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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. The ostensible goal of Alberta's pipeline deal with the federal government is to get Canadian oil to new countries. But the issue is whether they will want it. We'll get into that below, as well as who NATO leaders are thinking about heading into their Turkey summit (hint: five letters, starts with T), and why critics are taking issue with the new fuel efficiency plan.
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THE LATEST
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- The two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, begins today. The leaders of Ukraine, the U.S. and Canada are expected to attend. More on that below.
- Two bombs exploded near the hotel in Damascus where Emmanuel Macron held meetings on Tuesday, but the French president's office said he did not hear the explosions during his visit to meet President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
- The political fate of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will be decided today, when a Paris appeals court rules on whether she is eligible to run in the 2027 presidential elections.
- A video circulating online appears to show a woman asleep at the wheel of a grey Tesla travelling at highspeed on a busy highway in B.C.
- The final Canada-hosted World Cup game is in Vancouver today, between Switzerland and Colombia, at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(The Associated Press)
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Alberta’s new pipeline deal could allow Canadian oil to reach new countries. But will they want it?
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Some organizations are concerned about the recent federal-Alberta deal to build a new oil pipeline to the West Coast, questioning whether overseas buyers will even want Canadian oil.
What's happening: The pipeline is expected to cost $35.2 billion to $43.7 billion, according to the provincial government proposal. There is a concern that the deal was struck more for political reasons — in other words, to maintain national unity — than economic ones, said Chris Severson-Baker of the Pembina Institute, a clean energy think-tank. He mentioned how countries in Asia, where the oil is meant to end up, are quickly transitioning to electric vehicles and green energy.
Why it matters: If countries continue lowering their emissions and follow all their proposed and implemented climate policies, oil demand is expected to peak in 2030 before gradually declining, according to the International Energy Agency. The proposed pipeline isn't meant to start construction until 2027 at the earliest, and will be completed by 2034. It will also require new oilsands mines built in previously undeveloped areas. It's unclear whether Canadians will get a return on all this expected investment, Severson-Baker said.
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NATO leaders head to Turkey hoping to avoid a Trump blow-up
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NATO leaders are in Turkey for the next few days for a group summit — and many European leaders may be looking to tread lightly so as not to disturb a volatile U.S. president.
What's happening: It's the allies' first in-person meeting since President Donald Trump last threatened to take over Greenland, a saga that caused a deep split as it is a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark. On top of that are recent American threats to withdraw from the alliance and pull current forces out of Europe. But one leader may be going into the summit in a (relatively) strong position — Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Why that is: That's because his government last spring hit NATO's defence spending target of two per cent of gross domestic product, which Canada hadn't done in decades. Still, Carney and Trump aren't expected to hold a bilateral meeting in Turkey, and there are indications the U.S. still expects other nations including Canada to step up their NATO duties. The concern now is whether that will hurt the alliance's reputation, including in the eyes of countries like Russia.
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Carney's fuel efficiency plan won't bring quick relief to cost of summer road trips, critics say
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Ottawa has pitched its new vehicle emissions standards as a way to make fuel-efficient cars more accessible. But two advocacy groups say the rules will put Canada short of its emissions goals — and will leave most at the mercy of high gas prices.
What's happening: The new rules, meant to replace the Trudeau-era electric vehicle sales mandate, set rules for tailpipe exhaust from new vehicles. Automakers can comply by making more electric vehicles, as well as redesigning gas-powered cars to be more efficient. The idea is to make more EVs available and, for those still buying new gas-powered cars, to improve fuel economy.
The issue: The new standard likely means Canada won't accomplish its goal of having 75 per cent of all new car sales being electric by 2035, according to two independent analyses. Currently, new vehicle exhaust standards are at 172 grams per mile; the new rules would change that to about 74 grams a mile. One report found this would lead to at most a 68 per cent EV adoption rate by 2035; another found it would be less than 50 per cent. Still, Environment and Climate Change Canada said it was confident the target would be met.
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