Theme: Canada

Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday that the United States is close to making a trade deal with Canada, but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said work remained and that Washington had dropped some demands. Carney said progress had been made but the deal was not done — “they’re asking less and they’re offering more, but we’re not quite there.” According to Carney, the U.S. withdrew earlier demands, including one that would have given Washington final say over trade deals Canada might sign with other nations.

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration has the “concept” of a new trade deal with Canada, without offering details. Trump said he had spoken to Prime Minister Mark Carney again and that the concept “is going to be great for our farmers, great for our country”. The statement comes after Carney announced progress toward a future trade deal between the two countries.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced progress toward a future trade deal with the United States. US President Donald Trump subsequently said both sides had a concept for a mutually beneficial deal, according to the AP.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the country’s central labor union representing about 3 million workers, voted on Thursday to refuse to handle weapons and military equipment destined for Israel, according to Middle East Eye. The body also demanded that the Canadian government “end all direct and indirect transfers of arms and military equipment to Israel.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for reiterating territorial claims over Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb, according to the Tehran Times. He called the UAE’s claims “brazen and interventionist” and criticised Canada for endorsing them in a joint statement. Baqaei said “the islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb are inseparable and eternal parts of Iran’s territorial domain” and that the repetition of “baseless and unfounded” claims will not change “the established geographical, historical and legal realities.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the country “learned we are overdependent” on the US, according to DW. Carney said four decades of deeper economic integration had left Canada too reliant on the US, PBS News reported, in an article from the Associated Press.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) voted in support of a resolution calling on workers to refuse to handle weapons and military equipment destined for Israel, the union said. The union also calls on the Government of Canada to end all direct and indirect transfers of arms and military equipment to Israel. Canada’s central labor union says workers will not handle military cargo going to Israel, according to the Middle East Eye.

The European Union (EU) and Canada have agreed to deepen their strategic partnership and announced a series of initiatives on trade, technology and security, TRT World reported. The outlet said US President Donald Trump's policies are straining Washington's relations with traditional allies. Canada will join the EU's $103 billion (€90 billion) support loan for Ukraine, initially contributing $558 million (€500 million), while the two sides expand cooperation across several strategic sectors.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued Thursday in Montreal for making Canada the bloc’s first “associate member” and building a broader alliance open to other countries, warning against economic coercion in Trump’s trade war, according to the Associated Press (AP). Trump suggested the arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe — von der Leyen said Canada cannot become a full member because of geography, but both sides want to bring the relationship to the highest level possible.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that the European Union and Canada continue to explore Canada becoming the bloc’s first “associate member,” a term so divisive among member countries that it does not appear in the joint declaration, according to Reuters, in a text published by the South China Morning Post. In a speech at a Canada-EU summit in Montreal, von der Leyen said the two sides aim to deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence, climate, energy and security. Deeper ties to Europe are part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strategy to reduce reliance on the US amid strained relations under Trump, according to the newspaper. The term, which Germany and several other EU countries oppose, has no legal meaning.

Prime Minister Mark Carney launched The Plan for a Stronger Canada on Thursday, the country’s first national security strategy in more than two decades, according to the Chinese agency Xinhua. According to the release cited by the agency, the strategy outlines five main priorities, including strengthening economic security and resilience by transforming strategic industries and securing supply chains, advancing a disciplined foreign policy to diversify partnerships, and rebuilding and strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces. The Globe and Mail reported that under the new strategy the government will beef up Canada’s intelligence-gathering capabilities and prepare for all contingencies, up to and including war.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is hosting European Union leaders in Montreal on Thursday and Friday, a two-day summit that will be closely watched for details on how Canada and the European bloc deepen their ties, according to the BBC. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed last month “opening the door” to Canada for what she called “associate membership,” a status that does not currently exist, and Germany and other nations lobbied to remove mention of the term from a draft statement, opting instead for softer language referencing an “ever closer association,” the BBC reported.

Canada and the EU will craft a “new chapter” in their alliance at a Montreal summit that opens Thursday, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). Canada and the EU have dropped the associate membership plan in a bid to deepen ties, according to France 24.

Canada hosts the EU in Montreal this week for a summit expected to announce new agreements on trade, security and technology, according to the CBC. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen surprised many last month when she announced the EU would begin the process of making Canada its first “associate member,” a status that does not exist within the bloc. EU officials say the 27 countries want the closest possible association with Canada, even as details and the exact title remain under internal debate.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said talks had slightly intensified and any progress was because the US was coming closer to the Canadian position — Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on roughly US$ 20 billion in Canadian goods after Canada rejected the terms in August, according to The Hindu.

