5 things you need to know this morning: March 20, 2025

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

Five things you need to know

1. TSB releases report into Toronto plane crash

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its preliminary report into the plane crash at Toronto's Pearson airport last month. It says the Delta Air Lines plane's alert system indicated a rapid descent less than three seconds before touchdown.

We've just released our #TSBAir preliminary report on the February 17, 2025 Endeavor Air #CRJ900 accident @TorontoPearson (#A25O0021).

The report provides a progress update and outlines the facts gathered so far: https://t.co/0AJlwuUYjP

Full video : https://t.co/IwSrxJjZY2 pic.twitter.com/7fB6EUVAgK

— TSB of Canada (@TSBCanada) March 20, 2025

2. Four Canadian citizens executed in China

Four Canadians have been executed in China in recent months, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has revealed. Joly said all four were facing drugs charges and had both Canadian and Chinese citizenship. China, however, does not recognize dual nationality.

China executed four Canadians for drug crimes, says Ottawa https://t.co/cKOAQtdxly

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 20, 2025

3. Prairies farmers panicking as China's 100% canola tariff set to bite

In related news, some Prairies farmers are panicking as China is set to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian canola oil and meal as well as a 25 per cent tariff on seafood and pork. The move, a retaliation for Canada's decision to follow the US in tariffing Chinese EVs and metal exports, is causing Saskatchewan farmer Clinton Monchuck to worry about the future of his 120-year-old farm.

Prairie canola producers brace for 100 per cent tariffs from Chinahttps://t.co/r1DJ6PigKs

— CP24 (@CP24) March 19, 2025

4. Canadians increasingly keen on gold amid uncertainty caused by Trump

Amid global economic uncertainty, Canadians are increasingly looking to store their wealth in the world's most storied metal: gold. Tyler Whitmore, the CEO of Canada Gold, told CBC News he's seen a spike in demand for bars and coins in recent weeks. He added: "This could be the highest period of demand for physical bullion that we've ever seen in our 15-plus year company history."

Bullish on bullion: Trade war anxiety driving Canadians to gobble up gold#icanada #news #canada
https://t.co/ly1QRJEwwB

— iCanada (@iCanadax) March 20, 2025

5. 'Devastation' for local news outlets in Canada: report

More bleak news in the world of news: according to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives think tank, local media outlets across the country have suffered "devastation" since 2008, with a net loss of 11 per cent of newspapers and online outlets. As a consequence, 2.5 million Canadians now live in postal codes with either one or no local news outlets.

New @policyalternatives.ca report shows local news access declining in Canada as the threat of disinformation grows. Today nearly 2.5 million Canadians live in a postal code with no local news outlet—double the proportion in 2008. Yet, there are solutions! ➡️

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— CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (@policyalternatives.ca) March 20, 2025 at 8:01 AM