A4 TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2024 STRATFORD BEACON HERALD Freeland announces hurried EV tariff consult over Summer CATHERINE LEVESQUE OTTAWA The federal annual EV exports totalling $47.2 billion in 2023, and it is prompting will be launching a short consul- tation this summer to determine if Canada should follow other coun- tries in adopting punitive tariffs on cae made electric-vehicle im- port: inane Minister Chrystia Free- land made the announcement in Vaughan, Ont., surrounded by representatives of Canada’s auto industry after days of speculation whether the country would follow the lead of the United States and the European Union in imposing tariffs. “On July 2, we will launch a 30- day consultation on potential pol- icy responses to protect Canada’s auto workers, our growing EV in- dustry, and to prevent trade diver- sion,” she said. Freeland said the potential pol- icy actions could include a surtax on imports of Chinese EVs under Section 53 of the Customs Tariff Act, excluding certain EVs from eligibility for federal subsidies, and “potentially broader investment restrictions in Canada.” The consultations will seek com- ments on cyber and data security related to protecting Canadians’ privacy and Canada’s national in- sures to prevent Chinese EVs from flooding their markets. | US. President Joe Biden an- nounced in May thatthe U.S. would hike tariffs on Chinese EVs from | 25 per cent to 100 per cent this | year. The European Commission | recently announced it would im- pose tariffs of up to 38 per rn on Chinese-made EVs as of Ji China however wants ee to scrap its tariffs after both sides | agreed to hold talks on the matter. Freeland said that, in launching these consultations, Canada will | beactingin concert withits closest | | allies to prevent it from becoming | a “dumping ground for Chinese over-supply.” ile refusing to speculate on the outcome of the consultation, unions andalllevels of government “to come to the right answer for | | ‘anada.” “We've been clear that nothing | is ruled out, and all possible tools areon the table,” she said. “Thatin- cludes the use of Section pee ans | is avery powerful tool in toolbox. It grants very see ee very broad powers to the finance | minister to act.” “we terests. The will also seek perspectives on China’s labour and environmental standards. China has emergedas the largest manufacturer and exporter of EVs in the world in recent years, with inly see the need to e| very strong in our defence of Can- ada and the national economic in- terest.” Nation acaccnsiene com Apoll, eae Money, | POLL finds that less than half of Canad new rules to regulate the web, podcasts, she pledged to work with industry, | harms.” Only 44 per cent say they support the initiatives. posrmEDIA FILES i A Ba ag ie ins aged 18 to 39 say they “supy oa port the government's , Streaming and social media to restrict offensive speech and online Millennials, Gen Z don’t support Trudeau's internet regulation STUART THOMSON | Anew Postmedia-Leger poll con- tains astark warning for any polit- ical party gunning for Gen Z and millennial votersi inthe next feder- faheavy hand Stratford and Area Weather _ MNOrrOWw wora.heweatheretwock com/ea/weather/ontari/stratord emt a7 Sas SH camry amo Sams | conten era Re § “| Edmonton mre R 2neT | tier one Rares | Ged fem Po ans SH |iget oro ae re | Montréal mos wT [ome 7a s 2s Po | Québec mre Ss 2neT Page am SH 2S S Senin Ze Rze & Seiwom wre SH Zane Fe | stems am Rens oH | tron 2/20 Fs FO Wenner Zara PO Tam Vere aus Pe we R Winter aa Pe ee Witenes um Sasa § Wenge mane $a PC wiowete WS we S Meww ane PO Zar Nowe QO m/m SH s mre s wre SH 2m pC Newek 6 a8 MT S was pra Rs SH Pa zm s mms S mas Rodemero 2/21 SH 227 § SH wo S Hone zn $4 278 § Bongo 287 Tae T Howton as SH Was T Safeco Ml SH mio S Bing 38 S75 PC kes ST mT See SS IO PC ewe 7 PC 8S Imam aS am Seeder PC IDS Soin SBT ee mes eS Sop | ET MT Dues SS TS Lge | QS IS Samy Sms Smenare 107 SH We Pe Zre S$ ze rc wm = eS eS Cheapo V2 TIT PC Lomangden © ae SMO 8 Rye asze PC 2/2 FC Covnd SH 2 TM ai 8am PC Were aars Sh Po Dus S 3628S Meencly Zn A 23 SH Wane an? PC mar PC Dover 9S 3520S Mast Twas TT Weingon 3 Sez tury or an Ja Memoria: Loved dearly and Love Mom, Dad, Jason, KONARSKI, Spencer Louis In Loving Memory Of SPENCER LOUIS KONARSKI who left us June 25, 2006 In the hearts of those who loved you, /ou will always be there. Treasured forever in our memory. missed so so much. ‘A precious gift to all who knew him. Email announcements Stephanie and families. in trying to Toaulatet the internet. The poll, released Monday, finds that less than half of Canadians aged 18 to 39 say they “support the government’snewrulestoregulate the web, podcasts, streaming and social media to restrict offensive speech and online harms.” Only 44 per cent say they support the initiatives. The majority either disagree with the policies (39 per cent) or don’t know (16 per cent). Butthe poll findsthere are more ment’s internet-regulation poli- cies—19 percent—than the 14per cent who are “strongly” in favour. Leger vice-president Andrew Enns said he’s not surprised that some young people are fired up about the legislation, because their lives are extremely online, and it will likely affect them dispropor- tionately. “This will be the generation that is probably going to be living with those new rules and aie for the longest period of time,” said Enns. “And this