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This article was published 10/02/2025 (297 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TRUMP REPEATS canada as 51st STATE REMARKS

OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump once again says that he wants to see Canada become a state due to the unsubstantiated claim that the States is “paying $200 billion a year” to its northern neighbour.

Trump says that Canada would be “much better off” as a State, and says he’d be fine with “subsidizing” Canada if it was a State, an apparent reference to the U.S. trade deficit with Canada.

Statistics Canada says Canada’s overall trade surplus with the U.S. was $94.4 billion in 2023, primarily due to oil exports.

Trump made the statement in response to a question from Fox News anchor Bret Baier in an interview televised Sunday.

Baier asked Trump about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments Friday, where Trudeau told a group of business leaders that Trump is not joking about making Canada a state.

Trump initially threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian products due to border security issues around fentanyl and illegal immigration, but the president’s comments continue to focus on trade with Canada and more recently a perceived lack of U.S. banks in Canada.

Ont. PARTIES RUN election ads during SUPER BOWL

Ontario’s main party leaders are taking a break from public announcements today, but they are still trying to reach voters where they are — in some cases, on the couch.

The province’s Liberals and Progressive Conservatives are set to clash with competing campaign advertisements during Super Bowl Sunday.

The Liberal party confirmed it will run two 30-second ads broadcast during tonight’s Super Bowl pitting the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs.

One of the ads features a clip of Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford saying he wanted Donald Trump to win the U.S. presidential election and accuses Ford of using the threat of tariffs on Canada for his own political gain, while the other ad is on health care.

A spokesperson for Ford’s party confirmed it has two ads of its own planned for the big game: a 60-second spot, as well as a 30-second version that’s already running. Both make the case that Ford is the best choice to shield Ontario from the economic turbulence of Trump’s proposed tariffs.

Voters head to the polls Feb. 27.

HEAD-ON CRASH followed ‘ERRATIC DRIVING’ REPORTS

ROBERTS CREEK, B.C. — A head-on collision in British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast region has sent three people to hospital with serious injuries and closed a major highway for hours overnight.

Sunshine Coast RCMP say the crash happened at around 3 p.m. Saturday, when police received several reports about an “erratic” driver in Roberts Creek.

Police say a head-on crash was then reported soon after involving two vehicles in the area on the Sunshine Coast Highway, with three people taken to hospital.

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the erratic driver heading east on the highway toward Gibsons around the time of the crash or the collision itself to contact police.

Roberts Creek is about 56 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

AIRLINE DISALLOWS CARRY-ON BAGS on cheap flights

MONTREAL — Air Transat says it will no longer allow carry-on bags for its low-fare customers on most flights in the latest example of discount carrier tactics entering the mainstream.

Starting Tuesday, passengers on the airline’s Eco Budget and Eco Promo fare class will have to check their luggage for a fee of between $35 and $50 on flights within North and South America.

Air Transat is also ending its policy of one free checked suitcase for its next-lowest fare class, called Eco Standard.

Trips to Europe, Peru and North Africa, as well as all-inclusive packages, remain unaffected by the changes.

Travellers of all fare classes will still be allowed to take a small personal item such as a purse or laptop bag on board for free.

» The Canadian Press

The airline said in an email the changes allow it to offer more competitive fares and align with industry practices.

Air Transat’s moves mark a shift toward the trend also followed by its larger rivals of charging fees for formerly bundled services such as checked bags, on-board snacks and seat selection.

» The Canadian Press