The Globe and Mail - 07.10.2026 — 2026-10-07

THE GLOBE AND MAIL\*

OTTAWA/QUEBEC EDITION ■ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 ■ GLOBEANDMAIL.COM

U.S. resident arrested in connection with Tumbler Ridge mass shooting

\- Suspect accused of conspiring with perpetrator for months, with goal of maximizing attack’s notoriety

■ B.C. Mounties, working with FBI, signal possibility of more charges in Canada as criminal probe continues

ANDREA WOO

ALANNA SMITH

TEMUR DURRANI

The teenager who perpetrated the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., spent at least six months planning for maximum carnage aided by a conspirator in Washington State who allegedly provided advice, money and technical assistance, U.S. and Canadian law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Representatives from the U.S.

Federal Bureau of Investigation and the B.C. RCMP announced the developments at a joint news conference in Seattle, revealing for the first time that authorities had been investigating a second suspect in connection with the February attack.

James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, was arrested by U.S. authorities Tuesday and is alleged to have conspired with shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, to execute the killings and broadcast them over the internet for the public to view, the officials said.

The arrest is the latest chapter in one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, which left eight victims dead, including six children, and devastated the small mining community in northeastern B.C. Its aftermath has been far reaching, triggering lawsuits, scrutiny of Canada's firearms oversight and a cross-border reckoning over the lax regulations that govern technology giants when credible threats arise.

At least 37 lawsuits have been filed against OpenAI in California in connection with the shooting, after it was revealed that the shooter had queried the tech giant's ChatGPT chatbot about gun violence scenarios in June, 2025.

B.C. RCMP, who have been working with the FBI, are continuing their criminal investigation in the province and have signalled a possibility of pursuing further charges in Canada.

Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI's Seattle office, said the accused “enabled” the shooter and agreed to livestream the attack to “maximize

notoriety."

"I read a lot of court documents, including some that discuss incredibly heinous acts of violence," he said. "But this complaint was particularly difficult to read, in part because of the casual tone these two individuals used when discussing the mass taking of innocent lives that was being planned."

Special Agent Herrington said it was his understanding that the alleged conspirator, like the shooter, “identifies as female.”

■ TUMBLER RIDGE, A9

[ EUROPE

Protesters and police gather at the Place de la Nation in Paris on Tuesday. More than a quarter of a million people rallied across the country, increasing pressure on outgoing President Emmanuel Macron. SIEGFRIED MODOLA/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

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STUDENT PROTESTS SWEEP FRANCE

Police deploy tear gas, riot-control weapons to contain crowds as demonstrations over classroom conditions explode in size ■ A7

Galloway recounts relationship with student, shock of accusation in defamation trial

MIKE HAGER VANCOUVER

Bestselling author Steven Galloway acknowledged his two-year affair with a University of B.C. creative writing student was “inappropriate, ill-advised and stupid” during testimony on the second day of a trial where this woman and three others are defending themselves against accusations that they later defamed him.

Mr. Galloway told B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday that he believed the relationship had ended amicably. And so, he said, he was surprised to learn shortly afterward that his former partner had filed a sexual-harassment complaint with the school's administration – an allegation which would eventually publicly explode and torpedo his personal and professional life.

“Without being crass, there was enthusiastic and ongoing consent at all times,” he said when his lawyer Daniel Burnett asked him about their sex life.

The high-profile trial is more than a decade in the making. UBC's announcement of a formal investigation of “serious allegations” involving Mr. Galloway in 2015 led to an online firestorm over the CanLit luminary's rights to due process versus the rights of his alleged victim. UBC fired Mr. Galloway in 2016, but a retired judge hired by the university to investigate the complaint found that, on a balance of probabilities, it could not be established he committed sexual assault or assault.

He was never charged by police. In 2018, he sued nearly two dozen people for defamation, saying they had falsely claimed online that he had sexually and physically assaulted the woman. She is known publicly as A.B. because her identity is protected by a publication ban until 45 days after Justice Neena Sharma makes her final judgment.

Only A.B. and three other defendants remain: Mandi Gray, Dana Kagis and Glynnis Kirchmeier.

At the start of proceedings Monday, A.B.'s lawyer Arden Beddoes told the court she was withdrawing her defences of truth and fair comment – but not admitting she spread lies about her former romantic partner – explaining that she had tried to kill herself twice in recent months because of the stress of the lawsuit. She is not testifying.

GALLOWAY, A9

FOREIGN INFLUENCE

New watchdog reached out to Alberta separatist group that met with U.S. officials ■ A4

INSIDE

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HEALTH CARE Ottawa to lay out ‘path forward’ for country’s MAID regime as planned expansion nears ■ A6

FOLIO....A10-11

EDITORIAL & LETTERS....A12

OPINION....A13

LIFE & ARTS....A14

WEATHER & FIRST PERSON....A15

PUZZLES....A16

REPORT ON BUSINESS

Emera, Canadian Utilities look to create national powerhouse with \$14.3-billion merger ■ B1

Explore our national database of freedom of information requests SecretCanada.com

REPORT ON BUSINESS ....B1

OPINION & ANALYSIS....B4

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Next Quebec premier strikes collaborative tone after PQ's minority win

MAURA FORREST QUEBEC CITY

ERIC ANDREW-GEE MONTREAL

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon vowed to work with opposition parties and played down the potential for conflict with Ottawa on his first day as premier-designate of Quebec after securing a minority government.

The PQ's pledge to hold an independence referendum has been complicated by the low level of popular support the party earned from voters in Monday's provincial election, a result that revealed a divided province deeply ambivalent about the separatist project.

Election night saw the governing Coalition Avenir Québec wiped off the political map, losing all of its seats. Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette resigned as leader of the party on Tuesday.

In a Quebec City press conference earlier in the day, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon suggested sovereignty won't be a top priority in the first part of his mandate, and repeated a promise not to hold a referendum while U.S. President Donald Trump is in the White House.

“We’ve got time. We’ve got plenty of urgent problems to solve, so I think the upcoming months will more be about ... things that are urgent,” he said.

The PQ's 59 seats put it five shy of its hoped-for majority, and its 28-per-cent share of the popular vote is the lowest of any government in Quebec history. A five-way race splintered the 70 per cent of Quebeckers who say they don't want a referendum.

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon did not waver on his commitment to sovereignty, though he acknowledged his minority government would need the support of opposition lawmakers to launch a referendum.

“Once we make a commitment during a campaign, we work to carry it out,” he said, brushing off questions about the strength of his mandate to pursue Quebec’s independence.

On Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Mark Carney sought to play down the separatist threat from the PQ's win and emphasized the benefits of co-operation.

QUEBEC, A10

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TED GRANT, GREY CUP GAME TORONTO 1965, 1965, BLACK AND WHITE NEGATIVE. CANADIAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY, NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA, OTTAWA. © NGC. PHOTO: NGC

For October, we are featuring works from the National Gallery of Canada, one of the world's most respected art institutions. Founded in 1880, the Ottawa-based gallery has played a key role in Canadian culture for more than a century. The NGC works to develop, preserve and present more than 90,000 pieces, representing one of the most comprehensive collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14th to 21st centuries, as well as extensive library and archival holdings. gallery.ca

Widely regarded as the father of Canadian photojournalism, Ted Grant helped shape newspaper photography in this country after beginning his career in 1951. An early adopter of 35mm film, he was skilled at composing complex, often chaotic scenes. Best known for sports assignments, here he turns his camera from the Grey Cup players to the enthusiastic spectators braving the harsh weather of the legendary Wind Bowl, as the 1965 game became known.

MARSHA

LEDERMAN

OPINION

A poem glorifying the Oct. 7 attacks ignores the brutality that occurred ■ A13

A Tuesday Report on Business investment column about utility stocks incorrectly stated that the Bank of Canada was among the central banks that hiked interest rates in September.

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COLUMNISTS

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FIRST PERSON

Krista Raspor credits a medical flare-up for teaching her to become a dilly-dallier ■ A15

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CORRECTIONS

A Saturday news feature about Alberta separatists seeking U.S. support included incorrect details regarding Calgary oil and gas executive Michael Binnion. He is a supporter of greater Alberta sovereignty within Confederation, and he is an acquaintance of U.S. energy secretary Chris Wright.

RITA

TRICHUR

The outcome of Brazil's presidential election could complicate Canada's trade goals ■ B4

Saturday's obituary of the Canadian broadcaster David Marsden stated that Michael Barclay is author of Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985-1995. Mr. Barclay is the book's co-author, along with two others.

A Sept. 26 Report on Business article about the charitable work of restaurateur Mark Brand incorrectly referred to his charity, A Better Life Foundation. The coffee shop run by his social enterprise, Upward Kitchens, is known broadly as The Nook.

The Globe and Mail is committed to maintaining the highest ethical, legal and editorial standards. SANDRA E. MARTIN, STANDARDS EDITOR, standardiseditor@globeandmail.com

Alien ‘phoenix planet’ born from ashes of dying star

WILL DUNHAM WASHINGTON

A second-generation planet orbits a white dwarf in an artist's impression released Monday. SNEHALATA SAHU/UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK VIA REUTERS

In ancient mythology, the phoenix was a miraculous bird with a cyclical pattern of life and death, perishing in flames only to rise again from the ashes. Astronomers have now found a world that rightly can be called a phoenix planet.

Researchers said this exoplanet, as planets beyond our solar system are called, appears to have been born from material expelled into space during the death throes of a star a bit bigger than the sun, and now orbits the highly compact stellar remnant that was left behind, called a white dwarf.

It is classified as a second-generation planet, meaning it did not form from the swirling disk of material surrounding a newborn star, as Earth and other first-generation planets did, but rather from the leftovers of a doomed star.

“This is the first example of a planet forming around a white dwarf,” said Jamie Williams, a doctoral student in astrophysics at the University of Warwick in England and lead author of the study published this week in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The white dwarf is located about 250 light-years from Earth, near the constellation Cetus. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, about 9.5 trillion kilometres.

The planet is a gas giant perhaps slightly more massive than Jupiter, our solar system's largest planet. It orbits the white dwarf every 4.4 days at only 4 per cent of the distance between Earth and the sun. It is so close that the blazingly hot white dwarf's extreme ultraviolet radiation is causing the planet's outer atmosphere to evaporate, with a portion then falling into the white dwarf.

The planet's chemical pattern points to its second-generation origin. It is rich in niobium, copper and zinc, the types of elements that certain dying stars cast off when they expand in their death throes, indicating the planet formed from a disk of this expelled material that surrounded the stellar corpse.

“In myths, a phoenix is born again from its own ashes. In the case of this planet, it is born again from the ashes of its dying host star, and therefore, the planetary system is reborn. A second-generation planet is defined as one born after its host star dies – in this case after it has become a white dwarf,” Mr. Williams said.

The researchers used data from the orbiting Hubble, TESS and FUSE telescopes, and hope to use the James Webb Space Telescope to confirm their conclusions.

A small number of potential second-generation planets have previously been identified orbiting pulsars, a rare type of neutron star, another type of stellar remnant. “White dwarfs are much more common than pulsars, and over 95 per cent of stars in the Milky Way will evolve to become a white dwarf. Therefore, there would be many more second-generation planets around white dwarfs than around pulsars,” Mr. Williams said.

While the newly discovered planet would be inhospitable to life, another second-generation planet potentially could be habitable.

REUTERS

Elections Alberta has verified nearly 221,000 completed mail-in ballots, representing roughly one-third of the 652,000 electors who have been sent voting packages ahead of the province's Oct. 19 referendum. JEFF McINTOSH/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Thousands of Alberta ballots questioned

More than 3,000 who voted in referendum by mail failed to properly identify themselves, elections agency says

MATTHEW SCACE CALGARY

Thousands of Albertans may not have their ballots counted for the province's coming referendum after Elections Alberta said more than 3,000 voters failed to properly identify themselves in the mail-in voting process.

The provincial elections agency said it has reached out to those electors, most of whom incorrectly filled out the voter declaration form that must be submitted alongside their ballots, asking them to resubmit documentation over e-mail.

“If they provide the required information, by email, we can process their special ballot,” Maia Hanrahan, spokesperson for Elections Alberta, said in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail.

"If they do not, we cannot process their special ballot, and it will be rejected."

The agency has been working to assuage concerns about election integrity in the home stretch of the referendum campaign.

Elections Alberta has verified nearly 221,000 completed mail-in ballots, Ms. Hanrahan said, representing roughly one-third of the 652,000 electors who have been sent voting packages ahead of the province's Oct. 19 referendum.

The errors add to a list of problems that have plagued the mail-in voting process, just one component of a referendum that Elections Alberta says is one of the biggest electoral events in Canadian history.

The referendum centres around 10 questions – all designed by Premier Danielle Smith's government – asking voters to weigh in on provincial separation, immigration and constitutional issues.

The sweeping vote has forced Elections Alberta to order 45 million ballots for the 10 separate questions, more than twice the number of ballots cast nationwide in the 2025 federal election.

It has also hired more than 41,000 election workers and received roughly 65,000 applications, Ms. Hanrahan said on Tuesday. The agency is hoping to hire an unprecedented 60,000-plus election workers – more than four times the number who helped in Alberta's 2023 provincial general election.

Nearly one-fifth of Alberta voters, meanwhile, have seized the opportunity to vote by mail, the first time Albertans have had unrestricted access to the process for a provincewide election.

The agency is asking voters to mail their ballots by Oct. 9 to ensure their votes are counted.

In order to vote by mail, Alberta requires electors to request a special ballot package and return the ballots along with a copy of their valid identification, and a declaration form containing their personal information and signature.

Ms. Hanrahan wrote that some voters filled out their declaration incorrectly by putting their birthdate in the signature line, not signing the declaration or failing to fill out the entire form. She added that other voters either neglected to send a copy of their ID or there were other issues with the document.

Elections Alberta is asking those voters to rectify those issues by e-mailing the agency a new declaration form or copy of their ID.

“Without these two pieces of information, we are unable to verify and count their submitted special ballot, and it would be rejected,” she wrote.

The agency has been pro-actively responding on social media to voters who were notified that they need to send in more documentation.

Elections Alberta has been forced to address a crop of issues in the lead up to the referendum. Some of the first declaration forms sent to electors, for example, incorrectly included a section asking voters to testify that they're unable to vote in person. Alberta voters were previously prohibited from voting by mail unless they could prove they were unable to.

Elections Alberta also found 313 mail-in packages sent to electors that were missing ballots.

Some observers have pointed to repeated warnings from Elections Alberta – an arm's-length government agency – that it is underfunded and understaffed.

In its annual report, published in November, 2025, chief electoral officer Gordon McClure referenced “systemic deficiencies” at the agency, including high staff turnover, insufficient resources and a “lack of backup in critical positions and areas.”

That report was published roughly three months before Ms. Smith unveiled her plans for the October referendum. In May, Mr. McClure told a legislative committee that he’s “drinking from a firehose.”

Federalist campaigns have embraced mail-in voting, while separatist camps have been split over the system. Last month, lawyer and pro-independence organizer Keith Wilson said it's critical his supporters vote at the mailbox. Prominent separatist leader Mitch Sylvestre, meanwhile, said he has “no faith in the system at all.”

Watchdog reaches out to separatist group

Alberta Prosperity Project CEO says commissioner's office contacted the organization by e-mail

STEVEN CHASE OTTAWA

MERCEDES STEPHENSON OTTAWA

MATTHEW SCACE CALGARY

Canada's new foreign influence watchdog has reached out to the Alberta Prosperity Project, one of the separatist groups that previously met with the U.S. State Department in its quest to steer the province to independence.

Mitch Sylvestre, chief executive officer of the Alberta Prosperity Project, said in an interview with The Globe and Mail that Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner Anton Boegman's office contacted the organization by e-mail on Sept. 18, but the communication was only discovered on Tuesday in its junk mail folder.

The commissioner requested a response by Oct. 3. Mr. Sylvestre said Jeffrey Rath, legal counsel for the Alberta separatist group, replied to the commissioner after the e-mail was discovered. Mr. Rath is one of the individuals who attended the meetings with the State Department.

As The Globe first reported last week, Alberta separatist leaders went to Washington three times in 2025 to meet with the State Department and offered up key assets from the province's resource portfolio, including access to fresh water and royalties on crude oil, in exchange for help transitioning to independence.

Mr. Boegman testified to the House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee on Tuesday about the new registry established by Ottawa to track people working on behalf of other countries to shape government policy or politics in Canada.

The Alberta Prosperity Project was one of about 60 groups or individuals his office contacted, according to the CBC.

"These are people who are engaged in the debate," Mr. Boegman told journalists, according to the CBC. "We wanted to make sure that they were aware of what the requirements are of our law, so if they did meet those, that they could then register."

Last month, Mr. Boegman said in a public statement that his office “is aware of concerns about foreign influence activities directed at the Alberta referendum.”

He said his office “proactively communicated” with relevant individuals and organizations “that may have a reporting requirement” under the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, which took effect this summer.

Mr. Boegman also acknowledged, however, that meetings between Alberta separatists and U.S. government officials that took place before early August wouldn't have to be logged in the new registry.

"The law just came into force on Aug. 4," Mr. Boegman said, according to the CBC. "So there are things that may have taken place previously that are not applicable now. But, certainly, we're focused on what's taking place right now."

In his response to the commissioner, Mr. Rath argued that the APP shouldn't have to register with the watchdog, according to an e-mail Mr. Sylvestre read aloud to The Globe.

Mr. Rath wrote that the nonprofit arm under which the APP operates “does not meet the definition of foreign influencer under the Act.”

“We have no arrangement to act on the behalf of any foreign principal,” Mr. Sylvestre said, reading an excerpt from the brief e-mail. Separately, Canada’s spy agency said the federal government is taking measures to safeguard Alberta’s referendum on separation. On Oct. 19, Albertans will vote on whether to remain within the federation or to commence a legal process to hold a binding vote on separation.

“Federal security agencies are working with provincial partners to safeguard the integrity of the referendum,” Canadian Security Intelligence Service spokesman Eric Balsam said in an e-mailed statement. “Any instance where a foreign state actor or proxy might seek to use covert or obfuscated means to divide Canadians, amplify false narratives, or otherwise deceptively interfere in domestic political processes would be of concern, and CSIS would investigate.”

Also, Mr. Boegman on Tuesday played down meagre registration numbers for the new federal registry. A parliamentary committee heard Tuesday that only two registrations are visible on the foreign influence registry and that the office received another 30 submissions over the weekend.

Canada's Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act entered into force Aug. 4 and Ottawa announced at the time that any people with pre-existing arrangements to work for “foreign principals” must register by Oct. 3 – the date given to the APP.

The federal government estimated in January that roughly 1,767 registrants would submit information annually, with an additional 54 new registrants each year.

Mr. Boegman told the House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee Tuesday that it's still early days for the initiative. "This is a brand-new registry," he told MPs. "The requirements are brand new."

Mr. Boegman said his office has focused on reaching out to different industries and sectors where people or organizations “may have a registration requirement.”

“I expect that as individuals understand more about the registry, that the numbers of registrants will increase.”

As of Aug. 4, individuals or organizations that have an arrangement with a foreign principal to conduct activities intended to influence Canadian politics or government processes must register those arrangements or potentially face fines or criminal prosecution.

Conservative critic for democratic reform Michael Cooper called on Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to act to ensure all who should register their foreign influence activities have done so.

“Registration is not optional. It is the law,” Mr. Cooper said. He added that the minister “must immediately ensure compliance is enforced, ensure those required to register do so and explain why no plan exists to address the 99 per cent who remain unregistered.”

Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government passed the law to create a foreign-agent registry in June, 2024, and promised it would be set up within one year. Mr. Trudeau left politics in early 2025, and the Carney government's delays in enacting the registry had raised concerns about diaspora groups being targeted by foreign interference.

A cold weather outfit that includes an Asgard parka and overalls is shown at the Logistik Unicorp booth, at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries annual defence industry trade show in Ottawa on Wednesday. JUSTIN TANG/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Defence procurement agency will move faster as a Crown corporation, its CEO says

STEVEN CHASE

SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER

The head of Canada's defence purchasing agency says a new legislative proposal to turn his organization into a Crown corporation would make it nimbler, allowing it to move faster to procure military goods for the country.

The Carney government on Tuesday tabled Bill C-40, which would transform the Defence Investment Agency into the Canadian Corporation for Defence Investment. As a Crown corporation, it would sit at arm's length from Ottawa and be overseen by its own board.

“We need to move with urgency,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said of the planned changes.

The DIA would also be empowered to make investments in companies, the legislation indicates. In a Tuesday e-mail to staff, Doug Guzman, the agency's chief executive officer, wrote that the DIA will decide "in the coming weeks" which name to use.

“This is an important next step for an organization that we have built together in a remarkably short period of time,” he wrote.

"The Crown corporation model is intended to give the DIA the flexibility, specialized expertise and tools needed to move faster, make strategic investments, and deliver the capabilities the Canadian Armed Forces need," Mr. Guzman said in the e-mail.

He said the extra freedom gained from becoming a Crown corporation would “strengthen our ability to build Canada’s defence industrial base, develop sovereign capacity, and create greater economic and security benefits for Canadians.”

Turning the DIA into a semi-autonomous Crown corporation represents a significant pivot from Ottawa's earlier plans for tackling the historically slow and inefficient task of purchasing military equipment.

Just five months ago, a separate piece of legislation, Bill C-31, was tabled that would have made the DIA a departmental agency, an entity with far less independence than a Crown corporation.

The government is making these changes about three weeks after Mr. Guzman sent a mass e-mail to staff informing them that he intends to remain CEO of the DIA and has no intention of quitting, despite reports he was frustrated and ready to leave.

Philippe Lagassé, a professor at Carleton University who researches defence policy, said the changes would give the DIA far more independence in its operation, and Mr. Guzman as CEO would have “more day-to-day freedom.”

This more autonomous status for the DIA likely better aligns with what Mr. Guzman envisioned when he took the job, Prof. Lagassé said.

As a Crown corporation, he said, the DIA's interactions with the Canadian government would be streamlined and the agency would operate outside Ottawa's standard contracting process. Instead of multiple departments, the agency would discuss requirements for a procurement with a single department, National Defence, and one minister. If the process moves in a direction that Defence doesn't like, it can be reined in.

The DIA will be able to operate more like a business, he said, including hiring and firing.

Prof. Lagassé said he expects some in the defence industry will be perturbed by the continuing changes to the DIA as Ottawa remains under pressure to demonstrate military procurement is becoming more efficient.

“We are building an airplane while flying it and now we’ve decided to turn it into a helicopter,” Prof. Lagassé said. “People will have questions about that: Can we not just get moving on stuff?”

Dozens of federal Crown corporations exist, each of which is accountable to Parliament through a designated minister. Via Rail is accountable to the Transport Minister, and Export Development Canada to the Minister of International Trade.

C-40 also follows through on the government's commitment earlier this year to create a cabinet role for defence procurement, which the legislation calls the “Associate Minister of National Defence for Procurement.”

The new Crown corporation would report to Parliament through the new associate minister, the government said Tuesday.

One important part of the bill, however, will give that associate minister more control over the DIA than a normal Crown corporation. Section 9.2 says: “The Corporation must do as the Minister directs, and doing so is deemed to be in the best interests of the corporation.”

Prof. Lagassé called this the “anti-rogue provision” that allows the minister to rein in the DIA if necessary.

Ottawa has so far not named the new associate minister; the government indicated Tuesday it would do so after C-40 is passed.

Former fighter pilot Stephen Fuhr, a Liberal MP, has been tackling defence purchasing reform as Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. His job description closely matches the new cabinet role.

At a news conference Tuesday, Mr. Fuhr said he doesn't know whether he will be appointed as associate defence minister. He said he will work on shepherding C-40 through Parliament.

“I was not promised anything,” he said. “I’ve got a job to do right now, and I’m very focused on doing it because this bill has to work its way through the entire system.”

Mr. Guzman played a key role in Mr. Carney's July decision to purchase up to 12 submarines from German company TKMS for the Royal Canadian Navy.

Mr. Carney recruited Mr. Guzman, a close personal friend, from the Royal Bank of Canada, where he was deputy chair.

The Carney government has a majority of seats in the House of Commons, so it can easily pass legislation in this chamber.

BRITISH POLICE ARREST

ANOTHER MAN IN

CONNECTION WITH INCIDENT

AT U.S.-RUN AIR BASE

LONDON British police on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old man in London on suspicion of a terror offence over a security incident at a U.S.-run military air base in England that authorities have linked to Iran.

The arrest is the seventh in connection with a suspected plot against RAF Fairfield, located 160 kilometres west of London, which has been used by American planes to strike Iran during this year's war.

Police have released few details of their investigation into an incident that sparked speculation and concern – and was followed days later by the removal of U.S. bombers from the base.

Five British men in their 20s were detained near the perimeter of the base in the early hours of Sept. 27, and a 25-year-old British-Iranian man was arrested in London on Thursday. All six have been released on bail under investigation.

Counter Terrorism Policing said a British national was detained Tuesday in the Westminster area of central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.

Vicki Evans, the senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism policing, said detectives “remain committed to investigating all possible angles.”

“We're acutely aware of the public interest in this investigation, and we are working around the clock, and at pace, to identify the motivation behind events in Gloucestershire,” she said.

Scores of residents were evacuated from their homes near the base as armed police officers and army bomb-disposal experts swooped on the rural area late at night. Police later said they had found a quantity of an accelerant – gasoline – in three vans linked to the five suspects, but no explosives.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the United Kingdom saw “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident, without saying why or what the nature of the suspected plot was.

Iran has denied involvement, but it has previously said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.

The U.K.-owned base has been used by American B-1 and B-52 bombers during the continuing Iran war. The British government allowed the U.S. military to use RAF Fairfield for what it called defensive strikes on Iranian missiles and their launch sites following Iranian attacks on British interests and Britain's allies in the Gulf.

The United States moved its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford on Sunday, and the Pentagon said all American bombers at the facility had been redeployed to their home bases in the U.S.

It's unclear whether the move is connected to the arrests. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Swift ticket fraud victims deliver statements

People line up to see Taylor Swift at Toronto's Rogers Centre in November, 2024. LAURA PROCTOR/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Sentencing delayed for woman who pleaded guilty in July to defrauding the public after fans lost more than \$260,000

MARIYA POSTELNYAK

CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPORTER

When Kristina Picton scored tickets to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in November, 2024, she hoped the concert would be a night when “things would be easier,” she told an Ontario courtroom Tuesday.

Her daughter had endured a host of surgeries and biopsies over the span of a six-year illness when Ms. Picton purchased tickets for the sold-out show from a woman referred to her by a friend.

But when the day of the Toronto show arrived, the tickets did not. Ms. Picton said the seller, Denise Tisor, told her she could not reach “the man” who was supposed to release them, even as Ms. Picton and her daughter headed toward the venue in carefully planned costumes.

“We sat at the station and cried and cried and cried,” Ms. Picton said.

She was one of dozens of victims to speak during a scheduled sentencing hearing in Milton, Ont., for Ms. Tisor, who pleaded guilty in July to defrauding the public after more than 100 Swift fans across the country lost over \$260,000 by purchasing tickets from her that never materialized.

Ms. Tisor's common-law partner, David Lloyd Blake, also pleaded guilty at the time to one count of possession of property obtained by crime. Both appeared in court on Tuesday when their counsel asked for sentencing to be adjourned because of delays with key documents.

The Crown and defence were jointly seeking a conditional sentence order, which usually involves house arrest instead of jail time, for the accused, according to statements made by assistant Crown attorney Michael Rzeszutek during court proceedings.

While the sentencing for Ms. Tisor and Mr. Blake was postponed, victims were given a chance to describe the impact the crime had on their lives.

Parents shared how thrilled they were for their children to see an idol who inspired confidence during challenging teenage years. Some recalled celebrating with late-night dance parties, making outfits and friendship bracelets in anticipation of the show. It all gave way to months of confusion and shame when the tickets turned out to be fraudulent.

Most of the victims wanted to make it clear that the woman who scammed them was not a stranger.

Tammy Allin said she taught three of Ms. Tisor's children before buying tickets from her for a combined Christmas and 13th birthday gift for her daughter. Their kids also played sports together.

"Our lives were personally and professionally connected," she said. "That trust made this offence possible, and that breach of trust has made the impact especially profound."

Erin Rutland told the courtroom she was referred to Ms. Tisor by someone who played hockey with the accused's children. Ms. Rutland asked many in the hockey community about Ms. Tisor's trustworthiness, and had several phone calls with Ms. Tisor herself.

"I told her about the significant losses that I had very recently experienced in my personal life," Ms. Rutland said.

She had experienced the death of both her father and fiancé a short time apart when she purchased the eight tickets for herself and friends.

"I wanted to dress up, go to Toronto, be with my friends, scream and sing with Taylor Swift, and simply have a night where I can forget about the difficult things I've been carrying," she said.

Instead, she said, she felt “overwhelming guilt and responsibility,” breaking the news to the group after she learned the tickets didn’t exist.

Alaina Attard remembered the overwhelming sense of gratitude she once felt for the hard-to-get tickets, which she purchased for \$1,500 as a gift for her daughter.

“Those tickets were a Christmas gift from us and her grandparents because we could not afford the tickets on our own,” Ms. Attard told the court over Zoom.

Just two days before the show, after eagerly planning the day from start to finish with her daughter, including elaborate outfits and accessories, she learned from

Ms. Tisor that she did not have the tickets.

Then Ms. Attard described the tears: "the kind of crying that tears a parent's heart out."

“We were so close,” she said, adding, of course, “We were not close at all.”

Other buyers who previously spoke with The Globe said they transferred between \$1,700 and \$15,000 for Eras Tour tickets to an account for Denise Blackhawk

\- an alias on Facebook connected to Ms. Tisor - after being timed out or priced out of buying on Ticketmaster or secondary resale platforms such as StubHub and Seat-Geek.

After paying hundreds of dollars for tickets, hotels, carpools, babysitters, trains and even cross-country flights, victims received panicked calls and messages days or hours before the show, either from friends and relatives or the accused herself.

They were told there were no tickets, with explanations ranging from a reseller who had bailed to no reason at all.

The sentencing for Ms. Tisor and Mr. Blake has been rescheduled for Dec. 8.

Visit activeforlife.com for tips and resources to inspire your child to move.

Liberals to unveil next steps for MAID access

Government plans to vote against a private member's bill that would restrict access for mental disorders

STEPHANIE LEVITZ

KRISTY KIRKUP

The Liberal government will vote against a Conservative private member's bill seeking to restrict access to medical assistance in dying for those whose sole condition is a mental disorder and lay out its own position on next steps for Canada's MAID regime.

A Liberal Research Bureau briefing note sent to the party's MPs and viewed by The Globe and Mail says the government will oppose Conservative MP Tamara Jansen's bill when it comes up for a vote on Wednesday afternoon.

But Justice Minister Sean Fraser said on Tuesday that ahead of the vote, he'll disclose “the path forward” for MAID in Canada.

He is up against a clock.

On March 17, 2027, those whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness will have access to medical assistance to end their lives – unless the government legislates differently.

Earlier this year, a joint House of Commons and Senate committee studying the issue recommended the government should not allow for the expansion of access and “indefinitely exclude persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness from eligibility for medical assistance in dying.”

The conclusion, however, was not unanimous. Three senators on the committee criticized the hearing process as flawed and said the government should not accept the recommendation and instead refer the issue to the Supreme Court.

Mr. Fraser spent the summer doing his own consultations on the issues following the committee's findings.

"I feel confident that we've heard a range of different views in the development of the policy process, and we'll be able to share next steps [Wednesday],” he told reporters.

Ms. Jansen's bill, C-218, is up for a vote at second reading on Wednesday.

It seeks to amend the Criminal Code section covering MAID to read “a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.”

The Liberal briefing note on the bill says the government's position is that use of the phrase "mental disorder" is too broad, and, among other things, could restrict access to MAID for those already eligible, such as people with neurocognitive ailments.

The MAID provisions in the Criminal Code use the term “mental illness,” which the government has previously explained as a term meant to capture conditions that fall within the domain of psychiatry.

Though the briefing note said government – meaning cabinet – will vote against the private member's bill, it is expected to be a free vote for backbench Liberal MPs.

When a similar bill came before the House of Commons in

2023, eight Liberal MPs voted in favour. But the bill failed to move ahead.

MAID first became legal in Canada in June, 2016, for Canadians whose deaths were deemed “reasonably foreseeable.”

In 2021, the law was updated after a Quebec court decision allowed patients with incurable conditions to seek to end their lives. At that time, it was determined that people whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness would not be immediately eligible.

A two-year temporary exclusion was then put in place to allow more time to study the delivery of MAID in this area.

The federal government has since twice delayed implementation, citing concerns over the readiness of the provinces and health care system to deliver access to that cohort, among other things.

The current postponement expires on March 17, 2027.

The issue is contentious.

The advocacy group Dying With Dignity Canada has spent more than two years suing Ottawa for barring access. The case remains before the courts.

But other organizations, including disability advocates and some medical professionals, have argued against expansion for reasons that include the difficulty of determining if a mental illness is truly incurable.

MAID for mental illness is not the only part of the system on the government's radar.

It has also been grappling with whether to amend the Criminal Code to allow advance directives – the ability of people who are not eligible for MAID to say they would like to access it in the future, if they meet the criteria then.

Quebec has allowed advance directives since 2024.

The federal government has not challenged Quebec, but it has also not amended the part of the law requiring patients to have capacity to consent immediately before MAID is provided.

Ottawa conducted national consultations on advance directives last year but has yet to signal a direction.

Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree rises during Question Period in the House of Commons, on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Monday. JUSTIN TANG/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Signal says changes to lawful access bill aren't enough to keep service in Canada

MARIE WOOLF OTTAWA

The secure messaging service Signal, which uses end-to-end encryption to protect the communications of millions of people globally each day, says government amendments to its lawful access bill are insufficient to persuade it not to withdraw from Canada.

Udbhav Tiwari, Signal vice-president of strategy and global affairs, said amendments introduced by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to Bill C-22 do not go far enough to safeguard encryption or protect users' privacy.

The tech company, whose users include politicians, journalists and dissidents around the world, told The Globe and Mail in May that it would withdraw from Canada if asked to compromise its users' privacy under the bill's new powers.

In June, Mr. Anandasangaree introduced a number of changes to the bill, in response to criticism from tech companies, lawyers and civil liberties advocates. One amendment made it clear that a company that does not have a key to encryption would not have to decrypt information it holds.

Mr. Tiwari said that the amendments did not go far enough to address Signal's concerns. He was speaking Monday on a panel in Ottawa hosted by the Canadian arm of the Internet Society, a global charity that advocates for a secure and open internet.

“It’s vital that the idea of encryption in the law is expanded well beyond just decrypting things with a key, because that is a very nano construction of what encryption is,” he said.

He warned that as currently worded, encryption could still be compromised or undermined by powers in the bill, which is now in the Senate.

The lawful access bill would require internet companies and other electronic service providers to make changes to their systems to give surveillance capabilities to police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to combat threats and criminal activity. It would give the government new powers to force them to retain metadata on their customers.

The metadata would not include e-mails, web-browsing history, social-media activity or text messages, but it could include information about which telephone numbers have been in touch with each other, and data allowing someone's location to be pinpointed.

Although Signal would not be forced to share with the Canadian government keys used to encrypt messages, it could be asked to make serious changes to its software “that negates the very purpose of encryption itself – and that is something that is a very strong red line,” he said.

---

Udbhav Tiwari warned that encryption could still be compromised or undermined by powers in the bill, which is now in the Senate.

As currently worded the bill allows ministerial orders to be issued “that can be ruinous for encryption and privacy for all Canadians,” he added.

An amendment introduced by Mr. Anandasangaree in June, in response to concerns from tech companies, reduced the time that metadata would have to be retained from up to a year to six months.

But Mr. Tiwari said having to store any metadata on its users posed a serious problem for the encrypted messaging app.

Signal, which is a non-profit, runs on its own centralized servers. The only user data it stores are phone numbers, users' last login information and the date they joined the service. Users' contacts, chats and other information are stored by users themselves, on their phones.

If, under Canada's lawful access law, it is ordered to start collecting more metadata about its users and store it for up to six months, so government and law enforcement can request it, it would have no choice but to withdraw from Canada to protect their privacy, he said.

“For us this is a serious enough issue that it would fundamentally break Signal,” he said.

Faced with a choice of maintaining end-to-end encryption or "creating a much weaker version of our product that collects all of this metadata, the choice for us, unfortunately, would be starkly clear: we will not make changes to our product – which is open source and available for anyone to verify – to comply with such demands that place the privacy of not just Canadians but everyone else in the world at risk," Mr. Tiwari said.

Simon Lafortune, a spokesperson for Mr. Anandasangaree, said “the legislation explicitly states that it does not require the decryption of end-to-end encrypted information and does not permit or compel companies to introduce systemic vulnerabilities or so-called ‘backdoors’.”

He added, in a statement, that it takes concerns raised by stakeholders seriously and remains open to further amendments in the Senate “that strengthen the bill’s protections while preserving its objectives.”

Representatives of the nonprofit behind Firefox, the open-source web browser, said on Monday it also had serious concerns about the bill, despite the minister's amendments.

At the Canadian Internet Society event, Christian Sadilek, senior principal software engineer at Mozilla, said the amended bill could force companies to introduce weaknesses into their systems.

Weaknesses, he said, can be rapidly exploited using AI, “which can autonomously scan vulnerabilities, detect them, and find ways to break in.”

It would not be possible for Mozilla, an open-source product, to abide by an order to introduce “any secret capability without losing the trust of our community, trust of our users – and that would just be a terrible outcome,” Mr. Sadilek said.

The requirement to collect all kinds of metadata could reveal “almost every detail about a user” including their location, hobbies, their religion and “what diseases they are struggling with,” he warned.

RCMP orders review of software supplied by company with alleged Russian ties

SARA MOJTEHEDZADEH

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will not renew their contract with a software company accused of concealing its Russian ownership, and have ordered a probe of any security risks posed by the firm's digital forensics tools, a spokesperson for the federal law enforcement agency says.

Earlier this year, the RCMP signed a licensing agreement with Oxygen Forensics, which is now at the centre of a criminal complaint in the United States alleging its owners falsely presented the firm as American to land government contracts.

In fact, the company was controlled by Russian nationals who were concerned about the effect on their business of increasingly strict economic sanctions against Russia, according to the criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Justice Department in late September.

Oxygen Forensics is tied to a Russian software developer that counts Russian security services amongst its clients, the criminal complaint alleges. The company's software allows investigators to collect and extract data from digital devices.

In January, the RCMP spent around \$34,000 on a licence for Oxygen Forensics' software, publicly available procurement data show. In a statement to The Globe and Mail, a spokesperson, for the agency, Jan. London.

son for the agency, Ian Lordon, said there is “no plan” to renew the agreement, which expires in December.

