ACTUAL NEWS: Weekly Recap šØš¦ Edition
- Olga Nesterova
- Apr 19, 2025
- 6 min read
April 19th, 2025
MOMENTS OF THE WEEK
This week, Canadians witnessed two debates featuring all party leaders.
Hereās my take after the first debate, which was held in French:
Do you agree with my take? Let me know in the comments at the end of the newsletter.
The second debate was in English, giving PM Carney even more opportunity to speak with confidence and clearly outline his vision for Canada under his leadership. There was confrontation, but this time, it felt like all three other party leaders were focused squarely on Carney.
This Canadian summed up my thoughts perfectly:
One momentāthough not particularly informativeāmanaged to go viral. When PM Carney questioned Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre about why he hadnāt obtained his security clearance, unlike the other leaders, Poilievre mumbled something about being āgaggedā and āprosecutedā if he did. The word āgaggedā had an awkward ring to it, and Carneyās reaction only added to the bizarre energy of the exchangeācreating the perfect recipe for a viral moment.
Here it is:
Today, PM Carney ā along with other party leaders ā revealed his game plan for leading the nation if elected for the next term. His plan is comprehensive and built around four core pillars: Unite, Secure, Protect, Build. At its heart, the platform aims to stand firm against President Trumpās tariffs, create new jobs, cut taxes for the middle class, and build the fastest-growing economy in the G7.
This clip sums up the bottom line of what he aims to achieve:
š Carneyās $130B Vision: Big Spending, Bigger Promises
Carney's bold election platform titled āUnite, Secure, Protect, Build,āĀ features $130 billion in new spendingĀ over the next four years.
Key commitments include:
Defence: $18B+ to exceed NATO targets by 2030, with investments in Canadian-made aircraft, submarines, and icebreakers.
Tariffs: $20B expected from retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. to be invested in business sectors that are affected.
Deficits: Carneyās plan boosts deficits until at least 2028-29, peaking at nearly 2% of GDP.
Health Care: $5.4B over four years for hospital builds and doctor training, plus credential recognition reforms.
Economy: The Liberals project $500B in economic value and a balanced operating budget by the end of the term.
Buy Canadian: Prioritize domestic contractors and materials in federal infrastructure and defence procurement.
Agriculture: Protect supply-managed sectors (dairy, poultry, eggs) in trade talks.
You can watch the full announcement here:
š¹ Opposition:
ConservativesĀ have not yet released a full platform, but Pierre Poilievre has "teased" his āNew Canada First Economic Action Planā, focused on inflation, energy independence, and cutting federal waste. His campaign is bolstered by an endorsement from former PM Stephen Harper, who dismissed Carneyās record and declared Poilievre his āunequivocalā choice.
Carneyās spending-heavy approach is being framed by Conservatives as "fiscally reckless", especially amid inflation and U.S. trade tensions.
NDP Leader Jagmeet SinghĀ launched his own costed platform focused on affordability, climate action, and housing. Heās challenged Carney from the left, arguing that the Liberal platform doesnāt go far enough to tax the wealthy or confront corporate power.
The Bloc QuƩbƩcois, first to release a full platform, wants to make House of Commons votes mandatory on any future free trade deals, citing U.S. tariff threats as proof of vulnerability under federal leadership.
PM Carney also had a cheeky moment when he chose not to discourage a gentleman in the crowd who booed President Trump:
In other news, California Governor Gavin Newsomāfaced with a steep decline in tourism due to the hostile rhetoric and policies of the current U.S. administrationāreleased a video campaign aimed at convincing Canadians to reconsider travel to the state.
The response from many Canadians, however, was crystal clear: pound sand!
Early voting is now underway! If you havenāt already cast your vote, nowās the time to make a plan to do so. Every vote countsāespecially yours.
Hereās some helpful information to get you started:
Make your voice heard.
Finally, if youāre looking to watch something insightful, I highly recommend this video.
