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SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says workers at canola crushing plants in his province would be out of jobs should China move ahead with planned retaliatory tariffs on canola oil and meal.

Moe says Mark Carney must immediately engage with China to prevent the levies from being imposed next week.

Carney is set to be sworn in as prime minister Friday.

Moe says the tariffs would devastate Saskatchewan’s canola crushing industry, potentially causing facilities to close, and says Carney should have conversations with Beijing before a federal election is called.

China is planning to impose 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, meal and peas in response to Canada putting levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.

The measures come during a turbulent trade war between Canada and the United States where U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and is considering additional levies next month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press


OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Marc Miller is giving “lost Canadians” a chance to receive Canadian citizenship as he seeks an extension to a deadline set by the courts for his government to pass new legislation.

“Lost Canadians” is a term applied to people who were born outside of the country to Canadian parents who were also born in another country.

In 2009, the Conservative federal government changed the law so that Canadians who were born abroad could not pass down their citizenship unless their child was born in Canada.

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled in late 2023 that the law was unconstitutional and the government agreed with the ruling.

Since that ruling, the government has received three extensions to the deadline to pass legislation extending citizenship to those affected by the law.

In a media statement, Miller said the government applied to the court for a 12-month extension to the current March 19 deadline. The court has not yet ruled on the application.

Miller said his department will offer “discretionary” citizenship grants for affected people who were born or adopted before Dec. 19, 2023 — the date of the original Ontario court ruling.

Potential “lost Canadians” born or adopted after that date who have a citizen parent who has spent at least three cumulative years in Canada are also eligible for citizenship under the interim rules.

That three-year rule was part of the “lost Canadians” legislation that died on the order paper when Parliament was prorogued in January. It was meant to create a consistent citizenship mechanism for people born abroad beyond the first generation.

Sujit Choudhry, a lawyer representing people who challenged the law, wrote in a court submission that the court should only give the federal government a four-month extension on the deadline.

He argued that the “only plausible” reason for requesting a 12-month extension is the likelihood of a federal election in the very near term.

Choudhry wrote that courts have granted four-month extensions in the past to pass court-mandated legislation during election campaigns, and the same thing should be done in this instance.

In its court submission, the federal government argues that if the deadline lapses without legislation in place, it would mean some people would automatically become Canadian citizens while others would be “excluded” from citizenship.

The court heard these arguments Thursday morning. A decision is expected soon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Mar. 13, 2025.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to partly take effect while legal fights play out.

In emergency applications filed at the high court on Thursday, the administration asked the justices to narrow court orders entered by district judges in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington that blocked the order President Donald Trump signed shortly after beginning his second term.

Three federal appeals courts have rejected the administration’s pleas.

The order would deny citizenship to those born after Feb. 19 whose parents are in the country illegally. It also forbids U.S. agencies from issuing any document or accepting any state document recognizing citizenship for such children.

Associated Press, The Associated Press


TORONTO — Health associations are urging governments to ensure Canadian patients don’t get caught in the crossfire of the ongoing trade war with the U.S.

The Ontario Hospital Association says it is concerned the tariffs and counter-tariffs “will likely bring significant risks to Ontario’s health care system, including the disruption of access to vital equipment and supplies.”

The association says it is talking with the federal and provincial governments to try to “fully understand and minimize the impact on hospitals.”

A spokesperson for Diabetes Canada says people living with the chronic condition are worried that the costs will rise for essentials such as medications, test strips, continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps.

Glenn Thibeault says the organization is talking to federal Health Minister Mark Holland about the concerns and trying to ensure that materials used to package medications and make medical devices aren’t included in any future rounds of counter-tariffs.

He says Holland has told health associations he hears their concerns.

In a global supply system, making pharmaceuticals and medical devices often involves multiple countries, so it might be difficult to pinpoint all the specific components that come through the U.S. that might be subject to counter-tariffs, said Thibeault, who is Diabetes Canada’s executive director of government affairs, advocacy and policy.

“One of the things that we don’t want to see is any unintended consequence right?” he said.

For example, the government could push a counter-tariff on a type of plastic without realizing that it’s used to make injectors for some diabetes medications.

“Those are the things that we’re flagging for them to make sure that there’s no unintended consequence,” he said.

