A survivor of a boating incident in the Squamish Valley earlier this week that killed three people says it’s been a “challenging” ordeal.

The incident happened on Thursday, with Squamish RCMP confirming a day later that eight people were on board the boat. Five were rescued.

At approximately 1:52 p.m., police say they were called about a boat incident in the area north of Vancouver. Due to elevated water levels and challenging weather conditions, search and rescue and any recovery efforts were extremely difficult and unsafe. Search and recovery operations resumed Friday.

Spencer Seabrooke told Global News he and the other seven people were on board a fan boat trying to help others caught up in the flooding hitting B.C. this past week.

“It is very challenging, everybody has lost friends and family on the boat,” Seabrooke said in an interview.

He said the boat was in a “shallow area” that is off the main river when the incident occurred.

According to Seabrooke, the boat was pushed sideways by a large branch and was pulled into a log that crossed the opening of the creek.

“We hit it sideways and the right side of the boat popped up and the left side went under and it grabbed and turned the boat over and sucked it down underneath,” he said.

All eight people on board were thrown off the boat, with Seabrooke saying he was briefly sucked under the log but was able to pop back up on the other side. He fought to get to shore and, once out of the water, ran down the path watching the others struggle.

At one point, he lost sight of most of those in the water but eventually saw the boat operator and screamed that he was coming. The operator told him to go back upriver where people needed help.

B.C.’s Sea-to-Sky region has been hit hard by the recent series of storms.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Village of Pemberton issued an evacuation order for properties on Airport Road, which includes the community’s airport, wastewater treatment facility, wildland fire management base and a public golf course due to flooding and “high-risk river levels.”

On Wednesday night, an evacuation alert was issued for the Electoral Area C portion of the valley and the village.

The province’s River Forecast Centre put the Sea-to-Sky corridor and Pemberton Valley under a flood warning on Thursday, but that was downgraded on Friday morning.

While conditions were difficult in parts of the province, Seabrooke said they were on flat water with no white caps, in a boat made to go over debris.

“The only thing that’s making this much more difficult is people piping up with their opinions about why we were out there and what we were doing and what our intentions were,” Seabrooke said.

He added that people have been putting out false information about how long the group was out in the area and what they were doing, saying people have “dug their nose into the business.”

“It was simply an accident that happened so quick,” he said. “Nobody was drunk, nobody was driving erratically, speed was not a factor. We simply had this split second of pushing off from the shore, getting hit with a branch and by the time we tried to pull away from the hazard, it was too late.”

—with files from Global News’ Amy Judd

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Spiced Garlic Ricotta and Blueberry Chutney

This ricotta spread is great on a cracker of your choice or on toast (with cucumber and tomato) or mixed in with rice or pasta! Its uses are endless. In place of blueberry chutney you can use any fruit preserves from your grocer.

 

Garlic Ricotta Spread

This recipe can be halved.

2 teaspoons finely chopped and sautéed garlic

2 cups 10% milk fat ricotta (500 grams)

1 teaspoon green (ground by hand) dried fenugreek leaves*

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (to taste)

Sauté the garlic in about 1 tablespoon oil in a separate little pan. Drain most of the oil from the garlic. Add garlic and all of the spices to the ricotta in a mixing bowl and stir well. Place in an airtight container in the fridge and let sit for a few hours before serving. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 – 7 days.

*You can buy dried green fenugreek leaves from any Indian grocer. Simply crush/grind the leaves between your fingers. At Lila, we add an extra step of toasting the leaves for a few minutes on medium-high heat in a frying pan before crushing. Store extra, cooled fenugreek leaves in a jar with a lid.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec’s premier held their first meeting since the province’s general election, with homelessness among the issues discussed.

The meeting was weeks in the making, following a stand-off when Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he would only hold his first meeting with the prime minister in Quebec City. At the time, the prime minister countered with a meeting in Montreal or Gatineau, Que.

Instead, the two leaders met on the opposite side of the world in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

And now, six weeks later, Plamondon said the pair agreed on several issues.

“We just achieved a very good first meeting in which we agreed on homelessness and immediate intervention,” he told reporters after the meeting. “We agreed on an economic summit in Quebec in 2027.”

The premier elaborated on that meeting in remarks posted to X, saying the province on Saturday had invited the economic and foreign trade ministers, as well as businesses, of all Francophonie countries to a major gathering in Quebec City next year.

On Sunday, he said Carney confirmed his support for the summit.

