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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Trump says June 12 summit with North Korea’s Kim is back on
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday a nuclear arms summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will go ahead as scheduled on June 12 in Singapore. “I think it’s probably going to be a very successful, ultimately a successful process,” Mr. Trump told reporters on the White House lawn after meeting in the Oval Office with a senior North Korean official who delivered a letter from Mr. Kim.
Doug Ford’s art of the deal: What is he pitching to Ontarians and will they buy it?
Boasting of Ford Nation’s populist power, Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford is trying to win over voters with the same messages his late brother brought to municipal politics – but he’s been light on details about what that really means. The Globe and Mail’s Patrick White reports from the campaign trail. (for subscribers)
Trump floats replacing NAFTA with bilateral agreements with Canada, Mexico
The trade war between Canada and the United States took another step forward today, when President Donald Trump threatened Canada’s lumber industry. In a tweet, Mr. Trump falsely wrote that Canada has a “really high” trade surplus with the U.S. In fact, Canada ran a $8.4-billion trade deficit with the U.S. in 2017, according to figures produced by the U.S. government. He followed up his early morning comments with assertions that he would prefer to see separate bilateral trade deals with Canada and Mexico rather than the current North American free-trade agreement that binds all three countries. Canada, Mexico and the European Union, all American allies, now find themselves in a trade spat with the U.S. after Mr. Trump decided to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum imports. Yesterday, Canada retaliated by slapping tariffs on $16.6-billion in U.S. goods. The U.S. is citing “national security” as its rationale for imposing the duties. The European Union has initiated a World Trade Organization case against the U.S. in response to the Trump administration’s decision. Mexico, meanwhile, chose to primarily target agricultural goods produced in areas that supported Mr. Trump in the 2016 election.
Lawrence Herman, an international trade lawyer, writes that neighbourly relations with the U.S. are over: “The Trump administration’s announcement of punitive tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum means we’re into a full-blown economic and political war with the Americans.”
Supreme Court overturns misconduct conviction in defence of lawyers’ right to advocate strongly for clients
The Supreme Court of Canada in a 6-3 ruling decided to overturn a conviction of professional misconduct against a lawyer who was accused of acting rudely in court. The decision is seen as a defence of lawyers’ right to advocate strongly for their clients. Justice Michael Moldaver, writing for the majority, said that “A lawyer’s duty to act with civility does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, it exists in concert with a series of professional obligations that both constrain and compel a lawyer’s behaviour.” Canada’s top court ordered the dismissial of the case against lawyer Joe Groia, who was charged for his actions in the successful defence of his client John Felderhof on securities charges related to Bre-X Minerals Ltd. In 1999, Mr. Felderhof was charged in 1999 with four counts of insider trading but was acquitted. His lawyer, Mr. Groia, was accused of “incivility” by the Law Society of Ontario, the province’s governing body for lawyers.
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MARKET WATCH
Canada’s main stock index fell narrowly on Friday amid losses from the heavyweight financial and energy sectors. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index lost 0.1 per cent to finish at 16,043.54. Meanwhile, Wall Street stocks rose on after the latest monthly jobs report pointed to strength in the U.S. economy and geopolitical tensions eased. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9 per cent to end at 24,634.63, the S&P 500 gained 1.08 per cent to close at 2,734.43 and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.51 per cent to finish at 7,554.33.
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WHAT’S TRENDING ON SOCIAL
With the Ontario election a week away, The Globe’s Marcus Gee argues that the new PC plan makes a mockery of Doug Ford’s vow of a fully costed platform. “Doug Ford tried to pull a fast one on the voters of Ontario,” he writes. (for subscribers)
TALKING POINTS
Why should trees have legal rights? It’s second nature
“The idea failed to take root in the 1970s, but it seeded a worldwide movement. Now, nearly 50 years later, its time may have come. Part of the reason is that, despite environmental law’s many successes, the current legal framework has failed to stop the destruction of entire ecosystems and species, and some life-support systems, such as the Amazon, are simply too big to fail.These unprecedented challenges require new thinking. In the Western legal tradition, we have generally treated nature as property and entrusted governments with its protection. We instructed agencies to manage natural resources and wildlife in public interest. But “public interest” means many things to different people, who may assign different weights to short-term profit maximization and long-term welfare. The environment (and the public) often get lost in the shuffle. To counteract short-termism or regulatory capture, we gave citizens and communities rights to be heard, but this has often proven procedurally difficult (not to mention costly).“ − Maria Banda
Now is the time to fix the inequalities in Haiti
“If the country is really to be ‘built back better,’ industrial growth must be accompanied by free universal education and decentralized business strategies. Just as important, any investment in factories and assembly plants should be decentralized outside Port-au-Prince. There are at least a dozen coastal cities where, even with rudimentary inputs, port and transportation infrastructure can be expanded. A decentralized growth strategy could assist in promoting “balanced” economic growth. The rebalancing of Haiti must be accompanied by respect and empathy for the Haitian people. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted how in Haiti, “talent is universal; opportunity is not.” To be successful, the country’s renaissance must improve the conditions enabling growth and the environment for providing opportunities for all. The dynamic diaspora that includes New York, Montreal and Paris offers evidence of what can be achieved when opportunities are twinned with talent.“ − Robert Muggan and Robert Maguire
Viktor Orban’s war on George Soros and Hungary’s Jews
“It is painful to consider leaving the land where one’s ancestors were born, where one has participated in civic life and enjoyed full citizenship. Denial can take hold. There has been a Jewish presence in Hungary since the ninth century. In her 1946 book, Medallions, the Polish writer Zofia Nalkowska wrote: ‘Reality is bearable when something prevents us from knowing it completely. It draws near in fragmented events, in tattered reports…’ During his campaign, Mr. Orban ominously promised a reckoning. Earlier this week, his government introduced a set of laws known as ‘Stop Soros’ that would impose jail terms on people or organizations aiding illegal migrants. Hungary’s non-Christian minorities appear to be at risk.” − Erna Paris
LIVING BETTER
What are three basic dishes everyone should be able to cook? Food columnist Lucy Waverman’s easy-to-prepare meals are an omelette, roast chicken and stir-fry. Omelettes, though often served for breakfast, can be prepared any time of the day and can incorporate leftovers well. Roast chicken, when prepared with butter and seasonings, can feed the whole family. Stir-frying is another technique that incorporates a range of vegetables to pack a nutritious punch. (for subscribers)
LONG READ FOR A LONG COMMUTE
Frank Gehry goes big: Inside the shape of the architect’s Toronto project
Frank Gehry, the world’s most famous architect, is 89 years old now, but he’s in no mood to stop. In fact, he’s ready to go big. He’s set to remake Toronto’s skyline with two skyscrapers, including one building that will become the tallest residential building in th ecountry. The Globe’s architecture critic sat down with Mr. Gehry to understand where he’s going with his ambitious new plans.
Evening Update is written by Mayaz Alam and Kristene Quan. If you’d like to receive this newsletter by e-mail every weekday evening, go here to sign up. If you have any feedback, send us a note.
Mayaz Alam