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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. In today's issue, we'll cover the latest on Canada's housing market, as well as a challenge to a decision involving Justin Trudeau and the WE Charity. We'll also cover what's going on with Greenland.
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THE LATEST
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- Prime Minister Mark Carney's first day in China secures agreements on energy — but no tariff breakthrough yet.
- A federal officer shot a man in the leg during a Minneapolis arrest, officials say, a week after ICE agents fatally shot Renee Good in same city. Meanwhile, a video is circulating of a woman dragged from her car and hauled away by masked agents.
- A Canadian has died in Iran amid widespread protests, Global Affairs Canada confirmed last night. Tehran is warning of retaliation if the U.S. strikes, as the latter country withdraws some personnel from Middle East bases.
- Newly released court documents in the case of Lily and Jack Sullivan, the missing children from Nova Scotia, offer more details on the relationship between their mother and stepfather.
- More Americans than ever identify as political Independents, according to new Gallup polling of more than 15,000 adults.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Evan Mitsui/CBC)
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What's in store for Canada's housing market in 2026?
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National home sales in Canada fell by 1.9 per cent in December 2025 year over year, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.
What's happening: That month, home sales hit a 20-year low in Toronto and Vancouver, the country's biggest markets. Any uptick from there is expected to be small, said John Pasalis of Realosophy Realty, due to lingering fear from the U.S. trade war. However, activity in other regions, like parts of Quebec, the Atlantic provinces and the Prairies, has been stable — even hot.
Looking ahead: In regions where activity has slowed, one should view it in the context of the post-COVID-19 surge in home prices, said Robert Hogue of RBC. That was when smaller cities in southern Ontario, like Kitchener and London, saw huge growth. Now, the trend is partially reversing — and because the growth was more significant in those regions, the correction is expected to be, too. As for where the housing market goes next, that relies partially on the direction of the Canadian economy, Hogue said. But with continued economic uncertainty and questions about the labour market, housing may remain slow for a good part of the year. |
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Top court asked to allow challenge of decision clearing Trudeau of ethics breach in WE Charity controversy
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The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing final arguments today in a case resurfacing former prime minister Justin Trudeau's role in the WE Charity scandal. It could change the way Canadians hold their elected officials accountable.
What's happening: The top court is wrapping up two days of hearings, after Democracy Watch challenged a 2021 ruling by the federal ethics commissioner clearing Trudeau of a conflict of interest. (If you can't recall, the original case was about the government's decision to give WE Charity a $43-million contract to run a $912-million student grant program, despite Trudeau's and then-finance minister Bill Morneau's family connections with the charity.)
Looking ahead: Democracy Watch, an Ottawa-based non-profit, is arguing the decision should be reviewed on principle for future ethical issues that could arise. If the group wins, in addition to impacting the Trudeau finding, it could also open the door to let any watchdog decision be challenged in court. However, one lawyer cautioned, in exchange for increased accountability, there would be a subsequent increase in administrative burden and costs.
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Denmark raises the stakes for the U.S. on Greenland
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Yesterday, the Danish and Greenland foreign ministers met with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Greenland's future. (The meeting was not with U.S. President Donald Trump, as we said in yesterday's newsletter.) They remained at an impasse, but separately, Denmark looked to send a message.
What's happening: During the meeting, the Danes acknowledged they weren't able to shift the Americans from their position. Still, they said there was progress, saying the U.S. agreed to create a working group to discuss common concerns. Meanwhile, Denmark announced it was sending more troops and equipment to Greenland, a move joined by other European countries, including Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Why it matters: European leaders are seeing U.S. threats differently in light of the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Actual conflict would shake NATO, of which the U.S. is the backbone. While Denmark's defence minister dismissed the suggestion that the deployment was meant to defend Greenland from the U.S., it significantly raises the stakes for Trump.
- In military parlance, the move is known as the tripwire, a metaphor for crossing the threshold between peace and war, writes Murray Brewster. And while what's next is anyone's guess, if the U.S. were to start a mobilization, you'd see logistics forces moving first, a defence expert said.
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