Canada

Cowichan businesswoman Kristi Koons said she’s alarmed and concerned over the fact that she and another two women were asked to leave a town hall featuring federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on June 10 because of the T-shirts they were wearing.

Koons said she was quiet and respectful at the town hall, which was held at Mellor Hall at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds and attracted more than 1,000 people, before a group of men and RCMP officers approached her and said she was not welcome at the event because of her T-shirt.

Koons’s T-shirt featured half a rainbow pie, with the slogan: “Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It’s not pie.”

She said after some discussion, the RCMP respectfully asked her to leave the town hall, as well as two other women at the event that were also wearing T-shirts with slogans that some at the event didn’t like.

“I found it alarming,” Koons said.

“I’m an engaged community member and I often sit at (discussion) tables with people that have many points of view. I work hard to try to bridge the gaps and I have big worries these days about where we’re heading, particularly with what’s going on south of the border.”

A consortium of international researchers has called for a new alliance of mid-sized nations to challenge the overwhelming dominance of the United States and China in artificial intelligence.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) released a policy report Sunday titled "A Blueprint for Multinational Advanced AI Development." The document, co-authored with scholars from the University of Oxford, Canada's Mila institute, and Germany's RWTH Aachen University, argues that countries like South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Canada must pool their resources to secure technological independence.

The report paints a stark picture of the current landscape, noting that approximately 90 percent of the world's AI computing capacity is concentrated in the United States and China. The authors warn that this imbalance effectively blocks other nations from developing "frontier" AI models on their own, forcing them into a state of technological dependency on a handful of superpowers and Big Tech firms.

...

The blueprint suggests modeling this cooperation after CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Instead of particle physics, the proposed body would focus on sharing the heavy burden of AI infrastructure. Member nations would pool computing resources, establish protocols for cross-border data training, and create a shared system for research talent to move freely between countries.

...

The report notes that approximately 90% of global AI computing capacity is concentrated in the United States (75%) and China (15%), warning that technological dependence on specific nations or global big tech companies could intensify. It proposes that "AI bridge power nations" including Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Singapore form a new cooperative bloc to lead norms for AI collaboration. These countries possess world-class AI research influence and technological capabilities but face practical constraints in independently building hyperscale AI and power infrastructure.

...

Archived link

A Twitter/X post on Russian state platform RT, twists Canadian PM Mark Carney’s remarks about supporting Danish/Greenland sovereignty within NATO into a false war declaration. Multiple independent records show Carney did not threaten war; he affirmed that Greenland’s future is for Denmark/Greenland to decide and underscored allied defense commitments—nothing more. Given RT’s track record and EU sanctions, this is a textbook Kremlin tactical narrative injection to create panic and divide the US and Canada.

RT has been identified by Canada and its allies as an important component of Kremlin intelligence operations.

THE CLAIM

RT’s X post reads: “CANADA WILL DECLARE WAR ON USA FOR GREENLAND — CARNEY.” The exact wording is mirrored by third-party captures discussing the RT post.

THE FACTS

Mark Carney did not declare war or threaten it. He stated the future of Greenland is for Greenland and Denmark and reaffirmed support for Danish/Greenland sovereignty, consistent with NATO commitments, not a call to war.

NARRATIVE CONTEXT & STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

Match to playbook: Inflate allied differences, cast NATO as fracturing, and push Western publics toward cynicism (“allies on brink of war”). Strategic objective: Incite conflict between allies. Corrode NATO cohesion and distract from Russia’s aggression elsewhere by manufacturing an intra-alliance crisis.

Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Doha on Saturday as part of a push to attract foreign investment and deepen Canada’s economic partnerships beyond its traditional allies.

Carney’s visit comes on the heels of his visit to China and follows the recent presentation of a new federal investment budget aimed at positioning Canada as a stable, attractive destination for global capital.

In a news conference on Saturday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Canada is working to broaden its economic relationships as global trade patterns shift.

“We are one of the G7s with very big industries. We build cars, planes, ships, we have an abundance of energy, and we are the only one with free trade with all G7,” Champagne said. “With the way the world is changing, you better diversify, supply chain is changing and we need to adapt.”

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/53601457

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/58757509

Trump will serve as chairman of the board, which includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former U.K. prime minister Tony Blair

Good discussion with ex-MP Matthew Green about the inner workings of the NDP and democracy within Canadian parties.

The Liberal government unreasonably invoked the Emergencies Act to clear the convoy protests that gridlocked the capital city and border points nearly four years ago, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled on Friday.

