Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on current events in Canada.

Round 2 of Federal Leaders’ Debate Tonight

The leaders of Canada’s four main political parties will engage in a second and final leaders’ debate tonight in Montreal, following an initial French-language faceoff held on Wednesday. Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet will meet on stage one final time before the April 28 vote. The first debate highlighted tensions around issues such as pipelines, the economy, and the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.

During the first debate, Carney, who is currently leading in the polls, faced heavy criticism from his opponents. Poilievre consistently attacked Carney, drawing parallels to his Liberal predecessor, Justin Trudeau. The Conservative leader promised to reverse what he described as Liberal economic policies that have hindered resource development and weakened the country.

Canadians Cancel U.S. Business Trips En Masse

Concerns over potential tariffs and troubling reports of detentions have prompted a significant number of Canadians to cancel business trips to the United States. Oscar Acosta, a tech CEO from Ottawa, decided to forgo trips to three conventions after learning about the detention case of Jasmine Mooney, a 35-year-old Canadian actress who was held for 12 days and subsequently banned from entering the U.S. for five years after reapplying for a work visa.

The fear of encountering similar issues, especially as a member of a visible minority, significantly impacted Acosta's decision. His company, Body M3canix, specializes in creating fitness-tracking devices for extreme environments, and he expressed that the situation at the border has discouraged his plans to pursue business opportunities across the U.S.

Femicides Spike 5 Years After N.S. Mass Shooting

The aftermath of Canada’s most devastating mass shooting, which occurred almost five years ago in Nova Scotia, continues to raise alarm over gender-based violence. On April 18, 2020, Gabriel Wortman fatally shot 22 people in rural Nova Scotia following an assault on his common-law partner, Lisa Banfield. An inquiry into these events proposed 130 recommendations for preventing similar tragedies, emphasizing the need for government action to combat what has been termed "an epidemic" of gender-based violence.

Despite these recommendations, advocates in the field contend that insufficient action has been taken to implement meaningful changes. Kristina Fifield, a trauma therapist working with survivors of intimate partner violence, remarked on the ongoing challenges and the work yet to be done to uphold the inquiry's findings and recommendations.

Quebec Gas Price Move Seen as ‘Symbolic Gesture’

The Quebec government has recently taken a step it hopes will lower gas prices in the province by withdrawing its floor price on gasoline and other fuels, a policy that has been in place since the 1990s. Economy Minister Christine Fréchette indicated this shift is intended to foster competition and ultimately lead to lower prices for consumers. However, analysts suggest that the move might be more of a symbolic gesture rather than a significant change, especially since Quebec's gas prices surged following the federal government’s cancellation of the consumer carbon price on April 1.

Experts like Pierre-Olivier Pineau, who chairs the energy sector management program at HEC Montreal, argue that while the government is responding to public pressure regarding high gas prices, the impact may be minimal given the weak competition in the market.

Freeze and Thaw Lead to More Potholes in Ontario

Ontario cities are experiencing an increase in potholes this spring due to a cycle of freezing and thawing. Mike Sanders, owner of Aaron’s Taxi in Sudbury, expressed frustration over the condition of local roads, noting that taxi drivers frequently encounter damaging potholes that harm their vehicles. Sanders explained that the deteriorating conditions of major thoroughfares have resulted in significant wear and tear on the components of his taxis, affecting their operational efficiency.

Along a N.S. River, Mi’kmaq Fishers Defy Ottawa

Along the Fitzroy River in Nova Scotia, Tabitha Morrison, a Mi’kmaq fisher, is asserting her rights against federal fishing regulations. In an interview, Morrison spoke out about the challenges faced by Indigenous fishers, emphasizing their right to self-govern and continue their traditional fishing practices despite federal restrictions that have assigned rights on the river to a non-Indigenous commercial license holder. She and other Mi’kmaq fishers are actively harvesting baby eels, known as elvers, as they navigate conflicting regulations while trying to sustain their livelihoods.