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Jul 19 2025

The Roundup: Political violence. 100 candidates. Smith's demand.

SAT JUL 19 2025
David Akin's Roundup
Political violence. 100 candidates. Smith's demand.
Canada
Threats of political violence rose rapidly through the Trudeau years, new data shows
Two-thirds of death threats were aimed at Justin Trudeau -- but Catherine McKenna, Chrystia Freeland and Steven Guilbeault also received multiple death threats from 2019 to 2024. [Global]

Carney rejects pleas to amend Bill C-5, but commits to standing with chiefs in conflicts with provinces over development plans. [APTN]

The meeting will cover a range of issues, including how the Building Canada Act can be implemented consistent with Inuit land claims agreements and in partnership with Inuit. [Global]
Elections Canada's website shows that Tomas Szuchewycz with the Longest Ballot Committee is the agent behind 103 of the 108 registered candidates. Szuchewycz has said the committee has been registering candidates to protest Canada's electoral system. [CP]
In the Liberal campaign platform from the recent federal election, Carney promised to cap, but not cut the public service. But observers say that pledge may be difficult to achieve with such a significant level of cuts, which they say could have a scope similar to those seen in 1990s under then-prime minister Jean Chrétien. [Ottawa Citizen]
Corey Hogan: From 2016 through 2020, I served as head of Alberta’s cross-government communications department, Communications and Public Engagement (CPE). In three years, and with no layoffs, we reduced the size of our budget by 18%, saving $7.4 million a year in the process. That three-year project spanned two premiers – New Democrat Rachel Notley and Conservative Jason Kenney – and had the support of both. The author is the Liberal Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation. [Substack]
Quebec Sen. Pierre Moreau will be tasked with guiding government legislation through the Senate as its representative in the upper chamber. [Global]
The Provinces
Alberta Premier Smith demands apology from fire-stricken Jasper for critical report
Smith, speaking at an unrelated press conference in Edmonton, instead blamed the federal government for failing in the fire response by not asking sooner for provincial help and for not clearing out dead trees that provided fuel for the flames. “This report come as a shot out of the blue. It’s unfair, it’s untrue and I would like them to withdraw it,” Smith said, adding she was disappointed the report "politicizes" what it at the same time considers an otherwise successful wildfire response. [CP]

Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet ministers are now eligible for extra money on their way out the door. [CBC]

The last time Yukon residents voted in a territorial plebiscite it was about allowing the sale of alcohol, this time the vote will be on the equally dizzying question of electoral reform. [CP]
Aurora
Elsewhere
China threatens Canada with countermeasures over steel import curbs
Canada imposed additional tariffs earlier this week on steel imports from all countries containing steel melted and poured in China before the end of July. [Global] 
President Trump and his administration have been studying new sectoral tariffs that could cover a broad part of the American economy. [NPR]
Russian drones and missiles unleashed a deadly assault on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa and other cities on July 19, leaving at least one dead and several injured, as Moscow's relentless attacks on civilian areas escalate amid faltering cease-fire efforts. [Radio Free Europe]
But in a state that continues to trend blue, local Republicans warned, Collins is effectively the lone Republican who can fend off high-level Democratic challengers in the state. Republicans point to her seniority in the upper chamber and appropriations role as unique advantages no other candidate would match. And while Collins may frustrate the MAGA wing, a different Republican more in line with Trump’s agenda would also be much more likely to lose the seat. [Politico]
Media

Google is eliminating a fee is placed on ads, which was done in response to the Canadian digitial services tax, which has now been rescinded as part of broader trade talks. [Global]
Science and Technology
This is the daftest e-scooter in the world
... the company has today unveiled The Turbo, a souped-up version of the standard Bo e-scooter with a potential top speed of more than 100 miles per hour and a range of up to 150 miles. [Endgadget]

Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser. [Global]
Issued this day ...
… in 2000: Sc 1865a se-tenant pair. Tall Ships. Design: Fraser Ross. Illustration: Bonnie Ross. 
On this day in 2000, dozens of tall ships sailed into Halifax harbour in what was billed as The Race of the Century.

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