Latest from National Post
National Post
25 minutes ago
- Business
- National Post
Canada won't pause digital services tax despite pressure from U.S., finance minister says
OTTAWA — Canada won't put a hold on the digital services tax on big tech companies set to take effect on June 30, the finance minister said Thursday. Article content Article content Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Thursday the legislation was passed by Parliament and Canada is 'going ahead' with the tax. Article content Article content 'The (digital services tax) is in force and it's going to be applied,' he told reporters before a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill. Article content Article content It will apply retroactively, leaving U.S. companies with a $2 billion US bill due at the end of the month. A June 11 letter signed by 21 members of Congress said U.S. companies will pay 90 per cent of the revenue Canada will collect from the tax. Article content Canadian and U.S. business groups, organizations representing U.S. tech giants and American members of Congress have all signed letters in recent weeks calling for the tax to be eliminated or paused. Article content It's set to take effect just weeks before a deadline Canada and the U.S. have set for coming up with a new trade deal, following months of trade conflict between the two countries. Article content Rick Tachuk, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, said the plan to go ahead with the tax 'undercuts those talks and risks derailing the agreement.' Article content Article content 'A retroactive tax like the DST, weeks before a new deal is supposed to be done, isn't a bargaining chip. It would likely be viewed as a provocation,' he said in an emailed statement. Article content Article content The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and other organizations have warned retaliatory measures in a U.S. spending and tax bill could hit Canadians' pension funds and investments. Article content Champagne said Canada isn't the only country that could be affected by those retaliatory measures. Article content David Pierce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's vice-president of government relations, said in an earlier interview his organization fears Canada could 'aggravate an already very tricky trade discussion with the Americans' if it goes ahead with the tax and the retroactive payment requirement. Article content Matthew Holmes, the chamber's executive vice-president and chief of public policy, said in a statement that a Liberal government announcement on counter-tariffs to protect the steel and aluminum industries Thursday was 'geared toward the 30-day deadline, so we see no reason why DST's timeline shouldn't be as well.'
National Post
an hour ago
- Sport
- National Post
Kraken acquire Marchment from Stars for pair of draft picks
SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken acquired forward Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars on Thursday for a 2025 fourth-round pick and a 2026 third-rounder. Article content The 30-year-old Marchment — one of the NHL's tallest players at 6-foot-5 — tied his career high with 22 goals last season and had 25 assists in 62 regular-season games. Article content Article content 'Mason adds an important skill set to our roster,' Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. 'He's a veteran player who brings a combination of size, skill and toughness. Mason knows what it takes to win, having been part of deep postseason runs with the Stars. We're excited to have him join our group.' Article content Article content The Stars were eager to move Marchment in a salary-shedding move with the final year of his contract carrying a $4.5-million cap hit. Dallas is up against the cap, especially after signing trade-deadline acquisition Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year, $96-million contract and inking forward Matt Duchene to a four-year, $18-million extension on Thursday. Article content Marchment has 76 goals and 113 assists in 302 regular-season games with the Stars, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 11 goals and eight assists in 59 playoff games. Article content
National Post
2 hours ago
- Climate
- National Post
Possible fatalities after rockslide strikes multiple hikers on trail in Banff National Park
Multiple hikers are injured or dead after a rockslide at Bow Falls Trail in Banff National Park. RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Gina Slaney confirmed Alberta Mounties were asked to assist in responding to the rockslide and are on location to support Parks Canada, STARS Air Ambulance, Lake Louise RCMP and other emergency responders. Article content Article content 'The initial report indicated there were multiple hikers and there may be serious injuries and/or fatalities,' Slaney said in a written statement. Article content Parks Canada's Lake Louise Yoho Kootenay Field Unit confirmed a serious rockfall incident occurred around 1 p.m. Thursday near Bow Glacier Falls, approximately 37 kilometres north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93N. Article content 'Parks Canada visitor safety teams from Banff and Jasper national parks are responding, with support from other agencies,' the unit stated, adding visitors are asked to avoid the area while crews respond. Article content STARS spokesperson Kate Langille said two of its helicopters — one from Calgary and one from Edmonton — were dispatched and were still at the scene as of 4 p.m. Article content 'More information will be available once they're back at the base,' she said. Article content Temporary highway closures are expected on the Icefields Parkway near Bow Lake to allow for responders to work. Article content Up-to-date information on road closures will be published on Alberta 511. Article content A number of elected officials, including Premier Danielle Smith and the federal minister responsible for Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault, and Alberta's lieutenant governor have offered their thoughts and prayers upon hearing news of the rockslide. Article content Article content 'We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details,' said Smith in her post. 