Good morning. There aren’t many certainties in today’s U.S. midterm elections. More on what we know below, along with challenges for nation building and music tours.
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U.S. President Donald Trump after delivering remarks in Washington on Monday.Evan Vucci/Reuters
TOP STORIES
A final push ahead of the U.S. midterms
The expected: Donald Trump is facing a voter reckoning amid anger over the cost of living, his war on Iran and tariffs on Canadian goods. Most polling shows the Democrats poised to take control of the House of Representatives from the Republicans – and possibly the Senate, too – as they look to curb the President’s power.
The unexpected: A sweeping campaign of gerrymandering and tight margins in key states means a blue tidal wave is far from certain. And the final results may not be known for days.
Analysis: What to look for (early returns in the South and Midwest), and what to ignore (reported size of voter crowds), in election coverage, according to David Shribman.
In numbers: The U.S. can’t get inflation under control. These seven charts show the grim landscape.
Opinion: Democrats could very well dominate. But will it matter? Not to Trump.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to the media in Calgary on Oct. 21.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Alberta has released new electoral map proposals
Alberta’s new proposed provincial electoral boundaries have been released, showing major suggested changes to riding boundaries in Calgary and Lethbridge, expanding their footprints into more rural areas.
The reaction: Provincial NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi promised to file a legal challenge if Danielle Smith’s government adopts the map, saying the boundaries would hand an unfair advantage to the United Conservative Party.
What next: It is unclear how long it will take for government to pass the new map if it decides to adopt it, but it’s expected to be approved before the fall session ends on Dec. 3.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney makes an announcement in Fort McMurray on Oct. 1.Greg Halinda/The Canadian Press
First Nations court challenges pile up against pipeline
Indigenous leaders in British Columbia are challenging the federal government’s decision to fast-track the proposed Pacific Link oil pipeline, arguing Ottawa failed to adequately consult a number of First Nations.
The details: Two new applications for judicial review, representing nine First Nations, call on the Federal Court to quash Ottawa’s declaration of the proposed oil pipeline as a project of national interest.
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Police officers work at the scene of a home invasion in the Toronto Bridle Path neighbourhood on Oct. 29.Laura Proctor/The Canadian Press
Toronto Police Chief defends Bridle Path probe
Myron Demkiw says there was “no failure” by officers who did not detain a man in hospital with a gunshot wound, who was later identified as a suspect in a violent home invasion. Masked assailants shot family members and attacked them with a hammer in their home.
What now: Police have said 23-year-old Daijohn Richards is wanted and should be considered armed and dangerous. Spokeswoman Stephanie Sayer said officers did not initially make the connection between the wounded man and the home invasion.
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Dana Infald, Josh Infald and their 16-month-old daughter Lily in their Toronto home on Oct. 28.Jennifer Roberts/The Globe and Mail
Researching the harms of screens on young children
A growing body of evidence shows that the potential harms of digital technology can begin early in life, with experts increasingly urging policy-makers to treat screens as a public health issue.
The study: Researchers at Western University published a study focused on toddlers that found a connection between excessive screen time and poor language development. Separately, a study in Britain is warning of a “baby blind spot” among policy-makers.
Ask us your flu season questionsThe influenza virus is hitting harder and earlier this year. On Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. ET, health editor Caroline Alphonso and health reporter Alanna Smith will be answering reader questions on this year’s flu season. Submit your questions in advance, and tune back in at this link.
The Take
Homelessness tests Canadian federalism because it demands a joint approach across housing supply, income, and health-care supports.
— John Tory and Dani Saad
Ending homelessness must be a nation-building project, writes former Toronto mayor John Tory and former senior Prime Minister’s Office adviser Dani Saad.
The Shot
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Frozen goods are thrown away after the freezers were emptied at ICA Kvantum in Sjöbo, Sweden, Nov. 2.Johan Nilsson /TT/The Associated Press
European supermarket fridges were hit by a second suspected cyberattack in stores from Sweden to Belgium, forcing employees to throw away food.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday’s federal budget will include new measures to support small- and medium-sized businesses.
Abroad: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was expecting Russia to escalate its attacks at a time when the country is facing a shortage of missiles to defend itself.
Off beat: Musicians touring the U.S. face surging costs and political tensions, threatening to curb Canada’s outsized impact on the world’s biggest music market.
In court: November will be a busy month at the Supreme Court of Canada, and a number of expected judgments are complicated by justice Sheilah Martin’s retirement.
At the table: When considering two similar healthy foods, does one have a nutritional edge? Here are five head-to-head comparisons.
Back home: British adventurer Karl Bushby returned to England after completing a 28-year odyssey to walk around the world.