Melissa Prokopy, vice-president of policy and advocacy for the Ontario Hospital Association, said the specific potential effects on hospitals “is still unknown in this evolving political environment.”

“The OHA is very concerned about the impact of this trade war on the delivery of care and is engaging with the federal and provincial governments and other stakeholders,” Prokopy said in a statement emailed to The Canadian Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press


VANCOUVER — The federal government is providing nearly $157 million for eight electrical infrastructure projects across British Columbia.

It says in a news release that the funding is being provided to Crown utility BC Hydro through the green stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand clean energy.

The government says the money will go to help with the province’s North Coast Electrification initiative, which includes increasing the transfer capacity of the existing 500 kilovolt transmission line from Prince George to Terrace by building three new capacitor stations.

It says that additional capacity is needed to help meet the growing demand in the region for clean, reliable electricity.

The government says other projects include new infrastructure to power the Surrey and Cowichan District hospitals and the BC Cancer Centre, along with two other new hospitals in the province.

It says funding will also go toward the construction of a 230-kilovolt transmission line and a new substation in the Peace River Region, as well as for transmission infrastructure in northeastern B.C.

Federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says in the release the government is committed to investing in projects that will reduce emissions and support cleaner energy sources.

“By building greener infrastructure we will improve energy efficiency, and build healthier, more energetic communities,” he says.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press


FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says it’s unlikely the province will cut off the electricity NB Power supplies to northern Maine as the trade war with the United States drags on, but she says that could change.

Holt made the comment today during the first of weekly briefings aimed at keeping New Brunswickers informed about the province’s response to the economic and emotional fallout from the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The premier spent much of the hour-long news conference reassuring residents, telling them it is normal to feel scared, angry and frustrated during a time of “consistent uncertainty.”

Holt said she wanted to validate those feelings before offering an explanation of what her Liberal government is doing to mitigate the economic damage and persuade Trump to change course.

She said those steps have included removing American alcohol from government outlets, halting procurement of U.S goods and services, and rolling out government support for struggling businesses and their employees.

As for cutting off power to northern Maine, Holt says it’s not something the province wants to do, but she says it doesn’t make sense to limit the government’s options.

She says adding surcharges to exported electricity is possible under some contracts, but the premier says she is worried about a backlash because New Brunswick buys electricity from Maine during times of peak demand.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press


Universities across the U.S. have announced hiring freezes, citing new financial uncertainty as the Trump administration threatens a range of cuts to federal contracts and research grants.

In February, the administration announced deep cuts to National Institutes of Health grants for research institutions, a shift that could reduce the money going to some universities by over $100 million. Some schools already have shelved projects because of the cuts, which have been delayed temporarily by a court challenge.

Recently, President Donald Trump has shown appetite for targeting colleges’ funding more directly. His administration has vowed to take federal money from colleges that defy his agenda on issues including diversity, equity and inclusion programs, transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports, and student protests that he deems “illegal.”

On March 7, the administration on Friday pulled $400 million from Columbia University over what it described as the Ivy League school’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus. The Education Department followed up with a letter Monday warning 60 colleges they could lose federal money if they fail to make campuses safe for Jewish students.

Higher education has been a steady job generator since the pandemic, with private colleges and universities adding 35,000 jobs nationwide last year. Hiring freezes and cuts at universities could contribute to slower job growth in the months ahead, advocates for workers say.

Private and public colleges have been announcing freezes

Over the last two weeks, more than a dozen institutions have announced limits on hiring for faculty and staff positions and other measures to tighten purse strings.

Hiring freezes have been announced at schools including Harvard; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Notre Dame; the University of Pennsylvania; the University of Pittsburgh; Emory University; the University of Vermont; North Carolina State University; the University of Washington; and the University of California, San Diego.

In a statement, Harvard leaders said the decision was “meant to preserve our financial flexibility until we better understand how changes in federal policy will take shape and can assess the scale of their impact.”

The University of Washington’s provost, Tricia Serio, said in a blog post she recognized how the uncertainty of the moment could “prompt stress, worry and anxiety.”

“By using this time to proactively save our resources and thoughtfully plan, we will be better prepared to manage any future funding cuts to protect our mission for the public good,” she wrote.

