QP Briefing

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is opting not to extend its trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, triggering what are expected to be tough negotiations on amending the deal. 

The Ford government is officially shutting down a freedom of information request to access government calls on the premier’s personal cellphone records, formalizing a transparency clampdown it announced in March. Global News explains.

National unity featured prominently in Mark Carney’s Canada Day address Wednesday, as the Prime Minister prepares for the country’s first provincial referendum on independence in more than 30 years. 

Ontario’s education minister is “clarifying” comments he made urging parents not to take their kids out of the classroom for sports, saying parents can still ask for special leave. 

North American trade entered a new phase on July 1, with U.S. President Donald Trump declining to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement for another 16 years. As part of a mandatory six-year review of the continental trade pact, the three countries had to decide on July 1 whether to extend the USMCA until 2042, or move into a period of annual reviews until 2036, after which the treaty will expire if no extension agreement is reached. Ottawa and Mexico City asked for the 16-year extension. Washington refused. So what’s the state-of-play and what might happen next? 

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he’s not expecting to sign a renewal of Canada’s trade deal with the United States and Mexico when representatives from the three countries meet virtually on Wednesday for the six-year review of the agreement. 

Ontario’s mortgage broker licensing agency is warning the public not to do business with lender and realtor Sam Kamra, and to make a report to the police if they’ve been a victim of fraud involving him. 

Scott Stinson says in The National Post that

 the World Cup proves that Ontario's cap on resale ticket prices is ‘unenforceable.’

And Jamie Bradburn has this rundown at TVO on

 how the CN Tower’s opening changed Toronto 50 years ago today

A roundup of what is making news this Thursday, July 2.

No CUSMA extension: Your morning QP Briefing

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