Experts push Ottawa to drop China EV tariffs, citing trade tensions, climate goals, and rising costs as Carney prepares for U.S. talks

Critics Call on Canada to Drop China EV Tariffs Amid Trade, Climate Pressures

As Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada faces mounting calls to rethink its electric vehicle (EV) tariff policy on China — a move critics argue could ease trade tensions, lower costs, and support climate goals.

Tariffs That Backfired?

Last fall, Canada followed the U.S. in slapping a 100% surtax on Chinese-made EVs — a decision many now question. Critics say the policy has backfired, damaging Canada’s global trade ties and undercutting domestic climate ambitions.

“This was a dumb policy, and the ground has shifted to make it even dumber,” said Jessica Green, a University of Toronto professor specializing in global climate politics.

Farmers Caught in the Crossfire

The consequences have been swift. China retaliated by imposing its own tariffs on Canadian goods: 100% on canola oil and meal, and 25% on seafood and pork.

For canola farmers, the hit has been painful.

“We’re the ones taking the brunt right now,” said Andre Harpe, chair of the Canadian Canola Growers Association. “As job one, I’d like the new government to deal with these tariffs.”

Fortunately, China stopped short of taxing canola seed — Canada’s most valuable canola export — but tensions remain high.

Climate Goals at Risk

The tariff debate is not just about trade — it’s about Canada’s climate commitments. With a national goal of reaching 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, affordable EV options are critical.

Louise Lévesque of Electric Mobility Canada says Chinese EVs could help fill the affordability gap, noting models like BYD’s Seagull, which sells for just $13,000 CAD, compared to Canada’s steep EV prices ranging from $40,000 to over $300,000.

“If you want EVs to be purchased by Canadians, we need affordable models,” Lévesque stressed.

Domestic Manufacturing or Global Access?

Ottawa has invested over $46 billion into building a domestic EV industry, including a major Honda project in Ontario. But automakers fear that opening the floodgates to cheaper Chinese EVs could derail those efforts.

“We absolutely cannot undermine our own industrial base,” warned Brian Kingston of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association. “There’s a real risk the Canadian market could be flooded with dumped vehicles from China.”

A Path to Collaboration?

Not all experts see it as an either-or choice.

Niel Hiscox of Clarify Group Inc. believes Canada and China could collaborate, especially in areas like EV battery research. Others, like Lévesque, suggest targeted or temporary tariffs to give North American automakers time to scale up.

Canada could also follow Europe’s example, where EV tariffs are capped at 45%, or limit consumer rebates to Canadian-made cars.

Bigger Questions for Canada’s Economic Future

The EV tariff debate has become a symbol of a broader challenge: how Canada will navigate economic policymaking in an era of fractured U.S. relations.

As Carney prepares to meet with Trump, the question looms: Will Canada chart its own course — or keep dancing to Washington’s tune?

Final Thought:
Canada’s EV tariff policy may soon become a defining test of its trade priorities, climate ambitions, and political independence. For now, all eyes are on Ottawa.

XPrize Foundation establishes its first global hub at University of Calgary with $10M backing, boosting Canada’s innovation landscape.

In a landmark move that positions Canada at the forefront of global innovation, the XPrize Foundation has announced the University of Calgary as its first international hub — and its first-ever Canadian base. This milestone initiative will operate under a five-year $10 million CAD framework to spark bold solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

A $3 Million Local Boost for Global Vision

To support this visionary hub, the Alberta government and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) have each pledged $1.5 million. Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish, hailed the partnership as a strategic step to “solidify Alberta’s position as a leader in technological advancements.”

The University of Calgary, known for its deep-rooted commitment to research and entrepreneurial thinking, will now serve as a nucleus for global competitions and innovation-driven events. The hub will host investor days, idea workshops, and summits that bring together leading entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders.

Driving Exponential Change Through Global Collaboration

Anousheh Ansari, CEO of XPrize, emphasized the hub’s potential: “The University of Calgary is the ideal premier partner for the XPrize Canada Hub with its strong commitment to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.” The initiative marks a significant step in XPrize’s strategy to establish a physical presence across continents — one that bridges innovators, thought leaders, and change-makers.

Launch events set for May 7 will feature a panel on systemic change through entrepreneurship and a “moonshot workshop” focused on tackling food, water, and waste challenges.

Canada’s Innovation Ecosystem on the Rise

The announcement follows a significant win for Canadian innovation: Dartmouth-based Planetary Technologies recently secured a $1 million XPrize for its carbon removal solution that uses treated seawater to extract CO₂ from the atmosphere. This is part of XPrize’s ambitious goal to remove 10 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually by 2050.

XPrize competitions span diverse sectors — from space and health to energy and climate. Backed by high-profile names such as Elon Musk, Amazon, Google, and IBM, the foundation has become synonymous with incentivizing breakthrough technologies through bold prizes.

Strengthening Calgary’s Global Reputation

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek lauded the development, stating that the partnership “strengthens our international reputation” and reinforces Calgary’s identity as a city “building a better future for everybody.”

As Calgary cements its place on the global innovation map, the XPrize Canada Hub promises to ignite transformative ideas that ripple far beyond its borders.

Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for more updates on global innovation, Canadian breakthroughs, and the future of entrepreneurship. At Maple News Wire, we bring you stories that shape tomorrow.

Safe Software unveils AI-driven data virtualization and AR tools to reshape enterprise data access—focusing on AI as assistant, not authority.

In a digital era racing toward AI dominance, Safe Software is doubling down on a core belief: AI is here to assist—not rule. The Surrey-based data integration company, co-founded by Don Murray and Dale Lutz in 1993, is preparing to hit a major milestone this fiscal year, targeting $112 million in revenue. With over 25,000 customers across 121 countries, Safe Software is now unveiling two major AI-powered upgrades to its FME platform, redefining how enterprises interact with their data.

