5 Things posted Apr 21, 2025 @ 08:00am by Iain Burns

5 things you need to know this morning: April 21, 2025

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. BC could be in line for bumper tourist season as travellers avoid US

As US President Donald Trump's policies on deportation and global trade filter through to citizens around the world, British Columbia could be in line for a bumper tourist season. With many tourists cancelling trips to the US, some industry leaders in Canada and BC are seeing a dramatic increase in trips to the Great White North.

B.C. prepares for tourism boom amid U.S. tariffs, 51st state rhetoric https://t.co/MmUbp89uO5 via @Yahoo And now the golden age oops it's Canada.?
— Biagio Alfano (@BiagioAlfano11) April 21, 2025

2. Small town wants recognition for what it claims is world's oldest basketball court

A small town in Canada is hoping to leverage newfound patriotism among the country's population and leaders to promote its role in the creation of basketball. St. Stephen in New Brunswick claims to be home to the world's oldest surviving basketball court, with the game – invented by Canadian James Naismith – played in the town since at least 1893.

New Brunswick group hopes to foster pride in basketball’s Canadian roots https://t.co/ZwTFWjaW9k
— CTV Atlantic (@CTVAtlantic) April 21, 2025

3. China warns countries against making trade deals with US

In more Trump news, the Chinese Communist Party has threatened to target countries that make deals with the US that negatively affect China. It comes as the world's two largest economies slug it out in a trade war, with the US now hoping to make individual deals with the likes of Vietnam, Japan and South Korea, all of whom also do considerable business with China.

New "Top Stories" post from BBC News: China warns nations against 'appeasing' US in trade deals https://t.co/r1JefJPEce
— Chris Abraham (@chrisabraham) April 21, 2025

4. CBC issues correction after presenter Rosemary Barton's false claims

The CBC has issued a correction after its chief political correspondent, Rosemary Barton, made false claims during her analysis of the French-language leaders debate last week. Barton asserted, falsely, that "there have been remains of Indigenous children found in various places across the country," but the CBC explained in an editorial note that "potential burial sites or unmarked graves" have been identified at residential schools, not human remains. Barton made the false statement while discussing the spread of "misinformation" by other media outlets.

#CBC correspondent @RosieBarton broadcast #misinformation in claiming to correct other media’s misinformation, says @CBC.
Management issued correction after Barton garbled facts in attempting to fault @DreaHumphrey over “potential burials.”https://t.co/Oz32ZV2SxW #cdnmedia pic.twitter.com/fk8c2mspq9
— Holly Doan (@hollyanndoan) April 21, 2025

5. Poilievre pledges to build 2.3 million homes, Carney says he'll add thousands of doctors

Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged today that his housing policies will lead to the construction of 2.3 million homes over the next five years. Liberal Leader Mark Carney, meanwhile, has promised today to add thousands of new doctors to Canada's health system and spend $4 billion to build new medical facilities.

In America, health care is big business. In Canada, it’s a right.

My government will focus on modernizing public health care so it lives up to its promise to Canadians. That means thousands more doctors, new and renovated hospitals, and giving you access to your own health data.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 21, 2025

LIVE: 2.3 million NEW homes in Canada — For a Change / EN DIRECT : 2,3 millions de NOUVEAUX logements au Canada — pour faire changement https://t.co/unBVXzYB4i
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) April 21, 2025