generation tends to recoil a little bit about banning things or restricting things.” The government has unleashed a batch of legislation designed to tighten the reins on the internet, including an online harms bill that attempts to restrict offensive or hateful speech and a bill that would bring online streaming services under the umbrella of anadian Radio-television and Naecineiient tions Commission (CRTO), whichi is imposing quotas for online C: tempts to regulate the web and older generations less so. “There is that generational di- vide, where you've got that older population that is more leery of the web. There is a little bit of ~ This will be the generation that is probably going to be liv- ing with those new rules and changes for the longest period of time. push back (from younger voters) and I suspect a bit of skepticism in terms of looking at these new rules regarding regulating the web and podcasts and things like that,” said Enns. The poll was conducted May 24-26 via bees an online panel method, wit 9 moved on to the next question. Liberals immediately accused him of favouring a “digital ID,” and claimed Poilievre wanted Canadi- ans to give their private informa- tion to “sketchy websites.” ‘he Conservatives quickly clar- ified that they didn’t support any kind of digital ID and were in fa- vour of less heavy-handed mea- sures, like restricting adult web- sites from advertising to kids. Since then, the party has steered clear of the issue, with some mem- bers of Poilievre’s team admitting that they were concerned that a tougher stance on age verifica- tion couldalienate younger voters, especially young men, who have been flocking to the party since Poilievre became leader. The proposed legislation has been controversial, and some advocates worry that the bill will have unintended consequences; forexample, putting steamy shows behind an age verification barrier. “As written, Bill S-210 wouldn’t just force Netflix to potentially scan users’ faces to determine their age before watching (the racy series) Bridgerton, it could stop Canadians from being able to access Netflix and other streaming platforms at all,” said igen pel} a directorat of en iees aged 18 to 39 who are eligible to vote. A comparable probability sample would yield a margin of error of no greater than plus or minus 3.2 percent, 19 times out of 20. The issue of internet regulation has proven thorny for the Oppo- sition, as well. A Senate bill that would require age verification for one pornography websites has making its way through the House of Commons this spring with tentative SoEPOry from the Enns said previous research shows there’s an age gap on this issue, with young people tending to be skeptical of government at- In February, when Conservative Leader Pierre Poil- ievre was asked if he ea oles se forts to keep ity devoted to making thei: deme more open. The Trudeau Liberal have been working overtime to back younger voters fds polls show have generally deserted the Liberal party en masse, with runaway food and housing costs being a main factor. The govern- ment’s budget delivered in April was framed as promoting “inter- generational fairness” by raising capital gains taxes and spending. However, polls taken since then suggest the budget failed to win younger voters back. National Post from kids, he answered “yes” Fand Lights On Stratford a ‘cultural anchor tenant’ FUNDING FROM Al The event has steadily grown since that inaugural season, with the most recent iteration seeing approximately 76,000 visitors, with a roughly 50-50 split be- tween local residents and people who came from out of town. The announced funding was part of more than $1.3 million awarded to 10 organizations across Ontario announced by Tourism Minister Soraya Marti- nez Ferrada. “The local tourism economy . across southern Ontario is fuelled by community events large and small. Investing in the growth of festivals, events and tourism operators directly supports the growth of regional economies while Bieri com- munity spirit,” Ferrada said ina press release. Lights On, whichis held at loca- tions throughout the city, includ- ing the downtown core and Tom Patterson Island, has required a lot of growth learning from the Destination Stratford team, but has also seen more community involvement and partners each year, Gribble noted. Nearly 50 per cent of the funding for the festival comes from partners and grants, as well as through corpo- rate sponsorships. “We're feeling alot of gratitude for the incredible community support that Lights On Stratford gets from local businesses and lo- cal industry. So that, combined support from institutions such as FedDev, ry make it possible,” Gribble sai “We're really ae to be entering into our fifth year,” Gribble added. “We kind of treat the city as a stage, and we bring light art and light experiences to that stage in our public spaces. . . - We have a very seasonal tour- ism, visitor economy in Stratford that’s really centred around five months of the year, and we’re re- ally focused (on) the other sev- en months of the year. We want Lights On Stratford to serve asa cultural anchor tenant, so that there’s more and more culture and events and festivals that hap- pen in the winter and the shoul- der seasons.” While planning is still under- way for this year’s event, Desti- nation Stratford officials will be king an announcement on the specific installations in the near future. 5 B.