Texas-bound: Canadian politicians slam U.S. tariffs (politely) during visit to Lone Star state
CBC
Amid an increasingly heated game of tariff-related chicken, Canadian politicians are in Houston telling Americans they're fed up — in the most stereotypically Canadian way possible.
"I don't think friends do that to friends," Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean said, speaking onstage Tuesday during a panel discussion at CERAWeek by S&P Global that also featured Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
The trio of politicians were at the conference as the tariff fight heated up then cooled off within the course of a couple of hours. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had promised a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity imports to the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump fired back with staggering tariffs on steel and aluminum, and ultimately both parties pulled back and agreed to talk it out.
Is this enough to make Lecce mad?
No, but he is "offended," he told CBC News in an interview following the panel discussion.
"I think about my own dad who immigrated through Ellis Island, New York," Lecce said. "I mean, we are family and this is unjust."
The terms "family" or "friends" were alternately and repeatedly used onstage to describe the relationship between Canada and the U.S.
While they agreed it's normal to have disagreements in close relationships, Moe said, the "tariffs and escalating counter-tariffs [do] nothing to benefit the North American family."
Some of the chaos was reflected in the stock market, where indexes plummeted on Tuesday before bouncing back slightly before the day's end.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's energy and natural resources minister, who is also in Houston, struck a stern but polite tone about the tariff fight.
"The people of Canada expected their government was going to step up and respond. They're not going to think their government is going to be a patsy and let the Americans do whatever they want," he said.
On Tuesday, Wilkinson met face to face with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
"I think we both left understanding a little bit more of the perspectives of the other side, and I'm hopeful that he will be a voice for trying to find ways to de-escalate and eventually get these tariffs removed," Wilkinson told CBC News, referring to Wright's career in the oilpatch, including projects in Alberta.
The White House had previously announced a 10 per cent tariff on imports of Canadian energy. However there has been confusion among some industry officials and analysts after tariff exemptions were made for products compliant with the current free-trade deal between the two countries.
The family of an Edmonton woman who died in Honolulu last year is pushing for Hawaiian authorities to re-open the case.
It was around this time in 2020 that everything changed.
With its emergency shelter beds frequently running at 50 per cent over capacity and demand so great that it's forced to refer some women escaping domestic violence elsewhere, Gillian's Place in St. Catharines will soon be able to offer a broader range of services to more victims of gender-based violence.
The ceiling of the CAW Student Centre at the University of Windsor is decorated by flags of numerous nations — among them, Iran.
Turmoil in Iran, a major disruption in world oil markets, and stratospheric gasoline prices in Canada and beyond. What's racking motorists and governments in 2026 also faced them in 1979, sparked by the Iranian Revolution.
Five decades later, and Thunder Bay's Music World Academy remains a family-run business.
Dalton Dubois of Guelph, Ont., made history at the recent Paris Fashion Week when she became the first transgender model to walk the runway for Chanel Exclusive.
Work is scheduled to begin over the summer at the site of the former Clinton Creek asbestos mine, about 65 kilometres northwest of Dawson City, Yukon.
They may be bitter rivals in the House of Commons, but outside the chamber, recent events may have led to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Mark Carney forging a bond.
Local fans and industry insiders say the province’s move to ban the reselling of event tickets for more than their original value is a step in the right direction, but some say there are still larger issues that need to be addressed.
This First Person column is the experience of Mehdi M. Kashani, who lives in Toronto. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
A very quiet queue has formed in Europe where some of Canada's long-standing, closest allies are seeking shelter under France's small but robust nuclear umbrella.
Friday morning's dusting of snow was no match for the large crowd visiting the Suleman Dawood Masjid in St. John’s for Eid-al-Fitr. A busy service marked the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.