Before you sprint into the fun that will be your weekend (the last weekend before Canadian economic ruin?), let’s take a look at what happened this week – and what it all means.
Lest We Forget
We’re fully aware that this week – like last week and the week before – was dominated by tariff threats and political division. We’ll get there. First, we need to draw your attention to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.
80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation marked by dwindling number of survivors
As time marches on, we continue to lose survivors of one of the worst atrocities in human history: the Holocaust. Without a human tether to a place like Auschwitz, the ability to comprehend that 1.1 million people were tortured and murdered at just one concentration camp by one evil regime – the Nazis – becomes more and more comprehendible. And yet it happened. That’s why, with each passing day, it becomes our responsibility to find new ways of keeping history – tragedy – alive in our memories. Lest we forget.
The rail tracks of Auschwitz still cross the area as aging reminders of horror
Could the Holocaust happen again? Could humans possibly forget – or look past – this horrible chapter in world history, allowing fascism and antisemitism to rise again? Sadly, yes.
Trudeau, Tusk warn that ‘never again’ is slipping away amid rising hatred, extremism
Disagree? Read this:
Survey says more young Canadians believe the history of the Holocaust is exaggerated
Don’t be that person. Learn your history. Pass it forward. And let’s all agree: never again.
The Continuing Tariff Saga
Yes, that story again.
We’re working on a big story about this topic and why it’s so important to understand, so stay tuned. Until then, here’s the latest:
Trump says Canada tariffs coming Saturday, ‘may not’ include oil
Right, okay. How did we get here?
Trump team details two phases of tariff threats on Canada
Trump’s press secretary says Feb. 1 deadline for tariffs ‘still on the books’
Canada launches fentanyl crackdown to convince Trump tariffs aren’t necessary
Co-operate or else: Trump’s Colombia face-off is warning to all leaders
A key Trump adviser predicts ‘generational change’ is about to hit global trade
Okay, so maybe the tariffs are coming on Saturday. Or maybe just some. Or maybe they’ll come in April, or it’ll just get worse in April. We’ll see! One thing seems clear: economic pain is on the horizon.
What will that pain look like? Well, again, we’re going to get into this in detail in the weeks ahead, but if you want to dive in now, start here:
Evaluating the potential impacts of US tariffs
Don’t speak economist? What does the Bank of Canada’s forecast mean?
Need to Know: Prepare for some sticker shock if Trump’s tariffs actually happen
Not good. What’s next, boycott America and buy Canadian? Not so fast!
If that strategy won’t work, what should we do? Well, we’re still divided on the question:
How Trump’s Tariffs Put Canada on a Collision Course
David Rosenberg: There are better ways for Canada to fight back than a full-on trade war
Professor Will Greaves | How Donald Trump has changed Canada-US relations
In fact, we’re so divided on the question, it has some people wondering if we should just call it quits on the whole Canada thing:
David Staples: Is Canada worth saving? A surprisingly difficult question to answer just now
For a different perspective, how about this one!
Trump ‘doesn’t need’ Canada’s oil — and Alberta opens the Rockies for strip mining
Those are critical perspectives to understand, but the most important hot take of this past week? Take it away, Ken Boessenkool:
Ken Boessenkool: Just how permanent will Trump’s tariffs be?
Ontario Election
We teased this last week: In what was the world’s worst kept secret, Ontario is heading to the polls. Early!
Early Ontario election official after Ford meets with lieutenant-governor
Why an election now? We’ll let Premier Doug Ford explain in his own words:
Doug Ford: A strong mandate needed to protect Ontario
And it probably won’t surprise you that others have a different take:
Here are the actual reasons Doug Ford is calling an early election in Ontario
Either way, an election is happening and we’ll be here to help you understand how it relates to what you’re learning and what it all means for Ontario and Canada, for people and nature.
What About a Federal Election?
Is the House still likely to fall in late March? Yes! Most Likely! Maybe…
Singh suggests NDP could help Liberals pass Trump tariff relief
Nah, it’s still going to happen!
NDP leader doubles down on pledge to force a spring election
Right?!
Yet again, Singh might not pull the plug.
Whenever it happens, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff wants you to keep this in mind:
Speaking of Ottawa
The report into foreign interference dropped this week. Can’t believe we’re only getting to this now. What did it say, you ask? Well, in case you missed it:
Trudeau Government Left Canada Vulnerable to Foreign Interference, Report Finds
Foreign interference inquiry finds ‘problematic’ conduct
If you’re looking for an insightful take on this most important of issues, we recommend this column from the Globe and Mail’s Andrew Coyne:
Meanwhile, We’ve Still Got Other Problems…
Just in case you forgot, biodiversity is still declining. It’s a problem. A big one. A very, very big problem.
Study of more than 600 animal and plant species finds genetic diversity has declined globally
How is Canada doing? Well, just 8 of 422 species at risk are on the upswing. So, not great…
Just 8 of 422 species at risk of extinction are doing better: study
Here’s the good news! (Good news?) There are lessons we can learn from Canada’s (not so successful) species recovery efforts.
A handful of Canada’s at-risk species have made a comeback. Here’s what they can teach us
And if those lessons don’t help, maybe AI can help us! (Sorry, what’s that about AI?)
AI is bad for the environment, and the problem is bigger than energy consumption
One Last Thing:
The role of tech executives in basically everything we just covered really stands out as the background narrative, and that’s why these stories caught our attention this week:
The ‘dangerous’ promise of a techno-utopian future
Bill Gates Isn’t Like Those Other Tech Billionaires
But if you read only one story this week, it should be this one. Whether it makes you happy or not? That likely depends on your worldview.