In the news today: Mark Carney’s move to kill carbon price now official

By Canadian Press on March 17, 2025.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Carney’s move to kill carbon price now official but debate over it not dead

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s theatrical document signing to eliminate the consumer carbon price on Friday has done little to end the political furor over the policy. Some Conservatives accused Carney of signing a fake document because only an order-in-council signed by the governor general could adjust the regulation. Tyler Meredith, a political adviser who previously worked for the Liberal government, says what Carney signed is called a record of decision that leads to an order-in-council. The document signed by the governor general was then completed and published online on Saturday.

Hudson’s Bay creditor protection case returns to court

Hudson’s Bay is set to be back in court Monday morning, where it will seek approval to begin liquidating its entire business, putting more than 9,000 jobs at risk. The department store holding the title of Canada’s oldest company says it has been forced toward a full liquidation because “exhaustive” efforts haven’t turned up the financing it needs to keep at least some of its empire alive. Given the company’s financial situation, it wants to conclude the liquidation process by June 15. But it says it remains optimistic that it can drum up capital and find a solution with key stakeholders, particularly its landlord partners, to avoid a full shutdown.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Byelection: Quebecers head to polls in Terrebonne

Voters will go to the polls today in a riding northeast of Montreal to replace former economy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon. The former high-profile cabinet minister in François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec quit politics in September 2024. The Terrebonne riding had been held by Fitzgibbon since the Coalition Avenir Québec formed government in 2018, but it had previously been a stronghold of the sovereigntist Parti Québécois going back to 1976. The ballot includes a total of nine candidates to fill the only vacant seat at the 125-seat legislature.

Tolls removed from Halifax Harbour bridges

Monday morning marks the start of toll-free traffic on the bridges that cross the Halifax Harbour. During the provincial election campaign last fall, the governing Progressive Conservatives promised to remove the tolls, which had been in place since the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge was opened 70 years ago. Minister Fred Tilley said the move is great news for commuters and will make crossings between Dartmouth and Halifax smoother and more affordable. Halifax Harbour Bridges, which operates and maintains the two bridges, says the 200,000 MacPass account owners will receive refunds over the coming weeks.

Polytechnique Montréal receives $50 million gift to create disruptive innovation hub

A Quebec-born businessman and philanthropist is donating $50 million to his alma mater to establish an institute for disruptive innovation. Pierre Lassonde says it’s never been as important as now to invest in homegrown talent. The engineering school, which is affiliated with the Université de Montréal, described the $50 million donation as the largest gift in its history. Lassonde, an engineering graduate who made his money in mining, says that means investing big in intellectual capital and pushing forward-looking projects.

Ontarians look back at the first COVID-19 lockdown

Five years ago, Ontarians suddenly found themselves staying home as part of a bigger push to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic. What was initially meant to last two weeks stretched into months of evolving public-health measures. Ahead of the anniversary of Ontario declaring a state of emergency in response to the novel coronavirus, The Canadian Press spoke to five Ontarians about their experience during the first lockdown.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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