Good morning. Canada and the European Union are moving ahead with plans to strengthen economic and security ties, but one idea has been taken off the table. Ahead of a summit in Montreal, the EU has dropped a proposal to designate Canada an “associate member” after objections from several member states.
More on that below, along with why 175 laid-off Stelco workers could be back on the job by Christmas and a landmark $35-million donation to advance organ transplantation in Toronto.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, last month.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
TOP STORIES
EU drops Canada’s ‘associate member’ label
The European Union has backed away from plans to designate Canada an “associate member” after objections from Germany and France. The change comes ahead of a two-day summit in Montreal, where both sides are looking to deepen trade, defence and technology ties.
What’s changing: A draft joint statement now calls for “ever closer association” between Canada and the EU. Officials say the change in wording won’t affect plans for closer co-operation, including digital trade, critical minerals and satellite communications.
The goal: Ottawa and Brussels are looking to reduce their economic and strategic dependence on the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney says the summit will launch further negotiations over the coming year.
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When Cleveland-Cliffs acquired the steelmaker in 2024, it promised to maintain employment at about the same level for a period of five years.Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Stelco CEO raises prospect of recalling workers
Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves says 175 laid off Stelco workers could be back on the job by Christmas if demand for Canadian steel improves. The company had previously announced plans to cut up to 500 jobs at its Hamilton and Nanticoke operations, but Goncalves now says layoffs will be limited to 175 workers.
The dispute: The comments come amid an escalating standoff with Ottawa over the U.S. steelmaker’s commitments to maintain employment levels after acquiring Stelco in 2024. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has threatened to force a sale of the company over alleged violations of those commitments and says potential buyers have expressed interest. But Goncalves insists Stelco is not for sale and won’t consider any offer for at least a year.
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A $35-million gift will lead to the development of the Ajmera Transplant Institute, which UHN said will be a global hub for organ transplants, research and education.Tijana Martin/The Globe and Mail
UHN receives $35-million transplant gift
University Health Network has received a $35-million donation from the Ajmera family to establish a specialized organ transplant institute, bringing the family’s total contribution to $62-million – the largest known donation to transplant care by a single family in Canada.
The plan: The new Ajmera Transplant Institute will bring together patient care, research and education with investments in artificial intelligence and technologies aimed at improving organ transplantation.
Why it matters: More than 250 Canadians die each year waiting for a life-saving organ. The institute hopes to find ways to increase the supply of usable organs, reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.
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Erik Brown, centre, with a group of foreign divers and U.S. soldiers, at the Tham Luang cave area in July, 2018.LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/Getty Images
Canadian diver in Thai cave rescue dies at 44
Canadian cave diver Erik Brown, who helped rescue 12 boys and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018, has died at 44. Brown spent 63 hours navigating treacherous underwater passages during the nine-day rescue operation, helping bring all 13 to safety. The B.C.-born diver received several honours for his bravery, including Canada’s Medal of Bravery, though he never considered himself a hero.
His legacy: Beyond the rescue that made headlines around the world, Brown was a respected technical diving instructor who helped trained a generation of divers.
The Take
When everything seems so expensive, and adequate housing is hard to come by, and you don’t know whether you’ll have a job next week based almost entirely on a 2 a.m. Truth Social post by the U.S. President, you don’t want the person lobbing cheap shots and crafting silly nicknames leading the country, but the serious, kind-of-boring guy who doesn’t understand what “very online” means, and doesn’t care to. He has work to do.
With political instability abroad and economic uncertainty at home, Canadians appear to be embracing a return to boring, conventional leadership, Robyn Urback writes.
The Shot
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Ronnie Anderson, 59, speaks with welder Ronnie Hendon, 50, aboard the ‘Last of the Mohicans’ at the Gulfbound shipyard in Chauvin, La., on Monday.Marcus Yam/The Globe and Mail
Louisiana’s once-thriving shrimping industry is struggling under the weight of cheap imports, rising costs and dwindling profits. As fishing families fight to stay afloat, many worry the next generation won’t carry on the trade.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: Donald Trump congratulated Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson on their provincial election wins, days after his administration accused Canadian politicians of interfering in U.S. elections.
Abroad: At least 69 people were killed and dozens injured after two high-speed trains collided in Spain, the country’s second deadly rail collision this year.
Interest rates: The Bank of Canada raised its benchmark rate to 2.5 per cent, its first hike in three years, warning that persistently high oil prices could fuel inflation and require further increases.
Entertainment: Everest: The Other Side offers breathtaking scenery but falls short in its exploration of grief and the risks of extreme mountaineering, critic Radheyan Simonpillai writes.
Sports: Game 6 of the WNBA Finals has been bumped from prime time to 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday to accommodate an NBA regular-season game, sparking criticism as the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream compete for the championship.
Space: Astronomers have spotted a possible new dwarf planet beyond Pluto that could be among the largest in our solar system.