Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Canada’s economy shed almost 25,000 jobs in January, largely owing to an ailing manufacturing sector and losses in Ontario, Statistics Canada reported Friday.
Despite the hit, the unemployment rate fell to 6.5 per cent – the lowest level in 16 months – because fewer people were active participants in the labour market, Statistics Canada said. Economists were expecting that measure to hold steady at 6.8 per cent.
The manufacturing industry lost 28,000 workers in January, while Ontario shed 67,000 positions.
Full-time positions jumped by 45,000 last month. Most of the losses were contained to Ontario. Alberta, meanwhile posted a jobs increase of 20,000.
Bank of Montreal chief economist Doug Porter called the update a “proverbial mixed bag” in a client note.
He added that it was consistent with an economy that is adjusting to three structural changes at once: U.S. tariffs that have hit manufacturing, the slowdown in population growth and the rapid rise in the population over 65 (who are exiting the work force).
The final two factors are taking pressure off the unemployment rate, he said.
The Globe’s Vanmala Subramaniam has the latest.
Also today, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he will not be calling a public inquiry into the delays and cost overruns related to the Eglinton Crosstown light-rail line, which is set to open this Sunday after 15 years of construction.
Mr. Ford was at the Eglinton Station to mark the imminent launch of the $13-billion project, along with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and dozens of local politicians and transit officials.
The provincial New Democrats and Liberals have called for a public inquiry into the line, like the one that was held into the botched launch of the Ottawa LRT.
Mr. Ford said an inquiry would only tie up Ontario’s Metrolinx transit agency when it needs to focus on other projects. Those include his $27.2-billion Ontario Line subway.
“I’m the first to come out and acknowledge the mistakes, but I’m not going to waste time on [an] inquiry and all the nonsense and tie all these people up. All these people here have more subways to build,” Mr. Ford told reporters.
Queen’s Park reporter Jeff Gray has all the details.
Workers inspect sheets of stainless steel after being pressed from coils, at Magna Stainless and Aluminum in Montreal.Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Peel police suspends three officers in relation to Project South probe: “No officers from Peel Regional Police have been charged in connection to Project South. The scope of the York Regional Police investigation is wide-reaching and ongoing,” Peel spokesperson Const. Tyler Bell-Morena said.
Federal public servants required to be in office four days a week as of July: Bureaucrats will be required to be in the office at least four days a week as of July 6, according to a new policy issued Thursday, while executives will need to be on-site five days a week starting May 4.
Bail-reform bill clears key House committee after co-operation deal with Conservatives: The bill would make obtaining bail more difficult, particularly for violent and repeat offenders.
LG Energy Solution to buy Stellantis’s stake in Ontario EV battery joint venture for just $100: “Full ownership of NextStar Energy will enable us to respond swiftly to the growing demand from the” energy storage systems market, said LG Energy Solution CEO David Kim.
On our radarPrime Minister’s Day: Prime Minister Mark Carney had no public events today.Greenland: Governor-General Mary Simon and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand arrived in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to mark the opening of Canada’s consulate in the self-governing region. They met with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.Jivani in Washington: Conservative MP Jamil Jivani posted on social media Friday that he had “positive conversations” about the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement with General Motors, the National Association of Manufacturers, and American Automotive Policy Council. He said he would be speaking with the United States Trade Representative before heading home to Canada.Quote of the Day
“Even with health challenges, she never felt sorry for herself. My God — what a hero for the spirit of life.” – Green Leader Elizabeth May, who was visibly emotional speaking about Kirsty Duncan, a former Liberal minister who died on Jan. 26 of cancer-related causes.
MPs held a moment of silence and paid tribute to Ms. Duncan in the House of Commons today.
You can also read The Globe’s obituary of Ms. Duncan here.
Question period
The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, took place today. Adam van Koeverden, the Secretary of State for Sport, competed in four summer Olympic games. What medals has he won?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Canada is uniquely unprepared for the dire national-security crisis we are now in
Other countries have long lived in the shadow of invasion, past or potential. Canada is unique, not only in the degree of our exposure, but in our utter unpreparedness to deal with it. It had literally never occurred to us until now that we might be a target.
— Andrew Coyne, Columnist
Carney’s choice: Ice out illegal migrants, or treat them like the assets they are
If you live in a Canadian city, you are surrounded by undocumented migrants trying to avoid the authorities. They are hidden in plain sight: at work on virtually any construction site or renovation job in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal; in hospitals and elder-care facilities; in restaurant kitchens; and quite possibly in your house, cleaning and taking care of your kids.
— Doug Saunders, International Affairs Columnist
Can neuroscience shed light on Trump’s new world disorder?
American foreign policy, by this view, is no longer driven by national interest, or even naked self-interest, but instead by Donald Trump’s hunt for dopamine rewards, conditioned by recent high-stakes military strikes on Iran and Venezuela.
— Megan Shipman and David Mitchell, The Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University
Go deeper
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The answer to today’s question: Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden has won one gold, two silver and one bronze Olympic medals in various canoe-kayak events. You can tune into The Globe’s winter Olympic coverage here.