Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed.

PM Trudeau Arrives in Kyiv with Other Leaders

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with a group of international leaders, has arrived in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, to commemorate the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of the country. The delegation traveled to Kyiv by train, where they were warmly welcomed at the station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, Andrii Yermak.

Among the notable leaders present was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who emphasized the significance of the visit in a post on X, stating that Europe is in Kyiv "because Ukraine is in Europe." She conveyed the message that Europe’s future hangs in the balance amid the ongoing conflict. Other attendees in the delegation included European Council President Antonio Costa along with prime ministers from Northern European countries and Spain.

Liberal Leadership Hopefuls Square Off Tonight

The race to select the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada is heating up, with candidates gearing up for the first of two live debates tonight. As the countdown begins—with just two weeks until the winner is announced and only two days until voting starts—this debate marks a crucial opportunity for Liberal supporters to see the candidates together.

The remaining contenders in the race include former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould, and former MP Frank Baylis. Former Ontario MP Ruby Dhalla was disqualified from the contest on Friday for rule violations; however, she has since announced her intent to appeal that decision. The debate will be moderated by former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin.

Canadian Hardware Firms Bracing for Tariffs

Canadian businesses in the hardware sector are preparing for potential challenges as U.S. tariffs loom. Ramee Mossa, who has been raising funds for his Montreal-based company FTEX, shared his concerns regarding how the political climate, particularly under former President Donald Trump, has affected investors’ perceptions. Despite these concerns, Mossa believes that the upcoming tariffs may pose only a minor inconvenience for his company.

FTEX produces systems that power e-bikes, e-scooters, and other micro-mobility vehicles in Malaysia, utilizing components sourced from Taiwan. The company primarily serves clients based in Canada, the U.S., and Europe, all of whom manufacture their products in countries like China or Vietnam, thus allowing FTEX to avoid the impending 25% duty on Canadian goods and the current 10% tariff on Chinese products.

Ontario Votes: Campaign in Final Week

The political climate in Ontario is intensifying as the main party leaders enter the final week of campaigning for the upcoming provincial election. Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is set to unveil his party's official platform today, just three days before voters cast their ballots, making it a critical moment in the campaign.

Leaders Marit Stiles of the NDP and Bonnie Crombie of the Liberals unveiled their full platforms recently, while Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner made his platform public on February 12. In the lead-up to the snap election scheduled for this Thursday, the leaders will be campaigning throughout the province, with both Ford and Crombie focusing on the Toronto area and Stiles heading towards western Ontario. Schriner will also campaign alongside a local candidate in cottage country.

B.C. Conservative MLA Joins Residential School Row

The ongoing debate regarding the training materials related to residential schools in British Columbia has drawn attention, particularly from Dallas Brodie, the Opposition attorney general critic from the B.C. Conservatives. Brodie is questioning the alleged mistreatment of lawyer James Heller, who has been vocal about the wording used in the Law Society's training content concerning residential schools.

Heller, who sought to amend the wording to reflect that there were "potentially" burial sites at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., has faced challenges and is now suing the society for what he claims are "false and defamatory" statements suggesting racism. Brodie plans to reach out to B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma and the Law Society of British Columbia, asserting that there are "zero" confirmed child burial sites at the affected school. The situation is further complicated by the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc First Nation's previous announcements, which indicated the presence of anomalies detected by ground-penetrating radar.