The first debate of this year’s mayoral campaign was held last night.
asserted
debate → hold → campaign
As someone who’s watched dozens over the years, here are my quick impressions: Olivia Chow was the most exuberant and enthusiastic (though least likely to answer direct questions), Brad Bradford was the most effective critic (though he risked appearing to run for leader of the opposition), and Chris Alexander most exceeded expectations (though the bar was pretty low for him).
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bar → watch → him
But first up, here are six things to know on Tuesday morning:
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things → know → morning
- Mark Carney’s investment summit kicked off with a tax reform from the government and financial pledges from two banks.
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summit → kick → banks
- Businesses in New York City tell the Star’s Ben Cohen that Trump’s trade war is hitting them hard.
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war → tell → them
- Despite fears that AI could eradicate human life, Carney says the “tone” of Canadians is, “let’s get on with it.”
uncertain
’s → eradicate → it
- Exclusive: Soulpepper theatre company executive director Gideon Arthurs will step down this fall.
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Arthurs → step → ?
The deal to bring Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors is done.
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deal → bring → Raptors
Doug Smith has the details.
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Smith → have → details
The prime minister kicked off his investment summit with a gala inside the Art Gallery of Ontario Monday night, while protesters outside splintered into distinct groups around the building on McCaul Street and in Grange Park.
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protesters → kick → Park
“The Money vs. The Many” coalition of labour activists and Indigenous leaders object to what one speaker called “an auction of Canadian public resources, institutions, infrastructure, airports and highways and water and power plants.”
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speaker → object → resources
More:
- Armine Yalnizyan’s take: By courting foreign money to save Canada, Carney risks an “investment invasion.”
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Carney → court → invasion
- Roundup: Day one of the summit saw the announcement of more than $250 billion in bank investments.
Emmy Awards
- First, the important stuff: Who won on the red carpet?
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Who → see → carpet
Jennifer Berry rounds up the looks, from the top of Zendaya’s head to the shoes on Colman Domingo’s feet.
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Berry → round → feet
- If you missed the show, Debra Yeo has your day-after talking points covered (including Sally Field’s shout-out to Canada).
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points → miss → Canada
At a debate held by the Daily Bread Food Bank, the three leading mayoral candidates squared off over affordability, policing and standing up to Doug Ford.
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candidates → hold → Ford
- Four Toronto Star columnists watched the debate — here’s how they scored Chow, Bradford and Alexander.
Politics
- Exclusive: Former premier Kathleen Wynne took the unusual step of endorsing a candidate in the Ontario Liberal leadership race.
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Wynne → watch → race
The National Bank has moved to place a company linked to the Skills Development Fund scandal into receivership, attempting to recoup $4.5 million.
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Bank → move → million
- China says the Anthropic CEO who called to curb its AI industry is “fearmongering.”
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who → say → industry
THE CONVERSATION
Suddenly everyone seems to be talking about the European Union.
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everyone → seem → Union
Not so much because Mark Carney is heading to France this week to address the European Parliament, but because of what he might say when he gets there.
uncertain
he → head → what
He’s supposed to outline a new proposed partnership of some sort with the continental common market.
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He → suppose → market
In some media outlets, the talk about this move has been amped up.
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talk → ampe → move
The Wall Street Journal reported recently that Carney was working on some kind of membership — or maybe a previously unheard-of “associate membership”— in that body.
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Carney → report → body
Then Carney himself dampened speculation a bit, saying this week that Canada wants a “unique alliance,” not to join the EU as any kind of member.
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Canada → dampen → member
Still, there are many Canadians who might find that prospect intriguing.
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prospect → be → ?
Esteemed former Star columnist Paul Wells, in his Substack newsletter, pointed readers to a forthcoming survey from pollster David Coletto of Abacus Data, showing Canadians approve of closer integration with Europe by a margin of more than eight to one.
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Canadians → point → one
There are some who find the prospect less attractive.
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prospect → be → ?
Pierre Poilievre posted a long argument against any kind of membership: “We will NEVER be the 51st U.S. state.
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We → post → membership
Whichever way your gut goes on the general idea of close ties with Europe — especially given our evolving relationship with Trump’s U.S. — it seems like the details are going to matter.
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details → go → U.S.
What can Canada feasibly get from a relationship with the EU?
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Canada → get → EU
What will Canada realistically have to give up for that relationship?
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Canada → have → relationship
As Tonda MacCharles writes, Carney might be expected to outline some of those details this week.
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Carney → write → details
She spoke with several experts on what they’d expect to see as those details begin to emerge.
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details → speak → what
What are you hoping to hear from Carney in his big European speech?
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you → hop → speech
What kind of arrangement would you want Canada to agree to with the EU?
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Canada → want → EU
What would make you cheer on or reject this deal?
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you → make → deal
Let us know in the comments section here.
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us → let → section
The Liberals’ defining advantage on climate change is at risk of being squandered by Mark Carney’s government.
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advantage → define → government
I don’t know who to believe about this AI freakout.
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I → know → freakout
…and 28 more, not listed.