David Akin's Roundup: First steps. Data problem. Russia shifts.
THU JUN 25
Canada
Canada takes first steps to designate 3 projects of national interest
The federal government is taking its first steps to designate three new projects that are of national interest, making them eligible for fast-tracked approvals. Any such projects will also be allowed to bypass some environmental laws. Jillian Piper looks at what’s being considered, where the infrastructure could be built and when construction is expected to start. | Global National
Conservative MPs launch fundraiser for LGBTQ+ refugees
“We’re all God’s creatures and we’re all loved, and we all deserve to be loved and we all deserve to feel safe and secure,” [CPC MP] Scott Aitchison said. “I believe that it’s important for all of us to — not to preach that, but to demonstrate that.” | CP via Yahoo
These economists are worried Canada has a data quality problem
Desjardins economists concluded in a report published Thursday that Canada faces a “data quality crisis.” Randall Bartlett, the report’s co-author and deputy chief economist at Desjardins, said in an interview that concern about the reliability of data in Canada and internationally is an “open secret” in economics circles. Statistics Canada’s view is that volatility should be expected in the data during periods of economic upheaval, but the agency expects those key measures will smooth out as it receives more regular data. | TorStar (🎁 link)
The Provinces
How Nova Scotia bridge builder is trying to navigate US steel tariffs
Canada’s steel industry has been hit hard by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which have been in place since March 2025. The pain was compounded in April of this year, when Trump tacked further penalties onto fabricated steel items crossing the border south. Heidi Petracek looks at how one Nova Scotia bridge builder is trying to survive the turbulent times. | Global National
Internal Ford government notes admit it will ‘not reach’ 1.5M homes target
A series of handwritten notes from within the ministry suggest the impossibility of the housing goal was discussed. One line of a page appears to discuss communications plans, saying: “1.5 million homes not reach target, more context.” It goes on to add that there is “not enough time” for Indigenous input, before cautioning against making new housing pledges. | Globalnews.ca
Do you perform marriages? Ontario MPPs can now say, ‘I do’
[Catherin Fife] is one of a handful of Ontario’s 124 MPPs who have signed on to do weddings since the legislature passed a private members’ bill from Progressive Conservatives Matt Rae (Perth) and Dave Smith (Peterborough — Kawartha) in December. Their bill amended the Marriage Act, allowing legislators to solemnize civil marriages so the happy couples don’t have to go through their local municipal clerk, a justice of the peace or a judge. | TorStar (🎁 link)
[Press release] Nearly half of Calgary Chamber members are likely to relocate business if Alberta separation process moves forward
The results point to growing concerns within Calgary’s business community about the economic uncertainty and disruption associated with a potential separation process, with 91 per cent of member respondents reporting that they are following the referendum discussion closely. The findings also show that 63 per cent of respondents report separatism is already having a negative impact on their business, while 74 per cent see no tangible benefit to Alberta separating from Canada. | Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Elsewhere
Russia shifts air defenses to Moscow as Ukraine drones strike deep, Zelenskyy says
Russia is moving a significant part of its air defenses to protect a handful of prime targets, including Moscow, as Ukraine’s long-range drones continue to hammer sites deep inside the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says. Ukraine has in recent months stepped up its aerial campaign against Russian military installations and energy facilities. Its success has caused fuel shortages and disrupted army supply lines, stalling Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor after more than four years of fighting and rattling Russian officials. | AP News
Senate Republicans clash with Trump during contentious lunch
Tensions between Trump and Senate Republicans have been building for weeks. Trump infuriated many of them last month by reaching an agreement with the Justice Department to create a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people, including Trump’s political allies, who claim they were wrongly prosecuted during the Biden administration. Some Republican senators said they feared it could reward people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The administration eventually backed down, but Trump has created more headaches for his party.
Last week, he directed Jay Clayton, his nominee for director of national intelligence, not to appear for his Senate confirmation hearing. That move undercut a Republican plan to renew a major surveillance law. The agreement that Trump struck with Iran has drawn strong criticism even from some of his allies in the Senate. And Trump has spent months badgering Republicans to pass his voting legislation, the Save America Act, which Thune and other Republicans have said repeatedly does not have enough support to move forward. | WaPo (🎁 link)
[Political ad] Open This Damn Bridge
Mallory McMorrow is a state senator from Detroit’s suburbs and is a contestant in a three-way fight to win the Democratic primary in order to contest the general election for a vacant Michigan Senate seat. The Democrats are the incumbent party — Sen Gary Peters (D) is retiring — but, according to the NYT’s poll tracker in this race, McMorrow is in third place to win the primary. Regardless of her chances in the primary: I’ll bet many Canadians would endorse this message. - DA
US Postmaster General Confirms Plan to Hold Back Mail Ballots Under Proposed Rule
The Postal Service’s proposed rule was released this month and is in line with President Trump’s March executive order intended to restrict voting by mail. That order, which faces multiple court challenges, seeks to create state-by-state lists of citizens to help determine who is eligible to vote and calls on the Postal Service not to distribute mail ballots to those not on state lists. | NYT (🎁 link)
Media
Four in five under-16s in Australia using social media despite ban, study shows
An observational study of 408 12- to 17-year-olds by the country’s University of Newcastle has concluded that Australia’s social media minimum age legislation has resulted in “limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention of social media restrictions”. | The Guardian
Science and Technology
[Press release] Statement from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security on frontier artificial intelligence models and their impact on cyber security
Leaders should look at how AI can support their own defences, particularly by identifying exposures earlier, testing controls, and improving response time. This includes integrating AI into software development processes to identify vulnerabilities earlier in the development lifecycle and strengthen secure-by-design practices. Whether your organization has a mature cyber security program or is just starting to assess AI-related risks, one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure is by reinforcing strong cyber hygiene practices. | Communications Security Establishment Canada
The Cloud Has Sound: The Unrelenting and Unseen Cost of A.I. Data Centers
As tech giants rush to build infrastructure, some residents who live near data centers say a constant low-frequency vibration is ruining their health and homes. | NYT (🎁 link)
The Calendar
0900 ET : Halifax - Justice Min Sean Fraser and LPC MP Shannon Miedema meet with a small business owner.
0900 ET : Saint-Hyacinthe, QC - Public Works and Procurement Min Joel Lightbound makes a funding announcement
1000 ET : Halifax - Justice Min Sean Fraser and LPC MP Shannon Miedema meet with downtown business owners.
1100 ET : Saskatoon, SK - Secretary of State Buckley Belanger makes a funding announcement
1115 ET : NPT - PM Carney speaks to reporters.
1200 ET : Halifax - Justice Min Sean Fraser and LPC MP Shannon Miedema speak about C-14.
1300 ET : NIagara-on-the-Lake, ON - Public Safety Min Gary Anandasangaree and LPC MP Chris Bittle speak about border security.
1300 ET : Windsor - CPC MP Kathy Borelli attends a seniors fair.
1300 ET : Surrey, BC - Secretary of State Adam van Koeverden makes a funding announcement
1330 ET : Calgary - LPC MP Corey Hogan makes a funding announcement
1430 ET : Sherbrooke, QC - Environment Min Julie Dabrusin and Élisabeth Brière make a funding announcement
1500 ET : Toronto - Women and Gender Equality Min Rechie Valdez makes a funding announcement
1930 ET : Toronto - LPC MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith speaks to supporters.
1930 ET : Calgary - CPC MP Greg McLean hosts a constituency meeting about the Canada-Alberta MoU
Issued this day …
… in 1951 Sc 304 Prime Ministers: William Lyon Mackenzie King. Design: Herman Herbert Schwarz
