Trump escalates trade war with new bans. Plus: Jean Charest says Trump tariffs could boost Canada

Trudie Mason welcomes in Sue Smith, Montreal journalist and broadcaster, and Lionel Perez, former Montreal opposition leader and CEO of CorpCentre. Donald Trump banned Canadian alcohol, dairy, and motorcycles in a fierce retaliation against Canada's latest counter-tariffs. Former Premier Jean Charest argued that Trump's aggressive trade war might ultimately force Canada to diversify its global economic partnerships. Canada and China quietly resumed high-level military coordination dialogues, drawing heavy fire and skepticism from federal Conservatives. Montreal spent over seven hundred thousand dollars on new pothole-repair machines that critics warn cannot operate during winter conditions.