(0:00 - 0:22) I'm Hannah Bern, and I'm Will Dove, and these are the top stories for today, Friday, June 20th. In the news today has Alberta forced Mark Carney's hand with Bill C-5, which is being opposed by his own party. Further information on the Liberal government's Bill C-2, which would remove all barriers to the government freely spying on us all. (0:22 - 1:04) And the EU joins Donald Trump in criticizing China's weaponization of essential manufacturing materials. After introducing Bills C-2, which has raised serious concerns about privacy rights, and C-4, which could be used to restrict your use of cash, it seems that Mark Carney has now been forced to introduce a bill that may actually do some good, although his motives are questionable. Bill C-5, the Building Canada Act, which aims to accelerate projects deemed critical to the nation's economy, security, and trade, passed first reading on June 6th, the day after it was introduced, and may be pushed through today. (1:05 - 1:36) This legislation would fast-track energy projects of national interest, and accept provincial approval under some circumstances, without the need for federal approval. Premiers Scott Moe of Saskatchewan and Danielle Smith of Alberta are reported to be heavily in favor of the bill, while Indigenous leaders are outraged, as it would bypass UNDRIP requirements for approval from Indigenous peoples. Indigenous leaders are even asking the Governor-General to kill the bill if it passes. (1:36 - 2:10) Under the Act, the Governor and Council can designate projects as national interest projects, adding them to a public registry with detailed descriptions, cost estimates, and timelines. Before designation, the Government must consult other provinces and Indigenous groups, ensuring written consent for projects in provincial jurisdictions. Regulatory approvals, such as environmental or safety assessments, are deemed met to expedite processes, if they comply with provincial regulations in their home province. (2:10 - 2:30) The Act mandates transparency. Within 30 days of issuing permits, the minister in charge, who has yet to be appointed, must publicly share all conditions, studies, and reasons for decisions. An annual independent review will track project progress, with reports tabled in Parliament. (2:31 - 2:49) While this bill, as it is currently written, would give a great deal of autonomy over energy projects to provinces, Carney was being his usual cagey and vague self when describing the parameters of the bill. This legislation is enabling legislation. It creates the possibility of these projects. (2:50 - 3:21) Now, there's lots of suggestions of what the actual projects could be, but it creates the possibility. But a very clear process, which has at its heart consultation, full consultation, with Indigenous peoples, to define what is a nation-building project. And then, if something is one of those projects, then what are the conditions in order for that project to move forward, including participation, obviously, I would think, in almost every case, environmental, other conditions. (3:21 - 3:45) And then, only if those conditions are met would the project move forward. So, consultation, cooperation, engagement, participation is at the heart of C5, and that is how you build a nation. And that's very much how we've designed it, how we believe it, and that's how we'll be moving forward. (3:45 - 4:17) The likely fly in the ointment is that the federal government can also make rules to set exceptions, define terms, or add conditions to ensure safety, health, and environmental protection. The Act's powers to add new projects expire in five years unless extended, and a comprehensive review will assess its impact on Canada's economy, environment, and Indigenous rights. Supporters hail the Act as a bold step for economic growth. (4:18 - 4:54) A sure sign that the Bill would benefit energy-rich provinces such as Alberta, which is threatening secession, is that many Liberal MPs are apparently in opposition to it and want heavy amendments made before voting in favour. And speaking of Bill C-2, which we originally reported on last week, we now have more information on how it will threaten our privacy. Bill C-2 has provoked significant backlash from privacy advocates, legal experts, and civil liberties organizations as it proposes sweeping new government powers to access personal data without judicial oversight. (4:55 - 5:32) The Bill would allow federal and provincial agencies to collect, monitor, and share Canadians' personal information, including digital communications, location data, and internet browsing history, without obtaining a warrant. Critics say the legislation would subject ordinary citizens to unprecedented levels of data monitoring, undermining the fundamental principle of presumption of privacy found in Canadian law. Michael Geist, a well-known privacy scholar and law professor at the University of Ottawa, has been vocal in his opposition, warning that Bill C-2 strips away privacy protections that have been hard-fought over decades. (5:33 - 6:00) He points out that the proposed measures are inconsistent with both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and recent Supreme Court decisions that have upheld strict standards for state access to private communications. The lack of judicial review is a particular concern as it leaves citizens without recourse should their data be misused or shared improperly. Without warrants, agencies could access sensitive data on a broad scale, essentially allowing the government to spy on all of us at will. (6:01 - 6:36) Supporters of the bill, including government officials, argue that new powers are necessary to combat evolving threats, such as cybercrime and terrorism, the usual excuses when our government moves ever closer to totalitarianism. The bill passed first reading on June 3rd and is currently undergoing second reading before the House. A dramatic surge in Chinese electric vehicle exports driven by aggressive state subsidies and pricing strategies has sparked international pushback and growing anxiety among domestic industries in targeted nations like Brazil. (6:37 - 7:02) The trend, described by European Union leaders as a China shock, is forcing world powers to reconsider alliances and trade policies as Beijing floods global markets with cheap government-supported products. During the G7 summit this week in Alberta, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly acknowledged, On this point, Donald Trump is right. There is a serious problem. (7:03 - 7:29) She accused the Chinese Communist Party of weaponizing its dominant position in the production and refinement of raw materials crucial for cars, batteries, and wind turbines. The G7 responded by pledging to implement a critical minerals action plan, only hinting at non-market policies and practices without naming China directly. The fallout is not limited to rhetoric. (7:30 - 7:59) In Brazil, the world's largest maker of EVs, the Chinese-owned BYD has rapidly expanded its presence through shipments that have totaled 22,000 vehicles in 2024 alone. BYD's growth in Brazil reflects a broader trend. Chinese-built vehicle imports are expected to rise nearly 40 percent this year, reaching about 200,000 units, roughly eight percent of all light vehicle registrations in the country, according to Brazil's Auto Association. (8:00 - 8:31) The influx is largely due to a policy loophole granting duty exemptions on EV imports through mid-2025, which analysts say is being exploited for front-loaded shipments. Brazilian auto industry officials and labor leaders are alarmed. In a statement, Aroaldo da Silva, president of IndustriALL Brasil, warned that countries across the world are closing their doors to Chinese vehicles, but Brazil has not allowing Chinese automakers to make rapid gains. (8:31 - 9:17) Despite BYD's announcement in 2023 to convert a former Ford plant in Brazil into a production hub, a move initially hailed as a green industrialization milestone, full-scale production is now delayed until December 2026 due to labor investigations, with little evidence of local supply chain development. Brazil's government finds itself balancing between encouraging green technology ahead of the COP30 climate summit and protecting local jobs. More than 80 percent of electric vehicle sales in Brazil come from China, yet the country lacks the infrastructure to produce all necessary EV components, even though it possesses abundant lithium and other key battery minerals. (9:18 - 9:41) Meanwhile, Chinese EV makers face new barriers elsewhere. Europe has imposed a 45.3 percent duty, a U.S. tariff exceeding 100 percent, and some countries have banned Chinese software in vehicles. Faced with shrinking opportunities at home and abroad, Baid recently slashed prices by up to 34 percent, triggering a fierce price war. (9:42 - 10:05) Other Chinese automakers followed suit, intensifying the deflationary pressure. BYD cars are not currently available in Canada. BYD has expressed interest in entering the Canadian market, with reports indicating potential plans to establish a factory or start sales sometime this year, but no official sales or deliveries have begun. (10:06 - 10:25) The Canadian government has imposed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, effective October 1, 2024, which includes BYD vehicles, making their import less viable. I'm Hannah Bern. And I'm Will Dove. And those are the top stories for today.