The Francophonie summit, where the pair met, brings together leaders from mostly French-speaking states and governments.

Quebec and New Brunswick are full members of the group, along with Canada. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt was also in attendance. Carney plans to host the next summit in 2028 in the Ottawa region.

Plamondon’s comments on homelessness come slightly more than a week after the federal government unveiled its 2026 budget, which earmarked $11.2 billion to tackle homelessness over four years starting in 2027.

Provinces need to opt into the plan, since they would run the social programs. Ottawa says it will work to sign agreements ahead of next year’s spring economic update.

In his X post, the Quebec premier said he and Carney found common ground on several issues, including homelessness, which he called the government’s “top social priority.” He said Carney would work with Quebec by letting it choose the projects and ensuring funding is coordinated.

“I think we have a duty to agree on things we can agree on and move forward things that we actually genuinely agree ,” Plamondon said. “So I didn’t sense on our side and on their side any will to just have a conflicting view just for the sake of having a conflicting view.”

Carney did not speak with reporters after the meeting with Plamondon, but the premier said the pair exchanged phone numbers to continue communication.

The prime minister is in Asia for three summits, having previously visited the ASEAN gathering in Manila where he announced the conclusion of free-trade negotiations with the Philippines, and unveiled funding for protecting tropical rainforests.

—with files from Global News’ David Akin and The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.

A humidifier isn’t just an appliance – it’s a quiet companion that makes home feel alive. Every morning, gentle mist drifts into the air, softening the dryness that sneaks in, especially during winter. The subtle hum is oddly comforting, a reminder that self-care can be as simple as breathing easier.

Taking a moment to enjoy the perfectly balanced air is a small but meaningful ritual. Whether reading, working, or winding down in the evening, it transforms space, making it feel cozier and calmer. It’s more than just humidity—it’s a little daily act of care, a quiet luxury.

From small portable models to larger units for the whole home, the right humidifier can make your environment more comfortable and healthier for the whole family. Read on to find your perfect match.

 

Best overall

Say hello to clean, fresh air with this Dyson air purifier-humidifier hybrid. It’s a premium all‑in‑one air purifier and cool‑mist humidifier that uses HEPA H13 and activated carbon filtration to capture 99.97% of tiny pollutants while also automatically maintaining comfortable humidity and cooling your room. Its hygienic UV water treatment and smart sensors make it great for large rooms or anyone who wants advanced air quality and humidity control in one unit.[/product_listing]

 

Best aesthetic

The Vitruvi Cloud Humidifier is perfect for home-decor lovers with its minimalist design and whisper-quiet operation. Its an ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier with a 1.5 L tank that covers up to 602 ft² for 24 hours, featuring a 360° adjustable spout, night mode, and automatic shutoff. The filter removes minerals from tap water, while the removable, dishwasher-safe reservoir ensures easy cleaning and maintenance.[/product_listing]

 

Best budget

Say goodbye to dry air with this highly-rated bestselling humidifier — its 2.5-liter tank delivers soothing mist, helping you and your little ones sleep soundly and wake up feeling refreshed. Its easy top-fill design, adjustable 360° nozzle, customizable mist control, auto shut-off, and BPA-free construction make it safe, convenient, and simple to clean while keeping your space comfortably humidified.[/product_listing]

 

Best smart

If you love smart home features, the Dreo humidifier offers app, voice, and touch controls, precise humidity sensing, and ultrafine mist that spreads evenly, ensuring healthier air for babies, plants, and your entire home.[/product_listing]

 

Best for large spaces

Need something that will take care of the whole house? The LEVOIT 10L Smart Cool Mist Humidifier keeps your entire home comfortably hydrated for up to 100 hours, with smart controls, whisper-quiet operation, and an aroma box.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Bamboo Charcoal Bags Odour Absorber – Air Purifying For Closet Fridge Car Home – $5.39

Waterless Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser – $99.95

 

Best for bedrooms

Say goodbye to dry air. This compact cool air humidifier from Honeywell is easy to use, easy to clean, and even has an essential oil tray for a burst of extra relaxation. With a 1.9L tank, it has a 24 hours run time and is ideal for smaller rooms.[/product_listing]

 

Best portable

This petite humidifier may be small, but don’t let its size fool you—it delivers continuous, soothing mist while operating quietly. Its compact design, simple controls, and auto shut-off make it ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, or any personal space that needs a bit of extra fresh air.[/product_listing]

 