The RCMP have also asked the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) to launch a “supply chain integrity assessment” of Oxygen Forensics’ software, a process that looks at potential risks involved with technology products used by government agencies.

The RCMP previously secured two contracts worth a total of around \$90,000 with Oxygen Forensics, according to procurement data.

Oxygen Forensics' digital fo-

Oxygen Forensics digital to rensics tools were deployed only in “limited circumstances when no other technical options were available,” Mr. Lordon told The Globe.

Any computers using the software have been isolated from the broader RCMP network, he added.

U.S. authorities have not alleged that Oxygen Forensics' software contained malicious code or that it was used to gain unauthorized access to clients' computer systems or data.

Communications Security Establishment Canada, which houses CCCS, did not respond to questions from The Globe about the supply chain assessment being conducted for Oxygen Forensics.

Several European law enforcement agencies, including London's Metropolitan Police, have suspended their use of Oxygen Forensics' software in the wake of the allegations.

Mr. Lordon said the RCMP's licence with the firm was procured by Shared Services Canada, a federal department that manages information technology procurement and conducts due diligence on vendors to the government.

U.S. authorities arrested Oxygen Forensics' chief executive officer, Lee Reiber of Boise, Idaho, in September and charged him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

A Russian national, Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, was also arrested last month at London Heathrow Airport while in transit to Istanbul. The United States is expected to seek Mr. Davydov's extradition, according to the Justice Department.

Oxygen Forensics was incorporated in Virginia in 2013, publicly available corporate records show. An annual report from the following year lists Mr. Davydov as a vice-president and provides a Moscow address. Another Moscow-based individual was listed as the company's CEO.

In the summer of 2022, the Moscow-based individuals were removed from the company's corporate filings and Mr. Reiber was appointed CEO, the records show.

These changes were part of a conspiracy to conceal Oxygen Forensics' true ownership in light of expanded U.S. sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint.

Oxygen Forensics' leadership falsely claimed that no one in Russia was involved with developing its software, when its code was actually written, reviewed and managed by a team in Russia, an affidavit from a U.S. special agent specializing in cyber investigations says.

The RCMP previously secured two contracts worth a total of around \$90,000 with Oxygen Forensics, according to procurement data provided to The Globe by the law enforcement agency. Those contracts have been closed and completed, agency spokesperson Mr. London said.

Mr. Lordon did not say when the law enforcement agency learned of the allegations made by the U.S. Justice Department against Oxygen Forensics.

"The RCMP is constantly sharing and receiving information related to commercial products with partner agencies," he said.

Oxygen Forensics did not respond to The Globe's requests for comment.

French police fire tear gas on school protest crowds

More than 260,000 people across country rally in support of students' demands for more education funding

NICOLAS GARRIGA

OLEG CETINIC PARIS

Police fired tear gas to control crowds in Paris and elsewhere in France on Tuesday as more than a quarter of a million people rallied nationwide to support high-school students demanding more education funding, according to government figures. The protests increased pressure on the administration of outgoing President Emmanuel Macron.

As pupils blockaded high schools, large crowds waving flags and placards gathered in Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities. The demonstrations showed how protests that began at a high school in the Paris region in mid-September have grown into a nationwide movement – the latest of many that have marked Mr. Macron's nearly decade-long tenure.

“We need to listen to them,” said Léa Monimart, an adult demonstrator in the northern city of Lille. “They are 17 years old; they are not completely clueless, and they know what they are talking about. It’s important to show that there are adults who support them.”

The Interior Ministry estimated that 266,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris, where small groups of protesters clashed with riot officers at a city square at the end of a largely peaceful march.

Nearly 500 people were detained Tuesday, the ministry said. The widespread use of arrests, tear gas and riot-control weapons against teenagers is fuelling defiance and angering some parents and teachers. Some student groups called for new protests Thursday.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the police response had been proportionate in “almost all cases” and that the protests had at times turned into riots, requiring police intervention.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government and school leaders must listen to students' concerns and find solutions.

Questioned in parliament on

Paris saw 56,000 protesters gather as students draw attention to rundown classrooms and poor school conditions.

PHOTOS BY SIEGFRIED

MODOLA/THE GLOBE

AND MAIL

Small groups of people clashed with police in Paris at the close of a largely peaceful march. Nearly 500 arrests were made across the country.

Tuesday about the protest movement, Mr. Lecornu denounced “ultraviolence” threatening schools. Responding to criticism of police tactics, he pledged that any “accidents” would be investigated and described allegations that the police are racist as a “lie.”

POLICE MAKE THOUSANDS OF ARRESTS AMID CLASS BOYCOTTS

More than two weeks of class boycotts and school blockades, and policing that has led to more than 6,500 arrests, mostly of minors, have become a flashpoint in the early days of the presidential election campaign.

Felix Barney, a university student, described the police response as disproportionate, saying it doesn't make “any sense to hit minors.”

“Riot police, batons, rubber bullets, tear gas,” said Aurélien Le Coq, a lawmaker with the far-left France Unbowed party. Its presidential candidate is strongly backing the protests.

The violence is “absolutely unbearable,” Mr. Le Coq said.

Mr. Nuñez defended police tactics despite a growing number of severe injuries blamed on officers' riot-control weapons. In the latest case, a 15-year-old boy lost a hand Monday in an incident involving a police stun grenade. He said 715 officers had been injured.

The teenage protesters have struck a chord amid widespread discontent in France. Frustrations extend beyond immediate difficulties, such as fuel prices that have soared because of the Iran war, to broader concerns about constraints on public spending, rising poverty and wealth inequality under Mr. Macron, who can't run for a third consecutive term. Against that backdrop, pupils' complaints that education funding shortfalls are endangering their futures have found a sympathetic audience.

“You say ‘young people are the future,’ so listen to them,” read a handwritten placard attached to a metal barrier outside a Paris school.

MINISTRY OFFERS ONLINE PORTAL FOR COMPLAINTS

At the Hélène Boucher lycée, or high school, in Paris's 20th district, protesters tipped trash cans and bicycles onto their sides to create a makeshift barricade.

Like hundreds of others around the country, the school was closed. Authorities began shutting schools last week to take some steam out of the demonstrations after widespread damage to schools and mounting injuries among staff, students and police. Classes were totally or partly suspended on Tuesday at 891 schools, according to the Education Ministry.

Facing accusations that it was ignoring protesters, the ministry launched an online portal inviting high-school students to anonymously describe the difficulties they face at school and the changes they want to see.

STUDENT PROTESTS DRAW FOCUS TO RUNDOWN CLASSROOMS

At Hélène Boucher, parents and other adults positioned themselves on Tuesday between protesters and police keeping watch.

“They are our children. Teachers, parents, federations, we all share the same goal: the protection of children’s rights, and it is a legitimate right to demonstrate and to make demands,” said Emilia Sichili Suriam, who is a member of an association of parents.

Demonstrators have voiced a range of grievances, often centring on a lack of resources and opportunities for students in disadvantaged schools, despite the promise of France's national motto: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."

Students have drawn attention to rundown classrooms that lack basics such as desks and chairs, become sweltering in summer without air conditioning and, in some cases, are infested with rats. Other common complaints include staff shortages and exhausting workloads. French high-school students' compulsory classroom hours are among the highest in Europe.

Suzanne Nijdam, president of the federation of student associations, vowed that demonstrations would continue until authorities address the complaints.

“So, we really need to act now, and it’s in the government’s hands, to see these demands through to the end,” she said. “It’s a matter of political priority, a matter of prioritizing the youth and the future of our country.”

Neighbouring Belgium is also seeing student protests. More than 30 were arrested Tuesday and several police were injured in the eastern city of Liege, while smaller protests were held in Brussels and other cities.

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Francis Halzen wins Nobel Prize in physics

Francis Halzen flashes a victory sign Tuesday in his hotel in Turin, Italy, after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. LUCA BRUNO/AP

Physicist earned the award for work on high-energy neutrinos

IVAN SEMENIUK

SCIENCE REPORTER

Francis Halzen, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who pioneered the detection of ghostly particles from outer space, has been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics.

On Tuesday, members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences named Dr. Halzen the sole winner of this year's physics prize.

Dr. Halzen is best known for his work establishing the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. Using a one cubic kilometre volume of the Antarctic ice sheet as its detection medium, the experiment can spot flashes of light that occur when high-energy neutrinos from the distant universe occasionally collide with atoms in the ice.

Completed in 2011, the experiment ushered in a new era of particle astrophysics.

Winning the Nobel “was a great surprise,” said Dr. Halzen when reached by phone during the announcement.

"When I reflect on this moment I have to emphasize how lucky I was because when we started this project, everybody realized this was maybe a good idea but very few thought it would work, including myself."

Born in Belgium in 1944, Dr. Halzen received his PhD from KU Leuven university in 1969. In 1971, he began his research career in Wisconsin where he continues to lead the IceCube project.

The goal of IceCube is to detect neutrinos, particles that interact so infrequently with other forms of matter that they can easily pass through miles of solid lead as though through thin air.

Starting in the 1960s, experimental physicists began devising experiments to spot neutrinos produced by nuclear reactions in the sun's core. Such experiments are typically located underground because the surrounding rock is invisible to neutrinos but screens out cosmic rays - electrically charged atomic fragments that are constantly raining down to Earth from collisions in the upper atmosphere.

In 2015, Canadian physicist Arthur McDonald shared the Nobel Prize for leading a solar neutrino experiment built in a mine in Sudbury which in the early 2000s helped to establish that neutrinos have mass.

Meanwhile, Dr. Halzen sought to extend the reach of neutrino detectors into the larger universe beyond our solar system.

His goal was to spot high-energy neutrinos that are produced in extreme environments, including massive stellar explosions and jets of material accelerated by the powerful magnetic fields that surround supermassive black holes.

High-energy neutrinos are far more rare than those from the sun. Spotting them requires a much larger detector than can fit inside a mine. Starting in 1987, Dr. Halzen and colleagues began exploring whether the giant sheet of clear glacial ice buried under snow at the South Pole would make an ideal place to build a giant neutrino detector.

Their initial effort was called AMANDA, for Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array. Built between 1995 and 2000, it consisted of hundreds of optical detectors. These were lowered into bore holes melted into the ice using hot water, which was then allowed to refreeze, locking the detectors in place. Passing neutrinos interacting with atomic nuclei in the ice generated telltale flashes of light that the detector could spot.

Though cosmic rays drowned out the neutrino signal from above, Dr. Halzen and his colleagues took this into account by only paying attention to particles moving upward from below, effectively using the bulk of Earth as a filter through which they could view neutrinos arriving from the northern sky on the other side of the planet.

AMANDA showed the approach could work, paving the way for IceCube, a much larger version of the experiment.

Over the years that it has been operating, IceCube has confirmed the existence of neutrinos arriving from distant galaxies and provided new information about high-energy events in the cosmos. It has also helped to pin down key properties of neutrinos themselves.

As leader of IceCube, Dr. Halzen has also helped to set a course for parallel efforts to spot high-energy neutrinos, including P-ONE, an underwater experiment in development off the coast of Vancouver Island.

Jodi Cooley, a particle astrophysicist and director of SNOLAB, the successor to Dr. McDonald's facility in Sudbury, began her research career working on AMANDA. In an interview she said she considers Dr. Halzen one of her research mentors and expressed her joy at the news that he had won this year's physics Nobel.

"He combined extraordinary scientific vision with an infectious enthusiasm for discovery, inspiring generations of scientists to pursue the bold idea that neutrinos could reveal a previously hidden universe," Dr. Cooley said.

She added that Dr. Halzen also navigated an important transition when AMANDA grew into IceCube, becoming a much larger and costly experiment that required hundreds of researchers giving a large share of their careers to help the effort succeed.

“That takes real leadership,” Dr. Cooley said.

With Tuesday's announcement, the physics prize has been awarded 120 times to 230 individuals since it was established in 1901.

The most recent Canadian winner was Geoffrey Hinton, a University of Toronto professor and pioneer of artificial intelligence who was awarded the physics Nobel in 2024 for his work on neural networks.

Universities in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver brace for Oct. 7 protests

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up an encampment in King's College Circle at the University of Toronto in May, 2024. Protesters are planning what they call an 'honouring our martyrs' event at the university's downtown campus. SAMMY KOGAN/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

COLIN FREEZE

KELLY GRANT

University officials in Canada's largest cities say they are working with police and security services to prepare for protests Wednesday, the third anniversary of Hamas's deadly Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Protests are being planned at or near the University of Toronto, Montreal's McGill University, and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, as campuses continue to be flashpoints for demonstrations over conflicts in the Middle East.

About 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed and 250 people taken hostage when Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist entity by the Canadian government, invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the territory.

In Canada and the United States, pro-Palestinian protesters have set up encampments on university campuses, demanding that the institutions divest from weapon manufacturers connected to the Israeli military and sever ties with Israeli universities that operate in the occupied territories.

Meanwhile, Jewish groups and students have demanded protection from alleged antisemitism on campus and demonstrations they say include threats and intimidation.

Pro-Palestinian groups in Canada organizing the campus protests have said they are intended to honour those killed in Gaza by Israel, while some Jewish groups have decried the demonstrations as insensitive and deliberately provocative.

McGill says it is in contact with the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal ahead of a planned rally by pro-Palestinian groups outside the gates of that campus. "The university's security services will enhance their staffing and are working closely with the SPVM," said Katherine Cuplinskas, a spokeswoman for the school.

In an e-mail, Ms. Cuplinskas said the university has “dedicated intervention teams available to address unauthorized occupations, property damage, safety concerns, or significant operational disruptions.”

In Toronto, pro-Palestinian groups have been planning what they call an “honouring our martyrs” event at the University of Toronto’s downtown campus. The university has told student groups among the protesting factions that this event should not take place on campus.

An unsigned U of T statement says safety concerns are paramount and include “physical safety risks to participants and to members of the broader university community." The statement says those concerns have been heightened by "the online promotion of counter-protests to take place at the same time."

Some protest activity is still expected to take place on or around the downtown campus. The Toronto Police Service said it will be on hand Wednesday to monitor events. “We are aware and will be present,” said Nadine Ramadan, the force’s spokeswoman.

Protest activity is also being planned in Vancouver, according to UBC officials.

While the B.C. RCMP would not say whether they will be monitoring that event, university spokeswoman Thandi Fletcher said some security measures will be in place. “UBC is aware that two pro-Palestinian groups are organizing gatherings on the Vancouver campus on Oct. 7,” she said in an e-mail.

In October, 2024, McGill officials restricted access to the campus and asked professors to move classes online, citing an elevated potential for disruption on the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks.

And pro-Palestinian groups held an “honouring our martyrs” event last Oct. 7 on U of T’s Mississauga campus.

In an unsigned statement, the Boycott, Divest and Sanction caucus of the U of T graduate students union said the use of the term “martyrs” for the Oct. 7 protest refers to Palestinians killed in Gaza during the Israeli invasion.

However, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs counters that the term is a provocation meant to glorify Hamas.

“People are out there celebrating what happened,” said Danielle Keenan, a spokeswoman for CIJA. “It would be more credible if these events were not taking place on Oct. 7 ... This is the day that 1,200 people lost their lives.”

The concerns over this year's Canadian campus protests coincide with mounting fears in Jewish communities worldwide. With the U.S. and Israel still at war with Iran, the Israeli government is warning Jews around the world that they may be at heightened risk of attacks this Oct. 7.

MPOX CASES ON THE RISE IN TORONTO, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE VACCINE FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE

Toronto public-health officials say they are seeing a rise in mpox infections in the city and are urging eligible residents to get vaccinated.

Toronto Public Health says 14 cases of the viral illness have been confirmed since September, and wastewater monitoring by the Public

PROTECT YOUR TABLE

Health Agency of Canada has also “consistently detected mpox” in the city.

Public health officials say the risk to the public remains low, as mpox is most commonly spread through close or sexual contact with someone who has the virus.

Mpox symptoms include a rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.

People eligible for vaccination include men who have sex with men and have more than one partner; men who have sex with men who have gone to venues for sexual contact; people who work in those venues; and sex workers, regardless of gender.

Toronto Public Health says the city has seen 41 confirmed mpox cases so far this year, compared to 118 confirmed cases during the same time period in 2025, which saw a total of 158 cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS

No plague cases detected among contacts of deceased lab worker, Russia says

with daily laboratory tests."

SHELEKHOV, RUSSIA

Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.

Authorities say the 28-year-old woman died on Friday from pneumonia of an as-yet unestablished origin, in a case that has prompted international concern, including from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Rospotrebnadzor, the watchdog, said in a statement that no infectious diseases had been reported among the staff of the same plague research institute in Irkutsk over the past 10 days and that extensive testing had found no microorganisms in the deceased woman's body linked to her work.

“A comprehensive set of anti-epidemic measures was immediately organized and implemented in full in accordance with public health legislation,” the watchdog said.

"This included identifying the widest possible circle of individuals who had been in contact with the patient and arranging for them to be placed under medical observation in hospital

It said the results had revealed two cases of COVID-19 and two cases of rhinovirus infection, but that no pathogens causing other infectious diseases had been detected. "None of the contacts showed any changes in their state of health associated with infectious disease," it added.

Elena Sofina, deputy head of the Shelekhov district near Irkutsk, where a local hospital was placed under quarantine, said what she called a “dangerous diagnosis” had not been confirmed.

She added that 60 per cent of those placed under quarantine as a precaution had already been released. Local media said around 200 people had previously been quarantined.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed appreciation for an offer of help on Monday from Mr. Trump, although without making clear if Moscow planned to accept it.

The World Health Organization in Geneva said on Tuesday that Russia had told it there were no cases of plague in the city of Irkutsk.

In the town of Shelekhov, where the lab worker is reported to have died in hospital, locals said their lives had barely been disrupted although they said some people in shops had initially worn surgical face masks as a precaution.

REUTERS

Tumbler Ridge: Accused allegedly provided shooter money to buy items for attack

FROM A1

Elija Rain, BC RCMP acting commanding officer, seen at the US Attorney's Office in Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday, announces the arrest of a 30-year-old Washington State man in connection to the February, 2026 Tumbler Ridge, B.C., school shooting. DAVID RYDER/REUTERS

Ms. Bryant's next court appearance is Oct. 13 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, where a judge will determine whether she can be released pending trial.

The teen shooter killed her mother and half-brother at their family home on Feb. 10 before proceeding to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she killed five students and an educational assistant. She then turned a gun on herself.

The news conference, paired with a federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, provide a disturbing window into the pair's friendship and the months they allegedly spent planning the attack. The allegations have not been tested in court.

Officials said Ms. Van Rootselaar and Ms. Bryant are believed to have met about three years ago on Omegle, a once-popular website that randomly paired users for one-on-one text or video conversations. The website, which shut down in November, 2023, was free to use and did not require an account or registration.

The two continued to stay in touch on other platforms, including Discord, which allows users to chat via text, voice and video.

About six months before the attack, "Van Rootselaar told Bryant that she had stolen guns and ammunition from her family's gun safe and was hiding them in her room in preparation for a mass shooting," according to the court document. "Van Rootselaar also said she convinced another person to purchase ammunition on her behalf."

According to the accused, Ms. Van Rootselaar was “fixated on mass shootings and watched livestreamed recordings of past shootings to learn from them,” the document said. She asked Ms. Bryant to livestream her planned attack and Ms. Bryant agreed.

The two discussed possible locations, with the shooter wanting one that would “lead to the largest number of victims.” The accused said it would be a “bad idea to attack a school because there would be too many young victims” and suggested instead a grocery store or church.

The accused is also alleged to have provided money to the shooter to purchase items for use during the attack, including the shoes she intended to wear, a lighter to ignite an explosive device and stickers to decorate the firearms. They tested the livestream at least twice, once in August, 2025, and again in January, 2026.

“They spoke daily during the six months prior to the Tumbler Ridge school shooting,” said the court document, which sets out the facts supporting the charge.

The day of the attack, the shooter told Ms. Bryant over Discord that she would commit the murders that day.

She sent photographs showing that she was wearing the shoes that the accused had purchased and had a cellphone holster attached to a chest rig for the livestream.

Canadian officers later found that, shortly before opening fire, Ms. Van Rootselaar logged into her Twitch account and began a livestream, the document said. The video, which lasted for about 20 seconds, depicted the shooter sitting in a vehicle with a rifle and a separate long gun in her lap.

The accused told Ms. Van Rootselaar that the livestream was “coming through” but that it went “down” shortly after.

Michelle Kramer, a Discord spokesperson, said Tuesday that the company undertook an investigation to identify any related activity immediately following news of the mass shooting. Within hours, an account believed to be associated with the shooter was identified along with private messages.

Ms. Kramer said communications about the shooting were confined to direct one-on-one messages; none were identified through a public Discord server or through group direct messages. There were no user reports related to the event, she added.

“Once we were confident in the shooter’s identity and the associated account, our team conducted a thorough human review of all related direct messaging content,” Ms. Kramer said.

“Following our investigation, we proactively disclosed relevant information to law enforcement agencies and removed the suspect's account for violating our policies.”

Discord declined to provide details on how many messages were shared in total between the two and if any other accounts were flagged to the authorities.

Twitch spokesperson Megan Kay said the platform does not comment on active legal matters but is co-operating with law enforcement. The company has “invested heavily in machine learning tools that detect content that could contain graphic violence,” she said in an e-mailed statement.

When asked if investigators believe Ms. Van Rootselaar was chatting with other people about her plans, U.S. officers said they are still assessing the totality of those communications via social media.

Assistant Commissioner Elija Rain, acting commanding officer for the B.C. RCMP, said Tuesday that as part of the force's probe into the attack, investigators in the province have completed and reviewed more than 90 interview statements from students, educators and first responders. Digital and physical evidence has been collected and processed.

"Our focus remains on supporting the ongoing criminal proceedings in Washington State and continuing our close cooperation with the FBI," he said. "Our RCMP criminal investigation remains ongoing, and the possibility of further charges being pursued in Canada remains under active consideration."

B.C. Attorney-General Niki Sharma told media that the “chilling and disturbing” details revealed on Tuesday have left her with a lot of questions.

She said artificial intelligence and chat sites should be properly regulated but would not say whether the B.C. government will sue other online platforms, such as Discord, named in the indictment.

Galloway: First notified of suspension in November, 2015, by UBC's Dean of Arts

FROM A1

During Tuesday's afternoon court session in Vancouver, Mr. Galloway's lawyer directed the 51-year-old to explain how the student first began joining him for post-lecture drinks with a fellow professor in one of their offices before the pair began a sexual relationship around April 2011.

Mr. Galloway testified that he and A.B. initially had fun together, even if he now realizes their relationship was not appropriate given the power dynamic between a professor and a master's student.

“I’d never had moments where I thought this person’s not enjoying this relationship,” he said.

After their affair ended in April, 2013, Mr. Galloway testified, they kept texting regularly and remained cordial. But his lawyer told that court that in July of that year A.B. filed a formal sexual harassment complaint with the university, alleging that Mr. Galloway repeatedly gave her several drinks of scotch in his office and propositioned her for sex.

Upon learning of this complaint, nearly three years later during the university's investigation, Mr. Galloway testified that he had two reactions: shock that she was complaining even as she was texting him regularly asking him to go to concerts and other social events, and a feeling that her allegations were ridiculous since their relationship had ended cordially.

He also testified how in 2013, he dealt with a similar sexual harassment complaint from A.B. against a visiting scholar. She alleged the academic, who was a candidate for a professorship, had groped and choked her in an elevator while touring the campus, Mr. Galloway testified. After hearing her account and her refusal to file a formal complaint, Mr. Galloway stated that he and two of his colleagues decided to do what they could to stop him from being hired.

“Shamefully, the three of us lowered our interview scores to the point where the candidate dropped out,” he said.

---

He also testified how in 2013, he dealt with a similar sexual harassment complaint from A.B. against a visiting scholar.

Mr. Galloway said he was about to go on stage in Dayton, Ohio, for a speaking engagement when UBC's Dean of Arts first notified him he was being suspended in November, 2015, pending an internal review of an allegation of sexual assault.

He began his testimony detailing how he rose from an arts undergrad at his hometown college in Kamloops to become one of only a handful of Canadian authors with a New York agent, with lucrative speaking engagements across North America.

Author and former University of British Columbia professor Steven Galloway, back centre, leaves the B.C. Supreme Court after attending his defamation lawsuit in Vancouver on Tuesday. DARRYL DYCK/CP

He had sold over a million copies of 2008's The Cellist of Sarajevo across more than 30 countries and commanded as much as assault became public, the court heard.

US\$10,000 for an appearance, he testified. All of that vanished when the university's investigation of A.B.'s allegations of sexual

He is expected to testify for the remainder of the week.

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Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon celebrates winning Monday's Quebec election. The party will form a minority government after winning 28 per cent of the vote. ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

The PQ is back in office without a lot of people power behind the next premier

CAMPBELL CLARK

OPINION

The Parti Québécois's by-election victory in the Jean-Talon riding three years ago came to be seen as the symbolic canary-in-a-coal-

mine start of the fall of the governing Coalition Avenir Québec – and the resurgence of the PQ.

For a long time, it had seemed like PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon would ride that resurgence into a majority government. But on Monday night, the PQ lost Jean-Talon to a Quebec Liberal Party candidate – and didn't take any seats in the Quebec City area.

The PQ was first to capitalize on a desire for change. But they struggled to keep Quebeckers with them.

Now, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon is a 28-per-cent Premier. The PQ won with a record-low popular vote.

Over the past four years, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon had led his party from three seats in the 2022 election to an impressive revival.

But the closer voters got to casting a ballot, the more they pulled back from the prospect of voting for Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon. It was a recoil against a future referendum, certainly, but opinion polls released just before election day also suggested the leader is less popular than his party. The next premier doesn't have a wave behind him.

Now Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon, widely known as PSPP, has a minority government.

It is relatively stable because there are three opposition parties who would have to combine to defeat it in the National Assembly. But it comes with a peculiar conundrum for the next premier.

He has to work with other parties to govern, to build the broader support he needs to stay in power and get to his goal of holding a referendum after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House in 2029. But if he wants to win that referendum, he also needs to repolarize the Quebec electorate.

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon's election-night speech focused first on compromise and broadening support. He promised to include elements from the platforms of all opposition parties in the PQ budget. But PSPP has a talent for attention-grabbing wedge-politics moves – when he was first elected in 2022, it was refusing to swear an oath to the King. And his political goals require him to both build bridges and burn them.

Despite what the results map looks like, dominated by 59 Péquistes and 40 Liberals, Monday's election was not an atavistic return to the separatist-federalist divide that dominated Quebec politics for decades.

The dominant dynamic was the desire for change and the crash of the CAQ, the party that under former premier François Legault had promoted the troisieme voie – a third way, an autonomist and nationalist posture that eschewed separatism as a sterile debate getting in the way of Quebec's progress.

That desire for change had been what propelled the PQ over the past three years, especially because the Quebec Liberals were still a non-option for most francophones. But when push came to shove, and the CAQ won only 13 per cent of the vote and not a single seat – another 20 per cent rushed to a different party using third-way rhetoric, the Quebec Conservative Party.

If PSPP is to set the winning conditions for a referendum he'll have to polarize those third-way voters to make them feel they must choose between separatism and federalism. But he would have to do so without making Quebeckers think he is doing the very thing they didn't want – that is, putting fights with Ottawa and the drive to a referendum ahead of governing.

It's hard to guess which way Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon will turn now to govern.

There is another sovereigntist party, which holds nine seats and the balance of power in the National Assembly, Québec Solidaire, but it is devoted to progressive causes and its own ways and not guaranteed to back a PQ referendum. It's possible that PSPP could turn leftwards to try to woo them, but that would also alienate the new power in Quebec politics, the Conservative Party led by Éric Duhaime that swept most of the Quebec City region.

That's enough of a puzzle to keep any next premier busy. We can expect Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon will build on complaints about the federation as a foil for the complexities of governing in Quebec, and disrupt the relative federal-provincial peace that Prime Minister Mark Carney has enjoyed.

The PQ is back, certainly. But so far, at least, PSPP doesn't have a lot of people power behind him.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE QUEBEC ELECTION

The province voted in separatist Parti Québécois for the first time in more than a decade, while Coalition Avenir Québec was wiped off the map

ERIC ANDREW-GEE MAURA FORREST

Quebec has voted in a separatist Parti Québécois government for the first time in more than a decade, after an election campaign marked by a desire for change and pronounced regional divisions. The results of Monday's election will shake up Quebec's political

The results of Monday's election will shake up Quebec's political landscape, with the PQ returning to power after being nearly wiped out four years ago, while the Coalition Avenir Québec is facing extinction after eight years in government.

The PQ has won a minority mandate with just 28 per cent of the vote, the lowest vote share for any government in Quebec's history. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has promised his government will hold a referendum on independence within a first mandate, though not before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House in 2029.

Here are five things to know about the Quebec election and the next chapter in the province's political history.

2026 provincial general election results

Preliminary data

\- Parti Québécois

• Liberal
• Conservative
• Québec Solidaire
• Coalition

Avenir

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: ELECTIONS QUEBEC

REFERENDUM TAKES CENTRE STAGE

The PQ victory has brought Quebec closer to a sovereignty referendum than it has been in decades, but a minority mandate will make it difficult for Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon to follow through on his pledge, even if his government outlasts Mr. Trump's time in office.

The PQ Leader reaffirmed his commitment to independence during his victory speech Monday night, calling it a “question of survival.” But the party would require support from the opposition to adopt a referendum question in the National Assembly, and the Liberals and Conservatives have both made it clear they will not play ball.

The left-leaning Québec Solidaire, which also supports sovereignty, has not said clearly whether it would support a PQ bid to hold a referendum. Co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal has called for an extensive public consultation before holding a vote on independence, and on Monday said she wants to build a country that “leaves no one behind.”

André Lamoureux, a political scientist at University of Quebec at Montreal, said a referendum will be a “dead end” for a PQ minority. “There are too many obstacles,” he added.

Quebec: PQ Leader says party is ready to collaborate

"It's a crucial time for Quebec. It's a crucial time for our country. This is not a time to wait for something a few years down the road. It's a time to act. It's a time for boldness," Mr. Carney told reporters on his way into a cabinet meeting.

The Prime Minister is navigating a delicate moment for national unity, with a referendum in Alberta less than two weeks away, and persistent threats to Canada's sovereignty and economy by the Trump administration.

Asked if the Parti Québécois had a mandate to separate with just 28 per cent of the vote, the Prime Minister did not answer the question but noted that he won last year's federal election with a 43-per-cent mandate from voters.

Mr. Carney spoke Tuesday with the premier-designate, and Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon described their conversation as “perfectly respectful and constructive.” He said he will meet soon with the Prime Minister.

The PQ Leader said he is ready to collaborate with the federal government and the other provinces “provided that it serves

Quebec's interests," but cautioned that collaboration "doesn't mean asking for nothing and then agreeing to anything."

"The federal government's position, in principle, must follow the will expressed by the people of Quebec – not the other way around," he said.

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon repeated his desire to abolish the office of lieutenant-governor in Quebec, a move to buck the British monarchy that critics see as an attempt to foment conflict with Ottawa. He said he has sought a legal opinion on the matter.

The premier-designate said one of his first moves in office will be to assemble a negotiating team to protect key sectors of Quebec's economy during the trade dispute with the United States.

Upon announcing her resignation Tuesday, Ms. Fréchette said her party needs someone to lead the CAQ into the next election and beyond, although it is unclear whether the once-dominant party can be revived after being shut out of the National Assembly.

Coalition Avenir Québec's outgoing leader Christine Fréchette.

JACQUES BOISSINOT/THE CANADIAN PRESS

The CAQ's “third way” nationalism, which seeks to defend Quebec's identity and powers without the disruption of independence, is still the best option after eight years in government, Ms. Fréchette said.

“We allowed our nation to affirm itself,” she said.

Meanwhile, other opposition party leaders spoke about their plans for wielding the balance of power in a possibly short-lived minority parliament.

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard was upbeat after his party more than doubled its caucus by winning 40 seats, and called on former CAQ supporters to “come home” to the federalist party.

“We’re the only ones who can realistically block the PQ’s referendum project,” he said.

The left-wing separatist party Québec Solidaire did not rule out supporting the PQ in launching a referendum, which would require a majority vote in the National Assembly. The nine seats won by QS

How Quebec voted in 2022

Winning party in each of Quebec's 125 ridings

● CAQ ● Quebec Liberal Party ● Québec solidaire ● Parti Québécois

Voter turnout

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: ÉLECTIONS QUÉBEC, MAP DATA: © DGEQ

Share of registered electors who voted in each Quebec general election

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: ÉLECTIONS QUÉBEC

---

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH OTTAWA

The arrival of a PQ government could herald a thornier relationship between Quebec City and Ottawa, as Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon looks to bolster support for independence. At a time when threats to Canada's sovereignty are coming from both inside and outside the country, the PQ Leader's agenda could be an irritant for Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette sought to build ties with the federal government, and appeared alongside Mr. Carney at several announcements in recent months. Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon pointed to those announcements as evidence of federal interference in the Quebec election intended to benefit the CAQ.

Late in the campaign, the PQ Leader vowed to break with the monarchy in Quebec if he became premier, promising to pass a law to abolish the office of lieutenant-governor. Critics say such a move would likely be subject to a constitutional challenge.

On Monday, Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon said he is willing to collaborate with Mr. Carney. "He will find in me someone who is direct, frank, and transparent – but above all, someone who will defend, first and foremost and at all times, the interests of the people of Quebec."

---

THE CAQ COLLAPSES

After winning two majority mandates in 2018 and 2022, the Coalition Avenir Québec was wiped off the map on Monday, losing every one of its 79 seats. It was a dramatic fall from grace, prompting speculation that the party may disappear altogether.

The CAQ rose to power eight years ago as an alternative to the federalist Liberals and the separatist PQ, promising a nationalist government that would not hold a referendum on independence. After the party's first victory, it seemed the decades-old debate over sovereignty might have been permanently shelved.

Now, however, it seems the CAQ may have been “just a parenthesis in our political history,” said political analyst Raphaël Melançon. “It seems like we’re going back to these old battles.”

How Quebec voted in 2026

Winning party in each of Quebec's 127 ridings

● Parti Québécois ● Conservative Party ● Quebec Liberal Party ● Québec solidaire

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: ÉLECTIONS QUÉBEC, MAP DATA: © DGEQ

Despite winning the election, Parti Québécois received a historically low share of the popular vote

Share of the popular vote won by the party that formed government

• Parti Québécois
• Quebec Liberal Party
• CAQ

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: ÉLECTIONS QUÉBEC

---

A DIVIDED LANDSCAPE

The Quebec electorate expressed a clear desire for change on Monday, with more than 90 of the province's 127 seats switching hands. But voters remained divided throughout the six-week campaign about the kind of change they wanted to see. The PQ's victory and the CAQ's collapse in the final seat count mask the fact that all five main parties won between 12 per cent and 28 per cent of the vote.

Though a PQ government was declared shortly after polls closed Monday evening, tight races played out in ridings across the province. Early Tuesday morning, candidates were leading or elected by fewer than 1,000 votes in 15 seats.

The final map shows important regional divisions. The Liberals have retained their traditional stronghold in ridings in and around Montreal, while the left-leaning Québec Solidaire held onto a handful of urban seats in Montreal and Quebec City.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, claimed seats in Quebec City and surrounding regions.

---

THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

The real winner Monday night was arguably Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime, who led his party to claim seats in the National Assembly for the first time. With 19 seats, the Conservatives will obtain official party status in the Quebec legislature and could hold the balance of power.

A Conservative party had not won seats in Quebec since 1935, after which the original party was dissolved to form the right-leaning Union Nationale, which would govern the province for the next two decades under the leadership of Maurice Duplessis.

The modern iteration of the party was founded in 2009 and has been led by Mr. Duhaime since 2021. He campaigned on major cuts to taxes, public sector jobs and government spending and has promised to act as a watchdog to guard against government waste.

On Monday, Mr. Duhaime said the Conservatives will embody Quebeckers' desire for change.

“Finally, hope will be present within the walls of the National Assembly.”

Québec Solidaire co-leader Ruba Ghazal.

PETER McCABE/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard. CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV/CP

in the downtowns of Montreal and Quebec City would be enough to help the PQ trigger an independence vote, but the two separatist parties differ widely on immigration and identity issues, as well as the economy.

Quebec Conservative Party Leader Éric Duhaime.

KAROLINE BOUCHER/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Ruba Ghazal, the co-leader of QS, remained vague about her intentions but suggested that cost-of-living issues were more urgent for many Quebeckers, and that holding a referendum would be more promising when a larger share of the population wants one. Currently, just 30 per cent of Quebeckers say they support independence, a historically low level.

“Anything is possible,” Ms. Ghazal said of supporting a PQ referendum initiative in the National Assembly. “We’ll do everything to rally a majority of the population to this beautiful project.”

“Quebec isn’t 70 per cent federalist. 70 per cent of people are anxious, or don’t know. There are those who have an attachment to Canada – it’s very diversified.”

The new PQ government will also have to contend with the wild card of the Quebec Conservative Party, which enters the National Assembly for the first time with a flourish after winning 19 seats.

Leader Éric Duhaime, the election's breakout star, campaigned on aggressively shrinking the size of the Quebec state and sharply cutting immigration levels, which the province partly controls.

A self-described nationalist, Mr. Duhaime also opposes a referendum and has said his party will vote against one, but with a surprisingly large and mostly inexperienced caucus, controlling his troops will be a tall order.

"Our first challenge is to show Quebeckers we're capable of taking on the functions we've been given ... to play our role of watchdog well," he said in a press conference Tuesday. "We'll have a steep learning curve."

EDITORIAL

The subject who is truly loyal to the chief magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures - Junius

The unsafe side effects of ‘safer supply’

Ontario medical professionals thought they could help people with addictions by giving them prescription opioids to take on their own so they could avoid risky street drugs. But it's now clear that this supposed solution carries big costs.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario will decide later this month if it will set stricter guardrails around the practice, which has become known as “safer supply.” The proposal includes many sensible measures, but it should go farther in integrating prescriptions into comprehensive treatment plans to help patients break their addictions.

Across Ontario, doctors are giving patients with substance-use disorders prescriptions for the powerful opioid hydromorphone. The practice began around a decade ago in an attempt to reduce overdose deaths from street drugs, such as fentanyl, which can be unpredictable as it is often mixed with other substances. These prescriptions don't need to be integrated into broader treatment plans to address behavioural issues and other factors that influence substance use.

A recent Globe and Mail investigation revealed that for many users, the hydromorphone isn't strong enough to ward off their cravings, so they sell it on the black market to get money for fentanyl. All too often, the hydromorphone ends up in the hands of young people seeking a cheap high.

These buyers sometimes mistakenly believe the pharmacy-provided drugs are “safe,” yet there is a high risk of addiction. Even small amounts of the drug can lead people to stop breathing and overdose. Some hydromorphone users, chasing a stronger high, move on to fentanyl. Instead of stemming the harms of addiction, these prescriptions give fentanyl users an easy way to support their destructive habits while flooding the market with cheap opioids that hurt others.

