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Lutnick unsatisfied with trade deal on offer with Canada

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

One of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most influential cabinet members has expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the trade deal on the table with Canada and is pushing for changes to be made as the high-stakes trade negotiations come down to the wire in Washington, CBC News has learned.

Four sources with knowledge of the closed-door discussions say U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a central figure in the Trump administration’s economic policy who has known the president for decades, has said he believed the United States could secure a better agreement than the one that’s been on offer since Tuesday.

Canada, Australia and UK criticize Israel over Gaza aid convoy killings decision as ‘Shameful’

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

An Australian, three Britons, a Canadian, a Pole, and a Palestinian were killed by an IDF air strike in April 2024.

Britain, Australia and Canada have called the decision of the Israeli military authorities not to open a criminal investigation into the April 2024 airstrikes that hit a convoy of aid vehicles in Gaza “shameful,” reports Jason Burke at The Guardian. The strikes killed seven humanitarian workers from the US-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization.

“This decision is both too little, and too late. The victims of this incident and their families deserve justice and accountability, and we will continue to seek answers on their behalf. The World Central Kitchen attack is one of countless incidents in Gaza where there has been no accountability,” the countries’ joint statement said.

Statistics Canada reports retail sales up 0.6% in June at $74.3 Billion

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

Statistics Canada reports sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, including a 2.7% increase at general merchandise stores..

Sales at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers added 3.1%.

Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, gained 1.2% in June.

U.S. alcohol may prove hard to swallow

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

Call it voting with your liver. In the same way that you can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink, putting U.S. alcohol back on Canadian shelves can’t make locals partake, writes the Globe and Mail’s Editorial Board.

For Canadians, the situation is straightforward. A recent Nanos poll found that 81 per cent had a negative view of the relationship with the U.S. The feeling appears to run deep.

Russian money behind Alberta’s separatist movement

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

Moscow’s interest in the province is part of a familiar playbook: amplify the angriest arguments inside a Western democracy as evidence that its institutions are weak and divided, writes Jessica Davis at The Walrus.

According to research published by Disinfowatch, a group that exposes foreign disinformation campaigns targeting Canada, between late 2025 and early 2026, the Pravda News Network published dozens of stories depicting Alberta as a province systematically exploited by Ottawa. An influence campaign known as Storm 1516 reportedly went further, creating websites such as albertaseparatist.com to circulate fabricated claims—including the assertion that the federal government fleeces $20,000 a year from every Alberta family. Russian state-aligned outlets, like Sputnik and RT, then helped elevate these narratives, alongside inflammatory commentary from sympathetic US influencers on YouTube and X, giving fringe claims the appearance of mainstream debate.

ICC President warns of ‘demise of international rule of law’ after U.S. sanctions

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

The Trump administration has accused the International Criminal Court (ICC) of “politicised actions” and of “targeting Israel” after it issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relating to the war in Gaza.

ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan warned on Friday against “the demise of international rule of law” after the United States targeted her with sanctions, according to EuroNews.

That U.S. wants to control who can access Canadian retailers

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

“It’s not in the Canadian interest,” explains Al Mussell, a prominent Canadian agricultural economist and policy analyst.

Mussell explains that the U.S. wants more control over who can access Canadian retailers directly, so they can export some of their premium products to Canada, writes Anam Khan at CTV News.

“Of course, that’s not how our system works,” he says, adding that allowing it would threaten Canadian processors and complicate the domestic raw milk allocation system.

Canada currently gives dairy import quota access mainly to processors, while retailers are excluded under CUSMA. The U.S. argues that this restriction creates an unfair playing field because retailers are granted access under Canada’s trade agreement with the European Union.

Vance mocks PM Carney, says he tried to ‘out-tough’ Trump

August 21, 2026 / Political Press

In audio from the fundraiser in Southampton, N.Y., which was provided to The Canadian Press by a source who attended the private function, Vance said Carney is a “very sweet guy” and he gets along with him quite well.

But, Vance said, Carney “comes in and puffs his chest out and says, ‘I’m going to, like, out-tough Donald Trump.’”

“It’s hilarious because Carney presents this as some victory for Canada when fundamentally, like, they climb down on a lot of issues,” Vance told the room.

The Guardian: JD Vance reportedly mocks Carney for trying to ‘out-tough’ Trump on trade

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says, “I think we should fight” as negotiators work to finalize a trade deal [updated]

August 20, 2026 / Political Press

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says, “I think America is weaker around the world today than it was a year ago. He’s about to get slaughtered in the midterms, and the cost of living is the No. 1 issue, and he is completely out of touch with the cost of living of Americans.”

“I think we’ve got the upper hand. They’re back on their heels right now. They’re coming to us right now, and so I think we should fight.”

“But it’s not about me, it’s about Team Canada — what we’ve been saying for the past year, year and a half, since all this tariff nonsense started.”

BBC: Canada ‘should fight’ as US trade deadline looms, Manitoba premier says

AP acts surprised – “The premier of a Canadian province launched a blistering attack on U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, calling him a “bad person” and “not to be trusted”

There’s ‘plenty of good alcohol here in Canada’

August 20, 2026 / Political Press

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette says lifting the ban is “possible” in her province, pending analysis of how new Canada-U.S. trade terms will impact Quebec’s economy, reports Jeff Lagerquist at CBC News.

“We need to have a global view. The complete view of the impact on Quebec’s economy,” she told CBC News on Thursday. “If it is globally positive, it is possible that we put back the alcohol on the shelves of the SAQ.”

Political Press 🍁

Page 28 of 32

Lutnick unsatisfied with trade deal on offer with Canada

Canada, Australia and UK criticize Israel over Gaza aid convoy killings decision as ‘Shameful’

Statistics Canada reports retail sales up 0.6% in June at $74.3 Billion

U.S. alcohol may prove hard to swallow

Russian money behind Alberta’s separatist movement

ICC President warns of ‘demise of international rule of law’ after U.S. sanctions

That U.S. wants to control who can access Canadian retailers

Vance mocks PM Carney, says he tried to ‘out-tough’ Trump

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says, “I think we should fight” as negotiators work to finalize a trade deal [updated]

There’s ‘plenty of good alcohol here in Canada’

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