US President Donald Trump predicted at a rally in Michigan on Sunday that the trade dispute with Canada would be resolved “soon”, without providing specifics, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration will lower its 50% tariffs on nine categories of products used by Maine’s agriculture industry, a move that helps a state lawmaker’s re-election bid, according to the SCMP. Senator Susan Collins said she secured exemptions for paper products, plastic boxes, some packing products, refrigeration and freezing equipment and seaweed and algae products for human consumption, according to Politico.

Canada and Türkiye upgraded relations to a strategic partnership during the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister, according to The Jerusalem Post, with Mark Carney seeking new trade partners to reduce reliance on the US. The two sides expect to raise bilateral trade from 3 billion dollars first to 5 billion and then to 10 billion. Carney and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched the first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement and signed the expanded air transport agreement between the two countries, according to the Canadian prime minister’s office.

The United States (US) embassy in Ottawa has accused Canadian politicians of trying to influence its midterm elections, pointing to Canada’s efforts to push back against President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign. In a fact sheet, the embassy says the Canadian government “brushes off concerns” about potential interference, even as its ministers openly describe plans to influence American politics in official documents and public appearances. It cites comments and actions, such as meetings with US Democrats and calls for retaliatory tariffs against the US.

Shell, PETRONAS, PetroChina, Mitsubishi and KOGAS approved last month the final investment decision for the LNG Canada Phase 2 expansion, doubling capacity to 28 million tons per annum, according to OilPrice. With Cedar LNG and Woodfibre under construction, Canada is expected to export 33 mtpa of LNG by the end of the decade, also according to OilPrice.

The US Embassy in Ottawa accused Canadian officials of election meddling ahead of the November midterms, an accusation Doug Ford rejected saying he had “no interest” in interfering in US elections. In a fact sheet, the embassy says the Canadian government brushes off concerns about interference while ministers and premiers describe plans to influence American politics, according to the text cited by Al Jazeera.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford jointly announced on Wednesday an 8.7-billion Canadian dollar strategic industry support package — about 6.18 billion US dollars — designed to shield workers and businesses from ongoing US tariffs and drive long-term growth, CGTN reported. The federal-provincial plan focuses on Ontario’s steel, automotive and critical minerals sectors. The new strategy builds on federal assistance programs that have already funneled more than 25 billion Canadian dollars to workers and businesses navigating US tariffs.

Alberta voters rejected the proposal to start an independence process, with about 76% for remaining in Canada and 23% for separation, according to NPR. The vote was not a direct independence referendum but would have opened the way to a future vote on separation, and Prime Minister Mark Carney urged a decisive vote for unity, saying a vote against Canada would be a dangerous bluff, according to The Guardian, in a text published at the address recording the remarks.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney travels to Ankara and Istanbul from October 21 to 24, the first bilateral visit to Türkiye by a Canadian prime minister, according to the prime minister's office. During the visit, Canada and Turkey are expected to sign a joint declaration to deepen bilateral cooperation in four areas, including defence and energy, Reuters reported.

Voters in Alberta rejected a proposal to begin a process toward independence, the CBC projects, according to the Guardian.

Residents of Alberta, in Canada, are voting on Monday in a referendum on whether the province should begin a process that could ultimately lead to independence, according to DW. Polls opened at 9 a.m. local time in the provincial capital Edmonton (1500 GMT/UTC), the broadcaster reported.

A fire swept through the Canadian military base at Wainwright, in Alberta, on Saturday, killing at least four service members and leaving 19 people in critical condition, the BBC reported. The fire broke out at around 16:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on a training range; uncommonly strong winds caused it to spread rapidly and shift direction towards soldiers taking part in exercises, Major-General Wade Rutland, Commander of 1st Canadian Division, said. Alongside the dead, a further 39 people are in hospital, 19 of them in critical condition. The deceased were identified as Sgt Morgan Wong and Ptes Shaun Farrell, Aidan Goulding and Hayden Lykkemark.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks against European diplomats, is unacceptable, according to Mehr News.

The Canadian military base where a fire left people dead and injured is Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright, in Alberta, according to CBC. Defence Minister David McGuinty said that people were killed and injured in an incident at the base that caused a major fire, and said, in an Associated Press (AP) text republished by KCRA (https://www.kcra.com/article/fire-deadly-incident-at-canada-military-base/74168948): “I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base”.

