Good morning. This is Hanna Lee.
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, known for his friendship with U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance, is ready to help Canada with trade talks — if the prime minister wants his help. We'll get into that below. Then, we'll hear from residents of a Kingston, Ont., highrise known for its record police calls, and lay out what we know so far about the killings of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
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'I really do believe I could help,' says Conservative MP Jivani on restarting U.S. trade talks
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(Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
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If Prime Minister Mark Carney wants his help with U.S. trade talks, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani says he's ready to lend a hand.
What's happening: Jivani says Ottawa may be reassessing its U.S. trade strategy, what with the planned departure of ambassador Kirsten Hillman. The Ontario MP is known for being a longtime friend and former classmate of U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance — though he says the two haven't spoken much in recent months, except about fantasy football. "I would love to be able to talk to J.D. about how we can make things better for our economy," he told CBC News in a wide-ranging interview, "but I don't want to get involved in what Mark Carney is up to, unless he tells me that's helpful to him."
What else: Jivani has established himself as someone unafraid to speak his mind, pushing back against diversity, equity and inclusion policies and being the first in his caucus to call for the end of the temporary foreign worker program. He told CBC he feels compelled to speak out about issues he believes need cultural reassessment. He also believes Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre — reeling from two floor-crossings in nearly as many months — will have a positive leadership review, despite recent turmoil.
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Inside 'Trauma Tower,’ the highrise with more police calls than any other address in Kingston
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(Dan Taekema/CBC)
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The orange brick highrise at 381 Bagot St. in Kingston, Ont., is the largest residence run by the Kingston & Frontenac Housing Corporation. It's also racked up the most calls to police of any address in the city this year.
What's happening: Tracey Nicholson, 57, says she's regularly woken up by someone screaming threats in the hallway, and has started carrying naloxone to reverse overdoses. She calls it "Trauma Tower." News articles depict a history of complaints and police activity, with reports of drug use, prostitution and a deceased fetus found in a stairwell. As of the end of November, the building's address was listed on 366 calls for service — more than 2½ times more than the second-highest-ranking address.
What staff say: Over the past five years, the building's clientele and their visitors have drastically changed, said CEO Mary Lynn Cousins Brame. She says the criminal activity is caused by people who aren't tenants entering the building. And while she said the corporation is working to improve security at the apartment, she says residents have a responsibility to look after their own safety, too, advising them not to wander the hallways late at night.
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Rob Reiner's son in custody in connection with his parents' killings
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(Michael Buckner/Getty Images/Teen Vogue)
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Nick Reiner, 32, is being held in custody with no bail in connection to the killings of his parents, Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, 70. Rob Reiner was known for beloved movies like When Harry Met Sally... and The Princess Bride.
What's happening: The younger Reiner was arrested on Sunday night after his parents were found dead in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles earlier that afternoon.
What else we know: Nick Reiner struggled with drug addiction since he was a teenager, becoming homeless multiple times as a result. He and his father worked together on a film called Being Charlie in 2016, inspired by his real-life experiences with addiction. Police say they will present their case to the district attorney's office on Tuesday. Meanwhile, on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump bizarrely claimed Rob Reiner and his wife's deaths were due to "Trump derangement syndrome"; the director was an outspoken critic of Trump's presidency.
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READER REPORT
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You may recall last week I asked about your holiday dinner plans — whether you were scaling back due to costs or going all out anyway. Here were some of your answers. Thank you for all your responses! I enjoyed reading about everyone's plans.
Laura, Windsor, Ont.: Her family has been paying into Christmas hampers online for the majority of the year. Next year, they'll add a package specifically for meat, whose cost is expected to continue rising. It was a struggle to pay for it this year, she says, but a big relief to add to her freezer and pantry.
Natalia, Morriston, Ont.: She makes turkey twice a year, with traditional accompaniments like mashed potatoes, gravy and various vegetable sides. She also hosts Polish Christmas on Dec. 24, which involves a spread that includes white fish and perogies of many kinds.
Anne, Kentville, N.S.: Her family's dinner has changed, but for a different reason. More than 20 people spanning three generations attend, so it's become a potluck. That can involve a turkey, stuffing, baked brie, salads — the focus is family togetherness, she says.
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