Best for quiet spaces

The DREO Humidifier is ideal for quiet spaces, thanks to its sleep mode that reduces noise while maintaining consistent, even humidity throughout the room. Its 6L tank, precise smart controls and gentle ultrasonic mist create a calm environment perfect for bedrooms, nurseries, or any space where peace is a priority.[/product_listing]

Best for nurseries

The AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Humidifier (2.2L) uses ultrasonic technology to quietly deliver soothing mist for bedrooms, nurseries, and large rooms up to 400 sq ft, featuring a 360° rotating nozzle and adjustable mist settings. Its 2.2 L tank provides over 24 hours of continuous operation with auto-shutoff, making it safe and convenient for babies and whole-house use.[/product_listing]

You may also like:

Premium Aroma Essential Oils Blend – $145.00

Smart Car Air Freshener – $46.99

Mini Portable White Noise Machine – $24.99

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday broke his silence on the nationwide ground stop that snarled airline travel this weekend, using the incident to push Congress on money to fully upgrade America’s air traffic control system.

The Republican president has been conspicuously quiet on the ground stop since it began Friday afternoon, instead issuing statements on social media about completely different topics as frustrated passengers were left stranded at airports and his government scrambled with airlines to restore normal travel.

Trump said in a new post on his social media platform that his administration has begun upgrading that system, but that the task should not be done in “drips and drabs.” The Republican-controlled Congress approved US$12.5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration as part of the party’s sweeping tax cut package last year, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has repeatedly characterized that funding as an down payment on a broader overhaul of the aging system.

“If Congress approves the desperately needed money for Air Traffic Control, we can get it built quickly and efficiently,” Trump wrote on social media Sunday. “It will be the BEST SYSTEM anywhere in the World. Much of our current air control system is 50 years old – RIDICULOUS!”

In another post, he complained about how his Democratic predecessor had maintained the FAA and the air traffic control system, accusing Joe Biden’s administration of making an “old and broken system worse than when they began.”

Biden signed a massive infrastructure bill into law in the first year of his presidency, which set aside $25 billion for the FAA to improve airports and its traffic control towers, to redevelop airport terminals, to “upgrade the foundation” of the air traffic control system, according to the FAA.

Duffy was the administration’s public face on the ground stop across the Sunday news shows, pressing Congress for billions of dollars for upgrades to the air traffic control infrastructure.

In a post on the social media platform X, Duffy said contractor L3Harris Technologies Inc. had secured two routers from FAA facilities in Texas and Arkansas and was conducting “deep diagnostics” on the equipment. He has said the problem began when L3Harris was replacing a section of old copper wire with new fiber wire, somehow causing the system to overload.

After the wire was replaced at the site in El Dorado, Ark., and the router was turned on, a problem then cropped up at a facility in Amarillo, Texas, cascading into the ground stop. “We didn’t think that should or would happen, he told ABC’s “This Week.”

As for the traveling public, he told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “we have some delays in the airspace right now,” but looking to the end of the day and into Monday, “we should be running at full capacity.”

In a ground stop, airplanes and crews are taken out of position, he said, “so it takes a little bit of time for the airliners to get back … at full capacity and operation but we’re well on our way.”

© 2026 The Canadian Press

I’m a Costco disciple. I can spend an hour or more wandering the aisles, buying quantities of things I didn’t know I needed and availing myself of a variety of food samples before having my traditional $1.50 hot dog and drink after checkout. It’s my happy place.

I do have one complaint: Costco stores are sonically sterile. There’s never any music playing. However, there’s a very good reason for this.

When a place of business plays music, it requires a performing rights licence. The rationale is that if you’re using an artist’s labour as part of your business, i.e. creating an entertainment environment for your clients, artists should be compensated. Playing music in a store, office, garage, club, arena, stadium, amusement park or any other place of business is no different from a song that’s played on a radio station, aired on TV or streamed via a platform like Spotify. Music is NOT free nor should it be. Artists have to be paid for the value of their talents.

Let’s break this down. I promise that we’ll get back to Costco.

In Canada, a licensce to use music as part of a venture must be granted by SOCAN, our main performing rights organization, which enforces fees set by the Copyright Board of Canada. The cost of the licence is assessed on the value of music to the business. A dance club, for example, will pay more than a hair salon (where it is largely used as background music) because music is central to the club’s very existence. If you run an arena or a stadium where both live and recorded music is played for crowds, the licence fee is calculated on a percentage of ticket sales. There are tiers of payment rates that top out at around three per cent of ticket sales. There’s usually a minimum fee per event, too.