Last year, British Columbia reined in its prescription opioid program after leaked documents showed a significant portion was being trafficked. Patients now need to consume the pills in front of a medical professional or pharmacist. However in Ontario, patients are regularly allowed to take large amounts of their pills off site.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been vocal about moving away from safe consumption sites and towards recovery-focused treatment. Yet there's been less attention to pharmaceutical opioids, which are prescribed by individual doctors and promoted by specialty pharmacies. Some pharmacies have built lucrative businesses by having doctors dole out prescriptions online to walk-in patients, says Hamilton addictions doctor Lori Regenstreif.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is finally waking up to the issue. In May, it introduced changes that require doctors to see patients in person and offer other addiction medicines prior to starting them on prescription opioids. The doctors are also required to assess these patients in person every three months.

On Oct. 13, the College board will decide if it should enact further restrictions. The proposal includes a provision to require patients to take their pills at the pharmacy or clinic. It would bring in an eight-week limit for prescription opioids for drug users and require in-person clinical assessments once a month.

These measures would go a long way to limit the harms of prescription opioids, and they should be enacted. But the changes should go further. The College needs to work with the province to ensure that these prescriptions are integrated into long-term treatment plans with recovery as the goal. This is best achieved by having only doctors specializing in addictions offer prescription opioids for patients with substance use disorders.

The opioid crisis took off when Purdue Pharma flooded the market with addictive pills. It won't end by flooding our communities with more opioids, such as hydromorphone, which was brought to Canada by Purdue under the name Di-laudid.

Prescription medications – particularly methadone and suboxone – have a role to play in treating people with addictions. But they work best as part of a comprehensive plan that helps patients work through trauma, reconnect with loved ones and find stable housing and employment. Instead of allowing prescription opioids to flood the streets, Ontario should expand treatment options to give people a chance to get clean and improve their lives.

SINCLAIR STEWART

DEPUTY EDITOR

ANGELA PACIENZA

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

JAMES KELLER

NATIONAL EDITOR

CHRISTINE BROUSSEAU

MANAGING EDITOR, PRIORITIES

ANDREW SAUNDERS

PRESIDENT AND CEO

DAVID WALMSLEY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

David Brakur 2026

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

STRONG ENOUGH?

Re “Parti Québécois to form minority government in Quebec, setting up referendum fight” (Oct. 6): Are we witnessing the disintegration of the Parti Québécois coalition?

In the past, independence united diverse groups of voters from the right to far left under the PQ banner. The prospect of independence was the glue that held them together.

Now the Conservatives and Québec Solidaire are standing on their own and the PQ could win only 28 per cent of the vote. Even a hard core PQ voter should see they are hard-pressed to get a majority in an independence referendum.

The PQ rallying cry appears no longer enough to paper over deeper political divisions to re-establish a winning coalition.

David Powell Toronto

FACE IT

Re “A country with its elbows up faces separation threats on two fronts” (Oct. 1): A superb article contrasting separatist supporters in rural Alberta and rural Quebec.

I grew up in rural Alberta 75 years ago. I cringed at the animosity a few uninformed friends felt toward Quebec. I embraced the Canadian dream and lived it in several provinces, including British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario.

My sympathy goes to my academic colleague Barry Cooper, who can't seem to find a way to escape his negativity.

Ian Greene

Professor emeritus, York University; Toronto

I believe “Albertan culture” is only for a minority of Albertans.

I am so tired of hearing about “Albertan culture” when sectarian Albertans often deny the legitimacy of any other kind of culture in Alberta.

The “Albertan culture” in Edmonton is very different.

■ Janet Wesselius Edmonton

Re “When weighing Alberta’s future, trust the experts” (Sept. 29): Listening to separatist Albertan grievances makes it clear to me they are blaming Ottawa and some politicians for economic changes they think will reduce the prosperity they now enjoy.

These Albertans should understand that these developments are worldwide and not caused by hostile elements in the Canadian government. The world has come to realize that the use of fossil fuels damages the environment. It has begun to switch to non-polluting sources of energy and electric motors instead of internal combustion engines.

One role of government is to help us prepare for, and profit from, these inevitable changes. Albertans considering secession should understand that being part of a federation will help them to evolve.

Many of us find the status quo comfortable and try to elect politicians who will fight change by putting sunset industries on life support. It can prolong life, but it does not work forever.

Dave Parnas Ottawa

Thank you for seeing this ridiculous referendum for what it is: A shameful and wasteful populist Premier's gambit.

We didn't ask for it. It has been a waste of money and created undue polarization and unnecessary stress on almost everyone here.

The scapegoating of immigrants and whining about Ottawa should be seen as an embarrassment. The minority right wing do not speak for the vast majority of Albertans and never should have had the limelight.

The only good I see this referendum has done is to remind people that seeing the good of where we live matters, and marking an X to say so is the greatest gift democracy offers.

The Premier's power games should come to an end on Oct. 19. Good luck to her finding anyone who will welcome her back in.

■ John Pentland Calgary

FOR NOW

Re “Whose interest?” and “Head in the sand” (Letters, Oct. 6): We don’t have to choose between pipelines and renewables. We can do both.

Given the treacherous behaviour of the United States, Canada has little alternative but to seek other markets, including for our crude oil. The Trans Mountain pipeline has demonstrated that we can sell more oil and get a better price.

At the same time, we should reduce domestic consumption of fossil fuels to do our part in saving the world from global warming. We can't control what the rest of the world does, but we should control our own emissions.

If we don't survive today, then there is no tomorrow. Revenue from fossil fuel exports in the short term can fund net-zero initiatives in the longer term.

Brian Swinney Burlington, Ont.

MONEY FOR NOTHING

Re “Cleveland-Cliffs CEO questions logic of Ottawa potentially suing over Stelco layoffs” (Report on Business, Oct. 2): A major concern of mine about the Liberals is their propensity to throw money at a problem as if that is the solution.

Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves "said he declined the government's offer because it wouldn't have addressed the root problem, comparing the situation to a doctor offering a sick patient cash instead of prescribing a drug to cure their illness." Exactly.

Increasing a child's allowance does not make them better people. Yet it seems to be the Liberal way.

Our government doles out taxpayer debt as if it is a path forward, when all I see is that we are going backward.

Catharina Summers Kingston

PUBLIC REJECTION

Re “Airport reform moves to the runway, at last” (Editorial, Oct. 2): This pitches an idea that has struck out around the world.

No amount of “smart regulations” can protect workers and travellers from the fallout of selling our country’s four biggest airports to profit-hungry investors. It’s bad enough Mark Carney wants to surrender control and keep ownership in name only: All-out privatization would turn critical infrastructure into assets that can be stripped and flipped for private gain. In Australia, for example, price caps and job protections were short-lived.

The motivation to gouge passengers and cut costs on maintenance, cleanliness and safety outstrips attempts to rein in investors – including the funds managing our members' pensions. We've always rejected privatization schemes where our pension funds generate returns by harming workers and consumers.

Airport privatization grounded out in the early 1990s and couldn't make it past the infield under the previous Liberal government. It's time to strike out this lousy idea for good.

National president, Canadian Union of Public Employees; Ottawa

STORIES TO TELL

Re “Why does CBC Gem keep buying American during a trade war?” (Oct. 1): There is incredible television coming out of Quebec that should be offered widely with English subtitles. CBC should better support Canadian creators.

MATT FREHNER

MANAGING EDITOR,

PRODUCTS AND PLATFORMS

Entertainment reinforces cultural narratives, for better or worse. We should be exploring more of our own stories and therefore challenging American cultural hegemony, especially in our current political climate.

Katharine Shipley Vancouver

Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters under 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. E-mail: letters@globeandmail.com

DENNIS CHOQUETTE

DEPUTY EDITOR, REPORT ON BUSINESS

PATRICK BRETHOUR

EDITORIALS EDITOR

GARY SALEWICZ

EDITOR, REPORT ON BUSINESS

NATASHA HASSAN

OPINION EDITOR

MATT FRENCH

HEAD OF VISUALS

MELISSA STASIUK

HEAD OF NEWSROOM DEVELOPMENT

There's nothing poetic about Oct. 7 attacks

Why did a literary journal celebrate the ‘beauty’ of a profoundly ugly day?

MARSHA

LEDERMAN

OPINION

It started at dawn. Three years ago, on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas led an attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. Many of the victims were young people attending a music festival who ran for their lives as these men descended on them, mercilessly attacking them. Some arrived via paraglider to carry out the deadly operation, called Al-Aqsa Flood.

The attack sparked a catastrophic war that has killed more than 74,000 Gazans, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Over here in Canada, a new special issue of the online journal The Ex-Puritan looks at these events through a literary lens, with a special “Resistance &

Hope" issue, guest-edited by writer Bahar Orang. It features Ms. Orang's own poem, Flood.

“Praise the paragliders, their gentle ascension, their unbroken morning, and of course their triumphant descension, their feet touching down,” it begins. “Praise October.”

There's a lot of praise in the poem – for “the fighters, whose courage nourishes the world.” For “their cunning, their patience, the tanks on fire, the enemy fleeing.” Also for missiles, “the recognitions written in blood on each one, the names carved already into your own flesh.”

I found this hard to read. But not nearly as difficult as other reading I've done about that day.

There is nothing poetic about “Silenced No More,” a report by the independent Civil Commission on Oct. 7th Crimes by Hamas against Women and Children. The report was published in May. Canada’s Irwin Cotler is named as a principal contributor.

Warning: What you are about to read is disturbing.

"Victims endured brutal acts, including burning, mutilation, rape, restraining, forced insertion of objects into the genitalia, shootings to the faces and genital area, killings and abuses in front of family members, and executions," states the report, which draws on extensive documentation, including original filmed survivor and witness testimonies, interviews, photographs, videos, official records, and other primary materials from the attack sites.

While women and girls were the primary targets, the commission also found “a discernible pattern of boys and men who were subjected to extreme forms of sexual violence, sexual torture and sexual humiliation, including rape, forced nudity, mutilation, targeted burning in genitals and repeated sexual assaults.”

The report reveals that acts of kinocide – the systemic weaponization and targeting of families to maximize suffering – were deliberately perpetrated, including a case in which family members were coerced into performing sexual acts on one another.

A first responder said that he found the body of a man with “severed male genitalia in his mouth.” A volunteer discovered a woman’s body with “metal cans inserted into her vaginal area.” A witness saw a woman being raped by several assailants; then one of her attackers cut off her breast. "He throws it on the road, and they are playing with it," he said.

Another witness testified: “I heard one rape where they were passing her around. She was probably injured, judging by her screams – screams you have never heard anywhere. ... And after one finished, he told another to go up ‘Ta’al’ [in Arabic], like to the next one. ... And after they finished, they shot her. ... The moment they were killed, I said, ‘Oh my God, finally, it’s over.’”

“Praise beauty,” the poem instructs.

I wrote to The Ex-Puritan with a request to speak with its editor-in-chief, Ryanne Kap, as well as Ms. Orang, whose next book Grief Theory is scheduled to be published next year by Book\*hug Press. I did not receive a reply by the deadline I gave them.

I also wrote to the Canada Council for the Arts, an arm's-length funding agency of the federal government, to inquire about its funding for the journal, as its logo appears on The Ex-Puritan's website. The Canada Council awarded the journal a four-year operating grant in 2024, with annual funding of \$22,000.

In the e-mail, the Canada Council shared that it has started an internal review of funding provided to the magazine given concerns raised by this edition, and has retained legal counsel as part of the review.

"As an arm's-length public arts funder, our mandate is to foster and promote the arts," wrote Lise Ann Johnson, the director-general of arts and granting partnerships. "While funded magazines have editorial independence, freedom of expression in Canada exists within a broader legal framework and is subject to limits under Canadian law. This is why we aim to carefully balance the importance of freedom of expression with applicable legal limits."

People are justifiably outraged about the sexual assault allegedly committed by seven men at Cornell University, known as the Cornell 7. Which makes the silence about the genital-burning, body-severing, gang-rapes of Oct. 7 even more outrageous. Not just the silence, but the denial. Erasure. Praise, even.

The weakest possible mandate will not deter the Parti Québécois

Parti Québécois supporters cheer as results come in at PQ headquarters on election night in Montreal on Monday. With 28 per cent of the vote, the PQ's popular vote share is the smallest for any winning party in any election. GRAHAM HUGHES/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

ANDREW COYNE

OPINION

It is hard to convey how thin a mandate the Parti Québécois has just won in Quebec, but I will try.

With 28 per cent of the vote, the PQ's popular vote share is the smallest for any winning party in any election, not just in the modern history of Canada but, as far as I can tell, in any comparable democracy. The PQ's winning share was less than it received in losing seven previous elections; less than it received in 2007, when it finished third.

And yet, thanks to a five-way vote split and the distortions of first-past-the-post, it has not only won power, but very nearly a majority: At 59 seats, it fell just five short. That's the good news, I suppose. But it hardly matters. That the PQ did not win a majority will not stop it from using the powers to which it now has access, in any way it can, to promote the separation of the province.

That will probably not extend to holding a referendum, or not just yet: The PQ Leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has pledged to delay it until after Donald Trump leaves office. But he will spend every day from now until then working to create the “winning conditions” for one.

We have been here before, of course: in 1980, and 1995. But there's a difference this time. The 1980 referendum sought only "a mandate to negotiate" secession, or rather "a new agreement" with the rest of Canada; a further referendum was promised to approve whatever was or was not negotiated.

By 1995 the question had become whether Quebec should “become sovereign” after having “formally offered” a “new economic and political partnership,” regardless of whether that offer was accepted.

The failure of that referendum, by the narrowest of margins, led to the Secession Reference, in which the Supreme Court ruled that secession could not lawfully be achieved except by amending the Constitution – though the rest of Canada would be compelled by a mysterious “duty to negotiate” by a referendum with a “clear majority” on a “clear question.” The Clarity Act later forbade the federal government from entering into negotiations unless these conditions were met.

But the PQ has never accepted any similar obligation on its part. It insists it is sufficient grounds for independence that a referendum pass, on a question of its choice, and with a mere 50 per cent plus one of votes cast. Neither would this be contingent on amending the Constitution, or any new arrangement with the rest of Canada.

Instead, the PQ would simply declare independence unilaterally. The referendum itself would be preceded by the drawing up of a provisional constitution for an independent Quebec, so as to make the eventual vote seem like a mere formality.

In short: utter lawlessness. The PQ proposes to defy the Supreme Court, ignore the Constitution, and step outside the rule of law. Secession would be effected, not by negotiation, but by revolutionary edict. And while that prospect might once have been expected to terrify Quebeckers, much work has been done since to inoculate them to the idea. Much more work will be done in the months to come.

It's not just the repeated, almost casual use of the notwithstanding clause, as a means of eviscerating the Charter of Rights: the subject of a pending Supreme Court ruling.

There is also Bill 96, which purports to give Quebec powers over language that, under the Constitution, it does not possess. There is the purported abolition of the oath to the King that members of the Quebec legislature, like the members of every other legislature in the country, are constitutionally obliged to swear. And there is the promised attempt to abolish the monarchy itself, at least within Quebec.

The point, in every case, has little to do with the particulars of each, or even with sowing conflict with the rest of Canada. The point, rather, is to establish the broader principle that the Constitution of Canada – not just the Charter: the whole thing – does not apply in Quebec, except as and when the government of Quebec decides it should; and that therefore the government of Quebec has only to renounce it for the province to be released altogether from its bounds. And since no one on the federal side ever pushes back, why wouldn't Quebeckers assume this was true?

That is the project on which the PQ has now launched the province: first the discrediting of the Constitution, then the referendum, then the declaration of independence. And it will do all this with 28 per cent of the vote.

Anti-Zionism and antisemitism should not be conflated

MIRA SUCHAROV

OPINION

Professor of political science at Carleton University

In a troubling policy shift, Public Safety Canada recently declared anti-Zionism to be a form of antisemitism. While it may be tempting to roll one of the organized Jewish community's stated beliefs into the way the Canadian government understands Jew hatred, conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism is a grave mistake.

Like so many other scourges, such as Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, misogyny and so on, antisemitism is a form of bigotry. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is clear on this: No one shall be discriminated against based on “race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.”

But even though many Jews experience Zionism as a core part of their religious or ethnic identity, Zionism is fundamentally a political ideology. All political ideologies – especially ones that are linked to actual state structures, as Zionism is – should be subject to critique. Opposing Zionism, therefore, is no different from opposing other governing ideologies like communism, capitalism, socialism or Islamism.

Zionism has, of course, served some Jews well: It has created a safe haven from state-based persecution; it has revived Hebrew; and it has forged additional avenues for Jewish self-expression. But Zionism is not merely these things. In the way it has actually been practised, Zionism has done grave harm to another people: the Palestinians. It was Zionism that triggered the Nakba – the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians in 1948; it was Zionism that placed, from 1948 to 1966, a system of military rule over those Palestinians who did manage to stay; and it was Zionism that, in 1967, enacted a military occupation that was supposed to be temporary but has become anything but. When you're staring at the pointy end of the sword, its gilded handle does not much matter.

Some, including this paper, have argued that anti-Zionism is at “the core” of the current wave of antisemitic violence in Canada. According to that view, labeling anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism might help combat what some like to call the world’s oldest hatred. But it is an exercise in spurious reasoning to attribute antisemitism to anti-Zionism without considering the broader context. One need only examine the timing of the current rise in antisemitism – coinciding with the Israel Defence Forces assault on Gaza that followed the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks almost immediately – to consider that, if there is any link at all between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, it may be Israel’s actions and not the opposition to them that are leading bigots here to make Canadian Jews, wrongly, pay for Israel’s crimes.

Like many Canadian Jews, I was raised with the belief that Zionism is something to be cherished and protected. In my community, Zionism was like the air we breathed, so much so that we hardly even used the word. Unless, of course, we were singing the Israeli national anthem (where the word Zion, a synonym for Jerusalem, appears), something we did every evening at Jewish summer camp. In fact, my personal sense of Zionism led me to consider immigrating to Israel under the Law of Return.

But I have come to realize that feeling attached to a place should not preclude one from questioning the material effects of a given state's governing ideology. This shouldn't be hard for Canadians to understand. Many of Canada's most patriotic citizens regularly challenge the settler-colonial aspects of our country's founding ideology. A full-throated call for reconciliation here within our borders is no different than demanding that the State of Israel grant everyone under its rule freedom, dignity and equality.

What's more, on the very definition of the term Zionism, we are all too often talking past each other. A few years ago, I published the findings of a survey I had recently conducted of American Jews. There, I found that how Zionism is defined has a marked effect on whether respondents identify with the label or not. Specifically, when I presented respondents with a definition of Zionism as “the belief in privileging Jewish rights over non-Jewish rights in Israel,” support for Zionism plummeted. It was 72 per cent when Zionism was defined instead as support for a Jewish and democratic state, but only 10 per cent when I presented that first definition, which is one I know Palestinians have experienced at the hands of Zionism.

Decades after the late Palestinian intellectual, Edward Said, urged us to try to see “Zionism from the standpoint of its victims,” we must realize that debates over Zionism belong not only to Jews.

GARY MASON will return.

LIFE & ARTS

How to plan your trip for the ‘eclipse of the century’

A crowd of people gathers with bicycles, telescopes, cameras and tripods in Castrojeriz, Burgos province, Spain, on Aug. 12, to observe the solar eclipse. ISABELLE SOURIMENT/GETTY IMAGES

I waited too long to arrange to see the 2026 spectacle, but still enjoyed what we discovered on our way to the main event

JOHN BRILEY

First, the hard truth: If you're looking to get a jump on planning travel for the "eclipse of the century," on Aug. 2, 2027, when the moon will fully obscure the sun for more than six minutes, you're already late. Lodgings along the eclipse path in North Africa and the Middle East are nearly sold out. Totality will peak at six minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt, making this the longest total solar eclipse until 2114.

But “late” doesn’t mean you’ve missed out. I learned this in August when I travelled to Spain, with my wife, Cathleen, and 17-year-old son, Kai, to witness this year’s solar eclipse, a trip I planned only two months in advance.

---

LAST-MINUTE SCRAMBLING

After hearing that the ancient city of León in northwest Spain was the ideal spot to catch this spectacle, owing to the confluence of totality time (one minute and 45 seconds) and low risk of clouds, I found non-stop flights from where we live to Madrid and began building an eight-day itinerary that would take us from Spain's capital to the northern coast and mountains, then returning inland to León for eclipse day and back to Madrid to fly home.

Alas, the few remaining rooms in León for the night of the eclipse were prohibitively expensive - US\$1,000 and up. I didn't want to stay north of León, which would have added to an already daunting departure-day drive, so I was delighted to snag a reasonably priced room 130 kilometres south of León in the Zamora Palacio del Duero hotel, built onto a 14th-century convent in Zamora, a medieval town with the most Romanesque churches (24) of any European city.

I then worked backward along our planned route. A hispanophile friend had suggested a few seaside villages in the autonomous principality of Asturias, in northern Spain. But all of those were sold out because of the double pressure of eclipse tourists and Spaniards escaping August heat in the big cities. My cortisol levels rose with each “no vacancy,” until I found an Airbnb in a hamlet called Bañugues, north of the town of Luanco. The reviews were excellent, and the photos showed people on a bluff above the sea – enough to sway me.

Lodging was similarly scarce around Picos de Europa National Park, where the government-run lodge my friend had recommended had been sold out for months. We settled for a pricey room in the over-touristed town of Cangas de Onís. Lastly, I found a rental car I could pick up in central Madrid and drop at the airport.

---

HAPPY SURPRISES

But as often happens in life, we found joy in the adjustments: the slow-cooked cod at La Taberna de Paula, a Madrid restaurant owned by a retired lawyer with eyes that carried all the sadness and hope of the human condition; the trails of Bañugues, where walkers and mountain bikers soaked in forever views of the jigsawed coast; the empty, black sand beach below Viodo, where Kai wandered out to the tide pools and for 45 minutes became our little boy again, captivated by the tiny life most adults fail to notice.

While hiking the Ruta de Cares in Picos de Europa, with granite spires erupting toward the cobalt sky, we met Natasha Adamus, 24, a Canadian living in Poland whose father had planned this eclipse chase trip a year in advance.

“He was so moved by the last eclipse in Canada. He cried telling me about it,” she said. “He’s been checking the weather every 15 minutes to make sure we find a good place for this one.”

In contrast, a twentysomething guy in tattered shorts and a tie-dye shirt, up from Lisbon with his girlfriend, said they'd decided "a couple days ago" to bolt north for the event and had rented a camper van to surmount the last-minute lodging challenge.

At the end of my hike, parched and sun-wracked, I found Norman Stranpach, from Washington State, who saw his first eclipse in 1973 in Nova Scotia, complete with what he called a “360-degree sunset” and bright stars during totality. He had started planning this trip in 2025.

“For me it’s seeing new places, the social interaction with others with the same interest, the opportunity to see the same people at the next eclipse,” he said.

In this case, he had scouted a mountainside view between converging rock spires, though when I checked in with him an hour after the eclipse, he had pivoted to a beach in Santander, along with at least 1,000 other people, where clouds and haze from a burgeoning wildfire had blotted out their view. He was sanguine about the letdown, already looking forward to 2027.

---

ECLIPSE DAY WIN

On the night before the eclipse, I asked Claude AI to pinpoint a viewing spot in or near León that would minimize the risk of traffic on our ensuing drive to Zamora.

After some stark misfires by the AI program (it placed city parks that were hosting viewing parties on the wrong side of León), it suggested the open farmland west of town, stating, "You can pull off onto any farm track just outside town and have open fields in every direction, and it's still close enough to the A-66 that your run to Zamora afterward is trivial."

We arrived in this area with five hours to spare, encountering just one other party, a German family also steered here by AI. We settled into the agrarian silence, read our books and waited.

Periodically another vehicle would rumble past but, interestingly, they all kept going. So just before the eclipse started, we drove out the road another half kilometre to find 25 people gathered on a bluff above a gentle valley with wide open views. Many had professional camera gear, which I took as validation that we were, indeed, well-positioned.

As one who typically plans vacations around outdoor recreation, this culmination of our trip at first felt odd to me, like flying across the ocean to watch a short film with strangers. But when the last rind of sun blinked behind the moon, enveloping the farm in a mystical light – and Kai's face in amazement – I understood.

Even before we wheeled into Zamora, walked its narrow cobblestone streets and sat down for a midnight beer at a bustling church-side café, I had vowed to start planning for August, 2027, the day I arrived home.

IF YOU GO

For the eclipse on Aug. 2, 2027, check the for-profit National Eclipse Website, which lists tours in different countries. If you're willing to compromise on the duration of totality and/or submit to a multihour drive on eclipse day, you can still find lodging within striking distance of A-list spots. For example, from Rabat, Morocco, you'd have a $2^{1/2}$ -hour drive north to Had Al Gharbia, which will experience nearly five minutes of totality, more than double the peak totality of the 2026 eclipse.

The Eclipse Navigator app is an excellent resource for seeing eclipse paths, totality time in precise locations, and more.

And while this will indeed be a once-in-a-lifetime event, full solar eclipses occur on a regular basis, so you can start planning now for 2028 (Australia!) and beyond.

Special to The Globe and Mail

Canadian Opera Company's Così fan tutte is invariably glorious

NIRRIS NAGENDRARAJAH

REVIEW

Così fan tutte

AT FOUR SEASONS CENTRE FOR THE

PERFORMING ARTS IN TORONTO

Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Conducted by Johannes Debus

Directed by Atom Egoyan

It's easy to forget that opera can be a site for serious amusement too.

The Canadian Opera Company's revival of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, deftly directed by Atom Egoyan and agilely conducted by Johannes Debus, teems with palpable gaiety and infectious charm. Like its dogged male protagonists, it will surely, in spite of its archaic attitudes, seduce you.

Staged in the science lab of a preppy school, where hypotheses linger in the air and students wear cream-coloured uniforms, the opera begins with a conversation between Ferrando (tenor Laurence Kilsby), Guglielmo (bass-baritone Joel Allison) and their grey-haired professor Don Alfonso (bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch). Alfonso makes the claim – based on his experiences but passed off as fact – that all women are unstoppably unfaithful, especially their own supposedly faithful lovers: sisters Fiordiligi (soprano Lauren Fagan) and Dorabella (mezzo-soprano Martina Myskohlid).

To prove him wrong and earn some coin, they are persuaded into a wager: They must pretend to leave for the military, then return furnished with mustaches and masks to earnestly ensnare each other's partners. If only it were so simple, and the girls' will – initially at least – not so iron-clad.

Debra Hanson's set and costume design outfits the lab with a dusty chalkboard, beaker-filled shelves, over-sized pins and projections of mounted butterflies. A giant frame in Act 2 acts as a wall between the girls' room and a garden; later, when Fiordiligi and Ferrando open up their hearts, a projection of Frida Kahlo's The Two Fridas appears and is zoomed in on to create a dizzying contrast. Elsewhere, in pivotal moments – such as when the trio performs Soave sia il vento or when Alfonso urges the boys to marry the deceived – Michael Walton's relatively subtle lighting design drastically dims the stage to spotlight the performers, allowing their intermingling to better resonate.

Lorenzo Da Ponte's libretto, written in the shadows of the Enlightenment, explores the various anxieties that arise when the students' beliefs are placed under extreme external pressures, including the boys faking drinking arsenic or bringing a blade to their necks, which accelerate the narrative inevitabilities. Wedded to Mozart's lush, serene score – which the COC's orchestra passionately performs, particularly the regal percussion, a trilling piano and a sinuous clarinet – the risk with this zany plot is that it can quickly devolve into a trite and unconvincing farce.

But with such a committed, vivacious cast and Egoyan's thoughtful, original direction, which plays into and past the screwball conditions, the work evolves into a sardonic investigation into the mutability of desire and – as the philosopher Edward Said put it in an essay on Così – the inconstancy of character and identity. “I don’t understand how a heart can change in just a single day,” Fiordiligi sings, bewildered by her moral metamorphosis.

On opening night, Fagan's full-bodied gravitas and swagger suited Fiordiligi's steely resolve; Allison's darkly resonant registers reflected Guglielmo's gnawing guilt and belated double consciousness; and Kilsby's noble, angelic tones radiated the purity of Ferrando's amorous torment.

Moreover, Okulitch seemed to derive much pleasure exaggerating Alfonso's more despicable aspects, and soprano Tracy Dahl, reprising her role as the wise, sprightly and shape-shifting Despina – who aids Alfonso in urging the girls' icy hearts along – was a crowd-pleasing, comic tour-de-force.

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In defence of dilly-dallying in Italy

FIRST PERSON

A medical flare-up in my 40s led me to meditating – and I became more present than ever, writes Krista Raspor

We're gonna be late." My husband warned, half a block ahead of me.

"Coming!" I shouted.

Our summer road trip across southern Italy had been smooth sailing up until then. The plan was to leave the ancient cliffside town of Matera in the morning, stop for pizza in picturesque Martina Franca, then arrive in Lecce, ground zero for Orecchiette (my favourite pasta), by late afternoon.

But my affinity for the snooze button and a couple of missed turns meant that by the time I managed to shimmy our rental car into a model-train-set-sized parking space in Martina Franca, we were running late for our lunch reservation.

Rushing through the Baroque tangle of streets that connected one blindingly beautiful piazza to the next, we turned a corner and I came to an awestruck halt – I saw an archway drooling with morning glories.

I wasn't always the type to stop and smell the proverbial or literal flowers. I used to be quite the opposite – a borderline Type-A rat-racer. But after a significant health flare-up in my early 40s, I started meditating. And meditating, as it always does, led to increased present-moment awareness. And increased present moment awareness, as it less frequently does, turned me into a chronic dilly-dallier.

The changes were subtle at first, but slowly I began to notice more. More colours, more textures, more space heaters and potato chips that looked like they were smiling. I became more curious, I followed more whims. I started to experience my surroundings in a more childlike way, like I had Benjamin Buttoned my brain.

The morning glories had me transfixed. I took out my phone and started snapping pictures. Tight shots, wide shots, different angles, different filters. My husband kept walking. Used to my digressions, he threw some standard cat herder comments over his shoulder:

“Can we do this after lunch?” and “Aren’t you hungry?”

Knowing I'd catch up eventually, he turned the corner, leaving me with my gorgeous mess of flowers. When I decided it was time to carry on, I was abruptly confronted with another opportunity to dillydally. A familiar smell was drifting from a nearby window. I always dismissed Proustian rabbit holes as cliché, but there I was, falling down one.

I remembered my grandmother's Soviet-era tongs lifting a perfectly boiled kiel-basa out of a pot and laying it on one of her old-timey plates. Freshly cooked fries tumbled out of a stainless steel bowl to meet the puckered sausage. The air was still thick with the smell of tired vegetable oil as she placed my lunch in front of me.

Then, in her heavy Croatian accent, she uttered the most overused grandma word of all time: “Eat”

I punctured the sausage casing with a fork. The kielbasa let out an attention-seeking sigh, juices spilled from its wounds. With my fingers, I picked up an almost too-hot fry, still glistening. I broke the golden rectangle in half, steam rose from its fluffy interior like incense during Sunday mass. I devoured the tube of

Polish deliciousness and silently thanked the French for everything they've done in the name of potatoes. As I chewed my last bite, she asked her ridiculous question,

"You like?"

“No,” I replied as I began to clear the table. She smiled, pleased with her cooking, but perhaps even more pleased that Slavic sarcasm seemed to be genetic.

"Coffee?" She asked.

"Of course."

Before tipping the stovetop espresso maker to fill two cups, she put a pack of DuMaurier Lights and an ashtray in front of me. I took a cigarette from the pack and lit up. She did the same. We exhaled in near unison and stared out the window in silence. Ribbons of smoke giftwrapped the still lingering smells of fryer oil and coffee.

My husband interrupted my reverie: "Seriously. We gotta go."

I opened my eyes to see his head poking around the corner. I could hear a distant jackhammer, the giggles and awkward footsteps of a few kids running home for lunch. A couple of towels and a few socks waved from a clothesline, hurrying me along.

But before catching up with him, I thanked my medical flare-up.

Without it, I would have never started meditating. I would have never become a dilly-dallier. I would have never been a fortysomething-year-old woman standing alone in a back alley in Italy smelling a stranger's kitchen.

Then, I inhaled as deeply as I could- a childish attempt to make the smell of my grandmother's kitchen last forever.

Opera: Myskohlid brings the joy

FROM A14

But Myskohlid, making her COC mainstage debut, delivered a most remarkably dynamic and effervescent performance. From her endlessly evocative facial expressions – ranging from jawdropping excitement to eye-widening terror – to her ravishing, bronzed mezzo, her Dorabella was invested with a knowing irony that made her internal fluctuations more engaging and entertaining. It brought me such joy watching her repeatedly throw herself to the floor in melodramatic despair, twirl around one too many times and candidly deliver stupefied asides directly to the audience.

At the end of this incessantly amusing and invariably glorious three-hour affair, the deceptions

\- from the insecure boys and unsuspecting girls to the conniving adults - prove to have been part of a calculated act of disillusionment. Alfonso concludes to his humbled students that the capacity for infidelity doesn't necessarily cancel out faithfulness, but proves that the possibility always has and always will exist. We must live with that discomfort.

“What is love?” Despina had asked the girls toward the end of Act 1.

Unlike the butterflies that appear throughout the production – projected, humongous, magically lit-up – love is the thing that can't be pinned down.

Così fan tutte runs until Oct. 18.

Special to The Globe and Mail

TODAY'S SUDOKU SOLUTION

TODAY'S KENKEN SOLUTION

WORLD FORECAST | TODAY | TOMORROW | FRIDAY | AMSTERDAM | 20/12 | PC | 16/10 | SH | 17/13 | SH | ATHENS | 26/17 | S | 24/18 | S | 25/19 | S | BANGKOK | 31/25 | T | 32/26 | SH | 32/25 | T | BEIJING | 27/14 | S | 26/15 | S | 26/17 | S | BERLIN | 21/12 | PC | 17/9 | C | 13/11 | C | BRUSSELS | 22/11 | SH | 13/8 | SH | 15/10 | SH | COPENHAGEN | 15/14 | SH | 14/10 | R | 12/11 | SH | FRANKFURT | 22/13 | S | 16/5 | SH | 12/9 | PC | HONG KONG | 27/24 | S | 27/25 | S | 28/25 | S | JERUSALEM | 24/17 | S | 26/17 | S | 27/17 | S | LAS VEGAS | 36/24 | S | 36/24 | S | 36/23 | S | LONDON | 14/8 | R | 15/10 | S | 18/10 | SH | LOS ANGELES | 36/23 | S | 34/22 | S | 31/22 | S | MADRID | 22/13 | SH | 21/9 | S | 19/12 | S | MIAMI | 32/25 | T | 31/25 | T | 32/26 | T | MOSCOW | 15/6 | S | 14/9 | PC | 18/9 | PC | NEW DELHI | 33/24 | S | 34/26 | SH | 33/22 | SH | NEW YORK | 19/14 | S | 23/12 | S | 21/12 | S | NICE | 21/17 | R | 25/16 | S | 22/16 | SH | ORLANDO | 28/23 | T | 27/22 | SH | 28/24 | T | PARIS | 19/10 | R | 15/9 | S | 15/14 | C | PHOENIX | 38/28 | S | 38/28 | S | 38/27 | S | ROME | 24/19 | SH | 22/17 | T | 22/14 | SH | SAN FRANCISCO | 19/14 | S | 19/15 | S | 19/14 | PC | SEOUL | 23/13 | S | 24/14 | S | 25/15 | PC | SINGAPORE | 31/25 | T | 31/25 | T | 31/25 | SH | SYDNEY | 18/14 | PC | 19/12 | SH | 19/15 | S | TOKYO | 23/16 | PC | 23/16 | S | 24/16 | S | WASHINGTON | 22/13 | S | 25/13 | S | 23/13 | S | TODAY | TOMORROW | FRIDAY | BANFF | 16/4 | PC | 18/6 | S | 13/1 | SH | BARRIE | 19/9 | SH | 14/7 | SH | 15/5 | SH | BRANDON | 16/5 | S | 15/6 | PC | 15/9 | C | CALGARY | 14/4 | PC | 17/8 | S | 17/2 | SH | CHARLOTTETOWN | 12/10 | S | 17/11 | PC | 15/8 | PC | CHICOUTIMI | 8/8 | R | 13/6 | SH | 9/3 | R | CHURCHILL | 6/4 | SH | 5/3 | R | 5/2 | SH | CORNER BROOK | 9/5 | SH | 13/11 | PC | 13/7 | SH | CORNWALL | 17/11 | SH | 17/7 | SH | 14/6 | S | EDMONTON | 14/6 | S | 13/7 | C | 11/2 | SH | HALIFAX | 15/10 | S | 18/12 | S | 18/9 | S | HAMILTON | 22/9 | SH | 18/6 | S | 17/7 | S | HUNTSVILLE | 17/8 | R | 13/5 | SH | 12/4 | SH | IQALUIT | 2/5 | PC | 1/5 | S | 0/5 | PC | JASPER | 14/7 | PC | 16/7 | SH | 10/1 | R | KELOWNA | 20/9 | S | 20/12 | S | 16/7 | SH | KINGSTON | 18/12 | SH | 16/9 | SH | 15/8 | S | LONDON | 22/10 | PC | 18/6 | S | 17/7 | S | MONTRÉAL | 16/11 | SH | 16/8 | SH | 14/6 | PC | NIAGARA FALLS | 21/10 | SH | 18/9 | S | 18/9 | S | NORTH BAY | 17/7 | R | 11/3 | R | 10/3 | SH | OTTAWA | 18/10 | SH | 17/6 | SH | 13/5 | S | PRINCE GEORGE | 12/7 | SH | 11/7 | R | 10/2 | SH | PETERBOROUGH | 20/9 | SH | 15/7 | SH | 15/5 | SH | QUEBEC | 11/9 | R | 15/7 | SH | 12/5 | SH | REGINA | 15/4 | S | 16/6 | PC | 17/8 | C | SASKATOON | 15/4 | S | 15/7 | PC | 14/5 | SH | SAULT STE MARIE | 15/10 | PC | 12/8 | SH | 13/7 | SH | SAINT JOHN | 12/11 | S | 16/9 | SH | 16/8 | S | SEPTÈLES | 8/6 | PC | 9/5 | R | 9/6 | SH | ST JOHN'S | 13/7 | S | 15/11 | S | 17/10 | SH | SUDBURY | 19/7 | SH | 13/3 | SH | 12/3 | SH | THUNDER BAY | 17/8 | T | 14/4 | S | 13/11 | PC | THOMPSON | 8/2 | SH | 8/0 | PC | 7/2 | PC | TORONTO | 22/11 | SH | 18/10 | S | 17/9 | S | VAL-D'OR | 14/5 | R | 9/2 | R | 7/1 | SH | VANCOUVER | 18/11 | S | 18/12 | S | 16/10 | SH | VICTORIA | 20/11 | S | 21/12 | S | 16/10 | SH | WHISTLER | 20/11 | S | 20/9 | PC | 10/4 | R | WHITEHORSE | 10/0 | S | 5/1 | RS | 4/2 | S | WINNIPEG | 16/6 | S | 15/8 | S | 18/12 | C | YELLOWKNIFE | 5/1 | PC | 4/1 | PC | 2/1 | RS |

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UNIVERSAL CROSSWORD FALL 2026 THEMELESS WEEK, PUZZLE 3 BY ADRIAN JOHNSON AND ALEXANDRA DOUMANI

ACROSS

1 Event to declutter one's garage, perhaps

8 Nabisco wafer brand

13 Deli wrap, in a sense

14 Slightly beat out

15 "I see exactly what you're saying"

17 It's in vein!

18 Photo \_

19 "Gosh darn it!"

