Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
Five things you need to know
Mark Carney held nothing back in his condemnation yesterday of Israel's "illegal invasion" of Lebanon, adding that "we condemn it." At the same press conference, however, the prime minister remained ambivalent about genocide and slave labour in China, saying, when asked about the 2021 vote in the House of Commons to condemn the genocide in Western China: "Look, there are fundamental issues in terms of China's treatment of the Uyghurs in the past, and they've been rightly called out."
Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, said Carney's circumspect language on China showed he is willing to "pander to a foreign hostile dictatorship on issues of slavery and genocide." In 2021, Poilievre voted in favour of the House of Commons motion condemning China's genocide. The leader of the opposition made the comment after calling for the cancellation of the high-speed rail project set to link Toronto and Quebec City, which he branded a "boondoggle." He also accused the Liberal Party of corruption, adding: "It will make consultants, lobbyists, lawyers, bureaucrats and other Liberal insiders fabulously rich while doing nothing for the millions of hardworking taxpayers and land owners who will suffer."
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal government to cancel a proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City. https://t.co/z4bf3DLnfM
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) April 1, 2026
The Americans have once again highlighted their primary concerns when it comes to trade with Canada. In a report from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Canada is once again criticized for supply management, the Online News Act, banning US alcohol in liquor stores, French-language rules and the so-called "Buy Canadian" policy. The report's mention of the Online News Act, however, has not yet been reported by the CBC, Canadian Press or other large media outlets in Canada, almost all of which lobbied for its implementation.
🚨Today, USTR submitted the 2026 National Trade Estimate to President Trump and Congress.
— United States Trade Representative (@USTradeRep) March 31, 2026
This year’s report details significant foreign barriers facing U.S. exports and outlines how the Trump Administration is addressing these non-reciprocal practices to advance the prosperity… pic.twitter.com/W0bP3O6SpL
The leaderless BC Conservatives are slightly ahead of the BC NDP (44 to 42), according to the latest poll from the Angus Reid Institute. The survey also found that 57 per cent of British Columbians reckon the province is on the "wrong track," while 50 per cent think the NDP is giving "too much" attention to Indigenous issues. A majority – 58 per cent – said they have little or no trust in assurances from the Liberal government that an agreement between the Musqueam and Ottawa in February will not affect private property rights.
Donald Trump has said he is strongly considering withdrawing the US from NATO, branding the alliance a "paper tiger." He told The Telegraph newspaper he was "never swayed by NATO," claiming the alliance is weak, adding: "Putin knows that too, by the way.”
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump has told The Telegraph's @connor_stringer he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato after it failed to join his war on Iran.
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 1, 2026
Read the US president's thoughts on what Putin thinks of the alliance and the UK's reluctance to spend… pic.twitter.com/IrH3QYe3fE
