Laval QC ☕ The morning chat
Good morning!
It’s Saturday, and while the world holds its breath with developments in the Middle East, a few stories hit closer to home here. Between Ottawa’s decisions and health issues that concern us all, you have plenty to think about this morning. Grab your coffee, let’s get started.
🌍 Main Story
Canada Supports U.S. Strikes in Iran but Will Not Participate Militarily
Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that he supports American action in Iran, but that Canada will not be directly involved in the conflict after U.S. and Israeli forces launched an attack on the Middle Eastern country overnight.
“We did not participate in the military preparation or planning for this, so it is not foreseen that we will be involved in the future,” he said at an event in Mumbai, India.
Carney described Iran as “the main source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East” and asserted that it must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
“Canada supports the United States in acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to stop its regime from continuing to threaten international peace and security,” Carney said.
He also acknowledged the struggle of the Iranian people and called on all parties to protect civilian lives as much as possible.
“Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous fight against this oppressive regime, and we reaffirm Israel’s right to defend itself.”
In a statement, Carney urged Canadians in Iran to shelter in place. Hours after the strikes, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand warned that “Canada’s ability to provide consular services is extremely limited, especially during an active conflict.” The statement also advised Canadians in Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon to consider leaving “while commercial options remain available.”
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called the Iranian regime “the main source of terror in the Middle East and the world.”
Carney said he expects there will be an impact on oil prices.
⚡ Highlights
✈️ Flights Disrupted Across the Middle East
The U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran is disrupting flights throughout the Middle East and beyond.
Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar closed their airspace on Saturday. Southern Syria’s airspace was also closed.
Planes bound for cities like Tel Aviv and Dubai were diverted or returned to their departure points.
Dubai airport officials said flights at Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport for international travel, have been suspended indefinitely.
Many major airlines are canceling flights to and from parts of the region until Sunday or early next week.
📊 Record Protests in Canada
Toronto police estimated that 350,000 protesters filled the streets of the city’s north end on February 14 in solidarity demonstrations with Iran. Toronto police said it was likely the largest single-day protest the city has ever seen.
That same day, Vancouver police estimated 50,000 people gathered in a local park.
About 4,000 protests have taken place in Toronto since October 7, 2023, including more than 850 related to the war in Gaza.
Calgary police reported a 300% increase in protests over four years. In Vancouver, protest numbers rose by 75% between January 2025 and January 2026.
Ronald Stagg said the gathering of 350,000 in Toronto could be the largest Canada has ever seen.
🏠 Local Stories
🎓 McGill and Concordia Drop Tuition Lawsuits
McGill and Concordia universities have dropped their lawsuits regarding tuition increases. Minimum tuition in Quebec had surged to $20,000 for international students.
💼 Over 400 Jobs Cut at Border Services Agency
More than 300 employees affected by these cuts are in the National Capital Region.
🔒 Ottawa Demands More Transparency from OpenAI
OpenAI must provide more details about its safety protocols.
✈️ Poilievre Travels to UK and Germany
The opposition leader reveals his travel itinerary. This will be his first official international trip as opposition leader.
🤝 Ottawa-New Delhi Rapprochement Worries Sikh Community
Members of the community denounce this rapprochement during Mark Carney’s visit to India.
📺 Warner Bros. Acquired by Paramount for $110 Billion USD
This transaction ends a long-running battle with Netflix.
🎵 Singer Neil Sedaka Dies at 86
He became an iconic figure in the early days of rock and roll.
🇨🇺 Trump Talks of “Peaceful Takeover” of Cuba
The U.S. president speaks of a “peaceful takeover” of Cuba. American organizations are calling for the lifting of the embargo against Cuba.
👶 Nunavut Leads in Child Poverty
According to Campaign 2000, 30,000 more children lived in poverty in 2023 compared to 2022.
🦬 Bison Make a Comeback in the West
After nearly going extinct in North America, bison are making a comeback in national parks. Successes and challenges mark this reintroduction.
🤖 Pentagon Chooses OpenAI Over Anthropic
Anthropic refuses, on ethical grounds, to open its AI without restrictions to the U.S. military.
💊 Practical Corner
👁️ February: Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes significant vision loss among seniors who suffer from it. This degenerative eye disease affects more than 500,000 Quebecers—about five times more than Alzheimer’s disease—but remains little known to the general public. Nationally, more than 2.7 million people are affected. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among Canadians aged 55 and older.
The dry form of the disease is characterized by deposits under the retina. In the wet form, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, which can cause fluid accumulation inside the retina and bleeding. Treatment consists of injecting medication into the eye to slow the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
Two drugs are available in the United States. One of them is currently under review by Health Canada. February has been designated as Age-Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month.
If you have concerns about your vision, consult your optometrist or ophthalmologist.
👋 Before we go
An intense day internationally, and our thoughts go out to all those affected by these events. Here at home, take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Enjoy your weekend, and we’ll see you Monday morning for a new week. ☕
EXCERPT:
Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada supports U.S. action in Iran to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but Canada will not participate militarily in the conflict. He urged Canadians in Iran to shelter in place and warned that Canada’s ability to provide consular services is extremely limited.