20 "Love your work!"

23 Something shown to a disrespectful guest

24 \_\_\_\_ Lanka

25 Voracious readers

30 Black Sabbath and Megadeth, for two

33 Decisively defeat

34 "No need to help me"

35 Longtime CBS police procedural

36 Garment with a series of dates on the back

37 Similar (to)

38 Turn out unhappily for all

39 Religious spinoff

40 Bow's opposite, on a ship

41 Search matches

42 M.A. seeker's exam

45 Not pos.

46 Disastrous failure

48 Singers' breaks?

52 "I Can't Breathe" singer

53 Apple product since 2007

54 Hush-hush docs

BRIDGE

BY STEVE BECKER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

East dealer.

North-South vulnerable.

---

The bidding:

East South West North

1 [H] 1 [S] Pass 4 [S]

Opening Lead – two of hearts.

55 Cousin of LLC and Ltd.

56 "You've gone \_\_\_\_"

57 Hall of Fame running back Dorsett

58 Pod occupant

---

DOWN

1 Stop equivocating

2 Guitar, to a rocker

3 Family docs

4 Perched atop

5 For each

6 "We should!"

7 Part of a historical timeline

8 Person who didn't make it

9 By mistake

10 Actress Horne or Olin

11 \_\_\_\_ for life

12 Primates such as siamangs

13 Like a close guess

15 "Li'l ol' me?"

16 Li'll peeks

21 Pope before Leo XIV

22 Malady

23 Shohei Ohtani, for one

25 Traded repartee

26 Off-topic

27 One is upwardly mobile!

28 Local groups, concert venues, etc.

29 Work period

30 Blind rodents of song

31 MBA student's req.

32 Slinger of Singapore slings

37 Palestine's continent

NORTH

♠ A 8 2

♥ K 6 3

♦ Q 8 5 4

♣ A Q 6

WEST

♠ 10 6 3

♥ 9 5 2

♦ 10 7 3 2

♣ J 10 8

EAST

♠ 9 4

♥ A Q J 8 7 4

♦ J 9 6

♣ K 4

SOUTH

♠ K Q J 7 5

♥ 10

♦ A K

♣ 9 7 5 3 2

EDITED BY DAVID STEINBERG

41 \_\_\_\_ fit (tantrum)

42 The ability to dig in

43 Taken-back auto

44 Effect in this clue ... is clue ... clue ... ue

46 Creme caramel, by another name

Card-reading is the process by which a player can determine the makeup of the unseen hands and, as a result, play his cards to best advantage.

Consider this deal from a national pair championship. At most tables, South arrived at four spades after East had opened the bidding with one heart. But the real challenge of the hand depended not so much on whether the spade game was reached as it did on whether declarer made 10 tricks or 11. In pair events, an extra trick is worth its weight in gold.

Those declarers who bid and

47 Toothed whale in the dolphin family

49 "That sounds painful"

50 Messenger molecule

51 Unnecessary fuss

made just 10 tricks received an under-average score on the deal. They lost the opening heart lead, later finessed the queen of clubs unsuccessfully and eventually finished with 10 tricks, losing a heart and two clubs.

The declarers who made 11 tricks fared much better, achieving a multiple tie for top by scoring 650 points instead of 620. These Souths paid homage to East's opening bid and quite reasonably decided that East had to have the king of clubs.

Accordingly, after East won the heart lead with the jack and returned a diamond, these declarers won with the ace, drew three rounds of trump, played a club to the ace, a diamond to the king and then a low club toward dummy.

When West followed with the 10, they played dummy's six and were rewarded for their perspicacity when East was forced to win with the king. The club duck, though only a minor challenge to anyone versed in cardreading, earned these Souths a top score.

©2026 King Features Syndicate Inc.

---

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

© News Licensing/Times Media Limited

SUDOKU DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★☆☆

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so that each row of nine squares, each column of nine and each section of nine (three squares by three) contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any order. There is only one solution to each puzzle.

© 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS

1 True agenda disguised for sure (10)

7 Crucial reduction in sale periodically (5)

8 Throw back tailless crustacean (7)

10 Lots irate about philosopher (9)

12 Love skipping part of speech in prayer? (3)

13 Dislike some Pakistani musicals (6)

15 Old tax company returns book (6)

16 Man, not using heroin is better (3)

17 Give up, more or less, in casual game (9)

20 Free rent again? (7)

22 Judge city on the Mosel (5)

23 Flapper and married lad messed around (3,7)

DOWN

DOWN

1 Architect in grand car (5)

2 Use thread to repair a reversing vehicle, astonished (9)

3 Share of vote having spent billions (5)

4 Label creature that flies to the north (3)

5 Country is at one for a change (7)

6 Adam put up Georgia and Mark in island nation (10)

9 Call East German A&R representative's top drummer (5,5)

11 Charming man's church article included in register (9)

14 Desire mixture of muesli and porridge at first (7)

18 Endlessly yells for dairy product (5)

19 Tories barely left Oxford college (5)

21 I'm surprised husband visits Alcoholics Anonymous (3)

KENKEN

©2026 KENKEN Puzzle LLC. KENKEN is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. Dist. by Andrews McMeel www.kenken.com

---

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 6 without repeating.

2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

3. Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the numbers in the top-left corner.

Solutions to today's Sudoku and Kenken can be found in the Life & Arts content area of the A section. Crossword solutions will be with tomorrow's puzzles.

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REPORT ON BUSINESS\*

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OTTAWA/QUEBEC EDITION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

DOW

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Emera, ATCO reach \$14.3-billion agreement to merge utilities

Combined equity of \$35.3-billion will create one of the 20 largest power firms in North America

Emera CEO Scott Balfour says the goal of the merger is to create a 'Canadian champion' with the scale to build networks that support projects such data centres, new natural gas pipelines and integrated provincial electrical grids. ARLYN MCADOREY/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

ANDREW WILLIS

Halifax-based Emera Inc. is bidding to build a national champion in the utility sector by merging with Calgary natural gas and electricity infrastructure owner Canadian Utilities Ltd. and parent ATCO Ltd. in a \$14.3-billion union.

On Tuesday, Emera announced a friendly all-stock offer for Alberta peers controlled by the Southern family in a deal that would create one of the 20 largest utilities in North America. The combined companies would have an enterprise value – their debt plus equity – of \$72-billion, which the three companies said would rank as one of the largest mergers in Canadian history.

In the increasingly consolidating North American utilities sector, the bulked-up company would be well positioned to compete with U.S. rivals vying for the massive projects driven by a fast-growing demand for energy.

"Our goal is to create a Canadian champion," said Scott Balfour, Emera's chief executive officer, in an interview. He said the merger will create a company with the scale and financial strength needed to build networks that support projects such as data centres, new natural gas pipelines and integrated provincial electrical grids.

Emera, formerly a Nova Scotia Crown corporation, has a \$21-billion market capitalization and said the deal values ATCO and Canadian Utilities' shares at \$14.3-billion, giving the merger an equity value of \$35.3-billion.

“Natural gas and electrical infrastructure define our industrial policy, and will power our future,” said Nancy Southern, chair and CEO at ATCO. She said the combined companies will be better positioned to serve power-hungry, rapidly growing economies in Alberta and Florida, the companies' two largest markets, and expand into underserved regions such as Northern Canada.

The transaction unites Emera gas and electrical networks in Nova Scotia, Florida and the Caribbean with Canadian Utilities' operations in Alberta and Australia. The merged companies plan to invest \$32-billion on expanding the business over the next four years.

“For Emera shareholders, we view the news as slightly positive,” analyst Maurice Choy at RBC Capital Markets said in a report on Tuesday.

ENERGY, B3

'Watershed moment': Nancy Southern on the deal with Emera, ATCO's future ■ B3

Stelco's decision to stop making galvanized steel puzzles big Canadian buyer

NIALL McGEE

MINING REPORTER

Jim Ritchie, owner of British Columbia-based steel distribution company Cascadia Metals Ltd., got a big shock in July. Stelco, his top Canadian supplier of galvanized steel, told him it was shutting down for maintenance, and advised him that if he could find an alternative source for his steel he should jump ship.

“They just went dark, and we’re like, ‘Guys, you can’t just disappear like this,’ ” Mr. Ritchie said.

Cascadia recently invested \$30-million in a plant expansion in Brandon that was specifically set up to buy domestic steel. Stelco was the company's preferred supplier, with Cascadia buying about 50,000 tonnes of galvanized steel from the company this year.

Canadian galvanized steel prices have been climbing higher all year, Mr. Ritchie said, in part because of the stringent tariff rate quotas Ottawa imposed to drive cheap imports out of the market.

Stelco's decision to pull back from the market baffled Mr. Ritchie. Eventually, he said, a member of Cascadia's team told their Stelco contact to "cut the crap" and explain what was actually going on.

The Cascadia rep was informed that Stelco had started exporting steel slab manufactured at Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ont., to the United States. That in turn had crippled Stelco's galvanized business, because its Hamilton plant had no inputs to make coated steel.

Stelco's parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., had apparently made a business decision to prioritize its U.S. slab customers over its Canadian galvanized clientele, a

But Cliffs chief executive officer Lourenco Goncalves said in an interview that the situation wasn't that simple. Stelco indeed a few months ago started exporting 60,000 tons of slab a month to the U.S. from Canada, he said. The strategy was expensive because of the 50-per-cent tariff that U.S. President Donald Trump set last year on Canadian steel exports. It was an effort to maintain production levels at Stelco, Mr. Goncalves said, to try to “make ends meet.”

At the time, Mr. Goncalves was hopeful that Canada and the U.S. would soon reach a “Fortress North America” trade deal. When it became clear that wasn’t happening, the slab export strategy was no longer viable. Stelco has since drastically reduced its slab shipments to the U.S. and soon plans to end them altogether, he said.

STELCO, B8

huge slap in the face for Canada.

ECONOMY

Major projects push likely to create intense competition for labour and materials ■ B6

ETHAN CAIRNS/

THE CANADIAN PRESS

RITA TRICHUR Brazil's election risks complicating Canada's plans for trade diversification B4

FREDERICK VETTESE

Why falling fertility rates may pose a problem for future pensioners ■ B10

---

Ontario seen as preferred site to build Saab military aircraft

ERIC REGULY

EUROPEAN BUREAU CHIEF

ROME

Bombardier is aiming to secure a production site for the Saab GlobalEye military surveillance plane by the new year and favours expanding its existing factory near Toronto's Pearson airport, sources say.

The Montreal aerospace company prefers Pearson largely because its Global 6500 business jet – the airframe for the radar-equipped GlobalEye – is already built there, the sources said.

Saab, Sweden's biggest aerospace firm, last year said it could build the GlobalEye and its Gripen fighter jet in Canada for both Canadian and overseas customers. Because Saab's domestic factories lack the capacity to meet demand for both aircraft, the company offered Bombardier the opportunity to build either plane under licence, a scenario that would create thousands of defence-related aerospace jobs in Canada.

But the size of the subsidies that may be offered by either the Ontario or Quebec governments could ultimately determine whether the military aircraft is assembled at Pearson or in Dorval, Que., near Montreal, where smaller Bombardier business jets are made, the sources said.

BOMBARDIER, B8

---

Revenue boost from oil prices largely spent ahead of fall budget: report

BILL CURRY

DEPUTY OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF

OTTAWA

Higher-than-expected oil prices will help generate billions in extra tax revenue as Ottawa prepares its fall budget, but economists say Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has already spent most of those gains.

As a result, expectations are that Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne won't have much room left for new spending.

The date of the 2026 budget has not yet been announced. Last year's budget, which was the first under the government's new system of tabling a budget in the fall instead of the spring, was released in November.

The 2025 budget assumed the cost of West Texas Intermediate crude would average US\$65 per barrel in 2026. The April spring update revised that to US\$73 per barrel.

The price of oil has climbed further since, driven by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, trading around US\$90 per barrel in recent weeks.

That has contributed to higher-than-anticipated nominal growth, which is the broadest measure of the country's tax base and does not adjust for inflation. BUDGET, B8

COMPANIES

ARITZIA ....B11

ATHABASCA OIL ....B11

CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL ....B9

CENOVUS ENERGY ....B11

FORD MOTOR ....B2

GENERAL MOTORS ....B2

HOCKEY Stamkos enters his 19th season, padding his Hall of Fame résumé along the way ■ B13

GM confirms end of truck line in Oshawa

GM says Silverado 1500 production in Oshawa, Ont., will stop in November but declined to say when GMC Sierra HD output will begin. It expects employment levels to stay the same. CHRIS YOUNG/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Automaker says it will boost heavy-duty truck output instead, as it retools plant for 2028

ERIC ATKINS

TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

General Motors Co. is set to end production of the light-duty Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup at its plant in Oshawa, Ont., in November, and replace the volume by boosting output of the heavy-duty Silverado as the automaker retools the plant to make the GMC Sierra HD by 2028.

The Detroit-based automaker announced the \$144-million investment to make the GMC Sierra HD in Oshawa after recent collective bargaining talks in August with Unifor, which represents 1,800 workers at the factory east of Toronto.

GM spokesperson Jennifer Wright confirmed Silverado 1500 production will stop in November but declined to say when GMC Sierra HD output will begin. Employment levels will stay the same with the loss of the Silverado 1500, Ms. Wright said.

Jeff Gray, president of Unifor Local 222, which represents workers at the plant, said the new GMC truck will be produced in Oshawa by late 2028.

Mr. Gray said he has not heard of any coming job losses. “The company has indicated to us there will be no change of volume in the plant, but that’s always subject to change, right?” he said by phone.

The factory currently makes the light-duty Silverado and its larger cousin, the Silverado HD. The GMC Sierra HD is much the same as the Silverado HD, with different trim and options.

"We felt that just building the Chevrolet Silverado HD wouldn't give us enough volume to maintain two shifts. So that's why when we went into negotiations in August, we fought for the GMC truck in our plant," Mr. Gray said, "so that having those two trucks, the GMC HD and the Chevy Silverado HD will give us that volume to maintain two shifts."

Total production at the plant in 2026 is expected to be 114,000 trucks, nearly evenly split between the light- and heavy-duty Silverado models, said Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at Pennsylvania-based AutoForecast Solutions.

He expects Sierra output to be about 40,000 in the first year of production.

Ms. Wright said the automaker does not disclose production volumes.

GM last year announced plans to increase employment and production of the Silverado 1500 at its factory in Fort Wayne, Ind., eliminating one shift – about 500 jobs – in Oshawa. GM plants in Pontiac, Mich., and Silao, Mexico, also make the Silverado, which was 2025's second-best-selling vehicle in the U.S., according to Automotive News and Cox Automotive, behind only the Ford F-150 pickup.

"The union's position has always been that they're moving the 50,000 units of light duty a year to Fort Wayne for political purposes to appease Donald Trump," Mr. Gray said.

GM has also announced a \$215-million investment at its propulsion plant in St. Catharines, Ont., that will make the factory the sole source for new transmissions.

Similarly, Ford Motor Co. concluded its recent labour talks with the announcement it will spend US\$500-million at its

Essex, Ont., engine factory and US\$400-million at its Oakville, Ont., Super Duty pick-up assembly plant. Production at long-idled plant is expected to begin this month, Mr. Fiorani said. Ford did not respond to e-mailed questions.

The United States has imposed 25-per-cent tariffs on the non-U.S. content of Canadian-made cars in what Mr. Trump has said is an attempt to restore domestic manufacturing while weakening Canada's economy. The tariff is scheduled to rise to 50 per cent by Jan. 1 and include auto parts. Canada has responded with similar tariffs, with exceptions based on a car company's Canadian production.

About 90 per cent of the cars produced at Ontario's plants are shipped to the U.S.

The trade war has hit Ontario's auto sector hard, with GM idling its electric van plant in Ingersoll and Stellantis NV in talks to sell its Brampton factory, which has not made a car since 2023.

Mr. Fiorani noted Ford's Oakville investment announcement was made before Mr. Trump ratcheted up his tariff threat to 50 per cent, but said the trucks have a high U.S. content that makes eating the U.S. tariffs on the popular trucks a bit easier for Ford.

“Ford needs Super Duties,” he said. “It’s a very profitable vehicle and their [U.S.] plants that build them rely on overtime, so adding another plant to alleviate some of that pressure is important here,” he said. And GM is counting on continued strong sales of GMC trucks in Canada, thus avoiding U.S. tariffs, he said.

Like GM, Ford is investing in Canadian plants for several years down the road, he said.

"These investments take years to implement and a decade or more to pay off. So it's very rare that an investment in a plant will disappear shortly after it's announced or any investment is made. Automotive manufacturers need to look long term, and it goes beyond one administration on the U.S. side or Canadian side," Mr. Fiorani said. "And that's good news for Canadians."

Still, Greig Mordue, an engineering professor at McMaster University whose specialties include automaking, said investment announcements made by automakers during collective bargaining talks often get abandoned. Such spending is a management prerogative, not a labour decision, he said, pointing to commitments made and reversed in recent years by the Detroit Three.

These include Stellantis's commitment to build cars in Brampton, GM's van plant in Ingersoll and Ford in Oakville, where the automaker abandoned plans to retool to make electric vehicles.

Canadian Stellantis workers to hold strike vote, union says

ERIC ATKINS

TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

Unifor says it will hold a strike authorization vote for its Stellantis NV workers as contract talks are stalled over the automaker's plans to sell its idled car plant in Brampton, Ont.

The union, which represents 9,000 Stellantis workers in Canada, walked away from collective bargaining on Sept. 11 after the automaker confirmed it has a preliminary agreement to sell the Brampton plant to Roshel, a defence contractor that makes armoured vehicles.

The plant northwest of Toronto closed for retooling in 2023, and Stellantis moved planned production of the Jeep Compass to Belvidere, Ill., last year after the United States imposed tariffs on Canadian-made cars.

The strike vote will take place on Oct. 17 and 18, and the results will be made public on Oct. 19, Unifor said on Tuesday. A majority vote for a strike would give the union executive the option to use as leverage work stoppages at Stellantis's minivan plant in Windsor and parts plant in Toronto.

“Strike action remains a last resort, but the ability to strike is an important part of collective bargaining and can help create the conditions for an agreement," Unifor said in a statement.

The union said the issues unresolved at the table include job security for all Stellantis workers and the future of all the automaker's Canadian operations.

Stellantis said on Sept. 11 it has a memorandum of understanding to sell the plant to Brampton-based Roshel.

“Stellantis believes that Roshel represents a strong path to restoring sustainable operations at Brampton assembly, preserving the site's strategic role in Canada's advanced manufacturing sector and helping to avoid a prolonged period of inactivity,” Stellantis said at the time.

The automaker cited “changing market and trade conditions” as the impetus for the sale. Since 2025, the U.S. has imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian-made cars.

The Stellantis plant, which employed more than 3,000 people when it closed for retooling in 2023, still has about 2,200 people on layoff.

The federal government has said any sale would put Stellantis in violation of a funding agreement that saw the company receive millions of taxpayer dollars to retool the plant.

TRADE SURPLUS WIDENS IN AUGUST AS EXPORTERS RUSH TO BEAT U.S. TARIFFS

OTTAWA Exports to the United States surged in August as Canadian businesses rushed to get ahead of looming U.S. tariffs.

Statistics Canada said Tuesday the country's merchandise trade surplus increased to \$4.2-billion in August, up from a surplus of \$787-million in July. August marked the sixth monthly trade surplus in a row.

Total exports increased 2.5 per cent to total \$77.9-billion for the month, helped by a 4.7-per-cent rise in exports of energy products, the first increase for the category since April.

Excluding energy products, exports were up 1.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, total imports fell by 2 per cent in August to \$73.7-billion, the first decline since January, as imports of motor vehicles and parts fell 8.8 per cent.

Exports to the United States rose 8.1 per cent in August, while imports dropped 2.5 per cent.

That drove a surge in Canada's trade surplus with the United States – widening to \$11.2-billion in August from \$6.1-billion in the previous month.

“This is the largest positive monthly change ever observed in Canada’s trade balance with the United States,” Statscan said.

The agency suggested that threats of new Section 338 tariffs from the United States might have fuelled a rush in orders from U.S. businesses seeking to get ahead of higher duty payments.

Despite efforts to secure a deal that would avoid the tariffs, trade talks between Canada and the United States broke down at the 11th hour and a range of exports were hit with 50-per-cent tariffs starting Aug. 22.

Katherine Judge, senior economist at CIBC, said in a note to clients that the spike in U.S. exports was thanks to firms front-running tariffs. The increase is therefore probably temporary and will unwind come September, she said.

Canada's countertariffs against the United States came into effect on Sept. 8, and will likely see a flood of imports in the early days of the month.

“Canada’s trade position is likely to deteriorate and exports will remain under pressure in Q4 unless a trade deal with the U.S. is reached,” Ms. Judge said.

The latest U.S. tariffs target roughly 5 per cent of Canada's exports south of the border, at a value of around \$28-billion. These tariffs do not include an exemption for compliance with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA), unlike previous waves of U.S. duties.

RBC assistant chief economist Nathan Janzen said in a note that continuing exemptions for other exports under USMCA should keep economic damage contained.

“We continue to expect the new tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration will have a significant impact on directly targeted sectors but with more than 80 per cent of Canadian exports to the U.S. still maintaining duty-free access under USMCA we expect limited spill-over to the broader economy,” he said.

Canada's efforts to diversify to non-U.S. export markets took a step back.

Exports to countries other than the United States fell 8.5 per cent in August, largely erasing an 8.2-per-cent jump observed in July.

In volume terms, total exports rose 2.5 per cent in August, while import volumes fell 1.1 per cent. THE CANADIAN PRESS

CPPIB forms joint venture to expand fibre networks

JAMES BRADSHAW

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTING

REPORTER

Canada's largest pension fund is forming a joint venture with telecommunications giant AT&T Inc. and BlackRock Inc.'s infrastructure arm to build fibre-optic internet cables to more U.S. homes.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, which manages \$864-billion, is investing an undisclosed sum in the venture with AT&T and BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners, or GIP.

AT&T aims to use proceeds from the joint venture to speed up construction of fibre connections in communities in 16 U.S. states, including Arizona, Colorado and Florida. It is part of a plan to connect more than 60 million fibre locations in the U.S. by the end of 2030, AT&T said.

There is also increasing urgency to expand that network to meet growing demand for high-capacity broadband connections, as adoption of artificial intelligence causes traffic on networks to surge.

Building the network requires “an awful lot of capital,” CPPIB head of infrastructure James Bryce said in an interview.

The joint venture announced on Tuesday will merge AT&T subsidiary Forged Fiber 37 with Gigapower, an existing wholesale fibre joint venture that the telecom company previously entered with GIP. The combined entity will build and operate fibre networks, and sell wholesale access to AT&T and potentially other internet providers that deal directly with households.

Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal to fund the joint venture is expected to close in the first half of 2027. AT&T will own 50 per cent and CPPIB and GIP will own the other half.

AT&T could also use part of the proceeds to pay down debt and return capital to shareholders, according to a news release.

Companies are increasingly turning to major investors such as pension funds for transactions that are structured to give them financial flexibility. They need to secure the money to make long-term investments, keep debt at manageable levels and earn steady profits for shareholders.

In return, investors get a stable stream of cash flows over time as the new assets come online and earn revenue.

CPPIB's infrastructure arm has committed more than \$25-billion to new investments over the past three years. The largest share of those investments has been in digital infrastructure, which was one of the priority areas the fund identified as part of a revamped strategy.

Earlier this year, CPPIB and California-based data-centre provider Equinix Inc. teamed up to buy Nordic data-centre operator atNorth. CPPIB also invested US\$1.75-billion (\$2.4-billion) to back EdgeConneX, a data-centre developer and operator owned by Swedish-based EQT Group.

The AT&T deal is not squarely a bet on AI, but the demand to be connected to high-capacity networks is on the rise.

"There is a huge need for greater connectivity. Not everywhere, but in specific areas where that connectivity doesn't exist," Mr. Bryce said.

In the near future, increasing demand for network capacity is expected to come primarily from corporate customers using AI tools and cloud computing systems in the workplace.

At the same time, “in a world in which more of us as individuals are using AI-related tools, it drives network need,” Mr. Bryce said. “And in that world, fibre is even more valuable to the customer base.”

The pressure to build more digital infrastructure also introduces the risk that developers and investors will go overboard in the race to meet surging demand. Mr. Bryce said CPPIB is trying to avoid the risk of overbuilding fibre connections with a detailed analysis of which markets are at risk of oversaturation.

For data centres, the pension fund is selective about choosing projects that have long-term customer contracts in place and counterparties with strong revenues and balance sheets.

The type of development-focused joint ventures that CPPIB has created with AT&T and Equinix are “a reference point” for what “we could do with Canadian corporates,” or elsewhere in the world, Mr. Bryce said.

CPPIB is looking to add to its infrastructure portfolio in Canada, but he said the pension fund's challenge has been finding opportunities that meet its criteria for risk and returns.

The Canada Investment Summit that was held in Toronto in September sent an “exciting” signal that the country is “open for business,” he said.

Emera deal is a win-win for ATCO: CEO

ATCO chief executive Nancy Southern says the company's deal with Halifax-based Emera sends a small but important message about 'how Canada can be unified, east to west.' HEATHER SAITZ/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Canadian Utilities merger will be the kind of pure-play business analysts usually prefer, Nancy Southern says

EMMA GRANEY

ENERGY REPORTER

CALGARY

Walking around her home at night the past few months, her dogs trotting behind her, ATCO Ltd. chief executive Nancy Southern did a lot of soul searching.

She wondered what her late father, Ron Southern, would have thought of the deal she was considering: a merger of Halifax-based Emera Inc. and the utilities part of ATCO, the business he and his own father founded 80 years ago.

On Tuesday, Emera announced a friendly, \$14.3-billion, all-stock offer for Canadian Utilities Ltd., one of the businesses under the wide umbrella of Calgary-based ATCO. The move stands to create one of the 20 largest utility companies in North America in what would be one of the biggest mergers in Canadian history.

Ms. Southern has presided over ATCO since 2003, succeeding her father, who died in 2016.

His answer to her late-night question?

“My dad had great aspirations for what comes next, and I have great aspirations for what comes next for ATCO,” she said in an interview Tuesday.

"He said to me in our chats, 'Well done.' That was his usual way of acknowledging anything good – 'Well done.'"

The deal is unquestionably transformational for the Alberta institutions of ATCO and

Canadian Utilities, and Ms. Southern said it also sends a small but important message about “how Canada can be unified, east to west.”

More than that, however, she said the deal will give ATCO's varied businesses the room to grow and greater access to capital markets.

ATCO is a sprawling conglomerate, stitched together over nearly eight decades. Ron Southern was just 17 when it was founded.

The company started out as Alberta Trailer Hire, providing housing during the province's first oil boom, which often saw workers bunking down in farmers' silos or tar paper shacks. In 1960, it secured its first large overseas housing contract, on the Mangla Dam hydroelectric project in Pakistan. Then it locked down the Guri Dam project in Venezuela. In 1961, it expanded into Australia, opening a modular-structures facility in Adelaide.

ATCO didn't break into utilities until 1980, when it bought 58.1 per cent of Canadian Utilities. In 2015, it completed the longest transmission line in Alberta's history, roughly 500 kilometres, then launched its own electricity and natural gas retail company.

Today ATCO has subsidiaries operating in more than 100 countries, encompassing engineering, logistics, energy systems, construction and utilities – though it still may be best known for the grey, white and yellow trailers that serve as temporary offices and worker housing.

All told, ATCO's various divisions, subsidiaries and units bring in roughly \$5-billion in annual revenue.

The plan under the Emera deal is for ATCO's housing, defence and industrial businesses to be spun off into a new public company. Ms. Southern will stay on as chair and CEO of that company, which will keep the ATCO name and remain based in Calgary. For each existing ATCO share, investors will receive 0.865 of an Emera common share and one share of the new company.

The deal is a win-win for ATCO, Ms. Southern said. Investors get the optionality of two different shares, and Canadian

Utilities merged with Emera will be the kind of pure-play business that analysts traditionally prefer.

“Smooth courses are promised to no one. But I do believe that this is a great opportunity for all of our people in our companies,” she said.

The change means ATCO's non-utilities businesses can be assessed on their own, Ms. Southern said. That, in turn, will provide a clear view of how they are performing and help identify attractive investment opportunities, such as ATCO's data security startup or opening up manufacturing units in Europe, she said.

ATCO is already involved in various major projects, including the Grays Bay Road and Port, a proposed all-season, 230-kilometre road from the Nunavut border to a deepwater port and airfield at Grays Bay on the Arctic Ocean.

On an investor call Tuesday morning, Ms. Southern said ATCO's future is about providing housing and defence industry services wherever they are needed in Canada and around the world.

“We have no fear of going to wild, remote, cold places,” she said, pointing out that ATCO took pride in sending more than 600 employees to work at the Canadian Armed Forces base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and is now working with NORAD on planned radar bases in the Canadian Arctic.

“We are proven partners to the armed forces, not new arrivals” looking for defence contracts, Ms. Southern said.

"The sky's the limit for us, and we'll compete and we'll win."

With a report from Andrew Willis

EMERA INC. (EMA-T)

CLOSE: \$68.13, UP/DOWN \$66.31

Energy: Emera, ATCO and Canadian Utilities have been in talks for 15 months

FROM B1

Utility assets included under the Emera and Canadian Utilities merger

If shareholders and regulators approve the merger, current Emera shareholders would own 60 per cent of the combined company and Canadian Utilities and ATCO shareholders would own 40 per cent.

DARREN CALABRESE/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: EMERA & CANADIAN UTILITIES

He said the merger will better position Emera to boost its profits and its dividends, but the deal will take several years to yield significant synergies.

For Canadian Utilities' shareholders, Mr. Choy said, “We like how the company now has better access to capital, which is needed given the significant growth opportunity it faces over the medium- to long-term.”

Canadian Utilities' projects include the 235-kilometre Yellowhead natural gas pipeline in central Alberta, which has a \$2.9-billion budget. The company received regulatory approval for the pipeline earlier this year and has hired contractors.

Credit agency Fitch Ratings placed Canadian Utilities and ATCO investment grade ratings on “negative watch” on Tuesday, which could raise the companies’ borrowing costs, and said the rating would likely remain in place until the transaction closes.

Emera, ATCO and Canadian Utilities have been in talks for 15 months and Mr. Balfour said Prime Minister Mark Carney's campaign to attract up to \$1-trillion in infrastructure investment encouraged all parties to strike a deal that created a domestic powerhouse, Mr. Balfour said.

If shareholders and regulators approve the merger, current Emera shareholders would own 60 per cent of the combined company and Canadian Utilities and ATCO shareholders would own 40 per cent. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2027.

If the deal is approved, Emera plans to spin out ATCO's existing housing, defence and ports businesses into a new, publicly listed company, which will still be called ATCO and be led by Ms. Southern and controlled by her family holding company, Sentgraf Enterprises Ltd.

Ms. Southern said the value of these holdings is not reflected in ATCO's current share price, which is one of the reasons she supports the Emera transaction.

Alphabet Inc.'s Google has contracted for 3,590 megawatts of power from Constellation Energy Corp. in the largest U.S. power grid, with new nuclear energy accounting for about one-quarter of that supply, the companies said on Tuesday.

Constellation will make more than US\$4.3-billion of new

ATCO got its start in 1947 when the Southern family began supplying trailers to Alberta oil rigs. The company acquired control of Canadian Utilities in 1980 with what Ms. Southern said was a \$350-million investment.

Sentgraf would own approximately 7 per cent of Emera if the transaction is approved, making the Southern family's company one of the largest institutional investors in the utility with a stake worth more \$2-billion.

Sentgraf controls ATCO through its ownership of voting shares in the company and ATCO in turn controls Canadian Utilities. Sentgraf has irrevocably agreed to vote its ATCO shares in favour of the Emera transaction and against any competing acquisition, a move that blocks the possibility of a rival offer for ATCO or Canadian Utilities.

Emera is offering 0.755 of its share for each of Canadian Utilities non-voting class A shares and 0.819 of its shares for each Canadian Utilities class B shares. ATCO shareholders will receive 0.86 of a share in Emera for each of their shares.

On Tuesday, Emera's share price fell 2.9 per cent to close at \$66.31 on the Toronto Stock

GOOGLE ENTERS MASSIVE POWER DEAL WITH CONSTELLATION ENERGY

investments in its fleet as part of the agreement, which involves adding capacity at several of the power company's nuclear reactors in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions, the companies said.

Major tech companies are racing to secure massive amounts of electricity supplies

Exchange, while Canadian Utilities class A stock declined 1.9 per cent to \$50.22 and ATCO's share price rose 9 per cent to \$81.02.

The terms of the deal would mean Canadian Utilities shareholders receive a 20-per-cent increase in dividends if the merger is approved.

The deal will see Ms. Southern join the Emera board as co-chair alongside Karen Sheriff, the current chair. Mr. Balfour will be CEO and the head office will remain in Halifax, while Canadian Utilities CEO Bob Myles will join the Emera executive team and continue to run operations in Alberta.

Mr. Balfour first pitched Ms. Southern on a merger over a lunch at the Calgary Stampede in 2025. The two met at the Ranchmen's Club, a well-known business watering hole, and Ms. Southern said: "Scott asked me to lunch, yet I ended up paying."

The two CEOs met at a time when large U.S. utilities were consolidating, in part to meet demands for investment in the electrical grids from data centre clients. In May, NextEra Energy Inc. and Dominion Energy Inc. announced a US\$66.8-billion merger. In January, Constellation Energy Corp. closed a US\$16.4-billion

to power data centres across the U.S. by striking unprecedented power deals and reviving the country's nuclear industry.

Over the past two years, Constellation unveiled an agreement to restart its Three Mile Island reactor in Pennsylvania to serve Microsoft data

---

1 Alberta

\- ATCO Electric Distribution

• ATCO Electric Transmission
• ATCO Natural Gas Distribution
• ATCO Natural Gas Transmission
• ATCO EnPower

---

Yukon

\- Yukon Electric

---

U.S. Northeast

U.S. Northeast

• Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline
• Bear Swamp Pumped

Storage Hydro

Puerto Rico

• LUMA Energy

Australia

• ATCO Australia

takeover of Calpine Corp.

Ms. Southern said after Mr. Balfour's initial approach 15 months ago, ATCO, Canadian Utilities and their advisers looked at other potential partners before deciding a merger with Emera was the best way forward. She said inside ATCO, the merger was code named

centres, while Google contracted to restart NextEra Energy's nuclear power plant in Iowa.

In the latest arrangement, Google entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement for 890 megawatts of electricity from multiple Constellation-owned nuclear power plants, which would be upgraded to

---

2 Atlantic Canada

• Maritime Link
• Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline
• Brunswick Pipeline
• Nova Scotia Power

---

4 Northwest Territories • NAKA Power Utilities

---

Florida

\- Tampa Electric Company

• Peoples Gas System
• SeaCoast Gas Transmission

The Caribbean

• Barbados Light & Power
• St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd.

“Project Maple” because “we felt it was important to Canada.”

Emera used mountains as code names for the three companies in internal documents to successfully avoid leaks, with Canadian Utilities known as Cascades, ATCO nicknamed Alpine and Emera called Everest.

produce more electricity from existing reactors.

Electricity from the first of the upgraded plants is expected to be delivered in 2028, the companies said.

Shares of Constellation were up by more than 13 per cent on Tuesday to US\$304.04 by mid-morning. REUTERS

Carney will build the plane as he flies

If Bill C-40 becomes law, it will be the biggest change to Canada's defence procurement landscape in 75 years

SIOBHAN HARTY

JEFFREY F. COLLINS

OPINION

Siobhan Harty is the Slater Family Visiting Scholar at McGill's Max Bell School of Public Policy and former senior assistant deputy minister for defence and marine procurement.

Jeffrey F. Collins is the director of the Palmer Institute for Canadian Leadership, author of the book Canada's Defence Procurement Woes and a former senior policy analyst in the Department of National Defence.

Building a plane while flying really is the most apt description of the federal government's restructuring of Canada's approach to defence procurement.

The transformation of the one-year-old Defence Investment Agency into a new Crown corporation, with the introduction of today's Bill C-40, Strengthening Canada's Defence Sector Act, adds another alteration to the defence procurement fuselage. It's exciting, but it's also rife with uncertainty.

It can be easy to dismiss bureaucratic restructuring as simply shuffling people from one government entity to another. But Bill C-40, should it become law, represents the most significant change to Canada's defence procurement landscape in 75 years.

The last statutory, separate defence procurement organization in Canada was the Department of Defence Production, presided over by C.D. Howe.

It started at the height of the Korean War arms buildup in 1951 and was abolished in 1969 during the period of détente. That department's success was owing to innovations such as hiring industry experts on honoraria, special powers and close collaboration with industry. It's also interesting to note that the government spent around 5 per cent of GDP on defence from 1951 to 1957, which is similar to what Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to achieve.

With Bill C-40, the government is moving closer to that model by removing internal, bureaucratic barriers to decision-making, centralizing authority in the defence portfolio and enhancing leadership with a new associate minister of national defence for procurement. It's hard not to disagree with these moves given the long history of delays and cost overruns associated with peace-time defence procurement. The subject of numerous parliamentary studies, the splitting of responsibilities and accountabilities among multiple departments and central agencies was known to foster slow decision-making and processing.

By creating an organization at arms-length from the executive, the tangle of red tape and bureaucracy that slows down decision-making largely disappears, and it should proceed on an accelerated basis. With the Crown corporation model, the DIA will benefit from more flexibilities on everything from hiring to contracting, similar to other Crown corporations, such as the Business Development Bank of Canada or VIA Rail. These changes will certainly make the DIA more agile, while providing enough oversight to ensure it remains aligned with Treasury Board practices and international trade obligations.

Likewise, by placing the DIA in the defence portfolio, the Bill C-40 approach aligns Canada with the best practices of many European NATO allies, the same allies the Prime Minister is keen to deepen this country's defence and economic ties with. This includes collaborative production and preferential purchasing opportunities under the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) agreement.