Fitness and dance classes must also pay for the privilege of playing music that pumps up clients. The annual fee is determined by the average weekly attendance multiplied by a negotiated rate per attendee. The same thing goes for your gym.

There’s also a special licence for things like fireworks displays set to music, although that’s a bit tricky if the event is public. But if it’s a ticketed show, then SOCAN asks for a small percentage, usually less than 1 per cent of gross ticket sales. A flat minimum fee can also be negotiated.

Restaurants are also required to pay under something called Tariff 15.A. This covers all recorded music played in the establishment, whether it comes from a central sound system, a streaming service or TVs that might be showing sporting events. How much does it cost? It depends on the square footage of the restaurant. The minimum fee usually runs between $100 and $200. Peanuts, really.

Things change if there’s live entertainment, which is where Tariff 3.A comes in. The fee must include 3 per cent of the total annual compensation paid to all performers over the course of a year. There’s a minimum of about a hundred bucks. Finally, if tables are cleared for dancing later in the evening, Tariff 18 kicks in. It’s based on the capacity of the room and the number of days per year the space is used for dancing. Hotels are the biggest payers of this fee because of wedding receptions and similar events.

What about the music played in your dentist’s office? That requires the same licence that covers lobbies, break rooms, reception areas and waiting rooms. There’s also a special licence for corporate events, including the Christmas office party. Those are based on an event-by-event basis and the capacity of the room where the party is being held. The only exception to the office music rule is if your employees listen to their own music on headphones (so no one else can hear it) and purchased music services that are pumped in to the business from afar. The service contract usually has the necessary performance fees baked in.

Even the on-hold music for your phone system is subject to a fee if the music is copyrighted. The fee includes calculations based on the number of phone lines that come into your business. This explains why when you’re put on hold the music tends to be utterly generic and dull. It’s copyright-free music (or music that has lapsed into the public domain) that doesn’t add to overhead.

Finally, let’s talk about retail spaces. The licence required to play copyrighted music depends entirely on the square footage of the business. The bigger the space, the more the business has to pay. And here’s where we get back to Costco.

The average size of a Costco is around 150,000 square feet, although bigger stores can hit near 240,000. That’s big, so the required licence fee for music would be … substantial. And given Costco does whatever it can to reduce overhead in order to offer the lowest prices possible, not playing music in the stores is a no-brainer. Note that even the TVs on display are completely muted and use special store programs. All savings from being music-free are passed on to the customer.

This doesn’t deter anyone from shopping at Costco. Hey, if it means that one-gallon bottle of ketchup is a few cents cheaper, I can live with it.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Pressures on the supply of fresh water pose challenges that will affect Canada’s “long-term security and prosperity” if left unaddressed, an internal government memo warns.

The document, prepared for Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin, stresses a need to assess how Canada protects and sustainably manages freshwater resources — including waters shared with the United States — and how it responds to global water risks.

“Canadians will need more water to grow our cities and our economy, but it is unclear whether Canada is water secure for the long term,” the memo says.

The Canadian Press used the Access to Information Act to obtain the memo, written for Dabrusin by the Canada Water Agency, a federal organization that works to improve freshwater management.

Portions of the 12-page document were withheld under a provision of the law that allows the government to shield advice or recommendations from release.

The memo was intended to update the minister on the development of a national water security strategy. It says Dabrusin identified such a strategy as “a mission critical priority” in her reply to a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney for key portfolio objectives for cabinet members and secretaries of state.

A public consultation on developing the water security strategy took place from Sept. 9 through Oct. 25. Water stewardship is a shared responsibility in Canada and the water agency also engaged directly with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners.

The memo to Dabrusin underscores the urgency of the exercise.

It says although Canada has 20 per cent of the world’s surface fresh water, only one-third is salt-free and replaced annually through precipitation.

Most of Canada’s renewable surface fresh water drains northward, away from the most populated regions and economic centres located within 300 kilometres of the Canada-United States border, the document adds.

It says groundwater aquifers — Canada’s largest freshwater resource — are unmapped in some parts of the country, even though almost one in three Canadians rely on groundwater for their supply of clean water.

Climate change is affecting where and when fresh water is available, the memo says. It warns some parts of Canada are facing, or could soon face, restricted or depleting water supplies, even in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin.

It says in many of Canada’s settled areas, water is polluted and is either unsuitable for human, animal or industrial use or is usable only after treatment at a high cost.

