The Canadian Press has provided a roundup of current events to keep readers informed.
Anand Set to Meet with Rubio in Washington
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, is scheduled for her inaugural official meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington today. This meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions in the bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States. Previously, Anand and Rubio have communicated via phone, notably in June ahead of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis. Efforts to negotiate trade terms have seen Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc visiting Washington in July, focusing on finding a resolution to existing tariffs. Instead, U.S. President Donald Trump increased duties on Canadian goods to 35 percent, which do not affect products that comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.
Air Canada Resumes Most Domestic and U.S. Flights
Air Canada anticipates that most of its North American routes will be operational today following a strike involving flight attendants that concluded on Tuesday. According to an online service resumption dashboard provided by the airline, approximately 97 percent of domestic flights are expected to run in the next 24 hours, alongside 99 percent of flights to the U.S. However, the restart of international flights is progressing at a slower pace, with about 76 percent of planned international services anticipated to operate.
Firefighters Battle Wildfires in Nova Scotia
Firefighters in Nova Scotia remain committed to tackling the Long Lake wildfire, located in the Annapolis Valley and closest to residential areas. Andrew Mitton from Nova Scotia’s Department of Emergency Management reported that 61 structures in the area have been equipped with sprinklers for added fire protection. The Long Lake blaze is currently the largest wildfire in the province, measuring approximately 32 square kilometers as of Wednesday afternoon. Scott Tingley from the Department of Natural Resources also mentioned that weather conditions, particularly winds from Hurricane Erin, are being monitored as they may affect firefighting operations.
Moe to Discuss Canola Tariff with Federal Minister
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is set to meet today with federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and representatives from industry groups to address the recent steep Chinese tariff imposed on Canadian canola seed. The meeting will take place in Saskatoon and will also include Kody Blois, the parliamentary secretary for Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison. Last week, China imposed a tariff close to 76 percent, which has resulted in a significant drop in the price of one of Canada’s most valuable crops, leading to the loss of millions of dollars in value.
B.C. Anglers Receive Unique Opportunity for Sockeye Fishing
In British Columbia, fishing guide Dean Werk reports an influx of inquiries from eager anglers anticipating a rare salmon fishing opportunity. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has announced an opening for recreational fishing of sockeye salmon on a segment of the Fraser River from Friday until September 1. This announcement follows predictions by the joint Canada-U.S. Pacific Salmon Commission of a sockeye run anticipated to reach 9.6 million fish, marking the largest return since 2018. Anglers will be allowed to retain two sockeye per day within a specific non-tidal stretch of the river from Mission Bridge to Hope.
Major Russian Drone and Missile Attack on Ukraine
In international news, Russia has launched one of its most significant aerial attacks on Ukraine this year, reportedly deploying 574 drones and 40 missiles overnight. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed the assault primarily targeted western regions of the country, resulting in at least one fatality and 15 injuries as per official reports. Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, indicated that Russian forces targeted a "major American electronics manufacturer" in western Ukraine, without disclosing further details. This aerial offensive represented Russia's third-largest strike of the year in terms of drones used and the eighth-largest for missile launches, according to official statistics.