The court dismissed the government's appeal of a 2024 ruling which deemed former prime minister Justin Trudeau's decision to use the legislation unlawful and infringed on protesters' Charter rights.

"As disturbing and disruptive the blockades and the convoy protests in Ottawa could be, they fell well short of a threat to national security," wrote the three judges on the appeal court.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford isn’t mincing words about Canada’s new electric vehicle deal with China, saying Friday that Chinese manufacturers are gaining a foothold in the country’s auto market at the expense of workers in this country.

“The federal government is inviting a flood of cheap made-in-China electric vehicles without any real guarantee of equal or immediate investments in Canada’s economy, auto sector or supply chain,” Ford said in a statement issued shortly after news of the deal broke.

“Worse, by lowering tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles this lopsided deal risks closing the door on Canadian automakers to the American market, our largest export destination, which would hurt our economy and lead to job losses.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reached an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, in a move that marks a major shift in the relationship between the two countries.

Opinion piece by Brian McQuinn, Co-Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Conflict and Associate Professor, International Studies, University of Regina; and Marcus Kolga, Adjunct professor, University of Regina.

...

The war in Ukraine and the attacks on NATO partners might seem distant, but Canada is on the front lines. As part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia, Canada has more than 2,000 troops deployed under Operation Reassurance.

If Baltic leaders are right, and it’s only a matter time until there’s an open war with Russia, Canadians will be on the front lines from the beginning.

Canada’s NATO commitments also mean that an attack on any of these countries will be treated as an attack on Canada.

...

Historically, Canada and Europe have relied on American military guarantees, but it seems highly unlikely U.S. President Donald Trump would come to the aid of Latvia and declare war on Putin. Canada and its European allies are likely on their own.

...

“Estonia is prepared for different threats. We know that the pressure from Russia goes beyond the military. It also includes vandalism, sabotage, airspace violations, balloons threatening aviation, cyberattacks and ongoing information campaigns — not only against Estonia, but against all allies, no matter how near or distant, including Canada," says Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

"We also focus on building a strong economy and attracting investment, like the Canadian Neo Performance Materials plant in eastern Estonia. We protect our information space and work to make sure our society is resilient and ready to deal with any kind of crisis — whether it comes from aggressor states, from nature or from climate change. We are not afraid; we are prepared.”

...

Baltic societies offer Canada a clear blueprint for countering Russian coercion, preparing for crisis and building resilience without surrendering democratic values.

...

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has reached a deal with China to allow tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into the country in exchange for lower canola duties.

He billed his first such trade deal since taking office as a preliminary one that would boost the economy.

Carney says Ottawa expects Beijing to drop canola seed duties to 15 per cent by March.

Canadian canola meal, lobsters, crabs and peas will no longer be subject to Chinese tariffs from March to at least the end of the year.

In return, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market at a 6.1 per cent tariff rate.

The pact comes just hours after Carney met with President Xi Jinping on a trip to Beijing, ending a multi-year trade dispute that began when the last Liberal government levied EV tariffs to protect Canada's auto sector.

A Toronto police officer has been arrested after property that was delivered to police was taken instead of logged.

Police say the thefts occurred multiple times in October.

They say items that were recovered included government-issued identification, bank cards and passports.

Police added that some of the items had previously been reported stolen.

Const. Derek McCormick has been charged with four counts of theft under $5,000, along with one count each of breach of trust and obstructing justice.

Police say McCormick, a 28-year veteran, has been suspended with pay.

As a major snowstorm caused travel chaos, serious weather alerts, highway closures and school cancellations, some working for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation were told to head into the office.

“Just a reminder that we have a 5-day a week in person requirement,” the email, seen by Global News, said.

It added that the snow meant staff could arrive late and leave early as long as they made an effort to attend.

“Otherwise,” the note concluded, “please take a vacation day, which some … staff are doing today.”

The message was sent after schools in Toronto had announced they would close for the day, and while emergency services and Environment Canada were urging people to avoid all non-essential travel.

“Allow extra time for travel,” the weather agency wrote. “Non-essential travel should be avoided.”

About an hour after telling workers to head into the office or use a vacation day, the directive was revised.

“We are now being advised that if you have your equipment, you may work from home,” the follow-up, sent at 10:35 a.m., said. “Staff to decide for themselves if it’s safe or possible to drive in today. Please use your best judgment and prioritize safety.”

Was a pipe dream to think Carney would stand up to the orange menace.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/41672329

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/32680271