For the 2021 to 2023 period, for example, water quality at 49 per cent of 165 monitoring sites in southern Canadian rivers was rated as excellent or good, while water at 51 per cent of the sites was rated as fair to poor, the memo says.

While progress is being made to restore the quality of large lake systems, protecting them from major stressors is challenging. Complex freshwater ecosystems like the lower Great Lakes and Lake Winnipeg remain in fair or poor condition, the document adds.

It says water quality data for northern rivers and lakes and groundwater aquifers is limited, making it difficult to assess the health of these resources.

“Overall, freshwater ecosystems across southern Canada are under stress, which poses risks to water security, due to factors including a rapidly changing climate, shifts in land-use, population growth, pollution, overconsumption, and aging and inadequate water infrastructure,” the memo says.

“The Arctic and the North also face critical issues from increased development and climate change impacts on already overwhelmed infrastructure. Furthermore, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities are among the most water insecure in Canada.”

More than 40 per cent of the border between Canada and the United States crosses water, the document notes. It says these transboundary waters provide drinking water, hydro power, navigation, recreation, irrigation and support for biodiversity in both countries. Tens of millions of people live and work along these shared waters.

While the two nations are parties to over a dozen bilateral freshwater agreements, “new water-related disputes could emerge and become more frequent” as freshwater supplies in North America shrink and demands rise, the memo warns.

It says the pressures on Canada’s water emerge against a global backdrop of declining water security due to climate change, population growth and industrial pollution.

“For decades, Canadians have been raising concerns about the possibility of fresh water being exported in bulk to the U.S. and beyond,” the memo says. “Some Canadians strongly oppose diverting lakes and rivers, and this opposition has extended to any form of bulk export of water.”

On a positive note, actions to strengthen water security in Canada can create “significant development opportunities,” as long-term access to sufficient supplies of water will become a strategic advantage in a water-stressed world, the document says.

It points out that more than half of Canada’s electricity comes from hydro power, which supports the shift to cleaner energy and a low-carbon economy.

“Water storage and irrigation is critical to high-value crop production, particularly in the Prairies and interior British Columbia, as well as the greenhouse sector,” the memo adds.

“Major manufacturing industries are among the largest users of water in Canada and growing Canada’s digital economy will depend on a secure and sustainably managed water supply.”

© 2026 The Canadian Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matvei Gridin scored the go-ahead goal with 8:39 remaining and the Calgary Flames held off the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Saturday night.

Yegor Sharangovich had an empty-net goal and an assist, and Morgan Frost also scored for Calgary. Dustin Wolf made 29 saves, helping the Flames improve to 2-0-1 in their last three road games after winning just one of their first six away from the Saddledome.

Sharangovich’s empty-netter with 1:14 left gave Calgary a 3-1 lead. Mats Zuccarello scored his first goal for Los Angeles just 18 seconds later as the Kings skated with a 6-on-5 advantage.

Wolf, a Northern California native who moved to suburban Los Angeles and then Orange County to participate in the Kings’ youth hockey program during his formative years, has won five of six games against them in his NHL career.

Joel Armia also scored and Anton Forsberg stopped 21 shots for the Kings, who lost five of seven games on their homestand. It concluded with four straight defeats in which they totaled six goals.

Frost converted Sharangovich’s pass off the rush with a one-timer from the right circle 2:13 into the second period. Armia tied it at 6:21 of the third with a wrist shot from the slot.

Gridin and Martin Pospisil created pressure in the offensive zone, leading to a turnover and Gridin’s one-timer for his sixth goal of the season at 11:21.

Los Angeles did not have star winger Artemi Panarin in the lineup following the death of his grandfather. The Kings are 5-0-1 when Panarin has multiple points in a game and 0-11-1 when he does not.

Up next

Flames: At Anaheim on Sunday.

Kings: At Boston on Tuesday.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

© 2026 The Canadian Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists, Kyle Connor scored a goal in regulation and had the deciding shootout goal, and the Winnipeg Jets rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 on Saturday.

The Jets’ sixth straight win was their second comeback from four goals down this season. They scored four times in 2:07 to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 3.

Gabriel Vilardi’s shot from the right slot tied the game at 4-4 with 1:13 left in regulation and goalie Nico Daws pulled for an extra attacker.

Scheifele also scored in the shootout. Daws stopped Roman Kantserov to lock up the victory.

