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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.

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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


WASHINGTON (AP) — A day before a shutdown deadline, Senate Democrats are mounting a last-ditch protest over a Republican-led government funding bill that already passed the House but failed to slap any limits on President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to gut federal operations.

Senate Democrats are under intense pressure to do whatever they can to stop the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is taking a wrecking ball to long-established government agencies by purging thousands of federal workers from jobs.

Democrats are pushing a stopgap 30-day funding bill as an alternative. But its prospects are dim in the Congress controlled by Republicans. And it’s unlikely the Democrats would allow a government shutdown, worried about the further chaos they say Trump and Musk could cause.

As the Senate opened Thursday, with one day to go before Friday’s midnight deadline, the Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said: “It’s time to fish or cut bait.”

Debates over funding the federal government routinely erupt in deadline moments but this year it’s showing the political leverage of Republicans, newly in majority control of the White House and Congress, and the shortcomings of Democrats who are finding themselves unable to stop the Trump administration’s march across federal operations.

In a rare turn of events, House Republicans stuck together to pass their bill, many conservatives cheering the DOGE cuts, leaving Democrats sidelined as they stood opposed. They House then left town, sending it to the Senate for final action.

Options for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer are limited, especially as the party is wary of fully withholding their votes and being blamed for a full shutdown of services.

Schumer announced that Democrats were unified in pressing for a 30-day stopgap measure as an alternative to the House passed bill, which would instead fund operations through the end of the budget year in September.

With his party united, Schumer said the Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority, lack the support needed to reach the 60-vote threshold, which is required to overcome a filibuster.

But Senate Republicans have shown little interest in Schumer’s offer.

What is more likely is that senators will have a chance to vote on the Democrats’ stopgap measure, but if it fails as expected, the Senate would then turn to the broader bill for passage, hours before Friday’s midnight deadline.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to shift attention from Trump’s tariff tit-for-tat tariff war to a looming federal government shutdown.

“I can tell you what’s not good for the economy is this government shutdown,” Bessent said outside the White House. “I don’t know what Democrats are thinking here. They’re going to own it.”

But Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has called Trump and Musk “two billionaires to don’t know the first thing” about what American families need.

In an highly unusual turn, the House package also required the District of Columbia, which already approved its own balanced budget, to revert back to 2024 levels, drawing outcry from the mayor and city leaders who are pushing the Congress to revert course. They warn of steep reductions to city services.

“Both choices that we are being offered are full of despair,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.

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Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani and Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press



ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Fulton County, where past elections have been marred by long lines, slow precinct reporting and even false claims of voter fraud, conducted an “organized and orderly” election last year, a team of independent monitors found.

President Donald Trump and his supporters claimed without evidence that election fraud in the state’s most populous county, which includes most of Atlanta, cost him victory in Georgia in 2020. Given its past election problems, Republicans have repeatedly sought extra oversight of voting in the Democratic stronghold.

After national scrutiny of its election processes in 2020, county leaders implemented wide-ranging changes, including replacing the elections department leadership and building a new elections hub and operations center. That seems to have paid off, with the independent monitors finding “substantial improvement” in the county’s election implementation last year compared to four years earlier.

“The overall conclusion was that Fulton County conducted an organized and orderly election process that enabled voters to cast their votes securely and conveniently and ensured that votes were tabulated accurately,” according to a report from the monitors made public Thursday.

Centralizing election operations at a single hub facilitates public access, decreases the risk of miscommunication and improves security, the report says. A wireless inventory management system implemented after 2020 improves security and the tracking of equipment. The team also observed good documentation, as well as organized and secure chain of custody practices, the report says.

The observers did recommend some changes, including being more transparent to help the public understand different parts of the process. They also recommended publicizing times, dates and locations for absentee ballot return in advance to avoid a last-minute announcement and confusion over whether observers were allowed to watch as happened the weekend before the November election.

