ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Donald Trump smiled wide in front of cheering supporters after millions of Americans went to the polls, choosing the divisive Republican leader as the next president of the United States in an astonishing comeback that signalled an American turn to isolationism, protectionism and tariffs.

Trump has not yet moved into the White House but his victory sent shockwaves around the world. Not even a month after the election, Trump brought back "Twitter diplomacy," posting on social media threats of devastating 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

"That sense that Canada was a special friend and therefore was protected, I think is dead," said Christopher Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. "It's still special but it's not the bulletproof shield that we all thought it was."

Bombshell political events in Ottawa this month have added even more uncertainty around the Canada-U.S. relationship. Chrystia Freeland's sudden resignation as finance minister has touched off growing calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down, a move he is reflecting on over the holidays.

As the world prepares for a second Trump administration, experts say there are lessons to be learned from the tumultuous and unrelenting 2024 campaign. 

Here's what else we're watching...

New year, same anxieties for Jasper fire recovery

This year, Kim Stark's kids took responsibility for decorating the family Christmas tree.

Ornaments include toy cars, puzzle pieces, string and a pair of binoculars — things her three young daughters had handy after the family lost their home in summer’s devastating Jasper wildfire.

Her family, plus three furry pets and a fish, are living in a condo as they navigate rebuilding their home.

About 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors were safely evacuated before the fire breached the western edge of town and destroyed 350 homes and businesses, including 820 housings units. The Insurance Bureau of Canada pegged the damage at $880 million.

Six months after the fire, debris is still being cleared — lot by lot.

Locals including Stark are quick to say things could have been worse. But anxiety over temporary living situations and what may be a long and slow rebuild process has many residents and municipal leaders feeling unsettled heading into 2025.

Prioritize accessibility in new housing: advocates

Five-year-old Beau starts each day being carried by one of his parents to the family's living room, where his wheelchair awaits in their Beamsville, Ont., home.

Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 17 months old, Beau is unable to walk independently due to the disease, which damages nerves and leads to severe muscle weakness.

Beau’s day-to-day living comes with barriers most would never think about when raising a child, said his mother, Rachel O’Hagan. The doorways in their home aren’t wide enough for a wheelchair to fit through, meaning Beau has to be carried from room to room, including the bathroom.

Amid a housing crisis that has ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø policymakers and developers scrambling to bolster supply, those living with disability are urging leaders to enshrine accessibility into more newly built homes than the country has historically seen.

Man shot by officer after firing at police car

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit is probing a shooting near Thunder Bay in which a man was shot and wounded by a police officer on Boxing Day.

Investigators say at around 2 p.m., Thunder Bay police responded to reports of a man walking with a shotgun on Highway 11/17 and Pebblestone Road, about 30 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.

The SIU says the 58-year-old man fired his weapon and struck a police car.

As a result, he was shot by an officer and rushed to hospital with a serious injury.

No other injuries were reported and one subject official and one witness official have been designated to the case.

This report by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was first published Dec. 27, 2024.