Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
Five things you need to know
The US has announced it is pausing a decades-old military co-operation board with Canada, accusing the country of failing to "make credible progress on its defense [sic] commitments." Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of war, said the US was suspending the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, established in 1940, because "we can no longer avoid the gaps between rhetoric and reality." Colby, who included a link to Mark Carney's much-discussed speech at the World Economic Forum, added: "Real powers must sustain our rhetoric with shared defense and security responsibilities ... Only by investing in our own defense capabilities will Americans and Canadians be safe, secure, and prosperous." According to the federal government, Canada spent $63.4 billion on defence in 2025, meeting the previous NATO target of two per cent of GDP for the first time.
A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments. DoW is pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American…
— Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby (@USWPColby) May 18, 2026
Tory MP Michael Chong has attracted the fury of the Chinese Communist Party as he visits Taiwan this week. Chong, the shadow minister for foreign affairs, said he wanted to "show solidarity with a democracy at the front lines of intimidation from the People’s Republic of China" and "to assert Canadian sovereignty in the face of a warning from the PRC’s ambassador to Canada about Canadian MPs travelling to Taiwan." In an apparent swipe at the Liberal Party, which has been far more accommodating to the demands of the Chinese Communist Party, Chong added: “To remain silent and comply in the face of intimidation is to accommodate this behaviour, further embolden authoritarianism and further weaken democracy." China's ambassador to Canada, meanwhile, said Chong, and other Canadian officials, must "refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs." China claims Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite the latter being an independent country.
Today, I met with Dr. Chen Ming-chi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan about Canada-Taiwan relations. Here is the readout of our meeting:#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/a04pi4NFR6
— Michael Chong 🇨🇦 (@MichaelChongMP) May 18, 2026
A five-bedroom luxury apartment used by Canada's consul general has been sold after nearly two years on the market. The Park Avenue pad was sold for $11 million, according to the federal government, which is $2 million less than it was originally listed for in 2024. The Liberal government attracted severe criticism after it decided to buy a new luxury property in New York for $9 million in the same year.
Former Park Ave. apartment for Canada's consul general in NYC sold: Report https://t.co/vvREzrXLdD pic.twitter.com/6Xeu3c9Tm0
— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) May 18, 2026
Nissan is weighing up plans to export Chinese-built cars to Canada in the wake of the Liberals' decision to dramatically lower tariffs on electric vehicles from China. The Japanese manufacturer would work with Dongfeng Motor Group Co. with China, Christian Meunier, an executive at the firm, told Bloomberg.
Nissan is considering exporting cars built at a joint venture with its Chinese partner to Canada, which is opening up its market to electric vehicles made in China. https://t.co/bY2idFAkYq
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) May 19, 2026
Defence Minister David McGuinty is heading to Moose Jaw today to make an announcement at the headquarters of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. It comes amid speculation about the future of the aerial acrobatic team
Defence minister visiting Snowbirds base amid speculation over team’s future https://t.co/BIZ2nT6Yes
— CityNews Kitchener (@CityNewsKIT) May 19, 2026