The Fulton County elections board is made up of two members appointed by the county Republican Party, two members appointed by the county Democratic Party and a chairperson. The observers noted that board meetings sometimes seemed especially contentious and suggested that the county’s voters “could be better served by a more collegial and cooperative approach.”

This was not the first time the county’s elections have been monitored. After a disastrous primary election in 2020, an independent monitor was brought in to examine the county’s election practices during the general election as part of an agreement with the State Election Board. He documented “sloppy processes” and “systemic disorganization” but found no evidence of illegality or fraud.

The state board in 2021 embarked on a nearly two-year performance review of the county’s election practices at the request of Republican state lawmakers, including monitoring the 2022 midterm elections. The review panel found that the county had shown considerable improvement, leading the State Election Board to vote not to take over the county’s elections.

To resolve a case against Fulton County involving allegations of double-scanning some ballots during an election recount in 2020, the state board voted in May of last year to appoint a monitor to observe the county’s elections and election processes in place for the 2024 general election.

The choice of monitor was to be approved by the county, the State Election Board and the secretary of state’s office. The Trump-endorsed majority on the State Election Board did not agree with the monitoring team selected by the county and approved by the secretary of state’s office. But with the election fast-approaching and no agreement having been reached, the county in September went ahead and hired the team it had chosen.

The team included Carter Jones, who was the independent monitor in 2020, and Ryan Germany, former general counsel for the secretary of state’s office who was on the performance review team appointed in 2021, as well as former Republican State Election Board member Matt Mashburn and former election officials. They partnered with the Atlanta-based Carter Center, which observes elections all over the world.

The effort was meant to be “impartial, transparent, and process-oriented” with observation happening from September through November, during pre-election preparations, early and Election Day voting and a post-election audit. The observers found the county elections staff to be “dedicated and hardworking” and said they administered a “smooth, secure and accurate election.”

Kate Brumback, The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — Canadian officials are set to meet with the U.S. commerce secretary in Washington Thursday — days after a dust-up with U.S. President Donald Trump that ended with Ontario pausing its surcharge on electricity exports to the United States.

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are expected to meet with Howard Lutnick.

Ford has said his goal is to get a coherent sense of the Trump administration’s plans for tariffs. Ford said he expects to talk about the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement, also called CUSMA, and hopes to speed up a mandatory review of the trade pact set for next year.

“I want to find out where their bar is set,” Ford told reporters Wednesday. “Rather than keep moving the goalpost, I want to find out how quickly you want to move forward and see what their requirements are.”

Trump expanded his global trade war on Wednesday by hitting every country, including Canada, with 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The day before, Trump threatened to double those duties on Canada but backed down after Ford agreed to halt a surcharge on electricity that Ontario sells to three U.S. states.

Trump claimed a win against Ford repeatedly on Wednesday, calling the premier “some guy in Ontario.”

“I said, ‘This will be won in one hour,’ and (we) announced what we were going to do and they withdrew their little threat,” Trump said.

Canada responded to Trump’s steel and aluminum levies with 25 per cent tariffs on $29.8 billion worth of American goods, which took effect just after midnight Thursday.

Those duties focus on American steel and aluminum products but also include other items like smartphones, video game consoles and golf clubs. Spring and summer staples hit with Canadian tariffs include fishing gear and sleeping bags.

Champagne also directed Industry Canada to prioritize investments in projects that mostly use Canadian steel and aluminum.

“Canadian steel and aluminum form the basis of North America’s critical infrastructure and manufacturing base, while supporting vital U.S. industries, including defence, shipbuilding and automotive,” Champagne said in a statement.

“They are also essential for securing our collective energy future and generate high-quality jobs on both sides of the border.”

Elsewhere in the American capital, Trump’s choice for the next U.S ambassador to Canada is set to take questions Thursday as the relationship between the two countries is strained by tariffs and threats of annexation.

Pete Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for a nomination hearing.

— With files from David Baxter in Ottawa

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

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press