TRENDING TODAY
CANADA EXPLORING EVACUATION FLIGHTS FROM MIDDLE EAST — Anita Anand says the federal government is looking at options to help Canadians leave the region as the conflict escalates, including asking the United Arab Emirates to allow chartered evacuation flights through its airspace. “The situation is volatile and changing by the hour,” the foreign affairs minister said at a last-minute news conference.
INDUSTRY MINISTER ATTENDS WINDSOR BATTERY PLANT OPENING — Mélanie Joly is set to attend the grand opening of the NextStar Energy lithium-ion electric vehicle battery facility in Windsor. Doug Ford and Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli are also expected at the event.
CANADIANS RECONSIDER MEXICO TRAVEL PLANS — A new survey suggests shifting travel sentiment toward Mexico, with 31% of Canadians who had planned or were considering a trip saying they may now choose another destination. About 7% say they are considering cancelling a previously booked trip, while 2% report they have already cancelled. Still, 46% say they plan to travel to Mexico as scheduled, with travel intentions even stronger among Canadians who have visited the country in recent years — 64% of that group say they are sticking with their plans.
CARNEY URGES CLOSER CANADA–AUSTRALIA TIES IN PARLIAMENT ADDRESS — In a speech to Australia’s Parliament, Mark Carney called for deeper cooperation between Canada and Australia as the global order becomes more unstable. Carney said the two countries should work together on critical minerals, artificial intelligence and defence, arguing that trusted allies must draw closer. Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also signed agreements including a new tax and investment treaty aimed at boosting bilateral business investment.
EBY GIVES CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS ON MUSQUEAM TITLE AGREEMENT KNOWLEDGE — B.C. Premier David Eby has offered differing versions of what he knew about a federal pact recognizing Musqueam Aboriginal title across Metro Vancouver as Ottawa released the agreement publicly for the first time. The Feb. 20, 2026 agreement acknowledges Musqueam rights, including title, over a territory covering roughly 1.8 million residents in and around Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond and Surrey.
SURREY MP SARAÏ FINED FOR ETHICS BREACH AS TENTH LIBERAL FOUND IN VIOLATION — Liberal MP Randeep Sarai was fined $200 for failing to disclose all relevant information to the Ethics Commissioner within 60 days of his appointment as Secretary of State for International Development, marking the tenth current or former member of the Trudeau government found to have breached the Conflict of Interest Act, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
CARNEY REFUSES TO CONFIRM ONGOING INDIAN INTERFERENCE — Prime Minister Mark Carney declined to say whether Indian agents are actively interfering in Canada, citing an ongoing criminal case tied to the killing of a B.C. Sikh man and saying he does not want to prejudice the proceedings. Speaking in Sydney, Australia, Carney also distanced himself from a federal official who said last week that Indian interference activity is “not continuing,” stopping short of endorsing that assessment.
POLICY DIGEST
ABACUS: U.S. SENTIMENT PLUMMETS AS UK, EU LEAD CANADIANS’ GLOBAL VIEWS — New polling finds the United Kingdom and European Union remain the most positively viewed partners among Canadians (66% favourable each). The biggest shift is toward the United States: just 24% now express a positive impression (down 9 points), while negative views have climbed to 68% — placing the U.S. last among countries tested. China’s numbers improved modestly, with positive impressions up to 32% and negatives down 8 points, though overall sentiment remains net-negative.
IMMIGRATION SET TO DRIVE ALL OF CANADA’S POPULATION GROWTH: EXPERT — With overall population growth flattening, Canada could soon see immigration account for 100% of net growth, according to migration expert Dan Hiebert of the University of British Columbia.
SCOPE RESEARCH: REGIONAL DIVIDE EMERGES ON CRIME AND PUNISHMENT — New polling from Scope Research across Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia finds roughly half of respondents in each province worry at least sometimes about becoming a victim of crime, while fewer than 30% say they rarely or never worry. Alberta stands out: 49% say they or someone
POLL: CANADIANS SPLIT ON U.S.–ISRAEL AIR STRIKES ON IRAN — New polling from the Angus Reid Institute finds Canadians divided over the air campaign against Iran led by the United States and Israel. Nearly half (49%) oppose the strikes, while about one-third (34%) support them. The survey also found three-in-ten Canadians believe the air war could ultimately improve the lives of Iranians, even as the conflict continues to escalate.
POLL FINDS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR ALBERTA REFERENDUM MEASURES — An online survey of 3,083 respondents conducted by Juno News found more than 90% support for a series of proposed Alberta referendum questions, including limiting provincially funded social programs to citizens and permanent residents, charging additional premiums for non-permanent residents using public services, and requiring proof of Canadian citizenship to vote in provincial elections. The poll also found strong backing for giving Alberta greater control over immigration levels and temporarily reducing immigration until housing, health care and schools can keep pace with population growth.
POILIEVRE BACKS DEMOCRACY IN IRAN, STRIKES ON REGIME LEADERS — While in the U.K., Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he supports democracy in Iran and defended U.S.–Israel airstrikes that killed senior Iranian regime officials, including supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Speaking on the Triggernometry podcast with hosts Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster, Poilievre also warned that agents tied to the Iranian regime have been able to operate in Canada with too little scrutiny.