Yet, no matter the model selected, defence procurement in Canada requires close collaboration between procurement experts, the Canadian Armed Forces – who set the requirements, use and maintain the capabilities they seek – and industry and the local innovator space the Defence Industrial Strategy aims to grow. Can an arm's-length Crown corporation really achieve that? It's not clear.

A long-standing criticism of Crown corporations, be it federal or provincial, is their opaque decision-making and lack of transparency on the final cost of equipment. Think of the hydrodams in Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia as examples. Direct ministerial accountability will be once removed, as will reporting requirements. The sum of these changes arguably weakens one of the biggest critiques of the pre-DIA procurement systems: The need for clearer and cleaner lines of ministerial accountability and responsibility.

Creating a Crown corporation still does not bypass competing policy objectives, which have bedevilled defence procurement in Canada. The legislation includes a clear authority for the minister to direct the Crown, which will maintain a link to the government's objectives and priorities. You can bet there will be intense debates at the cabinet table about how to prioritize economic and military objectives in those directives to the DIA. It remains to be seen how much independence the DIA will have.

Bill C-40 promises more clarity about ministerial responsibilities but by keeping the Defence Production Act with the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, many questions are left unanswered about where real power and responsibility lie. At a time when the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that defence spending could reach \$163.5-billion by 2035, Canadians deserve clear accountability and answers.

Brazil's presidential election risks complicating Canada's trade plans

president Jair Bolsonaro."

Pedestrians pass defaced posters of U.S. President Donald Trump and Liberal Party presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, in São Paulo, Brazil, on Monday.

BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS

RITA

TRICHUR

OPINION

Canadian business leaders intent on diversifying our country's global trade need to be aware that not every potential partner is on the anti-Trump bandwagon.

Brazil's presidential election, which has taken an unexpected turn in recent days, is a reminder that geopolitical allegiances can change on a dime and create new challenges for exporters.

Right-wing presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, is suddenly riding a wave of popularity. He will face leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – known as Lula for short – in a runoff vote on Oct. 25.

A potential win by Mr. Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, would be a boon for Washington, which is exerting increasing influence in Latin America to secure access to critical minerals. Stronger ties between Brasília and Washington, however, would also complicate Brazil's trade policies with other countries, including Canada.

With Brazil's economy being the biggest in Latin America and the third largest in the Western Hemisphere, the country's presidential election has implications for Canada's goal of doubling non-U.S. exports by 2035.

During a trip to Brazil in July, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed Ottawa's desire to finalize a trade deal with the Mercosur trading bloc by the end of this year.

Mercosur is a South American common market that includes Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. As the largest economy within that group, Brazil is leading Mercosur's negotiations with Canada.

Last year, Canada's merchandise trade with Mercosur amounted to \$19.4-billion, with imports comprising the bulk of that total.

Brazil alone represents billions of dollars in unrealized potential for Canadian exporters, including those selling fertilizers, motor vehicles and aircraft.

Mr. Bolsonaro positions himself as a pro-business candidate who also champions fiscal reforms. But he is also signalling that if he wins the presidency, one of his top priorities would be the restoration of Brazil's political alliance with the U.S., which has deteriorated under Mr. da Silva's presidency.

“Brazil and America were made for each other,” Mr. Bolsonaro said in a speech at the CPAC conference earlier this year.

“America needs secure supply chains for critical materials, a reliable partner in the hemisphere, and a massive market for American goods and services," he later said.

Brazil, in turn, needs help fighting transnational drug cartels, along with securing investment and technology, he added.

"There is no nation in the world that can help us better than the United States. And if we are aligned, no one can stop us."

Mr. Trump has stopped short of openly backing Mr. Bolsonaro, perhaps to avoid giving credence to allegations of U.S. interference in Brazil's election, but his preference is apparent.

When imposing tariffs on Brazil in July, 2025, Mr. Trump cited what he called “Brazil’s politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and prosecution of former Brazilian

The elder Mr. Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election. His son appears intent on continuing the family's political dynasty.

On Monday, Mr. Trump commented on Brazil's first round of balloting that saw the younger Mr. Bolsonaro secure 47 per cent of the votes compared to Mr. da Silva's 45 per cent.

Mr. Trump remarked the result was “close, but a very, very big victory. Amazing, actually,” according to a report by Reuters news agency.

Last week, The New York Times reported that officials from countries including Canada, the European Union, Japan and Australia were discussing the potential for U.S. interference in Brazil's election, citing three unnamed diplomats. Washington has repeatedly denied allegations of political interference.

Even so, there are fears that Mr. Bolsonaro's pursuits involving the U.S. would risk alienating Brazil's other trading partners.

An EU-Mercosur trade agreement, for example, has provisionally been in force since May, but it seems the possibility of yet another Bolsonaro presidency in Brazil is causing consternation in Brussels and beyond.

If the EU is worried about the future of trade with Mercosur because of Mr. Bolsonaro's pro-U.S. rhetoric, it stands to reason that Canada is, too.

After all, Prime Minister Mark Carney seems to be living rent-free in Mr. Trump's head ever since Canada-U.S. trade talks collapsed in August. Other officials, including White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, are also obsessed with Mr. Carney.

If Mr. Bolsonaro ultimately clinches the presidency, Mr. Trump won't hesitate to lean on his bosom buddy in Brasília for backup to cut Mr. Carney, and Canada, down to size.

AI companies must be held responsible for the hallucinations that bog down courts

TOM MACINTOSH ZHENG

OPINION

Co-founder of Courtready.ca, which builds tools for Canadians who represent themselves in court, and which conducts research on access to justice issues

By now, most Canadians are already familiar with the concept of AI “hallucinations.” These are the factually false responses produced by a generative-artificial-intelligence chatbot in response to prompts entered by the user.

The federal discussion paper on AI transparency, whose consultation closed this week, provides an example of this in our legal system. In recent years, Canadian courts and tribunals have seen an increase in the number of instances where parties who appeared before them had relied on law that does not exist. In most cases, this fictitious law was created by generative AI.

Our courts and tribunals have been sanctioning parties who have done this primarily through warnings and monetary penalties. But there is a missing defendant: the creators of those tools.

Economists have a name for a cost that a business imposes on third parties uninvolved with that business's activity: externality. For example, a factory that pollutes a lake and leaves the cleanup costs to the communities relying on that lake for water has created a negative externality for those communities.

Chatbots that invent the law are doing something similar to our justice system. So, as Ottawa decides what to do with its consultation, it should consider making the makers of those chatbots carry the cost.

General-purpose chatbots may not look up the law when asked for it. Instead, they predict what the law should look and sound like, based on their training data. The result is legal advice that is fabricated but believable, and most Canadians without a law degree have no way to detect that this advice is, in fact, wrong. The only warning is a generic line at the bottom of the website saying that AI can make mistakes.

We have been tracking this issue for some time. The federal discussion paper cited our count of 132 decisions as of March in which non-existent laws were cited. As of Oct. 6, 2026, Canadian courts and tribunals have flagged at least 241 instances where a party relied on fictitious law. In 80 per cent of them, the adjudicator explicitly identified generative AI as responsible. There are now more such decisions in 2026 than during the entirety of 2024 and 2025 combined, and these decisions are only the ones the adjudicators caught and reported. The real number is likely to be higher.

Every decision carries a cost to our justice system that no one is currently paying. Judges, tribunal members, clerks, and counsel are now spending more time checking the legal precedents submitted by parties to determine whether it is real or fabricated. There was a time in the legal system where, as lawyers, we may have argued over the law's interpretation, but never on whether the law exists. That is no longer the case.

In addition to the fake law issue, at a webinar earlier in September, Justice Maya Hamou of New Brunswick's Court of King's Bench described an “explosion of paperwork” as AI-generated submissions are filed. Justice Peter Browne of Newfoundland and Labrador's Supreme Court warned that disputes over AI-generated evidence may lead to longer trial time and delays.

A product that doesn't work, or is otherwise defective, will lose customers over time. But that principle does not apply here. The third parties harmed by generative AI's defectiveness (e.g., courts, adjudicators, and taxpayers who fund our justice system) did not participate in creating this harm. The users of generative AI, in most cases, cannot see the defect. In 82 per cent of the decisions in our database in which fabricated law was cited, the parties are self-represented litigants. These individuals use generative AI in good faith, often because they cannot afford a lawyer. They will continue to turn to it because it is the only legal help they can afford.

Of course, you are ultimately responsible for what you put before the court. Blaming generative AI has not been, and should not be, an effective strategy when the court catches someone filing fake law. However, how is someone with no legal training supposed to verify the law? They cannot tell that the output produced by generative AI is wrong, especially when the chatbot delivers it with total confidence.

Ottawa's proposed Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, is a first step in correcting this wrong. It intends to bar generative AI chatbots from deceptively posing as lawyers or other licensed professionals. That is not enough. When a chatbot produces legal precedents or provides legal advice, its developers should be required to warn its users, plainly and at that moment, that the law it cites may not exist. This modest demand is the least the developers can do to absorb the costs of their defects.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL\* In Her Defence BREACH OF TRUST

Season Three of the award-winning podcast

When Kerry Benjoe discovered the man she'd trusted for nearly five years wasn't who he claimed to be, she set out to expose a troubling pattern that affected hundreds of women. On In Her Defence: Breach of Trust, The Globe and Mail's award-winning crime reporter Jana G. Pruden tells the stories of those targeted and asks what happens when those sworn to protect betray the public's trust.

What can we do when a man who's supposed to be one of the good guys turns out to be a bad guy, instead?

Listen now.

PURPOSE

CanadianMomentumProject.ca

67% of Canadians want to feel like they've made good financial choices.

Figures are from YouGov Surveys, February 18-March 9, 2026. Canadians aged $18+$ , n=1,004.

Major projects could face materials, labour crunch: RBC

A pipe yard servicing pipeline operator Trans Mountain is seen in Kamloops in 2021. The next three years could mark the beginning of several major oil and gas projects as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government aims to speed up development approvals. JENNIFER GAUTHIER/REUTERS

New report says Canada's energy sector must plan ahead to avoid cost overruns

EMMA GRANEY

ENERGY REPORTER

CALGARY

Canada's oil and gas sector faces risks of a return to painful cost overruns unless it co-ordinates the necessary supply chains and labour availability for more than \$100-billion in proposed energy infrastructure construction, the country's largest bank warns.

The next three years could mark the beginning of several major oil and gas projects, from production to pipelines and carbon capture projects, said a report from Royal Bank of Canada, released Wednesday. Put simply, it said, “Canada is about to find out whether it can still build.”

Getting major projects constructed has been one of Prime Minister Mark Carney's highest priorities, as the country looks to reduce its reliance on the United States, which buys the lion's share of Canada's oil and gas exports.

In September, the federal government tabled Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, which in part aims to speed up development approvals for major projects. Mr. Carney also announced a corporate tax break that would allow companies to immediately write off the full cost of acquiring or building assets. Last week, Ottawa deemed the Pacific Link oil pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast a project of national importance in a bid to accelerate its regulatory approvals, and the Prime Minister travelled to B.C. to mark the greenlight for LNG Canada Phase 2.

The last oil sands construction boom ran between 2006 and 2014. Labour and materials costs soared as several projects were built at once, leading to overruns and delays on everything from mines to pipelines. The issues were exacerbated by the 2008 global financial crisis and a significant drop in oil prices.

The looming build-out of Canada's energy sector is not necessarily a bigger version of that boom, the RBC report said. This time around, it stands to be more of a nation-building effort that would run for 15 years, span various commodities and see much of the construction take place in British Columbia, rather than Northern Alberta.

By 2040, an expanded oil and gas industry could add \$44-billion more a year to Canada's GDP, nearly a 50 per cent increase from its current contribution of \$95-billion, according to the report.

The road to boosting the sector includes building two liquefied natural gas terminals (in addition to two already under construction), two oil pipelines, a carbon capture facility, and the initial phases of oil sands expansions that could lead to an increase of up to a million barrels a day.

If the West Coast oil pipeline and new LNG terminals are built, Canadian energy exports to non-U.S. countries, primarily in Asia, could rise from roughly \$10-billion in 2024 to about \$100-billion by 2040, adding to U.S. sales rather than replacing them, the analysis said.

But construction stimulus “is a double-edge sword” that will require Canada to optimize economic benefits while minimizing strain on infrastructure, and manage demands on raw materials, logistics and labour. Otherwise, the country risks a repeat of the recent megaprojects in Western Canada, which were slower to build and wildly more expensive than planned.

The report pointed to the last oil sands building boom, which cost far more than an Alberta report had forecast, but boosted production by less than expected, and the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which ballooned in cost from an original estimate of \$5.4-billion to \$34-billion.

The challenge facing Canada with the latest build-out is that projects would tap the labour market around the same time other large-scale projects would be under way across the country, including data-centre and nuclear sites, and mining and hydrogen development, the report said.

Getting all of those projects, as well as planned oil and gas infrastructure, built, “will require an all-of-Canada approach,” it said, because the need for raw materials and parts, such as rolled steel, comes “at a time when these sectors are reeling from U.S. tariffs and market uncertainty.”

Thus, enabling domestic capacity of steel and aluminum production will be “critical to optimizing the benefits of energy investment,” the report said.

Training skilled workers will also be crucial to the build-out, the report noted. The federal government estimates more than 1.4 million new trades workers will be needed by 2033 as a wave of retirements hits.

The report said a “nimble and market-driven immigration system” could help address the shortage, as might a national-service-style program that encourages people to “come work for – and build – Canada,” and creates incentives for labour mobility.

Takeover deals down sharply in third quarter

Halifax-based Emera Inc. proposed a \$14-billion merger with Calgary's Canadian Utilities Ltd. and its parent company, ATCO Ltd., on Tuesday. LOUIS OLIVER/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: LSEG DATA & ANALYTICS

Historical Canadian mergers and acquisitions (Q3)

Number of deals

Top law firms for Canadian M&A advisory

Jan. 1 to Sept. 30

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: LSEG DATA & ANALYTICS

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: LSEG DATA & ANALYTICS

Corporate fundraising

soars as just over

400 transactions with

Canadian buyers, sellers

made in third quarter

JAMESON BERKOW

CAPITAL MARKETS REPORTER

Corporate takeovers involving Canadian companies collapsed in the most recent quarter, while fundraising efforts by domestic businesses soared to near-record highs.

Just 401 transactions involving a Canadian buyer or seller were announced during the third quarter, according to a report from LSEG Data & Analytics released Wednesday. That is less than half the historical average and a substantial drop from the 460 reported in the second quarter, which was already the lowest deal count for any three-month period since at least 2005.

Peter Castiel, the chair of Stikeman Elliott LLP, the top legal adviser for mergers and acquisitions in Canada, for the first nine months of 2026 attributed the slowdown to U.S. President Donald Trump's continuing trade war.

“For manufacturing, services, goods, that has for sure put a damper on the volume of transactions because, with that uncertainty, buyers and sellers try and figure out the discount on that,” Mr. Castiel said.

“So I think people are holding their breath. They want to see what happens post-Trump and ‘Should we wait or not wait?’”

Despite fewer deals over all, the ones getting done tend to be much larger. The third quarter saw roughly US\$68.6-billion in transactions involving Canadian companies, a 16-per-cent increase relative to the latest 10-year third-quarter average.

H&R Real Estate Investment Trust's \$3.4-billion asset sale, CSA Group divesting its testing and certification business for \$2.1-billion and the acquisition of Jamieson Wellness Inc. for \$2.5-billion are just a few of the multibillion-dollar deals announced between early July and late September. That trend has continued into the early days of the fourth quarter, with Halifax-based Emera Inc. proposing a \$14-billion merger with Calgary-based Canadian Utilities Ltd. and its parent company, ATCO Ltd., early Tuesday.

Fundraising, meanwhile, has been going on at a furious pace. Stock sales in particular, which just two years ago were at their lowest level since 1998, have rebounded dramatically.

Canadian companies issued \$11.6-billion in equity during the third quarter, more than tripling equity issuance levels from the same period in 2025 and nearly doubling the most recent 10-year average.

“Investors have prioritized growth with strong conviction for the past couple of quarters,” said Nitin Babbar, global head of equity capital markets at RBC Capital Markets, which was the No. 2 investment bank for stock sales in the first nine months of 2026.

“Canada has participated meaningfully in this growth wave. We're seeing strong momentum around Canadian independence and the ‘Build Canada’ framework. While this isn't necessarily evidenced in specific deals, the overall market activity in the last couple of weeks reflects enthusiasm in the investor community about the opportunity for Canada.”

Despite fewer deals over all, the ones getting done tend to be much larger. The third quarter saw roughly US\$68.6-billion in transactions involving Canadian companies, a 16-per-cent increase relative to the latest 10-year third-quarter average.

Jackie Nixon, the head of Canadian equity capital markets at RBC, said the “outsized volumes this quarter are driven by a few large offerings,” including a \$1.2- billion bought deal from MDA Space Ltd. in July and a \$4.8-billion equity offering from Celestica Inc. in August.

Corporate borrowing rates have also remained robust, with Canadian companies issuing \$32.9-billion in bonds during the third quarter. That is 71 per cent above the most recent 10-year average and does not include loonie-denominated corporate bonds issued by non-Canadian companies, also known as maple bonds.

There have been several massive maple deals in Canada this year, most notably from hyperscalers such as Amazon.com Inc. and Google parent Alphabet Inc. looking to raise huge sums to build data centres. When maple deals are included, according to RBC data, Canadian corporate bond issuance in 2026 has already surpassed the total for 2025, hitting a record-breaking \$165-billion.

“We are going gangbusters here,” said Patrick MacDonald, co-head of Canadian debt capital markets at RBC Capital Markets, the top investment bank for debt deals during the first nine months of the year. “It just seems so profound.”

But Rob Brown, who co-leads RBC's Canadian debt team with Mr. MacDonald, said there are storm clouds overhead in the form of rising interest rates that “right now are producing maybe a drizzle,” though “there’s concern there might be a downpour at some point in the future.”

There is still a chance Canadian corporate bond issuance could hit \$200-billion this year, he said, but unease surrounding next month's midterm elections in the U.S., more rate hikes on the horizon and continuing tariff-related uncertainty could rattle both investors and issuers.

As for M&A, Stikeman's Mr. Castiel said anyone assuming a major change after Mr. Trump's time in the White House is complete is not being realistic.

“People are, I think, planning on this being a new normal and maybe discounting pricing,” he said. “That is what we are seeing.”

Budget: Extension of gas tax break estimated to cost \$2.9-billion in lost revenue

FROM B1

Stronger growth means federal ratios such as the deficit-to-GDP and debt-to-GDP will likely improve in comparison to the government's April fiscal update.

That is the finding of a recent analysis by Desjardins economist Randall Bartlett, who expects Mr. Champagne will show improvements in those areas when he releases his fall budget.

“Because of higher oil prices, revenues have been surging at the federal level. And that’s opened up a lot of room for the federal government to increase spending,” he said.

But a lot of that new room has already been spent.

In September, Mr. Champagne announced an extension of a gas tax break that was set to expire on Labour Day. It will continue until Jan. 31, 2027. It will then be halved until the end of March, before being phased out completely.

The Finance Department estimated that the extension will cost the government about \$2.9-billion in lost revenues.

Two weeks later, Mr. Carney announced a “productivity mega deduction” at an investment summit in Toronto. The plan allows companies to immediately write off the full cost of new investments, covering about two-thirds of capital assets. Some investments, such as certain types of buildings and natural gas pipelines, are excluded from the new tax break.

The government said that tax break would cost the government an estimated \$36-billion over five years.

John Fragos, a spokesperson for Mr. Champagne, suggested in an e-mail that the government still has room to spend. He pointed to Canada's triple-A credit rating, its debt-to-GDP ratio and efforts to find internal savings as examples of Ottawa's fiscal health.

"The government has the manoeuvrability needed to support Canadian businesses, sectors and households through this period of volatility," he said.

Mr. Bartlett and some other economists interviewed by The Globe and Mail warn that the gains from higher oil prices could be short-lived and the fiscal track could fall behind projections in future years.

“If anything, they should probably try to keep a little powder dry and actually surprise people by showing a smaller deficit even with all of the spending. Then that would be sort of a win-win,” Mr. Bartlett said.

The spring update projected a deficit of \$65.3-billion for the current fiscal year. It also showed the size of the deficit declining slightly each year, reaching \$53.2-billion by the 2030-31 fiscal year.

The fiscal picture will be further strained over the coming years by Ottawa's pledge to dramatically boost spending on defence. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has said that additional core defence spending could add \$63.7-billion, or 1.4 per cent of GDP, to the deficit in 2035-36.

Jennifer Robson, an associate professor of political management at Carleton University, said that while oil prices are generating a revenue bump, she isn't seeing much evidence that the government is making significant cuts to operations spending.

“I think it’ll be a modest bump in the fiscal outlook but likely not sustained,” she said in an e-mail. “The worst possible thing they could do would be a gimmicky ‘affordability’ measure that is poorly targeted but politically sexy in the eyes of advisers who haven’t themselves worried about affordability in eons.”

Marc Desormeaux, economist and vice-president of policy at the Business Council of Canada, said he thinks the revenue gains linked to higher oil prices could be as much as \$7-billion. Stronger corporate profits and stock market gains will also help Ottawa's bottom line, he said.

“I think the clear take-away is that revenues are going to come in a lot stronger,” he said.

“We’re coming into this next budget with quite a lot of momentum on the revenue side.”

Mr. Desormeaux said he would caution all governments to be prudent when it comes to planning in the current environment.

"There needs to be, for all governments, a recognition of the uncertainty of the risks to the upside and the downside, and that needs to factor into fiscal planning, arguably more than it has historically, given the environment we're operating in," he said.

Former senior Finance Department official Don Drummond, who is adjunct professor at the School of Policy Studies at Queen's University and a co-author of the C.D. Howe's soon-to-be released prebudget report, said he's "way more pessimistic" than most other economists when it comes to the state of the Canadian economy.

He said he believes low immigration and weak productivity will be a stronger drag on growth than most realize. Over the medium to longer term, he said trade tensions with the United States will hurt foreign investment in Canada.

The C.D. Howe's prebudget report will show larger deficits in future years than Ottawa had previously projected, he said. Mr. Drummond said he expects the size of the deficit will climb into the \$70-billion to \$80-billion range.

Mr. Drummond says Mr. Champagne does not have any fiscal room left ahead of the budget.

“I think it’s all used up,” he said. “I think they would be hard-pressed to get the net-debt-to-GDP ratio down, and it would remain over 40 per cent, which is unacceptably high in my view.”

University of British Columbia economics professor Kevin Milligan said the government likely knew it had some extra revenue before making last month's moves on the gas tax and investment credits.

“If things had not looked good on the revenue front, they might have been a bit tighter on some of those announcements,” he said. “I would expect to see that if there is some more money in the coffers than they expected a year ago, that that money would already be accounted for.”

Mr. Milligan said that with governments around the world facing higher borrowing costs, the government should keep that in mind and aim for a primary surplus, meaning that revenues exceed expenditures before accounting for interest costs.

“If you can keep the debt-to-GDP from not growing, if you keep the primary balance in surplus, that helps a lot in dealing with interest rate fluctuations,” he said.

A drone photograph shows the Stelco Hamilton Works steel mill, owned by Cleveland-Cliffs, in Hamilton in September. Cliffs maintains that Stelco can't make money from its Canadian galvanized business.

CARLOS OSORIO/REUTERS

Stelco: Ottawa issued Cliffs five-business-day ultimatum to comply with employment guarantees

its powers and “pursue them to the fullest extent of the law.”

divestiture or monetary penalties," she said.

FROM B1

Cliffs maintains that Stelco can't make money from its Canadian galvanized business. The tariffs have closed off its access to its U.S. customers, and Ottawa hasn't done enough to keep out cheap imports, Mr. Goncalves said.

In fact, the situation is so bleak that Cliffs last week said it plans to lay off up to 500 workers in Canada.

“I’m making Stelco viable by doing that,” Mr. Goncalves said. “I’m saving the company.”

But Mr. Ritchie doesn't buy that reasoning.

“Cleveland-Cliffs comes out and says it’s not economical to make galvanized steel in Canada. What a joke. It’s selling for a buck a pound. It’s doubled in price,” he said.

“It’s never been a better time to make galvanized steel in Canada.”

Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Cliffs had “betrayed” its Stelco work force. He also said it has legal obligations around employment, and the government intends to use all

In 2024, Cliffs signed a legally binding agreement with Ottawa to maintain for at least five years the same number of unionized employees in Canada and the vast majority of non-unionized workers.

“

---

I'm very upset the Prime Minister said I betrayed my people ... I have been a big proponent ... for Fortress North America to happen.

LOURENCO GONCALVES

CLEVELAND-CLIFFS CEO

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly on Monday issued Cliffs a five-business-day ultimatum to comply with its employment guarantees under the Investment Canada Act. Non-compliance could result in “an application to the superior court for orders that may include directing compliance,

Mr. Goncalves said that if the government sues, Cliffs will defend itself. One of its core arguments is that the trade war is an event beyond its control.

"I'm very upset that the Prime Minister said that I betrayed my people, betrayed the workers," he said. "That's absurd because I have been a big proponent, on both sides of the border, for Fortress North America to happen."

As for Mr. Ritchie, owing to Stelco's withdrawal from the galvanized market, he can't find what he needs domestically. ArcelorMittal Dofasco, the other big Hamilton supplier, put him on "allocation," meaning he would receive only a small fraction of what he requires. He will have to source the rest from outside Canada, paying a 50-per-cent tariff for the privilege.

When told that Stelco's exit from the galvanized steel market had left a big Canadian customer in a bind, Mr. Goncalves replied, "That's his problem."

Bombardier: Company met with Ontario officials to discuss subsidies to expand assembly facility

FROM B1

They said Bombardier hopes to begin construction of an expanded factory in 2027.

The Globe and Mail is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.

Bombardier's chief executive Éric Martel told The Globe in September that the “GlobalEye is our priority right now,” adding that the company is “focused on building and finishing GlobalEye here in Canada.”

A Bombardier team was in Sweden last month. More recently, another Bombardier team met with senior Ontario government officials to discuss possible subsidies to expand the Pearson assembly site. The sources said Bombardier put the expansion costs at about \$500-million. Bombardier's communications office did not comment on the cost of the expansion.

Late last year, Saab delivered new proposals to Ottawa that forecast the creation of 12,600 jobs if both the GlobalEye and the Gripen were built in Canada. At the time, David Morden, senior sales director of the GlobalEye, said building the entire aircraft in Canada would create 3,000 jobs. "We are offering a made-in-Canada solution by building and installing the plane's sensors there," he said.

Mattias Radstrom, head of media relations at Saab, told The Globe on Tuesday that “we stand by our previous estimate” for the number of jobs created.

Saab selected the Bombardier

6000-series business jet, which later evolved into the 6500-series, for the platform for the GlobalEye a decade ago. The plane, minus its interior fittings, is flown to Saab's main aerospace factory in Linköping, Sweden, where it is stripped down and rebuilt into an airborne early warning and control jet with an array of sophisticated sensors.

Its radar is capable of detecting aircraft, missiles or drones as far as 650 kilometres away. It can also detect and identify objects on the ground, such as tanks, and those on the sea, including submarine periscopes that break the water surface.

---

Saab selected the Bombardier 6000-series business jet, which later evolved into the 6500-series, for the GlobalEye a decade ago.

So far, Saab has firm orders for a dozen GlobalEyes, mostly from the United Arab Emirates, Sweden and France, but expects many more. NATO announced plans in July to buy up to 10 of the aircraft to replace the military alliance's fleet of aging Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft, though no contract has been signed.

Canada last month signed a non-binding term sheet to buy six GlobalEyes, including training and support. Canada would use the aircraft primarily for Arctic surveillance.

Mr. Radstrom said the Canadian production line would have the capacity to produce up to a third of the expected global demand for the aircraft over the next 15 years. “We can confirm that we are in advanced discussions with Bombardier,” he said. “As the provider of the aircraft platform on which GlobalEye is based, Bombardier is a natural partner to build and modify the GlobalEye in Canada.”

Ontario is keen to land the GlobalEye project partly because the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are hammering the province's oncethriving auto industry. Thousands of auto assembly and engineering jobs have been lost and several plants have been closed, idled or scaled back. A bigger aerospace industry would help offset those job losses.

Ontario typically offers large subsidies to attract foreign companies that want to build factories or assembly plants in the province, especially if they would create advanced technology jobs such as those in battery or electric-vehicle plants. Quebec does the same.

They can take the forms of performance-contingent loans, grants, tax credits, research and development support, or a combination. Often the federal government contributes similar amounts.

On big projects, Ontario's contributions can cover 10 to 20 per cent of the projects' overall capital costs.

The office of Vic Fedeli, Ontario's Economic Development Minister, declined to comment.

PARAMOUNT CLOSES WARNER BROS. DEAL TO FORM HOLLYWOOD GIANT SKYDANCE

CHICAGO It's official: Paramount Skydance Corp. closed its US\$81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. on Tuesday, ushering in a new Hollywood giant.

The merger brings two of America's oldest moviemaking studios together under a new name: Skydance. The deal, which followed a tumultuous, roughly year-long fight, further concentrates power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players.

HBO Max, titles ranging from Harry Potter to Sinners and networks such as CNN now find themselves under the same roof as Paramount+, CBS and the likes of Top Gun and The Godfather. All are under the helm of billionaire David Ellison and his new co-CEO Ynon Kreiz.

“Today is a historic day, not just for Skydance but for our entire industry,” Mr. Ellison said

in a statement.

Including billions of dollars in debt, the Warner acquisition amounts to nearly US\$111-billion.

Mr. Ellison's Skydance bought Paramount for US\$8-billion last year before setting its sights on Warner. What followed was one of the biggest tie-ups ever in the media and entertainment industry.

The early days of Paramount's quest for Warner turned into a messy bidding war.

Months after disclosing it was open to selling all or part of its business, Warner initially struck a studio and streaming deal with Netflix Inc. in December.

But Paramount said it also had made offers that Warner management “never engaged meaningfully” with. It soon launched a hostile counterbid.

The Hollywood giants spent much of early 2026 in a heated back-and-forth over who had a stronger offer, with Warner leadership repeatedly backing Netflix as its preferred suitor. But Netflix bowed out after Paramount eventually upped its offer to buy all of Warner for US\$31 a share.

Warner and Paramount inked a mutual merger agreement in late February.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Global report shows strong uptake of AI in banking

Royal Bank of Canada ranked third globally in Evident's annual list of global financial institutions that are leaders in artificial-intelligence adoption. ALEX LUPUL/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada's five biggest banks rank among top 30 when it comes to technology deployment

STEFANIE MAROTTA

BANKING REPORTER

Canadian banks continue to rank among the world's most advanced financial institutions in AI adoption, but lenders are racing to demonstrate that the billions of dollars spent on the new technology is translating into financial returns.

AI benchmarking platform Evident ranked Canada's five biggest banks in the top 30 of a list of 50 global financial institutions on talent, innovation, leadership and transparency. AI adoption and deployment is accelerating at superspeed, but lenders will need to start showing that their AI investments are benefiting their bottom lines, according to Evident's report released Tuesday.

Royal Bank of Canada ranked third globally for the fifth consecutive year as it continues to translate its AI research into capabilities that can be deployed across the company, spanning technical delivery, adoption and controls, Evident said.

“RBC maintained its position among the world’s leading banks for AI in an increasingly competitive environment, thanks to its strengths in innovation,” Evident co-chief executive Alexandra Mousavizadeh said in a statement.

“Boasting one of banking’s most established research capabilities, RBC is spreading its increasingly sophisticated AI capabilities across the bank.”

Toronto-Dominion Bank

edged up three spots to rank 10th as it increasingly deploys its AI research, tools and applications in measurable ways, and focuses investments on high-impact areas, including credit adjudication, software development and contact centres, according to the report.

Bank of Montreal ranked 20th overall and second for adopting responsible AI principles, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce took the 21st spot, and Bank of Nova Scotia landed in 30th place.

U.S.-based financial institutions took the top two spots, with JPMorgan Chase, the world's largest bank, ranking first and Capital One Financial Corp. placing second.

AI deployment in the banking sector has accelerated more dramatically in the past year than at any point since Evident launched the ranking in 2023, the firm said.

Canada's banks have long touted the efficiency benefits of AI tools, but they have only just started generating revenue from their AI investments and senior executives are rethinking staff roles and implementing training to entice employees to adopt the new technology.

Many lenders have yet to report results from productivity tools, according to Evident.

About 1 per cent of financial institutions disclosed direct financial results, such as cost savings, according to Evident. Of the 50 banks that were ranked, only 12 reported a realized or projected return from AI activities, up from eight lenders last year.

Among the top two banks, JP Morgan has disclosed its expectations for the financial benefits AI is expected to generate. In 2025, the bank cited about US\$1.5-billion in realized value.

Capital One has yet to report a company-wide estimate of the value generated by artificial intelligence, even as it has touted AI as a key factor in its technology transformation plan.

Canada’s banks have been making headway. At RBC’s investor day last year, the bank said it expects to generate between \$700-million and \$1-billion in enterprise value from AI by 2027.

RBC remained on track in its fiscal third quarter, ended July 31, and cited more than 200 AI models and a more than 500-per-cent increase in large language model (LLM) token consumption – units of computing power that cost money – as an indication that deployment is accelerating, Evident said.

In 2025, TD told investors it set a target of generating \$200-million in annualized revenue productivity and \$100-million in annualized cost savings in the medium term, Evident cited in its report.

In the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, the bank has generated \$195-million in AI value against its \$200-million goal. TD boosted its medium-term target value to \$500-million in both revenue and cost savings, Evident said.

At BMO's investor day in March, the bank said it expects AI to add more than \$1-billion in pre-tax earnings by 2030.

Scotiabank courts wealthy investors with portfolio managing tool

TIM KILADZE

Bank of Nova Scotia is courting the wealthiest tier of investors by launching a new portfolio management tool and offering access to institutional-quality advice, broadening the bank's efforts to beef up its wealth management division and boost fee-based income.

On Tuesday, Scotiabank launched a new investment management platform, Scotia Global Intelligence, that allows ultrahigh-net-worth clients to aggregate the accounts they have spread across multiple financial institutions, providing a complete view of their wealth.

Currently, Scotiabank advisers and private bankers may have limited information about external accounts, which means they aren't fully incorporated in wealth-planning discussions. By partnering with

discussions. By partnering with Addepar, a financial technology company, Scotiabank will enable clients to see their full wealth picture, and it can therefore offer better counsel on issues such as diversification and asset mix.

To differentiate itself from rivals able to offer a similar macro picture, Scotiabank is also partnering with Marsh – formerly Mercer – to offer guidance on client investments outside of Canada, particularly alternative assets

Scotia Global Intelligence allows ultrahigh-net-worth clients to aggregate the accounts they have spread across multiple financial institutions.

Ultrahigh-net-worth clients often have money in different countries, and investment management rules such as Know Your Product, or KYP, limit the advice that Canadian advisers can give. Often, global funds haven't been scrutinized by their firm's due diligence departments.

Marsh's investment arm, however, advises on \$16-trillion worth of assets for clients such as sovereign wealth funds and family offices, and the firm has done research on thousands of investments worldwide, including alternative assets such as private equity and infrastructure funds.

This expertise will now be made available to Scotiabank clients and their advisers, offering guidance that is typically reserved for institutions, Andy Nasr, Scotiabank's chief investment officer for global wealth management, said.

The new partnerships align with Scotiabank's determination to expand in wealth management. Across the banking industry, wealth management has become a highly desirable business because it does not suck up much capital – whereas commercial lending, for instance, requires reserves for loan losses – and it generates relatively sticky fee income that rises when asset prices appreciate.

Over the past year, Scotiabank has been touting its success in wealth management for mass affluent investors, or traditional retail investors. A few years ago, the bank ranked sixth for mutual fund sales in Canada, but it is now ranked third. This gain has largely come from integrating what was once a siloed wealth management division into Scotiabank's retail banking operation.

Scotiabank, like its rivals, is also targeting ultrahigh-network clients who have \$10-million worth of assets or more because they tend to have complex needs and can be cross-sold services such as estate planning, tax planning and investment advice, boosting the fee pool per client.

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA IN THE MATTER OF THE LAW AND EQUITY ACT, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 253, AS AMENDED

AND IN THE MATTER OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF SVC-MOUNTAINSIDE ULC AND SHELL OWNERS ASSOCIATION – PACIFIC

PETITIONERS

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RE: NOTICE OF NON-MEMBER CLAIMS PROCESS

TAKE NOTICE that this notice is being published pursuant to an Order of the British Columbia Supreme Court made on September 25, 2026 (the "Non-Member Claims Process Order") in the proceedings commenced under the Law and Equity Act (British Columbia) by SVC-Mountainside ULC and Shell Owners Association – Pacific (together, the "Petitioners"). Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meaning given in the Non-Member Claims Process Order.

BDO Canada Limited, in its capacity as Court-appointed Receiver of the assets, undertakings, and properties of the Petitioners (in such capacity, the "Receiver") is conducting a claims process in respect of Non-Member Claims in order to determine the distribution in respect of the proceeds of sale and other realizations of the Shell Mountainside Lodge.

The Receiver will send a Non-Member Claims Package to all parties identified as potential Claimants, based on the books and records of the Petitioners, which will contain, among other documents, i) a blank Non-Member Proof of Claim, and ii) a Non-Member Proof of Claim Instruction Letter.

Claimants may also obtain a copy of the aforementioned documents from the Receiver's website at www.bdo.ca/mountainsidelodge.

Non-Member Proof of Claims must be received by the Receiver in the prescribed form by 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on November 24, 2026 (the "Non-Member Claims Bar Date"). It is your responsibility to complete the appropriate documents and ensure that the Receiver receives your completed documents by the Non-Member Claims Bar Date. IF THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS ARE NOT RECEIVED BY THE RECEIVER BY THE NON-MEMBER CLAIMS BAR DATE, A CLAIMANT WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A DISTRIBUTION. DISTRIBUTIONS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE COURT AT A LATER DATE.

NON-MEMBER CLAIMS THAT ARE NOT RECEIVED BY THE NON-MEMBER CLAIMS BAR DATE WILL BE BARRED AND EXTINGUISHED FOREVER.

The Receiver may be contacted at the following address for any enquiries with respect to the Non-Member Claims Process:

BDO Canada Limited, in its capacity as

Receiver of SVC-Mountainside ULC and Shell Owners Association – Pacific 20 Wellington Street East, Suite 500

Toronto, ON M5E 1C5

Attention: Shell Mountainside Lodge Claims

Email(s): MLMA-related enquiries: bdo-mountainsideMLMA@bdo.ca

SOAP-related enquiries: bdo-mountainsideSOAP@bdo.ca

DATED at Toronto this 7th day of October, 2026.

