Well, that kind of felt like a close one, as Trump made genocidal threats against Iran, and then backed down at the very last minute for a two-week ceasefire (negotiated by Pakistan?!) that would seem to effectively hand over control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran’s control in exchange for extortion payments? Maybe? There are a lot of competing narratives, nut none of them are any good, and the most that Mark Carney could muster himself to do was to say that “all parties” must respect International Law. Well then.

Meanwhile, you had Americans on social media imploring the rest of the world to Do Something about Trump, when he’s their president and they have all of the tools to remove him at their disposal if they were to so choose, and they could have spent the day protesting in the streets nation-wide, and made it really uncomfortable for their government, but nope. It’s not even learned helplessness—it’s an absolute refusal to both understand their own civics, and take responsibility for their actions.

Trump expects the rest of the world to clean up his mess in Iran, while American voters expect the rest of the world to clean up the mess they made in electing Trump.Just perfect. Chef's kiss.

— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-04-07T16:03:58.527Z

Back home, Mark Carney says he’s looking at ways to “cushion the blow” of high gas prices as a result of this conflict, while he keeps having to answer questions about why gasoline prices are so high when we produce our own at home. He never seems to want to explain why we are bound to the world price (i.e. so that we can export into the global market), and also never gets around to saying that the last time the federal government proposed price controls on oil and gas, well, Alberta has an absolute meltdown that they still harbour zombie resentment toward today (even though they blamed the NEP for the collapse in prices when it was, in fact, a global oil price shock, but it was more convenient to blame Pierre Trudeau and it stuck).

In case you missed it:

• For National Magazine, I delve into whether there is any basis for the Chief Justice to recuse himself if the Supreme Court hears the Emergencies Act appeal.
• My weekend column looks at a recent push by some senators to start using the tools at their disposal to break up omnibus budget bills.
• My column notes that Poilievre treats “cutting wasteful spending” as the very same kind of magical money tree that the NDP does when it comes to wealth taxes.
• My Loonie Politics Quick Take finds it a problem that Poilievre is evaluating the effectiveness of his shadow cabinet based on their social media presence.

Ukraine Dispatch

Russians attacked two busses in Dnipropetrovsk, killing eight people and injuring more than two dozen others. Ukraine has regained more territory along the frontlines in the east and southeast parts of the country. There is a looming shortage of the miniature jet engines that Ukraine’s deep-strike drones require.

Good reads:

• Mark Carney was in Brampton to launch is “Build Communities Strong” funding. He also said that they are in talks with other provinces about an HST rebate on housing.
• In case you were wondering, Carney has denounced Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
• François-Philippe Champagne is recusing himself of any dealings with the Alto high-speed rail project because of involvement by his partner and his father. (More here).
• The federal government announced $412.9 million over five years for the plans to help revive wild Pacific salmon populations.
• Digital asbestos is infecting asylum claims, acting as “ghost immigration consultants,” embellishing or fabricating details in their documentation.
• The Canadian Forces commander in Latvia has been replaced after being charged in an ongoing investigation.
• The RCMP are investigating the claims that reporter David Pugliese was “uncovered” as a Russian asset, given that this is foreign interference.
• The US Trade Representative says that NAFTA talks are unlikely to be concluded by July 1st (as though they don’t keep inventing new grievances).
• Here is a good overview of the situation in Hungary, where JD Vance is trying to prop up Orbán’s fortunes because they don’t want a strongman to fail.
• Here is a deeper dive into the three by-elections and some of the trends in those ridings in the last three elections. Advance turnout in Terrebonne was 20 percent.
• Former NDP MP Brian Masse is upset that legalising sports betting didn’t turn out the way he planned, and he blames the provinces. (He was warned!)
• Alberta changed their elections laws to impose impossible timelines for violation investigations—protecting the donor at the centre of their corruption scandal.
• Kevin Carmichael ponders the changed incentives in the oil patch, and why that is a drag on the government’s desire to be an “energy superpower.”
• Mike Moffatt lays out how the federal-Ontario deal to rebate HST on housing and cut development charges buys time for broader reforms in the housing sector.
• Philippe Lagassé discusses the role Canada’s military could play in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is achieved, as it is our burden as a middle power.
• Justin Ling calls out Danielle Smith for continuing to cavort with conspiracy theory groups, and that she is a fellow traveller in their quest for separation.
• Althia Raj hears from frustrated Conservatives as Poilievre asks his critics to justify their positions, based on some metrics that are impossible.
• Raj also hears the frustration in the Senate as a number of its members are acquiescing to Carney’s government too frequently.
• Susan Delacourt muses about Mark Carney’s week ahead, with the upcoming Liberal convention, the by-election results, and how those impact his agenda.
• Paul Wells talks to transport minister Steve MacKinnon about the task he has of modernising our transport infrastructure which is holding back our trade ambitions.

Odds and ends:

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