Afternoon front page: Global Affairs’ vetting of suspected spy questioned; Supreme Court to hear final Emergencies Act appeal; and more

It’s Thursday, October 22. Here are the top stories we’re following today.

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“I agree… that the use of open-source, Google, however you want to characterize it, I think that should be a standard part of our vetting process,” David Morrison, a senior international affairs advisor to Prime Minister Mark Carney, told MPs on the Public Safety committee. “It was not part of the system at the time, and that has now been rectified” he added. Morrison was testifying as part of a study into the federal government’s security clearance process after Belgian authorities charged a Canadian intern at NATO with espionage in late July.

In January, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld a lower court decision that the Liberal government’s invocation of the Act to deal with lingering Freedom Convoy protests was unreasonable, unjustified and violated the Charter. “This case is not about the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protests. It is about sending a clear message to this and future governments: even in times of crisis, no government is above the law,” the Canadian Civil Liberties Association said on Thursday.

Stelco is owned by Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., which signed several commitments when the acquisition was approved in 2024, including one to maintain the same number of unionized employees for a period of five years. Last month, the company confirmed it intended to lay off 500 workers at two Ontario plants, citing U.S. tariffs as the reason for the “temporary” job cuts.

The Montreal Economic Institute report found that steel and aluminum prices in the U.S. market have soared since Trump put tariffs on those two critical industrial sectors, while failing to create new jobs. The price increases have also left consumers and industrial buyers facing higher price tags on autos, aircraft, construction, machinery, and a wide range of other products.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Wednesday that there are still 27 patients in hospital and 13 are considered in critical condition. Noting that three of the soldiers in “very dire health” are Ontarians, Smith thanked Ontario Premier Doug Ford and welcomed the 19 burn-unit and five operating room nurses, adding that they will help ease pressures on the Alberta health-care staff.

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