Stay informed around the clock with The Globe app – free for print subscribers

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IN THE MATTER OF THE CREDIT UNIONS AND CAISSES POPULAIRES ACT, 2020, S.O 2020, C.36, SCHED. 7, AS AMENDED AND IN THE MATTER OF PACE SAVINGS & CREDIT UNION LIMITED

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to an Order of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) dated October 1, 2026 (the "Shareholder Claims and Holdings Identification Order"), a claims process has been commenced for the purpose of identifying, confirming and determining claims against PACE Savings & Credit Union Limited ("PCU") arising from or in connection with Class A Profit Shares and/or Class B Investment Shares. Capitalized terms used in this Notice that are not defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Shareholder Claims and Holdings Identification Order (a copy of which is available on the Liquidator's website at home.kpmg/ca/pacecu).

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the claims process applies only to claims arising from or in connection with Class A Profit Shares and/or Class B Investment Shares. For greater certainty, the claims process does not apply to claims arising from or in connection with membership shares of PCU.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if you receive a Statement of Negative Notice Claim and agree with all of the information in respect of your Claim set out therein, and do not assert any other claim arising from or in connection with Class A Profit Shares and/or Class B Investment Shares, you are not required to file a Proof of Claim or take any further steps in respect of such Claim. If you disagree with any of the information set out in your Statement of Negative Notice Claim, and/or if you assert any other claim arising from or in connection with Class A Profit Shares and/or Class B Investment Shares that is not captured therein, you must file a Notice of Dispute of Negative Notice Claim with the Liquidator so that it is received by the Liquidator on or before December 4, 2026.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any Person who has not received a Statement of Negative Notice Claim and who believes that such Person has a Claim under the Shareholder Claims and Holdings Identification Order may obtain a Proof of Claim form by contacting the Liquidator or downloading one from the Liquidator's website.

THE CLAIMS BAR DATE is 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) on December 4, 2026. Proofs of Claim and Notices of Dispute of Negative Notice Claim, as applicable, must be completed and filed with the Liquidator using the procedures required in the Shareholder Claims and Holdings Identification Order so that they are received by the Liquidator on or before the Claims Bar Date.

HOLDERS OF CLAIMS WHO DO NOT FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM OR NOTICE OF DISPUTE OF NEGATIVE NOTICE CLAIM, AS APPLICABLE, BY THE CLAIMS BAR DATE SHALL BE FOREVER EXTINGUISHED AND BARRED FROM ASSERTING OR DISPUTING THEIR CLAIMS AGAINST PCU, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM DEEMED ACCEPTED AS A PROVEN CLAIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SHAREHOLDER CLAIMS AND HOLDINGS IDENTIFICATION ORDER.

CLAIMANTS REQUIRING INFORMATION or claims documentation may contact the Liquidator. The Liquidator's contact details are:

KPMG INC., in its capacity as court-appointed liquidator of PACE Savings & Credit Union Limited

Bay Adelaide Centre

333 Bay Street, Suite 4600

Toronto, Ontario Canada M5H 2S5

Attention: Tahreem Fatima

Email: pacecu@kpmg.ca

Phone: 1-833 812 1699

Website: home.kpmg/ca/pacecu

CHARTING RETIREMENT

Fertility rates have been declining worldwide over the past 60 years

THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: OECD

Unless you're Al Pacino or Mick Jagger, you might think that fertility rates are an irrelevant statistic for seniors. In fact, a country's fertility rate has important implications for retirees.

In the United States, it is one reason why their Social Security system is in trouble since their pensions are funded on the Ponzi-like pay-as-you-go basis that relies on an influx of young people. (That's not true in Canada.)

Low fertility rates also translate into slower economic growth; consider the Japan experience since the 1990s. Finally, fertility rates can have a major impact on immigration policy and may also create pressure for people to retire later.

Over the past 60 years, fertility rates have been dropping almost everywhere. This is true in the Western world, including in Canada, the U.S. and most of Europe.

The decline is even steeper in the Far East, including China, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea. It is also occurring in populous countries such as India and Brazil, where birth rates were previously unchecked. The exception to this trend is Africa, but more on that below.

The term “total fertility rate” is defined as the number of children a woman is expected to have over the course of her life. Immigration aside, the total fertility rate needs to be at least 2.1 to maintain the present population and yet it is well below that level in all of the countries shown in the chart, with the exception of Indonesia, where it is right on that threshold but projected to fall below it very soon.

Why are fertility rates dropping so fast? The most important factor is the empowerment of women. As they became more educated and major bread-winners, they are less likely to bear children. For one thing, more children means less money available to save for one's own retirement and hence less retirement security.

In the poorest African countries, a different dynamic is still at work. There, children are the main source of retirement security for their parents, so more of them is still deemed to be in their best interests. But even that is changing as the average fertility rate in Africa is projected to drop from the current level of four to about 2.5 by 2060.

As for the countries in the chart, fertility rates are generally projected to remain low over at least the next 20 years. FREDERICK VETTESE

A pop quiz on a stock mania that may leave you feeling queasy

If the market landscape is looking awfully familiar right now, that's because it is

GEORGE ATHANASSAKOS

OPINION

Professor of finance and holds the Ben Graham Chair in Value Investing at the Ivey Business School, Western Ontario. His latest book is titled Value Investing: From Theory to Practice.

I would like to read you a passage from an excellent book that I recently read and guess the time-period that this passage is referring to.

Here it is:

"The market displayed every classic symptom of a mania: the progressive narrowing in the number of stocks going up, the nationwide fascination with the activities of Wall Street, the faddish invocations of a new era, the suspension of every conventional standard of financial rationality, and the rabble enlistment of an army of amateur and ill-informed speculators betting on the basis of rumors and tip sheets.

By [year redacted], one out of every ten households in the country had money invested in and were engaged with the market. Trading of stocks had become more than a national pastime – it had become and obsession .... But while the bubble lasted, it was the people who were the least informed who were the ones making the most money".

Could this be today? Let's analyze the key points discussed in the above passage, and see how it fits with the present:

The progressive narrowing in the number of stocks that are increasing. While from 1980 to present, the Dow and S&P 500 have had similar long-term growth in price terms (8.9 per cent vs. 8.91 per cent), the last five-year performance has favoured the S&P 500 (84.11 per cent vs. 64.13 per cent), as the S&P 500 has broader exposure to technology stocks. In fact, the so-called Magnificent Seven have accounted for 34 per cent of the S&P 500's value in recent months.

true that artificial intelligence is revolutionizing industries and driving innovation. AI may shape the next era. And frontier technologies have led some to claim these technologies will sustain a Fourth Industrial Revolution. But a lot of this is still a conjecture. Prior technological revolutions did not bring forth the benefits in productivity that analysts had expected. In fact, the late Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Solow famously said that the effects of the PC revolution can be seen everywhere, except in the productivity statistics. The absence of a technology-productivity link is known as the Solow Paradox.

The nationwide fascination with the activities of Wall Street. This is best reflected by the rise of the retail investors. Retail traders have steadily accounted for a growing portion of equity volume over the past decade. They now represent about 20 per cent of equity trading volume, up from 10 per cent 10 years earlier. Some statistics: 92 per cent of households in the top 10 per cent of income earners own stocks. Two-thirds of middle-income earners report owning stocks or stock funds. For the lower 50 per cent of income earners, 31 per cent of households own stocks. Even those earning less than \$40,000, have a significant exposure (25 per cent) in the stock market.

The faddish invocations of a new era. The semiconductor industry has been on a tear in 2026, with the PHLX Semiconductor Index up 77 per cent year-to-date as of Sept. 28, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF is up 90.5 per cent, on the back of a wave of enthusiasm around demand for the chips needed to power AI. And the recent news on Meta's new artificial intelligence agent fuelled a renewed frenzy for shares of companies that produce CPUs, which are necessary to power agentic AI. It is

The suspension of every conventional standard of financial rationality. No matter how overvalued a stock is, an analyst can always be found to say it is undervalued relative to another more overvalued stock. For example, one analyst set a price target for SpaceX of US\$800, which represents an upside of 482 per cent of its current price. Cathie Wood, chief investment officer at ARK Invest, has argued that SpaceX looks like a deep value opportunity. Ms. Wood's valuation relies on two variables: how many Starship flights per year SpaceX can achieve, and how much revenue each flight can support once Starship is fully reusable. Ms. Wood extrapolated from comments CEO Elon Musk made about launch occurrences and payload targets to arrive at a highly speculative annual revenue number large enough to make today's price look cheap.

The rabble enlistment of an army of amateur and ill-informed speculators betting on the basis of rumours and tip sheets. Assets without cash flows, such as meme stocks, are commanding astronomical valuations. They have been driven by retail and amateur investors with the desire to “beat” hedge funds at their own game by targeting heavily shorted stocks. For them, trading has become a social act rather than a financial one. But this is not a substitute for actual analysis. Bitcoin is also another asset without cash flows commanding astronomical valuations. While bitcoin has historically delivered substantial gains, naively extrapolating such performance is highly speculative. But the potential for a significant rise in its value continues to attract investors who are after speculative opportunities in a market evolving in a rapid way.

But while the bubble lasted, it was the people who were the least informed who were the ones making the most money. Retail investors are buying the dips on the assumption that, regardless of whatever adverse developments might be affecting markets at the moment, the S&P 500 will invariably be higher in the future. And they are using margin debt, which has risen sharply since 2024 more than doubling from around US\$700-billion in 2023 to US\$1.5-trillion in June, 2026. In just one year between August, 2025, and August, 2026, margin debt shot up by 37 per cent. Options trading volume, also driven by retail investors, is near the highest it's ever been and is trending higher. Such strategies have worked fabulously for them so far.

Now for the answer.

You can be forgiven for thinking the passage I started this column with is from this year, or maybe last.

But guess again.

It is from 1929, the start of the Great Depression. And appears on page 309 of Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed.

So, watch out, and have a backup plan.

I'm grocery shopping more often, and wasting less food

DAVID BERMAN

OPINION

I'm very excited to announce a tried-and-true method for reducing my grocery bill: Buy less. I know how that sounds, but hear me out.

After writing last month about why I look at best before dates as a loose guideline on when to consume food, I received a mountain of mostly positive feedback from readers.

One put it better than I did: "They're best before dates, not dangerous after dates. I trust my nose."

Other readers had to one-up me on their tales of how far past those dates they are willing to go.

Still others admonished me for writing on something that is obvious to them. And some readers saw the environmental benefits of reducing waste as more important than the financial savings.

Whatever your take, I thank you for it.

But one bit of advice really resonated with me: You can cut down on waste – and reduce your overall grocery expenses – if you put less food in your shopping cart.

No one is preaching starvation here. Rather, instead of buying a ton of food to last you the entire week, or longer, think about what you need for the next two to three days. Repeat two or three times a week.

This approach has been working like a charm for me.

I don't enjoy grocery shopping because I am easily overwhelmed by the aisles and aisles of possibilities. Lists help, but I grow irritable trying to track down every caper and anchovy.

With just three dinners to contemplate, plus extras for breakfasts and lunches, I don't tend to get bogged down. Making precision strikes is far less onerous than trying to buy everything all at once.

More importantly, if you're consuming food within a few days, there is significantly less risk that fresh produce will go bad before you get to it. Like, zero chance.

This is absolutely the case in my household. Everyone here can agree on what we would like to eat now. But in a week, our appetites can change dramatically.

So can my willingness to cook. That ambitious Julia Child recipe might have looked like a good idea on Monday. But come Friday evening, beer in hand, the recipe can look like an assignment.

An embarrassing amount of food gets wasted this way.

With this approach to smaller hauls – a tweak on the “just in time delivery” inventory management strategy that U.S. companies adopted from Japan in the 1980s – food isn’t sitting around for long. And recipes remain inspiring.

On top of the financial savings, I think we're also eating better. And some readers pointed out that this approach means that sale-price items on, say, beef or chicken, are fair game.

Okay, there are some drawbacks.

We are fortunate to have five grocery stores within a quick walk or drive. If I had to travel far, perhaps in a rural area, I wouldn't want to go shopping two to three times a week.

It also entails taking a weekly chore and multiplying it. I prefer the trade-off – less time spent each time I visit a store – but I can understand why efficiency mavens might tsk-tsk this approach.

MATTEL SHARES SLIP AS INVESTOR

ARIEL INVESTMENTS URGES STRATEGIC REVIEW

Mattel Inc.'s shares fell about 3 per cent on Tuesday after investor Ariel Investments urged the toymaker to explore strategic alternatives, including a sale, merger or major asset divestiture.

The move adds to mounting pressure on Mattel, which last week announced the departure of chief executive Yvon Kreiz, with the company since attracting fresh takeover interest.

Ariel, which owns a 5.4-percent stake, said in a letter that Mattel's shares remain significantly undervalued and that its portfolio could appeal to other toy companies, entertainment companies and private equity firms.

Last week, Authentic Brands, whose portfolio includes Reebok, Brooks Brothers and

Guess, approached Mattel about a potential acquisition valuing the company at about US\$6-billion or more, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

This is the second time this year an investor has pushed for a strategic review. In May, investor Southeastern Asset Management urged the company to evaluate options including going private or pursuing a sale to Hasbro or a media company.

Mattel, which has faced pressure from weakening toy demand and higher tariff-related costs in recent years, said it would “consider the views expressed in Ariel Investments’ letter” while “acting in the best interests of all shareholders.”

REUTERS

This new ETF will reward you handsomely

The psychologically important target suddenly doesn't seem so far away

JAMIE McGEEVER ORLANDO, FLA.

-s it too early to start ordering “S&P 10,000” caps?

Maybe, but not by much. The S&P 500 index has skyrocketed in recent years, powered by an historic artificial intelligence spending boom, enormous fiscal stimulus injections, and still-loose financial conditions. It could cross 8,000 points in a matter of days. Once that benchmark goes, the psychologically important 10,000 target suddenly doesn't seem so far away.

How long it will take to get there is anyone's guess. But Roundhill Investments, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) firm, is attempting to narrow it down to a specific day. Roundhill, whose assets under management are currently just under US\$40-billion, has just launched its "XX S&P 500 Target 10,000 2030" ETF (XX-A), which will invest all of its assets in long-dated call options that will pay investors "substantial" gains if the benchmark index is above the 10,000 level on Jan. 10, 2030.

Ed Yardeni, president of Yardeni Research, has long held that 10,000 will be reached by the end of this decade.

He recently turned more cautious on the near-term outlook, pushing back his S&P 500 target of 8,400 from year-end 2026 to mid-2027, but he is standing by his “10,000 by end of the decade” call.

These target dates are just over three years away. Is that enough time for the index to rise roughly 30 per cent? It is ambitious, but certainly not impossible, especially if the third quarter corporate earnings season, which gets under way this week, is anywhere near as strong as the last one.

While “S&P 10,000” may still sound slightly fanciful, it’s far easier to envisage than “Dow 40,000” was in June 1999, when investor David Elias published his now-famous book Dow 40,000: Strategies for Profiting from the Greatest Bull Market in History.

At the time of publication, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was around 11,000 points and in the latter stages of the internet-boom-fueled rally that had seen the index treble in the previous six years. Mr. Elias predicted it would reach the historic 40,000 milestone by 2016.

He was off by eight years.

The Dow hit its dotcom peak of 11,750 points in January, 2000, before crashing. It did not revisit those levels for nearly seven years.

As for 40,000? The Dow did hit that mark, but financial TV anchors and traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange had to wait until 2024 to finally dust off and don their “Dow 40,000” caps. Mr. Elias was right about the number, but in markets, being that late is the same as being wrong.

So what about today's bull market? The root of Mr. Yardeni's and others' confidence can be summed up in one word: earnings. U.S. corporate profits grew by more than 50 per cent in the second quarter, and are expected to grow by more than 35 per cent in the third.

REUTERS

S&P 500 closes at record high as Treasury yields ease

US and Canadian stocks ended higher on Tuesday as crude prices steadied and US Treasury yields eased, offering some reprieve from concerns that have preoccupied investors in recent weeks, and allowing markets to turn their attention to the approaching third-quarter reporting season.

The broad rally pushed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to all-time closing highs.

The blue-chip Dow remains just over 5 per cent shy of its record closing level reached on Aug 5. The S&P/TSX Composite Index is about 3.7 per cent below its own record high reached on Aug. 26.

The AI trade is very much alive, with the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index gaining ground. Expenditures on AI-related infrastructure were reflected in international trade data.

On monthly and annual bases, imports have grown by 4.3 per cent and 28.4 per cent, respectively, reflecting robust domestic demand that could exacerbate inflation pressures, particularly amid war-related supply constraints.

Even so, financial markets are currently pricing in a diminishing probability of 19.4 per cent that the US Federal Reserve will implement its second consecutive rate hike at this month's monetary policy meeting, down from 50.9 per cent a week ago, according to CME's FedWatch tool.

sponsive to oil prices, which have surged amid the Iran war, threatening to morph into broader price pressures. But supply worries eased after the Group of Seven countries reached an agreement to release emergency diesel and crude stockpiles, helping to stabilize front-month WTI and Brent crude futures.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 253.14 points, or 0.49 per cent, to 51,521.04, the S&P 500 gained 45.00 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 7,818.95 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 122.48 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 27,599.79.

The TSX ended up 130.96 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 35,649.51, its highest closing level since Sept. 25. The U.S. 10-year Treasury was trading down about 3 basis points by late afternoon to 5.284 per cent. Lower bond yields tend to increase the attractiveness of high-dividend paying utilities stocks, with the sector in Toronto rising 1.3 per cent.

The TSX materials sector added 0.4 per cent as the price of gold recovered from an earlier two-month low to increase 0.7 per cent.

US crude oil futures settled up 1 cent at US\$89.44 a barrel after earlier touching a five-week low at US\$86.86. The energy sector in Toronto fell 0.6 per cent, while industrials were down 0.7 per cent as railroad shares lost ground.

Fed rate hike bets have been re-Reuters, GLOBE STAFF

How Global is your global equity ETF?

IAN TAM, CFA

NUMBER CRUNCHER

CFA and director of investment research for Morningstar Canada

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The largest Canadian-listed global equity ETFs and their regional exposures.

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THE SCREEN

The rise of artificial intelligence has done more than reshape the technology landscape. It has fundamentally altered the makeup of many investment portfolios. A handful of large U.S. technology companies have delivered extraordinary returns in recent years, helping propel American equity markets to new highs and driving a significant portion of global stock market performance.

For investors, this has sparked an interesting debate. On one side are those who argue that market leadership has become increasingly concentrated, with a relatively small number of companies accounting for an outsized share of returns. They worry that portfolios marketed as “globally diversified” may, in practice, be more dependent on the fortunes of a handful of U.S. companies than many realize. For these investors, broader geographic diversification remains an important tool for reducing reliance on any one market, country, or group of companies.

On the other side are investors who question whether international diversification is still worth pursuing at all. After all, U.S. equities have dominated returns for much of the past decade, while many international markets have struggled to keep pace. Some point out that many of the world's most influential businesses are headquartered in the United States and derive revenue from around the globe. From that perspective, owning U.S. companies may already provide a degree of international exposure without requiring dedicated allocations to overseas markets.

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How global?

Neither argument is inherently right or wrong. Market leadership has historically rotated across regions, often in ways that are difficult to predict. At the same time, recent performance has reinforced the appeal of maintaining significant U.S. exposure.

With that backdrop, I used Morningstar Direct to screen and display regional allocations for the 20 largest Canadian-listed ETFs in the global equity category; those that likely appear in many investors' portfolios. While investors may view these funds as broadly similar, a closer look reveals meaningful differences in geographic allocations. Some lean heavily toward the United States, while others spread assets more evenly across Canada, and international developed markets.

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WHAT WE FOUND

The 20 largest global equity ETFs are listed in the table accompanying this article alongside tickers, management expense ratios, fund size, trailing returns, and regional allocations. It is worthwhile nothing that though no screens were applied for Morningstar ratings, many of these large ETFs are well-rated by Morningstar both on a trailing basis (Morningstar Rating for Funds or “Star Rating”) as well as on a forward-looking basis (Morningstar Medalist Ratings). The results highlight that while many funds share the label “global,” the definition of global can vary considerably from one portfolio to the next. Understanding those differences may help investors better align their portfolios with their own views on diversification, concentration risk, and the role of U.S. markets in driving future returns.

This article does not constitute financial advice, investors are encouraged to conduct their own independent research before buying or selling any ETF listed here. | FUND LEGAL NAME | TICKER | ACTIVE/ PASSIVE/ STRATEGIC BETA | MER (%) | FUND SIZE CAD | MORNINGSTAR RATING FOR FUNDS | MORNINGSTAR MEDALIST RATING | Total Return (%) | Total Return Annualized (%) | INCEPTION DATE | CANADIAN EQUITY (%) | U.S. EQUITY (%) | INT'L EQUITY (%) | CASH (%) | OTHER (%) | YTD | 1 YR | 3 YR | 5 YR | 10 YR | iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio | XEQT-T | Active | 0.20 | 22.9B | 5 Stars | Silver | 15.9 | 19.6 | 23.6 | 13.7 | 8/7/2019 | 24.5 | 46.1 | 28.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | Vanguard All-Equity ETF Portfolio | VEQT-T | Active | 0.22 | 17.5B | 5 Stars | Gold | 15.8 | 18.9 | 23.6 | 13.8 | 1/29/2019 | 30.1 | 45.0 | 24.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | Fidelity All-in-One Equity ETF | FEQT-N | Active | 0.43 | 8.0B | 5 Stars | Silver | 14.4 | 17.7 | 24.5 | 1/20/2022 | 23.1 | 49.0 | 24.1 | 0.3 | 3.4 | iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF | XAW-T | Passive | 0.22 | 4.7B | 5 Stars | Gold | 17.3 | 19.5 | 23.0 | 13.5 | 13.0 | 2/10/2015 | 0.0 | 64.6 | 34.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ex Canada Index ETF | VXC-T | Passive | 0.22 | 3.6B | 5 Stars | Gold | 16.8 | 19.1 | 22.9 | 13.2 | 12.8 | 6/30/2014 | 0.0 | 63.2 | 35.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | Fidelity Global Innovators ETF | FINN-N | Active | 1.09 | 3.0B | 5 Stars | Gold | 46.9 | 45.1 | 47.3 | 5/19/2023 | 6.6 | 81.5 | 9.7 | 2.2 | 0.0 | TD Active Global Enhanced Dividend ETF | TGED-T | Active | 0.71 | 1.9B | 4 Stars | Gold | 15.9 | 14.2 | 25.0 | 15.1 | 5/3/2019 | 3.7 | 73.5 | 23.1 | 0.1 | -0.3 | iShares MSCI World Index ETF | XWD-T | Passive | 0.48 | 1.8B | 5 Stars | Gold | 15.8 | 18.0 | 23.0 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 6/18/2009 | 3.4 | 72.4 | 23.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | TD Q Global Multifactor ETF | TQGM-T | Active | 0.45 | 1.5B | 5 Stars | Neutral | 17.9 | 20.2 | 23.4 | 13.5 | 11/19/2019 | 6.8 | 53.8 | 39.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | * BMO MSCI All Country World High Quality Index ETF | ZGQ-T | Strategic Beta | 0.50 | 1.3B | 5 Stars | Bronze | 17.9 | 22.0 | 23.2 | 14.2 | 15.3 | 11/5/2014 | 0.3 | 71.0 | 28.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | CI Global Artificial Intelligence Fund | CIAI-T | Active | 0.64 | 1.2B | Not Yet Rated | Silver | 32.2 | 31.6 | 5/2/2024 | 1.5 | 84.2 | 10.1 | 4.2 | 0.0 | BMO All-Equity ETF | ZEQT-T | Active | 0.20 | 1.2B | 5 Stars | Silver | 16.4 | 20.0 | 23.6 | 1/24/2022 | 25.1 | 49.5 | 25.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | Dynamic Active Global Dividend ETF | DXG-T | Active | 0.83 | 0.9B | 3 Stars | Silver | 16.5 | 18.0 | 25.6 | 12.4 | 1/20/2017 | 0.0 | 77.4 | 21.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | Vanguard Global Value Factor ETF | VVL-T | Active | 0.38 | 0.9B | 5 Stars | Gold | 19.3 | 24.7 | 22.6 | 15.4 | 12.5 | 6/14/2016 | 3.1 | 69.6 | 27.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | Mackenzie GQE Global Equity ETF | MGQE-T | Active | 0.89 | 0.8B | Not Yet Rated | Gold | 21.1 | 25.6 | 9/10/2024 | 5.1 | 69.9 | 22.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | Fidelity Sustainable World ETF | FCSW-N | Active | 0.61 | 0.5B | 5 Stars | Gold | 19.6 | 23.7 | 26.6 | 15.6 | 5/31/2019 | 2.0 | 62.2 | 35.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | ** Wealthsimple Shariah World Equity Index ETF | WSHR-N | Strategic Beta | 0.56 | 0.5B | 2 Stars | Neutral | 10.6 | 10.4 | 11.9 | 6.7 | 5/12/2021 | 6.8 | 40.5 | 52.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | Vanguard Global Momentum Factor ETF | VMO-T | Active | 0.38 | 0.5B | 5 Stars | Gold | 22.0 | 23.9 | 30.4 | 16.1 | 14.6 | 6/14/2016 | 3.0 | 70.0 | 27.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | Desjardins RI Global Multifactor Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF | DRFG-T | Active | 0.58 | 0.5B | 5 Stars | Gold | 16.1 | 21.2 | 25.4 | 13.9 | 3/7/2019 | 1.6 | 58.8 | 39.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | Mackenzie GQE World Low Volatility ETF | MWLV-T | Active | 0.56 | 0.4B | Not Yet Rated | Neutral | 8.7 | 8.0 | 2/20/2024 | 5.4 | 64.6 | 27.1 | 2.8 | 0.0 | Source: Morningstar Direct NB: Not Yet Rated indicates the fund has not yet reached a 3Y performance history. \* - Quality; \*\* - MultiFactor

EYE ON EQUITIES DAVID LEEDER

SOURCE: BARCHART

ARITZIA (ATZ-T)

CLOSE \$121.24, DOWN \$3.50

CENOVUS ENERGY (CVE-T)

CLOSE \$44.46, DOWN 0.40¢

ATHABASCA OIL (ATH-T)

CLOSE \$12.23, UP 0.22¢

National Bank Financial analyst Travis Wood sees the valuation implied by Cenovus Energy Inc.'s friendly, \$5.7-billion takeover offer for Athabasca Oil Corp. sitting "at the upper end of recent transaction metrics (highest on our records), though this is broadly consistent with the company's purchase of MEG when viewed through a longer-term lens."

Target: Maintaining his “outperform” rating for Cenovus shares, Mr. Wood reduced his target to \$57 from \$60. Consensus is \$52.50.

TD Cowen analyst Menno Hulshof thinks Cenovus' offer for Athabasca Oil Corp. represents an "attractive" valuation, "making a competing bid unlikely." Accordingly, he moved his recommendation for Athabasca shares to "tender" from "hold" previously, recommending shareholders "put the proceeds to work elsewhere."

Target: His target moved to \$12 from \$11 to reflect the deal. Consensus is \$13.

TFI INTERNATIONAL (TFII-N)

CLOSE US\$161.80, DOWN US\$2.01

GUNNISON COPPER (GCU-T)

CLOSE 46¢, UNCHANGED

While acknowledging trucking volumes in North America “have yet to experience a material positive inflection,” National Bank Financial’s Cameron Doerksen thinks the “industry capacity rationalization story remains intact, which should support pricing tailwinds in the coming quarters.”

Target: In a preview of the third-quarter earnings for TFI International Inc., he lowered his target for its shares to US\$148 from US\$161, maintaining an “outperform” rating. Consensus is US\$168.40.

Ahead of the release of its second-quarter fiscal 2027 results on Thursday, Desjardins Securities analyst Chris Li says Aritzia Inc.'s "operational excellence continues to shine through macro clouds." "We expect ATZ to deliver another strong quarter with robust comp sales growth and margin expansion," he said. Target: While he made modest reductions to his fiscal 2028 forecast, Mr. Li kept a "buy" rating and \$180 target. Consensus is \$179.60.

Ventum Capital Markets analyst Robin Kozar thinks Gunnison Copper Corp.'s pre-clearance for a proposed NYSE American listing broadens its access to U.S. investors and "further aligns the Company with U.S. policy tailwinds promoting a domestic critical minerals supply chain." Target: He reaffirmed his "buy" rating and \$1 target for the Phoenix-based company's shares. Consensus is \$130.

S&P/TSX COMPOSITE INDEX

PAST 12 MONTHS

TSX INDEXES AND SUB INDEXES

S&P 500

PAST 12 MONTHS

TSX VOLUME

TOP 20 FOR STOCKS \$1 OR MORE | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | TSX COMPOSITE IND | 35649.51 | 130.96 | 0.37 | 273539 | 12.41 | TSX 60 INDEX | 2099.06 | 8.88 | 0.42 | 123360 | 12.85 | TSX COMPLETION IN | 2301.70 | 3.21 | 0.14 | 150179 | 10.68 | TSX SMALLCAP INDE | 1437.53 | -0.82 | -0.06 | 96604 | 20.14 | TSX VENTURE COMPO | 890.12 | 11.54 | 1.31 | 41206 | -9.88 | TSX CONSUMER DISC | 382.82 | 2.47 | 0.65 | 4126 | 0.06 | TSX CONSUMER STAP | 1217.73 | -4.59 | -0.38 | 5140 | -1.65 | TSX ENERGY CAPPED | 446.01 | -2.88 | -0.64 | 68669 | 48.46 | TSX FINANCIALS CA | 734.70 | 2.18 | 0.30 | 35810 | 17.08 | TSX HEALTH CARE C | 21.71 | -0.12 | -0.55 | 3536 | -0.87 | TSX INDUSTRIALS C | 492.50 | -3.29 | -0.66 | 16993 | 5.46 | TSX INFORMATION T | 351.44 | 1.63 | 0.47 | 10676 | 7.61 | TSX MATERIALS CAP | 829.72 | 3.58 | 0.43 | 59558 | 10.68 | TSX REAL ESTATE C | 291.20 | 0.88 | 0.30 | 7232 | -7.96 | TSX GLOBAL GOLD I | 890.44 | 6.26 | 0.71 | 92936 | 8.90 | TSX GLOBAL MINING | 245.78 | 1.14 | 0.47 | 263011 | 17.13 | TSX INCOME TRUST | 227.77 | 3.14 | 1.40 | 8738 | 3.42 | TSX PREFERRED SHA | 696.67 | 0.21 | 0.03 | 2087 | 0.06 | TSX COMMUNICATION | 134.08 | 1.42 | 1.07 | 15939 | -14.52 | TSX UTILITIES CAP | 382.87 | 4.83 | 1.28 | 24526 | 8.68 | TSX 52-WEEK HIGHS

STOCKS \$1 OR MORE | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | ATH ATHABASCA OIL | 12.23 | 0.22 | 1.83 | 19544 | 73.97 | TD TORONTO-DOMINI | 168.06 | 0.84 | 0.50 | 12320 | 29.92 | CNO CDN NATURAL R | 68.48 | -0.45 | -0.65 | 11437 | 47.30 | CVE CENOVUS ENERG | 44.46 | -0.40 | -0.89 | 6788 | 91.47 | T TELLUS CORPORATI | 11.19 | -0.06 | -0.53 | 6745 | -38.14 | SU SUNCOR ENERGY | 97.05 | -0.94 | -0.96 | 6034 | 59.31 | AQN ALGONQUIN POW | 7.21 | -0.03 | -0.41 | 5952 | -14.57 | DML DENISON MINES | 3.87 | 0.12 | 3.20 | 5775 | 6.32 | TLG TROILUS MININ | 1.86 | 0.07 | 3.91 | 5610 | 18.47 | BCE BCE INC. | 28.03 | -0.12 | -0.43 | 5222 | -14.39 | BB BLACKBERRY LIM | 13.65 | 0.71 | 5.49 | 5120 | 163.51 | XQQ ISHARES NASDA | 75.83 | 0.41 | 0.54 | 4515 | 21.74 | WCP WHITECAP RESO | 18.22 | -0.05 | -0.27 | 4430 | 58.43 | K KINROSS GOLD CO | 33.88 | 0.24 | 0.71 | 4314 | -12.36 | ABX BARRICK MININ | 57.95 | 0.89 | 1.56 | 4220 | -3.08 | MFC MANULIFE FIN | 61.04 | -0.25 | -0.41 | 4104 | 22.47 | TRP TC ENERGY COR | 85.57 | 0.76 | 0.90 | 4083 | 13.22 | DSV DISCOVERY MIN | 11.82 | -0.38 | -3.11 | 4042 | 41.05 | EMA EMERA INCORPO | 66.31 | -1.99 | -2.91 | 3895 | -1.97 | AC AIR CANADA | 25.78 | -0.13 | -0.50 | 3791 | 33.64 | S&P GLOBAL 100 INDEX

PAST 12 MONTHS

TSX GAINERS

TOP 20 FOR STOCKS \$1 OR MORE | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | CEGS CONSTELLATIO | 20.41 | 2.19 | 12.02 | 174 | -17.67 | XNDU XANADU QUANT | 7.21 | 0.76 | 11.78 | 1976 | -55.02 | CCOU SAVVYLONG 2X | 17.59 | 1.83 | 11.61 | 3 | -17.34 | ISO ISOENERGY LTD | 14.79 | 1.28 | 9.47 | 395 | 18.41 | ACO-X ATCO LTD. C | 81.02 | 6.84 | 9.22 | 1795 | 43.70 | VOXR VOX ROYALTY | 7.45 | 0.48 | 6.89 | 15 | 12.54 | ANRG ANAERGIA INC | 2.39 | 0.15 | 6.70 | 378 | 5.75 | HAI HAVISION SYS | 4.28 | 0.26 | 6.47 | 74 | -18.32 | FDN FIRST TRUST D | 34.21 | 2.03 | 6.31 | 1 | 13.39 | CCHI NINEPOINT CA | 10.09 | 0.59 | 6.21 | 134 | -12.26 | CCOE HARVEST CAME | 12.21 | 0.70 | 6.08 | 63 | -15.73 | CCO CAMECO CORP | 132.27 | 7.46 | 5.98 | 1348 | 5.24 | CLCH CLINCH RESOU | 1.08 | 0.06 | 5.88 | 70 | -56.80 | PWRS QUANTA SERVI | 27.00 | 1.50 | 5.88 | 1 | -6.38 | SLT SALTIRE CAPIT | 2.70 | 0.15 | 5.88 | -60.29 | MRV MARVELL TECHN | 46.42 | 2.55 | 5.81 | 689 | 76.50 | AMDU SAVVYLONG 2X | 29.55 | 1.55 | 5.54 | 19 | 36.81 | BB BLACKBERRY LIM | 13.65 | 0.71 | 5.49 | 5120 | 163.51 | WFC WALL FINANCIA | 22.35 | 1.16 | 5.47 | 1 | 41.90 | PCA PHOENIX METAL | 1.16 | 0.06 | 5.45 | 240 | -7.20 | TSX LOSERS

TOP 20 FOR STOCKS \$1 OR MORE | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | SXP SUPREMEX INC. | 3.06 | -0.45 | -12.82 | 88 | -16.62 | DND DYE AND DURHA | 1.19 | -0.15 | -11.19 | 765 | -71.46 | WDC WESTERN DIGIT | 25.04 | -1.75 | -6.53 | 588 | -11.17 | WEF WESTERN FORES | 15.70 | -1.09 | -6.49 | 34 | 42.86 | MSCL SATELLOS BIO | 10.77 | -0.73 | -6.35 | 13 | 35.98 | XMF-A M SPLIT COR | 1.56 | -0.10 | -6.02 | 79.31 | ELO ELORO RESOURC | 1.62 | -0.10 | -5.81 | 251 | -42.35 | IFP INTERFOR CORP | 13.14 | -0.71 | -5.13 | 230 | 53.50 | PDI PDI GOLD LIMI | 4.53 | -0.24 | -5.03 | 62 | -21.90 | CGMD MEGASHORT -3 | 5.71 | -0.29 | -4.83 | 19 | -72.42 | SHPD SAVVYSHORT - | 4.57 | -0.22 | -4.59 | 26 | -62.45 | LOVE CANNARA BIOT | 2.10 | -0.10 | -4.55 | 48 | 20.69 | CPF CANFOR CORP | 14.42 | -0.68 | -4.50 | 415 | 22.93 | KLAC KLA CDR (CAD | 26.67 | -1.25 | -4.48 | 96 | 11.45 | CSUU SAVVYLONG 2X | 9.10 | -0.42 | -4.41 | 5 | -40.64 | SCHN SCHNEIDER EL | 25.61 | -1.16 | -4.33 | 7 | 12.13 | BDI BLACK DIAMOND | 20.64 | -0.93 | -4.31 | 555 | 40.79 | WFG WEST FRASER T | 89.94 | -3.99 | -4.25 | 337 | 7.11 | RFA RFA FINANCIAL | 23.75 | -1.05 | -4.23 | 39 | -20.17 | DRAM GLOBAL X ART | 20.48 | -0.90 | -4.21 | 29 | -4.21 | DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE

PAST 12 MONTHS | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | MGEG MACKENZIE GL | 20.26 | -0.03 | -0.15 | 1 | 1.25 | MMEA MACKENZIE MO | 20.23 | 0.05 | 0.25 | 1 | 1.05 | QQQU MEGALONG 3X | 50.98 | 0.54 | 1.07 | 12 | 61.89 | MSA MINEROS SA | 10.39 | 0.23 | 2.26 | 138 | 84.88 | NVDA NVIDIA CDR ( | 53.25 | 0.05 | 0.09 | 746 | 25.83 | ORE OREZONE GOLD | 3.34 | 0.15 | 4.70 | 1543 | 88.70 | PANW PALO ALTO NE | 49.15 | 1.53 | 3.21 | 27 | 123.82 | AMDU SAVVYLONG 2X | 29.55 | 1.55 | 5.54 | 19 | 36.81 | SGR-U SLATE GROCE | 12.75 | 0.21 | 1.67 | 230 | 13.03 | SIH-UN SUSTAINABL | 17.75 | 0.20 | 1.14 | 31.87 | TMO THERMO FISHER | 23.37 | -0.70 | -2.91 | 35 | 10.55 | WJX WAJAX CORPORA | 39.60 | 1.04 | 2.70 | 170 | 45.37 | WFC WALL FINANCIA | 22.35 | 1.16 | 5.47 | 1 | 41.90 |

