Public Assistance to Identify Suspect in Aggravated Assault on OC Transpo Bus

On October 3, between 6:20 p.m. and 7 p.m., the suspect and another man were involved in a verbal and physical altercation aboard an OC Transpo bus. Both men exited the bus in the area of Bank Street and Glebe Avenue. 

The suspect is described as a White man, approximately 5’7” to 6’0” tall, with shoulder-length light blond hair and a full beard. At the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a tan-coloured T-shirt with a large design on the front, dark pants, black gloves, black Nike slides and white socks. He was also wearing or carrying an open light blue button-up shirt. A photo of the suspect is available on the OPS website, and anyone with information is asked to contact the OPS Central Investigations Unit.

OPS Seeking Witnesses to Serious Collision on Huntmar Drive

On October 24, at approximately 6:17 p.m., officers responded to reports of a pedestrian struck by an SUV in the 300 block of Huntmar Drive.

The pedestrian, a 51-year-old female, was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage from the area to contact police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fatal Collision Investigation Unit.

Ottawa Man Arrested in Internet Child Exploitation Investigation

On October 23, Ottawa Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with an investigation involving online communication with a person under the age of 16. Corey Lawrenson was arrested and charged with telecommunication with a person under 16 for a specific offence and making available explicit material to a person under 16.

The investigation involved the use of Roblox and Snapchat. The accused used the Snapchat username “Coreyindahood.”  Investigators are concerned there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – October 28 appeared first on CompassNews.

OPS Member Charged with Impaired Driving

Stemming from an incident that occurred on October 10, Cst. Clay Berrea, age 25, was charged with Operation while impaired and Operation while having a blood alcohol concentration equal to or exceeding 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood in an off-duty incident. While he remains on active duty, he has been reassigned to administrative duties and is not currently serving in a frontline patrol capacity. 

Suspicious fire under investigation on Moonbeam Street

On October 17, at approximately 2 a.m., a fire occurred at a single-family home on the 0-100 block of Moonbeam Street in Barrhaven. The incident is considered suspicious, and the investigation is ongoing. 

There were no reported injuries, but there was substantial damage to the dwelling. The origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by the OPS partner agency, the Office of the Fire Marshal, with the ongoing support of the Ottawa Fire Service. Investigators are asking anyone with information, including surveillance or dashcam footage from the area at the time, to come forward.

Pedestrian struck on Riverside Drive; life-threatening condition

On October 20, at approximately 4:28 a.m., emergency crews responded to a collision on Riverside Drive where a 23-year-old woman had been struck by a vehicle. She was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition. The driver of the vehicle did not sustain any injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has dash camera footage of the collision, to contact the Fatal Collision Investigation Unit.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – October 21 appeared first on CompassNews.

“We have the most comprehensive and detailed platform of any candidates running for mayor in this election,” he said. “The other candidates have put out ideas, but they’re thin on details.”

Sutcliffe said a key focus of his for the city is preparing for the city’s projected growth of over 500,000 people before 2050.

“The big question that we have in front of us this election is how are we going to prepare for that growth, and who has a plan to do it,” the incumbent mayor said.

“I have an infrastructure plan, I have a plan to improve public transit,” he said. “I have a plan to make sure that our economy is growing and keeping pace with the growth in the number of people.”

The plan also includes significant investment in key infrastructure across the city to close the city’s “infrastructure gap” with an investment between $10 billion and $11 billion.

“I have a plan to fill that [infrastructure] gap, and we’re going to rely on a number of different sources of revenue to do that, and we are going to build the infrastructure we need for a growing city,” Sutcliffe said.

Sutcliffe said that improving Ottawa’s infrastructure is especially important in the wake of the significant flooding that struck the city in July.

If reelected for the city’s highest office, Sutcliffe said he would allocate $500 million for flood prevention and mitigation efforts as part of his infrastructure plan.

“We have the best quality of life in any major city in Canada, we need to preserve that by investing in our roads and sidewalks, our recreational centres, our parks and our public transit,” Sutcliffe said. “And that’s what this $10 billion infrastructure plan is about.”

Another key pillar of Sutcliffe’s plan is improving city services, from emergency response times to filling potholes.

Hiring 350 more police officers, paramedics and firefighters is a promise that the incumbent mayor has made on the campaign trail, and is reiterated in his outlined plan.

