In the news today, March 2

By The Canadian Press

Five stories in the news for Friday, March 2

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TRUMP URGED TO SPARE CANADA FROM TARIFFS

The Trump administration is being lobbied to spare Canada from planned tariffs on steel and aluminum, even with supporters of the U.S. president decrying the idea of penalties on its northern neighbour as ill-conceived and counter-productive. News that Donald Trump is considering broad tariffs on the global steel and aluminum industry prompted members of his own party to warn of fractured alliances, rising costs for consumers, and unintended economic and geopolitical consequences. He says final details are coming next week.

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PM URGED TO PULL MORNEAU FROM DRUG-PLAN FILE

Health and labour groups want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to remove Finance Minister Bill Morneau from the national pharmacare file over comments he made about the effort to explore the issue. The heads of three organizations allege Morneau presupposed the outcome of the study on national pharmacare by saying he supports an eventual strategy that would preserve existing drug-insurance systems in Canada, rather than tossing them all aside for a new national plan.

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FEDS DELAY BILLIONS IN INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY

Figures in this week’s federal budget suggest billions of dollars from the Liberal government’s infrastructure program won’t be spent until after Canadians go to the polls next year. The Liberals rode to power on a promise to ramp up spending for roads, bridges and other projects to stimulate the economy.

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VOTING BEGINS FOR NEW ONTARIO TORY LEADER

Online voting begins today in the race to pick a leader to guide Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party through the June 7 election. The leadership campaign began after Patrick Brown resigned from his post last month amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he vehemently. Either Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney, Doug Ford or Tanya Granic Allen will be named the new leader on March 10.

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HEDLEY PEFORMS AFTER HIATUS ANNOUNCEMENT

Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard refused to soften his band’s frat boy persona Thursday night as they played their first show since announcing plans for an “indefinite hiatus” in the wake of recent sexual assault and misconduct allegations. The singer didn’t spend any time acknowledging an apology he issued a day earlier for what he called “reckless and dismissive” treatment of women throughout his career. Instead, Hoggard thanked fans in the Brampton, Ont., crowd for their unwavering support.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Prime Minister Trudeau and students from Georgian College in Barrie, Ont., discuss federal pay equity policy.

— Finance Minister Bill Morneau delivers a speech at an event hosted by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

— Statistics Canada will release gross domestic product numbers for December.

— ICBC and police launch their spring distracted driving campaign in Burnaby, B.C.

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