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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. In an impassioned social media post last night, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of a new Windsor-Detroit bridge, in comments the Windsor mayor called "insane." We'll get into that below, as well as the details on federal funding for electric vehicles and U.S.-made F-35s. We'll also look at whether the future of home construction in Canada lies in 3D printing.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Patrick Morrell/CBC)
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Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Windsor and Detroit
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U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.
What's happening: Trump is claiming the U.S. must be "fully compensated for everything we have given" Canada, saying this country hasn't treated his with the "fairness and respect that we deserve." In a 299-word post, the U.S. president said the bridge was built with "virtually no" U.S. content and repeated his criticism of Prime Minister Mark Carney wanting to have a trade deal with China. While the Canadian federal government fully funded the $6.4-billion bridge, it's under public joint ownership of Canada and the state of Michigan.
What else: Construction on the bridge began in 2018, and it is set to open sometime early this year. Trump himself actually endorsed it as a priority project in 2017. Meanwhile, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called Trump's threats "insane" and inaccurate, saying U.S. steel was used in the construction from the Michigan side of the river. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended the bridge, saying it was built by unionized construction workers from both sides of the border.
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Ottawa commits $84M to install more than 8,000 EV chargers
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Ottawa is committing to fund and further expand Canada's EV charging infrastructure.
What's happening: The ministers of energy, environment and transport are expected to announce $84.4 million in new funding today for more than 8,000 new chargers across the country. Ottawa's new auto strategy came with a $1.5-billion commitment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank; the government also said it would develop a national charging infrastructure strategy.
- Another $5.7 million will be put to three projects through the Green Freight Program, meant to help trucks reduce their carbon footprint.
- Plus, $7.2 million will be announced for 30 EV education and awareness projects.
In other funding news: Canada has discreetly put money down on 14 additional U.S.-built F-35s, despite the Carney government's reviewing of future fighter-jet purchases amid trade tensions with Washington, sources have told CBC News. That money is in addition to the contract for a first order of 16 F-35s, expected to start being delivered at the end of the year. The new expenses are related to the purchases of "long-lead items," or parts that must be ordered well before a fully assembled aircraft is delivered. |
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Why some Canadians are betting big on 3D-printed housing in Canada
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With traditional builders' quotes running high, some Canadians are looking to 3D printing as the future of home construction in Canada.
What's happening: Take Linda Reisman, for example. She's invested almost $700,000 of her savings in a robotic arm that can 3D print concrete walls layer by layer. Though she's still a renter in the Muskoka region, she hopes to use the arm to print the walls of her own home, as well as for others, because she believes the technology can help solve the country's housing crisis.
Will it catch on? Only time will tell, experts say. Some developers have embraced the technology, but Reisman says finding Canadian contractors to collaborate has been difficult. (3D-printed homes still require tradespeople to install parts like doors and roofs.) The federal government put $600 million toward innovative housing technologies like 3D printing in 2024. Still, it can take time for an industry to embrace new technologies, experts say, and there is also the potential for regulatory issues, as building codes and the like are made for traditional construction methods.
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SPORTWATCH
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What you missed in Milano-Cortina yesterday: Ontario's Megan Oldham won a bronze medal in the women's freeski slopestyle event, bringing the country's medal count to two. Our women's hockey team defeated Czechia 5-1, though Canada didn't advance to the final men's ski jump, with Calgary's Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes placing 45th in the first round, falling short of the top 30.
What to look for today: The women's hockey team will face off against the U.S. at 2:10 p.m. ET. The game will be Canada's biggest test yet, as we have lost six in a row to the Americans. And Canada is battling for gold in speed skating's short-track mixed relay early today. Meanwhile, look up! The Olympic Broadcasting Services are deploying drones, providing a new perspective of the Games. These first-person view drones allow for high speeds, following athletes' every twist and nauseating turn. | | | |