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
April 17, 1750Ā ā A fortified outpost is built on the present site of Toronto. Fort Rouille is intended to encourage Indians to trade furs with the French.
April 17, 1982 āĀ With the stroke of a pen by the Queen in Ottawa, Canada has its own Constitution.
šØš¦ Made In Canada LIVEĀ ā Confirmed Canadian Businesses!
Weāre proud to announce that the first episode of Made In Canada LIVEĀ ā airing April 26 ā will feature incredible Canadian brands that embody creativity, resilience, and national pride.
āØ Delicious Without Gluten ā DĆ©licieux Sans Gluten A MontrĆ©al-based bakery serving up artisan-quality, gluten-free products ā proving that delicious doesnāt have to come with compromise.
A Nova Scotia-based lifestyle brand weaving tradition into every thread. Their tartans and apparel celebrate East Coast culture with unmistakable pride.
More details will be announced soon ā and we can't wait to share the full lineup with you. šØš¦
š Mark your calendars:
Made In Canada LIVEĀ premieres April 26 at 6PM ET
Streaming across platforms - YouTube, Facebook and X. Clips to be featured across all social media platforms.
š Links to featured businesses and the series will appear in ONEST Daily Briefings next weekĀ ā stay tuned and support local!
THE LATEST WORLD NEWS
The U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants it has labeled as gang members under a rarely used wartime law. The decision prompted the White House to express confidence it will ultimately prevail in the legal challenge.
Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington and cities across the country to protest President Donald Trumpās policies on deportations, federal personnel shake-ups, and ongoing U.S. involvement in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveled to the Vatican on Saturday for high-level talks with senior Catholic Church officials ā the first in-person meeting of its kind during Trumpās second term. The Vatican has been openly critical of several administration policies.
In a separate development, the U.S. and Iran agreed Saturday to begin drafting a framework for a potential nuclear agreement. Iranās foreign minister confirmed the decision after what a U.S. official described as āvery good progressā in the latest round of discussions.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg denied an emergency request from the ACLU to halt deportations of suspected Venezuelan gang members. The ruling came during a late-evening hearing concerning the administrationās use of the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act.
At the Pentagon, chief spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Friday that the U.S. military will begin consolidating its presence in Syria over the coming weeks and months ā a move that could reduce troop levels by as much as half.
Please find the detailed news summary in the Daily Briefing
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
NEWS CLIPS
Charlie Angus thanks President Trump
Japanese leader delivers a powerful message on US tariffs
Revolutionary discovery: Scientists reveal potential signs of alien life!
Top Bank of Canada officials share 2 possible scenarios for the economic path forward
Rubio: US advises EU to drop sanctions on Russia to reach a ādealā
POSTS OF THE WEEK
ELECTION UPDATE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join me on Sunday at 8:00 pm ET for the Weekly Recap LIVE on YouTube
CLICK on the COVER PHOTO below and TAP THE NOTIFICATION BELL to be reminded to join!
š Introducing ONEST EyesĀ ā the community-powered truth squad behind the What's Actually True?Ā podcast.
Every day, disinformation campaigns flood our feeds, targeting voters with lies and propaganda. Thatās where youĀ come in. As part of ONEST Eyes, youāll help track and expose the misinformation youāre being targeted with ā so we can break it down, debunk it, and set the record straight.
š© See something misleading? Submit it!Ā Use the Google Form below to upload screenshots, links, and examples of disinformation. Your submissions will help shape the conversations on What's Actually True?, giving political leaders the chance to respond with facts, clarity, and truth.
Together, weāre watching the truth and exposing the lies.Ā Letās make sure the facts win.
LEARN MORE about the What's Actually True? Podcast - TAP HERE
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
ONEST Network is an independent media company that relies solely on your support. We value independence, enabling us to report ACTUAL NEWS while keeping your data secure. Your donation would be greatly appreciated to help us continue our operations.
Comments