Good evening, let’s start with today’s top stories:
U.S. President Joe Biden arrived on Parliament Hill for the second day of his first official visit to Canada as president and spent Friday in meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before making a speech to the House of Commons in the afternoon that touted the partnership of the two countries whose “interests are fundamentally aligned.”
Here are some takeaways from Biden’s speech:
Migration: Biden said he applauds Canada for stepping up in renegotiating the Safe Third Country Agreement. As The Globe reported on Thursday, the deal closes a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement and brings thousands more Central American migrants to Canada through legal pathways. The change is set to take place at midnight tonight.
Ukraine/Defence: He said his country and Canada will defend NATO territories and continue to stand with Ukraine as it battles Russia’s invasion. Later, he discussed the importance of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD. The leaders released a joint statement that they are bolstering NORAD with surveillance system modernization and airfield improvements in Canada’s North. The money will come from Canada’s planned investments.
Clean tech: The President made the pitch that vast American subsidies aimed at spurring the clean transition in the U.S. will be mutually beneficial for companies north of the border. Biden and Trudeau later announced the launch of a one-year energy transformation task force that will focus on renewable energy, electric vehicles, critical minerals and nuclear energy.
The Michaels: Both Trudeau and Biden applauded Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were in the House of Commons gallery as attendees during the President’s address. The two were arbitrarily detained by China in 2018 and only released after being held in inhumane conditions for more than 1,000 days and this was their first public appearance since their return to Canada.
Read more:
- Campbell Clark: Three things that would make Biden’s visit a success for Justin Trudeau
- Laura Madokoro: The U.S.-Canada deal maintains our tradition of dodging our responsibilities to refugees on our borders
- Explainer: U.S. President Joe Biden is in Ottawa. What to know about his two-day visit
Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor stand as they are recognized before an address from President Joe Biden in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 24, 2023. The two were detained by China in 2018 and released after more than 1,000 days.POOL/Reuters
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Trudeau government decided CSIS transcript of MP Han Dong provided no ‘actionable evidence’
The Trudeau government determined that there was no “actionable evidence” after it received a CSIS transcript of an early 2021 conversation between Liberal MP Han Dong and China’s top diplomat in Toronto, according to a senior government source – saying conclusions could not be drawn that Mr. Dong asked Beijing to keep two Canadians in prison for political reasons.
But when the allegations against Dong surfaced in a Global News report on Wednesday, the MP left the Liberal caucus to sit as an Independent.
On Thursday, he told The Globe and Mail that he intends to launch a defamation lawsuit against Global News, which, citing two unnamed national-security sources, reported the assertions related to Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. Dong said he would never advocate that the two Canadians should be kept in jail to benefit the Liberals.
The Prime Minister’s Office and its National Security Office reached out to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to provide a copy of the transcript after the PMO was first approached by The Globe on the matter 2½ weeks ago, the source said.
ALSO ON OUR RADAR
Departments didn’t consistently follow rules with McKinsey contracts: Internal audits of contracts with McKinsey & Company show federal government departments did not consistently follow certain administrative rules and procedures, the Treasury Board said Friday.
Queen Elizabeth statue to finally be unveiled: A 2,000-kilogram bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth, left in storage for nearly six years, is finally destined for the front lawn of Ontario’s Legislature, with installation work to begin this spring. But the bill, originally meant to be covered by private donors, will now cost taxpayers up to $1.5-million.
Flair Airlines planes for lease: The four Flair Airlines jets seized for non-payment of rent are on the market for lease. The planes’ owner, Airborne Capital of Dublin, on Thursday posted the Boeing 737s – three nearly new Max 8s and a 13-year-old model – on two aircraft sales websites.
Federal budget preview: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has said the March 28 budget will focus on green technology, health care and new spending aimed at easing cost-of-living concerns. Here’s what else you can expect.
Airbnb to pull illegal listings in Quebec: Short-term rental company Airbnb said Friday it would pull listings in Quebec that don’t have a permit from the provincial government, eight days after a fatal fire destroyed a historic Old Montreal building that housed illegal rentals.
MARKET WATCH
U.S. and Canadian stocks closed higher on Friday, marking the end of a tumultuous week, as U.S. Federal Reserve officials calmed investor fears over a potential liquidity crisis in the banking sector.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 132.28 points, or 0.41 per cent, to 32,237.53, the S&P 500 gained 22.27 points, or 0.56 per cent, to 3,970.99 and the Nasdaq Composite added 36.56 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 11,823.96
The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index ended up 41.57 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 19,501.49. It was up 0.6 per cent for the week, after two straight weeks of declines
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.66 cents US compared with 73.15 cents US on Thursday.
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TALKING POINTS
Mennonites are in the spotlight. Is my image-conscious community ready for the attention?
“Unlike our Amish cousins, who shun modern technology and presumably remain blissfully unaware of their frequent depiction in popular culture, many Mennonites read books, watch television and browse the internet, and thus we’re acutely aware of what’s being said about us.” – Andrew Unger
Bless this mess: Why we’ve taken our fear of clutter too far
“Clutter can be healthy. In fact, a cluttered house can be proof of a creative and well-lived life.” – Mark Pupo
LIVING BETTER
This spring, the latest cookbook titles will help make you a better baker, a relaxed cook and stylish dinner party host, and get you eating more vegetables while connecting you with feminist icons around the table.
TODAY’S LONG READ
How Colin King is quietly making over every living room in North America
Colin King's warm, minimalist aesthetic is everywhere, quietly shaping people’s appreciation for beautiful, everyday things.Rich Stapleton/Supplied
If you have flipped through the pages of Architectural Digest, Elle Décor or The New York Times’ T Magazine recently, you have most likely been admiring interiors created by stylist Colin King. His warm, minimalist aesthetic is everywhere, quietly shaping people’s appreciation for beautiful, everyday things. And yet most consumers don’t even know his name, let alone his influence over their homes.
In a scant five years (which is how long it’s been since the 34-year-old former dancer decided to turn his life-long love of arranging objects into a full-time job), King has come to define “the look” of modern American design. And in doing so, he has become the go-to stylist for some of the biggest brands, famous clients and celebrated publications in the world.
Evening Update is written by Prajakta Dhopade. If you’d like to receive this newsletter by e-mail every weekday evening, go here to sign up. If you have any feedback, send us a note.