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Apr 12 2025

Poll believers. Production pause. Snowbird selloff.

Sat April 12 2024
David Akin's Roundup
Poll believers. Production pause. Snowbird selloff.
Canada
Conservative Party distances itself from supporters questioning election polls
Many attending Pierre Poilievre’s rallies have questioned whether the polls are to believed now that the Liberals have pulled ahead. [Globe and Mail] (🎁 link)
Poilievre said it has been the Conservative party's policy for 21 years that there will be no restrictions introduced on a woman's right to choose. [Global]

Ahmed’s campaign acknowledged interview requests have been received from Postmedia, but the candidate has not responded to them. He attended the Canada First rally Monday in Nisku, where thousands of Tory supporters cheered on Leader Pierre Poilievre. Ahmed said on Monday that he would not speak to media at the event, and all interviews had to be booked through his campaign office. Ahmed posted a video of Poilievre and himself on his Instagram account. Ahmed does not speak in the clip. “He’s actually going to put the people of Edmonton first, for a change,” said Poilievre in the message, while Ahmed nods in agreement. [Edmonton Journal]
I guess you can't choose your endorses but I'm not sure this Florida Man 👆 is popular among Canadian voters.
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From the Provinces
Ontario electric vehicle plant set for production pause, job losses
GM Canada says it is temporarily shuttering an Ontario production plant and cutting staff because demand for its electric delivery vehicles is lower than it predicted. [Global]

Danielle Smith said she doesn't yet know if she trusts Mark Carney. [Global]

"Calling someone a terrorist, just being Sikh, is very hateful. It's hate speech," said NDP MLA Tajinder Grewal. [Regina Leader-Post]

Party annual returns posted online Tuesday by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador show that the Progressive Conservative Party had just $30,000 cash on Dec. 31. The Liberal Party had more than $500,000. [CBC]
The government says it plans to sell the 11 Teslas it owns, in response to United States tariffs and the prominent role that the carmaker's CEO plays in the Trump administration. [Global]
With polarizing political rhetoric reigning south of the border, Quebec and other provinces are hoping to attract American doctors to Canada.
Aurora
Elsewhere
Bond Market is Upended by Trump’s Tariffs
In the usually steady government bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury has risen to about 4.5 percent from less than 4 percent at the end of last week. Good explainer on why the bond market is a big deal. [NYT] (🎁 link)

'If you’re Canadian, you’re either putting your house up for sale and leaving or you’re talking about it,' says snowbird Bob Gass. [Global]
Note to Readers
Some of you may have noticed that the curated.co platform came to life late yesterday and delivered three editions of The Roundup. It's been frustrating for me to have to deal with that technical issue especially in the midst of covering a federal election.

So I'm now debating whether to ditch the curated.co service and stay with this service, from goodbits.io. If you have any thoughts please let me know.

A reminder that:  The headlines, excerpts, and photos in this newsletter are generated by the publishers of the clipping. The publisher on this platform is noted [in the square brackets]

If I've got a comment, you''ll see that in italics. But if I've generated the headline and the excerpt, you'll see me taking attribution by finishing with -DA in bold.

The stamp stuff at the bottom are scans from my collection and, if there’s a stamp blurb, I’ve written that bit.

You can help keep this newsletter going with a monthly pledge -- Just $5 would do it -- via Patreon or, if you want to make a one-time donation, send an e-transfer to jda@davidakin.com. (This platform is a bit more expensive to operate, FYI, than the curated.co platform.

Finally: A note to those who use a Cogeco.ca or Bell.Net e-mail account: For some reason, the Internet service provider Cogeco.ca and Bell.net blocked this newsletter as “spam” when it originated from the curated.co server. That's one good reason, I think, to stick with this platform.

-DA
Media
How AI is transforming news into a two-way conversation
What generative AI brings to the table is the ability to adapt the content itself. A large language model could, in theory, understand the kinds of stories I care about and modify what I’m reading—maybe by adding an angle relevant to my region. It could even offer up different lengths or even formats. If I’m about to go for a run, maybe I want that feature article as a podcast. Or if I’m in a hurry, a short video in TikTok style might do. [Fast Company]
Public data collected and maintained by federal, state, and municipal governments is a critical resource for the Harvard community. Harvard Library is committed to helping researchers maintain access to the information they rely on. This guide provides resources and recommended pathways for researchers concerned about sustained access to publicly available data – whether for replicating already published research, ensuring research integrity, supporting new work, or ensuring the transparency and durability of public knowledge. [Harvard University]
Science and Tech
A New GPU Shortage? Suppliers Slow Down Shipments Amid Tariff Uncertainty
Custom PC maker Puget Systems breaks down how the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports will affect the industry and threaten to create a new graphics card shortage. [PC Mag]
The Calendar
  • 0815 ET: Trois-Riviéres, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet campaigns in the riding of Trois-Rivières 
  • 0930 ET: Trois-Riviéres, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet makes an announcement and speaks to reporters.
  • 1100 ET: Nepean, ON - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre makes an announcement and speaks to reporters.
  • 1430 ET: Chicoutimi, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet makes an announcement and speaks to reporters.
  • 1530 ET: La Baie, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet campaigns in the riding of Chicoutimi--Le Fjord
  • 1730 ET: Chicoutimi, QC - BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet campaigns in the riding of Chicoutimi--Le Fjord
  • 1930 ET: Timmins, ON - NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks to supporters.
Issued this day ...
... … in 1999. Sc 1785 International Year of Older Persons. Design: Paul Hodgson. Illustration: Shelagh Armstrong.

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