Spencer Knight, who made 27 saves, lost his bid for the Blackhawks’ first shutout since March when Scheifele ripped a 15-foot shot past his glove side with 3:55 to play in the second period to make it 4-1. Scheifele’s goal made him the Jets’ points leader for the second time. He finished the game with 933 points.

Scheifele had held the mark until the original Jets’ records were consolidated before this season, making the late Dale Hawerchuk, who played for the team that eventually moved to Phoenix, the points leader.

Only 1:56 later, Scheifele set up Connor for his 700th career point to cut the lead to 4-2. In the first minute of the third period, Cole Perfetti’s power-play goal brought the Jets within a goal.

Daws made 12 saves in relief for Winnipeg.

The Blackhawks chased Winnipeg starting goalie Stuart Skinner from the crease after 20 minutes, scoring three times on eight shots. Tyler Bertuzzi, Anton Frondell and Connor Bedard scored the goals. The Blackhawks took a 4-0 lead on Frank Nazar’s tip with 5:16 left in the second and Daws in the net.

UP NEXT

Jets: Host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Blackhawks: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

—

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

© 2026 The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Mark Carney has wrapped up a brief visit to the Philippines and is heading to Cambodia, as the government pushes for more trade access in the region.

On his one-night visit to Manila, Carney attended a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, announced the conclusion of free-trade negotiations with the Philippines and unveiled funding for protecting tropical rainforests.

“What Canada presents is certainty to the world,” Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu told reporters in Manila on Sunday, which was late Saturday in Canada.

Carney was among foreign leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump who were invited to the summit by the Philippine chair, who is holding the rotating presidency of ASEAN, a bloc of 11 countries.

Ottawa is continuing talks for a trade deal with ASEAN, which Sidhu said would give Canada access to smaller countries, while Canada also has deeper agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines.

“You can get more into the weeds. You can upgrade later on, when you’re dealing with (one deal that is) bilateral, as opposed to an agreement with 11 partners,” he said in Manila on Sunday, which was late Saturday in Canada.

“It’s the fastest growing region in the world, 700 million consumers, an economy valued at $6 trillion.”

Sidhu also expressed confidence for Canadian pork producers, as the Philippines moves toward restricting pork imports from a wide array of countries, including Canada.

“They’ve got a global safeguards investigation … for 60 days. Canada is not the culprit, and you’ll find out once the investigation is done,” he said.

Carney also met meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the summit, where he announced $540 million for an initiative to protect rainforests, as part of a project co-led by Brazil and Norway.

The money is part of a $6 billion fund promised by Ottawa this spring in support for international climate finance. It is meant to attract public and private investment for preserving biodiversity and supporting communities that rely on these ecosystems.

Through an interpreter, Lula described the money as investments that will yield a profit and not “donations, money for free.”

Carney suggested he would have further talks with Brazil, which is part of the Mercosur trade bloc with whom Canada is negotiating a trade deal. Lula’s office has previously said Carney would visit the country.

“By May, we will also have an opportunity to discuss our economic co-operation, our largest training partner in Latin America by far, (with) $15 billion dollars in trade,” Carney said.

Carney is now en route to Cambodia for a summit of the Francophonie, including a side event on technology trade in Phnom Penh.

While there, Carney will meet with Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon who is pushing for more autonomy in Quebec’s international relations, though Sidhu says Ottawa is working constructively with the province.

“Quebec has many of their own trade officers in our embassies around the world, and we’ll continue working collaboratively,” Sidhu said, noting that Quebec’s aerospace sector has recently achieved large sales in Asia.

Later this week, Carney will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in China, months after Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to have a limited number of Chinese electrical vehicles sold in Canada.

Sidhu also said Chinese automaker Chery is among those seeking Transport Canada certification to sell lower-cost vehicles into Canada. He said some Chinese manufacturers will likely clear that process by the end of the year.

He said he is also hopeful Chinese companies will create automotive jobs for Canadians.

“There is an interest from Chinese manufacturers to utilize our workforce in Canada, but before you invest billions of dollars you need to understand the market,” he said.

“Every time I sit down with them I look at what they’re doing in Europe and I ask them how they can replicate that in Canada with Canadian supply chains, with Canadian workers.”

The minister said Canada is still navigating trade issues with China, despite some recent progress on extending access to beef, canola meal, crab and peas.

“We’re still continuing to engage on pork, on pet food and others. We’re not relenting,” he said.

Sidhu also said Canada is working with Beijing to have more opportunities for Canadian small and medium businesses to sell consumer goods to China on online platforms like Alibaba.

© 2026 The Canadian Press