In addition to hiring more first responders, the mayor promises to evaluate firefighter staffing, improve paramedic response times and increase special constable postings in Ottawa hospitals.

If reelected, Sutcliffe also promises to overhaul pothole responses by city staff, including expanding the use of Python 5000 pothole fillers, two of which the city has in a rental capacity.

“We hear all the time about potholes, it’s especially tough in Ottawa with the freeze-thaw cycles. We end up with a lot of potholes, and we have a lot of roads,” he said.

As the city faces a number of challenges, Sutcliffe said he believes the city needs candidates who make promises leading up to the election, rather than figuring out their priorities after being elected.

“I think this is a time that calls for serious leadership and a detailed plan,” Sutcliffe said. “I have a 70-page platform with more than 230 different commitments that we’re making for the people of Ottawa,” he added.

The post “A time for serious leadership” – Sutcliffe speaks about election platform appeared first on CompassNews.

One Person Arrested After Two Stabbings on Rideau Street

On October 1st, one man was arrested after two stabbings were reported in the Rideau Street area early this morning. Ottawa Police Service officers responded to the first incident at about 2:47 a.m. after reports that a man stabbed a woman on Rideau Street near Sussex Drive. Seeking safety, the woman boarded an OC Transpo bus where she received medical treatment. Just after 3 a.m., police received a second report that a man had been stabbed near Daly Avenue and Waller Street. 

A man was arrested near the second stabbing scene. Both victims were taken to hospital and are in life-threatening condition. At this time, the attack appears to have been random. Joachim LESSARD, 42, of Ottawa, has been charged with attempted murder x2, aggravated assault x2, assault with a weapon x2, in addition to other charges. 

He appeared in court on October 1st, however the investigation into these incidents is ongoing. Anyone with information about these incidents, is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Central Investigations Section.

Soccer coach charged with multiple sexual offences; seeking additional victims

On October 5, The Ottawa Police Service charged an Ottawa man in connection with multiple sexual offences dating back to 2015. Raul SAN MARTIN SALAS, 62 years of age, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference with a person under 16 years, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation of a young person, telecommunication with a person under 18 years for specific criminal offences, telecommunication with a person under 16 years for specific criminal offences, make available sexually explicit material to a person under 18 years for specific criminal offences and make available sexually explicit material to a person under 16 years for specific criminal offences.

The Ottawa Police Service’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse (SACA) Unit believes there may be additional victims or incidents related to this investigation in the Ottawa area. SAN MARTIN is known to have coached children’s soccer throughout the city of Ottawa for numerous years with a variety of sanctioned and unsanctioned soccer clubs. 

Considering victims may not know the legal name of their offender, the Ottawa Police is taking the extra step of publicly releasing a photo of the accused on the OPS site. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SACA unit.

Former delivery driver arrested and charged following investigation involving young girl

On October 5, the Ottawa Police Service arrested and charged a 45-year-old former Uber Eats driver following an investigation into two incidents involving a young girl. Adam Daniels, 45, of Ottawa, is facing charges of Criminal Harassment, Mischief, and Prowling by Night. It is alleged that Daniels attended the girl’s residence on two separate occasions and left packages described as “Secret Admirer” gifts. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the OPS West Criminal Investigations Section.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – October 7 appeared first on CompassNews.

Drug Trafficking Investigation finds more than 16kg of Cocaine

On Sept. 18, members of the Organized Crime Unit, alongside the Tactical Unit, executed Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrants at three separate locations, two in Riverside South and one in Nepean. As a result of the searches, police seized: more than 16 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 950 grams of MDMA, a large quantity of cannabis and cannabis derivatives, prescription pills, and a substantial amount of Canadian and U.S. currency. Four Ottawa residents and one resident of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were arrested and charged with numerous offences in connection with the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing. We will update you as details are released.

Man arrested in connection with three Ottawa jewellery store robberies

In a follow-up to a previous story, police sought public assistance in locating Alain Therrien, 50, who was wanted in connection with three jewellery store robberies at different shopping centres in Ottawa on Sept. 11, Sept. 17, and Sept. 22, 2026. Therrien is charged with three counts of robbery, three counts of mischief over $5000 and one count of failure to comply with a release order. 