'I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to the emergency crews including search and rescue teams, and STARS Air Ambulance for responding quickly.' Article content 'Thank you to the Parks Canada visitor safety teams and first responders on the ground,' Guilbeault wrote. 'My prayers are with everyone affected.' Article content I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic event at Bow Glacier Falls, north of Banff, today. We are thinking of all those involved and wishing for their safety as we await further details. On behalf of Alberta's government, I also want to offer my most sincere gratitude to… — Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) June 19, 2025
National Post
2 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
QB Kelly out again as Arbuckle starts third straight game for banged-up Argos
Chad Kelly will have plenty of company on the Toronto Argonauts sideline Friday night. Article content Kelly will miss a third straight start when Toronto (0-2) hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0). The 2023 CFL outstanding player continues to recover from a leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final. Article content Article content Ditto for receiver/returner Janarion Grant (ankle), the 2024 CFL top special teams player last season, who also has yet to play this year. Article content Joining them among Toronto's walking wounded will be linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot). Article content On Thursday, Toronto re-signed Canadian fullback Brandon Calver, who spent the last four seasons with the club. He'll start on offence Friday and also play special teams. Article content Still, it's hardly an ideal scenario for a Toronto team looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2019. Article content 'Sometimes the injury bug hits you but we have no excuses,' said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. 'It's next man up. Article content 'It's professional sports … you have to find a way to overcome it.' Article content Saskatchewan receiver Sam Emilus (foot) won't play but Canadian running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon returns to back up former Argo A.J. Ouellette. Sophomore receiver Joe Robustelli is also back and starts. Article content Ka'Deem Carey won't face his former team. Carey, who ran for 1,060 yards last year in helping Toronto win the Grey Cup, joined Saskatchewan after being among the Argos' final cuts but won't dress Friday. Article content Article content Jake Herslow starts at slotback for Toronto while Canadian Ryan Hunter, the CFL's top lineman last year, moves from right tackle to left guard. American Hampton Ergle starts at tackle. Article content 'He (Williams) showed his physicality breaking through some tackles and getting to the second level,' Dinwiddie said. 'I think he's used to the U.S. game where it's more downhill but you've got to be a bit more patient (in the CFL) and set up some blocks and I think he's getting there.'
National Post
2 hours ago
- Health
- National Post
Liberals show no signs of limiting MAID despite 'extremely concerned' UN report
OTTAWA — Ottawa is giving no sign that it intends to amend existing legislation on medical assistance in dying — something a UN committee called for earlier this spring. Article content The federal minister responsible for disabilities spoke at a hearing of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities last week, about two months after the committee called on Canada to repeal the 2021 law that expanded eligibility for assisted dying to those whose deaths were not reasonably foreseeable. Article content Article content Article content Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu gave a speech at the UN last Tuesday to mark 15 years since Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article content Article content 'It's about, for me, making relationships in this space and making sure that I have a really strong connection with the community, which I think is really important to be a good minister,' she said in an interview after the speech. The report said the committee is 'extremely concerned' about Canada's policy on track 2 medical assistance in dying. Article content '(T)he concept of 'choice' creates a false dichotomy, setting up the premise that if persons with disabilities are suffering, it is valid for (Canada) to enable their death without providing safeguards that guarantee the provision of support,' the report said. Article content In a written statement, a spokesperson for Hajdu said the government thanks the committee for its report. Article content Article content 'MAID is a deeply personal choice. We will make sure that the rights of persons with disabilities are upheld and protected,' said Jennifer Kozelj. Article content Article content Disability rights groups in Canada have argued the law singles out people with disabilities who are suffering because they're unable to access proper support. Article content Last September, Inclusion Canada was among a group of organizations that filed a Charter of Rights challenge against what's known as track 2 MAID. Article content 'It was crystal clear — the United Nations said they need to repeal track 2 medical assistance in dying,' she said. Article content Garnett Genuis, the Conservative employment critic, said he came away from the UN event worried about Canada's international reputation being harmed by what he called Ottawa's 'failures to uphold our obligations to protect the rights of people with living with disabilities.'
