The Canadian Press has reported on several significant developments in Canada as of January 16, 2026. One of the headline stories features Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced a "landmark" tariff-quota deal with China regarding electric vehicles (EVs) and canola. The agreement will permit the importation of up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into Canada, subject to a 6.1 percent tariff rate. In return, China is expected to reduce its canola seed duties to 15 percent by March 2026. This mutual concession marks an end to a multi-year trade dispute that began when previous Liberal governance imposed tariffs on electric vehicles to safeguard Canada’s auto industry. Carney made this announcement following a crucial meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
In another significant development, the Federal Court of Appeal is poised to deliver a ruling concerning the government's use of the Emergencies Act, invoked during the protests in January and February 2022. For three weeks, protesters, including many in large trucks, occupied key areas of downtown Ottawa, opposing COVID-19 health measures. On February 14, 2022, the government enacted the Emergencies Act, which empowered law enforcement to implement temporary measures such as regulating public assemblies and freezing bank assets. This marked the first instance of the Emergencies Act being used since its enactment in 1988.
Further insights into Canadian societal values were revealed in a dataset prepared for Immigration Minister Lena Diab. The data, obtained through an access to information request, indicates that immigrants are more likely than Canadian-born citizens to identify with certain "shared Canadian values," including respect for human rights and gender equality. The findings stem from a 2022 Statistics Canada survey involving approximately 34,000 participants, of which nearly 14,000 were landed immigrants. Notably, 67 percent of these immigrants believe that respect for the law is a Canadian value, compared to only 40 percent of those born in Canada. Additionally, the survey reports that 58 percent of immigrants express satisfaction with their lives, contrasted with 44 percent of Canadian citizens.
Legal precedence was also set by an Alberta judge, who ruled on the custody of four cats belonging to two estranged spouses. Justice Douglas Mah determined that the characters of ownership and parenthood are distinct, stating that pets should not be treated the same as children under the law. This landmark decision upheld an earlier ruling that split custody of the cats equally between the former couple, each receiving two. Justice Mah emphasized that the legal standard for pet ownership should focus on the capability and willingness to care for the animals rather than arguments regarding the "best interests of the cats." This ruling emerged from an extended legal dispute between former spouses Kishan Singh and Reba Smith, who acquired the cats during their six years together before their separation in March 2023.
In the realm of sports, the Toronto Blue Jays faced a setback in their pursuit of free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, who opted to sign a four-year, US$240 million contract with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Reports suggest that the Blue Jays had made a long-term offer to Tucker, while the Dodgers and the New York Mets presented shorter-term proposals. The Blue Jays have been active in the offseason, particularly after their playoff run where they narrowly missed defeating the Dodgers in the World Series. Star shortstop Bo Bichette remains on the market for a potential contract to continue his tenure with the team.