LARGEST STOCKS BY MARKET CAPITALIZATION

TSX 52-WEEK LOWS

STOCKS \$1 OR MORE | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | IGBT-UN 2028 INVE | 10.37 | -0.16 | -1.52 | 3 | -3.62 | AP-UN ALLIED PROP | 6.13 | 0.09 | 1.49 | 1935 | -54.15 | BCE BCE INC. | 28.03 | -0.12 | -0.43 | 5222 | -14.39 | BYD BOYD GROUP SE | 109.61 | -2.44 | -2.18 | 103 | -49.87 | BGI-UN BROOKFIELD | 5.67 | -0.11 | -1.90 | 17 | -28.68 | BTB-UN BTB REIT U | 3.59 | -0.01 | -0.28 | 71 | -12.22 | CM-PR-S CIBC PREF | 25.51 | -0.08 | -0.31 | 139 | -1.70 | CADY CADILLAC MIN | 5.73 | -0.09 | -1.55 | 135 | -19.07 | CU-PR-E CANADIAN | 20.84 | 0.07 | 0.34 | 8 | -6.51 | CU-PR-H CANADIAN | 22.46 | 0.05 | 0.22 | 1 | -7.61 | CPX-PR-C CAPITAL | 24.95 | -0.38 | -1.50 | 286 | -5.28 | CCS-PR-C CO-OPERA | 21.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -6.14 | CGO COGECO INC. S | 48.23 | 0.56 | 1.17 | 57 | -24.63 | EFN ELEMENT FLEET | 22.14 | -0.18 | -0.81 | 1737 | -38.59 | FC FIRM CAPITAL M | 10.95 | -0.16 | -1.44 | 97 | -6.57 | FTS-PR-J FORTIS I | 20.79 | 0.11 | 0.53 | 3 | -8.90 | FTS-PR-F FORTIS I | 21.31 | 0.15 | 0.71 | 1 | -11.39 | GDL GOODFELLOW IN | 11.21 | 0.28 | 2.56 | 3 | -6.11 | GWO-PR-T GREAT WE | 21.81 | -0.11 | -0.50 | -6.68 | INTE HARVEST INTE | 11.83 | -0.42 | -3.43 | 11 | -5.81 | ETFS

STOCKS \$1 OR MORE | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | SQQQ BETAPRO -3X | 6.28 | -0.10 | -1.57 | 661 | -52.21 | TQQQ BETAPRO 3X N | 42.59 | 0.61 | 1.45 | 361 | 55.55 | VEQT VANGUARD ALL | 63.02 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 417 | 17.33 | XEG ISHARES SP TS | 28.47 | -0.22 | -0.77 | 1745 | 48.13 | XEQT ISHARES CORE | 46.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 700 | 15.82 | XIC ISHARES CORE | 56.89 | 0.20 | 0.35 | 359 | 12.54 | XIU ISHARES SP TS | 53.04 | 0.21 | 0.40 | 3685 | 12.88 | XQQ ISHARES NASDA | 75.83 | 0.41 | 0.54 | 4515 | 21.74 | XUT ISHARES SP TS | 34.63 | 0.42 | 1.23 | 836 | 8.52 | ZAG BMO AGGREGATE | 13.39 | 0.03 | 0.22 | 483 | -2.83 | ZEB BMO EQUAL WEI | 73.46 | 0.42 | 0.58 | 1677 | 26.00 | ZWU BMO COVERED C | 10.97 | 0.15 | 1.39 | 423 | -0.90 | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | HRMS HERMES CDR ( | 14.55 | -0.05 | -0.34 | -40.00 | IFC INTACT FINANC | 239.33 | -1.97 | -0.82 | 595 | -16.24 | MFC-PR-B MANULIFE | 20.64 | -0.06 | -0.29 | 12 | -7.11 | QQQD MEGASHORT -3 | 5.93 | -0.12 | -1.98 | 5 | -50.83 | NFGC NEW FOUND GO | 2.26 | 0.02 | 0.89 | 285 | -13.08 | NXR-UN NEXUS INDU | 7.13 | 0.10 | 1.42 | 168 | -9.75 | NOU NOUVEAU MOND | 1.63 | -0.03 | -1.81 | 166 | -51.34 | PVS-PR-M PARTNERS | 25.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | -2.90 | RS REAL ESTATE SP | 8.58 | -0.03 | -0.35 | 23 | -5.92 | RCI-A ROGERS COMM | 44.58 | 0.58 | 1.32 | -15.89 | RCI-B ROGERS COMM | 43.38 | 0.08 | 0.18 | 2195 | -16.27 | NVDD SAVVYSHORT - | 8.15 | -0.06 | -0.73 | 15 | -53.80 | SHPD SAVVYSHORT - | 4.57 | -0.22 | -4.59 | 26 | -62.45 | SJ STELLA JONES I | 64.88 | -0.78 | -1.19 | 128 | -23.79 | SLF-PR-C SUNLIFE | 20.05 | 0.20 | 1.01 | 7 | -8.32 | SXP SUPREMEX INC. | 3.06 | -0.45 | -12.82 | 88 | -16.62 | SYZ SYLOGIST LTD | 2.47 | -0.04 | -1.59 | 7 | -57.19 | T TELUS CORPORATI | 11.19 | -0.06 | -0.53 | 6745 | -38.14 | TNT-UN TRUE NORTH | 7.55 | -0.02 | -0.26 | 22 | -14.79 | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | BANK EVOLVE CDN B | 11.06 | 0.04 | 0.36 | 380 | 14.14 | DLR-U GLOBAL X US | 10.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1380 | -0.39 | DLR GLOBAL X US D | 14.35 | -0.04 | -0.28 | 1839 | 3.09 | GDXD BETAPRO CDN | 8.44 | -0.16 | -1.86 | 495 | -48.35 | GDXU BETAPRO CDN | 32.60 | 0.53 | 1.65 | 444 | -11.96 | HHIS HARVEST DIVE | 11.97 | 0.06 | 0.50 | 1009 | -2.21 | HND BETAPRO NAT G | 21.84 | -0.76 | -3.36 | 792 | -41.99 | HNU BETAPRO NAT G | 8.58 | 0.28 | 3.37 | 2668 | -47.36 | HOD BETAPRO CRUDE | 17.61 | -0.29 | -1.62 | 1555 | -87.83 | HOU BETAPRO CRUDE | 24.93 | 0.37 | 1.51 | 916 | 184.26 | MSTE HARVEST STRA | 2.91 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1428 | -32.33 | RING GLOBAL X EQL | 14.02 | -0.04 | -0.28 | 1013 | -23.47 | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | IAG IA FINANCIAL | 203.97 | 0.04 | 0.02 | 332 | 14.70 | IMG IAMGOLD CORP | 26.40 | 0.08 | 0.30 | 1094 | 16.56 | IGM IGM FINANCIAL | 83.68 | -0.42 | -0.50 | 340 | 35.38 | IMO IMPERIAL OIL | 173.91 | -2.34 | -1.33 | 1089 | 46.66 | IFC INTACT FINANC | 239.33 | -1.97 | -0.82 | 595 | -16.24 | IPCO INTERNATIONA | 34.84 | -0.64 | -1.80 | 204 | 40.31 | IVN IVANHOE MINES | 11.91 | -0.34 | -2.78 | 3012 | -23.70 | JWEL JAMIESON WEL | 45.45 | -0.03 | -0.07 | 242 | 35.07 | KNT K92 MINING IN | 27.93 | 0.39 | 1.42 | 545 | 23.09 | KEL KELT EXPLORAT | 10.85 | 0.07 | 0.65 | 854 | 41.46 | KEY KEYERA CORP | 53.02 | 0.31 | 0.59 | 1204 | 20.50 | KMP-UN KILLAM APA | 17.44 | 0.06 | 0.35 | 252 | 6.34 | KXS KINAXIS INC | 174.20 | -2.06 | -1.17 | 65 | 0.65 | K KINROSS GOLD CO | 33.88 | 0.24 | 0.71 | 4314 | -12.36 | LIF LABRADOR IRON | 23.33 | -0.19 | -0.81 | 231 | -21.89 | LB LAURENTIAN BAN | 40.31 | -0.04 | -0.10 | 106 | 0.02 | LSPD LIGHTSPEED C | 14.44 | -0.08 | -0.55 | 375 | -12.80 | LNR LINAMAR CORP | 98.52 | 1.06 | 1.09 | 106 | 18.76 | LAC LITHIUM AMERI | 3.60 | -0.02 | -0.55 | 1063 | -39.70 | L LOBLAW CO | 61.41 | -0.38 | -0.61 | 1128 | -1.03 | LUG LUNDIN GOLD I | 86.64 | 0.55 | 0.64 | 821 | -24.01 | LUN LUNDIN MINING | 34.98 | -0.12 | -0.34 | 1839 | 18.58 | MG MAGNA INTERNAT | 93.30 | 0.68 | 0.73 | 540 | 27.51 | MFC MANULIFE FIN | 61.04 | -0.25 | -0.41 | 4104 | 22.47 | MFI MAPLE LEAF FO | 24.50 | 0.02 | 0.08 | 518 | -1.72 | MDA MDA SPACE LTD | 42.91 | 0.86 | 2.05 | 762 | 61.07 | MX METHANEX CORP | 86.55 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 221 | 58.98 | MRU METRO INC | 88.98 | -0.67 | -0.75 | 574 | -9.93 | MAU MONTAGE GOLD | 17.68 | 0.01 | 0.06 | 444 | 78.95 | MTL MULLEN GROUP | 27.00 | 0.27 | 1.01 | 368 | 71.54 | NA NATIONAL BANK | 204.22 | 1.57 | 0.77 | 989 | 18.31 | NXE NEXGEN ENERGY | 13.41 | 0.47 | 3.63 | 1790 | 6.18 | NFI NFI GROUP INC | 25.03 | -0.22 | -0.87 | 115 | 61.28 | NGEX NGEX MINERAL | 24.85 | -0.13 | -0.52 | 85 | -2.93 | NPI NORTHLAND POW | 23.19 | 0.72 | 3.20 | 1972 | 29.92 | NG NOVAGOLD RES I | 9.41 | 0.01 | 0.11 | 560 | -26.48 | NTR NUTRIEN LTD | 101.35 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1111 | 19.63 | OR OR ROYALTIES I | 49.00 | -0.12 | -0.24 | 165 | 0.78 | OGC OCEANAGOLD CO | 38.08 | 0.06 | 0.16 | 755 | -2.11 | ONEX ONEX CORPORA | 104.96 | -0.71 | -0.67 | 280 | -7.08 | OTEX OPEN TEXT CO | 32.30 | 0.23 | 0.72 | 1318 | -27.74 | PAAS PAN AMERICAN | 65.34 | 0.71 | 1.10 | 629 | -8.18 | POU PARAMOUNT RES | 31.24 | 0.95 | 3.14 | 386 | 29.14 | PXT PAREX RESOURC | 27.51 | 0.19 | 0.70 | 718 | 49.11 | PPL PEMBINA PIPEL | 66.37 | 0.55 | 0.84 | 2146 | 26.93 | PPTA PERPETUA RES | 29.33 | 0.32 | 1.10 | 50 | -11.74 | PEY PEYTO EXPLORA | 23.83 | 0.25 | 1.06 | 865 | 4.93 | POW POWER CORPORA | 89.24 | 0.27 | 0.30 | 1434 | 22.33 | PSK PRAIRIESKY RO | 33.31 | 0.22 | 0.66 | 1258 | 23.23 | PBH PREMIUM BRAND | 70.51 | 0.75 | 1.08 | 260 | -30.68 | PMZ-UN PRIMARIS R | 21.69 | -0.06 | -0.28 | 376 | 39.13 | QBR-B QUEBECOR IN | 64.81 | 3.25 | 5.28 | 1126 | 25.36 | CLOSE | NET CHG | % CHG | VOL 000s | YTD %CHG | RBA RB GLOBAL INC | 115.08 | -2.42 | -2.06 | 419 | -18.56 | QSR RESTAURANT BR | 99.92 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 451 | 6.68 | RCH RICHELIEU HAR | 35.37 | -0.31 | -0.87 | 34 | -10.59 | REI-UN RIOCAN REA | 20.38 | 0.12 | 0.59 | 1259 | 8.98 | RCI-B ROGERS COMM | 43.38 | 0.08 | 0.18 | 2195 | -16.27 | RY ROYAL BANK OF | 279.19 | 1.60 | 0.58 | 3291 | 19.32 | RUS RUSSEL METALS | 90.51 | -1.38 | -1.50 | 234 | 106.64 | SAP SAPUTO INC. | 37.83 | -0.44 | -1.15 | 587 | -8.42 | SEA SEABRIDGE GOL | 39.07 | 0.29 | 0.75 | 72 | -3.98 | SHOP SHOPIFY INC | 233.73 | 5.56 | 2.44 | 1781 | 5.76 | SIA SIENNA SENIOR | 19.43 | -0.13 | -0.66 | 590 | -4.89 | SVM SILVERCORP ME | 14.93 | -0.09 | -0.60 | 256 | 30.05 | SKE SKEENA RESOUR | 44.62 | 1.45 | 3.36 | 257 | 36.87 | SRU-UN SMARTCENTR | 26.32 | 0.13 | 0.50 | 247 | 2.21 | SGD SNOWLINE GOLD | 16.20 | -0.14 | -0.86 | 284 | -6.68 | SOBO SOUTH BOW CO | 48.65 | 0.34 | 0.70 | 764 | 28.87 | SXGC SOUTHERN CRO | 11.00 | -0.08 | -0.72 | 332 | 3.87 | SDE SPARTAN DELTA | 13.37 | 0.22 | 1.67 | 999 | 84.41 | SII SPROTT INC. | 169.99 | 4.59 | 2.78 | 48 | 26.44 | SSRM SSR MINING I | 48.68 | 0.36 | 0.75 | 320 | 61.78 | STN STANTEC INC | 96.09 | 0.76 | 0.80 | 569 | -25.81 | SJ STELLA JONES I | 64.88 | -0.78 | -1.19 | 128 | -23.79 | SCR STRATHCONA RE | 40.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 285 | 41.90 | SLF SUN LIFE FINA | 110.48 | -1.53 | -1.37 | 899 | 28.94 | SU SUNCOR ENERGY | 97.05 | -0.94 | -0.96 | 6034 | 59.31 | SPB SUPERIOR PLUS | 7.12 | 0.13 | 1.86 | 933 | 1.14 | TRP TC ENERGY COR | 85.57 | 0.76 | 0.90 | 4083 | 13.22 | X TMX GROUP LIMIT | 52.43 | -0.76 | -1.43 | 395 | 0.38 | TVE TAMARACK VALL | 13.31 | -0.15 | -1.11 | 2525 | 66.79 | TECK-B TECK RESOU | 95.38 | -1.42 | -1.47 | 1175 | 45.15 | T TELUS CORPORATI | 11.19 | -0.06 | -0.53 | 6745 | -38.14 | TVK TERRAVEST IND | 111.50 | -1.54 | -1.36 | 31 | -32.22 | TFII TFI INTERNAT | 161.80 | -2.01 | -1.23 | 566 | 14.05 | NWC THE NORTH WES | 54.13 | 0.31 | 0.58 | 118 | 10.67 | TRI THOMSON REUTE | 139.48 | 1.19 | 0.86 | 431 | -22.99 | TPZ TOPAZ ENERGY | 28.50 | -0.05 | -0.18 | 624 | 3.49 | TXG TOREX GOLD RE | 73.26 | 3.47 | 4.97 | 769 | 11.78 | TIH TOROMONT IND | 230.13 | -5.96 | -2.52 | 298 | 38.59 | TD TORONTO-DOMINI | 168.06 | 0.84 | 0.50 | 12320 | 29.92 | TOU TOURMALINE OI | 62.91 | -0.08 | -0.13 | 2114 | 2.18 | TA TRANSALTA CORP | 18.63 | 0.85 | 4.78 | 2700 | 7.32 | TKO TREKOR METALS | 12.53 | -0.14 | -1.10 | 712 | 61.26 | TFPM TRIPLE FLAG | 43.64 | 0.19 | 0.44 | 112 | -4.32 | TSU TRISURA GROUP | 40.94 | 0.15 | 0.37 | 71 | -4.17 | VET VERMILION ENE | 16.51 | -0.22 | -1.31 | 438 | 44.57 | VZLA VIZSLA SILVE | 5.01 | 0.01 | 0.20 | 605 | -33.38 | WSP WSP GLOBAL IN | 167.12 | -1.15 | -0.68 | 798 | -32.75 | WCN WASTE CONNECT | 219.69 | -0.28 | -0.13 | 322 | -8.74 | WDO WESDOME GOLD | 34.45 | -0.50 | -1.43 | 531 | 51.50 | WFG WEST FRASER T | 89.94 | -3.99 | -4.25 | 337 | 7.11 | WN WESTON GEORGE | 99.73 | -0.63 | -0.63 | 315 | 5.32 | WPM WHEATON PRECI | 195.69 | 1.24 | 0.64 | 526 | 21.28 | WCP WHITECAP RESO | 18.22 | -0.05 | -0.27 | 4430 | 58.43 | CURRENCIES

FOREIGN EXCHANGE CROSS RATES

BONDS CANADA | PRICE | NET CHG | PRICE | NET CHG | PRICE | NET CHG | GOLD | 4187.10 | 30.30 | LEAN HOGS | 77.93 | 0.08 | CORN | 508.00 | 10.75 | SILVER | 61.59 | 0.29 | COFFEE | 304.45 | 11.90 | SOYBEAN | 1303.00 | 22.25 | NATURAL GAS | 3.11 | 0.05 | ALUMINUM | 3238.00 | -0.50 | CANOLA | 825.80 | 6.40 | CRUDE OIL WTI | 89.44 | 0.01 | HKFE NICKEL CNH | 104300.0 | 550.0 | S&P 500 COMM SRVS | 588.05 | 0.45 | CRUDE OIL BRENT | 100.32 | -1.93 | WHEAT | 704.25 | 12.00 | FEED WHEAT | 217.00 | 2.75 | HIGH GRADE COPPER | 6.65 | 0.01 | LUMBER PHYSICAL | 525.00 | 1.50 | BITCOIN FUTURES | 85855.0 | -150.0 | Gold, Silver (USD/oz), Nat gas (USD/mmbtu), Oil (USD/barrel), Copper (USD/lb), Coffee (USD/lb), Aluminum (USD/tonne), HKFE Nickel (in Renminbi-Yuan/tonne), Canola and Barley (in Cdn dollars/tonne), Feed Wheat (in Br. pounds/tonne) | TERM | YIELD | CHG | 2-YEAR | 3.24 | -0.01 | 5-YEAR | 3.60 | -0.02 | 10-YEAR | 3.93 | -0.02 | 30-YEAR | 4.29 | -0.01 | CAD | USD | AUD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CHF | CAD | - | 0.7038 | 1.0080 | 0.6252 | 0.5304 | 111.33 | 0.5854 | USD | 1.4208 | - | 1.4322 | 0.8882 | 0.7535 | 158.16 | 0.8316 | AUD | 0.9919 | 0.6982 | - | 0.6201 | 0.5261 | 110.43 | 0.5806 | EUR | 1.5994 | 1.1260 | 1.6125 | - | 0.8485 | 178.07 | 0.9364 | GBP | 1.8853 | 1.3271 | 1.9007 | 1.1787 | - | 209.88 | 1.1036 | JPY | 0.0090 | 0.0063 | 0.0091 | 0.0056 | 0.0048 | - | 0.0053 | CHF | 1.7082 | 1.2026 | 1.7221 | 1.0680 | 0.9060 | 190.18 | - | RATES | RATE | CHG | BOFC OVERNIGHT TARGET | 2.25 | UNCH | CANADIAN PRIME | 4.45 | UNCH | Source: wires | TERM | YIELD | CHG | 2-YEAR TREASURY | 4.79 | -0.05 | 5-YEAR TREASURY | 5.03 | -0.03 | 10-YEAR TREASURY | 5.27 | -0.04 | 30-YEAR TREASURY | 5.64 | -0.02 | CANADIAN DOLLAR \$0.7038 -0.0134 (-1.8629%)

PAST YEAR, AS OF 5:48 P.M. | RATES | RATE | CHG | FED TARGET RATE | 3.75-4.00 | UNCH | U.S. PRIME | 7.00 | UNCH | Source: wires |

DATA PROVIDED BY BARCHART, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

OCT. 7, 2026 \$0.7038

SPORTS

Bailey returning to U.S. Open next year – this time as a player ■ B15

White Sox, Rays look to finish ALDS matchups with sweeps ■ B16

\- ARGENTINA VS. BENIN

One for the home crowd

Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, gestures during the team's game against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. The game was Messi's final match in his home country

MATIAS BAGLIETTO/REUTERS

At the start of his 19th NHL season, Stamkos continues to find a way

Predators forward Steven Stamkos, right, skates behind the net as Stars defenceman Lian Bichsel gives chase during the third period in Nashville on Saturday. STEVE ROBERTS/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS

PAUL ATTFIELD

Anyone hoping to see the NHL's first overall pick put on a show Tuesday night in Toronto certainly got value for their money.

The only question was: which top pick was it?

Gavin McKenna, the 2026 first overall pick, finally got on the board for the Maple Leafs, scoring his first NHL goal at the 14:31 mark of the second period. That was just minutes after he'd earned his first NHL point, assisting on a goal from 2009 first overall selection John Tavares. And it would be remiss to fail to mention Toronto captain Auston Matthews, with the 2016 first choice chipping in with three assists before scoring the overtime winner, as the Maple Leafs snapped a two-game skid with a 5-4 decision over the visiting Nashville Predators.

But it was 2008 first pick Steven Stamkos who led the way among the four in the sharpshooter stakes, as the Markham, Ont., native scored twice in his return to the NHL rink closest to his childhood home.

Stamkos is now wearing a Predators jersey instead of the

Tampa Bay Lightning one that he wore with distinction for the first 16 years of his career, captaining the Bolts to back-to-back Stanley

Cups.

But his eye for goals is as un-erring and deadly as ever. The Predators winger continued to

pad his Hall of Fame résumé on Tuesday night, putting the visitors on the board in the first period with a power-play goal. It was his second of the season and 626th of his career, lifting him past Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla – both enshrined in the Hall – into sole possession of 17th in the National Hockey League’s career goal list.

Four months before his 37th birthday, Stamkos knows he can't go on forever. And Monday's announcement that Alexander Ovechkin would be calling time on his own NHL career after this season has forced him to focus on his own NHL mortality.

“You do start to think about that,” he said. “But for me, as long as my body’s feeling good I want to keep playing, so that’s a conversation with your family that you have at that point but certainly when you see a lot more guys that I grew up with retired or retiring it starts to sink in a little bit.”

With a pair of Rocket Richard Trophies on his mantle as the NHL's top goalscorer, along with two Cups, Stamkos's place in the sport's history is secure. With Iginla and Sakic now in the rearview mirror, the next up is another former Tampa Bay captain, with Dave Andreychuk another 14 goals away on 640.

STAMKOS, B15

IOC reveals India, Qatar among bidders for hosting 2036 Olympics

GRAHAM DUNBAR

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

India and Qatar finally got some clarity on Tuesday for their long-held ambitions to host the 2036 Olympics.

They are now in a formal contest with five other bidders, including one that would take the Summer Games for the first time to Africa. The International Olympic Committee set an Oct. 31 deadline for late arrivals to the contest.

India and Qatar have long been seen as favoured candidates in a hosting contest the IOC aims to decide in 2029 by a contested vote of its 100-plus members. Those members include Nita Ambani from India's richest family, and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Turkey also are bidders in an open-ended process with the IOC that also lets them target future Summer Games in 2040 and 2044.

“But wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: Athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do,”

South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Turkey also are bidders in an open-ended process with the IOC that also lets them target future Summer Games in 2040

and 2044.

said IOC president Kirsty Coventry, a two-time swimming gold medalist.

The IOC also published a 30-page document on Tuesday to guide bidders over the next $2 \frac{1}{2}$ years when key decisions will be taken by the Coventry-chaired IOC executive board. Its 15 members include NBA great Pau Gasol representing athletes.

India's bid plan centres on the city of Ahmedabad, which will host the multi-sport Commonwealth Games in 2030, and has the world's largest cricket stadium which is named for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Qatar has hosted world championships in most top-tier Olympic sports, including soccer's 2022 World Cup. Its bid could yet expand from Doha to send some events to Gulf neighbours.

A Qatar-hosted Olympics should require the Summer Games to move to later in the year from the July-August slot it has occupied at each edition from 2004 in Athens through 2032 in Brisbane.

A South Korean bid would be anchored in Seoul, which hosted the 1988 Summer Games, and spread across the country.

■ OLYMPICS, B15

Infantino's investment plan fallout reshapes FIFA vote

CENTRAL DIVISION

WEEK 19

In the past two weeks, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has criss-crossed the world, from Saudi Arabia to New York, across the Caribbean, to northern Europe, then central and Southeast Asia, where he's met at least 20 of the federations who will vote on March 18 in Morocco. KACPER PEMPEL/REUTERS

AP tally shows 87 of 211 member federations have shown support for embattled president

GRAHAM DUNBAR

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

FIFA president Gianni Infanti-no already is in globe-trotting campaign mode more than five months ahead of the vote when 211 member federations decide who will lead the world soccer body until 2031.

The March election comes as Infantino faces the biggest leadership crisis since he took office in 2016, triggered by backlash against his now-withdrawn plan to sell private investors a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments.

The FIFA leader has a busy travel schedule as the vote approaches. In the past two weeks his Qatari jet has criss-crossed the world, from Saudi Arabia to New York, across the Caribbean, to northern Europe, then central and Southeast Asia, where he's met at least 20 of the federations who will vote on March 18 in Morocco.

So where do things stand?

An Associated Press tally shows 87 of the 211 FIFA member federations have indicated support for Infantino – either in individual comments or by endorsing statements of support by their regional confederations.

That puts him within reach of the simple majority he would need to beat a challenger, though none has stepped forward so far.

As of Tuesday, 49 federations, mostly in Europe, had come out against Infantino.

More than one-third of FIFA members have yet to announce their position, and much could change by March. A key date is the Nov. 18 deadline for intended rivals to enter the contest.

European soccer body UEFA, backed by the leadership of North American soccer body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, has promised to put up at least one challenger to Infantino. Who that would be remains unclear.

The issue is likely to be discussed as UEFA's 55 member federations meet in Berlin this week.

UEFA has called on Infantino to step down, and many of its members have publicly withdrawn their support for him. But not all UEFA members have fallen into line – one of his top aides is from Azerbaijan, which has expressed continued support for In-

fantino.

Africa and South America are Infantino strongholds. In August, the executive committee of African confederation CAF “unanimously” confirmed its support for Infantino. However, it’s unclear whether every member will follow the CAF line in March. Most haven’t expressed their views publicly.

Infantino is expected to attend a CAF meeting in Cape Verde this week.

All 10 members of South American confederation CON-MEBOL have endorsed Infantino including World Cup finalist Argentina. They want Infantino to expand the 2030 World Cup which would give South America more entries and more games to host. UEFA opposes that 64-team

idea.

The Asian confederation AFC has joined the criticism of Infantino, but its members appear far from united. Former World Cup host Qatar has expressed support for the FIFA leader while Jordan has declared its opposition.

CONCACAF is also split with the U.S. and Canada among those opposing Infantino and Mexico coming out in support.

In Oceania, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti and New Caledonia have said they back Infantino, while New Zealand withdrew its support in August.

When the FIFA chief watched the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium near New York, he had the support of nearly all FIFA member associations and there was little doubt that he would win re-election for a third term.

Just nine days later, media reports detailed Infantino's talks with New York investor Josh Kushner – the younger brother of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner – to create a FIFA subsidiary running tournaments like the World Cup.

A backlash led by European soccer and fuelled by senior FIFA executives forced Infantino to drop the sell-off plan within four days. Since then, his leadership has been called into question by many European associations, who have withdrawn their support for him one by one.

UEFA even said it's preparing a criminal complaint against Infantino over the investment plan. FIFA dismissed the legal moves as a “smear campaign.”

No sitting FIFA president has lost an election in the last 50 years. The ability to control and distribute World Cup profits now counted in multi-billions to member federations has always been a key advantage for the incumbent.

FIFA rules state candidates must have “played an active role in association football (e.g. as a player or an official within FIFA, a confederation or an association, etc.) for two of the last five years before being proposed.” They must have “declarations of support” from at least five of the 211 members.

In a ballot of two candidates, a simple majority of valid votes will win. With three or more candidates, a winning majority is “two thirds of the votes of the member associations present and eligible to vote.” The candidate with the lowest total in each round is eliminated until there is a winner with two thirds, or just two candidates left.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

---

MLB PLAYOFFS

DIVISION SERIES

---

(Best-of-5. All Times Eastern)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TAMPA BAY (1) VS. N.Y. YANKEES (4)

(Tampa Bay leads series 2-0)

Monday

Tampa Bay 5 N.Y. Yankees 2

Wednesday

Tampa Bay (Martinez 15-6) at N.Y. Yankees (Fried 5-5), 8 p.m.

Thursday

Tampa Bay, N.Y. Yankees, 9 p.m.

x-Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees, 8 p.m.

CLEVELAND (2) VS. CHI. WHITE SOX (6) (Chicago White Sox lead series 2-0) Monday

Chicago White Sox 4 Cleveland 3 Wednesday

Cleveland (Espino 0-0) at Chicago White Sox (Newcomb 0-0), 4 p.m.

x-Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 5 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

MILWAUKEE (1) VS. SAN DIEGO (4)

(Milwaukee leads series 2-0)

Tuesday

Milwaukee at San Diego

Wednesday

x-Milwaukee (TBD) at San Diego (TBD),

10 p.m.

Friday

x-San Diego at Milwaukee, 4:30 p.m.

L.A. DODGERS (2) VS. ATLANTA (3)

(L.A. Dodgers leads series 2-1)

Tuesday

L.A. Dodgers 3 Atlanta 1

Wednesday

L.A. Dodgers (Glasnow 5-2) at Atlanta

(Mahle 7-10) 6 p.m.

Friday

x-Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers, 8 p.m.

x—played only if necessary

---

WNBA PLAYOFF

SEMIFINALS

---

(Best-of-5. All Times Eastern)

(Best-of-S. All Times Eastern)

LAS VEGAS (3) VS. GOLDEN STATE

(Golden State leads series 1-0)

Wednesday

Las Vegas at Golden State, 9:30 p.m.

Friday

Golden State at Las Vegas, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 11

x-Golden State at Las Vegas, TBA

ATLANTA (4) VS. NEW YORK (8)

(Atlanta leads series 1-0)

Wednesday

New York at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Friday

Atlanta at New York, 7:30 p.m. | Following Sunday's Games | GP | FG | FT | Pts | Avg | A. Wilson, LV | 4 | 39 | 38 | 120 | 30.0 | G. Williams, GS | 4 | 35 | 15 | 100 | 25.0 | S. Citron, Wash | 2 | 14 | 16 | 50 | 25.0 | NFL

AMERICAN CONFERENCE | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | Buffalo | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 127 | 107 | New England | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 65 | 77 | N.Y. Jets | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 76 | 84 | Miami | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 46 | 101 | SOUTH | Jacksonville | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 104 | 53 | Indianapolis | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 102 | 104 | Tennessee | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 55 | 83 | Houston | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 84 | 109 | NORTH | Cleveland | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 81 | 95 | Baltimore | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 116 | 96 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 77 | 87 | Cincinnati | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 97 | 85 | WEST | Kansas City | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 118 | 77 | Las Vegas | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 115 | 84 | Denver | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 74 | 94 | L.A. Chargers | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 67 | 106 | NATIONAL CONFERENCE | W | L | T | Pct | PF | PA | N.Y. Giants | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 82 | 79 | Philadelphia | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 75 | 93 | Dallas | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 122 | 112 | Washington | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 88 | 122 | SOUTH | Carolina | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 121 | 109 | Atlanta | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 96 | 92 | New Orleans | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 105 | 128 | Tampa Bay | 0 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 76 | 96 | NORTH | Minnesota | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 86 | 51 | Chicago | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 112 | 65 | Detroit | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 119 | 127 | Green Bay | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 73 | 105 | WEST | San Francisco | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 122 | 64 | Seattle | 3 | 1 | 0 | .750 | 105 | 73 | L.A. Rams | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 85 | 83 | Arizona | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | 87 | 117 | WEEK FOUR

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Monday

Atlanta 45, New Orleans 24

---

WEEK FIVE

Byes: Kansas City, Carolina

---

Thursday

Thursday

All Times Eastern

Tampa Bay at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.

---

Sunday

Philadelphia vs Jacksonville at London, GBR. 9:30 a.m.

Chicago at Green Bay, 1 p.m.

Cincinnati at Miami, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Las Vegas at New England, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Washington, 1 p.m.

Denver at L.A. Chargers, 4:05 p.m.

Detroit at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

San Francisco at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

Baltimore at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m.

---

Monday, Oct. 12

Buffalo at L.A. Rams, 8:15 p.m.

CFL

EAST DIVISION | GP | W | L | PF | PA | Pt | y-Montreal | 15 | 12 | 3 | 535 | 420 | 24 | x-Toronto | 16 | 9 | 7 | 462 | 455 | 18 | Hamilton | 16 | 5 | 11 | 396 | 474 | 10 | Ottawa | 15 | 0 | 15 | 355 | 558 | 0 | WEST DIVISION | GP | W | L | PF | PA | Pt | x-Edmonton | 15 | 11 | 4 | 470 | 382 | 22 | British Columbia | 15 | 9 | 6 | 452 | 398 | 18 | Saskatchewan | 15 | 8 | 7 | 430 | 408 | 16 | Calgary | 16 | 8 | 8 | 572 | 541 | 16 | Winnipeg | 15 | 7 | 8 | 383 | 419 | 14 | x — clinched playoff berth.

WEEK 19

Bye: Toronto

Friday

All Times Eastern

Edmonton at Hamilton, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at British Columbia, 10 p.m.

Saturday

Calgary at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 12

Saskatchewan at Montreal, 1 p.m.

Friday

All Times Eastern

Toronto at McMaster, 12 p.m.

Saturday

Ottawa at York, 1 p.m.

Windsor at Queen's, 3 p.m.

Western at Carleton, 4 p.m.

---

NBA

PRESEASON

---

Tuesday

Brooklyn 124 Charlotte 90

New Orleans at Oklahoma City

Denver at Utah

L.A. Lakers at Golden State

---

Monday

Memphis 132, Atlanta 123

Philadelphia 120, New York 97

Detroit 109, Phoenix 107

Minnesota 116, Milwaukee 97

L.A. Lakers 127, Sacramento 103

---

Wednesday

All Times Eastern

Minnesota at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Orlando at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Phoenix at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Golden State at Portland, 10 p.m.

---

Thursday

Boston at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

U SPORTS FOOTBALL

MLS

EASTERN CONFERENCE | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pt | x-Nashville | 27 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 55 | 21 | 60 | New England | 27 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 45 | 36 | 46 | Miami | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 64 | 50 | 46 | Charlotte | 27 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 47 | 38 | 43 | Chicago | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 46 | 38 | 42 | Philadelphia | 27 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 54 | 44 | 39 | Orlando | 27 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 48 | 64 | 34 | Cincinnati | 26 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 64 | 33 | N.Y. Red Bulls | 27 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 34 | 51 | 33 | N.Y. City F.C. | 27 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 41 | 36 | 33 | D.C. | 26 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 34 | 42 | 30 | Columbus | 27 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 39 | 43 | 29 | Toronto | 27 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 39 | 51 | 29 | Atlanta | 27 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 32 | 45 | 27 | Montreal | 27 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 34 | 54 | 24 | WESTERN CONFERENCE | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pt | Vancouver | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 59 | 26 | 50 | St. Louis | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 48 | 36 | 47 | Dallas | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 50 | 42 | 47 | San Jose | 27 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 49 | 39 | 45 | Houston | 27 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 34 | 32 | 44 | Los Angeles F.C. | 28 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 43 | 30 | 41 | Seattle | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 35 | 35 | 38 | Colorado | 27 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 38 | 38 | 36 | L.A. Galaxy | 28 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 37 | 44 | 36 | Portland | 27 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 48 | 51 | 32 | Salt Lake City | 27 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 40 | 44 | 32 | San Diego | 27 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 47 | 47 | 32 | Austin | 27 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 35 | 47 | 31 | Minnesota | 27 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 40 | 49 | 29 | Kansas City | 27 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 32 | 65 | 21 | ---

Tuesday

x — clinched playoff berth

Vancouver at Chicago

NSL | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pt | x-Montreal | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 25 | 41 | x-Toronto | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 22 | 40 | x-Ottawa | 23 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 44 | 41 | 37 | Halifax | 23 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 21 | 21 | 27 | Vancouver | 23 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 42 | 49 | 27 | Calgary | 23 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 25 | 52 | 18 | x — clinched playoff berth; Note: Three points awarded for a win, one for a tie.

Saturday, Oct. 17

Montreal at Halifax, 2 p.m.

---

Sunday, Oct. 18

Calgary at Toronto, 1 p.m.

Vancouver at Ottawa, 4 p.m.

CPL | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pt | x-Calgary | 25 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 51 | 19 | 53 | x-Hamilton | 24 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 20 | 48 | x-Ottawa | 25 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 38 | 41 | 40 | Vancouver | 25 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 35 | 33 | 33 | Quebec | 24 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 36 | 44 | 28 | Toronto | 24 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 39 | 54 | 27 | Halifax | 25 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 38 | 42 | 27 | Victoria | 24 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 30 | 52 | 14 | x — clinched playoff berth Wednesday

---

Wednesday

Wednesday

Quebec at Toronto, 11 a.m.

Victoria at Hamilton, 7 p.m.

---

Saturday, Oct. 10

Vancouver at Quebec, 4 p.m.

NHL

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION | GP | W | L | OT | GF | GA | Pt | Ottawa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | Tampa Bay | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 4 | Florida | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 4 | Boston | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 4 | Montreal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 3 | Buffalo | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 2 | Toronto | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 2 | Detroit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | METROPOLITAN DIVISION | N.Y. Rangers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 6 | Pittsburgh | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 4 | Carolina | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 3 | N.Y. Islanders | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | Washington | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | Columbus | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | New Jersey | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | Philadelphia | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 2 | Tuesday

Carolina at Montreal

Minnesota at Buffalo

Nashville at Toronto

Ottawa at Detroit

Utah at New Jersey

N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers

St. Louis at Chicago

Vegas at Seattle

Florida at Los Angeles

---

OHL

Monday-Tuesday

No games scheduled

---

Wednesday

Wednesday

All Times Eastern

Kitchener at Flint, 7 p.m.

---

Thursday

Kingston at Barrie, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Niagara, 7 p.m.

Sudbury at North Bay, 7 p.m.

---

QMJHL

Monday-Tuesday

No games scheduled

---

Wednesday

Air Times Eastern

Newfoundland at B-Boisbriand, 7 p.m.

Shawinigan at Victoriaville, 7 p.m.

---

Thursday

Rouyn-Noranda at Halifax, 6 p.m.

Drummondville at Moncton, 6 p.m.

