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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. In Beijing, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a deal with China to allow tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada in exchange for lower canola duties — his first such trade deal since taking office.
And we'll look at how Pierre Poilievre and his team are showing again that they're trying a new strategy, this time focusing their outreach on two provincial leaders after publicly squabbling last year. Then, details on a class-action lawsuit from RCMP applicants, and we go diamond shopping with the CBC's Marketplace.
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(Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
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Canada-China trade deal reached
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Canada has reached a deal with China to allow tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into the country in exchange for lower canola duties.
Under the agreement, announced early Friday by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Beijing, Canadian canola meal, lobsters, crabs and peas will no longer be subject to Chinese tariffs from March to at least the end of the year.
In return, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market at a 6.1 per cent tariff rate.
Carney described it as a "preliminary but landmark" agreement to remove trade barriers and reduce tariffs, part of a broader strategic partnership with China.
It marks the prime minister's first deal on trade with another country since taking office last year and a de-escalation in tensions with a country that the Liberal government had, in recent years, branded a disruptive power and a threat.
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THE LATEST
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- The Federal Court of Appeal is expected to give a decision this morning on whether the Liberal government unlawfully invoked the Emergencies Act to clear convoy protests in Ottawa in 2022.
- A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison on charges that included obstructing attempts by authorities to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024.
- Liam Gabriel Toman, 22, vanished from a ski resort in Quebec nearly a year ago. Since then, his parents have been trying to find him — but there have been few clues so far.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
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Poilievre's team seeks to mend fractured relationships with Ontario, N.S. premiers: sources
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The Conservative Party is looking to make amends with some provincial leaders after some public tensions last year, sources say.
What's happening: In December, Pierre Poilievre's new campaign manager Steve Outhouse reached out to the offices of Tim Houston and Doug Ford. (Neither office responded to a request for comment.) The goal was a fresh start after a fractious period where the premiers of Nova Scotia and Ontario were publicly criticizing the federal party. These calls were seen as a "priority," sources said; two people said there's a desire on all sides to move on. It's part of a larger attempt to repair relationships since last year's federal election loss — and as Poilievre faces a leadership review later this month.
More on the new hire: Outhouse, who officially started on the job on Dec. 1, is seen as a strong potential peacemaker, partially because he has good relationships with people in Houston's and Ford's offices. In a statement, he said he believes unifying Conservatives across the country is key to winning the next federal election. He will be attending the provincial Progressive Conservative annual general meeting in his home province of Nova Scotia next month, and has reached out to other PC or Conservative teams across the country.
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RCMP applicants endured 'improper and invasive' medical exams for years, lawsuit alleges
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According to a class-action lawsuit, 1,000 past and present RCMP employees are alleging that as new recruits, they were subjected to "improper and invasive" breast, genital and rectal exams during mandatory medical screenings.
What's happening: Many of the exams reached the level of sexual assault, assault or battery, class-action lawyers say. The suit was launched in 2019 and certified two years later, and originally centred on allegations against two RCMP doctors. But after that story made headlines, hundreds of men and women levelled complaints about 26 doctors hired by the federal agency.
Looking ahead: The case is headed to Federal Court in Toronto on Jan. 19, where lead plaintiff lawyer Megan McPhee will ask for compensation and a summary judgment to settle the multimillion-dollar case without a full trial. The RCMP, which rejected an interview request, has denied in court filings claims of "systemic negligence." It told CBC News in an additional statement that it was concerned for anyone who felt victimized, but was opposing the motion due to "legal and factual issues" that it says require a full trial.
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