Police were able to locate and arrest Therrien on Sept. 24, with assistance from the public and the media. He was scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 24.

Police Seeking Witnesses following stabbing in Edenderry Way area

On Sept. 23, at approximately 5:00 p.m., a person was stabbed near a park on Edenderry Way in Barrhaven. The victim was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The OPS is seeking witnesses who were in or around the area during the time of the incident who may have witnessed it. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the West Criminal Investigations Section.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – September 30 appeared first on CompassNews.

“This is real relief right now, relief for families that are commuting to work,” Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday at a press conference.

In April, Prime Minister Mark Carney temporarily removed the 10-cent-per-litre federal excise tax on gasoline and four-cent-per-litre levy on diesel until after Labour Day as the war in Iran sent global energy prices soaring.

READ MORE: Canada temporarily suspends federal fuel tax amid conflicts in the Middle East

The extension will now cost Ottawa an estimated $5.3 billion in foregone revenue.

While Champagne acknowledged that gas prices have continued to rise despite the tax holiday, he said suspending the excise tax remains one of the most direct ways the federal government can provide relief.

The tax will begin returning at half its regular rate on Feb. 1 before being fully reinstated on April 1, 2027, though the minister left open the possibility that changing global conditions could affect that timeline.

“We’ll see the state of the world and thereafter,” he said.

This also comes as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. comes into effect next week, affecting around $27.8 billion worth of American goods.

Asked how Ottawa would absorb the $5.3 billion cost while also providing billions in support to industries and workers affected by the trade war with the United States, Champagne pointed to spending restraint and higher government revenues associated with elevated oil prices.

“We have the fiscal capacity to support you. We’re entering this period in the position of strength,” Champagne said. “Canada is going fine.”

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the government to extend the temporary relief until next year’s Canada Day, citing that Canadians need “real relief.”

“Any relief for working people is good news, but a modest extension of the Liberals’ current plan will not be enough for Canadians already squeezed by higher costs,” Poilievre said in a statement.

The Conservatives are calling on Ottawa to remove all federal taxes on gasoline and diesel, which the party says would save Canadians up to 25 cents per litre. That would include eliminating costs associated with the Clean Fuel Regulations and the GST, as well as permanently scrapping the industrial carbon price, the statement read.

On the other hand, NDP Leader Avi Lewis is calling for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, pointing out that gas prices are still high even after a “$2.4 billion giveaway.”

“Instead of more corporate welfare, it’s time for a windfall tax on the big oil giants that are set to make $100 billion in profits this year because of Trump’s illegal war in Iran,” Lewis said in a statement.

“Doing so will generate billions in new revenue that we can use to give Canadians real relief at gas stations and grocery checkouts.”

The post Ottawa extends federal gas tax holiday until 2027 appeared first on CompassNews.

Police Seeking Assistance in ID for Rideau Stabbing Incident

The OPS is asking for the public’s assistance to identify a group of people involved in a stabbing in the Downtown Rideau Area. At approximately 9:45 p.m. ET on Aug. 4, a male victim arrived at hospital in critical condition. Police located the scene of the incident near the intersection of Daly Avenue and Nicholas Street. Investigators are seeking to identify a group of approximately 16 males who were involved in the incident. Police ask that anyone with information regarding the identity of these individuals, or who may have witnessed the incident, to call the Central Criminal Investigations Section.

Via Rail Train Collides with Vehicle

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, OPS officers responded to a collision involving a vehicle and a VIA Rail train on Fallowfield Drive. Authorities transported the sole occupant of the vehicle to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew aboard the train. The railway crossing signals were reportedly operating properly at the time of the collision. Road closures remain in effect as the investigation continues.

OPS Seeking Witnesses to Somerset Street Assault

The OPS is requesting the public’s assistance with an assault that occurred in the area of Somerset Street and Lyon Street during the evening hours of Aug. 14. The incident resulted in an elderly man being taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police ask that anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident to call the Central Criminal Investigations Section.

READ MORE: Ottawa Police Blotter – August 26

Update on pills found in Ottawa parks

The OPS East Division Criminal Investigations Unit is continuing its investigation into pills found in three parks in the Chapel Hill South area. Yesterday, members of the Emergency Services Unit conducted an extensive grid search of the parks and located additional pills. Authorities have now located more than 200 pills since the initial police report approximately one week ago. Preliminary analysis has determined that the pills are over-the-counter and prescription medications. Police have identified no illicit drugs to date. 

