Good morning. NORAD will be patrolling the skies over World Cup venues. Still not sure what a technical recession is or how much you should care? We'll explain. Plus, Marineland's beluga whales may escape euthanasia thanks to a new federally approved plan.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Zach Barr/Department of National Defence)
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Watching the World Cup? So are fighter jets
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The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) will be patrolling the skies over World Cup venues.
What's happening: A no-fly zone is in effect over FIFA World Cup sites, drones included, and NORAD will be enforcing it with fighter jets likely armed with missiles and machine-guns. It's standard practice in war zones, not so much in North America.
Why it matters: The sheer scale of the World Cup — spread across 16 cities, three countries and two months — will be a challenge for military personnel. A temporary air surveillance radar has been set up in Grimsby, Ont., to help with coverage, and experts say Toronto and Vancouver residents shouldn't be alarmed if they look up and see armed forces.
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Marineland belugas may be heading abroad after Canada endorses rescue plan
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Some of the belugas still living at shuttered Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., may have a new home in Europe's largest aquarium in the coming weeks.
What's happening: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is officially on board with a rescue plan to send the 30 remaining belugas to Spain or one of four U.S. locations. The collective of aquariums says they're "prepared to activate in a matter of weeks," pending final medical exams and export permits.
Why it matters: Marineland had said it would euthanize the whales after the government denied a request last fall to export them to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China. The team behind this new plan is the same one that helped rescue two belugas from a Ukrainian warzone.
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Do Canadians need to fear a technical recession?
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Politicians have seized upon the fact Canada's dipped into a technical recession, but does that actually have economic significance?
What's happening: Statistics Canada released data last week showing the real gross domestic product (GDP) dropped by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter on an annualized basis, following a one per cent annualized drop in the fourth quarter of 2025. Two consecutive contractions might meet the definition for a technical recession, but many economists aren't on board.
Why it matters: Experts say it's "just a mild contraction" — indeed, the GDP grew by 2.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2025 on an annualized basis. Still, Canada isn't doing so well on other metrics: unemployment hit a six-month high, and business investment and residential construction has declined.
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