---

WHL

---

Tuesday

Swift Current at Penticton

Brandon at Vancouver

---

Monday

No games scheduled

---

Wednesday

---

All Times Eastern

Brandon at Kamloops, 10 p.m.

Swift Current at Kelowna, 10:05 p.m.

Lethbridge at Tri-City, 10:05 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

PACIFIC DIVISION | CENTRAL DIVISION | GP | W | L | OT | GF | GA | Pt | Winnipeg | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 5 | Colorado | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 4 | Minnesota | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 4 | Utah | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 4 | St. Louis | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 2 | Nashville | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | Dallas | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | Chicago | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 | PACIFIC DIVISION | Edmonton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 14 | 5 | Anaheim | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 4 | Seattle | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 4 | Vegas | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 4 | San Jose | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 4 | Vancouver | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 18 | 4 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 1 | Calgary | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 0 | Monday

Tampa Bay 4, Philadelphia 1

Ottawa 4, Boston 1

Winnipeg 3, Pittsburgh 2

Dallas 5, San Jose 0

---

Wednesday

---

All Times Eastern

Colorado at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

---

TELEVISION

WEDNESDAY (ALL TIMES EASTERN)

---

BASEBALL

MLB: Cleveland vs. Chicago White Sox, SN Ontario, East, West, 4 p.m.

MLB: L.A. Dodgers vs. Atlanta, SN 1, 6 p.m.

MLB: Tampa Bay vs. N.Y. Yankees, SN Ontario, 8 p.m.

MLB: Milwaukee vs. San Diego, SN 1, 10 p.m.

---

BASKETBALL

NBA Preseason: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Indiana Pacers, NBA TV Canada, 7 p.m.

NBA Preseason: Golden State vs. Portland, NBA TV Canada, 10 p.m.

WNBA: N.Y. Liberty vs. Atlanta, TSN 4, 7:30 p.m.

WNBA: Las Vegas vs. Golden State, TSN 3, 9:30 p.m.

---

FOOTBALL

NCAA: New Mexico State vs. Florida International, TSN 2, 7:30 p.m.

---

GOLF

PGA: Baycurrent Classic, 1st Rd., Golf Channel, 11 p.m.

---

SOCCER

CPL: Pacific FC vs. Forge FC, TSN 1, 7 p.m.

---

TENNIS

WTA: China Open, Rd of 16, TSN 4, 7 a.m.

RESULTS AS OF TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 9:25 P.M.

---

CORNERED

SPEED BUMP

BIZARRO

OFF THE MARK

"There are some things they don't teach you in medical school. You've got one of those things."

Andrew Bailey was at the U.S. Open to sell merchandise. He'll return next year as a player

Andrew Bailey lines up his putt at the 11th hole during the final round of the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Sand Valley Resort in Nekoosa, Wis. on Thursday.

LOGAN WHITTON/

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A string of ill-timed injuries had hindered Bailey's golf career, until he won the U.S. Mid-Amateur last week

DOUG FERGUSON

Andrew Bailey knew enough about the U.S. Open that late Friday afternoon was an ideal time to sneak away from his duties in the merchandise pavilion and watch golf. He was outside the ropes at Shinnecock Hills this year to see 17-year-old Miles Russell grind to make the cut.

And then it was back to work in a 34,000-square-foot tent where his company, premium golf apparel brand Holderness & Bourne, sets up shop each year.

Bailey will be back at the U.S. Open next year at Pebble Beach in a far different capacity – hitting shots, not selling shirts.

"I've been trying to process it all," Bailey said Monday evening, four days removed from winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur by playing bogey-free over the final 17 holes in a 5-and-4 victory. His first USGA title gets him into the Masters and U.S. Open.

That's enough to try to process.

There's also that broken wrist from rock climbing when he was one year out of Cleveland State, effectively ending whatever faint hopes he had of a pro career. "Might have been the best thing to ever happen to me," Bailey said.

And there was the shoulder surgery in February for a snowboarding injury that limited him to only three amateur events this year. The pain flared up three weeks before the U.S. Mid-Amateur. He didn't feel it again until the morning after he won.

“I laid on the couch and my shoulder was throbbing,” Bailey said. “I was like, ‘How did this not happen the entire week when I was playing?’ Just meant to be. Adrenalin is a beautiful thing.”

The summer has been filled with angst over pros getting back their amateur status. Mike Sposa, who won the U.S. Senior Amateur, spent six years on the PGA Tour and six years on the Korn Ferry Tour. Colt Knost is seeking reinstatement as an amateur after playing 199 times on tour and topping US\$4.3-million in prize money.

Bailey doesn't fit into that category. At least two publications referred to the final of the U.S. Mid-Amateur (for players 25 or older) as a battle between two former pros. Nate Smith, the runner-up, won once during his three years on the Korn Ferry Tour and played the PGA Tour for one season.

The PGA Tour has no record of Bailey playing on the Korn Ferry Tour or PGA Tour Americas. He tied for 38th in Q-school PGA Tour Canada in April 2015 to earn conditional status but never played. Three months later, he fell 20 feet while rock climbing at Whipps Ledges in Ohio, causing a compound fracture of his wrist that required two plates and 11 screws.

His mini-tour earnings - 12 events, 30 rounds - amounted to about US\$8,000. Bailey said he tried to play one tournament after the wrist injury, but the pain was too great. He applied for reinstatement as an amateur in June 2016 and received it one year later.

In his final year at Cleveland State, he was intrigued by a startup he found on Facebook called Holderness & Bourne. Bailey wrote to the company to say he might be turning pro and would they like him to wear the apparel. And he stayed in touch.

After the wrist injury, he was working a standard sales job – “150 calls a day, dial and smile,” he said – when he got an offer to help work with the apparel company at the annual PGA Merchandise Show. He used paid time off to travel to Florida and was paid in product.

A year later, he was hired and since has worked his way up to national sales manager, overseeing 14 sales representatives. It has kept him in the game since the majority of his work is in pro shops, along with going to the U.S. Open for work. But not next year. He'll be among 156 players, right there with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy and defending champion Wyndham Clark.

Of all the text messages, phone calls and letters – Augusta National member Michael McDermott, amateur great Vinny Giles, Walker Cup captain Nathan Smith – nothing made Bailey laugh more than one from Amanda Davis, the event merchandising manager at Holderness & Bourne.

“It’s incredible the extent some people will go to not work a merchandise tent,” the text said.

At his core is a passion for golf that never left him. He had hopes of trying to make the Walker Cup team as a mid-athlete. That ended with the shoulder surgery in February. But he used more paid time off to travel to Ireland just to watch.

Bailey has twice been to the Masters. His parents got him a ticket to a practice round in 2010 as a high school graduation present. Friends got him a pass to Sunday at the 2016 Masters. He had a flight to catch in Atlanta and left after watching Jordan Spieth make a 30-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole for a five-shot lead.

“Missed all the fireworks,” he said of the Spieth collapse and Danny Willett victory.

He will be back at Augusta National in April, this time driving down Magnolia Lane, access to the Crow's Nest for amateurs, the Par three tournament. It's a lot to process.

He still hasn't figured out how to balance work and two majors next year. Bailey said he typically plays six amateur tournaments a year. But he made it clear the Masters and U.S. Open are more perks than they are motivation.

His name goes in the Hall of Champions at USGA headquarters in New Jersey that has every USGA champion dating to Charles Macdonald in the 1895 U.S. Amateur.

"It sounds so weird to say, but the reason I played the Mid-Amateur is not to play in the Masters. It's to become a national champion," he said. "I think honestly I'm going to be more emotional to see my name in Golf House as opposed to driving down Magnolia Lane."

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Panthers forward Barkov to miss 6-8 weeks with knee injury

TIM REYNOLDS

Florida centre Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a left leg injury and will not require surgery, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday.

Barkov was hurt in the Panthers' overtime loss at San Jose on Thursday. It appeared his left knee – not the knee that needed to be surgically rebuilt last year – buckled on the play, and the Finnish captain immediately left the ice in obvious discomfort.

The timetable would suggest that Barkov will probably be out somewhere between 20 and 25 games before he could return.

“That’s our best window,” Maurice said. “Could be a little less, could be a little more. But we think six to eight [weeks] is the right rehab time.”

Florida plays at Los Angeles on Tuesday to end a season-opening four-game road trip. Maurice revealed the timetable after the Panthers' morning skate in advance of that game.

The Panthers placed Barkov on long-term injured reserve over the weekend, after it became clear his absence would last longer than 10 games. The Panthers weighed multiple options on how to proceed and Barkov saw team doctors Monday before a final plan was agreed upon.

Barkov was injured 20 minutes into the team's first training camp practice for the 2025-26 season and missed the entire campaign, one of many injury issues that played a role in Florida going from a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion to a team that missed the playoffs.

If there is a silver lining, it's that Florida is well-versed in how to play without Barkov – who isn't just the team captain, but is generally considered to be the team's best player.

"If he hadn't been injured last year we would have thought, 'Gee, six to eight weeks is a long time,'" Maurice said. "I think last year was six to eight months, so we're taking it."

Over his most recent 10 seasons – excluding when he missed last season – Barkov had 722 points, 485 hits and 463 blocked shots. No other NHL player reached those numbers in all three categories over those years; Toronto's Auston Matthews and Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele were the only others with at least 700 points, 400 hits and 400 blocks in that span.

And the Panthers were clearly breathing a sigh of relief knowing that he will be back this season.

“It’s good for everything, maybe most importantly for Barky,” Maurice said. “He’s our captain and we miss him and he feels it when he’s not around. So, he’s probably the happiest of all of us.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Stamkos: Forward feels Predators are starting to ramp up with new general manager

FROM B13

For all his accolades, Stamkos still finds it “pretty surreal” hearing his name alongside that sort of company.

"Certainly Joe Sakic was the reason why I wore No. 19 as a kid growing up," he said. "So it's just so hard to comprehend it when you're in the middle of it right now, and you see the list and you get asked about it, and it's just you never thought you'd be there."

Now into his third season in Nashville after leaving Tampa, Stamkos wasn't able to help the Predators reach the playoffs in his first two campaigns, with the team finishing seventh and sixth in the Central Division the past two years.

But with Chris McFarland running the show as general manager after coming over from the Colorado Avalanche this summer, Stamkos feels the team is starting to ramp up.

"He has a vision, and the guys in this room trust that vision," Stamkos said. "He's been around the game for so long. He's had a lot of success. So, I'd say obviously disappointing the last couple years, and where this group has failed to reach the playoffs, the expectation is the playoffs, and we've added some good, really good NHL players."

Nashville head coach Andrew Brunette says that he's seen Stamkos evolve as a player during his two-plus seasons coaching the former Tampa captain. But, as he explains, the best players always manage to find a way to stay relevant.

“I think he’s added to his game, and that’s hard to do,” he said. “It’s hard to do with the amount of success he had as an older player to be able to adapt to your new team and see your new team completely adapting to him. And he’s found a way to score, and he always has and he always will. Those scorers always find a way.”

Olympics: Board will approve shortlist of candidates in March

FROM B13

German Olympic officials last month picked Munich, which previously hosted in 1972.

South Africa's bid shapes to be national and centred on Cape Town, and would be a first African host of the Summer Games since the modern Olympics was created in 1896.

Hungary and Turkey propose Budapest and Istanbul, respectively.

The key date is in March, the IOC said, when the board will approve a shortlist of candidates to develop detailed projects.

The 2029 target date for a contested vote is a return to the IOC's previous schedule and process to pick Summer Games hosts.

It is also later than seemed likely last year when Coventry was elected, and both India and Qatar seemed poised to push for a quick decision. They and other national Olympic officials promoted their bid plans in Paris during the 2024 Olympics.

Coventry's first big decision on taking office in June 2025 was to pause the fast-track process, and more secretive one, which allowed Brisbane to be picked as the 2032 host fully 11 years in advance and without a contested vote.

IOC members stressed to Coventry they wanted to be more involved in the choice than was the case under her predecessor Thomas Bach.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yankees stare down another fruitless October

Tampa Bay's Jonathan Aranda is out at second base as New York's Jazz Chisholm Jr. attempts to turn two on Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla. Chisholm was charged with a throwing error on the play, one of four Yankees fielding miscues in Game 2. JULIO AGUILAR/GETTY IMAGES

Down 2-0 to Rays in divisional round, New York has not won World Series since 2009

RONALD BLUM NEW YORK

Max Fried's words were as sharp as the break on some of his pitches.

"It's important to have a little bit of pride and to be able to say: 'That's not us and we're going to prove it,' " the New York Yankees pitcher said.

After making four errors in a dismal Game 2 defeat, New York's players and staff arrived home about 5 a.m. Tuesday in a 2-0 AL Division Series deficit for the second straight year, this time against the Tampa Bay Rays. The best-of-five matchup resumes Wednesday night in the Bronx with Fried starting for the Yankees and Nick Martinez for the Rays.

With one more loss to Tampa Bay, the World Series title drought for Major League Baseball's winningest team would extend to a 17th season - matching the most since Babe Ruth led New York to its first championship in 1923. New York hasn't advanced past a higher-seeded team in a postseason series since 2020.

"This group has done a really good job all year of bouncing back through a tough game, through some tough moments in the season and handled it all very well. So that's my expectation this time. It has to be," said manager Aaron Boone, who spoke with players individually rather than give a rah-rah speech.

Tampa Bay could party at Yankee Stadium for the second time in two weeks, after clinching the AL East on Sept 22.

Seeking their first World Series title, the Rays are nearing an American League Championship Series against the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland. They haven't advanced that far since 2020, when they lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Martinez used to sit in the Yankee Stadium bleachers when he played college ball from 2009-11 at Fordham University, located about eight kilometres away.

“I imagine it’s going to be an electric crowd with their season on the line,” he said.

Teams taking 2-0 leads in best-of-five postseason series have won 83 of 93 times, according to MLB. The last comeback from an 0-2 deficit was the 2017 Yankees against Cleveland.

"There's no taking games off," Rays outfielder Jonny DeLuca said.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., shortstop George Lombard Jr. and catcher Austin Wells all made errors in Game 3 that led to three unearned runs in New

York's 5-2 loss. In addition, Lombard didn't field Chandler Simpson's two-hopper and right fielder Spencer Jones allowed Jonathan Aranda's liner – a ball with 65 per cent hit probability – to fall starting the fifth, which sparked a four-run inning.

“It was just one of those things that it all kind of happened back-to-back-to-back,” Lombard said.

Throwing errors by McMahon and Chisholm in the first along with a catcher's interference call against Wells gave the Yankees their first three-error postseason inning. "It didn't seem like we really showed up today," pitcher Cam Schlittler said.

New York's players in the third through seventh spots of the batting order went 0 for 33 with 11 strikeouts in the first two games: Luis García Jr., Jones, Lombard, Chisholm and Trent Grisham.

Aaron Judge's absence has been glaring.

New York was fourth in runs, 13th in batting average and second in OPS through May 31, its last game before the three-time AL MVP went on the injured list due to a fractured rib.

From June 1 through the end of the season, the Yankees were 24th in runs, 29th in batting average and 27th in OPS. Judge returned for seven games in September before a calf strain.

“I’m considering a couple things but haven’t settled on anything,” Boone said of possible lineup changes.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chicago's Kyle Teel celebrates with Andrew Benintendi after scoring in Game 2 of the ALDS on Monday in Cleveland. JASON MILLER/GETTY

White Sox head home to Chicago looking to sweep Guardians in ALDS

JAY COHEN CHICAGO

The Chicago White Sox last clinched a postseason series at home when Jiggs Donahue and George Davis helped the South Siders beat the Chicago Cubs in Game 6 of the 1906 World Series.

That's how long it's been. And the Cleveland Guardians have absolutely no interest in being on the other side of the field for the end of that streak.

Chicago leads Cleveland 2-0 in their best-of-five AL Division Series going into Game 3 on Wednesday at Rate Field. The White Sox are hoping to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005, while the Guardians are looking to take one step toward a remarkable comeback.

“For us the mindset is very clear: We’ve got to win another game because we don’t have the luxury to lose another one,” Guardians third baseman José Ramírez said.

It's the first home playoff date for Chicago since 2021, marking another moment in a surprising season after losing a total of 324 games over the previous three years. The team is encouraging its fans to wear black as part of its blackout theme.

“I think it’s going to be electric,” White Sox reliever Bryan Hudson said Tuesday. “I don’t think it will be anything we’re used to or we’ve been in this year. I think it’s going to be awesome. I think all the boys are going to have some extra adrenaline.”

Chicago was much improved at home this season, going 48-33 after finishing with a 33-48 record at Rate Field in 2025. It won four of its six home games against Cleveland in the regular season.

While this is new territory for most of the White Sox, the Guardians are in the playoffs for the third straight year. The AL

Central champions were better on the road (44-37) than they were at home (41-40) this season.

“I always like playing on the road when it’s an exciting, loud crowd, and anticipate it’s going to be just that,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “And our guys have played in this environment over and over again, whether it be postseasons in the past or regular-season games.”

Each team is going with an opener. Left-hander Sean Newcomb starts for Chicago, and right-hander Daniel Espino takes the mound for Cleveland.

The White Sox have relied on their relievers while winning their first four playoff games this year. They are the only MLB team in the modern era to have their bullpen pitch five-plus innings, strike out five-plus batters and earn the win in four consecutive games, regular or postseason, according to Stats Perform.

Newcomb worked two scoreless innings after Anthony Kay got the first out for Chicago during a 4-3 win in Game 2 on Monday.

“We’ve leaned heavily on our bullpen, not only throughout the season but certainly here in the playoffs as well,” general manager Chris Getz said. “Is it creative? It is. Do we need to be different? We do. But we’re also leaning into the strengths of our pitching staff and our team.”

Chicago has been helped by off days after the first two games in the series. If Cleveland avoids elimination in Game 3, the teams will play again on Thursday.

Espino made his first career playoff appearance in the series opener, getting two outs in relief of Parker Messick.

The 25-year-old Espino has long been considered one of the team's top prospects, but he was hampered by shoulder injuries before making his major league debut in June.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NFL throws flags on officials, suspending pair after outbursts during heated Week 4

ARNIE STAPLETON

NFL players have to show sportsmanship or they can draw flags and/or fines and now officiating crews are on notice that they, too, must display appropriate behaviour in the heat of the moment.

The NFL flagged two officials Monday, suspending line judge Jeff Seeman and referee Adrian Hill for their actions during a wild Week 4 marked by profane flare-ups that included Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy cursing at each other and Dre Greenlaw displaying the kind of fiery spirit toward Sean Payton that the Broncos head coach wished had shown up last season in Denver.

Seeman was banned two games for swearing at Trey McBride after Arizona's star tight end argued for a pass interference call when he was hit by a defender before the ball arrived. Hill received a one-game suspension for unprofessional conduct for yelling at Eric Wilson and pointing for him to get away after the Minnesota Vikings linebacker tried to help him to his feet in a collision that knocked him over.

The NFL Referees Association said in a statement Tuesday that the suspensions were excessive and inconsistent with past precedent and it plans to challenge the severity.

“NFL officials have a responsibility to conduct themselves professionally on the field, and the actions in these incidents fell short of that standard,” NFLRA executive director Scott Green said. “Accountability matters, but that should not result in discipline that is excessive or inconsistent with established precedent.”

Greenlaw, who rejoined the Niners last off-season, forced a fumble and collected a dozen tackles in San Francisco's 24-14 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

After just about every one of his stops, he pointed and hollered at Payton, assuredly still stinging over his departure from Denver.

As Payton was walking across the field to shake Kyle Shanahan's hand after the game, Greenlaw approached him and took one more verbal shot at his old coach as fellow linebacker Fred Warner redirected him toward the 49ers' tunnel. Payton didn't engage with Greenlaw, who told the San Francisco Chronicle, "I told him to get the [expletive] off the field. That's it: 'Get the [expletive] off the field."

Asked if he had any issue with Greenlaw getting in his face Sunday, Payton said, "No, and I said this to Kyle afterwards, I think the world of him. I really love everything about him and he plays with that emotion. So, it's all good."

Maybe it's all good in Pittsburgh, too.

McCarthy expressed regret for profanity he used toward Rodgers that was caught on the Thursday night broadcast of Pittsburgh's 27-24 loss to Cleveland.

Midway through the first quarter, a flustered Rodgers was shown looking at Pittsburgh's sideline and yelling, "What the [expletive]? Call it!" The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity in response.

“Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody’s competing on the field,” McCarthy said. “I think what’s said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, usually stays on the field. That’s not the case today. I understand that. But any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn’t use those words.”

Rodgers said the crowd noise made it difficult to communicate at times, noting, “It was a good crowd. It was loud.”

The hot mic saw to it that Rodgers's message to McCarthy was loud and clear and any amateur lip reader could also clearly decipher the head coach's response.

Players yelling at the sidelines – even their own – is nothing new. Neither are heated exchanges between players and officials.

But these four stood out, especially because they were caught on camera and quickly raced across social media, not the kind of viral moments the NFL prefers.

McBride knew Seeman's vulgarity was being broadcast – he pointed toward the camera that caught the line judge's obscenities.

“Obviously, you hate to see it, for obvious reasons,” Arizona coach Mike LaFleur said. “I do want to give the man a little bit of grace, too. I know Jeff. He’s a good man. It’s unfortunate it happened.”

The incident drew the ire of players union leader JC Tretter, a retired offensive lineman who played eight seasons in the NFL: "This kind of behaviour from an official towards a player is unacceptable," Tretter, the NFL Players Association's executive director, posted on social media along with a video clip of the incident. "Players are consistently held accountable when the roles are reversed. We expect the NFL to hold officials to the same standard."

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Top-ranked Sinner scheduled to miss rest of year due to knee inflammation

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner announced he will be out for the rest of the year as he continues to deal with an injured knee.

Sinner has not played since July when he beat Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final. He withdrew from the U.S. Open because of a right knee injury.

“Me, together with the doctors, have decided that I need a course of treatment for my knee, which means that the 2026 season is officially over,” Sinner said on Tuesday in a video message on Instagram. “I also need to think about my long-term career so I will do everything possible to get back 100 per cent.”

Sinner risks losing the No. 1 ranking while he's out. Sinner had already announced he would miss the upcoming Shanghai Masters. Now he'll also miss the Paris Masters and the ATP finals in November. Plus, he won't be able to play for host and three-time defending champion Italy in the Davis Cup Final 8.

But if Sinner does return at the start of next year he could play the Australian Open – the next Grand Slam – which starts Jan. 17.

"On the advice of his medical team, Jannik Sinner will follow a course of treatment for inflammation in his knee," a statement from Sinner's management team said. "The decision has been made to have the treatment now to give Jannik the necessary time to recover before beginning preparations for 2027."

The 25-year-old Sinner has won five Grand Slam titles. He also had a 30-match winning streak this year before his meltdown in a second-round defeat at the French Open amid a Paris heat wave. Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner's main rival, missed $4 \frac{1}{2}$ months this year due to a right wrist injury. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev won two of the four Grand Slam titles and is nearing the No. 1 ranking.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Habs' Demidov out two to four weeks with lower-body injury

Russian winger led all NHL rookies with 62 points last season

MONTREAL

The Montreal Canadiens will carry on without one of their top forwards for the next two to four weeks.

The Canadiens announced Tuesday that Ivan Demidov is out with a lower-body injury after missing Monday's practice for what the team initially called a therapy day.

Demidov has a goal and an assist in two games this season. How the injury occurred was not disclosed, but the skilled Russian forward also missed practice time after blocking a shot with his foot in a preseason game against the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 21 in Trois-Rivières, Que.

The 20-year-old Demidov led all NHL rookies with 62 points last season, scoring 19 goals and adding 43 assists in 82 games, and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy. Montreal selected him fifth overall in the 2024 NHL draft.

“I don’t think it impacts the way we’re going to play, and if anything it gives opportunity to somebody else to make some plays and I feel like we have the depth for that,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said.

"The way our lines are shaped,

Montreal Canadiens right winger Ivan Demidov plays the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 19. Demidov has a goal and an assist in two games this season.

DAVID KIROUAC/

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I think we have depth down all of them, and we can come in waves, and I'm confident that we can keep going, knowing that we lost a pretty good piece."

Kirby Dach took Demidov's place on the second line next to centre Alex Newhook and winger Juraj Slafkovsky, while forward Florian Xhekaj entered the lineup ahead of Tuesday's home opener.

The Canadiens (1-0-1) host the Carolina Hurricanes in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference final. Carolina downed Montreal in five games en route to winning the Stanley Cup over the Vegas Golden Knights.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Calgary kicker Paredes to retire after season

CALGARY

The Calgary Stampeders announced Tuesday that kicker Rene Paredes, a two-time Grey Cup champion and five-time CFL all-star, will retire at the end of the 2026 season.

Paredes, who signed with Calgary as a free agent in 2011, has spent his entire 15-year career with the club to become the longest-serving active player on the roster.

He ranks second in franchise history in seasons played, games played (currently 253), points (2,535), field goals (649) and converts (547).

Paredes has connected on 87.7 per cent of his career field-goal attempts and 94.6 per cent of his converts while adding 59 singles.

The 41-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, was named the league's outstanding special teams player in 2013 and helped Calgary win Grey Cups in 2014 and 2018.

His final regular-season game will be Oct. 17 at McMahon Stadium against the B.C. Lions.

"This wasn't easy, but I've made the decision that this season will be my last," Paredes said in a statement from the team. "Playing for the city of Calgary has been such an honour, and I cannot wait to finish the year strong.

“Looking back on my journey, there is so much to be grateful for. I look forward to properly thanking those who have made an impact on my career.”

THE CANADIAN PRESS

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B.C. Lions release Regina defensive back Hagerty after suspension

VANCOUVER

The B.C. Lions released Canadian defensive back Josh Hagerty on Tuesday.

The move comes after Hagerty, 28, of Regina, was suspended for two games by the CFL on Sept. 17 for striking Canadian running back Liam Talbot of the Montreal Alouettes during B.C.'s 48-29 home win Sept. 12.

Talbot suffered a groin injury that required surgery after reportedly being struck twice by Hager-ty. Montreal placed the 23-year-old native of London, Ont., on the six-game injury list. The expectation is that Talbot won't return this season.

Montreal defensive back Don Callis and Lions defensive back Ronald Kent Jr. both received one-game suspensions for their roles in an on-field incident during the same contest.

In a statement, general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said the Lions had time during Hagerty's suspension to review the player's actions in the win over Montreal.

Hagerty was in his second season with B.C. and sixth in the league.

"As part of that process, we met with Josh and his representatives to discuss the incident, the factors that led to it and the potential consequences of his conduct," Rigmaiden said. "We also made professional support available to him during the period of his suspension.

"With that review now complete, the club has decided to release him. While we respect Josh, his actions were inconsistent with the standards expected of a B.C. Lion. We believe this decision is in the best interests of the organization going forward."

Hagerty had 20 tackles (11 defensive, nine special teams) in 13 games this season with B.C.

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LARKIN SUITS UP AND SCORES IN FIRST GAME FOR RED WINGS SINCE ASKING FOR TRADE

Dylan Larkin played for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night for the first time since asking for a trade and scored 13 minutes into his return.

Larkin was cheered by the same crowd that booed him when he touched the puck on his first shift of the game. Larkin was slow to get back defensively, and Ottawa's Tim Stutzle scored off the rush.

He made up for it by putting the puck in to give the Red Wings the lead later in the first period. The polar-opposite reactions were a fitting latest chapter in one of the most bizarre ongoing stories in hockey.

Larkin remains in limbo several months after his trade request became public and Detroit's long-time general manager, Steve Yzerman, was abruptly moved out of that role in mid-July. Larkin was stripped of the captaincy, reported to training camp despite being injured, missed the start of the season because of injury and received a frosty reaction from home fans during introductions prior to their first game last week.

Coach Todd McLellan said following the morning skate that Larkin would play against the unbeaten Senators as long as the 30-year-old centre was cleared by doctors. Larkin was activated off injured reserve prior to taking the ice for pregame warm-ups.

Larkin is a Michigan native who has played his entire NHL career with Detroit, which last made the playoffs in his rookie season a decade ago. That is the longest active drought of any of the league's 32 teams.

Fans at the home opener taped over Larkin's name with such things as “Loser,” “Traitor” and “Leavin” and at times chanted, “Sell the team.”

Larkin initially last spring gave the Red Wings only three destinations he'd accept a trade to – Florida, Minnesota and Vegas – before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CANADIAN HAMMER THROWER CAMRYN ROGERS

NAMED TOP WOMAN ATHLETE FINALIST

Canadian hammer thrower Camryn Rogers has been named a finalist for the Women's World Athlete of the Year award.

World Athletics announced the 10 finalists for its men's and women's top athlete awards in a release Tuesday.

Rogers, 27, had the five best throws in the world this year, including a toss of 81.13 metres that broke her own North American record and stands second globally all-time.

The reigning Olympic champion and two-time defending world champion from Richmond, B.C., won her second straight Commonwealth Games title this summer in Glasgow, Scotland.

The other finalists are: Tigst Assefa, Ethiopia, marathon; Chase Jackson, United States, shot put; Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, U.S., 100 and 200 metres; Agnes Ngetich, Kenya, marathon; Marileidy Paulino, Dominican Republic, 400m; Maria Perez, Spain, race walk; Masai Russell, U.S., 100m hurdles; Audrey Werro, Switzerland, 800m; and Yan Ziyi, China, javelin.

The winner will be announced at the World Athletics Awards on Nov. 29 in Monaco.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

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DEATHS

JAMESALSOP

James (Jim) William Alsop passed away on September 29, 2026, at the age of 92. The family will receive friends for A Celebration of Jim's Life on Sunday, October 18th from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel, 1403 Bayview Avenue, Toronto. Condolences may be forwarded to www.humphreymiles.com.

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MARGARET BRIDGET LEAHY

Margaret "Peggy" passed away peacefully in Toronto, Ontario, at the age of 94, at home surrounded by family. She was born on February 1, 1932, in Lahana, Cork, Ireland. The daughter of William and Nora Morris (nee Spillane). Peggy began her life in Lahana, (Drimoleague), then moved to Bantry, where she would meet her future husband, Desmond "Des" Leahy.

She joined Des for a short stint in London, England, before immigrating to Toronto in 1958. They were married shortly thereafter and raised three children, Michael Leahy (Linda Leahy), Ann Adams (nee Leahy) (Pearse Adams), and Paul Leahy (Michelle Watt). They have five grandchildren, Daniel Adams (Catherine Diskin), Ciaran Adams (Deborah Pompeu), Michael (Mick) Leahy, Liam Leahy, and Alexandra Reynoldson (nee Leahy) (Jackson Reynoldson), of which they were extremely proud and involved. Three great-grandchildren, Brady Adams, Finn Adams, and Charlie Reynoldson, brought them much joy and delight. Des and Peggy were married for 64 years until Des passed in September 2022.

Over the years, Mom had a variety of positions as a bookkeeper for small businesses. When the kids were little, she would take part-time work at Simpsons in the holiday seasons to pick up extra cash for Christmas. Later, in retirement, she devoted a tremendous amount of time at St. Michael's Hospital, where she volunteered for over 30 years, helping with the clothing program and in the neurology ward.

Mom and Dad loved to travel whether it was to visit siblings, their kids or grandkids, and to explore the world. Mom enjoyed travelling, the outdoors, hiking, cross country skiing, camping, tennis, but was really known as an adept Badminton player and had great fun with badminton friends over the years.

Mom was an avid reader of books and the newspaper, and so could converse on many diverse topics. Most of all Mom loved her large family, including her sisters and brothers (and in-laws) in the US, Ireland and England, and the many nieces and nephews. She loved her neighbours, the kids, and friends who popped by to sit and chat on the veranda where she could be found most days watching the world go by.

Many thanks to the caregivers over the past two years from the Neighbourhood Group and the St. Mikes and Temmy Letner Palliative teams.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 50 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, followed by a Funeral Mass Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 291 Cosburn Ave., Toronto.

In lieu of flowers, donations should made to St. Michael's Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.heritagefuneralcentre.ca.

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DEATHS

BARBARA JOAN PHILLIPS

With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the passing of beloved wife and our mother, Barbara Joan Phillips, who took her final bow unafraid and with an open heart after a brief battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving husband, sons and grandchildren on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the age of 93. A woman of extraordinary beauty, strength, and grace, she lived as a force of nature — unyielding, loving and unforgettable.

Barbara will be lovingly remembered by her bereaved husband, William Phillips Sr., of 67 years; children, Randolph James Phillips, Ricky Thomas Phillips, William James Phillips Jr. and his wife, Meseret Asrat; son-in-law, Nelson Sab, widower to John Patrick Phillips; predeceased by her dear sons, Jonathan Patrick Phillips and Robert William Phillips; grandchildren, Jennifer Louise Phillips and her husband, Daniel Cody Calahan, Patrick Jason Phillips, and Harris Silas Phillips; predeceased by her darling grandchildren, Bryon Louis Phillips and Morgen John Phillips; great-grandchildren, Bodhi River Calahan, Arlo Wolf Calahan and Opal Soleil Calahan.

Barbara and Bill's marriage was a beautiful example for us all. Their love was as strong and deep as could be.

A Funeral Service will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 3 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery & Funeral Centre, 375 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON. A Visitation will begin at 2 p.m., and Reception will follow from 4 - 6 p.m.

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PREACHER, 86

TELEVANGELIST WAS CONVICTED OF DEFRAUDING HIS FOLLOWERS

The former husband of Tammy Faye found popularity by offering a friendly Christian message – one larded with requests for money donations – and even after years in prison he revived his career as a television preacher

Televangelist Jim Bakker, centre-right, leaves court with his lawyers following a guilty verdict in Charlotte, N.C., in October, 1989. Mr. Bakker was ordered to 45 years in prison but the sentence was later reduced. ALAN MARLER/ASSOCIATED PRESS

WILL DUNHAM

U.S. televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a multimillion-dollar empire and lived in opulence before being disgraced by a sex scandal, fraud conviction for bilking followers and divorce from television co-host Tammy Faye, died on Monday at age 86.

The death of Mr. Bakker, whose journey from the TV pulpit to a prison cell in the 1980s inspired comparisons to the corrupt character of the fictional preacher-huckster Elmer Gantry, was revealed on social media by his second wife, Lori Bakker.

“It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening,” she wrote on the Facebook and Instagram pages of her husband’s latest television ministry.

She paid tribute to Mr. Bakker as a “pioneer of Christian television,” but the cause and circumstances of his death were not revealed.

Mr. Bakker revived his career as a television preacher after prison with a new wife and new television show in 2003, later becoming a staunch supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his own brand of right-wing populism.

Mr. Bakker had been among the most popular of the Christian preachers who thrived on U.S. television in the 1980s, achieving fame on the show The PTL Club. PTL stood for “Praise The Lord” and “People That Love.”

Detractors, pointing to his unabashed daily exhortations to viewers for donations to his ministry, said PTL should have stood for “pass the loot.”

Mr. Bakker spent 4½ years in prison after being convicted in Charlotte, N.C., in 1989 of defrauding followers in a scheme involving vacations at his Heritage USA Christian theme park and resort.

Prosecutors painted him as a selfish and petty con man driven by greed and lust for power.

“Those of us who do have a religion are sick of being saps for money-grubbing preachers and priests,” Judge Robert Potter told Mr. Bakker before sentencing him.

Mr. Bakker had quit the PTL ministry in 1987 after revelations of a 1980 sexual encounter with Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary who later posed nude in Playboy magazine, and a subsequent US\$265,000 payoff with ministry funds to gain her silence. Mr. Bakker was later defrocked.

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, his first wife, had started with a small TV ministry and eventually created a multimillion-dollar operation with 2,000 employees and the 2,300-acre (930-hectare) Heritage USA complex in Fort Mill, S.C.

At its peak, the PTL ministry drew 13 million viewers on 200 TV stations and raked in US\$129-million a year.

With his working-class upbringing, the affable Mr. Bakker related well to common folk.

He did not deliver fire-and-brimstone sermons like other televangelists, instead offering a friendly Christian message – although it was larded with requests for money donations.

Tammy Faye was more much more flamboyant, with her enthusiastic singing and penchant for tears that left her heavy makeup smeared on her face.

Mr. Bakker was convicted after a six-week trial in federal court on all 24 fraud and conspiracy charges brought against him.

Prosecutors said he defrauded followers of US\$158-million by selling promises of lifetime annual vacations that he could not provide.

They said he siphoned US\$3.7-million to bankroll a lavish lifestyle that included several homes, luxury cars, mink coats, diamonds, servants – and an air-conditioned dog house.

The judge ordered Mr. Bakker to 45 years in prison but the sentence was later reduced. “I have sinned,” Mr. Bakker told the court. “I have made mistakes. But never in my life did I intend to defraud anyone.”

Mr. Bakker's chief aide, Richard Dortch, served 18 months of an eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to reduced charges in exchange for testifying against Mr. Bakker.

Tammy Faye was never charged. She stood by Mr. Bakker at the trial – even singing to reporters after his conviction – but divorced him in 1992 while he was in prison. She died of cancer in 2007.

Mr. Bakker started his life over after leaving prison in 1994, renouncing the “prosperity gospel” he once preached and writing a book titled I Was Wrong.

“I’ve had a second chance at life. And I have a beautiful wife who loves me,” Mr. Bakker told CNN in 2000, referring to his second wife, Lori, who he married in 1998.

They started a TV ministry together in 2003. In 2008, they began taping The Jim Bakker Show at a 600-acre (240-hectare) development called Morningside near the tourism city of Branson, Mo., that bore similarities to Heritage USA.

Mr. Bakker once again pleaded with his followers for donations.

In 2020, he drew the ire of state and federal officials for selling a false treatment for COVID-19 during the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Bakker also said in 2017 that Christians would launch a civil war if Mr. Trump were to be impeached. Mr. Trump later became the first U.S. president to be impeached twice.

James Orson Bakker was born on Jan. 2, 1940, the son of an auto-parts factory worker in Muskegon, Mich., who maintained a strict fundamentalist Christian household.

He met Tammy Faye LaValley at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis and they married in 1961. Both dropped out of school to become travelling evangelists as he pursued the career of a minister of the Pentecostalist Assemblies of God denomination.

Their big break came in 1964, when televangelist Pat Robertson aired a children's religious puppet show with them on his fledgling TV network.

Setting out on his own in the 1970s, Mr. Bakker used the emerging world of cable and satellite TV to build an empire.

REUTERS

JEFFREY ARCHER

The Ground Truth image displays a single, solid horizontal line. According to Rule 2 (UNDERSCORE & LINE RULES), if the GT contains lines used for stylistic emphasis or as background (like ruled paper), the OCR result must ignore them. The provided OCR content is "\_\_\_\_", which consists of four underscores. This is an incorrect interpretation of the line as a placeholder symbol, violating the rule that stylistic lines must be ignored. Therefore, the OCR output is inconsistent with the Ground Truth.

WRITER, POLITICIAN, 86