There have been no reported illnesses involving people or animals who may have ingested the pills. However, the OPS is reminding residents to use caution when visiting the parks with children and pets, as some medications can be harmful if consumed without medical direction or accidentally ingested.

Residents can expect an increased police presence in the area. Anyone with information that could assist investigators should contact the East Division Criminal Investigations Unit.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – September 2 appeared first on CompassNews.

Homicide Unit investigating suspicious deaths

The OPS Homicide Unit and Sûreté du Québec are currently investigating the suspicious deaths of two Ottawa residents. 

Shortly before 1 a.m. ET on Aug. 22, Sûreté du Québec responded to a single-vehicle collision, east on Highway 50 near Papineauville, Quebec. They then located an individual inside the vehicle with injuries considered suspicious in nature. They were transported to a hospital and died shortly thereafter. As the investigation progressed, Sûreté du Québec requested assistance from the OPS. At approximately 11:09 a.m. Ottawa Police officers attended a dwelling on Guigues Avenue, in Ottawa. Upon entering, officers located a second deceased person.

The deceased have been identified as 27-year-old Kesi Fevrier and 34-year-old Kingsley Nwude, both of Ottawa. Authorities are investigating the death of Kesi Fevrier as a femicide. The investigation remains ongoing as investigators continue to gather evidence and speak with potential witnesses. There is no ongoing threat to public safety. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the OPS Homicide Unit.

Police investigating pills found in three east-end parks

The OPS is continuing to investigate after various types of pills were found scattered around three east-end parks. Yesterday, police conducted an extensive search at several Orléans parks and found additional pills located in a third park. Officers have now recovered and seized more than 100 pills at these three parks in close proximity to one another:

•             Blue Willow Park, located on Longleaf Drive;
•             Silverbirch Park, located on Silverbirch Street; and
•             Ruisseau Park, located on Creek Crossing Street.

Police also searched other nearby parks, but found no pills or other unknown substances. The investigation remains ongoing, and residents are asked to be alert of any suspicious activity in the area. Anyone who locates pills or other unknown substances is asked to leave them in place and contact police immediately. Please contact the OPS East Criminal Investigation Section if you have any information.

READ MORE: Ottawa Police Blotter – August 19

Police remove 18 vehicles from Ottawa roads

The OPS, alongside the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), conducted a joint commercial vehicle safety blitz in Ottawa’s east end on Thursday, Aug. 20. CVSA-qualified inspectors from MTO, with support from several OPS units, including East District Traffic, the Road Safety Unit, Impaired Countermeasures and Impounded Vehicles, conducted mechanical safety inspections on commercial vehicles. They inspected a total of 57 vehicles. The enforcement initiative resulted in:

• 18 vehicles taken off the road
• 34 charges laid
• Three licence plates seized

Vehicles were removed from the road for safety-related deficiencies involving brakes and brake components, improper or overloaded tires, improper driver’s licences, insecure loads, missing daily logs, faulty directional signals and a broken trailer floor. One of the insecure loads involved dangerous goods. 

Authorities laid multiple charges for offences related to improper or missing daily trip inspection reports, missing annual inspection certificates, improper tires, major vehicle defects, Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) issues, permit violations, overweight vehicles, improper driver’s licences, disobeying signs and tinted windows.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – August 26 appeared first on CompassNews.

More than 4.1 million hectares have burned across the country so far this year driven by dry conditions in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories and large fires in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. While officials say the 2026 season has been less severe than last year by some measures, the trend points to a growing wildfire threat.

When Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski first provided a wildfire national update in July, roughly 410,000 hectares had burned across Canada. That figure has since ballooned, with roughly 20,000 evacuees and thousands displaced.

“I also want to take a moment to thank the first responders for their really tireless work in protecting families… that includes more than 500 international firefighters,” Olszewski said.

Firefighters from Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica are assisting with the response, with more deployed in British Columbia.

As the wildfire threat grows, Ottawa is also weighing whether to expand Canada’s aerial firefighting capacity ahead of next year’s season.

Olszewski said the government is currently working with provinces and territories to assess their firefighting fleets and expects to make a decision on additional leased aircraft by the end of the year.

