In the news today, March 27

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LEAKS DENOUNCED AS SMEAR OF WILSON-RAYBOULD

Leaked reports about a dispute between Justin Trudeau and former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould over a Supreme Court appointment drew condemnation from bar associations and MPs of all parties yesterday as the controversy surrounding the SNC-Lavalin affair raged on. Opposition MPs called the leaks an act of desperation meant to smear Wilson-Raybould and to justify the prime minister’s decision to move her out of the justice portfolio in January — a cabinet shuffle that touched off what’s become a full-blown political crisis for the governing Liberals.

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SMALL BIZ NOT READY FOR CARBON PRICE

Canada’s small business operators say they aren’t ready for the carbon tax to kick in next week — particularly since Ottawa still hasn’t told them how they’ll be compensated for the cost. The federal carbon pricing backstop kicks in April 1 in the four provinces that didn’t have their own carbon pricing system — Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. Nunavut and Yukon, both of which asked to use the federal system, will start on July 1. Ottawa has promised to return all the funds collected in rebates to individuals, businesses, local governments and other organizations.

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NDP’S 2019 FISCAL VOWS TO HINGE ON ‘TAX GAP’

According to the party’s finance critic, the federal New Democrats’ fiscal plan for the fall election will be shaped by estimates of how much money Ottawa loses out on each year to international tax-avoidance schemes. Peter Julian says the party will focus on Canada’s so-called “tax gap” to show it can finance its big commitments — such as affordable housing and universal pharmacare — by cracking down on corporate tax avoidance, loopholes and offshore havens. The tax gap, which one estimate says could be above $40 billion annually, is the difference between the amount of tax revenue that should have been collected in a year and what was actually brought in.

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P.E.I. PREMIER CALLS ELECTION FOR APRIL 23

P.E.I. Premier Wade MacLauchlan called an early election last night, announcing an April 23 vote that polls suggest could produce Canada’s first Green Party government. MacLauchlan’s Liberal government didn’t have to take voters to the polls until Oct. 7 under the province’s fixed-date election provisions, but there was an apparent desire to avoid overlap with the federal election this fall. Despite a booming economy, polls suggest the Liberal party is likely facing a rough ride, with the Greens seen as a legitimate contender for power.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS:

— University of Toronto criminology Prof. Scot Wortley releases his report on the use of street checks and racial profiling by police in Halifax.

— Statistics Canada releases international merchandise trade figures and payroll employment, earnings and hours for January.

— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks to supporters at a donor appreciation event in Toronto.

— Court appearance in Calgary for Sukhmander Singh, owner of trucking company involved in Humboldt Broncos crash.

— Finance Minister Bill Morneau speaks about his new budget at an event hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

— B.C. Attorney General David Eby meets with Bill Blair, federal Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction to discuss money laundering in British Columbia.

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The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today, March 27

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