A large fire killed and injured people at a Canadian military base in Alberta, according to the defense minister, who did not confirm the number of casualties. Prime Minister Mark Carney said a “serious incident” caused the fire at the base, and Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed deaths and injuries late on Saturday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and Canada together contribute to a “more stable and prosperous world”, after a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to conclude negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the “earliest opportunity” and to double two-way trade, at about $23 billion in 2025, by 2030.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for national unity as Alberta prepares for a referendum on secession, according to Al Jazeera. Carney will be in Alberta this week, seven days ahead of the October 19 vote, according to CTV News.

European states, Canada, Japan and the United Nations (UN) came out in defence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against United States (US) sanctions, after Washington sanctioned the court itself on Friday. The ICC said the move was an “assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order” and called on its 125 member states to defend the institution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington would ban transactions with the “rogue court”, cutting off its resources and crippling its ability to operate.

The Parti Québécois won Quebec’s provincial election and will form the next government of the province, according to media reports cited by Al Jazeera. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was elected premier on Monday, according to the BBC. During the campaign, he promised a third referendum on leaving Canada during his first term, though he said he would wait until Donald Trump leaves office in January 2029.

Voters in Quebec are casting ballots on Monday in a provincial election in which the separatist Parti Québécois appears poised to return to power after more than a decade, according to The New York Times. The Guardian assesses that the province is poised to bring separatists to power for the first time in more than a decade.

The Government of Canada officially listed the new West Coast oil pipeline, now known as Pacific Link, as a project of national interest, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced. According to the government, the project will allow Canada to export an additional one million barrels a day to growing markets in Asia, reducing its dependence on the United States. Al Jazeera described Pacific Link as the pipeline Canada intends to fast track to diversify its economy away from the US.

Liberal lawmaker Sean Casey, who represents Charlottetown, said he was removed from his post as parliamentary secretary to the minister of veterans affairs after voting for an opposition-sponsored bill to tighten Canada’s arms export controls, according to the Anadolu Agency. The legislation sought to close loopholes that allow Canadian-made military equipment to be sold to other countries and later end up in Israel. Casey was one of 15 Liberal lawmakers who supported the bill — the only one holding a parliamentary secretary post. He learned of his removal on Thursday in a call from the prime minister’s office, which named Quebec MP Sophie Chatel as his successor the following day.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada examined the possibility of U.S. military action as an “extreme tail risk”, while insisting that an American invasion is not Ottawa’s base-case scenario, according to CTC News. The remarks were made in an interview published on 23 September, amid a sharp deterioration in the economic relationship between the two countries and repeated statements by Donald Trump about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, according to CTC News.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in New York that trade negotiations with India are making “good progress” and that the two countries aim to conclude them by the Group of 20 (G20) summit, scheduled for December 14-15, 2026 in Miami, according to the The Hindu. Carney said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed plans to visit Canada around that time, though no date has been set. Carney has said he wants to double Canada’s non-US trade over the next decade, and the talks with India are part of that push to reduce dependence on Washington amid deteriorating relations under Donald Trump’s administration, according to ANI. Negotiations were formally relaunched in March 2026, after the 2023 diplomatic rupture over the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, in New York that Canada is giving C$100 million in international assistance for Palestine: C$80 million in humanitarian aid and C$20 million for peace and security capacity building, according to Politico and Reuters. Carney made the pledge on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), ahead of a meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the two-state solution and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803, the U.S.-backed plan to end the regional conflict. He criticized Israel’s planned expansion of the E1 settlement in the West Bank and said Canada had restricted imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements.

US president Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington is negotiating a ‘massive deal’ to buy potash from Belarus at prices ‘substantially less’ than what it currently pays Canada. ‘The United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of Potash from Belarus. The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers,’ he wrote on Truth Social, according to AFP and the Anadolu agency. Potash is a fertiliser input, and the United States imported about 13 million tonnes in 2025, nearly 90% of it from Canada, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited by Bloomberg; Belarus shipped more than 700,000 tonnes to the US in 2021, before American restrictions. Alexander Lukashenko himself said on Monday that there is no volume available to sell because ‘everything is contracted’, according to his office cited by The Hill. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned the United States against the deal, which AFP described as risky; the European Union (EU) keeps restrictions on potash imports from Belarus and has frozen the assets of state producer Belaruskali.