“We’ll be making a decision with respect to leased aircraft,” she said. “We will want those to be in place for the next wildfire season.”

Indigenous Minister Mandy Gull-Masty also spoke on the disproportionate effect wildfire had on First Nations communities, particularly in northwestern Ontario.

Since July, Canada saw 40 fires impacted across 38 First Nations, with 4,294 evacuees and 1,425 Indigenous people displaced.

Ottawa has also put $55 million toward helping First Nations prepare for and respond to emergencies, including wildfire mitigation and community-level capacity.

Another $718,000 in FireSmart went to First Nations and tribal communities in Atlantic Canada for measures such as vegetation management in high-risk areas, while 321 First Nations emergency management coordinator positions are federally funded across the country.

“My priority is to ensure that First Nations have access to the support they need before, during and after an emergency. To strengthen how we are working together,” Gull Masty said.

Some First Nations in northern Ontario have criticized the provincial and federal response to this year’s evacuations, with calls for national inquiry into how the wildfire emergency was handled.

Asked whether Ottawa would support an inquiry, Gull-Masty did not commit to one, instead pointing to the need to learn from this year’s response and clarify the roles of First Nations, provincial and federal governments during future emergencies.

“We note the intensity. We note that they are continuing to be longer and quite challenging to understand at what point these things will be triggered, but we also want to ensure that in moving forward we are taking those lessons learned at this time,” Gull-Masty said.

Similarly, when asked whether the government plans to address climate change to prevent worsening wildfires, both ministers said they acknowledge climate change as a major contributor to the disasters.

Olszewski noted that she is aware that people are concerned with major projects along with the MOUs signed with Alberta, but noted that the agreements puts climate change “front and center,” pointing to setting effective industrial carbon price.

Despite the handful of initiatives and strategies Ottawa has set out to protect nature, a climate activist said focusing on emergency preparedness, while important, is not enough.

“We should not be talking about emergency preparedness without also talking about what is causing the climate emergency in the first place, and this is the decision to continue investing in and expanding fossil fuels despite the fact that it is destroying communities, livelihoods and our environment,” Laura Kenyon, Greenpeace Co-head of Climate Program said in an interview with iPolitics. 

Kenyon argued the growing cost of fighting wildfires shows the price governments are already paying for worsening climate impacts. She pointed to British Columbia, which spend $510 million managing wildfires in 2025, contrasting that with the Carney government’s $34 million climate resilience fund, a program designed to help 141 municipalities adapt to climate change.

“You really cannot divorce that from this energy superpower push and this investment in fossil fuel expansion… it will completely dwarf any kind of emergency preparedness investment we can make if we pursue this fossil fuel energy superpower agenda,” Kenyon said.

In an earlier press conference in Vancouver today, New Democrat Parliamentary Leader Don Davies filed a formal complaint with the Competition Bureau alleging the Carney government for violating Canada’s anti-greenwashing laws.

“As Canadians watch their communities burn, the Carney government is spending millions of tax dollars to mislead them,” Davies said.

“The Prime Minister has admitted that emissions will rise under its energy plan, yet his government is running ads claiming it will lower them.”

The post Wildfire threat to remain elevated across much of Canada into September appeared first on CompassNews.

In a statement posted on social media Wednesday — just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-day pause on a new slate of tariffs on Canadian goods — Carney praised negotiators on both sides for hammering out an agreement.

“We are now moving towards an agreement that reinforces that Canadian advantage, including by securing the best terms in each of Canada’s most important strategic sectors and providing greater certainty about our future trading relationship,” Carney said.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said there was still work to finalize the deal, as he arrived for another meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington.

LeBlanc and Canada’s chief negotiator Janice Charette sat down with Greer Wednesday to continue working, after the terms of the deal they reached Tuesday were accepted by Trump.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, less than two hours before 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of goods from Canada were set to take effect, Trump posted on Truth Social that a deal had been reached and the new tariffs were being paused for three days pending the finalization of the documents.

For the first time since the latest high-stakes negotiations started last month, LeBlanc and Greer held a short, joint availability for reporters following their brief meeting Wednesday.

LeBlanc and Charette have been back and forth to Washington since Trump announced the new tariffs in July, with the latest trip including multiple meetings since Aug. 10.

