National

Canada, U.S., Finland take step forward on ICE Pact plan to build icebreakers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Nov, 2025 11:03 AM

Canada, the United States and Finland took a step toward building new icebreakers despite the breakdown in trade talks between Ottawa and the Trump administration.

Canada's Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman joined Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto to sign a joint statement of intent in Washington today to strengthen industrial co-operation and bolster the countries' icebreaker fleets.

The statement says U.S. President Donald Trump still has support for the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, known as the ICE Pact, which was signed under President Joe Biden.

The bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States has been in turmoil and Trump previously dismissed Canada's role in building icebreakers.

Trump called off trade negotiations with Ottawa in October, citing an Ontario-funded advertisement quoting former president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

Noem says Canada has made good progress on securing its border with the United States but she did not say whether it would be enough to lift Trump's tariffs.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

More than 40 vehicles vandalized in Nanaimo in one night

Mounties in Nanaimo are looking for witnesses or camera footage that may help them pinpoint the person, or people, involved in the vandalism of dozens of vehicles over several hours. An RCMP statement says officers received 42 reports of windows being smashed, tires being flattened and broken side mirrors.

More than 40 vehicles vandalized in Nanaimo in one night

Fake taxi scam in Abbotsford

A scam involving fake taxis being used to steal people's debit and credit cards appears to have made its way to Abbotsford after a warning from Burnaby R-C-M-P. The scam involves the use of a black vehicle with a taxi sign on the roof and two fraudsters, one posing as a driver and one as a passenger.

Fake taxi scam in Abbotsford

Body found in Nelson

Police on Vancouver Island say a signal from an S-O-S device led them to find the body of a man who was last known to live in Nelson. R-C-M-P say they received an S-O-S call from the device associated with the man early Tuesday morning, leading them to a makeshift campsite outside Port Alberni.

Body found in Nelson

New conservation area announced for Rocky Mountain Trench in B.C.

Another piece of the puzzle for conservation efforts along the Rocky Mountain Trench in B.C. is in place. Nature Conservancy Canada says wildlife including grizzly bear numbers have been declining in the region, which is why it added a new conservation area next to Kootenay National Park that links to a "network of already protected" lands.

New conservation area announced for Rocky Mountain Trench in B.C.

Settlement reached in complaint over Canada Post layoffs as strike hits four weeks

In a statement issued Wednesday night, the union said a mediated settlement has been reached that requires Canada Post to notify affected employees that they are not on a temporary layoff.

Settlement reached in complaint over Canada Post layoffs as strike hits four weeks

Canada says it wants to slash its emissions by half by 2035. Will that be enough?

Canada is aiming to cut its emissions in half by 2035 compared to 2005 levels, a newly released target range that is lower than what a federal advisory body recommended. Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault says a target of reducing emissions by 45 to 50 per cent balances both ambition and achievability.