both countries.
“We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “And therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect as scheduled.”
Meanwhile, in Canada, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced today that Ukrainians who arrived in Canada under a special program set up after Russia invaded their country will be able to apply for a new open work permit valid for up to three years.
And Ontario voters are heading to the polls today after a snap election campaign in which Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford focused on battling Trump’s tariff threats, while the opposition prioritized health care, housing and the rising cost of living. There are ongoing election updates here.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a joint press conference with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the East Room at the White House on Feb. 27, 2025.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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What else is going on
Federal government reaches pharmacare agreement with Manitoba: The deal makes Manitoba the first province to reach a formal bilateral pharmacare agreement with Ottawa.
Supreme Court won’t hear constitutional challenges of Canada’s no-fly regime: The challenge came from two men who were prevented from boarding flights in Vancouver and looked to the top court after they unsuccessfully challenged the system in Federal Court.
Federal government to apologize for Dundas Harbour relocations: Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree was scheduled to deliver the apology on Baffin Island for Ottawa’s decision to relocate people under false pretenses to Canada’s High North to bolster the country’s sovereignty.
Quebec minister resigns over auto board scandal: Cybersecurity Minister Éric Caire said today on social media that he has nothing to reproach himself for but will step down nonetheless because he has become a distraction amid concerns about major cost overruns with the auto insurance board’s online platform.
Moe says relations with U.S. ‘more intense’ after meetings in Washington: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said today, during a visit to the U.S. capital, that he’s committed to making the relationship work despite the current rhetoric.
Trump praises ‘friend’ Wayne Gretzky amid backlash at home: In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said Wayne Gretzky “is my friend, and he wants to make me happy, and is therefore somewhat ‘low key’ about Canada remaining a separate Country, rather than becoming a cherished and beautiful 51st State.”
Perspectives
How to escape Trump’s trade trap? Put food first
On the global leaderboard of agri-food exporters, Canada has already slipped from fifth place to seventh over the past 25 years – and if we stay on our current course, our research shows we’ll fall to ninth by 2035.
— John Stackhouse is senior vice-president in Royal Bank of Canada’s Office of the CEO. Lisa Ashton is RBC’s agriculture policy lead.
Ottawa’s Haida Gwaii deal is a beacon for the rest of Canada
I’m not sure if the rest of Canada registered the importance of what happened in B.C., but it serves as an imperfect model of what can be achieved when you engage in negotiations, instead of solely relying on the courts.
— Tanya Talaga, Columnist
Will Mark Carney’s weak French be his Achilles’ heel in Quebec?
He will need intensive training before confronting Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre in a French-language face-à-face or making an appearance on Radio-Canada’s Tout le monde en parle.
— Konrad Yakabuski, Columnist
On our radar
- Prime Minister’s day: In Montreal, Justin Trudeau announced a $270-million agreement for jobs and conservation projects in the majority-Inuit Qikiqtani region of Nunavut.
- Pierre Poilievre: The Official Opposition leader attended an evening Conservative Party fundraising event in Toronto.
- Party leaders: Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is touring the Magdalen Islands from today through March 2 for the 16th edition of the Rendez-vous Loup-Marin celebration of island traditions. In B.C., Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended a King Charles III Coronation Medal ceremony for 25 constituents in her Saanich–Gulf Islands riding.
Question period
How many terms did the first black woman elected as a Canadian MP serve?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Go deeper
- Keep track of who’s in the Liberal leadership race to replace Justin Trudeau
- 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: Jean Augustine, the Liberal MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, served four terms, from 1993 to 2006. She was also the first black female cabinet minister, serving as minister of state for multiculturalism and the status of women from 2002 to 2004. She was also a parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.