A Shift Toward Secure, No-Code Data Virtualization

At its “Peak of Data and AI” event in Seattle, Safe introduced FME Data Virtualization—an OpenAPI-compliant solution that empowers developers and business users to connect large language models (LLMs) to enterprise data securely. What makes it different? It’s entirely no-code. Users can now build secure API layers through a visual interface, dramatically lowering the barrier for non-technical users.

“Organizations have countless internal systems,” Murray explains. “Instead of managing multiple authentication workflows, you can now virtualize that complexity behind a single, governed layer. The result? AI tools can safely interact with enterprise-grade data—without compromising control.”

Why This Changes the Game for Enterprises

Unlike traditional data storage models, FME Data Virtualization doesn’t store information—it accesses it live, in real time. Whether it’s querying images for vehicle counts or interpreting complex internal data, AI agents now work in a virtual machine-like layer, surfacing insights while masking underlying complexities. This decouples the application logic from underlying infrastructure—a crucial innovation.

“Switching from Salesforce to HubSpot? Your application won’t even notice,” says Murray. “It’s a complete rethink of data accessibility.”

Augmented Reality Meets the Real World with FME Realize

Beyond virtualization, Safe Software is extending its innovation into the physical world through FME Realize—an AR-based tool designed to bring digital twins into the field. Workers can now use iPads or iPhones to view a live 3D overlay of their environment.

Take an airport, for instance. Field staff can identify overparked vehicles using AI-assisted digital twins and camera data in real time. “The system knows where you are and flags actionable insights as you move,” says Murray. “It’s proactive field intelligence.”

From SaaS to AI-Led Interfaces: A Full Circle Moment

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently declared that SaaS apps are becoming obsolete in the face of AI. Murray agrees. “We’re heading back to an open-data world,” he notes. “SaaS once locked your data into proprietary interfaces. Now we’re giving it back to users—securely and flexibly.”

With AI prompts replacing graphical user interfaces, Safe is also investing in intuitive voice-based experiences. But despite these advances, Murray reinforces that humans must remain at the center of decision-making.

AI as Assistant, Not Authority

Amid rising debate on AI’s growing autonomy, Safe Software emphasizes ethical boundaries. Sensitive datasets can be filtered at the API level, ensuring only authorized access. “We don’t give LLMs root access,” Murray says. “And we believe domain-specific LLMs—not public ones—will lead the charge in industries like healthcare and energy.”

In critical workflows, Safe’s AI tools support human decision-making—never replace it. “Whether it’s solar farm inspections or airport security,” Murray adds, “AI should assist, not act independently.”

What’s Next? Industry-Ready AI Agents

Safe Software is already piloting AI agents trained on enterprise-specific data. These domain-trained models will soon enable organizations to monetize proprietary insights through secure, purpose-built LLMs.

Looking ahead, Murray is optimistic—but cautious. “If you take humans out of the loop, we’re asking for trouble. AI hallucinates. That’s why we always put a person in control.”

Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for more exclusive updates on AI innovation, Canadian tech leadership, and the future of digital transformation.

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OpenText announces 1,600 job cuts as it adopts an AI-first strategy, reshaping workforce roles and targeting $550M in annual savings.

In a bold move signaling a significant shift in strategy, Canadian software leader OpenText has announced the layoff of 1,600 employees globally. The company is doubling down on artificial intelligence as a foundational pillar of its operations, joining a growing list of tech firms that now view AI as non-negotiable.

AI Takes Center Stage in Company Strategy

An internal email from CEO Mark Barrenechea, accessed by Maple News Wire, outlined a 10-point AI mandate for employees. “AI is now the number one priority and a baseline expectation,” Barrenechea wrote, emphasizing that tasks traditionally done by humans will increasingly be handled by intelligent machines.

Barrenechea said the company conducted a “deep analysis” of roles and their potential to be automated. “The work still needs to be done—it’s just going to be done with a machine via AI,” he added.

Strategic Reductions and Reinvestments

The 1,600 layoffs are part of an expanded version of OpenText’s business optimization plan, initially announced in July 2024. That plan previously resulted in 1,200 job cuts and 800 new roles created. With the new announcement, the company’s total net workforce reduction climbs to 2,000 positions.

Despite these cuts, OpenText plans to reinvest by adding 1,000 roles in high-impact functions and strategic locations. While exact geographical impacts were not disclosed, the company confirmed that the changes are global in nature.

Financial Impact and AI-Driven Efficiency

In its Q3 2025 earnings call, Barrenechea revealed that the optimization efforts and other savings measures are projected to save OpenText between $490 million and $550 million USD annually. He directly linked these savings to AI-driven efficiencies.

Employees are now expected to demonstrate AI competency, and new hires must possess AI-specific skills. AI use will also be integrated into performance evaluations, and employees seeking additional resources must justify why the task can’t be automated.

Echoes Across Canadian Tech

OpenText’s AI-forward approach mirrors similar moves by other Canadian tech heavyweights. In April, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke issued a memo requiring staff to justify new hires based on AI capabilities, a strategy that drew praise from leaders like LinkedIn’s Reid Hoffman.

Macroeconomic Pressures and Sectoral Impacts

OpenText’s decision comes amid broader economic challenges, including US tariffs and reduced government spending, which the company cited as factors in a 13% year-over-year revenue decline. The decline was also influenced by OpenText’s exit from the mainframe business of its recent acquisition, Micro Focus International.

Despite these pressures, Barrenechea maintained that customers remain committed to long-term strategic initiatives, though near-term spending has been affected.

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