The Corner Booth

When it comes to the Donald Trump White House's tariff threats against Canada, every day is Groundhog Day.And while this week saw both countries go down to the wire to sign the latest trade deal, it won't be long until the United States returns asking for revised terms.At least, that's how economist Julian Karaguesian and former Delegate General of Quebec in New York John Parisella see it. They joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on the latest episode of The Corner Booth from Snowdon Deli.

Depending on how you look at things, Montrealers can be considered a pretty optimistic bunch. On the one hand, according to the recently released annual World Happiness Report, Canada has slipped to 25th among countries.“But if you separate Quebec, they’d be fifth,” observed Gazette columnist and author Josh Freed, who is this week’s guest on The Corner Booth with hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand at the Snowdon Deli. “Quebecers know that despite all of our complaining, we have a lot to be happy about.”

The spectre of trade tariffs under U.S. President Donald Trump continue to loom over Quebec and Canada.Quebec’s business community greeted the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last week against Trump’s tariffs with tempered expectations, and then Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said the exact timing of a potential referendum within a first mandate of a PQ government had to remain adjustable because of economic threats from Trump.John Parisella, political analyst and former delegate-general of Quebec in New York, along with Julian Karaguesian, economist and McGill professor, joined hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand on this week’s episode of The Corner Booth at Snowdon Deli to explain how instability in the U.S. is affecting our politics and economy at home.

Soraya Martinez Ferrada is about to reach her first 100 days as mayor of Montreal, and a lot has happened so far.On this week's episode of The Corner Booth with hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand, the mayor talked about entering city hall having to deal with STM strikes that paralyzed the city. More recently, she went viral on social media for blowing out the tires of her car on potholes on Notre-Dame St. E., and had to contend with downtown businesses pleading for relief from construction woes on Ste-Catherine St.She also discussed job cuts to the city’s white-collar workforce and a plan to reduce the number of orange cones while using AI to plan work sites.

Charles Milliard is the last man standing in the race to run the Quebec Liberals.The runner-up less than a year ago to Pablo Rodriguez was teaching at Bishop's University when controversy unfolded in the party, which thrusted the political neophyte back into the leadership conversation.With the only other known candidate, Mario Roy, not being permitted to run, the coast is clear for Milliard to take over a beleaguered party still reeling from Rodriguez's resignation.Milliard discussed his plans for healing the fractured Liberals before October's provincial election with Aaron Rand and Bill Brownstein on this week's episode of The Corner Booth from Snowdon Deli.