In the news: Tariffs could alter trade permanently, impact Quebec sovereignty debate

He says the new partnerships forged with other countries may not be easily unwound and could permanently affect the volume of trade between Canada and the U.S.

Schiff says once Canadian companies invest in the logistics and infrastructure needed to service new markets, it may be more lucrative to stay in those markets rather than return to the U.S. even once the trade dispute cools.

U.S. trade war could impact sovereignty debate

Charles Rousseau says he’s always believed in Quebec independence, but it won’t be his top priority at the ballot box come Oct. 5, when the province chooses its next government.

In an interview outside a sovereigntist-themed coffee shop in Montreal on Thursday, the 27-year-old Masters’ student said he expects the tariff war and negotiations with American President Donald Trump to be top of mind for Quebecers during the electoral campaign.

“What has really dominated political discourse lately is inflation, the cost of living,” he said. “I get the impression that the sovereignty movement is losing some of its momentum as well. So, people are clearly concerned about this whole conflict.”

He added that despite having two parties making sovereignty a top priority, he’s “not interested in the proposals currently on the table.”

Interprovincial trade barriers slowly coming down

The collapse of talks with the United States has added urgency to reducing trade barriers within Canada, but experts say it’s not a simple fix.

Efforts to boost interprovincial trade have ramped up recently. Nine provinces agreed last month to allow direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across provincial lines.

But even this kind of progress, dealing with a niche side of the booze industry, shows the challenges of opening up sales. Some provinces have added on extra charges and rules, on top of what producers face in their home province.

“Having to pay two wholesale markups — that’s just lunacy,” said Jeff Guignard, chief executive officer of Wine Growers British Columbia.

StatCan set to report Q2 GDP results

Economists are expecting fresh data will show growth rebounded sharply in the second quarter of the year when Statistics Canada publishes new gross domestic product figures this morning.

StatCan is set to report updated GDP results for June and the second quarter overall.

A Reuters poll of economists expects the Canadian economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.4 per cent in the second quarter, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.

RBC economists also believe GDP will top three per cent for the second quarter as the economy bounced back from some temporary drags on growth in the previous three months.

Alberta’s Smith sees less rowdy AI town hall

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers spent an hour Thursday fielding calls and online questions from concerned residents about artificial intelligence data centres being built in the province.

The virtual town hall was tame compared to the two in-person events held earlier this month, where Technology Minister Nate Glubish was repeatedly hit with criticism, profanity and demands for additional safeguards.

For Thursday’s call, Albertans could either submit questions online or, if they registered in advance, over the phone. Moderator Justin Wright, the province’s primary care minister, said over 12,500 people had tuned in.

Smith’s government has been trying to position Alberta as an ideal destination for data centres, saying they could generate new jobs and billions in royalties and taxes for the province.

Jeremy Hansen to receive U.S. Space Medal of Honor

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is set to visit Houston with his Artemis II crewmates to receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to award them the medal in a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Hansen will become the first non-NASA astronaut to receive this medal.

The medal is awarded to astronauts who have distinguished themselves and contributed to the well-being of the world.

In total, 30 astronauts have received it, including 17 who received it after their death on a mission.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2026

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

In the news: Tariffs could alter trade permanently, impact Quebec sovereignty debate

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