Several Liberal MPs have stated that the party remains united following the resignation of Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault from cabinet. His resignation was prompted by the federal government's new agreement with Alberta regarding a proposed pipeline. In a social media post on Thursday, Guilbeault announced that he had submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Mark Carney and expressed his concerns regarding the prime minister's reversal of key environmental policies set by the previous Liberal government. Despite stepping down from his cabinet position, Guilbeault confirmed that he would continue to serve as a Liberal MP but would no longer act as Carney's Quebec lieutenant.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon praised Guilbeault's "impressive track record" but indicated that he "respectfully" disagreed with Guilbeault's interpretation of the new agreement made with Alberta.
In another development, Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson commented on the ongoing speculation surrounding the potential lifting or modification of the West Coast tanker ban. Hodgson stated that it is "premature" to draw any conclusions as no pipeline routes have been proposed for transporting oil from Alberta to British Columbia's coastline. He noted that many individuals were "jumping to conclusions" regarding discussions about the ban while he is in British Columbia to meet with Premier David Eby, shortly after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta to build a pipeline to the West Coast.
Meanwhile, Ontario residents are experiencing severe winter weather, with an ongoing storm expected to linger into the weekend. Environment Canada has warned that snowfall could accumulate to as much as 50 centimeters in areas off Georgian Bay and up to 60 centimeters in northeastern Ontario. The winter storm has already led to poor visibility and blanketed roads in northern parts of the province, with thousands left without power as Hydro One crews work to restore service.
In British Columbia, conservation officers have captured two additional grizzly bears as part of the hunt for a bear that attacked a group of schoolchildren and their teachers. The bears, captured near Bella Coola, are undergoing assessment, and forensic evidence from the attack is currently being examined. Drones equipped with thermal cameras are being utilized to locate any bears potentially involved in the incident, which resulted in serious injuries to three children and a teacher during a school field trip.
On the economic front, Statistics Canada is set to release its gross domestic product (GDP) figures for September and the third quarter. A poll by Reuters anticipates an annualized growth rate of 0.5 percent for the third quarter. The preliminary estimate from last month predicted a 0.1 percent increase in real GDP for September and an annualized growth of 0.4 percent for the quarter.
Finally, as the holiday season approaches, Christmas tree sellers are experiencing high demand, despite price increases compared to last year. The early snowfall in some regions appears to have spurred demand, with sales at Treasy International reported to be up by 15 to 20 percent from the previous year. Doug Drysdale of Drysdale Tree Farms Ltd. highlighted that the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December are crucial periods for sales as consumers prepare for Christmas.