Greer said he’s “happy with where we ended up” and now has to brief Congress and American stakeholders on what the two sides have been talking about.

“We feel confident that we’ve reached an agreement that will not only continue to protect American workers, American jobs, American supply chains, but really strengthen the North American economy,” Greer said standing alongside LeBlanc outside the U.S. trade representative’s office.

Greer added he expects it will make North America an energy and manufacturing “powerhouse.”

The postponed round of tariffs would have hit $28 billion of Canadian goods, ranging from hockey sticks and ice skates to honey and some dairy products. Unlike previous tariffs Trump has imposed on Canada since his return to office in January 2025, these tariffs were not going to exempt any goods covered under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA.

Trump had threatened to impose those tariffs over Canada’s dairy supply management system, retaliatory tariff-free auto quotas and provincial bans on American alcohol in most provinces.

A proclamation on the delay from The White House says Canada agreed to work toward resolving these trade irritants.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House Wednesday, Trump said the deal would lift all of Canada’s tariffs on the U.S. but didn’t specify what exactly he was referring to.

“It’s all subject to finalization,” he said. “I think it’s a very good deal for both parties.”

He stressed the agreement would be good for American farmers and manufacturers.

In a Truth Social post Tuesday, the president pointed to a revival of the Keystone XL pipeline as being part of the deal, followed by a fictional image of him appearing to yank a piece pipeline from the ground beside a grave marker that says ‘Buried by Biden.’

Former U.S. President Joe Biden revoked a key permit for the pipeline, which would have carried more oil from Alberta into the U.S.

The new tariff deadline if the documents aren’t finalized is 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday.

A spokesperson from the Dairy Farmers of Canada said in an emailed response that they are not commenting at this time due to a lack of concrete details.

The spokesperson said the position of the dairy sector remains the same and they want to see commitments in the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, known in Canada as CUSMA, upheld.

The U.S. Trade Representative said on social media the deal will include comprehensive market access for all American goods, economic security commitments and digital trade alignment.

LeBlanc would not give specifics but said supply management has been upheld.

“The prime minister was very clear we needed to protect supply management, we needed to ensure that the supply management regime remained entirely intact, and I’m confident that that’s the case.”

Carney said the government is “loyal” to the supply management system earlier this month.

Dan Darby, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association CEO, welcomed the tariff pause, but said uncertainty on the future of both the 50 per cent tariffs and earlier duties on steel, aluminum and autos continue to harm Canadian businesses.

Darby is a member of the prime minister’s advisory council on Canada-U.S. relations, and said the council received a brief update Tuesday night.

“There was an update just last night saying ‘talks continue, stay tuned. We’ll let you know,’” Darby said in a phone interview.

Darby said any relief on the 50 per cent tariffs is a step in the right direction, but the manufacturing sector still needs to see movement on the steel and aluminum tariffs.

Progress on those tariffs “will help take a bit of pressure off Canadian manufacturers and also perhaps provide some hope and some kind of stability,” Darby said.

The industry association CEO said trade uncertainty is “the killer of any business.”

“That’s the number 1 driver on why (Canadian manufacturers are) holding back on investment or holding back in hiring or even looking at other supply chains,” he said.

Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said the organization appreciates Trump wanting to restore access for American spirits products across Canada.

Several Canadian provinces pulled U.S. booze from store shelves last year after Trump imposed tariffs. The bans on U.S. liquor remain in place in all but Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“These provincial bans have caused exports of American spirits to drop by more than 70 per cent, leaving American distillers caught in the middle of a broader trade dispute,” said Swonger in a statement.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party was relieved to hear there was a “new and excellent deal” in the works.

“We hope that over the next couple of days we’ll hear the good news that Mr. Carney will have kept his promise and Canadians will get (an) even better deal than we had before,” he said at a press conference in Charlottetown.

Poilievre added that deal should include zero tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos and lumber as well as an exemption to the “Buy America” policies.

Trump returned to office set on changing Biden’s Keystone decision. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order for permits to revive parts of the project.

It’s not clear how much of the trade talks between Canadian and American officials focused on the energy project. Carney spoke with Trump by phone Tuesday, hours before the U.S. was to bring in the punishing tariffs.

Canadian officials were also looking to see relief on existing tariffs that target steel, aluminum, lumber and autos.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2026.

— Written by David Baxter in Ottawa and Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington

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