Several universities said they also are looking for other ways to reduce expenses, including Emory, where President Gregory Fenves said it is necessary to “take prudent measures to prepare for what may be a significant disruption to our finances.”

Universities see risks for federal funding on several fronts

Colleges had been bracing for head winds under the new administration, including the possibility of a big hike in the tax on university endowments. But the new administration has taken several steps that have heightened uncertainty.

In addition to the reductions ordered to NIH grants, money for research and projects has been held up by delays in approval processes and cuts to programs linked to DEI.

After a dustup between Trump and Maine’s governor over transgender athletes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended funding for research at the University of Maine. The funding was restored this week, officials said.

The $400 million hit to Columbia in particular shook institutions of higher education.

The withdrawal of federal money is not the way to fight hate, said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council of Education. The cancelation, he said, will “eviscerate academic and research activities” at Columbia.

“But we also are deeply concerned that unless the administration reverses course, it will move on to wrongly target research at other institutions, wreaking further chaos, confusion, and negative consequences,” Mitchell said.

On Thursday, U.S. officials said a federal task force to combat antisemitism had notified leaders in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston that it wants to meet and discuss incidents where colleges in their cities may have failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination. ___

Associated Press writer Chris Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Claire Rush, The Associated Press


OTTAWA — Mark Carney will reveal the makeup of his cabinet on Friday morning, a collection of Liberal ministers who will see Canada through the next election.

The swearing-in ceremony for Carney’s government is set for 11 a.m. at Rideau Hall.

It is widely expected that the new cabinet table will have fewer seats than the 37 under Justin Trudeau.

Seven ministers in the current cabinet have said they won’t run in the next election, including Justice Minister Arif Virani and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

The core team which has played a key role in the trade war with the U.S. is planning to seek re-election, including Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Public Safety Minister David McGuinty.

Carney will need to weigh whether to give a ministerial role to two of his leadership rivals, former ministers Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service’s acting chief counsel, William Paul, has been removed from his role at the agency and replaced by Andrew De Mello, an attorney in the chief counsel’s office who is deemed supportive of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to two people familiar with the plans who were not authorized to speak publicly.

The people said Paul was demoted from his position because he clashed with the DOGE’s alleged push to share tax information with multiple agencies. The news also comes as the IRS plans to institute massive cuts to its workforce.

The IRS is drafting plans to cut its workforce by as much as half through a mix of layoffs, attrition and incentivized buyouts as part of the President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce. The administration is closing agencies, laying off nearly all probationary employees who have not yet gained civil service protection and offering buyouts to almost all federal employees through a “deferred resignation program” to quickly reduce the government workforce.

Already, roughly 7,000 probationary IRS employees with roughly one year or less of service were laid off from the organization in February.

Paul was named acting chief counsel to the IRS in January, replacing Marjorie A. Rollinson, and has served in various roles at the IRS since the late 1980’s.

Paul is not the first government official to be demoted after voicing concern about access to sensitive systems and taxpayer data.

Government officials across the Treasury Department, the Social Security Administration and other agencies have seen a wave of retirements, resignations and demotions for voicing concern about DOGE access to sensitive systems and taxpayer data.

After 30 years of service, Michelle King, the SSA’s acting commissioner, stepped down from her role in February after refusing to provide DOGE access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official’s departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

“The series of IRS officials who have put the law above their personal job security join a line of public servants, stretching back to Treasury and IRS leaders during the Nixon era, who have resisted unlawful attempts by elected officials to weaponize taxpayer data and systems,” Chye-Ching Huang, executive director of the Tax Law Center at New York University School of Law, said in a statement.

Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press


HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s Opposition leader is calling on the public to make their voices heard on a series of contentious government bills, including legislation to lift a ban on fracking and uranium mining.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender says citizens should attend a legislative committee hearing on Monday that is reviewing the bills, which also touch on subjects such as university governance.

Premier Tim Houston has faced strong pushback to several of his government’s recent proposals, including to limit the independence of the auditor general and increase barriers to accessing documents and records.

In response, Houston has said he would withdraw proposed changes to the auditor general’s power and would likely make amendments to the bill to change freedom of information rules.

But Chender says her party has yet to see the amendments in written form.

The legislature resumes sitting next week after a week off for the province’s March school break.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press